---
date: 2022-03-14
title: Regular Council Meetings Minutes
source: 2022-03/2022-03-14_Regular Council Meetings_Minutes.pdf
pages: 1
---

CITY COUNCIL MEETING
ACTION MINUTES
MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2022 6:00 P.M.
Mayor & City Council Administration
Mayor Anthony S. Ford Frederick Gardiner, City Manager
Mayor Pro Tem Alphonso Thomas Vanessa Holiday, City Clerk
Councilman Elton Alexander John Wiggins, City Treasurer
Councilwoman Yolanda Barber Danielle Davis, City Attorney
Councilman John Blount Jeremy T. Berry, City Attorney
Councilwoman LaKeisha Gantt
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. Zoom Meeting Information
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83979628788
II. Call to Order – Mayor Ford

III. Invocation – Councilman Blount

IV. Pledge of Allegiance – In unison by all in attendance

V. Roll Call – All members were present

VI. Motion to amend the Agenda to remove Item #7 Alexander/Blount Passed
5-0.

VII. Motion to adopt the Agenda Alexander/Thomas Passed 5-0

VIII. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES Blount/Gantt Passed 5-0
1 Draft Minutes January 4, 2022
2 Draft Minutes January 10, 2022
3 Draft Minutes January 25, 2022

PUBLIC COMMENTS - All public comments must be submitted to the Clerk no later than
one hour prior to the meeting. The Public Comment Form can be found on the City’s
webpage on the City Clerk’s page at:
https://stockbridge.seamlessdocs.com/f/20pkdz4mo7xb and the form must include your
name, phone, and email contact information. Comments are limited to (3) three minutes
and will be read by the Clerk during the meeting, respecting all members of the elected
body, officials, and staff. Comments including defamation, unruliness and/or swearing
will not be accepted.
1|Page
Sunny Randazzo submitted a comment questioning the city’s recent retreat, asked the
city to address the noise mitigation regarding the Amphitheater prior to the 2022
concerts; and to respond to risqué sponsorship.

CEREMONIAL
4.Women's History Month Proclamation – Read by Mayor Ford

PUBLIC HEARING
5. UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)—THIRD READING
The City of Stockbridge Mayor and City Council will review the Community Development
Department’s proposed new Unified Development Code (UDC), which includes the City’s
Zoning Code, Sign and Development codes. The new UDC would comprise both an
update and a rewriting of the existing UDC for the purposes of 1) making needed
corrections and clarifications; 2) revising the allowable zoning districts in the City; and 3)
making the document more user-friendly, etc. On September 23, 2021, the Planning
Commission recommended adoption of the UDC. At the October 26, 2021 Council
meeting, the Council approved for the Legal Team to review the UDC in more detail.
Presented by: Brecca Johnson, Director of Community Development and Kc Krzic of the
Collaborative Firm
Ms. Johnson referenced the previous Public Hearings, noting in October 2021, the city’s
Legal Counsel recommended a legal review before adoption, noting the review has been
completed.

Ms. Krzic presented the proposed UDC (Unified Development Code) highlighting the
change in the number of Zoning Districts from 19 to 13; the document being user-
friendly; new Tables for specific use; combined Overlay Districts; the Downtown Village
Overlay Districts being clear and concise.

Ms. Johnson introduced Ms. Valerie Ross, who conducted the legal review of the UDC.

Ms. Ross noted the document has been reviewed line by line and referenced the city’s
Moratoria for “Build to Rent” and referenced HB1093 and SB494 that were pending as of
today and we are waiting to see if the bills pass or not to see if this is something the city
could do under state law as a municipality; and noted Hookah/cigar bar or lounges are
now added in the code and permitted in commercial districts C-2 and C-3.

Councilman Alexander thanked Ms. Johnson, and Ms. Krzic for the updated code as this
document will control the standards of what is implemented in the city, asking what area
of the code addresses parking lot litter and maintenance to repair potholes, etc.,
requiring businesses to maintain and cleanup their parking lots as a cost of doing
business, and not doing so is unacceptable and asked that the information get out to the
business owners as soon and as quickly as possible.

Ms. Krzic noted this would be addressed by the City’s Code Enforcement and believes it
is under the Environmental section of the code.

Ms. Johnson noted the Code does reference property maintenance and agreed the city’s
Code Enforcement department would address the unkept business entities.

