Feb 17, 2026 City Council

[00:00:01]

WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE REGULAR ORDER. I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING OF THE SANDY SPRINGS

[I.Call to Order - Mayor Rusty Paul ]

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. MADAM CLERK,

[IV. Public Comment ]

[00:05:01]

BECAUSE A COMMUNITY WHERE FAMILIES LIVE IN FEAR IS NOT A STABLE COMMUNITY, AND A CITY THAT WON'T DRAW CLEAR LINES BETWEEN LOCAL POLICING AND FEDERAL SURVEILLANCE, IS INVITING THE EXACT KIND OF ABUSE OF POWER THAT AMERICANS HAVE REJECTED SINCE THE FOUNDING OF THIS COUNTRY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. TARA OVERSIGHT, WHO WILL BE FOLLOWED BY CHERYL BARLOW. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TONIGHT. MY NAME IS DOCTOR TARA AND I LIVE AT 303 DUNWOODY CHASE, ATLANTA, GEORGIA, WHICH IS IN SANDY SPRINGS. I'M HERE TO GAIN CLARIFICATION AND TO BE A VOICE FOR THE PEOPLE IN SANDY SPRINGS WHO NEED TO HEAR WHERE THE SANDY SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT STANDS IN KEEPING US SAFE FROM THE INTRUSION OF U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT, COMMONLY KNOWN AS ICE, SHOULD THEIR PRESENCE GROW FURTHER IN OUR CITY. YESTERDAY, A BELOVED EDUCATOR AT HESSE K-8 IN CHATHAM COUNTY WAS KILLED IN A CAR CRASH. HER NAME IS DOCTOR LINDA DAVIS AND SHE WAS A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER. SHE WAS KILLED DUE TO ICE DECIDING TO PURSUE A DANGEROUS HIGH SPEED OSCAR VASQUEZ LOPEZ, SUSPECTED OF NOT BEING A DOCUMENTED US CITIZEN OR RESIDENT. CHATHAM COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT'S STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES HAS DEFINED THAT SUCH HIGH SPEED PURSUITS SHOULD ONLY BE DONE WHEN A VIOLENT FELONY IS COMMITTED AND THE ROAD CONDITIONS, WEATHER AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE. OF NOTE, NOT BEING A DOCUMENTED US CITIZEN OR RESIDENT IS A MISDEMEANOR AND NOT A VIOLENT FELONY. LOCAL AUTHORITIES HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE CHATHAM COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ICE OPERATION UNTIL THE CRASH, UNTIL AFTER THE CRASH, AND THAT THEY WERE NOT INVOLVED IN THE PURSUIT. FOR MANY IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS GEORGIA AND ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, THIS TRAGEDY RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT WHEN AND HOW FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS ARE CONDUCTED ON OUR STREETS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THOSE ACTIONS INTERSECT WITH OUR EVERYDAY PUBLIC LIFE. NOW, MY HUSBAND AND I CONTRIBUTE TO THE SANDY SPRINGS POLICE FOUNDATION, AND I HAVE RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ON BOTH SIDES OF MY FAMILY. I DEEPLY RESPECT WHAT OUR POLICE DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I'M HERE TO ASK SDPD TO PUBLICLY CLARIFY TWO THINGS.

FIRST, THAT SPD IS NOT PROVIDING FLOCK CAMERA DATA OR OTHER LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT INFORMATION TO ICE FOR THE PURPOSES OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, OUR RESIDENTS DESERVE TRANSPARENCY ABOUT HOW TECHNOLOGY LIKE FLOCK CAMERAS ARE USED AND WHETHER THAT INFORMATION IS SHARED WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT PEOPLE KNOW POLICING TECHNOLOGY IN OUR CITY IS USED STRICTLY TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY AND NOT TO CREATE FEAR IN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. SECOND, THAT THE SANDY SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT REAFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO ALL RESIDENTS SO THAT NO ONE FEELS AFRAID TO GO TO WORK, TO SCHOOL, TO THE DOCTOR, OR TO PLACES OF WORSHIP. WHEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE AFRAID TO CALL FOR HELP, TO REPORT A CRIME, OR SIMPLY LIVE THEIR DAILY LIVES WITHOUT FEAR OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY SUFFERS AS A WHOLE. INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND NEIGHBORS ARE HARMED WHEN THEY CANNOT ACCESS COMMUNITY SERVICES, NOR EARLY INTERVENTION FOR HEALTH CONCERNS. DOCTOR DAVIS'S DEATH, ALONG WITH THE DEATHS OF SEVERAL OTHER BYSTANDERS JUST THESE LAST FEW MONTHS, CAUSES MOURNING AND ALARM. AGAIN, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE SPD CLARIFY THEIR STANCE ON FLOCK CAMERAS AND ICE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,

[00:10:01]

YOU'VE JUST DESCRIBED JOHNSON FERRY ROAD. IT'S RESIDENTIAL. THE CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER CORRIDOR IS AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREA. IT'S JUST A ONE OVER A ONE MILE SPAN. YOU HAVE THE DAY SCHOOL, ABERNATHY, GREENWAY, ABERNATHY ARTS CENTER, THE JOHNSON FERRY, CHATTAHOOCHEE NATIONAL RECREATION AREA. THIS DOCUMENT ALSO CALLS FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND COMMUNICATION BEFORE DESIGNATING A NEW TRUCK ROUTE. ENGAGE IN A, QUOTE, ENGAGING WITH STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING LOCAL COMMUNITIES BUSINESSES, TO GATHER FEEDBACK AND BUILD CONSENSUS TO ENSURE THE CRITERIA MEET THE NEEDS AND CONCERNS OF ALL AFFECTED PARTIES. IT IS IF THIS IS THE GUIDING DOCUMENT I ASK THAT WE HONOR IT. I SENT YOU GOOD QUESTIONS. BREAKWATER RESIDENTS ASKED ABOUT THE CRITERIA. I THINK IT'S FAIR TO GET ANSWERS WITH THEM. SOME PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND A MINIMUM. PLEASE DEFER THIS NEW TRUCK ROUTE UNTIL WE CAN GET MORE INFORMATION. HOWEVER, WE URGE YOU TO REMOVE THE NEW PROPOSAL, THE NEW PROPOSED TRUCKING ROUTE FOR TONIGHT'S VOTE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU, MISS BARLOW. GINGER BRADSHAW, WHO WILL BE FOLLOWED BY MEL MOBLEY.

WE CAN'T ALLOW ANY PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS YOU CAN SUPPORT IN YOUR HEART, MISS. MISS BRADSHAW. FOLLOWED BY WHOM? MEL MOBLEY. HI, I'M GINGER BRADSHAW, AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING US SPEAK TONIGHT. AND I WILL SAY THAT I DON'T HAVE THE REGULATIONS AND THE THIS AND THAT AND THE OTHER BECAUSE I THINK NOT ALLOWING THESE TRUCKS IS JUST COMMON SENSE. I DON'T THINK IT TAKES A WHOLE LOT OF DOTTING I'S AND CROSSING T'S AND TURNING THIS OVER AND THAT AND OVER. SANDY SPRINGS IS ALREADY A CROSSROADS CITY FOR A LOT OF CARS, AND THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT. MAYBE THERE'S NOTHING WE WANT TO DO ABOUT IT. I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS THAT LIVE IN COBB COUNTY THAT WORK IN SANDY SPRINGS, AND THEY'RE CERTAINLY WELCOME. THEY DRIVE RIGHT BY MY HOUSE EVERY DAY. BUT TO VOLUNTARILY ADD HEAVIER TRUCKS AND LIKE HAS BEEN SAID WITH THE THE FUMES, IF THERE'S AN ACCIDENT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT ALL THESE NEW BIG. WALLS WITH OUR WITH THIS PROJECT THAT'S GOING ON THAT I'M NOT THAT CRAZY ABOUT BECAUSE IT MAKES ME FEEL CLOSED IN. BUT I'M TOLD THEY'RE FOR SAFETY. SO VEHICLES DON'T RUN INTO OFF THE SIDEWALK AND AND DOWN HILLS AND INTO THE LIBRARY PARKING AND AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT. SO IF WE'RE BUILDING WALLS TO KEEP JUST THE NORMAL TRAFFIC THAT WE HAVE NOW FROM INJURING MORE PEOPLE, WHY WOULD WE LET BIG TRUCKS COME ON OUR RESIDENTIAL AREAS? WE'VE GOT ABERNATHY GREENWAY. I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THAT WE NEED MORE TRAFFIC, PARTICULARLY TRUCKS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS. MR. BRADSHAW. MR. MOBLEY, WHO WILL BE FOLLOWED BY RHONDA SMITH. GOOD EVENING. EVENING, MOBLEY. AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF

[00:15:05]

