City Council

OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF SAVANNAH CITY COUNCIL MEETING January 5, 2016 CITY GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF CITY COUNCIL SAVANNAH, GEORGIA January 5, 2016 Pursuant to the following call the Inauguration of the newly elected City Council was held this date at 7:00 p.m. in the Johnny Mercer Theatre of the Savannah Civic Center: City of Savannah 2016 Inauguration The Honor of your presence is requested for the Inauguration of The Honorable Eddie Wayne DeLoach And The Honorable Members of the Savannah City Council On Tuesday the Fifth of January Two Thousand Sixteen at seven o’clock in the evening The Savannah Civic Center - Johnny Mercer Theatre Reception and Ball following the Inauguration Black Tie Optional Civic Center Mezzanine and Ballroom Present: Sonny Dixon, Presiding Eddie Wayne DeLoach, Mayor-Elect Aldermen-Elect: Carolyn H. Bell Bill Durrence Brian Foster John Hall Van R. Johnson, II Julian Miller Estella E. Shabazz Tony Thomas The Inauguration Program began with Sonny Dixon introducing the Neighborhood Association and Cultural Community of Savannah participants in a procession and a poetry tribute by Patt Gunn, Master Storyteller. The Welcome was given by host Sonny Dixon, Retired lead anchor of “WTOC PRIME” followed by the Introductions of the City of Savannah Aldermen-elect and The Honorable Mayor-elect. The Presentation of Colors was presented by Benedictine Military School under the direction of Colonel Richard LaRossa followed by the singing of the “National Anthem” by Huxsie Scott. 1  OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF SAVANNAH CITY COUNCIL MEETING January 5, 2016 Sonny Dixon: It gives me great pleasure to introduce Mrs. Dyanne C. Reese, Clerk of Council for the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah. Mrs. Reese has been with the City since 1969 and has been serving as Clerk of Council since 1985. This coming, April, she will be recognized by City Council for 40 years in the Office of the Clerk of Council. Please welcome Mrs. Reese. Dyanne Reese: "Thank you Mr. Dixon. Good evening, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. It is now my privilege and honor to call this official meeting of The Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah to order. (strikes gavel) In keeping with the dignity of this ceremony, please turn off your cell phones and pagers, no cameras, or video equipment is allowed during the ceremony. Thank you. I bring you greetings on behalf of the incoming Savannah City Council members and extend their thanks to you for taking time to be with them tonight as we mark the beginning of a new era of leadership in Savannah City government. Our city has had a Council- Manager form of government since March 1951, with the Mayor being the chief elected official and the City Manager being the Chief Appointed Official. We thank you for taking part in this democratic process of the installation services for our newly elected City Council. Those returning Council members have a combination of 40 years of public service to the City of Savannah. There are five returning Aldermen, Tony Thomas with 16 years; Van Johnson with 12 years; Carolyn Bell with 4 years, John Hall with 4 years and Estella Edwards Shabazz with 4 years. This newly elected Administration welcomes three new Council members. Aldermen-elect Brian Foster, At-Large Post 2, who is a retired banker; Bill Durrence, District 2 a retired photographer, and Julian Miller, District 4, a retired publisher and SCMPD Public Relations Officer. Mayor-elect DeLoach is no stranger to local government or public service. He served on the Chatham County Commission representing District 7 from 1992 to 2000. He is the owner of Tidewater Landscape. I along with the City Manager, City Attorney and City Staff look forward to working with him and the other members of City Council. As you can see, you have elected an experienced, diverse and dedicated team of public servants. I now ask that you stand as the Reverend Terry Johnson, Pastor of the Independent Presbyterian Church delivers the Invocation." A musical tribute was performed by the Savannah Children’s Choir under the direction of Mr. Roger Moss. The Oath of Office for Savannah City Council was administered as follows: To perform the official Administration of the Oath of Office, we have truly cleared the Judicial Bench: The Honorable John E. Morse, Jr., will administer the Oath of Office to Aldermen-elect Van Johnson; the Honorable Louisa Abbot, will administer the Oath of Office to Alderman- elect Julian Miller; the Honorable Penny Freesemann will administer the Oath of Office to Alderman-elect Bill Durrence; the Honorable Lisa Goldwire Colbert will administer the Oath of Office to Alderman-elect Estella E. Shabazz; the Honorable