The first quarter of our transformational calendar year is in the books, and the City Council and City staff are eager to engage with you as planning and actions on our strategic goals are either underway, on the horizon or in need of additional input.
I was very pleased that several residents have attended our various Town Hall meetings and Public Information meetings. We will continue to do our best to address questions and ensure continued transparency.
We have many projects in the pipeline; many of the projects were planned not long after the City incorporated in 2006 and have been included in a number of planning documents such as the City’s Comprehensive Plan, the North Fulton Transportation Plan and prioritized in the City’s Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax or TSPLOST list JohnsCreekga.gov/Residents/Public-Works/Future-Improvements/TSPLOST-(1)/TSPLOST.
While we continue to progress on reviewing the City’s Comprehensive Plan a year ahead of schedule, more work and input is needed before we can complete this task. The City hosted a 3-day workshop in January that included residents, City staff and consultants. In addition to transportation, the plan also touches on future development, opportunities and is used to provide a framework for our community’s future. At JohnsCreekGa.gov/CompPlanUpdate, you may review where we’ve been and where we’re going, take the online survey, and contact us directly anytime with your thoughts and ideas.
Other projects that will begin later this year include the buildout of our five new parks and the refurbishment of our four existing parks. Our expanded recreational amenities will provide something for kids and families, young adults and seniors of all abilities. There’s still time for you to provide input to our parks design plans. For more information, visit JohnsCreekGa.gov/RecreationandParks/Parks-Design-Project.
Last month, the City took a giant step forward with the effort to grow our parks system when it received the highest possible credit rating from the nation’s largest rating agencies, Moody’s Investor Service and Standard & Poors (S&P) Global Ratings. The Aaa and AAA ratings, respectively, enable the City to move forward with securing its $40 million bond for parks construction, which the residents overwhelmingly approved on the general election ballot last November. The high ratings positioned the City to receive bonds with the highest credit quality at a lower interest rate, saving taxpayer dollars.
I’m also very encouraged about the next step we’re taking to restore the old Rogers Bridge across the Chattahoochee River, connecting park facilities for pedestrians and cyclists in Johns Creek to Duluth. We continue to work on this project in partnership with Fulton and Gwinnett Counties and Duluth.
It’s a transformational year, as we continue to plan and move forward with projects that will modernize our premiere residential community. I encourage you to remain engaged throughout the process. Let’s work together to keep Johns Creek the exceptional city it has become by using 2017 as a springboard into our next decade.
to your business!