Apr 19, 2022 Town of Hilton Head Finance &amp; Administrative Committee

WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL? CERTAINLY, SIR.

MR. BROWN, MR. HARKINS HERE, MR. STANFORD.

MR. LENNOX, ALL PRESENT, SIR.

MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR MEETING OF MARCH 15TH, 2020.

WE HAVE

[5. Approval of the Minutes]

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

OPPOSED THE SAME.

THANK YOU, KRISTA.

[6. Appearance by Citizens]

DO WE HAVE A PARENTS BY CITIZENS? YES, SIR.

WE DO TODAY.

MR. SKIP HOAGLAND IS SCHEDULED TO SPEAK TO COUNSELOR THE COMMITTEE.

MR. HOECHLIN, SKIP HOAGLAND WINDMILL HARBOR.

MR. LENNOX, WHY DO YOU ALL KEEP SAYING THE CHAMBER AND BILL MILES DOES A GREAT JOB.

PROMOTING TOURISM WOULD MILLIONS OF TAX FUNDS WHEN THIS IS A LIE AND FRAUD AND ZERO ACCOUNTING AND FOIL, AND YOU'RE IN FOIL VIOLATION.

FIRST, THE PRIVATE CHAMBER LOCAL BUSINESS LEAGUE IS NOT SUPPOSED TO DO A GOOD JOB, NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HIRED DMO TO PROMOTE TOURISM.

THAT'S AN AD AGENCY, A LOCAL MEDIA JOB, A LOCAL CHAMBER UNDER NATIONAL GOLD STANDARDS IS ONLY SUPPOSED TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS MEMBERS LIKE ELECTRICIANS, PLUMBERS, BEAUTY SALONS, ET CETERA, NOT BEING BUSINESS WHATSOEVER AS A 5 0 1 NONPROFIT CHAMBER HAS ZERO TO DO WITH TOURISM.

SECONDLY, A HIGHER DM OWNER NATIONAL GOLD STANDARDS UNDER SOUTH CAROLINA, EIGHT TAX LAWS IS ONLY SUPPOSED TO USE EIGHT TAX FUNDS TO PROMOTE AND MARKET TOURISM AND NOTHING ELSE.

A TAX COMMITTEE RECOMMENDING FUNDING IS IN VIOLATION OF EIGHT TAX LAWS AND ILLEGAL USE OF NONPROFIT CHAMBER, LOW COUNTRY, UH, OF THE NONPROFIT CHAMBER, LOW COUNTRY GOLF OWNERS ASSOCIATION, EVEN THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.

THEY CANNOT BE A TAX FUNDED CHAMBER, HIJACKED OWNERSHIP OF R D MOA TAX FUNDED APP AND WEBSITE.

AND IT MUST END TAXPAYER'S OWN THIS BILL, MILD SELLING ADVERTISING TO GENERATE HIS WHATEVER WE 500, 600,000 SALARY PAY PACKAGE IS INSANITY.

IT MUST END TOWN VIOLATION TO PROCUREMENT BIDS, ALLOWING BILL MILES TO ROB OUR COMMUNITY FOR 35 YEARS.

UH, FOR THE, AS A NEW, AS A DMO MUST END, WE MUST HIRE A NEW DMO, $1 MILLION PLUS GOING TO CANADA, UH, TO DEVELOP THE APP.

AND THE WEBSITE MUST END THAT THE TOWN ILLEGALLY USING TAX MONEY TO BECOME CHAMBER MEMBERS MUST END.

YOU'RE A MEMBER.

YOU'RE A CHAMBER MEMBER.

YOU USE TAX MONIES, MR. LENNOX, IT'S QUID PRO QUO.

THE TOWN VIOLATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA NONPROFIT CORPORATION ACT LAW WAS IN THE TOWN CHAMBER VIOLATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

CONSTITUTIONAL LAWS MUST END BILL MILES VIOLATION TO THE IRS 5 0 1 NONPROFIT TAX CODES AND UBIT AND TAX EVASION MUST END BILL MILES VIOLATION TO UNFAIR TRADE BUSINESS AND COMPETITIVE PRACTICES TO LOCAL MEDIA.

EVEN THE ISLAND PACKET MUST END BILL MILES, BRIBERY, CORRUPTED TAX RETURNS, MONEY LAUNDERING WITH, WITH, WITH RE DEAL.

FRAUDULENT AUDITS MUST END HARKINS MCCANN LENNOX COMMITTED CRIMINAL FRAUD BY CLAIMING THE SAW CHAMBER ACCOUNTING AT THE CHAMBER OFFICES.

YOU'RE A FRAUD AND A LIAR.

MR. MR. LENNOX, A DMO IS AN OLD FAILED BUSINESS MODEL.

AND NO MATTER WHO OPERATES IT, TOURISM IS GENERATED BY TECHNOLOGY FOR FREE LOCAL SEARCH, SOCIAL MEDIA, A THOUSAND FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS, LOCAL RESIDENTS, WORD OF MOUTH, FAMILY GUESTS, 70% REPEATS AND INDEPENDENT MARKETING EFFORTS OF LOCAL BUSINESSES.

NOT THIS DMO CHAMBER TAX SCAM.

THEY DON'T CREATE TOURISM.

IT'S A FRAUD.

THE FRAUD CHAMBER IS RUN AS A FOR-PROFIT CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE DISGUISES AS A NONPROFIT CHAMBER TO TRICK OUR COMMUNITY AND EVEN IRS BY COMMITTING THIS TAX EVASION, OUR COMMUNITY IS BEING ROBBED BLIND BY THIS EIGHT TAX COMMITTEE, THIS COUNCIL AND ALLOWING THIS CHAMBER TECH SCAM TO CONTINUE THIS HAPPY HORSE MANURE AND THEFT BY BILL MILES MUST END ALEX.

I HOPE YOU CAN DO SOMETHING.

I'M AFRAID THAT YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO, BUT SOMEBODY HAS GOT TO DO SOMETHING CRUSHED UP.

ANY OTHER CITIZEN COMMENTS? YES, SIR.

THAT CONCLUDES THE PARENTS BY CITIZENS.

UH, WE HAVE A REPORT FROM THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND, BLUFFTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN THEIR ROLE AS DMO FOR THE TOWN ON INDUSTRY METRICS, UH, FOR THE YEAR 2021.

[00:05:01]

UNDER NEW BUSINESS.

[7a. Presentation of the 2021 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce Destination Marketing Organization Industry Metrics]

UH, AFTER THIS REPORT, UH, WE ARE TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO TOWN COUNCIL, UH, AS TO THE ACCESSIBILITY OF THE PERFORMANCE VERSUS THE METRICS.

ARIANA, I THINK IT'S YOURS.

YEAH, NO PROBLEM.

AND THEN THIS IS YOUR POINT.

SO AS A ROLLING SCALE, WHAT DID WE HEAR FOR THEM FOR THE PAST YEAR, WE HAD ROUGHLY 2000, JUST OVER 2000 VISITOR RESPONDENTS, AND WE KIND OF BROKE IT INTO FOUR CATEGORIES FOR YOU.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

AGAIN, MY NAME IS ARIANA BERNICE.

I'M WITH THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND, BLUFFTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REPRESENTING, UM, THE ORGANIZATION TODAY AND EXPLAINING THE DMO METRICS FOR PORT FOR 2021.

SORRY, GET MY PAPERS.

SO EACH OF YOU HAVE RECEIVED THIS DOCUMENT AND, UM, I HOPE YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO GO THROUGH IT.

I'M HERE TO WALK THROUGH KIND OF THE HIGH LEVEL AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, UM, FOR YOU AND I'LL GET THE POINTER AND SEE IF I CAN DO THIS.

THAT'S THE FIRST TEST.

HERE WE GO.

SO AS A RECAP, WE HAVE OUR 13 METRICS IN FRONT OF US AND THOSE ARE IN OUR CONTRACT, BUT LET'S DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER INTO WHAT EACH ONE OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS ASKED OF US.

AND, UM, WHAT'S FIRST, WE WANT TO START WITH THE RESIDENT SATISFACTION SURVEY.

THAT SURVEY WAS IN MARKET FROM, UM, JUNE 14TH TO JUNE 25TH OF 21.

THERE WERE NEARLY, UM, 3000 RESPONDENTS, BUT I THINK MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY ENGAGE AND UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY, UM, AND THEIR, UH, RELATIONSHIP WITH TOURISM.

THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO DIVE DEEPER, TO BUILD A LASTING AND, UM, THRIVING RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR COMMUNITY REGARDING TOURISM.

AND THIS WAS OUR FIRST TOUCH BASE WITH THAT.

SO WE'LL HAVE A STRONG FOUNDATION.

UM, IMPORTANTLY, WHAT WERE THOSE FOUR PIECES THAT WE'RE GOING TO USE TO KIND OF DRIVE THAT, UM, OPPORTUNITY GOING FORWARD? AND SO WHILE WE LOOK QUICKLY AT THOSE FOUR, THERE'S THE DEEPER PRESENTATION, UM, WITHIN YOUR DOCUMENT.

SO WE'LL START HERE WITH THE FACT THAT THOUGH THEY KNOW, AND ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT TOURISM AND ITS BENEFITS, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE, UM, AND FURTHER ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY WITH ALL THE BENEFITS THAT SURROUND TOURISM THAT WE AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UM, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND THEN WHILE WE, UM, WILL WORK HARD AND UNDERSTAND THE, THE RESIDENT, UM, OPPORTUNITY FOR EDUCATION.

WE ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE, UM, KIND OF WAVERING UNDERSTANDINGS OF OUR, I GUESS, ENTHUSIASM, RIGHT REGARDING TOURISM.

IT PROBABLY FLUCTUATES WITH TIME OF YEAR.

AND, UM, WE ALSO HAVE, UM, THE FEEDBACK THAT THE RESIDENTS FEEL PRIDE OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND.

SO I LOVE THAT SENSE OF PRIDE THAT WE CALL IT HOME CAMPAIGN THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE NOW REALLY RESONATES WITH THAT.

AND THEY OFFER HIGH QUALITY EXPERIENCES, DINING AND SHOPPING.

WE AS RESIDENTS GET TO EXPERIENCE IT EVERY SINGLE DAY BASED ON THE, ON THE FACT THAT WE ARE OUR NUMBER ONE ECONOMY IS TOURISM.

UM, AND WITHOUT THAT, WOULD WE BE HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES EVERY SINGLE DAY TO SHOP AND EAT AT SOME OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY RESTAURANTS AND RETAIL SHOPS.

UM, AND WE KNOW THAT THEY CONSIDER THE RESIDENTS CONSIDER, WE CONSIDER HILTON DENIAL'S LOCAL ECONOMY SO IMPORTANT.

UM, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COMMUNICATE HOW IT EBBS AND FLOWS.

AND, AND AS WE PREPARE FOR RESIDENTS TO COME IN FOR THAT SUMMERTIME FRAME, HOW DO WE DO THAT TO THE, OF OUR ABILITY? SO WITH ALL OF THIS INFORMATION, WHAT DO WE DO, RIGHT? AND THAT'S WHY IN THE MASTER PLAN THAT YOU'VE SEEN IN OUR MARKETING GMO ANNUAL PLAN, YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE'S A HEAVY EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY.

FIRST.

THERE'S A HEAVY EMPHASIS ON OUR, ON OUR COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN, WHAT ALL BUBBLES INTO OUR CORNERSTONE.

AND SO THAT CORNERSTONE PIECE FOR US IS OUR LEADING EFFORT.

WHEN IT COMES TO MARKETING THE DESTINATION, WE'RE ENGAGING BOTH THE COMMUNITY, LEADING WITH COMMUNITY STORIES, THE HEARTBEAT OF THE COMMUNITY, AND, UM, ENSURING THAT THEY'RE EDUCATED AND HAVE IN THEIR HIP POCKET, THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE POWER OF TOURISM.

AND SO WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE THAT FOUNDATIONAL PIECE IN PLACE IT'S BEING LED BY THE CORNERSTONE CAMPAIGN.

UM, AND WE'LL CONTINUE FORWARD ON AN ANNUAL BASIS WITH THAT TO BE FOLLOWED BY THE VISITOR SURVEY THAT WE DO ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

AND THAT AGAIN IS IN MARKET FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.

WE SURVEY ON A ROLLING BASIS EVERY SINGLE MONTH AND BASED ON PEOPLE'S, UM, TRIP PREFERENCES ON WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO VISIT, WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH THEM WITH AN EMAIL, UM, SURVEY ABOUT TWO WEEKS, UM, PRIOR TO WHEN THEY STATED THEY WERE GOING TO VISIT.

[00:10:01]

AND AGAIN, THIS ISN'T A DEEPER PIECE WITHIN YOUR BOOKLET, BUT WHY ARE THEY CHOOSING HILTON HEAD ISLAND? AND AGAIN, THIS IS KIND OF THAT INTERESTING TIMEFRAME, RIGHT? CAUSE WE WENT FROM 2019, WHICH WAS KIND OF OUR NORMAL EXPERIENCES AND PEOPLE UNDERSTANDING THE DESTINATION AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE.

THEN WE HIT 20, 20, AND THEN 2021 WAS COMING OUT.

AND WHAT DOES TOURISM LOOK LIKE AND HOW DID PEOPLE DIGEST AND INTERACT AND ENGAGE WITH OUR DESTINATION AND HOW WAS OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGING WITH VISITORS? SO THIS AGAIN IS SOME FEEDBACK BASED ON KIND OF THOSE LAST FEW YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, BUT WHAT WAS RESONATING FOR 21? SO THEY CHOSE HILTON HEAD ISLAND, THE VISITORS, BECAUSE THEY'D BEEN HERE BEFORE, BECAUSE WE'RE A BEACH, WE'RE AN ISLAND FOR BEACH DESTINATION, WHICH HAS WONDERFUL WORD OF MOUTH RECOMMENDATION.

WE'RE WITHIN DRIVING DISTANCE.

WE WERE SAFE, RIGHT? SO THAT PATH FORWARD CAMPAIGN, EVERYTHING WE DID AS A COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT NOT ONLY OUR COMMUNITY, OUR BUSINESSES, UM, OUR, OUR WORKFORCE WERE SAFE, BUT OUR VISITORS FELT SAFE AND THEY FELT COMFORTABLE COMING HERE.

SO THAT'S A HUGE, HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR US.

AND ONE THAT REALLY, UM, PAID FOR IT FOR US AS WE KIND OF LED THE CHARGE FOR RECOVERY AND TOURISM AS A NATION FOR THE NATION AND OUT OF THAT, ALL THAT WERE SURVEYED 89, ALMOST 90% PLAN TO RETURN.

AND THAT'S, WE'VE ALWAYS HAD THAT REALLY STRONG CALL TO COME BACK TO THIS DESTINATION.

PEOPLE LOVE HILTON HEAD ISLAND, AND THEY FEEL PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.

IT'S PART OF THEIR DNA AND SOME, A FAMILY MEMORY THAT THEY'VE MADE AND CONTINUE TO MAKE.

SO THEIR BEHAVIORS, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR NATURAL BEAUTY, EASE OF ACCESS, QUALITY OF LODGING AND DINING AFFORDABILITY, DIVERSITY AND LODGING AND DINING, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THEY HAVE EASE OF GETTING AROUND THE ISLAND, BUT WHERE ARE THEY LOOKING WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING TO LAY THEIR HEAD, THAT LEADING THE CHARGES THAT VRVO PLATFORM, THE LOCAL VACATION RENTAL RENTAL MANAGEMENT COMPANIES, UH, AND THEN THE LOCAL RESORTS ONLINE BOOKING PLATFORMS, SUCH AS THE SEA PINES REWARD RESORT, PALMETTO DUNES.

THEY REALLY LIKED THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT THEIR, UM, OPTIONS ARE.

AND THEY DIVE RIGHT INTO, UM, FINDING THOSE HOME AND VILLA OPPORTUNITIES.

AND WHO'S LOOKING THE 3.8 AVERAGE GROUP SIZE.

THEY, THEY DO USE THEIR CAR.

AS WE KNOW, UM, AS WE WERE BUILT ON THIS OPPORTUNITY WHERE IT WAS A DRIVE TO THE DESTINATION OPPORTUNITY, WHICH IS GREAT.

UM, SO CAR STILL REMAINS, UM, A TOP FORM OF TRANSPORTATION WHEN THEY'RE STAYING IN A HOME IN VILLA IT'S ON AVERAGE 7.9 NIGHTS IN A HOTEL 5.5 AND THEN THE HOME AND VILLA CONTINUES TO BE THE MOST POPULAR CHOICE.

AND WE KNEW THAT JUST BASED ON OUR PORTFOLIO, RIGHT? SO REALLY GOOD FOUNDATIONAL PIECES.

AS WE CHART FORWARD TOGETHER IN THIS TOURISM EFFORT, HILTON HEAD ISLAND, LODGING PERFORMANCE, AS YOU SEE HERE, IT WAS ALL ARROWS UP IN TERMS OF YOUR OVER YEAR PERFORMANCE.

WE LOOK AT THAT TWO SOURCE REPORT, WHICH IS THAT LEFT COLUMN OR YOUR RIGHT COLUMN IF YOU'RE LOOKING FROM THE DIET.

UM, SO WE'RE UP IN REVENUE PER AVAILABLE ROOM 44.9% OCCUPANCY WAS UP 26.9%.

AND WE HAD, UM, OUR AVERAGE DAILY RATE AT 14.2%.

I REMEMBER LOOKING AT THAT, I CHOOSE THAT TO SOURCE REPORT IS KIND OF THE, UM, PIECE THAT THE COLUMN THAT WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT, CAUSE IT'S THE COMBINED HOME IN VILLA AND THE HOTEL REPORT TOGETHER GOING TO OF COURSE, YES, SIR.

GOOD MORNING.

THAT INTO THAT'S THE METRICS AND TOPIA DID ON THEIR SIDE.

I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THE, THE ADR NUMBER, UM, WITH 2021 IS THREE 17 UP 8% AND YOU'RE IN 20, YEAH, 2020.

IT WAS 335.

SO I JUST NEED A LITTLE HELP WITH THE FORMULA AS TO HOW WE GET UP IN THAT SITUATION.

IF THE ACTUAL NUMBER IS DIFFERENT.

I'M SORRY, WE'RE GOING IN 20.

