City Council - Regular Meeting

In the midst of pain, sorrow falling down like rain, I await the sun again. I choose love. I choose love. Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be. With God as our Father, we are family. Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony. Let this be your moment now. With every step I take, may this be my song. To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally. Let there be peace on earth. And let it begin with me. And let it begin with me.

Amen.

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, o'er As we watched, were so gallantly streaming. And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

Ladies and gentlemen, the American Choir for World Peace. Let's give them a big round of applause. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for starting off our unique meeting in a very, very unique way. We'll see you in two weeks. We'll do it all over again. Let's give them another round of applause. You may be seated for a moment. Mr. Clerk, if you would please call the roll.

Yes sir, Mr. Mayor, Mayor Van Johnson. Present. Mayor Pro Tem and District 5 Alderwoman Dr. Estella Edwards-Shabazz.

Present.

Chairman and District 4 Alderman Nick Palumbo. Present. Vice Chair and District 3 Alderwoman Linda Wilder.

Ready, let's go.

Post 1 Alderwoman Carolyn H Bell is attending. THE WOMEN IN GOVERNMENT, NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, YES. OPPOSED 2, ALDERWOMAN ALICIA MILLER-BLAKELY.

PRESENT.

DISTRICT 1, ALDERWOMAN BERNETTA B. LEANIER. PRESENT. DISTRICT 2, ALDERMAN DETRICK LEGGETT.

HERE.

AND DISTRICT 6, ALDERMAN CURTIS PERTIE. PRESENT. MR. MAYOR, YOU HAVE A QUORUM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I call this meeting of the Savannah City Council to order. Today is June the 25th, 2026. The time is 212 p.m. We want to thank all of you for being with us today in the greatest city on earth, in the greatest country on earth. We are so glad that you're here, not only in our packed council chambers, but also throughout our digital platforms. We say and we believe that Savannah will be a safe, environmentally healthy, and economically thriving community for all. And for us, all means all. Would you please stand as we have the color guard to come in. WE WOULD NOW HAVE OUR INVOCATOR FOR THE DAY TO BE INTRODUCED BY ALL THE WOMEN AT LARGE DISTRICT POST TWO, ALICIA MILLER-BLAKELEY.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. PASTOR ROCHE, COULD YOU PLEASE GET TO THE MIC? TO THE PODIUM RIGHT THERE. Thank you. Kenneth M. Roche is founder and lead pastor of Branded Hearts Church in Savannah, Georgia. His approach to teaching the word of God draws listeners in for a life changing experience that prepares them to pursue the purpose of God for their lives. Kenneth is also an accomplished author, musician, and actor. Mr. Roche worked for the U.S. Census Bureau until the end of 2020 Census. He worked as an educator in both DeKalb and Chatham County schools. Kenneth received his BA in Mass Communications from the Savannah State University in 1990. He completed his teacher certification at the University of West Georgia, and he graduated from World Changer School of Ministry with a certificate in Ministry and Counseling. Mr. Roche is currently a member of the Savannah Alliance of Pastors and he serves as a chaplain for our Savannah Police Department. I present to some and introduce to others Pastor Kenneth M. Roche. Kenneth M. Thank you.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Good afternoon. Kenneth M. Would you bow your heads and join me in prayer, please? Loving and gracious God, we just give you honor and praise for this day that you've made. We come before you with deep gratitude for the privilege of service and the freedom to gather together. We thank you for this community and for the citizens who entrust us with the responsibility of guiding our city. We pray your blessing upon our mayor, our city manager, city council, all staff, and over all of the citizens of this city. As this meeting begins, we ask that you grant this council wisdom, discernment, and clarity of thought. Help us to listen attentively to one another, to respect differing perspectives, and to work together in harmony for the greater good of all the people. Keep the focus on the true needs of the people. We ask that you guide the words spoken and the actions in this room. And may the decisions we make this afternoon promote justice, peace, and prosperity for all who call Savannah home. We ask your blessing again, and it's in your many names we pray. 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. Ms. Huxley-Scott.

God bless America Land that I love Stand beside her And guide her Through this night With your light From the mountains to the prairies To the oceans white with foam America my home sweet home God bless America it's my home the oceans white with foam. It is my prayer today. God bless America. My home Oh God, shower down your blessings on America. It is my home, sweet home. God bless my home. We hold these truths to be self-evident in America, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life. There was one who said, I've come to give you life and life more abundantly. That among these are life and liberty. Whom the Son set free is free indeed. That among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Oh, happy is the nation whose God is the Lord. Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord. I pledge my allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, indivisible in love, indivisible in peace, indivisible in hope, indivisible in righteousness. Your people, we humble ourselves and pray. We ask you to bless this land. God bless America from sea to shining sea. God help America. Oh. We need a revival of joy, love, and togetherness in America. Because it's my home, and I love it. Sweet home. Bless my home

Retire the colors. No, not yet. Come over here. Round of applause for the color guard of the Savannah Police, Savannah Fire. And I think if I'm already gonna get in trouble, you can be seated please. We're gonna ask Huxley's family to come up. And friends. And mama. To come and join.

They're upstairs?

They're somewhere in the building. Ladies and gentlemen, we love Huxley Scott. And she would have told me as we kind of locate everybody. Yeah, come on. Come on. Come on. And because we love a good surprise, we also believe in giving honor where honor is due. From the Mayor's Office, City of Savannah. whereas Huxley Scott is a native daughter of Savannah, Georgia, widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and beloved jazz and blues vocalists ever to grace the stages of Savannah and coastal Georgia, and whereas her extraordinary musical career spans more than five decades, during which she has shared her remarkable talent, passion, and artistry with artists throughout the region and beyond, helping to define and elevate Savannah's rich musical heritage, In addition to her distinguished career in music, Huxley Scott faithfully served the young people of this community as an educator with the Savannah Chatham County Public School System for 22 years, exemplifying a lifelong commitment to service, education, and advancement of others. And whereas a proud graduate of the Savannah State College, now Savannah State University, She began her professional musical career as a jazz vocalist in 1973 and quickly earned recognition for exceptional talent.

Wouldn't you agree?

In 1976, she was selected as Miss Champagne Music in a competition co-sponsored by WTOC an honor to provide her the opportunity to perform with the legendary Lawrence Welk and his orchestra. And whereas throughout her career, Huxley Scott has performed with many of Savannah's premier jazz ensembles and symphony orchestras and has shared the stage with internationally renowned artists, including serving as a featured opening performer for jazz icons Lionel Hampton and McCoy Tyler. And whereas she holds a unique place in Savannah's musical history, as the first vocalist for the Telfair Jazz Society, later known as the Coastal Jazz Society, founded by local jazz pioneers Ben Tucker and Teddy Adams, and later became the first vocalist of the Savannah Jazz Orchestra during the 1980s. And whereas her many accomplishments include earning the bronze medal in the 2004 American Traditions Competition, induction into the Coastal Jazz Hall of Fame, and the Savannah Tribune Gospel Hall of Fame, and recognition by both the King Tisdale College Foundation and the Savannah Black Heritage Festival for our outstanding contributions to entertainment and culture. And whereas through her voice artistry, mentorship, and unwavering dedication to preserving and advancing the tradition of jazz, blues, and gospel music, Huxley Scott has served as a cultural treasure and an enduring ambassador for the city of Savannah. Huxley Scott III Yes. designated Dr. Teddy Adams as Savannah's official jazz ambassador. But now I take the opportunity as the mayor of Savannah to proclaim Huxley Scott, official Savannah music ambassador. And extend our deepest appreciation for extraordinary contributions to the cultural, educational, and artistic life of our community. We celebrate you, we honor you, and we know you matter to us and we don't care.

Go, Hoxie!

If you don't hear her say something, we're going to make you sing again.

I can't say anything, but thank you. I appreciate you for doing my work, but my life has been a work of heart. I enjoy singing. I enjoy the play that I get back from the audiences, and I thank you for just appreciating me.

And yes, ma'am, you can sit down. And Huxley's 90-year-old mom is over here looking all cute in her purple. She didn't get the red, white, and blue memo, but you're looking good. And daughters and family, all y'all wave your hands, and we're so glad that you're here. Thank you all. Thank you. Thank you. Let's move through the agenda.

Mr. Mayor?

Yes.

For our the 3rd item on our agenda, I would like to make a motion for the adoption of the regular agenda meeting for June the 25th 2026 2nd.

We adopt the Council agenda for whatever date it was you said June the 25th 20 yes, Sir, all right all the things you by saying aye. Motion passes.

Mister mayor like to make a motion for the approval of the minutes. for the work session and city manager's briefing held on June the 11th, 2026 at 11 o'clock a.m. and for the approval of the minutes for the regular meeting held on June the 11th, 2026 at two o'clock p.m. Second. Second.

I move and second that we approve the minutes of the work session, city manager's briefing held on June the 11th, 2026 at 11 a.m. and approval of the minutes for the regular meeting held on June the 11th, 2026 At 2 p.m., you've heard the motion. All in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion passes. We are now pleased to proclaim to have our members of our 250th Celebration Committee up. Alderman Palumbo, would you join us up here as well? Anybody else here from the committee?

Come on, for the entire thing. Come on, let's do it. Let's do it.

Whereas on July the 4th, 2026, the United States of America marks the semi-quincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the founding foundation. And whereas our founders established a nation based on the enduring principles of liberty, equality, unalienable rights, and the pursuit of happiness guided by a vision that has inspired generations and fueled America's legacy of freedom, resilience, and democratic progress. And whereas local communities and grassroots citizens have historically played a foundational role in the great American story, contributing to the defense of liberty, civic values, and driving the innovation that has shaped our communities. And whereas Savannah has served the deceit of Georgia's revolutionary movement from the raising of the Liberty Pole by the Sons of Liberty in 1775 through the siege of Savannah in 1779, where Americans were supported by our allies until the evacuation of the British in 1782, clearing the way for the establishment of our local governments. And whereas as our nation embarks on its next chapters, this milestone celebrates celebration serves as a powerful reminder of our shared history, a time to honor the sacrifices made by countless individuals, and a call to action to build a brighter future for generations to come. Now, therefore, I, Van R. Johnson II, Mayor of the City of Savannah, do hereby proclaim July the 4th, 2026, is America's 250th anniversary day in the City of Savannah, and call on all residents to reflect on the gratitude of the blessings of liberty and to participate in community events and acts of civil engagement as we rededicate ourselves to the ideals of our founding. Augment Palumbo.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. It is such an incredible honor to serve as your chair of the Savannah 250 Committee. What an outstanding presentation and kickoff. Let's give it up for the mayor for helping us organize this. Ms. Huxley-Scott, that was incredible. And I want to take you back. I want to take you back to the same ground that we were standing on in 1775, because a full year before the Declaration of Independence, the Sons of Liberty raised the Liberty Pole right here in Savannah, a bare mass driven into the ground and a dare to an empire that we could be different. We were a colony on the edge of that empire, full of people that could have kept their heads down, could have stayed loyal, could have stayed safe, but dared to be different. And while they chose that different path, gathered under that pole and later in our squares, they listened to the most profound dare that they could make to that empire, that all men are created equal. that a government answers to its people or it answers for itself. And from that poll in 1775 to the day the British finally evacuated in 1782, the city was the beating heart of George's Revolution, and that's our story. So this year, as a part of the committee, we're launching a year-long celebration to tell our story loud. We are taking and reclaiming copper from the original cupola of this very building, City Hall, and forging it into a time capsule that will lie here in the Rotunda for generations. That's the city giving back to the city with our hopes, dreams sealed inside, ready for the next generation to open them. We're partnering with the Learning Center and Senior Citizens Inc. to walk Savannah through its own revolution, the real people, the real corners of our own history that we pass by every single day that deserve to be celebrated. And on August 10th, we all invite you. We're going back to Johnson Square to reread the Declaration of Independence out loud the way that Savannah heard it in 1776. and we will consecrate that ground all over again. And all are invited. Bring your family. None of this happens without Luciana Spraker and our municipal archives and our team. Can we give it up for the team? And she can't be here this afternoon. She's with her father, who's receiving a lifetime achievement award for a career in military intelligence. I've been sworn to secrecy, and now I've broken it. But here's the thing that I keep coming back to. We know that freedom isn't inherited. It is kept, and it has to be fought for. And the same care that we give to these story chambers to invest in what we love and protect what's worth protecting That's a care a free people owe to their liberty for this generation and the next. So thank you all for the opportunity for this wonderful celebration. To everyone on the committee, could you please rise that's been a part of this and be recognized? Everybody that's on the committee and been part of this celebration, please come on up. Can we give them a round of applause? And I thank you all for the work that's already behind us, and thank you for all of the work ahead. If you could take a moment, maybe you come by and introduce yourselves. Come on down to the dais in the microphone here. Tell us who you are, your name, who you're representing. There we go, we got a mobile mic.

