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CITY GOVERNMENT
OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF CITY COUNCIL
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA
PRESENT: Mayor Eddie W. DeLoach, Presiding [stepped out from 2:05 until 2:25]
Aldermen Carol Bell [presided from 2:05 until 2:25], Julian Miller, Bill Durrence, Van Johnson, Tony Thomas, John Hall, Estella E. Shabazz
Absent: Aldeman Brian Foster
Rob Hernandez, City Manager
Brooks Stillwell, City Attorney
William Shearouse, Assistant City Attorney
Jennifer Herman, Deputy 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 Alderman Carol Bell.
Mayor DeLoach: Alright. It’s great to see everybody and it’s a great day in the City of Savannah. I did want to mention the Brian’s out today having surgery and he won't be with us today, so our prayers are with him. Hopefully everything comes out fine.
Alderman Bell: I move that we amend the agenda to add the approval of an appointment to DSA to the beginning of the agenda which would be item number 2.1 right before the Presentations.
Mayor DeLoach: Motion all in favor. Opposed? Hearing none it carries.
Alderman Bell: Today, Council held an Executive Session for the purposes of discussing Litigation, Real Estate and Personnel where no votes were taken. I move that we authorize the Mayor to sign a Resolution and an Affidavit to that effect.
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 1st day of February, 2018 the Council entered into a closed session for the purpose of discussing Real Estate, Personnel and Litigation. At the close of the discussions upon this subject, the Council reentered into open session and herewith takes the following action in open session:
- The actions of Council and the discussions of the same regarding the matter set forth for the closed session purposes are hereby ratified;
- 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;
- 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
- 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: FEBRUARY 1, 2018 upon motion of Alderman Bell, seconded by Alderman Shabazz, and unanimously carried.
Appointmen to the Downtown Savannah Authority
Alderman Bell: Mr. Mayor. I move for the approval of Ted Kleisner to serve on the… is it an unfinished term?
City Attorney Stillwell: Downtown. No it’s a term that that had expired to the Downtown Savannah Authority.
Alderman Bell: Okay so I move for the approval of the appointment of Ted Kleisner to serve on the Downtown Savannah Authority.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Bell, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Bell, seconded by Alderman Shabazz, and unanimously carried.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Bell, seconded by Alderman Shabazz, and unanimously carried.
Dr. Cheryl Dozier, President Savannah State University: Good afternoon to our honored City Council we are just so pleased to be here and to our Mayor in his absence and Mayor Pro-Tem. We just want to come once again and share with you that it is the first day of February and as Carter G. Woodson said, and as he proclaimed, February is Black Heritage Month. And in this great City of Savannah where our heritage emanates from a long history we are proud to join with the Director of Cultural Affairs Ms. Eileen Baker as well as Savannah State University and our tradition of partnering with the City in celebrating the 29th Annual Savannah Black Heritage Festival. The theme this year is Celebrating the Dynamics of Cultures and Shared Experiences. We are excited because as the President of Savannah State we know that passing on knowledge and sharing we say now Savannah say we are full steam ahead. Steam including the arts and culture not just the STEM and education but the arts is so important in this community. So more than ever we are called to share the diverse history and the culture of our citizens. This year's festival highlights include a number of activities that you are used to annually and then again some new ones that's going to welcome others to our community to enjoy in. These festivities as we do each year, we engage with persons of all ages and call upon our youth because they are our future. So to share more about the festival and the activities that we have ahead is our Chair Mrs. Shirley James and she will tell you what's ahead for this phenomenal three weeks or more of great activities in the great City of Savannah. Also, with me today is the Vice President of University Advancement for Savannah State University who's representing us as well.
Mrs. James: Thank you Dr. Dozier and good afternoon to our Mayor in absentia, to our Mayor Pro Tem, to our City Councilmen, Administrative staff of the City, and most of all to our great citizens. It's always a pleasure to come before you and I come again to extend the formal invitation to you and our fellow citizens too, as well as our visitors, to attend activities and performances that will be presented during our 29th Annual Savannah Black Heritage Festival which is scheduled February 1 through 18 of this year. As mentioned our theme is Celebrating the Dynamics of Cultures and Shared Experiences. A theme which we think resonates throughout the programs that we have planned. Programs in the performing, literary, and visual arts, as well as health and wellness and a numerous number of youth programs that embrace your strategic plans and are geared toward every age and interest. We open this evening with two programs one beginning at 6:00 o'clock at Gallery S.P.A.C.E which is the New Beginnings art exhibition sponsored by the Savannah Georgia Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. Then at 6:30 I invite you to a public conversation with Debbie Blunden-Diggs. She is the Artistic Director for the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company who is our featured dance company this year. And if you come to Jordan Hall this evening at 6:30, then you can learn about the influences of the African-American tradition and cultures on dance choreography. This is sort of like a preemptor or a precursor to tomorrow night's performance which will be at the Savannah Civic Center in the Johnny Mercer Theater at 7:30. We want the public to know that tickets are not required. You know we used to distribute free tickets, but tickets are not required and there is no number, or cap on the number of persons in a group or a family who may attend. The dance company will culminate a three day stay with us on Saturday morning with a community dance workshop for our dancers of all ages. We are inviting them and all of you to come out and between 9:00 and 10:30 to the Wiley Wilcox Gymnasium on the Savannah State University campus.
Other events of interest we think also include a concert on Sunday the 4th at Butler Presbyterian Church featuring the Savannah State University Choral group and they are celebrating the music of black composers. The Bright Star Theater Company will be back with us giving us 20 plus presentations in our schools and Community Centers February 5 through 10. And those productions include African-American history such as freedom songs, the music of black history. But there are also interactive programs, the contents of which again address your strategic plans and some of those programs are entitled: “The Game Show of Life, FrankenSTEM, which emphasizes science, technology, energy and math, and improvisational lessons of life.” A Grand Festival Day on the 10th of February will begin the morning with a health emphasis and a health walk. As we move into the MLK Arena for the celebrations of the day we're asking our public to support us in a much different way this year. In fact, for the first time we are asking that they purchase from us a $5 bracelet which would give them all day access to the arena and we are asking that of adults only. That day is packaged of course with friendly activities for the family and our headline entertainment that evening will be American Idol's La Porsha Renae. Something else interesting about that day, if parents come with their children to a session entitled: “Courageous Conversations about Parenthood” then they will be able to attend the activities free of charge for the full day. Our concert on Sunday the 11th the gospel artists of feature will be Micah Stampley. Prior to that concert on the same day the Beach Institute African American Cultural Center will host the Grand Opening of the full collection that has been acquired by the King-Tisdell Cottage Foundation of the Ulysses Davis Folk Art. Our festival closes out the week of February 11th with our annual Future of Jazz Concert and tribute to the late Ben Tucker on Tuesday the 13th at the J.E.A. And then we have something interesting this year there will be four sessions of Poets Respond to Race where poets Al Black and Len Lawson from the University of South Carolina will use poetry readings to engage our community in open forum conversations about race and diversity in America. There will be four sessions, they will be held at Georgia Southern Armstrong Campus, Savannah State University, and at the First Congregational Church. So in closing, I would just like to notify you of two changes which we haven't had an opportunity to get out to the public. One is that the W.W. Law lecture at the Jepson Center on February 8th is actually scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. if you would make a note of that. And we want to remind everyone that our gospel artists will be Michael Micah Stampley. So Mr. Mayor, to our citizens, to Councilmen, to our administrators we do invite you, we encourage you to join us and just come, see, and help us spread the word. We want everyone to be informed. We want everyone to participate. We want to enhance your knowledge about the contributions of African Americans to our culture and history and we want to engage you as we celebrate the dynamics of cultures and shared experiences. Thank you very much.
Alderman Bell: Thank you Mrs. James and Amanda before you leave were you introduced?
Mrs. James: Sorry, Amanda is a member, a very active member of our committee and let's say that she's also shadowing, so you may see a lot of Amanda with the Savannah Black Heritage Festival Committee in the future.