ONE OF YOU MAY BE MAYOR AND SAY, WELL, WE NEVER KNEW THIS TRUCK ROUTE WOULD BE THIS BAD, BUT I COULD I CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE YOU, HAVING BEEN ON NUMEROUS PLANNING COMMISSIONS ON YOUR BOARD OF APPEALS, WHERE WE DID NOT DEAL WITH TRAFFIC, BUT OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, THAT IT TENDS TO BE A TRAFFIC MAGNET. SO I THINK THAT THE NEIGHBORHOODS ON EACH SIDE, JUST AS WE HAD WHEN WE DESIGNED THE WIDENING OF ABERNATHY ROAD TO TRY TO MAKE IT SOMETHING THAT LOOKED GOOD, WE ENDED UP WITH PARKS ON NORTH AND SOUTH THAT PERHAPS THERE NEEDS TO BE ANOTHER CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE WITH THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS TO COLLECT THE DATA TO BOTH THE AIRBORNE DATA. BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE WASH OFF THAT ROAD. IN THE SPILLWAYS, THERE'S A PERENNIAL STREAM ON THE SOUTH SIDE. I'VE GOT A FEELING EVEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOESN'T CARE ABOUT CARBON BASED POLLUTION. EPD MIGHT OR GSW BECAUSE THERE'S PLENTY OF WASH THAT GOES DOWN INTO THAT PERENNIAL STREAM. SO I'D ASK FOR THIS TO BE SLOWED DOWN AT A MINIMUM TO INVOLVE THE CITIZENS THAT LIVE ON THE ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOODS ON EITHER SIDE TO LOOK AT THE POLLUTION, THE EFFECTS OF POLLUTION. THERE MAY BE SOME BENEFITS. LOOK AT THOSE. WHAT KIND OF RESTRICTIONS MIGHT MAKE IT LIVABLE? BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS WAS NOT THE INTENTION 20 YEARS AGO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MOBLEY. MISS SMITH, SUSAN CUSACK WILL BE NEXT. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. RHONDA SMITH, 76, LONG ISLAND PLACE. SPEAKING AS PRESIDENT OF BOTH THE MOUNT AIR SPRINGS NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS ADJACENT TO JOHNSON FERRY AND THE SANDY SPRINGS COUNCIL OF NEIGHBORHOODS, THE COUNCIL OF NEIGHBORHOODS MISSION IS TO ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE AND ENSURE PROTECTION OF NEIGHBORHOODS IN MATTERS OF POLICY AND LAND USE. WHAT ARE THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTERISTICS ALONG THE PROPOSED TRUCK ROUTE CORRIDOR? UNDER AGENDA ITEM 2026 048, NEARLY ONE MILE COLLECTIVELY OF THE LINEAR PARK GREEN SPACE WEST OF ROSWELL ROAD THAT MISS MORRIS JUST SPOKE OF IN THE WORK SESSION WHERE CHILDREN PLAY AND PEOPLE WALK TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS, THE SANDY SPRINGS TENNIS CENTER WITH OVER 80,000 PLAYER AND SPECTATOR VISITS PER YEAR, AND OTHER GREEN SPACES OVER A DOZEN MOSTLY PROTECTED NEIGHBORHOODS, SOME WITH MULTIPLE TOUCH POINTS OF HOMES EXPOSED TO THE ROADWAY, PLUS TOWNHOME COMMUNITIES WITH FRONT DOORS JUST FEET FROM THE CURB. WHILE THE STATE AND LOCAL MAPS SPECIFY THE WHERE AND EXCUSE ME, THE WHERE OF WHERE TRUCKS ARE ALLOWED. IT IS NOW THIS COUNCIL'S ROLE TO ALSO SPECIFY THE WHAT OF WHAT YOU ARE WILLING TO ALLOW TO FURTHER IMPACT WHAT LIES ALONG THE JOHNSON FERRY ABERNATHY CORRIDOR, THE GDOT VEHICLE COUNTER JUST OVER THE COBB LINE INSIDE SANDY SPRINGS AT THE BRIDGE, CLASSIFIES LESS THAN ONE HALF OF 1% OF THE 43,900 AVERAGE DAILY VEHICLES PASSING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS PER 24 HOUR PERIOD AS TRUCKS OVER THREE AXLES. YES, THEIR DATA DASHBOARD IS THAT DETAILED. THE COUNTER DOES NOT TELL US THE ORIGIN AND ORIGIN AND DESTINATION INFORMATION THAT SAYS EXACTLY WHERE THESE TRUCKS CAME FROM, GO TO, AND HOW MANY OF THEM ARE MAKING LOCAL DELIVERIES. GPS PLATFORMS FOR TRUCKS RESPECT BRIDGE LIMITATIONS FOR WEIGHT AND LOW CLEARANCES. AVOID TRUCK RESTRICTED LOCAL ROADS. SEQUENCE MULTIPLE STOPS FOR MINIMAL MILES, AND CHECK THAT THE TOTAL DRIVE TIME FITS WITHIN A DRIVER'S LEGAL HOURS, AMONG OTHER CONSTRAINTS. IF YOU CANNOT SAY WITH CERTAINTY THAT CHANGING THE DESIGNATION OF THE PROPOSED ROUTE WOULD NOT CREATE NEW ROUTE ALGORITHMS FOR SOFTWARE, THAT THEN WOULD ALLOW FOR MORE TRUCKS TO NAVIGATE FROM COBB OR DEKALB THROUGH SANDY SPRINGS. THEN YOU SHOULD NOT CHANGE THIS ROUTE

[00:20:04]

IT'S RESIDENTIAL AND RECREATIONAL. I MENTIONED THE ABERNATHY GREENWAY WHEN I WAS HERE TWO WEEKS AGO. A NEIGHBOR REMINDED ME THAT ABERNATHY IS ALSO HOME TO THE SANDY SPRINGS RACKET CENTER. YOU EACH RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM ME ON SUNDAY NIGHT LOOKING AT HOW THIS PROPOSAL ALIGNS WITH THE ARCS FREIGHT DESIGN GUIDELINES. LONG STORY SHORT, IT DOESN'T.

THE ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION URGES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO AVOID PUSHING THROUGH TRAFFIC THROUGH TRUCK TRAFFIC ONTO ROADS WHICH SERVE NEIGHBORHOODS. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS ALREADY A DE FACTO TRUCK ROUTE, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE COMPELLED TO CONNECT THE DOTS BETWEEN COBB AND DEKALB COUNTIES, MAKING JOHNSON, FERRY, AND ABERNATHY A FORMAL TRUCK ROUTE WOULD ADD TO THE LOGISTICS AND ROUTING SOFTWARE THAT TRUCKERS USED. A LOADED SEMI TRUCK IS ROUGHLY 15 TO 25 TIMES HEAVIER THAN A STANDARD PASSENGER VEHICLE, SO EVEN A MODEST INCREASE IN TRUCK VOLUME COULD HAVE A SERIOUS SAFETY, COULD HAVE SERIOUS SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE IMPACTS. WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH TRAFFIC IT WOULD ADD TO THE CORRIDOR. IT'S A PANDORA'S BOX THAT WE DO NOT NEED TO OPEN. INSTEAD, PLEASE FIX THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND ENFORCEMENT GAPS IN THE CURRENT ORDINANCE AND ENCOURAGE TRUCKERS TO USE THE ROUTES ALREADY IDENTIFIED BY THE FEDS AND THE STATE. ABERNATHY IS JUST ONE EXIT FROM 285 MOVING TRUCKS IS WHAT 285 IS FOR. WHEN I WAS HERE TWO WEEKS AGO, I WAS AN ARMY OF ONE. TONIGHT I HAVE REINFORCEMENTS, PEOPLE FROM SEVERAL NEIGHBORHOODS WHO LIVE ALONG THIS STRETCH OF ROAD, PEOPLE WHO ALREADY STRUGGLE WITH CONGESTION AND SAFETY CONCERNS. ONE MOUNT VERNON WOODS NEIGHBOR PUT IT SIMPLY, THE TRAFFIC VOLUME AND SPEED ON ABERNATHY ARE ALREADY HAZARDOUS. ADDING LARGE TRUCKS IS A RECIPE FOR DISASTER. EARLIER, I SPOKE ABOUT THE SANDY SPRINGS SAFETY ACTION PLAN, WHICH WAS APPROVED JUST NINE MONTHS AGO. THE GOAL OF THE PLAN IS TO ACHIEVE ZERO FATAL AND SERIOUS INJURY CRASHES CRASHES ON CITY OWNED STREETS BY 2040. ADOPTING THIS TRUCK ROUTE DIRECTLY UNDERMINES THAT COMMITMENT. IF SAFETY IS TRULY THE PRIORITY, THIS PROPOSAL CANNOT MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, MISS WALTON. HI, I'M JUDY BOLES. I AM AT 455 BRIDGES CREEK TRAIL IN MOUNT VERNON WOODS. MY FAMILY HAS BEEN IN SANDY SPRINGS FOR 60 YEARS. BEFORE 285 CAME UP, I PLAYED, MY UNCLE DEVELOPED. WE'VE HAD BUSINESSES IN SANDY SPRINGS. NO BIG DEAL, I SAID. WHEN I COULD AFFORD A HOME, I WANTED TO COME TO SANDY SPRINGS. I GREW UP IN BUCKHEAD, BUT WE STAYED A LOT AT MY COUSIN'S HOUSE RIGHT DOWN THE STREET. BUT THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS THE CITY COUNCIL. Y'ALL ARE ALL DOING GREAT JOB. I'M ONLY HERE TO SAY I THINK SOME OF THE FOCUS HAS BEEN LOST. WE SAID IT WAS A NEIGHBORHOOD, THEN WE DEVELOPED THE CITY AND THEN WE'VE LOST. WE'VE LOST OUR WAY BY NOT CONSIDERING THE COMMUNITY. AND THAT'S THE COMMUNITY OF THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME AND THE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE. AND WE'RE NOW TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE COBB COUNTY, WHERE ACCOMMODATING EVERY DEVELOPER WHO WANTS TO PUT ANOTHER RESIDENT'S CARS, CARS, CARS, SEMIS, YOU KNOW, YOU NAME IT. BUT TO TAKE WHAT WE JUST SPENT MONEY ON PARKS ABERNATHY, GREENWAY FOR BRINGING IT A WALKABLE CITY. WE WANT A WALKABLE SCORE. WE WANT TO DO THIS FOR COMMUNITY. BUT

