HomeMy Public PortalAbout20091209BHTBODMinutes.pdfApproved: January 19, 2010 Page 1 of 4
Better Hometown Board Meeting Minutes
Minutes: December 15, 2009
Directors Present: Cullen Chambers, Maureen Grindstaff, Patricia Miller Wann, John
Yarbrough
Directors Absent: Mel Gordon, Judy Malins, Erin Sheldon, Dick Smith
Guests Present: Lindsey Fruchtl (Tybee Island Tourism Council), Sandy Majors (Windfall
Resources), Keith Gay (Tybee Beach Vacation Rentals)
Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order at 9:05am.
Approval of Minutes:
John made a motion to approve the November 10, 2009 Board of Directors meeting minutes.
Maureen seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous.
Guest: Sandy Majors
Sandy Majors spoke to the Board about the need for the community to sponsor a Seafood
Festival that would involve the entire community including businesses, residents and non-profit
and church organizations. The Festival would promote Tybee and has the potential to build into
something very special. Sandy mentioned the Oliver Hardy Festival in Harlem, GA which now
has over 35,000 people attend each year. The festival would capitalize on seafood, which is
something unique to our community. Cullen asked what time of year does she envisions the
festival being held. Sandy said it should be similar to Celebrate Tybee which was held in
October. She asked Patricia how long it took to put Celebrate Tybee together. Patricia said it
took well over a year. Sandy said that Bluffton does a 3-4 day seafood festival. She said she
believes that the Better Hometown Initiative is the right organization to sponsor the festival
because this organization doesn’t have some of the baggage some of the other organizations
have. Lindsey agreed. Cullen said that we are limited as to what we can do by our Charter.
Lindsey asked if fall is the right time for such a festival since there is so much going on such as
Pirates Fest.
Chantel said that Dean Morrison is already planning to do a Seafood Festival at the Pier and
Pavilion. John said that Dean spoke to him about a week and a half ago and that he intends to do
the festival next year. Sandy said that she had not spoken with Dean and that maybe we can
work with him. Cullen said that we do not intend to take his idea.
Cullen said the grant cycle is in September for funding for advertising money from the Tourism
Council.
Sandy said that last year she held a Volunteer Tybee open house and 22 organizations
participated.
Cullen said that he thought the Seafood Festival could be a great concept. Chantel suggested
tying in Island seafood stores. It could become an annual maritime event for Chatham County.
Everyone agreed that it is an exciting concept. John said he would like to be involved. Maureen
said that we could include a kayak/scooter aspect. Sandy said that transportation is key to the
event.
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Cullen suggested we schedule a meeting and take point on it. All agreed it should be family
friendly. Cullen repeated that we must be clear on the grant cycle for Tourism events in 2011.
Revised By-laws Review
Cullen signed the revised bylaws which reflect that Board meetings will be held monthly. The
number of Board members remained the same. Chantel will make copies of the original to
distribute at the next meeting.
Board of Directors Update
Erin Sheldon is no longer active with the Better Hometown Board of Directors. Mel Gordon is
moving and has resigned. Dick Smith has gone off City Council. Cullen recommended that we
keep Dick on as a voting member. Cullen will draft a letter to Council. Maureen said she would
put her name in to continue serving. We will have to advertise and ask that people interested in
serving on the Board submit a letter of interest / resume to Council for them to act at their second
meeting in January.
John said he will talk with Vance Reyes who is a part owner of Bernie’s and active in the
Savannah Waterfront. Monty Parks has also expressed an interest. John also mentioned Jenny
Orr as a possibility with her business savvy.
Community Visit
A site visit to Darien is planned for Friday. Maureen and Cullen said they would attend. The
Board will consider visiting Blackshear in January.
Main Street Conference – March 17 - 19, 2010 in St. Mary’s
Cullen stressed that it is imperative for Board Members to attend this conference. Attendance at
the Conference is one of the criteria we have to meet for designation this year. He said that we
cannot afford to be delayed another year. He has been trying to get in touch with Martha (our
DCA liaison) but without success. Chantel said that Martha has had much happening in the past
few months and will continue attempts to speak with her.
Committee Updates
Design – Cullen
On November 21 there was a “Come Down to Clean Up & Planting Day.” Sixteen people came
to help. The Garden Club and Tybee Beautification Association contributed greatly. Joe Wilson
with DPW is aware that the irrigation in the landscaped beds along Tybrisa will have to be
adjusted. Cigarette butts were mostly collected this time as compared to cups and such last
November. There was a porch that needed to be cleaned up at street level and it has been done.
The anti-litter campaign was discussed. There was discussion about code enforcement for litter.
The board discussed using a slogan such as “Show respect -- don’t litter.” Cullen is meeting
with the City Manager.
