The Sandy Springs City Council has accepted a staff recommendation to transfer title to key park properties to the Sandy Springs Public Facilities Authority – action intended to simplify future contracts concerning the facilities.
The council approved a resolution to quit claim Hammond Park, Sandy Springs Tennis Center, Abernathy Greenway Park and Morgan Falls Overlook Park to the authority, which is made up of City Council members.
The Georgia constitution limits the city’s ability to contractually commit the expenditure of public funds beyond one year, Assistant City Manager James Tolbert said in a memo to the council. However, the constitution allows the city to contract with the Public Facilities Authority for governmental services. Through such contracts, the city can make enforceable financial commitments of up to 40 years.
“Quitclaiming these public park properties to the Public Facilities Authority would allow more flexibility in the use of these properties,” including funding park projects and services beyond one year, Tolbert said.