Alderman Bell: Okay, thank you Dr. Dozier, Mrs. James and the committee. I guess this is somewhat of the exec committee or steering committee. Okay. For the fine work you've done in presenting this festival. I date way back with the festival and one event I want to that’s partial to me. I would like to invite the public to please come tonight to the launching of Black Heritage Festival because I'm Chairing The Links on what is a new beginning art exhibit. If you want to see and Eileen thank you so much for the work, the role that you played. If you want to see some of the fine work that has been produced by our school system, middle school and high school students over 200 pieces of art. I will say to you that you probably would not realize these are middle school students presenting these fine renderings. So I invite you to the art exhibit at 6:30 tonight and also Mrs. James, Ms. Hollowell and I are all three participating. Yes ma'am.
Mrs. James: 6 o'clock for you.
Alderman Bell: No, no, no I heard you say 6:00, but it's 6:30.
Mrs. James: Okay. Well then we will have but when we say we have something of interest for everyone. So if you're interested in art go to S.P.A.C.E Gallery, if you're interested in dance come to us at Savannah State University.
Alderman Bell: That's what I had printed on the program yesterday it’s 6:30.
Alderman Johnson: Thank you. Mrs. James, Dr. Dozier I'm increasingly always impressed with the Black Heritage Festival, particularly the amount of work. I have been behind the scenes with you all and just the enormous amount of work and planning that goes forth really starting March 1st through that year. It’s just a wonderful plethora of opportunities for all of the family and for people to come and I just want to thank you all for the work. Obviously things have changed this year and so you have to charge where you've not charged in the past. I mean I hate that but I still think for the value and for the quality of activities that our citizens receive I think it's well worth the efforts. So I just want to thank you all certainly as a proud Savannah State Tiger I’m just glad to always have Savannah State in the mix and Eileen is a rock star as far as I'm concerned. So thank you all so much.
Mrs. James: Yes, thank you Eileen for the fine work that you do.
Dr. Dozier: Mayor Pro-Tem if I could just say before our Alderwoman. I just want to acknowledge you heard that Mrs. James said that Amanda is in transition. Mrs. James is trying to retire from being the Chair of the Black Heritage Festival which she has chaired for over 30 years. And I just think that if for some reason we're not able to convince her not to give it up it is good that she has the young people shadowing her as she's training them and we need to really thank her for 30 years of bringing this to Savannah and doing a phenomenal job. I’m still in denial but I want to acknowledge her work. Thank you.
Alderman Shabazz: Great segway into my comments. I want to thank you Mrs. James for your continuous work in this community. It didn't just start 30 years ago but it has been going on I know from my own self over 40 something years. So I just want to say thank you for your hard work. I've always for the 29 years looked forward to the Annual Black Heritage Festival. Again I've been sitting here this is my first time seeing the agenda and just circling all the events like I always do and making sure that I have full participation with the Black Heritage Festival. And with this new news I am so glad as you always have been a great mentor to all of us. So and with your continuation of having our youth as you have taught us at Savannah State College at the time that I was there and you were one of my peer leaders. As you have taught us and you are putting it into practice as you have always been and reaching back and bringing forward the next generation. So I thank you so much for this good news and hearing that you are still on the bandwagon doing the great work that you're doing. So my hat goes off to all of you, Dr. Dozier, good to see you. Thank you so much for the support.
Alderman Bell: Let's give them another round of applause.
A public hearing was held. No persons came forward to speak either for or against the item.
Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman Hall, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Miller, seconded by Alderman Hall, and unanimously carried.
A public hearing was held. No persons came forward to speak either for or against the item.
Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman Hall, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Miller, seconded by Alderman Hall, and unanimously carried.
A public hearing was held. No persons came forward to speak either for or against the item.
Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman Hall, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Miller, seconded by Alderman Hall, and unanimously carried.
A public hearing was held. No persons came forward to speak either for or against the item.
Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman Hall, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Miller, seconded by Alderman Hall, and unanimously carried.
A public hearing was held. No persons came forward to speak either for or against the item.
Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman Hall, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Miller, seconded by Alderman Hall, and unanimously carried.
A public hearing was held. No persons came forward to speak either for or against the item.
Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman Hall, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Miller, seconded by Alderman Hall, and unanimously carried.
A public hearing was held. No persons came forward to speak either for or against the item.
Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman Hall, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Miller, seconded by Alderman Hall, and unanimously carried.
A public hearing was held. No persons came forward to speak either for or against the item.
Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman Hall, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Miller, seconded by Alderman Hall, and unanimously carried.
A public hearing was held. No persons came forward to speak either for or against the item.
Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman Hall, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Miller, seconded by Alderman Hall, and unanimously carried.
A public hearing was held. No persons came forward to speak either for or against the item.
Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman Hall, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Miller, seconded by Alderman Hall, and unanimously carried.
Marcus Lotson, Metropolitan Planning Commission: Thank you Mr. Mayor, members of Council. The items that are before you at this time, both items 14 and 15 are related. A zoning text amendment and zoning map amendment these are in relationship to the proposed Hotel Development Overlay District. I won't go into the whole background because everyone is very familiar with the work that's been done so far. This has been a priority of the Council to address the development of hotels in Downtown Savannah to establish some parameters as to where they can locate and some of the stipulations that will be associated with development. So, as I mentioned this is both a text and map amendment. The purpose of the overlay is to guide the future development of hotels. It does apply to essentially two hotel categories one are small hotels which are between 16 and 74 rooms and large hotels which will be 75 rooms and up. As you know those amendments relate only to hotel development and to other uses that are permitted in the base district. It does not amend any of the development standards or designing criteria of the Historic District ordinance. The map that's attached to our report indicates where hotels are permitted both large and small. It also shows that the base zoning districts and the overlay map that's attached is the determining factor as to where these hotels can be located. Regardless of the base zoning there's a few conditions that are associated with this overlay. The size that I mentioned and also that they have to abut one of the streets that are outlined in the proposed ordinance. Also and this is something that was important to the stakeholder group that work with City staff and MPC staff that single family residential structures in the Historic District that are contributing buildings cannot be converted to hotels under this proposed ordinance. Those conditions would not be variable. So in conclusion, those two items 14 and 15 Map Amendment and Text amendment to establish the Hotel Development Overlay District and to apply it to the boundaries of the Savannah Historic District. The Planning Commission has recommended approval of these changes.
Mayor DeLoach: Okay anybody have any questions on those two items 14 and 15.
A public hearing was held. No persons came forward to speak either for or against the item.
Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman Durrence, seconded by Alderman Bell, and unanimously carried.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Durrence, seconded by Alderman Bell, and unanimously carried.
A public hearing was held. No persons came forward to speak either for or against the item.
Hearing closed upon motion of Alderman Durrence, seconded by Alderman Bell, and unanimously carried.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Durrence, seconded by Alderman Bell, and unanimously carried.
Attorney Stillwell: The petitioner requested a continuance to the March 1 meeting.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Hall, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried per the City Manager's recommendation.
Alderman Johnson: Mr. Mayor, thank you for the opportunity. Thank you, members of the Council. Although I realize this is a first reading and realizing that no action is taken formally by the Council. This is really an opportunity for not only criminal justice but an opportunity for social justice and I appreciate you Mr. Mayor, Alderman Thomas, Alderman Durrence, Alderwoman Shabazz for moving forward on this on first reading today. I'm looking forward to coming for a second reading on March 1st and I think that again we are on the right side of history. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to create some good outcomes for our young people. I'm certainly looking forward hopefully to the Council’s unanimous support.
Alderman Hall: Mr. Mayor and members of Council in public I want to thank Alderman Johnson for his progressive thinking and hard work in introducing this piece of legislation. As all of you know, he is known for his hard work and dedication to working with young people. So, I want to thank you for bringing this piece of legislation to Council.
Alderman Johnson: Thank you.
No Action Necessary
Attorney Stillwell: This was a section that was included in the prior alcohol ordinance, it’s been in effect in Savannah for many years. It mostly affects the operation of our restaurants that operate that have alcohol license within the restaurant. It was inadvertently left out of the alcohol ordinance when it was restated last year and we're recommending that it be put back in. There will be quite a few restaurants in Savannah that would be affected by that if you did not.
No Action Necessary
Alderman Miller: Mr. Mayor this amendment is proposed to allow our new Savannah Police Department which came into existence today to continue to operate radars in the areas where it’s licensed.
