[00:00:01]
ON COUNCIL MEETING, WE'LL START WITH THE INDICATION,
[I. Call to Order]
ALL ABOUT THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.I TRIED TO LEAVE THAT'S RIGHT.
MOST MERCIFUL AND HELPED ME PROBABLY COME DOWN, THANKING YOU FOR YOUR GRACE.
I'D WANT TO THANK YOU THAT YOU GRANT US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE YOUR PEOPLE, BUT ACTUALLY TO BIND IN OUR HEARTS AND OUR SOUL, THAT WE MAY SERVE THEM TO GET THEM THE DESIRES THAT THEY MAY STAND IN NEED OF AND FATHER THAT WE'D PROBABLY EXIT.
LOOK TO YOU FOR A DECISION SO THAT WE MAY BE FRUITFUL IN THE DECISION THAT WE MAKE THESE AND ALL OTHER BLESSING.
[IV. Adoption of the Agenda]
THE ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA.MR. STACY, ANY CHANGES, ANY ADDITIONS? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA? ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY BY SAYING AYE.
[V. Adoption of the Minutes]
MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 11TH.WHERE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO THOSE FROM ANYONE? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE MEETING MINUTES? ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR STATE BY SAYING AYE OPPOSED.
[VI. Presentations, Celebrations and Recognitions]
ON A REGULAR BASIS EMPLOYEES AND I THINK TONIGHT IT'S OUR PD.SO IS G EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY.
BUT THE PIECE WE GOT, LIKE WE GOT LIKE A MONTH BACKLOG, RIGHT? SO YEAH, I THINK Y'ALL INTRODUCED ME AT MY FIRST COUNT TO ME.
WE HAVE NEW HARDWARE, BUT NOT PROMOTIONS, PRODUCTION OF NEW HIRE EMPLOYEES AND RECOGNITION.
ANNIE OPENED THAT DOOR SO THEY CAN INTRODUCE DEREK WITH HIS NEW SUIT ON SORRY.
SO ANNIE IS EVERYONE AT HOME? COME HERE.
SO, UM, ANY HR DIRECTOR, SHE REPLACED KATHERINE WHO RETIRED AND HER LAST DAY WAS TUESDAY LAST WEEK.
SO ANDY HAS BEEN WITH US FOR ABOUT A MONTH, GIVE OR TAKE.
SO SHE COMES FROM GREECE, NEW YORK AND SHE WAS HR DIRECTOR THERE.
SO WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE HER HERE AND LOOK FORWARD TO HER SERVING AS LONG OR LONGER AND AS BETTER AS CATHERINE WAS, HOPEFULLY, BUT WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE HER.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, MELINDA, MELINDA, AS A NEW HIRE AND THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE.
SO SHE IS A PART-TIME ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT.
SHE IS KIM'S RIGHT HAND AND SHE HAS HOW TO PUT IT.
SHE IS, UH, SHE'S RAISED THE BAR FOR ALL OF US.
SHE IS A GREAT, IF YOU'VE GOT TO MEET MELINDA, I THINK EVERYBODY AGREES THAT SHE'S AMAZING AND SHE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE YOU HAVE WATER AND ALL YOUR LITTLE SNACKS AND EVERYTHING SET UP.
SO WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE HER SIDE.
WE CAN STILL AWAY FROM, SHE RETIRED FROM BEING A SCHOOL TEACHER AT MP RALEIGH LAST YEAR.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO GET A PART-TIME.
I HAVE THREE, SO WE'RE GOING TO BRING THEM IN.
UM, SO, UM, UH, THE FIRST INDIVIDUAL IS, UH, CARRIE GUZMAN IS OUR GROWTH MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR.
UM, WE WERE ABLE TO GET HER FROM PALMETTO BREEZE RECENTLY, AND NOW SHE'S BEEN WITH US FOR ABOUT THREE, THREE MONTHS.
UH, SHE'S DOING A WONDERFUL JOB, UM, WHIPPING ME INTO SHAPE.
UM, NEXT UP WE HAVE, UH, DIANE SWANSON, UH, SHE'S OUR PART-TIME RECEPTIONIST.
UH, SHE REPORTS DIRECTLY TO, UH, LIZ.
AND, UM, YOU CAME FROM UNION COUNTY.
[00:05:01]
TEACHER CHARLOTTE UNION COUNTY AREA.SO, UM, WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE HER HERE AND, UH, SHE HELPS OUT IN THE FRONT DESK.
AND THEN LAST ONE IS, UH, DAN FRAZIER.
SO DAN FRASER STARTED YESTERDAY.
UH, SO HE'S OUR PRINCIPAL PLANNER FOR LAND DEVELOPMENT.
UM, UH, DAN HAS, UM, WORKED EXTENSIVELY IN SOUTH CAROLINA AS WELL AS IN TENNESSEE, UH, MOST RECENTLY WITH THE CITY OF BUFORD AS THEIR SENIOR PLANNER.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE HIM ON BOARD AND, UM, WE ARE DUMPING A LOT OF PROJECTS ON THEM ALREADY, SO, YES.
I TRY TO SEE EVERYONE AND WE'RE GOING TO GO FROM ONE DAN, WHO IS TWO DAYS OLD TO ANOTHER DAN, WHO IS NEARLY TWO YEARS OLD, MAN.
SO DAN RIDE BACK COMES TO US FROM BUFORD COUNTY.
LAST IS THERE A STORMWATER MANAGER, BUT HE JOINED US DURING THE PANDEMIC.
AND THE LAST TIME THAT WE HAD INTRODUCTIONS IN PERSON, WE WERE ACTUALLY AT A CONFERENCE.
SO DAN COMES TO US TO THE LOW COUNTRY FROM PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY WITH AN EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND IN STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, AS WELL AS AN CAPITAL, AS WELL AS IN PUBLIC WORKS.
HE'S A JACK OF ALL TRADES AND IS WORKING AS OUR STORMWATER PROJECT MANAGER, IMPLEMENTING DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, AS WELL AS MAY RIVER WATER SAID, ACTION PLAN IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
SHE CAME FROM MS. WHERE SHE WORKED FOR 20 YEARS AT ALBERTSON GROCERY STORE, UM, POPULATION OF 5,000 TO 10,000 POUNDS.
SHE ACTUALLY STARTED WITH US VOLUNTEERING TO HELP THEM IN OUR CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTS.
SO SHE HELPED DECORATED THAT AND DID A WONDERFUL JOB AND DECIDED THAT SHE WANTS TO COME WORK WITH US.
AND SHE SAID SHE WILL NEVER SEE ME IN ANOTHER SUIT.
FIRST OFF WE HAVE MR. STEVEN COMBS, OUR NEW EMERGENCY MANAGER AND HE REPORTS DIRECTLY TO ME, MR. COMBS, AS A PUBLIC INFORMATION, HE WAS A PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER WITH ANDERSON COUNTY BEFORE WE TALKED HIM INTO COMING HERE.
AND HE WAS, AND IS A PART-TIME ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR FOR TEXAS A AND M.
SO HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HERE, STEVEN? THIS WILL BE WEEK FOUR, NORTH PORT FOURTH, FULL WEEK OF OUR NEW EMERGENCY MANAGER.
AND WE HAVE MS. HANNAH ANDERSON COMING UP TO THE PODIUM HERE.
SHE IS OUR NEW COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE, AND WE'RE SO EXCITED TO HAVE HANNAH, BY THE WAY, SHE'S ALREADY DONE SOME AMAZING WORK, WHICH I WILL UPDATE YOU ON.
AND SHE REPORTS DIRECTLY TO SERGEANT RYAN ZIKA.
SHE HAS A MASTER'S IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, AND SHE SPECIALIZES IN FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY AND HER DEGREES FROM CAPELLA.
AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE HER HERE BEFORE THIS.
SHE WAS A RECREATION ASSISTANT FOR THE MARINE CORPS IN JAPAN.
YOU'LL BE HEARING A LOT MORE FROM HANNAH.
WE'RE ALSO EXCITED TO HAVE MR. DAVID NOW OFFICER, BY THE WAY, AGAIN, HE ACTUALLY RETIRED AT ONE POINT FROM NEW JERSEY AND HE WAS PART OF OUR EXPLORERS CLUB AND WE ARE, YOU KNOW, OUR EXPLORER'S CLUB FROM BOYS AND GIRLS.
AND WE ARE SO EXCITED TO WELCOME HIM HERE AS A SRO, HE RECENTLY GOT CERTIFIED.
HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN DAVID? AGAIN, HE GOT CERTIFIED AGAIN IN SOUTH CAROLINA A WEEK.
SO HE'S GETTING TO KNOW THE SCHOOLS AND HE'S A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER RIGHT NOW.
AND WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU AND HE'LL BE RUNNING THE EXPLORERS PROGRAM AGAIN.
SO IF YOU GUYS SEE HIM ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WE'RE WE ARE SO GLAD TO HAVE HIM HERE HELPING US OUT WITH THAT CHILD, RIGHT? YES.
ALL RIGHT, SARAH SHAFFER, SHE'S STILL GOING THROUGH HER STUDIES AND SHE WILL BE GOING TO THE ACADEMY.
SO SHE'S DOING PRE ACADEMY RIGHT NOW AND SHE IS ACTUALLY IN BLOCK THREE OF FLOOR FOUR.
SHE SCORED IN THE HIGH NINETIES FOR ALL HER STUFF.
THEY ALL TOLD ME ABOUT THAT TODAY.
SO SHE'S GOING TO BE A POLICE OFFICER ONE AND SHE REPORTS DIRECTLY TO SERGEANT DIETZ.
SHE HAS A MASTER'S DEGREE OR EXCUSE ME, A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.
AND SHE WAS THE LACROSSE COACH IN NEW YORK.
[00:10:01]
CAN USE YOU.SHE'S WORKING REAL HARD AND SHE'S WORKING TO GET A DAY TO THE ACADEMY SO SHE CAN GO THERE AND FINISH UP HER STUDIES.
AND SHE GOES BY DAR YOU MAY RECOGNIZE HER BECAUSE THIS IS HER SECOND TIME OF WORKING WITH TOWN OF BLUFFTON.
SHE USED TO BE OUR SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD AND SHE JUST COULDN'T STAY AWAY.
SO SHE CAME BACK AND WE ARE SUPER GLAD TO HAVE HER.
SHE'S A PART-TIME DATA ENTRY CLERK UP FRONT, AND SHE REPORTS TO LIEUTENANT MCCAULEY.
JAMES IS A POLICE OFFICER TOO.
HE ALSO REPORTS TO SERGEANT DIETZ.
HE WAS A POLICE OFFICE, THE POLICE OFFICER THERE, AND HE DECIDED HE WANTED TO COME DOWN TO SOUTH CAROLINA WHERE LIFE IS GOOD.
JUST SO YOU KNOW, HE HAS AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
YOUR SERVICE, DAN, ARE YOU READY? DAN? MARSIANNO.
HE WAS A POLICE OFFICER IN OREGON FOR 11 YEARS.
HE IS A POLICE OFFICER TO HERE AND HE REPORTS DIRECTLY TO SERGEANT DEEPS.
WE'RE SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU, DAN.
SAMUEL DRIGGERS, COME ON DOWN.
THIS IS SAM DRIGGERS, HE'S POLICE OFFICER ONE, AND HE REPORTS TO SERGEANT MICHAEL DIETZ.
AND HE HAS AN S HE USED TO BE A SALES ASSOCIATE WITH VADEN INFINITY, AND HE WAS ALSO WITH A CELLULAR SALES.
AND WE ARE SO GLAD TO HAVE HIM HERE.
HE REALLY WORKS HARD AND HE STILL WORKS HARD AND HE IS READY TO GO.
HE'S GOING TO PRE ACADEMY RIGHT NOW BEFORE HE GETS HIS DATE.
ALL RIGHT, JOSEPH RHINELL IS NEXT.
HE REPORTS DIRECTLY TO SERGEANT DEEDS.
HE WAS A SHEET METAL WORKER BEFORE COMING TO US AND HE ALSO HAS MAD HVAC SKILLS AND HE CAME TO US FROM NEW YORK.
AND WHO IS IT THAT RETIRED HERE? IS THAT YOUR FATHER, YOUR GIRLFRIEND'S DAD RETIRED HERE TO BLUFFTON AND SAID, WHAT DID HE TELL YOU ABOUT WORKING FOR BLUFFTON? THERE YOU GO.
UM, HIS ACTUALLY, HIS GIRLFRIEND'S FATHER DIDN'T WANT HIM TO GO INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT, ALTHOUGH HE WANTED TO GO ON LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND FINALLY HE CALLED AND SAID, WE FOUND YOU FOR A PLACE TO GO TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THAT'S BLUFFTON.
HOPEFULLY I SAID THAT, CORRECT? COME ON DOWNTOWN.
THIS IS OUR NEW QUARTERMASTER AND FLEET MANAGER.
AND HOW LONG HAS THAT HAPPENED? HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN HERE? ABOUT THREE DAYS.
HE'S BEEN HERE ABOUT THREE DAYS AND WE ARE REALLY, TRULY HAPPY TO HAVE HIM TOO.
HE'S ALREADY MAKING A COUPLE OF GOOD CHANGES.
HE REPORTS DIRECTLY TO SERGEANT DEEDS AND HE PRIOR TO THIS WAS A LOGISTICS OPERATIONS MANAGER IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS FOR 20 YEARS.
SO HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING AND HE IS MORE THAN HAPPY TO TAKE OVER AND MAKE SURE WE'RE KEEPING THINGS STRAIGHT FOR YOUR SERVICE.
JC IS OUR NEW FOYER AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATOR AND SHE REPORTS TO LIEUTENANT MCCAULEY.
JC, HOW LONG YOU WORKED HERE NOW? TWO DAYS, TWO DAYS.
STACY'S BEEN HERE FOR TWO DAYS, BUT DON'T THINK THAT SHE IS NEW FROM THE LOW COUNTRY.
CAUSE WE STOLE HER IN SOME SORTS OF WAYS.
CAUSE SHE WAS THE CRIMINAL RECORDS SUPERVISOR WITH A BUFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR 19 YEARS.
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO HAVE HER AND HER KNOWLEDGE HERE AND WELCOMED VERY MUCH.
THAT'S ALL THE NEW EMPLOYEES FOR THE PLACE.
Y'ALL EVERYTHING, ALL OF THAT.
AND THANK YOU FOR GETTING, GETTING THE PUBLIC AWARE OF WHO IS NOW PART OF OUR TOWN.
UM, NEXT WE HAVE BUFORD COUNTY SCHOOL, DISTRICT CHARACTERS, UM, CHARACTER STUDENT OF THE MONTH.
UM, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ON HER, SO THAT SET DARLIN FACE AND SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE GOES TO, UM, I WANNA SAY BLUFFTON ELEMENTARY, ALL DREAM THREAT.
SHE'S IN THE SECOND GRADE AT BLUFFTON ELEMENTARY AND HER CHARACTER TRAIT FOR DECEMBER WAS COMPASSION.
UM, THIS IS SOMETHING FOR THOSE OF YOU KNEW THAT, UM, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PUTS ON AND THEY PICK A CHILD FROM EVERY CLUSTER
[00:15:01]
FROM PRE-K TO SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL.AND EVERY MONTH WE LOVE RECOGNIZING THEM, HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO MONTHS, WE'LL GET THEM IN HERE WITH THEIR FAMILY AND GIVE THEM A PROPER THANK YOU.
BUT, UM, WE'RE THRILLED THAT SHE WON IT AND THAT SWEET FACE AND WE WILL GET HER A CERTIFICATE AND THE COINS, UM, AND RECOGNIZE HER PROPERLY, HOPEFULLY DOWN THE ROAD.
[VII. Public Comment]
NEXT IS, HOLD ON.UM, PUBLIC COMMENT IS THREE MINUTES IN LENGTH FROM THE MINUTE YOU START TALKING UNTIL WE SAY THANK YOU.
UH, EVERY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO RECOGNIZED SHELF'S LIMIT COMMENTS TO THE THREE MINUTES AND OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING PROTOCOLS, ADDRESS COUNCIL.
AND IN SPEAKING, AVOID DISRESPECT TO COUNCIL AND ANY PERSONALITIES CONFINED THEMSELVES TO QUESTIONS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF COUNCIL AND JUST BE MINDFUL AND RESPECTFUL OF THOSE WHO WERE PRESENT WITH THAT.
IF Y'ALL ARE NEW TO THIS, YOU JUST HAVE TO BE HERE TO READ IT.
WE WILL NOT ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT THAT HAS BEEN FILLED OUT ONLINE UNLESS YOU'RE HERE TO ACTUALLY READ IT.
SO WE WILL START TONIGHT WITH SKIP HOAGLAND, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS, AND THEN YOU CAN PROCEED YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
THE SPEAKER SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING VERY WELL.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IN THAT BACK IN HERE.
SO I'M GOING TO TRY TO SPEAK UP, SPEAK LOUDLY, RESTART THE CLOCK.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, EVENING, UH, SKIP HOAGLAND, WINDMILL HARBOR, MS. SOCA.
I CELEBRATED THE $50 MILLION AWARD, YOUR FRIVOLOUS DEBT AND YOUR FRIVOLOUS DEFAMATION LAWSUIT.
YOUR AMBULANCE, CHASE AND MURDOCH LAURIA WAS ABLE TO WIN THIS LAWSUIT PURELY ON CROCODILE, TEARS, EMOTIONS, DRAMA, LEGAL THEATRICAL PLAY WITHOUT ON ANY EVIDENCE FOR SUPPORTING LAW THAT I DEFAMED YOU.
I NOW GET TO SEE YOU FOR THE SAME 50 MILLION IN DAMAGE THAT I'VE SUFFERED.
IN MY OPINION, THE FACTS SUPPORT THAT EVERYTHING I SAID ABOUT YOU, ORLANDO AND FINGERS IS TRUE.
YOU DEFAME YOURSELF BECAUSE OF YOUR CORRUPTION, YOUR LIES OR YOUR CONFLICTS.
NOW THE BAR HAS BEEN SET AT 50 MILLION.
FAIR'S FAIR EXPECT THE SAME 50 MILLION AGAINST YOU FOR VIOLATING MY FIRST AMENDMENT.
FREE SPEECH RIGHTS CAUGHT ON VIDEO EVIDENCE.
I BELIEVE YOUR LAWSUIT WAS BASELESS.
PACIFICALLY FILED TO SILENCE MY VOICE TO OBSCENELY PROFIT YOU AND YOUR LAWYER'S CORRUPT POCKETS.
AND IT IS MY RIGHT UNDER THE LAW TO HONESTLY CRITICIZE PUBLIC OFFICIALS.
AS I SEE FIT, YOU MAY HAVE A LIKABLE CHEERLEADER PERSONALITY, BUT YOUR CORRUPT ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN YOUR WORDS.
I CONTEND YOU LIED AND COMMITTED PERJURY, WHICH IS A CRIME.
YOU ILLEGALLY DID A MEMBERSHIP DRIVE.
HE'S IN TOWN EMPLOYEES TO PROFIT YOUR CROOKED FRIEND, BILL MILES OF THE HILTON HEAD BLUFFTON CHAMBER THAT HARMS YOUR OWN OFFICIAL, GREATER BLUFFTON CHAMBER.
YOU ILLEGALLY USE TAX MONEY TO JOIN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON AS A HILTON HEAD BLUFFTON CHAMBER MEMBER QUID PRO QUO, NOT THE LEGALLY OPERATED GREATER BLUFFTON CHAMBER UNTIL I FORCED YOU IN ORLANDO AND FINGER TO SUPPORT THEM.
YOU ARE ILLEGALLY ISSUING EIGHT TAX BOND TO TOWN DMO TO ILLEGALLY BE USED WITH GERALD COUNTING AND VIOLATING AID TAX LAWS.
YOU ARE A FULL REAL ESTATE AGENT FULL-TIME REAL ESTATE AGENT PART-TIME MAYOR USING YOUR INSIDER STATUS, THE PROFIT, YOUR REAL ESTATE BUSINESS TOWN, LAWYER FRIEND USED HIS INSIDER POSITION OR HIS REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT CLIENTS ACROSS IT.
YOU BOTH ARE IN SEVERE CONFLICT.
WE NEED OFFICIALS WITH NO HORSES IN THE RACE WHO REPRESENT TAXPAYERS' INTERESTS, NOT THEIR OWN FINGER DEVELOP A FRAUDULENT TAX CONTRACT FOR THE LEGALLY OPERATED HILTON HAS LEFT IN THE CHAMBER OF STEAM WITH THE CROOKED TOWN OF HILTON.
HIS LAWYERS CALLED FRAME BUSH AND GRUBER TO HELP BILL MILES HIDE THE MILLIONS OF TAX COUNTY WILL BE PLAYING THE LAWSUIT AGAINST ME AND ALL MY FOLDERS WERE DESIGNED FOR ARRESTMENT, BERKELEY JUSTICE.
ALSO BOTH JUDGES GOLDSMITH AND MARK AND MARK, AND THE JURY DOES NOT REPRESENT THE RULES OF LAW.
THIS IS DANGEROUS FOR ALL OF US FOR FREE SPEECH AND THE PRESS IT'S DANGEROUS AND ASSAULT.
I DON'T NOT THINK THAT YOU'VE BEEN TO ORLANDO OR SERVE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR $50 MILLION LAWSUIT AGAINST YOU.
UM, MEG, JAMES, I STILL NEED TO SAY MY ADDRESS IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND THAT EVENING.
