Council Meeting

City Council Minutes, May 23, 2019 Consideration of Items for Consent Agenda Mayor Buelterman called the consent agenda to order at 6:30PM on May 23, 2019. Those present were Julie Livingston, Monty Parks, John Branigin, Wanda Doyle, and Barry Brown. Also attending were Dr. Shawn Gillen, City Manager; Bubba Hughes, City Attorney; George Shaw, Director, Community Development; Angela Hudson, Finance Director and Janet LeViner, Clerk of Council. Shirley Sessions was excused as she is on vacation. Mayor Buelterman listed the following items on the consent agenda:  Proclamation, National Poppy Day  Minutes, Special City Council Meeting, May 7, 2019  Minutes, City Council Meeting, May 9, 2019  Minutes, Special City Council Meeting, May 14, 2019  Alcohol License Request: Drift Tybee LLC dba Drift Beer and Wine-Sale by Drink for Consumption on Premises Only; Sunday Sales-Sale by Drink for Consumption on Premises Only  Alcohol License Request: Retail Beer and Wine-Package Sales Only, Consumption on Premises Prohibited; Sunday Sales-Package Sales Only  The purpose of this agenda item is seek the City Council’s approval to amendment the General Fund fiscal year 2018-2019 operating and capital budget of $13,968,968, by $158,402 to $14,127,370.  Council Action Requested Authorization to Purchase the Following Equipment: Hydronalix Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard (EMILY) x2, $26,402 Club Carry- all $14,698 Beach Vehicle Equipment (Lights, Sirens, Warning System) $15,000 Patient Transport Insert x2 $5000 Line Item: 100.351.54.2100  Resolution - FY2019 Budget Amendment  Bubba Hughes - Pretrial Diversion Program Mayor Buelterman called the regular meeting to order at 7:00PM. All those present for the consent agenda were present. Opening Ceremonies  Call to Order  Invocation: Rev June Johnson  Presentation of Colors and Pledge of Allegiance State of the City – Mayor Jason Buelterman Mayor Buelterman read the Proclamation, National Poppy Day. Denise Wynn, Historian for the Ladies Auxiliary, Unit 154, approached Mayor and Council to give a history of the Poppy. Ms. Wynn stated Friday, May 24, 2019 has been designated as National Poppy Day and she thanked Mayor, Council, and City Staff for their support. She then distributed Poppies to Mayor and Council. Mayor Buelterman thanked Ms. Wynn and reminded everyone of the Ceremony to be held, Friday, May 24, 2019, Memorial Park at the Veteran’s Memorial. Citizens to be Heard. Josh Walker will attend a future council meeting. Mack Kitchens approached Mayor and Council to finish his presentation on Dune Restoration and future Beach Re-nourishment as he was not able to show at the past meeting due to equipment malfunction. Mr. Kitchens showed pictures and videos of the dunes and expressed his concerns with the height of the dunes. Tim Arnold approached Mayor and Council. Mr. Arnold thanked Mayor Buelterman for the service he has provided the Island. He stated he would like to speak in favor of the proposed recycling program that will be presented by Councilman Parks. He continued, it is a great plan, has value and urges Mayor and Councils support. Wanda Doyle made a motion to approve the consent agenda. Julie Livingston seconded. Vote was unanimous, 5-0. Consideration of Bids, Contracts, Agreements and Expenditures Water/Sewer Department is requesting approval for purchase of two new Ford pickup trucks from JC Lewis. Budget Line Items: 505-4310-54-2200 and 505-4410- 54-2200. Total amount: $22,928.44. Monty Parks made a motion to approve with the stipulation the total price does not exceed $45,000. John Branigin seconded. Vote was unanimous to approve, 5-0. Council, Officials and City Attorney Considerations and Comments John Branigin stated he asked for public feedback from Orange Crush as it relates to public safety. Mr. Branigin stated the comments he received were highly complementary of the traffic flow and the Special Protocol that were used particularly in the areas west of Butler Avenue. Neighborhoods notice a significant difference in the