savannah city government summary/final...

City of Savannah

November 15, 2019 Special City Council Meeting

SAVANNAH CITY GOVERNMENTSUMMARY/FINAL MINUTES

CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORK SESSIONNovember 15, 2019 – 8:30 a.m.

PRESENT: Mayor Eddie W. DeLoach, PresidingMayor Pro-Tem Carolyn BellAlderman Julian Miller, Chairman of CouncilAlderman Brian Foster, Vice-Chairman of CouncilAlderman Van Johnson, II, District 1Alderman Bill Durrence, District 2Alderman John Hall, District 3Alderwoman Dr. Estella E. Shabazz, District 5Alderman Tony Thomas, District 6

OTHERS PRESENT:City Manager Pat MonahanAssistant City Manager Heath LloydAssistant to the City Manager Daphanie WilliamsInterim Chief Operating Officer Bret BellCity Attorney Bates LovettDeputy City Attorney Jen HermanChief Financial Officer David MaxwellChief Budget Officer Melissa CarterHuman Resource Director Jeff GrantDeputy Clerk of Council Margaret Fox

Date: Nov 15 2019 (8:30 a.m.)

Special Meeting Agenda Items

1. Budget Work Session

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197_4579.pdf

The Budget Work Session meeting of Council was held at 8:30a.m. at the Critical Workforce Shelter located at 1 Water FiltrationPlant Road, Port Wentworth, GA 31407.

Call to order by Mayor DeLoach

Following breakfast, the meeting was called to order at 9:11a.m.

Opening Remarks (Presented by City Manager Monahan)

FY19 Year End Review (Presented by David Maxwell, ChiefFinancial Officer)

FY20 Budget Overview (Presented by Melissa Carter, ChiefBudget Officer)

Break (10:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.)

FY20 Projected Revenues (Presented by David Maxwell, ChiefFinancial Officer)

FY20 Proposed Expenditurees (Presented by Melissa Carter,Chief Budget Officer)

FY20 Community Partnerships/Cultural Arts (Presented byMelissa Carter, Chief Budget Officer)

Lunch (12:34 p.m. to 1:10 p.m.)

FY20 Debt Service Overview (Presented by David Maxwell,Chief Financial Officer)

2020-2024 Capital Plan Overview (Presented by Melissa Carter,Chief Budget Officer)

Council Discussion and Direction

The following parking lot of questions was compiled by theBudget Office:

CSO / SANITATION

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Question: Cost of recycling program, participation rate,sustainability plans (talk about in workshop).Response: Per Sanitation Director, the City could remove glassmaterials from the recyclables list to save cost or move glassdisposal in-house to reduce contracted services expense. 5,400tons of recyclables per year @ $100/ton is paid out to vendors. Therecycling program has a higher participation rate than what hasbeen surveyed. The program also attracts businesses looking formunicipalities that offer greener solutions.Additional strategies such as pay-as-you-throw waste managementwill be explored for feasibility in the future.FLEET SERVICESQuestion: Status of policy on the use of electric vehicles?Response:

Question: Local sourcing for fleet replacement? Does the Cityengage local suppliers and dealers?Response:

COO/ CIDO/ PARKINGQuestion: Arena Area Parking Facility FundingResponse: Surface parking lot to be funded by the Parking Fund.The 400-500 space garage structure to be funded by both ParkingFund and SPLOST VI Funds

Question: When will the Eastern Wharf Garage be open?Response:

CMO/CIDOQuestion: Details of capital projects funded by SPLOST 6collections over $400M and 2019 Capital Amendments.Response: Staff recommendations are based on currentinitiatives, risk avoidance strategies and various maintenancepriorities. These appropriations will be included on the Dec 5thcouncil agenda under Adoption of the 2020 Budget Ordinance aswell as within the Supplemental Capital Budget Appropriations forFY19.

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The below table provides each project, funding source andreference.

2020 Budget Retreat Parking Lot - CIP Detail

Project NameShortDescription

Category Funding SourceAmount Reference Funding Year

Benton Blvd.Widening

Widen BentonBlvd. fromJimmyDeLoach toHighlands Blvd.

TrafficGeneral Fund -Prefunding

$ 2,000,000CIP BudgetAmendment #7

2019

LMIG MatchReserve

To providegrant matchreserve forGDOT LocalMaintenance &ImprovementGrant.

OtherRoad SalesTax Fund II

$ 104,984CIP BudgetAmendment #7

2019

LMIG MatchReserve


Other SPLOST III $ 218,146CIP BudgetAmendment #7

2019

LMIG MatchReserve


Other SPLOST IV $ 658,893CIP BudgetAmendment #7

2019

Acq 2155 WGwinnett St

To fundpropertyacquisition at2155 WGwinnett Streetin support of aFireDepartmentfacility beingestablished.

Public Building SPLOST V $ 1,500,000CIP BudgetAmendment #7

2019

BridgeRehabilitation

Annualinspections andmaintenance of40+ bridgeswithin ourinventory

Streets &Sidewalks

WageAdjustmentReserve


2019

MLK VisitorCenterRenovation

To repair thefire alarmsystem at theMLK VisitorCenter.

Public BuildingWageAdjustmentReserve


2019

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Cohen StExtension

Extend Cohenstreet as adowntownconnector tothe CanalDistrict.

Streets &Sidewalks



2019

BlightedPropertyAcquisition &Redevelopment

Funding toacquireblighted,abandoned,residentialproperty forredevelopmentas outlined inApril 25, 2019City CouncilWork Sessionpresentation.

