Johns Creek City Council Meeting - September 8, 2025

The Johns Creek City Council met on September 8, 2025, at 7:00 PM at 11360 Lakefield Drive. The meeting included public comments on several community issues, a presentation and public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, and a contentious debate over proposed amendments. The council ultimately approved the budget as presented by a vote of 5-2 (or similar, but not explicitly stated in transcript; the motion passed after amendment failed). The meeting also featured a consent agenda approval, announcements, and an executive session.

Consent Calendar

• O2025-09-25: Ordinance to amend Animal Control and Parks and Recreation ordinances regarding service animals – approved.
• R2025-09-22: Resolution to abandon right-of-way at Sargent Road and McGinnis Ferry Road – approved.
• ACTION ITEM: Contract with Yellowstone Landscape for $825,000 for right-of-way maintenance – approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Carrie Bickwitt (Haynes Landing resident): Requested the city consider foreclosure on a property that remains in disrepair despite prior demolition approval. She noted 232 neighbors affected daily.
• Mohammed Saeed (descendant of April Waters): Spoke on behalf of the Macedonia Cemetery descendants, asking for release of allocated funds and a modest annual investment for 10 years to restore the cemetery. He emphasized the historical significance and the 75+ years of combined military service among descendants.
• Kirk Canada (Johns Creek Historical Society board member): Supported the descendants' request, noting $60,000 remained from a $100,000 allocation, and urged ground-penetrating radar and removal of fences that may cross graves.
• Betty Wolf (resident, former nonprofit fundraiser): Expressed concern that the Performing Arts Center referendum materials lack specifics on operational costs. She cited the McCallum Theater in Palm Desert (1,000 seats) with annual expenses of $16.5 million, and questioned whether Johns Creek can support another PAC given existing venues in Sandy Springs and Duluth.
• Brian Weaver (former council member): Urged immediate action for Macedonia Cemetery, including ground-penetrating radar, and criticized the city for not spending previously allocated funds.
• David Rich (resident): Supported cemetery restoration as an educational opportunity for future generations.
• Cindy Eady (resident): Raised safety concerns on Nesbitt Ferry Road, noting it was the top priority on the 2022 TSPLOST II list but no progress has been made. She asked that if the PAC bond fails, $5 million earmarked for construction documents be redirected to Nesbitt Ferry engineering studies and additional police recruits.
• Demita Owsley (granddaughter of Herman Owsley, buried at Macedonia Cemetery): Expressed concern over neglect and the city's reverter clause, calling for collaboration with families.
• Linda Starks Andrews (reading a letter from Ashley Shares, Director of Preservation at Oakland Cemetery): Urged the council to honor the descendants' request and criticized broken promises.
• Tyler Shanach (resident, on behalf of Kirk Canada): Called for a partnership to preserve the cemetery, noting the small funding needed relative to other city investments.

Public Hearing on FY2026 Budget (second public hearing):

• Ms. Quinn (resident, professional forecaster): Challenged the 9% projected growth in local option sales tax (LOST) as too optimistic, given economic uncertainties. She also criticized the $5 million allocation for performing arts center construction documents as premature, since the bond referendum is pending.

Additional public comment after the vote:

• Todd Chanel (resident, city council candidate): Criticized the council's behavior and urged prioritizing public safety over the performing arts center.
• A woman (name not given) expressed disappointment in the council's failure to fully fund public safety requests.

Discussion Items

• FY2026 Budget (Ordinance O2025-09-26): Assistant City Manager Love presented the proposed budget: total revenues $87,621,954, with general fund revenue of $83.6 million (excluding $4 million from fund balance). Top revenue sources: LOST (9% growth), property tax (0% growth due to rollback millage rate), insurance premium tax (8%), motor vehicle tax (8%), and electric franchise fees (9%). Expenditures: 51% personnel, 23% operations, 11% infrastructure maintenance, 8% equipment accrual, 4% vehicle accrual, and 3% other. The budget includes $5 million for performing arts center construction documents (pending bond referendum), $4 million in capital projects contingency, and funding for four new police recruits and two fire recruits. The city's unassigned fund balance is estimated at $30.8 million, with an excess of $811,000 after reserves. The public hearing was opened and closed after 10 minutes.
• Council Debate: Councilmember Skinner made a motion to amend the budget, proposing to reduce LOST revenue projection by $2 million, remove the $5 million for PAC construction documents, and redirect funds to public safety items including four new police officers ($392,000), police vehicles ($332,000), uniforms ($10,000), supplies ($98,600), EV fire extinguishment blanket ($12,000), incident command vehicle ($225,000), drone first responder system ($150,000), life packs/Lucas devices ($106,274), suction units ($1,300), and $1.6 million to fire vehicle accrual fund (for a transport vehicle and pumper). The amendment also included $76,000 for Macedonia Cemetery. The amendment was seconded but failed on a vote (likely 3-4, though not explicitly recorded). The main motion to approve the budget as presented then passed. Councilmembers who opposed the amendment argued that the items were not critical needs, that the PAC funding was prudent given the upcoming referendum, and that the surplus ($4.8 million) could be allocated after the bond vote. Supporters of the amendment argued that the LOST projection was too aggressive, that public safety needs were unfunded, and that the budget process lacked transparency.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously.
• FY2026 Budget Ordinance (O2025-09-26): Approved as presented (original version). The amendment to redirect funds from PAC construction documents to public safety and other items failed.
• Next Steps: The council will reconvene on September 22, 2025, for a work session and regular meeting. The city will hold a performing arts center bond referendum community meeting on September 18, 2025. The $4.8 million surplus will be allocated within 60 days after the bond vote, as previously agreed.
• Executive Session: The council moved into executive session to discuss land, legal, and personnel matters, then adjourned.