[00:00:01]
AMES.[1. Call to Order]
YES, YES, YES, YES.WE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FREEDOM COMMISSIONER.
PLEASE JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL THE VOCATION WILL BE GIVEN BY PISHER JULIA WILKINS, THE PRICE LUTHERAN CHURCH PASTOR.
GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER TODAY.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR WONDERFUL CREATION FOR THIS WONDERFUL ISLAND.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE PEOPLE THAT CALL IT HOME.
I THANK YOU FOR ALL THE PEOPLE GATHERED HERE DEDICATED TO SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION.
WE KNOW THAT YOU LOVE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE CREATED, HELP ALL OF US IN POSITIONS OF POWER TO CARE FOR, AND SERVE EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF AGE, RACE, RELIGION, OR ECONOMIC STATUS, HELP US TO FILL YOUR WORLD WITH JUSTICE, PEACE AND LOVE.
HELP US TO BE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU CREATED US TO BE GUIDE OUR STEPS AND GIVE US WISDOM AND OUR DECISIONS AND THE COURAGE TO SEE THEM THROUGH.
WE ASK THIS IN YOUR MANY NAMES.
[5. Approval of the Agenda]
THE MINUTES, THE AGENDA FOR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA HAS DISTRIBUTED ALL IN FAVOR.[6. Approval of the Minutes]
GO TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES, THE MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 23RD AS UP MOVING FOR APPROVAL OF THE FEBRUARY 23RD MINUTES BY ALL THE SAME, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, PLEASE.THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF MARCH 2ND, MOVE FOR THEIR APPROVAL.
ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
[7. Report of the Town Manager]
MANAGER.MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
A FEW UPDATES BEFORE WE JUMPED INTO THE, UH, ON, UH, AGENDA ITEMS. UH, JUST A LITTLE BIT, UH, OF WHERE MY TIME HAS BEEN SPENT.
I ATTENDED THE NATIVE ISLAND LEADERSHIP MEETING.
UH, THANK YOU TO THE ATLANTA SELLERS FOR INVITING ME TO COUNCIL BROWN FOR HAVING ME, UH, HAD SOME VERY THOROUGH DISCUSSIONS REGARDING THE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS AND, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE STAFF UPDATE THAT, THAT I KNOW WELL OUT HERE TONIGHT ON THE TASK FORCE, UH, ALSO AS A FOLLOW-UP TO YOUR DIRECTION AT THE RECENT PARK AND REC MASTER PLAN WORKSHOP, THE TOWN COUNCIL HELD THE RFQ IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING THE RFQ FOR THE MID ISLAND TRACT AND THE REDEVELOPMENT STRATEGY AS WELL ON YOUR WAY.
I JUST WANT TO SAY A SPECIAL, THANK YOU.
WHO'S BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD TO GET IT RIGHT, TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT RFQ IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED SO THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY SEEKING THE SPECIFIC HEALTH.
AND, UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE HER WORK HER WITH HER STAFF MEMBERS.
WE'RE ALSO IN A FINAL STEP TO SOLIDIFY A CONTRACT FOR THE LAND PLANNING CONSULTANT TEAM FOR THE GATEWAY CORRIDOR AND STUNNING CORRIDOR PROJECT.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER WORKSHOP.
CHRIS HAS BEEN IN TOUCH SET FOR THE 24TH OF MARCH.
THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
I AM PLEASED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT DOD SHOWED UP YESTERDAY AND MET WITH OUR DEPUTY HOW MANAGER, JOSH RUBIN, AND REALLY JUST START TEARING OUT A LOT OF YOUR COMMENTS.
WE'VE BEEN EXTREMELY VOCAL AS HAVE I BEEN WITH STAFF WITH DDOT THROUGH JOSH, AND THEN ALSO WITH THIS CONSULTANT THAT WE'RE UTILIZING WITH THE COUNTY HDR.
AND I KNOW WE'LL HAVE A LOT MORE INFORMATION FOR YOU ON THE 24TH.
UM, MY ANTICIPATION IS WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS WEEKLY AND OFTEN UNTIL WE AT LEAST ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AND START GETTING IT RIGHT.
AND SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT DEITY TRAVELED HERE FROM COLUMBIA AND OR CHARLESTON OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS TO COME AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IN ADDITION TO, UM, THEIR, THEIR CURRENT, THEIR CURRENT UNDERSTANDING.
AND THEN LASTLY, UM, I REALIZED, AND I'VE, I'VE BEEN HEARING SINCE I STARTED THAT THOUGH VOLUME
[00:05:01]
OF DEVELOPMENT AND BUILDING PERMITS IS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH AND THAT THE DESIRE OF OUR CONTRACTORS, UM, IS, IS THEY'RE THERE.THEY NEED US NOW MORE THAN EVER, SIMPLY BECAUSE OF VOLUME BECAUSE OF A PANDEMIC BECAUSE OF A CHANGING MARKET.
I HAD A GREAT MEETING WITH, UH, AN AWESOME GROUP OF PEOPLE TODAY HERE ON STAFF TO REALLY START UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE'RE DOING WELL AND WHAT WE'RE NOT DOING.
WELL, I APPRECIATE AGAIN, JENNIFER AND SHAUN'S, UH, COMMITMENT TO IT ALONG WITH THE CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL AND TERRY LEWIS AND THE WHOLE TEAM.
UM, WE'VE REACHED OUT TO THE HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION, SIMPLY THAT I ASK THE QUESTION, HOW ARE WE DOING? AND ALSO, HOW CAN WE HELP YOU? AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD SOME GREAT DIALOGUE IN THE LAST 48 HOURS.
I SHARED THAT WITH YOU TONIGHT SO THAT YOU KNOW, THAT I'M COMMITTED TO IMPROVING OUR SERVICES RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE.
AND THAT I ALSO CAN THANK STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND DILIGENCE ON THIS.
UM, I'LL TURN MY ATTENTION TO, UH, SEVEN, EIGHT PARKS AND REC COMMISSION UPDATE BY RAY KASIAH.
UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, UH, THE FLOOR IS YOURS OR ARE YOU READY? ARE YOU THERE? CAN YOU HEAR ME? CAN YOU SEE ME? OKAY.
MAYOR MCCANN MEMBERS OF THE SOUND COUNCIL, TOWN, STAFF MEMBERS, MR MANAGER, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE YOU TO PRESENT THE REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF YOUR PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION COMMISSION HAS BEEN WORKING HARD ON YOUR BEHALF.
AND INDEED IT'S AN EXCITING TIME FOR PARKS AND RECREATION HERE ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
IN ADDITION TO THE ITEMS LISTED IN THE WRITTEN REPORT, THAT'S IN YOUR PACKET, WOULD, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO DISCUSS WITH YOU THE ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMISSION IN REGARD TO PLANNING FOR THREE MAJOR PARK INITIATIVES BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN AND OUR PLAN, THE TOWN'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
AS I STATED WHEN FIRST APPROACHING THE COUNCIL ABOUT THE NEED FOR A MASTER PLAN, A GOAL WITHOUT A PLAN IS JUST A WISH.
AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THE CROSSINGS PARK, REDEVELOPMENT, THE CHAPLAIN COMMUNITY PARK REDEVELOPMENT, AND THE CREATION OF THE NEW PARK ON THE MID ISLAND TRACT.
WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY CREATE A STATE OF THE ART PARK DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS, BUT ALSO ENHANCE ECONOMIC GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES ON OUR ISLAND.
SEVERAL NEEDS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE RECENT STRATEGIC PLANS IN EACH OF THESE THREE PARK PROJECTS PROVIDE POTENTIAL ANSWERS TO THESE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL NEEDS IS THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION THAT THE TOWN PROCEED WITH THE PLANNING OF THESE PARKS, UTILIZING A COORDINATED AND SYSTEMATIC APPROACH.
IT'S UNDERSTOOD THAT THE MID ISLAND TRACK PROVIDES A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR EXCELLENCE IN PARK DEVELOPMENT AND CAN BE A CROWNING JEWEL IN THE TOWN'S OVERALL PARK SYSTEM, MUCH LIKE CELEBRATION PARK.
HOWEVER, IT SHOULD BE PLANNED IN A COORDINATED WAY WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE OTHER TWO PARKS.
THIS APPROACH WILL ENABLE US TO MEET THE NEEDS IDENTIFIED IN OUR PLAN FOR ACTIVE RECREATION WHILE PRESERVING THE NATURAL RESOURCES FOUND IN ALL IN ALL THREE OF THESE PARKS, THE MID ISLAND TRACK IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR A WELL-BALANCED PARK OFFERING BOTH PASSIVE AND ACTIVE RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES.
COORDINATING THE PLANNING FOR THIS PARK WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF CROSSINGS AND CHAPLAIN COMMUNITY PARK WILL ALLOW US TO BEST DETERMINE WHAT'S FACILITIES ARE THE BEST FIT IN EACH LOCATION.
THIS WILL TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE PROFESSIONAL PLANNING AND EFFORT TO DETERMINE THE BEST USE OF EACH PROPERTY BASED ON SEVERAL FACTORS, INCLUDING THE NATURAL RESOURCES, THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF FACILITIES AND THE D AND THE DESIRE TO NOT ONLY BE GOOD NEIGHBORS TO THE NEARBY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES, BUT ALSO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY THROUGH THE MID ISLAND TRACK FOR ENHANCED ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ON THIS PART OF OUR ISLANDS, WE CAN DO THIS GREAT PARKS CAN DO GREAT THINGS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE AND RESOLVE TO MAKE HILTON HEAD'S PARK SYSTEM ACHIEVE OUR GOAL OF HIGH QUALITY BEST IN CLASS PARKS.
