[music] [music] [music] [music] [music] Heat up here. [music] >> [music] [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. >> [music] >> Heat. Heat. >> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] >> Heat. Heat. N. [music] [music] Heat. Heat. >> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> I don't know. >> [music] >> Good afternoon. I'm Doug Shipman, Atlanta City Council President, calling to order this regularly scheduled meeting of the Atlanta City Council. Today is Monday, November 17th, 2025, and I would like to ask the clerk to call the opening role. >> Good afternoon, Mr. President, members of the council. We have Council President Doug [clears throat] Shipman, >> present. Council member Michael Julian Bond, post one at large. >> Council member Matt West Morland, post two at large. >> Here. >> Council member Eay Collins, post three at large. >> Present. >> Council member Jason H. Winston, District 1, >> here. >> Council member Carden White, District 2, >> here. >> Council member Byron D. Amos, District 3. >> Here. >> Council member Jason Dosa, District 4. >> Present. >> Council member Liliana Dary, District 5. Council member Alex Juan, District 6, >> present. >> Council member Howard Shook, District 7. Council member Mary Norwood, District 8. Council member Dustin Hillis, District 9. Council member Andre Elen, District 10, >> present. >> Council member Mark Cullig, Over Street, District 11. >> Council member Antonio Lewis, District 12. Mr. President, we do have a quorum of members present. >> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Uh, next we'll move to the adoption of the agenda. If there are no changes or updates to the agenda, I would entertain a motion to adopt. Moved by council member one, seconded by council member Shook. Is there any discussion on the move to adopt the agenda? Hearing none, we can do this van's consent. Any objection, the motion to adopt the agenda. Madam clerk, please sound the count on the motion to adopt. >> 11 yay z. >> 11 yay zay is the motion to adopt the agenda carries. Next, we'll move to our invocation. We do not have a guest today, but I would uh entertain any remembrances that council members may want to put forward this week. Those is always good when we don't have our remembrance. With that, would you just join me in a moment of silence? Thank you. Would you please join me in the pledge of allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Next, we'll move to proclamations, commendations to other special awards. It's a bit awkward for me to announce the first one, but I would invite council members Juan and Boone forward in recognition of the council president. [laughter] >> And I would also invite anybody in the audience that's here for President Shipman to come up if if you want. Um but in the meantime, it is a distinct honor and privilege for me to be up here with my colleagues, uh Council Member Boone as well as Council Member Collier Overreet to honor and and recognize our fearless leader for the last four years, Council President Doug Shipman. I will I was at a community event yesterday and I was talking about how um there are uh we use this word a lot but uh you know dignitaries and giants in our community and part of that is because of longevity and how long folks have been working in the community and the other angle is on impact and I have to say with my colleague here um President Shipman he certainly embodies both. He's been working in our communities for a long time and he's had a a real um deep impact in terms of advancing our city forward. Um one thing I' I have noticed and marveled at over the last four years serving with him is that anytime I'm out or we're out in the community, um Doug knows everybody and everybody knows Doug. Um but again it goes back to um the work that he's done and the time that he's put in and and that simple um impact and and uh um just yeah impact is the right word. Uh I knew of him tangentially up until 2022 um you know center for civil civil and human rights the wood of arts center and then also Emory University. Um but I I'm really excited and have had the pleasure to work with him for the last four years and I I think I speak for my colleagues that um one thing that we can say about Doug is he'll always bring that consultant brain and uh attitude into and approach into all of our proceedings. Um a lot of that is simply perspective. I think uh consultants bring this broad wide range um view and lens on issues that we're challenging that we're facing. Um but he's also been very good about guiding us as well. I think one-on-one um he'll offer suggestions, thoughts, comments, um advice um that help inform how we approach the work that we do. Um he's very detailed oriented and he always brings his analytics in. um you'll you'll never miss a meeting where he speaks up where he starts talking about numbers and percentages and returns and you know things that you only need a you would definitely absolutely need a calculator to figure out. Um but the thing I've admired and respected him for most is that at the right times he's in the trenches with us. he will be there asking questions um making sure that we know he is uh working alongside us with us uh on for you the public. So with that I'm going to read the proclamation and then we got a couple of other things for him. Um but I again it's a real honor and privilege for me to be doing this. So this is a proclamation from the Atlanta City Council honoring Council President Doug Shipman. Whereas the Atlanta City Council pauses to recognize and honor Council President Doug Shipman. He was elected to serve as the presiding officer of the council in November 2021 and is now concluding his tenure. And whereas widely regarded as a coalition builder with the gifts of bringing people together, President Shipman consistently worked to unite neighborhoods, institutions, and civic partners around common sense solutions, turning community ideas into meaningful action. And whereas his leadership has been recognized by numerous civic civil rights and human rights organizations including the Atlanta Business League, Rainbow Push Coalition, the Atlanta Urban League, the Junior League of Greater Atlanta, and the Buckhead Rotary Club. And he has been repeatedly named one of Atlanta's most influential leaders by Atlanta Magazine, Georgia Trend, and the Atlanta Business Chronicle. And whereas President Shipman has an extensive record of civic engagement, having served on bodies such as the Cycllorama Task Force and as a board member for organizations including the Carter Center, Midtown Alliance, Metro Chamber of Commerce, Advisory Council of the Islamic Speakers Bureau, the Honorary Board of the Anti-Defamation League, Southeast Chapter, and Out of Hand Theater. And whereas before entering public office, President Shipman led several of Atlanta's most influential institutions, including serving as CEO of the Woodruff Art Center, where he strengthened fiscal management, broadened programming, and expanded access for artists and patrons across backgrounds, advancing the cent's role as the third largest arts institution in the nation. And whereas President Shipman al also served eight years as the founding CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, spearheading its $100 million fundraising campaign, guiding its design and construction, leading its opening, and supporting the effort to secure and preserve the Martin Luther King Jr. Papers collection at Morehouse College. And whereas a proud resident of the historic Old Forth ward, President Shipman is deeply rooted in the community he served and cherishes time spent with his wife and their two young daughters, often gathering around the kitchen to share good food, and family connection. And whereas, as his term concludes, the members of the Atlanta City Council acknowledge with gratitude Doug Shipman's steady leadership, thoughtful stewardship, and unwavering commitment to an Atlanta that grows stronger, fairer, and more connected each year. Now therefore, it be it proclaimed that we, the members of the Atlanta City Council, on behalf of the residents of Atlanta, do hereby recognize and honor Council President Doug Shipman for his exemplary service, visionary leadership, and enduring contributions to the city of Atlanta. And it's signed by all members of council. >> Yeah. Yay. >> All right, there's more. Are you up next? All right, Council Member Boon. >> And now, our president-elect, the Honorable Marcy Kario Over Street will present the Spirit of Atlanta Award. Please glance at our screens while this presentation takes shape. The video. Oh. Well now wow >> here we are. Um, just had a meeting with uh President Shipman and and spoke about how uh moving forward, we will continue to do the Spirit of Atlanta award. I think this is a a beautiful um uh thing that you've done for the city. I don't think we had the Spirit of Atlanta award before you. So, it will certainly be done in your honor. uh while on this campaign trail [clears throat] um I've heard so many great stories about you uh so many honestly [laughter] really good stories the kind that that uh really sets the tone for how I should hope you know handle myself as [clears throat] a council president uh going forward all of the stories were about community engagement and how you've been so responsive and caring and um how they trust your judgment uh with council and I got to know you through speaking with everyone for the past eight months and um I appreciate the work that you've done. So for you to have started the spirit of Atlanta award uh this is for you. It's the Spirit of Atlanta award for you and uh congratulations on that. And just know that we'll be passing the Spirit of Atlanta award throughout our city in your honor while you're uh away from council. And you're welcome anytime to come back and and help us with that. >> Thank you so much. >> Absolutely. Thank you. >> Wait, that's not all. The Honorable Jason Winston. >> Thank you, Council Member Boone. Uh, it's my honor here to be able to present the Spirit of Atlanta award to Council President Doug Shipman. Um, I had the honor of meeting Doug uh back in 2021 on the campaign trail. uh he spent a lot of time in my district and one thing that quickly st stood out for me was how analytical he was to a lot of subject matters uh and it's something that I really took from him was that his deep dive into policy uh was something that I'd admired uh early on uh and he brought that to council when he was elected um you knew if Doug came into your office unexpectedly it was to dive into a subject matter that uh he felt like he needed to uh to really get into and so I've really appreciated that. Um but the spirit of Atlanta award to me um means a lot and it embodies who Doug was. Um Doug is all about Atlanta. I mean as as council member uh elect uh council president-elect over street mentioned um you know all over the city he has been so so well respected and it continues to be well respected uh about what he has done. One of the things personally for me um I've always enjoyed our connection on being girl dads. Um that's something that we've always been able to have those conversations about just our kids and just humanizing this position that we're in. Uh one thing that I uh I also appreciate about Doug um is that he brought a sense of personal um you know I would say uh being able to take care of our bodies. Um you know he's been an avid runner uh someone that has promoted a healthy lifestyle uh in the city of Atlanta and also on council. And some that's something that I appreciate is that he has really pushed a lot of us council members uh to really take care of ourselves both mentally and physically. And I think that's something that also embodies this spirit of Atlanta Ward. So Doug, I just want to go ahead and say thank you. Uh you've been a friend, a mentor, uh and congratulations. >> Thank you, my friend. >> You're still too fast for your own good. And now we will have a few remarks from our colleagues. But I would like to say, Council President Shipman, thank you for being a bridge builder, making this place a kind and loving place. We all really, really get along. So, thank you for that. Thank you for making sure that the children in Southwest Atlanta had an opportunity to go to the Civil and Human Rights Museum on several occasions. and thank you for bringing knowledge and history to this position. Congratulations. And now we will hear from the Honorable Liliana Batiierra, District 5. Thank you so much. [laughter] Come on, I'm short-winded. Um, my name is Liliana. Uh, you know, I walked in thinking I looked really good this morning and then council member Winston said asked me if I had dressed to mourn the departure of council member council president Doug Shipman. So this is for you. [laughter] Uhhuh. Um, but yes, that's what we call Winston being kind and shady at the same time. Um, so but no, it is a close council and I do council president appreciate you pushing each of us to be healthier. I know each of us has failed in that besides you, but we can keep trying. And I do want to say though, um, everything everyone has said is completely true. I'm going to miss you tremendously. You have been a steadying hand. You have been there when I have felt lost and confused. And in some of the fights on council and some of the things that we've worked on, this is a close council. We are able to go toe-to-toe with each other and then speak about it afterwards. And I think you've had a big role in that in being somebody who's communicative, who brings us together, who centers policy and equity of every conversation. You have been a transit advocate. Um I would argue uh the biggest real advocate on this on this body, understanding that transit is a point of equity. And I mean, frankly, you have been a mentor to me during my first term. And uh I consider you a dear friend, even though I know I get on your nerves constantly. Um but it has been getting to work with you. Um I am going to miss you a lot and your perspective here and the fact that you always have an open door to talk about anything and that any point in time where I did not understand policy or I did not understand something that was happening helped me lay out all the pieces. And one thing that you have taught me that I continue to try to strive for is taking a beat looking where everything is and understanding that it's not just about what's right in front of us. is about the city together as a whole and I will always appreciate what you've taught me and I know that you will always only be a phone call away. >> It's true. >> Thank you. >> Any other colleagues? And I would like to acknowledge the presidents of Dr. William Bill Cleveland who is here with us today. Thank you. And wife Vera. Thank you. The honorable Mary Norwood. >> Well, Mr. Council President, you have had the patience of Job to be spearheading and leading and presiding over 15 independently elected officials with many many divergent views and I applaud you for that. You have brought a lot of calmness to this august body as we have gone hours and hours and hours into days and evenings and weekends. So, thank you for your leadership. Thank you for your calm demeanor. Thank you for being a very effective president. >> The honorable The Honorable Jason Doer Good afternoon everyone. I'm Council Member Jason Doer. I represent District 4 on Atlanta City Council. And even though I've only been on this August body for four years along with my friend uh Council President Doug Shipman, uh what an amazing four years it has been. Uh I feel like uh the city of Atlanta has either been in the news or been uh had things that were happening in this room uh the talk of the town uh for most of the time we've been in here. We've as was said before we've had some very long nights, some very long days, some days into nights, some nights into days. uh but you have been a steady hand to make sure that we were doing the people's business and doing it in a way uh that really reflected uh the what people expect of this body, what they expect of us. Um and representing District 4, I I'm also on the board of the National Center for Civil Human Rights and I know you're probably going to shy away from me saying this, but oftentimes when I'm there, it feels like the house that Doug Shipman built >> as the founding executive director. you have really made uh that institution uh the worldrenowned uh institution that we all know it and uh the we just celebrated uh an expansion of that that facility and your fingerprints were all over that even though you haven't been in that position for some time. We know that uh the reason why it has been as successful as it's been is because of your work and I appreciate you for that and and taking that leadership and bringing it here uh with us on Atlanta City Council. Um, I will say, um, uh, it's been a pleasure, uh, uh, speaking truth to power to some of our sister agencies when they're not always, uh, doing right. Um, uh, Doug has been, uh, an amazing, uh, you know, that ma, that consultant management brain kicks in and then the next thing you know, uh, Martya is being taken to task. Uh, meeting after meeting after meeting. Uh, I got a chance Yeah. Um, I got a chance to uh speak with Council President Shipman uh at Five Points Bart Station to speak truth to power and say, "Hey, uh, the direction we're going is not the best what what's in the best interest of our city, of our constituents." And so, I know uh, you're a real one, Doug, and uh, I appreciate that you've been able to uh, do all that you've been able to do in just these four short years. Uh, last thing I'll leave you with and something I'm going to take with me into this next term is uh, Council President Shim has this tick that uh, uh, I think the other members of our body tend to notice that when he's asking some very serious questions and he's getting really into the nitty-gritty about uh, what what he's going to uh, uh, ask and how he's going to take the task, you know, he takes off his reading glasses [laughter] and then he's looks him straight in the eye and and knocks him dead. And so, uh, you know, I these aren't reading glasses. They're actual glasses. So, I can't see without them, but I'm going to be sure to try to, [laughter] uh, take that with me to this next. So, I appreciate you so much, Council President. Thank you so much for these amazing, [laughter] >> the Honorable Byron D. Amos, followed by the Honorable Matt West Morland. >> [laughter] >> So, uh, you know, to be honest, I I did not know Doug Sh, >> you know. Um, I only knew Doug as the white guy that was running the Human and Civil Rights Museum. That's what I knew him as. But then, as I do many of times during campaign seasons, I went by Abel Mabel Tomoth House, and there she was with his t-shirt on. And I said, "Well, wait a minute. >> [laughter] >> I I I need to stop and figure out who this guy really is. So been through the campaign, got elected, we talked and we met and I remember one time he he come into the office and um he asked me a question. I gave him yes or no answer. He say, "Well, that's it." I said, "Yeah, that's it." He said, "Well, council member, I noticed you really don't talk much. You you you cast your vote and your vote be that." And then he say, "Um, we need to move the rest of the council to that to that point." Then if you know fast forward to transportation and you know every time he comes I think someone said every time he comes in the transportation meeting he always say let your committee go first and I say to myself cuz we going to be here all day but sir um they already talked about your mind they always have already talked about your your your intellect and your skills to get directly to the point and the point being about the people of the city of Atlanta. So, one of the things I have learned about you uh one is you was the right person to be running the silver human rights um um museum, but more importantly at this particular time in this political saga of this city, you was the right person to be president. So, I say thank you. >> Thank you. Appreciate >> I imagine Doug's finding this excruciatingly awkward. Um so, I wanted to add in some comments as well. >> [laughter] >> Um, and I'm going to start with a confession. Um, which he won't find all that surprising. I did not vote for you in 2021. >> But damn, if I am not grateful for the last four years um that we had to work together. Um, you have a deep love for policy, a profound interest in politics. Um, both of which I share. Um, and I really genuinely have appreciated every conversation we've had about this city because every single one of them has been about how to make this body function better or this city move forward in the right way. Every single one of them. Um, and if I had to think of a question that has kind of percolated over most of the last 47 months, it's been what problem are we trying to solve? Um, and that's the question that you always ask. Um, and it's the question that even in your absence moving forward, we will collectively be asking because that's the right one as we try and find the right answer. So, thank you so much. >> The honorable EA Collins. So, as one of the um youngest members on uh council, [laughter] Carden and I, um I think for me, I just had a I it's just been immensely um grateful to work closely with you, work closely on the school system side when we were just um really trying to expand more opportunities for our children to enjoy the things that make Atlanta the beautiful place that it is when many of them don't have the didn't even have the economic funds to leave this city and so it was just a complete honor to join this council and um under your leadership be able to transition in a smooth space. So Jason Doer talked about the glasses and Matt talked about what the the infamous question what question we're trying to solve and just being in your office countless times and just saying well why are we not doing this and thinking about this and just bouncing ideas and then you put the glasses in your mouth and you're like okay you're and that's when I know I'm going somewhere with this [laughter] very very very procedural automatic but it's been a immense joy to work alongside with you these last 10 months going and and as we conclude this this year for me, but I'm really excited to continue to work for you always. Um, thank you for answering my calls when um at times when the when calls were being made and people didn't answer, you always answered, gave great advice, and still do do that now. So, I'm just excited to continue to serve you as a constituent in our great city and know continue to work for you and continue to have you in our um chest of thoughts and ideas on how to make this city the innovative one we know it could be for everyone. So, thank you again, President Shipman. I look forward to knocking on your door soon and and thank you again. Um and we'll miss you greatly. Thank you so much for for everything. Appreciate you. The Honorable Cardan Wyoff. >> All right. >> So, while I've only been on council for a couple of months, I've known Doug for a couple of years. First time I met Doug was at the Wedruff Arts Center um when he was serving there. And I had some questions about how can we make it better for disability and inclusion and um I had just you know randomly emailed some contact us at woodruffartcenter.org and he took it upon himself to personally meet me and take time out of his day and that's the kind of person that you are. I've heard so many stories of how you dedicate your time to us and to the rest of the Atlanta community and that's who you are. You're a servant at heart. And um this was probably back in what 2019 or so. And then when I saw that you were running for council president, I always saw Doug Shipman wearing some form of tracksuit because he was always running while he was door knocking. And if I didn't see him running, he was on the train. And that is a that is just a person that is in the community. He lives and breathes it. And just there's so many wonderful memories of you know, you really are you're you're everywhere. So, thank you. And before we hear from the dean of the Atlanta City Council, Howard Shook, we would like to get remarks from Dr. William Bill Cleveland. And let's um recognize your wonderful, fantastic staff led by Aaron Johnson with Kathy and Jordan. Did we miss anyone? They are efficient and terrific. Thank you. >> Well, Doug, I did vote for you [laughter] because [clears throat] I got a chance to get to know you because my wife helped to run your campaign. she was leading your campaign and so we spent many hours at our house with strategy and um plans and I got to know you and so your great vast knowledge of politics, history, business was the great collaboration I felt Atlanta would benefit from. And as a physician in southwest Atlanta and a native of Atlanta, I've had a chance over the last four years seeing how Atlanta has grown. And so I can see that you in this position has helped to raise the profile of Atlanta and the development of Atlanta and we certainly are all appreciative of that. >> Thank you. And now I would like to invite the dean of the Atlanta City Council, Howard Shook, who will give remarks and then unveil this wonderful gift from the Atlanta City Council. Remarks and then you unveil. >> Yes, ma'am. >> All right. Well, one thing Doug and I have in common is we have both learned how short a term can be. Um, one of the perks of being chair of the finance committee is I get to meet with Doug twice a month. Uh, I will miss those conversations. They've made me uh a much more effective council person. Uh, for those of you who don't know, Doug wears his policy, political, and financial green eye shade really, really tight. and when he shows up at a departmental budget briefing, the presenter better have it all together. Um, lastly, maybe most important, on behalf of my constituents, I want to thank you for bringing a level of civility to this post, uh, which is so notably lacking on larger stages. So, thank you and good luck. And now we will have the official unveiling of the portrait. But before that, we wanted to thank our chief of staff, Santana Kempson, Wright, our clerk, Karine Lindo. Thank you for all of your hard work. We appreciate you all. And Mr. President, you also have a Spirit of Atlanta cake that we'd like for you to get a slice of. [laughter] Yep. >> Ready. One. >> You got to go. You better listen. >> Ready. One. And now we will have remarks from the Honorable Doug Shipman, president of the Atlanta City Council. Thank you. I'm I'm very humbled by everyone's remarks. First, let me just thank my family who has uh allowed me over the past four years to not spend time with them, but to spend time with all of you. >> [snorts] >> Um, I am a very proud girl dad. Um, they still, my girls still don't quite understand what the role of council president is, like a lot of Atlanta, [laughter] but >> they have they have allowed they have allowed me to do this job. Um, let me just briefly say that I got two pieces of advice when I got elected. One was from Shirley Franklin and she said, "You'll learn things about this city you can learn no other way than being in office. So, take advantage of that." And that has been true. And the other was from Stacy Abrams who said, "Even though you really can't do it by yourself, how effective the council is is how you will be judged." And I will take everyone's word for it that we have accomplished that together. We have had an effective four years on council. What I learned about Atlanta over the last four years is that Atlanta's superpower is its ability to welcome new people onto the stage and into the places that make things happen. When we are a welcoming city, we are doing our best. We are allowing new people to come in and to play a role and then for others to follow them and to play a role, whether it be in business or nonprofit or civic or political sectors. Welcoming is about we. It's not about us who are already here. It's about we. All of us each and every day. And in fact, you know, I love history. Four, five of our recent mayors, five were not born in Atlanta. Mayor Jackson was born in Dallas. Andy Young was born in New Orleans. Bill Campbell was born in