Mableton Council approves redevelopment resolution, tax‑collection agreement and retail strategy contract; outgoing council members honored

Mableton Mayor Mary Owens opened the Nov. 12 meeting by recognizing the community impacts of the federal government shutdown and announcing local resource coordination, then led the council through a series of motions that moved several administrative and economic items forward.

The council voted to approve a resolution asking the city’s legislative delegation to introduce legislation in the 2026 session that would authorize a referendum allowing Mableton to exercise redevelopment powers, including tax allocation districts, which would use future development tax revenue to fund infrastructure in redevelopment areas. Economic development Director Arlene Jones told the council the measure is the next step after an initial presentation and that, if approved by the General Assembly and the governor, the provision would proceed to a public referendum.

Council also authorized the city to enter an agreement, in substantial form, with the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) to recover unpaid or delinquent insurance privilege/occupational license taxes and fees. City staff explained GMA’s service is used by other municipalities and said the association would retain 50% of amounts it successfully collects; staff emphasized the city will perform initial collection efforts and that the contract terms remain negotiable.

On economic development, the council approved authorizing the mayor to negotiate and execute an addendum to a professional services agreement with Retail Strategies (RFP 25‑03) to carry out a leakage/market analysis and corridor activation work intended to identify retail 'leakage' and attract targeted commercial investment. Director Jones said the recommended contract is one year with two optional one‑year extensions and that the work would include site analysis, broker outreach and follow‑through with prospective tenants.

The meeting also included a second reading and approval of ordinances setting the FY2026 meeting schedule and updating Chapter 14 (animal control) to reference Cobb County’s ordinance, with a county commitment to notify Mableton of any county ordinance changes. The consent agenda was approved earlier in the meeting.

Following an executive session called for real estate, litigation and personnel, the council returned to authorize the mayor to execute an agreement allowing tenants in a city‑owned property at approximately 780 Concord Road to vacate the premises by Dec. 31, 2025. No dissenting votes were recorded on the motions summarized above; council members routinely recorded 'ayes' with no nays announced.

The council closed the meeting with remarks honoring outgoing inaugural council members Councilwoman Amy Oladapo (District 2) and Councilwoman Patricia Ock (District 4), a series of community announcements including a winter coat drive and senior Thanksgiving luncheon, and an adjournment. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Dec. 8.

Votes at a glance

• Approve agenda with historic‑preservation item deferred — adopted (ayes recorded). • Approve consent agenda — adopted (ayes recorded). • Approve agreement with Georgia Municipal Association for collections (substantial form authorization) — adopted (ayes recorded). • Approve resolution requesting legislative delegation to introduce redevelopment powers law (to proceed toward state introduction and possible referendum) — adopted (ayes recorded). • Adopt FY2026 regular meeting schedule (ordinance, second reading) — adopted (ayes recorded). • Adopt Chapter 14 animal control ordinance referencing Cobb County (second reading) — adopted (ayes recorded). • Authorize mayor to negotiate/execute Retail Strategies professional services addendum (RFP 25‑03) in substantial form — adopted (ayes recorded). • Enter executive session (real estate, then expanded to litigation/personnel) — adopted (ayes recorded). • Authorize mayor to execute tenant vacate agreement for city property at ~780 Concord Road through 12/31/2025 — adopted (ayes recorded).

What to watch next

• Whether the legislative resolution on redevelopment powers advances in the General Assembly and, if so, how a proposed tax allocation district would be scoped before a referendum. • Negotiation details and final terms of the GMA collection agreement (percent retained by GMA and any safeguards), and the executed Retail Strategies scope and timeline for attracting targeted retailers.

Sources: City of Mableton council meeting, Nov. 12, 2025 (remarks by Mayor Mary Owens; presentations by Director Arlene Jones and Finance Director Karen Ellis; public comments).