HomeMy Public PortalAbout20200312Minuteshome3.docxCity Council Minutes, March 12, 2020
Consideration of Items for Consent Agenda
Mayor Sessions called the Consent Agenda to order at 6:30PM. Those present were Jay Burke, Monty Parks, John Branigin, Barry Brown, Nancy DeVetter and Spec Hosti. Also attending were
Dr. Shawn Gillen, City Manager; Bubba Hughes, City Attorney; George Shaw, Director, Community Development; and Janet LeViner, Clerk of Council.
Mayor Sessions listed the following items on the consent agenda:
Minutes, City Council Meeting, February 27, 2020
Out-of-State Travel: Captain Hayes, Lt Randolph and Major Fobes, Orlando, Florida, March 3 - 6, 2020. Approval needed in retrospect
Out-of-State Travel, Joel Fobes, July 4 - 24, 2020, Boston University, Boston Mass.
Out-of-State Travel, Captain Hayes, FBI Academy, Quantico, VA. March 30 - June 5, 2020. She will be driving a marked patrol car for the training.
Approval Contract, Secure Records Solutions, LLC.
Lease, Tybee Island Marine Science Center. Mr. Hughes confirmed changes per Mayor and Council have been included to include (1) the name remaining Tybee Island Marine Science Center
and (2) one five (5) year renewal term. He would like it in the record the contract has been approved.
Standby Contract for Disaster Debris Recovery Services with Crowder Gulf to be signed by Mayor and City Attorney
Budget Amendment to cover cost of Classification and Compensation Study
Shawn Gillen: Confirmation, Jen Amerell, Finance Director
Monty Parks made a motion to adjourn to Executive Session to discuss Litigation and Real Estate Acquisition. Barry Brown seconded. Vote was unanimous to approve, 6-0.
Monty Parks made a motion to adjourn and return to regular session. Spec Hosti seconded. Vote was unanimous to approve, 6-0.
Mayor Sessions called the regular meeting to order at 7:00PM. All those present for the consent agenda were present.
Opening Ceremonies
Call to Order
Invocation: Ken Douberly, St. Michaels Parrish
Pledge of Allegiance
Citizens to be Heard. Mayor Sessions invited the public to voice their thoughts regarding the upcoming Irish Heritage Parade.
Jay Burke recused from discussions
Fran Galloway approached Mayor and Council to speak against moving forward with the Irish Heritage Parade
Ted Ward approached Mayor and Council to speak against moving forward with the Irish Heritage Parade
Donna Wilson approached Mayor and Council to speak in favor of moving forward with the Irish Heritage Parade
Diane Scarwood approached Mayor and Council to speak against moving forward with the Irish Heritage Parade
Diane Hollis approached Mayor and Council to speak in favor of moving forward with the Irish Heritage Parade
Dotty Kluttz approached Mayor and Council to speak in favor of moving forward with the Irish Heritage Parade
Steve Marlay approached Mayor and Council to speak in favor of moving forward with the Irish Heritage Parade.
Monty Parks made a motion to postpone the Irish Heritage Parade and work with other communities on another date. Nancy DeVetter seconded. Mr. Parks read from a prepared statement recommending
the City of Tybee coordinate with our partners in Savannah and support a decision to hold the parade at a later date. He further recommended the coordinators of the parades not rely
on the council vote but rather join in with other cities and acknowledge a possible public safety issue. Mr. Parks also stated the parade poses an unnecessary risk to our residents
and businesses and will be putting our servers, cooks, bartenders and any other workers in our service industry at risk. Mayor pro tem Brown gave statics regarding the virus as to
those who have been infected and deaths. He is not in favor of cancelling the parade. Ms. DeVetter stated she agrees with Mr. Parks in postponing the parade. She stated Tybee is
not immune to the virus. Ms. DeVetter recommended the City follow the recommendations of the CDC and follow good medical advice in protecting their citizens. She feels we are taking
an unnecessary risk by having the parade and the City has a responsible to our citizens to put their health and safety first. She is in favor of postponing the parade. Mr. Branigin
made reference to the weather for the upcoming weekend where every restaurant and bar will be full and how is the parade different. The City cannot close the beach, close the bridge,
and stay in our homes. It will not make a difference. Mayor Sessions stated this is a very difficult decision for the Mayor and Council and it is important to remember Mayor and Council
are trying to balance the health issues, safety issues and traffic. Our first priority, no matter how you define it is public safety. Voting in favor were Monty Parks and Nancy DeVetter.
