6.

AGENDA ITEM: 6.1

AGENDA DATE: December 15, 2017

TO: Chairman and Members of the Board

THRU: Lee Smith, County Manager
FROM: Linda Cramer, Assistant County Manager

ISSUE:
Request Board Approval of Intergovernmental Agreements with the City of Savannah for
Settlement of SCMPD Expenses and the E-911 Center's operation. (NOTE: Additional
attachment forthcoming.)
BACKGROUND:
In 2005 the County and Savannah merged their police forces and combined the E-911 Centers
operations. On July 27, 2017 Savannah City Council voted unanimously to terminate the police
partnership with the County effective February 1, 2017.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
1. In 2005 the County and Savannah merged their police forces and combined the
operations of their E-911 Centers.
2. On July 27, 2017 Savannah City Council voted to terminate the Intergovernmental
Agreement Concerning Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department dated
February 2016. The City provided notice to the County that the de-merger of police
services would be effective February 1, 2018.
3. In August 2017 Savannah requested additional funds for operation of the SCMPD based
on the provisions of the Berkshire Advisors report and funding formula as approved by
City Council. The City requested an additional $2.3 million for calendar year 2016 and
projected an addition $4 million cost for calendar year 2017. The County Board of
Commissioners has not approved the Berkshire Advisors report and funding formula.
4. Two agreements are attached for Board approval related to the ensuing negotiations:
a. Settlement Agreement Between City of Savannah and Chatham County, Georgia
i. Proposes payment to Savannah based on a fixed fee of $14,154,478 per
year which is the amount that the County was paying to the City under the
Intergovernmental Agreement approved by the Board in September 2015.
The additional cost to the County for each calendar year will be
$1,054,780 or $2,109,560 for 2016 and 2017.
ii. In addition, the agreement adds payment of $1,179,564 for SCMPD
services provided to the County in January 2018.
iii. Approval of the Settlement Agreement should settle any other
outstanding claims for SCMPD services provided.
b. Intergovernmental Agreement Pertaining to E-911 Center

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i. County will assume financial responsibility for the E-911 Center effective
January 1, 2018 and will assume operational responsibility on July 1,
2018.
ii. All E-911 fees collected will be available to County to offset costs of the
Centers operation. Any remaining shortfall in operations would be paid
by the Countys General Fund. During 2016 the Citys General Fund
transferred $2.3 million to the Public Safety Communications Fund for the
E-911 Centers operations.
iii. Centers assets and the E-911 residual fund balance will be transferred to
the County to ensure a smooth transition.
BLUEPRINT ALIGNMENT:
Quality of Life Goal 4 - Provide effective and efficient government services while ensuring
that processes and procedures are planned and executed with transparency.
FUNDING:
Funding for the Settlement Agreement will be provided in the SSD Fund Police 270 3200
571000. Funding for the E-911 Center Agreement is currently not budgeted and will required
further Board action in the E-911 Fund and also in the General Fund, should shortfalls occur.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve the Settlement Agreement between City of Savannah and Chatham County,
Georgia and also approve the Intergovernmental Agreement Pertaining to E-911 Center.
2. Provide other direction.
POLICY ANALYSIS:
It is consistent with Board policy to provide public safety services for daily operations. State law
grants the Board authority to amend the budget during the year as it deems necessary.
RECOMMENDATION:
Alternative 1 is recommended for Board approval.

#A: Settlement Agreement with City of Savannah for Police Services

Linda Cramer Completed 12/12/2017 10:00 AM

County Attorney Completed 12/12/2017 10:21 AM
Frances Q. Rasmussen Completed 12/12/2017 12:33 PM
Awaiting additional attachment.
Lee Smith Completed 12/12/2017 4:32 PM
Board of Commissioners Pending 12/15/2017 9:30 AM