[00:25:02]

[V. Approval of Meeting Agenda ]

[VI. Consent Agenda ]

[IX. New Business]

OPPOSED? NO. THE ITEM IS APPROVED. THE CLERK WILL PLEASE READ THE NEXT ITEM. THIS IS AGENDA. EXCUSE ME. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 20 2644. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE 2026 CITY PRIORITIES PRESENTED BY CITY MANAGER EDEN FREEMAN. MR. FREEMAN, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, THE ITEM BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED PRIORITIES FOR CALENDAR YEAR 26, WHICH WILL BE USED TO INFORM THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FY 2027 BUDGET PROCESS. YOU WILL RECALL DURING THE ANNUAL COUNCIL RETREAT, FEBRUARY 5TH AND SIXTH. ON THE FIRST DAY, STAFF PRESENTED AN UPDATE ON OUR PROGRESS TOWARDS ACCOMPLISHING THE PRIORITIES, AND THEN WE HAD OPEN CONVERSATION AND DISCUSSION. ONE OF THE CONVERSATION POINTS THAT CAME ABOUT IN THAT WAS THE ADDITION OF INNOVATION, WHICH THERE WAS A DESIRE TO HAVE THAT UNDERPINNING AND INFORMING ALL OF OUR PRIORITY AREAS JUST TO WALK THROUGH WHAT OUR PRIORITY AREAS ARE AND HOW WE HAVE ADDED INNOVATION. AT THE CORE OF EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IS CUSTOMER SERVICE, CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT. AND NOW WE ARE RECOMMENDING INNOVATION FOLLOWED BY PUBLIC SAFETY, THEN BY TRANSPORTATION, ACCESSIBILITY AND COMMUNITY APPEARANCE, RECREATION AND CULTURAL ENRICHMENT. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH A FOCUS ON REDEVELOPMENT, TRANSPORTATION.

EXCUSE ME. I'M SORRY I LOST MY PLACE. SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. AND THEN FINALLY, WATER RELIABILITY. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT COUNCIL MAY HAVE.

ALL RIGHT. YOU'VE HEARD THE REPORT. THE CITY MANAGER. WHAT'S DESIRED. COUNCIL. MAYOR

[00:30:03]

I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT AND I ALSO AGREE WITH YOU. IT APPLIES TO ALL ASPECTS OF THIS, OF THIS LIST OF PRIORITIES. SO STAY WITH IT AND PLEASE KEEP US INFORMED AS WE AS WE INNOVATE ALL THESE DIFFERENT AREAS. ABSOLUTELY MISS MUELLER. SO I WENT BACK AND LISTENED TO THE END OF DAY ONE OF THE RETREAT. IF ANYBODY WANTS TO DO THAT, IT'S I THINK AT THE SEVEN HOUR AND 16 MINUTE MARK, APPROXIMATELY, AND IT'S ABOUT TEN MINUTES. WHEN WE WE DISCUSSED THIS. AND INNOVATION IS SO IMPORTANT. AND I KNOW THAT THE MAYOR HAD SAID AT THE MEETING THAT IT'S IT'S MORE THAN WORDS ON PAPER. IT HAS TO WE HAVE TO HAVE IT. AND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT UNDERPINNING, BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT A CULTURE SHIFT.

AND SO WE CAN DO EVERYTHING WE WANT WITH THE TECHNOLOGY AND THE DATA. BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE THE CULTURE TO EXECUTE WITH THAT, WE NEED BOTH OF THOSE PIECES. AND I SPENT 22 YEARS WORKING FOR A COMPANY THAT INNOVATION WAS FOREMOST. AND SO WE HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN NOT JUST TO GET OURSELVES POSITIONED FOR INNOVATION, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SHIFT THE CULTURE AND GET THAT WAY. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE, IF WE COULD DO THIS, IS THAT. IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN HAVE A DEFINITION OF HOW THE CITY WILL USE INNOVATION TO SUPPORT BOTH THE INTERNAL OPERATIONS AND THE CUSTOMER, THE RESIDENT SERVICE DELIVERY? AND THEN ALSO, ARE WE PUTTING FORWARD AN INNOVATION ACTION PLAN? SO THE PLAN THAT WOULD THEN TIE TOGETHER WHERE WE ARE WITH THE INNOVATION STEPS THAT WE'RE DOING, IN ADDITION TO HOW WE'RE GOING TO SHIFT THE CULTURE. AND THEN ALSO I THINK THAT WOULD ALSO HELP IF WHEN WE DO THE BUDGETING, IF WE COULD HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO DO FROM A BUDGET PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE GETTING INTO THE BUDGET SEASON.

I'M SURE YOU'VE ALREADY STARTED THAT, SO THAT WE HAVE THE FUNDING WE CAN DO TO ACTUALLY EXECUTE, BECAUSE IT CAN'T GET LOST JUST IN THE CENTER, THAT WE'LL LET ME KIND OF RESPOND TO THAT BECAUSE THE CITY MANAGER AND I HAVE HAD I'LL SAY THIS, THE CITY MANAGER TOOK WHAT SHE HEARD FROM THE RETREAT VERY SERIOUSLY, AND SHE HAS ALREADY STARTED WORKING ON SOME DRAFT POLICIES AND IDEAS THAT SHE'LL BE BRINGING FORWARD FAIRLY SOON. I HOPE. I EXPECT SHE'S SHARED WITH ME SOME OF THE THINGS SO SHE I CAN ASSURE YOU SHE'S TAKING IT VERY SERIOUSLY. WHAT SHE HEARD FROM COUNCIL. AND I'LL LET IF YOU WANT TO OPINE AND SAY, GIVE THEM A LITTLE PEEK AT WHAT YOU'RE WORKING ON. SURE. FIRST OFF, I WOULD SAY WITHOUT HESITATION THAT WE ALREADY HAVE THE MOST INNOVATIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT STAFF THAT YOU WILL FIND ANYWHERE. COULD WE DO THINGS AND THINK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY? ALWAYS. WE ALWAYS SHOULD BE PUSHED TO THINK NEW WAYS AND TO BRING NEW INNOVATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR TEAM. I DID TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY THE CONVERSATION AND IN FACT WENT HOME THAT NIGHT AND SPENT ABOUT FOUR HOURS WORKING ON A CONCEPT PAPER FOR AN OFFICE OF INNOVATION AND DELIVERY. YOU'LL BE HEARING ABOUT THAT AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS. IT WOULDN'T BE FAIR TO BRING THAT TO YOU UNTIL YOU ALL HAVE DECIDED. IF YOU WANT TO ADD INNOVATION AS A PRIORITY, THIS IS THAT FIRST STEP IN THAT CONVERSATION. SO YES, YOU WILL BE HEARING MORE ABOUT IT AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, MAYOR PAUL? YEP. MISS FORD, THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING THESE VERY CLEAR PRIORITIES. I JUST HAVE TWO THOUGHTS THAT I'D LIKE TO SHARE. THE FIRST IS THAT AS WE GET INTO THE BUDGETING PROCESS, IF THERE IS A WAY FOR US TO UNDERSTAND HOW OUR BUDGET DOLLARS ARE BEING APPLIED TO EACH OF THESE PRIORITIES. SO I THINK WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR PRIORITIES ARE DETERMINED OR ARE CLEAR IN HOW YOU'RE SPENDING MONEY. AND SO UNDERSTANDING HOW THE BUDGET SHAKES OUT ACROSS THESE LAST YEAR, I WENT THROUGH THE BUDGET AND CAME UP WITH MY OWN ANALYSIS, AND THAT HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THAT NEARLY A THIRD OF OUR BUDGET GOES TOWARDS PUBLIC SAFETY, AND I THINK THAT OUR RESIDENTS APPRECIATE THAT. SO DOLLARS APPLIED. THESE ARE ALL NICE. EVEN BUCKETS PROBABLY DOESN'T END UP THAT WAY IN THE ACTUAL BUDGET. IT'S NOT EVEN. YEAH THAT'S RIGHT. AND THEN MY SECOND COMMENT AND I UNDERSTAND THIS PROBABLY ENDS UP SOMEWHERE UNDERNEATH OF SUSTAINABLE GROWTH OR REDEVELOPMENT. BUT DURING THE RETREAT THERE WAS A HEALTHY AMOUNT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT HOUSING AND THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY. AS I LOOKED THROUGH ALL THE PRESENTATION MATERIALS, WE WE DON'T HAVE A CLEAR WAY THAT THAT COMES THROUGH IN

[00:35:02]

CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AND ACCEPT A GRANT. AWARD FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION OF THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES. FY 2026 RECYCLING AND WASTE DIVERSION GRANT, AND TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH KEEP NORTH FULTON BEAUTIFUL, PRESENTED BY URBAN FORESTER AND SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR, WILLIAM PARK. MR. PARK. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I'M HERE TO REQUEST THAT FOR THE AUTHORIZATION. THIS HAS BEEN PRESENTED PREVIOUSLY. A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND. A GRANT WAS APPLIED AND RECEIVED FOR AN AMOUNT. THE ORIGINAL REQUEST WAS FOR $150,000. THAT WAS BASED ON CURRENT PRICES AND AVAILABILITY.

THE ACTUAL AWARD RECEIVED WAS INCREASED FROM 150,000 TO 178 461, WHICH ALMOST COVERS ALL THE COSTS PROPOSED FOR THIS FOAM DENSIFICATION PROJECT AT THE RECYCLING CENTER. THE REMAINING GAP HAS BEEN FILLED BY A DONATION SOLICITED BY THE NORTH FULTON OR THE SANDY

[00:40:02]

YOU'VE HEARD THE REPORT OF THE URBAN FORESTER AND SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR.

