City Council - Regular Meeting

um and look at our own ordinance, make some suggestions to think about and have a discussion. Why I'm here is that on occasion, uh city staff has asked to install truck restriction signs on various streets and when we um have in the past looked at what our city code says related to that, we don't have good clear direction on how to proceed. And so with over 1700 streets in Sandy Springs, our conversation today is really about talking about um where trucks can and should travel in Sandy Springs. So just in terms of the big picture, freight in our region in Atlanta, Sandy Springs inside of that is an enormous industry. It accounts for a third of all jobs in the entire region. And um surprisingly, you know, we think about big freight places like say Philadelphia or Chicago or even LA, Atlanta's right up in there in terms of our whole region and how much freight we're both generating and producing here and has a great economic value. And a lot of the freight moving around Atlanta um is moved by truck. You know, there's also other other ways it travels. So just in terms of again big picture, the US identified a national network back in 1982 and part of that Interstate 285 which traverses through Sandy Springs as part of this national network. The state also has a designated freight network or truck network and that includes uh State Route 400 north of 2D5. Um, another little interesting thing on the state is that maybe you've noticed

when you're inside of 285 driving on 75, 85, 20 or 400, trucks are restricted. So that is something that's written into state law currently that large vehicles more than six wheels cannot travel with exceptions if they have, you know, a reason to be there, but not through trips. So what does that look like in Sandy Springs right now? So these are truck routes or freight routes, corridors already identified that traverse Sandy Springs that either by federal or state partners have identified as truck friendly. So it's 285, State Route 9, 140, and 400 north of 285. So the city's ordinance is found in chapter 8 sub 58 sorry article 2. So what does that route truck route ordinance currently look like? It tells you sort of the routes trucks can take. It talks about signage, talks about maximum vehicle weights, where and how long trucks can park, where they can be stored, the time of day that deliveries can happen, and then the penalties. Just a couple slides on some highlights of of that ordinance. So, just in terms of routes, um trucks are always permitted on any street if they have a origin or destination there. So, you're moving and you need a moving van to come to your house, they're allowed to do that. If you have a delivery of, you know, an entire living room full of furniture, they can come to your house, but you are supposed to do that in the most direct route available. We have currently a time restriction. And so this is anything really um off of

a truck route is not supposed to be made between 7 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. But that's applies evenly to both residential and commercial uses. So that's something we want want to think about. We do have a weight restriction um in our ordinance as well as um we do have weight restrictions on three bridges. In terms of parking trucks, we don't permit that on residential streets. We have time limitations. We kind of define what that might be in terms of who is parking there and that they cannot be parked, you know, for excessive amount of time. So when staff interprets this existing ordinance, one of our challenges is that um our definition within our ordinance isn't very clear. We only have one definition in the ordinance for a biotal semi-trail, but it's not consistent with how the state defines a truck. Um, one of the things in terms of truck enforcement and that question that comes to staff to put up no truck signs is that our ordinance says we have a route. We have truck routes, but we don't currently have them. So, in the 20 years of Sandy Springs existence, we have not yet designated what routes outside of the federal and state routes where trucks are allowed. We do have that time a day restriction from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. And so that means going back to the delivery at your house or anyone in Sandy Springs that they aren't actually supposed to be making any of those during the business day currently in our ordinance. Just in terms of enforcement, I think there's a conversation to talk about this in ter um with other public safety needs. our ordinance isn't really clear on

whether or not we are putting up signs to allow trucks or to prohibit them. And then we want to make sure that we are kind of consistent with federal, state, and other jurisdictions in terms of what they designate as truck routes. So, putting on our planning hat for a minute, we look to our regional partners. The Atlanta Regional Commission has over the past few years really done a lot on freight planning because as I've said, it's an enormous economic driver for the region. And so just kind of looking at those items, we as staff kind of went to the drawing board and looked at things like what kind of street is this? How was it constructed? What are the land uses that they're serving? Can we make a connected network? And with that sort of started looking at those criteria. So right now as I've said 285, State Route 9, 140 are all on and 400 are on the state or federal network. Um so these are kind of some of our criteria that we would look at. We know that coming into Sandy Springs from Cobb County that Cobb designates Johnson's Ferry as a truck route. We know that coming into Sandy Springs on Mount Vernon Highway, they call it Mount Vernon Road does um Dunwhaty has designated that section as a truck route and the extent of um the principal arterial network that we have in Sandy Springs, which is the highest classification of road outside of our interstates. So, State Route 9 is on that has that classification. and State Route 140 has that classification and so does Johnson's Fairy Abernathy up to uh perimeter center and then you know as we we're pretty familiar Sandy Springs doesn't have large industrial uses or producers here

but we do have some industrial zoned land on the north end of of the city. So with that said, just kind of thinking about what might make sense if we are going to follow the existing code and look at adopting a truck route network or somewhere where we're going to say this is if you're coming into Sandy Springs, these are the permissible streets you can drive on. Um we've identified five and there's a summary here. So in addition to the regional network roadways we've already talked about um designating the section of Johnson's Ferry Road from Cobb County to Abernathy Abernathy to Johnson from Johnson's Ferry to Mount Vernon Highway Mount Vernon Highway from Abernathy to the city of Dunwoody city limits Dunwy Place from Northridge to Roswell Road and then Northridge between 400 and Roswell Road. So what does that look like overall? So, what that means in terms of our current ordinance is that all the other streets in Sandy Springs would not be primary routes for trucks and they would be restricted. And what we would suggest if this is something that council's interested in doing um if we decide to move forward with this network or a similar network is that you designate the routes where you want trucks as opposed to putting up no truck signs on 1700 1700 streets through the rest of Sandy Springs because outside of the truck routes if people are kind of using other streets as alternatives but do not have a delivery or don't have an origin that that would give you the opportunity for enforcement there. So, just in terms of other inconsistencies in the ordinance, um we want to make sure if we're restricting trucks, we need to decide what that is

because everybody is receiving deliveries now through all of our major um retail sites, right? So there's small box trucks, there's trucks with multiple axles. There aren't that many deliveries that come on tractor trailers, but you know, when we have done classification studies for other city projects, we actually don't find a lot of those large tractor trailers traversing our streets. we might want to think about the time of day dis delivery dis restrictions because that's affecting all the residents and businesses alike in terms of that time of day restriction. Um, we're here to talk about whether or not we want to adopt a truck route map. And then just clarifying, you know, we're going to actually say, well, this is the routes. This is where we're going to put our signs. Can limit it to five routes and everything else is restricted unless there's a reason for them to be there. So, with that said, love to hear your feedback.