2|Page
Mayor Pro Tem Thomas asked if the city could require businesses to have trash
receptacles in front of their businesses to encourage patrons to throw away trash and
keep it from being tossed in the parking lot.

Ms. Krzic noted the design guidelines require streetscapes to install decorative trash
receptacles.

Mr. Gardiner noted he recognizes the issue and noted an example of a strip center with
seven businesses and each having a trash receptacle would not be aesthetically
pleasing and challenging because there could be the potential of an overflow of garbage
and asking business owners to be required to empty the containers throughout the
business day, especially during high peak times or peak seasons.

Mayor Pro Tem asked if the strip center owner could be required to have containers in
the plaza rather than each of the businesses having an individual container at each
business.

Mr. Gardiner noted this would be addressed with the new developments as a good start
but does not favor retroactively making this a requirement.

Mayor Pro Tem agreed, noting it is up to the city’s Code Enforcement Department to do
their part to hold the businesses accountable.

Councilman Blount asked about the city’s Donation Boxes where there appears to be
more and more of them in the city, while recognizing the need during these times, but
asked if the maintenance of the boxes is being addressed in the Code.

Ms. Johnson noted the Donation Box Ordinance requires the box to be registered, the
owner have a permitted business license fee and maintain the box.

Councilman Alexander asked if the signage was being addressed in the new code.

Ms. Johnson noted the city’s Sign Ordinance has also been update in the UDC and is
outlined in the Code.

Public Hearing Open – No Speakers In Favor No Speakers Opposed
Public Hearing Closed
Motion to approve Alexander/Thomas Passed 5-0

6. CITY OF STOCKBRIDGE – ADOPTION OF THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP &
OVERLAY DISTRICT MAP– THIRD READING The City of Stockbridge Mayor and City
Council will review the proposed Official Zoning Map & Overlay District Map to be
amended in conjunction with the Unified Development Code (UDC). This item is running
concurrently with the UDC.
Presented by: Brecca Johnson, Director of Community Development and Kc Krzic of the
Collaborative Firm
Public Hearing Open – No Speakers In Favor No Speakers Opposed
Public Hearing Closed
Motion to approve Gantt/Barber Passed 5-0
3|Page
Frederick Gardiner, City Manager, introduced the city’s Grants Administrator, Kellie
Russell who brings over 25 years of experience in grant writing and grants administration
having worked for a number of federal, state, and non-profit agencies to include the
Justice Department, FEMA, Department of Health and Human Services, and HUD, and
has worked on numerous grants related to each of those various different departments
from law enforcement grants to the CARES Act to ARPA and state grants such as LMIG
(Local Maintenance Improvement Grant); noted Ms. Russell has a Master’s Degree in
Human Resources from Central Michigan University, and is a member of the National
Grants Management Association, and is currently working on her Grants Management
Specialist Certification; and asked that everyone welcome her, noting today was her first
day where they met to discuss working on the policies and procedures regarding grants
to be presented for approval next month; and is looking into police and COVID grants as
well.

Mayor Ford welcomed Ms. Russell and thanked her for choosing Stockbridge as her
next assignment.

Ms. Russell noted she is happy to be with the team; noted today was her first day with
the city and she received a very warm welcome from colleagues and looks forward to
working with each of you and doing great things for the city.

NEW BUSINESS
7. Council consideration to Amend Title 9 - Licensing & Regulation, Chap. 9.110
Standards For Certain Businesses to remove hair salons, barbershops & nail salons
from the 1 mile spacing/distance restriction, Section 9.110.030A (1 & 2).
Presented by: Brecca Johnson, Director of Community Development
Item removed from the Agenda

8. Council consideration to approve the Renewal Contract for RFP No. 2020-0027 -
Professional Permitting & Building Inspection Services - SAFEbuilt
Presented by: Brecca Johnson, Director of Community Development
Motion to approve Barber/Gantt Passed 5-0

9. Council consideration to approve the purchase of Phosphorus CC2050 removal
chemical from CedarChem in the amount of $40,000.00. The funding source is from
Sewer Department budgeted funds.
Presented by: Decius Aaron, Public Works Director and Brad Holtsinger, Wastewater
Superintendent
Motion to approve Barber/Alexander Passed 5-0

