2026-10-08 - City Council Work Session

17:37You got that? Did you get that email?

17:56Okay,

17:56>> Mr. Man, you ready?

17:58>> Yes, sir.

17:59>> All right. Well, good morning everybody.

18:01We're going to go ahead and get started

18:03uh on our city council workshop agenda.

18:07Alman Leot, if you would mind uh uh

18:09giving us a word of prayer.

18:12>> Let's pray. Gracious God, we come to you

18:15today, Lord. We come to you humble. We

18:17thank you, Father, for the opportunity

18:18to wake up and see the face. Lord, we

18:21thank you, Father, for each and every

18:22day that you've given us. Please, God,

18:23continue to be the hedge of protection

18:25that's not only around this table, but

18:26around this community. But we ask you,

18:28Father, to continue to be our strength.

18:30And we ask you, Father, to give us the

18:32mind and the wisdom to make the

18:34decisions on today. In Jesus name we

18:36pray. Amen.

18:37>> Amen.

18:37>> Amen.

18:38>> Thank you very much.

18:42So we got

18:43>> All right.

18:44>> So Stephen, I don't have the workshop.

18:49>> Yeah.

18:51>> All right. So uh we have the uh

18:54Alderwoman Shabbaz will probably be here

18:57very late. Alderman Perti will not be

18:59here. Um he'll be here for council

19:03meeting. So couple of things going on.

19:04First of all, our parking matters

19:06workshop. Um then also our 100% Savannah

19:10plan update. Uh, do we have any of

19:13executive session today?

19:16>> All right. Very good. So, no executive

19:18session and hopefully a relatively

19:22uneventful council meeting. So, that

19:24being said, Mr. Manager, good morning.

19:27>> Good morning, mayor. Good morning,

19:29aldermen and alder women. How are y'all?

19:32>> Good.

19:33>> Um, two really important workshops.

19:35>> Good morning.

19:36>> Good morning, Mr. City Attorney. Good

19:38morning.

19:42Um

19:45>> uh two important workshop items today.

19:47The first um is our parking matters

19:52study which is really transitioning into

19:55a parking ordinance amendment proposal.

19:59So I think the short um

20:03uh title has always been the parking

20:05matters study but that study over you

20:08know two years of community engagement,

20:12council engagement and tra uh parking

20:16study um is now turning into

20:18recommendations

20:20um to city council um as a new parking

20:25um ordinance amendment. um that

20:27following the workshop um if council

20:30agrees, we will put a first reading in

20:32an upcoming city council meeting. Um and

20:35then we also have our sustainability

20:37environmental services department here

20:40to give an update on the 100% um

20:42Savannah plan which is uh in its fifth

20:45year um and uh talk through um what

20:48those five years have accomplished and

20:50then how we're looking to uh refresh um

20:54and make more movement in the next five

20:56years um of the plan and some of the

20:58input and policy um decisions we'll need

21:02city council to make. Um so with that I

21:05want to ask Sean Brandon our senior

21:07director of parking and mobility

21:09services um to come and discuss the

21:12parking matters update. I do want to

21:14reiterate that this um will be the third

21:17workshop um this year on the parking

21:20matters study and related parking

21:23ordinance amendments. Um uh this item

21:26was also part of the workshop roundup um

21:30that was done in May where city council

21:32gave uh me and city staff the direction

21:34to move forward on the ordinance

21:37amendment um proposal and come back to

21:39council when that is ready. Um that is

21:42ready. So you have the red line

21:43ordinance amendment. Um we sent that to

21:46you last week. It was also included in

21:48the Tuesday night memo. um as well as

21:51the slides that um Sean will go over um

21:56with you today. So, uh really looking

21:58forward to the discussion um and

22:00hopefully moving forward with some of

22:02the recommendations that the team and

22:04the community are bringing forward

22:06today. So, with that, Sean,

22:08>> good morning. Uh I will note up front uh

22:12that some of what I'm going to show you

22:13you have probably already seen. Uh but

22:16we want to make sure uh that you

22:19understand the evolution of all of this

22:21as we've gone along and gone out into

22:24the neighborhoods.

22:26Um

22:28before we really get into it, I want to

22:30uh just talk about where this sits with

22:32GPS. Um and most of this is going to sit

22:35in goal five. Um, I won't read all of

22:38that for you, but we we personally think

22:40that this is an important part of goal

22:42five uh particularly in improving

22:45neighborhood quality and livability.

22:49Um,

22:52when we talk about uh and sometimes I

22:55will go to neighborhood association

22:57meetings and the question will come up,

22:58hey, why do you all exist?

23:03Um, and when that comes up, I say, uh,

23:07for the vast majority of Savannah, uh,

23:10it is not required that we exist. Um,

23:14however, in our most vibrant areas and

23:17the areas where everyone wants to be, we

23:20have blocks where we have people who

23:22live who would like to be able to get to

23:25their homes when they come home from

23:27work. Who are sitting next to businesses

23:30that would like to have parking for

23:32their customers when those customers

23:35want to be there. who have workers who

23:38would like to have parking somewhere in

23:40the area for them to be able to utilize

23:43all at the same time. And that is where

23:46we come in. It is an an effort to

23:50establish balance based on the

23:54priorities that we have set. So, I'm not

23:57going to read all of this, but that's

23:58that's basically what it comes down to

24:00is balance.

24:03Um,

24:05this map I think is useful in the sense

24:08of saying that the vast majority of the

24:12study area, which is Liberty to Victory,

24:15and then just a little tiny bit south of

24:18Liberty, I will get into that tiny

24:20little area in just a minute, uh, is

24:24free and unregulated and will mostly

24:27stay free and unregulated even after uh,

24:31the recommendations. should you choose

24:34to implement them. Uh for a lot of

24:38people uh they are able to freely come

24:42and go from their homes know that there

24:45will be a space there. Adjacent

24:47businesses are not worried about

24:48parking. Uh but we do have corridors

24:53and so we as you will see have focused

24:56on those particular corridors.

25:00Uh the study area once again was so vast

25:03that we had to split it up into four

25:05areas. I think uh this this is a

25:08reasonable split. Um it runs from the

25:11southern portions of the historic

25:12district all the way down to Thomas

25:15Square or what is commonly uh called

25:18Starland today.

25:23So uh the group that did the study for

25:27us this time around did the study back

25:30in 2015 and so for the first time we

25:34actually have trend data of all right

25:37what has changed since then and uh I

25:42don't think anyone is particularly

25:44surprised where we have seen large

25:47amounts of growth in occupancy and dem

25:51demand for parking. Um, a lot of it is

25:54going to focus on Bull Street. Um, I

25:57don't think there's a particular

25:59surprise that an area like Starland

26:01shows up. Um, I don't live far from

26:04there. You walk out there uh, Thursday,

26:07Friday, Saturday night and you see that.

26:10Um, so as I've gone around the

26:12neighborhood associations, no one's been

26:14surprised

26:16um, about these changes. And once again,

26:18we're focusing on specific corridors. Um

26:21and and most of those corridors are

26:23going to focus around Bull Street uh

26:26because that's where the demand has

26:27grown.

26:30Uh I do want to talk a little bit about

26:32uh our engagement. Um there have been uh

26:37several neighborhood meetings. In some

26:39cases, we have had an initial

26:42neighborhood meeting with the

26:43neighborhood and then we've gone back

26:44and done a followup with the

26:46neighborhood after coming up with

26:49initial recommendations. Um uh we I

26:53think a week and a half ago I was in

26:55front of the downtown neighborhood

26:56association. Uh so this we we've

27:00consistently tried to stay in touch with

27:03those groups as we've moved forward.

27:05What I generally hear from those

27:07neighborhoods is how fast can you do

27:10this?

27:13Um

27:16I won't go into all the stakeholder

27:17groups but uh these are the groups that

27:20that we have touched throughout the

27:22process. Uh oh let me go back.

27:26Uh I thought we had solved that issue. I

27:29will note uh SCAD is one of the

27:33stakeholders that we've talked to

27:34because they have facilities in this

27:36area in the areas that we were looking

27:38at. Uh and in some cases they may be

27:42partially responsible for the demand

27:44that we're now seeing. Uh so once again

27:47we've talked to neighbor associations in

27:50many cases more than one time. Uh we

27:53held a public open house meeting. that

27:56open house. uh a lot of the meetings we

27:59had came after that open house when we

28:02had uh initial recommendations

28:08which takes us to recommendations and

28:11I'm going to start with the first area

28:13which is liberty to Gaston and the what

28:16I can the easiest way to talk about this

28:19is we want to make it uni unify it with

28:24what's happening north of liberty just

28:27As a summary, north of Liberty is

28:31uh no time limit. It is uh split by

28:37cost.

28:39We don't care how long you park there,

28:40but the cost is then going to drive your

28:44willingness to stay there for a long

28:46period of time. So, as an example, we

28:50have areas uh that are 250 an hour. We

28:53have areas that are 150 an hour. in the

28:56250 an hour area that is highest demand

28:58and that is you can park there for three

29:01hours but you're going to pay the

29:02premium because that is the highest

29:04demand area. Uh we're proposing that uh

29:08south of Liberty to about Gaston unify

29:12with that. Right now in that area we

29:15have metered parking, unmetered parking,

29:19metered 1 hour, 2h hour, threehour zones

29:23where you pay and then at three hours

29:26you actually have to go back and pay

29:28again which is uh something that we used

29:31to do probably 10 years a 10 15 years

29:35ago. We want to unify it with north of

29:38Liberty to make this simple. Uh because

29:41one of the things we heard is while

29:44staff knows where that dividing line is

29:47between what's happening north and

29:49south, a lot of people don't.

29:53So uh unify that with north of liberty

29:59for the Victorian area for size park uh

30:03the recommendation was the establishment

30:05of meters in the areas adjacent to and a

30:09a couple of blocks outside of foresight

30:12park. Now, uh I would note

30:17to be clear, the initial recommendation

30:20was to focus on the eastern side of

30:23Foresight. Um that's where we have a lot

30:26of the businesses. That's where we have

30:27a lot of the demand. When we got into

30:30neighborhood meetings, the folks on the

30:32western side of Foresight uh expressed a

30:36lot of concern about becoming

30:39essentially the the the dumping area for

30:42part for people looking for free

30:44parking. Uh and then they would be in

30:46the same boat that a lot of folks have

30:48found themselves in other areas. So uh

30:52the initial recommendation focused on

30:54the east side. We are our our our final

30:57recommendation is to extend the metering

31:00also to the west side of Forestide Park

31:03to about Jefferson. So I would just note

31:06that uh as a difference from the initial

31:08recommendation

31:1337th to Anderson. Uh

31:17once again this is where we're just

31:19focusing on a corridor that we know we

31:21have high demand. uh Bull Street

31:25already off of Bull Street we have time

31:28zones. Those time zones were established

31:30as a part of Arnold Hall opening uh SCAD

31:34a large SCAD facility that when it

31:37opened uh according to SCAD's own

31:40statistics was moving something on the

31:42order of 3 to 4 thousand students

31:44through that building a day because it's

31:47considered to be a foundations building.

31:50every student eventually has to take a

31:52class there. Uh the time zones are going

31:56to stay uh and get uh actually expanded

32:00somewhat. Uh I think that is Brady that

32:03doesn't have them that would get them.

32:06And we're recommending metering Bull

32:08Street uh about 31st to 37th.

32:14Um if you'll recall, Arnold Hall is in

32:17that area. We have a number of

32:18businesses that are in that area. Uh the

32:22this is probably the smallest level of

32:25change that we're recommending. All of

32:26the blue that you see around it stays

32:29free and unregulated because neither the

32:32consultants have identified an issue

32:33there nor have additional concerns come

32:36up when we talk to neighborhoods.

32:42Uh this is probably the largest change.

32:45Area 4, which once again is Thomas

32:47Square, colloially referred to though as

32:50Starland.

32:52Um we're recommending a decent amount of

32:56metering in this area. And once again if

32:59you go in this area even sometimes a

33:03Wednesday Thursday Friday afternoon

33:06evening uh we have seen significant

33:09uptick in demand here. Um, so Bull

33:13metering on Bull Street roughly out to

33:17Howard to the east, Abberorn to the

33:20west, and then, uh, a layer of time

33:24zones specifically designed to protect

33:27residents in those areas.

33:31I will note we have a tiny area just

33:35south of Victory. um that area. Uh we

33:39have talked to the neighbors there. Um

33:43they are somewhat concerned about what's

33:46being built in their area. There's a

33:48large um apartment building that's going

33:50in uh along with some other businesses

33:53that are on the other side of Victory

33:55with them, but they are not at the point

33:58where they think uh they need

34:01regulation. Um neither did the occupancy

34:05studies back up needing it at this

34:08point. It goes it would go into what we

34:11call a watch area. We have several watch

34:15areas that we have out there that we

34:18would say it's not an it's not a severe

34:22issue now but there is potential in the

34:24future. those watch areas. Uh Starland

34:28used to be one uh 10 years ago and here

34:30we are now uh as an example.

34:35I want to talk about uh two particular

34:38stakeholders. Um when we had the

34:41workshop with you all uh one of the

34:43things that came out of that was hey St.

34:46Vincent's uh congregation Mecca Israel

34:50please go back and see what we can do

34:52for them. Um, so we have two proposals.

34:56St. Vincent's would be the establishment

34:58of a student decal uh at roughly $200

35:01per school year, which matches up with

35:03what is charged for commercial decals.

35:07Um, it would apply to only school days.

35:10It would apply to only school hours. And

35:12we would use the registered list of

35:15students provided by St. Vincent's uh to

35:19issue those. That turns out to about

35:21a$1.75 per school day. Um, which we

35:25think is reasonable. We wanted to set

35:28this at a level where

35:31if you need it, you can get it, but you

35:35just don't have it to have it uh when

35:38you might have other options sitting out

35:41there.

35:42uh congregation Meccba Israel uh we are

35:45recommending the issuance of decals for

35:48worshippers and guests on their uh

35:51worship days. We already do this for

35:54their high holy days when they have uh

35:58uh

36:01when they have uh their uh high holy

36:04days on say a Wednesday, we will issue

36:07them decals already to do that. Now I

36:10want to be clear. This is not their

36:15preferred option. Uh their preferred

36:19option in meetings that we had with them

36:22is to have a specific area around the

36:26synagogue during worship hours be free.

