City Council - Regular Meeting

cameras. Mr. Clerk, are we ready to proceed? Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor,

you're ready. Mr. Clerk, could you please call the role? Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor, Mayor Van Johnson, present. Mayor Prom and District 5 alderwoman, Dr. Estella Edwards Shebass, present. Chairman and District 4 alderman, Nick Palumbo, present. Vice Chair and District 3 alderwoman, Linda Wilder Bryan, ready. Let's go. Post one alderwoman Carolyn H. Present. Post two alderwoman Alicia Miller Blakeley. Present. District 1 alderwoman Bernetta B. Laneir. Present. District 2 Alderman Dietrich Leot here. And District 6 Alderman Curtis Peri present. Mr. Mayor, you have a quorum. Thank you. All eyes.

I call this meeting of the Savannah City Council to order. Today's date is February the 26, 2026. The time is 2:05 p.m. We want to thank everyone for joining us uh here on the beautiful day in the greatest city on earth. Uh both here and within our chambers and on our various social media platforms. Savannah will be a safe, environmentally healthy and economically thriving community for all. And for us all means what? All.

All. Uh we are glad to have Alderwoman Alicia Miller Blakeley post two at large who will introduce today's invocator. Thank you Mr. Mayor. Today's invocator is Pastor Ricardo Rolando Manuel better known as Ricky born in 1960 in Fedville, North Carolina is a retired US Army senior NCO non-commissioned officer and devoted servant leader. He enlisted in 1979 and served 21 years in logistics and personnel management with assignments in the United States, Germany, and South Korea. He was part of the US precision helicopter team which earned first place honors in France in 1986 and England in 1989 and was later mentioned in the book we came to dominate by CW4 Dan Kingsley who is now retired. A longtime man of faith, Pastor Manuel ordained in 2000 and has served as pastor of Second Eenea Missionary Baptist Church since 2003. Under his leadership, the church has provided weekly weekday hot meals to the homeless since 2006. He holds a bachelor's degree in religion from St. at Leo University and received an honorary doctorate of divinity in 2018. An active community leader, author of Forgiving the Unrepentant and My Personal Prayer Journal and philanthropist, he co-founded the Lorraine Cupy Manuel Foundation in 2025 with his wife Angela to support victims of gun violence. The foundation is named

after his daughter, the late Lorraine Marissa Cupy Manuel. Above all, Pastor Manuel is a devoted husband, a devoted father of two children, six grandchildren, and a committed follower of Christ. I present to some and introduce to others n only not only my friend and and a man who was stationed with my husband Hollis Mitchell in Newberg, Germany, but I present to you Pastor Ricardo Rolando Manuel.

Amen. Let us pray. Father, we bless your name today. We thank you, dear Lord, for another day, a day where we see your loving kindness and your tender mercies. We're standing here today, dear Lord, in this council, dear Lord, and we are asking for your divine intervention. We're praying, dear Lord, for the mayor and all the council members, realizing, dear Lord, that all of us, dear Lord, stand in need of prayer. But we realize in your word, dear Lord, that you told us, dear Lord, that what we do to the least of those we do unto you. So dear Lord, let us not just think about the bigs. Let us always remember the least. Let us look out for those who don't have a place to stay, those who don't have anything to eat, those who don't have clothing. Dear Lord, let us continue to do what you have called us to do. We thank you right now, dear God, for this council. We thank you for all that came today. Please Lord, look beyond all of our faults and give us everything that we so desperately stand in need of. We'll be so careful to give your name all the honor, glory, and the praise. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Amen. Amen. Amen. Let us honor our country. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God. indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you. If you remain standing for just a moment, please. Um certainly our hearts, collective hearts were uh broken at learning of the passing of the Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson, Senior. Uh someone who uh touched the hands of King but yet touched the hands of us. Uh certainly someone who reminded us uh that we were somebody. who reminded us to keep hope alive. Uh he was no stranger to Savannah as he was a good friend of Mr. Benjamin Palo senior and certainly the late great Reverend Benny R. Mitchell Jr. and visited here often. As a matter of fact, um, as a very young college student, when I had a lot of hair, um, I had the opportunity to meet a man who just, uh, a couple of years before had launched a a very significant campaign for president of the United States and in the following year would do uh, the same. Someone who was an elder statesman and had a lifelong commitment to justice and equality, equity, and opportunity. And so we did not want this day to go by um to without recognizing his significant life and certainly to mourn his passing. Uh so I wanted us to take a moment of silence uh at this time if you mind. May his memory be a blessing. And in honor of his life, I've asked um the order of the flags of the city of Savannah and the United States of America to be flown half staff um from March the 1st, 2026 uh to March the 7th, 2026 uh in honor of this extraordinary life.

M city manager, if you would please execute. Thank you all so much. Yes, Pastor Emanuel. Thank you for what you do in this community, particularly as it relates to the unsheltered, the homeless people. And I know I would speak for Ivonne Prior when I say she is very much indebted for what your ministry does for the inner city night shelters. So, thank you for all that you do, Pastor Manuel. Thank you for being here with us. Uh thank you for always being present and accounted for as a good soldier would be.

Uh and I know even in the midst of your personal loss, you've turned your pain into power and so thank you for what you're doing uh in the area of gun violence. We appreciate that. Mr. Mayor, first lady, please. Yes, she's hiding. Stand up, first lady. Yeah. Thank y'all. We're glad to have you, Mr. Mayor. That's right. Come follow your man. Follow him. Yes, Mr. Uh, I was Aldwoman Blakeley. How long have you all been married? Wow. Another tour of duty. Thank you. In the military. That's right. That's right. District two. District two. It is district two. Thank you all so much for being here. Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor. Good afternoon.

East Savannah Strong. You ready, sir? We are. The first item on our agenda today. I'd like to move for the adoption of the regular meeting agenda for February the 26, 2026. Second motion.

Been proply moved and seconded that we adopt the regular meeting agenda for February the 26, 2026. You've heard the motion. All in favor indicate by saying I. I. Opposed. Motion passes. I'd like to make a motion for items number two and three for the approval of the minutes for the work session and city managers briefing held on February the 12th, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. and for the approval of the minutes for the regular meeting held on February 12th, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Second. So move properly moved and seconded. All in favor indicate by saying I.

I opposed. Motion passes. Um ladies and gentlemen um we um upon the event of of Hyundai expanding um its footprint here uh city manage and I were fortunate to go to South Korea to North Korea. South Korea. South Korea. Yeah. Not North Korea. Korea. Yeah. You wouldn't be here.

Yeah. Yeah. uh but an opportunity to uh further build relationships with Hyundai which as many of you know have built their largest investment outside of uh Korea uh here in Southeast Georgia. I was having a conversation with Mr. Randy Parker uh who is the the president I believe at the time of of Hyundai North America. And I said it would be really a nice thing if the city of Savannah had some Hyundai vehicles uh built here in Savannah uh at least for a time uh so that we can sample the uh great opportunities that u this plant and certainly the construction of the iconic five and our iconic nine would have here in this community. He said bet. I said you sure? He said yes. And so some time has gone by. We have some Hyundai folks here. Oh, come on. Come on, Dr. Stubs.

I was excited about the opportunity. I I wanted the Genesis, but they told me no. And I I wanted keys and they said well we don't do keys like that anymore. Um I should I should have known that but uh we have been really grateful for um certainly the transformative impact that Hyundai has had on our region and certainly on our city. Um we continue to grow and as Hyundai continues to grow will continue to grow with it. Uh and so we're glad to have Dr. Brett Brett Stubs uh that many of us know from Savannah Tech days is now doing big things at the Hyundai Meta Plant for this presentation. Well, just briefly, thank you for everyone in this room and your leadership in the city. You know, 60% of our metapros, our employees live towards Savannah, most in CH, 40% in Chattam County. And we know I know that the keys to the cars that I hold my hand were built by Savanians. I can tell you that.

