City Council - Regular Meeting

Uh, I am John Paulson. I'm the mayor prom. I sit in. When the mayor's not here, he's a bit under the weather today. So, he decided to stay home and at least he's not whatever he's got, he's not passing on to all of us. So, hope it gets better soon. With that, I'm calling the meeting uh to order for the public facilities authority uh for Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Uh the secretary, please make the announcements and call the role. Um good evening. Just a reminder to everyone in attendance, please silence all cell phones and other electronic devices at this time. As I call roll, please confirm your attendance. Chair Rusty Paul, absent. Member John Paulson here. Member Melody Kelly here. Member Melissa Mueller

here. Member Frank Roberts here. Member Mary Ford here. Member Andrew Chinsky. Is there a motion to approve the meeting agenda? Chair Prom, I move that we approve the uh meeting agenda for the public facilities authority for Tuesday, March 17th. Do I have a second? Second. Any discussion? All in favor say I. I. Motion passes. Next, the motion to approve the meeting minutes. Do I have a motion?

Yes. I want to make a motion to approve um I'm just gonna make a motion to approve the meeting minutes uh agenda item PFA 2026-01. We have a motion. Do I have a second? Second. And we have a second. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? I. Motion passes. Moving to new business. Will the secretary read the first item?

This is agenda item number PFA 202602. Consideration for resolution to approve the contract award to Reeves Young for construction manager at risk for fire station number one and fire station number four and to authorize the negotiation of a contract for the same and to authorize the public facilities authority general manager to execute the contract. This is presented by director of facilities and capital construction Dave Wells. Good evening, Chairman Pollson, members of the PFA. Uh, tonight I bring you before before you a recommendation to award contract with Reeves Young for the construction of fire stations 1 and four. The city conducted a two-step solicitation process to select a construction firm with the capacity and demonstrated experience to provide construction manager risk services for the construction of two new fire stations. Fire Station 1 located at 1425 Spalding Drive and Fire Station 4 located at 5275 Roswell Road. On December 10th, 2025, the city issued a request for qualifications to solicit statements of qualifications for from highly qualified and experienced firms to perform the services described in the RFQ. Responses were due on July 22nd. The city received responses from the following eight firms. Brasten Cook Company, Benning Construction Company, Carol Daniel Construction Company, Construction LLC, Hogan Construction Group LLC, John W. Spratland and Sun LLC, Manhattan Construction Company LLC, and Reeves Young LLC. A an evaluation committee consisting of the following city personnel evaluated the responses using their criteria established in their RFQ. My save myself Dave Wells, Chief Sanders, city's fire chief, and Richard Collins, the city's construction manager. Based on the valuation criteria outlined in the RFQ,

seven firms were determined to be qualified and were invited to participate in the second phase of the solicitation process. On February 3rd, the city issued a request for proposal to the seven qualified firms to solicit proposals from Miss Seymar Services. Proposals were due on February 18th. The city received proposals from all seven firms. The evaluation committee reviewed the reviewed and scored the proposals based on the following criteria established in the RFP. Project understanding and approach 10%. Schedule statements of services 10%. Project manager and project team 25%. Pre-construction services 25% and quality assurance quality control and safety was 10%. After reviewing the technical services, we opened up the fee cost which were 20%. The four highest ranked firms following an initial evaluation were as follows. Reeves Young was top score on technical services and lowest price. John W. Spratland was second with the highest priced. Hogan third and Carol Daniel Construction was fourth. Following the initial scoring of the proposals, the four highest ranked firms were invited to participate in a formal interview process presentation with the evaluation committee on March 2nd. During the during the interviews, each firm was given 30 minutes to provide an overview of his proposed project team, relevant experience, approach to pre-construction services, and overall protection project delivery strategy. Each firm also addressed questions from the evaluation committee to clarify aspects of its proposals. Following the presentation, the discussion among the evaluation committee members, Reeves Young LLC was

determined to be the highest ranked firm. Several factors contributed to the determination, including the following. Reeves Young's project team is led by a project executive with more than 25 years of municipal construction experience and extensive experience construction constructing public safety facilities, including fire stations and other municipal buildings. The proposed project team members have pre previously worked together on multiple projects, demonstrating strong collaboration and established working relationships that contribute to effective project delivery. The firm has successfully completed several projects with the city, including fire stations 2 and four, police headquarters, fleet, and veterans park. They have previously collaborated with Hussy Gay Bell, the architect selected for this project and bring extensive experience with the construction manager risk delivery method consistently delivering projects on schedule and under budget. Staff's recommendation to this public facilities authority is to approve a resolution to authorize a contract award to Reeves Young LLC for construction manager at risks services for the construction of the new fire stations 1 and four. Thank you. Well, you've heard the report by our director facilities. What's the desire of our members? All right, member Pollson or Chairman Pro Tim Pollson. I want to move approval of agenda item PFA 2026-02. This is a resol a resolution to approve a contract award to Reeves Jung for construction manager at risk services for fire station number one and fire

station number four and to authorize the negotiation of a contract for same and to authorize the public facility authority general manager to execute the contract. We have a motion by Dr. Kelly. Do we have a second? Second. Second by Miss Mueller. Any discussion? I have just a question. Um assuming this passes tonight, uh what sort of timeline are are we on um for construction? If you I'm sorry if you've already said that, but uh to to begin construction.

Yeah. So, fire station 4 will go first and we're expecting to be in the ground sometime in August and then fire station uh one will be about two months behind that. Okay. And um construction we're looking at 24 months. Uh actually we are hoping to have the construction finished by next December for fire station 4 and one. Okay. December 27. December 27. Yes. Oh, okay. All right. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Any further discussion?

Yes, just a couple questions. Thank you for going through the detailed review process that you all did to select this one. Can you describe the next steps for the neighborhoods surrounding fire station 4 to see the design and have the review of that process? Yes. Uh by the end of the month we should have 3D renderings and then the chief with the architect will be meeting with the neighborhoods. So sometime in April uh probably April May time frame. May. Okay. Thank you.

Any further discussion? Hearing none. I call a question. All in favor of agenda item 20. Hang on a minute. PFA 202602 resolution to approve contract award to Reeves Young for construction manager at risk services for the fire station number one and number four and for negotiations to contract for the same authorize the public facilities authority manager to execute the contract. All in favor say I. I. All opposed. The motion carries. Go hit it, Dave.

All right. There's no f Okay, there we go. No further business. Is there a motion to adjurnn? Chair Pollson, I move adjournment. Mueller moves adjournment. Do I have a second? Second. Andrew Chinsky is a second. Uh, all in favor? I. Okay, we're adjourned.

610. All right, one down. All right, the second item is a the work session for tonight and I want to start with the first item on the work session which is a recognition of the 2026 Sandy Springs Citizens Leadership Academy graduation. This is the third class. I think it's the third class. Uh we had dinner with these folks about a week ago and everybody's excited and I'm looking forward to hearing more about it. if you would, if you're here, when I call your name, would you please come down to the front and stand by the podium here because we're going to take everybody's picture when we're done. So, with that, uh, Cel Bulis and Jim Bulis, please come forward. Bill Kalen, come forward. Sherry Collins, Riley Cooper, Stacy Falco, Kate Ford, Kate Floyd, Michael Gundy, Stephen Hickeyi, VCA, Julius Johnson, Stephen Kaplan, Brendan Louu, Justin Major Rea Matthew, Kim McNamera, Nicole Modari, Leslie Mullis, Margot Parr, Frank Roberts, Franco, and Janice Roberts,

Pam Rosenthal, Vladimir Schlloski,

Sabina Sims, James Bogs, James SGS, sorry, Michelle Sullivan, Paul Turzian, Andrew Trif, Chrissy Williams, and Chris Thorne. All right, council, let's stand up. We'll go get a picture taken. So that way we can have two clean lines. So everybody find your window so we can see everybody's face. Everybody turn. You can stand up here.

Yes, ma'am. All right. Perfect. One more. Thank you so much. So that's our third graduating class. Uh Eden, when is the next class? When is the sign up for the next leadership class?

We will be opening for applications later in the summer. Um so people should stay tuned for that. The next series will begin after school starts back in September.

Perfect. After school starts. All right. So, anybody interested and those that just graduated, you're not done. You need to go out and tell everybody in your neighborhood about our city and what you learned. This is a very you're a very powerful force now for the city's recognition. All right. Next, uh staff discussion items. We have uh the G dot innovative interchange concept plans for I285 and Roswell Road presented by Josh C. Josh Craves, Andrew Farmer, Andrew Smith, all with Gresham Smith. Gentlemen, you please come forward.

Good evening. Evening.

I'm Joel C. Graves with Gresian Smith. Um, I'm going to be presenting uh the I285 ST at stout 9, the innovative interchanges uh scoping study that we put together. Um I do want to point out that before we start this this is uh simply it is a scoping study with the only deliverable being an approved concept. Um it is uh funded through scoping and that is that is it right now. Um first off we'll go through some existing conditions of Roswell Road and 285 and the surrounding uh city side streets. Um here's a location map. Um you see it's just uh just west of 400 at 285. Um a little bit more detail on a location map. Um the red that you see are previously identified uh historic districts um environment or environmental um resources. Um, currently the interchange is a tight urban diamond or a 2D. If you hear me say 2D, I'm speaking to the u existing uh interchange configuration. 285 in the area has got 10 lanes. Um there is barrier separated collector distributors um along 285. Roswell Road is four lane. It's median divided. Uh it's a principal arterial. um carries approximately 40,000 vehicles a day through the interchange. Uh lane widths on Roswell Road currently they vary from 10 to 11 feet. The border width or shoulder uh varies from 10 to 16 ft and includes 4 to approximately 9 foot sidewalks, side paths. 285 through here has a variable speed limit. Uh the 65 miles per hour is used for the design of the initial ramp curve. Um I have it right here.

