JANUARY 22, 2026 - 2:00 p.m. - CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING

CITY GOVERNMENT

OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE MAYOR AND ALDERMEN

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA

The regular meeting of the City Council was held at 2:05 p.m., in Council Chambers.  Following the roll call, Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order. Mayor Johnson introduced Reverend Dr. Andrew Harmon, Christ Church, to offer the invocation.  The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States was recited in unison. 

PRESENT:  

Mayor Van R. Johnson, II

Alderwoman Carolyn H. Bell, At-Large, Post 1

Alderwoman Alicia Miller Blakely, At-Large, Post 2

Alderwoman Bernetta B. Lanier, District 1

Alderman Detric Leggett, District  2

Alderwoman Linda Wilder-Bryan, District 3 - Vice Chair

Alderman Nick Palumbo, District 4 - Chairman

Alderwoman Dr. Estella Edwards Shabazz, District 5 - Mayor Pro Tem

Alderman Kurtis Purtee, District 6

ALSO, PRESENT:

City Manager Jay Melder

Assistant City Manager Taffanye Young

Chief of Staff Daphanie Williams

City Attorney Bates Lovett

Clerk of Council Mark Massey

Deputy Clerk of Council Gwendolyn Jones

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shabazz moved to adopt/approve item #1 as amended to continue/postpone agenda item #15 to the February 12, 2026 City Council Meeting, seconded by Ald. Palumbo and Ald. Wilder-Bryan.  The motion passed unanimously, 8-0-0.  Ald. Purtee was away from the dais during the vote.

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shabazz moved to approve items #2 and #3, seconded by Ald. Palumbo and Ald. Wilder-Bryan.  The motion passed unanimously, 9-0-0.

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shabazz moved to approve items #2 and #3, seconded by Ald. Palumbo and Ald. Wilder-Bryan.  The motion passed unanimously, 9-0-0.

Savannah Book Festival Executive Director Tara Setter appeared to share a brief update on one of Savannah's signature cultural events and one of the country's leading literary events, The Savannah Book Festival.  The festival will take place February 5th through the 8th in historic downtown Savannah featuring world-renowned authors from across the nation who engage with our community through conversation, storytelling, and the shared love of books.

Mayor Johnson presented an official proclamation in recognition of the Savannah Economic Development Authority's (SEDA) 100th Anniversary to SEDA's President and CEO Trip Tollison, board members, and staff.

Mayor Johnson presented an Official Proclamation to WSAV-TV in recognition of the Station's 70th Anniversary.  Joining Mayor Johnson at the podium were WSAV-TV Vice President and General Manager David Hart, anchors, sales team, and members of staff. 

Mayor Johnson recognized the Savannah Interagency Diversity Counicil (SIDC) to formally announce Traffick Jam 2026, to be held on January 23-24, 2026, at the Savannah State University, highlighting its mission to raise awareness and prevent human trafficking.  Board Chairman Bill Gettis appeared/presented, along with other board members and staff.

Mayor Johnson declared the alcohol hearings open for agenda items #8 through #14.

No speaker(s).

a.  Ald. Leggett moved to close the alcohol license hearings for agenda items #8 through #14, seconded by Ald. Palumbo and Ald. Lanier.  The motion passed unanimously, 9-0-0.  

b.  Ald. Leggett moved to approve agenda item #8, seconded by Ald. Wilder-Bryan and Ald. Palumbo.  The motion passed unanimously, 9-0-0. 

Mayor Johnson declared the alcohol hearings open for agenda items #8 through #14.

No speaker(s).

a.  Ald. Leggett moved to close the alcohol license hearings for agenda items #8 through #14, seconded by Ald. Palumbo and Ald. Lanier.  The motion passed unanimously, 9-0-0.  

b.  Ald. Leggett moved to approve agenda item #9, seconded by Ald. Wilder-Bryan and Ald. Palumbo.  The motion passed unanimously, 9-0-0. 

Mayor Johnson declared the alcohol hearings open for agenda items #8 through #14.