AND I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO THANK, UH, TAYLOR LAD AND JENNIFER ARRAY, MARCI BENSON, EILEEN WILSON, AND JULIAN WALL, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE TOWN STAFF WHO HAD BROUGHT US TO THIS POINT IN REVITALIZING OUR PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAM.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO TRY TO ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
[00:10:02]
ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? THANK YOU, RIGHT.THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, RE UH, AND APPRECIATE IT.
UH, NEXT, THE GULLAH GEECHEE LAND AND CULTURE PRESERVATION TASK FORCE PROJECT UPDATE.
WE SEE, UH, SHARIECE DUBOSE ON HERE, BUT I KNOW THAT JENNIFER RAY WILL BE PROVIDING THE UPDATE TONIGHT.
UM, AND LET ME JUST START OFF BY SAYING THAT, UM, I KNOW MY NAME'S COMING UP AND THAT'S GREAT, BUT I'M PART OF A REALLY AMAZING TEAM.
UM, AND THIS PROJECT, THE GOAL OF ICI, UM, TASK FORCE PROJECT IS NO DIFFERENT, UM, SHEREE, CENTAURI, AND JAMIE, WE'VE GOT TO OUR TALENT ATTORNEY, YOU KNOW, BIG TEAM WORKING ON THIS PROJECT, BUT I WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE AND JUST KIND OF STEP BACK, UM, TO WHERE THIS STARTED AND THEN, AND I WON'T TAKE LONG, UM, BUT JUST GET YOU UP TO SPEED TO WHERE WE ARE NOW, AND THEN GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS.
SO YOU MAY RECALL THAT IN, UM, SEPTEMBER OF 2018, WE STARTED A PROJECT WITH THE WALKER COLLABORATIVE, AND I KNOW, UM, YOU ALL HAVE GOTTEN A COPY OF THE REPORT.
THIS IS THE COVER YOU CAN SEE HERE.
UM, THAT REPORT INCLUDED 34 RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE GATHERED AND DEVELOPED BY THE CONSULTANT WITH THE HELP OF THE TASK FORCE AND AN EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS THROUGH THAT 12 RECOMMENDATIONS WERE IDENTIFIED AS THE TOP PRIORITY.
THE CATEGORIES WERE CULTURAL PRESERVATION, PUBLIC POLICY AND HEIRS PROPERTY.
SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE REPORT WE PUT IN YOUR PACKET, THAT'S WHAT THE CODE, THE INITIALS ARE.
UM, CEPI IS CULTURAL PRESERVATION.
PP IS PUBLIC POLICY AND HP IS HEIRS PROPERTY.
SO IN NOVEMBER OF 2019, WE BROUGHT FORWARD WITH THE HELP OF THE TASK FORCE, A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL WITH THE TOP, A FRAMEWORK FOR THE TOP PRIORITY PROJECTS.
AND AT THAT MEETING, Y'ALL BLESSED IT AND TOLD US TO MOVE FORWARD, UM, CONTINUING TO DEVELOP THOSE HIGH PRIORITIES.
SO THE TOP PRIORITY WAS IDENTIFIED AS AN OVERLAY DISTRICT.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE 12 RECOMMENDATIONS, THERE ARE REALLY FOUR, UM, FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COMPRISE THAT OVERLAY.
IT WAS CREATION OF THE DISTRICT PROVIDING GREATER FLEXIBILITY AND RIGHT OF WAYS AND DRAINAGE, EASEMENTS, FAST TRACKING THE D DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCESS, AND THEN ADDING FAMILY COMPOUND AND FAMILY SUBDIVISION TO THE LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE.
THOSE WERE PROBABLY ABOUT 75% COMPLETE THAT EFFORT, FAMILY COMPOUND AND FAMILY SUBDIVISION STAFF WOULD ESTIMATE WE'RE FARTHER ALONG BECAUSE WE BELIEVE OUR NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO HAVE SOME MEETINGS WITH THE ENTIRE COUNCIL.
WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK THROUGH UP TO THAT POINT, BUT THAT'S OUR NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO WORK THAT THROUGH WITH Y'ALL, WHETHER IT'S AT A MEETING OR A WORKSHOP, OR HOWEVER YOU WOULD DIRECT US TO DO THAT, BUT THAT'S BEEN OUR TOP PRIORITY OVER THE PAST YEAR.
UM, KEEPING IN MIND THAT JUST LIKE Y'ALL PIVOTED TO, UM, VIRTUAL MEETINGS, THE TASK FORCE DID TOO, BUT THERE WAS A DELAY BEFORE GETTING THE, UM, OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCE ON VIRTUAL.
SO WE'VE MISSED A FEW MONTHS WORKING WITH THEM AND HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN DEVELOPING THAT OVERLAY.
SOME OF THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT WERE DETERMINED TO BE A PRIORITY, BUT NOT THE NUMBER ONE ARE WORKING WITH GULLAH PROPERTY AND BUSINESS OWNERS.
AND THAT'S AN ONGOING, UM, INITIATIVE.
WE GET CALLS SHARIECE GETS CALLS, UM, WHEN TOWN HALL WAS OPEN WALK-INS, UM, SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK FROM PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT EITHER HAVE A PROBLEM OR A QUESTION, OR JUST WANT HELP WALKING THROUGH UNDERSTANDING THE LMO, SEEING WHAT THEY COULD POTENTIALLY DO WITH THEIR PROPERTY, UM, WHETHER IT'S FROM ADDING ANOTHER UNIT TO CHANGING THEIR ACCESS, YOU KNOW, ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
UM, AND SHARIECE IS OUR POINT PERSON FOR THAT.
AND SHE'S THE FIRST PERSON, WHEN ANYTHING COMES IN THAT IN, WITHIN THE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS, THAT SHE IS THE GO-TO, SHE EVEN WORKS WITH SOME OF THE OTHER STAFF, THE SENIOR PLANNERS AS PROJECTS GET SUBMITTED, THEY, UM, BRING TERESA IN TO HELP BRIDGE THAT CONNECTION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
IT WILL NEVER BE OVER, UM, BECAUSE THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOMETHING, UM, TO HELP.
SO WE WOULD CALL THAT ONE ONGOING, SOMETHING THAT'S MOVED A LITTLE BIT FASTER, UM, IN THE MORE RECENT,
[00:15:01]
UM, TERM WOULD BE THE WORK WITH THE HERITAGE LIBRARY AND GENEALOGY.I WOULD SAY THOSE EFFORTS ARE ABOUT 50% COMPLETE.
THE TWO RECOMMENDATIONS WERE PROMOTING HERITAGE LIBRARY FOR HISTORICAL RESEARCH AND GENEALOGY RESEARCH, AND THEN USING THE HERITAGE LIBRARY AS A FIRST STEP TO CLEAR LAND TITLE, YOU ALL HAVE PROBABLY HEARD ABOUT HEIRS PROPERTY AND WHAT A CONCERN THAT IS.
AND ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS IN CLEARING TITLE IS TO, UM, TO DO THAT RESEARCH AND UNDERSTAND WHAT KIND OF, WHAT YOU'RE UP AGAINST THERE AND THE HERITAGE LIBRARY, AND SHARIECE HAVE MET SEVERAL TIMES, UM, AND THEY HAVE COME TO US WITH A PROPOSAL ABOUT, UM, SETTING UP SOME COMPUTERS AND HOW THEY CAN HELP WITH THAT RESEARCH.
AND SO I BELIEVE THAT WILL BE A BENEFIT AND IT WAS ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITY PROJECTS.
SOME OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD, UM, A LITTLE BIT LESS WORK, I'D SAY WE'RE PROBABLY IN THE 10 TO 20% EFFORT, UM, OR PROCESSED THROUGH WOULD BE TEMPORARY AND SEASONAL SIGNS AND, UH, INVENTORY OF CULTURAL RESOURCES, A CULTURAL PRESERVATION PLAN, AND THEN ONGOING ALSO AS DELINQUENT TAXES AND ONGOING IS RECOGNIZING THE CHURCHES AS A SOURCE OF LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNICATION.
WE HAVE SENT LETTERS AND, UM, MAILINGS AND EMAIL FOLLOW-UPS WITH THE CHURCHES, AND THEY'VE BEEN GREAT IN HELPING, UM, DISSEMINATE INFORMATION, UM, WHEN WE HAVE A MEETING OR SOMETHING GOING ON, AND WE'VE ALSO, UM, OFFERED UP OUR SERVICES, IF THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD COME IN AND HELP, HELP EXPLAIN.
AND THEN THE FUND FOR DELINQUENT TAXES, THAT WAS THE OTHER ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES.
AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH BUFORD COUNTY, UM, WITH THE PENN CENTER, THEY HAVE A NEW LAND PRESERVATION GRANT PROGRAM, AS WELL AS, UM, THE TASK FORCE AND SOME OF THEIR MEMBERS AND WAYS TO, UM, PROVIDE RELIEF FOR DELINQUENT TAXES.
SO IT'S BEEN A BUSY YEAR OR SO SINCE WE WERE WITH YOU, UM, SPECIFICALLY ADOPTING THAT FRAMEWORK.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS JUST GIVE YOU A COUPLE MINUTES ABOUT THE OVERLAY, BECAUSE THAT WAS THE TOP PRIORITY.
AND JUST LET YOU KNOW WHERE WE ARE.
WE WORKED THROUGH WITH THE TASK FORCE, THEY MADE A RECOMMENDATION THAT, THAT TOOK SEVERAL OVER SEVERAL MONTHS.
