By Eric Curl
April 29, 2022 update – The Savannah City Council approved the contract with the Responsible Hospitality Institute.
April 24, 2022 – Onlookers waited in line under the neon-lit entrances to the clubs, as classic cars crawled along West Congress Street booming bass out their backsides at about 11 p.m. on April 23. It was another Saturday night on one of Savannah’s busiest downtown streets and folks, young and old, of all stripes and types, appeared to be having a good time.
Unfortunately, it was still early and three people would later be injured after two overnight shootings in the downtown area, as reported this morning by WTOC.
The early morning shootings are the latest among a series of incidents downtown over the past three months that show how the downtown fun can sometimes take violent turns, as reported in this April Savannah Morning news article.
The city is looking for ways to help prevent such incidents from occurring and making sure late-night partying doesn’t spiral out of control.
On Thursday, the Savannah City Council will consider an $80,000 contract for help developing a night management program, according to the meeting agenda.
The contract with California-based Responsible Hospitality Institute (RHI) includes an assessment of nighttime-related issues like public safety, transportation, tourism, noise, and alcohol control while simultaneously examining ways to enhance the growth and vibrancy of Savannah’s night-time economy.
RHI is a non-profit organization founded in 1983 that has provided direct technical assistance to more than 80 U.S. and Canadian cities to facilitate collaborative solutions to the nightlife challenges, according to the city staff report.
For the proposed assessment and management plan, Savannah would piggyback off a contract the city of St. Augustine, Fla. has with RHI to address similar issues.
Back in August, St. Augustine used RHI to get fresh feedback from the business community and other stakeholders regarding a proposal to require a permit to sell alcohol after midnight, as reported in this St. Augustine Record article.
And in March, the city of Austin adopted a resolution to move forward with some RHI recommendations as part of a plan to curb violence in the Sixth Street entertainment district, as reported in this Austin Monitor article. Among the recommendations is the creation of a institute an entertainment permit for nightclubs and other late-night gathering spots, in addition to creating more diverse uses in the area and activating the street by rehabbing historic properties, creating more kitchens, adding outdoor seating, and installing more lighting. A dedicated emergency medical services presence is also proposed, as well as taking a “strong stance” against establishments with records of repeated violent incidents taking place among their customers. The March resolution follows of an earlier resolution adopted in July 2021 to establish the Safer 6th 2 Street Initiative, which intends to move forward recommendations from RHI and other organizations that the city failed to implement over the years.
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