Raleigh, North Carolina. Shirley Franklin was born in Philadelphia. Casim Reed was born in New Jersey. They came here and this city embraced them and didn't only embrace them as people but embraced them as leaders. That is an incredible asset that we have that we have to continue to foster. And even over these past four years when we got elected four years ago, eight of us plus me, nine of us were new and a new mayor. And I remember the questions were, well, you know, is this really going to be workable? Is this council going to be able to get things done? Are we able going to be able to function? There's so many new people, new mayor. How's it going to work? And I would like to think that the mayor and I and this council have shown a new way in which we can collaborate even when we don't agree. How we can work together for the better of the city. How an Emory grad and a Georgia Tech grad. how an Adamsville kid and an Arkansas kid can actually come together to move the city in a better direction. I think that spirit of collaboration is very present and I have great faith that it will continue. Any success that I've had in this office is not mine alone and I want to take a moment while I have this microphone to thank a few specific people. First and foremost, I want to thank people in the administration who have been willing to collaborate with me and this council, starting with Mayor Dickens, who has had a spirit of collaboration for the last four years, both COOs that I've had the pleasure of serving with COO Burks and COO Gordon, both chiefs of staff, C chief of staff Donald and Chief of Staff English. want to give a special s shout out to deputy chief of staff Pace who has been such a wonderful collaborator on a weekly basis in so many ways and I saw her earlier I don't know if she's in the room but a special shout out to Kenyatta Mitchell who used to work here who was such an incredible teammate when it came to the early part of the term especially as we kept the city together from a threat for tearing it apart both city attorneys city attorney Hixon and city attorney Perkins Hooker who keep this body in line. And a special shout out to special counsel Amber Robinson who is such an incredible teammate of ours and is so impactful in the work that we do. I will miss working with her. CFO Bala and your entire team. It has been a pleasure even when I have asked the tough questions with my glasses on or off. [laughter] On the council side, both city clerks Webb and L and Lindo, thank you for always keeping the council working well. This council would not be what it is without Santana Kempson Wright and her entire team. She makes sure that we look good even though sometimes we don't have all of our stuff together. And personally, no one has been more impactful on a daily basis in my role than the parliamentarian Dennis Conway. Mr. Conway, you are a true asset to this city and you have been a wonderful partner in making sure that I have not made mistakes that would be detrimental to this body. My team has been mentioned, both chiefs of staff that I've had the pleasure of having work with me, Verna Cleveland and Aaron Johnson. Absolute pleasure and an honor to serve beside you. Monica Ponder, who has been very helpful on our communications. Jordan Kemp, who was with me on the campaign, knocking on doors, not really sure why he was wearing my t-shirt at first, and has been such an asset to this office. And Kathy Murray, who decided to stay on for her third council president, who has been invaluable in council, scheduling, wisdom in ways large and small. Kathy, thank you for everything that you've done. Any mistakes or missteps, failures, they're mine alone. [music] I bear the responsibility for those. But I can tell you as I close that I've tried my best. [music] I've attempted to be humble in this office in spite of the pressures that make it one that you want to talk about yourself. I've tried to meet the expectations of our bosses, each of you who live in the city of Atlanta. Every day, you have been the reason that I have gotten up. You have been the reason I've come to the office and you have been the reason why I've did tried to bring my best to this position. Thank you for welcoming me to this role. Thank you for letting me serve you for a few years. It has been the honor of my life. God speed to this city. >> Thank Thank you, Mr. President. We will miss you. We will miss you and thank you for your service. Mr. President, you have about 10 members that were born and raised in the city of Atlanta on this city council. Thank you for everything. And let's do what we do best. Let's take a picture um with members of the city council first. Members of the city council first and then we will have everyone else join us. It's a good thing I'm leaving office. That went much more than 15 minutes. Uh next up I would like to invite uh council member Wyoff forward and all of those who are here for the recognition of new disabled south to please join us up on the All right. I'd like to recognize a wonderful organization, New Disabled South, a disability justice rights organization that covers the 14th southern states. And I've had such an amazing privilege to know Dom um and his team over the last five years. We worked together on the Stacy Abrams disability justice rights campaign. And when uh that campaign completed, Dom approached me and said, you know, I'm interested in continuing this work and would like you to be a part of it. And so then we were off the the creation of New Disabled South. So I'm just so thankful um to work alongside you. So I'll start out by reading some some remarks. In recognition of New Disabled South, whereas the members of the Atlanta City Council wish to recognize the outstanding leadership of New Disabled South, an Atlanta based disability rights justice, disability rights and disability justice organization that was launched in 2022 amid the CO 19 pandemic whose mission is to improve the lives of disabled people and build strong disability justice [snorts] and rights movement in the South. And whereas the new disabled South is building a powerful regionwide coalition of disability justice activists, advocates, and organizations across 14 southern states, uniting efforts to drive policy change, movement building, and research narrative transformation in support of disabled people, especially those who are multiply marginalized. Whereas the organization advances this work in three core priorities, poverty and care, criminaliz criminalization and democracy, recognizing that disabled people in the south live in poverty at more than twice the rate of non-disabled people who are disproportionately impacted by criminalization and incarceration and continue to face structural barriers to full participation in the democratic process. Whereas New Disabled South has developed innovative tools such as the plain language policy dashboard truly has been transformative um in for the general assembly. Original research and organizing strategies that enable disabled people and communities in the south to understand, engage with, and influence legislative and policy frameworks that impact their lives. Whereas in the city of Atlanta, we affirm the principle that accessibility, inclusion, and equity for disabled residents strengthen our entire community, and we applaud new disabled souths in insistence that disabled people must be led and shape the change that affects them, thereby modeling the 10 principles of disability justice within our region. Now therefore, it be proclaimed that we, the members of Atlanta City Council, on behalf of the residents of Atlanta, do hereby express our heartfelt support and appreciation of New Disabled South in recognition of its impactful work in the city of Atlanta and the broader southern region. We commend the organization's steadfast commitment to centering dis disabled leadership, advancing policy, and organizing for justice, and forging inclusive connections across the movement spaces. Thank you so much. and winery if you want to make any remarks. >> Thank you. Thank you so much, Carden. Council member Woff, I have to remember to call you that um for this honor. Um my name is Dom Kelly. I founded New Disabled South. Um I have three of my team members and my kid here. Um we have a 27 person team who unfortunately cannot all be here. Um, but we we work across 14 states and we're really rooted here in Atlanta. Um, I appreciate you, Council Member Whiteoff, for being um, steadfast in your advocacy and being such a huge part of our work. Um, and just for folks who don't know, um, 25% of our state are people with disabilities. Um, the majority of whom are black, twothirds of our prison population are disabled. Thousands of disabled people are institutionalized in this state, in this city. Even more will become institutionalized or unhoused as housing becomes even harder to find here and across the state. So, this is this is a moment this is a moment for Atlanta to choose to be a great city um for disabled people. Right now, our infrastructure is broken. Prioritizes politics and personal interest over access and inclusion. It's why it's so important that Cardan is on this council. Atlanta ranks 176 out of 182 in the worst cities for people with disabilities and it's dead last in healthcare for disabled people. [clears throat] Atlanta City Council has an opportunity to do right on its 2009 DOJ settlement agreement to make our city accessible. We could finally put Cop City on the ballot and stop authority and democracy to harm disabled folks. I know Atlanta can be great. I love Atlanta and we ask you as disabled people to do right by us. We promise we'll show up and we'll keep holding y'all accountable because we love y'all. And in closing say to my fellow disabled Atlantans who are uh you may be here or watching I want to quote my dear friend Alice Wong who died just three days ago. She's a disability justice leader and she said don't let the bastards grind you down. So, we're going to keep showing up and thank you for this honor. [clears throat] >> I'm cooking. I'm cooking. Okay. Great work. [clears throat] Thank you. Finally, today I'd like to ask everyone who is here for the um uh the recognition of the City of Atlanta Sustainability Ambassadors Program and the celebration of the 500th Ambassador. Please join me up on the podium. Looks like all 500 may be with us today. Incredible. Okay. Nice to see you, Michelle. Thanks for being here. Thank you all for being here. Sustainability is a major challenge for any city in this country and it certainly is for Atlanta. Whether it be our increasing heat, our increasing rainstorms, the chance of flooding, our air quality generally, also those moving here because of things that are happening elsewhere along our coastlines, major storms that we've seen in the last few years. Sustainability is front and center to so much of the policy we're making. And in times like these, you can't just do that kind of work from city hall. You actually have to have a grassroots initiative. You have to be empowering people to be able to do the work in their neighborhoods, on their streets, in their communities to build support, to gather ideas to actually make progress happen. That is the core of the city of Atlanta Sustainability Ambassadors Program. It is something that really allows everyday citizens in Atlanta who care about sustainability to be empowered and to have a way in which they can affect policy both here at city hall and on their street corners and with their neighbors. And so it's a real honor for me to um to provide this proclamation today. I'm going to go ahead and read it and then I'm going to ask Chief Sustainability Officer Shandra Farley to come and to make remarks. But I think it'd give everybody context for how great this program is. So it says recognizing the city of Atlanta sustainability ambassadors programming program and celebrating the 500th ambassador. Whereas the Atlanta city council proudly recognizes the city of Atlanta sustainability ambassadors program au community centered initiative established in 2017 by the mayor's office of sustainability and resilience to strengthen Atlanta's commitment to environmental stewardship equity and long-term climate resilience. And whereas the sustainability ambassadors program equips residents to become proactive change makers who advance equitable and sustainable solutions through knowledge, collaboration, and collective action in alignment with the city of Atlanta's sustainability and climate resilience goals. And whereas cities like Atlanta are on the front lines of climate action and must invest in residents, neighborhoods, and local businesses as key partners in building a resilient future, recognizing that meaningful community engagement is essential for sustainable development and equitable growth. And whereas the sustainability ambassadors program embodies this approach by preparing communities and local governments for the environmental, economic, and social challenges ahead, offering authentic opportunities for connection, leadership, and shared problem solving. And whereas delivered annually in the spring and fall, each sustainability ambassadors cohort centers its learning on a local issue tied to the city of Atlanta sustainability and resilience goals and the United Nations 17 sustainable development goals. weaving together history, equity, environmental justice, and community leadership to spotlight the local solutions shaping Atlanta's future. And whereas on November 15, 2025, the city of Atlanta proudly recognizes the 500 sustainability ambassador to complete the program, marking an important milestone in Atlanta's ongoing work to build a climate resilient city for the community by the community. Now therefore, be it proclaimed that we, the members of the Atlanta City Council, on behalf of the residents of Atlanta, do hereby honor and celebrate the City of Atlanta Sustainability Ambassadors Program and its 500th Ambassador, commend its vital role in advancing local climate resilience, and extend gratitude to all ambassadors whose dedication strengthens the well-being of the city and its people. It is signed by myself and all members of council. Thank you for this great work. And now, the city of Atlanta's chief sustainability officer, Candra. >> Thank you. >> So, I want to thank you, uh, Council President Shipman and to the Atlanta entire Atlanta city council for recognizing this momentous occasion today. Um, I also just want to recognize council president Shipman. We have uh known each other a long time and uh was always a real champion for sustainability when he became president um of the city council would always reach out um to see how he could support us and also have to mention um that the National Center for Civil and Human Rights is a lead gold certified um facility. So very important um under his his leadership and was proud during my time at Southeast Energy Institute to support that support that effort. So, as we celebrate this milestone of crossing the 500 mark for the number of City of Atlanta sustainability ambassadors, we are truly demonstrating that community leadership is a priority component of advancing ambitious sustainability and resilience goals that improve the quality of life for all Atlantans at all levels here at city of Atlanta. from our mayor Andre Dickens who is vice chair of the national climate mayors group to our community-led climate resilience advisory board to our 500 sustainability ambassadors. We are demonstrating that priorities in climate action understand that we need all of us to advance very ambitious uh sustainable and equitable goals. I can go anywhere in the city and somebody is going to come up to me and tell me that they have been through the sustainability ambassadors program. I think you can see from everyone represented here and I mean from business leaders of local corporations to now city employees to anywhere across the community. The sustainability ambassadors program is a well-known highlight of our leadership in authentic community engagement when it comes to sustainability. I'm grateful to the office of sustainability and resilience team, current and former uh Natasha Dyer and Michelle Wiseman and all of those who helped stand up this program. Even after her retirement, when I got here, [laughter] Michelle Wiseman told me one thing, and that one thing was that she wanted to continue to support the sustainability ambassadors program. She has now become a fixture of the sustainability ambassadors program. Everybody loves Michelle. Everybody asks me where is Michelle and when is the next sustainability ambassadors program happening whenever I am out anywhere in the city. And it's also been my priority since being in this role that we increase the number of city employees that are coming through the sustainability ambassadors program. And I want to um be really excited that we have continued to do that for every spring and fall session and how important that is to advancing the city's sustainability and resilience goals because as a mayor's office, we have to work in partnership with our operating departments. Just this afternoon, I was down at Ellis Street um with ATL DOT CO Burks and some representatives from the Department of Public Works installing the city's first rub rubber modified asphalt uh paving. And so this is really exciting as Saturday was America Recycles Day that now the city is leading on innovation and partnership celebrating this momentous milestone today to really demonstrate how we understand that it takes community and partnerships to move a sustainable, more equitable and just Atlanta forward. So congratulations to all of these ambassadors and thank you again um to the city council for recognizing us today. Before we take a picture, let me just make sure, are there any colleagues that want to say anything before we snap a picture? Yes, Michelle. >> So, I want to thank all of the ambassadors for coming today. You all look so beautiful. I'm like a parent, you know? You have do you have a favorite child? It's like all of these are y'all are all my favorites. I love you so much. Thanks for coming. And um I also want to give a special shout out to Natasha Dyer. We started within a year of each other and interestingly enough she moved all the way from California to take accept the role of the city of Atlanta office of sustainability and one of the things that we were very in sync about was doing some education and outreach. So when the program started, we just started collaborating about what that looks like. It started really wanting to do with young kids. So our first class was with youngsters, but then we found out that it was um a logistical challenge to get kids. So we just start reaching out to partners. Mercedes-Benz Stadium Dawn has been with us since the very beginning. And when you look at places differently, when you go to a Mercedes-Benz, which is the greenest stadium in North America, and see what all of that looks like, what does clean energy and waste reduction and composting and bees and honey and all of these things that just make it really um so you you start thinking different. So, thank you all and I really appreciate the city of Atlanta and thank you Shandra. As Shandra mentioned, um I left a couple of years ago and I Shandra asked what are you going to be doing? I said hopefully continuing the sustainability ambassador program and I am not kidding if I post the sustainability ambassadors on Friday within five days it's full. So that's how popular it's become and especially within the city of Atlanta employees and I'm hoping that because you all have this knowledge that you're bringing the knowledge to the city so we can all become collaborative partners understanding how all of these things work together. I do have a lot of representatives um that have their certificate. How many of my There are a bunch that are the 500. And if you all put your certificates out when we take our pictures, they can see that we're still continuing. We're only halfway to a thousand, y'all. So, >> thank you. >> Thank you. >> And with that, let's come forward and take a picture. Here you go. Thank you all very much. We'll now move to uh remarks of the public. Just as a reminder, you'll have up to two minutes unless you've been yielded time on the list. You can't yield at the podium. Um and um I will do my best to pronounce everybody's name, but if I do not pronounce it correctly, please do correct it for the record. First up today will be Valerie Anderson. Due to yielded time, you'll have up to four minutes today. >> Sorry. >> Oh, good afternoon. >> Oh, and um Mr. ship. Um congratulations and um good luck on your journey. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Yes. Um I have these um follow up that to the officer that um I read um on November 3rd the last time I was Oh. Um excuse me. Excuse me. I need Yes, I can. >> Yes, I can read it. So, I'm going start reading. I wrote the statement Miss Anderson read and I stand by it. Miss Anderson is not alone. There's police officers who support her and will fight for her to get justice. The first order of business needs to be to terminate murdering Melvin supposed to be officer Melvin Potter. Not only do Miss Anderson want answers, those standing with her wants them too. And answers will be delivered along with a termination adding an awareness and influence for intervention. Now, as far as I am concerned, this is courage. This officer is standing by what she wrote on the last time when I was here on November 3rd, she's standing by what she said. Now, this is courage. This is exactly courage. So instead of corruption and the cover up and incompetence that I've been seeing, this is more of what I need to see. Courage from an officer who is standing with me with this type of injustice that I've been experiencing um Melvin P murdering my son and nothing has been done yet whatsoever. Nothing has been done about Melvin Powder murdering my son being on probation with a DUI ordered not to drink and still has a job. And I've said always if it was my son my son would have been in jail by now. So Miss Collins, Mr. West Mullen, Mr. Amos, and Mr. Lewis, I would like um any updates that you all have for me. I would like to hear them. If you all have any >> I can I can respond just really quickly. So the last time that we met I did share information share your information with the Fton County DA's office. Um I'll have for them to tell them to to follow back up with you. But then otherwise then that that's the only update that I have at at this time. >> Okay. and and I sent you a screenshot of the email I sent to the police department so I can follow up to see where they're on that, but I tried to keep myself and two other council members on that email as well. So, as soon as they follow up to that, you'll see it, but I sent it to you. Sent you a screenshot of it. Thank you, >> Miss Anderson. very quickly. I I don't have an update dealing with the part that we spoke about. >> Yes. Okay. Thank um sounds like we're all waiting on information from the people we reach out to. >> Okay. All right. Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next will be Henry Jordan. You'll have up to two minutes. Give now to the spirit of God everyone that's here. And Zakius stood and said unto the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give with the poor. And if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him for fold." Luke 19th chapter 8 verse thus confession reveals a penitent heart if does not suggest doubt that he is guilty of wrongdoing the only question is to what extent are you willing to confess your false deeds >> husband love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it Ephesians 5th chapter 25th verse the wick word love is agapeio which denotes the willing sacrificial giving on the husband part for his wife without thought of return. James Smith never desired to love me this way. In a dream I over I was over a church and James was teaching the men how to be a Christlike husband like the Bible says. The men became angry with him and started fussing with him because they knew his life. James did not do his first wife right. So how can I marry him? I will be working against the word that created the income if I would marry him. Give her other fruit of her hands and let her own works praise her in the gates. Proverbs 31:31. Perhaps this across on the excellent wife is placed at the end of the book because she above all others will be most able to demonstrate the principles of wisdom in the home. The word of God created the income. I don't control the gift. Jesus and the gift was created to obey him. She stretched out her hand to the poor. Yay. She stretches forth her hands to the needy. Proverbs 31:20. Compassion prepare for the future. Enterprising entrepreneur. We need Christ more than he need us. >> Thank you. Next will be Minister Breezel. due to the time you'll you'll have up to six minutes today. Greetings to you all and I just want to say to you, you are real ambassador. It been an honor and a privilege to be in the midst of you and all that you have done for God's people. Especially at Ebenea Baptist Church, we hear a lot of talking about the things that you have said and done. So, we're grateful. Thank you so much. Greetings to you all this afternoon. And I'm so glad that I'm I made it back to bring a word for you all today because the Lord is not playing. He's a just God. He's a holy God and he's a righteous God. >> And [snorts] I didn't come here today to just play games of Shook and Jive. >> I'm an old soldier. 