2026-09-24 - City Council Work Session

18:29Good morning.

18:40>> Well,

18:51All right, we call yall ready?

18:54>> All right, we call this a workshop of

18:57the Savannah City Council to order on

19:00today, September the 24th, 2026.

19:04We're going to ask Alderman Curtis

19:05Perti, sixth district to lead us in

19:08opening prayer.

19:09>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. If you would go to

19:11prayer with me today. Loving God, we

19:14gather in a world that is deeply

19:16fractured today where anxiety runs high

19:18and divisions run deep. Lord, we confess

19:22that fear often divides us apart,

19:25leading us to quarrel, blame, and

19:27question even your presence among us.

19:30Lord, calm our anxiety.

19:32Calm our anxieties today and calm our

19:34anxious hearts. Forgive us for the times

19:37our own worries lock us into rigid

19:38mindsets that build walls instead of

19:41bridges.

19:42As we begin this meeting, help us break

19:45through these divisions. Strike open the

19:48hardened places in our hearts so that

19:49your grace, your understanding, and a

19:52spirit of true collaboration can flow

19:54freely through our conversations.

19:57Lord, help us to be a model of unity

19:59here today. Remind us that despite a

20:02fractured world, you are the single

20:04source that sustains us all. May our

20:07work today bring people closer together

20:09rather than pulling them apart. We pray

20:11this in the name of God the creator,

20:13Christ the redeemer, and the Holy

20:15Spirit. Amen.

20:16>> Amen.

20:17>> Thank you all so much.

20:19Um,

20:22so a couple of uh

20:24>> um

20:26housekeeping things that we probably

20:27need to address and I given we have

20:30three four members of council missing.

20:32I'll wait until that but remind me. Do

20:34we need exec today?

20:35>> Yes, sir.

20:36>> On what?

20:37>> Real estate.

20:38>> Real estate. You have anything? All

20:40right. So we can put time for real

20:43estate.

20:46>> Uh

20:53right.

20:57We have boards, commissions, and

20:58authorities to thank the clerk. We've

21:02gotten a lot more efficient and so we

21:06can have as many. So,

21:16>> so aging services advisory council, you

21:18have to be over 60 years old. So, this

21:21is getting closer to me.

21:27>> Mr. Mayor,

21:28>> um, yes.

21:29>> Could I nominate Charlotte Grant Cob?

21:31Okay, we have two there two uh one

21:34vacancy. Uh

21:38so we have you have Charlie Gr.

21:40>> Anybody else?

21:41>> Nancy.

21:43>> Okay. So we have to vote that out

21:46>> uh for for this item.

21:48>> Yes.

21:48>> Um if you already have two her

21:52>> only need one. Yeah.

21:53>> Yeah. All right. So any Charlotte Grand

21:57Cop anybody else? All right.

22:01Cultural Affairs Commission. We have six

22:04vacancies.

22:06Um I

22:09uh

22:10>> Latia Taylor.

22:12>> I want Brie Morgan.

22:15>> Oh, well Nancy applied for cultural arts

22:17as well. I think

22:18>> Oh, Paulo Johnson

22:23her thing that she had uh she called me

22:26about the Rock and Treat

22:29who I think she's a parking tree.

22:33>> So, I have Latina Taylor.

22:34>> Actually, Mr. Mayor, could we uh

22:38>> we we on number

22:41um Johnson?

22:43>> Mr. Mayor, let me go let me go back and

22:46it's Julia Vin. Sorry, not not Latina

22:50Taylor.

22:51>> Okay,

22:54>> one second.

22:58It's uh let me strike out Miss Taylor

23:01and put in uh Miss Benign. Juliet Ben.

23:05>> Julia.

23:06>> Yes, sir.

23:08>> I'm sorry. Jules.

23:09>> Oh, Ben.

23:10>> Yeah.

23:10>> Okay.

23:12>> Right.

23:12>> Sorry.

23:15>> You said Nancy

23:18Park. We haven't gotten to it yet. All

23:19right. So, right now we have

23:23uh

23:29we have Julia Julia

23:32Benian Brie Morgan.

23:36>> Um anyone else? Paulo Johnson is three.

23:39>> Shelandria

23:41Shir.

23:45>> We had Paulo.

23:47>> Paulo is four. Shir,

23:52>> who was the second one we had?

23:54>> You mean

23:56>> that's what I was saying?

23:59>> That's what I said.

24:02>> Solomon, Paul Maso, Apollo Johnson is

24:05three. Re Morgan is four. Julisia Vidon

24:10is five. We have anyone else?

24:16>> Joanne Morton. Go ahead. Morgan

24:19>> Morton,

24:20>> last one on

24:22>> that gives us six. [clears throat]

24:24>> All right,

24:24>> Mr. Mayor, which one did you nominate?

24:26>> Um, Brie Morgan.

24:30>> So, we

24:32is okay to put the uh county people on

24:34on this one?

24:35>> That's up to council. Although we

24:37>> we prefer them to be city.

24:39>> We prefer Yeah, we Paul Maso is a

24:42county.

24:47Yeah, I mean it's it's not it's not

24:49required. Obviously, we want to um

24:51prioritize city folks, but if they have

24:54skills, abilities, qualifications, you

24:58know, it's it's up to council.

25:00>> What about record?

25:02>> We already have six.

25:03>> Okay.

25:05>> Historic preservation. We have one

25:07vacancy.

25:10>> Very careful about who you put on these

25:12boards and commissions. Historic

25:14preservation.

25:20>> Got a few people already serving on

25:22other boards on here, too.

25:30>> Dr. Elizabeth Cully,

25:32>> I would second that.

25:36I'll

25:36>> third it.

25:42>> Keep Savannah beautiful.

25:44Strangely enough, we have only one

25:47vacancy.

25:48>> Yeah, but you got six terms,

25:51>> right? So, that's seven.

25:54So, we only have three. Um,

25:57why don't we accept the three and then

26:00go out for the rest? Have any of them

26:03indicated that they are Well, actually,

26:05there's one and and if you notice the

26:07clerk in this, um, we've really since

26:09our boot camp have been keeping better

26:11attendance. Um, so Miriam Bum has missed

26:14six meetings.

26:16[clears throat and cough]

26:18>> So, um, I would suggest David Chambley,

26:21Robert Dixon, and we go back out for the

26:23rest.

26:24>> Miriam, we don't want to put her.

26:26>> She's missed six meetings.

26:29>> That's why she's in red.

26:31>> No, because she's already

26:41>> 72. did have a conversation with the

26:43third whoever would nominate her.

26:46>> You got to come to meetings.

26:48>> We'll talk to her.

26:50>> Okay. So, Shambli Dixon

26:55>> Park and Tree

26:58Nancy Mayer. Okay. One vacancy.

27:02>> Everybody cool with that?

27:06>> Okay. Nancy May. [snorts]

27:08Yes, sir. Savannah Recreation

27:10Commission.

27:12>> GG Regalizio.

27:14>> Savannah Recreation.

27:17>> One moment, please.

27:22>> GG Kelly. Is it pronounce it?

27:25>> Yeah. GG Kelly Regalizio. This is the

27:27vacancy left behind of um there was a

27:30vacancy in the fourth district uh as

27:32they've completed their service.

27:33>> Okay.

27:34>> And

27:35uh from Miss Lou Phelps.

27:38I'm fine with that.

27:38>> I nominate Turner to

27:43vote that out.

27:46And that is it. If you notice,

27:50um there's some information here on on

27:52the last page that the clerk has put

27:54together. Uh traffic common committee

27:57may need um appointment for myself and

28:01district 5 as well.

28:04[clears throat and cough]

28:05I'm um working with the uh greatest

28:08advantage national alliance for staff to

28:10respond to the clerk's office of

28:12information. Um and then of course um SD

28:17we know the status with that.

28:19>> Mr. Mayor,

28:20>> yes.

28:20>> I'd like to add something for uh culture

28:23arts, please.

28:24>> Sure.

28:25>> Patrick Kelsey.

28:38Okay. So, we got to vote that out

28:39because it's se that's seven. We have

28:41six vacancies.

28:41>> Okay.

28:42>> Okay.

28:44>> All right. So, that's the first issue.

28:46Second issue I wanted to to address and

28:48I wanted to um we are preparing for the

28:52MLK uh parade. Um we have um as a city

28:57we have one well two two vacancies to uh

29:01entry. So um we're going to go ahead and

29:04do what we usually done with a a trolley

29:07for those of us who want to ride on. Um

29:10the other issue is that uh we are

29:13meeting with city manager regarding the

29:14budget. Uh it's budget season and so

29:18last year some of you indicated that um

29:20you wanted more time for the budget

29:23retreat. Um right now we had a day and a

29:26half slated as we have done in the past.

29:29uh city manager has already indicated

29:31that um and has said it as many times

29:34that this is a extremely bare bones

29:37budget and so I just need to know from

29:40council how much time uh you all want

29:42and will work with the city manager to

29:45um to create that time. Um so I think um

29:50again I think he he's indicated that he

29:52believes he could do within a day a day

29:55and a half um but it's this is council's

29:57meeting so it's up to the perview of

29:58council.

30:00>> Yes ma'am.

30:00>> Mr. city manager u most of that time

30:03through those budgets are taken with uh

30:06the departments giving powerpoints. Yes.

30:09>> And so mo most of that time we go

30:11through the whole year with them doing

30:12powerpoints. I would want to see more um

30:16conversation of the desires of each of

30:19these districts and how it affects the

30:21budget and what we want as opposed to

30:23hearing more powerpoints from the

30:26departments. We need more time to say

30:28what we want and what we don't know. All

30:30year long we hear powerpoints. It's not

30:32going to change. If they're going to

30:33come and give us some results, a

30:35spreadsheet, and seeing what they

30:37actually done, that is just my opinion.

30:39We said that last year. We didn't have

30:41enough time to talk about the actual

30:43budget. Most of the time was taken on

30:46presentation.

30:48>> I mean, again, Mr. Mayor, I'd like to

30:51throw something on the table and uh it

30:53lives or dies. I'm going to pitch an

30:54idea because we've all been through the

30:56budget numerous times uh and agree maybe

30:58it needs a different format or a

31:00different presentation. We always run

31:01over. We have we have got a lot of

31:03individual questions. I propose that we

31:06have for perhaps for the first day uh

31:09allowing staff to do their

31:10presentations, present as is and for the

31:12second day maybe an open house where

31:15each chief gets a room here in city

31:17hall. Members of council are available

31:19all day to go to each room and ask

31:20individual questions of each chief, each

31:22different department to workshop it and

31:25then we come together in a workshop to

31:27discuss our findings and what we found.

31:29Are we aligned with our strategic

31:31vision? Do we have any policies that we

31:33want to change? uh it gives us the

31:35chance to work individually. I know it

31:37would be a logistical hurdle uh but that

31:40we can work through each of the

31:42challenges that we saw how it impacts

31:44our districts uh and a more intimate

31:48environment to ask specific questions uh

31:51so that we can gather information on a

31:53follow-up instead of everybody waiting

31:55for one individual to to pitch in front

31:57of the room which takes a lot of time.

32:00Uh that we can work each floor uh in

32:02each department

32:04Yes, ma'am.

32:05>> Uh, Mr. Mayor, what I would uh like to

32:09see is that we uh continue to be

32:12transparent.

32:14being transparent is u making sure that

32:17during our budget um process that we do

32:21like we've been doing before and and

32:24that is uh the cameras in the room and

32:26and our cameras are on and the public

32:30can see uh what we're doing

32:32transparently because this is most to me

32:34one of the most important things that

32:36our job is as the leaders um of of our

32:40city is making sure this budget is good

32:43for the people. So the the dilemma that

32:46I have um and it's really slight. I know

32:50that there is just um so many days that

32:54we have before we have to vote on a

32:57balanced budget.

32:59>> So u I don't know. I I've talked with

33:02the city manager about this, talked with

33:04you about the mayor.

33:05>> Um I don't know how we could get uh in

33:10between all the things that we all are

33:12doing. before the end of the year. how

33:15we can get another um day or so uh or

33:20two days uh in this you know process to

33:26to

33:27hear what the staff has to say to uh for

33:31us to um get the results get the results

33:35of um what we have asked for and then to

33:41talk more about the focusing on the

33:44budget itself.

33:45So, you know, that's my that's my um

33:48pitch on the table um on how can we get

33:52another day or two in the midst of the

33:55schedules that we have now.

33:57>> We'll give you the staff will give us

33:59whatever we want.

34:00>> Okay.

34:01>> Um that's two days, that's five days,

34:03whatever it is. Um they just need to

34:05know what it is that that we want. Um

34:08historically um it has been an

34:11opportunity to put context in the work

34:13that has been done uh and then looking

34:16forward to the work that is requested to

34:18be done. Um seems sometimes we focus a

34:22lot on the work that has been done. So

34:24it's harder to look forward to what

34:26needs to be done and so that's kind of

34:28where the the the rub kind of comes in.

34:30But um you know staff is going to be

34:33prepared. Uh the city manage and I

34:35talked extensively about this um to

34:38provide the schedule that if y'all want

34:40five days, we will give you five days um

34:43to do you know what it is. If if the

34:46format is we just talking about the

34:48current budget year, I mean the budget

34:50year that we're looking to approve, uh

34:52then we can address that as well. If it

34:54could be done in the context of the

34:56strategic plan as it relates to the

34:58budget, I think that's you know against

35:00all council's perview.

35:01>> Yes, sir.

