[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6632415,"mediaKeyId","2673279-8d8a6a6ae4cfc6d527fa009ed4c219fa","parentId",2673279,"title","Savannah council approves parade permit, alcohol licenses, contracts and dozens of board appointments","audioSeconds",946,"startMs",1823000,"endMs",2769000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2673279-8d8a6a6ae4cfc6d527fa009ed4c219fa&start=1823&end=2769","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2673279-8d8a6a6ae4cfc6d527fa009ed4c219fa/thumbnail_1823000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6632415/Savannah-City/Chatham-County/Georgia/Savannah-council-approves-parade-permit-alcohol-licenses-contracts-and-dozens-of-board-appointments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632415-973301a24ffb838c4df884b2db03e348/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178551&Signature=NBvi7wJzb5i~wQxbCVtWzYoge3V2ChqsH7s56hxjQS4e92eAfKj83aBa00dGCTQApOQuEXyKEwIi9WlqmNhoVVPjdTAq~aLmvg1kRYJPjnw~web1FYkU6-hJ6JdyAJQyeNsZRhIPaBIagsg8W4eQ7ZbbVBkB8SUsxoEfDGTNI9lm1Mlf0rAYiu2WBWvG1284h15UnY2l7QVcQJb24gFMVKDeYfhLb431Y-A4MR~0ZIu4wlNKpdwP5P6Gkz1S1dpP0WMQhwCxJe~l0Y60nccJSgjEPmNfX4gt4ZIYbrYyHvjngKZmwqtAX46LGq3WqLtygp5RX9h3w9tOrxiXomWkyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Savannah GA","date","2025-03-18T17:55:56.32Z","article","The Savannah City Council on March 13, 2025 approved a package of routine and event-related actions including a parade permit for the city's St. Patrick's Day celebration, several retail alcohol-license changes, contract modifications for materials and maintenance, adoption of the Chatham County Emergency Operations Plan, appointment of multiple residents to city boards and commissions, and a settlement authorization.

Most items were approved by voice vote with little or no debate; the mayor and council highlighted public-safety and logistics preparations ahead of Saint Patrick's Day weekend and asked staff to continue coordinating city services.

Votes at a glance

- St. Patrick's Day parade permit (agenda discussion starting at 18:27): Council approved a parade permit describing the route and limits—6,000 on foot, 300 units and 50 floats—starting on Gwinnett and Abercorn and continuing through downtown. Council formally approved the permit and the mayor signed the permit language as moved on the record.

- Alcohol licenses (items 7–9): Council approved additions or upgrades to Class C (liquor/beer/wine by the drink) with Sunday sales for several businesses: Silk Route (Sandeep M. Tamricar) at 401 Law Boulevard (district 4); 2 Cracked Eggs Cafe (Christopher Emerick) at two addresses on West Remy Street and 202 East Bay Street (district 2). All licenses were approved following the public-hearing process.

- Purchasing/contract modifications (items 12–14): Council authorized the following contract modifications or limit increases: Chemtrade Chemicals for aluminum sulfate, not to exceed $1,089,936; Smith Aquatics, $49,942; and Boeing Mechanical for citywide HVAC maintenance and repairs, modification not to exceed $500,000. These items were approved by voice vote.

- Boards, commissions and authorities (multiple items): Council appointed scores of residents across multiple boards, commissions and authorities (Aging Services Advisory Council; Cultural Affairs Commission; Greater Savannah International Alliance; Historic District Board of Review; Historic Preservation Commission; Hospital Authority; Keep Savannah Beautiful; Metropolitan Planning Commission; Park and Tree Commission; Politics Commission; Savannah Airport Commission; Historic Sites and Monuments Commission; Savannah Economic Development Authority; Savannah Recreation Commission; Savannah Zoning Board of Appeals). Appointments were moved and approved in sequence with some items referred back for further recruiting where fewer candidates were available.

- Chatham County Emergency Operations Plan (item 16): Council adopted the recommendation to adopt the county emergency operations plan.

- Settlement authorization (item 17): Council authorized the city attorney's office to settle a claim by Kevin Robinson in the amount of $32,500.

- Historic market permit (item 18): Council approved a petition from the Daughters of the American Revolution for a historic market site in Tricentennial Park at 315 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

What council emphasized: Mayor Van R. Johnson and councilors repeatedly emphasized that Saint Patrick's Day is a major event for the city; they thanked special-events, public-safety and public-works staff for preparations, reminded residents about road closures and towing beginning at 6 a.m. Monday, and urged safety and courtesy across the weekend. The mayor and parade organizers also described parade logistics and asked for volunteer cooperation to keep the route clean and safe.