43 years in the missionary work. I have walked Dr. King, Jose Williams, Dr. Larry, and many others, civil right leaders and in this city. Seriously, in the hearts of the people, old people like me in these days, we have not sat back and just remained comfortable in our seats and our homes and we had big cars and we have fancy bags and red bottom shoes and all of that. We had to go through some things to realize that life is good and you treat one another as you wish to be treated and not abuse people and you kick them to the curb when they don't have right Amos. Byron Ammers, right? And [snorts] when we come into a high standards, when God give us in the power our hands, we understand that we must do justice to all >> and not sacrifice ourselves as us and not go out and do the things that we should do when we get our positions. Councilman's, you're all talking, but I'm talking too. Okay. >> So, you've been disobedient, disrespectful, and I voted, and I must take my votes back, maybe I'll veto you out of seat. I will not be disrespectful. I have something to say and I'm going to say it because God gave me this voice and I'm going to say it today >> because the city of Atlanta has been disrespectful for a while >> and I have been praying for this city. I have been telling you all coming down here. The Lord said repent of your sins according to 2 Chronicle 7:14. I even talked to you mayor de Christian ongoing. I was with one of my spiritual son yesterday in church who is Jamar Bryant. This is not a playing game in this city and God does not please what's going on in the city. [snorts] >> Now the children yesterday that I get to call in English Avenue community. One little boy that his mother came to me to help bury his body. And that's why I'm wearing these colors today because I am a Fourth of July birthright child and I'm for justice. >> Now, it is so wrong for us to consider what we are here today. Consider what the people are saying to you. >> Hear the crowd of people. Give eyes to the sight of the blind because you might be seeing but you're blind in the spirit. You don't really see what the people are hurting and going through. Now for 23 years I've been bringing this to you all. And this is my last time bringing it to you. My last time in English Avenue 2002, I was arrested. I was arrested on a house wasn't even my home because people knew that I had big money. My character, my responsibility as a missionary and I love people. I was taking care of so many in that neighborhood. And through this arrest, instead of when you get arrest, you go and do your job and go and take them to the jail. But instead of this officer, he saw that he should set example to me and show my people that he wants to do something to me. He never did anything to others. So he taken me to the expressway on a hot day. He pulled the van in on the side of the expressway of 85 and he cut the air off where I can sweat and I began to sweat until I was began to pass out. And I heard the words just like I'm talking to you all now. [snorts] The Lord said, "Venge is mine, said the Lord, and I shall repay. I've been fighting this for 22 years, but I will not again. I'm going to win this victory and you all, every last one of you on this council. You all going to get with the the mayor and give me justice. I have work to do. I supposed to be in Africa right now. But it eliminated me from having all my profit was taken from me. >> Time is expired. >> But I shall have victory on this. You will get everyone will get emails today. >> Thank you. [clears throat] Council member Over Street, >> do you have something to say? >> I do, Minister. I just want to apologize for talking when you first got up there. I was asked a question and I turned around to answer it and I want to apologize. >> I accept your apology. >> Thank you. Next will be Dennis Tidwell. Dennis Tidwell. Next will be Janice Ballard Dean up to two minutes. First of all y'all, I would like to give honor to God who's the head of my life who woke me up this morning, started me on my way, and allowed me to see another day I never seen before. I'm here in honor of my twin boys. One was beautifully murdered in Central Park here in Atlanta and I've been fighting for his justice for years and it was a hate crime. He graduated as the head of his class at John Casablanca where Ivanka Trump went. He was two days away from going to the Los Angeles School of Filming to be a film director. I was in my home for 11 years. I had to move out because he had mole. I've been coming down here to to the mayor office for years fighting for justice for my child and I've been living homeless for six years now. six years and my son was beautifully murdered dead on arrival in a city park and they ignored me. I talked to Mr. Lewis. Everybody down here, everybody. They know my story. All three of my sons was murdered to senseless gun violence. They know my story is on the news. A mother placed the ending senseless killing after losing three sons. and my son was friend with Jeffrey Epstein. Thank y'all for listening to my voice. >> Thank you. Next will be Kevin Ross. >> Duty time. You have up to four minutes today. >> Good afternoon, members of the council. Uh I appeared last week before the transportation committee to speak to resolution 25R4122. Uh the committee vote that day was two in support of a motion to file, three abstensions, and there was one absence. Uh I am here today to encourage the full council to follow the lead of the two uh transportation committee members who voted to file uh this resolution. Uh, one of the things I spoke to uh during that presentation is very clear irregularities on the face of this procurement. Um, one of the things that stands out uh dramatically is there were six proponents uh for this contract, which is a $10 million a year curbside management contract at the airport. And in the initial review by the procurement department, four were found to be nonresponsive. And then when the IPRO report was done, they determined that a fifth firm should have been declared non-responsive. So you have ended up with a procurement where six uh proponents submitted and yet only one has been found to be responsive. And my experience and um knowledge of government procurement tells me that when you have that situation, it's not the biders that are problematic. It's the procurement because ultimately you want competition. presume you want competition for any contract, but for a contract that involves spending $30 million over three years, um I'd be very very concerned uh that six biders and I only have one proponent that's deemed to be responsive. Um I spoke also about the blackout period and how it's being applied to procurement in the city of Atlanta. Um, and I used a phrase then that I want to repeat now. I think the way the blackout period is being applied is both nonsensical and unconstitutional. Once the procurement department has done its job and it makes a recommendation and that recommendation shows up as legislation before this council, the notion that a blackout period is still in place and that uh potential interested parties have no ability to communicate with you and you have no ability to communicate with them to me is contrary to any legitimate or thoughtful legislative process and it runs counter to the very basic first amendment. uh right that people have to petition their government. Um the notion that a blackout period should extend until the contract is actually signed uh to me takes away the power of this council to act as the oversight body. I frequently remind people that it's the Atlanta City Council, with the exception of what you delegate to the mayor for purchasing authority that has the contracting powers on behalf of the city of Atlanta. And if you're deprived because of an administrative blackout rule from being able to communicate with parties that have information, uh, I submit that you're not doing a service to yourself as a legislative body or to the citizens of Atlanta. So, I want to encourage you to file this paper. Uh, if you have a procurement with six biders and and five are determined to be non-responsive, in the case of the client I represent, they'd never even received a letter telling them what the grounds of their non-responsiveness was. >> Um, you know, how do you even begin to address whether or not that's a protestable situation if you're not even given notice of your so-called grounds of disqualification? Thank you for your time and I hope you will uh file this paper. >> Thank you. Let me just call once again Dennis Sidwell. No. Okay. Next will be AJ Satcher. You'll have up to two minutes today. [cough and clears throat] Good afternoon everyone. My name is AJ Satcher. I'm a short-term rental host and also a citizen of Atlanta. I joyfully embrace my community and all that it has to offer. Council members, I come here today not to fight against you. I come here to find a place of peace and understanding with you. Although I may not agree with certain ordinances, I respect and understand your intent. You want to protect the communities in which the people voted voted you to serve. You want to see neighborhoods safe where families can enjoy their living areas. And you want to cut down or better yet eliminate problem short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods. Well, I do too. With that being said, I believe we have to work together to find an optimal solution for all sides. Short-term rentals provide too much of an added benefit to the city to begin throwing out blanket bans on all short-term rental operations all because of a few bad actors. >> Mr. I have to I have to pause right there. Unfortunately, the as the law department reminds us, state law does not allow us to speak directly to legislation that's been heard in ZRB. >> Got it. So any comments would have to be general in nature, not specifically to any pending legislation. >> Got it. >> Ultimately, what I'm asking the council to consider and I challenge to work challenge you guys to work with us to come up with a solution that works for all involved. It is possible. Let's come up with a system that punishes bad actors while allowing the good ones to continue operating their business. I cannot express how much it pains me to see the few communities stifled by short-term rental operations that don't enforce rules to protect their property and its community members. I am a community member, too, which is why I strictly prohibit parties. I never have hosted one and I never will. Council members, I understand that you want to see the community thrive. You want to protect vibrant neighborhoods and communities. >> Time is expired. >> And I want to be able to support that, but also show off our beautiful communities while still protecting our community members. There is a way for both to coexist for us to protect our right as short-term rental hosts. >> Thank you. >> And also protect our community members. Thank you. >> Thank you. Let me just let me just reiterate. You cannot speak to any specific piece of legislation that's pending that has been heard by the ZRB. So any comments regarding zoning have to be general in nature, not specific to a pending piece of legislation. Next will be Lamar Cooper. You have up to two minutes. Good afternoon, council. Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Lamar Cooper. I'm a citizens of the South Fullerton area. I'm here today to address derogatory comments made against my employer last during your last uh city council meeting. These comments do not reflect the company that gave me a second chance and helped transform my life. And I feel compelled to share my story with you. I graduated from East Tennessee State. I was a Hall of Fame football player and I graduated um four years of my time. However, after my athletic career, I did ex expound on some um hard times for incarceration when I were released 5 years early due to good behavior, I faced what seemed like an insurmountable challenge, finding employment as a formerly incarcerated person. Despite my years of hard work to good behavior while incarcerated, I struggled to find a job. The position I did manage to secure was minial unfulfilling and I offered no real career path where I could support my family and grow professionally. Then I learned about Laz's second chance program and everything changed. Since joining LA, I pro promoted I have been promoted multiple times advancing from managing one valet stand to becoming the valet manager for several hotels. I have also managed to manage top concier services for last. My dedication and the opportunity last provided have even led to me being sent out of state to assist with stadium season opening operations. I have been involved in special events at hospitals, worked at Hartsville, Jackson Atlanta International Airport for Nvidia, and have been entrusted with managing LZ's long-standing hotel client in Atlanta. I stand before you today as living proof of what Laz represents. I'm not defined by my past mistakes, but my opportunities I was given and what I have done with them. last made that possible. They saw potential where others saw only a criminal record. They offered hope where others offer rejection. Thank you for taking the time to hear my testimony and for following and for allowing me to speak on behalf of a company that truly changed my life. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next will be Leiddon Blacket. Due to yield to time, you'll have up to six minutes today. Good evening, city council and council president Shipman. I am Ladon Blacka, your interim inspector general. This is a friendly visit. I want you all to come see want me to come and see you all when times are good and when times are bad. I'm here for two very distinct purposes today. My first purpose is to finally and gladly inform you that our first governing board meeting of the Office of the Inspector General is scheduled for this Thursday, November the 20th at 6:00 p.m. in committee room 1. As you all know, we are required to give public notice, which we have done already through our uh city clerk, but I also wanted to make sure that I came to this body and put it on the record that we will be hearing from our governing board. Now during this very first meeting the governing board will be trained by our law department and our department of ethics and at that time I will transmit to them the summaries of our substantiated unsubstantiated and administratively closed matters for their review. At the subsequent meeting those matters will be heard uh for the public and made open and available to discuss the facts in each of those matters. During both the meeting on November the 20th as well as any subsequent meetings, any person in public who has a commentary, whether they be a subject uh or a witness or a participant in any of our investigations, will also have the right to come and speak. And I wanted to make sure that that was uh placed on the record. It's my hope that our office has created a process that we will hold in our very first hearing that will restore the trust, transparency, integrity of the office of the inspector general such that citizens, vendors, elected officials, and employees all feel confident when coming to us with any matters that they want to report. and to curb any of those bad actors that may be reported by anyone. The second reason for my visit today is to introduce to the entire council and to the city of Atlanta my new leadership team of the office of the inspector general. These individuals in conjunction with our auditors and our investigators who are back in our office on Ted Turner will ensure that our processes are both thorough, fair, but also efficient. So, please allow me to introduce to you our interim deputy inspector general, Mr. Dr. Tony McNeel. He is the deputy over our IRO unit. We all know how important that unit is to our processes. It is our hope that we make sure that each of our IRO reports are completely uh filed and timely filed so that you are able to use those reports to your benefit and that we are able to follow the requirements of the city charter. You all will notice over the next coming weeks and months small changes to those reports. We want you to read them. We want you to see those changes. But then you all are going to also hear from me individually because the reports are written per the legislation for the council. But has anyone talked to the council about what is helpful to you and those reports? Well, we will now. So when I pick up the phone, it's my hope that you will answer so that I can get that feedback from you all. In addition, I would like to introduce uh Deputy IG Miss Dion McGee. Uh, Deputy McGee is over our investigative unit and she brings with her experience from as a prosecutor and a defense attorney. She oversees our seven investigators in our office that are responsible for reviewing any complaints. And then I also have behind me assistant inspector generals Michael Green and Malcolm Johnson who both bring to the city of Atlanta extensive investigative experience from both the state and the federal levels. Finally, I will close with this. Independence does not mean isolation. We will conduct our investigations with full independence to ensure that we are protecting the subjects, the complaintants or anyone else who may bring a case forward. But that does not mean that we cannot communicate that we cannot talk with you all to understand the best processes of the city. But most importantly, it's important that our employees and vendors know that they can come to us for any reason. And so for that reason, I would like to make sure that we put on the record for all of the public. Please call the Office of the Inspector General at 4045462271. Through that tip line, you will be able to report from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. every day of the week. If there is something that is occurring that you are concerned about that you would like us to investigate, it does not matter how slight. You do not have to be an investigator yourself. allow us to be the service that we are required to be here today. You can also email complaints to inspector generalat atlantaggaa.gov and you will get the necessary and proper service that you need. It is important to me council that we rebuild the culture in the city that our employees know that they can talk to me and they'll know that because they'll see me coming to talk to you and so this is not my first visit and it will not be my last. And while I hope that most of the visits will be uh introductory or important, sometimes they won't be fun. But I will tell you they will be filled with integrity, they will be filled with efficiency. And if at any time you need anything, please do not hesitate to contact the office of the inspector general. Thank you for the time. >> Thank you. Next will be Ray Stevens. You have up to two minutes. Uh, hey, I wanted to continue the the Love Fest from last week. I had some people that were really into it. Give a shout out to uh Bob Wood from Relapse Theater, the comedy club on 14th Street. You familiar with that one, dude. Nice shades, by the way, man. Anyway, um, I used to do I did improv there for like two years, which might explain some of my, uh, personality ticks. You know what I'm saying? Hey, I wore this for you today, Antonio. How about that? All right. Uh, what I wanted to do was challenge the local comedy community to, uh, pick a issue that you might get upset about or whatever, and, uh, find the humor in it, come on down, and run your twominut set. And if you ask politely, I'll come down here and give you two minutes. You could have four minutes. And thank you for that, Mr. Shipman. I appreciate that. Hey, um, you know, I'm gonna take a brief minute cuz I was running this other bit. And, uh, if I go to google.com and punch in Atlanta Tech Village and and pull the website up. I've been using this to fuel the fire inside for years. And I saw y'all up. Time flies, man. This year's gone by. Remember that dedication up at Silvin back in like what? January. You remember that? Uh dude, see that was one of my Dougisms that like everybody was calling them out. I knew it. All right, perfect. Hey, uh I did want to thank you for uh I had a procedural question one time and I wrote you a email and you you took the time to respond to that. So, I wanted to thank you and wish you well in your new life journeys. And uh I got a gift for you if you'd accept it. It's uh my first batch of record uh songs on a recording. Rock and roll music if you like it. All right. Peace. Thank you. Next up will be Rodney Mullins. >> Due to yield to time, you'll have up to six minutes. Oh, sorry. Council Lewis. I was just going to say the implicit biases I go through since I've been elected. You get to see them on TV. So, I just want to say that out loud. Implicit biases. Thank you again. >> Mr. Move up to you six minutes today. >> Thank you, council president. Thank you, uh, city council persons. I wanted to let you know I appreciate what you did in the last council meeting and also in community development human services meeting. You placed a pause. You placed a pause on the resolution involved in the community the neighborhood reinvestment plan. I want to tell you I appreciate that because all we wanted to do was just take a closer look at what the tags were all about which are really tiffs. The community would like to tell you a few things that we heard a presentation about the halo effect in your last meeting. But what I want to talk to you about is the oh no effect because the oh no effect is what has happened in many of our communities because we've had the tad for many years but we had the tad without metrics without data. So the data doesn't merit your support. If you look at the data around the TAZ, um it speaks to something that is concerning. I believe all of you all if someone was drowning and you saw them drowning, you would try to save them. You would get involved. Our TAD approach is not like that. Our TAD approach is that we wait for investment to come to a struggling community. We take a passive approach and we say, "Well, we hope a developer will come invest in you. If not, we can't do anything. We're going to continue to invest in the east side TAD or other TADs." What kind of approach is that? So, what happened? You took your communities, you made your communities commodities. So, your communities became commodities. Your communities were dangled like a product on Amazon. When I talked to my buddies in private equity firms, they said, "Hey, Rodney, these your communities are hot." and they said it's easy to get them. We're coming in. We're getting them. And now I think Atlanta has three or four corporations that own like five to 7,000 properties in particular communities. So you wonder why the community was concerned. We were concerned because right now the economic development plan is passive. I just mentioned to you, how could you watch a community struggle for years? We've had these tail these tabs for 19 30 some of them 30 years. The Westside TA 30 years nothing for certain people. We still have unpaved streets. Perry Bolton tab minimal results. Hollowell MLK tab minimal results because there's no oversight. And what I'm begging you to do is some of you are leaving office. Congratulations, Howard Shook and Council President and some of you others that are leaving, but leave your colleagues an opportunity to work with the tax base because when it's tied up with the TAD for 20, 30 years, that money cannot go back into the general fund. So, we're already struggling with budget issues. The communities that I'm speaking of have many challenges. They need those funds. As we speak, they're preparing to close 14 schools. 14 schools. And they all majority of them in Washington cluster. They're all on the west side. How can we be excited about that? Yes, I'm excited that you prolong your decision, but I'm more concerned about the fact that the people, the families on the west side are financing their own elimination because you set up an unfair fight because what happened with our economic development team, they placed these communities on auction and what happened is they placed them on auction, but they didn't fortify them with the aptitude to deal with the private equity. firm. So when these contracts came out, because you guys haven't put a lot of force, a lot of oversight on Invest Atlanta, these contracts, we can't see the contracts. So you might have a 65, 70y old grandmother that's trying to weigh her op options and say, "Is this a good development deal?" Is that a fair fight for her to go up against a private equity firm? So she has to look at that deal and say, "Oh, this is good for my community. This is this is not efficacious. It is not. That's not a fair fight. Whereas most communities there there are three communities that are pushing back on tabs. St. Louis, Chicago, and Kansas City. And Chicago has a over 145 tabs. So you need to do your research. So what I'm telling you is about facts. I'm taking the emotion out. Let's look at facts. Everybody wants to help struggling communities, but we want to help them in a smart, efficacious way. We don't want to look up 19 years from now, your colleagues say, "Well, they locked us into a 50-year extension," which I agree with Council Person Doer and some of the others, uh, Council Person Norwood, that we need to step back. Some of these tasks, we not we should not extend the tags in a aggregate manner. We need to look at each one. each one, let them stand on their own merit because these tags had millions of dollars in them, but these same communities have been in poverty, in poverty. So, there's been no oversight. And then the then you have dozens of staff people in in this economic development team that, as I mentioned, they watched that person drown for years. And instead of saying, "How can I help them?" and they said, "Well, we're waiting for somebody to want to invest in you." Which is that's not fair. That's wrong. That's why we have poverty in the land. You wonder why poor people stay poor? >> There's a reason why poor people stay poor because those of us that know don't come give them that navigational aptitude to guide them. Communities don't come with engineers. They don't come with lawyers and attorneys. So, I'm begging you to continue your review. Do not pass this current reinvestment plan because it comes without metrics, without measurable outcomes. It's going to lead you to the same place you've been for 20 years in some of these communities. Thank you, Council President. [clears throat] >> Next up will be Georgina Osborne. >> [clears throat] >> You'll have up to two minutes. >> Uh, good afternoon. My name is Georgina Osborne and I leave on um Heather Drive in Marietta. I am here to address comments made against my employer Laz Georgia during your last council meeting. These comments attacked the company's values and characters and I feel it it is necessary to share my perspective and experience as a longtime Laz employee. I began my career with Les Georgia in August 2017 as a cashier at the Brave Stadium. Over the years, I've been consistently promoted based on my performance and dedication, advancing to be bookkeeper in March 2022 and junior county in December 2024. This progression reflects less commitments to recognizing and rewarding hard work. In August 2023, I experienced a personal crisis when my father passed away unexpectedly at his home in Fiji. During this devastating time, LZ demonstrated an extra extraordinary compassion and support. The entire company rallied around me from my boss and HR director checking on me daily to paying for my flights home and covering all associated costs. Laz even provided me with donations to help with expenses and the time I needed to be with my mother before returning home to the United States. I will always be grateful that LZ was there for me during these hard times. In addition, my own journey to becoming a US citizen. Um it nearly took me 20 years to complete and L played a significant role in helping me achieve this milestone. Throughout the process, my co-workers provided constant encouragement and their support meant the world to me when I finally became a citizen and um when I finally become citizen. The comments that were made last council meeting did do not reflect the the company I've known for over the years. The company's actions towards their workforce speak flatter than any rumors and criticism leveled against them. Laz has shown me compassion during tragedy, celebrated my successes, and provided opportunities for my personal growth. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next will be Atik Ayar. You'll have up to two minutes. Good afternoon. My name is uh Hatikar and I live with my wife and three childrens ages of 9, seven, and three years old. My life has been shaped by service, hard work, and new opportunities. At the Atlanta City's Council's last meeting, comments were made that called into question the integrity of my employer, Lass Parking, Georgia. Accordingly, I wanted to share my story and experience and let you know why I'm proud and grateful to work for LE. From 2003 to 2008, I worked with the United State Armed Forces in Afghanistan. Because of my service the US Department of State gave me a permanent resident card and I was able to start a new life in America. In 2009, I got a job at Fort Benning, Georgia, where I received more training and was sent back to Afghanistan several times to work with US forces, which includes Marines, special forces, and many other army army units. In 2013, I decided to stop working overseas and continue my life in the United States. I was looking for a job and got an interview with Last Parking Atlanta where I was hired as a valet. I work hard, learned every day, and grow with the company. After more than 11 years, I became the director of operation where I oversee more than 25 uh 25 locations and manage over 300 employees. Laz did not just teach me how to park cars. They taught me real business leadership skills and I learned budgeting, operation, financial tools, and attended LA University to grow even more. When the Afghanistan government fell and my family was evacuated to the United States, LA leaders supported me and my family financially, emotionally, and professionally. Their help didn't stop did not stop with me. They also supported hundreds of Afghan families in Atlanta with care packages, support, and job opportunities. Today, I'm proud to lead, serve, and give back to my company, my team. >> Time is expired. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next will be Desiree Thomas. You'll have up to two minutes. Good afternoon. My name is Desiree Thomas and I'm the local campaign manager at the Amplify Georgia Collaborative, a reproductive justice organization that's based here in Atlanta. Um, I sent out this summer an email to the entire council um with our local RJ policy agenda, which is a slate of policy proposals that cities and counties can put into place to protect access to abortion within the state law in their localities as well as advancing reproductive justice in other ways. Um, I've heard back from some of you and I wanted to put it on the radar of those of you that I haven't um that I will be reaching out to try to meet with you to talk about things the city of Atlanta can do to advance reproductive justice. Some of those are a little bit lower lift, like making sure that all city buildings have um menstrual products. There are some things that the city of Atlanta is already doing very well, like making sure that employees of the city can take reproductive health leave. So, if someone needs to have an abortion and they can access that in Georgia, the city has paid leave for that, which I think is exceptional. Um, and that other cities should follow suit. Um, and the city of Atlanta, it was also the first city in the southeast, as many of you know, to donate to an abortion fund. Um, and that also passed unanimously in 2023. The city council passed a resolution that would once again allocate $300,000 in funding to Ark Southeast. And they still haven't received that money, by the way. Um, that was passed unanimously by the council in 2023. And so, I would love to talk to some of you about how we can make that happen. It's not asking for a new allocation of funding because I understand that constraints and tariffs and budgets and the economy sucks and everybody knows that. Um, but I would do think it would be appropriate for Art Southeast to get the money that was allocated to them um via legislation by this body in 2023. I did not come and ask for this last year. I was pregnant. I had a baby. Um, but I am here now and I'm asking for it now. Um, and I would love to speak with you about other things that the city council can do to advance reproductive justice in the city of Atlanta. Atlanta is a reprojustice forward city. We have a reproductive justice commission. Um, and I would be happy to work with any of you, all of you, um, to move this city forward, um, as far as R.J. goes in Atlanta. Thank you. >> Thank you, Council Member Biari. >> Miss Thomas, it's good to see you. >> You, too, Council Member. >> Thank you for coming down here. I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you because y'all have been working for a long time to get the counties to carry the water with us. And while we still >> county did it. >> Yep. Dicap County did it. And while >> Fulton County still hasn't, even though healthcare is their purview. Yes. Um, I'm excited to see that Atlanta was able to set the to basically set the stage for this and lead by example and now we have a county that want work wants to work with us. So, I'm excited to talk to you again about what a future partnership looks like again >> and I appreciate your efforts on this. Council member Baktiari, thank you for being a leader in Atlanta on RJ. Um, and I'm looking forward to continuing to work with you as well. Thank you. >> I think you're the leader, Desire, but I appreciate you letting me help. Thanks. >> Next up will be Jay Chong. You'll have up to two minutes. Sorry. [snorts and sighs] Sorry. I'm so sorry. Okay. Good afternoon. My name is Jade Chong. I am homeowner and responsible STR host here in Atlanta. The proposed STR ban would be devastating. Not >> Sorry, you can't speak to specific legislation. >> That's true. You have to speak in general terms. You can't speak to an issue of zoning that's been heard in ZRB. >> Sure. Um not just for me but many people those who livelihood depending on ability to operate responsibly. I run my STR with care, integrity and deep respect for my neighborhood. I follow every regulation, maintain my home to high standard, carefully screen guests, immediately address any issues that are arises. My neighbors can attest to that. When I learn about this situation, I reach out to people that who actually know my property and myself. In two days, I gathered 30 supporting letters from neighbors, cleaners, past guests, local business owners, and property owners across Atlanta. I sent to all the council members in the email. These individuals understand this situation is a vital positive part of the Atlanta community. This ban make those of us who follow the rules. >> Mong, you can't speak specifically to legislation. I'm sorry. >> I'm so sorry. >> You cannot do it. It's against state >> law. This this this will those of us who follow the rules feel invisible. I also provide a steady work to cleaners and contractors. These hardworking Atlantans will be harmed. The blanket sit sorry will not stop the bad actors but it'll destroy the livelihood of responsible host some small business owners and local workers and that what we offer personal care, hospitality and unique states is something hotels simply cannot replicate. I'm asking you today, homeowners, as a homeowner and community member, please do not punish those of us doing everything right. The city already has a strong regulation, but outright um changing the law is not the answer. My heart respectfully urge you to reject this situation. >> Sean, you can't speak to the legislation. >> Okay. Sorry. >> I'm sorry. Time is expired. >> Sure. Thank you. Thank you. Please don't speak to the legis any legislation specifically. Next up is Nathaniel Dyer. Due to yield to time, you have up to six minutes today. The city too busy to hate is uh opening up shop for the World Cup. You guys will are allowing 14 schools in your backyards to face closure. 14 of those schools are in predominantly black neighborhoods. You all are taking us back to Jim Crow. Well, I say let's say forget taking us back. Just say we're Jim Crow 2025. In the white communities, they're talking about expanding schools because they're overcrowded. On the black side of town, they're saying they're underutilized. So instead of drawing a line because the school system is one district but we're talking about uh one district with two cities so to speak instead of saying hey let's draw the lines where the overcrowded over overutilized schools come over to the black schools you expand to keep the segregational mode going okay over here there has been no level of success and you know I'mma point out let's say Miss Collins Matt West Morland, Brian Amos, Courtney English is in the mayor's office. That's a clown. All these people who have been on the school board, but they turn a blind eye to assisting the school system. >> You give trillions of dollars to developers, CIM, Art Blank, >> Cousins Properties, and the list goes on the belt line, but allow the school system to be in a hund00 million budget shortfall. firing people left and right, but they claim that they lacking resources in the schools. Let's look at the connect the dots. There's massive private investment, Centennial Yards, Beltline Westside Trail, Mercedes-Benz Stadium expansion, new housing developments, tax abatements, and developer incentives. The tax abatements are the main. You have these developers appealing their taxes that will go to the school system. But who's screaming about that? Now, I saw you, Mr. Lewis, at a meeting because one of your schools was on the chopping block. Well, it's not over. You You think it's over? Development. There are cranes swinging in our communities, not only to uh build up structures, but to knock the community out, the black community, because it's not luxurious to have 500,000 and up homes where black people reside. So, your policies attack the seniors by raising their taxes when they should be enjoying the prime of their life. you're trying to displace them through your policies. The school system on the other hand, they say we're going to close schools and expand, but their rationale is low enrollment, underutilization, small, let's see, uh where they're going to lose programmers. But wouldn't that be a great opportunity to focus on small schools, give black boys and girls, who are brilliant, >> a private school-like opportunity, cut down, utilize the low student teacher ratio, expand on t tutoring, counseling, all those. But no, that's too good for them. Let's lump them together. Close their schools, lump them together, and then continue the cycle of 36% literacy in Atlanta. that you all claim is too busy to hate. But you want to welcome the world, but you see you look like fools. >> How do you welcome the world in? And you have 14 schools on the chopping block for under the utilization, a budget shortfall, but you love children. The mayor, that's another clown. He says a great place to raise kids when I was running for election. A great place to raise kids. And you wondering where your child's going to go to school. Is the school going to be open? You have plenty of people in this city who move to areas because of the school. Now they're facing closure. And why? Because some bogus statistics. Give you a prime example. In the Washington cluster, they wanted to say, "Okay, we're going to uh use Hollis. We're going to say we're going to move to it's under utilized. So it's K through eight. Let's take the five through fifth through eighth graders and move them to Russell. You're losing 35% of your student population. You already said underutilized, but this is the rationale that you are contract with. That's going to get the school closed immediately. So, here's some suggestions, you know, some solutions. Stop the tax abatements from the corporate guys. You're already giving them billions in bonds, set aides. Make them pay their fair share. show that they care about the children in this city. >> They deserve so much more. I say it was a shame what you all did to Thomasville, Forest Cove, >> English, >> English where the history go East Lake Meadows. You know, this used to be predominantly white and uh Jim Crow at that time, I think it was uh 1877, 1965. Stop the cycle. Look out for our best and brightest. Bring some equity, true equity. Hey, if you want to expand on the white side, cool. Stabilize our communities. >> Stop selling out to developers. And then when say, "Well, our children can't learn." They're the best and the brightest, especially with what you all give them. Little to nothing. The destabilization and a lack of a bright future. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Next will be Mark Newman. Oh, Council Lewis >> and Mr. Mr. Dyer, I truly appreciate your intention and your your being so intentional at school board meetings that I've seen you at. That day, we were actually able to, as you saw, we actually snatched one of our schools off that close down list. Heritage to close Heritage was would have been a travesty to understand that that's in Pool Creek, that's in Gila Garden, and nothing else is back there for all of our kids and all these homes we're building. So that was a a huge thing to see them snatch it off that night within 24 hours. And so I started going back to the other meetings because I don't think that their plan is solidified. >> They took one of them off. Then they brought me back four other ones. I've spoken to my my my board member. I was spoken to my at large member. That's Jessica Johnson. That's Toten Pace. We did a a three-way call right after that because I then put out a statement and I'm glad you you you said some of the the buzzwords that I grew up hearing. I'm a AP. I am an APS graduate and so I grew up hearing the word low student to teacher ratio. They told me that my school was not as good as council member West Morland's school because my school was overcrowded South Atlanta. They said it was too many kids in my class for me to learn the right way. They said that if I was could graduate the same year. They said if I went to his high school that it would have been a lower to student teacher ratio and the teachers would have been able to talk to us better. And so now it's reversed. >> And what I talked to my board members about that time period, I said, "Well, why was low student rat? Why was low student toteer ratio good for Matt but not good for the future Antonio's?" Right? >> And so they then said it's about the teachers. They said if your teacher's not good, low student teacher ratio doesn't matter. I then said we pay 100k per teacher. Let's get the best and brightest teachers for the best and brightest kids in the world. And so I I want to give you the other statements that we put on that as well because we're building more homes in Atlanta than anywhere else. >> Our mayor is building 20,000 homes over a 10-year period. >> I'm excited about it. I'm see I am seeing the housing go up. Drive down Metropolitan, drive down Cleveland Avenue, drive down Silven Road, all you see is shelters in the ground. >> Right. >> Around those same schools, Cleveland Avenue Elementary School, they're threatening to close it down. >> Yeah. >> Where are my kids going? We're opening up 200 apartments across the street. Where my kids going? I got the other apartments they open up across the street. So, I am nervous about the future of our city when it comes to the connection with our school board because we are building these new homes, beautiful homes in our area, but we're closing down the schools in the same area. And I think that's how you bring in gentrification. And I represent a 90 plus% black district. And if you take out the schools, the my [clears throat] parents are not going to want to move there. they're going to have to move because their kids can't go to school like Thomasville. And so, thank you again. And you you have me fully. I'm still going out and I'm talking. I called my board member yesterday. >> I had one of my staffers call him the day before and I called him yesterday to ask him because I I I think that he heard some of the words I gave him about the new housing around district 12 that's popping up. And so, we're look he he didn't know that's a connection that we put together. So, thank you again and I am for keeping all of my schools open because we're building all the housing in that area. >> I thank you. And with that, the future is bright. Thank you, >> Council Member Collins. Council member Collins, >> I think it's Hey, Mr. Gar, good to see you on this end. And I know we've had this conversation um cyclical over the years on the school board where we've seen a continuous conversation of our you of certain schools being either closed, merged, um revamped in whatever regards. I will say a couple of things. I think it's extremely important while you do have three former board members on this council that we do clear up some of the miscommunication. So please understand the $100 million gap is a combination of two things. The district lost $231 million from the COVID funds that ended September 30th of last year. Additionally, this county and this city, we are dealing with the issue as you all know in terms of our commercial property digest being properly assessed, hence the tax abatements and those pieces that you represent. Some of those tax abatement does in fact come through Atlanta. Majority of those do come through Fulton County where as you know you do have the board there that approves some of those pieces. So yes, it is it's very real and [snorts] thinking about some of the school closures that we have and I think we've all been very vocal and I do want to shout out Councilman Doer particularly with Dumbar Elementary because I do think there is some kind some missing um observations that are happening and is my hope the district looks into some of to look into some of these pieces. Um, but to your point, Councilman uh Lewis, where a lot of those schools do in fact have low student toteer ratio, and as you know, Mr. D, I'm quite sure you're still attending the board meetings regularly as well. when you look at the achievement pieces in those in those schools, not to say that is one that pushes it to disclo to closure, but what I do think what happens is that we definitely and I've always advocated for this. If we want those schools to be schools of choice for communities because the families are there, the populations are there. There is something that is happening where they are not sending their children to our schools and we're seeing ground swell of support to keep schools open which is why I think what Payton Forest was taken off the list. I think West Man I think there are some schools. So, I've always been an advocate for making sure the schools in fact have the pieces that are going to garner the support for the community to bring those ch bring the children back into those schools. Now, I know December 3rd at 6:30 there's another community meeting in terms of the recommendations. They're not finalized as of yet. So, we'll be following closely in that regards. We're all getting calls specifically in some of the schools in the community. So, while I don't have that full solution to you for you today, I do want you to know you have the commitment of not only me, but I know some of my colleagues because we've had this conversation and being vocal about how this will, you know, whatever potential closures hopefully none, you know, hopefully none that comes the impact is going to have. I think another narrative that needs to be discussed, talked about and and really looked at um in its entirety is this conversation. While we do have housing and apartments and house, you know, housing that is coming on, what is a timeline for that? Is that a 5-year window? Is that a 10-year window? Do some of these home um housing communities and apartments have the waiting list? What those family structures look like? What does that look like? And so I think there's a lot of questions that are still surrounding a lot of these pieces that um the district the school district has to make. But I know but I will say you do have our commitment to be present to those meetings and whatever the board and the superintendent decides in that space. I do think it's our oper it is our responsibility to be ready for what those decisions will be the impact that that will be and how we also make sure those decisions are the least impact the least impactful and the least disruptive to our students and our families I've always maintained that will continue to maintain that but I do want to at least clarify some of the information so that community will know that this is just not a procedure decision this is a very generational this is a very generational decision that um we fought a lot over the years. You know, you've seen some of these schools come the 11 years I was on the board. Um but I do think there is opportunity for us really lean in. So I will work my colleagues to do just that. And with that being said, Mr. President, I defer. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh thank you. And uh 300 million is going to the KIPS and they're not performing. Thank you. >> Well, two two of two of the Kips are on the list for closure. So this is the first time in history that the district is actually taking a chance is actually stepping out in that regard. So >> Mr. Kip, you need to be bolder. >> Thank you. Next up will be Mark Newman. >> You [clears throat] have up to two minutes. >> Good afternoon, Council President, council members, and Mr. Juan, my council representative. Uh I have lived in Atlanta for over 30 years in the same home. I'm here to talk about the short-term rental issue. Uh my wife and I were both retired. It's been a very good way to keep her time occupied. And more than that, it's giving people who come to Atlanta a completely different type of experience. We've done it for over five years. We only do it for perhaps 20 25 days in the whole year. And what it does is it allows us to keep our home occupied when we are out of town. So I view it as really a safety measure. Number one. Number two, it's become our way to pay our real estate taxes. So I urge you to remember that there are two ways this works. Some of us when we go out of town, we stay in Airbnbs and other communities because that's the way we enjoy experiencing those communities. The same happens when people come to Atlanta. We can walk to Pedmont Park. We can walk to Marta. That's the way I got here today. It's the way I'll get home. It is a big benefit and it's something that you ought to allow to be protected as much as you can. We registered with the city. We tried to do it online. We couldn't figure out the system. We drove, we know, we took the martyr down here and we went in by hand with paperwork. We registered for Airbnb. It's been a very positive experience in our neighborhood. We've helped other neighbors and nearby folks who are looking for a short-term stay. And again, I urge you to do what you can if you can to allow that option to continue to exist. And thank you. Thank you. Next will be Justin Longenbach. Duty time. You have up to four minutes. >> All right. Good afternoon or good evening. My name is Justin Longach. I'm an Atlanta native, realer of over 20 years, and an STR host for over 11 years. Can I ask you all a question? When you travel, do you always stay in a hotel, or have you ever chosen a vacation home? Hotels serve a purpose with 250 to 300 ft and are typically built for two to four people at a time. Anyone who has stayed in a hotel room with four people know that's not ideal. Now, let's talk the cost. The average mid-range hotel in Atlanta is 150 to 300 per night before the 16.9% lodging tax and the $5 a night state fee. Atlanta is one of the highest lodging tax rates in the entire country. That makes visiting our city more expensive and less accessible, especially for families. Then let's talk the junk fees. And we all love junk fees, right? 15 to 25 a night for high-speed Wi-Fi. 25 to 50 a night for parking, potential resort fees, and additional guest charges. You're forced to eat out every meal because most hotel rooms don't even have a fridge or [snorts] a microwave. Now, let's compare that to a vacation rental. For one nightly price, families get an entire home. Parking included, Wi-Fi included, kitchen included. Vacation rentals provide affordable lodging. Personally, I love to cook and I try to eat healthy. When I travel, I'm the one who cooks meals for everyone. Sharing a meal in a home, not a lobby, is an experience that brings people together. And with the price of eating out today, having a kitchen isn't a luxury. It's a necessity for many families. Should visiting Atlanta be affordable for everyone is the question. Eliminating options and forcing all visitors into a small hotel room is not what the city needs. Short-term rentals support local businesses and service providers, generate significant tax revenue in addition to property taxes, and provide temporary housing. There's many Atlanta residents that are displaced daily from floods, fires, renovations, and relocations. Those who visit Atlanta for medical cancer treatments. We have some of the business biggest cancer centers here in the city, they prefer short-term rentals. People with compromised immune systems can't be around thousands of people in a hotel. Some of the districts in Atlanta do not even hotel have hotels in their districts. And if they do, you probably wouldn't feel safe staying there. Many people will move to Atlanta, first stay in a vacation rental and then decide to buy here because they fall in love with the neighborhood. I repeat, they buy a home here. And that's obviously the goal we want is for people to come here, experience, and end up buying here and becoming a residents to join us. Visitors should have the option to stay in a home, cook for their families, enjoy the unique residential neighborhoods, and experience what it is to live in the city in the forest. That's part of Atlanta's charm and why so many return. Overall, short-term rentals benefit the city. They are not a disturbance. I would welcome the chance to meet with each of you to discuss sensible, balanced solutions. Let's keep Atlanta welcoming, accessible, and open to all, not just to those who can afford a hotel room. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next will be Next will be Isam Lman. You'll have up to two minutes. [clears throat] >> Hello, my name is Isam Lman. Um, I was born in Fort Benning, Georgia. My dad's a colonel in the Army. I graduated Morehouse College. Um, I'm a business owner here in Atlanta. I operate uh some athlete foot tennis shoe franchises that I've operated for over 26 years. I provided uh thousands of jobs in the city of Atlanta. And I'm also a short-term rental operator. Um, I was one of the first people in the city of Atlanta to obtain a short-term rental license. Been operating over three years. never had not one incident, not one issue. Um, I've hosted neighbors in the community who pipes have broken. I've hosted people from, you know, overseas. I've already had someone uh reach out to book for the uh upcoming World Cup and I feel like it's a positive part of the community. I also provide jobs in the community. Um, I have had no issues at all. I want to reiterate and I feel like um that the rights should continue to be protected and this is a positive thing for the city. Um, I also feel like when you have NPUs and you have zoning review boards, I feel like their opinions should be respected and they've all spoken on this issue in support of short-term rentals. And I feel like as an elected official, your job is to do what the community wants and what's best for the community. And when the NPUs and the zoning review committee speak to something, I feel like those opinions should be respected. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next will be Thomas Morris. You have up to two minutes. >> Yeah, I'm Thomas Morris. I'm also a short-term rental operator as well. Um, one of the reasons I actually uh took a chance to do it actually was because of ISM. Um, we work in the same industry together. He spoke kind of highly on it and u, for me it was one of those things where we do travel a lot and it does give me the flexibility to lease out the home. Um, I've owned that home in that a district for four years now. Property taxes with the value has went up actually about 500,000 since I purchased the house. So, every year when I get a tax bill, I'm like, "All right, what's going on? Why is this value here?" If I tried to sell the home, I feel like I couldn't even get the market value that you guys were telling me, the city is telling me that it's worth. So, it's like I use the short-term rental uh option honestly to subsidize uh just the for one, property taxes and two, you know, I enjoy people coming in um taking advantage of uh using the home. You know, we've had great experiences. A lot of people in the neighborhood book the uh home just because, you know, they want to, you know, a lot of them they don't want don't want to host at their own home, but they want to host someone very close to their home in the community. and they're very thankful uh just the options that we do give them to have this you know um another thing is we do employ people to help us keep it clean uh any repairs and things like that so there are countless benefits of having it and u for me you know I just I wanted to always be able to have that option you know when I travel I now you know since I became an operator I'm now fond to Airbnbs before I was just a hotel guy until I kind of understood and learned the world of it and once I seen it now it makes so much sense and uh so Now, you know, as I travel, you know, first thing I do is I look at a home um wherever we go. So, with that being said, I just want you all just to consider keeping the option available because honestly, having the option is much more greater than no option at all. And um just for us, like I say, it helps subsidize the tax issues cuz every year is going up and up and up and the tax values are outpacing honestly my income as a business owner. So, for me, I just think it's very very important to keep the option. >> Thank you. Next will [clears throat] be Rich Monroe. Duty yield to time. You have up to four minutes. >> Thank you, Council Member Ship Shipman. Uh, good afternoon, council members. My name is Richard Monroe. I am the president of Amstra, the Atlanta Metro Short-Term Rental Alliance, and I wanted to talk today about the fact that there are about 12,000 listings in the city of Atlanta that are doing short-term rentals today. Uh, Amstra represents host owners of properties as well as managers of properties. And Amstra basically puts out there best practices for the majority of our our folks that are hosting guests in the city of Atlanta. We have very simple guidelines in regards to doing additional vetting. Most of us have minimum age requirements which can rule out uh some of the activity that can go the wrong way. Uh in addition to that we require uh you know further verification of the uh identification with the driver's license or passport of the person that is staying at the home. We have very clear guidelines regarding there are no gatherings, no parties, no events. Uh there's no one else allowed at that property during their stay other than the people that have been approved to stay there. We have quiet times to not interfere with the neighborhood. so that from uh 9:00 p.m. uh 10:00 p.m. at night till 8:00 a.m. in the next morning, uh we make sure that there's no noise complaints. We also use technology to monitor that which measures the level of sound uh in in addition to uh cameras. Um I want to give [clears throat] you a specific example. Uh I used to live in Hall County, which uh basically currently has uh some regulations regarding short-term rentals. And I had one neighbor on one side of my house that was doing a short-term rental. Uh they do a lot of these best practices I just talked about. Uh they vet their guests and they uh don't disturb the neighborhood. However, the other house on the left side of my house basically was very abusive. They uh put their property up there as a venue event. They would have weddings. They would play music till 2 3 4 in the morning. Uh and so because of the regulations that Hall County has in place, uh myself and my neighbors, uh after three complaints, uh thankfully it was only three stays, the first three stays that they had uh that caused a disruption in the neighborhood, we attended a hearing similar like this and uh that particular property got shut down, their licenses suspended for 12 months. Uh and so there there are ways to address, you know, the bad actors. Um, since March of 2022, since the Atlanta short-term rental ordinance was uh enacted, uh, there have been multiple metro area counties and cities that have adopted very u similar to call counties regulation requirements. As a matter of fact, um, council member Norwood had asked me to provide her and the council members with additional details about those, which I have, um, over the last several months. I'm happy to do that again if you would like me to. Um several examples, the city of Fairburn, Cobb County, uh Dicab County just uh put in place their new ordinances that will be rolling out in January. And all of these have a common thread of requiring you to get a business license uh as a short-term rental operator. Provide contact information on the property owner or the manager that is managing that property. Reach out to your neighbors before you go live with that listing. Let them know who the appropriate contact person is. Uh there are in most cases inspection requirements to make sure that you've got smoke detectors and that there's, you know, proper exits uh for each of the stays there. Uh and then in addition to that, like I talked about earlier, there's a three strikes, you know, three complaints and your listing will get uh turned down and suspended for 12 months. And so this is the way that you uh should definitely look at this. This is not, you know, something new. a lot of the the surrounding counties have adopted uh this very same ordinance which I think uh is the most effective way knowing firsthand from my own personal experience uh to root root out the bad actors. Thank you very much council members. >> Thank you. >> Next will be Michelle Jackson. >> You'll have up to four minutes due to yield to time. >> All right. Thank you very much, council members. Um, my name is Michelle and I'm here in strong support of short-term rentals as many in this room also are and to put a face to the people you may one day have to make life-changing decisions about. We are here because this is very important to us but also to many others. If any in this room have ever stayed in an Airbnb or vacation rental, I don't have to tell you, you probably saved a ton of money in not having to um um uh eat out at a restaurant by having a full kitchen, not having to pay $50 a night to park your car, and most importantly, not having to share a room and TV with the kids. Um but that's the obvious. I'd like to give you another perspective on why short-term rentals are not only important but vital in ways you may not realize. Since Atlanta has been such a great medical has such a great medical reputation, many people travel here for critical medical care. People who have mobility or auto autoimmune issues that can't stay in a hotel riding up and down in an elevator. That mean they may need meals specially prepared where a kitchen is required or to bring comfort animals which need a yard. They can't do any of this in a hotel. When the storms hit last year that required entire families and pets to quickly evacuate Florida and North Carolina for weeks, short-term rentals were a lifeline that allowed those families to find a home away from home for their families and pets. People also come here for weddings, funerals, family reunions. So, I ask you to listen to the NPUs, your constituents, who have overwhelmingly let you know that they support short-term rentals. And hopefully by representing them, you will, too. So, when someone comes to you with an issue with one neighbor, I challenge you to think about the big picture. Think of ways to not throw the baby out with the bathwater. and to look for solutions, common grounds, as in the immortal words of Doug Shipman, to collaborate to work together for the betterment of our city. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next will be Laura Clemens. You have up to two minutes. I'm Laura Clemens. I'm a short-term rental owner and a manager in Atlanta. Last week, I had an annual ITIR summit where I was with 150 ITIR franchises that also manage short-term rentals across the country. We had many government government affairs representatives there and also vendors that support the short-term rental industry. 11 host cities for the World Cup were pulled together to discuss the World Cup prepar prep preparation and the readiness that each city is at. I was surprised to hear what some of the cities are doing to help prepare other hosts and to help prepare their small businesses. There will be record-breaking visitors in all these 11 cities and they wanted to make sure all these 11 cities were ready for us to host as many international guests as we were about to host. I've also learned that many of the cities that were in the process of ordinances were amending their pre are amending their previous ordinances have taken it off their agendas until the World Cup is over. A few have softened their ordinances to ensure that their city can host the amount of guests that the World Cup will bring to their city. I'm asking you all, please put any personal agendas aside. Please do what's right for the city and let the Atlanta host and small businesses focus on what they need to do so that they can host and give our international people the best experience ever. Mr. Shook, Mr. President Shipman, and everybody else that's leaving, I want to thank you. I got to know you over the last several years at all these meetings, and I hope that your journey takes you to be able to go stay in a short-term rental with your family in the future. Thank you. Thank you. Next will be Michael Harvey. You'll have up to four minutes to yield a 10. My name is Michael Harvey. I live in Orwood Park and I've been hosting a short-term rental in my basement uh since 2016. Today, I speak for myself and for many of my colleagues who couldn't take time off to be here. They're out here working hard. So when somebody comes to Atlanta to be with a family after a recent birth, to spend meaningful time with a loved one in their final days, or to gather with friends and family in remembrance, they have a place to call home, even if it's just for a day or two. Supporting these stays is more than just hosting. We are ambassadors to our city, and we show the world Atlanta is open for business. We want you to be here. We want you to invest in our community. And if you treat our city well, we want to call you our neighbor. The heart of how we welcome people and grow responsibly in our city lies in the community process. That's why the system of neighborhood planning units matter so much. MPUs give residents, small business owners, and neighbors a voice in how our neighborhoods evolve and how we welcome others. In his remarks today, Council President Shipman emphasized the spirit of collaboration and welcoming visitors visitors to our city, noting how important it is for neighborhoods to have a role in the welcoming process. That sentiment reinforces why we must honor the NPU process in every major community decision. I know we can't comment on anything the ZRB has looked at, so I won't mention it, but if there was a highly controversial item in the MPU and the MPU and ZBO ZRB soundly rejected, why should a hypothetical new law get passed by a member of the council that won't have to be accountable for the repercussions of such a highly controversial and impactful decision? You know, we all are going to be here for the next years to deal with whatever repercussions that may happen. Before moving ahead with the sweeping changes, let's pause and make sure the MPUs have been fully engaged and the recommendations are heard and respected because when they are, the result is a strong is stronger. Better for neighborhoods, better for residents, better for visitors, and better for better for Atlanta. Thank you for your time and thanks for your dedication to the city. >> Thank you. Next up will be Kathy Mccclure. Due to yield a time, you have up to four minutes today. >> I'm supposed to have eight minutes. >> I only have two yields on my list that I was given. >> I had three yields. Can you raise your hands? There's one. And then the your two people were here. >> I had three yields. I was there when this was done. um because I had to be I I went ahead and made it known that I wanted to speak. >> I can ask the clerk. You can wait for a moment. I can double check. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> So, for the moment, we will go to Elizabeth Richmond. You have up to two minutes. >> Thank you, council. My name is Elizabeth Richmond. I am proudly a member of Amstra, the Atlanta Metro Short-Term Rental Alliance. While this council is making life decisions for the residents of Atlanta, I just want to make sure that you're considering all of the lives that will be affected. I've been a short-term rental host since I moved out of my parents house at only 18. In the midst of the OA market crash, and as a full-time student, even my $550 mortgage seemed daunting. Thank God a new app had just been launched called Airbnb. While I watched my parents lose our family home to foreclosure, I managed to keep my modest townhouse afloat through short-term rentals and renting my spare bedrooms. After 14 years of opening up my personal home to guests, I've become so passionate about home sharing that I now coach others on how to maximize their home's potential. So, when you think about short-term rentals, I want you to also think about some of my personal mentees in the city, like Barbara, the retiree who found out she has a brain tumor and rents her home during her extended hospital stays who lives in district 2. Or David, the new dad who rents his ADU instead of getting a second job so that he can spend more time with his baby girl. He lives in district 9. Rachel, the divorce, who qualified for a home with a dual income, didn't want to lose her husband and her house when he walked out on her, so she rents her spare bedroom in District 1. or myself, the teacher, mom, and hosting coach, who probably wouldn't been able to afford my own home, most likely wouldn't have been able to prioritize my master's degree over a second job since we know how much teachers make, and who certainly would not have been able to afford the IVF treatments that were required to make this baby possible. Please consider that when you make blanket decisions that everyone caught beneath that blanket may be collateral damage. The NPUs have spoken. The ZRB has spoken. Hosts, housekeepers, vendors, businesses, guests, we've all spoken. Please consider us when you make these life-changing decisions. Thank you. >> And you, next Kathy Mccclure. We found all your yields. You have up to eight minutes. >> Thank you, sir. Good afternoon. My name is Kathy Mccclure and I serve as vice president of the Atlanta Metro Short-Term Remninal Alliance. Atlanta Amstra's mission has always been clear to work collaboratively with a city to craft a fair, reasonable, legally enforcable short-term rental ordinance. one that both respects the property rights of short-term rental owners and protects the character and safety of Atlanta's neighborhoods. That remains our goal today. And I before I go say the next thing, I want to speak to Council President Shipman. Um, I am getting ready to mention the word ban and [clears throat] I wanted to report to you that I have spoken before the zoning committee on this subject, my favorite subject, which is short-term rental bands. I have spoken in front of the zoning committee without any issue related to my comments. I will not speak specifically to this the particular ban that may or may not be on the agenda today. So I will speak generically. Thank you for allowing me to do that. Before I speak on that issue, I would like to briefly ground this discussion in three legal fundamentals that everyone should keep front of mind. First, Georgia in Georgia, renting one's property on a short short-term basis is a property right. This is not a speculative right. This is one that has been acknowledged by the Georgia Supreme Court and the city of Atlanta itself. Second, short-term rentals are currently operating legally in Atlanta in as much as city officials have acknowledged that the short-term rental ordinance is legally indefensible and uninforcable, rendering it a defunct and uh ordinance and literally a zombie. Third, if new legislation is passes is passed which restricts or eliminates established property rights, the existing short-term rentals are entitled to grandfather protections. This potential this excuse me principle is well settled in Georgia law. With these fundamentals in mind, I would like to turn to my favorite subject which is zoning bans. Bans, especially peace mill bans, are simply bad policy. Bans are a blunt instrument that directly target property rights and inflict immediate and irreparable harm to residents who have invested in reliance on the city's own laws and policies. They make enforcement difficult if not impossible and they require a layers of bureaucracy to administer. And let's be let's be candid, zoning bans spread like a cancer. When one neighborhood or district secures a ban, others quickly follow, often without evidence, without analysis, and without regard for citywide impacts. Any zoning use zoning matter coming before this council must undergo a legitimate process. This means that they they must proposed legislation must be reviewed uh by the NPU the affected NPUs and by the zoning review board bodies whose purposes whose very purpose is to ensure that community voices are heard and zoning expertise is considered. These hearing matters matter and when both the NPU and the ZRB overwhelmingly reject a piece of legislation their their opinion must be given great weight. any b any uh legislation which restricts a particular use. It could be uh use of a short-term rental must satisfy satisfy legal requirements for land use regulation. This means this means that it must be clearly and demonstrabably shown that the public welfare is at stake and it must be supported by evidence. evidence that should align with and appear in the city's own comprehensive development plan. I would note, and I think this is a significant point, that in the city's 2025 community uh excuse me, comprehensive development plan, short there was absolutely zero mention of short-term rentals. If short-term rentals were tr are truly causing widespread documented harm, those issues would have appeared in the city's guiding land use document. The absence of any mention of short-term rentals is telling. Any vague assertion um regarding quality of life uh is not legal justification for stripping away property rights. Quality of life of life concerns must be backed by data, incident reports, and patterns of misconduct. When the city has not produced this evidence, uh the case for bans is not made. There is a financial and legal cost to bans. We do not have to imagine what that looks like. We can turn to the city of Dallas. In 2023, Dallas proposed aggressive zoning bans to [clears throat] shut down short-term rentals in most of the city. Short-term rentals owners filed suit and immediately obtained a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement for the plain and simple reason that the bans violated their property rights. Dallas appealed twice and they lost twice. The result for Dallas has been that more than two years later, Dallas remains mired in litigation with no clear path forward, having wasted 3.5 million taxpayer dollars. Atlanta has already visited has already experienced its own version of this. For more than two years, efforts to replace the city's unconstitutional short-term rental ordinance have stalled, re uh restarted and stalled again, leaving everyone, including city staff, without clarity or enforcement tools. We have an opportunity here to choose the best path for the city of Atlanta commit. We we we urge the city council to adopt a fair, enforcable, and legally sound regulatory framework. One that protects neighborhoods, preserve property rights, and gives the city meaningful enforcement authority where problems truly exist. Atlanta doesn't need peace meal bans. It needs clear rules, consistent enforcement, and policies grounded in evidence. Thank you for considering these matters. >> Thank you. >> Next will be Nikki Bugs. Due to your old time, you have up to four minutes today. >> Good afternoon, city council. Congratulations for getting your seats back. That's great. Um, let's let's let's talk about STRs and we're going to go ahead and try to wrap this up. Um, we're not at the Lamar Condominium. We have STR groups that have taken over the building, investors, which we were quite clear about some time ago. The catastrophic thing that took place January 17th was a fire. So, you can you can actually get the video from up there instead of recording me. Um, so that that was a fire that took place that we are now liable for. that the homeowners are liable for 200 units and there are only a few of us left. So, it's not just a matter of STRs are great and all of that. We're not It's not a matter of fighting against the STRs, but if I had to stay in an STR versus a hotel and there were no hotels available, I would sleep in my car because my experience, our experience at the Landmark has not been good. The building has been taken over by investors. It's not a It's not a matter of we just dislike them. It's what they're doing to us. Now we have foreclosures. Now we have leans because they're taking our property. So it's not that it's it's great for the community. Our community has been completely demolished with no oversight. We operate as a de facto motel. prostitution, drugs, deaths, stabbings on my floor. This week and yesterday, I had some knuckleheads dancing in front of my doorbell camera, somebody else twerking on the floor. We have parties going on, the drugs, the weed. I don't have people come over. We have no place to park. If I had guests over, we have no place to park. So, let's be let's be honest. If we're going to have the conversation, let's have the conversation. Meet with people that are suffering by the hands of investors, then you'll understand why we're saying what we're saying. So, we're not saying to to demolish STRs, but there has to be some oversight. There has to be departments that really hold people accountable. And again, the unfortunate matter is that out of 200 units, there are only a few of us left because the building has been taken over by investors. We're officially a motel. Assessments, $1,300 a month. Then double billing of water. And guess who gets to pay for the water? We do. We do. So that's the difference. And and and we're not using them a different amount of water. It's because we have people coming in. The building's operating as such. People are coming in because they want to have a good time. We get it. But not we're not trying to take that away from them. But you can't do it in our homes. And the city and the state failed us because nobody stood up. We've been at this now for me four.5 years. That's where we are. And that's what's sad about it. And and to date, we still are doing that. So now we have foreclosures and leans on properties. And all we know is that the stitch is coming in. People want that property. and they're going to do whatever they can to get us out of that building. We're constantly being um um advertised Airbnb, this is a cash cow, this is a money maker, this is a great rental property, but there are people that actually live in the building. It's my home. I go home every day to the landmark. That's what I get to live in. It's not secured. It's unsafe. And no one seems to care. So, it's not a personal battle against STR. It's just the people that are actually running and handling their STRs in that manner and there's no oversight. [clears throat] Thank you. >> Thank you. Next will be Daryl Anderson. Duty time you have up to four minutes today. >> Good afternoon, uh, council. Good to see you guys and congratulations to you you that have been reelected. Y'all got a lot of work to do and we got a lot of work to do as a community. So, thanks for y'all willing to to continue to serve this great city of Atlanta. I want to address an issue concerning curbside management Hartsville Jackson International Airport. >> Mr. Mr. President, >> madam, Madam City Attorney, >> this particular matter should not be a discussed at public comment by the one of the proposers under this particular contract is on your agenda. This is during the blackout period. This this is an open procurement and comments. He is procluded from making comments to designed to lobby or address any public uh elected official with regard to this contract. So, I'm [clears throat] letting you I'm informing you that this is not an appropriate this time. >> Council, this is why I'm here. >> Mr. Anderson, just before you continue, I just want I want you to understand what the city attorney has said this during the blackout period and just just want you to to understand before you continue. Council member Bond, you want to go ahead and go ahead? >> Yes. I'd like to ask the city attorney because I' I've never heard that that when the legislation is before the committee that the blackout period is still in existence because it's been my experience that on the numerous contracts, the numerous bids that come before us that when the legislation is then at committee, regardless whether it's aviation, finance, CDH, suggests that the council members are free to discuss it. >> Now, if the individual [clears throat] persons who have participated in that bid can't discuss it, that's another matter. But I have never seen in my 24 years being down here that when legislation comes before the body that the city council can't ask questions, can't comment, can't discuss something, they're being asked to approve. So, what does the code say about the blackout period? >> Okay. I'm actually reading from a solicitation package form that Mr. Anderson as well as others signed. There are two sections that are applicable. One deals with anti- lobbying prohibition and the other [clears throat] one deals with the blackout period. To be specific with regard to your question, the blackout period is defined as the begins with the advertisement of the synopsis and shall remain in effect until execution of the contract or the solicitation is cancelled and will not be resoliced, whichever comes first. As in addition to this, the the problem that I have right now is his statements are in violation of the anti- lobbying provision as well. And it says that uh all offerers including agents, employees, officers, representatives lobbyists attorneys and proposed partners, subcontractors or joint venturers will refrain under the penalty of the offerers's disqualification from direct or indirect contact for the purpose of influencing the selection or creating bias in the selection process with any elected or appointed city officials, city agencies, employees, representatives or agents, evaluation committees, members or any person who may play a part in the selection process. So there are two different provisions. One is the anti- lobbying provision and the other one is a blackout which prohibits him from speaking to you all into the contract. >> And just to clarify, just to clarify, madam attorney, >> yes, >> you're only speaking to a non-counsel member's ability to discuss. The blackout period does not cover the council's ability to discuss. Is that correct? >> The the blackout period covers the person who is subject to trying to get the contract, but he can't talk to you. Has >> the contract been awarded? >> And I believe, hold on just a second. I believe council member Bond, I don't want to speak for you, but I believe council member Bond was asking whether or not that the blackout period doesn't preclude the council members from discussing, >> right? It doesn't apply to us. >> Is that correct? >> It doesn't apply to you, but he can't talk to you. So if he can't talk to you, he can't talk. understand. [snorts] >> So, someone who's been involved in the procurement can't speak to us, but it does not preclude city council members from asking questions of whomever during during the hearing of the legislation that we can discuss it openly and freely. You can you can ask anybody from procurement. You can ask anybody from the department of law. You can ask anybody who is a person who is not the offerer or the person who submitted a proposal any question you want because the answer to that question if you ask the offerer would violate the rules. >> Okay. So people who participated in the bid can't speak to us. >> That's correct. >> Okay. Well, that gives me the clear because I've I'm I'm not on the committee. Uh but I heard secondhand and we always have to be careful what we hear uh secondhand cuz I didn't watch uh the meeting, but I understood that it was stated to the members on that committee that it was a blackout period and they could not discuss the legislation. >> And so if that in fact was the case, that was incorrect. And so we can discuss the legislation >> but not with the any of the people that participated in the in the process. >> Well, can we have conversations or can I speak concerning something Germaain has nothing to do with a particular solicitation? Well, you can speak about anything other than the the actual solicitation that you participation differs from the last council meeting where we had from my understanding there was um a party That was one of the biders that that was part of solicitation that came before council last the last council meeting. That's how we even got to this point of even holding you know or for of even inquiring or sending back to the committee to inquire more about the processes. >> So So >> I'm not I'm not I'm not I don't want to be um presumptuous. I don't know about the specifics of that particular person and whether or not that person came to a podium to try to make a comment with regards to an actual >> item agenda item that they shouldn't have handled it. You should not have allowed it because that rule has not been a new rule. That rule has been in place for a long time. >> At least I'm not talking to you, Mr. Anderson. I'm talking to my client. >> Give me one Give me one second. Yes. >> Mr. Anderson, just hold on. >> Give me one second, Mr. Anderson. Sorry. Just trying to get clarity for me understand. Yes. Yes, madam