I LIVE AT EIGHT HARTSON CIRCLE.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR THE LOCAL HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING OVER 450 BUILDING INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS THAT LIVE, WORK AND PLAY THROUGHOUT ALL OF BUFORD, HAMPTON AND JASPER COUNTIES.
AS AN ASSOCIATION, WE HAVE OPPOSED THE SCHOOL IMPACT FEES FROM THE BEGINNING, SHARING OUR CONCERNS AND PROVIDING LOADS OF INFORMATION FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO REVIEW BACKING OUR CONCERNS.
LIKE SOME OF YOU, WE WERE DISAPPOINTED WHEN THE COUNTY DECIDED TO PASS THE SCHOOL IMPACT FEES WITHOUT THE LOCAL IGS IN PLACE WITH THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD TOWN OF BLUFFTON AND CITY OF HARTSVILLE.
[00:20:01]
IT FELT AS IF INPUT FROM OUR ORGANIZATIONS FELL ON DEAF EARS.AND NOW AS AN OUTSIDER, IT FEELS AS IF THE COUNTY IS FORCING YOU TO COMPLY WITH THEIR SCHOOL IMPACT FEES OR FORFEIT FUNDING FOR PROJECTS WITHIN TOWN LIMITS.
THIS IS MISLEADING TO SOMEONE LIKE ME SINCE WE ARE ALL SO VERY AWARE THAT SCHOOL IMPACT FEES HAVE TO BE SPENT IN A VERY SPECIFIC WAY.
FOR EXAMPLE, NON-EXPANSION EITHER IN THE FORM OF ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS OR SCHOOLS AND IT MUST BE SPENT IN THE AREA IN WHICH IT IS COLLECTED, WHICH CURRENTLY IS UNINCORPORATED BUFORD COUNTY SOUTH OF THE BROAD.
SO IF THEY'RE TELLING YOU THAT THEY WILL NOT FUND YOUR PROJECTS, WHERE EXACTLY WHAT PROJECTS BE FUNDED SOUTH OF THE BROAD TONIGHT, I ALSO WEAR THE HAT OF A FELLOW TOWN OF BLUFFTON AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE MEMBER.
AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON WITH A LOCAL TEAM BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT BE EXEMPT FROM THESE FEES.
THE FEES THAT ARE FOR NEW HOMES, INCLUDING MOBILE HOME UNITS ARE 9,535 AND MULTI-FAMILY UNITS $4,508.
CURRENTLY A TON OF BLUFFTON PERMANENT IS RUNNING ABOUT 11,000 TO 14,000, DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE HOME AFTER APRIL 1ST, THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE 21,000 TO 24,000.
AND LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOLDED INTO SOMEONE'S 30 YEAR MORTGAGE.
THAT 24 BECOMES 38 AND THAT 95 35 SPLIT IMPACT FEE BECOMES $15,413 AND 91 CENTS.
THE COUNTY SAYS THEY WILL ABIDE BY THEIR AFFORDABLE HOUSING ORDINANCE AND FOLKS CAN APPEAL TO THE COUNTY TO HAVE THE FEES WAIVED IF THEY ARE APPROVED THESE FEES BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE PAID.
I'M TOLD TO COME OUT OF THE COUNTY'S GENERAL FUND, BUT CURRENTLY THERE IS NO SET AMOUNT.
SO YOU WALK BLINDLY INTO THIS, NOT KNOWING HOW MANY PROJECTS ARE PEOPLE IN NEED WILL BE ASSISTED.
AND THE NEAR FUTURE, WHEN THE COST OF BUILD WITH ALL THE FEES DOES NOT KEEP PACE WITH THE APPRAISAL VALUE.
APPRAISALS ARE BASED ON RECENT RESALES, NOT NEW CONSTRUCTION.
WE WILL SEE MORE AND MORE SHORT APPRAISALS AND FOLKS WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUPPLY THE DIFFERENCE IN THE COST PER THEIR LOAN TO VALUE.
THIS WILL PRICE OUR WORKFORCE OUT A NEW TEACHER.
WON'T JUST WALK AWAY FROM THEIR PURCHASE.
THEY'LL WALK AWAY FROM ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS AND POTENTIALLY OUR LOW COUNTRY ALTOGETHER.
AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA COUNSELORS ARE WALKING BACK THEIR FEES FOR VARIOUS REASONS.
WOULDN'T YOU HATE FOR THAT TO BE US IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WE SPEAK A LOT ABOUT THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS.
PREVIOUS LEADERSHIP DECISIONS FROM FIVE TO 25 YEARS AGO HAVE ON WHAT OUR CITIZENS SEE BEING BUILT HERE TODAY.
AND I FEEL YOUR FRUSTRATIONS WITH NOT HAVING CONTROL, BUT I URGE YOU TO DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO BETTER INFLUENCE DECISIONS THAT WILL AFFECT US IN THE NEXT FIVE TO 25 YEARS.
IF YOU TRULY BELIEVE THAT THESE FEES ARE THE ONLY WAY TO SKIN THE CAT, THEN FIGHT FOR OUR 80 TO 120% AMI FOLKS.
AND IF THE COUNTY REFUSES TO ACCEPT YOUR TERMS, FIND IT WITHIN YOUR OWN BUDGET TO WRITE THESE FINANCIAL BURDENS ON OUR WORKING CLASS, BELIEVE THAT CERTAIN COUNTY LEADERSHIP WILL NOT BE HERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
I URGE YOU TO PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN AND DEMAND THAT THE RE-EVALUATION BE GIVEN A SPECIFIC DATE AND THAT EACH PARTICIPANT IN MUNICIPALITY BE LEGALLY, SORRY.
I'VE GOT TO KEEP IT ACROSS THE BOARD.
IF YOU WOULD GIVE ALL YOUR COMMENTS TO KIM, WE'LL MAKE SURE THEY'RE IN THE RECORD.
AND I DO NOT WANT TO PRINT MISPRONOUNCED YOUR NAME, CAROL NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE.
MA'AM CAROL CAGGIANO, 10 CHINA COCK AWAY.
I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ABOUT THE FACT THAT TELLING COMPANIES ENGAGED BY THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON TO TOW CARS AFTER AN ACCIDENT ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF AND DEFRAUDING THE PUBLIC.
I'M REFERRING TO THE FACT THAT WHEN YOUR CAR IS TOWED, AFTER A TRACK TRAFFIC ACCIDENT, WITHIN JUST A FEW DAYS, THE TOWING COMPANY CAN AND WILL FILE PAPERS TO TAKE POSSESSION OF YOUR VEHICLE TITLE.
WHEN YOU GO TO RETRIEVE YOUR CAR AND PAY YOUR BILL, YOU WILL FIND THAT YOU'VE BEEN CHARGED AN EXORBITANT FEE FOR TITLE PROCESSING.
THEY DO THIS WITHOUT WARNING, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY HAVE REASONABLY THAT YOU'LL FAIL TO PAY YOUR BILL OR WHETHER THEY HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO ABANDON YOUR VEHICLE.
EVEN IF THEY KNOW YOU AND HAVE CONTACT INFORMATION FOR YOU, YOU AS A VEHICLE OWNER, HAVE NO RECOURSE.
THIS AMOUNTS TO QUITE LITERALLY HOW HIGHWAY ROBBERY.
THIS COMPLAINT STEMS FROM THE FACT THAT THIS HAPPENED TO ME.
MY CAR WAS TOWED AFTER MY HUSBAND HAD AN ACCIDENT THIS PAST DECEMBER AND FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, IT STAYED AT THE IMPOUND LOT FOR EIGHT DAYS.
AND WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY CAR, I WAS TOLD THAT I OWED THEM $865, 395, WHICH WAS A TITLE PROCESSING FEE.
UM, WHEN I OBJECTED TO THE FEE, THEY GAVE ME A DISCOUNT OF 200 BUCKS.
UM, AS YOU'LL RECALL, I SENT YOU LETTERS, EXPLAINING THE SITUATION IN A VERY REASONABLE WAY, LOGICALLY AND IN DETAIL, YOU TURN THE MATTER OVER TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND I SPOKE WITH FIRST WITH OFFICE OFFICER DISTASIO AND I LATER HAD COMMUNICATION WITH LIEUTENANT DANIEL.
[00:25:01]
I RECEIVED NO SATISFACTORY ANSWER EXPLAINING HOW SUCH A PRESS PRACTICE COULD BE CONSIDERED ETHICAL.NO WHY THE TOWN CHOOSES TO ALLOW IT TO CONTINUE THE EXPLANATION I RECEIVED.
WHAT WAS THAT? THIS IS STANDARD PRACTICE.
UM, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THEY ARE NOT THE ONES THAT NEED A PROTECTION, BUT HE SAID THEY NEED TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM WHAT I DON'T KNOW, NOT ONLY DID THEY CHARGE YOU THE FEE, IT'S QUITE LIKELY THEY NEVER ACTUALLY FILED FOR POSSESSION OF YOUR VEHICLE.
THEY JU THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED TO DOCUMENT THE FACT THAT THEY FILE ANY PAPERWORK.
THEY JUST SLAP YOU WITH THE FEE.
I ASKED OFFICER DISTASIO TO REQUEST THAT THE UNION TOWING COMPANY PROVIDE THEM WITH DOCUMENTATION, SHOWING THAT THEY PERFORM THAT TITLE PROCESSING.
UM, AND HE TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THAT UP WITH THEM.
I SUSPECT IT'S BECAUSE THEY NEVER FILED ANY PAPERWORK.
THEY JUST CHARGED ME THE $395.
I DON'T THINK I HAD ANY CHOICE.
ALL I'M ASKING IS THAT THE COUNCIL MOVED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE AND UPDATE TOWN ORDINANCES TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM WHAT AMOUNTS TO EXTORTION.
AND I HAVE ALL THE PERTINENT DETAILS, WHICH HAVE BEEN IN MY LETTERS AS YOU GUYS ALL KNOW, THANK YOU.
AND MUCH PUBLIC COMMENTS IS OVER.
[VIII. Communications from Mayor and Council]
FROM MARIN COUNCIL AND ANY PERHAPS COMMITTEES THAT Y'ALL SEND PART OF THAT YOU WANT TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON MAYOR? I, UM, I'M GOING TO BRING SOMETHING BEFORE THE COUNCIL, MAYBE IN A OR TWO, JUST TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT.IT'S REGARDING THE LOW COST, LOW COUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS.
AND, UH, WE HAD, UH, AN EXECUTIVE MEETING RECENTLY AND IT PERTAINED BECAUSE THE, UH, THE CENSUS CAME OUT.
AND SO IT'S QUESTIONS WERE RAISED ABOUT THE ALLOCATION OF THE NUMBER OF SITTING MEMBERS TO THE BOARD.
UH, WE REVIEWED THAT AS AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND, UH, I, AS I SAY, WE'LL BE COMING OUT THAT RECOMMENDATION WAS MADE FROM THE DIRECTOR, BUT I WILL BE SHARING THAT WITH ALL OF COUNCILS SOON, JUST TO BE AWARE OF IT.
AND, UM, I GUESS THE, THE OVERSIGHT OF IT ALL IS WE HOPE TO LIMIT THE BOARD SIZE BECAUSE AS POPULATIONS CONTINUE TO GROW, WE COULDN'T MANAGE IT.
I MEAN, YOU COULD, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ROOM TO PUT ANY MORE BOARD MEMBERS IN THAT BODY IS ALREADY LIKE 30 OR 31 IN THERE AND IT BECOMES UNMANAGEABLE.
SO ANYWAY, THAT RECOMMENDATION WILL BE COMING OUT VERY SOON FOR COUNCIL TO ENTERTAIN.
WE'RE SITTING ON THAT BOARD DANCE.
UM, MAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
AND I HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR THIS PAJAMA.
I TRULY FEEL YOUR, YOUR PAIN AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, I THINK THIS COUNCIL WAS GOING TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
ANYONE ON THIS SIDE COMMITTEE OR ANYTHING FROM COUNCIL? NO.
JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BRINGING OUR ATTENTION.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE GOT TO RELOOK AT AND WE ARE WORKING ON IT.
I JUST WANTED TO, UM, THINK PUBLIC WORKS AND THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON FOR RECOGNIZING, UH, BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
WHAT THE BEAUTIFUL BANNERS THAT ARE DOING THE POLLS.
THERE ARE TWO EVENTS THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN BLUFFTON AND CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
UH, ONE WILL BE ON FEBRUARY THE 24TH AT BURN CHURCH DISTILLERY.
AND IT'S CALLED A NIGHT IN HARLEM, A 1920S EVENT.
THAT'S A CELEBRATION OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE.
AND THE SECOND EVENT WILL BE ON FEBRUARY THE 26TH AT THE BLUFFTON ROTARY CENTER, BEGINNING AT 12 O'CLOCK.
AND THAT'S A CELEBRATION OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN AUTHORS AND IT WILL FEATURE, UM, BAKARI SELLERS, NEW YORK, BEST TIME SELLING AUTHOR, WHICH IS RECENT BOOK, WHO ARE YOUR PEOPLE, UM, IN BOTH EVENTS ARE FREE.
SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, UM, DEFINITELY COME OUT AND CELEBRATE WITH THIS.
UM, IT DOES TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT TO SOMETIMES, NO, WE NEED TO RE LOOK AT ISSUES AND IT'S A PERFECT TIME ON EVERY, EVERYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH TOWN, WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN COMING UP A WEEK FROM TODAY.
UM, PLEASE FOLLOW US ALONG ON OUR WEBSITE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO DO SOME STREAMING.
I THINK WE'LL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'LL DO IN TERMS OF, UM, HOW MANY SEATS ARE AVAILABLE, BUT IT IS IT OSCAR FRAZIER PARK, RIGHT? STEVEN.
SO IT'D BE AT OSCAR FRAZIER PARK, PLENTY OF ROOM, PLEASE COME.
IT TALKS ABOUT REALLY OUR ROADMAP FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
UM, AND THOSE ARE TIMES WE LOOK AT ALL OF OUR ORDINANCE BUDGETS COMING UP.
WE'LL CHECK ALL OF OUR ORDINANCES AGAIN.
AND, UM, WE DO NEED YOUR, UM, RESPECTFUL COMMENT AND I APPRECIATE YOU FOR THAT, UM, FOR DOING THAT.
[00:30:01]
WE WILL MOVE ON TO,[IX.1. Consideration of Town of Bluffton Needs Assessment for Housing, Public Facilities, and Economic Development – Michelle Knight, Community and Economic Development Director, Lowcountry Council of Governments]
UH, PUBLIC HEARING AND FINAL READING.UM, WE HAVE THREE ITEMS THAT ARE, ARE FOR PUBLIC HEARING, AND I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANY COMMENT ON THAT, BUT WE'LL CALL IT OUT ANYWAY.
UM, FIRST IS MICHELLE KNIGHT CONSIDERATION OF TOWN OF BLUFFTON NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR HOUSING, PUBLIC FACILITIES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
UM, WHILE YOU'RE COMING UP, MICHELLE, I WILL CALL, DO WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS I'LL CALL FIRST, UH, CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS PUBLIC HEARING FOR OUR NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
SECOND CALL FOR COMMENT ON THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR OUR NEEDS ASSESSMENT THIRD AND FINAL CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR OUR BLUFFTON NEEDS ASSESSMENT, PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.
YOU ARE IN PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
YOU'RE UP, YOU'RE GETTING SHORTER AND SHORTER EVERY TIME I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO, AND I'M WASH DART, I'M GOING TO SAY THAT WE HAVE LIZ WITH US IN THE BACK, UM, TO INTERPRET FOR ANYONE WHO NEEDS ASSISTANCE WITH SPANISH SPEAKING, UM, WITH, WITH THE LANGUAGE FOR US TO HOLD THE PUBLIC.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO NEEDS ASSISTANCE WITH THE SPANISH LANGUAGE? LIZ, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE FOR THAT PURPOSE.
AND, UM, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THAT, UM, WE'RE GOING TO HURT TO TRY TO HURRY THROUGH THIS FIRST OFF AS WE'RE REQUIRED TO EVERY YEAR, WE ARE GOING TO DO OUR BRIEF, UM, ADVERTISEMENT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON DOES NOT, UM, DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THE PROTECTED CLASSES IN THE SALE AND RENTAL OF HOUSING AND RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS ARE IN BROKERAGE SERVICES, UM, IN THEIR, IN THEIR HOUSING ACTIVITIES, IN THE TOWN.
IF SOMEONE CONTACTS I KNOW, BUT WHAT DO I POINT IT AT TO MAKE IT UP? OKAY.
AND, UM, ANYWAY, IF ANYONE CONTACTS, TOWN, STAFF, OR TENT ON COUNCIL AND SAYS, HEY, I THINK I'VE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, UM, PLEASE HAVE THEM CONTACT US AT LOW COUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS.
AND WE WILL DISCUSS THE MATTER WITH THEM AND BOARDED ON TO THE PROPER, UM, GROUPS TO HAVE IT INVESTIGATED IF NEED BE WE'RE SEEING A PROBLEM.
IT JUST HAS TO STAND UP JUST GOING AT HIM.
UM, FOR RIGHT NOW, UM, THE STATE CDBG PROGRAM, UM, IS REQUIRED TO MEET LOW TO MODERATE INCOME BENEFIT.
AND FOR RIGHT NOW IN BUFORD COUNTY LOAD LMI AND BEAVER COUNTY IS $62,000 FOR A FOUR PERSON HOUSEHOLD.
UM, THE NUMBERS GO UP OR DOWN BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN YOUR HOME.
UM, 51% OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BENEFITING FROM YOUR PROJECTS HAVE TO MEET THIS INCOME REQUIREMENT.
UM, WE'RE EXPECTING THIS YEAR TO RECEIVE $20.1 MILLION IN CDBG FUNDS THROUGH THE STATE.
THIS IS THROUGH THEIR REGULAR PROGRAM.
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY OPERA FUNDING.
THIS IS JUST REGULAR PROGRAM DISCUSSION.
THERE ARE THREE BROAD PROGRAM CATEGORIES.
AGAIN, THEY'RE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, REGIONAL PLANNING, WHICH COVERS US TO COME HOLD THESE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND HAVE MEETINGS WITH YOUR STAFF FOR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT.
UM, AND THIS IS ALL THE BIG INFORMATION.
UM, WE HAVE IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, BASICALLY FOR SET ASIDES THERE'S COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH IS OUR SPRING FUNDING ROUND.
THIS IS OUR WATER SEWER DRAINAGE ROUND.
THERE'S APPROXIMATELY 11, $11.3 MILLION ALLOCATED TO THIS.
WE HAVE A MID-MARCH APPLICATION REQUESTS AND A MID APRIL APPLICATION DEADLINE.
MAXIMUM FUNDING AMOUNT IS $750,000, BUT WE CAN'T ASK FOR WAIVERS UP TO A MILLION.
UM, OUR SECOND SET ASIDE IS COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT.
THIS IS OUR FALL FACILITIES ROUND.
UM, WE USUALLY DO THINGS IN HERE LIKE DEMOLITION PROJECTS, UM, EXPANSION OF LIBRARIES, DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS, UM, TRANSPORTATION ORIENTED PUBLIC FACILITIES.
WE CAN PURCHASE FIRE TRUCKS OR DO FIRE SUBSTATIONS AND PUBLIC FACILITY MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITIES THAT SERVE A MAJORITY LOW TO MODERATE INCOME CLIENTELE.
UM, SO WE CAN'T DO MODIFICATIONS.
NOT THAT YOU NEED IT TO YOUR BEAUTIFUL TOWN HALL.
[00:35:01]
UM, THERE'S A MAXIMUM HERE, UH, FUNDING AMOUNT OF $500,000, UM, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF STREETSCAPE PROJECTS WHERE WE CAN ASK FOR UP TO $750,000.UM, WE ALSO HAVE A SPECIAL PROJECT SET ASIDE.
THIS IS ALSO A FALL ROUND, UM, WITH A MID AUGUST REQUESTS AND MID SEPTEMBER FULL APPLICATION DEADLINE, UM, WHERE WE CAN DO, UM, SMALLER, INNOVATIVE PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, UM, PARKS TRAILS, AND GREEN WAYS.
AND THE MAXIMUM IN THIS PROGRAM NOW HAS BEEN BUMPED TO $250,000 OR IN THIS PROJECT, IT IS IN, OKAY, OUR FINAL FALL ROUND THAT WE'VE WON DISCUSSES NEIGHBORHOOD VIEW REVITALIZATION.
THERE IS A $1 MILLION SET ASIDE FOR THIS PROGRAM.
AGAIN, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER DEADLINES, UM, WITH THIS LIKE YOUR GOATEE SHELTER PROJECT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AND WE GO IN AND WE ADDRESS ALL THE ISSUES OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THIS COULD MEAN INFRASTRUCTURE ITEMS. IT COULD MEAN DEMOLITION.
IT COULD MEAN SOME LIMITED HOUSING, UM, REHABILITATION.
IT COULD MEAN SOME SMALL PUBLIC SERVICE, UM, THINGS LIKE CRIME WATCH PROGRAMS, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
OUR MAXIMUM FUNDING AMOUNT HERE IS $500,000.
EXCEPT IF INFRASTRUCTURE IS ONE OF YOUR ACTIVITIES.
UM, WE'VE COME TO REALIZE IN RECENT YEARS THAT WHEN WE'RE DOING WATER SEWER DRAINAGE, THAT A $500,000 PROJECT, THAT PARTICULAR ACTIVITY CAN EAT UP A BUDGET QUICKLY.
UM, SO THEY HAVE ALLOWED US TO GO UP TO $750,000 FOR A PROJECT.
