Mayor and Council Meeting
Video Transcript
Duration: 50 minutes
Speakers: 16
To introduce my colleagues and council members present, we have council member Christine Hall,
council member David Johnson,
council member William Morthland,
and council member Alan Sells.
This evening, mayor Kurt Wilson and council member Sarah Beeson have been have an excused absence and will not be here tonight. I will now turn it over to senior vice president and deputy city administrator Sharon Izzo to explain how this meeting will be run. Thank you.
In accordance with section chapter 3.7
of the city code,
the city council shall hold regular public meetings.
The purpose of city council council meetings is for the public to participate
and speak on agenda items that constitute formal decisions by the elected body.
These items are listed on the published agenda, which can be accessed via the city website prior to the meeting.
This is a public meeting and some items do require a formal public hearing.
An important component of city council meetings is to hear directly from residents on items listed on the agenda.
Residents are at the top of our organizational
chart. Therefore, public comments or questions are essential for mayor and council to consider as they are contemplate each decision. To ensure an accurate record of the
accurate record of the meeting, if you would like to speak on an
item, please complete a comment card located at the back of the room.
We ask that everyone observe the principles of mutual respect and display the appropriate demeanor during the course of the meeting, which should be and is reflective of our great community.
This with respect to the proceedings, we ask that attention is given to the person speaking.
If it is necessary to have an independent conversation,
please exit the rear doors to the vestibule area.
In addition, we ask that you silence any electronic devices at this time.
The mayor Pro Tem is a presiding officer over the meeting and will ensure an orderly exchange of comments, questions, and discussion.
We encourage everyone in attendance and the viewing audience to visit the city website for information on news, events, and meetings.
We also encourage you to participate in the various activities and offerings in the city, which can be found on roswell365.com.
There are a number of events upcoming in the city of Roswell
which promote community,
physical activity, and leisure as we all make Roswell the number one family community in America.
Thank you, senior VP, ISO.
Now I would like to call Reverend Charles w Savage the second, our pastor this evening of, Sardis Methodist Church, the front for the invocation and moment of silence. Please, sir.
Emperor Tim feels if it's okay. I wanna flip the order of this. I wanna do
the moment of silence first. Yes, sir. And the rationale behind that is that when I was on my way over here tonight,
I heard that there is a potential ceasefire
between
Israel and Iran.
And I want us to focus on that and ask God to bring
that to fruition.
Thank you.
Most gracious and eternal god,
your children come to this place.
Lord, we come because
you have brought us into this great community.
Community where unlike some other places in the world, we can live in peace.
Lord, we thank you for those who serve, those who put out our fires,
for those who keep our streets safe, our police officers.
Lord, for those who are standing on the dais who provide the direction for our great
community.
Lord, we come tonight and we ask that as as we gather in this room that you would pour out your spirit
that we might feel the presence and that the wisdom that you have might go forward.
Lord, we ask these things. We come, as I said earlier, with the confidence of children because you have promised us that we're your children.
And our prayer is that we may see each and every one of the other
as you see us.
We ask all of these things in your mighty and powerful name,
and all of God's children said, amen.
Thank you, pastor pastor Savage.
If now, for the pledge of allegiance, we'll have our Georgia Army National Guard specialist e four Andrew Claxton come to the front here and lead us in the pledge.
Please join me in saying the pledge.
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.
And now I'd like to invite, my colleagues, other council members to meet me down, with specialist Claxton, and we will have a proclamation.
Alright. This is from the the office of the mayor. Whereas, Andrew Claxton answered the call to serve his country with courage, enlisting in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1998,
the day after his high school graduation.
And whereas Andrew trained as at Marine Corps recruit
depot, Perris Island, then completed marine combat training at Camp Lejeune,
air crash aircraft crash fire rescue training at Goodfellow Air Force Base, and basic airborne training at Fort Benning, Georgia before serving honorably
from 1998
to 2002
as an aircraft
crash fire rescue specialist
with the marine wing support squadron four seventy two, achieving the rank of Lance corporal.
And whereas Andrew transferred to the Georgia Army National Guard in 02/2002,
where he served as an airborne infantry me
infantryman,
eleven b, with the one hundred and twenty first in infantry
airborne, long range surveillance until 02/2004.