I'm [clears throat] I'm sure some of you are wondering where this came from. Uh, this came as a result of several things. one citizen complaints about the large number of trucks on neighborhood streets. [cough and clears throat] Excuse me. What you what we've witnessed with 285 and and the construction and everything that's going on and the construction is going to be going on on 285 and 400 at least through 2036. trucks that get backed up in the traffic in the backwash of the construction are now getting off and using the various software, GIS software to find routes through the city to bypass. And so we found large trucks on [clears throat] a lot of our neighborhood streets. Uh and so a lot of complaints by neighbors that we they're getting uh inundated with large trucks on their residential streets and the fact that the police department said our current ordinance is not enforceable. In other words, they can't issue tickets if they find somebody uh wandering through the the city without uh a new ordinance that basically designates where the routes are. Uh and so is it's a combination of lack of clarity in the existing ordinance plus uh complaints by uh the community and the fact that a lot of our our our residential streets are not designed to handle the weight of an 8,000 lb uh 16-wheel vehicle. And so it really damages our roadway when they come off and get into uh areas that are not designed to handle that kind of truck traffic and that kind of weight. So to provide clarity for the police department so that they know uh that they have the backing of a of a clear ordinance that designates truck routes uh and uh also the trucking industry because they uh they will get uh this will this will send notices to all the trucks that hey stay out of Sandy

Springs out of the neighborhoods because they know right now they don't have they they can operate with impunity uh in in our streets because they don't we don't have an enforceable ordinance. So, this is uh basically to tighten up our truck route uh ordinances and u make sure that they can only go on streets and roads other than local deliveries. As Kristen said, if they're delivering something to your house, uh they if they're starting there or if they're ending there, they can they can use these streets, but otherwise, if they're just transient truck traffic, they have to follow the truck routes or the police department can sight them for being off the truck routes. So that's the basic basic thrust. So with that, we'll open the floor for any conversations or questions.

All right, Miss Mueller.

So um I have quite a few questions. Uh but the first I think the administrative definitely if we can't I think you had on this slide we didn't have a good definition of a truck. I think that's great for starters. Um just a question. I'm more concerned about the uh the policy change. Um I'm Thank you, mayor, for the explanation. I didn't get that when I read the uh slides. So, if we were going to adopt the proposed map that's here today, that was today. What have we done as far as estimating the amount of trucks that would we would start to see legally, right? Assuming we have we get work out the enforcement on the roads because it's not I guess they could be everywhere today.

They can,

but now we're really making it official, they can be somewhere and they're already there because most of the truck traffic in Sandy Springs, I would argue outside of some of the calamities on 285 where someone might try to reride around that um have a reason to be there. Right. So the Coca-Cola bottling plant on Dumby Place is an example. So what we tried to really think about was these routes that connected to the state system and the the you know national highway system that would make sense for us um and not really trying to say you can drive your I think they're already there. Right. So there's truck traffic that um has to say serve uh destinations uh in the perimeter and they're using the local street network with or without a network. They have to they're coming off of 400 then they're getting on Aberdeenathy getting on perimeter center west getting on Hammond Drive. So, surprisingly, um, Dun Woody, I don't think has Hammond Drive identified as a truck route because that would seem like the section in perimeter would be a likely candidate there, but they don't have that.

So, why could we not just adopt what was on the very first slide without adding to it? We could. I think that's up to y'all if you think that that is sufficient and that everywhere else is restricted. I would argue though that the fact that we have some industrial uses off of Doney Place, we might want to look at that linkage back to 400 um from Roswell Road. But if that's considered a delivery, they are. So we wouldn't have to make a change for that because it is delivery and they right they originate there as well.

So what is the proposed cost to do a change like this? not the administrative but the signage and I think wear and tear on the road you know procedural well I think we looked at that too and that's we used the classification of the roads so Abernathy Johnson's ferry have built been built to a higher standard with a higher pavement depth you know deeper pavement depth um same with the place and Northridge these are all pretty major streets I the only one that is a bit of concern for me would be Mount Vernon and the reason we had that is because it does connect to Abernathy but also connects to our neighbors truck route. So,

and once it gets into Dunwood, it goes down to one lane, right? So, is that a concern that we might have stacked coming back to the perimeter because I don't think so. I mean I right now I know that occasionally um you know the commercial uses in Dunwhaty like the shopping um in Dunwhaty village you'll see an occasional Publix or Kroger truck and not many others. It doesn't really make it a a through route for trucks. I mean they don't really want to be there anyway. Yeah.

The only time we have Yeah. The only time we have a problem is when one of the other routes is clocked and then like every other person who doesn't want to sit on 285 and look at the tail lights in front of them uh and they got their own schedules. So they're looking for alternative routes to get around that. That is they don't prefer to use our streets. They prefer to stay on 285 400 and I would dare say even though Roswell Road is a truck route they they're not on that unless they have the local delivery. Uh but the problem is is we all know that with all the the uh navigation software that everybody accesses right now, they're going to take you they doesn't care whether you're a truck or a car or a bicycle. They're going to take you the most efficient way, which is often times through our neighborhoods. So, uh that's the challenge. They don't want to be they really don't want to use our streets unless [clears throat] there's a problem on the route that they're on. And then they they they all have uh they have a lot of federal restrictions. They can only drive a certain amount of time each day. They've got to get to certain points point. And so they're on schedules and they're trying to get make those schedules the best way they can. This just provides much more clarity. Uh, and this this information gets put into their navigation systems to say if you're getting off 400 or you're getting off 285, uh, you got to stay on these roads regardless of what the circumstances are. So, it helps the trucking companies understand they just can't willy-nilly come driving through Sandy Springs and and utilizing any route that their navigation software tells them is the most efficient way to get from point A to point B. So, this gets entered into all of those uh software programs ultimately and helps guide them around these these areas rather than just allowing them to come charging through Sandy Springs on any route that the navigation software

tells them they can take. And then these trucks are heavy. I mean, the cap right now is 88,000 lbs uh on the federal system, but in the state system, there are certain areas, not in our area, they can go up to 109,000 lb. And that's a lot of weight on I think our civil engineer down there will tell you that's a lot of weight for our city streets. They're not built to those standards. Uh even Johnson Ferry and these others are really not designed to handle that, but they're more they're more able to handle that kind of weight. And you also have to think about the safety of our citizens. Uh because it they have a long the more weight there is, the longer the stopping distance. That's just a matter of physics. So we're just trying to provide some some guard rails on truck traffic through our community.

Well, quite frankly, was there something in here where you said you were doing away with the times for delivery?

That's something that we could consider. Well, there needs to be a restriction on times. Like if you're they're coming in here at any time of the day or night, that leads more traffic. Uh I know that there are restrictions for trucks during rush hour like from 7 to 9 and from 4 to 6. The restrictions could be those hours from 9 to 4. That's the only time they would be able to deliver during the daytime hours. I don't think I'd have a problem with overnight delivery such as a lot of these uh grocery stores having their deliveries at nighttime. So, they really don't affect the neighborhoods too much. Well, in some areas you do. I mean, that's one of the reasons why it's 7 to 7 is because we had complaints earlier from neighborhoods about uh deliveries at all times of the day. these trucks have backup alarms and when they're backing in and you're trying to sleep, it gets there's a there's a conflict there. So, that's why the seven to seven uh for deliveries uh is is to make sure that there isn't any uh disturbance of the surrounding residential areas. And we do have some grocery stores and some other delivery areas where if they came in at 1 2:00 in the morning and made the delivery and they the backup alarms and then the slamming of the doors and the trucks creates a noise issue for the neighborhood. So that's why we've always had the 7 to 7 time frame, but that's up to council to make that decision.

