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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Sandy Springs City Council Regular Meeting - March 3, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, March 3, 2026

BodySandy Springs, Georgia

SessionCity Council

DateTuesday, March 3, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 42:45

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

0:02

The

Speaker 1

0:02

time for convening has arrived, so we'll start this evening's um council meeting.

0:07

Uh please ask the uh city clerk to call role and make the general announcements.

Speaker 2

0:12

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

0:13

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

0:20

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

0:32

Public comment cards are always available online at the chamber entrance.

0:35

Just a reminder to those providing public comment.

0:37

You may be allowed allotted up to three minutes to speak on your 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

Here, Councilmember Melissa Mueller.

0:49

Here.

0:50

Councilmember Frank Roberts.

0:52

Councilmember Mary Ford.

0:53

Here.

0:53

Councilmember Andrew Chensky.

Speaker 1

0:55

Here.

0:55

Please join me for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Unassigned speaker

0:59

I pledge allegiance to the flag.

Speaker 3

1:03

To the Republic

Unassigned speaker

1:04

for

Speaker 4

1:09

liberty justice for

Speaker 1

1:10

all.

1:11

Madam Clerk, do we have any public comment cards?

Speaker 2

1:15

Yes, we received six public comment cards this evening.

Speaker 1

1:18

All right.

Unassigned speaker

1:20

Okay.

Speaker 2

1:21

The first is from Tong Shinqi, who will be followed by Shangshen.

Speaker 1

1:31

Come to the podium, please.

2:01

Come forward to the podium, please.

In Pan · Speaker 5Inferred

2:12

Good evening, Councilman.

2:14

My name is In Pan, and I'm the massage owner of uh Sandy Springs.

2:20

And uh my address is a 5944 Rossville Road.

2:28

And uh I'm here tonight to present some licensed massage business in Sunny Sprint.

2:34

And we are including TJ Massage, have solution massage bar and uh how to toss bar Sandy Sprint May Massad.

2:44

Just we want to uh share a request with you tonight.

2:49

We hope ask the city to continue the Sunny Spring permit system.

2:55

We'll maintain strong enforcement.

2:58

First, we purchase the city and the Sandy Spring Police Department for your continued work to keeping our community safe and maintain professionally uh standards.

3:12

They also is important to us as well.

3:16

We fully split regulations, lower enforcements, and follow the rules in the massage induced.

3:23

We strongly oppose illegal massage business.

3:27

As a licensed business owner, we are committed to all things legally and uh working close with the cities.

3:37

Uh at this time, we would like to share our concerns.

3:42

Due to the recent change to the permit system, uh some massage uh therapy who have worked legally for many years are no longer able to work.

3:54

There are hard working people who follow the laws.

3:57

Then just want to continue their work legally and support their family.

4:02

However, their permits has expired and now can uh and can now be renewed.

4:10

So I hope as to the city to concern keeping the permit system in place or providing a reasonable transition periods so licensed business and the therapist can continue to operate legal lease.

4:29

We are now asked for laws uh rules.

4:32

We support impressment um and a lawyer in full statements.

4:38

Um business then worldness the rule lawyers should continue to face penalties.

4:44

Additionally, we also want to agree to increase the uh premium fee to improve enforcement.

4:54

We are now be part of the solution.

Unassigned speaker

4:58

Um we want to be a part of the solution, not a power of the problem.

In Pan · Speaker 5Inferred

5:02

We won we also want to assign uh gender light her from our business.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Procedural█████████████████████████████29%

Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████13%

Public Engagement████████████12%

Historic Preservation█████████9%

Intergovernmental Agreements████████8%

Youth Programs████████8%

Water And Wastewater Management██████6%

Racial Equity██████6%

Personnel Matters█████5%

Summary of Proceedings

Sandy Springs City Council Regular Meeting - March 3, 2026

The Sandy Springs City Council held its regular meeting on March 3, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Studio Theatre at City Hall. Mayor Rusty Paul presided, with all council members present. The meeting covered routine approvals, public hearings for alcohol licenses, new business items including appointments and construction contracts, and reports from the Mayor and council members. All votes were unanimous.

