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HomeMy Public PortalAbout20121116Tybee Island Beach Task ForceTybee Island Beach Task Force Minutes, November 15, 2012 MEMBERS PRESENT: Harvey Ferrelle, Berta Adams, Freda Rutherford, Michael Foran, Amy Lanier, Jimmy Burke, Joe Richardson, John Wylly, Wick Searcy VISITORS/EX-OFFICIOS PRESENT: Dan Parrott, Paul Wolff, Tom Groover, Bill Garbett Call to Order: Harvey Ferrelle called the meeting to order at 11:45AM. Mr. Ferrelle asked for a moment of silence in honor of Mary McCracken. Freda Rutherford made a motion to approve the minutes from August 12, 2012 and September 20, 2012. Wick Searcy seconded. Vote was unanimous. ONGOING BUSINESS City Manager’s Report. Ms. Schleicher was not in attendance. Mayor’s Update. Mr. Ferrelle thanked Mayor Buelterman for traveling to Atlanta on November 7, 2012 to meet with Terry England and Jack Hill regarding Tybee Island’s request for future funding for beach re-nourishment. Our local delegation also went in support funding for future beach re-nourishments. He further reported that the Savannah Chamber of Commerce has also added our project to the list of legislative items for 2013. Mr. Ferrelle stated he had drafted a thank you letter to each of the delegates expressing the Beach Task Force (BTF) gratitude for their support. Mr. Wolff stated he spoke to the newly elected Chatham County Commission Chair at a recent conference and invited him to Tybee to attend a BTF meeting so a discussion could ensue regarding funding for future beach re-nourishment. Hotel/Motel Tax. Mr. Garbett, city councilman, explained that there was an informational meeting held in early summer to discuss the changes in the hotel/motel tax. One of the changes was the opportunity to charge more than the 6% which is the current maximum. The new maximum, if passed, would be 8%. Mr. Garbett further explained the definition of what funds could be used for from the restrictive portion which is 3%. The City is required to give 1% to the Convention Bureau. A new category has been added, Tourism Development, which could be used for recreation which would pertain to the beach and future re-nourishments. Mr. Garbett asked Mr. Ferrelle to forward his comments via email to the BTF. There was a short discussion regarding the time frame of moving forward with the change in the hotel/motel rates as well as concerns from the rental companies. Mr. Wolff comments that mayor and council need to move forward to get this on the agenda at the state level. Ms. Adams thanked Mr. Garbett for all his work. Mr. Wolff further stated the City needs to have the support of the entire state delegation to move forward. Sub-Committee Reports State Funding – covered above County Funding – covered above 2015 Re-nourishment Oversight Committee – no report Fort Screven Shoreline Hazard Committee – no report Beach Management Plan Committee. Mr. Ferrelle requested that comments regarding the Beach Management Plan (BMP) to Jan LeViner by December 31, 2012. Old Business Phase II Study Comments – Dan Parrott. Mr. Parrott read from a handout (attached) which explained the Short Protection Project: Initial Nourishment and North Groin Construction. He explained that the re-nourishment in 2015 will be sized to last until 2024. The way to get that project moving, he stated, was with the LLR. He also discussed the purpose of Phase I and II and the impact of each. Ms. Rutherford asked Mr. Parrott, regarding the template for the hot spots at “the curve”, if overfilling those areas has it slowed erosion and would a re-evaluation focus on that situation? Mr. Wolff then discussed the positive effects of the t-groin at Daufuskie as the t-groin has done a great job of rebuilding the beach. There was interest in putting t-groins on Tybee Island but Mr. Olsen is not in favor of the idea. Ms. Rutherford would like the COE to give special attention to the possibility of t-groins. Ms. Adams agreed there is a need for a t-groin at 2nd Street but there seems to be adversity from boaters, surfers, beach goers and DNR. Mr. Parrott indicated that the LLR could look at installing a t-groin and would determine if it were cost effective. There was a short discussion regarding the pros and con with t-groin and adding sand to the hot spots. Ms. Adams stated that she is in favor of controlling re-nourishment within the City and in that way if the City can determine if another method would work better than what is in place. It could then be engineered and funding could be located. Ms. Adams made a motion to request the findings from the engineering firm on the efforts on 2nd Street regarding the hot spots. Jimmy Burke seconded. Vote was unanimous. Mr. Parrott explained to the BFT how to fund cost sharing studies for future re-nourishments. He further stated that the cost benefit for 2015 has been set as well as the template. Ms. Lanier asked Mr. Parrott to discuss the renewal the existing project. He responded there is no authorization in place to renew the existing project. Ms. Lanier confirmed with Mr. Parrott that if the City went with the mitigation route there would likely be a risk. He responded that we are at the point of if you don’t do something you won’t have anything. Mr. Ferrelle asked if the BTF were to start with a new study after 2024, how long would that project is in effect and how did they determine it would last 50 years. Mr. Parrott explained that most COE projects have a life of 15 years but congress said it would have to be reclassified away from recreational use. In that way it became a 50 year project. Mr. Ferrell asked Mr. Parrott how the BTF moves forward at this point. Mr. Parrott stated (1) do a LLR making sure the scope stays within the box (for the current re-nourishment); (2) find out the status of the COE’s funding for the channel impact, do they have funding for 2013? Ms. Adams made a motion to establish a committee to oversee the 2015 mitigation. Jimmy Burke seconded. Vote was unanimous. Ms. Adams made a motion to have city council approach DNR to obtain approval to move non-beneficial sand, stabilize with sand fencing and relocate to areas that are being eroded. Jimmy Burke seconded. Motion withdrawn. Jimmy Burke made a motion to have city council approach DNR to obtain authorization to move non-beneficial sand and relocate to areas that are being eroded. Mike Foran seconded. Vote was unanimous. OLD BUSINESS Roster for 2013 Meeting adjourned at 1:30PM