Roswell council approves lease and budget adjustment, fails 2% spending-savings resolution; campaign finance hearing authorized

The Roswell City Council voted on several items during its Feb. 13 regular meeting, taking final action on a lease and a budget adjustment, authorizing a public hearing for a campaign finance ordinance, and rejecting a proposed directive to require 2% savings in general-fund departments.

Lease approved: On item 25 the council voted to grant city management authority to enter the first permitted lease with Dean Bowman for Building 10B3. The motion passed on a roll call vote, 9 to 0. (Mover recorded in the minutes: Councilor Wendy Houghton; second: not specified in the public record excerpt.)

Budget adjustment adopted: The council adopted Resolution 25-06, a budget adjustment for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, after an amendment to correct figures. Councilors voted 9 to 0 to adopt the resolution as amended. Councilor Johnson proposed the numerical amendment to correct a dollar figure in the packet; the council approved the corrected number before final adoption.

Disaster declaration ratified: Councilors approved a ratification of the City of Roswell disaster declaration (item 26) to allow state and federal assistance for waterway cleanup. The item was described by a councilor as a procedural request to enable Homeland Security and recovery work. The record shows a voice vote in favor; a formal roll-call tally was not provided in the transcript excerpt and is listed as not specified.

2% savings directive fails: A resolution instructing general-fund departments to maintain a 2% savings for the remainder of the fiscal year was brought forward and debated. After discussion the motion failed on a roll call vote, 1 to 8. Councilor Corn cast the lone “yes”; the remaining councilors voted “no.” Several councilors argued the proposal came late in the fiscal year and could force cuts to public safety and other critical services.

Campaign finance ordinance: The council authorized advertisement for a public hearing on proposed Ordinance 25-01, a municipal campaign finance code clarifying definitions of candidate and political committee and setting reporting thresholds. The motion to authorize advertisement passed 8 to 1 (moved by Councilor Moran; seconded by Councilor Korn).

Other procedural votes: The council approved the meeting agenda as amended and the consent agenda earlier in the meeting; both passed on roll-call votes (agenda amendment passed 8 to 0; consent agenda passed 8 to 0).

Public comment tied to disaster declaration: During public comment Karina Gabor, a resident of the South Historic District, described flooding damage to homes in her neighborhood and said she had received a FEMA notice requesting an update to her application. She asked whether the city’s disaster declaration would lead to compensation for flooded neighborhoods; council staff did not provide an immediate outcome but confirmed disaster and recovery processes are underway.

No litigation or contract award beyond the recorded lease required additional council approval; the meeting included a closed session earlier in the agenda for attorney–client and acquisition matters.