So, so on bea on behalf of Hyundai Motor Group, Hyundai Motor America, Randy Parker, our North American CEO, Jose Munoz, our global CEO, and Tony Hu, HMGMA CEO. That's a lot of CEOs. Uh we're so honored to give to you today two beautiful Ionic Fives built in Savannah. We hope that they they they move you around the city and we're all about mobility and and we're about lifting people up and and you're you're about that, too. So, it's a it's a fitting partnership. Thank you, mayor. Thank you.

You said two keys or nine keys. I'm just So, um So, I'm I'm I'm I'll be back and y'all just run the rest of the meeting. Mr. manager. He didn't give us his name. Huh? He didn't give us his name. Dr. Stubs. Yeah. So, good good afternoon. I'm Brent Stubs. I'm the chief chief administrative officer for Hyundai Motor Group, Metaplan America. Um, but honored to be with you all today and thank you for your leadership in the queue.

Thank you. Um, and we're excited about obviously, you know, um, Hyundai's making big moves in our communities, employing u many, many Savanians, um, and and many more to come. And that's, um, just with Hyundai, that's not counting all of the tier one and tier 2 suppliers who have also come to our region. So, it's really changing um, the workforce opportunities here. Um, and this is also a sustainability effort for us. uh years ago 100% Savannah sustainability pledge um led by many members of this council um directed the city to start investing in its electric fleet um and the two Ionic Fives that we now have thanks to Hyundai add to that electric fleet um for the city and they're going to be utilized by our sustainability and environmental services team

um and be able to um to go out and be co-branded ed as uh city of Savannah and Hyundai in a in a partnership for help moving the city where in the right direction and uh you'll be seeing in about an hour I know a great social media uh video that our team put together um featuring these cars where these cars came from and how they're going to serve um the city. So, thank you so muching on behalf of our whole team Savannah. We're glad to be in partnership with you. Thank you. Appreciate

Yeah. And let me um introduce obviously the folks who worked on this. Um you know, Chief Gene Pvat, government operations, and our senior director of fleet services, Mayor Kevin Ex. So uh uh and they worked really hard um with Hyundai to be able to bring these vehicles into our service. Um and we're proud of them. So thank you, Jean. Thank you, Kevin. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Yes. I just wanted to echo the sentiments before we we move on to the next item. I I had the rare opportunity this week as a part of my day job to go on the tour of the new Hyundai Metaplan. All right.

And it was one of the most impressive things that I'd ever seen. The the automation, the technologies, the efficiency, the space design, but the most impressive thing to me of all of it was driving through and seeing the smiling faces of people in our community building the next generation vehicles of tomorrow. And uh I hope we have I I mentioned to our city manager that'd be a great idea uh for us to all get to enjoy that opportunity to see the wave of the future uh and hope we can take

we were supposed to and and some I think something happened but let's let's make that happen. You it seeing believing up to 500,000 cars uh a year uh will come from right up the road. Uh it takes about 16 hours to to make one car. Nine of ours that is in paint. Uh, and literally 28 hours. 28. Thank you. See, I I messed it all up. We go fast. Okay. But still, that is a an amazing um to have it from beginning to end uh right here in this community. So, well, Mr. Mayor, also want to give kudos to them for It's not in the second district.

It's not yet till we annex, but uh for I saw the 60 Minutes piece. Yes. uh about the uh robots that they've uh they've already have working out there and uh the technology that goes into that. So, shout out to them for that. We continue to thank our economic development partners, CEDA, the joint development council knows this is still a continuing and evolving way of ensuring um if you want a job, Hyundai got jobs. Well, we're trying to get CAT buses to get you halfway to the job and

mobility is absolutely the way uh you have to get to mobility to create mobility. So, thank you so much for that. Thank you all. Uh, now, uh, we have really, uh, two weeks ago, we we wanted to bring investigator Kenneth McDonald on who has distinguished himself, uh, in the state. We already knew that we had the greatest fire department on the face of the earth. Uh, we certainly have the best um, arson control fire investigator of the year here. So guest vest McDonald if you come up.

Come on, deputy chiefs.

And Chief Gunther, come on up here, too. You might as well. So So you're not alone. Come. Come on. You can stand with him. It's all right.

Oh, yes. Where is the young lady?

Yes. So, um, we wanted to make sure that we recognize this extraordinary achievement. And so, I have a citation that reads as follows. Whereas, the safety and security of the residents of Savannah depend on the dedication, professionalism, and perseverance of the men and women who serve in our public safety agencies. And whereas the Savannah Fire Department investigator Kenneth McDonald has demonstrated exceptional commitment to the protection of life and property dur through his diligent and thorough investigative work. And whereas the Georgia Arson Control Board has named investigator Kenneth McDonald as the 2025 fire investigator of the year in recognition of his outstanding serve service and exemplary performance in the field of fire and arson investigation. and where investigative McDonald's fiveyear investigation into a complex and dangerous criminal case resulted in a successful conviction of Barry White, who detonated an explosive device in his ex-wife's vehicle, bringing justice to the victim and accountability to the offender. And whereas his persistence, attention to detail, and unwavering pursuit of the truth reflected the highest standards of the Savannah Fire Department and exemplify the courage, integrity, and professionalism that safeguard our community. And whereas investigator McDonald's work not only brought resolution to a serious criminal matter, but also reinforced public trust and demonstrated the critical role that fire investigators play in protecting our citizens from acts of violence and destruction. Now therefore, I Van R Johnson the second mayor of the city of Savannah to hereby commend and congratulate investigator Kenneth McDonald on being named the Georgia Arson Control 2025 fire investigator of the year and extend the gratitude and

appreciation of a proud and thankful council and community for his outstanding service, dedication and commitment to the safety of Savannah. Ladies and gentlemen, this is forensic files meets dine meets 48 hours for real. Congratulations, sir.

Thank you all. I really appreciate it. This is this has been like the crescendo of my career. Um, my career started 20 plus years ago and Mayor Johnson actually taught me in my academy class. So, uh, that gives you a little bit of a Thank you very much. Thank you, Chief.

Uh, mayor, council, Mr. City Manager, it's an honor to be standing in front of you today to talk about this part of the fire department that we often don't speak to. I'd like to acknowledge the staff behind me with deputy chief handy. Then we have the assistant chiefs. We have our senior fire investigator Fred Anderson along with this. And then today we um our our chief fire marshal Whitney William Smith could not join us today. She's on leave. Uh so we want to acknowledge uh this fire our fire investigators. And one thing I want to brag about I think the community needs to know is that what a how we are revered throughout the country. the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the ATF, they send their fire investigators here to work with Kenneth and with Fred to uh to train to become certified fire investigators. That's the type of uh investigators that we have here. So, they lead that charge, not only are they helping with the community of Savannah, Savannah, our region, but also the entire United States. So, that's remarkable. Yeah, we're very proud of these two investigators. They do great work. They do a great job. unsung heroes. Uh investigating fires are very difficult as you can imagine with the destruction that happens. It's very hard to go in and understand what caused it or what could have caused it. But these two get the job done. So very proud of them. Thank you. Welld deserved. I'll just add on to that that you know Kenneth especially with this award and and Fred and their team together this is great public service um in action and we like to say that great public service starts with great public service and there's no greater examples um than Kenneth and Fred and the work that we're doing and so happy that you got this recognition that's welld deserved and Um, glad we're celebrating it today. We'll be celebrating it all year. Thank you.

Thank you, older woman. I I wanted to tell him there's a new um investigative called Smoke. Nikki, you need to get on that and send him and he can play his own self. You so cool with the earrings and the gun and everything.

Yes. Play your own self. Well, to that end, and I do remember um um when we first sent our investigators um and I wasn't with well, I was with the city at the time. Um you know, they are certified law enforcement officers. They go through mandate school. Um so, they are like the best of both worlds. They're firefighters and they're police officers at the same time. So, uh that just adds to our our opportunity of being able to solve crimes. So, um you know, he could have easily let it go, but he stuck to it. And sometimes in in law enforcement, you have to stick with it and not let it go. And so because of that, very dangerous person is behind bars. So thank you.

