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CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BEAVER COUNTY.
[Roll Call]
THIRD QUESTION PLEASE.[Call to Order]
MR. BROWN.MR. HARKINS, MR. AMES, MRS. BECKER HERE, MR. LENNOX, MR. STANFORD.
[FOIA Compliance: Public notification of this meeting has been published, posted, and distributed in compliance with the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act and the requirements of the Town of Hilton Head Island.]
WITH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.I NEED APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA FOR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
[ Approval of the Agenda]
SECOND, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.YOU STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
[ Pledge to the Flag]
AND TO TAKE THE ITEMS[Approval of the Agenda]
TO THE FRONT OF THE AGENDA, THE AGENDA TO MODIFY THE AGENDA.AS I STATED, READ THE RIGHT HAND.
[New Business]
NEW BUSINESS.[First Reading of Proposed Ordinance 2021-20 – Business License Model Ordinance]
BY OUR BUSINESS LICENSE ADMINISTRATOR, APRIL, APRIL.I'LL PULL UP THE PRESENTATION.
DOES EVERYONE SEE THAT? YES, MA'AM GREAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
I'M THE REVENUE SERVICES HERE AT THE TOWN.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SHARE WITH YOU AN UPDATE CONCERNING OUR NEW SOUTH CAROLINA BUSINESS LICENSE TAX LAW.
ALSO KNOWN AS THE SOUTH CAROLINA BUSINESS LICENSE TAX STANDARDIZATION ACT OR ACT 1 76.
UM, TODAY I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE CONSIDER, UH, APPROVAL OF REPEALING OUR CURRENT BUSINESS LICENSE ORDINANCE AND REPLACING IT WITH OUR PROPOSAL BUSINESS LICENSE MODEL ORDINANCE NUMBER 2021 DASH 20 TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF ACT ONE SEVEN.
AND SO I PREPARED A SHORT PRESENTATION TO DISCUSS THE REQUIREMENTS OF ACT 1 76.
AND ALSO TO BRIEF YOU ON WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES.
UH, YOU WILL PROBABLY RECOGNIZE A FEW OF THESE SLIDES.
THEY WERE IN THE PRESENTATION DURING MY F AND A, UM, COMMITTEE MEETING PRESENTATION, BUT I WANTED TO INCLUDE THEM AS THEY GO OVER THE GENERAL HIGHLIGHTS AND REQUIREMENTS OF BACK 1 76 IN THE EVENT.
THERE ARE PEOPLE ALL LISTENING IN TODAY THAT HAVE NOT HEARD OF IT LAW.
SO, UH, BACK IN SEPTEMBER OF 2020, THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSED ACT 1 76, THE SOUTH CAROLINA BUSINESS LICENSE TAX STANDARDIZATION ACT LAW REQUIRES EVERY LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
WE THINK BUSINESS LICENSE TAX TO ADMINISTER THE TAX IN THE SAME WAY ACROSS THE STATE STARTING JANUARY 1ST, 2022, THE LAW PREVENTS MUNICIPALITIES FROM RECEIVING A REVENUE WINDFALL IN THE FIRST YEAR OF IMPLEMENTING THE REQUIRED CHANGES STANDARDS.
I THINK BUSINESS LICENSE TAX ADMINISTRATION STATEWIDE WILL MAKE DOING BUSINESS AND MUNICIPALITIES EASIER FOR BUSINESSES, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE TO OBTAIN MULTIPLE LICENSES IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS.
AND THEN STANDARD STANDARDIZATION WILL ALSO ENSURE THE TAXES STABILITY AS A MUNICIPAL
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REVENUE GOING FORWARD.SO I'VE INCLUDED A LOT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW HERE ON THIS SLIDE AND THE TOWN HAS BEEN WORKING TOWARDS COMPLIANCE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
SO AS WE MOVE THROUGH THESE, YOU'LL SEE THAT WE HAVE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED A LOT OF THE CHANGES.
UH, THE FIRST ITEM IS THAT WE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE DUE DATE OF APRIL 30TH.
THIS WAS A BIG CONTENDER OF CONTENTION WITH OUR BUSINESS OWNERS.
UH, WE HAVE 234 CITIES AND NINE COUNTIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA THAT ADMINISTER BUSINESS LICENSE TAXES, AND THEY ALL HAD DIFFERENT DUE DATES.
SO THE BUSINESS OWNERS WERE PRETTY, UM, FRUSTRATED WITH THAT.
UH, WE DID AS A TOWN MOVE OUR DUE DATE FOR BUSINESS LICENSE TAXES TO APRIL 30TH AND 2019.
THE LAW THAT WE MUST CALCULATE THE TAX BASED ON THE BUSINESS'S GROSS INCOME FOR THE PREVIOUS CALENDAR YEAR OR ITS PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR.
UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THE TOWN HAS ALWAYS DONE AND HAS USED THAT METHOD FOR CALCULATING THE TAXES.
SO THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WILL BE NEW TO OUR BUSINESS OWNERS.
THE LAW ALSO STATES THAT WE MUST USE THE LAW AS DEFINITION OF GROSS INCOME.
AGAIN, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS USED IN OUR CURRENT TOWN CODE.
UH, SO THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER THING THAT WILL NOT HAVE TO CHANGE IT IN BUSINESS OWNERS ARE COMFORTABLE WITH WHEN CALCULATING THEIR TAXES, THE LAW STATES THAT WE MUST ACCEPT A STANDARDIZED APPLICATION THAT'S APPROVED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA REVENUE AND FISCAL AFFAIRS OFFICE.
AND THE TOWN HAS BEEN ACCEPTING THAT APPLICATION FOR MANY YEARS.
THE LAW ALSO STATES THAT WE HAVE TO USE THE 2017 EDITION OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM, ALSO KNOWN AS NAICS CODES, UH, FOR OUR BUSINESS CLASSIFICATIONS.
AND IN 2018, WE EMBARKED IN A VERY LARGE PROJECT, UH, HERE IN FINANCE TO CONVERT OUR 7,000 BUSINESS LICENSE ACCOUNTS OVER TO THE NEXT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FROM OUR OLDER SYSTEM THAT WE USED.
UM, AND THAT WAS AGAIN IMPLEMENTED AND IN 2018, ANOTHER ITEM THAT THE LAW REQUIRES IS THAT WE HAVE TO USE A MINIMUM BASE RATE OF THE FIRST $2,000 OF GROSS INCOME WHEN CALCULATING THE BUSINESS LICENSE TAX.
UM, THAT'S ANOTHER ONE THAT WAS VERY DIFFERENT ACROSS THE STATE AND, UM, THE BUSINESS OWNERS THOUGHT THAT WAS A VERY, YOU KNOW, NOT BUSINESS FRIENDLY.
SO WE HAVE OF COURSE, UM, UPDATED THAT TO, UH, THE FIRST 2000 ACRES IN CONWAY.
UM, AND WE IMPLEMENTED THAT IN 2018 WITH THE OTHER PROJECT, WITH THE CONVERSION TO NIX CODES TYPE LISTED HERE, ITEMS THAT WE MUST TAKE ACTION ON IN ORDER TO BE COMPLIANT WITH ACT 1 76, WE HAVE TO ALLOW BUSINESSES TO MAKE RENEWAL PAYMENTS THROUGH AN ONLINE PAYMENT SYSTEM.
THAT'S HOSTED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA REVENUE FISCAL AFFAIRS OFFICE.
THE TOWN WILL WORK WITH THE MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO IMPLEMENT THE PAYMENT PORTAL AS REQUIRED BY LAW, OUR CURRENT ONLINE PAYMENT PORTAL, OR REMAIN ACTIVE TO COLLECT OTHER LOCAL TAXES, INCLUDING ACCOMMODATION TAXES, REACH BEACH PRESERVATION FEES, AND ALSO OUR LOCAL HOSPITALITY TAXES.
UH, I CAN SHARE WITH YOU THAT I SAT IN ON A ZOOM CALL A FEW WEEKS AGO WITH OUR STATE CHAMBER THAT WAS ALSO HOSTED, UH, BY MIFC TO GO OVER THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE PORTAL AND THE IMPLEMENTATION ACROSS THE STATE.
UH, THEY CURRENTLY HAVE IT IN WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER A PILOT PHASE AND THEY HAVE, UH, FIVE CITIES ACROSS THE STATE THAT ARE USING IT IN A LIVE PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT, UM, THIS PAST YEAR, SO THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO MSC ON ANY BUGS OR FIXES THAT NEED TO HAPPEN BEFORE ROLLS OUT ACROSS THE STATE.
SO FROM THAT CALL, I WAS, UH, TOLD THAT I PROBABLY WON'T BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THAT UNTIL LATER THIS YEAR, PROBABLY, UM, YOU KNOW, LATE FALL.
I KNOW, UH, MR. BROWN, YOU HAD A QUESTION AND DURING THE FNA COMMITTEE MEETING ABOUT THE FEES THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PORTAL, AND I CAN REPORT THAT THERE WILL BE FEES.
UM, THE PORTAL IS GOING TO CHARGE 2.9% PLUS 30 CENTS FOR CARD TRANSACTIONS.
AND THEN THEY ALSO HAVE A 0.08% FEE OR A CAP OF $5 FOR THE ACH DRAFT.
UM, AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE SOME, UH, MANY DEPOSITS, UH, VERIFICATION AND THAT KIND OF THING.
AND AGAIN, THAT WILL BE STABLE WIDE.
ANOTHER ITEM THAT WE HAVE TO COMPLY
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WITH AND OUR NEW ORDINANCE IS WE HAVE TO USE THE LAW OF STANDARDIZED APPEALS PROCESS.THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO TAXPAYERS THAT ARE ASSESSED A BUSINESS LICENSE TAX, UH, FOR, YOU KNOW, THEY MAY NOT HAVE PAID, UH, PRIOR YEARS, UM, AND THAT SORT OF THING, SO THAT A PARTICULAR APPEALS PROCESS WILL BE STATEWIDE AND IT WILL BE INCLUDED IN OUR NEW ORDINANCE.
THE LAW ALSO STATES THAT WE HAVE TO USE THE LAW STANDARDIZED BUSINESS LICENSE CLASS SCHEDULE, AND THAT AGAIN, WILL BE ADOPTED WITH OUR NEW ORDINANCE, THAT BUSINESS LICENSE CLIENTS SCHEDULE IS HOW, UH, BUSINESSES ARE CLASSIFIED.
SO IT'S THAT WE JUST SPOKE ABOUT, AND THAT IS IT'S ALSO TIED TO, UH, THEIR RATES, THEIR BUSINESS LICENSE RATES, UM, IN THE LAW, IT WAS VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT, UM, REBALANCING OUR CURRENT, UM, BUSINESS LICENSE TAXES.
THEY GAVE A VERY SPECIFIC CRITERIA ON HOW WE WERE TO ANALYZE OUR BUSINESS LICENSE TAXES AND, UH, THE DATA AND DETERMINE IF THERE WOULD BE A WIND FOLLOWERSHIP FALL.
WE COMPLETED THAT, UM, PART OF, OF OUR, UH, PROJECT EARLIER THIS YEAR, IT WAS IN MARCH AND WE DID DISCOVER, UM, UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SHORTFALL OF BUSINESS LICENSE REVENUE OF ALMOST $340,000.
AND AGAIN, THAT IS FROM MOVING OUR BUSINESSES FROM ONE CLASSIFICATION TO ANOTHER, THAT IS MANDATED BY LAW.
UH, IT DID IMPACT 39% OF OUR BUSINESSES.
UM, SO THEY WILL BE MOVED INTO DIFFERENT CLASSES, SAYS STEP IS RECOMMENDED.
I THINK THAT WE, UH, INCREASE OUR RATE BY 7.2 ACROSS THE ENTIRE BUSINESS LICENSE CLASS RATES, UH, TO ACHIEVE A REVENUE NEUTRAL RESULT.
SO, AS I MENTIONED, UM, DURING THIS PRESENTATION, WE WILL NEED TO UPDATE OUR CURRENT BUSINESS LICENSE TAX CODE.
UH, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
UM, DURING THIS PROCESS, IT'S A BIG PROJECT, UM, AND VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE MEET THE DEADLINE SO THAT, UM, NISC CREATED A BUSINESS LICENSE MODEL ORDINANCE, UH, FOR EVERYONE ACROSS THE STATE TO ASSIST WITH THE PROCESS OF COMPLYING WITH THE NEW LAW.
THE MODEL ORDINANCE ADDRESSES THE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS THAT WE JUST SPOKE ABOUT, UM, FOUND IN THE NEW LAW AND STANDARDIZES THE PROCESS ACROSS THE STATE.
THE MODEL ORDINANCE WAS CREATED BY MAC TO BE USED AS A BASE MODEL, AND IT CAN BE CUSTOMIZED TO MEET THE INDIVIDUAL MUNICIPALITIES NEEDS BECAUSE OF THE NEW LAWS COMPLEXITIES.
THE ASSOCIATION IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGING US TO REPEAL OUR CURRENT TOWN CODE OR CURRENT BUSINESS LICENSE CODE AND REPLACE IT WITH, UM, THE MODEL ORDINANCE ADOPTION OF THE BUSINESS LICENSE ORDINANCES THAT, THAT COMPLY WITH ACT 1 76 MUST TAKE PLACE BY JANUARY 1ST, 2022 STAFF IS RECOMMENDING REPEALING AND REPLACING THE TOWN'S CURRENT BUSINESS LICENSE CODE.
UM, I'VE INCLUDED CONSIDERATIONS FOR YOU TOWN COUNCIL.
I WANTED TO GO OVER THE ITEMS THAT, UH, WOULD MAKE IMPACTED CHANGES, UM, THROUGH OUR ORDINANCE.
UH, THE MODEL ORDINANCE DOES NOT ALLOW A BUSINESS, THE BUSINESS LICENSE EXEMPTION FOR A PERSON OWNING AND RENTING ONE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING FOLLOWING THE MODEL ORDINANCE AND REQUIRING A BUSINESS LICENSE FOR ALL PROPERTY OWNERS THAT ARE RENTING.
AND THAT IS A COMMON PRACTICE ACROSS SOUTH CAROLINA.
UM, MOST, UH, ARE ALL SHORT-TERM RENTALS REQUIRE A BUSINESS LICENSE, AND THEN THERE'S SOME DIFFERENCES WITH THE LONG-TERM RENTALS.
UM, BUT THEY STILL ALL HAVE TO HAVE A LICENSE.
UH, THE MODEL ORDINANCE DOES NOT ALLOW PENALTIES TO BE WAIVED ON DELINQUENT BUSINESS LICENSE TAX.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING THE TOWN MANAGER OR DESIGNEE THE AUTHORITY TO ADJUST, UH, LATE FEES.
IF IT'S JUSTIFIED, THE MODEL ORDINANCE INCLUDES A DECLINING RATE SCHEDULE, TWO BUSINESSES REPORTING GROSS REVENUE IN EXCESS OF A MILLION DOLLARS.
BACK IN MARCH, WE ARE COMPLETING OUR ANALYSIS OF OUR, UH, BUSINESS LICENSE TAXES.
UH, WE DID INCLUDE THE DECLINING RATE SCHEDULE TO SEE HOW THAT IMPACTED OUR REVENUE AND FOUND THAT IN ADDITION TO, UH, THE SHORTFALL THAT WE JUST SPOKE ABOUT, THERE WOULD BE, UM, AN INITIAL SHORTFALL OF ALMOST ACTS CENTERED IN $15,000.
