Mayor and City Council Work Session Tuesday, March 18, 2025 06:30 PM City Hall, 875 Main Street, Stone Mountain, Georgia 30083

Mayor and Council: Dr. Beverly Jones – Mayor | Post 3 :Mayor Pro Tem Ryan Smith

Post 1: Council Member Anita Bass | Post 2: Council Member Mark Marianos

Post 4: Council Member Gil Freeman | Post 5: Council Member Shawnette Bryant

Post 6: Council Member Teresa Crowe

Staff: Shawn Edmondson - Interim City Manager - City Clerk | Danny Mai - Assistant City Clerk | Jeff Strickland - City Attorney

City of Stone Mountain, GA Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CityofStoneMtn/

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I.Call to Order

II.Determination of Quorum

III.Invocation and Pledge

IV.Citizen Comments – Including comments from public/stakeholders (3 minutes per comment)

Comments from the Public

The public comments are reserved exclusively for comments from the public and not for immediate reply. The purpose of public comment is to allow the public to voice city related requests, concerns or opinions only during the public comment portion of the City Council meeting. I. The Mayor and City Council reserves the right to extend or limit the length of public comments based on: (1) the issue under discussion; (2) the number of items on the agenda; and (3) the extent to which the speaker remains constructive in their comments and questions. II. The public may not directly confront the public speaker but must direct all comments and questions to the Mayor and City Council. III. Public harassment of or confrontation with a public speaker will not be tolerated. Members of the public violating tenets two or three will be asked to sit down or leave the premises.

V.Review of the Journal (City Clerk)

1. 1.Request Minutes from City Council Meeting 03-04-2025 be approved

VI.Reading of Communications 

VII.Adoption of The Agenda of The Day 

VIII.Committee Discussion Items

1. 1.Stone Mountain Community Garden

2. 2.Planning Commission

3. 3.Historic Preservation Commission

4. 4.Parks and Recreation Committee

IX.Staff Reports

1. 1.Public Safety- Police Chief- James Westerfield Jr

2. 2.Administration- City Manager-Shawn Edmondson

X.City Manager’s Report

1. 1.City Manager - Shawn Edmondson

XI.Council Policy Discussion Topics 

XII.Unfinished Business

1. 1.Consideration of an action on a request to declare the city is out of covid protocol and to move forward with removal of plexiglass in city council chambers, requested by Council Member Teresa Crowe

XIII.New Business

1. 1.Consideration of an action on a request to approve Change Order #5: Traffic Calming on 4th Street, requested by Assistant City Manager/Economic Development Director Maggie Dimov

2. 2.Consideration of an action on a request to allow a long term facility use agreement at Leila Mason Park with Donald Jones-Buonpensiere from April 20, 2025 - September 14, 2025, requested by City Clerk

3. 3.Consideration of an action on a request to allow Dekalb County to utilize the GMC building for election purposes, requested by City Clerk Shavala Ames

4. 4.Consideration of an action on request to approve an agreement with Emilia Walker for blight property services as needed

5. 5.HB 581 Opt In, requested by Mayor Pro Tem Ryan Smith

XIV.New Ordinances and Resolutions 

1. 1.Resolution 2025-09 - Enforcement of Adherence to Rules of Decorum for Effective Meeting Management

2. 2.Ordinance 2025-02 - Council's Interference with Administration

3. 3.Resolution 2025-08 - Employee Benefits 

XV.Remarks of Privilege 

1. 1.Discussion: Request to change the zoning to residential for commercial property running from the intersection of Ridge Ave and Sheppard Road to the Lucky Market, requested by Mayor Pro Tem Ryan Smith

2. 2.Discussion: Public Works tools to do the job, requested by Councilmember Shawnette Bryant

3. 3.Discussion: Decorum, requested by Councilmember Shawnette Bryant

4. 4.Discussion: Property Taxes, requested by Councilmember Shawnette Bryant

5. 5.Discussion: Pre-Planning for the 2026 Comprehensive Plan, requested by Councilmember Anita Bass

6. 6.Discussion: GMC building used as a Multi purpose facility, Bingo night , Work shops, Mentorship, Virtual office, requested by Mayor Dr. Beverly Jones

7. 7.Discussion: 1-hour parking, requested by Councilmember Teresa Crowe

8. 8.Discussion: DDA Discussion, requested by Council Member Gil Freeman

9. 9.Discussion: 2023 Audit Update, requested by Council Member Gil Freeman

10. 10.Discussion: SPLOST Audit I and II, requested by Council Member Gil Freeman

11. 11.Discussion: Removal of confederate symbols/memorials from Stone Mountain Cemetery, requested by Council Member Gil Freeman

12. 12.Discussion: Forensic Audit Selection, requested by Council Member Gil Freeman

13. 13.Discussion: New Employees and Code Enforcment Officer, requested by Councilmember Shawnette Bryant

14. 14.Discussion: Check signing resolution to ensure all account numbers are listed on the resolution (e.g., SPLOST-1, etc.), requested by Mayor Dr. Beverly Jones

15. 15.Discussion: Approval of Parks and Recreation by laws, requested by Council Member Gil Freeman

16. 16.Discussion: Parks and Recreation recommendations, requested by Council Member Gil Freeman

XVI.Announcements by The Mayor

XVII.Executive Session to Discuss Personnel, Legal, Cyber Security and/or Real Estate (if needed)

XVIII.Adjournment