CITY GOVERNMENT

OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF CITY COUNCIL

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA

PRESENT: Mayor Eddie W. DeLoach, Presiding

Aldermen Carol Bell, Julian Miller, Brian Foster, Bill Durrence ,Van Johnson, II, Tony Thomas, John Hall and Estella E. Shabazz

Rob Hernandez, City Manager

Bret Bell, Assistant to the City Manager

William Shearouse, Assistant City Attorney

The regular meeting of Council was held this date at 2:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison followed by the Invocation by Mayor Pro-Tem Carol Bell.

Upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderwoman Shabazz, unanimous approval was given to amend the agenda by moving item 44, Public Hearing to Receive Comment on the 2019 Service Program and Budget, to item 12a, and by adding Item 4a, an appearance by the Rape Crisis Center.

A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND ALDERMEN OF THE CITY OF SAVANNAH AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AFFIDAVIT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.

BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah as follows:

At the meeting held on the 6^th day of December, 2018 the Council entered into a closed session for the purpose of discussing Real Estate, Litigation and Personnel. At the close of the discussions upon this subject, the Council reentered into open session and herewith takes the following action in open session:

1. The actions of Council and the discussions of the same regarding the matter set forth for the closed session purposes are hereby ratified;
2. Each member of this body does hereby confirms that to the best of his or her knowledge, the subject matter of the closed session was devoted to matters within the specific relevant exception(s) as set forth above;
3. The presiding officer is hereby authorized and directed to execute an affidavit, with full support of the Council in order to comply with O.C.G.A. §50-14-4(b); 17
4. The affidavit shall be included and filed with the official minutes of the meeting and shall be in a form as required by the statute.

ADOPTED AND APPROVED: DECEMBER 6, 2018 upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderwoman Shabazz, and unanimously carried. 

Appearance by the Rape Crisis Center to invite the Public to the 9^th Annual Reindeer Run – Doris Williams, Executive Director of the Rape Crisis Center, invited City Council and the public to the Rape Crisis Center’s second largest fundraiser, the 9^th Annual Reindeer Run, December 15^th at Hutchinson Island. Registration will begin at 7:00 a.m., the Kiddie Run will be at 8:30 a.m., and activities include a cookie contest, costume contest, and pet adoption sponsored by the Humane Society. The fundraiser supports their prevention education department and more information can be found on their website at: www.rccsav.org 

Approved upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderwoman Shabazz, and unanimously carried.

Approved upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderwoman Shabazz, and unanimously carried.

Approved upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderwoman Shabazz, and unanimously carried.

West Savannah Community President Ronald Williams introduced Bernetta Lanier, President of the Hudson Hill Community. Ms. Lanier announced the 2018 Parade Grand Marshal, Mrs. Pamela Howard Oglesby. Mrs. Oglesby said she was honored to be recognized by her own in the community, and stated that this honor means the most to her because it comes from within and from the people that she works with and that she tries to do her best for.  The Greater West Savannah Christmas Parade will be held on December 15^th and will step off at 10:00 a.m. from the Hudson Hill Park and will walk to the Moses Jackson Center.

Continued to the meeting of December 20, 2018, upon motion of Alderman Johnson, seconded by Alderman Durrence, and unanimously carried.

Alderman Hall: Mr. Mokren what will be the hours of operation?

Mark Mokren, Manager of Long Branch Saloon: 11:30 a.m. until 3:00 a.m.

Alderman Hall: Do you have a designated place for smokers?

Mr. Mokren: We have an area out back, like a big deck.

Alderman Hall: That’s the area I’m concerned about, a lot of times your patrons get a little too loud for the patrons on 40^th Street, just over the fence. I would appreciate it if you would have your patrons to lower their voices when they are back there smoking. And do you furnish music back there?

Mr. Mokren: We do, I've been back there before and you can't really hear it outside, as far as like off the property, that kind of stuff.

Alderman Hall: Well I have two people who have often complained to me from the previous owners. The residents at 2053 and 2055. I would appreciate it if you would honor their request to lower the sound back there when your patrons are back there smoking.

Mayor DeLoach: Yeah, maybe walk back there and talk to those folks and just make sure you're all on the same page.

Alderman Hall: These are retired people and I applaud you for cleaning it up. It looks great. I am the District Alderman, I represent that area and like I said, I applaud you for cleaning it up.  One of your employees is well pleased with the new ownership. He said I still work there and he gave me a raise.

Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman Hall, seconded by Alderwoman Bell, and unanimously carried.

Approved upon motion of Alderman Hall, seconded by Alderwoman Bell, and unanimously carried.

Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman Miller, seconded by Alderwoman Bell, and unanimously carried.

Approved upon motion of Alderman Miller, seconded by Alderwoman Bell, and unanimously carried.

Alderman Johnson: Mr. Mayor, these are related hearings, do they have to be held individually?

Marcus Lotson, Metropolitan Planning Commission: I think we can discuss both items together. It will just be two separate votes.