John brought up the problems of sharing dumpsters. There are certain liners that are supposed to
be used and it is obvious when condo residents are using the dumpsters. Keith Gay said that has
been an issue. Cullen said that other dumpsters are being abused. The City Marshal, Chuck
Bargeron, has told Cullen he needs pictures as evidence of the abuse in order to address it.
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There was a Sign Ordinance meeting on December 1 at All Points Café on Tybrisa. Many
business owners attended. Cullen commended Keith Gay for his participation and input at the
meeting and Chantel for putting the meeting together and bringing the city government and
business community together. Chantel organized the meeting at All Points Café which was a
neutral site and made for civil and constructive discussion. Keith said that it was an excellent
example of the struggles business owners have as they try to take care of business. He spoke of
the lack of communication and lack of understanding between the business community and the
City. He said that the enforcement of the Tent Code was a good example and had created bad
feelings.
The Better Hometown Initiative is good in making sure that people understand what is going to
happen, but some people see any changes as anti-business. There was discussion among the
Board members that the Sign Ordinance is not anti-business. Communities who have a strong
sign ordinance have seen an economic advantage. Cullen said that everyone needs to work
together instead of stirring up trouble. People have been involved in the sign ordinance revisions
for months. Keith said that the meeting gave people an opportunity to express their opinion.
Cullen said that Chantel is constantly out talking to business owners and we need honest
discourse instead of a malicious campaign. Keith said that there is not a lot of communication.
Cullen asked if we could e-mail the businesses. John said a hand out was better because a lot of
people don’t check their e-mails daily. Cullen suggested that we have a meeting up front about
signage, parking & trash. Keith said that there were 30-40 people at the meeting and maybe 50
businesses top on Tybee. He suggested that Board members contact the businesses directly and
ask them to attend meetings. Cullen asked if we could use the City channel 7. Chantel
commented on the ongoing efforts to improve communication. Cullen suggested that we need
one public workshop before rolling anything out. Keith added that we need to stay on the high
road.
The Board discussed parking updates. Chantel said she continues outreach efforts to educate
people about the “pay to park” system on Tybee. She talked with Council member Wanda Doyle
about her continued efforts to find solutions for parking. Wanda is talking with people involved
with parking in Savannah. Cullen said that we need to realize that the issue goes beyond
business and impacts Tybee resident’s quality of life. He said that we need to explain why
parking is being expanded into neighborhoods and suggested again that we have a public
meeting.
Keith said we need to address the transportation issue on the Island. We need to be able to move
people around the Island. He said he doesn’t like the idea of a parking garage. He asked if there
was any kind of grant for seed money for investment in equipment etc. He would like BHT to
take a front position on this issue. Keith said that the market was perfect to buy dirt for parking.
Cullen pointed out that this is not just an eighteen-day problem. Space for parking is necessary
throughout the peak season. Chantel suggested that a trolley could be a solution, but there needs
to be a collective effort. Cullen said we need a public workshop/meeting on parking and we
need a facilitator.
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Maureen asked about government grants. Cullen said he thought there would be community
support for such a thing. Patricia asked if there was a possibility of any stimulus money that
could be used for transportation.
Chantel reviewed the trash receptacle donation program. People are interested in donating
money for the new trash containers. However, cost is an issue because they are expensive.
Chantel has been told by the City Manager that the City does not have funds currently available
for additional containers. Cullen said that the Historical Society is committing to three trash
containers.
Economic Restructuring - Judy
Chantel reported Judy is in the process of contacting SBAC regarding a possible loan program
for Tybee businesses.
Organization – John
Chantel has been emailing regular updates via newsletters. As the board moves forward with
outreach, she requested there be more input from the committee liaisons. John is working with
Matt and Chantel on a BHT site. Kim Carter with DCA said we need to wait until we have
designation to launch the site. The tybeefortheholidays.com site has been useful this month, but
there were issues with designing it to match the look of the posters. Maureen said she could not
make changes to the heading and sidebars due to restrictions. Updates regarding the holidays
continue to be posted to the site. Chantel continues to post information to the BHT initiative
Facebook page.
Cullen said the board needs an update on the BHT Checklist to see how we are doing. He
commented that Chantel has moved the BHT Initiative forward.
The question was asked about the BHT budget and how the city has allocated funding. The
board discussed the possibility of BHT receiving a portion of the City’s share of Hotel/Motel tax.
Promotion – Maureen
Chantel reported that the Christmas Parade was postponed to this coming Saturday due to the
weather last Saturday. The Polar Bear Plunge is scheduled for January 1 and restaurant specials
for that day are posted on the BHT holiday site. Lindsay does not believe there are any issues
with BHT taking over www.tybeefortheholidays.com.
Patricia and Chantel are working on Third Thursdays on Tybee. Patricia has lined up panelist to
judge the musicians that submit.
Other Business
Adjournment
Patricia made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:30am. Maureen seconded the motion. The
vote was unanimous.