City Council - Regular Meeting

is our work session and we're going to take a look at the uh fire stations one and four. Chief Sanders,

mayor and council, I have with me tonight um Chris Codddle from with Hussy Gay Bell. He's lead architect uh on these projects as well as John Pickkins who is uh the engineer with and also Sean's not here but Sean Nicks is also on the team. They're doing a fine job for us. So, I was so excited to share with you station 4. Uh, this is a 3D walk through and if you want to go ahead and start playing the video. Uh, we'll go through it. That's Chief Dimone on the motorcycle getting fuel in the back. [laughter] And mayor, I'd asked them to uh make sure you were out front here, but they forgot to put hair, so I guess it's me. But if you have any questions, we're going through I'm not going to stop the video because it's uh it's around 10 minute, but also go through the station as well. It will it will go upstairs. I mean go in the back to the logistics building and share share you what that will look like. [snorts] This is the foyer. What's really remarkable about this this walkth through, it really gives us the ability. This right here will be a uh a lounge room where the guys can want to stay downstairs during the day. It really help with response time. they they can come here in the during the daytime and uh it's closer to the trucks versus having to come down uh the steps or the fire pole. This is going into the in that room you just there was in uh also that's where the elevator and the

bathroom is. This is the uh bay where the apparatus will be sitting. There's other rooms off the side on the on the far left side as you're approaching this door is where the hot room is where they do all the cleaning. This is the uh physical agility room. There's also going to be some turf out there. They use sleds. We'll also use this area for our uh annual fitness uh parts of the fitness exam. And what I really like about this technology is we can actually go through each room once Chris gives us the direction [clears throat] to do uh to go through and start evaluating each room to make sure that the outlets are correct. Uh that all the features that we intended to have in each room are in the correct location. It really gives them an opportunity to make those adjustments should they need uh need to be made. As I shared with you, you know, it's a two-story fire station, so their station life will be up the top here. This is also on the left hand corner. This is where the elevator comes up on the right. And then [clears throat] on the left side, you'll see a classroom, which is also a conference room that'll be shared and open to the public should they want to hold meetings. in the facility. And this will be a training classroom as well for personnel.

Now they're going to go into the uh the locker room. This is a a joint locker room. uh we where they will be able to wash their uniforms as well as their bed lining here. And we've got five individual bathrooms with showers in there. Instead of having a group shower setting like we did at station two, we're actually doing individual uh shower and bathrooms in in this station. This goes into the day room. This is where uh they'll be able to We got these touchdown stations uh through throughout the building where they can do their training and uh computer and and report work. And to the left hand side, you're going down to the back. That's where Bellinis is the uh building sits today. This the kitchen. And for those that are new to council, there's three uh each shift has its own refrigerator. That's very important. Own pantry. you don't mess with the other crews food. So, we make sure that they have individual refrigerators for their shifts. And this is outside where they can do the grilling. That building in the distance there is the logistics building which will be in the back of the facility uh back of the property.

Chris, you have anything you like to add with it? One thing that we've tried to do is put a windows at the end of hallways uh to get daylighting inside the station. Helps a lot with our quality of life. so you're not looking in a dark hallway. Um, this will be state-of-the-art in terms of safety for the firefighters, health and safety, the ventilation system, the hot zone, and keeping separate from the exhaust and the fumes and the con contaminants. Also has the alerting system so it they don't have to wake up the whole firehouse. The only ones that will get awoken up at night for a call is who needs to be on that call. Um the lights dim up slowly so they don't have shock in their eyes. All these things contribute to the a welfare [clears throat] of those that will serve here. It's not a Taj Mahal by any means, but it is a a quality facility for those that are going to live and work there. Uh, one of the ideas that Chief had in in the locker room, I thought this was great. They can come in for shift change and not have to wake somebody up. if they want to go work out, they can go put their stuff in the locker room and not disturb anybody else. Um, I think that's a a vast improvement over what we did at 21 and five. Um, and if there's anything else y'all would like to know more about, we're happy to

help how we can.

Thank you. So, this is approaching the logistics building here. Uh, I don't know if you've seen that property there, but behind this building is is a protected area. It has five small streams in there. I made the commitment to the community that we would not uh encroach into that area. And we are uh uh we've designed it to where we're not in that area. And there's also u water retention behind this building here uh to manage the water uh that will accumulate on this property. This is uh the logistics building would house classrooms. Uh we will not have any live burn, live fire training on this site, but they will have classroom here in in the facility. There's two classrooms. This will also be a warming center during the winter if we have to uh uh house people that are homeless. And if we ever have emergency event where we need someone place to people to stay overnight, they'll be able to stay there. What you just saw in that room is our logistics area. We will have racks there. We uh keep quite a bit of supplies on similar racks down at the basement of station 4. And then this area here, we will store uh some of our rest our reserved fire apparatus, but we'll also do uh oil changes here. We have a mechanic that uh we uh a third party vendor that comes in and does the um oil changes. And if they have to uh replace a tire, I mean replace brakes, they'll do it inside that facility. No major maintenance will go on in that facility, but it'll be light maintenance uh that we're now having to uh do at other locations. It'll really save the city um a lot of money be having to do that. So that's it. That's the facility. That's the um uh site plan. U one will kind of look similar to that. uh the the foyer area, the glass area will change, the elevation of the roof line will

change, and we'll bring that to you uh in the next two to three months. My plan moving forward here now that you have seen this tonight, um and I'll entertain your questions you may have on it, but I plan to meet now with the neighbors in that area. Uh Dan Coffer is going to schedule a meeting. He's going to work with the church over there where High Point Civic Association meets. And then I've made a commitment to uh Mr. Newberry there in the in the community that we'll come over. He wants us to come and have a backyard cookout and share with them. So, whatever we got to do to help them and and make sure give them the peace of mind that we're very sensitive to what their concerns are and we'll we're we're committed to working well with them. Uh and I believe they'll be very [snorts] excited once they see the station and what we're what we're going to put there. Any questions?

Mr. policy. Yes, sir. Tell me about the men and women firefighters and how is there a separate locker room for the men and the women? How do you how do you

So, so the the the one big locker room is for male or female. The individual restrooms is where they would [snorts] there's separate one and then they have their separate dorms. There's three separate lockers in there as well if they want to put their personal items in there. Uh biggest thing firefighters they used to take their uniforms home because of the bloodborne pathogens and all the concerns. They don't want to take it home to their kids. So they keep all their uniforms in that big locker room that you saw as well as uh their their workout gear and that kind of uh equipment will stay in that big locker room. And then the individuals where where whichever dorm they have, they'll have an individual locker there which gives them more privacy. Any other questions?

Yeah, Chief Sanders, I have a few questions. Um, at one point we thought that we heard that there was going to be a police precinct as part of this.

It was our goal to put um a small police precinct there, but the funds are just not allowing us to do that. Um, it was going to be an addition to the front side of that building, but it's just it's not possible. Now, we'll have a a a single uh gas pump there and a diesel fuel pump there for the trucks and then police can come in in the back there. There'll be a gate there on that driveway and then they'll have code access to go into the back and and and to utilize that. But no, there there will not be the police officers, Chief D. Simone, the police officers are welcome anytime in the fire station.

