College Park’s mayor and city council took a high-stakes vote more than 200 miles from home last Sunday, meeting in Savannah to move forward with selecting a new tourism-marketing group. The choice to handle that business out of town has now caught the eye of the Georgia attorney general’s office, which is pressing the city on how much notice residents really had and whether the public could meaningfully weigh in.
A small group of residents made the trip to Savannah to watch the vote in person and later said the weekend timing and distant location made it tough for most neighbors to attend. Mayor Bianca Motley-Broom publicly applauded those who showed up, while council members noted they were already in Savannah for the Georgia Municipal Association convention and folded the meeting into that schedule.
Agenda Shows Short, Out-of-Town Session
According to the City of College Park, the special-called meeting was set for 4:00 p.m. in Boardroom A at the Marriott Savannah Riverfront. The agenda listed a single key line item, described as "DMO Bids Consideration." That posted agenda is the clearest public record tying the council’s June action to the Savannah hotel conference room that critics say was an inconvenient place to hash out city business.
Attorney General Asks for Answers
The Georgia attorney general’s office has sent a letter to City Hall seeking an explanation and a formal response from the city attorney, raising red flags about the short notice and the weekend meeting more than 200 miles outside city limits, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta. The letter, signed by Senior Assistant Attorney General Kirstin Settlemire, asks for a reply within ten days and questions whether the city’s actions truly promoted public transparency.
Residents Say Notice and Timing Were Inadequate
About a dozen College Park residents told reporters they drove more than 200 miles to attend what they characterized as a hurried vote with little room for public comment, according to CBS Atlanta. That outlet also reports that council members selected a group identified in city materials as Destination Must Visit Tourism Alliance Incorporated, although any final contract award still depends on negotiations and standard procurement rules.
Why the DMO Decision Matters
The city’s destination marketing organization contract controls hotel-occupancy and tourism promotion work that affects merchants and hotels in the airport district, so the choice of vendor has real implications for where local tourism dollars flow. The city’s bid postings indicate the DMO RFP closed in late June and that council action to consider proposals was scheduled on the June 28 agenda, with more details listed on the City of College Park website.
What Could Come Next
State scrutiny of College Park’s public meetings is not a new storyline. The attorney general’s office previously reviewed a 2024 council session after complaints that the public had been excluded, Axios Atlanta reported, and the office can seek remedies or litigation if it finds violations. For now, the latest letter sets a firm deadline for the city attorney’s written response and could trigger more review, depending on what the city sends back.
City officials did not immediately offer additional comment beyond remarks made after the Savannah session. Mayor Motley-Broom told CBS Atlanta she was "incredibly proud" of neighbors who made the trip. The attorney general’s request for a formal reply now starts the clock on whether state intervention will be needed or whether the dispute is resolved administratively.