Nora Lee with Coastal Heritage Society.

Roger Smith, Director of the Learning Center of Senior Citizens.

I'm vice president of the sons of the revolution.

I'm the chairman of the 250th commission and the president of the sons of the revolution.

I'm Julie Musselman. I'm the director of Savannah's waterfront.

I'm the Secondary Social Studies Specialist for Savannah Public School System. Yay!

I'm Kara Kelsey, Education Chair for the Savannah 250 Commission and also Savannah Chatham County Public School System Massey Heritage Center.

I wasn't prepared to say anything, but I do want to thank the city. Y'all have gone above and beyond. You've been gracious in your support. and in your time and your understanding. And we want to thank all of y'all for what you've done. We're just now getting started. We've got the rest of the year. There will be events every single month, starting with 4th of July. at this Colonial Cemetery, somewhere but in Winneton's Colonial Cemetery, we don't know where, but we will have a ceremony for him. Then at noon, listen for the church bells, because for 15 minutes, there will be a chiming in downtown Savannah. Next month, on August the 10th, we will be reading the Declaration of Independence. There will be something that will happen in September, and then of course in October, we'll be doing the Siege of Savannah, and there will be more to come. Thank you.

And don't y'all go too far, because we have something else really cool. But thank you all so much. And Alderman Palumbo, thank you for leading this work on my behalf. Thank you very much. We do have a... And I don't know if Tracy Stan is here. Tracy, Johnny, are they here?

Oh, come on up.

So everyone knows Panhandle Slim. If you don't know him, you have seen his work. And he has, we've commissioned from him two paintings that will reside in City Hall in commemoration of America's 250th. So these are new that he did just for us. If you know him, you know he wouldn't be here even if he could be here. He doesn't like this kind of stuff and he did have a real something to do. So we have his wife here, Tracy, and his son, Johnny. And so I wanted to give you a chance to say hello, and then we're going to unveil these two America 250 offerings. Thank you.

I just wanted to say, As you probably know Scott Panhandle Slim, Scott really loves Savannah and he's always humbled and honored when anything like this happens. Embarrassed too, but humbled and honored and so happy to be a part of Savannah's rich artistic history, creative history.

All right, so are we all unveiling? Are we all unveiling?

We have to figure out a way to turn them around so everybody can see them. Maybe you can hold them up and walk them around so everybody can see them. They're really light. They're really light. So you can probably just lift them up. Hold them in the leg with your help. There you go. So let me read them. Turn it around, please. Let me see that right there. Ma'am, let me see it so I can read it. Right here. There we go. This is a strong nation, like a strong person can afford to be gentle, firm, thoughtful and restrained. It can afford to extend a helping hand to others. It's a weak nation like a weak person that must behave with bluster and boasting with rashness and other signs of insecurity. And that was from President Jimmy Carter. The second one is from our former First Lady Michelle Obama, treat people with dignity and respect. Period and pull. And we will have these on display in City Hall, but since he couldn't be here, Ms. Tracy and Mr. Johnny, I'm getting ready to do it again. Whereas the city of Savannah has long been recognized as a community that celebrates creativity, culture, and artistic expression as essential elements of its identity and quality of life. And whereas Scott Stanton, widely known as Panhandle Slim, has become one of Savannah's most recognizable and influential voices, enriching our city through his distinctive folk art, public installations, and unwavering commitment to creative expression. And whereas born in Maryland, and raised in Pensacola, Florida, Mr. Stanton has made Savannah his artistic home, using his talent to create vibrant, colorful works that blend iconic public figures with powerful and memorable quotations that inspire reflection, conversation, and hope. And whereas his unique artistic style is instantly recognizable throughout Savannah, appearing on storefronts, fences, buildings, public spaces, and community gathering spaces, making art accessible to residents and visitors alike whereas through his work mr stan has celebrated the words and legacies of cultural political and social icons including dolly parton dr martin luther king jr ruth beta ginsburg prince malcolm x and many others whose messages continue to shape our world and whereas his commitment to making art available to all people whether through public displays, community projects, gifts, or informal exhibitions has helped democratize art and strengthen Savannah's reputation as a city where creativity thrives in every neighborhood. And whereas beyond artistic expression, Panhandle Slim has used his platform to encourage civil engagement, social awareness, and community dialogue, demonstrating the power of art to educate, challenge, unite, and inspire. Whereas, through his authenticity, activism, generosity, and artistic vision, Scott Stanton has become an ambassador not only for the arts, but also for the spirit of Savannah itself. Now, thereof, I, Van R. Johnson II, Mayor of the City of Savannah, do hereby proclaim Scott Stanton Panhandle Slim Official Art Ambassador for the City of Savannah and encourage all of our citizens to recognize and celebrate his extraordinary contributions to the cultural fabric of our city, his dedication to make an art accessible to all, and his enduring impact on Savannah's creative identity. He would hate this, you know he would. right he's in the panhandle so thank you so much and we appreciate this and you have these on display here until he comes and gets if not we're going to hold them we'll hold them hostage thank you so much yeah tracy and johnny We are also very excited to, as the jewel of our community, the Savannah Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, to come up. We want to recognize them in honor of their 85th anniversary, President Makia Davis and the outstanding women of Delta Sigma Theta.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon. Mayor Johnson, city council, and a special shout out to our soror, Linda Wilder Bryant, and city of Savannah. I am Makia Davis, the president of the Savannah Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated. And on behalf of our members, it is my distinct honor and privilege to accept this proclamation commemorating our 85th charter anniversary. We are deeply grateful to the city of Savannah for this recognition and for celebrating the legacy of sisterhood, service, scholarship, and social action that has defined our chapter since its chartering in 1941. For 85 years, the Savannah Alumni Chapter has remained committed to uplifting our community through youth development initiatives, economic empowerment efforts, health awareness activities, and advocacy that addresses the needs of those we serve. As the pearl of the hostess city, we are proud of our rich history and the generations of women whose vision, leadership, and dedication have strengthened both our chapter and the Savannah community. This proclamation is not only a celebration of our past accomplishments, but also a reminder of our responsibility to continue the work ahead. Thank you to our elected officials for this recognition, to our community partners for their collaboration, and to every member, past and present, whose service has contributed to our enduring legacy. We humbly accept this proclamation and reaffirm our commitment to serving Savannah with excellence, purpose, and unwavering dedication. Thank you.

thank you so much we know um when you become a woman of delta sigma theta it is a lifetime commitment uh it will own your life and your pocketbook and your service hours and your free time uh and so what you see represented is just a smidgen of how many members you have three 360. 360 women in our community that serve, serve hard, and serve well. And so we want to congratulate you for being the daughters of the 85, the women of 85 years ago who saw fit to put stakes in the ground here in this community. And we thank you for continuing their legacy of service. We have everyone introduce themselves and We'll start with our immediate past president.

Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Elaine Chavis Campbell, a native of Savannah, and I am the immediate past president of the Savannah Alumni Chapter.

Thank you. You, the mayor, you can pull it down.

Good afternoon. I'm Carolyn Williams Price, and I am the 32nd past president of this beautiful sorority. Yes.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, everyone. I am Laura N. Wiggins.

I am the 34th president of Savannah Alumni Chapter. Thank you for having us.

Thank you. Good afternoon. I'm Stacey Coppock. I'm the current correspondent secretary of our chapter.

Good afternoon. I'm a member of Team Savannah, but I am a member of the National Program Planning and Development Committee Economic Development.

Good afternoon. My name is Patricia Patterson, and I'm a member of this illustrious organization.

Good afternoon. I'm Annette Thomas. I'm a member of the Social Action Committee and also the Economic Development Committee.

Good afternoon. I'm Kwanzaa Oliver, and this is my 30th year active in financial with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated.

Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Kamaria Shaw. I'm a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Yes.

Good afternoon. I'm LaVitra Singleton. Thank you.

Thank you. We have one other one. We have another one.

Linda Wilde O' Yes, you do. Linda Wilde O'Brien, 46 years strong. Linda Wilde O' Thank you again so much.

We recognize the work of our city, making our city better is not done by government at all. We know people that give up their time and their effort and their energies. And everywhere, whenever the city needs Delta Sigma Theta, you all show up. y'all show out and so i want to thank you all uh we want to take the opportunity just to thank you publicly for the work that you do uh thank you for uh being in the ring with us um last friday i know it wasn't all that dry but it was it was sure wet um but we appreciate you all and and continue to serve and if we can ever be service to you we're here for you thank you thank you thank you

would now have a presentation by the office of human resources for year of service recognition good afternoon mayor and council jeffrey grant senior director of human resources and i thought it was fitting that we're celebrating 250 year milestone of our great country. But I think it's even more fitting that we're celebrating the milestones of some great public servants at the city of Savannah. We always say that great public service starts with great public servants. And we also know that great communities don't just happen.

That's right.

It's the great people that put their work forward. So we are very excited this morning because we're going to be acknowledging our team members at Team Savannah who have over 30 years at the city of Savannah. And let me say this, one more thing before I step out of the way so we can honor these individuals. Over 530 years of service you are about to hear right now. Two times our country. So without further ado, Mr. City Manager, do you have any words before we get started? All right, we're going to rock and roll. All right, from Management Services. We have Stephanie Mitchell who is from the risk management department. She's a risk management technician, 30 years. From Savannah Fire Department, William A. Handy, Savannah Fire Rescue, Deputy Fire Chief, 30 years. 30 years.

Oh, man.

30 years.

Handy always is.

All right, from Community Services, I have two individuals, but Michelle Hayward, Recreation Leisure Services. She's a recreation leader, 30 years, 30 years. 30 Years Recreation and Leisure Services, Ms. Deborah Bacon.

Congratulations, Deborah Joyner.

All right, planning and economic development, 30 years. Administrative clerk, Stacy Clifton from Parking. Stacy Clifton. Alright, I'm saying the years first for a reason. So, 40 years. Administrative Assistant from Transportation Street Maintenance Division, Lori McCain.

From government operations, 30 years as a forestry inspector,

Park and Tree, Urban Forestry Division, Jimmy Davis. 30 years heavy equipment operator with sanitation, George McCray. All right, we're climbing the ladder here. 35 years Refuse Truck Operator Sanitation, Darren Crumley.

Darren! Oh.

45 years sanitation, Bobby Washington.

Bobby!

All right, service center, water resources, 30 years, heavy equipment operator, IND plant, Sean Bolden.

All right, I'm gonna take a deep breath. 50 years.

Water and sewer manager. IND Plant, Willie Weil. I'd also like to get everybody's attention real quick. Willie's been with us for 50 years, but his family is here as well, too. So we want them to come up also.

Awesome. 50 years. You been here longer than some people been born. All right, let's do this again.

Let us give all of our honorees a big round of applause. EVERY YEAR I ATTEND AN EMPLOYEE SERVICE AWARDS DINNER, AND I TOLD THE CITY MANAGER, WE WERE DISCUSSING IT, AND I SAID, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU'VE REACHED 30 YEARS, THEY NEED TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL. COUNCIL NEEDS TO SEE NOT ONLY THE EXPERTISE, BUT ALSO THE LONGEVITY. WHEN YOU WORK FOR SOMEBODY FOR 50 YEARS, When you've given 35 years or 30 years of your life to this organization, the leaders of the organization need to know who you are. So I hope that you don't mind that we took the time and we will continue to take the time to praise our own pond. And when people stick with you, AGAIN, THIS IS A BIG FEAT. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, MR. CITY MANAGER. THANK YOU, JEFF GRANT, FOR ALLOWING US TO SEE THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE STUCK WITH US. SO LET'S GO AHEAD. LET'S GET INTO IT. Let's go ahead and make our airport friends happy.

Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor.

We'll go to airport commission items 30 through 39.

If there are no pullouts, Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion for the approval of items number 30 through 39. Second. Second.

We probably moved and seconded. Did we approve items number 30 to 39? Excuse me, Mr. Mayor.

Excuse me, Mr. Mayor. Can we do from items number 30- 34. THROUGH 34, AND THEN 36. THROUGH 36. THROUGH 36.