Yay. Fire department engine 8 9 and1. All right, ladies and gentlemen, if you work with me, I'm going to uh do my expediency thing. So, we'll move for items 22 through 30 uh under the Savannah Airport Commission. Is there a second? Properly moved and seconded that we approve items number 22 through 30 under the Savannah Airport Commission. Uh 22 is approval of the NAS traveler promotional campaign partnership with the Hilton Head Islands Bluffton Chamber of Commerce in the amount of $300,000. Item number 23, approval of

Okay. Item number 24, approval of a threeyear broadband service agreement with Comcast Business Communications in the amount of $34,487. Item number 25, approval to execute an intergovernmental agreement with CEDA and Chattam County to construct a signalized intersection in the amount not to exceed $818,375. Item number 26, approval to sponsor the 2026 Southeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives annual conference in the amount of $60,000. Item number 27, approval to procure services from elevated facility services to refurbish six escalators in the hourly long-term parking garage in the amount of 1,483,176. Item number 28, approve execute a contract with Founders Maintenance and Restoration for the replacement of five handicap ramps and seven interest walkways in amount of 188,385. Item number 29, approval to execute a 4-year annual preventive preventative maintenance service agreement with Brooks Building Solutions in the amount $185,600. And item number 30 to approval to execute a contract with WS Neielen Company Incorporated to replace nine Skylight glass panels in the amount of $97,74. You've heard the motion. All in favor of approving items number 22 and 24 through 30 say I.

I. Opposed. Motion passes. Item number 23 is approval of task work order number 22 with a comm for gate planning services in the amount of $77,565. Is there a motion on Mr. Mayor? Yes. I'd like to recuse myself for the purpose of business. Okay. So noted that Alderwoman Shebass has recused herself because of business. Is there a motion on this item? Mr. Mayor, I move for the approval of uh item number 23 on the agenda. Second.

Properly moved and seconded. All in favor by saying I. Opposed. Motion passes uh 80 with one recusal. Thank you very much. Going back to alcohol u license hearings. We have two items, items number six and seven. Item number six is approval of a class C liquor beer and wine by the drink alcohol license with Sunday sales to David Howard for Marvel and Finn Savannah, a restaurant located at 520 East Agathorp Avenue between Price Street and Hston Street in automatic district 2. And item number seven is approval of a class G beer and wine complimentary alcohol license to Ronald Burus uh for Flipflop Shops, a retail store located 100 Bull Street between East Broton Street and East State Street in Automatic District 2. Um this is a public hearing that I've now declared open. Does anyone have anything against either of these items? Going once. Going twice. Speak now if ever hold thy peace.

Yes sir. Yes sir. Mr. Mayor ask that we close the hearing. Been proud move that we close the hearing. All in favor of the case by saying I I oppose. Motion passes. Um we can go ahead and we can approve six and then we can go we can move to seven. All right. Aldman. Yes sir. Second been properly moved and seconded. All in favor of the K by saying I I

oppose. Motion passes. Uh item number seven, Alderman Legged has a question. Yes, sir. Mr. Good afternoon. Please identify yourself for the record. Jared Bartley, Revenue Department. Thank you, Mr. Bartley. I didn't have anything from the neighborhood association that's uh saying that they disapprove of this business. I just have a question for the public. uh for the public's knowledge, uh they said this is a flip-flop shop. Yes, sir. Downtown

and being that it's a flip-flop shop is is just going to be a uh establishment that sells just memorabilia memorabilia t-shirts and flip-flops and the novelty that they sell in a local downtown area for tourists coming through. Do you know how they will identify when young people walk in? Will they card them at the door or anything like that? Uh, Councilman, I did speak with the owner who is present today as well and I informed him that's what he has to do as far as everyone that he's serving and he can't serve certain ages. He's been he's been advised. Okay. So, being that you advise him, did you advise him also that having this license is a privilege and not a right? Yes, sir. We have.

Okay. So, we I just wanted to put it on there, Mr. city manager because I I just wanted to make sure that uh the public didn't know once we started handing out liquor licenses and this being a unique uh ask for a flip-flop shop or just a memorabilia shop, but we're not saying no to it. We just wanted to find out exactly what it was. Mr. Bartley, quick question. Um this the request is for complimentary uh alcohol and so it's not alcohol for sale. That is correct. And he's been we explained that to him that it is complimentary beer and wine. Yes, sir. Mr. Burrus. Mr. Burrus is here. He's here. You You understand, right? Yes, sir. Okay. Thank you. Alderwoman Miller Blakeley,

right? To my understanding. Yes, it is. be allowed to give compliment to the customer. Yes, ma'am. He'd be he'd be able to offer that uh to his customers as they come into the store of age. Of age of Yes, sir. Interesting. So,

so complimentary liquor licenses is something that we've had on the books and we've done before council before. A lot of the times you'll see hair salons or furniture stores, jewelry stores have complimentary alcohol licenses to be able to serve um their customers or their patrons with a complimentary glass of wine or a beer. Um so it's not uncommon. um and uh they still have to conform to the same rules and regulations and expectations as any um on premise alcohol license that might be for sale um as well. So that the standards do apply. In fact, you know, it's and this is a a message to all of our retailers. It's not lawful to serve complimentary beer and wine at your establishment without a complimentary beer and wine alcohol license. So, um we we we absolutely if that's a service that our our retailers um want to be able to have, they they do need to go through this process. It has gone through the process. It has met every um uh met every requirement um under our local ordinance under the state ordinance to um receive alcohol license which is why I recommend approval. We do have many complimentary beer and wine licenses that are um operable today um in in many of our retail stores as well. So, it's it is absolutely a a alcohol license that is on the books in the city of Savannah ordinance. It's um ones that have been approved by council before. Um and uh this applicant met all the administrative boxes to um be um lawfully eligible for this license.

Okay. Any other questions? Is the price the same the fee the alcohol license? So the business owners, he have to incorporate that price into whatever he's he's serving that he can't charge them for. So I told him he has to work that into his Mr. Bartley, I believe she's asking about the application fee and Oh, the application fee. I thought about the customer. There's a fee that he has to pay for the fee. So yes, ma'am. Is it comparative to a regular um liquor license? The money that we get anytime we can generate a good thing, but I was just curious. Um I'll be able to provide I'm sure that um I can wait for that. Judy Jones and Melissa right now are are looking I know they're going to look through the Yeah. Let us

There's a fee that he pays. Yes. Yes. Let us get I I know they Yes, we pay a fee. If I could answer the question the that we they do pay a fee for this license. Give us a second to to to confirm in the revenue ordinance what that fee is and how that differs from other alcohol licenses. So, we'll do that right now and as soon as I have the answer texted to me, I'll be able to to let council know. Appreciate it. Thank you, sir. Thank you, Mr. City Manager. He does pay the same fee. Judy Jones, I'm sorry. He does say pays the same fee as any other alcohol establishment that's serving beer or wine. The fee varies. Quickest gun in the east. Judy Jones. Judy Jones. Jones. Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor.

All right, Mr. Mayor. Yes, sir. With that being said, Mr. May I ask that we approve the class G beer wine complimentary alcohol license to Ronald Burus for flip-flop shops uh retail store located at 100 Bull Street. Second proud to move a second. Mr. Burrus, you got the cooling store. I I I roll by every day and peek in. Um if I wore flip flops, I would come and get some. All in favor of the cape by saying I oppose. Motion passes. Good luck to you, sir. Be great. U moving to item number eight on the second readings, approval of an amendment to the stopping standing and parking prohibited ordinances. This comes from our transportation services department. Uh is there a motion to um Mr. Mayor? Is there a second?

