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Home My Public Portal About20080117BTFMinutesApproved.pdfTybee Island Beach Task Force Minutes: January 17, 2008 Approved: 2/21/08 Page 1 of 4 Members Present: Jimmy Burke, Cecil DeLorme, Helen Downing, Harvey Ferrelle, Amy Lanier, Henry Levy, Mary McCracken, Lou Off, Walter Parker, Freda Rutherford, Wick Searcy, Mark Smith, Harry Spirides, Bill Sprague, Greg Stoeffler, John Wylly Ex Officos Present: Jason Buelterman – Mayor, Sonny Emmert – DNR, Diane Schleicher – City Manager, Hampton Spradley – ACOE, Paul Wolff – Councilperson Members Absent: Berta Adams (E) Visitors: Cullen Chambers, John Kilsaw, Wanda Doyle – Mayor Pro Tem, Burton Moore – USACOE; Mark Padgett – USCOE; Joe Wilson – City DPW Director CALL TO ORDER (Agenda Item 1): Lou called the meeting to order at 11:45am. ATTENDANCE AND GUESTS (Agenda Item 2): Three new members were introduced…Jimmy Burke, Harry Spirides (Ocean Plaza), Greg Stoeffler (Desoto / Tourism Council) APPROVAL OF MINUTES (Agenda Item 3): Freda motioned to approve the December minutes. Henry seconded. All approved. ANNOUNCEMENTS: - $52 million in Governor Perdue’s budget for Harbor Deepening; according to GPA. Total job is estimated at $400+ million. - Lou passed Shirley Session’s Christmas card to the BTF attendees. - 2008 meeting dates were announced. - There will be a teleconference every Thursday at 11am at city hall to discuss the beach renourishment project. BTF members and the public are encouraged to come to find out the latest on the project planning. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS REPORT (Agenda Item 4): Hamp’s report… (COE Actions & Status sheet provided separately) 1) Tybee Coastal Zone Management Implementation: a. analysis continues at South Atlantic Division (SAD) for approval b. once it is approved they can coordinate w/ GA DNR and Tybee. c. Lou explained CZM and its affect on Tybee to new members d. The Mayor will write an official letter asking them to move forward at the State level for CMP, requested by Walter Parker. Tybee Island Beach Task Force Minutes: January 17, 2008 Approved: 2/21/08 Page 2 of 4 2) Channel Impacts Feasibility Study: a. Formal responses to Olsen’s comments on the draft report have been prepared by ERDC. b. Final report should be available next month c. In FY-08 there is no more federal money to continue this study. However, the PDT is working on a summary scope of work of what they will do in the feasibility phase where they look at alternatives to mitigate for damages to Tybee from the Savannah channel. Tybee has commitment from GPA for additional funds. 3) PIR report a. TS Andrea did not do enough damage to warrant funding action. 4) FY-08 has $6.3 in 08 budget for the Tybee re-nourishment project. 5) Jasper County a. GDOT did approve the Intergovernmental Agreement w/ modifications 6) Burt Moore, ACOE dredging expert, runs day to day dredge operations (SA district division) and discussed the following … a. He has / is / will be doing work for Brunswick Harbor deepening, East River Turning Basin Mitigation, Andrews Island Dike Raising contract b. Sav’h Channel Maintenance – has dredge in Sav’h River/ Garden City terminal there now for 40 days, move up river, down again and leave due to fish window i. Cost of annual maintenance dredging - $16 mill contract, he’ll spend about $13 mill of it. It is all federal funding. c. Burt discussed the process of dredging, costs, over depth, etc. i. Calculate sand yardage for banking for future renourishment needs ii. Environmental window is 12/15 – 3/31 iii. It does cost more money to take a maintenance spoil and put it in the nearshore versus putting it anywhere. RFP cannot have unit prices unless the contractor says it is okay. d. Discussions took place regarding interbasin transfer of water. Hamp addressed the Mayor’s question concerning possible money left over from Brunswick deepening; no one knows until mitigation contract is completed and dyke raising contract is completed if there will be money left over. We should not count on any of that money. 7) Sav’h Harbor Expansion a. Record of Decision should be in by May 09 TYBEE RE-NOURISHMENT PROJECT – UPDATE (Agenda Item 5): HAMP / LOU REVIEWED ITEMS LIST FOR RENOURISHMENT 1) $6.3million came in for fed share Hopefully Savannah District will have funds in hand later this month / next month 2) Hamp is working on a project schedule for the project management plan for all involved. Tybee Island Beach Task Force Minutes: January 17, 2008 Approved: 2/21/08 Page 3 of 4 3) City is working to acquire $4.2 million non federal funds from state and county a. There is $10.5 million total to do the project. b. Bidding with 2/ 3 companies will take place in July or August 2008. 