City Council

Budget Retreat Summary/Final Minutes – November 18-19, 2015 SAVANNAH CITY COUNCIL BUDGET RETREAT SUMMARY/FINAL MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, November 18, 2015 PRESENT: Mayor Edna Jackson, Presiding Mayor Pro-Tem Van Johnson, II Alderman Tony Thomas, Chairman of Council Alderman Mary Osborne, Vice-Chairman of Council Aldermen Mary Ellen Sprague, John Hall, Tom Bordeaux, Estella Shabazz, Alderman Carol Bell City Manager Stephanie Cutter City Attorney W. Brooks Stillwell The City of Savannah Budget Hearing began on November 18, 2015 at the New Ebenezer Retreat Center located in Rincon, GA. Mayor Jackson welcomed Council and staff. Wednesday, November 18, 2015 9:00AM Breakfast 10:00AM Retreat Kick-off……………………………………………………….........Edna Jackson, Mayor 10:05AM Purpose of Budget Retreat………………………………………….Stephanie S. Cutter, City Manager 10:10AM 2015 Financial Update………………………………………….………..David Maxwell, Chief Financial Officer 10:45AM 2016 Budget Overview……………………………………………….Stephanie S. Cutter, City Manager 11:00AM Break 11:15AM Details of 2016 Revenue Budget…………………………………………David Maxwell, Chief Financial Officer 11:30AM Details of 2016 Expense Budget……….................................................Melissa D. Carter, Budget Director 12:15PM Lunch 1:15PM 2016-2020 Capital Plan Budget Overview…………Stephanie S. Cutter, City Manager Melissa D. Carter, Budget Director 2:00PM Break 2:15PM Bureau Presentations 1  Budget Retreat Summary/Final Minutes – November 18-19, 2015  Management Services Bureau………………….…………………..Sean Brandon, Bureau Chief  Development and Environmental Services………………………..…Pete Shonka, Assistant City Manager  Public Works & Water Resources Bureau…………...……………...John Sawyer, Bureau Chief  Sanitation Bureau…………………………………………..……..…Gene Prevatt, Bureau Chief 3:30PM Council Direction to City Staff & Wrap-Up……………….......................Edna Jackson, Mayor 4:00PM Adjourn Parking Lot Issues Day 1  Evaluate the number of cases in Recorders Court  Assess benefit of bonding additional projects for savings while interest rates are low  Evaluate the effectiveness of services provided in current year during budget process  Evaluate need for Strategic Plan Document  Possible millage rate increase dedicated to public safety  Suggested SCMPD Policy Committee meet before adoption of budget to discuss merger contract and additional police officers  Explore internship opportunities between Armstrong University (Criminal Justice Program, others) and the City in Public Safety  Explore internship program for students in technical school programs  Unpaid internships to increase opportunities available  ROWs to be maintained equally regardless of location  List of all grants received by the City of Savannah in FY15 provided to Council, $ received  Development plan for the enforcement of new curfew ordinance on parking lot  Dedicated staff for seeking grant opportunities  Proactively collect all parking citations  City Hall Maintenance and Renovation Funding, Interior and Exterior  Continue to explore funding needs and revenue sources for police take home vehicles  Explore feasibility of adding streetlights that include camera and ShotSpotter capabilities (NLC Best Practice)  Expansion of Street Camera network  Consider funding additional needed Waters Avenue Streetscape improvements with bonds  Additional surveillance cameras throughout the City, not only in downtown area  Highlight number of new businesses on SGTV and in media  Report showing complaints on time to receive permit approval  Increased outreach to businesses to inform them about the assistance they can receive through the Business Approval Coordinator  Use SGTV to convey information about how to apply for permits, etc. 2  Budget Retreat Summary/Final Minutes – November 18-19, 2015  Continuous youth programming at Community Centers after senior programs Mayor Jackson declared this meeting of Council adjourned. SAVANNAH CITY COUNCIL BUDGET RETREAT SUMMARY/FINAL MEETING MINUTES Thursday, November 19, 2015 PRESENT: Mayor Edna Jackson, Presiding Mayor Pro-Tem Van Johnson, II Alderman Tony Thomas, Chairman of Council Alderman Mary Osborne, Vice-Chairman of Council Aldermen Mary Ellen Sprague, John Hall, Carol Bell Tom Bordeaux, Estella Shabazz City Manager Stephanie Cutter City Attorney W. Brooks Stillwell The City of Savannah Budget Hearing resumed on November 19, 2015 at the New Ebenezer Retreat Center located in Rincon, GA. Mayor Jackson called the meeting to order and welcomed Council and staff. Thursday, November 19, 2015 8:00AM Breakfast 9:00AM Opening Remarks………………………………………………...….Stephanie S. Cutter, City Manager 9:05AM Bureau Presentations  Community & Economic Development Bureau………………....Taffanye Young, Bureau Chief  Leisure Services Bureau & Cultural Contributions……………………...………………………Joe Shearouse, Bureau Chief  Savannah Fire & Emergency Services……………………...…Charles Middleton, Fire Chief  Police Bureau……………………………………………………Joseph Lumpkin, SCMPD 12:00PM Lunch 1:00PM Social Services Contributions……………………………………….Melissa D. Carter, Budget Director 1:30PM Youth Futures Authority……………………………………………..Edward Chisolm, Executive Director 2:00PM Step Up Savannah……………………………………………..…..…..Suzanne Donovan, 3  Budget Retreat Summary/Final Minutes – November 18-19, 2015 Executive Director 2:30PM Break 2:45PM Proposed Utility Funding Plans…..