Public Comments & Testimony

Ying Pan, owner of a massage business at 5944 Roswell Road, requested that the city continue its permit system for massage businesses or provide a transition period for therapists whose permits have expired. She expressed support for strong enforcement against illegal businesses and offered to increase permit fees to improve enforcement.
Dontaye Carter, resident at 300 Nesbit Lake Court, urged the city to host a separate citywide Black History Month event honoring local history (e.g., DeWald's Alley, the Peters family) and to focus Juneteenth celebrations on Sandy Springs' own history. He thanked Councilmember Chinsky and Councilmember Kelley for attending a recent Black History Month event.

Consent Calendar

Approved meeting minutes from February 17, 2026 (Work Session and Regular Meeting) and February 19, 2026 (Special Called Meeting).
Approved Resolution No. 2026-03-030 accepting a temporary construction easement from Jason and Kelly Anthony for the Lake Forrest Drive Sidewalk Improvements Project (4941 Long Island Drive).
Approved Resolution No. 2026-03-031 accepting a driveway easement from Anastasios and Carolyn Lambrou for the same sidewalk project (4644 Lake Forrest Drive).
Approved Resolution No. 2026-03-032 accepting a purchase and sale agreement from John Flint and Anastasia Gracheva for a temporary construction easement and driveway rights for the Windsor Parkway Sidewalk Project (545 Windsor Parkway).

Public Hearings

2026-055 (Anja Bar and Lounge): Approved unanimously an alcoholic beverage license (change of ownership) for Aavit Group LLC d/b/a Anja Bar and Lounge at 8290 Roswell Road, Suite 500B. Applicant Courtney Catherine Maven will serve beer, wine, and distilled spirits for on-premises consumption. The application was submitted January 28, 2026, and passed background investigation.
2026-056 (Omnia Room): Approved unanimously a new alcoholic beverage license for JM Lifestyle Group LLC d/b/a Omnia Room at 5920 Roswell Road, Building A, Suite 115. Applicant Reginald Weeks will serve wine, malt, and distilled spirits for on-premises consumption. The application was submitted January 13, 2026, and passed background investigation.

Discussion Items (New Business)

Appointment to Board of Appeals (2026-057): Mayor Paul nominated Jeffrey Howe, citing his strong business background and community involvement. Councilmember Chinsky noted Howe ran for City Council in 2021 and is a constituent. Councilmember Kelley asked about the Citizens Leadership Academy requirement; Howe had not completed it. The council unanimously appointed Howe (Resolution 2026-03-033).
Bridge Maintenance and Repair Contract (2026-058): Public Works Director William H. Martin, Jr. recommended awarding a contract to Massana Construction, Inc. for $872,574.00 (lowest responsive bid after the lowest bidder was deemed non-responsive). The project covers 13 vehicular and 2 pedestrian bridges. Councilmember Ford asked about repair cycles; Martin explained GDOT inspects bridges every two years, and some repairs may be recurring. The contract was unanimously approved (Resolution 2026-03-034).
Stormwater Maintenance and Repair Contract (2026-059): Martin recommended awarding a contract to R&B Developer, Inc. for $421,809.00 to repair stormwater systems at 6445 and 6450 Powers Ferry Road. The scope includes headwall renovation, pipe rehabilitation, and streambank stabilization. R&B Developer had not previously worked with the city but passed reference checks. Approved unanimously (Resolution 2026-03-035).
Water Supply and Fire Flow Adequacy Study Ordinance (2026-060): Fire Chief Keith Sanders presented an amendment to Chapter 22 requiring a water supply and fire flow adequacy study for larger or higher-impact projects before permit issuance. The city does not control water system improvements (owned by Atlanta). The ordinance requires studies for projects with new or extended public water mains or those significantly affecting the water system. Approved unanimously (Ordinance 2026-03-003).