attorney. There was a young there was a young there was a man and a woman that came to the podium at our last council meeting to talk about this to mention this solicitation particular. They they particularly used curbside management. They they use terms that that actually is what kind of triggered some of us to think about to to like inquire into the agenda item and actually conversations with the committee, >> right? That that person took the risk of being disqualified because that's the remedy that the uh procurement department has. They can disqualify them and disbar them from any contracts with the city. But there are people in the audience because I'm I'm just giving you the law opinion. But that we have um my deputy who supports procurement as well as the chief procurement officer who will confirm the same statements I'm making to you. I was not here or I would have jumped in just like I did when I called it to the attention of the president. >> Council Lewis. >> Well, Council No, Council Collins has been speaking. So I'm going to go to Louis. I'll come back to you. Council >> Yeah. I just wanted to >> I mean I never re relinquished the floor. call on council member Collins coun council robot I'm going to go to council member list >> and then councel robot council >> that's fine let me let me just close out um if anything I think madam attorney while we're here just kind of at least establishing the go you know just at least uh re reestablishing the guidelines so that we're clear and that Mr. Anderson does you know put himself in a situation um but it is one of equity and fairness because of what we just saw play you know just played out two weeks ago I'll defer Mr. Chair Mr. President Councel Lewis and then councel Bon. I'll come back to you. Just let's go through these. >> And I I just want to say that we were also reached out to adding one more thing. I know that we had a lot of people talk about the rumors that were sent to us via email by an investigative reporter and that reporter is George Cheety. He said I can mention his name. And the rumors that he's talked about were around immigration issues. And so that's part of why I voted for it. We all know what I think of the process. The process hasn't changed from a year ago when I made the statement. I mean, when I repeated my my colleagues, I still feel the same way about the process, but the immigration issues and even that rumor to have folks come down here and George Cheety and investigative reporter are known nationally to reach out to my office and all council member offices as council member Warren saw as well. So, thank you. >> Thank councelor Bond. >> Thank you, Mr. President. But I guess my my next followup is that uh we had several representatives from another company uh come down here today over and over and over again to talk about the to talk about their company. If there there's a blackout period, every single one of the people who appeared at this mic representing that other company were in violation of the blackout period. So when there's a viol question to the law department, you said that if there's a violation of communication with with the uh blackout period, wouldn't this trigger their dis disqualification from the bid? cuz the logic if I'm following the logic it would >> council member Bond the last comments that I heard about LAZ last comments were about from employees who were coming in response to some representations that were allegedly made about her employer. It did not address any specific contract or solicitation or the process with gardener contract as much as they were comments that she thought were disparaging and she wanted to address them. Um I am not aware of Laz being mentioned in this contract and I'm not familiar with all of the parties who bid on the contract. I haven't been involved with that process, but I do want you to know that I do know about this particular part party. Um, and I'm trying to just make certain that you all are aware of it. >> Well, I appreciate that. But I know in our code for conflicts of interest, it says that you you not only have to avoid actual conflicts of interest, but the appearance of a conflict of interest. And so the appearance of a company that is involved in the procurement, which is clearly still within the blackout period, sending its employees down here to respond to, I guess, accusations or statements that were made in committee at the discussion of the contract in question would be a conflict of interest and a violation of the blackout period. Because if this gentleman is not supposed to speak and he represents a company, these people should not have been able to speak and they rep they're a part of a company. >> Well, Council Bond, I'm going to allow Mr. Anderson to say whatever he likes. The city attorney has opined as to the risks of a procurement, but from his free speech perspective, he can he can say what he likes. >> No, I I understand that and you know, I agree. He should be able to to speak to other matters. The point's all taken about the process, >> right? As a as a citizen, but these other folks were clearly down here to represent what was said or not said about their company as it relates to the procurement. >> Understood. >> Right. So that that's a violation of the blackout period as defined by the law that we've been given by our esteemed city attorney. And so we need to have that on the record as well because and like I say, I want to be careful of listening to to rumors because I hadn't watched the actual meeting, but this type of I don't want to call it chicainery, but this type of these type of situations is what invites other investigative entities of state and federal nature to look at the city of Atlanta, you that if these things are allowed to go on, you know, just on the on the face of it. So, I I've made my statement and uh I I'll withdraw to allow Miss uh to um to allow um Mr. Mr. Andrews to finish his statement on, you know, something else. But just one other point of order since we had so many people down here on STRs that's related and not related. The reason why you can't make a statement about zoning issues and you have and you you have to do it at the ZRB is because in the late 80s there was a couple of council members that got accused of bribery around zoning issues. And so that's what caused the creation of the ZRB. So it was determined then not to tempt future councils on zone, you know, to do wrong on zoning issues. they created the ZRB and that there would be no discussion of any type of zoning issues before uh the body proper. So, it's not just, you know, kicking you guys in the shin, but that's the rationale for why that is. And that's it's been that way since the mid uh 1980s. Mr. Anderson, I yield the floor back to you. >> Thank you, Mr. Bond. Uh Council Vaughn, Mr. Anderson, floor is yours. >> Thank you, guys. I'm not here to be confrontational. Number one, there's problems. Council member Over Street, over four years when you were running for your second term um council seat, this issue came up. It's been coming up. We've had a procurement problem for many, many years. Just like y'all are confused about what's supposed to take place, we are too. I had no desire to come down here and speak. But just like so many people before me that open up doors, I'm compelled. But people are afraid to come down and address and ask [clears throat] things about process about singling out. So if I got to be single out, if this got to be about Daryl Anderson, so be it. I have a fidiciary responsibility to come down and ju to address some unjust things that I feel and other feels are not taking place. It's not a level player playing field. Why are we hiding behind closed doors? Why is the curtain pull down? Why are we not having a transparent process that if I made a mistake and something happens or anybody in a procurement process, they are not notified. Just like the procurement office make mistakes because all of us are human, the I pro catch their mistakes and no consequences. We catch we have mistake uh of mistakes are made and then we have made nonresponse without even knowing why. I've been charged we can be charged with a crime with no way to know what the crime we've committed have. That is not right. That is not just and when you try to have these conversation with different people, different departments, it's the blackout period. We got a 7-day, 24-hour, 365 day blackout period cuz we always got procurements going on. Something's got to change. Something's got to be created that where there's a point when award is made or that's determinate that when that when that information comes to y'all, that solicitation comes to y'all. These are millions and millions of dollars collectively. You all should be able to ask questions. Fair question. You are elected officials, not just to rubber stamp what one department do. We're supposed to have check and balance. And that's all I cared about. I sit here for two hours, three hours today and listen to different people solicit talking about how great their company was, how the company made their make made their life better. And it was all about the same thing. And they actually referred to curbside. But I'm not talking about curbside per se. I'm talking about policies that have been created that have created a unfair playfield. And it's not about me. It's about five biders, six biders who caused no problem. None of them did anything wrong. They participated [singing] in the process. So how did five biders in any solicitation get made nonresponse and nobody knows anything about it. Why? The only reason I got made aware of anything was that I listened to the committee reports. and I'm finding out about something that I worked six months on, spent 15, $20,000 putting together these bids, waiting three months to get questions answered. There's a lot of problems with the process. >> Time is expired >> and we've been coming to you guys time and time again asking to clarify some of this. >> Thank you, Councelor Lewis. Brief response. I just want to make for the record that the when earlier in public comment that the there was a statement by one of the last employees that about curbside they mentioned the word curbside and if you can please if the attorneys can just please run the tape back one of you [clears throat] or someone on your staff run the tape back to see if you heard it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you Anderson. Next up will be Ben Gross. Ben Gross. Next up will be Dr. Dwan Anderson. >> I've looked and looked. I have you down for eight minutes today. >> It is eight minutes. You got to look and look again, sir. [clears throat] And you said Anderson and Robinson. And it is eight minutes. Look again. >> For eight. >> Look again, sir. >> I've looked and looked. I've asked twice, >> sir. Answer, young lady. Sir, ask your team over there, sir. >> I did, >> sir. Ask your team over there, sir. Ask your team. They telling you it's 8 minutes, sir. I'm looking at them. They telling you it's 8 minutes. >> 8 minutes? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. No, I have you for eight. >> Oh, I seen four minutes up there. >> No, I have you for eight minutes. >> Oh, thank you. I listen. I apologize. I apologize. I apologize for eight. >> Apologies that were against you. There were a lot of people against you that's sitting up there, but we did it. Tonio Lewis, you had some resentment against you. We did it. Councilman Amos, we did it. You and Boom. Teflon done. Y'all don't kill them. Y'all teflon done. So, I want to say that, man, because old Atlanta showed up. Old Atlanta showed up and I'm proud of that. And you know, I wanted to speak to something that one of my brothers said over there. I think he stepped away. But I wanted to say even Trump pardoned about 14 black folks, but does that mean he like black folks? Walmart is a big supporter of Trump. They hire black folks. Coca-Cola right here in Atlanta, big supporter. Chick-fil-A that host uh what is that? Westside Future Font every fourth Friday of the month, big supporter of Jesus Christ and Jonah Trump. Chick-fil-A. So all this white folk do stuff for black folks. I don't want to hear nothing about that. You know what I'm saying? They've been doing that forever. That's what they supposed to do because certain white folks ain't going to work for pennies on the dollar. Only us going only On only black folks going to do it. And one thing [clears throat] I want to say too, man, because I want to say this loudly because we have so many people that work in a position of of leadership power that's from Atlanta. and me being for some I mean me being a person that worked for the city of Atlanta and being born and raised here very proud of that. I do love the fact that Mayor Dickens hired a COO born and raised from Atlanta. Both chief of staff born and raised in Atlanta. Um deputy chiefs from Atlanta. All which who have been a product of APS. That's what kind of get me. Um, Councilman Lewis, you, Miss Collins, Mr. Bond, Miss Over Street, Miss Boom, Councilman Amos, all product of Atlanta APS school system. Most of the people that work in leadership in Atlanta are from APS school system. Two things happen at every black school every year. You got a validictorian and a saludiatoran, well-qualified black folks. Then you got your 5% and your 10%. Man, we can't be closing these black school. We got to try to find a way. Now, I do understand that when there's a school that has a 800% um I mean 800 rate um where supposed to be Miss Collins and they are operating 230 students. There's an issue there. There's an issue there. But Atlanta is so unique, man, that we have an opportunity to do some great things. And I sat by knowing that um maybe our last CPO was kind of fabricating some things, but I didn't want to say nothing to you guys because I try to respect the mayor and who he choose and not try to be so against the system all the time. Give people an opportunity. But I want to know about the blackout period only because as a consultant I represent people that have been nonresponsive or have won a contract and then they were told that they are going to cancel it and that kind of you know and I kind of want to know that too from a standpoint that not so much from the CPO but user agencies say things different. I have not spoken with the new CPO about these things, but certain user agencies says, "Oh, the blackout period is this, the blackout period is that." And I just think we do need to get on one accord with that because it does seem like certain people want certain people to win and they don't want certain people to that's that's how it can look. And it doesn't mean that that's true, but that's how it can look. And this is why um Miss Over Street when you take the council president seat why it's imperative for me to ask your colleagues to be here because if Michael Julian Bond wasn't here I wish I can vote for you again man damn I wish I could vote for you but one more time >> you know what I'm saying because if he wasn't here to give us that history sometime we miss that man because we got new council members that don't know but that's why Michael Julian Bond is so important because there's a history lesson every time and he's not afraid to ask the questions and sometime when we miss public comment you miss that opportunity to get that. Some is over street. I'm asking you when your colleagues are out and when you got them chairing these committees but they don't care to respect [singing] public comment, we got to be able to get them in here to sit through it. And Miss Nowood usually leave out but she stayed through the thing and I love that cuz Miss Nowood is standing through the whole me and I love that. And Councilman Warren, you asked about this curbside. you you question when it originally came up in in transportation and I just wish that sometimes the 15 council members allow transportation or whatever department to handle these issues. Other people who are not on transportation shouldn't be going against things that they're not on the board of. I don't know why we do that. Let transportation handle it. And if Mr. one, you question it in transportation, but then you voted for it. I don't understand your reason. I didn't ask you for it. But for me, it's like if I question something, I rather abstain or not vote for it than to vote for it. You know, but I know you have your own reasons and I sometimes more than often I trust your reason because you seem to be a fair honest person and you have your rhyme and reason, but for that reason I don't understand that. And I just don't understand why. And I do understand that I do have some people that don't read the procurement that's online. No. So they don't. That is a very true fact. Some people just want to bid on contracts and just want to be a part of it, but don't really take the time to do business and it's not for procurement to hold your hand and say, "Hey, it's on this page on the website on the second page." But you know, I just think when we have some issues with processes, you know, we have some question because last year we had the same thing with curbside with a young lady came down, I think her name was Miss Swan, said that she don't want to do business with Atlanta no more because of these issues keep coming up. And Miss Over Street, you started a task force years ago and I don't think that many people have met with you on that task force to iron these things out as it should on the O. I'm not saying um with Miss Houston new staff and OC. I'm not saying that. I'm saying like two years ago. Not saying since they've been here. Um I think since Miss Spencer been here and the new CPO, Miss Houston, they've tried to iron some things down and get things in perspective order um as they should be. But I just think we just need to have a respectable town hall in the new year and let's just go over these things because we've had this same situation come up over the last 2, three years. And I just think we just need to get to a when is a blackout. What is this? When you're nonresponsive, you're not going to know until it's signed off on by the mayor's office, which is the last required signature. I just think these things just need to just be ironed out um um in a respectable way. And if those don't, you know what I'm saying, agree with it, you know what I'm saying? So be it. But at least let's have a sit down understand it because certain council members don't understand these things that you brought up, but nobody will say they don't. So they glad that you brought up and you're very knowledgeable, too. But we get, you know what I'm saying? Like I think once you get elected from November to January, council members need to go through this stuff cuz they don't be knowing and they need to understand, you know, I'm saying the procurement process and all the codes and rules and regulations also. So, thank you. >> Time's expired. Thank you. That concludes our remarks to the public. I want to thank everybody who came today to speak before the council. Next, we'll move on with the agenda report of the journal. Madam clerk. >> Good afternoon, council president and members of council. I, Karen Lindo, municipal clerk of the city of Atlanta, do hereby certify that the minutes of the regular meeting held on Monday, November 3rd, 2025 are true and correct. >> If there are no additions or edits to the journal, I would entertain a motion to adopt. Moved by Juan. Is there a second? >> Seconded by Collins. Is there any discussion on the motion to adopt the journal? We can do this v unanimous consent. Without objection, any objection? Madam clerk, please sign the count of unanimous consent. 10 yay zero naysay >> 10 yay zero naysay motion to adopt the journal carries next we'll move to communications madam clerk >> first item Mr. President is 25 C01 to8 this communication from council members Jason Winston district 1 Coff district 2 Byron Amos district 3 Jason Doser district 4 and Michael Julian Bond post one at large appointing Mr. Darren Given to serve as a member of the city of Atlanta America's with disabilities act advisory committee staff recommendation to refer to transportation committee and committee on council. >> Let the item follow that course. >> Item number two is 25 C0129. This a communication from council president Duck Shipman appointing Miss Tamara Jones to serve as a member of the Atlanta Urban Design Commission in the architect 2 category. This appointment is for a term of three years. staff for recommendation to refer to community development human services committee and committee on council >> with the item follow that course >> that concludes the communication items Mr. Present. >> Is there any veto legislation for consideration? >> There there none. >> There's no unfinished business. Thank you, Madam Clerk. We'll move now to the consent agenda section one. These are items that begin on page four of the materials. The appropriate motion will be to adopt as these are items for second reading. First, let me ask, are there any items to be removed from the consent agenda today? Council member Winston. >> Thank you, Council President. I'd like to remove um on page 13, item number one, which is 25-R488. Item 25R488 will be removed. Council member Boone. >> Yes, Mr. President. I would like to remove 25R3895, page 20, item 30. Item 25R 3895 removed by Council Boon. Council Woff. >> Uh, thank you. I'd like uh to request to remove 251282 please from the consent agenda. 251282 >> 251282 by councelor Woff. Any other items for removal? >> Oh, councelor Woff, where is that item? >> Zoning >> 128. Got it. It's on page 12. Number 28. 25282. Any other items for removal from the consent agenda today? Hearing none, I would entertain a motion to adopt uh the consent agenda section one >> with three items removed. Council Lewis moved by council Lewis, second by council member Biari. Any discussion on the motion to adopt the consent agenda section one with three items removed. Hearing no move to vote. Madam clerk, please open the vote on the motion to adopt with three items removed. >> The vote is open. Will everyone please vote? to adopt the consent agenda carries. Next, we'll move to the consent agenda section two. These are on begin on page 31. They're items for first reading. Your appropriate motion will be to refer. But first, let me ask, are there any items to be removed from the consent agenda section two today? Hearing none, I would entertain a motion to refer these items. Moved by council member Bakiari, seconded by council member Juan. Is there any discussion on the motion to refer? Hearing now, move to vote. Madam clerk, please open the vote on the motion to refer the consent agenda section two. >> The vote is open. >> The votes closed. 13 yay, zero naysay. >> 13 yay, zero naysay. The motion carries. Uh before we move to the report of Oh, Council Member Winston. Yes. >> Council President, I have two items u from the consent agenda. One I'd like to make a motion to send post haste. Which item would you like to send post haste? >> 25- 01595 and 25624. >> There's a motion by council Winston to move 251598 1595 and 1624 to the mayor's office post haste. Is there a second? >> Second by council Norwood. Is there are there any other items to move post haste? Do this in one swoop. Uh we do this unanimous consent. Any objection to the motion to move two items post haste. Now clerk please sound the count on the motion on the unanimous consent on the motion to move these items post haste. >> 14 yay zero nays. >> 14 yay zero nays. The motion to move post haste carries. Before we move to the report of standing committees, the city attorney has request an executive session. Madam city attorney, what is the purpose of the executive session? >> The [clears throat] purpose of the executive session is to review some status of litigation and threaten litigation. So, uh, with that, I would entertain a motion to move into executive session. >> I actually would entertain a motion to uh to uh amend the agenda to move into an executive session. That's what I actually would entertain. We can do it. You can amend the agenda any order that you like. >> Motion executive session. >> There's a motion to amend the agenda moved into executive session by councelor Bakiari. Is there a second? >> Second. Who get >> sorry? >> Yes. Seconded by council member Over Street. Is there any discussion on the motion to move the agenda to amend the agenda and move into executive session? We do this unanimous consent. Any objection? Madam clerk, please sound the count on the unanimous consent. On the motion to amend the agenda, move into executive session. >> 14 yay, zero naz. >> 14 yay, zero nazs. Motion carries. Now stand in executive session. Heat. Heat. [music] [music] Heat. Heat. N. [music] [music] [music] Heat. Heat. [music] [music] Heat. Heat. N. [music] [music] What >> [music] [music] [music] >> are you doing? >> [music] >> What's up? [music] [music] >> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> It's By design [music] [music] [singing] [music] la >> [music] [music] [music] >> ass. Wow. >> [music] [music] >> What do they have? [music] [music] >> [music] >> Peace. [music] >> [music] [music] >> So talk to [music] So all But it was necessary. 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I'm not going to listen to points that are completely ridiculous. >> Point of inquiry. >> Do you guys even realize that the number one killer of children and teens are gun injuries? Why are we fighting about this? [music] >> We have a serious problem in this country. >> There is no adult in this earth that wants children [music] to die. >> [music] >> Heat. Heat. N. You think down? Everything well down. Down. [music] Perfect. All right. I would uh entertain a motion to exit the executive session. Moved by councelor Vaughn, seconded by council member Shook. Is there any discussion on the motion to reconvene in regular session? We do the unanimous consent. Any objection to the motion? Madam clerk, please sound the count on unanimous consent on the motion to reconvene. >> 11 yay, zero nays. >> 11 yay, zero nays. The motion to return to regular session carries. We'll now return to the agenda and report of standing committees. First up is CDHS Chair Winston. Oh first >> [clears throat] >> Thank you, Council President. Uh, colleagues, there was an item I pulled off consent, which is 25R 4088. Um, I'd like to make a motion to bring forth the substitute. >> There's a motion to bring forth substitute by Council Winston, second by Council West Morland. Does it change the caption? >> It does not change the caption. >> Okay. Any discussion on the motion to bring forth the substitute? >> Hearing no. Move to vote. Madam clerk, please open the vote on the motion to bring forth the substitute. >> The vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? Council President, I do have one quick question >> just really quickly. The substitute um entails what? >> Well, we're going to get there when the substitute comes forward. >> Thank you. >> Will I please vote? The votes closed. 13. naysay, zero nays. >> 13 yay, zero nays. Motion to bring forth substitute carries. >> Thank you. Call it. Uh, this is 25 R488, a resolution by council members Mayor Norwood and Michael Julian Bun as substituted by the community development and human services committee as substituted by the Atlanta City Council. a resolution to ensure fiscal responsibility and to allow the conduct of appropriate due diligence concerning the execution and implementation of the Atlanta Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative, including the expansion of the eight active tax allocation districts by establishing a neighborhood reinvestment initiative commission consisting of representatives of civic civic institutions, foundations, nonprofit profits, and government officials to provide advice and recommendations concerning the design and implementation of the neighborhood reinvestment initiative, including the expansion of the eight active TADs and to renew and make recommendations on improving redevelopment effort efforts and economically the distressed underutilized and strategically significant areas that are essential to promoting the general welfare, enhancing the city's tax base, and ensuring equitable economic opportunity for all residents and for other purposes. >> And u can I address this to my colleague? Oh yeah, I just got council. >> The two the two changes are this. This was approved unanimously out of committee. The administration asked that the timeline be com compressed rather than waiting until June 30th. So the new date on here is March 31st at the administration's request. They secondly requested that specific groups be identified in the legislation and so we are putting that change in at their request as well. That's it. >> Thank you. >> And the original legislation came favorable from the committee. Uh so I'd like to make a motion to approve as substituted. >> There's a motion by Council Winston, second by Council Norwood to adopt as substituted 25R488. Is there any discussion on the motion to adopt this item as substituted? Hearing none. We move to vote. Madam Clerk, please open the vote on the motion to adopt a substitute. >> The vote is open. Will everyone please vote? >> The vote is closed. 