City Council

City Council Budget Retreat Summary/Final Minutes November 7-8, 2012 Savannah Civic Center Wednesday, November 7th PRESENT: Mayor Edna B. Jackson Mayor Pro-Tem Van R. Johnson, II (left early and returned after lunch) Chair of Council Alderman Tony Thomas Vice Chair of Council Alderman Mary Osborne Alderman Carol Bell Alderman Mary Ellen Sprague Alderman Tom Bordeaux Alderman Estella Shabazz Alderman John Hall (absent due to knee surgery) Acting City Manager Stephanie Cutter City Attorney Brooks Stillwell Mayor Jackson called the meeting to order. Acting City Manager Stephanie Cutter thanked everyone for coming to the Budget Retreat and introduced Finance Director, David Maxwell who was substituting for Dick Evans, Acting Assistant City Manager for Administrative and Community Services who was out due to the illness of his mother; Mr. Maxwell gave a Financial Update for 2012. Mrs. Cutter gave a 2013 Budget Overview. Details of 2013 Revenue Budget by David Maxwell o Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) Details of 2013 Expense Budget by Melissa Carter Overview of MPD Merger Agreement by David Maxwell Proposed Budget Includes NO Service Improvements by Sean Brandon o Police Improvements o Fire Chatham Parkway o Public Works Work Crew o Other Unfunded Requests Cultural Contributions by Joe Shearouse The session was adjourned at 4:00pm due to an electrical malfunction 1  City Council Budget Retreat Summary/Final Minutes November 7-8, 2012 Savannah Civic Center Thursday, November 8th PRESENT: Mayor Edna B. Jackson (arrived after attending a function at the Chamber of Commerce) Mayor Pro-Tem Van R. Johnson, II (left early returned after lunch, left at 4:00 pm) Chair of Council Alderman Tony Thomas Vice Chair of Council Alderman Mary Osborne (left at 3:00pm) Alderman Carol Bell Alderman Mary Ellen Sprague Alderman Tom Bordeaux (arrived at 10:30am left at 12:30pm due to a sprained ankle) Alderman Estella Shabazz Alderman John Hall (absent due to knee surgery) Acting City Manager Stephanie Cutter City Attorney Brooks Stillwell Mayor Pro-Tem Van Johnson, II called the meeting to order. Acting City Manager Stephanie Cutter welcomed everyone to the second day of the Budget Retreat, the meeting began with Social Service Contributions by Melissa Carter Followed by: Special Projects Overview by Pete Shonka The following departments and bureau chiefs gave presentations and budget overviews Management Services Bureau by Sean Brandon Public Works & Water Resources Bureau by John Sawyer Sanitation Bureau by Gene Prevatt Community & Economic Development Bureau by Taffanye Young Police Bureau by Chief Lovett A presentation by the Savannah Housing Fund Advisory Committee was given by Suzanne Donovan, Robin Haddock, Chad Jacobs and David Douse Bureau Presentations, continued Fire & Emergency Services .............................................. Chief Middleton 2  Public Facilities, Events & Services Bureau ....................... Joe Shearouse Proposed Funding Plans by David Maxwell o Water & Sewer o Landfill Expansion During the 2-day meeting the Council identified the following “Parking Lot” issues: CULTURAL / RECREATION SERVICES Staff Issue Response Due Date Responsible Provide listing of Cultural Eileen Baker November Contributions with cost Joe Shearouse 16 1. differential for 2012 projected verses 2012 Budget. Provide list of festivals Eileen Baker November that are not proposed to Joe Shearouse 16 2. be funded in 2013 budget. In future, compare Eileen Baker November apples to apples in Joe Shearouse 16 3. cultural affairs participant numbers. How are DEEP students Eileen Baker November 4. selected? Breakdown of Joe Shearouse 16 where students are from Explore public/private Eileen Baker November sponsorships more for Joe Shearouse 16 festivals. Use the 5. commission to solicit sponsorships. Assist festivals with Eileen Baker November 6. marketing Joe Shearouse 16 Continue to push Jerry Flemming November Neighborhood Matching Joe Shearouse 16 7. Funds program. 3  BUDGET / FINANCE Staff Issue Response Due Date Responsible 1. Include title and number Research & of positions for each Budget November department in next Human 16 year’s budget Resources 2. Finance Explain decrease in debt November Research & service in 2013. 16 Budget 3. Provide actual figures for Research & November turnover adjustment Budget 16 calculation. 4. Provide actuarial gap between pension fund and liabilities. Provide Finance Year End evaluation of pension plan. 5. Fund Navy League Ship 2013 Proposed Visits and Sea Cadets at Budget has been Research & Complete $3,000 each in Social adjusted to reflect this Budget Services. increase 6. Provide funding breakdown for SDRA Research & included in 2013 Budget November Economic Development Community 16 budget – how much and Development which line items. 4  HUMAN RESOURCES Staff Issue Response Due Date Responsible 1. Update on health Human November management programs – Resources 16 how many, changes, etc. 2. Consider an increase in the differential between employee insurance contributions for Human November employees who do not Resources 16 get health screening (currently $100 savings for employees who take health screening). 3. Increase efforts to create awareness on health programs for employees (send out brochure, etc). Human Send brochure to Resources Year End employees’ homes Bret Bell regarding health screenings for family members. 