City Council - Regular Meeting

Savannah City Council members. Van R. Johnson II, Mayor. Carol Bell, Post 1 at Large. Alicia Miller-Blakely, Post 2 at Large. Bernetta B. Lanier, District 1. Dietrich Leggett, District 2. Linda Wilder Bryan, District 3. Nick Palumbo, District 4. Dr. Estella Edwards-Shabazz, District 5. Curtis Pertee, District 6.

Mr. Clerk, are you ready to proceed?

Thank you.

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. Present. Post 2 Alderwoman Alicia Miller-Blakely. Present. District 1 Alderwoman Bernetta B. Lanier.

Present.

District 2 Alderman Dietrich Leggett. Here. And District 6 Alderman Curtis Pertee. Present. Mr. Mayor, you have a quorum.

I call this meeting of the Savannah City Council to order today is Thursday July 9th, 2026. The time is 2.05 p.m. We want to thank all of you and all of these amazing young people who are joining us today in chambers and of course everyone that is joining us across our social media platforms and of course our award-winning sgtv here at the city of savannah we say that savannah will be a safe environmentally healthy and economically thriving community for all and for us all means all so thank you all so much today's invocator will be introduced by district two at large alderwoman alicia miller-blakeley

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye. There's a new sheriff in town. Sheriff Richard S. Coleman is a Savannah native and proud 30-year Georgia-certified peace officer, a God-fearing leader, devoted father, and son of two respected retired Savannah Chatham educators, Coach Roosevelt Coleman and Principal Vernel Coleman. Sheriff Coleman's life and leadership are rooted in service, faith, and community. A graduate of Sol C. Johnson High School, We ain't gonna hold that against you, Sheriff. Sheriff Coleman holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice administration and a master's degree in public administration. He is also a certified Georgia law enforcement executive administrator and former chief of police. With experience at every level of law enforcement, Sheriff Coleman has served as chief of internal affairs, assistant chief of police, police operations commander, and chief of police. His career reflects strong expertise in staffing, budgeting, policy development resource, management, outsourcing, and community engagement. Sheriff Coleman was named Georgia Association of Black County Officials 2025 Sheriff of the Year and is the recipient of the 2026 Justice and Change Award and the 2026 Safe Streets Champion Award. I present to some and introduce to others our Sheriff of Chatham County, yeah, there you go,

Thank you. Thank you. I'm honored. Mr. Mayor. Thank you. To our amazing council, to Mr. Meldon and all the city officials, and to all of you wonderful, wonderful citizens of Savannah. God bless you all. It's an amazing time when the Tatham County Sheriff's Office can grace the presence of the city of Savannah government. So I'm honored to be here today. As I say the prayer, I want you to think on these three foundations, love, peace, and unity. No matter what problems that we have, no matter difficulties that face us, we can always work them out through love, peace, and unity. So as I say this prayer, Our Father's Prayer, keep those three foundations in your heart. Let's pray, please. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. And give us this day our daily bread and forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory Forever and ever. Amen. And remember Savannah. Thank you. Remember this, Savannah. Remember this, Savannah. Please, from your chair. When we talk about changes, no one person can do these things by themselves. But it's together, and together we can. God bless you all. Thank you so much. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

Let us honor our country.

of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you. You may be seated. Sheriff, thank you so much for joining us today. Thank you for your service to this community. Thank you for your energy. It's been a pleasure working with you, and we'll continue to do great work together. So thank you, sir.

Thank you, Sheriff. Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor. Are you ready, sir? Yeah. The landlord of the Coleman Inn.

There's a couple of moments. Yes, sir. Okay, move forward.

I would like to make a motion for items number one, to adopt the regular agenda meeting for July 9th, 2026. Second. Second.

They're probably moved and seconded that we adopt a regular meeting agenda for July the 9th, 2026. All in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion passes.

I'd like to make a motion for items number two and three for the approval of the minutes. for the work session and city manager's briefing held on June 25th, 2026 at 10.30 a.m. and for the approval of the minutes for the regular meeting held on June 25th, 2026 at two o'clock p.m. Second.

And probably move the second that we approve the minutes for the work session and city managers briefing held on June the 25th 2026 at 1030 AM and the minutes for the regular meeting held on June the 25th at 2 o'clock PM all the favor indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed? Motion passes. Couple quick announcements and I'll use those in the PURVIEW OF ORGANIZATIONAL ITEMS. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK TEAM SAVANNAH, MR. MANAGER, ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, SAVANNAH FIRE, SAVANNAH POLICE FOR AN ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING 250TH CELEBRATION OF OUR COUNTRY. SAVANNAH DID IT UP. SAVANNAH DID IT BIG. SAVANNAH DID IT SAFE. um and that does not happen by happenstance it happens by good work good planning by not only those that are entrusted but also from our community and so um we won't be here when 300 come some people will be but we won't be here but it was certainly a great celebration to luciana um she's here in the china all right thank you we're looking forward to some other great things to come alderman palumbo who uh led our 250th efforts it does not stop here It continues, and so we have some more exciting things still to come. The second thing is, as many of you know, it continues to be disrespectfully hot around these parts. And again, thank Team Savannah for your work to make sure that people are safe, people are cool. Our, excuse me, our COOLING CENTERS ARE OPEN, OUR SPLASH PADS ARE OPEN, OUR POOLS ARE OPEN, AND WE CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO HELP MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE. WE WILL ALSO BE ADDING THE BROCK AND HAVEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL POOLS TO OUR SWIM INVENTORY. THESE POOLS... THESE POOLS ARE NOT OWNED BY THESE POOLS ARE NOT OWNED BY THESE POOLS ARE NOT OWNED BY THE CITY OF SAVANNAH. THE CITY OF SAVANNAH. THE CITY OF SAVANNAH. THEY'RE OWNED BY THE BOARD OF THEY'RE OWNED BY THE BOARD OF THEY'RE OWNED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. EDUCATION. EDUCATION. AND WE REQUIRED THAT BEFORE WE AND WE REQUIRED THAT BEFORE WE AND WE REQUIRED THAT BEFORE WE PROGRAM THESE POOLS THAT THEY PROGRAM THESE POOLS THAT THEY PROGRAM THESE POOLS THAT THEY HAD TO BE INSPECTED AND THEY HAD TO BE INSPECTED AND THEY HAD TO BE INSPECTED AND THEY HAD TO PASS INSPECTION. HAD TO PASS INSPECTION. HAD TO PASS INS AND SO BECAUSE THEY ARE, WE WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES NOW TO DO SOME PROGRAMMING IN AN OPEN SWIM SITUATION. I BELIEVE THAT THE RENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE BOARD IS A DOLLAR PER POOL. So, Mr. Manager, I know that's within your purview, but if you don't mind, just so we're on the up and up, why don't we agendize that? I mean, obviously, you can approve it under your purview, but let's just agendize that for our next meeting, just for the record's sake. Yes, sir, we'll do. And Nick Nick is pulling out a dollar now no it's not that we already got it too late and this is a major you need one moment so. Again will will continue to do we can I think later on this year we can expect to have. Some expanded mo use with the board of education to be the help provide some of those services yes, ma'am.

Thank you. I want to personally thank the Board of Education for what they did. Also, one of the board members, Dr. Tanya Howard-Hall, is the one that made me aware that the pools had already been inspected and what have you. And I want to thank you, Mr. City Manager, for doing your due diligence as well. When will the pools actually be open so that those children can go and enjoy it?

We'll be making an announcement about the hours that will be open as soon as possible, hopefully tomorrow or Monday.

Tomorrow?

Yes, ma'am. We're going to get that out as soon as we can. We're still working through the staffing, and I've got to sign the rental agreement later this afternoon, so we're moving forward with all speed.

Mr. Mayor. Thank you.

Yes.

To the city manager, I also agree with the mayor about agendatizing this because I don't want to take five, so that's two. Get on the agenda. So that's two. Can we get three more so we can make sure it's all done?

I'm the mayor, so I'm going to agendize it. Again, it's within your purview, so we're just going to do that just as a matter of public record. I think hopefully y'all don't mind that.

No problem.

Okay, thank you. And then the city manager is still working with the Board of Education, and I guess in the fall we'll come up with an expanded MOA with the Board of Education for other facilities that are public facilities. and that if they own them, we can program them where we can. So thank you, Mr. Manager. Thank you, Team Savannah, for that, and thank you for your support in that area. So I have the pleasure of asking all of our folks from anybody who cares about smoke-free, come on up, smoke-free folks. Yes. Yes. This appears to be kind of a... This seems to be kind of a reunion tour. I remember literally 15 years ago when Georgia when Savannah, Georgia was the first in the state to enact this. And so 15 years later, we are here. Proclamation reads as follows, whereas the city of Savannah's smoke-free air ordinance, a landmark public health policy, was passed in 2010 and went into effect on January 1, 2011, prohibiting smoking, including the use of e-cigarettes, in all enclosed public places and workplaces, including restaurants and bars. And whereas this initiative was conceived by then-Mayor Otis Johnson, Ph.D., who founded Healthy Savannah in 2007 after experiencing a personal health crisis and was championed through the Breathe Easy Savannah campaign led by Healthy Savannah in partnership with community advocates, healthcare professionals, and business leaders. And whereas the passage of this ordinance made Savannah the first municipality in Georgia to enact a comprehensive smoke-free air policy, closing loopholes in state law and establishing a model for the region. And whereas this ordinance has had a bold, measurable, and lasting impact on public health in Chatham County, with statistics showing a nearly 50% decline in deaths due to obstructive heart disease from approximately 100 per 100,000 residents in 2013 to 58 per 100,000 in 2024. I'll read that again. From 100 per 100,000 in 2013 to 58 per 100,000 in 2024. And whereas data from the Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition and the Georgia Department of Public Health future demonstrate meaningful improvements, including a steady decline in emergency room visit rates due to asthma and a consistent decrease in the percentage of mothers who smoke during pregnancy since 2012. And whereas the success of Savannah's ordinance have paved the way for broader smoke-free policies through the region and state, including in Chatham County, the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, Memorial Health, all Georgia universities, and the city of Pula. And whereas Healthy Savannah, a public-private coalition of over 200 partner organizations continues to lead efforts to make the healthy choice the easy choice, and for all citizens, especially those in underserved communities, and has been recognized with the CDC's Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health Lark Galloway Gilliam Award for Advancing Health Equity. Now, therefore, I, Van R. Johnson II, Mayor of the City of Savannah, do hereby celebrate the 15th anniversary of the smoke-free air ordinance in Savannah and honor the visionary leadership of Mayor Otis Johnson and the city council at that time, of which I was blessed to be a part. The dedicated advocates and partners that made it possible and the lasting legacy of improved health and well-being for all residents, workers, and visitors are here to set my hand and cause the seal of the city of Savannah to be affixed. Ladies and gentlemen, when you know better, you do better. My father, bless his soul, used to smoke Newports, the menthol. I used to have to go run to the store to get him Newports. And then one day he stopped. We now have the statistics. We know what smoking does to people. We were very, very clear at the time that we did not want employees and those who were trying to make a living to be a victim of secondhand smoke. And that's what this was all about. And since... No, don't clap there. No, you don't have to clap there. But we have young people here. Don't y'all start. Don't start. Y'all are athletes. Y'all are smart. Don't even start. It's hard to start, but it's hard to quit too. So again, congratulations to Healthy Savannah and all the partners, you know, this is certainly a milestone event. Savannah has led the way in so many ways and certainly leading it in the health equity space, so.

