Pooler City Council Regular Meeting – November 3, 2025

The Pooler City Council convened at 6:00 PM on Monday, November 3, 2025 at City Hall (100 US Highway 80 SW). Mayor Williams presided with all council members present. The agenda included approvals of consent items, four special event permits, second readings of short-term rental and planning ordinances, a proclamation, first reading of the FY2026 budget, a variance postponement, three development approvals, two professional service agreements, and public comment. Significant discussion centered on the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) funding proposal, stormwater flooding concerns, and transparency in budget and appointments.

Consent Calendar

• Items A–H (workshop minutes, meeting minutes, executive session minutes; alcohol license changes for four Parker’s locations; performance bond for TTRES Pooler Lift Station) were approved unanimously.
• Four alcoholic beverage license changes were clarified as administrative name changes, not new licenses.

Public Comments & Testimony

Public comments on specific agenda items are included below within the relevant discussion sections. The following testimony occurred during the public comment period at the end of the meeting:

• Thomas Hall (resident, 212 Grasslands Drive) criticized unchecked development and inadequate flood control, warned of potential lawsuits, questioned a second entrance approval for Forest Lakes, and urged residents to attend meetings.
• Dee Skelly (Hunt Club resident, 332 Winchester Drive, 16‑year resident) requested that Outpost Bay’s play area be fenced, used for daytime hours only, have low‑ground lighting, and no cooking, to protect resident privacy and quiet.
• Unidentified speaker raised concerns about open meetings act compliance and questioned the mayor’s authority to form committees without council input, criticized budget detail, and requested greater police presence near schools and better school zone signage.
• Jessica Brown (Forest Stone Hill Road) requested clear signage of active hours for school zone lights on Pine Barren and Rogers roads.
• Jacob Brown (same address) reported ClearWave fiber installation damaged his sewer line, causing wastewater backup, and asked for contractor accountability and city inspection oversight.
• Andrew Wagoner (Brighton Woods Drive) reiterated concerns about flooding in five basins and urged enforcement of developer agreements.

During the budget public hearing:

• Trisha Cook (business owner, 313 West Collins) asked for transparency on the $200,000 DDA line item, questioned whether board members would be paid, how funds would be used, and whether the Chamber of Commerce role would be affected. She also inquired about $160,000 for communications, $50,000 for youth/senior councils, and $100,000 for grant writing.
• Uma Nagaraj (107 Barrington Road) requested detailed contract and bid information on the city website with item‑level receipts.
• Andrew Wagoner suggested shifting road and drainage funding from SPLOST to the general fund for stability and equity.
• Sherlena Daniel (P&Z member, Pine Lane) advocated using the Chamber of Commerce to support DDA rather than creating paid positions.
• Jenny Watkins (Below Street) asked about the tax burden between businesses and residents.
• Jack King (Big Ben Road) criticized lack of departmental budget presentations, insufficient line‑item detail, and questioned salary increases, saying he could not support the budget without more detail.

During the short‑term rental amendment discussion:

• Trisha Cook asked about the 27‑day definition.
• Grace Porterfield (Savannah Association of Realtors) thanked council for incorporating input.

Discussion Items

Short‑Term Rental Amendment (Second Reading) – O2025‑09.A

City Manager Heath Lloyd described four modifications: aligning with state HB399, redefining short‑term rental as ≤27 days, aligning inspections with the Fourth Amendment, and ensuring due process in denials. The ordinance passed second reading; Councilman Wilcher and Councilwoman Vallum voted against.

Planning & Zoning Meetings and Site Plan Processes (Second Reading) – O2025‑09.B

Lloyd explained moving to one monthly P&Z meeting and delegating site plan approval to the City Manager, effective January 1, 2026. Trisha Cook asked about timeline; staff said the change could add about two weeks but overall streamline approval. Council requested an FAQ be posted online. The ordinance passed unanimously.

Proclamation for World Town Planning Day

The mayor read a proclamation designating November 8, 2025 as World Town Planning Day, recognizing planning staff and commissioners. Unanimous approval.

