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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Sandy Springs City Council Regular Meeting - October 21, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, October 21, 2025

BodySandy Springs, Georgia

SessionCity Council

DateTuesday, October 21, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:30:19

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

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Unassigned speaker

0:03

The

Speaker 1

0:03

time for convening has arrived, so we will start this evening's series of meetings.

0:07

I would like to call this meeting of the Sandy Springs City Council to order for Tuesday, October the 21st, 2025.

0:14

Will the city clerk please make the announcements and call the roll?

Speaker 2

0:18

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

0:19

First, I would like to remind those in attendance, please silence all cell phones and other electronic devices at this time.

0:25

Individuals who would like to provide in public comment at a city council meeting are required to complete and submit those public comment cards in advance of the meeting.

0:32

Public comment cards are available online at the chamber entrance.

0:36

Just a reminder of those providing public comment, they may be allotted up to three minutes to speak on their single chosen topic.

0:41

As I call roll, please confirm your attendance.

0:43

Mayor Rusty Paul.

0:44

Present.

0:45

Councilmember John Paulson.

0:46

Councilmember Melody Kelly.

0:48

Councilmember Melissa Mueller.

0:49

Here.

0:50

Councilmember Jody Rochelle.

0:51

Councilmember Tibby de Julio?

0:53

Councilmember Andy Bauman.

Speaker 1

0:55

Please join me for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Speaker 2

0:59

My pledge of allegiance.

Speaker 1

1:14

Madam Clerk, do we have any public comment cards?

Speaker 2

1:18

Yes, we received two public comment cards this evening.

1:21

The first is from Steve Leaves, who will be followed by Kimberly Oliver.

Speaker 1

1:25

Mr.

1:25

Leeds.

Steve Leeds · Speaker 3Inferred

1:33

Good evening.

1:34

My name is Steve Leeds.

1:36

I uh I live at 6410 Radiant Trace.

1:40

I am the president of RA West Community Association.

1:45

Mayor Paul, Council.

1:48

On January 21st, Mayor Paul, your parting words were neighborhoods need to be more flexible, and Mount Vernon School, you need to build trust.

Unassigned speaker

2:01

And

Steve Leeds · Speaker 3Inferred

2:01

I'm here tonight with Kimberley Oliver to give you an update on our negotiations with Mount Vernon School.

2:09

I'm paraphrasing or takeaway from what Mayor Paul said, but that was the message we heard.

2:16

As a result, the school reached out to us in March.

2:20

Since then, we have been negotiating with the negotiating team from Mount Vernon School, which was their board chair, their head of school, and one other.

2:32

And we had reached what we and they considered to be a balanced understanding on the substance of a perpetual deal that would govern the lighting, sound, landscaping buffers, and youth parameters on the school's outdoor athletic fields across the entire 40-acre campus while maintaining parameters of peaceful and quiet enjoyment for the neighborhoods.

3:02

Mount Vernon School chose to build one field rather than the two they had the right to build to meet the needs of their cross-country and track families and reduce construction costs.

3:15

In July, Kimberley Oliver and I presented this balanced understanding to our respective neighborhoods, had a long meeting, lots of questions, lots of answers.

3:27

And we obtained the approval of our respective neighborhoods and reported that back to the school.

3:35

We were told that understanding was endorsed by the executive committee of the school as well.

3:41

And the school acknowledged the understanding in a communication to their school family on July 25th, saying that there was a big announcement.

3:53

They stated, quote, we believe we have achieved a balanced understanding, acceptable to all parties and hope to have this finalized in the weeks to come.

4:03

This means that we do anticipate having lights on the Ron Hill field.

4:08

That perpetual agreement called for 10 nights of lights and sound on the field until 9:30 and 18 nights of lights only for practice until 7.

4:19

In August, Mount Vernon School then advised us that their athletic director pushed back and wanted additional night of practice on Mondays.

4:29

We seriously considered that and agreed to

Unassigned speaker

4:33

it.

Steve Leeds · Speaker 3Inferred

4:34

Even then,

Speaker 4

4:37

okay.

Steve Leeds · Speaker 3Inferred

4:38

I'll pass this on to Ms.

4:40

Oliver.

Unassigned speaker

4:47

Good

Speaker 5

4:48

evening.

4:48

Kimberly Oliver, I'm the president of Mount Vernon Woods Committee Association, and I'll have it at 6485 Williamson Drive.

4:56

Um we started to talk about in August.

Unassigned speaker

5:00

The athletic director pushed back and requested additional lights for practice.

Speaker 5

5:03

And we under further concessions and talking to the neighbors mostly impacted.