Ordinance read for the first time in Council February 1, 2018, then by unanimous consent of Council read a second time, placed upon its passage, adopted and approved upon a motion by Alderman Miller, seconded by Alderman Hall, and unanimously carried.
ADOPTED and APPROVED: FEBRUARY 1, 2018
Ordinance in its entirety is on file in the Office of the Clerk of Council.
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE ZONING ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE A ZONING DESIGNATION FOR THE PROPERTY PETITIONED TO BE ANNEXED OWNED BY VALLAMBROSA PLANTATION LLC TO THE CITY OF SAVANNAH BY ORDINANCE ADOPTED AND APPROVED JANUARY 18, 2018; TO REPEAL ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
WHEREAS, by ordinance adopted and approved January 18, 2018, the property identified as PIN 1-1003 -01-021, more fully described in that ordinance, a copy of which is hereto attached and made a part hereof, was annexed into the City; and
WHEREAS, the annexed property is zoned as designated “RA-CO” on the zoning map of Chatham County, Georgia; and
WHEREAS, the City has adopted within its zoning code all County zoning classifications so that the City has a set of zoning classifications in common with the County zoning classifications;
NOW THEREFORE, be it ordained by the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah that:
SECTION 1: The area annexed to the City described above is hereby added to the zoning map of the City, and the zoning classification designated for the property shall be the City zoning classification which is common with the zoning classification as designated by the County zoning map.
SECTION 2: This ordinance shall be effective upon the effective date of the annexation of said property in the City of Savannah pursuant to O.C.G.A. 36-66-4 (e) and the law in such cases made and provided.
SECTION 3: All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.
ADOPTED AND APPROVED: FEBRUARY 1, 2018 upon motion of Alderman Thomas, seconded by Alderman Bell, and unanimously carried.
Alderman Shabazz: Yes sir. Mr. Mayor thank you so much. We talked about this in our last Council meeting and we are bringing it to a vote today. So, I make the motion to amend the purchasing ordinance to include the definition of Savannah Business and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise. Before we move forward, City Manager wants to inject something in at this time.
City Manager Hernandez: Yes Mr. Mayor. Just for the point of clarification I just want to refresh your memories as to what the definitions of DBE and SBE are. For DBE, we’re referencing the federal definition of which is a business that is 51 percent owned by a member of a socially disadvantaged class, and also with gross annual receipts of less than $23.89 million in revenue. For the Savannah Business Enterprise program the definition is those locally based firms with 25 employees or less with the annual gross receipts in the construction business of $5 million, contractual services, $1 million, and for professional services, $500,000 a year in gross receipts.
Mayor DeLoach: And I do want to thank Dr. Shabazz for all the work she’s put in to get that done. It's been a great day. Great day Dr. Shabazz.
AN ORDINANCE
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND PART 2, GOVERNMENT
AND ADMINISTRATION, CHAPTER 4, FINANCIAL
ADMINISTRATION, ARTICLE E., PROCUREMENT, DIVISION
1, GENERAL PROVISIONS, SECTION
2-4042(36) AND (37) CONCERNING DEFINITIONS,
OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA (2003)
TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS FOR SAVANNAH BUSINESS AND DISADVATAGED
BUSINESS ENTERPRISES; TO REPEAL CONFLICTING ORDINANCES;
FOR OTHER PURPOSES; AND TO PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE
DATE OF February 1, 2018
BE IT ORDAINED by the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah, Georgia, in regular meeting of Council assembled and pursuant to lawful authority thereof:
SECTION 1: That Part 2, Government and Administration, Chapter 4, Financial Administration, Article E., Procurement, Division 1, General Provisions, subsections (36) and (37) of Section 2-4042 pertaining to Definitions be added as follows:
ARTICLE E. PROCUREMENT
DIVISION 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 2-4042. – Definitions.
(36) Savannah Business Enterprise (SBE). An entity certified as an SBE by the City of Savannah. SBEs are small, Savannah-based companies that meet the income and employee requirements set by the Savannah Business Opportunity Program policy. Entities must also demonstrate a continuous operating presence in the City of Savannah.
(37) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE). An entity certified as a DBE by any federal or state agency. To become certified, a company must be a forprofit small business concern where socially and economically disadvantaged individuals own at least a 51% interest and also control management and daily business operations. Further, companies must meet all other eligibility requirements as set by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
All Ordinances or parts of Ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.
ADOPTED AND APPROVED: FEBRUARY 1, 2018 upon motion of Alderman Shabazz, seconded by Alderman Hall, and unanimously carried.
RESOLUTION
This Resolution made this 1st day of February by the Mayor and Alderman of the City of Savannah.
WHEREAS the City of Savannah is desirous of submitting an application for a $30,000 grant titled, 2205 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard Historic Two-Story Residential Stabilization Project, through the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Historic Preservation Division; and
WHEREAS the City of Savannah is an eligible applicant under the rules of the 2018 Historic Preservation Fund Grant Application Package; and
WHEREAS the grant will support the stabilization and installation of a new roof on the historic residential two-story building at 2205 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in the Cuyler-Brownville neighborhood; and
WHEREAS if the grant is awarded the Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF) will provide the City of Savannah up to $20,000 to meet grant match requirements bringing the total amount of money available for this stabilization project to $50,000; and
WHEREAS if the grant is awarded, the City of Savannah will enter into an agreement with the Historic Savannah Foundation that permits the HSF to use the $50,000 for stabilization activities as it undertakes the complete renovation of this historic property.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah, Georgia, hereby resolve and authorize Rob Hernandez, City Manager, to submit the foregoing application to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Historic Preservation Division for consideration at the following location:
Historic Preservation Division, GA DNR
c/o Allison Asbrock, Interim Grants Coordinator
2610 GA Hwy 155 SW
Stockbridge, Georgia 30281
ADOPTED AND APPROVED: February 1, 2018 upon motion of Alderman Johnson, seconded by Alderman Hall, and unanimously carried per the City Manager's recommendation.
MAYOR AND ALDERMEN OF THE CITY OF SAVANNAH
RESOLUTION
DOWNTOWN SAVANNAH AUTHORITY (GEORGIA)
REVENUE BONDS (CITY OF SAVANNAH PROJECTS), SERIES 2018A
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah (the “City”) has requested the Downtown Savannah Authority (the “Authority”) to issue its DOWNTOWN SAVANNAH AUTHORITY (GEORGIA) REVENUE BONDS (CITY OF SAVANNAH PROJECTS), SERIES 2018A (the “Bonds”), for the purpose of providing funds required to (i) construct streetscape improvements along Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and River Street, construct new pedestrian access points for the City’s riverwalk and River Street, and acquire a riverwalk extension on the west end of River Street and (ii) pay the expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of the Bonds; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Intergovernmental Contract (the “Contract”) between the Authority and the City, to be dated the date of issuance and delivery of the Bonds, the City will make payments to the Authority sufficient to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds as the same become due; and
WHEREAS, the Bonds shall be issued in the aggregate principal amount, bear interest at rates per annum, and mature (or be subject to scheduled mandatory redemption) in the years and principal amounts set forth in a bond resolution (the “Bond Resolution”) adopted by the Authority on the date hereof, a certified copy of which Bond Resolution has been presented to this meeting; and
WHEREAS, under the terms of the Contract, the City will make payments to the Authority sufficient to pay, when due, the principal of and interest on the Bonds;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as follows:
Section 1. Authorization of Contract. The execution, delivery, and performance of the Contract are hereby authorized and approved. The Contract shall be in substantially the form presented to this meeting, subject to such changes, insertions, or omissions as may be approved by the Mayor or City Manager, and the execution of the Contract by the Mayor or City Manager and the attestation of the same by the Clerk of Council as hereby authorized shall be conclusive evidence of such approval.
Section 2. Approval of Acceptance of Bid for Purchase of Bonds. The acceptance by the Authority of the best bid for the purchase of the Bonds pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Authority on the date hereof, a certified copy of which resolution has been presented to this meeting, is hereby approved.
Section 3. Authorization for Validation of Bonds. In order to carry out the issuance of the Bonds, and pursuant to the Constitution and laws of the State of Georgia, the Bonds must be validated through the Superior Court of Chatham County and the City will be made a party defendant to the validation proceedings. The Mayor or City Manager is hereby authorized to acknowledge service of the validation petition and to file an answer in said proceedings.
