2026-10-22 - City Council

27:47Mr. Clerk, would you please call the

27:48role?

27:48>> Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor, Mayor Van Johnson,

27:51>> present.

27:51>> Mayor Prom and District 5 Alderwoman,

27:54Dr. Estella Edwards Shabbaz,

27:56>> present.

27:57>> Chairman and District 4 alderman, Nick

27:59Palumbo,

28:00>> present.

28:00>> Vice Chair and District 3 alderwoman,

28:03Linda Wilder,

28:04>> present. Let's go.

28:05>> Post one alderwoman Carolyn H. Bell

28:09>> present.

28:09>> Post two alderwoman Alicia Miller

28:12Blakeley

28:13>> present.

28:13>> District one alderwoman Bernetta B.

28:15Laneir

28:16>> present.

28:17>> District two alderman Dietrich Leget

28:19>> here.

28:19>> And District 6 Alderman Curtis Fertie.

28:26>> Mayor, you indeed have a quorum.

28:27>> Thank you. Please rise.

28:33I call this meeting of the Savannah City

28:35Council to order. Today is Thursday,

28:38October the 22nd, 2026. The time is

28:42about 2:13 p.m. We want to thank

28:44everyone joining us within our chambers

28:47today and across our various social

28:49media networks and of course on our

28:51award-winning SGTV. Uh here in Savannah,

28:54we say that Savannah will be a safe,

28:57environmentally healthy, and

28:58economically thriving community for all

29:01and for us all beans all. Uh today's

29:04invocate tour will be introduced by

29:07sixth district alderman Curtis Perti.

29:09>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. [clears throat]

29:11Paul E. Smith is a native of Savannah,

29:14Georgia. He is the youngest of two sons

29:16born to Pastor James and Mrs. Katherine

29:18Smith. He was raised in the Liberty City

29:21community and educated in the Savannah

29:23Cadam County Public School System. Mr.

29:26Smith graduated from AE Beach High

29:28School.

29:30He continued his education at Savannah

29:31State University at the Savannah State

29:35University.

29:36>> Say it with your chest

29:38>> one more time. The Savannah State

29:40University

29:43>> uh where he obtained a bachelor of

29:45political science degree. He also

29:46received his master of divinity at

29:48Morehouse School of Religion in Atlanta

29:50in 2022.

29:52Mr. Smith has served as youth minister

29:54at both the Pentecostal Miracles of

29:56Deliverance Center and Tmont Temple

29:58Baptist Church. He has also served at as

30:01associate pastor of Tmont Temple. Some

30:03of his leadership roles and ministry

30:05affiliations include but are not limited

30:07to serving as the NAACP

30:09chapter president of SS of Savannah

30:12State University.

30:14Currently, he serves as a second vice

30:15president uh to to um Savannah, Georgia

30:20chapter. His passionate desire to serve

30:22people has led him into the Georgia

30:24correctional facilities throughout

30:26Savannah throughout South Georgia,

30:27teaching inmates how to read and how to

30:29write.

30:31Mr. Smith had the honor to serve the

30:33historic Second African Baptist Church

30:35as interim pastor. In a short period of

30:37time under his service, the brown bag

30:40ministry was reorganized and several

30:42families

30:44uh in need were blessed during the CO 19

30:46pandemic. Reverend Smith also

30:48spearheaded initiative to provide

30:50several co 19 care packages to the

30:52Greenbryer Children's Center here in

30:54Savannah

30:56uh to assist the youth during that

30:57pandemic. He believes in the power of

30:59reading and in August 2022 he hosted a

31:02uh reading in the park day in the fifth

31:05district. He has over seven years of

31:06experience in higher education

31:08throughout the state of Georgia. And I'm

31:10going to read one of his favorite quotes

31:12from Nelson Mandela. Education is the

31:14most powerful weapon which we can use to

31:16change the world. Ladies and gentlemen,

31:18for those of you that don't know, this

31:19is Mr. Paul Smith, Reverend Paul Smith

31:21behind me. It is my pleasure to

31:23introduce him now.

31:27[applause]

31:30>> I promise you that my prayer would be

31:32shorter than that bio. Let us pray.

31:35Father in heaven, today we come before

31:37you with grateful hearts, thanking you

31:38for your goodness, your love, and your

31:40kindness. We thank you for this great

31:42city that we call home, the city of

31:44Savannah, Georgia. A city rich in

31:47history, strong in heritage, and full of

31:50promise and endless possibilities. God,

31:53as these elected leaders assemble to

31:55conduct the business of this city, we

31:57ask that you would bless them and that

32:00you would bless their time together.

32:01Anoint their minds with wisdom, their

32:04hearts with compassion, their decisions

32:06with sound judgment, and their

32:08leadership with integrity. May every

32:10decision made and every action taken,

32:13God, bring us closer to a greater

32:15Savannah, a better Savannah, a stronger

32:18Savannah, and a safer Savannah. Not just

32:22for some, but Lord, for all. Lord, we

32:24pray today that where wherever there is

32:26vision, that you would provide

32:28provision. Wherever there are

32:30challenges, we pray that you will grant

32:31solutions. Wherever there is division,

32:34we pray that you will bring unity. And

32:36wherever there's a need, we pray that

32:38you will raise up those who will be

32:40willing to serve. Remind us that the

32:43true measure of public service is not

32:46what others can do for us, but what we

32:49are willing to do for others. cover our

32:51mayor, our aldermen and alder women, our

32:54city employees, our families, and every

32:57community that's represented here today.

33:00In the name that's above every name, we

33:02pray. Let those who love the Lord say,

33:04"Amen."

33:05>> Amen.

33:06>> Thank you. We will now honor our

33:08country. I pledge allegiance to the flag

33:11of the United States of America and to

33:14the republic for which it stands, one

33:17nation under God, indivisible, with

33:20liberty and justice for all.

33:23>> Thank you so much. Uh, Reverend Smith,

33:26thank you so much for being here. And

33:28for the community at large, Pastor Smith

33:31also serves us on the Savannah Chattam

33:34County Board of Public Education uh as

33:37the fifth district school board

33:39representative. So, Pastor Smith, thank

33:41you for your elected service as well as

33:43your pastoral service and your community

33:46service as you are the president of the

33:49Savannah branch of the NAACP

33:51celebrating uh their freedom from

33:53banquet this weekend, right?

33:54>> Yes, sir. Saturday

33:55>> along with everything else going on in

33:57the world. But we will be there uh as

34:00well. Looking forward uh to it. Let us

34:02go to our uh council agenda which is

34:05before you and uh I will entertain a

34:09motion to adopt a regular meeting agenda

34:11for October the 22.

34:12>> May second.

34:12>> Second.

34:13>> It been properly moved and seconded. All

34:15in favor by saying I

34:17>> opposed. Motion passes.

34:19>> Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion for

34:20items number two and number three on our

34:22agenda. Second

34:23>> for the approval of the minutes for the

34:25work session and city managers briefing

34:28held on October the 8th, 2026 and for

34:31the approval of the minutes for the

34:33regular meeting held on October 8th,

34:352026 at 2:00.

34:37>> Second motion

34:38>> been properly moved and seconded. All in

34:40favor indicate by saying I

34:41>> I

34:42>> opposed. Motion passes. Um item number

34:45four is an organizational item. uh as

34:48you know we do the best we can to set uh

34:51our agenda for our meeting schedule for

34:53the coming year and the prior year uh

34:55and so this uh is our proposed meeting

34:59schedule of course it can be subject to

35:02change as needs occur um but I'm asking

35:04your approval of this schedule

35:07>> been properly moved and seconded all in

35:09favor indicate by saying I

35:10>> I oppose motion passes um ladies and

35:14gentlemen if you look around you see a

35:16bunch pink going on. Um, and we all know

35:21that this is breast cancer awareness

35:23month. Uh, and we wanted to take the

35:27opportunity to wear pink. We did purple

35:29two weeks ago in support of those um,

35:32domestic violence survivors. Uh, and

35:35today we're looking at another set of

35:37survivors and that is those of breast

35:39cancer. One in eight women in the United

35:42States will be diagnosed with breast

35:44cancer in her lifetime. uh this year

35:46approximately 3 and is that 82 82,640

35:52women in the United States will be

35:54diagnosed with breast cancer including

35:57321,910

36:00with invasive breast cancer and 60,730

36:05with noninvasive breast cancer. Chances

36:08are that you know at least one person

36:10that has been personally affected by

36:12breast cancer. But there is hope. Uh

36:15when caught in its earliest localized

36:17stages, uh the five-year relative

36:20survival rate is over 99%.

36:23Advances in early detection and

36:24treatment methods have signi

36:26significantly increased uh over the

36:28years and there are currently over 4

36:30million breast cancer survivors in the

36:33United States. Uh that being said, men

36:36are also affected uh by breast cancer.

36:39Uh, and this week I hosted Tina Ty Shaw

36:43and WSAV, our friends from St. Joseph's

36:45Candler, uh, and a bunch of breast

36:47cancer survivors here at city hall, uh,

36:50as they rode and painted the town pink.

36:53Among those is someone we know well, uh,

36:55former third district alderman John

36:57Hall, uh, who had been diagnosed with

36:59breast cancer and he's a dude. So um you

37:03know we want to make sure that um we

37:06people understand this very clearly

37:08understand the ramifications and the

37:11message here is to have a relationship

37:14with your primary care physician. Uh see

37:17them uh at least once a year and then of

37:20course have the requisite test. Uh this

37:22year I wanted to do something different.

37:23Um and I asked members of team Savannah

37:26if we had any um that are breast cancer

37:28survivors. If any of here could you come

37:30up at this time?

37:35Have some. Okay. We know we invited our

37:38breast cancer. [applause]

37:42we have any um

37:47we wanted to take the time to shine the

37:49spotlight on our own uh survivors. So um

37:53I wanted to take ask if you have any

37:55here to come on up and I'm come up there

37:57with you.

38:18My name is Colette Whites. I'm with

38:20utility services and I've just been a

38:23survivor for a few months. I just rang

38:25the bell in June. [applause]

38:33We we we're so glad that you're

38:35surviving and we want you to keep

38:36surviving. Um and I want to make sure

38:39and I know our manager agrees. We want

38:41to be the type of government. Um when

38:43someone is going through the last thing

38:45they have to worry about is their

38:46employment.

38:48I mean this is a time where you you show

38:50compassion. So um we we happy you

38:53surviving.

38:55You don't look like what you've been

38:56through, right?

38:56>> Definitely don't.

38:57>> All right. Well well so glad. Let's give

38:59her a big round of applause.

39:02[applause]

39:05And and to anyone that is watching um

39:09you know, our employees, our colleagues,

39:11and those who have lost individuals uh

39:13through the breast cancer, we want you

39:15to know we're thinking about you and we

39:17wear pink uh in your honor. Again,

39:19council, thank you all uh so much for

39:21your support. Um we recognize that as

39:24much as we are city leaders, we are

39:25community leaders. Uh and so therefore

39:28when we lift it up for one, we lift it

39:29up for all. So thank you. Thank you.

39:32Thank you.

39:37And so we are very glad to have with us

39:40Chairman Harry Gardner uh and the

39:43Veterans Council of Chattam County. I

39:45understand they have um come to announce

39:48something and they've come to ask

39:51something. So, depends on what they

39:54announce,

39:56depends on what they will get. So,

40:00uh,

40:01>> y'all y'all come on up. Come on up. Come

40:03up.

40:04>> Thank you.

40:04>> Thank you, sir. Appreciate

40:05>> it.

40:07[applause]

40:09>> I think we can clap a little bit better

40:11than that for our veterans, right? Okay.

40:13[applause]

40:22Come closer. We don't bite you today.

40:24>> Y'all veterans. We're not afraid of

40:26Y'all not afraid of us. Good to see you,

40:27sir. Thank you.

40:28>> Hello there. Good to see you.

40:31>> Hey. Thank you. Thank you.

40:33>> All right.

40:34>> You ready, sir?

40:34>> Yes, sir.

40:36>> Council, I appreciate the time to come

40:38up here. I am the chairman of the

40:39Veterans Council. The Veterans Council

40:41of Chattam County has been around since

40:421937, 89 years.

40:45Come November 11th, we are going to be

40:47running our 80th Veterans Day parade in

40:50the city. [applause]

40:56My request is to have a permit approved

40:58by the city to allow us to have the

41:00parade.

41:02>> And then my second issue is to announce

41:06a couple of our dignitaries that you see

41:07behind me and to my to my right. First

41:10is the brand new veteran of the year for

41:122026 2027, Joe Higgins.

41:16[applause]

41:23>> And the gentlemen behind me represent

41:26all of the past living veterans of the

41:29year that we have. We have 14 of them

41:31still living. They are going to be the

41:33grand marshals for our 80th parade.

41:35>> Wow. [applause]

41:42And with that, sir, that is my request

41:44of you.

41:45>> Why would why don't we introduce them

41:46first? So,

41:47>> okay. So, everyone knows Joe Higgins.

41:50>> Yeah. Joe,

41:51>> we've got the 2024 2025.

41:54>> Yeah.

41:54>> Ed Gazara.

41:55>> Yeah.

41:56>> We've got the 2023

41:58Jerry Walker.

42:00>> Yeah. Woohoo.

42:01>> I've got the 2026 2027 Rich Noel.

42:04>> Yeah.

42:06[applause] I've got the 202122 OC

42:09Fowler.

42:09>> Come on.

42:11>> I've got the 2024 2025.

42:15Correct.

42:18>> 22.

42:19>> Yeah,

42:19>> that's Greg Gre Greg Kindred. And then

42:22the 2025 2026 is Sam Curry.

42:26[applause]

42:28>> And and of course our resident veteran

42:31on council, Alicia Miller Blakeley.