FY2026 Budget Approval (First Reading) – R2025‑11.A

Lloyd highlighted $1.8M for public safety equipment/vehicles, $500,000 for drainage system modeling, $400,000 for playground upgrades, $250,000 for green space acquisition, $200,000 for community events, and $200,000 for a Downtown Development Authority. The proposal is aligned with SPLOST 8, on the ballot the next day. After a public hearing (see above), council debated the DDA formation process. Councilwoman Vallum expressed that the ad hoc committee (Mayor Williams, Mayor Pro Tem Henry, Councilmember Bachelor, and Lloyd) operated without input from the full council and that application materials were not shared until the day before the meeting. The mayor defended the process, noting the committee was established per charter and that questions were available on request. The budget was approved on first reading by a 4‑2 vote, with the condition that staff post answers to public questions on the city website.

Variance Request – 1901 Pine Meadow Drive (Unfinished Business)

The petitioner sought a 90‑foot reduction (from 100 feet) of an adjacent use buffer for a 33,867 sq ft industrial building near the Savannah‑Ogeechee Canal. The petitioner (Mark Liverman) requested postponement after revising the plan to a 75‑foot reduction, triggering a new review cycle. After confusion about proper procedure, council voted unanimously to postpone to November 17, 2025, with the petitioner covering re‑advertising costs.

Conditional Use Request – Glass & Door Business (New Business A)

The applicant Josh Monroy and owner Pete Gomez described a specialty contractor’s office with no manufacturing; all glass ships to clients, and only two work trucks are parked on‑site. Staff and P&Z recommended approval. Approved unanimously.

Site Development Plan – Medical Office Building at 115 North Skinner Avenue (New Business B)

A 9,980 sq ft two‑story building with 45 parking spaces and 12% open space. Staff and P&Z recommended approval. Council confirmed drainage review was completed. Approved unanimously.

Site Development Plan – Two Multi‑Tenant Buildings at 125 High Avenue (New Business C)

Developer David Hornsby (HD Company) presented two buildings (total ~20,400 sq ft) with 37% green space, part of Mosaic Town Center. Andrew Wagoner asked about traffic studies; Hornsby confirmed a recent study was submitted. Approved unanimously.

Coleman Company Proposal – Old Louisville Road Water & Sewer Extensions (New Business D)

Contract for $182,490 for surveying, design, permitting, and construction observation, extending water and sewer to city boundaries. Approved unanimously, subject to city attorney approval and the state‑mandated public bids consulting agreement.

Thomas & Hutton Agreement – Recreation Complex ADA Playground and Water Feature (New Business E)

Engineering services for an ADA‑compliant playground and splash pad at the Pooler Recreation Complex, funded by a $250,000 matching grant from Land Conservation. Total $43,750. Approved unanimously with the same conditions as item D.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda – Approved unanimously.
• Special Events – Events A and B approved unanimously; Event C approved with one abstention (Councilman Carpenter).
• O2025‑09.A (Short‑Term Rental) – Approved on second reading (2 opposed: Wilcher, Vallum).
• O2025‑09.B (Planning & Zoning Changes) – Approved on second reading, effective Jan 1, 2026 (unanimous).
• World Town Planning Day Proclamation – Adopted.
• FY2026 Budget (First Reading) – Approved 4‑2 (Wilcher, Vallum opposed); condition to post Q&A.
• Buffer Variance (1901 Pine Meadow) – Postponed to November 17 (unanimous).
• Conditional Use (Glass & Door Business) – Approved unanimously.
• Site Plan (Medical Office) – Approved unanimously.
• Site Plan (Savannah Quarters Commercial) – Approved unanimously.
• Water/Sewer Engineering (Coleman) – Approved, subject to conditions (unanimous).
• Recreation Complex Engineering (Thomas & Hutton) – Approved, subject to conditions (unanimous).
• Public Comment – Recorded; no action taken.