And whereas during his 2003
deployment to Iraq,
Andrew participated in more than 350
tactical missions through hostile territories,
including the Sunni Triangle, came under enemy fire and mortar attack, and played a critical role in ground reconnaissance
and intelligence supporting over 15 US and allied military agencies.
And whereas his valor and service were recognized with numerous honors, including the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with m device,
combat infantry badge, parachute
badge, army service ribbon, and the overseas service bar. And whereas,
following his honorable discharge in 02/2004,
Andrew continued serving his country in civilian capacities
overseas under a top secret CSI clearance with the Department of State, supporting US missions in embassies and consulates
throughout The Middle East from 2005 to 02/2010.
And whereas, Andrew furthered his education by earning a bachelor of science in political science from Kennesaw State University
and a master of professional studies in strategic public relations from George Washington University.
And whereas
Andrew remains deeply involved in the Roswell community as a court appointed special advocate
ASA for children in foster care, a troop leader for Trail Life US USA troop number zero one eight four, and an advocate for veteran mental health and well-being.
And whereas he serves currently as a manager of professional services at NICE CXone.
Did I say that right? Thank you. Leading a team of consultants and applying his strategic leadership to the global AI technology sector.
Now therefore, I, Lee Hills, mayor pro tem of the city of Roswell, do hereby name Andrew Claxton, an esteemed veteran of Roswell, and call upon all our citizens to recognize his outstanding service to our country and our community, and that there is no higher calling than those who serve in the armed forces.
Thank you. I've always loved the city of Roswell,
but you go into a really nice thing like this and thoughtful thing like that. I'm never leaving. So,
thank you.
And I would love to quickly recognize my wife of twenty one years,
Stephanie for all of her love and support over the many years, including all those deployments, my wonderful family,
my father Gary and Susan.
I I don't know how on earth they supported me when I had a crazy idea at 17 when I was still in high school to join the military. Thank you, for your support and more importantly,
your prayers,
over the many years of your life. So thank you.
Alright. Next up on our agenda, if council member Christine Hall would mind,
revealing the upcoming events for the city of Roswell, I'd appreciate it. Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem Hills.
Announcements and upcoming events.
Roswell 3 or this is from Roswell 365.
So visit Roswell Three Sixty Five Dot Com for information on events in the city of Roswell. This is a community calendar for events hosted by the city, local nonprofits,
businesses,
civic groups, and religious organizations hosting community events in Roswell.
And we've got a lineup of exciting events coming up in Roswell that you won't want to miss.
Riverside sounds this Saturday, June 28 from 07:30 to 09:30
at Roswell Riverside Park.
This month, we welcome Tumbaho.
Tumbaho,
effortlessly
blends the infection rib rhythms of salsa,
the groove of funk, the electrifying power of Latin rock, and the smoothness of r and b.
The Roswell fourth of July celebration is only a couple of weeks away.
Join us at Roswell Area Park for live music and food trucks. Bring your chairs and blankets to spread out at one of the several fireworks viewing areas throughout the park. The fun starts at 6PM, and fireworks will begin at sunset.
And every Saturday at 8AM, the Roswell Farmers and Artisans Market is the place to be right here at City Hall. It's the best in North Fulton, offering fresh produce, handmade goods, and local charm.
And for details on all these and upcoming events, visit roswell365.com,
your go to calendar for everything happening in our city.
Thank you, council member Hall. I appreciate that.
Next, we have the consent agenda for this evening. Do does council have any questions or comments regarding the consent agenda?
Okay. Are there any Broswell residents that would like to speak on the consent agenda?
Seeing that there are none, do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda?
Council member Morflin.
Do I have a second? David council member David Johnson.
Alright. All those in favor, please raise your hands.
Alright. Motion is approved unanimously.
Thank you very much.
We'll now move on to the regular agenda.
City Clerk Nancy Long, would you please read the first item?
I forgive me. I believe your mic may be turned way down. Try that one more time if you would, please, ma'am.
Is this better? Thank you. Okay.
Comprehensive growth plan 2045
public hearing project kickoff presented by Michelle Alexander, director of community development.
Good evening, mayor Pro Tem and members of the council.
