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HomeMy Public PortalAbout19700624CCMeeting3 Savannah Beach, Georgia June 24, 1970 The, regular meeting of City Council was called to order at 3:00 P. M. today with Mayor Michael J. Counihan presiding and the following councilmen in attendance: John H. Daniels, Jr., Edward Jung, Robert F. Cary, C. Louis Hohenstein, Milledge C. Jones. Councilman George F. Schwarz was absent. Also present were Bart E. Shea, City Attorney, Mr. Thomas M. Reed, Superintendent of Public Works, and Mr. S. R. Kent, City Marshal and Building Official. Visitors at the meeting were Mr. Joseph Hutton, Mr. Jack Brady, Mr. David K. Smith, Mr. Tommy Kirkland, Mr. Remer Lane, Mr. Jim Parsons, Mrs. John R. Hunter, Mrs. Starke, Mr. & Mrs. Garrett, Mrs. Berry and Mr. Charles Teeple. Mr. Remer Lahe, newly appointed Chatham County Commissioner, was introduced by Mayor Counihan. Mr. Lane stated that he wanted the Mayor, City Council and the citizens of Savannah Beach to feel free to call on him at any time they felt he could be of service in his capacity of County Commissioner. Mr. Jim Parsons, who is associated with L.E.P.A., and is presently operating the Savannah Beach Family Campground, requested permission to put a parking lot and concession stand in the area of the camp- site and north of the Coast Guard Station. Council requested Mr. Parsons to put his request in writing giving full particulars and upon receipt of this, they would then give his request consideration. Mrs. John Hunter, a resident of Fort Screven, presented a petition to Council on behalf of thirty -nine other residents of this area, protesting any contemplated change in the original zoning of a commercial nature be allowed to go-into that area. Mrs. Berry, Mr. Garrett and Mrs. Rose Thompson also spoke on- behalf of the petition. Mr. David K. Smith appeared before Council requesting permission to build a camper- trailer park on his land in Fort Screven. He stated that he had not been given permission on two previous request and that he now had plans of exactly what he proposed to build and that he also had with him Mr. Thomas Kirkland, Field Director of the National Campers and Hikers Association, who would explain the type of camp he proposed to build. Mr. Kirkland stated that he had looked over Mr. Smith's plans and he felt this camp would be something that Savannah Beach would be proud of and-asked members of Council to give favorable consideration to the proposal. Mr. Smith stated further that he had already spent $12,000.00 for his plans and that he also planned to spend another $50,000.00 within the next sixty days. He said his plans call for a swimming pool, tennis courts and parking areas that everyone would be proud of. Mr. Smith also stated that since the City of Savannah Beach had been operating a campground, he felt it only fair to htigiven the opportunity to do the same. 4 City Attorney, Bart Shea, interrupted the discussion stating that Mr. Smith's appearance before Council at this particular time was highly irregular due to the fact that Mr. Smith has a suit pending in court against the Mayor and Council at the present time and that he felt Mr. SmithEbould not be here talking about it; especially without his attorney. Mr. Shea also stated that if Mr. Smith wanted Council to consider his petition, he should withdraw his suit. The members of council were agreeable to recondisering his application. provided he dismissed his suit. Mr. Jack Brady stated that he was again appearing before Council for permission to erect an apartment complex on Sixth Street. He stated that he had Mr. Joseph Hutton with him to try to explain the engineer- ing details of the project. Mr. Hutton stated that as an engineer he' could prepare a' site plan but he could not say at this time what the problems were or how much it would cost to'solve them; but' that if a person had enough money, they could build anything, anywhere. Sewage, the need of a lift station and zoning was also discussed. The members of Council felt that since this proposal, if approved, would become a non - conforming use in our new zoning ordinance,' there should be more discussion on it and, therefore, declined to give Mr. Brady an answer at this meeting. The minutes of the regular council meeting of May 27, 1970 were approved as written. 1 f ; Councilman Daniels reported that he had received numerous complaints regarding residents putting tree limbs and other debris in the streets and this was being handled by the police department. Councilman Daniels also reported that camper- trailers in our parking lots and people sleeping in cars had also become a problem and that our ordinances concerning these violations would'be enforced. Councilman Daniels stated that another problems we were having was with mini-bikes and recommended that the state laws concerning these vehicles be enforced. The state law requires that the operators of these vehicles must have a driver's license and a state tag. He then put this recommendation in the form of a motion. It was seconded and unanimously carried. A report was given to Council on the purchase and installation of new radios for the city police cars and ambulance by Police Commissioner Daniels. He'stated that they were now tied in with the City of Savannah frequency and dispatched by the Savannah dispatcher. He also stated that most of the cost -of this equip- ment would be funded by LEAA. He then made a motion that the frequency of our old radios be changed and that they be installed in some of the other city vehicles. This motion was seconded and unanimously carried. 