36:32And I completely understand the

36:34sentiment of that. But staff's concern

36:36is the moment that that gets out

36:41um workers, visitors, whomever will

36:45crowd into that area and the very people

36:47that they want to help, which is their

36:49worshippers, will find themselves

36:50without parking in that area. Um I think

36:55uh the congregation also has a concern

36:58that hey um we're we're doing

37:01enforcement on Saturdays but not

37:02Sundays. Uh the our answer to that has

37:06been that activity demand drops off a

37:10fairly steep cliff on Sundays. Um we

37:15only want to uh regulate and enforce

37:18what we have to regulate and enforce.

37:22So, uh, I would describe that there is

37:26support for this from the congregation,

37:30but this is not their first choice to be

37:33clear.

37:37Uh, not going to go into the summary,

37:39uh, but it just it it to shows you where

37:42we would do add meters, where we would

37:44add time zones. I I do want to stress

37:48that wherever we add these residential

37:50decals will come with them. Uh

37:53residential decal just as a as a as a

37:57quick refresher if you can show that you

38:01this is your primary residence and your

38:03car is registered here in Chattam

38:05County. It is free

38:08um and typically issued for about five

38:10years. um unless you have a lease,

38:13you're living there, you're going an

38:15annual lease, then we will match the

38:17lease. I know uh one of the concerns

38:20that was raised was well there might be

38:22specific areas uh that in regulation

38:26that maybe don't specifically get meters

38:29but are right near it. And there's a

38:31concern about well what if those folks

38:34get inundated uh with parking? Uh and

38:37our response to that has been one we

38:39don't mind issuing those folks

38:40residential decals uh because we do that

38:43now downtown. There are areas downtown

38:46in which we have issued residential

38:47decals though the street is not

38:49specifically on a meter because they are

38:51essentially surrounded by it. Um and

38:55then second this is not written in

38:58stone. Uh the last time we did this we

39:00ended up making adjustments within the

39:02first year or two and we are prepared to

39:04do that again if need be.

39:09Uh I will note newly regulated spaces.

39:12So uh if you'll recall, go back to if we

39:15went back to that slide earlier, there's

39:17about 10,000 spaces in the study area.

39:22Um we are proposing to regulate about

39:252400

39:27of those.

39:28uh and roughly 2,000 or so uh would end

39:34up being metered.

39:37I want to talk about next steps pretty

39:40quickly. Right now, council

39:41consideration of ordinances

39:44if approved. Uh we would move into

39:47implementation

39:48uh which is the the big thing is the

39:51purchase of equipment. Um I I'm a broken

39:55record in this. Uh the unfortunately the

39:58United States has not made a good

40:00parking meter in in many decades. Uh so

40:05we get all of ours like pretty much

40:08everyone else in this country from

40:10Europe. Uh there is a lead time to that

40:13of about 3 months right now. Uh and so

40:16when we place the order we know we will

40:19take delivery in approximately three

40:21months. Uh then you've got to stripe the

40:24spaces. you have to uh add these to the

40:27numbering system. We need to update the

40:29apps. And so I think we have what is a

40:32reasonable timeline presented to you all

40:35um for implementation.

40:41And that is it for me. I'm ready for

40:44questions.

40:46>> Thank you.

40:51>> We've discussed this a lot. um is any

40:55final questions and also some um

41:00consensus that we're that council is

41:03ready to consider

41:05um ordinance amendments that relate to

41:08these recommendations.

41:10>> Thank you, Mr. Manager. Alman Leot.

41:13>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Manager. Sean,

41:15you know, we've been talking about this

41:17back and forth for a while, but

41:20>> I think the the issue became

41:23uh more than just an issue when we

41:25started talking about people living in

41:28certain areas and have to go two and

41:31three blocks away from their uh their

41:33primary residence to get home. And it

41:35becomes a safety issue for people

41:37because in certain areas it's darker

41:39than most and people are again having to

41:42park two or three blocks down with

41:44groceries or family members or what have

41:46you. Uh what are we doing to uh for an

41:50enforcement piece once we start putting

41:52the meters in place and how are we going

41:54to hold um a lot of these places true?

41:58So, uh, we've already had a small ramp

42:02up in staff. Um, I I believe we've had

42:05positions approved for this budget year

42:08intending to get ready for parking

42:10matters. We've got more positions coming

42:12on for next budget year. Um, I do think

42:16uh that there will be a role uh for

42:19automated enforcement

42:21uh in areas that are easy to enforce so

42:24that we don't necessarily have to have a

42:26staff person there. They can be in areas

42:29where they're really needed.

42:31>> So, we're talking about having uh

42:33vehicles that will be equipped with uh

42:35license plate readers.

42:37>> So, there's a couple of ways to do it.

42:39One with vehicles. Um, I think if we

42:42were looking at an area of say River

42:44Street where we get a lot of concerns,

42:47um, we we would we would look at

42:50something fixed or moving. Um, if if I'm

42:54able to do something akin to automated

42:57enforcement on on a in in easy

43:00corridors, that means it frees up staff

43:02for them to be able to go into other

43:04areas. um with the new metered area uh

43:07west of foresight park uh would a lot of

43:10that be alleviated with the new parking

43:12structure that's going to go there?

43:13>> So uh the there is definitely that

43:16potential. Uh it's just to remind uh

43:19it's a

43:21350

43:23space garage.

43:25Um now uh during the day most of that

43:29garage will be occupied by the tenants

43:31in the office building. However, at

43:34night and on the weekends, we anticipate

43:36we would have extra capacity now in

43:39those areas, particularly when we have

43:41events at foresight um for which parking

43:45is always a relative issue.

43:47>> Are we thinking uh forward and uh having

43:50our and I know uh Alderwoman Bill gets

43:53the same question. Are we thinking of

43:55having conversation with our surrounding

43:57hotels that are uh in that zone um about

44:01their uh their people parking vehicles

44:03outside and uh

44:05>> um hotels and businesses? We want to

44:07have that conversation.

44:08>> Yeah. But if they have their uh they

44:10have some people they rather park on the

44:12street when it's only $30 when we

44:14probably be able to you might it up. So,

44:17so some of this is

44:20going to be not necessarily fighting,

44:24but adjusting the psychology of where

44:26where a lot of these areas are now,

44:29which is I'm going to park exactly where

44:32I want to be and pay nothing in terms of

44:37cost or time. Uh, and that is fine when

44:43you're not in a high demand area. But

44:45when you are in a high demand area and

44:47you're going to sit in that space that's

44:49wanted by everyone else for six to eight

44:51hours.

44:54Well, what about the customer? What

44:55about the resident? What about anyone

44:58else who wants that space? That that's

45:00where we have to create turnover in

45:02those high demand areas. Having garage

45:04spaces is great because you can

45:07essentially tell that person, hey, for

45:11what amounts to a couple of dollars a

45:13day, you can just go in the garage.

45:17>> Um, but people don't like paying and I

45:19get it. Uh, but that's just something

45:21we're going to have to deal with over

45:24time. But if our valet are encouraging

45:26their uh visitors to just park on the

45:29street or they park them on the street

45:31uh do we have to uh continue to talk

45:34about or do we make changes to the

45:36ordinance to change the ticket cost for

45:38that day?

45:40>> So uh so we have gone up on citations

45:43um and I I would need to go back and

45:45look at what that specific citation is.

45:47Um uh the the the rule is if you are a

45:52hotel and you are valeting on city right

45:57of way without our permission that is a

45:59citation on the vehicle. Um and we have

46:05certainly had cases where hotels have

46:07tried to do that and you have to you

46:09have to stay vigilant with it. That's

46:11the lesson we've learned from that. Um,

46:14the hotels will often be somewhat

46:17separate from the valet companies.

46:20Hotels hiring a valet company to cover

46:22this. The valet company is just really

46:24concerned about I need to put this car

46:26somewhere. Um, and you are right that

46:30the citation cost needs to be high

46:32enough that it gives them pause to just

46:35put it on the street. So, do we uh So,

46:38again, I'm just going to make sure that

46:39we before we move all the way into if we

46:42do have a good plan. I know the city

46:44manager, we talked about a plan of

46:46enforcement that the surrounding

46:49residents and businesses know that there

46:51will be an enforcement piece attached to

46:54this that is going to be aggressive.

46:55>> So, a big component of that is going to

46:57be more new personnel that are coming

47:00into the area. Another part of this is

47:02going to be our partners. Um, we're not

47:04the only ones who can write a parking

47:06citation. And so downtown, we have

47:08worked with our partners,

47:11code compliance, uh, and tourism to to

47:15cover some of the areas when we're

47:19focusing on other areas.

47:21>> And then that last leg probably is going

47:23to be some level of automated

47:25enforcement.

47:26>> Yes, the city manager and I, we've uh,

47:28we actually looked at a couple of

47:30different places. And when we were in

47:32DC, we uh we looked at how uh Washington

47:36is looking and how they're working with

47:38the residents and the businesses and

47:40what time of day those uh placers go

47:43active when people come home in the

47:44afternoon. So, there's a lot of

47:46different things that actually can can

47:49be utilized. I know that Jay and I, we

47:51talk about it a lot, but I just want to

47:54make sure that everyone's voice is heard

47:56because a lot of what we getting back

47:58from and we have one of the neighborhood

47:59presidents in here today that um they're

48:02very vocal about what's going on on

48:04either side of the park who live on

48:06either side of the park.

48:08>> I will uh note one of the things we've

48:11heard in a couple of neighborhood

48:12meetings is residential only zone. So, I

48:15do want to address that. Um, I I I I

48:19think we we would want the chance to see

48:23first if there is an opportunity to have

48:26a mixeduse street be a mixeduse street

48:30where we find that balance with everyone

48:32before we essentially tell most of the

48:36groups that that want to utilize that

48:38street, you got to leave. Um there may

48:42be cases where the demand is so

48:44overwhelming that we come back and say

48:46well to our best efforts this doesn't

48:49seem to be working for the residents we

48:51may have to look at this

48:53>> but I would but I would I would I would

48:55use it as a last option. So from your

48:57conversation with Chad not with SCAD um

49:02with the I know their kids are not

49:04supposed to have vehicles. I think

49:06they're at freshman year or however but

49:08I do see a lot of large influx of

49:11vehicles in the Abberorn street corridor

49:13in certain places where they call street

49:16where they have a lot of vehicles parked

49:18for a long period of time.

49:20>> So I think there's a there's a there's a

49:22weird nuance there. So, SCAD would say,

49:25"We are not going to issue parking

49:28permits for our facilities to any

49:31freshman."

49:33>> So, if a freshman brings their car,

49:35they're not going to be able to come on

49:36to our facilities. As they and they use

49:39that as an inducement to say, "Well,

49:42freshmen, you just shouldn't bring your

49:44car."

49:45>> As a practical matter,

49:46>> they bring their cars.

49:48>> A a good number of freshmen still bring

49:50their car. They just don't have access

49:53to scat facilities now.

49:55>> Yeah, they park them. They're parked out

49:58there and they'll drive they ride the

49:59buses.

50:01>> But the the cars are sitting there for

50:03months

50:04>> in the same area and the people who live

50:06there like this car has been here and

50:07I've been on Hall Street and this car

50:09has been here for months.

50:11>> So, so Arnold Hall I would say has

50:14largely been successful because we have

50:17time zones there set at 2 hours. Mhm.

50:20>> And when I talk to students about Arnold

50:23Hall, they say, "But wait, most of my

50:26classes are 2 and a half to three

50:28hours." And I say, "Exactly.

50:32Uh, our priority is not to find parking

50:35for students." Uh and so

50:38whatever timing we ultimately need to

50:41set or price levels that further

50:44persuade students that hey SCAD has

50:47invested millions into this

50:49transportation system uh that in some

50:52respects is larger than Chattamaria

50:54transits.

50:56>> Um you need to use that.

50:59>> Yeah. But we we we are addressing uh our

51:03our partnership with surrounding

51:05churches um our partnership with uh with

51:09with um St. Vincent and another school.

51:13So I just want to make sure that

51:14enforcement matches all around the

51:16board. So I I've had a conversation with

51:18city manager. I appreciate you showing

51:20and alderman. Um, yesterday you you

51:23brought up a concern about,

51:26you know, it's not just the synagogue

51:28that has services on Saturdays. We have

51:30churches that have funerals. And I

51:33thought it was a really good question. I

51:34want Sean to address how we handle that

51:36now and how we would handle it with if

51:38we extend the parking restrictions.

51:40>> So, so we deal with that now. Uh,

51:42downtown First African Baptist, the

51:45cathedral. Uh, typically when we know

51:48there's a funeral, they'll reach out to

51:49us. I mean, we it's a it's a

51:51>> and that was my question. Do the church

51:53>> It's a pretty welloiled system for the

51:55churches in it. They reach out to us.

51:57They say one, I believe, just sends us

51:59their funeral schedule coming up for the

52:01next uh uh month. And we know first um

52:06we're going to back off enforcement in

52:08the immediate area. And second, uh we we

52:12will typically have parking passes for

52:15uh the hearse, all of the immediate

52:19vehicles that go with it that are going

52:21to park in front of the church,

52:23>> right?

52:24>> Um but but but typically it's going to

52:27be in the 5 to 10 range because they're

52:30they want to they want to account for

52:31the immediate family and immediate

52:33friends.

52:34>> Uh we back off enforcement during those

52:36hours. Um, from our perspective, an hour

52:41or two um, out of the day for that

52:44specific area is is is not something

52:49that's going to endanger enforcement for

52:51the whole area.

52:52>> Yeah. Because I think the uh,

52:54we talked about that over on Alice

52:56Street, Allison Jefferson and Montgomery

52:59at the church over there um, is a real

53:02small space to park, but yeah, we talked

53:05about it before. you're still working

53:07on. Appreciate it. Jay,

53:09>> the interesting thing about parking,

53:11I'll get to you. Um, you know, you're

53:14doing parking right if

53:17if everybody's not happy. Um, I know

53:21looking at parking here with this lens.

53:24I look at it when I go to other cities

53:27and my goal is very clear. I want to

53:30park as close to where I'm going for

53:33free or for as little as I want to pay.

53:36And you know, that's the behavior people

53:37have when they here. I mean, you know,

53:40they want to avoid garages where

53:42possible. They want to be as close as

53:43they can be. Um, and oftentimes, to your

53:46point, Sean, uh, I've gotten calls about

53:49people who've been ticketed, who've been

53:52told, and it wasn't us that told them.

53:55Um, you know, there are folks out here

53:57that will tell you for being on their

53:58private property. Um, and you know, from

54:02the post office to these hotels to SCAD.