WHAT'S DESIRE OF COUNCIL? MR. PAULSON? THERE WE GO. I MOVE APPROVAL OF AGENDA ITEM 2026 OH 45. APPROVE AND ACCEPT THE GRANT AWARD FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION OF THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES. FISCAL YEAR 2026 RECYCLING AND WASTE DIVERSION GRANT, AND TO AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH KEEP NORTH FULTON BEAUTIFUL MOTION BY MR. PAULSON. IS THERE A SECOND SECOND SECONDED BY MISS FORD. ANY DISCUSSION, MAYOR PAUL? DOCTOR, I MEAN MR. PAULSON.

THANK YOU. I JUST HEARD A NEW DEGREE ON YOU SOON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUST A BASIC QUESTION. AS I READ THIS, IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS GRANT IS ACTUALLY FULLY FUNDED. OTHER THAN THE LITTLE DONATION THAT COMES FROM THE THE OTHER FOLKS YOU TALKED ABOUT, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS IS A REIMBURSEMENT BASED GRANT. SO FUNDS WILL HAVE TO BE SPENT FIRST AND THEN REIMBURSEMENTS WILL BE RECEIVED FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION OF THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

AS LONG AS WE GET OUR MONEY BACK, THAT'S FINE WITH ME. THANK YOU, MISS MUELLER. SO, WILLIE, IS THERE ANY GO FORWARD MAINTENANCE COSTS THAT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE GRANT THAT THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO OR KEEP NORTH FULTON BEAUTIFUL, I GUESS WOULD HAVE TO COVER. SO CURRENTLY THE BUDGET OF WHAT IS APPROVED IS JUST FOR THE INSTALLATION, FOR THE AWNING, FOR THE UPGRADES TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THE INSTALLATION OF THE ACTUAL UNIT, WE SEE THAT THE INCREASED INVESTMENT IN THE ELECTRICITY IN THE AWNING WILL REDUCE AND HOPEFULLY MINIMIZE MAINTENANCE COSTS OVER TIME, BUT ANY PIECE OF MACHINERY LIKE THIS WILL REQUIRE MAINTENANCE, BUT WE WILL ALWAYS TRY TO PROCEED BY USING THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY FIRST. YEAH, AND THANK YOU FOR HELPING. I KNOW, COLLEEN, I DON'T BELIEVE SHE'S IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT. THIS WAS ONE OF HER BIG IDEAS TO GET THIS IN. AND I KNOW THAT FROM WHEN COUNCILMAN PAULSON AND DOCTOR KELLY AND I HAD A TOUR OF THE CENTER. SO THIS WAS ONE OF HER BIG IDEAS ON HER LIST. AND THIS IS GOING TO BE FANTASTIC, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT I CAN'T WAIT TO BE ABLE TO GO RECYCLE DENSE FOAM. YES. I MEAN, SPEAKING TO A CITY MANAGER, IAN FREEMAN'S POINT ON INNOVATION, THIS IS A HUGE INNOVATION FOR OUR RECYCLING CENTER. MANY MUNICIPALITIES DON'T HAVE THIS SERVICE. IT'S QUITE A PRIVILEGE, AND MOST FOLKS HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY TO SOUTH ATLANTA TO GO TO CHARM OR THE CENTER FOR HEART TO RECYCLE MATERIALS, AND IT'S QUITE A TREK FOR OUR CITIZENS. YEAH, I'D LIKE TO SEE US DO SOMETHING WITH CARTONS LIKE CARTONS AND SO FORTH. THAT'S ANOTHER STORY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, DOCTOR KELLY? SO DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF HOW THIS WILL BE MARKETED OR HOW PEOPLE WILL FIND OUT ONCE WE ARE OFFICIALLY IN THE STYROFOAM OR THE FOAM BUSINESS? YES, OF COURSE. SO ALREADY THE CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS AND THE RECYCLING CENTER THROUGH KEEP NORTH FULTON BEAUTIFUL HAVE A VERY DEEP AND VAST MAILING LIST. THE FOLKS WHO ARE ON THAT LIST ARE QUITE INVESTED IN SUSTAINABILITY IN METRO ATLANTA. FURTHERMORE, AS A PART OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS GRANT AND OUR PROMISES, THERE WILL BE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH. AND THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS IS TO REACH A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT PERHAPS MAY NOT HAVE THOUGHT TO RECYCLE THESE THINGS BEFORE. IT'S ONE THING TO PREACH TO THE CHOIR, BUT TO RECEIVE THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT OF THIS NEW INSTALLATION, WE WOULD DEFINITELY NEED TO REACH OUT AND MARKET THIS THE BEST WE CAN.

HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE BEFORE WE WE'RE OFFICIAL. WE'RE OFFICIAL. SO ASSUMING THIS PASSES, IF YOU MAY, IF I MAY LOOK AT THE TIMELINE REAL QUICK, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE UP AND RUNNING THIS YEAR. BUT THE ACTUAL DRAWDOWN AND FINAL COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE IN 2028. AND THAT'S WHEN WE WILL START LOOKING AT STUDIES AND SELF-ASSESSMENTS AND AUDITS.

OKAY. THANKS. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE. WE'LL CALL THE QUESTION ON WHETHER WE WON'T ACCEPT SOME MONEY OR NOT. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION. SAY AYE. AYE.

OPPOSED? NO. THAT WAS A WISE MOVE. CLERK, PLEASE READ THE NEXT ITEM. THIS IS AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 20 2546. CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE TO APPROVE THE FY 2026 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNITY VIOLENCE REDUCTION GRANT EQUIPMENT PROJECT BUDGET. THIS PRESENTED BY INTELLIGENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR FOR THE SANDY SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT, MICHAEL PATRICK. MISS. PATRICK.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL BEFORE YOU AS A MEMORANDUM REQUESTING YOUR CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE TO APPROVE THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNITY VIOLENCE REDUCTION GRANT EQUIPMENT PROJECT BUDGET GOING FORWARD, I'LL REFER TO THIS AS THE EQUIPMENT PROJECT. FOR SIMPLICITY, IT IS RECOMMENDED. IT IS THE RECOMMENDATION OF

[00:45:02]

TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENTS. THE ENHANCEMENTS INCLUDE VIDEO WALL DISPLAYS, AUDIO AND CONTROL SYSTEMS, AND INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES TO STRENGTHEN REAL TIME CRIME MONITORING AND ANALYSIS. THE COUNCIL APPROVED CONSTANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AS A SOLE SOURCE PROVIDER AT THAT TIME. THE BUDGET AMENDMENT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE FUNDER, AND THE CITY IS PREPARED TO PROCEED WITH THE PURCHASES. THE CV EQUIPMENT PROJECT BUDGET, APPROVED FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 IS 510,815. HOWEVER, BECAUSE FUNDS ARE BEING REALLOCATED ACROSS THE FULL GRANT PERIOD, WHICH SPANS MORE THAN ONE FISCAL YEAR, THIS AMOUNT INCLUDES FUNDS NOT ORIGINALLY DESIGNATED FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. AS A RESULT, THE CV EQUIPMENT GRANT BUDGET REQUIRES AN INCREASE OF $29,517.43. THIS AMENDMENT WILL MOVE REMAINING GRANT FUNDS INTO THE 2026 FISCAL YEAR, ALLOWING THE CITY TO COMPLETE ALL REMAINING SPENDING OBLIGATIONS AND SATISFY THE REMAINING EQUIPMENT GRANT REQUIREMENTS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, WITH THE GOAL TO CLOSE OUT THE CV EQUIPMENT PROJECTS BEFORE THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. IF COUNCIL CHOOSES NOT TO APPROVE THE BUDGET AMENDMENT, THE CITY WILL BE UNABLE TO USE THE GRANT FUNDS OR DEPLOY THE NEW EQUIPMENT THAT WILL BE PURCHASED. RETURNING OR NOT. UTILIZING AWARDED GRANT FUNDS MAY BE VIEWED NEGATIVELY BY FUNDERS AND COULD AFFECT THE CITY'S COMPETITIVENESS AND FUTURE GRANT APPLICATIONS. THE ALTERNATIVE IS TO NOT APPROVE THE BUDGET AMENDMENT. THEREFORE, THE CITY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE THE AWARDED FUNDS. WELL, MISS PATRICK, YOU PUT THAT IN RATHER STARK TERMS. I'M SURE YOU HAVE THE COUNCIL'S ATTENTION. ALL RIGHT. YOU'VE HEARD THE REPORT OF THE INTELLIGENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR. WHAT'S DESIRE OF COUNCIL MAYOR PAUL? MR. PAULSON, I MOVE APPROVAL OF AGENDA ITEM 20 2646, AN ORDINANCE TO APPROVE THE FISCAL 2026 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNITY VIOLENCE REDUCTION GRANT EQUIPMENT PROJECT BUDGET AS STATED MOTION BY MR. PAULSON. IS THERE A SECOND SECOND MOTION BY MR. PAULSON, SECONDED BY MR. ROBERTS, THAT WE APPROVE? AGENDA ITEM 20 2646 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE FY 26 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNITY VIOLENCE REDUCTION GRANT, EQUIPMENT PROJECT BUDGET. ANY DISCUSSION HEARING? NONE. WE'LL CALL THE QUESTION. THE QUESTION IS ON AGENDA ITEM 20 2646, APPROVING THE FY 26 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNITY VIOLENCE REDUCTION GRANT EQUIPMENT PROJECT BUDGET. ALL IN FAVOR? THE MOTION SAY AYE. OPPOSED? NO. THE ITEM IS APPROVED. THE CLERK, PLEASE READ THE NEXT ITEM.