So just a point of clarification because it is really specific language related to deliveries that are off of the truck route system. So it's under section 5832 um number one number three or subp part three. So it reads, "If a delivery or pickup is to be made by a truck, road tractor, combination road, tractor, trailer within any area that is not on a designated truck route, such delivery or pickup shall not be made between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. And what you know when I think about that in terms of an enforcement that means residentially or commercially if it's not on the recommended trout you know um any of the businesses in perimeter you at your house getting deliveries you at your house um moving you would also be restricted during those same times because they are not that's that's why it's a conversation point because it's a little unclear, but I understand the conflict with But if you are right now on State Route 9, you can make a delivery any time of day per ordinance.

Well, we know we don't have much control over state routes, but uh the uh the route for from Abernathy to Mount Vernon, I don't see where that's a problem if they go straight on out Abernathy and just eliminate that Mount Vernon part. I understand that from your telling us that done what he has designated Mount Vernon as a truck route, right? But we haven't designated that I know of. We have not. So that's what this is all about is if we would like to add it more conceivable to let them go on a fourlane road instead of a one lane road. We certainly can do that.

That's why we're having work session so you can hash these issues out. Mayor Paul, I had a couple questions. All right, Kristen. Kristen, thanks for all this information and uh concern about trucks is also something I've heard from district 5 related to trucks on High Point Road.

So, I have a couple questions for you about the ability for us to enforce this if it were to come to fruition. One, could you describe for us, if we know yet, what are the associated penalties if someone were to receive a citation? And then could you also address our ability to enforce this? Is this entirely upon residents to call into police or do we have any other mechanisms for trying to enforce this if something were to be put in place? So, talked to our city attorney. The penalties in this current section um they are enforced under section 1-10 which would be police and so their ability to enforce right now because there isn't a designated route system they really cannot enforce it probably would large I mean could talk to the chief but I think it's would largely be someone noting that there was truck traffic coming down their street. Well, the police department would know that

but they could this area is not designated for trucks and there's a truck on it. So, they can stop them and issue a citation. Uh, so the police department can do that. Uh, you can call 911, say there's a truck in, you know, on on the on my street. Uh, I don't think it belongs there. And the police will come out and investigate. Uh I'm not sure if code enforcement could get involved in it, but uh it would have to be you'd have to have a sworn officer issue a citation. I have a question on that. Wouldn't they have to have some sort of proof of delivery that they had to be there? Bill of lighting. That's so they would that would have to be put into the ordinance, wouldn't it? That they would have to

if they if they if they had a bill of lighting showing that they're going to a specific address then in Sandy Springs, then that would exempt them from the ordinance. That is some of the language that's already there, Councilman. Okay. Yeah, Dr. Kelly.

Thank you, Kristen. Um, I am read I'm reading Okay. A list. It says a list and map of approved truck routes are kept on file with the city police department and city clerk. The list of truck routes may be revised as deemed necessary by the city police department and with approval of the city council and the entire list requiring renewal by the city by annually. Um and all listed routes will be further identified by posted regulatory signs. How does that factor into the conversation we're having today? Because this says that there are truck routes and we have them somewhere. We do not.

Okay. So, that's section 58-33. Correct. That's why we're having this discussion tonight. So, even though that has been on the code book since at least I've been here in um at Sandy Springs, we've never really formally adopted routes outside the state network. Okay. Thanks. Any other discussion? All right, Kristen. Thank you. Thank you. We'll uh we'll look forward to additional feedback and uh if the council so uh chooses, we'll bring to you an ordinance uh for consideration at a upcoming meeting. Thanks so much.

Uh anything else the council would like to discuss during the work session? All right, then we'll uh end our work session and I would like to call this meeting of the Sandy Spring City Council to order for Tuesday, February the 3rd, 2026. Will the city clerk please make the announcements and call the role?

Good evening, mayor and council. Uh first, just a reminder to those in attendance to please silence all cell phones and other electronic devices at this time. Individuals who would like to provide a public comment at city council meetings are required to complete and submit those public comment cards in advance of the meetings. Those providing public comment public comments, excuse me, that may [clears throat] be allotted up to three minutes to be on their single chosen topic. As I call roll, please confirm your attendance. Mayor Rusty Paul, present. Council member John Paulson here. Council member Melody Kelly present. Council member Melissa Mueller here. Council member Frank Roberts here. Council member Mary Ford here. Council member Andrew Chensky here. Please join me for the ple pledge of allegiance. [clears throat]

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Madame Clerk, have we received any public comment cards? Yes, we've received two public comment cards this evening. The first is from Natalie Dansancy, who will be followed by Susan Keys. All right, Mr. Lansancy.

Good evening, mayor, council members, and city staff. My name is Natalie Delansancy and I am proud to serve as the executive director of City Springs Theater Company. Since our inception in 2018, CSTC has been a proud presenting partner of the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, helping bring to life Mayor Paul your vision of Sandy Springs as a city for the arts. From the beginning, CSTC has been good for the city and meaningful for Sandy Springs residents. Over the past eight seasons, CSTC has delivered a measurable and substantial public benefit to Sandy Springs, serving as a consistent economic engine. Our mainstage productions in the Buyers Theater have served more than 330,000 patrons, and our arts education initiatives have served 155,000 students across Georgia. In 2025 alone, we produced 81 performances enjoyed by more than 57,000 patrons. In eight seasons, CSTC has reached nearly half a million people through professional productions and arts education. It's all made possible through our partnership with the city of Sandy Springs. The economic impact of the work is clear. Our audiences create a full day and evening economy in Sandy Springs, dining locally, shopping nearby, and staying in city hotels. Local restaurants, including the select Brooklyn Cafe, Little Thai, and Bar have confirmed that on CSTC performance dates, reservations are full, staffing is at capacity, and revenues reflect our presence. Looking ahead, this impact continues to grow. This March, we will welcome 4,000 students at our come from away student matineese through our education contract with the city of Sandy Springs. Now, we understand that the city is evaluating potential changes to the presenting partnership program, including proposals that could reduce our access to the building and increase our costs. At the same time, we are

finalizing and budgeting our 9th season right now to be announced next Thursday. At this stage, material changes would significantly disrupt our season 9 plans and the economic activity our performances generate for the city. While we value this partnership, it must remain aligned with the scale and consistency of the impact CSTC delivers. As these discussions move forward, we respectfully request three things. First, that City Springs Theater Company have a seat at the table in these discussions, especially given our role as the pack's largest renter and most consistent driver of attendance. Second, that any proposed changes be fully reviewed and approved by the mayor and city council before implementation. And third, that any material changes be aligned with the impact we provide and phased in responsibly as CSTC cannot absorb sudden or disproportionate financial impacts while continuing to deliver this level of benefit to the city. On behalf of our founders, board members, staff, and donors seated behind me tonight and watching online. Thank you, Mayor Paul, and the city council for your service. We remain committed to a partnership that strengthens both City Springs Theater Company and our beloved city of Sandy Springs. Thank you very much. [applause] Since I couldn't stop it, I'm going to tell you now that we don't allow outbursts of enthusiasm for anybody or anything, including us. So, but All right. Go ahead, Mr. Cusack.