They're welcome to be there. It's a city building. Is that because they won't be seen otherwise? No, they'll come in at night to wake those guys up. That's what they'll do. Ch mayor. Okay, a couple other questions. And I think I heard you say that both the main building and the logistics building have classrooms that the public can utilize. That's correct. Okay. They will be accessible. Great. Um and then can you describe what's happening behind the logistics building? Yeah, John designed the the water retention. So, this is John Pickkins. John,

how you doing? So, behind the logistics building is basically the topography drops off. Hold on just a second. Is this is that mic on? Sorry. Closer if you would. Thank you.

Um behind the uh logistics building the topography drops off sharply. drops off about 30 feet and then there's a river or a creek down in that draw. But in between the the river and the um and the back of the logistics building will be our storm water management and that's where we uh mitigate the rate of runoff from from the property. So, uh there's also water quality requirements where you have to capture the first bit of water and treat it to remove um particulates from it. So, it's it's a lot of ponds basically is what it looks like.

Well, I expect that uh the feedback from the neighbors is going to be to save as many trees as possible. That's We're not touch We're not touching any of those trees that are in the back back there. That's right. That That's all protected by state water buffers. Okay. So, we're not allowed to go back in there. Yeah. They I I don't think you've shown that video to the public yet. You You folks were the first. Now, we will share it with I don't know if you want to throw a couple trees in there so it doesn't look So, [laughter]

we will. This is This is conceptual. This is and and and we will have final renderings of what that will look like and and and I can commit to you that we will have plenty of landscape that will be there to protect that area. Thank you. You have my word on that.

Okay. Last question. The um fire personnel who are at the current station, do they get any um say and were they interviewed? Have they seen this? What do they think about it? I have I have met with on on a number of occasions allowed them to put together list. Um we've um that's why you now see the the the workout room downstairs instead of upstairs. They voiced that they wanted that they wanted a separate locker room. That's why you have that now. So I did listen to them. Thank you.

It's it's amazing how firefighters have changed. When I got in the fire service in 1979, we had a sheet, a bedspread and and uh and and a pillowcase. Today, they have teddy bears. D Simone, they have pillows, more than one, and they have blankets. I've never seen anything like it. So, we listen to that and we give them plenty of places to put that. Well, when you started in the fire service, if you had an opinion, the chief said, "If you needed an opinion, we'll give you one." Is that right?

That's right. That's right. So, we're sharing with you now, if you can slide back up to the first couple of slides. Uh, so here is the outside of it. The next slide. This shows you uh the layout of the station. Uh, this will be identical. Same layout as station one like I said, but the elevation will change somewhat. On the left side there, uh, the first floor, the left side is that hot zone and the gear locker room. Uh and then you have the training tower in the back. The training tower will have no fire in there. Uh but they can go in there and and uh and and flake hose out and actually uh utilize water inside that training tower. And they'll do a lot of uh repelling and out outside there's a there's a a walkway on the top floor of that. Gives them several different options uh to train in that area. And it also helps us with our ISO uh requirements is having this uh uh threetory training tower attached to the fire station. And then on the right side, you saw that as we we walked through there. Then on the top floor, you see how it's laid out there. I think uh Chris Nim did an excellent job working with us to make sure that we checked all the boxes for what the folks would like to see changed from what it was at station two. The next slide, logistics building. Um we're we're right now going through value engineering uh through the log uh of all the things that we can do to reduce cost. Uh as we shared with you the other day in the council briefings. Uh we've already saved just by uh taking some of the suggestions from uh the contractor uh about $1.2 million. We've been able to reduce in cost and still pledge to reduce more. Next slide. This is the logistics facility and I want to really emphasize that those

classrooms you see on the left, they'll have an accordion style uh petition that you can utilize. But that will be the area that we will also uh transition into a warming center every year. We have that concern and I want to say we're committed to make with this will have generate power generate generator to as a backup power for the facility but we'll be able to use this as a warming center during our inclement weather. And I think it's a it's a good approach for us and we can manage that uh without having to rely on getting hotel rooms and and and and trying to find a location. Next slide. And this was a site plan that John just shared with you. Fire station one. Uh as we shared with you in the briefing the other day, we're working with community development. Uh Jinger's working with us here to ensure that we are uh uh addressing the challenges that we have on this this small lot. Uh but it will be a much greater improvement uh once we get the uh building built. And this this this project here will be about three months behind uh station 4 project because we're still waiting on we've got everyone off of the Google has left the property with that hut they had there and then we've got to take down the u uh the radio tower and been working with legal there as well as days working with uh Fulton County and I think we have one utility still on there and once we get that utility off we'll be able to take that down. We're supposed to be uh they're supposed to be off of it by October. The next slide. Okay, Dave. Thank you guys. Okay, I'm going to go over the uh tenative schedule um for fire stations one, two, and for fire stations 1, three, and four. Uh tonight, I'm going

to present uh schematic design pricing. That's our first look at pricing. Uh that does include a VE in there. Uh June we will have a neighborhood meeting for fire station 4 to introduce uh everything that you're seeing tonight uh to the neighborhood. Uh and in July we will begin design on fire station 3. So now we're going we've we're getting into GMP on the pricing of one and four and we're going to start design on fire station 3 and that's a renovation with an addition. uh 21st of July council meeting, we'll bring you back here design development pricing and that's uh where we're that's when our prices are a little more fine-tuned. Uh you're going to see it come down a little bit more. Um and then uh 15th September is when we actually bring to the PFA for your approval the uh 100% construction documents and that's where we call it guaranteed maximum pricing. That's when the contractor lock locks in the price and then he's at risk to deliver the project at that cost. Okay. And that's for fire stations one and four. Uh both October uh we will be moving the crews out of fire station one into the new renovated facility up on Roswell Road. The uh it's an arrow leased building a pest control. Uh also uh we will begin construction on uh fire stations one and four in October. Uh we will begin construction on fire station 3 in January, beginning of next year. And we we expect to have all three of these uh projects finished by December of next year. Okay. So our available budget right now is 38,477305. We divided that into three different buckets. Fire station 4 got 19,515 385. Fire station 1 got 16,363200 and fire station 3 right now has 2.598 million in it.

Okay, the the schematic uh design pricing general requirements came in just a little over a million. Uh allotted for fire stations one is 9.7 million. Uh for fire station 4 is 10 million. Logistics building is 3.8 million. Uh site work for fire 1 is 3 million and uh site work for fire station 4 is 4.8 million. So the design pricing uh once the once we get a certain percentage along with the construction documents, we hand them over to the GC and the GC goes out and bids finds uh three traits of three bids of each trait and they give them the uh their their estimated price. Uh that is a a a conservative price because we're not fully designed on the building. So that's why we expect these prices to come down as we get more and more in the design. Uh you can see the first uh uh the contractor came back with 1.4 million actually 1.5 million uh in VE and things like uh the generator backup generator the architect is expected I think it's 350 kilowatts where the GC said no we can we can make the building operate at 200 kilowatts so that's the savings to the city. Um, we still have we're still looking at about another million worth of uh VE. There's actually in the design aspects of the building. So, we're we're crit we're carefully looking at those with the city manager approval to see if she wants to move forward with some of those. Uh, indirect costs. Uh, you can see their general conditions, insurance, bonding, and that's the GC's fee at 2.95% comes in at 1.5 million. Uh, and we're holding two big contingencies, a design contingency and a construction contingency. As we start developing the next round of when we get into DD pricing, [clears throat] you'll see those contingencies start going down as as we get to GMP, they'll get down to probably about 2%.

