JEKYLL ISLAND-STATE PARK AUTHORITY

March 14, 2005                                                                                                                 

The Jekyll Island-State Park Authority met in public session on Monday, March 14, 2005 in Meeting Room 9 at the Jekyll Island Convention Center on Jekyll Island, Georgia.  Meeting was called to order by Chairman Wood at 9:40 a.m. 

 

Members Present:                     Richard Wood, Chairman

                                                J.Y. Jones, Secretary (conference phone)

Jack Collins

                                                Becky Kelley

                                                Daniel Halpern

                                                Steve Scheer

                                                Ed Boshears

                                                Sybil Lynn

                                                                                                                       

Members Absent:                     Tom Lewis

 

Legal Counsel Present:  Alison Spencer, Assistant Attorney General

                                                (conference phone)

 

Staff Present:                            Bill Donohue, Executive Director

                                                Laura Bonds, Deputy Director/CFO

                                                Cindy McDonald, Executive Assistant

                                                Cynthia Hutchinson, Executive Secretary

 

Guests Present:             Ms. Linda Underwood

                                                Mr. Norman Underwood

 

It was noted that Ms. Spencer and Dr. Jones were present via conference phone beginning at 9:45 a.m.

 

Various observers were present, which included Mr. Eyler, Mr. Hart, Mr. McManus, Mr. Mirasola, Mr. Jeffries, Ms. Debi Fry, Mr. S. Holloway and Mr. Morrison with Jekyll’s Golden Islander.

 

Resource person present was Jim Broadwell.

 

Mr. Donohue led a brief review of the agenda[1], beginning with general information items.

 

Introductions – Newly appointed members.  Newly appointed board members, Mr. Ed Boshears and Ms. Sybil Lynn signed official Oath of Office.

 

Ms. Underwood was recognized with parting “turtle” gifts in appreciation for her service as Jekyll Island Authority Board Member.  Following breakfast session, Mr. & Mrs. Underwood excused themselves from meeting.

 

-Coastal Barrier Resource Act (CBRA)-

 

Mr. Donohue and Ms. Bonds led review of CBRA affects on Jekyll Island and update on work completed to change it.  Copies of the proposed designations of OPA on a map[2] were distributed for review.  The description and map of Jekyll Island Authority legal jurisdiction was provided by Legal Counsel and used to identify the marshes under Jekyll Island Authority control.  Ms. Bonds reviewed the mapping process.

 

Mr. Donohue stated that 1996 map from Master Plan is the source document for the map presented to submit to U.S. Fish and Wildlife.  Question was raised regarding the percentage of developed land on Jekyll Island.  Response was that exhaustive research was conducted and results included in 1996 Master Plan.  Land not included in OPA (Otherwise Protected Area) was based on this Master Plan while trying to meet the objectives and guidelines of the CBRA.

 

Lengthy discussion ensued regarding mapping options.

 

Question was asked on error of inclusion of Jekyll Island.  Ms. Bonds reviewed circumstances of how Jekyll Island was included and the guidelines used by U. S. Fish and Wildlife.  Board members Dr. Jones,  Mr. Halpern, Mr. Boshears, Mr. Sheer and Mr. Wood expressed their opinions noting this is a one-time opportunity to remedy.

 

Congressman Kingston’s office was asked to study and make recommendation.  U. S. Fish and Wildlife will present three (3) options to Natural Resources and Environment Committee and the outcome will be presented to Congress.  It will take an act of Congress to change the map.

 

Concerns were expressed that 623 residents are put at risk.  It was suggested that we should go before Congressman Kingston, give our position and would support whatever avenue he deems the best solution on this issue that would enable residents to improve their homes.  A Board resolution with criteria as outlined by Ms. Bonds should be presented to Congressman Kingston.  All were in agreement.

 

Conclusion:  Resolution to Congressman Kingston.  Congressman Kingston to use his best judgment and present our options.

 

-Jekyll Island Re-Development Plan-

 

Mr. Donohue distributed and reviewed in detail draft of Jekyll Island Re-development Plan to Board members.  Upon completion, he requested their feedback.

 

The development plan maintains 35/65 % use of Island.  The plan is to develop a wide range of options for guests and implement over time.

 

A format for each of the five (5) areas was reviewed.

 

Mr. Halpern expressed concern that a product should be available for all price ranges.  The Plan should help us visualize what we want the Island to transform into.

 

Conclusion:  Next step is to develop specific guidelines.

           

Meeting recessed at 11:10 a.m. on Monday, March 14, 2005.

 

Public session reconvened and meeting was called to order at 11:20 a.m. on Monday, March 14, 2005 in Beachside Hall at the Jekyll Island Convention Center.

 

It was noted that Dr. Jones and Ms. Spencer were present via conference phone.

 

Mr. Donohue announced and congratulated Mr.Wood for being appointed Chairman by Governor Perdue.

 

Chairman Wood and Mr. Donohue presented Faithful Service Awards to the following employees in recognition of their service to the State of Georgia and the Jekyll Island Authority:

Cliff Gawron, Superintendent, Landscape and Grounds – 10 years

Ed Pickett, Tennis Facility Coordinator – 10 years

Cyrus Cummings, Sanitation Equipment Operator – 15 years

Kenneth Robinson, Golf Course Maintenance – 15 years

Carolyn Tinkham, Senior Administrative Secretary – 20 years

 

Chairman Wood and Mr. Donohue recognized Ms. Barbara Williams as Executive Housekeeper of The Year at the Days Inn & Suites on Jekyll

Island.  Ms. Williams also received the distinct honor of being selected “Executive Housekeeper of the Year” from over 1800 other Days Inn hotels nationwide.