Mayor Paul and council members, my name is Susan Kac. I live at 6497 Cherry Tree Lane in the Mount Vernon Woods neighborhood just off Aber Abernathy Road. I'm here tonight to speak against making Abernathy Road a truck route as was proposed in the work session. I know you're just getting started on this, but I wanted to share some thoughts. Abernathy is how people in Mount Vernon Woods get to Roswell Road, Johnson Ferry, Georgia 400, and it's already very difficult to get out of the neighborhood in the morning when traffic is backed up from the Cobb County line towards Georgia 400. And in the afternoon, it backs up, of course, in the opposite direction. On top of that, we have been asking for simple improvements like do not block the box markings at our entrances so that we can safely get in and out. We don't we still don't have them. It's frustrating to hear talk of adding more truck traffic to Abernathy when basic lowcost measures to protect neighborhood access haven't been addressed. Sandy Springs already knows that Roswell Road and Abernathy Road, that intersection, is one of the city's most dangerous. Adding more trucks to that area, and this corridor is not going to make it any safer. Mount Vernon Woods is one of many communities that would be negative impacted. All along Abernay, you have single family neighborhoods, apartments, condos, town houses. We're talking thousands of people. You also have the Abernathy Greenway where families and children, seniors spend time outside. More trucks mean more noise, more air pollution, and a less safe and pleasant environment for everyone. I understand freight is important to the regional economy and that trucks need to move more move efficiently, but pushing more trucks onto an already congested residential corridor is not the right solution. It will make it harder and less safe for residents to get to work, school,

shopping, and appointments. It will degrade our quality of life. Please keep that in mind as you move forward on this issue. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Appreciate it. Any further? All right, we'll close the public comment period. Uh, is there a motion to approve the meeting agenda? Mayor Paul. Mr. Paulson. I move approval of the meeting agenda for Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026. We have a motion by Mr. Pollson. Is there a second? Second. A motion by Mr. Paulson and seconded by Mr. Roberts that we approve the meeting agenda. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, we'll call the question. The questions on the meeting agenda. All in favor of the motion say I. Opposed? No. The meeting agenda is approved. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? Mayor Paul.

Uh, Miss Mueller. I move that we approve the consent agenda for February 3rd, 2026. We have a motion by Miss Mueller. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by Miss Ford. Any discussion? Hearing none, we'll call the question. The question is on approval of the consent agenda. All in favor of the motion say I. I. Oppose. No. The consent agenda is approved. Moving to public hearings. The clerk will please read the first item. This is agenda item number 2026 029. Consideration of a resolution to approve a Metropolitan River Protection Act certificate for River Corridor Review RC2506S for 8935 River Landing presented by planning and zoning manager Michelle Macintosh Ross.

Miss Macintosh Ross. Yes. Thank you. And good evening, mayor and city council. For your consideration is the approval of a resolution to authorize a Metropolitan River Protection Act certificate for the property located within the Chattahuchi River Corridor area at 8935 Riverlanding Way. This is in um council district 2 and it's a single family u property just over um just a little bit over one acre in the Hunliff neighborhood. The applicant is proposing to construct a new twocar garage. The Atlanta Regional Commission has reviewed this application and found that the project is consistent with the Chattahuchi River Corridor Plan. And given this resol this um determination by the um ARC, city staff recommendation to the mayor and city council is to approve this resolution to authorize a Metropolitan River Protection Act certificate for the property located at 8935 River Landing Way.

Do we have any uh public comments? No. All right, we'll close the public comment period. You've heard the report of the planning and zoning manager. What's the desire of council? Mayor Paul. Uh Dr. Kelly, I move approval of agenda item 2026-029, approval of the Metropolitan River Protection Act, Certificate for River Corridor Review, RC-25-06SS, 48935 Riverlanding Way. We have a motion by Dr. Kelly. Is there a second? Second.

Seconded by Mr. Pollson. Uh, any discussion? Hearing none, we'll call the question. The questions on agenda item 202629, a resolution approving a Metropolitan River Protection Act certificate for River Quarter review of 8935 Riverlanding Way. All in favor of the motion say I. Opposed? No. Thank you. The item is approved. Moving to new business. The clerk will please read the first item.

This is agenda item number 202630, consideration of resolution [snorts] to appoint members to the Sandy Springs Planning Commission. This is presented by Mayor Rusty Paul. Uh we have a couple of uh uh people on the planning commission whose terms have uh have expired. One of which was Miss Andrea Settles who's here tonight and has done enormous work for us over the last what 12 14 16 years something like that. Uh and uh so nobody has done more work for this city than than Andrea. Uh but I think it's I've got we the city has needs of her talents in other areas and so uh I'm uh suggesting that or recommending that we approve Steve Leads uh who lives in the Arya subdivision as uh as Andrea's replacement and I'm also replacing or recommending we retain uh Elizabeth Kelly on the planning commission. So with that is there any is there a motion? Mayor Paul,

Miss Ford, I move to approve agenda item 2026-30, resolution to appoint members to the Sandy Springs Planning Commission, Steve Lees and Elizabeth Kelly. We have a motion by Miss Ford. Is there a second? Seconded by Mr. Roberts. Any discussion? Mr. Paulson. [snorts]

In the absence of discussion, I've got to make a couple of points. First off, Andrea has done a fantastic job. She's in my district and uh she's my confident and sometimes I'm her confident. So I know she's moving on to other things. I can't wait to see what you've got planned for her next. But I just want to say I appreciate all the work and effort that you put into this. Uh as they all do, she takes it seriously. Nobody in this community has done involved in more things than Andrea Settles. She sure is. She's involved in everything which is great. Yeah. And finally, Elizabeth Kelly. Uh I want to know what's going on in the city. goes Andrea. She knows more about it than most of the rest of us. Anyway, that's all I had.

All right. Any other discussion? Hearing none, we'll call the question. The questions on agenda item 2026 030, a resolution to appoint members of the Sandy Springs Planning Commission, Steve Leeds and Elizabeth Kelly. All in favor of the motion say I. I opposed. No. The item is approved. The clerk will please read the next item. This is agenda item number 2026 um 031. Consideration of a resolution to approve a change order to the existing purchase purchase order with complete demolition services LLC for the de excuse me for the addition of demolition services related to the Hammond Drive corridor widening project authorization and authorization for the same manager to execute the change order. This is presented by um director of facilities and capital construction Dave Wells.