THROUGH 39. THROUGH 39. THROUGH 39. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. PROBABLY MOVING TO SECOND PROBABLY MOVING TO SECOND PROBABLY MOVING TO SECOND THAT WE APPROVE ITEMS NUMBER 30. THAT WE APPROVE ITEMS NUMBER 30. THAT WE APPROVE ITEMS NUMBER 30. THERE'S AN APPROVAL OF A THERE'S AN APPROVAL OF A THERE'S AN APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT WITH C.W. MATTHEWS CONTRACTING CONTRACT WITH C.W. MATTHEWS CONTRACTING CONTRACT WITH C.W. MATTHEWS CONTRACTING COMPANY FOR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY FOR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY FOR CONSTRUCTION AND TAXI F RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $28,256,704. AIM NUMBER 31 IS APPROVAL TO FUND AN ADDITIONAL YEAR OF THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH CAROL HALLADAY AND ASSOCIATES IN THE AMOUNT OF $96,000. AIM NUMBER 32 IS THE APPROVAL TO RENEW THE IN-MARKET ARENA SCHOLARSHIP AND MARKETING AGREEMENT WITH OVG FACILITIES AND ZOIA SPORTS IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE MILLION TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS I AM NUMBER 33 APPROVE OF THE COMMISSION'S AGREEMENT SHARE FOR CITY WORKS LICENSE RENEWAL WITH AS ZECTER SYSTEMS LLC THE AMOUNT OF FIFTY SEVEN THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS I AM NUMBER 34 APPROVAL TO PROCURE ALL-IN-ONE AIRPORT MANAGEMENT SOLUTION from VOC, incorporating an amount of $496,217, item number 36, approval to procure three midsize sport utility vehicles from Sierra, Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, in the amount of $128,160, item number 37, approval of change order number one with boundaries, maintenance, and restoration, in the amount of $97,364, I'M NUMBER 38 APPROVAL TO EXECUTE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE THE TASK ORDER NUMBER 23 FOR MED AND HUNT FOR CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH NORTH ECONOMY AND LONG-TERM HOURLY PARKING GARAGE RESTORATION PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF 58 500 AND ITEM NUMBER 39, APPROVAL TO AMEND THE AGREEMENT WITH MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS CONSULTANT JOE PIANI OF LUNA PR IN THE AMOUNT OF $40,000. YOU HEARD THE MOTION. ALL IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. ITEM NUMBER 35 IS APPROVAL OF A TASK WORK ORDER NUMBER 24, AECOM FOR THE ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM REPLACEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $479,481.

Mister mayor, yes, we have to recuse myself for the purpose of business.

I raise a recusal is there a motion on this item. Mister mayor move for the approval of item number 35 second and probably move the second in all that they would keep us a 9. Motion passes and one recusal. Thank you very much. Let's go back to the agenda and let's go to. alcohol license hearings we have three on the agenda items 10 through 12. um number 10 is approval of a class c liquor beer wine by the drink alcohol license with sunday sales to brandon aguilera for beer a spot a restaurant at 501 montgomery street in district 2. ITEM NUMBER 11 IS APPROVAL TO ADD A CLASS C LIQUOR BY THE DRINK ALCOHOL LICENSE TO THE EXISTING CLASS C BEER AND WINE ALCOHOL LICENSE WITH SUNDAY SALES TO NICHOLAS LAMBROS FOR BEN'S NEIGHBORHOOD GRILL, A RESTAURANT AT 780 HOUSTON MEMORIAL DRIVE AND AUTOMATIC DISTRICT 4. AND ITEM NUMBER 12, APPROVAL OF A CLASS C BY THE WINE BY THE DRINK ALCOHOL LICENSE WITH SUNDAY SALES TO FOC TRAN FOR OMELET CAFE AT A RESTAURANT LOCATED AT 49 WESTERN GUMMY CROSSROADS AND AUTOMATIC DISTRICT 5. ARE THERE ANY PULL-OUTS REGARDING ANY OF THESE ITEMS? IF NOT, THEN IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING THAT I AM DECLARING OPEN. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST ANY OF THESE ITEMS? GOING ONCE. Going twice. Speak now if ever hold your peace. Yes, actually close to him second probably move the second that we close the hearing all of them and keep by saying I oppose motion passes. I'm number 10 is for the era spot all the million.

So Mister may act that we approve the Class C liquor beer and wine by the drink alcohol license was Sunday sales to Brandon Aguilar for beer sport spot.

We probably move the second all in favor keep us saying aye. Opposed motion passes. I number 11 Alderman Palumbo.

Thank you Mister mayor, I move for the approval to add a classy liquor by the drink alcohol license see the existing classy beer wine alcohol license with Sunday sales to Nicholas Lambros for Ben's neighborhood grill. An amazing spot second second.

And probably move the second all the family came by saying I oppose motion passing come check it out. Item number 12 is for Omelette Cafe, Montgomery Crossroads at 49 West Montgomery Crossroads and Automated District 5. Alderman Shabazz.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I move for the approval of the Class C Wine by the Drink Alcohol License for Sunday sales to Vaught Trans for Omelette Cafe, Montgomery Crossroads, a restaurant at 49 West Montgomery Crossroads. Second. Second.

Then probably move to second it all in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion passes. Ladies and gentlemen, go forth, be great. Thank you all so much. Did have a point of personal privilege. I did not take care of this, but I need to. Oh, you're good. Alderwoman Dr. Estella Edwards-Shabazz. The city of Savannah proudly presents this to you in recognition of 15 years of dedicated service and commitment to the city of Savannah. Your contributions exemplify the values of integrity, excellence, and public service. Through your hard work and dedication, you have played a vital role in making our community stronger and our organization more effective. Great public service begins with great public service.

Don't cry.

Oh, we're going to do a picture. We got to work.

Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor.

No speeches.

Thank you.

all right moving on to zoning hearings i am number 13 petition of josh yellen on behalf of orchid group incorporated for future land use a map amendment of 0.32 acres and 912 drayton street from traditional neighborhood to traditional commercial and automatic district 2. the campaign item for that is item number 17. 17, 18.

Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor and Alderman. Eli Zarco, senior planner from the MPC to present this item to you. So again, this is two applications. I will do one presentation just so that's all shown together, but I do believe the items in the end do have to be voted. Future land use amendment first, zoning map amendment second, but I will do one presentation.

So you do one presentation for 13 and 14? Yes, sir. Requiring our actions on the side, right? Yes, sir. Okay.

Okay, again, this is a future land use and zoning map amendment to change the future land use designation from traditional neighborhood to traditional commercial and to change the zoning district from traditional neighborhood one to traditional commercial two. Here is both the current flume and the current zoning map. I will point out on the flume, the yellow is the traditional neighborhood designation. You'll see that the interior side of some of these blocks are traditional neighborhood. And on the zoning map, you will see that most of this area is zoned traditional neighborhood one. This would be the southeastern corner of Forsyth Park and that kind of area that... Judd's out just next to it. You will see some combinations of traditional commercial one and traditional commercial two around this area. Just to the north, Pasquinette Street is kind of the end of the downtown districts. So this is the beginning of the traditional neighborhoods and traditional commercial zoning districts. Here is the actual building and the property that is subject to these applications. There are no significant changes that are proposed for the structure at this time. There are some minor things, maintenance and some minor exterior work that the applicant might have to do later that would come through the relevant historic boards. The applicant is aware of that, but they have not proposed anything at this time. The property was previously used as a private club or lodge. That is the actual use in the use table that this was considered previously as the free and accepted masons. Most people would know it as the Masonic Temple. The parcel is considered legal non-conforming with regards to parking. I'd just like to point this out because we have had some public feedback and concerns about parking. This location is within one of the historic districts that does offer some parking reductions. And the previous use of the private club was legal nonconforming. The building was originally constructed in 1940 with that expansion to the rear, I believe, in the early 80s. And it does not require any additional parking as part of this application as a combination of the nonconforming parking and the parking reductions granted by the historic districts. Also, to note, this is not part of this application now. You may see this in the future if this is approved today, as a special use permit would be required for on-premise consumption of alcohol. That may need to come back to you for that particular item later on. And again, as I already stated, no significant changes are proposed to the exterior of the structure. It is proposed to largely remain the same. I will note here, this is just the recommendations from both MPC's staff and the Planning Commission. I will note that they are slightly different. For both, I will go through the future land use first, if that is the way you would prefer that order. The Planning Commission staff does recommend approval of the request to amend the flume from a designation of traditional neighborhood to traditional commercial. And the Planning Commission also recommends approval of the request to amend the flume from a designation of traditional neighborhood to traditional commercial. As far as the zoning map amendment, MPC staff does recommend denial of the request from traditional neighborhood one to traditional commercial two. Alternatively, MPC staff would recommend A CHANGE TO THE TRADITIONAL COMMERCIAL ONE DISTRICT. I WILL NOTE THAT THE REASON FOR THIS GETS A LITTLE EXPANSIVE, BUT IN THE TRADITIONAL COMMERCIAL TWO DISTRICT, WHICH IS WHAT THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING, THE USE OF AN EVENT VENUE AND BANQUET HALL IS BY RIGHT. IN THE TRADITIONAL COMMERCIAL ONE DISTRICT, THE USE IS SPECIAL USE. SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK AND GET THAT SPECIFIC USE EVALUATED ON THE SPECIFIC CONTEXT OF THAT USE. However, the Planning Commission recommends approval to rezone the property from Traditional Neighborhood 1 to Traditional Commercial 2, as the applicant originally requested, with the condition that the petitioner have a good neighbor agreement prior to going to City Council, and I do believe that was submitted to the City earlier this week. I am available for any questions.

OK, thank you very much. This is a public hearing. We did receive some comments through the clerk's office. 11, the indicated support of this. We have Mr. Hansrucker, who is here to speak on these items. Mr. Hansrucker. Is he here?

Yes, sir.

OK, come on up, sir. As you know, you have two minutes after the point and you use your name. Ms. Yellen, you wanna go now or you reserve to wait? How y'all wanna? I mean, if you wanna reserve for after his comments. Okay. It's just your name for the record, please.

These co-workers, those who have worked with them, they have other event venues, both in Tybee and in Effingham County, and so these are people who are here in support of this application.

We thought they were here for our Employee Service Awards.

Or they might sing as well. Okay, and the singing, that's right. But I did want to recognize them because they did take time out of their day to support the Orchard Group, to support this revival of the building, to reuse it, to bring it back to what it always has been used as. We all know it's been the Masonic Temple for some time. Prior to that, it was a synagogue. This building has always been a public-facing building where people can come in and have events. They are trying to continue that history and that lineage and keep it open for weddings and events in the future. So I do want to thank everyone for coming out today. Thank you. From the staff report, I do want to thank staff for the recommendation. When we went to MPC, the staff recommendation was for denial of the TC2 but approval of the TC1. At the board, it was a proved force TC2. What we are proposing today, after talking to the neighborhood groups, to both the VNA and Mr. Hunt's records group, is to split the difference. To keep the rezoning as TC2, but to only allow the uses in the TC1 plus the event venue. And that should give you all comfort as well, because if this TC use decides to change to a bar, they would have to come back before you for a special use approval for a rezoning. This will get them the event venue that they need, but also give the neighborhood associations the comfort that we're only going to do the TC1 uses plus the event venue, which has been aired out. We've had numerous conversations about it. We think that this is a great use for the site. And so we're all comfortable moving forward with that petition, but want to put that on the record that we were able to work out this compromise. to get the rezoning as requested, but to self-limit the uses because we know that the event venue is the appropriate use for this site. And I'm happy to answer any questions that y'all have in regards to that request.

Thank you. We're still on the public record. So Mr. Hunsrucker, I mean, I wish I could work on stuff all the time like this, so. No, I was just hoping y'all could work out stuff all the time like this, so. Go ahead, sir.

My name is Jim Hanshrucker, Mayor and Council. Good afternoon. I am president of the Forsyth Bar Community Alliance. I would like to say that I'm in support of this change. It's going to be a caveat that will probably confuse people in the future when they look at it. But from TN1 to TC, no, TN1 to TC1, they're gaining 50 more uses. And then the only difference between TN1 and TC, TC1 to TC2 is 17 more uses. So they're gaining a lot in this change. We've discussed back and forth. We still have to sign our good neighborhood agreement, but we have discussed things like noise and parking. They understand the parking restrictions in the neighborhood that the majority of the parking, off-street parking is. reserved by the bar to hotel. So they are going to be stressed if it comes to that point to find off street parking. And they are well aware of that as well as what might come with the parking matters study that you'll be seeing later this summer, early fall. So we've really worked hard to educate them on what they're looking at as far as having a thriving long term So those are my comments. Thank you very much. Thank you.

