Initiative to Protect Jekyll Island Board and Members’ Meeting November 12, 2011
Minutes
The IPJI Board and Executive Officers met with IPJI members at the Jekyll Hampton Inn at 4 PM on Saturday, November 12. 42 members were in attendance, including Board officers and Advisory Council members. Board and Executive officers present were David Egan, Mindy Egan, Babs McDonald, Diane Shearer, Brenda Constan, Greg Lowery, Bert Richmond, and Dory Ingram. IPJI Advisory Council Members present were Tyler Bagwell, Ken Cordell, David Kyler, and Al Tate.
Topics that were discussed included the following agenda items:
1.Opening Remarks/Introductions/IPJI’s work since inception/Approval of Minutes (Babs McDonald, Board Chair)
Babs welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order. She played a recorded song, “Going Home to Jekyll Island,” which was written and sung by Jeff Catlett, accompanied by photographic images of Jekyll Island.
A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of the September 20 Board meeting and the minutes were approved. The agenda was accepted by vote. Babs introduced the officers and board members present and acknowledged the advisory board members.
Babs then gave an introduction to the background of IPJI, including its work in promoting HB 214. She acknowledged groups and individuals who supported HB 214, including Senator Jeff Chapman, Representative Debbie Buckner, the Sierra Club, and others. Mindy Egan acknowledged Frank and Marge Mirasola for their attendance at committee hearings in Atlanta throughout the deliberations.
Babs remarked that the Jekyll Island State Park Conservation Plan was much weaker prior to IPJI involvement, i.e., IPJI’s recommendations for Conservation Plan improvements and encouragement of responses and input from individuals and conservation groups.
Babs spoke of the upcoming official review of the Jekyll Island State Park Master Plan, which will be the next issue for IPJI to take up. She also reported that IPJI has formally thanked Governor Deal for not approving the construction of a proposed casino on Jekyll Island.
Action Items: No action items.
2. Reports: Updates on Master Plan Review and DNR’s violation of the Shore Protection Act (David Egan)
David reported that we have over 1,000 formally registered members at the present time.David stated that the Master Plan is the island’s governing document. It was last revised in 1996, and the official revision process will begin soon after the first of the year. Primary concerns of IPJI regarding the Master Plan include the protection of the 65% of the island that is to remain undeveloped, and the identification of the ideal visitor carrying capacity of the island. He commented that a professionally conducted study of carrying capacity is needed along with a professional study of the current acreage of the island. He further reported that IPJI is eager to involve the membership and conservation groups in the Master Plan process in early 2012, and that the JISPA has contracted with the Fanning Institute at UGA to consult with them during the process.David reported on the lawsuit in which he and Mindy are co-plaintiffs, along with the Center for a Sustainable Coast, vs the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for its repeated use of Letters of Permission in lieu of permits as required by the Shoreline Protection Act when any project is proposed within the jurisdictional area of the Act. The judge assigned to the case is determining whether or not the case will be dismissed, as requested by the Attorney General’s office, which is serving as the DNR’s legal counsel in the case.Action Item: No action item.
3. Report: IPJI’s Outreach to Environmental Groups (Dory Ingram)
Dory acknowledged the value of the support received from environmental and advocacy groups statewide during the legislative process surrounding HB 214 and during the Conservation Plan process, in which many groups, as well as individuals, commented on the plan and submitted recommendations to the JISPA. Dory reported that IPJI has compiled a list of 34 groups that we will approach in order to determine (a) whether they are willing to disseminate fact based information to their membership concerning and during the Master Plan Review Process, and (b) whether they are willing as individual organizations to submit recommendations to the JISPA during the process. She indicated that we are in the process of drafting our communications to the each of the groups, which will specify the connections between their mission and the issues raised by the Master Plan.
Action Items: Babs asked the members who might have relationships with other groups to encourage those groups to get involved.
4. Report: Beach Clean up (Mindy Egan)
Mindy reported that in conjunction with the JISPA’s “Adopt-a-Beach Program,” IPJI has adopted the one-mile stretch of beach between the southernmost water tower and the soccer field, which is part of the area that was protected by HB 214. This mile of beach is to be patrolled and cleaned by IPJI at least quarterly. Mindy went on to say that we have been advocating for more public access to Jekyll’s beaches and have received a lot of support from local officials. She said that IPJI welcomed the JIA’s recent decision to renovate the public beach access area on the south end of the Jekyll Beach Village, a site that previously had been set aside for a third Beach Village hotel. The JISPA has agreed to put in $900,000 for this improved access.