4) PCA agreement will be issued / executed mid July. It is contingent on all environmental clearance. a. Has to be signed before work starts. Tybee work will not be reimburse prior to PCA i. Erik Olsen’s work is paid for by Tybee. This will reduce the overall renourishment cost in the end. 5) Erik & COE are working together. 6) Designers are working hard and hope to have a design by Feb 20. 7) An agreed upon renourishment template by Feb 1 which graphically will show where sand will be placed for shore protection over the next seven years. a. Lou reviewed the design, quantity & cost complications. The goal of the project is to maintain at least a 40’ flat berm at 11’ MLW from the seawall on our front beach for 7 years. Mayor Buelterman believes the city needs to come up with a plan for dunes. It is our responsibility. b. Design goals are how far out and far along the beach should sand be placed. c. Fed project limit is $10.5 million. Mark Padgett asked if all the $6.3 million would be available. There is a possibility of some decrease by rescission. Our representatives are watching it closely. 8) Environmental assessment is going on. 9) Cultural resources – boat is off shore and collecting data 10) Real Estate – Diane was briefed about the mining permit for borrowing area to pump sand on beach – permit from the state. DNR is also working to get this done. 11) Make sure we get a base bid that is awardable. 12) Tybee is working with Olsen & Assoc. to look at alternatives for flexibility if we have extra money for where to put extra sand on the beach. COMMENTS: Greg Stoeffler feels the biggest opportunity for this island for tourism & business is the beach. He suggested that some of the beach be used for recreational activities (i.e. volleyball, frisbee, etc.). After the renourishment, hopefully this can be addressed. Perhaps the city can remove asst. debris from the beach. The machine the city bought last did not work as anticipated and a new machine is being considered. Sonny referenced the beach management plan in terms of beach cleaning / maintenance. Henry asked Greg for an invitation to speak w/ the economic committee to address his ideas. Greg suggested he speak with Keith Gay, chairman of the committee. All agree that with a plan the city can determine if / where to put up a sand fences. Lou suggested that Greg use the Beach Management Plan as a platform. Harvey suggested Joe Wilson look at the beach cleaning machine Fernandina Beach uses. Wanda Doyle said she’ll be happy to work with the DNR as a City Council member to help get the ball rolling. Conversation continued regarding the amount of tourists that visit Savannah vs. Tybee. Tybee Island Beach Task Force Minutes: January 17, 2008 Approved: 2/21/08 Page 4 of 4 Lou and Jason are going to HHI to discuss problems that they may have had with their re-nourishment as it pertains to residents and tourists. He suggested that the tourism bureau should check on this as well to furnish PR information to visitors. Discussion took place regarding “marketing” the renourishment. NEW BUSINESS (Agenda Item 9): Task Orders 2007-8: Beach Renourishment Project & 2007-9: Cultural Resource Investigation: a motion was made with BTF recommendation that Diane present the task orders to City Council to approve to allow Eric Olsen to complete his work. Henry moved to approve, Jimmy seconded. Hamp will present his design / plan to get the renourishment done at the next BTF meeting. Lou reminded members that in February all will have to vote for BTF officers. Amy confirmed that we should be getting a LNG check for the renourishment. State funding was discussed. Mayor Buelterman said bonds from state need to be sold for their $2.93 million. COE needs a check in hand by May 15. Eric Johnson is talking to the Governor. Eric is head of a three senator committee for a permanent state sponsored funding source for Tybee’s share of future re-nourishments. The county should be sending us their $450,000 soon. Cullen Chambers is representing Friends of Tybee Lighthouse. They want to make sure not to jeopardize our efforts to get funding before they request funding for Cockspur Lighthouse restoration. The BTF suggested that he move forwarding with his funding requests asap. MEETING ADJOURNED (Agenda Item 10): 1:35pm