Feb 01, 2021 Natural Resources Committee

ON NOW TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES, NOVEMBER 11TH AND DECEMBER 7TH, 2020, WE HAVE ANY CORRECTIONS I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE MINUTES FROM THOSE TWO MEETINGS.

GOING

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - NOVEMBER 11, 2020 AND DECEMBER 7, 2020 ]

UM, WHO WAS THE SECOND? OH, I DON'T THINK BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T ON COUNCIL.

WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE ELSE SECOND TO SECOND, BUT WE APPRECIATE IT.

ALL RIGHT, MR. GLOVER FROM NOW ON, YOU CAN DO THAT FOR SURE.

WITHOUT EXCEPTION OR ANY, ANY EXCEPTIONS, THE MINUTES FOR THOSE TWO MEETINGS ARE APPROVED.

FIRST THING WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA IS A CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE REGARDING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE SEVEN, SECTION 7.3 0.30 POINT E APPEALS.

THE

[6. CONSIDERATION OF ORDIANCE REGUARDING THE AMENDAMENT TO ARTICLE 7, SECTION 7.3.30.E (APPEALS )]

AND I THINK, UM, MR. MERCHANT IS GOING TO PRESENT THIS FROM A PLANNING DEPARTMENT.

I WAS HOPING THAT HE WOULD, BUT I DON'T THINK HE'S ON.

UH, YEAH, SO, UM, I WILL DO IT IF THAT'S OKAY.

UM, MADAM CHAIR, UM, OKAY.

THIS IS AN AMENDMENT THAT WE ARE PROPOSING TO YOU THAT RELATE TO THE SITUATION THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING WITH THE FOURTH, THIRD COVE CAMPGROUND OUT IN KUALA LOSSY.

UH, THERE, UH, AS YOU ALL RECALL, THERE'S BEEN A FEW ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED TO THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS AND TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR ITEM AND THE WAY OUR PRESIDENT, UH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE IS WORDED.

IT BASICALLY STAYS ANY TYPE OF ADDITIONAL ACTION BY EITHER THE ZONING BOARD OR THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, WHILE THERE, OR, UM, LEGAL ACTION PENDING A GUEST PROPERTY.

SO THAT LANGUAGE IS A LITTLE BIT OUT OF ALIGNMENT WITH THE, UH, STATE ENABLING LEGISLATION FROM THE 1994 PLANNING ACT, WHICH BASICALLY SAYS THAT, UM, THE, UM, THAT AN APPEAL BY AN INDIVIDUAL STAYS IN THE ILLEGAL PROCEEDINGS FROM THE STAFF UNTIL THAT APPEAL IS, UH, IS HEARD.

SO THE STATE LAW IS KIND OF DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE COUNTY FROM TAKING ACTION AGAINST SOMEONE AND THEIR PROPERTY.

FOLLOWING APPEAL IS PENDING, NOT THE WAY THE CURRENT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE WORKS IN THAT IT ALLOWS AN ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER TO HOLD OR SOMEONE ELSE TO HOLD A PROPERTY HOSTAGE WHILE THEY'RE GOING THROUGH LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND APPEALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THIS SI IS TO ALIGN THE APPEAL LANGUAGE IN OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE WITH THE LANGUAGE FROM THE STATE LAW REGARDING APPEALS.

SO BASICALLY THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO FINISH AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL, IF THIS IS ADOPTED BY YOU ALL ULTIMATELY WOULD ALLOW US TO HAVE TO FINISH THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS OR THE, THE, TO TAKE ACTION ON THE PLANS WITH REGARDS TO THAT CAMPGROUND WHILE THE APPEALS WERE STILL PENDING IN COURT RIGHT NOW, THE WAY IT STANDS, WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE AT THE STATE LEVEL WHILE THOSE APPEALS ARE STILL OUT THERE.

SO I DIDN'T DO A VERY GOOD JOB EXPLAINING THAT, BUT I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS TO CLEAR UP THE CONFUSION I MAY HAVE JUST CREATED.

I'D LIKE TO OPEN THAT THIS UP FOR QUESTIONS.

UH, COUNCILMAN SOMERVILLE, AND THEN COUNCILMAN GLOVER.

I THINK I UNDERSTAND THIS, BUT I JUST WANT TO BE A LITTLE CLEAR OR, UM, THE, UH, THE CURRENT LANGUAGE OF THE CDC STAYS ALL COUNTY ACTIONS DURING AN APPEAL.

THAT'S CORRECT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

UH, YOU'RE MO YOU'RE MUTED.

PAUL, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.

YOU'RE.

OOPS.

ALL RIGHT, LET ME START OVER AGAIN.