35:01>> Mr. Mayor, thank you. Um, and Alderman

35:03Plumbo, I like that idea. I didn't think

35:05about that. Maybe having different

35:07workshop stations set up uh throughout

35:09the area. I think and the thing with

35:11transparency too is we're going to

35:12present this at a workshop and that's

35:14where I believe that's where

35:16transparency is going to come out. Uh

35:18the big thing to me is we as a council

35:21have to keep in mind that our job is you

35:24know help helping to direct the budget

35:26and helping to

35:29you know form policies and uh look at

35:32ordinances and be that directing

35:34governing body. And what we got to be

35:35careful about, and this is just me in my

35:37opinion, what we have to be careful

35:39about is getting so far in the weeds

35:41with the budget,

35:42>> right,

35:42>> that

35:44really we're losing focus and sight of

35:46where we want to allocate funds to

35:48because we all have wishes. We've all

35:49met one-on-one with the the city

35:51manager. Um, so, Mr. Manager, you have

35:54an idea of what each council member is

35:56looking for

35:58for their for their wish list, right, so

36:00to speak. And I think what what I'd like

36:03to do though is be able to and and our

36:06job as a council is to help keep the

36:09city manager in check. That's that's

36:11your job to figure out how to get all

36:13these different pieces where they need

36:15to go. And uh I had a city manager I

36:17worked with years ago that had this

36:20saying. He always said, "I'm not going

36:22to stick my booger finger in someone

36:23else's Kool-Aid." And that to me, you

36:26know, what I don't want to do is I don't

36:28want us to be a micromanaging city

36:30council and be really inappropriate

36:32where we're digging our stuff in where

36:34really that should be your

36:35responsibility. Our job is to keep you

36:37in check and if it's not right, then we

36:39come back to you and say, "Hey, this

36:40isn't right. We got to make this work,

36:42right?" [clears throat] So, um, Mr. Mr.

36:46Bates, is that is that really Okay. I

36:49just want to make sure I'm not out of

36:50line when I say that. Um, but I I think

36:54I'm okay with if if we if we need more

36:57time that's fine. Um but I just what I

36:59don't want to do is overburden staff

37:02with losing focus. And I agree with what

37:03you said mayor that we're we're always

37:06busy looking at our accomplishments.

37:07It's hard to look forward on what we

37:09want to do. We're getting ready to have

37:10a presentation today on looking forward

37:12and you know seeing what the

37:14possibilities of of of something are.

37:17So, um, you know, I think that

37:21I think as long as we're transparent, we

37:23discuss this in a workshop, we'll we'll

37:25be okay. Um, you're going to present

37:27this material, city staff is going to

37:28present this material. I'm okay with the

37:31two days. Uh, that's just my opinion.

37:34>> So, again, historically, we've, um, as

37:39of late been more of a day and a half.

37:41we can move it to two days if you think

37:43that will get us where we need to be. In

37:46the midst of the actual retreat itself,

37:48we also have used our workshop sessions

37:50as well uh to also flesh out um

37:54information for example the parking lot

37:56stuff that uh you all have asked

37:58questions about the staff have used that

38:00come back to us to address those issues.

38:02So, um, let me hear from some who have

38:04not, you know, should we stay at one and

38:07a half, should we go to two, should we

38:08go to three? Just need to know what you

38:10all's, uh, desire is.

38:13>> I don't see anything wrong with one and

38:15a half. As long as we're doing what

38:17we're supposed to do,

38:19>> I'm good with that

38:19>> with the one and a half. Now, if there's

38:22more time needed, then that should be

38:24allocated at a different time.

38:26>> That's what we did, right?

38:27>> The the budget time. Um, but

38:32I just I I when they do the

38:35presentations, when the staff does the

38:37presentations,

38:39it seems like it's a lot of

38:44Say that again.

38:45>> Jumbling.

38:46>> Thank you.

38:46>> A lot of what? Jumbling.

38:48>> Jumbling.

38:49>> It's not

38:51factual. It's not stick tuitiveness.

38:54It's not something that we could use.

38:56It's just something that they just

38:58putting out there. I want to see more

38:59indepth information, more line items,

39:03more um uh uh where the money actually

39:08is going, who's actually getting the

39:10money. I want to see more equity spread

39:13across the board when it comes to

39:15certain areas as far as recreation and

39:19um sanitation and those type things.

39:22That's the stuff that I desire to see.

39:24>> Okay.

39:24>> Well, again, I think you know, city

39:26manager and staff are hearing this.

39:27Again, I think uh the important part has

39:30been for them to be able to uh let you

39:33and and and by extension the public know

39:35this is what we've been up to for the

39:36last year.

39:37>> Um and then in a time saying let's now

39:40this is what we want to build on next

39:42year. If you don't want as much what

39:43we've been involved with next year,

39:45again we can eliminate that. if you want

39:47it to be much more on a dollar per, you

39:51know, more, you know, budget issues like

39:54that as it relates to our strategic plan

39:56because that's how our budget is based.

39:58You know, we can do that. Um, you know,

40:00again, it it's really based on this is a

40:02council u meeting. It's not the staff's

40:05meeting. So, um, we can start off with a

40:07day and a half and see where it goes. We

40:09can start off with two and see where it

40:10goes. We can start off with three. Uh,

40:12and you all are satisfied. we can, you

40:15know, you know, we we're we're in a good

40:16place in terms of um that we have the

40:19calendar in front of us. Our goal is to

40:21have the budget first reading at the

40:23second meeting in November, the second

40:26first reading, the second reading at the

40:28first meeting in December, uh and

40:30hopefully have a merry Christmas after

40:32that.

40:34>> Mr. Mayor, I think that the overwhelming

40:36uh sentiment from everybody is they want

40:40factual and precise information given by

40:43staff. Um I think that we can have a day

40:46and a half, but we can actually uh set

40:48oursel out for two days, but if we can

40:50just do it in a day and a half, I think

40:52that'll be a uh that'll be a good good

40:54thing for us being that we definitely

40:56have to leave time.

40:57>> So, I want to be careful because I hear

40:58the word factual. So, I don't I don't

41:00want anybody think that. You all are

41:02saying that they're not being factual.

41:03We want to be able to have information.

41:04>> But you want to be much more

41:06>> in depth.

41:06>> In depth.

41:07>> So we want to have information and they

41:09be prepared to give us the information

41:11so that we don't have to ask for uh

41:14extension in time because if we

41:16>> by the numbers so to speak.

41:17>> So if we have somebody standing at the

41:19podium, Mr. City Manager, and they have

41:22to look at everybody else because

41:23they're not prepared. We that that gives

41:25us sitting at the table say okay well we

41:29need more information. we trying to feed

41:30into or extend that conversation. But I

41:34think that we need um an ample amount of

41:36time to also to Alderman Palumbo's point

41:39if we can't get to that point then it

41:41should be a space for us after the

41:44parking lot to be able to have those

41:45questions answered

41:46>> and it is I mean some you know it it is

41:48a external process but some of it is

41:50internal. I mean sometimes there

41:52questions that you all might need in

41:54individual time that staff uh city

41:57managers made staff available to you all

41:59throughout the budget process to have

42:01specific questions answered specific

42:03situations that may not necessarily be

42:05good for the you know the whole uh

42:07council to to deal with alder

42:11>> I agree with everything I've heard so I

42:12don't have to add anything and we have

42:14these budget retreats and when we leave

42:16there we have no idea what's in the

42:18budget

42:19>> so I I agree with everything that's been

42:20said. We do need to change the format

42:23and and and having some precise more

42:25precise information and we don't have to

42:27be as redundant to hear what we've heard

42:30here, right, to hear that again. So, I'm

42:32I'm in agreement.

42:34>> So, by I'm hearing and if I'm

42:36communicating this wrong, um more um by

42:39the numbers in terms of service delivery

42:42and then specific to what council is

42:45being asked for. I don't know if how

42:46you've heard this.

42:48>> Yes, sir. If I could

42:50I think what we were trying to do and

42:51it's very

42:52>> before you get a chance to go.

42:53>> Well, I'm not

42:56everybody in here during the year. We we

42:59know who's over the departments when

43:01he's saying not getting into the weeds.

43:03That's why I'm here to get into the

43:04weeds, right? And so y'all do this big

43:06presentation and y'all put stuff up on

43:08the parking lot. But not nobody has came

43:10back and told me about that parking lot.

43:13And so I would want when you say get

43:16into breakout rooms, the whole point of

43:19us being together is having some

43:21cohesiveness and some synergy. And we

43:23can't do that in breakout rooms. The

43:25public is not going to be in all these

43:27breakout rooms. I like the process, but

43:30I'm saying when we talk about all of

43:32these departments that come in front of

43:34us, to me, it's redundant, right?

43:37because we're trying to move forward and

43:39we can't move forward telling us about

43:41what they did that we don't uh we you

43:43don't want us to talk to staff. We go

43:44directly to you. So, so just let me

43:47finish. Right. And so if we can't talk

43:49to staff, why can't the the brewer

43:51chiefs come in front of us and then we

43:52ask them questions instead of them

43:54coming with a PowerPoint that takes up

43:56all of our time and we still don't know.

43:59And so I think that they do a good job.

44:01But I want to move forward. That's what

44:03it's about. And we can't move forward

44:04talking about what y'all did. We're here

44:06to say what y'all are going to do, what

44:08didn't work, and what we're going to do

44:10better for the people that I serve,

44:12particularly for my district. And we

44:14can't do that if we are in separate

44:16rooms and breakout rooms. We did that. I

44:18want to get information that everybody

44:21can hear at one time, that we all can

44:23hear at one time and not be if it's

44:25going to be about synergy and breaking

44:26up in these groups. And yes, you pretty

44:29much know what we want. And so why don't

44:31we talk about what we want instead of

44:32what we got so that we can get what we

44:34want moving forward. And so not trying

44:37to change it. I'm just saying more time

44:39so that we can talk about what's

44:41actually important to us because you

44:43can't get it unless five people vote on

44:44it. And everybody's stuck on this five

44:46and I don't have to be in a five. I just

44:48want people to know that I serve that I

44:51fought for this whether it gets on that

44:52five or not. But we can't do that in

44:54breakout rooms, right? And we can't do

44:57that by the same powerpoints that y'all

44:59gave us the whole year. The process is

45:01that we get this information and we act

45:03on it. And so I would like to get the

45:06bureau chiefs. We we we we all of them

45:09are paraded in front of us and I think

45:11they do a good job. It'll be a better

45:12job if we can ask them pointed questions

45:15and not one at a time. That is going to

45:19ultimately be by the bureau chiefs and

45:23the supervisors. And by the way, we we

45:25still a lot of topheavy with this stuff,

45:27right? So, we're not getting the

45:28information that we readily need. So,

45:30the parking stuff is good, but when are

45:33we going to get some action back on

45:35those parking items that we have? Thank

45:37you.

45:38>> Yes. So uh and I'd just like to clarify

45:41too the intention the idea would be an

45:44open house for us not to break out or

45:46work into silos but a lot of the

45:48questions that I have I don't want to

45:49bother you guys with what streets are

45:51going to get paved in the fourth

45:53district next year you know um what's

45:56the timetable for the Casey Canal you

45:58know drainage project how long is

45:59Abberorn Street going to be closed you

46:02know some of those individual questions

46:03that I'd like to ask about how it's

46:06going to be budgeted in the next year

46:07>> but not for

46:08>> but not hold everybody else in the room

46:10hostage for the individual question, but

46:12we do come together at the end to talk

46:14about what we found as a factf finding

46:17mission and then we all come together at

46:19the table for that final discussion to

46:21say, okay, I'm not seeing enough on on

46:23this side. I'm not seeing enough in

46:25street repaving. I'm not seeing enough

46:26in sidewalk repair or etc, etc. Uh so

46:29that we have the the opportunity to ask

46:31those individual questions to to gain

46:33more information. and I'm happy to do

46:35it, you know, and schedule some time to

46:37find out on the street repaving myself,

46:39but I think that everybody be [snorts]

46:41really benefit from that.

46:44>> Thank you, Mayor Johnson. Also, um, when

46:48you talk about line items and you're

46:50talking about bringing in the bureau

46:52chiefs and what have you, that will give

46:55our public

46:56>> an opportunity to hear and see what it

47:00is that we are talking about. When we go

47:02back in the community and say, well, we

47:04asked for this or we asked for that and

47:06we couldn't get this because of this,

47:08then they will actually be able to see

47:10what we are talking about. So the

47:12transparency piece when you start

47:14talking about monies going into um

47:17certain departments line items and how

47:19much is spent here and there you you're

47:22you're we don't have to answer so many

47:24questions because we can refer them back

47:26to our budget books.

47:28>> Mr. Manager, what did you hear? Well, I

47:31heard that the presentation format isn't

47:35um working won't work this year or isn't

47:38giving council um what it needs to do to

47:41adequately deliberate on the budget. And

47:44uh that was a I think a discussion that

47:46was clear at the last uh council

47:49workshop and something that we've been

47:50thinking about throughout the year. The

47:53I think the promising thing about that

47:55and I just want to put this out to make

47:56sure I'm kind of understanding the

47:58direction is we have a strategic plan

48:01now. Performance is a big part of

48:03understanding

48:05um you know what we can budget for in

48:07the future and what the capacity is to

48:09execute on those needs. So our idea has

48:13been to have the bureau chiefs report

48:16out on uh the 20 objectives in the

48:19strategic plan. So hopefully keep those

48:21presentations

48:23um very uh brief and current about where

48:26we've been, what we're trying to

48:28accomplish this year and where we hope

48:31to position ourselves next year as it

48:33relates to those objectives. Um and then

48:35I think that we can dig [clears throat]

48:36into the budget book itself, chapter by

48:39chapter. The budget book is an

48:41incredible resource. Everything is

48:44there. The weeds um are there in the

48:47budget book. Um the capital plan is

48:50outlaid five years in the budget book.

48:52Um every street we um intend to repave

48:55with the money in the proposed budget is

48:57in that budget book. Um the capital

49:00projects are broken down not only um by

49:03um purpose but also capital fund. We can

49:07look um deeply into the operating

49:09budgets of of each department and go

49:12from there. Um if that sounds um like

49:15the right approach to council, we can

49:18we'll we'll be planning appropriately

49:20for that. One thing I want to mention is

49:22it's it is a a not an insignificant cost

49:27to put on the council retreat at the

49:31civic center um with the AB requirements

49:35um for transparency. So, if we do extend

49:38into multiple days, um it might be more

49:41appropriate to come back into this room

49:43since we'll have a smaller um cadre of

49:46staff anyway. We already have the

49:48built-in um technology here in this room

49:51to be able to be transparent as

49:53possible. So, just just noting that we

49:55might not be in the same space for all

49:58of those days.

49:59>> Mr. Mr. City Manager, I I like the idea.

50:02I just when we get the budget book, I

50:04don't need to go to a presentation where

50:06I'm being read everything out of the

50:08budget book. Okay?

50:09>> There's there's a there's an onus on all

50:11of us at this table to actually do our

50:13homework and look at that stuff. I don't

50:15want to be spoonfed that information

50:16because to me, that's just personally

50:18now. I don't know if anybody else, but

50:19to me, that's a waste of time, right?