1 1 1 1 Councilman Daniels asked Council to authorize the Police Committee and the Department of Public Works Committee to work out the details of changing the method of dispensing gas to city vehicle;. This was so authorized by Council. Councilman Hohenstein recommended that our lease arrangement with Mr. Embrey for the fishing pier be terminated due to the fact that it was in bad condition and apparently no attemlt has been made to repair it. This was agreed to by Council. Councilman Hohenstein stated that there was a great need for two air conditioning units in the Museum. Mayor Counohan said this would be looked into. Councilman Hohenstein moved that the compensation for expenses paid to the councilmen be increased to $25.00 per meeting beginning with the July Meeting. The motion was seconded and unanimously carried. Councilman Cary stated that, as information the city owned a nice piece of property on 18th Street and Chatham Avenue which would be an ideal site for a new well which the City will be needing in the not too distant future. Bills for the various departments were approved for payment. City Attorney Bart She outlined on second reading an Ordinance amending Chapter 19 of our Code of Ordinances relating to traffic within the City of Savannah Beach. Mr. Shea stated that this Ordinance covered the entire picture in regard to regulating traffic, speed limits, the flow of traffic, traffic signs, parking regulations, pedestrian cross - walks, parking meters and parking decals. Councilman Cary moved the adoption of this Ordinance, as amended, on second reading. It was seconded by Councilman Jones and unanimously passed. O R D I N A N C E Councilman Daniels outlined the new work schedule for the meter maids. He stated that under the new set up we would have coverage.from 8:00 A.M. to Midnight, seven days per week. A letter from Mr. Bill Fleetwood was read by the Clerk, in which he requested a permit to drill a shallow well on his property near his home on Sixth Place. Mr. Fleetwood Enclosed $5.00 to cover the cost of the permit. Councilman Daniels explained that Section 20 -23 of our Code of Ordinances prohibited installing these wells and even though the ordinance gave discretionary ppwers to Council if it saw fit to allow them, he felt that due 5 6 to the availability of water in this area and also due to the fact that Chatham County no longer permitted them,. the City of Savannah Beach should not allow tham. Council concurred with this and rejected the application for the permit. The Clerk was instructed to so adivse Mr. Fleetwood and return his check. Before the close of the meeting, Dr. Hohenstein rose and stated that he had occupied his council seat for a long, long time and he hated to give it up. He said that since this was his last council meeting - his last one to attend officially - he wanted everyone to know how much he had enjoyed working with them. Councilman Milledge Jones also expressed_ his thanks and appreciation for the cooperation and help he had received from -all the members of City Council in his efforts to further the progress of Savannah Beach. Mayor Counihan thanked both of them for their hard work and sincere efforts as members of Council and issued them a special invitation to be with us at the inaugural ceremonies on July 6th. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned subject to the call of the Mayor. CITY CLERK Am 0V duitavAid 1 1 1 AMENDMENT TO ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE TO BE ENTITLED, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 19 RELATING TO TRAFFIC WITHIN THE CITY OF SAVANNAH BEACH, TYBEE IS LAND BE IT ORDAINED by the Mayor and Councilmen of the City of Savannah Beach, Tybee Island, in the council duly assem- bled, and it is hereby ordained by the authority thereof: SECTION. I. Chapter 19 of the Code of Ordinances, City of Savannah Beach, Tybee Island, Georgia, is hereby amended in the following particulars: Section 19 -4 is amended to read as follows: (1) Fifth. Street shall be a one -way street from east to west from Butler Avenue to Jones Avenue during the school months of September through May from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., during which months appropriate one -way signs will be placed at Fifth Street's intersections with Butler Avenue and Jones Avenue. (2) Inlet shall be a one -way street, northeast to southwest from Butler Avenue to Seventeenth Street. Inlet Avenue shall be a two -way street from Seventeenth Street to Chatham Avenue. (3) Eighteenth Street shall be a one -way street from the Strand to Butler Avenue, east to west, from March 1 through Labor Day of each calendar year. (4) Sixteenth Street shall be a one -way street west to east from Butler Avenue to the Strand. (5) The Strand shall be a one -way street from north to south from Sixteenth Street to Eighteenth Street. SECTION II. Section 19 -5 is amended as follows: (1) All Streets within the City limits of Savannah Beach, Tybee Island, shall be 15 