This is the kickoff of our comprehensive plan for the time period of 2045.
Five years ago, we put together a plan called 2040,
and now it's time to update that work. You're launching it as initiative to create, an economic and development growth plan, and it's gonna be slightly different in that it really focuses on the technical aspects of marrying economic development with infrastructure,
investment planning, along with, the other elements of your comp plan. So we're preparing for the 2045
horizon.
So that's the long picture. But the plan has five year
project lists. So we have a list for capital improvements, a five year time frame, and we have a five year time frame for a work action work plan, a work program.
And the focus on this project will be to have an implementation plan. So rather than a laundry list of projects and things we like to do and aspirations, it's really focusing on, an implementation
program.
The state does require we have a public hearing, and the first hearing is just to announce the fact that we're getting started. We are just getting started.
And it's to let the folks know, that there will be a regular schedule
published. There will be opportunities for information and engagement.
And then the public hearing portion
is not there's no action requested from council this evening. There's no action requested. The public hearing is only a comment period if anyone in the community wishes to comment on the process
or on the schedule. So it's a narrow focus on our public hearing tonight.
The project management plan is organized, of course, with council, direct mayor and council directing us on our marching orders. All of the plans you've approved recently,
the master transportation plan a year ago or now two years ago, I guess, your,
economic strength strategic plan, all of those different plans are your directives to us and this is a chance to sew them together in a new document.
Even though community development,
our shop is the custodian of that project and the custodian of the document, if you will, the policy document, we're really co chairing this effort with, our colleagues in economic development and also financial,
analysts and business analysts with Daryl and Bob.
And then each of the departments essentially write are responsible for their own area. So the infrastructure planning and
infrastructure
planning and facility planning that will be asked that the different departments will be leading and informing the overall plan,
will be their area. So they will each,
each of the chapters in the comprehensive plan actually refer to transportation or parks and rec component, the economic development component. So the overall framework
for this growth plan
is your economic strategy and your economic growth, and we're gonna be looking at how infrastructure
from all the different, areas of expertise or special,
area expertise
feed into that and take projects you've already
decided upon and work with you to give you information about prioritization.
You have a stakeholder committee that you will be deciding upon. We'll be coming back to you July 14 to see who you would like to appoint for that committee. And then we have a consultant team that brings the expertise from,
Kimberly Horne with planning,
infrastructure,
engineering,
and we have John Tooley from, Kimberly Horne here this evening, and also KB Advisory folks. And so we have John Gerber and we have, Gabby
Oliveira,
also here.
You might, recognize that KB Advisory also worked with us on our TAD and did and did the crunching of numbers and help us, advising on that.
So the purpose is really to get your official vision. I I do wanna under, like, underscore and say how much policy
how much, staff really relies on this document. Anytime an investor comes into our shop, anytime,
a developer comes in, the builders come in, folks wanna do something
something
unusual, we go to this comprehensive plan to say, is that policy is that what our policy leaders want or is it not what we want? So if you wanna be able to say yes to something, let's put it in the policy. If you wanna say no to something,
that needs to be in this policy. So it serves a legal as a legal document on your land use decisions
and, it's required for those of us to have zoning regulation. The state says, hey. You can have that police authority. You can have zoning regulations. But if and only if you have this plan that says we thought about it, we deliberated it, and everything in our rules has a reason for this towards this plan. So it is a requirement and it does have legal,
legal impact.
Similarly, it's required for impact fees. So I'm not gonna go into that this evening about what impact fees are and how they function.
It is a fee though that the city of Roswell has chosen to,
put on for projects a one time fee
to help cover the cost of what growth costs.
So when you have new parks because you have a new set of population or new needs because of the growth, it's a one time fee. If you're going to have that fee,
you do have to also have a comprehensive plan. So you can't have those sort of those privileges of governance without having the comprehensive plan.
Requirements are we have two at least two public hearings. So this is the first one, like I said, just for comment on the fact that we're we're kicking off and if if anyone had any comments on the process. We'll have one at the end as well. It's required,
when the draft is ready for you all to consider,
moving it forward.