The Roswell road speed limits 35 miles per hour. Existing rideway along Roswell Road varies from about 60 to 220 ft. I do want to point out that that 220 ft is up at 285. Um that's your widest rideway due to 285's rightway in the area. Uh the project is mixeduse residential and commercial. The uh ramps off of 285 are 2 to four lanes. Currently they're 12 ft with 12t wide lanes and the ramp shoulders vary from 8 to 12 feet. Um our local roads uh include but are not limited to Lake Placid Drive, Northwoods Drive, Allen Road, Carpenter Drive, and Cliffwood Drive. Um all of these city streets within the limits the range from 2 to four travel lanes with widths varying from 10 to 11 ft. They all maintain a variable border width uh 10 to 16 ft and the sidewalks in the shoulders range from 4 to 10 ft in width. Um you can see that the our posted speed limits vary uh depending on which uh side street you were on. Um, we have a lot of previously identified historic resources and we saw that on the my location map uh with with with the the the red boxes uh indicating his uh history. We have a at least one stream in the area. Uh Allen Park is located nearby. It is not within the project limit, but it is close. Um there'll be ongoing ongoing coordination uh with the 285 express lanes for noise mitigation. Um, I don't want to keep going. Y'all can't see it. Um, let's see. And there's still uh ecological resource surveys that need to be completed um for this particular project.

Um, now the fun part, the alternatives we've considered. Um, our first alternative, alternative one was a displace left. Um it was not chosen as the preferred alternative uh in part due to benefit cost and it not fitting with uh what you see in the blue there is the uh it's a a footprint that Gresian was provided for the future express lanes and our displace left uh just was was not going to size to fit vertically nor horizontally with those top down express lanes. So that was a parameter that we had to uh take into account on every alternative that we explored. Uh the next alternative, alternative two uh when it pops back up is single point or a spooy. Um same same reasons. Alternative one wasn't chosen. Uh very low benefit cost and does not fit well or at all in this case with our top down uh express lane parameter. Uh, alternative three was taking the existing 2D or tight urban diamond and adding capacity in the form of uh, left turn lanes onto the ramps, off of the ramps and and increasing level of service and operations. Uh, with the existing configuration, uh, the bridge would be replaced in this in this instance. U, this also wasn't chosen um, due to a lower benefit cost ratio. It does fit within the current footprint that we were provided of the express lanes but with a lower benefit cost. It was not the uh preferred alternative in this uh in this study. Alternative four which was our is our preferred alternative is a DDI or diverging diamond interchange. Um this provided the highest benefit cost and fit well within the express lane uh um footprint. And uh there are a

here's our preferred alternative. Um go to the next one. I have a little bit better zoomed in view. This is south of 285. Um I would like to point out here south of 285 except up right up by the the the interstate the rightway varies from 60 to 70 ft. Um but very narrow rightway footprint for for what we need to do here. Um this is north of 285. Our rightway here varies approximately 70 to 90 feet. Um, our typical section width for Roswell Road through this area is a roughly 100 ft wide. Um, to to just put in put in perspective our our some of our challenges with rightway and and having an operational interchange. Um total project cost for the preferred alternative for the DDI um it's estimated anywhere from 70 to 85 million. Uh the as as mentioned in the beginning the the the only thing funded here is the scoping phase rightway utility construction uh nor PE or preliminary engineering. Uh none of that is currently funded. Um, we have potential effects and other highlights we we we would like to point out on this. Um, we are not anticipating any controlling criteria, exceptions or variances. We are anticipating at least three at this time variances to G dot standard criteria. These being median usage, um, we are not going to be able to fit a 20 to 24 foot wide median um, as policy calls for through here. Um, access control may need to be variance due to proximity of driveways to our ramps. And a design variance for lateral offset to obstruction may need to be pursued due to the proximity of of poles, buildings, um, and other features

that are inherent to an urban corridor. Um, there are currently 23 anticipated parcels. Uh, there's one potential displacement. Um that would be there's a uh a gas station on the south side of 285 that currently the the existing sidewalk is almost up against the filler caps and any widening there is is most likely going to displace uh our required rightaway as mentioned before we we have a really variable rightway footprint from 60 to up to 220 ft up by the interstate proposed we are going to go from 60 to 75 at our minimum and are going to take up to 260 ft up up at the interchange. Um, with this corridor already being very built out and commercialized that that's right away is a challenge through here. Um, there are several utilities as as I'm I'm sure a lot of people in this room know that run through the corridor both underground and aerial. Um, the utility adjustment schedule for this project will will be complex. Um, and it will require very close coordination with utility owners and uh the contractor. Uh this is a major project. Thus, a public interest determination policy and procedure is going to be recommended. Um these this this is just a a graphic depicting all of the utilities in the corridor. Um you see there's uh electric traffic control, gas, water, sewer, um some it running through there. There there are it's it's typical typical utilities and a very built out urban corridor. Um this is the the the north side. Um they there they there are several attached to the bridge. Um uh more project effects. Um as as everyone knows that there's there's a lot of congestion that exists here. Um during construction staging that that is going to be some there's going to be some growing pains. Um during

construction the staging will be complex be a lot of traffic shift have to close lanes. Um there's going to be some coordination that has to be done very close with MARTA due to the bus stops located in the corridor in the project limit. Um as mentioned before the utility adjustment schedule uh will be complex and long. There's several projects that are close by that uh complex and close coordination is going to be required of those two. Um there are the the the road user cost here uh is is pretty high per day. So it's possible the early completion ex incentives are provided. Um and in this area our municipal separate storm water sewer system or MS4 the policy applies but again given the given the corridor characteristics exclusions may be p pursued just due to the the the MS4 BMPs being infeasible um should they be proposed. And that is the end of our uh presentation and I welcome any questions. Thank you.

Yes, sir. Uh, let's start with questions. Uh, who's interested? Uh, Miss Mueller. I think Oh, you're gonna go first. Yes, please go ahead. Um, could we go back to the slide focusing on the south side of 285?

Absolutely. I have a number of questions about this segment and I think some of my colleagues may take more of the north side. So, we try to divide and conquer a little bit. So, first of all, I want to say thank you for the presentation. I think um at least for me I I recognize this is a very busy intersection and it's suboptimal and so some work needs to be done but I I I will tell you I have a number of concerns of of sort of how this is going to impact some of the surrounding businesses and and residents and and I I'll start number one by saying you you may or may not know this this is um probably one of the most pedestrian trafficked areas of the entire city of Sandy Springs. There are a number of neighborhoods and residents who walk uh to work, walk uh to the bus stop. So, walkability and some of our plans that we've had for this area will be directly impacted by this um and probably not so much in a positive way because we're increasing traffic, increasing lanes. So, I'm I'm wondering if there's ways that we can can work on that and I'll I'll get to some of my questions. So the the first property that I wanted to ask about if you you mentioned the the gas station that would be displaced. Can you talk a little bit more about why I guess the rationale behind that and and what would happen? Would would Got buy the property? Like what what what would happen?

Um I I'm first I'm not going to speak to what G dot might do. I have Nebu with G dot sitting back here. Um but the the the reason I I mentioned that displacement um existing it is very close to the road and I'm I'm afraid you you you have you can it's hard to see from from you know way back here but you have the the filler caps where the truck pulls in and fills the tanks. They are in between the canopy and the road right now. And so any widening, regardless of alternative, any any widening there, I'm afraid, is going to impact a the tanks themselves or b a truck's ability to get in there and do what he needs to do and leave. Um, and that's that's property number seven. That is

correct. Okay. So across the street on property number eight, that is also a gas station. Okay. Yes. And on the car wash, right? With the car wash. So, have have you considered whether that might be a potential displacement as well? I I given the location of the filler caps, I don't think it's going to be a a displacement. I'm not as confident there as I am as is parcel 7. From this map, it looks to me like the only way to access that gas station would be from the culdesac because you're cutting off access to Roswell Road. Is that correct? That is correct. In this current configuration,

I would suggest some more discussion with G dot about whether that is a displacement because if you're cutting off access to the gas station from the main road and the only way you can access it is from three right turns off of a culde-sac up a side street, um I I think you you probably need to talk to that property owner and figure out what's going to happen. And I I don't disagree. Okay. Um the property number 10. Are you all aware of what what that is? Let me I'm going to open that here so I can Okay. I I just I I can It's It's Center Ice Arena. Okay. The The ice arena.

Yeah. So I'll tell you a little bit about Center Ice. So there are very few indoor ice rinks in the state of Georgia. And um they're very busy. Sometimes during the holiday season, they could have 15 20,000 people come through in December. And again, from this map, it looks like you're cutting off their access to the main street. Correct. Um the the little red line that's at the the bottom of the rightway acquisition. Yes, sir. That is That's right. Is is that going to result in a loss of that property to them? And and part of the reason I ask is there's there's parking spaces down there that is already tight on parking, right? So would would that mean they're going to lose parking spaces?

Uh they could with with with without having full field survey. Um I I can't tell you yes or no right now. Um it is it possible? Yes. But you know I I without full field survey I'm not confident enough to tell you one way or the other. Okay. Um my my very strong suggestion uh and I know there's representatives from G dot in the room too is that there there needs to be a lot of community engagement, okay,

around this as particularly for for these properties. And I I would really encourage you to get them in a room and listen to their concerns and try to figure out if there's some way to mitigate the impact on their on their businesses. And there may be something they can do together. I I don't know.

Sure. Um, but there just looking at this map and and knowing how this area is used, this is um it's it's great for the cars moving through Roswell Road. It is extremely disruptive to these small businesses um along Roswell Road, including the property that's at number six and four, which are changing the driveway in and out of of those as well. there's some other small businesses there that I would I I before this is finalized um I I think there needs to be some discussion about how this is going to impact them. Okay. Um on the 8ft multi-use multi-use path

yes um did you consider whether you could do a 10 or a 12ft path? I don't think I can fit a 10 or 12 foot path with the current information that I have. Okay. which is GIS and aerials. Um that that that that that's something that will have to be determined in preliminary design when full field survey is available. Um I welcome a 10-ft path, but I I it's it's an uncertainty and I don't want to overpromise.

