Written by Laura Irene. Graphic by Ananya Panchal.
Savannah is waiting to hear about an ongoing decision regarding a data center being built. The city council recently put the plan on a 155-day moratorium to allow for continued debate, and I was excited to hear this debate, which ultimately led me to my seat watching the City Council’s Oct. 8 meeting. I have never attended a city council meeting before, and didn’t know what to expect, but I’d heard there were decisions about Flock cameras and data centers in Savannah being made, both of which are something I wanted to know about.
Yet when I attended, neither of those things were on the schedule for the meeting. By attending however, I learned more about my community and its than I could have hoped. As college students, we often don’t have two to three hours free on Thursday at 2 to sit for a city council meeting, nor the focus to listen to all the proceedings. So, I bring my District’s notebook of short, digestible notes of the most recent city council meeting, in order of action, to you.
Announcements & Acknowledgments
- Housing United (a countrywide housing initiative) is active throughout all of Chatham County, building new homes, preserving existing homes, and partnering with developers to make renting more affordable. Savannah had an increase in available jobs, and they found the people filling those jobs needed a place to live. The Savannah Affordable Housing Fund gave another seven million in investments from a partnership with Civis (a company created to invest in innovative solutions) and Housing United will continue working towards housing solutions.
- Mayor Johnson acknowledged Gullah Geechee Heritage People’s Month in Oct. 2026, with words from a local spokesperson.
- Additionally, acknowledges Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Oct. 2026 and emphasizes that no person or child should face harm. All members of the council will wear purple flower pins in solidarity.
- Call 912-629-8888 if you or someone you know in Savannah is experiencing domestic violence for help, and SAFE shelters.
- Mayor Johnson announced that Savannah State University is now the first Historically Black College and University in Georgia to offer a doctorate program. Cheerleaders, staff members, and coaches were introduced, as it was also Homecoming week.
- The Savannah Fire Department received its third accreditation!
Agenda
- Savannah has been offered to be a part of the Olympic Torch relay in 2028, the council approved this.
- Certain council members pushed to make sure people know when there are changes to processes, and emphasized that those changes were made to people working with the Savannah government, as this was a source of conflict previously.
- Savannah has just completed a very successful rain barrel giveaway, the council approved another 200,000 dollars into this initiative and to run another. These rain barrels save valuable water and help protect the health of nearby waterways.
- The city is restoring the Thomas Gamble building, and they need another million dollars for new windows. Some council members argued that those funds should come from the government and not taxpayers; others argued this was an unforeseen anomaly and should continue to be taken from taxpayers’ funds. The money was eventually approved to go to the windows, but a council person additionally suggested looking into a local restoration business to use the old windows in new ways.
- Many permits to sell and distribute alcohol commercially were brought to the table. Any public in attendance could also say their opinion, but ultimately all permits were approved.
- There was an argument about zone hearings, as some council members believe the law requiring 10 parking spaces per business (depending on the size of the building and any “special uses”) should be reconsidered because it has blocked business from coming before, but now is believed to be more loosely enforced. All hearings were approved, but the council will look into this law if changes need to be made.
- There is a proposed downzone from an Industrial Zone. The developer for this land spoke, and he has yet to establish a concrete plan for the property’s development, which was concerning to all council members. Some, because of the train tracks, a business will add to traffic, and others argue that if it is a business of unlikely favor to be built, it would have to be voted on by the council again. They eventually approved it but warned the developer they will watch him closely.
Whether we, as SCAD students, come from Savannah, Georgia, or elsewhere, this city is our community now, and it is important to know what is going on within it. I was surprised by how friendly and light-hearted many of the council members’ comments were and I was on the edge of my seat during arguments about windows. Each of these issues impacts us, people we know, and the city we inhabit.
