Roswell City Council Committee Meeting Summary - February 24, 2026

On February 24, 2026, the Roswell City Council held committee meetings to discuss and act on several items, including transportation funding, neighborhood traffic calming, cultural arts center upgrades, ethics ordinance revisions, and the addition of Juneteenth to the holiday calendar. The meeting was chaired by City Administrator Randy Nighton, with Mayor Mary Robish and council members Sarah Beeson, Aaron Brumley, Christine Hall (joined late), Jennifer Philippi, Christopher Zach, and Alan Sells present. The Deputy City Attorney and Deputy City Clerk also attended. The meeting was public but not a public hearing; no public comments were taken.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Committee Meeting Minutes (February 10, 2026): Motion by Councilmember Beeson, second by Mayor Robish. Passed unanimously.

Discussion Items

1. T SPLOST 3 Process (Item 2)

• Presenters: Mr. Fegler and Mr. Nicholas from the Transportation Department.
• T SPLOST (Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) III is a 0.75% sales tax to be voted on in November 2026, collected by Fulton County and distributed to cities by population. It will fund transportation improvements for five years, starting in 2027.
• Previous T SPLOSTs: T SPLOST 1 (2016) had expected revenue of $85M, actual $91M (92% of projection). T SPLOST 2 (2021) expected $97.5M, actual $103M (110% of projection).
• The process for T SPLOST 3: RDOT staff will identify tier 1 and 2 projects, survey council on project buckets (bridges, maintenance, pedestrian/bike, etc.), rank projects, then hold public comment in April. Council will approve final list for submission to Fulton County.
• Councilmember Beeson requested examples of past projects (e.g., Old Holcomb Bridge replacement, Rucker Road).
• Mayor Robish noted that remaining funds from T SPLOST 1 must be used for similar transportation projects.
• No vote taken; this was a discussion item.

2. Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program (Item 3)

• Presenter: Mr. Fegler.
• The program originated from the "Slow Down in Roswell" initiative. A matrix was developed to score roads based on speeding, traffic volume, sidewalks, amenities (schools, parks, etc.), and poverty rates. Weights: speeding 40%, traffic volume 30%, sidewalks 20%, amenities 5%, poverty rate 5%.
• The top 11 roads were identified (e.g., Barrington Falls, Spring Ridge, Willow Springs). A pilot project on Wave Tree is underway; data from traffic counters showed 85th percentile speeds of 34-41 mph in a 25 mph zone.
• Council discussion focused on the weighting criteria, especially the 5% poverty rate. Councilmember Brumley expressed concern that the weights were set by previous council, not staff or experts. Councilmember Hall noted that the program is separate from the federal Safe Streets for All grant, which was not awarded. Councilmember Philippi preferred needs-based funding rather than widespread data collection without implementation funding. Councilmember Zach questioned the lack of funding for permanent implementation. Councilmember Beeson suggested weighting should reflect pedestrian demand and cut-through traffic. Mayor Robish shared that her neighborhood (Willow Springs) has self-funded multiple speed bumps.
• The 2026 budget includes $400,000 for temporary measures across 11 neighborhoods and a traffic analyst position. The pilot on Wave Tree will test temporary devices for 30-60 days, then evaluate.
• No vote taken; future council direction is needed on criteria and funding.

3. Cultural Arts Center Rigging and Dimmer Upgrades (Item 4)

• Presenter: Mr. Malone.
• The Roswell Cultural Arts Center (opened 1991) needs replacement of theatrical lighting dimmer and rigging control systems, which are original and beyond useful life. The dimmer system is obsolete (manufacturer out of business). Upgrade to LED lighting will reduce energy costs and heat. Rigging is overcrowded and some lines are frayed and unsafe.
• The project will be completed via a national purchasing cooperative. Barbazon Lighting Company was selected as the most qualified bidder at $427,998.64, with a total budget authorization of $470,000.
• The center hosted 150 performances in 2025, selling over 36,000 tickets, with 54.6% average annual growth over four years. The work is scheduled for May to early July 2026 to minimize downtime.
• Councilmember Zach expressed support for investing in the arts as a regional draw. Councilmember Philippi requested future reporting on energy savings.
• Motion by Councilmember Beeson, second by Councilmember Zach. Passed unanimously to move the item forward.

4. Ethics Ordinance Amendment (Item 5)

• Presenter: Assistant City Attorney Joe Cusack.
• The ordinance replaces the current ethics code with a new process. Key changes: complaints are filed with the city clerk (not mayor) and include an affidavit. A hearing officer (an attorney from a list of five, not residing or having an office within 10 miles of Roswell) reviews the complaint. The hearing officer determines merit, conducts investigation, and issues a report to mayor and council, who then vote on findings and penalties. Burden of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt.
• Complaints against candidates are tolled once qualifying begins until after the election to prevent political weaponization.
• Councilmember Beeson (who requested the update) noted the current process uses a 14-person panel appointed by council, which can create bias. The new process removes politics by using neutral attorneys.
• Councilmember Brumley requested adding language that the hearing officer cannot reside in Roswell and that the 10-mile radius is measured from the city border. Also asked for clarification on the list of attorneys and process for updating it. Councilmember Philippi asked about cost and public availability of the complaint form. Cusack responded that costs would come from the outside counsel budget and that a form will be posted on the city website.
• Councilmember Hall preferred a hybrid model with some resident participation, similar to Alpharetta's approach. She also asked about Alpharetta and Sandy Springs; Cusack did not have details.
• Motion by Councilmember Beeson, second by Mayor Robish. Passed unanimously to move the item forward with amendments.

5. Adding Juneteenth to 2026 Holiday Calendar (Item 6)

• Presenter: Trisha Redford, Director of Human Resources.
• Juneteenth is a state holiday. Seven of the ten largest Georgia cities observe it; Roswell is one of three that do not. The request is to add it as a holiday for 2026 without swapping (since the 2026 calendar is already set). The anticipated cost is ~$75,000 for employees who must work (primarily public safety). The city currently has 12 paid holidays plus one floating holiday (13 total).
• Councilmember Beeson (proponent) noted it was her request to revisit. Councilmember Brumley requested a comparison of federal and state holidays versus neighboring cities. Councilmember Zach suggested a policy of aligning with state holidays rather than per-year decisions.
• Motion by Councilmember Brumley, second by Councilmember Beeson. Passed unanimously to move the item forward. Staff will provide additional information before the next council meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the February 10, 2026 committee meeting minutes (unanimous).
• Moved forward the contract for Cultural Arts Center rigging and dimmer upgrades (unanimous).
• Moved forward the ethics ordinance amendment with amendments to hearing officer residency and radius definition (unanimous).
• Moved forward the addition of Juneteenth to the 2026 holiday calendar (unanimous).
• The T SPLOST 3 process and Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program were discussed but no votes taken; further council direction is pending.