05 LC
14 9250
House
Resolution 722
By:
Representatives Keen of the
179th,
Richardson of the
19th,
Burkhalter of the
50th,
and Lane of the
167th
A
RESOLUTION
Encouraging
Governor Sonny Perdue to appoint a Blue Ribbon Committee to review all aspects
of initiatives at Jekyll Island relating to resource stewardship, tourism
infrastructure, economic development, land management, and future needs and
concerns of the island; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
Jekyll Island was purchased in 1947 by then Governor Melvin E. Thompson through
condemnation proceedings for $675,000 and formally opened as a state park in
March of 1948; and
WHEREAS,
the Jekyll Island State Park Authority was established in 1950 with island
access being mainly by boat until a drawbridge was completed in 1954;
and
WHEREAS,
today the island serves more than 1.3 million visitors a year who visit the
beach, attend conferences, spend more than $27 million to occupy rooms at the
island's ten hotels, play 85,000 rounds of golf on the beautiful golf courses
totaling 63 holes, shop at many of the shops, generate more than $5 million in
sales taxes annually, and generate a local economic impact of more than $168
million a year; and
WHEREAS,
more than 600 residential leases exist on the island plus 16 retail leases and
ten hotel leases along with 15 miscellaneous leases for such facilities as
restaurants, churches, harbor marinas, cable, and telephones; and
WHEREAS,
state law requires that no more than 35 percent of the island can ever be
developed in order to assure that the island's natural, historical, and cultural
significance be protected; and
WHEREAS,
Jekyll Island needs to receive special attention and have all existing plans
reviewed and updated through a comprehensive planning initiative that will
assess all aspects of the island's resource management programs, stewardship,
improvement to tourism, hospitality, and environmental infrastructure,
consideration of economic development needs, and land use planning consistent
with state law, O.C.G.A.Section 12-3-243, which pertains to the percentage of
the island to be preserved from development.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that this body hereby
urges Governor Sonny Perdue to appoint a Blue Ribbon Committee consisting of a
cross section of business people, legislators, and other appropriate citizens to
undertake a thorough review of Jekyll Island that will recommend necessary
long-term, strategic actions designed to impact positively the operation,
maintenance, development, revitalization, resource stewardship, preservation,
and conservation of this island gem in order to assure it best serves the people
of Georgia and visitors to our state and that the report of this committee
should be completed in time for consideration to be given to its recommendations
prior to the 2006 convening of the General Assembly.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to Governor
Sonny Perdue.