Mr. Mayor, members of Council, as I mentioned, these items, eight and nine do go together and they're related to the property at 401 Carolan and 0 Cleland Street. I'm glad to see today that there are members of the Hudson Hill Community and the West Savannah Community here, because they've been involved with this property for some time. The petitioners are requesting two things, they are requesting to amend the future land use map for these properties and they're also requesting to rezone these properties pursuant to the special exceptions portion of the zoning ordinance that requires them to provide a site plan. In that vein they had been working with the neighborhood associations probably for the better part of a year talking about this project and I think it's beginning to come to fruition now. What they're proposing is, and you're all familiar with the Clearview Property on Carolan Street and Cleland Street, it's approximately 14 acres and the petitioner is proposing to redevelop that property with multi-family and single family residential as well as with some commercial flex space. The property is currently zoned RM-25, which is a multi-family classification that permits 25 units an acre, and they're requesting RM-40, and they're also requesting I-L for the flex space. With that they're requesting two variances to their site plan, a four foot height variance from the 40 foot maximum that's permitted, and a parking variance to allow on street parking. In review of their plan, the Planning Commission did make a recommendation of approval for those two variances. I should mention that within this development, the petitioner is proposing to provide on street parking like the City has done in a number of recent occasions including Sustainable Fellwood and Savannah Gardens. We find that these types of developments can bear fewer off street spaces when on street spaces are permitted. The rezoning to the RM-40 we believe is consistent with the idea of densifying the neighborhood with more residential units. The total number of units as proposed is 307. That does not include the detached town homes that are going to be provided as well. There's 15 detached townhomes that will be part of this development that will abut Cleland Street. The Planning Commission is recommending approval of both the rezoning of the property, as well as the variances, and the amendment to the future land use designation.

Alderman Johnson: Mr. Mayor, members of Council, this is definitely what we've been in a lot of time, effort and a lot of people involved in discussing this. This is what we are saying or should be saying that we need in our community, affordable workforce housing. This is an opportunity to clean up a blighted area that's been blighted for quite some time, and had multiple owners. This is an opportunity to have a place where people can live in dignity and yet be able to afford to live there in dignity. I think that there's some other opportunities there in which we might be able to collaborate with the City of Savannah and I think those possibilities are exciting. The area, as you know, is very close to City Hall and is on a bus line so people can get to and fro and it's just a good project for so many reasons. So, I would just urge you to support this.

Alderman Hall: I just want to piggyback on what Alderman Johnson said, regardless of what area this is going to occur or what area is not sufficiently as a housing stock for affordable living. You know, this is Savannah and we all are part of this. So, I congratulate the neighborhood and the developer for coming to some good understanding about what they want and what's needed and what will be built that. Thank you.

Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman Johnson, seconded by Alderwoman Shabazz, and unanimously carried.

Approved upon motion of Alderman Johnson, seconded by Alderwoman Shabazz, and unanimously carried.

Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman Johnson, seconded by Alderwoman Shabazz, and unanimously carried.

Approved upon motion of Alderman Johnson, seconded by Alderwoman Shabazz, and unanimously carried.

Continued to the meeting of December 20, 2018, upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.

Continued to the meeting of December 20, 2018, upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.

Approved upon motion of Alderman Thomas, seconded by Alderman Hall, and unanimously carried per the City Manager's recommendation.

Ordinance read for the first time in Council December 6, 2018, then by unanimous consent of Council read a second time, placed upon its passage, adopted and approved upon a motion by Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderman Hall, and unanimously carried.

Ordinance in its entirety is on file in the Office of the Clerk of Council.

Approved upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderman Foster, and unanimously carried.

Ordinance in its entirety is on file in the Office of the Clerk of Council.

ORDINANCE

ENTITLED

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE MAYOR AND ALDERMAN OF THE CITY OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, TO AMEND THE PENSION PLAN ADOPTED AND APPROVED JUNE 8, 1972, AS AMENDED AND RESTATED, AND CODIFIED AS APPENDIX IV OF DIVISION I OF THE 2003 CITY CODE, AS AMENDED, TO CEASE PARTICIPATION FOR EMPLOYEES HIRED OR REHIRED BY THE SAVANNAH AIRPORT COMMISSION ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2019; TO ALLOW QUALIFIED DISTRIBUTIONS TO RETIRED PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS; TO INCORPORATE APPLICBLE LAW; AND TO REPEAL ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

BE IT ORDAINED by the Mayor and Alderman of the City of Savannah, Georgia, in regular meeting of Council assembled, and pursuant to lawful authority thereof, and after proper notice and advertisement in accordance with O.C.G.A. Section 36-35-3 that the Charter of the City of Savannah be amended by amending the City of Savannah Employees’ Retirement Plan (the “Plan”) as follows:

SECTION 1

A. Amend Article IV, Eligibility to Participate, is amended by adding the following new Paragraph E, Savannah Airport Commission Employees:

“E. Savannah Airport Commission Employees

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, effective January 1, 2019, Savannah Airport Commission, an agency of the City, shall cease its participation in the Plan for any employees hired or rehired by the Savannah Airport Commission on or after January 1, 2019. Further, any Participant who terminates employment with the City or any other agency participating in the Plan, including the Savannah Airport Commission, with or without a vested benefit under the Plan and is later re-employed by the Savannah Airport Commission on or after January 1, 2019, shall not be entitled to resume participation in the Plan and shall not be entitled to accrued additional Credited Service under the Plan.”