Mr. Wells.

Evening mayor and council. In November of 2025, the city contracted Complete Demolition Services LLC for $199,000 to demolish six properties as part of the Hammond Drive widening S2 to 193 project. Since the contract was executed, the city has acquired one additional property along the Hammond Drive corridor located at 643 Laurel Terrace. The acquisition of this additional property requires demolition and site preparation services that were not included in the original contract scope. Change order number one provides the funding necessary to complete the additional work necessary to the existing contract with complete demolition services. The proposed increase of $39,900 will result in the total contract amount exceeding the $200,000 threshold requiring mayor and council approval. Staff recommends the mayor and city council approve the change order number one to increase the existing contract with complete demolition services LLC by $39,900.

You've heard the report of the director of facilities and capital construction and building operations. What's the desire of councel? Mayor Paul. Uh Mueller, I move that we approve agenda item 2026-031. Um, the approval of a resolution to approve a change order to the existing purchase order with complete demolition services LLC for the addition of demolition services related to the Hammond Drive corridor widening project and for the authorization for the city manager to execute the change order. We have a motion by Miss Mueller. Is there a second? I'll second. Seconded by Dr. Kelly. Any discussion? I I do. So Dave, why is this one a little higher than the average for the other ones? This has a speestous in it.

Okay. So, there is another situation amount of speesus removal that we have to do before we can tear it down. Okay. All right. Thank you. Yes. Any other discussion? Well, that's Mr. Roberts. That's $6,700 of special asbests removal. Is that what it's for? The extra money? Yes. There was no asbesus in the other buildings that there's there's different levels of asbesus. What we do is we go in and do a phase one, phase two. The phase two, they take samples throughout the whole house, the HVAC, duct work, the tiling. Most of these homes are from the 60s. Uh, and they they a lot of them hold a substantial amount of suspices inside them.

Okay. I'm just I'm not sure I can vote on something that's costing us over $6,700 extra from what it cost us to demolish the other six. It was around 33,000 each for the other six and now you bumped it up to 399. It's because they asked best.

Well, the engineers go in and they do a full report and with that report then the contractor will know how much aspesus is in there so that I I can I we can we can I can show you the report. Uh, [clears throat] I just don't like the idea of spending $6,700 above what we paid for the others to be demolished. That just rubs me the wrong way. It seems like we're spending a little bit too much money for that. But that's just my opinion. I don't like to see the taxpayers spending extra money for something that they don't necessarily have to. I'm done.

Any other discussion? All right. Hearing none, we'll call the question. The questions on agenda item 202631, a resolution to approve a change order of the existing purchase order with complete demolition services for the addition of demolition services related to Hammond Drive quarter widening project and authorizing the city manager to execute the change order. All in favor of the motion say I. I oppose. No. No. The item is approved. The clerk will please read the next item.

This is agenda item number 202632. Consideration of a resolution to approve supplemental agreement number 20. That's amendment number one with the Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. to extend construction engineering and inspection services for the Johnson's Fairy Road and Mount Vernon Highway inspection improvements project, that's TS191, and the Mount Vernon Highway Corridor improvements project, that's TS192, and to authorize the city manager to execute the revised contract documents. This is presented by public works director Marty Martin. Mr. Martin,

mayor and council, good evening. Tonight I bring to you uh supplemental agreement uh number 20 amendment number one with Jacob's Engineering. In this case uh to extend the construction engineering and inspection support to both projects TS 191 that's the Mount Vernon Highway Roswell Road Johnson Ferry intersection improvement project and TS 192 the Mount Vernon Highway corridor improvement project. Collectively those two projects total some $27 million in active construction work. Uh the city did enter into a contract or into this phase of work with Jacob's Engineering uh to provide constructions engineering and inspection services for both projects. Uh and on February 25th, 2024, council approved an amendment to the contract in the amount of $996,660 at that time for a 2-year overlapping construction uh duration between the two projects. one starting slightly about two months ahead of the other project in terms of notice to proceed in con contractor activity. As we uh are here tonight, uh we've added some 100, excuse me, 94, not quite 100, 94 calendar days of contract time to TS 191 for a variety of reasons, primarily due to conflicts and delays in utility coordination and plan adjustments where uh again back to utilities, we had to make some significant water improvements on the project not uh accurately identified uh between the designer and city of Atlanta wershed. Uh initially with those additional four months of uh time uh we now seek those additional services from Jacobs to cover that extended construction duration. Uh plus we had the overlap with TS 192. Uh so in effect

with this proposed change order tonight with in front of you, we add uh 2 months of what I'll call cushion that uh would be in existence on TS192. We do not foresee currently an extension in time for TS192, the Mount Vernon Highway quarter project. However, the contractor or the consultant in this case, Jacobs Engineering, wouldn't bill those hours for TS192 if the need did not if we don't have time changes between now and the estimated completion sometime April May of this year. So, with that said, uh we recommend that uh we approve this uh contract extension with Jacobs in the amount uh excuse me, in the total amount of $170,885.88 88 Cent uh split between the two projects TS 191 and TS 192 to cover uh additional CI services uh for the duration of construction for both projects.

All right, you've heard the report of the uh director of public works. What's the desire of council? Mayor Paul, Miss Mueller, move that we approve agenda item 2026-032 for a resolution to approve supplemental agreement number 20, amendment number one with Jacob Jacobs Engineering Group Incorporated to extend construction, engineering, and inspection services for the Johnson Ferry Road at Mount Vernon Highway intersection improvements projects, TS 191, and the Mount Vernon Highway corridor improvements projects, TS 192, and authorize the city manager to execute the revised contract documents. Have a motion by Miss Mueller. Is there a second? A second.

Motion by Miss Mueller, seconded by Dr. Kelly, that we approve agenda item 2026032, a supplemental agreement number 20 with Jacob's Engineering to extend construction engineering and inspection services for Johnson Ferry, Mount Vernon, uh, and Mount Vernon quarter improvements. Any discussion? Any questions, Miss Mueller? Um so Marty my understanding is when the projects complete let's say April Mayish uh but then the final plannings and so forth the landscaping won't be complete till after the hot summer in the fall planning season correct. So will we do that and monitor that on our own or will we then be using any hours from this extension for that

the for the install the planning installation we have uh other resources in-house resources available to inspect and accept for those planning resources. So, this is for what I'll term the heavy lifting associated with engineering and inspection services, daily contractor observations, and there's a lot of different subcontractors, etc. on the project. Uh, signs of uh notifications the construction manager of any uh un unforeseen uh conditions. uh daily recordkeeping which is extremely important in this to ensure oversight of material testing engineers logs maintenance etc so that we have a complete contract record of the roadway that we've installed important warranties inspections at etc the planning's uh by contrast we looked at in-house resources to do that those inspections augmented by public works staff as needed to support that

and and just a question on the final grade. I know it's kind of it's related um when will the final grade be placed on the roads because right now there's like about a 2-in gap before the storm sewers kick in. So even if you look at Aunt Johnson Ferry as you're traveling westbound from uh Veterans Park, right? So past like u on the back side of the library, right? So you still even though we have new pavement, you still have that gap. So will we be getting pavement so that everything's flushed for the storm sewers to work properly?