SEVERAL MEETINGS WORKED THROUGH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE LMO COMMITTEE AND THEN HAD A PUBLIC HEARING WITH PLANNING COMMISSION.
THAT'S WHEN YOU PROBABLY SAW THE HUNDREDS OF SIGNS AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF MAILED LETTERS AND POSTINGS.
AND WE GOT A LOT OF FEEDBACK, UM, GOOD AND NOT SO GOOD, OR FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE AND HAVE STARTED WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE.
AND THEY MADE A RECOMMENDATION WHERE WE REALLY PARE BACK WHAT IS THE ENTIRE OVERLAY TO START SMALL AND POTENTIALLY GROW MORE IN THE FUTURE, IF THAT IS THE DESIRE OF TOWN COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY.
SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IS A FAMILY COMPOUND AND FAMILY SUBDIVISION, WHICH IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE WE HEAR CONTINUOUSLY FROM THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT COME IN TO MEET WITH US IS THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD REALLY BENEFIT, UM, THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS.
AND THAT WAS SOME OF THE PUSHBACK THAT WE GOT LAST FALL.
WHEN WE TRIED TO BRING THIS BIGGER OVERLAY, WAS THE, UM, WAS IT REALLY GOING TO HELP THE PEOPLE THAT'S INTENDED TO HELP, UH, WE'RE THERE, WHICH I THINK WITH SOME OF THE CHANGES WE'VE PROPOSED, IT WILL, UM, ARE THERE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES? IS IT GOING TO AFFECT, UM, NEIGHBORS OR OTHERS ADVERSELY? AND, UM, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN PAIRED OUT FOR NOW UNTIL THEY GET SOME MORE RESEARCH, UM, THAT THOSE PARTS ARE GONE.
SO IT SHOULD ONLY BE A BENEFIT TO THE, TO THE PEOPLE THAT STRICTLY INTENDED TO BENEFIT.
AND, UM, AT THIS TIME I'D BE HAPPY TO GET SOME DIRECTION ON HOW YOU MIGHT WANT TO MOVE THAT FORWARD.
OR IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER AT THIS TIME.
THE FALSE GOD OF THE 12 MAJOR ITEMS HERE.
HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT WILL TAKE YOU TO COMPLETE THOSE 12? WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ONGOING, UM, WORK? I WOULD THINK WITHIN THIS CALENDAR YEAR, IF, UM, WE MOVED FORWARD THE OVERLAY, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ALL ARE READY, IF YOU, IF I KNEW WHEN THAT WAS COMING, THEN EVERYTHING THAT'S IN STAFF'S HANDS, WE COULD PROBABLY MOVE FORWARD.
UM, WITHIN THIS CALENDAR YEAR, MAYBE SOONER, WHAT DO YOU ALL BELIEVE WHEN YOU READY TO TAKE, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.
[00:20:01]
FIRST, OR DO YOU WANT TO, WHATEVER YOU THINK IS BEST, JENNIFER.ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR JENNIFER? I'M SORRY, TAMMY, JUST WITH REGARDS TO THE OVERLAY.
UM, I DEFINITELY THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A WORKSHOP TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND FULLY WHAT THE EVER LIGHT ENTAILS, WHERE IT IS, WHO BENEFITS FROM IT AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF THE I'S ARE DOTTED AND T'S ACROSS THAT THERE ARE NO NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES TO OTHER, UM, RESIDENTS ON THE ISLAND, UM, BY ANY OF THE, UM, EFFORTS PUT INTO THAT, SO THAT IT IS FAIR AND BALANCED.
UH, YES, I THINK COUNCILMAN STANFORD HAD HIS HAND UP BEFORE ME.
UM, I'M STILL COLLECTING MY THOUGHTS HERE, MR. ME, I GOT SOMETHING TO GIVE.
UM, YOU MENTIONED, UH, HEIRS PROPERTY AND MICHONNE, UH, DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAXES.
EACH OF THOSE ISSUES IS CONTROLLED BY, UH, STATE LAW FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES.
SO AS I UNDERSTAND THE EFFORT OF THE TOWN HERE TO ASSIST IN RELIEVING THOSE YOU YOU'RE DRAWING IN THE HERITAGE LIBRARY TO PROVIDE RESEARCH.
SO IT'LL BE EASIER TO IDENTIFY THE ERRORS THAT WOULD BE INVOLVED IN NEED TO BE CONTACTED TO RESOLVE THAT PROPERTY.
AND, UM, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR, WE WILL SOLVE AND CLEAR TITLE FOR ALL HEIRS PROPERTY.
THAT IS NOT, UM, SOMETHING WITHIN OUR PURVIEW OR SAME WITH DELINQUENT TAXES, BUT WE'RE WHAT WE'VE UNDERSTOOD IS THAT THE FIRST HURDLE IS HAVING THAT, UM, GENEALOGY.
SO, YOU KNOW, HOW FAR BACK AND HOW MANY EHRS THERE COULD BE AND DOING SOME OF THAT RESEARCH THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THAT PARTNERSHIP TO HELP FACILITATE THAT TO PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, SAME WITH THE FUND FOR DELINQUENT TAXES.
THAT'S ALSO NOT SOMETHING WE, WE DON'T CONTROL, UM, WHAT, HOW THE TAXES ARE SET, NOR CAN WE PAY FOR THOSE.
BUT WE HAVE BEEN FACILITATING WITH, UM, THE HELP OF BUFORD COUNTY AND PROVIDING LISTS OF WHO IS DELINQUENT, HELPING CONNECT THOSE PEOPLE WITH OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT CAN HELP PAY.
SO IT'S MORE OF A FACILITATION RATHER THAN, UM, SOMETHING THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY, UM, SOLVING, YOU KNOW, CAUSE WE, WE DON'T CONTROL, WE CAN'T JUST CHANGE THEIR TAX STRUCTURE.
BUT MY COMMENT TO YOU IS THAT I THINK THOSE TWO TYPES OF SOLUTIONS ARE EXACTLY, EXACTLY THE PROPER, UH, PROCEDURES THAT THE TOWN CAN USE AS DISTINGUISHED FROM TRYING TO AFFECT THE CHANGES IN THE LAW.
THANK YOUR TEAM FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT'S GONE INTO THIS.
I THINK YOU'RE MAKING GREAT PROGRESS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE PROGRESS.
THANK YOU JENNIFER FOR BEING HERE.
UM, I MADE A LITTLE LIST HERE BEFORE WE GOT STARTED TODAY AND I GUESS MY FIRST QUESTION WAS DIRECTED TO DR.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S AVAILABLE OR NOT, BUT I'LL ASK IT IF YOU CAN ANSWER JENNIFER, THAT'S FINE.
UM, I'M JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW, UH, THE, THE TEMPERATURE FROM HER PERSPECTIVE OF HOW KNOWLEDGEABLE THE GULLAH COMMUNITY IS WHEN IT COMES TO THE PROCEDURES OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD.
AND I I'VE GOT SOME EXAMPLES HERE, UM, BECAUSE I THINK OFTEN THERE ARE MISUNDERSTANDINGS OFTEN THERE ARE AVOIDANCE OF, OF CODE PERMITS, THAT SORT OF THING.
AND ALSO, UH, THERE'S SEVERAL NONCONFORMITIES WITHIN THE HISTORIC GULLAH NEIGHBORHOODS.
TOM, I'M JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW HER TAKE ON THOSE ITEMS. WELL, UM, I WILL TRY TO ANSWER THAT.
I, I DON'T THINK THAT ANYONE, UM, BELIEVES THAT THE ENTIRE GLOBAL COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS EVERYTHING ABOUT CODE.
UH, WHAT, WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS THAT MORE PEOPLE DO KNOW THAT WE ARE A RESOURCE AND THAT SHARIECE IS WILLING TO WORK, TO HELP SOLVE, UM, PROBLEMS AND ANSWER QUESTIONS.
WE FINDING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE REACHING OUT TO HER AND THE TASK
[00:25:01]
FORCE HAS BEEN HELPFUL TO, UM, AS HAVE YOU ALEX AND, AND OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY ARE HELPING MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS.AND SO I THINK THE MORE PEOPLE KNOW WHERE TO COME WITH THEIR QUESTIONS, THE BETTER, UM, THE COMMUNITY WILL KNOW WHAT THE RULES ARE AND HOW WE CAN HELP INTERPRET, INTERPRET THOSE ROLES.
AND JUST, I CAN, UH, MAKE A BETTER STATEMENT AS YOU ASKING US FOR DIRECTION, UM, THE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION ADMINISTRATOR, UM, AND JUST DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A EXACT ANSWER, JENNIFER, BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS, KNOWING AN EIGHT HOUR DAY, EIGHT HOUR WORKDAY, HOW MANY HOURS ARE DEVOTED TO THESE RECOMMENDATIONS IN PARTICULARLY THE 12 THAT HAVE BEEN DEEMED OF IMPORTANCE? I WOULD SAY THAT, I MEAN, THIS IS, UM, THERESA'S JOB IS TO SERVE AS A, UM, ADMINISTRATOR, WHETHER IT'S, UM, BECAUSE WORKING WITH PROPERTY OWNERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS IS ONE OF THE 12 RECOMMENDATIONS.
THEN SHE'S EITHER ADVANCING SOMETHING ON THE OVERLAY, HAVING MEETINGS WITH HERITAGE LIBRARY, MEETING WITH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, OUT DOING SITE VISITS OR WORKING WITH THE TASK FORCE, HER WHOLE TIME WORKING FOR THE EFFORTS OF THE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS.
NOW I'VE GOT, UH, I GUESS TWO FOLLOW UPS TO THAT QUESTION.