B. Amend Article III, Administration of Plan, is amended by adding the following new Paragraph D, Governing Law:

“D. Governing Law

The Plan shall be governed by the laws of Georgia, including the conformity to Federal law provisions in Article 6 of Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia, O.C.G.A. Section 47-1-80 et seq. (which are hereby incorporated herein by reference), and the Public Retirement Systems Standards Law, O.C.G.A. Section 47-20-1 et seq. It is the intent of the City that this Plan be maintained as a qualified governmental pension plan under the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, and any ambiguities in the construction hereof shall be interpreted in order to effectuate such intent.”

C. Amend Article VI, Benefits, Paragraph C, All Employees, by adding the following new Section 13:

“13. Qualified Distributions for Retired Public Safety Officers.

(a) A Participant who is an eligible retired public safety officer may elect, after separation from service, to have qualified health insurance premiums for coverage for such Participant, the Participant’s spouse, and the Participant’s dependents (as defined in Internal Revenue Code Section 152) under a City sponsored medical insurance plan deducted from amounts to be distributed from the Plan that would otherwise be includible in gross income, and to have such amounts paid directly to the insurer or group health plan. The distribution shall be excluded from the Participant’s gross income to the extent that the aggregate amount of the distribution does not exceed the lesser of the amount used to pay the qualified health insurance premiums of the Participant, the Participants spouse, and the Participant’s dependents, or $3,000, determined by aggregating all distributions with respect to the Participant that are used to pay qualified health insurance premiums from all eligible retirement plans of the City as defined in Internal Revenue Code Section 414(d).

(b) For purposes of this Section, the term “eligible retired public safety officer” means an individual who separated from service, either by reason of disability or after attainment of Normal Retirement Age, as a public safety officer with the City. For this purpose, a public safety officer generally is an individual serving the City in an official capacity, with or without compensation, as a law enforcement officer, a firefighter, a chaplain, or a member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew. Any elections and distributions made under this Section shall be made in a manner consistent with the requirements and limits contained in Internal Revenue Code Section 402(l) and any applicable guidance issued thereunder.”

SECTION 2

The City of Savannah Employees’ Retirement Plan amends set forth herein shall be effective for all purposes as of January 1, 2019.

SECTION 3

All Charter, Code provisions, Ordinances and Laws not in conflict herewith shall continue in full force and effect, but where in conflict, are hereby repealed.

ADOPTED and APPROVED: DECEMBER 6, 2018 upon motion of Alderman Hall, seconded by Alderwoman Bell, and unanimously carried.

City Manager Hernandez: Mr. Mayor, members of Council, the genesis for this particular business item before you is confusion that exists in the area surrounding the Truman Expressway, where it essentially originates at President Street. Portions of that area, although they're owned by the City of Savannah, are actually in the unincorporated area. When that property was deeded over to the City in the late 1990’s, the City's municipal boundaries were actually not amended during that time to incorporate those areas within the municipal boundaries. What this item attempts to accomplish is to number one annex the President Street Water Treatment Plant and the public right of way that is owned by the City of Savannah to include the northern terminus of the Truman Expressway, the land underneath it, the public right of way surrounding what I like to call the cloverleaf or the entrance and exit ramps to the Truman along the Bilbo Canal and along the railroad tracks. So, this particular item essentially annexes those publicly owned lands into the City of Savannah.

RESOLUTION ADOPTING A CERTIFICATE OF REMOVAL FROM THE INDUSTRIAL AREA OF CHATHAM COUNTY A PORTION OF THE TRUMAN PARKWAY RIGHT OF WAY NORTH OF PRESIDENT STREET AND THE ADJACENT CITY-OWNED PROPERTY CONTAINING THE PRESIDENT STREET TREATMENT PLANT, AND ANNEXING SUCH PROPERTIES INTO THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF SAVANNAH

Whereas, Chatham County transferred ownership of the Truman Parkway Right of Way north of DeRenne Avenue to the City of Savannah by Resolution dated January 23, 1998, and such ownership was accepted by the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah on May 7, 1998, and

Whereas, that section of the Truman Parkway right of way which is north of President Street Extension is located in an industrial area in the unincorporated section of Chatham County; and

Whereas said property is contiguous to the City of Savannah property that houses the President Street Pollution Treatment Plant (PIN 1-0368-01-001), which is also located in an industrial area in the unincorporated section of Chatham County; and

Whereas, the City of Savannah wishes to annex both parcels into the corporate bounds of the City of Savannah, and

Whereas, Article XI, Section One, Paragraph IV (e) of the Georgia Constitution, provides that the owner of land within an industrial area may voluntarily remove the property from the industrial area by filing a certificate of removal with the Clerk of the Superior Court for the county in which the property is located, and that upon filing of such certificate the property shall be annexed into the city which provides water service to the property, or if no city provides water service shall be annexed to the city providing fire service to the area; and

Whereas, the City of Savannah provides both water and fire service to the properties;

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah that upon adoption of this Resolution, the City Clerk shall file a Certificate of Removal in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A with the Clerk of Superior Court, and upon such filing, such properties shall be annexed into the corporate limits of the City of Savannah

ADOPTED and APPROVED: DECEMBER 6, 2018 upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO IMPLEMENT THE LEVEL I FREEPORT EXEMPTION ON TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH O.C.G.A 48-5-48.2 AND SETTING THE EXEMPTION RATE AT 80 PERCENT WITH THE EXEMPTION TO BE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2019.

