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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Johns Creek City Council Work Session Meeting – August 24, 2026

City Council — Monday, August 24, 2026

BodyJohns Creek, Georgia

SessionCity Council

DateMonday, August 24, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:37:05

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:01

Thank you, Mayor.

0:02

We are recording.

0:03

Okay.

0:04

I would like to call this meeting of the Johns Creek City Council to order this August 24th at 502 p.m.

0:10

Thank you.

0:10

Wouldn't you lead the pledge?

0:11

Sure.

0:15

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

0:20

And to the Republic.

0:30

Mayor's remarks?

0:31

None, thank you.

0:32

Thank you.

0:33

We're going straight into strategic priorities or budget discussion.

0:36

We have Director Hoore for presentation.

0:43

I think you're here for mainly the questions.

0:45

Yes.

0:46

Director?

0:48

So let me just say wow, and that seems really loud today.

0:54

So last meeting we didn't have delEAP.

1:00

And we had not heard from Stacey.

1:05

What we need to do to continue to get closer and closer to something that we can vote on is rather than us going through and everything that you may like about the budget or whatever.

1:19

Unless something is changed.

1:22

If you have a new opinion about one of the items, I think that we can move on.

1:32

So I'll just say that like for myself, I'm good with everything as it stood as of the last meeting, uh except uh on the senior services uh idea.

1:47

Uh I think Larry brought that up originally.

1:51

Uh I do think that there is something that we probably can do, should do.

1:57

Uh I'm gonna let Larry speak to that when it's your term, but I'm open to doing something there.

2:04

Um I know that the comp plan and the uh stormwater improvements were the two items that we had either close to a majority or a majority that had voice, probably not in one single meeting, but over the two or three meetings uh that they were in support of doing something additionally in those areas.

2:27

Uh I am also for that, uh, but I would wait until the surplus and keep the budget as it's currently constituted.

2:39

And uh with that mayor comp plan and what was the other one?

2:42

The uh stormwater improvements.

2:44

Okay.

2:44

I think those are the only two that we had uh consensus to do something additional.

2:50

But with that, I'll just uh we'll go around the horn.

2:53

Aaron Ross Powell Oh, number 27.

2:58

Yes.

2:58

Okay.

2:59

Um I don't have any changes.

3:02

My one clarification on my position on the comp plan update is that I believe that we would be able to fund that priority using the budget reconciliation as we close out the year.

3:14

And so for fiscal year 26.

3:16

And uh my understanding was so long as staff heard consensus of council that that was a priority, they would be able to manage the RFP and a budget amendment would be able to hit in a timely manner for that to be funded.

3:30

All right, thank you, Mayor.

3:33

Um good with uh revenue projections and projects like 1 to 14 strongwater grant like the continue because we started last year and it's a unique program for Johns Creek that no other city done it, so we are definitely on track, and I will just leave it the way it is and revisit if needed midway into the fiscal year.

4:00

So dredging, like I want to keep that demo so that staff can come back and work on the structure to see uh what needs to be done.

4:10

So can you tell us where you are on you know CLUP on stormwater improvements, or if there's anything that's changed since you've opined the number 15 that comp plan update?

4:24

I'm definitely on for that.

4:25

And like uh staff suggested in the prior meetings.

4:30

It's we can go back for the RFP with the add-on.

4:34

Right, Kimberly correct me if I'm wrong.

4:35

Like yes, the budget number, we could leave it the amount the way it is, but it depends upon the add-on, like the cost.

4:43

And are you for that to change in this budget or the surplus?

4:47

Surplus.

4:48

Like it's this budget, like whatever from 15 on, I'm good to put it from the surplus.

4:54

Gotcha.

4:56

So and uh number 19, the fire station 61.

5:00

I want to authorize that because again, as staff mentioned before, we just need to authorize that.

5:04

It doesn't mean that we have to assign funds are already there.

5:08

So that's another one.

5:10

Number 19, 15, 19, and 27 strongwater improvement projects.

