June 22, 2017 City Council Regular Meeting (Amended June 20, 2017)
Title
Motion to Accept Recommendations from Berkshire Advisors, Inc.’s Report of a Police Department Management Study and Development of an Evidence Based Funding Formula
Description

In March 2016 the Savannah City Council and Chatham County Board of Commissioners approved an interim agreement for the management and funding of the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department. The agreement also directed the City and County to contract with a professional law enforcement consultant to:

  • Provide assistance and guidance in the collection, analysis and interpretation of relevant data, best practices, benchmarks and performance measures
  • Document existing and needed Police services within the Unincorporated County and the City of Savannah
  • Develop an evidence-based formula to fairly allocate costs of the SCMPD
  • Develop accountability standards for SCMPD

The City and County jointly participated in a procurement process that selected Berkshire Advisors to develop this report and cost allocation formula. Representatives from the City and County then actively participated for nearly a year with Berkshire to develop the report. The report was presented to the City Council and County Commission on May 2, 2017.

Approval would:

  • Formally accept the Berkshire Advisors Report 
  • Formally adopt the evidence-based funding formula recommended by Berkshire, and direct the City Manager to allocate SCMPD costs using this formula
  • Direct the City Manager to bill Chatham County for underpayment of costs since January 1, 2016, as specified in the intergovernmental agreement
  • Direct the City Manager to develop a three-year phase-in plan for a 7-minute response time standard for Priority 1 calls for service
  • Establish that improvements to the E-911 Communications Center are a high priority
  • Develop a cost-recovery mechanism for communications and specialized response units
Recommendation

Approval

Contact
Rob Hernandez, City Manager
Financial Impact
Review Comments
Attachments
Berkshire Final Report.pdf
Police Services Study Presentation to City Council - June 15, 2017.pdf
061217-police-chief-management-response-to-police-services-study.pdf
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