Voting against were John Branigin, Barry Brown and Spec Hosti. Vote was 3-2 to deny. Motion failed.
John Branigin made a motion to move forward with the Irish Heritage Parade as scheduled. Spec Hosti seconded. Voting in favor were John Branigin, Barry Brown and Spec Hosti. Voting
against were Monty Parks and Nancy DeVetter. Motion to move forward with the Irish Heritage Parade approved 3-2.
Jay Burke returned to his seat.
Tim Arnold approached Mayor and Council representing Tybee Clean Beach Volunteers. Mr. Arnold spoke on the litter ordinance, enforcement and the civil fines which allows Code Enforcement
Officers to walk the beach. He applauds that the Mayor and Council have moved forward with a smoke free beach imitative when the beach was re-nourished, $15M of clean sand. We also
need to have renewed education and an ordinance to be effective. Mr. Arnold expressed his concerns with the proposed ordinance as to the enforcement. He stated we do not need additional
rules and he encourages Mayor and Council to try the approach of a smoke free beach for a year. The Clean Beach Volunteers will continue to clean the beach and work with Code Enforcement.
Mayor Sessions thanked Mr. Arnold and the Volunteers for everything they do to keep the beach clean.
Monty Parks made a motion to approve the consent agenda. Jay Burke seconded. Vote was unanimous, 6-0.
Public Hearings
Site Plan and Variance: consideration of two foot setback and reduction of required square footage for a duplex on lot: Lot 325 on Naylor Avenue, Zone R-T, Pin: 40020 05005, Christa
Rader. George Shaw approached Mayor and Council. Mr. Shaw stated Mack Kitchens presented for Ms. Rader at the recent Planning Commission Meeting explaining their request for setbacks.
The Planning Commission recommended denial of the petition, 5-0. Staff recommends denial as well. Mr. Shaw stated the lot is large but not large enough for a duplex per the City’s
ordinance. Mr. Hosti asked Mr. Shaw if the petitioner has sufficient land for a duplex. Mr. Shaw responded no. The petitioner is asking for a variance to reduce the required sq.
ft. to build a duplex and a setback variance. Margaret Lewin approached Mayor and Council. Ms. Lewin stated her property abuts the property in question and she would as Mayor and
Council vote to deny. She further expressed her concerns with a duplex being in her neighbor and the increased traffic. Monty Parks made a motion to deny. John Branigin seconded.
Vote was unanimous to deny, 6-0.
Special Review: adding a temporary modular building on south side of City Hall, 403 Butler Avenue, Pin: 40004 21001, Zone PC: City of Tybee Island. George Shaw approached Mayor and
Council. Mr. Shaw stated the modular building would be used for offices and will be on the south side of City Hall between City Hall and the library. This would be temporary until
such time as a more permanent solution could be agreed upon. The Planning Commission voted to approve, 5-1. Staff has also recommended approval. Mr. Parks asked Mr. Shaw if this would
allow for a second story on the modular building. Mr. Shawn responded no. Mr. Hosti stated the City needs a municipal building. Spec Hosti made a motion to approve. Monty Parks
seconded. Vote was unanimous to approve, 6-0.
Variance: Consideration of request for setback variances of 4'9" on west side, 10'3" on north side, 2' on south side for primary structure and a variance of 12' for stairs on south
side: 10 Robinson Ave, Zone R-1: Pin 40002 08005: Joseph Mikielian. George Shaw approached Mayor and Council. Mr. Shaw stated the lot has been before Mayor and Council at least
three times and the reason the petitioner is asking for such specific variances as there is an existing foundation and they would like to use that same foundation. Staff is recommending