Um, and that's more savings. It goes back into the budget for fire station 3. So you can see that uh right now we're at 36,741552 and our available budget was 38,477305 gives us leftover right now at 1.735 with the deficit for fire station 3 at 862. staff feels confident that we're going to get that number uh down to where we'll be able to fully fund fire station 3 and then have some more because we're expecting fire station 3 to come in probably around $3 million. Any questions on the pricing or the schedule? Yes.

Um I just want to make sure so and this might be more for for chief um we are going to get one of those little videos for fire station one. So that is a prototype fire station and I Yes. Yes, we will have a 3D the 3D. Yeah. Can we get that? We'll get that. Yeah. Okay. It's just in early design, but it will we will have that. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions? All right. Thanks, gentlemen. All [clears throat] right. We will uh end the work session. I would like to call this meeting of the Sandy Spring City Council to order for Tuesday, May 5th, 2026. Will the city clerk please make the announcements and call the role?

Good evening, mayor and council. Just a reminder to everybody in attendance, please continue to silence all cell phones and other electronic devices at this time. Uh individuals who would like to provide a public comment at a city council meeting are required to submit those public comment cards in advance of the meeting. Those cards are always available online and at the chamber entrance. 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 pledge of allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Madam clerk, do we have any public comment cards? No, we haven't received any this evening. All right, we will close the public comment period. Is there a motion to approve the meeting agenda? Mayor Paul. Mr. Pollson. I move approval of the meeting agenda for Tuesday, May 5th, 2026. Have a motion by Mr. Pollson. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by Mr. Roberts. Any discussion? Hearing none, we'll call the question. The question is on approval of 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. you, Miss Mueller. I move that we approve the consent agenda for Tuesday, May 5th, 2026. Motion by Miss Mueller. Is there a second? Second. Motion by Miss Mueller, seconded by Miss Ford, that we approve the consent agenda. Any discussion? Hearing none, we'll call the question. The questions on the consent agenda. All in favor of the motion say I. Oppose. No. Consent agenda is approved. Moving to presentations. Will the clerk please read the first item? Yep. This is agenda item number 2026 115 and it's a proclamation in recognition of water safety month presented by Mayor Rusty Paul.

We have a proclamation here and I think we have some representatives. They're waving. That's great. Yeah, we're proud you're here. Thank you. Be prepared to come down just a moment. I'm going to read the uh the proclamation. Whereas drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in children ages 1 through four years in the United States. And whereas drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death in children ages 5 through 14 in the United States. And whereas all reviewed drowning deaths for children in the state of Georgia reported as preventable in the most recent Georgia Child Fatality Review Panel annual report. And whereas collaboration among government agencies, nonprofit organizations, schools, and community stakeholders is essential to effectively address water safety challenges and promote a culture of safe swimming and recreation. And whereas promoting proper supervision, barriers, and emergency preparedness can reduce the risk of drowning incidents, especially among children and inexperienced swimmers. And whereas National Water Safety Month, designated as the month of May, aims to raise awareness about the importance of water safety education and drowning prevention measures. And whereas the Atlanta Water Safety Coalition seeks to use the platform of National Water Safety Month to elevate opportunities for swimming lessons, water safety education, lifeguard training and recruitment, and CPR certification provided by coalition partners, learning to swim, and understanding water safety practices are crucial skills that can save lives and prevent tragedies. And whereas the Atlanta Water Safety Coalition has come together to build a culture of water safety and combat drowning, especially childhood drowning that disproportionately kills black and brown children. Now, therefore, I, Russell K. Paul, by virtue of the authority vested in me as the mayor of the city of Sandy Springs, and on behalf of the city council, do hereby proclaim May 26, excuse me, May 2026 as water safety month in Sandy Springs, given under my hand in the seal of Sandy Springs, Georgia, on this the 5th day of

May, 2026. If you'll come down, we'll present you with proclamation. right here. Thank you very much. The whole team didn't realize I had people in here. I actually knew who gets the plaque. Who gets the pl information? All right, we're good.

Okay, we're good.

All right. Thank you. Thank you for being here. Appreciate it.

Stay for the entertainment. When I was in college, my f my freshman PE class was drownroofing and I had a friend of mine, I'll call him Steve because that was his name. I won't tell you his last name. Nobody would know him anyway. He took drown proofing because he couldn't swim and he thought that would help him. So when the coach got through and we all rolled into the pool, the first thing that happened was the coach had to rescue him from drowning. So uh but uh they worked with him and he was drowned by the end of the term. So that was great. Thank you again for being here. All right, moving to public hearings. Will the clerk please read the first item? This is agenda item number 2026 1116 consideration of a resolution to adopt the 2026 community development block grant annual action plan. This evening it's being presented by our grants administrator Davney Brand.

Miss Brand.

Good evening mayor and council. I am here with a resolution for your consideration to adopt the 2026 annual action plan which is a component of the city's community development block grant. The five-year consolidated plan adopted in 2023 is carried out through the annual action plans. The annual action plan provides a concise summary of the actions, activities, and specific federal and non-federal resources that will be used each year to address priority needs and specific goals identified in the consolidated plan. The city is required to create and update its annual action plan summary of annual activities for the use of the funds of the CDBG program. The five-year consolidated plan recommended that funds be used for sidewalk construction, design, utility relocation, and potential right-of-way acquisition. In 2026, staff will continue to work on the implementation of the South Roswell Road multi-year sidewalk project, specifically the area south of Interstate 285 that runs along Roswell Road from Northwood Drive to Stewart Drive and from Stewart Drive to Long Island Drive. Also, the Hope Road sidewalk project in the north end starting at Roswell Road to Dunwoody Place is planned. The funds can also be used to defease the 108 loan amount. Staff has prepared the draft um annual action plan and made it available for public review and comment and held a public hearing on March 17th, 2026. Staff recommends approval of resolution to adopt Sandy Springs 2026 annual action plan.

Have we received any public comment cards? All right, we'll close the public comment period. You've heard the report of the uh grants administrator. What's the desire of councel? Mayor Paul, Dr. Kelly, I move approval of agenda item 2028-116, the adoption of the 2026 community development block grant um annual action plan. Got a motion by Dr. Kelly. Is there a second? Second. Motion by Dr. Kelly, seconded by Mr. Chinsky that we approve agenda item 2026116 resolution to adopt the 2026 community development block grant annual action plan. Any discussion

hearing? None. We'll call the question. The questions on the approval of the 2026 community development block grant annual action plan. All in favor of the motion say I. Opposed? No. The item is approved. The clerk will please read the next item. Agenda item number 2026 117. That's AL number 28446. Consideration approval of the alcoholic beverage license application for Divinely Elegant Vines LLC at 203 Hilderbrand Drive, Sandy Springs, Georgia 30328. The applicant is just a Waldo for package wine and wine tasting presented by revenue manager Cory Holiness. Miss Holiness.