50:21I'm going to take my time and I'm going

50:22to look through that budget book and if

50:24I have questions or if something doesn't

50:25seem right, I want to be able to ask

50:27that and I want to be able to see the

50:28direction where folks are going. uh when

50:30it comes to our bureau chiefs and it

50:31comes to the direction of the city. So

50:35again, I don't want us to get down into

50:38the weeds with a lot of stuff. The weeds

50:39are there. Let's let's check on our own,

50:41but I just don't want to be spoonfed

50:42this stuff for two days. I want to see

50:44the direction of where we're going,

50:45where we've been, what works, what

50:46doesn't work. The day and a half is

50:48great by me.

50:49>> Yeah. What I'm hearing is we will

50:52truncate the presentations by staff

50:55>> and I will focus on GPS objectives. So,

50:58and just know re refer back to our

51:00strategic plan. Our objectives are not

51:02based in funding codes, right? They're

51:04based in outcomes and um and community

51:07desires. So, you're you're it's you're

51:10going to hear perhaps a few things that

51:13hit from different buckets, right? So

51:15like for instance public safety um

51:19you'll hear from SPD um the fire

51:22department as well as ones and perhaps

51:25recreation on some of the objectives

51:27that they hear but we'll hear from those

51:29but those budget those um bureau chiefs

51:32on that. We'll try to keep that

51:33presentation short, focus on those 20

51:36objectives, where we started at GPS,

51:39what work we've done this year to try to

51:41advance those objectives, where we think

51:43we'll be able to go in 27, and what the

51:45proposed budget shows in terms of those

51:4720 objectives. Then I think that you

51:50know the the agenda would be a

51:54discussion with city council and we

51:56won't go through the budget book or have

51:58presentations page by page but use the

52:01budget book as the resource and the

52:03discussion point for city council around

52:05this table or a similar table where city

52:08council can have a discussion with me

52:10and the executive leadership team

52:13directly um on those budget items and

52:16what we think um that those those

52:19allocations are going to get us or not

52:21get us in the next year.

52:23>> All the woman

52:24>> I was just going to ask what's going to

52:26be different in those presentations that

52:28we haven't heard before.

52:29>> So the pre I think you know this will be

52:32my sixth budget here. Usually in the the

52:35the budget presentations that we've done

52:39um which I think are similar previous to

52:41me is we have each service center and

52:43each department come and talk about

52:46their department and their performance

52:48over the last year and some of the

52:50things that are included in the proposed

52:53budget um that they believe are going to

52:55advance the work. Um we also talk about

53:00um from a financial perspective you know

53:03where we are with our um business type

53:06funds um what our revenue projections

53:09are etc those kind of baseline budget

53:11points. So, what I'm proposing this year

53:13is instead of going service center by

53:16service center, department by

53:17department, and spending a full day, um

53:20kind of hearing from um our department

53:23staff on things that they care about or

53:26or their performance of the last year or

53:28what they're excited about in the budget

53:30is to use GPS as our briefing guide.

53:34There are 20 there are six goals and 20

53:36objectives in GPS. Now, there are a lot

53:38more strategies and initiatives tied to

53:40that, but we can go objective by

53:43objective through the GPS plan um and

53:46talk about I'd like to do it in three

53:48parts. Where we started, where we think

53:50we are right now this year, where we

53:53think we can position ourselves from

53:55next year. So, you know, from an issue

53:56area, um and from our strategic plan,

54:00what staff believes the work has been

54:02done and what the work should be in the

54:04future. um we can keep those

54:05presentations

54:07um very brief. We can have the materials

54:10of those presentations which would be

54:12based in our strategic plan um for you

54:15um in advance um to be able to review

54:17and keep and um and so that's what I

54:20think would be different. So instead of

54:22a full day and a half of presentation

54:24after presentation department by

54:26department um we do a you know probably

54:29a morning of presentations for the GPS

54:32strategic plan. you hear from each

54:33bureau chief as they're they have

54:35responsibility over those 20 objectives.

54:38Um, and then we [clears throat] can a

54:39lot the rest of the time for council

54:41discussion and we can work through the

54:43different sections of the budget book um

54:46and and answer any questions or talk

54:49about policy as it relates to budget

54:51allocation.

54:52>> That sounds fine. I think we just have

54:54to but uh colleagues we have to allow

54:57staff to get through the presentations.

54:59we have to so if we you know we can

55:02allow them to get through them and then

55:05we can kind of use whatever day and a

55:08half after to you know kind of go back

55:11through whatever we need to go about you

55:12know I think you know I think that's in

55:15my experience what's happened is that we

55:17we get somebody we we'll start off

55:19pretty good and then somehow or another

55:21we'll get an issue and we'll just get

55:23really really bogged down in it and it's

55:25really hard to get up and going and you

55:27know and basically we have staff that

55:28just kind sitting around waiting for

55:30their turn. And so, um, if we could just

55:33let them get through their

55:34presentations, um, I think that would be

55:36helpful for us and for them and then we

55:38can kind of slug it out afterwards.

55:41>> Yes, sir. Okay. Well, we will I will

55:42we'll work on that agenda and I will

55:44pass it to council um for approval

55:47before we get there. Yes, sir.

55:48>> So, we'll we'll look at two days um but

55:51we'll we'll kind of

55:53>> communicate and be back with you all

55:55within the week.

55:56>> If I could make this time to just like

55:58Okay,

55:59>> this is unlike the other budget years

56:01that we've had. Um the economy is uh not

56:05great. Um our revenues are

56:08underperforming. Our expectations for

56:11this year, which means they're going to

56:12impact our projections for next year's

56:14revenue. Our expenses, just like

56:16everyone's expenses at home, have gone

56:18up. So, we're seeing um those uh those

56:22two trends move in directions that we

56:24don't want to see them, which means that

56:26there's going to be very little room for

56:28new initiatives um in the budget. And I

56:31think we we got to think about it in

56:33terms of some key items. What do what

56:36should we do as employers to protect our

56:39employees against and protect their

56:41buying power at home with inflation? Um

56:43and that's going to include our our

56:45benefit and compensation package. and

56:47then looking at are there any other

56:49additional revenues or savings that we

56:51have within the budget to do recurring

56:53operating initiatives and then looking

56:56at our capital budget which is is fully

56:58funded in a really big capital budget

57:00but making sure that we have the

57:01sequencing right on those capital

57:03projects. And the other thing is that

57:05the big beautiful bill will be in effect

57:08and the social safety net that

57:11>> um the federal government had used

57:13previously to protect uh folks uh will

57:16not be there. Uh the state won't have

57:18it. And so we will find ourselves now

57:21having to help in ways that we have not

57:24helped before. Um which is going to be

57:26challenging because I don't know if

57:27anybody really knows the impact of what

57:30that's going to be. That being said, um,

57:32uh, United Way, it's time for United

57:34Way. And so, quickly, sir, Mr. Mayor,

57:37Mr. City Manager, with that being said,

57:38when we talking about, uh, monies going

57:40into the future with budget, are we

57:42going to be able to, uh, set some money

57:44aside in our budget because a lot of

57:46people are hurting with these water

57:47bills and issues that they're having, I

57:49mean, what are we going to

57:50>> Well, that'll be I mean, if that's a

57:52direction for council, we'll have to

57:53find um that money and allocate that

57:56there. So, I think that the um my kind

58:00of PSA right now as we're finalizing our

58:03my budget proposal to you, which has to

58:05be balanced, is there's very very little

58:07room um if we were, you know, to do all

58:10of the traditional things that we would

58:12normally do, um

58:15colas,

58:17um you know, funding, you know, upgrades

58:20that we need different places, deferred

58:22maintenance needs. The reason I asked

58:24because u the public is going to push

58:26back on us and say you guys are taking

58:28care everything else except us.

58:30>> I hear you. You've got to and that's the

58:32but that's going to be the so so I

58:35that's going to have to be the

58:36discussion with council is you know

58:39where if we need to if we need to find

58:41new initiatives and we need to provide

58:43more support, we've got to be able

58:45>> what are you going to cut in order to do

58:47that

58:47>> right? We have to find those resources

58:49somewhere

58:50>> at the top

58:51>> and uh and and that's where you know we

58:54got to go. So,

58:56>> all right. Well, again, I wanted to lift

58:58up United Way. We just did our um our

59:02annual campaign kickoff um and you all

59:05should receive your forms. So, we're

59:07asking our employees. So certainly we

59:09would love to have 100% council

59:11participation um with the United Way

59:14because as what's happening is these

59:16nonprofits are now taking on the brunt

59:18of the social safety net um collapsing

59:21and so there are more people that need

59:23help and I will tell you all departments

59:25when people need help we send them to

59:27United Way agencies. So um you know do

59:29as your heart uh will allow but u um you

59:33should have you should be getting your

59:34forms soon. So we'd appreciate it. I

59:37will tell you that every chief has um um

59:40given a belief tap is good and Jay and

59:44Joe's good.

59:46Did chief did chief uh

59:49>> Chief Dun did you

59:52>> Oh, he called you out.

59:53>> Yeah. Well, yeah, cuz I'm I'm petty like

59:55that. Um I just want to make sure I just

59:57make sure we got But uh every one of our

1:00:00chiefs are on board. Even our city

1:00:02attorney is on board and city clerk. So

1:00:05smiling.

1:00:06>> We want to make sure we're 100% giving.

1:00:08Miss Sation, you you Yeah, she's already

1:00:10straight. So,

1:00:11>> all right, Mr. Manager, thank you all

1:00:13for indulging us. We'll get back with

1:00:14you on that. Uh we now have

1:00:16presentations on uh Urban Land Institute

1:00:20and um in the legislative agenda.

1:00:23>> Yes, sir. Thank you. So, uh, speaking

1:00:25about looking forward, um, you know,

1:00:27this council has been, um, uh, pretty

1:00:31bold in taking actions with, um,

1:00:34redevelopment and community development

1:00:36initiatives all across the city. Um we

1:00:38can look at um the east side

1:00:40redevelopment plan, the work that um

1:00:42we've been able to accomplish there, the

1:00:44work that continues, the canal district

1:00:46planning um which we've adopted and

1:00:48continue to work with um the fairgrounds

1:00:51legacy plan um the civic center

1:00:54redevelopment um our waterfront work um

1:00:57and a big uh next step um is the

1:01:00southside repositioning. Um that was a

1:01:03part of a plan done several years ago uh

1:01:06with the Congress of New Urbanism who

1:01:08came in and and took a look at many

1:01:10areas um in the city, the Southside

1:01:13being one of them. Um and we're

1:01:15continuing um that work to try to um

1:01:18move forward with repositioning the

1:01:20southside um into um the assets and

1:01:24developments that our community wants to

1:01:26see. Um uh so we had the urban land

1:01:30institute uh graciously came and um

1:01:34performed a uh technical assistance

1:01:36project um on the southside plan. I want

1:01:38to remind council that we have um almost

1:01:40$20 million in SPLS funding um for

1:01:44Southside um repositioning and retrofit

1:01:46projects. Um, and so we want to hear

1:01:49about uh what the ULI heard from our

1:01:53residents and stakeholders across the

1:01:55city and on the southside and what the

1:01:57outlook is um for this southside um

1:02:00repositioning plan. So um I'm going to

1:02:03um ask if our assistant director for

1:02:05planning and urban design, Mr. Edward

1:02:06Morrow, would come to the uh podium to

1:02:09get started. But I also want to

1:02:11acknowledge and recognize our guests who

1:02:13you'll hear from today from uli. Arman

1:02:16uh Tolantino from Cooper Kerry is with

1:02:18us. Grace Wooten from Pate Dawson um is

1:02:21with us. Laura Bollick from Kimley Horn.

1:02:23And Lance Morcel from the Urban Land

1:02:26Institute. And you'll hear from all of

1:02:27them and maybe more um as we discuss the

1:02:31um technical assistance project

1:02:33repositioning the Southside. So with

1:02:34that, turn it over to Ed.

1:02:36>> Thank you so much, Mr. City Manager. Uh,

1:02:38I will take it that the mayor was not uh

1:02:40pointing to me with long- winded staff

1:02:42presentations because I know uh you all

1:02:45are as happy to see me as I am to see

1:02:47you every time I have the privilege

1:02:50[laughter] of coming to see you now. Uh

1:02:53so as you all know uh the manager it's

1:02:55almost like he saw my notes. We are

1:02:57re-engaging uh the Southside

1:02:59redevelopment uh the Savannah Mall site.

1:03:01And so our purpose here today uh is

1:03:04really to spark your imagination. Um

1:03:06what what you're going to hear is not a

1:03:07plan. I want you to think of it as an

1:03:10approach. Uh it's a recommendation for

1:03:11an approach to the redevelopment of this

1:03:13site. Um the site is roughly 70 acres.

1:03:16So for comparison, uh think about Daffin

1:03:18Park. It's just a little bit smaller

1:03:20than that, uh including uh Grayson

1:03:22Stadium, but uh significantly it adjoins

1:03:25a corridor that hosts about 62,000

1:03:27vehicle trips per day. So this is really

1:03:29significant. Uh most of you are going to

1:03:31remember CNU26 back in 2018. Uh and

1:03:35during that time we had a panel of

1:03:36national designers who did come uh and

1:03:38offer their insights for a walkable

1:03:40neighborhood uh center there. And while

1:03:43that particular initiative didn't

1:03:44actually uh gain enough steam, the

1:03:46energy that surrounded it did yield 3

1:03:49million in SPAS funds from uh SPA 7 and

1:03:5215 million from SPLA state. And so that

1:03:54uh is committed funding that is ready to

1:03:56fuel this new vision. Uh draft plan 2045

1:04:00now identifies this site as a regional

1:04:02activity node. And so it's well situated

1:04:05for mixed juice walkable development uh

1:04:07with room for a potential regional scale

1:04:10anchor. And so uh the city did engage

1:04:12ULI's technical assistance panel. And so

1:04:15comprised on that panel are

1:04:16practitioners in private development uh

1:04:19finance market analysis, design,

1:04:21transportation. And what they did was

1:04:23they looked at it to give us some

1:04:25insight into the challenges and the

1:04:26possibilities of redeveloping this site.