IF WE'RE INCLUDING THAT ACTIVITY.
UM, THE REMAINING SET ASIDE HERE IS READY TO GO.
THIS IS OUR NON-COMPETITIVE SET ASIDE.
WE BASICALLY MAKE AN APPLICATION 30 DAYS AFTER A REQUEST, AND IT CAN BE FOR ANYTHING THAT WE DO IN COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE OR COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT, BUT WE ONLY CAN APPLY FOR UP TO $500,000.
AND BASICALLY WE HAVE TO HAVE ALL OF OUR ACTIVITIES DONE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW, OUR DESIGN WORK, OUR PERMITTING WORK, BUT FOR HAVING A CHECK IN YOUR HAND, YOU COULD BID THE PROJECT AND DO IT TOMORROW IS HOW THAT WORKS.
UM, SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE BASICALLY, AS IT SAYS, EVERYTHING READY TO GO, ALL OF OUR NATIONAL OBJECT IS WE HAVE TO MEET ONE OF THE THREE.
WE EITHER HAVE TO BENEFIT LOW TO MODERATE INCOME PERSONS.
WE HAVE TO AID IN THE PREVENTION OF SLUM AND BLIGHT, OR WE HAVE TO MEET AN URGENT COMMUNITY NEED.
AND AGAIN, AS ALWAYS, THERE'S A 10% MATCH REQUIREMENT ON ALL PROJECTS.
IF A HEAD WAS TO GET THAT, UM, SOME OF THE SCORING HAS CHANGED SLIGHTLY IN RECENT YEARS, WE GET BONUS POINTS.
IF OUR PROJECTS ARE IN OPPORTUNITY ZONES.
UM, AND WE ALSO HAVE PERFORMANCE THRESHOLDS, WHICH WE'VE ALWAYS HAD.
YOU CAN HAVE NO MORE THAN THREE OR TWO OPEN AND ACTIVE PROJECTS, NOT INCLUDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS OR REGIONAL PLANNING PROJECTS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO APPLY IT MOST.
SO IF YOU HAVE TWO OPEN PROJECTS AND THEY'RE NOT OVER 30 MONTHS, UM, YOU DON'T HAVE MORE THAN ONE NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT.
YOU DON'T HAVE MORE THAN ONE READY TO GO PROJECT, AND YOU DON'T HAVE MORE THAN ONE PROJECT THIS IN THE SAME GENERAL AREA, UNLESS IT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION, YOU CAN APPLY FOR ANOTHER PROJECT RIGHT NOW, TOWN OF BLUFFTON DOES HAVE TWO OPEN ACTIVE PROJECTS.
UM, ONE OF THEM I THINK IS CLOSE TO OUR 30 MONTH THRESHOLD, SO WE REALLY NEED TO GET IT CLOSED AND THEN WE'LL BE IN GOOD SHAPE TO MAKE ANOTHER APPLICATION IN.
UM, ALSO BRIEFLY TO TALK ABOUT IT.
WE DO STILL HAVE OUR HOME CONSORTIUM, WHICH INCLUDES ALL OF OUR, UM, COMMUNITIES AND WE HAVE THREE OBJECTIVES OR THREE MAIN OBJECTIVES RIGHT NOW, REHABILITATION OF SUBSTANDARD HOUSING, INCREASING EQUITY, ACCESSIBILITY TO ADEQUATE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SUPPORTING DEVELOPMENT AND AVAILABILITY OF SAFETY AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, WE DO ASK OUTSIDE OF YOUR RANKING THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THESE OBJECTIVES OR ANY ADDITIONAL OBJECTIVES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE US TO CONSIDER IN OUR ACTION PLAN PROCESS, WHICH WE DO IN APRIL, UM, TO CONTACT BARBARA JOHNSON AND OUR OFFICE ABOUT THAT, THAT WOULD BE THE END OF MY FORMAL PRESENTATION.
I'M SORRY, I'M TRYING TO GO FAST.
IT'S ALWAYS HAVE QUESTIONS WHEN YOU COME.
SO IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER THEM.
AND I THINK THAT STAFF HAS A, UM, RECOMMENDATION
[00:40:01]
FOR RANKING BECAUSE I KNOW Y'ALL USUALLY DO THAT ON THE SAME NIGHT, WHETHER YOU DO THIS YEAR OR FURTHER DOWN IN YOUR AGENDA.NO, I WAS JUST ASKING IF WE HAD THE RECOMMENDATION FOR RANKING, BUT WE'LL GET IT.
YOU ASK A QUESTION, ASK THEM, OH, WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE, I THINK IT WAS, UH, UP TO A MILLION DOLLARS OR HALF A MILLION OR SOMETHING FOR HISTORICAL STRUCTURES.
IT'S WELL, IT'S 250,000 FOR THAT'S IN SPECIAL PROJECTS.
DOES THAT HAVE TO BE IN A LIM AREA? IT HAS TO BE EITHER IN A LOW TO MODERATE INCOME COMMUNITY OR THE STRUCTURE HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT ONCE IT'S STABILIZED WOULD BENEFIT A LOW TO MODERATE INCOME GROUP.
I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS OVER THE YEARS WITH, UH, A COUPLE OF HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT BUILDINGS THAT THE TOWN HAS.
LIKE I THINK AT ONE TIME WE TALKED ABOUT MAYBE THE HAYWARD HOUSE.
I KNOW Y'ALL USE THAT AS A VISITOR CENTER, THAT'S KIND OF A GENERAL PURPOSE.
IT WOULD BE HARD TO MAKE THAT FIT UNDER THAT, UM, UMBRELLA.
UM, THE, THE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE DONE JUST AS INFORMATION OR THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FUNDED HAS BEEN TYPICALLY, WE'VE GOTTEN AN AFRICA, OUR FUNDING RECEIVED FUNDING FOR A ROSENWALD SCHOOL, UM, IN HAMPTON COUNTY, IN A COMMUNITY THAT'S MAJORITY LOADED MODEL, UM, TO STABILIZE THAT BUILDING IT'S ONE OF THE LAST ONES LEFT STANDING IN OUR REGION.
AND THEN WE HAD ANOTHER OLDER SCHOOL BUILDING THAT WAS, I THINK 120 YEARS OLD, UM, IN ACTUALLY IN THE TOWN OF RIDGELAND.
BUT THAT PROJECT WAS TERMINATED FOR CONVENIENCE BECAUSE THERE WAS A CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATION AND A CHANGE IN A DECISION AS TO HOW THEY WERE GOING TO USE THE BUILDING.
I HAVE A QUESTION, UM, SHELL, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING ALL THE WAY HERE TO DO THIS, THE, THE HOME FUN, UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE WATCHED THE NUMBERS COME OUT EVERY YEAR AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIMITED IN THE SENSE THAT THERE'S NOT THAT MUCH FUNDING ALLOCATED, UM, FROM UP ABOVE, DOWN THROUGH.
AND I THINK IT MAY MAYBE FOUR HOUSES A YEAR, ONE IN EACH COUNTY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S MORE THAN FOUR, BUT IT'S NOT A LOT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE MONEY BECAUSE THERE, AND THERE'S A BIG NEED AND THERE ARE SOME CONSTRAINTS THAT WE HAVE AS FAR AS THE PROGRAM IN TERMS OF WHAT QUALIFIES AS A HOUSE THAT WE CAN WORK ON.
SO YEAH, THE REASON I'M BRINGING IT UP IS I'M JUST CURIOUS, THE ARPA FUNDS AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN COMING DOWN THE PIPE.
UM, IS THERE ANY INCREASE IN THE ARPA FUNDS THAT THE REGION AT THE CONSORTIUM IS RECEIVING FOR THE REGION? I THINK TOTAL, ROUGHLY $2 MILLION IN PROJECT FUNDS.
UM, BUT THEY ARE VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT WE CAN USE THEM FOR.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS, UM, HOUSING ISSUES RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS.
SO THAT MEANS WE'D HAVE TO BE DOING CONGREGATE HOUSING OR NON CONGREGATE HOUSING SHELTERS, OR NON CONGREGATE HOUSING OR OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT WILL PREVENT HOMELESSNESS OR, OR HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE AT RISK OF BEING HOMELESS, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IN OUR REGULAR PROGRAM, WHICH IS PRIMARILY OWNER OCCUPIED, SINGLE FAMILY REHAB.
AND THEN WITH OUR COMMUNITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS, LIKE OUR HABITAT GROUPS, UM, PROVIDING MONEY FOR MATERIALS, FOR THEM TO DO NEW CONSTRUCTION HOUSING, THOSE HAVE BEEN THE MAIN ACTIVITIES THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IN THE REGULAR HOME SET ASIDE FOR, FOR AWHILE.
IF THERE WAS, UM, A PRIVATE HOMEOWNER THAT FALL INTO THE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME AND TO HAVE ONE OF THOSE HISTORICAL STRUCTURES, THAT'S THE TOWN LIMITED IN OUR HISTORIC, UM, UM, COMMUNITY.
SO THEY COME TO YOU FOR HELP OR DO OR DO THEY COME TO US TO GET TO YOU? THEY, THEY COME FROM A NUMBER OF WAYS.
I MEAN, SOMETIMES THEY COME THROUGH TOWN STAFF OR BOARD MEMBERS OR COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE HAD A CALL FROM A CONSIDERED STITCHER TO SAY, HEY, I HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH MY HOUSE.
SOMETIMES THEY CALL US DIRECTLY SOMETIMES BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE ARE ELDERLY.
IT MAY BE THAT WE GET A CALL THROUGH OUR HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THEN ASSESSMENTS DONE.
AND WHILE THAT, UM, DEPARTMENT HAS A MINOR REPAIR PROGRAM WHERE THEY MIGHT CAN GO IN AND DO A RAMP OR, OR FIX A BATHROOM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEY CAN'T FIX EVERYTHING.
SO THEY MAY REFER THEM OVER TO US.
UM, SO THEY COME FROM ANY NUMBER OF
[00:45:01]
WAYS.SOMETIMES IT'S SOMEONE DOWN THE, YOU KNOW, MRS. SMITH DOWN THE ROAD HAD HER HOUSE DONE.
I TALKED TO A LADY LAST WEEK, HER NEIGHBOR DOWN THE ROAD HAD HAD HER HOUSE DONE AND SHE WANTED TO KNOW HOW SHE COULD GET HERS DONE.
I MEAN, SIMPLE THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND ARE YOU FINE THEN WE'LL CALL ON YOU.
LIKE, IS THAT TOO? SHOULD THEY CALL US? AND WE COME BACK TO YOU BECAUSE IF THEY CALL Y'ALL, THE EASIEST THING WOULD DO TO DO WOULD BE, HAVE THEM CALL US DIRECTLY RATHER THAN YOU BE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.
YOU KNOW? SO THAT, THAT KIND OF TAKES YOU OUT OF IT.
ONCE YOU, ONCE YOU GET A CALL LIKE THAT, JUST GIVE THEM OUR NUMBER.
IF YOU COME AND MAKE THE PRESENTATION.
I KNOW I LOOK AT IT EXCEPT I'VE SEEN IT SO MANY TIMES THAT PEOPLE THINK IT'S MONEY OUT THERE.
BUT AGAIN, IT HAS TO GO THROUGH THE TOWN, RIGHT? WELL, IT HAS TO BE LMR AN INCOME LEVEL.
WELL, WITH CDBG, IT GOES THROUGH THE TOWN BECAUSE THE TOWN IS THE GRANTEE.
BUT WITH HOME PROGRAM FUNDS LIKE MR. HAMILTON WAS TALKING ABOUT, UM, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS DONE DIRECTLY THROUGH US.
UM, BECAUSE WE'RE DOING SCATTERED SITE THROUGHOUT THE FOUR COUNTY REGION.
IT'S NOT REALLY A TOWN OR A COUNTY THAT SIGNING THAT, UM, B FOR COUNTY THROUGH IS OUR LEAD INTO THE SIGNS.
THERE'S HOMEOWNER AGREEMENTS WITH THE HOMEOWNERS.
SO WE COULD BE DOING A HOUSE IN BLUFFTON.
I THINK WE HAVE, I MEAN, I KNOW WE HAVE BEFORE, BUT WE CAN BE DOING A HOUSE IN BLUFFTON, BUT THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON WOULDN'T NECESSARILY SIGN ANYTHING.
NOW IT MAY BE THAT THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON IS TALKING WITH US ABOUT IT, BECAUSE IF IT'S SOMEBODY MAYBE THAT CAME THROUGH THEIR PROGRAM OR THEY RECEIVED FUNDING THROUGH YOUR NAP PROGRAM, THAT WE MAY HAVE SOME DISCUSSIONS.
WHAT ABOUT, UM, PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOVED IN THE AREA, I'M JUST GOING TO THROW OUT ABOUT COLLIN, JUST PUT BUCK, COLLIN, ALL THEM, BUT WE'VE DONE A LOT OF THE SEWER THERE AND IT'S ALREADY IN NOW WE HAVE A NEW FAMILY THAT'S MOVED INTO A HOME AND THEIR INCOME'S LESS THAN MAYBE THE PEOPLE BEFORE THEM THAT DIDN'T QUALIFY.
HOW DO WE GO BACK? AND IS THAT A TOWN INITIATIVE TO GO BACK AND DOUBLE-CHECK OR HOW DO YOU HANDLE SOME LIKE THAT WITH LATERALS AND TAP INS AND THINGS? THE PROBLEM WITH THE LATERALS AND THE TAPPINGS IS, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE DOING A PROJECT AND THEY MOVE IN, WHEN WE'RE DOING THE PROJECT AND WE CAN CAPTURE THEM AND THEIR INCOME QUALIFYING, THEN YES, THE GRANT WILL PAY FOR THE LATERAL UP TO THEIR HOUSE.
UM, B FOR JASPER CAN NOT CHARGE US A FEE TO CONNECT THEM.
I THINK THEY, THEY DON'T WAIVE FEES BECAUSE THEY'LL TELL YOU THAT THEY DON'T WAIT FEES, BUT IT'S WORKED OUT, UM, IN A MANNER SO THAT THE GRANT'S NOT PAYING BUFORD JASPER THREE OR $4,000 TO SOMEBODY.
BUT COLLATERAL AND ALL, BUT, UH, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
I KNEW THAT, BUT, BUT IN CASE, IN THE CASE OF YOUR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD OUT THERE WHERE MAYBE, MAYBE THE HOUSE WAS VACANT, SO WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO IT.
SOMEBODY MOVES IN IT, UM, THEY'RE INCOME QUALIFIED, BUT THE CONTRACTORS LEFT, THE PROJECT CLOSED AND ALL THAT REALLY, THERE'S NOT A WAY FOR US TO DO THAT, UM, HOME IF THEIR INCOME QUALIFYING, UM, AND THEY HAVE THINGS THAT THEY NEED DONE TO THEIR HOUSE.
BEYOND THAT, BEYOND RUNNING A LINE TO THE HOUSE, IT MAY BE THAT THERE WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING LIKE SAY THE HOUSE NEEDED SOME WORK.
MAYBE IT NEEDED A ROOM, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHERE IF WE GO IN AND WE TOUCH IT, WE'VE GOT TO TOUCH EVERYTHING.
BUT IF IT'S JUST SOMEBODY MOVING IN AND THEY JUST DON'T QUITE MAKE THE LIMIT, UM, THEY TYPICALLY THEY HAVE TO WORK THAT OUT WOULD BE FOR JASPER, UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING THAT Y'ALL DO LOCALLY WITH SO MUCH THAT WE'VE DONE.
I JUST KNOW THERE ARE SOME CRACKS AND MOVED DOWN.
ANYTHING ELSE FOR MICHELLE QUESTION ONE I CAN ASK.
SO WE'RE, WE HAVE A BIG INITIATIVE RIGHT NOW WITH THE CAMPGROUND, UM, WHICH ACTUALLY IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
AND IT'S, IT'S A PARTNERSHIP WITH BUFORD JASPER, THE COUNTY AND THE TOWN PEOPLE LIVE IN THERE.
I WOULD THINK MAJORITY WOULD FALL UNDER THAT THEY'RE CAMPERS, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO PUT SEWER THERE TO, HOW WOULD YOU FIT INTO THIS? IS THAT, UM, STONY CREEK I WAS FIXING TO SAY, IS THAT STONY CREEK, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR 15 YEARS.
WELL, I MEAN, BUFORD COUNTY HAS TALKED TO US ABOUT THAT BEFORE, AND THAT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT WE COULD ROLL UP AND DISCUSS WITH THE STATES.
[00:50:01]
HAVE NO DOUBT BECAUSE I THINK I RODE BY THERE.I WENT AND LOOKED AT IT ONE TIME AFTER THE DISCUSSION ORIGINALLY CAME UP.
I DON'T REALLY THINK, I THINK IT WOULD DEFINITELY QUALIFY.
UM, THE QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT THE STATE WILL ACCEPT THAT THOSE ARE PERMANENT RESIDENCES AND THAT'S WHERE THE DISCUSSION HAS TO BE HAD, BECAUSE I MEAN, I, I MEAN, I KNOW THEY'RE PERMANENT RESIDENCES, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THEY COULD BE PULLED OUT AND MOVED OFF.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE THE ISSUE COMES IN THERE, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WITH THEM.
WE'LL GET MR. TO GET WITH YOU.
AND AT LEAST KNOW THAT THE TOWN IS EQUALLY AS INTERESTED AS THE COUNTY.
SO MAYBE WE CAN ALL MEET TOGETHER AS, AND THEN THERE'VE BEEN A FEW OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT PROBABLY JUST BORDER THE TOWN.
I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT DEVIN WOOD BEFORE, OFF OF BURKE.
I THINK HE'S OFF OF BURNT CHURCH ROAD, OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD MIGHT BE A LITTLE DONUT HOLE.
AND I ACTUALLY HAD A CALL, UM, AND DISCUSS THIS WITH THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, UM, FROM AN AREA THAT I THINK IS A DONUT HOLE TOO.
AND I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE, OF THE AREA, BUT IT'S A DONUT HOLE OFF A BUCK ON SIMMONS ADVIL.
THERE'S SEVERAL THAT JUST DIDN'T GET IT.
SO WE HAVE LAST YEAR, THANK YOU.
LAST YEAR WE PRIORITIZED FOUR AREAS.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE BOTTOM, ONE'S NOT GOING TO GET ATTENTION, BUT WE JUST HAVE TO DO THIS.
AND WE'VE BEEN PRETTY CONSISTENT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.
THE RANKING OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS HAS BEEN INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING STORMWATER AND DRAINAGE, TRANSPORTATION AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME, RESIDENTIAL REHAB AND RESTORATION OF PROPERTIES OR FACILITIES.
UM, THAT WAS OUR RANKING LAST YEAR.
SARAH CHANGE DO Y'ALL WANT TO MAKE A CHANGE ON THAT? IF NOT, I'LL ASK IF Y'ALL WANT TO MAKE A MOTION OF RANKING THE SAME WAY EVERYONE HAPPY WITH THAT RANKING.
UH, I GOT TO PUT MY AFLOAT BY HAT.
HOW, UM, CAP ON, I THINK I LIKE TO SEE ONE OF THE LAST TWO, EITHER FOOTBALL HOUSING FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME OR RESIDENTIAL.
YOU HAVE THE MOVED UP IN THE RANKS TO MAKE THAT MOTION BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE ALL IMPORTANT.
SO, UM, WE, HOW ABOUT, IS THERE A MOTION TO, UM, KEEP THE SAME RANKING, BUT MOVE, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND RESIDENTIAL REHAB TO TWO AND THREE AND PUT TRANSPORTATION AS FOR, WOULD THAT HELP Y'ALL IS THAT WELL, YOU'D HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, RESIDENTIAL REHAB, TRANSPORTATION, AND PEDESTRIAN THEN RESTORATION OF PROPERTIES OR FACILITIES.
THE ONE THAT SAYS SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
I DON'T SEE, OH, I'M LOOKING AT THE OLD PUB.
SO Y'ALL HAVE A DIFFERENT CLASS, BUT ARE THESE THE RIGHT THING OR THEY JUST ARE NOT AS SPECIFIC.
THEY'RE ALL CONSIDERED EQUALLY IMPORTANT.
THE IMPORTANT, NOT GOING TO SAY WE'RE ONLY GOING TO GO AFTER THIS, NOR THIS, WHEN THEY'RE ALL OUR TOP, THEY'RE ALL ALREADY.
I DO HEAR YOU, BUT WE'VE NEVER, EVER BEEN TOLD THAT BEFORE THAT WE'VE ALWAYS RANKED THEM.
AND THE REASON THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS TYPICALLY BEEN THREE OR FOUR IS BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THERE ARE VERY LITTLE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CDBG PROGRAM TO PURSUE HOUSING ACTIVITIES.
THERE ARE USUALLY MONITORED THINGS CONNECTED TO A BIGGER PROJECT BECAUSE CDBG DOES NOT VIEW HOUSING ANYMORE AS A MAJOR, BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE IT.
IF SOMETHING WAS ON ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS, SHE TALKED ABOUT, WE WOULDN'T SAY, OH, LIST NUMBER THREE.
WE'RE NOT GOING AFTER IT BECAUSE THAT'S IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN OF OUR MISSION.
IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME HOW THEY'RE RANKED.
I KNOW THEY KNOW HOW WE, I THINK THEY'RE RANKED PRETTY WELL AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED WITH THE, I MEAN, NOT SAYING IT TO FORT THAT I LIKED THE TRANSPORTATION, PEDESTRIAN SAFETY TO STAY IN THE TOP TWO, BECAUSE THAT AFFECTS EVERYONE.