…………………………………..David Maxwell, Chief Finance Officer  Water & Sewer, I&D  Sanitation 3:45PM Council Direction to City Staff & Wrap-Up……………….......................Edna Jackson, Mayor 4:30PM Adjourn Parking Lot Issues Day 2  The City needs a multi-year comprehensive Strategic Plan  Designated administrative support for Council needed Public Works  Explore possibility of using prisoner work programs for grass cutting and other City work  Send outline to Council concerning lane cleaning/clearing responsibility and related ordinances  Recommendation to Council on Traffic Calming Policy  Incorporate traffic calming in development plans when possible (New Hampstead area project as example)  Provide feasibility analysis next year regarding cost of spray patcher vs traditional pothole repair crew  Halogen street lighting still exists – LED upgrade is not 100% complete  Grease trap solution needed in area of McDonough’s Restaurant  Gateways require cleanup improvements- 516 and I95 up to Keller’s Flea Market  Cost analysis of prisoner work program, research other GA cities (Columbus, Augusta, Bryan County)  Work with Chatham-Savannah Homeless Authority on cleanup efforts at Gateways. What are the plans? Speak with Cindy Murphy Kelley.  Reallocation of resources saved by using spray patcher to mowing efforts, canal and ditch maintenance (Kensington Park, Bacon Park, Carver Village) Sanitation  Recommendation to Council – What can we do to combat delays and extensions given in Code Enforcement?  Present Action Plan to Council for filling Property Maintenance vacancies, including Director  Derelict Rental Ordinance program update  Engage Judge Stokes concerning Livability Court, Charleston Plan as example 4  Budget Retreat Summary/Final Minutes – November 18-19, 2015  Enforce yard parking and median parking portion of ordinance  Expand efforts to recognize those wishing to participate in adopt-a-street program with signage.  Follow-up with Council on initiation of Adopt-A-Street Program. Look at best practices from other cities (Augusta, GA)  Work with neighborhood associations to encourage neighborhoods to adopt their streets.  Incentives/Competitions in public schools to encourage citizen participation in clean-up efforts. Recognition programs for neighborhoods.  Bring back recognition program for outstanding neighbors – Carol Lasell  Community and Economic Development  Provide list of all City owned properties to Council  Outreach to public and private schools for all youth programs  Reinitiate the Neighborhood Block Grant Program using non-CDBG funding, pilot program  Explore partnership with Chamber of Commerce to fund youth programs that benefit Chamber partners  Partner with Savannah Urban Gardeners Association (SUGA) Leisure Services  Bee Road Walking Trail – Provide project schedule  Provide results of property ownership investigation related to the Bee Road Passive Park to Council  Ribbon Cutting ceremony to be planned for tree planting (Alderman Thomas)  Supervised programming for youth to be available in Neighborhood Centers. Partner with school system and volunteers  Provide copy of memo concerning youth investment to Council  Two trees on 52nd Street between Bull and Montgomery need to be removed. Provide response if removal is not possible. Possibility to plant new trees?  Concept/Plan to be presented to Council with comprehensive recommendation (Park and Tree, Public Safety, Public Works, additional stakeholders)  Presentation to Council to educate on tree removal policy  Maintenance of Palm Trees on Victory Drive and azalea bushes  Victory Drive Palm Trees need to be protected as they are a living monument. Continue to work with GDOT. Add issue to legislative agenda. Trees deserve a marker for historical significance. SCMPD  Increase motorcycle patrol and visibility  Closely monitor UNIT, put safe guards in place to ensure proper oversight  Use reverse 911 system to inform residents when crimes occur in specific targeted areas  Provide incentives/funding to encourage neighborhoods to participate in National Night Out events  Repeal of Safe Carry Protection Act should be on legislative agenda  Investigate staffing system that would allow for standard schedules (all nightshift, etc.) 5  Budget Retreat Summary/Final Minutes – November 18-19, 2015 Unspent 2015 funding for Police Athletic League ($15k) to be redirected to youth leagues for equipment SCMPD cont.  Look into enhanced benefit package for public safety officers when injured Youth Futures Authority  Report summer youth program outcomes (data from school system) to Council  CM to follow-up with Council Step Up  Consider partnering with credit union on lifeline loan program for employees  Facilitate discussion amongst community partners on how to reduce poverty rate in 2016—City should be a participant but not act as the leader.  Social Services  Navy League funding to be reinstated-$6,000 even allocation to 2015  Revisit Eastside Concerned Citizens, Inc. funding  Block grant funding for neighborhoods in each district. Neighborhoods would need to be part of City-recognized Neighborhood Association. Park and Tree offers one program.  Further discussion of Savannah Children’s Choir. Provide what their score would be per criteria.  Homeless Authority contract to provide funding at 25% per allocation  Recommendation to reduce Savannah Children’s Choir allocation to $10,000, reevaluate at end of 2016.  Staff to provide recommendation where $30,000 reduction from Savannah Children’s Choir allocation could be reallocated.  Investigate creating a certified (501c3) youth sports team program that could receive City grants  Water, Sewer, and Funding Plans  Advertise Savannah’s low utility rate increases as compared to the rest of the country. Use the USA Today article as an example. Perhaps a statement could be included on utility bills.  Provide council with comparison of base utility/sanitation rates vs other cities during new council orientation.  How does rate increase affect Water/Sewer rates for Senior Citizens. Mayor Jackson declared this meeting of Council adjourned. Dyanne C. Reese, MMC Clerk of Council 6