Thank you. I'll be brief. I just want to thank mayor and council for this amazing, amazing acknowledgement. Savannah smoke-free air ordinance is one of, if not the strongest in the entire country. And it's that way due to many, many people, as you see here from many organizations, many hands went together to make this happen. So I want to thank this council, but also the previous council that originally passed it. It makes sense now, but I know it took a lot of brave people to make that a reality 15 years ago. So it's my hope that 15 years from now, we'll be right back here celebrating 30 years of smoke-free air. Thank you, guys.

Thank you. While we have all the partners, a name and an agency you're representing.

Okay.

He makes me do this every time. So Paula Chrysler, I'm retired, healthy Savannah, but yeah. So Amy, Christina, and Lee, they were all part of the original team, as was Mayor Johnson. We just, we, it was amazing. It was just some incredible work that was able to happen under the leadership of former Mayor Otis Johnson. We are so grateful for him and his leadership. And, you know, I was just talking to, I think it was Armand, when we were talking about, then we had St. Patrick's Day right after that. And so we had posters, thanks to Amy, that we learned that Ireland, so the poster said, Ireland is smoke-free and so are we. So it's just... And we do. We still hold up the strongest ordinance in the country. We've got so many people behind us. The tobacco industry continues to try to crack open strong smoke-free air ordinances. And I'm just going to try to encourage the council to hold, hold, hold, and just don't let them sway you any which way because the impact that it's had to the health of our community has just been amazing. Thank you.

All right, name an organization. So come on, come on, come on. Christina, come on. We'll start here, name an organization.

Hi, Christina Gibson, Coastal Health District Chronic Disease Prevention.

Hello, Katie McCauley-Sykes, Chatham County Health Department, public health educator for the county.

Tom Bullock, chair of the board for Healthy Savannah.

Hayley Hughes, volunteer.

Ruby Castro, nutrition manager for Healthy Savannah.

Amy Hughes, Hughes Public Affairs. Miranda Lumpkin-Lotson, board member, Team Savannah.

Blake Caldwell, prior chair of the board of Healthy Savannah.

Crystal Sharp, Chatham County Health Department and board member for Healthy Savannah.

Tiffany Buckle-McCartney, I'm on the board for Healthy Savannah.

Hello, Claudia Regis-Garcia for Amanecer de Fe y Gloria Ministry, and I'm also a volunteer with Healthy Savannah. Thank you.

Hello, I'm Laura Schmarke with Goodwill Southeast Georgia and board member on Healthy Savannah.

Hello, Chelsea Simpson, Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia and chair of the Healthy Savannah Steering Committee.

Dr. Bonzo Reddick, Health Director for Georgia Department of Public Health's Coastal Health District and Chief Medical Officer for Chatham County Health Department.

Ndeide Okai, Coastal Health District, Adolescent Health and Youth Development.

And Van Johnson, a member of the Chatham County Board of Health. I am, so thank you all so much. Again, we appreciate your hard work, and it's important sometimes to go back and remember how far you've come. And so we appreciate all of you, appreciate your advocacy, and appreciate you for being so mad and strong.

Thank you all so much. Thank you.

We now have an appearance and recognition of Georgia Power for supporting the City Hall Interior Restoration Project for China.

Good afternoon, City Council. Luchana Spraker, your Archives and History Officer. On behalf of the entire City of Savannah team working on the City Hall restoration project, we wanted to invite Georgia Power, and I'm joined here by William Mock, who's the Southeast Region Representative, and Mickey Daniel, the Chatham County Representative. We asked them to come to city councils today because we wanted to publicly thank them for their generous donation to the restoration project of $40,000 to restore the electric lighting to the interior stained glass dome. This donation supplements an earlier donation of $50,000 that Georgia Power made in 2024, which supported the restoration of the original historic brass lighting fixtures, both here in the council chamber and in the rotunda. That contribution helped this room reclaim the title Chamber of Brilliance that it earned when the building opened in 1906. With this second donation, the enhanced lighting of the stained glass dome shows off the beautiful colors of this important original architecture feature, including golds, ambers, blues, greens, and pink. I've had many people in the past couple of weeks since the lighting was turned on say they didn't even know that dome had pink and green in it. So I think while the dome had original electrical lighting when the building opened in 1906, over 120 years that lighting system had broken down. And so this restoration helps bring this feature back to its original beauty. Georgia Power's support of this project has been instrumental in moving forward our project and it recognizes the historic role of their predecessor, Savannah Electric and Power Company, that they played when the building opened in 1906 and the city government first embraced that modern technology of electricity when the building opened. So we're really grateful for Georgia Power's support and both Mickey Williams' help in getting us that community grant to help move this project forward. So we wanted to bring them in front of us and publicly say thank you, give them a very small token of thanks, and just really, really, really thank them for helping us move this project along.

Thank you.

Thank you a lot.

I'll just add, you know, this council and this community through SPLOST has invested mightily in the restoration of the people's building here. And I think, you know, that investment begets more. And so we're very thankful for Georgia Power and these historic lighting and the dome, which is so beautiful. Thank you so much for all the support. Thank you.

All right, gentlemen, which one?

So Mayor Alderman and members of the council, thank you for this recognition. On behalf of Georgia Power, we are honored to be a partner in the restoration of the Savannah City Hall in the installation of the new dome lighting system. City Hall is one of the most iconic landmarks in our city, representing its rich history, character and civic spirit of the community. We are proud to help make this historic dome even more visible to people who work in the building, to visitors, and to residents. Our hope is that this illuminated dome will not only serve as a beautiful feature of this magnificent building, but also as a source of pride, highlighting the history and heritage that makes Savannah such a special place. We thank you for the opportunity to be of support, and we thank you for your continued partnership. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mock. Appreciate you. Thank you very much. Appreciate you. Thank you all so much.

And ladies and gentlemen, I think we have some champions in the house. I'm looking. I don't see them. I know I don't hear them. Do we have some champions in the house? Yes. That's a little bit weak. Do we have any champions in the house? Come on up, champions. Let's take a look at you. Come on. Come on, ladies.

All right. All right.

All right, good. Give it up, give it up, give it up. Give it up.

You're not going to give me no tap? You're not going to give me no tap? You're not going to give me no tap?

Oh. All right.

All right.

How are you?

You're not going to give me no tap?

Give me the tap.

So I have you on this side. Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce these amazing young ladies. The mayor and alderman of the city of Savannah proudly recognize the outstanding accomplishments of the Savannah Police Athletic League. girls flag football program whose athletes, coaches, volunteers, and members of the Savannah Police Department demonstrated exceptional commitment to youth development, teamwork, sportsmanship, and community engagement. And whereas the Savannah Police Athletic League continues to strengthen relationships between law enforcement and youth of our community by providing positive mentorship, athletic opportunities, leadership development, and a safe environment where young people can grow both on and off the playing field. Whereas the 2026 Savannah Pals Girls Flag Football Program enjoyed an exceptional, someone say exceptional.

Exceptional.

Season, which is three teams combining for an outstanding 21 wins and nine losses.

Yeah. Yeah.

But get this, finishing first, second, and third.

Wow. Yeah.

In The Savannah, City of Savannah's Girls Flag Football League Tournament, an extraordinary accomplishment that reflects the dedication of athletes, coaches, volunteers, and supporters of this program. Whereas PAL Team Purple Rain, where's Purple Rain? I mean, don't get here and get cute now. Make some noise for them. Where's Purple Rain? All right. Coached by Udon Carter. captured both the 2026 regular season championship and the 2026 tournament championship, finishing with an outstanding 9-1. Yeah. Overall record. And they, Al Escobar, secured the championship by defeating Pal Team Maroon Comeback by a score. I said it wrong? Oh, Team Maroon, that's what he told me. By a score of 12 to six on June the 27th, 2026. And whereas Pau Team Maroon Comeback, coached by Shawn Milton, Alexandria Brooks, and Yakara Milton, I pronounced it right, earned, thank you, earned the tournament runner-up title, while Pau Team Silver Bullet, coached by Matthew, All right, we know where they are. Captured third place in the tournament, demonstrating the overall strength and excellence of the Savannah-Powell program. Whereas team Purple Rain proudly represented Savannah-Powell with the following championship roster. Harmony Frederick, Asani Lawton, Lashay Sanders, Brielle Keefe, Krishana Smith, Tiana Smith, Tiara Smith, Dakota Randall, Nakori Morris, Gabrielle Olson, Jillian Atkins, Zaria Wilson, Zaria Hayes, Diane Miller, Rosari Moss, and Jasmine Lawton. And whereas these accomplishments, what?

Why are y'all laughing at me?

Mayor Johnson, that's a teenage thing.

I mean, let me in on the joke. I mean, I don't know. Y'all laughing.