Willie T. Yancey will administer the Oath of Office to Alderman-elect John Hall; the Honorable Harris O’Dell, will administer the Oath of Office to Alderman-elect Brian Foster; the Honorable Ron Ginsberg will administer the Oath of Office to Alderman-elect Carolyn H. Bell; and the Honorable Tammy Stokes will administer the Oath of Office to Alderman-elect Tony Thomas. The Honorable LeRoy Burke, III, led the ceremony and the Aldermen-elect repeated after him adding their names 2  OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF SAVANNAH CITY COUNCIL MEETING January 5, 2016 CITY OF SAVANNAH ) COUNTY OF CHATHAM ) I, STATE YOUR NAME, SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL WELL AND TRULY PERFORM THE DUTIES OF ALDERMEN OF THE CITY OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, WITH THE BEST OF MY SKILL AND ABILITIES, AND AS TO ME SHALL SEEM TO BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS AND WELFARE OF THE CITY WITHOUT FEAR, FAVOR OR AFFECTION: SO HELP ME, GOD. SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED BEFORE ME THIS 5th DAY OF JANUARY, 2016. HONORABLE ATTEST: A musical tribute was performed by Miss Ami Palmer, a Junior at Islands High School for a Musical Tribute accompanied by Ms. Mary Scarborough. Alderman Van Johnson was introduced by Sonny Dixon to respond on behalf of Council: Mayor DeLoach, Mayor Jackson, Mayor Johnson, former Savannah City Council members, to elected colleagues from other governments, our citizens, our employees & particularly our family members and friends from near and far - I am honored to represent my colleagues on the City Council this evening for the 2016 Inauguration Ceremonies for the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah. This ceremony, this process, is the hallmark of our democratic society and our way of life - the peaceful, orderly transition of authority and responsibility from one group to another and this is what differentiates us from other nations and other societies around the world many of which accomplish the same change in administration in much more violent and much more unproductive ways. This evening marks the end of one of the most vigorous, contentious, heavily debated electoral processes in our City's recent history, think of the numbers, 28 candidates, 9 seats, over 6 months consumed this City and finally, after forum, after forum, after forum, after forum, after forum, after forum, with a few debates sprinkled in, the people have spoken and therefore, I have news for you this evening – THE CAMPAIGNS ARE OVER AND THE ELECTION IS OVER. It is now time to govern. 3  OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF SAVANNAH CITY COUNCIL MEETING January 5, 2016 It is time now to galvanize our glee, our anger, our excitement, our disappointment, our happiness, our resentment against one common enemy: Anyone or anything that is in the way of Savannah being a safe, environmentally healthy, economically thriving community for ALL of its citizens. I’m sure you can agree with that. And ALL should mean ALL. This is a difficult process. It is not easy, but it is one that Savannah has been engaged in for the past 20 years. We may not always agree. You will see disagreement, hopefully dignified, you will see impassioned arguments and often differences in opinion - but that is what you sent us here for - to fight for you, to advocate for you, to serve you. And in the final analysis, none of us can be successful unless ALL of us are successful in representing our respective districts and City So Alderman Thomas, Alderman Bell, Alderman Hall and Alderman Shabazz, I look forward to continuing to work with you. And to Alderman Foster, Alderman Durrence and Alderman Miller under the leadership of Mayor Eddie DeLoach and we will need your help and I look forward to working with you as well. This unique time in our City's history provides us the opportunity to finally, finally deal with the elephant in the room and cross the bridge of racism and traverse the gulf of class-ism in Savannah. Let us remember what we are capable of. Our humanity, our very existence is inextricably tied to each other and when one hurts, we should all hurt. As 16 is the spiritual number of love, if we can't commit to love in 2016, we can certainly commit to caring, and if we can commit to caring, we can continue to move the needle in a positive direction in every measurable statistical category in this City. Whether it be a mother who has lost her son to a violent act or to a business that is struggling to keep its doors open. We can do this. We certainly can. We need to love. We need to care. We have to stop shooting each other on the streets and we have to stop assassinating each other on social media as well. For bullets kill and words maim. We must commit ourselves to elevating the voices of the unheard. 