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HomeMy Public PortalAbout20061221BeachTaskForceMinutes.pdfTybee Island Beach Task Force Minutes December 21, 2006. Members Present: Berta Adams, Amy Lanier, Henry Levy, Mary McCracken, Walter Parker, Wick Searcy, John Wylly, and Lou Off Ex-Officos Present: Dan Parrott, ACOE; Paul Wolff, City Council; Diane Schleicher, City Manager, Jill Andrews and Kelly Moore, DNR Members Absent: Cecil DeLorme, Helen Downing, Dick Magune, Freda Rutherford (E) Visitors: Jennifer Drasic, Tybee Resident; Cullen Chambers, Tybee Island Historical Society; Harvey Ferrelle Lou called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone to the meeting. Wick Searcy motioned to approve the November minutes. Mary McCracken stated a second. Minutes approved. Lou read from and article from the Leadership of the New Congressional Heads. They stated that there will be no Congressional Earmarks on the Joint Funding Resolution that they will pass. They will place a moratorium on all earmarks until a reformed process is put in place. Lou stated that our $2 million is an earmark and so as of now we have no funding for our beach re-nourishment. The 2008 budget is to be released on February 5th. Dan Parrott, ACOE, presented his monthly report. Copy attached. Savannah Channel Maintenance Contract Contract was awarded to Manson Dredging on December 7th at a total cost of $4,035,000. Manson did not bid on the alternative ERDC Disposal Site, submitting a letter stating that it would be too dangerous for their equipment. Diane questioned why the alternative wasn’t a requirement. Dan stated that at the last meeting a bidder had protested and instead of delaying the project for 45 days they decided to make the alternative ERDC Disposal Site an option. Lou stated that our Mayor had sent a letter to the Colonel about concerning the need for a system to bank the material that we are not getting from the maintenance dredging. Coastal Zone Management Implementation The ACOE has decided to include the CZM (Coastal Zone Management) requirements into the Dredge Management Program as an update to the DMMP (Dredge Material Management Procedures). This is the best management practice for dredging the harbor and is 100% federally funded. This needs to be approved by the South Atlantic Division. Lou asked if Tybee could have input on the RSM (Regional Sediment Management). Dan stated that we could. Dan is setting a meeting date. Tybee will want Erik Oslen involved in this. Channel Impacts Feasibility Study Based on the Tybee Summit, the ACOE has updated the comments to the Draft PMP. Dan handed out 3 copies of an agreement that needs to be signed if the work is to begin in July. Dan stated that we would like to have input or approval by next week while Colonel Held is in town, otherwise, the Colonel will be out of town for 3 weeks. (See attached report for cost) Dan will send an electronic copy to Erik Olsen for review. Diane stated that something with this magnitude must be taken before the City Council. A Special Council Meeting will be called at the beginning of January before the Colonel leaves town. Diane is to handle the arrangements. Diane also requested that an extra signature line be added for our City Attorney. Dan stated that once the agreement is signed a letter will be sent within 7 days to give notice of the cost share. The ACOE should receive the funding within 14 days of that. Target date for the funding is the middle of January. Dan stated that Hope Moorer had been contacted and that GPA could comply with the funding given that timeline. Lou asked about the $50,000 for a survey. Dan stated that the last he heard was that the ACOE had spoken to Clark Alexander of the Skidaway Institute. Dan stated that the $50,000 is still included and could be less if Clark had supporting material. Lou asked when there would be a schedule of events for the Channel Impact Study. Dan stated that the schedule would be very simple. Dan stated that ERDC is ready to go. Dan only needs the cost share agreement from us. Lou stated that Tybee has funding for project from GPA in the amount of $375,000 which should be enough to cover our end. FYO7 Funding Funding is uncertain due to the change in the House and Senate. The CRA guidelines states that they have from Feb. 15th until end of September to spend up to 90% of the lower amount in House/Senate Appropriation Budget. This study has 0 funds. During the CRA process the ACOE cannot spend any new FY07 CRA funds; they can only spend what was carried over from last year. There are new guidelines being established for CRA funding between the Administration and the new Congress. Currently no one knows what those rules are. Hopefully the COE will know more about in January. The ACOE is planning to spend the money that is carried over and reprogram into Tybee from other projects if necessary. Tybee should keep close tabs on this through Marlow and Company. FY08 Funding The FY08 President’s Budget is still being developed and will be released on