Yeah, I I hear you. I I think you probably know. So 10-ft path is sort of the minimum of what's recommended by best practices for multi-use. This actually really should be more like 12 or 14 foot because of how dense and high traffic this is. So, this is challenging in terms of encouraging walkability in in this area. And I guess the same question I have on on the path. It looks like there's a sidewalk or multi-use path contemplated in the in the middle of the diverging diamond interchange like in the middle of Roswell Road. That is how pedestrians will cross the bridge. Uh it's very similar to uh Jimmy Carter. So, will will people actually be able to walk like down the middle of Roswell Road?

It's approximately 19 feet wide. Yes. And it will be have barriers on either on either side of it. It's a barrier protected multi-use path across the bridge. Okay. Yeah. I I I would also I mean I would just encourage this to be an ongoing conversation because this this is obviously a huge project and I I really I'm just going to say again to wrap up at least these initial questions. Community engagement is going to be really important here to figure out ways to mitigate the impact to these small businesses that are really core to our community as well as the residents in the area who walk this area daily. Okay. Sure. Thanks. Okay. I have a couple. Oh,

go ahead. Just if we can finish this outside. Um, we'll work our way left to right. Okay. Yeah. So, on the part about the community outreach, uh, I concur that there should be a lot lots of it because there are so many residential units around there and my ask would also be that it's a multilingual and that it's not just in English because that's a very diverse community. Um my next question for you is can you just give us a little bit of insight when we talk about these are historical areas. What is it that's historical about them? Um I'm going to think about that. Do you have the con report? So those areas were identified as part of Tell me who you are sir. What?

Hi my name is Andrew Farmer. I'm also with Gresham Smith. um those those areas uh as as part of our study, we were only scoped to do a uh desktop screening for potential environmental areas. Uh those areas shown in red were identified uh via some other projects within the area. Uh so we thought to include them and identified as what, I'm sorry. Yeah, the potential historic districts just based on the age uh and qualities of the properties. Okay. Okay. Keep going. Um and then my next question is this project is intended to completely replace the bridge. Yes.

Okay. That's it for me. Mer.

Okay. So, I'm going to talk about uh the north side 285. Uh it's mostly my district, which is district three. Um and there's a small portion of district 6 that goes over there. So, I think that we all agree that this is a chronically uh challenged traffic-wise uh intersection. Even with, you know, the changes and improvements that have been done over the years, it's still um congested almost all around the clock. Um I think that this is uh the project should be evaluated not only in terms of the lens of moving cars efficiently, but also as far as um pedestrian mobility and and some bicyclists, I guess, were you know, planning for the future there. But unlike other diverging diamonds that G dot has done uh at Ashford Dunwhaty which is not in our city and then um at um Abernathy Road those function u very well but they also were not in as um the changes weren't in a dense area where we have a lot of residences we have a lot of businesses so while we need to focus on the traffic we also need to focus on the businesses and the residents and I know G dot generally you kind of do that but that's not your focus and I'm going to ask throughout and give you some data that I would like us to consider that um you know this area does have north especially north of uh 285 has um not just businesses it does have town homes it has condominiums and has apartment complexes um you know so the question I have is are we going to be improving the ve vehicular flow through the intersection but we're going to create a worse worsening local conditions for the neighborhoods businesses and pedestrians rians.

Um, can I ask for a clarification on on on worsening? What's so I think especially if you're talking about like the culde-sacing when we look at this um I'm going to talk I'll first uh so one of my questions is done on the um the southern part of the diagram here where you have the north access or I'm the north access road. Yes. So I would like to understand could we make that a connection all the way through to Carpenter Drive because just south I think you on the do the one diagram G dot has noted that it's apartments it's actually condominiums and there's 93 of them.

Okay. Um and just if you go around I mean I do have the the total numbers I can give you um breakouts you when you look at the um there's a total in this whole area if you look at the upper and lower on on the north um side you have 324 um single family homes town homes condos that are there you also have 650 apartment units that are on both sides um 353 of which are market rate apartments and 297 are senior living. Okay.

Uh you also have um 22 commercial properties and if we include the district 6 there's 25 12 of which are noted on your diagram with the numbers and we have one park which is a little bit outright. So we do have people who travel along this corridor that would be going to Allen Park also walking there. That's one of our more heavily used parks uh for basketball and soccer. And then we have a few undeveloped parcels but those really aren't in play here. So, I think um you can I just want to give you those numbers to just show you that Sure. Thank you.

it there's a lot of other things other than cars that travel through here and I know while you're focused on that, this is really uh a much bigger impact and the corridor is very active and I would like to see it continue to be active. So, with that, I don't know if you have any comments and before I get I have a couple questions. I was going to on your north access road um and kind of going back to mine and Mr. Chinsky's conversation without having field survey I from field visits and aerials and and GIS there's a pretty big grade change right where I've got that north access road ending. Um I didn't want to take out half of that parking lot showing that connection. So again I don't I don't want to tell you yes or no. I could it be connected? Sure. Um, but w without having field survey, I I can't I can't tell you that for certainty without without taking out somebody's, you know, all their parking and and knocking the building out in the process. Um, that there's that there's a a 10 or 15 foot grade change right there.

But I would just ask that I mean there are several I think there's uh what three or four businesses on that side. There's uh 17 town um 17 um single family homes. There's 93 uh condos there. Plus, you have at the senior living facility that's just that's over there as well. Okay. And I know that I have received com um comments from the senior living facility that when the residents are out walking um they do have to cross the road to get to the sidewalk on the other side and um cars do today travel further if pretty fast and now might be having a little bit more uh with the culde-sacing because people can't go out and get on to uh Allen Road. they'll have to go all the way around,

right? So, that would be a concern I think for the Campbellstone community that lives there. Um, and then I also had a question of if if the bridge is part of the express lane project now, right? Is that true? Is it going to be part of it? I believe the question was, is the bridge part of the express lanes project now? Is that the understanding? Yes. Could Could he come to the podium? So I can't Can you come to the

sir? I can't hear you. Why don't you come up front and talk to us? Okay. And please tell us who you are. I'm Nebby Nagash with Georgia Department of Transportation. I'm the program manager for Metro Atlantic area. You're from Got, right? Yes. Perfect. you're the guy we want to talk to to answer the question. Uh the bridge part of this project will be included in the 285 expand ex express lane project. Our commissioner has already sent a letter for the city mayor.

Okay. And then so what does that mean for the timeline for this project? because I know this is stud this is a study but is there anything material that may come out of the discussion tonight or the public open houses that would have to get in in short order because of the integration the ch the expansion of the bridge now being put in to set up for this project down the road you understand

yes I I do understand uh the bridge will be part of the express lane however as uh mentioned by uh the respective council. The community engagement is critical. Uh but the other part of the project will need preliminary design as mentioned by the design team. Uh during the preliminary phase, the public involvement needs to be included and that will come up from survey. So the ground survey hasn't been done. impacts are not really clearly indicated at this point. Uh we have this scoping only project. The outcome of the scoping project was concept report. Uh we have the final draft concept report now prepared by the design team. Uh that will be presented to the Gat executive management to be approved. uh however we will take into consideration the request to have that public engagement uh during this phase and the team is in preparation for uh presenting for the public.

Okay. So we have I I'm hearing we have some time. Yes, we do. Not a lot but some. Yes. Okay. Um what is has there been any um consideration for noise mitigation or soundwall opportunities for evaluation down near uh Allen Road Park and then the the Atwater community. This has been um a longgoing discussion. That community was platted I believe and not built the last time a sound study was done in that area. So is that going to be part of this project or would that be part of the 285 express lane project that sound study?

Currently the project that we are presenting today is at scorping level which is early concept. So I cannot speak for the noise barrier. If it was included in the 285 projects the P3 division will notify the city. Okay. So, that's still ongoing. I think that I just want to raise that as a continued concern because we've spoken to I think your other your colleagues when they've been here about that. Um, we talked about the north access road. Something else with the culdeac of Allen Road. I'm just wondering, have you considered any of the traffic increase that might hap happen on Cliffwood Way? Uh, as well as then through the plaza that's there. Um, I think what is it? the Plaza City Springs because there's a private road that goes through there. So my concern is with that culde-sac are those roads now going to see an increase in traffic and if so what evaluation has been done on those roads? So there was extensive traffic modeling done during this scoping study and with these culde-sacs that that the the existing traffic coming in and out of the culde-sacs was pushed up to Cliffwood and Carpenter and it resulted in a very minimal we're talking a handful of seconds increase in driver delay. Um you know we're not talking you know level of service changes or anything like that. It it was it was a it was a minimal delay. Um but we we did take that into account. we did push that traffic to respective signals and uh you know we we we took that into account. Um to to speak on the culde-sacs a little bit I I know that's that's come up several times. Um again currently with this being a scoping level concept study um that is what makes the interchange function well. If I open those up they're going to be opened up into the ramps. Mhm.

The other option is moving the intersection, but moving the intersection, I mean, you can see moving the intersection would take out full parcels, full buildings. Um, in order to move that those intersections out of the ramp, um, and again, you know, I I sound like a broken record. You know, it's a scoping study. You know, we we just, you know, there's there's some things that we just do not have all the information in order to be able to determine right now. Yeah. So, your model uh focused on intersections. I guess the roads that I'm speaking of do are not intersections. So, I mean with signal signalized intersections. So, Clifwood Way uh is just down from I think it's the first um road after the plaza. Okay.

And then there's also a private street that goes through that plaza. And if you if anyone's ever been in that uh plaza gets pretty busy and traffic through there is already pretty dicey right with the uh so I'm just concerned about a private road that's not set up to handle maybe additional traffic as well as Cliffwood Way because Cliffwood Way where it intersects with Cliffwood Drive um there's no intersection there's no uh signalized intersection there. So I don't know what that would mean for um cars coming up there if there's an increase in traffic. So I don't know if there's a way to study not just signalized impact but the nearest uh crossroad intersections. Right. I I understand. And

we Yeah. Our again our scope for this study was really from Roswell Road from Cliffwood Carpenter down to Lake Placid to the south. Um including including the interchange. Well these roads are in between there, right? So they connect, right? So, uh, Allen Road connects to Cliffwood through Cliffwood Way. So, I'm just saying. So, these are in the study zone. I think they're in the circle that was on the main uh, one of the slides. That is something I can get you an answer to because we do have a Visa model built. It's a micro traffic simulation

and um, I I'd have to check with our traffic folks. I I can get you an answer. Okay. I would appreciate that today. Um well, I just make sure that if we're going to do this, let's do it right. Right. Correct. So, I'm not suggesting close off the culde-sac or, you know, change them or open them up. I I know that we have to make progress, but I just want to make sure that we're not uh making things worse. You asked me what I meant by things worse and this would be and I I am fairly confident that that our traffic engineer included side roads in his rerouting of traffic, but I don't want to tell you that with utmost certainty without looking at it first.

