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Gainesville council approves entertainment-filming ordinance, land-swap resolution; consent appointments pass unanimously
Summary
At its March 18 meeting the Gainesville mayor and council unanimously adopted Ordinance 2025-O5 to formalize entertainment filming permits and approved Business Resolution 2025-12 authorizing a land swap; several routine appointments and minutes were also approved.
The Gainesville mayor and council unanimously approved an ordinance to formalize entertainment filming permits and fees and adopted a resolution authorizing a land swap at their March 18 meeting. The council also approved a set of routine appointments and accepted minutes from two prior meetings.
City Manager Bridal Lackley presented Ordinance 2025-O5, saying the city has become "more and more popular for television and film crews" and that the ordinance would "formalize and standardize" the permitting process. The manager said the ordinance would allow staff to establish permit fees and charges "similar to our special event permit," aligning Gainesville with practices in other Georgia communities. The council voted to adopt the ordinance; the motion passed unanimously.
Under City Attorney Ab Hayes's report, the council considered Business Resolution 2025-12, described as an exchange of real property between the City of Gainesville and Debbie L. Davis and Andrew Vincent Davis. The resolution, if approved, "will authorize the closing on the purchase and sell agreement that provides for a land swap of the Lawson HVAC property at Dorsey Street for a lot in our Gainesville 85 Business Park," the attorney said. The council moved, seconded and approved the resolution unanimously.
On the consent agenda, the council reappointed Kelly Lee to the Chicopee Woods Area Park Commission, appointed Brian Daniel to the Gainesville Hall Development Authority and appointed Jillian Ledford to the Main Street Advisory Board. The minutes of the Feb. 27 and March 4 mayor and council meetings were also approved. Each of those items passed unanimously.
City Manager Bridal Lackley told the council that, with approval of the ordinance, staff will begin establishing permit fees and related procedures. The resolution authorizes the city to complete the closing required by the underlying purchase-and-sale agreement; council discussion did not include additional conditions. All votes at the meeting were recorded by voice and announced as passing unanimously.
Votes at a glance
- Ordinance 2025-O5 (Amend Title 6: entertainment filming): Motion to adopt; outcome: approved (unanimous). Purpose: formalize permitting and enable staff to establish permit fees and charges similar to special-event permits. Fee amounts and effective date: not specified in meeting remarks.
- Business Resolution 2025-12 (Exchange of real property with Debbie L. Davis and Andrew Vincent Davis): Motion to approve; outcome: approved (unanimous). Purpose: authorize closing on purchase-and-sale agreement for land swap of the Lawson HVAC property at Dorsey Street for a lot in the Gainesville 85 Business Park.
- Consent appointments: Reappoint Kelly Lee (Chicopee Woods Area Park Commission); appoint Brian Daniel (Gainesville Hall Development Authority); appoint Jillian Ledford (Main Street Advisory Board). Outcome: approved (unanimous).
- Minutes: Approve minutes of 02/27/2025 and 03/04/2025 mayor and council meetings. Outcome: approved (unanimous).
Next steps noted at the meeting included staff beginning the permitting work for entertainment filming and city staff completing the closing steps for the land swap as authorized by the resolution.