42:34Um, [applause] Mr. Veteran, would you

42:37like to say something, sir? I mean,

42:39you've been doing this so long. It's

42:41>> I wasn't planning on being back here

42:42this year, Mr. Mayor. I was dumping that

42:44off on Harry. [laughter]

42:46But it is great to be back in front of

42:49you guys. It is always an honor and a

42:51privilege to represent the veterans of

42:53this community, of which there are

42:5426,000 living in this area. Um, I look

42:58forward to serving them for another year

42:59as our veteran of the year.

43:01>> Yeah. Thank you,

43:02>> Mr. Mayor.

43:03>> Um, [applause]

43:05so I don't know if he remembers this,

43:07but Commander Fowler, um, uh, United

43:11States Navy retired, um, many, many

43:14years ago. I was a midshipman at

43:16Savannah States Naval ROC program, um,

43:20rocking my white uniforms, and he was

43:22the commanding officer uh, at that time.

43:25And so, good to see you, sir.

43:27>> And, uh, you're looking well.

43:28>> Thank you. I'm feeling well.

43:30>> Good.

43:31Um, so what did you want from us again?

43:37>> And why should we do this?

43:40>> Because we're behind you and we're

43:41supporting

43:43[laughter]

43:44>> now. We could take that both ways.

43:46Because we're behind you, meaning you

43:49won't get out of here. [laughter]

43:51Uh, Aldwoman Blake Miller Blakeley, if

43:54you would come and make a motion,

43:55please.

43:58Mayor Johnson, city council, I make a

44:00motion that we allow them to get every

44:03and anything that they need for Veterans

44:06Day this year.

44:07>> And they're building and they per

44:09>> second. Mr. Mr. Mayor,

44:10>> been properly moved and seconded. Yes,

44:12ma'am.

44:12>> I would just personally like to thank

44:14them for giving Mr. Putney, James

44:16Putney, his

44:18[applause]

44:21>> he worked very hard uh with me at

44:23Savannah High as a booster member. So,

44:25we're very proud that that he was able

44:27to smell those flowers, him and his

44:29wife. Thank y'all so much for what y'all

44:30do. I appreciate that.

44:31>> And we miss we miss Mr. Putney boy.

44:33>> Yes.

44:34>> Yeah.

44:35>> Well, all in favor indicate by saying I

44:37>> I

44:38>> opposed. Motion passes unanimously.

44:41Congratulations.

44:42>> Thank you.

44:43>> Thank you.

44:44>> Thank you. And we're going to take a

44:46picture and I'm looking forward to the

44:49Veterans Day parade on November the

44:5111th. What time?

44:53>> 10:00.

44:54>> 10:00. And so, um, you know, council is

44:57always invited to be a part and we love

44:59seeing our veterans and, um, hopefully

45:01the weather will cooperate. But even if

45:03it doesn't, rain or shine, we going to

45:05be out there, right?

45:06>> We'll be outside. So,

45:09>> all right. You're looking over here.

45:11>> Y'all come a little closer. At least you

45:13want to come in the middle.

45:14>> Yeah.

45:17All right.

45:25Thank you. Thank you,

45:27>> Joe.

45:30>> You know what?

45:32>> Thank you. Appreciate

45:37>> sixth district and the fourth district.

45:41>> Thank you.

45:48>> We're going to business.

46:07So, we move from one set of veterans to

46:09another set of veterans. I'm going to

46:11ask our retired educators

46:14>> to come up.

46:16>> Retired educators. [applause]

46:19>> Thank you.

46:23Thank you. [applause]

46:29>> Now you all don't look retired.

46:31[laughter]

46:32You don't look tired either.

46:41>> Well, Pat Smith, come on and join us

46:43since you board member Smith. Come on.

46:46Yes, sir.

46:46>> I'll get closer.

46:49Yeah, they don't look they don't look

46:50retired at all. They look like they can

46:51go back and teach.

46:54Proclamation reads as follows. Whereas

46:55education serves as the foundation of a

46:58thriving community, empowering

46:59individuals, strengthening families and

47:01preparing future generations to become

47:03informed, responsible, and productive

47:05citizens. And whereas retired educators

47:08throughout the state of Georgia have

47:09devoted their professional lives to the

47:11noble calling of teaching, mentoring,

47:13inspiring, and guiding students toward

47:15academic achievement and lifelong

47:17success. And whereas the contributions

47:19of retired educators extend far beyond

47:22the classroom as they have helped shape

47:24the character, values, aspirations, and

47:27opportunities of countless students

47:28while making lasting differences in the

47:30lives of families and communities. And

47:33whereas these dedicated professionals

47:35have served as teachers, administrators,

47:37counselors, and education leaders, often

47:39going above and beyond their

47:41responsibilities to ensure that every

47:43student had the opportunity to learn,

47:46grow, and reach their fullest potential.

47:48And whereas the city of Savannah

47:50recognizes the enduring legacy of

47:52retired educators who have helped shape

47:55our community through their dedication

47:57to academic excellence, mentorship,

48:00civic engagement, and the belief that

48:02every child deserves the opportunity to

48:04succeed. And whereas we express our

48:07sincere gratitude to retired educators

48:09for their years of faithful service, the

48:11countless lives they have touched and

48:13the legacy they have established through

48:15their unwavering commitment to the

48:17advancement of education. Now therefore,

48:19I Van R. Johnson II mayor of the city of

48:22Savannah, Georgia, do hereby proclaim

48:24November the 1st, 2026 is retired

48:27educators day in the city of Savannah.

48:29And I encourage all citizens to join me

48:31in honoring retired educators for their

48:34outstanding contributions to our

48:35children, our schools, and our

48:37community. Let us recognize their years

48:39of dedicated service, celebrate the

48:41enduring impact of their work, and

48:43extend their our heartfelt appreciation

48:46to those who have devoted their lives to

48:48educating and inspiring generations of

48:51Georgians. Ladies and gentlemen,

48:53everything I've ever learned, a teacher

48:54taught me.

48:55>> Yes, he did.

48:56>> Everything. And if I was to be

48:58absolutely honest and transparent about

49:01it, uh the teachers I hated the most

49:03were the ones that treated that treated

49:05me the best. The ones who let me do what

49:08I wanted to do, I don't even remember

49:10their names.

49:12>> But the ones who are on my behind, I

49:14will remember them for the rest of my my

49:16life. We know that teachers can make

49:19more money doing other things.

49:20>> That's right.

49:21>> Uh it is a calling like public service.

49:24It is a ministry. uh those that do it

49:27will never say they do it for the money.

49:29Uh they do it because they care. And so

49:31it's my honor to to recognize uh some of

49:35these soldiers uh of veterans of other

49:37wars, those wars in the classrooms and

49:40the wars in communities. Uh and

49:42appreciate you for all that you do.

49:44Again, now y'all can get back in the

49:46classroom because y'all don't look like

49:47y'all are retired at all. But

49:49congratulations. [applause]

49:55Thank you.

49:57>> Good afternoon.

49:59>> I would like to thank Mr. Mayor and the

50:01city council for recognizing November

50:041st is Cadam retired educators day. As

50:07you know, education is a lifelong

50:10calling. And even in our retirement, we

50:13continue to mentor students. We continue

50:15to volunteer and we continue to advocate

50:17for the communities and for all of the

50:19schools in the city of Savannah. Thank

50:21you so much. [applause]

50:23>> And I have with me,

50:25>> why don't you tell your name and then

50:26how long you've taught?

50:28>> My name is Dr. Pamela West. I am a 10

50:32year retiree. I taught for 32 and a half

50:35years.

50:37[applause]

50:40>> Hello, my name is Dr. Kathy Grant. I'm a

50:44nine-year retiree and I taught for 29.5

50:48years. [applause]

50:52Good afternoon. My name is Brenda

50:54Roberts and I am a retired retired

50:57school counselor because I'm working a

50:59little bit. Um, but I did work for 37

51:02years.

51:04[applause]

51:08>> My name is Barbara Kaufman.

51:11I am a military wife, so I only taught

51:15for 19 years. However, I have been

51:18retired for 15 years.

51:21[applause]

51:25>> My name is James Kaufman and I've been

51:28retired for 15 years.

51:32[applause]

51:34>> Well, thank you so much. And and again,

51:36I know many of you continue to work in

51:39our city uh doing great things. U let us

51:42tell you how much we appreciate you all

51:44uh and all that you do. So, thank

51:46[applause] you.

51:54Brenda Roberts have retired about two or

51:55three times. We category for her.

51:59>> All right, we're going to ask our 311

52:01action center staff to come down.

52:04>> All right. [applause]

52:12[laughter]

52:18Yeah. What are the [laughter]

52:21>> They're working. Um

52:24I'll tell you, uh very early in our

52:26council career, uh came an opportunity

52:29for us to um do something again that was

52:33historic and first in the state of

52:35Georgia. uh and that was to be able to

52:38have a phone number that you can call as

52:40a one-stop shop for all things city of

52:43Savannah government. Uh and that was in

52:462006. We had been in office at that

52:48point um two years. Um and we were able

52:54to get it done. I believe we had the

52:56first 311 service uh in the state of

52:59Georgia. Alderwoman Bell at the time as

53:01a city employee has something to do with

53:04that. Um, and so we're celebrating 20

53:07years uh of having this service. Now

53:10everybody has it. Um, and so it had to

53:14start somewhere. And so I want to salute

53:16our 311 action center uh for 20 years

53:19and who's receiving this.

53:21>> All right. Well, come on. Come on up.

53:23>> Sarah Torres, who's the manager, could

53:25not be here today. So Max has

53:27>> Please. Thank you. Thank you.

53:28>> Well, come come on through.

53:31>> Yes.

53:32>> And tell me your name as well.

53:36Good afternoon.

53:37>> Afternoon,

53:38>> Mayor Johnson, members of city council.

53:40I want to set this down. Uh, city

53:43manager Meldder, uh, and distinguished

53:45guest. Um, my name is Max Babe. I am a

53:49customer service representative in the

53:51311 Action Center. It is my honor to

53:55recognize a significant milestone in our

53:57city's commitment to responsive and

54:00transparent government. speaking today

54:02in the absence of our wonderful manager

54:05uh Miss Sora Torres. Uh this twi this

54:08year marks our 20 years as mayor said um

54:12since the city of Savannah launched its

54:14311 system uh two decades of providing

54:17residents with a single reliable point

54:20of contact for information service and

54:22support.

54:24uh what began as a visionary uh

54:27initiative to streamline city

54:29communications in 2006, spearheaded by

54:32former city manager Michael Brown,

54:34former assistant city manager.

54:38>> Uh Chris Morz and Miss Caroline Bell in

54:42the central service department has

54:43evolved into an essential public service

54:46that thousands of residents depend on

54:48every month. Uh, in the past 20 years,

54:52our 311 team has answered millions of

54:55calls, emails, and online requests,

54:57ensuring Savanians are heard and helped.

55:00Um, serving as the point of contact, the

55:03heart of the city service, connecting

55:04residents to everything from sanitation,

55:07street maintenance to housing programs,

55:10permits, and public safety resources.

55:13providing accurate real-time information

55:16during hurricanes, emergencies, and

55:19major city events, St. Patrick's Day

55:21parade, marathons, and traffic alerts.

55:25Uh helping to keep our community safe

55:27and informed.

55:29Uh supporting city departments by

55:30submitting residents concerns,

55:33identifying service trends, and helping

55:35improve performance across local

55:37government operations. Uh, in 2020, the

55:41SAV 311 app mobile app was launched and

55:44has been downloaded over 5,000 times.

55:48Um, as we celebrate our 20 years of

55:50service, we also look forward to it. Uh,

55:52the 301 Action Center continues to

55:54evolve with new technologies, improved

55:57data tools, and expanded ways for res

55:59residents to connect with us by phone,

56:02online, or through the SAV 311 app. Our

56:06commitment remains the same to provide

56:08excellent customer service with

56:10accuracy, transparency, and heart. Um,

56:13on behalf of the entire 311 team, I want

56:16to thank the mayor, city council, and

56:18our partners and departments uh for your

56:21continued support. Most of all, we thank

56:23the residents of Savannah for trusting

56:25us for the last two decades. We are

56:28proud to serve you and look forward to

56:30the next 20 years and beyond. Thank you

56:32so much. [applause]

56:39Thank you. Thank you.

56:40>> Um 311 works. Um 311 drives so much of

56:45what we do every day in service to

56:48residents. Um and it's because of the

56:50fabulous team uh that we have at 311.

56:53And and again, I'm just going to shout

56:54out Sarah Torres, who can't be with us

56:56today, but an incredible uh manager and

57:00um and 311 leader for the team. And then

57:03um as we talk about the future of 311

57:06and the future of that team's role is

57:09really the future of customer service

57:10for the city and being the heartbeat of

57:12customer um service and the leader of

57:15customer service and everything that we

57:16do. Um now as we've turned uh to our

57:19strategic plan and GPS, the data that we

57:22have for 311 informs so much of what we

57:25know um we're doing well and so much of

57:27what we know we need to improve upon and

57:29helps us pro provide benchmarks um for

57:32where we need to be in the future. And

57:35there's nowhere that I go in the

57:37community or I don't hear

57:40I called 311 and they were so helpful. I

57:43called 311. Um, and even though I have a

57:46a a pretty meaty request, they listened,

57:49they were kind, they cared about my

57:51issue, and they helped connect me to

57:53where I needed to go. And that's exactly

57:55what customer service um should look

57:57like. And I'm very proud of the team.

57:59And so, congratulations.

58:01>> Thank you.

58:05[applause]

58:07>> Um, Mr. Mayor, m Mr. manager.

