HomeMy Public PortalAbout19900809CCMeetingTybee Island, Georgia
August 9, 1990
The Tybee Island City Council held its regular monthly
meeting on Thursday, August 9, 1990 at Tybee City Hall beginning at 7:30
p.m. Mayor Charles J. Hosti presided, with the following members of
the Council present: Paul Jackson, Jeff Dukes, Jimmy Brown, Bill Walsh
and Pat Locklear. Jack Youmans was absent due to the illness of his
mother in Columbia, South Carolina.
The meeting was opened with an Invocation by Councilman
Locklear, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Hosti.
Mayor Hosti and the City Council honored two young
people, as follows:
1) Gabriel B. Bell was presented a certificate and
savings bond in recognition of his discovery and return of a double
parking meter that had been vandalized and discarded. He found the
meter while shrimping, and reported it to the TIPD.
2) Ms. Stephanie Gore of Savannah was given a Tybee
tee -shirt and a certificate of appreciation. She is a blind person
who wrote a poem entitled "Tybee Warms My Heart" which she recited
for the audience.
Jerry Stephens of I -95 asked permission to conduct
beach parties for the remainder of the summer on the beach just south
of Spanky's on Sundays through Labor Day, at 3 p.m. each Sunday.
Jeff Woodruff of Heirborn Ministries asked permission
to hold an outreach sponsored by 13 area Assembly of God churches,
with participation from 50 or 60 young people. Councilman Brown asked
if they'd be approaching people, or would wait for people to approach
them. He was told that the group planned to use a flatbed truck and
a portable PA system. There would be music and skits.
Ted Solomon presented a new flag, one that has flown
over the Capitol in Washington, D.C. to the city. This was donated
to the city by the local VFW Post.
Burt Barrett, Jr: asked if the city has a plan for
use of the 1% road tax funds. Mayor Hosti replied that no formal decision
has been made, but that several streets are being considered, and we're
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August 9, 1990
Page Two
waiting for a reply to questions we've asked of the County Engineering
Department.
THE MEETING WAS OPENED FOR BUSINESS LEGALLY PRESENTED.
Minutes for meetings held July llth, 12th, and 26th
and August 2nd were approved.
Bills were approved as follows:
General Government $ 4,986.44
Special Appropriations $16,278.35
Police $ 8,856.14
Fire $17,496.56
(Includes $14,926.21 Annual Payment /Fire Truck)
First Response $ 1,411.22
DPW $11,053.71
Sanitation $17,854.48
Parking $ 2,105.25
Recreation $ 1,862.27
Lifeguards $ 600.92
Councilman Brown reported that TIPD had found no
reason to deny an alcoholic license transfer for Fourth Quarter, applicant
Jim Sheffield and moved to allow the transfer. Councilman Jackson
seconded and the vote was unanimous in favor. He then gave a similar
report on the Novelty Bar, applicants Jan Geiger and James Tatum, and
moved its approval. Councilman Jackson seconded, and the vote was
4 - 1 with Councilman Locklear casting the dissenting vote. During
discussion Councilman Brown said that he has had a long talk about this
with the City Attorney regarding licensing of bars, and has searched
the records in depth. There seems to be no legal basis for denial
a license.
Councilman Brown asked approval for an expenditure
of $1,907.73, the low bid, for fire equipment. Approval was unanimous,
on motion of Councilman Brown, seconded by Councilman Jackson.
Councilman Dukes gave a report from the Schoolhouse
Committee, saying that there has been no significant change in status.
Councilman Brown asked that the recreation and police
committees look into updating the beach rules, with public input. Mayor
Hosti approved wholeheartedly.
Councilman Dukes reported for the Finance Committee
that there have been work sessions for looking over the auditor's manangement
letter, and for studying finance reporting in general. He said a recurring
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August 9, 1990
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theme has been the shortcomings of various software programs in data
processing. With that in mind, an appointment has been set up with
Professor Booton of Georgia Southern University, who is a consultant
and will be giving the city a proposal for acting as our independent
consultant for data processing.
Councilman Dukes reported that the Tybee Island Marine
Science Center now has a donated air conditioner for the aquarium room,
donated roof repairs, and progress is being made in upgrading the "Sandcastle
on the Strand ". One hundred twenty people attended a:Saturday night pre -
sentation. Mayor Hosti complimented the volunteers for the good job
they're doing.
Councilman Dukes then moved that a requisition in
the amount of $1,190.00, which is the low bid for two additional filing
cabinets for the Clerk's and Administrator's use be approved; Councilman
Jackson seconded and the vote was 4 - 1, with Councilman Locklear dissenting.
Councilman Jackson reported that the Pier Committee has
secured a grant of $4,000 from the Savannah Chamber of Commerce for the
feasibility study, and from the Tybee Council for $5,000, and that
Commissioner Frank Murray is working on the allocation of $5,000 from
county hotel /motel tax funds. He moved that the city fund $5,000 for
the study and Councilman Walsh seconded. Councilman Dukes said that
the minutes will show that Council had questions prior to proceeding,
(1) Who conducts the study? and (2) What questions would be posed
that must be answered by the study? He proposed a meeting between
the Finance Committee of the City Council and the Pier Committee to
resolve these questions prior to funding the study. Councilman Brown
asked if Councilman Jackson is pretty confident that the $5,000 is
what he will actually need - that the additional funds not yet committed
will be forthcoming from the county? Councilman Jackson summed up
by saying that he has been charged by the Mayor with chairing a committee
to see if the pier /pavilion project should be continued; the study
is the next step, and one that Council, in its minutes, endorsed. He
said another chairman is needed if the delay continues much longer.
