Sandy Springs City Council Regular Meeting - April 7, 2026

The Sandy Springs City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, beginning at 6:00 PM in the Studio Theatre at Sandy Springs City Hall (1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA). Mayor Rusty Paul presided, and all six councilmembers were present: John Paulson (District 1), Melody Kelley (District 2), Melissa Mular (District 3), Frank Roberts (District 4), Mary Ford (District 5), and Andrew J. Chinsky (District 6). The council voted unanimously on the agenda, consent calendar, three public hearing items, and five new business items, then entered executive session for real estate and litigation discussion from 6:40 PM to 8:11 PM, when the meeting adjourned.

Consent Calendar

• 2026-077: Approved meeting minutes from the March 17, 2026 City Council Work Session and City Council Meeting.
• 2026-078 (Resolution 2026-04-042): Approved acceptance of an agreement to purchase fee simple right of way and a temporary construction easement for property at 6110 Peachtree Dunwoody Road (Tax ID #17-0018-LL-091-4), related to the TS131 Peachtree Dunwoody Road Last Mile Connectivity Project.
• 2026-079 (Resolution 2026-04-043): Approved acceptance of a driveway easement from Todd D. Carter and Maria L. Carter as Trustees for The Carter Family Revocable Living Trust at 4900 Lake Forrest Drive (Tax ID# 17-0120-0002-064-3), related to the S2185 Lake Forrest Drive Sidewalk Improvements Project.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comment cards were submitted, and no members of the public spoke during the public comment period.

Public Hearings: Alcoholic Beverage Licenses

• 2026-080 (ABL No. 28438): Approved unanimously a new ownership alcohol license for PH Paradise Investment, LLC / DBA Three Dollar Cafe at 4600 Roswell Rd Ste G100, Sandy Springs, GA 30342. Applicant Kyung Joo Han received authorization for consumption on premises of wine, malt, and distilled spirits. Revenue Manager Cori Holiness reported the completed application was submitted February 4, 2026, and passed the background investigation. Councilmember Chinsky expressed that he enjoyed the Buckhead location and looked forward to visiting the Sandy Springs location.
• 2026-081 (ABL No. 28199): Approved unanimously a new package beer and wine license for FK Brazilian, LLC at 8631 Roswell Road, Suite A, Sandy Springs, GA 30350. Applicant Fabricio Silvera passed the background investigation; the completed application was submitted September 23, 2025. Discrepancy note: the meeting minutes cite the business address as both 8631 Roswell Road and 8361 Roswell Road in different passages; the agenda and transcript use 8631 Roswell Road. The minutes also contain an internal contradiction, describing the license as Consumption on the premises Package Beer and Wine, while the agenda and motion specify Package Beer and Wine.

Public Hearing: River Corridor Review

• 2026-082 (Resolution 2026-04-044): Approved unanimously a Metropolitan River Protection Act Certificate for River Corridor Review RC-26-01SS at 6360 River Overlook Drive. Planning & Zoning Manager Michele McIntosh-Ross explained that properties within 2,000 feet of the Chattahoochee River are subject to the Chattahoochee River Corridor Protection Act, which limits clearing and impervious surface within the corridor. The Atlanta Regional Commission reviewed the application for a garage renovation and driveway expansion and found the project consistent with the Chattahoochee River Corridor Plan.