AND IN ORDER TO MAKE UP FOR THAT, WE WOULD HAVE TO INCREASE OUR RATES BY 11.3% ON TOP OF THE 7.2.
SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING NOT ADOPTING THE
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DECLINING RATE SCHEDULE MIFC AND THE MODEL ORDINANCE DO NOT MANDATE BUSINESS LICENSE RATES FOR THE TOWN.SO WE MUST ESTABLISH OUR OWN RATES.
AND AGAIN, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THE 7.2% RATE INCREASE ACROSS ALL BUSINESS LICENSE CLASS RATES TO ACHIEVE A REVENUE NEUTRALITY FROM THE BUSINESS CLASS.
AS I MENTIONED, I'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH MAC THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
UM, THEY HAVE CREATED STEPS FOR, UH, THE CITIES AND TOWNS AND COUNTIES TO FOLLOW SO THAT WE CAN STAY ON TRACK AND HAVE OUR COMPLIANCE, UH, BY JANUARY WINE.
THE FIRST STEP WAS TO CONVERT TO THE STANDARD BUSINESS LICENSE YEAR, WHICH, UH, WE DID STEP TWO IS TO REVIEW ALL BUSINESS LICENSE, TAX DATA FOR ACCURACY AND ANY THAT WAS DONE DURING OUR DATA ANALYSIS EARLIER THIS YEAR, WHEN WE DID THE RIGHT STUDY.
SO THREE IS TO REBALANCE OUR RATES TO PREVENT A WINDFALL OR LOSS STEP FOUR IS TO ADOPT THE MECS 2021 CLASS SCHEDULE STEP FIVE IS TO REPEAL AND REPLACE THE BUSINESS LICENSE ORDINANCE.
STEP SIX IS TO SET UP AN ONLINE PORTAL ACCOUNT AND STEP SEVEN, WHICH I FEEL IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT IS TO COMMUNICATE THE CHANGES ABOUT A LOT TO THOSE THAT ARE AFFECTED BY IT.
I INCLUDED A TIMELINE OR A PLANNED ADOPTION SCHEDULE, SO WE CAN DISCUSS WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES, AND I CAN SHARE WITH YOU FEEDBACK THAT I'VE BEEN GETTING FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR BUSINESS LEADERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS.
UM, IT'S, THEY'VE BEEN VERY ENGAGED WITH ME.
AND, UM, AS YOU KNOW, WE KICKED OFF OUR, UM, OUR INTRODUCTION OF OUR CHANGES BACK ON JUNE 15TH.
UM, DURING THAT FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE PRESENTATION, I HAVE SPENT, UM, THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS, SIX PLUS WEEKS WORKING TO EDUCATE OUR PUBLIC.
AND I'VE BEEN CALLING THAT MY EDUCATION AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.
UM, MY BANK GOAL AND OBJECTIVE IS TO, AND TO DELIVER IS TO DELIVER THE MESSAGE AT THE TOWN IS HERE TO HELP.
THERE'S A LOT OF CHANGES COMING DOWN, UM, THROUGH THIS, UH, THIS NEW LAW.
AND IT IMPACTS A LOT OF PEOPLE.
AND I HAVE BEEN, UM, VERY DILIGENT ABOUT TRYING TO GET THAT INFORMATION, HOW THE BEST WAY THAT WE CAN.
UH, I WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE TOWNS COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENTS TO SHARE THE INFORMATION TO BUSINESS OWNERS.
UM, I'VE ALSO WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE CHAMBER.
THEY'VE BEEN GREAT AND PUSHING, UH, PUBLIC NOTIFICATION TO EMAILS OUT TO ITS MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC.
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THAT COME ACROSS YOUR DESK.
WE'VE BEEN IN THE, UH, THE MONDAY MORNING BRIEFINGS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THEY'VE BEEN REALLY GREAT TO WORK WITH.
UM, WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD SOME MEDIA COVERAGE.
I GAVE A COUPLE OF INTERVIEWS TO WTOC AND DEBBIE JCL, UM, AND ALSO THE ISLAND PACKET HAS RAN, UH, SEVERAL, UM, ARTICLES ON ACT 1 76.
WE HAVE USED OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, UM, ACROSS THE BOARD TRYING TO DELIVER OUR MESSAGE AND PUSH IT OUT TO THE PUBLIC, UM, INCLUDING A VIDEO MESSAGE, UM, THAT I, THAT I SENT OUT AS WELL.
UH, ANOTHER BIG ITEM THAT WE HAVE WORKED ON AND CREATED WITH THIS, THERE'S A SPECIAL HUB ON OUR TOWN'S WEBSITE AND IT'S ALL FOR EVERYTHING ACT 1 76.
UM, I'VE FLOATED IN A LOT OF INFORMATION IN THERE.
IT MIGHT BE TOO MUCH INFORMATION, BUT I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND IT'S THERE FOR ANYONE WHO NEEDS TO SEE MY PRESENTATION, OR, UM, JUST BE ABLE TO PRINT MATERIALS OR ASK QUESTIONS.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT RESOURCE FOR ME AND FOR THE BUSINESS OWNERS.
UM, WE DID CREATE MATERIALS AS WELL.
UM, AND I DID INCLUDE THAT IN THE AGENDA PACKET.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO SEE WHAT'S GOING OUT INTO THE PUBLIC.
IT HAS, UH, THERE'S LIKE A GENERAL FLYER INFORMATION ON ACT 1 76 AND, UM, ALSO DID A Q AND A, IF YOU WILL, ON QUESTIONS THAT I'D BEEN GETTING.
SO THEN I COULD, UM, SEND THE INFORMATION OUT AND USE THAT AS A RESOURCE.
I ALSO HELD A PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION HERE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS, AND I FOLLOWED IT UP WITH ANOTHER ONE ON AUGUST 3RD AND I'M HAPPY TO REPORT.
UM, IT WAS WELL ATTENDED AND WELL RECEIVED.
I HAD A LOT OF, UH, PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES SHOW UP AND IT GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH THEM IN PERSON AND FIND OUT WHAT THEIR NEEDS WOULD BE TO HELP, UH, GET PROPERTY OWNERS, UM, THE INFORMATION THEY NEED ABOUT THE NEW BUSINESS LICENSE REQUIREMENTS.
UH, THEY WERE A GREAT RESOURCE.
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UH, THERE ARE MANY OTHERS ISLAND TIME VACATION COMPANY, AND I WORKED WITH THEM TO COME UP WITH A PLAN SO THAT THEY COULD SEND THEIR INFORMATION OUT TO THEIR PROPERTY OWNERS, UH, FROM THEIR FEEDBACK.WE, UM, MY TEAM AND I CREATED A, UM, SPECIALIZED APPLICATION FOR PROPERTY OWNERS, UM, SO THAT THEY WOULDN'T GET LOST IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
IT'S VERY SPECIFIC TO, UH, RENTING A PROPERTY.
UM, THAT WAS SOME FEEDBACK THAT I GOT AND WE CREATED THAT.
I ALSO, UH, CREATED A SAMPLE PAYMENT FORM, IF YOU WILL, LIKE A SAMPLE TAX FORM, UH, THAT HAS THE INFORMATION ON HOW TO CALCULATE THE TAX OR A PROPERTY OWNER THAT'S GOING TO BE RENTING.
AND, UM, THAT HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL.
IT ANSWERS A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
UM, HOW, WHAT TO EXPECT, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? HOW DO I CALCULATE IT? UM, THAT THAT'S BEEN VERY USEFUL.
UM, LET'S SAY WHEN WE SEND OUR STUFF OUT TO THE PROPERTY MANAGERS, I'VE ALSO INCLUDED A LINK TO OUR WEBSITE, UM, TO THE SPECIAL HUB THAT I REFER TO.
WE ALSO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE THE, UH, RECORDED VERSION OF THE FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE PRESENTATION THAT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY HELPFUL TO SEND OUT TO THAT YOUTUBE LINK, TO SEND OUT TO PROPERTY OWNERS THAT COULD NOT BE HERE.
UH, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T LIVE HERE FULL TIME OR AT ANYONE WHO COULD NOT ATTEND THE SESSIONS.
UM, I, WE HAVE SENT THAT OUT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THEY REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
CAUSE THEN THEY CAN JUST WATCH IT ON THEIR OWN TIME AND THEN CALL US WITH QUESTIONS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL RESOURCE.
UM, I OF COURSE HAVE HAD FREQUENT, UH, STAFF MEETINGS WITH REVENUE SERVICES, PLANNING, UM, IMPLEMENTATION.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, UM, GOING DOWN, YOU KNOW, THIS NEXT YEAR OR SO.
AND WE'RE KIND OF IN A LIMBO TRANSITION AND TRYING TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE STAFF WAS READY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
AND THEY HAD THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES, UM, HANDY AT THEIR DESK.
WE'VE PRINTED THE MATERIALS AND I DISCUSSED, AND WE CAN HAND THAT OUT.
I HANDED IT OUT AT THE SESSION AS WELL.
UH, WE'VE BEEN EMAILING EVERYONE.
WE'VE HAD A GREAT, UM, WE'VE HAD A GREAT RESPONSE AND EVERYONE HAS BEEN VERY ENGAGED.
UM, I WASN'T SURE YOU KNOW, WHAT, UM, THE REACTION WOULD BE.
I, I, MY LAST PRESENTATION PEOPLE CLAP.
SO I WAS PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT, ABOUT THAT.
UM, I, I HOPE THAT TODAY WILL BE OUR FIRST TOWN COUNCIL READING AND APPROVAL.
SO I HAVE THAT ON MY, UH, AGENDA ITEM HERE, SEPTEMBER 21ST, WE HAVE A PROPOSED SECOND READING AND FINAL READING OF OUR ORDINANCE, AND WE DO HAVE THE EFFECTIVE DATE BEING SEPTEMBER 21ST.
UM, AND THAT WILL JUST BE FOR NEW BUSINESSES THAT ARE COMING IN, UM, THAT WON'T IMPACT OUR CURRENT OWNER OR BUSINESS OWNERS.
THEIR, THEIR CHANGES WILL HAPPEN WHEN THEY GET THEIR RENEWAL FORMS, UH, IN JANUARY.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE SOME OF THAT WITH YOU.
UM, I STILL WANTED TO SHARE THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE, UH, THAT WE'RE GOING TO START WHERE WE'VE STARTED ON SOME, AND WE WILL CONTINUE WORKING ON THEM AUGUST THIS MONTH.
I'M SPENDING TIME WITH OUR SOFTWARE VENDOR.
THERE'S A LOT TO DO WITH OUR SYSTEM IN ORDER TO GET IT READY FOR THE CHANGES.
AND, UH, THAT IS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME ONCE THE SOFTWARE VENDOR AND I HAVE EVERYTHING TESTED AND COMPLETED, WE WILL HAVE TO CLOSE THE BUSINESS LICENSE OFFICE FOR A DAY TO IMPLEMENT THOSE CHANGES.
AND I, I REALLY WAS, UM, I'M HOPING TO HAVE THAT DAY CLOSE THE LAST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER.
UH, AND THE REASON IS, YOU KNOW, OCTOBER 1ST OPENS UP OUR THIRD QUARTER OR TAX PERIOD AND, UH, THE, THE TAXPAYER START PAYING RIGHT AWAY.
SO I DON'T WANT TO CLOSE THE OFFICE OR HAVE OUR WEB PORTAL DOWN, UM, DURING THAT TIME PERIOD IN OCTOBER.
SO RIGHT NOW I'VE GOT, I DON'T HAVE AN EXACT DATE.
AND WHEN I DO FIND THAT I WILL, UM, CONFIRM THAT WITH OUR SOFTWARE VENDOR, I OF COURSE WILL LET YOU KNOW, WE WILL BE SENDING THAT INFORMATION OUT WITH PUBLIC NOTICES, UM, ET CETERA, UM, BECAUSE OF MY ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES DURING MY SESSIONS, UM, I HAVE WORKED ON, UM, COMPILING INFORMATION AND SENDING OUT, UH, WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO GET OUR INFORMATION OUT.
THEY'VE BEEN, UH, GREAT, REALLY, REALLY GREAT AND FEEDBACK.
SO NOW THAT I HAVE A TEMPLATE, IF YOU WILL, I WILL BE REACHING OUT.
WE'VE GOT ABOUT 120 PROPERTY MANAGERS.
UM, I CAN'T TELL YOU, SEE, PINES HAS ALREADY SENT THEIR INFORMATION, HOW THEY MADE, THEY DID A MAILING AND, UH,
[00:25:01]
THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING THROUGH EMAIL AS WELL, AND WE'VE ALREADY BEEN GETTING, UM, APPLICATIONS AND I'VE BEEN ENCOURAGING, UH, PROPERTY OWNERS THAT WILL REQUIRE A LICENSE, UH, NEXT YEAR TO GO AHEAD AND SEND THEIR APPLICATION IN, CALL US WITH QUESTIONS AND THAT KIND OF THING.UM, WE WILL HOLD THOSE APPLICATIONS IN A QUEUE SO THAT THEY WILL GET, UM, CAPTURE DURING OUR RENEWAL PROCESS.
AND THEY WILL GET A TAX FORM COME JANUARY.
THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS DUE APRIL 30TH AND THAT IT WILL ALSO BE CALCULATED ON THEIR, UH, ON THEIR GROSS INCOME OR GROSS RENT FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS YEAR, THIS TAX PERIOD, UM, COMING UP.
SO THAT HAS BEEN A BIG, UH, PIECE.
WE ARE BEHIND THE SCENES OF, OF COURSE PROCESSING APPLICATIONS.
I THOUGHT THAT MIGHT START IN SEPTEMBER, BUT IT'S ALREADY STARTED.
I'M GLAD TO HAVE THAT INTERACTION WITH PEOPLE.
UM, IN OCTOBER I PLAN TO CONVERT A THOUSAND PROPERTY OWNER ACCOUNTS, BUT THAT THEY, THEY JUST HAVE SHORT-TERM RENTAL ACCOUNTS.
THEY HAVE ONE PROPERTY, THEY NEED TO REMIT ACCOMMODATION TAXES TO US BECAUSE WE ARE RECEIVING IT, UH, FROM ANOTHER, FROM A MANAGER, IF YOU WILL.
AND SO THEY ALL HAVE ACCOUNTS.
THEY WILL REQUIRE A BUSINESS LICENSE NEXT YEAR.
SO I WILL HAVE TO WORK WITH OUR VENDOR AND HAVE THOSE CONVERTED AS WELL AS NOTIFYING THEM OF THE CHANGES.
SO WE WILL SEND OUT LETTERS AND EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS TO, TO THOSE GROUP OF PROPERTY OWNERS.
UM, SO THEY'RE AWARE OF WHY THEY'RE GETTING A TAX BILL.
I PLAN, I HOPE IN OCTOBER THAT I WILL BE WORKING WITH MSC TO SET UP THE NEW PAYMENT PORTAL SYSTEM.
AS I DISCUSSED EARLIER, THAT'S STILL SLATED FOR FALL.
UM, NOVEMBER, I TYPICALLY START PREPARING FOR THE RENEWALS.
IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK BEHIND THE SCENES TO EVEN GET TO THE RENEWAL PROCESS IN THE SYSTEM.