4  OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF SAVANNAH CITY COUNCIL MEETING January 5, 2016 Within blocks of here, are the places where 15 million visitors from all over the world visit annually. THEY MATTER! Within blocks of here, are neighborhoods where people want to live in safe surroundings and raise their children to be responsible self-sufficient adults. THEY MATTER! Within blocks of here, are people who live in homeless shelters or underneath the interstate. THEY MATTER! Within blocks of here, are people who work every day and yet ends won't meet. THEY MATTER! Within blocks of here, are people who have not had a decent meal in days. THEY MATTER! Within blocks of here are young people who are disconnected and feel that Savannah is not their City. THEY MATTER! Within blocks of here are young men and women who have paid their debt to society and are returning home from prisons and jails and we need to be like the father of the prodigal son and welcome them home. THEY MATTER! YOU MATTER TOO! For if we are to be all that we can be, what God has destined us to be, the City set on top of the hill with its lights shining into the darkness then we must do it and we can only do it together. Individually, we are fractured. Collectively, we are unstoppable. Individually, we are ineffective. Collectively, we can continue forward progress in this City. Pray for us, work with us as we look forward to serving you. May God bless you and may God bless Savannah! A musical selection was performed by Mary Katherine Shearouse accompanied by Ms. Bernadette Winters. The Honorable Judge LeRoy Burke, Chatham County Chief Juvenile Court Judge came forward to administer the Oath of Office to Mayor-elect Eddie Wayne DeLoach, his wife, Cynthia DeLoach, held his father’s Bible for him as he took his oath. CITY OF SAVANNAH ) COUNTY OF CHATHAM ) I, STATE YOUR NAME, SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL WELL AND TRULY PERFORM THE DUTIES OF MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, WITH 5  OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF SAVANNAH CITY COUNCIL MEETING January 5, 2016 THE BEST OF MY SKILL AND ABILITY, AND AS TO ME SHALL SEEM TO BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS AND WELFARE OF THE CITY WITHOUT FEAR, FAVOR OR AFFECTION: SO HELP ME, GOD. SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED BEFORE ME THIS 5th DAY OF JANUARY, 2016. HONORABLE ATTEST: The Honorable Eddie Wayne DeLoach, Mayor of the City of Savannah gave the following Inaugural Address: Thank you all. Mayor Jackson, Mayor Johnson, Alderman, elected officials, special guest, and most importantly my fellow citizens “welcome to the inauguration of the 2016 Savannah City Council”. It is an honor to stand before you as your Mayor. The peaceful transition of power is what makes our country great, and with that being said I would like to thank Mayor Jackson for her 16 years of dedicated service to our beloved Savannah. Her direction during this transition period has been extremely helpful. I would also like to thank my amazing wife Cynthia. Her love and support is what drives me to be the best man I can be. Most importantly I must thank my fellow citizens for giving me this great honor. When great responsibility is bestowed upon a people, they should look to their elders to seek guidance and seek examples of virtue and moral strength. Savannah had such a, James Edward Oglethorpe to look to for direction and inspiration. He is Savannah's founder. Oglethorpe was born in London in 1696, spent time in the military, and was elected to Parliament in his mid-20s. Had he remained in England we probably would have never heard of him. But at a key moment in the early 1730s, moved by a reformer's impulse to do something that would make a difference in the world and that would last far beyond him, he was instrumental in securing a charter for a venture that turned out to be the last British colony in mainland North America. He then personally led a small band of people here to Georgia to plant the King's standard. We are still here, in no small part because of this extraordinary man who had leadership skills, courage, the heart of a true humanitarian, and above all, a vision that sees far beyond one's own time and place. He saw a great city rising here, with unique physical characteristics, and she remains, perhaps the most vibrant living monument to a man and his vision. In James Oglethorpe's Savannah we see the living embodiment of the Latin phrase carpe diem: seize the day, and did he ever. And now it is our turn. The scriptures tell us that to whom much has been given, much is required. I stand here today fully aware of that burden, and as Savannah's new mayor, I welcome it. The citizens of Savannah have placed their trust in us and we must not fail them. The stakes are too high for failure. 