Second question. Properly moved and seconded. Um we have a question from Aldwoman Laneir. I imagine this would be for the city manager. Um Jay, I spoke to you about Tmont Road where we have a hazardous situation over there. trucks parking on the road and uh restricting traffic. And this would be a prime example of why we would need uh these changes. And also that's between I516 and Highway 17.

Um and and the other thing we spoke about earlier was on 37th Street. We're going to have to make some decisions about park. No parking there because you have either two lanes mobile lanes without parking or we're going to have one lane with parking because traffic is traveling at the speed limit and then all of a sudden you run into these parked cars like right around Bull Street area and they just can't go anywhere. They want to have to wait until they could merge into the to the left lane and so uh today this can pass. But those are two critical areas and by you continuing to bring this up, I would hate for something to happen there. It's a matter of time and we could have done something to ward this off. So please have staff evaluate uh those two areas.

I will. Yes, ma'am. Mh. One moment. I I concur all the woman Lenir. Um uh we often focus our vision zero efforts on um MLK McGomery Street going east. Um but that is a people come flying off of 16 and they turn on there bottlenecks in that area. And so um it's either two lanes on some days or some days a lane and a half. And so um you know I I know some of that is maybe part of uh the I16 offramp. And so I think that you know I agree needs to be looked at. Alderman Le,

Mr. Mayor, does this uh ordinance also will speak to the Door Dash and Amazon drivers that park in the in the uh rightway? Alderman, I mean, Mr. City Manager, um I'd have to get some clarity on that. You're asking if this is enforcing delivery drivers. Yes, sir. Because in some of our rightaways, like Henry Street, Anderson Street, some of those uh agencies will park right in the street and jump out with the hazard lights on. Yeah. And it's not lawful, right? Yeah, it's not lawful. Yeah. Okay. Uh, Alderwoman Mill of Blakeley.

Thank you, Mayor Johnson. Um, Mr. City Manager, traveling south on Bull, right at Bull and Victory. There's a lot of construction going on right there, and the street has been uh reduced to not even a full lane. Do y'all know what I'm talking about? Pass by. We need to do something about that because that is a very dangerous area and I don't know who gave them permission to take half of the street but somebody needs to look at that because it's it's not good and it could be hazardous. Are you are you famili Are you familiar with it, Miss City Manager? What's that? Are you familiar with what she's talking about?

We'll look into it. Yes, sir. Also also 37th and um Bull as well where they're doing that major construction. We need to have somebody take a look at that. Thank you. Okay. Was there a motion? It was mo It was moved and seconded. All in favor by saying I opposed. Motion passes. Uh look over your purchase items. Items 9 through 21. Uh I know that Alderwoman Wilder Brian wants to pull 17 and 19 and 20. 21 please, Mr. Mayor. Wait a minute. All right. Wait a minute. 17 21 please. 20 20. Okay. Not 21. 21. Yes. 21. Mr. Mayor. Yes.

If there are no more pull outs, I would like to make a motion for the purchasing items number 9 through 7 9 through 16 and 18. Been probably moved and seconded that we approve item number nine. Authorize city manager to execute contract amendment number two for engineering construction inspection services for the IND surface water treatment plant optimization expansion to Hussy Gay Bell in the amount of $9,200,000. Item number 10, authorize city manager execute a contract for multifunction copy equipment with ABR in the amount not to exceed $300,000. Item number 11, authorize city manager to execute a contract for software and implementation with Bry Point in the amount not to exceed one,631,700. Item number 12, authorize city manager execute a contract for Wind Software with environmental product groups in the amount not to exceed $56,100. Item number 13, authorize city manager to execute a contract for computer replacement devices with Dell Incorporated in the amount of $1,94,000. Item number 14, authorize the city manager to execute a contract renewal contract with Kentronics Incorporated LLC for the purchase of Ocularis software maintenance and support in the amount of $55,000. Item number 15, authorize city manager to execute a contract for phase one and phase two with shot spotter an amount not to exceed $274,458 annually and item number 16 authorized city manager to execute modification number one of the contract for the purchase of aluminum sulfite with Kim Trade Chemicals US LLC in the amount of $283,977

and item number 18 authorized city manager XU contract modification number two for medical and pharmacy stop loss carrier with international insurance of Tennessee in the amount of 1,318,000. You've heard the motion. All in favor indicate by saying I. I. Opposed? Motion passes. We now go to item number 17, which is authorize the city manage execute contract modification number two for major special event catering services for city staff from Arsley station in the amount not to exceed $138,600. That was Alderman Palumbo. Who has 17? I did. Aldwoman Wilder Bryant.

Mr. City Manager, I apologize. We were in a meeting with you and I this one I meant to speak about this one, but uh this is Uh this is an economic drive for the entire city and and while this is a locallyowned one, I would want for this $138,000 to be distributed uh with an additional source. I'm looking at this uh the description. They've added a 25% inflation to food costs, right? And then uh you signed one on the 48th and then we had to ified again with $48,000. I'm wanting to spread this little joy around. He may be I'm just taking.

So, this is a I think I understand your consideration. This was a RFP um that we put out. I um I believe when we put it out a few years ago, they were the only respondents. Um I understand the need to want to um uh spread the business around. the the modifications were mostly because we added scope. We added new meals and added new um staff and first responders that needed to be able to be supported during these efforts. That yeah,

understand that. But I'm saying it was a couple of years back I think we could have uh ran the RFPs again to include some other people who might be interested. When we talk about Savannah First, I understand that. But we're talking about other locallyowned businesses whereund $138,000 could be split four ways there so everybody could get some money. People wait all year long for se uh St. Patrick's Day. And I'm just saying the next time we do this that we consider more than one person.

Yes, ma'am. I I I understand that and I'll take that back. The the other um consideration I'd ask council to think through too is St. Patrick's Day is um our most complex event. Yes, sir. um with many many different moving parts. And we often look for um how can we simplify our efforts um and how can we um minimize the uh the the number of things that we're having to juggle in that time. And so streamlining some of our services and outside contracts just during that event um has sometimes helped us focus on um the the main event and the public safety. So that's just another consideration.

Yes, sir. I appreciate that, sir. Yes. So much. Yes, ma'am. Thank you, Mr. City Manager. This is This amount is $138,600, correct? Yes, ma'am. And this is this company from Savannah? Yes, ma'am. They're a restaurant in Savannah. It is a restaurant in Savannah. Yes, ma'am. I have to agree with Alderwoman. Uh Wilder Brian, $138,600 is a lot of money. Now, we're going to be feeding individuals. So, is this restaurant going to go to each of the locations or do the um employees have to go to them? And this is for the employees, correct?

Yes, it's for our first responders and for our employees who are working the event. This is a five-day event um this year. U meals are primarily served out of the civic center. So, they're going to have to go to the civic center in order to eat. That's how we do it every year. Yes, ma'am. Okay. Um I I want you to remember 138,000. This is coming out of our general fund, correct? Yes, ma'am. All right. I want you to remember that. Yes, ma'am. Okay. Thank you very much. Go ahead, Alderwoman. Is there a motion? Um, I make a motion that we authorize a city manager to execute contract modification number two for major special event catering services for city staff from Ry Ry Station and amount of secondly