THANK YOU. MR. PATRICK, THIS IS AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 20 2647. CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE CHANGE ORDER FOR TO THE EXISTING CONTRACT WITH VERTICAL EARTH, INC. AS IT RELATES TO THE MOUNT VERNON JOHNSON'S FERRY CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. THAT'S TS 191. AND TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE REVISED CONTRACT DOCUMENTS PRESENTED BY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR MARTY MARTIN. MR. MARTIN, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, GOOD EVENING. TONIGHT, I BRING TO YOU A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE A CHANGE ORDER FOR TO THE EXISTING CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH VERTICAL EARTH INCORPORATED FOR THE MOUNT VERNON JOHNSON FERRY CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. TS 191, IN THE AMOUNT OF $55,632. INITIALLY, THE CITY AWARDED THIS CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO VERTICAL EARTH IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,881,593.38 ON DECEMBER 19TH, 2023. SINCE THEN, THERE HAVE BEEN THREE CHANGE ORDERS PRIOR TO CHANGE. ORDER FOR CHANGE ORDER ONE IN THE AMOUNT OF 189,598 62 APPROVED BY THE CITY MANAGER. JANUARY 7TH, 2025 CHANGE ORDER TWO. IN THE AMOUNT OF $242,148.25. APPROVED BY MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL ON MAY 20TH, 2025 AND CHANGE ORDER THREE, IN THE AMOUNT OF $177,820.45. APPROVED BY THE CITY MANAGER ON DECEMBER 10TH OF 2025. CHANGE ORDER FOR ADDRESSES. AN ADDITIONAL FIBER DIRECTIONAL BORING REQUIREMENT REQUIRED AT THIS TIME TO COMPLETE INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS IN AND AROUND SPRUILL LANE ON THE MOUNT VERNON CORRIDOR. JOHNSON FERRY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PROVIDING ADEQUATE BORES FOR SIZING OF CONDUIT TO INTERCONNECT THOSE

[00:50:02]

AND THAT COMES AS A RESULT OF INVESTIGATIONS BY THE CONSULTANT DESIGN TEAM AND THE CONTRACTOR IN THIS CASE, TO TRY TO FIND THE THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE AND SCHEDULE SENSITIVE RESPONSE TO INCLUDE OR INCORPORATE IN THESE NEEDED CHANGES. IN THE INTEREST OF DELIVERING THE PROJECT. MARTY. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DO THE BORE. FOR WHAT REASON? IT WAS NOT ORIGINALLY DESIGNED AT THE SIZE IT WAS REQUIRED TO DO SO. THIS IS A LARGER BORE THAN WAS ORIGINALLY CONTEMPLATED IN THE DESIGN. IN ORDER TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE OR ACCOMMODATE THE INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRED TO CONNECT THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. YOU'VE HEARD THE REPORT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, WATTS COUNCIL, MAYOR PAUL MISS MUELLER, MOVE THAT WE APPROVE. AGENDA ITEM 2026 047 FOR A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE CHANGE ORDER FOR TO THE EXISTING CONTRACT WITH VERTICAL EARTH, INC. AS IT RELATES TO THE MOUNT VERNON JOHNSON FERRY CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECT TS 191, AND TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE REVISED CONTRACT DOCUMENTS MOTION BY MISS MUELLER. IS THERE A SECOND SECOND MOTION BY MISS MUELLER, SECONDED BY DOCTOR KELLY, THAT WE APPROVE? AGENDA ITEM 2026 OH 47 THE CHANGE ORDER FOUR TO THE EXISTING CONTRACT WITH VERTICAL EARTH RELATED TO THE MOUNT VERNON JOHNSON FERRY CORRIDOR.

IMPROVEMENT. ANY DISCUSSION, MISS MUELLER? SO MARTY BACK TO MAYOR HAD THE SAME QUESTION I DID. BUT IF WE KNEW THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THREE TWO INCH CONDUITS, THAT'S NEVER GOING TO FIT INTO A FIVE INCH BORE, RIGHT? SO HOW IS IT THAT WHAT WHY ARE WE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS? IF THEY DID IT AND THEY MISSED IT IN THE DESIGN? IN THIS CASE, WHAT THE CONTRACTOR IS PROVIDING THE CITY IS WHAT'S REQUIRED TO EXECUTE THE PROJECT. SO REGARDLESS OF NOT INCLUDED IN THE DESIGN ORIGINALLY NOW NOW ULTIMATELY DEFINED AS THE ADEQUATE SIZE, ETC. WHAT THE CITY ULTIMATELY GAINS OUT OF THIS IS THE FULL WORK REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT. DO WE HAVE WE HAVE ACCESS TO RUN SOMETHING ELSE THROUGH THAT OTHER CONDUIT AT ANOTHER TIME IF WE HAVE TO? I DON'T KNOW. IN THIS CASE IT'S NOT THERE. SO THIS IS THE EXTRA WORK REQUIRED TO DELIVER THE CONDUIT AS APPROPRIATE. BUT IN THE FUTURE, THERE WOULD BE ROOM FOR SOMETHING ELSE IF WE HAD TO RUN SOMETHING THROUGH THAT CONDUIT. CORRECT? YES. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, MR. ROBERTS? MARTY, IS THIS THE SAME PROPOSAL THAT CAME UP AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING? NO, SIR. IS NOT. NO. THEN I THINK AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, I BELIEVE WE DISCUSSED A CEI CHANGE ORDER WITH JACOBS ENGINEERING. IT WAS ABOUT THE BORE AND THE WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING HERE IN THIS ONE, IT WAS THE SAME THING. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME THING.

THAT'S WHY I ASKED THE QUESTION. IF THIS IS NOT THE SAME THING WE'RE ASKING. NO, SIR. THE LAST COUNCIL, WE HADN'T WE HAD NOT TAKEN THIS ONE FORWARD BEFORE. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY. WE'VE ALREADY GIVEN A LOT OF MONEY ALREADY TO DO THIS PROJECT. NOW THEY'RE COMING AND ASKING FOR MORE AND MORE MONEY. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE THEY ASKED FOR MORE MONEY SINCE THIS PROJECT STARTED? WELL, IN THE CASE OF THIS, THIS WOULD BE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER FOUR. IF WE DO THE MATH COMPARED TO THE BASE PRICE THAT WE PAY OR AWARDED TO THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR. THIS WILL ADD NOW SOMEWHERE IN THE ORDER OF ABOUT 4% TOTAL COST ADDED TO THE OVERALL CONTRACT PRICE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF UNDERGROUND WORK, WHICH MOST OF THIS PRICING, IF YOU LOOK AT THE OTHER CHANGE ORDERS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH UNDERGROUND WORK, BE IT WATER LINES, OTHER BURIED UTILITY LINES, STORMWATER, ETC. 4% IS A PRETTY REASONABLE BULL BALL. EXCUSE ME, REASONABLE BALLPARK FOR CHANGE ORDERS ON A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. SEEMS LIKE IF THEY MADE A BID TO DO THE PROJECT INITIALLY, THEN THEY COME BACK FOR MORE AND MORE MONEY. AND THIS IS A FOURTH TIME AROUND. AND THIS THE BID DID NOT CONTEMPLATE THIS WORK AS SIZED, SO THEREFORE THE ADDITIONAL WORK IS REQUIRED. THE PRICING PROVIDED DELIVERS THE ADDITIONAL WORK REQUIRED. MR. MARTIN, LET ME LET ME SEE IF I CAN UNDERSTAND THIS A LITTLE BIT. YOU DO A AND THIS IS A HUGE PROJECT. YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF UNDERGROUND UTILITIES. YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS UNDERGROUND THAT YOU DON'T ENCOUNTER UNTIL YOU START CONSTRUCTION. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. AND TO THAT END, IF I COULD ADD SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF UNDERGROUND UTILITY EXPLORATION WAS CONDUCTED, CITY PAID FOR IT, CONSULTANT CONDUCTED THAT WORK. SUBSURFACE UNDERGROUND EVALUATION LEVEL A SERVICE. WE ACTUALLY BACKED DOWN TO MANY OF THE UTILITY

[00:55:06]

