College Park City Council · March 25, 2026
19 findings
Financial Scandal · 0:20:12

$2.4 Million DMO Can't Answer Basic Questions

“We sit up here and we try we talk to the different vendors and the contractors that come through here... we're talking about millions of dollars here and we have no idea how it's being utilized.”

— Councilwoman McKenzie

College Park's destination marketing org takes millions but can't provide budgets, business lists, or World Cup plans.

Meeting Briefing

The March 25 workshop exposed stunning dysfunction at College Park's destination marketing organization, which collects $2.4 million annually but couldn't provide a budget for World Cup plans or basic business lists. Councilwoman McKenzie torched the DMO's Mercedes Miller for months of non-responsiveness while residents get nothing from FIFA 2026. Meanwhile, council debated financial guardrails requiring unanimous votes to touch reserves or issue bonds — a move that could paralyze emergency decisions. The meeting also featured a nonprofit director defending Ignite Resource Center's $50K funding request while admitting she doesn't track how many people she helps.

All Findings
Financial Scandal

World Cup Plans Exclude College Park Residents

“People don't even know that they're in College Park when they get on that sky train and then they head into the GIC Convention Center area. And that's a disservice to this city.”

DMO's FIFA 2026 strategy focuses on generic banners while ignoring local business needs and airport advertising.

0:12:52
Financial Scandal

Council Proposes Unanimous Vote Requirement for Any Spending

“The household equivalent of issuing a city bond is like taking out a second or third mortgage on your home.”

New financial rules would require all sitting council members to agree before touching reserves or issuing bonds.

1:00:35
Power Plays & Dysfunction

DMO Director Admits No College Park Business List

“I don't have a list of businesses for College Park. I have one for all my other cities and I've asked several times.”

Mercedes Miller reveals she doesn't know which businesses exist in the city she's supposed to market.

0:40:08
Power Plays & Dysfunction

City Fund Reserves Below 50% Minimum

“We won't make that goal in 2627. And we'll find that out during the budget. We're going to be slightly below that because our expenses exceeds our revenues by millions of dollars.”

City Manager Hicks reveals College Park won't meet its own minimum reserve requirements in the upcoming budget.

1:12:07
Power Plays & Dysfunction

McKenzie Reveals Ward One Created Own Marketing Organization

“It's the elephant in the room is in Ward One, we had to start our own destination marketing uh organization to make sure that our businesses are being um getting adequate...”

Councilwoman admits Ward One had to bypass the official DMO to get businesses proper marketing support.

0:23:21
Power Plays & Dysfunction

$350K Airport Advertising Request Ignored

“I also submitted to you twice a proposal from Clear Channel. We asked for a total of $350,000 for advertising in the airport, flags on Main Street throughout Ward One, and we...”

McKenzie submitted detailed Clear Channel proposal twice but DMO won't commit to Hartsfield Jackson advertising.

0:22:18
Power Plays & Dysfunction

College Park Has 16 Outstanding Bond Instruments

“Right now we have about 16 or so bond instruments already outstanding. So that's a lot of mortgages we have out.”

Councilman Car reveals the city already has about 16 different bond instruments with varying debt payments.

1:03:11
Power Plays & Dysfunction

Ignite Resource Center Can't Track Service Numbers

“As far as me keeping numbers on how many phone calls I get every week, I have not been doing that.”

Nonprofit director admits she doesn't track how many people call or receive services despite seeking $50K funding.

0:57:28
Power Plays & Dysfunction

Hotel Motel Tax Revenue Expected to Increase

“We will still have more visitors passing through our corridor than we normal do normally do, which means we will receive more hotel motel tourist funding.”

McKenzie argues World Cup will boost tourism revenue even with 40% hotel cancellations cited by DMO.

0:28:02
Power Plays & Dysfunction

DMO Claims Legal Restrictions on City Payments

“I cannot write the city a check for shirts. I told you before, I said if you need to order the checks, you can give me the invoice and we could pay an invoice, but we cannot...”

Miller says she can't write checks to the city but admits she never responded to invoice requests for t-shirts.

0:24:56
Power Plays & Dysfunction

McKenzie: 'College Park Gets Such a Bad Rap'

“College Park gets such a bad rap. He said, 'You all are missing an opportunity with Hartsfield advertising. There's nothing going on in the airport that reflects that people...”

Councilwoman quotes resident criticism that city misses marketing opportunities and gets known for terrible things.

0:29:05
Power Plays & Dysfunction

City Manager Interviews Economic Development Director

“We interviewed four people today for the economic development director's position. So, we're getting very close to getting a director.”

Hicks announces four interviews today for economic development position, narrowed down to two final candidates.

1:23:23
Power Plays & Dysfunction

College Park Tax Revenue 75% Non-Residential

“Our mix is less than 25% residential. 75 over 75% of our tax digest depends on our hospitality mix.”

Car reveals city's unique vulnerability with over 75% of tax revenue dependent on hospitality and business sectors.

1:01:37
Power Plays & Dysfunction

Ignite Funded Only by Ward One Last Year

“Our Ward One team sat around, we looked at our community enhancement budget and we said, 'We need Ignite if it's only just even for for Ward One.'”

McKenzie reveals Ward One used community enhancement funds to keep social services organization running after city defunding.

0:52:46
Power Plays & Dysfunction

DMO Admits Most Advertising Outside College Park

“Most of our advertisement is not going to be in the city. Our advertisement is going to be outside of the city so that people will come into the city.”

Miller defends lack of local promotion by saying DMO advertises elsewhere to bring people into the city.

0:34:20
Power Plays & Dysfunction

Foster Foundation Event Approved for August

“Unfortunately, uh the weather kind of scared us off. it was like some severe weather that was coming in and out of the week and we just didn't want to, you know, jeopardize...”

Council quickly approves returning community event after weather forced 2025 cancellation.

1:24:08
Power Plays & Dysfunction

Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Seeks Appointees

“We want this comprehensive plan to be a true representation of every facet of the city of College Park that not only shows its beauty but also where we would like to see growth...”

Economic development staff requests council appointees for community engagement in comprehensive plan update.

1:17:51
Power Plays & Dysfunction

Council Car References Bible Reading

“I've never read the Bible cover to cover. I don't think I ever will. He told me, he said, uh, he said, all you got just read Pro Proverbs cover to cover. He said, 'That'll...”

Mayor Pro Tem admits he's never read the Bible cover to cover, shares spiritual advice from late pastor.

1:16:16