No speaker(s).

a.  Ald. Leggett moved to close the alcohol license hearings for agenda items #8 through #14, seconded by Ald. Palumbo and Ald. Lanier.  The motion passed unanimously, 9-0-0.  

b.  Ald. Leggett moved to approve agenda item #10, seconded by Ald. Wilder-Bryan and Ald. Palumbo.  The motion passed unanimously, 9-0-0. 

Mayor Johnson declared the alcohol hearings open for agenda items #8 through #14.

No speaker(s).

a.  Ald. Leggett moved to close the alcohol license hearings for agenda items #8 through #14, seconded by Ald. Palumbo and Ald. Lanier.  The motion passed unanimously, 9-0-0.  

b.  Ald. Leggett moved to approve agenda item #11, seconded by Ald. Wilder-Bryan and Ald. Palumbo.  The motion passed unanimously, 9-0-0. 

Mayor Johnson declared the alcohol hearings open for agenda items #8 through #14.

No speaker(s).

a.  Ald. Leggett moved to close the alcohol license hearings for agenda items #8 through #14, seconded by Ald. Palumbo and Ald. Lanier.  The motion passed unanimously, 9-0-0.  

b.  Ald. Leggett moved to approve agenda item #12, seconded by Ald. Wilder-Bryan and Ald. Palumbo.  The motion passed unanimously, 9-0-0. 

Mayor Johnson declared the alcohol hearings open for agenda items #8 through #14.

No speaker(s).

a.  Ald. Leggett moved to close the alcohol license hearings for agenda items #8 through #14, seconded by Ald. Palumbo and Ald. Lanier.  The motion passed unanimously, 9-0-0.  

b.  Ald. Palumbo moved to approve agenda item #13, seconded by Ald. Wilder-Bryan.  The motion passed unanimously, 9-0-0. 

Mayor Johnson declared the alcohol hearings open for agenda items #8 through #14.

No speaker(s).

a.  Ald. Leggett moved to close the alcohol license hearings for agenda items #8 through #14, seconded by Ald. Palumbo and Ald. Lanier.  The motion passed unanimously, 9-0-0.  

b.  Ald. Leggett moved to approve agenda item #14, seconded by Ald. Palumbo.  The motion passed unanimously, 9-0-0. 

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shabazz moved to continue/postpone agenda item #15 to the February 12, 2026 City Council Meeting, seconded by Ald. Palumbo and Ald. Wilder-Bryan.  The motion passed unanimously, 8-0-0.  Ald. Purtee was away from the dais during the vote.

Mayor Johnson declared the zoning hearing open for agenda item  #16.

Speaker(s):

• Edward Morrow, MPC representative

a.  Ald. Leggett moved to close the zoning hearing for agenda item #16, seconded by Ald. Palumbo and Ald. Wilder Bryan.  The motion passed unanimously, 9-0-0.  

b.  Ald. Leggett moved to approve agenda item #16 for the Special Use Permit, seconded by Ald. Wilder-Bryan and Ald. Palumbo.  The motion passed unanimously, 9-0-0. 

Ald. Leggett asked Mr. Morrow how the Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) receives applications for a special use permit--does it come from the city first or from the applicant?  Mr. Morrow stated that the application would be submitted to the city's Planning and Urban Design department, and they would officially transmit it (the application) to MPC. 

Ald. Leggett asked when in the process the MPC reaches out to the aldermen. (If it is required, MPC notifies them once they receive the application.)  Ald. Leggett stated that he asked because he hates to be the last person to find out about something, and we have to delay actions.  He stated that we (Council) are finding out at the latter end now and have to play catch-up.  

Ald. Leggett stated that if we are on at the beginning of that conversation with the neighborhood/neighborhood association, at least, we (Council) would have made contact with them, so that if there ever was an issue, we would know how to address it. 