CAN YOU REPEAT THE NUMBERS THE YEARS YOU'RE LOOKING AT, SIR? I'M SORRY.

I'M JUST, YEAH.

THE 2020 NUMBER WAS $335 ON HOW MANY VELA, ONLY THE ADR AND WE SHOULD WANT 317 AS THE 2021 NUMBER.

RIGHT? SO THIS IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN THAT.

SO AS WE GO FORWARD THROUGH OUR OPPORTUNITY OF REPORTING, ALL NUMBERS ARE ACCURATE.

HOWEVER, THEY DO THE ORGANIZATION, IT WAS IN TOPIA DESTINED METRICS THAT IN THIS, FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS THAT WE REPORTED ON DID, UM, ALL OF OUR REPORTING FOR US THAT THIRD-PARTY.

AND, UM, WHEN WE REPORT IT AT THE TIME OF REPORTING, IT WAS ACCURATE AND THEN THEY RIGHT-SIDED THOSE NUMBERS OR ADJUSTED THEM BASED ON, UM, CLOSING OUT THEIR, THEIR NUMBERS FOR THE YEAR AND THEY ADJUSTED IT TO MAKE IT THE APP.

SO THERE WAS A SLIGHT ADJUSTMENT IN THOSE NUMBERS.

SO THE PERCENTAGE UP AND DOWN WILL WILL CHANGE.

BUT, UM, THE NUMBER THAT ARE SHOWING UP ON 21 AS UP 8% WAS ADJUSTED SLIGHTLY BASED ON SOME ADJUSTMENTS

[00:15:01]

SO WE WILL PROVIDE THOSE NEW NUMBERS FOR YOU, BUT AT THE TIME OF REPORTING, THOSE WERE ACCURATE.

AMERICA'S BEAUTIFUL SEASIDE TOWNS.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

SO VISITOR SPENDING STUDIES ECONOMIC IMPACT WITH ALL OF OUR VISITORS HERE ON THE DESTINATION, WHAT WAS THE IMPACT THAT THEY BROUGHT FOR ALL OF SOUTHERN OR ALL OF BUFORD COUNTY, EXCUSE ME.

AND THAT WAS AN ECONOMIC IMPACT OF 2.8 BILLION, UM, IN TERMS OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND TOURISM IN 2021, UM, AS YOU CAN SEE THAT THAT NUMBER, UM, IS QUITE, IS SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER THAN YEARS PRIOR.

BUT WHEN WE LOOK INTO THE REPORTING FOR, UM, 20, 20, 19, 20 18, THOSE WAR WITH NO SIGNIFICANT EVENTS THAT HAD HAPPENED IN TERMS OF WHETHER THAT BE A WEATHER EVENT OR SOME OTHER, UM, INITIATIVE THAT WOULD HAVE BROUGHT IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

AND SO WHEN WE HAD THE, UM, YOU KNOW, COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THAT WAS A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, WE DID RECEIVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THAT.

AND WITH THAT FUNDING, UM, WE RESULTED IN MORE MARKETING, MORE PEOPLE ARE HERE AND SO THE HIGHER IMPACT.

SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE NOTED THAT.

SO IF WE BREAK THAT DOWN FOR EVERY DOLLAR, THAT'S INVESTED THE RETURN FROM THE VISITOR COMING IN, AND THAT IMPACT WAS FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE, AS A COMMUNITY, AS A DMO INVESTED INTO MARKETING WAS $1.

THE OUTPUT OF THAT WOULD BE 38, 30 $8 AND 1 CENTS AS THE RETURN.

SO THE RECEIPTS WE REALLY TALK ABOUT IN THIS, UM, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TOWN WE WANTED TO REPORT ON IN FIVE YEARS, WHICH YOU'VE SEEN THIS, UM, REPORT FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS IN TERMS OF THE FIVE-YEAR AND THE FOUNDATION YEAR THAT YOU SEE THERE AS YOUR BASE YEAR OF 16, THIS JUST SHOWS THE COLLECTIONS, UM, ACROSS ALL OPPORTUNITIES.

SO BEACH PRESERVATION, HOSPITALITY, LOCAL ACCOMMODATION, AND STATE ACCOMMODATION TAX.

SO FOR THIS, UM, PRIOR YEAR, WE WERE UP 60% IN ACCOMMODATION AND HOSPITALITY TAX COMBINED.

SO NUMBER OF VISITORS, 3.1, 3 MILLION NUMBER OF VISITORS ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND, WE'VE BEEN AVERAGING AROUND 2.6 FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS.

THIS, THIS PAST YEAR FOR 21 WAS 3.1, 3 MILLION.

AND WE LIKE TO JUST PUT WHO WAS IT THAT WE WERE TARGETING THAT WE WENT AFTER AND WHO WE RECEIVED.

SO SHE SKEWS A BIT FEMALE, SHE'S AN AFFLUENT TRAVELER, THEIR UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE, OR HIGHER TWO TO FOUR TRIPS PER YEAR IN SEVEN NIGHTS ON AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY.

SO WE, UM, USE OUR HILTON HIGHLAND.ORG WEBSITE AS OUR VIRTUAL FRONT DOOR.

AND OUR OPPORTUNITY IS TO CREATE HANDSHAKES TO OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR WEBSITE VISITS, WE HAD OVER 3.4 MILLION TO THE WEBSITE IN 21, CONVERTING OR HANDSHAKES CREATIVE, OR 1.7 MILLION OUT TO OUR PARTNER BUSINESSES.

THE OTHER PIECE THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF AND THAT WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR COMMUNITY ON IS THE MAIL FULFILLMENT.

AND THERE'S THE BOOK THAT TO YOUR LEFT, MY LEFT, YOUR RIGHT, WHICH IS THE, UM, OFFICIAL HILTON HEAD ISLAND VACATION PLANNER.

AND WE HAD OVER 68,000, UM, FULFILLED THROUGHOUT.

AND THAT COMES THROUGH THOSE THAT WALK IN THOSE THAT REQUEST IT VIA EMAIL TO BE MAILED TO THEM.

IT'S AT ALL OF OUR SOUTH CAROLINA WELCOME CENTERS TO AAA OFFICES.

IT'S TAKEN TO EVERY CONFERENCE THAT WE GO TO OR TRADE SHOW AT SENT TO OUR MEDIA POINTS OF CONTACT.

UM, WE LIKE TO KEEP THIS BOOK TOP OF MIND.

IT'S ALSO IN OUR HOTEL ROOMS WHEN PEOPLE, UM, ARE RESTING, THEY CAN SEE THE BEAUTIFUL BOOK THERE.

UM, AND THAT'S COMPLIMENTED ALSO BY THE GOLF GUIDE.

PEOPLE ARE TAKING NOTICE.

AND WE LIKE TO BRING THIS AGAIN TO YOUR ATTENTION BECAUSE IT'S NOT US SAYING THAT WE'RE NUMBER ONE, IT IS THE READERSHIPS AND, UM, THE COMMUNITY.

AND THE OUT-MARKET SAYING THAT WE'RE NOT, THIS IS JUST A SMALL HANDFUL OF THE ACCOLADES THAT WERE, UM, AWARDED TO THE DESTINATION.

AGAIN, TRAVEL AND LEISURE.

CONDE NAST TRAVELER COMMENTS FROM MSN IS 25 MOST POPULAR BEACHES IN AMERICA.

UM, AND AGAIN, COMING IN AS FROM FORBES, SOUTH CAROLINA'S HAS TO UP AND COMING FOOD AND DRINK DESTINATION.

SO AGAIN, PUTTING SOME, A DIFFERENT TAKE ON ACCOLADES THERE, AND I LOVE TO SEE THAT, BUT WHAT DOES TOURISM DO FOR THIS ECONOMY? WE OFTEN SAY, IT'S OUR NUMBER ONE ECONOMY, BUT HOW ARE WE SEEING THAT IN NUMBERS? AND SO WHEN YOU PUT THAT IN TERMS OF NUMBERS AND JOBS, IT GENERATED FROM HILTON HEAD ISLAND, TOURISM FOR BUFORD COUNTY, 36,919 JOBS.

THAT'S KIND OF, IT'S 34% OF JOBS WITHIN BUFORD COUNTY.

AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT, WE'RE THINKING FRONTLINE, FRONTLINE MEMBERS OF TOURISM, RIGHT? SO IT'S THE PERSON AT THE HOTEL OR AT THE RESTAURANT, BUT IT ALSO COULD BE THE

[00:20:01]

PERSON DRIVING IN THE LINENS FROM ANOTHER STATE OR ANOTHER COUNTY.

IT COULD BE SOMEONE, UM, SECONDARY OR, YOU KNOW, THIRD IN LINE IN TERMS OF HOW IT TOUCHES TOURISM.

IT ISN'T ALWAYS JUST THE FRONTLINE PERSON TOUCHING TOURISM.

WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT COMPREHENSIVELY AND THAT, AND THERE IS A REQUEST FROM THE FRONT LINE THAT NEEDS A TOUCH POINT.

THAT IS 60, THAT ACCOUNTS FOR BEING TIED TO TOURISM, WE ARE PARTICIPATING AND WE ARE CONNECTING WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND WE DONE THAT IN 2021 WITH 70 PLUS IN-PERSON AND COMBINED VIRTUAL CHAMBER EVENTS.

AND WE DID OVER 50 RIBBON CUTTINGS AND GROUND BREAKING CEREMONIES, WHICH IS EXCITING, RIGHT? WE'RE BRINGING THAT OPPORTUNITY FORWARD.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL THE NEW BUSINESSES AND THE COMMERCE HAPPENING HERE, UM, LOCALLY, WHICH IS EXCITING, UM, TO BE ABLE TO, TO CELEBRATE THOSE WITH THE, WITH THE BUSINESSES AND THE COMMUNITY, CHARLIE CLARK AND HER TEAM ARE WORKING HARD TO ENSURE THAT OUR, UM, DESTINATION IS FRONT AND CENTER.

WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PLACES TO TRAVEL TO, UM, HER TEAM DOES A WONDERFUL JOB WITH OVER, UM, IN 21, 2,316 STORIES AND MENTIONS, AND THAT WAS IT.

AND THE DEEPER DIVE I WAS OBVIOUSLY IN FRONT OF YOU, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON HERE AND TAKE ANY ANSWERS, QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.

THANK YOU, ARIE, UH, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM COMMITTEE, BILL ARIANA, UH, FIRST, THANKS FOR THAT GREAT REPORT.

I APPRECIATE IT.

THE, UH, IF YOU LOOK AT THE AVERAGE, UH, TOTAL EXPENDITURE, AN INDIVIDUAL OR A FAMILY, UM, UH, SPENDS HERE, ARE WE ABLE TO TRACK WHERE THEY SPEND IT? UH, I KNOW OBVIOUSLY A HOTEL OR LODGING WOULD BE BIG FOOD WOULD BE BIG, UH, BUT IF I'M RUNNING A LITTLE BOAT TEAK OUT THERE, AM I, ARE WE ABLE TO CREATE EYE TRACKING? I WILL WORK WITH OUR, UM, COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON POINT OF CONTACT FOR THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE SURE WE CAN BREAK FURTHER DOWN PAST A CATEGORY AND I'LL SEE HOW REFINED WE CAN GET WITH THE OPPORTUNITY.

I'LL MAKE THAT NOTE AND ASK THAT QUESTION BECAUSE IT JUST COULD BE SOME KIND OF A LITMUS TEST TO START TO SEE CHANGING TASTE, NO CHANGING TRENDS.

OTHER IF I MIGHT JUST, THE OTHER COMMENT IS, UH, WHEN YOU STARTED YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU, YOU SPENT, UH, I THINK INAPPROPRIATELY, SO TIME ON, UH, SHARING WHAT THE REACTION OF THE COMMUNITY IS TO THIS TOURISM ENGINE.

UM, I MAY HAVE MISSED IT, BUT I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING FROM AN EDUCATIONAL STANDPOINT THAT WE COULD SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY, UH, IN TERMS OF WHAT POSITIVE IMPACT THIS INDUSTRY DOES HAVE, UH, ON THEIR TAXES.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THERE IS A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF WORK BEING DONE BASED ON THAT CORNERSTONE CAMPAIGN, UM, THAT WE TALK ABOUT IN OUR MARKETING PLAN.

AND, UM, WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE THOSE PIECES IN PLACE REGARDING EDUCATION, THE BENEFITS OF TOURISM.

UM, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE SOME OF THAT DETAIL WITH YOU, UM, AS WE GET CLOSER, BUT THERE ARE STRONG BENEFITS OF HAVING OUR NUMBER ONE ECONOMY, TOURISM.

SO WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT DETAILED BACK TO YOU, BUT, UM, THERE HAS BEEN A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MT OF EFFORT RE BEYOND, UM, YOU KNOW, EFFORTS OF, WE CALL IT HOME CAMPAIGN.

WE ARE MEETING REGULARLY WITH DIFFERENT GROUPS AROUND THE COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE INFORMED OF THOSE DETAILS THAT, UM, SUCH AS THE BENEFITS OF TOURISM, BUT ALSO JUST HOW THE FUNDING IS GENERATED AND HOW IT FLOWS.

UM, SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO YOU JUST SO IT'S ALSO WITH YOU.

AND, UH, JUST ONE LAST QUESTION, ARE WE TRACKING THE AVERAGE, UH, INCOME OF THE PERSON OR FAMILY THAT COMES HERE SO WE CAN DO TRENDING? YES, SIR.

WE ARE DOING THAT.

AND HOW IS IT TRENDING? WE ARE TARGETING AND THAT HUNDRED AND $50,000 HOUSEHOLD INCOME, AND WE ARE RIGHT ON PAR AND WE'RE DOING THAT WITH OUR SURVEYING.

UM, AND IT'S A PART OF THE QUESTION WITHIN THE SURVEYS THAT WE ASK, UM, IN THE VISITOR PROFILE STUDY THERE.

SO THAT IS, WE ARE PITTING ON TARGET.

ON TRYING TO BRING IN THE HIGHER END TRAVELER, THE $150,000 OR GREATER, UH, FAMILY INCOME.

THANK YOU, SIR.

WELL, THANK YOU VERY ANA FOR A NICE REPORT.

UM, THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING

[00:25:01]

IF I'M READING THE STATISTICS THAT I'VE SEEN IN THESE REPORTS CORRECTLY, ABOUT 25% OF THE TRAVELERS THAT COME HERE, FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY.

UM, I'M WONDERING WHAT WE HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY IN THE PAST YEAR, FROM IN THE PAST TO TRY TO DRAW THOSE, THAT TYPE OF FAMILY VISITOR HERE TO THE ISLAND.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN IT.

SO OUR OPPORTUNITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO FOCUS ON THAT $150,000 HOUSEHOLD INCOME.

AND THEN WE DO THAT THROUGH OUR REFINED MESSAGING AND, UM, ENSURING THAT WE'RE TOUCHING ON DIFFERENT ASSETS THAT THEY MIGHT ENJOY, UM, STARTING WITH ACCOMMODATIONS FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND THEN GOING OVER TO EXCURSIONS OR EXPERIENCES.

AND THERE'S A WIDE RANGE OF THOSE.

UM, AS WE DEVELOP NEW TECHNOLOGY AND WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO UTILIZE THAT TECHNOLOGY, IT ALLOWS US TO BE EXTREMELY LASER-FOCUSED IN OUR EFFORT TO REACH THAT TARGET AUDIENCE, AND WE SEE THEM CONVERTING, RIGHT? SO IT'S NOT ONLY JUST BRINGING THEM IN THROUGH THE WEBSITE AND TURNING IT INTO A HANDSHAKE FOR OUR BUSINESSES, BUT WE'RE ALSO CONTINUING THAT CONVERSATION WITH THEM THROUGH SEVERAL DIFFERENT TOUCH POINTS, WHETHER WE'RE ENGAGING THEM WITH EMAIL OR SOCIAL MEDIA, UM, OR AN ON ISLAND EXPERIENCE, THAT THEY ARE GETTING THAT CONSISTENCY THERE.

SO TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION AND FIRST AND FOREMOST REFINE.

AND SO WE ENSURE THAT WE'RE GETTING INTO THAT TARGET AUDIENCE THAT WE'RE, UM, THAT IS THE MOST DESIRED.

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT, UH, PEOPLE THAT FIT INTO THAT CATEGORY HAVE PARTICULAR INTERESTS IN LIFE.

GENERALLY THEY SUBSCRIBE TO CERTAIN MAGAZINES, WHICH MAY NOT BE THE SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH LESS INCOME.

SO WHAT I'M GETTING AT HERE IS, IS THERE AN EFFORT TO TRY TO REACH THOSE PARTICULAR SOURCES ALSO OCCURS TO ME, UM, THE UNIVERSITIES, THE MAJOR UNIVERSITIES AND THEIR ALUMNI RELATIONS.

WHAT ARE WE DOING IN TERMS OF REACHING OUT TO THOSE SOURCES? ABSOLUTELY.

ANOTHER GREAT QUESTION.

SO IN TERMS OF THE MEDIA THAT WE'RE PLACING, WE HAVE THE DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY, WHICH AGAIN, IS LASER FOCUSED INTO THE LITERALLY THE HOUSEHOLD THAT WE DESIRE WE CAN GET INTO THAT GRANULARITY OF PRECISION.

SECONDLY, IT IS HAVING A STRONG MIX OF MEDIA PLATFORMS, WHETHER THAT BE A DEPARTURES, YOU KNOW, HIGH-END AMERICAN EXPRESS CARDHOLDER, OR WE ARE, UM, TARGETING MESSAGING WITHIN A BROADER REACH OF MEDIA, WHETHER THAT BE TRAVEL AND LEISURE OR GARDENING GUN.

SO YOU NEED TO, UM, WE TARGET READERSHIP BASED ON CONTENT, BUT WE ALSO TARGET MEDIA BASED ON THEIR CONSUMER.

CORRECT.

SO WE HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES LAID OUT IN FRONT OF US AND WE, AND WE WORK WITH THOSE PARTNERS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE GETTING TO THOSE.

WE ALSO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS LOCALLY ON THEIR EVENTS TO ENSURE WHETHER IT BE AN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, UM, OR A DIFFERENT FACET OF INTEGRATION OF, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT IS A SORORITY OR FRATERNITY OR SOME OUTREACH IN THAT REGARD THAT WE'RE WORKING TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THOSE TOUCH POINTS.

