HomeMy Public PortalAbout20200618MinutesCity Council Minutes, June 18, 2020
Mayor Sessions called the Consent Agenda to order at 6:30PM, June 18, 2020. Those in attendance were Jay Burke, Monty Parks, John Branigin, Barry Brown, Spec Hosti and Nancy DeVetter.
Also attending were Dr. Shawn Gillen, City Manager; Edward Hughes, City Attorney; Tracy O’Connell, EPRA Law; George Shaw, Director, Community Development; and Jan LeViner, Clerk of
Council.
Mayor Sessions added the following to the Consent Agenda:
Minutes, City Council Meeting, May 28, 2020
Cate Campbell, Appointment to Main Street Board of Directors
County/Wide Canal Maintenance Program, Chatham County Department of Public Works
Purchase of Diesel Bypass Pumps to the low bidder, Xylem Dewatering Solutions, for the amount of $425,772.90.
Budget Amendment: Funds needed to cover EOM and Korkat Invoices through year-end. Funds needed to cover invoices from Atlantic Waste for Main Yard Trash. Funds transferred from 100-4250-54-2100,
Machinery and Equipment to Contract Labor; Site Improvements and main yard/dump in the amount of $39,700.
Water Rate Study and Adjustment of water/sewer fees to fund water projects. DISCUSSION: Sent to Finance Committee for their recommendation and to be brought back in sixty (60) days.
Monty Parks asked them to consider a GEFA loan for two clarifiers for the sewer upgrade project for Officer’s Row.
Opening Ceremonies
Call to Order
Invocation: Susan Hill, All Saints Episcopal Church
Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Sessions asked Lenny Panzitta to the podium to take the Oath of Municipal Judge Pro tem, Tybee Island Municipal Court. Mayor Sessions administered the Oath of Office and thanked
Judge Panzitta for his service to Tybee Island.
Citizens to be Heard
Pat Leiby: Future of the Old School and Old School Cafeteria (attached). Ms. Leiby approached Mayor and Council expressing her concerns regarding the possibility of Tybee Island Maritime
Academy (TIMA) using the Old School facilities other than the Tybee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and Archives Room. Mayor pro tem Brown responded, TIMA has the TEMA and the Archives
Room. Room 6 and Cafeteria have not been designated to TIMA for their use. Dr. Gillen confirmed there is a Memorandum of Understanding with TIMA that they have the use of the two
rooms, TEMA and Archives Rooms. Mayor Sessions thanked Ms. Leiby for her comments.
Pamela Lossing: Traffic and dust problems on a portion of Solomon Avenue (attached). Ms. Lossing approached Mayor and Council and expressed her concerns regarding the dangerous traffic
situation on Solomon. Ms. Lossing also expressed her concerns with TIMA using other facilities at the Old School complex other than the TEMA and Archives Rooms. Mayor Sessions thanked
Ms. Lossing for her comments.
Deb Baber: TIMA and the YMCA (attached). Ms. Baber approached Mayor and Council and expressed her concerns with the use of the YMCA by TIMA. Mayor Sessions thanks Ms. Baber for her
comments.
Julie Livingston: Golf Carts. Ms. Livingston approached Mayor and Council to discuss the restrictions she places on guests that rent golf carts from Tybee Golf Carts. She gives each
visitor a map showing where they can cross Butler, discusses underage drivers, and the general “rules of
the road”. If there are infractions, the cart is retrieved from the renter and they are ban from ever renting again. Ms. Livingston stated she pays full price for parking decals for
her carts (115) and would ask Mayor and Council if they see infractions to please contact her directly. Also, she has purchased electric carts as they are more environmental friendly
than gas. She currently has approximately 76 electric carts and 39 gas carts. Mayor pro tem Brown thanked Ms. Livingston for running such a good business.
Amy Gaster: STVR’s. Ms. Gaster approached Mayor and Council to discuss STVR’s enforcement. Ms. Gaster stated she has received many letters from her owners regarding STVR’s enforcement.
She stated the original goal of the STVR ordinance was to have compliance with registration, noise, and complaints. Ms. Gaster stated there is a better system in place currently for
compliance. She further discussed the possible increase in STVR registration fees which would fund the staffing of additional Code Enforcement Officers. Mayor Sessions thanked Ms.
Gaster for her comments.
Roger Huff: Better information in the packet. Mr. Huff stated he is an owner of a STVR’s which he managers. He requested better information be included in the agenda packet to support
the agenda items. Mr. Huff expressed his concerns with the purchase of the Host Compliance Software as it will be paid for by the possible increase of registration fees from STVR’s.
Tonya Huff: STVR’s. Ms. Huff expressed her concerns with the possible increase in the STVR’s registration. Mayor Sessions thanked Mr. and Mrs. Huff for their comments. She also clarified
the agenda items as they are for discussion only and not for a vote (STVR Enforcement). Mayor Sessions stated prior to a vote that would impact the citizens and their livelihood, there
will be sufficient data in the packet.
Keith Gay: STVR’s. Mr. Gay approached Mayor and Council to the Disorderly House Ordinance as it applies to STVR’s. He stated the management companies on the Island know how to locate
STVR’s that are not legally registered with the City and would ask City leaders and Staff to contact them for assistance. He does not believe purchasing the Host Compliance Software
will solve the problem of illegal STVR’s on the Island. Mayor Sessions thanked Mr. Gay for his comments.
Eddie Matias: STVR’s and Pool moratorium (attached). Mr. Matias approached Mayor and Council to express his concerns with a possible pool moratorium as he has a STVR’s and would like
to put a pool at the property. He asked Mayor and Council to take into consideration not putting a moratorium on pools. Mayor Sessions thanked Mr. Matias.
Joel Clackum: Over taxing residents. Mr. Clackum approached Mayor and Council and expressed his concerns with the possible increase with STVR’s registration. He explained this is
cost prohibited to many STVR owners and would be counter productive in making Tybee a more thoughtful and inviting vacation destination.
Jenny Rutherford: STVR’s (attached). Ms. Rutherford approached Mayor and Council to express her concerns regarding the possible raising of STVR’s registration fees to support the increase
in staffing for Code Enforcement. She would ask Mayor and Council not pass a moratorium on pools as this increases the property value of the STVR’s as well as residential homes. Ms.
Rutherford also expressed her concerns with the possible increase in the parking decal. Dr. Gillen clarified the $350 cost of a parking decal applies to the electronic virtual pass
that can be share with multiple vehicles. Mayor Sessions stated this option is a choice and not a requirement. She thanked Ms. Rutherford for her comments.
Henry Morgan: STVR’s. Mr. Morgan approached Mayor and Council to express his concerns with the possible increase in STVR’s registration fees and the possible moratorium on pools.
He stated there have been many workshops with STVR’s owners and Mayor and Council to work on a policy for compliance. Mayor Sessions thanked Mr. Morgan.
Julia Pearce: STVR’s and Zoning. Ms. Pearce approached Mayor and Council to revisit zoning for STVR’s as there are STVR’s all over the Island. She recommended Planning and Zoning
Office need to fix the zoning of STVR’s. She stated all residents need to live in unity as that is what