City attorneys presented a proposed ordinance that would let the city use a special procedure to sell small, narrow or irregular parcels that have little or no independent market value except to adjoining owners.

Under the draft, when the city manager finds a parcel qualifies as a small or narrow strip not independently usable under zoning or subdivision rules, the city would publish notice to adjoining landowners inviting them to submit bids. Adjoining owners would have 30 days to submit bids; the city manager would open responsive bids and recommend the highest responsive bid to council. The city could reject bids, negotiate for higher offers or proceed with the recommended award.

The city attorney explained the approach is based on a state‑law exception that recognizes some small or irregular parcels have no practical market value to the general public and that selling to adjacent owners by direct notice is an accepted practice in other Georgia jurisdictions. The attorney noted the statute does not prescribe exact dimensions for ‘‘small’’ or ‘‘narrow’’; rather, the test is whether the parcel is incapable of independent use under local zoning or subdivision regulations.

Why it matters: The ordinance would allow the city to clear title and reduce maintenance obligations for unusable parcels while giving adjacent owners a prioritized, time‑limited opportunity to purchase property that primarily benefits them. The council did not record a formal adoption vote in the transcript excerpt; staff presented the draft and answered council questions about notice, bid timelines and statutory standards.