UM, AND THAT IS WHERE OUR, UM, WE'RE WORKING INTERNALLY TO REFINE THOSE AND HAVE THOSE CONTACTS.

AND SO WE'RE CONSTANTLY WORKING ON THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WHEN WE HAD A RECENT, UM, DERRIUS RUCKER INTERCOLLEGIATE EVENT HERE, WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THAT PARTNER TO ENSURE THAT WE HAD THOSE OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES TO ALUMNI, UM, PARTNERS.

UM, IN ADDITION, WE'VE WORKED ON OUR MEETINGS AND GROUPS SITES TO INVITE AND ENCOURAGE THOSE SORORITIES AND FRATERNITIES OR REUNION OPPORTUNITIES TO COME INTO THE DESTINATION TO, UM, CHOOSE US FOR THEIR, THEIR SPOT FOR GETTING BACK TOGETHER.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CONTINUED REPORTING ON THAT.

UM, IN THE, IN THE RESIDENCE SURVEY, UM, I NOTICED ONE OF THE CONTINUING THEMES WAS OVERCROWDING, UM, AND TRAFFIC CONGESTION.

UM, THIS MAKES THE 2 78 CARTER PROJECT EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO US, I THINK, BUT I'M INTERESTED IN, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM OUR VISITORS ABOUT? IS THERE A PERCEPTION OF OVERCROWDING? IS THERE A PERCEPTION OF TRAFFIC INGESTION THAT IS TURNING PEOPLE AWAY? NOT IN OUR CURRENT, UM, EFFORTS, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT AND ASK THOSE QUESTIONS AND BRING THOSE FORWARD AND, AND WORK WITH THEM REAL TIME ON THEM AS WE, AS WE SEE THEM.

EXCELLENT.

ARE YOU GOING TO TOUCH AT ALL ON THE, UH, IT'S IN OUR PACKAGE, IT SAYS A DRAFT, UH, DESTINATION WALKING PLAN.

THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.

UM, AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, GOOD, UH, PRESENTATION.

DOES FOUR,

[00:30:01]

ARE YOU GOING TO TOUCH ON IT TODAY AT ALL OR NO, THE MARKETING PLAN? NO, SIR.

UM, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU'D LIKE, BUT I AM, WELL, SOME OF MY QUESTIONS AS FAR AS THE REPORTING, I THINK TIE BACK TO THE NEW PLAN, SO, OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

AND, UM, MOST OF THESE MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE QUESTIONS.

I JUST WANT TO, UH, MAKE SOME, MAKE SOME COMMENTS.

IF YOU, IF YOU'VE GOT ANSWERS, THAT'S FINE.

UM, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO FIRST SAY THAT I'M, I'M VERY HAPPY THAT WE ARE, UH, WITHIN A CONTRACT WITH THE CHAMBER.

AND, UH, MOST, MOST FOLKS, UM, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS, THERE'S A CONTRACT IN CASH.

I'LL ADD ANOTHER SEAT TO THAT.

THAT'D BE CONVERSATION.

SO I'M KIND OF VIEWING TODAY AS A WORKSHOP.

SO BEAR WITH ME, MR. CHIA.

UM, AND I APPLAUD PRIOR COUNCILS TO GETTING US TO A POINT WHERE WE DO HAVE A CONTRACT IN PLACE.

I THINK THAT'S SO IMPORTANT IN ORDER FOR US TO HAVE SOME METRICS THAT WE CAN DIALOGUE ABOUT.

AND, UM, I ONLY ASK STAFF THAT MOVING FORWARD.

I KNOW WE'VE MENTIONED THE CONTRACT IN THE COVER MEMO, BUT, UM, THE COPY OF THE CONTRACT, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF THE TERMS, UH, AND WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL START TO SEE NEW MEMBERS OF COUNCIL COMING ON.

I KNOW THAT, UM, SOME MAY BE MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE THAN OTHERS AS FAR AS THE CONTRACT AND, AND WHERE WE STAND.

UM, THE, I GUESS ONE OF THE REASONS I ASKED ABOUT THE ADR, UM, WHICH IS A GOOD METRIC, UM, COUNCILMAN, UM, STANFORD KIND OF TOUCHED ON THIS A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, SO MUCH OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE.

UM, WE NEED HELP FROM OUR PARTNERS.

AND WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT CONGESTION AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS, NOT JUST TO THE RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO THE VISITORS HELPS US MAKE DECISIONS, AND WE'RE GONNA NEED YOUR HELP IN TERMS OF IF WE NEED TO SHIFT IN THAT.

UM, SO THAT ADR, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HOME AND VILLA THE INCREASE, AND THEN I LOOK AT THE INCREASE OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VISITORS AND TIE THAT BACK TO THE CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING ABOUT SHORT TERM RENTALS, HE ON HILTON AT THE MOMENT, UM, I'M NOT QUITE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT THE SHIP SPEED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION THERE.

PARTICULARLY WHEN, UM, WE WANT TO ALWAYS, UM, INCREASE, UM, THOSE NUMBERS FROM A DOLLAR PERSPECTIVE, ABS.

ABSOLUTELY.

UM, BUT I'M NOT QUITE SURE THAT, UH, IT'S JUST A CAPACITY THAT WE CHASING.

INSTEAD OF MORE AND MORE AND MORE VISITORS, MAYBE BE MORE AND MORE, MORE, UM, AS MR. STANFORD HAS POINTED OUT, UH, THE QUALITY OF THE VISIT IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO SPIN WHEN THEY'RE HERE.

AND ALSO, I'D ALSO LIKE TO THROW INTO THAT IS, UM, HILTON IS MORE THAN JUST BEACH IN GOLF, IN A PLACE TO VISIT, RIGHT.

IT'S A PLACE TO LIVE.

ALSO THAT DATA, THERE'S A HUGE COMPONENT OF OUR ECONOMIC BASE, OUR TAX BASE THAT COMES FROM THOSE OF US THAT LIVE HERE, THOSE OF US THAT CHOOSE TO COME AND LIVE HERE.

AND I THINK, UH, YOU ALL ARE THE VOICE AS FAR AS, AS CONCERNED.

UH, IT WAS NOT PRETTY SHINY FOR SOMEONE TO PICK UP OUR CARPETS, A PLAN OR STRATEGIC PLAN.

BUT WHEN THEY LOOK AT STUFF THAT YOU ALL HAVE PUT OUT, I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE ATTRACTIVE.

SO, UM, GIVEN OFF THE, THE SENSE OF, YOU KNOW, BE AT A PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY, I THINK IS DEFINITELY IMPORTANT.

UH, THE $2.8 BILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT GAIN TO THAT.

UM, YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY CURIOUS IN THE METRIC OF HOW WE, HOW WE SAY THE DESERT, IMPROVING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE HERE ON HILTON HEAD.

AND, UM, I'M NOT SURE I CAN PULL THAT OUT OF THIS REPORT AT THE MOMENT, BUT IN THE FUTURE, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE, THAT WE HAVE THAT, UM, COUNCILMAN HARKEN ASKED THE QUESTION ABOUT HOW THIS TRICKLES DOWN.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT ALSO.

AND PART OF OUR, UH, ATTRACTION HEALED HILTON HEAD IS OUR ARTS AND CULTURAL COMMUNITY.

AND I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO HOW THOSE BUSINESSES ARE REALLY, UH, FLOURISHING BECAUSE OF ALL, UH, ENHANCEMENT OF THAT PARTICULAR AREA.

UM, ON PAGE 19, IT TALKS ABOUT AT 34% OF THE JOBS IN BUFORD COUNTY.

AND, UH, I THINK IT ALSO, UM, PICKS UP SOMEWHERE IN YOUR DRAFT MARKETING PLAN THAT WE HAVE THIS PUBLIC RELATIONS EFFORTS THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH.

UM, THE QUALITY OF SERVICE HERE ON HILTON HEAD IS SO IMPORTANT.

I JUST GOT BACK FROM JAMAICA.

UM, I'LL BE A LITTLE BIT BIASED HERE BECAUSE

[00:35:01]

AND, UH, WHEN YOU COMPARE HOW YOU TREATED OR HILTON HEAD VERSUS HOW YOU TREATED IN JAMAICA, THERE WAS NO COMPARISON.

UH, HILTON HEAD IS TOP OF LINE AND I THINK WE NEED TO STAY THAT WAY.

UM, BUT I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR LOCAL GROWN TALENT.

UM, A LOT OF FOLKS, UM, HAVE DECIDED TO STAY ON HILTON HEAD AND MAKE CAREERS ON HILTON HEAD BASED ON THE BRAND OF HILTON HEAD.

IF IT'S A REAL ESTATE AGENT, IF IT'S MANAGING A RESTAURANT, WHATEVER IT IS.

UM, BUT YOU KNOW, AS A YOUNG ADULT, THEY MADE THE DECISION TO HERE.

I'M JUST WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STRENGTHEN THAT CONNECTION OVER TIME THROUGH YOUR, YOUR PUBLIC RELATIONS STRATEGIES.

I THINK THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

UM, I HAD IN MY NOTES HERE TO ASK YOU ABOUT, UH, OUR RESOLUTION TO, UH, STAND UP A HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATE CORPORATION.

UH, BUT I'M NOT LOOKING FOR YOU TO ANSWER THAT.

I'M JUST SAYING THAT OUT LOUD IN RUMSON MR. MILES, AND I CAN HAVE THAT CHAT LEAD ON.

UM, IN THE LAST ONE, UM, I WOULD JUST SAY TO OUR PARTNERS IS, UM, I THINK THE METRICS THAT WERE PUT IN BEFORE US AT THE MOMENT ARE GREAT.

UH, BUT AS I GO THROUGH THAT DRAFT OF A MARKETING PLAN, UM, I THINK I'M INTERESTED, UM, IN LETTING THE COMMUNITY KNOW HOW THOSE STRATEGIES ARE TYING BACK TO THE HILTON HEADS, OUR PLAN STRATEGIES.

IT TALKS ABOUT BRANDING IN THERE.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GOING IN THE SAME DIRECTION, HOW WE TIE THE TWO TOGETHER, I THINK IS ULTIMATELY VERY IMPORTANT TO US.

UM, AND WHAT ARE THE METRICS WE CAN PUT BEHIND THE STRATEGIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT ARE ON PAGE 49 OF, OF THAT, UH, MARKETING PLAN, UM, HOW WE REPORT BACK ON GOALS IN THIS ANNUAL REPORT, I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT.

UH, IT HELPS US, IT HELPS YOU ALL, UH, IN A GAME.

I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE IN A LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP HERE.

UM, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE IT, UM, IS, IS, IS MY TAKEAWAY ON TODAY'S DISCUSSION.

SO THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

GOOD.

ERIC.

GOOD, GOOD REPORT.

I THINK I'D LIKE TO MAKE TWO COMMENTS AND BOTH COMMENTS PERTAIN TO, UH, THE EVOLUTION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ISLAND, VISITOR AND THE RESIDENT, AND THE ROLE THAT YOU IN YOUR ROLE AS GMO AND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAVE IN THAT EVOLUTION.

UH, ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO, UH, THE CHAMBER BROUGHT INTO ONE OF THEIR, UH, UH, TELECONFERENCES OR POWER HOUR, PETER GREENBERG, UH, A WELL-KNOWN EXPERT IN THE FIELD OF TOURISM AND VISITOR RELATIONSHIPS.

AND HE SAID, UH, IT'S ABOUT PROCESS, NOT PRODUCT.

UH, AND I THINK YOUR COMMENT AREA WAS A GOOD ONE.

UH, PEOPLE OBVIOUSLY FELT SAFE COMING TO HELP HIM HEAD ISLAND AND THOSE NUMBERS SUPPORT IT.

UH, AND I THINK THE COMMUNICATION THAT THE CHAMBER HAD THROUGH THE, UH, TELE TOWN HALLS AND THE POWER HOURS AND OTHER S UH, SIMILAR TO THAT WAS VERY, VERY EFFECTIVE IN DELIVERING THE MESSAGE, UH, TO THE COMMUNITY, BOTH RESIDENT NON-RESIDENT, UH, HOW IMPORTANT THE PROCESS ON HOW IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY IS ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.

AND I THINK YOUR NUMBERS, UH, SUPPORT THAT.

SO MY FIRST COMMENT IS YOUR LEADERSHIP ROLE DURING THE PANDEMIC STANDS TALL.

AND THE NUMBER OF SUPPORTIVE SECOND COMMENT, UH, IS THAT, UH, THE RESIDENTS SURVEY, UH, THAT YOU DID FOR THE FIRST TIME WAS MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE THAN I EVER ANTICIPATED.

THE NUMBER OF RESPONSES THAT YOU GOT WAS OFF THE CHART AND GIVES US ALL A VERY GOOD DATABASE FROM WHICH WE CAN WORK.

UH, AND THE FOUR INSIGHTS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT SURVEY, UH, ARE EXTREMELY CRITICAL.

AND I THINK AS YOU LED WITH YOUR PRESENTATION, UH, WITH THOSE FOUR INSIGHTS, I THINK WE'VE GOT TO KEEP THOSE FRONT OF MIND AND YOU VERY EFFECTIVELY, UH, TIED YOUR DMO CORNERSTONE PLAN TO THREE OF THOSE FOUR.

UH, AND I THINK THAT'S ALSO APPROPRIATE.

AND THAT REPRESENTS REALLY A CHANGE FROM THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAD AS A TOWN AND VENDOR FIVE YEARS AGO.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT.

WE DO NOW.

AND I LIKE IT.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE EFFECTIVE.

UH, AND I THINK THOSE ARE REALLY GOOD PRIORITIES AND, UH, QUESTIONS OR COMMENT

[00:40:01]

FROM THE PUBLIC.

COME UP, PLEASE.

I ALSO HAVE COMMENTS ON THE TOWN ACCOUNTING WITH YOUR TEXT, TEXT STUFF, AND I'LL SPEAK ON THAT LATER.

MOST OF YOU, MY AGE, UH, HAVE NO CLUE WHAT'S GOING ON.

YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT DMO LAWS, TECHNOLOGY, AND HOW WE'RE ALL BEING SCAMMED BY THIS CHAMBER.

YOU JUST DON'T HAVE A CLUE.

WHAT YOU DO UNDERSTAND IS YOUR FAILURE TO DEMAND THE FOLLOWING IN FULL TRANSPARENCY.

YOU OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF, ESPECIALLY A BANKER.

I'M GLAD I DIDN'T BANK WITH YOU.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU UNDERSTAND FULL ACCOUNTING, FULLY TAX ACCOUNTING FIRM, BILL MILES REQUIRES INVOICES AND MATCH AND MATCHING RECEIPTS.

HE NEEDS TO SHOW US WHERE HE'S DEALING WITH ALL THIS EIGHT TAX MONEY, ALL THIS MILLIONS THAT YOU PEOPLE JUST KEEP ON, HANDING HIM WITH NO OVERSIGHT.

NO, NO, NO, NOTHING.

YOU JUST HAND THEM THE MONEY AND YOU JUST SIT HERE AND JUSTIFY IT.

HOW HAS OVER 1,000,008 TAX FUNDS BEING USED IN CANADA AND STILL GO INTO CANADA AND YOU PEOPLE JUST ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.

JUST LET IT ALLOW THIS MONEY TO LEAVE OUR COUNTRY, NOT EVEN SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST, YOU JUST COMPLETELY IGNORED IT.

AND HOW DO YOU ALLOW THIS CHAMBER TO CLAIM THEY OWN THIS APP AND THIS WEBSITE VERSUS THE TOWN, THE TOWN TAXPAYER OWNS THIS WEBSITE, HOW MUCH ADVERTISING IS BEING SOLD ON THIS WEBSITE IS BEING DEVELOPED IN CANADA BY THESE CROPS, RAY BILL AND BILL MILES.

IT DOESN'T GET ANY MORE CROOKED THAN THESE GUYS.

HOW DO YOU DO THIS? HOW DO YOU THE COMMITTEE? NO, NO.

I'M GOING TO DRESS.

YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO DRESS WHO I WANT TO DRESS.

I'M GOING TO DRESS WHO I WANT.

THERE'S NO RULE THAT SAYS I CAN'T TALK TO THE PUBLIC.

THIS IS, THIS IS NOT GOOD RESTAURANT CLINIC.

THIS IS NOT YOUR HOUSE.

THIS IS OUR HOUSE.

THIS IS A TAXPAYER'S HOUSE.

YOU WORKED FOR ALL TAXPAYERS.

SO PLEASE JUST GIVE ME RESPECT AND JUST SIT THERE AND LISTEN TO WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.

NO, I'M NOT GOING TO LISTEN TO YOUR RULES.

NO, I'M GOING TO DRESS WHO I WANT.

IF THERE IS NONE, I'LL BRING HIM BACK TO THE DIAZ.

NOW YOU, YOU WANT TO SIT HERE AND DEBATE THIS FOR, ARE YOU GOING TO LET ME FINISH? YOU DON'T THINK THE POLICE ARE GONNA REMOVE ME BY POLICE FORCE D YOU DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO ACTUALLY DO THAT.

HE'S NOT, HE'S NOT THAT STUPID.

IS THIS THE WAY YOU WANT TO USE YOUR TIME? OH, THIS IS THE WAY I'M GOING TO SPEAK.

AND I'M GOING TO SPEAK THE TRUTH.

AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO DO, BECAUSE YOUR CORRUPTION, YOUR LIES AND YOUR FRAUD IS OVER.

IT'S OVER HOW MUCH ADVERTISING IS BEING SOLD ON THE APP, APPLE, THE WEBSITE BY THESE TWO CRIMINALS.

HOW MUCH, WHERE IS IT? HAVE YOU SEEN THAT MONEY? LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.

THE IRS HAS ALREADY STATED THAT BILL, THAT BILL MILES, RAY DEAL, WHO WAS LAUNDERING THIS MONEY AND COMMINGLING THIS MONEY WITH THE PRIVATE PROFITS AND THE TAX MONIES WE ALREADY KNOW AHEAD.

HOW DO YOU THINK BILL MILES MAKES 500,000? WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S MAKING.

WE DON'T HAVE MUCH HE'S STEALING.