WHEREAS, in 1976 the Georgia General Assembly enacted a statute to authorize cities and counties to exempt certain business inventories from ad valorem taxation, known as a “Freeport Exemption:” and

WHEREAS, in accordance with state law, the City of Savannah held a voter referendum on May 20, 2014, at which a majority of the municipal voters approved a Level I Freeport Exemption as defined by O.C.G.A. 48-5-48.2: and

WHEREAS, the City wishes to engender a competitive business environment for manufacturers to remain, relocate or expand their operations in the City of Savannah: and

WHEREAS, the City wishes to set the Level I Freeport Exemption to the 80% exemption level as authorized by O.C.G.A. 48-5-48.2: and

WHEREAS, the City wishes for the Level I Freeport Exemption to be effective on January 1, 2019.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah that:

Section 1: In accordance with O.C.G.A. 48-5-48.2, as it may be amended from time to time, all the following types of tangible personal property are exempted from ad valorem taxation at the rate of 80%, within the City of Savannah:

1. Inventory of goods in the process of manufacture or production which shall include all partly finished goods and raw materials held for direct use or consumption in the ordinary course of the taxpayer's manufacturing or production business in this state. The exemption provided for in this paragraph shall apply only to tangible personal property which is substantially modified, altered, or changed in the ordinary course of the taxpayer's manufacturing, processing, or production operations in this state. For purposes of this paragraph, the following activities shall constitute substantial modification in the ordinary course of manufacturing, processing, or production operations:
   1. The cleaning, drying, pest control treatment, or segregation by grade of grain, peanuts or other oil seeds, or cotton;
   2. The remanufacture of aircraft engines or aircraft engine parts or components, meaning the substantial overhauling or rebuilding of aircraft engines or aircraft engine parts or components; and
   3. The blending of fertilizer bulk materials into a custom mixture, whether performed at a commercial fertilizer blending plant, retail outlet, or any application site;
2. Inventory of finished goods manufactured or produced within this state in the ordinary course of the taxpayer's manufacturing or production business when held by the original manufacturer or producer of such finished goods. The exemption provided for in this paragraph shall be for a period not exceeding 12 months from the date such property is produced or manufactured; or
3. Inventory of finished goods which, on January 1, are stored in a warehouse, dock, or wharf, whether public or private, and which are destined for shipment to a final destination outside this state and inventory of finished goods which are shipped into this state from outside this state and stored for transshipment to a final destination outside this state, including foreign merchandise in transit. The exemption provided for in this paragraph shall be for a period not exceeding 12 months from the date such property is stored in this state. Such period shall be determined based on application of a first-in, first-out method of accounting for the inventory. The official books and records of the warehouse, dock, or wharf where such property is being stored shall contain a full, true, and accurate inventory of all such property, including the date of the receipt of the property, the date of the withdrawal of the property, the point of origin of the property, and the point of final destination of the same, if known. The official books and records of any such warehouse, dock, or wharf, whether public or private, pertaining to any such property for which a freeport exemption has been claimed shall be at all times open to the inspection of all taxing authorities of this state and of any political subdivision of this state.

Section 2: The exemption shall become effective as of January 1, 2019.

Section 3: The City Clerk is directed to transmit a copy of this resolution to the State Revenue Commissioner.

The undersigned further certifies that the above resolution has not been repealed or amended and remains in full force and effect.

ADOPTED and APPROVED: DECEMBER 6, 2018 upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried. 

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO IMPLEMENT THE LEVEL 1 FREEPORT EXEMPTION ON TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY HELD BY FULFILLMENT CENTERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH O.C.G.A. 48-5-48.2 AND SETTING THE EXEMPTION RATE AT 20 PERCENT WITH THE EXEMPTION TO BE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2019.

WHEREAS, the Official Code of Georgia Annotated Section 48-5-48.2 authorizes cities and counties to exempt certain business inventories held by fulfillment centers from ad valorem taxation, known as a “Freeport Exemption;” and

WHEREAS, in accordance with State law, the City of Savannah held a voter referendum on November 6, 2018, at which a majority of the municipal voters approved a Level I Freeport Exemption for fulfillment centers as defined by O.C.G.A 48-5-48.2; and

WHEREAS, the City wishes to engender a competitive business environment for ecommerce fulfillment centers to remain, relocate or expand their operations in the City of Savannah; and

WHEREAS, the City wishes to set the Level I Freeport Exemption for fulfillment centers to the 20% exemption level as authorized by O.C.G.A. 48-5-48.2; and

WHEREAS, the City wishes for the Level I Freeport Exemption for fulfillment centers to be effective on January 1, 2019.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah, that in accordance with O.C.G.A. 48-5-48.2, as it may be amended from time to time, all the following types of tangible personal property are exempted from ad valorem taxation at the rate of 20%, within the City of Savannah:

Stock in trade of a fulfillment center which, on January 1, are stored in a fulfillment center and which are made available to remote purchasers who may make such purchases by electronic, Internet, telephonic, or other remote means, and where such stock in trade of a fulfillment center will be shipped from the fulfillment center and delivered to the purchaser at a location other than the location of the fulfillment center.