Joke's on you.

All right. Obviously. Whereas these accomplishments are a testament not only to the dedication of the athletes, but also the unwavering commitment of their coaches, families, volunteers, and the members of the Savannah Police Department, whose mentorship and service continues to inspire the next generation of leaders. Now, therefore, I, Van R. Johnson, the second mayor of the city of Savannah, on behalf of the Savannah City Council and the citizens of this great city, do hereby congratulate the 2026 Savannah Powell Athletic League Girls Flag Football Championship Team, Purple Reign, But we also salute Team Maroon Comeback, and we also support PAL Team Silver Bullet. And we extend our sincere cooperation for their dedication to excellence and your positive representation of our community. Your hard work, determination, and sportsmanship serve as an inspiration to young people throughout our city, and we commend each of you for making helping to make the 2026 Savannah PAL girls flag football season an exception to success. Ladies and gentlemen, I proudly say that I am a PAL kid. I grew up with PAL. In Brooklyn, that was an opportunity for young kids to get off the street. And when I got on council, I wanted to bring PAL here to Savannah because we recognize that it worked well in New York for police officers, that now are known as coaches, now known as mentors, now known as friend, now known as role models. And so this has been a great success. We started off with the young men, and the young ladies said, we could do more than cheer.

That's right. That's right.

That's right. And so we said we would. We said we would, let's try flag football. And it's been an absolute success here. More importantly, the mothers of tomorrow are right here. The princesses of today, right here. And if they can succeed here in flag football, they can succeed in school. They can succeed in their communities. They can succeed in life, they can succeed at home, and they don't need no crazy head boy telling them what to do, right? That's right.

That's right. Right? Right. Clock that, right? Clock that, right?

Clock that. Yeah. Yeah. So I want to thank council for the continued support, certainly city manager to chief, there he is, all right, to... To Chief Gunther, Chief Gavin, to Coach Carter, to all of them, Devon Adams, when he was here, he was my lead on this. Again, wonderful way for us to engage with police in a constructive way and another way for us to get them off the street.

Thank the mothers, too.

All right, so I'm getting, can I?

You ain't got that yet? Okay. I'm getting there. Jokes on me now.

But we also recognize that it takes an entire village to raise young people. So to our parents and moms, grandmoms, dads, thank you. Thank you for allowing us to love on your young people, sometimes in a little harsh way, a little stern way, but it builds character. And to all of our coaches, thank you, thank you, thank you.

Coach Carter.

I want to thank council and the mayor, everyone that's here. I'm going to be very short. There was one of my players wrote me something I did not respond to. I waited for this moment to respond to it. I'm going to read what this player wrote me. He said, thank you, coach. Thank you so much for everything over the past two months. When I walked into the first practice, I was doubting myself the whole time. But you constantly encouraged me and told me to keep my head up. Our team started from absolutely nowhere. That is true. But look how far we have come. I actually won the championship. Because of your guidance, I did not become, I didn't just become a better flag football player, you genuinely helped me become a better person. I am so incredibly happy and proud that I got to play for your team. You are an amazing coach, and you've honestly been like a father figure to me. That really touched me. Thank you for believing in us and bringing home the win.

Good afternoon, everybody. I think if we just take a moment and just really look what's in front of us and what's behind me, we're looking at our future. I know I can speak for the collective and say that we are so very proud of these young ladies and what they have accomplished. You're really good when you have to play yourself to get the championship. That's talent. But most of all, by us being here and celebrating these 2026 flag football champions, girls team, it really underscores the mission of PALS. Perseverance, dedication, leadership, mentorship, and really showing what's capable when you put your minds to it. So let's take this opportunity to again, celebrate, acknowledge the future, and give these young ladies another round of applause.

So,

We'll start here, your name and your grade in school, okay? Yes. Yes. I run this, yes. Yes. So, but you have to do it loud so everybody can hear you. So we're gonna start here. Come on, come on sweetie, come on. Don't make me get coach on you. Name and school, come on.

Come on, go ahead. My name is Diane and I go to Southwest Elementary.

All right.

My name is Brielle Keith and I go to Leroy Myers Middle School.

My name is Asani Lawson and I go to Leroy Myers Middle School.

My name is Tiara Smith and I go to Leroy Myers Middle School. My name is Tiana Smith. I'm going to 8th grade and I go to Leroy Myers Middle School. My name is now Cory Morris and I'm going to, I go to Leeward-Miles Middle School.

Yeah, third district. My name is Gabrielle Austin. I go to Leeward-Miles Middle School and I'm going to eighth grade. Come on now.

My name is Kashana Smith.

I'm going to eighth grade. I go to Leeward-Miles Middle School.

Yeah. My name is Jillian Atkins. I'm going into ninth grade and I'm going to Islands High School. That's close. My name is Zariah Hayes. My name is Zariah Hayes, and I go to Susie King Taylor, and I'm going to sixth grade. Third district still. My name is Jasmine, and I'm going to eighth grade, and I'm in Southwest Middle School. Yes. My name is Raya Jewin, and I go to Girls' High School.

All right.

That one's going to be a boo-boo.

My name is Destiny Miller, and I go to the Red Bulls. My name is Harmony Johnson and I go to Durand Middle School.

Okay.

My name is Cassie Bow and I go to Durand Middle School.

What school?

My name is Cassie Bow and I go to Durand Middle School. All right.

Come on. My name is Maya Thomas and I'm going to . My name is Maya Thomas and I'm going to .

No, 9th grade Island.

My name is Andrea and I'm going to Butler Elementary School. My name is Lyric and I go to Oglethorpe Charter School.

My name is Sydney and I'm going to Juliello.

Come on, yeah. My name is Davianna, and I'm going to Savannah Classical.

All right.

My name is Jay Addison. I'm going to the seventh grade. I go to Oglethorpe Charter School. My name is Brooke Milton. I'm 11, and I'm going to sixth grade. And you know, I'm still the king. All right. My name is Elin. My name is Elin Chambers, and I'm going to sixth grade at Rice Creek K3. All right. My name is Kennedy. I'm going to fifth at Garrison Performing Arts. My name is Kamaria Scott. I'm going to seventh grade and I go to Overthorpe Charter School. My name is Amaya Jackson. I'm going to fifth grade and I go to Pulaski K-8.

My name is Charlie Williams and I'm going to Rice Creek.

My name is Tiana Melton and I go to Rice Creek. My name is Aria Williams, and I go to STEM Academy, and I'm going to seventh grade.

My name is Zoe Williams.

I go to Pulaski K-8, and I'm going to sixth grade. Yeah.

And to all of our coaches, y'all come up, but don't tell us what school you go to, OK?

I'm Coach Melton. Coach Milton. Thank you.

I'm Coach White. I coached the Silver Bullets third place.

Yeah.

I'm Coach Sean Milton, and I got the comebacks.

All right.

I'm Coach Brooks, and I got the comeback too.

Come on now.

And I'm Coach Carter. Come on, Carter. I got the champion purple ring. Yeah.

Y'all must have really practiced that, so. Thank you all again, ladies, again. If you look, one second, y'all, one second. I want all of you to turn around. Because if you look back at these jerseys, you see what they say? It says Savannah, right? So you're representing us. You're representing your families. You're representing yourselves, all right? Keep making us proud. Be champions everywhere you go. God bless you all, and congratulations. Thank you all so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Major Young, Coach Carter.

Appreciate you, y'all. Good job. All right.

I want to take a quick minute before we move on. Chef Joe Jackson is here. And we have our interns from a seat at the table. Would y'all stand up and come through for a minute? Nobody ate it. Yeah. Y'all come on up. So Chef Jack Jackson and these amazing young people from a seat at the table, Chef Jackson has an amazing business in which he mentors through a youth culinary and military program. And so just so that you know, these individuals provided your lunch today. So, Chef, thank you so much, and you're part of our Launch Savannah initiative, so I was excited to spend time with you this week. Come on and say hello.

Hello. Hi, everybody. First, I want to say thank you to the mayor's office, the mayor, and council for inviting us to prepare lunch today. It was a great experience for the young men. First time here, first invite, so we hope you guys enjoyed the lunch so we can be invited back again. but more importantly, for them young men to work first time in City Hall, living in Savannah all their lives. This experience for them was great, and we just hope that we get the opportunity to do it again.

Thank you. Mayor Johnson. Mayor Johnson.

Mayor Johnson. Y'all big old fellas, so I want to hear some bass in your voice. Come on. Name and...

Hey, how you doing? I'm Kamari Hagan. I've been with Chef Jack and his crew for about like a year and a half now. I've been having a wonderful time. Beautiful advice that I could use in real life, I feel like. So I've been having a very wonderful time.

Yeah, good for you. All right. Thank you.

hello my name is jamarius jackson i've been here since january and i've been enjoying my time here hello uh hey y'all i'm davis and uh i've been here since about june and it's kind of like

No, it's all right. It's all right. It's all right.

It's all right.

You must be burning up food.

It's better to be all right than not all right. So we'll take it. Come on.

That's great. My name is Jaheim Hall. I've been with Chef Jack for a long time. So I do my job right.

Yeah. OK.

Well, I was just asked to say we're actually on the South Side, 6th District, 205 Television Circle. And we're actually open three days a week now, but we are looking to expand the hours and seat at the Table Cafe. And we just, our mission is basically providing jobs for the youth in the area. And we just continue to do that. And we're grateful for the opportunity to serve our community in that way. Thank you.

Thank you. Good job. Excellent, excellent. Keep it up.

Let me also mention that for the ONES grants that we offer every year, that we fund, they're one of the grantees. So you see where... You see where your funds, your benevolence helps and goes directly to young people. Yes, ma'am.

And one of the interns is a Summer 500 intern.

Okay, thank you. Mayor Johnson. Thank you all so much.

Yes. That program is a phenomenal program. And Coach, I mean, Chef Jackson, if anybody wanted to be a part of it, how can they become a part of that program?

Find us online. Facebook, of course, Chef Jack, A Cedar to the Table Cafe. And we have a website, which is www.acedertotetablecafe.org.

Sounds good. I didn't get a plate, so I would like.