Reports

Mayor Paul reported on a visit from Georgia Supreme Court Justice Shawn Ellen LaGrua; plans for Service Delivery Strategy (SDS) negotiations with Fulton County (expected April/May, deadline December 31, 2026, covering jail, animal control, water issues); and a thank-you dinner for donors of the Sandy Springs Police Foundation (annual cap of $3,000,000 in tax credits, but unlimited donations).
Councilmember Paulson highlighted the Police Foundation as a way to divert state taxes to local law enforcement and announced the Sandy Springs Invitational Car Show on April 19, 2026, hosted with Caffeine and Octane (30,000 attendees at recent monthly show).
Councilmember Mular noted Transportation Master Plan listening sessions were held; public comments open through March 12, 2026, to inform T-SPLOST.
Councilmember Ford reported attending newly elected officials training at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, with informative sessions on municipal revenue streams.
Councilmember Chinsky added thanks for a clean audit, attended a Black History Month event at Rivercliff Lutheran Church, noted stock transfers to the Police Foundation avoid capital gains, and recognized the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival and opening day of Sandy Springs Youth Sports softball on March 14, 2026.
Councilmember Kelley thanked the Police Department for Operation No Safe Haven, and addressed public comments about Juneteenth: the event partners with Brookhaven (Lynwood Park), Dunwoody (Preservation Trust), and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (genealogy platform). She also announced a free 14-week youth digital art program (22 teens from multiple schools) launched March 3, 2026, with work to be presented at Juneteenth.

Key Outcomes

All six agenda items (consent calendar, two alcohol licenses, Board of Appeals appointment, two construction contracts, one ordinance amendment) were approved via unanimous votes.
Resolutions passed: 2026-03-030 through 2026-03-035.
Ordinance passed: 2026-03-003.
The meeting adjourned at 6:42 PM.

Meeting Transcript

The time for convening has arrived, so we'll start this evening's um council meeting. Uh please ask the uh city clerk to call role and make the general announcements. Good evening, Mayor and Council. First, I would like to remind all those in attendance, please silence um all cell phones or other electronic devices at this time. Individuals who would like to provide a public comment meeting at a city council meeting are excuse me, a public comment at a city council meeting are required to complete and submit those public comment cards in advance of the meetings. Public comment cards are always available online at the chamber entrance. Just a reminder to those providing public comment. You may be allowed allotted up to three minutes to speak on your single chosen topic. As I call roll, please confirm your attendance. Mayor Rusty Paul. Present. Councilmember John Paulson. Councilmember Melody Kelly. Here, Councilmember Melissa Mueller. Here. Councilmember Frank Roberts. Councilmember Mary Ford. Here. Councilmember Andrew Chensky. Here. Please join me for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag. To the Republic for liberty justice for all. Madam Clerk, do we have any public comment cards? Yes, we received six public comment cards this evening. All right. Okay. The first is from Tong Shinqi, who will be followed by Shangshen. Come to the podium, please. Come forward to the podium, please. Good evening, Councilman. My name is In Pan, and I'm the massage owner of uh Sandy Springs. And uh my address is a 5944 Rossville Road. And uh I'm here tonight to present some licensed massage business in Sunny Sprint. And we are including TJ Massage, have solution massage bar and uh how to toss bar Sandy Sprint May Massad. Just we want to uh share a request with you tonight. We hope ask the city to continue the Sunny Spring permit system. We'll maintain strong enforcement. First, we purchase the city and the Sandy Spring Police Department for your continued work to keeping our community safe and maintain professionally uh standards. They also is important to us as well. We fully split regulations, lower enforcements, and follow the rules in the massage induced. We strongly oppose illegal massage business. As a licensed business owner, we are committed to all things legally and uh working close with the cities. Uh at this time, we would like to share our concerns. Due to the recent change to the permit system, uh some massage uh therapy who have worked legally for many years are no longer able to work. There are hard working people who follow the laws.

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