Tourism Grants, 1-Way Streets, New Subdivision: Marietta Council

MARIETTA, GA — Annual tourism grants, a new subdivision, one-way street cancellations on Lawrence Street and Washington Avenue, staff raises, a $372 million fiscal year 2021-22 budget and a new pollinator garden were among the agenda items for the Marietta City Council last week.

Here's what you need to know:

1. Lawrence Street and Washington Avenue will not be converted into one-way streets — for now.

After weeks of back-and-forth debates with local residents and business owners, council members overturned their decision from last September to turn Lawrence Street and Washington Avenue into one-way streets.

The roads will remain two-way, for now. Council members said they plan to review the issue again in a year to gauge how effective other traffic calming measures were during that time.

Read more: Residents, Businesses Debate One-Way Streets: Marietta Council

2. A 27-home subdivision is coming to Polk Street.

Council members approved a final plat for the Cottages at Keeler Woods, a planned subdivision on 6.6 acres off Polk Street, between Mountain View and Burnt Hickory roads. The subdivision will add 27 detached, single-family homes to the area.

3. A total of $1.1 million in tourism grants will go toward local arts and cultural organizations.

During the budget process, local organizations applied for annual grants with the city to help with tourism to the area. Council members approved $1.1 million in these annual tourism grants last week, awarded to the following groups as well as several city-sponsored festivals and marketing expenses:

• Strand Theatre: $40,000
• Cobb NAACP Juneteenth: $8,000
• Georgia Metro Dance Theatre: $16,000
• Georgia Symphony Orchestra: $12,000
• Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art: $60,000
• Marietta Museum of History: $160,000
• Brumby Hall & Gardens/Gone with the Wind Museum: $67,000
• Cobb Landmarks: $19,000
• Marietta Arts Council: $10,000
• Atlanta Lyric Theatre: $9,000
• Marietta Educational Gardens: $5,000
• Marietta Visitors Bureau: $295,000

The grants are funded through a 3 percent auto rental tax, projected to bring in $607,200 in fiscal year 2022, which begins July 1, according to The Marietta Daily Journal. The city's 8 percent hotel/motel tax funds the Marietta Visitors Bureau and is expected to bring in $318,796 for the bureau.

4. Three percent raises for city staff and a slight tax decrease for residents are coming, thanks to the city's newly-approved $372 million budget.

Council approved a $372 million budget Wednesday night, which included 3 percent raises for all city staff and a tax rate decrease of 0.125 mills. City staff can expect the raises to take effect July 1, which is the beginning of the fiscal year.

The overall millage rate — or tax rate — for FY 2022 is 4.992 mills, a decrease from FY 2021's rate of 5.117 mills. Additionally, the raises will total $1.4 million.

5. A new pollinator garden is coming to Kirby Park.

The city is planning to partner with a Boy Scout for the project, which is designed to serve educational and environmental purposes.