City of South Fulton, GA - News & Events
Atlanta's Twin City & American Capitol of the African Diaspora
Next City Council Meeting
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Camelot's November 6, 2022
Consent Ordre |
Camelot's January 2023
Compliance Report |
Above is the Consent Order from the Camelot Court Hearing, November 6, 2023 and Camelot's January 2024 Compliance Report. As a condition of the order, Code Enforcement will walk through Camelot buildings 200, 500, 700, 800 and 1100. These buildings have the worst violations. Walkthroughs and write-ups of code violations in other buildings will follow.
Camelot has 120 days (four months from November) to make repairs. Another condition of the Consent Order requires Camelot's management to submit to the court monthly reports on the HOA's progress in making the required repairs (page 13, paragraph 3 of the Consent Order). These monthly reports are subject to Open Records Requests and must be made available to the public.
Camelot has 120 days (four months from November) to make repairs. Another condition of the Consent Order requires Camelot's management to submit to the court monthly reports on the HOA's progress in making the required repairs (page 13, paragraph 3 of the Consent Order). These monthly reports are subject to Open Records Requests and must be made available to the public.
City Employees Come Forth as Corruption Investigations Continue
Former City of South Fulton employees are coming forth to confirm allegations of a hostile work environment in City Hall and misconduct in the City of South Fulton Police Department (SFPD). Individuals involved in recent investigations of South Fulton Police — including SFPD's Detective of the Year — have filed a federal discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
May 4, 2022 South Fulton City Manager Tammi Saddler Jones sent a memo to South Fulton's City Council warning of threats and intimidation by a Councilmember to stop the investigation of misconduct in the South Fulton Police Department. The investigation was halted and transferred to the Smyrna Police Department.
July 5, 2022 Smyrna Police concluded their independent investigation, which validated the results of the original HR investigation, substantiating claims of a "hostile work environment," and suggesting a "highly probable criminal violation of theft." Smyrna Police interviewed over twenty South Fulton Police officers, seven of whom gave polygraphed statements that the Chief of Police was made aware of ongoing issues of misconduct.
On July 18, 2022 — after attempting to raise the issue behind closed doors with City Council, and being denied access to read the report by the City Manager, City Attorney and Police Chief — South Fulton Mayor khalid held a press conference on the steps of his Camelot apartment to notify citizens about the ongoing issue and call for the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) to look into the matter.
On July 22, 2022, South Fulton City Council made a unanimous Vote of No Confidence in the Mayor, alleging they knew nothing of the investigation. However, in September, Smyrna Police responded to Open Records requests by South Fulton residents and released the entire report which City Council ordered after being notified in May by City Manager Jones of possible interference into HR's original investigation of the police. Click below to read the memo and full Smyrna report.
May 4, 2022 South Fulton City Manager Tammi Saddler Jones sent a memo to South Fulton's City Council warning of threats and intimidation by a Councilmember to stop the investigation of misconduct in the South Fulton Police Department. The investigation was halted and transferred to the Smyrna Police Department.
July 5, 2022 Smyrna Police concluded their independent investigation, which validated the results of the original HR investigation, substantiating claims of a "hostile work environment," and suggesting a "highly probable criminal violation of theft." Smyrna Police interviewed over twenty South Fulton Police officers, seven of whom gave polygraphed statements that the Chief of Police was made aware of ongoing issues of misconduct.
On July 18, 2022 — after attempting to raise the issue behind closed doors with City Council, and being denied access to read the report by the City Manager, City Attorney and Police Chief — South Fulton Mayor khalid held a press conference on the steps of his Camelot apartment to notify citizens about the ongoing issue and call for the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) to look into the matter.
On July 22, 2022, South Fulton City Council made a unanimous Vote of No Confidence in the Mayor, alleging they knew nothing of the investigation. However, in September, Smyrna Police responded to Open Records requests by South Fulton residents and released the entire report which City Council ordered after being notified in May by City Manager Jones of possible interference into HR's original investigation of the police. Click below to read the memo and full Smyrna report.
Click the pictures here to read the Mayor's Veto & the entire independent investigation by Smyrna Police into South Fulton Police misconduct.
May 3, 2022 South Fulton's HR Director documents bullying by Councilmember
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May 4, 2022 City Manager notifies entire City Council about intimidation.
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Parks Director becomes 119th resignation in one year, citing "unethical" & hostile work environment.
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Georgia's Attorney General investigates exorbitant fees for Open Records Requests
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Mayor khalid says he held Monday's Press Conference because the demotion or termination of several of those officers was imminent, and because "failure to expose corruption wherever discovered" is one of the reasons for removal listed in the City Charter. The matter has been referred to the Office of Georgia's Attorney General, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) and others.