WE KNOW WHEN THE IRS FORM NINE 90 GET SHOWS AND MAKING 350,000 A YEAR.

MY GOD, THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF THE GOVERNOR OF SOUTH CAROLINA HAS ONLY MAKES 104,000.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH HE'S GOT OUT THERE STEALING BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE INVOICES AND THE RECEIPTS AND THE ACCOUNTING, THE REST OF THIS STUFF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

AND THIS FRAUDULENT PRESENTATION BY AREA AND PER NIECE IS JUST RIDICULOUS.

IT'S JUST NOTHING BUT SMOKE AND MIRRORS THE STEAL MONEY.

AND Y'ALL GO, Y'ALL HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

I THINK ALISON UNDERSTANDS THAT QUITE FRANKLY, THE ONLY ONE OUT OF ALL OF YOU, I THINK ALEX UNDERSTANDS IS.

SO THE FACT IS THIS DMO NONPROFIT 5 0 1 DASSI SIX CHAMBER CHA IS IN VIOLATION OF IRX NONPROFIT TAX CODES.

AND THEY'RE VIOLATING UBIT.

UBIT STANDS FOR UNRELATED BUSINESS INCOME TAX.

WHEN YOU SELL MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON A WEBSITE AND POCKET THAT MONEY TO PAY $500,000 PAY PACKAGES, SALARIES, WORLD, TRAVEL, ENTERTAINMENT, IT GOES ON AND ON AND ON.

YOU HAVE TO PAY TAX ON THAT MONEY AND YOU SHOULDN'T BE IN THAT BUSINESS.

A NONPROFIT, THE TAX CODES ARE VERY SPECIFIC.

A NONPROFIT SHOULD NOT BE IN ANY BUSINESS THAT'S CARRIED ON BY A FOR-PROFIT COMPANY.

AND THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT BECAUSE FOR-PROFIT COMPANIES, THE ISLAND PACKET, OTHER MEDIAS PAY TAXES, THEY'RE TAXPAYING COMPANIES.

HE'S NOT PAYING ANY TAXES THAT HE'S IN VIOLATION.

I IMAGINED THAT RAY DEAL AND BILL MILES ONCE INVESTIGATED, AND THIS COUNCIL THAT MANY OF YOU ARE GOING TO BE ARRESTED.

THE HANDCUFFS ARE COMING.

I CAN, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT?

[00:45:07]

WE ARE REQUIRED TO REVIEW THE METRICS WHICH WE HAVE DONE INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY, UH, AND PASS ON WHETHER THE PERFORMANCE FOR 2021 IS ACCEPTABLE.

AS WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION PERTAINING TO THE 2021 METRICS IT'S CHAIRMAN.

I WOULD MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE, EXCEPT THE METRICS REPORT AS PRESENTED BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AS OUR DMO AS ACCEPTABLE.

SEVEN, BE CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A HOME SAFE CARE PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE EXECUTION OF A MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE LOW COUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS TO HANDLE INCOME CERTIFICATION, MR. SEAN COLON.

IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION KRISTA, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.

CERTAINLY SERVED MR. BROWN SUPPORT.

MR. HARKINS.

OH YES.

MR. STANFORD, MR. LENNON'S MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU, ARIANA.

AND BILL AND RAY ITEM

[7b. Consideration of a Resolution Authorizing the Implementation of a Home Safety and Repair Program Including the Execution of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lowcountry Council of Governments to Handle Income Certification]

STATEMENT IS TO HAVE HOME SAFETY AND REPAIR PROGRAM ASSIST LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, UM, WOULD PROPERTY REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO INCREASE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

THANK YOU, SIR.

MR. CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE MEMBERS, MY PLEASURE BE IN FRONT OF YOU THIS MORNING.

UM, AND JUST A MOMENT I'M GOING TO, UH, PRESENT TO YOU A HOME SAFETY AND REPAIR PROGRAM.

UH, BUT I WANT TO REMIND THE COMMITTEE, UM, THE, THE CROWD HERE AND THOSE WATCHING THAT THIS IS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PREVIOUS ACTION THAT THE, THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL AND COUNCIL AUTHORIZED.

UH, WE RECEIVED SOME ARPA MONEY, UM, AS RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC.

AND, UM, WE'VE HAPPILY USED A CATEGORY.

ONE ADDRESS, NEGATIVE ECONOMIC IMPACTS CAUSED BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY IN A DISTRIBUTION TO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.

UH, THEY PRESENTED TO YOU THEIR FIRST ROUND OF GRANT AWARDS, AND I THINK THEY'RE ON YOUR AGENDA FOR NEXT MONTH TO PRESENT.

UM, I THINK THEY'VE, THEY WILL HAVE DISTRIBUTED ALL BUT $35 OF THE 500,000 PROGRAM FOR THIS YEAR.

AND A REMINDER THAT COUNCIL AUTHORIZED ANOTHER 500,000 IN FISCAL 23 AND CATEGORY TWO, I REPLACED LOSS SECTOR, UH, REVENUE AND TARGET FUNDS.

UH, ONE PROGRAM THAT WAS TARGETED FOR EXECUTION WAS $400,000 TO A HOME REPAIR, UH, STRUCTURAL SAFETY, UH, REMOVAL OF UNSAFE AND UNINHABITED STRUCTURES PROGRAM WITH 200,000 PROGRAM FOR FISCAL 22, UM, AND ANOTHER 200,000, UH, PROGRAM FOR FISCAL 23.

UH, THAT INFORMATION WAS IN YOUR MEMO IN YOUR PACKET, BUT I WANTED TO COVER THAT.

UM, WHAT I'M GOING TO WALK THROUGH TODAY IS THE HOME SAFETY AND REPAIR PROGRAM.

UH, THE, THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING THROUGH AN M A MOU WITH, UH, LOWCOUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, UM, FOR IT COMES CERTIFICATION, BUT HERE'S WHAT I'M GONNA COVER.

THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE'LL ASK OF YOU TO COUNSEL, UH, WE'LL COVER THE PROGRAM POLICY STATEMENT.

THE ELEMENTS COVERED ARE OUTLINED IN THIS PROGRAM, UH, THE LIMITATIONS, AS WELL AS QUALIFICATIONS, UH, THE INCOME CERTIFICATION, I MEANT YOU MENTIONED, UM, UH, A LIST OF THE APP THAT REQUIRED APPLICANT FORMS AND DOCUMENTS, AND WE TRY TO INCLUDE, UM, ALL OF THEM IN YOUR PACKET.

THERE ARE MANY ATTACHMENTS, AND YOU'RE IN THE PACKET THAT WENT OUT FOR THIS, FOR THIS MEETING, UM, WE'LL COVER PROGRAM EXECUTION, HOW IT WORKS, UM, THE COMMUNICATION STRATEGY, AND THEN NEXT STEPS.

IT'S AN AWFUL LOT OF WORDS HERE.

UH, IN ESSENCE, WHAT WE'RE ASKING THE FINANCE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE TO DO IS RECOMMEND THAT TOWN COUNCIL AUTHORIZE, UH, THROUGH RESOLUTION, THE EXECUTION, UH, OF THIS PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE MOU WITH THE LOW COUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, TO DO THE, UM, INCOME CERTIFICATION, WHICH HAS REQUIRED, UH, TO MEET ELIGIBILITY, UH, FOR THE, FOR THE PROGRAM ELEMENTS, UH, THE, THE POLICY STATEMENT, UM, AND AGAIN, THIS, UH, WE'VE CREATED A PROGRAM POLICY DOCUMENT.

AND SO IT HAS, I'M GOING TO WALK THROUGH BASICALLY THE ELEMENTS.

AND AGAIN, THAT WAS IN YOUR PACKET, UM, THAT THE POLICY

[00:50:01]

THE QUALITY OF THE HOUSING STOCK, UH, CREATE A SAFER, MORE VIBRANT COMMUNITY, UM, AND RETAIN, UH, CHARACTER AND, AND OPTIONS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

UM, AND WE HEARD THIS AN AWFUL LOT IN OUR, UM, OUR WORK WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE HOUSING STRATEGIC PLAN ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE TO PROTECT THE EXISTING HOUSING STOCK.

UM, JUST AS IMPORTANT AS BUILDING A LOT OF NEW, RIGHT.

LET'S, LET'S LIKE RETAINING EMPLOYEES VERSUS RECRUITING NEW LET'S RETAIN THE GOOD ONES THAT WE HAVE.

SO THE PROGRAM ELEMENTS, UM, OUTLINED AS PART OF THIS, UM, THIS INITIATIVE ARE, UM, THEY COVER THREE MAIN COMPONENTS.

ONE IS HOME REPAIR, UM, REPAIRS INSIDE, INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF HOMES COULD BE A ROOF REPAIRS.

IT COULD BE, UH, REPAIRS TO THE FLOOR.

IT COULD BE BROKEN WINDOWS, UM, BUT, BUT ANY REPAIR THAT'S NEEDED TO KEEP THE HOME SAFE AND DRY, UM, AND TO IMPROVE HABITATION.

UH, THE SECOND ELEMENT IS ABATEMENT OR DEMOLITION OF UNINHABITED UNSAFE STRUCTURES.

AND WE HAVE, WE HAVE A FEW OF THOSE ON THE ISLAND, UM, AND IT PROVIDES A MECHANISM FOR, UH, FOR PROPERTY OWNERS TO, UH, BE ABLE TO REMOVE THOSE, UM, SORT OF ONSITE LANE, UNSAFE STRUCTURES AND A FUNDING MECHANISM THAT ALLOWS THEM TO DO SO.

AND THEN THE THIRD ELEMENT IS TO ALLOW FOR TRIMMING OF TREES THAT POSE A HAZARD TO A, TO A RESIDENCE OR TO A STRUCTURE.

UM, SO IT CAN'T BE A TREE KIND OF ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE, OF THE LOT.

AND SOMEONE WANTS SOME LIMBS TAKEN DOWN, BUT IF THEY POSE A HAZARD TO THE STRUCTURE, UH, THAT COULD CREATE PROBLEMS LATER WITH, UH, ROOF DAMAGE OR, OR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE, UM, THAT THAT WOULD BE AN ELIGIBLE APPLICATION, UH, APPLICATION IN THE PROGRAM.

UM, AND THEN ONE FINAL THING, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A PROGRAM ELEMENT, BUT WE WILL, UM, UH, WAIVE ALL APPLICATION AND PERMIT PERMIT FEES RELATED TO THIS PROGRAM, UH, GOING FORWARD, UH, THE TARGET FOR, UM, AREA MEDIAN INCOME IS 60% THAT, YOU KNOW, THE PROGRAM ISN'T, UM, ISN'T ONE OF CONVENIENCE, IT'S ONE OF NEED.

AND SO WE'RE TARGETING, UM, UH, LOWER INCOME, UM, OWNERS, UH, TO ALLOW THEM, UH, THAT THE ACCESS TO THE PROGRAM.

UM, AND SO 80, 60% IS THE TARGET AMI FOR THE PROGRAM.

THEY'RE ALSO, UM, LIMITS ON THE AMOUNT OF AN AWARD, UH, PER APPLICANT PER YEAR.

UM, IT'S LIMITED TO 15,000 TOTAL PER APPLICANT PER YEAR.

UM, YOU COULD HAVE A $5,000 ROOF REPAIR, OR YOU COULD HAVE A $2,000 TREE TRIMMING.

UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THE BALANCE FOR, IF YOU HAD AN ABANDONED STRUCTURE ALSO ON THE PROPERTY, YOU COULD APPLY FOR ALL THREE, BUT YOU'D BE CAPPED AT 15,000 AND THE TIME MANAGER DOES HAVE DISCRETION IF THERE'S AN EMERGENT NEED, UM, THAT WOULD REQUIRE EXCEEDING THIS LIMIT.

UM, AND SO STAFF WOULD PRESENT THAT THE TIME MANAGER FOR CONSIDERATION, UM, AND HE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO, UM, UH, TO OVERRIDE THE LIMIT, SO TO SPEAK M C INCOME CERTIFICATION WE'VE USED LOWCOCK IN THE PAST.

COMMUNITIES HAVE DONE THIS AS WELL.

UH, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT INCOME CERTIFICATIONS THROUGH LOWCOCK, UM, AS PART OF OUR, UM, IN DISCUSSIONS RELATED TO WORKFORCE HOUSING.

UM, SO THE APPLICATION, UH, COMES IN DIRECTLY, UM, THROUGH LOWCOCK, UH, THEY, THEY PROVIDE A CERTIFICATION OF WHETHER OR NOT THAT THAT APPLICANT MEETS THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, UM, AT THE 60% AMI LEVEL, OR THEY PROVIDE THAT CERTIFICATION, UH, BACK TO THE TOWN, AND THEN WE CAN EXECUTE, UM, THROUGH, THROUGH THE PROCESS.

THEY CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT STAGE.

I WOULD BE GIVING YOU SOME EXAMPLES OF OPTIONS THAT AN APPLICANT HAS TO PROVIDE, UH, THEIR INCOME TO LOW COG.

UM, I DON'T WANT TO READ THEM, BUT THERE ARE SOME OPTIONS THERE THAT, UH, AND THESE ARE STANDARD.

UM, AGAIN, SOME OF OUR COMMUNITIES USE LOW CONFERENCE, THE SAME, SAME PURPOSE REQUIRED FORMS AND DOCUMENTATIONS.

UM, WE'LL TRY TO MAKE THIS AS EASY AS POSSIBLE.

UM, BUT WE DO HAVE AN APPLICATION.

IT WAS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET.

UM, YOU NEED AN ADEQUATE PROOF OF AN OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY, UM, INCOME DOCUMENTATION THROUGH LOWCOCK, AND THEN WE'LL NEED A RIGHT OF ENTRY, WHICH ALLOWS US TO GO, UM, ON THE PROPERTY, UH, ONE TO ASSESS THE, AND CERTIFY THAT THE REPAIRS NEEDED, AND THEN TO COORDINATE WITH CONTRACTORS TO EXECUTE THE WORK, UM, AND IT WILL BE INSPECTED.

AND, AND, UM, AND FINALIZED BEFORE PAYMENT IS ISSUED, UM, PROGRAM EXECUTION.

I'LL TRY TO WALK YOU THROUGH, UM, KIND OF THE BASIC

[00:55:01]

STEPS, BUT AN APPLICATION SUBMITTED TO THE TOWN.

UM, THE LOW, THE INCOME CERTIFICATION PAPERWORK IS SUBMITTED TO LOWCOUNTRY COUNCIL, THE GOVERNMENTS, UM, IF THEY MEET THE PRO PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS AND IT MOVES ON TO THE NEXT STEPS, UH, TOWN STAFF WILL PERFORM A SITE VISIT AND THEY'LL VERIFY THE SAFETY CONCERNS OF THE APPLICANT.

UM, TOWN STAFF WILL THEN SECURE THREE BIDS FOR THE WORK CONSISTENT WITH OUR PROCUREMENT, UH, REQUIREMENTS.

UM, THE TOWN AWARDS, A CONTRACT AND EXECUTER EXECUTES A RIGHT OF ENTRY.

UH, ONE STEP THAT'S MISSING.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO COORDINATE WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER, UH, FOR THE TIMING AND EXECUTION OF THE WORK.

UH, BUT WE'LL MONITOR THE WORK AND PAY THE INVOICES.

ONCE THE WORK IS COMPLETE, YOU CURRENTLY HAVE A CAPACITY AND STAFF TO DO ALL THAT.

UH, YEAH, YES, SIR.

NOW, IF THIS GOES BEYOND A COUPLE OF YEAR PROGRAM OR THE PROGRAM GROWS, WE MAY NEED TO LOOK AT THAT IN THE FUTURE.

UM, BUT BASED ON THE 200,000 PER YEAR, UM, YES, YES, SIR.

I BELIEVE RIGHT NOW WE CAN HANDLE IT WITH EXISTING STAFF.

SO IF APPROVED WILL ALSO EXECUTE A COMMUNICATION STRATEGY, UM, UH, PROVIDED THIS, UH, PRESENTATION AND SUPPORT MATERIAL, UH, TO OUR COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR.

UM, BUT WE WOULD EXECUTE, PRESS RELEASE MEDIA POSTS, UH, HAVE ENGLISH AND SPANISH TRANSLATION FOR THE COLLATERAL MATERIAL AND APPLICATION.

WE'LL POST THIS TO THE TOWN'S WEBSITE.

UM, WE WE'VE TALKED TO THE PSD AND I WANT TO THANK JAMIE LABU, WHO'S MOVED ON TO, TO CLEARWATER, BUT SHE DID A LOT OF LEG WORK AND COORDINATING WITH OUR, UM, PARTNERSHIP ORGANIZATIONS, BUT PSDS, UM, UM, GIVING US SOME INDICATION THAT THEY WOULD HELP US SEND OUT SOME INFORMATION, UH, WITH OUR NEWSLETTER AND BILLS.

UM, AND THEN DEEP, WELL ALSO AS A BIGGER PARTNER ON THE NEXT PROGRAM.

UM, BUT AGAIN, A GOOD PARTNER, UH, TO HELP WITH EXECUTION AND COMMUNICATION, UH, FOR THIS PROGRAM.

SO NEXT STEPS, IF THERE'S A POSITIVE, A RECOMMENDATION OUT OF THE FNA COMMITTEE TODAY, I BELIEVE YOU'LL HAVE A BRIEF LETTER TO COUNSEL AND THEN WE WILL BRING THIS RESOLUTION, UM, AND, UM, FORWARD TO COUNCIL ON THE MAY 3RD DATE, UNLESS OTHERWISE ADVISED, BUT THAT'S, UH, THAT'S AN, THOSE ARE THE NEXT STEPS, UM, AND THAT WILL ALSO DEVELOP, UM, EXECUTE THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND A COMMUNICATION STRATEGY ONCE COUNCIL, UH, IF THEY'RE SO INCLINED APPROVE THE PROGRAM.

SO I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE OR OTHERS, UM, ON THIS PART OF IT.

AND, UH, OKAY, THANK YOU, COMMITTEE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR SEAN.

SO, UH, THANK YOU, SEAN, LET ME CREATE A POTENTIAL SITUATION.

A LAND OWNER, UH, OR BUILDING OWNER, UH, APPLIES FOR, UM, TO THIS PROGRAM.

UH, THE STRUCTURE IS IN A RENTAL SITUATION WITH SAY A FAMILY OF THREE OR FOUR.