Any other comments regarding this? Going once, going twice. Speak now if I may hold your peace.

Mayor, I ask that we close the hearing.

Second.

Probably move to the second. All in favor indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed? Motion passes. Anyone have any comments from council?

Question, Mr. Mayor.

Yes, ma'am.

So, for clarity, what's the use of the building right now?

Currently, under the city code, it's classified as a private club. It's the best use classification that the city was able to give the existing Masonic Lodge that's there. Masonic Lodge doesn't have a use classification under the ordinance.

Do y'all have that photo?

We can go back to it. Go back to your map.

Yeah, please. No, go back to the actual photo. There you go.

So the actual use table is private club or lodge. I don't have the definition in front of me here. It is a kind of in-between place of worship and event venue where it isn't necessarily open to all members of the public for any public event, but there is some crossover in how they practically function. But the way it is organized and who it is usually open to is really the caveat is the difference.

is is that is a business operating right now currently and they're just trying it's an event space and and with this new designation they'll be able to do 17 more items including supply for

Yes, ma'am. I'll clarify that. So the current owner of the building, it's jointly owned by two different Masonic lodges. They are in the process of selling the building to the applicant who needs to convert it to an event venue. The applicant will not be operating as a private lodge. They will be transitioning to the wedding venue, but keeping in the spirit of the use, which is the Masonic lodge. And this building, as it currently stands, was Constructed or used by the AA synagogue going back to the 1950s.

And it's a venue that we really need in this city. Yes, ma'am. We really do.

It is few and far between. And so there are representatives here today from the lodge who are here. And they also wrote a letter of support saying that they support the new owners coming in. to rehab the space, supporting the change in use, understanding that, yes, for weddings, there is alcohol served, and they were in support of that as well.

They'll have to apply or go through the process, but they'll have the ability to do that. Yes, ma'am. Yes, we do. Okay. Yes, ma'am. Sounds good. Thank you.

Alderman Wilderbrine.

Yes, sir. I just wanted to thank Jim. Alderman Alderman him and a lot of our other neighborhood presidents with their due diligence and just coming and using this time to come forward, but he mentioned something and I wanted to ask miss our Mister Herman. He mentioned the neighborhood agreements. A lot of times when we go through these developments, we get these neighborhood agreements. So Miss Herman, can you just let the public know what those agreements mean when we work with people in the community?

yes ma'am excuse me neighborhood agreement is just um an arrangement that is reached between the affected neighborhood association and the establishment where they agree on certain terms and conditions parking noise operating hours whatever they that they want to hash out between the two of them and then it's memorialized it's not enforced by the city of savannah but it is in force between those parties. That's great. Thank you for that information.

One second. Alderman Leggett.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I wanted to, after having a conversation with the mayor and city manager, I want to be exact that any use not permitted, right, Josh, by the TC1 or required special use would need to come back for another hearing of approval. Yes, sir. That's correct. and keeping in the tc2 but limited to the tc1 uses plus the wedding venue is what we're here for correct okay and you still have to come back before city council for special use so actually the the slide is special use that's part of the reason why we're trying to work out this compromise on the wedding venue

A wedding venue requires a special use within the TC1 zoning. It does not require it in the TC2. We've been very transparent that this is the use we're seeking. And so at MPC in here, we're only talking about the wedding venue use. We're not talking about apartments or a nightclub. We're here for the wedding venue use. So our compromise was to please let us move forward without the special use process because that's what we're discussing today. But should that use change in the future, absolutely coming back before you.

I'll do it, Member Blakely.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Could you please give me that physical address again?

912 Drayton Street.

912 Drayton Street?

That's a very fitting address.

Okay. Thank you all so very much for doing this because we really need a wedding venue. And I just want people to know that this is a place where everybody will be able to go to and rent if they want to use that space. So thank you all.

I have a question. Okay. And thank you all too for showing up. I have a question for Josh.

Yes, ma'am.

Just curious, when you advocate for people who are wanting to do this same type of stuff, what is your advisement after they get whatever they need, the zoning change, what is your advisement when they want to come back and get a liquor license?

In terms of guiding them through the process? Yes. So we do assist with liquor licenses. And so should they need assistance, I'm happy to help them with that process. We know that it comes back before y'all. I would anticipate that this will be coming once they purchase the property and once they do their renovations, that y'all should expect that shortly. But I'm always able to assist with alcohol license processes. And I should say, y'all staff does a great job with their new ARC meetings where y'all get everyone in the room all at one time to walk through an application. It has made the process a little bit more transparent for everyone involved.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Um, so yes.

Okay. So I do believe in this instance, a caterer has the ability to serve spirits to their guests. Um, and that's a good thing because that's different from them actually having their own license, but they still will have the ability to serve the guests.

So both would, both would actually be permitted. Um, you could have a caterer's license. The venue could also have its own license, um, for some of the other venues around town. There's not any that are quite like this in terms of being a wedding venue. You know, I don't want to compare it to Victory North because they do concerts, but they also have their own liquor license. But wedding venues are allowed to have their own license, and often, and I will say that when I was in California, I worked for a catering company for seven years while I was in law school, worked at way too many weddings. A lot of the event venues prefer to have on-site staff because then they know who's coming in and out, that they get to control the alcohol, They know who's pouring. They know who the manager is each and every event versus having a caterer come in and out with their own team. And so both have their pros and cons. But this site would be allowed to have its own liquor license. for these weddings.

This is good for the second district. I just wish we could do something like this in the first. Thank you.

Yes. Quick question. What is the age of that picture? How recent is that picture? It looks like there's some roof work that has to be done.

There needs to be some. I see the applicant smiling. Yes, some work needs to be done.

And I'm glad about this. I've been waiting to get married. I just needed a venue. I mean, now we have a wedding venue. Mr. City Manager, I can go ahead and get married now. I mean, I didn't have a venue, so now I have a venue. Is there a motion to close? There's seconds they probably moved in second and all the favors they I oppose motion passes. Let's move times number 17. Which would be rich request on 1st and 2nd reading for the flom of 0.32 acres and now went to Drayton Street. Let's take them one at a time. So what is your pleasure going on number 17.

Mister man, yes, I accept the 1st reading be considered the 2nd in the ordinance place upon his past.

We're probably move to the second all in favor indicate by saying aye opposed motion passes remember on 18 the recommendation should be from a T in one to a T C one correct. no no t and two that's right t and two right okay i got you the t and two with the uses limited to the same uses that's right got you so t with t and one the tc2 got you right with t and one uses with t and one uses should that be stipulated in the motion

If I may. Yes. But it was going to be from the current rezoning to TC2, subject to the TC1 uses, plus banquet hall, event venue, the reception hall use.

Subject to TC, I want to make sure we're right now.

Yes, sir.

Subject to TC1 uses.

Plus the wedding venue.

event venue banquet hall use wedding event banquet hall uses madam city attorney is that sound appropriate it does it does all right mr manager you're good with that yes sir i am all right what is the motion

Make a motion that we accept the petition of Josh on behalf of Orchard group to keep the tc2 but limited to tc1 uses plus the wedding being you so moved wedding event.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Yes, sir.

I've been probably moving seconded up.

No first reading consider this first reading consider the second with the ordinance placed upon his passage of pass or second.

Then probably move to the second. All in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion passes. I will get married on 9-1-2 day, so we're looking forward to it. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all so much. I met her.

For the record, I'm available for adult flower girl, please and thank you.

No, you're going to do pictures.

I'll do pictures too.

I thought y'all were going to stay around for the rest of the meeting. I got it. Thank you all so much. Appreciate y'all coming out. All right, let's move on to item number 15. Zoning hearing item number 15 is petition of Josh Yellen of 25 East Mophis, LLC for a special use permit of 0.20 acres at 15 and 25 East Mophis Avenue in the TC1 zoning district to allow for retail consumption of alcohol with conditions in automatic district two.

Good afternoon again. Eli Zarco, senior planner from the MPC. So as stated, this is a special use permit to allow retail alcohol consumption in connection with a theater. I should note this is not movie theater. This is play style theater. Yes. Now here is the actual building. I believe this is from a few years ago. So some work has been done to it. It was previously used as I believe most recently a contractor's office. The property is 0.2 acres and was previously used as a construction office. Per section 5.4 of the city zoning regulations, a retail consumption dealer requires a special use permit. The special use permit request is to allow retail consumption dealer in connection with the theater that is proposed to be opening there. I should note that the theater use is by right and does not necessarily require action by this body. The Planning Commission recommends approval of the special use permit request to allow a retail consumption dealer in connection with the theater with the following conditions. The special use permit shall be non-transferable, operate only in conjunction with the theater use, and alcohol sales are limited to on-premises consumption only. As far as the staff recommendation, and I will give a little context to this afterwards, MPC staff recommends approval of the special use permit request to allow retail consumption dealer in connection with the theater with the following conditions. The special use permit shall be non-transferable, operate only in conjunction with the theater, alcohol sales are limited to on-premises consumption only, and to limit the hours of alcohol service from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. during the theater hours of operation. The Planning Commission did vote to remove that last condition to allow for matinee showings to also serve.

Okay, this is a public hearing that I am now declaring open. Does anyone have anything to say for against this hearing? Should know for the record that we received two comments through the clerk's office, one that supports and one that opposes. Is there any comments? Going once. Going twice. Speak now if I ever hold your peace. Is there a motion to close? Yes. Probably moved and seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion passes. Any comments or? Yes, sir.

Because the mechanic shop across the street. Mr.

Manager.

It doesn't conflict at all. I mean, it's the, so it actually adds more parking availability for theater patrons as well.

Yeah, because I know if he's parking vehicles at his current shop or also down the street, we do have the homeless venue there. So we want to make sure that...

Yeah a lot going on here in this court or you know the issue about storing the vehicles on the public right of way as a part of the repair shop is not legal even without the parking or no parking and so will continue to address that the code compliance and we've had a long history there with code compliance so we'll have to continue to manage that um but we're also as per our conversation with that last time looking at this street specifically before we bring parking matters back to council to vote to understand if there needs to be any kind of further policy strategies on this particular street um and in the area as well but i know by right they do have uh off street parking they have parking availability they should have what what for 6 parking spaces just like I think Mister Yellen can talk about the specifics of the the parcel. But to the question of would this use conflict with Council's action a few weeks ago to allow parking on both sides know would not OK, I'm good.

OK. I just wanted to make sure that we all knew short with what happened.

Yes.

So this site is actually like the other site. It's parking exempt. This building is small enough that it doesn't reach the 3,000 square foot threshold for parking to be required. There is some limited on-site parking that's available. There's also the parking lot across the street, and then there's the paid parking lots that have been recently approved in the vicinity. So based upon the scope, we don't believe this is going to be, as came up, we don't believe it's going to be in conflict with the adjacent auto shop and the street parking. This is a very limited use that's not coming in with a high intensive parking demand. And like the prior venue, this is a theater space and kind of trying to fill a void that we have, oddly, in the city of Savannah, that there's not a lot of theater spaces here.

How many patrons and capacity?

And so I will introduce, so Chase is here. He is actually the director of the theater company who will be partnering, and Mr. Gilbert is here. who's the owner of the building. It's a partnership between them. And so they are looking at utilizing this space together. And if you want to, come on up.

Hi, my name is Chase Brackett and I'm the artistic director of New Oak Theater. We anticipate with the beginning season of the theater to have a capacity of 50 increasing to approximately 80 maximum occupants for the theater in addition to the staff that would be needed for the regular use of the theater as well as.

Hold on a second, I can't hardly hear you for the noise of the airplane.

No problem. So we would see that there would be a maximum of 80 theater attendees in addition to the regular staff that is needed to not only run the shows, but also run the concessions and the regular use of the theater.

Do you all have regular hours?

So we plan on having different productions run for about four to six weeks at a time. Those different shows, we plan on running initially about four to five shows a week. So that would be approximately about 20 to 16 shows.

These are like evening hours, afternoon?

So it would be 7 p.m. shows for most of the performances, but then there would be an additional matinee on Saturday and Sunday. Those would be at 2 and 3, respectively.

Okay, thank you. Thank you.

Yes, ma'am.