Okay. I'd be interested to see that. And then there was talk about um a martya BRT station at some point in this area. Does this project at all impact that or does that project impact this? So, we we've had a couple meetings with the BRT team and uh first off with that, there's no funding for their BRT. It's very conceptualized and my my my take with BRT is like they they're willing to work around work with um you know, this project with the express lane project. So, there's there's a lot of coordination ongoing with BRT and Marta. Um but yes, I'm aware of that possible.

So, it's kind of like who whoever gets there first. And then we go. Okay. Who can who can come up with the funding first? Correct. Okay. Um, and then a question. I know that our city staff had submitted uh questions and uh feedback. I didn't know the status of that. Have we answered those questions? Have they um have we responded to them? And are we planning on responding to them? Yes, we met back. We met with the city staff back in October 2025. I believe we did we did send responses back to city staff addressing what questions we could answer.

Yeah, actually there was uh so I attended a meeting and I believe Councilman Pollson and Roberts attended in January. Yes. And that same list was provided and I still am not sure that they've been responded to. We we sent a response. We had a nice spreadsheet that was provided by city staff and we we sent it back with what we could. Okay. So, but you said October and that was January. So, I just want to make sure it's the same. Yeah. There. And it's important to note that with this concept there there's several answers that will have to be determined or in preliminary design if this project ever makes it to that stage.

All right. I I uh I wasn't aware that they were responded to. I didn't think that they were. So, I would just ask that if we could double check that, I'd appreciate that. And then uh do you know when the public openhouse will be scheduled for this? Uh we we are hoping to have a public involvement meeting uh public open house um this year. Okay. So initially we're trying for spring, but I think that's going to get pushed back uh maybe end of summer. I'm not sure. I can't provide you. Okay. So I thought this report was going to be done in April. So obviously report Well, yes, but public involvement

may not necessarily be completed yet. And that's typical a lot of times for uh for concepts. A lot of times we don't we don't need full public involvement prior to uh having a concept report.

Okay. Well, that's a little disappointing to hear. Actually, it would be good, I think, to get the public's input before you publish the study. Um, and then one final question is, so what's the reality of any potential modifications to what's presented here tonight? I know this is just a study, but often studies are reality. and are we able to impact any type of changes to help the businesses, the residents and um as this evolves or is this what's presented going to be what happens?

Um I can carefully say that yes, changes are possible. Um it's going to depend on what the changes are obviously. Um, but with this being just a concept, as long as we're not changing the interchange configuration, the number of lanes drastically there there's yes, it's it's it it's it's it's an early stage scoping concept. It's still a fluid concept. It there there changes can be made within reason. And you know I wanted to speak briefly just about you know there there's a compromise between access for businesses and then safety both for pedestrians and uh other road users. Um the this the concept as we have presented now uh is maximizing the safety and a lot of that's by eliminating the driveway access off state route 9. Uh if you take out the signalized intersections and then the interchange ramps, there's currently 78 pedestrian conflict points along this corridor from Lake Placid to uh Cliffwood Carpenter. I think as we have it presented now, we're looking at uh 10 proposed conflict points. So I I know that y'all y'all have mentioned pedestrian safety several times this evening.

Yeah. and you know what whatever we can do to help our residents also navigate would be greatly appreciated. So, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Roberts, please. Can you uh go back to the southside?

Certainly. There's been a lot of talk about the business problem and a lot of these businesses won't be there when you complete this thing because of the uh impact of it. Now I'm seeing some where the service station is. I guess it's a shell station there on that corner that you cut off their their driveway from Roswell Road. You can only access it from Northwoods. Correct. That's that's the current configuration that that can okay be adjusted if it needs to be. You got a cut in the curb still there.

And on Lake Placid, you got a cut in the curb. One going north, one going south. Is there any way, okay, to connect a roadway to those cuts in the curb to feed these businesses on Northwoods that you're actually basically putting them out of so business? If if I understand correctly, you're asking is there a possibility for an access road? Yes. So they plastic to Northwoods that that was looked at early um actually sketched up and taken out due to that giant hole behind those businesses.

Um those businesses are all held up with a I think it's a gabon wall. It was hard to see with all the kudzu on it the last time I was out there. Um I'm not going to tell you it's impossible. Um it is would be very expensive. Um, and I mean it's it's it's doable. We sketched it. I just sketched it out, fleshed it out. Um, we we discussed that probably back last summer and and decided to remove it from the southside due to the constructibility and and cost associated with it. Not to mention, it would require the uh it would impact more of those large transmission poles um that are running down Roswell Road. So it is possible but it was removed due to cost and constructibility.

Okay. Well now you you mentioned something about filling the hole. We know there's a hole there, right? We also we also know that G dot moves a lot of earth. That is correct. There's no way they can come in and fill that hole. I like I said it's I'm not telling you it's impossible. Okay. Um I I don't I don't want to speak directly for G dot. Thank you, Dr. Kelly. No. All right. Couple follow-up questions. Go ahead. Thank you. Um, for the gas station on the east side of Roswell Road that's being dis displaced. And if you look back at for the one that I think you need to look again whether that counts as a displacement,

parcel parcel 8. Um, do so. These are these are gas stations. There's um tanks underneath them that cost a lot of money to clean up for redevelopment for something else besides a gas station. Sure. Is that a cost that would be covered by the project or is that something that the property owner is then going to have to bear? So the the the project I'll just kind of lay out typical is you do USD studies, underground storage tank studies. Uh you get to what? A phase two. uh a phase two is going to tell you what's there, what needs to happen. Clearly, we know there's tanks there, and that would be part of the project. That that would be done under the contract. Okay.

Um I'm going to double down on what council member Mueller said about let's try to have some public open houses or at least individual outreach to these property owners before the design is finalized. Um this is just this is a very major impact to some big pieces of land that um I I I really think it would be it would it would save a lot of heartache and headache later on for you all to do that before the design is finalized. Um with this many culde-sacs, did you all consider how this could impact police and fire response time? I I mean we talked a little bit about some of the residents that live there. you know, Laurel Grove on the north side um is in is in my district and for police and fire to get there, they're now going to have to go all the way around Carpenter Road, whereas before they could just go sort of the short way in Corper Road. Is that something that was in scope for you?

Um, honestly, with with it being a 6-in curb, any fire truck or ambulance or emergency responder is going to be able to go over it if he needs to. So, I mean, the you're correct. They are cut off technically from driving on the road through there, but it's it's not a I don't think it's it's not a hindrance. So the the plan is for the police and fire to jump over the curb and go into the culde-sac. Are you actually telling us that now? That's really what you're saying. Saying it's possible.

It's not the plan, but you know there's culde-sacs in a lot of places. You know it's it's it's got to be planned for. You're right. But, you know, it's not, you know, again, no, it's not, you know, we're not scoped to look at EMS. I mean, it's I would suggest you have a conversation with our police and fire departments about that issue, please. Sure. Because that is a much more roundabout way to have to get to these properties and the public safety issue. Sure. Um, last thing I'll say, I I know you are not taking notes because you're up here speaking. Hopefully, you have a colleague somewhere in the audience taking notes. Okay, great. If not, our meetings are recorded. They're online. If you have questions about what we said, please refer back to it and and reach out to us because this is obviously a big deal. Sure. Thank you,

Mr. Ford. One final question. Can you uh just big picture help us understand how this project may proceed? So, there may be a design later this year with an public with public sessions and then just what are the big chunky sort of milestones? I think you made the point it's not funded. We're just trying to figure out like is this five or 10 years away or is that next year

time frame? I I I can't I can't speak to that right right now specifically. I can tell you my understanding is like like Neb, you've stated that the the bridge is being replaced under the express lanes project and there is going to be considerations made for the approach legs for it's going to be an accommodate this DDI. As far as time frame, nebby, I you have a time frame? No. No. So, we don't have a I can't tell you it's going to happen, you know, next month in a year in five year. I I I don't I'm not privy to that information.

Yeah. I I I would say if this project were to progress through preliminary and final design, it would be a four to five year prog to five year process to do to complete the design for this. Oh, to five years to do the design. Just for the design, design, rightway acquisition, environmental permits, permitting. Okay. Well, even that is helpful information. It's at least five years out. But the interchange the or the the express lane project, does that have a start date? We we are not privy to that information. I I imagine it's it's um happening this year is my understanding or at least starting this year

or at least the the bids, you know, I think G dot receiving the bids this year.

All right. So, gentlemen, one of the first slides said your your goal was to have an approved concept. Obviously, from these questions, it's our opinion you're a long ways from having an approved concept here. You talk about traffic flow, you're it you don't seem like you're even addressing the the businesses that are going to die because of this configuration. This all of these businesses south of 285 on the west side of Raza Road. If you can't people can't get to those businesses, as uh Mr. Roberts said, they're not going to exist. So the cost of building an access road behind it is one cost. The cost of you causing all these businesses to die is a cost that's got to be balanced with that cost. So I'm just telling you, you've got some impacts here. you guys haven't thought through in my opinion haven't fully thought through and there's two sides of this but if all those businesses go away that's going to cost you guys a ton of the G a ton of money as well and then finally I ask you to put yourself mentally in a car living in this particular intersection living just down the street here and you want to decide you decide you want to get on the Rosal road you've got to go you've really got kind of a tortuous route based on the way this is laid out to get hit the Roswell Road.