138,000. Properly moved and seconded. All in favor of the Kate by saying I. I. Oppos. Motion passes. Item number 19, authorized city manager executed contract for the installation of a new splash pad at Sunset Park with Great Southern Recreation uh CEO Water Play Solutions Corp. in amount not to exceed $124,100. All the woman Wilder Bryant.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir. It's been a very good week in the third district. Uh we're excited about the splash plan. Want to thank uh Mr. Roberts and his staff. Uh and also to uh thank um uh mayor past previous mayor uh Edna Jackson. She was part of that community. That's the Fernwood Potwood. And I'm so glad that we're moving south in the third district and doing really good things. I would like to make a motion to authorize the city manager to execute a contract for the installation of a new south spash pad at Sunset Park with Great Southern Recreation without care of, excuse me, waterplay solutions in amount not to exceed $124,000. Second motion

proply moved and seconded. All in favor by saying I

opposed. Motion passes. Item number 20 authorize the city manager executed contract for the design procurement and installation of a prefabricated storage building at Daffin Park with Gordian Incorporated in the amount not to exceed 330,100 330,191. This is Alman Palumbo, but I wanted to note that we did receive um a letter of opposition um that the clerk's office has submitted to council for their review. Alman Palumbo. Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor, and thanks to the constituent who wrote the, you know, concerned letter uh as well. And uh we also received a letter in our inbox on the from the Historic Savannah Foundation officially taking a position against this item, which is why we we've pulled it for a little bit of discussion. And I think that there needs to be just some some clarity around this item. And then I'm going to have some comments uh not for city staff but really honestly for the community about how we move forward because this particular site has become a focused area of of time and attention uh particularly on the subject of who owns Daffen Park. Uh and this has been a rising issue. I represent uh neighbors on two sides of the park to the south and to the west. Alderman Leget represents constituents to the north. Alderman Wilder Bryan represents constituents to the east. And uh truly it's uh the people's park and so if you look at the map it's owned by clearly all of us but there have been growing concerns about placement and structures and and that's come up again. Um so Mr. City Manager could you just tell uh share with us a little bit more about this item although routine uh I think residents want to know what's it look like where's it going to be placed and what we're trying to achieve here.

Yes sir. Thank you alderman. Um, this is a it's a a structure that's its primary purpose is for the storage of park maintenance equipment for both our park and tree department and our wreck and leisure department for um the storage of items that um have been in the past either um not safely secured in um old rusted buildings near Grayson Stadium or out in the yard. right?

Um as a a kind of a eyesore as well in Daffen Park. What we've uh really attempted to do with the design of a new um storage facility is incorporate that structure into the existing Morris Stadium. So which is the the smaller Turfield Stadium um just to the west of Grayson Stadium um which holds a lot of community events. The storage facility is going to um uh in addition to providing much needed um safe storage and uh and be able to pull some of those things off of the yard in Daffen Park. It's going to do two things for that stadium as well. one, it's going to create more of an entrance um into that stadium and a definition of that facility as well as provide an overhang um for um for the athletes who are using that field on the sideline as well in the event of inclement weather or or high heat. So, it serves a few purposes um there for the park. And um our our intention was to incorporate this as seamlessly as we could in the most appropriate areas um that we felt we could um improve park maintenance and operations um but also improve the look and feel and utility of the park as well.

Well, and I I think that's a very well-reasoned uh and and good thing to do. Um, and clearly we do need to protect the the maintenance equipment and uh, you know, that we're not going to stick up for, you know, a rusty facility. Uh, we deserve to have the best for the park. Uh, I know that it's caused a lot of concern with with residents about the future of the park. And my my recommendation, if if my colleagues are willing to agree, is that uh, the adjacent district alder people uh, alder persons come together with you, Mr. city manager, maybe HSF and the neighboring presidents to talk about the future of the park, maybe get eyes on uh on the design. Uh and I want you to know that I'm supportive of this and and fully understand it. U there's a there's just an increased spirit of conflict around this public utility that I want to make sure that we give them a warm fuzzy about it. uh if that's possible

and at large I want to we'll find a way to um to thread that you know maybe end up as a as a public meeting or a hearing uh but there's you know raised concerns about access utility uh and I'm a firm believer that the park's here for everyone but this is a significant enough events in investment I think they want to get eyes on it uh and that even though are any representatives from historic savannah foundation here well But, uh, well, note to our local nonprofits, if you weigh in on it, please, please come and join us. Uh, if you can u, but that would be my preference on this just to give us one more bite of the apple to give the opportunity to give warm fuzzy about it.

Mr. City. All right. So, yeah. Um, I saw Alderman Bell first. So, Alderman Palumbo, you're not suggesting that we delay it or are you for two weeks? Up to two weeks? Yes. Okay. And by have this discussion. Well, and I and I'll I'll admit it is stretching my patience for sure. I mean, because it is I feel that this is a very routine item. Okay. Uh but but if if that's what the people want in two weeks, we'll make give everybody warm fuzzy. That's right. And that's fair. All the woman I saw alone.

Yes. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. City Manager, I'm looking at this the measurements of this building. Is that the width times the height times the length? So we talking 40 by 12 and 96. Yes, ma'am. It is. Okay. I mean I So it's 40 feet wide. Mhm. Um 96 feet in length and 12t high. 12 feet high. Okay. I was just trying to get a some kind of visual on what it's going to look like. But to alderman Palumbo, if you all decide that you all don't want it, we'll take it. We'll take it over there. So, and to if you decide you don't

to put the size in context, it's going to be sitting essentially on the field. Um, it'll be right on the sideline of the field. The field is a regulation football field. It's going to kind of stretch from the 30 yard 25 yard line to the to the um uh to the goal line on on one side of uh Morris Field. That's that's right now um undefined. Thank you, Aldwoman Wald Bryant.

I actually share parts of this and it's actually going to be on the side where my people stay and they don't have a problem with it when we move forward uh with um I was ready to vote but u grace we can give people two weeks but it's something that has to be done when we talk about recreation and the equipment and having it scattered all over everywhere we got to put oursel in 2026. It's also going to uh be a dugout. Is that not correct? Where people can change and whatever that's going to be a part of the actual there. We we the the design does incorporate an overhang over parts of the sideline for the use of athletes. Yes.

And so it's a park and we have equipment that this council fusses about all the time about it rotten and being in different places. We need to get some synergy. And so that synergy for me would be something that's convenient, close to the proximity of where everything is for the kids and the staff. And so while I'm uh listening to um his constituents and what they're wanting to do, I think that it is uh most evident that it needs to happen and that all of the things that we do, it has to be progression of what the budget allows. And the budget allows for us to continue to do things that change the quality of not only people's life but the life of our employees too. Thank you.

All right. Thank you very much. Um Mr. Mayor, was that one complaint letter? Was that one? Is this one comment? One public comment. All right. So, we're going to hold this for two weeks. Yes, ma'am. And so, yes. Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you spoke already. Well, I

All right. One moment. I I'll offer another motion that we move on this and we talk to this one person because we only got one person opposing this and it's going to hold up what everybody wants in that commercial. It will still give us an opportunity to speak with her but it's expedient for me and our No, no, no. We can talk about it. We still can move. So, um can you give me the wording to move forward with this but have a discussion with uh the substitute emotion but the verbage so that gets what he wants, right? And my people get what they want and the staff get what they want. We need to move on this.

I'm going recognize Alderman Palumbo only because I I'll get to you over since she's um offering a substitute motion has not been seconded yet. I I recognize him, too.

Absolutely. And thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I totally under the understand the concern. That's why I expressed, you know, my my patience is certainly stretched to its to its limit. I believe that constituents have been calling instead of reaching out to Savannah City Council. They've been reaching out to local nonprofits who have then been spun up into action out of deference to them. I think we need to do some level setting about what happens in the park, meet with the agrieved nonprofits that are weighing in on this issue uh and an opportunity just to come together. I'm fully supportive of this and what happens at Morrisfield, what happens at Daffen Park. Um just recommend two weeks for them to give it a once over to get eyes on it. Understand the city's investment what we're trying to achieve of the park. I agree, Nick. I'll wait.

All right. Thank you, old woman. Um Miller Blakeley, we still one person. I'm sorry. My concern is Gordian Incorporation. Are they here in Savannah? Are they someplace else? And if they're not here in Savannah, why are we using them to build this when we have builders right here in Savannah? This a pre-fabricated building? Yeah. No, ma'am. There Gordian is not local. um that I'm aware of. They're not local.