10. Council Consideration to approve the FY2023 LMIG (Local Maintenance &
Improvement Grant) list.
Presented by: Decius Aaron, Public Works Director
Motion to approve Blount/Gantt Passed 5-0

4|Page
11. Council consideration to approve the purchase Elgin Regen X Street Sweeper under
Georgia statewide contract number 99999-001-SPD0000177-0009 with Environmental
Products Group in the amount of $267,450.00. Funding source is from Stormwater
Department budgeted funds.
Presented by: Decius Aaron, Public Works Director
Motion to approve Blount/Alexander Passed 4-0 (Gantt was not present for the vote)

COMMENTS FROM THE MAYOR
Mayor Ford noted we are approaching two years for the pandemic with wearing masks,
and vaccinations, which hopefully is coming to an end soon; noted the Henry County
Department of Health located at 135 Henry Pkwy., can be contacted at 470-664-0005 to
schedule the Pfizer or Moderna vaccination and you can also get tested there as well;
noted you can also request the 4-pack free COVID testing kit, up to 2 packs for 4 kits per
household by calling 80-232-0233; referenced the recent groundbreaking development
event that took place last Friday at Bridges at Argento by the Sterling Group and will be a
$50 million dollar Luxury Apartments with retail, and shops mixed-use development and
looks forward to future development of the Jodeco site.

UPCOMING MEETINGS & ANNOUNCEMENTS: Meeting will be held via Zoom until
further notice. 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.
➢ Downtown Development Authority Meeting, 6:00 p.m. Via Zoom - 3rd Tuesday of
each month Via Zoom (Mar 15)
➢ Planning Commission Meeting, 4th Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Via Zoom – (Mar 24)
➢ City Council Work Session Meeting, Last Tuesday of each month – Via Zoom (Mar
29)
➢ Main Street Advisory Board Meeting, 2nd Friday of each month 9:00 a.m. Via Zoom
(April 8)
➢ City Council Meeting, Second Monday of each month – Via Zoom (April 11)
➢ Youth Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m. - 2nd Wednesday of each month Levi Meeting
Room - City Hall (April 13)
➢ Youth Council Advisory Committee Meeting, 6:30 p.m. - 3rd Tuesday of each month
Patrick Henry Meeting Room - City Hall (April 19)

UPCOMING CITY EVENTS/INITIATIVES
• A Continuous Salute to Veterans: Please forward pictures of Veterans including
name, branch, rank, and years of service as Mayor Pro Tem Thomas presents a
special tribute to our local veterans. Pictures should be submitted to:
zpearson@cityofstockbridge-ga.gov Thank you for your service!

• Please join Stockbridge Councilman Elton Alexander on this Saturday, March 19,
2022, from 9 am to 11 am for his Keep Stockbridge Beautiful initiative (attendees
should park cars in the At Home parking lot). Meet at Highway 138 and I-75 in
Stockbridge to participate. Attendees should dress comfortable for the community
activity.
5|Page
• The Stockbridge Youth Council will host its 2nd Annual March Madness Event,
Saturday, March 19, 2022, from 10am - 4pm at the Jimmy Lee Smith Recreation
Center located at 5883 Hwy 155 N. Stockbridge, GA 30281. Please contact Youth
Council Staff Liaison, Randi Rainey at 770-389-7900 ext. 264 for more information.

• Here is your opportunity to Meet the Mayor, and voice your questions and/or
concerns Tuesday, March 22, 2022 from 10 a.m. to noon. Call Zenovia Pearson to
schedule an appointment. 770-389-7900 ext. 248.

Councilman Blount noted he was attending the National League of Cities conference
in Washington, DC and plans to bring information on Infrastructure Funding back to
the Council.
Councilman Alexander thanked everyone who assisted on the Women’s History
Month Committee; noted the video of the program will air on the city’s Facebook
page on Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 7pm and asked that each honoree and
committee member receive a copy of the 2022 proclamation.

Motion to convene Executive Session for Personnel, Litigation and Real Estate:
Alexander/Blount Passed 5-0.
Motion to end Executive Session Thomas/Barber Passed 4-0 (Councilman Blount
was not in attendance for the vote)
Motion to end Executive Session Thomas/Barber Passed 4-0 (Councilman Blount
was not in attendance for the vote)
Motion to adjourn Alexander/Thomas Passed 4-0 (Councilman Blount was not in
attendance for the vote)

6|Page