Section 4. General Authorization. From and after the execution and delivery of the documents hereinabove authorized and approved, the proper officials of the City are hereby 2 authorized, empowered, and directed to do all acts and things and to execute all documents as may be necessary to carry out and comply with the provisions of said documents as executed, and are further authorized to take any and all other actions and execute and deliver any and all other documents as may be necessary in the issuance of the Bonds and the execution and delivery of the Contract and all other documents authorized hereby.
Section 5. Approval of Acts. All acts and doings of the officials of the City which are in conformity with the purposes and intents of this resolution and furtherance of the issuance of the Bonds, and the execution, delivery, and performance of the Contract and all other documents authorized hereby shall be, and the same hereby are, in all respects approved and confirmed.
ADOPTED AND APPROVED: February 1, 2018 upon motion of Alderman Johnson, seconded by Alderman Durrence, and carried per the City Manager's recommendation with the following voting in favor: Mayor DeLoach, Aldermen Bell, Miller, Durrence, Johnson, Thomas and Hall. Alderman Shabazz voted against the motion.
RESOLUTION
STATE OF GEORGIA
COUNTY OF CHATHAM
WHEREAS, at the regular meeting of the Mayor and Alderman of the City of Savannah, Georgia, held on the 1st day of February 2018, a motion was made, duly seconded, and unanimously adopted that the City of Savannah supports the Georgia Department of Natural Resources grant application for a Savannah Citywide Historic Neighborhood Survey, Phase III. The grant budget is $35,000 with $21,000 from the Federal government and $14,000 from the City of Savannah ($7,000 cash and $7,000 in-kind.)
Approved upon motion of Alderman Johnson, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried per the City Manager's recommendation.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Bell, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried per the City Manager's recommendation.
Alderman Shabazz: Yes sir Mr. Mayor. 27 it's a good thing that's going on, it’s an amendment to the contract, it's a contract modification for the Mills B. Lane rehabilitation project which is talking about the overpass or the bridge that's familiar in the community. We call it the bridge near the bread company. I just want to ask the City Manager if he could just explain beforehand, when that construction begins and how the traffic flow is going to be going, and if there's going to be a great inconvenience to the community, and if there are going to be some different traffic flows or something that we need to know about beforehand.
City Manager Hernandez: So just in general Dr. Shabazz there will be an inconvenience to traffic. We will try to schedule those lane closures such that to minimize the inconvenience but we will have to be closing at least one of the lanes during these repairs.
Alderman Shabazz: All right that's good. That's good. So with that Mr. Mayor I'd like to make the motion to award the contract modification for the Mills B. Lane rehabilitation project.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Shabazz, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried per the City Manager's recommendation.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Bell, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried per the City Manager's recommendation.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Bell, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried per the City Manager's recommendation.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Bell, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried per the City Manager's recommendation.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Bell, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried per the City Manager's recommendation.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Bell, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried per the City Manager's recommendation.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Bell, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried per the City Manager's recommendation.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Bell, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried per the City Manager's recommendation.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Bell, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried per the City Manager's recommendation.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Miller, seconded by Alderman Bell, and unanimously carried per the City Manager's recommendation.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Miller, seconded by Alderman Bell, and unanimously carried per the City Manager's recommendation.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Miller, seconded by Alderman Bell, and unanimously carried per the City Manager's recommendation.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Miller, seconded by Alderman Bell, and unanimously carried per the City Manager's recommendation.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Miller, seconded by Alderman Bell, and unanimously carried per the City Manager's recommendation.
Mayor DeLoach: Okay now we come to number 41. We were going to have a show cause hearing on this. Go ahead, we going to still have a little bit of show cause. Where is Mr. Cohen? Come on up Mr. Cohen, yeah okay. Okay. Come on out here Mr. Cohen he’s going to speak sooner or later, and Ms. Ann Murray. Where is Ms. Ann Murray? Come on up Ms. Murray. Alright, come on inside here. We’re going to start with our attorney and then we'll work our way to you okay.
Deputy City Attorney Herman: Are you ready?
Mayor DeLoach: You’re on right.
Deputy City Attorney Herman: For the record Jennifer Herman, Deputy City Attorney. We were prepared to move forward this afternoon with a show cause hearing with respect to the Over Time Bar at 4429 Skidaway Road. However, late yesterday afternoon the bar owner appeared in our Revenue Department and surrendered his alcohol license, and I'll just read that into the record. I'm Gregory Webb surrender my alcohol license to City of Savannah 1/31/18 G. Webb. And he did provide a copy. So, at this point Shinita Young, Sergeant in charge of ABC is going to give you an overview of the evidence we were ready to present and we have some video clips that really speak to what happened.
Mayor DeLoach: Okay let me just make one point. For everybody in the audience a show cause hearing is something that we do when somebody has not been very nice and they continue to do that. And then finally we say you got to come up in front of us to continue to keep your license. This person gave up his license instead of doing that. But it's important for you to see why we are doing this because this is just a flagrant slap in the face as far as law is concerned and as far as I'm concerned. Go ahead and let's run through this and I would like to have this lady Ms. Murray to speak and Mr. Cohen okay.
Deputy City Attorney Herman: Yes sir, what you’re going to see is a shooting that occurred inside the premises and some additional footage of illegal conduct. We have evidence of at least nine ordinance violations and I would say at least three state law violations just that particular night. We're not going to present all of that now but yes, the Mayor points out this video footage is extraordinarily persuasive.
Deputy City Attorney Herman: Alderman Johnson.
Alderman Johnson: No, I just not wanted the Mayor said with someone’s alleged…
Mayor DeLoach: Right, it’s someone’s alleged… we’re not saying he did anything wrong but… ok the video shows it but we’re just alleging it, I just want to make that clear.
Sgt. Shinita Young: I'm Shinita Young, I’m a Sergeant with Savannah Metropolitan Police Department. I'm the supervisor of the Alcohol Beverage and Compliance unit. As discussed earlier the ABC unit processes for as applications and we as far as process any complaints or there's any issues inside as far as a business location that has an alcohol license we as for as investigate.
[surveillance videos from the establishment were being played at this point]
On January 1st, that was a Monday at the Over Time Sports Bar and Grill there was as far as an altercation that started between two individuals which are showing here. It shows that the hallway to the men's restroom in the rear door to the business leading to a lane. There were two men talking in the hallway before walking back to the restroom. At the end of the hallway a male subject is sitting in a chair holding that's holding stop sign and directs his attention to the fight in the restroom. The male joins the fight withdraws another male subject standing at the beginning of the hallway to join. So, that’s the two individuals that’s in the hallway discussing/arguing and then they're going to go back towards the men's restroom.
Alderman Johnson: And this is their video from there?
Sgt. Young: That’s correct sir, from their surveillance footage.
So, the first two individuals that's involved are the ones that are directly in the hallway. There's a gentleman that's sitting in the back by the back door. It's a stop sign in that seat. And then the other gentleman involved would be as far as with the hat like the skully on his head that's more in the floor area he gets involved.
Deputy City Attorney Herman: And for the Council's benefit, this video was obtained from the premises. One of the violations we were prepared to discuss is that this should have been produced immediately to the officers who responded to the scene and it was delayed by a day. And when the initial response finding officers appeared and were eventually allowed into the bar the DVD equipment had been moved.
Alderman Johnson: Is he on his scooter?
Sgt. Young: It’s a hover board. Yes sir.
But if you look to the back the subject in the back will stand up and that's when the fight already started.
Alderman Johnson: Having a hard time.
Sgt. Young: The gentleman that you see down in the bottom right corner that's holding a cell phone. He came in along with the other person that was involved in the fight to sell watches to the patrons in the club.
Deputy City Attorney Herman: Stolen watches.
Alderman Johnson: How did y’all determine it was stolen?
Deputy City Attorney Herman: That’s was what was reported to the owner who told us.
Sgt. Young: Okay here they get out of frame and the next camera that will be coming up will show as far as the altercation that continues onto the floor.
Alderman Johnson: The hover board is real popular.
Mayor DeLoach: That's amazing. I can't ride that thing if I was sober.
