---
date: 2023-07-10
title: Regular Council Meetings Minutes
source: 2023-07/2023-07-10_Regular Council Meetings_Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
---

CITY COUNCIL MEETING
ACTION MINUTES
MONDAY, JULY 10, 2023 6:00 P.M.
Mayor & City Council Administration
Mayor Anthony S. Ford Frederick Gardiner, City Manager
Mayor Pro Tem Yolanda Barber Vanessa Holiday, City Clerk
Councilman Elton Alexander John Wiggins, City Treasurer
Councilman John Blount Quinton Washington, City Attorney
Councilwoman LaKeisha Gantt Jeremy T. Berry, City Attorney
Councilman Alphonso Thomas
Mission: To provide visionary leadership and superior municipal services that enhance the
quality of life for citizens while creating a welcoming business atmosphere focused on
sustainability and expansion of tourism and cultural events.
I. Call to Order – Mayor Ford 6:07 p.m.

II. Invocation – Mr. Pike

III. Pledge of Allegiance – Recited by all in attendance.

IV. Roll Call – All members were present.

V. Amendment of the Agenda to defer item#11 to the July 25, 2025 meeting-
Motion to approve amendment made by: Gantt/Alexander
The motion passed unanimously.

VI. Adoption of the Agenda
Motion to adopt the Agenda made by Barber/Gantt
The motion passed unanimously.

VII. Adoption of the Minutes
Motion to adopt the Meeting Minutes of 5/8/23, 5/18/23 and 5/30/23 made by:
Alexander/Thomas. The motion passed 4-0-1
In Favor: Alexander/Barber/Blount/Thomas
Abstained: Gantt (Noting her absence from the meeting)
1. Adoption of the May 8, 2023 Council Meeting Minutes
2. Adoption of the May 18, 2023 Special Called Meeting Minutes
3. Adoption of the May 30, 2023 Work Session Meeting Minutes
PUBLIC COMMENTS
All persons wishing to speak for public comment must sign in with the City Clerk prior to
the beginning of the meeting noting your name, address, and phone number. You will be
allotted three (3) minutes. Speakers must respect all members of the elected body,
officials, and staff. Defamation, unruliness and/or swearing will not be tolerated. None.

