HomeMy Public PortalAbout19930114CCMeeting1
1
1
1993- 01 -14. City Council Minutes, Jan. 93
The Tybee Island City Council held its regular monthly meeting
on Thursday, January 14, 1993 at Tybee City Hall Auditorium at 7:30
p.m. with Mayor Walter W. Parker presiding. The following members
of Council were present: Burke Day, Ansley Williams, Jimmy Brown,
Chris Solomon, Jack Youmans and Pat Locklear.
Councilman Day gave the Invocation, followed by the Pledge of
Allegiance, led by Mayor Parker.
Mayor Parker introduced Berta Adams, Chairman of the Tybee
Island Beach Task Force, who said she had come in order to open the
lines of communication between the Task Force and the City Fathers.
She told the Council that the group is investigating new
technologies. She introduced Dr. Stuart Stevens who explained the
state permitting process and the status of the upcoming beach
renourishment project. He then introduced
Mr. Phillip Flournoy, the Director of the Georgia Coastal Zone
Management Program. He gave the history of the federal program and
said that the state is looking into joining. Mayor Parker is a
member of an 18- member committee set up to look into CZM.
Mayor Parker then introduced Thomas J. Mahoney, III, sitting
tonight as our City Attorney.
Mayor Parker announced a citizens' award for Mr. Gary Morelli
for assistance to the city forces during a fire at the Sands Motel.
Mr. Morelli was not present.
It was announced that Mr. Allen Hendrix has formally withdrawn
his rezoning petition for PIN # 4 -1 -8 -1 & 4- 2 -5 -1. He will reapply
at a later date.
Mrs. Rose Meighan, petitioner for a sideyard variance, was
next, represented by a nephew in the absence of her sister, Mrs.
Mary McAfee. It was noted that the intrusion is between the two
sisters' homes, and the hardship is the handicap of the petitioner.
Due to her slowness of movement, Mrs. Meighan needs a covered area
from house to car for the sake of her health. It was further noted
that the Planning Commission recommends approval.
Mr. Richard Gross petitioned for a variance in parking
requirements for 301 First Street. He explained that he wants to
add to his 20- year -old business there with retail space and
rental units above. He said he has amended the plans to reduce the
number of required spaces. He said there is no traffic problem
because the land is adjacent to an existing light. He said the
uses will be: one or more offices, 3 or less shops, and 3
apartments above. Ansley Williams asked if he has any tenants yet,
and Mr. Gross said he has one office reserved, and that he knows he
will have no problem renting the apartments. Mr. Gross said he
1
1
1
1
believes the ordinance might serve business at the busiest time of
the year, but Tybee doesn't hold enough parking anywhere for 4th of
July, etc. He said parking along Jones Street might be about 5
feet onto city right -of -way, similar to that of the Tybee Realty
complex. Carl Thompson, who drew the plans for the project, said
the plans are for presentation only and construction plans would be
required before a building permit can be granted. Jack Youmans
asked if the lot was not named as parking for the Sugar Shack when
it was enlarged in 1986 and Richard Gross answered "No ".
Handicapped parking will be needed, too, to meet federal law.
Chris Case indicated that the 1984 plot plan isn't up -to -date,
since more recent additions have been made. Richard Gross said he
is only 4 or 5 spaces out of compliance and is requesting a
variance for those. No one spoke from the audience. There were no
written communications.
The meeting was opened for business legally presented. It was
unanimously agreed, on motion of Councilman Locklear, seconded by
Councilman Williams, to go into executive session to discuss the
recommendation of the Police Committee who sent two names forward
for the Council's consideration in the hiring of a police chief.
Mayor Parker spoke to the Council saying they have the
opportunity to do the right thing and make a difference for Tybee.
He said anyone reading the applications will realize who is better
qualified to do the job. Councilman Youmans disagreed citing
Stallings' lack of street experience and saying that 98% of the
people of Tybee support Jimmy Price, including church people and
those on the streets. He said Price has served three months under
very trying conditions and deserves a chance. Councilman Day said
that weighing everything he believes Price to be a likable guy, but
the odds clearly fall in favor of Mr. Stillings. He suggested that
Mr. Stillings' credentials as a leader would attract the type of
patrol officers we haven't gotten in the past, saying that there
are no blemishes on this man's record.
Mayor Parker said that the hometown people don't know
any candidate but Jimmy Price, so their reaction is predictable.
Councilman Locklear said he considers himself a hometowner since he
was born here, and if the hometowners want someone from the island,
he nominates Jimmy Brown as the most qualified local person.