Um the um but the you know the the we use pre-fabrication in some of our construction um especially when the construction is fairly easy um fairly routine is a standard design in some of these wreck facilities um and it becomes a a more costeffective and more efficient way to deliver the build. Um if we were to go and um procure a stick build for this like um uh the the cost would be double or triple um the cost of this building and we would get the essentially a very similar result.

So we don't have anybody in Savannah in this area that do prefab building. Ma'am, I can follow up with the procurement um I would appreciate procurement strategies that we used here. Um, I can absolutely um tell you with great confidence that we used a very legal procurement strategy here to procure this. Um, I'm uh I I wouldn't doubt that there are firms in Savannah who could um help, but perhaps they uh did not respond to this bid, but I'll give you all of the information on our procurement activities for

I'm I'm concerned because $330,0001 191, that's a lot of money for a prefab building with the dimensions that you all say here. So, I'm just curious. Thank you. Thank you. I think we have consensus that we're going to push this for two weeks. So, we'll we'll put this back on the calendar uh in two weeks. Yes, sir. Um item number 21 is authorized city manag contract for cab cameras with Sam Sauer incorporating amount not to exceed $269,576. I don't know who pulled this one. I did, sir. All right. Alman Le.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh Mr. city manager, the the ask is to authorize you to spend $269,000 on cab cameras, but the thing is, do you only having it for the sanitation department? How come?

Uh, this is a this is a riskmanagement um initiative and something that um was a service enhancement request in the FY26 budget. Um, we're starting here with sanitation for a few reasons. Um, one, the sanitation trucks are big, big, heavy machinery and they move about the city um, all the time. So, these cameras provide a few things for us. One, it's able for us to be in constant connection with the crews um, inside the cabs. Um, but there's also cameras um, around the trucks as well, as you can imagine. Large sanitation trucks, small lanes. We get a lot of claims every year that sanitation truck came by and scraped my car or um ran over uh my landscaping etc. Um and this technology one helps us confirm or refute those claims. It also helps us provide really important training tools for our sanitation drivers and crews um who are out there operating in our community. So, you're saying this is not going to be just the sanitation uh crews that going to have cameras?

Well, this this contract is specific to sanitation. This is a a fairly this is a kind of becoming an industry standard riskmanagement tool. Um uh sanitation outside of PD is our largest fleet um and is our largest standardized fleet. PD already has cameras associated with um with their performance But they're c but the police cameras are cameras that's outfacing uh cameras and as you know in the past month we had multiples of police cars who have been in wrecks and I'm not sure what procurement numbers they can give us

but we've had um uh multiples of wrecks from um different members of city uh staff that has been in wrecks around the city. I just want to make sure that we addressing everybody not just our uh sanitation department and that's the goal too. This is a this is a this is a technology that our sanitation team is ready to roll with. They've got the capability to do so. Um this is a a a good place for us to implement this measure, understand how it can work and work better and then hopefully be able to integrate it um into larger sections of our fleet. Mr. Mayor,

yes. And let me add probably because of the standardization of the fleet um it's probably the quickest to be able to determine whether it works or not. So alderman. Yes sir. Mr. Mayor I ask that we authorize the city manager to execute a contract for cab cameras with uh Samara Incorporated in the amount of not to exceed $269,576. Sir second been properly moved and seconded. All in favor indicate by saying I

opposed. Motion passes. Item number 31 is a resolution authorizing the sale of alcoholic beverages for on premises consumption on Sunday, March the 15, 2026. Um, state law allows us to have one Sunday a year that we can designate as the Sunday that we would allow sales of alcoholic beverages. uh staff met with our um our alcohol serving establishments and I believe they preferred um Sunday, March the 15th. So that's what the resolution is for you. What is your pleasure concerning this?

Mr. Mayor, I make a motion that we honor the resolution authorizing the sale of alcoholic beverages on premises consumption on Sunday, March 15, 2026. Second. Second. Been properly moved and seconded. All in favor of the car by saying I opposed. Motion passes. Item number 32. Uh last Friday, um we released publicly as though council was informed u in advance of uh our public notification um that signs had confirmed that which we had believed. Um this was a combination of uh folklore and oral history, right?

Um the records in our municipal archives and then now the scientific analysis um that uh around in and around Whfield Square that were the remains or what they call anomalies of at least 80 um places where either enslaved people were buried or where enslaved people are buried. Um this is significant for us because um our our municipal archives for quite some time indicated that this was um a a slave cemetery. Um and we were able finally to confirm this um intentionally uh and aggressively and council was informed. Um so we now know uh that this is is sacred ground. It's hollow ground and so what do we do now that we know um what this is about. I think that we are very very clear that we have to do something significant as a city as significant as Savannah historically uh in 20 26. We're still finding out history. And so, uh, talking with the city manager and we kicked it back and forth. The recommendation is for us to create a committee that would include members of council uh, appointments um, and some subject matter experts to provide recommendations uh, to the city council and to staff about how do we handle that which we have learned. Um, how do we handle um, the How do we handle addressing this? Um, at this time there's no thought of escavating. Um, I think that sometimes you allow people to rest in peace. Um, but this is kind of new space for us and we've learned that we've done really really well when we've asked for uh the public to be a part of it and we've

learned very well that diversity and equity is achieved when all council members have the opportunity to appoint someone. So this is a resolution um asking for that. Um Mr. Luchanna Spreaker will be the chair um of that committee um and they will meet and really come forth with some options for council to be able to consider. Mr. Mayor, yes. I ask that we approve the resolution to create a committee to advise the commemoration of the burial ground in Whfield Square. Sir, second properly moved and seconded. question to a question as well. Wait, who's saying question? Question question.

Yes. Yes. Um, Mr. City Manager, the subject matter experts, what subjects are the experts in? What make them what would make them expert in this instance?

Well, obviously, um, historians and archivists that can help paint a fuller picture of what the science has learned. um experts in um uh enslavement and free people's lives um specifically in Savannah. Um experts may also include um uh current experts in um Gulligi culture or um African-American and early African-American culture in Savannah as well. Um so also kind of want to understand what council's um understanding of expertise would be in this space. Um we also um do have um experience with um other places in our city which are um were once active burial grounds which are no longer active burial grounds and they're passive parks um but are maintained by our cemetery department as well um like Colonial Cemetery and others. So there are some expertise around uh monumentization and maintenance of sacred spaces as well that might be helpful to include um as a part of um either the advisory committee or the advisory committee's work.

Thank you. I I was asking the question because uh the local people many local people we knew of this history but like mayor said it was considered by some folklore uh because a lot of our history has been word of mouth but we has we've had the group uh like sister Pat working for years to I guess bring this to light um and it started with the Taylor former Calhoun Square and and that effort was successful. I heard the mayor said that it is this is a good way for us to move forward involving quote unquote experts and the council have an opportunity to appoint people and I wish we had done this with the weeping time before it was sold so we could bring out all of the historic facts to show where the piece that was sold is definitely connected and related to the just just I needed to say this at the time but I'm I'm supporting us taking this action at this If I could add to on to that, alderwoman, all of which I agree with, just want to give a I just want to commend the way that our archives and history office approaches um these issues, which can be very sensitive. Um and um you we did this work for the the ground penetrating radar with Lamar Institute in advance of um erecting a historic marker in Whitfield Square to mark these burial grounds which we knew in archives existed but like you said many knew that they still existed. Um, and the work of our archives and history brought partners like Sister Pat Gun and others um to Whitfield Square to have a ceremony before that ground penetrating radar um work was completed. And and I think it's that kind of treatment with

respect and reverence um and community involvement that allows us to really approach these sometimes difficult and sensitive issues um with um joint respect. And I'm just proud that this city council and this city works to do right when this city did not do right or could not do right in the past. M city man, did you say that a decision has been made just to put a marker? This group will decide.

