HomeMy Public PortalAbout19980625CCMeeting1
1998 -06 -2S City Council Minutes
Mayor Pro Tem Donald E. Anderson, Jr, called the June 25, 1998 Council
meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. with the following members of Council present: Ed
Merves, Jack Youmans, Michael A. Hosti and Mallory Pearce. City Attorney Edward
Hughes was present to guide Council on legal issues.
Councilmember Ed Merves gave the invocation with the Pledge of Allegiance
following.
Ms. Sally Keller addressed Council on her concerns about the dune disturbance at
the Public Fishing Pier on the Back River. Ms. Keller said that the steps from the pier are
directly in the dunes. Zoning Administrator Byers said that she and Tom Miller of DNR
went and inspected and there is vegetation growing under the pier. Ms. Keller said that
she is requesting snow fencing from the City to protect the dunes. Youmans stated that
steps were the requirement from DNR in order to build the pier. Denny McNeely said
that the steps could be moved 30 to 40 feet towards the water. Ms. Keller said that
healthy dunes help stop erosion. Ms. Keller said any help from the City would be
appreciated. Pearce asked Farmer to give his ideas on this issue to Council. Ms. Keller
said that Farmer has been down to the area and is aware of her concerns. Farmer
responded by saying that the research has not been done as of this date. Pearce asked
Farmer to have a report ready for the July 9th Council meeting. Pearce also asked about
giving Ms. Keller some snow fencing. Farmer said that it would be illegal to do so.
McNeely stated that he would be glad to purchase the fence.
Mayor Pro Tem Anderson opened the meeting for business legally presented to
Council. Pearce moved to accept the June 1 lth minutes as presented. Hosti seconded.
Vote by Council was unanimous.
Assistant City Manager Rowena Fripp presented the revised version of the Capital
Improvement Plan stating that the last two pages are from the prior CIP. Fripp asked
Council to look over the information carefully and to address any question to Farmer or
Fripp. Merves questioned the tennis court renovation stating that it has been in prior
budgets, but there has been nothing done to date. Fripp said that Recreation Director D.J.
Cameron was in the process of getting a price. Pearce questioned the GMA Lease
Purchase - telephones. Fripp explained that the city wide system had cost over $40,000
and that the $13,000 listed will be the last payment. Merves said that the 1997 money
listed is money we actually spent. Fripp answered yes, but that she has not checked over
the figures and she is learning the lotus program with the help of System Manager Vivian
Maxey. The spread sheet is a program of Maxeys'. Merves asked about the $16,000 for
Tybee School renovation, does the figure include the $10,000 grant, and can we apply
each year for this grant. Fripp said that we missed the deadline this year but plans to try
again. Hosti stated that Council had passed $15,000 not to long ago for Tybee School.
Fripp said that she can not say for sure if it is listed in the line item. Youmans asked about
the $24,000 in 98 for the Gym complex. Fripp said that it is planning money and that it
has not been spent. Merves asked about $5,000 the grant that Council approved for the
Inlet Avenue park. Fripp said that these figures have not been proofed. Hosti asked who
created? Fripp answered, she did by revising Maxeys' original document. Fripp said that
she does not know if these figures reflect what Council has approved. Fripp said that this
is the 1st draft and that it needs a lot of work and research. Merves asked if the City
1
1
1
could ask Chatham County to help fund the lifeguards. Fripp said she can not ever
remember getting funds from the County but the City has received some State funds in
the past. Merves said we need to investigate getting any help with the funding , there is
talk of consolidating recreation in Chatham. It was mentioned that the lifeguards would
like to have access to a ATV. Fripp said that the police have two ATVs . Youmans said
that the lifeguards patrol only a small portion of the beach and don't need one. Hosti said
that there is no money in Waste Water Treatment plan until the year 2001. Hosti stated
that he was under the impression that the City would have to spend approximately 2
million dollars in the near future to bring the plant into compliance. Fripp said that a lot
more work is needed on the figures for the CIP.
Pearce asked that Council consider a ordinance at the July meeting that would
allow for 1 meeting a month in June, July, August, November and December because of
vacations and holidays that interfere with attendance of the councilmembers. Youmans
said that by having 2 meetings a month a councilmember is able to make at least one.
Youmans moved to disband the committee appointed at the June 1 lth meeting to
study the setback issues in the C -1 zoning districts. Hosti seconded. Merves asked when
the committee is meeting. Byers stated that Monday, June 29th would be their first
meeting and it is with the Planning Commission. Pearce said that he feels that the
committee is a fair idea because it gives the opportunity for business people and residents
to give input for recommendations for Council to consider. Business owners are pleased
to be involved and we should continue with the process. Merves said that he would have
voted against the proposed change if he had been present at the June 1 lth meeting.
Merves does believe that there is a difference between residential and commercial and it is
reasonable to have setback for residential construction in the commercial districts, but not
on commercial construction. Hosti said that he has had one person call in favor of the
change and about 20 who are against the change because they are afraid that their
investment will be compromised by the change. Youmans called for the question. Merves
stated that owners of commercial property feel their situation is different and they should
be allowed to build up to the property line. Residential in C -1 should be the ones to have
the setbacks. Hosti said that residential property owners can request a zoning change by
applying for a variance. Youmans said that he had called for the question a while back.
Hughes stated that the call has to be seconded. Hosti seconded. Voting to call for the
question were Youmans, Anderson, Hosti. Opposed Merves and Pearce. Vote by Council
on the main motion to disband the C -1 Study Committee was 3 in favor (Youmans,
Anderson, Hosti); 2 opposed ( Merves, Pearce).
City Attorney Hughes said that he needs to speak with Mr. Barney Paderewski
concerning the appraisal of the Pine and Campbell property.
Youmans moved to adopt Section 1 -1 -8 General Penalty on its first reading.
Pearce seconded. Vote by Council was unanimous.
As there was no further business to come before Council Mayor Pro Tem
ANderson adjourned the meeting at 8:05 P.M.
[ End of Text ]
[End Actions]
Mayor Pro Tem Donald E. Anderson, Jr.
(Ord. City Council Minutes, Added, 07/24/1998)
1