I MEAN, WE RAN INTO IT UP ON ON THE SPRING WAY WHEN WE RAN INTO THE ROCK IN THE LAKE THAT NOBODY KNEW WAS THERE. SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAPPENED LARGELY BECAUSE OF THE TOPOGRAPHY THAT WE ARE FACING IN THIS AREA. IS THAT WOULD THAT BE AN ACCURATE STATEMENT? TOPOGRAPHY. AND I'LL CLASSIFY IT AS UNFORESEEN CONDITIONS. FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU NOTICE ONE OF THE CHANGE ORDERS HAD THE CHANGE FROM OUR STORMWATER PIPE TO AROUND SECTION TO ELLIPTICAL PIPE AS DESCRIBED. WHY DID WE GO TO ELLIPTICAL PIPE? WE NEEDED TO BUY SOME SPACE TO SEPARATE UTILITIES. ONCE WE FOUND THAT OUR STORMWATER SYSTEM NEEDED SOME SPACE, THAT A ROUND PIPE WOULDN'T FIT IN ADJACENT ADJACENT TO OTHER UTILITIES, AS THEY WERE ULTIMATELY LOCATED ON THE PROJECT SIDE. SO WE BOUGHT A LITTLE SPACE, FLATTENING THE PIPE ELLIPTICAL PIPE IN THAT CASE. TO DO THAT, WOULD IT BE FAIR TO SAY THAT THIS IS FAIRLY CONSISTENT WITH MOST OF OUR PROJECTS THAT HAVE A LOT OF UNDERGROUND UTILITY AND OTHER WORK THAT WE JUST CAN'T KNOW FOR SURE? EVERYTHING THAT'S THERE? ABSOLUTELY, SIR, ESPECIALLY IN A MAJOR ROADWAY RECONSTRUCTION, WHICH IS WHAT THIS PROJECT IS. AND ALONG WITH THAT MAJOR ROADWAY RECONSTRUCTION, WE SHIFTED ROADWAY ALIGNMENTS. WE MOVED THE CURB LINE WITH THAT CURB LINE. AND WHAT INSTIGATES A LOT OF THE UTILITY ADJUSTMENTS WE'VE HAD TO MAKE THUS FAR IS NOW YOUR STORMWATER SYSTEM CHASES THE NEW CURB ALIGNMENT THERE. IT'S NOW INTRODUCED INTO WHERE UTILITIES WEREN'T BEFORE. NOW YOU HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE ALL THERE. SO OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS MR. SHINSKY? THIS MAY BE A QUESTION MORE FOR YOU, MAYOR OR FOR EDEN, BUT SO THIS IS A $55,000 CHANGE ORDER. WHAT IS THE CITY MANAGER SIGNING AUTHORITY COMPARED TO WHAT COMES TO COUNCIL 200,000. SO WHY IS THIS BEFORE US? BECAUSE IF YOU READ IN HERE, IT ADDS ON TO SOME PRIOR ONES. SO THE SUM OF ALL OF THEM BRINGS IT BACK TO COUNCIL. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO EACH TIME WE EXCEED THE $200,000 MARK, WE BRING IT TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL, WHATEVER THAT CUMULATIVE IS AT THAT POINT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? MR. ROBERTS? SO, MARTY, I WANT TO GET BACK TO THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING BACK ON THE 3RD OF FEBRUARY. WHAT COMPANY WAS IT THAT WAS ASKING FOR THE DIFFERENT BORE COUNCIL AT THAT MEETING? I LOOK BACK NOW, I DON'T RECOLLECT, BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THE THERE THIS COMPANY IS ASKING FOR THE SAME THING BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T CALCULATE AHEAD. IT WAS JACOBS.

I'M SORRY, COUNCILMAN. SO THE LAST CHANGE ORDER WAS FOR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION SERVICES, AND THAT WAS FOR JACOBS TO GO AND INSPECT THE WORK THAT VERTICAL EARTH HAS DONE OR IS DOING. AND THIS IS FOR VERTICAL EARTH TO ACTUALLY DO THE WORK. OKAY. IT'S TWO DIFFERENT COMPANIES ASKING FOR MORE MONEY. CORRECT. BUT FOR TWO DIFFERENT SCOPES OF WORK.

IN THE CASE OF THE CI THAT WE PRESENTED LAST TIME, THAT WAS FOR THE EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME THAT THEY'LL PROVIDE INSPECTION SERVICES TO THE CITY FOR THAT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE. WE'LL CALL THE QUESTION. THE QUESTION IS ON AGENDA ITEM 2026 OH 47. RESOLUTION APPROVING CHANGE ORDER FOUR TO THE EXISTING CONTRACT WITH VERTICAL EARTH AS IT RELATES TO THE MOUNT VERNON JOHNSON FERRY CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION? SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? NO. THE ITEM IS APPROVED. THE CLERK WILL PLEASE READ THE NEXT ITEM. THIS IS AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 20 2648. CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE MODIFICATIONS TO TRUCK ROUTE ORDINANCE AND DESIGNATION OF TRUCK ROUTE NETWORK, PRESENTED BY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR MARTY MARTIN. MAYOR AND COUNCIL. GOOD EVENING. IN A WORK SESSION ON FEBRUARY 3RD, 2026, STAFF PROVIDED THE COUNCIL INFORMATION ON THE CURRENT STATUS. STATE OF THE CITY'S TRUCK ROUTE ORDINANCE IN THIS CASE. CHAPTER 58 ARTICLE TWO TRUCK ROUTES. SECTIONS 58, 31 THROUGH 5841 OF OUR CODE OF ORDINANCES. THIS CODE SECTION PROVIDES RESTRICTIONS FOR THE USE OF TRUCKS WITHIN THE CITY TO INCLUDE MAXIMUM. MAXIMUM VEHICLE WEIGHTS, WHERE AND HOW LONG TRUCKS CAN PARK, WHERE TRUCKS CAN BE STORED. THE TIME OF DAY THAT DELIVERIES OUTSIDE OF TRUCK ROUTES CAN BE MADE, AND PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION. STAFF PRESENTED ON SEVERAL OF THE POTENTIAL SHORTCOMINGS OF THE ORDINANCE THAT MADE THE ORDINANCE CHALLENGING TO DIVORCE, TO INCLUDE THE LACK OF AN ACCOMPANYING LIST OF AND MAP OF APPROVED TRUCK ROUTES.

[01:00:06]

OTHER ITEMS NOTED AT THE TIME OF THAT PRESENTATION AT THE WORK SESSION IS THAT THE FOLLOWING STATE OWNED AND MAINTAINED FACILITIES ARE ALREADY DESIGNATED FOR TRUCK USE WITHIN THE CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS. THOSE INCLUDE INTERSTATE 285 FOR ITS ENTIRETY WITHIN THE CITY. STATE ROUTE NINE FOR ITS ENTIRETY WITHIN THE CITY. STATE ROUTE 140 FOR ITS ENTIRETY WITHIN THE CITY. HOLCOMB BRIDGE ROAD AND STATE ROUTE FOUR 400 FROM INTERSTATE 285 INTERCHANGE TO THE ROSWELL CITY LIMITS. AT THE TIME OF THE PRESENTATION, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL IN THE WORK SESSION, ADDITIONAL ROUTES ON CITY OWNED STREETS WERE RECOMMENDED FOR CONSIDERATION IN INCORPORATION INTO THE CITY'S TRUCK ROUTE ORDINANCE. THOSE INCLUDED JOHNSON FERRY ROAD FROM THE COBB COUNTY LINE TO ABERNATHY ROAD, ABERNATHY ROAD FROM JOHNSON FERRY ROAD TO MOUNT VERNON HIGHWAY, MOUNT VERNON HIGHWAY TO ABERNATHY ROAD TO THE DUNWOODY CITY LIMITS. THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, IN THE INTEREST OF CONNECTING ESTABLISHED TRUCK ROUTES ALREADY IN COBB COUNTY AND AGAIN ESTABLISHED TRUCK ROUTES ALREADY IN DUNWOODY. DUNWOODY PLACE FROM NORTH RIDGE ROAD TO ROSWELL ROAD STATE ROUTE NINE, THE LOGIC THERE BEING THAT IS THE CITY'S SOLE INDUSTRIALLY ZONED FACILITY ON THAT ROUTE, THAT BEING THE COCA-COLA PLANT ON DUNWOODY PLACE AND NORTH RIDGE ROAD FROM ROSWELL ROAD TO STATE ROUTE 400, THAT BEING THE SHORTEST CONNECTION POINT BETWEEN THE STATE ROUTE NINE AND GEORGIA 400. STATE ROUTE. AS WAS ALSO A PART OF THAT DISCUSSION, IT WAS RECOGNIZED THAT MOST TRUCK OPERATORS WANT TO STAY ON LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAYS UNLESS THEY HAVE A LOCAL DESTINATION, OR THOSE ROADS ARE EXPERIENCING EXTREME DELAYS FROM A CRASH OR OTHER INCIDENT. IF TRUCK TRAFFIC INCREASES ON LOCALLY CONTROLLED DESIGNATED ROUTES, IT WILL MORE LIKELY COME FROM LOCAL STREETS THAT THE CITY IS SEEKING TO PROTECT AND NOT FROM THE INTERSTATE SYSTEM. STAFF ALSO RECOMMENDS ELIMINATING THE TIME RESTRICTIONS, AS RESIDENTS OFTEN NEED DELIVERIES OR PICKUPS DURING WORKING HOURS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE RECENT PROPENSITY OF COMMERCIAL E-COMMERCE DELIVERIES TO PRIVATE RESIDENTS. IF ADOPTED, THE CITY STAFF WILL USE A WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH APPLE, GOOGLE, AND OTHER NAVIGATION TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES TO COORDINATE INTEGRATING THE UPDATES INTO THE COMMONLY USED PLATFORMS AVAILABLE TO TRUCKERS. THE STAFF WILL ALSO SHARE THE MAP WITH THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, THE ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION, FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, AND OTHER PARTNERS. WITH THAT MAYOR AND COUNCIL. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. BEFORE WE ASK FOR MOTIONS, I'M GOING TO TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AND DEFEND THE STAFF A LITTLE BIT.