Well, this group will decide we this Whitfield Square and the existence of the burial grounds for enslaved and free people of color in Savannah. We knew that the our archives showed that this was the location of burial ground. Our archives also show that in 1855, city council instructed the city marshall at the time to remove those graves to what is now Laurel Grove. That's right. Right. Um and and that's where the archives and the oral histories differ on whether or not that work was completed

um or not. And I think what well now we know um through science and and through our commitment to getting to the bottom of the truth or telling the whole truth and the whole story is that it is confirmed that that not everybody who was interred in those grounds left those grounds um for new resting places. Um, and so we were we were we were moving forward with a historical marker presentation there as part of our historical marker program um to commemorate that site um as a former burial ground. But before we did that, we wanted to make sure that it wasn't an existing burial ground. And I think now we know um and this advisory group will help us and help city council determine how do we treat this um in terms of its commemoration or memorialization. Um now that we know

one last thing in 1855 someone was paid and their charge was to remove the graves all of them. Yes ma'am. And so can we follow the money? somebody some we'll we'll continue to to look into that history so we can tell the full story. Alman uh to to just to your point um no the city council will decide uh the the advisory committee will make recommendations to city council but ultimately uh city council will decide what actually happens there. Mayor Johnson.

Yes. Did I hear you correctly say that there is possibly bodies still there or they have been removed? So they have not all been removed. So there is to well to to say it probably more succinctly it cannot be confirmed that all of the bodies were removed were moved. Right. So when Lamar Lamar the name of the yes organization when they came and did their analysis of what was there? saying that bodies are still there. They found they found anomalies in the um in the ground that would indicate either um what would be a um a grave site

and again I think Luchana might be able to explain it better. So you might just go ahead and she can come up and I'll she was trying to avoid it, Mr. Bel. But um but I'll go ahead and say more plainly um if I want to know and before she does that and now ladies and gentlemen, your history moment with Luchana Spring. Thank you. So uh Luchana Spring in history. Are you hungry for history? Yes. Yes, definitely. So, the GPR analysis found um about 80 anomalies as well as um two clusters that are so tight that they can't even count those up.

These are either um intact burials or what may be burial shafts where um remains were removed during relocations in the 1850s. The only way to confirm that would be to excavate because of the distribution of these anomalies. It would involve e excavating the entire square. Um where our recommendation would be not to do that because we would like to respect uh the remains. I even if some of those are burial shafts, we think it's highly likely that some of those are definitely burials as well. um with the um the nature of what those burial grounds were for enslaved people and free people of color, it's likely that from the very beginning um some of those were unmarked graves or were marked with um wood markers which would deteriorate over time. So even um if um the city marshall as directed did do removals um graves likely were missed because of the unmarked nature of that burial ground. Um, I did want to circle back um to Alderwoman Laneir's comment about did the city marshall not do what he was instructed and paid to do. And just as a um a note, this burial ground was closed by city council in 1844 and there was a second burial ground and they used the same name for them. So, which is what brought some confusion about what where remains were removed in 1855 and led me to really want to continue the research and bring in Lamar to make sure um what was going on in this burial ground and and try to clear up some of that confusion and bring in the science to supplement the historical

records that we had. Um, happy to answer any more questions about Omar woman. So, were you the one that instrumented all of this that said we need to look at this? Yeah, I had questions and I did not feel that we could put up a historical marker without trying to tie up some of those loose ends. Oh, I appreciate that. I thank you so much. Um, and with you doing that, I would like to suggest that maybe we should do that at all of our squares, all of the places that were considered burial grounds, not just for enslaved people, but for people uh within our city.

We are moving forward to do um Taylor Square. We do know from the historical records that the strangers burial ground was adjacent to the south of Taylor Square. Um we don't think it over overlapped what became Taylor Square um but because of the proximity of that um our park and tree director which oversees both cemeteries and the squares um uh requested that we address uh do a similar survey in Taylor Square so future work in Taylor Square could be informed if any there was any overlap. Um we we don't at this time um have not don't have any indication that there are um were burial grounds adjacent to any other squares, but we do know that there was a burial ground adjacent just to the south of Taylor Square. So that is on um we are seeking to do that.

Thank you. And I'll add that the full report from the Lamar Institute is has been published by the city. It's um online and available um for anyone to read. It's also council members in your inbox um from last Thursday um and is a very very helpful um and illustrative um report. Thank you. Let's give a round of applause for Hungry for History. M I have another one last question, please. Did President Street come up? President Street. That's a part of the local folklore about streetville. Yes. Say that again. Le Pageville.

Oh, the Le Pageville cemetery. No. And Le Pageville actually was at the time Leageville was active. It was outside of the city's limits. So, I've been in contact with Miss West and um Miss Jenkins a lot about Le Pageville, but be uh our records in the city reflect the city's limits at the time. So, we don't have records related to Le Pageville. All right. Did we get a motion in a second? I think we did question question. But I have one more question. Mayor, well, I already had a motion. All right. All right. Aldwoman,

just just really quick. Uh, Luchana, thank you for everything you do. We want to dispel another uh rumor that Fieldhouse number 15 that started in Savannah, right? And people say that Sherman gave Atlanta, burnt Atlanta and saved uh Savannah. And we wanted the truth to be told that Savannah was saved by 20 Negro leaders, most of them ministers. And that is the truth. We knew that if you were on Upwardbound, Ella Fisher, who ran the we went through

Meldrum, all those things. And we've been knowing that there have been bodies under there for a long time. Thank God for Upwardbound and Ella Fishiser. And we knew as students at Savannah State that there have always been bodies, not only in that location, but specifically that location. And we want to put notice that that Savannah was saved by 20 Negroes. Most of them ministers. We they our descendants saved Savannah from burning. Tell that story too because that's true. Yeah. One of them happened. They had a they had a they had a a relationship with civil um the army and they took care of him because they took care of them. They took care of us. Ladies, I'm going to call y'all back on task. Uh all the

No, no, no. One more. I wanted to say that agree with her. All right, understand Luchana. I'm just trying to bring us back to and I'm coming back that I said this to say this. Most of the times when we have boards, we ask people to give resumes. This is the specific time where she should have a job description of the people who going to be on this, right? We don't want people because they're black or they're white to say their bodies. We want people who actually have the afferments, the tools to make this what it is, an outstanding event and a legacy for us. And there Pat Gun is one of them. And so we want to make sure

whoever it is, we want to make sure that they have the the acrements and the tools to assist you in doing this. And they're not just there because we say there's some black bodies or dead bodies or anybody's bodies out there. We want to make sure that that the people who are on this committee know what they're talking about. Please and thank you. Well, I hope that each I hope each council member will just use their own conscience in determining who they go appointment. Old woman.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just want to make a comment in reference to uh what we're talking about here when uh the ancestors African ancestors um who lived and and died here. It's been such a a a silence of wanting to tell the truth of the matter about where our ancestors lived and where they died and where they were buried. Um I too along with my husband um in reference to Savannah State and and other places that we're talking about and a lot of us on council we've been you know involved with this work. I just wanted to make my comments that I would like to commend uh our mayor. Uh I would like to commend our city manager and Luchina. I just um you are such a jewel uh for the city of Savannah where you don't uh let your feet your your feet off of the the gas pedal until you you dig down and get the truth of the matter. So with this particular situation, I want to thank you so much because our story has always been a silent story. So when when our tourists now come to Savannah, they can see like we say all of Savannah. All of the stories of all of Savannah. That's all I have to say, Mr. Mayor. Thank you.

Thank you. Uh very briefly, ma'am. Um, Luchana, uh, about two years ago when they did the reconstruction of Broton Street, it was brought to our attention, uh, from some of the workers, myself along with, um, uh, Pat Gun that there were bodies under the ground when they were doing the digging. Um, we went to Heath Lloyd with that information and I never found out what came from it. So if possible, could you please um research that as well? I would appreciate it. And also um Alder Alderwoman Wilder Brian mentioned uh those men. I just want to put this in the record. One of those men were Garrison Frasier who is my ancestor. Okay. And he's the one that coined the phrase give us 40 acres in a mule from my understand. Thank you.