Good evening, Mayor Paul and City Council. This is a new alcohol license for District 3 for a package wine and wine tasting Divine Elegant Vines LLC 203 Hilder Brand Drive, Sandy Springs, Georgia 30328. The applicant, Justenna Waldo, has met all requirements and staff recommends approval. Received any public comment cards? All right, we'll close the public uh comment period. Uh what's the desire of council? Mayor Paul, Miss Mueller,

I move that we approve agenda item 2026-117 uh AL number 28446 for the approval of the alcoholic beverage license application for Divinely Elegant Vines LLC at 203 Kilderand Drive, Sandy Springs, Georgia. The applicant is Jessa Waldo for package and wine tasting. Motion by Miss Mueller. Is there a second?

Second. Motion by Miss Mueller, seconded by Mr. Roberts that we approve agenda item 2026 117 the alcoholic beverage license application for divinely elegant vines. Any discussion hearing? None. We'll call the question. The question is on agenda item 202617, the alcoholic beverage license approval for divinely elegant vines. Uh 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 2026118 ABL number 28478. Consideration of approval of an alcoholic beverage license application for Crave Kitchen Beastro LLC at 8610 Roswell Road. That's sweet 140 Sandy Springs, Georgia 30350. The applicant is Hib Breeze Gumis for consumption on the premises for distilled spirits, beer, and wine. Again, presented by revenue manager Corey Holiness.

Miss Holiness. Um, this is a new alcohol license for district 2 um for consumption on the premises of wine, malt beverage, and distilled spirits CRA kitchen and beastro LLC 8610 Roswell Road Sweet 140 Sandy Springs, Georgia 30350. The applicant, Habib Reese Humis, has met all requirements and staff recommends approval. Any public comment cards? We'll close the public comment period. Uh, you've heard the report of the revenue manager. What's the desire of councel? Mayor Paul, Dr. Kelly,

I move approval of agenda item 2026-118, an alcoholic beverage license application for Crave Kitchen and Beastro LLC at 8610 Roswell Road, Sweet 140 Sandy Springs, Georgia 30350. Motion by Dr. Kelly. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by Mr. Pollson. Any discussion? Hearing none, we'll call the question. The question is on agenda item 2026118, the uh alcoholic beverage license approval for Crave Kitchen and Beastro. All in favor of the motion say I. I oppose. No. The item is approved. The clerk will please read the next item.

Agenda item number 2026119. Consideration of a resolution to approve contract award to Atkins Realis USA, Inc. for design services for Robert's Drive side path phase 1 project. That's S23. and to authorize the same manager manager to execute the contract presented by public works director Marty Martin. Mr. Martin,

mayor and council, good evening. Tonight I bring to you an award recommendation to Atkins Realis for the design of the Robert's Drive Side Path Phase 1 project and request authorization for the city manager to execute that contract with Atkins. Little background. The Robert's Drive S side path phase one project enhances safety and mobility of pedestrians and cyclists traveling on Robert's Drive from Dunwy Place to Island Ford Parkway. Proposed work includes a 12- foot wide concrete side path, landscape buffer with street tree planting and pedestrian scale lighting. Two midblock crossings are in contemplated with the project as well. one located near Pride Place and the other near the Chattahuchi River National Recreck Area, Island Ford Park, to connect the new side path to existing sidewalks. The project also connects the new side path and the recently reconstructed Robert's Drive Bridge over State Route 400 constructed by the Georgia Department of Transportation. Now, in the interest of uh getting this contract award recommendation to you tonight, the city uh issued a request for qualifications on August 13, 2025. Since this project uses federal funds provided by the Atlanta Regional Commission through G DOT and in accordance with the city's procurement policy and G DOT's manual on procurement of engineering and design related services, the RFQ was issued as a multi-phase advertisement. Phase one statement of qualifications were due on October 1st of 2025. Of the eight consultants responding, four were selected and shortlisted. On October 28, 2025, the four short-listed consultants were invited to submit to the phase 2 technical approaches. The following uh the four short-listed consultants were Atkins Realis, BCC Engineering, Gresian Smith and Partners, and Infrastructure

Consulting and Engineering. A committee of five staff members evaluated those uh four consultants based on the following criteria. Project manager experience and key team members uh experience and qualifications. Project manager and key team leaders resources and workload capacity. The overall technical approach provided by each consultant and their past performance. Proposal [snorts] scoring by the evaluation committee for the four ter firms were as follows with Atkins receiving a score of 850 points. Infrastructure consulting engineering 700 points. Gresham Smith and Partners at 675 and BCC Engineering at 575 points. Based upon the review of the scoring as well as review of Atkins fee proposal, staff recommends that the city awarded design contract for S2123 Robert's Drive FA side path phase 1 project to Atkins in the amount of 9001,634.17. Uh the current fee proposal provided by Atkins as mentioned is 911,63417. Adequate funds have been budgeted and allocated for this project. The next agenda item we'll talk about we'll tell you where those funds specifically are going to be uh proposed to be be provided. So with that, mayor and council, that's our award recommendation.

You've heard the report of the public horse. Director, what's the desire of counsel? Mayor Paul. Mr. Paulson. I move approval of agenda item 2026119 resolution to approve the contract award to Atkins Realis USA for design services for Robert's Drive side path phase one project S2123 and authorize city manager to execute same. You have a motion by Mr. Paulson. Is there a second? Second. Motion by Mr. Paulson seconded by Dr. Kelly that we approve agenda item 2026119 a contract award to realis excuse me Atkins realalis for design services for the Roberts drive side path project any discussion I have a question

Dr. I wanted to understand how the consensus proposal scores were calculated. Is it so the five individuals who were a part of the committee? That's correct. Um and they gave a score of out of a 100 out of 100 or or in this case an available of 1,000 if you across the entire range of available points here. Okay. So it's like 200 each.

Yes. Okay. So, I I just want to make sure because the points add up to 100. So, where's the 200 coming from? Well, from the four I guess the four categories criteria rather. I'm just Yeah. I don't know. I'm just Okay.

Did you get it? Are you satisfied with you didn't get an answer to your question? No. Um, so I don't know. I'm just I'm just curious about how the the numbers correlate. That's all. Yep. All right. uh within the within this case uh with the uh oversight of our purchasing department staff provided their scores against each of the individual uh consultant members uh gave an available score and then as well against an overall scale staff proposing a consensus score and that's the consensus score you see in front of you

Matty I mean uh uh uh Marty so if you add 5* 100 it's 500 right but I guess then how do you get to 850 700 and 675 is the question and not looking at the score sheets in front of me right now mayor I can't show you the other math that went into the subshred of how everybody scored and then [snorts] we came up with an overall score there's another uh so but within that there was an overall score adjustment to 085 against the overall four. If it pleases council, let's table this one to the 19th and we'll bring that answer back to you. Yeah, [clears throat] because the numbers don't quite add up.

No, not that not that we think there's anything nefarious, but it's just we want to make sure I'm not a math major, but we got a couple of people around here who pretty good at it. No, no, I I get it. So, no, I don't have the uh the tally sheets in front of me right now that can tell you what other math went into how they add the scores up here. Okay. Uh, Mr. Pollson, would you uh would you be willing to change your uh motion to table this? Then we can take it up whenever staff's ready to present it to us. I will with a question of does this affect anything regarding project timeline? Do we lose funding? Does anybody get ma mad if we don't do this in for two weeks? I'm going to bring you numbers back in two weeks.