I believe there's still some food upstairs left. All right. Thank you. Lisa, macaroni and cheese, I think, is left. Take care. Mr. Mayor. Yes.

A young lady with the same T-shirt on just came through the door.

That's, she the daughter.

My name is Victoria Jackson and I assist Chef Jack with pictures and videos and stuff. Thank you. Yes.

Excellent. All right.

Mr. Mayor.

Yes.

We also have another grant recipient over here that came from the ONES program. I was very good today. Okay, I'm sorry, sir.

I got you. I'm sorry. So y'all come on up too now. Y'all want to come and say hello?

All right.

Y'all don't want to come say hello? Thank you. Come on. Again, ladies and gentlemen, when we are putting money into... into communities, the money we put into communities reaches real lives.

That's right.

We can't do all the work ourselves.

That's right.

So we invest in organizations that are doing it.

So come on up.

come on around y'all come on this has been um an incredible experience for us that my name is nancy maya and i'm the president for the victorian neighborhoods association this is the first year that we have received this grant and these kids work really hard and i'm telling you the victorian district right now is looking really good so i'll let them introduce yourselves but thank you for this grant because it has been an incredible experience

My name is Izani. I go to Jenkins High School and I'm going to the 10th grade. Yay!

My name is Amari and I go to Jenkins High School and I'm going to the 11th grade.

Yes!

My name is Ephraim Singleton and I go to Remnant Kingship Academy and I'm going to the 10th grade. My name is Kalesia. I'm going to Johnson. I'm at Johnson High School and I'm going to the 10th grade.

My name is Sean Smith. I attend Windsor Forest High School and I'm going to the 10th grade.

My name is Amadji Carter and I'm going to Savannah High and I'm going to the 9th grade. And I love my job. My name is Ashton, and I go to Johnson, and I'm going to the 10th grade. Very good.

Go, Nancy.

And I'm Martin and one of the team leaders. Thank you, guys.

Thank you, Council. So this is one of our neighborhood improvement teams in action, and they've joined us as guests of Alderman Lega today at City Hall and toured the Gamble Building, and we're glad that we're there with them. The mayor asked me to roll into our next presentation, Mayor Pro Tem, which is a recognition of our Bridge to Success internship program. here at Team Savannah, and I want to introduce Cadetra Ortez, who's going to talk about Bridge to Success and introduce all of our wonderful interns.

City Manager, good afternoon. Mayor, council, city leaders, and distinguished guests. I am Cadetra Ortiz. I serve as the recruitment coordinator here for the great city of Savannah with the Office of Human Resources. And as many of you know, the Bridge to Success Student Internship Program is a structured 12-week internship program that was thoughtfully developed over a three-year period and officially launched last August with the help of my colleague, my assistant director, Tiffany Martin, and my right hand, Miss Tammy Hines, here with the Office of Human Resources. Now in its third cohort, the program is designed to serve more than 120 participants over the first five years, creating meaningful, yeah, creating meaningful pathways for students and recent graduates to explore career opportunities in public service. This summer, we received more than 100 applications for the program, making the selection process highly competitive. We have eight interns. We have five with us today. We are proud to recognize this exceptional group of students who were selected to participate in this cohort. Throughout the summer, these talented interns contributed to meaningful projects across a variety of different city departments while gaining valuable hands-on experience serving our community. Their work reflects the city's commitment to investing in our future talent and strengthening our workforce. This cohort represents several outstanding institutions, including our partner institution, Savannah State University. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Two-time alumni. The Savannah State University, Georgia Southern University, as well as Kennesaw State University, the University of Georgia, and Millsap College. Today, we are proud to recognize our cohort three of the Bridge to Success Student Internship Program. And at this time, we'll let each of them introduce themselves. They'll say their name, their college or university, and their area of study, and what department they're interning with.

Hello. Hi. My name is Shania Sims. I go to Kennesaw State University. I'm majoring interactive design and I'm interning in the Department of Information and Public Affairs.

Excellent. Yeah.

Greetings, counsel. My name is Victoria Graham. I am a senior major in criminal justice at the Savannah State University. By the way, I just got my associate's in May. Congratulations. And I currently intern with Recorder's Court. Very good.

Hello, council. My name is Michaela Danieli. I'm a junior at Georgia Southern University. I'm majoring in political science, and I'm an intern with the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility.

Hello, my name is Sierra. I go to the University of Georgia. I'm studying civil engineering. You go, you go. And I'm interning with the water resources department.

I know that's right.

Good afternoon, council. My name is Avery Young. I'm pursuing a graduate degree in public administration at University of Georgia, and I'm with the Department of Planning and Urban Design. Very good, very good.

Please join me in congratulating our summer 2026 interns cohort.

I say it a lot, I'll say it again. Great public service starts with great public servants. We've enjoyed the great public servants that we've had this summer, and hopefully we'll see many of them come back to join Team Savannah full-time someday. Great work. Good job, y'all.

Again, ladies and gentlemen, if you look at the theme this morning, this afternoon, we are building bridges. Our success is tied to our succession. And so if they're very, very little or if they're in college, we are creating opportunities for them to be great right here where they are. So thank you for your investment, Mr. Manager. Thank you for the work that goes and gets involved with doing that. So we appreciate it. A couple of quick housekeeping notes that I have to do. I'm going to take a quick moment of personal privilege. Would our city attorney, Bates Lovett, please come forward. Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the city of Savannah, it's my pleasure to extend this certificate of appreciation to Bates Lovett in recognition of five years of dedicated service and commitment to the city of Savannah, although it's been way more than that. Yeah, it's been like seven. Y'all clap for our city attorney. Yeah, he's been around for longer than that, but we got it, so you get it. So congratulations. We appreciate you and appreciate all that you continue to do for us. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you, council. Thank you.

You're welcome, most definitely.

And Mark Massey, would you please join us? Mr. Massey, would you please join us?

Come on, Mark. You're having a good year, Massey.

Ladies and gentlemen, the 2026 Georgia Municipal Association Clerk of the Year. Yay, Mr. Massey! So, when... When I go around the state and say, my clerk is better than yours.

You're right. No, that's right. You're right.

Mr. Massey, Mr. Massey, Mr. Massey, come back over here, sir. We were so excited. Mark has been an absolute blessing to us. Yes. As I've said before, he is a consummate professional. So much so that he is a district representative on the International Institute of Municipal Clerks. So he continues to make us proud. He continues to be a resource for clerks everywhere. Everyone says they call on Mark for advice and for the answer because Mark has the answer.

So, Mr. Massey. Thank you, Mr. Massey. And to you, Mr. Mayor, for being the Hall of Fame recipient. As well, that takes hard work. And thank you for the opportunity. All right, Mr. Massey, we appreciate you. The things I couldn't say during the award because I was totally floored. Thanks to Gwen and Renee and Edith. What I'm able to do is because they're there to help me do it and listen to me fuss about doing it, right? And then, of course, to all the other clerks throughout Georgia, but now through the world, right? That's right. So thank you all for the opportunity to do that.

Mr. Massey, Mr. Bates, thank you all for keeping us out of jail. Appreciate you.

We continue to look, and Mr. Massey is actually doing the research. We believe he might be one of the only. individuals that has been named not only georgia county clerk of the year but now also georgia city clerk So you got the EGOT, so you're in there. So thank you and congratulations to you. All right, ladies and gentlemen, let's get into it. We have alcohol license hearings. We have items number seven, eight, nine, 10, 11, and 12. I understand there might be some comments on one of them, so we will pull those. So let's move to eight, nine, 10, 11, and 12. Item number eight is approval of a Class C liquor, beer, and wine by the drink alcohol license of Sunday Sales Teresa Moult-Lugler for Oglethorpe Club Liberty, a restaurant at 12 West Liberty Street. IN AUTOMATIC DISTRICT 2. ITEM NUMBER 9 IS APPROVAL OF A CLASS C LIQUOR BEER AND WINE BY THE DRINK LICENSE TO OJOSFI TRIKA, THE TOTALLY AWESOME BAR AT 107B LUIDICA STREET IN AUTOMATIC DISTRICT 2. ITEM NUMBER 10 IS APPROVAL OF A CLASS E WINE BY THE PACKAGE IN CLASS G WINE COMPLIMENTARY ALCOHOL LICENSE TO CHANEL PARKER FOR NELLY'S GROCERY IN WINE, A GROCERY STORE AT 630 INDIAN STREET, SUITE A. THIS IS IN DISTRICT 2. ITEM NUMBER 11 IS APPROVAL OF A CLASS G WINE COMPLIMENTARY BY THE DRINK ALCOHOL LICENSE TO CAROLYN SANFORD FOR TEJAN PERFUME LAB, A SPECIALTY RETAIL SHOP AT 7 WEST YORK STREET IN AUTOMATIC DISTRICT 2. And item number 12 is approval of a Class C liquor, beer, and wine by the drink alcohol license with Sunday sales to Pravnav Patel for the Taco Stotch, a restaurant located at 940 Chatham Center Drive, Suite 102 in Automatic District 5. So this is a public hearing that I am declaring open. Does anyone have anything against any of these items? Go on once. Going twice? Yes. Wait, I didn't go three yet. Speak now, if I ever hold your peace.

Can we close the hearing, please, Mr. Mayor?

All the men per team. Second probably move the second all that they indicate by saying aye. Opposed motion passes I number 8, which is for reason. Most look girl there are about a pretty answer on all the thought Club liberty all the leg it.

Yes, Mister Max that we approve the class C liquor bill why by the drink alcohol license was Sunday sales to reason.

I don't want for alcohol for the Oglethorpe Club on Liberty second probably move the second all in favor indicate by saying aye opposed opposed my motion passes 8 to 1 I'm number 9 is a class C license for totally awesome bar in automatic district 2 Alderman Leggett yes sir mr. Mack said we approve the class C liquor beer and wine by the drink alcohol license to for a totally awesome bar

Second.

Probably move to second. All in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. Opposed?

Opposed.

Motion passes 7-2. Item 10, yes. All right. Clerk. Clerk for number eight. That would be number eight. Right. So we'll change that to 7-2. And then number nine is 7-2 as well. Item number 11. I'm sorry. Item number 10 is for Nellie's Grocery and Wine at 630 Indian Street and Alderman Leggett.