Ald. Leggett stated that, in this case, he has spoken with some of the neighbors, and they did not know that this action was happening.  He further stated that he and Josh (the petitioner's representative) were going to work along with the petitioner to make sure that all the processes move forward.  Ald. Leggett stated he also had an issue with the parking requirements that are supposed to be allowed with a business like this.  Mr. Morrow explained that this was within the Thomas Square Streetcar Historic District, which benefits from the provision where no off-street parking is required for non-residential uses of 3,000 square feet and below.

Ald. Leggett stated that as a representative of the district, he has to ask these questions and be at the forefront of it because if something happened, he would be the one they would call.

Ald. Miller Blakely asked Mr. Morrow if this particular business has a good neighbor agreement. (No.  A letter of support from the neighborhood association was submitted.)  She stated that we cannot hold other businesses to a higher standard than we do others, and asked how we make sure that we have everything in place before we approve this.  Mayor Johnson replied by stating he believes that, from the staff's perspective, everything is in place.  They are just waiting on the Council to make a decision.

Mayor Johnson declared the zoning hearing open for agenda item  #17.

Speaker(s):

• Edward Morrow, MPC representative
• Marilyn Jivens, neighborhood president

Ald. Wilder-Bryan moved to close the zoning hearing for agenda item #17, seconded by Ald. Palumbo and Ald. Lanier.  The motion passed unanimously, 8-0-1.  Ald. Leggett recused himself for business purposes.

Mayor Johnson asked Mr. Morrow if he heard Ms. Jivens' concerns and whether they were properly reflected within the proposal.  Mr. Morrow replied.

Ald. Wilder-Bryan stated that she wanted to acknowledge that in their summary, also talking with people at MPC, it says that there is no known association there, but clearly, she (Ms. Jivens) is there.  She stated that in the 3rd District, we keep our neighborhood citizens engaged, and we are just glad that Ms. Jivens showed up and showed out. 

Mayor Johnson stated that there are ways to manage responsibly.  You can grow out, or you can grow up, or a combination of the two.  He stated that we value having health care and particularly the quality of Memorial in our community. Access to health care, particularly during these days, becomes even more necessary.  Mayor Johnson expressed that it is really a win-win, not only for the hospital and hospital system to meet its future needs but also for us to be able to safeguard the community and make sure that the community around it has viability.

Mayor Johnson declared the zoning hearings open for agenda items  #18 and #19. See related items #21 and #22.

Speaker(s):

• Edward Morrow, MPC representative

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shabazz moved to close the zoning hearings for agenda items #18 and #19, seconded by Ald. Lanier and Ald. Wilder Bryan.  The motion passed unanimously, 9-0-0.

Ald. Lanier stated that this project has been going on for quite some time, and she thinks it is a fine project.  She expressed that her comments do not pertain to what is being proposed and what will go there.  Ald. Lanier stated that her comments concern how it impacts the historic Ogeecheeton community.  She stated that with this project, along with the road widening, it has divided the community--there is no longer a cohesive community as far as proximity.

Ald. Lanier expressed that this project has been working diligently to provide amenities, but the people of Ogeecheeton are very dissatisfied and frustrated because they wanted to use this opportunity to receive some benefits for the Ogeecheeton side.  She stated that in the Ogeecheeton neighborhood, there are so many conditions and negative quality of life conditions that they were hoping, while we were making this investment, that they would have an opportunity to get some of those addressed:

• street access--another way to get in and out.
• critical environmental issues.
• a request for a community space.

Ald. Lanier stated that as a disclaimer, no one wants to stand in the way of this project, but they did want to be able to deal with the industrial properties intruding onto the residential and the other issues that she had mentioned.  She stated that she believes staff have acknowledged these issues, and she was hoping to see some type of resolution to the concerns of the people in the Ogeecheeton area.  

Ald. Lanier stated that the issue will pass, which it should, but it would not receive her vote as just a protest in solidarity with the people of Ogeecheeton.

Mayor Johnson stated that he represented that area as well for quite some time, and he thinks it is also important to lift a couple of things that Ald. Lanier had spoken about.  He stated he remembered that we at one point had secured some SPLOST funds for some community space, and no one in that area wanted to sell it.  It was all owned literally by a couple of families, and therefore, there was no space to put a community space.

