HomeMy Public PortalAbout20130613 Infrastructure Committee Minutes.docINFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE MINUTES
CITY OF TYBEE ISLAND
June 13, 2013
5:00 P.M.
ATTENDEES: Paul Wolff, Diane Schleicher, Wanda Doyle, Joe Wilson, Barry Brown,
Tom Groover, George Reese, Stan Bearden and Angela Hudson.
Approve the minutes of the previous meetings – Paul Wolff called the meeting to order; asked for a motion to approve the minutes from the 5.9.13 meeting. Barry Brown motioned to approve.
Paul Wolff seconded; for the record, Tom Groover is on his way, but not here yet; we’re going to go ahead.
New Business:
Request for improved launch places for small carry-down boats on Tybee – Dan Lockwood
Dan Lockwood joins the meeting table; states, I want to talk a few minutes about several things; one is kayak access, canoe access and small sailboats; the first point I want to make
is, I think the committee should try to work towards some kind of goal, some kind of mission, some kind of vision that’s going to get underlying plans to everything; it’s so difficult
to say where we’re going with this; obviously, one part of your mission or goal could be to facilitate small, self-propelled, low impact boating, that maintains a quiet, natural environment;
this could be posted as an urban design philosophy, it could be a description of what Tybee Island is all about, or it could be an underlying goal of what the committee should be doing;
a second thing that we would like to ask the committee to do, is try to get some written, tentative plans, that the public could comment to, because all we’re doing is reacting to all
the things that we hear; it would be nice to have some written down plan; actually, the objectives are pretty easy, I think; that is to improve paths to the water for hand pulled carts,
that’s it; there’s 5 places I would like for you to think about; (1) Byers St.; the easiest thing in the world that this committee could do, by snapping their finger is, the 2 parking
spaces there; when they’re both taken up, you cannot unload a boat there and you cannot take it down the path; (2) Polk St.; it’s a good launch site; it’s already in existence and people
use it; just maintain the path a little bit; (3) Inlet Ave.; it has tremendous potential; it’s a much nicer place than Alley 3, for small sail boats that you have to set up on the beach;
I think it’s much nicer for paddle boards because you can go right off of the beach; it’s just nicer than Alley 3, if you have to fool around with your stuff when you get down there;
the only thing is, the road has disintegrated; I’ve talked to so many people that have got stuck in that road; wouldn’t take much to have a sand, dirt road, or a path, whatever you
want to call it. Paul Wolff asked Joe Wilson if he has talked to DNR lately, about re-improving that; what was it, about 3-4 years ago
we did that turn around. Joe states, we put gravel down there last week and packed it; it’s been so dry that the sand gets buried, just like Solomon Ave.; now that’s it’s rained, it’s
actually packed more; we put more stone down today on that; I’ve got it to where you can go in there and turn around now; there’s plenty of stone in there; it’s been my experience with
DNR, that they don’t like you re-engineering the beach; they like to keep it as natural as possible. (4) Fisherman’s Walk, Dan continues, years ago, people used to lunch boats where
the fishing pier is, alongside of it; used to be a path there; another easy fix if possible, is to clear a narrow path along Fisherman’s Walk; that would take pressure off of Alley
3, also. Diane Schleicher states, I was told by a kayaker that it would be better if they widened the opening; it would be easier to negotiate the equipment down the stairs. Barry
Brown states, what they need more than steps on the side of the Pier, is a ramp. Paul suggests that we go ahead and start the permitting process. Dan continues, I want to talk about
Alley 3; I know there’s been a lot of controversy about, boat ramp, no boat ramp, that’s been going on for years; I would just ask the committee to just try to get some kind of design
that you think is good thing for the boat ramp proposal; then let us comment on it; I just ask for 3 considerations; (a) think about the noisy, loud motor boats that are going to be
launched there; (b) think about how busy that beach is on a Saturday or Sunday; there’s more people on the beach there than on the beach by the Pier/Pavilion; it’s crowded; (c) boat
trailers being maneuvered on Chatham Ave.; I’m not opposed to boats with motors; I have a boat with a motor; it’s 50 ft. long once I hook it up; are you saying, that if there’s a boat
ramp there, I can go up Chatham Ave. on a busy Saturday, back it all the way down to Alley 3 and launch it; that’s a pretty narrow street; another thing is, parking of vehicles and
trailers on the street nearby; with that I’ll ask you to consider my statements and turn it over to Steve.
