City Council

Summary/Final Minutes – Work Session – April 17, 2014 Savannah City Government SUMMARY/FINAL MINUTES MAYOR and ALDERMEN WORK SESSION CITY MANAGER’S BRIEFING April 3, 2014 – 10:00 am PRESENT: Mayor Pro-Tem Van Johnson, II, Presiding Alderman Tony Thomas, Chairman of Council Alderman Mary Osborne, Vice-Chairman of Council Aldermen Mary Ellen Sprague, Carol Bell, Estella Shabazz John Hall and Tom Bordeaux City Manager Stephanie Cutter City Attorney W. Brooks Stillwell Assistant City Attorney William Shearouse ABSENT: Mayor Edna Jackson (out of town) Mayor Pro-Tem Johnson called the meeting to order. City Manager Cutter introduced two students Cameron Bouligny and Narali Patel from Windsor Forest High School who will be shadowing her today. Latino Coalition of Savannah Introductory Presentation Araceli Harper and Georgette Backman presented a PowerPoint presentation on the Latino Coalition of Savannah. The Latino Coalition of Savannah Benchmark is to be recognized as the link between the Latin community and any entity that is looking to endeavor the Latin community. Ms. Harper stated the purpose of her visit today is to ask the City of Savannah for assistance with reaching out to the Latino community. She thanked the City of Savannah for giving them a temporary place to meet and also thanked City Manager Cutter for sending Carliss Bates, community Relations and Internship, Administrator as a liaison to assist them in their efforts. (Presentation is on file in the Office of the Clerk of Council) During and after the presentation the following questions were asked: Alderman Johnson asked Ms. Harper when she refers to Latinos is she inclusive of Hispanics, because the term is often times used interchangeably. Ms. Harper replied in her personal opinion if geography is studied Mexico is not America, it is in the Latin continent. But they are all the same. Alderman Johnson asked if Ms. Harper has been in contact with Latin American Services Organization (LASO). He stated many people come to Council and the City of Savannah for many things and he’s interested to know if there has been any collaboration. Ms. Harper stated in the Latino Coalition of Savannah’s by-laws it states they must be honest and although she didn’t expect the question she would be honest. She stated that all members of LASO are her friends and she looks forward to working with them however, there is another agency in the City of Savannah that she cannot name which stated if she works with LASO they will no longer work 1  Summary/Final Minutes – Work Session – April 17, 2014 with them. City Manager Cutter stated the new division Community Relations and Internship Administrator Carliss Bates has been assigned as the liaison to work with this coalition on behalf of the City of Savannah. Ms. Bates role will be to represent the City educating the coalition and any other coalitions that may come before Council for funding explaining to them about the budgetary process and the process on requesting funds from the City of Savannah. This opportunity was given to allow the Latino Coalition the chance to introduce themselves to Council. They have submitted requests for meeting room space and they will be accommodated. Ms. Bates will stay close and bring back information as they move forward. Alderman Sprague asked what LASO is. Alderman Johnson replied it is the Latin American Services Organization and they have approached the City in the past asking to partner with them and he feels the City of Savannah has to ensure it gets the best service for the funds it will provide to various organizations. Alderman Sprague referred to Ms. Harper and stated in reference to the Town Hall meeting she would like to have to inform the community about the organization she agrees and thinks the City of Savannah and Council should do whatever possible to assist her with doing so. She believes it’s important to engage all citizens. City Manager Cutter stated when considering as it relates to funding organizations in the last few years recommendations have been brought to Council based on an organizations opportunity to work collaboratively with other organizations in the community. Going forward that process still remains, as mentioned earlier a staff person has been assigned to work with the coalition to facilitate and/or coordinate opportunities to build relationships citywide. She thinks it’s best to allow the opportunity for it to work. Ms. Bates has performance standards that she would need to carry out and she feels this is a beginning to welcoming differences and diversity to Savannah. The City of Savannah will be in contact and updates will be brought back to Council as they move along. Alderman Thomas stated he wanted to follow up on the statements made by Aldermen Osborne and Hall, he feels before any city funds are contributed to any organization they need to come together and develop a strategic plan. No city funding should come with strings attached. Alderman Shabazz thanked City Manager Cutter for making this possible and having staff collaborate with all segments of the community. Alderman Bell referring to the City Manager stated she welcomes and embraces diversity but asked is there a plan that has criteria or goals for embracing all diverse groups. City Manager Cutter replied the City of Savannah is often approached with new initiatives. In January 2014, as a part of the 2015 budget this new division was created. One of Mrs. Bates’ first assignments was to work on developing the program. It will be brought before Council at a work shop so Council will have an idea of what is being measured and what the scope of work will be. The Latino Coalition of Savannah was brought to the attention of city staff by the Greater Savannah International Alliance (GSIA) which the City has funded for many years, which she feels was very timely the creation of a new division and it works. It tells us that government services need to be planned to serve not only the traditional City of Savannah because Savannah is changing and the services provided need to change as well. Water Resources, Changes in TMDL 2  Summary/Final Minutes – Work Session – April 17, 2014 John Sawyer, Water & Sewer Bureau Chief presented a PowerPoint Presentation on the Total Maximum Daily Load & Saltwater Intrusion. Mr. Sawyer stated the Savannah River Committee is comprised of 7 members from each stated as appointed by their Governors. The primary focuses of the group are: the sustainable use of the Savannah River Basin water resources; Savannah River Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL); and saltwater intrusion of the Floridian Aquifer. TMDL is the maximum amount of pollutants that a water body can receive and still met water quality standards. (Presentation is on file in the Office of the Clerk of Council) During and after the presentation the following questions were asked: Alderman Shabazz asked does the City of Savannah contribute to the findings of the water situation to the state before it goes to the Federal. Mr. Sawyer replied the State DNR and EPD will develop that list, the City of Savannah doesn’t have input on the list. Alderman Shabazz asked if the point system discharges are the least will the deepening of the Savannah Harbor cause a problem with the decreasing of oxygen in the water waste. Mr. Sawyer replied if you deepen the Harbor by itself yes, it will cause a problem however, as part of the Harbor deepening project they are looking at putting in oxygen injections to mitigate or offset the impact of the harbor deepening. Alderman Sprague asked as a follow up question to Alderman Shabazz is the list being presented to Council in order of effect. Mr. Sawyer replied not necessarily it depends on the water body the list is general for most water body. Alderman Sprague asked if the permit reductions have been established. Mr. Sawyer replied no because the 2% still has to be negotiated and staff hasn’t received a specific timeframe before the Federal Government will issue the TMDL. The permits expired in 2010, and the State has extended them indefinitely until the Federal Government issues the TMDL numbers. Alderman Sprague asked how other municipalities are handling the issues. Mr. Sawyer stated this is particular to the Savannah River, however, Augusta and Beaufort/Jasper are all facing the same problems and they are all working together because they do not want the Federal government which has no knowledge of what is done to come in and try to tell them how this should be done. Mayor Pro-Tem Johnson called for a recess of the Work Session to hold a Special Council meeting in Council Chambers. Executive Session Upon completion of this session, a motion was made to come out by Alderman Bordeaux, seconded by Alderman Shabazz and unanimously carried. City Manager Stephanie Cutter presented the City Manager’s Briefing of the agenda items for the Council Meeting of April 17, 2014. The agenda is attached and made a part of the permanent record. Mayor Pro-Tem Johnson adjourned this meeting. 3 Summary/Final Minutes – Work Session – April 17, 2014 Dyanne C. Reese, MMC, Clerk of Council 4