6  OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF SAVANNAH CITY COUNCIL MEETING January 5, 2016 I am not here to represent white Savannah or black Savannah, or Ardsley Park, or the west, east or south side. I am here to represent and work for all of Savannah. John Adams said that for American independence to succeed in 1776, thirteen clocks all had to strike at the same time. This is still true for our city. Savannah cannot succeed unless we all move forward together. Like General Oglethorpe, what we need now is a vision that sees far beyond one's own time and place. We face great challenges related to crime, education, and economic opportunity. We live in a time of great uncertainty, unsettledness, and fear, both in our city and in our country. Our world is changing in ways that we sometimes struggle to understand. Yes, we have great problems to solve, but we are a great people. President Kennedy once said "… Our problems are manmade—therefore, they can be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants..." The solutions to our problem still depends on us working together. The decisions we make, the paths we choose will have a tremendous impact on the destiny of our city. We must therefore work together with a common purpose. We must unite ourselves to the task at hand. There is no time for looking backward or nursing old grudges. Our city is one of the most beautiful destinations in the world for both tourists and newcomers alike. Savannah is constantly attracting new and talented people who choose to come here and live and whose entrepreneurial spirit and energy help sustain our city's greatness. Our port is thriving and brings the commerce of the globe to our doors. We have cultural and educational institutions here that would be the envy of any city in the world. Our problems, pale in comparison to those faced by earlier generations, who faced revolution, civil war, depression, world wars, and the struggles of desegregation and civil rights. Our history should inspire us to look to the future and the challenges we face with hope and renewed strength. From General Oglethorpe to Mother Matilda Beasley to Mac Maclean to WW Law, we stand on the shoulders of giants. We are not helpless, and we are not afraid. We will solve our cities problems, and we will do it together. Sonny Dixon: Thanked Mayor DeLoach stating our city is proud to have him serve as Mayor for the next four years. A Musical selection was rendered by Huxsie Scott. Following Ms. Scott’s selection, Mr. Dixon stated we are fortunate to have a number of very special guests present this evening, asking the audience to join him in welcoming them. He asked Former Mayor Otis Johnson to join him on stage. Mayor Johnson gave brief words of encouragement to Mayor DeLoach. Mr. Dixon then asked Former Mayor Edna Branch Jackson to join them on stage and asked Mayor Johnson to introduce her. Mayor Jackson gave words of encouragement to Mayor DeLoach and Council wishing them a successful four years. Following the acknowledgements the ecumenical benedictions were delivered by The Reverend G. Lind Taylor, Pastor First Congressional; The Reverend Nell Bordeaux, Outreach and New Member Pastor at Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church; Reverend Morris Brown, Pastor of Metro Savannah Baptist Church; Father John Lyons, Pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic 7  OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF SAVANNAH CITY COUNCIL MEETING January 5, 2016 Church; Imam Maajid F. Ali, Masjid Jihad, Inc.; Rabbi Haas, Congregation Mickve Israel Synagogue; and Dr. Herb Hubbard, Senior Pastor Bible Baptist Church Dyanne Reese, Clerk of Council came up to close the meeting by announcing the first regular scheduled meeting of your newly installed Savannah City Council will be held Thursday, January 7, at 2:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the City Hall. You are all invited to attend. She thanked Mr. Sonny Dixon for hosting this celebration along with all the other program participants. Mrs. Reese added at the close of this meeting, one hour has been set aside for you to greet your newly elected City Council members in a Receiving Line in the lobby outside the theatre. Please remain at your seat until the end of Council’s procession, followed by the Cultural Community and Neighborhood Association representatives. The host and hostesses will assist, if needed, thank you. Mrs. Reese then asked Mayor DeLoach, is there any further business to bring before this Council?” Mayor DeLoach thanked Mrs. Reese, staff and volunteers for their assistance in putting together a wonderful ceremony. There being no further business, Mayor DeLoach declared this meeting of Council adjourned. Dyanne C. Reese, MMC Clerk of Council 8