Barry Brown states, I’d like to make one comment to your statement as far as outboard motors go; I want ya’ll to think about your child out there on the south end drowning; it takes
us 5 minutes longer to get there if we launch from Chimney Creek; if we launch from Alley 3, we can be there 5 minutes sooner and possible save that child; we’ve done that many times
over the years; I don’t think we can eliminate boats and motors from Alley 3; if we’re going in that direction, I think we’re heading the wrong way; we need to accommodate it for everybody;
it does make a difference even for our Ocean Rescue; they launch the Kodiak from there; it makes a large difference in the time frame coming out of Chimney Creek; you’ve got to go by
all of the docks; idle through there; once you get past the docks and blow it out and you try to get out to the south end, it’s takes an average of 5-10 minutes; that’s something that
everybody needs to consider.
Steve Braden joins the table; I’d like to second the idea of comprehensive planning for this issue; passes out handouts to everybody; I’m basically here to speak as a proponent of “effective
design”; in this case, I’m concerned with the design that I’ve distributed; there’s some dimensions
here that I’m not sure are going to be, what I call optimum dimensions, for driving; If you think about the proposed changes here, we’re looking at 90 degree parking; there’s 18, 90
degree spaces; 3 parallel spaces across from that; explains areas on handout; it’s a little bit deceptive, I think, because if you look at this bottom line, the property line, it shows
parking spaces going right up to the property line; effectively, that’s not going to be the case; if you’re using 8X8’s for your retaining wall construction, supports on the back of
that will take about 15” of that distance; you also have to think about your over-hang from the bumper stops; so if you start adding those dimensions together, and you look at what
you have left over as your lanes, this drawing is showing 22 feet; I’m suggesting that the drawing may not be accurate; in other words, it may be less space than that; I’ve sent out
an email and information prior, using dimensions that were established by the state of Ohio, for their boating facilities; they recommended a lane width of 26 feet, which is 2, 13 foot
lanes, which shows up in the other drawing that I sent out; this is just a concept sketch and is not intended as a final design; if you hold the 2 together, or side by side, you can
see some considerable differences in what’s been proposed and the standards, used in the state of Ohio, would be; so it’s a contrast; I think if you’re looking at something that’s going
to serve all constituents well, you’re going to want to go with a design that’s optimized for the kinds of vehicles that are going to be there; that’s primarily, pickup trucks and SUV’s,
because those are the vehicles that are going to be carrying kayaks; so my presentation is basically, please consider the use of optimum dimensions, so that we don’t have some of the
problems we’ve had to date, with spaces that are so narrow that we could not get parking because of bumper stops, you often see people doubled parked because the space was just not
wide enough to accommodate the vehicle; I do want to thank the Tybee Island City Council for approving the 10 foot wide spaces; I think it will make a huge difference for us, in operating
there; I’m very grateful for the retaining wall; I think that’s just a huge improvement; all I’d like to see now is, carry forward with optimum dimensions, to help people get in and
out; make this a better facility for all the constituency that will be using it; thank you for your time.
Paul asked Joe, where are we on that northwest side of this; I know the drainage is in; as far as potential parking goes, what’s the latest on the landscaping, removal, or not. Joe states,
they’re all coming out; tomorrow we’ll finish up with going down and graveling, on the west side; the drainage is working great; the erosion has stopped; the sand has come back; by
this weekend, what I’m shooting for, is to have it all graded out with gravel and ready to pave by this weekend; there’s no designated parking in there now; the only thing we’re going
to do is stop them at the pole, from parking there, by putting up signs, no parking after this point, so people can turn around; it will be useable; but yet it’s not paved; it’s not
stripped off, until the money is available in July; I’m looking at next week to be paving on Bright, Logan and 6th Ave.; while his down there on 6th
Ave., he can go ahead and pave that on Alley 3; I’m just trying to get him to hold off on the payment of Alley 3 because that will save me $1500 for him to go ahead and pave Alley 3
while they’re down here; I think he will, I just haven’t got a hold of him yet. Paul asked Joe, with the landscaping all gone, how much does that give you from the end of that 18ft.
