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1992- 11 -12. City Council Minutes, Nov. 92
The Tybee Island City Council held its monthly meeting on
Thursday, November 12, 1992 at 7:30 P.M. with Mayor Walter W.
Parker presiding. Members of Council present were Christopher P.
Solomon, Jack Youmans, James P. Locklear, C. Ansley Williams, C.
Burke Day and Jimmy Brown. City Attorney Thomas J. Mahoney was
also present.
Councilman Burke Day gave the Invocation followed by Mayor
Parker leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
Chris Case and Brenda Dean gave a presentation on the results
of their surveys concerning the implementation of a toll system
on Highway 80. The reports were favorable and are attached to,
and become a part of, these minutes.
Joe Mahaney, the Chairman -Elect of the Chatham County
Commission, introduced himself and pledged to visit each
municipality at least twice a year and to be available to us if
there is any issue that needs his attention.
Mayor Parker recognized Mr. and Mrs. Gene Kendricks of
Thirstee's by representing a plaque in appreciation for the
Halloween Festival that they sponsored for the children of the
island. Mr. Kendricks said that it would not have been
successful if it had not been for the island residents who helped
by volunteering their time and materials.
Mr. Johnny Jarvis said he would like to speak on an old
subject, a fire lane for 19th Street. He said the neighborhood
group who promised to beautify and maintain the area has done
nothing in the past five to six years. Mayor Parker stated that
he will look into the situation.
Mrs. Marion Dean asked that the area around the recycling bins
be cleaned up. Mayor Parker asked Councilman Williams to handle
this.
Mayor Parker opened the Public Hearing on a minor subdivision
requested by Mr. Alex Kaplan (PIN 4- 1- 2 -4A). Mr. Kaplan
explained that he would like to have two single family units;
each lot is over 13,000 square feet. Mr. James LaFavor spoke in
favor of the petition. Chairman Richard Frankenhauser of the
Planning Commission stated that it was recommended for approval
by the Planning Commission. No one spoke against. Mayor Parker
closed the public hearing.
Mayor Parker opened the public hearing on a four foot setback
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variance for Faye Sparkman Stewart (PIN 4- 7- 15 -1). Mr. T. G.
Stewart explained that it was for escape in the event of a fire,
and would be wide enough for a wheelchair. Mrs. Roth, a neighbor
to the north, and Mr. Jim Lynes both said that they had no
objections to the request. The Planning Commission recommended
to deny because of no undue hardship. No one was present to
speak against the petition. Mayor Parker closed the hearing.
Mayor Parker reconvened a public hearing for Dr. S. Brancato,
postponed from the October meeting. He is petitioning for a
subdivision (PIN 4- 6- 17 -7). Attorney Steve McCusker asked that
the existing structure be subdivided contingent on the fire
wall's construction. City Marshal Chris Case stated that the
architects' plan show a full fire wall through the roof that
meets all requirements of the code. Councilman Brown questioned
the parking. Chris Case said that there were three parking
spaces for one unit and six or seven for the other. Mr. David
Rosensweig, Bob Kaminsky, and David Minkovitz spoke against the
petition. Chairman Richard Frankenhauser stated that the
Planning Commission recommended to deny. Mayor Parker closed the
hearing.
Mayor Parker open the meeting for business legally presented
to Council. Councilman Brown moved to table Dr. Brancato's
petition until the fire wall is complete. Councilman Day
seconded. Vote - two in favor; four opposed (Williams, Solomon,
Youmans, Locklear). Councilman Day moved to grant preliminary
approval subject to completion of fire wall. Councilman Youmans
seconded. Councilman Brown said that it is not good business.
Attorney Mahoney said there is a problem with a conditional
subdivision, but the City can withhold occupancy certification.
Councilman Day withdrew his motion. Councilman Youmans moved to
grant preliminary plat approval for subdivision. Councilman
Brown seconded. Attorney Thomas Mahoney stated that future
action by Council would be necessary to approve final plat, but
no public hearing would be needed at that time. Vote by Council
was unanimous.
Councilman Brown moved to approve the minor subdivision
petition by Alex Kaplan. Councilman Williams seconded. Vote by
Council was unanimous.
Councilman Solomon moved to approve setback variance request
by Faye Sparkman Stewart. Councilman Locklear seconded.
Councilman Youmans amended the motion to add that the stairs must
meet with fire escape codes. Vote on the amendment: five in
favor; one opposed (Locklear). Vote on motion: five in favor;
one opposed (Brown).
Linda Odum requested that the City children's Christmas
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Festival be combined with the Chamber of Commerce event at the
Tybee lighthouse. It was approved by consensus.
Burke Day announced that the Water /Sewer Department repaid
$23,000 owed to the General Government Fund. He thanked the men
in the field, the people in the accounting office, and Councilmen
Brown and Solomon for helping Water /Sewer to become financially
independent for the first time in 14 years.
The October 8th City Council meeting minutes were approved.
The October bills were approved.