WELL, AGAIN, THE WAY IT WAS CURRENTLY WORDED IS ANY ACTION MEANS THAT WE CAN EVEN APPROVE AT A STAFF REVIEW TEAM, MEANING ADDITIONAL PLANS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BECAUSE THE APPEALS ARE STILL OUT THERE.

UH, THE CURRENT LANGUAGE OF THE CDC STAYS ALL COUNTY ACTIONS DURING THE APPEAL, BUT THE STATE ENABLING LEGISLATION STAYS QUOTE UNQUOTE, ALL LEGAL.

I DON'T THINK I UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE.

I MEAN, BECAUSE WE'RE SAYING THE SAME THING, BUT WE'RE OBVIOUSLY NOT.

SO I'M CONFUSED.

[00:05:02]

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY MEANS ANY LEGAL ACTION THAT'S GOING ON.

UM, ON THE PROPERTY AND A G UH, SPECIFICALLY THE STATE LAW WAS DESIGNED THAT IF THE COUNTY WAS TRYING TO CONDUCT A CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTION ON SOMEBODY'S PROPERTY AND THEY APPEALED THE DECISION OF THE STAFF, THEN THE STAFF COULD NOT CONTINUE ON AND TAKE THE PERSON TO COURT AND THINGS LIKE THAT, UNLESS THERE WAS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE WHILE THAT APPEAL APPLICATION WAS PENDING BEFORE THE BOARD.

SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE JUST PARSING A DISTINCTION BETWEEN AN ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION AND LEGAL ACTION.

THAT'S IT? THAT'S ALL.

GOT YOU.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN GLOVE, OR YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP TOO.

YOU'RE YOU'RE MUTED TOO.

WE CAN, WE CAN HEAR YOU, PAUL PAUL QUESTION, UM, CLARIFIED EVERYTHING FOR ME.

THANKS.

DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, COUNCILMAN CHAIRMAN PASSMAN.

SO I UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE THAT DOES NOT CHANGE THE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THIS LANGUAGE.

BUT THE COURT CASES WOULD STILL BE PENDING, BUT IT WOULD ALLOW US TO GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THE PLANS.

AND THEN THE COM THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD WANT TO PROCEED ON TO CONSTRUCTION AND GETTING THEIR PERMITS WELL ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE RIGHT NOW, THE WAY THAT IT'S CURRENTLY WORDED, WE CAN'T EVEN APPROVE THE PLANS BECAUSE THE LANGUAGE SAYS ANY ACTION BY THE STAFF AND NOT TAKE PLACE.

GOTCHA.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UM, SO WHAT, WHAT IS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF? IS IT WE EITHER APPROVE OR DENY THIS PROMOTE, PROMOTE PROPOSED AMENDMENT, ANY, ANY ACTION TO TAKE? WE NEED TO DO IT IN THIS COMMITTEE TO MOVE IT FORWARD.

I MOVE THAT WE MOVE IT FORWARD.

WHO WAS THE SECOND? I'M SORRY, SOMERVILLE SECOND.

I NEED MORE DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS.

DO, WITHOUT EXCEPTION, I HEAR ANY EXCEPTIONS HEARING NONE.

WE'LL GO FORWARD WITH THIS TO FULL COUNCIL.

ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS, UH, THE ANNUAL REPORT BY RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS.

THE NEXT

[7. 2020 Rural and Critical Land Preservation Program Annual Report to be presented by Beaufort County Open Land Trust]

AND THIS WAS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET, UH, BUT WE'LL HAVE THEM PRESENT AND GO THROUGH IT TOO.

AGAIN, MADAM CHAIR, THIS WILL BE TURNED OVER TO MS. KATE SHAFFER, WHO IS, UH, YOU ALL MAY KNOW HER FROM HER WORK WITH THE COAST CONSERVATION LEAGUE, BUT YOU GUYS RECENTLY BEEN HIRED BY THE OPEN LAND TRUST.

AND I WILL TELL YOU ALL, UM, I'VE WORKED WITH KATE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

ALWAYS FOUND HER TO BE MORE THAN COMPETENT, HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL.

SHE'S AN EXCELLENT ADDITION TO THE OPEN LAND TRUST STAFF, AND I'M GLAD TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH HER AGAIN.

SO KATE, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.

GREAT.

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

UM, CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME ALL RIGHT.

TAKE SOME NODDING.

108 ACRES ON LADY'S ISLAND.

UM, WELL THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE ANNUAL REPORT TO YOU ALL.

UM, THIS AFTERNOON AS MR. GREENWAY MENTIONED, AND AS COUNCILWOMAN HOWARD NOTED, UM, THIS IS LOOKING BACK ON 20 AND, UM, IT STARTS OFF BY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT 2020 IS A UNIQUELY CHALLENGING YEAR.

I SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I WAS NOT ON STAFF FOR THE MAJORITY OF IT.