Likewise, where, sir? I'm sorry. Anywhere in this area. Okay.

By another example, this is if I have a a son who's playing hockey at this ice rink. When this is done, he's got to drive down to Lake Placid, turn right. You've got a little spur moving north, but the spur doesn't seem to go anywhere. So, I'm going to have to drive further west. Hopefully, not all the way to Lake Forest to come back around to the ice rink. This is a terrible design in my opinion. you're you're making life impossible for that ice ring to survive. So my request is mentally put yourself in a car and say if I'm if I'm go to these businesses today when this is done how am I going to get to these businesses and I submit to you right now this doesn't appear to be a workable plan for a lot of these businesses.

It's it's about a half mile for each of the culde-sac intersections as opposed to 200 state. Okay. I'm just telling you, if you if you make customers go a half mile out of their way instead of just turning in, these businesses are going to go under. That's just the way the world works. So, I know we're in the concept phase. It's early. We're four or five years out. I'm trying to figure out how old I'm going to be in four or five years, but today's the day. Today's the time to talk about this stuff. And on the north end, this simple con connection to Carpenter where you have that culde-sac. And again, there may be Move that baby up. Yeah, I'm trying. There we go.

There we go. The culde-sac that's at the bottom of those the back road for those businesses to extend that down the Carpenter would save the people that live just right there, it saved them a half a mile of driving, right? Because if this design holds, if you live in that complex right next to 285 down there, you're going to have to go out the Carpenter, turn right, make the big loop all the way back up the Rosal Road as opposed to you put a extend that culde-sac to that road. You're talking about bringing the the access road to Carpenter. Yeah. I mean, again, that that's I I don't think that's a big ask. Good. That's that's that's that's reasonable.

So that good. I'm glad that's reasonable. I appreciate it. And listen, you guys are in a hard hard spot here. You're trying to present a traffic pattern that improves traffic flow. I get all that, but there's a lot of small business here, a lot of people live in this area. You really impacted them negatively. And I I just ask that you consider that as you go forward with this before we get to the approved stage. Yep. Fair enough. And we understand that. And again, this not to say that we couldn't add additional driveways up and down State Route 9 to access those businesses. It's there's a compromise there. And I get it. We need to work through a bunch of a bunch of driveways off a rozle road you're trying to get rid of. I get that.

I get it. Okay. But put yourself in the car that's lives right there and he's got to get on the Rosal road. How's he going to do that with this? That's my that's our my and our requests. So with that, unless there's city manager got something on your mind. I do, but not. All right, gentlemen. Thanks for your time. Thank you. Uh this obviously is uh not over. No.

All right. Uh any city council discussion items before we close the work session? Hearing none, we'll move from the work session and I hereby call the regular meeting of the Sandy Spring City Council for Tuesday, March 17th to order. Uh let's have roll call and general announcements by the city clerk, please.

All right. Good evening. Um, just a reminder, please continue to keep your cell phones silenced throughout the meeting. Uh, also a reminder, individuals who would like to provide public comment at a city council meeting are required to submit those public cards in advance of the meeting. Those cards are always available online or at the chamber entrance. Those providing public comment may be allotted up to three minutes to speak on their single chosen topic. As I call roll, please confirm your attendance. Mayor Paul is absent. Council member John Paulson here. Council member Melody Hully present. Council member Melissa Mueller here. Council member Frank Roberts here. Council member Mary Ford here. Council member Andrew Chensky. Would you please join me us in the pledge of allegiance?

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. Uh, madame clerk, have we received any comment cards? Yes, we received one public comment card this evening. Miss Rhonda Smith. Miss Smith.

Good evening, Mayor Promma and Council. Rhonda Smith, 76 Long Island Place, speaking to you as president of the Sandy Springs Council of Neighborhoods. on behalf of our board tonight. You will be considering the approval of the qualified candidate for the consultant instrument for development of the 2027 comprehensive plan tonight. And I have three reasons for addressing this important item. One, a shameless plug, an invitation for all of you, Mayor Prom, and I will invite Mayor Paul and council to attend the upcoming March 31st, 6 PM Council of Neighborhoods annual meeting to be held in the Abernathy Arts Center Gallery. Our meeting's purpose is to educate and inform neighborhood leaders and residents about the plan and encourage their participation in the public engagement elements. The process will be of vital importance to both the consultants and community's success in the delivery of the highest quality plan product at the end of the 15-monthlong process. It will hinge upon resident input and skilled management of the input process. Two, Council of Neighborhoods understands and appreciates that robust community engagement is paramount to ultimately producing that highquality plan product, a plan that represents the goals and desires of the community to maintain their quality of life. I told our board in our monthly meeting yesterday afternoon that the RHI team having been the consultant instrument for 2017 next 10 plan brings with them a unique advantage in that they get us. There will not be a steep learning curve around understanding and properly capturing the posture of our community, how special we are, what the community focus is, and how best to meet the community where they are to hear from them, what the future holds, and how resident input will be instrumental in formulating the best plan is not just up to the consultant team, but also up to all of us who interface with the community, whether it be through our

email newsletters or social media. We will also be a vital information source and delivery vehicle. Three, just take a look today at the zoning cases map and you will see a trending approach to residential land use of assemblages and lot splits. How will this be best managed going forward? What elements of the comprehensive plan and our development code should address this trend? How will that be reflected in the future direction of the character of protected neighborhood and the policy around it? policy that is reflective of the community goals and desires for maintaining quality of life while our city continues to grow, develop, redevelop, and evolve. Council of Neighborhoods looks forward to working with the recommended consultant team, making a contribution to the comprehensive plan and helping to bring the community to the table so they are heard throughout the entire process. Thank you for your time.

Thank you, Miss Smith. There's only one Thank you. All right. Thank you. Uh is there a motion to approve the meeting agenda? May prom. Yes. Council Mueller. I move that we approve the meeting agenda for Tuesday, March 17th, 2026. We have a motion by Councilman Mueller. Do I have a second? Second. Second by Councilwoman Ford. Uh is there a motion to approve? Oh, sorry. All in favor say I. I. Opposed? Okay, the agenda is approved. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? Mayor Proton,

Dr. Kelly, I move approval of the consent agenda. Dr. Kelly moves approval of the consent agenda for March 17th. Do I have a second? Second. Second by Councilwoman Ford. Uh, any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? I I All right. All right. So, we've moved on. Moving to public hearings. Will the clerk read the first item?

This is agenda item number 2026 067. Consideration to conduct a public hearing on the 2026 community development block grant annual action plan is presented by planning and zoning manager Michelle Macintosh Ross. Miss Rash.

Yes. Hello. Greetings. Okay. Oops. All right. So, I'm here to announce the 30-day comment period for the 2026 annual action plan, which is the AAP. And this is a component of the CDBG program. No action is required this evening. Just making this announcement. Uh the city is required to create and update its annual action plan summary of annual activities for the use of the funds from the CDBG program. And if you recall back in early of 2023, the city adopted the five-year consolidated plan where it was recommended that the money would be used for sidewalk construction, design, utility relocation, and potential rightaway acquisition. and also that we may use some of those funds to defease the 108 loan amount. The projects that we are working on are the Roswell Road multi-year sidewalk project. This runs along Roswell Road inside I285 from Northwood Drive to Stewart Drive and from Stewart Drive to Long Island Drive. There's also a proposal for the Hope Road sidewalks to um to follow when we um get the design done and we're recommended to um to do that. It is in the north end of the city along Roswell Road to Dunwy Place. um the schedule towards the adoption of this annual action plan. Um as I mentioned, the draft will be put out for um public comment and then um we will be back in May, May 5th at the um council meeting um to recommend approval to adopt the annual action plan for 2026. But again, no action is required tonight. Just making that announcement.

Thank you. Have we received any public comments? Okay. All right. So, you mentioned that this plan is available. Is it in print here or online? Yes, is available in print. It's also online. All right. Perfect. Thank you. No actions needed. Correct. All right. Uh, next item. Will the clerk call the next item?

This is agenda item number 2026-068, uh, TA26-1, consideration of an ordinance to amend the development code. also presented by planning and zoning manager Michelle Macintosh Ross. Greetings again. Uh, okay. Um, this item before you tonight is the text amendment TA26-1. This includes a few proposed development code edits that staff noticed while working through the code. The text amendments proposed are annual fixes. Some of the corrections are material while most are simply clarifying descriptions, writing omissions, or even improving hierarchical ordering. The proposed amendment staff believe will improve the development code in small ways. Staff recommends approval of the plan uh of the um recommended changes as well as planning commission recommends approval and recommended that approval at the February 18th regular meeting. So first we'll start with article six. In article six which is a general rules in section 6.1.2B.3 mechanical equipment and utility lines um in subsection E and F where the placement of mechanical equipment is regulated that is HVAC and pool equipment. We saw the mo the number of um one of the most requests for relief of that section code um was um for the placement of mechanical equipment. This metric of repeated requests for variance is helpful is a helpful indicator that the code may be too strict in that particular area. The proposed update would allow the director more flexibility and discretion in granting administrative variances of this particular code section. It

proposes that the director could grant a more than 10% encroachment into side and rear setbacks on a case-byase basis. The proposed allowable discretion by the director will be limited to no more than 5t from any property line and mitigation measures remain in effect. Please note that this does not apply to generators. We um discussed that they um may be too loud to encroach any closer to any setback. Um so we're making that edit in article 7. This is our allowable use table and staff recognized there was a discrepancy between the text in the comprehensive plan and development code where the narrative includes civic uses as an intended use within the office neighborhood district but this was not reflected on the allowable use table. This proposed amendment is to correct what we believe is an error on the allowable use table by adding a P for permitted to allow the government facility in that district. Also in article 7, this is in household living. Um this table is um is a list of the ground level street frontage use requirements for multi-unit development. This table currently sits under the limited use standards. We're proposing that the entire section move from limited use standards which is um from G3D and move it up into basic use standards in G2B and this moves up the hierarchy for more clarity. in section eight sorry article eight this is related to signs and sign

illumination I will start with the next one and go back um in section 8422C it talks about sign illumination in parts of C3 and C.4 Four, neon and LED lighting is mentioned to refer to tube style lighting. However, now tube type lighting may not always be of neon or LED technology. Our proposed edit captures the intent of regulating these types of signs without limiting the technology. In C3 where we talk about allowing neon open signs, we're adding the section in the blue, you'll see le or similar lighting material or technology styles. And this will include other lighting technology that may create the neon tube type sign. And also in C.4 Four, we say um this is also to help clarification uh exposed neon tubing and signs containing words or symbols shaped or formed directly from neon tubes, LED lighting, comma or similar illuminating devices are prohibited. So we're trying to capture all of those. Uh we'll go back to the previous one which also is related to this um neon situation in 8.4.4. 4.3 C.2 window signs. A similar edit is proposed regarding the window signs. Subsection C.2 mentions neon, but we again want to capture the style of sign regardless of technology. So, we're proposing to add language to include in the blue LED, or similar lighting materials or technology used or for an open sign. So, um, those are our edits. As I mentioned, staff recommends approval of these edits and

planning commission also recommended approval of these edits at their February 18th regular meeting. That is my presentation. Thank you. Uh, madame city clerk, have we received any comments? We have not. Thank you. So, no comments. So, hearing the report by the planning and zoning management, Macintosh Ross, what's the desire? Council Mayor Promot uh approval of agenda item 2026-068 an ordinance to amend the development code. I have a motion by Dr. Kelly. Do I have a second? Second.