13 13 yay, zero nays. >> Uh, Mr. Bond, how would you like your vote? Uh, >> it's a I for Mr. Bond. 14 y n y n y n y n y n y n y n y n y n y nay z n >> 14 y naysay zays a motion to adopt carries >> thank you >> thank you um council president I'd like to make a motion to go to committee of the whole to discuss a paper that is currently held in the community development and human services committee >> there's a motion by council member Winston seconded by council member Douer to move to committee of the whole discussion on the motion move committee the whole do's consent without objection any objection madam clerk please sign the county uns consent a motion to move on committee of the whole 14 y n y n y n y n y n y n y n y n y n y n yay z >> 14 z n the motion passes we now stand on committee hall chair Winston >> thank you uh I'd like to make a motion to bring item 25-0153 um off of Hill there's a motion to bring forward 251503 by council Winston second by council member Bakiari any discussion on the motion to bring forward this mot this uh for consideration. We do this unanimous consent. Any objection? Madam clerk, please sign on the count unanimous consent. Motion to bring forth this item. >> 14 yay zays. >> 14 zs. Motion carries. >> Thank you. Now I'd like to make a motion to bring forth. >> Yes. Either way. >> Okay. 25-0153, an ordinance by council member Dustin Hillis as substitute by the Atlanta City Council waving uh the code number listed general ordinances chapter 2 administration article 10 procurement and real estate code division 14 of the Atlanta city code of or ordinances authorizing the exchange of property at 1370 Howill Road Northwest for property owned by Atlanta Belt Line at 1396 Howill Road Northwest and 1400 Howill Road Northwest authorizing the grant of temporary construction easements and permanent easements across city-owned property located at 1370 Howill Road Northwest and authorizing the purchase of the city of Atlanta's interest in certain property located at 1370 Howill Road Northwest so as to provide for the construction of the Atlanta Beltline project and related improvements to the intersection of Howill Road Northwest and Travert Avenue Northwest to authorize the mayor or his design or the chief procurement officer to her design or her design to execute and or deliver all documents necessary to complete the exchange, easement, and sale and transfer of the aforementioned property authorizing the revenue from the disposition of from the distribution to be deposited into the fund and account information listed herein authorizing acquisition, due diligence, closing cost, signage, demolition, site security and stabilization, fencing and other site development costs to be paid from the fund and account information listed for herein and for other purposes. I'd like to make a motion to adopt >> adopt. >> There's a motion by council Winston to adopt this item. Is there a second? >> Seconded by council member Shook. Uh is there any discussion on the motion to adopt this item? Council member Winston. >> Um not on my end. I would like sir. Now I'd like to make a motion to bring forth the substitute. >> There's a motion by councelor Winston bring forth substitute seconded by council baktiari. Um, is there any discussion on the motion to bring forth substitute? You want to explain what the substitute brings forth? >> Uh, actually I'd like to let law department opine on the >> Okay. [clears throat] Department of law. Could you speak to what the substitute on this item brings forth? >> Good evening. Amber A. Robinson, City of Atlanta Department of Law. This um substitute adds the property descriptions for the land swap, the land purchase, and the easements. Um adds them all as the exhibits necessary for this um ordinance. >> Thank you. Any discussion on the motion to bring forth the substitute? Hearing none. Move to vote. Madam clerk, please open the vote on the motion to bring forth substitute. >> The vote is open. Will everyone please vote? The votes close. 14 yay, zero nays. >> 14 y z. Motion to bring forth substute carries. >> Okay. So, at this time, I'd like to make a motion to u come out of committee of the whole. >> There's a motion by councelor Winston to exit committee of the whole. Second by councel bakiari. Any discussion on the motion to bring come out of committee of the whole hearing? None. We do this names consent. Any objection? Madam clerk, please sign the counts consent on the motion to come out of exit committee of the hole. >> 14 yay, zay. >> 14 yay, zero nays. Uh, motion's approved. We're now out of committee of the whole and back to the standing committee report. Chair Winston? >> Yes. Back to 25- 01503. I'd like to make a motion to approve as substituted. >> There's a motion to adopt a substitute 251503 by Council Winston. Is there a second? Seconded by Council Member Juan. Is there any discussion on the motion to adopt as substituted this item? Hearing none. Move to vote. Madam clerk, please open the vote on the motion to adopt a substitute. >> The vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? The vote is closed. 14 yay, zero nays. >> 14 yay, zero nays. Motion to adopt substitute carries. >> Thank you. That does conclude my report. >> Thank you. Next up is transportation committee chair Amos. Yes, Mr. President, I have one item resolution 25-R4122. Um item number one, page 46, an amended resolution by transportation committee authorizing the mayor or his designate to execute an agreement with four agreement listing curbside management services for last CCD JV on behalf of the department of aviation for the initial term of three years with two one-year renewal options in an amount not to exceed $930,000 for the management fee and the amount not to exceed $29,91,544. $4.80 for the reimburseable operating budget. All services will be charged to and paid from account number listed herein and for other purposes this come forward with um recommendation to file out of committee. >> There's a motion to file item 25R4122 coming out of committee. It does not need a second. There discussion on the motion to file this item. Council one. >> Thank you, Mr. President. as as I spoke during the last commit last full council meeting uh against the motion to refer back to committee uh I I really am reticizant for council to insert ourselves into a procurement process and based on the information we just received in executive session I'm going to offer a a substitute motion to approve >> there's a motion to Yeah. Unfortunately, you can't make a motion to approve. You have to basically the the motion to file is a fundamental motion. So, basically, it has to fail. Then a subsequent motion could be offered. So, I will rule that out of order. >> Can I still speak? >> Yes. >> All right. Well, in that case, >> wait, additional discussion. Council one. >> Thank you, Mr. President. So, in that case, um thank you for the procedural correction. Um that I would ask my colleagues not to support the motion to file uh for that very reason. And I think it's a slippery slope um for us um in terms of opening the door for future procurements when there there are uh stakeholders that don't like the outcome to come appeal to us. That's not that should not be in our jurisdiction. I I agree. Um there were some suggestions made during our discussion there that are absolutely correct and I think I hope that the administration will take those into but u in terms of this procurement I would ask that y'all um defeat the motion to file and then if that happens I'll offer a substitute a new motion at that point. So we're so just everybody understands the motion is to file. That is what we are discussing and what we will be voting on. Council member Lewis discussion on the motion to file. >> And I appreciate you and I know we sent this back to transportation. I was hopeful that people on transportation committee could talk in transportation. The vote that came out of transportation. I stood and I voted. I know our council our transportation chair voted and everyone else abstained in that vote. And so but we sent it back to transportation to have that discussion. We've always also had discussion in in a executive [clears throat] session. So I feel confident and I think my colleagues need to continue to stand strong on this. Thank you again. >> Council. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. Unfortunately, this very flawed procurement was not done under our new director, Miss Houston. We have noticed serious flaws in this particular procurement. and I think we have a duty to do what is right by small businesses in this city. I appreciate my colleagues on the transportation committee that did offer a motion to file and I am asking my colleagues to follow that. Unfortunately, Miss Houston had to address this issue but it was not under this administration. her office. This procurement was not done under Miss Houston. I am I will be voting to file this particular contract. >> Other discussion on the motion to file hearing. None. Move to vote. Madam clerk, please open the vote on the motion to file. >> The vote is open. The closed eight yays, six nays. >> Eight yays, six nays. The motion to file carries. >> Mr. President, am I wait? >> A motion is sended to the mayor post haste. uh to send what post haste >> the file >> the file doesn't need the mayor it doesn't need the mayor's signature or anything so there's no reason to send to the mayor >> I I still motion to send it to the mayor's office post >> second I'm going to rule that out of order I don't believe there's a procedure by which it can go to the mayor post I'll make sure that he knows about it >> chair Amos >> Mr. President and ends my report. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next up is finance exec chair shook. >> Uh thank you Mr. President. Two papers. First of which is 25 1096 an ordinance by uh Mr. Amus to ratify, reaffirm, supplement, and amend the certain master bond ordinance adopted on the date listed as previously supplemented and amended to provide for the issuance by the city of Atlanta of its water and wastewater subordinate lean revenue refunding bonds series 2025 in the aggregate principal amount of not to exceed blank to refund or tender for purchase all or a portion of the city's outstanding water and wastewater uh revenue refunding bond series uh 2015 and the city's outstanding water and wastewater revenue refunding bond series 2020. Uh and the city's outstanding blank collectively the re refunded bonds to authorize the preparation and distribution of an invitation or offer to tender bonds and related disclosure agreements and the execution and delivery of a dealer management agreement and tender agent agreement in connection with a tender for purchase of the refunded bonds to authorize the preparation and use of a preliminary official statement. an official statement in connection with the offering for sale of the series 2025 bonds to supersede and wave all resolutions and ordinances or parts of resolutions and ordinances that conflict uh with the provisions of this ordinance and for other related purposes. The motion is to file. >> Motion coming out of committee to file 251096. It does not need a second. Is there any discussion on the motion to file this item? Hearing no move to vote. Madam clerk, please open the vote on the motion to file. >> The vote is open. Will everyone please vote? >> The both close. 12 yay, zero nays. >> 12 yay, zay is a motion to file carries. >> Thank you. 251591. It's an ordinance by West Morland, Winston Juan Doer Hillis and Bactiari substituted by the CDHS committee to amend the city charter where listed to more explicitly define the purpose of and uses for the dedicated affordable housing fund to provide for certain reporting requirements related there to and for other purposes. I'll move adoption. >> Motion coming out of committee, correct? to adopt 251591. It does not need a second. Is there any discussion on the motion to adopt this item? Just again as uh point of clarification. This is a charter change. So this is the first of what will be two required adoptions. Any discussion on the motion to adopt? Hearing none. Move to a vote. Madam clerk, please open the vote on the motion to adopt this item. >> The vote is open. Will everyone please vote? >> Council member Bond, what is your vote? >> Bond's an I. Council member Norwood, what's your vote? Council >> Norwood's an eye as well. The closed 13 yay, zero naysay. >> 13 yay, zero naysay. Motion to adopt carries. >> Motion to refer back to FEC. >> There's a motion by council member Shook, seconded by council Juan to refer 251591 to FEC. Is there any discussion on the motion to refer? We do this vanous consent without objection. Any objection? Madam clerk, please sign the count of names consent on the motion to refer. >> 13 yay, zero nays. >> 13, zero nays. Motion refer carries. >> That is all. >> Thank you. Next up will be committee on council. Chair Collins. >> Good evening. Thank you, Mr. Council President. If there are no objections, we may may we take all four um of our items as a block. >> Objection. Please proceed. >> All right. Great. Communications 25- C-0000, excuse me, 25- C-0119. A communication from Mayor Andre Dickens appointing Miss Mon'nique Fields to serve as a member of the City of Atlanta Development Impact Fee Advisory Committee. This appointment is for a term of two years. Item number 25- C-0124 and communication from Mayor Andre Dickens appointing Miss Danielle Hall to serve as a member of the license review board. This appointment is for a term of two years. Item 25- C-0125, a communication from Mayor Andre Dickens, appointing Miss Gabrielle Claybornne to serve as a member of the Human Relations Commission. This appointment is for a term of three years. And our last item, item number 25- C-0126, a communication from Mayor Andre Dickens appointing Miss Sarah Hunt Blackwell to serve as a member of the Human Relations Commission. This appointment is for a term of three years. All items come before the body with favorable recommendation and accordingly our recommendation is to um adopt approve all items. >> There's a motion to approve all four items coming out of committee. It does not need a second. Is there any discussion on the motion to approve these items? Since these are communications, we can do this using unanimous consent. Any objection? Madam clerk, please the count consent of the motion to accept these four items. >> 13 yay, zero nays. >> 13 yay, zays. The motion passes. >> Thank you. That concludes my um report. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next up will be the zoning committee, Chair West Morland. Thank you, Mr. President. We have three items. Um, the first came off consent. 251282 Z2524 at 696 Highland Avenue Northeast. This ordinance is to reszone from R5BL to MRMUBL. Um, and I will defer to Council Member Wyoff. >> I'd like to make a motion to refer this back to committee. >> There's a motion by Council Woff to refer this back to zoning committee. Correct, Councelor Wyoff. Uh, do I hear a second? >> Second. >> Second by Councelor Winston. Any discussion on the motion to refer this item hearing? None. Move to vote. Madam clerk, please open the vote on the motion to refer. >> The vote is open. >> Will everyone please vote? >> The vote is closed. It's 12 yay, zero nays. Professor Wor Morland. >> Uh I >> 13 [clears throat] yay and zero naysay. >> 13 yay zero nays. Motion to refer cars. >> Next up 251434 Z2561. This is a text amendment. The ordinance is to create a new overlay entitled Northeast Atlanta Quality of Life Regulation Overlay District for the purpose of limiting certain uses. The recommendation of the committee is to adopt with three days, one nay, and three abstensions. There's a motion coming out of committee to adopt 251434. It does not need a second. Is there any discussion on the motion to adopt this item? Hearing none. Move to vote. Madam clerk, please open the vote on the motion to adopt. One moment. The vote is open. Everyone, please vote. >> Both closed. Six yay, seven nays. >> Six yays, seven nays. The motion fails. >> Next item is 25R4136. Resolution requests that the city department of city planning remove parking minimum requirements citywide as part of the zoning 2.0 rewrite. The recommendation of the committee is to adopt with 4A's three abstensions. And I will defer to council member Doer. >> There there's a motion to adopt coming out of committee. It doesn't need a second. Is there any discussion? Councilman Doer. >> Oh, okay. Let's deal with this and then we'll come back to you. Council. Council member Doer. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Uh colleagues, I know I've had a chance to talk about this resolution with a few of you. However, I know based on some of the current conversations that I've had and some of the uh ongoing conversations that I've had, there's still some questions about uh what I'm hoping to accomplish uh with this resolution. Uh and I keep, you know, using the word resolution to remind uh everyone that uh the intent is to help put the city on a path towards uh us finding uh common ground. And so I want to make sure we have more time to have these conversations recognizing this is something that could have uh citywide implications at some point even though this particular legislation before us is a resolution. And so just [snorts] to give us a little bit more time, I uh want to move to hold and breast council. >> Other discussion on the motion to adopt this item? >> I'm sorry. Sorry, there's a motion. Sorry, there's a motion. There's a motion to hold by council member Doer, seconded by council member Biari. Is there any discussion on the motion to hold this item? Thank you. Getting ahead of myself. >> I'm sorry. Thank you. There's no discussion. We'll go back straight to the vote. Madam clerk, please open the vote on the motion holding the breast council. >> The vote is open. Will everyone please vote? Yeah. again. Okay, one moment. Vote is open on that motion to hold. Please vote on the motion to hold the breast council. >> Miss Wes Morlin, what is >> Norwood? How do you How do you >> Mr. Shook? How do you vote? >> C Norwood's an I. Customer shook I. Coun Lewis. Counc Lewis is an I. >> Council member Collins. >> Uh, Council Collins out of the chamber. >> The vote is closed. 12 yay zero nays. >> 12 yay, zero nays. The motion to hold the breast of council carries. >> Concludes our report. >> Council member Lewis. So, C Lewis, you were on the I side of the vote. The vote failed. Only those that voted nay can move to reconsider. >> Okay, that concludes my report. >> Next up will be public safety legal administration. Chair Boon. >> Thank you, Mr. President. We do not have a report today. Thank you. >> Thank you. Finally, today will be city utilities committee chair Lewis. Thank you, Mr. President. Good afternoon, Council President. We have no report. However, we have 25R3895, item number 30 on page 20. It was pulled from consent. May I sound the caption for this item? >> Yes, please. 25R3895 an amended resolution by city committee utility I'm city utilities committee authorizing the mayor or his designate to execute an agreement for IFB co DWM25021250143 EIB Valley of the Hawks constructed wetlands project with integral municipal services corporation Rockdale pipeline incorporated joint venture on behalf of the department of Water shed management for a term to commence on the date a notice to proceed and is issued for 18 months and an amount not to exceed 11,717,733. All contracted work will be charged to and paid from the fund department organization and account number listed herein and for other purposes. This item was pulled from the agenda and one of my colleagues they brought up some of the issues with the procurement process. So, do I have to say the motion that was in the the committee or can I make the motion that the >> motion comes comes forward to adopt? If you want to make a subsequent motion, feel free. >> I want to make a substitute motion to one second. Council, let me see if I One second. Vote no. Vote no to file this legislation. >> You want to make a >> You want to make a motion to file. >> No, not to file it. Vote no. Want to vote no. I motion to >> motion to approve. >> There's a Well, there's a motion to adopt. is coming off consent to adopt. So the st the stance is to adopt, but we'll just have to take a vote. So is there any discussion on the motion to adopt 25R3895? Any discussion? Hearing none, we'll move to a vote. Madam clerk, please open the vote on the motion to adopt 25R 3895. >> The vote is open. Will everyone please vote? Council Collins. Will everyone please vote? The vote close. >> Thank you, Mr. President. >> 11 yays, one nay. >> 11 yays, one nay. The motion to adopt carries. >> Thank you, Mr. President. >> Thank you. That concludes our reports of standing committees. We will now move to personal papers. Uh I saw one that may be for immediate council bond. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. The ELM's number is >> 39 >> 258. A resolution by council member Michael Julian Bond requesting the department of finance and the department of planning and the office of the mayor to conduct a study to evaluate funding mechanisms for areas within the city of Atlanta's designated within the city of Atlanta designated as redeep redevelopment areas under the redevelopment powers of the state of Georgia Act and for other purposes. Whereas the Redevelopment Powers Act of the State of Georgia authorizes municipalities to designate certain areas of re certain areas as redevelopment areas and to implement redevelopment plans and to stimulate economic growth and community revitalization. And whereas the city of Atlanta has established various redevelopment areas and tax allocation districts known as TADS pursuant to this act with baseline tax collections set in year of districts creation. And whereas subsequent years of incremental increase in tax revenues above the established base within each development area is allocated by the city into redevelopment funds to be used for a period of defined a period defined by the applicable redevelopment plan. And whereas the additional funding addresses sources that derive from the city of Atlanta general fund and or other appropriations may be added to supplemented by or otherwise allocated for redevelopment efforts uh for these areas. Whereas, ordinance 25-01560 seeks to extend the sunset dates for certain tax allocation districts and adopt corresponding amended redevelopment plans, thereby necessitating a comprehensive review of the funding mechanisms and fiscal impacts associated with extensions. Now therefore, be it resolved by the city council of the city of Atlanta that the department of finance, the department of city planning, and the office of the mayor are hereby requested to jointly conduct a study to evaluate and recommend find uh funding mechanisms for redevelopment areas designed under the redevelopment powers act. Be it further resolved that the study shall include but not be limited to an analysis of baseline tax collections and incremental revenue growth within existing redevelopment areas. The structure and duration of the redevelopment funds established for each area. the potential supplemental funding sources for the city's general fund and other appropriations, fiscal impacts on the opportunities associated with extending sunset dates of tax allocation districts, but that should be redevelopment areas. So change that. Be it further resolved that the study shall be implemented and submitted to the city council within 90 days from the date of passage and approval of this resolution by the mayor. We have further resolved that all departments and offices involved shall coordinate to ensure timely and thorough uh completion of the study and shall present findings and recommendations to the community development human resources uh services committee and the finance executive committee. Be it finally resolved that all resolutions in conflict herewith and hereby are waved to the for the purposes of this resolution only and the and only to the extent of the conflict. Like to move approval >> there's a motion to adopt 39 Elm ID 39258 by council bond. Is there a second? Seconded by Council Norwood. >> No. Is there a second? >> Is there no help for the widow's son? >> Not hearing a second. Council member Bond. >> Oh, that's distressful. >> May I make a substitute motion to refer to committee? >> Second. There's a there's a motion by Coun Well, uh, sure. There's a there's a motion by Council Member Norwood, seconded by Council Member West Morland to refer to which committee to refer to any committee that I that I would deem appropriate. >> That would be right. >> Huh. >> CDHS. >> CDHS. All right. Is there any discussion on the motion to refer this item to CDHS? >> Yes. >> Council VA. >> Thank you. Uh, Mr. President, I introduced this resolution after the extensive discussions that we've had about tax allocation districts and the extension of those. Today, we passed a resolution creating a committee specifically directed at that. Uh, but this resolution seeks to use sections of the redevelopment powers act that have gone unexplored uh for several decades in the city of Atlanta. Many of the issues that were raised by many of the advocates for the corridor TADS, which in function are really tiffs, tax incremental financing districts, those same areas do not function the same way that a uh under the Georgia code that a tax allocation district functions. What tools are available for those areas to aid in redevelopment and investment are redevelopment areas designated underneath the state of Georgia's redevelopment powers act which uh includes authorizing a municipality to one create the redevelopment district. It also requires that a redevelopment specific redevelopment plan be developed for the area and outlines an analysis on how to fund those plans. And so many of these areas that are considered uh tax al what do you call it? Um the tax the tiffs that are the corridor known as nomenclature under corridor tads don't have the ability to do that and many of them don't have redevelopment plans associated with them for the redevelopment. And as was stated earlier today by one of our speakers and last week at the uh elongated committee meeting uh without direct intervention and purposeful action it becomes difficult to see real change and redevelopment happen in those areas. And so that's why I put forth this resolution one to awaken those in the community and some in the administration and even some others on the council that this tool and mechanism is available for those areas that are not situated within formal accurate tax allocation districts. And so I've made the motion to consider it today uh given the fact that we really only have about five weeks of functional work left in this term that we would ask the administration and the departments listed therein to go ahead and to begin their analysis. It was given a 90-day time period, but this is really something they could probably research in a few weeks. So, I would speak against the, you know, if it's going to be the will of the body to send it to committee, you know, I'm only one voice in the willingness, but I would think that we want to try to act as quickly and deliberately