SO THIS ANNUAL REPORT IS A GREAT CREDIT TO YOUR STAFF AND YOUR COUNCIL, AS WELL AS THE BEAVER COUNTY OPEN LAND TRUST TEAM.

UM, AND ALL OF THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN LAND CONSERVATION THROUGH 2020, BUT AS YOU KNOW, SO MANY OF THESE DEALS HAVE RICH HISTORY.

UM, AND SO REALLY THIS IS A LONG, THIS IS A LONG TRIBUTE.

UM, THIS, THIS IS, UH, THE SUCCESS IS BUILT ON MANY YEARS OF HARD WORK.

SO, UM, IF YOU, IN YOUR PACKET, YOU'LL SEE A FOUR PAGE PDF, WHICH JUST HIGHLIGHTS LAND PROTECTION FOR 2020.

UM, YOU ALL CLOSED AND PROTECTED 349 ACRES, SOME FEE SIMPLE PROJECTS, AND ONE PDR CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROJECT.

UM, AND I'LL GO THROUGH THOSE THREE PROJECTS IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL, ALTHOUGH YOU CAN READ THEM ABOUT THEM IN THE DOCUMENT.

UM, THE FIRST PROJECT I'LL HIGHLIGHT IS PINE VIEW.

THIS WAS A FEE SIMPLE PURCHASE,

[00:10:01]

THIS PROJECT REALLY SPEAKS TO THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT PIECE OF THE RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS REFERENDUM.

SO ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THIS PROGRAM IS SO POPULAR AMONG COUNTY TAXPAYERS IS BECAUSE WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR REGION IS GROWING, WHICH IS A GREAT STRENGTH, BUT ONE THAT MUST BE BALANCED WITH RESOURCE CONSERVATION.

AND SO IN A RAPIDLY GROWING AREA LIKE LADY'S ISLAND RESOURCE CONSERVATION IN THE FORM OF A FEE SIMPLE PURCHASE, WHICH WILL BECOME A FEATURE PASSIVE PARK IS A PRODUCTIVE AND IMPORTANT MOVE BY BUFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

UM, THE COUNTY HAS ALREADY HIRED A PLANNING FIRM TO WORK ON AN INITIAL SITE PLAN FOR THE PROPERTY, AND YOU ALL SHOULD BE PROUD OF THIS ACQUISITION AND THE CONTINUED MOVEMENT, UM, WITH THIS PURCHASE ALONG ROCK SPRINGS CREEK AND LADIES ISLAND.

THE SECOND PROJECT TO HIGHLIGHT IS LONGWOOD.

THIS IS THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT FOR THE YEAR, UM, 227 UPLAND ACRES ON ST.

HELENA AND SOME MARSH ACREAGE.

THIS CLOSED IN, IN OCTOBER OF 2020.

AND THIS REALLY HIGHLIGHTS THE RURAL PRESERVATION COMPONENT OF THE BOND REFERENDUM AND THE RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PROGRAM GOALS.

UM, BY PROTECTING THIS PROPERTY, YOU'RE PROTECTING CANOPY ROADWAYS HABITAT AND CREATING CONTIGUITY BETWEEN OTHER RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PURCHASES, WHICH, UM, INCREASES YOUR RETURN ON YOUR PREVIOUS INVESTMENT AS WELL AS SPENDS DOLLARS FOR A GREAT CONSERVATION SUCCESS THIS YEAR.

UM, AGAIN, LONGWOOD IS ON ST.

HELENA AND WAS PROTECTED BY CONSERVATION EASEMENT.

THE THIRD AND FINAL JUST DAYS BEFORE THE END OF, UH, 2020 IS ONE THAT YOU'VE BEEN READING ABOUT IN THE NEWS, THE PORT ROYAL ISLAND, BATTLEFIELD FEES, SIMPLE ACQUISITION, AND THIS IS THE OLD HARRIS PILLOW SITE.

AND THIS IS, THIS PROJECT WAS A LONG TIME COMING, UM, AND IS REALLY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PROGRAM'S GOALS TO PROTECT CULTURAL RESOURCES AND INVEST WITH PARTNERS.

UM, THERE WERE SEVERAL PARTNERS AT THE TABLE.

THE MARINE CORPS AIR STATION DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CONTRIBUTED FUNDS, THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE CONSERVATION BANK, THE LANDOWNER, AND THE EASEMENT IS ACTUALLY HELD BY THE BATTLEGROUND TRUST TO PROTECT THIS IMPORTANT CULTURAL RESOURCE.

UM, AND SO I THINK THE THREE PROJECTS THIS YEAR REALLY HIGHLIGHT WHAT MAKES THIS PROGRAM WORK, UM, ON ITS MOST SUCCESSFUL DAYS.

