Council Meeting

City Council Amended Minutes, September 14 2023 Mayor Sessions called the meeting to order at 6:30PM, September 14, 2023. Those in attendance were, Monty Parks, Nancy DeVetter, Barry Brown, Jay Burke and Spec Hosti. Also attending were Michelle Owens, Acting City Manager; Bubba Hughes, City Attorney; Tracy O’Connell, City Attorney, and Jan LeViner, Clerk of Council. Dr. Gillen was not present. Opening Ceremonies Call to Order Invocation: Sue Jackson, Trinity Chapel Methodist Church Pledge of Allegiance Whitney Hooker approached Mayor and Council to recognize Antar Khaalis, DPW, as the Employee of the Quarter. Mayor Sessions thanked Mr. Khaalis for everything he does for the City. Consideration of Items for Consent Agenda  Minutes, City Council Meeting, August 24, 2023  Agenda Request: Friends of the Tybee Post Theater dba Tybee Post Music Festival  Hotel Tybee 1401 Strand Ave add liquor to the existing beer and wine permit  DPW: Purchase of a Pickup Truck, 2023 Nissan Frontier, 4x4 Crew Cab, for Recycling Crew. Funding for this truck is in the City of Tybee Island’s Fiscal Year 2024 approved budget, adopted June 22, 2023. The budget item for Public Work Vehicles was $50,000 and was a Capital purchase under account number 350-4210-54-2500, Itemized List of Capital Requests  Out of State Travel: Pete Gulbronson: Regional Storm Water Conference, October 4 - 6, 2023, Hilton Head, SC. Continuing Education Units to retain Professional Engineering License for the State of Georgia. Total cost $1,075  Amendment Agreements on Retirement Benefits with Moseley and Fobes Mike McCann, Ambucs, approached Mayor and Council. Mr. McCann stated the Ambucs is motivated in mission around independence and mobility. Traditionally they do that with three wheel bikes that are provided to adults and children. They also do scholarships and recently started providing scholarships to students with special needs going to school for higher education. He continued, at the previous meeting, Sgt. Hattrich told them of his desire to make the beach more accessible. It became evident that this was a project Ambucs could help the City of Tybee. Mr. McCann then presented a check for $16,870.80 to purchase beach wheelchairs. Sgt. Hattrich accepted the check on behalf of the City. Kevin Sheehan, President, approached Mayor and Council. Mr. Sheehan stated it is very exciting that more people will now have access to the beach. Mayor Sessions thanked Sgt. Hattrich and Mr. McCann for their hard work. Tiffany Hayes, Chief, Tybee Island Police Department: New K-9 Program. Chief Hayes stated that all questions relating to the budget for the program have been successfully addressed. She introduced Officer Kendrick who is a certified trainer. Officer Kendrick thanked Mayor and Council for the opportunity. Mayor Sessions thanked both Chief Hayes and Officer Kendrick. Citizens to be Heard: Please limit comments to 3 minutes. Maximum allowable times of 5 minutes. Dillon Patel approached Mayor and Council to speak. Mr. Patel stated there is a group working toward the best plan of action for pickleball. Mayor Sessions thanked Mr. Patel for his comments. Tanya Huff approached Mayor and Council. Ms. Huff spoke in favor of additional pickleball courts on the Island. Mayor Sessions thanked Ms. Huff for her comments. Brian West approached Mayor and Council. Dr. West stated in his opinion, it is very important there is an overall plan for Memorial Park and Jaycee Park. He is in favor of additional courts. Mayor Sessions thanked Dr. West for his comments. Roger Huff approached Mayor and Council. Mr. Huff stated he supports pickleball and asked Mayor and Council to look into something called VersaCourt as this is a multi-use court and works well at the basketball courts. Mayor Sessions thanked Mr. Huff. Chantal Audran approached Mayor and Council. Ms. Audran stated the release of the sea turtle, Ike, would be on Saturday, September 23, 2023. She invited everyone to attend. Mayor Sessions thanked Ms. Audran. Sue Jackson approached Mayor and Council. Ms. Jackson spoke in favor of additional pickle ball courts, as it is good for all ages. She asked that Mayor and Council reach out to Mark Reed as he has done a great deal of research. Mayor Sessions thanked Ms. Jackson. Monty Parks made a motion to approve the consent agenda. Spec Hosti seconded. Vote was unanimous to approve, 5-0. Public Hearings Minor Subdivision/Variance: Requesting two single family lots -109/111 Jones Ave -40003 13021-Zone R-2 -Thomas A. Smith III. George Shaw approached Mayor and Council. Mr. Shaw stated the petitioner originally purchased the property and would like to subdivide the parcel to the south side of the existing home. The lot to be created would be a non-conforming lot less than 60’ wide. Staff recommended denial due to the Code and Planning Commission recommended approval, 5-1. Mayor pro tem Brown confirmed the property is R-2. Mr. Smith approached Mayor and Council and asked for favorable consideration. Julie Livingston approached Mayor and Council. Ms. Livingston stated housing is her passion and as this property would become a long-term rental she would ask for favorable consideration from Mayor and Council. Beau Livingston approached Mayor and Council. Mr. Livingston asked Mayor and Council to vote in favor of this request. Barry Brown made a motion to approve the minor subdivision and variance requests. Monty Parks seconded. Vote was unanimous to approve, 5-0. Council, Officials and City Attorney Considerations and Comments Barry Brown asked for an update on the Volleyball/Pickleball Court locations in Memorial Park. Mayor Sessions asked Mayor pro tem Brown to meet with Michelle Owen, Acting City Manager for an update as there is an interest. Mayor pro tem Brown then broached the subject of the multi-purpose building as he would like an update on that as well. Michelle Owen stated Mr. Gulbronson has been working toward a resolution as to pickleball courts. He is also working on recommendations for a multi-purpose building. Ms. Owens stated she will add this to the agenda for the September 28, 2023 council meeting for a presentation. Spec Hosti made a motion to adjourn to executive session to discuss real estate, personnel and litigation. Nancy DeVetter seconded. Vote was unanimous to approve, 5-0. Spec Hosti made a motion to return to regular session. Monty Parks seconded. Vote was unanimous to approve 5-0. Spec Hosti made a motion to adjourn. Monty Parks seconded. Vote was unanimous to approve, 5-0. Meeting adjourned at 8:45PM _________________________ Janet LeViner, MMC Clerk of Council