Beach Renourishment Matters                    
                                                   
                                         How Will Tybee Renourish the Beach?

The Chatter

You may have heard……..silence………no disagreement at all……being against beach
improvement is like being against Mom -- or apple pie!    Everyone – including the
Mayoral and City Council candidates -- wants a wide and healthy beach for Tybee!  

So what’s the problem? What do we need to make beach renewal happen?

The Reality

1. Imagine Tybee Island without a beach…..our beautiful beach has been made
possible for decades by a federal project that is about to end. We are at a critical
fork in the road.  Tybee elected leaders and city staff must be smart, creative,
political, strategic, and focused as they make decisions and create a path for the
future….without delay!    

2. We need money from the federal government for a federally funded beach
renourishment  effort in 2015….improving the Tybee beach costs $10 million -- or
more – every seven years!

Tybee currently operates under a 50-year-old project with the Corps of Engineers
where the federal government provides 60% of funding ($6 million) IF Tybee and
local government come up with 40% ($4 million) as their local cost-sharing.  
But…while the project obligates the feds, it has historically been an unfunded
contract.  Plans to fund beach renourishment money has not been in any President’s
budget since Jimmy Carter….the local Army Corps of Engineers puts the request in
their budget and then the allocation must be begged/lobbied/influenced out of the
House and Senate appropriations budgets through earmark funding. Yes, Tybee,
along with other local communities across the country, need and use an earmark….
and although ‘earmark’ has become a dirty word…. if we don’t get $6 million
earmarked through lobbying efforts, we would have to come up with the entire $10
million+  on our own. Our representatives – currently Jack Kingston, Johnny Isakson,
and Saxby Chambliss – are extremely important to the federal appropriations
process.

3. We need money from the Tybee budget as well as state and local government
friends – a combination of 40% -- $4 million or more -- every seven years!

The current Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, and City Council have been active in planning and
lobbying all the players in the process. Most are convinced that Tybee is “Savannah’s
beach” and “Georgia’s beach” and they are willing (after an education and lobbying
process) to share in the expensive, repetitive beach-renourishing project.

a. Tybee City Council sets aside $150,000 annually in the General Fund to save
 for their contribution

b. Chatham County budgeted/accrued $150,000 annually to assist with the last
 project and we are hopeful of a similar contribution for 2015 despite budget
 constraints.

c.  The State of Georgia has traditionally contributed $2- $3 million.

d.  The Georgia Ports Authority has been approached for help, but has not
  contributed for renourishment. (GPA has paid the 50% local share for
  Corps of Engineers studies, including the Channel Impact Study.)

4.  We need active citizen involvement….volunteers who will take the time to learn…
  and then educate all of Tybee, Savannah, and Georgia about the seriousness
  of the decisions.

For decades Tybee citizens from diverse backgrounds (engineers, contractors,
lawyers, oceanside business owners, politically savvy residents) have served on the
Beach Task Force Committee, currently chaired by Amy Lanier. They have read,
listened, taken the time to educate themselves about the science to back up their
decisions, worked with the city manager, and made recommendations to the mayor
and city council to accomplish goals in a timely manner. They have used their
influence to lobby when asked. Shirley Sessions served on the committee before
being elected as Mayor Pro Tem. Mayor Jason Buelterman attends most meetings.
Paul Wolff and Bill Garbett serve as liaison to City Council. Underlying the importance
of the committee, Diane Schleicher, City Manager, attends each meeting, and
coordinates the work of the Coastal Engineer/Consultant, Erik Olsen, who is the
expert/guide for the committee. Jan LeViner, understanding the need for continuity,
asked to continue to support these volunteers when she was promoted to a new
position.

(Editor’s Note: We interviewed Chair, Amy Lanier, and four members of the Beach
Task Force Committee to gather facts for this issue of Tybee Matters, and were
encouraged by the understanding of the complexities, and the dedication and
passion they have for the survival of Tybee’s beach.)

5. We must have elected officials who will listen, read, learn, stay focused on this
issue, and make decisions for the good of Tybee.  They must be intelligent leaders
who can think creatively and strategically – speak with facts as well as passion -- and
lead with a calm, firm direction through the planning to success.

Despite consensus regarding the need to replenish our beach, many well-informed
decisions must be made about complicated issues that involve a myriad of agencies,
governmental units, delicate negotiations, and timely coordination of action plans.

As you vote on November 8…consider what is at stake on this important issue….and
who can best represent Tybee Island.  

