Forest Park Roundup: Council to Vote on $352,500 in Fire/EMS Contracts; City Manager Appointment and Ethics Hearing on the Agenda
Forest Park's City Council has a packed agenda for July 20, including $352,500 in blanket purchase orders for Fire/EMS vendors and a resolution to adopt the Plaza Rehabilitation Framework Playbook. Meanwhile, several recent meetings remain without published minutes, so outcomes from those sessions are not yet available.
City Council — July 6 (Outcomes Pending)
The City Council's July 6 work session included several notable items, though minutes have not yet been published and no vote tallies are available. The agenda called for the appointment of Carl Geffken as City Manager effective July 13, 2026. The council also was set to consider a contract with NCB Incorporated, 4017 Moonlight Drive, Little Elm, TX, for grant administration services not to exceed $80,000 from 2021 SPLOST funds, and a contract with Onyx Media Services, Inc., 300 Long Creek Drive, Covington, GA, estimated at $91,000 for audio production services at Starr Park events, funded from the General Fund. Additional items included approval of surplus vehicles and equipment from the Public Works fleet and an annual IT hardware refresh purchase under CDW-G contract #99999-001-SPD0000220-0004.
Urban Redevelopment Authority — July 9 (Outcomes Pending)
The Urban Redevelopment Authority agenda included a Georgia Power request for right-of-entry to the Fort Gillem 230 kV substation (Project #2025080046, Flankers Road). The body also was scheduled to review an IGA Community Development Forest Park Marketplace Analysis proposal, a Park at Fort Gillem Master Redevelopment update, a Gun Range update, and a Community Development Block Grant update. No minutes have been published.
Ethics Hearing — July 13 (Outcomes Pending)
A hearing was scheduled on Ethics Complaint No. 05222026-02, filed by Mayor Gwendolyn Ellison against Councilwoman Kimberly James. The agenda indicated the meeting would be limited to this single complaint. No outcome has been published.
Planning Commission — July 16 (Outcomes Pending)
The Planning Commission was set to review four cases: a rezone request (Case# RZ-2026-02) for 0 Conrad Avenue to allow a four-story multi-use building; a variance request (Case# VAR-2026-04) for 357 Cynthia Lane to allow a deck to encroach into a side setback; a conditional use permit request (Case# CUP-2026-03) for a daycare facility at 957 Astor Avenue; and a text amendment (Case# TA-2026-02) to the Planning and Community Development Department fee schedule. No minutes have been published.
Urban Design Review Board — July 17 (Outcomes Pending)
The board was scheduled to approve May 22, 2026 meeting minutes and review two one-story residential construction requests: 562 Kay Street (Parcel #13078D A010, Ward 4) and 849 Bridge Avenue (Parcel #13050D G010, Ward 2). No minutes have been published.
Coming Up
City Council — Monday, July 20, 2026: The council will consider blanket purchase orders for Fire/EMS vendors totaling $352,500: Bennett Fire Products ($87,500), MES Services ($120,000), Bound Tree Medical ($75,000), and Reads Uniforms ($70,000). The agenda also includes the CAD and RMS annual software renewal for the Police Department, a resolution adopting the Plaza Rehabilitation Framework Playbook, amendments to Title 9 Chapter 6 of the City Code covering peddlers and solicitors, a resolution amending the Permit and Fee Schedule, and authorization for the Mayor to execute a redemption quitclaim deed for 5116 West Street.