HomeMy Public PortalAbout20131202MinutesSpecial 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.
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.
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