as possible. >> So, I withdraw. >> Thank you. Any other discussion on the motion to refer? Hearing none, move to vote. Madam Cler, please open the vote on the motion to refer this item. >> The vote is open. The post 11 yay, zero naysay, one nay. The motion to refer carries 11 eyes, one nay. Um, council bond, you can stay here for additional papers. Just one moment. I just want to for the public mostly, but also for council members, I just want to remind you that we're going into our final committee week, then we'll go into our final council meeting. Any item that is not adopted by December 1st, our last council meeting, because we are in a changeover of sessions, will basically automatically be filed >> unless there is something else done with it at the end of that meeting. Okay? So, I just want to remind everybody as they work through committees this week that if things are not moving through, everything ends because this is a session end and then everything will have to be restarted at that first council meeting of the new term. Okay. So, Council Bond, papers for referral. >> All right. Thank you. I don't see the ELM's number on here. Oh, okay. This ordinance by council member Michael Judian Bond >> authorizing the donation of a total amount not to exceed Oh, you got that? >> Thank you. So, that's Elms ID number 39260. An amount not to exceed $1,000. from the post one at large carry forward account to the southern Christian leadership conference women's organization organizational movement for equality now incorporated to support the commemoration of the anniversary of the Rosa Parks arrest pursuant to section 6-306 of the city of Atlanta's charter and for other purposes >> that was ID 3926 6 will be referred to the finance committee. >> Okay. Thank you. Have ELM's ID number 39261, a resolution by council member Michael Jun Bond requesting the Atlanta Department of Transportation designate a portion of On Street parking spaces on Lakewood Avenue Northeast for residential use only. to authorize the Atlanta Department of Transportation to implement signage and enforcement mechanisms and for other purposes. >> Elms ID 39261 will be referred to the transportation committee. have Elm's ID number 39211, a resolution by council member Michael Julian Bond, a resolution authorizing the mayor, his designate on behalf of the city of Atlanta to execute an in encroachment agreement with the Georgia Historical Society for the purpose of installing historical marker at the Robert Wood Park located at 91 Pet Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30303 to highlight the history of Atlanta's student movement protest at Rich's department store and to describe the impact of the protest on shaping Georgia's history and for other purposes. >> Elms ID 39211 will be referred to the CDHS committee. >> Have Elms ID number 39179, a resolution by council member Michael Jun Bond. A resolution authorizing the mayor, his designate to exercise the second renewal option for RFP20256, diversity tracking software services with Ask Reply Incorporated, DBA uh B2G W incorporated on behalf of the mayor's office of contract compliance for a term of one year effective from the December 25th, 2025 through December 24th 2026 in an amount not to exceed $89,950. All contracted work will be charged to and paid from the fund department organization and account number listed therein and for other purposes. >> Home ID 39179 will be referred to the finance committee. >> Okay. Thank you. Elms ID number 39250, an ordinance by council member Michael Julian Bond to amend the Atlanta sign ordinance to change the definitions of public entertainment district to allow under certain time, place, and manner uh criteria, projection and wrap signs with the within the SP1 zoning district upon the council activation of the public entertainment district in connection with large downtown entertainment events and for other purposes. >> Elms ID 39250 will be referred to the zoning committee. >> Okay. I have one other paper in my email. I apologize. There's no Elm's number. >> I didn't write it. >> Okay. >> [laughter] >> I I think he's I think I think he's referring to the cake that he's >> Oh, the cake. >> Oh, okay. It's its own place of decadence. [laughter] An ordinance by council member Michael Julian Bond. An ordinance to wave the city of Atlanta's code of ordinances. Chapter 2, article 10, procurement and real estate code, division 4, source selection to authorize a month-to-month agreement with the limo and shuttle services incorporated, DBA, front row parking, MTI, to continue curbside management services on behalf of the Department of Aviation in an amount not to exceed blank per month for the management fee and blank for reimburseable operating budget. All services will be charged to and paid from the account numbers therein and for other purposes. >> It has an ELMS ID. It's 39269. I just got it. You didn't have it. Uh 39269 and that will be referred to the transportation commission. >> Thank you. That concludes my paper. >> Thank you, Council Member Boone. Thank you, Mr. President. Elms ID number 39251, an ordinance by council member Andrea Boom, Marcy Kari Over Street, Michael Julian Bond, and Eay Collins, an ordinance to designate Burnt Hickory Drive as honorary JT Johnson way to authorize the city of Atlanta Department of Transportation to install honorary street signs where burnt Hickory Drive Southwest street signage is installed and for other purposes. Elms ID 39251 will be referred to the transportation committee. >> Elms ID number 39203. An ordinance by council member Andre Abon. An ordinance or authorizing the city of Atlanta to wave chapter 2, article division 4, section 21187, and section 21129, procurement and real estate code of the city of Atlanta, municipal code of ordinances, as well as any other conflicting code provisions to ratify services rendered in connection with special procurement agreements, SPDPW, AMV, garbage trucks maintenance and repair with Nyx Tran Corporation beginning October 30th, 2025 and Truck Service Depot LLC beginning October 22nd, 2025 and to authorize the mayor or his designate to exercise the first renewal option out of the agreements on behalf of the Department of Public Works for next transcorporation for a term of one year retroactively effective November 1st, 2025. all contracted work to be charged to and paid from the fund department, organization, and account numbers listed and for other purposes for a term of one year retroactively effective October 24th through October 23rd and to add funding in a total amount not to exceed $162,000. >> ID 39203 will be referred to the city utilities committee. Elms ID number 39212, an ordinance by council member Andrea Elboom authorizing the mayor his designate on behalf of the city of Atlanta to acquire from the conservation fund three continuous parcels of land comprising approximately 30 acres or less of real property identification numbers. Boulder Park 14F501 LL0443 for the purpose of creating a new nature preserve in Southwest Atlanta for a total purchase price not to exceed $1,982,0005787 authorizing the mayor his designate on behalf of the city of Atlanta to execute all documents necessary to acquire the property authorizing acquisition due diligence closing cost signage demolition ition site stabilization and other site development costs to be paid from the tree recompense fund impact fee west and tree trust fund accounts amended the 2026 general government capital outlay fund budgets in the department of parks and recreation and the department of finance parks west service district by transferring funds to and from the various accounts listed here in waving chapters 2 division 14 section 21541 of the procurement and real estate code of the city of Atlanta code and ordinances and for other purposes. >> Elms ID 39212 be referred to the CDHS committee. Elms ID number 39204 resolution by council member Andrea El Boon authorizing the mayor his designate on behalf of the city of Atlanta keep Atlanta Beautiful Commission to accept a donation from Keep America Beautiful in partnership [snorts] with Keep Atlanta Beautiful Commission and American Express Foundation in the amount of $17,5000 to extend projects related to Keep America Beautiful, the greatest American cleanup and similar projects And for other purposes, >> ID 39204 will be referred to the city utilities committee. M's ID number 39205, a resolution authorizing the mayor, his exit on behalf of the city of Atlanta's Keep Atlanta Beautiful Commission to accept a donation from Keep America Beautiful in partnership with Keep Atlanta Beautiful Commission and Hilton in the amount of $22,5000 to extend projects related to Keep America Beautiful, the greatest American cleanup and similar projects and for other purposes. MS ID 39205 will be referred to the city utilities committee. Elms ID number 39217, an ordinance by council member Andrea El Boon authorizing the mayor his knee to wave chapter 2, divisional four of the procurement and real estate code of the city of Atlanta code of ordinances in so far as it shall be necessary to authorize the actions authorized hereby to enter into amendment number six for agreement FC 9423 citywide clean and close services with ask construction and home inspection LLC on behalf of the Atlanta Department of Police Code Enforcement section to extend the term of the agreement of a month-to-month basis for a term of one year effective from December 16th through December 15th and an amount not to exceed $1,400,000 and 0. All contracted work to be charged to and paid from accounts listed and for other purposes. >> ID 3927 will be referred to the public safety legal administration committee. ID number 39223 and ordinance waving chapter 2 code of ordinances general ordinances chapter 2 administration procurement and real code division of the Atlanta city code as well as any other conflicting code provisions to authorize the mayor or his designate to execute the second amendment to emergency procurement agreements EP DWM243124246 and EPC DWM for small meter installation services with Titan Unlimited LLC and CM Davis Contracting Company, respectively on behalf of the Department of Watershed Management to extend the term of each agreement for two years effective January 15th through January 14th to add funding and a combined amount not to exceed $4 million. All contracted work will be charged to and paid from the fund department, organization, and account numbers listed here and and for other purposes. Elms ID 39223 will be referred to the city utilities committee. >> Elms ID number 39257, an ordinance authorizing the city attorney on or designate to execute settlement statements on behalf of the city of Atlanta to resolve all claims against perural and profas and sulfanic acid manufacturers in ongoing litigation or national settlement discussions. In the matter caption, City of Atlanta versus 3M Company, master docket number 218, MN2873, RMG, civil case number 224 CV0175, RMG, and for other purposes, >> ID 39257 refer to the PSLA. Elms MS ID number 39259 or by council member Antonio Lewis to authorize the removal of six privately owned billboard bases and their supporting structures permitted under part 16 chapter 28A of the 1982 zoning ordinance of the city of Atlanta as amended in exchange for the right given to their owners to construct two digital changing billboard faces and the supporting structures and for other purposes. Elms ID 39259 will be referred to the zoning committee. M's ID number 39256, an ordinance by council member Antonio Lewis to amend chapter 154, article 2, water and sewer billing and adjustment procedures of the city of Atlanta and ordinances as to add new definitions including department error and one-time usage spike to expand eligible building adjustments and credits to revise the commissioner's authority related to building adjustments to date procedures of the water and sewer appeals board and for other purposes. >> Homes ID 39256 will be referred to the city utilities committee. >> Homes ID number 39254, a resolution by Council Member Antonio Lewis requesting that the commissioner of the Atlanta Department of Transportation conduct a traffic study on Taff Street and Lincoln Street to determine the need for speed calming devices, additional signage, or other safety improvements and for other purposes. >> 39254 be referred to the transportation. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Council Member Collins. >> Great. And I'm just have one for tonight. M's ID number 39181, ordinance by council member Isa Collins, post three at large to amend the city of Atlanta code of ordinances part two general ordinances chapter 2 administration article 3 city council division 2 rule section 2-135 which is outstanding um excuse me standing committees to update and clarify the the jurisdictional responsibilities and subject matters assigned to each standing committee of the Atlanta City Council and for other purposes >> 39 9181. We refer to the committee on council. >> Yes, sir. Thank you, >> Council Doer. Uhoh. We have a >> col. So Thank you, Mr. President. I have Elms number 39 263, a resolution by council member Jason Dojo requesting the mayor or his designate to install traffic caling devices on Lorenzo Drive Southwest from Avon Avenue Southwest to Camel Road Southwest and for other purposes. Home's ID 39263 will refer to the transportation committee. >> That's all I have. Council overre ID number 39268 an ordinance by council members Marcy Collier Over Street, Cardon Wyoff, and Michael Bond to amend chapter 2, article 10, procurement and real estate code division 1, generally section 2-117 to require the department of procurement to utilize an automated electronic system to accept bid or proposal submissions during procurements conducted under competitive sourcing methods and for other purposes. 39268 will be referred to the finance exact committee. >> Okay. Elm's ID number 39220, a resolution by council member Marcy Collier over street authorizing a mayor his design on behalf of the mayor's office of cultural affairs to execute four temporary right of entry agreements with CSX Transportation Incorporated to bridge painting activities at four separate locations operated by CSX and to authorize the chief financial officer to remit payment to CS SX in an amount not to exceed $20,000 $9000 per each temporary right of entry agreement on behalf of the mayor's office of a cultural affairs. All costs to be paid from account numbers listed herein and for other purposes. >> ID 39220 will be referred to the FEC. >> Okay. Elms ID number 39215. A resolution by council members Marcy Collier Over Street and Eay Collins. A resolution authorizing the mayor or his designate to exercise the renewal option of contract number RFPS-1220311 Norris Installation Program Design Services at Hart Hartsville Jackson Atlanta International Airport with Chazm [snorts] Architecture LLC on behalf of the Department of Aviation for a term of two years effective January 3rd, 2026 through January 2nd, 2028 on a task order basis and for other purposes. >> ID 39215 will be referred to the transportation committee. Elms ID number 39213, an ordinance by council members Marcy Collier, Over Street and Isa Collins, an ordinance authorizing the city of Atlanta to wave the competitive procurement source selection provision contained in section 2-1187 or article of article 10 procurement and real estate code of the city of Atlanta's code of ordinances as well as any other conflicting code provisions including but not limited to section 2-19 91292E to authorize the mayor of his designate to execute an amendment to RFPs DOA/242-124227 identity identity management system Hartsville Jackson Atlanta international airport with Dean A1 LLC on behalf of the department of aviation to add services and funding in an amount not to exceed $530,991. All services can will be charged to and paid from account numbers listed herein and for other purposes. >> Elms ID 39213 refer to the transportation committee. >> Thanks. Elms ID number 39214 resolution by council member Marcy. Call your over street a resolution authorizing nomero his designate to execute cooperative agreement number CPS do a25071250171 Cisco Webex calling platform support and maintenance at Hartsville Jackson International Airport with CDW government LLC utilizing state of Georgia contract number 9999 SPD SPD 0000219-00002 pursuant to city code section 2-1606 of the city of Atlanta's code of ordinances on behalf of the department of aviation [clears throat] for the term of one year with 2year one-year renewal with two one-year renewal term options in an amount not to exceed $450,000 and0 all contracted work to be charged to and paid from the accounts account numbers listed herein and for other purposes. >> Elms ID 39214 will be referred to the transportation committee. >> Okay. Elms ID number two, no 39253, an ordinance by council members Marcy Collier over street and EA Collins. an ordinance waving a competitive source selection requirement contained at article 10 division 4 of the procurement and real estate code of the city of Atlanta's ordinances and authorizing air mayor his designate on behalf of the city of Atlanta to enter into a cost agreement for an event production services with live nation entertainment for 20 2025 and 2026 through 2026 peach drop festival for the benefit of the public of Atlanta in Atlanta in an amount not to exceed $700,000 authorizing that all peach drop contracted work shall be charged to and paid from accounts listed to author herein to authorize the chief financial officer or his designate to execute any insurance agreements which may be necessary for the city sponsorship of the peach drop festival and for other purposes. >> Home ID 39253 will refer to the finance exact committee. >> Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Shook. Uh, Elms unknown resolution by Shook authorizing mayor's designate to enter into a special procurement SP blank with open gov, Inc. on behalf of city of Atlanta for performance management and capital planning cloud computing solutions for a term of one year with two one-year renewal options at the city's discretion and amount not to exceed $2 million. >> I have the elms. It's 3 niner264 and it will refer to FEC. >> Thank you. Elms 3 niner 252 resolution by shook authorizing the mayor's designate to execute a special management agreement a project management agreement with the BCID for the Lennox road corridor trail and safety improvement project uh safety improvements from FIPS Boulevard to Petri to execute any required agreements for pro project participation and implementation on behalf of ATL DOT and amount not to exceeded 6 million. >> Is that it? >> Yeah. >> Elms 3 niner 252 be referred to the transportation committee. >> Thank you. Elms 3 niner 105 ordinance by shook amending the cited section of the city code so as to provide for certain position abolishments creations reclasses class creations, and above entry authorizations, employee and position transfers. position funding allocation changes and other personnel actions in line with FY26 and for other purposes. >> Home ID 3 niner 105 will be referred to the FEC. >> Um, okay. Elms 39218 is an ordinance by Shook authorizing the mayor's designated to enter into the first renewal option for the soul source agreement indicated inspector's fleet parking with Parkplace Operations Inc. a Georgia Corporation to rent parking spaces at 162, 164, and 168 Forside Street and a portion of 2060 uh Broad Street in Atlanta as further [snorts] described here in pursuant to the section of the code cited here for a term of one year beginning March 15th of this of next year through March 14th of 2027 in an amount not to exceed $123,600 all contracts with work being charged and paid from etc. Elm's ID 3 niner 218 will be referred to the FEC. >> Thank you. That is all. >> Thank you, council. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Elms 39160, an ordinance by council members Juan, Norwood, Bactiari, West Morland, and Collins authorizing a donation in an amount not to exceed blank and zero cents blank from various carry forward accounts to the various the found. This is mess the foundation for AC roads pursuant to section listed of the city of Atlanta's charter and for other purposes >> that paper will be referred to the FC >> I don't have an >> the Virginia one >> I Okay. Elms unknown. A resolution by council member Alex Juan requesting that the Atlanta Department of Transportation remove the designation taxi parking spaces in the Virginia Highland neighborhood and return said spaces to general public street parking for other purposes. >> That is Elm's ID 39265 and that will be referred to the transportation committee. Customer West Morland. >> Hello. [laughter] Um, oh, also Elm's unknown resolution by West Morland, Wyoff Doerre Amos Juan Lewis Collins, requesting the Georgia General Assembly extend the sales and use tax for transit purposes currently set to expire on June 30th, 2057 for an additional 10 years and for other purposes. >> Elms ID 39267 will be referred to the transportation committee. >> Thank you. Elms ID 39178 West Morland waving part two chapter 2 article 10 division 4 uh to authorize the mayor or does he need to execute the first amendment to the contract listed herein Whittier Mill Sanitary Sewer Improvements with Integral Municipal Services Corporation Rockdale Pipeline JV on behalf of the Department of Water Management to extend the term of the agreement for period up to 12 months and a not to exceed $8.2 $2 million all contracted work to be charged to and paid from the fund department organization account listers numbers here and for other purposes. >> ID 39178 will be referred to the city utilities committee >> 39206 authorizing the CFO to amend FY26 water and wire renewal and extension fund budget in amount not to exceed $1,865,89711 transfer funds and for other purposes. >> ID 39206 will be referred to city utilities committee. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Council Winston. >> Thank you, Council President. [clears throat] Elms ID 39231 and ordinance by council members Winston and Collins authorizing the mayor or his design enter into an amended intergovernmental agreement with the Atlanta Urban Development Corporation governing the development of affordable housing on city-owned surplus properties to provide for the use of additional city of Atlanta funding. authorizing the chief financial officer or his design to make a payment to AUDC from the affordable housing trust fund in an in amount not to exceed $500,000 in 20 in FY2026 and to reserve for AUDC an amount not to exceed $1,500,000 in the affordable housing trust fund in FY27 pursuant to the amended intergovernmental agreement authorizing the mayor or his designate to execute all other documents necessary to consummate The action is authorized hereby and for other purposes. >> Elms ID 39231 will be referred to the CDHS committee. Elms ID 39221 a resolution by council members Winston and Collins a resolution authorizing the mayor or his designate to enter to the agreement number listed RDA Paulard mur mural with Sarah Emerson pursuant to the section number listed of the city of Atlanta code of ordinances for a unique public artwork mural at the intersection of Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard and Pard Boulevard in an amount not to exceed 137,37 $70 and no cents to be charged to and paid from the fund department organization account numbers listed here and for other purposes. Elms ID 39221 will be referred to the FC. Elms 39228, an ordinance by council members Winston and Collins, authorizing the mayor or his designate to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Atlanta Urban Development Corporation to facilitate a term loan from Truist Bank to AUDC in principal amount of $10 million and support AUDC in connection with the implementation of the affordable housing strike force focused on expediting the development of affordable housing on publicly on land and authorizing the mayor or his designate to execute all other certificates. ificates documents and agreements necessary to consummate the transactions authorized hereby and for other purposes. >> 228 39 Elm ID 39228 refer to the CDHS committee. >> Elms ID 39202 an ordinance by council member Winston. an ordinance author uh waving the competitive source selection provisions contained in section numbered of article 10 of the procurement and real estate code of the city of Atlanta code of ordinances as well as any other conflicting code provisions to authorize the mayor or his designate to execute the second amendment to the special agreement special procurement agreement number listed community development software would benefit LLC uh on behalf of the department of grants community development to extend the term of the agreement for a period of 364 days effective January 36, 2026 through January 30th, 2027 in an amount not to exceed eight uh $48,000 cents. All contracted work shall be charged to and paid from the accounts number listed herein and for other purposes. >> Homes ID 39202 will be referred to the CDHS committee. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Council Woff. It's the final countdown. [singing] Okay. Elms ID. I'm the last one. Elms ID 39255. A resolution by council member Carter Woff authorizing the mayor on behalf of the city of Atlanta to accept a donation of $185,000 and0 from the Atlanta Hawks Foundation Inc. for Central Park located at 400 Merits Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia 3038 for the purpose of improving the outdoor community basketball courts and for other purposes. and home ID 39255 will be referred to the CDHS committee. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. I believe that is all papers for referral today. We'll now move to general remarks. Let me just remind everybody we have an election runoff, a couple of council districts and um APS seats. Early voting will begin November 22nd, Saturday, and run through November 26th, the following Tuesday. Uh so please get out and vote. Uh if you need to find the early voting locations in Fulton or DAB, please see the clerk's website and all of that information on ours and locations will be provided. Any other remarks? Council member Bond. >> Thank you, Mr. President. The ATL Fresh and Free food giveaway will be this Wednesday, November the 19th, 2025, Sharpley, beginning at 2:00 p.m. at the West Mitchell CME Church, located in 560 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Southwest Atlanta. We will have holiday fair themed uh food for this distribution including an estimated 500 turkeys. Uh it is first come first serve. There's no prerequisite to receive this help. So please come early and we will be there while supplies last. And that's uh very important while supplies last. this Thursday, November the 19th, 2025, 2 p.m. at the West Mitchell CME Church, pastored by uh Dr. Herman Skip Mason, the new president of ITC, the inter interdenominational Theological Center. So, we want to say congratulations to him. >> Uh but we'll hopefully see you folks on Wednesday. >> Uh and uh >> that's it. But please come early. We will begin at 2 p.m. >> will only remain while supplies last. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other general remarks from the body? >> Hearing none, we will move to the final roll call. Madam clerk, >> thank you. Council, Council President Doug Shipman, >> present. >> Council member Michael Julian Bond, post one at large. Council member Matt West Morland, post two at large. Council member Eay Collins, post three at large. >> Council member Jason H. Winston, District 1. >> Council member Cardon Woff, District 2. Council member Byron D. Amos, District 3. Council member Jason Dozer, District 4. >> Council member Liliana Bakiari, District 5. >> Council member Alex one, District 6. Alex one. No. Council member [snorts] Howard Shook, District 7. Council member Mary, District 8. Council [snorts] member Andrea Obun, District 10. Council member Marcy Col over Street, Council President-elect, the Marcy Collier Over Street. >> Antonia Lewis, District 12. >> Without objection, we stand a journ. >> [music] >> to do wonderful and great things from the White House um to the church