Alpharetta officials are upset their residents will pay more to use a Johns Creek park that, by rights, could have been theirs in the first place.
Johns Creek raised fees Monday for nonresidents at all but one of its four parks.
The Johns Creek City Council passed the measure despite pleas from Alpharetta city officials, who argued there had been a "gentlemen's agreement" over use of Ocee Park, which is near the border of both cities and nearly surrounded by Alpharetta residents.
"We have an agreement from 2006 that we said we would treat our residents equally," Alpharetta Mayor Arthur Letchas said.
The council's action means nonresidents will pay 50 percent more than Johns Creek residents for participating in any of the dozen or so recreation programs offered at the three parks. Fees for facility rentals also will increase for nonresidents.
Activities and rentals at Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center will not be affected.
The decision did not sit well with Letchas. "I think you need to keep your word," he said after the decision.
When Johns Creek was incorporating in 2006, Alpharetta conceded ownership of Ocee Park, formerly run by Fulton County, Letchas said, with the understanding that residents of both cities would be treated equally.
The verbal agreement was made between Letchas and Mike Bodker, who served as government liaison for the Johns Creek Community Association and now is Johns Creek mayor. Bodker cast the lone dissenting vote on the fee increase.
Johns Creek council members said they would be willing to hash out an arrangement with Alpharetta before the fees go into effect June 1, but the deal would have to be equitable.
Alpharetta has nonresident fees for its parks programs. But, officials argued Monday, those fees are based on a special bond passed in 1997. About half of the $24.9 million generated in the bond issue went to parks.
Over the past four years, Johns Creek has averaged $700,000 a year on maintenance and operations at its parks. Over that same period, it spent about $1.45 million in capital improvements to parks and trails.
The City Council did allow one concession in its new parks policy Monday. A plan that would have allowed residents a two-week head start on registering for athletic programs was amended after youth athletics leagues officials argued the rule would split teams that had grown up together. The amended policy provides early registration for residents and all who participated in an athletic program the year before.
About the Author