CEREMONIAL REVIEW
4. Mayor Ford reviewed the Swearing In Ceremony for: Youth Council
Advisory Board Member - Mary Saadiq, Planning Commission Member -
Anthony Mitten; and Council on Aging Representative - Mary "Bonni"
Washington
CONSENT AGENDA Motion to Approve: Thomas/Alexander Passed unanimously.
5. Council consideration to approve the continuation of the City of
Stockbridge’s participation in the Henry County Community Development
Block Grant (CDBG) program as a sub-recipient for FY 2024-2026
6. Council consideration to approve the 2023 Election Calendar
7. Council Consideration to approve the use of the Amphitheater Green
Room August 30, 2023 from 4pm - 8pm to host the Henry County CVB
(Convention Visitors Bureau) Hospitality Mixer.
PUBLIC HEARING
8. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT CASE #CP-2022-04. COUNCIL
DISTRICT: 2 and 3. Vista previously requested a 30-day deferral of both
the rezoning and Comp Plan amendment applications.
Consideration of a request for a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to
assign the future land use designation of ‘High-Density Residential’ to
certain property on Flippen Road, to allow for the construction of a mixed-
use residential development, including commercial and office uses. The
applicant is Vista Residential Partners (c/o Dennis J. Webb, Jr.). The
property contains three parcels in Land Lot 38 of District 12, as are listed
below, with 276.91+/- total acres within the Stockbridge City Limits.
Parcel #030-01004000—Large parcel with 249.19 +/- acres, located
between Flippen Road and Interstates 75 & 675; Parcel #030-01003001—
Medium-sized parcel with 24.97 acres, located at 630 Flippen Road;
Parcel #030-01004008 -- Small parcel with 2.75 acres, located at 384
Flippen Road.
Presented by: Ryan Anderson, Chief Planner
Applicant: Dennis Webb, Jr., Chase Beasley, Michael Neyhart of Vista
Residential Partners & Daniel Hawker, Planner & Engineers Collaborative
Public Hearing Opened
No Speakers In Favor or Opposed
Public Hearing Closed
Motion to approve made by: Thomas/Alexander
The motion passed 3-1-1
In Favor: Thomas/Alexander/Gantt
Opposed: Blount
Abstained: Barber
9. REZONING CASE #RZ-2022-05. COUNCIL DISTRICT: 2 and 3. Vista
formally requests a 30-day deferral of both the rezoning and Comp Plan
amendment applications.
Consideration of a request for rezoning to assign the ‘PUD’ (Planned Unit
Development) district to certain property on Flippen Road, to allow for the
construction of a mixed-use residential development, including commercial
and office uses. The applicant is Vista Residential Partners (c/o Dennis J.
Webb, Jr.). The property contains three parcels in Land Lot 38 of District
12, as are listed below, with 276.91+/- total acres within the Stockbridge
City Limits.
Parcel #030-01004000—Large parcel with 249.19 +/- acres, located
between Flippen Road and Interstates 75 & 675.
Parcel #030-01003001—Small parcel with 24.97 acres, located at 630
Flippen Road.
Parcel #030-01004008---Small parcel with 2.75 acres, located at 384
Flippen Road.
Presented by: Ryan Anderson, Chief Planner
Applicant: Dennis Webb, Jr., Chase Beasley, Michael Neyhart of Vista
Residential Partners & Daniel Hawker, Planner & Engineers Collaborative
Public Hearing Opened
No Speakers In Favor or Opposed
Public Hearing Closed
Motion to approve with (16) Conditions made by: Thomas/Alexander
The motion passed 3-0-2
In Favor: Thomas/Alexander/Gantt
Abstained: Barber/Blount (Blount noted his abstention was due to his
opposition of Item #8 – The Comprehensive Plan Amendment).
NEW BUSINESS
10. Council consideration to approve the award of Request For Proposal
(RFP) Number 2023-0007, City-Wide Economic Development Strategic
Plan, to Bleakly Advisory Group, Inc. for the development of a unified
economic development vision plan to advance the interests of businesses
and fuel community and economic growth in the City for the estimated
amount of $60,000. The funding source is ARPA.
Presented by: Kim Allonce, Economic Development Director
Motion to approve made by: Alexander/Gantt
The motion passed 4-1
In Favor: Alexander/Barber/Gantt/Thomas
Opposed: Blount

11. Council consideration to approve the IGA (Intergovernmental Agreement)
between the City of Stockbridge and the Downtown Development
Authority.
Presented by: Kim Allonce, Economic Development Director and
Quinton Washington, City Attorney
Item Removed from the Agenda.
12. Council Consideration and approval of an agreement with the Henry
County Development Authority, along with the County and the cities of
Locust Grove, McDonough, and Stockbridge to hire Retail Strategies
Recruitment to work toward the solicitation, development, and expansion
of retail facilities in Henry County that will expand commerce, create
employment, enhance tax revenue, and improve the quality of life in each
city and the entire county.
Presented by: Frederick Gardiner, City Manager
Motion to Approve made by: Blount/Barber
The motion Failed 2-0-3
In Favor: Blount/Barber
Abstained: Alexander/Gantt/Thomas

Motion to Table to the July 25, 203 meeting made by: Alexander/Gantt
The motion Passed 4-0
In Favor: Alexander/Barber/Gantt/Thomas

Councilman Blount exited the meeting and was not present for the vote.

ANNOUNCEMENTS OF UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
Council meetings will be held in the City Council Chamber, noting some
Board/Committee meetings will continue to take place via Zoom. Meeting dates and
times are subject to change. Please visit the city’s website www.cityofstockbridge.com
for the meeting invitation link, Facebook page or contact City Hall offices at 770-389-
7900 for updates.

