Johns Creek City Council Meeting - November 3, 2025

The Johns Creek City Council convened on November 3, 2025, at 7:01 PM to address routine approvals, hear public comments, and discuss employee benefits renewals. Notable actions included approval of the Cigna health insurance renewal with a move to a level-funded plan and a vote split 6-1. The meeting also featured public comment on police funding and community appreciation.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of October 20, 2025: Unanimously approved.
• Meeting Agenda: Unanimously approved.
• Consent Agenda (Renewal Quotes from Travelers for Workers' Compensation and Other Insurances): Unanimously approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Teacher Pickens (10540 Colony Glen Drive): Expressed strong support for the police department's 2026 budget requests, commending Chief Mitchell's 32 years of experience. He characterized the requests as valid needs, not wasteful spending, and urged council members to respect differing opinions and work collaboratively.
• Seema (a Johns Creek resident of 12+ years): Thanked the council for the city's safety and quality-of-life improvements, highlighted progress on the town center construction, and wished everyone well in the upcoming election.

Discussion Items

• M.1 - Employee Benefits Renewal (Cigna and The Standard): Assistant City Manager Love presented the renewal of medical, vision, and dental coverage with Cigna, as well as short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance with The Standard. Key points:
  • The health insurance renewal was zero-based due to improved claims experience from wellness initiatives funded in the 2025 budget.
  • The plan is shifting from fully insured to a level-funded model, adding GLP-1 drugs to the formulary and introducing a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) via Garner Health Technology at a city cost of $143,767.
  • Compared to the budgeted 7.5% increase ($1.3M), the zero-based renewal yields approximately $1 million in savings on health and vision; dental renewal at 7.5% yields about $46,000 in savings.
  • Employee cost increases: High-deductible family plan premiums rise ~$19/paycheck; dental premiums less than $1/paycheck. For a $63,000 salary employee, net increase is $16.14/pay period after factoring in cost-of-living adjustment.
  • Council members praised staff for the wellness program's success and asked about using savings for wellness initiatives or transitioning to a self-funded plan. Staff noted the level-funded approach is a stepping stone and savings can be set aside for future smoothing.

Key Outcomes

• M.1 - Vote on Employee Benefits Renewal: Motion by Councilmember Tunky, second by Councilmember Coughlin. Approved 6-1 (one nay).
• Directives: Staff was encouraged to consider establishing a separate fund for savings from the 50/50 claims surplus split with Cigna to mitigate future premium spikes.
• Next Steps: Open enrollment for employees begins the week of November 10, 2025. The council will review benefits options annually.