Monday, February 5th. Disposal Area Maintenance with GaDOT A meeting was held on December 4th to discuss the excessive erosion. The Jasper County Condemnation was also discussed. Brunswick Harbor Deepening The Brunswick Harbor Deepening Project will be completed this fiscal year, pending the receipt of funding. Savannah Harbor Expansion The Draft Savannah Harbor Expansion GRR and Tier II EIS will be completed in FY07, pending the receipt of funding. Ft Screven Old Seawall Demolition Dan reviewed all the old files himself. He found that a portion of the seawall and groins had been left because it was deemed that this portion was holding sand. The Savannah District will review all available documentation and will follow up with a letter to the City concerning this. Lou asked that the letter be sent to Diane and he copied. The groins no longer serve a useful purpose. The ACOE will need to establish eligibility then a need for funding under the DERP (Defense Environmental Restoration Program). This program is funded $25 million a year. The program looks at ACOE projects that were done in the 50’s and 60’s before environmental laws were established to see if there are any environmental or safety problems with these sites. Diane asked if there was any assistance for signage and buoys to mark these hazards for the meantime. Dan will check on this. Tybee LRR Cost Breakdown The LRR was under the cost estimated and therefore a refund check in the amount of $5,698.66 will be sent to Tybee at the end of January. Questions to Dan Dan will email Janice the PMP so that it can be emailed to everyone. Lou asked Dan not to wait on comments. Dan will check the Colonel’s calendar for the first of January to make sure he is available to come to Tybee. Dan asked if we wanted Kingston involved and the press. Dan will get the COE Public Affairs Office involved so that the press can be notified. January 4th at Noon was discussed for a Special Council Meeting. Calendars need to be checked. Diane will notify Mayor, Council, Clerk, and City Attorney. Janice will help with a reception to follow. Lou will call Clark Alexander concerning help for the survey of the Tybee near shore. Hampton has gotten his questions to the technical people to see what they need, but most are on vacation at this time and it will probably be January before they are answered. Sand Relocation Procedure Berta stated that the last she heard the City Council was going over some of the aspects of it, but basically they supported it. Paul stated Kathryn had a few concerns such as adding that if DNR did not respond within 30 days and accepting that it should go to the City Manager and Council. According to Paul and Diane, Vivian recorded the changes that Council wanted. Berta asked that when those corrections are made that the corrected version be sent to the Mayor and Council for final approval. Since internal changes were made for Tybee, DNR would not have to approve, but a final corrected copy would need to be sent to them with the changes marked. Mallory’s concerns were included. Diane is to send the final draft to Janice. Other Berta feels that since the state has an overflow of money that we should approach the state for extra funds. This may be a good time to establish the State Trust which would apply to Tybee, Jekyll Island, and St. Simons. This would be back up to our re-nourishment plan if the federal funds are not available. Lou asked Berta to give Burke Day and Eric Johnson a call to get their input on this. Paul stated that the Mayor and Council will be in Atlanta on Mayor’s Day(Jan 20th – 22nd) and this will be a good time to approach our representatives with this. Berta would like to establish a subcommittee – Berta, Diane, Lou, Paul, and Jason. Lou stated that he could meet with her before January 3rd when the Mayor returns. Diane stated that a bullet point brochure that everyone could hand out would be helpful. Walter felt that it would be accepted because it would affect all Georgia beaches. Monitoring The ACOE has sent a letter accepting the survey work that Georgia Tech proposed. Old Business Lou asked if anyone had any changes to the BTF accomplishments letter that he had written to Council. Copies were handed out for their review at the last meeting. There were no changes and no objections to Lou sending that letter to Mayor and Council. Lou handed out a summary of the ASPBA Conference he had attended. Lou will call Helen Downing to see if she will return as a member with her term ending 2009. With her acceptance, 4 people from the BTF will be returning. Lou will get that information to Council. Hope Moorer is trying to schedule a GPA meeting. Hopefully that meeting will occur in January. Possible New Beach Task Force Members – Harvey Ferrelle and Mark Smith – Lou will check to see if Dick Magune wants to continue membership. List of Meeting Dates were handled out – 3rd Thursday of every month. Cullen Chambers gave a presentation on the plans to build a new foundation under the Cockspur Lighthouse. Meeting Adjourned