The lot across the street from the building. You all are going to be allowed to park in that lot for patrons.

There's no agreement with them yet. I think there have been discussions. There's lots. I was referencing also that there's been a couple of special use slots that have come before you in the immediate vicinity that are the pay for parking lots. Those are within walking distance to the site. Where the old Save-A-Lot was, they have their pay-for-parking lot right there that is one and a half blocks away. So there's parking in the area for their use. I should say that Chase and John, and I was in attendance as well, we all went before the Thomas Square Neighborhood Association, presented the same occupancy, same hours, and there is a letter of support from the board that's in your packet today because it's a use, really, that we need in Savannah. And I should say the theater itself, The theater use itself is permitted by right. And so we could get the 50 to 100 people in there right now without coming before you. The issue is it's a tough business to be in. You know, there's only so much you can make on ticket sales. Trying to do the alcohol to get some increased revenue to make it something that could be a benefit for the community and sustainable. Don't want to be here for one year and move out. We want it to be a consistent legacy for the community.

That was good. I look forward to coming to some of those plays that you all are going to be doing. Absolutely. Thank you.

Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, it was a pleasure regarding this. Yes. We did.

This is a special use permit.

SECOND.

PROBABLY MOVED AND SECONDED THAT WE APPROVE THE PETITION OF JOSH YELIN FOR SPECIAL USE PERMIT WITH CONDITIONS TC1 AND AUTOMATED DISTRICT 2. ALL IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED? Motion passes. Thank you very much. Looking forward to it. 16 is petition of Coleman Company Incorporated on behalf of Brookhaven Development LLC for Fort Argyle Developers LLC and Chatham Sand LLC for zoning map amendment at 0 Fort Argyle Road and 1150 Fort Argyle Road. To rezone 274.29 acres from RA, Residential Agriculture, Chatham County, and RSF6, Residential Single Family, 6, City of Savannah to Argo Grove Plan Development, City of Savannah, to allow a residential commercial mixed-use development. Yes, ma'am.

Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor and members of the Council. I'm Subashi Karunaratna, a planner from MPC. I'll be presenting the MPC recommendation to you today. So at 0 and 1150 Fort Argyle Road, the petitioner is requesting a rezoning for two properties. One, you can see the triangular property close to Fort Argyle Road that is residential agriculturally zoned right now, and it is in the county. And the other highlighted property is residential single family six zoning district. And it is in the city of Savannah right now. So the petitioner is asking for rezoning of both these properties into planned development to be annexed to the city of Savannah. And that is for a new development, which is a planned development identified as the Argyle Grove planned development. And the total acreage of both these properties would be around 317 acres, and it would have mixed-use residential and commercial development. The project completion date is projected to be in 2038, and by that year, there will be about 2,450 residential uses, which includes residential single-family attached, residential single-family detached, and multi-family developments. And it would also have a commercial component and a mixed-use component. So you are looking at the aerial weave of these two properties, and you can see that on the property to the right top corner, there's a burrow pit. And according to the petitioner, they have included a provision in the PD ordinance to reserve the right to continue surface mining operations within the boundary of this area as long as the Environmental Protection Division permit remains active and The petitioner also noted that the mine is currently going through the closeout process, and the ultimate development plan is to turn the excavated area into an amity. And this closeout process will be around two years, and it will follow the mitigation and reclamation standards of the EPD. This project also has a DRI review, and according to that review, the property sits within the FEMA flood zones and also wetlands. The Coastal Regional Commission identifies the site being predominantly located within areas requiring special attention due to significant natural resources. Currently, the wetlands are going through wetland urination by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for jurisdictional determination. The results of that are not here yet, so they are still under the review. This is the flume and the zoning map that you're looking at. The future land use designation here is planned development. So both the properties are consistent with the future land use map. And you can see the zoning map on your right hand corner. As I mentioned, the triangular property to the left is residential agriculture in the county and THE OTHER PROPERTY IS RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY SIX IN THE CITY. AND TO THE NORTH THERE ARE PLANNED ELEMENTS AND TO THE SOUTH AS WELL. SO THIS IS THE PROPOSED MASTER Of the two properties, the blue indicates single-family detached development, and the purple is single-family attached development. There are two tracks for both attached and detached. And there's multifamily in red, commercial in the orange color, and the brown is for mixed use. You can see that there is a connection from New Hampstead Parkway, if you can see the cursor. on the New Hampstead Parkway and Fort Argyle Road is connected by a new connection. So in the current master plan, this road is proposed to be established in a later phase. But during the discussions with GDOT, they are SHOW THEY WANTED THIS ROAD TO BE ESTABLISHED IN THE INITIAL FACES BECAUSE TRACK ONE YOU SEE OVER HERE WILL BE THE FIRST UH DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND THAT'S GOING TO ADD 300 SINGLE FAMILY UNITS UH TO THIS UH AREA AND ACCORDING TO G DOT FORT ARGO ROAD WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HANDLE ALL THAT TRAFFIC SO THEY WANTED TO DIVERT THE TRAFFIC IN NORTH AND SOUTH AND THAT WILL BE A PART OF THAT DEVELOPMENT WILL BE A PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT with the CD as well. This you're looking at is a sample of the proposed use table. So right here, you're looking at majority of the commercial and mixed use uses. And this here is the proposed traffic distribution plan. As I mentioned, at the build-out of the 300 single-family units, the applicants are proposing a stop sign by Fort Argo. That is what is shown on the first picture. And in the later phases, they will be changing the stop sign into a signal light, and the connection from New Hampstead Parkway to Fort Arlo Road will also be extended, and there will be more signal lights in Highgate Boulevard and Little Neck Road. And the total traffic generation is estimated to be 27,079. So this project, according to the future land use map and the locality, is is a good project for the site and the mpc staff and the planning commission is recommending approval for the rezoning from r a and rsf six to pd as requested by the petitioner thank you okay thank you very much um this is a public hearing so anything anyone have i'm declaring open anyone have any comments regarding this we do have annette hickey

Did I pronounce it right? Okay. All right, so you have two minutes during the moment you start your name.

Annette Hickey. Can you pull that map back up on the screen? Or I have a map here if you guys want to see it. This map right here. Right here in the corner right here, that's where I live at. I know you guys probably got all my information, I'm sure, on my app. this house, been in my family for over 250 years.

Would you orientate us and show us where she's showing on the map, please?

Yeah, in the corner, if you zoom into 1062 Fort Argyle Road, you're going to see this house right here. Yeah, right here. Right on the very back of the edge of the wetlands back there.

Okay.

Yeah. So my family's in, I inherited this whole 40-acre tract just about basically from my family. I've built a home there and they really failed to say the homes there. But I don't have really much to say in two minutes. But I want to. I spoke with Landry yesterday. The road coming over to the hall pit is a temporary road. It's not permanent. So that's going to be taken out. And also, I'm just asking to have my 100 foot buffer to separate me from this operation that's been going on for a while. I have a 100-foot buffer down one side. I'm asking for my 100-foot buffer throughout the back of the Carter-Tillman subdivision. And I have two homes there, by the way.

So you've asked for a 100-foot buffer from them as well? Yes, sir. Have they seen amenable to this? I'm sorry? Have they seen amenable to this?

Well, I haven't had much response. I mean, I want to work with them. But one of y'all's people, Bridget, gave me a president back in January. So I'm just now able to like really be communicating with everybody. But a lady named Executive Decision was made to give me a president back in January. So I had to get rid of that and take care of that problem. And so I'm just all I'm asking is as long as I reside in this home, that I have a 100-foot protective buffer to protect my whole assets through the back.

Okay, well, this item, I mean, you have some time. This is only on first reading, so we're not taking action on it today. Yes, sir. And so I think the petitioner will be wise to use this time wisely to communicate with you in the intervening time. Thank you.

Thank you. Ma'am, you said they gave you a president.

Yes, ma'am. What is that? I don't know. It was on the applicant. I was told that B&I didn't have a president to represent me or someone in the area to represent me. A neighborhood association president?

Excuse me? You're talking about a neighborhood association president?

Yes, ma'am.

Okay. You're in the county, correct?

Excuse me?

You're in the county?

I'm in the Chatham County, unincorporated.

Right, in a corporate county, so it's probably not like situated like we have neighborhood associations.

I have no neighbors.

You are the neighborhood president.

Yes, and I'm also a realtor for over 40 years, so I don't understand why no one came to me, to be honest. So I guess she wanted to represent me, a person did. I'm not sure, but when I asked at the MPC meeting, it was... Bridget Liddy had said she took an executive decision to do that. So, I'm not sure what that was about. So, it caused a little bit of conflict between me and Brian also in the beginning because I didn't understand it and neither did he, so.

Well, you have some time.

I'm sorry, you finished?

okay no i didn't understand it it's just public care we we're not taking it taking this up today how many years have you said this property's been in your family um for over 200 well my you know they they came over here and took it from the indians and so they some got pregnant with looking like pictures and mixed So over 250 years. Back on the Library of Congress Dickerson track.

Yeah. Has that been designated in a historic area?

To me, it is.

Well, you're the mayor, the governor, and everything. I should be.

Well, I mean, it's kind of, you know, I don't get out a lot because I love staying home, and I don't watch the news a lot, so I have no idea what's going on in the world, honestly.

You may not get out a lot, but somebody stayed put for 250 years. Yeah. Congratulations for that.

Well, at the end of the day, I really enjoyed your ceremony, by the way. It was amazing, okay? And it really hit home with this, too. But, you know, at the end of the day, God is in control. Y'all had a great show today. I loved it.

Well, I know of a really good city you could become a part of.

I might. A really wonderful city. Let me tell you, I love Savannah. And I know y'all know I do. Well, we love you too. No, I love Savannah.

We can consummate all of this and just.

Well, it's interesting because if you go back to Wise family, y'all got to look it up. William Henry Wise. First, it came over on the Anna. That's my name. And what's his name, three of them were on the cattle farm. Sure, I mean, he set up up there where we're at, Oglethorpe. So y'all made a ghost story out of that, or everybody has in White Square. But that's like one of my relatives, you've got great, great, great, great grandfather. And, you know, we didn't have divorces in our family, fortunately, thank God. Cousins do marry cousins sometimes, okay? And so I can't help that. But, yeah, it's sentimental. And I just can't even. I believe no one even mentions the houses back there.

Mr. Mayor?

Alderman Lanier.

And the church. So Ms. Hickey, your family went out there 250 maybe plus years, and you're out there living your best life. And all of a sudden this development is coming. So you're looking for some type of barrier. What is it exactly you think? Some type of foliage? You want 100 feet?

I'm just asking as long as I reside in that, as long as I reside at that home that in the home is my home i have a hundred foot buffer running i call it arrowhead and um i just have a hundred foot buffer and that road that they've been using to haul the dirt out is not permanent it's going away i've received a letter from lanyard yesterday because that's been a big um issue and causing a lot of stress in my life um you know i got i've i've set by this dirt for a long time.

Hopefully some people here today you could connect with and y'all exchange information so you could start that conversation.

Yeah, and I welcome all y'all to come up there and look, it is beautiful up there. And I would like to keep some of the history, of course, as much as we can.

Yeah. All right. The emotional here. So move that probably move the second in all the favor and keep by saying I oppose motion passes. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right. This was on first reading.

I just want to work together.

and we want to work together to so that that was on first reading. I do want to go ahead and a couple of a couple of things. I'm number 21 of ask Council to pull that for 2 weeks. Sunday, I call sale requirements for museums again, there's some moving pieces as it relates to this item with the work that the I DON'T WANT TO THROW A RED HERRING INTO THAT SESSION, SO IF YOU WOULD GRANT US TWO WEEKS ON THAT, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR THAT? I MOVE THAT WE'LL CONTINUE FOR TWO WEEKS.

SO MOVED.

SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. There was a motion at the table for two weeks.

Yes. It continues to. So moved.

And it's been probably moved to second. All in favor indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed? All right, motion passes. Thank you very much. Let me, before I get to purchasing items, because I know Julie cannot sit in one space for as long as she's been sitting, I want to approve item number 44. I'm sorry, 44. THREE RESOLUTION ADOPTED IN SAVANNAH WATERFRONT COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT VISION AND IMPLEMENTATION PLANS IN AUTOMATED DISTRICT TWO. ALL THEM IN LEGGED.

ALL THEM IN LEGGED. MR. MAYOR.

ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A MOTION REGARDING THIS? SO MOVED, SIR. THERE'S A SECOND.