Sgt. Young: Once it gets to 21:26, if you will forward to that.
Alderman Johnson: And what time of day is this.
Deputy City Attorney Herman: It’s about 10 o’clock at night.
Alderman Johnson: Okay.
Sgt. Young: This is still showing the individual as you can see from another angle of the hallway that they’re still there arguing in the middle of the hallway and then they walked back to the restroom. Okay now you see that individual with the hover board looking they are already fighting and it's going to spill out into the floor near the pool table. This camera shows the altercation continues on the floor near the pool table. Three subjects are fighting one individual on the floor and use pool balls as weapons. The individual was able to get off the floor and pull a firearm from his jacket pocket. The individual run towards the other parties and shoot in a group shoot and a group of people.
Alderman Johnson: Were they checking for firearms upon entry?
Sgt. Young: No sir.
Alderman Bell: Where are the owners?
Sgt. Young: I'm sorry?
Alderman Bell: Where are the owners?
Deputy City Attorney Herman: He's on scene. He's in there in the establishment that night. His story was that he opened the bar for employees and then when patrons began to arrive despite not having undercover excuse me extra duty officers and adequate security notwithstanding his security plan that he allowed these people to come in. So, there was effectively no security measure in place to prevent this incident from happening. Also significant you would hear not one staff member, not the owner, no one there called to report this as it happened.
Sgt. Young: That's the first shot into the group or towards the suspects. They're trying to retreat back, runs towards them again that and then that's under the camera he was shot himself.
Alderman Johnson: By who?
Sgt. Young: As far as the individuals that he shot at first.
Alderman Johnson: So, we had two parties that had fire arms in the building.
Sgt. Young: Yes sir.
As you can see to the left as far as he stumbles he's over here to the top left corner hunched over. He's injured and he goes out the hallway through what you first saw was the gentleman sitting in the chair with the stop sign that door goes out to the lane.
Post incident, this is the owner directly right after the shooting. He walks over his floors to the area they're looking around, searching for evidence. You actually see some of the employees point out to him as far as there's evidence on the ground one employee picks it up and handed off to him and they're going around just looking for the only thing would be shell casings that would have been on the floor and you see them putting it in the pocket. Right here on the side on the right is the window to the parking lot and you will see them as for see the officers arrive and then they run to the restroom area.
Deputy City Attorney Herman: When the first officer arrived, he arrived to a locked door of the establishment again an ordinance violation. The owner stepped out at that point and told him that it had been fireworks. Now at this point, the owner had already scoured the premises and quite arguably tampered with a crime scene and altered evidence. At the end of the day only one shell casing was recovered, there were three bullets fired.
Alderman Shabazz: You all had, you all saw where someone was picking up something.
Sgt. Young: Yes.
Deputy City Attorney Herman: And just so the public and the Council is clear, there was extensive footage obtained. We're just showing some of the clips to highlight the more significant events.
Sgt. Young: The owner comes back over to this area. You have one employee that raises his hand in a shooting gesture to show that it was a shooting that actually occurred and then the other employees actually show him where the evidence is located. So the owner in this video here is walking into the carpet area. Right now he will be on the top of the video screen wearing a jumpsuit, well sweats. So, he's showing him reenacting what happened and then you see another individual as far as a heavier set male points out on the ground.
Alderman Johnson: Did they have a security plan on file?
Sgt. Young: Yes sir. According to the security plan on Monday night it was mentioned before it was a private party. Once he decided that he was going to open the doors that he would have at least two security guards there.
Deputy City Attorney Herman: Again just to drive this point home all of this is happening and no one associated with the establishment is calling the police department.
Sgt. Young: That individual will use his flashlight from his phone. Picks up evidence the owner walks up to him and then he hands it off to him. In a few seconds more you'll see as far as that same individual that picked up the first item will come back in along with another subject to the top of the pool table and actually picks up as far as evidence over here where they pointed out in the beginning picked up evidence and more towards as far as the camera to the front window.
Deputy City Attorney Herman: Okay so in the context of the Police Department reviewing all this footage as I said they gathered all of the surveillance available that night, which I think he had 22 cameras on scene. At the time we collected it we didn't know about the next clip you're about to see. But I don't want to steal the thunder but what it really shows is a culture of tolerance within this establishment. So for anybody who wants to say that this is anything other than business as usual there they're mistaken. But what you're about to see is a scale pulled out of a kitchen device. You're about to witness a drug transaction, very obviously and openly in the kitchen.
Sgt. Young: Okay, basically both of the subjects enter the kitchen. There was an object that was pulled from up under the plastic that you see on the top shelf. Once it’s opened you can see that it was an actual scale, measuring scale. One of the subjects pull a plastic bag from his jacket pocket while the other counts out money. The money is placed on the counter next to the scale and a substance from the plastic bag is placed on the scale. Both subjects exchange the money and the substance. Before leaving the kitchen one subject tears off a small piece of plastic to secure the substance but instead pulls a portion cup from the box and placed the substance inside. The scale is placed back underneath the plastic on the top shelf before leaving the kitchen.
Alderman Johnson: Are any of these individuals identified as having a material relationship to the business?
Sgt. Young: They’re relatives, sir.
Alderman Johnson: They’re relatives?
Sgt. Young: Relatives to the owner.
Alderman Johnson: Okay, so nobody's like the owner or manager?
Sgt. Young: No sir. Mr. Gregory Webb his role was as far as owner manager. He didn't hire a manager.
Alderman Johnson: Okay.
Alderman Thomas: Question by surrendering his license does he preserve his rights to open another bar in the City limits?
Deputy City Attorney Herman: I don't think he's preserving any right. Theoretically, could he apply yes, but all of this and I think that’s part of the reason we're doing this today, all of this would be subject to consideration under the term under the provisions of our ordinance.
Alderman Thomas: This is something in the past that we've had happen, you know these folks do this kind of stuff. They get in trouble and after so much leniency by the ABC Department, the Revenue Department and the team they show up to City Council and then in lieu of a show cause hearing they surrender their license. So, this isn't the first time this has happened.
Deputy City Attorney Herman: Alderman Thomas I hear you. There's nothing we can do to prevent a surrender of a license.
Alderman Thomas: But what can we do to prevent the reissuance of one down the road?
Deputy City Attorney Herman: To this particular person, all of this would be subject to your consideration.
Mayor DeLoach: That's why I wanted to show it. Asking to bring it out and look at it so everybody would remember that.
Sgt. Young: We had as far as an administrative meeting with Mr. Webb and also a second meeting. I asked him whether or not if he would change his statements because he actually was shown the video of the collection of the evidence and he already said that he saw as far as the shooting because we reviewed the video beforehand and he still wanted to stick to that it was fireworks. When he saw as far as his employees picking up evidence he was explaining to me that everything was blurry and he wasn't in the game. When I talked to him as far as about his first initial statements to responding officers when it came up the door was locked, that he had to unlock the door and he told them that it was fireworks. But all this happened before the officers actually arrived.
Deputy City Attorney Herman: Let me interrupt, I mean if you're watching there's somebody cooking food this is all blatantly open as all of this is unfolding. It's as if you know nobody's got any regard for what how lawful or unlawful this may be which you know certainly demonstrates a pattern of indifference at least by the management at a very minimum.
Alderman Thomas: Under this particular manager or owner how many times has the ABC team been in contact with them for other issues?
Deputy City Attorney Herman: I'll defer to Shinita but I will tell you that on March 16, 2017 he received the license to this premises and before that occurred there were extensive meetings with the ABC team and an education process to say listen this particular location has been troubled in the past. You have to understand what you're getting into. You need to have adequate security plans and security in place so there can't be any argument that he was uninformed.
Alderman Thomas: But my point Ms. Herman is how many times after that initial issuance of the license, has the ABC team been in contact with this operator because of issues?
St. Young: We actually as far as we know we went to the location because there was another incident as far as behind in the lane that was reported and it said that it was associated with the business. But what we do we investigate and it was not. We went over there three times to do our compliance checks as far as to go in dealing with the alcohol license, making sure that they have the surveillance footage. So when it was as far as the delay that was brought to our attention. We knew that they had surveillance footage and we was able to work with the violent crimes unit. Right after as far as this incident there was another one that I made contact as far as the incident I made contact with him about.
