The City and SEDA wish to facilitate the preparation of a new master plan for the Savannah area in preparation for the City’s three hundredth anniversary in 2033; and the parties plan to establish a tax-exempt non-profit corporation to oversee the preparation of the plan; and the plan will include studies of the long range needs of the Savannah community in all critical areas, including but not limited to workforce development, education, infrastructure, zoning, affordable housing, homelessness, poverty reduction, economic development, and transportation; and preparation of the plan will require the coordination of many community outreach meetings, and input from all participants in the Savannah community, including residents, the business community, and neighborhood associations, and the participation of critical community partners including the Georgia Ports Authority, public and private schools, major employers, small businesses, the Airport Commission, the Chamber of Commerce, and others; and the estimated cost of the project, including the cost of professional planning consultants, is estimated to be approximately two million, five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000); and SEDA has committed to pay two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) toward the cost of the project, and other organizations and businesses have agreed to pay at least an additional one million dollars ($1,000,000); and the city has agreed to partner with SEDA and other community partners in this effort, and to pay one million dollars ($1,000,000) over two years toward the cost of the project; 

In consideration of the mutual promises contained herein, the parties agree as follows:

1. SEDA and the City will work together to develop a community process to prepare a new city master plan.  To implement this process, SEDA will form a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation to be known as “Vision 2033, Inc.,” (hereinafter, “Vision 2033”), in accordance with the governance structure outlined in this agreement.   
2. Vision 2033 will be governed by a board of directors to be composed of the following:
   • Steve Green, Chair
   • Mayor of Savannah, or his or her designee
   • City Manager of Savannah, or his or her designee
   • Member appointed by the City of Savannah
   • Chair of SEDA, or his or her designee
   • Member appointed by SEDA
   • Chair of Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, or his or her designee
   • Member appointed by Savannah Airport Commission
   • Chair of Chatham-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission, or his or her designee
3. SEDA will commit to spend $250,000 for the project, to be transferred to Vision 2033 upon its formation.  In addition, SEDA will provide initial staffing and office space for the project during the organizational stage, and form Vision 2033, retaining attorneys as necessary for this process, who will coordinate their efforts with the City Manager and City Attorney.
4. The City will commit $1 million toward the cost of the project, to be payable over 2 years in installments of $500,000 each to be paid to Vision 2033.
5. Upon its formation, Vision 2033 will receive and disburse all funds to be contributed by SEDA, the City and other community partners for implementation of the project, and it will:
   • Prepare a request for proposals or qualifications for outside planning consultants, and issue such RFP or RFQ after receiving input from the City and other community partners.
   • Establish a community advisory board, which will include representatives from a broad cross-section of the Savannah community including:
     1. Representatives of neighborhood associations appointed by the City
     2. Representatives of governmental, educational and health care institutions including Chatham County, the MPC, Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools, Savannah State, Georgia Southern, SCAD, St. Josephs/Candler, and Memorial Health
     3. Representatives of community organizations such as the United Way, NAACP, Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, and civic clubs
     4. Representatives of businesses and organizations which will donate substantial funds to, and participate in the project, such as Georgia Power, Gulfstream, Georgia Ports Authority, Colonial Oil and Comcast
     5. Coordinate all phases of the development of the plan, with the full involvement of citizens, elected officials, the business community, and neighborhood associations through the city. 
6. The City’s contribution of funds shall be payable to Vision 2033, for deposit in the special account above described in two installments of $500,000 each.  The first shall be payable on April 1, 2020.  The second shall be payable on April 1, 2021.

Approval