AND, UH, UPON ANALYSIS OF THE STRUCTURE, IT'S DETERMINED TO BE UNSAFE IN TERMS OF TOWN CODE AND FRANKLY NOT WORTH INVESTING IN, BUT RATHER REMOVAL.

UH, WHAT, WHAT HAPPENS IN THAT CHAIN? WHAT COULD HAPPEN IN THAT CHAIN OF EVENTS? OBVIOUSLY THE FAMILY COULD BE DISLODGED AND DOES THIS PROGRAM OFFER SOME KIND OF A PARACHUTE FOR THAT? SO, UM, I'LL ANSWER, I GUESS THE TWO PARTS OF THAT QUESTION, YOU KNOW, FIRST IT'S A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM.

UM, AND SO AN OWNER, UM, WOULD HAVE TO BE A VOLUNTEER APPLICANT.

UM, I WOULD HOPE THAT AN OWNER WOULD KNOW THE CONDITION OF THEIR, OF THEIR PROPERTY AND THE EXTENT OF WHICH HIS PROGRAM COULD PROVIDE SOME RELIEF.

UM, IF, UM, IF OUR, OUR BUILDING OFFICIAL MAKES THE DETERMINATION THAT THERE'S UNSAFE CONDITIONS AS A RESULT OF THIS, UM, THERE ARE OPTIONS FOR MITIGATION.

UM, I DON'T KNOW, UH, I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE AN EMERGENT ISSUE, BUT WE, YOU KNOW, WE CERTAINLY COULD TALK ABOUT THAT.

UM, WE ARE NOT PROACTIVELY LOOKING FOR CODE VIOLATIONS, UM, BUT IF WE W IF WE COME ACROSS THEM, THEN WE NEED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE OCCUPANTS ARE LIVING IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

UM, AND SO THERE ARE, THERE ARE OPTIONS THROUGH THE BUILDING CODE AND THE CONSTRUCTION BOARD OF APPEALS AND ADJUSTMENTS TO, TO PROVIDE SOME MITIGATION STRATEGIES, UM, TO HELP OUT WITH THAT SITUATION.

SO THERE ARE THERE NOT THROUGH THIS PROGRAM NECESSARILY, UNLESS THE REPAIRS COULD BE DONE FOR $15,000 OR SOMEWHERE VERY CLOSE TO THAT NUMBER.

UH, BUT THERE ARE OTHER PROVISIONS IN THE CODE THAT ALLOW US TO IDENTIFY MITIGATION OPTIONS THROUGH THAT, THE OTHER MECHANISM.

[01:00:03]

AND I, AND I THINK WE HAD REFERENCED THE SECTION OF THE BUILDING CODE AND PROVIDED THAT IN YOUR PACKET AS WELL.

UM, SO VERY GOOD QUESTION.

UM, THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU, SHAWN.

UM, I'M GONNA PIGGYBACK A LITTLE BIT ON COUNCILMAN HARKIN'S QUESTION.

UM, IT TALKS ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S A VIOLATION, UM, AND IT GETS TO THAT POINT OF DETERMINATION FOR REMOVAL OF A STRUCTURE, UM, THAT THERE WAS APPEAL PROCESS, AND IT WOULD BE A BOARD THAT WOULD HEAR THAT, WHICH BOARD IS THAT IT'S THAT CONSTRUCTION BOARD OF APPEALS AND ADJUSTMENTS.

THEY HEAR, THEY HEAR ALL APPEALS RELATED TO A DETERMINATION OF UNSAFE, UM, UH, STRUCTURES.

AND WE'VE HAD THAT OCCUR A FEW TIMES.

UM, I THINK, I THINK WHAT YOU'VE PUT TOGETHER HERE IS GREAT, SEAN.

UM, IF YOU COULD GO BACK TO THE, UH, COMMUNICATION STRATEGY, I'VE GOT A, GOT A FEW COMMENTS ON THAT.

UM, I'M GONNA START WITH THE, UH, THE PSDS, UH, INCLUDING INFORMATION IN THE NEWSLETTER AND THE BILLS.

AND I GUESS I'VE HAD THIS ARGUMENT WITH PSD OVER THE YEARS WHEN IT CAME TO SEWER CONNECTIONS, WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT NEXT, BUT IF YOU HAVE 60% OF AMI, BILL IS PROBABLY THE LAST THING THAT YOU WANT TO SEE.

AM I GOING TO OPEN? UH, SO TO ME, TH THIS COMMUNICATION STRATEGY NEEDS TO INCLUDE MORE OF A, ON THE GROUND EFFORT, SO TO SPEAK, UM, HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK ON HAVING NEIGHBORHOOD AMBASSADORS.

I THINK THAT WILL HELP US ALONG THE WAY.

ONE THOUGHT THAT I HAD, UM, I KNOW A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION, UM, FOLKS ARE EITHER, UH, ASKED BY HOMEOWNERS OR OTHER CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP OUT WITH REPAIRS PRO BONO.

UM, AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, YOU WILL NOW PROVIDE SOME FUNDING TO ASSIST WITH THAT.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AN EFFORT TO COMMUNICATE WITH THOSE THAT WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THAT ARE COMING IN FOR PERMITS ALL THE TIME.

UM, AND JUST SAYING, HEY, WE'VE GOT THIS PROGRAM, JUST GIVE THEM SOMEWHAT OF AN INCENTIVE TO, TO HELP OUT.

AND I KNOW THAT THEY'RE PROBABLY IN CONTACT WITH FOLKS THAT JUST CAN'T AFFORD TO GET THINGS DONE NOWADAYS, PARTICULARLY WITH THE COST OF MATERIALS AND LABOR, AND JUST GETTING THE JOB DONE ON HILTON HEAD.

UM, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT.

UH, SO I THINK THEY CAN BE A RESOURCE FOR US.

UM, THE FACT THAT IT'S IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, I THINK IS GREAT.

I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, UM, HOW WE BETTER ENGAGE WITH THE LATINO POPULATION AND I'LL GO BACK TO, UH, HOLY FAMILY CHURCH.

I KEEP HEARING MORE AND MORE THAT THEY ARE DEFINITELY CONNECTED.

UH, SO THAT MAY BE AN OPTION AS WELL, AS FAR AS THE COMMUNICATION STRATEGY IS CONCERNED.

UM, THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.

I'M GOOD.

THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT, SEAN.

I AM PROUD THAT THE TOWN IS CONSIDERING THIS PROGRAM.

THIS IS CERTAINLY AN APPROPRIATE USE OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE FUNDS, UH, AND IT WILL BE VERY MEANINGFUL TO THOSE WHO ARE MOST IN NEED HERE.

SO I THINK IT'S AN OUTSTANDING PROGRAM.

I HAVE TWO NITS TO PICK WITH YOU.

THE FIRST ONE IS THERE'S NOTHING IN THE, UH, PLAN ABOUT REPORTING TO TOWN COUNCIL.

UM, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING IN THERE MAYBE SEMI-ANNUALLY, UH, BUT THERE DEFINITELY SHOULD BE REPORT TO COUNCIL ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE PROGRAM, UH, FROM TIME TO TIME.

AND THEN SECONDLY, UNDER THE PROGRAM POLICY STATEMENT, UH, THE, THE IDEA WAS TO HELP TO INCREASE THE QUALITY OF LIFE, PICKING IT, A KNIT, I WOULD SAY, IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE RATHER THAN INCREASE THE QUALITY OF LIFE, UH, BEYOND THAT, I THINK THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING PROGRAM AND I'M PREPARED TO SUPPORT IT.

THANK YOU, TOM.

UM, BILL.

DEVELOPED BETWEEN THIS PROGRAM IN OTHER, UH, CHARITABLE ACTIVITY GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITY, LIKE, LIKE, LIKE THE FOUNDATION AND THEY WERE ABLE TO BRING 7,000 IN, COULD THAT STILL WORK IN TERMS OF THE PROGRAM? UH, WE, WE HAVE A $22,000 PROBLEM, BUT, UH, YOU CAN ONLY TAKE CARE OF 15, UH, BUT IT REALLY NEEDS SEVEN MORE TO MAKE IT HOW OUT OF, YOU KNOW, SO PEOPLE CAN LIVE THERE.

UH, SEAN, JUST A QUICK, I'M TRYING TO THINK OF HOW TO CREATE A MULTIPLIER OPPORTUNITY HERE.

IF SOMEONE, UH, HAS, UH, A HOME THAT'S REALLY IN NEED OF REPAIR AND UNFORTUNATELY THE PRICE TAG TO MAKE IT, HOW TO HAVE HABITABLE IS TAKE 22,000.

SO THERE'S A SHORTFALL OF SEVEN.

UH, IF, UH, SOME KIND OF BRIDGE COULD BE, UM,

[01:05:01]

THAT'S A GREAT, GREAT POINT.

UM, YEAH, THERE'S NOTHING THAT WOULD PRECLUDE SOMEONE FROM LEVERAGING THE, THIS PROGRAM, UM, WITH, UH, CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS, UH, CONTRACTORS THAT WOULD BE WILLING TO DO SOME OF THE WORK WHILE WE, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MONEY PROVIDED OR AUTHORIZED THROUGH THIS TOWN PROGRAM.

UM, THE WORK IS BEING DONE.

UM, AND THAT VALUE IS THE ONE FOR ONE, BUT, UH, WE, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS.

IF SOMEONE HAS A $20,000 REPAIR, UM, THIS WOULD AT LEAST BE A 75% GRANT AWARD FOR THE COST OF THOSE REPAIRS, UH, FOR SOME OF THE QUALIFIES.

UH, BUT THERE ARE OTHER OP OPPORTUNITIES OR OPTIONS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT MAY PROVIDE THAT GAP.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, RECOMMENDING APPROVAL, THIS PROGRAM DOES NOT PRECLUDE US FROM HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND TRY TO LEVERAGE THIS PROGRAM.

UM, IT'S NOT BUILT IN, UH, AT ANYWHERE IN OUR, IN OUR ORDINANCE OR, OR EMMA YOU, BUT, UM, WE CERTAINLY CAN HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND LOOK, LOOK AT WAYS TO LEVERAGE THIS FURTHER, UH, TO PROVIDE BETTER BENEFIT TO APPLICANTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

VERY GOOD.

SEAN, DOES THE ISSUE OF CLARE TITLE, UH, HAVE ANY IMPACT ON APPLICANTS THAT MAY BE OCCUPYING HEIRS PROPERTY? UM, WELL, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE AFFIDAVIT OF OWNERSHIP REQUIREMENT AS PART OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION.

SO AS LONG AS WE HAVE THAT, UM, WE WILL AVOID, I THINK THOSE, THAT, THAT ISSUE GOOD.

AND THIS IS A SUPPLEMENT TO DEEP WELL, AND YOU CAN WORK IN TANDEM WITH DEEP, WELL, CAN YOU NOT? UH, WELL, THIS, THIS PROGRAM IS EXECUTED BY THE TOWN.

THE NEXT PROGRAM, UH, FOR SEWER CONNECTIONS IS, IS IN TANDEM WITH DEEP WELL WHERE THEY W WHERE WE WILL HAVE THEM DO INITIAL VETTING.

UM, IN THE, IN THE BACKGROUND, IT SAYS THE PROGRAM, DEEP WELLS PROGRAM, THE LIVABLE HOUSING PROGRAM TO ASSIST RESONANCE WITH VARIOUS HOME REPAIRS IS AVAILABLE TO OWNER OCCUPIED UNITS ONLY, HOWEVER, A DEEP WELL WE'LL WORK WITH A LANDLORD FOR PROJECTS RELATED TO RENTAL UNITS.

SO DEEP WELLS HAS SOME FLEXIBILITY.

YES, YES.

AND THEY HAVE A SIM A SIMILAR PROGRAM, UM, BUT DOES NOT PROVIDE THE SAME TARGET, UH, OR BENEFIT THAT THIS ONE DOES.

SO, YES, SIR.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH DEEP WELL IN COORDINATION, KINDA A PROPERTY OWNER OR RENTER USE BOTH IN TANDEM.

OKAY, GOOD.

GOOD.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS PERTAINING TO THE HOME SAFETY AND REPAIR PROGRAM FROM THE PUBLIC? OKAY.

THE COMMITTEE IS BEING ASKED TO RECOMMEND TO THE TOWN COUNCIL, UH, VIA A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PROGRAM FOR IMPLEMENTATION.

DO WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION MOVE? SAME SECOND, ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION AMONG THE COMMITTEE? KRISTA, WILL YOU CALL THE ROLL PLEASE? YES, SIR.

MR. BROWN, MR. HARKINS, MR. STANFORD AND MR. LENNOX.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANK YOU, SHAWNA.

YOU ON THE SEWER CONNECTION PROGRAM.

C CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A SEWER CONNECTION PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE EXECUTION OF A MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING WITH DEEP WELL, LOW COMP LOW COUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS AND THE HILTON HEAD.

IF YOU WANNA INTRODUCE IT, I'M HAPPY TO, UH, OKAY.

AGENDA ITEM SEVEN

[7c. Consideration of a Resolution Authorizing the Implementation of a Sewer Connection Program Including the Execution of a Memorandum of Understanding with Deep Well, the Lowcountry Council of Governments, and the Hilton Head Public Service District]

HE S D.

AND ONCE AGAIN, I'M BACK.

THANK YOU AS CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

UM, THIS IS A ANOTHER PROGRAM, UH, THAT COUNCIL AUTHORIZED, UM, THROUGH THE PROGRAM FUNDS FOR THE, FOR THE ARPA, UH, DISTRIBUTION.

THIS WAS IN CATEGORY THREE, INVEST IN WATER, SEWER, AND BROADBAND BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, AND REMINDING, UH, THE COMMUNITY

[01:10:01]

AND COMMITTEE, UH, THAT $200,000 WAS AUTHORIZED FOR PROGRAMMING FOR LATERAL SEWER, UM, CONNECTION WITH A HUNDRED THOUSAND AND FISCAL 22 AND ANOTHER A HUNDRED THOUSAND IN FISCAL 23.

AND SO I'LL MOVE THROUGH, UM, THE PRESENTATION, WHICH OUTLINES THE PROGRAM SIMILAR TO THE LAST ONE, AND THEN TAKE QUESTIONS, UH, FROM, FROM THE COMMITTEE AND THE COMMUNITY.

UM, GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION HERE, A RECOMMENDATION AGAIN, A POLICY STATEMENT, GIVE YOU A SUMMARY OF THE PROGRAM QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE PROGRAM LIMITATIONS, THE, UH, PRIORITIZATION FOR APPLICANTS, UM, THE PROCESS FOR THE PROGRAM, UH, THE INCOME CERTIFICATION, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT, THE LAST PROGRAM FORMS AND DOCUMENTATION COMMUNICATION.

AND ALEX, I ALREADY KNOW A COUPLE OF YOUR QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE.

I'VE GOT NOTES, WE'LL AUGMENT THIS ONE AS WELL, GOING FORWARD TO THE NEXT STEPS.

UM, SO AGAIN, AN AWFUL LOT OF WORDS HERE, BUT WE'RE ASKING YOU TO FORWARD A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL, TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION, TO EXECUTE THE PROGRAM.

UM, THIS ONE, WE HAVE A FEW MORE, A COUPLE OF OTHER PARTNERS, UM, AS PART OF THAT ARRANGEMENT, UM, WITH DEEP, WELL, WHO HAS A SIMILAR PROGRAM WHERE WE'D ASKED THE APPLICANTS TO BE VETTED THROUGH THAT PROGRAM.

AND THEN IF WE NEED TO PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING, UH, OR FULL FUNDING, IF THEY DON'T QUALIFY THROUGH DEEP, WELL, WE WOULD GO THAT ROUTE, UH, WITH LOW COUNTRY COUNCIL, THE GOVERNMENTS FOR THE, FOR THE INCOME CERTIFICATION, UH, COMPONENT, AND THEN WITH HILTON HEAD PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT, UH, TO IMPLEMENT AND COORDINATE THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES TO CONNECT, UH, THE, THE HOMES OR HOUSEHOLDS TO THE, THE SEWER, AGAIN, HAVE A PROGRAM POLICY STATEMENT.

UM, AND I THINK HOPEFULLY THE WORDING IS OKAY ON THIS ONE.

WE DON'T, UM, UM, W WE'VE HAD A GOAL TO CONNECT, UM, A HUNDRED PERCENT OF HOUSEHOLDS, UM, TO SEWER.

UM, THIS PROGRAM IS SET OUT TO ASSIST LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, UH, EARNING UP TO A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE AMI, UM, WHO D WHO DID NOT QUALIFY FOR PROJECT SAFE OR ONLY QUALIFY FOR PARTIAL FUNDING THROUGH THEIR PROGRAM AND CONNECT THEM TO THE PUBLIC SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM, UH, PROGRAM SUMMER.

THEY MENTIONED HOMEOWNERS, UH, AND HOUSEHOLDS EARNING UP TO 100% OF AMI.

UM, THE VETTING FOR PROJECT SAFE WILL BE DONE THROUGH DEEP WELL, UM, AS AN INITIAL STEP, UM, INCOME CERTIFICATION THROUGH LOWCOCK, UM, SIMILAR TO THE HOME SAFE AND REPAIR, UM, THE CONNECTION REQUIREMENTS, THE COST ESTIMATES, UM, CONNECTION INSTALLATIONS, I'LL HANDLE THROUGH A COORDINATION WITH THE PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT.

AND THEN THE COST OF INSTALLATION IS PAID THROUGH THE TOWN AND WE'LL GET INTO ALSO CAPACITY FEE ELIGIBILITY.

UM, QUALIFICATIONS, APPLICANTS MUST OCCUPY THE HOME SUBJECT TO CONNECTION.

UM, AND THEN AGAIN, HAVING AN ANNUAL INCOME THAT DOES NOT EXCEED THE A HUNDRED PERCENT AMI AREA, MEDIAN INCOME FOR BUFORD COUNTY.

UH, AND WE DID INCLUDE SOME, UM, A TABLE WITH THAT INFORMATION IN THE, IN THE PACKET.

UM, APPLICANTS MAY ALSO RENT THE HOME.

THEY OCCUPY AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM.

AGAIN, THE PRIMARY GOAL IS TO CONNECT THE UNITS.