5:16

That's 700k for the that's part of the stormwater master plan that we did.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Budget Equity Analysis█████████████████████████████████████████████53%

Signage███████████13%

Fiscal Sustainability██████7%

Stormwater Management█████6%

Engineering And Infrastructure█████6%

Procedural████5%

Arts And Culture████5%

Parks and Recreation███4%

Public Engagement█1%

Summary of Proceedings

Johns Creek City Council Work Session Meeting – August 24, 2026

The Johns Creek City Council held a work session on August 24, 2026, at 5:02 PM to discuss the FY 2027 proposed budget (third of three budget discussions), a proposed amendment to the budget policy for year-end surplus allocation, and the monument signage for the Town Center. Council members reviewed capital project priorities, debated surplus allocation mechanisms, and provided direction on monument design, location, and color scheme.

Discussion: FY 2027 Budget and Capital Projects

Council members expressed their updated positions on a variety of capital projects and enhancements. Key points:

Senior Services: Councilmember Larry proposed $100,000 for a senior center, potentially using the fire station next to Newtown Park. Other members supported the goal but preferred using the Newtown Park clubhouse after its renovation (expected within 30-60 days). City Manager noted no additional funding needed for expanded senior programming at the clubhouse.
Stormwater Programs: Councilmembers were split on the stormwater pond dredging ($500,000) and grant program ($500,000). Several members supported placing these items on hold for further policy discussion with the end-of-year surplus.
Comprehensive Plan Update: There was broad support for funding the comp plan update, but disagreements on whether to fund it in FY27 or from surplus. Councilmember Aaron Ross Powell supported it only via budget reconciliation in FY26. Councilmember Chris supported funding in FY27. Consensus to bid the work with ad alternates.
Fire Station 61 Engineering: Staff recommended using unspent contingency from Fire Station 63 to fund engineering, with consensus to proceed via a subsequent budget amendment.
Communications Survey: Councilmember Larry requested $50,000 for surveys; others suggested using existing funds or cheaper options like SurveyUSA poll ($3,500). No consensus to add to FY27 budget.
Macedonia Gazebo: Councilmember Larry suggested $75,000; discussion led to deferring to surplus consideration due to pending decisions on the property.
Other Items: Council members had differing views on items like the stormwater grant coordinator, cloud hosting, vehicles, tether drone, tennis lighting, and police officers. Many were either postponed or allocated to surplus.

Councilmember Coughlin expressed frustration with the lack of consensus on a unified CIP and suggested passing the budget as presented with an asterisk on stormwater items for future work sessions.

Discussion: Budget Policy Amendment

Staff proposed a revision to the budget policy for allocating year-end surplus. Currently, the surplus is distributed across four categories: unassigned fund balance (60%), infrastructure maintenance accrual (15%), capital projects (15%), and property tax stabilization (10%). Two alternatives were presented: allocate 100% to capital projects fund, or 100% to unassigned fund balance.

Councilmember Aaron Ross Powell supported capital projects fund to maintain discipline with the CIP. Councilmember Bob supported unassigned fund balance for clarity, but wanted accruals filled first. Councilmember Chris supported unassigned fund balance for flexibility. Councilmember Stacey initially supported capital projects but later agreed to unassigned fund balance. Councilmember Larry supported unassigned fund balance. Councilmember Coughlin wanted to keep the current policy but noted the lack of adherence. After debate, Councilmember Iranley became the fourth vote for unassigned fund balance, achieving consensus.

Discussion: Monument Signage for Town Center

Mayor Andrew Grey presented monument sign options for the Town Center, funded with tourism product development dollars. Council gave direction on location and color scheme.

Location: After discussion, consensus was reached for Medlock Bridge at East John's Crossing (secondary sign location). Councilmember Aaron Ross Powell supported this to keep the area near the tunnel clear for a future larger monument. Councilmember Stacey preferred McGuinness at Johns Creek Parkway but yielded to consensus. Councilmember Bob wanted the sign moved north to view the South Pond but did not gain support.
Color Scheme: Consensus on Option C (various gray tones paired with a navy blue sign). Some members preferred all gray (Option A) or blue (Option B), but Option C was chosen as a compromise.
Design: Councilmember Bob expressed dissatisfaction with the current concept and wanted to revisit the design. Staff will work on further refinements.