5:07

We agreed to

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Procedural███████████████████19%

Economic Development███████████████████19%

Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████15%

Historic Preservation███████████11%

Community Engagement█████████9%

Stormwater Management██████6%

Transportation Safety██████6%

Pending Litigation█████5%

Zoning And Land Use███3%

Summary of Proceedings

Sandy Springs City Council Regular Meeting - October 21, 2025

The Sandy Springs City Council convened on October 21, 2025 at 6:00 PM in the Studio Theatre at City Hall. Mayor Rusty Paul presided with all seven council members present. The meeting included public comments regarding a school negotiation, approval of a consent agenda, a public hearing on a river corridor certificate, several new business items, and reports from the mayor and staff.

Consent Calendar

Approved the meeting minutes from October 7, 2025 (work session and regular meeting).
Accepted a permanent drainage easement from Rickado Simon and Alanna Amyre Morris for the S2186 Mount Paran Road and Powers Ferry Road Sidewalk Improvements Project (Resolution 2025-10-149).
Approved the 2026 City Council Meeting Schedule (Resolution 2025-10-150).
Approved the 2026 City of Sandy Springs Holiday Observations (Resolution 2025-10-151).
Approved the 2026 Planning and Zoning Meeting Schedule (Resolution 2025-10-152).

Public Comments & Testimony

Steve Leeds (6410 Radiant Trace), representing RA West Community Association, and Kimberly Oliver (6485 Williamson Drive), representing Mount Vernon Woods Community Association, provided an update on negotiations with Mount Vernon School. They reported that after months of negotiation, a balanced understanding was reached in July, including 10 nights of lights and sound until 9:30 PM and 18 nights of practice lights until 7 PM. However, the school later requested additional practice nights and then proposed major changes: increasing game nights by 50%, doubling practice nights to 48, extending practice hours to 7:30 PM, and limiting the agreement to 10 years. The community countered with a 20-year term and one extra football night, but the school board rejected it. The speakers accused the school of not acting in good faith and stated there is no agreement.

Public Hearing

2025-248: Metropolitan River Protection Act Certificate for 870 Edgewater Drive – The Community Development Director presented a recommendation to approve a certificate for a new two-story home within the Chattahoochee River Corridor. The Atlanta Regional Commission found the project consistent with the plan. Council voted unanimously to approve (Resolution 2025-10-153).

Discussion Items

2025-249: Georgia Power Underground Utility Conversion Estimate for Hammond Drive – Authorized acceptance of a non-binding conceptual job cost estimate of $905,000 from Georgia Power for overhead-to-underground utility conversions at three intersections. Councilmember Reichel confirmed that only Georgia Power can underground their lines. Unanimously approved (Resolution 2025-10-154).
2025-250: PATH 400 Multiuse Trail Extension Supplemental Agreement – Approved Supplemental Construction Agreement No. 01 with GDOT, increasing federal funding by $1,385,486.47 and local match by $388,893.93 to cover CEI and materials testing costs. Total project funding now $21,925,304.27. Unanimously approved (Resolution 2025-10-155).
2025-251: Mountain Creek Road Stormwater Maintenance Phase 1 Contract – Awarded a contract to Excellere Construction, LLC for $354,970 for trenchless rehabilitation of a 72-inch CMP culvert and headwall reconstruction. Three bids were received; Excellere was the lowest. Councilmember Paulson confirmed the city has worked with them before. Unanimously approved (Resolution 2025-10-156).
2025-252: GDOT Transportation Alternatives and CMAQ Grant Application – Authorized application for a $2,852,000 federal grant with a 20% local match of $713,000 to design and construct a sidepath on Holcomb Bridge Road from Spalding Drive to the city limits. The project would connect existing pedestrian facilities and address a gap on a Tier 1 High Injury Network. Council discussed the need for coordination with a nearby GDOT/Gwinnett project. Unanimously approved (Resolution 2025-10-157).
2025-253: Second Amendment to Georgia Power Lease for Morgan Falls Dog Park – Approved a second amendment to lease additional property for dog park improvements, including shade structures, agility equipment, wash station, and drainage. A $10 payment to Georgia Power is required. Council discussed water availability and tree planting constraints. Unanimously approved (Resolution 2025-10-158).
2025-254: Surplus Declaration for 4865 Kitty Hawk Drive – City Attorney presented a recommendation to declare a 0.1222-acre vacant lot as surplus and authorize sealed bids. Councilmember Bauman raised concerns about lack of community input and tabled the item for further discussion. A substitute motion to table passed unanimously, deferring the item.
2025-255: Quitclaim Deed of Sandy Springs Historic Site and Park to Public Facilities Authority – Approved conveying two parcels (Williams Payne House and adjacent park) to the PFA to facilitate long-term leases. Councilmember DeJulio questioned why not include the entire site, and staff clarified that the amphitheater and Heritage Green would remain with the city. Unanimously approved (Resolution 2025-10-160).