Mayor Johnson stated that it was important to note that Ogeechee Road is actually Highway 17, which is a state road, and the number one concern for the folks in that community was the fact that there were so many accidents at Ogeechee Road, at the foot of the overpass.  He stated that it was part of the testimony given to the state which precipitated the reasoning for making it one-way.

Mayor Johnson stated to the City Manager that he would echo that we need to continue to hold the hand of the good people of Ogeecheeton and help them.  He stated that there is a piece of commercial land that we have talked about several times that might provide some of the relief that Ald. Lanier spoke about.

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shabazz stated this particular project gave her the opportunity to meet with Ald. Lanier and her constituents right across Ogeechee Road and Highway 17 to hear about the environmental injustices that are going on.  She stated that she was in support of what Ald. Lanier and Mayor Johnson were talking about, in reference to right across the street, over in the 1st District, regarding the citizens and community members of the Ogeecheeton Community.

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shabazz stated that we are thankful that this project is a part of the policy issue of Plan 2040, in reference to affordability and the affordable housing stock, and also the strategic planning and plan section of the policy document of 2024.  She thanked Ms. Wilson from MPC and her staff for such excellent documentation as we move forward into the future with the Dawes Avenue proposed project.  Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shabazz also thanked Ms. Bridget Lidy for really staying on top of this and for getting to this point by bringing this item to the City Council for a vote.

Ald. Miller Blakely stated that Ald. Lanier mentioned that individuals from Ogeecheeton and Dawes Avenue were asking for certain items for quite a while.  She asked how long they have been asking for the roads, the community centers, etc.  Ald. Miller Blakely also asked how long  it will be before we can give them some of the things that they are asking for.  Mayor Johnson answered by stating that the number one thing they asked for was traffic relief on Ogeechee Road, which they are getting now.   Mayor Johnson further stated that another issue was that they wanted another opportunity to get out of Ogeecheeton, which was not possible because of the commercial business next to it, but there might be an opportunity now that did not exist before.

See related agenda item 18. 

Ald. Wilder-Bryan moved (to approve agenda item #20) that the first reading be considered the second and the ordinance placed upon its passage and passed, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shabazz and Ald. Purtee.  The motion passed unanimously, 8-0-1.  Ald. Leggett recused himself for business purposes.

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shabazz moved (to approve agenda item #21) that the first reading be considered the second and the ordinance placed upon its passage and passed, seconded by Ald. Palumbo and Ald. Wilder-Bryan.  The motion passed, 7-2-0. Ald. Miller Blakely and Ald. Lanier voted no.

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shabazz moved (to approve agenda item #22) that the first reading be considered the second and the ordinance placed upon its passage and passed, seconded by Ald. Palumbo and Ald. Wilder-Bryan.  The motion passed, 7-2-0. Ald. Miller Blakely and Ald. Lanier voted no.

Mayor Johnson declared the zoning hearing open for agenda item  #16.

Speaker(s):

• Laureen Boles -- SUPPORTED
• Glynda Jones -- SUPPORTED
• Pastor Andre Osborne -- OPPOSED

a.  Ald. Palumbo moved to close the public hearing for agenda item #23, seconded by Ald. Lanier.  The motion passed unanimously, 9-0-0.  

b.  Ald. Purtee moved to approve agenda item #23, seconded by Ald. Palumbo and Ald. Wilder-Bryan.  The motion passed, 5-4-0.  Ald. Bell, Ald. Miller Blakely, Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shabazz, and Ald. Lanier voted no.

Following the hearing, members of the City Council made statements regarding  their stance on voting for the stormwater utility rate ordinance as follows:

Ald. Bell stated she listened to the plight of churches and church leaders, and obviously, the concern that they have is for their parishioners.  She stated that she agrees that improving our stormwater system, our infrastructure that is almost 300 years old, is necessary, and we cannot continue to just do nothing.  Ald. Bell stated that although she knows it is necessary, she knows the need is there, and she knows we have to come up with a way to address those needs.  She stated she did not plan to vote for it.