So ultimately you you build on binder and then top the roadway so that you have that clean un blemished surface when the construction projects ultimately complete. The most significant grade differences you'll see on roadway surface compared to say shoulder work that's out there now, a curb and gutter, those kinds of things are going to be on Mount Vernon corridor where we're changing roadway grade significantly in some places. Uh uh as we speak, there's a significant amount of what's termed leveling taking place on Mount Vernon corridor to bring up the roadway to just below that final pavement thickness out there and then ultimately topping and complete the roadway. Uh as we complete the other shoulder work specifically, we've got a good bit of utility work right at Mount Vernon Johnson Ferry underway right now. That's the aerial to underground conversion work still taking place. as those that work is completed, then we can finally get the surface adjustments at the curb line to to get the final grade. So, that's going to be closer to the end of the project, unfortunately, by virtue of wrapping up that utility work and then getting the surface work done after the fact.

And Jacobs will be looking at that as they'll be monitoring that throughout. Yes, ma'am. Okay. Thank you. And isn't it also when you put that final layer of asphalt on top, you wait until toward the end of the project so you don't the construction activity to damage that roadway. And that that's my hope, mayor. So I I try never to even with our simple storm water projects, [snorts] whatever, we try to vet as we look for any paving projects in the in the area that we only go out to that roadway once if we can help it. The only thing that concerned me in your presentation was this Mayish thing. Uh, I've been assured by the city manager on numerous occasions that we're going to be finished in April. So, I'm sure that she's going to be talking to you about this Mayish thing.

We talk about it daily. We do. We do. And just let's get this thing up. And then we we share with our best friends. Hey, here's what we'd like. Let's go. So, so we've got plenty of friends on this project right now. All right. So, but any further discussion? Hearing none, we'll call the question. The questions on agenda item 2026 032, a resolution approving supplemental agreement number 20, amendment number one with Jacobs Engineering to extend construction engineering and inspection services for Johnson Ferry Road and Mount Vernon Highway intersection improvements and the Mount Vernon Highway quarter improvements and authorizing city manager to execute the revised contracts. All in favor of the motion say I.

I oppose. No. The item is approved. The clerk will please read the next item. This is agenda item number 202633. Consideration of a resolution to approve a master agreement and a project agreement with PATH Foundation, Inc. for design and construction management services related to the Sandy Springway Trail Network and Springway Trail Segment 2C [clears throat] and to authorize the city manager to execute the agreements. This is presented by recreation and parks director Brent Walker.

Mr. Walker, evening, mayor and council. The city of Sandy Springs has had a beneficial partnership with the Path Foundation for over the past five years. City council approved a trail master plan that was led by PATH in October of 2019 and then subsequently approved a 5-year master agreement in February of 2020 and then a project specific agreement that following November to begin design and construction on section 2A of the springway. In order to continue the implementation of the springway, staff has developed a new master agreement and a project specific agreement for the construction of the next segment 2C of the springway. The GRA, excuse [clears throat] me, the master agreement does not obligate the city to use PATH for future projects, but it does allow PATH to suggest potential projects and provide expertise and guidance for land acquisition and funding sources to complete them. The project specific agreement spells out the scope of work for the design of Springway segment 2C. Their scope of service will include design development, construction documents, bid assistance, construction administration, and construction management. Total service fees for the segment 2C are $37,225. There are adequate budget funds available in the described design services in the project in P2501. Also, as part of the partnership with the city, PATH Foundation has committed a million dollars toward the construction cost of the project and has offered to provide construct construction management services at no cost to the city at a value of $544,680. Pellegrini with path the path project manager is also here to answer any questions you may have about this agreement and we request that you approve the master agreement and the project specific agreement for Springway 2C. All right. You've heard the report of the director of recreation and parks. What's the desire of counsel?

Mayor Paul, Dr. Kelly, I move approval of agenda item 2026-033, approval of a master agreement and project agreement with PATH foundation for design and construction management services related to the Sandy Springs uh Springway Trail Network and Springway Trail segment 2C and to authorize the city manager to execute the agreement. Have a motion by Dr. Kelly. Is there a second?

Second. Seconded by Mr. Pollison that we approve agenda item 202633 a resolution approving a master agreement project agreement of path foundation for design construction management services related to Sandy Springway trail network and springway trail segments 2C. Uh any discussion Dr. Kelly? Hey thank you for the presentation. Um will um what what's the status of of the of this trail right now? is in design or pre

preliminary design. So we have met uh with some of the neighborhoods uh in Grogan's Ferry and discuss the route. Um we have some preliminary centerline work based on our GIS and topography that just field work. Um, we have walked it with the survey crew and flagged the potential center line for them to start the survey work, which is kind of the first step in that engineering process before they take it back to the um to the office and start that design process. Um, but that's where we are right now in that preliminary design portion.

Okay. Um, h how have we um where are we as far as reconciling the the concerns of the Grogens Bluff neighborhood? We're in a good spot. We've met with them a couple of times. Uh we've met with the property owners that abut uh the property where the trail will come through along the creek behind their homes and talked with them individually and talked about um the possibility of helping create buffers and fencing and uh and engaging them in the design process. Um Mr. Pelgrini has also been with us at those meetings and we have uh promised to when we get to a 30% uh design set is come back to the neighborhood have another meeting with them and go through the construction documents at that 30% set.

Okay. Okay. Cuz I So my understanding is you know they have general kind of public safety concerns specifically those parcels that are uh going to be right at the trail. There's also some challenges. Um there's a concern with the the trail head location being so close to their clubhouse and the impact that may have on parking in their uh at their clubhouse. Um assuming that the trail is actually attractive or has a demand. Um there's also a and this isn't specifically a parks and recreation issue, but uh also near the trail head section where people would either either get on the trail or come come off of it, there's a a traffic safety hazard and that there's a a big kind of structure in the rightway um that that really does block line of sight. So, that's a separate issue that we've had some conversations with public works about, but that's just I could just see the convergence of all the of all of this. Um, and then I also like to uplift the the need for um sidewalks on a deer lane too. That also that should also be a part a consideration for this as well. So, [clears throat] I'll just continue to keep an eye on those on those issues as you uh as you all move forward.

Sure. with the project. Mr. Paulson. Thank you, mayor. Thank you, Brent. Two questions. One, so the city's commitment to this is the $37,225, right? Yes, sir. Okay. Uh and then the other question I've got is during this layout, uh are you engaging or at least selectively engaging a geotech to start looking at sub some of the subsurface conditions so we we know what we're going getting into as we go forward? Absolutely. Is this about lessons learned? [clears throat] Yes, sir. Yes, sir. We We check stripes. We just checking stripes. All right. Thank you. Any other discussion? Mr. Chinsky.