Reports

Mayor and Council Report: Mayor Paul announced the 20th anniversary gala success, an upcoming World Cup planning discussion through MAMA, and his participation in an Atlanta Jewish Academy commemoration. Councilmember Bauman urged spreading events beyond City Green to other parts of the city, such as north of Abernathy. Councilmember Paulson asked about the cost-effectiveness of purchasing a large tent used for recent events; City Manager Freeman noted rental cost was over $30,000 and storage challenges, but staff is evaluating.
Staff Reports – August 2025 Unaudited Financials: CFO Toni Carlisle reported that the city is 16.67% through the fiscal year, with revenues at 4.72% of budget (seasonal timing) and expenditures at 15.16%. Operating expenses are in line with the approved budget.

Key Outcomes

All consent calendar items and most new business items were approved unanimously.
The Kitty Hawk Drive surplus declaration (Item 2025-254) was tabled by unanimous vote for further community input and policy review.
The lease for the Morgan Falls Dog Park (2025-253) and the quitclaim deed to the PFA (2025-255) were approved.
The Holcomb Bridge Road grant application (2025-252) was authorized; if awarded, the local match would be in the next fiscal year.
The PATH 400 supplemental agreement increased total project funding to $21,925,304.27.
The Metropolitan River Protection Act certificate for 870 Edgewater Drive was issued.
No executive session was held; the meeting adjourned at 6:52 PM.

Meeting Transcript

The time for convening has arrived, so we will start this evening's series of meetings. I would like to call this meeting of the Sandy Springs City Council to order for Tuesday, October the 21st, 2025. Will the city clerk please make the announcements and call the roll? Good evening, Mayor and Council. First, I would like to remind those in attendance, please silence all cell phones and other electronic devices at this time. Individuals who would like to provide in public comment at a city council meeting are required to complete and submit those public comment cards in advance of the meeting. Public comment cards are available online at the chamber entrance. Just a reminder of those providing public comment, they may be allotted up to three minutes to speak on their single chosen topic. As I call roll, please confirm your attendance. Mayor Rusty Paul. Present. Councilmember John Paulson. Councilmember Melody Kelly. Councilmember Melissa Mueller. Here. Councilmember Jody Rochelle. Councilmember Tibby de Julio? Councilmember Andy Bauman. Please join me for the Pledge of Allegiance. My pledge of allegiance. Madam Clerk, do we have any public comment cards? Yes, we received two public comment cards this evening. The first is from Steve Leaves, who will be followed by Kimberly Oliver. Mr. Leeds. Good evening. My name is Steve Leeds. I uh I live at 6410 Radiant Trace. I am the president of RA West Community Association. Mayor Paul, Council. On January 21st, Mayor Paul, your parting words were neighborhoods need to be more flexible, and Mount Vernon School, you need to build trust. And I'm here tonight with Kimberley Oliver to give you an update on our negotiations with Mount Vernon School. I'm paraphrasing or takeaway from what Mayor Paul said, but that was the message we heard. As a result, the school reached out to us in March. Since then, we have been negotiating with the negotiating team from Mount Vernon School, which was their board chair, their head of school, and one other. And we had reached what we and they considered to be a balanced understanding on the substance of a perpetual deal that would govern the lighting, sound, landscaping buffers, and youth parameters on the school's outdoor athletic fields across the entire 40-acre campus while maintaining parameters of peaceful and quiet enjoyment for the neighborhoods. Mount Vernon School chose to build one field rather than the two they had the right to build to meet the needs of their cross-country and track families and reduce construction costs. In July, Kimberley Oliver and I presented this balanced understanding to our respective neighborhoods, had a long meeting, lots of questions, lots of answers. And we obtained the approval of our respective neighborhoods and reported that back to the school. We were told that understanding was endorsed by the executive committee of the school as well. And the school acknowledged the understanding in a communication to their school family on July 25th, saying that there was a big announcement. They stated, quote, we believe we have achieved a balanced understanding, acceptable to all parties and hope to have this finalized in the weeks to come. This means that we do anticipate having lights on the Ron Hill field. That perpetual agreement called for 10 nights of lights and sound on the field until 9:30 and 18 nights of lights only for practice until 7. In August, Mount Vernon School then advised us that their athletic director pushed back and wanted additional night of practice on Mondays. We seriously considered that and agreed to it. Even then,

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