58:12After working for the city for 30 years,

58:16over 30 years, one of the thing, one of

58:19my proudest moments is starting 311. I

58:23remember over 21 years a around 21 years

58:26ago, Michael Brown had attended an

58:29International City Management

58:31Association meeting and on his return to

58:35city hall, he stopped by my office and

58:38dropped a brochure on my desk for a

58:40non-emergency cost system and I think he

58:44had seen a demonstration while at the

58:46conference and his me his only message

58:49was or his direction was let's see if we

58:52can start something like this in

58:54Savannah. And I have to give a shout out

58:57to St. Stacy Ferguson. She's ret I guess

59:00she's retired now, but I hired Stacy

59:04Ferguson from the private sector. And we

59:06traveled around

59:08uh well, we we found identified other

59:12cities who had a non-emergency cause

59:16system and we wanted to model a a system

59:19in Savannah after that. And as the mayor

59:23stated, we became we Savannah became the

59:27first city in the state of Georgia even

59:30before Atlanta to start a non-emergency

59:33call system. And that's what we call

59:37311.

59:38We It's one of my proudest moments

59:41because I consider that as part of my

59:43legacy in Savannah. I think it's very

59:46important that we who have these seats

59:50use this platform to do something that

59:54can benefit the quality of life for the

59:57citizens in Savannah. So on that note, I

1:00:00say team Savannah me remember that

1:00:02because you have an opportunity to not

1:00:05only make changes but make lasting

1:00:08changes that would benefit this

1:00:10community. So thank you

1:00:13>> [applause]

1:00:16>> What we like most about 311 is it serves

1:00:18several purposes. A as a as a access

1:00:21point. Uh it's a source of information.

1:00:25Uh it is a source of communication and

1:00:28it is a tool for accountability.

1:00:30Um when someone calls and I call 31,

1:00:34what's the reference number? It helps us

1:00:36to remain accountable. Mr. manager uh to

1:00:39our departments. It gives us a road map

1:00:41about who took the request, what

1:00:44happened with that request, and it helps

1:00:46uh keep us accountable to the residents

1:00:47we serve. So, um many many more years to

1:00:50to um the great team at 311. And

1:00:54sometimes, you know, I just call y'all

1:00:55just to say, "Hey," and y'all answer the

1:00:57phone.

1:00:57>> Yeah.

1:00:58>> Yeah. I mean, I mean, it's okay. But

1:01:00thank you all so much. And thank Sarah

1:01:02and the team. Yes, ma'am.

1:01:03>> Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just want to

1:01:06um to say that when I first got on city

1:01:08council uh back in uh 2012,

1:01:13uh 311 had took a a a dive uh in a

1:01:18somewhat a negative space and and what

1:01:22has happened over uh these current years

1:01:25I must say u because I have coined

1:01:29uh the phrase that it's two two things

1:01:3331 11 works. And so I just want to thank

1:01:38um I think you you like one of the newer

1:01:41team members. Uh yes, I

1:01:44>> I talk new

1:01:46>> I talk with I talk with you. I know I

1:01:49could um tell the difference because

1:01:51mostly there are female voices and then

1:01:53when there's a male voice uh on the

1:01:55phone, it's a refreshing thing. So

1:01:57welcome welcome to the team. So, uh,

1:02:00with Miss Sarah and, uh, who was the

1:02:04other young lady? The other name?

1:02:07>> That's her.

1:02:08>> Miss Sarah, Mr. Trail, and everybody

1:02:11else. I just want to to say again and

1:02:14say real loud, 311

1:02:17works. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

1:02:19>> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all.

1:02:22Thank you. [applause]

1:02:30I don't know who's

1:02:52Thank you.

1:03:10All right, folks. Let's go ahead and get

1:03:12into it. Uh, we'll move to alcohol

1:03:15alcohol license hearings items number

1:03:17nine and 10. Are any pullouts over these

1:03:20two? Can we proceed? All right. Item

1:03:23number nine is approval of a class C

1:03:25liquor, beer, and wine by the drink

1:03:26alcohol license to Alfred Duchch for

1:03:30benevolent and protective order of Elks,

1:03:33a bar lounge at 183 Wilshshire Boulevard

1:03:36in automatic district 6. And I'm number

1:03:3910 is approval of a class C liquor,

1:03:41beer, and wine by the drink, alcohol

1:03:43license for Sunday sales to David Walker

1:03:45for House of Pekquan, uh a restaurant

1:03:48located at 401 Mall Boulevard in

1:03:51District 4. This is a public hearing and

1:03:54I'm declaring open uh for these items.

1:03:56Does anyone have anything against either

1:03:58one of these licenses?

1:04:00Going once.

1:04:03Going twice.

1:04:05>> Speak now if ever hold your peace.

1:04:07>> Mr. Mayor.

1:04:08>> Yes.

1:04:09>> Second.

1:04:10>> Second.

1:04:10>> Probably moved and seconded that we

1:04:11close the hearings on these items. All

1:04:14in favor indicate by saying I.

1:04:15>> I.

1:04:16>> Opposed. Motion passes. Item number nine

1:04:19is approval of a class C um liquor,

1:04:22beer, and wine by the drink alcohol

1:04:23license for the benevolent and

1:04:25protective order of the els alderman per

1:04:28>> move to it.

1:04:31>> Second.

1:04:31>> Probably move second. All in favor

1:04:33indicate by saying I

1:04:34>> opposed.

1:04:35>> Motion passes 8 to1. Item number 10 uh

1:04:38is a class C liquor, beer and wine by

1:04:41the drink alcohol license for Sunday

1:04:43sales for the house of Pacoan. Alderman

1:04:46um Palumbo.

1:04:47>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Move for the

1:04:49approval of a class C liquor, beer, and

1:04:50wine by the drink, alcohol license with

1:04:52Sunday sales to David Walker for the

1:04:53House of Pacqua.

1:04:54>> Second.

1:04:55>> Second

1:04:55>> and probably moved and seconded. All in

1:04:57favor indicate by saying I.

1:04:58>> I.

1:04:59>> Opposed?

1:04:59>> Opposed?

1:05:00>> Motion passes 8 to one. Thank you very

1:05:02much. I'm going to skip item number 11.

1:05:05I want to go down to the purchasing

1:05:07items. Do we have any pullouts?

1:05:08>> Yes, sir. Okay, we have 12.

1:05:10>> We have 12.

1:05:19>> Are these for recusals?

1:05:22>> No, sir.

1:05:22>> Okay.

1:05:24>> Number 24.

1:05:28>> 24.

1:05:29>> Resolution.

1:05:30>> That should be 12. It should be 12 to

1:05:3121.

1:05:32>> On the wrong page. I'm sorry.

1:05:34>> Just those two.

1:05:37>> Yes, sir. Number 20.

1:05:38>> 20.

1:05:39>> 20.

1:05:40>> Mr. Mayor.

1:05:40>> All right. We'll we'll we'll we'll uh

1:05:43All right. Let's Well,

1:05:44>> if there are no more pull outs, I would

1:05:45like to make a motion for the approval

1:05:47for the purchasing items of items number

1:05:4913 through 19.

1:05:53Yes.

1:05:5613 through 19.

1:05:57>> Second.

1:05:58>> Been properly moved. And well, let me go

1:06:00read them into the record. Item number

1:06:0213 is authorize city manager executed on

1:06:05one year contract renewal for one ton

1:06:09chlorine cylinders with JCI Jones

1:06:13chemical in amount not to exceed

1:06:15$487,500.

1:06:17Item number 14 is authorized city

1:06:20manager to execute a execute a contract

1:06:22for roadway and pothole assessment

1:06:24system with city logics in the amount

1:06:27not to exceed $125,000.

1:06:30I am number 15 uh authorize an emergency

1:06:33purchase of a Smith and Love list D30 AL

1:06:37bridge mounted drive unit with B and D

1:06:41industrial and amount not to exceed

1:06:43$151,7445.

1:06:47Item number 16. Um um authorized city

1:06:51manager executed contract for landfill,

1:06:57one waste disposal, one back hole

1:06:59loader, and two steel drum rollers from

1:07:01Yansy Brothers in the amount of

1:07:032,195,190.

1:07:07Item number is 17. Authorize city

1:07:09manager execute a contract for two

1:07:11utility trailers and one tractor loader

1:07:14back hole from shade tractor equipment.

1:07:17I got

1:07:17>> care of Kabutoa in amount of 197,555.

1:07:24Item number 18, authorize city manager

1:07:26to execute a contract for 49 police

1:07:29interceptor utility patrol vehicles and

1:07:31outfitting from Wade Ford in the amount

1:07:34of $3,131,271.50

1:07:3850 cents and I'm number 19 authorized

1:07:41city manage and executed contract for

1:07:43software as a service subscription from

1:07:46MHC Northstar software in the amount of

1:07:49$57,37524

1:07:53you've heard the motion all in favor

1:07:54indicate by saying I

1:07:55>> I opposed motion passes item number 12

1:07:59is authoriz city manager execute a

1:08:01contract for do transit services with

1:08:04Chattamaria transit local in the amount

1:08:06not to exceed $7 million 942,893.39.

1:08:12Alderman Leget.

1:08:13>> Mr. Mayor, I refuse myself.

1:08:17>> Understood, Mr. Chairman.

1:08:18>> Mr. Mayor.

1:08:19>> Yes.

1:08:20>> So, let me let me ask this question on

1:08:22here. I see there's almost an $8 million

1:08:23purchase for this. So, we've got two

1:08:27agenda items that kind of go hand inand

1:08:28today, and I'm going to tie them

1:08:30together, and I'll kind of explain why.

1:08:31>> Sure. We're about to look at this this

1:08:34uh ordinance for parking uh to extend

1:08:37our areas where we're going to be paying

1:08:39for parking to and and we're trying to

1:08:42encourage folks to be more of a walkable

1:08:45public transit sort of town. Um and

1:08:48that's up for consideration today. But

1:08:50what troubles me is I have asked and and

1:08:53asked and asked for years for the DOT uh

1:08:57specifically the DOT to go from the

1:08:59southside, Georgia Southern all the way

1:09:01to Midtown all the way to downtown to

1:09:03help alleviate some of those issues and

1:09:06to help bring connectivity,

1:09:07accessibility, and equity for those that

1:09:10need it. And we're back here again with

1:09:12an $8 million ask without that simple

1:09:16ask.

1:09:16>> Well, I don't know if it's simple, Mr.

1:09:18Manager. Uh how do we check how much

1:09:20extra that would be for that contract?

1:09:22This is a renewal, right, of a current

1:09:23service.

1:09:24>> Uh this is a renewal. This is a for a

1:09:27three-year. Um it cost um in year one

1:09:30about $2.5 million for the DOT service.

1:09:34Um which services, as Alderman Perti

1:09:37said, more of the downtown urban core,

1:09:40including um some of the nearby Westside

1:09:43communities. DOT is a service, a transit

1:09:47service that the city pays for fully.

1:09:50Um, uh, and Chattam Area Transit

1:09:53provides that service. Um, the,

1:09:57uh, the transit service from the

1:10:00southside

1:10:02to downtown has been a function of

1:10:05Chattamaria Transit's regular route

1:10:07service and um, not the DOT shuttle. And

1:10:10the DOT shuttle has taken many forms um,

1:10:13in its lifetime. Um I think that the

1:10:16idea to have um free fair transit

1:10:20service from all parts of the city

1:10:22including the southside to all every

1:10:24other part of the city is a really great

1:10:26idea. Um, and certainly something that

1:10:29we can look at as a part of the budget

1:10:32process for how much an annualized

1:10:35fair-free

1:10:36DOT shuttle would cost from the

1:10:38southside to um, uh, downtown or any

1:10:43other places. Um, and whether or not CAT

1:10:46could be able to provide that service

1:10:48for us in an extension for this

1:10:50contract.

1:10:51>> Okay. I I know I've been asking for a

1:10:53couple years, so it should be no

1:10:54surprise that that we're having this

1:10:56conversation today. So, I'm a little

1:11:01a little upset that we're not at least

1:11:03have already had that number in mind.

1:11:05Um, we've got a lot of folks that that

1:11:06live on the south side. We have college

1:11:08students at Georgia Southern uh that

1:11:10that come to this community because of

1:11:12the things that Savannah offers. And I

1:11:15think, you know, yes, we CAT has that

1:11:17service, but at the same time, um I I

1:11:21think that we should at least look into

1:11:23what that cost or what that cost looks

1:11:25like providing those services, whether

1:11:27it's college students, whether it's to,

1:11:30you know, maybe youth or maybe people

1:11:32that are that work downtown, maybe those

1:11:35folks that live on the in Midtown or on

1:11:37the south side that work downtown or

1:11:39something along that line, right? But I

1:11:41think I think at this point we're we're

1:11:44trying to service all areas of Savannah.

1:11:46There has to be a start and we gota we

1:11:49got to bring that forward and not just

1:11:50sit on it for a couple of years. That's

1:11:52my ask. Just to look at it and see what

1:11:54we can we can come up with as far as

1:11:56numbers and if that's something that

1:11:58>> Well, absolutely bring back on on what

1:12:01we believe we it would cost and we'll

1:12:03talk to Kat about it. Um I know that

1:12:05we've talked about um expanding fairs.

1:12:08Um so and this is a good time to talk

1:12:11about it as the budget the proposed

1:12:13budget will get to council soon. Um so

1:12:17this is when you think about you know a

1:12:19shuttle service. Um the dot right now

1:12:22costs $2.5 million a year. Um the the

1:12:26miles between the southside and and

1:12:28where we'd want that dot to connect

1:12:30maybe downtown maybe other places in

1:12:32between. Um um I would imagine you're

1:12:34looking at you know at least that um if

1:12:37not more um for some type of a a regular

1:12:40service because the service area on the

1:12:42dot would be expanding exponentially.