AND NOT JUST ONE SMALL AREA, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IT'S, IT'S, UM, WHATEVER Y'ALL WANT.
I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO RANK THEM OR NOT.
I'M UNDER THE IMPRESSION I HEARD THAT THEY ALL HAVE EQUAL WEIGHT.
NO, WE PULLED THE WORD WE NEED TO RANK THEM.
[00:55:01]
UM, I APOLOGIZE.IT WAS, UM, I SAY MOVE THREE AND FOUR UP IN REPLACE OF TRANSPORTATION AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY MONITOR, NUMBER FOUR.
SO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION WOULD BECOME TWO AND THREE.
SO, SO A COMPROMISE WOULD BE TO MOVE IT UP, PUT TRANSPORTATION IN THE MIDDLE AND KEEP IT AS THE TOP THREE.
BASED ON THE, UM, THE SURVEY, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY TRANSPORTATION AND THOSE TYPE OF ITEMS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING WERE THE TOP TWO ITEMS. YES.
SO WOULD, Y'ALL BE OKAY TO RANK TWO.
SO I HAVE TO INFRASTRUCTURE DOWN TO NUMBER THREE, SLIDE THE OTHER TWO, TYPICALLY THE TOP TWO.
I MEAN, IF YOU DO WATER AND SEWER IN AN AREA MORE THAN LIKELY GOING TO DO SIDEWALKS AT THE SAME TIME WHILE YOU'RE IN THERE.
ANYWAY, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND WE CAN'T USE THIS TYPE OF STUFF IN THE MIDDLE OF OLD TOWN OR ANYTHING WHERE IT DOESN'T QUALIFY ANYWAY, SO, OKAY.
SO IS THERE A, IS THERE A MOTION TO RANK THE FOLLOWING WAY? UM, TRANSPORTATION AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, RESIDENTIAL REHAB, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, AND RESTORATION OF PROPERTIES OR FACILITIES.
ANY DISCUSSION EVERYTHING'S STILL IMPORTANT TO US.
WE JUST HAVE TO PUT A NUMBER BY IT.
ANY DISCUSSION ALL IN FAVOR, STEP OF SAYING AYE.
YOU'LL HAVE IT CLEAR NEXT YEAR.
I JUST 15 YEARS OF THIS, I KNEW WE HAD TO RANK THEM.
WHO IS A D I JUST LOST MY, HOLD ON.
[IX.2. Consideration of an Ordinance Approving the Annexation of an Approximately 9.27 Acre Town Owned Property Located at 115 Bluffton Road and Identified by Beaufort County Tax Map No. R601 039 000 0050 0000 via the 100% Petition and Ordinance Method into the Town of Bluffton Corporate Limits (ANNX-08-21-015741) – Public Hearing & Final Reading – Kevin Icard, Director of Growth Management]
NEXT WE ARE, IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND FINAL READING ON ITEM.NUMBER TWO, CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ANNEXATION OF APPROXIMATELY 9.27 ACRE TOWN OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT ONE 15 BLOCK ROAD AND IDENTIFIED BY THE TEXT NUMBER ON THE AGENDA.
THIS IS PUBLIC HEARING AND FINAL READING.
I WILL CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT LIKES TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM AT PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME, SECOND READING FOR ANYONE WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK AT PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM, THIRD AND FINAL CALL FOR WHOMEVER WOULD LIKE TO COME SPEAK AT PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ONE.
ITEM, PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
AND IF YOU COULD, UH, SO ITEMS TWO AND THREE ON YOUR AGENDA, THE PRESENTATION IS TOGETHER.
SO IF YOU COULD DO A PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM THREE AS WELL, PLEASE.
I WOULD HAVE DONE IT RIGHT THERE, BUT THAT'S PERFECT.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON NIGHT
[IX.3. Consideration of an Ordinance Approving an Amendment to the Town of Bluffton Zoning Map to Incorporate and Designate Certain Real Property Owned by the Town of Bluffton, Consisting of Approximately 9.27 Acres, More or Less, Located at 115 Bluffton Road and Identified as Beaufort County Tax Map No. R600 039 000 0050 0000, as General Mixed-Use Zoning (ZONE-08-21-015740) - Public Hearing & Final Reading - Kevin Icard, Director of Growth Management]
NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS THE ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON ZONING MAP TO INCORPORATE AND DESIGNATE CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 9.27 ACRES ON ONE 15 BLUFFTON ROAD.IS THERE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? SECOND CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM, THIRD AND FINAL CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEMS. PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
UH, SO, UH, THIS WAS PRESENTED AT THE DECEMBER 14TH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING.
UH, THE, THERE ARE NO CHANGES EXCEPT FOR, UH, YOU HAD REQUESTED THAT THAT SOUTH CAROLINA RIGHT OF WAY AREA WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN THE MAP.
SO, UH, THAT, UH, PORTION HAS BEEN INCLUDED.
UM, AND THEN IF YOU SO CHOOSE, I'M HAPPY TO DO THE PRESENTATION AGAIN, IF NOT, I'VE GOT THE TWO MOTIONS UP HERE FOR YOU ON YOUR SCREEN, ANYBODY WHO HAS NEED FOR ANY OTHER ANSWERS TO HIS QUESTIONS, ANYBODY NEED ANYTHING ELSE, KEVIN, BUT NOW THANK YOU.
UNLESS YOU CAN SHIFT, I GOT 40 SLIDES BACK THERE FOR YOU.
UM, SO ON ITEM NUMBER TWO, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE SECOND AND FINAL READING OF THE ORDINANCE APPROVING THE ANNEXATION OF AN APPROXIMATELY 9.27 ACRE TOWN OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT ONE 15 BLUFFTON ROAD AND IDENTIFIED BY THE BEAVER COUNTY TAX MAP HAS SHOWN WITH VIA THE 100% PETITION, AN ORDINANCE METHOD INTO THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON CORPORATE LIMITS.
THERE A SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION, ALL IN FAVOR, STEP OF SAYING AYE.
OPPOSED NUMBER THREE, DO Y'ALL NEED ANY MORE INFORMATION ON NUMBER THREE, NOT AS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE SECOND AND FINAL READING OF THE ORDINANCE, APPROVING A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT TO DESIGNATE CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 9.27 ACRES, MORE OR LESS LOCATED AT ONE 15 BLUFFTON ROAD AND IDENTIFIED BY THE TAX MAP LISTED AS GENERAL MIXED USE ZONING THERE A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION ALL IN FAVOR, STEP OF SAYING AYE.
[01:00:01]
MUCH.FOR THAT NEXT WE HAVE FORMAL AGENDA.
[X.1. Consideration of an Ordinance Amending the Town of Bluffton Fiscal Year 2022 Budget to Provide for the Expenditures of Certain Funds and to Allocate Sources of Revenue for the Said Funds – Second and Final Reading - Chris Forster, Assistant Town Manager Finance and Administration]
IS CONSIDERATION OF THE ORDINANCE AMENDING THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON 2022 BUDGET TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPENDITURES OF CERTAIN FUNDS AND TO ALLOCATE SOURCES OF REVENUE FOR SAID FUNDS.THIS IS THE SECOND READING AS WELL.
THERE WERE NO ADDITIONS OR ANY CORRECTIONS THAT NEEDED TO BE MADE ON FIRST READING.
THE ONLY, THE ONLY CHANGE WAS IT INADVERTENTLY THE, UM, MONEY FROM HARGRAVE WAS NOTED AS UTILITY TAX CREDITS, BUT IT WAS NOT, IT WAS A, IT WAS A PURE COMMUNITY DONATION.
AND THAT'S FINE TO CHANGE WITHOUT.
ANY QUESTIONS OF MRS. CHRIS? GLAD YOU'RE STEPPING IN FOR HIM.
AND IF I CAN GO TO IT, UNLESS I CAN REALLY GET TO IT, IS THERE A MOTION TO, UM, CONSIDER THE ORDINANCE AMENDING THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGET TO PROVIDE FOR EXPENDITURES FOR CERTAIN FUNDS AND TO ALLOCATE SOURCES OF REVENUE FOR SAID FUNDS THERE SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, STEP OF SAYING AYE.
[X.2. Consideration of an Intergovernmental Agreement between Beaufort County and the Town of Bluffton for the Purpose of Imposition and Collection, at the Time of Issuance of a Building Permit, of School Development Impact Fees on all New Residential Development within The Town – Heather Colin, Assistant Town Manager]
TWO, CONSIDERATION OF AN INNER GREW UP IN THE MIDDLE AGREEMENT BETWEEN BUFORD COUNTY AND THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPOSITION AND COLLECTION AT THE TIME OF ISSUANCE, A BUILDING PERMIT OF SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT, IMPACT FEES ON ALL NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, HEATHER.THANK YOU BY YOURSELF TONIGHT.
PARDON? YOU'RE BUYING YOUR SON BY MYSELF.
SO THIS IS THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT, UM, BETWEEN THE TOWN AND BUFORD COUNTY FOR THE COLLECTION OF SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES ONLY.
SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND PRIOR TO 2016, WE, THERE WAS NO ABILITY TO, UM, TO CHARGE AN IMPACT FEE FOR SCHOOLS.
SO THAT CAME ABOUT IN 2016, THE CHANGES TO THE ACT WERE MADE THAT, YOU KNOW, SALARIES COULD INPUT, NOT MUNICIPALITIES, BUT THAT, UM, HE COULD BE IMPOSED FOR CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH ARE LISTED THERE FROM THE LOSS LOSS FORWARD TO JULY, 2020 TISCHLER BICE, UH, WAS CONTRACTED TO CONDUCT A SCHOOL IMPACT FEE, STUDYING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
AND THAT'S WHERE YOU'VE HEARD ME DO PRESENTATIONS ON THIS BEFORE AND WITH THE COUNTY WHERE THOSE NEEDS ARE IDENTIFIED AND THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AND ALL OF THAT DATA WAS COLLECTED.
AND, UM, THEY DID ALL THAT BACKGROUND WORK.
THE IMPACT OF THE ORDINANCE ITSELF IS ACTUALLY A BUFORD COUNTY ORDINANCE.
THERE'S NO ACTION ON THE ACTUAL ORDINANCE FROM TOWN COUNCIL, BUT THE DATES FOR BUFORD COUNTY ARE LISTED THERE.
THEIR EFFECTIVE DATE WAS JUNE 28TH, 2021 FOR THE SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES.
UM, AND THEN FAST FORWARD TO, TO YOU AND TOWN COUNCIL, YOU INITIALLY DID CONSIDER THE INTERNET INTER-GOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BACK IN MAY OF 11TH OF LAST YEAR WITH SOME CONDITIONS.
AGAIN, THIS IS KIND OF WHERE EVERYTHING STEMS FROM, UM, THIS PLAN.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, I KNOW DR.
RODRIGUEZ AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AS WELL AS THE COUNTY WERE HERE LAST MONTH, UM, TO GO THROUGH SOME OF THOSE IN MORE DETAIL, THIS IS THAT STUDY AREA.
IF YOU RECALL, IN THE PLAN, UM, THE SOUTH OF THE BROAD SERVICE AREA WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE AREA THAT WOULD CHARGE THOSE SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES.
SO YOU'LL SEE ON THAT MAP, THE SOUTH, THAT ENCOMPASSES, OBVIOUSLY THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, UNINCORPORATED BUFORD COUNTY PORTIONS OF THE CITY OF HARTVILLE, AS WELL AS THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
AND THIS IS THE AREA THAT THE FEES ARE COLLECTED AND ALSO WHERE THE FEES ARE USED FOR THOSE SCHOOL IMPACT FEES.
AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY BEING COLLECTED FOR UNINCORPORATED BUFORD COUNTY.
ONLY AT THIS TIME IN THAT REPORT, THESE ARE THE PROPOSED PROJECTS THAT THE FEES WOULD BE USED TO CONSTRUCT AND BUILD.
SOME OF THOSE ALREADY HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.
UH, WHEN I DID TALK TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ABOUT, WELL, WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN FOR THE CALCULATION? UM, BASED ON THE, UH, ESTIMATE THAT THEY'VE CALCULATED AND THE ANTICIPATED GROWTH, THEY WOULD STILL BE, UM, SHORT SOME OF THOSE FUNDS.
SO THEY BELIEVED IT WOULD NOT AFFECT THE FEES.
THESE ARE THOSE FEES THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.
UM, SHOULD YOU APPROVE THE INTER-GOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT? THE FEES THAT WOULD BE COLLECTED AND CHARGED WOULD BE AT THE TIME OF BUILDING PERMIT, APPLICATION, NEW SINGLE FAMILY UNITS.
UH, YOU CAN SEE THAT NUMBER THERE AND THEN MULTIFAMILY WOULD BE CHARGED A LITTLE BIT OVER $4,500 AND THAT'S FOR ALL NEW UNITS.
SO REPLACEMENT WOULD NOT BE CHARGED THAT FEE.
[01:05:01]
QUESTION PILLAR CLARIFY, RIGHT NOW THAT FEE IS 3,500, RIGHT.THIS IS NOT AS ADDED ONTO THE 30 THAT'S THERE NOW.
ALL THE CURRENT IMPACTS FEES THAT WE CURRENTLY ARE COLLECTING FOR.
SO THE TRANSPORTATION, UM, TRAFFIC, THE, UM, FIRE FEE, THINGS LIKE THAT, THOSE REMAIN THE SAME AT THIS POINT.
SO RIGHT NOW THIS IS ZERO FOR THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.
SO LIKE I SAID, BACK IN MAY, I DID PRESENT TO YOU THE INTER-GOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT, UM, BETWEEN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON AND BUFORD COUNTY, UH, PER THERE WERE SOME PROPOSED REVISIONS AT THAT TIME RELATED TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WHAT FEES WOULD BE COLLECTED.
UM, THOSE ARE THE TWO REVISIONS THAT YOU HAD REQUESTED ARE LISTED THERE ON THE SCREEN THAT ADDRESSED THOSE DIFFERENT INCOME CLASSIFICATIONS.
AFTER FURTHER DISCUSSION, UM, BUFORD COUNTY HAD INDICATED IN THEIR ATTORNEYS WITH DISCUSSIONS WITH TERRY FINGER, THE TOWN, UM, THE TOWN ATTORNEY THAT THE PROVISIONS FOR 60% BELOW AMI COULD BE WAVED THROUGH THEIR ORDINANCE.
AND HOWEVER, ANY ADDITIONAL WAIVERS AND REDUCTIONS WOULD HAVE TO COME FROM AN ALTERNATE FUNDING SOURCE IN THE, UM, AGREEMENT, THE DRAFT AGREEMENT THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACKET, THERE IS STILL THE PROVISION FOR THAT A 60% REDUCTION FOR 80% BELOW.
SO THAT IS STILL SOMETHING THAT IS RECOMMENDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AND DISCUSS WITH THE COUNTY TO, UM, MAINTAIN THE NEW AGREEMENT.
THERE'S ALSO MORE DESCRIPTION AS FAR AS ANY ADDITIONAL WAIVERS WE WOULD LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED.
HOWEVER, IT'S UNDERSTOOD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME FROM OTHER FUNDING SOURCES.
SO ANOTHER REQUEST THAT WE HAVE IS THAT WITHIN THE AGREEMENT THAT THERE'S AN EFFECTIVE DATE, THAT'S CAPTURED THERE, JUST, UM, WHAT IS PROPOSED IF APPROVED WOULD BE THE EARLY, NO EARLIER THAN APRIL 1ST.
AND THIS IS SIMPLY TO ALLOW FOR INFORMATIONAL AND PUBLIC NOTICE TO BE PROVIDED SO THAT WE CAN GET OUR PROCEDURES IN PLACE AND THAT WE COULD NOTIFY OUR APPLICANTS, OUR RESIDENTS, FUTURE RESIDENTS, UM, AND DEVELOPERS THAT THAT FEE IS COMING.
UM, OR THE BUFORD COUNTY WHEN THEIR ORDINANCE WAS ADOPTED, IT WAS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
SO ABSENT ANY ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE, UM, IF YOU WERE TO APPROVE IT, IT WOULD BE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A EXAMPLE OF PROPOSED RECOMMENDED MOTION, LIKE SAID THERE'S LOTS OF, UM, INFORMATION IN THAT REPORT.
AND IN THAT AGREEMENT THAT I'M HAPPY TO ADDRESS OR RICHARDSON THE BRUCE'S HERE CAN ASSIST WITH THE LEGAL LANGUAGE.
TERRY FINGER DID PULL THAT AGREEMENT TOGETHER.
AND LIKE I SAID, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, MR. HAMILTON, TWO READINGS ON HILTON HEAD OR HOLLY BOWL HAVE A CHANCE TO VOTE ON.
I BELIEVE THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD IS ANTICIPATING THAT TO BE LATER THIS MONTH AT A MEETING, HOWEVER, THE CITY OF HARDY HARTSVILLE HAD, DOES NOT HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED AT THIS TIME.
THAT WASN'T, THAT WAS SAID THAT WOULDN'T BE HAPPENING BEFORE LAST MONTH.
IT WAS TO BE HAPPENING RIGHT AROUND NOW.
AND I THINK HILTON HAD HAD THEIR FIRST MEETING AND THEY HAD A MEETING TODAY.
SO, UM, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR CLARITY CAUSE I DO WHATEVER WE DECIDE TO DO.
UM, AND THE COUNTY IS VERY FOCUSED ON IT.
THEY HAVE SAID, AND I'M GOING TO MAKE THIS SURE.
ANY ANNEXATIONS WE'LL GET CHARGED THAT FEE.
AND THAT IS A CURRENT, THAT'S A CURRENT PROVISION OF THE LAW THAT IF THEY WERE TO ANNEX IN, THEY STILL HAVE TO PAY THE FEES BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY THAT SCHOOL IMPACT FEE TODAY, VERSUS IF THEY'RE IN THE TOWN OF BLUFF BECAUSE THE COUNTY ORIGINALLY THE COUNTY.
I JUST WANTED TO FIGURE THAT OUT QUESTIONS.
AND I DO HAVE A QUESTION, UM, IN TERMS OF, IF WE WERE TO DENY THIS, WHAT, UM, FINANCIALLY WOULD BECOME THE RAMIFICATIONS AGAINST THE TOWN, UM, IN THAT, IN TERMS OF WHAT THE, THE IMPACT FEE WOULD BE, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND AND PURCHASING CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG OR FILL THIS IN, IS THAT THERE WOULDN'T, THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY IMPROVEMENTS OR PROJECTS WITHIN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON BECAUSE WE WOULD NOT BE COLLECTING ANY OF THE FEES WHERE THE FUNDING, IF THERE WERE TO BE IMPROVEMENTS WOULD COME FROM, I DO NOT KNOW.
I DON'T, I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARILY, IT'S NOT A PART OF STATE LAW OR THE ORDINANCE THAT THEY WOULDN'T DO ANY SORT OF IMPROVEMENTS IN THIS AREA.
ALTHOUGH THE IMPACT FEES DO NEED TO GO TO THE AREA IN WHICH THEY'RE COLLECTED.
I THINK THE IDEA IS THAT THESE, THESE FUNDS ARE NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOL SERVICES SOUTH ABROAD.
THAT'S THE COUNTY'S POSITION OF THE SCHOOL, THIS DISTRICT'S POSITION.
[01:10:01]
YOU KNOW, THE FINANCIAL RAMIFICATIONS, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THAT THE TOWN WILL THEN HAVE TO PROVIDE THAT DIFFERENCE, BUT IT'S, IT'S GOING TO BE WHETHER IT'S COMING FROM, UH, PAY SALES TAX OR OTHER REVENUE STREAMS. SO, UM, I THINK THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE, UH, CONSULTANTS HAVE RECOMMENDED THIS APPROACH.BECAUSE I HEAR THEIR, UM, WHAT THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS, BUT, UM, I JUST LIKE TO GO ON RECORD AND COMMENTING.
UM, I SEE THIS AS BEING A, WOULD BE A DIRECT, UM, ISSUE OR ANOTHER THING THAT PUSHES OUR COMMUNITY CURRENTLY, EVEN BELOW THE 80% MAJORITY HOURLY WORKER SERVICE IN THIS AREA, UM, WOULD DENY THEM THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD HOUSING BECAUSE THE CURRENT IMPACT FEES ARE A BIT MUCH FOR THEM.
SO TO, TO DOUBLE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY PUTS US, PUTS THEM IN DANGER.
AND I, I WOULDN'T, WOULDN'T BE IN FAVOR OF THAT.
DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING? OKAY, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
UM, AND FIRST OF ALL, MEG, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE BEEN DOING.
AND SHE'S BEEN REACHING OUT TO COUNCIL TO PUSH HER POINTS ACROSS, AND THEY'VE ALL BEEN HEARD.
UM, THIS HAS BEEN AGONIZING, NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE'VE DRAGGED THIS OUT FOR A LONG TIME AS A COUNCIL.
AND, UH, WE DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY TO INCREASE IMPACT FEE FUNDING FOR OUR CITIZENS IN ANY WAY.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS ALL RESONATES AGAIN ABOUT, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, ACT RADIATE STATE HOUSE PASSED OUT LAW YEARS AGO.
AND IT JUST, IT'S JUST PUT US ALL IN THIS CONUNDRUM THAT WE'RE IN.
AND, UH, SO THE, THE TAXING OF THE SUPPORT FOR SCHOOLS IS NOT THERE THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.
