[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6363269,"mediaKeyId","2166401-bbc6219a6b25887e821a8a69cb9c962f","parentId",2166401,"title","Consultant Sizemore Group launches South Fulton comprehensive‑plan process, schedules district meetings","audioSeconds",1141,"startMs",8232000,"endMs",9373000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2166401-bbc6219a6b25887e821a8a69cb9c962f&start=8232&end=9373","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2166401-bbc6219a6b25887e821a8a69cb9c962f/thumbnail_8232000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6363269/South-Fulton/Fulton-County/Georgia/Consultant-Sizemore-Group-launches-South-Fulton-comprehensiveplan-process-schedules-district-meetings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6363269-23c56f2f9b5e2e8d8271c61ac16287c6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770411560&Signature=H5UElwiFzLk9pKXJgFBxzFEsnMFoiva-CLZSM05UmIkQ0jtiwemcn4QgZ~~4gb7EY0xt2bgX3Js-ejWSGofsotX7ND-RlydxaWgIkYkKnwVZUNusAzQxqM8Ew-YZHYjw97vxi7urRHKFWEskqqCavP82CfMnSb~BmkZZz6QAXI~Dm61B9T1dCPqrmCikUUQhCvw9TQIJ75k2ek3NUCS0dsYAkgcdAuWR-f8R8w-PzhYODHMW6f6F8k0O1ZDtCXAeFK~6UXlMGqgSVYNC581v1hfJVMQ~rspIXfJF~mTwAxbd1b2ET6-fAgHVVFy2Xqi69fQrrL-R0g6vUX-at58bSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-01-30T08:57:47.817Z","article","Consultants from the Sizemore Group told the City Council on Jan. 28 that work on South Fulton’s citywide comprehensive plan will begin immediately, with three phases of public engagement and a parcel‑by‑parcel review aimed at producing a 20‑year vision and a new future land‑use map.

Randy Gibbs and Deanna Murphy of the Sizemore Group introduced the project, describing a scope that covers land use, transportation, housing, economic development, environmental considerations and a community work program that sets short‑ and long‑term priorities. “This will be a citywide vision,” Murphy said, adding that the plan will support the city’s Qualified Local Government status and help the city compete for state and federal funding.

The consultant team said the process will include community workshops in each council district, pop‑up meetings, steering‑committee interviews, an online portal with interactive mapping and a housing/market assessment led by Sycamore Consulting. Early vision meetings are scheduled for Feb. 18 in District 1 and Feb. 24 in District 6; the consultants said they aim to complete a final draft for internal review by late June and submit to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs in the fall.

Why the comp plan matters: Sizemore emphasized that the future land‑use map will guide rezonings, permit decisions and capital investments. “The future land use is how do we want these parcels within our city to be used in the future,” Gibbs told council. The plan will also include a report of accomplishments that inventories what the city completed under prior plans — a document the consultants said residents use to track progress.

Engagement emphasis, cross‑jurisdiction coordination: Consultants said they will conduct meetings in each district and reach out to neighboring jurisdictions to ensure compatibility on shared boundaries; council members pressed for targeted outreach to local community associations, business groups and civic organizations. The consultant team said a steering committee will include business and neighborhood representatives and that staff will circulate meeting notices and run pop‑ups and surveys.

Next steps and timetable: Public workshops will begin Feb. 18 (District 1) and Feb. 24 (District 6). The consultants said the project will run through October with an extended engagement period and checkpoints to present draft recommendations. The council and staff said they will post meeting information and seek to coordinate with neighborhood associations and business groups to maximize participation.