4. Reexamine civil service Human rules for hiring. Year End Resources 5  CITY MANAGER Staff Issue Response Due Date Responsible All consultant contracts and contract renewals should 1. Purchasing Ongoing come before Council for approval. Schedule a legislative 2. breakfast in Atlanta for Brian Gore Year End Savannah/Chatham Day. City Manger Chief Financial Develop list of legislative 3. Officer Year End priorities Assistant City Manager Building assessment of 4. City Hall – consider funds Peter Shonka Year End to address. Revisit Finance position related to E-Payables November 5. Finance Service Improvement 16 request. Address enforcement of street vendors throughout November 6. Taffayne Young City – Zoning, Revenue, 16 Citizen Office, etc. Meet with police policy committee to discuss CNT City Manager 7. Year End Drug Squad. Revisit Mayor merger agreement. Explore support for summer job programs for kids – look at Eastside Concerned Citizens for Taffayne Young 8. Year End model. Explore Barry Baker public/private partnerships for youth involvement with local businesses. 6  CITY MANAGER, cont. Development/expansion of Homeless Strategic Plan. 9. Homeless Authority has ten Taffayne Young Year End year strategic plan which expires next year. Coordinate effort to create community awareness regarding dumping, littering, and improper waste disposal in John Sawyer November 10. drains (utilize Twitter, social Bret Bell 16 media, etc.). Media day to allow them to see what issues we are facing and get them to help publicize. Coastal Workforce Services – November 11. Mayor in another city needs Cindy Landholt 16 info – See Sharonte. Revisit food cart/food truck November 12. Marty Johnston ordinance. 16 Make recommendation for November 13. SDRA board (advertise Clerk of Council 16 openings) Arrange more detailed November 14. workshop presentation by Step Renee Higgins 16 Up Savannah. Arrange workshop to review Mayor’s 15. Development Services fee Year End Roundtable increases. Mayor, City Manager, Chief of Police, County Manager, and 16. Renee Higgins December 1 CNT need to get together to discuss potential Drug Squad. Working with Budget and Chief Willie Police, create scenarios for Lovett November 17. partially and fully funding Drug Research & 16 Unit, gradually ramping up Unit Budget from 2013-2014. Item for Legislative Agenda – 18. Brian Gore Year End State funding for Fire Boat. 7  POLICE Staff Issue Response Due Date Responsible Show MPD merger allocation in dollar Research & November 1. amount as well as Budget 16 percentage. Chief Willie Change National Night 2. Lovett Year End Out back to old format. Julian Miller Provide Council with November 3. bulk amounts of iWatch Demetra Butler 16 stickers Inform public of good things being done by Julian Miller November 4. Savannah Impact Work Bret Bell 16 Ventures – run program on SGTV. PUBLIC WORKS / WATER Staff Issue Response Due Date Responsible Provide timetable for action on traffic calming John Sawyer November 1. list. Provide schedule of Michael Weiner 16 committee meetings. Provide street resurfacing November 2. John Sawyer schedule 16 Insert message in water bills informing customers on why the increase is Sean Brandon November 3. necessary and reminding Bret Bell 16 them they are charged bi- monthly. 8  PUBLIC WORKS / WATER, cont. Workshop with plumbers to inform them of sewage challenges (grease, 4. John Sawyer Year End stoppages, etc.) and advise them on how to resolve issues. Focus on sidewalk installation in needed areas – can we November 5. incorporate more money John Sawyer 16 into CIP? Provide list of scheduled sidewalk repairs/installation. Provide Council with report from Traffic November 6. John Sawyer Calming Committee 16 meeting November 8. Report on any plans to re- John Sawyer November 7. do 3 traffic lights in a row Michael Weiner 16 at Montgomery & 55th. Address manholes from November 8. Montgomery to ACL to John Sawyer 16 Staley Ave. Improve ditch November 9. John Sawyer maintenance program. 16 SANITATION Staff Issue Response Due Date Responsible Greater effort to push recycling Gene Prevatt November 1. services among City Bret Bell 16 residents. 9  MANAGEMENT SERVICES Issue Staff Response Due Date Responsible Update on when entryway signs will be November 1. installed. Organize Joe Shearouse 16 press event for sign debut. Cluskey Embankment Project to include Shinhoster group with Luciana November 2. hands-on involvement. Spracher 16 Inform Shinhoster group on how to obtain City funding. Technology Governance Committee Sean Brandon 3. should focus on Year End Cam Mathis monitoring misuse of devices. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Staff Issue Response Due Date Responsible Provide updated 100- Gene Prevatt November 1. Worst list Linwood Brown 16 Citizen Office to collaborate with businesses on Susan Broker November 2. downtown enforcement Taffayne Young 16 issues, especially in City Market at nights. Where are people getting the palm leaves Captain Mike they use to make palm November 3. Wilkins flowers downtown? 16 Janessa Salter Provide list of palm distributors 10  COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, cont. Veleeta How do we deal with November 4. McDonald issue of horse smells? 16 Bridget Lidy Economic Development summit to define roles of City and local City Manager 5. partners. Include Year End Taffayne Young M/WBE program discussion. Focus efforts to capture voice of renters in 6. Taffayne Young Year End community as well as homeowners. FIRE Staff Issue Response Due Date Responsible Discussion with Legislation Chief Middleton 1. Delegation about Year End Brian Gore Support of Fire boat funding Discussion with Port Chief Middleton 2. regarding additional Year End Brian Gore funds for Fire Boat. 11  PUBLIC FACILITIES, EVENTS & SERVICES Staff Issue Due Date Responsible 1. Explore playground / Joe Shearouse Greenspace at Edgemere November 16 Barry Baker Sackville. 2. Provide cost to keep Tatemville center open for Joe Shearouse November 16 seniors an additional Barry Baker hour/day (5 hours/week). 3. Assessment on number of Tatemville residents Joe Shearouse November 16 needing transportation to Barry Baker the center. 4. Joe to provide memo regarding use of tennis Joe Shearouse November 16 centers by non-residents Barry Baker for LOST negotiation. 5. Sound stage – SPLOST Joe Shearouse November 16 Mayor Edna Jackson adjourned the session Dyanne C. Reese, Clerk of Council 12