Thank you. Let me just lift up u I I'm familiar with some of the excavation on Broton Street. Um there were I know there were at least two. I remember one cuz I was there and it was confirmed to be a dog. Um the bones that were found um almost near at Broton Street at Bull Street. I know that was one of them. I don't remember what the other one was, but can we get a motion on this one? Yes, sir. We already have. We got a motion. I'll proply moved and second. All in favor of negate by saying I opposed. Motion passes. Now,

I want to appoint another committee because the coolest part about this um and the strangest part about this at the same time was that at some point in Savannah's history, a meteorite hit the city of Savannah and hit Whfield Square. Uh and there's evidence of a meteor. Um, I want to figure out a committee to help us figure that out because we believe Luchana, it was before even the founding of Savannah, but that there was evidence there and a physicist told us that that a meteorite hit our city. So, that's a that's a black history fact for y'all. All right, going down to items uh number 33 through 36. We can take them all together, Mr. Mayor.

Uh any pulloffs? No, sir. All right. Item number 30

Item number 33 is approval of a water sewer agreement with Dr. Horton for the Pines of New Hamstead phase 5 and automatic district 5. Item number 34, approve of a water and sewer agreement with Dr. Horton for the Pines of New Hamstead phase 6 and automatic district 5. Item number 35, approval of a water sewing agreement for sew khaban matel for MDH Bente commercial subdivision and automatic district 1. Uh and item number 36, authorize city manager execute a into a memorandum of agreement between the city of Savannah and the Metropolitan Planning Commission for pictometry imagery services in the amount of $37,710 for a combined total of $226,260 uh for the years 2026 to 2031. Is there a motion been properly Is there properly moved and seconded? All in favor by saying I

I opposed. Motion passes. Item number 37 uh is settlement number one. Yes, Mr. Mayor. I'd like to move to authorize the city attorney's office to settle the claim of MR for $45,000. Second. Second. A motion to authorize the city attorney's office to settle a claim of Mina Kickshi Raw for $45,000. All in favor by saying I. I. I. opposed. Motion passes. Ladies and gentlemen, that ends our printed agenda. How long we stay from here? 5 minutes. Depends on you. I got I got stuff to do. No, it depends on you. So, I don't know where. Start where?

Start on this end. You start on that. Alderwoman Bell. Um, Mr. Mayor, is I'd like to ask a question of the audience. Is Dr. Sharon Stokes Williamson in the audience? She's right there. Would you stand please? She's visiting our council today. She is a candidate for Georgia. Uh ah district one. Um and she's just come to visit council to say hello. Thanks Dr. Williams. Good to see you. All right.

Okay. Um I just want to say congratulations to my son and the best daughter-in-law in the whole wide world. Uh, we talk about Whitfield Square. They got married on Whitfield Square this Saturday. So, I'm so proud I've now gained another daughter. And, um, I'm just happy for them. And congratulations to them. When y'all see them, tell them congratulations. Congratulations. More grandb babies. We hope. All right. All right. Thank you very much.

All right, Mr. Mayor. Um, one person I forgot about and I wish I wouldn't have last time. Uh, two families I want to lift up. One is Miriam Fulton, uh, the Windsor Forest Garden Club, um, just a shining star in in the Windsor Forest Garden Club in the sixth district. And Dr. Pat, as most of us knew her, or Dr. uh, Patrice Stewart of Asbury and also a community leader within our community. Uh, both lift their families up. Um, and as you would say, may their memory be a blessing. Thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to serve. Have a great day. Thank you, Alz.

Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make an announcement on Saturday, this coming Saturday uh at the uh West Street YMCA at 1110 Main Street, uh Life Skills Incorporated for the Empowerment Center, uh 52 Hearts Violence Reduction Program and Recognition uh ceremony will be held. We're gonna have our police chief who's going to be um speaking there. Alderwoman Wilder Bryant. She's going to be one of our motivational speakers and I will be the keynote speaker there. We are inviting everyone to come out um to to commend uh some of the those who are going to be um recognized at this program for end gun violence. and we will be talking about that subject matter in detail on Saturday uh February the 28th 2026 from 4 o'clock to 6:00 p.m. Thank you Mr. Mayor.

Thank you all Wilder Bryant. Mayor I wanted to thank Mr. Pvette and Mr. Flowers and assistant city manager and manager for putting a funeral symposium together this week. We had an opportunity to hear some complaints and it was a very good music and I'm going to end just like I thought. Let's go. Thank you, Alderman Le. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, we want to definitely lift up the life of Dylan Sam. His funeral will be this week. Dylan. Dylan. Dylan who do all the toys with the league. LeBron.

Yeah. So, his funeral is going to be this week. And also we want to lift up the uh mother of uh Tony Senn was this week also. So uh and also uh second district had an opportunity to honor Bill Dur today, another second district uh member and we put him inside the Otis Johnson Center and um he has an art gallery that that is being erected. So make sure you go by the Otis Johnson Center and see the Bill Durren what what he call that collection. Thank you Alderwoman Lair.

Yes. I'd like to send out condolences to Mr. Steven Johnson and family and the loss of his daughter. She's the granddaughter of Miss Theodosa Johnston. Used to be with the EOA for many years. Very beautiful young lady, cickle cell um victim. And also uh this Saturday there will be the festival at the Children's Museum and my grandbaby is so excited about that. And on February 28th, which is Saturday, there's a stop the violence rally on Hudson Hill Park from 11 to 4. Last thing, next Saturday, March 7th, the Weeping Time Festival will be at the uh Waterworks Plaza um from noon until 4. Lots of good things going on in our city. Thank you.

Thank you. Uh I want to lift up um the family of Dr. Linda Davis. Um we were heartbroken uh to hear um that on a day that was set aside for wellness of our educators. Uh Dr. Davis was heading to work um and was hit by someone that was um eluding or running from uh DHS agents. It did not happen in the city of Savannah, but uh she was beloved in our community. She was beloved by uh Hes K8 where she was adored. Uh so we lift up her wife Consuela and her family um that I've known for years. Um and funeral arrangements I believe will be on next Saturday. Um and this and so we lift up that community. Um the entire community. Um also we already mentioned Miriam Center. There will be no one else like her. Um and she um she rolled the 99

um and until the very end she was Miriam Center. So we lift up her family uh uh Tony and Scott and the rest of that family as well. We also lift up Chef Joe Randall who um made life a lot sweeter here in this city um and was certainly a legend. he is enshrined and I saw it in the National African-American Museum in Washington DC. Uh and so um his services will be on this Saturday I believe at 11 o'clock in St. Paul. So just lifting up all those lifting up his wife Barbara and his his children as well.

One more one other thing. Yes. Um, I'd like to thank acknowledge and thank the interdenomination ministerial alliance for conducting leading and conducting a communitywide prayer vigil in honor of Dr. Davis and our own mayor promis participated in that uh prayer vigil. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I ain't going to be long, I promise. Um, y'all don't forget Tina Turner review tonight at the Civic Center. If you can go, please by all means support that initiative. Thank you.

Mr. Mayor, just one other thing. Wanted to lift up my cousin's family, Lisa Jones. We lost a good one. Dval Jones. He was a wolf master. Everybody know him sitting in that corner over there. Uh, rest in peace, Dval. We love you. Danny and Lisa. Oh, Eloise Dela. Yes. A voice for the ages. United House of Prayer. United House of Prayer. All people. Gospel. Gospel singer. Anybody else? Uh, Mr. Clerk, do you have anything?

Mr. Attorney, you have anything? Mr. Manager, you have anything? Miss Chief of Staff, do you have anything? We stand a journ. God bless. Thank you. Be Savannah Strong. Glory. Glory. Glory. Mark. Mark.