WE DO HAVE, UM, A PREFERENCE FOR FOLKS THAT OWN, UM, THE OWN AND OCCUPIED THEIR STRUCTURES.

UM, BUT THE, THE GOAL IS TO GET FOLKS OFF, UM, SEPTIC AND GET THEM CONNECTED TO, UM, THE SANITARY SEWER, UM, LIMITATIONS.

UH, SO IF YOU QUALIFY FOR PROJECT SAFE, UH, FULL GRANT FUNDING, THEN THERE'S NO NEED TO GO USE OUR PROGRAM, RIGHT.

SO WE WOULD SUPPLEMENT OR PROVIDE, UM, FUNDING WHERE THEY DIDN'T MEET PROJECT SAFE, UH, ELIGIBILITY.

UM, YOU CAN ONLY PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM ONCE, UM, AND THAT HOUSEHOLDS RELOCATING THEIR HOMES.

UM, AND WE'VE SEEN THIS, UM, ON OCCASION HERE, ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, UH, YOU HAVE TO RELOCATE, UM, TO THE NEW SITE.

UM, AND SO TRYING TO MINIMIZE THE COST OF CONNECTIONS.

AND SO IF YOU HAD A REALLY DEEP LOT, THE, THE COSTS WOULD ONLY INCREASED BY LOCATING IT, UM, AS FAR BACK.

SO WE WERE REASONABLE, SOME REASONABLENESS ON THE LOCATION OF THE RELOCATED STRUCTOR STRUCTURE TO MINIMIZE, UM, CONNECTION COSTS.

UM, AND THAT WOULD ONLY COVER CONNECTION COSTS, BUT WE ALSO INCLUDE THE ABILITY TO PAY THE CAPACITY FEE FOR THE CONNECTION.

UH, THAT WAS A POINT OF, UM, DISCUSSION WHEN WE TALK WITH OUR PARTNER PARTNERS IS, UM, THE CONNECTION FEE IS GREAT, BUT THE CAPACITY FEE SOMETIMES IS THE, IS A BARRIER.

SO, UH, BOTH ARE COVERED AND

[01:15:01]

ELIGIBLE THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.

UH, I MENTIONED A PRIORITIZATION OF APPLICANTS.

UM, SO, UH, THESE ARE REALLY FROM ONE TO FIVE, RATHER THAN A BULLET LIST, BUT, UM, WE GIVE A PREFERENCE OR PRIORITY TO HOUSEHOLDS WHO OWN THE PROPERTY AND WHO QUALIFY FOR PARTIAL GRANTS FROM PROJECT SAFE.

AND SO YOU OWN, AND THEN YOU NEED SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING TO EXECUTE, UH, THE CONNECTION, UM, HOUSEHOLDS THAT DOC DID NOT EXCEED A HUNDRED PERCENT AMI WHO OWNED THE PROPERTY AND DON'T QUALIFY FOR PROJECT SAFE.

PROJECT SAFE HAS A LIMITATION OF 90% AMI.

AND SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF SPACE FOR THAT SUPPLEMENTAL, UM, PROPERTIES LOCATED IN HILTON, LET P S M D SERVICE DISTRICT.

THAT'S THE PRIMARY AREA WHERE THE SEWER MASTER PLAN, WHERE WE'RE TARGETING THESE CONNECTIONS HOUSEHOLDS, UH, RENTING, LEASING A HOME, UH, FURTHER MANUFACTURER ON THEIR PROPERTY.

THEY DON'T OWN.

SO THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT, UM, PROPERTIES THAT ARE BEING USED IN A RENTAL FASHION.

UM, BUT THEY'RE NOT THE ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES.

UM, AND THEN ALSO, UH, RENTING AND LEASING SPACE, UH, PROPERTY THEY DON'T OWN, UH, WITHIN, WITH, WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES.

SO TRYING TO DEVELOP A LITTLE BIT HIERARCHY, HOW WE EVALUATE AND RECOMMEND AWARDS, UM, AND WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW MANY APPLICATIONS, YOU KNOW, COME IN, UM, WITH DIFFERENT WAVES, BUT THIS IS THE RECOMMENDED PRIORITIZATION FOR APPLICANTS AS I DID BEFORE.

I'LL KIND OF WALK YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS.

SO APPLICATIONS ARE SUBMITTED TO DEEP WELL FOR PROJECT SAFE.

IF THEY ARE FUNDED AT A HUNDRED PERCENT, THEN THEY DON'T MOVE ON TO THE TOWN PROGRAM.

UH, IF THEY'RE NOT ELIGIBLE OR, UH, ARE ELIGIBLE FOR PARTIAL FUNDING, THAT WOULD MOVE ON, UH, INTO THE TOWN, UM, INTO THE TOWN PROCESS, WE WOULD HAVE AN INCOME CERTIFICATION DONE THROUGH LOWCOUNTRY COUNCIL GOVERNMENTS, UM, AND IF IT MEETS BOTH DEEP WELL AND THE INCOME REQUIREMENTS, UH, THEN THE APPLICATION WOULD BE PROCESSED THROUGH THE TOWN.

UM, WE'LL LOOK AT THE APPLICATION AND THE REQUIREMENTS, UM, WE'LL WORK WITH PSD TO GET AN ESTIMATE COST.

UM, AND THEN BASED ON THAT, BE READY TO ISSUE AN APPROVAL, UH, FOR THE PSD TO EXECUTE THE WORK AND CONNECT THE UNITS.

UM, AND THEN, UH, UPON COMPLETION OF THE WORK AND CERTIFICATION THAT, THAT IT'S DONE IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR CONNECTION REQUIREMENTS, UM, THEY WOULD INVOICE THE TOWN AND WE WOULD PAY FOR THE CONNECTION, UH, AND CAPACITY FEE AS NEEDED AGAIN, FORMS AND DOCUMENTATIONS AND YOUR PACKET.

I THINK WE HAD MANY ATTACHMENTS, UM, BUT JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALREADY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE DRAFTED THE, THE APPLICATION ITSELF FOR THE PROGRAM.

UH, WE HAVE THE AFFIDAVIT AFFIDAVIT OF OWNERSHIP AND HOME HOLD-HARMLESS ALLOWS US TO GO ON THE PROPERTY.

UM, WE NEED A COPY OF THE RECORDED TITLE, REGISTRATION, UM, REGISTRATION CASE, A MANUFACTURED HOME.

UM, WE DID THE INCOME CERTIFICATION FROM LOW COG, UH, VERIFICATION FROM DEEP WELL ON THEIR PROGRAM, UH, THEIR NOTIFICATION LETTER, UM, AND OR THAT THE APPLICANT DOESN'T MEET THEIR REQUIREMENTS, UM, AND, AND ALL THAT, UH, UM, TOGETHER, UM, WOULD ALLOW US TO EXECUTE AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE, UH, EX EXECUTION, THE PROGRAM COMMUNICATION STRATEGY.

UM, WE HAVE POSTCARDS HERE FOR THE PSD, ALEX, NOT IN THE BILL, SO MAYBE THE, MAYBE MORE RECEPTIVE TO A POSTCARD THAN, THAN THEY GET IN THE BUILD, BUT A SIMILAR COMMUNICATION STRATEGY, PRESS RELEASE, SOCIAL MEDIA, ENGLISH, AND SPANISH TRANSLATION POSTS TO THE WEBSITE.

AGAIN, WORK WITH THE PARTNERS TO HELP WITH JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, SPREADING THE WORD.

UH, WE CERTAINLY HAVE SOME OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THE LAST AGENDA ITEM ON WAYS TO ENHANCE, UH, AND TO CONTINUE OUTREACH WITH, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD AMBASSADORS, UH, FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHERS TO HELP SPREAD THE WORD.

UM, UH, PSD WILL INCLUDE ON THEIR CONNECT.

NOW PAGE THAT OUR WEBSITE IN A DEEP WHILE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THEY WOULD INCLUDE THE INFORMATION ON THEIR WEBSITE AS WELL.

NEXT STEPS, AGAIN, SIMILAR TO THE LAST ITEM, UH, WITH, UH, AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMITTEE TO COUNCIL TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION, TO EXECUTE THE PROGRAM.

UH, I THINK THERE'LL BE A BRIEF LATER TODAY, AND THEN IT COULD COME FORWARD AS EARLY AS MAY 3RD, UM, FOR READING OF THE RESOLUTION.

AND AGAIN, IF APPROVED, WE CAN EXECUTE THE MOA WITH THOSE PARTNERS, UM, AND THEN MOVE FORWARD TO THAT EXECUTION OF THE COMMUNICATION STRATEGY AND MAKE THE, UH, THE FUNDING AVAILABLE AND START ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS.

AND THAT COMPLETES THAT PRESENTATION.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE, OR THE COMMUNITY HAS AS WELL.

SEAN ASKED, UH, FOR THE POTENTIAL OF COVERING A WATER CONNECTION ALSO, UM, IS THERE A REASON THAT WE DECLINED ON THAT? I'M JUST CURIOUS, NOT SAYING I'M SUPPORTING IT, I'M JUST WONDERING HOW THAT DIALOGUE WHEN YEAH, SO THERE ARE PROGRAMS FOR, FOR WATER CONNECTION.

UM, UH, THE, I GUESS THE PSD RESPONSE TO THIS, UM,

[01:20:01]

I KNOW THAT THE PSD DID RECOMMEND THE POTENTIAL TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM.

UM, WE HAVE A HUNDRED THOUSAND PER FISCAL YEAR FOR THIS.

UM, YOU KNOW, THE GOAL OF THE ACCELERATED MASTER PLAN FOR SEWER, UM, WAS TO MAKE SEWER AVAILABLE FOR ALL THE WANTED IT.

AND THEN NOW WE'LL GET THOSE CONNECTIONS IN PLACE.

UM, WE CAN LOOK AT IF COUNCIL, UM, SO DESIRED IN THE FUTURE TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM, UH, BUT WITH A HUNDRED THOUSAND AND PAYING FOR CONNECTION AND CAPACITY FEES, I'D LIKE TO SEE THE, THE BENEFIT, UM, AND HOW MANY WE CAN CONNECT INTO THE SEWER PROGRAM.

UM, AND IF, IF YOU KNOW, COUNCIL SO DECLINES IN THE FUTURE OR, OR ADVISES US NOW TO EXPAND IT, UM, WE COULD, WE COULD PURSUE THAT, BUT AT THIS POINT I'M LOOKING AT, AND THAT WAS WHAT WAS OUTLINED THROUGH YOUR AUTHORIZATION OF THE ARPA MONEY WAS FOR THE LATERAL SEWER CONNECTION.

AND THE RELOCATION HAS THE SAME, UH, LIMITATION IF ONE WAS RELOCATING AND I HAD TO GET NOT ONLY A NEW SEWER TAP, BUT A WATER TAP ALSO, THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO USE IT FOR WATER AT THAT POINT.

GREAT.

THE WAY IT'S CURRENTLY DRAFTED, AND THOSE ARE NOT WATER TO SEWER.

I THINK WE KEEP AN EYE ON THAT ONE, UM, PARTICULARLY WITH, UM, THE, THE, UH, THE THREAT OF, UH, PROPERTIES CHANGING HANDS AND, UM, MOVING FROM ONE PARTICULAR USE TO ANOTHER.

AND WHEN FOLKS WE LOCATE THAT WATER TAP IS A HUGE EXPENSE ALSO THAT, YOU KNOW, FITS WITHIN THE SAME, UH, CRITERIA OF AMI THAT WE'RE SPEAKING OF.

UM, AND IF IT HELPS WITH THE CONVERSATION WITH PTSD, IF THEY CAN GET THOSE, UH, THOSE BITS OF INFORMATION OUT OF THE BILLS, THEN THEY WILL CONSIDER IT EVEN MORE.

UM, THE, UH, THE COMMUNICATION STRATEGY MENTIONED THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEND POSTCARDS TO THE UNCONNECTED FOLKS LIST.

UM, AND THAT, AGAIN, I THINK WE COULD PROBABLY, UH, EXPAND ON THAT.

UM, IF THE PSD ALREADY HAS THE DATA AS TO, WHO'S NOT CONNECTED, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT, I'M NOT AFRAID TO SAY MAYBE WE CAN JUST KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND SAY, HOW CAN WE HELP, RIGHT.

UM, NOT THAT WE WANT TO, UM, BREAK ANY PRIVACY RULES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK A CONVERSATION IS GOING TO BE A LOT MORE EFFECTIVE THAN, UH, A POSTCARD COMING IN THE MAIL.

UM, AND THE LAST ONE, AND I'M GOING TO LEAN ON, UH, COUNCILMAN STANFORD TO HELP ME ARTICULATE THIS LEGALLY.

UM, THE, THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH PSD, IT IS SAYING THAT PSD WILL PREPARE THE ESTIMATE FOR THE WORK.

AND PSD I'M SURE HAS A PREFERRED LIST OF CONTRACTORS.

BUT IN MANY CASES, THOSE FOLKS ARE USED TO SPENDING GOVERNMENT MONEY AT WHATEVER LEVEL THEY, THEY WANT TO SPEND IT AT.

AND I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THERE ARE CONTRACTORS THAT ARE LICENSED, THAT CAN DO THE SAME WORK AT A LESSER PRICE.

SO HOW DO WE PROTECT THE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE PROVIDING SO THAT WE GET THE BEST PRICE IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT? OKAY.

UM, I KNOW THAT, UH, THE SAFE PROGRAM HAS A LOT OF MONEY LEFT AND YEAH, THERE'S SOME, UH, CRITERIA ISSUES THERE AS TO WHY THEY CAN'T SPEND THE MONEY, BUT THE OTHER ONE IS THAT PRICE ISSUE.

NOW I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STRONG IN THAT AREA.

YOU WANT A RESPONSE FROM ME ON THAT? ABSOLUTELY.

FIRST OF ALL, I'M NOT A LAWYER ANYMORE.

UH, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT THE WAY YOU DEAL WITH THAT IS TO REQUIRE BEDS.

UH, IN THE HOME REPAIR PROGRAM, WE HAVE A REQUIREMENT OF THREE BIDS AND, AND IF PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE'S A BIDDING PROCESS, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DRAW THAT DOWN.

UM, AND ANOTHER WOULD JUST BE A RULE OF REASON.

IF SOMEONE WANTS TO CHARGE $35,000 FOR A SEWER TAP, SORRY, YOU DON'T GET THE JOB.

UM, IT DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY GO TO THE PEOPLE THAT SUBMIT THE BEDS.

THAT'S IT, MR. HERE FOR ME.

BECAUSE THAT, THAT COULD BE A STUMBLING BLOCK.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS, BILL? UH, SEAN, IN THE EVENT THAT, UM, WE HAVE A QUALIFIED CANDIDATE AND THEY, THEY HOOK UP, UH, AND THEY'RE LEAVING BEHIND A, A COMPROMISED OR FAILED SEPTIC ARRANGEMENT IN THEIR YARD, UH, WHICH IS A NUISANCE.

UH, DOES THIS PROGRAM HELP REMEDY THAT ALSO? AND NOT

[01:25:01]

SOMEONE WILL TELL YOU, I LIKE TO DO IT, BUT I'VE GOT A, LITERALLY A MESS HERE.

SO THE WAY, THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN RIGHT NOW, UM, IT'S NOT AN ITEMIZED ELIGIBLE OR IT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE ELIGIBLE EXPENSE FOR CONNECTION.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN, UH, SPEAK TO THE PSD ON, UH, TO SEE IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE PART OF THE PROGRAM EXPENSE IF NEEDED, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PREVIOUS PROGRAM, UH, THERE WERE SOME OTHER OPTIONS FOR, FOR THAT VERY PROVISION.

UM, IT JUST, WASN'T ONE OF THE THREE THAT WE RECOMMENDED IN THAT PROGRAM.

UM, SO WE CAN LOOK, IF THAT BECOMES A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE, UM, COME BACK AND MODIFY THE PROGRAM TO ALLOW, UH, EITHER THE HOME SAFE AND REPAIR TO INCLUDE, UM, REMEDIATION OF, OF OLD OR OUTDATED SEPTIC TANKS OR, OR INCLUDE IT AS PART OF AN ELIGIBLE EXPENSE IN THIS PROGRAM IT'S BEEN RECORDED IN RECENT YEARS.

UH, A NUMBER OF ARTICLES ABOUT WHAT THESE YARDS LOOK LIKE AFTER, UM, A WET SEASON AND IT'S, UH, NOT TOO PRETTY.

I'M GOING TO FOLLOW UP WITH IT.

IS THERE SOME, UH, BA REQUIREMENT, UH, FOR ALL SEPTIC SYSTEMS, JUST CURIOUS, BECOME A PIGGYBACK ON WHAT HE'S SAYING.

YOU KNOW, UM, LET'S JUST SAY THAT THE SEPTIC SYSTEM IS PUMPED OUT MEAN YOU STILL GOT A BIG TANK IN THE GROUND THAT'S EMPTY.

UM, I'M JUST CURIOUS IF THEY REQUIRE ANYTHING TO BE DONE THERE.

UM, I, FOR ONE, KNOW THAT, UH, BACK IN THE DAY THEY USED TO ALWAYS TELL US DON'T DRIVE OVER THE SEPTIC TANK.

UM, SO OVER TIME, IF IT'S NOT BEING USED AND IT STARTS TO DETERIORATE, IT ALMOST BECOMES A SINKHOLE IN ONE'S YARD.

SO IT MIGHT LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.

IF I MAY PIGGYBACK ON THAT, IT'S, IT'S FAIRLY ANALOGOUS TO, UM, SELLING A GAS STATION OR A CONVENIENCE STORE.

WE'VE GOT TO GET RID OF THAT STUFF.

WE'LL, WE'LL GET YOU INFORMATION ON THAT.

UH, IF THE DA COUSIN REQUIREMENTS, WHEN YOU ABANDONED THE SEPTIC TANK WITH A METHOD THAT NEEDS TO BE EMPLOYED, IF THERE ARE ANY AND SHARE THAT WITH YOU, UM, I CAN ALSO SHARE THAT WHEN THIS COMES FORWARD, UM, TO COUNSEL, UM, IF THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL AS WELL, INCLUDE IT IN YOUR POCKET.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT EVENTS, SOME DIFFICULTIES WITH PROJECT SAFE IN THAT IT HASN'T QUITE FIT THE BILL.