Yes, sir. Mr. Max, we approve the Class E wine by the package and a Class G wine complimentary alcohol license to Chanel Parker for Nelly's Grocery and Wine.

Second.

Probably move to second.

All in favor indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

opposed opposed motion passes seven two thank you very much item number eleven uh this is for uh ty john perfume lab uh seven west york street automatic district two alderman leggett yes sir mr max that we approve the class g wine complimentary by the drink alcohol license to carolyn sanford for tijon perfume lab second PROBABLY MOVING THE SECOND ALL IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE OPPOSED MOTION PASSES 7-2 I'M NUMBER 12 A PRO APPROVAL OF A CLASS C LIQUOR BEER AND WINE BY THE DRINK ALCOHOL LICENSE TO THE TACO STOTCH AND 940 CHATHAM CENTER DRIVE AUTOMATED DISTRICT 5 ALDO AMERICA BASS

Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion for the approval of a Class C liquor, beer, and wine by the drink-alcohol license for Sunday sales to Mr. Patel at the Taco Stotch restaurant located at 940 Chatham Center Drive in Automatic District 5.

SECOND PROBABLY MOVED IN SECONDED ALL IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE AYE OPPOSED OPPOSED MOTION PASSES SEVEN TWO THANK YOU VERY MUCH MOVING BACK TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN IS APPROVAL OF A CLASS E WINE BY THE PACKAGE IN CLASS G COMPLIMENTARY LINE ALCOHOL LICENSE TO THOMAS E DENARD THE THIRD FROM SAVANNAH B COMPANY A SPECIALTY RETAIL SHOP AT 313 STYLES AVENUE THE ESTABLISHMENT IS LOCATED BETWEEN FELEY AVENUE AND MAGAZINE AVENUE AND AUTOMATIC DISTRICT ONE THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. I DO HAVE TWO COMMENTS. DOES ANYONE BEYOND THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS HAVE COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? OKAY. WE HAVE LAKESHA HODGES. PLEASE COME UP. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO GIVE YOUR COMMENT. IT NEEDS TO BE DIRECTED TOWARD THIS PARTICULAR LICENSE. AND IF IT'S NOT, WE'RE GOING TO CALL YOU OUT OF WATER. SO PLEASE COME ON. And the question will be why this particular applicant, Thomas E. Denard III, should not be granted a Class E wine by the package or Class G complimentary wine alcohol license by this council. So yeah, there you go. So state your name, I think it's Lakeisha Hodges, right?

It is.

All right, thank you. You can go start.

Okay, good afternoon, mayor and council.

Good afternoon, thank you for coming.

Thank you for having me. Um, if we are truly given going to value the purpose of the alcohol overlay district, then we must also value the reason it was created. The overlay was put in place because the community recognized that the concentration of alcohol sales created problems that negatively impacted surrounding neighborhoods. These concerns don't suddenly disappear because a business is located just outside of the overlay. That is my concern. that it's not far enough and that community will be severely impacted by it. However, if we are going to approve this as a council, as a city, then we need to revisit the overlay and approve other businesses that are with inside of it. That is my concern.

Okay, thank you very much. Rashida Edwards.

Good afternoon, Mayor and Council. Good afternoon. My name is Rashida Edwards, and I'm a proud native of Savannah's 1st District with deep roots in Cloverdale, Carver Village, Hudson Hill, Woodville, and West Savannah. As a lifelong resident of the 1st District and owner of Vincent Special Events Center, located in the Bay Street Viaduct area, adjacent to the West Savannah community, I'm deeply invested in the decision being made here today because they directly affect the community I call home. For the past four years, I've consistently heard neighborhood presidents, Marsha Buford, Glenda Jones, Betty Jones, and members of city council say that they will not support any additional alcohol establishments in this area. Nearly 10 years ago, lines were drawn that effectively determined where a new license could and could not be approved. In the Savannah Morning News, Attorney Yelling stated, We're trying to do the alcohol to get an increased revenue to make it something that could be beneficial to the community and sustainable. If that is truly the standard, then it should be applied equally. Today, the Savannah Bee Company seeks approval to become the second business to receive a new license in this area. Neither of the two businesses approved, well, if they get approved, represent the surrounding community. During the approximate four years that it has been in operation in this community, there's no documented record of direct community investment or sustained neighborhood give back. Meanwhile, in an email sent to mayor and council on June 5th, 2025, West Savannah resident Latasha Anthony wrote, we do not want to continue watching businesses move into our area, make millions and never return the favor. We want establishments that become a part of our ecosystem, not ones that exploit it. In that same letter, Ms. Anthony advocated for another business just 60 seconds away from Savannah Bee Company. There's two businesses that have operated in this community essentially for the same amount of time, yet one consistently has poured back resources in the surrounding community.

Go ahead and finish your sentence, and that's the end of your statement. Thank you very much. All right, any other comments? The motion to close the hearing. Mr. Mayor.

Yes. Please let me handle the first district business.

Mr. Mayor, I move you close the hearing. All right. Is there a second? Second. Then properly moved and seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed? Motion passes. The motion passes. The hearing is closed. Any comments from council? Yes, Mr. Mayor. Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am.

Okay. So there's a cliche that says if it's not broke, don't fix it. And in this instance right now, we got something that's broken really bad. And I've been working on this since I've been on council. And we're talking seven years, six and a half. And we're getting close to making some adjustment. I've been working with the city attorney. We got a really healthy draft that will solve the immediate issue. because the issue is much bigger than the alcohol overlay. Now, the community that I represent in the greater west side, all of those old slave plantations, turn, neighborhood, have always been inhibited through structural and systemic racism through codes like this one. Back in Jim Crow time, we had the black codes, and they are very similar to what we're seeing here. And I bring up the history because we need to know where we came from so we'll know where we're going and so we won't repeat the errors we've made in the past. Right now in West Savannah, We're experiencing aggressive, very aggressive growth and development, but it's not smart growth and development. And the growth and development is moving so fast that this council, this city government have not kept up with the policies to be out in front of the growth and development to make sure that the people are protected and we can have economic freedom because in the same Model that the mayor speak every time we meet we say we want economically For all and all means all it hasn't happened for all but we keep saying that so we could do it We could get there. Well, we're gonna have to be responsible Administrators and not petty little people sitting up here so we could do the people's business now the definition of an overlay is a temporary measure of that is supposed to correct a social problem and is not intended to be permanent because there's a permanent zoning on the ground. But in West Savannah, we had some social problems back in the late 90s and the early 2000s. The overlay started with West Savannah and Hudson Hill due to Arthur Liquor Store. We had a model in the community at the time, based on the policy then, that allowed package shops to have lounges on the back, in the rear. And we had so many of them. It was a horrible impact on our community. We had loitering, drunkenness, trash through people's yards, all because these package stores infiltrated the community and had these lounges in the rear. And when that off the grocery store fell into Bay Street and Pam Oglesby of West Savannah being the president, took the opportunity to bring attention to the suffering that we had right in that corridor. And I'm being, I at the time being the president of Hudson Hill, we joined together, we called out Alderman, who was Alderman Johnson at the time. We worked with city staff and we created the overlay. And it has worked. We no longer have that problem. We no longer have that model. We no longer have that lottery. The issue has been solved. So therefore, as responsible administrators, we should have has some adjustments to this policy because we are experiencing some unintended consequences because it has stayed too long or hasn't been adjusted. And those consequences are impacting us as this growth and development come running us over and out of our community where we have been since we came off of the plantations. We need economic parity. We need to adjust this overlay. We need to be fair, which is equity that we say all the time. It's fairness, and we haven't done that. So therefore, we are experiencing these unintended. And so I did not want to, years later, the fifth and the third created overlays because of their problems. And that's what we should have done. But do not judge what's going on in the first district by what's going on in the third, because we sat there for years. without any help from this government and saw what was happening in the third and in town, all the gentrification. It's coming to us now. So we know what to do. We don't want to do what y'all did. We try to do something differently so we won't end up like that, so we won't get forcefully displaced. So we could live, work, grow, stay, and create generational wealth in place. But we cannot do it if we do not make the adjustment. I thought I was being fair. to my colleagues that I did not want to go into their districts to change what they had in place. Even though I sat here and saw in the fifth district where an applicant applied and the other person held up his application and got with staff and changed the requirements from 2,000 to 500,000, no I'm sorry, from 2,000 to 500,000 square feet because 2,000 would allow him to circumvent the overlay but 5,000 would not. So they held up that application until they changed the code to require the 5,000 and so therefore he no longer

apply i saw that but i wanted nothing to do with none of that because i'm focusing focusing on the first district because i know what we need over there all the women no okay okay this is important mr mayor all right i understand but the the issue here that we're talking about is whether thomas edenoff a savannah b company a specialty real retail shop at 313 should be granted a license so we have a very good draft

Because we haven't met with the neighborhood on this. And there hasn't been liquor or alcohol or wine on that side of Stiles Avenue near Carver Village and those areas since Mexico was down there and the little club was in Mexico. However, now we are doing this and we are deciding in this new area that people are still looking at this downtown expansion. They don't know what to think in this new uptown area. But here's this non-residential business asking for alcohol. And they should get it if the community is amenable to it. So it's not about the B company, because they walked into something that we were in the middle of trying to look at how we need to make these adjustments, where we need to have an overlay in the first district, and where we do not need to have one, where we need to adjust it. And we haven't had that conversation. I've had the conversation with residents. I've had it with the city attorney. and with business people of the area. So what we need to do in order to do right by the applicant, in order to do right by the other business people in the area who are from the area that have been discriminated against, it's time that we make these changes. And we have a draft from the city attorney right now. We are not asking for any more package stores. In that draft, we are asking to allow event spaces and restaurants to have an alcohol or revenue license. This is more than just about alcohol, because alcohol is an economic driver, and that's what we need in this depressed area.

So you say we need alcohol in an economically depressed area?