UM, SO PEOPLE HAVE TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENT SOMEHOW AS MR. RICHARDSON SAID THROUGH BONDS OR TAX INCREASES OR SOME WAY OR ANOTHER.
AND, AND WE'RE ALWAYS AT THE, UH, THE WILL OF THE VOTERS.
WHEN YOU ASK FOR A TAX INCREASE, YOU DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THAT, THAT IDEA OR NOT.
AND SO I FIND IT TO BE A TRUE CONUNDRUM, UM, THAT WE NOT ONLY HARM OUR CITIZENS WITH INCREASED COSTS FOR HOUSING, UH, BUT ALSO HARM TO OUR SCHOOLS.
IF WE DON'T TAKE THAT ADEQUATE STEPS TO FUND THEM PROPERLY.
UM, THAT BEING SAID, THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE AGREEMENT, IF I UNDERSTOOD THEM CORRECTLY, MR. RICHARDSON, MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME, YOU OR HEATHER.
WE HAD INDICATED THAT WE WANTED THE FIVE-YEAR REVIEW.
IS THAT IN WRITING IN THERE SOMEWHERE THAT WE KNOW THAT WE CAN HAVE A FIVE-YEAR REVIEW? I DON'T REMEMBER SEEING IT, LET ME LOOK THROUGH THAT JUST TO MAKE SURE MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE IN THE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO SUPPORT IT, THAT WE WANTED A FIVE-YEAR REVIEW.
AND WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS AND MAKE SURE IT IS WORKING FOR US AND WORKING FOR THEM AND WORKING FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THE SECOND PART OF IT THAT GIVES ME HEARTBURN, AND IT MAY HAVE BEEN CARRY OVER FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUAL THAT THE IMPACT FEES WOULD GO BACK ABOUT 14 OR 15 YEARS AGO AS WRITTEN.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WAS IN THERE OR NOT.
IT MIGHT'VE BEEN, BUT THE COUNTY HAS THE AUTHORITY TO INCREASE THE IMPACT FEE FUNDING AT THEIR LEISURE UP TO 50% WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM THE TOWN COUNCIL WHATSOEVER.
I WOULD, I WOULD NEVER GIVE AN OPEN-ENDED UP TO 50% INCREASE WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM THIS COUNCIL WHATSOEVER.
I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE TO COME BACK AND ASK US FOR THAT.
SO AS FAR AS THE POSITION OF AN IMPACT FEE, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A KELLY IMPACT FEE.
FACE OF COUNTY ULTIMATELY GETS TO SET IT'S SUBJECT TO THE INTER-GOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WHERE Y'ALL AGREED TO COLLECT IT AT THE TIME OF THE ISSUANCE OF A BUILDING PERMIT.
UH, LOOKING THROUGH THE AGREEMENT AND LOOKING THROUGH THE ORDINANCE, UH, BEFORE THIS MEETING, I DIDN'T SEE A PROVISION THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO INCREASE IT 50%.
IT DOES GIVE THEM ANY ORDINANCE IT'S BUILT IN THAT, UM, INFLATION TO KEEP UP WITH INFLATION.
THEY WERE ALLOWED TO INCREASE IT, OR IT'S MANDATORY THAT IT BE INCREASED TO KEEP UP WITH INFLATION.
UM, BUT I DID, I DID NOT SEE FIXES OR THAT SPACE COULD BE PART OF THE, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE CALCIUM WOULD THE, UM, THE IMPACT FEE I'M DRAWING A BLANK.
WAS IT THE, THE POLICY THEY HAVE FROM 15 YEARS AGO? AND MAYBE THEY BUILT THAT IN WITH THE TRANSPORTATION FIGURES? YEAH.
I MEAN, WE, WE CAN'T DO IT RIGHT THIS MINUTE.
WE'D LOOK BACK THROUGH THERE BECAUSE I SAW SOMETHING IN THERE TOO THAT, AND THEN MAYBE IT'S A CARRY OVER.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER I SAW IT ON PAGE THREE, 10.
I WAS LOOKING AT SECTION FOUR, BUT SOME OTHER AREAS WHERE I MADE MY NOTES UNDERNEATH THAT.
[01:15:01]
BUT IF, IF WE COULD CHECK THAT AND THEN, UM, AND, AND WE'LL HAVE TIME TO KNOW THAT AT THE TIME, OUR NEXT MEETING, I WOULD HOPE, UM, I'VE HEARD A COUPLE OF CONCERNS AND NOT SURES THAT I'VE REALLY THOUGHT.UM, YOU KNOW, JUST TO KNOW FOR TRUTH, I MEAN, JUST TO HAVE THE FACTS ABOUT IT.
AND I KNOW WE ASKED THOSE QUESTIONS, NOT TO YOU, HEATHER, UM, TO THE GROUP THAT WAS HERE.
AND, UM, I GUESS WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE ALL THAT.
IF I, IF I MAY REAL QUICK ON PAGE, UM, SECTION, I THINK IT'S UNDER SECTION FIVE, PAGE THREE, 10 OR THREE 11 BUFORD COUNTY MUNICIPALITY SCHOOL IMPACT FEE IGA PROPOSED REVISIONS TO OCTOBER ONE.
IT SAYS, ITEM THREE, THE AMOUNT OF THE IMPACT FEE ADJUSTMENT DOES NOT CHANGE THE SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES BY MORE THAN 50% FROM THE AML SET FORTH IN ORDINANCE, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, 2020.
IT SAYS THIS ADJUSTMENT MAY BE DONE ONLY ONCE DURING THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT.
I MAY MISINTERPRETED THAT, BUT THAT'S WHERE I READ THAT.
I THINK YOUR INTERPRETATION IS CORRECT.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S A ADJUSTMENT FOR 50%.
SO WITHOUT CONSENT FROM ONE TIME I WAS LOOKING AT THIS RIGHT NOW IS ACCOUNT MAY JUST THE AMOUNT OF THE SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE WITHOUT THE PRIOR AGREEMENT OF THE TOWN IS, UM, UP TO 50%, ONE TIME DURING THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT.
UM, DID YOU ASK QUESTIONS OR YOU ASK THE QUESTION CAUSE I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH, YOU ASKED ONE QUESTION WE GOT THROUGH VIRGINIA, YOU'VE ASKED QUESTIONS, LARRY, YOU I'VE GOT TO, I GOT SOME QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.
UM, ONE BEING ONE OF MY BIGGEST ONES IS I'VE ASKED A QUESTION AND I ALSO WATCHED THE PRESENTATION FROM WHATEVER THE NAME OF THE COMPANY THAT THE, LIKE WE'VE GOT INCREASES COMING FOR BUYER COMPARTMENTS.
UM, WHAT ELSE? THERE'S, THERE'S THERE'S ROADS WE'VE GOT INCREASES ACCORDING TO THEIR STUDY AND SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES COMING RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.
UH, APPARENTLY SO FOR ME TO SAY, OKAY, WELL, I SUPPORT THIS KNOWING OUR SITUATION.
I FEEL LIKE IT'D BE SMARTER TO SEE THE WHOLE PACKAGE.
YOU KNOW, DON'T, DON'T APPROVE A $9,000 INCREASE TODAY.
AND THEN THEY COME TOMORROW AND SAY, WELL, WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, HERE'S FOUR MORE TO GO ON TOP OF THAT NINE.
UM, AND THAT'S, AND I'M JUST USING THOSE ROUGH NUMBERS, BUT THAT'S WHEN I WATCHED THAT LONG SPEECH OR PRESENTATION, IF YOU GUYS DID, THAT'S WHAT I GOT OUT OF IT.
IT WAS LIKE, THIS SCHOOL IS THE BIGGEST INCREASE OR THE MOST CRITICAL AT THIS TIME, BUT WITHIN THE NEXT 10 YEARS, WAS THIS A 10 OR 20 YEAR STUDY, WHATEVER.
UM, EVERYTHING'S GOT TO CHANGE REALLY, REALLY SOON.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE COULD STOP BUILDING HOUSES AND THEN WE WON'T HAVE THE SCHOOLS GETTING ANY OVERCROWDED AND WE WON'T NEED TO FEE IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BILL, THEN WE GOT TO HAVE THE SCHOOLS.
SO, UM, I'M NOT READY TO SAY YES OR NO, REALLY, BUT I, I DO FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD SEE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING US IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS OR WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR, SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT IT COLLECTIVELY AND, AND SEE THE BIG, THE REAL NUMBER INSTEAD OF NINE PLUS SEVEN EQUALS 16.
MAY I RESPONDED MAYOR, UM, HELPED ME WITH THIS AND I HEAR, I HEAR YOUR ARGUMENT AND IT'S A GOOD ARGUMENT.
UM, AND I THINK ANOTHER ONE SOLID WASTE IN IT WASN'T OR SOMETHING ABOUT SOLID WASTE COMING UP AT SOME POINT THAT WAS ON THERE AT SOME POINT.
BUT I THINK THAT HAS SINCE BEEN OKAY, BUT ANYWAY, ANY INCREASE IN THESE OTHER IMPACT FEES STILL HAS TO COME THROUGH IGA.
I MEAN, I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY, THIS ONES, THIS DISCUSSION NEEDS TO COME TO A HEAD ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, I THINK, UM, WITH THIS COUNCIL, UM, AND THERE'S OTHER ONES WE CAN TAKE THOSE BATTLES AS THEY COME, CAUSE THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON.
WHAT WAS IT? THEY SIGNED THE COUNTY, MADE THEIR DEAL BACK IN THE MIDDLE OF LAST YEAR.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'M SAYING THAT THE OTHER ONES, LARRY WEAKEN, WE HAVE SAY IN THOSE OTHER ONES, WE HAVE INPUT.
WE DON'T HAVE TO SIGN THEM FOR THEIR INCREASES, BUT I MEAN, OKAY.
I THINK THERE ARE ENOUGH QUESTIONS THAT NOT TO PUT IT ON YOU FOR ONE MORE MONTH.
AND I KNOW YOU WANT SOME ACTION ITEMS ON WHAT YOU CAN HELP, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE WITH THE QUESTIONS FROM, UM, FRED AND DAN AND
[01:20:01]
CONCERNS AND NOT SURE I'LL BE, I MEAN, I'M LISTENING TO OUR SMALLER BUSINESS OWNERS AND YOU KNOW THAT MAYBE THIS CAN BE REALLY ABSORBED FROM THESE BIGGER, BIGGER BUILDERS MAYBE WHO KNOWS, I THINK THE SIX ORBIT, BUT I THINK IT JUST KILLS OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.I SAID, YOU KNOW, HE'S ALWAYS SAID THE A HUNDRED TO 120 LMI IS COVERED.
WELL, THAT'S NOT COVERED ANYMORE.
NO, ONE'S BUILDING THOSE ANYMORE.
SO WE GOT TO LOOK AT A BIGGER AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM TO COVER EVERYONE THAT WE WANT TO KEEP HERE.
AND, UM, I, I THINK IT, I THINK THAT THE SUGGESTION WAS TO TABLE IT.
AND IF Y'ALL DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT TABLE IT AND GET THESE ANSWERS BACK, UM, BEST GM.
WE CAN GO THROUGH THE BULLETS AGAIN.
UM, STEVEN, DO YOU HAVE THOSE OTHER INCREASES AT YOUR, UM, I REMEMBER SEEING WHAT THEY SUGGESTED ON THE PRESENTATION, BUT THE ONLY ONES I HAVE ARE TRANSPORTATION AND PARKS.
AND THAT'S WHAT I SHARED WITH COUNCIL.
AND AGAIN, RIGHT NOW WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THOSE.
THEY ASKED FOR AN INPUT FOR LIST OF POTENTIAL TRANSPORTATION PARK PROJECTS.
WE SENT THAT, BUT THEY JUST LUMPED EVERYTHING ON THERE AND UPDATED IT, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE HAVING A BIGGER DISCUSSION ON WHAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY COMPLETE DURING THE TIME PERIOD.
UM, AND OUR FIRST LOOKING AT GOING UP, I THINK IT WAS I'D HAVE TO PULL IT UP.
UH, I HAD TO THROW A NUMBER OUT THERE.
UM, BUT REALISTICALLY WE'RE PROBABLY THE DISCUSSION WE'RE HAVING NOW IS TO TAKE SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS OFF, UM, BECAUSE PROJECTS THAT WERE ON THERE AND THE PREVIOUS ONE THEY ADOPTED 10, 12 YEARS AGO STILL HAVEN'T BEEN COMPLETED.
SO WE ARE LOOKING AT SOME THAT WE HAVE PROBABLY TOO MANY ON THAT LIST THAT ARE, CAN BE COMPLETED IN A TIMELY MANNER.
SO THERE'S STILL SOME DISCUSSION THAT'S GOING TO BE TAKING PLACE THERE.
THAT WAS JUST THE FIRST WALKTHROUGH OF IT.
THE DAY YOU SEND OUT ONE OF US TO KNOW WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT.
SO PARTS WOULD ACTUALLY STAY THE SAME.
SO NOTHING ABOUT THE FIRE, HAVING NOT SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THE FIRE YET.
IF YOU WERE PROBABLY THERE ORIGINALLY WAS EVEN EMS AND THERE WAS A LOT OF DIFFERENT, THE ONLY TWO THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT UPDATING RIGHT NOW OUTSIDE OF THIS IS, UM, THE RECREATION AND THE, UM, TRANSPORTATION.
SO I PURCHASED FOR MAYBE RICHARDSON AND TO TAKE NOTES.
THE, DID YOU MENTION THE LMI, JUST REALLY TRYING TO REHASH THAT AGAIN, TO PROTECT OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UM, ANYONE WHO WANTS TO DO IT? I MEAN THAT, THAT WE GOT TO KEEP THAT IN THE LEGAL QUESTIONS ON THE, UM, FIVE YEAR.
CAUSE I ASSUMED WHAT THEY SAID.
I BELIEVED, BUT WE TO MAKE SURE THAT'S IN THERE.
UM, AND I'LL, YOU KNOW, I WILL TELL YOU, I'M LOOKING OVER AT THIS LIST AGAIN.
I LOOKED AT IT LAST NIGHT, SO MUCH OF THIS, 120 MILLION OF THIS, WHICH MAKES THIS NUMBER SO BIG ANTICIPATED IN SOUTH.
THAT CONCERNS ME AND IT'S BIG, WHICH MEANS IT'S GOING TO BE BIGGER BY THE TIME 20, 29 GETS HERE OR 2026.
UM, AND I DID, I HAD CALLED SOME PEOPLE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THE BIGGEST QUESTION I'VE HAD IS WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO BUILD? AND FOR THE LIFE OF ME, I'VE LOOKED 10 ACRES TO 50 ACRES.
I HAVEN'T SEEN A PLACE IN BLUFFTON AND THE PLACE, AND I KNOW OUR KIDS ARE GOING TO GO TO SCHOOL IN THE ZIP CODE AREA MIGHT NOT BE IN THE TOWN LIMITS FOR THE LIFE OF ME.
AND I URGED WHO I TALKED TO TODAY TO.
I WISH YOU START THINKING A LITTLE BIT OUT OF THE BOX, THE WAY OTHER BIG GROWING PLACES DO.
AND LET'S LOOK AT WHERE WE ALREADY BUILT, LIKE IS YOUR PLACE TO EXPAND OTHER THAN MAY RIVER, WHICH I STILL NEED WHEN I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S BEEN A GREAT TUTUT.
NOW WE'RE LOOKING, WE DID RECEIVE SOME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MAY RIVER LOCATION, BUT WE NEED TO, UM, KIND OF INFORMATION THAT, RIGHT? SO WE NEED A LEGAL OPINION ON, IS IT CAPPED OFF AT 1400? AND IF IT IS, AND WE'RE ALREADY SLUMPED OVER THAT, UM, I KNOW THE DISTRICT DOESN'T WANT 3,500 KIDS SCHOOLS, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY OF US HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED THAT, BUT OUR CHILDREN COULD GO TO 1800.
I MEAN, 1800, IT'S ALREADY 1500.
SO, UM, I DON'T THINK IT'D BE A POSITIVE VOTE IF WE MOVE FORWARD TONIGHT.
I REALLY DON'T LISTEN TO Y'ALL.
SO I THINK WE HAVE, AND I'M IN AGREEMENT.
I THINK WE NEED TO TABLE THIS AND WE NEED TO WORK ON IT A LITTLE, A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT I WANT EVERYONE WHO'S WATCHING THAT THINKS THEY'RE GOING TO ANNEX
[01:25:01]
INTO OUR TOWN.NUMBER ONE, IT HADN'T DONE SO WELL LATELY BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T, YOU KNOW, SAID YES, WHOEVER THINKS THAT THE FEES, THE COUNTY IS CHARGING THE FEES RIGHT NOW.
AND IF YOU'RE THINKING OF COMING INTO TOWN TO GET AWAY FROM THAT, THAT, THAT AIN'T HAPPENING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COLLECT THEM FOR THE COUNTY ON THAT.
AND, AND WE WILL DO SO MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, JUST FOR FURTHER DIRECTION FROM, I ASSUME THAT TERRY IS GOING TO GET BACK IN COMMUNICATION WITH YOU FOR COUNTY'S ATTORNEYS.
UH, BUT IN PARTICULAR COUNCILMAN WOULD THE COMMENT THAT YOU MADE ABOUT THE 50% IN GREECE AND THE UNILATERAL ABILITY TO DO THAT AT LEAST ONCE DURING THE 10 YEAR TERM OF THE AGREEMENT, UM, WITHOUT TRYING TO GET YOU TO MAKE A DECISION ONE WAY OR ANOTHER TONIGHT AS TO HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT.
I IMAGINE WE'RE AT, I DON'T THINK THAT'S ANYWHERE WITHIN THE STATE STATUTE.
I'M NOT AWARE OF IT BEING IN THE ORDINANCE BEEF COUNTY.
SO I'M ASSUMING IT IS JUST A PROVISION THEY'VE PUT INTO THE AGREEMENT.
THAT'S SUBJECT TO NEGOTIATION JUST FOR FURTHER DIRECTION.
HI, MY ASSUMPTION IS THAT Y'ALL WANT US TO NEGOTIATE THAT COMPLETELY OUT OF THE AGREEMENT.
SO ANY CHANGE OTHER THAN INFLATION WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO COUNTS AND THEN THE FIVE YEAR GAP STOP GAP, MAKE SURE LESS IT'D BE GREAT.
AND I'LL, I'LL, I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT.
I KNOW WITHOUT GIVING YOU ALL TOO MUCH, I GUESS, THROW TOO MUCH INFORMATION.
I THINK THE, UH, I THINK EVERYTHING, ALL THE PROJECTS HAVE TO BE PAID OUT WITHIN THREE YEARS WHEN THE IMPACT FEES ARE COLLECTED.
SO THAT'S KIND OF WHY THEY BUILD OUT THIS 10 YEAR TERM WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE DEVELOPMENT AS THEY ANTICIPATED.
SO, UH, WE CAN CERTAINLY ASK THEM FOR THAT FIVE-YEAR REVIEW AND WHAT YOUR RIGHTS WOULD BE DURING THAT FIVE-YEAR REVIEW, IF THAT YOU FEEL THAT THE IMPACTS AREN'T THE IMPACT OF THESE AREN'T BEING PROPERLY ALLOCATED SOUTH ABROAD.
AND THEN WITHIN THE TAIL, BECAUSE I'LL FORGET I'M OLDER, I'M NOT OLDER, YOU'RE OLDER THAN ME.
UM, I SPOKE WITH SOMEONE TODAY AND IT WAS MORE OF AN ACCOUNTING QUESTION AND MAYBE ADD THIS, DO WE GET, WILL WE GET A MONTHLY, QUARTERLY, ANNUAL ACCOUNTING AND WHERE EXACTLY IT'S GOING? AND IF IT DOES GO OUTSIDE OUR ZIP CODE, WHAT ARE OUR, WHAT ARE THE CLAWBACK? CAUSE THAT'S THE ONE TO, YOU KNOW, ANTICIPATED LAND ANTICIPATED IN THE SOUTH, BUT WONDER IF IT'S NOT, THEN THAT'S, WHAT DO WE, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS OUR, WHAT, WHAT DO WE DO WITH THAT? NOT UNDERSTANDING AN OUTLET, RICHARD, A MISSTEP HERE IS IF IT'S COLLECTED IN SOUTH ABROAD, IT HAS TO BE SPENT IN SOUTH OF THE WORLD.
SO THEY CANNOT SPEND IT LEGALLY NORTH OF THE BROAD.
NOW, WHEN IT SAYS DISTRICT-WIDE, IT MAY MEAN THAT THEY, BUT IT'S STILL IN THAT SOUTH OF THE BROAD AREA, SO THEY CAN EITHER NORMALLY, AND I WILL ALSO SAY TOO, WE, WE RECEIVE AN ANNUAL, UM, IMPACT FEE REPORT, I BELIEVE ON ALL OF OUR IMPACT FEES.
HOWEVER I HAVE DISCUSSED WITH JARED FREELUX, UM, JUST AMONGST SOME OTHER DISCUSSIONS THAT IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT'S THAT STAFFS ON BOTH BUFORD IN BUFORD COUNTY, AS WELL AS THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON OR THE OTHER, UM, MUNICIPALITIES IN THE SOUTH REGION.
IF THEY ADOPT THE INTER-GOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT TO HAVE A MONTHLY MEETING OR QUARTERLY MEETING OR SOMETHING TO DO EXACTLY THAT, WHAT, WHERE ARE WE AT? UM, YOU KNOW, SOME EVEN STAFF THINGS, HOW ARE WE CALCULATING IT JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CONSISTENT.
