HomeMy Public PortalAbout20200227Minutes-2 (1).docxCity Council Minutes, February 27, 2020
Consideration of Items for Consent Agenda 6:30
Mayor Sessions called the Consent Agenda to order at 6:31PM. She announced that city attorney advised council needs to pass an ordinance before council could officially start its meetings
at 6:30PM, and would do so tonight. Those present were Jay Burke, Monty Parks, John Branigin, Barry Brown, Nancy DeVetter and Spec Hosti. Also attending were Shawn Gillen, City Manager;
Bubba Hughes, City Attorney; George Shaw, Director, Community Development; and Michelle Owens, substituting for Jan LeViner, Clerk of Council.
Mayor Sessions listed the following items on the consent agenda:
Minutes, City Council Meeting, February 13, 2020 as amended
Minutes, City Council Meeting/Workshop February 19, 2020
Ethics Commission appointments
Ben Goggins (incumbent)
James McNaughton (incumbent)
Out of State Travel, Michelle Owens. Attend National Main Street Conference, May 18 - 20, 2020. Line Item 100-7300-52-3500, $1,600.
Out of State Travel, Jan LeViner, Clerk, attend the IIMC Conference, St. Louis, MO, May 16 - 20, 2020. Line Item 1130-52-3500, approximate cost $1,000.
Budget adjustment to cover shortage in the Animal Control personnel budget.
Statewide Mutual Aid and Assistance Agreement from GEMA
Purchase of New Lifeguard Stands - Authorization to Purchase and Budget Amendment - $132,100.00
Purchase of Clarifier - Budget Amendment - $600,000 from 505-0000-39-1300 to 505-4310-54-1400
Purchase parts to install into the existing clarifier that is currently non-operational. Budget Adjustment from various accounts to Line Items 505-4310-52-2205 and 505-4310-52-1310
Public Education and Government Channel Upgrade - For Approval - Purchased From 100-1535-52-1300 and 100-1535-53-1600. $25,000Debris removal standby RFP
Budget Adjustment from Beach Re-nourishment line item to cover Contract Labor and Infrastructure Lines for Dune Restoration, $900,000. (Reimbursable Expenses from DCA Grant
Shawn Gillen: Setting Price for Virtual Parking Decal at $300.00 - Action Item
Mayor Sessions tabled the following items for a future meeting:
Shawn Gillen: Wellness Program Description
Jan LeViner: Voter Rolls
Secure Records Solutions, LLC: Hard Copy Storage, Thomasville, GA
Mayor Sessions called the regular meeting to order at 7PM. All those present for the consent agenda were present.
Opening Ceremonies
Call to order
Pledge of Allegiance
Invocation: Michelle Owens, City of Tybee
Announcements
Tybee Island Maritime Academy (TIMA) approved to add grades 6,7 and 8
Tybee St. Patrick’s Day Parade is March 14
CENSUS 2020 is coming up. Please be counted.
Recognitions
Recognition of the US Army COE, Savannah River District for work on beach renourishment.
Mayor Sessions asked everyone to watch the beach renourishment presentation on the monitors. She then called Spencer Davis to the podium to thank him and present a memory box of Tybee
sand to him. Mr. Davis expressed his gratitude working for the last seven years with Tybee Island and the great partnership Tybee Island has with the USCOE. Mayor Sessions recognized
former mayor Jason Buelterman for his role in beach renourishment. Mayor Sessions thanked Mackie McIntosh, who was absent. She then called Josh Nickel, to present a memory box of sand
as thanks and congratulated him on a promotion that will move him to Atlanta. Mayor Sessions called Burt Moore forward to present a memory box of sand and explained that he has been
involved in Tybee’s project for many years, and thanked him for his role. Burt Moore recognized and thanked city staff, as well as a new USACOE employee, Emily Wortman, who was absent.