SO, UM, CURRENTLY WE HAVE ABOUT 7,000 ACCOUNTS.
I KNOW WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER THOUSAND BASED ON OUR PROPERTY OWNERS THAT WE'LL BE ADDING IN.
WE WILL HAVE MORE BASED ON, UM, APPLICATIONS THAT ARE COMING IN.
SO THAT, THAT TAKES QUITE A BIT OF TIME.
AND I WILL WORK THROUGH THAT IN NOVEMBER, LIKE I NORMALLY DO.
UM, BUT THAT WILL ALSO INCLUDE ME PREPARING THE NEW PAYMENT PORTAL SYSTEM.
EVERY NOW I'LL HAVE TWO SYSTEMS THAT I HAVE TO MANAGE AND MAKE SURE THAT BOTH ARE READY FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, 20, 22.
THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER GROUP OF PROPERTY OWNERS THAT WE WILL START CONTACTING.
THESE ARE, UH, THERE'S ABOUT 2,500 OF THEM.
AND THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT WERE CONTACTED DURING, UM, OUR AUDITS HERE IN OUR REVENUE COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT.
THEY, UH, WERE NOTIFIED BY OUR COLLECTORS TO SEE IF THEY WERE IN COMPLIANCE WITH PAYING A COMBINATION TAXES AND SO FORTH.
AND THESE OWNERS ARE TYPICALLY PEOPLE WHO OWN JUST ONE PROPERTY AND MAYBE USE A PROPERTY MANAGER.
UM, SO THEY'RE IN COMPLIANCE RIGHT NOW, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST OF THE YEAR THEY WILL NEED A BUSINESS LICENSE.
WE HAVE THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION VERIFY THEY STILL OWN THE PROPERTY.
THERE'S A LOT BEHIND THE SCENES TO WORK ON THAT PROJECT, UH, DECEMBER WE'LL PROCESS AND PREPARE, UH, THE BUSINESS LICENSE RENEWALS AND BOTH THE SYSTEMS AND, UH, THAT EFFECTIVE DATE OF ACT 1 76 IS OF COURSE ON JANUARY 1ST.
AND BY JANUARY 15TH, WE TYPICALLY HAVE MAILED ALL OF OUR RENEWALS OUT.
UM, I KNOW THAT WE WILL BE GETTING APPLICATIONS IN PROBABLY FOR THE NEXT YEAR, JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, UH, THE REVENUE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TYPICALLY PROCESSES ABOUT A THOUSAND ACCOUNTS, NEW ACCOUNTS, UM, EVERY YEAR.
AND NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT SEVERAL THOUSAND, UM, COMING IN VERY QUICKLY.
UH, I THINK THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE COMING IN, YOU KNOW, EVEN AFTER THE DUE DATE AND WE WILL WORK AS HARD AS WE CAN TO GET THEM.
AND, UM, I'VE, IT'S BEEN ALL HANDS ON DECK.
EVERYBODY IS READY AND WE'RE, WE'RE JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING EVERYONE INTO COMPLIANCE.
UH, SINCE I PREPARED THIS, I, UM, HAD A COUPLE OF OTHER UPDATES.
UH, I HAVE BEEN COLLABORATING WITH OUR LOCAL NEIGHBORS AND WE ASKED MIFC TO HOST A ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION.
UM, HERE LOCALLY, THEY WERE, UH, OFFERING THOSE, BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO GO, UM, UPSTATE AND TRAVEL.
THEY AGREED AND THE CITY OF HARTVILLE WAS, UH, KIND ENOUGH, AND THEY ARE GOING TO HOST IT NEXT WEEK.
THAT HAS SINCE BEEN CHANGED TO A ZOOM MEETING, UH, BECAUSE OF COVID RESTRICTIONS.
SO I WILL BE SAYING IN NEXT WEEK, UH, WITH OUR LOCAL, UM, CITIES AND COUNTIES TO, UM, JUST TO COLLABORATE AND ALSO TO FIND OUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO
[00:30:01]
IMPLEMENT THE PORTAL.ALSO, UM, THE REALTORS ASSOCIATION REACHED OUT TO ME LAST WEEK AND THEY WANT ME TO COME AND PRESENT, UM, THIS INFORMATION TO THEIR BROKERS IN CHARGE AT A MEETING IN SEPTEMBER.
SO I DON'T KNOW NOW IF THAT WILL BE IN PERSON OR THROUGH ZOOM, BUT, UM, I WAS JUST HAPPY.
THEY REACHED OUT AND THEY WANT TO GET INFORMATION OUT TO THE REAL ESTATE COMMUNITY.
ANOTHER I, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER ITEM I WANTED TO SHARE IS THAT THE AVERAGE COST OF A BUSINESS LICENSE, I HOLD THE DATA FOR, FOR THIS YEAR FOR PROPERTY OWNERS, UH, IN OUR, IN OUR AREA WAS $200.
AND AGAIN, THOSE ARE PEOPLE WHO OWN TWO PROPERTIES AND WE'RE IN A, UM, INCLINED OF RATES, UH, FOR OUR, UH, RENTALS, AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN VERY BUSY THERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, $200 IS, UM, NOT A LOT OF MONEY.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A THOUSAND, $2,000 WHEN THE PROPERTY OWNERS HEARD THAT THEY WERE RELIEVED BECAUSE THEY WERE WORRIED IT WAS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
SO, UM, I, I DID WANT TO JUST, UH, POINT THAT OUT THAT IT IS, UM, UH, IT IS A TAX AND UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, IT NEEDS TO, UH, WE, WE NEED TO HAVE EVERYONE PAYING THEIR BUSINESS LICENSE TAXES, BUT I HAVEN'T HAD, UM, I'VE HAD A LOT OF GOOD FEEDBACK ON THAT.
BURNING QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
HAVING SAID THAT THIS IS THE FIRST READING ON DINO MOTION.
JOHN, I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT GOOD.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, APRIL OUTSTANDING JOB.
I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH WHAT YOU'VE PRODUCED FOR US.
IT WAS A HUGE UNDERTAKING, UH, AND YOU DESERVE, UH, ALL THE ACCOLADES FOR MY JOB BEAUTIFULLY WELL DONE.
UM, THAT SAID, UM, WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF A SINGLE PROPERTY RENTAL? WHAT I'M GETTING AT THERE IS IF SOMEONE RENTS OUT, UH, A PROPERTY HERE FOR A MONTH, IS THAT COVERED, DOES IT HAVE TO BE A MINIMUM OF SIX MONTHS? HOW DOES THAT WORK? SO ANYONE RENTING THEIR PROPERTY, NO MATTER, UH, IF IT'S FOR ONE WEEK OR FOR SIX MONTHS, UH, WHETHER IT'S SHORT-TERM OR LONG-TERM WOULD REQUIRE A BUSINESS LICENSE, IF THEY'RE GENERATING INCOME ON THAT PROPERTY.
UM, AND IT'S NOT PR, YOU KNOW, PERSONAL USE, IT'S NOT THEIR SECOND HOME.
UM, THEN THEY WILL NEED TO HAVE A BUSINESS PLAN.
UH, I CERTAINLY SUPPORT THAT, BUT I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE EMPHASIZED TRUE THESE SINGLE PROPERTY OWNERS, UH, THAT IS REQUIRED THAT WAY.
SECONDLY, YOU SAID THAT, UH, WE ARE ADOPTING THE MODEL ORDINANCE.
HAVE WE MADE ANY CHANGES TO THE MODEL ORDINANCE THAT, UH, WE'RE NOT SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED BY THAT ORDINANCE? YEAH, THE ONLY, UH, WE HAD TO ADD OUR ORDINANCE FOR THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS, UM, AND THE MIFC COLLECTIONS THAT WE DO THAT WAS ADDED IN, UM, IT CARRIED OVER FROM OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE.
AND YOU SAID THAT, UM, UH, WE ARE NOT ADOPTING THE DECLINING RATE SCHEDULE.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED IN THE LAW THAT IS FOR US NOT TO ADOPT THAT.
SO THE DECLINING RATE SCHEDULE IS NOT IN THE LAW.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S IN THE MODEL ORDINANCE.
SO IT'S NOT REQUIRED FOR US TO ADOPT, UH, I KNOW BLUFFTON DID NOT ADOPT IT.
UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS USED SOME PLACES AROUND THE STATE, UM, BUT THAT'S NOT EXCELLENT.
AND FINALLY, UM, SOME OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS ARE GOING TO BE HIT WITH A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN TAXES.
I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE PRUDENT ON THE TOWN'S PART TO REACH OUT TO THOSE THAT ARE GETTING, HOWEVER YOU DEFINE IT, A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE AND GIVE THEM A HEADS UP.
UH, SO THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN AT THE LAST MINUTE, WE DON'T HAVE A REAL SERIOUS PROBLEM ON OUR HANDS.
UH, WITH THAT AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
I SAID, JOHN, ANY MORE QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? OKAY.
MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE APPROVAL OF THE FIRST READING OF THE BUSINESS LICENSE MODEL AS PRESENTED TODAY.
MR. ORLANDO, JULY TO BE HERE, ITEM BE A CONSIDERATION OF THE AFFILIATED AGENCY.
TALENT FUNDING STANDARDIZATION PROCESS WILL BE PRESENTED TO YOU AND THE COMMUNITY BY JOHN TROYER FINANCE DIRECTOR,
[00:35:01]
AND YOU ABBREVIATED VERSION AS WELL.TO SUMMARIZE IT AS BEEN THROUGH FINANCE COMMITTEE, I BELIEVE YOU'VE HEARD THE PRESENTATION AND I WILL OPEN IT UP AS TO WHAT YOU WOULD PREFER WITH THIS PRESENTATION OR QUESTIONS.
UM, WHAT, UM, WE TALKED ABOUT IN FINANCE COMMITTEE WAS, UH, AN EASY TO FOLLOW PROCESS.
SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE CONSISTENT FOR ALL AGENCIES AND VERY TRANSPARENT.
AND SO BASICALLY WOULD TAKE THE MODEL OF THE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT SUBSTITUTE THE FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE, THEY WOULD DO THE DETAILED REVIEW AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS TO FULL TOWN COUNCIL WITH THE BUDGET PROCESS.
AND SO, UM, OUR RECOMMENDATION FROM FINANCE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE IS A RECOMMENDATION THAT COUNCIL ADOPT THIS A NEW PROCESS FOR AFFILIATED AGENCY FUNDING.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL? WE TALKED WITH THIS ONE, NO QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL RAISE.
SEE YOU GUYS SERVE THAT IS, UH, FOR ME TO PRESENT AGAIN, AND I WOULD SAY THIS JOHN TROYER IS THE HARDEST PERSON TO FOLLOW ON AN AGENDA ANY TIME.
SO THANK YOU, JOHN, FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
I PRESENTED TO THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN INVESTMENT PLAN OUTLINED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THE USE OF OUR FUNDS AS A, AS A QUICK BRIEF TO CONGRESSIONAL HOUSE RESOLUTION 13, 19, LAID OUT IN THE LEGISLATION, GUIDING LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC.
IT ALLOWED US TO, UH, INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THOSE, THOSE ISSUES CREATED BY SUPPORTING PUBLIC HEALTH EXPENDITURES, ADDRESSING NEGATIVE ECONOMIC IMPACTS, REPLACING LOST PUBLIC SECTOR REVENUE, PROVIDING PREMIUM PAY AND INVESTING IN WATERS FROM A BROADBAND.
I HAVE LAID OUT FOR TOWN COUNCIL AND COMMUNITIES THAT INVESTMENT PLAN AND ON THE VERY LAST SLIDE ON THE SCREEN, KRISTA, WE COULD SHARE THAT QUICKLY.
AND IF YOU GO TO THE VERY LAST SLIDE MAYOR COUNCIL, YOU'LL SEE THAT I'VE PROPOSED.
AND AGAIN, ALL OF THIS IS IN THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES AS WELL, A MILLION DOLLARS TOWARDS THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH, UM, AND IMPACT OR NEGATIVE IMPACTS AND INVESTMENT OF $500,000 IN YEAR 22 AND 500 IN FISCAL YEAR 23 OF REQUESTED, UM, THE INVESTMENT, UM, IN FOR $400,000 INTO A HOME REPAIR PROGRAM THAT WOULD ALSO ALLOW FOR REMOVAL OF UNSAFE STRUCTURES THROUGH OUR GRANT PROGRAMS THAT WE WOULD DEFINE AND BRING BACK TO COUNCIL A MILLION DOLLARS INTO TOWN HALL, UH, TECHNOLOGY AND ENHANCEMENTS OF OUR CURRENT SECURITY SYSTEM, A MILLION DOLLARS INTO A HOUSING, PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, UM, AN INITIAL INVESTMENT OF A MILLION DOLLARS, UH, TOWARDS INFRASTRUCTURE, $200,000 IN LATERAL SEWER CONNECTION GRANTS AGAIN, AND I MENTIONED, UH, IN CONJUNCTION PERHAPS WITH THE PROJECT SAFE PROGRAM THROUGH COMMITTEE FOUNDATION, AND THEN EARMARKING $1.6 MILLION IN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, PROBABLY SOME, SOME ITEMS WE DON'T GET, NO FINANCE COMMITTEE GAVE A FULL RECOMMENDATIONS PRESENTATIONS ONLINE, AND I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR SUPPORT, ANY QUESTIONS WHICH WERE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL ON
I WAS THINKING THIS AMANDA QUESTION, THANK YOU ALL FOR DILIGENTLY AND QUICKLY PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
UM, WE TALKED A BIT DURING THE, AN ADMINISTRATIVE MEETING ABOUT FUNDS THAT WILL BE FORWARDED OVER TO THE COMMITTEE OF VALIDATION AND LOW COUNTRY.
AND, UH, WE, WE AGREE THAT, UH, WE'D ASKED KIND OF A MANAGER TO, UH, WORK ON THE CRITERIA THAT MONEY BEING DISPERSED.
WHAT ELSE SUGGESTED THAT WE, UH, ASKED THE TOWN MANAGER TO WORK EXPEDITIOUSLY ON THAT BECAUSE THE CURRENT SITUATION THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CORONAVIRUS SPREAD, OKAY.
WE HEARD FROM JEREMY CLARK WILL SAY THAT VACCINATIONS ARE EMPLOYMENT TESTING AS EMPLOYED AT THE CURRENT MOMENT.
[00:40:01]
TESTING SITES ON HILTON.WELL, EXCUSE ME, PUBLIC TESTING SITES, WHERE ONE COULD JUST DRIVE UP AND GET TESTED.
UM, I KNOW FOR CERTAIN THAT BUSINESSES ARE, UH, AFRAID AND WANT TO BE CERTAIN IF SOMEONE IS POSITIVE OR NOT, BEFORE THEY CONTINUE TO HAVE THEIR EMPLOYEES SHOW UP FOR WORK.
UH, SO I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE WORK QUICKLY ON THAT PIECE.
TO TRY TO OFFER UP SOME OF THIS MONEY TO SUPPORT THAT EFFORT, NOT JUST LEAVE IT ON JEREMY AT THE HOSPITAL.
LOOK, WE ALL KNOW THAT SAY IT WAS A FULL AT THE MOMENT.
