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Sandy Springs council and staff outline 2025 priorities at retreat
Summary
City leaders opened a two-day retreat reviewing 2024 accomplishments and laying out 2025 priorities including customer service initiatives, data strategy, homeowner permitting help and continuing focus on public safety and infrastructure.
City officials held the annual council retreat to review 2024 and set priorities for 2025, with city staff summarizing achievements and a set of forward-looking projects.
The city manager, identified in the retreat as Eden, told the council that “at the center of everything that we do and what we stand for is customer service and citizen engagement.” Eden said staff will pursue several 2025 goals including a homeowner permitting assistance program to help owners with small projects, and organization-wide work on data strategy, analytics and responsible use of artificial intelligence.
Eden told the council the city will finalize procedures for the homeowner permitting assistance program, which is intended to help owners with straightforward projects such as uncovered decks and accessory buildings. She also said the city is forming a data governance structure, led by the newly hired director of data strategy and analytics, with a target to complete the structure by the end of the first quarter to guide later work across departments.
Staff also described internal service initiatives: a newly developed SHINE program (Service, Honor, Integrity and Noteworthy Excellence) to recognize employees, expanded social media engagement including faster responses to comments, and continued work on the city’s 20th anniversary activities.
The retreat agenda framed other priorities that staff will brief the council on throughout the year: public safety, transportation and accessibility, community appearance and recreation, redevelopment and economic development, environmental stewardship and water reliability. Several department heads gave detailed briefings at the retreat (see related articles on public safety, fire/EMS, transportation/public works, parks and economic development).
Council members used the retreat sessions to press for more analysis and data on housing and redevelopment trends, and to request follow-up briefings on possible tools to encourage targeted redevelopment and to support small-business outreach.
The retreat continued into a second day of presentations and workshops that will inform the FY 2026 budget and the next 10-year comprehensive plan update.