The exemption provided for in this paragraph shall be for a period not exceeding 12 months from the date such property is stored in this state. Such period shall be determined based on application of a first-in, first-out method of accounting for the inventory. The official books and records of the fulfillment center where such property is being stored shall contain a full, true, and accurate inventory of all such property, including the date of the receipt of the property and the date of the withdrawal of the property. The official books and records of any such fulfillment center pertaining to any such property for which a freeport exemption has been claimed shall be at all times open to the inspection of all taxing authorities of this state and of any political subdivision of this state.

The exemption shall become effective as of January 1, 2019.

The City Clerk is directed to transmit a copy of this resolution to the State Revenue Commissioner.

The undersigned further certifies that the above resolution has not been repealed or amended and remains in full force and effect.

ADOPTED and APPROVED: DECEMBER 6, 2018 upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried. 

Alderwoman Shabazz: This particular item, number 19, is for resolution to impose a temporary stay of the issuance of alcoholic beverage licenses with a portion of the aldermanic districts of five and one. Mr. Mayor, if you don't mind, and members of City Council, if I can have the pleasure of inviting inside of the chancellor rail some of our leadership out of the Fifth District and also Alderman Johnson, he and I are both are coauthoring this particular item. Mr. Williams from the First District too. The reason why I'm asking them to come forward is especially with this subject of alcohol in our districts. I just want to introduce some of our leaders, our presidents are here. We first have Dr. Patricia Harris, President of Popular Place. We have one of our strong advocates in the Liberty City area, who is our President designee and representative for us today Ms. Donna Myers-Oliver. And Mr. Williams, who is not a stranger in this place who stands strong with his Alderman, Mr. Ronald Williams, from the First District. What we have here, it's been a lot of discussions, a lot of meetings with our City representatives along with the leaderships of these communities and they have said to us loud and clear that enough is enough. So, we have gotten to this point and we are so pleased Mr. City Manager with the help of the staff who has worked very, very hard to get us to this point and I just want to just make this statement on what we are about to do. This resolution is a request for a 90 day stay of the issuance of alcoholic beverages licenses and allow the portions of the Fifth District and a smaller portion of the First District to allow for the establishment of reasonable and ascertainable standards for the regulation and control of alcoholic beverages. This is the key point, control of alcoholic beverages in a manner designed to promote the health, safety and general welfare of our community. There are boundaries that has been set forth for this stay and we will be working, the staff will be working very hard to bring forth the purpose and the revisions for the Code of Ordinances to address these issues in association with the issuance of alcohol licenses to sell and to dispense beverages within the areas of the Fifth Aldermanic District and a part of the First District. So, I want to thank our leadership for coming down. I just wanted the public to know that we work hand in hand together and making sure that the citizens that we serve are being served with justice. So, thank you all so much for being here. Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion that we receive this resolution.

Alderman Johnson: Unfortunately, city governments and municipal governments across the State are in a position by State law that we have to do this. It's unfortunate and I hope as part of our legislative agenda that we're able to ask our State Delegation to help us find ways to be able to deny alcohol licenses based on density and preponderance of alcohol selling establishments in urban and commercial corridors. This will make it much easier than us dropping moratoriums in districts all over the place. I mean it's a systemic problem and it has to be fixed systemically. So, thank you very much and thank you all for your work with us as well.

City Manager Hernandez: So, I just want to be clear Mr. Mayor, so this temporary stay is for 90 days, so the termination will be midnight on March 6, 2019.

Alderman Johnson: Right, now the goal is hopefully we'll become a lot more efficient so we shouldn't have to keep renewing this, we should have something ready within 90 days.

Alderwoman Shabazz: And have this district overlay ready to go within that time.

Approved upon motion of Alderwoman Shabazz, seconded by Alderwoman Bell, and unanimously carried.

Alderman Hall: For the record, I know we voted but in that area how many establishments are there?

City Manager Hernandez: Twenty two package stores and then seven by the drink, so that would be restaurants or something like that.

Alderman Hall: How much space is that?

Bridget Lidy, Director of Planning and Urban Design: Unfortunately, I don’t have that information with me. But I will tell you that certain portions of Aldermanic District One is cemetery and just open space with canal. So, the way the boundaries were derived was working directly with both of the aldermen to look at natural boundaries, whether they were streets, railroad tracks or canals, in order to ensure we had a clear geographic boundary on how it would play out.

Alderwoman Shabazz: In some of our discussions with the neighborhood leaders, that was a discussion. Do anyone of you have that answer approximately?

Donna Myers-Oliver: I can tell you for the Liberty City community only, within a one mile radius of the Liberty City community there are now nine establishments that sell beer, wine and alcohol.

Alderwoman Shabazz: And that's a part of that 23.

Ronald Williams: In the West Savannah area, there are eleven establishments within a one mile radius that sell alcohol.