Required we are required to have a stakeholder committee. There's different elements of the plan. I won't read each of those items, but it just shows to you the complexity of the work,
and why we need all the different departments coming together to make it a useful plan that we will implement and, keep alive
and informing us as we make decisions year over year and inform you also in on when you make budget, how how this needs to be,
considered if you want the policy to be enacted.
The time frame, we're just getting started. We,
the consultants are we're exchanging all the data.
They're starting to put together information. We'll be developing the plan through December, through this fall. There will be several deliverables in the fall related to the economic strategy,
cost benefit modules,
and other aspects of the, fiscal analysis.
And then we're looking to wrap up as we go into,
January and April, but there will be several
deliverables related on the economic side,
early this fall.
That's the big run through. I wanted to say the next immediate steps is that we need to get to you the specific dates. We'll have that up on the web within a month or less
by July 14 when we come back and talk to you, about,
establishing a committee,
and we'll have the scheduling at that time.
Alright. Thank you very much, Director Alexander.
Does any of our council have a question or comment that you'd like to share?
Alright. Then I'll turn it over to Roswell residents. Anybody that has any comments, questions?
Yes, ma'am. Come on up.
My name is Courtney Rozier, and I live at 540 Hembree Road.
So my answer my first question actually
about, the publishing of the the date that the more detailed schedule would be published.
So my next question is,
what is the communication plan to inform citizens
that information has been posted and or updated to the information site?
I also have questions in regards to the stakeholders,
committee.
If you could provide us some more information,
in how that committee
is formed
or who would be serving on that stakeholder committee.
And then also, in light of this being an election year for the city,
how are the stakeholders,
who are members of the governing authority chosen?
Is it in a way that will
ensure that the governing authority stakeholders
are still a part of mayor and council,
when the plan is implemented as suggested in OCGA one ten dash 12 dash one dash o four section two a
identification
of stakeholders.
Thank you.
Director Alexander, do you can you address any of these questions for us real quick?
A little bit. A little bit. And and if you don't mind, I I will say tonight is just about the process
and the timeline.
So we're not outlining that specifically yet. Get me on track if I've got gone astray there, director.
But not to reveal those yet because they haven't been established, the timeline, the dates, but with the protocol, please. Exactly. And thank you. And we just, thank you for your patience with it that we will have on the timeline
for all the different any of the,
activities that are planned or when the deliverables
at the very least, we are looking at having the web page within the next three weeks. The web page will be dedicated to to the project, so it will be able to we'll be able to give information including what the communication plan
states. And we do have to put together a plan. We can't just I mean, it it is actually required also by the state that we spell out how how we're going to be engaging
the the communications
piece of it.
Regarding the,
regarding the stakeholder committee, the state has, doesn't specify what you're very much what you're required to do. The state gives a large list of stakeholders to consider. Most of them, when I
look at it, look are primarily economic development,
business leaders, property owners,
a lot of folks who are related to the growth. There are also,
there's also a statement of typically about this neighborhood
leadership.
And so you have a whole range of stakeholders.
The only thing that's required is that you have elected officials on that stakeholder, and that will be up to to council to decide how you wanna do that. So we wouldn't be able to answer that question of how you're going to decide it, at this stage. So that'll have to be worked through with councils at councils will. Beautiful. Thank you.
Any other comments from from our Roswell residents?
Alright.
So following that, I think we wrap that up. Did we have any more comments or anything from this body, from the council?
Alright. Well, this is a discussion only,
item, so we will move on. Thank you, director Alexander.
City clerk, would you please read the second item on the regular agenda?
Yes. Mayor Pro Tem, this is appeal of revocation
of massage license for Heavenly Foot Massage located at 11680
Alpharetta Highway, Suite 220,
Roswell, Georgia.
This will be presented by chief of police and senior vice president James Conroy.
Thank you. Chief Conroy, if you'd come forward, please, sir, and present this item.
And good evening, mayor Pro Tem and city council.
This item is an appeal of the revocation
of the
massage establishment license for
heavenly foot massage.
On May
2025,
city administrator, Randy Knighton,
revoked the license for the heavenly foot massage.
On 05/13/2025,
Roswell Police Department Special Investigation Section conducted an operation at the heavenly foot massage, 11680.
Officers discovered the following.