UM, BUT IF YOU'D LIKE THAT INCLUDED IN THE AGREEMENT TO SOLIDIFY THAT, UM, WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT AS WELL.
AND STEVEN, A FOLLOWUP WITH THAT, I AGREE I'LL SMILE AT SOMETHING I'M NOT SICK, BUT THE SERVICE AREA SAYS SOUTH SO CLEARLY.
AND THEN IN OTHER PLACES IT SAYS ANTICIPATED OR DISTRICT WIDE.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY WOULDN'T JUST PUT SOUTH ON ALL OF IT, SERVICE AREA.
STEVEN MADE A GREAT POINT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE AN OTT, BUT EVERYTHING IS SOUTH.
WHY ISN'T DISTRICT ONE? WHY HASN'T THAT SAY SOUTH? NO.
AND NOT ANTICIPATED IN THE SOUTH THAT, THAT, YEAH, THEY PRINTED IT WHEN THEY PRESENTED IT.
I USE THE WORD SHOP FOR THE BROAD.
I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND NOT, I DON'T READ IT ON HERE.
THEY'RE NOT, IT WAS SPELLED OUT, AS RICHARDSON SAID THAT THE MONEY'S COLLECTED WILL BE SPENT SOUTH OF THE BORDER.
AND THAT THAT'S STATUTORY, THAT COMES FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
IT'S THERE HAS TO BE A DEFINED SERVICE AREA WITHIN THESE, UM, IN FACT, THE ORDINANCES OR ADOPTED IN THE SERVICE AREA FROM OUR VIEW, THIS APPEARS TO BE SOUTH OF THE BRAS AND FEES COLLECTED FROM THESE IMPACT FEES FOR, UH, NEW CONSTRUCTION OCCURRING EXAMPLE.
THE BRAWL NEEDS TO BE SPENT ON SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND SCHOOL, SOUTH AND ABROAD.
[01:30:01]
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, TO BE HONEST, I'M SURE THERE'S, THERE'S FLEXIBILITY IN THAT TOO.AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO GET INTO.
SO WE'LL TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CLEAN THAT UP AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU'VE GOT EVERYTHING COMING UP.
AND I LIKED TO INTERJECT ONE OTHER THING, TOO, MAN.
AND, UM, YOU JUST STATED HAD OF THAT.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS TO PUT IN AN AGREEMENT IS TO HAVE LIKE A MONTHLY MEETING TO GO OVER LIKE FINANCE AND STUFF INVOLVED WITH IT.
UM, SOMETHING I BROUGHT UP AT THE LAST MEETING I'D LIKE TO SEE IN THAT LANGUAGE DRAFTED IN THAT TOO, IS THERE HAS TO BE SOME TYPE OF COLLABORATION WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OUR OFFICIALS HERE TOO, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE CANNOT BE BUILDING SCHOOLS TO MAX CAPACITY ON, ON DAY ONE.
IT KIND OF DEFEATS THE PURPOSE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S GONNA, THERE'S GOING TO BE A NEED TO ACCOMMODATE THAT OVERFLOW.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO BE ALWAYS FOOTING THE BILL AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
WE'VE GOT TO BE BUILDING SCHOOLS, UM, WITH REGARDS TO WHATEVER OUR PREDICTIONS OF RESIDENTIAL UNITS AND FAMILIES AND OTHER THINGS COMING INTO THE AREA ARE, UM, CORPORATE.
WE HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY TO ESTABLISH AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING IDENTITY FOR, FOR BLUFFTON AND BLUFFTON.
THE ONLY MUNICIPALITY IN BUFORD COUNTY THAT CHOSE TWO INCHES IN HAVING AN AFFORDABLE, UM, CONCEPT AND TRIED TO HAVE THAT INVENTORY.
WE WE'VE, WE SCRUBBED THIS THING SO MANY TIMES AND NOW WE FINALLY CAME UP WITH A FORMULA THAT WE THINK IS GOING TO GIVE US DIVERSITY, WHICH IS, UM, FROM ALL, UH, WORKFORCE, UM, UH, UH, AREAS 80 MADE FROM 60 TO A HUNDRED PERCENT AMI.
WE DISCUSSED THAT WITH DEVELOPERS.
WE DISCUSSED THAT WITH OUR PARTNER, THAT WE TRIED TO BUILD ON THE PROPERTY THAT WE HAVE.
SO, BUT THEIR PROPOSAL TO US, THEY ONLY WANT TO COVER 60 TO 60 AMI THAT KILLS OUR PROGRAM.
THEY KILLS OUT A DIVERSITY THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY FOR BLUFFTON.
I WAS JUST MAKING A POINT HERE WHERE, YOU KNOW, EVERY ONE OF THESE THINGS SHOULD NOT HAVE NINE CLASSROOMS TO 13.
IT SAYS DISTRICT WIDE DISTRICT WIDE, SOUTH, SOUTH DISTRICT WIDE ANTICIPATED SOUTH, SOUTH, SOUTH, AND THEN ANOTHER ANTICIPATED, YOU KNOW, EVEN THESE SCHOOLS, THESE HUGE $53 MILLION SCHOOLS, UM, IT'S ANTICIPATED IN THE SOUTH, BUT IT DOESN'T SAY WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, FOR SURE.
I THINK WE NEED TO TABLE IT AND THINK ABOUT IT.
AND SO DO WE NEED TO VOTE ON, WE GET THAT LANGUAGE CLEANED UP? I MEAN, LET'S, I'LL GO BACK AND ASK THAT QUESTION.
DID YOU TAKE ALL THOSE NOTES? I THINK THE WORD ANTICIPATE IS MAKING PEOPLE NERVOUS.
UH, I MADE SURE THAT'S, UH, ONE OF MY SEVEN NOTES THAT I HAVE TO BRING BACK AND YES, MA'AM, WE WOULD NEED TO ACTUALLY MOVE TO TABLE THIS.
UM, AND YOU CAN JUST MOVE TO TABLE IT TO THE NEXT MEETING OR BIG COMPOSTABLE MOVE TO POSTPONE MINUTE TO THE NEXT MEETING.
DO WE HAVE TO PUT NEXT MEETING? I DON'T WANT TO PUT A LOT OR THEN YOU CAN, YOU CAN JUST MOVE TO TABLE IN, UM, WITH THE CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS WE NEED ANSWERED AND THEY CAN GET ANSWERS TO, IS THERE A MOTION TO PAY HER FOR A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION ALL IN FAVOR STATE BY SAYING AYE QUESTIONS, COUNSEL.
[X.3. Consideration of Amendments to the Town of Bluffton's Code of Ordinances, Chapter 23 - Unified Development Ordinance, Article 3 – Application Process, Sec. 3.2.3.A. Public Hearing Notice, Timing of Public Notice Requirements for UDO Text Amendments - First Reading - Kevin P. Icard, Director of Growth Management]
THE NUMBER THREE, RIGHT CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS OF TOWN OF BLUFFTON CUTS, THE ORDINANCES CHAPTER 23, ARTICLE THREE, SECTION 3, 2, 3 A, UM, PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE THIS IS FIRST READING.I THINK WE HAVE FOUND SHORT MONTHS MESSED US UP DON'T THEY, UH, THIS MONTH IS ONE OF THEM.
UM, SO, UH, THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.
THIS IS WHERE I PROPOSE TEXTILE, UM, TO CHANGE THE TIMEFRAME THAT WE HAVE, UH, FOR PUBLIC NOTICES FOR THIS IS SPECIFICALLY FOR, UH, A TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE.
UM, SO, UM, CURRENTLY WE REQUIRE 30 DAY NOTIFICATION.
UM, IT'S TYPICALLY IN THE ISLAND PACKET.
UH, WE ALSO, UH, SUPPLEMENTALLY, WE WILL POST ON THE AGENDA ON THE TOWN WEBSITE.
UM, WE POST A COPY AT TOWN HALL AND THE, AT THE FRONT DOOR, UH, AND THEN
[01:35:01]
WE SEND OUT THE AGENDAS TO ALL THOSE THAT ARE REGISTERED TO RECEIVE, UH, THE TOWN, ME EMAILS.I BELIEVE THAT'S A LIST OF OVER 900 INDIVIDUALS, UM, THAT ARE ON THAT.
SO, UM, THE REASONS FOR THE, UH, PROPOSED AMENDMENTS IS FOR CONSISTENCY WITH STATE LAW, UM, AND THEN CONSISTENCY WITH OUR TOWN ZONING MAP AMENDMENT.
SO IF SOMEONE DOES A, A REZONING IT'S ONLY A 15 DAY NOTICE, AND THEN JUST THE GREATER EFFICIENCY IN REGARDS TO THE TEXT AMENDMENT.
SO, UH, THIS IS A TABLE THAT IS LOCATED IN THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE, HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THE AREA WHERE YOU CAN SEE LITERALLY WE ARE CHANGING THE TEXTS FROM 30 TO 15.
THESE ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE REVIEW CRITERIA THAT WERE LISTED IN THE STAFF REPORT.
A PLANNING COMMISSION DID RECOMMEND TO, UM, TO, UH, UH, TO APPROVE THIS TEXT AMENDMENT.
UH, YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY THIS EVENING TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION, APPROVE IT WITH AMENDMENTS OR TO DENY THE APPLICATIONS.
UH, AS YOU SAID, THIS IS FIRST READING.
UH, FOR SECOND READING, WE ACTUALLY HAD TO PROVIDE A NOTICE TWO DAYS AGO FOR A, UH, FOR THE SECOND READING BEFORE WE EVEN HAD THE FIRST STREET AND WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THE FIRST DAY.
UM, SO I HAVE A PROPOSED MOTION FOR YOU AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
IT SEEMS TO HELP STAFF NOT COMMON SENSE TO ME, KEVIN.
IF NOTHING ELSE, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENTS TO THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER 23, UTO ARTICLE THREE, APPLICATION PROCESS SECTION 3.2 0.3, A PUBLIC HEARING.
NOTICE TIMING, A PUBLIC NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR UTO TEXT AMENDMENTS.
IS THERE A SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION ALL IN FAVOR OF SAYING AYE, AYE.
[X.4. Consideration of Approval of an Amendment to the Initial Master Plan for Property Referred to as Parcel 10D Located within the Buckwalter Planned Unit Development for Residential Uses Consisting of Approximately 26.8 Acres and 1.3 Acres of Commercial Uses Located at the Intersection of Bluffton Parkway and Hampton Parkway - Kevin Icard, Director of Growth Management]
BEEN ON TO NUMBER FOUR CONSIDERATION OF AN APPROVAL AND AMENDMENT TO THE INITIAL MASTER PLAN FOR PROPERTY REFERRED TO AS PARCEL TIN D LOCATED WITH THEM.BUCK WALTER PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT FOR RESIDENTIAL USES CONSISTING OF 26.8 ACRES, AND 1.3 ACRES OF COMMERCIAL LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION, A BLOCK 10 PARKWAY AND HAMPTON PARKWAY.
THANK YOU, MATT AMERICA, AS YOU STATED, THIS IS A REQUEST FOR A AMENDMENT TO, UM, INCLUDE PARCEL 10 D INTO THE EXISTING PARCEL 10 A 10 B MASTER PLAN.
UM, JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME, UH, A PROJECT LOCATION, UM, HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW, SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT TO SEE IS THAT EXISTING MASTER PLAN.
UH, AND THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO INCLUDE THE AREA THAT IS LOCATED IN RED INTO THIS MASTER PLAN.
AGAIN, FROM AN AERIAL STANDPOINT, YOU CAN SEE IT'S, UH, THE LOCATION, UH, WHERE IT IS A CULTURAL PLACE, UH, MYSTIC BLUFF APARTMENTS, UH, IS PART OF THAT 10, A 10 B IS ALREADY HAVE, IT HAS ALL OF THE APPROVAL.
AND I BELIEVE IT'S ACTUALLY STARTING CONSTRUCTION, UH, FOR ANOTHER APARTMENT COMPLEX, UH, WITH THE SE BODNER GROUP, UH, I BELIEVE IT'S CALLED THE L E L L E APARTMENTS.
UM, AND THEN THIS PORTION RIGHT HERE WILL ALSO BE INCLUDED INTO THAT MASTER PLAN, UH, AS STATED THIS AS PART OF THE BUCK WALTER, UH, CONCEPT PLAN, UH, IT'S 28 ACRES, UH, APPROXIMATELY 19 ACRES IS IN WETLANDS, UH, WHICH LEAVES ONLY 8.6 ACRES.
UH, THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING FOR RESIDENTIAL LOTS.
HE ALREADY HAS THE ALLOCATED RIGHTS FOR THESE RESIDENTIAL LOTS.
SO HE, HE HAS THE ABILITY TO CONSTRUCT THEM AS WELL AS ONE COMMERCIAL LOT ON 1.3 ACRES.
AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID VOTE AT THEIR JANUARY 26 MEETING, UH, TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS APPLICATION.
UH, AGAIN, HERE'S A COPY OF THE CURRENT MASTER PLAN FOR 10, 8, 10 B.
YOU CAN SEE OVER IN THE CORNER HERE IS BUCHALTER PLACE.
UH, THIS IS MYSTIC BLUFF AND THEN THE L APARTMENTS HERE.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, THE ROADWAY IS ALREADY PUT IN THERE, THE ROBOT ALREADY CONNECTS TO BUCK WALTER PLACE.
AND THEN YOU CAN SEE HERE, I'VE HIGHLIGHTED AGAIN IN YELLOW.
WHAT IS THAT EXISTING PORTION OF THE MASTER PLAN AND WHAT IS IN RED NOW, AGAIN, THESE FOUR LOTS, YOU CAN SEE THERE'S TONS OF IT.
THAT'S IN THE, IN THE WETLANDS.
SO, UM, IT'S, IT WASN'T REALLY CONDUCIVE FOR ANY, ANY FULL TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT OR ANY TYPE OF COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, BUT THE APPLICANT HAD THOSE ADDITIONAL UNITS.
THEY WOULD THEN, UM, IF APPROVED, UH, WOULD BE SUBDIVIDED OFF AND THEN SOLD OFF TO AN INDIVIDUAL THAT WOULD THEN JUST GO TO GET A BUILDING PERMIT FOR A HOUSE.
OBVIOUSLY THE HOUSE WOULD BE LOCATED ON THE UPLANDS AREA.
UH, WE HAVE THE REVIEW CRITERIA THAT ARE LISTED IN YOUR STAFF REPORT, AND I'M HAPPY TO GO OVER THEM IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
UH, I BELIEVE THAT THE APPLICANT IS HERE AS WELL.
UH, MR. WHITMER, UH, IN CASE YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HIM, UH, THIS EVENING, YOU HAVE THE, UM, THE AUTHORITY TO APPROVE THIS APPLICATION, APPROVE IT WITH CONDITIONS OR TO DENY THE APPLICATIONS.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE KEVIN, UH, KEVIN I'LL DO
[01:40:01]
THAT MORE.UM, THERE'S THERE'S UTILITIES ALREADY THERE, SEWER.
UH, FOR, UH, IT WOULD BE LOCATED ON HAMPTON, UH, PARKWAY, UH, IF, IF SEWER IS NOT LOCATED, THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO INSTALL THE NECESSARY UTILITIES.
UM, WHAT IS LAPTOP OFF FOR THE ROAD THAT GOES TO THE FIRE STATION? IS THAT THAT ROAD? YES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SO, SO YOU NOTE SEWER, WOULD IT BE YES.
IT'S NICE TO SEE FIVE LOTS AND NOT 150.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS IT'S NOT AS SERIOUS? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MASTER PLAN FOR PROPERTY REFERRED TO AS PARCEL 10 D TO BE ADDED TO THE 10, 8, 10 B MASTER PLAN LOCATED WITHIN THE BUCK? WALTER PUD WITH RESIDENTIAL USES CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 26.8 ACRES.
AND 1.3 ACRES OF COMMERCIAL USES IS IDENTIFIED A BEAVER COUNTY TAX NUMBER IS LISTED THERE A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? UM, WELL JUST THE COMMERCIAL I'M GUESSING IS LOT FIVE BECAUSE OF THE PARKING.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ALL IN FAVOR STATE BY SAYING AYE OPPOSED THAT'S UNANIMOUS.
[X.5. Consideration of Approval for an Initial Master Plan (IMP) for Property Referred to as Parcel 9B & 9C within the New Riverside Planned Unit Development for Residential Development Consisting of 3 Parcels Located Near the Intersection of Old Palmetto Bluff Road and Palmetto Bluff Road - Kevin Icard, Director of Growth Management]
FIVE.MA'AM CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF A MASTER PLAN FOR PROPERTY REFERRED TO AS PARCEL WITHIN THE NEW RIVERSIDE PLAN DEVELOPMENT FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSISTING OF THREE PARCELS LOCATED NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF OLD PALMETTO BLUFF ROAD, IMPOUNDMENT A BLUFF ROAD.
UM, AS YOU STATED, WE ARE HERE FOR, THIS IS, UM, THE PARCEL NINE , UH, THE APPLICANT MIKE HUGHES WITH THOMAS AND HUTTON HERE IS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE IN CASE YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HIM.
I JUST GIVE YOU A PROJECT LOCATION.
YOU CAN SEE I'VE HIGHLIGHTED IN RED, THE AREA THAT WE'RE REFERRING TO, UM, HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF THE AREAS OF THE PALMETTO BLUFF INTERESTS, ALL POP UP OLD PALMETTO BLUFF ROAD, UH, THE LAKES AT NEW RIVERSIDE, AS WELL AS NEW RIVERSIDE ROAD ITSELF TO GIVE YOU A PROXIMITY TO THIS SITE AND SAME THING HERE.
UM, THIS IS A COPY OF THE APPLICATION.
UH, THEY ARE PROPOSING A 10 LOT SUBDIVISION, UM, ON THE, UM, ON THE PROPOSED ACREAGE.
UH, YOU CAN SEE IT, IT WOULD BE A, UH, AN ESSENCE, A COLT CUL-DE-SAC, UH, LOOP SYSTEM.
UH, THESE WOULD BE LARGER LOTS, UM, ANYWHERE FROM ONE TO ONE AND A HALF, POTENTIALLY TWO ACRES OF EACH LOT.
UM, THE APPLICANT DOES HAVE THE ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS, UH, FOR THESE, UH, FOR THIS LOCATION.
UH, AND HOPEFULLY YOU'RE ABLE TO SEE, UH, FROM A PLANNING STANDPOINT, THEY HAVE THE MAIN ENTRANCE COMING OFF HERE.
IT WOULD BE A GATED COMMUNITY, UM, YOU KNOW, VERY LITTLE, UM, UH, TRAFFIC ASSOCIATED WITH THIS.
THERE IS AN EMERGENCY, UM, VEHICLE ACCESS POINT HERE THAT WOULD USE THE EXISTING ROAD BED AND THEN ALLOW FOR FIRETRUCK ACCESS.
SO, UH, THERE IS THAT, THAT ALTERNATIVE, UH, TO PROVIDE THAT, UM, AS STATED, THIS IS PART OF THAT NEW RIVERSIDE PUD, UH, THE 10 LOTS, UM, WITH THE ASSOCIATED UTILITIES AND INSTRUCTION AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO YES, UH, WATER SEWER, UM, WOULD BE CONNECTED TO THIS SITE.
UH, THE ACCESS IS OFF OF OLD PALMETTO BLUFF ROAD.
THEY'D BE CONNECTING THEIR STORM WATER LAGOON SYSTEM INTO THE EXISTING LAGOON SYSTEM THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH PARCEL NINE.
UM, SIX OF THE LOTS WOULD HAVE THAT POTENTIAL ACCESS OF JUST PRIVATE DOCS ON THIS IS A, WOULD BE A FRESHWATER FRESHWATER AREA.
UM, AND THEN THE OTHER LOTS WOULD HAVE A COMMUNITY DOCK, UM, ON THE, ON THE NORTHERN SIDE, UH, AS AN AMENITY, UM, THIS WAS REVIEWED BY THE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE.
UM, AND ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT CAME UP AND I'LL GO INTO IT JUST VERY BRIEFLY.
IF I GO BACK TO THE PLAN HERE, UM, THE NEW RIVERSIDE PUD REQUIRES A 50 FOOT BUFFER ALONG THE ENTIRE PERIMETER OF IT.
UM, SO BECAUSE OF THE, THE LOCATION OF THIS SQUARE PARCEL THAT IS OWNED BY THE APPLICANT, UH, THERE WAS A REQUIREMENT OF A 50 FOOT BUFFER AROUND THIS AREA.
UM, THE APPLICANT WENT IN FRONT OF THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS AND REQUESTED A VARIANCE TO ALLOW FOR THE REDUCTION OF THAT 50 FOOT BUFFER.
SO THE APPLICANT IS STILL REQUIRED TO HAVE A 50 FOOT BUFFER ALONG THE ENTIRE PERIMETER.
UH, AGAIN, THEY OWN THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY.
AND THAT IS IN UNINCORPORATED BEEF THAT HAS A RURAL DESIGNATION.
SO EVEN IF THERE WAS ANY TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT ON THAT,
[01:45:01]
THAT WOULD BE ONE SINGLE FAMILY THAT WOULD, WOULD BE ALLOWED ON THAT LOT.SO, UM, JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT IN THERE, AND THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID VOTE, UM, TO APPROVE OR RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS MASTER PLAN, UM, TO TOWN COUNCIL.
UH, THE REVIEW CRITERIA HAVE ALL BEEN REVIEWED AND THEY ARE CONSISTENT.
UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THEM AND THIS EVENING, YOU CAN TAKE THE ACTIONS OF APPROVING THIS APPLICATION, APPROVING IT WITH CONDITIONS, OR TO DENY THE APPLICATION.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
AND AS I STATED, UM, MR. UH, HUGHES'S HERE TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
AND MR. HAMILTON, WHEN I READ MY PACKET, I THOUGHT I KNEW WHERE THIS WAS LOOKING AT.
UM, BUT YOU KNEW WHERE IT WAS.
I THOUGHT I DID, SO, RIGHT, RIGHT HERE, IF YOU CAN SEE ON THE, ON THE MAP, YOU KNOW, HERE'S THE ENTRANCE TO PALMETTO BLUFF RIGHT HERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, RIGHT BEFORE YOU GET TO THAT ENTRANCE IS NEW REVERSE SIDE ROAD.
UM, FURTHER UP THIS AREA RIGHT HERE, THAT'S THE TOWNS, UM, BMP THAT WE'VE HAD FOR THE STORM WATER POND FOR VARIOUS YEARS.
SO YOU WOULD BE COMING DOWN OLD PALMETTO BLUFF ROAD, AND THEN THERE WOULD JUST BE A LITTLE SIDE ROAD THAT YOU WOULD ENTER BEFORE YOU, UM, BEFORE YOU GOT INTO, INTO PALMETTO BLUFF RED, THEY CALLED A NEW ROAD, OLD PALMETTO BLUFF ROAD.
AND THE WHOLE ROAD IS THE NEW ROAD.
UM, IT'S OWNED BY PRICHARD FARMS, LLC.
SORRY, HOW MEADOW BLUFF RIDE DO THEY HAVE TO GRANT ACCESS, BUT EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE ACCESS ON SOME OF THE BLUFF ROAD COUNTY OR STATE ROAD, OR IS IT PRIVATE, UM, OLD PALMETTO BLUFF ROAD IS WHERE THEY'LL BE RECEIVING THEIR ACCESS FROM WHICH IS PALMETTO BLUFF AND HAVE BEEN GRANTED ACCESS BY PALMETTO BLOCK.
I'M GOING TO LOOK TO MR. HUGHES TO CONFIRM THAT I'M SORRY.
I'LL LET MR. MOORE RESPOND TO THAT ONE BROTHER FROM ANOTHER JOHN, JOHN MOORE WITH THOMAS AND HUTTON.
THE, AS PART OF THE, THEY PURCHASE THIS FROM NEW RIVERSIDE LLC, AS PART OF THAT PURCHASE, THEY, UH, NEW RIVERSIDE LLC, GRANTED THEM ACCESS FOR UP TO 10 UNITS OFF OF OLD PULLMAN BLUFF ROAD.
UM, JUST ANOTHER, MAYBE JUST A REMINDER FOR WHO EVER OWNS US, THAT, THAT ZONING IN THE COUNTY.
WE, WE ALWAYS STICK WITH RESIDENTIAL, BUT THEY DO.
SO IT STILL IS ONE PER THREE ACRES.
I JUST DON'T WANT TO UPSET THE COUNTY IN THAT MATTER.
MORE HOUSING PHONE, EXTRA PARCELS AND SEWER, SEWER WATER STILL IN THE COUNTY.
WE'RE NOT ANNEXED ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, CLARITY.
NOW LARRY ASKED THE QUESTION AND THEN IT CAME UP AGAIN.
DOESN'T ANY DEVELOPMENT, ALL, ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT, NO MATTER IF THE BUD THE IN OR WHATEVER, HAVE TO HAVE SEWER NOW.
SO WE DON'T NEED TO ASK THAT QUESTION.
AND I MIGHT ASK ABOUT IT NEXT MONTH.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN ASKED PRIOR? MAYOR? I HAVE, I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS REAL QUICK.
JUST MAKE SURE YOU HAVEN'T ASKED THEM.
WELL, THEY'RE FROM OTHER PROJECTS ABOUT A TREE BUFFERS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE TRIED TO ESTABLISH SYSTEM TO THE BOUNDARY OF TREE BUFFERS, CAN'T BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN, WHEN THEY DO THE TREE TOPO AND CLEAR-CUTTING, UH, ARE THOSE PLAYING INTO THIS AT ALL? YES, SIR.
SO, UH, AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE IS THERE'S ALREADY THE, THE, WE HAVE THE 50 FOOT BUFFER BUFFER ON THE SOUTHERN PORTION PROPERTIES THAT ARE LOCATED HERE.
THERE'S ADDITIONAL, UM, AREA, UH, BEYOND JUST THAT 50 FOOT BUFFER.
AGAIN, THIS IS CONCEPTUAL PLAN.
WE HAVEN'T HAD THE FINAL PLAN.
UM, THE APPLICANT, THE INTENT IS TO INSTALL THE, UH, THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE ROADWAY AND THEN EACH INDIVIDUAL LOT WOULD THEN, UM, WOULD BE DESIGNED AROUND THAT.
SO THEY'RE NOT GOING IN THERE, NOT CLEAR CUTTING ALL OF THESE LOTS IN ORDER TO, TO, UM, TO THEN PUT THE BUILDINGS ON THERE.
SO THE SECOND QUESTION, THE EMERGENCY ACCESS THAT YOU MENTIONED IS THAT A RECOMMENDATION OR EXCUSE ME, A REQUIREMENT FROM THE COUNTY THAT THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SPECIFICALLY TOLD THEM THAT THEY WERE REQUIRED TO DO.
SO AS A GUY THAT USED TO MANAGE BIG TRUCKS AND I'VE DEALT WITH THESE ISSUES WHERE THERE'S EMERGENCY ACCESS, WHAT IS THE SUBSURFACE I'M
[01:50:01]
GOING TO LET THE APPLICANT SPEAK TO THAT REAL QUICK.UH, UTILIZING EXISTING GRAVITY.
WE'LL BE SURE WHEN WE WORKED THROUGH THAT ACTUAL DESIGNS, WE'LL WORK WITH DAN, WE'LL SEE, AND MAKE SURE THAT HE'S ABOVE BOARD OR ON BOARD WITH WHAT WE'RE DESIGNING KEVIN NOTE THAT, UM, YOU NOTE THAT WHATEVER THE SUBSURFACE IS THAT IT QUALIFIES.
SO I'M ASSUMING IT'S NOT JUST EMS. IT COULD BE A FIRETRUCK.
IT'LL, IT'LL BE A GRAVEL SURFACE OF SOME SORT, AND THEY MAY ELECT TO DO A GRASS PAVE OVER IT.
IF THEY WERE, UM, LIKE SOME SIMILAR PROJECTS IN BLUFFTON, YOU DELINEATE THE FIRE LANE THAT'S REVIEWED DURING THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN REVIEW PROCESS.
THIS IS THE ONLY TIME WE SEE IT, RIGHT? YES MA'AM.
SO I'M REALLY GLAD THAT DAN BROUGHT THAT UP ON THE TREES BECAUSE THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE HAVE PASSED YET AND THE TREE BUFFER.
SO THIS IS THE TIME TO RE, TO MAKE YOUR REQUIREMENTS KNOWN IN THE BUFFER.
UM, THE OTHER THING, THE GRADING PLAN THAT WE PASS WHEN BRIAN WAS HERE, THAT IS WHAT YOU MEANT BY THEY'RE GOING TO DO ONE LOT AT A TIME BECAUSE OF THAT GRADING PLAN THAT WE PASSED, OR IS THAT NOT FALL UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, BUT YOU SAID THEY WERE DOING THAT.
HOW DO WE MAKE SURE IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT THAT? THAT IS, UM, DURING THE, UM, DURING THE STORMWATER REVIEW PROCESS.
UH, SO W W WHAT WE ARE STARTING TO DO NOW WITH THAT, WITH THE ADDITION TO THE STORM WATER REVIEW, UM, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO MEET ALL OF THEIR THEY'RE REQUIRED TO MEET THE CODE REQUIREMENTS.
UM, AND WE HOLD A MEETING PRIOR TO THEM, UH, SOMEBODY IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT PLAN TO ENSURE THAT, THAT THEY ARE REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF, UM, OF GRADING THAT THEY ARE DOING THROUGHOUT THEIR PROJECT.
UH, SPECIFICALLY WITH THIS ONE, UH, THE INTENT WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY JUST, JUST CUT IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, INSTALLED THAT, AND THEN EACH LOT WOULD THEN COME ONLINE.
UM, EACH LOT IS THEN MOST LIKELY WILL BE REQUIRED TO HAVE THEIR OWN, UH, STORMWATER REQUIREMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
SO THAT WAY THEY'RE IN ESSENCE, YOU KNOW, FILTERING AND, UM, AND HOLDING WATER ON THEIR SITE.
AND THEN IT'S ULTIMATELY RELEASED JUST CAREFUL ATTENTION AND QUALITY IS FAR BETTER THAN QUANTITY.
AND I'M GOING TO REALLY WATCH THESE TWO TONIGHT, BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS A LOT OF QUALITY IN IT, BUT TO RIDE THERE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, CAUSE THAT ROAD'S KIND OF THERE NOW, AND TO SEE ALL THE TREES COME DOWN, IT'S NOT GOOD AT THAT BUFFER.
CAN WE NOT REQUIRE IT TO REMAIN THE WAY IT IS AND NOT GO IN AND CLEAR? YES, MA'AM, THAT WILL BE AN UNDISTURBED, BUFFER, UNDISTURBED.
AND WE KNOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO PUT THAT IN ANY MOTION AS SOUTHERN PORTION.
THEN MY FINAL JUST CONCERN IS THAT STORM WATER POND THAT WE WORKED REALLY HARD TO GET DONATED TO US.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HURT IT.
IS IT WORKING IS, IS THE STORMWATER PLANS, THE, THE BEEP WHATEVER THEY'RE CALLED HERE, IS IT COMPLIMENT WHAT WE'RE DOING TO THE NORTH OF IT WITH THE CURRENT? UM, I WILL MAKE SURE TO WORK WITH WATERSHED MANAGEMENT DURING THAT TIME, CHECKING YOUR HEAD.
SO CAN WE NOT DO THIS TALK TO LOST IT? WE HAVEN'T MADE THAT MOTION.
IS THERE A MOTION TO MOVE ON TO APPROVE THE INITIAL MASTER PLAN FOR PROPERTY REFERRED TO AS PARCEL NINE B A NANCY LOCATED WITHIN THE NEW RIVERSIDE PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT? THIS PROJECT PROPOSES A RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THREE PARCELS IDENTIFIED BY THE BEAVER COUNTY TAX MAP NUMBERS AS SHOWN ON THIS AGENDA HERE.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR STATE BY SAYING, AYE.
[XI. Consent Agenda Items]
WE DO HAVE A CONSENT, UM, AGENDA LIST OF SEVEN ITEMS. ALL VERY IMPORTANT.UM, IF THERE'S ANYTHING ON THERE WOULD LIKE TO PULL OFF TO DISCUSS SEPARATELY SPEAK NOW.
I'D LIKE TO PULL ITEM FIVE OFF.
AND Y'ALL WERE Y'ALL AWAY OR MAYBE.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE, IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO PASS THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM NUMBER FIVE? THANK YOU WITH YOUR SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? THAT'S UNANIMOUS.
SO ITEM FIVE, MR. UM, BRIDGET, DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON FIBER? THEY'VE PREPARED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT.
[01:55:01]
THE FIRST TIME I HEARD ABOUT IT BEING PULLED OFF, SO, OH, OKAY.[XI.5. Consideration of Memorandum of Agreement between the Town of Bluffton and the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, Inc. to Establish a Non-Profit Assistance Grant Program Pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 - Chris Forster, Assistant Town Manager]
I'M GOING TO PUT IT IN YOUR HAND HANDS.UM, YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION'S ROLE WOULD BE WITH THE OPERA FUNDS.
ARE THEY THE ONES WHO WILL BE, UH, THE APPLICATIONS WE'LL GO THROUGH THEM AND THEY WILL BE DISPERSING? YES, MA'AM.
THAT WOULD BE THE GOAL IS WE WOULD, UM, THEY WOULD HANDLE THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
AND, UM, WE WRITE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH SETTING UP A REVIEW BOARD OF SEVEN MEMBERS, THREE WOULD COME FROM THE FOUNDATION THREE WOULD COME FROM, UM, COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION AND THEN CHRIS FORRESTER WOULD SERVE AS THE SEVENTH IS FINANCE REALLY, UM, ON THEIR, AND, UM, THEY WOULD BE THE ONES REVIEWING ALL THE APPLICATIONS AND MAKING THE RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, FOR THE FIRST ROUND, IT IS RECOMMENDED, UM, AS PART OF THE PROGRAM THAT IT IS ONLY FOR NONPROFITS THAT ARE LOCATED INSIDE THE TOWN LIMITS AND THEY'RE CAPPED AT $20,000.
UM, THE, ONE OF THE REASONS WE WANTED TO USE THE FOUNDATION FOR THIS IS TO REMOVE COUNSEL FROM A LOT OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS, JUST BECAUSE ALL THE NONPROFITS REACHING OUT AND ASKING COUNCIL TO MAKE PLAY FAVOR.
CAUSE WE ALSO HAVE SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT SERVE ON BOARDS OF FOUNDATIONS THAT WOULD BE MAKING APPLICATIONS INTO THE TOWN.
AND WE WOULD HATE TO PUT COUNCIL TO HAVE TO PICK WINNERS AND LOSERS OF BOARDS.
THEY EITHER REALLY LOVE REPRESENT OR SERVE ON.
SO THAT'S WHY WE LOOKED AT PARTNERING WITH THE FOUNDATION TO HELP EXPEDITE THE HELP WITH THIS PROCESS.
AND ARE THEY BEING PAID A FEE TO HANDLE IT FOR US V IS A 2%.
AND UM, IF COUNCIL WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE OPERA FUNDS CONTINUE A HUNDRED PERCENT GET DISPERSED, WE CAN LOOK AT HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT PAYING THAT 2% OUT OF GENERAL FUND, UM, SAVINGS OR SOMETHING THAT WE MAY HAVE TO HELP OFFSET TO MAKE SURE THAT MORE OF ALL THE FUNDS GET DISPERSED OUT.
AND I'LL BE TO 2% OF BOTH DESSERTS MOMENTS, THE ONES WHERE BUSINESSES AND THE ONES FOR NONPROFITS.
SO RIGHT NOW I'M THE ONE FOR THE NONPROFITS WE'RE LOOKING TO START.
THAT ONE IS VERY SOON, PROBABLY IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO, UH, THE ONES FOR THE BUSINESSES WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THE GUIDELINES FOR IT.
AND IT PROBABLY WILL NOT BE DONE FOR, IT'D PROBABLY BE FOUR TO SIX WEEKS BEHIND THIS ONE.
AND ASK A QUESTION, STEVEN, WOULD YOU JUST DOUBLE CHECK ON THEIR FEE FOR, NON-PROFITS JUST MAYBE, I MEAN, I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE DONE SO MUCH WORK ON IT, BUT MAYBE CHRIS CAN GOING JUST DOUBLE DOUBLE-CHECK AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE AWARE THAT SOME OF THIS MONEY IS GOING TO NONPROFITS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO MISSPEAK, BUT SO THEY CAN CHARGE THE NON-PROFITS ANYTHING, THEY JUST CHARGE 2% ADMINISTRATIVE FEE HANDLING THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS AND HANDLING THE BEER.
CAUSE WE'RE USING THEIR 5 0 1 C3.
SO THEY'RE UM, NONPROFIT, NONPROFIT.
SO THEY, THEY CAME 2% ADMINISTRATIVE FEE.
UM, BRIDGET, I HAD ALMOST ALL THE SAME QUESTION TODAY WHEN I MET WITH STEVEN AND CHRIS AND COUNCIL, UM, THE SUPPORT, THE SELECT THIS COMMITTEE OR THIS, UM, AD HOC COMMITTEE TO DECIDE WHICH NON-PROFIT IN BLUFFTON GETS THESE FUNDS.
UM, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M ON, ON THAT COMMITTEE.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE? BUT I ALSO BELIEVE IF WE, IF COUNCIL OR THAT AD HOC COMMITTEE DECIDES WHO GET THE MONEY, WHO GETS THE MONEY.
I DON'T LIKE THE LANGUAGE THAT THE LITTLE COUNTRY FOUNDATION WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE WHO GETS THE MONEY IF WE ALREADY MADE THEIR DECISIONS.
WELL, WE'RE GIVING THEM THE GUIDELINES, BUT THEN, BUT WE ALSO GOING TO SAY WHAT NON-PROFIT AND BLUFFTON, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE GET THE MONEY IS THAT ISN'T THAT WHAT THE AD HOC, UM, OR BOARD WE'LL MAKE A DECISION ON WHO GETS THE MONEY.
AND THAT WILL BE MADE UP OF THREE MEMBERS FROM THE FOUNDATION THREE THAT COUNCIL WOULD PUT ON THERE.
AND THEN CHRIS, SO THAT, UM, Y'ALL, WOULDN'T BE MAKING THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE FUNDING, THAT WHOLE, THAT GROUP WE'LL BE REVIEWING THE APPLICATIONS AND MAKING THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
I STILL, YOU STILL, I STILL DIDN'T GET IT.
UM, MAYBE YOU WENT OVER MY HEAD A LITTLE BIT.
SO WE GOT, WELL BASICALLY WOULD LOOK AT AN APPLICATION AND THEN GO THROUGH THE CRITERIA TO SEE IF THE APPLICANT IS MEETS THE CRITERIA THAT WE SAY THEY HAVE TO MEET, RIGHT? YES, SIR.
AND THEN AN APPLICATION CODE IS JUST LIKE COMING TO US, IF THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, THEN THEY'RE RECOMMENDED.
AND W AND WHAT WE'VE PUT IN THE GUIDELINES IS THAT IF W CAUSE HILTON HAS GONE THROUGH THEIR FIRST PROCESS WITH THIS, THEY WENT THROUGH, LOW-KEY JUST LIKE WHAT WERE RECOMMENDED
[02:00:01]
TO GO INTO THE FOUNDATION LOWCOUNTRY.THEY HAD TO WAIT FOR APPLICATIONS AND THEY HAD FUNDING TO GIVE, SO THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO AWARD TO EVERYBODY.
SO WHAT WE PUT IN HERE IS THAT WE WANT TO GIVE PRIORITY TO THOSE THAT SERVE LOW, MODERATE INCOME CITIZENS WOULD BE THE TOP PRIORITY FOR ANY NONPROFITS THAT WOULD GET FUNDING.
SO WE HAVE ESTABLISHED THAT, THAT IF THERE IS ENOUGH FUNDS TO GO AROUND, THAT IT WOULD BE PRIORITIZED TO LOW TO MODERATE INCOMES CITIZENS THAT WERE SERVED.
I'VE TURNED TO THINK OF IT IS BASED ON KIND OF SIMILAR TO AN ATEX COMMITTEE.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE SET THE POLICY OF WHAT IT IS.
AND, UM, IT KEEPS US FROM BEING ACCUSED OF TAKING CARE OF PET.
I JUST THINK IT'S A GOOD ARM'S LENGTH WAY, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FOUR PEOPLE ON THERE.
I GUESS MY QUESTION AND I'M, I DON'T THINK I WOULD, I'M CURIOUS WHAT HILTON HAD DO.
THEY PUT THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS ON IT, JUST TO KNOW WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT.
I CAN EMAIL YOU AND SAY, I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA MYSELF.
I MEAN, I'M ON A, I'M ON A NONPROFIT HE'S ON A NONPROFIT BRIDGE HAS GOT NONPROFITS.
WE ALL WANT TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE.
I MEAN, THAT'S JUST NOT A GOOD IDEA ONLY BECAUSE I'M ON A NON-PROFIT MATTER OF FACT, IF I GO IN THE EXCUSE, ANY NONPROFIT THAT I'M ON, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MONEY GOES TO THE THEY EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WAS PRESENTED FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN THAT SAYS IT HAD TO SERVE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE A VOICE IN THAT, AND I WANT TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE, THE CRITERIA WE'D COME BACK TO US FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
THE CRITERIA IS IN THE PACKET.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THE CRITERIA FOR AN APPLICANT.
IT'S, WHAT'S IN THE PACKET THAT AS PART OF THE THING, IT'S JUST THE ONE PAGE.
WE WANTED TO MAKE IT AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE, WHICH IS YOU HAD TO SHOW THAT YOU WERE FINANCIALLY IMPACTED RELATED TO COVID AND YOU WERE A NONPROFIT, AND YOU SERVE YOU, YOU, YOU WERE INSIDE BLUFFTON SERVING RESIDENTS INSIDE BLUFFTON, AND THAT YOU WERE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED TO THE COVID FOR A MOMENT ABOUT THE TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS SERVING ON THIS COMMITTEE.
UM, AGAIN, JUST BRIEFLY SKIMMING SKIMMING THROUGH THIS MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT, I WOULD KIND OF MAKE AN ANALOGY TO THE DON RYAN CENTER, UH, WHERE YOU HAVE THE, YOU HAVE MEMBERS WHO SERVE IN AN EX OFFICIO CATHOLIC CAPACITY ON THE DON RYAN CENTER BOARD, BUT AREN'T ACTUALLY VOTING MEMBERS.
AND THE REASON THAT WE'VE SET UP THAT ARRANGEMENT IS BECAUSE OF DUAL OFFICE HOLDING ISSUES.