The Mayor and City Council over the next four years, with recommendations from
the Beach Task Force Committee, will consider one or all of the following scenarios:  

a. Will Tybee be able to rely one more time on earmarked federal funding for beach
renourishment work needed by 2015?  How/Who is best equipped to lobby to
ensure that an earmark is designated for Tybee’s beach renourishment before the
50-year project ends in 2025?

b. If we lose the earmark (federal assistance) for 2015, and are forced to take on  
funding of beach renourishment without a federal partner, would the state step in to
fund the full balance? Could we get an increased millage for Tybee or Chatham
County residents to allow us to proceed?  Who can best convince Tybee voters to
support an increase, if it must be done? Once beach erosion begins, it increases
exponentially. Timely action will be essential!

c. Would Chatham County be willing to help us with funding through an increased
 hotel/motel tax? Or other tax measure?

d. How can we enlist the friendly cooperation and further financial support of the
 Georgia Ports Authority?  GPA is the primary beneficiary of the channel depth
 and maintenance – past and present -- which they need for the size of their
 ships – BUT it creates a negative impact on Tybee’s beaches. 78% of the erosion
 on our beach is caused by the man-made channel, which Georgia Ports Authority
 contracts with the Corps to dredge and deepen. What reasonable part should
 GPA play in the funding of beach renourishment? Would they be willing to charge
 a $1 per container, to be set aside for beach renourishment?  Could 10% of the
 annual $12,000,000 in federal funds for dredging the channel be set aside to pay
 for the renourishment that is necessary from the erosion?  Or what else?
  How/Who can negotiate a win/win for our island/city/state?

e. If by some miracle in this time of federal debt discussions,  a continued project
 with the federal government emerged, who can best negotiate the next 50-year
  project with the Corps of Engineers, or, is it a waste of time and money to even
  consider this option since both Democrats and Republicans want to steer clear of
  ‘earmarks’? Who do you trust to figure out the answer and press forward…or
  give it up and move on?

f. There is some precedent for winning a lawsuit against the Corps of Engineers.
The basis is that because of the littoral flow from north to south, the deepening
and maintenance of the channel creates a big hole that catches our sand.
(However, a lawsuit, would take years and be expensive for taxpayers and the
 City. Who do you trust to make that decision?

g. What reasonable alternatives might Tybee explore to sustain our beach without
 a major renourishment every 7-8 years?  Tybee’s choices are different (some    
 would say limited) due to our size as an island -- and the size of our tax base.
 What works successfully for Hilton Head and Sea Island (our prosperous
 neighbors) might not work for Tybee. But…a coordination with Hilton Head might
 be feasible. If we remain on the same beach renourishment schedule -- and if
 federal funding is not available for Tybee -- there could be cost savings for both
 beach areas. Who do you trust to lead us in making that delicate negotiation?

Imagine no beach at Tybee? No sand or nesting area for sea turtles…no place to
walk near the ocean….no tourists to marvel at the sunsets….no Sold Out signs on
hotels….no grandchildren clamoring to go to the beach….no waiting line at
restaurants…. no shoppers for local business.

Without a beach life at Tybee would be dramatically different.

With all that is at stake….should beach renourishment be our number one priority?
     
As you vote….think how each candidate for Mayor and City Council responds
to issues, to problem solving, and decide who you want to lead us into the
future….

For more detailed information:

1. Attend a Beach Task Force Committee meeting and learn more
 (third Thursdays at City Hall at 11:30 am)

2. Talk to members of the committee and hear some of the strategies
 they have pursued to no avail!

3. See (Link to City of Tybee Beach Task Force Committee – Minutes
4. Review the PowerPoint from Coastal Engineer/Consultant Erik Olsen

5. Link to definition of Littoral drift or Longshore drift.  

             
         Please Review the Positions on Beach Renouishment Submitted by                 
                     Candidates on the Mayor and Council Questionnaires.