SECOND.

OKAY. WOULD THEY LIKE TO SPEAK? I'D OPEN UP A PUBLIC RECORD. YOU LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK? You don't want to speak? You want to speak? Oh, nothing. We just closed the public hearing. It was on first reading anyway, so we didn't take any action. We just had the public hearing it. All right, do you want to say something for the public record? Yes, sir. All right, let me take care of this first. There's been property move the second that we adopt the Savannah Waterfront Community Improvement District Vision Implementation Plan and all that District 2. Julie and them came to see us a couple of weeks ago and we're ready to move. So all in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion passes. Thank you, Julie. Appreciate it. Let's go back to item number 20. This is a petition of Coleman Company.

This is number 44 in conjunction with number 43.

Oh that yes, I'm sorry thank you thank you I'm number 44 is approval of a memorandum understanding with Savannah waterfront community improvement district for vision plan phase, one improvements is their motion Mister may have proven. They probably will be seconded all that they indicate by saying aye aye opposed motion passes. Thank you Julie go back to work. Let's make it happen. Yes. Yes.

we.

Well 21 was a second second is well 21, I just have to pull to the boat. But in 2 weeks. I did it at the also said that he went to you. Oh, okay. Let's go back to item number 20, petition of Coleman Company Incorporated. This is a public hearing that we have closed. I'm requesting that we open it to, the petitioner wants to have opportunity to speak, so since we won't have a meeting, a hearing on the next one, let's do it now. Right, 16, correct. 20 was the action, right? Okay, then probably move to second it. All in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion passes. We have re-open this hearing. Sir, go ahead.

Thank you, Mayor and Council. My name is Brian Wardlaw with Ford Argyle Developers, representing the developers on the project. Just won't take up much of your time. MPC did a great job of going over the scope of the project. I want to thank the staff for their thorough review of it. Just wanted to point out some of our community engagement With the project, we held three community meetings in February, April, and the latest one in May. We tried to reach out to all the Bush Road attendees from the previous meetings on those land annexations. And we had two meetings off of Bush Road at the park located there, Tom Triplett Park. And then we held another meeting in May where we had a good, in coordination with Ms. Hickey and her group, where we outlined the project and spoke to everyone there about storm, drainage, the whole scope of the project, and they asked us all the questions, and we went over everything in there with them. I just wanted to point out that this plan does work in coordination with Plan 2040, so it's already been marked as a planned development. And the Fort Orgall Road has been marked as a strong corridor for growth, so it's ready for that growth to come in. We are working on a development agreement, if it gets approved, with the City of Savannah for the New Hampstead Parkway extension, working with the city water and sewer. for to upgrade lines and to make it a public, uh, lift station. So there's applicable for other people to come in and large enough to help the entire area. Just wanted to point out some of the community benefits, and then we also want to help be able to give back. And so for every unit we close in that, um, plan unit development, we are going to contribute $500 to the city of Savannah housing affordability fund. And then we are going to set aside an acre or two to a new fire department or police station for that area because we feel it's underserved or not enough land in that area. So we'll have to reach out to the fire station or the police station or both, whichever one needs it, and work in coordination with them.

Mr. Mayor. One moment. Is this aspirational or this is something we've committed to and has been committed to, Mr. Manager?

We're working through development agreement. We may actually as we discussed in our last meeting about it with the applicant that that might we we may not need a public safety facility. We may need a public works lay down yard and Senate for street sweepers and other places to be able to service the areas. So we discussed that ability as well. The donation to the affordable housing fund. I think if we think is VERY GENEROUS AND CONTINUES LANDMARK 24 IS KIND OF CHAMPION OF THAT FUND IN OUR PRELIMINARY NUMBERS WE ALSO BELIEVE THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL PRODUCE ABOUT MORE THAN NINE MILLION DOLLARS IN IMPACT FEES and we'll provide for the finishing of New Hampstead Parkway to 204, which will be an important connective corridor in the area.

So you're still working on it? You're in communication?

We're working on it. I think we're to a place where we're drafting the agreement now. We hope that it'll be on the city council meeting when city council takes its final action on the annexation. Mr. Mayor? One second. Yes, ma'am.

Oh, thank you. Did I hear you say that you had a conversation with Ms. Hickey over here?

Yes, ma'am. We've had a few conversations, a few meetings. After our last meeting, we actually sent Coleman Engineering out to do survey work for her property line to determine the location of the haul road in Minchin. I do want to also mention that we are not the licensees of the haul road. That is linear development. We purchased the property a little under 60 days ago. The haul road has been in operation for four to five years. I have checked with the operator today. They have been in contact with the EPD. So they are in the stabilization phase of the closeout. So as soon as they get the slope stabilized on the detention area, They will be evaluated by the EPD. And when I mean stabilize, they'll put sod on it and stabilize the slopes, and it'll be closed out.

So what she's asking to me is, This to me sounds real simple because it sounds like you all are going to invest a whole lot of funds in that area by giving us a lift station and maybe a fire department and $500 per unit to our housing fund. If this lady is just asking for a 100-foot barrier, then that should not be a problem.

100 foot buffer.

I mean buffer. That should not be a problem. So based on what she said, and she can correct me if I'm wrong, she hadn't spoken to anybody yet from what I think is what she said when she came up here. Am I correct, Ms. Hickey?

All right, we're going to go ahead. Okay.

Yeah.

Well, I'm just trying to make sure that she is, you know.

This was just presented to us on Monday for a 100-foot buffer. So this was new information. Okay. The 100-foot buffer is in place or being looked at as an operation of a borrow pit. We are putting in residential. So when you look at other comparing uses in the city and other PUD ordinances, Residential on residential does not require a 100-foot buffer. It is being looked at as a use that is not going to be in operation when that buffer is established. Another point is when site plans are introduced, that's when the buffers can be looked at and evaluated. So we are not saying a buffer is not going to be there. We have planned on a buffer. But we just think a 100-foot buffer that's institutionalized for industrial projects should not be implemented on a residential project as well. So we want to help out and have a buffer, but we do think a 100-foot buffer for the current use shouldn't be the evaluation that's used in the end.

So maybe you all should get together and come up with a consensus. Like the mayor said, this is not something that we're voting on today. Yes, ma'am.

Mr. Manager.

Thank you.

Thank you. Maybe just to add on to that, I do want Council to consider it did pass several months ago a 100-foot buffer plus berming requirements between industrial developments and existing residential developments. but would ask Council to consider, as it deliberates this over the next two weeks, whether or not a 100-foot buffer is appropriate between residential uses and residential uses. I don't know that. You'd have to think about the downstream effects if everybody wants 100 feet between the next house and them. So that's just one thing to consider as we walk through. Thank you.

Aldo Chavez.

As we develop that area and hopefully when this and next into the 5th district. What we've been doing out there with the develop and we like for there's been a lot of work, especially with the Bush road. residents the West side community. Residents all that work for the last few years has been going on in reference to those properties that's been there before all of this development has taken place. So my question city manager and in this lady. Are we miss Liddy Mister city manager. Thank you so much for letting us know that the conversation, letting the public know that the conversation is being had. We have been moving and working with and coming up with an agreement which we have not finalized yet. It is what we do and it's been best practice, been best practice for us working with County the county residents who was very very concerned about all of this development that's taking place and we just really we are really really careful and we have been successful with working with our counterparts out there with the county and with developers. Same thing, same instance that we want to do here. So as we continue to work, and with Ms. Liddy, with the city manager, and all those who are involved and myself, as we continue to work, we've got to make sure, especially when the residents come, when they voice their opinions even more outside of the meetings because developers go out and have the meetings and we're glad that you're following suit. When we have residents that come and give more comments, it means that there's some more concern. So we may not because it is really, really huge when we talk about a 100-foot buffer in between properties and like we've already established. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES THAT ARE BEING DEVELOPED NEXT TO RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS, THOSE BUFFERS ARE FINE, EVEN IF THEY'RE VEGETATION OR IF THEY'RE OTHER TYPE OF MATERIALS OF DEVELOPING OR CONSTRUCTING THOSE TYPE OF BUFFERS, IT IS OKAY AND WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED THAT AS A CITY OF SAVANNAH. SO WE NEED TO CONSIDER what our resident was come to the council and talked about. And as we continue to further along with the city manager with this agreement, take all of this that we're talking about today into consideration. And when we come back for to approve all of this, for sure, we have it all worked out. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

Thank you all the woman while the Brian.

Mr. Mayor, while we were not voting on this, thank you for coming up and saying your piece. Because I believe it's important that he's already leaned in and made all of these really nice acquiescence for that area so I'm kind of confident that you're going to work something out whether it's the berm area well whatever is appropriate for that because she's talking about her home and not a commercial so we know there's a difference and so she's a president you're not gonna have to talk to a whole bunch of people he's a mayor so you should should be able to work that out. Thank you so much for your time.

All right, thank you. Alderman Lanier.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Mayor. So here we are again experiencing growing pains. Savannah is growing up and it's growing out and it's a wonderful thing we have all of this new Revenue coming through our community. I know you guys are excited about this opportunity to put your project out there and I respect that That's what we need to look forward to but for I don't know if you're a native Savannah and it really doesn't matter but I do want you to understand that people like miss Hickey people like myself people whose family been in this city for seven, eight, nine generations all this time. We love our city so much and we are trying to brace ourselves for this growth and development. And it's an exciting time. So we just ask you all to just please be a little patient and understanding with people that have that kind of history in the place. We know the change is coming. We've known it's been coming because it's been the best kept secret, the children. in a pool of Bloomingdale unincorporated Chatham County. All of us went to school together on the west side of Chatham County. We were all considered rural and not even thought about because all of the action was downtown and in other areas. But now we've been discovered on the west side. Eureka, here we are. And it's an exciting time. We embrace that. But please, a few trees doesn't cost anything. And no, we do not require that 100-foot buffer between residential and residential. But she cannot just sit there and know all of this is going on and she doesn't come here or reach out to you all to find out to make sure she's going to be protected. So we just want to make sure that your great project that you have coming that we really need in our area, that it is compatible with the people who are already there. and you take them into consideration as you make your plans. And so we could have a win-win in the end and embrace all of this great growth and development. So I appreciate you coming today to tell us about the work that you're doing out there. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Motion to close the hearing, please. there a second second probably move the second all the fame to keep by saying aye opposed motion passes let's move on to purchasing items items 22 to 29 that I'm pulling item number 22. yes

If there are no more items on the purchasing and like to make a motion 22 please is part.

You 22 saying I'm pulling 22 OK.

If there are no more items like to make a motion for the approval item number 23. 2425 2729 so move.

And probably move to the second that we approve item number 2320 for 25 to 7 to 8 to 9 all of them indicate by saying aye aye opposed motion passes, let me read them into the record. 23 is authorized city management security contract for one mobile security trailer from compass in the amount of $117,607. I number 20. FOUR IS AUTHORIZED CITY MANAGER EXECUTE CONTRACT MODIFICATION NUMBER TWO FOR DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD TERRACE SCHOOL REHABILITATION PROJECT WITH ETHOS PRESERVATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $35,000 I AM NUMBER 25 AUTHORIZED CITY MANAGER EXECUTING CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK PRE-CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR THE SPRINGFIELD TERRACE SCHOOL REHABILITATION PROJECT WITH CE GARBET CONSTRUCTION COMPANY AMOUNT OF $13,970. ALTHOUGH, LYNNIA, YOU SEE WE'RE MOVING ON THIS, RIGHT?

YES, ABSOLUTELY.

ALL RIGHT. ITEM NUMBER 27, AUTHORIZED CITY MANAGER EXCUSE CONTRACT MODIFICATION NUMBER 1 FOR WATER, SEWER, STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIR WITH SOUTHERN CHAMPION CONSTRUCTION IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $5 MILLION. ITEM NUMBER 28, AUTHORIZED CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ANNUAL CONTRACT FOR THE PURCHASE OF RAINBARROWS FOR THE RAINBARROW VOUCHER PROGRAM WITH RAINWATER SOLUTIONS IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $104,280. MR. MANAGER, I NEED A RAINBARROW BECAUSE I CAN'T, EVERY TIME I GET THEM, THEY'RE ALL GONE. I know the 29 authorized to match execute purchase of the invitation of complete overhaul of 2 primary clarifiers and the president's tree wastewater treatment plant. We're cornerstone is chill for a total cost of 1,598,000 dollars is the move that it's also been passed moving back to number 20 to. With the manager's permission. Okay, item number 22, Mr. Manager, I'm asking we pull this for two weeks. Yes, sir. We had to read the room. You have any problem with the other one in there saying things to me OK, thank you. And I don't know the 26. There is also a city magic to contract for water reclamation conveyance program with logic will control instruments incorporated in the amount not to exceed 2 million 800. 90,805 dollars and 54 cents.