1:12:46Not to say that's a bad thing. That's a

1:12:47very very good thing. Um and uh we've

1:12:50got to be able to work with our transit

1:12:53authority and able to provide good

1:12:55transit services. And um the DOT is

1:12:58something that the city has paid for and

1:13:00increased and we'll take a look and get

1:13:02you some options and council to consider

1:13:05about what an expansion of the DOT to

1:13:07the southside would would cost the the

1:13:09general fund.

1:13:10>> Okay.

1:13:11>> Um Palumbo first.

1:13:13>> Oh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh and it's

1:13:15not a coincidence that we're talking

1:13:16about it. It's the most popular transit

1:13:18option in Channab County. Uh literally

1:13:21and figuratively. Uh the highest

1:13:23ridership comes from a service, the

1:13:25Dodge shuttle, that's funded 100% by the

1:13:28city of Savannah. It works. Uh and and I

1:13:31hear a lot of increased demand for it.

1:13:33And I don't think it's a coincidence

1:13:34that we're we have on first reading

1:13:36today uh the parking matter study and

1:13:39expansion of mobility services and

1:13:41parking revenue. Uh and I think we

1:13:43should take them together about where

1:13:46does that revenue go because uh it's my

1:13:48understanding, correct me if I'm wrong,

1:13:50Mr. city manager that the DOT shuttle is

1:13:52paid for u through this parking service

1:13:55fee.

1:13:56>> Uh

1:13:56>> it is paid for the DOT is paid for

1:13:59through the parking services fund. Um

1:14:02and but I don't know what an expansion

1:14:05of the DOT where the we'd have to look

1:14:08at the the finances there to understand

1:14:10what the cost would be and where we

1:14:12would get the funds for that. I think it

1:14:13does make sense to if we are considering

1:14:16the expansion of the parking matter

1:14:17study, there will be more additional

1:14:19revenue from uh if it is approved uh

1:14:23that we should have a discussion about

1:14:24where that revenue goes. Uh and that

1:14:27might make uh might make the calculus

1:14:30all the difference for the expansion of

1:14:32these services to ensure that residents

1:14:34know where their money is going that

1:14:36they're getting something in return. You

1:14:38know, we believe in the aims of uh Mr.

1:14:40Brandon has shared very eloquently about

1:14:42the benefits about it's time for us to t

1:14:44tackle this parking challenge as it's

1:14:46evolved over the last 10 years and we

1:14:49may be able to demonstrate what

1:14:51residents are getting their money's

1:14:52worth uh where they're getting it from

1:14:54and how those benefits are expanded. I'd

1:14:57like to see that over you know we could

1:14:58study that over the next couple weeks.

1:15:00>> I think it's an it's an awesome idea.

1:15:02So, if if you tie in together the

1:15:05parking matter study, if if everything

1:15:07proposed is adopted by city council, um

1:15:10we estimate that's roughly a million

1:15:13dollars in additional revenue a year. Um

1:15:16and so if we take my very rough estimate

1:15:19of, you know, a $2.5 million expansion

1:15:21for the DOT, um that makes up um some

1:15:25portion of that. Absolutely. So, um we

1:15:29can uh uh reach out and uh and do some

1:15:34math on what that expansion would mean

1:15:35and um and and put forward proposals

1:15:39about um how the any additional revenue

1:15:42net revenue from the parking matters

1:15:45plan if adopted um would be spent and

1:15:47and where it would go to expand

1:15:49services.

1:15:51>> All right. Yes, ma'am.

1:15:52>> I have a question. [clears throat]

1:15:56Mr. City Manager,

1:15:59I see where we're paying7,942,893.39

1:16:09for the dot and we are doing that over a

1:16:12course of three years.

1:16:16But when I have to go down

1:16:20town underneath

1:16:22the the lo

1:16:25where I see people

1:16:28not getting the bus services that they

1:16:31need from Chattam Area Transit, not

1:16:34getting the bus services that they need

1:16:36from the DOT and it is um actually

1:16:41recorded.

1:16:43I take issue with this. Now, Alderman

1:16:48Herdie said that he has asked

1:16:51for transportation, free transportation

1:16:56to be implemented on the south side.

1:17:01We about to give 7 million to these to

1:17:05to this entity.

1:17:08Why can't we take

1:17:11and instead of giving it to them in

1:17:13three-year increments,

1:17:15put out a RFP for maybe another

1:17:20organization or entity that could

1:17:23service

1:17:24the southside

1:17:27and then that way we don't have to do a

1:17:29study because it looks like to me that

1:17:31we're going to be continuing to use

1:17:33these individuals for three years when

1:17:35they're not given the service that they

1:17:38supposed to be given. I don't know

1:17:40what's been recorded on paper, but I

1:17:43know what I seen with my own eyes

1:17:46downtown

1:17:47under the lo where people catch the

1:17:50Chattam area transit buses that don't

1:17:54show up, that's not on time, that's

1:17:57causing people to lose their jobs, some

1:18:00of them. Okay,

1:18:04I can't agree with this

1:18:05>> from from a system that has been

1:18:07severely cut because their budget their

1:18:10millage rate had been cut uh by the

1:18:12county. I think that's important to

1:18:13recognize too the operating income that

1:18:16they have to not only uh for personnel

1:18:20and operating uh has been severely cut.

1:18:22Um, also

1:18:24>> they cut for parit no

1:18:28ma'am. No ma'am. They set the county

1:18:30sets the millillage for Chadam area

1:18:34transit and they they they cut their

1:18:37millillage last year

1:18:38>> because services were not the fact.

1:18:42>> Again, I think you know the city of

1:18:44Savannah are the largest we're the

1:18:45largest consumers of those products.

1:18:48People use them, thousands of people

1:18:50every single day uh to get to where they

1:18:52work. It gives them a sense of

1:18:54independence. Um we use the DOT shuttle

1:18:57as a force multiplier.

1:19:00>> Mayor Johnson, when they don't show up,

1:19:02the people do not get the services that

1:19:04we are

1:19:04>> I I think that is more the exception

1:19:06than it is the norm.

1:19:08>> Um and so it has been the norm. uh for

1:19:11us again. Well, again, if you don't have

1:19:13the funds to do what you're supposed to

1:19:14do, uh we recognize that everything from

1:19:18diesel fuel to equipments to personnel,

1:19:21those those fees keep going up. Uh and

1:19:24so therefore, as an organization, if

1:19:26Chattam Transit does not have the funds

1:19:29that they need uh collected through a

1:19:31millage rate to be able to operate

1:19:34efficiently, they're going to be

1:19:36deficiencies. And so they have to

1:19:38resolve that with the county. In the

1:19:40meantime, we have been able to find a

1:19:42way particularly for those in lowincome

1:19:45uh areas that are immediately around the

1:19:47downtown and we've been able to expand

1:19:49it uh be able to create a way to expand

1:19:53independence, expand dignity uh for

1:19:55people to get to and from where they

1:19:57are. To that end, um, to Alderman Perti

1:20:00and Alderman Palumbo, uh, this does

1:20:02create an opportunity for maybe not

1:20:05necessarily the types of services that

1:20:08the DOT does, but some sort of express

1:20:11service for those who just want to be

1:20:13able to get on, get downtown in one stop

1:20:16or something and then be able to do

1:20:18their business and be able to go back.

1:20:19So, um, I just kind of want to reject

1:20:22the indictment on C. You know, you you

1:20:24do the services with the best what you

1:20:25have. Um, but this is they are the

1:20:28contractors. Um, I would not be in favor

1:20:30of going out for an RFP to invite

1:20:32someone else in to provide a service

1:20:34that that is already provided.

1:20:36>> The people have spoken. They

1:20:38>> Well, people talk to me too. I mean,

1:20:40>> talk to me and I been there and I've

1:20:43actually videotaped some of these people

1:20:46going through the changes that they have

1:20:48gone through.

1:20:48>> And I ride the buses.

1:20:51>> Okay. Well, we not going to go back and

1:20:52forth up here. No. We know exactly

1:20:55what's going on.

1:20:55>> Well, then we'll just see it in the

1:20:57news.

1:20:58>> We'll just vote on social media what

1:21:00going on with these people.

1:21:01>> Vote your conscience.

1:21:02>> What I would point out in this contract

1:21:04um and what we have um imposed more

1:21:07recently um are performance standards um

1:21:10for the DOT shuttle specifically because

1:21:13it's the um transit system that we pay

1:21:16for fully. Um and so this contract

1:21:19includes um performance standards as

1:21:23well as uh fines that would be

1:21:25associated for underperforming those

1:21:27performance standards. So if we don't if

1:21:30we don't see that contractor

1:21:33um cat in this case um is meeting the

1:21:36stops and the headways with the times

1:21:38that are set in the contract. um that

1:21:42there are fines associated with missing

1:21:44those and they've got to report um on

1:21:47those standards uh regularly and we um

1:21:51[clears throat] uh and uh we also

1:21:53monitor that as well because um we hear

1:21:57about the issues too. So

1:21:58>> do do we have it for the current

1:21:59contract?

1:22:00>> We've imposed them more recently. This

1:22:02contract would codify

1:22:04>> this contract is the first one to do it.

1:22:06>> Um there are performance standards. Um I

1:22:09don't know that we've had the fine

1:22:10structure that this contract proposes in

1:22:14place.

1:22:14>> Okay. Alder alder woman bell.

1:22:17>> So um city manager have have you done

1:22:21any investigating into a cost for the

1:22:24services to the southside as Alderman

1:22:26Perti has suggested.

1:22:28>> Um we've looked at that. I'm I'm getting

1:22:31messages from the team. Um uh we've

1:22:35we've and getting messages from the

1:22:37people who have worked at CAT. Um but I

1:22:40think that the the probably the the best

1:22:42estimate that I can give at this table

1:22:43is it's going to be around $2.5 million

1:22:46as I just think about

1:22:48>> I would think about per year. So if we

1:22:50expand the DOT shuttle to more stops and

1:22:53to servicing um the southside which is

1:22:57um uh which is a longer mileage radus to

1:23:00cover um might require more um uh buses

1:23:05as well. Um that that's going to have a

1:23:08a cost to it. Um, I'm just estimating in

1:23:11my um a professional swag um at $2.5

1:23:16million a year, but I will come back

1:23:18with um today's numbers on what that

1:23:21would mean for an expansion of the DOT

1:23:24shuttle.

1:23:25>> I would appreciate that.

1:23:27>> Okay, let's come back over here.

1:23:30>> I have another question.

1:23:31>> Mr. Mayor, Mr. City Manager, we already

1:23:34invested in a uh a free system.

1:23:38We should examine the cost of expanding

1:23:41it, identify the neighborhoods with the

1:23:43greatest need, and develop a pilot

1:23:46program. Equitable transportation

1:23:49should benefit the entire community and

1:23:51not just downtown. The uh parking

1:23:56funding from Savannah is a enterprise,

1:24:00so they're making money. And so if they

1:24:02went into a program with CAT to

1:24:05establish some funding from out of that

1:24:07particular uh treasure, why can't they

1:24:11do it for all the other districts? I

1:24:13don't happen to have one in the third

1:24:15district that comes here. And so the

1:24:16problem that I have is that every time

1:24:18we identify anything in the community,

1:24:21it stops downtown. So fine, that's

1:24:23downtown. But he needs it to go to the

1:24:25sixth district. I needed to go to the

1:24:27third district. She needs to go where

1:24:28it's already in the first district,

1:24:30right? But it's in Clodale. So, we

1:24:33should

1:24:33>> village. Yeah.

1:24:35>> What I'm asking is that we investigate

1:24:38and we come up with some kind of

1:24:39solution. People are tired of us just

1:24:41making stuff for the first and the

1:24:43second district. I am. And so, we wanted

1:24:46to filter down from the third to the

1:24:47sixth. Anything that anybody offers in

1:24:49this city. If somebody wants it in any

1:24:52district, then they should be able to

1:24:53have it. And this city council can do

1:24:55whatever they want to do. y'all found

1:24:57money to put in that storm water because

1:25:00y'all want that to work. He's been

1:25:02asking for a long time to do something

1:25:04to shuttle. Even if you did it for one

1:25:05or two days, it should be done and we

1:25:08can vote on that. That's our money. And

1:25:10when you go for the budget, that should

1:25:11be a part of what you asking for the

1:25:13budget. He shouldn't keep asking for

1:25:14things that that's equitable. And we sit

1:25:17here and vote and get stuff for people

1:25:18from Abberorn on back. And then we sit

1:25:21here and vote for I'm tired of voting

1:25:22for everything then it doesn't filter

1:25:24down where it needs to be for the people

1:25:26who needs public free transportation.

1:25:28Thank y'all for your time. We gonna have

1:25:30to do better about how we do stuff and

1:25:32how equable what equitable means.

1:25:34Equitable means for me that whatever

1:25:36goes into one district, if anybody wants

1:25:38it in their district from one to six, we

1:25:40should find a way to make a solution to

1:25:42find the money to do that. Budget system

1:25:44is coming up. Kirk, you need to be

1:25:46talking about support that.

1:25:48>> One moment. Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am.

1:25:50>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I too uh would

1:25:53like to join with Alderman Perti uh in

1:25:57stating that uh we research uh get get

1:26:01the information in reference to the DOT

1:26:03shuttle uh coming down um to uh the

1:26:07fifth district because you got to get to

1:26:10the fifth district, go through it to get

1:26:12to the sixth. So I'm not going to not be

1:26:14voiceless and not um agree and uh tag on

1:26:19with uh my colleague in the six. Thank

1:26:22you.

1:26:23>> Thank you alder woman.

