Johns Creek City Council Work Session – September 8, 2025

A work session of the Johns Creek City Council was held on September 8, 2025, at 5:00 PM. The council discussed the FY26 budget, construction bids for the Barnwell Road corridor improvements, and a parking lot expansion at Cauley Creek Park. No public comments were received. The meeting adjourned to executive session.

Consent Calendar

• Budget Amendment – Grant Acceptance (FY2025 Budget Amendment Ordinance #8): This item was listed as routine business (non-discussion) and was not discussed during the work session. It was presumably approved without debate.

Discussion Items

FY26 Budget Discussion (60 minutes)

• Assistant City Manager Kay Love presented a proposed budget that is balanced, with a $4 million placeholder for allocation of the projected FY2025 surplus. Council debated whether to allocate the surplus now or park it in capital projects contingency until the actual surplus amount is known (expected in November).
• Councilmember Chris suggested parking the $4 million in the capital projects contingency, allowing interest earnings (~$100,000) and revisiting allocation at the January strategic retreat. Several council members agreed, including Councilmember D.B., who noted that the exact surplus number is still uncertain.
• Councilmember Bob favored funding two police officer positions and two vehicles ($362,000) immediately, citing the long lead time for hiring and equipment. City Manager noted that the Police Chief’s priority was funding four cadet positions for FY26, not the officer positions, and that current response times are excellent (average <1 minute for emergencies).
• Councilmember Stacey raised concerns about the 9% growth assumption for Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) revenue, arguing it is too aggressive compared to neighboring cities. She preferred a more conservative budget. Staff explained their methodology (4 scenarios, range $28.75M–$30.5M) and noted that the city budgets conservatively on other revenues and expenditures, providing a cushion.
• Councilmember Aaron supported parking the surplus, but suggested that if revenues exceed projections, the excess could be returned to taxpayers via a lower millage rate.
• Consensus was reached to keep the $4 million placeholder as a capital projects contingency, not to allocate it now, and to finalize the budget for the October adoption.

Barnwell Trail and Barnwell at Niblick Construction Bids (15 minutes)

• Director of Public Works Brett O’Connor recommended approval of a construction contract with Summit Construction for Barnwell Road corridor improvements: an intersection improvement at Barnwell/Niblick Drive and a multimodal trail from Niblick to North Peak Drive. Total project cost: $10.2 million (construction, CEI, 10% contingency), funded through TSPLOST 2, 2025 LMIG, and a Fulton County IGA.
• Council discussed the inclusion of a 4-foot bike lane on the west side of the road, per the adopted bicycle policy. Councilmember Bob questioned the cost-effectiveness and safety of both a trail and a bike lane, suggesting a compromise. Councilmember Larry noted that the road is narrow (10-foot lanes) and cyclists often ride northbound, making a southbound-only bike lane less useful.
• After debate, a consensus emerged to modify the design: replace the 4-foot bike lane with a 2-foot shared shoulder on each side of the road (total 4 feet split), achieved through striping changes without affecting the curb/gutter or trail width. This increases safety for both northbound and southbound cyclists and drivers. Staff will revise the plan and confirm with the contractor.
• Councilmember Aaron expressed a desire to revisit the city’s bike policy once the multimodal policy is finalized, to ensure a more deliberate approach to bike infrastructure.

Cauley Creek Parking Lot – Council Initiative (15 minutes)

• Councilmember Larry DiBiasi proposed using $768,900 in savings from a recent paving project to expand the parking lot at Cauley Creek Park. The original bid for 89 paved spots was $628,000, but the council had previously balked at the cost (~$7,000 per space).
• Councilmembers raised concerns about the high cost per space, the need for parking (especially with the upcoming makerspace), and safety in the park after dark. Some suggested alternative locations or materials (e.g., gravel). Others noted that the parking shortage is acute, with anecdotal reports of cars circling and illegal parking.
• Councilmember Chris suggested exploring options to reduce costs, such as a different location or use of gravel. Councilmember Stacey proposed moving the volleyball courts to break up demand, but staff noted that building a volleyball court is also expensive.
• City Manager Kimberly will work with staff to develop options considering both current use and the future makerspace, and report back to council. The council also asked staff to evaluate lighting on the trail to improve safety.

Key Outcomes

• FY26 Budget: Council agreed to keep the $4 million surplus placeholder as a capital projects contingency, not to allocate it until the actual surplus is known (expected November). The budget will be adopted in October.
• Barnwell Road Project: Consensus to modify the bike lane to a 2-foot shared shoulder on each side via striping. Staff will adjust the contract and bring it back for a vote. The project is expected to take 18 months from notice to proceed.
• Cauley Creek Parking: Referred to staff to explore cost-effective options for additional parking, considering location, materials, and the pending makerspace. No decision made.
• Executive Session: The council voted to adjourn to executive session to discuss land, legal, and/or personnel matters.