Okay. Well, I I suspect it's actually pretty simple math, but why don't you bring it back so we can all see it? No. So, I'll bring you numbers back in two weeks. move that I table this for I table this item until further notice. Dr. Kelly, are you still I'll support it. All right. So, we have a motion and a second to table agenda item 2026119. Tabling it means we can pull it off this the uh pull it back up at any time to approve the contract award for Atkins Realis. So, the motion on the floor is to table. Any discussion? Hearing none, we'll call the question. The questions on the motion to table. All in favor of the motion say I. Oppos? No. The item is tabled. The clerk will please read the next item.

Agenda item number 2026120. Consideration of a resolution to approve supplemental agreement number one to the original project framework agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation for the design of the Roberts Drive side path phase one project and to authorize the mayor to execute the agreement presented by public works director Marty Martin. Mr. Martin.

Right. Mayor and Council, in the interest of funding an item that I hope to bring back to you in about two weeks, uh we do recommend that you approve the execution of a supplemental agreement to the project framework agreement for this same project. In this case, project number S2123 and G.Lingo PI000021209. The original project framework agreement for this project dated September 4th, 2025 was approved by mayor and council on August 5th and provided 216,000 in federal funding for preliminary engineering with a local match requirement of $54,000 or 20%. In January 26, the city had requested additional PE funds subsequent to the full uh full amount known for the design of the project uh from the Atlanta Regional Commission with an independent cost estimate prepared inhouse validating that original funding request. uh of the original amount. Uh the city requested uh the the original funding request was insufficient by $54,37 [snorts] based on the total delivery of the PE work. One task only was contemplated originally. Uh so against the uh original PFA uh the ARC increased their award providing a total of 721,000 in federal funds with a required local match of an overall 180,327. as uh with the Teslas budget there are adequate funds available for the NTPLS project S2121 and local funds to provide their 20% match required for the project. So with that and with the tremendous support we received from ARC in this case to fully fund PE at this time uh we recommend

acceptance of this supplemental project framework agreement to uh to accept the additional funding. Let me make a an inquiry before I call for motions and debate. Uh this is just an agreement with ARC and G and G dot about the funding. It has no impact on who we decide is the actual contractor. Is that correct? That is correct. This is solely for the just want to make sure that we were clear that what you're uh called on to uh to approve is while it's related to the previous one, it is not necessarily directly tied to that. So with that, uh you've heard the mayor Paul, if I have a question, if I may,

let's say [clears throat] for some reason when we bring the first item back, we don't like it and we go back out the bid and the next bid comes in $20,000 more, then we've approved this, but this is not enough to fund the project. We have to then refund this re fund it again for whatever the dealt is. It's it's weird that we're agreeing to the money that we didn't approve the the contract for. I understand you could say

I I think I can explain that Mr. Paulson. The the regardless of who the contractor is, we need to approve the agreement to fund at least at this point whatever is available on the table. If we don't if we don't agree to take the mo to receive the money, it it could well go away. Not not likely, but it it's possible. In the case of this project, I think if we were to need an additional $20,000 where we'd ask ARC, they'd be forthcoming with the money. Maybe not right away. They were very supportive with our additional funds request. They're tied together, but not not inter not not inextricably linked. Got it.

They're two separate. They're two separate decisions. In other words, it it's this one is not dependent upon who the contractor is. Mayor Paul, Mr. Paulson, I move approval of agenda item 2026120 resolution to approve supplement agreement number one to the original project framework agreement with the Georgia DOT for the design of the Roberts Drive side path phase one project and authorized merit execute agreement. Have a motion by Mr. Pollson. Is there a second? Second.

Motion by Mr. Pollson, seconded by Dr. Kelly that we [clears throat] approve agenda item 2026120, a resolution approving supplemental agreement number one to the original project framework agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation for design of the Roberts Drive side path. Any discussion? Hearing none, we'll call the question. The questions on agenda item 2026120 approving a supplemental agreement to the original project framework agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation would design the Roberts Drive side path. All in favor of the motion say I. Opposed? No. The item is approved. The clerk please read the next item.

Agenda item number 2026121. Consideration of a resolution to approve contract award to Acceler Construction LLC to construct the Mountain Creek Road storm water maintenance phase 2 project and to authorize the city manager to execute the contract presented by public works director Marty Martin. Mr. Martin,

mayor and council, in this uh agenda memo, I bring to you a recommendation to award a contract in the amount of $44,030 to Acceler Construction for construction of phase two of the Mountain Creek Road stormwater maintenance project. Uh we recently completed phase one of that work. In 2024, the city identifi engaged a consultant develop plans to correct deficiencies in the storm water system under Mountain Creek Road near the properties located at 56 or 5760 and 5775 Mountain Creek Road. The plans for the plan maintenance were developed and permitted. Construction project divided into two phases at the time. Phase one now complete with work in phase one to include trenches re trenchless rehabilitation of a 60 inch corrugated metal pipe culvert and reconstruction of the head wall at the downstream property. Project scope consists of restoration of approximately 90 linear feet of 60 inch corrugated metal pipe using centrifically cast concrete pipe as well as installation of one cast inplace reinforced concrete head wall and downstream stream bed protection. To advance the project, the city issued an invitation to bid on March 5th, 2026, seeking bids from qualified contractors to construct the project. Addendum one was issued on March 27. Addendum two on April 2nd, 2026. Three contractors uh bid this project. Of those, Acceler Construction in the amount of $44,30 was the the most responsive and responsible bidder. With that and our evidence of satisfactory performance from Acceler and other projects we've had they've had with the city, we staff recommends award to Acceler Construction. You've heard the report of the public works director. What's the desire of councel?

Mayor Paul, Mr. Chinsky, I move approval of agenda item 2026-121 to approve a contract award to Excel Excel Construction LLC to construct the Mountain Creek Road Storm Water Maintenance Phase 2 project and to authorize the city manager to execute the contract. Motion by Mr. Chinsky. Is there a second? Second.

Motion by Mr. Chinsky, seconded by Miss Mueller, that we approve agenda item 2026121, a contract award to acceler construction to construct the Mountain Creek Road storm water maintenance phase 2 project. Any discussion hearing? None. We'll call the question. The question is on agenda item 2026121, contract award to accelerate construction for the Mountain Creek Road storm water maintenance phase 2 project. All in favor of the motion say I. I.

Oppos? No. The item is approved. The clerk will please read the next item. Agenda item number 2026122 uh request for consideration of approval and acceptance of an agreement to purchase fees simple rightway and temporary construction easement from the Atlanta board of realtors educational foundations on that certain track of land located at 5784 Lake Forest Drive in land lot 123 of the 17th district city of Sandy Springs Fulton County Georgia in relation to the T245 Lake Forest at Allen Road roundabout project presented by Public Works Director Marty Martin. Mr. Martin,

mayor and council, in the interest of furthering uh execution of T2405, the Lake Forest ated Allen Road roundabout project, staff recommends that the mayor and city of council approve and accept an agreement to purchase fe simple rightway uh at uh at this location 5784 Lake Forest Drive, also the uh also known as the Atlanta Board of Regional uh Realtors Education Foundation. Uh this agreement is related to the pro roundabout project. As I stated, the acquisition of some 3,138 square feet of rideway. Uh 1877.55 ft of temporary construction easement on the property is necessary to construct the Lake Forested Allen Road roundabout project. The city and property owners have come to an amicable agreement in the amount of $23,700 which is the city's appraised fair market value for that property. Therefore, the agreement is deemed to be in the best interest of the city and staff recommends approval of the agreement.