Seven employees were found working at the establishment, and there were five customers inside.
None of the employees possessed a Georgia massage therapist license,
nor a city of Roswell massage establishment work permit.
Five of the employees were found to be performing massage.
Two employees were not engaged in massage, but were found to be working other functions at the time.
These seven employees were cited accordingly.
The owner, Young Jin Liu, later arrived at the location and was cited for allowing seven employees to work without
the state massage therapist license nor Roswell work permit.
Other violations that were discovered, there was no licensed massage therapist on-site. The license for the registered massage therapist was not posted and could not be located.
There was no owner, manager, or supervisor on the premises as required by the ordinance.
None of these seven employees were listed on the establishment license application, which is also required by the ordinance.
As a result, the city administrator revoked the massage establishment license,
and the business was closed and red tagged.
This is not the first time the city has shut down this establishment.
On 03/18/2024,
Roswell police department and code enforcement conducted a license check at this location.
They were found to be operating without a 2024
massage establishment license.
The location was closed. The business then submitted the proper application and they were permitted to reopen.
Then again, on January second of this year, Roswell police and code enforcement conduct a license check at this location.
They were found to be operating without a twenty twenty five massage establishment license and were closed by the RPD and code enforcement.
The business submitted the proper application, and they were permitted to reopen on 01/14/2025.
This marks the third time this establishment has been shut down in the past fourteen months
for licensing and permitting infractions. Know
it
was
gonna
be
that much.
Know it was gonna be that much.
The first time we were closed was because we didn't have the business license.
And we didn't have the business license because we couldn't get the massage establishment license. And to do that, I remember last time was
the second time we got closed was because we
were supposed to is it what is that called?
Publish a DBA for our business.
And we went down to Fulton County Courthouse
October of twenty four.
And we waited two and a half months,
and by the December, they still did not process our paper.
So
January,
you know, immediately
the first of the year, someone came and said, you don't have license, so we're closing you down. But we said, we already applied
for the DBA publishing at the Fulton County Courthouse. Went several times. And they said, well, we're just don't have the system to public what is that called?
Yeah. Process.
So anyways, we told them it's an emergency. Our business is closed. They finally after sitting there a whole day, they finally said, okay. You know what? We had someone a higher up come, and we'll just hand do it for you. So they
allowed our DBA publish meant even though we've been in business since 02/2009.
Anyways
and then we brought that up, and then that's how we got reopen.
And the first time we got shut down was because we had to submit some kind of,
some kind of a bond. What's it called? Surety. Surety bond. Okay. Jeez. You know everything. Okay. Here it is. Thank you.
And we I called several,
insurance agencies, and they said, well, it's gotta be a clicky and we gotta be able to click on it to be able to sell that to you. Surety bought from the cedar Roswell. So I called a few other ones and they said it's not there.
And after about a month doing that, then we got an email saying that's not necessary
anymore.
But we still got shut down because of that. So those were the first two times, which, you know
and third time,
legitimately, yes.
Operations,
we did not have anybody with licensed massage therapists.
We do have some with,
workers permit, not all.
Now, we've been open since 02/2009,
and we never had
as much licensing issues as now. I guess, the rules have changed. The city has made different laws since then.
And we only do foot massage. We don't do body massage. All rooms are open to the public. We have cameras everywhere watching every piece
of everything except the bathrooms.
And,
you know, ethically and morally, we've done nothing wrong.
According to city, you know, ordinance, yes. We have broken that law. So to rectify that,
I have hired a licensed massage therapist.
But the problem with that is, they don't wanna work for me because they said, what do you have? I said, I got foot massage. You got body massage? I said, no, I don't. They said, well, how much you charge? I said, $60.
How much of that are you gonna give me? I said, I don't know, 50% to, like, $30
plus tip? No.
Nobody's gonna work for me. So
after posting a lot on indeed.com,
Glassdoor, all these other ones,
no one wants to work. So only other option is to raise prices. Right?
So either I give them $50, which is what they want per massage, and I take that extra $10 left, which is barely gonna cover my materials besides rent. Forget that.
So I have to raise prices.
Okay. If I raise prices, who's the only one to come for the same foot massage they've been getting for $60? Now, the same thing for $80.