The police investigation and attempts by some to suppress it highlight a hostile work environment within South Fulton City Hall, further evidenced by the Exit Interview of the city's most recent department head. More than 120 South Fulton staff members have resigned in the past year.
The police investigation and attempts by some to suppress it highlight a hostile work environment within South Fulton City Hall, further evidenced by the Exit Interview of the city's most recent department head. More than 120 South Fulton staff members have resigned in the past year.
After two investigations substantiated the hostile work environment claims, City Council paid a private law firm to conduct a third investigation which exonerated Councilwoman Helen Z. Willis and Police Chief Keith Meadows of any wrongdoing. However, the matter is still being investigated by the EEOC and the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI).
FULTON DISTRICT ATTORNEY INVESTIGATES CITY FINANCES
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This Summer, City Council asked the Fulton County District Attorney (DA)'s office to investigate the city credit cards of Mayor khalid former Mayor Pro Tem Mark Baker — his most staunch ally on City Council.
Residents began requesting to see the P-Cards for all of City Council. When the District Attorney's office received them, they broadened their investigation to include credit cards of the entire City Council and other city departments — including the City Attorney and Police Department. |
Click to view 2020-21 City Credit card purchases across multiple city departments.
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During his Inaugural Address in January, Mayor khalid called for a forensic audit of all City finances. His initiative echoed calls for such audits made by resident activists for years. City Council chose instead to conduct targeted audits of departments and individuals. However, when it was revealed during recent Budget Hearings that over $600,000 was missing from a Speed Bump fund created by Mayor khalid, the calls for a citywide forensic audit have resumed.
In response to recent controversies regarding possible violations of Georgia Open Meetings laws — including an investigation by Georgia's Attorney General into overcharging of fees for Open Records Requests — Mayor khalid partnered with the First Amendment Foundation & the University of Georgia (UGA) School of Law to offer citizens a full course on Open Meetings & Executive Session laws. The university Law professors offered a profoundly different opinion from South Fulton's City attorney about what is allowed to be discussed in Executive Session and shared with the public about it. South Fulton City Council holds Executive Sessions at nearly every Work Session and Regular Meeting — often lasting an hour or more — a practice uncommon in any of Georgia's other 536 cities.
Follow Mayor khalid on Social Media
CITY CALENDAR
2024 CITY HOLIDAYS
City of South Fulton & Federal Governments Fiscal Year begins October 1.
The State of Georgia's Fiscal Year begins July 1.
The State of Georgia's Fiscal Year begins July 1.
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Monday, January 1
January 15 (3rd Monday) February 19 (3rd Monday) Wednesday, May 1 Memorial Day (May 27) through Labor Day (Sep 2)* Tuesday, May 21 May 29 (last Monday) Tuesday, June 18 Wednesday, June 19 Thursday, July 4 September 2 (1st Monday) October 14 (2nd Monday) November 5 (1st Tuesday) Monday, November 11 Tuesday, December 3 November 28-29 (4th Thursday) Wednesday December 25 Wednesday, December 26-31* Tuesday, December 31 |
New Years
MLK Day of Service President's Day City Anniversary *Mayor's Office Closed for Summer Fridays Primary Election Day Memorial Day Runoff Election Day Juneteeth Independence Day Labor Day Indigenous Peoples' Day General Election Holiday Veterans Day General Runoff Election Day Thanksgiving Christmas *Kwanzaa (Mayor's Office) New Year's Eve |
CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS 2ND & 4TH TUESDAYS at 4PM
(No City Council Meetings in June)
(No City Council Meetings in June)
PUBLIC COMMENT
Public Comment occurs near the beginning of the 7PM Voting Meetinga, after approving the Agenda and issuing Proclamations. This is the only point in Council Meetings where citizens can ask questions or make comments directly to City Council. City Council amended Public Comment rules so that only South Fulton residents and business owners can make Public Comments or ask questions; and can only do so for items on the Agenda approved by City Council the day of the meeting. While residents can send in or sign up to make comments using an online form, the best way to ensure your voice is heard is to:
Zoning Hearings are at 6PM. Zoning Hearings are where City Council hears requests from developers to rezone land for buildings or apply for liquor licenses or other Special Use permits. The items heard at the 2nd Tuesday meetings are usually voted on in the following 4th Tuesday meeting.
In 2019, then-Councilman khalid worked with the Planning & Zoning Department (CDRA) to author the Moratorium Against Like Uses, which halted permits for businesses already over-represented in our communities (beauty shops, dollar stores, tire shops, etc.) to come before City Council for a vote. Though Councilman khalid's desire was to make these restrictions permanent, they incorporated into our new Zoning Code as Special Use Permits, meaning businesses can still apply for and receive permits — but only by a vote of a majority of City Council.