WHAT ARE THE ISSUES THAT ARE, HAVE BEEN PRESENTED IN PROJECT SAFE IN TERMS THAT WOULD LIMIT SOMEONE FROM WANTING TO APPLY? WELL, WHEN WE TALKED WITH THEM, UM, TWO MAIN AREAS OF CONCERN WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF THESE THAT ARE RENTAL UNITS, UM, AND THE OWNERS DON'T QUALIFY.

AND SO THEY DON'T MEET THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.

UM, AND THERE'S, THERE'S ANOTHER POINT I HAD.

AND, UH, IT JUST JUMPED OUT OF MY HEAD.

IT'S NOT INCOME QUALIFICATION, UH, NOT, NO, NO.

IT'S A, THE AMOUNT OF RENTAL, UM, AMOUNT OF RENT, UM, POEMS THAT NEED TO BE CONNECTED THAT ARE RENTAL HOMES.

UM, AND I'M SORRY THAT I'LL THINK OF THE, I THINK OF THE SECOND POINT I WAS GOING TO MAKE THERE, BUT, UM, I UNDERSTAND I SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM AS WELL.

AGAIN, IT'S A GOOD USE OF THE ARPA FUNDS.

AND SO I'M PLEASED WITH THE IDEA, SEAN, CLARIFY ONE MORE TIME.

THIS IS, OR IS NOT AN ISLAND WIDE PROGRAM IT'S TARGETED IN THE AREA FOR THE HILTON HEAD PSD.

UM, OUR MOU RIGHT NOW IS ONLY WITH THE HILTON HEAD PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT.

UM, AND SO THAT WOULD BE THE AREA RIGHT NOW THAT WE'RE TARGETING, UM, THE, THE BASIC, UM, AND THE, AND THE RESOLUTION, UH, CONFINES IT TO THAT, THAT, THAT SERVICE DISTRICT.

ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC REGARDING THIS ISSUE? IF NOT THE COMMITTEE IS BEING ASKED TO FORWARD A RECOMMENDATION TO TOWN COUNCIL TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION, AUTHORIZING THE PROGRAM FOR IMPLEMENTATION, WHICH INCLUDES EXECUTION OF A MOU WITH DEEP WELL, LOW COG AND A HILTON HEAD PSD.

SO MOVE SAME SECOND.

THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE BOTH GREAT POINTS AND JUST LIKE THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION PROVIDES YOU REGULAR REPORTING BASED ON THEIR GRANT AWARDS.

ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE? JUST ONE MORE THING, MR. ELLIS.

UM, THIS COPIES, UH, THE HOME REPAIR.

I KNOW COUNCILMAN STAFFORD AS FOR, UH, REPORTING OFTEN ON THE PROGRAM.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT ALSO,

[01:30:02]

I WOULD ANTICIPATE THE SAME THING.

WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT'S INCLUDED IN OUR REPORTING TO YOU.

GOOD.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE? IF THERE ARE NONE, KRISTA, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

CERTAINLY MR. BROWN, MR. HARKINS, MR. STANFORD, MR. LENNOX, OCEAN CARRY, SIR.

SEVEN D CONSIDERATION OF A PROPOSED ORDINANCE, 2022 DASH OH NINE, AMENDING SECTION FOUR DASH FIVE DASH 20 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND EXTENDING THE EXPIRATION DATE OF THE REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEE FROM 31, DECEMBER, 2024 TO 31, DECEMBER, 2044.

AGENDA ITEM

[7d. Consideration of Proposed Ordinance 2022-09, Amending Section 4-5-20 of the Municipal Code of the Town of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, Extending Expiration Date of the Real Estate Transfer Fee from December 31, 2024 to December 31, 2044]

MR. .

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

FEE, BUT WE'VE ALSO USED THESE OTHER REVENUES IN ORDER TO DO MORE BECAUSE IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

OUR, UH, PRESENTATION IS BEING CALLED UP RIGHT HERE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UM, YES, WE HAVE A PROPOSAL TO EXTEND THE REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEET.

UM, WE'LL GIVE A QUICK HISTORY, WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE INTENT AND THE PURPOSE OF THE FEE.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT PAST USERS.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT POSSIBLE FUTURE USES.

AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? SO, UM, WHAT HAS IT BEEN USED FOR PRIMARILY OPEN SPACES? THE U S 2 78 CORRIDOR.

YOU'LL SEE THE SIGNS AROUND THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN PRESERVED BY THE TOWN AND, UM, OUR, OUR REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT FUNDING SOURCE FOR THOSE VERY, VERY VISIBLE AS ADOPTED BACK IN 1990 BY THE TOWN COUNCIL.

UH, THE INTENT, UM, I THINK I WOULD FOCUS RIGHT HERE.

THE MAJORITY OF LAND SET ASIDE UNDER THIS CHAPTER WILL BE, SHALL BE KEPT IN PERPETUITY AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE IN ITS NATURAL STATE.

SO WE'RE BUYING LAND TO KEEP IT IN ITS NATURAL STATE, AND THAT HAS CERTAINLY HELPED THE ISLAND, UH, THERE'S OTHER PURPOSES ALLOWED.

AND SO BEYOND THE IMPERPETUITY AS WILDLIFE PRESERVES OR, UM, NEEDED BY THE PUBLIC FOR FUTURE ACTIVE AND PASSIVE RECREATION.

SO, UM, THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PURPOSES THAT ARE ALLOWED IN THIS REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEE.

MOST OF IT HAS BEEN FOR OPEN SPACE.

UH, AND SO WE CONTINUE THAT LANGUAGE COST OF IT IS A QUARTER OF 1%.

UM, SO A $500,000 HOME, THE FEE IS 1,250, WHICH IS PAID BY THE PURCHASER.

AND SO PEOPLE WHO WOULD BUY PROPERTY ON THE ISLAND, UM, WOULD PAY THIS REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEE.

UM, IT WAS SET FOR 24 YEARS.

AND SO IT'S SET TO END IN 2024.

AND SO A COUPLE OF STILL A COUPLE OF YEARS OUT, UM, HOW MUCH IS THIS COLLECTED? AND SO THE TOWN HAS COLLECTED OVER $87 MILLION IN THE YEAR SINCE 1990, WE KEEP IT IN A SEPARATE FUND.

YOU CAN SEE IT IN YOUR REPORT.

WE HAVE A REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEE FUND, AND IT CAPTURES THE COLLECTIONS AND ALSO CAPTURES THE SPENDING.

UM, LAST YEAR YOU CAN SEE OVER THE YEARS IT'S BEEN UP AND DOWN DEPENDING ON THE REAL ESTATE MARKET AND, UM, 2021, UM, UH, UH, VERY SUCCESSFUL REAL ESTATE YEAR.

AND SO, UH, THE USES OF IT, OF THE COLLECTIONS, THE TOWN IS USED $76 MILLION.

UM, IT'S PURCHASED OVER 1300 ACRES ALL OVER THE ISLAND AND A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT, UM, CAPACITIES.

UM, AND, AND SO YOU GOT LAND ALL OVER THE ISLAND THAT THIS, UH, HAS ENABLED THE TOWN TO PURCHASE.

UM, HERE, OUR COLLECTIONS IS JUST ANOTHER ONE, SIX MONTHS INTO THIS YEAR.

IF YOU ASK THE QUESTION, HOW ARE WE DOING SO FAR THIS YEAR? NOT QUITE LAST YEAR'S PACE, BUT WE'RE ALMOST LAST YEAR SPACE.

UM, IN ADDITION TO THE REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEE, THE TOWN HAS ALSO USED GENERAL FUNDS, UH, VOTER, REFERENDA GRANTS AND DONATIONS AND CIP REVENUES TO, AND SO IT'S NOT JUST A GOOD IDEA FOR THE REAL ESTATE TRANSFER

[01:35:01]

SO WHY WOULD WE NEED MORE FUNDS? UM, WE'D LIKE TO CONTINUE TO ADD MORE OPEN SPACES AND IMPROVE THE 2 78 CORRIDOR RESILIENCY AS A PART OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND SO LAND ACQUISITION, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS WOULD BE, UH, FOR, UM, HELPS IN OUR RISK MITIGATION.

AND SO THIS HELPS IN OUR RESILIENCY, UM, TO HELP PROTECT THE ISLAND.

AND, UM, AS WE DO PARKS WORK, STORMWATER WORK ROADS WORK, UH, THE REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEE CAN WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THOSE ACTIVITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOME OPEN SPACES AND THE PROJECTS LOOK AS GOOD AS THEY CAN FOR THE ISLAND NUMBER OF DIFFERENT BENEFITS, BUT I WOULD FOCUS YOUR ATTENTION ON JUST THE FIRST TO PRESERVE THE OPEN SPACES, PUBLIC ACCESS, TO VIEWS AND OUR WATERWAYS.

AND SO ALL OF THESE ARE GOOD REASONS FOR IT.

UM, ONE AND TWO ARE THE ONES THAT WE SPENT THE MOST MONEY, JUST A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES.

VETERAN'S MEMORIAL AT SHELTER COVE PARK.

UM, EVERYBODY VISITORS AND RESIDENTS CAN ENJOY THAT.

UM, WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY, WE DRIVE EVERY DAY.

YOU CAN SEE ALL THE GREEN UP AND DOWN TO 78, UM, MUCH OF WHICH WAS, UM, A RESULT OF THE REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEE.

UM, HONEY HORN TRACK FISH HALL CREEK PARK, AGAIN, RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ARE ABLE TO ENJOY SHELTER COVE, COMMUNITY PARK, PRESERVING THESE VIEWS, PRESERVING OPEN SPACE, UH, CHAPLAIN WATERFRONT YOU DRIVE.

AND, UH, IT KEEPS OPEN NATURAL, UH, SENDS A GOOD MESSAGE FOR THE ISLAND COMPASS ROSES, ANOTHER EXAMPLE, YACHT, GOLF TRACK, OR PRESERVING VIEWS, AND ALSO PROTECTING FROM FLOODING.

AND SO WE USE THOSE DUAL PURPOSES, UH, TO IMPROVE THE ISLAND.

AND SO STAFF RECOMMENDS IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THIS GOOD WORK OF, UM, PRESERVING OPEN SPACES, IMPROVE.

OUR RESILIENCY IS TO GO AHEAD AND, UM, RECOMMEND TO EXTEND THIS REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEE NOW, UH, SO WE CAN GO AHEAD AND MAKE PLANS TO BE AS STRATEGIC AS POSSIBLE IN LONG-TERM THINKING AS POSSIBLE, UM, TO KNOW THAT THE FUNDS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO US TO MAKE THESE FUTURE INVESTMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE ISLAND.

UM, SPECIFICALLY WHAT IS IN THE RECOMMENDATION ANOTHER 20 YEARS MAINTAIN THIS AT THE EXISTING RATE? UM, THERE HAS BEEN SOME TALK ABOUT POSSIBLY, UM, EXPANDING THE ALLOWED USES, BUT, UM, OUR PROPOSAL IS TO KEEP IT AS SIMPLE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD AS POSSIBLE.

KEEP THE ALLOWED USES JUST THE WAY THAT IT'S WRITTEN.

AND SO WE WOULD ASK TOWN COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ACTING NOW SO THAT THE PLANNING PROCESS CAN CONTINUE, UM, FOR, UH, THE FUTURE.

AND WE START TALKING ABOUT, UM, PLANNING FOR OUR FUTURE.

SO WE, WE NEED PLANS TO BE ABLE TO, UM, EXECUTE, UM, THE PURCHASES ON BEHALF OF THE ISLAND.

UM, ASK THE QUESTION, HAS ANYONE ELSE WEIGHED IN ON THIS? WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF MEETINGS WITH OUR REALTORS ASSOCIATION, UM, AND WE APPRECIATE THEIR INTEREST.

WE APPRECIATE THE DETAIL THAT THEY WENT THROUGH.

AND AS A RESULT OF OUR DISCUSSIONS, THE REALTORS HAS, UH, WRITTEN A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THIS, UM, EXTENSION.

UM, AND SO I WOULD OPEN THE FLOOR TO ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.

COMMITTEE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR JOHN REGARDING THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE EXTENDING THE REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEE THROUGH THE END OF 2044.

HISTORICALLY THIS HAS BEEN A FANTASTIC PROGRAM, UH, REALLY HAS INURED TO THE BENEFIT OF THE TOWN.

UM, I THINK, UH, EXPRESSION OF THANKS FOR, UH, THE, UH, COOPERATION OF THE REALTORS TO CONTINUE THIS, UM, SHOULD BE MADE.

AND I CERTAINLY SUPPORT CONTINUING IT JUST THE WAY IT IS.

UM, THIS, UH, THIS EXPIRES IN 2024, AND WE'RE LOOKING TO TAKE ACTION HERE.

NOW, WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN NOW AND 2024 WHILE THIS PROCESS IS CONCERNED? UH, NOTHING OTHER THAN IT ALLOWS, UH, THE TOWN MANAGER AND STAFF TO MAKE, UM, FUTURE PLANS AND START TARGETING, UH, STRATEGIC

[01:40:01]

INVESTMENTS IN.

SO TO KNOW THAT, OKAY, DO WE HAVE, UM, A YEAR AND A HALF WORTH OF FUNDS OR DO WE HAVE 20 YEARS OF FUNDS? AND THAT HELPS TO COLOR OUR, UM, PLANS.

SO THE EXECUTION DATE WE'LL START AT 2020.

UH, WHAT IT DOES IS IT CHANGES THE ORDINANCE AND THE ORDINANCE HAS AN EXPIRATION DATE.

AND SO THE UPDATED ORDINANCE WOULD JUST HAVE A NEW EXPIRATION DATE.

AND SO, UH, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR.

ALL RIGHT.

UM, I AGREE WITH, UH, WELL FIRST NOT, UH, TOUCHING THIS OKAY.

UM, BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'VE LEARNED FROM THE PAST, AND I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTING IT.

AND ALSO, UM, I'M REALLY ANXIOUS, UH, AS WE DEVELOP OUR LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAM, BECAUSE THIS FUND IS STILL IMPORTANT, BUT ONE COULD ARGUE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS NOW VERSUS WHEN WE FIRST STARTED, WHICH WAS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT.

UM, SO I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD SO WE KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WILL WE'RE LOOKING AT.

UM, BUT THE LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAM I THINK IS, UH, IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT CONVERSATION BECAUSE WE MAY NEED MORE THAN THIS FUNDING TO ACQUIRE WHAT WE NEED TO MAKE THIS A BETTER SITUATION.

UM, AND THE OTHER THING THAT I ASKED JOHN IS AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH ANY OF YOUR, UM, PRESENTATIONS, YOU KNOW, WE, WE SEE THE, UH, UH, UH, REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEE AND HOW MUCH MONEY IT BRINGS.

AND OF COURSE WE SAW THAT HUGE, UH, INCLINE IN, IN, UH, 2021, BUT HOW MUCH OF THAT IS THE 4% TAX OR, AND THE 6% TAX, UH, I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO US.

ALL RIGHT.

BECAUSE IT'S JUST AN ELEMENT THAT WE KEEP GUESSING THAT, AND I'M NOT SURE HOW DIFFICULT THAT IS TO PULL OUT, BUT JUST MOVING FORWARD.

WHEN WE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, UH, REVENUES THAT ARE GENERATED, LIKE THIS ONE, UNDERSTANDING THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO US, UH, ALONG THE WAY.

UM, SO THOSE ARE THOSE MY QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS WITH.

THANK YOU, JOHN.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE EXTEND THIS ORDINANCE.

I APPROVE THE CONCEPT OF THE ONLY CHANGE IN THE ORDINANCE IS EXPIRATION DATE, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT WORKS AS IS, AND WE DON'T WANT TO CREATE MORE PROBLEMS LOOKING AT THE ORDINANCE AS IT EXISTS.

NOW, UNDER THE SECTION DEALING WITH PURPOSE, IT TALKS ABOUT ACQUIRING PROPERTY FOR PUBLIC USE, OPEN SPACE AND SO FORTH.

AND THEN IT GOES FORWARD TO SAY, OR TO REDEFINE THAT PROPERTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TOWN'S CURRENT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND DISPOSE OF IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

IS THAT EVER BEEN USED IN THE HISTORY OF THIS TOWN? I THINK IT HAS, BUT A VERY, VERY LIMITED CASES.

AND, AND SO, UM, IT'S MOSTLY BEEN USED TO PURCHASE OPEN SPACES, BUT I THINK THERE'S BEEN A FEW TARGETED AREAS WHERE THERE'S, I THINK THAT THAT IS A TOOL THAT WE MIGHT CONSIDER USING MOVING FORWARD TO IMPLEMENT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, WHETHER, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT COULD BE USED FOR A SITE FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW THAT UNDER THE ORDINANCE, AS IT EXISTS NOW, AND AS IT WILL EXIST INTO THE FUTURE, THERE IS THAT OTHER OPPORTUNITY TO REDEFINE A PROPERTY AND TO DISPOSE OF IT, SELL IT BACK TO THE PUBLIC AND IT PUTS IT BACK ON THE TAX RIGHTS.

WE ARE BEING ASKED TO FORWARD A RECOMMENDATION TO TOWN COUNCIL EXTENDING THE MATURITY DATE, UH, OF THE REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEE FROM 31, DECEMBER, 2024 TO 31, DECEMBER, 2044.

I SUPPORT THIS.

MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU, GLEN.

I THINK GLEN BRINGS UP A VERY GOOD POINT AND THAT IS, UH, I THINK WE NEED TO ON THE LANGUAGE THAT'S IN THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AS TO THE USES OF THESE ATEX FUNDS OR TRANSFER FEES IN THE MEMO FROM JOSH, UH, THERE IS A SUMMARY OF USES IN TWO DIFFERENT AREAS, UH, BUT AS IT PERTAINS TO WHAT THE LANGUAGE IS IN THE ORDINANCE, UH, UNDER THE FIRST, WHEREAS THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON.

ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC ON THIS ISSUE.

IF THERE ARE NONE, YOU MENTIONED, YOU MENTIONED THE ATEX AND IT DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE, WE ALL KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

THE LANGUAGE NEEDS TO BE FIXED IN THE LAW.

