Okaloosa County BOCC — November 4, 2012 — reading text

Annual savings: $15,000 in rent. "There are talks about doubling up other offices, and even though there may not be a personnel reduction, there are reductions in rent, in office equipment and other resources," Broker said. "Basically, everyone in the city is going through their budget and looking to see what they can do without at least for the next year." -33- Packet Pg. 302  6.1.a.b Internet Research Morrill, Christopher Note: This research will be presented in reverse chronological order Savannah Morning News (GA) June 19, 2009 CITY STANDS BY RIVER PROJECT OFFICIAL SAYS $20 MILLION OBLIGATION FOR SAVANNAH RIVER LANDING Attachment: Colin Baenziger (1222 : Search Firm for Position of County Administrator) STILL A 'GO' DESPITE FLAGGING ECONOMY Author: LESLEY CONN, 912-652-0326, lesley.conn@savannahnow.com The city of Savannah isn't backing away from its commitment to Savannah River Landing, even as the economy challenges the waterfront development and the city budget. At a City Council workshop session Thursday, Assistant City Manager Chris Morrill outlined the $20 million in road, drainage and other improvements the city will undertake. That money will come from revenue collected from a special tax allocation district established around the riverfront development. Alderman Tony Thomas was the first to question why the city was proceeding during the uncertain economic times, especially given that from a public safety standpoint, President Street and General McIntosh Boulevard have been issues for years. He said he supports the project but added: "This raises a question for me. I've never seen us push an issue this hard." The improvements, Morrill said, are about more than public safety. "Savannah River Landing cannot really have any economic development until we deal with President Street," he said. Aldermen Van Johnson and Jeff Felser later said they believe the city is sending mixed messages about the development. "It was always my understanding of them as being mutually exclusive projects," Johnson said. "Today I got the impression they are tied together." Savannah River Landing's developers have invested $60 million in site improvements, Finance Director Dick Evans said, and the $1.4 million in debt service the city is paying annually is still manageable and worth it to honor the private developer's investment. The mixed-use residential/commercial and retail development has a total estimated price tag of $800 million, and it promises to redefine more than 40 acres of the waterfront just east of the Marriott Savannah Riverfront hotel. As part of the original development agreement for Savannah River Landing, the city had signed off on elevating and widening President and General McIntosh and straightening a section of McIntosh. A second phase of President Street improvements, which include building a bridge over railroad tracks, was not part of the agreement. In trying to secure federal stimulus funds for that phase, city officials emphasized its hurricane evacuation and improved safety features. "I saw no difference in the plan as it was proposed all along," Alderwoman Mary Osborne said. "That's a major development. Nobody's going to walk away from that." -34- Packet Pg. 303  6.1.a.b Internet Research Morrill, Christopher Note: This research will be presented in reverse chronological order The improvements along President help not only Savannah River Landing but also other planned commercial and residential developments on the south side of the road, Osborne and city officials said. Should Ambling Cos., the developer, fail to move forward on its investment, City Manager Michael Brown said, the city would have a site with improved roads, drainage, a riverwalk and established water and sewer lines. He and other city officials said they were confident Savannah Attachment: Colin Baenziger (1222 : Search Firm for Position of County Administrator) River Landing would remain viable and were confident vertical construction would begin next year, as company officials have stated. Savannah River Landing continues to operate from trailers on the site. On Monday, the project plans to unveil a new Web site, said Kate Freeman, the company's marketing and community relations manager. Sales efforts continue on the residential, commercial and retail front, but she said she could not disclose any information about whether any new commercial or retail clients had been signed up. "The economic times have certainly been a lesson in patience for us," she said. "But we're still committed to the original vision of the project." -35- Packet Pg. 304  6.1.a.b Internet Research Morrill, Christopher Note: This research will be presented in reverse chronological order Savannah Morning News (GA) March 27, 2009 SAVANNAH TIGHTENING ITS BELT COUNCIL TOLD BUDGET COULD BE SHORT