Jeanne Hutton's petition from the Tybee Olympics
Beautification Committee was deferred to the December Council
meeting.
Tom Mahoney recommended that the Ante Litem Notice be denied.
Councilman Brown moved to deny. Councilman Locklear seconded.
Vote by Council was unanimous.
Councilman Locklear moved to make City Hall a non - smoking
facility as of January, 1993. Councilman Day seconded.
Councilman Youmans said he quit smoking in 1956 but he would be
opposed to this motion. Mayor Parker asked Councilman Locklear
if he would object to the Council studying the smoking issue.
Councilman Locklear withdrew the motion.
Mayor Parker noted that he and Councilman Youmans are
registered to attend The National League of Cities meeting.
Councilman Locklear said that the Mayor and Mayor Pro -Tem need to
designate someone to guide the City. Councilman Youmans stated
that "he and the Mayor were not elected to run the City day -to-
day, but to set policy. The City has department heads to handle
the day -to -day business." Mayor Parker said that Rowena or
Councilman Brown can sit in his seat November 27 - December 3.
Councilman Youmans moved to grant a Business license to Minnie
Clara Sherengo for a package shop. Councilman Brown seconded.
Vote by Council was unanimous.
Councilman Brown presented a written report of a Recreation
Committee meeting and moved to increase the cost of parking
meters from 50 cents to $1.00 and decals to $50.00. Councilman
Day seconded the motion and stated that the one market that makes
no impact on Tybee citizens is the day tripper, and an increase
in parking fees is a sensible way to up the City's income.
Councilman Williams stated that one of the biggest complaints has
to do with the volume of parking violation tickets doubling and
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cautioned that this could hurt tourism because visitors will be
required to carry rolls of quarters, but he will support the
motion because it will encourage people to buy decals.
Councilman Youmans stated that there are very few places to park,
as Councilman Williams knows. Councilman Brown said that the
increase in parking fees is justifiable because the City Firemen,
Policemen, First Responders and Lifeguards provide protection to
tourists and their vehicles as well as the city employees picking
up the trash left behind by visitors. Vote by Council was
unanimous.
Mayor Parker said that he would like to take Councilman Day
with him to negotiate with the school board. Councilman Williams
moved to empower the Mayor and Councilman Day to pursue this.
Councilman Brown seconded. Councilman Locklear agreed as long
as the results of any negotiations are brought before the
Council. Councilman Youmans said any negotiated documents would
have to be strictly a draft proposal. Vote by Council was
unanimous.
Tom Mahoney will look into the State Charter of the Downtown
Development Authority and advise the City as to whether the
City's charter can be revised with new appointments.
A petition from property owners on Atlantic Avenue was
discussed. Councilman Youmans said he is against giving
permission to put a fence on City property. The City passed a
Property Maintenance Ordinance that should take care of the
problem.
It was proposed that Steve Hendrix be appointed to the
Emergency Preparedness Committee. Approval by Council was
unanimous.
Mayor Parker said he has no objections to appointing a
citizens search committee to assist in the search for a police
chief. Councilman Youmans said that he stands firm that the
Council should do the search. He stated that 7 people were
elected to make decisions for the City, and the responsibility
should not be passed on to others. Councilman Day agreed to the
Search Committee. Councilman Williams said he would have no
problem with having some expert help. The Mayor said he will
take names for the Search Committee from Council.
Councilman Williams announced that Frank Murray has been
appointed as the chairman of the Pier Pavilion Committee.
Councilman Williams moved that the Council: (1) Officially
sanction the Tybee Island Pier & Pavilion Committee; (2)
Appropriate $500 in funds to Thomas & Hutton Engineering Company
to update their files in order to provide the committee with
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current cost estimates for the proposed design as well as
estimates for the scaled down version consisting of just a pier
and covered pavilion area. (3) Endorse the concept of updating
the feasibility /marketing study by empowering the committee to
execute requests for proposals for such updates for consideration
by the Tybee Island City Council and Chatham County Commission.
Councilman Youmans seconded. Motion passed without dissent.
Councilman Solomon said that one of Tybee's citizens will
represent the U.S. Weight Lifting Team at Taiwan. In the past
the City has sponsored baseball teams and athletics at GRPS and
the City should sponsor Cassie Clark, who is trying to raise
funds to compete. He requested an appropriation from the
Council. Councilman Youmans mentioned that something should be
done for the granddaughter of former Tybee Fire Chief, Vince
McCusker, who is also going. Councilman Locklear moved that the
City appropriate $250 each. Councilman Day seconded. Vote by
Council was unanimous.
Councilman Locklear urged the Council to read an article, by
the new DITT Commissioner, in the latest "Georgia Cities"
newspaper. The article discusses the obligation of local
government to make a unified effort under strong leadership so
that Georgia cities can move forward economically.
A third reading of a traffic ordinance suggested by DOT was
passed unanimously on motion of Councilman Brown, with a second
by Councilman Locklear.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 pm.
Mayor Walter W. Parker
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