In 2023, City Council voted to amend the Zoning Code so that any resident interested in listing their home as a short-term rental (AirBnB, Vrbo, etc) must receive a Special Use Permit — voted on by City Council — to do so. These are now also heard at 2nd Tuesday Zoning Hearings. Homeowners applying for Short Term Rental Permits must be present (or have a representative present) for their Zoning Case to be heard and Special Permit granted.
Residents may come to speak in favor or opposition of each proposed development, liquor lisence or short-term rental, separate from regular Public Comment.
Zoning Issues are heard by the resident-led Planning Commission before they come to City Council. Residents can speak in favor or opposition of proposed developments at those meetings as well. You can find recordings of those meetings at the link below.
- Attend the Council Meeting in Person
- Arrive by 6:55 p.m. and reqiest a Speaker's Card from the City Clerk (seated on stage with the City Council)
Zoning Hearings are at 6PM. Zoning Hearings are where City Council hears requests from developers to rezone land for buildings or apply for liquor licenses or other Special Use permits. The items heard at the 2nd Tuesday meetings are usually voted on in the following 4th Tuesday meeting.
In 2019, then-Councilman khalid worked with the Planning & Zoning Department (CDRA) to author the Moratorium Against Like Uses, which halted permits for businesses already over-represented in our communities (beauty shops, dollar stores, tire shops, etc.) to come before City Council for a vote. Though Councilman khalid's desire was to make these restrictions permanent, they incorporated into our new Zoning Code as Special Use Permits, meaning businesses can still apply for and receive permits — but only by a vote of a majority of City Council.
In 2023, City Council voted to amend the Zoning Code so that any resident interested in listing their home as a short-term rental (AirBnB, Vrbo, etc) must receive a Special Use Permit — voted on by City Council — to do so. These are now also heard at 2nd Tuesday Zoning Hearings. Homeowners applying for Short Term Rental Permits must be present (or have a representative present) for their Zoning Case to be heard and Special Permit granted.
Residents may come to speak in favor or opposition of each proposed development, liquor lisence or short-term rental, separate from regular Public Comment.
Zoning Issues are heard by the resident-led Planning Commission before they come to City Council. Residents can speak in favor or opposition of proposed developments at those meetings as well. You can find recordings of those meetings at the link below.
Emergency and Special Called Meetings may be called by the Mayor alone, or a supermajority of 5 City Council Members at any time as long as 48 hours notice is provided.
Text FULTON to 33777 to receive alerts and agendas for upcoming City Council Meetings.
SOUTH FULTON'S 2024 BUDGET
A primary responsibility of every level of government — from Congress to your local City Council — is passing a Budget. The City Budget determines how tax dollars collected by the city are spent. The Calendar by which governments (and businesses) spend money is known as the Budget Year or Fiscal Year (FY).
The City of South Fulton's Fiscal Year begins each October 1 (just like a school calendar, where the 2024 School Year begins in Fall 2023).
The Federal Government's Fiscal Year also beings October 1.
The Fiscal Year for Fulton County begins January 1.
The Fiscal Year for Fulton County Schools begins July 1.
The Fiscal Year for the State of Georgia begins July 1.
The City of South Fulton's Fiscal Year begins each October 1 (just like a school calendar, where the 2024 School Year begins in Fall 2023).
The Federal Government's Fiscal Year also beings October 1.
The Fiscal Year for Fulton County begins January 1.
The Fiscal Year for Fulton County Schools begins July 1.
The Fiscal Year for the State of Georgia begins July 1.
South Fulton's FY2024 Adopted Budget
Appealing Your Property Tax Assessment
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As the City of South Fulton improves public services and property values increase, some residents may notice an increase in their property taxes. These increased property taxes are how our city pays for new police officers and improved parks, streets and emergency services. When included in your house note and spread over the year, most increases amount to only a few dollars each month. However, residents who notice a sharp increase in their property tax assessments can file an appeal with the Fulton County Tax Assessor's Office.
How & When to Appeal Your Fulton County Property Tax Assessment
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To File An Appeal Online:
Visit the Fulton County Tax Assessor's website at www.FultonAssessor.org, or simply click the link below to access the Online Services > SmartFile tool (see steps below). To File An Appeal By Mail:
Print the one-page Appeal Application at the button below and mail to: Fulton County Tax Assessor
235 Peachtree Street NE North Tower • 12th Floor Atlanta, GA • 30303 To File An Appeal In Person:
Visit the Fulton County Tax Assessors office. Fulton County Tax Assessors Office
South Fulton Annex 5600 Stonewall Rd, 30349 • Room 224 Monday-Friday • 8AM-4.30PM |