Second by Miss Ford. All right. Uh any discussion? Hearing none, I'll call a question. All in favor of agenda item 2026 068, consideration of an ordinance to amend the development code and signify by saying I. I opposed. Or the motion passes. Thank you. Okay. Moving on to new business. Will a clerk read the first item?

This is agenda item number 2026 069. consideration of a resolution to approve an agreement by and between the city of Sandy Springs and the Fulton perimeter community improvement district for the Peach Tree Dunwy Road sidewalk project and to authorize the mayor to execute the agreement. This is presented by public works director Marty Martin Mayor Pro Tim and council. Good evening.

Good evening. Uh tonight I bring to you an agreement between the city and the perimeter CD Fulton uh to construct a sidewalk on the east side of Peach Tree Dunwy Road uh from approximately the Interstate 285 westbound exit ramp up to the Palisades development. uh that being a continuation of the sidewalk that was built into the I285400 interchange project but stops just at the westbound ramp. Immediately adjacent to this project location to include Lake Hearn Drive and Peach Tree Dunwhaty Road on the west side uh is our uh PCID funded and city administered as well as federal transit authority funded Peach Tree Dunwy Road at Lake Hearn project which will ultimately bring uh side path up Peach Tree Dunwy Road in this case up to Hammond from the existing sidewalk and side path at uh uh transform 285 up to Hammond Drive and then hopefully a continuation on with the last mile bioconivity project on Peach Tree Dunwy Road again further north on Peach Tree Dunwy. Uh and this fills that gap that uh was left with the transform 285400 project as well as connecting into the existing path infrastructure already created uh by the Georgia Department of Transportation with 285400. To further the project, CI has volunteered to take the lead in design uh as well. In this case, this would be a proposed 50-50 share on the CI agreement with PCID to advance this sidewalk project and connect all parts as we move through this important interchange here. Uh to that end with furthering the advancement project

overall cost estimated at $400,000. The cities, the city and C would split those cost 50% each at $200,000. C is taking the lead on design now as I speak and then we would ultimately get the construction contractor to execute the project when design is completed and we're ready to go. Um and again 50/50 cost split C will begin the cost if we owe more on design which I don't anticipate at this case more will go there very likely we'll fund the majority of construction uh C funding a little bit when we get to that point and we're ready to go to construction. That's how the agreement is structured, however, and we've entered into other similar 50-50 split projects with the CI and look forward to advancing this simple project along and as a companion to the CI or to the lake the much larger FTA funded lake at Peach Tree Dunwy Road project.

Thank you. Uh you've heard the report from uh Mr. Martin, our public works director. What's the desire? Council mayor prom. Miss Ford, I move the council approve agenda item 2026-069, a resolution to approve an agreement by and between the city of Sandy Springs and the Fulton Perimeter Community Improvement District for the Peach Tree Dunwitty Road sidewalk project and to authorize the mayor to execute the agreement. We have a motion by Miss Ford. Do we have a second? Second.

Second by Mr. Roberts. All right. All right. Do any discussion, folks? Hearing none, I'll call a question. All in favor of agenda item 2026 069, resolution to approve an agreement by and between the city of Sandy Springs and the Fulton perimeter commu community improvement district for the Petri Dunwy Road Sidewalk Project and authorize the mayor to execute the agreement. All in favor say I. I. Opposed? The motion passes. Thank you, Marty.

Will the clerk read the next item? This is agenda item number 2026070. Consideration of a resolution to award a contract to roadside and Harwell Incorporated for professional planning services for the city's comprehensive plan update and recreation and parks master plan update and to authorize city manager to execute the contract presented by planning and zoning manager Michelle Macintosh Ross. Mr. Macintosh Ross.

Okay. Greetings again, Mayor Proam and city council. Th this item before you tonight is a request to award a professional services contract for the comprehensive plan update 2027 to 2047 and the recreation and parks master plan. As you know, the comprehensive plan serves as the city's primary long range policy document guiding land use, development patterns, housing, economic development, and environmental sustainability. The recreation and parks master plan will provide strategic direction for the city's park systems, facilities, programming, and long-term investment priorities. Together, these plans will guide the city's policy and capital planning decisions for the next 20 years and ensure the city remains in compliance with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs planning requirements. The city issued a request for proposals RFP26-027 on December 19th, 2025, seeking qualified consulting teams to prepare both plans. The RFP detailed a scope of work describing the services required for the comprehensive plan and the recreation and parks master plan update. Proposals were due on January 26, 2026, and the city received a total of five proposals. One proposal was determined to be non-responsive to the submission requirements. The remaining four proposals were deemed responsive and advanced for evaluation by staff by a staff comprised evaluation committee. The evaluation process and methodology. The evaluation process followed the performance price procurement methodology which sorry the performance price tradeoff procurement methodology which evaluated proposals based on three criteria technical acceptability which includes project approach team qualifications and ability to deliver

the scope of work past performance and demonstrated experience and also the cost proposal. An interdep departmental evaluation committee with representatives from community development, recreation and parks, communications, finance, public works, and the city's manager's office reviewed and evaluated the proposals. The evaluation results are such all four firms were determined to be technically acceptable and capable of completing the work described in the RFP. The primary differentiators among the proposals were the past performance and the overall cost. Two firms, Clarion Associates and Roadside and Harwell, received the highest performance rating of substantial confidence, indicating strong experience and demonstrated success with comparable planning projects. Among these firms receiving the highest performance rating of substantial confidence, Roadside and Howell submitted the lowest cost proposal resulting in the strongest overall value for the city. The recommendation is based on the integrated evaluation of technical capability, past performance and costs, the evaluation committee determined that the proposal submitted by roadside and Harwell represents the best value for the city. Roadside and Harrell proposed a highly qualified multid-disciplinary team with extensive experience in comprehensive planning and parks planning. And as mentioned by Rhonda Smith, she noted um that we had worked with RA RHI before. While the city has worked with this firm previously for the 2017 and 2022 comprehensive plans, the recommendation before you is not based on prior relationships, but rather is based strictly on the evaluation criteria and

the merits of the submitted proposals. Staff therefore recommends to the mayor and city council to approve the resolution awarding the contract to roadside harwell to prepare the comprehensive plan 2027 and 20 to 20 47 and the recreation and parks master plan update. That is my presentation. Thank you. You've heard the report by our planning and zoning manager, Miss Macintosh Ross. What's the desire council? Mayor Prom.

Yes, Miss Mueller. I move the council approve agenda item 20266-070. Um the resolution to award a contract to roadside and Hartwell Incorporated for professional planning services and for the city's comprehensive plan update and recreation and parks master plan update and to authorize the city manager to execute the contract. We have a motion by Miss Mueller. Do I have a second? I'll second. Second by Dr. Kelly. Is there any discussion? Mr. Chinsky,

thank you for the presentation. Um, I just want to say we talked a lot at the retreat about innovation and we talked a lot about community engagement. So, the policy nerd in me is is particularly excited about the surveys and the conjooint study that we've done with this. So, I know I've probably talked my colleagues ears off about this enough, but for the community, um, a conjoint study is a is a somewhat specific type of survey that helps us value different, um, attributes, in this case, policy preferences against each other. It is not unprecedented in the municipal space, but it is relatively innovative and it's a way that we are going to be able to reach all aspects of the community and really get the type of objective data that many of us up here like to have to create policy and to govern. So, I'm really excited about this. Um, I'm really looking forward to working with RHI and thanks for all the the care that staff put into soliciting these proposals.

Thank you. Thank you. Any other discussion, Miss Mueller? So, um, again, I'm super excited about this, just like I think we all are. Um, when will council get to see who will be on the stakeholder groups? The mayor appoints the stakeholder committee. I guess maybe that would be a good thing. I don't know if the public or even if all of us know. Can you just walk us through how this works at the stakeholders and how they're appointed and the oversight committee and just talk a little bit about that?

Yes. So um you know it's state required per the um Georgia Georgia Department of Community Affairs to have a steering committee for your comprehensive plan. They recommend between 15 and 20 25 people on the committee uh in the city of Sandy Springs. The mayor appoints those members and um those members will be integral to our planning study. They will we will meet regularly. They we ask our consultants who whoever will be on board to chart out their tasks. Uh so they will be getting tasks to do to spread the word throughout the community and also to to bring back um issues and policy direction um to the project management team.

So the mayor points both to stakeholder groups and the steering committee. It's one and the same. Okay. But the stakeholder groups are all individual. So the stakeholder groups, yes, we'll make recommendations for the stakeholder groups, the focus groups. that would be um several um members of the community and the business community and so on. So there will be several different meetings there. But as far as the comprehensive plan stakeholder committee, that would be an appointed um and unlike other I would say appointed commissions um to commissions and boards, the council does not have to approve those. Is that correct? No, it'll be at council resolution. We will get to approve. Okay. I didn't know that that was part of the process. Okay. Thank you.