Doesn't make sense. So, okay, raise it. But I have made some changes. I have pictures too. I don't know how I can show you on the iPad. So before the foot massage is pretty much you come in, you pick the salt that you want, rose, eucalyptus, or lavender. We put that in your foot soak. Fifteen minutes while you soak your feet. During that fifteen minutes, we give a five minute massage here, five minute here, and five minute here. Remaining forty five minutes is on your left and right leg, and that's pretty much it.
So what
what changes do I make? Well,
recently, I went to Knoxville, Tennessee. I was gonna open an ice cream shop there called Crazy Moon, but hasn't happened yet because of stuff.
But, there's a business called wake,
wake
this one, foot sanctuary.
I have pictures of them too. I went and got a foot massage. It's a $140,
and it's only for twenty minutes of massage.
So it's expensive.
Their foot soap, wonderful. It's got foam. It's got essential oils. It's got clay. Clay. It's got flowers.
Beautiful
presentation
and I guess it's really good for your skin too. Right?
But I don't think my customers are gonna wanna pay a $140 to twenty minute massage. But I think that it's reasonable to charge $80
for an improved
hand copper made bowl that I ordered from India. It's actually for one of my other businesses that are it's about to open in Miami.
So I brought that up here, and we're gonna use that with the flowers and the essential oils to justify that $20
price hike. Is that enough to have my licensed massage therapist to work for me? Still no. Because
the profit is still not high enough. To be able to break that even is I wanna have to start offering body massage.
So I put up curtains, redid some decorations, which I also have pictures. I don't know how I can show you that. If you wanna just pass the iPad, I don't know. But so it looks really nice. And hopefully, because I have bought the best
two inch gel pads and the best cushions
and really nice atmosphere
that people actually pay a $120 for a body massage and with all licensed massage therapists. And I've updated the decorations. We, you know, repainted and everything.
So I got Instagram ready for,
getting the customers. I'm ready to donate a whole bunch of stuff to church and all these women's groups. And I say women because 95% of my customers are women. Other 5% is the husband that they drive in there. But besides that,
I gotta target my audience and try to get them to come in. I'm gonna be giving them out for free, $100 ones, lots of them, so they can come
so that my employees was to be able to make money first and to get that rolling. You know? So it's like reopening a new business again. So that's my plan.
I have some pictures I'd like to show you of the changes that I've made.
And the city ordinance
that was violated, which is the,
licensed massage therapist
non licensed massage therapist. Now, I have four tomorrow coming for interview because of my new prices. So all from indeed.com,
and they're willing to work. And I have them lined up for tomorrow.
My place is pretty much ready.
And
I like a chance for you to let me reopen so I can follow the rules
to the t, to the city of Roswell. And
yeah. I mean,
hope you come. You have really good foot and calf skin from the silks.
Thank you, sir. Yep. Thank you very much for sharing that. Okay.
Chief Conroy, do you have anything else to add there?
And I will note, that our police department does a fine job of in inspecting and making sure that all of our, massage or anything related,
businesses here are are outstanding
business people in our community.
And I I trust what chief Conroy has documented here. May I add one more thing? Sure. Just real quick. Real quick. Sorry.
Also, I never did body massage because I don't like doing the body massage business. Now I have to. But I do
plan on routinely making random checks by the other therapist to make sure nothing
is going on and to keep the whole place clean. Thank you. So
Chief Conroy, is your recommendation denial on this based on your findings? Correct. I recommend denial of this appeal. Thank you.
So now I'll go to our counsel. Does counsel
have any
any comments? I got a question. Chief,
so
the appellant has brought forth a bunch of business issues, which I certainly understand. But,
let me ask this question of you. What what would be the process if we if we deny him? Can he reapply,
for his full body massage at some later date? How would that work?
There's a number of issues here that are in the
ordinance.
One of which is
if there are three or more convictions
of this location, then nothing can reopen there within five years.
This,
we are registering nine convictions at this time.
Okay. I guess I would say,
you
know, this body before I even became a part of this body has worked very, very hard
to put these positions these these,
ordinances in place to protect women and to protect our city.
We take them seriously.