AND THAT IS ITS ABILITY TO RESPOND URGENTLY TO THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE AND BE FOR COUNTY TO PROTECT NATURAL AND CULTURAL AND CRITICAL RESOURCES AND TO WORK WITH PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE OUR COUNTY FUNDS GO AS FAR AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN AND CAN BE SPENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF, UM, COUNTY RESIDENTS.

UM, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT PAGE IN THE ANNUAL REPORT, WE UPDATED THE LAND PROTECTION MAP JUST TO GIVE YOU A VISUAL.

I THINK VISUALS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LAND CONSERVATION, BECAUSE WHAT YOU CAN SEE IN THIS MAP, UM, IN ORANGE ARE THE RURAL AND CRITICAL PROPERTIES.

I JUST TALKED ABOUT THE BRIGHT GREEN ARE YOUR OTHER PROTECTED LANDS AND THE DARKER GREEN ARE ALL OTHER PROTECTED LANDS.

UM, SO WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.

WHAT'S REALLY MOTIVATING ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I'M SO EXCITED TO WORK WITH THIS PROGRAM.

UM, AND WHAT I HOPE IS MOTIVATING TO ALL OF YOU IS THAT WE ARE PART OF A BIGGER WHOLE, AND WE ARE A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF THAT PIECE BECAUSE OF THE LOCAL KNOWLEDGE AND BECAUSE OF YOUR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BUFORD COUNTY, TO RECOGNIZE THE PULSE OF THE COMMUNITY AND SEE WHERE LAND PROTECTION NEEDS TO OCCUR, UM, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE LANDSCAPE, THE NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE PUBLIC, UM, AND IT FITS INTO THIS BIGGER PICTURE.

SO OUR IMPACT IS MAGNIFIED BECAUSE WE WORK IN CONCERT WITH A LARGER CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY.

AND BECAUSE WE ARE PART OF A PROTECTED LANDSCAPE ALONG THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST.

SO IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO SEE THIS TYPE OF IMPACT.

UM, I SHOULD ALSO NOTE, AND EVEN THOUGH WE'RE PART OF A LARGER WHOLE, AS YOU KNOW, BUFORD COUNTY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LEADER OF THE PUBLIC FUNDING PIECE.

UM, AND SO IT'S GREAT TO SEE THIS TYPE OF SUCCESS, UM, AS B FRUIT WILL BE LOOKED TO MOVING FORWARD AS OTHER, UM, PLACES WONDER HOW, HOW TO PROTECT THEIR RESOURCES.

SO WELL.

UM, SO FIRST ON IN THE REPORT, YOU'LL JUST SEE SOME PROGRAM NOTES, THE RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS BOARD AND YOUR COUNTY STAFF WORKED VERY HARD OVER 2020 TO GET USED TO THE NEW ORDINANCE THAT YOU ALL PASSED.

AND THE NEW APPLICATION PROCESS, UM, TO FOCUS ON PROGRAM FINANCES AND CONTRACTING SERVICES TO BRING ON AND TRAIN SOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS.

AND SO YOU'LL SEE NOTES ABOUT KIND OF THE PROGRAM OPERATIONS MOVING FORWARD, OR FROM 2020, UM, THE NEW APPLICATION PROCESS AFFORDS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVEN GREATER EFFICIENCY.

AND, UM, THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE ONE OF THE PROGRAMS, GOALS, UM, WORKING WITH LANDOWNERS AND WORKING WITH

[00:15:01]

YOU ALL EFFICIENCY FOR THE LANDOWNER, FOR THE NATURAL RESOURCES AND FOR THE DOLLARS THAT WE SPEND.

UM, THE COUNTY ALSO SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THIS YEAR AND MOVING INTO THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS NEXT YEAR, WORKING WITH THE GREEN PRINT PROCESS.

AND SO THE RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS BOARD THIS COMING MONTH, IT'S ALREADY FEBRUARY.

SO THEIR FEBRUARY MEETING, UM, WE'LL CONSIDER AN UPDATE TO THE GREEN PRINT AND WE'LL PRESENT THAT ALL FOR, TO YOU AS WELL.

UH, I THINK THE BOARD HAS TAKEN THIS RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY, AND I HOPE YOU ALL ARE PLEASED WITH THE FEEDBACK THEY'VE SHARED TO THE CONSULTANT AND WITH THE FINAL PRODUCT FROM THE CONSULTANT.

AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT IN THE NEXT, UM, NEXT FEW MEETINGS HERE OF THE NATURAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE.

UM, YOU'LL ALSO SEE ANOTHER PREVIEW FOR YOUR 2021 PLANNING.

UM, YOU'LL SEE SOME PROJECTS COMING UP, UM, IN THE NEAR TERM, SOME PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THE DUE DILIGENCE PHASE.

UM, AND I TOOK THE LIBERTY OF THINKING ABOUT SOME GOALS FOR 2021.

