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2026-10-19 - City Council

Summary

Built from the official action minutes (marked DRAFT) and the posted agenda. No video is posted for this meeting, so there is no transcript or timing.

  • Called to order at 1:03 PM by Council President Pro Tem Boone; Council President Overstreet was absent. Adjourning roll call at 6:30 PM. Proclamations for the Atlanta Community Tool Bank and Pamela J. Smith.
  • The sale of the Atlanta City Detention Center to Fulton County for up to $68 million passed 8-7 after a long procedural sequence and was sent to the mayor post haste.
  • The Starbucks boycott resolution passed 11-3-1.
  • Procurement rules for weapon-equipped robots passed 15-0; a tree recompense break for affordable for-sale housing passed 13-1.
  • Water bill relief measures passed 15-0 and the Atlanta Masjid annexation passed 13-0.
  • Council filed two public comment ordinances and a charter amendment on the budget timeline (10-5), and introduced a replacement public comment ordinance.
  • Seventeen rehiring resolutions for retired police employees and many other papers were held in committee.

Atlanta City Detention Center Sale

  • 26-R-4001 adopted on substitute 8-7 (yes: Westmoreland, Winston, Wan, Worthy, Norwood, Hillis, Boone, Martin). The question was called 13-2, a reconsideration passed 9-6, and the post haste motion passed 8-5. The competing 26-R-4126 was returned as held (next October 26).

Starbucks Boycott Resolution

  • 26-R-4188 adopted as amended after Wan's substitute motion to file failed; 11 yeas, 3 nays (Wan, Worthy, Norwood) and 1 abstention (Martin, a Starbucks stakeholder).

Weaponized Robot Purchase Rules

  • 26-O-1562 adopted on substitute 15-0 after the substitute passed 14-1.

Affordable Housing Tree Recompense Relief

  • 26-O-1503 adopted on substitute 13-1 (K. Bond opposed).

Water Bill Adjustment Programs

  • 26-O-1545 adopted on substitute and 26-O-1564 adopted as amended, both 15-0; refund 26-R-3995 ($62,147.04) adopted on substitute.

Atlanta Masjid Annexation

  • 26-O-1348 adopted 13-0 in committee of the whole.

Public Comment Rule Changes

  • 26-O-1344 and 26-O-1483 filed 15-0; replacement 26-O-1589 referred to the Committee on Council 14-1.

Council Budget Timeline Charter Amendment

  • 26-O-1570 filed 10-5.

Seventh Police Patrol Zone Study

  • 26-R-3941 adopted by consent 15-0.

Performance Audit Reports

  • APD asset forfeiture audit referred to Public Safety; FY27 audit memo and September procurement report accepted 15-0.

Impact Fee Capital Improvements Plan and Park Land Purchases

  • 2027-2031 impact fee capital improvements element adopted as amended; Memorial Drive Greenway land purchase (up to $1,594,374.75) adopted. Both by consent 15-0.

Self-Storage Facility Rules, Beltline Tax Allocation District Reserve, Beltline Refunding Bonds

  • Introduced and referred: a 60-day moratorium extension and special use permit rule for Office-Institutional zoning, a 50 percent BeltLine TAD reserve for the Murphys Crossing to Blandtown corridor, and final bond terms (Series 2026A and 2026B).

Paines Avenue Rezoning, Virginia-Highland Commercial Rezoning, Cascade Avenue Residential Rezoning

  • First readings referred to the Zoning Committee (October 26) by consent, with two special use permit requests (East Paces Ferry Road NE; Peachtree Street NE).

Held in committee

Other business

  • Journal: October 5 minutes adopted 14-0. Agenda adopted without objection.
  • Mayor-appointed Civil Service Board members Nia Brown and Alicia Smith and Human Relations Commission member Chuck Podgurski confirmed 15-0; the Council President's appointment of Dr. Annette Hall to the Human Relations Commission was returned as held (Committee on Council, November 2).
  • Consent agenda (15-0): Pelham Street NW partial abandonment (public hearing held October 14); Centennial Yards complete streets grant ($2 million Reconnecting Communities award with up to $500,000 local match); a $6 million transfer for the Westech clarifiers replacement; Adamsville Pump Station contract extended 958 days to June 22, 2029 at no added cost; a $21.85 million parks managing general contractor task order fund; Pye-Barker fire safety invoices ($63,763.62) ratified on substitute 14-0; landfill and airport slope mowing extended six months with funding raised to $1,998,913; donations from district carry-forward funds; and six lawsuit settlements (Law Department Quarterly Update).
  • Many first readings were referred, including a $1.1 million donation to the Urban League of Greater Atlanta for youth development grants, a $200,000 donation to City of Refuge, a 2027 legislative package resolution, employee benefits rates for 2027, a $3,331,490 Trees Atlanta agreement, and a ban on septic tanks for new commercial development.

Agenda

Regular meeting: proclamations (Atlanta Community Tool Bank, Pamela J. Smith), audit/procurement communications, committee-reported ordinances.

Sources