 

Check in the amount of $3,797.00 was presented to the Jekyll Island Authority by Mr. Brad Stewart from Peoples Alliance for Leisure and Sports, Inc. (PALS) for continued support of the Playground Project.

 

Ms.Kelley made a motion, which was seconded by Mr. Collins to approve the minutes from the February 14, 2005 Jekyll Island-State Park Authority Board Meeting.  Motion was carried with all in favor.

 

Ms. Bonds requested board members to approve a two-year lease versus historic five-year lease terms.  A two-year lease provides flexibility in our future location and negotiation of terms.  The leases currently have a Special Stipulations paragraph, which addresses the potential move to a new location.  They do not address location within the new facility, new rent terms, or cost of build out.  The other rent terms will remain the same as the existing leases.  The leases are for John Waters and Mary Waters, Hamilton-Waters, Inc., d/b/a Jekyll Pharmacy[3], James C. Fender and Lamar C. Fender, d/b/a Jekyll IGA[4], James Bishop and Lamar C. Fender, d/b/a Maxwell’s Variety Store[5] and United States Postal Service[6] .

 

There being no discussion, Mr. Scheer motioned and Mr. Halpern seconded to authorize execution on the four (4) lease renewals.  Motion was carried with all in favor.

 

Chairman Wood requested Staff to send resolution of sympathy[7] on behalf of Board to families involved in tragic events of Friday in Atlanta.  Mr. Scheer made a motion, which was seconded by Mr. Collins with all in favor to carry motion.

 

Under old business, Chairman Wood requested that a resolution be sent to Congressman Kingston regarding CBRA expressing the board’s desire for the Island to be removed from OPA or remove the 35% designated developed area from the OPA.  Motion made by Mr. Scheer and was seconded by Mr. Collins.  Motion was carried with all in favor.

 

There being no further business items to discuss or take action upon, Mr. Donohue was recognized to present the Executive Director’s Report.

 

Conservation Plan:  Responses were received from nine companies. Land Management, Inc., was selected to create our conservation plan.  Plan is to help proactively manage the 65% undeveloped land and improve public access to those areas.

 

Clam Creek:  Making great progress using in-house staff.  The area is being improved with picnic tables, walkways and new restrooms facilities.  The horses have been moved away from the picnic area.

 

Summer Waves:  Opening date will be April 30, 2005.

 

Phase III Circulation Plan:  Pier Road and Stable Road will be one lane starting  tomorrow while concrete is being poured.  Safety lighting will be installed for safety of trams and pedestrians. Improvements look great.

 

Wave Monitoring System:  Working with Skidaway Institute of  Oceanography, a research unit of the University of Georgia, regarding installation of wave monitoring system on Jekyll Island.  Project would be in keeping with our conservation efforts.

 

Staff Reports:  Referenced staff reports contained on pages D-8 through D-17.

 

Bare Associates International:  Reviewed purpose of the information and results of Island-Wide summary report contained in board report.

 

Letters and Articles:  Highlighted various letters and articles contained in board packet pointing out JICA letter on page E-1 and editorial letters to the newspaper regarding development.

 

Jekyll Island Foundation:  Reported that the Jekyll Island Foundation Board met and decided to restructure the staff of the Jekyll Island Foundation.  The position of Executive Director was eliminated.  Cindy McDonald, Executive Assistant, has been asked to temporarily manage functions of the Foundation.  Cynthia Hutchinson, Executive Secretary to Laura Bonds, will assist with JIA Board meetings.

 

Referencing the sign-in sheet for public comments[8], Frank Mirasola was recognized to address the board.

 

Mr. Mirasola addressed the board stating he was an eight-year resident and past president of the Jekyll Island Citizens Association and was speaking not on behalf of the board but as a resident only on the proposed  resolution from JIA board to Congressman Kingston.  He expressed his opinion that it would be in the best interest of residents and the Island to exclude only the 35% developed area from the CBRA legislation which directly affects all residents.  He believed exclusion of the entire Island would result in controversy.

 

Mr. Donohue announced that there would be no April board meeting but the next meeting is scheduled for May 9, 2005.

 

Ms. Jean Poleszak was recognized and stated she agreed with Mr. Mirasola’s statement and questioned why the board felt the entire island needed to be excluded.

 

Chairman Wood responded that following extensive research, it was discovered that several OPA units objected to the OPA designation for the reason that they did not meet the criteria set forth in the legislation.  Formal requests were submitted to remove the designation, with then Governor Harris communicating this request on behalf of Jekyll Island.    He stated the board’s interest in removing the island as a whole was based on the board’s interest in protecting the interests of the residents and the Island as a whole.

 

Chairman Wood and various other members addressed the public’s concerns that by removing Jekyll Island from the OPA designation, it could potentially open the door for development of the 65% land designated by the State as undevelopable.

 

Various board members offered additional insight and reassurances.

 

Chairman Wood reassured all present that the board is trying to upgrade and enhance Jekyll Island.  It is not the board’s intent to change the overall character of  Jekyll Island.

 

There being no additional business to discuss, a motion was made by Mr. Scheer and seconded by Mr. Collins to adjourn the March 14, 2005 meeting of the Jekyll Island-State Park Authority.

 

Meeting was adjourned at 12:15 p.m.

 

 

ATTEST:                                             APPROVED:

 

_____________________                  ____________________

William A. Donohue                             Richard V. Wood

Executive Director                                Chairman

 

 

 

     Attachments

     [1] Agenda

   [2] CBRA Info and Map

   [3]  Jekyll Pharmacy Lease

   [4]  Jekyll IGA Lease

   [5]  Maxwell’s Variety

         Store Lease

   [6]  U. S. Postal Service

        Lease

   [7]  Resolution of Sympathy

[8]  Sign In Sheet – Public

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