IT NEEDS TO BE ABIDED BY AND JOHN TOUR AND THE ACCOUNTING AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING NEEDS TO BE FIXED ON THAT, ON THAT, ON THAT ITEM.

SO I JUST WANTED, THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY.

AND THEN I'M GOING TO MAKE ANOTHER STATEMENT IN A MINUTE ON THE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER G

[01:45:03]

IS THERE A MOTION, UH, MOVE, WE PROCEED WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO TOWN COUNCIL.

UH, IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? JUST ONE MORE THING, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'M JUST, UH, GOING BACK TO THE POINT THAT YOU ALL MAKE IS MADE AS FAR AS, UH, THE WAY AS THE FIRST WAY I IS, UM, IT SAYS ACQUIRE DEVELOP LAND OR DEVELOP RIGHTS.

UM, SO THE PURCHASING OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS IS ALSO AN OPTION UNDER THIS COLD, RIGHT.

SEVEN E CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER ENTER INTO AN MOU WITH THE SOUTH ISLAND DREDGING ASSOCIATION TO PROVIDE FUNDING ASSISTANCE FOR THE DREDGING OF HARBOR TOWN YACHT BASIN, JOHN TROYER.

THAT IS, THAT IS THE LAW RIGHT THERE.

YEP, SURE, ABSOLUTELY.

KRISTA, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.

CERTAINLY MR. BROWN, MR. HARKINS, MR. STANFORD.

[7e. Consideration of a Resolution Authorizing the Town Manager to Enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with South Island Dredging Association to Provide Funding Assistance for the Dredging of Harbour Town Yacht Basin]

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

UH, YES.

WHAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU IS, UM, A PROPOSAL TO, UM, CONTINUE, UH, THE ISLAND'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SOUTH ISLAND, UM, DREDGING ASSOCIATION AND CONTINUE ITS EFFORTS IN ORDER TO, UM, PROVIDE A SAFE PASSAGEWAY, UM, ON THE SOUTH END OF THE ISLAND AND JOHN, WHAT W WHAT HAVE WE DONE IN THE PAST, BACK IN THE 2019, AND EVEN BEFORE, UH, 2019 TOWN COUNCIL HAD SET ASIDE FUNDS TO, UM, TO EXECUTE THIS RELATIONSHIP, UM, AND THE TOWN IS JUST PAYING A PORTION OF IT AND THEN NOT ALL OF IT.

UM, AND SO IN 2019, THE TOWN HAD A SIMILAR AGREEMENT.

IT WAS APPROVED.

AND SINCE THEN THE TOWN HAS SET ASIDE FUNDS IN THE BUDGET ORDINANCE IN ORDER FOR, UH, WITH THE EXPECTATION OF A FUTURE AGREEMENT.

AND IT IS FUNDING LIKE THIS, UH, FUNDING IN ADVANCE, OR IS IT REIMBURSABLE IT'S REIMBURSABLE? AND SO WHAT, UM, THE SOUTH ISLAND DREDGING ASSOCIATION, THEY DO THE WORK, THEY DOCUMENT THE WORK THEY DOCUMENT THE SPENDING, UH, THEIR SPENDING IS, UH, UP ABOVE A MILLION DOLLARS.

AND SO IT'S, UM, WE'RE, WE YOU'RE FUNDING JUST A PORTION OF THAT, AND IT'S ONLY ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS.

AND WHAT IS THE ESTIMATED TOTAL PROJECT COST? IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S ABOUT 1,000,005, 5, 9, 2 QUESTIONS.

UH, JUST A, A COMMENT MR. CHAIR.

UH, THIS IS A HARBOR THAT'S AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

UH, IT'S AN ICONIC FEATURE OF THE ISLAND, UH, AND I BELIEVE IT IN YEARS TO THE BENEFIT OF THE ENTIRE ISLAND IN MANY DIRECT AND INDIRECT WAYS.

SO, UH, I THINK THIS IS A WISE INVESTMENT GIVEN THE LITTLE GOLF TOURNAMENT THAT OCCURRED HERE LAST WEEK AND THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO CAME AND ENJOY IT, ENJOYED THAT AS PART OF OUR MAJOR INDUSTRY OF TOURISM.

CLEARLY THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE USE FOR THESE FUNDS, AND I WILL SUPPORT IT, JOHN, UH, I THINK CLARIFICATION ON THE AGREEMENT, UH, ON PAGE FOUR OF FIVE, UH, AT THE BOTTOM OF SECTION 14.1, UH, THE ASSOCIATION'S SHE'LL CHOOSE EITHER OPTION ONE, A OR ONE B.

I THINK THOSE CHOICES SHOULD BE A SINGLE I LOWER CASE AND DOUBLE I LOWER CASE.

TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, IF YOU WILL.

UH, YES, SIR.

[01:50:01]

ANY PUBLIC COMMENT OR QUESTIONS, UH, ON THE ISSUE OF THE FUNDING ASSISTANCE FOR THE SOUTH ISLAND BRIDGING ASSOCIATION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

WE'LL BE IN A JOSH GROUP.

WE'RE BEING LAWYERS.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO FIND THIS OUT VERY QUICKLY AND VERY EASILY, WHICH I'M SURE THEY WILL SEE PONDS IS A PRIVATE COMMUNITY, AND IT'S ILLEGAL TO USE PUBLIC TAX FUNDS FOR PRIVATE PURPOSES THAT DOES NOT BENEFIT THE PUBLIC GOOD REASON USE AND BENEFIT.

THIS WAS A SUPREME COURT CASE THAT WAS WON BY NED SLOAN WITH HIS LAGER, JIM CARPENTER, UM, AND THE PUBLIC DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO SEE PONDS.

IT'S A PRIVATE COMMUNITY.

YOU CAN'T, THAT'S NOT WHAT PUBLIC FUNDS ARE FOR THE HOA.

THE POA, THE PRIVATE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO FUND THAT PROJECT, EVEN THOUGH HARBOR TOWN IS IMPORTANT TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, THE WHOLE ISLAND, THE FACT IS YOU CAN'T USE PUBLIC FUNDS.

UM, IF YOU USE PUBLIC FUNDS, I'M GOING TO FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST YOU.

AND I'M GOING TO WIN THAT LAWSUIT BECAUSE THE LAWSUIT HAS ALREADY BEEN WON AND THE LAWSUIT WAS WON ON A VERY SIMPLE CASE BY NED SLOAN.

WHO'S NOW SINCE PASSED AWAY, HE FILED OVER 100 LAW SETS IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

HE WAS A REAL HERO.

HE WAS A REAL HERO OF MINE, AND I WAS LUCKY TO BE INVITED BY HIM, HE AND HIS LAWYER IN HIS PRIVATE FUNDED, UH, UH, COMMITTEE, UH, AND, UH, TO TALK TO ABOUT WHAT HE, WHAT HE HAS DONE, BUT HIS 100TH LAWSUIT THAT HE WON WAS EXACTLY FOR THAT REASON.

AND IT WAS A VERY SIMPLE LAWSUIT THAT WENT TO THE SUPREME COURT, AND IT WAS ABOUT A LOCAL COMMUNITY IN GREENVILLE.

I MEAN, THE SCUMMY, THE GREENVILLE TOWN COUNCIL FUNDING, THE REPAIR OF A BRIDGE IN A GATED COMMUNITY.

ALEX, FOLLOW ME ON THIS ONE IN A GATED COMMUNITY, A PRIVATE COMMUNITY THAT THE PUBLIC DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO LIKE SEA PODS.

AND, UH, HE WON THAT CASE.

THE SUPREME COURT RULED YOU'RE, YOU'RE CORRECT.

IT'S ILLEGAL TO USE TAX MONIES FOR A PRIVATE GATED COMMUNITY OF PRIVATE FUNDING.

IT'S NOT FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD.

SO IF YOU USE ANY TAX MONEY, I'M GOING TO SUE THE TOWN AND BOTH THOSE FIND OUTSTANDING YOUNG GENTLEMEN OVER THERE WHO HAVE ALREADY COMMITTED FRAUD AND ILLEGAL ACTS, AND GRUBER'S ALREADY BEEN COMMITTED THREE VIOLATIONS, AND COLTRANE'S ALREADY BEEN CAUGHT DOING A FRAUDULENT CONTRACT.

SO I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THAT'S COMING.

SO GO RIGHT AHEAD AND USE THAT PUBLIC MONEY.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT LAWSUIT.

THAT'S A SIMPLE LAWSUIT FOR ME, VERY INEXPENSIVE LAWSUIT.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC? IF THERE ARE NONE FIRST UP, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.

SECONDLY, MR. BROWN, OH, I NEED TO HAVE MOTION.

THE MOTION IS TO CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN MOU WITH THE SOUTH ISLAND DREDGING ASSOCIATION TO PROVIDE FUNDING ASSISTANCE FOR THE DREDGING OF HARBORTOWN YACHT BASIN.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE? IF THERE ARE NONE KRISTA, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

SEVEN F CONSIDERATION OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, 2022 DASH 10, AMENDING SECTIONS 10 DASH NINE DASH 10 AND 10 DASH NINE DASH 30 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING THE BILLING FOR AMBULANCE SERVICES.

MR. BROWN, MR. HARKINS.

[7f. Consideration of Proposed Ordinance 2022-10 Amending Sections 10-9-10 and 10-9-30 of the Municipal Code for the Town of Hilton Head, South Carolina, Regarding the Billing for Ambulance Services]

MR. TROYER, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

UM, YEAH, THE TOWN HAS A THIRD PARTY, UM, ADMINISTRATOR TO HELP US WITH, UM, AMBULANCE BILLING.

AND SO WE LEAN ON THEM FOR COMPLIANCE WITH, UH, UH, BILLING CODES AND BEST PRACTICES, AND WE MEET WITH THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS ABOUT BILLING ISSUES, BUT THEN WE ALSO MEET WITH THEM ON A ANNUAL BASIS JUST ABOUT HOW CAN WE, UH, BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE THAT WE CAN, UM, THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.

AND SO, AS A RESULT OF OUR LAST ANNUAL MEETING, UH, THE THIRD-PARTY BILLING, UM, ADMINISTRATOR HAS RECOMMENDED THAT WE, UM, ONE FOLLOW THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES

[01:55:01]

AND THAT TWO, THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER AN UPDATE FOR OUR AMBULANCE FEES.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IS AN APPROPRIATE BALANCE OF FAIR BALANCE IS HOW MUCH REVENUE SHOULD THE TOWN GET FROM AMBULANCE PROVIDING AMBULANCE SERVICES AND HOW MUCH SHOULD THOSE PEOPLE WHO USE THOSE AMBULANCE SERVICES, UM, AND HOW MUCH SHOULD THE PROPERTY TAXPAYERS PAY.

AND SO WE, WE TRY TO STRIKE THAT JUST RIGHT BALANCE.

AND SO, UM, BY FOLLOWING THE INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES, UH, I THINK WILL HELP US BE POSITIONED US RIGHT WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

UM, SO THAT WOULD ALSO BRING IN A LITTLE BIT, UH, UH, TOWN REVENUES AND HIS FINANCE DIRECTOR THAT HELPS OUR BUDGET AS WELL.

SO, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS THAT'S COMING OUT OF THIS ALSO IS THAT INSTEAD OF NEEDING TOWN COUNCIL, UM, EVERY TIME THAT THERE'S AN UPDATE OF THE FEDERAL RATES IS JUST TO TIE OUR RATES TO THE FEDERAL RATES.

AND SO THAT AS THEY'RE UPDATED ONCE A YEAR BY CMS, THAT, UM, WE DON'T HAVE TO STRUGGLE OR WRESTLE WITH, UM, THE DETAILS OF THAT IS THAT WE COULD JUST SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO TIE OUR RATES TO CMS RATES, AND THAT WOULD HELP CONTINUE TO POSITION OUR, UM, OUR, UH, THE TOWN IN, IN THE FAIREST BALANCE THAT WE CAN, UM, ABOUT, UH, PAYING FOR AMBULANCE SERVICES.

AND SO, UM, JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THE TOWN UPDATED ITS AMBULANCE FLEET, AND THIS, UM, HELPS US TO CONTINUE TO LOOK FORWARD TO WHEN WE NEED TO UPDATE OUR AMBULANCE AMBULANCE FLEET IN THE FUTURE.

AND SO, UM, HERE'S THE DETAILS OF THE RECOMMENDATION.

UM, OUR EXPECTATION IS THAT IT WOULD BRING IN ANOTHER $125,000, ABOUT 7%.

WE HAVE NOT CHANGED OUR RATES SINCE 2017.

SO WE UPDATED THE RATES AFTER MATTHEW AND HAVE IT SINCE.

AND, UM, AND SO OUR THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATOR, UM, SUGGEST THAT, THAT THE MOST FAIR BILLING PRACTICE WOULD BE TO UPDATE OUR RATES AND TIE IT TO THE FEDERAL RATES.

SO WE WOULD MAKE THAT RECOMMEND, WHAT IS YOUR, UH, COLLECTION EXPERIENCE BEEN, UH, WHAT PERCENTAGE WE'VE BEEN, UH, BETWEEN 80 AND 82%.

AND SO WHEN, UM, OUR THIRD-PARTY BILLER LOOKS AT OUR BOOK OF WORK AND LOOKS AT OUR COLLECTION ACTIVITY, THEIR, UH, CONTINUE TO BE IMPRESSED WITH OUR, UH, COLLECTION PERCENTAGES MANY TIMES, UM, THERE IN THE SEVENTIES AND EVEN 65, UM, FOR SIMILAR SIZED, UM, TOWNS.

AND SO WE CAN BE THANKFUL THAT ONE, IT HELPS TO GET THE BILLS OUT AS FAST AS POSSIBLE THAT HELPS WITH COLLECTIONS AND JUST OUR, UH, LOCAL JURISDICTION HAS GOOD EXPERIENCE COMMENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE.

UM, MR. CHAVEZ, IT JUST MAKES GOOD COMMON SENSE.

AND I MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

HAVING RECENTLY TAKEN A RIDE IN ONE OF OUR AMBULANCES, I TOTALLY SUPPORT THIS.

ANY COMMENT FROM THE PUBLIC, IS THERE A MOTION TO, FOR A RECOMMENDATION TO TOWN COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THEIR CONSIDERATION OF A INCREASE IN AMBULANCE FEES? SO MOVED SECOND, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION KRISTA, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE MR. BROWN SUPPORT.

[7g. Town of Hilton Head Island Financial Update]

BUT NOT LEAST, UH, JOHN WILL UPDATE US ON TOWN FINANCES SPECIFICALLY, UH, THE RESULTS OF THE CONFERENCE CALL THAT YOU HAD YESTERDAY WITH THE RATING AGENCY.

MOODY'S YES.

UH, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, AND, UH, JUST A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, AND WE'LL, WE'LL PROVIDE A SIMILAR INFORMATION AS OUR NORMAL FINANCIAL UPDATE, BUT, UM, MR. CHAIR WANTED US TO KIND OF FOCUS ON JUST OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH MOODY'S MOODY'S IS ONE OF OUR BOND RAIDERS.

WE HAVE A AAA RATING WITH THEM, AND SO WE CERTAINLY PAY ATTENTION TO, UM, EVERYTHING THAT THEY SAY IT'D BE CERTAINLY BE RESPONSIVE.

AND SO, UH, THIS PAST WEEK THEY SAID, WELL, IT'S TIME FOR AN UPDATE.

WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR FINANCES AND SEE HOW YOU'RE DOING.

UM, AND, AND JUST TO REMIND EVERYBODY TWO YEARS AGO, WHEN COVID STARTED, UM, MOODY'S PUT ALL COASTAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ON CREDIT WATCH, JUST BECAUSE THEIR EXPECTATION WAS WITH THE SHUTDOWN COASTAL COMMUNITIES THAT ARE DEPENDENT ON TOURISM ARE GOING TO BE IN TROUBLE.

AND THAT WAS THEIR EXPECTATION.

AND SO YESTERDAY WE HAD A VERY POSITIVE,

[02:00:01]

UM, CONVERSATION DETAILING OUR 20, 20 RESULTS, 20, 21 AND YEAR TO DATE 2022 THROUGH MARCH.

AND, UM, VERY, VERY POSITIVE.

THEY WERE SURPRISED AT HOW WELL WE'RE DOING.

AND SO IT'S ALWAYS, UM, COMFORTING TO KNOW THAT WE HAD A, A GOOD CONVERSATION AND, AND WE WORK REALLY HARD TO, UH, KEEP THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE BOND RAIDERS AS STRONG AS POSSIBLE.

AND SO, UH, THAT'S MY REPORT AND I WOULD CERTAINLY WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS AND THE TREND THROUGH THE END OF MARCH, UH, VERY, VERY STRONG.

AND, UH, YEAH, AND NORMALLY, UM, WORDS THAT YOU GET FROM THE BOND RATING AGENCIES.

ONE, ONE OF THE PHRASES THAT WE GOT WAS, UH, THEY DIDN'T LACK ANYTHING.

AND SO INSTEAD OF GIVING YOU GOOD MARKS, THEY SAY THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY BAD MARKS.

AND WE HEARD THAT.

AND, UM, WE DID HEAR, UM, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE DETAILS, UM, OUR, UM, PRIMARY ANALYST, UM, MR. MAMO, UM, HE DID SAY, WOW.

AND SO FOR HIM TO SAY THAT WAS, UM, REALLY UNUSUAL BECAUSE IT'S NOT THEIR PERSONALITY EXCELLENT REPORT.

SURE.

WAS THERE ANY INDICATION OF WHAT OUR CURRENT, OUR REVISED RATING WILL BE? WE HAVE A AAA FOR OUR GEO, WE HAVE A STEP-DOWN FOR OUR SPECIAL OBLIGATIONS.

UM, AND SO, UM, WHAT WE LIKE IS OUR EXPECTATION IS CONTINUE THAT AAA AND JUST KEEP AS STRONG A RELATIONSHIP WITH MOODY'S AS WE CAN.

AND SO THAT THAT'S THE OUTCOME THAT WE WANTED IS, IS FOR THEM GO AWAY SAYING THAT THEY'RE VERY COMFORTABLE WITH OUR OPERATIONS, COMFORTABLE WITH OUR ECONOMY AND COMFORTABLE WITH OUR TOWN COUNCIL, UM, MAKES THEIR BUDGETARY DECISIONS.

EXCELLENT.