And so it seems pretty straightforward that we have,
we have a real problem here, a continuing problem. So I would I would say that the answer would be we take this chief's recommendation.
Thank you.
Any other council member
have a comment?
Alright. We'll take it to the public. Does anybody from the public have a comment here?
Alright.
Final chance here. Council members, anything?
Alright.
There being no further discussion, do I hear a motion on this item? Anyone?
Council member Hall.
Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem.
Motion to deny the appeal
of the replication of massage license.
Is that correct,
attorney Davidson?
That's correct. Thank you.
Alright.
And do I have a second?
Council member Morthland.
Alright. All those in favor, please raise your hands.
Alright. This,
this item is denied
and that's made,
made public by a unanimous vote. Thank you very much.
Thank you, chief.
Okay.
Our third item on the agenda will be, presented by city clerk, miss Long.
Mayor Pro Tem. This item is approval to pursue a grant from the Federal Highway Administration
from the safe streets and roads for all SS four a program. This will be presented by Greg Nicholas, interim director of transportation.
Thank you very much, miss Long. Interim transportation director Greg Nicholas, please come forward. There you are. Thank you. Good evening.
Yeah. Alright.
Alright. So in in late twenty twenty three, the city of Roswell was awarded $200,000
for a safe streets for all,
grant from the US Department of Transportation,
to complete a safety action plan.
Following approval of the safety action plan, the city,
may apply for SS four a implementation grant,
to help fund projects and strategies identified in the safety action plan.
Staff has identified
three projects from the safety action plan, totaling
approximately $10,000,000.
The three projects,
shown on your screen,
project one is Mimosa Boulevard
from, say, Route 120 Marietta
Highway to Magnolia Street.
Just some potential features would include curb extensions, raised crosswalks, RFPs,
and speed tables.
Project two
is on Wave Tree Drive from Woodstock Road to State Route 92,
West Crossville Road.
Potential features on that road would be speed tables, dynamic feed dynamic feedback signs,
chevrons, and a mini roundabout.
And then project number three would be on Roxburgh Drive from Old Alabama to Roxburgh Drive, and this would be sidewalk on one side of the road,
potentially by narrowing
the existing pavement.
Staff's recommendation
is to pursue an implementation grant in the amount of $8,000,000,
to fund the two traffic calming projects and the one sidewalk project,
as part of the slowdown in Roswell
Roswell initiative. And this,
this item would require a 20%,
match, which will be requested as part of the f y twenty six budget.
And the match would be $2,000,000.
So with that,
I will answer any questions. Excellent.
Thank you very much,
interim director Nicholas Nicholas.
Do I have any comments,
from this council?
Alright. How about the public? Do we have anybody from the public that would like to speak to this one? Yes, sir. Come on up.
One so one of my questions. It's okay.
I was looking on the agenda.
Is it correct?
The project is that you request between
or estimate the grant between 2 and a half million to $25,000,000,
which is basically difference of 10
times.
I
never saw
such an estimate
of 10 times from 2 and a half to $25,000,000.
I would like the explanation
how it was done or who is doing it,
which idea. You have companies.
We all have companies and we have budget and we think about how much it cost, but 10 times?
If John can answer, I appreciate it.
And,
you are asking
this money
of to approve for the budget of '26.
My question is,
how long
it will take to finish the job?
In one year?
Two, three, four?
If this is the k period of time of several years,
why we need to pay in a budget the whole amount in one year?
Would be like we always do and you do.
There's a project we pay
one third at the beginning,
and a half or whatever it's agreed. So I don't think so. We need to pay all the amount
in one year because I believe the project cannot be finished in one year.
But your big project could be take five years.
Why Roswell need to pay 20%?
Who is going to pay the 80%?
The last question,
you give me the answer. So if you can answer me the other question,
I appreciate it.
Thank you, Roman.
Interim director Nicholas, would you would you mind addressing those? I believe the first one was, an explanation of the range. If you would just give,
if you would give, Roman, and everybody listening,
break down on that and how that works. Explain the grant the grant process. So the first and the third question, the 2 and a half to 25,000,000,
that's the,
2.5 is the minimum amount of a grant that you can go after with, the USDOT,
and then 25,000,000 would be the maximum.
So that's we we didn't set the range. That was the US Department of Transportation. It's not a project.