I said alcohol is a revenue driver, and we need revenue drivers in these depressed areas, and that's what I'm saying. We want to create something that's going to allow the other districts continue what they're doing, allow us to make the adjustments to be fair to the businesses that are coming, to be fair to the people who were born, raised, and live there and bled there. And so I have a recommendation today.

Is it your recommendation regarding the approval or disapproval of this license?

Based on number seven, that's what we're talking about. This license.

What's your approval?

And I am going to request that we postpone this measure until August 13th when we come back because we already have done the work. We've got it done until we have time to review and look at what the city attorney have worked with us to create and to allow this alcohol overlay in the first district review to happen based on what we've done with the attorney and then we could come back and decide.

and that will be our very next meeting all right is that a motion i offer it is a motion all right but let me tell you i'm i'm not entertaining now i'll take the motion since you offered it but you're you're complaining two issues um mr manager this business is not in the alcohol overlay but it might need to be well one second one second mr manager is this business any alcohol overlay IT IS NOT IN THE CURRENT ALL RIGHT AND IT IS DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE THE IN-MARKET ARENA WHICH HAS LIQUOR LICENSE CORRECT THE IN-MARKET ARENA DOES HAVE LIQUOR LICENSE AND THIS IS NORTH OF THE CARVER VILLAGE NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE THE WEST SIDE OF IT WHICH IS THIS WHICH IS REALLY MOSTLY INDUSTRIAL UM AND COMMERCIAL

NO RESIDENT HAVE BEEN SPOKEN TO. WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENT, NOTHING. AND THIS IS AN AREA.

ONE SECOND, ONE SECOND. SO HAS THIS BEEN PROPERLY ADVERTISED? And legally advertised?

This license hearing has been properly and legally advertised. Thank you very much. Alderwoman Miller-Blakely.

Now we got to protest. Now we got to protest.

I'm sitting here listening to what's being said, and I thank you, Alderwoman Lanier, for your comments and your remarks. Y'all know what? It breaks my heart. It breaks my heart that we have one business off of Lathrop, been in business for four years trying to get an alcohol license. As a matter of fact, I do believe that business that's been trying for four years to get an alcohol license is a minute away from where the B Company is one minute driving time just one minute and here we are on this council because of the overlay that all the women are near has been asking for us to look at for the last four years decide that we don't want to give the small black owned business a alcohol license to lift, we're not saying lift it across that whole area, just in that industrial area where that business is located. We voted against that, colleagues. Now, all the women in here said something that was so profound. Businesses that have alcohol licenses are economic drivers for their business. This business on Lathrop, the vintage, Small black owned business.

Alderman.

Let me finish.

I'm going to call you out of order. Let me finish. Again, your comments should be directed towards this item, which is on the agenda, Thomas E. Denard III for Savannah Bee.

The Bee Company is directly right around the corner. It is unfair and unjust for us to give them a business license not even 60 seconds away. They have a business license. Alcohol license. And we can't even look at readjusting the overlay for the vintage.

Is there a reason why Thomas E. Denard III and Savannah Bee Company should not have?

Because it's not fair, it's inequitable, and I refuse to vote again for another license on this dais. until we look at that overlay and grant economic drivers for businesses, especially small black-owned businesses that need it.

Fair enough. Okay, thank you very much. There is a substitute motion. Alderman Wilder-Brien.

I make a motion that we proceed with this and follow through with what she wants. And I'd like to just say that I've been sitting on this.

What is your motion? What is your motion?

That we approve his license.

Is there a second? All right, you said you were finishing a comment?

Yes, sir, I wanted to finish a comment. People can say anything, but the truth sometimes does not fall out of people's mouths. I've been sitting on this seat right here for six years. Everything I say is true. And everybody and their mom has been in the third district business. We've got people on council now, people who went through the process, did what they're supposed to do, and they said they stay in their business. And yet, the liquor license, when people did what they were supposed to do, they are denied it. When we talk about equality, we talking about all. And I seem to remember Roll back them tapes. When everybody on this dice didn't want the Indians over there, didn't want the Vietnamese over there. So it's more egregious when I sit up here on this council, we know what crime is, and they say crime and liquor is an economic drive.

Ladies.

I didn't disrespect her. And so my point is, when we say all means all, we can't sit up here and fight against other people to get the same thing we want for ourselves. In those communities, I didn't disrespect her. And so people went in that community and now it's a part of the protest. Okay, let's protest. But when you go inside of a place, you've got all those things and you know that there's an overlay there because I'm telling you, when we talk about public hearing, people told me, i speak for that we had a public hearing it was notified nobody showed up because it's not in a liquor overlay we can't make two things we're gonna have to make this math be mad not gonna sit up here you're not gonna bully me because all right thank you like the license am i and they do what they're supposed to all the women the question has been called yeah so the question has been called uh again i'll say this and we're going to go right into this the matter at hand the hearing that we're hearing

right now is whether Thomas E. Denard III for Savannah Bee Company, a specialty retail shop at 313 Stiles Avenue, should receive approval for a Class E wine by the package and Class G complimentary alcohol license. THIS HAS BEEN COMPLETED INTO AN OVERLAY THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED IN JANUARY 4, 2018. 2018. AND I KNOW IT BECAUSE I WAS THERE AND I LED THAT EFFORT WITH THE COMMUNITIES THERE IN 2018. THE BUSINESS IN QUESTION THAT YOU KEEP REFLECTING TO did not even try to get into the place until April 2022. after they were advised by staff that it was in an overlay so so and we got receipts it's public record but but but ladies and gentlemen wait ladies and gentlemen so so if the issue is about the overlay if council wants to address that fine right now they are not the issue today is about thomas e dinar iii who has followed the rules has applied has been noticed properly all in favor indicate by saying aye aye opposed opposed motion passes seven two thank you very much y'all for the record that business got 200 signs i'm saying petition that's fine people sign the petition that's fine and we have the neighborhoods that from all of that that's around that to say they still want it thank you very much Thank you. This matter is over and we are now moving forward. Yes, ma'am.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

Yes, ma'am.

I just want to say for the record that whatever was mentioned in reference to the fifth district, I need everyone to go and back.

check it by the records and i'll go to court i'll go to court and i'll swear on the body all right thank you very much thank you so much all right y'all go forth and be great all right thank you thank you all right uh item number 13 is a public hearing for the downtown savannah authority bond application but 31 million dollars in bond funding to construct a parking garage at eastern wharf IF YOU REMEMBER, THIS IS A PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN, AND WE WILL DECLARE A PUBLIC HEARING. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST THIS PUBLIC HEARING? THIS IS MONEY THAT IS FROM THE PARKING FUND THAT WILL BE BONDED, AND IT'S PAID BACK FROM THE PARKING FUND, MEANING IT'S NOT PAID FOR, PAID BACK BY TAX DOLLARS. IT'S PAID BACK BY THE USERS OF THE PARKING GARAGE. THAT WE HAVE USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF OUR OTHER GARAGES. ANY COMMENTS REGARDING THIS?

NO, SIR. SO MOVED.

GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE, SPEAK NOW IF I EVER HOLD YOUR PEACE. MOTION TO CLOSE. SECOND. PROPERTY MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. Thank you, the corresponding item for this was item number 32, you read in my mind. Approve of the issuance of the downtown Savannah Authority bond application for approximately $31 million in bond funding to construct a parking garage at Easton Wharf. Again, this is not general fund money. These are monies that will be paid back from the fees that are generated from the use of the parking garage. Am I correct, Mr. City Manager?

Yes, sir.

All right. What is your motion? their second second property moved in second all in favor indicate by saying aye aye opposed all right motion passes that would be wait one two three three four five six one six one six one thank you uh please record alderman palumbo and alderman oh seven one alderman miller blakey's out the room mr um loving i believe the downtown savannah authority has to meet ALL RIGHT THANK YOU VERY MUCH WE'RE GOING BACK NOW UH TO ITEM NUMBER 14 WHICH IS APPROVAL TO AMEND THE 2026 REVENUE ORDINANCE TO ADOPT A MILITARY OF 11.749 MILLS AT THE FINAL MILITARY THIS IS UNDER FIRST READING WE WILL HAVE THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS IN ACCORDANCE UM WITH THE LAW THE FIRST ONE IS AT 601 PM TONIGHT UM SO Y'ALL HANG OUT HUH No. 6.01, right? 6.01 p.m. tonight is the first public hearing. The second public hearing will be on the 13th of August at 2 p.m. I'm sorry, 11 a.m. and then at 2 p.m., correct?

All right, thank you.

LET'S MOVE ON TO ORDINANCES. THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO SUNDAY ALCOHOL SALES REQUIREMENT FOR MUSEUMS. THIS IS ON SECOND READING. I ASK THIS TO BE PUSHED BACK A WEEK TO TWO WEEKS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE WAS CLEAR. MR. MAYOR. YES.

MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 15. SECOND.

PROBABLY MOVE TO SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. OPPOSED. MOTION PASSES 6-1.

7-1? 7-1.

7-1, thank you. Item number 16, petition of Coleman Company on behalf of Brookhaven Development for Fort Argyle developers to annex 123.159 acres at 0 Fort Argyle Road from Chatham County to the city of Savannah. Mr. Mayor? And there's item number 17 as well. Yes, sir. We'll take them individually. I guess my concern on second reading is there was a request for a 100-foot buffer. This was the one, correct? And I think, I don't know where that issue was, but there was some concern. You have some residents, this is what, this is not, we already had the public hearing, correct?

Yes.

So we already closed the hearing, so what is your, we just opened the hearing? OK. We'll go ahead and open up the public hearing on this item since folks are here. I guess, well, I'll just get to my concerns afterwards. So Connie Shreve, Annette Hicks, Norman Burnside, and Michael Washington.

We can do anything. Mayor Johnson?

Yes.

The item number 15.

OK, let the clerk know. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Okay. All right, this is a public hearing. I'm declaring open. Ms. Shreve, are you here? Okay, well then, Ms. Hicks, are you here? You're not Ms. Hicks? Oh, come on. Okay, Norman Burnside, are you here? Okay. Mr. Washington, are you here? Okay, we'll come on close so we'll be ready once you.