Taper: Council members urged strong outreach after recent low turnout on past planning efforts and asked staff to compile contact lists of community associations and businesses for direct invitations. Consultants said detailed mapping, bus tours and a report‑of‑accomplishments will follow the initial engagement rounds.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting January 28th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Sizemore Group presented the kickoff for South Fulton’s 20‑year comprehensive plan, outlining parcel‑level analysis, a future land‑use map and a three‑phase public engagement schedule beginning Feb. 18 and Feb. 24 in Districts 1 and 6.","taxTitle","South Fulton, Fulton County, Georgia","taxId",2961,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6363274,"South Fulton attorney outlines new MOU/PSA rules; council approves pageant agreements and calls for clearer vendor documents",1678,1385000,3063000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2166401-bbc6219a6b25887e821a8a69cb9c962f&start=1385&end=3063","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2166401-bbc6219a6b25887e821a8a69cb9c962f/thumbnail_1385000.jpg","/articles/6363274/South-Fulton/Fulton-County/Georgia/South-Fulton-attorney-outlines-new-MOUPSA-rules-council-approves-pageant-agreements-and-calls-for-clearer-vendor-documents","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6363274-22008b89722a13da7b2680da52882d23/orig.mp4?Expires=1770411560&Signature=jK4ZkyQKmnv8FQyTNV7uNYRq3t7cCHwU2AYIE5IEAR9EsA1diYRc4VkmGHLFizf5tRHI3CbtU~1EjlhwGToUcW2Hkv2jbSnIx4QjgjFUmulc03nY0~s4UtSy5BblV7WZlduHuyP9eDq3th4BdcXCavSx5N~AleUTQF-rOEuiwjYQYIrwnUkhgBVoHLnj2oyVPWrfsDLcusk3uo7QdBfwK~iH7UwH4hTQ~PO2XxIzmAB~-Wl-pZjcJUOSPgiRCGMppwPLS651kn2GZ1giKYytfFQt52ZFN46CjaEUoWGjScOnoFwCCtKDeCixWIPbgTlXEDKdHCo4Mgiem3ZukrsXfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City of South Fulton officials moved to tighten how the city contracts with event vendors after the city attorney presented new guidance for memoranda of understanding (MOUs), professional services agreements (PSAs), insurance certificates and waivers at the Jan. 28 council meeting.

City Attorney Sarah Kelly explained that PSAs should spell out the scope of work, require indemnification clauses and require vendors to provide certificates of insurance naming the city as an additional insured before providing services. “The reason why this is important is if we had an event and someone happened to twist their ankle,” Kelly said, describing why the city needs clear contractual protections and vendor insurance.

Kelly told council that MOUs are best used for ongoing relationships while PSAs are appropriate for a single event or vendor; entertainers who cannot provide insurance — for example, individual dancers — should sign waivers acknowledging performance risk and agreeing not to sue the city. She also said who signs agreements depends on the content: many standard PSAs can be executed by the city manager or her designee; contracts tied to council‑approved events travel with the event approval for council review.

Council and staff said they will make the process more consistent and transparent. Kelly and staff said PSAs will be required for individual vendors and that certificates of insurance should arrive at least seven days before events. The administration said it will develop standard operating procedures and training for customer service and event staff to improve the quality and traceability of submissions; staff said missing certificates or late submissions may jeopardize an event.

Pageant approvals and vendor details: The council approved a set of agreements related to the Miss City of South Fulton pageant and related activities, including professional services agreements and amendments that clarify which activities and vendors are covered by each PSA and require separate PSAs for certain vendors (for example, the play and individual vendors such as caterers or decorators). Dr. Levy Negron, a resident and pageant organizer, described the pageant’s goals and said organizers had raised more than $25,000 for scholarships and secured a host hotel inside South Fulton; she said more than half the delegates live in the city.

Councilmembers pressed for clearer accounting: Attorney Kelly said an addendum can require pageant organizers to provide an accounting showing that proceeds go solely to scholarships, and that the original PSA language referring to “initiatives” had intended the scholarship fund, not separate sub‑events such as a play. Council members said they want explicit accounting language and separate PSAs for vendors for clarity and public transparency.

What happens next: The city manager and attorney said they will produce templates and checklists for the PSA/MOU process, work with the clerk’s office to ensure a copy of submissions returns to submitting officials, and seek to set an enforceable timeline for required documents. Kelly said staff will integrate these rules in the special events legislation under review.

