Pooler City Council Regular Meeting - February 17, 2026

The Pooler City Council held its regular meeting on February 17, 2026, at 6:18 p.m. at 100 US Highway 80 SW. Mayor Karen Williams presided over the meeting with all six council members present. The meeting covered consent items, special event permits, a tree fund ordinance revision, proclamations, a schedule of fees amendment, a new contract for road monitoring hardware, and public comments. The meeting entered executive session at 7:25 p.m. and adjourned at 8:02 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the City Council Meeting Minutes of February 2, 2026.
• Approved Alcoholic Beverage License Applications for Cocina Tex-Mex Mexican Restaurant Inc., Pooler Dual Hotel LLC (Fairfield Towneplace Pooler), and Krazy Taco Place LLC.
• Approved the release of a performance bond and acceptance of maintenance and sidewalk performance bonds for Outpost Bay.
• Approved the quarterly vehicle surplus (First Quarter, 2026).
• Accepted department reports (Public Works, Finance, Fire-Rescue, Police, Parks & Recreation, Planning & Development).
• Motion by Councilmember Hutcherson, second by Councilmember Valim. Passed unanimously (6-0).

Special Events

• Ribeye Guys Special Event Permit: Approved for March 13-18, 2026, at 200 Tanger Outlets Boulevard. Petitioner was present but did not comment. Passed unanimously (6-0).
• Cirque de Paris Special Event Permit: Approved for March 19-29, 2026, at 200 Tanger Outlets Boulevard, subject to conditions. The agenda noted a police department recommendation for denial due to a conflict with the Savannah Food Fest and Craft Fair scheduled for March 28. Petitioner Lynn (accountant for Cirque de Paris) offered multiple options to mitigate traffic concerns, including reducing shows to only the 7:30 PM performance on March 28. Council approved the permit with the condition that no tickets be sold and no advertising occur for the 1:30 PM and 4:30 PM shows on Saturday, March 28, allowing only the 7:30 PM show. Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Henry, second by Councilmember Bashlor. Passed 5-1 (Councilmember Wilcher dissenting).
• Pooler St. Patrick’s Day Shuttle Special Event Permit: Approved for March 17, 2026, with a fee waiver. Brooke Goth of the Pooler Chamber of Commerce stated the Chamber is not holding a festival this year, only running shuttles from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fee waiver was granted as the applicant is a nonprofit. Passed unanimously (6-0).

Ordinances, Proclamations, Resolutions

• Tree Fund Ordinance Revisions (First Reading): City Manager Heath Lloyd presented the amendment to allow the tree fund (currently containing between $2 and $3 million) to be used for the purchase of green space within the city, in addition to tree planting, maintenance, and landscaping. A public hearing was held. Deborah Power questioned the $250,000 budget allocation for green space versus the tree fund balance, and asked for an inventory of available acreage. Glenn Smith urged council to recommend builders preserve significant trees. Uma Nagaraj supported the ordinance but called for a review of the tree ordinance to increase penalties for developers who clear trees rather than preserve them. The first reading was approved unanimously (6-0).
• Proclamation for Georgia State Arbor Day: Read by Mayor Williams, proclaiming February 20, 2026, as Arbor Day in Pooler.
• Proclamation for Black History Month: Read by Mayor Williams and presented to Azsha Hankerson of the Greater Savannah Black Chamber of Commerce.
• Resolution R2026-02.A – Amendment to the 2026 Schedule of Fees: City Manager Lloyd presented the amendment adding a $150 fee for the street and development naming ordinance to the schedule. Passed unanimously (6-0).

New Business

• Road Condition Monitoring Hardware Contract: Council approved awarding a contract to Roadway Management Technologies, LLC (RMT) for a pavement monitoring system. The system uses proprietary sensors mounted on city vehicles to collect road condition data during normal operations. The contract is for the service period of April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2028, at a cost of $28,472 billed annually. City Manager Lloyd stated the sensors would be placed on Public Works vehicles, not emergency vehicles. The contract is subject to City Attorney approval, though City Attorney Call noted he had previously reviewed it. Passed unanimously (6-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Deborah Power (215 Silverbrook Circle): Called for a six-month moratorium on all development until developer impact fees can be assessed and city infrastructure improved. She criticized the city for actions conflicting with past proclamations, specifically regarding wetland and tree preservation, and raised concerns about the Open Meetings Act regarding meetings with HOA representatives about retention pond management.
• Uma Nagaraj: Quoted from New York Times v. Sullivan regarding the necessity of robust and uninhibited debate on public issues. She criticized Mayor Karen Williams' statement that the ethics ordinance was not a priority for the council.
• Glenn Smith (114 East Two June Street): Suggested the city require builders to preserve significant trees on development sites rather than clearing them entirely.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda Approved (6-0)
• Cirque de Paris Permit Approved with conditions restricting Saturday March 28 shows to 7:30 PM only (5-1)
• Pooler St. Patrick’s Day Shuttle Fee Waiver Approved (6-0)
• First Reading of Tree Fund Ordinance Revisions Approved (6-0)
• 2026 Schedule of Fees Amendment Approved (6-0)
• Road Condition Monitoring Contract Awarded to Roadway Management Technologies (6-0)
• Executive Session: Entered at 7:25 p.m., returned at 8:01 p.m.
• Meeting Adjourned at 8:02 p.m.