Councilman Williams said he would like that. Councilman Brown
declined. Mayor Parker said he'd like to see a unanimous vote out
there. Councilman Youmans said he definitely wouldn't make it
unanimous if he doesn't like the way the vote turns out. No
consensus was reached, and the executive session ended.
The Council reconvened its public meeting. Mayor Parker
apologized to the audience for the delay and offered visitors a
chance to speak. Mrs. Marion Dean spoke to tell the Council that
Jimmy Price doesn't know her, but she'd fight to keep him chief.
1
1
1
Councilman Locklear said his calls have been a 50/50 split,
but considering qualifications, he moved that Mr. Stallings be
appointed. Councilman Day seconded. The vote was 2 - 4
(Councilmen Youmans, Williams, Brown and Solomon) and the motion
was defeated. Councilman Youmans then moved that Jimmy Price be
appointed Chief. With a second by Councilman Brown, the motion
passed by a unanimous vote. Mayor Parker congratulated Chief
Price, saying that the City Council is behind him 100% and will
expect great things of him.
Minutes for the meetings of November 12th & December 10th were
approved.
Bills for December, 1992 were approved as follows: Police -
$8,178.27; Recreation - $2,214.91, Parking - $1,020.60; Lifeguards
- $47.47; Fire - $3,739.91, First Responder - $34.22; Public Works
- $9,829.15; Sanitation - $20,620.45; General Government -
$25,987.49 (includes final payment on NCR computer which is being
scrapped); Special Appropriations - $6,432.30; and Water /Sewer -
$15,848.37. Councilman Williams congratulated Jack Burton and the
Recycling Committee who accomplished a lot with costs of only $718
in 1992.
Councilman Locklear offered a citywide no- smoking policy for
consideration and moved that it be adopted on 2/1/93. Councilman
Brown seconded for purposes of discussion. Councilman Solomon
offered an alternate date of 3/1/93 which was acceptable to all.
The motion to adopt the citywide no- smoking policy effective 3/1/93
was adopted by a vote of 5 - 1 with Councilman Youmans casting the
dissenting vote.
Councilman Locklear offered for consideration the idea that
the Police Chief be given the right to hire and fire. Councilman
Youmans said that if this is done it should be done for all
departments, not just police. He added that some may not
understand the form of government the city operates under - that is
the committee form of government in which each department is
handled by a committee of councilmembers. He said some mayors have
thought they were the whole government but this isn't so.
Councilman Williams read a report from the engineers
concerning the pier /pavilion project. This was accepted as
information.
Councilman Locklear moved that the variance for Mrs. Rose
Meighan be approved due to hardship and Councilman Youmans
seconded. The vote was unanimous.
Councilman Day moved that the Richard Gross petition be
returned to Planning Commission for their evaluation of the plan
changes and reconsideration and Councilman Locklear seconded. The
vote was unanimous in favor.
1
1
1
Councilman Day said he has two bids - one for a vehicle and
one for a building - for the water /sewer department that will be
rebid and brought back later for Council's consideration.
Councilman Brown said he has requests for two parade permits
and moved to grant an exclusive permit to the Beach Bums for their
activities on the weekend of May 21 and 22, 1993 and that no other
group permits be sanctioned for those dates. Councilman Locklear
seconded and the vote was unanimous in favor.
Councilman Brown then moved (seconded again by Councilman
Locklear) that the Fourth Quarter be granted a parade permit for
January 31st, the day of the Superbowl. This will be a small
parade of about half -a -dozen vehicles decorated in the colors of
the Superbowl teams. The vote was unanimous in favor.
A rewrite of Code Sections 8- 2 -11(c) and 4-2-23(c) intended to
clarify and simplify the firewall provisions of the local code was
tabled until the next meeting on motion of Councilman Youmans,
seconded by Councilman Locklear. The motion passed with no
dissent.
Councilman Solomon led a discussion about the planning
commission possibly being unhappy with the Council for sending back
the Gross petition after their recommendation to disapprove.
Councilman Youmans said he thinks it shows respect for the planning
commission since it gives them an opportunity to study the changes.
Councilman Solomon said he thought the code might be too stringent.
Councilman Brown said that he wants to inform Council about
the use of the Community House though no vote will be needed. The
city attorney ruled that the Quaker Meeting can be held in a city
building, and that a religious group should be treated just the
same as any other group. Councilman Youmans feels that groups
should apply once a month for use during the upcoming month and
that reservations be made a month at a time on a first -come, first-
served basis. This will allow people who want to use the facility
for a reunion or birthday party or shower to have an opportunity to
do so. As it is now, the facility is almost completely booked for
the whole year.
The meeting adjourned.
Clerk of Counc