As the island continues preparing for Orange Crush weekend on April 19-21, 2024, the Tybee Island City Council voted unanimously this week to approve a budget amendment capping the city’s spending for the event at $250,000. According to the interim city manager, Tybee has already committed to spending $220,000 ahead of the annual HBCU beach party which last year attracted 111,100 people, according to Placer.ai data, over a three-day weekend.

“As you know, we spent roughly $187,000 getting ready for this event (last year). We’ve been working to nail down a hard and fast number for the event, but we’re at the point where we’re still trying to define our budget, but there’s some things we need to commit to now in order to have them in time. Such as barricades, you know, to manage the parking plan,” said Tybee interim city manager Michelle Owens on March 28.

“So, what we’re asking for, is to at least get an amendment not to exceed $250,000. So far, in looking at what the public works costs are, what the police costs are, the fire department’s costs, costs with food – because there will be some food costs – we are already at $220,000 in costs. We feel like we can at least get a commitment to be able to move forward with a cap of $250,000.”

Owens, who assumed the interim position after former City Manager Shawn Gillen resigned in September 2023, said that the city spent $80,000 housing officers on the island during Orange Crush 2023 (April 21-23). The following weekend, when Tybee officials expected another large crowd for what was known as “Peach Fest” on April 28-30, 2023, Tybee housed 110 officers “all free of charge,” according to Gillen.

“Luckily this year, we don’t have housing costs,” Owens said on March 28 at the conclusion of the city council meeting. “We did have about $80,000 in housing costs last year, even though I know it was a common thought that all the housing was donated that weekend, that was not the case last year. We still had a significant amount of housing costs.”

“We will still have some food costs, the residents and local church groups are kicking in and donating stuff, but we’ll still have some costs there too – portable bathrooms, security fencing, barricades, supplies for the day – all of that stuff is being rolled in. We hope to come in somewhere between $220,000-$250,000 as the total costs for that.”

In December of 2018, Gillen and Tybee released a report entitled “High Volume Event Protocols.” In it, the cost estimates for two types of safety barricades were revealed. Although prices are likely to have changed since the report (shown below) was conducted, the total estimate for renting 300 Jersey Barricades, at the time, was $75,000 ($249 per barricade).

The report also stated it would cost $40,100 for 450 French Barricades ($88.95).

In February, Connect Savannah asked Savannah Mayor Van Johnson for a comment about the Orange Crush weekend and Tybee’s prep for it. A Savannah State University graduate with ties to the original Orange Crush back in 1988, Johnson said he had yet to be personally contacted by Tybee for help or involvement in their preparations.

“I have not been contacted (by Tybee Island leaders or state legislators about Orange Crush 2024 on Tybee). I was one of the purveyors of the original Orange Crush, and that tells you how long ago it was when I was a college student at Savannah State University,” Johnson said.

“Obviously, young people have gotten in their minds that this is where they are coming. It’s a public space, but it’s a huge undertaking for a small island like Tybee. The traffic and the people, but again, that is the price we pay for being cities that attract and welcome tourists.”

“I guess if they go to Tybee, they will end up in Savannah too. So, we will manage that as we manage our other events when they occur.”

Housing will be provided to officers for this year’s Orange Crush by many of Tybee’s STR (Short Term Rental) properties as well as hotel and motel spaces. The strategy by Tybee was discussed at a special city council workshop in January of 2024.

“To be honest with you,” Tybee Police Chief Tiffany Hayes told the council of STR owners on Jan. 24. “They said they are not going to rent (over Orange Crush weekend). They’re just going to block them. So, no problem there.”

Councilmember Michael “Spec” Hosti spoke about Orange Crush after Owens delivered her remarks and before the vote was taken.

“I hope it’s a non-event. If these kids, if they go through what they went through last year to get here, that’s crazy,” he said. “Ten hours to get from Atlanta to Tybee Island, Georgia – I mean, I’m not that smart – but I don’t think I would’ve done that again.”

Owens responded during Hosti’s comments, saying “Spring break is never a non-event anywhere, ever.” Tybee’s first-year Mayor Brian West also responded to Hosti’s “non-event” hopes.

“We’ll be prepared, no matter what.”

This article appears in Connect Savannah I March 2024.