SO THERE'S SOME WAY TO DO SOME OF THIS FUNDING TO ENCOURAGE, UH, TESTING SITES ON HILTON, HEAD OF THE AGENCIES, NONPROFITS THAT CAN HELP US WITH IT.
BUT AS WE ALL KNOW, EVERYTHING COSTS MONEY.
SO THAT WILL BE MY ONLY RECOMMENDATION OR CHANGE TO WHAT WE HAVE.
I WILL LET US WALK RIGHT NOW WHILE WE HERE TO HAVE IT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, MANAGE PRICING AND A COPY TO THE MEMBERS.
I JUST NEED SOME CLARITY TALK TO FINANCE COMMITTEE.
I WAS GOING TO BRING THAT CRITERIA WITHIN THE PARAMETERS TO GRANT TO TOWN COUNCIL, AND WE WOULD TALK ABOUT IT.
BUT WHAT I'M HEARING RIGHT NOW IS SAY, WANT TO GET OUT TOGETHER, I'LL SEND IT TO YOU, BUT JUST ONE ITEM YOU CAN DO TO BE ABLE TO LOOK BACK TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL WITH COUNCILS.
DOES THAT CHANGE OR ADD TO THE BROAD BRUSH OF WHAT THESE MONIES, A MILLION DOLLARS TO THE LOW COUNTRY FOUNDATION WOULD BE APPLIED TO OR SOMETHING SPECIFIC THAT I'M NOT AWARE OF? I'M SURE IT EXISTS CURRENTLY EXISTS THERE THAT CAUTION OF THIS MANY WOULD GO INTO TO BENEFIT SOMETHING THAT ALEX HAS JUST DESCRIBED.
I CAN HELP WITH SOME CLARITY THERE, THE FUNDS AS TRANSFERRED IN AND DISTRIBUTED BY THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ON THE LOW COUNTRY NEED TO FOLLOW THOSE SAME CONDITIONS AND STRINGS THAT THE GRANT OR THE STIMULUS FUNDS ARE SET UP FOR.
AND ONE OF THE SESSIONS AND IT'S OUTLINED IN THE FACT SHEET THAT WAS WRITTEN ON OR PROVIDED ON MAY 10TH, 20, 21 SUPPORTING PUBLIC HEALTH EXPENDITURES BY FUNDING COVID MITIGATION EFFORTS, MEDICAL, BEHAVIORAL, CERTAIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY STAFF.
WITH THAT CLAUSE, THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, LOW COUNTRY WOULD BE ABLE TO ASSIST THOSE ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS VOLUNTEERS AND MEDICINE AND WHOMEVER ELSE THROUGH THOSE EFFORTS.
AND SO I'M CLEAR AND IT WILL NEED TO BE WITHIN THE PARAMETER OF THE, OF THE STIMULUS FUNDS.
SO THE, SO THERE ARE ALREADY, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR FOR EVERYONE THAT THEY'RE ALREADY ESTABLISHED ORGANIZATIONS DOING THIS WORK.
THIS FUNDING WILL HELP THEM TO EXPAND THEIR EFFORTS AND IN THE REST.
IT DOES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS PRESENTATION HERE.
UM, YES, THESE ARE THE, UH, PROPOSED CALENDAR YEAR 2022 TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS SPECTRAL.
UM, THESE ARE THE ITEMS. THESE ARE THE MEETINGS THAT WE ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO INSPECT, UM, AT LEAST TWO PER YEAR OR TWO PER MONTH, PERSONALLY, ONE PER MONTH FOR A TOTAL OF 12 MEETINGS PER YEAR.
UM, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS OR CHANGES ON WHAT HAS BEEN PUT BEFORE COUNCIL, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR A MOTION AND APPROVAL.
YOU GOT A SECOND FOR A SECOND.
MR. STANFORD, ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
I AM PLEASED TO, UH, INTRODUCE, AND YOU'VE ALREADY KNOWN HIM, OUR CHIEF FILLING OFFICIAL FEARLESS LEADER.
CHRIS IS ALSO SERVING RIGHT NOW AS INTERIM DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
AND I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT
[00:45:01]
AS WE KNOW, AND I'LL LET CHRIS GET INTO SOME DETAILS.AS WE KNOW, WE'VE HAD THAT BUILDING COLLAPSED, UM, IN MIAMI SOMETIME TO GO WHERE I BELIEVE, UM, THE REALIZATION WAS THAT THERE WAS SOME SORT OF STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY ISSUE.
CHRIS, AS OUR CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL, WHO'S VERY PLUGGED IN WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA BUILDING OFFICIAL ASSOCIATION.
UM, BOTH, YOU KNOW, STATE LEVEL AND NATIONALLY HAS MOBILIZED HIS STAFF AND HIS LEADERSHIP TO REACH OUT TO BUILDING OWNERS AND FOR THE COMMUNITY IN THIS REGARD.
AND SO AT THE LAST MEETING YOU HAD ASKED ME TO HAVE AN UPDATE IN PRESENTATION FROM OUR CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL.
AND WHEN SAYING THAT I WILL, UH, INTRODUCE CHRIS.
UM, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR MCCANN AND MEMBERS OF THE TOWN COUNCIL.
I AM THE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
I HAVE OVER 24 YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES EXPERIENCE, AND I HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED WITH THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND FOR 11 YEARS.
FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS, I'VE BEEN THE BUILDING OFFICIAL FOR THE TOWN.
MY DUTIES HAVE INCLUDED MANAGING THE DAY-TO-DAY ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATIONS OF THE BUILDING DIVISION.
THE BUILDING DIVISIONS CORE SERVICES ARE AS FOLLOWS, DELIVER PROMPT, EFFICIENT, AND COURTEOUS SERVICE AND THE MANAGEMENT COORDINATION AND INSPECTION OF THE BUILDING PERMITTING PROCESS TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT STATE AND INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODES FOR SINGLE FAMILY AND COMMERCIAL STRUCTURES.
WE COLLECT PERMIT FEES AND IMPACT FEES FOR BOTH THE TOWN AND THE COUNTY.
WE PROVIDE FLOOD HAZARD DETERMINATION TO HOMEOWNERS, INSURANCE, LEGAL AND BANKING REPRESENTATIVES.
WE ENFORCED THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM AND THE TOWN'S FLOOD CONTROL ORDINANCE.
WE ALSO CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH FOR THE PUBLIC PERTAINING TO BUILDING CODE AND FLOOD REGULATIONS.
THE BUILDING DIVISION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PERMITTING AND INSPECTING THE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES, REMOVE MORE DEMOLITION OF EVERY BUILDING OR STRUCTURE OR ANY APPURTENANCES CONNECTED OR ATTACHED TO SUCH BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES.
THEY ADOPTED BUILDING CODES, ONLY ADDRESS PERMITTED CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES AND THE INSPECTIONS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODES.
ONCE A STRUCTURE HAS RECEIVED ITS FINAL INSPECTION OR CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY, THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THAT STRUCTURE FOR THE DURATION OF ITS LIFE EXPECTANCY FALLS TO THAT STRUCTURE AS OWNER ONCE CONDITIONS CHANGE OR WHERE STRUCTURES ARE OR BECOME UNSAFE.
THE BUILDING OFFICIAL HAS THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE A DISTRICT A DETERMINATION AND DECLARE SUCH STRUCTURES AS UNSAFE IF THE STRUCTURE'S OUT OR DOES NOT AGREE WITH THE BUILDING OFFICIALS DETERMINATION THAT THE STRUCTURE IS UNSAFE.
A SHOW CAUSE HEARING WITH THE CONSTRUCTION BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND APPEALS IS HELD.
ONCE THE BOARD AGREES WITH THE BUILDING OFFICIALS DETERMINATION, AN UNSAFE STRUCTURE SHALL BE TAKEN DOWN AND REMOVED OR MADE SAFE AS THE BUILDING OFFICIAL DEAN'S NECESSARY IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT TRAGIC EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN FLORIDA JURISDICTIONS ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES HAVE BEEN EVALUATING AND DEVELOPING A LOCAL RESPONSE.
I HAVE SOLICITED INPUT AND FEEDBACK FROM TOWN STAFF AND MANAGEMENT TO DRAFT A LETTER THAT HAS BEEN MAILED TO ALL COMMERCIAL AND MULTIFAMILY PROPERTY OWNERS ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
THIS LETTER LISTS SOME RECOMMENDED STEPS THAT THE PROPERTY OWNERS CAN TAKE TO ENHANCE THE SAFETY OF THEIR BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES.
SOME OF THE KEY POINTS FOR THE PROPERTY OWNERS CONTAINED IN THE LETTER ARE TO CREATE A ROUTINE SCHEDULE FOR LIFE SAFETY AND STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY INSPECTIONS, USING A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL ONE, A MINIMUM BASIS EVERY YEAR FOR LIFE SAFETY AND 10 YEARS FOR STRUCTURAL INSPECTIONS.
UH, KEEP IN MIND, THIS SCHEDULE IS FLEXIBLE AND IT MAY NEED TO BE ADJUSTED BASED ON CHANGING CONDITIONS AND THE AGE OF THE STRUCTURE.
WE ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT THEY PERFORM ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS IN A TIMELY MANNER THAT THEY ENSURE BUILDING PERMITS ARE OBTAINED, WHERE REQUIRED PRIOR TO BEGINNING ANY WORK AND THAT THEY ALWAYS REPORT ANY DEFICIENCIES TO THE TOWN BUILDING DIVISION.
THE BUILDING DIVISION AND TOWN STAFF ARE HERE TO HELP AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE CITIZENS AND PROPERTY OWNERS TO ENSURE
[00:50:01]
THE SAFETY OF OUR STRUCTURES AND THEIR OCCUPANTS.WITH THAT BEING SAID, UH, I AM OPEN AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT COUNCIL MAY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR CHRIS PERSONALLY, IF I CAN QUICKLY FIND THAT EMAIL, MAYBE THANK YOU.
UM, CHRIS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT.
YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE A HUGE JOB.
UM, AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR ABOUT THE NOTIFICATIONS THAT YOU'RE SENDING OUT TO PROPERTY OWNERS, BUT THOSE INSPECTIONS THAT YOU ARE RECOMMENDING ARE NOT COMPULSORY, ARE THEY, THEY ARE RECOMMENDED.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER MAKING INSPECTIONS, FUN, BASIC INSPECTIONS, A REQUIREMENT.
AND I THINK THAT, UH, WHOEVER SHOULD STUDY THAT WHICHEVER COMMITTEE SHOULD STUDY THAT IT SHOULD BE REFERRED TO THAT COMMITTEE AND EVALUATED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF STAFF TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT'S NECESSARY AS YOU SUGGESTED IS, AND THEN HOW WE WOULD GO ABOUT ADOPTING THAT.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THE FLORIDA SITUATION, UM, UH, THE BUILDING HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A PUBLIC AUTHORITY.
UM, THEY KNEW OF SOME DEFICIENCIES, BUT THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEM.
AND SO I DON'T WANT TO MOVE THAT.
WE ADOPT THAT NOW, BUT I DO THINK THAT MR. MAYOR, THAT IT SHOULD BE STUDIED SO THAT WE CAN DETERMINE THE PROPER ROLE OF THE TOWN AND THE TOWN OF BUILDING OFFICIAL IN THIS.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND I THINK THE STATE SHOULD HAVE SOME KIND OF FACILITY ORGANIZATION DUE TO STATE INSPECTIONS TO VISUAL UNIFORMITY AND EVERYTHING WE MIGHT WANT TO START WITH REPRESENTATIVE BRILEY.
SO I THINK, I THINK THAT'S GOOD.
I, I JUST THINK YOU OUGHT TO REFER THIS TO ONE OF THE COMMITTEES, JOHN, AND, AND GET A PROCESS STARTED.
I WAS SUPPRESSED AND I RECEIVED MANY LETTERS BY THE WAY.
I'M JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW, UH, YOU MENTIONED THAT, UM, THERE IS A TRIGGER, I GUESS, FOR, UH, THE CONVERSATION, IF A STRUCTURE NEEDS SOME ATTENTION ON THAT.
SO I'M JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW, SAY OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WHAT CAN YOU GIVE US A ROUND NUMBER AS TO HOW MANY YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED? AND ALSO AS YOU ANSWER THAT HAVE THE BABY, UH, OF THOSE, UH, CONFLICTS THAT WOULD'VE HAD TO BEEN RESOLVED BY THE, I THINK YOU CALLED IT THE CONSTRUCTION AND REVIEW BOY.
SO CVAA CONSTRUCTION BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND APPEALS.
UM, IF I HAD TO GIVE YOU A ROUND NUMBER, I WOULD SAY IT'S SOMEWHERE BETWEEN FIVE AND 10, UH, THAT WE'VE DEALT WITH WITHIN THE LAST FIVE YEARS OR SO.
AND, UM, PROBABLY OUT OF THAT FIVE OR 10, I WOULD SAY FOUR, UH, THREE OR FOUR, PROBABLY FOUR OR FIVE HAVE GONE TO THE CBA, UM, FOR THAT HEARING.
UM, SO NOT, NOT A LOT BECAUSE IT'S COMPLAINT, YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND, THIS IS ALL COMPLAINT DRIVEN OR, YOU KNOW, AS STAFF, UH, FINES OR RUNS INTO THESE SCENARIOS.
UH, WE DO NOT CURRENTLY AT THE TOWN HAVE, UH, AN ACTIVE, UM, DIVISION OF, UH, INSPECTORS OR CODES, ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THAT ARE ACTIVELY OUT AND ABOUT LOOKING FOR THESE TYPES OF VIOLATIONS.
UH, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THE, IN THE PAST, THIS HAS BEEN COMPLAINT DRIVEN, UH, AND AS WE SEE AN UNSAFE CONDITION OR HAZARD, UH, THAT TO LIFE SAFETY THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
UM, SO THAT JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND NOW, AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, CREATING, OR ACTUALLY DELEGATING THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO GO INTO EXISTING STRUCTURES AND DO INSPECTIONS ON ANY SORT OF BASIS, UM, THAT ACTUALLY, UH, IS MAY, IS MANAGED THROUGH THE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE.
THAT IS NOT A CODE THAT THE STATE HAS ADOPTED AS A MANDATORY CODE IS A CODE THAT THE STATE HAS ALLOWED EACH JURISDICTION AS PERMISSIBLE TO ADOPT WITHIN THEIR ORDINANCE AS SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO ENFORCE AND KEEP IN MIND WITHIN THAT CODE, IT LAYS OUT A NEW DIVISION.
IT DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE BUILDING DIVISION IS A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT OR PROPERTY MAINTENANCE DIVISION.
AND IT HAS ITS OWN DIRECTOR OR MANAGER OVER THAT DIVISION THAT HANDLES THOSE TYPES OF, UH, COMPLAINTS AND ISSUES.
UH, AND THAT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM CUTTING GRASS, UH, TO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW, BUILDINGS THAT ARE IN DESPERATE
[00:55:01]
NEED OF A REPAIR.AND GLEN ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
WE'RE GOING TO SEND THAT TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES GROUP.
I'M NOT SURE I DON'T WANT TO PUT CHRIS ON THIS, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO ANSWER RIGHT NOW, THAT'S FINE.
BUT AS WE START TO DIVE INTO THIS A LITTLE DEEPER, I UNDERSTAND THAT FOUR OR FIVE OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, BUT I HAVE SOMETHING TO REFERENCE THAT TO KIND OF LEAD TO THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF STRUCTURES ON THE ISLAND.