And then I had a question about the um number of popups for the apartments. So it looked like in plan right now there were about five. Did I read that right? And I mean given that we have 96 apartment complexes. How are we selecting? I mean is there specific criteria because obviously if there's five popups we have six districts. Are we focusing I mean how is that going to work? I'm just curious about the pop-ups for the apartments. So this number is a minimum of five is what we put in there. Minimum. So we wanted to make sure that we captured these minimum numbers in here but it could be more but of course when we get with the consulting team we'll definitely be talking about um how that will work

and then will there be any kind of criteria for selecting uh which apartment complexes you know are going to be selected that is to be determined. Uh and I also want to add to the um previous question. Um these um pop-ups as we you know see as the minimum number um involving the consulting team. Um me and my planning staff, we love to do pop-ups and we'll go out and do it on our own. So there may be more. Okay. And then similar to what Councilwoman Ford asked, some of these will they be in um bilingual in different parts of our city? Correct. We requested that. Yes. All right. Thank you.

Any other comments? Any discussion? So, a point of clarification, I suggested all council members that have somebody they'd like to recommend to the steering committee, send that recommendation on to the mayor. He he pulls all these numbers names together and then he he makes a decision, but he typically comes in front of us with his recommended list. But if you got somebody in mind, make sure you send it to him. Okay. All right. Any further discussion hearing? None. I call a question. All in favor of agenda item 2026070 resolution to award a contract the roadside and Hardwell Hardwell Incorporated for professional planning services for the city's comprehensive plan update and recreation and parks master plan update and authorize city manager to execute same. All in favor say I.

I opposed. Okay. Item's approved. Thank you, Miss Ross. Thank you. Will the clerk read the next item? This is agenda item number 202671. Consideration of an ordinance to approve an amendment to the FY2026 budget to transfer funds from capital from the capital contingency budget to the temporary fire station number one budget presented by director of facilities and capital construction Dave Wells. Good evening Mayor Pro Tim, Mr. Wells,

members of camp council. Uh the next two items pertain to the temporary fire station one. Uh this first one here is the ordinance uh for budget amendment. Uh the new fire station 1 is in design phase and will proceed with the construction following constru pre-construction activities. To maintain uninterrupted emergency services during a demolition of the existing station, the city will need to lease and improve a temporary facility for fire station operations. Funding is required to support both the design and buildout of the lease temporary facility as well as associated costs necessary to make the space fully operational. This includes architectural and engineering services for the interior layout, life safety systems, apparatus, accommodations, utilities, communications, infrastructure, and required code compliance upgrades. The budget transfer from the city's capital contingency funds is necessary to fully fund the design and construction of the temporary fire station and to ensure operational readiness prior to the demolition of the existing station. This approach maintains continuity of services while preserving overall program delivery timelines. Staff recommends that the mayor and council approve the transfer of $300,000 from the city's capital contingency budget to the temporary fire station number one project uh F2602. You've heard the report from our director of public uh facilities and construction. Uh what's the desire council?

Mayor Prom. Yes, Miss Bordon. I move the council approve agenda item 2026-071, an ordinance to approve an amendment to the FY2026 budget to transfer funds from capital contingency budget to the temporary fire station number one project budget. We have a motion by Miss Ford. Do we have a second? A second. Second by Mr. Roberts. All right. Any discussion?

Hearing none. I call a question. All in favor of agenda item 202671, an ordinance to approve an amendment to the fiscal year 2026 budget to transfer funds from capital contingency budget to the temporary fire station number one project budget. All in favor say I. I. All opposed. All right. The motion carries. Uh will the clerk read the next item? This is agenda item number 2026 072. Consideration of a resolution to approve a commercial lease and letter of intent with JAT Partners LLC for fire department use and to authorize the same manager to execute a letter of intent and a commercial lease presented by director of facilities capital construction Dave Wells. Mr. Wells, go.

Yes. Uh the fire department required temporary operational space to maintain continuity and emergency service during the demolition and construction of the existing fire station. To ensure uninterrupted service delivery, staff evaluated potential off-site facilities capable of accommodating fire department operations, including firefighter living quarters and necessary support functions. The property located at 8615 Roswell Road has been identified as the most suitable option based on the operational needs, site configurations, and availability. To secure the premise and to allow staff to proceed with final lease negotiations, staff has negotiated a letter of intent as well as commercial lease that JAT Partners LLC outlining the principal lease terms. The letter of intent with JAT Partners LLC provides a framework for a 24month lease of approximately 10,000 square feet of flex space at 8615 Roswell Road, including on-site parking to support the fire department's operations during the demolition and construction of the existing station. Key lease terms include base rent of $15,000 per month with a $15,000 security deposit, reimbursement of pr-rated real estate tax of approximately $833 per month, and other customary operation expenses like utilities and cam feeds. The premises will be used for firefighter living quarters, a full working kitchen, and necessary department functions. The letter of intent also includes a six-month renewal option with no increase in rent. Approval of the execution of the letter of intent will allow staff to proceed with preparation and execution of a final commercial lease in accordance with the mayor and council authorization. Staff recommends approval of the letter

of intent and commercial lease between the city of Sandy Springs and JAT Partners LLC of property located at 8615 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs, Folton County, Georgia 30342, and request the authorization of the city manager to execute the letter of the intent and the commercial lease. Mayor Prom, I do want to point out one scribe error on the agenda memo. We had actually listed the general manager because this was under the PFA before and it should have been city manager. So duly noted. All right. You've heard the report of the director of facilities capital construction building operations. What's the desire? Council mayor prom. Dr. Kelly.

I'm going to move approval of agenda item 2026-072. approval of a commercial lease and letter of intent with JAT Partners LLC for fire department use and to authorize the city manager to execute a letter of intent and a commercial lease. We have a motion by Dr. Kelly. Do we have a second? Second by Mr. Chinsky. I do have a question for discussion. Uh yes. Any discussion?

You actually kind of referenced it. I was wondering why this wasn't in PFA. uh because it's coming out of uh actually because the um funds are coming out of the operational funds of fire department to pay for the lease. So that's not PFA money. Okay. So we can the council can um approve a commercial lease. We can do that as a okay for two years. Okay. I wasn't sure. Thank you. Uh any other discussion items? Uh, quick question. It's a 24-month lease. What happens if we finish early? Can we Is there an early out? We will negotiate that into the lease. Yes.

And please do that. All right. With there's no further discussion, I call a question agenda item 2026072 resolution to approve a commercial lease and letter of intent with JAT Partners LLC for fire department use and to authorize city manager to execute a letter of intent and a commercial lease. All in favor say I.

I. opposed. The item's approved. All right. Will the clerk read the next item? This is, excuse me, agenda item number 2026073, consideration of an ordinance to amend subp part A, chapter 26, article 4 of the city of Sandy Springs code of ordinances related to massage estab establishments and spas and to provide for an effective date and for other purposes. Presented by city attorney Dan Lee. Mr. Lee,

Council, uh, I bring to you tonight a proposal to amend the massage licensing ordinance in Sandy Springs. Historically, the regulation of massage therapy has been challenging for local governments. um as it as is many licensing programs in an attempt to control and police abuses of of u this industry while not inflicting any hardship or getting in the way of recognized uh well-meaning therapeutic assistance that uh licensed massage therapists can provide. What we bring to you tonight is what we think is an updating and clarification of the our ordinance to match state law. Sometime in in 2007, Georgia legislature saw fit to uh create the Georgia uh massage therapist board that licensed massage therapist and defining what a massage establishment is and what massage therapy uh the definition of massage therapy. The proposal we bring to you tonight is a a comprehensive review by all staff members from the licensing department, the revenue department, a thorough investigation by our police department and code enforcement to bring to you what we think are the needed changes in um this licensing process. One clarification this ordinance makes is that it applies to everyone working in the industry. One of the new problems we have in the massage therapy uh policing business is that it has become a target of human trafficking throughout the country and especially in this area of Georgia. Uh our police chief is here and can report to you some of the findings of the sting operation that was conducted by the police department. We

hope that some of these recommendations in this ordinance will help curtail that kind of activity in Sandy Springs. One of the major issues in this ordinance that is a major change that you won't find in Georgia is that this ordinance would require that anybody seeking a license for massage therapy establishment in Sandy Springs is required to have a stateisssued massage therapy license. Just like lawyers run law offices, pharmacists runarmacies, a licensed massage therapist would run a legitimate massage therapy establishment. It's a simple order. It gives the city the ability to take advantage of the requirements that the state law provides. And some of those are embedded in these changes that I'm offering up tonight. uh we offer up the same exemptions that the state law applies. This would not apply to doctors, physical therapists, other licensed practitioners recognized by the state. Um, in in our current ordinance, we license the business and the owner of the business and then we require people who work in the business to get a permit much like we do the the um alcohol businesses. In doing that, this ordinance requires that everyone that works in a massage establishment is required to take a human trafficking um uh recognition program recognized by the police department. And I want to report to you that our police department, even before this action started, requires that every member of the police department take this uh program offered by the Department of Homeland Security. It is a a great program. Uh again, just as a

side note, very excited to see that our police department, our staff is on the cutting edge of this idea, way ahead of a problem that uh we hope this ordinance addresses. One other significant change in this is that just like the state law and this is this is directed right at the human trafficking issue. You are required to be a US citizen or in the United States with documentation offered by Homeland Security in order to make application for this program. The sting just conducted by the police department found many violations of this part of the proposal. We're told by the experts in this field that not having that documentation is the gateway for this human trafficking element. It's an intricate part of this discussion. One other significant element here is that the license holder as opposed to the permit, the license holder is required to furnish a roster of everybody that will work there, their jobs, their addresses and their phone numbers. And just like federal law, just like state law, just like the procurement and purchasing policies of Sandy Springs, they must everify every employee. Currently, the ordinance allows that uh massage establishments can be open from 7:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. This ordinance would require that they could only be open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. This ordinance change prohibits overnight stays in massage establishments. That is a problem. The

police department sting found that many people, many folks that were victims of human trafficking were being housed in the massage establishment. Some of the victims of this human trafficking were living in the homes of people who were purporting to be the operators of these massage establishments. This ordinance would give us a guideline to help curtail that and help the police uh stop that. There's a device being used in many illicit massage parlors called a a table shower. This would prohibit the use of those devices in Sandy Springs. One other major change in this is that u this is a modernization of of our entire ordinance. You'll remember we've done it in other areas. This removes the appeal. It changes the appeal process and removes the mayor and council from the appeal process. If we revoke licenses, and we will be bringing to you the revocation of at least one license, uh the appeal of that is to the city manager, not to the mayor and council for lots of reasons. There is no political element to this. It shouldn't be brought to a legislative body. Um the appeal to the city manager is is much quicker uh much more succinct and I would submit to you a technically oriented uh process as it should be with that. Those are the changes to the ordinance and we would recommend that the U council adopt it. I'll answer any questions you have.