BY $9 MILLION Author: LESLEY CONN, 912-652-0326, lesley.conn@savannahnow.com Attachment: Colin Baenziger (1222 : Search Firm for Position of County Administrator) One out of every 10 city positions is going unfilled as the city of Savannah deals with declining revenues expected to total $9 million. The city has left open 250 positions and by year's end expects to have 330 positions vacant, said Chris Morrill, the city's assistant city manager over financial services. Those openings so far have saved the city $1.6 million. A team of city administrators reviews any job positions to determine if it needs to be filled. Only lower-level police and fire department jobs are exempt from review so that public safety needs will continue to be met. The city employs about 2,500 workers. Other teams of employees are examining key aspects of city operations to look for further cost-cutting measures, but city leaders cautioned the City Council on Thursday that the shortfall could be higher than anticipated. One factor that could change the financial projections is any changes the state legislature may pass regarding property and sales tax collections. "Bottom line, we may need to cut $10 million to $15 million," City Manager Michael Brown said. "I hope it's not $20 (million)." Revenue reports from the first two months of the year show collections down in some key areas, Morrill said. February sales taxes are down $388,000 from the same time in 2008, and hotel/motel taxes for February are down $191,432. Building inspection fees are down $169,113. Some key areas are doing better than expected. Recorder's Court fees were $142,148 above projections, and water and sewer tie-ins - an early indicator of new building - are about $100,000 above projections. In February, the city collected $600,000 in tap-in fees. Morrill's budget presentation came during a council workshop. During council's regular session, they took the following action: - Passed a resolution to be sent to the Georgia Department of Transportation restating the city's top priorities for transportation projects. None of the city's priority projects was included in the first round of federal stimulus projects the state selected. Their top item for the second round will be the widening and elevation of President Street, a $36 million project. Council members also asked that local congressmen and groups such as the National League of Cities get a copy as well so they could see that stimulus money was not making its way past Atlanta. - Asked city staff to return within 60 days with recommendations for instituting a registration and card system for bartenders and servers, as well as stiffer penalties for minors who try to buy alcohol. -36- Packet Pg. 305  6.1.a.b Internet Research Morrill, Christopher Note: This research will be presented in reverse chronological order - Approved a contract for $1.5 million for curbs, gutters, underground storm drainage and pavement improvements in Fernwood, a neighborhood near Savannah State University. The project has been on the city's to-do list for several years. - Granted a liquor license to the owners of Sweet Melissa's, 35 Whitaker St. Owner Denise White Pipkin agreed alcohol would be served only to dine-in customers. City officials had been worried customers would be allowed to drink and congregate outside, which would contribute to Attachment: Colin Baenziger (1222 : Search Firm for Position of County Administrator) pedestrian traffic problems at the busy intersection. -37- Packet Pg. 306  6.1.a.b Internet Research Morrill, Christopher Note: This research will be presented in reverse chronological order Savannah Morning News (GA) February 25, 2009 CITY PREVIEWS STIMULUS SPENDING COUNCIL MEMBERS LIST $422 MILLION IN ELIGIBLE PROJECTS, RANGING FROM TRANSPORTATION TO JOB TRAINING AND DAY CARE Attachment: Colin Baenziger (1222 : Search Firm for Position of County Administrator) Author: LESLEY CONN, 912-652-0326, lesley.conn@savannahnow.com The city of Savannah has identified $422 million in local projects and programs that could be funded under the federal stimulus package. Entries include $50.7 million for widening and elevating the President Street Extension, $30 million to upgrade Savannah-Chatham police headquarters on Habersham Street, $182,300 for a downtown day care center and $100,000 for an electricians training institute. Now city leaders have to determine which projects should have the highest priority - and which will have the greatest chance of being deemed worthy by the 13 federal departments that will award funding to competing projects that will pour in from across the nation. All the projects under review are considered "shovel-ready," meaning work - and the workers who would be hired - would start quickly. Assistant City Manager Chris Morrill said the city was ahead of the game because of its five- year capital