The grant. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's just a grant. Yeah.
And,
as far as who's paying,
that would be the U. S. Department of Transportation.
And that's the
so,
it's 80%,
that's the federal part and then the 20% is the local share.
That'll come from federal. Yes.
Yeah.
Perfect. Thank
you. Thank you very much. As far as how long
with federal funds takes several years. No.
Well, once that's been identified, right, what the project cost is identified. Once we
if we win the if we win the grant, then we'll enter into a grant agreement,
with the US Department of Transportation.
Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much.
Alright. Does, do any of my colleagues, council members have any comments or additions they'd like
to say?
Yes? Any more public comments? I haven't gone there yet. Oh. Okay.
Seeing none here. Anybody from the public like to make a comment?
Alright. Back to council.
Council member Johnson.
Thank you, mayor Pro Tem.
This initiative represents an important first step in what I hope will be a series of targeted efforts to improve the quality of life and safety of Roswell residents and
of Roswell residents.
And in state of the city address, the mayor made it clear, if a mom can't safely walk with her kids in her own neighborhood without a threat of being hit by a car, then we've got work to do. And tonight, we're continuing to to,
complete that work.
The three corridors identified in this grant application, Mimosa Boulevard, Wave Street Drive, and Roxbury Drive are among those dangerous roads in Roswell. These streets consistently rank high in resident report reported speeding concerns and pedestrian safety concerns. By pursuing this grant, we're taking a data informed step towards addressing this risk, improving pedestrian safety, and advancing our slowdown in Roswell initiative in the areas that's most urgently needed. So I cannot wait to make a motion for this.
Before that, does anyone else have a comment up here?
Okay.
Well, council member Johnson, would you like to make the motion here? It would be one of my favorite motions
whilst in the last eighteen months
or however long I've served here, because it feels like eighteen years.
A motion to approve,
motion for approval to pursue a grant from the Federal Highway Administration
from the safe streets and
and roads for all SS four a program.
Excellent. And do I have a second? Second. Alright. Our East Siders are in the house.
Council member Sells. Alright. All in favor, please raise your hand.
And it passes
with jubilance.
Approved.
Great.
Alright.
Last on the agenda is the city attorney's report. City attorney David Johnson. Do you have anything? David Davis.
Sorry. I just I just promoted you. I just promoted you. I got excited.
Thank you. The item I have is approval of a resolution authorizing the city of Roswell
to acquire approximately 24 acres of land located at 365
Harts Scobble Road in the amount of 7,500,000.0.
As this council knows and most people know,
in 02/2016,
the city acquired 25 acres off, Chaffin Road that is directly adjacent to this.
This would,
tie into that property and give us approximately
49 or 50 acres
to be used as a park.
This property has
been,
desired by the city since before I started here. I know mayor Wood tried to get it. I heard Pugh Mabry tried to get it.
And,
looks like we have a chance to finally get it. The price is 7,500,000.0,
and we recommend approval.
Excellent.
Council, do you have any comments?
Alright. I'll take it to the public. Anybody here have any comments about this item?
Seeing none, I'll come back to our council. Last chance, anyone?
Alright. Being no further discussion, do I have a motion,
on this item? Council member Morthland?
Second.
Do I have a second? David Johnson, our council member from the East. One of them. Alright. All those in in favor, please raise your hands.
Yes. Council member Holmes.
He had to read the Oh, yes. Would you read the motion, council member Will Will Moreland?
I can read this.
Thank you.
Technicality.
Alright.
Motion to approve the resolution
authorizing the city of Roswell to acquire approximately 24 acres of land located at 365
Hardscrabble Road in the amount of $7,500,000.
Now, council member Johnson, would you like to second that? I'll second that. Beautiful. Let's make it right. Alright. All in favor, please raise your hand.
Excellent. It passes unanimously.
Alright.
That's a long time coming.
Okay. And, city attorney David Davidson, do you have anything on the city attorney's report this evening? I do not have any other recommendations.
We've already covered closure.
Okay. Well then,
do we have a well then we don't I just adjourn.
Okay. Well, then with that,
I will adjourn the meeting tonight, 06/23/2025.
You all have a good evening.