1:04:29Uh again I want you to think of it as a

1:04:30recommendation for an approach. It is

1:04:32not a plan. uh but they were candid with

1:04:34us and with you all about what it is

1:04:36that they believe from their uh

1:04:38professional perspective what the market

1:04:40will and will not bear. Uh I'd like to

1:04:42highlight our own Pat Shay of GMH who

1:04:45was the panel chair uh Lance Marcel from

1:04:48ULI Atlanta and I would be remiss if I

1:04:50didn't mention uh my classmate and

1:04:52fellow GTLM Arman Tolantino who was the

1:04:55project manager. uh staff is going to

1:04:57take everything that they have said and

1:04:58we will use it uh as we think about the

1:05:01programming and uh the plans for this

1:05:03area and I would encourage you all to uh

1:05:06listen uh intently about and consider

1:05:08how you can leverage the funds that are

1:05:10committed uh to advance our policy

1:05:12priorities. So with that I will hand it

1:05:14over to ULI.

1:05:22>> Good morning uh mayor and council. Thank

1:05:24you all for having us. It's good to see

1:05:25some familiar faces in the room. Uh, so

1:05:29my name is Lance Morcel. I am a staff

1:05:32member with UI. I'm a certified city

1:05:34planner by trade. Formerly before coming

1:05:35to UI as a staff person, I worked in

1:05:37suburban Atlanta in economic development

1:05:39and city planning. Everybody else you're

1:05:42going to hear from today are

1:05:42volunteering their time and expertise.

1:05:44I'm actually the only one that's a UI

1:05:45staff person. That's one of the beauties

1:05:47of putting together a multi-disiplinary

1:05:49uh expert panel that we were able to

1:05:51work on for the city of Savannah. And so

1:05:54this is uh UI's mission's priorities to

1:05:56connect, inspire, and lead. UI considers

1:05:58itself to be the chief convenor of the

1:06:00real estate and land use community

1:06:02worldwide.

1:06:03And to kind of give you a snapshot of

1:06:05that, we have 48,000 members worldwide,

1:06:07over 1400 here in the state of Georgia

1:06:09alone. This pie chart here is kind of a

1:06:12snapshot of who our members are and kind

1:06:14of a broad swath of uh expertise that

1:06:17we're able to convene uh that is very

1:06:19representative of the panel that we

1:06:21worked handinhand with the city of

1:06:22Savannah to build and curate for the

1:06:24southside project specifically. That's

1:06:26one of the beauties of the process is

1:06:28when the city po a city poses us a set

1:06:30of questions we dive deep into our

1:06:32member network to uh curate a panel uh

1:06:34that makes the most sense for the

1:06:36questions being asked of us.

1:06:39And next I'm going to turn it over to my

1:06:40colleague Laura Balik who is the chair

1:06:42of ULI Savannah to do an introduction on

1:06:44ULI Savannah.

1:06:45>> Thank you. Um I'm Laura Balick with

1:06:47Kimley Horn. I serve as the chair of ULI

1:06:50Savannah and I um want to give a quick

1:06:54overview. We have uh since our inception

1:06:57in 2024 technical assistance panels will

1:07:00have been a an important part of our

1:07:02activity. Um, importantly though, we are

1:07:05a broader we represent the broader uh

1:07:08services uh resources of ULI, some of

1:07:11which are on the screen right now.

1:07:13technical assistance panels being one of

1:07:16the most valuable um as well as

1:07:18connecting uh communities here, our

1:07:21community to uh local uh ways to address

1:07:25local development challenges and land

1:07:27use challenges uh by leveraging the

1:07:30broad suite of resources and knowledge

1:07:32that ULI um brings to us. So I I myself

1:07:36am um work on public projects delivering

1:07:40public projects to our community. So

1:07:41this is an important avenue for me to be

1:07:44able to make that connection as well as

1:07:46the others in our membership locally,

1:07:48many of who you would recognize if they

1:07:50were in the room. Um, and so I will talk

1:07:52a little bit about technical assistance

1:07:55panels. So as I mentioned, ULI brings

1:07:57expertise and resources. Technical

1:08:00assistance panels is a very important

1:08:02tool. Uh and I would also say that uh

1:08:06one of the most useful aspects as Lance

1:08:09mentioned is this interdisciplinary and

1:08:11independent thinking that is applied to

1:08:15uh our local challenges from the broad

1:08:18uh

1:08:19>> yes

1:08:25>> we are we're talking about the

1:08:28>> the south side

1:08:30>> talking about the president

1:08:33updated this

1:08:35two that are different. Everything else

1:08:36is the same.

1:08:37>> Oh, thank you.

1:08:38>> I'm like, wait for this. [laughter]

1:08:40>> I appreciate that confusion. Thank you.

1:08:43Um, and so just to wrap up, technical

1:08:45assistance panels, uh, interdisciplinary

1:08:48thinking brought to a local issue. We

1:08:51ground that in the uh stakeholders,

1:08:55stakeholder input, market realities,

1:08:58local knowledge. And then from there

1:09:01that combination helps communities to be

1:09:04able to see a familiar challenge in a

1:09:08new light and also see practical

1:09:11solutions for moving forward. So that is

1:09:13a process as Edward said ve very

1:09:16beautifully that is the process that has

1:09:18been applied to the Savannah mall and

1:09:20the southside the future of the

1:09:22southside and from there I will turn it

1:09:24over to Arman to talk about the process

1:09:26and the findings.

1:09:31Morning everyone. My name is Arman

1:09:32Tolantino. I'm an architect with Cooper

1:09:34Kerry. I'm also chair of the ULI Atlanta

1:09:37uh taps committee and I also served as

1:09:40the project manager for the tap that

1:09:42focus on the Savannah Southside. So on

1:09:43the screen right now you'll see the

1:09:45scope of work questions that we received

1:09:47from the city. Uh basically focusing on

1:09:51helping the city come up with

1:09:52redevelopment strategies for the

1:09:54Savannah Mall site and the surrounding

1:09:56Southside neighborhood. Uh so these

1:09:58questions really focused on you know

1:10:01what are the tools in the toolbox so to

1:10:04speak that the city has and you know

1:10:06what kinds of best practices should they

1:10:08be focusing on when it comes to things

1:10:10like density uh housing options mobility

1:10:15open space uh what types of planning and

1:10:17regulatory frameworks should they be

1:10:19considering whether it's an overlay

1:10:20district or transit oriented

1:10:22development. Um and also um how can the

1:10:26uh the site um focus on not only public

1:10:30space and mobility options but also on

1:10:33you know the catalyst sites what sites

1:10:35they be should they be prioritizing um

1:10:38and how to um also um work with the

1:10:42partner the neighboring institutions um

1:10:45such as Georgia Southern University's

1:10:46Armstrong campus um St. shows medical

1:10:49center as well as Hunter Army Airfield.

1:10:52And last but not least, what are some of

1:10:54the economic development tools that

1:10:56should be considered um such as transit

1:10:59orienting um sorry um uh tax allocation

1:11:02districts, community improvement

1:11:03districts, so on and so forth. So, so

1:11:05with these scope questions in hand, um

1:11:08the panel which consisted of myself, uh

1:11:11Pat Shea who was mentioned earlier as

1:11:12well as eight other individuals, um we

1:11:15took these questions, we also started

1:11:18off by touring the site and the

1:11:20surrounding neighborhoods. And then we

1:11:22sat down and conducted a series of

1:11:24stakeholder interviews with local

1:11:26residents, uh, neighborhood um,

1:11:28associations, business owners, property

1:11:30owners, um, church leaders. And so, so

1:11:34on the screen right now are some of the

1:11:36the feedback that we received. These are

1:11:37the common themes that we heard in these

1:11:40stakeholder interviews. Number one on

1:11:42there, like we heard a lot frequently,

1:11:45is that the area while it has an

1:11:47identity, it lacks a soul. And um it as

1:11:50you all know it's a it's a very car

1:11:52oriented environment. There's a lack of

1:11:54pedestrian connectivity. There's a need

1:11:57for community services, a need for

1:11:59additional housing options. As you all

1:12:01know, Abberore is a very busy um

1:12:04thoroughare and at times dangerous the

1:12:07area. It lacks that center, that core

1:12:09that that's that you would typically see

1:12:11in downtowns. Um there's been trust

1:12:14issues with with previous plans that

1:12:16haven't gained traction. um not a lot to

1:12:19do for for folks older than five. Um and

1:12:23the mall itself, while it um it's a

1:12:25large site, so it has multiple owners,

1:12:27there's difficulties and challenges with

1:12:29with with regards to u restrictions and

1:12:32easements. Um but the another thing that

1:12:35I wanted to highlight though that we've

1:12:37heard often was the need to to not look

1:12:40at this peace meal but to really think

1:12:42of it um as an opportunity to start big

1:12:48and start over.

1:12:50So um after conducting these interviews

1:12:53um with the stakeholders, the panel came

1:12:54together and conducted what we like to

1:12:56call the SWAT analysis as some of you

1:12:58are familiar with where we looked at

1:12:59both strengths and weaknesses,

1:13:01opportunities and threats um with

1:13:04regards to the site. And so so our

1:13:07observations with regards to the

1:13:08strengths of the site, obviously it's a

1:13:10prime location, right? It's it's a it's

1:13:12the gateway to the southside, which is

1:13:14one quote that we heard from a

1:13:16stakeholder. Um, obviously there's that

1:13:18proximity to nature down in the

1:13:19southside where you have Mohawk Lake to

1:13:21the north of the mall site, you have the

1:13:23marsh land and river to the west, you

1:13:26have Bell's Landing to the south. Uh, as

1:13:28I mentioned earlier, you have that

1:13:30proximity to institutional anchors like

1:13:32GSU Armstrong. There's public resources.

1:13:34There's that public library on site as

1:13:36well as the VA clinic right across the

1:13:38street from the mall. Um, and and yeah,

1:13:41and there's also this stable residential

1:13:43market. Um, relatively stable. You have

1:13:46obviously a large proportion of the

1:13:49surrounding neighborhoods are single

1:13:51family uh detached, but then you also

1:13:53have a mix of um some town homes and

1:13:56apartments, but relatively stable

1:13:58market. weaknesses. Autocentric design,

1:14:01that lack of pedestrian connectivity,

1:14:03lack of enough sidewalks, um a lack of

1:14:06that true identity, a lack partially due

1:14:09to that lack of a central gathering

1:14:11space, that fractured land ownership

1:14:13that I mentioned earlier regarding the

1:14:15mall site and with that coming um

1:14:19including multiple layers of easements

1:14:20and restrictions and all these roadways

1:14:23creating barriers to connectivity and

1:14:25then um competing choices. So people

1:14:28rather than coming to to the south side,

1:14:30they're they're going north to Midtown

1:14:32and downtown. And then with that um

1:14:36although there is transit access with

1:14:37with bus routes and and stations

1:14:40throughout the the site, that lack of

1:14:42connectivity, walkability to those

1:14:44stations, some opportunities and

1:14:46threats. So So opportunities, we have an

1:14:47opportunity to connect the the southside

1:14:50and the Savannah Mall site specifically

1:14:52to the tie to town trail. an opportunity

1:14:55to leverage the existing market that's

1:14:58commuting further south. Um, with this

1:15:02large site, that scale of the site, it

1:15:04allows for an entire new entirely new

1:15:06identity. Uh you have the Hyundai plant

1:15:09just just to the west. Um that provides

1:15:13that existing workforce as an

1:15:14opportunity for the site and also an

1:15:18opportunity to build upon the the the

1:15:20housing um the verse set of housing

1:15:23options that I mentioned earlier, the

1:15:25opportunity to to partner with the

1:15:28neighboring institutions, create that

1:15:30anchor site, and then we'll go into this

1:15:32a little bit later. um an opportunity to

1:15:35create that anchor whether it's you know

1:15:37uh a public space, public green space,

1:15:40sports anchor development, a sports

1:15:42complex. Um and then also an opportunity

1:15:45to leverage what's what's uh what makes

1:15:48the southside unique, which is nature,

1:15:50bringing nature in, focusing on trees,

1:15:52the water, all the things that people

1:15:54think about when they think of the

1:15:56southside. Some of the threats uh number

1:15:58one on this list um maintaining status

1:16:01quo the threat of doing nothing

1:16:04>> um the threat of this long-term process

1:16:07but it um but not understanding the the

1:16:10effort and the time that it would take

1:16:12to do such a large endeavor. The threat

1:16:15of you know if you do maintain status

1:16:17quo that continued decline of the area.

1:16:21um the threat of you know that lack of

1:16:22planning infrastructure, the the threat

1:16:25of um these anchor institutions that are

1:16:28operating in silos rather than really

1:16:31working together, connecting and

1:16:33interacting together. Um so with that um

1:16:37we will start talking about some of the

1:16:39recommendations but the key themes here

1:16:40are that it's a city-driven process. The

1:16:43city needs to be in the driver's seat.

1:16:44They need to take control of the site,

1:16:46put those tools in place to to really

1:16:49create a public private partnership,

1:16:51issue an RFP to bring on private a

1:16:53private developer and be ready to go

1:16:56big. So with that, I will hand it off to

1:16:58Grace to talk about some of our

1:17:00recommendations.

1:17:02>> Thanks, Arman. Hey everybody, I'm Grace

1:17:04Wooten. I'm a landscape architect and uh

1:17:07office lead for Pape Dawson in our

1:17:09Savannah office. So a local Savanian.

1:17:12Um, I'm also on the chair I'm the chair

1:17:15of the women's leadership in initiative

1:17:17for ULI's executive committee in

1:17:20Savannah and I also had the honor to

1:17:22serve on this tap alongside Arman. Um,

1:17:25I'm going to be using some notes or I

1:17:27might keep you here until 5:00 pm. So,

1:17:30[laughter]

1:17:32>> so, uh, building on some of the key

1:17:33themes that Arman mentioned, I'm going

1:17:35to walk through the framework and and I

1:17:38know that it's been mentioned, but still

1:17:40want to be clear and upfront about what

1:17:42this is and what this isn't. Uh, it's

1:17:44not a master plan and it's not a

1:17:46decision. uh it is a way to organize a

1:17:50lot of the big ideas that we heard over

1:17:52two day a two day period so that you the

1:17:55city has uh a starting point for the

1:17:58community conversation that comes next.