Key Outcomes

Budget Policy Amendment: Consensus to direct 100% of the general fund year-end surplus to unassigned fund balance. Staff will bring a policy amendment for a vote at the next council meeting.
Capital Projects: No formal vote on specific projects; council agreed to pass the budget as presented, with stormwater items (dredging, grant program, coordinator) to be discussed in a future work session with the end-of-year surplus.
Monument Signage: Council directed staff to proceed with a monument sign at Medlock Bridge at East John's Crossing, using Option C color scheme (gray tones with navy blue). Staff will refine design and bring back final details.
FY 2027 Budget: Staff will update the budget workbook to reflect feedback and prepare the ordinance for adoption on September 14, 2026.
Fire Station 61 Engineering: Consensus to use unspent contingency from Fire Station 63 to fund engineering, via a budget amendment.
Senior Services: City Manager will report back within 30-45 days with a plan for expanding senior programming using the renovated clubhouse.
Executive Session: Council adjourned to executive session to discuss legal and land matters.

Meeting Transcript

Thank you, Mayor. We are recording. Okay. I would like to call this meeting of the Johns Creek City Council to order this August 24th at 502 p.m. Thank you. Wouldn't you lead the pledge? Sure. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic. Mayor's remarks? None, thank you. Thank you. We're going straight into strategic priorities or budget discussion. We have Director Hoore for presentation. I think you're here for mainly the questions. Yes. Director? So let me just say wow, and that seems really loud today. So last meeting we didn't have delEAP. And we had not heard from Stacey. What we need to do to continue to get closer and closer to something that we can vote on is rather than us going through and everything that you may like about the budget or whatever. Unless something is changed. If you have a new opinion about one of the items, I think that we can move on. So I'll just say that like for myself, I'm good with everything as it stood as of the last meeting, uh except uh on the senior services uh idea. Uh I think Larry brought that up originally. Uh I do think that there is something that we probably can do, should do. Uh I'm gonna let Larry speak to that when it's your term, but I'm open to doing something there. Um I know that the comp plan and the uh stormwater improvements were the two items that we had either close to a majority or a majority that had voice, probably not in one single meeting, but over the two or three meetings uh that they were in support of doing something additionally in those areas. Uh I am also for that, uh, but I would wait until the surplus and keep the budget as it's currently constituted. And uh with that mayor comp plan and what was the other one? The uh stormwater improvements. Okay. I think those are the only two that we had uh consensus to do something additional. But with that, I'll just uh we'll go around the horn. Aaron Ross Powell Oh, number 27. Yes. Okay. Um I don't have any changes. My one clarification on my position on the comp plan update is that I believe that we would be able to fund that priority using the budget reconciliation as we close out the year. And so for fiscal year 26. And uh my understanding was so long as staff heard consensus of council that that was a priority, they would be able to manage the RFP and a budget amendment would be able to hit in a timely manner for that to be funded. All right, thank you, Mayor. Um good with uh revenue projections and projects like 1 to 14 strongwater grant like the continue because we started last year and it's a unique program for Johns Creek that no other city done it, so we are definitely on track, and I will just leave it the way it is and revisit if needed midway into the fiscal year. So dredging, like I want to keep that demo so that staff can come back and work on the structure to see uh what needs to be done. So can you tell us where you are on you know CLUP on stormwater improvements, or if there's anything that's changed since you've opined the number 15 that comp plan update? I'm definitely on for that. And like uh staff suggested in the prior meetings. It's we can go back for the RFP with the add-on. Right, Kimberly correct me if I'm wrong. Like yes, the budget number, we could leave it the amount the way it is, but it depends upon the add-on, like the cost.

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