miles per hour except for the following: (a) The speed limit on First Street shall be 40 miles per hour from the City limits line on U. S. Highway 80 to Chimney Creek Bridge to First Street's intersection with the northern boundary line of Jones Avenue; 30 miles per hour from the northern boundary line of Jones Avenue to First Street's inter- section with the northern boundary line of Lovell Avenue; 20 miles per hour from the northern boundary line of Lovell Avenue through the curve intersection with Butler 1 Avenue to the intersection with the northern boundary line of Second Street on Butler Avenue. (b) The speed limit on Butler Avenue from the intersection of the northern boundary line of Second Street shall be 30 miles per hour to the northern boundary line of Third Street; 40 miles per hour from the northern boundary line of Third Street to the northern boundary line of Eighth Street; from the northern boundary line of Eighth Street to the northern boundary line of Thirteenth Street, 35 miles per hour; 25 miles per hour from the northern boundary line of Thirteenth Street to Nineteenth Street around the curve intersection with Chatham Avenue and shall continue 25 miles per hour on Chatham Avenue to a point where the western boundary line of Jones Avenue intersects with the eastern boundary line of Chatham Avenue_ (c) The speed limit on Chatham Avenue beginning with its intersection at Jones Avenue shall be 30 miles per hour, and shall continue to be 30 miles per hour after Chatham Avenue intersects and merges with Venetian Drive, and shall remain 30 miles per hour on Venetian Drive after it merges and intersects with Twelfth Street, and shall continue 30 miles per hour on Twelfth Street to its intersection with Jones Avenue. (d) The speed limit on Jones Avenue shall be 30 miles per hour from First Street to Seventeenth Street. (e) The speed limit on Lovell Avenue and Second Avenue from First Street to Fourth Street shall be 25 miles per hour. The speed limit on Second Avenue from Fifth Street to Seventeenth Street shall be 25 miles per hour. The speed limit on Lovell Avenue from Fifth Street to its inter- section with the southern boundary line of Fourteenth Street shall be 25 miles per hour. The speed limit on Lovell Avenue from its inter- section with the southern boundary line of Four- teenth Street to its intersection with the North- ern boundary line of Inlet Avenue shall be 15 miles per hour. (f) The speed limit on all streets east of Butler Avenue from Butler Avenue to the ocean or the Strand from Second Street through Eighteenth Street shall be 10 miles per hour. 1 1 1 1 (g) The speed limit within all parking lots and on the Strand shall be 10 miles per hour. (h) The speed limit on all streets within Fort Screven area shall be 20 miles per hour. SECTION III. By adding a new section designated Section 19 -6. Through Streets - Designated. A. The following streets in the city are hereby designated as through streets and all vehicles are required to stop before entering or crossing the same: (1) Butler Avenue from First Street through Nineteenth Street. (2) Jones Avenue from Second Street through Seventeenth Street. (3) Venetian Drive from Twelfth Street through Fourteenth Street. (4) Chatham Avenue from Fourteenth Street to Seventeenth Street. (5) Chatham Avenue from Seventeenth Street through Nineteenth Street. (6) First Street from Butler Avenue to the City limits on U. S. Highway 80. (7) Lovell Avenue from Second Street to Fourth Street. (8) Second Avenue from Second Street to Fourth Street. (9) Lovell Avenue from Fifth Street to Inlet Avenue. (10) Second Avenue from Fifth Street to Seventeenth Street. (11) Sixteenth Street from Jones Avenue to Chatham Avenue. (12) The Strand from Sixteenth Street to Eighteenth Street. (13) Twelfth Street from Venetian Drive to Jones Avenue. (14) Thirteenth Street from Venetian Drive to Jones Avenue. (15) Fourteenth Street from Chatham Avenue to Jones Avenue. (16) Van Horn Street from First Street to its northern- most point past and including Pulaski Street. (17) Campbell Avenue from First Street to Van Horn Street. (18) Meddin Drive from Van Horn Street to Taylor Street. (19) Taylor Street from Van Horn Street to Meddin Street. B. No person shall operate or drive any vehicle across or into any street designated as a through street by this title or any other ordinance of the City from a street intersecting such 1 through street, without first bringing the vehicle to a complete stop; provided, however, that this section shall not apply_to intersections where traffic is being directed by an officer of the police department or where traffic is directed by a traffic - control device or sign, in both of which cases the traffic officer or control device shall be obeyed. SECTION IV. By the addition of a new section desig- nated Section 19 -7. Yield- Right -of -Way Signs. The following intersections are designated as "Yield- Right-of-Way" intersections, and vehicles facing a "Yield- Right -of- Way" sign are required to yield the right -of -way to other vehicles: (1) Campbell Avenue traffic shall yield for Van Horn Street traffic. (2) Parking lot traffic within the Municipal Parking lot east of the Strand between Sixteenth and Eighteenth Streets shall yield for the Strand traffic when exiting from said