54:05I mean, you know, if you're on their

54:07property, you know, I just I just parked

54:09there for a minute and you know, and

54:10they get told and of course then they

54:12come back, they want to blame the city

54:14of Savannah, but it wasn't ours. So, um,

54:16you know, parking is is a good sign of a

54:20vibrant city. Um it's just a a difficult

54:23challenge to be able to manage although

54:25men

54:27>> um

54:29I just wanted to be clear that the study

54:32that we did in 2025

54:35it was about one particular corridor.

54:39We need a citywide plan. What is the

54:42solution for all the other districts?

54:45Because every time we sit here, we're

54:47spending money for one particular

54:49section and everybody in the districts

54:52have problems with parking because of

54:54the new businesses that are taking pre

54:56residents. And so we got a we got a we

54:59got a plan for growth because in our

55:01communities we have restaurants coming

55:03and everybody wants to walk and go to

55:05those restaurants and there's nowhere to

55:06park. So what is a future plan for a

55:09citywide plan that offers more solutions

55:11other than downtown?

55:12>> Yes, ma'am.

55:14East Broad Street.

55:15>> I'll let Sean um fill in, but we've also

55:19addressed this because this is a great

55:21question and one we've had to talk about

55:22in each of our workshops.

55:24>> We Sean talks about we have watch areas,

55:28right? So, all of these areas where we

55:30see increased parking demand, especially

55:33in urban core areas where there's mixed

55:36use development and mixed use zoning

55:38where you see businesses and residents

55:40and more density. We've got those watch

55:42zones. So, just like when we first

55:44rolled out parking matters, it only

55:47related to kind of the the um

55:51downtown

55:53north of um Liberty Street.

55:56>> We had watch zones in and around the

55:59park and on South Bull Street and and

56:01that's where we're getting to these um

56:03recommendations now. Um Sean also, you

56:06know, talked about, hey, the

56:07recommendations fell short on the west

56:09side of the park, but we see that as a

56:12watch zone and something that's going to

56:13continue to grow over the next few

56:15years. So, we want to go ahead and make

56:16those restrictions. Now, I think Sean

56:18can talk more broadly about what are the

56:21other watch zones that might be to the

56:23east or to the west um or even to the

56:25south that we need to pay attention to.

56:27>> To to that point, I know every person

56:29here has a watch zone in their district.

56:32I've got some new development over there

56:34uh on Gwynette Street. People talking

56:36about parking with the new uh Savannah

56:39Gardens extra parking and those cars are

56:42parking in other surrounding areas,

56:45right? And we're about to get this money

56:49on the Victory Drive corridor and we're

56:51going to have these same problems and so

56:53I want to be uh in front of that with

56:56solutions past East Broad Street. So

56:58yeah. So, I a few watch watch areas that

57:02immediately come to mind. Parkside. Um,

57:04we've been looking at Parkside for a

57:06while. Um, as you know, I I I love that

57:10the bananas have have grown to the point

57:12that they have, but there's a

57:14neighborhood around them and we

57:16>> uh the area the areas around the arena

57:19in West Savannah, we have started

57:21keeping an eye on. Um there's the arena

57:24days, but we start we're starting to see

57:26other uses coming in. Um and once again,

57:31that's an area where we don't what what

57:33we don't want to happen is on a regular

57:35day, someone can't get to their house.

57:39in that

57:41>> um and then uh I one area uh specific to

57:47uh Pennsylvania Avenue, we have done

57:49occupancy studies

57:51>> around Savannah Gardens, right?

57:53>> Like we did that last year just to see

57:55if anything if those numbers were

57:58starting to drive up and to set actually

58:00a baseline. So from that point forward,

58:02we'll be able to know, all right, demand

58:04seems to be going up a lot here. we need

58:07to start considering other things for

58:10this.

58:11>> Okay. So,

58:12>> and we can follow up um in the next week

58:15with the memo detailing if you're

58:16thinking about a citywide plan, we can

58:18detail all of our watch zones and um

58:21perhaps as a as a part of the budget

58:23discussion, discuss how we start to

58:26study and implement other parking

58:28restrictions in places of town where we

58:29know

58:30>> we need I I would like a time and a

58:32status check on that. The other thing is

58:34we have an application where you can pay

58:36like to park. In other cities, why why

58:39don't we have it to include in that

58:40application so that people won't be

58:42running around, we've got five parking

58:44spaces and six ones and 3,000 meters.

58:47That's not going to help the people who

58:48travel when these big. So why on that

58:51application is it possible to say in our

58:54particular spaces because you can run

58:56one to see whether it's open or closed.

58:58Why can't we put

58:59>> you're talking about the app where you

59:01pay for What could we include in there

59:03where spaces are available so people

59:05aren't running around the whole city?

59:07>> Yes, good question. Um,

59:09so the information that the app gives us

59:13is who has paid on a space and who has

59:17not.

59:18>> Um,

59:19>> that's not what I'm asking.

59:20>> But but but what I would say is it does

59:22not that app can't tell you with

59:26certainty is the space open. Yeah.

59:28>> So, if the space is green,

59:31meaning that, oh, well, no one's paid on

59:33it, there might still be someone in the

59:35space for 10 different reasons. Decals,

59:39they just didn't pay on it. Uh, the And

59:43so, we're hesitant to use the

59:46information from that app to then tell

59:48you, hey, go there. There's an open

59:50space. when there's a decent chance it

59:52might not be open.

59:55>> That means

59:55>> let me So

59:57>> it's a really good question. Other

59:59cities have it, but it's and it's the

1:00:01but it's the same system, right? The

1:00:03data that they're using to say this

1:00:05space is open or this space is not is

1:00:08based on whether or not there's money on

1:00:10that space on the meter.

1:00:11>> I'm not talking about that.

1:00:13>> But that's but that's you Well, let me

1:00:15make sure I understand what you're

1:00:16saying, Alderwoman. You're saying you

1:00:17want the app to be able to show where

1:00:20the open spaces are.

1:00:21>> Yes. I mean, it's not on the

1:00:22application. I'm asking you why we can't

1:00:25put that on the application. Other

1:00:26cities are using the same thing.

1:00:28>> I got you. So, I just want to make sure

1:00:30we're connecting the dots. The

1:00:31information the app uses to determine

1:00:34whether or not a space is available or

1:00:36not

1:00:37>> is whether or not the space has money on

1:00:40its meter. Right? If it doesn't have

1:00:42money on its meter, the application says

1:00:45there's a there's a potential that this

1:00:46space is open,

1:00:47>> right?

1:00:47>> If the space still has money on its

1:00:50meter, it says that it's likely

1:00:52occupied, right? Because there isn't a

1:00:54camera system that tells you whether or

1:00:57not this space is open or not, right?

1:00:59It's based on whether or not there's

1:01:01money in the app on that meter. Does

1:01:04that make sense?

1:01:07So, we can turn that feature on in the

1:01:10app. The issue that Sean is saying is

1:01:13that it's it doesn't it doesn't

1:01:17necessarily guarantee that an open space

1:01:20in the app is actually open because we

1:01:23have um decals which you don't have to

1:01:26pay on the meter for. We also have

1:01:28people that stay beyond the meter and a

1:01:31a parking space that would say there

1:01:33it's not available could be available

1:01:35because somebody could leave before

1:01:37their money runs out. Is that accurate?

1:01:39>> Yes. Okay. But don't we have

1:01:41>> we can don't we have parking spaces that

1:01:43says uh when you ride by they're open or

1:01:46closed spaces and so I as a as a a

1:01:50citizens or as somebody shopping down

1:01:52there I would want that opportunity.

1:01:54They need that opportunity whether it is

1:01:56not because when they go in front of

1:01:58there it'll say open or closed that is

1:02:01full.

1:02:02>> Do you mean a garage?

1:02:03>> The garages.

1:02:04>> Okay.

1:02:04>> Yeah. I'm talking the the garages. Any

1:02:07parking spaces, our surface parking

1:02:08spaces and our spaces that are um let me

1:02:12see what was

1:02:14>> anything that we're controlling.

1:02:15>> Okay. So we that's what I'm talking

1:02:17about. So we we we do have

1:02:18>> that to be clear if you didn't

1:02:20understand. So, we have the base

1:02:22technology that would be required to do

1:02:25it. There's things we need to add on at

1:02:27the garages to show that. And and I

1:02:30guess the example you may be thinking

1:02:31most about is the airport.

1:02:33>> No, I'm talking about I'm talking about

1:02:35Drayton Street where our parking spaces

1:02:37are. If you ride by, they'll say whether

1:02:39it's full or not, right?

1:02:40>> And I'm asking you say the base. Why

1:02:42can't we include our parking spaces, the

1:02:45ones that we control, that there's a

1:02:47possibility that there is a parking

1:02:49space there available?

1:02:50>> So, all of our garages currently do have

1:02:53open or full. The the question is

1:02:56>> So, the question is why can't we connect

1:02:57that? Because that's the problem that we

1:02:58we're having people.

1:03:00>> You want to connect the garages and the

1:03:01street parking. Well, well, more so the

1:03:04garages because right here when when I

1:03:06Google this stuff, we need to know where

1:03:08the empty spaces are, where the demand

1:03:10is, and why we aren't connected the two.

1:03:13We need to connect the two. Citizens and

1:03:15visitors need to know based on the

1:03:18parking that we have available, whether

1:03:20it's available or not. At least that's

1:03:22the track. We we need to do better.

1:03:24>> So, the So, physically, you will know if

1:03:27a garage is open or full by the signage

1:03:29that's already there. So, if you drive

1:03:31by a garage, it will have o open or

1:03:34full.

1:03:35>> That's not what I'm asking.

1:03:36>> But you want you want that information

1:03:38on the app?

1:03:38>> Yes.

1:03:39>> Okay. So, the so the app currently right

1:03:41now is they only do on street. Now, we

1:03:45have looked at other companies including

1:03:49the one the company that that we do

1:03:51garage gates with for an app that would

1:03:56show you number of open spaces in a

1:03:59garage.

1:04:01the the question the the only issue with

1:04:03that is that is a separate app from the

1:04:05on street one.

1:04:07>> It's a really good point though that the

1:04:09alderwoman is making in that

1:04:12>> if our garages and our street parking

1:04:15are connected to our entire mobility

1:04:17system, right? And we usually price our

1:04:19garages more cheaply than we price on

1:04:22street parking because we want to

1:04:23incentivize people to park in the

1:04:25garages um and keep that on street

1:04:27parking free for residents or for that

1:04:30churn. Right. So I think um if I'm

1:04:33understanding your question correctly,

1:04:35we've got to figure out a way to be able

1:04:38to publish in real time. Yes. where

1:04:41available spaces are and maybe even

1:04:43connect that with the price point you

1:04:45might pay for it so we can further drive

1:04:47people into open spaces in the garages

1:04:51and away from um some of the street

1:04:53parking where there's more demand.

1:04:55>> There are aggregator systems that do

1:04:57that. Um it's it's it's it's building uh

1:05:02we have to build out that technology and

1:05:04that infrastructure.

1:05:06>> So because the garages

1:05:07>> programs available

1:05:08>> it's doable. We don't have a switch

1:05:10right now that can turn that on, but let

1:05:11us let us get back to you and uh and and

1:05:15get back with what the feasibility of

1:05:17that is, but I think that's a really

1:05:18really good point and a capability we

1:05:20want to have.

1:05:21>> Yeah. Thank you so much for that. Thank

1:05:22you, Sean.

1:05:23>> Thank you. Anyone else?

1:05:25>> So, um you you've done what we've asked

1:05:28you to do.

1:05:30>> Um you come back.

1:05:31>> Are we ready to proceed, counselor?

1:05:36>> Yeah, we asked for it. Yeah. We ready to

1:05:39proceed? I was just wanted him to

1:05:40proceed further than East Roy. Great

1:05:42presentation, but my concern is always

1:05:43going to be the equity part, how we

1:05:45filter that out in a citywide plan

1:05:47because all of us are getting complaints

1:05:48about

1:05:49>> but parking but parking is never

1:05:52parking is never a endgame. It's I mean

1:05:55it's always I mean because as as as

1:05:58patterns move, people move, as things

1:06:00happen, things change. So, I mean, you

1:06:03know, we're doing this now and we'll

1:06:05very well be doing this again next year

1:06:07for for something else. So,

1:06:09>> yes, ma'am.

1:06:11>> Thank you for the presentation. How much

1:06:13was the study?

1:06:15>> Uh, I want to say we came in right about

1:06:18$100,000.

1:06:20>> $100,000 for the study

1:06:22>> and that's just for the downtown area.

1:06:25>> So, Liberty to victory.

1:06:27>> Liberty to victory.

1:06:28>> Yes. So if we did a citywide study,

1:06:32>> well, so we we've actually talked with

1:06:34them about other areas. The the the what

1:06:38they have said is

1:06:43they would probably want to focus on all

1:06:45right, where are the where are the

1:06:48active corridors that anecdotally

1:06:50everyone thinks is an issue right now.

1:06:53So rather than go into areas where we

1:06:56know there's not an issue, we would try

1:06:59to focus on those issues. It's going to

1:07:01it's going to be more money, but we also

1:07:04think we could do it more efficiently

1:07:09>> because some areas, some neighbors have

1:07:10any issues with parking at all. I mean,

1:07:12I guess we have defined areas in which

1:07:14parking is a challenge.

1:07:16I think it makes sense for us to come

1:07:18back to council and and and as per

1:07:22perhaps as a part of the budget

1:07:23discussion or a question about the

1:07:25budget is what's the next step for

1:07:28parking matters and where where do we

1:07:30want to look the citywide perspective is

1:07:33a good one for equity but I think there

1:07:35are places that we can say well we we we

1:07:38probably don't need to do parking

1:07:40studies in these areas because either

1:07:42they're more suburban in nature there's

1:07:44not a lot of street parking

1:07:46um or there um or there's corridors that

1:07:50um have substantial surface parking lots

1:07:53where we don't need to to think through

1:07:54that item. So, let us come back to I

1:07:58appreciate it. His head he's he's

1:07:59already

1:08:00>> identified some watch areas. I just want

1:08:02to know how do we uh

1:08:06>> uh prioritize those to make it effective

1:08:08in all the other areas. Let us come back

1:08:11with a with a map of and a list of those

1:08:14watch areas and how we might how we

1:08:17think we might prioritize

1:08:19um uh doing studies around those areas.