Jason Bueltermann:
    
Also, the beach is due to be renourished in 2015. The fight to get the necessary funds for this
will also fall upon the shoulders of the next Mayor. This time will be even more challenging than
the last time. Imagine if Tybee property owners had to pay for the entire cost of the last
renourishment.  This would have had a drastic impact on our tax burden and on the services we
provide for our residents.  We should not be asked to bear the brunt of the cost of this project
because we have documented evidence that nearly 80% of the erosion is caused by the
federally-maintained shipping channel.         
Relative to erosion, we fought to get a study completed that proved what we have always said:
that Tybee’s beach erodes largely due to the man-made shipping channel. The federal
government now admits that 78% of the loss of our sand is due to the channel. The problem is
that with Congress’s self-imposed ban on earmarks, it will be difficult to obtain money from the
federal government to pay for the damage done to our beach by their shipping channel. We
must develop a long-term funding plan to pay for this project. The beach not only is Tybee’s
economic lifeline, it, along with the dunes we have built behind our beach, provides protection
for from storm surge associated with Tropical systems.  I have worked hard on this issue along
with fellow Council members and our Beach Task Force to develop solutions to this problem.  
Ultimately, the solution I envision is tying the annual maintenance dredging to our renourishment
funding.  A portion of the annual maintenance dredging ought to be set aside so as to allow for
periodic renourishment of Tybee’s beach using sand from off-shore that is high quality
beach sand.  I believe this can be accomplished in a cooperative partnership between the State,
the Ports Authority and the federal government.


Shirley Sessions:

Beach renourishment is essential to provide storm protection, a continued recreation source
and our local economic health.  There are numerous links that can be found on the city’s
website which provides detailed information on the history of Tybee’s beach renourishment
projects throughout the years.  Our city’s Beach Task Force continues to work diligently to make
recommendations to mayor and council and to lobby on our behalf with the state and federal
government for continued support.  Although there is documented evidence that the
Savannah Harbor dredging is responsible for approximately 80 percent of the long term erosion
continues to prevent the natural flow of sand to our beaches we are still challenged to secure
ongoing support through the Georgia Ports, and other resources.  For decades, past projects
have been funded at 60% by the federal government, 30% by the state and remaining cost by
local government - Chatham County and Tybee.  Although our state officials continue to offer
support, and our federal officials are our allies, due to the cuts in federal spending, we simply
cannot depend on Congress to authorize future funding and will be forced to make tough
decisions and explore progressive options. Developing ongoing relationships, partnering and
collaborating with local and state officials and other entities such as Ga. Ports, Chatham
County,  Savannah Chamber, etc., exploring the possibility of recreation or transportation tax to
assist Tybee is helping fund future projects are but a few potential options.  Others may be a bit
more drastic in theory, and I’m not prepared to address in a document such as this, but I would
be happy to share one on one.


Dick Smith:

Beach renourishment - Must lobby to have it.



Marianne Bramble:

Tybee Island will have to develop our own plan to move sand from one place to the other.  
There is no guarantee
that we will receive Federal or State funding sources.  Becoming PRO
ACTIVE in this effort may be the only way 
we keep our beach erosion manageable without firm
funding prospects.


Donald Cowart:

\If the State of Georgia does not fund beach renourishment then we should buy the highway
from Fort Pulaski to the end of highway 80 East.  Then we can charge people to come to Tybee
and give the Tybee citizens some relief on paying for keeping sand on the beach, cleaning the
beach each day, having top of the line lifeguards, 4 wheelers for lifeguards and police to patrol
the beach.  All safety equipment necessary for the life guards to
perform their duty of saving lives and keeping the beach a safe place for families to be together,
and  enjoy.  If the general public thinks the price is too high to come to Tybee, then they can call
their state representative  and ask them where they can go to get to a beach that is cheaper
and the state takes care of it for free and the public gets to use it for free with no parking
charges.  Because Tybee citizens are tried of paying for it all and not
getting any benefit out of it.


Bill Garbett:

Beach management. Our beach is the life blood of our economy and our second most valuable
asset behind our people. It is less and less likely that federal funds will be available to rebuild
our beaches in the future. I will
work to ensure that we have funds available in the future to renourish our beach.  


David McNaughton:

Advance funding is vital to beach renourishment.


Monty Parks

There may or may not be Federal funds for the next renourishment.  We must start now to plan
for the funding on this project.  This goes along with my vision for increasing revenues to cover
our projects.  We cannot pay for the renourishment by cutting residential services.


Frank Shuman

Right now, the beach is in good shape but we don't know how long it will last. We need to make
sure we have or can get the money necessary to renourish the Beach when the time comes.


Paul Wolff:

Timely beach renourishment is critical to maintaining our economy and way of life.  The city
needs to continue to develop alternate funding sources in the event that federal funds aren't
available.  These include increasing hotel/motel tax, user fees, lobbying the county and state,
and creating a special tax district to help fund future
projects.