1:18:03So with that, the framework is organized

1:18:05around four ideas, uh, identity and

1:18:08culture, community connections, civic

1:18:11hub, and land use and development. And

1:18:13we didn't start from scratch going into

1:18:15this tap. The 2018 Congress for New

1:18:18Urbanism Savannah Legacy Project

1:18:21set the vision for us. And that's a

1:18:24vibrant, sustainable, mixeduse, walkable

1:18:27neighborhood center on the south side

1:18:29with room for education, housing, jobs,

1:18:33and entertainment with more than one way

1:18:36to get there. So, in looking at this

1:18:39vision, we determined there are two jobs

1:18:41for this site. Uh, first and foremost is

1:18:44to serve the Savanians who live and work

1:18:48on the southside every day. And second

1:18:51is to w it it it serves as a welcome

1:18:53corridor from I95. It's the first

1:18:56impression that people have when they

1:18:58come into our city.

1:19:02So in our discussions, the biggest thing

1:19:05that came up and repeated over and over

1:19:07and over again was connections. Right

1:19:10now this is a car first place. It's been

1:19:13mentioned now a couple times that

1:19:14Abberorn is one of the busiest corridors

1:19:16in town, but it's also surrounded by

1:19:19assets. There's the Chattam County

1:19:21Library, Mohawk Park. It has close

1:19:24proximity to the Truman Linear Trail.

1:19:27These assets connect and serve the

1:19:29neighborhood first and they also change

1:19:32the vision upon arrival. So, the demand

1:19:34is there.

1:19:37So this slide again especially clear

1:19:40that this is these are just options

1:19:43there say you could look at it as a menu

1:19:45of possibilities

1:19:47um that also fit within the legacy plan

1:19:49and the tide to town vision and other

1:19:52visions previously mentioned that we

1:19:54didn't start from scratch. Um, the four

1:19:57opportunities that we identified that

1:20:00contribute differently to community and

1:20:03economic development would be a town

1:20:05center, somewhere to gather and shop and

1:20:08have access to public resources.

1:20:11Second would be sports and rec

1:20:13recreation hub, whether that be private

1:20:15or public. Three, a mixeduse community

1:20:18center to live, work, and play. Or uh

1:20:22fourth option is housing which would fit

1:20:25the neighborhood vision and again this

1:20:28is not our call but

1:20:31what is this this would be your call and

1:20:34what is the timing what does the site

1:20:36need uh what use or density level is

1:20:40appropriate and at what time the these

1:20:42are the questions that will be answered

1:20:44during that citydriven process that we

1:20:46keep mentioning.

1:20:52So that brings us to recommendations and

1:20:55everything that we recommend comes back

1:20:57to the three themes that Arman

1:20:59mentioned. It's a city-driven process

1:21:01one which will two put your tools in

1:21:04place and when you're ready three go big

1:21:08because we're already home. So um that

1:21:11was my cheesy quote for the day.

1:21:12>> I got it.

1:21:14Um

1:21:16so in the next few slides we will talk

1:21:19about our recommendations in more depth.

1:21:21It is a process that spans approximately

1:21:246 months to seven years. Uh I'll walk

1:21:27you through the short-term vision and

1:21:29then Arman will pick back up for the

1:21:31medium and long-term visions.

1:21:35The short-term vision comes to two

1:21:37things. Uh first and again reiterated

1:21:42it's a common theme is that it's a

1:21:43city-driven process. Uh this site is big

1:21:46and it's complicated and it's not going

1:21:48to fix itself and right now the city has

1:21:51the chance and the momentum and the

1:21:53opportunity to lead this. Second and

1:21:56very important is to get control of the

1:21:59property. This map shows and this map

1:22:03shows that this is not just one site.

1:22:06It's a site that has multiple property

1:22:08owners. It has layers of easements and

1:22:11restrictions. And getting control of

1:22:14this site and all of the surrounding

1:22:16context is the key to what unlocks the

1:22:19rest of the timeline. And with that,

1:22:20I'll turn it back over to Arman.

1:22:23>> Thank you.

1:22:26So yeah, after the easy job of acquiring

1:22:28the site um in the medium term, that's a

1:22:31joke, but um is uh the city really needs

1:22:33to focus on a vision for the site.

1:22:35Creating that vision statement that is

1:22:37based on the community's input and the

1:22:40community's needs and also once that

1:22:42vision is established, creating a

1:22:44development framework plan for not only

1:22:47the Savannah Mall, but the entire

1:22:48Southside district. And this development

1:22:50framework plan would include um items

1:22:54such as where public infrastructure

1:22:56needs to be located, public transit,

1:22:57where public space can be prioritized.

1:23:00And then once this development framework

1:23:02plan is created, um looking at different

1:23:05areas such as the Savannah Mall site to

1:23:07create overlay districts and these

1:23:09overlay districts would help prioritize

1:23:11areas for density. We're talking like

1:23:13four to five stories that are really

1:23:15based on the surrounding context, a mix

1:23:18of uses, and then reducing those

1:23:20requirements that you typically see in

1:23:23suburban areas for setbacks and parking

1:23:25requirements. And in continuing that

1:23:27medium-term uh the medium-term

1:23:29recommendations here, the goals would be

1:23:31to consider what tools in the toolbox uh

1:23:34are does the city have with regards to

1:23:37economic development, whether that's uh

1:23:40tax allocation districts where you have

1:23:42or also known as tax increment financing

1:23:45where you can use leverage the taxes

1:23:47that are that uh that are part of the

1:23:49this district and then devote that back

1:23:52to infrastructure improvements.

1:23:54Community improvement districts, special

1:23:55service districts are also other

1:23:57examples that could be considered. And

1:24:00then also in the medium term assessing

1:24:02the optionality,

1:24:04we recommended working with consultants

1:24:06to conduct like a market study or

1:24:09potentially working with a consultant to

1:24:11look into sports complexes. So um so on

1:24:13and so forth and then having the city

1:24:17look at what those potential anchors

1:24:19could be. What are the different

1:24:20scenarios looking at what Grace just

1:24:22mentioned? Whether it's a public green

1:24:24space, an athletic complex, sports

1:24:25anchored mixeduse development. Those are

1:24:27just examples, but there's more on the

1:24:29table that should be considered. And

1:24:31then also in the medium term, working on

1:24:33a marketing and branding strategy for

1:24:35the site. This is very important because

1:24:38this marketing and branding strategy

1:24:40will help establish that narrative. It

1:24:42would lead the messaging, would provide

1:24:43that authentic narrative about what the

1:24:46Southside area is all about, the

1:24:47progress being made, and it would also

1:24:50facilitate communication both internally

1:24:51with city staff and externally with the

1:24:54surrounding community just to make sure

1:24:56everyone is on the same page with

1:24:57regards to the goals, the decisions, the

1:24:59activities. And then this is just a

1:25:01quote from a Uli uh book about the 10

1:25:04principles for successful public private

1:25:06partnerships where you where a

1:25:07transparent process achieved through

1:25:10open communication, information sharing

1:25:12and participation in the decision

1:25:14process increases the potential for

1:25:17broad support for public private

1:25:18partnerships and particularly from

1:25:20non-stakeholders.

1:25:22Um and then finishing out here uh for

1:25:24the medium-term uh next steps working on

1:25:27that master developer RFP for the

1:25:29Savannah Mall site. And this RFP would

1:25:32include requirements for both housing

1:25:34and community oriented uses and

1:25:36requirements to adopt the portions of

1:25:38the framework plan that I me just

1:25:39mentioned and also creating design

1:25:41guidelines for the entire district that

1:25:44would be coordinated with the selected

1:25:46master developer. And we would recommend

1:25:48using the Savannah Mall site as an

1:25:50example. And then finally, in the long

1:25:52term, finally, breaking ground, building

1:25:54that infrastructure, the roads, the

1:25:56sidewalks, the public spaces, and also

1:25:58the anchor structure that would in turn

1:26:01hopefully attract further redevelopment

1:26:03and full buildout [snorts] of the

1:26:04framework plan. And so with that, I'll

1:26:06hand it back to Lance to talk about um

1:26:10public private partnership.

1:26:12>> Close this out. Yeah.

1:26:12>> Thank you, Arman.

1:26:14>> All right, everybody. Thank you so much.

1:26:16So again kind of reiterating at the

1:26:18public private partnership piece I mean

1:26:19the city as a driver I think is

1:26:21something that we've repeated over and

1:26:23over and so I think that kind of what

1:26:25that means specifically a city-driven

1:26:28process right not only with the city and

1:26:30the driving as in the driver's seat that

1:26:33means multiple things not just city

1:26:34staff not just city government but it

1:26:36means engaging with the community it's

1:26:37something I know is very important to

1:26:39the residents of the southside it is

1:26:40something that uh was made clear to us

1:26:42during our stakeholder interviews uh we

1:26:44had a chance to meet with many community

1:26:46members as well as members of the city

1:26:48council that represent the district as

1:26:50well and that was extremely important to

1:26:52us that we just want to drive that point

1:26:53home. Community engagement is a part of

1:26:55a city-driven process and it's something

1:26:57the city of Savannah has done well

1:26:59through previous studies through the CNU

1:27:02Southside study and that steering

1:27:03committee but building uh upon that and

1:27:06so putting the tools in place a lot of

1:27:08the economic development tools that

1:27:09Arman uh was able to speak to and issue

1:27:12that RFP for a potential master

1:27:15developer partner. And with that happy

1:27:18to take uh questions from the council

1:27:20and from staff. Um, just again want to

1:27:23reiterate, thank you all for your time

1:27:24today and we'll make sure that the

1:27:26council gets the latest draft of the

1:27:28slides. Uh, our apologies for that

1:27:30change. With that, happy to take

1:27:31questions.

1:27:32>> All right. Thank you, Mr. Manager.

1:27:33Anything before we get started?

1:27:34>> No, sir.

1:27:35>> All right. Um, this represents uh again

1:27:38another huge opportunity and the most um

1:27:42extensive expansive investment in the

1:27:44southside

1:27:46uh in our city's history. Um, we can't

1:27:48mess it up.

1:27:52I have a question.

1:27:53>> So,

1:27:55>> thanks, Mr. Mayor. I appreciate you

1:27:56saying that because to me, that's that's

1:27:58the important part. And for I'm going to

1:28:02take a guesstimate, seven years or so

1:28:03that I've been involved in the

1:28:05conversations about what that's going to

1:28:07look like. We knew before seven years

1:28:10that that site was just, for lack of

1:28:12better terms, was dying. And then when

1:28:14the mall finally did close um the

1:28:17interior parts and of course the anchor

1:28:19stores that are still there um we knew

1:28:23that there's going to have to be some

1:28:24sort of conversation and you know I I I

1:28:27don't want to put anybody on the spot

1:28:28and I'm not going to but um one of the

1:28:31one of the owners is here today and

1:28:33we've had some some great conversations

1:28:34and um you know what's what's

1:28:37interesting is

1:28:39there's been so much unknown about this

1:28:43this this area, this parcel. Uh the

1:28:46conversations that we've had with the

1:28:47community, the challenges that we've

1:28:49seen uh over the past seven years when

1:28:52we've met as a community, uh this study

1:28:55actually is is representative of of what

1:28:58our community meetings were and the

1:29:01folks that had the concerns um the

1:29:03challenges that were facing.

1:29:04[clears throat]

1:29:05Uh I like the idea of go big. We're

1:29:08already home, right? So, um, I want to

1:29:11say thank you to y'all that were

1:29:13involved with the ULI, uh, group. That

1:29:16was that was an interesting two days.

1:29:18Uh, and I actually that's been my that's

1:29:21that's kind of been my saying for a

1:29:23while that that area is the gateway the

1:29:25south gateway into the city. And that's

1:29:28the first thing people see when they get

1:29:29off 95 and they're coming into Savannah.

1:29:31You know, we've only got three or four

1:29:33different main corridors into the city

1:29:35and that's one of them. Uh it's probably

1:29:37one of the most traveled outside of 516,

1:29:39I think. Um but this is a big endeavor.

1:29:44It's to me it's very reminiscent of the

1:29:46canal district. It's very um

1:29:49complicated, but to do nothing um

1:29:55is not productive and I think it it

1:29:57hurts the community. It it hurts the the

1:29:59folks that have invested into the mall.

1:30:01Um and I think a P3 operation is great.

1:30:04I think that's the way to go.

1:30:06um you know which raises a lot of

1:30:08questions of where do we go from here.

1:30:10So uh I'm sure there's going to be

1:30:11plenty more conversation on that but I

1:30:14just want to say on behalf of the

1:30:15southside and behalf of the sixth

1:30:17district and I'll even speak for the for

1:30:19the fifth district. She's [snorts] not

1:30:21in here but folks from both districts

1:30:22and even the fourth district have been

1:30:25asking and it's not just a direct impact

1:30:27on our districts. It's this is a

1:30:28citywide thing. This is a big impact for

1:30:31the entire city. Um, so

1:30:33>> actually the region.

1:30:34>> Yeah, for the region. So, um,

1:30:36>> absolutely.

1:30:37>> Thank you y'all so much for the hard

1:30:39work that you've put into this. [snorts]

1:30:41Um, I am I'm just ecstatic that that

1:30:43that we're to this point at least in

1:30:45this conversation to see how we move

1:30:48forward. Um, so the biggest

1:30:50[clears throat] thing from my end is

1:30:51that we maintain transparency,

1:30:52communication, and engagement. That's

1:30:54the big ask that I have.

1:30:57>> So, thank you all.

1:30:58>> Thank you, Alderman Blakeley. Thank you

1:31:00so much for your presentation.

1:31:04I happen to be a resident of the

1:31:06southside

1:31:08for almost 50 years, the east side prior

1:31:12to the southside.

1:31:14And as I'm looking at um what you all

1:31:20heard and when you talk about

1:31:22repositioning the southside,

1:31:25you're talking a lot about um the mall

1:31:28area, but I'm looking at it from a a

1:31:32much larger perspective. Okay. Um

1:31:37when you say the area has an identity,

1:31:40you heard but it lacks a soul.

1:31:43I'm concerned about that because there's

1:31:45a whole lot a lot of history on the

1:31:49south side that we don't even talk about

1:31:52and we don't touch.