Mr. Mayor, thank you so much for allowing me to pull this. With the Water Reclamation Department in coordination with our Planning and Engineering and the Office of the Chief of Water Resources, this is a great thing that's getting ready to happen with us bringing this company on board. And City Manager, if you don't mind, I don't know if you are Mr. Feltner, can come up and just say a few words about what we're doing in reference to this purchase.

Yes, ma'am. Chief Felner can come up and get prepared to talk about the rain barrels and add on to anything about the logic and control instruments for our water and sewer system. This contract number 26 which is to for water reclamation and conveyance for program with programmable logic with control instruments so this the purpose of this is to enhance and to promote system wide consistency improve operational visibility reduce sanitary sewer overruns I'm in support data driven decisions about how we run our sewer and water systems is a part of our broader skater system enhancement and modernization skated supervisory control and data acquisition. And that's the central nervous system of our water and sewer system. So this is adding technology and insight and real time understanding about how our systems are working underground and allows Ron and his team to make data driven decisions about um how we're operating that system so as a part of our ongoing modernization and something that i'm sure um you know chief feldner and his team can geek out about about how we're improving system reliability and performance for our customers i'll turn it over to chief ron feldner to talk more thank you mr city manager ron feldman chief of water resources mayor council thank you for the opportunity to talk this afternoon

City Manager did an excellent job of explaining what SCADA means to us and how it's integrated into our water and sewer and stormwater operations. Essentially, over the years, the three different operational areas of water resources have somewhat gone about independent paths on SCADA deployment and implementation and then integration. And as a result of that, for example, we've got stormwater and the stormwater pump stations, the large pump stations, are on VT SCADA. At IND, the water treatment plant, we're on Emerson SCADA. So they're both monitoring systems that enable us to collect data, monitor operations, make decisions based on that data. Over at Wastewater, they've actually been working on both platforms, VT SCADA and Emerson SCADA. So what's been going on over the last about 18 months and really focused in GPS for this year is a comprehensive undertaking to integrate all of our water, sewer, and stormwater systems onto the VT SCADA platform so that we essentially can have what our friends in traffic have, a water traffic control center. We can monitor everything concurrently and with a lot of detailed analysis so that those data-driven decisions that the city manager referred to can be done in a much more efficient manner and ideally enable us to get out in front of issues that could occur within our system because obviously it's so dynamic what's going on in our different water resources systems that being able to monitor it closely and with this kind of technology enhancement is critical to what we're doing. IND is going through this right now. with the state funding. It's part of their project, and wastewater reclamation wants to follow suit. Fantastic.

Thank you so much, Chief Feltner, for explaining about this good work that we're getting ready to do with our analytics, the data collection, and just making sure that we're doing things right. And just like you said, great word, get in front of situations so that we can better serve our citizens. Thank you, Chief. Thank you city manager.

Thank you is there a motion.

Yes, sir. So sir.

I've been probably move to second it that we have by number 26 on that they indicate by saying aye aye opposed motion passes of this the fellow that please tell me why can't get a rainbow or why the why we can't keep them in stock why everybody with what's the deal with the all the rain barrels with the deal rain barrels and why is it important for civilians.

Mr. Mayor, I don't believe you requested a rain barrel.

That's why you haven't got it. I did. I just did it the right way, and they said, sorry, tough luck.

Now, thank you once again for the opportunity to address the rain barrel. September 1st is the proposed commencement of stormwater utility billing, and one of our key customer credit opportunities on the residential side is to provide rain barrels to our residential customers so that they can capture runoff from their downspouts, hold that on property, use it for irrigation, drain it out more slowly, not just cut it loose, as I do on my house on Gordon Street, directly across the sidewalk and into the gutter, doing nothing to diminish the impacts of what happens on my property when it rains. I need a rain barrel and I need it bad on the front of my house. But we're going to purchase these rain barrels to add to our current inventory and make them available as they've been available for our residential customers to secure from us. And we're talking about having some events. I know that our staff is trying to find how we can maybe do a rain barrel rodeo in a couple locations in town in the coming weeks. and bring a large number of rain barrels out and have the community stop by, get some education on how to use these contraptions, but then also how to go about applying for a credit on their future stormwater bill so that they're doing their little part to kind of reduce the volume of runoff that occurs in our system when it does rain. So once again, trying to get out in front of what we think is going to be a very popular credit request by getting a good inventory of these

rain barrels in place ahead of uh later this year all right well thank you sir we appreciate that appreciate the work that y'all are continuing to do on our behalf thank you thank you all right let's go to resolutions i am number 40. yes please i have we've already approved it but just one question about number 27. yes um I'm a 27 is a contract modification number one for what is to restore water infrastructure repair.

Yes, Sir. So since we have offer for stormwater repair and stuff. Mister city manager, can you tell me we've already earmarked this money for this particular stuff. What happens when we start generating funds? Yeah. Do we put? How does that work? I was just curious before we go.

So for the I hear your question, let me answer in 2 parts this contract is for our annual repair to to anything that breaks in all 3 of those gotcha. So that's the question. So when we talk about the storm water utility fee which will school start billing in September 1st is Ron just reminded us. that is set to generate you know three to four million dollars this year eight million dollars annualized next year when we do it fully that doesn't pay for all of our storm water system um and so we're still going to be paying for storm water out of general fund dollars and a lot and hopefully more out of federal and state grants But what we really want to use our stormwater utility to do is to maximize things that matter in neighborhoods. So our small capital projects for issues like, for instance, the Tremont Road culvert maximization project that's happening right now, that's an example of a small capital project. It's a couple million dollars, but it means a big, big thing for a couple of intersections in Tremont. that's right and the utility fee to remind you is going to plus up our um vac truck to increase the number of vac trucks and back truck crews that we have working let me tell you those crews are amazing because i went and worked with them one day um and was sore for four days they have never they have never been the same they're still talking about it And for our hand-maintained ditch crews, which also works. So that's going to increase that. So what we really want to do with this utility fee, since it's going to be user-based, is we want to make sure that people see that impact immediately. So that's where those dollars are going to.

Well, thank you for the edification and clarification. It means a lot.

Yes, ma'am.

Thank you. Moving to resolutions, item number 40, resolution authorizing the transfer of a vacant lot located at 715 East 38th Street to the Chatham County City of Savannah Land Bank Authority to facilitate the development of affordable housing in Alameda District 2, Alderman Leggett.

Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor, I ask that we authorize the transfer of the vacant lot at 715 38th Street, sir. Second.

Probably move the second all up in the keep us in a post motion passes and the 41 resolution authorized to transfer they can last located 1836 college Street in 1830 college Street to the shadow County city of Savannah land make authority to facilitate the development of affordable housing in automatic district one although the linear.

Yes, Mr. Mayor. I move for the approval of this resolution authorizing the transfer of these vacant lots located at- Second.

Been probably moved and seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion passes. Item number 42, resolution adopting the transmittal of the draft Chatham County Savannah 2040-2045 comprehensive plan update.

Mr. Mayor.

Yes.

Mr. Mayor, I have some questions about this item.

Okay.

First of all- When is the date? I know this is time sensitive and I'm curious to know because, Is this the same plan that last year we discussed and we were supposed to put together the group from the county and CEDA and the city, that one that I was really adamant and ask you Jay maybe a million times what's going on with it so I can get involved? Yes, ma'am. That's the same thing? No, ma'am.

It's not and nothing has happened on that front either. Yeah.

So how does this impact that one?

Um, today it doesn't at all. And I, I think, um, the more appropriate person to ask is Melanie Wilson about the comprehensive plan and the work that NPC has done. Uh, the comprehensive plan is a re is, um, includes like the future land use map, which is council is very familiar with. as well as many other components and it's a requirement from the state the Department of Community Affairs that every locality submit a comprehensive plan to the state every five years it's also best practice to do so But the relationship between this comprehensive plan which is a planning document and has been traditionally done and led by MPC on behalf of the city and Chatham County unincorporated Chatham County this is what this comprehensive plan is the 2033 vision plan initiative, which which we did pass and IGA has different components, some of which could be and maybe should be in the future incorporated into a comprehensive plan. But it's still so conceptual right now at the moment. And again, no meeting has occurred on it. And so the there's It's it's really unclear about how that planning effort will impact future comprehensive plan efforts and vice versa. But this comprehensive plan has been done in the way that the community has done it in years previously. And I think the best person to answer questions about how this comprehensive plan was developed is Melanie Wilson.

OK, thank you, Miss Wilson. How are you? Hi, Melanie Wilson, Executive Director, CEO of the Metropolitan Planning Commission. These are two separate documents. This comprehensive plan is a plan that is required by the state of Georgia DCA. If we do not have a comprehensive plan in place with several of the prescriptive items that they want to see, then you won't be able to get funds like your CDBG funds and things of that nature. So when I say it's very prescriptive, it has things like we have to have a work program, short-term work program. We go over the different chapters like quality of life, environmental, housing. It's very data-specific. The vision plan that Mr. Milder was referring to, would take components. It's not going to replace this. We will always have to do this. But it is what, when I first got here, I thought that the city was going to be doing, which is a true comprehensive plan, which is including everybody, including all of the jurisdictions and looking at all of their components of what they would like to see so that you end up with this document that gives you an opportunity from an overall planning perspective to know about where your infrastructure is going to go, where your schools will go, housing, community nodes, things of that nature. In this comprehensive plan, we have spent time looking at nodes. So I've looked at where your infrastructure is located, you know, for example. That's where we tried to steer development because you don't really want to have development occur where you don't have water and sewer, for example. We look at where there's this connection with regards to the road network system and to see where things are going based on the transportation plan. And we look at it countywide. We look at it, you know, just like this previous case that you just heard. Part of that parcel, that large parcel, I don't know if you realize, but part of that was in the county. When we do our evaluation and analysis on it, we look at both the city and the county, and we look at the impacts of both the city and the county residents. That's one of the things that we do. So this basically, where we are right now is basically doing an update of the document that we did five years ago, which is a requirement. We've looked at all of the elements. This is just a resolution that we're required to do to be able to send the draft document to the CRC for them to do a review. They get 45 days to review it. At the end of the day, and I don't know what happened, we sent the presentation over, but do you all have this handout?

Yes.

Okay, it has, I don't know what happened, like I said, it was sent over here, but it has a schedule of where we are right now. We will send the document over the first week in July. They get, as I said, up to 45 days. In the meanwhile, we will still continue to get feedback on the document because you're looking at the bigger things that we have to have in the document in order to get it approved by DCA. We will have additional meetings in August to just get some additional feedback from people in the community. And then we will have the final presentation for this document at the end of September. We have to have this back to the state by the end of October. So there is some time. There's a QR code here because the draft document is on our website, and it is set up to be interactive. So if you have a comment, for example, on wanting to see something happen on the west side, you can pinpoint that on the road. You can type in what you would like to see. We capture all of that data. that will all be included in the appendix of the actual comprehensive plan. So that is good kind of background to be able to use as the city starts doing more neighborhood planning. You know, we will definitely share that information so that you can see X person commented over in Hudson Hills that they would like to see this occur. I'm sorry, I missed something. The document that we've got, the QR code on the website, It is split up into chapters. It also has a map that will allow you to pinpoint where you would like to see things happen. If you've got a question about something, you can write down, I'd like to see a neighborhood park, for example, go here. That data goes into our system. We have a database that's mapped. And once we finish this process, we will, of course, share all of that data with the city so that as they are moving forward with doing their neighborhood planning, and I know that they've started doing more of the area plans. They've relaunched that program. Again, they'll be able to get more into the micro level.

this is a macro it's big it's looking at the city in the county you answered two two of the questions because that that's uh deadline i see that october but you said that okay august neighborhood meetings so there will be other opportunities to maybe do some tweaking so when we vote that's correct so when we vote today it doesn't shut the door where

Oh, absolutely. That's why you've got the QR code there, so that you can share it with folks in the community. And we've been out to several community events, to some of the senior citizen centers, and have spoke to a variety of neighborhood presidents. We've given people things and information for even different festivals that they've had in order to try to get them engaged in the comprehensive planning process. This is the macro, that's why MPC does it. We look at the city and the county areas.

