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HomeMy Public PortalAbout20060216BeachTaskForceMinutes.pdfTybee Island Beach Task Force Minutes February 16, 2006 Members Present: Berta Adams, Cecil DeLorme, Henry Levy, Mary McCracken, Freda Rutherford, John Wylly, Lou Off Ex-Officos Present: Paul Wolff, City Council; Hampton Spradley, ACOE; Jan Mackinnon, DNR Members Absent: Helen Downing, Richard Grosse, Amy Lanier, Dick Magune, William Sprague Visitors: Walter Parker Lou Off called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone. Synopsis of Washington Trip The group that traveled to Washington – Lou, Berta, Paul along with Jason – discussed their trip. They visited 10 out of the 13 Georgia Congressional Delegation and both Senators and presented Tybee’s needs and left information for them to review. Berta stated even though Marlowe and Company provides information to our Congressional people, it was the visit from the group that really got their attention. In speaking with Paul Ordal, the wording for the North Beach inclusion toWRDA is not correct. Lou asked Hampton to check on this. Hampton suggested that he, Lou and Dan get together to find out the correct process. Hampton is to set that up. Synopsis of Atlanta Trip Paul reported that they did the same thing as Washington except on the state level. They met with Burke Day and others and presented Tybee’s needs and left information for them to review. Berta stated that even though we were listed as the number 2 project on the Chamber’s list, we were not included in the $140 million dollars in the Governor’s budget for Chatham County. No matter who is in now does not matter because they can still be cut. Burke Day, Eric Johnson, Ben Harbin, and Carl Rogers seemed to be very positive. Berta, Lou, and Jason are planning a follow-up on Monday, Feb. 20th. A trust fund for beaches has been presented by Burke Day as a bill. It would be in the form of a referendum for the people to vote. If passed monies would be set up in a trust fund. Burke Day got every local state legislator to sign a letter stating that they support our beach re- nourishment funding. (Letter attached) Walter Parker stated that we should not leave out our DNR people. He gave Jason names of these people. Beach Preservation Conference Report written by Lou - See attachment Minutes Henry Levy made a motion to approve the January minutes. Mary McCracken seconded the motion. January minutes were approved. LRR The LRR was sent to the South Atlantic Division (SAD) in Atlanta. It will be about 30-45 days before they actually provide approval. Lou stated that they did leave copies of the LRR with Kingston, Chambliss, and Isakson. Janice is to have Todd email beach photographs to Merritt Myers at Jack Kingston office. Lou asked if anyone had pictures of the beach to please bring them in and give them to Todd. Channel Impact Study Hampton reminded everyone that it was agreed at the last meeting to limit the scope of the channel impact study to just look at the effects of the Federal Navigational Channel on the current flood reduction Federal Project (The Front Beach, south tip and back river). The ACOE is in process of revising the project management plan that has the scopes and schedules in it. The FY06 appropriation for the study is identified as the North Beach Feasibility, but since the North Beach is not being studied, they have been advised by SAD, that we need to notify the Vertical Team – Head Quarters, Assistant Secretary Office and the Congressional people – that the money appropriated in FY06 will be used for the Impact study only. There needs to be a letter from the Mayor that this is Tybee’s wishes. Lou will write a letter for Jason to sign. Hampton stated that the project management plan will state what we are looking for at first and then based on the results we as a team – COE, Tybee, DNR, and consultant – can decide what to do next. Lou shared with the group the information sent by Marlowe and Company. For fiscal year 2006, there were two re-nourishments, both were funded. This year 5 have applied for projects to be funded and so there will be other Congressional groups pushing for money which will work in our favor. Lou asked Hampton to contact Paul Ordal with the Marlowe and Company and establish a working relationship. House Bill 727 Hampton asked about the sand quality definition. Jan stated that Brad Gane is waiting to hear back from Erik Olsen as to the varied degrees on the 88% sand that DNR has been using. 88% sand is direct placement; Erik may suggest a lower end for near shore placement. Jan hopes to know something by the next meeting. Widener Project; DNR signed off on the Widener Project in early January. Jan wanted to reiterate that their Federal Consistency Coordinator, Kelly Moore, has asked the ACOE to run several scenarios on cost which depends on what the definition of sand content is. There was one question she posed was “how much sand can Tybee put on the beach without additional cost?” Are there any specific scenarios that Tybee would like the ACOE to do? Lou felt that Tybee would want the maximum amount of material placed either on the beach or near shore. If we are looking at the Widener in 2009, we may have our beaches filled up. We will take as much as we can get. Bill 727 says all sand. Jan thought she would put it on the table. The ACOE is asking DNR for their input in the planning stage. Lou stated that there has to be some engineering as to where the sand needs to be placed. He said he couldn’t see any reason not to take sand, but if we start getting too much then it could go back into the channel. Recommendations for the Sea Wall at North Beach Mayor Buelterman asked the Beach Task Force for a recommendation for the debris at North Beach. There was much discussion. Hampton is to research ACOE archives of those pilings etc. He is to find out what the ACOE did, what is out there, and when it was done. There should be some record of what is there. Lou is make a request to Mayor/Council that we recommend that the City Council obtain the information from the ACOE, seek engineering advice, and/or have a construction company do experimental removal. Hampton asked for a letter describing in detail what he needed to do on this. Henry made a motion to: get the Mayor and Council to adopt the beach management plan, to elect Lou as Chair, and Bert as Vice-Chair, and thirdly to appoint Walter Parker as a member. John gave a second. All were approved unanimously. Jan asked for the signature page to be sent to Susan Shipman ASAP after the council meeting. It was discussed that the BTF would do something for the retiring Mayor Parker for the service he has provided the City, especially on beach maintenance. No other business. Meeting Adjourned