Further report of the public works director Westire of Council. Mayor Paul M. Excuse me. I move that we approve agenda item 2026-122 for the approval and acceptance of an agreement to purchase fee simple rightway and temporary construction easement from the Atlanta Board of Realators Educational Foundation, Inc. on that certain tract of land located at 5784 Lake Forest Drive and land lot 123 of the 17th district of City of Sandy Springs in Fulton County, Georgia in relation to the T 2405 Lake Forest and Allen Road roundabout project. Got a motion by Miss Mueller. Is there a second? Second.

Motion by Miss Mueller, seconded by Mr. Chinsky that we approve agenda item 2026122 a purchase fee simple rideway and temporary construction easement from the Atlanta Board of Realtors Education Foundation at 5784 Lake Forest Drive. Any discussion?

Mr. Chinsky, just one one quick comment and one question. So the the comment, you know, this is um less than a tenth of an acre of land for that we're purchasing for over $200,000. I have no doubt that that is what the appraised value was. I just find it an interesting data point of how much the value of land has increased in Sandy Springs as we are evaluating other projects. Um I just wanted to raise that for my colleagues and the public. And Marty, just to repeat a question that um I asked earlier in the budget meeting in case there's anyone tuning in now that was not there for the budget meeting. Um, if G do DOT moves forward with the DDI project at 285 and Roswell Road, I just want to make sure before we spend another $200,000 on the Allen Road roundabout project, we still think that project is going to be worth it even if Allen Road ends up culde-saced from the DDI project.

That's the recommendations. Yes, sir. And to that end, a long way to go yet on decisions and impacts to be understood with a DDI interchange or whatever else might be offered ultimately as a solution at 285 and Roswell Road. Thanks. Any other discussion? Hearing none, we'll call the question. The questions on agenda item 2026 uh 122 uh agreement to purchase fee simple rideway and temporary construction easement for Atlanta from the Atlanta Board of Realtors Education Foundation at 5784 Lake Forest Drive. All in favor of the motion say I no.

The item is approved. The clerk will please read the next item. Agenda item number 2026123. consideration of a resolution to approve the project list for submission to Fulton County for incorporation into an intergovernmental agreement for use and distribution of proceeds generated by the 2026 transportation special purpose local option sales tax. That's a Teslas referendum presented by public works director Marty Martin. Mr. Pardon.

Mayor and council, uh, tonight I bring before you a recommended project list that the city in turn would then submit to Fulton County for consideration into the upcoming uh, 2026 uh, referendum for Tesla and effectively Tesla 3. As many of you recollect, uh during the 2015 legislative sess session, uh state bill 369 amended uh ultimately allowed for the first Teslas vote in 2016. Subsequent to that, uh with that first vote passing, we'll call T-Lost one, uh another opportunity to continue Tesla, uh was passed by voters on November 2nd, 2021. the end of that first five-year period. And we're here now at Mar uh with collections to conclude now forecasted for March of 2027. We're here now with the opportunity to submit a list to Fulton County again to consider Tesla program three uh for the program uh for the next program. City representatives have been meeting with Fulton County since early 2026. uh initial timetable establishes that uh jurisdictional list are due to Fulton County by May 31st of this year 2026 in the interest of creating an overarching intergovernmental agreement uh for all the municipalities impacted by the Fulton County Tesla list or Tesla program. Uh tonight we suggest that you uh adopt this project list. Thus we can submit by May 31st the project list to Fulton County uh resolution uh forecasted in August by the county and call for referendum coordinated with uh elections. Voter and information and education is anticipated for the months

of August and September uh for the Tesplas program with the referendum vote u November 3rd of this year. All right, you've heard the report of the public course. Director, what's the desire of council? Mayor Paul, Mr. Pollson, I move approval of agenda item 2026123 resolution to approve the project list for submission to Fulton County for the incorporation into an intergovernment agreement for use and distribution of proceeds generated by the 2026 transportation special purpose local option sales tax referendum. Motion by Mr. Pollson. Is there a second?

Second. Motion by Mr. Pollson, seconded by Mr. Roberts. that we approve agenda item 2026123, the project list for submission to Fulton County for incorporation into the intergovernmental agreement for use and distribution of proceeds generated by the 2026 transportation special local option sales tax. Uh, any discussion? Mayor Paul, Mr. Paulson. So, Marty, assuming we approve this tonight, uh you may not be the right person to answer this, but what's the the plan to go ahead to the community and promote this, advertise it, explain it, uh so that when people go to vote in November, they know what they're voting for. So our our intention and we uh discussed this in some detail with our communications counterparts is that August and September of this year we would bring out a more robust explanation of the projects proposed for Sandy Springs in the Teslas program as a voter education in advance of early voting and then the referendum by the 1 of November. So that so again somewhere in the August time frame is when we intend to bring that more complete update on the program T+ one TLOSS 2 where we've been where where are we now and then more information on the projects coming

that's good it's good to link one and two with this one so people actually see what has happened with the past one and and I think as are uh the voters that have seen and we've had four open houses now on the projects that we've been able to share with the public uh this is a continuation of programs we've already undertaken. Hopefully that message comes across as we go through further voter education and we see that

has a long history and it wasn't until they let the cities be in charge of it that the voters felt comfortable that that it would be done correctly. So uh they have uh the first one was approved the the in fact full countywide Sandy Springs provided the margin for victory and then the second one won fair by I wouldn't say overwhelming but at least by significant margin so people understood that we were trying to do the best job we could with the funds even though it you know people who live along Johnson Ferry Mount Vernon think we've been under construction for 10 years it's really only been two and a half right Marty

so we're counting right now [laughter] there may So anyway, yeah, it, you know, I think the results have have proven that we've tried to be good stewards of their money. Any any discussion, Dr. Kell? All right. Thank you. Um, Marty, we let's say we approve this. Does that mean we can't change anything? It's set in stone now these projects.

Well, so we're bringing a list, let me qualify this. We're bringing a list of proposed projects across three tiers, okay, of candidate projects and programs to the voters. Within that list, especially as you look at those programs defined in tier two and tier three, tier one being 85% of forecasted collections, tier two being collect up to 100% and then tier three being should we collect 115% of those items. Uh we're we're bringing a list with programs that mayor and council have the flexibility in the future as opportunities arise to adjust the program and we have adjusted the program in years past as we've needed different funding uh with spec specific dollar amounts to specific projects. we've been able to adjust. Uh what we do and have done in the past as encouraged by Fulton County and the administration of the program is we bring that recommended change to funding or projects on the list to mayor and council so that publicly the uh public can see a vote on that list as it does get updated or adopt or changed. So I think we've had fairly broad capabilities within the proposed list. We have not yet had to entertain a new project not previously identified um within the Tesplast program. Not in my experience with the first two rounds of Tesla we've had here yet, but we have some fairly uh fairly broad range and flexibility within the programs already described uh within Tesla tiers one, two, and three to accommodate what I think might be the transportation needs that could pop up within the time.

