Atlanta Committee on Council approves candidate qualifying resolution, holds proposed salary increases pending notice; confirms four appointments

The Committee on Council on Wednesday approved a resolution to fix and publish candidate qualifying procedures for the City of Atlanta municipal general election on Nov. 4, 2025, and confirmed four mayoral communications appointing residents to city boards. The committee introduced an amendment that would set salaries for the mayor, council president and council members beginning in January 2026, but held that ordinance after staff said a three-week notice period is required before final action.

The panel voted 5-0 to approve resolution 25R3001, which sets the Nov. 4, 2025 municipal general election and instructs staff to publish the location, dates and times for candidate qualifying. The committee also voted 5-0 to approve four communications from the council president and city boards appointing Larry Riley to the City of Atlanta Reparation Study Commission (24C5139); Cheryl Venable to the Midtown Community Improvement District Board of Directors for a four-year term (24C5140); Marcus Washington to the Atlanta Citizens Review Board for a three-year term (24C5149); and Cheyenne Morin Junior to the Atlanta Citizens Review Board (NPU G–L category) for a three-year term (24C5150).

The committee debated, and an amendment was offered to, ordinance 52401684 to establish salaries for terms beginning in January 2026. Under the amendment read into the record, the salaries would be: mayor $236,865; council president $103,250; and council members $99,930. Council President Doug Shipman praised the committee for taking a smaller increase than the full commission recommendation, saying it “is a symbol of trying to make sure that the difference between what council makes and what our frontline workers make and what our staff members across the city make… that this is the right signal.”

Council Member Howard Shook also spoke in favor of the commission’s review of compensation comparisons and the effort to better reflect the workload of council, saying, “This is the equivalent of a Fortune 500 company with 9,000 employees,” and that the review “turned the light on” how council work compares to other jurisdictions.

After the discussion, staff advised the committee that, pursuant to Section 2-306(a)(2) of the City of Atlanta Code of Ordinances, legislation establishing salaries must undergo a three-week notice period before final action. The committee voted 5-0 to hold the amended ordinance; the item will return for further action after the required notice period.

Other routine business included adoption of the committee agenda and approval of minutes from the Dec. 2 meeting; both motions passed 5-0.

The committee concluded its meeting after agreeing to circulate 2025 Committee on Council goals and objectives for adoption by Feb. 3 and to follow up with council members about committee assignments to achieve quorum where needed.