1:26:25>> Yes. Uh we sit here and we often talk

1:26:27about equity and what we're proposing is

1:26:30just the opposite of what equity

1:26:32represent. Um I've never been a

1:26:35supporter of this DOT initiative. It

1:26:37doesn't make sense. Make it make sense

1:26:39to me. um in the first district, what

1:26:41are we basing this on? Uh

1:26:46if we look at the census tracks and we

1:26:49look at the poverty number on those

1:26:51census tracks

1:26:53where we are running the free

1:26:55transportation would not correlate with

1:26:58the lowealth census tracks. So it

1:27:00doesn't make sense. So where is the

1:27:02equity in that? We probably have the

1:27:04highest uh income,

1:27:08the highest wealth tracks receiving free

1:27:12transportation. That doesn't make sense

1:27:13to me. So, I can't support this. uh in

1:27:16the first district if we are going to

1:27:18roll this service this free service out

1:27:21where it's going to um give provide

1:27:25equity to the people who could afford it

1:27:28least then it wouldn't be where we have

1:27:30it right now in in none of the areas. So

1:27:33we got to do a better job of this. I I

1:27:36can't support this. I won't be

1:27:37supporting this when uh if we look at

1:27:39the census tracks. Some of those tracks

1:27:41might be in the second or in the third,

1:27:43in the first, but we just

1:27:47equity and equality we know are two

1:27:49different things. So, um we got to look

1:27:52at this again where we are providing

1:27:55this free service because what we end up

1:27:58doing in essence is having the lowwealth

1:28:00people subsidize

1:28:02free rides for the highwealth people.

1:28:05Does that make sense? Make it make sense

1:28:07and we can move move forward with it.

1:28:09And then again on this issue of having

1:28:11an enterprise fund that's uh bringing in

1:28:15revenue offset free rise for high wealth

1:28:20areas. It just doesn't make sense. We

1:28:22got to make this stuff make sense.

1:28:24>> Okay. We can provide we can provide the

1:28:26services wherever y'all want to pres

1:28:27provide them or don't provide them at

1:28:29all.

1:28:30>> Yes.

1:28:31>> All right. La last time.

1:28:32>> We don't need to provide.

1:28:34>> Uh Mr. city manager who is going to be

1:28:38monitoring what the responsibilities and

1:28:41duties of cat I mean of the dot who's

1:28:44going to be monitoring that and what

1:28:46department would that fall under?

1:28:50>> It falls under parking and mobility this

1:28:52contract does.

1:28:53>> Okay.

1:28:54>> Sean Brandon is the senior director of

1:28:56that.

1:28:56>> So he's going to have someone in his

1:28:58department to monitor this.

1:28:59>> That's right.

1:28:59>> All right. Thank you.

1:29:01>> All right. Last word. I will I do want

1:29:03to say that the points about equity are

1:29:05very well placed. This DOT shuttle has

1:29:08existed for a long time. Four years ago,

1:29:10we did what we could to expand um the

1:29:13DOT shuttle not only to downtown but to

1:29:16near westside communities as well and it

1:29:18deserves to be expanded. Uh we also have

1:29:21a transit authority that needs to be

1:29:23able to work and provide these services

1:29:26um as well. Um so the um and that's you

1:29:30know we all of these things not to sound

1:29:32like the administrator but all of these

1:29:34things have a cost and it's about

1:29:36balancing the trade-offs about what do

1:29:38we want um to pay for and and what do we

1:29:41want to um prioritize versus those

1:29:44things that we would prioritize under

1:29:45them. So we can bring those options back

1:29:48and discuss those um in terms of a

1:29:50budget and I'll amend your budget asks

1:29:52um alderman peri to include um a

1:29:55southside dot shuttle um as well um and

1:29:58and try to work out um some of these

1:30:00numbers for council to consider.

1:30:02>> So I guess couple things I wanted to

1:30:05ask. Uh you kind of hit on the

1:30:06accountability piece as far as how you

1:30:09know who's going to be tracking the

1:30:11ontime service, that sort of thing. Um

1:30:14the other I guess the other ask I would

1:30:16have is well there's there could be two.

1:30:20Uh the first one is my initial gut

1:30:23feeling is to tell me to try to pull

1:30:24this thing till next council meeting

1:30:26when we can have some more answers as

1:30:28far as the number of riders the cost

1:30:29analysis for expansion into other

1:30:32places. The other thought I had was I

1:30:34don't feel comfortable approving almost

1:30:37$8 million for a three-year contract

1:30:39when we're still in discussions about

1:30:40expanding the service. I would be okay

1:30:43going year by year,

1:30:45>> but that's Can is that part of their RFP

1:30:49was a three-year contract?

1:30:52>> Um,

1:30:54I I'll get to the specifics on what's

1:30:57possible in terms of whether or not we

1:30:59need to go out for another RFP um or

1:31:03amend it to a yearbyear. I think most of

1:31:06the times when you do a multi-year

1:31:07contract, you're doing it to try to get

1:31:08the best price, okay,

1:31:10>> um for all three years. and you see

1:31:11those escalations year-over-year

1:31:14hopefully be less than you would if you

1:31:16put it out every year. Um it also gives

1:31:20um some sense of continuity to the

1:31:21contractors so they can invest in

1:31:23whatever capital or operational expenses

1:31:26they have to bring um to the table to be

1:31:28a be ready to perform those services. Um

1:31:31so uh there's there's um those are the

1:31:36reasons why we do uh multi-year

1:31:38contracts and that's why we try we are

1:31:41as transparent as we can with council

1:31:43about what the cost is for the entire

1:31:45three years.

1:31:45>> How how about we do this and and I'll

1:31:47I'll make the motion here in a second.

1:31:48Um, if if we bring it back November

1:31:5212th, will that give you time to maybe

1:31:55assess some sort of fine structure so

1:31:57that there's some teeth behind the

1:31:59accountability so that when they're not

1:32:00on time or when they don't show up or

1:32:02when the service isn't adequate, then we

1:32:04have an enforcement mechanism behind it

1:32:06other than to say, well, you guys didn't

1:32:08meet your your requirement, but now what

1:32:10do we do?

1:32:11>> Sure.

1:32:12>> And that's that's in the contract, but

1:32:14we can lift those up for you.

1:32:16>> Okay.

1:32:17>> Yeah. When does this contract end?

1:32:20Current contract.

1:32:23>> I don't know if Sean Brandon's um with

1:32:26us who can come answer the specifics of

1:32:28when the current contract expires.

1:32:30>> Mr. Brandon,

1:32:33he's not here.

1:32:34>> Mr.

1:32:36When is the current contract end?

1:32:402026. End of end of this year. Okay. So,

1:32:43um I don't think council is ready to

1:32:45move forward on this. How how about we

1:32:48do this? Mr. Mayor, I move that we

1:32:49reconsider this on the November.

1:32:51>> We don't have we don't have we don't

1:32:52have to take a motion. We'll just

1:32:54>> We can just let it go.

1:32:55>> Mr. Mayor.

1:32:56>> Yes.

1:32:56>> Before and in that you know the older

1:32:58woman from the first district talked

1:32:59about relocating those lines. Then let's

1:33:01look at that as an option as well.

1:33:03>> If Mr. Mayor

1:33:04>> Yes.

1:33:05mobility and the parking services is uh

1:33:09they're able to fund this right and it's

1:33:14not the total it's broken down for year

1:33:17two 2027 28 29

1:33:21we need to move on this right and uh I

1:33:26would suggest that he gets all of his

1:33:29questions answered but it's still going

1:33:31to be the same thing in November uh

1:33:33whenever you move. This is something

1:33:35that they need. I've I've used it. All

1:33:38I'm saying is that the equitable part uh

1:33:40should be in place and so not to vote

1:33:44for it and wait two more weeks to get

1:33:46the same answer. We got to do this

1:33:47right. The money's there and so find

1:33:50more money to do the things that he he

1:33:52wants to do. But Cat needs this money.

1:33:55Uh it's servicing not only people from

1:33:57downtown, right? It's the workers down

1:33:59there that work down there and they need

1:34:00this too. That's free, right? That's

1:34:02what they're capturing. I just want to

1:34:04make sure that it filters out in the

1:34:06other districts. They have money. This

1:34:08is an enterprise. They can take care of

1:34:11what we need in the other districts. I'm

1:34:13just suggesting that we vote on it and

1:34:15we make sure that the pilot is in place.

1:34:18If he makes a motion to wait on this,

1:34:21we're still going to have to vote on it,

1:34:23you know, and so why can't we do what we

1:34:26always do, but make sure Kirk gets the

1:34:29answers and we find somewhere to get a

1:34:31pilot program. She changes what is

1:34:34needed in her district and just move on

1:34:36this. We don't we don't need to hold up

1:34:37on this. Kurt, it's up to you.

1:34:38>> Move on it.

1:34:39>> I just want to make sure because we I

1:34:42don't know exactly where the parking

1:34:43funds I'll be honest with you. I don't

1:34:45know where the parking funds go. I don't

1:34:46know that the sixth district sees

1:34:48anything from it. I don't know what the

1:34:49fifth does. I don't know if the third

1:34:50district does. I know that the the vast

1:34:52majority of the city folks that that

1:34:55utilize the parking services that we

1:34:56have, the money is is gathered downtown.

1:35:00>> Is generated downtown.

1:35:01>> It's generated downtown. Where does that

1:35:02get dispersed? Probably back downtown.

1:35:05>> Well, it it goes to covering the cost of

1:35:07the dot shuttle. Um it goes to producing

1:35:11bike lanes in certain places. We've used

1:35:13the the parking and moability revenue to

1:35:15do that. It also pays bonds on our

1:35:17parking structures. Okay.

1:35:19>> Um so it's an enterprise, right? So we

1:35:21it's not a it's not taxpayer funded.

1:35:24It's userfunded. So we use where parking

1:35:29funds are generated. So, think about all

1:35:31of our parking decks um and parking

1:35:33structures, including where we have

1:35:36metered on street parking. Those produce

1:35:39revenue, and we use that to pay down the

1:35:42debt for building new

1:35:45>> um parking structures that support

1:35:48parking demand. Uh and we use it for the

1:35:51DOT shuttle and we use it for um some

1:35:54bike lanes.

1:35:55>> Mr. manager, can you give us some

1:35:58definitive answers to his request so

1:36:00that we can move on this today and not

1:36:02come back?

1:36:02>> I can give I can absolutely give

1:36:04definitive

1:36:06I can give the best we can work very

1:36:09hard to produce accurate

1:36:12>> estimates,

1:36:13>> right?

1:36:13>> Um and some options and ideas about what

1:36:16an expansion of a free DOT shuttle would

1:36:18mean to different parts of the city and

1:36:21what those costs would mean. Now, I

1:36:22think

1:36:23>> what would no dot shuttle look like?

1:36:24Because I don't think the service was

1:36:26shut down because we don't give free

1:36:28rides out.

1:36:30>> Yeah.

1:36:30>> What's that?

1:36:31>> No dot shuttle.

1:36:32>> No dot shuttle.

1:36:33>> Free rides.

1:36:34>> But but but but here's the thing, too,

1:36:36and it doesn't necessarily have to be

1:36:39look at things alternatively. You know,

1:36:40cat, you could say maybe a one-way fair

1:36:44or or free fair on one route or

1:36:46something like that. There there's

1:36:47there's alternate ways of doing this

1:36:49without specifically using the dot. I'm

1:36:51just asking that we think outside the

1:36:53box and that staff comes back to us with

1:36:55some sort of recommendation and a cost

1:36:57analysis. I'm okay moving this today,

1:36:59but I don't want it to sit for two more

1:37:01years. No, where if I'm in this seat or

1:37:03not, somebody else is asking the same

1:37:04question.

1:37:05>> We didn't create this the city, we did

1:37:08not staff, uh, council, we didn't create

1:37:10this free bus service, but we're on the

1:37:12hook here for paying for it and and this

1:37:15is the most discussion we probably have

1:37:17had concerning it. Um, and

1:37:21you know, I'm still seeing people

1:37:23walking to downtown to go to work, um,

1:37:26while the the wealthy downtown riding

1:37:29free. So, I I do have some issues with

1:37:32>> there are hundreds of thousands of

1:37:33people every year

1:37:35>> who use the DOT shuttle to get to work,

1:37:39to get to medical appointments. Um I I

1:37:41would ask even if we even

1:37:44house well and in a in a time where

1:37:46everything is costing more it certainly

1:37:48creates opportunities. I would like some

1:37:50numbers on the on the read on the

1:37:52ridership.

1:37:53>> Um I think that would help as well per

1:37:56line. Um and that will help uh answer

1:37:59those questions as well. Uh for the

1:38:00members of council if you want to move

1:38:02forward with this we can.

1:38:03>> Mr. Mayor,

1:38:04>> let me go ahead and move to authorize

1:38:06the city manager to uh execute that

1:38:09contract with

1:38:10>> second

1:38:11>> properly moved and second. All in favor

1:38:12indicate by saying I

1:38:14>> opposed. Opposed

1:38:16>> motion passes 762.

1:38:18>> Thank you very much. Item number 20

1:38:21authorized city manager send award of

1:38:24one-time purchase for grit removal

1:38:26equipment from

1:38:29is that Castle Infrastructure

1:38:31uh incorporated DBA Hydro International

1:38:34in the amount not to exceed $1,660,000.

1:38:37Who pulled this?

1:38:39>> Yes, ma'am.

1:39:02Yes, ma'am. Um, and I did provide um a

1:39:04memo

1:39:06>> um to to to help try to explain this is

1:39:09all about uh just the integrity and

1:39:13accountability of our public procurement

1:39:15process um in a postauthorization

1:39:18review. So, city council authorized me

1:39:21to execute a contract. Before we

1:39:23executed that contract or um as we were

1:39:26executing that contract, um we

1:39:29discovered that material

1:39:33was um by one vendor was submitted a day

1:39:36late for the procurement. Um and that uh

1:39:40that material that was submitted late

1:39:42was likely used in the evaluation

1:39:47of the bid process.