SO ANYTIME THAT YOU HAVE AN APPOINTED COMMITTEE, WHETHER IT'S SOMETHING LIKE THE DON RYAN CENTER OR YOUR BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS, AND IT'S DOING SOMETHING WITH THE DISTRIBUTION OF TALENT, YOU HAVE TO BE REALLY CAREFUL AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T ACCIDENTALLY APPOINT YOU TO A COMMITTEE.
AND BY SERVING A SECOND OFFICE, YOU FORFEIT THE EARLIER OFFICE, WHICH WOULD BE YOUR TOWN COUNCIL SEAT.
AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING VERY CAREFUL ON THAT.
SO I THINK IT'S, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE I'LL LOOK INTO IT.
I'LL RESEARCH THAT, AND I WILL HAVE A RESPONSE FOR YOU SHORTLY.
WE ARE, WE ARE VOTING ON THE SETUP OF THIS, NOT THE COMMITTEE YET.
SO I THINK ALL OF YOU NEED TO, I DON'T WANT TO BE ON IT.
AND I SIT ON A NONPROFIT TOO, BUT I DON'T WANT, YOU SEE WHAT YOU GET ACCUSED OF DOING, AND YOU DON'T EVEN DO IT.
I DON'T WANT TO PUT Y'ALL ANY OF Y'ALL ON THAT POSITION.
WE'VE GOT TO FOLLOW THE LAW, OWN IT.
IF, IF IT COMES BACK RICH, THE WAY RICHARDSON SAYS OR NOT, IS THERE ANYTHING WRONG WITH COUNSEL ATTENDING THESE THINGS IF THEY SO WANT TO I'M JUST TRYING TO WRITE, I PERSONALLY, AGAIN, I THINK YOUR POINT ABOUT ATEX IS WELL-MADE.
I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THAT AN ELECTED PERSON, I MEAN, I'M IN A DIFFERENT OF OPINION WITH FRED, BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE SITTING ON THIS ORGANIZATION AND TRYING TO CONTROL.
AND I MEAN, THAT'S WHY WE'RE APPOINTING PEOPLE.
WE'RE PICKING PEOPLE THAT WE'RE GOING TO APPOINT, AND WE DON'T LIKE THE WAY THEY'RE DOING THE JOB.
WE CAN REMOVE THEM, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEN WE STILL APPROVE THE US.
IF YOU SIT THERE AT THAT TABLE.
ONE LAST THING, TWO POINTS, UH, TO FRED'S POINT, UM, I DON'T HAVE A DESIRE TO BE ON BOARD, BUT I UNDERSTAND, AND I THINK WE SHOULD DEFINITELY HEAR THE POINT.
HE'S TRYING TO MAKE IN A SENSE OF, IF THE FUNDS ARE EARMARKED TO GO TO NON-PROFITS SERVING UNDERSERVED AND UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS, UM, WE ARE SAYING WE ARE REMOVED BECAUSE OF WHATEVER BIASES WE MAY HAVE.
UM, IT SOUNDS LIKE CREDIT SAYING LET'S ENSURE THAT THOSE SAME GROUPS OR WHEREVER THE PARTIES ARE INVOLVED,
[02:05:01]
DON'T HAVE BIASES ALSO IN THE PEOPLE THAT THE MONEY WAS INTENDED TO, UM, UH, BE DISPERSED TO ULTIMATELY GET SHUT OUT OF THIS PROCESS TOO.SO IT'S LIKE, IT'S KIND OF LIKE, HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO ABIDE BY THE WILL, THAT, THAT WE REQUEST WHO SERVED THOSE BUFFED AND UNDERSERVED NON-PROFITS.
SO THAT IS A, THAT'S A FEAR OF MINE TOO.
UH, BUT THEY, THEY, THEY, THEY NOT GOING TO GET US A MEDICAL.
NO, NO, I I'VE LISTENED TO BRIDGET FOR MONTHS OVER THIS.
AND YOU BRING THIS, THIS QUESTION UP EVERY SINGLE TIME ABOUT THE INTENT OF IT ARE OUR GUIDELINES.
FIRST OF ALL, YOU NEED TO DO THE RESEARCH ARE GUIDELINES STRICT ENOUGH THAT IT PROTECTS THAT GROUP.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT GROUP WE'RE THINKING COULD NOT BE LOOKED AT, BUT, UM, YOU'LL DECIDE WHAT YOUR LEGAL WORK.
AND I JUST THINK WE ALL NEED TO CAUTION OURSELVES ON THAT.
SO LET'S MAKE SURE THAT THE GOT THE CRITERIA SAYS THAT.
I MEAN, SHOULD WE ADD, ADD IN THE CRITERIA? I JUST KNOW FROM LIKE, FROM THE ONSET, WHEN WE FIRST TALKED ABOUT IT, I'VE HAD A COMPLETE TRUST WITH, UH, STEPHEN AND CHRIS AND THE, THE SENSE OF DAY WOULD ENSURE WHO'S SUPPOSED TO GET IT IS GOING TO GET IT GOING TO A SEPARATE FOUNDATION.
LIKE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT SAME TRUST.
AND I SAY THAT THEY WOULDN'T DO IT BECAUSE THEY DO AN AMAZING JOB OF HOW THEY DISPERSE FUNDS.
BUT IN A SENSE OF THIS, ISN'T UNLIKE THIS, ISN'T LIKE IT'S, UM, OPEN FOR ALL NONPROFITS IT'S SPECIFICALLY FOR THOSE SERVING UNDERSERVED UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES WHO ORDINARILY DID NOT HAVE THE SAME ACCESS TO THE PPV FUNDS THAT LARGER NONPROFITS HAD.
SO IS THERE ANY WORDING IN HERE THAT YOU WANT TO, AND I'M NOT, I MEAN THAT YOU CAN ADD TO IT AND WE CAN GET THE WORD SMITHING OF IT THAT ENSURES THAT THAT IS BEING TAKEN CARE OF, BECAUSE I THINK THE CRITERIA IS REALLY GOOD, BUT IT DOESN'T SPEAK ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE SAID FOR FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS NOW.
AND I HAVE HEARD YOU, I'M NOT, AND I DON'T WANT FRED TO FEEL LIKE WE'RE NOT GOING TO FOCUS ON THAT EITHER.
SO I THINK I WOULD, I WOULD TRUST, UH, STEVEN AND CHRIS IS ON EXEC.
I SAID THEY HAD A GREAT IDEA CON OF IT INITIALLY WHEN THE THOUGHT IT WAS, IT WAS BLUFFTON WAS GOING TO BE IN CONTROL OF ITS ITS FUNDS.
SO I THINK THEY UNDERSTAND THAT.
IS IT UNDER THE CRITERIA, MR. STEVE, DOES IT SPEAK TO THE INTENT OF THE, WHAT THE FONT, I MEAN, DOES IT SPEAK MORE CLEARLY TO THAT, THAT WE COULD ADD OR, WELL, LET ME, LET ME ASK YOU MAYOR.
I MEAN, AND I HEAR THIS DISCUSSION, BUT I MEAN, HE'S TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT HAD A HARDSHIP DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE VERY LAST SENTENCE REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE ON YOUR SCREEN, UM, AND LOOK AT NUMBER EIGHT, I MET, I DON'T SEE NUMBER EIGHT, WHERE THEY GOING AND ARE WE ON TRACK MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT? OH, FINAL REPORT IS REQUIRED AND MUST INCLUDE INFORMATION RELATED INCOME LEVELS, RACE AND ETHNICITY OF THE POPULATIONS THAT YOUR BROTHERS GRANT DOES.
THAT FINAL REPORT COME TO THE TOWN.
THAT'S PART OF THE, UM, APPLICATION.
SO DOES THAT HELP, DO YOU WANT, WANNA JUST, JUST HAVE YOU WANT TO MAKE IT ANY CLEARER THEN THE OTHER THING IS, IS I DON'T WANT COUNCIL TO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE PRESSURE THAT THEY HAVE TO APPROVE THIS TONIGHT.
THEY'RE THE, THE, THE SCHEDULE YOU HAVE ON THERE WAS ANTICIPATED WITH IT BEING IMPROVED TONIGHT.
IF THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT, WE WANT TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO, UM, COUNSEL HAS ALL AUTHORITY TO DO THAT, AND WE CAN ALWAYS DELAY THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE ONLY, UM, THING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS GET THE FUNDS OUT AS SOON AS WE CAN, SINCE WE HAVE THEM, IF THEY'RE DELAYED 30 DAYS, THEN MOST OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED AND ARE STILL SURVIVING.
BUT, UM, THE GOAL WAS TO TRY TO GET THE FUNDS OUT AS SOON AS WE COULD, BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT TO PUT SOMETHING OUT THAT COUNCIL IS NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTIVE OF, I THINK, A WEEK MORE WITH SOME PEOPLE ARE HANGING ONTO A CLIP.
I MEAN, I PERSONALLY DON'T WANT TO WAIT 30 DAYS BECAUSE 30 DAYS COULD GET RID OF MANY PEOPLE IN NEED.
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE NEED, NOT THE WISHES IN THE WALTZ TOGETHER ONCE THEY GET
[02:10:01]
THE APPLICATION.SO I GO BACK JUST, I MEAN, IS THERE SOMETHING THAT OUR FRED OR ANYBODY, OR OUR RE OUR RICHARDSON, YOU'VE HEARD, YOU'VE HEARD THIS, IS THERE SOMETHING WE CAN ADD IN THIS MOTION TO PUT MORE MEAT ON IT SO WE CAN GET MOVING WITH THE BOARD SO YOU CAN DO RESEARCH.
AND IF IT SAYS WE CAN HOLD DUAL OFFICES AND I MEAN, WE'RE ALL GROWN PEOPLE SITTING UP HERE, JUST HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT WE DO AND Y'ALL HAVE SEEN ME GO THROUGH IT.
SO YOU GOTTA BE CAREFUL SINCE, SINCE NOBODY'S BEING APPOINTED TONIGHT, THAT PORTION OF IT, WE CAN DELAY.
UM, WE CAN, WE DON'T HAVE TO ADDRESS BY, UH, THE, THE QUESTION ABOUT, ARE WE, IS THIS CLEAR ENOUGH AS TO THE PURPOSE AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT THIS IS GOING TO SERVE AND THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT THIS IS INTENDED TO SERVE? IS IT TOO BROAD ABOUT, UH, WHAT NON-PROFITS COULD QUALIFY? YOU CAN INCLUDE SOMETHING IN YOUR, UH, IN YOUR MOTION THAT THIS IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PROVING THIS AGREEMENT SUBJECT TO STAFF AND THE TOWN ATTORNEY WROTE REVISING THE AGREEMENT TO CLARIFY THAT THIS IS TO, UM, BE SPECIFIC AS TO, UH, AND COUNCILMAN FRAZIER.
I'M GONNA LEAVE IT TO YOU USE THAT LANGUAGE, UM, SO THAT WE CAN AGAIN, MAKE IT CRYSTAL CLEAR WHAT THIS IS SUPPOSED TO DO, WHO IT'S SUPPOSED TO SERVE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD ENOUGH INFORMATION IN THERE ABOUT THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND WHAT THEY PROVIDE TO Y'ALL.
I MEAN, I'VE, I FEEL COMFORTABLE BECAUSE THE MAIN, THE MAIN IDEA IS THE CREATION OF A SEPARATE ORGANIZATION TO DISTRIBUTE THESE FUNDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN'S OVER AND TO HAVE THE TOWN HAVE, YOU KNOW, LIMITED SAY IN THE SELECTION OF WHO THOSE ARE, BUT Y'ALL WANT TO REVIEW THIS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT GOES OUT TO THE RIGHT GROUPS.
SO I, I, I THINK WE'RE THERE, BUT IF YOU WANT TO INCLUDE THAT LANGUAGE IN EMOTION, I THINK IT WOULD HELP US BE ABLE TO REALLY BEEF THIS UP.
AND THEN COUNCILMAN HAMILTON HAS BEEN A BIG, BIG PROPONENT HERE, TOO.
I SEE THAT THIS ESSENTIALLY COULD BE IN FOR ANY NONPROFIT, EVEN THOSE NOT NECESSARILY SERVING LOW TO MODERATE, UM, CITIZENS, THAT'S, IT'S A PREFERENCE, BUT I SEE THE LANGUAGE THAT IT'S NOT EXCLUSIVE TO JUST THOSE ORGANIZATIONS.
SO THE FAIR WOULD BE IS, UM, THOSE WHO DON'T COME WITH THAT PREFERENCE MAY GET THE GRANT OR MAY QUALIFY BEFORE THOSE WHO WAS ACTUALLY INTENDED FOR, UM, UH, WOULD GET IT.
SO THAT WOULD BE MY, THAT'D BE MY FEAR.
IF IT'S LEFT, VAGUE LIKE THAT, THEN ANYBODY WHO'S A NONPROFIT COULD, UM, COULD APPLY FOR THIS, IS THAT BETTER THAN, UM, REALLY BEING CLEAR THAT THIS IS THE WISHES OF THE BIDEN? WHAT YOU'VE BEEN SAYING I NEEDED, IF IT WAS EARMARKED FOR THOSE LIKE SERVING THE UNDERSERVED OR UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS.
SO LET'S SAY, YOU KNOW, IF I HAVE A, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT I'M JUST THROWING OUT THERE THAT PROVIDES, UM, BLANKETS TO CATS, YOU KNOW, AND I WANT TO APPLY FOR FUNDING, IF I'M A 5 0 1 C THREE, WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS, THEN I WOULD QUALIFY FOR THAT, BUT THAT'S NOT AN UNDERREPRESENTED UNDERSERVED GROUP.
YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? SO I THINK LIKE IF WE'RE, WE CAN'T BE VAGUE OR AMBIGUOUS AND THAT, BECAUSE THAT MY FEAR IS THAT THOSE WHO REALLY NEED IT, WOULDN'T, WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET THE FUNDS BEFORE THEY'RE, UM, FOR, THEY RUN OUT, WE PASS THIS TO GET THINGS MOVING, TO GET TO THE COMMITTEE WITH LANGUAGE THAT YOU COULD ADD ABSOLUTE BRIDGETTE OR MR. HAMILTON'S THOUGHTS.
I THINK SO I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR WHAT THE INTENT OF THIS AGREEMENT IS.
THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME WORDSMITHING THAT'S GOING TO BE REQUIRED, UM, AND GET CLARITY AS TO THE SELECTION PROCESS.
AND WHEN THE EXCESS FUNDS CAN BE DISTRIBUTED TO COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT ARE NOT THE INTENDED RECIPIENTS UNDER THE VITAL ADMINISTRATIONS, UM, PROPOSAL.
I FEEL CONFIDENT BASED OFF OF WHAT I'VE HEARD TONIGHT, THAT WE CAN TIGHTEN THIS UP.
UM, BUT THE GEL CAN STILL ADOPTED IN THAT WAY.
WE'RE NOT SLOWED DOWN AND RELEASING THESE BONDS, THE LANGUAGE WE'LL BE UTILIZING WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT THE BIDEN INTENT.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'LL USE AS A GUIDE.
W ON THESE REQUIREMENTS, THESE ARE AS CLEAR AS MUD TELL HIM, AND IT MENTIONED CERTAIN DOCUMENTS AND ALL THAT, BUT, UM, ARE THERE LIMITS, I MEAN, YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ON YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND, AND
[02:15:01]
I MEAN, I WOULD THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO SHOW WHERE YOU ADD A LOSS, SO TO SPEAK.AND THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT IT'S INTENDED FOR THE ONES THAT WRITE.
SO IT SAYS THE IMPACT COULD BE EVIDENCED BY DECREASE IN REVENUE, DIMINISHING FINANCIAL RESOURCES THAT AFFECT THE CAPACITY TO WEATHER, FUTURE FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS, CHALLENGING COVERING PAYROLL, RENT MORTGAGE, OR INCREASED CALLS BECAUSE OF RESPONDING TO COVID.
SO THEY HAVE TO PROVE TO US THAT THEY HAVE BEEN IMPACTED IN THAT WAY, SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO COVID.
SO FOR SOME THAT MAY BE PURCHASING PPE AND SANITIZING EQUIPMENT FOR SOME, IT MAY BE, UM, THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO HAVE FUNDRAISING EVENTS AND THOSE, THEY LOST REVENUE AND THEY HAD TO CUT A PROGRAM AND THEY ARE NEEDING FUNDING.
UM, SO IT COULD BE ANY NUMBER OF THINGS THAT THEY CAN DOCUMENT THAT'S BEEN RELATED TO COVID AND HOW IT'S IMPACTED THEM, BEING ABLE TO REACH OUT AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK WE ALL HAVE THAT WISH THAT THE INTENT OF WHAT WE'VE KNOWN THIS MONEY WAS FAR TO BE USED TO IT, BUT WE ALL KNOW THE GROUPS THAT ARE ALREADY COMING IN, CALLING ALL OF US, YOU KNOW, AND SOME OF THOSE JUST AREN'T GOING TO BE THE ONES THAT SHOULD QUALIFY.
SO THAT'S WHY WE GOT TO PUT THE INTENT IF IT'S THREE WORDS, BUT I, BUT I DO THINK WE'VE GOT TO GET MOVING.
WE'VE HAD THIS MONEY THERE, GROUPS THAT DESPERATELY NEED IT, AND THERE ARE GROUPS THAT JUST HOPE THEY GET IT.
SO I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR WHAT IS THEIR STAY KID? THEY'VE HEARD ENOUGH TO GO BACK AND WORDSMITH IT.
ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THE NOTION BASED ON THEIR WORD, SMITHING ARE Y'ALL COMFORTABLE WITH THEM MOVING THIS ON WITH THE ABILITY FOR THEM TO WORD SMITH AT, TO INCLUDE IT, THE INTENT OF BIDEN BIDEN'S ORIGINAL INTENT WAS THAT THOSE BASIC WORDS UNDERSERVED, UNDERREPRESENTED, AND OKAY.
UM, I MEAN, WE COULD BE THAT SIMPLE TO ADVANCE RACIAL EQUITY AND SUPPORT FOR THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, OR DO YOU, I MEAN, THAT'S HIS INTENT, BUT DO YOU WANT TO WORD IT THAT I'VE TRIED TO, TO MAKE SURE IS THAT I THINK I KNOW THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY BETTER THAN ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM.
THAT'S WHAT, WELL, IT'S NOT, YOU CAN STILL BE A COUNCIL MEMBER AND BE ON IT AND THAT YOU ARE A GROWN MAN, BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP YOUR COUNCIL SEAT JUST TO SIT ON A, YOU GOT, LET HIM FIGURE IT OUT TONIGHT.
THAT IS A DECISION THAT FRED WILL HAVE TO MAKE, UM, MAY NOT BE A DECISIONS.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL, WE'LL ABSOLUTELY LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM WITH THAT.
AND DUAL OFFICE HOLDING AND, UH, IT'S A CONSTITUTION, UH, PROHIBITION AND THE, AND IT'S ONE THAT WE HAVE TO RELY ON ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINIONS AND THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT ALL OVER THE PLACE.
AND SO IT WAS KIND OF LIKE TRYING TO PIN JELLO, I GUESS, TO A WALL AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHEN IT HITS AND WHEN IT DOESN'T.
BUT, UH, I WILL GET, I WILL GET YOU A WRITTEN OPINION ON, ON THAT COUNCILMAN HAMILTON.
AND SO THAT WE'LL HAVE, WE'LL HAVE SOMETHING DEFINITIVE AS TO THAT, BUT AS FAR AS THIS AGREEMENT, IF Y'ALL BEGIN BASED ON WHAT I'VE HEARD OR NOT, Y'ALL WANT TO MOVE THIS FORWARD BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO DELAY ANY LONGER, UM, GIVING US THE DISCRETION TO REALLY REWORK THIS, TO MAKE IT, UH, BRING TO THE FOREFRONT.
THE, THE UNDERSERVED AND UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES ARE INTENDED TO BE THE PRIMARY RECIPIENTS OF THIS AND THAT THE PREFERENCE SHOULD ALWAYS GO TO THOSE COMMUNITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH, UM, PRESIDENT BIDEN'S EXECUTIVE ORDER.
AND IT'S MAKING SURE THAT WE WORK WITH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE PAPERWORK AND THE PROCESSES TO MANAGE THAT ONE.
ONE IDEA IS TO HAVE THE COMMITTEE SIGN OFF AND ALSO SIGN OFF AND READ THIS ORDER.
I MEAN, THERE HAS, I THINK THERE HAS TO BE SOME EDUCATION IN THIS ANYWAY, SO, OKAY.
SO ARE WE COMFORTABLE WITH PAT MAKING A MOTION TO ALLOW THE WORD SMITHING TO REFLECT THE INTENT OF PRESIDENT BIDEN? IS THAT BROAD ENOUGH TO COVER SPECIFIC ENOUGH LAMA, THROW IT, THROW IT OUT THERE AND Y'ALL LIKE IT THE LAST DAY.
SO IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON AND THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE LOW COUNTRY FOR ADMINISTRATION OF THE AARP AND NONPROFIT ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM, AND TO ALLOW OUR TOWN ATTORNEY IN TOWN MANAGER TO, TO REWORD
[02:20:02]
THE IMPORTANT AREAS TO SHOW THE TRUE INTENT OF WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN INTENDED IN HIS ORDER.THERE A SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION THAT GOOD CAN ALWAYS AMEND THE AMENDMENT ALL IN FAVOR STATEMENT THING I OPPOSE IT'S UNANIMOUS.
THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT RICHARDSON.
UM, MOVING ON DOWN, WE ARE READY TO GO.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? GOOD NIGHT, EVERYBODY.