Johns Creek Arts, Cultural, and Entertainment Committee Meeting — May 8, 2025

The Johns Creek Arts, Cultural, and Entertainment (ACE) Committee met on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 6:31 p.m. at 11360 Lakefield Drive, Johns Creek, GA. A quorum was present and Chair Zach Hahn presided. The committee received a city update, heard from Visit Johns Creek Executive Director Kathy Laity, approved the April 10, 2025 meeting minutes, and narrowed 22 community placemaking examples to three concepts for further research.

Reports & Presentations

• City Update: Staff announced that the artist registry is live on the city website and accepts applications on a rolling basis. The public art master plan is moving into its next phase, with targeted stakeholder interviews and a community survey planned for later in the summer. Event sponsorship applications are due June 13, 2025, and volunteers for the Diwali Market Planning Committee were asked to respond as soon as possible. Staff recapped the International Festival, noting attendance was lower than expected because of the threat of storms, but the event itself ran well and vendor surveys have been sent. A resident comment about the city website calendar listing events alphabetically was noted; staff said they would discuss a chronological view offline.
• Visit Johns Creek Presentation: Kathy Laity, Executive Director of Visit Johns Creek, presented on the organization, established in 2008 as the city’s official destination management organization. She explained it is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit funded by hotel/motel occupancy tax, which can only be used for marketing. She highlighted sponsorships of events such as the International Festival, Diwali Market, Shakespeare in the Park, Juneteenth, Literary Fair, Spooky Mill, Holly Jolly Block Party, Earth Day, and the summer concert series. She also shared that Newtown Park Dog Park was named #2 in USA Today’s 10 Best Dog Parks contest, and that the new Visit Johns Creek website has had more than 18,000 new visitors, more than 35,000 views, and a 191% increase in Facebook reach. She identified food and beverage as the top visitor attraction in Johns Creek, followed by venues and events, and distributed brochures and promotional items.

Discussion Items

• Approval of April 10, 2025 Minutes: A motion to approve the minutes was seconded and passed unanimously.
• Community Placemaking: Staff asked the committee to narrow the 22 submitted placemaking examples to a few concepts for Council consideration and possible FY2026 implementation. Committee members withdrew Example 2 (The Exchange House) and Example 17 (Clean Greens) as not fitting Johns Creek. After discussion, the committee selected three primary concepts: (1) dog sculptures in varied artistic styles placed around the city, potentially interactive and community-engaged; (2) interactive public art, with child-friendly musical instruments cited as a model; and (3) “Chapters of the Creek,” open book sculptures highlighting city or regional history. Other ideas, such as golf-themed flagpoles, kinetic daffodils, utility box wraps, and scenic frames, were discussed but not selected as top options.

Key Outcomes

• The April 10, 2025 meeting minutes were approved unanimously.
• The committee selected dog sculptures, interactive public art, and “Chapters of the Creek” as the top three community placemaking concepts to research further.
• Staff will research costs, logistics, and implementation details and present options to City Council. The agenda materials noted the FY2026 budget process begins with a draft in May, with Council adoption expected in September.
• No public comment was received.
• The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:30 p.m.