1:39:52No,

1:39:54>> materials, documentation, questions,

1:39:56answers. And so because that material

1:39:59was provided late, it should not have

1:40:01been considered um in the the

1:40:04procurement evaluation process. When we

1:40:07learned that it was um we uh uh we

1:40:12struck to resend the award uh to pro

1:40:15protect the integrity of our process.

1:40:17And we've also done some corrective

1:40:19actions um around um staff awareness,

1:40:23knowledge and documentation about how

1:40:26these documentations um come to

1:40:28evaluation.

1:40:37>> Yes. So um and it's in my uh memo to use

1:40:42to maintain public confidence in the

1:40:43fairness, transparency, and cons

1:40:44consistency of the competitive bidding

1:40:47process, the procurements and contracts

1:40:49division one recommends that council

1:40:51rescends its September 10th, 2026 award

1:40:54um uh and direct staff to reolicit

1:40:58um before reissuance um and before um

1:41:02any other procurement. Staff will review

1:41:04the technical specifications,

1:41:06documentation requirements, treatment of

1:41:08alternatives, and bid evaluation

1:41:09procedures to ensure expectations are

1:41:12clear and uniformly

1:41:15applied. Um,

1:41:20>> no ma'am, it's supposed to be done. This

1:41:22was a mistake, which is why I'm asking

1:41:24to resend the award so that we can

1:41:26provide transparency, integrity, and

1:41:28accountability to our procurement

1:41:30process.

1:41:38It's the accountability. It's the

1:41:40accountability of making sure we follow

1:41:42these processes every time. And when we

1:41:44don't, there's a consequence to it,

1:41:46which is we've got more work to do now

1:41:48to reissue the bid package um and to

1:41:51re-evaluate this in the right way.

1:42:03Um we um I do not uh need to make an

1:42:07emergency procurement if that's what you

1:42:09need mean for the services. Um so we do

1:42:12have ample time. Every procurement we do

1:42:13is a priority but I don't need to do a

1:42:16emergency procurement in this case to

1:42:18keep the service going until we re

1:42:20resolicit. Yes ma'am.

1:42:22>> Would you

1:42:33No, I I I mean I don't the the question

1:42:36of fault is if somebody provides

1:42:38information a day late, we should say,

1:42:39"I'm sorry, this information is late and

1:42:41it won't be included um in the

1:42:44evaluation." So certainly if we reissue

1:42:46these same vendors who bid on this

1:42:49proposal can rebid again and they can um

1:42:52update or submit the same materials if

1:42:54the RFP doesn't change.

1:42:56>> Yeah.

1:43:04>> We did not give them the money.

1:43:06>> No, ma'am. We we did not give them the

1:43:09money. um we we rescending authorization

1:43:12for me to enter into that contract so

1:43:14that we can rebid uh and uh do the

1:43:18procurement process the right way

1:43:20without the mistake of having included

1:43:22documentation that was provided late um

1:43:24and and provide council with um a

1:43:26recommendation from a solid procurement

1:43:28process. So, I I I actually see this as

1:43:31I'm not, you know, I'm not happy that we

1:43:33made the mistake and I'm not happy to

1:43:35ask council to resend authorization, but

1:43:37I see it as an example of um our process

1:43:40and accountability and integrity working

1:43:43um that we're able to detect these types

1:43:45of issues and make the corrective steps

1:43:47necessary.

1:43:47>> I appreciate that and that's why I asked

1:43:49the question. Thank you.

1:44:00I believe that there were two biders.

1:44:04>> Sorry, there were two biders,

1:44:06>> I believe. Let me check my documents.

1:44:08>> So,

1:44:08>> yes, two bids were received.

1:44:10>> So, if we're rescending this, would the

1:44:14would we have to do another RFP or would

1:44:16the person who did not get the contract

1:44:18be able to get the contract?

1:44:20>> No, we're going to reissue the bid. Um,

1:44:22so we we we want to make a fair

1:44:25evaluation process.

1:44:27>> Um, and because we allowed late

1:44:29documentation, um, or we suspect that we

1:44:32reviewed late documentation, um, we want

1:44:34to make sure that we give, um, these

1:44:37both of these biders and anyone else an

1:44:38opportunity for a fair evaluation

1:44:40process. So, we're going to reissue the

1:44:42RFP.

1:44:43>> Have we ever um given anybody a contract

1:44:47that was late in the past? Have we ever?

1:44:50Not to my knowledge.

1:44:51>> Not to your knowledge.

1:44:52>> Like in terms of have we given a uh kept

1:44:56a contract with somebody after knowingly

1:44:59um made a misstep in the procurement

1:45:02process?

1:45:03>> Not that I'm aware of.

1:45:04>> Not that you're aware of. Okay. I'm

1:45:06going to look.

1:45:07>> Yes, ma'am.

1:45:10>> U will you move? Why don't you Why don't

1:45:12you cut your mic on? There you go.

1:45:15>> Mr. Mayor, I make a motion that we

1:45:18authorize the city manager to rescend

1:45:20the ward of a one-time purchase for grit

1:45:22removal equipment from Old Castle

1:45:24Infrastructure.

1:45:24>> Second, they probably moved and

1:45:26seconded. All in favor by saying I

1:45:28>> I opposed. Motion passes. Uh item number

1:45:3121, authorized city manager executed a

1:45:34construction contract with B RW

1:45:36Construction Group LLC for the

1:45:38fairgrounds housing infrastructure

1:45:39project in the amount of 2,732,8

1:45:452,732,28.75.

1:45:49Alderman Shabbass,

1:45:50>> thank you so much, Mr. Mayor. I must say

1:45:55it is time to celebrate.

1:45:57It is time to celebrate everyone.

1:46:00Long time coming but we are here.

1:46:04This is our first task of celebration in

1:46:07the area of actual tangible the word is

1:46:11construction.

1:46:13We are about to uh

1:46:17hope my colleagues go along with me to

1:46:20authorize our city manager on today to

1:46:24uh

1:46:26move forward with a contract with

1:46:30BRW Construction Group LLC

1:46:34>> on the legacy project. It has been

1:46:38elevated of legacy and is surely a part

1:46:42of my legacy uh with the city of

1:46:44Savannah being on city council with this

1:46:47fairgrounds with the legacy project for

1:46:50the housing infrastructure project and

1:46:53what this pro what this part is and it's

1:46:56so necessary because with any large

1:46:59development and with this last piece of

1:47:02a large uh land that exists in in the

1:47:06city of Savannah that we are about to uh

1:47:09develop with construction.

1:47:11I'm emphasizing

1:47:13with construction

1:47:15um is you have to make sure that the

1:47:19infrastructure is correct in order for

1:47:21verticals or for construction to come

1:47:25from the foundation up. And what this is

1:47:28is the uh part of the force man that is

1:47:33necessary

1:47:34um for the water and sewer and

1:47:37especially with the sewer because this

1:47:40uh particular contract is um in

1:47:42reference to the force main that has to

1:47:45be uh connected to the housing portion

1:47:48um of the fairgrounds that connects back

1:47:51to um existing uh infrastructure uh that

1:47:56that's in our system and we've got to

1:47:58move through uh parts of the fifth

1:48:01district in order to connect this

1:48:03together, making sure that the

1:48:04infrastructure and the sewer is flowing

1:48:07right. So, I just I'm just so happy uh

1:48:10to report that with this uh is going to

1:48:14come uh for our housing. be going to uh

1:48:18be having and I'm going to we got

1:48:20another uh agenda item on the agenda uh

1:48:24because it's just celebration time for

1:48:26the fair grounds.

1:48:27>> So, I just want to um make a motion to

1:48:30authorize city manager Meldder. Thank

1:48:33you for arriving uh to execute a

1:48:36contract with BRW Construction.

1:48:40>> Second.

1:48:40>> All in favor indicate by saying I

1:48:43>> opposed. Motion passes.

1:48:45>> I got it. [laughter] I got a second.

1:48:46>> I got to tell y'all how much money.

1:48:48>> Motion passes.

1:48:49>> I need to tell y'all how much money we

1:48:50bringing. It's 2 million 2,737,

1:48:56$28.

1:48:59>> Thank you'all so much. Thank you very

1:49:00much. Thank you so much.

1:49:02>> Item number 11, Mayor John.

1:49:04>> Yes.

1:49:05>> Is BRW here in the room?

1:49:07>> Is BRW here in the room?

1:49:10And I must I'm not BRW.

1:49:12>> No, they're BRWing

1:49:14>> and [laughter] a part of part of this

1:49:16content

1:49:19to DBE DBE participation. There is the

1:49:23the goal has been met. Y'all knew I was

1:49:25going to make sure the goal was going to

1:49:26be met. The 20% goal is met on this

1:49:29project.

1:49:30>> Thank you very much. All right. Item

1:49:32number 11 is the first reading. It will

1:49:34be a public hearing approval to amend

1:49:36the city of Savannah parking ordinance

1:49:38for implementation of the parking

1:49:40matters study plan establishing new

1:49:42parking districts from Midtown to

1:49:44Victory Drive and unifying parking

1:49:47districts currently separated at Liberty

1:49:50Street. Uh this was on our workshop um

1:49:54last meeting um and so hence is the the

1:49:58first of our public hearings related to

1:50:01this item. Um, I've once been told that

1:50:04the elements of a great parking plan is

1:50:06that everybody's mad at it. Um, and it

1:50:09just seems to uh be that. Um, councils

1:50:15always asked about parking. Um, the

1:50:18availability of parking. Why isn't

1:50:21parking? Uh, people who live um want to

1:50:26have parking in close proximity to where

1:50:30they live. People who own businesses

1:50:32want to have um close proximity to where

1:50:36their businesses are. People who work

1:50:39downtown want to have proximity to where

1:50:42they work. Um and the only way I I've

1:50:46learned is the word churn. Uh and

1:50:49creating churn of ways of opportunities

1:50:51for people to be able to move. So we had

1:50:54the parking studies parking matters uh

1:50:57plan presented to us by the city

1:50:59manager. Uh this is now on our agenda

1:51:02for first reading. We are not taking

1:51:04action today. Uh but we will take public

1:51:06comments. The clerk has given us all

1:51:09public comments that I've received um

1:51:12regarding this item. There are 18 on in

1:51:15this set. All 18 are opposed. Um just

1:51:19for your record, all of you have that

1:51:21and that will be a part of the public

1:51:23record. Um without any cards.

1:51:27Okay. Is anyone make anyone want to make

1:51:29comments about this beyond what we've

1:51:30have? Come on up. Come on up.

1:51:35And I see Rabbi H. Hos here. So, either

1:51:38Rabbi is going to bless us or bless us

1:51:40out.

1:51:42>> So, I I don't know which one is going to

1:51:43be. You coming to bless us or you coming

1:51:45to bless us out?

1:51:50>> That's the first joke.

1:51:51>> Okay.

1:51:53Well,

1:51:53>> hey, what's up?

1:51:54>> Well, okay. Okay. Well, uh, go ahead.

1:51:57You have two minutes. You state your

1:51:58name for the record. Uh, and then after

1:52:00you introduce yourself, uh, you have two

1:52:03minutes to make your comments. Okay.

1:52:05>> Thank you.

1:52:06>> Thank you. Thank you.

1:52:07>> We're all blessed. And now we're going

1:52:08to bless you out.

1:52:10>> All right. Go ahead.

1:52:13>> Thank you for this opportunity. My name

1:52:14is Myers Bubba Rosenthal and my family's

1:52:18been a member of Congregation McVisel

1:52:20since 1903 when Rabbi George Solomon

1:52:25um came to this town and served as rabbi

1:52:27for 42 years. Um about the parking, we

1:52:31met with um Sean and his staff twice. It

1:52:34was very fruitful and we got a lot done.

1:52:37But a job isn't

1:52:38>> over.

1:52:40Um several years ago when the um parking

1:52:44plan came to fruition, the last time it

1:52:46was changed, um they were to be parking

1:52:49from foresight north and it was changed,

1:52:52I believe, to accommodate us. Now, thank

1:52:54you. Um we were at a meeting in

1:52:56Starlandia, me and this gentleman here,

1:52:59and um at that time um it was changed

1:53:02then because um the plan wasn't wasn't

1:53:05correct. Um

1:53:08all we're asking for in the plan is to

1:53:11make one change and that is to program

1:53:13the uh meters. We were told that these

1:53:16meters are programmable.

1:53:19So instead of um working around other

1:53:21ways um or or marking stuff, it's just

1:53:25programming the meters on Saturday from

1:53:2910 um from 10:00 to 2:30 and on Friday

1:53:33nights from 5 um 5 till 8. um when we

1:53:37have our um when we have when we have

1:53:40our um services

1:53:43um

1:53:44um Jones Street South um you know and um

1:53:50that would take care of it instead of

1:53:52having the meter people going around and

1:53:54saying okay we don't meet we don't um

1:53:56ticket this one but we meet we ticket

1:53:58this one because of whatever but I think

1:54:00that that would be a much better plan

1:54:02and it would and it would save a lot

1:54:04more work for the um um

1:54:08for for the meter people putting it out

1:54:10and um just to let you know the reason

1:54:13for this is the personal safety of our

1:54:15congregants. Um

1:54:18>> finish you finish your thought. Finish

1:54:20your thoughts.

1:54:20>> Unfortunately

1:54:22um when we talk about hate crimes,

1:54:24nobody wants to see it, but 70% of all

1:54:27hate crimes in this country is to the

1:54:31Jewish community. and we're just trying

1:54:33to um protect our congregants and

1:54:35protect Sylvanians, protect us. Thank

1:54:38you very much. It's been an honor

1:54:39speaking.

1:54:39>> Mr. Mayor, I have a question for him.