parking lot at Eighteenth Street exit. (3) Eastbound traffic on Cedarwood Street shall yield for Van Horn Street traffic. SECTION V. By adding a new section designated Section 19 -8, Parking Regulations. A. It shall be unlawful to park any vehicle as follows: 1 (1) Nineteenth Street, both north and south sides. (2) Butler Avenue a distance of 30 feet north . of its intersection with Nineteenth Street both east and west sides. (3) Chatham Avenue a distance of 30 feet north of its intersection with Nineteenth St `eet, both east and west sides. (4) Sixteenth Street, Butler Avenue to Lovell Avenue, south side. (5) Sixteenth Street a distance of 90 feet west of its intersection with Butler Avenue, north side. (6) Campbell Avenue, First Street to Van Horn, both east and west sides. (7) Memorial Park. (8) In front of any fire hydrant. B, In the following designated "Yellow- Line" or "No Parking" areas: (1) Butler Avenue - Second Street to Sixteenth Street - at the intersections of streets, both eastern and western sides of Butler Avenue, a distance of 10 feet north and 10 feet south of said intersections. (2) Butler Avenue and First Street intersection - a distance of 30 feet south and on Butler from said curve. 1 (3) First Street and Butler Avenue intersection at the curve - a distance of 30 feet west on First Street from said curve. (4) First Street - Lovell Avenue to the City limits on U. S. Highway 80 - a distance of 10 feet east and 10 feet west at all inter- sections, exclusive of the intersections of Campbell Avenue and South Campbell Avenue. (5) Campbell Avenue, northwest corner of inter- section with First Street, a distance of 10 feet westwardly on the north side of First Street, and a distance of 10 feet northwardly on the west side of Campbell Avenue; a distance of 79 feet on the north side of First Street eastwardly from Campbell Avenue, a distance of the entire length of the building on the east side of Campbell Avenue northwardly from First Street. At the intersection of South Campbell Avenue and First Street a distance of 10 feet proceeding westwardly on the south side of First Street, and a distance of 10 feet proceeding eastwardly on the south side of First Street. (6) Sixteenth and Butler, southeastern corner, 20 feet south on Butler and 10 feet east on Six- teenth Street. C. Impoundment of Illegally Parked Vehicles. In the event any vehicle is parked in.vilolation of this title, or any other ordinance of the City at a fire hydrant or in a prohibited area or in such a manner as to obstruct or impede or interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic or to become a hazard, the police authorities, at their discretion, shall have the right, in addition to placing a docket case against the defendant, to cause the vehicle to be removed and towed to a garage in the City selected by the police authorities, and to remain there until the defendant shall have appeared in police court and paid the fine prescribed for the violation and produced proof of such fact to the garage owner. SECTION VI. By the addition of a new section designated Section 19 -9, Reckless Driving. The term reckless shall be defined to include the following: (a) The operation of an automobile at a speed in excess of that fixed by the municipal author- ities of the Mayor and Councilmen of the Town of Savannah Beach, Tybee Island, Georgia. (b) The failure to bring said motor vehicle to a full stop before crossing any boulevard or designated through street where there is a stop sign. 1 1 (c) The failure to observe traffic signals and to cross or attempt to cross where the red stop light is on at the time or to cross on any street in face of a stop sign before having brought said automobile to a full and complete stop. (d) The weaving and driving of an automobile from one traffic lane into another, except where it is necessary to pass an automobile in the same direction and where the same can be done without endangering the safety of other vehicles or pedestrians in said street at said time. (e) The failure to observe the rules of the road. (f) The unnecessary and loud blowing of horns and sirens, except where it is necessary for the safety and security of the persons driving said automobile. (g) Driving on a wrong side of the street. (h) Backing into a parking space or driving out of a parking space in a negligent manner where under the circumstances the lives and property of other persons or vehicles in said street are endangered. (i) Crossing a yellow line in the center of the street where the same is prohibited by traffic regulations or ordinances of the Municipal authorities of the Town of Savannah Beach, Tybee Island, Georgia. (j) Racing or driving fast in a negligent manner on any street in the Town of Savannah Beach, Tybee Island, Georgia, even within the speed limits where traffic conditions at said time require a lower rate of speed. (k) Driving an automobile in a grossly and negligent manner, or at a speed greater than fixed by municipal ordinances when passing in a school or hospital zone, and where such acts tend to endanger the lives of persons or the security of property at said time and place. (1) Any driving of any automobile on any of the streets of the Town of Savannah Beach, Tybee Island, Georgia, in a wanton, willful or negligent manner without having said car under control at a time when traffic conditions warrant and require a lower rate of speed and greater precaution to insure the safety of others lawfully in said street. 