AND SO AS YOU READ THROUGH AND THINK ABOUT THIS ANNUAL REPORT, AS YOU ALL MEET OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THINK ABOUT YOUR NATURAL RESOURCES GOALS IN YOUR COUNTY STRATEGIC RETREAT, UM, I'D OFFER THESE GOALS FROM THE RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS BOARD.

AND THAT IS REALLY TO HONE IN AND UNDERSTAND THE GREEN PRINT, THE GREEN PRINT IN THE PAST, JUST LIKE YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLY HELPFUL PLANNING TOOL.

WHAT CAN THE GREEN PRINT TELL US ABOUT THE PROPERTIES THAT WE ARE GOING TO PROTECT AND HOW CAN THE NEEDS OF EACH DISTRICT MEET UP WITH THE GOALS OF THE GREEN PRINT AND WHAT WE'RE LEARNING FROM THAT PROCESS? UM, I THINK BY UNDERSTANDING THAT DOCUMENT AND UNDERSTANDING EVERYONE'S DISTRICTS, WE CAN BE MORE PROACTIVE AND LANDOWNER OUTREACH, AND WE CAN BE EFFICIENT WITH PROJECTS.

UM, WE CAN ALSO WORK TOGETHER TO STREAMLINE THE APPLICATION PROCESS AGAIN, TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES FOR THE LANDOWNER AND THE COUNTY, UM, AND ALLOW THE PROGRAM TO ACT QUICKLY.

WE ARE, AGAIN, A HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER COUNTY, UM, BOTH FOR PEOPLE AND PLANTS AND ANIMALS ALIKE.

UH, SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SPEND THESE DOLLARS WITH, UM, CLEAR PRIORITY AND WITH EFFICIENCY TO HELP THEM HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT.

UM, I'D LOVE TO GET YOU ALL OUT ON SOME PROPERTIES.

UM, I KNOW COVID HAS FORCED A LOT OF PEOPLE BEHIND SCREENS, BUT ALSO EVEN MORE SO OUTDOORS.

SO LET'S TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS TIME AND SET UP SOME SITE VISITS ON A ONE-ON-ONE OR TWO ON ONE BASIS WITH YOUR RURAL AND CRITICAL BOARD COUNTERPART.

I'D LOVE TO USE THE SPRING MONTHS, MAYBE THE MORNING OF NATURAL RESOURCES MEETINGS, OR THE MORNING OF RURAL, OF RURAL AND CRITICAL BOARD MEETINGS TO GO OUT AND VISIT SOME PROTECTIVE PROPERTIES.

WE HAVE SOME WILLING LANDOWNERS WHO WOULD BE EXCITED TO SHOW YOU AROUND, AND I THINK IT'D BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

I'M A FORMER NATURALIST AND KAYAK GUIDE.

AND SO SELFISHLY IT WOULD BE REALLY FUN, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY MEANINGFUL FOR YOU AS WELL, TO SEE SOME OF YOUR INVESTMENT ON THE GROUND.

AND THEN, UM, FINALLY TO INCREASE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND INVEST IN LAND CONSERVATION, LEVERAGING ALL OF THE POSSIBLE DOLLARS AS OUR REGION GROWS.

I THINK THIS GOAL, AGAIN, SPEAKS TO THE URGENCY THAT WE HAVE, UM, AND BEING A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE MOVING TO AND, UM, AND LIVING IN, AND REALLY WHAT THIS PROGRAM CAN DO TO ENHANCE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.

SO WITH THAT, I'D LOVE ANY QUESTIONS.

UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND, UM, I REALLY LIKED THAT IDEA OF GETTING OUT AND SEEING THESE SITES AND OUR PASSIVE PARKS TOO.

UM, OKAY.

UH, WE HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT FROM, UM, CHAIRMAN PASSMAN.

UH, TWO THINGS.

UM, I CERTAINLY LIKED THE APPROACH THAT YOU'RE TAKING KATE.

UH, SO IF YOU WILL PLEASE PUT IN WRITING TO OUR CHAIR, WOMAN OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

SO THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE ON THEIR LIST OF THINGS TO DO FOR THE REMAINDER OF YEAR.

THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.

AND NUMBER TWO, YOU AND I HAVE TALKED THAT WE NOW WANT TO BRANCH OUT OF BUFORD COUNTY TO TALK TO OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES ABOUT REGIONAL CONFERENCE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING CONSERVATION.

THAT'S A TONGUE TWISTER.

SO YEAH, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO PUT ON OUR PLATE FOR THE FUTURE AS WELL.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS THAT WAS OUTSTANDING REPORT? ALL GOOD NEWS.

UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY.

THANK YOU, KATE.

WE'LL SEE YOU SHORTLY SOON REGARDING EXECUTIVE SESSION TWO.