Thank you. You heard the report from our city attorney. Uh uh do we have a motion? Mayor prom. Dr. Kelly, I move approval of agenda item 2026-073, an ordinance to amend subp part A, chapter 26, article 4 of the city of Sandy Springs, code of ordinance ordinances related to massage establishment and spas and to provide for an effective date and for other purposes. We have a motion by Dr. Kelly. Do I have a second? Second. Second by Miss Mueller. Any discussion? Um I do have a question. Uh so we you're

Dr. Kelly. Go ahead. Yep. Thank you. Um, I guess by bringing this forward, you all are confident, you and police chief, um, you're confident that this does enough at least to address some of the recent bad acting that that we've seen.

Yes. Um, I would add to that that the the review that has been done by the police department and the city manager staff also includes some changes in the enforcement of uh who has a business license, who didn't get a business license. So, the enforcement of this will be changed somewhat too which will further curtail this kind of activity.

Okay. Um, one of the, this is out, probably outside of the scope of this ordinance, but one of the interests I do have, especially with our next 10, uh, conversation commencing soon is about, um, things we can do with respect to land use and and these type of uses, um, in general since there's such a a negative connotation. So, um I specifically I'd like to entertain at some point proximity restrictions to schools and churches. Thanks. Uh but I had a couple of things I omitted and that is something that the police department and community development have been working on and hopefully along massage therapy guidelines and some other business uses uses in uh Sandy Springs. We'll be bringing them back to you. I I want to point out too that just as a point of outreach to the community, especially the the legitimate, and I'll use that word, massage therapy uh community, the uh police department with no less than the police chief himself has conducted an outreach to many of the legitimate u massage therapy establishments in Sandy Springs. and far and away all most of them are very supportive of these changes.

Thank you. Anyone else? I have a couple of quick comments. At the last meeting, we had uh some business owners from massage establishments come in and talk to us. Have Did you talk to those folks, Chief? I did. I think last one. Okay. as long as you talk to them because they these are legitimate businesses. They want to be able to continue on. And then finally, this human trafficking course. How long is this course? Is it two days, five days? It it's an online course. Less than 15 minutes. So, an online course. Okay. It's very eye opening. I'd recommend it to all the members of the council.

Well, I was going to say it might be required for our citizenry as well, or at least make it available to them so they know. All right. Um,

Mayor Prom, on on that note, um, I I did go online to find the class. I believe it's the Blue Shield classes by the Department of Homeland Security. They are informative and they do not take very long. So, yes, I think that this is a um, unfortunately a an awareness for us, the degree to which we have human trafficking here in Sandy Springs, and for all of us to be more informed and aware is is an appropriate thing. So, I also highly recommend them. Thank you. All right. Any further discussion? Hearing none, I call a question. All in favor of agenda item 202673, an ordinance to amend subp part A, chapter 26, article 4 of the city of Sandy Springs code of ordinances related to massage establishments and spas to provide for an effective date and for other purposes. All in favor say I.

I. All opposed?

Okay, the motion's approved. Go get them. Uh, will the clerk read the next item? This is agenda item number 2026074, consideration of a resolution authorizing the introduction of local legislation for the placement of a referendum on the November 2026 general election ballot to grant redevelopment powers to the city of Sandy Springs, Georgia, as provided by Georgia Law, presented by city attorney Dan Lee. council. The um many of you have discussed finding tools that would help the council u endorse redevelopment uh uh places for redevelopment in the city of Sandy Springs. One of the tools that we have not made use of is the uh Georgia redevelopment powers law. In that uh tax anticipation districts would be allowed which is a wonderful tool used by many local governments to set aside uh tax growth in certain areas to be applied to the improvements infrastructure improvements and to incentivize private developers to provide certain amenities to a development that would uh positively affect the community. In order to do that, we need an act of the legislature. The legislative delegation would like to have a resolution showing that the council endorses this uh local legislation. The local legislation is necessary in order to put this on the ballot, which means the people of Sandy Springs would have to authorize this. And this the measure before you tonight is that resolution endorsing the local legislation that would put the measure on the ballot to see if the people of Sandy Springs wanted to grant to the council the redevelopment powers

and that's not in our charter currently. It is not. Thank you. Uh you've heard the report from our city attorney. What's the desire council? Mayor prom Mr. Chinsky. I move approval of agenda item 2026-074, a resolution authorizing the introduction of local legislation for the placement of a referendum on the November 2026 general election ballot to grant redevelopment powers to the city of Sandy Springs, Georgia as provided by Georgia law. I have a motion by Mr. Chinsky. Do I have a second? Second.

Second by Miss Ford. Any discussion? Hearing none, I call a question. All in favor of agenda item 202674, resolution authorizing the introduction of local legislation for the placement of a referendum on the November 26 general election ballot for to grant redevelopment powers to the city of Sains Springs, Georgia as provided by Georgia law. All in favor say I. Opposed?

The motion carries. All right. Mayor and council reports. I have two quick items. I received an email today from the hang on let me pull it up from the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation recognizing the Keep North Fulton Beautiful uh as being recognized as a being a responsible environmental group and I want to give a shout out to the Keep North Fton beautiful folks. Uh this was just I just got this letter today but uh what what's that? We all get.

Do you all get it? Okay. So, anyway, that's on the record and I want to acknowledge that. And then the second is I I found out that this morning uh Mr. Clark Howard, who you all know, uh was talking about the city of Sandy Springs. And it's particularly interesting because we're a city. We've just turned 20 years old. We were like the this flagship of this grand experiment in local government. And uh Mr. Howard had some comments on this. Uh do you have that record, the recording? Caroline should have it ready to go. You ready? Please.

What's going on in Sandy Springs is such a great example of local rule. You know, it's been 20 years since the city of Sandy Springs was created. And before then, the people of North Fulton in the area that's now the city of Sandy Springs felt completely lost. And Sandy Springs once it formed was able to control zoning, police protection, and other local services. And that is what led to the creation of all the new communities around metro Atlanta. And it's crazy how many local governments we have across the metro area. But in this case, it was crazy like a fox. It makes a difference for people to feel that the government they're paying taxes to is responding to them and Sandy Springs showed it can really work.

There you have it. I always like that guy. Thank you. Uh any other mayor and council reports? Yes, M. Mueller.

So, this past weekend was the opening day for Sandy Springs youth sports. Uh council mayor and council were there. mayor sang the national anthem. That's a very hard song to sing. Uh a capalo. So it was a great day. I think that might have been one of their largest turnouts ever. The kids are so excited. That was very uh a very fun thing. And I also would like to give some recognition to my council colleagues uh for uh the extending their comm uh their outreach to their constituents. So I'd like to recognize Dr. Melanie Kelly for her first time that she's uh I think on council is doing a streaming for uh North End Live. So, I think she had her first one and her second one's coming up. So, I think that's a great way to and so you set the bar high for us. And I also like to recognize new council members Ford and Chinsky for getting their newsletters out. So, I think that's uh it's great. Uh if you want to go, you can probably sign up for the different newsletters. We have some of the same, but it's very different uh from the take of our district. So, please look at the Facebook and sign up. And you beat me to it when I think it took me three three or four months to get it. So you guys are already ahead. Thank you.

All right. Any other uh mayor council reports? John? Yes, Mr. Chinsky. If anyone ever wants to come to an 8U softball game, let me know. I have uh a couple times a week at at Morgan Falls at this point. Um just to add, uh immediately before the meeting tonight, I stopped by the Sandy Springs Education Force Steam Showcase at North Springs High School. Um, SSCF is a one of our fabulous nonprofits uh working to help our public school kids and and lots of different uh programming both over the summer and after school and really uh great turnout for the event and and uh it's very exciting.

Thank you. It's always inspiring to watch these young folks what they come up with. They actually had a robot that um introduced the chair of the board of SSEF. Um, someone had programmed it with software to give a whole like twominut introduction. It was very cool. That's good stuff. Miss Ford.

Um, in the spirit of community and involvement and engagement, I'll just remind our especially District 5 neighbors that live in the High Point area that the High Point Civic Association is holding their annual meeting uh next Wednesday u at 5:30 at the Church of Atonement and it'll be a great opportunity to get updates about what's happening in our city especially related to the District 5 area. So, thanks to the organization for hosting. Thank you. Any others? All right. Uh staff reports. What do we have? Just one.

Good evening. This is your review for January 2026 on audited financials. We are at 58.33% of the fiscal year. The revenues are at 75.37%. Yay. and and expenditures are at 50.06% of the budget. Just a reminder that pages 9 through 28 identify all of the general fund departments for your review and everyone is still operating within the approved budget. And this concludes your financial review for January 2026.

Thank you, Miss Carla. That was a great report. All right. Uh, no. With no further business, uh, do we have a motion to adjurnn? We have a motion by Mr. Roberts to adjurnn. Do we have a second? Second by Miss Ford. All in favor say I. I. All right, we'rejourned. Thank you, folks.