THEY DID WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO, WHICH IS USE THE THINGS THAT MARTY OUTLINED, THE GUIDANCE THAT WE GET. THE REASON WE'RE DOING TRUCK ROUTES IS BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, EVERY STREET IN SANDY SPRINGS IS A TRUCK ROUTE. WE HAVE A TRUCK ORDINANCE, BUT WE CAN'T ENFORCE

[01:05:02]

OKAY. AND THEN WHEN WE DO ENFORCEMENT, IS IT GOING TO BE COMPLAINT BASED, TARGETED, LIKE FOR HOT SPOTS OR RESIDENTIAL OR JUST, YOU KNOW, WHEN PROBLEMS HAPPEN? THEN WE MIGHT ASK FOR A BILL OF LADING OR SOMETHING. I THINK IN THIS CASE I WOULD DEFER TO POLICE FOR HOW THEY MIGHT OPT TO ENFORCE. BUT IT PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, I WILL MAKE SOME CONJECTURE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE MORE SO ON A COMPLAINT BASIS, A NUISANCE BASIS. THERE'S A PERCEPTION OF INAPPROPRIATE USE OF A ROUTE WITHIN THE CITY THAT WOULD WOULD WARRANT FURTHER POLICE FOLLOW UP. WELL, I WOULD ALSO ASSUME IF A POLICE OFFICER SEES A TRUCK IMPROPERLY FOLLOWING GOING DOWN THE ROAD. MR. LINDSTROM, YOU WOULD YOU WOULD CITE IT, CORRECT? YES, SIR. WE WOULD DO IT. AND LIKE MR. MARTIN SAID, SO IF THE TRUCK DEVIATES FROM THE TRUCK ROUTES

[01:10:01]

THAT'S IT. THANKS. MAYOR. PAUL. MR. PAULSON, THANK YOU. MAYOR MARTY, A POINT OF CLARIFICATION HERE. YOU MENTIONED THE COCA-COLA PLANT ON DUNWOODY PLACE. RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE COCA-COLA PLANT. IS IT A SMALL, ONE STORY INDUSTRIAL FACILITY THAT GETS TRUCKS IN THERE PERIODICALLY AS WELL? RIGHT NOW, TRUCKS LEAVE 400. THEY DRIVE DOWN DUNWOODY PLACE.

THEY DELIVER TO A LOCAL LOCATION. COCA-COLA PLANT THE BUILDINGS ACROSS THE STREET FROM THEM. THEY'RE ALLOWED TO DO THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE MAKING A PICKUP OR DELIVERY LOCALLY.

YES. SO THE THE DESIRE TO MAKE DUNWOODY PLACE A TRUCK ROUTE. AND HERE'S THE ISSUE I HAVE WITH IT. YOU'RE SHOWING IT TO BE THE ENTIRE DUNWOODY PLACE, WHICH MEANS THE TRUCK COULD TECHNICALLY TRYING TO TRYING TO GO TO ROSWELL SOMEWHERE IN ROSWELL OR FURTHER UP COULD GET OFF AT GEORGIA 400, GO OVER TO DUNWOODY PLACE, DRIVE UP DUNWOODY, PLACE ALL THE WAY TO ROSWELL ROAD AND CONTINUE NORTH ON ROSWELL ROAD, UP OVER THE RIVER, ETC. THAT'S WHAT THIS ALLOWS. IF WE DON'T PUT DUNWOODY PLACE ON THERE, THAT DOESN'T MEAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. THAT DOESN'T MEAN COCA-COLA STILL CAN'T GET THEIR DELIVERIES OPERATE AND THE TRUCKS CAN MAKE DELIVERIES AND PICKUPS AT COCA-COLA JUST AS TODAY. JUST AS TODAY. YES, SIR.

THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT OF THE ORDINANCE. SAME FOR THE OFFICE. PARK ACROSS THE STREET. THE INDUSTRIAL PARK THERE. SO THIS IS WHY I'M NOT A FAN OF THE DUNWOODY PLACE BEING A TRUCK ROUTE. BECAUSE THEN THAT CONNECTS 400 TO ROSWELL ROAD. NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU HAVE AN APPROVED SHORTCUT, ESSENTIALLY THAT TAKES YOU UP. UP IN THE ROSWELL AND BEYOND.

IT'S NO LONGER A LOCAL DELIVERY ISSUE. IT NOW BECOMES A THOROUGHFARE. AND BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS ALONG THERE, I JUST DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA. SO I'D RATHER NOT PUT DUNWOODY PLACE ON HERE JUST FOR THOSE REASONS. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, DOCTOR KELLY? I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY. REAL DOCTOR. YEAH. OKAY. YEAH. WE'LL SEE. I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY I WANT TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT. I WANT TO GIVE A KUDOS TO YOU, COUNCILWOMAN MUELLER, BECAUSE AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, YOU MORE OR LESS, WE FOUND OUT THIS WAS GOING TO COME UP FOR A VOTE FRIDAY NIGHT. AND YOU LITERALLY JUST SPENT THE LAST FOUR DAYS ORGANIZING COMMUNITIES, YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND KEEPING IN REGULAR CONTACT WITH US. AND YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? JUST TO KIND OF GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND GETTING EVERYBODY TO CONTACT US, THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE SHORT TIME FRAME. SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU GIVE YOU THAT PUBLICLY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, MR. CZYNSKI? I'LL ECHO WHAT DOCTOR KELLY SAID. AND ALSO I WANT TO JUST SAY THANK YOU TO SANDY SPRINGS RESIDENTS FOR ALL OF YOUR OUTREACH TO US. MY LAST COUNT IS WE GOT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 40 AND 50 EMAILS. A PERSON GOTTEN NUMEROUS WELL-RESEARCHED PUBLIC COMMENTS TONIGHT. THERE'S A FEW EXTRA PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE, MAYBE A COUPLE STUDENTS WHO MAY NOT BE OLD ENOUGH TO VOTE YET.

AND SO WHILE WE HAVE THIS CAPTIVE AUDIENCE AND HOWEVER MANY PEOPLE ARE STREAMING, I JUST WANT TO THROW OUT THERE THAT WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING OUR TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN, AND WE ARE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON AN UPDATE TO OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. SO THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF ENERGY AND CARE ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO PLEASE CONTINUE TO REACH OUT AND ENGAGE IN THESE PROCESSES AND GET YOUR OTHER NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS INVOLVED, BECAUSE THIS IS WHEN WE FUNCTION THE BEST. SO THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION HEARING NONE. WE'LL CALL THE QUESTION. THE QUESTION IS ON AGENDA ITEM 2026 OH 48. THE ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE MODIFICATIONS TO THE TRUCK ROUTE ORDINANCES AND DESIGNATION OF TRUCK ROUTE NETWORK, AS IN THE MOTION BY MISS MUELLER. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SAY AYE. AYE.

[X.Reports]

BUT I WAS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE AGREED TO LET BECAUSE TWO OF US, TWO MAYORS HAD CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS TONIGHT. THEY ALLOWED THE CITIES TO GO FIRST. IT'S IT'S HOUSE BILL 1114 AND HOUSE RESOLUTION 1116. I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO READ THOSE THOSE BILLS. THEY WOULD HAVE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON THE ABILITY OF THE CITY OF SANDY SPRINGS AND OUR REVENUES. WORKING WITH

[01:15:08]

AND FOR US, THAT'S ABOUT $19.5 MILLION. CITY OF ATLANTA, $122 MILLION. AND THAT'S A STORY THAT WILL BE REPEATED ALL ACROSS THE THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, NOT ONLY CITIES, COUNTIES AND SCHOOL BOARDS WOULD BE AFFECTED. AS I TESTIFIED TO THE COMMITTEE TODAY, SANDY SPRINGS DID THIS LONG BEFORE, AND IN FACT, I ACCUSED THEM OF STEALING OUR IDEA. WE'VE HAD A CAP ON OUR MILLAGE RATE AND A CAP ON OUR ASSESSMENTS. WELL BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE GOT INVOLVED IN DISCUSSING ABOUT THIS, THERE WAS A YOU KNOW, THEY CHUCKLED A LITTLE BIT, BUT THEY'RE LIKE ME. I GUESS IF THEY SEE A GOOD IDEA, THEY'LL STEAL IT. BUT IT IS. IT HAS A PROFOUND IMPACT ON US. I'VE BEEN DOWN THERE A COUPLE OF TIMES TRYING TO THROUGH GMA AND AND BEING PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE POLICY COUNCIL, AS WELL AS BEING ASKED TO TESTIFY TODAY. THIS IS ONE OF SEVERAL TAX BILLS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW. MOST OF THEM DEAL WITH INCOME TAX. THIS IS THE ONLY ONE THAT REALLY DEALS WITH US.

IT'S THE HOUSE. IT'S THE IT'S THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SPEAKER'S NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. THE GOAL IS TO END ALL. HOUSEHOLD, ALL PROPERTY TAXES BY 2032. HOMESTEADED PROPERTY HOMESTEAD I WAS NEW, I HAD THE WRONG WORD. HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. YOU KNOW, HOMESTEADS AND A LOT OF CITIES. THAT'S THEIR, YOU KNOW, BEDROOM COMMUNITIES. THEY DON'T HAVE INDUSTRIAL OR COMMERCIAL, AND MOST OF THEIR REVENUE COMES FROM HOUSES. I UNDERSTAND THE THE I CURSE MYSELF EVERY YEAR WHEN I HAVE TO WRITE MY CHECK TO THE TO THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND SCHOOL BOARD. BUT AS I MY MY COUNSEL TO THE LEGISLATURE TODAY WAS, LOOK, SOME OF THESE CHANGES DO NEED TO BE MADE THE THE BURDEN THAT A LOT OF HOMEOWNERS HAVE IN PAYING THEIR PROPERTY TAXES IS NOT INSIGNIFICANT. BUT PLEASE ALLOW THE CITIES TO NOT BEAR THE FULL BURDEN. CITIES, COUNTIES AND SCHOOL BOARDS. BUT I'M TALKING FOR THE CITY. SO I'M GOING TO SAY CITIES DON'T DON'T FORCE THE CITIES TO CARRY THE FULL BURDEN OF THE REDUCTION IN THE REVENUE. GIVE US ALTERNATIVES. IF YOU WANT TO CUT THAT. I'M FINE. I DON'T CARE WHERE THE REVENUE COMES FROM. JUST GIVE US THE OPTIONS, BECAUSE I HIGHLIGHTED ALL OF THE GREAT THINGS WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED. THE THE ABILITY THAT OUR POLICE, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS MADE IN SAVING CARDIAC CARE OR CARDIAC ATTACK VICTIMS. AND WE HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB. WE'VE INVESTED IN AMBULANCE RESPONSES AND EQUIPPING OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH THE ABILITY TO GET THERE QUICKLY. AND WE'VE TRAINED OVER 800 PEOPLE A YEAR IN CPR TO KEEP THOSE PEOPLE VIABLE. AND IT'S IT'S SAVED LIVES. I TALKED ABOUT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FACT THAT THE COST AS AS THE STATE HAS RAISED THE SALARIES OF OF STATE PATROL AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT, STATE LEVEL FORCES US TO TO TO COMPETE. NOW WE'VE GOT ICE DANGLING, $50,000, SIGNING BONUSES IN FRONT OF OUR OFFICERS. THAT'S A TEMPTATION.