Alderman Johnson: And I dare you that if you took the same areas and you overlay that with trash, you overlay that with crime and criminal incidents, I think you'll find some congruency between those because they're connected. So, therefore, it just seems like it happens in the same areas, in the same places, and in the same corridors. And we see that the common denominator are these types of establishments that's not necessarily contributing to the neighborhoods.

Alderwoman Shabazz: And this is the reason why we get together because it happens. It's just a mirror of each other in our districts. So, this is a reason why we both are bringing this forward.

Alderman Johnson: And I do want to publicly thank Mr. Mayor, I want to thank you and Alderman Foster for meeting with us and working with us. Thank you very much.

Mr. Williams: Can I just add one thing, two thirds of domestic violence crime alcohol is involved and that's two thirds that’s reported because it's a lot that’s not reported. If you check the police records, you'll see alcohol is reported in two thirds of the crimes committed related to domestic violence.

Mayor DeLoach: Thank you all for being here. We appreciate it, thanks for all the work.

RESOLUTION IMPOSING TEMPORARY

STAY ON ISSUANCE OF ALCOHOLIC

BEVERAGE LICENSES WITHIN

CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE FIFTH AND FIRST

ALDERMANIC DISTRICTS

            WHEREAS, the Alcoholic Beverage Ordinance of 2017 declares that, inter alia, the sale of alcoholic beverages is considered to be a privilege within the City of Savannah; and

            WHEREAS, the Alcoholic Beverage Ordinance of 2017, as amended, was enacted for the purpose of establishing reasonable and ascertainable standards for the regulation and control of alcoholic beverages in a manner designed to promote the health, safety and general welfare of the community while giving effect to zoning and land use plans, preserving the residential areas with reasonable consideration for their character and with the general intent of promoting desirable living conditions and sustaining the stability of neighborhoods and property values; and

                  WHEREAS, the Mayor and Aldermen have the discretion to set forth ascertainable standards in the local licensing ordinance upon which all decisions pertaining to these licenses shall be based, in accordance with OCGA Sec. 3-3-2(a)(2); and

            WHEREAS, the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah have been presented with evidence of a proliferation of establishments possessing licenses to sell or dispense alcoholic beverages within certain portions of the Fifth and First Aldermanic Districts; and

            WHEREAS, the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah find that continued issuance of licenses to sell or dispense alcoholic beverages within certain portions of the Fifth and First Aldermanic Districts presents a condition at variance with the purpose and intent of the Alcoholic Beverage Ordinance of 2017; and

            WHEREAS, the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah have instructed the City Manager to direct staff to research and propose revisions to the Code of Ordinances to address the issues associated with the continued issuance of licenses to sell alcoholic beverages within certain portions of the Fifth and First Aldermanic Districts; and

            WHEREAS, the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah wish to temporarily pause the processing of new applications for licenses to sell or dispense alcoholic beverages submitted by persons owning or occupying real property to allow staff adequate time to research and propose amendments to the Code of Ordinances for the area situated in these boundaries:

Fifth Aldermanic District:  Bounded on the north by the centerlines of Victory Drive and Ogeechee Road (US Highway 80); on the west by the centerline of Interstate 516 (Lynes Parkway); on the south by the centerlines of Interstate 516 (Lynes Parkway) and DeRenne Avenue; and, on the east by the centerline of Montgomery Street between the centerlines of DeRenne Avenue and 61^st St and by the centerline of Bull Street between the centerlines of 61^st St and Victory Drive (US Highway 80); and

First Aldermanic District: Bounded on the south by the centerlines of Victory Drive and Ogeechee Road (US Highway 80); on the east by the centerline of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard; on the north by the centerlines of 37^th Street, 37^th Street Connector, and Interstate 16 between the centerlines of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Stiles Avenue and by the centerline of the Ogeechee Canal between the centerlines of Stiles Avenue and the Seaboard Coastline Railroad and by the centerline of the Seaboard Coastline Railroad between the centerlines of the Ogeechee Canal and Interstate 516 (Lynes Parkway); on the west by the centerline of Interstate 516 (Lynes Parkway) between the centerlines of the Seaboard Coastline Railroad and Victory Drive (US Highway 80); and

            WHEREAS, the Mayor and Aldermen deem it necessary and advisable to enact a resolution imposing a temporary stay on the processing of applications to sell or dispense alcoholic beverages in certain portions of the Fifth and First Aldermanic Districts;

            NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah that the City does hereby adopt a resolution which imposes a stay on the issuance of licenses to sell or dispense alcoholic beverages submitted by persons owning or occupying real property for a period of 90 days for the area situated in these boundaries:

Aldermanic District 5:  Bounded on the north by the centerlines of Victory Drive and Ogeechee Road (US Highway 80); on the west by the centerline of Interstate 516 (Lynes Parkway); on the south by the centerlines of Interstate 516 (Lynes Parkway) and DeRenne Avenue; and, on the east by the centerline of Montgomery Street between the centerlines of DeRenne Avenue and 61^st St and by the centerline of Bull Street between the centerlines of 61^st St and Victory Drive (US Highway 80); and

Aldermanic District 1: Bounded on the south by the centerlines of Victory Drive and Ogeechee Road (US Highway 80); on the east by the centerline of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard; on the north by the centerlines of 37^th Street, 37^th Street Connector, and Interstate 16 between the centerlines of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Stiles Avenue and by the centerline of the Ogeechee Canal between the centerlines of Stiles Avenue and the Seaboard Coastline Railroad and by the centerline of the Seaboard Coastline Railroad between the centerlines of the Ogeechee Canal and Interstate 516 (Lynes Parkway); on the west by the centerline of Interstate 516 (Lynes Parkway) between the centerlines of the Seaboard Coastline Railroad and Victory Drive (US Highway 80);

This resolution shall not apply to any person that has applied for license to sell or dispense alcohol prior to the date of the enactment of this resolution

Approved upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.