WE HAVE ON OUR AGENDA, NUMBER EIGHT, A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING SIX CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO STORM WATER AND PUBLIC WORKS.

UM, MOVING ON,

[8. CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING 6 CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO STORMWATER AND PUBLIC WORKS. ]

AND WE HAVE THESE PEOPLE LISTED BY NAME.

UM, SOMEONE ON STAFF WANT TO GO OVER THESE WITH US, OR DO YOU WANT ME TO READ THEM OUT LOUD AND NAMES? WE CAN DO IT EITHER WAY.

MADAM CHAIRMAN NAILED THE ON I'M AVAILABLE TO READ THEM BY NAME

[00:20:01]

OR, UH, AS YOU WOULD.

THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE GOOD, MR. GSI.

AND IF YOU COULD KIND OF, UH, GIVE US A SHORT SUMMARY OF WHAT THEIR DUTIES WILL BE IN THESE, BY THIS APPOINTMENT.

UH, I'LL READ THE FIRST FIVE AS THEY'RE WITH THE STORMWATER, UH, GROUP, UH, DANNY POLK, AMBER WOODS, JACOB KATIE HERRERA, KAYNOR POWELL.

UH, I MENTIONED WITHIN THE STORMWATER DIVISION, UH, THESE INDIVIDUALS AS THEY, UH, INSPECT CONSTRUCTION SITES THAT WE PERMIT, UH, WILL ALLOW THEM TO ENSURE THAT THE SITES ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR, UH, CODES AND REQUIREMENTS ARE PARTICULARLY FOR WATER ISSUES, UH, JUST TO ENSURE SEDIMENTS AND THINGS ARE NOT LEAVING THE SITE.

AND WE'RE PROTECTING OUR, UH, THE LAST JOEL, MR. BOBBY ANDERSON HE'S WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS GROUP.

HE'LL BE WORKING PRIMARILY WITH ABANDONED VESSELS THAT ARE WITHIN OUR WATER WATERWAYS, JUST TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE, UM, WORKING CLOSELY WITH DNR TO ENSURE THAT IF THEY ARE VESSELS THAT NEED TO BE REMOVED, UH, THAT WE ARE DOING SO WITH THE PROPER AGENCY TO HELP ASSIST THEM TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, TO KIND OF LEAVE OUR WATERWAYS OPEN FOR RECREATION AND COMMERCIAL USE.

NOW, WILL THESE PEOPLE BE ABLE, OR LET ME ASK, DOES ANYONE WANT TO SEE ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS? AND THEN I HAVE A QUESTION.

UM, MR. DAWSON, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? I THINK YOU'RE ON MUTE, COUNCILMAN DAWSON.

HE'S IN THE CAR.

ANY COUNCILMAN DAWSON? WE, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.

DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DUTIES? I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE ABANDON, UM, WOR IF THINGS IN THE WATER WASTE, WHAT DO WE HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE SO PROBABLY WITHIN THE LAST YEAR OR SO? WE PROBABLY TOOK AROUND HALF A DOZEN, UH, VESSELS, UH, OUT FROM OUR WATERWAYS, WORKING CLOSELY WITH DNR, UH, ENSURING THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T BECOME A LIABILITY OR A HAZARD FOR FOLKS THAT ARE USING, UM, OUR RIVERS AND CREEKS.

COUNCILMAN DAWSON, WHERE, YOU KNOW, YES.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN.

NOW THANK YOU.

GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

OFFICERS PATROLLING AND MONITORING THE QUESTION.

DID YOU HEAR THAT MR. DECIDE? HE SAID, WHEN WILL THEY START MONITORING AND PATROLLING? UM, I THINK PASSING OF THIS RESOLUTION STARTS THE PROCESS.

UH, WE'VE ALREADY STARTED TO PURCHASE A TICKET BOOKS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO I BELIEVE THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN THE PROCESS TO GET, UH, OUR FOLKS, UM, UH, CERTIFIED AS CODE AS ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

AND WILL PEOPLE GET A WARNING AND THEN LATER A TICKET? I MEAN, I'M SURE THERE'LL BE A, THERE WILL BE SOME GRACE PERIOD IN SOME OF THESE DISCRETION.

THAT'S CORRECT.

WE, WE HAVE WORKED WITH OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS, UH, TO PROVIDE SOME TRAINING TO THESE FIRST FIVE INDIVIDUALS ABOUT ISSUING TICKETS AND HOW WE RAMP UP AND ENFORCEMENT ACTION.

SO THAT'S ALREADY HAVE TAKEN PLACE.

UH, OBVIOUSLY THERE'LL BE SOME LEARNING CURVE AS, UH, THAT THE CONSTRUCTION COMMUNITY GETS USED TO, UH, UH, SOME OF THE ENFORCEMENTS, BUT, UH, OUR GOAL IS COMPLIANCE, NOT NECESSARILY TUITION.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE, UM, MOST OF THE INDIVIDUALS ON LINE WITH US THAT ARE GOING TO BE APPOINTED.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

UM, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING ON THESE ADDITIONAL DUTIES.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES.