1:08:22>> Thank you so much.

1:08:23>> They are very the the studies as you can

1:08:25see are really space by space, block by

1:08:28block um and they're very very detailed

1:08:31studies um to understand the demand and

1:08:33and what parking restriction might be

1:08:35helpful.

1:08:36>> Thank you Sean. Thank you Mr.

1:08:39Okay. So, just to let you know, mayor,

1:08:41we will and council, we will have the

1:08:44proposed amendment on a first reading

1:08:46>> at the next city council meeting.

1:08:49>> Thank you.

1:08:50>> Okay.

1:08:50>> Um, let me um Thank you, Sean.

1:08:53Appreciate it. Thank you, F. Um, let me

1:08:56do a little lead in if you want to um to

1:08:59the um 100% Savannah. Um so want to do a

1:09:05lead in um just to help frame some of

1:09:09this.

1:09:10>> Um now six and a half years ago

1:09:14>> this this council the prior council um

1:09:17took the really huge historic and bold

1:09:21step of of addressing um 100% Savannah.

1:09:25It passed unanimously.

1:09:27Um it was it was forward thinking Nick.

1:09:32was uh big and bold and I will tell you

1:09:35that um now as the 100% Savannah plan as

1:09:41a toddler now.

1:09:42>> Thank you.

1:09:42>> Um the work continues to grow.

1:09:45>> Thank you.

1:09:46>> Um I just came back from from Boston uh

1:09:49this morning, myself and Nala after

1:09:52going to Miami.

1:09:54Uh but we were at Harvard uh there with

1:09:59the community data health initiative.

1:10:02um that um and the African-American

1:10:05Men's Association presented there

1:10:07because people wanted to know about the

1:10:08work we were doing as it relates to our

1:10:11100% Savannah plan, environmental

1:10:14health, our data health. Um and I got

1:10:16this award that I accepted on behalf of

1:10:18you all.

1:10:19>> Um uh Savannah is the top armed city to

1:10:23watch on environmental health.

1:10:25>> That's great. Yes.

1:10:26>> So I wanted I accepted it with Nala but

1:10:30on behalf really of all of you because

1:10:32again this work you know it continues to

1:10:34grow. Um the day before I was in

1:10:37Baltimore at the uh for those of you

1:10:40familiar with which is the local

1:10:42government for sustainability.

1:10:44um again speeches about our 1% Savannah

1:10:47plan uh we're part of climate mayors uh

1:10:50COP 31 and all of these things because

1:10:53people are very interested and Savannah

1:10:55is really leading uh the way among our

1:10:58colleagues across the country as it

1:11:00relates to this type of work. So I

1:11:02wanted before Jay and Dala uh start to

1:11:05to thank you for that. um has created a

1:11:09buzz. A lot of folks are now creating

1:11:11their own plans. Um but we've been able

1:11:13to really take this 100% Savannah planet

1:11:16as it dealt with renewable energy and

1:11:18really expand it in terms of

1:11:20environmental health and a bunch of

1:11:22other really cool stuff um that folks

1:11:24are really paying attention to. So I

1:11:25just wanted to thank you all. Jay, thank

1:11:27you for your leadership and pay uh Nala

1:11:29has been amazing. Um she she kept me um

1:11:33being real smart with the smart people

1:11:35at Harvard. Yes. that had my Harvard hat

1:11:38and they uh they said um they said I

1:11:40didn't know you went to Harvard. I said

1:11:42yeah I was just there yesterday.

1:11:44>> So thank you mayor and and we're really

1:11:47excited about the work. You know, when I

1:11:49got here um five years ago, we had a

1:11:51mighty team of one um in the

1:11:54sustainability environmental services

1:11:55department, McDuffley. And since then,

1:11:58because of council's leadership and

1:11:59investment, we've been able to grow um

1:12:01the work. And I do think that

1:12:04environmental health has become a really

1:12:07important focus um for this work beyond

1:12:10the sustainability, which is obviously

1:12:12really really important. Um, and I

1:12:14really um am thankful for council's

1:12:17leadership on that aspect and also um

1:12:20Nyla and the team for coming in and

1:12:22embracing that. And we've got a lot of

1:12:24work to do as it relates to

1:12:25environmental health and environmental

1:12:27justice um for um our residents.

1:12:30>> Let me mention um while we were there,

1:12:32Dr. Milan actually in a year-long

1:12:34fellowship.

1:12:35>> Wow.

1:12:36>> Of something else as I called it here in

1:12:38Harvard, right? So she came in, I was

1:12:40doing a a a talk with some students and

1:12:43she came in and really talked about the

1:12:4540 years of this not only uh

1:12:48sustainability journey Savannah has been

1:12:50on but really that move toward

1:12:51environmental health and the work house

1:12:54has been doing and really is very

1:12:56complimentary of the city and the city's

1:12:59um work in that space. So again your

1:13:02your work is being seen you know

1:13:04>> she's been since August too. Yeah.

1:13:06Amazing person. So we and we're excited

1:13:10um to share uh some of the um the

1:13:13thinking that the team has, but we've

1:13:15got to continue to focus on

1:13:17environmental health. So just um let me

1:13:19introduce the team and um and give a a

1:13:22couple of thank yous. So, uh, you're

1:13:24going to hear from Nyla Oliver, who is

1:13:25our sustainability and environmental

1:13:27services officer, um, and and the entire

1:13:30team, including um, Nike, um, and, uh,

1:13:35Josh Corning, um, who I just want to

1:13:37recognize. Tomorrow is Josh's last day,

1:13:41um, with the city of Savannah. He's he

1:13:43and his wife are relocating

1:13:45um, to to South Carolina, but we have

1:13:47really appreciated your work. and he

1:13:50kept the uh the office running there for

1:13:53uh many many months. Um did an

1:13:55incredible job moving it forward. So

1:13:57Josh, we wish you and your wife nothing

1:13:58but the best.

1:14:00>> You'll always be part of um team

1:14:02Savannah. And I do want to recognize our

1:14:05um our intern who's with us uh Jana

1:14:08Cunningham um as well who's joined us uh

1:14:10for this work. So um thanks to this

1:14:13team. It's small but mighty and and

1:14:15funny about it. Congratulations. you

1:14:17mentioned that uh we were sitting there

1:14:19because they were other cities and so

1:14:21the lady from Baltimore says yeah we

1:14:23have a small team we only have nine

1:14:25people and I thought Nala was going to

1:14:27have a stroke behind I'm like whoa whoa

1:14:28hold true

1:14:31we're from Baltimore we only have nine

1:14:33people and N's like nine

1:14:36they would change the world with nine

1:14:37people so

1:14:38>> okay

1:14:39>> thank you good afternoon everyone mayor

1:14:42council men and women um all of our

1:14:44executive leadership team we so grateful

1:14:47to be here to be able to present to you

1:14:48all um this five-year update or what

1:14:51we've gathered over the course of this

1:14:52year and of course since the 2021

1:14:54adoption of our plan um to show you how

1:14:56we are making strides um and to make

1:14:58sure that we are aligned with the

1:15:00interests of our residents. Um so as

1:15:03mayor and city manager mentioned um our

1:15:072021 uh plan was for well sorry about

1:15:11that our 100% savannah clean energy plan

1:15:13was adopted in 2021 and this marks the

1:15:15five-year update.

1:15:18Um and so for today's workshop

1:15:19discussion we'll just cover progress

1:15:21that we've covered over the last five

1:15:23years. Um stakeholder engagement. When I

1:15:25first got here last June, uh we were

1:15:27given the charge by city manager and

1:15:29chief Damasimo um to really make sure

1:15:32that we engaged with our community on

1:15:34this plan. And so we have taken that um

1:15:37to all four corners of our city this

1:15:39year, which we'll talk about to make

1:15:41sure that we are meeting residents where

1:15:42they are. Um you'll also hear about the

1:15:44different opportunities um the

1:15:46challenges we've identified and then of

1:15:48course our proposed framework and

1:15:50updated strategies that we hope to

1:15:52gather your input on. and then um any

1:15:55questions.

1:15:58So, looking at where we are um where

1:16:01we've started,

1:16:03our plan, the resolution was passed

1:16:05March 2021 and then you all approved our

1:16:08clean energy plan December 2021. Um over

1:16:11the last five years, we've worked toward

1:16:12those goals and then at the start of

1:16:15really the end of last year, we worked

1:16:17to begin the engagement of our plan

1:16:19update. Um and then obviously having our

1:16:22progress update to you all today with uh

1:16:25the hope that we will have an adoption

1:16:26of our plan update next year. And just

1:16:28wanted to also add on there our goals of

1:16:30100% renewable electricity communitywide

1:16:33by 2035 and 100% renewable energy

1:16:36communitywide by 2050. Um to just make

1:16:40it a simple visual for you all.

1:16:43So in our current plan um the goals as I

1:16:46just mentioned are there but our current

1:16:47categories are energy efficiency,

1:16:49renewable energy, transportation and

1:16:51mobility, community and economic

1:16:52development and education and

1:16:54engagement. Um and our plan aligns with

1:16:57GPS goal 4 to continue and potentially

1:16:59expand our plan um and all other

1:17:01sustainability programs. Um so what

1:17:03you'll see as we get into kind of the

1:17:05work that we've done is um we've looked

1:17:07at these different categories but we've

1:17:09also taken what we've learned from um

1:17:12you know different convenings similar to

1:17:13what mayor just mentioned in Boston uh

1:17:15but also worldwide um going along with

1:17:18NOCA etc to the different climate cops

1:17:20with the UN to understand what what are

1:17:23the trends globally yes but what aligns

1:17:26with what we experience or our residents

1:17:28experience locally um and so you'll see

1:17:30kind of how we look to update those um

1:17:33but not neglecting education engagement

1:17:36or equity throughout all

1:17:39Josh.

1:17:43>> All right, so jumping into some of the

1:17:45progress in the last five years and this

1:17:47slide covers more of the energy side of

1:17:49things. Um within that plan, we had 45

1:17:53initiatives of which we've completed or

1:17:55made significant progress on around 16

1:17:57of those. Um so just wanted to highlight

1:17:59a few for us here today. Um that first

1:18:02column is our on-site city solar

1:18:04program. We have partnered with Cherry

1:18:06Street Energy to have solar on 27 uh

1:18:09city facilities. We're always exploring

1:18:11the opportunity for more. Um but our

1:18:13all-time production is actually over 5.5

1:18:15gawatt hours right now, which is great.

1:18:18And from summer 24 to summer 25, we saw

1:18:21that um reap over $104,000 in utility

1:18:25savings.

1:18:27the looking at the second column there

1:18:29was the um ribbon cutting for our city

1:18:31facility energy efficiency upgrade

1:18:34project where we looked at um lighting

1:18:37improvements as well as building

1:18:38envelope efficiencies. Again, you can

1:18:41see the energy savings there which also

1:18:43translates into significant um annual

1:18:46utility savings. And then moving on to

1:18:48our third column with the electric

1:18:50vehicle chargers. Um we have over 50

1:18:53within the city. Um but over 40 of those

1:18:56are available for public charging just

1:18:58on city- owned property. Um and we're

1:19:01really excited about this one u because

1:19:02it shows the collaboration that our

1:19:04office has been able to have across city

1:19:06departments and being able to engage

1:19:09with Sean's group amongst others to make

1:19:11that happen.

1:19:12And is going to talk about some of the

1:19:14non-energy.

1:19:20>> All right. So, on the non-energy side of

1:19:22things, um the city has historically and

1:19:25continues to do work um in a variety of

1:19:29uh topics under the broader

1:19:30sustainability climate um umbrella. Um

1:19:34we of course host our annual Earth Day

1:19:37festival and we've been seeing an uptick

1:19:39in attendees um which is exciting. We

1:19:41have our community gardens program. Um

1:19:43we have 55 gardens citywide including

1:19:46school gardens and then 14 on city-

1:19:48owned lots. Um we're currently wrapping

1:19:51up our brownfields assessment grant from

1:19:53the EPA and through this we were able to

1:19:57provide property owners with funding to

1:19:59complete environmental due diligence to

1:20:01help them move forward on um potential

1:20:04brownfield site that were um like

1:20:06financially cumbersome to either sell

1:20:09sell or redevelop on. Um and then

1:20:11lastly, we currently have been awarded

1:20:15uh $50,000 from um Bloomberg

1:20:17Philanthropies for our youth climate

1:20:19action fund. So through this um funding,

1:20:22we'll be able to provide micro grants to

1:20:24youth around the city to directly

1:20:26implement their own programs tied to um

1:20:29sustainability um and climate. So again

1:20:33want to emphasize that a lot of our work

1:20:37involves cross collaboration with um

1:20:40departments internally and then CBOS and

1:20:43nonprofits and other relevant

1:20:45stakeholders. Um and then you know

1:20:47historically as well Nick definely um

1:20:49worked significantly with planning and

1:20:52urban design on the wetlands park

1:20:54preserve um and uh tied to town and

1:20:57other major projects like that.

1:21:00Um and so having mentioned those

1:21:03projects, um we want to kind of move

1:21:05into our proposed updates for the plan,

1:21:08um one of our um big um updates tied to

1:21:13our greenhouse gas inventory, which um

1:21:16Josh will talk a little bit more about,

1:21:18um is

1:21:20differentiating between our municipal

1:21:22operation targets and communitywide

1:21:25targets tied to greenhouse gases. So

1:21:28this will help us improve um tracking,

1:21:31accountability and reporting over things

1:21:33we have direct influence on

1:21:36operationally versus what's at the

1:21:38community level that we may have less of

1:21:40an influence over. Um we are also

1:21:43proposing to include um new categories

1:21:45to the plan. Um and this is so that we

1:21:48can provide ourselves with and the city

1:21:51with a framework and a strategy for all

1:21:54the non-energy related projects. So,

1:21:56like I mentioned, you know, the office

1:21:58currently and historically has done work

1:22:00across so many different areas tied to

1:22:02the environment. And so, our hope with

1:22:05including these new categories is to try

1:22:07and kind of define or focus that a

1:22:10little bit more strategically to our

1:22:12broader plan. Um, and then of course we

1:22:15want to increase collaboration with

1:22:16other departments that are already doing

1:22:18some of this work. Um, and then align

1:22:20with our GPS strategic plan. So on the

1:22:25left um I won't go through them because

1:22:26Nyla listed them earlier are our current

1:22:30categories in the plan as it stands now

1:22:33and on the right of that table are our

1:22:36proposed categories that are listed. Um

1:22:39an important note here we're not um

1:22:41removing anything out of the plan. We're

1:22:44just shifting um and recategorizing the

1:22:47strategies to better align with our

1:22:49other with our non- energy related

1:22:51projects as well. So a lot of things

1:22:54under energy efficiency and renewable

1:22:56energy fall into clean energy, clean

1:22:58transportation and the built

1:23:00environment. Um and then we have the new

1:23:02natural environment and waste diversion

1:23:04categories. And then what you don't see

1:23:06on the right but will be included are um

1:23:09community and economic development and

1:23:11education engagement um along with

1:23:14equity. All those three themes will be

1:23:17through through lines across all five

1:23:20categories because they're important for

1:23:22each one of those areas. Um and we plan

1:23:25to to use them or focus on them in each

1:23:28of those five categories. Um and so in

1:23:31front of you um are is a list of some of

1:23:34those proposed um strategies for each of

1:23:39those categories. It's still in draft

1:23:41form. Some of a lot of these are from

1:23:43our current plan um our 2021 plan and

1:23:46then some of them are you know

1:23:49initiatives or strategies we've taken

1:23:51from our engagement um and then some

1:23:55that we've looked at other peer cities

1:23:57that face similar issues that we do. Um

1:24:00and so you know we'll welcome any

1:24:01feedback and now we'll speak a little

1:24:03bit more about that.