Approved upon motion of Alderman Johnson, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.

Approved upon motion of Alderman Johnson, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.

Approved upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderman Durrence, and unanimously carried.

Approved upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderman Durrence, and unanimously carried.

Approved upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderman Durrence, and unanimously carried.

Approved upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderman Durrence, and unanimously carried.

Approved upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderman Durrence, and unanimously carried.

Approved upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderman Durrence, and unanimously carried.

Approved upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderman Durrence, and unanimously carried.

Approved upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderman Durrence, and unanimously carried.

Approved upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderman Durrence, and unanimously carried.

Approved upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderman Durrence, and unanimously carried.

Approved upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderman Durrence, and unanimously carried.

Approved upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderman Durrence, and unanimously carried.

Approved upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderman Durrence, and unanimously carried.

Approved upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderman Durrence, and unanimously carried.

Approved upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderman Durrence, and unanimously carried.

Approved upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderman Durrence, and unanimously carried.

Upon motion of Alderman Durrence, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried the development agreement was approved with an amendment to extend the date to December 31, 2020.

Approved upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried per the City Manager's recommendation.

Approved upon motion of Alderman Johnson, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried per the City Manager's recommendation.

Alderman Johnson stated he wanted to give the caution he always gives about the rapidly growing area of the Highlands and the folks out there that desperately need traffic intersection and infrastructure support.

Alderman Johnson: Mr. City Manager can we define major?

City Manager Hernandez: City Attorney just advised more than three lots.

Approved upon motion of Alderman Durrence, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried per the City Manager’s recommendation.

Alderman Johnson: Mr. City Manager, if you could just delineate just some of the process that we went through that got that.

City Manager Hernandez: Mr. Mayor, members of Council, I'll just go over the process and then I'll have Mr. Joe Shearouse come to the podium if you need any more detail associated with that. So, when we brought this item back before you in late October, Council directed staff to reach out to the community to gauge if this is in fact the direction they wanted to go in. You also directed us to see if the public had any ideas for the permanent naming of this facility. With that our staff communicated with the public, we put out press releases, which were carried in all of the major media outlets, and we also conducted an online survey where we presented the members of the public four options and also allowed them to write in an option for the naming of this facility. We held that process open for about 28 days and the leading candidate for the naming of this building was the Savannah Cultural Arts Center. That's the one that seemed to have the most public support. We got a wide range of submittals to name the facility after natural persons or some other community based name. But our recommendation to you is the Savannah Cultural Arts Center.

Approved upon motion of Alderman Durrence, seconded by Alderwoman Bell, and unanimously carried per the City Manager's recommendation.

Alderman Johnson: This is a public hearing to receive comments on the 2019 service program budget. I wanted to go back just to make some clarification from you regarding the fireboat. I wanted to be clear on what you're actually proposing. It will remain in service, correct?

City Manager Hernandez: No sir, last year, really at this time of the year when you adopted the budget for FY18, City Council was very clear to staff that the fireboat was going to be taken out of service. In addition to that, you were very clear that we were going to eliminate 18 vacancies that existed at that time. It just turns out that with the 18 vacancies and the directive to remove the fireboat from service that we ended up eliminating Engine 16, which is the unit that staffs the fireboat, it is also a secondary unit assigned to one of our fire stations. So, it wasn't the main engine responding from that station. That was done really in the FY18 budget. In the FY19 budget, the budget does include an additional reduction of 15 vacant positions, which is the equivalent of another company. Whether it's a ladder truck or another rescue truck hasn't been determined yet. I will need to sit down and confer with the Fire Chief.

Alderman Johnson: So, I guess my question is in the event, and I'm still not clear, in the event that we have a ship catch fire or something on the Ports what is our plan to be able to address it?

City Manager Hernandez: So, as you know, that's a responsibility of the Port and the Port works very closely with private operators and tug boat operators and they would be the primary firefighting response at this point.

Alderman Johnson: For the Port…

City Manager Hernandez: For any ships that are on fire in the navigable waterway.

Alderman Johnson: What about in the properties on both sides.

City Manager Hernandez: So, if there's a fire on land, let's say it's on Hutchinson Island, it's a land based fire then we would continue to respond with our engine companies.

Alderman Johnson: Okay. And we will be able to maintain a four minute response time even with the cuts that you've proposed.

City Manager Hernandez: The reduction in FY19 is not to a primary response unit, so I do not believe that that will impact the primary response time.

Alderman Johnson: And the safety factor for the firefighters will be maintained?

