1/21/2025 Meeting Preview
Please note: due to inclement weather, tonight’s meeting will take place virtually. You can access the meeting at the link below:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81348772578?pwd=F1lpzWlzvayjEzaqTTuYAnJCCSrbaz.1
Passcode: 964517
You can also call in by dialing 360-209-5623 and entering the following when prompted:
Webinar ID: 813 4877 2578
Passcode: 964517
You’ll see below some of the agenda highlights for our second meeting of the year. I’ve added information from the council agenda memos and background on items that may be of particular interest, along with some of the questions I have raised about these items. You can also watch the meeting on the city’s Facebook or YouTube pages. Our meetings are on the first and third Mondays of the month. Workshop session begins at 6:00 pm; regular session begins at 7:30 pm; executive session takes place at the conclusion of the regular session.
You can access the full agenda packets here.
We welcome your attendance at our meetings and public comment is available near the start of the meeting, before any actions are taken. You can submit an e-mail with your name, address, and comment or remark to pcomment@collegeparkga.com no later than 7:30 pm on the evening of the meeting. The City Clerk will read your name, address and comment into the official record. If you have feedback for Mayor and Council directly, you can e-mail us.
WORKSHOP SESSION
5. Presentation on House Bill 581, The Local Opt-out Floating Homestead Exemption
In November, voters across the state overwhelmingly supported a floating homestead exemption. It would tie future increases in home values for homesteaders to inflation or a similar index, as determined by the Georgia Department of Revenue. However, local governments have the option of opting out of this exemption. Three hearings must be held and the decision to opt-out must occur by March 1st. This discussion will better allow the governing body to understand the ramifications of any decision made.
REGULAR SESSION
9. Regular Business
F. Consideration of and action on a request to approve an ordinance by the Mayor and City Council to amend Chapter 8 (Health and Sanitation), Article IV (Nuisance Abatement) of the City of College Park, Georgia’s Code of Ordinances regarding further nuisance abatement standards and regulations; Sponsored by Councilman Joe Carn.
This amendment would establish the position of a Nuisance Abatement Control Officer, whose duties would be as follows:
(1) Manage, facilitate, and coordinate Nuisance interactions and complaints between the citizens of the City, property owners, business owners, the City’s Police Department, the City’s Fire and Emergency Services Department, and the City’s Code Enforcement Division.
(2) Investigate and identify Nuisance violations per this Code and state law;
(3) Coordinate and oversee all activities related to the lawful removal of any and all Nuisances; and
(4) Investigate complaints of dilapidated, derelict, vacant, or vandalized dwellings and/or structures to the extent permitted by law.
I am concerned about the overlap of this role and the Chief Building Official, along with the potential for this position — which would be designated by the City Manager — for misuse. There are also no qualifications outlined for this position. Furthermore, the fines as proposed for violations of the ordinance exceed the statutory authority granted to the city’s municipal court in O.C.G.A. § 36-35-6. I look forward to learning more about this proposal.
G. Consideration of and action on a request to amend Chapter 3 (Alcoholic Beverages) in the City's code of ordinances regarding provisions for the Alcoholic License Review Board. This item is requested by Dr. Emmanuel Adediran, City Manager.
From Staff: The request is to approve the recommended changes to Chapter 3 (Alcoholic Beverages) of the City’s Code of Ordinances to bring an administrative change regarding the Alcoholic Review Board inline with the current organizational structure approved by the City Council on December 2, 2024.
The proposed change to the ordinance would allow the City Manager to appoint designees from the fire department and code enforcement to the newly created Alcohol License Review Board.
For other reasons, this is still a problematic ordinance in my opinion. I attempted to have a discussion at the last meeting about amending this ordinance so it did not take the elected officials out of the decision-making process, but the City Manager has taken the position that I have to have the permission of my colleagues to put anything on the agenda. At our last meeting, the City Attorney indicated our previous mayor was not subject to these same regulations as far as he could recall, and there is no prohibition against my adding items to the agenda in either the charter or any ordinance. I also had no issue placing items on the agenda in my first four years in office.