1:31:54>> So I would like to see and I'm talking

1:31:56black history.

1:31:57>> Sure.

1:31:58>> Africanamean,

1:31:59you know, antibbellum history.

1:32:02>> I would like to see that included in

1:32:05this as well. Um and when you talk about

1:32:09uh the weaknesses

1:32:12as far as transportation is concerned um

1:32:16I would like to see more conversation

1:32:20about that because I don't know if uh

1:32:22you all are aware but our transportation

1:32:25system in Savannah is a little rocky

1:32:28right now. So we need to make sure that

1:32:31that transportation situation is going

1:32:33to be included in this as well.

1:32:34>> Absolutely.

1:32:35>> Um

1:32:37And

1:32:39when you talk about the the area being

1:32:43like a sports complex, we talked about

1:32:46that. I think me and you had the

1:32:48conversation. Um that would be something

1:32:51interesting to have. But other

1:32:55other activities, you know, people in

1:32:58Savannah, they're asking for things such

1:33:00as um what is that? Uh they have one in

1:33:04Pula. They have a lot of them in Dave

1:33:07and Busters, that type of um entity in

1:33:11in that area as well. So, um thank you

1:33:14for the presentation, but I just want

1:33:16you to reconsider some of those things.

1:33:18You're talking about tied to town. Let's

1:33:20talk about tied to town. tying every

1:33:24area on the south side, not just where

1:33:27the mall is in Abbercoin and uh Bell's

1:33:32Landing and what have you, but I'm

1:33:34talking going deeper

1:33:35>> down into um the the the real true

1:33:39history of the Southside.

1:33:41>> Yes, ma'am.

1:33:42>> Okay.

1:33:42>> Thank you for that feedback.

1:33:44>> Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. I wanted to

1:33:46commend uh the mayor, alderman peri, and

1:33:49all of council for their vision on this,

1:33:50city staff and the entire team. Uh

1:33:53because we've made the small steps,

1:33:55>> but it's time for us to make the giant

1:33:57leap.

1:33:58>> Uh and I agree with council that the

1:34:00vision is much larger than one single

1:34:02node. Uh we had the vision in the '90s

1:34:04that that was the best place to put this

1:34:06monumental investment for the Savannah

1:34:08Mall. The location hasn't changed. The

1:34:10calculus hasn't changed. It's still our

1:34:13gateway uh to the city. It's still the

1:34:15gateway to the southside. It's that

1:34:16central node and it is much larger than

1:34:19just one single site. Uh but it has the

1:34:22potential to be that catalyst to pull

1:34:24all of this together. And I I

1:34:26congratulate you on seeing that vision.

1:34:29Uh that it is like pulling on that one

1:34:31thread that gets much bigger and bigger

1:34:33and bigger. That you understand the

1:34:34monumental importance of not just this

1:34:36one site but its citywide, countywide,

1:34:40regional impact. Uh

1:34:42>> absolutely. its proximity to

1:34:43interstates, transportation, u so much

1:34:46more that it sets things in a in a

1:34:49communitydriven direction. Uh so I

1:34:51wanted to commend you for for picking up

1:34:53what we're putting down. Uh and looking

1:34:56forward to the next steps. Thank you for

1:34:58giving us a a guide book and a plan of

1:35:00what we need to do and our marching

1:35:03orders for how do we make this happen.

1:35:05So I'm ready to march with you. Thank

1:35:07you. Well, our our our march um towards

1:35:11equity

1:35:12um you know extends throughout the city.

1:35:16Um it should extend out throughout the

1:35:18city and really making sure that every

1:35:21area of the city has what they need.

1:35:23They don't all need the same thing. Uh

1:35:25and you know again this is a opportunity

1:35:28that's been kicked down the road for too

1:35:31long. And like I said I'm I'm a moonshot

1:35:34type of guy. [clears throat]

1:35:35Nothing is nothing big has ever been

1:35:38achieved by playing it small.

1:35:41And so um and I think this council has

1:35:45um really achieved an acument for these

1:35:49big bold ambitious plans and you see

1:35:52them all over the place, but more

1:35:54importantly they include engagement um

1:35:57and transparency um but really moving

1:36:00along at the speed of trust. So

1:36:03>> I appreciate you. Anybody else?

1:36:06Yes.

1:36:08>> Oh, okay. Um, I think all of us realize

1:36:11that this is a very valuable project,

1:36:14>> right?

1:36:15>> And and that this is the tight growth

1:36:17and development that is well planned and

1:36:20thought out, smart growth and

1:36:21development and this is a good process.

1:36:24Um, we hear over and over the the

1:36:27diversity piece. Of course, we know in

1:36:30order for us to do things differently,

1:36:33um, have better outcomes. We need to put

1:36:37you need to plan for that. Um, and we

1:36:41talk about here we are and where do we

1:36:43go and to know where to go, you got to

1:36:45know where you came from. So when the

1:36:48older woman mentioned the history, I

1:36:49think it's very important that you all

1:36:51concentrate on what has happened here,

1:36:53what with this old farmland where uh

1:36:56these uh generals came through and

1:36:58marched on. you know, we need to make

1:37:00sure we know what that history is to

1:37:02bring that soul into the project um to

1:37:06look further down uh to see where we

1:37:09need to be going. Um

1:37:12and I think that every every area we

1:37:16have different needs, but in all of this

1:37:19development, our citizen needs to be the

1:37:22primary stakeholder. We have to keep our

1:37:24citizen, our local taxpaying

1:37:28uh person in mind. Um, whoever that

1:37:31might be. Of course, there's a lot of

1:37:32transient traffic in that area on that

1:37:35side of town. So, so all of these

1:37:37amenities will play fine to this

1:37:39transient young military business

1:37:42population. Um, but we have to think

1:37:44about the long longstanding people too.

1:37:48And I think there should be a economic

1:37:50engine built into all of these hubs um

1:37:54that make sure that there's a place

1:37:57there where local people can go and get

1:38:00that energy of of economic development

1:38:02to take a part in this. I think we need

1:38:04to concentrate on local

1:38:07developers, local builders, local

1:38:10contractors to give local people

1:38:12Savannah first type um energy without

1:38:16all of our different um developers and

1:38:19contractors and especially the the the

1:38:22small business people to give them

1:38:25opportunity to have some type of

1:38:26leverage. These things should be

1:38:28economic engines for our businesses also

1:38:31like the way Atlanta airport was in

1:38:33Atlanta that gave so many people

1:38:35opportunity to step up. So, so although

1:38:39you know that area can use some people

1:38:42or some programs in place to assist in

1:38:44economic development. So, I think this

1:38:46is a great project. Um the urban land

1:38:50institute, you know, you guys that have

1:38:52been around, they've been in Savannah

1:38:54before doing work. Um I've had

1:38:55opportunity to work with the uli in the

1:38:58past. So I I understand the way and the

1:39:00approach that you work and this is good

1:39:02because you it's always very inclusive.

1:39:04So that works with our GPS with our plan

1:39:07here with the city. So um I'm encouraged

1:39:10to see what's next and and I know we got

1:39:12to talk about funding at some point. So

1:39:14we talk about the P3 piece and bringing

1:39:16some outside money inside to to help do

1:39:19some of this work because of course we

1:39:20can't do all of this off of taxpayer

1:39:22dollars. We're going to have to attract

1:39:24some investment.

1:39:30say something in response to that. Um, I

1:39:32appreciate so much of what you just said

1:39:34and I agree wholeheartedly. I think that

1:39:38an indicator of a great design, a great

1:39:40development is that it can tell the

1:39:42story of of the past, but also provide

1:39:45an area to write more stories for the

1:39:48future. And I think, and I'm going to go

1:39:50a little off script here. I hope that

1:39:51I'm not in trouble, but something I

1:39:53learned about

1:39:54>> recently is uh and that I think that

1:39:57could be beneficial to explore is the

1:40:00idea of a a program manager RFP that is

1:40:04a third part. So program management.

1:40:05There are companies that do that that

1:40:07are third party entities that would come

1:40:08in and essentially be on city staff for

1:40:11the duration of the project and they

1:40:14help with funding, property acquisition,

1:40:16procurement of your engineers and your

1:40:19develop. They'll help with the RFP

1:40:21process for the master developer and um

1:40:23it might be something it's something I

1:40:25just recently learned about and I think

1:40:27that it might be worth exploring as well

1:40:28too.

1:40:29>> We we've employed that process before.

1:40:31>> Okay, great.

1:40:33as manager.

1:40:34>> Yes, sir. So, uh, thanks for ULI and and

1:40:38city staff and all of our community

1:40:40folks who work on this project.

1:40:41[applause]

1:40:43You know, I think the theme of go big is

1:40:46um is an apt one here. Um, let me throw

1:40:50the wet towel um because that's my job

1:40:53to do. Um, is you know, the the the

1:40:56first step is, you know, in their

1:40:58recommendation is the city acquiring the

1:41:01site. The reason that we're having these

1:41:02discussions is because we have about $18

1:41:04million in SPLOS funding. Well, we've

1:41:08three million now and then 15 is tier 2

1:41:10splate which will come over the next uh

1:41:13four to five years. Um but the you know

1:41:16the the the key to doing all of this

1:41:18would be the city acquiring the site and

1:41:20that is a a process and um as was

1:41:23mentioned the site has its complications

1:41:27um and uh and so that will have to be a

1:41:29process that we engage with the owners

1:41:32of the site um and and others as we work

1:41:35that through. So, that's a a little bit

1:41:37of the direction that we can um uh

1:41:39discuss later with council about how it

1:41:41wants to move forward um with that real

1:41:44estate um portion of the project. Um and

1:41:47then of course um the the the master

1:41:49planning and the ability to do creative

1:41:52P3s and create the vision for the well

1:41:54the southside will have to fall in

1:41:56subsequent steps um if controlling the

1:41:59site is the first step.

1:42:02>> All right. Well, thank you very much.

1:42:05Um,

1:42:07anything else for us before executive

1:42:08session?

1:42:09>> Yes, sir.

1:42:11>> Uh, we have a presentation.

1:42:12>> Thank you.

1:42:14>> Look, we I was going to be out, Joe. I

1:42:15was going to be like, we ready for

1:42:17lunch?

1:42:19>> Uh, so you're going to Let's uh we're

1:42:21going to hear from Joe Shir.

1:42:24>> Thank you.

1:42:25>> You

1:42:30um

1:42:35Joe, I'm sorry.

1:42:42>> Um, let me uh this this is a response.

1:42:45Um,

1:42:47this is a city manager uh responding to

1:42:50council that we wanted to have uh

1:42:53formulate our legislative agenda earlier

1:42:56um than December like we usually have

1:42:59done. Uh, so this is his response to us

1:43:02really feeling this out sooner. So,

1:43:05thank you for for the hearing.

1:43:08>> Yes, sir. Thank you. Um, so we'll have

1:43:10Joe and Megan Sebold um come up and talk

1:43:13about the process. Um this is not

1:43:16designed to get feedback today on the

1:43:19legislative agenda. Uh but just to talk

1:43:22about the process that our team will be

1:43:24kicking off with you council to um to to

1:43:28start constructing our 2027 legislative

1:43:30agenda. The reason that it's important

1:43:33is it allows staff and our those working

1:43:36on our behalfs to advance policies that

1:43:39this council believes are important to

1:43:41advance um at the regional level, at the

1:43:44state level in Atlanta when they're in

1:43:46session later um as well as with the

1:43:48federal government because we have um

1:43:50agents who help advance all of this work

1:43:53um every day. This not only includes

1:43:55laws and policies, but also um our

1:43:58ability to work with state and federal

1:44:00administrations to be able to pull down

1:44:03um dollars and grant dollars um for um

1:44:06for things that you feel are worthwhile

1:44:08to um to go out and try to capture. So

1:44:11that's the importance of the legislative

1:44:12agenda. I'll turn it over to Joe and

1:44:14Megan who'll walk us through the

1:44:15process.

1:44:16>> Thank you. Good morning, mayor and city

1:44:17council. Joseph Sher House, the chief of

1:44:19information and public affairs. The

1:44:22purpose of today's brief is really to do

1:44:24three things. One, which the city

1:44:26manager already articulated well, is the

1:44:28importance of our legislative agenda,

1:44:31its intent, uh, and how a targeted,

1:44:34concise agenda helps us get our mission

1:44:37accomplished. Number two, we'll provide

1:44:39city council an overview of the current

1:44:42legislative climate and some

1:44:44expectations we have moving into 2027.

1:44:48And then lastly, we'll just refresh and

1:44:50remind everyone of the annual state

1:44:53legislative

1:44:54um timeline and the agenda creation

1:44:57process which we're kicking off today.

1:45:01Walking us through this presentation

1:45:03will be Megan Seabold. She's relatively

1:45:06new to the city. She's been with us six

1:45:08months. She's the lead for our policy

1:45:10and intergovernmental affairs portfolio.

1:45:12And as a reminder, uh, she helps

1:45:15advocate for our local strategic policy

1:45:18initiatives. She also handles our state

1:45:21legislative portfolio and also manages

1:45:24our federal priorities and advocacy

1:45:26work. Megan has over a decade of

1:45:30experience in both strategic

1:45:32communication and policy. She has a

1:45:35unique perspective coming to us from the

1:45:37State Department and also with a

1:45:39background in municipal work with the

1:45:41city of Seattle. provides her a good

1:45:43perspective on both of those landscapes

1:45:45and we're lucky to have her as uh as

1:45:48part of our executive leadership team.

1:45:50So, with that, I'll pass it off to Megan

1:45:52to walk us through.

1:45:56>> Thank you, Chief Sheirouse. And Joe and

1:45:59my city colleagues have been really

1:46:01wonderful in helping me get plugged into

1:46:03Savannah. So, I'm I'm really happy to be

1:46:05here. Uh now, many of you have been

1:46:08through more Georgia state legislative

1:46:10sessions than I have. So, some of this

1:46:12may not be new to you, but every

1:46:14legislative session is a new adventure.

1:46:17So, we'll go over changes to our local

1:46:19delegation, the current climate,

1:46:21anticipated themes, and where we are in

1:46:24our state legislative agenda

1:46:26development. The Georgia General

1:46:29Assembly, the formal name of the state's

1:46:31legislative branch, is comprised of 56

1:46:33state senators and 180 house

1:46:36representatives. The state legislative

1:46:38session is the once a year time frame

1:46:41that the general assembly lawmakers meet

1:46:43to vote on bills. So currently in the

1:46:452020 legislative cycle, we're in the

1:46:48midst of study committees which have

1:46:50temporary focus on one specific topic.

