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Mayor and City Council Work Session Tuesday, January 21, 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 - City Manager | Maggie Dimov - Assistant City Manager |Shavala Ames - City Clerk | Danny Mai - Assistant City Clerk | Jeff Strickland - City Attorney | Richard Edwards - City Planner

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

Link to join Webinar: [LINK]

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.Consideration of an action on a request to approve the October 1, 2024 City Council Meeting Minutes, requested by City Clerk Shavala Ames.

  2. 2.Consideration of an action on a request to approve the October 15, 2024 City Council Meeting Minutes, requested by City Clerk Shavala Ames.

  3. 3.Consideration of an action on a request to approve the January 7, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes, requested by City Clerk Shavala Ames.

  4. 4.Consideration of an action on a request to approve the January 14, 2025 Special Called Meeting Minutes, requested by City Clerk Shavala Ames.

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.Economic Development/Downtown Development Authority

  4. 4.Historic Preservation Commission

  5. 5.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

XIII.New Business

  1. 1.Consideration of an action of a request to set and advertise the Qualifying Fees for the 2024 City of Stone Mountain Municipal Election, requested by City Clerk Shavala Ames

  2. 2.Consideration of an action on a request to authorize the purchase of JustFOIA, an Open Records Management Software in the amount of $8,464.50, requested by City Clerk Shavala Ames

  3. 3.Consideration of an action on a request to set a Special Called Meeting date for the purposes of establishing a third Public Hearing Meeting date for the Homestead Exemption, requested by City Manager Shawn Edmondson.

  4. 4.Consideration of an action on a request to authorize the purchase of  Verkada, a citywide camera system in the amount of $149,889.11, requested by City Manager Shawn Edmondson.

  5. 5.Consideration of an action on a request to approve the Financial Advisory Committee, requested by Mayor Dr. Beverly Jones.

  6. 6.Consideration of establishing regulation guidelines when obtaining an Occupation Tax Certificate (Business License)  with the City of Stone Mountain regarding business hours, requested by Councilmember Teresa Crowe.

  7. 7.Discussion: Any appointment requiring council approval for removal should be under contract requested by Council Member Mark Marianos.

  8. 8.Discussion: Update on the progress of Warnall street name change to John C. Terrell St. requested by Council Member Mark Marianos.

  9. 9.Discussion/Vote: Use for the Lawn on Main Discussion requested by Council Member Mark Marianos.

  10. 10.Discussion: Progress Update/ presentation of Amendment to address issues with the directing of staff and retaliation against staff requested by Council Member Mark Marianos.

  11. 11.City Digital Signage as requested by Council Member Anita Bass.

  12. 12.City Wayfinding Signage as requested by Council Member Anita Bass.

  13. 13.Rules of Decorum as requested by Councilmember Gil Freeman.

  14. 14.Audio system as requested by Councilmember Gil Freeman.

  15. 15.Require/create a new      Ordinance that requires meeting minutes approved before legal documents      are signed to ensure CC votes in open records for Open Records Act      compliance as requested by Councilmember Gil Freeman.

  16. 16.Request new local auditor to audit all SPLOST 1 & 2 as requested by COuncilmember Gil Freeman.

  17. 17.Cemetery Fund questions as requested by Councilmember Gil Freeman.

  18. 18.Discussion on the DDAas requested by Council Member Gil Freeman.

  19. 19.Whitaker Accounting firm to present the findings of the 2024 financial audit as requested by Mayor Beverly Jones.

  20. 20.Attorney Walker blighted properties requested by Mayor Beverly Jones.

  21. 21.Discussion to relocate the confederate sign in the middle of the columns at the 5-way intersection, as requested by Councilmember Teresa Crowe.

XIV.New Ordinances and Resolutions 

XV.Remarks of Privilege 

XVI.Announcements by The Mayor

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

XVIII.Adjournment