UM, THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, SIT WITH THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE AT THE MOMENT.
AND, UH, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE GIVEN DIRECTION, UH, ON A FEW ITEMS. I'LL JUST NAME THESE, SO YOU CAN GIVE ME SOME, SOME UPDATE ON IT.
NUMBER ONE, UM, WE ASKED THAT THERE'D BE A COMMUNITY STATEMENT, UH, PUT TOGETHER, UH, JUST SO THAT, UM, THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE HAS A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AS TO WHY WE ARE GOING IN THIS DIRECTION OF THE OVERLAY DISTRICT.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN A SURVEY PUT OUT, UM, RESPECTIVELY WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY STATEMENT, SUPPORTING THAT SURVEY.
UM, I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET THE RESPONSES THAT WILL HELP US IN MAKING DECISIONS.
THE OTHER ONE IS WE ASKED FOR, UH, INVENTORY ON HEIRS PROPERTY, UH, TO COUNCILMAN STANFORD'S POINT.
UM, THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF CONTROL THAT THE TOWN HAS OVER HIS PROPERTY.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, AT THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE, AT LEAST WE WANT TO BE ASSURED THAT WE ARE PUTTING OUR THEFT RESOURCES IN A PLACE WHERE WE CAN ABSOLUTELY AFFECT CHANGE.
SO THAT'S KNOWING THAT NUMBER I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO US.
AND THEN OF COURSE THE, THE, UH, THE DENSITY, I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION EARLY ON WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, INCREASE IN DENSITY, UM, AND THE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, BUT WE ASKED THAT WE TAKE A LOOK AT JUST THOSE GOLAN PROPERTIES AND HOW THEY COULD BE UP ZONED AND WHAT EFFECT THAT WOULD HAVE ON THE ENTIRE, UH, HISTORIC GULLAH NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, NOW I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
WE NEED TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
SO THOSE THREE ITEMS, JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW WHERE WE ARE ON THOSE.
UM, THE COMMUNITY STATEMENT WAS DRAFTED AND SHARED WITH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE.
AND IF WE NEED TO REGROUP AT, UH, AT ONE OF YOUR FUTURE MEETINGS AND GET SOME FEEDBACK, WE ARE READY TO ISSUE THAT IF, IF Y'ALL ARE GOOD WITH IT, AS FAR AS THE INVENTORY ON HEIRS PROPERTY THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED WITH THE GOAL, THE TASK FORCE, AND THEY HAVE, UM, OFFERED ASSISTANCE.
AND, UM, MR. CHRISTOPHER HAS COME FORWARD TO SHARIECE TOO AND OFFERED TO HELP, UM, TAKE THE LIST OF, UM, PROPERTY OWNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE AND HELP IDENTIFY WHICH ONES ARE HEIRS PROPERTY.
UM, AND, AND YOU KNOW, THIS, UM, AS WELL AS I DO THAT, THAT'S PROBABLY NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD WANT TO PUT INTO A PACKET.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S GENERALLY INFORMATION THAT IS HELD PRETTY, PRETTY TIGHT BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE PUT OUT A LIST OF HEIRS PROPERTY, THEN, THEN THINGS COULD START HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY, NOT IN A FAVORABLE WAY.
UM, BUT WE ARE WORKING, UM, TO IDENTIFY, TAKE THAT LIST, IDENTIFY HOW MUCH HEIRS PROPERTY THERE REALLY IS ON THE ISLAND.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE PIECES THAT WAS PART OF THE HISTORIC OVERLAY AS WE DRAFTED IT AND WORKING WITH THE TASK FORCE AND WAS, UM, ONE OF THE PIECES THAT RECEIVED A LOT OF,
[00:30:01]
UM, INPUT, UM, LESS THAN FAVORABLE INPUT.IT WAS SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO BE PAIR BACK.
AND, YOU KNOW, WITH THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE, IT WAS DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD.
THE FAMILY COMPOUND A FAMILY SUBDIVISION PIECES OF IT WITHOUT, UM, THE DNC PIECE AT THIS TIME.
UM, UNTIL THAT CAN BE FURTHER IDENTIFIED IF PUBLIC PLANNING OR TOWN FULL TOWN COUNCIL WANTS THAT TO COME FORWARD OR NOT SAME WITH THE, WHAT WE WERE CALLING HOME REFERRING TO AS HOME OCCUPATION, BUT MIGHT BE BETTER TERMED, UM, USE OF THE PROPERTY.
THOSE WERE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WERE PART OF IT ORIGINALLY THAT WERE, UM, SEEM TO BE NEGATIVELY AFFECTING A LARGER PERCENTAGE OF THE COMMUNITY RATHER THAN HELPING THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES.
I'LL WRAP UP HERE, MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
UM, THE, THE FAMILY COMPOUND AND FAMILY SUBDIVISION WAS APPROVED BY THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE.
UH, SO IN NORMAL PROCESS, WE WILL BE SEEING THAT FOR FIRST READING IN FRONT OF THE ENTIRE COUNCIL.
UH, SO AT THIS POINT, UM, AS FAR AS DIRECTION IS CONCERNED, I'D LIKE TO SEE ON A VERY NEAR FUTURE FULL COUNCIL AGENDA THAT WE CAN GET THAT OUT OF THE WING.
UM, I THINK WE'VE HAD A VIVID DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT AT DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING COMMITTEE.
AND IF WE CAN GET ONE ITEM MOVING FORWARD, I THINK WE WILL START TO SET THE STAGE FOR MOVING THE OTHERS FORWARD.
AND I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE CONTINUOUS DIALOGUE IN ORDER TO GET IT RIGHT.
I W I WOULD ASK, UH, YOU KNOW, MS. VEINS TO THIS COMMENT FOR ME, BUT THE, THE, THE CORRECT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN VETTED AT TASKFORCE ALREADY BEEN VETTED AT PLANNING COMMISSION NOW SET WITHIN THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE.
AND TO ME, THAT IS A GOOD PLACE WAS TO POLISH IT AND BRING IT FORTH TO COUNCIL.
UH, SO I GUESS I'M NOT NECESSARILY AS IN FAVOR OF A FULL TOWN COUNCIL WORKSHOP ON THIS TOPIC, BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AT THE TASK FORCE LEVEL.
UM, SO US BEING EXPEDITIONS TO A DEGREE IS IMPORTANT HERE.
WE HAVE TO REMEMBER SOME OF THESE ITEMS THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING GO BACK TO THE ROOT IT 30 YEARS AGO.
WE DON'T WANT TO SEND A MESSAGE OFF TO THE GULLAH COMMUNITY OR TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, THAT THIS MAY BE SOME STALLING TACTIC, AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT IT IS, BUT WE NEED TO BE EXPEDITIOUS IN MOVING THESE FORWARD.
ALEX, I WILL TALK TO HIM JUST TO AIMS ON BEING IN THIS MOMENT AS SOON AS HE'S READY.
ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY, EXCELLENT.
I, I JUMPED IN AND STARTED FIRST TIME.
I GAVE A FEW UPDATES ON WHERE I WAS TALKING ABOUT ITEMS OF INTEREST REPORT.
[8. Reports from the Members of Council]
SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS, GENERAL REPORTS, AND A GENTLEMAN POINTS TO STANFORD.MR. MAYOR, I REPRESENT THE TOWN ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN OR THE COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING ORGANIZATION KNOWN AS LES.
UM, THERE WAS RECENTLY AN ANNOUNCEMENT, UH, OUT OF WASHINGTON THAT THE DEFINITION OF A NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING ORGANIZATION WAS ABOUT TO CHANGE FROM A POPULATION OF 50,000 PEOPLE TO A POPULATION OF 100,000 PEOPLE THAT WOULD CLOSE OUT.
I THINK THE WHOLE OPERATION OF LATS IN REPRESENTING THIS BROADER COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO REPORT THAT WE ARE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO GET OUR REPRESENTATIVES IN WASHINGTON, LINED UP TO OPPOSE THAT AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO CONTINUE WITH THIS WORK, BECAUSE THIS WORK I HAVE LEARNED AND TRIED TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT IS VITAL REGIONAL EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THIS MUNICIPALITY, AS WELL AS THE OTHER GOVERNMENTS IN THE ENTIRE REGION.
SO WE'LL KEEP OUR EYES ON THAT.
ANY OTHER GENERAL REPORTS? OKAY, MR. HAWKINS.
UH, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT,
[00:35:01]
UH, NEXT MONDAY, MARCH THE 22ND AT 9:00 AM, WE'LL BE HAVING A COMMUNITY SERVICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING AMONG THE VARIOUS ITEMS ON THAT AGENDA.I'D LIKE TO DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO ONE, UH, WHICH IS HOMELESSNESS AND INSECURE INDIVIDUALS THAT IN HILTON HEAD AT BUFORD COUNTY, UH, THIS AGAIN IS A TOPIC THAT I, FOR ONE DO NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT THAT, THAT DOESN'T DIMINISH IN MY MIND, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TOPIC.
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL KIND OF LIKES THAT CAN ATTEND TO DO SO.
LIKEWISE, THE FIRE AND RESCUE PRESENTATION FOR THE YEAR END REPORT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THIS MEETING.
AND I THINK IF WE HAVE GOOD REPRESENTATION FROM TOWN COUNCIL AT THIS MEETING, IT WILL SEND THE MESSAGE TO OUR FIRE AND RESCUE, UH, LEADERS, HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND ALSO GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY.
I WANT US TO GET INTO A RECOGNIZE AND SHOW OUR APPRECIATION FOR THEIR, UH, YEOMAN'S EFFORT IN A VERY PRODUCTIVE EFFORT INTERNALLY TO HELP THIS COMMUNITY THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.