amount of traffic. He commended the Tybee Island Police Department for their quick action in professionally diffusing instances as if they had not, the instance could have turned into a bad situation. Mayor Buelterman confirmed and stated there will be similar protocols in place for the 4th of July. Wanda Doyle gave an update on the Public Safety Committee that met that morning. Ms. Doyle stated topics included personnel for Ocean Rescue. Currently, Monday through Friday there are twelve to fourteen staff on the beach and on the weekends there are 20 plus staff that cover the beach for public safety. Other discussions included the slips at AJ’s; 2020 – 2021 Ocean Rescue Budget; additional personnel for the Tybee Island Fire Department; and ORCA (Ocean Rescue Communication Asset). Ms. Doyle ask for a motion to move forward with ORCA. Dr. Gillen explained how ORCA works and the positive aspects. Mayor pro tem Brown asked the overall cost of ORCA. Dr. Gillen responded, $20,000 to purchase. The City will test and then determine if it will be a good fit for Tybee. John Branigin made a motion to finalize agreement and move forward with the agreement. Wanda Doyle seconded. Vote was unanimous to approve, 5-0. Wanda Doyle then addressed the signage for the sandbar. Ms. Doyle recommended new signage be put up stating the fine could be up to $1,000 if beachgoers go past 50 yards from the beach. Mr. Hughes stated there is the Beach Rules in place which prohibit from swimming more than 50 yards offshore. Mayor Buelterman is in agreement but would like staff to contact a professional sign company that uses pictures, etc. to warn beach goers of the dangers and consequences of going beyond the 50 yards offshore. Mr. Hughes stated he will bring an ordinance to the next City Council meeting for consideration. Wanda Doyle made a motion signage be placed making everyone aware of the fine, up to $1,000. John Branigin seconded. Voting in favor were Julie Livingston, Monty Parks, John Branigin and Wanda Doyle. Voting against was Barry Brown. Vote to approve was 4-1. Mayor pro tem Brown recommended a police officer also be in that area to keep swimmers off the sand bar. Wanda Doyle stated, in regards to the Concerned Citizens, she is setting up a meeting with Lisa Lepofsky to discuss protocols. Ms. Doyle explained barricading and getting traffic off the Island will be the biggest issue for the 4th of July celebration. She stated 14th Street will be one-way going in the parking lot and 15th Street will be one-way coming out. The Roundabout will also be closed. Dr. Gillen stated the cross streets will be barricaded as well as there will be a bigger traffic flow as there was with 4th of July. Ms. Doyle gave a brief update on pedestrian and bicycle traffic on 2nd Avenue. Signs will be put up encouraging pedestrians and bicyclists use 2nd Avenue rather than Jones Avenue. She stated other Public Safety Committee discussion included: (1) making Meddin one-way; (2) additional staffing for the TIFD; (3) North Beach ship wake; (4) and bus parking on North Beach. Mayor Buelterman stated he is working on a long term solution to mitigate the large ships wakes. Monty Parks presented his plan for Recycling. Mr. Parks stated the biggest cost would be to purchase the baler. He continued, the monthly fees would be covered by recycled products. The location of the baler would be near the scales at DPW and concrete would have to be poured to support the baler. Other expenses are minimal. Mayor pro tem Brown asked who will be monitoring the short term rentals as they have the majority of recyclables. Mr. Parks stated he has spoken to several short term rental companies for a plan. It is his goals for the first 30 – 45 days is to capture recyclables on the beach and then move to the neighborhoods. Mayor Buelterman and Council thanked Mr. Parks for his hard work with this program. Monty Parks made a motion to adjourn. Wanda Doyle seconded. Vote was unanimous, 5- 0. Meeting adjourned at 8:35PM. ______________________________ Janet R. LeViner, CMC Clerk