Okay. So, and and I've talked about this before, but in my district, I hear a lot about Trobridge, Trobridge, Trobridge, Trobridge. So, let me ask you a couple of questions. One, what's happening there now? Are you are you comfortable just giving a short description? I know we're we have a project underway now.

I'd probably rather put a plan up on the wall that I don't have available to you tonight to explain exactly what's going to happen. So, I can try to wave my hands and describe, but we're it's a signal upgrade and there's some uh change uh some curb line improvements changes as well there. So, but I think in the in if the council wants to know more about that specific project, I think it's best to explain it specifically with a plan in hand so everybody can see exactly what's happening there.

Okay. within the Tesla 3 program as proposed again not with the speci specificity you'd like tonight I hear that and maybe more so for a more robust explanation in August uh when I come back to you all or propose that I come back to you all for instance the midblock crossing program uh contemplates midblock crossings both on state route 9 and in some uh local streets as Well, off the state route, one of those midblock crossings contemplated in that midblock crossing program on Roswell Road is just above Roswell Road at Trowbridge. That would put uh protected pedestrian median and the pedestrian landing uh features associated with a midblock crossing much like the recent or nearly completed. [laughter] Okay, waiting on few more parts from G dot. Okay, much like that. the Midblock crossing at Norfol and Government Center or the other Hawk crossing that we completed several years ago near Long Island on Roswell Road. So that's the what's contemplated as a part of the midblock crossing program here within Tesla tier one for Tesla 3. Uh, as we look at other parts of the T-splash program, there's an intersection program tier 2. Nothing specifically contemplated there as yet. We look for opportunities that might come along should there be other studies or redevelopment opportunities that would suggest there's an opportunity pursue additional work within the intersection project based on collections. We could then recommend to you we would suggest we consider funding something out of intersection program tier 2 into the

t-plas program as we move forward. The same again with tier three. Again, that's over a hundred million down the collection line. That has some anticipated 16 million dollars above uh the 100% collection. But there is an access management program. We specifically put that in there not knowing what redevelopment opportunities that might offer opportunities to the city might avail themselves in the next five years with these Teslas funding. And it would give us that opportunity to exercise a line item that's in the program to to uh pursue access management at an appropriate time as some other opportunity creates a greater need at some location on Roswell Road. So, so there's flexibility with all of these little specificity to your question about Trollbridgeidge in tier one I believe and we'll communicate that along with the other Roswell Road midblock crossing areas we have contemplated uh when we get to more specificity on the projects in August. I believe that that's certainly within the program right now as contemplated today and we as we look at everything that's being concluded in the agreements uh with opportunities within the other tiers as opportunities avail themselves to the city.

Okay. Yeah. Because I just just want to say like when I spent some time like combing through our plans, the Roswell Access Management and our safe streets and wherever there are rankings and like for example in the safe streets for all, there's multiple rankings, high injury networks, high injury high injury intersections, Trobridge is well we have high injury roadways and high injury intersections. Right. Right. Each one just throughout this document, Trobridge Road is listed as one of the deadliest, one of the more dangerous intersections, one of the most uh they have some metric called cost, crash costs.

And and I think that's why it's important. Let me get the plan in front of you for what this Trowbridge project as we're undertaking now is going to do. And it's not going to correct all things there. We never touted it as that, but it will. It's going to target certain kinds of accidents at that intersection with the improvements we're undertaking right now. So, I want to be more specific to you about specifically what accidents we believe we're going to reduce with the intersection relatively modest again uh intersection improvements we're going to reduce there uh in the interest of driving down the risk associated with that particular intersection. In some cases, you try to solve it all. In other cases, you try to bring down the risk as you execute a project to a more acceptable level.

Right. And it should also be noted that the entrance for the new North Springs High School will be on Trow Bridge. That stretch of road is in our safety plan as a dangerous stretch. So, just putting that out there like it it really we really do need to take a look at it. Thank you. All right, Mr. Mueller. So, Marty, when did you say you would be able to come back with the list of proposed projects for the midblock crossing, the intersection program, and access management program? I hope to give a more comprehensive T-splash presentation in the August time. Okay. So, August. And then for the midblock crossing program, I mean, I know for the sidewalk program, we have a, you know, a very um structured scoring method for prioritization.

We don't have that. So, we don't have that. This is more because it's there's not as many, I guess, and it's right. So what we'll look to is there are numbers that are going to suggest which you know on the state route streets or on the state route we're going to have big pedestrian numbers and th those areas are going to be scored against some other studies we've done in the case of uh safe streets for all or safety action plan Roswell Road's going to have projects that will rise up the list there neighborhood streets less so far less so and they don't have the traffic either So it's going to be that's where the criteria are going to have to probably more

right. See you in August then with the list. All right. Any further discussion? Hearing none. We'll call the question. The questions on agenda item 2026123 approval of the project list for submission to Fulton County for incorporation into an intergovernmental agreement for use and distribution of proceeds generated by the 2026 transportation special local option sales tax. All in favor of the motion say I. Oppos? No. The item is approved. Clerk will please read the next item. Agenda item number 2026124. Consideration of a resolution to award fiscal year 2026 nonprofit arts and recreation program contracts and to authorize the city manager to execute those agreements. Presented by director of recreation and parks, Brent Walker.

Mr. Walker.

Evening mayor and council. The city created the nonprofit arts and recreational program to collaborate with nonprofit organizations that offer new programming or to expand eligible existing recreational programs targeted at underserved populations and low-income communities within the city. City council then appropriated $200,000 in the 2026 budget for the program. On October 21st, 2025, the city issued a request for proposal to solicit responses from qualified nonprofit organizations to partner with the city's recreation and parks department to provide programs and recreational activities for the benefit of underserved and low-income residents of the city. Each eligible nonprofit organization proposing and meeting the requirements of the RFP were allowed to request up to $15,000 in funding. Proposals were due on November 19th of 2025. Mayor and council awarded 11 nonprofits funding at the January 20th, 2026 meeting and requested staff to open up the program for a second round. On January 23rd of 2026, the city issued a request for proposal 26-034 and received nine applications on or before February 23rd of 2026. During the review process, the city received notice from the Sandy Springs Police Foundation that they rescended their submitt from submitt from consideration. Upon review of the application, staff determined that all eight of the applicants were eligible to receive funding. However, sufficient funding is not available to all fund to fund all requests. Given the available funds, staff recommend prioritizing applicants who have prior partnerships with the city and robust experience working with the Sandy Springs community. Giving the funding prioritization, staff recommend no funding for Reviving Leaders Collective Incorporated, Vegan Life Corporation, and Within the Mix

Incorporated During this funding cycle. Staff does recommend that the remaining five applicants be awarded the requested allowable amount of $15,000 each. With that, I open to any questions you have. You've heard the report of the director of recreation and parks. What's the desire of councel? Mayor Paul. Mr. Chinsky, I move approval of agenda item 2026-124 to award fiscal year 2026 nonprofit arts and recreation program contracts and to authorize the city manager to execute the agreements. Motion by Mr. Chinsky. Is there a second? Second.

Seconded by Miss Ford. Any discussion? Hearing none, we'll call the question. And the questions on agenda item 2026124 uh the award of fiscal year 2026 nonprofit arts and recreation program contracts. All in favor of the motion say I. I opposed. No.

