Beach Task Force

Cathy Lewis called the zoom meeting to order at 12:00PM, November 19, 2020. Ms. Lewis welcomed visitors to the meeting. Cathy Sakas made a motion to approve the minutes from the October 15, 2020 meeting. Jimmy Burke seconded. Vote was unanimous to approve. Old Business Mark Padgett gave the final report on the Sand Fencing Project. Monitoring Reports have been received and reviewed to include data, photographs and narratives. This will also be updated, as year one document will be in the appendices A. Mr. Padgett asked if anyone has questions to please reach out to him. Ms. Sakas stated she would review and reach out with any questions. Mr. Padgett stated the next step would be for him to draft a letter for the Beach Task Force to present this document to the City of Tybee for an upcoming City Council meeting. He would also like this included on the city website. This document will assist in future with placement of marsh wrack and three rows of sand fencing for a sand field. Ms. Sakas stated she agrees and would like share with other coastal communities to be able to have access to the report. Ms. Lewis stated it is her understanding this information will assist the Georgia DNA in hopes they will change the direction of the sand fencing placement. Mr. Padgett confirmed. He continued, with this study, we now know which direction and angle does best for the collection of sand on the beach. Ms. Lewis welcomed Mackie McIntosh and April Patterson from Savannah US Army Corps of Engineers. She asked them to report on the South Atlantic Coastal Study webinar they did. Ms. Patterson stated the South Atlantic Coastal Study is a regional study and the Savannah District has embarked upon to look at Coastal Georgia. They have identified two of the twenty-five areas to be in Georgia. Among those are Chatham County and Tybee Island. This gives them the opportunity to see what Tybee Island has done which has been proactive toward coastal resiliency. This would include house raising and adding more sand to the north area as this would show areas which can be addressed in the future. They will update the Georgia Appendices to the South Atlantic Coastal Study, which will be addressed after the first of the year. Ms. McIntosh stated she would like to reintroduce herself. She stated she was the project manager for Tybee several years ago and currently she is Chief of Civil Works for the Savannah District. They continue to identify the needs of Tybee Island and move forward with a Comprehensive Plan. Ms. McIntosh stated she would continue to work with Tybee Island during the transition as Ms. Patterson is moving back to the Jacksonville District. Ms. Lewis thanked Ms. McIntosh for her continued support for Tybee Island. Ms. Lewis asked Mr. and Mrs. James Vandenberg to read their letter regarding the proposed bathrooms on the south-end. Mr. Vandenberg expressed his concerns with the proposed changes to the Strand Promenade. He is also concerned with the height of the proposed restrooms, as it will block the view for the residents. Jennifer Fassos joined the meeting and expressed her concerns as well. Ms. Fassos agreed with Mr. Vandenberg. She also shared her concerns that this project has never been on a City Council meeting for their approval and seems that now the City Manager is pushing the project through. There is also no rendering and does not feel the City can move forward with the project. As she lives street level, with this project she will not be able to see the dunes. Jimmy Burke asked how this project is going to affect the sea wall and if it has been considered. Dr. Gillen confirmed they have incorporated the seawall into the design of the bathrooms. The seawall is landward of the structure and does not go into the dune. The dune system will remain seaward of the structure. The structure will also comply with the flood guidelines and the total height will be the same height as the dunes. He confirmed this was before Mayor and Council for their approval. Ms. Lewis thanked Dr. Gillen. Sam Adams confirmed the structure would be east or ocean side of the seawall. Dr. Gillen confirmed. He continued, the City is creating a walking promenade with seating which will enhance that area. This project is funded by Chatham County in 2019, $700,000 that is SPLOST funding. They are working to minimize the impact on the residents. Joe Richardson asked Dr. Gillen if there was any thought to move the bathrooms more toward 19th Street. Dr. Gillen stated water for the showers will be from a shallow well and the bathrooms will be hooked to the existing water/sewer lines. Moving the bathroom will create an issue as new lines will need to be run. The City was not permitted to do this through DNR. Ms. DeVetter asked Dr. Gillen if he confirmed signage and letters were sent to the residents. Dr. Gillen stated this was done through DNR and he does have a list of those residents who were notified. Sam Adams thanked Dr. Gillen for his clarification of the project and process. Dr. Gillen gave an update on current projects:  Promenade project will be before Mayor and Council for their final approval to include the design. At this time, residents will be able to speak to Mayor and Council to express their concerns.  Crossovers: DPW is working on the 15th Street Crossover and will stop this work as they need to move to the open pavilion in Memorial Park where they need to replace the roof.  Anchor Point: a new crossover is scheduled which is short of the landward side. Plans are being developed for a small park, which will be a gateway to the commercial businesses. This will provide people access to the beach as well. Mr. Padgett expressed his concerns, as this is a hot spot for beach erosion. Mr. Robinson concurred.  Old Marine Science Center: The building will soon be available and Parking Services will move into the building as well as Code Enforcement, Police sub-station and Life Guards.  Code Enforcement is in place and you will see a presence of them. Ms. Lewis proposed the December meeting be cancelled and we meet again in January. Mark Padgett made a motion to cancel the December meeting and meet on our regular date in January. Jimmy Burke seconded. Vote was unanimous to approve. Cathy Sakas gave a brief update on the new Marine Science Building. She stated they are still in the process of raising funds to be used for exhibits. Ms. Sakas stated if anyone would like to make donations, please let her know. Cathy Lewis recognized Dr. Richardson on his recent finish in the surfer competition. Dr. Richardson thanked Ms. Lewis for the recognition. As there was no further business, Ms. Lewis adjourned the meeting. ________________ Jan LeViner, MMC City Clerk