HomeMy Public PortalAbout050_020_20131202Minutes Special City Council Minutes 20131202
Mayor Buelterman called the special city council meeting to order at 3:30PM on December 2,
2013. Those present were Mayor pro tem Wanda Doyle, Paul Wolff, Tom Groover, Jan Fox,
Barry Brown and Bill Garbett. Also attending were Diane Schleicher, City Manager; Robert
Bryson, Chief, Tybee Island Police Department and Janet LeViner, Clerk of Council. Bubba
Hughes, City Attorney and Tommy Branch, Callaway, Braun, Riddle and Hughes, PC were not
present.
Mayor Buelterman explained the purpose of the meeting as new information and feedback has
been received regarding the previous vote taken at the November 14, 2013 city council
meeting. At that time mayor and council voted to authorize the city manager to move forward
to purchase a fixed license plate reader with the understanding it would only be used for the
purposes of gathering information for a tourism impact study. Further, no authorization was
given to use it for law enforcement purposes until a policy could be written and brought back
before mayor and council for approval. Mayor Buelterman stated that the information received
outlined that data received could not reasonably be used to track tourism. As a result, the
Public Safety Committee met to discuss the options. Ms. Doyle stated the license plate reader
was found not to be able to track tourism which was the main intent. The Public Safety
Committee recommended that mayor and council rescind the previous vote. They also
recommended that mayor and council approve the purchase of a more expensive counter as it
is the counting of the vehicles coming on the Island that is the more pertinent information
needed. Ms. Doyle explained that the recommended counter is enclosed and would be
embedded in the highway. She would ask mayor and council to rescind the previous vote and
have a discussion to allow the city manager to proceed with the permitting from Department of
Transportation in order to move forward to a more improved traffic counter. Mr. Garbett
clarified that the new traffic counter is more expensive than the system in place, not more
expensive than the license plate reader. Ms. Doyle confirmed. Mr. Brown asked Ms. Schleicher
where the funding would come from. Ms. Schleicher stated that mayor and council had
previously approved that funding would come from the fund balance. Ms. Fox stated that
mayor and council approved the funding would come from the technology fee. Ms. Schleicher
confirmed. Mr. Brown suggested that information could be gathered from the short term rental
companies on the Island. Ms. Doyle stated that the day trippers are an important piece of the
puzzle and need to be included in the traffic count.
I. License Plate Readers. Wanda Doyle made a motion to rescind the vote made by
mayor and council on November 14, 2013 to purchase License Plate Readers. Paul
Wolff seconded. Vote was unanimous.
II. Wanda Doyle made a motion (1) to allow the city manager to proceed to work with
the Department of Transportation regarding the permitting process for an embedded
traffic counter; (2) to issue an RPF and get three quotes for a more durable traffic
counter than what is currently being used; and (3) to check on the financing. Paul
Wolff seconded the motion. Discussion: Mr. Groover confirmed that this is not an
authorization to purchase anything just to research and get quotes. Mayor Buelterman
confirmed. Vote was unanimous.
Paul Wolff made a motion to adjourn. Tom Groover seconded. Vote was unanimous.
Meeting adjourned at 3:40PM