Loading...
HomeMy Public PortalAbout19860508CCMeetingTybee Island, Georgia May 8, 1986 The Tybee Island City Council met in regular session at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, 1986 at Tybee City Hall. Mayor Walter W. Parker presided and the following Councilmembers were prssent: Jean Davis, Paul Jackson, Phil O'Dell, Bill Walsh, Kilma McCutchen and Chris Solomon. The City Attorney, Thomas Mahoney, and the City Administrator, Bob Thomson, were also on hand. Mayor Parker welcomed an unusually large crowd and first introduced the president of the Optimists, Mr. S. J. Orsini. Mr. Orsini explained that the Tybee Optimists' motto is "Friends of Youth" and that the local organization has been helping Tybee youth for 25 or 30 years. The club,pr.esented two checks for scholastic excellence: one for the outstanding student at St. Michaels' and one for Tybee Elementary School. The winners were John Kelly for St. Michaels and Janice Weis for Tybee Elementary. Mayor Parker then introduced the Outstanding citizen- ship Award, speaking briefly of Mr. Jim Sheley's community ser- vice, and then calling on Paul Jackson, who mentioned Mr. Sheley's many accomplishments, including his work for the local museum, the VFW, American Legion, cancer and heart funds, the Tybee Jubilee, and his outstanding contributions to Trinity Methodist Chapel, and the Easter Sunrise Service. Mrs. Marjorie Harris spoke toosay that he is also the best- dressed man on Tybee, and this statement drew another round of applause. Mr. James Petrea, Mayor of Thunderbolt, attended the meeting to see this Award presented, but came in a little late, because he had a committment at a PTA ;meeting in Thunderbolt. Mayor Parker then called on Dan Browne, Superintendent of Fort Pulaski and President of the local Museum Board, to accept a:. Proclamation declaring a "National Preservation Week ", 1 1 Tybee Island, Georgia May 8, 1986 Page Two May 11 through 17, 1986. Mr. Browne explained that the week will be celebrated here by the Tybee Museum's hosting of an exhibit called "Sentinels of the Sea" highlighting lighthouses and that the local lighthouse will be open at no charge next Saturday. A Proclamation declaring May 12 through 16 Municipal Clerks' Week was read. This was accepted by the City Clerk, who named all area City and County Clerks, and the local office clerks, who share this recognition. Tom Drayton of Domino's Pizza was the first visitor to appear before Council. He circulated copies of an application for a business license, saying that his firm would like to sell pizzas by the slice on the beach. Questioning disclosed that a temporary shelter, such as a tent, was planned. The City Attorney spoke of Health Department requirements over which the city has no control, saying that a permanent location is usually required by them before issuing a food permit. Council- member O'Dell suggested that there are plenty of buildings for rent, and invited Mr. Drayton to come on down to Tybee, at least for the summer. Mr. Drayton spoke of his doubts as to whether a permanent market is here, and Mayor Parker closed the discussion with the statement that there is nothing the city can do until a county permit is checked on. Mayor Parker then invited John O'Neal to speak for the Chamber of Commerce President, Chris Simon, who could not be here. He introduced a plan called "Welcome Wednesdays" and asked the City Council to approve it. Mrs. Bettye McLlendon was the next speaker. She com- plimented the administration on its first six months, saying that she realized the many problems being faced by the elected officials, and also saying that she appreciates the solid founda- tion this administration has formed and is looking forward to great progress. Tybee Island, Georgia May 8, 1986 Page Three Dr. Paderewski, a resident of 10th Street, complained that littering is so bad it can't seem to be controlled; he objected to bringing any kind of licensing onto the beach, saying it would make the littering worse, and asked if help to pay extra workers could be obtained from state or county. He asked that the logo begun by Jeanne Hutton "Leave Only Your Footprints" be used again, and compared beach users to dogs, in their lack of cleanliness. Mayor Parker explained that the city is now trying to hire extra police for weekend duty, that some littering cases are being made, and that a beach patrol is being used. The beach has been crowded, however, and it's possible that the patrol is not getting as far as 10th Street before making cases and returning to process them. The City Attorney, who is also Court Recorder, explained that the court has constantly made a practice of making young people caught littering do weekend cleanup rather than have their parents pay a fine, and that the city is constantly seeking state funding. He suggested all citizens help by keeping these concerns before the legislative and county officials. Mrs. Jeanne Hutton spoke to say she is concerned that the city is not saying a firm "no" to people wishing peddling licenses - she believes peddling is illegal according to our local ordinances, and wishes the Council would not entertain the hopes of those seeking such licensing. George Spirides spoke of the need for more public restrooms along the beach. Marjorie Harris spoke favorably of the ducks in Jaycee Park, offering to pay for others if the city will obtain them. Mayor Parker opened the meeting for business legally presented. Minutes of the April meeting were approved. Bills for the month of April were approved as follows: Water /Sewer $28,157.08 Gen. Govt. $12,433.56 Police $12,640.08 1 1 Tybee Island, Georgia May 8, 1986 Page Four Public Works /Sanitation Fire /First Responder Recreation $17,941.46 $ 922.93 $ 2,521 .76 9 Bob Thomson made his Zoning Administrator's report, saying that building is up, with $560,000. in new construction and renovations - nearly all single family and remodeling. This more than doubles last year's figures for the month of April. He also reported that the Planning Commission recommends approval an apartment /hotel -type complex on Miller and U.S. 80, further recommending that an engineer be hired by the city to supervise the project. Councilmember Walsh moved that the recommendation be accepted, with Councilmember Davis seconding. City Attorney Mahoney cautioned that the motion should reserve the city's right to make a final decision concerning supervision, engineering, and related matters, and that the applicable codes of the city must be complied with. This stipulation being acceptable to all, the motion was then unanimously passed. Code Section 8 -2 -12 (Electrical Code Adopted) was offered for amendment, read by the City Attorney, and accepted on First Reading by motion of Councilmember Jackson, with a second by Councilmember Walsh. Because Councilmember Solomon and others had a few technical questions regarding this code, the second reading was deferred to the June meeting. Councilmember Jackson moved that the city accept the Chamber's proposal for "Welcome Wednesdays" and Councilmember Solomon seconded. Councilmember Walsh questioned how much in profit the city stands to lose from allowing free parking on Wednesdays. Mayor Parker explained that exact figures are not available, but since operational costs will be lowered for that day, and since parking revenues are up 30% over last year, it is not expected that the city will feel an adverse impact from this cooperation with a Chamber promotion. He suggested that Tybee Island, Georgia May 8, 1986 Page Five Councilmember O'Dell's idea of limiting the approval to a trial period for the month of June be followed; the program can then be continued if successful. This was unanimously endorsed by Council. Mayor Parker announced that a Lions' Club Blood Drive will be held on Friday, May 9th. And also reminded everyone of the Hurricane Preparedness Meeting /Seminar for May 15th at 7:30 p.m. hoping that a large turnout will be on hand, especially those who have moved here in the past year or two and who have not seen such a program previously. The meeting was adjourned. 1 1 CLERK OF COUNCIL