Deputy City Attorney Herman: There was a fight again in the bar on January 15th. This was January 1st, so two weeks later he knows we're looking at it and again there was some lapse on the premises. But Alderman Thomas to your point I mean I think you make the argument that based on just the drug activity here you have a situation where we're not going to be getting calls for service we're not going to be getting the police invited onto the premises because this is tolerated. This is business as usual. And that's what we viewed as very problematic.
Alderman Thomas: No, I understand. If this license had not been surrendered I would have voted to take it. But the reality is that, we do this a lot when an incident that comes before us or is going to come before us for show cause you get these applicants that run down and surrender the license. I had two of them in my district where this has happened. So, this is a whole different subject here. But you know I had one that had I believe eight or nine Part 1 crimes that occurred at it before we even got to a show cause hearing. So, that is my point is this just how close when we start to see that we have a problem with a certain location, how close are we monitoring it? How close are we getting involved in it before we end up here or get a surrender of the license?
Deputy City Attorney Herman: It's a case by case and resource driven question. I mean you know these establishments in the ordinance have a duty to cooperate with the City and law enforcement which includes calling in improper conduct. If they don't cooperate in that process it makes it difficult for us you know to be everywhere all the time.
Alderman Thomas: But this is location is no secret.
Mayor DeLoach: Would it be okay if we just go ahead and have Ms. Murray Would you like to speak? Go ahead Chief Revenew.
Chief Revenew: You know I think first of all I watched this video one time like you all and it was chaotic and confusing. I sat down with the Sergeant Young and we watched it several times, she's done a thorough interview and obviously she's paraphrasing and condensing. If you watch this thoroughly and generates it much more from start to finish you get a better grasp of it. The only thing I'd like to say is, I think clearly they’re wrong. You have they made false statements to the police, you know Chief Gavin was in front of you on January 18th talking about our declining crime rates except for aggravated assaults. This is said this correlates to the aggravated assault increases we're seeing. And then you have them obstructing. You know they lock the door and the officers actually have to knock on the door to gain entry. We're trying to partner with them. But it has to be a two way street.
Mayor DeLoach: All right. Thank you sir. Hang right there and let’s have Ms. Murray speak.
Ann Murray: Good afternoon my name is Ann Murray. I am the parent of one of the young men that got shot in Over Time. I come to you today pleading, begging for this place to be closed up. There was when you go in a place of business you are supposed to be protected, you feel safe. You going in for some laughs, to watch the game or whatever and you running out begging and fighting for your life. It was no police officer there to check the people coming in, no metal wands to search them. I mean my son been in the hospital for weeks and weeks and weeks fighting for his life. Several parents the call that I got on January 1st, I wish no parent ever have to get that call. You know when my child was fighting for his life and I think all of this could have been prevented if it was handled in the right way. All the weapons and everything that was in there was never supposed to cross the seal. You know this is my first time ever seeing this because when we went in the hospital I stayed there for weeks and weeks and weeks. So, I come and came to plead and beg that this place be shut down because it's not doing anything for our community.
Mayor DeLoach: Right.
Ms. Murray: It’s doing a great harm to the young adults.
Mayor DeLoach: I agree with you there.
Alderman Johnson: Ma’am, how’s your son doing?
Ms. Murray: My son is not, from the grace of God, I have my child. He is not, my son is walking around with two holes in his stomach. One your arm could fit in, one your fist could fit in, his shoulder and arm is broken. He's been beaten. The owner allowed him to get beaten and shot several times in the club. He's walking bent over. And it’s a long process.
Alderman Bell: How old is he Ms. Murray?
Ms. Murray: He's 24.
Alderman Hall: Are you Leon’s mamma?
Ms. Murray: Yes I am. And he's, we not even from the area. He's not even street material, you know just after leaving a church sermon with his son and family us you know working and going to school. Everything you celebrate in the years and for this I wish it on nobody.
Alderman Hall: Yes ma’am I do understand.
Mayor DeLoach: Yes ma'am. Okay Mr. Cohen you want to speak? Give me about a couple minutes here.
Ivan Cohen: Thank you. My name is Ivan Cohen, I live in the third district. I happened to come from visiting my mother January 1st 8 p.m. saw this on the news around 11. Now like I say I live in the area where this establishment is and I empathize with what this lady is going through. However, I'm also concerned that not far from there is Savannah State University. Which this establishment, I understand besides a sports bar is also a comedy club and young people there who have no transportation don't have too many outlets for socializing as are available here in the Downtown area and what have you. So, the person yes he surrendered his alcohol license. However, I hope the comedy club and whatever will be permitted to continue. They'll have to maybe come up with a screening method for those weapons. Even though our esteemed Governor did sign legislation saying you can almost take your gun everywhere from the club to the church to the laundry mat, to the grocery store and I’m going to leave it there.
Mayor DeLoach: Thank you. All right let's go to… anything else concerning this? Is there anything else we need to do concerning this?
Deputy City Attorney Herman: The show cause hearing is effectively muted by the surrender but we wanted the public and Council to be aware of that.
Alderman Bell: I just want to thank Deputy Attorney Herman and Sergeant Young and I apologize for calling you Shinita but that's what happened when I've known you since you were a child.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Miller, seconded by Alderman Hall, and unanimously carried per the City Manager's recommendation.
City Manager Hernandez: I just wanted for the benefit of the viewing public. Just to point out that the Congress for New Urbanism is hosting their annual conference in our great City during May 16th through the 19th. Every time they go into a particular community they select projects, finding projects to work with the local community. So, we're no different and they've asked us to select two areas of the City in which they can engage with us in the community to solve a particular planning project. And we've submitted two areas, one is along the east side which is totally bounded by East Broad Street to Waters Avenue, Victory Drive to Wheaton Street. Then the second is on the south side of the City in the area generally between Georgia Southern and Savannah Mall. And so, as part of that there's a financial contribution that we must make and so this particular item is requesting your approval to do that.
Alderman Durrence: Mr. Mayor. I just wanted to add a comment to the City Manager. The cost of these projects because this is in conjunction with this Congress winds up being about 10 percent of what this project would cost us if we went out and hired someone to do it.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Thomas, seconded by Alderman Durrence, and unanimously carried per the City Manager's recommendation.
Keith Fletcher: Mr. Mayor and Councilmen. My name is Keith Fletcher. I’m Chief Operating Officer for Speros. I testified a number of times before the Senate committee and I'm very proud that Savannah is endorsing their findings. An I.T. corridor here in the Savannah area especially in Savannah we'll be able to bring jobs, we'll be able to, we’ll enhance our overall economy bringing high end technology jobs to Savannah. It will truly be a watershed event. You're looking at cities that have done this incredibly well had profited enormously everywhere from Cleveland to Portland all over have done this and have found enormous benefits. But one of the things that is required to do this right is endorsement and participation by the community and having all of you at the very beginning of this showing support and being there and being behind doing this makes me very proud to have my family here in Savannah. Thank you very much.
Clinton Edminster: Afternoon Mayor and Council. My name is Clinton Edminster. I'm the new Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Creative Coast. For more than 10 years the Creative Coast has nurtured the members of the art community engaged in creative and innovative endeavors. We've also worked to create a culture or to cultivate an environment in which these businesses can thrive. Before you today is a resolution to officially support the findings of the state Senate committee to create an I.T. corridor here in the Savannah area. I've spent the last months of researching and becoming familiar with this report as well as the people involved and also the possible funding and tax break mechanisms that have been successful in other cities and most importantly spending a lot of time thinking about what this could mean for the citizens of our community. My opinion is that this is something we absolutely should support. Savannah is well poised to substantially benefit and if done right and in the right way it could help all of our citizens. In the next few weeks the Creative Coast will be working to bring together stakeholders and community leaders to further explore the Senate study. As stated in the study and in your resolution an I.T. corridor will be successful and I quote when there is buy in from the local community including business community, local government, and the school district. The Creative Coast is committed to facilitating these groups and having a conversation about the equitability and impact of such a corridor. This resolution provides our community an important opportunity to be part of the new age of logistics technologies and attract fantastic new jobs for years to come. Let’s reach out and take it. On a different but related note, Geekend is this weekend, it is a Creative Coast event that's happening tomorrow and the next day. I'll be bartending tonight at the Speaker’s party, I’m quite excited. Geekend is a two day tech and innovation conference that engages attendees in the local innovation economy and provides exposure to emerging technologies. So, in a way the Creative Coast is already sort of working on this. Local and State support for an I.T. corridor would only continue to move that ahead. Also on behalf of the Creative Coast, thank you for helping us with funding Geekend this year as well. As always you're invited to come out to Geekend. And I just have to say again I totally think we should encourage an I.T. corridor, it would be a fascinating step I think in the right direction for this City. Thank you.