CHAIRMAN A THE ABANDONED FESSEL.

ARE WE ABLE TO TRACE DOWN THE OWNERS BECAUSE THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF NUMBERING SYSTEM OR PERMITTED THE SYSTEM ABOUT THOSE VESSELS? SO CHAIRMAN PAT SMITH, WE, WE FOLLOW THE PROTOCOLS THAT DNR SETS FORTH, WHERE THEY GET IN TOUCH WITH THE OWNER, IF POSSIBLE, UH, THERE'S A GRACE PERIOD THAT ALLOWS THE OWNER TO EITHER, UH, RECLAIM THEIR VESSEL.

OR IF THERE'S NO ACTION, THEN THERE'S A GRACE PERIOD OF A WAITING PERIOD.

AND THEN, UH, WE FOLLOW BASICALLY THEIR GUIDELINES.

WE ARE KIND OF THE CONTRACTOR, SO TO SAY OF, OF THE VESSELS, BUT ALL THE, ALL THE LEGAL AND THE CORRECT PROCEDURES ARE KIND OF DONE THROUGH DNR.

I SEE EVERYONE DOES BEING APPOINTED, I THINK, EXCEPT BOBBY ANDERSON, IS THAT CORRECT? WILL YOU SEE THE FACES OF ALL THE OTHER, SO WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL BEING HERE.

UM, OKAY.

ANY, ANY, IF THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OH, MR. GLOVER, COUNCILMAN GLOVER HAS

[00:25:01]

A QUESTION.

GO AHEAD.

I DIDN'T REALIZE I WASN'T THAT ON MEALTIME NEIL, WHEN IT MAY ASK THIS QUESTION HERE, UM, FOR CLARIFICATION, UM, IF THERE'S A, AN ILLEGAL, ILLEGAL INFILLING OF LAND, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WILL, WILL, WILL SITE IF SOMEBODY IS BASICALLY FILLING IN AN AREA THAT SHOULD NOT BE DONE? YEAH.

I DIDN'T HEAR YOUR ANSWER.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU HE'S ON MUTE.

YOU WANT TO MUTE, SORRY ABOUT THAT.

IF THE PROPER PERMITTING HAS NOT BEEN OBTAINED FROM THE PROPERTY OWNER, THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, W WE WILL ALWAYS CHECK WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO ENSURE THAT, UH, PERMITS IN PLACE, BUT, UH, IT CAN BE, AND WE WILL WORK WITH THE CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT AS WELL.

I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.

WILL THESE TICKETS GO TO A MAGISTRATE COURT OR HOW WILL THEY BE HANDLED? YES, MA'AM THAT THEY WILL GO THROUGH MAGISTRATE COURT.

WE HAD A PRELIMINARY TRAINING WITH, UH, I BELIEVE TWO OR THREE OF THE MAGISTRATES ALREADY, JUST TO ENSURE THAT, UH, THEY WERE AWARE THAT THIS, UH, THESE CODE ENFORCEMENT, ANY POTENTIAL TICKETS WOULD COME ON DOWN, WOULD COME ON DOWN WITHIN THE PROCESS.

AND SO, UH, WE, WE ALSO HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH BRITNEY WARD IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE ALL THE PROPER PROCEDURES ARE IN PLACE AS WE WRITE THESE TICKETS.

GREAT.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

UM, DO WE, CAN THIS, I, TO HEAR A MOTION TO GO FORWARD WITH THESE, A RESOLUTION, SO MODE, ALRIGHT.

MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMAN SOMERVILLE AND SECOND BY COUNCILMAN GLOVER.

WITHOUT EXCEPTION, THIS WILL GO FORWARD TO FULL COUNCIL.

THANK YOU, MADAM MADAM CHAIR.

ON THE AGENDA ARE BOARDS AND COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

IF I COULD, WE WOULD, UH, WE HAVE, THE STAFF LEVEL WOULD LIKE TO MAP THOSE TO THE VERY NEXT COUNT FOR MEETINGS SO WE CAN GO AHEAD AND GET THESE FOLKS UP JULIE AUTHORIZED AND PUT THEM TO WORK, UH, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU.

[9. CONSIDERATION OF THE REAPPOINTMENT FOR KEVIN HENNELLY (2nd TERM) AND CECILY McMILLAN (2nd TERM) TO PLANNING COMMISSION ]

DO WE HAVE THOSE UP ON THE SCREEN? DO YOU WANT TO DO THAT? UM, YEAH, I CAN DO IT.