THERE'S NO REPORT FROM THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE.
THE FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE MET THIS AFTERNOON AND HAD TWO NEW BUSINESS AGENDA ITEMS. THE FIRST WAS AN UPDATE, UH, ON THE FINANCES OF THE TOWN THROUGH EIGHT MONTHS ENDING FEBRUARY 28TH, UH, AND THE LARGEST VARIANCE WAS REVENUE LABEL.
AND THAT WAS RELATED DIRECTLY TO THE DELAY AND BUFORD COUNTY SENDING OUT THE TAX BILLS.
UH, WE EXPECT THE VARIANCE TO BE MITIGATED IN TOTAL BY THE END OF APRIL, WHEN THE TAXES, PROPERTY TAXES, UH, FINALLY GET IN FROM THE COUNTY.
THE SECOND AGENDA ITEM WAS RELATED TO OLD TOWN, THE TOWN BUSINESS LICENSE ORDINANCE, UH, AND STAFFERS RECOMMENDING THAT, UH, THAT WE REVOKE THE EXISTING ORDINANCE AND REPLACE IT WITH A REVISED MODEL ISSUED BY THE MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE MAY BE SOME SMALL ISSUES THAT HAVE TO BE INSERTED OR WITHDRAWN FROM THE ORDINANCE, UH, WHICH WOULD ADDRESS ISSUES THAT ARE PARTICULAR TO SAYING IN THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
UM, MORE TO FOLLOW ON THAT OUR DEADLINE IS JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR.
UH, WE WOULD EXPECT TO HAVE IT THROUGH COMMITTEE AND TO TOWN COUNCIL, UH, BY MID THANK YOU.
WE TALKED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO ABOUT DEO APPEARANCE BY CITIZENS, WHICH WE'LL GET TO NEXT.
AND WE'VE GOT TOGETHER ALL BE WITNESSES.
AND YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE, NOW WE DON'T REINFORCE.
SO I'D LIKE TO SPOT A SEPARATE COMMITTEE THAT WILL LOOK AT THE CURRENT, COULD SEE IF WE SHOULD KEEP THAT IN FORCE.
IT WILL HAVE A NEW ORDINANCE THAT WOULD MEAN THIS OR THAT WHEREVER YOU MIGHT BE.
I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR, WHETHER IT'S WE HAVE, WE'LL PUT A NOTE IN HURRICANE AND GOOGLE ALLOWS THE NEW ONE SUGGESTS YOU HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OR A RESIDENT OF THIS TOWN.
WE HAVE TO LOOK THROUGH ALL THE ITEMS THAT ARE ON THERE AND MAKE THE CHANGES, NOT AS COMMITTEE DAVID, I'D LIKE YOU TO, TO CHEER WITH A CANE AND YOU'D HAVE WHAT YOU, TOM AND GLEN, YOU CAN HAVE YOU GUYS AND CRYSTAL WILL SEND YOU MORE MATERIAL.
[10. Appearance by Citizens]
BY CITIZENS.YES, THERE, WE HAD SEVERAL CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TODAY.
I WAS SHED LOTS SPEAKING ON THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDERS HAVE REPEATEDLY USED THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE FOR RESTRICTIONS, POCKETED AND NARROWLY TAILORED LEAST RESTRICTIVE MANNER POSSIBLE, NECESSARY, AND APPROPRIATE MOST, IF NOT ALL THE COVID-19 FATALITIES ON THE ISLAND HAPPENED IN A NURSING HOME.
CHILDREN ARE NOT CONSIDERED HIGH RISK.
ASYMPTOMATIC STRESS IS BASICALLY NON-EXISTENT NO ANALYSIS WAS EVER DONE TO DETERMINE WHICH INDUSTRIES OR SECTORS WERE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN OTHERS.
[00:40:01]
THOSE WITH CERTAIN UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS ARE AT GREATER RISK OF DYING.SO RATHER THAN CONSIDER ALL THAT YOU DECIDE THE SOLUTION IS TO MASK EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF RISK OR DATA AND DID EVERY INDOOR PUBLIC SPACE, NO WAY THAT IS LEAST RESTRICTED AND NARROWLY TAILORED.
YOU ARE CONDUCTING A REAL TIME, LARGE SCALE EXPERIMENT, WHICH YOU HAVE CONVINCED THE PUBLIC TO TAKE PART IN BASED ON UNFOUNDED FEARS, TOTALLY IGNORING THE CLIMB IN CASES, EVEN AFTER YOUR MANDATE PUT INTO THE MANTRA THAT MASKS ARE EFFECTIVE WHEN CLEARLY THEY ARE NOT.
SINCE JULY ONE, DO YOUR MANDATES HAVE COMPLETELY FAILED TO MENTION RELIGION AS AN EXEMPTION.
YOU HAVE COERCED THE PUBLIC INTO GIVING UP THEIR RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS KNOWINGLY OR OTHERWISE.
YOU HAVE EMPOWERED EMPLOYERS TO COERCE AS WELL.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT DOES NOT ALLOW THE STATE AND BY EXTENSION LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO BURDEN A PERSONS EXERCISE OF RELIGION WITHOUT COMPELLING STATE INTEREST AND BEING THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE MEANS FEDERAL LAW UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTS THE EXERCISE OF RELIGION AS WELL.
THESE MAPS MANDATES VIOLATE STATE AND FEDERAL LAW PROTECTING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM PRIOR TO 2020, YOU CAN NOT FORCE SOMEONE TO REMOVE A MATH ONE FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS.
SO WHY DO YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN FORCE SOMEONE TO WEIGH A ONE YOU ARE ENDING UP PERSECUTING, THOSE WHOSE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS DO NOT SUPPORT COVERING ONE SPACE.
RELIGION IS NOT NARROWLY CONFINED TO TRADITIONAL DENOMINATIONS, BUT IT'S SIMPLY A SYSTEM OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.
IT IS INTENDED TO BE FLUID TO ACCOMMODATE EVEN THOSE WITHOUT THE BELIEF IN A SUPREME BEING UNIQUE TO TERMINATE THE MES MANDATE AS IT, AS IT IS NOT NARROWLY TAILORED AND IT IS VIOLATING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
UM, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, MA'AM.
UM, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO BEGIN TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT ONE OTHER THAN TO SAY, UM, THANK YOU AND AMEN.
AND THANK YOU FOR, UM, ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ACKNOWLEDGING OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND OUR LIBERTY AND OUR JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU FOR OPENING UP YOUR MEETING WITH PRAYER RESTING IN GOD AND MAY, UM, MAY YOU EVEN HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD, UM, SPEAK TO YOU AS YOU CAST YOUR VOTES TONIGHT? MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT YOUR MASK MANDATE WILL BE LIFTED EFFECTIVE MARCH 31ST AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW.
UM, I JUST LIKE YOU GUYS TO ALL THINK BACK, THINK BACK ABOUT, I THINK IT WAS A YEAR AGO AND WE WERE ASKED TO STAY AT HOME FOR TWO WEEKS.
ANTHONY FOWCHEE ASKED US TO STAY AT HOME FOR TWO WEEKS TO FLATTEN THE CURVE UNLESS WE WERE AN ESSENTIAL WORKER.
I WAS AN ESSENTIAL WORKER, SO I DID NOT STAY AT HOME.
HE TOLD US AT THAT TIME THAT MASKS WERE NOT NEEDED AND WE SHOULD NOT BE WEARING THEM.
I DON'T KNOW HOW A YEAR LATER THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT.
AND I CAN'T BEGIN TO IMAGINE WHERE THIS IS GOING TO END.
I HAVE FRIENDS WHO HAVE COMMITTED SUICIDE BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN AN ENDLESS AND PAINFUL, PAINFUL PROCESS.
SO HAD HIS, UH, WAS WHAT I THOUGHT WAS GOING TO JUST BE EVANS TO ME FOR A FEW DAYS.
AND NOW I'M FINDING THAT IT MAY NOT BE THAT I MAY BE REQUIRED TO ONCE AGAIN, BUT MY MUSCLE MASS BONDS, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, UM, DIEFER COUNTY MAKES UP 19% OF THE COUNTIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA THAT REQUIRE MASKS IN THE MUNICIPALITY FOR WHICH YOU ARE IN, MAKES UP 21% OF THE MUNICIPALITIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
AND I JUST LIKE TO ASK YOU WHEN, WHEN AND HOW IS THIS GOING TO END AND HOW MANY MORE LIVES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE LOST? NOT AS A RESULT OF COVID RATHER A RESULTS OF DEPRESSION, OPPRESSION, UH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DRUG OVERDOSE, ALCOHOLISM.
I DON'T THINK THEY'RE COUNTING THOSE NUMBERS NEARLY AS MUCH AS THEY ARE OPEN.
THANK YOU, MS. FRAZIER, UH, CHERRY NORRIS, MS. NORRIS, UM, AMEN TO
[00:45:01]
MS. FRAZIER, AMEN TO MS. FRAZIER.ALL Y'ALL MASK ARE KILLING US.
THEY ARE DIVISIVE, THEY'RE DESTRUCTIVE AND THEY DON'T WORK.
THEY ARE LITERALLY SUFFOCATING US, MAKING US BREATHE IN OUR OWN BACTERIA, CAUSING MORE DAMAGE THAN GOOD.
EVEN THE CDC SAYS MASKS DON'T WORK.
THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE 1% EFFECTIVE.
AND YET SHE KEEPS ADDING MORE.
AND YET WE'RE MANDATED TO WEAR THEM FOR OUR HEALTH AND PROTECTION OF OTHERS.
