Roswell council approves consent agenda, unanimously defers Hill Street land exchange to April 14

The Roswell Mayor and City Council unanimously approved a five-item consent agenda and later voted to defer consideration of the Hill Street land exchange to the council’s April 14 meeting.

The actions were taken Monday, March 24, 2025, at Roswell City Hall. Mayor Kurt Wilson presided. Councilmember David Johnson moved to approve the consent agenda; Councilmember William Mortland seconded the motion, and the mayor recorded the vote as unanimous. “Let the record show that the vote is unanimous for approval of the consent agenda this evening,” Mayor Kurt Wilson said.

Why it matters: The consent agenda bundled routine items the council considered noncontroversial and cleared them in a single vote. The Hill Street land-exchange matter drew enough procedural question that staff and the city attorney asked the council to postpone substantive consideration so staff can finish required work.

Details of the Hill Street action: The Hill Street Land Exchange item, presented by Daryl Conley, economic development director, was deferred at the request of the city attorney, David Davidson, who told the council the matter is “pretty complicated” and not yet ready for final action. Councilmember William Mortland made the motion to defer; Councilmember Lee Hills seconded. The council set the deferral for the next regular meeting on April 14, 2025, or sooner if staff completes preparation. The council voted unanimously to defer; the mayor stated the deferral was unanimous.

Appointment and oath: Puja Gardner was recognized and administered the oath of office for appointment to the city’s Planning Commission. Gardner recited the oath in the form used by the State of Georgia and Fulton County and then took her seat as a Planning Commission member. The transcript records the oath recital but does not specify a separate roll-call vote for the appointment in the public minutes.

Special meeting and committee follow-up: Mayor Kurt Wilson told the audience the council’s committees will continue work on a proposed parking deck. He said committee discussion was scheduled for the following day and that a special called council meeting will follow at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday to act on any follow-up from that committee. No formal council action on the parking deck occurred at the March 24 meeting.

Votes at a glance: - Approve consent agenda (5 items): Motion by Councilmember David Johnson; second by Councilmember William Mortland. Outcome: approved (unanimous). - Defer Hill Street Land Exchange to April 14, 2025 (or earlier if ready): Motion by Councilmember William Mortland; second by Councilmember Lee Hills. Outcome: postponed/deferral (unanimous). Note: deferral requested by City Attorney David Davidson due to outstanding work. - Administration of Oath of Office for Puja Gardner, Planning Commission: Oath administered; vote not specified in the meeting transcript.

What council members said and requested: The deferral was described in the meeting as needed so staff and legal can complete work; City Attorney David Davidson indicated the item required more preparation. No council member voiced opposition to the deferral on the record; the vote was recorded as unanimous.

Next steps: The Hill Street land-exchange matter will return to the council agenda on April 14 unless staff completes the work earlier. Committee consideration of a parking deck is expected to produce recommendations at a committee meeting the day after the March 24 meeting, and the council scheduled a special meeting at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday to consider any follow-up actions from that committee meeting.

Meeting context: The session ran at Roswell City Hall and included ceremonial items and community announcements before moving to consent and the single substantive regular agenda item, which was deferred.