The item is approved. Moving to mayor and council reports. Just a few things to kind of update council. Uh last week uh was the Georgia Municipal Association had its legislative policy council and also its board of directors uh meeting in College Park. I'm on both those. Uh, so I was there for two days. Um, we went through the legislative policy. You'll see those at the annual. There'll be some minor changes to policy recommendations. You'll see those at the convention this summer. Nothing of of any magnitude. Clearly, the focus of a lot of our conversations was on legislation that impacted uh uh municipal funding revenues. Uh and uh so there was a lot of conversation about that knowing that that is an issue that's not going away. In fact, will come back over the summer as the legislature has a study committee on local revenues [clears throat] as well as we anticipate legislation next year uh on u on municipal funding and revenue. So we're working through the summer on that. We started that process. Uh my recommendation to them was you can't beat a bad idea with anything other than a better idea. And we need to come up with our own proposals that would achieve the policy goals that the legislature uh wants to see occur without putting us not maybe not out of business but hurt hurting our ability to provide the services our communities come to expect. So we'll be working on that over the summer uh and trying to get that done. Um the SDS service delivery strategy conversations are going on with Fulton County. Nothing really significant to report yet. Uh city manager has been at this point there've been a lot of staff conversations. We've got a meeting on the 16th

12th of May [clears throat] to uh get in a room and start hashing some of this stuff out. Uh so we'll be keeping everybody uh informed. They are public meetings. Uh they'll be done at the courthouse. Uh clearly we started the budget process today. Uh that'll go until June when we finally produce the budget. So if members of the community are interested in how uh city council uh is proposing to spend uh your revenues this year, this is a great opportunity to pay attention and get involved and engaged and have conversations uh with council. We cut the [clears throat] uh ribbon on the Abernathy Art Center's new ceramics facility. Most of us were there. uh a beautiful facility, very well done. Uh and we're looking forward to uh getting those classes up and going. We've really become, [clears throat] excuse me, the uh arts and cultural uh hub for the North Metro area. And that's just another opportunity to uh to provide more services in the arts and cultural area for our community. And then we kicked off our summer concert series on Sunday. Some of us were there uh and uh it's a great way to start the summer. Great concert, good crowd, a lot of enthusiasm. We've got our first concert on the green on the 22nd uh with Sister Hazel. That's proven to be a very popular uh event. Uh I was told that the tables once they became available sold out in 10 minutes. So, uh it very popular event. We expect a nice crowd. Every even if you don't get a table, come out. You can spread a spread a blanket, have a chair, and enjoy some great music there. So, that's my report for right now. Mr. Paulson, thank you, Mayor. I have a couple of things. [clears throat] So, those of you that have been watching this Georgia 400 managed lanes project, uh, just so you know, they received

their notice to proceed or their NTP last week, which you can cut trees down while you're waiting on that, but you can't turn dirt over. Well, they now have an NTP. So now the dirt the earth work starts and it'll be great when it's done. Let's hope it gets done quickly. But that's number one. Just everybody aware that this notice to proceed has actually happened. The second item is we're voting again in case nobody noticed that just seems like yesterday, which seems like it was. One of the things that happened in the last election was in district one, we had a voting precinct to vote for the city council people and that was it was in John's Creek. And so, uh, I talked to Rocky at length about this. We we found an alternative location for the District 1 folks to be able to vote in Sandy Springs for Sandy Springs items. And that is now the new polling location for that whole area of District 1. It's the Dunwy Church. So, those of you that are going to be voting in the primary, this has already started. Uh, there also are several other locations that have changed. Uh, one of which affects district one and I think maybe district two. The middle school is no longer a polling location. And then, uh, Rocky, tell us what did I miss one? Is there are others in there, please?

Yes, the third location is Lake Forest Elementary School. It was a polling location. Uh those precincts have been relocated to our heritage facility for the time being. Okay. And those were the middle school is now they're voting at Temple Emanuel which is a little bit of a hall but so Fton County has shuffled the voting locations a bit and I thought we'd at least make everybody aware if you haven't gone yet. Go to the right place. Yeah. Go to the uh voter registration office website and double check your voting location to make sure you know early voting is already underway. Uh, and that and uh I get the library and where else are we early voting? Fton County annex. The annex. That's right. That's the other one. So, uh, a lot of people voted.

Library. Yeah, the library. Library. Yeah. So, uh, but whatever you do, please vote. Anybody else? Mr. Chinsky.

Few things around town. So, this is, uh, championship week at Sandy Springs youth sports. So, the spring baseball and softball teams will be wrapping up this week with closing ceremonies on Saturday. Uh, it's been a really, really a lot of fun this season. Uh, yesterday I had an unusual chance to meet the, uh, Jamaican ambassador to United States, uh, Ambassador Anderson, who was visiting Atlanta from Washington. We actually have, and mayor, I know you know this, we have a Jamaican council located in Sandy Springs. And the council is a constituent and a leadership Sandy Springs alum and uh longtime Sandy Springs resident. So, uh we had a great conversation. He was very interested in the history of Sandy Springs and how we've been able to attract business. And to Council Member Pollson's point on voting, he was very fascinated how many times we vote here compared to a lot of other areas around the country. Couldn't quite understand that, but I I tried to explain. Uh but that was that was really great. And uh this past weekend I went to Zoo Atlanta for their annual gala even though outside the border of Sandy Springs. Um I learned that the zoo is going to be only one of three zoos in the country to have pandas coming back to it from China.

So um it's about a 20-minute drive for anybody who's interested in seeing some some great animals. It's a great regional uh treasure. Yeah, thank you for going to that. I was out of town on Monday and couldn't be there and it was it was a great honor to have the ambassador here. Yeah, we do have our own fairly significant diplomatic corps here in town. I tell everybody Sandy Springs is the only town I know, only city I know with its own foreign policy. So, all right. Any others? All right. Uh, any staff reports? We do need an executive session for real estate and litigation. Mayor Paul, Mr. Pollson, I move that we suspend regular order and move into executive session for the purposes of real estate and litigation.

Have a motion by Mr. Pollson. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by Mr. Roberts that we uh suspend regular order and go into executive session for the purposes of real estate litigation. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, we'll call the question. The question is on the executive session. All in favor of the motion say I. I.

Opposed? No. 7:23. All right. There will be no further business conducted today. We'll just simply come back in here, reconvene, uh return to regular order, and then immediately adjourn. Thank you. All right. [clears throat] Rusty or depends on you guys. [laughter] Every every time I think it's short, you know, depends. I'm not left. chicken.

They said, "Do you like spicy?" I said, "Yes, I heard that.

Thank you.

That's what happens when they don't show it to me ahead of time. Mayor Paul. All right. I'll I'll take your motion as soon as I get to the right page. Mr. Pollson. Yes. I move that we close out executive session back in regular. We have a motion by Mr. Paulson. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by Mr. Roberts that we uh return to regular order. Any discussion? Hearing none, we'll call the question the questions on return to regular order. All in favor of the motion say I.

Opposed? No. We're back in regular order. Mr. Pollson moves adjournment seconded by Mr. Roberts. All in favor say I. Opposed? No. We are adjourned at 8:38. Yes, it is.

I don't know. With all of that, we were in there just over an hour.