IT'S BASICALLY THE REAPPOINTMENT OBSESSIVELY MILAN, AND KEVIN ONLY THEY'VE SERVED ON OUR PLANNING COMMISSION FOR A FEW YEARS NOW.

THEY DO AN EXCELLENT JOB, VERY THOROUGH, UH, VERY ANALYTICAL TO THEIR WORK AND PERFORMING THEIR DUTIES.

AND WE WOULD, WE WERE, WE WERE WOODWARD CLINICS, THEIR REAPPOINTMENT, AS YOU CAN SEE, IT WILL BE, UH, THEIR SECOND TERM ON THE COMMISSION.

I THINK ACCESSALLY MILAN SERVED, UH, SOME TIME AGO ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION WAS ALL FOR A WHILE AND THEN CAME BACK ON AND THIS WILL BE HER SECOND TERM UNDERNEATH THE NEW PART OR OUR REAPPOINTMENT.

THAT'S ALL I GOT.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO MOVE THIS APPOINTMENT? OH, WE HAVE.

COMMENT BEFORE.

NO, A MOTION TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.

DID I HAVE A SECOND? I HAVE A SECOND.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN DAWSON.

NATURAL RESOURCE VACANCIES.

WITHOUT EXCEPTION, WE'LL MOVE THIS FORWARD TO FULL COUNCIL FOR REAPPOINTMENTS.

AND, UM, NUMBER 10 IS

[10. NATURAL RESOURCES VACANCIES ]

WE HAVE TWO ON THE RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS, AND I KNOW BOTH THE DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES, UH, IS DISTRICT FIVE AND 10.

IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.

UM, WE, BOTH OF THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE WORKING HARD ON THOSE.

AND, UM, IS THERE ANY OTHERS FOR NATURAL RESOURCES? I THINK THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO WE'RE MISSING THE ONLY BOARD THAT WE'RE MISSING PEOPLE AT THIS TIME, AND THEY HAVE PUT THAT UP ON THE SCREEN FOR EVERYBODY TO SEE.

AND IT WAS IN YOUR PACKET TOO, I THOUGHT.

THERE'S NO DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.

I DON'T THINK, UM, WE NOW WILL HAVE CITIZEN'S COMMENTS.

UH, MS. BROCK, DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZENS COMMENTS? I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY EMAIL.

AND, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF THE PEOPLE LOGGED ON WISH TO SPEAK.

THERE'S A JACOB BRADS AND MIKE MCSHANE.

WERE THEY PART OF THE RESOLUTION? UM, JACOB BRASS WAS, AND MIKE MCSHANE IS ON BOARD FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION THEN? NO, MAN, WE DON'T.

I WILL READ, UH, WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION SWEDEN TO SOUTH CAROLINA CODE SECTION 30 DASH FOUR DASH SEVEN ZERO TWO.

UH,

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

AT THIS TIME

[00:30:01]

WE WILL DISCUSS, UH, NEGOTIATIONS AND RECEIPT OF LEGAL ADVICE RELATED TO PENDING LITIGATION REGARDING HILTON HEAD NATIONAL SLASH SCRATCH GOLF.

AND THEN WE ALSO WILL BE DISCUSSING SEPARATELY, UM, DISCUSSION OF NEGOTIATIONS INCIDENT TO PROPOSE CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS AND PROPOSED SALE OR PURCHASE OF PROPERTY.

UM, OUR THREE HUNDREDS, ZERO 11 ZERO (000) 049-0000, AND ALSO KNOWN AS THE HENRY FARMS NORTH.

WE WILL, UM, COME BACK INTO REGULAR SESSION IF THERE ARE MATTERS ARISING OUT OF EXECUTIVES.

WELCOME BACK.

UH, WE ARE BACK IN OPEN SESSION.

[14. MATTERS ARISING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION]

WE HAD ONE MANNER COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION REGARDING NUMBER 13.

UM, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION REGARDING THAT.

UM, MADAM CHAIRMAN, I'M NOT TOO SURE HOW THIS MOTION SHOULD BE CITED.

UM, AND I IS, IS IT A SALE? UM, YES.

WELL, WE ARE GOING TO BE PURCHASING THE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS TO DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS TO MOVE TO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, TO PURCHASE THE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS FOR THE HENRY FARMS NORTH PROPERTY.

YORKIE, IS THAT WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MOVE IN? UM, YEAH, I WANT TO MAKE SURE NOW IS K, IS THAT WHAT WE NEED TO DO? OKAY.

SHE'S NODDING HER HEAD.

YES, YES, THEN THAT'S MY EMOTION.

BUT, UM, UM, JOE JUST MENTIONED THAT WE MOVED FORWARD TO THE PURCHASE OF THE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS OF THE HENRY FARMS NORTH ON SIGNAL NOW AS DESCRIBED IN NUMBER 13.

WE HAVE A SECOND, 13 YEARS.