The Savannah City Council on Thursday unanimously approved a contract to hire a firm to create the city’s first public art master plan. The plan’s goal is to bring more art to public parks and city facilities. The vote was part of the procurement portion of the City Council’s regular meeting on Aug. 8, 2024. According to an addendum to the meeting agenda, Designing Local (DBE) was awarded the contract, which cannot exceed $100,000 and is effective immediately and valid through Aug. 8, 2025.
The company is based in Columbus, Ohio, and next summer it will submit a public art master plan ordinance to the mayor and city council for review and possible approval.
“The Public Art Master Plan is the first step in establishing an ongoing public art program for the City of Savannah,” the agenda item description states. “The Public Art Master Plan will provide a citywide vision and process for installing public art in public parks and City of Savannah facilities throughout the city. This initiative aligns with the City’s goal of increasing access to the arts for residents of all city districts. The planning process will emphasize inclusion and equity, including conversations with residents to determine how public art can be part of their community.”
City Manager Jay Melder spoke ahead of the council’s unanimous vote Thursday on the contract with DBE, which he recommended for approval. Melder noted that while no local vendors submitted a project proposal, the company selected has “connections” with local vendors.
“This is a big part of our year and was a specific goal of this council in 2024,” he said. “We expect the process to take 12 months before an ordinance goes back to the mayor and council sometime next summer. We have not brought in any local vendors with a proposal to do this, but the successful bid has local connections with partners.”
It is the first step toward a publicly funded arts initiative in the city, overseen by the Department of Cultural Resources.
“Art in public spaces has many advantages,” says the description of the agenda item.
“In residential neighborhoods, public art can be used to celebrate heritage and foster a sense of pride and ownership. It can also be a catalyst for economic development, as public art installations serve as landmarks and destinations that attract visitors to explore the neighborhood. The public art program will leverage the talents of Savannah artists who will work with residents to make art a part of their everyday lives.”
Study on rainwater use approved
Also at Thursday’s meeting, the council approved a $300,000 consulting contract with Stantec Consulting to “conduct a study to implement a stormwater management system to more effectively and equitably address the City’s drainage challenges, including increased maintenance requirements due to our aging and expanding drainage systems and future impacts of climate change,” according to the agenda item’s description.
“City staff has reviewed a potential funding option whereby revenues from a future stormwater disposal user fee program (if adopted by City Council) would be used exclusively to provide stormwater management services.”
Appointments to the Board
Before the regular council meeting, a workshop was held to discuss topics such as appointments and approvals for various city boards and commissions. Each position has different requirements for citizens who apply for it, and each has different term limits.
The City Council made its decisions as soon as the regular session began. The Council approved the appointment of former Johnson High School basketball coach Utaff Gordon to the Savannah Recreation Commission to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Jean Bellemare in August 2023. Gordon has worked with Savannah city leaders in the past to organize recreational events. He led the effort to host the first Savannah Hoops Shootout (a two-day high school basketball showcase) at Enmarket Arena last winter. His term is three years.
Mary A. Snowden was appointed to a five-year term to the Chatham Area Transit (CAT) Authority. Sara Woodfield and Dwayne Stephens were appointed to the Historic District Board of Review (HDBR).
NEW VENUE FROM NEXT MONTH
As City Hall continues to undertake restoration work throughout the Bay Street building, regular City Council meetings will be moved to a new location beginning with the next council meeting on Aug. 22. Approval of an agreement with the Board of Education (BOE) on Thursday means the City Council will hold its meetings at the BOE building on Laurel Avenue beginning next month.
Beginning with the September 12 meeting, the Council will hold its meetings in the BOE building until February 2025 while the Council Chamber at City Hall is restored and remodeled.