1:46:53Appointies to committees research policy

1:46:56issues, hear from experts and public

1:46:57testimony, and may draft recommendations

1:47:00for future legislation. So, while there

1:47:03are no study committees this year that

1:47:05directly impact cities and local

1:47:07governments, we're tracking a [snorts]

1:47:09blue ribbon committee on local

1:47:11government taxation, funding, and

1:47:12budgeting very closely, as well as

1:47:15committees on transportation and

1:47:17infrastructure. Starting the cycle

1:47:19again, 2027 will be the 159th General

1:47:23Assembly, and they convene on the second

1:47:26Monday in January, which this coming

1:47:28year will be January 11th. And the

1:47:30session lasts 40 working not consecutive

1:47:33days which usually stretch over three

1:47:36months wrapping up in late March or

1:47:38early April. So Georgia's session is on

1:47:40a two-year political and legislative

1:47:43continuum called the bianium. We just

1:47:45closed out a bianium and we'll start a

1:47:47new two-year cycle in 2027. So what this

1:47:51means is that there's a hard reset on

1:47:53bills and committee assignments. So in

1:47:55year one if a bill p a bill fails to

1:47:57pass it doesn't die. it just goes to

1:48:00sleep and then can be worked up for year

1:48:02two. But as 2026 was year two, no bills

1:48:05will carry over into 2027 and the entire

1:48:08committee structure will be reset and

1:48:10then locked in through 2028 and

1:48:13committee assignments will be announced

1:48:15early 2027. And that really allows us to

1:48:18strategize and build a roadmap for who

1:48:20our champions are to advance our

1:48:22priorities for the next two legislative

1:48:25sessions. So even though there's a

1:48:27committee reset, assignments heavily

1:48:29favor tenure and party majority status

1:48:32and our Cadam delegation has some

1:48:34seniority that will most likely maintain

1:48:37leadership roles. So our local

1:48:39delegation is the most direct avenue of

1:48:42influence during the state legislative

1:48:44session. When the city wants to

1:48:46introduce new legislation, we rely on

1:48:49these local representatives to

1:48:50officially sponsor and carry bills

1:48:53through the general assembly. If we want

1:48:55to change a bill, oppose a bill, they

1:48:57are our advocates. So, Chattam County

1:48:59has three state senators and six house

1:49:01representatives and our office maintains

1:49:04relationships with all of them. For our

1:49:07state senators in district one, we have

1:49:08Ben Watson. He covers West Cadam and

1:49:11Southside Savannah. He has influence

1:49:13over healthc care policy and health and

1:49:15human services. We've got Derek Malow

1:49:18who covers the city of Savannah, Tybee

1:49:20Island, and Wilmington Island. And then

1:49:22Billy Hickman covers North Cadam and

1:49:24inland towards Statesboro. District

1:49:26three is entirely south of Savannah and

1:49:28Chadam. So not our delegation. For the

1:49:31state house reps, we have three

1:49:33Republicans, three Democrats. And we

1:49:35have two brand new representatives this

1:49:37year, Mr. Orlando Scott and Mr. Maquan

1:49:40Green. They're stepping into Carl Carl

1:49:42Gillard and Edna Jackson seats who are

1:49:44[clears throat] retiring at the end of

1:49:45the year. and we thank them for their

1:49:47many years of service and will see them

1:49:50around town continuing their work in

1:49:51other avenues.

1:49:53Ron Stevens assumed office in

1:49:571997. He's the longest serving member of

1:49:59the Chattam County delegation. He's also

1:50:01one of the most senior in the entire

1:50:04Georgia chamber. He served in a couple

1:50:06districts and is currently in 164. And

1:50:09as I mentioned, legislative influence at

1:50:12the general assembly is dictated by

1:50:13seniority and committee placements. So

1:50:16his committee placements and

1:50:17chairmanship have given him a lot of

1:50:19political clout to move bills forward

1:50:22for our region. He'll most likely

1:50:24maintain assignments as the chairman of

1:50:26economic development and tourism, as a

1:50:29member of appropriations, which controls

1:50:31the budgets, rules, which is the the

1:50:33bill gatekeeper. So bills can only get

1:50:36make it to the floor for a final vote if

1:50:38the rules committee approves it and

1:50:40weighs and meets which handles state tax

1:50:43policy, tax cuts, revenue. Jesse Petri

1:50:46served on the chair of the House and

1:50:48Human Relations and Aging Committee. And

1:50:50the minority party, which is currently

1:50:52Democrats, typically does not hold

1:50:55chairmanships, but they can sit on

1:50:56committees. So Annne Allen Westbrook sat

1:50:59on the House Judiciary as well as

1:51:02economic development in tourism and

1:51:04state planning and community affairs.

1:51:07So as for the legislative climate this

1:51:10year, we will have a new governor in

1:51:12November. This will set the state's

1:51:15executive priorities, budget priorities,

1:51:17and veto dynamics and greatly impact our

1:51:20strategic approach. Whichever party wins

1:51:23the House and Senate majority will also

1:51:25greatly impact our strategic approach.

1:51:28So any development we do now to the

1:51:30agenda will reassess in November.

1:51:33However, despite some unknowns, we do

1:51:35anticipate seeing legislation on

1:51:37automated license plate reader

1:51:39technology that's commonly known for the

1:51:42vendor clock uh data centers and

1:51:44continued pressure on property tax

1:51:47elimination.

1:51:49So as far as the scope of developing

1:51:51this agenda, we want to include what we

1:51:54have direct control and influence over

1:51:57of the services that the city provides

1:51:59to our residents. So there are many

1:52:03things that we may care about as a city

1:52:04philosophically such as voting rights,

1:52:07but we we don't have direct control over

1:52:10that. So that's not something that we

1:52:11would incorporate into our agenda.

1:52:15We also don't know which bills will be

1:52:17introduced, what the specific language

1:52:19will be, if language will be copy pasted

1:52:22from one bill to another, if a zombie

1:52:24bill goes away and comes back. So we

1:52:27don't list specific bills or very

1:52:30specific language of what we support,

1:52:32oppose or neutral on on this agenda, but

1:52:34rather it's a framework of our core

1:52:37values, our north stars, so that when

1:52:39bills are introduced, we have a

1:52:42framework for how we engage. So, a

1:52:45couple prototypes that have carried over

1:52:47every year, whether it's short-term

1:52:50vacation rentals, data centers this

1:52:52year, hotel motel tax, we support home

1:52:55rule to determine what's best for our

1:52:57community. So, the broader umbrella item

1:53:00on this agenda would be continuing

1:53:02support of home rule. So, that's that's

1:53:04one example of of an agenda item that

1:53:07would be on here. So, as far as as far

1:53:11as where we are currently, we have

1:53:13gathered internal suggestions from our

1:53:15city service centers through a survey

1:53:17and are having follow-up deep dives on

1:53:20what our subject matter experts see as

1:53:23barriers and opportunities that could

1:53:25benefit from state legislation. We're

1:53:27also reviewing the Georgia Municipal

1:53:29Association's perspective who does heavy

1:53:31lobbying for us and we're participating

1:53:34in the development of other local

1:53:36stakeholder state agendas. Next, we'll

1:53:39meet with you all one-on-one to get your

1:53:41feedback to incorporate and then post

1:53:44November with a general draft and a new

1:53:46governor will send out a survey for you

1:53:49to rank prioritization of the agenda

1:53:51items. council will review and adopt and

1:53:54then we'll get going on our local

1:53:56delegation and state lobbyist

1:53:58engagement.

1:53:59This year we have a bit of a new

1:54:01strategic approach will strengthen our

1:54:04coalitions both regionally and with

1:54:07similar priority partners such as hub

1:54:10cities and this alignment and these

1:54:13coalitions will increase our leverage in

1:54:15our ability to respond quickly to

1:54:18changes during the session. We'll also

1:54:20be closely tracking threats to our

1:54:22existing ordinances that could undermine

1:54:25our current legislative authority. So,

1:54:27I'm very much looking forward to working

1:54:30with you all. Welcome your questions and

1:54:32comments. Although, I'm sure everyone is

1:54:33very ready for lunch.

1:54:35>> I'll say as we end and open it up that a

1:54:38lot of the work at the state level is

1:54:40defense.

1:54:42>> Um, and you never know where the darts

1:54:46are going to come from. um and how many

1:54:49there are going to be. Um, and so having

1:54:52a very good, strong, clear legislative

1:54:55agenda, having very good, capable city

1:54:59staff as well as government relations

1:55:01professionals who work on our behalf to

1:55:03be up in Atlanta um, as the session

1:55:06unfolds um, is key, as well as strong

1:55:09relationships with our local delegation,

1:55:11which we have and will build with our

1:55:13new members um, to help protect Savannah

1:55:16and her interest um, from um, a lot of

1:55:20um ideas that get floated um at the

1:55:23state capital that could could do harm

1:55:25to um our interest.

1:55:28>> But be clear, this is our legislative

1:55:31agenda. And so if there are things that

1:55:34are important to this council, whether

1:55:36it flies in Atlanta or not, we need to

1:55:38say what they are. Um there are some

1:55:41things that have been historically

1:55:43important to us, um that we thought had

1:55:46no chance of making it through. um maybe

1:55:50was dead on arrival, but I don't think

1:55:52that should stop us um from being very

1:55:54clear about that. I think it also as we

1:55:58engage in a more regional approach, it

1:55:59creates opportunities for us to find

1:56:01like-minded people or um things that are

1:56:04important to our work that we could also

1:56:06uh support as well. So, uh you'll see a

1:56:09lot of conversations like that. Um we

1:56:11stand ready particularly during the

1:56:13session when stuff goes down to either

1:56:15make a call or make a ride or make a

1:56:17flight uh to get up there to to block.

1:56:20Um home move has always uh been uh

1:56:23something that has been u pre exemption

1:56:27uh has always been something that we

1:56:29have to fight against. Um and so we just

1:56:32have to to be ready. So, um, you know,

1:56:35it's a, um, 24hour on the ground deal

1:56:40because deals are being cut every day,

1:56:42all all the time. So, um, we'll

1:56:44definitely keep council informed, uh,

1:56:47stuff. And then, of course, when we go

1:56:49up for our legislative day, uh, we'll

1:56:52make sure everyone is very clear and

1:56:53familiar with what we're trying to do.

1:56:56>> Yes, ma'am.

1:56:57>> Yes, sir. Um I think I've been

1:56:58mentioning it for the last four or five

1:57:00years. Um Joe about the Senate bill and

1:57:04the House Bill 539. It's called there's

1:57:07several names. The tampon tax and then

1:57:09the ones for hygiene. I'd like to see

1:57:11what we can do about that. I mean we got

1:57:14five women on this council, daughters,

1:57:16nieces. We have to do something about

1:57:19tax and feminine um items and hygiene

1:57:23items for babies, too. That's very

1:57:25important. uh uh these single mothers uh

1:57:28pampers and the items that go with that

1:57:31powder and stuff. Um it's expensive and

1:57:34so we want to be in front of that too.

1:57:37Please can you um offer that as um

1:57:41something that

1:57:44all women should be particularly

1:57:46concerned about, but me specific, I

1:57:48would want some information on that. You

1:57:50said that you would try to get some

1:57:51information on that for me. Would you

1:57:53please consider that too?

1:57:55Yes, ma'am. Just a brief update. You're

1:57:57correct. Last year, that was on our

1:58:00agenda and Senate Bill 539 did pass the

1:58:03Senate. Um, it did not make it through

1:58:05the House, but we'll continue to

1:58:07advocate on that tax exemption for

1:58:09feminine products.

1:58:11>> I appreciate that. Thank you.

1:58:12>> And they'll be coming around to all of

1:58:14us. So, please, you know, be prepared to

1:58:16be frank and honest. And, uh, you know,

1:58:19we we'll come back and do a

1:58:20prioritization process with council as

1:58:22we've done every year. Uh, and from that

1:58:25we will derive our um our legislative

1:58:28agenda.

1:58:29>> Thank you sir.

1:58:29>> U so Joe do we have anything in our uh

1:58:33in our ask uh toolbox about uh

1:58:36transportation as it pertains to uh our

1:58:39waterways and our fairies and uh

1:58:42anything that would help uh entities

1:58:44like Chattam Area Transit who helping

1:58:47move people from point A to point B

1:58:48being that the bridge is going to be

1:58:51compromised for three years and we're

1:58:53going to need type of funding.

1:58:56>> Uh yes, sir. You know, the ferry system

1:58:57has been a conversation we've been

1:58:59having for several years, and I think

1:59:00this year may be an opportunity for us

1:59:02to push that conversation even further

1:59:03with the things that you mentioned, the

1:59:05bridge, the bridge repair and the

1:59:07development of the convention center and

1:59:08how important it is to both the city and

1:59:10the convention center. Our northstar for

1:59:12transportation the past couple years has

1:59:14really been the Coastal Empire study,

1:59:16which has talked about GOTO did that

1:59:19study um demonstrating the need for a

1:59:21lot of infrastructure in our region. And

1:59:23so we've advocated for the projects on

1:59:24that list that have impacted Savannah,

1:59:27but I think you're correct that this

1:59:28year presents a good opportunity to

1:59:30elevate the ferry system. And and

1:59:33alderman to that question specifically,

1:59:35I um signed on to a letter along with

1:59:38other key stakeholders including cat um

1:59:42uh CEO um to ask GOT for support um for

1:59:47the fairies as we know that we'll need

1:59:49more support with the fairies

1:59:51specifically as the bridge work um moves

1:59:54forward and those uh lane closures could

1:59:57impact the um traffic over the bridge.

2:00:00So we know that the there will be more

2:00:02traffic on the fairies. So we we have

2:00:04asked that question and and that's a

2:00:06asset we're making of G dot um as that

2:00:09project moves forward.

2:00:10>> Do we have any updates from uh anything

2:00:12that wasn't um put in our hotel motel

2:00:15ass?