IT'S HARD ENOUGH. IT'S HARD ENOUGH TO GET POLICE OFFICERS IN TODAY'S ENVIRONMENT TO MAKE US LESS COMPETITIVE. DOESN'T REALLY HURT, DOESN'T REALLY HELP US. ANOTHER FACTOR THAT WOULD HAVE A REAL IMPACT TSPLOST ULTIMATELY WILL GO AWAY. AND I LAID OUT THE FACT THAT FOR YEARS, GEORGIA AND OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE UNDERINVESTED IN TSPLOST AND TSPLOST, AND IT'S AVAILABLE TODAY BECAUSE OF THE VOTERS OF SANDY SPRINGS VOTED IT STRONG ENOUGH TO OVERCOME SOME OPPOSITION IN OTHER PARTS OF FULTON COUNTY. AND WE HAVE IT TODAY, AND WE'RE MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE IN MOBILITY AND CONGESTION REDUCTION AND ALL THAT INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT WOULD NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT TSPLOST. AND THEY WANT US TO BE ABLE TO DO TO NOT TAKE IT AWAY, BUT REDEPLOY THAT FOR OPERATIONS. SO THAT TAKES MONEY AWAY FROM FROM THAT, THAT THEY ARE GIVING US SOME ACCESS TO SOME SALES TAX REVENUES. BUT WE HAVE TO SHARE IT WITH THE COUNTY AND THE SCHOOL BOARDS. IT REALLY DOESN'T INCREASE THE, THE IT

[01:20:01]

I'M NOT OPPOSED TO ANNOYS GMA OR OTHERS OPPOSED TO PROPERTY TAX REFORM, BUT I AM OPPOSED TO TAKING IT, HAVING SOMEBODY ELSE. IT'S EASY TO BE ABLE TO GO CUT SOMEBODY ELSE'S TAXES, CUT SOMEBODY ELSE'S REVENUE. THE GOOD NEWS IS, IS WE'VE GOT A AS I SAY, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE CAME BACK TO SEE ME AND TALKED TO ME ABOUT THIS. SO WE'VE GOT AN OPEN PIPELINE. AND I JUST SAID, LOOK, WE WANT TO WORK THIS OUT. WE WANT TO FIND A SOLUTION. IF WE WANT TO CUT HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS AND REDUCE THE TAXES ON HOMEOWNERS, I'M ALL FOR IT. BUT DON'T MAKE US CUT SERVICES IN THE PROCESS. SERVICES THAT SAVE LIVES, SERVICES THAT ARE CRUCIAL TO THE WELL-BEING OF OUR CITY. IT WOULD HAVE A REAL IMPACT ON OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT OUR PEOPLE HAVE COME TO EXPECT. SO I SAY THAT TO YOU, TO JUST ALERT YOU TO WHAT'S GOING ON AND PAY ATTENTION TO IT AND GET INVOLVED. TALK TO YOUR LEGISLATORS. I'VE ALREADY HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR DELEGATION AND THOSE ARE CONTINUING. A COUPLE OTHER THINGS GOING ON HAPPENED RECENTLY. ARTS BEAT, WHICH WAS HERE IN THE THE SANDY SPRINGS ARTS FOUNDATION, DOES A GREAT JOB OF GETTING OUR SCHOOLS AND KIDS INVOLVED IN ART, AND PARTICULARLY PERFORMING ARTS, AND THEY HAD THEIR ARTS BEAT PROGRAM HERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

A WEEK OR SO AGO, THE CITY SPRINGS THEATER COMPANIES GALA WAS THIS WEEK. THEY RAISED A GOOD BIT OF MONEY AND FOR FOR THEIR PROGRAM. LAST NIGHT I WENT TO THE IRISH AMERICAN EVENT HERE IN SANDY SPRINGS, CELEBRATING THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE IRISH PEOPLE BEING IN THE UNITED STATES. AND THEY LISTED ALL THE FOUNDERS OF AMERICA WHO WERE IRISH. SO I WAS PROUD TO BE THERE. AND PART OF THAT, I HAD A GUINNESS IN IN CELEBRATION PROBABLY SHOULDN'T SAY THAT, BUT IT'S THE IRISH WHAT THEY CARE. ANYWAY, TO KICK OFF TO THE SAINT PATRICK'S DAY, IT WAS NOT ONLY 250TH ANNIVERSARY FOR THE COUNTRY THAT THEY WERE CELEBRATING, BUT THE KICKOFF TO SAINT PATRICK'S DAY. THEY ARE GETTING REALLY ENGAGED. WE'VE GOT THE HIGH KINGS, WHICH IS A GREAT IRISH FOLK BAND, COMING FEBRUARY THE 28TH, AND THEY ARE OUT HAWKING TICKETS AND TRYING TO GET AS MANY ART. WHETHER YOU'RE REAL IRISH OR FAKE IRISH, THEY WON'T, THEY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY, EVERYBODY'S IRISH, SO THEY WANT EVERYBODY TO PARTICIPATE. SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH SINCE OUR LAST MEETING. ANYBODY ELSE? DOCTOR KELLY, I JUST WANT TO GIVE ONE MORE KUDOS TO OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FOR THE RECENT NORTH END BOULEVARD OPEN HOUSE THAT WAS HELD IN MY DISTRICT UP AT THE UP IN THE NORTH END, AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL I RECEIVED FROM MY CONSTITUENTS A GREAT DEAL OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK. WE ALL KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE UP THERE, AND THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE WITH TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS. SO IT JUST SPEAKS TO THE QUALITY OF THE PLANNING. AND I ALSO JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THAT PROJECT TOGETHER WITH, YOU KNOW, WHAT PARKS AND RECREATION HAS PLANNED AND WHAT WHAT OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM IS WORKING ON, IT IS BEING NOTICED IN THE COMMUNITY. AND IT'S I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, THAT PROGRESS. SO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF MY CONSTITUENTS, MISS MUELLER. SO I ACTUALLY I, I ALSO ATTENDED THE OPEN HOUSE, I THINK IT WAS FAIRLY WELL ATTENDED. AND I THINK STAFF ALWAYS DOES A GREAT JOB WITH THE BOARD. SO THAT WAS A GOOD THING. ARTBEAT I DID GO TO THAT. IF NO ONE HAS EVER DONE THAT, YOU SHOULD GO AND SEE. WHAT THESE KIDS DO IS AMAZING. IT'S ABSOLUTELY ONE OF MY FAVORITE PROGRAMS TO ATTEND EVERY YEAR. AND THEN I HAD A CHANCE TO READ TO THE TLC PRESCHOOL, AND I READ IF YOU GO WITH YOUR GOAT TO VOTE. SO THAT WAS A REALLY CUTE STORY. AND AFTER I WAS DONE, JUST TO KIND OF FUNNY AS THIS ROLL, ONE CHILD SAID THAT WAS SO FUNNY, I LOVED IT AND ANOTHER ONE WITH A SERIOUS FACE SAID, I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS FUNNY AT ALL. SO I THINK IT JUST SHOWS THAT YOU, YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE DIFFERING OPINIONS. SO I THOUGHT I REALLY APPRECIATED THAT. AND THEN I'M GOING TO SAY A BELATED BIRTHDAY TO MISTER JOHN PAULSON. HE TRIED NOT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE.

THAT'S IT. HE DOESN'T REALLY WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW. ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE, MISS FORD,

[01:25:05]

UNAUDITED FINANCIALS. WE ARE AT 50% OF THE FISCAL YEAR. REVENUES ARE AT 69.6% AND EXPENDITURES ARE AT 43.67%. ALL DEPARTMENTS CONTINUE TO OPERATE WITHIN APPROVED BUDGETS. THIS CONCLUDES THE REPORT FOR DECEMBER 2025. ANY QUESTIONS OF THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER? ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A MOTION? WE NEED AN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR REAL ESTATE AND LITIGATION.

IS THERE A MOTION? MAYOR PAUL? MR. PAULSON, I MOVE THAT WE SUSPEND REGULAR ORDER. MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSES OF REAL ESTATE AND LITIGATION. MOTION BY MR. PAULSON. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND, SECONDED BY MR. CZYNSKI. ANY DISCUSSION? WE'RE GOING TO DO ANYTHING AFTER THIS THING AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION. NO. YEAH. NO, NOTHING WILL HAPPEN AND I'LL MAKE SURE WE MAKE THAT CLEAR. BUT THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE. WE'LL CALL THE QUESTION. THE QUESTION IS ON THE

[XI. Executive Session ]

WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WE WILL COME BACK OUT HERE AND SIMPLY RETURN TO REGULAR ORDER AND IMMEDIATELY ADJOURN. THERE WILL BE

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.