THOSE OF US WHO'VE DONE THE RESEARCH ON MASKS.
NO THEY AREN'T EFFECTIVE OR NECESSARY FOR THE PREVENTION OF COVID IN AMERICA.
DIFFERENCES USED TO MAKE US GREAT, BUT WE CAN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT THE MASK.
INSTEAD, WE FIGHT OUR COMMUNITY HAS TURNED INTO A BATTLEFIELD.
EVERY TIME WE GO OUT, WE'RE AT WAR.
I'VE PAID AMAZON SO MUCH MONEY THAT SHOULD HAVE GONE TO LOCAL BUSINESSES.
IT IS SAD, MASKS, DESTROY FRIENDSHIPS AND FAMILY.
MY YOUNGER SISTER WEARS A MASK.
SHE DIDN'T GO OUTSIDE OR SEE HER SON FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR.
I CHOSE TO LIVE MY LIFE AND TOOK A RISK THAT IF I GOT COVID I'D SURVIVE, I GOT IT.
AND I SURVIVED LIKE THE OTHER 99.6% OF THE PEOPLE WHO GOT COVID.
I ALSO KNOW SHE THOUGHT I DESERVED TO GET IT.
WE ZOOMED LAST WEEK AND I BARELY RECOGNIZED HER.
SHE HASN'T CUT HER HAIR IN A YEAR.
SHE LOOKS AS OLD AS OUR MOTHER WHO DIED LAST YEAR.
I'M WATCHING HER KILL HERSELF OUT OF FEAR.
THOSE OF US WHO DON'T WANT TO WEAR A MASK ARE BEING CALLED SELFISH.
IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE IT'S SELFISH OF YOU TO WANT US TO SUFFOCATE WITH OUR OWN BREASTS.
IT'S SELFISH OF YOU TO WANT US TO COVER OUR FACES, TO WHERE WE CAN'T BE SEEN OR HEARD.
IT'S SELFISH OF YOU TO WANT TO PROTECT THE IDEALS OF A GOVERNMENT OVER INDIVIDUAL CHOICE OR INTUITION OF KNOWING WHAT'S RIGHT FOR OUR BODY AND OUR DOCTOR'S ADVICE.
I DON'T WANT THE GOVERNMENT MAKING THESE CHOICES FOR ME.
IF YOU WANT TO WEAR A MASK OR A HAZMAT SUIT, BUT LET THE REST US BE HUMAN HEALTHY PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE PUNISHED FOR BEING HEALTHY.
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WAS FOUNDED ON LAND OF THE FREE HOME OF THE BRAVE, NOT LAND OF THE IMPRISONED HOME OF THE AFRAID AMERICA'S GOVERNMENT WORKS FOR.
WE, THE PEOPLE STOP KILLING US, DO THE RIGHT THING THAT ENDING THIS DESTRUCTIVE DIVISIVE MASS MANDATE.
NOW THANK YOU, GRACE SMITH, MR. SMITH.
AND, UH, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS TOWN COUNCIL.
UH, IT'S BEEN A WHILE AND ALSO I WILL ADD THAT I WILL REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO ATTENDING THE MEETINGS, UH, IN PERSON AGAIN, AS SOON AS WE CAN DO THAT.
SO, UM, I JUST WANT TO GO OVER A FEW THINGS.
UH, ON MARCH THE FIFTH, THE CDC ITSELF RELEASED AN ARTICLE IN THEIR MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT THAT COMES RIGHT OUT AND IT STATES THAT MASKING IS NOT EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING THE CONTRACTION OF COVID-19.
ALTHOUGH THEY TRIED TO OPT TO SKATE IT, BY THE WAY IT WAS WORDED, THEY CAME RIGHT OUT AND SAID THAT THE DIFFERENCE IN CONTRACTING COVID-19 AFTER NUMEROUS STATEWIDE MASK MANDATES WERE IMPLEMENTED.
AND THE PREVIOUS TIME TO SUCH MANDATE ADOPTION WERE NOT STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT SPECIFICALLY DURING THE FIRST 20 DAY PERIOD.
AND THIS CHART IS RIGHT ON THEIR PAGE TWO.
THERE WERE ONLY HALF A PERCENT, FEWER REPORTED CASES THAN BEFORE MASK IMPLEMENTATION.
AND DURING THE TWO MONTHS FOLLOWING MES MANDATE IMPLEMENTATION, THERE WERE ONLY ONE AND A HALF PERCENT, FEWER REPORTED CASES STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE SHOULD HAVE, WOULD HAVE NEEDED AN INCIDENCE DIFFERENTIAL OF MORE THAN 2%.
NEVERTHELESS, OF COURSE, BEING THE GOOD BUREAUCRATS THAT THEY ARE, THE CDC CONTINUED TO RECOMMEND.
MASS MANDATES MAKES NO SENSE, UH, FOCUSING ON BUFORD COUNTY IN WELL OVER A YEAR, THE 193 DEATHS REPORTED TO BE DUE TO COVID 19 AND DIFFERENT COUNTY REPRESENT 0.00965% OF THE BUFORD COUNTY POPULATION, WHICH TRANSLATES TO 9.65
[00:50:02]
10 THOUSANDS OF 1% AS A PERCENT OF REPORTED COVID CASES IN BUFORD COUNTY, SINCE INCEPTION THAT REPRESENTS THE MORTALITY RATE AMONG THOSE WHO REPORTED TO TEST POSITIVE FOR THE DISEASE OF 1.3, FOUR, 5% LESS THAN THE NATIONAL INFLUENZA INFLUENZA DEATHS TO CASE PERCENTAGE IN MANY YEARS, THESE COLD HARD STATISTICS COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT MASS SQUARING HAS BEEN PROVED BY THE CDC ITSELF TO BE INEFFECTIVE AND PREVENTING COVID-19 CONTRACTION CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES THAT WE ARE NO LONGER IN ANY FORM OF PANDEMIC EMERGENCY.AS A RESULT OF THESE FACTS, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU DO NOT EXTEND THE HILTON HEAD MASK MANDATE AT THIS POINT, IF YOU DO EXTEND IT, I THINK IT WILL BE VIEWED BY ISLAND RESIDENTS MORE AS YOUR RETICENCE TO RELINQUISH GOVERNMENT CONTROL OVER THE ISLAND POPULACE RATHER THAN ANY LEGITIMATE MEDICAL NEEDS TO RETAIN THE MANDATE.
MANY STATES HAVE NOW ENDED THEIR MESS MANDATES.
AND, UH, I BELIEVE IT'S TIME FOR US TO MOVE ON AS WELL.
AND JUST ONE FINAL NOTE, WHAT I'M REALLY GOING TO LOOK FORWARD TO IS BEING ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, WHEN I GO TO WALMART OR PUBLIX OR WHEREVER, I'M GOING TO LOOK FOR IT, TO BE ABLE TO SMILE AT PEOPLE AGAIN AND, AND LOOK AT THEM, SMILE BACK.
I, UM, I'VE REALLY MISSED THAT.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LETTING ME, UH, ADDRESS YOU.
AND, UH, I REALLY HOPE YOU GUYS MADE THE RIGHT DECISION.
UH, AMBER I'M HERE AND I'M STARTING MY TIMER.
Y'ALL AMBER KUNE, SEA TURTLE PATROL HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
I'M GOING TO READ IT AGAIN BECAUSE THAT WORKED WELL THE LAST TIME.
UM, I'M CONFIDENT TODAY THAT THE COUNCIL WILL APPROVE THE SECOND READING OF THE UPDATED SEA TURTLE PROTECTION ORDINANCE.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY DAVID AMES FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THE NEED FOR THE REVISION, WITH THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE OF BRINGING IT TO COUNCIL.
IT'S TAKEN TWO YEARS TO GET STEP ONE DONE.
NOW IT'S TIME FOR STEP NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS ENFORCEMENT.
SO IN MY FREE TIME, I'LL BE GIVING TURTLE TALKS THIS SUMMER.
UM, BUT I HAVE BEEN GIVING THEM TO EVERY CIVIC GROUP, SCHOOL, CLASSROOM, COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVES, OR GUESTS THAT WILL ATTEND FOR YEARS.
AND I'VE COMMITTED THAT ONLY NIGHT OFF THIS SUMMER TO A FREE TURTLE TALK AT THE LOW COUNTRY CELEBRATION PARK AND AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE BEACH ETIQUETTE ON HEALTH HEAD BEACH.
I CAN ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT EDUCATION IS NOT ENOUGH BECAUSE I'VE DONE IT FOR YEARS.
THE WARNINGS THAT I GIVE TO BEACH FRONT HOMES AND VIOLATION EVERY MONDAY, JUNE THROUGH AUGUST ARE NOT ENOUGH.
WE WILL ALWAYS CONTINUE TO EDUCATE, BUT WE'LL NEED TO FIND ANOTHER SOLUTION FOR THIS ORDINANCE TO BE EFFECTIVE.
WE EXPERIENCED A RECORD LOSS OF HATCHLINGS IN 2020, WHILE WE WERE DEBATING WHETHER OR NOT TO REQUIRE THE REDUCTION OF LIGHT TRESPASS FROM THE INTERIOR OF BEACH FRONT HOMES AFTER 10:00 PM, WHEN IT'S OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND AND NO ONE EXPERIENCES THE LOSS, AS MUCH AS I DO, I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING TRACK OF IT AND REPORTING IT TO SPD.
AND R NOW I CAN TELL THEM THAT THE MUNICIPALITY IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO CORRECT THE ISSUES WITH THIS REVISED ORDINANCE IN PLACE.