1:24:10One other thing that we're really

1:24:12excited about with the update to the

1:24:14plan is establishing a um a way to track

1:24:18our broader progress over time and

1:24:20compare apples to apples beyond just

1:24:22individual projects. And one way that

1:24:25we've identified to do that is by is

1:24:27through conducting a greenhouse gas

1:24:28inventory. So looking to pull in the

1:24:31impact um and all of the energy that

1:24:34we're using both within our municipal

1:24:35operations and then also communitywide.

1:24:38Um, so on the left side we have an

1:24:40example from the city of Atlanta and

1:24:42this is what we're hoping to see. And I

1:24:44apologize for the the small text, but um

1:24:46it's broken down by um category or

1:24:50industry with local government

1:24:51operations being one of those horizontal

1:24:53bars. And then this is what we're hoping

1:24:55to see over time, that reduction in

1:24:57emissions, the whole um kind of the

1:24:59whole chart showing that decrease with

1:25:01also being able to identify which um

1:25:04what factors are influencing that

1:25:06decrease by looking at the the bars

1:25:08there proportionally decreasing as well.

1:25:11And so on the right side is our team to

1:25:13make this a reality for Savannah. So we

1:25:15have um the city and then Icky as the

1:25:18mayor mentioned as well as Green Link

1:25:19Analytics out of Atlanta. Um, so we've

1:25:22partnered with them as well as clear

1:25:24path technology to track this over time

1:25:27and we actually got our preliminary

1:25:29results in earlier this week. Um, and so

1:25:32we're really excited because we've been

1:25:33very careful to track our methodology in

1:25:36detail tracking all of the data that

1:25:38we're bringing in, who's providing it,

1:25:40what the boundary of it was, as well as

1:25:42any assumptions we needed to make to

1:25:44extrapolate any data. So now going

1:25:46forward, we will be able to have our

1:25:48baseline from 2025's data and then be

1:25:51able to again compare apples to apples

1:25:53as we move forward to show that progress

1:25:55over time.

1:25:59>> Thank you, Josh. And just one thing to

1:26:00also note for the GHG inventory, um this

1:26:04will be the first update of a GHG

1:26:06inventory since 2016. Um so we are

1:26:09really proud and excited to be able to

1:26:11bring that. And of course going forward

1:26:12we don't plan to do every 10 years but

1:26:15the um best practices that we've learned

1:26:17from our peer cities is three to five.

1:26:19So next I'll talk a little bit about

1:26:21education and engagement um that we

1:26:23started at the really from the start of

1:26:25this year um with looking at the update

1:26:27of our plan. So we got together with

1:26:30internal city departments um we hosted a

1:26:32series of um you know inerson sessions

1:26:36for them to attend and that was across

1:26:3817 different city departments. um that

1:26:40was really to gain an understanding of

1:26:42what projects they're doing right now

1:26:44and ways that we can collaborate with

1:26:46them or maybe we're already kind of

1:26:48doing this work but instead of working

1:26:49in silos let's work together um because

1:26:51I think what we've learned really is

1:26:53that the realities of climate change um

1:26:55are present right where we call home and

1:26:58um you know we can talk about solutions

1:27:00but the other way to only way to do that

1:27:02is to not only meet residents where they

1:27:04are but to do it collectively so we also

1:27:06have community surveys the 106 were

1:27:09conducted did at our annual Earth Day

1:27:12and at a tableabling event. I believe

1:27:13that was the farmers market one. And

1:27:15then we've had six external sessions

1:27:17thus far and we have approximately five

1:27:20in progress. Um that includes um which

1:27:23of course fortunate for our um intern

1:27:25who is from Savannah State. Um that

1:27:27includes collaborating with the National

1:27:29Council of Negro Women, the SSU chapter

1:27:31and then their chapter of Delta Sigma

1:27:33Theta with upcoming engagements with

1:27:35Savannah State. Um we've also covered

1:27:37neighborhood association meetings. um

1:27:40grateful for Alita and her team

1:27:41connecting us there and then of course

1:27:44being able to connect with other

1:27:45universities including SCAD. This will

1:27:46be our second time hosting them um just

1:27:48to show them kind of the work we're

1:27:50doing. Um you know we go up to the roof

1:27:51of Adams to show the solar panels but

1:27:53also going out to the community gardens

1:27:55to talk about um you know food deserts

1:27:57and looking at uh different ways that

1:27:59they can collaborate there. Um so also

1:28:01we hosted an open house which I think

1:28:03this might be on the next slide but I'll

1:28:04get there. Um, so for our residents, not

1:28:07just looking at our youth, but um, we

1:28:09host hosted an openhouse style um, event

1:28:12where residents can come and really

1:28:13learn what we've done thus far with our

1:28:16100% Savannah clean energy plan. Um, but

1:28:18also where we want to look forward with

1:28:20our update.

1:28:22And so, um, just, you know, following to

1:28:25that slide with partnering with the

1:28:26community, um, some of the questions

1:28:28that we asked internally and externally

1:28:30was, you know, um, or explain to them as

1:28:32well, but what is already underway? um

1:28:35wanting to know what the barriers are or

1:28:38to new initiatives or projects, why um

1:28:40understanding um you know from them what

1:28:43might be missing from our initiatives.

1:28:44Uh from a lot of the data we've gathered

1:28:47even last night coming into the airport,

1:28:49someone mentioned my bills are too high.

1:28:51I really want someone to speak to

1:28:52Georgia Power, you know, and so it's

1:28:54really hearing what the residents are

1:28:56experiencing. At the neighborhood

1:28:58association meeting um a couple of weeks

1:29:00ago, they experienced different

1:29:01flooding. So it's like okay it might not

1:29:03necessarily fall uh wholly under our

1:29:05purview with our department but that's

1:29:07why it is important to understand what

1:29:09water resource is doing what storm water

1:29:11is doing so that we can be able to

1:29:12connect those dots. Um so we also looked

1:29:14at opportunities for alignment and top

1:29:16priorities and you know such as that's

1:29:18listed there. Um so along with informal

1:29:21sessions open house um we had a round

1:29:23table with focus groups from across um

1:29:25the community. So that included local

1:29:27CBOS like Harambe House, um, Savannah

1:29:29State, 100 Mile, Seir Hub, Savannah

1:29:33Rivereper, and others. We came together

1:29:35to really talk about each of these

1:29:37categories that are listed in front of

1:29:39you. Um, this is a draft, but really to

1:29:41get their input on, you know, after

1:29:43we've gone through the 45 initiatives,

1:29:45this is what we think makes what makes

1:29:47sense, but we don't want to move forward

1:29:49without the input from those who have

1:29:50their ears on the ground as well and who

1:29:52are working with our residents

1:29:53dayto-day. So also we receive technical

1:29:56assistance. Josh mentioned green link

1:29:58analytics on the last slide. U we've

1:30:00been fortunate um to be a Bloomberg 25

1:30:02city or part of their sustainable cities

1:30:05fund. So a lot of this has been covered

1:30:06through them. The world resources

1:30:08institute we really didn't even want to

1:30:10begin engaging with our community until

1:30:13understanding what are the best

1:30:14practices there. So they really provided

1:30:16different opportunities for us to take

1:30:18on which is why we had so many different

1:30:20um you know opportunities for engagement

1:30:22there. And then of course I um also not

1:30:25listed is the Southeast Sustainability

1:30:27Directors Network, the Urban

1:30:28Sustainability Directors Network, um who

1:30:30have all been really integral in this

1:30:32work.

1:30:35Um so I, you know, before opening the

1:30:38floor for questions, I just want it to

1:30:40be said that part of this update

1:30:41presentation is to really make sure that

1:30:43we are including our council members in

1:30:45this. Um, we've talked with residents,

1:30:47we've talked with consultants, we've

1:30:48talked with, you know, local CBOS, and

1:30:50we want to make sure that you're a part

1:30:52of the conversation. Um, you all have

1:30:53entrusted us with this plan. Um, so if

1:30:56any questions or comments, now is the

1:30:58time. And thank you,

1:31:00>> thank you, Mr. Mayor.

1:31:01>> He's been he's been chomping at the bit.

1:31:03>> Wow. What a phenomenal team. What a

1:31:05phenomenal team. You all just get it.

1:31:07Uh, you all just get it. You keep on

1:31:09moving into into new territory as the

1:31:11field rapidly evolves. you act as an

1:31:14innovation team which is really tough uh

1:31:17in at any government structure uh and

1:31:20continue pushing and thank you so much

1:31:21for this update because after five years

1:31:23it it's time to look at what's next. I

1:31:26only have one amendment to the

1:31:28presentation, one amendment uh and it's

1:31:30one figure and it's that uh in the

1:31:33timeline I remember we adopted the

1:31:36resolution. It was March 2020, right?

1:31:39>> Uh our first uh COVID meeting and I

1:31:44remember the apprehension as we were

1:31:46gearing up to climb the summit for the

1:31:47resolution and I remember calling the

1:31:49mayor and saying is now the time and he

1:31:53responded he said if there's any time to

1:31:54think about the future it's now. Yes.

1:31:57>> And uh you all have kept up that energy.

1:32:00Your team found a way to do public

1:32:02engagement at a time when we it was very

1:32:04difficult to engage the public. Times

1:32:07were strange. Our city attorney had a

1:32:09battle beard. You know, our uh our city

1:32:12manager wore cardigans uh at the time.

1:32:15Uh Mr. Massie was looking sharp as ever.

1:32:18>> Um

1:32:19>> but y'all found a way to figure it out,

1:32:21include the entire community uh in this

1:32:23plan and sustained us for 5 years. Uh

1:32:26now it is time to look at what's next.

1:32:28Um continue up uh continue the momentum.

1:32:31Y'all are doing such a phenomenal job

1:32:33keeping ahead of the changes and riding

1:32:36the different waves in administrations

1:32:38and regulations as they change. You

1:32:40found a way to sustain this effort uh at

1:32:43a time when you know topline

1:32:45administrators may not support funding

1:32:48streams change uh and pivot and you

1:32:50found a way to continue to do it and

1:32:52invest locally. Uh Josh, we're gonna

1:32:55miss you. Um but continue to be the

1:32:58evangelist and show them what's

1:33:00possible. So congratulations.

1:33:02>> Thank you.

1:33:03>> Just thank you for your engagement with

1:33:09myself

1:33:19involved with

1:33:21community. So thank you

1:33:26Thank you for the presentation.

1:33:28Um

1:33:30on page three 5

1:33:3422 what is that? GW the gowaws.

1:33:39>> What is it called?

1:33:42>> Clean energy produced since 2023.

1:33:46>> What is it?

1:33:46>> Gawatt.

1:33:47>> Gigawatts. Exactly. Um Georgia Power has

1:33:52commercials airing now where they have

1:33:55decreased

1:33:57the power bills. Have you all been

1:34:01speaking to them directly

1:34:03in reference to this?

1:34:06>> So we do speak with Georgia Power. We

1:34:08have a liaison there um now. But for our

1:34:11solar, we're looking out for that number

1:34:13that is in partnership um with Cherry

1:34:16Street Solar. And so they are really the

1:34:19ones also negotiating there, including

1:34:22us. Um but because they own and operate

1:34:24the equipment um but through a power

1:34:26purchase agreement,

1:34:30>> for all other matters, yes, we do talk

1:34:32with um so she she already you don't

1:34:36have to.

1:34:36>> I mean, you think about Oh, sorry. Go

1:34:38ahead. community gardens. We have 55

1:34:41citywide. Okay. 14 city owned lots. So

1:34:46now those community gardens

1:34:50um can our citizens go to any of those

1:34:53gardens and get the

1:34:57products or the produce from those

1:34:59gardens? And where are those gardens

1:35:02located?

1:35:04>> Um so

1:35:05>> get to the mic please.

1:35:07Thank you. Um, as far as where they

1:35:10located, we have a community gardens map

1:35:13that we worked with the Savannah Chad

1:35:15and Food Policy Council to so that

1:35:17residents could understand where they

1:35:20are and try to get in contact with

1:35:22someone um at that garden. Um,

1:35:26as far as picking produce from the

1:35:28garden, it every garden has uh or is set

1:35:32up slightly differently. that's left up

1:35:34to the community members in that area

1:35:37and how they want to run the garden. So

1:35:40if they want to run it as a community

1:35:42farm um and grow for the community then

1:35:47pe residents are able to attend and um

1:35:50pick produce from there. But there are

1:35:52some gardens where it's um kind of like

1:35:55rent a bed. And so, you know, we have

1:35:57one in Midtown um where residents can

1:36:01pay a small fee to rent a bed for the

1:36:03year and then they you know, grow

1:36:05whatever they want to, whether it's

1:36:06herbs or flowers or or produce. So, it

1:36:09kind of varies. Um, and we are working

1:36:12with the Savannah Chadam Food Policy

1:36:14Council to get a better sense of how to

1:36:16support gardens, especially in areas

1:36:19that are food deserts where that is an

1:36:21important thing is to grow food for

1:36:22those communities. Um, whether it's

1:36:25through connecting them to different

1:36:26departments like water resources because

1:36:28water is a big concern for the gardens.