• Citywide Development Authority Meeting, 2nd Tuesday of each month 6:00 p.m.
- City Hall Levi Meeting Room (Jul 11)
• Main Street Advisory Board Meeting, 2nd Friday of each month – Welcome
Center located at 130 M L King, Sr. Heritage Trail at 9am (Jul 14)
• Downtown Development Authority Meeting, 3rd Tuesday of each month
Welcome Center 130 M L King, Sr. Heritage Trail (Jul 18)
• Youth Council Advisory Committee Meeting, 6:30 p.m. - 3rd Tuesday of each
month Levi Meeting Room - City Hall (Jul 18)
• City Council Work Session Meeting, last Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. –
City Hall Council (Jul 25)
• Planning Commission Meeting, 6:30 p.m. - City Hall Council Chamber 4th
Thursday of each month– (Jul 27)
• City Council Meeting, 2nd Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. – City Hall Council
Chamber (Aug 14)
• Youth Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m. - 2nd Monday of each month - City Hall Levi
Meeting Room - City Hall (Aug 14)

UPCOMING CITY EVENTS/INITIATIVES

• Join us for Food Truck Tuesday from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Clark Community
Park 111 Davis Rd. Lots and great food and activities for everyone.
• Join Mayor Pro Tem Barber for FREE Zumba every Saturday at 8:00 a.m. at
Gardner Community Park on E. Atlanta Rd.
• Join Councilman Thomas for the Don’t Trash Stockbridge centered around
education highlighting the causes and effects of Littering and Illegal Dumping.
More information to follow.
• Councilman Thomas is honoring Veterans with a Continuous Salute all year long.
Please send your pictures of Veterans with their name, branch, rank, and years
of service to rrawls@cityofstockbridge-ga.gov
• Join Councilman Thomas on Thursday, July 13th at 7:00 p.m. for a District 2
Town Hall to discuss the installation of Curb, Gutters, and Sidewalks in the Tye
Street Community. Location: Trinity United Methodist Church 112 Wilson
Avenue, Stockbridge, GA
• Join Mayor Pro Tem Barber for Kick4kids, Saturday, July 15th from 11 a.m.-1
p.m. at Stockbridge First United Methodist Church
• Join Councilman Blount for Bingo Bash, Wednesday, July 19th from 10am –
noon at the Merle Manders Conference Center located at 111 Davis Rd.
• Attention Stockbridge parents and students: The City of Stockbridge in
partnership with the Stockbridge Youth Council will distribute FREE Back-to-
School bookbags and supplies on Saturday, July 22 nd from 11am – 1pm in the
Stockbridge Amphitheater parking lot.
• Join Mayor Ford for Meet the Mayor on Monday, July 24th from 10am – noon.
Please contact Rosalynd Rawls to schedule an appointment at 678-833-3348 or
via email at rrawls@cityofstockbridge-ga.gov

Get your tickets for the upcoming 2023 Stockbridge Concert Series by visiting
stockbridgeamp.com on in person at the ticket office located at 4650 North Henry Blvd.
Thursday – Saturday from 1pm – 5pm.
Mayor Ford referenced the upcoming Fantasia/Joe concert this weekend, noting the
Saturday show is sold out and tickets are still available for the Sunday show.
MAYOR’S COMMENTS
Mayor Ford reminded everyone that COVID-19 is still with us and asked that everyone
get vaccinated and boosted, and to remain healthy; noted the City’s 4th of July
celebration was outstanding with more than 6,000 people coming to the Amphitheater
grounds throughout the day, noting there were some lessons learned for improvements
before the next City event, BridgeFest, scheduled to take place on September 30th and
will feature food trucks, kids activities, vendors and entertainment at the Amphitheater;
noted the Braves are playing very well and wished them continued success.
Councilman Alexander thanked Mayor Pro Tem Barber for the Kicks for Kids Shoe
Drive Initiative in partnership with Caleb Sanders of Eagles Landing Christian Academy,
noting the non-profit group (CD4RP) Community Development 4 Real People, has
partnered with the initiative and will collect sneakers on July 11th at the weekly food
drive and also on July 18th at 1781 GA Hwy. 42 North, McDonough, and will distribute
the sneakers at the City’s Back To School Event on Saturday, July 22nd.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion to convene Executive Session for Personnel Matters made by Mayor Pro Tem
Barber; there was not a second. Mayor Pro Tem Barber withdrew the motion.
Mayor Ford called for a motion to convene Executive Session for Personnel Matters,
Real Estate and Litigation. There was no motion made.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ford called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion to adjourn made by
Mayor Pro Tem Barber; seconded by Councilman Alexander. The Motion Passed 3-0.
(Councilwoman Gantt was not present for the vote).
The meeting ended at 9:45 p.m.
