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HomeMy Public PortalAbout20110421Minutes.pdf Minutes April 21, 2011 Tybee Island Beach Task Force Members Present: Amy Lanier, Arnie Seyden, Berta Adams, Freda Rutherford, Harry Spirides, Harvey Ferrell, John Wylly, Lou Off, Mary McCracken, William Sprague Members Excused: Chuck Powell, Joe Richardson, Wick Searcy Visitors/Ex-Officios Present: Mayor Jason Buelterman, Council Members Paul Wolff and Bill Garbett CALL TO ORDER (Agenda Item 1) Amy Lanier called the meeting to order. ATTENDANCE AND GUESTS (Agenda 2): APPROVAL OF MINUTES (Agenda Item 3): Due to the committee not having time to review, minutes will be voted on at next meeting, May 19, 2011. MAYOR’S UPDATE: Mayor Buelterman gave a brief update on his discussions with GPA. He met with Curtis Foltz and GPA will begin to send representatives to the BTF meetings in the future. He also met with Colonel Hall, COE for a follow-up. He would like to assist us but his hands are tied. Mr. Off asked the Mayor in their discussions did the topic of getting sand on Tybee’s near-shore. Mayor Buelterman feels that the closer they put the sand to the beach the better for Tybee Island. He also feels that the door is still open for the project. MARLOWE & COMPANY LETTER: (Agenda Item 5) Ms. Lanier stated that the project is coming to an end. They would like to lobby on our behalf as well as other coastal communities. Cost of contract is $5,000 and she would rather put that money toward 2015 beach re-nourishment. Mayor Buelterman feels we need to start looking for another firm to lobby for us that knows the inner workings of the COE as well as the area. MOTION: Lou Off made a motion that we look into the possibility of finding somebody else to lobby for us and put off doing an action other than that for the next six months. Harvey Ferrelle seconded. Vote was unanimous. DNR RESPONSE TO DUNE ALTERATION QUERY: (Agenda Item 6) Ms. Lanier read her letter to Georgia DNR (attached). Brad Gane forwarded her concerns to Karl Burgess and Ms. Lanier read his response as well (Attached). Harry Spirides commented that if the City decides to apply for a permit to move sand from the sandbar with tractors in that way the sea life would not be disturbed. Ms. Adams stated that 2nd Street has been on the table for years not due to a lack of interest but for funding. Mr. Wolff believes we need an engineering template and would like Eric Olsen to do an engineering plan to preclude erosion. Berta Adams that engineering is tied to the City budget so we need to set a priority on which projects are the most important. Mr. Spirides asked the City Manager if indeed there was no money for engineering. Ms. Schleicher responded that currently we do not have a line item for engineering. This year engineering came out of the Beach Re-nourishment set aside. Ms. Adams stated that we should not lump moving wet sand and dry sand together. This needs to be separate. Mayor Buelterman asked Ms. Lanier if we ever got an indication of how much it would cost to study if the pier is causing the sand to build at that location. Mr. Olsen feels that the pier is not doing anything to stop the littoral process. Mr. Spirides read his email to the Beach Task Force regarding the height of the sand dunes. Ms. Lanier then read remarks from Chuck Powell who was not in attendance. ” There are many undisturbed Georgia barrier islands which have sand dunes that are very large, for example, St Catharine's 50 foot high dunes. 2) Please do not take any sand from Tybee's South end sand bar or the Back River. As I stated at our last meeting, the last time the COE dredged the Back River, two of Little Tybee's northern most islands (hammocks) totally disappeared and just south of Twin Palms, the ocean breached the marsh/sand dune line into Little Tybee Slough “ Mary McCracken remembers when water came up to the boardwalk. She would like to know what the impact is in regards to: Lost revenue due to the height of the sand dunes How many rooms does he have now without an ocean view MOTION: Harry Spirides made a motion that the City Council funds the portion of the RFP that speaks to the dune template. Frieda Rutherford seconded. Those voting in favor of the motion were Frieda Rutherford, Mary McCracken and Harry Spirides. Those against were Lou Off, Harvey Ferrelle, Arnie Seyden, and Berta Adams. Motion failed. Discussion: Mr. Off feels this is a very clear issue between the DNR and property owner. There is no ideal size for a dune. City doesn’t have the money to fund a study. Ms. Adams voted no as she also feels it is not a BTF issue. Mayor Buelterman will assist Mr. Spirides to facilitate a meeting with the DNR. SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS (Agenda Item 7) State Funding Committee – Ms. Adams will continues to touch base with the committee. She will also contact the point person at the Governor’s office to find permanent funding solution for Tybee re-nourishment. County Funding - Mr. Ferrelle spoke with Pat Ferrell and he reported there was no money available for re-nourishment. He will still try and help Tybee in their efforts. 2015 Re nourishment Oversight– Mr. Off reported that Alan Garrett was our project manager and has moved to a new position. Sharon Haggart is our new project manager; she is not new to the COE but new to Tybee. They will be looking for money from us for LLR which will start October 2012. Money from LLR should be available in October 2013. City will need to put $60,000 in their budget for 2012. Channel Impact Study, Phase II Oversight Committee – Ms. Lanier asked Mayor Buelterman if the City has formally asked the COE to do Phase II? Mayor Buelterman feels that we should still try and get monies for the next beach re-nourishment and inform the state and county that there might not be federal funds available and be prepared to assist. Long term we need to decide if we want to initiate Phase II. The COE is waiting for Tybee to give them the “go ahead”. Mr. Ferrell stated that even if we got someone to pay for the Phase II, it won’t come in time for the 2015 re-nourishment and it may not come back like we would have it done and if it came back the way we wanted it done we would have to lobby for the federal money. Mayor Buelterman explained that the best scenario, it would come back from the COE stating that the re-nourishment and maintenance would be tied together. That would make Tybee a higher priority for the re-nourishment.