1:54:41>> Thank you.

1:54:41>> Yes, ma'am.

1:54:42>> Can you explain what what you mean by

1:54:44the meters from 10 to two? Are you

1:54:47wanting them to uh whatever you're going

1:54:50to pay for it, but you don't want them

1:54:51to overcharge for parking or get a

1:54:54ticket?

1:54:55>> You can program Excuse me. I'm sorry. Go

1:54:57ahead.

1:54:57>> No, I want you to explain what you said.

1:54:59It wasn't kind of

1:55:00>> Yeah. Um,

1:55:01>> these meters we have are all

1:55:03programmable.

1:55:04>> Mhm.

1:55:04>> So, just program them

1:55:06>> not to

1:55:08charge

1:55:08>> not to charge

1:55:09>> charge between Fridays and Saturday

1:55:112:30. I mean, we have tourists that park

1:55:13around us all the time and it's not

1:55:15really that crowded on on Saturdays. And

1:55:18I tell them, "No, from Liberty Street

1:55:19South, you don't have to pay." And

1:55:21they're trying to pay all the time,

1:55:23>> right?

1:55:23>> So, but if they want to pay anyway, hey,

1:55:24good for y'all.

1:55:25>> All right. Well, we got that for the

1:55:26record. Thank you very much, Mr.

1:55:28Manager. Well, and I

1:55:30>> Mr. Rosenthal, Mr. Rosenthal,

1:55:33>> I do want to say and I I appreciate um

1:55:35the congregation very much for working

1:55:37with the team and our intent and and

1:55:40that might be the right solution, but

1:55:42our intent is to be able to um provide

1:55:45the same service that we do for uh

1:55:48downtown worshippers on Friday evenings

1:55:50and Saturdays um the same that we do on

1:55:53Sundays in our metered parking areas.

1:55:54So, uh, we'll continue to work with, um,

1:55:58the congregation on all of our places of

1:56:00worship on the right kind of policy and

1:56:02make sure that it's codified, but that

1:56:04might be, um, the right approach to to

1:56:06to this um, to this situation

1:56:09specifically.

1:56:09>> Yeah. Thank you.

1:56:11>> Thank you. [laughter]

1:56:11>> Thank you. Appreciate

1:56:13>> Thank you.

1:56:14>> All right.

1:56:14>> We don't get a joke from Rabbi

1:56:17Mc.

1:56:18>> Is it Mclo Ringer?

1:56:20>> Yes. Tell a joke.

1:56:22>> Tell a joke. You got to tell one joke.

1:56:25>> My mother-in-law who is dementioned is a

1:56:27lovely lady is staying in my house for

1:56:30the first time. So, we brought her here

1:56:32and uh a lot of people say you don't get

1:56:34along with your mother-in-law and that

1:56:36is untrue. My mother-in-law is a nice

1:56:38Catholic lady and is the sweetest lady

1:56:41of all time. I'm very fortunate to have

1:56:42a a wonderful mother-in-law. On the

1:56:46other hand, I have a lot of issues with

1:56:48my wife's mother-in-law. [laughter]

1:56:51Thank you guys.

1:56:52Rimshot.

1:56:55>> Yeah. Saddleman.

1:56:56>> All right. Mr. McL Moloy Ruminger. Is

1:57:00that Did I get Ringer? Did I get that

1:57:01right, sir?

1:57:02>> Mloud.

1:57:03>> Mloud. I don't want to mess your name

1:57:05up. I'm sorry.

1:57:06>> Good afternoon. No problem.

1:57:07>> All right.

1:57:07>> Um, thank you. Uh I'm my wife owns a

1:57:10business in the Thomas Square district

1:57:12and uh we're not currently affected by

1:57:14the proposals that are but we've gone

1:57:17through similar parking uh proposals I

1:57:21believe in 2008 and 2010 and uh I only

1:57:24make these suggestions for when the when

1:57:26the hearing process actually comes

1:57:27about. back then in 2008 2010 one of the

1:57:31solutions was to actually reduce the

1:57:33number of spaces to accommodate the

1:57:37congestion. So that was a bit of a

1:57:40stumper for everyone. And I would also

1:57:42point out that uh the Virginia Highlands

1:57:44in Atlanta is somewhat similar as far as

1:57:47the business to residential

1:57:49concentration and to this day there's

1:57:51still no meters in that area. It's a

1:57:54well-known fact that when you implement

1:57:56parking spaces in meters, you have to

1:57:58reduce spaces because you're now putting

1:57:59line parking and you're you're basically

1:58:02limiting the amount of spaces to

1:58:04accommodate structured parking. So, I

1:58:07would only ask that as part of this

1:58:09process, we take into effect account

1:58:12that a great number of businesses in

1:58:14that area do not want metered parking.

1:58:17Um, and it's the fear is that it will

1:58:20ultimately result in less parking

1:58:21spaces. So, thank you for your time.

1:58:24>> Thank you.

1:58:28>> It's 41st Street.

1:58:31>> All right. Anyone else?

1:58:34>> Going once, going twice.

1:58:37>> Motion to close.

1:58:39>> Mr. Mayor, move to close the hearing.

1:58:41>> Second a motion.

1:58:42>> Properly moved and seconded. All in

1:58:43favor indicate by saying I.

1:58:44>> I.

1:58:45>> Opposed. Motion passes. Moving on to

1:58:48item number 22 is authorize a resolution

1:58:52and authorize city manager execute two

1:58:54FY2026 HOPA renewal grants applications

1:58:58to the housing and urban development on

1:59:00behalf of project sponsor Union Mission

1:59:03Incorporated.

1:59:04>> Mr. Mayor,

1:59:04>> yes.

1:59:05>> I move to adopt the agenda item as

1:59:07written.

1:59:07>> Properly moved and seconded. All in

1:59:09favor indicate by saying I.

1:59:10>> Opposed. Motion passes. is item number

1:59:1323, approval of a resolution adopting

1:59:16the city of Savannah's 2026 community

1:59:18rating system plans.

1:59:21>> So move, sir. Second.

1:59:22>> Probably moved and seconded. All in

1:59:24favor? Yes.

1:59:25>> In reference to uh this city manager,

1:59:29can you please tell me um in reference

1:59:32to our our residents uh is there some

1:59:35type of savings um that's going to take

1:59:37place in reference to this uh rating

1:59:40system? Uh yes it does. So this is for

1:59:43the FEMA's national flood insurance

1:59:45program community rating system. Um and

1:59:48uh adopting these plans um maintain our

1:59:53annual certification for eligibility for

1:59:56flood insurance premium discounts um for

1:59:58property owners within the city of

2:00:00Savannah. Um we've got um nearly 4,000

2:00:06um active uh flood insurance policies um

2:00:09generated in this area. Um and uh uh

2:00:14because of these rating systems that the

2:00:16city of Savannah has, which is some of

2:00:17the highest in the state, we've

2:00:19generated um just last year uh more than

2:00:23$631,000

2:00:24in combined premium savings to those

2:00:27insurance uh local insurance holders for

2:00:29flood insurance. So, this is a very

2:00:31important um uh program and something

2:00:33that we're proud delivers savings to our

2:00:36community members.

2:00:37>> Thank you, city man. Mr. Mayor,

2:00:38>> properly move. Oh, go ahead. I'm sorry.

2:00:40>> Yeah, Mr. City Manager. Um, of of course

2:00:45with these FEMA lots and these areas

2:00:47that have uh flood plane management or

2:00:50in the flood plane,

2:00:53let's reiterate and and make sure that

2:00:56staff is communicating correctly uh to

2:01:00where these contractors whether or not

2:01:03they're in the the flood plane. And the

2:01:05reason I'm saying this because it's a

2:01:07case lately where uh

2:01:10Some people were told they were in a

2:01:11flood plane and they spent a lot of

2:01:13money. So now uh that cost is going to

2:01:16have to be passed on in the cost of the

2:01:20structures which make them no longer

2:01:22affordable.

2:01:24>> So I Yes, ma'am. And I know the issue

2:01:26two years ago, council acted to um raise

2:01:30the finished floor height requirement

2:01:33>> um across our flood plane um which is a

2:01:37lot of the city

2:01:38>> and that's one foot of two.

2:01:40>> It's it's two feet above the flood plane

2:01:42uh which is a requirement for um Sally

2:01:46May um federal loan program. So um we

2:01:50went ahead and adopted it for the entire

2:01:52city as a standard. So, new builds um

2:01:55need to have their finished floor two

2:01:57feet above flood plane. Um but what what

2:02:01some developers have been caught up in

2:02:03is if you're especially if you were

2:02:06refurbishing a home and the value of

2:02:09that uh refurbishment permit is greater

2:02:14than 50% of the value of the home, then

2:02:16it counts as essentially a total, you

2:02:18know, rebuild and you've got to rebuild

2:02:20it back to standard. um which would

2:02:22require um two feet above. We've also

2:02:25had some contractors um who we love and

2:02:28work with in the community not realize

2:02:31that that um standard passed two years

2:02:34ago and when they were working on their

2:02:36proformas for new builds um didn't

2:02:39account for that two feet. So um uh so

2:02:42we're continuing to try to get the word

2:02:45out to our our development community

2:02:47about those standards that were passed.

2:02:49>> I'll come see you about this particular

2:02:50>> Yes. Okay. And there are instances where

2:02:53we've been able to help developers

2:02:57um come in under that 50% threshold um

2:03:00in in you know in in real ways. Um so uh

2:03:04it would reduce the cost of of their

2:03:06development. So but please bring me the

2:03:09specific issue and we'll continue talk.

2:03:11>> Mr. Mayor.

2:03:12>> Yes.

2:03:12>> Mr. City Manager. Uh I didn't get a

2:03:15chance to read the links and I always

2:03:18like a hard copy. Can I get a hard copy

2:03:21of the uh flood hazard mitigation plan,

2:03:24please? We get a chance the clerk.

2:03:26>> Yes, we can. Lita, can we provide that?

2:03:28>> Mr. Massie just said he he makes sure I

2:03:30get

2:03:30>> Okay. Thank you so much. I appreciate

2:03:32that.

2:03:32>> All in favor of the gate by saying I

2:03:34>> opposed. Motion passes.

2:03:36>> Members of council get a copy of that.

2:03:38>> Item number 24 is authorizing a

2:03:41resolution adopting the Chattam County

2:03:44Savannah 2040 2045 comprehensive plan

2:03:48update. Uh we talked about this

2:03:49extensively during workshop today. Um

2:03:52we're adopting this understanding the

2:03:54city manager has some deliverables um

2:03:56that he is uh been charged to provide us

2:03:59with working with uh the MPC.

2:04:02>> So move sir

2:04:04>> I move to adopt

2:04:05>> properly moved and seconded. All in

2:04:06favor by saying I

2:04:08>> opposed. Motion passes 8 to one item

2:04:11number 25 approval. Yes. Before we move

2:04:14on, want to make sure those deliverable

2:04:16are given to us and uh he gives us a uh

2:04:19your recommendation of how we're going

2:04:21to move on this and what your plan is

2:04:22with this on the items that we discussed

2:04:25>> for for neighborhood plans and small

2:04:27area plans. Yes, ma'am.

2:04:28>> Thank you, sir. I appreciate it. Thank

2:04:29you, Mr. Mayor.

2:04:31>> The chair recognized. Yes, ma'am.

2:04:33>> Go ahead. You

2:04:44>> [snorts]

2:04:50>> Yes, ma'am. The comprehensive plan is

2:04:52developed by the metropolitan planning

2:04:54commission on behalf of the city of

2:04:56Savannah and unincorporated Chattam

2:04:58County. We do it together. Comprehensive

2:05:00plan um comprehensive plan updates are

2:05:03due to the state every five years. The

2:05:05last time the city did an update was in

2:05:09October of 2021.

2:05:11Um, uh, the Metropolitan Planning

2:05:14Commission, their staff, uh, through a

2:05:17year and a half-long process have

2:05:19developed an update,

2:05:21um, to the comprehensive plan, um, which

2:05:23includes a future land use map, um, as

2:05:26well as character area descriptions for

2:05:28different parts of the city of Savannah

2:05:29as well as unincorporated

2:05:31Chattam County. Um,

2:05:34in order to be a qualified local

2:05:37government in the view of the state and

2:05:38be eligible for certain grants, every

2:05:41local government has to submit an update

2:05:43to their comprehensive plan by every

2:05:46fifth year. That deadline for us is

2:05:50October 31st, 2026.

2:05:54Um, NPC asked me to agendaize the plan

2:05:58approval as well as a presentation for

2:06:00October 22nd. Um, we've done it. Um,

2:06:03I've also reached out to DCA today per

2:06:05our conversation and workshop. They

2:06:08confirmed that yes, the deadline for

2:06:09October 31st is a hard deadline. And if

2:06:12we were not to meet that deadline, we

2:06:14would no longer have our qualified

2:06:16status. Um, and we would not have that

2:06:18qualified status until we did update the

2:06:21plan. So, I think wisely, city council

2:06:23has updated the plan. Also wisely, I

2:06:26think council has directed me to come

2:06:28back with a plan to update um and

2:06:31reinvigorate our local area and

2:06:34neighborhood planning process.

2:06:38>> Thank you. No problem. Item number 25.

2:06:41Yes, ma'am.

2:06:44>> Sure.

2:06:47I'll turn your mic on, please.

2:06:49>> I I want to make a comment for the

2:06:51record because I did vote against it.