Mayor Hosti asked if the committee is sure that the $5,000 is all they
need? The vote was taken with a result that the motion passed by a
margin of 3 - 2, with Councilmen Dukes and Locklear casting the dissenting
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votes.
Mark Nathan, attorney for the Seidels, spoke next,
asking the Council to sell ten feet (10') of Fifth Avenue (unopened)
to his client, the adjacent property owner. Mr. Mahoney instructed
the Council on the legalities of the issue, saying that the Council
has the power to sell in this case. There was a discussion of possible
price. Councilman Dukes said that he, and the other Councilmembers,
have looked at the property, and that it is so marshy that it
can never be made into a street. He said he had given thought
to the matter, and sees nothing hidden to come back on the Council
later; he suggested a selling price of $4,000. Councilman Jackson
so moved. Councilman Dukes seconded. Councilman Walsh remarked that
the only thing that might haunt the city later might be access to the
creek, since the creek bed might change. He said Mr. Seidel has the
use of the property now, and asked if this couldn't be enough. Mr.
Mahoney explained that there is a legal point involved, that he has
use but he has a clouded title. He said he believes the sale of 10'
to be a reasonable proposition to straighten out a problem although
he is against selling streets in principle. The motion passed by
a 3 -2 margin, with Councilmen Walsh and Brown casting the dissenting
votes.
The request of I -95 Radio for a beach party each
Sunday until Labor Day, with provisions as outlined by the petitioner
in his written communication, passed, provided the petitioner provide
lifeguards at his own expense. The vote was unanimous, on motion of
Councilman Jackson, seconded by Councilman Brown.
The petition of the Heirborn for an outreach enter-
tainment at the South End was next considered. Councilman Walsh moved
that the permit be granted, provided the hours were modified to 7 -
10 p.m., rather than the 11 p.m. closing requested, citing that the
10 p.m. hour is mandated by the closing of the parking lot. Councilman
Locklear seconded. Mr. Mahoney cautioned the petitioner not to allow
his people to go out and interfere with anyone who isn't interested,
but to allow people to come to them, remembering that all other groups
have a right to use the public parking lots. The vote was unanimous
in favor.
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August 9, 1990
Page Five
A letter from Christopher D. Chandler concerning
his interest in buying city property adjacent to his home was read.
This will be considered for the September agenda.
Councilman Locklear said that parking decal sales
have been much higher this year - at $18,842.00 - than ever before.
He commended the department head, Mrs. Vivian Maxey, for the good job
she and her group are doing.
He also reported that the Summer in the Park program
has finished, that participation was down due to increase in fee and
division of age groups, but he is satisfied that the city wasn't funding
a babysitting service this year. He said the smaller groups accomplished
much more in crafts, and participated in many more educational projects
and trips. He said he hopes to continue the program next year, with
further improvements.
The second reading of an ordinance on motorized watercraft
was read. Councilman Jackson moved its adoption with a second from
Councilman Locklear, who commented that he doesn't want this enforced
like the dog ordinance (in his opinion, unenforced). There was a general
discussion of enforcement after which the vote, which was unanimous,
was taken.
The first reading of an ordinance concerning delinquency
of water /sewer bills followed. Councilman Jackson moved its adoption
with a second by Councilman Walsh. The vote was unanimous in favor.
It was announced that the Beautification Committee
will participate in the Beach Sweep on September 28th (rain date: October
4th). They hope for participation from the National Guard for free
trash pickup for residents.
Councilman Locklear said the "full service kitchen"
ordinance passed last month. What is being done? Mayor Hosti replied
that all license holders have been notified of the ordinance. Councilman
Locklear questioned whether the City Council has to approve transfers
of licenses in cases where the business has been a problem. He said
that we who live here have rights, too, just as business people do,
saying that he's not against people making a legitimate living, but
is concerned about the people of Tybee. Mayor Hosti answered that
the City Council has recently adopted a procedure for looking at license
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August 9, 1990
Page Six
holders now - a certain number of incidents will lead to a revocation
hearing. He agreed that there are too many bars and that they're too
close together.
Councilman Brown also agreed, adding that it does
cost money to defend the city in court, and that the city must have
a legitimate reason to deny a license.
It was announced that Councilman Youman's mother
has had a heart attack, and that he missed tonight's meeting because
he is with her in Columbia, South Carolina.
The meeting was adjourned.
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Ordinance
AN ORDINANCE OF`THE CITY OF TYBEE ISLAND,
GEORGIA, CODE OF ORDINANCES, SECTION 7 -3 -7
ENTITLED Powered (Motorized) Watercraft
BE IT ORDAINED, AND IT IS HEREBY ORDAINED, by the Mayor and Council in Open
Meeting Assembled, that the Code of Ordinances of the City of Tybee Island,
Georgia, be amended by the addition of Code Section 7 -3 -7 Powered (Motorized)
Watercraft; Penalty, to read as follows:
7 -3 -7. Powered (Motorized) Watercraft; Penalty
Any person violating any of the provisions of this Article shall,
upon conviction before the Recorder of the City, be fined not less
than one hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than three hundred dollars
($300.00).
First Reading: OK--
Second Reading: August 9, 1990
Enacted: August 9, 1990
THIS
9th DAY OF August
, 1990.