2:00:17Is there anything

2:00:19>> legislative wise? I know there's some

2:00:21things in it that said that uh we did

2:00:23not get um I know I looked at the uh

2:00:27stuff that didn't pass like Bethesda

2:00:30annexation and we had some stuff in says

2:00:33hotel motel distribution stuff like

2:00:35that. Any updates on that type of stuff?

2:00:38>> Um what is it? Uh House Bill uh 1216. So

2:00:43uh I don't know if you've got anything

2:00:45on those specific bills. stand.

2:00:50>> Yeah. And that was not a to be clear

2:00:52that Bethesda annexation was not a city

2:00:55>> um bill that was that was um that was

2:00:58moved by the property owners. Um though

2:01:01um we gave our concurrence with the

2:01:04idea. Um we are always looking to make

2:01:08sure that in terms of hotel motel taxes

2:01:10that cities specifically the city of

2:01:13Savannah but cities at large maintain

2:01:16their authority over how those hotel

2:01:20motel tax dollars are allocated. um and

2:01:23that we don't want to see the erosion of

2:01:26the city's authority over those um tax

2:01:29dollars move as um there there are some

2:01:32interest in the state um that would like

2:01:34to see um the authority over those tax

2:01:36dollars move to more towards industry

2:01:38and less towards um public

2:01:40accountability and of course that's

2:01:42something that we stand firmly against.

2:01:44So those are the bills that we fight and

2:01:46try to uh move forward that further

2:01:48solidify municipality control over those

2:01:50taxes. But my last one is uh Senate Bill

2:01:53uh 577 about PAS remediation. I know we

2:01:57signed uh the city of Savannah. Are we

2:01:59in a lawsuit with the

2:02:02>> We are. Yes sir. Give you all an update

2:02:04about that. If you do exact litigation

2:02:08[snorts]

2:02:10>> uh and to that end um personally and

2:02:13also you know we carried the CAT

2:02:15legislative agenda with us uh last year.

2:02:18We supported their legislative agenda

2:02:20last year. We'll do it this year. We

2:02:22just need to make sure y'all have your

2:02:24legislative agenda so that we can uh

2:02:26help carry that as well.

2:02:28>> Alder Lair.

2:02:30>> Yes. Um we are recognizing

2:02:32[clears throat]

2:02:33affordability housing and I know my

2:02:36issue about rental management was I was

2:02:38told it's dead on arrival. Um, and it it

2:02:41really got looked at from a different

2:02:43lens where they were talking about

2:02:45creating a database

2:02:48uh to be able to identify property

2:02:49owners and that wasn't the intent of

2:02:51what I sent up.

2:02:54I know we're saying in here that we just

2:02:57going to address of areas that we have

2:03:00purview over the city. However, we

2:03:02excuse me affordability.

2:03:04um then rental management will come

2:03:08under affordability and I know it's a

2:03:10long shot dead on arrival but I would

2:03:13like to keep it on the legislative

2:03:15agenda because as as us having another

2:03:20way to look at dealing with rental

2:03:23increases or these exuberant rental

2:03:26increases because it was never about

2:03:29stopping the increases but it was based

2:03:31on some science based on some numbers

2:03:34being driven by the data. Um, and and I

2:03:37want us to keep that on there. And I

2:03:39also want us and I'm going to talk to

2:03:41you about this when we meet separately

2:03:43or privately about us having a position

2:03:46on the IP property. Uh, it is not in the

2:03:48city, but it is surrounded by city

2:03:51neighborhoods and we need to uh have

2:03:54some type of position and don't act as

2:03:56if it's not going to be a significant

2:03:59impact on whatever happens there. and

2:04:01and we are hoping and praying that it's

2:04:03clean uh and smart development. So,

2:04:06being that it impacts city neighborhoods

2:04:08and it sits right here adjacent and

2:04:10abuing uh historic neighborhoods, we

2:04:14need to have a position on that and

2:04:15that's something we need to have some

2:04:16discussion on.

2:04:17>> Great. All right. Well, we're going to

2:04:19be look Yes, ma'am.

2:04:20>> And older woman Lenir, you said IP those

2:04:23acronyms meaning

2:04:24>> international property.

2:04:25>> Thank you, ma'am.

2:04:26>> 400 acres.

2:04:27>> Yeah. Um Yes, ma'am.

2:04:29>> Um I was out of the room when you talked

2:04:32about the important legislative outcomes

2:04:36um small cells in the historic district.

2:04:38What was that about?

2:04:40>> Um yes, so in 2018 there was a lot of

2:04:44federal legislation regarding 5G, which

2:04:46is a cell speed increase in cell towers.

2:04:50And then in 2019, those same laws moved

2:04:52down to the state level. So in 2019, the

2:04:55state legislature was passing a lot of

2:04:57laws regarding how cell towers could be

2:05:00placed, removing local control or

2:05:03control of cities on the locations and

2:05:05how those towers were placed. We put a

2:05:08lot of work into pushing back on that.

2:05:10and our our advocacy was narrowed down

2:05:13to the historic district. And in

2:05:16historic districts, including the

2:05:17largest one in the United States here in

2:05:19Savannah, small cell legislation that

2:05:22allowed us to remain control in control,

2:05:25cities to remain in control of how cell

2:05:28towers or small cell towers were placed

2:05:31within historic districts.

2:05:33>> And of course, we see those utilities

2:05:35continue to expand. Um, and you'll see a

2:05:38proposal on the legislative agenda based

2:05:40on some experiences we've had um in

2:05:42other parts of the city that aren't um

2:05:45that that aren't part of a historic

2:05:47district that we'd like to see local

2:05:49control over those utilities.

2:05:51>> And you know what? Let me say this. I'm

2:05:53experiencing that now we have two um uh

2:05:57entities, internet entities in our

2:05:59neighborhood that are now putting down

2:06:03fiber optics. And I'm talking two

2:06:06companies and you having um the the

2:06:09boxes

2:06:11two different boxes with different

2:06:12companies. And my question is how could

2:06:15that have even happened?

2:06:17>> You know, we had no knowledge of it as

2:06:19the neighbors in the community. We did

2:06:22not know that this was happening. And I

2:06:24came to you and Daffany and asked for um

2:06:27their permits. Now, we got one permit,

2:06:29but now here we have two. And I'm not

2:06:32familiar with the other in the the other

2:06:35companies. So we need to control this.

2:06:38>> We we do and and you're and there's kind

2:06:41of two different things that that that

2:06:43are happening there. There's a lot of

2:06:44fiber being laid in the ground

2:06:47>> um and the fiber companies and we permit

2:06:51um uh we've actually reduced the amounts

2:06:55of permits that we've done on 5G. Um and

2:06:58we're looking at um making sure that we

2:07:01have license agreements and revenue

2:07:04streams as a result of that um 5G um in

2:07:07our um and I mean that fiber in in our

2:07:10rights of way. Um that's a that's an

2:07:13activity that h that really ramped up

2:07:15several years ago. Um and we've seen the

2:07:18some of the impacts of being, you know,

2:07:20hit lateral lines and um a lot of

2:07:23disruption to other utilities that are

2:07:25underground. Um, and so that's a project

2:07:28that we're currently trying to get our

2:07:30arms around a little bit more quickly

2:07:32and make sure that the right thing is

2:07:33done by the city and the residents in

2:07:35that regard. Then you have the small

2:07:37cell facilities which are um which are

2:07:41which are essentially devices that are

2:07:43put on the top of telephone poles um

2:07:46either new telephone poles or or

2:07:49telephone poles or utility poles that

2:07:51exist. Um, and there's different laws

2:07:53that govern both of those. um types of

2:07:57uh utility infrastructure and I think it

2:07:59might be a really good thing to dive

2:08:01into both of them with city council

2:08:03because we're seeing uh more and more um

2:08:06of those come to town. We did a lot of

2:08:08great work as it relates to the small

2:08:10cell tower um and this council passed an

2:08:13ordinance earlier this year um that

2:08:16going to help us regulate that some

2:08:18more. We're doing some um some work

2:08:21right now in terms of license agreements

2:08:23with these fiber optics companies. Um

2:08:26right now as well we've actually

2:08:29restricted a lot of their ability to

2:08:31move through um and requiring

2:08:35um uh those utility identification steps

2:08:38to happen um before they lay that fiber

2:08:41down.

2:08:42>> Well, let me tell you all this. Um our

2:08:44main water line was broken. Yeah.

2:08:46>> At the top. You're familiar? Yes, ma'am.

2:08:49So, we need to get get a handle on it.

2:08:52And that's what um and so one of the one

2:08:54of the the strategies that we're looking

2:08:56for that GD do requires um is uh

2:09:00engineer drawings for um where those um

2:09:03fiber lines would be um put down and

2:09:06that would help our 811 locators um be

2:09:09able to locate utilities much more

2:09:11precisely um than the kinds of specs

2:09:14that we're receiving from the the fiber

2:09:16optic companies. Now,

2:09:18>> are they putting those fiber optic lines

2:09:20on cities right away?

2:09:22>> Yes.

2:09:22>> Because I've had um people call me about

2:09:25uh fiber optic lines going through their

2:09:27yard. Yeah.

2:09:28>> Um so, if you give me some specifics, we

2:09:31can look at it. A lot of the times the

2:09:33city's right of way extends to what

2:09:35looks like a front yard. Um because we

2:09:38have more right of way than what where

2:09:41the road ends. Um and so they they tend

2:09:44to throw those lines down in that area.

2:09:46But if you've got some specific

2:09:47complaints, we can look at that

2:09:48specifically.

2:09:49>> Yeah, they sent it to me. I sent it to

2:09:51Lita and Dav.

2:09:52>> Okay, great. So then we have that.

2:09:53>> I always thought that the city's right

2:09:55away is 5 ft from the curb across the

2:09:58sidewalk.

2:09:58>> The building the building the building

2:10:02standards for um uh regular lots in the

2:10:05city of Savannah is a 25 foot in the

2:10:08front setback from the um

2:10:11>> the city rightway. So, in the front of

2:10:13the house, it's a the normal um building

2:10:16standard is 25 ft. You got 5 ft on sides

2:10:20and sometimes there's in the rear 15 or

2:10:2210. It it varies in the back.

2:10:24>> No, that's for the public to know

2:10:26because it's questions.

2:10:28>> Let me say one thing. The the the normal

2:10:32uh what we were told is that anything in

2:10:35front of the water meter is considered

2:10:38the right of way.

2:10:40>> Is is that the case?

2:10:42So the the rights the right the right of

2:10:45way is determined by meats and bounds.

2:10:47So you can go to GIS and determine the

2:10:50ride ofways. There are some like general

2:10:52rules like you know the 5t from the curb

2:10:55line but there are places in the city

2:10:58where the city rideway meaning the

2:11:01ownership of that real estate the meats

2:11:03and bounds of that real estate extend

2:11:05further than what the city's

2:11:06infrastructure

2:11:08um like the road and the sidewalk is.

2:11:10So, it might extend um what appears to

2:11:13be someone's front yard, but may indeed

2:11:16actually be um city rideway. So, if

2:11:19there are concerns um about um specific

2:11:24issues um as it relates to utilities

2:11:27going down in what people believe is

2:11:28their front yard, flag those as as

2:11:30Alderman Leget did to our team and we

2:11:32can run those down. Um, but I think

2:11:35that's a really important part about

2:11:36requiring and we're looking at the

2:11:39legality of this is requiring engineered

2:11:41drawings um so that we can we can really

2:11:44make we can understand exactly where

2:11:47those fiber optic cables um are are said

2:11:50to be located. All the woman

2:12:00>> in terms of activity at one point it was

2:12:02a decent revenue generator.

2:12:04>> The Cary Street radio tower.

2:12:06>> Yes.

2:12:07>> Um the Cary Street radio tower is still

2:12:09in operation. It's owned by the city of

2:12:10Savannah. There was a SPLS allocation in

2:12:12our most recently passed SPLS to $15

2:12:15million. It was a tier one project to

2:12:17upgrade all the radio towers across the

2:12:20county. That money is is being

2:12:22administered through Chattam County and

2:12:23will include upgrades to the Kerry

2:12:25Street Tower.

2:12:27>> But to the revenue point, we do lease

2:12:30out spaces on our towers um for other

2:12:33telecommunications

2:12:35um to to um host you know their needs on

2:12:39our towers as well. Um we can pull that

2:12:41information about that revenue.

2:12:43>> I just

2:12:45one thing Mr.

2:12:47Joe, do we have anything in our upcoming

2:12:49uh legislative agenda about uh railroad

2:12:52crossings?

2:12:54>> Not. No, sir. Not currently. We're we're

2:12:56developing it now. So, it's not

2:12:57finalized. Um but it's a great idea.

2:13:00It's a perennial issue and something

2:13:01that

2:13:02>> I know at 38th Street in Lincoln and the

2:13:06residents from the second district and

2:13:09now going into the fourth district and

2:13:11into the fifth. They want to know when

2:13:13they're going to have the quiet zone uh

2:13:15extended or or how are we looking for

2:13:18funding for those uh projects?

2:13:20>> Great. I was actually in DC last week uh

2:13:24on some NLC stuff and had some uh good

2:13:27conversation with some CSX and Northfor

2:13:30folks. Um our challenge is often that by

2:13:32the time we get some leeway, they're not

2:13:35the person anymore. So, um hopefully

2:13:38we'll get a chance to jump on that. So,

2:13:39I'll share that information with you.

2:13:41>> Yes, sir.

2:13:42>> All right, y'all. Let's

2:13:43>> Mr. Mayor, just one question. Joe, there

2:13:45are some property that we've been trying

2:13:46to secure.

2:13:47>> Any information on that, too, with CXS?

2:13:49Uh, no ma'am, but we should uh we should

2:13:51re-engage.

2:13:52>> Yes, sir. It's probably what air mayor

2:13:54said, different person. Thank you, Mr.

2:13:56Mayor.

2:13:56>> So, uh thank you. All right. So, uh

2:13:59number call for an executive session for

2:14:02um real estate and for litigation.

2:14:05>> Second motion

2:14:06>> properly moved and seconded. All in

2:14:08favor?

2:14:08>> I opposed. Joe Megan, thank you all so

2:14:12much. Ladies and gentlemen, let's let's

2:14:13kind of hightail it because we uh

2:14:15>> did we do the

2:14:17>> Yes, ma'am. We did. Yes, ma'am.