Let me say this and I'll finish up with this. I know we're ready. That's good to know. It's been a concern since the early 2000s as a community. We were looking at the master plan and the land use, the future land use map. And it has some items on it that was very concerning to our community and would be actually detrimental to our historic 150-year-old community. And since that time, I was neighborhood president at the time, 2006, 2004, whatever, but since that time I've been trying to get involved at a level where I could represent that concern and make sure we have that input. And worked on the old or the news or the discommitted that committee to the point where here I am sitting here still trying to ask the same question and get this information for my community. The problems with the future land use plan was some people said our neighborhood wouldn't even there so many years. So this is the information I'm trying to provide. fire and we're trying to get involved to represent you know that the first district in the West Side so I'm looking at this and I'm sitting here and I don't want all this stuff to get past and nothing happened I'm sitting here And I'm sitting here because it this is the time. So that's why I stay on J about how to get involved with that other effort in this effort. So now I'm hearing that this is at the end of the road. This isn't the end. All we have opportunity as elected officials representing thousands and thousands of people to get involved in this to make sure it represents the people of this community.

And that's true. And as part of our website, when you go there, you'll see the land use plan. So if there's something on there that you want to suggest be tweaked or changed, that's your time to at least put it out there. I can't promise that we will make that change because we're looking at the things that are around it, but you will have the opportunity to take it back to the people in the community. And we do have that's correct. That's correct. That's in there. And the other thing I want to say, too, is that From my conversations with the people working on the visioning, that other planning document, what they'll end up doing is taking our goals, objectives, and things from this document, they'll look at Pooler's document, they'll look at Tybee's, everybody's document, they'll see where there's some consistency and they'll end up being kind of an overall planning document that encompasses everybody's stuff.

The last thing, I'm sorry, last thing quickly, this is a comprehensive plan but when I read through it I only saw City of Savannah and unincorporated Chatham County data.

That's because, that's what I'm saying, this is different. We are charged with providing a comprehensive plan for the city of Savannah and Chatham County, period. We are not charged with doing a comprehensive plan for Tybee, Pooler, or any of those jurisdictions. Usually, sometimes the CRC or other people will do those plans. That's the difference when you ask about the visioning plan and this plan. This basically addresses what we have to do for DCA. That other document that you made reference to, as I said, it really is something that I've done in other communities where you have everybody's comprehensive planning documents and it gets folded into one document. And that's where you start seeing how can you implement because water doesn't stop at a place, a road doesn't stop at a place. Sometimes there's ability to leverage infrastructure if you know what each one of the jurisdictions are doing. And hopefully that will allow everybody to kind of see how everybody's stuff interfaces with each other.

I promise this is the last thing. So when we vote for this today, if we support this, we're doing what?

The only thing that you're doing today is basically applying to, you're just basically giving us permission to send it to the CRC for them to do a review. We have to send it to them to get comments and feedback. But in the meantime, and the stuff they're looking at are the technical things that we have to have in there. But in the meantime, we still can continue to get information and feedback and make tweaks and changes. Thank you very much.

I appreciate it.

Yes. No. That's right. This is just the draft. They get a copy of the draft. to give us additional feedback. The completed plan, once we've got everybody's information and feedback, I'll be back to you at the end of September, beginning of October, with the final planning document. And you will vote on it, and we will send that document to the Department of Community Affairs.

Yes, ma'am.

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

LET ME WEIGH IN BECAUSE, LET ME WEIGH IN ON THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THE CITY OF SAVANNAHELP PUSHES OUT ALL OF THE ALDIMENT TO RECEIVE THE INFORMATION AS WELL. WE ARE ALSO MESSENGERS TO MAKE SURE THAT INFORMATION GETS OUT. YOU KNOW, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THE INFORMATION GETS OUT. WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY RESPONSIBLE TO PEOPLE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE INFORMATION.

AGAIN, I MEAN, I HAD IT.

WE ALL, YEAH, WE ALL RECEIVED IT. AND THERE WILL BE, WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT.

RIGHT. Our neighborhoods received them. I mean, all of them received them. I think, you know, there is leading a horse to water and nothing is making him drink. So, I mean... Well, I mean, you can't make somebody go drink, you know... Well, again, we made sure, to your point, I mean, again, that's why this year we took this on more in terms of making sure that we also advertised it. We also pushed information out to make sure that the individuals who need to get the information would get it, if not through our city apparatus, through the nine of us who serve. And so, you know, those who took advantage of the information were those who showed up. I don't know. Oh, I'm...

In addition, just so that you know, we did a 2050 transportation plan. So when you talk about people wanting things like bike lanes, we had a very robust public outreach. All of that information is going into this comprehensive planning document. So all of their feedback and all of their information is included as a component of that. So we have heard them. But again, that's why I gave out the QR code to all of you This information gives each person, we've got it set up so that each chapter is laid out on our website. If you've got a comment that you want to make, you can highlight it under that chapter and we get all that information and we look at it. So, you know, and we will have additional, a few additional meetings. But again, when we have had the meetings, you know, we haven't had a ton of people to turn out. But thank you.

All right, is there a motion for us to get this done?

Yes. Just one other question. So moved.

Probably moved and seconded. Yes, ma'am.

I'm kind of leery about inter-agency stuff. And so it doesn't mention anything. Is this specific to which area in Savannah?

You said the- This is basically, this is the city county. key that you can't because nobody else is really the county that this is this is city County city and county right right and county.

Right corporate County right. All in favor of him saying aye opposed motion passes. Let's move on to items number 45 approval of the 3rd amendment of the 2007 water and sewer agreement with the city of Bloomingdale Is your motion so is your second second all of them to get by saying aye opposed. Miss Johnson come back please. All of approved. I am number 46 of authorize city manager use of intimate domain acquire easements from from town property that I'll see the facility Cohen Street multimodal connection project located on that district one all the women in the air.

Yes, Mister, I move that we love the city manager authorized in the domain Eastman from the second property move the second all the favorite in the state by saying.

Mr. Mayor, just really quickly before there is one. There is one property owner that is here in attendance. Give me a call this morning and I told him, come on down to the council meeting because we are two minutes out from from coming to the council meeting. And I can't wrap my head around this issue quite yet, but just wanted to make sure that city staff had the opportunity to communicate with them and level set everything. So, Mr. Mayor, Mr. City Manager, if you could just explain a little bit about what's happening, the evaluation process Yes.

So we are negotiating with Frogtown Properties and their representatives over the purchase of an easement. And myself and members from the city attorney's office and my team met with those representatives two weeks ago. We are evaluating some asks that they've made of us about the route of that easement. And we're doing that as well. And we're hopefully still in negotiations about cost of that easement. The authorization today was put on the agenda by the city attorney based on his best judgment that we needed to make sure that we were doing everything we needed to do in our negotiation and our authority to move this matter along. And so I think we've been forthright with the representatives of Frogtown Properties, LLC, and their legal team.

All in favor indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed? Motion passes. Item number 47 is settlement number one.

Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor. I move for the motion to authorize the city attorney's office to settle a claim of Christian Aid, Jay Sellers, and Jay McKinney for a total of $170,000. Second.

Been probably moved and seconded that we authorize the city attorney's office to settle the claim of Christian Aid. Joe sellers and James McKinsey for a total $170,000 all of a ticket by saying I pose motion passes that ends our printed agenda, ladies and gentlemen. It's on you. I know in a minute, I'm just going to start walking. So that is up to you all. Alderman Lanier.

I don't have much. One thing, the Hudson Hill Neighborhood Organization on this Saturday will be honoring the seniors of the community. And we're having a luncheon. Mr. Mayor, you're invited. They told me you said you're coming. So we look forward to seeing you on this Saturday at 11 a.m. Thank you very much.

Looking forward to it. Alderman Leggett. I have a good week. Thank you.

All the women while the Brian rock the block starts next weekend. It'll be in the the church at five points and happy birthday to Marty Johnson was trying to run out of here. Oh, thank you.

Although all the women should pass.

Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor, I'd like to invite everyone out to the NAACP mass meeting on this coming Sunday. That is June the 2028. Our mayor will be bringing this state. The city of the state address update just an update and update an update of the city of the state of the city address at the end of the cp meeting and the location is. But the press but the press but but the Presbyterian Church on West victory drive.

Thank you thank you all been Palumbo.

Wish you all happy Independence Day. Thank you all the party to events and I was hoping. Older woman should as we grab this one here. July 8th July 8th the evening of July 8th right we're hosting our joint. Yes, Tom Hall is the 5th district, the 6th district and 6th district County commissioner starting at 06 PM. at the georgia coastal botanical gardens we'll be discussing things specific to the district the other thing is july 1st at 9 00 a.m we'll have the groundbreaking ceremony for the windsor forest community center at the corner of briarcliff and windsor road yes thank you

Mr. Mayor, in reference, thank you, Alderman Pertee. This is something historic and historic. We were talking about this. So we, the representatives of that area out there near Bradley Point and Bamboo Farms and Gateway, that all of us represent, so the county representative, myself and alderman purtee and and we're going to have uh county folks there and our senior manager his staff is going to be there just to give updates so just going to do a joint town hall meeting thank you all the women um all the women um miller-blake no no alderman wilder bryant is there something you wanted to announce that you just forgot to announce

No. Do you have a groundbreaking coming up?

Oh my goodness. That's right. We about to do it. We about to do it. We about to do it.

All right. Do it by hitting your mic.

July the 6th? Is it July the 6th? I forget the date, what it is.

Is it the 2nd? I think it's the 2nd.

Yeah, I forgot about it. That's a big one. That's a big one.

It's the 2nd, yes. At 9 a.m.?

The second 90 and also wanted to thank Jennifer Herman for sitting in for our attorneys on vacation, thank you always a great job.

All right, all women.

Thank you, Mister mayor, 2 things on this Sunday at Paulson stadium there will be an adult. field day um bring your adults only no children allowed no disrespect but um they're gonna do soccer uh football uh football kickball um water sports all that good stuff and it's um grown folks gonna be out there and i wanna say um to my oldest daughter Happy birthday. She will be 47 on her birthday on the 27th of this month. Happy birthday, Sequoia. Thank you.

And bring the Bengay because you're going to need it. We're going to bring the Bengay. We wanted to make sure everyone knows we will have the Georgia Municipal Association in town this week. We will have elected officials from Georgia's over 536 cities visiting us starting this evening. And so you will see mayors, city council members, city managers, city attorneys, city clerks, all visiting and enjoying our cities. Make sure you're nice and kind to them. Hospitality is what we do. And then also Marty Johnson celebrated a birthday yesterday. So happy birthday to the lady who does not age. And she is a valuable asset in the mayor's office. So we appreciate you, Marty. If there's nothing else, Mr. Mayor, do you have anything, sir? Yes, sir.

I'd just like to make an acknowledgement. We've been joined for the last few days by the ICMA Military Fellow, Eric Gordon, who's with us today. So... Mr. Gordon is the Deputy to the Commander in Army Support Activity at Fort Dix at the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, and he is the International City and County Manager Association Military Fellow this year, and he has been running around with Dr. Blalock and Joe Shearhouse and team engaging with every part of the City of Savannah and our community. We just wanted to welcome him here and thank him for for joining us.

Thank you. Mr. Mayor and council, please indulge me this one moment because first of all, I'm very grateful that I get the opportunity to say thank you. Thank you to the citizens and to the city of Savannah. What an awesome city that I agree. Thank you. I also saw some coins outside and I also decided, well, I think it's an opportunity. We also have coins in the Army. So what we do is when we see outstanding or awarded for excellence, and I'm all about the GPS, by the way, and all is all, right? And I'm down with that. So what I'd like to do, sir, is to present you on behalf of the United States Army Support Activity at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Unfortunately, that is not the greatest place on earth. You may already know, sir.

You sure do. Especially for the only veteran on this council. That's right. I'm going to remind him, too.

What's his name?

Thank you very much. Mr. Manager, anything else? Mr. Clerk, do you have anything? Madam Attorney, do you have anything? All right. Thank you. Oh, what happened to Kurt? Oh, that's right. I want to congratulate Curtis Pertee, who has been elected to the GMA Board of Directors, will be joining me on the Board of Directors on this Sunday. It's nothing but work. It's just nothing else for you to do. Thank you all. Team Savannah, we appreciate it. Thank you for joining us last night. We're adjourned.