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HomeMy Public PortalAbout160_004_20110721 Beach Task Force Minutes DraftMinutes20110721 20110721 Beach Task Force Minutes Those in attendance: Amy Lanier, Arnie Seyden, Berta Adams, Freda Rutherford, Harry Spirides, Harvey Ferrelle, Helen Downing, Jimmy Burke, Joe Richardson, John Wylly, Mary McCracken, Paul Wolff, Mayor Jason Buelterman Amy Lanier called the meeting to order. Harvey Ferrelle made a motion to accept the minutes. Freda Rutherford seconded. Vote was unanimous. Mayor’s Update. Mayor Buelterman reported on his meeting with the Attorney General and requested by the Beach Task Force Committee. Accompanying the Mayor was Amy Lanier and Bubba Hughes, City Attorney. Mr. Hughes will be sending a follow-up letter to the Attorney General to get them on board with the issues from the harbor deepening. Mayor Buelterman also reported on his recent trip to Washington, D.C. to meet with all our congressional representatives in gaining their support for our next beach renourishment. He also met with a consulting firm that is made up of retirees from the COE. They have agreed to meet with the BTF in August or September to give options for our next re-nourishment. They feel there is a way to tie maintenance and renourishment together and will communicate with him for final dates. He will then coordinate with Amy to set a date. Sub Committee Report State Funding Committee. Berta Adams reported on her recent trip with Amy Lanier to Atlanta where she met with Governor’s Deal policy advisor. There she discussed ways to establish a long term funding mechanism from the state and not depend on federal funding. She is hoping for one more federal renourishment in 2015 which would include state and local funds. In the future she would like a solution that would be independent not only of the federal government but also of the COE. It was suggested that the BTF contact the GaDNR to make them aware we will be asking for a state contribution as in the past for future re-nourishments. Our local representatives suggested we contact Jekyll and St. Simons Island in an effort to assist in our endeavors for state funding. Ms. Lanier asked Ms. Adams to provide a copy of the correspondence between the local representatives and GaDNR for the BTF files. She indicated she would. Ms. Adams stated that if we were to go with state, local or private DraftMinutes20110721 funding which would be supervised and/or controlled for re-nourishment we would have a cost savings of 20% overhead. County Funding Committee. Harvey Ferrell is still waiting for a time frame for the next meeting. Mayor Buelterman stated that in 2007 when Tybee tried to get state money, we worked with Armstrong Atlanta State University to have a study done on the economic impact regarding re-nourished vs. non-re-nourished beach. Mayor Buelterman is going to begin to work with them again to do another study but adding a component about it benefits the county with the tax revenue. This would help justify our request for state and local funding. 2015 Re-nourishment Oversight Committee. Lou Off not present, therefore no report. Channel Impact Study, Phase II Oversight Committee. On hold for the present due to timing. Fort Screven Shoreline Hazard Committee. Dr. Richardson reported that the State had asked for pictures which have been sent. Mayor Buelterman also stated that he wrote another letter to the COE in regards to the liability if someone should get hurt with the derelict structures. Dr. Richardson stated that the most dangerous area is that north of the rocks and the north jetty. Public Relations Progress. Ms. Lanier will ask Diane Schleicher if there is anyone at the City that could take on this responsibility. Mr. Ferrell asked if there was anyone currently at the City that could take on this role such as a Public Information Officer. Mayor Buelterman stated that was not. Mr. Ferrell suggested we speak with a representative from SMN to see if they would be interested doing a monthly article. Ms. Adams feels we might contact the managing editor at SMN to have a column set up for the BTF to submit a monthly article, therefore anyone could submit an article for print. New Business Ms. Lanier asked the committee to forward questions to her for the upcoming meeting. Mr. Spud Woodward, GaDNR, will be invited and will entertain questions we might have. Community Information Shore Protection Protection Committee Update. Lou Off is absent therefore no update. Cockspur Lighthouse. Harvey Ferrell reported that September 15, 2011 there will be a historic marker dedication at Ft Pulaski at 6:00PM.