MY NEXT REQUEST WILL BE HELD FOR ENFORCEMENT CONCERNING WEEKLY RENTALS.
I'VE CAST THE TURTLE TRACKERS TO TAKE MY LIST OF EACH FRONT PROPERTIES.
EVERY SINGLE ADDRESS IS IN AN EXCEL SPREADSHEET AND MATCH THEM WITH RENTAL COMPANY.
THERE ARE SO FEW RESIDENTS IN THE BEACH FRONT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF PORT ROYALS, TWO MILE STRETCH ON THE NORTH END, THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT ALLOWED US TO APPLY FOR AND ACQUIRE THE COUNCIL OF THE PROPERTY, MANAGED BY RENTAL COMPANIES AND HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
UM, AS A WHOLE, FOR COMPARISON, THE PROJECT IS ONGOING AND WITH THE HELP OF PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES, WE ARE COMING UP WITH SOME SOLUTION, SEA TURTLE PATROL AND TURTLE TRACKERS FUND RATES FOR CLAIMS, MATCH STICKERS, PLACARD SIGNS, ALL OF THAT STUFF.
AND IT'S ALL GIVEN FREE OF CHARGE TO THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY TO HELP THEM WITH THIS.
I'VE EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL LAW PRACTICE, WHO WILL BE ASSISTING ME IN THIS ENDEAVOR.
I WILL CONSULT WITH THE TOWN LAWYERS FOR GUIDANCE, BUT JUST KNOW THAT ALTHOUGH STEP ONE HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED, IT'S NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S ONE THING THAT WORKS AND IT'S BEEN PROVEN IN ALL ASPECTS OF GOVERNMENT.
I WOULDN'T WATCH MY SPEED IF I DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY THE TICKET.
THANK YOU, MS. KIM JULIANA SMITH.
AND I AM COMMENTING ON BEHALF OF THE COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE AND SUPPORT OF TWO ITEMS BEFORE YOU,
[00:55:01]
THE PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE SEA TURTLE PROTECTION ORDINANCE AND THE PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE FLOOD DAMAGE CONTROLS PROVISIONS.THESE ARE AGENDA ITEMS, 11 A AND D RESPECTIVELY.
AND I WILL ADDRESS THEM IN THAT ORDER AMENDMENTS TO EACH OF THESE PROVISIONS WILL BETTER PROTECT THE WILDLIFE AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT CALL HILTON HEAD ISLAND HOME, AS YOU ALL ARE WELL AWARE BY THIS POINT THAT THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE PLANNING COMMITTEE MEMBERS, TOWN STAFF, AND A WIDE VARIETY OF STAKEHOLDERS HAVE WORKED TO CREATE THE IMPROVED THE TURTLE PROTECTION.
BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WILL REDUCE LIGHT POLLUTION ON THE BEACH FRONT, IMPROVING THE NESTING RATES OF FEMALE SEA TURTLES AND THE SURVIVAL RATES OF HATCHLINGS ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND BEACH ALL WHILE MINIMIZING INCONVENIENCE TO BE TREK HOMEOWNERS.
WE APPLAUD EVERYONE'S DILIGENT EFFORTS TO CREATE THESE IMPROVED AMENDMENTS AND RECOGNIZE A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE, TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE EFFECTIVE.
AND WE COME IN TO COUNCIL'S RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE UPDATES AS EVIDENCED BY THE PASSAGE OF THE FIRST READING EARLIER THIS MONTH, WE HOPE YOU ALL WILL VOTE TO OFFICIALLY APPROVE AND ADOPT THE LIGHTING ORDINANCE UPDATES THIS EVENING, DURING SECOND READING AND IN DOING SO, WE'LL HAROLD IN A NEW AND IMPROVED ERA OF FEDERAL PROTECTIONS ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
ADDITIONALLY, WE APPLAUD STAFF'S WORK TO IMPLEMENT THE UPDATED A FEMA NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM DATA INTO THE TOWNS ORDINANCES.
WHAT FEMA'S BASE FLOOD ELEVATION WILL BE LOWERED UNDER THE NEW MAPS.
THE TOWN IS WISELY REQUIRING A FIRST FLOOR, 13 FOOT DESIGN ELEVATION FOR RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS AND THE FIRST FLOOR 11 FOOT DESIGN ELEVATION FOR COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT AND PROACTIVE STEPS FOR PANTSING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE IN A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT THAT IS EXPERIENCING BOTH INCREASES IN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER IN THIS MEETING ALONGSIDE INCREASES IN FLOODING STORM EVENTS AND RISING SEA LEVELS.
THE CONSERVATION LEAGUE COMMENDS THE TOWN FOR IMPLEMENTING IMPORTANT PROTECTIONS, BUT THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF PEOPLE, PROPERTY AND WILDLIFE WITHIN OUR NATURAL LOW COUNTRY LANDSCAPE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND LEADERSHIP TONIGHT AND YOUR CONSIDERATION ON A VISA.
UH, JEAN BECK, MS. BAD, MS. BECK.
CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YES, MA'AM.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF TOWN COUNCIL.
I'M THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF HILTON HEAD AREA REALTORS, AND I'LL BE HALF OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND IT'S 1400 MEMBERS.
WE TOO WANT TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SEA TURTLE ORDINANCE.
WE UNDERSTAND IT HAS BEEN THAT TWO YEAR EFFORT BETWEEN TOWN STAFF AND PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL, AND MANY STAKEHOLDERS, UM, TO GET THIS TO WHERE IT IS TODAY.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS EXPRESSIVELY, UM, SPECIFICALLY ACKNOWLEDGED AND SIRENS, THE SENIOR PLANNER FOR HER RESPONSIVE COMMUNICATION.
DURING THIS PROCESS, WE ALSO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK COUNCILMAN DAVID AIMS FOR MEETING WITH OUR REAL TASK FORCE TO ADDRESS OUR CONCERNS.
AND AS A RESULT, THE TOWN HAS PRODUCED AN ORDINANCE THAT STRIKES A BALANCE BETWEEN THE PROTECTION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS AND THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND OUR SEA TURTLES, AND CERTAINLY REAL TOUR SOUTH HILTON HEAD ISLAND FOR ITS UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT.
AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT THE TOWN HAS DONE TO PRESERVE IT.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO COLLABORATING ON FUTURE PROJECTS, TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
AND ONLY MR. HOAGLAND, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, SIR.
AFTERNOON, YOU'RE IN VIOLATION OF FOYER AND YOUR VIOLATION OF THE PRAYER.
LENNOX, HOW WILL YOU ANSWERED TO MY LAWYER'S SOUTH CAROLINA TORQUE EXPENDITURE VIA COMMITTEE THAT AFTER A LOT OF TREASURER, WHEN THEY ASKED YOU JOSH GRUBER, MARK MARKER.
LANDO, WHY YOU ALLOWED THE ILLEGAL DRAFTING OF THE ATEX CHAMBER DMO CONTRACT BY SHYSTER TENANT AND CHAMBER LAWYERS PART IS COLTRANE TERRY FINGER, DAVID TICKETS AND WALTER NESTER.
WHY NO PROCUREMENT AND WHY? BILL MILES DMO FOR 35 YEARS WITH NO OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHERS, MR. LENNOX NAMES, WHAT WILL YOU SAY WHEN ASKED BILLIONS OF TAX BONDS WILL BE ISSUED TO BILL MILES WITH ZERO ACCOUNTING TO INCLUDE EIGHT TAX, SOUTH CAROLINA, PRT MATCHING GRANTS, HURRICANE MARKETING FUNDS, GOVERNOR MCMASTER COVID RELIEF, FUNDS AND FUNDS TO JOIN THE CHAMBER IS TOWN MEMBER AMES AND LENNOX.
WHAT WILL YOU SAY WHEN ASKED WHY YOU ALLOW BILL MILES, THAT CHAMBER TO TAKE OVER 1,000,008 TAX FUNDS IN CANADA, NOT EVEN THE UNITED STATES TO DEVELOP
[01:00:01]
THE DMO APP AND WEBSITE THAT BILL MILES CLAIMS HE NOW OWNS TO ALSO ILLEGALLY PROFIT HIS 600,000 LAVISH SALARY PAY PACKAGE VERSUS THE TOWN TAXPAYER'S OWNERSHIP.WHAT HAPPENS TO THE APP AND THE WEBSITE WHEN A NEW DMO WAS HIRED OR ELIMINATED SINCE NOT NEEDED AND REPLACED BY TECHNOLOGY, YOU ALL CAN'T REALLY BELIEVE BILL MILES PRODUCES MORE TOURISM THAT A HUNDRED THOUSAND LOCAL FACEBOOK ACCOUNT DOES FOR FREE LENNOX AIMS. WHAT WILL YOU SAY WHEN ASKED, WHY DID YOU USE TACK FUNDS TO JOIN THE CHAMBER AS A PRIVATE MEMBER VERSUS YOUR OWN MONEY? WHAT IS A TAX PAID MEMBER? WELL, WHO IS A TAX PAID MEMBER? YOU COUNSEL ARE ALL TAXPAYERS DID THIS, NOT VIOLATE SOUTH CAROLINA, CONSTITUTIONAL LAW.