space to the far side of the drive. Joe replies, 24 ft. Paul states, I thought it was going to more than that with the landscaping gone; you have 24 ft. right-a-way already. Joe states,
I’ll have it over there; actually you’re going to look at 51 ft. for those spaces over there; 24 ft. is basically for turning in and out; it’s the same thing that we have in the middle
of 16th St. parking lot. Paul states, that’s tight; I know what you’re saying Steve; I think it might solve the whole problem if we just got rid of those 3 spaces; it seems as if the
kayakers, who are most impacted by the parking issues, don’t want those spaces there. Joe states, we’ll need that space where the landscaping is, to make the road wider, so I can have
my 24 ft., that’s why I’m taking it out. Paul asked, well aren’t you going to have more than 24 ft. if you take it out. Joe replies, right at 60 ft. all the way across there. Paul states,
what I’m getting at is, if we did away with those 3 parallel spaces, how much more that 24 ft. will you have between there and that fence. Joe replies, 9 more foot. Paul replies, good,
that will help; what we’re looking at is a tradeoff of 3 parking spaces and easier mobility for everybody; I think the mobility, in this case, should win out; as much as I hate to lose
the revenue from the parking. Wanda Doyle states, it will probably have to go back to Council, because that diagram was approved, if I remember correctly; why don’t we put it on one
of the agendas where we’re looking at the budget. Paul asked Diane Schleicher, can we put that on the agenda for the Wednesday budget workshop. Diane replies, yes; it would be nice
if we could have a recommendation from this committee, to the rest of the Council, on whether or not you think the 3 spaces ought to go. Barry Brown states, I make a recommendation
that we don’t park anything on the right hand side, whether it be the North or the West, whatever it is that Joe’s calling it. Tom Groover seconded. Unanimous vote; Paul states, it’s
unanimous that we pull those 3 parallel parking spaces; we’ll put that on the agenda for the Budget Hearing on the 19th of June
Request for Upgrading Sections of Solomon Avenue (between Polk and N. Campbell)– Don Brown
Dan Brown joins the table; states, I want to thank you for your time; I wanted to come and ask ya’ll to consider some work on Solomon Ave; Solomon is currently like a washboard; potholes
are there after it rains; I have some concerns about that with mosquitos; we also have a lot more traffic with these Tybee shuttles; I’m not in favor of concrete or asphalt; what I’d
like to see is maybe like a crushed limestone, a shell mixture that the guys could put down and roll over there to make that a smoother surface; we’ve got these shuttles running up
and down there and I’m afraid that someone’s going to pop right off of the shuttle; I think it’s a liability
issue, not to mention the dust and stuff where I live at Moore and Solomon; so what I wanted to suggest is doing something with Solomon, from Polk Ave. up to Van Horne; try that and
see what happens; there’s concern that it’ll increase speed on that street; people are speeding on that gravel road right now; they’re not slowing down the way it is, so I don’t see
that being a problem. Joe Wilson states they will be doing some road repair next week; I’ll have them grade it then; I’ve got some white rock, but it’s going to make it dustier. Dan
states, I just wanted to bring it to your attention that from Polk to Van Horne really needs to be looked at. Wanda Doyle states, my concern is, we’ve talked about 2 sections of Solomon;
we were trying to get some money into the budget, and that was taken out of the budget; we do not have the money to do any work to this road; I don’t disagree that it needs to be done;
it all (Solomon) needs to be done;
Recommendations from WWTP Staff
Paul Wolff states, this commercial laundry thing sounds like a serious problem if we’ve got too much phosphate going into the Treatment Plant; this is a recent development, right? Stan
Bearden replies, yesterday and today. George Reese states, I’ve showed you the list of operating facilities that you have down here now; you have 7 private laundry mats now; the bulk
of them shoot straight to the Plant; we didn’t notice that much until the one on Miller started operating. Diane Schleicher states, I think we ought to take the list, treat everybody
the same, and send out letters; we’re having issues with phosphates, it’s bad for the environment, it’s bad for our Wastewater Treatment Plant, it’s costing the tax payers and would
you review the soaps that you are using and make sure that they’re non-phosphate soaps that you are using, because of the environment. Paul states, when we send these letters to the
7 laundry mats, let’s give them a list of alternatives that are no, or low phosphate and price them out in wholesale volume; let’s try to give them some alternatives that won’t break
their bank; we can show them that there probably in range to what they’re using now. Barry asked, and if they don’t? Stan states, they’re exempt from regulation. George states, the
thing of it is, it’s impact on the water and impact on the sewer; whatever continues to happen, we’re going to have to put in a treatment; the State will come in, see those high figures
and it falls back on the users. Barry states, this might be a consideration; you might just have to stop and back up; try to figure out what to do before you put another one on line.