Taper: Council members praised the policy work as a “good step” and asked staff to schedule training and create records so council members and residents can track event approvals and vendor insurance before events occur.","City attorney presented standardized expectations for MOUs, PSAs, waivers and certificates of insurance for city events. Council approved amendments and several event contracts related to the Miss City of South Fulton pageant, while asking staff to tighten procedures and training for event submissions.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6363279,"South Fulton council orders forensic audit of mayor p‑card transactions, hires outside counsel for ethics review",118,3704000,3822000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2166401-bbc6219a6b25887e821a8a69cb9c962f&start=3704&end=3822","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2166401-bbc6219a6b25887e821a8a69cb9c962f/thumbnail_3704000.jpg","/articles/6363279/South-Fulton/Fulton-County/Georgia/South-Fulton-council-orders-forensic-audit-of-mayor-pcard-transactions-hires-outside-counsel-for-ethics-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6363279-816c8bd3bded9a886ed41e8eee0ef7c0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770411560&Signature=FVs-XcUonnTQoX3N7LCh-jo9tIvBcYgHpi6dKiqo79Bd8Vr7c9fpYXYTB4ZdEZm1JRfjI14E2dXA6ZV1pAWzO7BmFy6OHzmUPiff9ZqJHoqEsQTkCiwMlgJmXlYUEkPs9zV~Gh4opD2dXecU-Ry3yDpMx0bceMH174-oWRQ~qTB-2cdF23Q7YEgh0taTSbLlOaR5qQZMt2Q4AlXOaSUlNmaYmdILxZM7hmXj5pKVlvcQNH~Vyd68eyEtQVLXWie8rEgjCJe1c2wPO5o2oe72KbGpY6R6XiZr9zHCz32lCEmSTur-CuWVLtUqw7oW6Fx-x-ao~y7AqoBCivDJQ2nrvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council of South Fulton voted unanimously on Jan. 28 to order a forensic audit of the mayor’s purchasing‑card (P‑card) transactions and purchase‑order audit trail from October 2023 through Jan. 28, 2025, and to retain outside counsel to pursue an ethics complaint related to charter and ordinance violations.

The audit, approved after the meeting’s executive session, directs a third party to examine P‑card transactions and associated PO documentation for the specified period. Council members also voted to engage outside counsel — identified in the motion as Josh Belafonte’s firm — to represent the council in preparing an ethics filing with the city ethics board.

Council members said the actions respond to public concern about procurement and travel spending. Councilmember Helen Z. Willis explained the focus on the October 2023 start date: “We’re picking this time period because this is the time period that we have adopted, our new policies,” referring to procurement policy changes adopted in fall 2023. The motion to order the audit passed unanimously. The later motion to secure outside counsel was also approved unanimously.

Why this matters: The audit and counsel engagement are formal, public steps that move potential procurement and charter questions into investigative and legal channels. City staff and outside consultants will review transactions, and the council said it will receive reports intended to increase transparency and permit follow‑up action if wrongdoing is found.

Details, next steps and safeguards: City staff said the city will run simultaneous compliance measures while the audit proceeds. City Manager Sharon D. Subadan said the administration has begun strengthening internal controls and will require stricter reconciliation of P‑card activity; as she put it, “we trusted and we did not verify.” The manager said the city has contracted a compliance firm to audit recent transactions and will suspend or revoke P‑cards for holders who fail to meet reconciliation deadlines. The council also instructed staff to make audit reports available to the mayor and council.

Councilmembers emphasized due process and a defined scope. The audit’s stated scope in the motion is P‑card transactions and the PO audit trail for Oct. 2023–Jan. 28, 2025. Willis and other members said that time window aligns with the city’s updated procurement policy and therefore is the appropriate period to inspect for policy compliance.

What the motions say (formal actions): The council ordered a forensic audit covering P‑card and PO activity from October 2023 through Jan. 28, 2025 (approved unanimously). The council also authorized outside counsel to represent the council in preparing an ethics complaint related to alleged charter and ordinance violations (approved unanimously).

Context and constraints: The council’s moves are administrative and investigatory; they do not themselves find wrongdoing. Any further action — criminal referral, civil claims, or administrative discipline — will depend on the audit’s findings and counsel’s review. Council members said the city is also working to make procurement and travel records easier to find online once the city’s financial system migration is complete.

Taper: City staff said they expect a sequence of contractor kickoffs and initial audit reporting within weeks; council members asked that the public be informed as formal milestones are reached.","After an executive session, the South Fulton City Council voted unanimously to order a forensic audit of the mayor’s purchasing‑card and PO audit trail covering October 2023 through Jan. 28, 2025, and to retain outside counsel to prepare an ethics complaint; council also adopted interim steps to tighten procurement controls.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Consultant Sizemore Group launches South Fulton comprehensive‑plan process, schedules district meetings

South Fulton attorney outlines new MOU/PSA rules; council approves pageant agreements and calls for clearer vendor documents

South Fulton council orders forensic audit of mayor p‑card transactions, hires outside counsel for ethics review