CommunityDevelopment



2019

SpringfieldBasinStormwaterManagementPlan

To conductdrainage andstormwaterplanning in theCanal District.

DrainageWageAdjustmentReserve


2019

SPDHeadquartersRehabilitation

To makevarious PublicSafety facilityimprovements.

Public BuildingWageAdjustmentReserve


2019

ProjectManagementCost Reserve

To provideprojectmanagementfunding.

OtherWageAdjustmentReserve


2019

ArenaConstruction

To provide Tier3 funding asplanned in theSPLOST VIResolution.

Public Building SPLOST VI $ 15,000,0002020-2024ProposedBudget

2020

Arena ParkingFacility

To contributeSPLOST VIfunding to becombined withParkingServicesfunding toconstruct a400-500 spaceparkingstructure at theArena site.


2020

John DelawareCenterRenovation

Renovations tothe interior andexterior of John


2020

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DelawareCenter.

Public SafetyEquipment

To providepublic safetyfleetequipment.

Other SPLOST VI $ 1,384,2122020-2024ProposedBudget

2020

Benton Blvd.Widening

Widen BentonBlvd. fromJimmyDeLoach toHighlands Blvd.

Traffic SPLOST VI $ 1,200,0002020-2024ProposedBudget

2020

TricentennialPark FacilityImprovements

To repair roofdamage andwood deckingbehind theVisitor Center.

Public Building SPLOST VI $ 115,7882020-2024ProposedBudget

2020

CMO/CIDOQuestion: Should the City be collaborating with GSU regardingtheir proposed master plan for the Southside? Look foropportunities to develop a Southside Police Precinct to serveAldermanic Districts 4, 5, and 6?Response:

Question: Is there any collaboration w/ the County from a stafflevel to address the issues of homelessness?Response: No staff request has been made in this regard

Question: Next steps for road assessment? Where are theprojects geographically located for sidewalks funded by SPLOSTVII?Response:

Question: Tricentennial Master Plan: Include resident participationin this project.Response: Noted by staff.

Question: Discussion with GPA regarding support for Fire Boat(follow up by City Manager)Response: CM will initiate discussion with GPA

CMO/ FINANCEQuestion: What steps are we taking to move to AAA bond rating?Response: See the City’s comparison of bond ratings and other

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related information below.General Fund Comparison WithComparable Cities

As of

Unassigned FundBalanceas a Percent ofExpendituesand Transfers Out

TotalExpendituesand TransfersOut

UnassignedFundBalance

Moody'sBondRating

Macon/BibbCounty

2018 2.7%$

154,737,118$

4,239,926A1

City ofJacksonville, FL

2018 13.0%1,125,003,00

0146,431,0

00Aa2

Athens/ClarkeCounty

2018 14.6% 125,573,91418,394,19

3Aa1

AugustaConsolidated

2017 14.8% 144,888,93221,491,99

9Aa2

City of Asheville,NC

2018 15.9% 114,897,49918,288,71

4Aaa

ColumbusConsolidated

2018 18.4% 179,661,75533,069,26

9Aa2

City ofSavannah

2018 18.8% 201,680,69837,945,26

3Aa1

City ofCharleston, SC

2017 23.2% 157,006,61036,391,21

0Aaa

Note: 1) GFOA recommendation is at least two months of reserves or 16.67%2) City of Savannah Unassigned Fund Balance does not includes the Sales TaxStabilization Fund of of $5,501,000. With this amount the reserve balance wouldbe 21.5%.

CIDO / FINANCE / ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTQuestion: What development in the TAD is eligible for opportunityzone credits? How can we spur economic development in this areaand take advantage of opportunity zones?Response:

Question: What is the financial impact of the proposed lift stationfor Eastern Wharf? Justification for cost?Response:

CIDO/ GREENSCAPESQuestion: Is there an opportunity to utilize interns and returningcitizens in Greenscapes contracts?

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Response:LEGAL / REVENUE / CIDOQuestion: Add to the legislative agenda a Preservation Fee for theLandmark Historic District to fund capital allocations for River Walk/ River Front?Response:

HUMAN RESOURCESQuestion: What recruitment effort and other strategies are beingimplemented to combat the loss of Police personnel?Response:

Question: What are the sentiments of employees who tender theirresignation from SPD?Response: HR manager provided this information via email onNovember 15, 2019. This information was also presented incouncil workshop August 1, 2019 by Chief Minter.

Question: How many vacancies are in code compliance?Response: There are currently two vacant positions:Administrative Assistant and Revenue Investigator. All CodeCompliance Officer positions are currently occupied / filled.

CSO / CULTURAL ARTS / CPPQuestion: Asian Festival funding?Response: This agency did not apply to the City. GSU has hostedthis festival in recent years.Question: Why are cultural contributions funded less than socialservices/CPP contributions?Response: 30 non-profit organizations requested funding in theCPP process whereas 10 cultural related request were submitted.Funding proposed in the amount of $833,000 for CPP and$680,400 for Cultural Arts totaling $1,513,400. Annually the Cityreceives significantly more social service proposals compared toCultural Art investment proposals.Question: What is the notification process for CPP funding andother grant programs that are administered through CommunityServices?

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Responded during budget session.

Hearing no objections, the Budget Work Session was adjourned byMayor DeLoach at 2:54 p.m.

Margaret F. Fox, Deputy Clerk of Council

Date Minutes Approved: December 5, 2019Initials: mff

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