HomeMy Public PortalAboutminutes august 16 2010 finalCITY OF TYBEE ISLAND
COMMUNITY RESOURCE COMMITTEE
MEETING
Monday, August 16, 2010 – 6:00 PM
Council Chambers
final minutes
Members Present: Jason Buelterman (liaison), Freda Rutherford, Don Ernst, Rusty Fleetwood, Judy Miller, Sandy Major, Tommy Linstroth, Lisa Callahan, & Pat Locklear
Members Absent: Libby Bacon, Mallory Pearce, & Karen Kelly
Guests: Paul Wolff
Jason Buelterman called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. He thanked all for coming and introduced Pat Locklear, new appointment, to the group. He asked each member to introduce themselves
and say what motivated them to join the committee.
There was a motion by Tommy, second by Judy, to approve the minutes from the July meeting. All approved.
Water First
Jason asked Paul to brief the committee on the Water First Program and to address what they can do to assist in the preparation of the application for redesignation. Paul said that
the Department of
Community Affairs is our best resource. For example tiered water rates are now mandated. We need to make the Water & Sewer Department financially self-sustaining. Ideally, people using
10,000 gallons of water per month would be paying double what the bottom tier people (3-6,000 gallons) people are paying. At the next meeting the Tybee Council will be voting to institute
the next step in the planned tier system. This would give us a leg up on getting our application renewed. He said there is a water calculator at the DCA web site that calculates water
savings devices. Pat said that water rates should have been raised 4% a year from the time when he was mayor. He asked what incentives we can give people? Paul said there is a national
plumbing code for gray water, low-flow toilets, shallow wells and the like. Rusty said advocating on behalf of setting proper rates should be our first goal. Paul said 20% of households
are using 60% of the water. He said people need to be speaking in favor of the rate increase at the council meeting. Sandy proposed that the committee conduct a workshop with city staff,
and contractors being available to citizens to talk about water. Pat proposed that it be called a Water Fair.
Judy asked about enforcement of the ordinances. Pat said that we don't enforce civil law, only criminal law. Paul said the City Marshall is charged with enforcing the ordinances.
Paul said that requirement of the application are: outreach, tiered rates, workshops on native plants and web content on how to conserve.
Jason appointed Paul, Judy and Sandy to serve on an organizing committee for the Water Fair probably around the first of the year.
Pat asked about leakage. Paul said we have added 600 taps yet reduced our consumption by100,000 gallons.
Freda raised the energy usage for lift and pumping stations. She said the costs is $82,000 for the water and sewer facility on Polk. Paul said we need to convert to solar or a turbine.
If we cannot use the turbine in the Memorial park plan perhaps it can go over on Polk.
Sandy said that a component of the master plan calls for performing a carrying capacity study. Jason said that the reason that beach projects get done is because the Beach Task Force
keeps up with what needs to happen. The city does not have enough staff to keep up with everything. He hopes that this committee can stay on top of sustainability issues. Judy said we
need to be on the city web site.
Rusty motioned, Freda seconded, to write a letter to council in support of the tiered rate system to bring the fund into balance and to save water. Rusty said he would draft the letter
with Freda to edit. All voted in favor.
Chatham County Environmental Plan
Tommy handed out the Executive Summary of the plan. He said we could keep all the goals or narrow down. He offered to provide us with a framework including goals and steps, at the next
meeting.
Brainstorm
Given the lateness of the hour, Sandy proposed that we delay the brainstorm session until the next meeting and that we focus upon the Water Fair
City Energy Use
Jason said that Mary has reordered the city energy use chart and he will send to us by email. Pat asked if the city was still paying GA Power $110 a pole? Don said he thought it was
down to $9.00 a pole.
Nominating Committee
Jason said he thought we could get a staff person as Secretary if we moved the meeting to 4:00. All agreed. Judy and Pat volunteered to serve as the nominating committee so that elections
can occur at the next meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:07 PM
.
Respectfully submitted,
Freda Rutherford
Committee Member