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

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.