1:36:30Um, whether it's uh reimbursing them for

1:36:33supplies like soil to keep the garden

1:36:35um, you know, sustainable for the long

1:36:37term. um working putting them in touch

1:36:40with sanitation if they have issues. So

1:36:43>> trying to provide support in whatever

1:36:44way possible.

1:36:45>> I would like to have a list Mr. city

1:36:47manager of those gardens so when the

1:36:50constituents come to me and ask me about

1:36:53these gardens I want to be able to tell

1:36:55them

1:36:57>> where we'll give you a list and we'll

1:36:59have a point of contact for each

1:37:00community garden there.

1:37:02>> Okay.

1:37:02>> We had one at the entrepreneur center

1:37:04and it just disappeared.

1:37:07>> Yes. all the plants and everything. They

1:37:09didn't even give they just let them die.

1:37:12>> But that's neither here nor there.

1:37:14Another conversation. 20 properties

1:37:16receive either PH1 and two ESAs CAP and

1:37:22SLGPR.

1:37:24What is that?

1:37:25>> Yes. Sorry. So those Yeah. Phase one or

1:37:28phase two environmental site

1:37:30assessments. Um and then CAP's

1:37:33corrective action plan or GPR is a

1:37:35ground penetration radar. So those are

1:37:37all um so if there's a brown field is

1:37:40defined as a site that has

1:37:42>> I know what a brown field is. Okay.

1:37:44>> I just need to know where those sites

1:37:46are.

1:37:46>> Okay. Yeah, we can send that to you.

1:37:49>> Oh well, she said explain explain it for

1:37:52people that don't know.

1:37:53>> Okay.

1:37:53>> So go ahead.

1:37:54>> So brownfield is defined as a site that

1:37:58has or has the perception of um

1:38:02environmental

1:38:03um contamination. And so think like, you

1:38:07know, gas stations, um, old laundromats,

1:38:10those sites where there were chemicals

1:38:12or solvents used that could have, you

1:38:15know, leaked into the area. Um, it makes

1:38:17it difficult to redevelop those sites.

1:38:19Um, you have, most banks require a phase

1:38:22one or a phase 2 environmental site

1:38:24assessment before allowing, um, you

1:38:27know, the owner to move forward on

1:38:28anything. And so that can be a big um

1:38:31barrier for revitalization

1:38:33um of neighborhoods that may have a lot

1:38:35of brown fields. And so the goal of this

1:38:37grant was to to try and provide some

1:38:40funding to those property owners to be

1:38:42able to move forward.

1:38:44>> Okay. Um the plan proposed updates,

1:38:48you're saying that um you're changing

1:38:52the categories.

1:38:54Why are you taking out what community

1:38:57economic development is something that

1:39:00is so very very important? Okay. And you

1:39:04all are moving that as a um main

1:39:08category and you're putting it under

1:39:13which one of these? Clean energy, clean

1:39:15transportation, built environment. Which

1:39:17one of those are going?

1:39:18>> Yeah, thank you. Great question. So

1:39:20those are not being removed from the

1:39:21plan but they will be woven into each of

1:39:23the categories. So similar to like the

1:39:26examples of the or I guess draft

1:39:28initiative or strategies that we have

1:39:29there we realize that each of these

1:39:32categories um needs to have community

1:39:34economic development or needs to have

1:39:36education engagement needs to have

1:39:37equity throughout their strategies. So

1:39:39they will be embedded throughout each

1:39:41instead of like a separate category

1:39:43where they're just separated because

1:39:44they should really be cohesive.

1:39:46>> Okay. Um

1:39:49now partnering with the community

1:39:52engagement you talk about uh engaging

1:39:56with Savannah State SCAD um and other

1:40:01partners.

1:40:06>> Have you all considered partnering with

1:40:08uh ILA local 1414?

1:40:11>> We can include ILA. Yes. the ports

1:40:15>> because environmentally the air in that

1:40:18area

1:40:19>> yes

1:40:20>> is it's it it's it's not good

1:40:23>> for for the port we are a part of those

1:40:25roundts they happen every two months um

1:40:28and then we really this this last

1:40:31convening that we just got back from

1:40:32yesterday um it's a collective for CDHI

1:40:35of you know peer cities talking about

1:40:37ways to um combat air quality issues

1:40:39along with extreme heat so I did take

1:40:41back um their whole clean

1:40:43initiative policy there to see where

1:40:45what might be a gap from what we're not

1:40:48doing already but we are a part of those

1:40:50working groups with Bram House and the

1:40:52port um and among others but we have

1:40:55been meeting with them and sir hub um we

1:40:57were uh given some air quality monitors

1:41:00through Brown University and there are

1:41:02four sites thus far that have been

1:41:04selected it's really focusing on the

1:41:05west side of Savannah um and so we are

1:41:07continually

1:41:08>> stop right there the four sites name

1:41:11them

1:41:11>> I can pull them up for Give me one

1:41:13moment.

1:41:14>> And actually part of the discussion as

1:41:16she's looking it up was to

1:41:18>> um there four sites but really

1:41:21>> uh talking about even around schools and

1:41:23community centers we did talk about that

1:41:25yesterday to actually expand uh that

1:41:27work to more specific to really measure

1:41:30what young people are dealing with.

1:41:31They're talking a lot about asthma.

1:41:33There were researchers there

1:41:35>> um that talked about the effects of

1:41:37asthma. And so we think if they're

1:41:39around community centers and schools, we

1:41:41have a better opportunity really to

1:41:43capture data about what what kids are

1:41:45inhaling around those those places. So

1:41:48>> yes, that's exactly right. Thank you,

1:41:49mayor. I mentioned these sites to him

1:41:51yesterday and he provided those points

1:41:53where I thought were very helpful. So,

1:41:54Aguchichi, Woodville, West Savannah, Old

1:41:57West Throp A, and Augusta A. And that's

1:42:00in a we've been in conversations with

1:42:02the IT team, um, Seir Hub, uh, planning,

1:42:05economic, sorry, planning and urban

1:42:07design, uh, but those have not been

1:42:09finalized. Um, but those are the

1:42:11proposed four.

1:42:14>> Wow. I'm saying, "Wow." Because those

1:42:18areas, those communities, and I'mma let

1:42:22all the women talk about it because

1:42:26that's real interesting

1:42:28that you all have those on your radar

1:42:31just now. Whatever happened to Nick

1:42:34Deputy, is he still with the city?

1:42:36>> No, he's gone.

1:42:38>> He's still in the He's still in the

1:42:40sustainability, environmental services.

1:42:44>> Yeah. But Um, he's not with the city.

1:42:45>> He's not with the city anymore. Okay.

1:42:48I'm I'm I I would like to say some other

1:42:50stuff, but I'm going to let Alderwoman

1:42:52Laneir address it because

1:42:56this is this is interesting that this

1:42:59department is in our city government.

1:43:04And

1:43:06I know for a fact that West Savannah

1:43:10is suffering when it comes to air noise

1:43:15and environmental pollutions and what

1:43:17have you. And I'm I'm glad to hear that

1:43:21y'all are working with it. But

1:43:25>> Okay.

1:43:26>> But that is exactly why that's why we're

1:43:29started there because the people there

1:43:32>> we've been doing this for 5 years,

1:43:33right?

1:43:33>> Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Well,

1:43:34>> so we starting it's already starting.

1:43:37It's just y'all just getting to it.

1:43:39Y'all just getting to the area of West

1:43:41Savannah.

1:43:41>> No, no, no, no, no, no. And it continues

1:43:44to grow there. But you know, the fact is

1:43:46is that we've known for years that the

1:43:48folks over there were not crazy. We know

1:43:51that they were not uh they that their

1:43:53lived experience made them subject

1:43:56matter experts.

1:43:57>> Uh and so this is really um bolstering

1:44:01what they've been telling us. And that

1:44:03is why that work is there. Uh as the

1:44:05money comes in to be able to address it,

1:44:07as the technical assistance comes in, as

1:44:09our international and national

1:44:11connections come in, we're able to take

1:44:13those resources and fund them right to

1:44:15those areas of a Gichien, of West

1:44:17Savannah, um of Hudson Hill to be able

1:44:20to address those things significantly.

1:44:22So you know, hence the work of

1:44:24environmental justice, environmental

1:44:26health is able to grow uh because of

1:44:29that lived experience. I'm if you want

1:44:31to add then to another trip that I might

1:44:33want to weigh in, but

1:44:34>> Oh, I I was just going to say thank you.

1:44:36Um, so we are, you know, not a new

1:44:38department, but a fairly new team within

1:44:40the last year and a half, but we are

1:44:41determined to continually protect the

1:44:43health and reduce pollution um of all

1:44:46communities in Savannah, but especially

1:44:47those that have been um disadvantaged.

1:44:49Um, so we appreciate it and we will

1:44:51continue to do that work.

1:44:54>> Um,

1:44:57you

1:44:58>> Oh, yes.

1:45:00Um, thank you all. This work that you

1:45:03all are doing has come a quite a long

1:45:05way. Um, because it started with

1:45:08environmental injustice, the city's

1:45:10attention to this work started with

1:45:15those areas that you called out and I

1:45:17call those ground zero for environmental

1:45:20injustice in this city and maybe in this

1:45:23whole region. Um, the city came to see

1:45:27about the people on the on the west side

1:45:29who had been for over a generation

1:45:31crying out about the environmental

1:45:33injustice because of the history,

1:45:35because of the proximity to the

1:45:36industry, them growing up together

1:45:40and we they came and saw the advocacy

1:45:44that we had been doing on the Hudson

1:45:47Hill area and decided to invest further

1:45:50into this work until it has led up to

1:45:53what you all are doing Now, but what

1:45:55happened? We took the route of

1:45:58sustainability and we concentrated

1:46:00there, which is which is good, which is

1:46:02which is current, which is timely, a lot

1:46:06of information out there on that, but we

1:46:09moved away from focusing through the

1:46:11years on the environment of the EJP, the

1:46:14environmental investments. Um so so

1:46:17those areas that you called out they are

1:46:20actually again ground zero for for this

1:46:23work. Um people in this city are

1:46:26actually suffering healthwise and

1:46:29through their quality of life because of

1:46:33the um proximity to these industries.

1:46:37These industries are powerful. They are

1:46:40rich. So, of course, they don't we don't

1:46:42put the attention there that you would

1:46:45put on. It's it's the lowhanging fruit

1:46:48to go after the sustainability when we

1:46:51have these behemoths of these big

1:46:53conglomerate businesses that we can't go

1:46:56after because uh although we have the

1:46:59evidence of the health um impact, the

1:47:02negative health impacts. So, um, in

1:47:05looking at your plan and and you you

1:47:08mentioned that on page on on slide

1:47:11number four that this was the the energy

1:47:15piece, the focus on energy.

1:47:19But in looking at this

1:47:21and knowing

1:47:23of the impact that we have on

1:47:26environmental pieces, I don't feel the

1:47:29gravity of the environmental injustice

1:47:32piece in this plan.

1:47:34that is equal to what we're seeing in

1:47:37the community. And when you go out of

1:47:39town, they you would think that we got

1:47:41the best thing going here and dealing

1:47:43with these issues and we don't.

1:47:45>> It's just the opposite. So it's a

1:47:46disconnect somewhere and what's actually

1:47:49happening in these communities of Hudson

1:47:52Hill being in that youth Woodville

1:47:55Carver village Oijitton and Tmont Park

1:47:58of the worst and the the

1:48:02our codes and policies have not kept up

1:48:05with uh the the infractions

1:48:09and and people have suffered and we

1:48:11haven't um responded

1:48:14to ward off. Um, now now we've been

1:48:18talking about it a lot. I've been

1:48:19talking about it a lot with this

1:48:21management. Um, and and we look to have

1:48:25some work done through our planning

1:48:27department with these new plans that

1:48:30should give us hopefully some relief,

1:48:32maybe some overlays um that could give

1:48:35us some relief as these properties

1:48:36change hands. We're looking at this

1:48:38because this is a very critical area.

1:48:41But when I look at this plan, I don't

1:48:43see I don't feel the gravity of that

1:48:47focus. It's heavy on sustainability,

1:48:50resiliency, and all that. And that's

1:48:52excellent. That's excellent, but it is

1:48:55it's not balanced with the gravity of

1:48:59the actual environmental injustice

1:49:01problem we have in this city and in the

1:49:03west side. And that's a really a a good

1:49:05point out and and maybe one of the

1:49:07reasons for that is this plan was the

1:49:09clean energy plan uh when it was adopted

1:49:12and less so um uh environmental services

1:49:16or environmental justice and injustice

1:49:18work. Um, and if the feedback of council

1:49:21is to to inject more of that um,

1:49:25environmental justice work um, into the

1:49:28100% Savannah plan, I think we can

1:49:31absolutely take that back and do it. Or

1:49:33if there's a separate plan that council

1:49:35wants to see around environmental

1:49:37justice, we can do that, too. Um, it it

1:49:40may make sense for the 100% Savannah

1:49:43plan to include both since the

1:49:44department includes both and it's the

1:49:46strategic plan for the department. Um

1:49:48but that might be a reason why we see

1:49:50this imbalance there was the the focus

1:49:52of the original plan.

1:49:54>> Well, it's not really I just think that

1:49:56you know the work has kind of led us

1:49:58there.

1:49:58>> Yeah.

1:49:59>> Uh again yesterday we were in Boston for

1:50:01the community data health initiative. So

1:50:04I mean the fact is a part of 100%. Is

1:50:07that it is actually growing to the I

1:50:08mean all we talked about was about

1:50:11environmental justice as it related to

1:50:12heat as it related to air as it related

1:50:15to water. Um because that is where the

1:50:18work is leading us. Um and so therefore

1:50:21the the funding opportunities the the

1:50:24grants that we're able to now secure is

1:50:26all in that space because that is where

1:50:28the work is leading.

1:50:29>> Yeah. And and it's also very true that

1:50:31>> I think we could build that out with the

1:50:33non

1:50:33>> non-renewable energy is the source for a

1:50:35lot of the environmental injustice,

1:50:37right? So you kind of you you solve the

1:50:39the the root issues there.

