Johns Creek City Council Meeting – October 6, 2025

The Johns Creek City Council met on Monday, October 6, 2025, at 7:05 PM. The meeting included approval of prior minutes and the consent agenda, a recognition of the Atlanta United Unified Team, two public comment periods, and a key discussion on engineering for a trail along Nesbit Ferry Road. The council approved a contract amendment with Practical Design Partners for $200,000, including options for sidewalk widths of 5, 8, and 10 feet, and directed staff to incorporate public engagement after engineering.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the September 22, 2025 Work Session Summary and Council Meeting Minutes.
• Approved the meeting agenda as presented.
• Approved Consent Agenda Item O2025-10-28: Ordinance to extend the Limited Outdoor Storage Program for two additional years.

Public Comments & Testimony

First Public Comment Period (limited to 3 minutes each, total 30 minutes):

• Royce Reinicke (98 Farm Brook Lane): Criticized property tax increases despite a 4.4% decrease in his home’s fair market value and a 4.2% millage rate reduction. He noted that a floating exemption caused his taxable value to rise, resulting in a 7.2% increase in Fulton County taxes and a 3.3% increase in school board taxes. He urged the council to examine the mechanism.
• Ms. Quartum (speaker name not given): Accused Councilmember John Bradbury of violating his oath of office by assisting in regrading backyards and destroying a detention pond structure without permits in 2018. She claimed the city tried to get her family to pay for fixes and that a stormwater issue was resolved for Bradbury in three days. She demanded an inspection of his backyard.
• Ms. Wolf: Questioned why the city now believes philanthropy will succeed for a performing arts center after a failed attempt 10 years ago, why a nonprofit was not set up earlier, and why the facility design is not innovative. She called for a financial viability plan.
• Mr. Green: Defended the city’s safety record, citing U.S. News & World Report ranking Johns Creek #1. He criticized scare tactics in the election, noting a 36% increase in public safety funding since 2022 and nearly half the budget allocated to public safety. He urged voters to seek facts.
• Scott Barksdale (Mayfair Subdivision): Expressed frustration that the Newtown community was “ignored” again regarding changes to the Nesbit Ferry Corridor plan. He opposed a 10-foot concrete trail, arguing it would remove neighborhood entrances, not connect to anything, and be unsafe for children on bikes. He demanded transparent input.
• Miss Eady: Supported sidewalks but advocated for a 5-foot width instead of 10-foot. She cited her own survey of 89 residents on Nextdoor, where 68% preferred 5-foot sidewalks. She noted consistency with existing sidewalks on Brumbelow Road and Mount Pisgah. She also requested a deceleration lane at St. Clair entrance, noting a 1990 request to Fulton County was denied.
• First Responder Advocate (name not given): Expressed concern about police staffing, referencing the death of Officer Labante in a neighboring city. He stated that patrol shifts sometimes have only 2 officers for the entire city, and urged the council to prioritize resources for police and fire.

Second Public Comment Period (no time limit):

• Same speaker (Ms. Quartum): Continued her accusations against Councilmember Bradbury, reading emails from HOA presidents indicating Bradbury operated a bobcat and that the project was approved by “Mr. Black”—a name not found in city records. She demanded access to inspect Bradbury’s backyard.
• Speaker (name not given): Advised the council to ensure that any sidewalk on Nesbit Ferry is well separated from the road, not jammed against it.
• Scott Barksdale (again): Requested at least one community meeting before decisions on Nesbit Ferry. He noted that 4,000 signatures on a petition is less than 30% of typical voter turnout.

Discussion Items

• M.1: Contract with Practical Design Partners for Trail Engineering at Nesbit Ferry Road Director O’Connor presented the request for a $200,000 contract amendment to complete engineering for a trail on the east side of Nesbit Ferry Road from Brumbelow Road to Mount Pisgah Road. The project is part of TSPLOST 2. Council debated the trail width: 5, 8, or 10 feet. Councilmember Coughlin noted that other city trails (Rivermont 8 ft, Barnwell 8 ft, BIS 10 ft, Rogers Bridge 10 ft) are wider and expressed concern about unequal investment. Councilmember Elwood favored a 10-foot design to maximize future flexibility, while Councilmember DiBiassi and others wanted options to assess costs and right-of-way impacts. A 2023 concept plan existed but did not show specific parcel impacts. Council discussed including a deceleration lane at St. Clair and utility relocation provisions. The council agreed to proceed with engineering for all three width options (5, 8, and 10 feet) and to hold a public meeting after engineering to review impacts.

• Recognition of the Atlanta United Unified Team The council presented a commendation to North Fulton United, Atlanta United Unified Team, and Marty Jellamy for their work in inclusive sports. The program grew from 15 athletes and 3 coaches in 2018 to over 105 athletes and 16 coaches in fall 2025, and about 150 athletes and 25 coaches in spring. The team achieved international recognition.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the minutes of September 22, 2025, and the meeting agenda.
• Approved Consent Agenda O2025-10-28 (Extended Outdoor Storage Program) unanimously.
• Approved New Business M.1: Contract amendment with Practical Design Partners for $200,000, with direction to include options for 5-foot, 8-foot, and 10-foot sidewalk widths, and to incorporate utility relocation provisions. The motion was made by Councilmember DiBiassi, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem, and passed unanimously. Staff will return with initial drawings in 4-6 months and will hold a public meeting before finalizing the design.
• No action on other public comments, but the council acknowledged concerns about police staffing, tax equity, and the Nesbit Ferry corridor.

Mayor’s Remarks & Announcements

• Upcoming events: Diwali Market at City Hall on Saturday, October 11, 2-7 PM; Ghost and Goblins Gala at Autry Mill Nature Preserve on Friday, October 17.
• Future meetings: Planning Commission on October 7; Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee on October 15; Performing Arts Center Bond Referendum Community Meeting on October 16; Next council meeting on October 20 (5 PM work session, 7 PM council meeting).