Ald. Miller Blakely had questions and concerns regarding SLOST funds and the use of those funds. She stated that, just receiving the information about the overage of SPLOST, there is no way she could support this, and that she would not be voting for it.

Ald. Purtee stated that SPLOST is not there to maintain the roadways, drainage, community centers, or personnel costs. It is for buildings, initial infrastructure, and capital improvement projects.  Ald. Purtee stated we have absolutely no funding source for stormwater and maintenance of stormwater.  He stated that we are a coastal city, and we cannot always rely on SPLOST to dig us out of something because, at some point, SPLOST is going to be intended for something extra for us, and not for something that is necessary.

Ald. Palumbo stated that he could not live with himself another single day knowing that we did not do everything that we could do to protect our city.  He stated that he is absolutely 110% in support. Ald. Palumbo stated that he wants to put his head on his pillow that night, knowing he did everything he could to protect his city that he was willing to lead. Maybe even make an unpopular decision because he knows it is going to leave the place better than he found it.

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shabazz stated that over the past few weeks, she has had several meetings with individuals, person-to-person, small group meetings, and also large group meetings.  She stated that the last meeting she attended was over at St. Philip Monumental AM Church with representation of all of the faith leaders here in the city of Savannah.  Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shabazz stated that in all of the majority of th several person-to-person meetings that she has had since December to now, she has come to the decision that she would not be voting for the stormwater fee.

Ald. Wilder-Bryan stated that this is a long time coming, a dedicated enterprise with a consistent revenue stream, and it is in parity with our master plan.  This new department is going to employ 17 additional workers. The stormwater fee is a solution that our staff has been working diligently on for over a year.  Ald. Wilder-Bryan stated that we are going to be able to take care of something, be proactive, and not be reactive because we have a maintenance plan.

Ald. Leggett shared a childhood memory of shopping with his mother at K-Mart after it flooded and caught a fish swimming on the floor.  He stated that we have not improved our drainage since then, we have not paid into our drainage, and we have not put as much emphasis on drainage.  Ald. Leggett stated that water rises, and where it rises, it floods at a rate where people are losing cars and property.  They are losing their homes because even after the rain subsides they have an issue with mold.  Ald. Leggett stated that we have to find a way, and we have to be unique about how we service our community.  He stated that we are going to have to invest in ourselves.

Ald. Lanier stated that the preponderance of a stormwater drainage fee was difficult for her.  She stated she understood that we do need a designated fund to handle the maintenance issue and the growing concerns with our system.  Ald. Lanier stated that a stormwater drainage fee is inequitable in essence because it is a fee just like any other tax, even like the SPLOST, regressive.   Ald. Lanier stated that low-wealth people pay more of a percentage of their income into these things than anybody else.  She stated she was looking around for some best practices in other places and she questioned whether we have done all we can do before resorting to a fee.  Ald. Lanier stated that she has to lean towards the least of these.

Mayor Johnson stated it was important now to move to the history of this because this did not just happen yesterday.   He stated in 2020, when we took office, and we had our first strategic planning sessions, the number one issue for all of us was about dealing with stormwater, dealing with flooding, and in 2024, it was the same thing.  Mayor Johnson stated that we asked our staff to go back and study it, and they did that for well over a year.  He stated:

• City Council unanimously approved this utility fund in December 2024.
• Members of the City Council nominated a member of the community to serve on a focus group.
• 17 public meetings were held between November 2024 and just last week.
• Each district council member hosted one of those public meetings.

Mayor Johnson stated that the reality is that nothing improves until we make a significant sustained investment in our stormwater.  He stated that as our climate continues to get hotter and wetter, our day is going to come, and we have to be prepared.

Ald. Palumbo moved to approve items #24 through #28, seconded by Ald. Wilder-Bryan.  The motion passed unanimously, 8-0-0.  Ald. Bell was away from the dais during the vote.