1:50:42>> I'm wondering whether we know us around

1:50:44this table whether we know the gravity

1:50:46of the problems. Maybe we need to take a

1:50:48tour

1:50:50>> open open air tour and look at those

1:50:53areas and see what people are subjected

1:50:55to. and and it's critical

1:50:58>> when you look at 100% when I look at

1:51:01something that says 100% Savannah plan

1:51:05I'm thinking this for the whole city as

1:51:09a whole. So when you talk about

1:51:12environmental

1:51:13issues,

1:51:15environmental

1:51:17injustices should have been right in the

1:51:19midst of all of that. And looking at

1:51:22this,

1:51:24based on what the mayor just said, what

1:51:27you all are saying, that is not

1:51:28included. You're thinking about putting

1:51:31it in there for five years. We've been

1:51:33dealing with this plan

1:51:35>> and that's not even

1:51:36>> started here.

1:51:38>> No, no, now the work started with it

1:51:42dealing with renewable energy. Um

1:51:44because the fact of the matter was it

1:51:46was using the carbon fuels that was

1:51:48causing the environmental justice as it

1:51:50related to air. So I mean you know the

1:51:52fact was the intent I think was was was

1:51:55absolutely correct

1:51:57>> that we had to get to a point where

1:51:59Savannah is a safe environmentally

1:52:02healthy

1:52:03>> and that was the way we were able to to

1:52:05start down that road. But I think again

1:52:08as the work continues to grow uh as

1:52:10Savannah's profile continues to be

1:52:12raised, we're able to also now address

1:52:16this through Bloomberg, through Harvard,

1:52:18through these other places that are now

1:52:20saying through our the youth clean

1:52:21energy thing. I mean, these are now

1:52:24these funding opportunities are allowing

1:52:26us to now take these funds and use them

1:52:28where we think is best, which is in the

1:52:30environmental justice space. I'm

1:52:32absolutely certain that this that just

1:52:34that that that we never because I was

1:52:37there that we a little different.

1:52:39>> Well well I I you know I was there too

1:52:41but I I think

1:52:41>> I think you were on Hudson Hill.

1:52:43>> Oh well again for for significantly a

1:52:47part time and with Dr. Mlean who's been

1:52:49there since for 40 years there 40 years

1:52:5140 years there 40 years I understand

1:52:54that but the point

1:52:55>> the point of the matter is this still

1:52:57got the same problem. The point of the

1:52:58matter is this is that there are some

1:53:00things we don't control, we can't

1:53:04control, but there are things that we

1:53:05can control. And so from this work in

1:53:08the environmental justice space, we're

1:53:10addressing it. There is still a need for

1:53:12us to be 100% savannah.

1:53:15>> And the reason why we're coming back

1:53:16after 5 years is that now we're able to

1:53:20continue to massage and build out this

1:53:22plan. The the the aspects of a good plan

1:53:25is a plan lives. And so you're able to

1:53:28focus more, focus less, to to as

1:53:31resources grow, resources fade, to be

1:53:34able to continue to build it into what

1:53:36we needed to be. And I'm saying and and

1:53:38Nala again, her and her team. Um the

1:53:41environmental justice space is where we

1:53:43are. Not only sea sensor rises, but also

1:53:45air quality. It is all all in West

1:53:49Savannah. However, our goal is still

1:53:52100% Savannah citywide, but we have to

1:53:56put the resources to me as it relates to

1:53:59environmental justice where we know the

1:54:01greatest marginalization and the

1:54:03greatest need was, which is in West Van.

1:54:05I think we're all very very clear, the

1:54:07industry, all those things, the block

1:54:09companies, the um the the um the

1:54:13brownfields and all those things to be

1:54:15able to address that. That's why they're

1:54:16coming back to us to say, "Hey, all

1:54:18right, it's been five years. Where do we

1:54:21go from here?" And I think that is what

1:54:23they are asking us to do next.

1:54:25>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just wanted to

1:54:27point out because I I know that we're

1:54:28talking about sustainability, which

1:54:30means we have to talk about everything.

1:54:32Uh but it, you know, to because it

1:54:35touches everything, but this one started

1:54:37as a renewable clean energy plan just

1:54:40for us. And if the if the table were the

1:54:42entire landscape of energy, the powers

1:54:44that be, including the federal and state

1:54:46government, give us about this much that

1:54:48we're able to work with. Uh and even,

1:54:51you know, expanding, that's why we've

1:54:53had to do rooftop solar, even though

1:54:55it's more expensive than putting it on a

1:54:57different field. Uh we still can't have

1:54:59the floating solar farm that helps power

1:55:01the water intake. Uh but look at what

1:55:03the team is asking for. They're asking

1:55:06to pivot a little wider to the built

1:55:08environment, our buildings, the natural

1:55:10environment, which includes our

1:55:12communities, and waste diversion, which

1:55:14is a massive problem. Uh that is larger

1:55:17than what the original plan intended. Um

1:55:20and it is it this they are boldly going

1:55:24where no city has gone before.

1:55:26>> Uh because for black people, that's

1:55:28who's suffering. That's why no city's

1:55:30been there because that's who's been

1:55:31over there suffering.

1:55:32>> Like I said, the federal and state

1:55:34government And there there is an EPA

1:55:36that says that is our job, you can't

1:55:38touch that. There is a DNR that says

1:55:40there that is our job and you can't

1:55:42touch that. Uh what the team is asking

1:55:45for is can we push it a little farther

1:55:48uh than what the parameters have been

1:55:50able to give us thus far and many of

1:55:53them in including in my district that I

1:55:56have uh environmental problems that they

1:55:58say that is DNR property. We'll get to

1:56:00it when we get to it. You can't touch

1:56:02it. uh the city employees literally

1:56:04can't go there. Uh but the team is

1:56:07asking for a little more.

1:56:09>> Uh so if we have knowledge at this table

1:56:11on how we can do better and do more,

1:56:13let's work with the team. This small but

1:56:14mighty team.

1:56:15>> I say 100% Savannah plan.

1:56:18>> Well, 100% is 100% energy.

1:56:21>> You're not going to be talking about

1:56:23>> it's a brand. It is a brand for clean

1:56:25energy. 100%

1:56:27>> that council unanimously support.

1:56:29>> I do think

1:56:30>> Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry. Go ahead. Let me

1:56:31get let back to you.

1:56:33>> Yes sir.

1:56:35>> For 15 years I was an environmental

1:56:38health and safety manager at

1:56:40international paper

1:56:41>> that it's directly over there. This is

1:56:44amazing. More eyes more prize. Uh we

1:56:47have been doing everything. One of the

1:56:49examples about the PF what is it?

1:56:54>> Pas

1:56:55we've got an an amazing attorney here

1:56:58that uh sues 65 people. And so we're

1:57:00well into this. We're not saying that

1:57:03we're 100%. We're saying that this is a

1:57:05plan that's going to take us where we

1:57:07need to be in Hudson Hill. We all voted

1:57:10for this unanimously. It talks about

1:57:12everything that we talked about in this

1:57:13table. We do need to do better. There is

1:57:15a concern more than the other and

1:57:17especially in back. But this right here

1:57:19is just a really good plan and I I think

1:57:22what we need to when you say 100% plan

1:57:2526, it's just a brand and a name and not

1:57:27that it's 100%. So, great work.

1:57:31>> Great peace and I enjoy I I'm just

1:57:33looking at all of this and so my my my

1:57:36question is I have two questions. We

1:57:38have a lot of uh information that we

1:57:41don't push out and so we need a public

1:57:43dashboard.

1:57:44>> How are we going to tell the people the

1:57:46promise that we're making? How do we get

1:57:48there? You know, and how's it completed?

1:57:50Right.

1:57:51>> I can't wait to hear what

1:57:52>> Okay. And so the other thing is

1:57:54>> it's a brand

1:57:58It's a national metric.

1:58:01>> Can I finish playing? Can I finish? I

1:58:03was quite worried about it. Okay. So, my

1:58:05concern is you have 16 out of the 45

1:58:09initiatives that are complete, right?

1:58:11And so, just give me one one tell us

1:58:14what the one was out of the 29 that

1:58:17remains and how do we do something about

1:58:19the other ones? How is that going to be

1:58:21measured? How are the people going to

1:58:22know that it's complete? We need to know

1:58:25the results.

1:58:27>> Yeah. Thank you. Um, and thank you all.

1:58:29So, I I guess I just want to clarify

1:58:31something. So, with 100% renewable or

1:58:34yeah, 100% renewable electricity

1:58:36communitywide by 2035, that's

1:58:38communitywide powering um with using

1:58:42electricity,

1:58:44sorry, the consumption uh with clean

1:58:46energy communitywide 100%. And then 100%

1:58:50renewable energy, that's all other

1:58:52things outside of electricity by 2050.

1:58:54Those were very ambitious goals. And so

1:58:57as a new team, what we've looked at is

1:58:59there is a greater need than what was

1:59:02originally adopted. And so we are

1:59:04proposing to make those changes because

1:59:06we're hearing from our community

1:59:08members, from our residents what what

1:59:11they need and what they desire. So we

1:59:14are asking to and perhaps that includes

1:59:16a name change. We could speak with FA

1:59:18about that. Or maybe it's a you know,

1:59:19not just a reiteration of this plan, but

1:59:21maybe it's a separate plan. But this is

1:59:24focusing completely on well it was I'm

1:59:26sorry 100% renewable energy and 100%

1:59:29renewable electricity but we see and

1:59:32hearing from you all of course as well

1:59:34that it is more than just clean energy

1:59:36and so that is what we are proposing um

1:59:39but you know since it was adopted we

1:59:40don't just want to go and change the

1:59:42name or change the categories but with

1:59:43you all's permission we would love to do

1:59:46so to to make those updates um and for I

1:59:49think GPS has been really integral in

1:59:52allowing us to be able to show that

1:59:53work. Um, so we do provide report outs

1:59:56on several initiatives that are included

1:59:58in there. Um, and you mentioned the 45

2:00:00um, initiatives. I'm so glad you did.

2:00:02Um, so we did an extensive several weeks

2:00:06going through and seeing, okay, what has

2:00:08already been done, what, you know, maybe

2:00:11what's not already underway, what's just

2:00:12been sitting there. Um, and decided,

2:00:15okay, these 45 initiatives,

2:00:18a lot of them don't even really align

2:00:20anymore. Um, where can we go from here?

2:00:23But then on on this slide that that

2:00:25shows these, this is kind of showing

2:00:27some of those of the 45, but we have

2:00:30narrowed that down a ton to these two

2:00:33pages. Um, which we would, you know,

2:00:36obviously welcome you all's, you know,

2:00:37input there as well. But so that's to

2:00:39kind of give, I guess, to add on to what

2:00:42was said to clarify things to let you

2:00:44all know that we didn't come in to just

2:00:46repeat um, but to really make change.

2:00:48>> Okay. So the other thing is I I had

2:00:51questioned the uses there a lot of

2:00:53electric cars going on and we talked

2:00:54about how we were going to increase

2:00:57that. I'm sure you have a map somewhere.

2:00:59People want to see where those where

2:01:01those locations are

2:01:03>> and so the results you know that that's

2:01:07what people want to say. I understand

2:01:09this right because I've worked in

2:01:10environment right and this is very

2:01:12important. It is a goal, right? It's a

2:01:15goal in a mission in our scope. And so,

2:01:18where would somebody see the map? Where

2:01:20would you see the map of where these 40

2:01:22locations are? Because that's important.

2:01:25>> Yeah, we can um we can continue working

2:01:27with you, Sean, with your team to have

2:01:29that um jump.

2:01:30>> We need to put that somewhere, Mr. City

2:01:32Manager, on our website. We got more

2:01:34cars that are electric now.

2:01:37>> We have it's on our website. I'm just

2:01:40saying connect to the to the work that

2:01:42the sustainability

2:01:44>> let me add before you let me let me say

2:01:46something I think is very important here

2:01:48>> the sustainability team is not the 100%

2:01:51Savannah team

2:01:53>> it's a sustainability department

2:01:55>> right

2:01:56>> they're one of their main goals is to

2:01:58implement the 100% Savannah plan

2:02:01>> right

2:02:02>> they do other stuff and now that we've

2:02:05gotten to where environmental justice is

2:02:07an opportunity that we could bring up we

2:02:09could do an entirely separate

2:02:11environmental justice plan if that's

2:02:13what you want to do. They can walk and

2:02:15chew gum. We have to obviously staff

2:02:17them up to continue to dive as deep as

2:02:20you want them to dive. But I think that

2:02:22the 1% Savannah plan is still uh one of

2:02:25our most ambitious goals. I think it has

2:02:27value. It has merit. We need to stay on

2:02:29that course of doing that. But it does

2:02:32not stop us from charging the city

2:02:34manager and the team to say, "All right,

2:02:36now let's break off a piece of this and

2:02:38let's really move in environmental

2:02:40justice." Again, the good news is

2:02:42because of the work that we're doing uh

2:02:44nationally and now internationally and

2:02:46acknowledge the respect that I see that

2:02:49she is getting around the place and

2:02:50people are calling out names and all

2:02:53that. There is opportunities now to

2:02:55really build out an entire environmental

2:02:57justice plan by itself. Y'all can call

2:02:59it whatever you want to call it. You

2:03:01know, at the end of the day, they're

2:03:02working.

2:03:03>> Yes.

2:03:04>> So, I I want to get a a understanding

2:03:07and clarity.

2:03:08>> Sure.

2:03:09>> Okay. Now, you saying that 100%

2:03:14Savannah plan is a brand, right? You you

2:03:18>> the one that council included you voted

2:03:20for.

2:03:20>> Yes. Yes. Okay. So, you all have been

2:03:24here. They have been in place for a

2:03:27year. Well, this team's been here for

2:03:31two years,

2:03:32>> right? Four years, right? Okay. So,

2:03:35we're looking at something that has been

2:03:38in place since 2021.

2:03:42>> 2020, but you continue.

2:03:43>> It It says 2021. I

2:03:45>> 2020, right?

2:03:46>> I think plan was adopted.

2:03:49So,

2:03:51and then you said something about the

2:03:53funding for

2:03:56to implement

2:03:58the 100% right. So with all that West

2:04:03Savannah

2:04:04had been going through, you're telling

2:04:07me that it took

2:04:11this what you all did, this 100% plan

2:04:16five years

2:04:18and and the environmental injustice was

2:04:21not included in none of that in in

2:04:24>> No, the work has always been always

2:04:26>> right. But but my my question is let me

2:04:28put it like this. My question is with

2:04:31the situation that's happening in West

2:04:33Savannah,

2:04:33>> yes,

2:04:35>> we as a city did not what what have we

2:04:38done

2:04:40>> to address the environmental injustice

2:04:43>> that has been happening

2:04:45>> in in West Savannah?