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 6.1.a

SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
BETWEEN

#A: Settlement Agreement with City of Savannah for Police Services (1746 : IGA with Savannah for SCMPD and E911 Center)
CITY OF SAVANNAH
AND
CHATHAM COUNTY, GEORGIA
This agreement is made by and between the Board of Commissioners of Chatham County
hereinafter County and the Mayor and Alderman of the City of Savannah hereinafter City
collectively referred to as parties
WHEREAS, the County and City operated a joint police force pursuant to an
Intergovernmental Agreement for an organization known as Savannah Chatham Metropolitan
Police Department (SCMPD) said original agreement being dated 16th day of October, 2013
and said agreement being amended and modified on February 26, 2016;
WHEREAS, the City of Savannah gave notice to the County on July 21, 2017 of its intent
to terminate the agreement effective February 1, 2018;
WHEREAS, the City is of the opinion that the County owes additional sums of money to
cover the expense of SCMPD in the amount that ranges from $6.2 million to $7.2 million and the
County disputes that any such amount is due and owed;
WHEREAS, the City staff, County staff and elected officials have met on numerous
occasions in an effort to resolve the alleged amount due from the County and City and after
negotiations the County and City have reached this compromise settlement agreement to resolve
the outstanding issue of any amount due from the County and City; and
WHEREAS, the County and City will develop an operating agreement to outline the
Countys management of the E911 emergency communications to be effective for calendar year
2018.
NOW THEREFORE, based on the compromise of each the parties the City and County
entered into this settlement agreement on all amounts which may or may not be due from the
County to the City under the terms or the Intergovernmental Agreement and Amended
Intergovernmental Agreement stated above and agree to settlement more particularly as follows:
1. Recitals contained above are incorporated by reference and made a part of this
agreement.

2. The County as part of the terms and conditions of the Amended Intergovernmental
Agreement of 2016 agreed that it would pay for the cost of police services under such
agreement the amount being $13,100,000 per fiscal year for both FY2016 and
FY2017.Due to County budget cycles, the County actually paid for FY2016 the amount
of $14,154,780 and for FY2017 $12,054,220 for a total of $26,209,000 when divided by

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 6.1.a

two constitutes $13,100,000 per year in accordance with the Intergovernmental

Agreement.

#A: Settlement Agreement with City of Savannah for Police Services (1746 : IGA with Savannah for SCMPD and E911 Center)
3. The City alleges that additional sums are due above the $13,100,000 in the amount that
range from $6.2 million to $7.2 million which is disputed by the County.

4. The County acknowledges that since the Intergovernmental Agreement does not
terminate until February 1, 2018 that the County will owe its prorated share or part
thereof for the cost of services for the month of January 2018.

5. The County has agreed that it will offer as a compromise settlement of disputed amounts
claimed due from the County to the City in the following payments which shall be
accepted by the City in full settlement of any amount due from the County to the City for
police services under the Intergovernmental Agreements.

6. The County would offer as full settlement amounts of additional payments for CY2016 of
$1,054,780 and offer and additional like sum payment for CY2017 in the amount of
$1,054,780 for an additional total sum payment of $2,109,560. The sum of $1,054,780 is
being derived by taking the amount of costs paid by the County in September 2015 of
$14,154,780 less the amount of cost paid by the County in February 2016 $13,100,000
for a difference of $1,054,784.

7. Further, the County will pay the City the sum of $1,179,564 for police services provided
during the month of January 2018. Said figure being derived by taking 1/12 of the annual
cost for police services in 2016 and 2017 as amended herein of $14,154,780 which is
$1,179,564.

8. This offer of settlement by the County is accepted by the City as the full settlement of all
sums due from the County to the City for cost of police services under the prior
Intergovernmental Agreements for police services and for the month of January 2018.

9. This settlement agreement between the County and City constitutes a full and complete
reconciliation of the parties and amounts due to or due from each of the respective parties
for the cost of services arising out of the joint police force known as the Savannah
Chatham Metropolitan Police Department and the Intergovernmental Agreement dated
October 16, 2003 and amended Intergovernmental Agreement dated February 26, 2016.

SO AGREED this _______ day of ___________, 2017.

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 6.1.a

{Signatures on Following Page}

#A: Settlement Agreement with City of Savannah for Police Services (1746 : IGA with Savannah for SCMPD and E911 Center)
Mayor and Aldermen of the Board of Commissioners
City of Savannah/ of Chatham County, Georgia

______________________ ______________________
City Manager Al Scott, Chairman Board of Commission

Attest: Attest:
______________________ _______________________
Clerk Janice E. Bocook, Clerk of Commission
(SEAL)

Reviewed and Approved By:

_______________________
R. Johnathan Hart
County Attorney

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