HAVE YOU HAD THAT AT A MOMENT? THAT'S FINE.
BUT THAT JUST HELPS WITH THE MAGNITUDE.
I THINK A TOTAL NUMBER OF STRUCTURES THAT ARE UNSAFE, OR JUST TOTAL NUMBER OF STRUCTURES, PERIOD, PERIOD, 20,000.
THAT'S A GOOD RATIO COMPLAINT, CHRIS, PLEASE.
AGAIN, I MUST REITERATE THAT THAT IS COMPLAINT DRIVEN, UH, AS WE RECEIVE, YOU KNOW, UH, EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS FROM, FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR US TO INVESTIGATE UNSAFE CONDITIONS.
AND AS WE LOOK AT THIS FOR EACH COMMITTEE, CHRIS IS ON AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR THEM BRING UP THE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE WHILE NOT MANDATORY IS DEFINITELY AN OPTION.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL LOOK INTO A LOT MORE THAN BRING IT TO THE APPROPRIATE COMMITTEE AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
NEXT IS A AS A QUARTERLY UPDATE AND YOU SHOULD ALL HAVE THIS AND IT SHOULDN'T BE AVAILABLE ONLINE.
TERRY, IF IT'S NOT, PLEASE MAKE SURE IT IS AFTER THIS MEETING.
UM, THE STATUS FOR THE GULLAH GEECHEE COMMON PRIORITY PROJECT RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, JUST TO TEE THIS UP, MAYOR MCCANN HAS REGULARLY ASKED ME FOR, FOR, FOR THE GOOD UPDATES FROM THE DELEGATE TASK FORCE MORE, NOT SO MUCH FROM THE TASK FORCE, BUT FROM AS A STAFF PRIORITY.
AND SO WHAT I HAVE DONE AND KNOWING THAT TERRY IS LEADING THAT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SIDE, I HAVE ASKED HER AND NOT DR.
SHARIECE, BUT, UH, TERRY, WHO IS THE LEAD THERE TO PROVIDE THE UPDATE TO YOU AS COUNCIL MEMBERS? I APPRECIATE ALL OF DR.
UM, PLEASE KNOW, THIS IS A TEAM EFFORT AND A TEAM SPORT TO ACCOMPLISH THESE ISSUES, TERRY, FOR TIME SAKE.
WE KNOW THAT THIS INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
IT'S BEEN IN THE PACKAGE THAT'S AVAILABLE ONLINE.
PLEASE HIGHLIGHT THOSE IMPORTANT, UM, ELEMENTS, ESPECIALLY IN INCLUDING THE ONES WE RECENTLY TALKED ABOUT IN MY OFFICE, PLEASE.
I'M THE DEPUTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
AND I'M HAPPY TO GIVE YOU THIS QUARTERLY UPDATE ON THE GULLAH GEECHEE TOP PRIORITY PROJECT RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND AS MARK SAID, I'LL HIT THE HIGHLIGHTS OF IT SINCE EVERYBODY HAS A COPY OF IT.
AND THEN OF COURSE, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
I DO WANT TO THINK, UM, THE GULLAH GEECHEE TASK FORCE MEMBERS THOUGH, BEFORE I GET STARTED, JUST BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN INTEGRAL AND BEING ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO LAVONNE STEVENS, OUR CHAIR FARMER SIMMONS, OUR VICE CHAIR, ABRAHAM ABRAHAM ABDULA LEAD, MARTHA DAVIS, SHAWNEE GREEN, THERESA WHITE ARE THREE FORMER MEMBERS, JOYCE WRIGHT, TODD THEODORE, AND CAROLYN MCNERNEY, AND OUR THREE NEW MEMBERS, JOHN CAMPBELL, MARK O'NEIL AND THOMAS HENS.
UH, WE'LL START AT THE BEGINNING.
I'LL GET, I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH EACH OF THEM FOR TIME SAKE, BUT I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT, UM, ONE-YEAR CHART THE RECOMMENDATIONS TWO, THREE, AND FOUR.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THOSE HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.
THOSE WERE A PART OF THE FAMILY COMPOUNDS, FAMILY SUBDIVISION, LMO AMENDMENTS.
WE'VE ALREADY HAD SEVERAL FAMILIES COME IN TO TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.
THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO USE THE FLEXIBILITY FLEXIBILITY THAT'S BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THESE AMENDMENTS FOR NUMBER FIVE, DR.
DUBOSE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE $5 CHURCHES, THE FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH QUEEN CHAPEL, AFRICAN METHODIST, THE EPISCOPALIAN CHURCH ST.
JAMES BAPTIST CHURCH, MOUNT CALVARY MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, CENTRAL OAK GROVE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH.
AND SHE PROVIDES UPDATES TO THE CHURCH LEADERSHIP THAT THEY CAN THEN SHARE WITH THEIR MEMBERS.
AND THESE UPDATES ARE ON BOTH GULLAH, GEECHEE AFFAIRS, AND THEN TOPICAL ISSUES AS WELL, SUCH AS WHERE TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ON THE COVID VACCINE AND WHERE AND HOW PEOPLE CAN OBTAIN THAT VACCINE.
ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT YOU'LL BE HEARING ABOUT SOON AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL IS THE MONTHLY GULLAH MARKET WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH NITKA ON A BUSINESS PLAN FOR THIS MARKET LOCATION THAT'S PROPOSED, UH, TO T THAT WILL BE PROPOSED TO TOWN.
COUNCIL WILL BE THE SQUIRE POLK COMMUNITY PARK, THE SAILING AND ROWING CENTER NIP CAUSE
[01:00:01]
CURRENTLY ADVERTISING FOR A MANAGER.AND ONE OF THE DUTIES WOULD BE TO MANAGE THE MARKET AND ITS OPERATIONS.
AND WE'RE HOPING THAT THIS MARKET CAN OPEN IN NOVEMBER TO COINCIDE WITH THE GALA CELEBRATION SO THAT THOSE EVENTS CAN SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER.
ANOTHER ITEM THAT I THINK THAT YOU WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED IN IS THE, UH, A NEW PROGRAM THAT SENATOR SCOTT RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THROUGH THE FARM SERVICES AGENCY.
IT'S THE HEIRS PROPERTY WE LENDING PROGRAM.
AND THIS IS TO RESOLVE HEIRS PROPERTY AND SUCCESSION ISSUES.
WE ARE PLUGGED INTO THIS ISSUE INTO THIS EFFORT AND WE EXPECT TO HAVE ADDITIONAL DETAILS WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS THAT WE CAN SHARE.
OKAY, NUMBER 10, THIS IS RELATED TO TEMPORARY AND SEASONAL SIGNAGE.
STAFF STARTED TO DIVE INTO THIS RECOMMENDATION EARLIER THIS YEAR AND REALIZED THAT THE PROPOSED SIGNS DIDN'T MEET THE SIGN CODE SINCE CHANGES TO THE CODE WILL BE REQUIRED.
WE'RE EXPLORING WHETHER THIS TYPE OF SIGNAGE TO BE ALLOWED ISLAND, Y WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH OUR CONSULTANTS ON ANY PROPOSED ALAMO CHANGES FOR NUMBERS, 11 AND 14.
THIS IS RELATED TO THE HERITAGE LIBRARY, GENEALOGY CLINIC.
AND JUST LAST WEEK, THE TOWN CELEBRATED THE OPENING OF THIS CLINIC.
THIS IS A REFERRAL BASED PROGRAM, THE NEEDS AND CONDUCTING GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH FOR PROPERTY OWNERS WHO WISH TO FEAR LAND TITLES.
THE CLINIC IS ALREADY WORKING WITH THEIR FIRST FAMILY, AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO SHARE THAT, UH, USA TODAY COVERED THE OPENING OF THE CLINIC AND THEIR NEWS AROUND THE STATE SECTION OF THEIR PAPER AND MONDAY'S ISSUE.
DUBOSE WORKS CLOSELY FOR DOLLAR PROPERTY OWNERS TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND BOTH LB REGULATIONS AND WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR THEIR CLIENTS AND SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TO ASSIST A BIT, TO SET UP A ONE-STOP SHOP, PERMITTING ASSISTANCE CENTER AT THE GULLAH GEECHEE DESIGN STUDIO TO FURTHER FACILITATE THIS HELP.
I KNOW I WENT THROUGH THOSE KINDS OF QUICKLY.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR TO GO INTO ANY GREATER DETAIL ON ANY THAT YOU HAVE.
WHAT IS THE LINKS THINK THAT'S A, THE CENTER FOR HEIRS PROPERTY PRESERVATION PUTS ON AN ANNUAL SEMINAR TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON HEIRS, PROPERTY FORESTRY AND CREATING A WILL.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE PROMOTE TO MEMBERS OF THE GULLAH GEECHEE COMMUNITY, AND THAT WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO ELLIS.
I WANT, I WANT TO TRY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY FIRST.
SO LATEST INC IS ACTUALLY A NONPROFIT, A WOMEN'S ORGANIZATION WHO IS LOOKING TO TRY TO PROMOTE THE EDUCATION OF PROBLEM.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO TAKE, THANK MR. LANDFILLS.
WE'RE REALLY PUSHING ON THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC.
UM, BUT YOUTUBE IS THE MAYOR OF ANYTHING, AND I'M PLEASED TO SEE THAT WE HAVE SEVERAL ITEMS THAT HAVE REACHED THE A HUNDRED PERCENT, UH, STAIRS.
AND THERE'S SEVERAL THAT ARE, THAT ARE ON BOARD.
I THINK, UM, I'VE JUST GOT A FEW THAT I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT HERE.
AND AS YOU KNOW, WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, UH, AS I HAVE BEEN, UH, ALL ALONG, EXTRA CRITICAL WHEN IT COMES TO THE TOPIC.
UM, THE FIRST ONE BEFORE, WHICH ENCOMPASSES THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, UM, AND MANY ITEMS THERE AND THE ONE THAT IS, I GUESS, THE TOUGHEST PILL OR THE HARDEST TO TACKLE IS GOING TO BE THE LAND USES AND THE ZONING CHANGES.
AND I UNDERSTAND IT AND I CAN APPRECIATE THAT.
UH, I'M JUST SUGGESTING THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR MID ISLAND INITIATION, UH, EXERCISE, UM, WELL, WE LOOK INTO THE CONTENT LATER TODAY, AN AREA THAT THE, THIS PARTICULAR RECOMMENDATION WORK COINCIDED WITH THAT.
UM, I THINK THAT THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE CONDITIONS WITHIN THE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS AND USE THAT, UM, THAT EXERCISE TO HELP US MAKE SOUND DECISIONS WITH ZONING CHANGES.
UH, SO THIS IS NOT PERCEIVED AS
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BEING IGNORED WHILE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH SOMETHING ELSE.LIKE IF IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE MOVE ALONG WITH THAT FASHION, UH, THE CP 17, UM, WITH THE CHURCHES, UM, THE CHURCH, ALWAYS THE FOUNDATION, UM, I WOULD ALSO POINT OUT THE CHURCHES DURING, UH, THE LAST 18 MONTHS.
I'VE BEEN ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE NOT AS ACTIVE IN TERMS OF MEETING AND MAYBE, OKAY.
SO, UH, I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE US TO CONTINUE TO MEET POTENTIALLY WITH FAMILIES INDIVIDUALLY, THE COMPOUNDS.
UH, SO IF WE GATHERED MORE INFORMATION WITH EDUCATING AS TO WHAT WE HAVE PASSED THIS FALL, UH, I THINK THAT HELPS WITH THAT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TOWN AND THE GOVERNOR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY JUST RELIABLE THE CHURCHES, UH, UH, I DON'T MIND SAYING THIS OUT LOUD, UH, IN, IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHURCH, THEY WANT TO DO CHURCH BUSINESS BEFORE THEY CAN COUNT.
SO WE, UH, CONNECTING WITH THE FAMILIES I THINK WILL BE A BIT MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THE OPEN AIR MARKET.
I'M DEFINITELY PLEASED ABOUT THAT.
UM, I'VE LISTENED TO THIS BEFORE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY LITTLE SIDE OF SOME OPPORTUNITIES ON SOME CURRENTLY GO OWNED LAND.
UH, THEY COULD, UH, MEET THE SAME GOAL.
UH, WE DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO, IT DOES SEEM AS IF IT'S KIND OF A RESERVATION TYPE ATTEMPT.
I THINK WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL OF THAT.
THEY ARE GOING TO OWN PROPERTIES THAT COULD FIT THE SAME PURPOSE HERE.
UM, THE, WHAT HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, THE LAST TASK WAS MEETING THE QUESTION WAS ASKED, WAS THERE ANY COMMUNICATION WITH PROPERTY OWNERS THAT HAVE MARCH TRACKS THAT ARE OPEN SIMILAR TO WHAT THE TOWN IS AN OWNERSHIP OF THAT IS OPEN, THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED WHAT IS OPEN AIR MARKET TYPE OF ACTIVITY.
SO WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS THAT WE LOOK AT BOTH, ALL RIGHT.
UM, I THINK THAT WILL BE MUCH MORE RECEPTIVE THAN POINTING INDIVIDUALS TO A CERTAIN AREA.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S IT, IT'S JUST A LIMITED DATA CLEAR, UH, THE, UH, THE EDUCATIONAL PIECE, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, TOWN OFFICIALS OR TOWN STAFF, I THINK I SAW 25% THERE.
UM, I THINK WE COULD DO BETTER THAN THAT QUICKER THAN THAT.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF RESOURCES AROUND US.
UM, IT'S JUST ABOUT BEING INTENTIONAL ABOUT, UH, TOUCH WITH PEOPLE THAT HAVE USE THAT RESOURCES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY TO THE BONE TO SEE THAT SAY A HUNDRED PERCENT SLASH ONGOING.
UM, AND THE LAST ON MY LIST THAT THE WAY WITH TAXES, UM, IT HAS HERE LISTED, UH, FOR BOTH ORGANIZATIONS AND WE MAKE, UH, MR. RISA, RIGHT WITH A PAN-AFRICAN NETWORK WITH A GOOD WORD, CAUSE HE'S DOING WITH THE DELINQUENT TAXES.
I WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE VERY INFLUENTIAL IN THAT, UH, QUITS, UM, THIS WHITE'S ORGANIZATION IS HELPING FOLKS ONCE THEY GET ON THE REDEMPTION LIST, WHICH IS POST AUCTION.
SO AT THAT TIME YOU'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR, THE WAY WITH HOLDING OVER YOU AND YOU KNOW, THE NEW TEXAS OVER YOU.
THERE'S ANOTHER ORGANIZATION THAT IS NOT LISTED HERE THAT HAS WORKED OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS TO PUT MONIES IN, UH, FOLKS' HAIR BEFORE THE AUCTION.
AND THAT HAS NO COUNTRY COVER.
UH, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A DISCONNECT AT TIMES OF US TOUCHING ONE ANOTHER, BUT WHEN WE GET THESE REPORTS, I'D LIKE TO SEE, UH, THE ACTIVE ORGANIZATIONS, NOT JUST ORGANIZATIONS THAT HISTORICALLY HAVE BEEN ONE BIT, WE COULD POINT TO PUSH EXCELLENT REPORT, TAMMY.