2:06:53Um, I knew it was going to pass because

2:06:55of our earlier discussion, but I want my

2:06:57vote, no vote to serve as a reminder

2:06:59that there's still work to do on on this

2:07:02issue. And um so I will refrain from

2:07:06voting on it at this time, but I will do

2:07:08everything I can to work with uh the

2:07:10manager and staff to make sure that my

2:07:12concerns and the concerns of residents

2:07:16um is is addressed as we move forward

2:07:19with this because there are some things

2:07:20that we're voting on this now because of

2:07:23the urgency and having to meet the

2:07:26deadline so we could get the uh funds um

2:07:29from this. But at the same time, it

2:07:33needs work and and there are some things

2:07:35in this particular plan that is not in

2:07:38keeping with what uh is needed in these

2:07:42areas at the time. Um especially in

2:07:45terms of the flume, the future land use

2:07:48map. Um there's some changes that need

2:07:52to be made there and so we need to work

2:07:55on these. So, I'm going to reserve um

2:07:57the vote at this time just as a reminder

2:07:59that we have this work to do. Thank you,

2:08:01>> Mr. Mayor.

2:08:02>> Yes, sir.

2:08:02>> We did want to remind the public that

2:08:04this is a living document that it can be

2:08:07edited. Um as we prepare this document,

2:08:11we're going to continue to work on it.

2:08:13Yes, sir.

2:08:14>> Good job.

2:08:15>> All right. Thank you. Item number 25 is

2:08:18a res approval of a resolution

2:08:20authorizing the adoption of the 2026

2:08:23capital improvements element annual

2:08:25update for the city's development impact

2:08:27fee program.

2:08:31>> Oh, second. Make a motion. Oh, yes. So

2:08:33move, sir. Yes. Second.

2:08:34>> Probably moved and second. All in favor

2:08:36by saying I.

2:08:37>> Opposed? Motion passes item number 26.

2:08:40to authorize the approval of a

2:08:41development agreement for the new

2:08:43Hamstead Parkway extension and other

2:08:46improvements at zero Fort Agal Road with

2:08:48Brook Haven Development LLC and Forest

2:08:51Lakes Developers LLC in a newly annexed

2:08:53area.

2:08:54>> Mr. Mayor,

2:08:55>> yes.

2:08:55>> I move to adopt the agenda item as

2:08:57written. Second

2:08:57>> and properly moved and seconded. All in

2:08:59favor indicate by saying I

2:09:01>> opposed. Motion passes. Item number 27.

2:09:03to authorize city manager to approve a

2:09:05major subdivision of parcel b coastal

2:09:08empire fairgrounds within dit ward

2:09:11located in automatic district 5.

2:09:13>> Yes sir. Thank you so much. And this is

2:09:15this will end our council meeting today

2:09:17on a another uh celebratory

2:09:20>> celebratory.

2:09:21>> All in favor indicate by saying I.

2:09:23>> All right.

2:09:24>> Y'all hold up for a minute. I got

2:09:25>> motion motion passes.

2:09:26>> I got to talk about it. So let let me

2:09:28tell y'all what's getting ready to

2:09:29happen.

2:09:30>> Anything else before this this body

2:09:32>> due to the fact Mr. Mayor, calm down

2:09:34now. Long time coming, sir.

2:09:36>> Yeah, it is.

2:09:37>> Um, due to the fact due to the fact that

2:09:41um we talked about the infrastructure

2:09:44uh the infrastructure earlier,

2:09:47what's going to happen with these

2:09:49parcels? There are 15 parcels. Serious

2:09:51business. with these 15 parcels. It is

2:09:55going to we're going to we have we have

2:09:57just approved those 15 parcels due to

2:10:00the fact that infrastructure is not

2:10:03needed for um us to begin the

2:10:07construction of 15 single family homes

2:10:11on the fair grounds. So, I talked about

2:10:13the verticals. We we are able to see the

2:10:16verticals come up because we don't have

2:10:19to wait for the lift station to take

2:10:21place. So, thank you all so much. Thank

2:10:23you, city council.

2:10:24>> Yeah. Second.

2:10:25>> It's celebration time on the fair

2:10:26grounds.

2:10:28>> Okay.

2:10:28>> Is there anything else for the good of

2:10:29the honor?

2:10:30>> Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor,

2:10:31>> I'll start from Ald alder woman.

2:10:33District 1.

2:10:34>> No, sir. I don't have anything.

2:10:36>> District two.

2:10:37>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I wanted uh to

2:10:40offer our condolences to the family of

2:10:42uh second district zone 101y old Helen

2:10:45Smiley.

2:10:46>> Yes.

2:10:46>> Uh also um the celebrate the life of uh

2:10:51Barbara West Brown.

2:10:53>> Um she her son is a long showman. Um

2:10:57I'll tell you about it. And also Shirley

2:10:59Smith be celebrating her life on this

2:11:02weekend also. But on a on a higher note,

2:11:04we want to say happy birthday to our

2:11:06second district's 80year-old Jacqueline

2:11:09Seymour. Uh her birthday is this

2:11:11weekend. But on a higher note, the new

2:11:15ferry was delivered and it was delivered

2:11:18to Merrick Marine on Tuesday, unloaded

2:11:20and docked over at the convention

2:11:22center. Uh we still have the Coast Guard

2:11:24to do the final inspection on it on

2:11:26October the 29th. So when they get ready

2:11:28to shut the bridge down, we do have all

2:11:30of our fairies in place to help get

2:11:32people across the bridge and cross the

2:11:34waterway.

2:11:36>> All right,

2:11:37>> Mr. Mayor,

2:11:38>> District 3.

2:11:39>> Uh, uh, congratulations to Mr. White,

2:11:43Lieutenant White. He's going to be 102

2:11:46years old.

2:11:47>> Uh, he's one of the first, uh,

2:11:49African-American to take the oath as a

2:11:52public service and law enforcement

2:11:53officer in the entire state of Georgia.

2:11:55We celebrated him by having a memorial

2:11:58in the third district. We like to give

2:11:59people their flowers so they can read.

2:12:01So 102 years old, his daughter is having

2:12:04an event at her house at 1701 East 34th

2:12:08Street on Saturday, October the 24th.

2:12:12That's going to be a busy day.

2:12:13>> Everybody's invited.

2:12:14>> Everybody's invited. Two o'clock. He's

2:12:16102 years. Also want to uh uh pray for

2:12:19the soul of Olivia Ray who passed. We

2:12:23had uh Savannah High uh uh she was just

2:12:26awesome. Uh praying for her children uh

2:12:29Larry and Ashley. Uh she did amazing

2:12:32things that as an alumni president and

2:12:34booster for Savannah High. Also, we want

2:12:37to make sure that we celebrate life.

2:12:39People are leaving here. People are

2:12:41going to bed mad. People are recruiting

2:12:43people to be mad. It's a shame.

2:12:46Watch your circle and know that we

2:12:49continue to do all that we can sitting

2:12:51on the city council. We're not perfect,

2:12:53but we're trying to do better. But we

2:12:55need our citizens engaged. And our

2:12:56citizens are city employees. Our

2:12:59citizens are city employees. Our

2:13:01citizens are city employees. And we want

2:13:03to make sure that they know that we have

2:13:05their back. This council has your back.

2:13:08And you can talk to us. And I'm talking

2:13:10to everybody who is in the city. When

2:13:12they say y'all can't talk to us, believe

2:13:14that you can because we carrying

2:13:15torches. And that's why we are here to

2:13:17advocate for what happens to y'all.

2:13:19Y'all are citizens

2:13:22first, then y'all employees, and a lot

2:13:24of y'all live in my district. And we got

2:13:26complaints that we need to handle daily.

2:13:28Thank you so much, city manager. Thank

2:13:30you so much, Mr. Mayor. Thank you so

2:13:31much, council. But we got to treat our

2:13:33business and our people. When we say

2:13:35that we're going to be economically

2:13:37fair, that should involve the citizens

2:13:39who are employees who work for us, our

2:13:42things. We got a lot of problems that we

2:13:43need to take care. Mr. the mayor, before

2:13:45you leave, we want to make sure that you

2:13:46help us take care of those problems.

2:13:47Thank you so much, y'all.

2:13:48>> Thank you, District 5.

2:13:50>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just want to

2:13:52remind everyone in Chad Savannah, city

2:13:55of Savannah and Cadam County that early

2:13:57voting, early voting is is happening

2:14:00right now. We live in a serious time and

2:14:04we cannot stay home. Go and vote. Vote

2:14:07early. And the election day is November

2:14:10the 3. Uh that's the election day. Thank

2:14:13you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. District 4.

2:14:15>> It's the most wonderful time of the year

2:14:17and that means that Wagawine is here

2:14:21>> supporting Renegade Paws this weekend uh

2:14:25throughout downtown Savannah Starland

2:14:26and beyond. And I'm so proud that the

2:14:29development services team starring the

2:14:32famous Abby the Dog, Julie Mlan's own

2:14:35Abby the Dog will be there and the

2:14:37development services team will be

2:14:38participating in the costume contest.

2:14:41The winner is determined by vote and the

2:14:43community. So if you want to support

2:14:45team Savannah, come on downtown for

2:14:48Wagaween and vote for the number one

2:14:50choice, Abby the dog.

2:14:52>> All right. It's like an endorsement, but

2:14:54anyway,

2:14:55>> that's it.

2:14:55>> District six.

2:14:56>> How do I follow that? [laughter]

2:14:59[clears throat]

2:15:00>> All right. Um, come join us for a

2:15:02spooktacular time uh this f not this

2:15:06Friday, Friday, October 30th, 5:30 to

2:15:088:30 p.m. at the Crusaders Community

2:15:11Center for the annual trunk or treat.

2:15:14Uh, the volunteers are needed or just

2:15:16bring your kids by. There's music,

2:15:18refreshments, pictures, memories,

2:15:19costume fun, inflatable fun. Questions,

2:15:22comments, concerns, or volunteers.

2:15:24912-9212103.

2:15:28again 912-92121

2:15:3103.

2:15:32>> Thank you. Alderman at large post two.

2:15:35>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I want to let

2:15:37everybody know that we have a semi-pro

2:15:39basketball team here in the city of

2:15:42Savannah. Um they're called the

2:15:44Cavaliers. They will be playing at

2:15:45Savannah Classical on Saturday at uh 2

2:15:50o'clock. Um it's from two I'm sorry,

2:15:53four o'clock. Four o'clock at Savannah

2:15:56Classical. Y'all please support support

2:15:59support. Also um condolences to the

2:16:02family of Annabelle Coney Joiner uh who

2:16:05was utilized on Saturday at Temple of

2:16:09Glory. Um condolences and sympathies to

2:16:12her family. Um on a much lighter note, I

2:16:15just want to congratulate my grandson.

2:16:19>> Yes,

2:16:21>> we knew it was coming.

2:16:22>> That's right. that part. Amir Blakeley

2:16:26who was inducted into the Beta Club at

2:16:29Butler Elementary School and we so proud

2:16:33of him. Also, y'all hear me talk about

2:16:35Bubba all the time. Bubba will be

2:16:38graduating from Savannah State

2:16:40University.

2:16:42>> Yay, Bubba.

2:16:43>> December 11th. Um, and he's going to

2:16:46have a a graduation party and I'm

2:16:48inviting the whole city to come out and

2:16:50celebrate with me.

2:16:51>> Celebrate my baby actually graduating.

2:16:56>> Congratulations.

2:16:58>> All the women post one.

2:17:00>> Congratulations to another former

2:17:03central services employee, Stephanie

2:17:05Mitchell from risk management, 20 plus

2:17:10years. I've forgotten how many. And I'm

2:17:12on my way to her birthday. I mean her um

2:17:15uh retirement celebration now.

2:17:17>> Thank you. U Mr. Clerk, do you have

2:17:20anything?

2:17:21>> Mr. uh attorney, do you have anything?

2:17:24Mr. Manager, do you have anything?

2:17:26Madame uh assistant, do you have

2:17:28anything?

2:17:29>> Before you sign that cab, Mayor Johnson,

2:17:31>> before you sign that Mayor Johnson, um I

2:17:34I forgot. I You know, I got so many

2:17:36grandkids. I forgot. Happy birthday,

2:17:38London. She'll be turning 16 on the 28th

2:17:42of October.

2:17:43>> Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Wait a

2:17:44minute.

2:17:44>> Never lived it down if I didn't mention.

2:17:46>> Listen, listen. I I got one more thing.

2:17:48I got one more thing.

2:17:49>> Mr. Mr. Mayor some um

2:17:52>> some Okay. Well, I got to brag about my

2:17:54daughter, uh Lawson. She was It's Miss

2:17:57Junior um Clark Atlanta University. Yes.

2:18:01She was in a parade. That's my

2:18:0210-year-old. And before you sign that

2:18:04gavvel, I got a message from a church

2:18:07downtown. We got to do better for uh

2:18:09First African Baptist. They're wanting

2:18:11the same thing. They're around the

2:18:12square. parking is doing that and if we

2:18:14do that for them then we need to make

2:18:16sure that we take care of first a and

2:18:19the other people around the square.

2:18:20Thank you Mr.

2:18:21>> We do I don't I don't know. Let's check

2:18:22into that because nothing has changed

2:18:24regarding that. Um also for those of you

2:18:27interested at 7:20 tonight we will be

2:18:29lighting city hall pink uh in honor of

2:18:32um breast cancer awareness month and

2:18:35also 7:20 and then also huh

2:18:38>> Mr. That's right. Savannah Pride is this

2:18:40weekend. NAACP is this weekend.

2:18:43>> Donna Blanc is this weekend. Um,

2:18:46>> and get your flu shot. Mayor Mayor

2:18:49Johnson,

2:18:49>> we're journed.

2:18:50>> Mayor Johnson, one more thing. Uh, the

2:18:52young man, the coach that was

2:18:55unfortunately lost his life. Um, they're

2:18:58going to do a balloon release for him on

2:19:01tomorrow 6 o'clock at Minnik. at minute.

2:19:04You didn't hear about it on 53rd Street.

2:19:09The coach, they shot it.