HomeMy Public PortalAbout20200514MinutesCity Council Minutes, May 14, 2020
Consideration of Items for Consent Agenda
Mayor Sessions called the Consent Agenda to order at 6:30PM. Those attending via Zoom 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; and Janet LeViner, Clerk of Council.
Mayor Sessions listed the following items on the consent agenda:
Minutes, City Council Meeting, April 23, 2020
Notes, City Council Workshop, April 28, 2020
Beach Task Force Appointments
Cathy Lewis – Chair
Mark Padgett – Vice Chair
Frank Wooldridge
Helen Downing
Jimmy Burke
Harvey Ferrell
Joe Richardson
Kate Burnes
Cathy Sakas
Michael Foran
Sam Adams
Opening Ceremonies
Call to Order
Invocation: Rev Sue Jackson, Trinity Methodist Church
Pledge of Allegiance
Monty Parks made a motion to approve the consent agenda. Nancy DeVetter seconded. Vote was unanimous, 6-0
Consideration of Bids, Contracts, Agreements and Expenditures
Lease, American Tower, 78 Van Horn. Mr. Hughes stated the City has been approached by American Tower requesting the pole behind the Tybee Island Police Station lease terms be changed.
His recommendation at this point is not to do anything as the terms are favorable. Monty Parks made a motion to approve as written. Nancy DeVetter seconded. Vote was unanimous
to approve, 6-0.
Proposed Contract/Lease, Telecom Tower Rentals. Mr. Hughes stated this is a lease of a temporary tower and to construct the foundation. Staff has been working toward this end for some
time. The contract has been negotiated and is compliant with Georgia law and he is recommending approval. John Branigin made a motion to approve. Monty Parks seconded. Vote was
unanimous to approve, 6-0.
Street Sweeper Lease, Repurchase Agreement and Resolution. Dr. Gillen stated this is an agreement for a lease for the street sweeper and the maintenance would be done by the vendor.
Mr. Hughes stated the updated lease document is not in the current packet before Mayor and Council. He further stated the Repurchase Agreement will be approved when the Lease Agreement
is approved. He is asking Mayor and Council to authorize the Mayor to sign documents once approved by the City Manager, City Engineer and himself. All final documents will be
compliant with Georgia law. Mr. Parks confirmed with Dr. Gillen this is time sensitive as the streets are in need of attention due to sand and trash. Spec Hosti made a motion to approve
the Mayor signing the documents once finalized. Barry Brown seconded. Vote was unanimous to approve, 6-0.
National Fish and Wildlife Agreement and Resolution. Mayor Sessions stated this agenda item is part of the $5M Grant. Dr. Gillen stated Alan Robertson is on the call and will explain
the Agreement. Alan Robertson joined the meeting. Mr. Robertson stated the City applied for the National Fish and Wildlife Grant last summer and was awarded the Grant in November
2019. The Agreement has been received and he is asking for approval. The Grant is for $125,000 and also commits to spend the balance of the project costs, $175,000. The total project
is $300,000 which is a yearlong project to assess options to mitigate flooding on the Back River and will be undertaken by the University of Georgia. He has the draft agreement that
is being reviewed by the University of Georgia and hoping to have finalized and will bring to Mayor and Council on May 28, 2020. Tybee’s share of this project is $175,000 which is
budgeted under the DCA Agreement. Mr. Parks asked if the $175,000 is on a reimbursement basis. Mr. Robertson confirmed. Mayor pro tem Brown asked how the gaps will be filled. Mr.
Robertson stated it is the agreement with UGA they will do the analysis and bring a plan to the City. It is his intention to have an advisory board made up of the Beach Task Force
and others so residents will have direct input. Mayor pro tem Brown expressed his concerns with the area around Alley 3 as there was a great deal of water on Chatham Avenue during
a recent hurricane. Mr. Robertson confirmed. Mayor Sessions thanked Mr. Robertson for his hard work and in developing relationships with parties that are critical to the success of
these projects. Monty Parks made a motion to approve. Jay Burke seconded. Vote was unanimous to approve, 6-0.
Budget Amendment to Cover Shortages in Service Contracts and Telephone/Internet Costs from various accounts. Dr. Gillen stated this agenda item as the funds were not projected in the
current budget. Monty Parks made a motion to approve. John Branigin seconded. Vote was unanimous to approve, 6-0.
Consideration of Ordinances, Resolution
Second Reading, 2020-03, Administrative Fine, Municipal Beach Rules. Monty Parks stated the intent of this proposed ordinance is to cover some of the beach issues: dogs on beach; glass
on the beach; litter; being in the dunes; smoking on the beach; fires on the beach; and some talk about the sandbar violations. By taking this from the TIPD there could be better enforcement
on the beach. Initially he feels the fines could start at $50.00 a ticket but feels it should be $100.00 per ticket. Mr. Hosti confirmed as it will provide the TIPD officers more
time to take care of more serious violations. Dr. Gillen stated Mayor and Council would set the fines and tickets would have to be ordered. He continued, this is the first order of
the Administrative Services of the TIPD which used to be Code Enforcement, Animal Control and Beach Patrol. It now would become the Administrative Services Division and will put additional
staff on the beach. Ms. DeVetter asked if the current costs could be used. Dr. Gillen responded there are only a couple of fines that are currently set which include court costs.
Mr. Parks indicated with the Administrative Services violations, they would not be heard by the Tybee Island Judge which would preclude the possibility of the violation being dismissed
and no fines collected. Mayor pro tem Brown recommended not lowering the fines as this is a way to enforce the beach rules. Mr. Burke recommended the fines need to be high. Mr. Hughes
confirmed this is considered an administrative penalty, a civil penalty that is handled much like a parking ticket; an administrative procedure which could be appealed to the City Manager
as this is not a police event. Mr. Parks and Ms. DeVetter expressed their concerns with the amount of violations with dogs on the beach and suggested many residents may receive violations.
Mayor pro tem Brown stated he would