I DO HAVE, UM, JUST SOME COMMENTS BECAUSE,
[01:10:01]
UM, I THINK THERE'S A BROAD VIEW THAT ALSO NEEDS TO BE KEPT IN MIND IN TERMS OF HOW SOME OF THESE, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS, IMPACT THE ENTIRE ISLAND AND RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS ESTABLISHED RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS OUTSIDE OF GATES THAT, UM, THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT CAREFULLY, CONSIDERED CLOSELY AND ANALYZED FOR THE EFFECT THAT FOR INSTANCE, THE OVERLAY DISTRICT WOULD HAVE ON THOSE COMMUNITIES AND THOSE RESIDENTS.UM, AND I THINK THAT IS A POINT THAT CAN NOT BE LOST, FORGOTTEN, OVERLOOKED.
AND, UM, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR I'M MAKING THAT, UM, I, I POINT IN THIS DISCUSSION, UM, CERTAINLY APPRECIATE AND RESPECT EDUCATION, AS WE ALL KNOW, UM, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.
NOT ONLY TO ME BUT TO EVERYONE, BUT I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CURRICULUM MOVING FORWARD IN TERMS OF WHAT'S BEING SUGGESTED AND HOW THAT, UM, HOW THAT COMES TOGETHER.
THOSE ARE MY TWO, UM, CONCERNS THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE ARE DOCUMENTED SO THAT THEY DON'T GET LOST IN THE FOUR WEEK MOVEMENT ON THESE ITEMS. THANK YOU.
I REALLY LIKED TO SEE THE X QUARTERS UP MAYBE TWO MONTHS.
WE SHOULD LOOK AT IT AGAIN OUT A QUARTER TIME.
WE NEED TO GET IT OUT OF THE WAY AND GET IT FINISHED.
TAPING THE WORK WORLD, GO OUT.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO PUT THE GENERAL REPORT THAT RECOMMENDS THAT ARE EMPLOYEE.
WHAT WAS THE BOOK OF GLENN ABOUT THE EPISODE DID THE OTHER NIGHT? UM, YEAH, THEN I ORGANIZED WHEN THEY PLANNED IT OUT VERY WELL.
DRUG'S GOING TO BE PICKED UP LITTLE BY LITTLE.
UM, THE STANDPOINT WE KNEW WAS COMING.
WE COULD HAVE DONE A HELL OF A LINE ON THE BOWL, HOW WE LAID DOWN.
WHAT HAVE YOU AND ANGIE BEEN TAUGHT ENOUGH IN THE LAST DAY AND A HALF? ALL OF THAT? WELL, WHAT ANGIE ANGIE STONE, THE REFERENCE IS AN ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER.
WHO'S STANDING REALLY OVERSIGHT OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS.
UM, REALLY TALKED ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT MESSAGE.
UM, THERE WAS, UH, AT LEAST IN THE ROOM FROM WHAT I HEARD IS THAT THERE WAS THIS UNDERSTANDING THAT ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE OF THE STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED THAT WE WERE MOVING FAST AND FURIOUS, UM, WITHOUT ANY, ANY TIME FOR PUBLIC RESPONSE TO PUTTING MASS MANDATE IN PLACE, UM, TO START GOING BACK TO WHERE WE WERE, UM, SOME TIME AGO, WHAT ANGIE AND I TALKED ABOUT IS MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNICATION CHANNELS AND OUR MESSAGE IS VERY CLEAR ABOUT THE INTENT OF THE EMERGENCY ORDER THE OTHER NIGHT IN THE EMERGENCY ORDER.
THE OTHER NIGHT AS ANGIE AND I SPOKE WITH CAROLYN THIS MORNING WAS TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW WHAT WE ARE HEARING FROM THE HOSPITAL.
SEE, UH, WHAT WE ARE HEARING FROM THE REPORTS FROM OUR EMERGENCY MANAGER AND WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM DF, RIGHT? SO THOSE ARE TYPICALLY MY THREE CHANNELS THAT I HEAR FROM, I HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY I HEAR FROM MY FAMILY.
I HEAR FROM MY FRIENDS, OF COURSE, BUT I HEAR FROM DEEPAK THAT THEY ARE ASKING US TO PUT MASKS ON IN CLOSED SPACES.
THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE IS ASKING AND ADVISING.
WE ARE ALSO HEARING THAT THERE IS A DELTA VARIANT SPIKE, AND ACCORDING TO THE HOSPITAL, NOT JUST OUR LOCAL HOSPITAL, BUT WHEN WE REALLY JUST COMPARE BEDS AND STATES AND ICU AND STATE THEIR DATA IS SHOWING THAT THAT, THAT, THAT NUMBER IS NOW IN THAT RED ZONE, ACCORDING TO THAT DATA.
AND SO THE EMERGENCY ORDER, THE OTHER NIGHT WAS INTENDED TO AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT WE'RE HEARING AND TO ALLOW FOR VIRTUAL MEETINGS.
THAT THE WAY THE ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN HERE WITH US IS THAT WE ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE VIRTUAL MEETINGS BY WAY OF EMERGENCY AND TO DO SO TO HAVE A HYBRID VIRTUAL MEETING.
AS WE HAD MONDAY IN A HIVE MONDAY WITH THE WORKSHOP TO KICK OFF THE MID ISLAND TRACK, WE WERE ASKING TO HAVE A VIRTUAL MEETING TO ALLOW FULL PARTICIPATION OF COUNCIL,
[01:15:01]
AS WELL AS TO HAVE BETTER ACCESSIBILITY OF THE PUBLIC YEARLY, YOU KNOW, QUEUING IN.SO THAT WAS THE INTENT OF THE MEETING.
AND THEN SHE AND I TALKED AND REALLY QUESTION OURSELVES, DID WE GET THE MESSAGE OUT PROPERLY FULL DISCLOSURE DID.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE CAN ALWAYS PLAY MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK AND, AND FIGURE OUT, NO, WE DIDN'T ENTIRELY.
WE TRY, WE, WE SENT A MEDIC MEDIA RELEASE OUT.
WE HAD A DECLARATION POSTED ON FACEBOOK.
WE TOLD AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN, ESPECIALLY IN THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER, BUT ANGIE AND I TALKED ABOUT REFINING OUR MESSAGE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE, AGAIN, BY, IN A, IN A DAY OR SO THAT WE WERE REITERATE THE MESSAGE AND THE INTENT OF THE OTHER EVENING.
AND THAT WAS TO ALLOW FOR SOME VIRTUAL OR HYBRID PUBLIC MEETINGS.
AND THAT WAS TO HAVE SOME CONFIDENCE ABOUT WEARING MASKS WHEN WE'RE SITTING THREE FEET AWAY FROM EACH OTHER IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS, NO DIFFERENT THAN BUFORD, NO DIFFERENT THAN BLUFFTON, NO DIFFERENT THAN NEW FOR COUNTY, NO DIFFERENT THAN A LOT OF PLACES IN THE STATE.
BUT I WOULD SAY TO WHAT ANGIE AND I ALSO TALKED ABOUT IS HEARING THE MESSAGE AND THE EMOTION AND THE ANGER, UM, AND REALLY THE STATE OF THE AFFAIRS OF THE OTHER EVENING.
I THINK THAT, UH, ANGIE AND I HAVE A PLAN TO COMMUNICATE CLEARLY, SLOWLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
SO THAT WAS, I KNOW TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO COUNCIL AS WE'RE DOING IT, I THINK IT'S THAT WE CAN HAVE ON MESSAGES, BUT WHAT THIS STATE OF EMERGENCY BEING ON THE FIRST LINE, BECAUSE IT SCARES THE SHIT OUT OF THE PEOPLE.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON OUT THERE.
IT SHOULD BE EMBEDDED IN THE MESSAGE AS OPPOSED TO BEING DEEMED MESSAGE THIS AS THE MESSAGE THAT SCARES PEOPLE AWAY.
WE GET AWAY THAT BIG OF THE MESSAGE, RIGHT? AND PUT IT IN THE BULK.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO COUNCIL THAT, THAT THE MESSAGE THE OTHER EVENING WASN'T INTENDED TO SCARE ANYBODY.
AND IT SURE WASN'T INTENDED TO SCARE THE COMMUNITY.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT SHOWED UP IN THAT ROOM ARE SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHY I DIDN'T APPRECIATE BEING IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT, BUT CAN I SAY IT? I UNDERSTOOD IT PERHAPS.
UM, AND I HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR MAYOR.
UM, AND ANGIE AND I ARE IN LOCKSTEP.
AND I BELIEVE IN HER AND, AND, AND THE TEAM THAT I HAVE WITH CAROLINE AND WE'LL DO BETTER.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS WE HAVE TO START GOING SLOW WITH THEM.
WHEN GOING NOW, MAYBE WE'RE TRYING TO GET TOO MANY THINGS DONE TOO QUICK.
NOW THAT WHETHER IT'S THE MEETINGS HERE ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT WAS THOUGHT AROUND, ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT, LIKE CHECKING WHAT GOES OUT AND CHECKING WHAT WE REALLY MEAN.
AND SOMETIMES SLOWING DOWN WILL GET US WHAT WE WANT TO BE FAST TO ALONG.
BUT HAVING SAID THAT, I BELIEVE THAT LAST WEEK'S MEETING IS NOT THE LAST OF ITS CLAIM.
WHAT WE DO, MESSAGING PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WITH THIS THING, GOT EVERYTHING YOU BILL FOR SOMETHING ALL THE TIME.
SO IT DOESN'T LAST WEEK ON SOMETHING, IT'LL BE SOMETHING ELSE NEXT WEEK.
AND IF PEOPLE START DOING THESE MEETINGS, SOMEBODY WILL BE VIOLENT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, AND WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT VIOLENCE.
UM, AND THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS, BUT I KNOW COLLECTIVELY, WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT SOMETHING KNOWING AS A BIG
AND I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT WE KNOW ABOUT PEOPLE.
WE GOT THE MONEY FOR THE CHAMBER AND EVERYTHING.
THAT CAN BE THE FIRST THING ON OUR LIST NOW IS TO SECURE THAT CHAMBER COUNCIL CHAMBER, EVERYBODY, YOU NEVER WILL FEEL SAFE.
AND THEN ALL THE BUILDING I'M GOING TO COUNSELING.
I KNOW WE DON'T WANT TO, WHETHER IT NEEDS JUST PEOPLE BY THE DOOR, NO MATTER WHAT IT MEANS.
AND I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT YOU HAVE TO SECURE THE PLACE WHERE THE PEOPLE AT WORK, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE STAFF MEMBERS, ALL A SECURE, AND WE FEEL THAT THERE RULES.
WE'LL GET INVOLVED IN A CONVERSATION NEXT WEEK WITH 12, THAT WE'RE BIDDING THAT BACK END, BUT WE NEED A PLAN BECAUSE WE'RE ALL, WE'RE ALL IN DIVISION.
WHETHER WE TALK ABOUT IT NOW, CAUSE STARTING TO WORRY IF I, AND UM, HOPEFULLY IF WE CAN SECURE OUR OWN HOUSE, HOW ARE WE GOING TO SECURE THE ISLAND? AND IT, YELLOW PEOPLE FEEL SAFE AND IT'S INCURABLE.
SO I DEEPLY CONCERNED AS YOU WILL BE 12 ALL THE TIME.
I WANT THE COUNSELORS THAT KNOW THAT WITH DEEPLY LISTENED AND THEY SHOULD BE DEEPLY CONCERNED.
ANY IDEAS WE HAVE BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAVE NOW, YOU CAN SOLVE IT WITH SOMETHING ALONG THE WAY.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD PUT NAMES IN THE PAPER BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GET THESE ANGRY PEOPLE GO TELL YOU WHAT CREDIT THAT THEY HAVE.
I MEAN, WE HAVE TO DO REAL THINGS.
I PROTECT MYSELF AND NOT FIGHTING IN A PRESS WHERE PEOPLE WILL THINK WE'RE DOING GOOD.
WE CAN DO MORE, YOU KNOW, THE BAD PEOPLE.
I THINK JENNIFER'S LETTER GOING OUT TO ONE THE CITIZENS.
BUT WE NEED TO GO ON
[01:20:02]
WITH THAT QUESTIONS.I CAN ADD TO, WHAT'S BEEN STATED I CAN ADD SOME EMPHASIS.
I THINK IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATION, IT SEEMED CLEAR TO ME THAT WE HAD, UM, PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, UH, THAT, UM, FOR ONE REASON OR THE OTHER WE'RE ON A DIFFERENT PAGE THAN WHERE WE WERE, UH, UH, THEY DID NOT HAVE THE SAME CLARITY OF THOUGHT ON WHAT WE WERE DOING.
AND, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD PEOPLE THERE THAT, UH, I THINK THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING.
UH, UH, I THINK, UH, WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT THE SOCIAL MEDIA IS, UH, THEY, UH, THEY ARE THE MAJOR COMMUNICATION VEHICLE VEHICLES FOR A LOT OF EQUAL TODAY.
AND, UH, I THINK MANY OF US KNOW THAT THIS WAS ON, THIS WAS BEING BANTERED ABOUT, ON SOCIAL MEDIA OF THE DAY BEFORE.
AND I THINK WE HAVE TO TUNE INTO THAT AND BE VERY COGNIZANT OF WHAT'S BEING SAID OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE HAVE A LITTLE ADVANCED STONE, I THINK FROM OUR CHAMBERS.
THEY'RE NOT BIG, UH, THEY HAVE A LIMITED CAPACITY.
UH, I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER, BUT THAT RESOURCE HAS TO BE MANAGED BETTER.
I THINK THE ONE THING IS, I THINK WE COMMUNICATE CLEARLY WHAT WE'RE DOING THAT HAS BEEN WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING.
UH, IT WAS ALL ALONG UNHAPPY GROUPS THAT ARE GOING TO FIND A REASON TO BE UNHAPPY WHEN WE KIND OF ATTACK OURSELF AGAINST WHAT'S COMING IN AND WE DON'T KNOW.
UM, OUR, YOU APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND, UM, I AGREE WITH THE, THE COMMUNICATION PIECE.
UM, NO, I DON'T WANT TO,
AND, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO LISTEN TO, TO EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF IF WE AGREE OR DISAGREE IS OPEN TO LISTEN.
AND I WANT TO CONTINUE TO RESPECT THAT, UH, TO THE UTMOST.
UM, BUT JOHN IS RIGHT, YOU KNOW, ABSENT THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC, WHAT'S THE NEXT CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC.
AND IF WE'VE GOT BOTH SIDES THAT SHOW UP SURE.
TO ADDRESS IT AT THE SAME TIME, ULTIMATELY WE COULD HAVE A SITUATION ON THE HAND THAT WE ARE NOT EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT DOES ASKING YOU TO DO WALK-INS AS FAR AS THE PLANE IS CONCERNED, I LIKE TO SEE IT QUICKLY SO THAT WE KNOW WITH SOME CONFIDENCE THAT WE ALL PREPARE IT WHEN IT HAPPENS, BECAUSE IT ONLY HAS TO HAPPEN ONCE AND GO SOUTH AND YOU CAN'T PULL IT BACK.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I'LL, I'LL APPRECIATE, UH, THE SHERIFF RESPONDING, UM, ON, ON TUESDAY.