Mindy also reported on IPJI’s beach clean-up, which occurred earlier in the day with over 14 volunteers collecting trash.
5. Approval of new Board Members (Babs McDonald)
Babs reported that two new IPJI Board members have been nominated, Ashley Chasteen and Bert Richmond.Action Item: A motion was made and seconded to approve the new Board members, and they were approved by acclamation.
6. Proposed Video (Babs McDonald)
Babs reported that a professional videographer has contacted her and proposes to do a video on Jekyll Island State Park.
Action Item: No action item.
7. Program Presentation: Representative Alex Atwood
Representative Atwood committed himself to working on greater professionalism on the JISPA board of directors. He also stated that he encourages ecotourism for Jekyll Island State Park. He was instrumental in helping to secure the appointment of environmentalist and UGA Professor Emeritus Al Ike to the JISPA, and he also supports Ken Cordell in his efforts to influence the JISPA in using national professional standards in park planning. Representative Atwood closed by acknowledging and thanking former Senator Chapman for his work in protecting Jekyll Island State Park.
8. Program Presentation: Tyler Bagwell
Tyler Bagwell, a noted Jekyll Island historian, spoke of the interviews he has conducted with descendants of the original members of the Jekyll Island Club. He stated that he has done extensive research into the Jennings family and their connections with the Jekyll Island Club. He has produced a DVD on this subject, and the DVD was available for purchase at the meeting.
At the conclusion of Tyler’s presentation, Babs noted that IPJI Board member Greg Lowery had given a very informative and entertaining guided tour of the historic district for members on Saturday morning. She suggested that it would be great for Tyler and Greg to collaborate.
9. Program Presentation: Dr. Ken Cordell
Babs introduced Dr. Ken Cordell of the U.S. Forest Service, who has given frequent input to the JISPA concerning professional public land planning. He has plans to present information to the Fanning Institute and to Jones Hooks, Executive Director of the JISPA, and his staff soon.
Ken stated that his PowerPoint presentation will be available on the IPJI website.
Ken further stated that the benefits from using sound, tested principles in planning include the mitigation of controversy and a greater likelihood of a win-win outcome. Additionally, the use of these principles increases opportunities for successful implementation and funding of planning initiatives. Public planning implemented correctly is conducted in a comprehensive, not piecemeal, fashion. Additionally, the process should fully engage the stakeholders, including the general public, from start to finish.
Discussion: A Q & A discussion followed Ken’s presentation. Al Tate asked what we can do to encourage the JISPA to follow professional planning procedures. Ken said to come up with a plan for how to undertake the project, write letters, and make calls. David added that engaging the public requires that the process of involvement must be made convenient, and that the public must be able to see that their efforts bring results.
Frank Mirasola commented that professionalism requires the freedom from political influences, adding that the board members of the JISPA are little more than a group of political appointees. He stated that we must focus on requiring professionalism on the part of the JISPA Board. David reported that the IPJI Board hopes to set up talks with individual JISPA Board members one-on-one. IPJI is also working on having legislation passed to require that future appointees to the JISPA Board have appropriate credentials. Mindy stated that Alex Atwood has said to let him know what he can do to support this effort. Babs added that she and Dory had met with a member of the Governor’s staff during the summer, and the staff member has encouraged us to put together a slate of suggested nominees for future openings on the JISPA Board.
10. Program presentation: Former State Senator Jeff Chapman
Senator Chapman gave a very entertaining and inspiring talk on the lessons learned from IPJI. These lessons include the following:
It is important to stick to clearly defined goals, i.e., the principles upon which JISP was founded, namely public access to Jekyll’s beaches, preservation of the island’s natural assets, and affordability for everyday Georgians.
Initiative means that you begin something and then follow through.
It is critical to get your facts straight and tell the truth.
It is important to engage the public; Republicans and Democrats can work together!
Persistence is key.
Have at least one pastor on your board!
One person can make a difference.
Adjournment:
Babs thanked the membership and the IPJI Board, officers, and Advisory Council members in attendance, and acknowledged the Hampton Inn for its hospitality and cooperation in planning the meeting. She reminded the membership that a reception would follow immediately in the Hampton Inn Lounge.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:45 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Dory Ingram
Secretary, IPJI