City Manager Hernandez: I believe so. I would not be recommending anything that would place either our employees or the public in jeopardy. But let me just say this, whether it's a rescue or it's a ladder again, that's typically not the first go unit. It just means that that service is still going to be provided by another ladder or another rescue and it’s just coming from a different location. So, there might be an impact on response time.

Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman Hall, seconded by Alderman Foster, and unanimously carried.

The following appointments to boards, commissions and authorities were approved upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried:

Chatham Savannah Authority for the Homeless (CSAH)

• Alderman John Hall

Civil Service Board

• Rhonda Berrien
• David Messner

Coastal Workforce Development Board (CWDB)

• Dr. Kathy Love
• Rudolph Quarterman

Cultural Affairs Commission

• Eddie Edenfield
• Jan Kramer
• Courtnay Papy
• Anne Westbrook
• Debra Zumstein

Ethics Board

• Jose de Arimateia da Cruz
• Christian J. Steinmetz, III

Greater Savannah International Alliance (GSIA)

• Doris Cope
• Dr. Nalanda Roy
• Benn Bongang
• Jose de Arimateia da Cruz
• Edwin “Pete” Hodges
• Mark Linsky
• Mindy Shea
• Molly Swagler

Historic District Board of Review (HDBR)

• Kellie Fletcher
• Rebecca Lynch
• Ellie Isaacs
• Stan Houle

Housing Authority of Savannah (HAS)

• Wanda Parrish

Keep Savannah Beautiful (KSB)

• Jenna Bower
• Amanda Burns
• Patrick Daley
• Stacey Fuller
• Melissa Jackson
• Rachelle Jares
• Charlotte Landon
• Rocco McDonald
• Karen Miracky
• Kody Salzburn
• Jadon Whipple

Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC)

• Travis Coles
• Joseph Ervin

Park and Tree Commission

• Nicole Greenwood
• James Parker

Pilotage Commission

• William Van Puffelen

Savannah Airport Commission

• Lowell Kronowitz (unexpired term ending March 31, 2019)

Savannah-Chatham Council of Disability Issues

• Sharon Aikens
• Dr. Frank Lala
• Andrea Weldon

Savannah Recreation Commission

• Todd Rhodes, Jr.

Savannah Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA)

• Stephen Glenn Merriman, Jr.

Traffic Calming Committee

• Patrick Longstreth (District 4 appointment)
• Mable Hudson  (District 5 appointment)

Chatham Environmental Forum

•  John Sawyer

Savannah Resource Recovery Development Authority

• David Maxwell

United Way Board of Trustees

• Alderwoman Carol Bell

Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA)

• Cheri Dean

A vote was taken for the appointment to the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA) on the following applicants:

Scott Center - Motion made by Alderman Thomas, seconded by Alderman Johnson, and carried with the following voting in favor: Aldermen Miller, Foster, Johnson and Thomas. Mayor DeLoach, Aldermen Bell, Durrence, Hall and Shabazz voted against the motion. The motion failed.

Cheri Dean - Motion made by Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderwoman Shabazz, and carried with the following voting in favor: Mayor DeLoach, Aldermen Bell, Miller, Foster, Durrence, Hall and Shabazz. Aldermen Johnson and Thomas voted against the motion. 

Continued to the meeting of December 20, 2018, upon motion of Alderwoman Bell, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Alderman Miller announced that a celebration of the reduction in the poverty rate in Savannah recently announced would be held on December 19^th at 2:00 p.m. at the Civic Center.  All organizations involved in this effort would be invited to participate and celebrate in this amazing success story, as well as rejuvenate their efforts, because we need to keep working and work even harder now.

Alderwoman Shabazz discussed the various efforts of City Council over the past few years that have contributed to this success, including the job fairs sponsored by the Mayor, the Summer 500 program for our youth, and her work with the Connecting the Dots initiative to bring services and those in need together.  She applauded the efforts of Council, staff, local agencies, and persons in the community, and asked them not to set back on these efforts, but to continue this work to lower the percentage rate as Savannah’s is still higher than the state’s, which is 16%.

Alderwoman Bell thanked all of the agencies across the county, including organizations, clubs, churches, and universities, as this has been a collaborative approach.  It was really gusty to put it in the City’s strategic plan that we wanted to reduce our poverty rate by 1% each year, so this reduction is awesome.  She would like to do a roll call at the celebratory event.

Mayor DeLoach reminded everyone that one in five are still in poverty and we need to keep working on that.

Mayor DeLoach reminded everyone that tomorrow is December 7^th, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, and asked everyone to thank a military person out there for what they do to keep us moving forward as a country.

Alderwoman Bell invited the public to attend the ribbon cutting of The Front Porch, formerly called the MARC, on December 11^th at 1:30 p.m. at 2203 Abercorn Street.  The Front Porch is geared toward keeping our youth out of the criminal justice system.

Alderman Thomas invited everyone to the ribbon cutting of the Sweetwater Fire Station tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. at which our new Director of Fire Services Mark Revenew will be present. 

Alderman Thomas announced Alderman Van Johnson has been named Chairman of the National League of Cities Advisory Council. 

There being no further business, Mayor DeLoach declared this meeting of Council adjourned.

The video recording of the Council meeting can be found by copying and pasting the below link in your url:

https://savannahgovtv.viebit.com/player.php?hash=MNgoy69wN9hr