UM, HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, I, I WANT TO FEEL CONFIDENT THAT I KNOW WHO IT IS THAT IS MAKING THE GOAL, BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, IF CONSTITUENT WAS TO ASK ME IF THINGS WERE TO GET OUT OF CONTROL, THAT THE TEAM WAS WHO MAKES THE CALL, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO ALL BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, RIGHT.
AND IN MY FIVE AND A HALF MONTHS HERE, I HAVE MY OWN PROTOCOLS IN PLACE.
I KNOW WHERE JOSH IS AT ALL TIMES.
I KNOW WHAT ANGIE IS DOING, BUT HAVE I WRITTEN THAT DOWN AND COMMUNICATED THAT EXTERNALLY? NO, I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE ORGANIZATION HAS DONE.
AND I, AND I, I WOULD SAY THAT, THAT WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO, UM, WHICH IS, WHICH IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDING TO PUT A SECURITY PROGRAM IN PLACE, NOT JUST FOR ME AND MY STAFF AND YOU, BUT FOR THE COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE THEY DESERVE TO BE HERE AND BE ABLE TO DO BUSINESS PEACEFULLY AND CONFIDENTLY.
AND THAT WILL BE SOON IN THE WORKS.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU ENCUMBERING AND DIRECTING THAT INVESTMENT AS YOU CREATE TO US TODAY.
THANK YOU, UM, MAYOR AND MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES.
AND I CERTAINLY AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU'VE SAID HERE.
THAT WAS A MOST DISTURBING EXPERIENCE WE ADD,
[01:25:01]
AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE HANDLED IT VERY WELL.AND SO MARK, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN ANY WAY NECESSARY TO WORK TOWARDS DEVELOPMENT OF A PLAN OR RESPONSE, UH, THAT IS EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE EVENT.
A MEETING BECOMES DISRUPTIVE AS THAT ONE DID CLEARLY.
UM, AND SO IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A, UH, A POLICY THAT IS ADOPTED BY COUNCIL, THAT IN THE EVENT OF A DISRUPTIVE, UH, ACTIVITY IN A MEETING THAT THE COUNCIL WILL TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTION.
1, 2, 3, 4, UH, AND, UH, NO, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THOSE SHOULD BE RIGHT NOW, BUT I'M HAPPY TO, UH, WORK WITH WHOEVER, UH, AND SHARE IDEAS AND THOUGHTS.
FINALLY, I WANT TO SAY THAT THIS IS NOT A HILTON HEAD ISLAND SPECIFIC PHENOMENON.
I HAVE TO A GOOD FRIEND DOWN ON ST.
AND HE SAYS, EXACTLY THE SAME THING IS GOING ON DOWN THERE, DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR IN PUBLIC MEETINGS.
I SAW SOMETHING AWARE IS HAPPENED IN CHARLESTON AS WELL.
SO, UH, I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY FED BY SOCIAL MEDIA.
UM, AND, UH, YOU GET, UH, AND THIS WAS A SOMEWHAT ORGANIZED GROUP.
AT LEAST THEY CAME IN ALL AT ONE TIME AND, UH, SO WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT.
AND, UM, I AGREED THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE A PRIORITY.
UH, BUT JOHN, I THINK YOU'VE PUT THE RIGHT HIGHLIGHTS ON IT.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS, WHEN WE TALKING ABOUT PROCEDURES, WHAT WE CALL A RECESS, SO WE HAD TO CHANGE IT.
EVERY COUNCIL AND I LEFT THE CHANGES.
YOU CAN'T LEAVE ONE OR TWO COUNCIL PEOPLE BEHIND THE PURPOSE OF LEAVING IT CHAMBER IS TO GET OUTSIDE OF THE CROWD AND WE'LL GO AWAY SO WE CAN POST THEM ALL MYSELF AND DON'T LEAVE ANY COUNCIL PRISON THERE TO BE OPEN TO THE CROWD, TO BE OPEN, TO DIALOGUE, TO BE OPEN TO ANYTHING.
I MEAN, MY CONCERN IS TO GET THEM ALL AND YOU WALK THAT DAY IS AS QUICK AS WE POSSIBLY CAN, SO WE CAN CATCH A BRICK.
THE COW CAN'T CATCH A BREAK, BUT I'D APPRECIATE IT.
IF I WENT SAT THERE, CAUSE IT'S NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
YOU'RE NOT HELPING US AT ALL BY SITTING THERE UNTIL AFTER YOU WERE AT DAVID.
CAN YOU SAY A FEW WORDS IF YOU'RE ASKING ME TO SAY A FEW WORDS AT THE RISK OF COUGHING, I'D RATHER NOT.
DAVID THOMAS, JOHN, WE, UH, WE HEARD A POINT OF VIEW FROM THE, THE, THE GROUP THAT WAS IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, UH, AND THEY ALL SHARE, SHARE THE SAME POINT OF VIEW.
UM, I THINK IT'S NECESSARY TO SAY THAT THERE'S A VERY LARGE GROUP UP THERE THAT HAS THE OPPOSITE POINT OF VIEW.
SO I, I THINK THE STEPS THAT WE TAKE TO ASSURE SECURITY AND DECORUM IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS WILL, WILL CERTAINLY GO A LONG WAY.
EMAILS I'VE BEEN GETTING TAUGHT HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY IN FAVOR OF US.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE ALL ALONG, DANNY.
UM, A NUMBER OF THINGS I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE AN IDEALIST, I THINK IN PART HERE.
AND I'M GOING TO AGREE THAT WITH YOUR INITIAL STATEMENT THAT SLOWING DOWN GETS US FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD AND THAT A BETTER COMMUNICATION STRATEGY IS CERTAINLY WARRANTED AND, AND APPRECIATED BY ALL, NO MATTER WHO SIDE SHOWS UP OR EMAILS US, I, FOR ONE LISTEN CAREFULLY, IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY AND DUTIES.
EACH PERSON HAS A VOICE, BUT IN THAT VOICE, AND I'VE SAID IT REPEATEDLY TO EVERYONE, THERE HAS TO BE RESPECT MUTUAL RESPECT IS AND CIVILITY AND CIVILITY IN ALL OF THESE INDICATIONS.
I DON'T KNOW WHO'S TALKING OVER ME, BUT, UM, COMMUNICATION.
SO HAVING THOSE CORE VALUES PRESENT NOT ONLY AMONG OURSELVES AND WE DO EACH ONE OF US, I KNOW EACH OF US WELL, AND I KNOW THAT WE ALL AGREE ON THAT.
I, AGAIN, RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT THOSE WHO BOTH ATTEND OUR MEETINGS AND EMAIL US HAVE THAT SAME SORT OF RESPECT.
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ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHERE THAT BASIC CORE VALUE HAS GOTTEN LOST, BUT WE NEED TO FIND IT TO MOVE TOGETHER SLOWLY SO THAT WE CAN GET TO WHERE WE WANT TO GO PEACEFULLY.I, TO HEAR FROM BOTH PEOPLE WHO SHOWED UP AND VIA EMAIL FROM ALL SIDES, AND I LISTEN, I RESPECT AND I USE INFORMATION FROM THAT FROM WHAT'S AVAILABLE FROM OUR VALUED SOURCES, THROUGH
AND IT COMES IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS AND FOCUSES THAT IT'S ALL VALUABLE INFORMATION, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE, ONCE A DECISION IS MADE, THERE HAS TO BE AN ACCEPTANCE OF WHAT IT IS THAT HAS BEEN TRIED TO BE DONE ON THE COMMUNITY'S BEHALF.
SOME WILL AGREE WITH US AND OTHERS WORKED.
I'LL GO BACK TO MY IDEALISTIC POINT AND ASK EVERYONE WHO HEARS THIS, WHO READS AND HOPEFULLY READS ACCURATE DESCRIPTIONS OF WHAT TAKES PLACE IN OUR CHAMBERS AND IN OUR TOWN ACCURATE DESCRIPTIONS THAT WE BEGIN WITH RESPECT, CIVILITY, AND MAINTAIN THAT THROUGH ALL THAT WE DO, WHETHER IT'S REGARDING MASKS OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT COMES BEFORE THIS GROUP, THIS COUNCIL AND THIS COMMUNITY.
UM, I DON'T HAVE MUCH MORE TO SAY, I RESPECT YOU ALL.
UM, I DO BELIEVE THAT MY PLACE, AND WE MAY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS FURTHER SEPARATELY.
UM, I'M NOT WALKING OUT ON ANYONE.
MY JOB IS THERE TO REPRESENT MY CONSTITUENTS IN THIS TOWN AND I'M NOT RENTING FROM ANYONE.
UM, MARAKELE SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS TOO.
THEY HELPED ME THINK THROUGH IT.
UM, I WILL BRING YOU BACK, UH, VERY SOON A SAFETY AND DECORUM POLICY AND PROCEDURE ONE SAFETY, PLEASE KNOW I'M ALREADY WORKING ON THAT.
I'VE STARTED THAT, UM, 60 DAYS AGO, THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SOME, SOME REAL DOLLARS ON THE TABLE, UM, THAT I DON'T HAVE TO FIND FROM OTHER PROJECTS ARE SO HELPFUL.
SO PLEASE KNOW, I APPRECIATE THAT THE PROCEDURES ARE JUST UPDATING, UM, SOME POLICIES AND HAVING A PLAN AS, AS, UH, COUNCILMAN STANFORD ONLINE.
AND I, AND I WANT TO REITERATE THE OTHER NIGHT, THE EMERGENCY ORDER, AS WE EXPLAINED IT IN A PRESS RELEASE PRIOR TO COUNCIL WAS ABOUT ALLOWING A HYBRID VIRTUAL MEETING.
I HAD ALREADY ASKED STAFF TO WEAR MASKS, ENCLOSED AREAS, IN MY OPINION, NO DIFFERENT THAN STARBUCKS, OR I JUST GOT A COFFEE THERE YESTERDAY, BUT I'VE ALSO ASKED BECAUSE OF THAT EMERGENCY ORDER AND BECAUSE IT WAS BEING RATIFIED, I ASKED THAT MASKS BEING WORN IN A PUBLIC SETTING AS HE WENT TO THE BUILDING.
AND AGAIN, NO DIFFERENT THAN MANY MUNICIPALITIES OR COUNTIES OR UNIVERSITIES, STATE FUNDED AGENCIES, PUBLIC FUNDED AGENCIES ARE DOING ACROSS THE STATE OF NATION.
SO AGAIN, I, I HEARD, I HEARD THE MESSAGE.
UM, I AM HERE TO SUPPORT YOU AND I WILL HAVE THESE POLICIES AND PRACTICES AND SYSTEMS IN PLACE AS SOON AS I POSSIBLY CAN.
WE DID HAVE A MEETING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
UH, CRAIG, WHEN REPORTED ON THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE, UH, FOR THE CARTER PROJECT AND ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE HAD BEEN MANY QUESTIONS RAISED ABOUT, UH, NO LEFT TURNS, TRAFFIC SIGNALS.
UM, AND HE STATED THAT REVISIONS TO THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE ARE LIKELY THEN ON A VERY POSITIVE NOTE, UH, PALMETTO BREEZE REPORTED THAT AN EXCESS OF 40,000 PEOPLE HAVE WRITTEN THE BUSES BETWEEN THE BEGINNING OF THIS SPRING AND THE END OF JULY.
AND THAT IS IN MY MIND LARGELY BECAUSE IT'S A FREE RIDE.
SO I THINK THAT SYSTEM IS STARTING TO WORK.
BUT BEFORE I GIVE YOU THAT REPORT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A GENERAL REPORT, UH, ON, UH, AUGUST 13TH, LAST FRIDAY,
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UH, TAYLOR LAD, JENNIFER RAY, AND I ATTENDED THE ISLAND REC ASSOCIATION, STRATEGIC PLANNING MEETING.IT WAS A FRANK SAW ON THIS WHOLE BOARD.
THEY WENT OVER ORGANIZATIONAL CHALLENGES AND OPERATING CHALLENGES, AND IT WAS A VERY, VERY GOOD MEETING.
AND, UH, MY HATS OFF TO FRANK, UH, SO LOCO SOCO MET, UH, JULY 27TH, UH, TALKED ABOUT, UH, THE COUNTY BIKE AND PED TRAILS.
UH, THEY WERE WORKING ON OVER A HUNDRED MILES OF TRAILS, CONNIE WINE.
UH, SECOND AGENDA ITEM WAS A CONTINUED DISCUSSION OF THE PROPOSED REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND.
UH, ERIC GREENWAY, UH, PRESIDED OVER THAT AND, UH, GAVE HIM AN UPDATE ON WHERE STANDS.
WE CAN LOOK FOR SOME SORT OF A FINAL DRAFT COMING OUT IN THE NEXT 30 DAYS.
UH, THE INTENT IS, UH, FOR ERIC AND HIS STAFF TO MAKE PRESENTATIONS TO EACH ONE OF THE MUNICIPALITIES, UH, IN THE TWO COUNTY AREA.
LASTLY, WE HAD THE PRESENTATION, UH, ON THE ANTIOCH EDUCATION CENTER.
UH, IT'S A INTERESTING OPERATION, UH, ALEX, AND ONE THAT, UH, I SHOULD GET INFORMATION TO YOU ON.
ALSO, UH, WE HELD A FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING, UH, UH, YESTERDAY AND, UH, THE AGENDA ITEMS WERE THE TWO THAT YOU PASSED AND, UH, CONSOLE TODAY, ALONG WITH THE PRELIMINARY AND UNAUDITED UPDATE ON THE TOWN'S FISCAL YEAR END, JUNE 30TH, 2021.
UH, LIKEWISE WE APPROVED SEVERAL DRAINAGE, UH, EAST MADISON DRAINAGE AGREEMENTS, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING THOSE FORWARD, UH, TO TOWN COUNCIL IN SEPTEMBER.
AND, UH, THE LAST ITEM, UH, WE REVIEWED AND DISCUSSED, UH, AN ORDINANCE REGARDING THE PROHIBITION OF CERTAIN BEACH TENTS.
AND, UH, WE HAD A LIVELY DISCUSSION ON THAT AND SUGGESTED TO OURSELVES THAT, OR REFINERS WAS THAT NECESSARY AND IT WILL BE COMING BACK AT A FUTURE UNDETERMINED DATE.
DID WE NEED HIM? HELLO, MR. HOMELESS.
WE DID A LIVE, WE DIDN'T OKAY.
UH, SKIP HOGAN WINDMILL HARBOR.
YOU'RE IN VIOLET FOYA, UH, TAMRA.
UH, YOU ALWAYS SEEM WILLING TO RESPOND AND SHOW COURTESY TO THOSE WHO ADDRESS KANG MR. HALL.
UH, I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT, UH, YOU JUST PASSED CONSIDERATION FOR USE OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE FUNDS WITHOUT FIRST HEARING FROM RESIDENTS, THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW TO SPEND THE $5.2 MILLION FROM THE TAXPAYER FUNDED AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.
RAISE MORE QUESTIONS THAN I CAN ADDRESS IN MY THREE MINUTES.
SO I'LL JUST TALK ABOUT TWO OF THEM.
ONE IS ALLOCATED A MILLION DOLLARS TO TOWN HALL, SECURITY AND TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS.
