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Committee advances parks funding framework, approves right-of-entry and event permit
Summary
Marietta's Recreation and Tourism Committee voted to advance a framework for distributing motor-vehicle tax rollover funds — including approval of flags — approved a MEAG right-of-entry agreement, and cleared a mayoral request to use city property for a trail festival while debating changes to council rules on the consent agenda.
The Recreation and Tourism Committee voted to move forward a framework for allocating unspent motor-vehicle tax rollover funds and approved a right-of-entry agreement and a mayoral request to use city property for a trail festival.
The committee's chair opened the meeting and led approval of amended minutes before staff presented the Parks Bond report, with parks staff noting that "little over 1,800 disc golfers played the park for the first time last year," and that 115 people tried disc golf for the first time. The report drew questions but no direct action.
Parks staff presented a MEAG right-of-entry agreement and a printed copy; after a motion and second, the committee approved the agreement by voice vote. The committee also considered a mayoral request for the Arts Council to use city property for a trail festival; members raised no objections and the request was forwarded to a council work session for final consideration.
On the larger funding question, Chair said the committee would consider a framework that allocates rollover balances to two principal "buckets": funds to approve ceremonial flags now and a second bucket for parks improvements to be allocated after further discussion. Parks staff outlined candidate projects including a $387,000 bunker renovation, possible skate-park options (with potential county SPLOST contributions), Kirby Park improvements, and a pollinator garden that requires a paved surface. Staff emphasized the list was an overview of options and that no final decisions on specific projects were being made that night.
After discussion — including whether a skate park should be funded now or left to a joint SPLOST process — the committee voted to advance the framework and to approve the flags. Chair clarified the motion was "just moving the framework forward" and not a final allocation for the individual park projects.
The committee also reviewed proposed 2026 rules and procedures for council meetings. Committee member (S4) objected to language that would "shall" require removing consent-agenda items if a speaker addresses them, arguing that the draft could unintentionally penalize applicants who reserve rebuttal time. Staff and the city manager were asked to check applicable state law and to bring clarifying edits back to the committee. A separate procedural motion to move the rules discussion into a work session passed on a recorded vote noted as 3–0.
Other business included multiple requests from a telecom provider for underground-utility permits and a staff briefing on the substantial costs and safety requirements involved in establishing Federal Railroad Administration quiet zones at downtown crossings. Staff indicated certain telecommunications permit actions will require public hearings before final approval.
The committee concluded by asking staff to return with clarified language on the rules and any statutory constraints, and to prepare more detailed project-level funding options for future meetings. The work-session referral and other consent items were advanced by committee vote; specific dollar allocations for most park projects remain to be decided in later meetings.