Janice Elliott introduced Robyn Rosner as City of Tybee Employee of the Year for 2019. Ms. Rosner has been with the city for two years and also received the 2019 Employee of the Quarter
award. The award is for employees who have made significant contributions to their department or the City of Tybee. Ms. Rosner has made significant contributions as Facilities Coordinator
in the Planning and Zoning Department. Mayor Sessions presented Ms. Rosner with a plaque.
Disclosures and Recusals
Mayor Sessions stated that Council will address disclosures and recusals during discussion agenda.
Tybee Island Youth Council
Members of the youth council approached Mayor and Council with an update on their activities. Crystal Travaille informed Mayor and Council that the youth were present in chambers talk
about their recent trip to Atlanta and a resolution presented to Senator Ben Watson ideas to improve the city dog park and support of a beach smoking ban. Peyton Kinkel updated Council
on their visits with legislators Ben Watson and Jesse Petrea in Atlanta and team bonding activities at an escape room. Trey Travaille read the resolution that was presented to Senator
Watson urging the Georgia Department of Transportation to complete the widening of US Highway 80/State Road 26 and replacing the Bull River and Lazaretto Creek bridges. LeMaya Simmons
reported that youth council members traveled to Atlanta on Jan. 30, 2020 for Savannah-Chatham Day at the state capitol. They posed for photographs with Governor Brian Kemp and took a
tour of CNN. She thanked City Clerk Jan LeViner and parent volunteers for making the trip possible. Henry Holton shared the youth council’s ideas for upgrading the city dog park. Their
ideas included adding trees, benches, sod and dog obstacles that would be purchased by holding fundraisers. Waylon Pederson shared the youth council’s proposal to ban smoking and vaping
on the beach. The ban would be enforced by flying six monitored drones over the beach. Those in violation of the no smoking ordinance would get a warning the first time and a $50 fine
the second time. The fine would double for repeat offenders. The youth council voted unanimously at its meeting to support the ban. Monty Parks asked youth council to research a water
feature that dogs could splash in and bring their recommendations to Council. Mayor Sessions thanked Jan LeViner who was not present, Haley Hill, YMCA Director and all who help make
the Youth Council a success.
Citizens to be Heard
Mr. Dana Johnson, 1101 Bay Street, asked city to reconsider its permitting and licensing process for beach equipment rentals. Mr. Johnson said a city ordinance allows incumbents to hold
a permit and presents a closed loop that prevents others from an opportunity to bid competitively. He asked if the city would open the process for a competitive RFT or rewrite the ordinance.
Mayor Session stated the issue has come up before and was dismissed without action. The code is still in place unless a council members wants to put it on the agenda again. City Attorney
Bubba Hughes said the issue was raised twice last year. The last time it came up a motion was passed, with the mayor breaking the tie, to work on an ordinance that would not be in place
until 2021. Council will receive a proposal from City Attorney in the spring. Mr. Hughes will send Council the items he has worked on in the past and wait for its direction.
Ms. Karen Kelly, Beachview Inn & Spa, approached Council with other Tybee Island Maritime (TIMA) supporters. She announced that the Girl’s Nite Inn fundraiser raised $6,000 for TIMA
and thanked everyone for their support. TIMA principal Peter Ulrich said the funds will go toward a new 3D fabrication lab for the school’s maker space.
Marianne Bramble, 215 Lovell Avenue, expressed concern for how a smoking ban at designated beach areas would be implemented and enforced. She questioned if a designated marshal or police
officer would be assigned. Monty Parks stated that he was already planning to address those questions when that item came up on the agenda. Mayor Sessions reiterated that they would
address those at the appropriate time in the meeting.
Julie Livingston, 801 First Street, spoke against an increase in the cost of parking passes for non-Tybee residents from $150 to $200 due to the impact it would have on local businesses
like her golf cart rental business. She spent $18,000 purchasing passes for the golf carts at her business, which is a significant cost. The cost increase will cost her $6,000. She
also stated the “non-resident” label is misleading because she is a resident. She said businesses are purchasing parking passes for employees, so it will effect more than just