2:04:47>> So, one, we've done a lot, but we

2:04:49haven't done nearly enough, right?

2:04:51>> What have we done?

2:04:52>> So, and we can talk about the

2:04:54environmental justice. We've talked

2:04:55about the brownfield grants. We've

2:04:57talked about the studies that we um are

2:05:00working to include the small area plans

2:05:02that we're starting around

2:05:05>> planting trees. So

2:05:07>> air quality monitors there's and and

2:05:09this was kind of my preface um and what

2:05:12I think the team is trying to I don't

2:05:16know if steer is the right word but say

2:05:19they working in the field every day and

2:05:21of course we have members of council

2:05:24alderwoman lenerwoman wilder Bryant

2:05:26others who are very engaged in this work

2:05:28and also tintoes down on it they're

2:05:31saying that the 100% sustainability plan

2:05:33that was adopted 5 years ago which had

2:05:35broad goals goals, ambitious goals, very

2:05:37important goals right now doesn't

2:05:40doesn't account for the need that we

2:05:44have in the community as it relates to

2:05:45our environmental services piece of the

2:05:47work. So, they're saying, "Let us build

2:05:50on to that plan. Let us um uh provide

2:05:54some framework there and uh and try to

2:05:57get some some better traction and some

2:05:59more focused traction on these

2:06:01environmental justice pieces. So, I

2:06:02don't I want you to hear from me as a

2:06:05city manager that we have environmental

2:06:08injustice in this community. A lot of it

2:06:12focused in our West Savannah

2:06:14neighborhoods. Um, the city has not done

2:06:18historically what it could or should

2:06:20have done in years past. And what we're

2:06:23trying to get to today with your

2:06:25leadership and with the focus ofmemes

2:06:29and experts and partners like the

2:06:31sustainability environmental services

2:06:33team is to build in some work and some

2:06:35capacity at the city level to try to

2:06:39bring some justice to those areas. But

2:06:40there's many many levers that you have

2:06:43to pull um on that effort. Um and so

2:06:47there's so I I'm trying to say two

2:06:49things. one, you're right that more work

2:06:52has to be done and the city has to be in

2:06:54a leadership space there. I'm also

2:06:57saying that the work has been happening

2:07:01um as well. This isn't a revelation that

2:07:04we're having today at this table that

2:07:07environmental justice are important

2:07:08things and we need to start that

2:07:10programming. We've had that programming.

2:07:13We need more of it and we need to go

2:07:14further. And number three, for the

2:07:16things we can control,

2:07:18>> certainly

2:07:19>> because to Nick's point, there

2:07:21federalally thing, federal things, there

2:07:23are state things. Those are lanes that

2:07:25we cannot play in, we don't control. Uh,

2:07:28so this is

2:07:29>> that's what I was asking you. Yeah. For

2:07:30the things predicated on funding that we

2:07:34could not do anything

2:07:36for

2:07:38>> the West Savannah area.

2:07:39>> Well, let let me say this. If you just

2:07:41it's a classic case study of

2:07:45environmental injustice and who it's

2:07:47done to and where it's done at. So just

2:07:50just read the text just Google it and

2:07:52then it should show the picture of the

2:07:55people on Hudson Hill and it'll get you

2:07:57because they are classic victims of

2:08:00environmental injustice. Now, while we

2:08:02are patting oursel on the back and all

2:08:04of this good work that we are doing and

2:08:06we've we've pivoted from the

2:08:09environmental justice focus to

2:08:10sustainability, we do need to continue

2:08:13this sustainability work. They have done

2:08:15great work. We need to continue, but

2:08:17we're not putting the focus on

2:08:19environmental justice. and the mayor say

2:08:20we could do something separately and we

2:08:22should because while we are all around

2:08:24the country uh uh showing this great

2:08:28work work I would hate for residents to

2:08:30step out with a class action lawsuit on

2:08:33environmental justice and that's where

2:08:35we're going right now so that wouldn't

2:08:37look so good and uh against this uh

2:08:40these trophies right here

2:08:41>> for the things we controlled but

2:08:43continue

2:08:43>> and and and so it's unfortunate that we

2:08:45haven't had more control over people's

2:08:47quality of life and the sickness and

2:08:49what has happened to these generations.

2:08:51And now that we're getting some better

2:08:53documented information, then that will

2:08:56be a part of of of

2:08:59the dashboard of all of the different

2:09:01work that everyone is doing. Um, but

2:09:04let's not sit here and act like we're

2:09:06doing the best work ever and that we

2:09:08don't have any problems when it come

2:09:11environmental injustice. We're doing

2:09:13great work on sustainability. No one

2:09:15isn't saying that. we need to continue

2:09:17and and and we want to give you I want

2:09:19to give you my support in them

2:09:21continuing this great work, but at the

2:09:23same time, we're going to have to do

2:09:24something um um significant on this

2:09:28environmental justice piece that folks

2:09:30have been suffering with uh for decades.

2:09:33>> Yeah. And I don't think you'd hear me or

2:09:35anybody on the environmental services

2:09:38and sustainability team say anything

2:09:40other than we have a tremendous amount

2:09:42of work to do and there's a lot of

2:09:44injustice there. um that needs to be

2:09:46cured. Um there are places where we can

2:09:50make a difference and places where

2:09:51partners and state and federal

2:09:53government also need to make a

2:09:54difference as well. Um I will say that I

2:09:57think this is the really this is very

2:09:59important policy discussion for us

2:10:01because it gives the team the ability to

2:10:04go back and say the the policy focus of

2:10:07council is sustainability is important,

2:10:10environmental justice is important. we

2:10:12need to move aggressively where we can

2:10:16on both. Right.

2:10:17>> Um and so that that tells me and I'll

2:10:19ask council if my interpretation is

2:10:21correct that we need to come back with

2:10:23council with not only an updated 100%

2:10:26savannah plan which focuses on

2:10:28sustainability and clean energy but also

2:10:31a Savannah plan that tackles

2:10:34environmental injustice is an an

2:10:36ambitious way um as well. That's I I do

2:10:40I will say and it's important so folks

2:10:43don't get the wrong idea.

2:10:44>> The conditions have been in place for

2:10:46over 80 years.

2:10:49>> 80 years.

2:10:50>> And most of it has not been caused by

2:10:52the city of Savannah at all. That's

2:10:54right. Um for my time in the district um

2:10:57dealing with issues of air quality

2:10:59caused by industry

2:11:02>> to call the uh federal uh environmental

2:11:05protection division for them to come in

2:11:07and they say everything is fine. And we

2:11:10knew from our lived experience it was

2:11:12not

2:11:12>> right

2:11:13>> or the state or in Geington with the

2:11:15block company with the white film that

2:11:17was on people's cars.

2:11:19>> And we knew that folks over there were

2:11:21um with breathing machines and they had

2:11:23brochio issues and asthma issues. We

2:11:25knew from the lived experience that

2:11:28things something was wrong there. But

2:11:30then we called the state and the state

2:11:31says no everything is fine here. So, I

2:11:34want to make sure I mean if folks, you

2:11:36know, it's a class action suit against

2:11:38the city of Savannah.

2:11:40Um, but I think again it's important to

2:11:44show that I think we are, you know, to

2:11:46the city manager often uses this analogy

2:11:49that it's not a pat on the back, but

2:11:51it's a tap on the shoulder.

2:11:52>> Uh, and so for us, um, we're

2:11:55acknowledging a that we're in the right

2:11:57space. Um, and this is really a

2:12:00challenge to council to move further and

2:12:03do more. We need sustainability. We need

2:12:06environmental justice. We could, we

2:12:08should, we must do both. And so, um, my

2:12:12my hope and expectation of council is

2:12:15that the direction to the city manager,

2:12:17uh, either, you know, we keep it as one

2:12:20plan or we can break it off. I'm I'm

2:12:22sure it does make a difference to them

2:12:23one way or another. um you know if we

2:12:25want to do an environmental justice plan

2:12:28and call it whatever y'all want to call

2:12:29it. Um but we say every week Savannah

2:12:32will be a safe environmentally healthy.

2:12:34I mean I think that the fact that we've

2:12:36adopted that as our vision statement

2:12:38shows that we feel this is really really

2:12:42absolutely important for the things that

2:12:44we control. And so

2:12:47>> let me ask you um so you're telling us

2:12:51that the state came here

2:12:54The Environmental Protection Agency came

2:12:57here hundreds of times

2:12:58>> and said absolutely that. When was the

2:13:00last time they came?

2:13:01>> Well, last time when I was working with

2:13:03the Giche community, it was us, the

2:13:05health department, um the Harambe House,

2:13:09uh we called in the feds and called in

2:13:11the state. Um because we believe that

2:13:13the company across the railroad tracks

2:13:16>> when was the last time they came

2:13:18>> is my question because

2:13:19>> my my request probably

2:13:222018ish

2:13:24or so 2017 2018

2:13:27>> 2018 so when we did this 100%

2:13:36my my concern is we did the

2:13:38sustainability plan but We did not

2:13:42include the environmental justice.

2:13:45>> Well, because again, we don't control

2:13:47that. They came and they said to us,

2:13:50"This is within standards."

2:13:53>> And that those were the key words. This

2:13:55is within standards.

2:13:56>> We have that report. I want to see.

2:13:58>> I'm sure it surrounds

2:13:59>> Mr. Massie.

2:14:01>> I mean, well, I mean, I don't I don't

2:14:02think it came I don't think she came to

2:14:04council, but I'm sure there were Rambe

2:14:05house. Somebody had, but they came and

2:14:07they said, you know, this is within

2:14:09standards. This is within standards.

2:14:10This was here. We did that over in

2:14:12Hudson Hill and Woodville communities as

2:14:14it related to international paper. The

2:14:16stuff we used to breathe that that that

2:14:19funky smell we used to smell. Y'all

2:14:21remember that old

2:14:23>> dirty pickle smell and and they would

2:14:26come they would say no this is within

2:14:28standards.

2:14:29>> I mean but our nose told us this was not

2:14:31within standards. We as a city if we did

2:14:34this

2:14:35>> 5 years ago some kind of way on the

2:14:39>> the conditions that these people have

2:14:42been facing and I'm so uh concerned and

2:14:46adamant about it because my father and

2:14:48my sister are no longer here and they

2:14:52lived in Hudson Hill. They consumed that

2:14:56water. They breathe that air. That's a

2:14:58lot of data is hadn't been collected,

2:15:00but it's being collected now.

2:15:01>> We're collecting it now.

2:15:03>> And so again, these are things that are

2:15:05regulated by the federal and the state

2:15:07government. City has absolutely

2:15:10>> no control over that. However,

2:15:12>> we now have, I think, the wind in our

2:15:14backs that we're able to now measure

2:15:16things like air quality uh and be able

2:15:19to now put some data

2:15:22>> um some real data to what we believe to

2:15:25be true,

2:15:25>> right? And so in this case, we're able

2:15:28now to also cross uh cross reference

2:15:31health department data as we raise the

2:15:33mortality rates and things. And again,

2:15:35it's going to prove what we've always

2:15:36known. Uh and then we have to go back to

2:15:39the state and back to the federal

2:15:40government. Uh but this was not caused

2:15:43by the city of Savannah.

2:15:45>> We know it.

2:15:45>> And just because they say standard, that

2:15:47doesn't mean that we have to we don't

2:15:49have to do better. That's just the EPA

2:15:51standard

2:15:52>> moving forward. Still a great plan. So,

2:15:54let me let me go back to where we

2:15:55started. So, um to to the city manager,

2:15:59the sustainability team,

2:16:01>> we're asking them and I mean again,

2:16:03it'll make a difference one way or the

2:16:05other.

2:16:06>> Do we want a separate uh environmental

2:16:09justice

2:16:10>> plan?

2:16:11>> Well, why can't we just have this plan

2:16:14and work under it? Well, I mean that's

2:16:15what that's what they were doing, but

2:16:17obviously

2:16:17>> just add

2:16:19environmental injustice to

2:16:21>> the experts come back to us

2:16:24>> or make a recommendation.

2:16:25>> Okay, we can we can do that because I do

2:16:27think that we have a tremendous amount

2:16:28of expertise in the room and they're

2:16:31going to the ones that are going to be

2:16:32responsible for carrying it forward. Um

2:16:34I do want to say a little bit of the tap

2:16:36on the shoulder that we always do. A lot

2:16:39of things in the sustainability plan

2:16:40were about things that like the city

2:16:43did, right? what was our EV cars, right?

2:16:46Instead of um combustion engine, are we

2:16:49using removing, you know, single-use

2:16:51plastics from our what I love about this

2:16:54council and that this team is that we

2:16:57continue to expand our view about what

2:17:01we ought to be doing and who we ought to

2:17:03be doing it with and for. Um so that's

2:17:06the that's the tap on the shoulder. We

2:17:08saved $14,000

2:17:10in Last year over having sold on 27

2:17:14buildings. Again, th those are

2:17:16opportunities. Lessening our carbon

2:17:17footprint uh helps everybody. And so

2:17:20again, I think we have to address both

2:17:21of those. But come back to us. I I again

2:17:24I think sustainability team, this is

2:17:26just how we do.

2:17:28>> Um we love you. We think y'all are doing

2:17:31Yeah. Don't don't mind. Don't mind us.

2:17:34Don't mind us.

2:17:36>> Y'all are doing a great job. I mean, I

2:17:37know y'all looking at us like, "Oh my

2:17:38gosh, y'all. This is how we this is how

2:17:41we build community." So, thank you for

2:17:44the work that y'all do and community do.

2:17:46And ultimately, uh um again, from my

2:17:49time over the last week or so, um y'all

2:17:52going to have to build this team.

2:17:54>> Y'all are asking to do ambitious work

2:17:56and it's a mighty team of three.

2:17:58>> Team of three.

2:17:59>> Oh, two. Two.

2:18:01>> Uh so, we're going to have to build a

2:18:03team to be able to get us where we want

2:18:04to go.

2:18:05>> You need two more people.

2:18:07They need help.

2:18:09>> Figure it out.

2:18:11>> All right, Mr. Van, anything else, sir?

2:18:14>> All right. No executive session.

2:18:16>> All right. We're going to go ahead and

2:18:18we'll we'll convene for lunch. All

2:18:19right.

2:18:20>> Yes.

2:18:21>> All right. Stand in recess.

2:18:24What we going to eat?

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