1 1 (m) Taking away the right -of -way of an approaching vehicle. (n) Driving on a street in a direction other than that fixed by the municipal ordinances of the Town of Savannah Beach, Tybee Island, Georgia. (o) Driving or operating an automobile upon the sidewalks of the Town of Savannah Beach, Tybee Island, Georgia, or through a park or square except that the same shall not apply to fire engines, police vehicles or ambu- lances in the performance of their duty. (p) Driving or operating an automobile upon the streets of the Town of Savannah Beach, Tybee Island, Georgia, without proper lights or brakes. (q) Driving or operating a motor vehicle upon any of the beaches of the municipality. (r) The failure to yield a motor vehicle when required to do so by a yield right -of -way sign. SECTION VII. By the addition of a new section designated Section 19 -10, "Pedestrian Cross Walks." Pedestrian cross walks shall be located as follows and pedestrian traffic therein shall have the right of way over vehicular traffic: (1) Butler Avenue - Second through Fifteenth Streets, immediately south of the intersection of said streets with Butler Avenue. Pedestrian cross walks are established therein in an eastwardly - westwardly direction from the east side of Butler Avenue to the west side thereof. (2) Butler Avenue and Sixteenth Streets. There shall be established four (4) pedestrian cross walks, one from the northeast corner to the northwest corner, northwest corner to the southwest corner, southwest corner to the southeast corner, and southeast corner to the northeast corner. II (3) Sixteenth and Strand. Southwest corner proceeding eastwardly across the Strand to the northern end of the Police Station located on the southern part of the Strand. SECTION VIII. Section 19 -21 is hereby amended as follows: By the addition of a new subsection thereunder designated Subsection (e) "Parking Violations and Fines." (1) Parking overtime on meter in the Strant Parking Lot from 16th Street to 18th Street - -$2.00 (2) Parking overtime on meter other than on meters within Strand Parking Lot (3) Parking by fire hydrant (4) Improperly parked 1.00 4.00 2.00 1 1 (5) Parking in lane 2.00 (6) Parking in "No Parking Zone" (7) Parking on wrong side of street (8) Blocking (9) Parking on Yellow Line (10) Any other specific parking violation as determined by the Police Committee SECTION IX. That Section 19 -16 "Parking Meters" of the Code of Ordinances, City of Savannah Beach, Tybee Island, Georgia, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Congested traffic area: On the Strand from Fourteenth Street to Fifteenth Street and from Sixteenth Street to Eighteenth Street; east of Butler Avenue on the following streets: Third Street, Center Street, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth and Eighteenth Streets; the westernmost boundary of Memorial Park on Jones Street, and the south- ernmost boundary on Fourth Street; Butler Avenue, eastern and western sides Second thxough Eighteenth Street. SECTION X. Section 19 -28 is amended as follows: By striking the present section in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following: 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 Each such police officer shall attach to a vehicle illegally parked under the provisions of this article a notice to the owner or operator thereof that such vehicle has been parked in violation of a provision of this article and instructing such owner or operator to report to any police officer on duty or the city clerk, in regard to such violation. Each such owner or operator may, within 5 days of the time when such notice was attached to such vehicle, pay to any police officer on duty the 'amount of the fine as specified on the parking violation ticket in return for which such person shall receive a receipt, the form of which is designated by the Police Committee. The failure of such owner or operator to make such payment within 5 days shall result in a $2.00 penalty being added to the parking violation fine. In the event that said parking violation is not paid by the owner or operator thereof within 30 days after the date of the violation, a $5.00 penalty shall be added to the parking violation fine, and the owner or operator thereof shall also be subject to the penalties provided by Section 1 -8 of this Code. SECTION XI. By adding a new section designated Section 19 -34, "Misuse of Decal - Forfeiture of Free Parking." Should any person or family who has been issued an automobile decal permitting free parking in accordance with provisions of this code fail to attach same to the automobile as required by Section 19 -32 of said code or only temporarily attach same to their vehicle whereby it is transferable to the rear window of other vehicles, or in any other way misuse or abuse the privilege and rights granted by the free parking decal, then such owner, person or family shall forfeit such free parking decal and all of the attendant rights to free parking thereby afforded, as well as be subject to the general penalties of Sections 1 -8 of the Code of Ordinances. Adopted: June 24, 1970