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Home My Public Portal About20080821BeachTaskForceMinutes.pdfTybee Island Beach Task Force Minutes: August 21, 2008 Prepared: 09/04/08 Page 1 of 4 Members Present: Berta Adams, Jimmy Burke, Cecil DeLorme, Harvey Ferrelle, Henry Levy, Mary McCracken, Lou Off, Walter Parker, Wick Searcy, Bill Sprague, and John Wylly Members Absent: Helen Downing, Amy Lanier (E), Freda Rutherford (E), Mark Smith, Harry Spirides, and Greg Stoeffler (E) Visitors / Ex-Officios Present: Burt Moore – COE, Hampton Spradley – COE, Kevin Haas – GA Tech, Jason Buelterman-Mayor, Paul Wolff – Council Member, And Diane Schleicher, City Manager CALL TO ORDER (Agenda Item 1): Lou called the meeting to order at 11:35am. ATTENDANCE AND GUESTS (Agenda Item 2): No guest(s) in attendance APPROVAL OF MINUTES (Agenda Item 3): Bill Sprague motioned to approve the minutes from June. Wick Searcy seconded. All approved. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS REPORT (Agenda Item 4): (COE Actions & Status sheet provided separately) 1) Tybee Coastal Zone Management Implementation: a. No letter has been sent to the Ga DNR as of yet, but the COE has a consolidated opinion on the position they will take to comply with the CZM and it is moving through the system. Operations Division is in charged of this – Stan Clark is the person to contact. 2) Channel Impact Feasibility Study: a. The Final Channel Impact Report phase I has been published by ERDC and a copy given to the BTF. b. The PDT will prepare a draft scope of work for the phase II Feasibility Study to evaluate alternatives to mitigate for impacts to Tybee Island from the Federal Navigation Channel. i. No FY-09 CRA (Continuing Resolution Authority) funds will be available to conduct that Study during the CRA period currently expected to last thru March 2009 possibly longer. During the CRA period, no new money such as the $250,000 in the FY-09 budget can be used. ii. This is a 50/50 cost shared study approximately $1 million for the total cost, part to be paid in FY-09 and the other in FY-10. iii. Excess money from re-nourishment could possibly, but not guaranteed be moved to cover the study after the CRA period. Congressman Jack Kingston would need to contact the COE, the COE would draft the language to place in the Appropriation Bill to do this. iv. No local money will be requested for the study until there are federal funds. Tybee Island Beach Task Force Minutes: August 21, 2008 Prepared: 09/04/08 Page 2 of 4 3) Tybee Island Shore Protection: Renourishment Update... a. Bid opening for the beach re-nourishment was held on August 7, 2008. i. Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company was the low bidder for the contract alternative F for $9,145,424.00 – approximately 1.22 cubic yards of sand. b. Construction to begin in October 2008 and be completed by March 2009. c. Ground breaking re-nourishment celebration event is scheduled for Monday, October 27th, 11:00 am. d. $2 million in contingency if needed. 4) Jasper County Terminal Development a. Savannah Maritime Commission conducted a boat tour of Savannah harbor in July. b. Land transfer of 1400 acres plus roads was completed. c. Press Conference scheduled today on the status of the terminal development. 5) Brunswick Harbor Deepening a. Mitigation has been completed and final modification necessary to close out is being processed. b. Andrews Island Dike Raising solicitation has been posted and will close on August 27th. Formal site visit for prospective bidders was held August 14th. 6) Savannah Channel Maintenance a. Dredge Arlington, maintenance contractor, finished up the upper harbor. He has been mobilized to the Brunswick area, once finished there, he will do 7-8 days of work in front of the Coastguard Station at Fort Pulaski and then the contract will be complete. b. New contract will be awarded on September 10th. c. Entrance contract will be awarded September 4th. 7) Savannah Harbor Expansion a. The draft GRR (General Re-evaluation Report) is being review. b. Briefing to be held on August 26-27th. c. City of Savannah is concerned about any increase in the chloride level in the freshwater on Abercorn Creek. d. Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) – Paul Woodley will visit September e. 18-19th. f. SHEP Press Conference to be held the first week of October prior to public release of documents. TYBEE RE-NOURISHMENT PROJECT: UPDATE (Agenda Item 5): Public Relations for the Tybee Beach Re-nourishment – Michael Bodine, Alice Mulle, Diane Schleicher, and Hampton Spradley 1) Re-nourishment Celebration set for Monday, October 27th. a. Luncheon at Marlin Monroe’s b. Many dignitaries, BTF members invited. c. Information will be on Channel 7 and the city’s website throughout the entire re- nourishment process. d. Brochures will be given out for information. 2) Money Situation a. $12.317 million dollars is available. b. $9.145 million for the bid contract. c. $1 million in costs from the COE d. $2 million remaining (money that is shared 60/40) Tybee Island Beach Task Force Minutes: August 21, 2008 Prepared: 09/04/08 Page 3 of 4 i. Extra to use if more sand is needed. ii. If not used, Tybee’s share is $800,000. iii. Using the remaining amount on other projects. 1. Problem – Construction General Funds Tybee does not have another project that these funds can be used. 2. For shared money there must be a congressional change – Kingston to work with COE to draft language to go through the budgetary process. 3. Richard B Russell Fund ($900,000) must be returned if not used a. COE will decide this in March 09 4. Could extend the groins (Construction General Fund) with an LRR 5. Money could be used in the phase II of Channel Impact Study 6. Complete study of the Beach (GI Funding) 7. Continuing the North Beach Study 8. Cockspur Lighthouse a. Need to prove that the Channel is affecting it in the Phase II of the Impact Study i. Mitigation alternatives 1. 2-3 years at approximately $1 million TRIP TO FERNANDINA (Agenda Item 6): The trip was very informative. This was Fernandina’s first beach re-nourishment – 1.6 million cubic yard project. BTF received a briefing form their Mayor and Erik Olsen. There situation is very similar to our situation. They receive beach nourishment from beneficial material from channel maintenance paid for by the US Navy. OLD BUSINESS – SEA WALL, LNG (Agenda Item 7): 1) Sea Wall to be removed after the re-nourishment a. Erik Olsen contracted to do a survey to establish location prior to nourishment. 2) LNG Ceremony a. Plans to dedicate a crossover for their donation is in the works NEW BUSINESS-Future items for BTF(Agenda Item 8): 1) After the re-nourishment, set up a 3 person committee so the work can be divided amongst the members to a point, all members are to look at the list below and decide the area they prefer to work on by next meeting. Lou will be stepping down as chairperson. A. Funding, including project excess funds B. Channel Impact Study phase II C. Beneficial use of channel maintenance and deepening materials – Henry Levy, Bill Sprague, Harvey Ferrell D. New port – Walter Parker, E. North Beach improvements F. Beach Management Plan-Jimmy Burke G. BTF leadership Tybee Island Beach Task Force Minutes: August 21, 2008 Prepared: 09/04/08 Page 4 of 4 2) Monitoring a. According to the PCA, the beach needs to be monitored once a year. This is a requirement and is no longer a cost share. i. RFP process needs to be done for this – Diane needs a scope of work for it to be fair. Bert Moore can get that information. Only the project area required, but the BTF would like the entire island. ii. Next need for monitoring will be in a year. 3) High Water Mark a. Bert Moore will provide the data when it is available. MEETING ADJOURNED (Agenda Item 9): 1:05 pm