Discussion Items

• 2026-083 (Resolution 2026-04-045): Approved unanimously the contract award to Sol Construction, LLC to construct the Mt. Paran Road and Powers Ferry Road Sidewalk Project, in the amount of $974,966.62, and authorized the City Manager to execute the contract. Public Works Director William H. Martin, Jr. reported the project will install approximately 4,000 linear feet of sidewalk from Carol Lane to the existing sidewalk at the Mt. Paran Road/Powers Ferry Road intersection, continuing west on Mt. Paran Road to Rebel Trail NW, including driveway reconstruction, ADA-accessible curb ramps, drainage improvements (including 18-inch RCP, catch basins, and a flared end section), and two gravity retaining walls. The City received eight bids by the February 16, 2026 deadline; the engineer's cost estimate was $1,158,830.06. Councilmember Chinsky confirmed the sidewalk on Mt. Paran Road will be on the north side and there will be a mid-block crossing immediately east of E. Conway to connect to Grace Park. He expressed excitement that the project will connect south-end residents to existing sidewalks and ultimately toward Chastain Park.
• 2026-084 (Resolution 2026-04-046): Approved unanimously Change Order No. 2 to the existing contract with Excellere Construction, LLC for the CDBG Roswell Road Streetscapes Project (T0033-7), adding $6,500 to repair damaged sidewalk during the idle period and replace the pedestrian median crossing and ADA warning tiles at Northwood Drive. The total contract amount becomes $498,300. The change order also extends the contract by 200 calendar days due to extensive delays caused by Georgia Power and AT&T utility relocations; AT&T received GDOT permit approval on February 9, 2026, with an estimated 60-day performance period, after which Georgia Power will remove existing poles. Director Martin stated the project is close to completion. Councilmember Chinsky asked about the potential GDOT redesign of the I-285/Roswell Road intersection; Director Martin said design refinement is ongoing. Chinsky characterized that project as speculative and far-off but expressed that the streetscape project is worthwhile on its own.
• 2026-085 (Ordinance 2026-04-007): Approved unanimously an ordinance amending the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget to authorize a funding reduction and impact fee substitution for Project P0019 (Old Riverside Park). Recreation and Parks Director Brent Walker reported that $5,902,346 is currently available in the project budget; approximately $5.5 million will remain to cover construction and contingency, and the remaining balance will be transferred to Capital Contingency. Since the $2.5M General Fund allocation in FYE2025, a substantial amount of additional Parks Impact Fees has been collected and can substitute for most of the General Fund funding, with some General Fund funding remaining as an effective match to the Impact Fees. Councilmember Paulson confirmed that a portion of the approximately $1.5 million contingency will fund the separately bid soft surface trails (estimated at $500,000), to be solicited during construction of the main park area. Councilmember Paulson expressed approval of returning money to contingency for other uses.
• 2026-086 (Resolution 2026-04-047): Approved unanimously the contract award to Eastern Builders Inc. to construct the Old Riverside Park Project, in the amount of $3,980,770.00 (the lowest of nine bids received by the March 6, 2026 deadline), and authorized the City Manager to execute the contract. The 23-acre park at 6500 Old Riverside Drive will provide public river access, river observation, play experiences, green infrastructure, nature trails, and a restroom facility while maintaining the passive nature of the site. Soft surface trails were removed from the solicitation scope and will be bid separately. Director Walker said construction can mobilize approximately 10 days after Notice to Proceed, with a goal of completion in Q4 2026; volunteer opportunities, including the Eco-Steward program, will be available after construction. Councilmembers Chinsky and Mular, and Mayor Paul, expressed strong enthusiasm for the long-awaited park, with Chinsky thanking former District 6 Councilwoman Karen Meinzen McEnerny for years of work on the project.
• 2026-087 (Resolution 2026-04-048): Approved unanimously participation in the FY 2025 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program, development of a Memorandum of Understanding, and authorization for the Mayor to execute it. Sandy Springs is eligible for a formula allocation of $15,898 as a disparate jurisdiction and must apply jointly with Fulton County and the cities of Alpharetta, Atlanta, College Park, East Point, Roswell, South Fulton, and Union City; Atlanta serves as fiscal agent. Major Norman Vik said the Sandy Springs Police Department recommends using the funds to purchase two gun safes ($1,558), eight ammunition bags with extra rifle magazines ($800), two Intelligence Unit laptops ($7,056), thirty Dell Pro 22 Plus monitors ($4,050), and fifteen Dell Pro Thunderbolt 4 Smart Dock units ($3,420). Councilmember Kelley noted Sandy Springs has the smallest allocation; City Manager Eden Freeman explained the allocation is formula-based on crime rate and population, and that the low amount reflects the Police Department's success in keeping the crime rate relatively low. Any cost difference will be covered by SSPD forfeiture funds if necessary.

Reports

• Mayor Paul reported that Michigan won the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship on April 6, and acknowledged Auburn's NIT Championship. He also reported the City held its first Service Delivery Strategy (SDS) meeting with Fulton County and other cities; the SDS agreement must be completed by December 31, and the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) must be reauthorized this year. The next SDS meeting is April 13, 2026. Mayor Paul described the recently ended state legislative session as one of the most challenging for local government, thanked City Manager Freeman for analyzing more than 15 versions of tax legislation with the Georgia Municipal Association, and noted the governor has 45 days to sign or veto bills. He also offered holiday greetings for Passover and Easter.
• Councilmember Paulson announced the Sandy Springs Invitational Car Show on April 19, 2026, on City Green, benefiting the Sandy Springs Police Foundation and powered by Caffeine and Octane, featuring about 130 exotic cars. Mayor Paul thanked Bruce Piefke, founder and CEO of Caffeine and Octane and a Sandy Springs native, for his support.
• Councilmember Ford thanked city staff, police, and fire departments for their support of the High Point Civic Association meeting, noting neighbors appreciate communication about the new fire station.

Key Outcomes

• All agenda items passed unanimously: the agenda, consent agenda, both alcoholic beverage licenses, the Metropolitan River Protection Act Certificate, five new business items (Resolutions 2026-04-045 through 2026-04-048 and Ordinance 2026-04-007), and the executive session motions.
• The council recessed into executive session at 6:40 PM for real estate and litigation discussion and returned to regular order at 8:11 PM; the meeting adjourned at 8:11 PM.
• Contract awards approved: Sol Construction, LLC ($974,966.62) for the Mt. Paran Road/Powers Ferry Road Sidewalk Project, and Eastern Builders Inc. ($3,980,770.00) for the Old Riverside Park Project, both with City Manager authorization to execute contracts.
• FY2026 Budget amended for Project P0019, transferring the remaining balance to Capital Contingency and substituting Parks Impact Fees for most General Fund funding.