Ald. Palumbo moved to approve items #24 through #28, seconded by Ald. Wilder-Bryan.  The motion passed unanimously, 8-0-0.  Ald. Bell was away from the dais during the vote.

Ald. Palumbo moved to approve items #24 through #28, seconded by Ald. Wilder-Bryan.  The motion passed unanimously, 8-0-0.  Ald. Bell was away from the dais during the vote.

Ald. Palumbo moved to approve items #24 through #28, seconded by Ald. Wilder-Bryan.  The motion passed unanimously, 8-0-0.  Ald. Bell was away from the dais during the vote.

Ald. Palumbo moved to approve items #24 through #28, seconded by Ald. Wilder-Bryan.  The motion passed unanimously, 8-0-0.  Ald. Bell was away from the dais during the vote.

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shabazz moved to approve items #29 through #34, seconded by Ald. Wilder-Bryan and Ald. Palumbo.  The motion passed unanimously, 9-0-0.  

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shabazz moved to approve items #29 through #34, seconded by Ald. Wilder-Bryan and Ald. Palumbo.  The motion passed unanimously, 9-0-0.  

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shabazz moved to approve items #29 through #34, seconded by Ald. Wilder-Bryan and Ald. Palumbo.  The motion passed unanimously, 9-0-0.  

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shabazz moved to approve items #29 through #34, seconded by Ald. Wilder-Bryan and Ald. Palumbo.  The motion passed unanimously, 9-0-0.  

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shabazz moved to approve items #29 through #34, seconded by Ald. Wilder-Bryan and Ald. Palumbo.  The motion passed unanimously, 9-0-0.  

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shabazz moved to approve items #29 through #34, seconded by Ald. Wilder-Bryan and Ald. Palumbo.  The motion passed unanimously, 9-0-0.  

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shabazz moved to approve item #35, seconded by Ald. Wilder-Bryan and Ald. Palumbo.  The motion passed unanimously, 8-0-0.  Ald. Bell was away from the dais during the vote.

Agenda item #36 - Settlement #1- Authorizing the City Attorney's Office to settle the (vehicle wreck) claim of Raynard Byrd for $78,732.50.

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shabazz moved to approve agenda items #36, # 37, and #38, seconded by Ald. Lanier and Ald. Wilder-Bryan.  The motion passed unanimously, 8-0-0.  Ald. Bell was away from the dais during the vote.

Agenda item #37 - Settlement #2- Authorizing the City Attorney's Office to settle the (vehicle wreck) claim of Michelle Dukes for $225,000.

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shabazz moved to approve agenda items #36, # 37, and #38, seconded by Ald. Lanier and Ald. Wilder-Bryan.  The motion passed unanimously, 8-0-0.  Ald. Bell was away from the dais during the vote.

Agenda item #38 - Settlement #3- Authorizing the City Attorney's Office to settle the (worker's compensation) claim of Brandon Moore for $42,500.

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shabazz moved to approve agenda items #36, # 37, and #38, seconded by Ald. Lanier and Ald. Wilder-Bryan.  The motion passed unanimously, 8-0-0.  Ald. Bell was away from the dais during the vote.

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shabazz moved to approve agenda items #39 and #40, seconded by Ald. Lanier and Ald. Miller Blakely.  The motion passed unanimously, 8-0-0.  Ald. Bell was away from the dais during the vote.

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shabazz moved to approve agenda items #39 and #40, seconded by Ald. Lanier and Ald. Miller Blakely.  The motion passed unanimously, 8-0-0.  Ald. Bell was away from the dais during the vote.

Following additional announcements made by the Mayor and Aldermen, Mayor Johnson adjourned the regular meeting at 5:16 p.m.

Mark Massey, Clerk of Council

Date Minutes Approved: ______________________

Signature:                                                                  

The video recording of the meeting can be found by copying and inserting the link below in your url:

https://savannahgovtv.viebit.com/?folder=ALL.