How you doing man, I'm doing so well Sir Howard out together in Chatham County, I was asked that's right. So they do want to develop out there they build in the city. I'm in the middle of it. The survey that was done on my land was not the correct numbers on the property when I purchased. So it's like 1.5, but they got it less than an acre. They hadn't talked to me about it. Neil from Coleman Company was supposed to come back out there, mark it out so we can get everything straight. They hadn't been to back out there. So I've been there 30 years, and all I got is y'all. I'm right in the middle of it. As he wants to, he can buy me out and get me out of it, as he wants to, Phillip. Because I'm going to be separate anyway, because I'm not part of this division. But as he don't want to do that, then he can give me a 100-foot buffer around my place too. 30 years.

We were just taking your comment. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Could we ask a question?

Go ahead.

Sir, how much property do you have right there?

When I purchased the place, it was 1.5. And when they went out there to survey, it was less than an acre.

What?

Oh, I'm sorry. So the survey ain't right because, you know, when you go look at a house, they take you around there and you look at the property, you know what you got.

I got a similar problem. And this is 30 years ago. It's all around you like a U because we had a map the last time. Yeah, I got a map right here.

I'm there.

Alderwoman, his property is facing the road and it surrounds him on the back and the two sides.

I mean, you can say, hey, do you want to live in the city or you want to live in the country? You know what I mean? I got nothing wrong with them developing it, but buy me out.

We need to work that out with you, right?

Huh?

They need to work that out with you.

Yeah, so, I mean, they hadn't even talked to me. You know what I mean? So we had a problem with it. So how can you move forward when you got two people that's got houses around there and they can't even get with them to talk about it? That's not good business.

All right. Ms. Hickey? You still want to wait, right? All right, you're... All right, Ms. Connie. Okay, go ahead. Yes, ma'am.

Thank you all for having us and letting us speak. Okay, so I'm here on behalf of Savannah-Ogeechee Canal because I spoke once before in the NPC meeting for the rezoning and stated that Savannah-Ogeechee Canal is being impacted by the sand mining, surface mining. operation that was there, and on this rezoning today, that is still on the application for the surface mine.

It is still on there?

Oh, yeah.

Okay.

So the surface mine has already done a lot of acid mine and drainage and caused a lot of islands of sand in the Savannah-Ogeechee Canal. Right now, there is no flow of water at all in the Savannah-Ogeechee Canal. except for tidal water from the Ogeechee that comes in and goes to Fort Argyle and leaves. We had such a volume of water from that surface pit for so long that it had our floating dock jacked up in the air and it broke our whole dock. The volume of water was so high. And the city of Savannah tested the water every month, so they have all those results. But what I want to say today is they don't need a rezoning because our land at Savannah-Ogeechee Canal, the whole museum property, is in a conservation easement. We put it in a conservation easement because we are on the National Register, and that did not give us protection. We needed to try to protect the place. So we put it in a conservation easement. We have protection. We are also on the colonial coast birding trail, and we are only one of 17 sites that have neotropical migratory birds that come to our area. We were designated 10 years ago by Georgia DNR to be a colonial coast birding site. There are birders that come to Savannah-Ogeechee Canal, and if you have a Merlin app, y'all would see that we have very rare birds that come and migrate to Savannah-Ogeechee Canal, West Chatham area every year. They usually go to the same tree as swallowtail kites and Mississippi kites. I did just get one quote from James Hunt, the Georgia biologist, before I left.

Real quick.

He said, once it's gone, it's gone. He said, what decisions we are making today are short-term decisions for our generations to come. And that was his quote.

Thank you very much. Thank you for listening. Thank you. And Ned Hicks? Huh? OK. Mr. Washington.

Good afternoon.

I'm speaking on behalf of Miss Annette. We actually are a ministry that uses as a church located on that property. And we're the ministry that actually utilizes that facility. And so one of the things is we wanted to ensure that that buffer was put in place because it will really help make. the impact that is needed. If we go to looking at the issue, it's about the entire community being satisfied with what's going on. And so the one thing that I would want to say is when it comes down to unity in humanity, Galatians 6 tells us that it doesn't matter where we come from, it doesn't matter what it is that we do, that doesn't make a difference, that we should all come together and work together to make sure that things are in proper condition for the community and those that have been there for years and years before we got there.

Thank you very much. Rachel Carter. All right.

There you are. My name is Rachel Carter. I came here to support my cousin Annette. The land that she's asking a buffer for has been in our family for hundreds of years, and it's the last piece of land that our family has. I actually agreed to come here because I was helping my grandfather clean our graveyard that's nearby on the land.

But this is not, the land you're talking about protecting, they're resorting to land they own. They don't own your land.

Yeah, the cemetery goes with actually with the church, with my property.

The church is your property?

Yes, sir. Okay. Go ahead. I look like I have a black eye. I got stung by a beaver.

No, it's fine. Go ahead, Ms. Hicks.

But I met, she was out there cleaning the cemetery. A lot of people were about two weeks ago, and I told them what was going on. And, you know, they agreed to support. But, of course, her daddy, you know, he's old school. So he didn't... He didn't want to come because he gets really upset and sentimental about it. But anyways, I really don't have too much to say. These are, I love everyone, Pastor Washington. They do a great job with the church. It's kind of like a little church that helps people who want to start a church, help them begin a church so they can move on to bigger things. But back to the buffer, I was looking up, And McClendon track, which is going to be closing in on this same track that they're wanting to rezone, it's 667 acres. On one application, they were 317 acres. Then on another application, they were 274. I don't know what they are. They have a quick claim deed, so I don't think they even know what it is. But looking back, altogether, they're either going to have 941 or 984. The development that they approved through the MPC, which there was like five or six mistakes on the application that has not been repaired yet, including the conservation easement for 379 acres, not including this 974. This is without the conservation easement. So they gave them 100-foot buffer. And there's no houses lived by this property, mind you. It'll be adjoining. But it will have a 100-foot buffer and an 8-foot fence installed along the property line with a 40-foot setback. A 100-foot undisturbed with a 40-foot underbrush for the last 60. So right now, one minute they say they're going to operate the sand mine and ask you for it. Then they're not. That was a mistake. This was a mistake. That was a mistake. 100 foot buffer is not a lot. It's really, if you look at this map, it's just a small part. It's right behind. They've already, if you want to look at this map that they, Another owner owns this island with me.

All right, I need you to finish your thought.

Okay, another owner also owns this island with me. And if you look back at this map right here, you see the little squigglies running behind it? That's nothing but the swamp. What I'm asking for is not even good. It's the Blackwater Swamp. That's what it is. And that's what it'll cover. And 100 foot is going to cover that.

Thank you. Is there a motion to close the hearing?

So moved, sir.

There's a problem with the second all of them keep by saying aye. Yes, Sir. Oh yeah, you didn't mean that one woman man was like a second. You didn't fill out a card. I didn't know you wanted to say something. All right, you come on. We'll we'll we'll we'll draw that motion in a second. Go ahead.

Thank you, Mayor Johnson. Ma'am, the last time you came here, we extended this for two weeks so that you could have a conversation with the developers. Did that take place?

Speak into the microphone, please.

Sorry. Of course, I had to keep calling and connecting with them. They came and visited for about a little over an hour. They didn't want to take a ride to look at it, the property, to see that it's nothing but The swamp, it's a wetland, it's been there forever. But they did what they were supposed to do, just come. But I had to basically reach out to them, and they were supposed to reach out to me Monday or Tuesday and have not yet reached out.

Okay, you mentioned something about a quick claim deed. I couldn't really hear.

Well, they have a quick claim deed, so.

So they had a quick claim deed for the property that.

That they have, yes, ma'am. Mm-hmm. And I reached out, and when they were there, I told him, I said, wouldn't you like to have a better deed? I would like to help y'all get a better deed, but I won't, you know, all I'm asking is for a 100-foot buffer. It's not like I'm going back to ask where the trustee is that signed over so many acres, 152 acres of that tract.

Thank you. Yes, ma'am. Mr. Mayor.

Yes, ma'am. Thank you so much, Mr. Mayor. Mr. City Manager, in reference to, I don't have anything to say to her.

Thank you, ma'am. Are we done?

Mr. City Manager, can you please tell me in this area in reference to the amount of buffers that is allowable in reference to our ordinances?

I'll ask if rigid or development services have that answer in terms of residential. I don't have it at the top of my head. Council did just pass a 100 foot buffer for industrial zone properties that are up against residential properties. a rezoning petition is not to rezone the land for industrial use it's for residential and for mixed use as a planned development so there is not a 100 foot buffer requirement between a residential zone and another residential zone i can get particulars on what any setbacks or

buffering requirements would be between the adjoining property in this new development there would be setbacks certainly i'm sure um and i can get that information all right uh mr mayor i would like to make the motion no ma'am item number six no ma'am no ma'am no ma'am not right now no ma'am no ma'am no ma'am no no not this time um what ma'am please ma'am please what's the position what the hearing is still open

Okay, after the hearing.

And I still have concerns about this, so go ahead. Thank you, Council, Mayor. Sorry for not filling out the card. I appreciate you hearing me out. I'm going to be as quick as possible in trying to address all the comments. As far as the comment that was just made. Oh, sorry. Brian Werlo with Brookhaven Development, representing a developer. As far as the comment that was just made about not meeting, we just met last week for two and a half hours at our house to go over this issue. I'm not sure why that comment was made. We reached out. Couldn't meet right away due to conflicts of timing, but we met at her house for two and a half hours to discuss buffer, where the majority of the conversation was led to her asking us to purchase the property. So I'm not sure why that comment was made. But we fulfilled, I took everything you said to heart last time, to try to work and make a compromise on the buffer. We offered a 50 foot buffer, which is double the residential buffer. To go back on the buffers you asked, Ms. Shabazz, on a mixed use, it depends on what type it is. On a type C buffer, you have a 25 foot landscape buffer. That's typically for use on an apartment use. If it's a grocery, it's a 30 foot buffer, landscape buffer. That's the most stringent use. We're offering up a 50 foot buffer. A 25 residential to residential is normally the standard buffer. So we're offering more than the max asked for on mixed use and double on a residential. So I just wanted to make sure that was aware. We've done all stormwater analysis downstream, upstream. Coleman has performed all those, has checked every culvert. We are very aware of the drainage in the area. We're going to perform more stormwater work and coordinate with the city of Savannah. Nothing on the land will be touched until all plans are approved by the city of Savannah and they meet all the standards. As far as the borrowed pit, just really quickly again, we are not the operators of the pit. The pit was leased when we got it. It is currently under shutdown and going through the EPD arrangements. There's no more dirt being hauled out of there. I was just by there again yesterday. All the sides and slopes are stabilized. They have grass. There is no more dirt being hauled from that pit. There is a pit next door that we do not own. That is not part of this conversation. I can't speak to what they're doing over there. But the EPD is in the middle of reclaiming this pond and or this pit. And it's going to be a water feature, aesthetic feature for the area. It's going to help the detention in the area. It's going to help reclaim any water. And that should be done in 2027. So for the community engagement, that's the last thing I'll touch, the community engagement, we held three community meetings.