Mayor DeLoach: Thank you. Anybody else want to say anything? Introduce yourself.
Patrick Bentley: I’m Patrick Bentley. I am Project Manager of Emerging Industries for Savannah Economic Development Authority. I manage the business traction program for creative design and technology companies. I'm also a board member of the Creative Coast, so just here in solidarity. Myself, Keith and [inaudible] were the individuals that represented Savannah at the study committee and apparently we did such a good job that they decided to designate or they want to designate us as an I.T. corridor, so I'm just here in support.
Mayor DeLoach: I think y’all sold them up there didn’t you?
Mr. Fletcher: One thing to point out the original study committee was charged with finding a corridor to locate within easy driving distance of Atlanta. Savannah was not only not mentioned it wasn't even close. I said we presented to the first and then I was requested to go back. I testified again as well as had multiple conversations with the Senators there and out. And Savannah and Augusta are the two locations that they identified. Nothing right in Atlanta, nothing even believe it or not in the Senators that were on the committee’s areas and Savannah really we have got the capability of delivering everything that technology companies would want. We are not a quiet southern city. We are a vibrant urban city that can bring everything. So, these companies that are, that we hope to relocate here from California, New York and everywhere else will find Savannah. This is part of my presentation. We'll find Savannah the most welcoming possible city they could find. And I'm a little prejudice.
Mayor DeLoach: You keep upselling, I like the way you think.
Alderman Shabazz: I have a question. With the corridor, when the word corridor is used it's a specific location or street from my…
Mr. Fletcher: It will be a specific geographic region area.
Alderman Shabazz: So, we’re talking about the corridor or being like Savannah, is the area?
Mr. Fletcher: It would be somewhere in Savannah. To give you an idea you have Cleveland which has designated a small section, literally it's a number of square miles as their technology area and they focus on healthcare. But then you have areas such as Florida which basically took the entire center of their state and said that's their technology corridor. In reality it's fairly well focused around their aerospace so you can kind of guess where they're focused in reality.
Alderman Shabazz: That's the thing I was trying to get at.
Mr. Fletcher: Right now we need to identify a location we actually have been talking about some possibilities to…
Alderman Shabazz: In Savannah?
Mr. Fletcher: Oh absolutely.
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING DESIGNATION OF SAVANNAH
AS AN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CORRIDOR, AS RECOMMENDED
BY THE SENATE IT CORRIDORS STUDY COMMITTEE
WHEREAS, the Georgia Legislature created the Senate Information Technology Corridors Study Committee in 2017 to study and make recommendations to the Legislature for the establishment of corridors in Georgia that would directly foster the growth of information technology in the State; and
WHEREAS, the Study Committee received testimony during meetings across the State, and concluded that IT Corridors “can be successful when there is buy-in in the local community, including business community, local governments, and school districts; and where conditions are present that allow for the IT industry to flourish;” and
WHEREAS, the Savannah City Council has shown its support for such an initiative by adopting a strategic plan in 2017 that specifically targets as priorities the high-tech industry for economic growth and development of broadband infrastructure throughout the community; and
WHEREAS, the Study Committee concluded that a Technology Corridor would allow the Board of Regents and local school districts within the corridor to focus on programs that allow students to be more prepared for the 21st Century economy; and
WHEREAS, the Study Committee concluded that a Technology Corridor would create a platform for companies, business leaders, and civic leaders to create a collaborative environment; and
WHEREAS, the Study Committee concluded that a Technology Corridor would create a vehicle for the State of Georgia to provide funds to allow for better marketing of areas naturally leading their sectors; and
WHERES, the Savannah area has developed as a national leader in logistics due to the dramatic expansion of the Georgia Ports and its growing importance to the American economy, in addition to the region’s superior interstate, rail and airport infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, the Study Community identified Savannah and the surrounding area as one of two corridors in Georgia that “could immediately benefit substantially” from an IT Corridor program, with the Savannah initiative focused on “logistics technology innovation;” and
WHEREAS, the Study Committee recommended that the Legislature move this process forward by creating an advisory committee “to allow for creation of future grant programs (and) look for ways to better coordinate with industry leaders.”
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Savannah City Council urges the Georgia General Assembly to adopt the recommendations of the Senate Information Technology Corridors Study Committee, and work with leaders from the Savannah area to develop a program focused on logistics technology innovation. Such a designation will further develop Georgia as a leader in the information technology sector, and diversify the State’s growing economy.
Approved this 1st day of February, 2018 upon motion of Alderman Shabazz, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried per the City Manager's recommendation.
Approved upon motion of Alderman Bell, seconded by Alderman Miller, and unanimously carried per the City Manager's recommendation.
Alderman Bell: Before you begin let me recognize our immediate past Mayor Edna Jackson.
Murem Sharpe: Thank you. My name is Murem Sharpe, I am a Woman Heart Champion and thank you Mayor in absentia and Mayor Pro Tem and Council members for giving us this opportunity to share with you the importance of women's heart health through this proclamation. We of Women Heart are part of an organization that was founded 16 years ago. It is the leading coalition of women heart patients. We are women heart patients. We've had the opportunity to train at the famous Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and come back to our beloved community here in Savannah to work with our sister heart patients. Let me introduce who's with me today. We have already recognized our former Mayor Edna Jackson, who is a Women Heart Champion, Lizann Roberts, another Woman Heart Champion, Mr. Jeff Zelen, Executive Director of Cardiac Services at St. Joseph/Candler, and to my right Emily Hennessy, who is Manager of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program and Justine Hardy, who every day works directly with patients as a Patient Educator. We want to thank you for giving us this opportunity to spread the word about what we do. We work closely with patients, visiting them directly in the hospital. We also are pleased to go to health fairs and community organizations around Savannah to spread the information we bring with us what we call our red bags of courage which you each have received. In those bags for you today and of course for the heart patients we visit and the community members we touch we provide our schedules. This is a very rigorous schedule for the month of February which is heart month and I can talk about each one of these events, but I especially want to tell you about our favorite event which of course is at the Black Heritage Festival health fair which is coming up on February 10th. And we touch at least 200 women and their family members who come and visit with us at our table there. We also have monthly support network meetings at the St. Joseph/Candler facility. And of course as I mentioned we visit women heart patients at the heart hospital every single week and we call them our heart sisters and we bring with us the bags and also beautiful hand knitted red scarves knitted by our Savannah citizens. We appreciate what you have done for us here today to raise awareness of what is the number one killer of women in the United States and you are going to help us stop it just as you helped to stop or helped the decline of heart disease in our City by passing the non-smoking ordinance. So thank you because you help us reduce one of the risk factors for heart disease and it has a direct measurable impact. Thank you all.
[Alderman Bell read the first and last “whereas” statements in the proclamation.] Proclamation in its entirety below:
WHERAS: Heart Disease is the leading cause of mortality in the United States and is responsible for nearly 175,000 deaths---more than one in three---in women annually,
WHERAS: The rate of cardiovascular disease is statistically higher in the US South, with heart disease also being the leading cause of deaths each year in the state of Georgia.
WHERAS: Heart disease and stroke account for 28.2% of all female deaths in the state of Georgia; on average, about 27 women die from cardiovascular disease in Georgia each day.
WHERAS: The Georgia Department of Community Health estimates the overall cost of cardiovascular disease in Georgia to be nearly $7 billion dollars annually.
WHERAS: Recent medical studies have demonstrated vast disparities in the symptoms of heart attacks between men and women; this difference can potentially result in treatment disparities adversely impacting women’s health.
WHERAS: The Heart Hospital at St. Joseph's/Candler and WomenHeart Savannah, a member of WomenHeart, the leading national coalition of women heart patients committed to advancing women’s heart health, have partnered together to increase the fight against the No. 1 killer of women.