Uh piggybacking on Mr. Pollson's question. So, the total cost now is 307,225. Looking at the full budget at the end of the exhibit packet, um it's about 14.5 million. Aside from the million dollars that PATH Foundation is contributing, is it expected that the city is going to bear the rest of the roughly $13.5 million cost for this?

So, we have uh we also have a $30,000 commitment from the conservancy. Uh we have applied for a GOUP grant for $3 million. So, if we received that, it would it would go into that uh construction cost. Uh and then the rest of it would be borne by the city. Currently, we have $5 million in our trail fund uh that is already budgeted for it. So, we would just need to make up the difference. And because this is a trail versus a sidewalk, this is budgeted and scored differently than the sidewalk scoring matrix. This is not part of the the broader. Is that correct? Correct. Thanks.

Any others? Because Dr. Kelly and just because um this is probably my first time complaining about this since you've been on council. So just allow me real quick. So yeah, at the same section of land there is need for a sidewalk so people can get to martyr stops, so they can get to Roswell Road, so they can get to all the amenities on Morgan Falls. So yeah, I'm I'm going to always advocate for, you know, before we build a what did you say? $14 million trail that we look, you know, we make sure we have those sidewalks um in Q. Yep.

Any other discussion? Hearing none, we'll call the question. [clears throat] The questions on agenda item 202633, resolution to approve master agreement and project agreement with path foundation for design construction management services related to Sandy Springway Trail Network and Springway Trail Segment 2C. All in favor of the motion say I. I post oppos. No. The item is approved. The clerk will please read the next item.

This is agenda item number [snorts] 2026 034. Consideration of a resolution to approve the appropriation of certain property rights and interests located at 6036 Kron Drive, Sandy Springs, Georgia. That's Fton County Tax ID 17713036 through the use of eminent domain as it relates to the Hammond Drive widening project. And that's project number S2193. presented by city attorney Dan Lee. Mr. Lee,

mayor count council, as you're aware, the city has been working for a few years now on the acquisition of the property that would make it uh possible to widen Hammond Drive. This property that I bring to you tonight is is an intricate part of that is a partial taking of the inter at the intersection of Kron and and Hammond. the uh city and staff has been working diligently to try and negotiate the purchase of the property and we have reached a a um a huge impass. The appraised value of the property you see highlighted up here which is the yellow is a is the property actually needed for the turning lane off Kron and then the green would is the temporary construction easement that would be used temporarily and then returned to the property owner. And the the uh magenta color is the uh driveway improvement which remains with the property owner but is uh improved by the city to make the the existing driveway or the future driveway match the grade of the uh new road project. In all, the city needs 2665 square feet in the yellow and 145 feet in the green. In total, that our appraiser says that's $157,000 worth of property, which includes a major landscaping project to uh restore the property left behind. The property owner is demanding $400,000. As you can see, we are uh way beneath the demand of the property owner. staff tells me that this is an intricate part of the project and that we must move now to uh get control of it. We'd ask you to authorize the use of imminent domain.

You've heard the report of the city attorney. What's the desire of council? Mayor Paul, Miss Mueller, I move that we approve agenda 9 2026-034 for the resolution to approve the appropriation of certain property rights and interests located at 6036 Kron Drive, Sandy Springs, Holton County, Georgia. Tax ID 17-071-03-033-6 through the use of eminent domain as it relates to the Hammond Drive widening project number S2193. We have a motion by Miss Mueller. Is there a second? I'll second.

Motion by Miss Mueller, seconded by Dr. Kelly that we approve agenda item 202634 resolution approving the appropriation of certain property rights and interest located at 6036 Kron Drive uh for the through the use of imminent domain as it relates to the Hammond Drive widening project. Any discussion, Miss Mueller? So Dan, are we actually moving the uh location of the driveway? Is the driveway staying where it is? Is it moving to the I couldn't tell if it's moving to the right or if it's staying where it is. Um, I don't know the answer to that question. It the obviously we're moving it um that would be east because we're taking the property where it enters the current right of way

where the yellow area is. And moving it back, but I don't think it's being moved east or north or south. Okay. And then when with the valuation from the property owner did that were they asking for cost to cure as part of that is that I mean I guess where did why what are they asking for? Is it just a dollar amount or are there different elements that make up that um gap?

The basis for their claim is that the the city purchased a property [clears throat] uh just uh three addresses away from this property. that property was valued at about three times the value of this property. So they have conflated, if I can use that word, taking all the the cost to cure in that project, the cost of the temporary easement and the cost of the permanent easement, adding those costs together and dividing it by square footage and multiplying that square footage, which is about $120 a square foot, when in reality our price here is $27 a square foot, which is what we have paid throughout this project. Um, with all due respect, I think it's a it's a mechanism used by plaintist lawyers to produce a larger number. Um, the only offolor parts of this taking would be the fact that we're taking 13% of the property and leaving, help me with the math, 87% of the land there. So, it it is u per capita. It's a it's a big taking of the property, but the numbers match up to what our appraiser has issued

and it's consistent with the other properties that dollar the square foot dollar amount. It is it's actually consistent with the taking numbers of the property that they've used as an example. They just included all the all the cost to cure and all the um uh consequential damage involved in it. I would point out to you, Councilman, that uh in this property, in addition to this money, part of this $157,000, 60 uh73,00074,000 of it is cost of cure to improve the property that is left behind. Okay, thank you. I don't have any more questions,

Mr. Pollson. Thank you, Mayor Dan. As you're well aware, eminent domain is something we take pretty seriously. So, I guess the question is, how long has the city been negotiating with these folks to get to the point where we're we're stuck? I mean, how many months have we been talking to these folks? A long more than a year. And and as this process works out, the designer has a team that talks to the property owner. Eventually, somebody with the city talks to the property owner. This property owner gained a lawyer immediately, a well-known uh condemnation defense lawyer, and they've been involved in it for a long time. Okay. About a year, more than a year,

more uh we've been dealing with this lawyer probably at least a year. Uh, I would I would add to the story just for full disclosure. Unfortunately, this same family had a house on Johnson Ferry Road that lost a piece of its property to the Johnson Ferry project just as a coincidence. Any other discussion? Hearing none, we'll call the question back the right page. The question is on uh agenda item 202634, a resolution approving the appropriation of certain property rights and interest located at 6036 Kron Drive uh in Sandy Springs, Georgia through the use of eminent domain as it relates to Hammond Drive. All in favor of the motion say I.