Ma'am.

We held three community meetings, one on February 25th, 2026 at L. Scott Park, another one on April 17th, 2026 at L. Scott Park, and then one on May 1st, 2026 at South Newington Church. And then between that, With Ms. Hickey individually, we had phone calls, texts, and emails from February all the way up until now. So I think we've tried to be good neighbors. We are local private builders. We're from Savannah, and we try to take pride in what we do, and our name is our name.

You're located in Savannah, or Savannah-ish?

No, we're Savannians, born and raised in Savannah, so we take pride in our name. That's where your company is? Sorry?

That's where your company is?

Yes, sir. We're born and raised here, second generation.

Talk about the conservation easement.

Conservation easement, there's a piece of property that is south of Fort Argyle, It was all one property. It is now subdivided. The property south of Fort Argo was retained by the previous owner, Mr. Lewis. That is the conservation easement. And then there's a property north that is part of the new Hampstead POA. That is a conservation easement also. Nothing's being touched. Nothing's part of our project.

And so your offer is a 50-foot buffer.

50-foot buffer around any of the adjoining properties. Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Mayor Johnson, I have a question. Yes, ma'am. Thank you, sir. Yes, ma'am. Please. She mentioned the quick claim deed. The property that's in question, you all acquired it. Do you hear me?

Yes, ma'am. I was just leaning in.

The property that's in question, you all acquired it through a quick claim deed? Yes, ma'am.

No, ma'am. I got with Bridget Liddy. We actually gave her all the deeds to the property. I really don't need to get into the technicalities of it, but it was a 1031. I don't know if anybody's done a 1031 on a property, but they're done through different types of deeds, a limited warranty deed and a quick claim deed were given for the property, have settlement statements, HUDs. I'm not sure where or why that's being brought up, but the property has changed hands and we have all deeds and paperwork to show that it's our property and done properly. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Yes, ma'am.

Thank you. Is there a motion to close the hearing?

I'll close the motion. Second.

And probably move to second it. All in favor indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed? All right. Alderman Shabazz.

Mr. Mayor, I would like to make a motion for... Item number 16 for the petition of Coleman Company Incorporated on behalf of Brookhaven Development LLC for Fort Argyle Developers LLC to annex 123.1519 acres located on 0 Fort Argyle Road. Second. Second.

And probably move the second that the we approve the petition of the Coleman company on behalf of Brookhaven to annex 1.2 3.1 5, 9 acres located 0, 4, I got rules from Chatham County to the city of Savannah. All that they've indicated by saying aye. Aye. Opposed?

Opposed.

Motion passes 8 to 1. Aye number 17.

Yes, it's merely like to make a motion for the approval of the petition of Coleman company on behalf of Brookhaven developers LLC for developers LLC and Chatham San LLC for a zoning map amendment 0 for our road and 1, 1, 5, 0 for our road. For rezoning of 270 4.9 acres from residential from AR Chatham County and RSF 6 which is a residential single-family six city of Savannah to fought to Argyle Grove planned development city of Savannah to allow a residential Commercial and mixed-use development so this supports the annexation second That's a for let's codify that 50-foot buffer. Yes. Yes, I agree. So that does not get away Yeah, so please say that so I want to make that can do that's a condition of our approval to also making sure that the buffer didn't do the entire project through the entire project is

50 foot second probably move to the second it would be ma'am ma'am ma'am ma'am please i think it would be to make sure that i understand the agreement would be 50 foot buffer um with existing um residential parcels correct yes yes

is that is that a proper okay so mr. clerk you got that property moved the second it all the family came by saying aye opposed opposed motion passes eight to one thank you very much all right mr. y'all need to be good neighbors neighbors this door I need to be good neighbors You're walking out smiling, I need to be good neighbors. Be good neighbors.

They don't know what you're talking about. Y'all need to be good neighbors.

All right.

Purchasing items, items 18 through 25.

Are there any pullouts?

MR. MAYOR, IF THERE ARE NO PULL-OUTS, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 18 THROUGH 25. SECOND. SECOND.

PROBABLY MOVED AND SECONDED. ITEM NUMBER 18, AUTHORIZED CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR AMMUNITION FOR THE SAVANNAH POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH GOLD STREET DISTRIBUTORS IN THE AMOUNT OF $210,532.30. ITEM NUMBER 19, AUTHORIZED CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR ERP CLOUD SUITE WITH M4 IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,085,349.50. I am number 20, authorized city manager to execute an annual contract for water treatment services and related equipment maintenance with Ivoqua Water Technologies in the amount not to exceed $150,375. Item number 21, authorized city manager to execute an annual contract with New South Associates Primary and Brockington Associates Secondary for archeological services in the amount not to exceed $250,000. Item number 22, authorized city manager to execute a construction contract with Lowe Corporation for Savannah Police Department's traffic and records building renovation project. IN THE AMOUNT OF $975,000. I AM NUMBER 23, AUTHORIZED CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR ADOBE SOFTWARE LICENSES RENEWAL WITH CDW GOVERNMENT LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,914. I AM NUMBER 24, AUTHORIZED CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR SHORT-TERM RENTAL MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE WITH DECKARD TECHNOLOGIES IN THE AMOUNT OF $92,500. I AM NUMBER 25, AUTHORIZED CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR DEBRIS MONITORING AND OVERSIGHT SERVICES WITH THOMPSON CONSULTANT SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $750,000. YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. ALL IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED. motion passes on the agreements we have I was in the 26 through 29 is there a motion to its approval so moves are in second second probably move the second that we approve item number 26 approval of water and sewer. We live for hope to the West. A development of single-family and multi-family units with Houghton South Land Trust LLC in Alderman District 5. Item number 27, approval of a water sewer agreement for 308 Dentist Street. A development consisting of nine single-family homes with Eugene Street Investments in Alderman District 4. uh item number 28 approval of the city manager approval of the city manager to enter into a memorandum of agreement with chatham county for improvements associated with the president street grade separation project item number 29 approval for the city manager to enter into intergovernmental agreement with savannah airport commission chatham county board of commissioners and the savannah economic development authority FOR GOLD STREAM ROAD AND GOLD STREAM DRIVE INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS. ALL IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. ALL IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. UNDER REAL ESTATE ITEMS WE HAVE ITEMS NUMBER 30 AND 31. UNDER REAL ESTATES WE HAVE ITEMS NUMBER 30 AND 31.

Yes The city attorney's office to settle the claim of Jesse Edwards for $41,000 and item number 31 moved to authorize the city attorney's office to settle the claim of Darnell Thomas for $75,000

and probably move the second that we approve item number 30 to authorize the city attorney's office to settle the claim of Jesse Edwards for $41,000 and item number 31 to authorize the city attorney's office to settle the claim of Darnell Thomas for $75,000. All in favor indicate by saying aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion passes. Thank you, Mr. City Attorney and team. And then item number 32 through 34. We did 32. We did 32. So item 933 is approval of the installation of the updated River Street Maritime History Panels along the Savannah Riverfront located in Aldermatic District 2. And item number 34, a request for approval to relocate the Nina Anderson Pape HISTORICAL MARKER FROM IN FRONT OF THE CEDA BUILDING IN 906 EAST DREATON STREET TO THE ADJACENT CORNER OF THE CEDA BUILDING ON EAST BALTON STREET LOCATED IN ALMAG DISTRICT 2. ALL IN FAVOR TO KEEP BY SAYING AYE. AYE. OPPOSED.

MAYOR JOHNSON. YES. ON ITEMS NUMBER 13 AND 32, I OPPOSE.

Okay, the clerk needs to take note of that. All right, ladies and gentlemen, that does end our agenda. Is there anything pressing that you just have off your chest right now? Because we do have, we might have, we need to have a small executive session and we have a workshop and a special meeting.

Mr. Mayor? Yes. I don't know if you heard me on 32, I was supposed to that, but you did catch me on 13, but they're related. Okay.

Ma'am, I'm sorry.

Okay.

Okay. All right. Anything burning? All right. Mr. Manager, you have anything? No, sir. Mr. Attorney? Mr. Clerk? Okay, I do want to remind you that this is the beginning after tonight's meeting at 601 of Council's self-imposed hiatus. This is an opportunity for us to give the greatest team in the world an opportunity to breathe. I've called it halftime, so to speak. And so I am encouraging Mr. Manager, you and Team Savannah, your leaders and supervisors to take this opportunity to breathe. Because when we come out for the third quarter, we coming out hard and we don't want nobody to be tired. That's right. So please take time with your families, please take time to vacate, go be outside, do whatever you do so that when we come back, we won't have folks talking about that they are tired. Members of Council, you work extremely hard in the benefit of your citizens. I hope you will take some opportunity for you. You cannot pour from an empty fountain. And so please take the opportunity to rest up for yourselves. um and can i get a motion for the executive session for items related to personnel personnel second second huh litigation all right and just litigation just litigation all right been probably moving second we retired to executive session for purposes of litigation all the pay to keep by saying aye aye opposed motion passes or we'll start back we can just go in here right somebody's in there All right. We'll go to the third floor. And then we'll come down and do workshop. Then we'll do the 601 meeting. All right. Thank you.