2/3/2025 Meeting Preview
You’ll see below some of the agenda highlights for our third 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
1. Presentation of the Georgia First Responder PTSD Program by Rose Stewart, Director of Human Resources and Risk Management
This is a program mandated by recent changes state law to help support our first responders. You can read more about it here.
2. Presentation of the 2nd Qtr. Financial Report ending December 31, 2024
I have been asking for financial information for quite a while. We received a similar report a few weeks ago for the first quarter, but the reports provided recently are quite different from previous reports, as you can see in this previous example. I have some questions about some of the information presented that I’m looking forward to getting answered tonight.
REGULAR SESSION
9. Consent Agenda
D. Consideration of and action on a request to approve OnCall Maintenance with RSW Services, INC. This item is requested by Dr. Emmanuel Adediran, City Manager. This item impacts internal Citywide functions.
This is a potentially long-term contract with a very vague scope. It covers everything from changing lightbulbs to lawn maintenance. In 2024, RSW Services was paid $156,925 for work throughout the city. RSW is owned by Subrenia Willis, chair of our Business & Industrial Development Authority.
E. Consideration of and action to develop a community garden to be located at Subrenia Willis Park, 2902 Camp Creek Parkway in the amount of $110,000. This is a budgeted item. This item is in Ward 2. Sponsored by Councilman Joe Carn.
I think a community garden is a great idea. I have some concerns about the location, given the impact of Hurricane Helene at Subrenia Willis Park a few short months ago:
Subrenia Willis Park, September 2024
Subrenia Willis Park, September 2024
I also have questions about the necessity of bidding this project out, in accordance with state law. According to O.C.G.A. 36-91-2, this could arguably be considered a public works project and as such it would be subject to the public bidding process.
10. Regular Business
A. Consideration and action on a request to approve funding of the Georgia First Responder PTSD Program as presented by Rose Stewart, Director of Human Resources and Risk Management
See above.
B. Consideration of and action on a request to amend the Georgia Municipal Association retirement plan adoption agreement to allow retirees to return to work with no suspension of retirement benefits.
We had a discussion about this at our workshop on January 6, 2025. It is the desire of the council to allow those who have retired from the city and who then come back to work for College Park to be able to continue to receive their retirement benefits.
C. Consideration of and action on a request to amend an Ordinance regarding the Board of Ethics (Ethics Enforcement Policy). This item is requested on behalf of Councilwoman Tracie Arnold.
Councilmember Arnold’s proposal is to replace the ethics hearing officer, who is currently designated by the city clerk and is required to be an attorney not practicing in the City of College Park, with a Board of Ethics, comprised of individuals who do not live within the city. The Board of Ethics would be composed of a total of five (5) directors and each director must be a resident of a different municipality within Fulton County, Georgia and Clayton County, Georgia. Additionally, three (3) of the directors would have to be attorneys actively licensed within the State of Georgia. The City Manager and the City Attorney would nominate candidates for the Board of Ethics based on qualifications, experience, and a demonstrated commitment to ethics in public service. The City Manager and the City Attorney would provide a list of all applicable candidates to the City Council for consideration and approval.
I think moving from one hearing officer to a board is a viable option. I want to ensure our ethics ordinance complies with the criteria to become a Certified City of Ethics once more. We earned the designation from the Georgia Municipal Association in 2020, but it has since lapsed. I would like to join the over 200 other cities and organizations across the state who have participated in the program.
D. Consideration of and action on a request to approve a resolution establishing the Mayor Pro Tem Rotation Policy.
This resolution establishes that each councilmember will serve as Mayor Pro Tem for a one (1) year term, as determined by the council and the rotation will occur in a sequential order by wards. However, it also does not prevent future city councils from freely nominating or voting on the appointment of the Mayor Pro Tem and going out of rotational order if they so choose.
E. Consideration of and action on a request to approve the speed limit reduction on Rugby Ave from 30 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour. This is a request from Chief Connie Rogers. This will service Ward 1.
From staff: The current speed limit on Rugby Ave is 30 miles per hour. Rugby Ave is a residential street that is approximately 1.2 miles long. It is recommended that the speed is reduced to ensure the safety of residents. Work can be completed by City of College Park employees. This is not a budgeted item. The cost of materials are approximately $500.00 each sign. Totaling $2,000.00 (4 new speed limit signs).
I’ve received a lot of feedback about speeding on Rugby, even with the speed humps that were installed on the street. Hopefully this action, combined with reinforcement of the speed limits from our outstanding public safety professionals, will yield positive results for the community.