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I HOPE BEFORE THE TOWN COUNCIL APPROVED THIS EXPENDITURE, YOU STUDIED A DETAILED BUDGET FROM STAFF ON WHAT SECURITY AND TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEEDED AND HOW THEY'RE RELATED TO COVID MOST IMPORTANT TO ME NOW IS THE $1 MILLION FOR THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE LOW COUNTRY, WHICH YOU ALL KNOW IS A LOCAL 5 0 1 C3 NONPROFIT.THE LATEST AVAILABLE IRS FORM NINE 90 FOR THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SHOWS THAT IN 2019, THEY PAID OUT $7 MILLION IN GRANTS, BUT THEY ALSO SPENT 1.1 MILLION FOR SALARIES AND RELATED EXPENSES.
OVERALL, 32% OF THEIR TOTAL EXPENSES DID NOT GO DIRECTLY TO GRANTEES, BUT INSTEAD PAID FOR STAFF PROGRAM EXPENSES, FUND ADMINISTRATION, AND OTHER FEES.
THAT MEANS ONLY 70 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR ARE LEFT FOR GRANTS.
AS YOU MAY KNOW, THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION PROVIDES GRANTS ONLY TO OTHER 5 0 1 C3 NONPROFITS, WHICH ALSO HAVE THEIR OWN EXPENSES.
SO IN THE END, ONLY 50% OF OUR TAX DOLLARS WOULD GO TO THOSE WHO WERE ADVERSELY IMPACTED BY COVID.
IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION'S BOARD ULTIMATELY DECIDES, SO THE BOARD DECIDES I'M NOT, YOU ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO RECEIVES THE GRANTS.
NONE OF THE FOUNDATION'S DECISION-MAKERS WERE ELECTED BY HILTON HEAD TAXPAYERS.
IT'S ALSO NOT CLEAR WHERE THE FINAL BENEFICIARIES OF THE FOUNDATION'S GRANTS ARE LOCATED.
IF OUR MONEY GOES TO THE FOUNDATIONS COVID-19 RESPONSE FUND, THEN THEY SAY, RECIPIENTS ARE IN BUFORD, POLITAN HAMPTON AND JASPER COUNTIES.
IF IT'S TREATED JUST LIKE THE FOUNDATIONS, OTHER IMPACT GRANTS, THEN RECIPIENTS ARE IN HILTON HEAD TO FOSKEY AND BLUFFTON.
BUT AREN'T WE TALKING ABOUT MONEY EARMARKED FOR HILTON HEAD.
SO PLEASE LET ME SUMMARIZE MY CONCERNS.
RESIDENTS WHO ARE MOST DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY COVID SHOULD BENEFIT FROM ALL OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS EARMARKED FOR US, NOT JUST 50 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR ON ELECTED PEOPLE AT A NONPROFIT SHOULD NOT DECIDE WHO QUALIFIES TO RECEIVE OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS, TAXPAYER DOLLARS YOU'RE MARKED FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND HILTON HEAD SHOULD ONLY GO TO HILTON HEAD RESIDENTS.
AND THESE CHARITIES SHOULD ONLY BE SUPPORTED BY VOLUNTARY DONATIONS BY INDIVIDUALS, NOT TAXPAYER DOLLARS FROM OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
THANK YOU, MR. SWEENEY, MR. HOLLAND, BACK ON THE LINE, SIR.
MY STATEMENT IS DESIGNED FOR THE AUDIENCE BECAUSE YOU STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED A WISE MAN, ONCE SAID, AS LONG AS PEOPLE SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN CHANGE THINGS THROUGH THEIR VOICE, THEY DON'T STORM THE BEST EAR FOR THOSE ON THE CALL, REGARDLESS OF YOUR POLITICAL PERSUASIONS, WE SHOULD ALL AGREE THAT AMERICA WAS FOUNDED ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS OF THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE AND BY THE PEOPLE, THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE SPECIFICALLY STATED THAT GOVERNMENTS ARE INSTITUTED AMONG MEN DERIVING THEIR JUST POWERS FROM THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT THEIR NATURAL RIGHTS I'M ON, WHICH ARE LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT.
IN ADDITION, WE SHOULD ALL AGREE THAT WASHINGTON IS BROKEN THE GENIUS OF THE FRAMERS, LICENSING THEIR DESIGN TO CREATE A FEDERALIST REPUBLIC.
THE WAY THE PEOPLE CAN TAKE OUR GRIEVANCES DIRECTLY TO THE ELECTED OFFICIAL ELECTED OFFICIALS NEAREST TO US.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE MAYHEM FROM YESTERDAY'S TOWN HALL MEETING PROOFS THAT THE ARROGANT AND TYRANNICAL POLITICIANS LIVE IN EVERY TOWN, CITY, AND COUNTY IN OUR COUNTRY TO CITE A FEW EXAMPLES, TOWN MANAGER, ORLANDO CLAIM THAT DECLARING THE STATE OF EMERGENCY WORST FOR OUR OWN GOOD.
I CAN ONLY INFER THAT THE FEW OFFICIALS IN HILTON HAD TOWN GOVERNMENT AND THE TOWN COUNCIL.
PEOPLE ARE MORE INTELLIGENT THAN THE COLLECTIVE WISDOMS OF THE 30,000 PLUS RESIDENTS ON HILTON HEAD.
AND WE HAVE TO RELY ON THEM TO TELL US WHAT'S GOOD FOR OURSELVES.
MAYOR, MAYOR MCCANN YELLED AT THE CROWD.
WE GAVE YOU 30 MINUTES AND CALLED OUT THE COUNTY
[01:45:01]
DEPUTIES US.IF WE WERE OUR RULING MOBS AND HAD NOTHING BETTER TO DO, BUT TO HARASS AND THREATEN THEM.
I WOULD ARGUE THAT THE MAYOR NEEDS TO SHOW SOME RESPECT TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO PAYS HIS SALARIES.
TIPPIT SPEND MORE TIME LISTENING TO HIS CONSTITUENTS AND TO GOVERN BY CONSENT.
I VOTED FOR YOU LAST YEAR FOR ME, ONCE SHAME ON ME AT YOUR MAY 4TH MEETING, 92% OF TOWN RESIDENTS REJECTED THE EXTENSION OF FACE MASK MANDATES.
YESTERDAY'S MEETING CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED THAT MORE WOULD OBJECT THE DECLARATION OF STATE OF EMERGENCY AND THE FACE MASK ADVICE.
YES, I KNOW IT'S A VICE, IT'S NOT A MANDATE, BUT STILL PEOPLE SHOWED UP TO REJECT THAT ADVICE BECAUSE IT BENEFITS NO ONE, NOT EVEN THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES YOU CLAIM TO PROTECT.
I COULD ONLY SURMISE THAT YOUR DECISION WAS MEANT TO HOLD FUTURE TOWN HALL MEETINGS BEHIND THE COMPUTER SCREENS TO AVOID DIRECT INTERACTION WITH THE GREAT UNWASHED AS MR. ORLANDO CONFIRMED TODAY.
TODAY, THE COUNCIL PEOPLE APPROVED THE 5.2 MILLION KOBE RELIEF FUNDS WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC INPUT OR UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU JUST ENDORSED AS MATT SWEENEY JUST TESTIFIED ABOUT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE LOW COUNTRY, JAMES MADISON WARRANT THAT CHARITY.
THANK YOU, MS. LEE, YOUR THREE MINUTES HAS CONCLUDED MR. HOPELESS.
ARE YOU GET THEM ALIVE, MR. HARTLAND? OKAY.
I'M NOT ABLE TO CONNECT WITH MR. HOLLAND UPON MEETING.
UH, SKIP HOGAN AND WINDMILL HARBOR.
YOU'RE IN VIOLATION OF FOYA AND YOU WILL OWN MY LEGAL FEES UNDER SOUTH CAROLINA LAW TAMRA.
YOU ALWAYS SEEM WILLING TO RESPOND AND SHOW COURTESY TO THOSE WHO ADDRESSED HIS COUNSEL.
CAN YOU ANSWER THE FOLLOWING FOR ME? AND ALSO I WOULD LIKE, UH, UH, EVERYBODY TO MAKE NOTE OF THESE QUESTIONS AND GET THESE ANSWERS.
UH, FOR ME, IF YOU DON'T MIND, IT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED, ESPECIALLY ALEX BROWN, WHO I CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE MORE, REALLY THE MOST HONEST PERSON ON THIS COUNCIL.
THAT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT HE'S THE ONLY ONE.
UH, CAN YOU TELL ME WHY YOU VOTE TO APPROVE MILLIONS OF TAX FUNDS AND BILL MILES ISSUED TO THIS COUNCIL BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA TREASURY, WHEN BILL MILES REFUSES HIS ACCOUNTING AS A SECRET SAUCE, IT SEEMS THAT BILL MILES, WITH ALL OF HIS FUNDING AND TAX FUNDING FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES IS APPROACHING $10 MILLION WITH ZERO OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTING.
THIS SHOULD BE VERY CONCERNING TO ALL OF YOU AND WHAT'S GETTING READY TO HAPPEN AND HOW YOU'RE GOING TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS TO AUTHORITIES.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SAY TO THEM WHEN THEY COME KNOCKING ON YOUR DOOR? YOU NEED TO REALLY THINK ABOUT THAT.
TELL ME WHY YOU ARE A TAX PAID MEMBER.
ALL OF YOU ARE MEMBERS OF THE HILTON HEAD CHAMBER, WHICH IS, WHICH IS IN CONFLICT.
AND YOU'RE NOT ASKING FOR BILL MILES FOR ACCESS UNDER THE CHAMBER RECORDS UNDER THE NONPROFIT CORPORATION ACT LAWS.
SO YOU'RE ALL VIOLATING THAT LAW AND TAXPAYERS AS WELL.
HOW WAS IT LEGALLY POSSIBLE? BILL MILES COULD PAY HIMSELF A 500, 600,000.
WE DON'T REALLY KNOW SALARY AND PAID PACKET BY THE USE OF TAX FUNDS.
HOW WAS THAT POSSIBLE, TAMMY? WHY YOU ALLOW BILL MILES TO TAKE OVER $1 MILLION AND STILL BEING SENT TO CANADA AND MARC ORLANDO FROM CANADA.
YOU CAN GET YOUR FIND OUT WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH ALL THAT MONEY AND DEVELOP AN APP AND A WEBSITE THAT HE CLAIMS HE OWNS VERSUS THE TOWN HAVE CAN BILL MILES ON THE APP AND THE WEBSITE, EVEN PAYING A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR AN APP.
TELL ME WHY BILL MILES HAS BEEN THE HIGHER GMO FOR 35 YEARS WITH NO PROCUREMENT.
YOU ALL ARE VIOLATING PROCUREMENT.
AND YOU'RE BEING SUED FOR PROCUREMENT BY TAYLOR SMITH AND SOUTH CAROLINA PRESENCE ASSOCIATION, LAWYER.
WHY ARE YOU NOT TAKING CARE OF BIZ FOR OTHERS? AND HOW CAN BILL MILES REMAIN THE DMO REFUSING FULL ACCOUNTING AND A VALID CONTRACT THAT YOU EVEN CORRUPTED? LASTLY, WHEN THE NEW DMO WAS HIRED, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE 1 MILLION PLUS APP AND WEBSITE THAT BILL MILES PLANE, HOW WAS, HOW WAS THE NEW DMO GONNA GET ACCESS TO THAT MILLION DOLLAR APP AND WEBSITE? IF BILL MILES CLAIMS THAT
[01:50:01]
HE AND THE CHAMBER OWN IT, ARE YOU GOING TO SEND ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS TO MARK MR. ORLANDO? ARE YOU GOING TO SEND THEM ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS TO CANADA, TO YOUR HOME COUNTRY FOR ANOTHER APP AND A WEBSITE FOR THE NEW DMO? YOUR PEOPLE NEED TO WAKE UP, YOU NEED TO WAKE UP, YOU GOT TO RESPOND TO MR. ORLANDO.YOU WANT TO ANSWER, YOU GOT TO RESPOND TO ANY OF THIS.
YOU STOPPED THAT MR. MISDEMEANOR.
NOW, NOW THAT WE HAVE THIS VIRTUAL SETTING AND I CAN APPRECIATE THIS MOVE INTO, UH, TO ZOLA.
UM, I GUESS WE CAN AT LEAST SEE THE PUBLIC AS A SPEAKER TO US.
UM, BUT, BUT I DO, UH, WANT US TO, UM, UNDERSTAND A BIT BETTER HOW WE ARE TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE AGENDA ITEMS THAT DOES STICK OUT TO ME.
AND I KNOW PAST VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE WAS FOLKS WOULD HAVE TO CALL AND SIGN UP ONLY FOR THE PERIOD AS BY CITIZENS, WHICH I THINK BRINGS UP CONFUSION TO THE TABLE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE COUNCIL HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS AND HAVE THOSE FROM THE COMMUNITY, RESPOND IN CAKES TO WHAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED.
SO THAT PIECE NEEDS TO BE FIGURED OUT IN THIS VIRTUAL SETTINGS TO SOME DEGREE, I'M JUST NOT COMFORTABLE WITH IT.
UM, MR. BROWN, I AGREE WITH YOU.
AND I'M WORKING WITH JOHN TUTTLE HERE WITH ME AND, UH, OUR WEB ADMINISTRATOR, RENEE PHILLIPS.
WE'VE BEEN TAKING DOWN SOME NOTES FROM TODAY'S MEETING TO REFINE THE PROCESS.
AND WITH MARK'S PERMISSION, WE'LL GET FROM A REFINE A PROCESS TO MARCH REVIEW AND UP TO THE COUNCIL TO REVIEW AS WELL.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING THAT TOGETHER.
I JUST WANTED TO, UM, TO AGREE THAT, UM, PARENTS, THAT CITIZENS NEED TO COORDINATE WITH THE BUSINESS THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING AS IT WOULD IF WE WERE IN CHAMBERS.
BUT SECONDLY, I THINK THERE'S THE BENT TO THAT COMMUNICATION PIECE.
AS I RECALL, UM, WITH REGARD TO THE MONEY, UM, BEING SENT TO THE FOUNDATION, THERE WAS A STIPULATION IN THERE THAT WERE PARAMETERS WILL BE SET UP IN ACCORDANCE TO WHAT IT IS THAT THE TOWN, UM, WISHES THOSE MEN WERE, HOW THOSE MONIES TO BE SPENT WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION.
ADDITIONALLY, AS I RECALL, UM, ALEX, I THINK YOU ASKED DURING THE F AND A MEETING, WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE AN, AND MAYBE IT WAS A DIFFERENT TOPIC, SO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
UM, WHETHER THERE WERE ANY ASSOCIATED FEES, MAYBE THAT WAS SOMETHING ELSE AS ACTUALLY I'M LOOKING AT MY NOTES THAT MAY HAVE, I'M NOT SURE, BUT IF YOU CAN CLARIFY THAT FOR ME, ARE THERE ANY ASSOCIATED FEES, IS THAT OVERHEAD TAKEN OUT OF OUR FUNDS? UH, NO, THERE ARE NO, THERE ARE NO ASSOCIATED FEES.
UM, THAT WOULD BE PRESENTED BY ME THROUGH, UM, THROUGH THIS MOU THAT I WILL PUT TOGETHER WITH THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.
SO KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL SAVE A DOLLAR FOR A DOLLAR.
I JUST, THE QUESTIONS WERE BROUGHT UP WITH THE QUESTIONS.
HAD WE HAD IT, THE ORDER DIFFERENTLY.
I WOULD HAVE ASKED THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.
SO THEY RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.