WHERAS: With the end goal of improving the health and quality of life for women living with, or at risk of heart disease, The Heart Hospital at St. Joseph’s/Candler and WomenHeart Savannah are dedicated to an advocacy of higher awareness, peer-to-peer support, improved education, early detection, accurate diagnosis and proper treatment of women with cardiovascular disease.
THEREFORE: I, Eddie DeLoach, Mayor of the City of Savannah, do hereby recognize the week of February 11 through the 17th, 2018 as Women’s Heart Awareness Week.
Former Mayor Jackson: Mr. Mayor and members of Council thank you so much for recognizing us here today. There is one thing that I think is most important, we're moving now out into the community through neighborhood associations. We will be going out to Windsor Forest we have a new heart sister there and they have extended an invitation for us to come out and to talk to them. As most of you may know I am a heart sister, I have a pacemaker and I wear it with honor. So any group that would like to have us come and talk about preventive, not just people who are in the hospital, but preventive methods because I can tell you they are different with women than they are with men. Had I known some of the things that I know now probably would not be wearing a pacemaker. But these ladies, all of these ladies and St. Joseph Hospital has extended an invitation for all of us to be totally involved in what is happening there to protect our women from heart disease and to also let those that are having heart surgeries know that they are not alone, that we are out there to visit with them and to go and to get them involved. These two ladies got me involved and I love it and it’s just an honor to say that we are touching so many people. Again thank you so much.
Alderman Johnson: Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Madam Mayor, it's so good to see you back here in our Chambers and you look absolutely wonderful. You do, and it seems like you've been busier since you left. I just wanted to take a moment to congratulate you. We got invitations today that indicated that you are being celebrated by Savannah College of Art and Design, as a Woman of Vision. So I want to congratulate you on this great honor. Congratulations.
Former Mayor Jackson: Thank you so much.
Mayor DeLoach: We’re so glad y’all are here today. Appreciate you all coming out on this. We've got one more thing. Tony’s got one thing to say.
Alderman Thomas: I want to put into the record and bring up an issue that is very serious and important in our community that has deep consequences for everyone including law enforcement. Every day in America we have 115 Americans a day that are dying from the opioid epidemic, and crisis that's facing this nation. I have received a lot of information regarding this. Just last week the City of New York filed a $500 million lawsuit against Purdue Pharma regarding this issue and other cities have now joined in Pittsburgh, Baltimore and they're spiraling across the nation as this has kind of being treated the way communities and cities went after big tobacco. I am and you know it's a very serious problem. I mean and I've been doing some reading the little Town of Kermit, West Virginia with a population of 392 people were prescribed 9 million hydrocodone pills last year. So, when you look at just how serious this problem is in our community it's something that we need to take an active stance against. Now I understand that we have a local attorney in this community that is working with other communities, I believe the City of Brunswick and other counties and he has offered his services to our community which would not involve any tax dollars being expended, only if there is a recovery from this lawsuit. This lawsuit is considered by many to trump what the tobacco suit will be. That money, if any money is recovered, could go to help our community as we deal with these types of situations. Now you know this includes, you know painkillers, fentanyl, synthetic opioids, heroin, its different forms of what is considered an opioid. I would like to know from our City Attorney what is the problem with us joining in a lawsuit that a federal judge now has opened and it's convening before it closes that door?
City Attorney Stillwell: We’re considering that, we've interviewed three law firms in Savannah about that already. At least three sets of lawyers in Savannah who are involved in various groups of national lawyers who are pursuing that and I'm going to participate in an I.M.L.A. Conference on it Monday and so we are evaluating that.
Alderman Thomas: When are you going to bring something back? Because I mean I would like us to be involved in this case before the door shuts and I think…
City Attorney Stillwell: I'll do something at the next meeting.
Alderman Thomas: At the very next meeting?
City Attorney Stillwell: Yeah.
Mayor DeLoach: I would like to say that law firm has been, has come and talk to the Chief originally, and the Chief at that time was not interested in doing it because he wasn’t, I don’t know whether he wasn't read up on it or he wasn't set do it. So, now we got Chief Revenew he may have an opinion about it but I ask that y’all talk about it, and see what you want to do. But this came up about him about two months ago with a law firm.
Alderman Thomas: I would like for us, as the attorney suggested, to take under action at the very next meeting what we’re going to do regarding this issue.
Alderman Johnson: I'm supportive of that.
Mayor DeLoach: Whatever y’all want to do and recommend will be great. Okay anything else?
Alderman Shabazz: Yes. Mr. Mayor, I want to ask, I was just looking at my notes. I want to ask Mr. City Manager in reference to, you and I talked about an evaluation with the Urban Land Institute in reference to the fairground. I want to find out where we are with that process.
City Manager Hernandez: Dr. Shabazz at the moment I have not proceeded to do any additional work associated with engaging the Urban Land Institute and that was based on conversation that I believe the City Council had and I don't remember if it was during an Executive Session or if it was in an open Workshop Session where it seems to me that there's disagreement among members of City Council as to how to proceed with the fairgrounds. And so, unless I get a clear direction from City Council I don't intend on and moving forward with that.
Alderman Shabazz: Okay in the discussion about the Urban, the evaluation in our discussions was that it would these people. If you could explain what the Urban Land Institute is and from your explanation I thought it would be a great idea that will be a tool for the members of City Council to see some other expertise and their experience and their know how to bring another tool or the members of City Council to look at.
City Manager Hernandez: Sure. The Urban Land Institute is a global nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. It is made up of individuals involved in architecture and urban planning and urban design and that includes everybody from architects and engineers to City Managers such as myself. What the Urban Land Institute has been doing since about 1946 is offering the expertise of their members of their volunteers to local communities to solve particular urban design or land use challenges and they do that through two measures one of which is called an Advisory Services Panel which is a one week intensive effort onsite that's coordinated out of the Washington, D.C. office. The other one is a similar process called a Technical Assistance Panel that is coordinated through the local Urban Land Institute Chapter which in our case would be out of the Atlanta region. And so, typically what happens is a local community would go to the Urban Land Institute and they say listen we've got this design challenge we've got a piece of property we don't know what to do with it. We think we're going to we want to do this but we need some experts to kind of come in and help us understand what the potential for that site is, what the challenges are, and how to move forward with a particular solution. So, with that when we're talking about a Technical Assistance Panel they'll put together a Panel of about 8 to 10 volunteers who agree to spend time in the community so in this case, let's say we're talking about the fairgrounds they agree to spend three days on the ground examining the challenges with moving forward and doing a development on that site. They spend a lot of time taking community input, meeting with affected stakeholders, and then over the next six months or so, they really study the issue and then they issue a report of recommendations to the local community on how to proceed.
Alderman Shabazz: Thank you Mr. City Manager and I'm going to talk further with my colleagues that’s here on City Council in reference to that wonderful explanation of the Urban Land Institute. For getting that evaluation about how much approximately would something like that cost us?
City Manager Hernandez: If I remember correctly a typical Technical Assistance Panel ranges around anywhere between $15,000 and $19,000.
Alderman Shabazz: Okay. Alright. Thank you Mr. City Manager.
Mayor DeLoach: Okay let’s talk to the City Attorney.
City Attorney Stillwell: I just want to announce as you know earlier today the Downtown Savannah Authority met and approved the issuance of a bond resolution for the issuance of bonds for the acquisition of the River Walk Extension and the stairwell elevator project on the west end of River Street that you've been working on for several years. We received seven bids, the low bid is a true interest cost of 3.055777 from Robert W. Baird and Company and the DSA has accepted that subject to Council’s approval.
Alderman Bell: Move for approval.
Mayor DeLoach: Move to adjourn.
City Attorney Stillwell: You need to vote on that.
Mayor DeLoach: Oh we need to vote on that?
Alderman Johnson: Move for approval.
Alderman Bell: I made the motion it just needs a second.
Alderman Durrence: Second.
Mayor DeLoach: I got a motion. I got a second. All in favor? Oppose hearing none. It carries.
City Manager Hernandez: Mr. Mayor just a reminder that all of you are reconvening inside the Media Room.
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=01buL2svAK2e