I. I.

Opposed? No. The item is approved. Moving to mayor and council reports. Well, not a lot for me. Uh, I think several of us attended the new sign unveiling for the new Tibby de Julio Park at Windsor Meadows, which was uh, it was a rather cool day, but uh, I think it was very well attended by the neighbors and by a lot of Tibby's former uh, constituents and many of us were there as well. And uh, so I I think uh, our former colleague was very well honored and impressed by uh, by the result. beautiful sign. Uh, and that park, if you haven't been over there, is really just a lovely jewel in our city. Uh, I've spent the last week in Washington DC as part of the US Conference of Mayors. I uh [clears throat] tend to go to one meeting a year. Uh, and the winter meeting of the Conference of Mayors is always very uh enlightening. I mean, it's an opportunity to hear what other cities are doing, hear, learn, and and pick up things. I always come back with a list of uh things that I want to take up with the city manager. And then in my own inimicable technologically challenged way, I deleted my list. But the city manager came to my rescue and showed me how to recover my list. And so I have my list now. Uh and once I once I reviewed the list, it really didn't entail as much work for her as it does for me. So I wish I'd left it deleted. But uh anyway, it was a very useful conference. Uh I had a lot of great conversations uh some of them with local mayors uh that we'll have some opportunity to review a little bit later. Uh but also just a real opportunity um in the area of AI per I found out that we're not the only city in America who has permitting issues. Where's Ginger? She's over there somewhere. Uh in fact it's fairly universal. Everybody has the same set of

complaints that we complain about. So uh you know and I was looking around for a brilliant solution and nobody had one. So uh but they are making progress through AI and other things. There was but it was a very good I think it was one of the better meetings that I've attended uh where I got a lot out of it was able to get a lot of information talking to other mayors and other city officials and other experts uh in various fields and so I'll be sharing some of that as we go through time. That's it for me. Anybody else? Mr. Pollson then Mr. and Mr. Chinsky.

Thank you, Mayor. So, last weekend was a cold, nasty weekend and the question of warming centers came up and uh city manager, you and I had emails back and forth. [clears throat] I I never got got my arms around what was available, what what other areas besides city hall were available. City Hall was open during the day, but we were closed at night. And but I never did see a list of other warming centers in Sandy Springs. Did you wind up finding any others? And if so, and for the next time we get cold, which hopefully doesn't happen this year, but if it does, where would a citizen go if they want to find out where a warming center might be available for themselves or for like if your power runs out, where do you go? Where do we have a list like that available? Where do you put it available for the community?

So, when we have winter weather or any severe weather, we always post that as a live new button on the website and it's typically in bright red. So if it's an emerent need for someone, they can click on that link on the website and figure out where they need to go. The lobby of police headquarters and the community room is always available 24/7. It is not configured for sleeping. We do not have an overnight shelter option. That is something that fire department through emergency management and William Westbrook is working on solidifying some relationships with community partners to put in place. I did reach out to the county manager to request that they allow us to operate the Darthy Benson Center that they open it for us and the answer was no. So that would not be an option for us to be able to do that even if we were staffing it. And of course the lobby of City Hall is always available every day as a warming location or a cooling location, but again it is not configured nor appropriate for sleeping for for overnight. And as you mentioned, where would you go if you lose power? I was one of the ones who lost power for seven and a half hours the weekend of ice and almost five hours this past Saturday. And [snorts and clears throat] honestly, it was more comfortable for me to stay at home. But if we got to the point that we needed to find some other type of housing, we do have partnerships with local hotels that we can get at free or reduced rate for someone so that they could have somewhere to go and be safe. We're not going to allow anyone to be in a dangerous situation.

Okay. So, the red the red flashing button on the city website's the place to go. Yes, sir. And are there any other churches or other institutions that open themselves up for warming centers when this happens? Not that they advertise. Those are some relationships that we are working to strengthen so that we'll be able to advertise that. But that's a very common concern and we're again working and be able to talk more about that as we bring forward the updated emergency operations plan, continuity of operations plan and threat assessment later this year.

All right. Thank you. Well, one of the interesting things was uh this latest uh spell of cold weather coincided with the national uh survey of unsheltered people. And so we had just completed that in Sandy Springs through Fulton County working with the county. They do is it an annual census? It is the point in time count

and uh that's something an annual so we knew where our unsheltered individuals were. police department does a great job of going out and engaging them, offering them help uh and options to uh come in out of the cold. Uh not surprising to me from somebody who spent time working with the homeless in a previous life. Uh they're more comfortable being where they are than they are going into into shelters or even into hotel rooms. They uh I think I can I think chief they uh universally said no when we asked them if they needed help getting to some other you know warmer location. So uh it's not we do go out and are proactive in contacting those people that are are uh are unsheltered and uh because of the count we had a pretty good idea of how many and where. So uh

we had eight eight. So, all right. Any others? Uh, Miss Mueller and then Mr. Chinsky.

On uh the 21st, we opened Verd Park. So, that's a great little pocket parks that was a remnant. Uh, Johnson Ferry and Abernathy Road. If you haven't gone over there, check it out. Adding park space is always uh great, no matter how small. Uh, improves quality of life. And I know the families around there were very excited to have that completed. Uh on January 28th um myself and Mr. Pollson who is representing the mayor uh Una Solutions moved their cor uh US headquarters here to um Sandy Springs. So they opened up their offices. So that was uh it's good to see companies moving here and investing in our community. And then on Friday I participated with um Mi um Miss Ford at the legislative Shabbat. So this is the fourth annual one from um Esther Panic uh who is the representative that uh from Dunwy. So thank you to her for setting that up. That was up in Roswell. That's always great to get out and um and attend that very welcoming and thoughtful um service and reception. And then I spoke to the Rotary Club yesterday and that's always a great conversation speaking to the Rotarians and I really appreciate their civic leadership and service to the community.

Mr. Chinsky,

let's mention Representative Panic is a Sandy Springs resident actually in John's district. So, uh, yeah, we can we can we can claim her. Um, so I had the opportunity the last couple weeks to meet with various administrator, teacher, parent groups, uh, school governance council at Herz Ferry Elementary and Riverwood and Holy Innocent School. And nothing necessarily ripe for council discussion, but I just want to share a general sense of excitement to get to work with the city. Um, I know that the previous council was very involved in supporting the Spalding community and those parents and I think we have a real opportunity to broaden our engagement across our schools. Um, so stay tuned, I guess, and if if anyone would like to help push this effort, I would love to talk to you more offline, but I think it's I think it's a real opportunity for us to help even though we don't control what happens within the schools obviously Fulton County, but we can still uh be good partners.

Anybody else? All right. Uh, Mr. Attorney, is there any reason for an executive session tonight? I don't. All right. All right, then. Uh, Mr. Pollson, I'll entertain a motion. Any staff reports, Mayor? Well, have any?

The only thing that I would add, Mayor, is sincere thanks to all of our public works teams, our parks and recck teams, our police, our fire, our snow and ice emergency response team. It was a very hectic two weekends and I realized we didn't see a lot of accumulation [snorts] here, but there was a lot of work that went behind the scenes to making sure that we were ready should that hit and we were fortunate at the end of the day that it didn't hit. So, my sincere thanks to all of them for all their hard work and protecting us. Great. Good job. Yes, as always. Yes. Mayor Pauly move adjournment. Mr. Pollson moves adjournment. Is there a second? Motion in a second by Mr. Roberts. Uh all in favor of the motion say I

oppose. No. We are adjourned.