City Council Workshop | March 12, 2026

The City of Savannah held a City Council Workshop on March 12, 2026, focusing primarily on updates and planning for tourism product development projects funded by the hotel motel tax. Key projects discussed included the $60 million redevelopment of River Street, the historic waterworks building restoration, connectivity improvements in the Canal District, and the Tide to Town trail development. The council reviewed financials showing $16.5 million collected since October 2023 and discussed leveraging revenue bonds for project funding. Emphasis was placed on ADA accessibility, historic preservation, and community-driven development, with a 20% Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation goal highlighted for contracts. The council also discussed wayfinding signage projects, potential traffic flow changes on River Street, and the importance of equitable investment in underserved neighborhoods. Additionally, new personnel appointments to the city's information and public affairs team and pension board were announced. No formal votes were recorded during this workshop, but several action items were identified for future council consideration, including adopting the River Street vision plan and advancing engineering RFPs.