BILL MILES NOW HAS TO OPEN HIS BOOKS UNDER SOUTH CAROLINA, NONPROFIT CORPORATION ACT LAWS TO ALL MEMBERS, LENNOX, YOU AND GROOVER NEED TO GET THIS AS TAXPAYERS PROXY THAT YOU WROTE THE CHECK TO BILL MILES, LENNOX, AMES, WHAT WILL YOU SAY WHEN ASKED? WHAT, WHY DID YOU DRAFT THE CONTRACT? KEEP FUNDING BILL MILES, MILLIONS AFTER HE TOLD YOU HIS PRIVATE USE OF THIS IS A TAX BONDS TO ALSO PROFIT IS HIS SECRET SAUCE AND NONE OF THIS COUNCILS OR TAX PAYERS, DAMN BUSINESS BANKER, LENNOX, AMES, ITALY, MCCANN, AND MANY IN THIS COUNCIL WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ALEX BROWN SHOULD BE HANDCUFFED AND REMOVED FROM PUBLIC OFFICE FOR YOUR CORRUPTION AND VIOLATIONS TO YOUR CAMPAIGN PROMISES, BANKER LENNOX.
YOU ARE AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THIS COMMUNITY.
[11. Consent Agenda]
TO GENDER, I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT TO CONSENT CONSENT.IF IT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL, I WOULD MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
MR. BROWN, MR. HARKINS, OR MR. AMES? THE BOARD.
MR. STANFORD FOR THE MOTION MAYOR MCCANN.
[13a. Consideration of Proposed Emergency Ordinance 2021-08 – Extending the Requiring of Individuals to Wear Face Coverings]
NEW BUSINESS CONSIDERATION OR PROPOSED EMERGENCY ORDINANCE 20 DAYS, 21 DASH ONLY EXTENDING THE REQUIREMENT OF INDIVIDUALS TO WEAR FACE COVERINGS WILL BRUTAL.NON-LEGAL ON PROPOSAL, MR. MAYOR.
I HAVE SEVERAL COMMENTS IF I MAY.
I, I THINK I'M NOT CHOOSING IT.
WE AS A COMMUNITY ARE MOVING FORWARD IN A VERY POSITIVE WAY.
UH, WHY DO I SAY THAT THE POSITIVITY RATE IS DOWN CONSIDERABLY? I THINK AS OF THIS MORNING, THERE WAS ABOUT 3.5%.
AND, UH, I CHECKED WITH, UH, THE EXECUTIVE, UH, DIRECTOR OF OUR HOSPITAL, ER, AND TODAY, UH, AS OF THIS MORNING WE HAD FOUR INPATIENTS IN THE HOSPITAL BEING TREATED FOR COVID.
IT'S MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
UM, THE, UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HOSPITAL, MR. JEREMY CLARK CLARK, UH, SAID TO ME TODAY THAT PROGRESS IS BEING OBSERVED AND IT'S ENCOURAGING.
AND, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF SPEAKING WITH THE, UH, MR. UH, WELMONT, WHO IS, UH, OUR DISTINGUISHED LEADER OR THE, THE TOURNAMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE STANDPOINT.
AND HE WORKS VERY MUCH IN CONCERT WITH THE PGA AND FOR THE TIME BEING THEY'RE ENCOURAGING THAT, UH, THIS COMMUNITY AMONG OTHERS, UM, TAKE, TAKE HE TO THE GUIDANCE THAT WE'VE BEEN LIVING UNDER AND, UH, WAIT AND WATCH CAREFULLY AND HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, ALSO HOPEFULLY, UH, WE ARE ALSO IN THE, IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE, UH, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE VACCINATED IS INCREASING DAILY AND THAT'S VERY GOOD NEWS.
[01:05:02]
WE COLLECTIVELY AS A COMMUNITY, I THINK I'VE DONE A VERY GOOD JOB AND MY THANKS TO THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY, TO THE FIRST RESPONDERS, TO THE MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE GONE TO WORK DURING THE SPIRIT TO SERVE ALL OF US.AND MY SENSES WERE JUST ABOUT THERE.
SO WITH THAT IN MIND, I'M RESPECTFULLY SUGGESTING TO OUR COLLEAGUES HERE INTO THE PUBLIC THAT WE EXTEND THIS FOR 60 DAYS WITH THE UNDERSTANDING AND THE SUPPORT THAT WE, UM, MONITOR THIS VERY CAREFULLY DURING THE WEEKS AHEAD, HOPEFULLY THIS PROGRESS RAIL WILL CONTINUE AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL GIVE US THE CONFIDENCE, UH, WITHIN THE NEXT 30 DAYS TO DO A VERY SERIOUS LOOK BACK AND SUGGEST THAT WE MODIFIED THIS SIGNIFICANTLY GOING FORWARD.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS BY COUNSEL MR. STANFORD? THANK YOU.
UM, I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS FROM THE CITIZENS THAT WE HEARD THIS AFTERNOON AND I RESPECT THEIR OPINIONS.
HOWEVER, I AM NOT A MEDICALLY TRAINED PROFESSIONAL.
I MUST RELY UPON THE SCIENCE IS BEING PRESENTED TO US BY THE EXPERTS, BOTH THE CDC AND SOUTH CAROLINA D HECK CONTINUE TO RECOMMEND THE WEARING OF FACE MASKS.
I INTEND TO VOTE TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THAT THE LONG AS WE RECEIVED THAT ADVICE FROM COUNCIL.
NOW, I NOTED THAT RECENTLY AS A WEEK OR SO AGO, CDC ANNOUNCED TO SOME MODIFICATIONS TO THOSE RULES, DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED IN PRIVATE HOME ENVIRONMENTS.
I WOULD NOTE HERE THAT OUR ORDINANCE AFFECTS PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES IN COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES.
SO I DON'T THINK A CHANGE IN OUR ORDINANCES WARRANTED AT THIS TIME, BUT I WILL SUPPORT ITS EXTENSION FOR THE TIME BEING.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT AND MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
UM, FIRST I DO READ AND APPRECIATE THOSE, UM, FOLKS ACROSS THE ISLAND AND ELSEWHERE WHO SEND US LITERATURE AND CHARTS AND STATISTICS AND COMMENTS.
AND I, I LET THOSE BE PART OF WHAT I PUT TOGETHER AND ANALYZE IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL VIEW ON HOW WE MOVE FORWARD WITH REGARD TO FACE COVERINGS ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
THEY'RE PART OF THE CONSIDERATIONS ALONG WITH THOSE WHO WE KNOW AND RESPECT IN THE MEDICAL FIELD THAT WE HEAR FROM OFTEN ON OUR COUNCIL CALLS AND THROUGH OTHER MEANS AND WHERE I COME OUT ON ALL OF THAT, IS THAT A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE, IT'S NOT A CONTROL MEASURE.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE DO IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP FROM LIVING AND ENJOYING THEIR LIFE.
AS THEY SEE FIT, THEY HAVE THEIR OPTIONS TO CHOOSE TO GO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO OR DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, UM, AND MAKE THOSE INDIVIDUAL CHOICES NOW FOR THE TIME BEING, AND ESPECIALLY WITH OUR FIRST BIG EVENT COMING ON TO THE ISLAND.
I THINK THAT IT'S WAR WARRANTS AND IT'S PRUDENT TO MAINTAIN OUR FACE COVERING ORDINANCE.
AND AS BILL HAS APPROPRIATELY SAID, KEEP A CAREFUL EYE ON IT.
AND HOPEFULLY THIS IS THE LAST ROUND.
HOPEFULLY THOSE NUMBERS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF AS MANY PEOPLE COMING ONTO THEIR ISLAND AS WE WILL HAVE.
AND THEN THE COMING WEEKS, UM, WELL CONTINUE TO BE STABLE AND THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO AT NEXT CONSIDERATION OR PERHAPS BEFORE REMOVE THE FACE MASK AT THAT TIME.
BUT I HOPE THAT MAKES MY POSITION A LITTLE BIT MORE CLEAR TO OTHER PEOPLE.
UM, I DO RESPECT THOSE WHO HAVE APPROACHED US AND HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND IT DOES PLAY INTO MY OVERALL THOUGHT PROCESS ON THIS.
AND WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT AND THOSE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS GIVE US THE THUMBS UP AND WE KEEP OUR NUMBERS WHERE THEY ARE.
UM, I'M ALL FOR TAKING OFF THE MASK.
IF WE EXTEND THIS ORDINANCE REQUIRING FACE COVERINGS FOR 60 DAYS, UH, AND THE TRENDS CONTINUE TO BE POSITIVE OR FAVORABLE, UH, DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO COME BACK, UM, NEAR TURN AND RESCIND THE ORDINANCE? YES, I THINK I WOULD ECHO WHAT, UH, WHAT BILL AND TAMMY SAID.
[01:10:01]
UH, I THINK IF WE CAN GIVE BY THE, UH, THE HERITAGE, UH, WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING FROM OUT OF TOWN, UH, AND THE TRENDS CONTINUE TO BE FAVORABLE.UH, I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD GATHER AGAIN TO CONSIDER RESCINDING THE ORDINANCE.
I KNOW YOU TOLD ME IF YOU BE A TOM, BUT WE SHOULDN'T LET PEOPLE, YOU SHOULDN'T GET THE PERCEPTION OUT THERE THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT DOING IT AFTER THE AVERAGE.
I MEAN, IN THE NEXT 60 DAYS, WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT AGAIN, WHAT THE PROS AND CONS ARE, BUT TO THE SESSION, TRICK ME WITH DOING IT FOR THE HERITAGE, ALEX.
UM, I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO ADD MR. MEAL.
LET'S CALL THE ROLL, BUT I GOTTA, THEY'VE GOTTA GET YOU.
OKAY, MR. BROWN, BEFORE MR. HARKINS REPORT.
MR. ORLANDO IS WE NEED AN EXECUTIVE
[14. Executive Session]
SESSION.I HAVEN'T LOOKED IN THE WINDOW IN SECOND SESSION.
I SUGGEST WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE REASONS SET FORTH IN OUR AGENDA.
NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.