Paul states, I agree; I think tonight we need to have the discussion that, if we have that kind of oversight, with a new permit, we need to make it conditional upon his using low phosphate
detergents; if we have that ability, I think we need to definitely restrict this one; let’s start tonight with the discussion and see what we can do legally.
Old Business:
Public Safety Building Update – Mayor Pro Tem Doyle
Wanda Doyle asked Paul Wolff if he wants her to wait and do this at the Council Meeting; I’m on the agenda; Paul replies, okay. Wanda states, I have a handout about the construction
management risk process at Greenline that we’re going to go through; so I’ll just go through that at the Council meeting and give everybody one of these handouts.
Update on Ally 3 Project –
Drainage improvements complete
Parking Plan approved at 5.23.13 city council meeting
DPW will get quotes and pave and strip per parking plan after FY 14 budget is approved.
GDNR is looking to improve launch site after July 1, 2014
Proposed Water & Sewer Increase based on 3-year CPI – On 6.13.13 City Council Agenda
Diane Schleicher states, I sent you an amended schedule; Jan Fox had suggested that we use the Dec-Dec CPI because it doesn’t fluctuate as much as the change in the average difference;
the one that has the 1.7 at the end, is the one with that change; if you look at the blue and green, the expected net revenue, would go down to 119 from 124; the percentage change is
not that much of a difference; this print out is strictly from the ordinance. Paul Wolff asked, from a budgetary impact, this difference in revenue, how far along is that going to get
us in having a cushion for O and M, coming up for the new projects. Diane replies, $119,000. Paul asked, what will our revenue be over expenses, with this change. George Reese replies,
it might do a well. Angela Hudson replies, it’s not going to do much for the Water/Sewer stuff. George states, I don’t know if you would get another loan on it to do Jones Ave; you’re
going to be asking for another $500,000 loan for Jones Ave.; that’s up to GEFA, to see if this is sufficient for them. Diane asked if we should be doing this rate increase in January,
or should we do it on our fiscal year. Paul asked what would be better for Finance. Angela replies, fiscal year. Paul states, let’s put 2013 in there, effective July 1, and we’re caught
up and starting at the first of a fiscal year. Diane clarifies, what I’m asking to do is, we look at May and June (we need to give some notice); we look back in December and say, this
is what the CPI was, but we’re going to apply it in July; we give enough notice so everybody knows; we are behind a little bit; it helps us with our fiscal budgeting purposes; right
now, this would be your max because you wouldn’t do this again until next year; the chart shows the increase of rates per gallons of usage. Paul states, what we’re going to do, based
on the staff’s recommendation is, as of December 2012, the CPI, and apply that to July 1, 2013; can I have a motion to recommend to Council that we approve the CPI increase through
2012. Tom Groover motioned to approve. Paul Wolff seconded; let the record show the vote was 2-1; Tom and I voted for that; Barry Brown voted against.
Update on Jaycee Park Fields – Scheduled for May/June 2013
Update on shallow well for adequate irrigation – Joe Wilson states they have the shallow well in; it’s all wired; the contractor will start next week
putting in the well; we’re ready to go on that; he’ll be coming in next week and installing the irrigation.
Jones Avenue:
Engineering for water lines – Thomas & Hutton will begin in July pending FY 14 Budget
Paving Estimate Cost for FY14 DPW CIP Budget - $178,000
Proposed: Water Line $1.2 Million Cost to be paid for by SPLOST ($630,000) and by a GEFA loan ($570,000)
New AMR System: Installation will start July 8th, 2013
TRAILS PROJECT:
Project update - The Concept Report Accepted by GDOT
Update on Beach Rake & Tractor Replacement
Letter Requesting GDNR Letter of Authorization Sent to GDNR
With no further business to discuss, Paul Wolff asked for a motion to adjourn; Tom Groover motioned to adjourn; Barry Brown seconded.
A quorum of city council members may be present which would constitute a meeting.
Respectfully submitted by Karen Reese on 7.9.13