Formal actions in this meeting were processed by voice vote where recorded; most motions were seconded and passed without roll-call tallies recorded in the transcript. Several items were postponed to March 27 upon motion of the council.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Savannah City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Savannah City Council on March 13, 2025 approved a parade permit for the city's St. Patrick's Day celebration and a package of routine administrative items, including alcohol-license changes, contract modifications, dozens of board appointments, adoption of the Chatham County Emergency Operations Plan, a settlement authorization and a historic market permit.","taxTitle","Savannah City, Chatham County, Georgia","taxId",12640,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":46,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6632420,"Savannah council approves expansion of Inner City Night Shelter after neighborhood concerns",1246,4015000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2673279-8d8a6a6ae4cfc6d527fa009ed4c219fa&start=2769&end=4015","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2673279-8d8a6a6ae4cfc6d527fa009ed4c219fa/thumbnail_2769000.jpg","/articles/6632420/Savannah-City/Chatham-County/Georgia/Savannah-council-approves-expansion-of-Inner-City-Night-Shelter-after-neighborhood-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632420-f887f6f5ad5a3d257e75cecaeda4e65f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178551&Signature=eI~FXZmOLzoIhoo-hjvMkFhI42pHHT4jE-D7DmB2v1n7zFJ5D6wKynuaS8ErpcSJqu1mYqB2FXI-iXbxjTrM4z25e9NPoGDHGYdPwIjtEUuquw19yvRi1d1ky0XdwnYJM0zpRBAceSKwD1Nv-92Db65IqpDY0m3~UCVJqU1L9BwSxuXuFijnQ-x3pz40jSN9hzkKgwG8Ta0tyNTtHXtMyfr4Juf2eci26fwbqgqtp0VUSIcV8obw~mpZYwa9xRBamOHHpkZYiMOxF~rsHSoFjSxlH78Lvmtta3QUQlP0zxFMpdlSBf-en7Kc~we73U2DhBFGsDRjG6uj~OER9R8hfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Savannah City Council on March 13 approved a special use permit to expand the Inner City Night Shelter at 124 Arnold Street onto two adjoining lots (116 and 0 Arnold Street), allowing the shelter to recombine the parcels and build an addition to the existing facility.

City planning staff told the council the request is consistent with the city's Plan 2040 housing goals, and both staff and the planning commission recommended approval. During public comment, Downtown Neighborhood Association representative David McDonald urged a meeting between neighbors, the shelter and Savannah Police Department to address concerns tied to an expected increase in daytime presence, saying, “we're concerned with the doubling of the capacity at this facility, where the residents will go during the day.”

Staff presentation and recommendation: Senior planning staff described the project as an expansion of an existing emergency shelter and said the two parcels would be recombined into the current parcel and the structure on the added lots would be demolished to make way for the new portion of the facility. Staff found the proposal consistent with Plan 2040 goals to increase supportive housing for special-needs populations and concluded the site could meet ancillary use requirements. The planning commission and staff recommended approval; the council noted two planning commission members voted against the petition during the commission review.

Neighborhood concerns and council response: Speakers at the meeting expressed concerns about a possible increase in vagrancy and daytime presence on the nearby Broad Street corridor if shelter capacity doubled. Council members repeatedly distinguished homelessness from criminal vagrancy and said enforcement and social-service coordination would be part of follow-up work. The council directed staff to arrange a meeting that will include the shelter, the police department and neighborhood representatives; the city manager's office said it would participate.

Petitioner timeline and follow-up: Petitioner Yvonne Pryor told council she expects to close on the property on March 28 and said the shelter does not intend to close the existing facility during construction. Pryor said demolition and cleanup would be the first steps and that capital fundraising and construction planning are expected to proceed over the next six to eight months. Council members emphasized the need for interagency coordination, noting the Union Mission is also expanding a separate day-shelter capacity on the west side of downtown and that city staff will work with stakeholders to identify daytime options for persons served.

Formal action and next steps: A council member moved to accept the petition for the special use permit; the motion was seconded and passed on a voice vote. The council asked staff to organize the neighborhood meeting (including SPD and shelter staff), to report back on enforcement options, and to continue coordinating funding and construction oversight as the petitioner advances the project.

Background: The Inner City Night Shelter provides temporary overnight shelter and related services; the expansion is intended to increase capacity and supportive services. Planning staff framed the request as aligned with city housing goals for supportive housing for persons who are homeless, mentally ill, disabled or in recovery.

The council's approval includes a direction to staff to facilitate neighborhood engagement and to coordinate enforcement and service planning while the petitioner pursues closing, fundraising and construction.","The Savannah City Council on March 13, 2025 approved a special use permit to expand the Inner City Night Shelter at 124 Arnold Street onto two adjoining lots after a staff recommendation and public discussion about daytime impacts and enforcement.","actionData","errors"]

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Savannah council approves parade permit, alcohol licenses, contracts and dozens of board appointments

Savannah council approves expansion of Inner City Night Shelter after neighborhood concerns