Johns Creek City Council Work Session - May 11, 2026

The Johns Creek City Council held a work session on May 11, 2026, beginning at 5:02 PM. The meeting covered several ongoing projects, council initiatives, and routine business. Key discussions included updates to the ethics ordinance, special events planning, trail width options for Nesbit Ferry, an appeals notification process, and street lighting at major intersections. The council reached consensus on several items and referred others to staff or advisory committees for further refinement.

Ethics Ordinance Updates

• Council considered two remaining issues: the frivolity review process and a penalty for frivolous complaints. After debate, consensus was reached on Option 1 for the frivolity review (clerk format review followed by hearing officer) and Option 1 for the penalty (no fee). Council member Bob initially proposed a nominal $50 administrative fee but later withdrew the suggestion, and the final consensus was zero penalty. The city attorney noted due process concerns and that the city has had only four or five such complaints in its history.

Special Events Options

• Council discussed the 2026 special event schedule and staff recommendations. A majority supported sending detailed operational and logistic questions to the advisory committees (ACE and RPAC) for further input. Key decisions included: support for a final Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra concert (Councilmember Tapke recused), preference for not competing with new Medley events, and general agreement to scale back city events this year to allow Medley to establish itself. Council also favored cross-promotion with Medley for Diwali (same day, earlier time) and differentiation for Holly Jolly. The literary fair and arts festival were referred to committees. Councilmember Stacey expressed that the city should not fund consumable items like hot chocolate for Medley events.

Nesbit Trail Width Options

• Staff presented four options for the Nesbit Ferry Trail between Brumbelow Road and Nesbit Lakes Drive: 10-foot trail, 8-foot trail, 5-foot sidewalk, and a hybrid 8-to-10-foot trail. Council expressed strong support for the hybrid option, noting it balances multimodal access, cost, and property impacts. Discussion also included: potential bike lane integration from Scott Road north (to coordinate with Roswell), use of existing acceleration lanes to minimize impacts, and thickness of concrete (4-inch vs. 6-inch). Staff was directed to proceed with the hybrid option and to explore bike lane connections while consulting with Roswell. Council also requested that transitions in width be smooth and that tree impacts be minimized.

Appeals Notification Process

• Councilmember Tapke introduced the item, aiming to ensure residents are notified of their right to appeal certain city decisions (e.g., to the Board of Zoning Appeals or Construction Board of Appeals). Council agreed that the city should provide clearer notification in written decisions, but limited the scope to decisions affecting property rights. The item was sent to staff to develop recommendations, with a focus on material decisions rather than every daily interaction. The city attorney noted potential concerns about inconsistent notification across different types of decisions.

Street Lights at Major Intersections

• Councilmember Aramelli proposed a pilot program to add lighting at two high-crash intersections: State Bridge Rd/GA 141 and Old Alabama Rd/Jones Bridge Rd. He cited statistics of 9,000 crashes in the past five years, including 1,000 at night, and argued that lighting can reduce crashes by 12–38%. Other council members (Powell, Skinner, Elwood) preferred a more holistic, data-driven approach through the comprehensive plan update, noting community concerns about light pollution and the need for public input. The city manager noted that lighting studies have been deferred in the past due to cost (annual electricity bill over $900,000) and the lack of a streetlight district. Consensus was reached to have staff conduct a triage review of lighting gaps across the city, including intersections, and to incorporate the issue into the upcoming comprehensive plan update for broader community feedback.

Key Outcomes

• Ethics Ordinance: Consensus to proceed with Option 1 for both frivolity review and penalty. Ordinance to be brought back for formal adoption.
• Special Events: Staff and advisory committees to refine details; council supported the symphony concert, and general direction to avoid competing with Medley.
• Nesbit Trail: Council directed staff to advance the hybrid trail option (8–10 ft), explore bike lane connections from Scott Road north, and coordinate with Roswell. Design to consider smooth transitions and minimize impacts.
• Appeals Notification: Staff to develop recommendations for notification of appeal rights in property-related decisions.
• Street Lighting: Staff to perform a triage assessment of lighting deficiencies and include the topic in the comprehensive plan update for community input.

Note: The meeting concluded with an executive session to discuss a land matter, after which the council adjourned.