May 03, 2022 Hilton Head Island Town Council

[00:00:02]

IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO DO ANYBODY YOU LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE MAY 3RD TOWN COUNCIL MEETING.

CHRISTINA, ARE WE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT? YES, SIR.

WE ARE.

COULD YOU PLEASE MAKE THE ROLL CALL PLEASE? YES, SIR.

MR. BROWN, MR. AMES, MRS. BECKER, MR. LINUX, MR. STANFORD, MAYOR MCCANN.

I'LL PRESENT, SIR.

[3. Pledge to the Flag ]

THANK YOU.

REMAIN STANDING, PLEASE.

YOUR LOCATION TODAY.

WE'LL BE COMING TO OUR RIVAL AND THEN WE WILL PASS TO NATHAN FOR GEL, PLEASE.

WELCOME, SIR.

THANK YOU.

LET'S PRAY, DEAR LORD.

THANK YOU FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY, THAT CARES SO MUCH.

AND FOR THOSE THAT YOU HAVE ORDAINED TO LEAD THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY IN OUR RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD, FULL OF UNCERTAINTY, I PRAY THAT THEY RECEIVE DIVINE WISDOM TO LEAD US INTO A FUTURE OF CONTINUED PROSPERITY AND STABILITY FOR THE GOOD OF ALL PEOPLE, AS DECISIONS ARE MADE, MAY THEY SLEEP WELL KNOWING THAT YOU ARE AT WORK IN ALL THINGS, BLESS THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER, WITH BUSINESSES AND LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND COVER THEIR FAMILIES WITH YOUR LOVE AND PROTECTION.

MAY ALL THIS BE FOR YOUR GLORY AND OUR GOOD AND THE NAME OF JESUS WE PRAY.

AMEN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[6. Approval of the Agenda ]

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.

SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[7. Approval of the Minutes]

MOVE HER APPROVAL.

SECOND.

ANY CHANGES OR ADDITIONS, PLEASE RAISE THEIR RIGHT HAND.

THANK YOU.

REPORT

[8. Report of the Town Manager]

YES, SIR.

UH, GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY.

UM, MAYOR COUNCIL, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, JUST A FEW THINGS TO QUIET YOUR PHONE WHILE YOU'RE IN THE AUDIENCE.

JUST KIDDING CHEN.

I'M JUST KIDDING.

UM, WE RECENTLY WENT THROUGH A CREDIT ANALYSIS WITH MOODY'S INVESTORS AND BASED UPON THE REVIEW OF OUR, OF THEIR FINANCIAL RESULTS PRACTICES AND THE STRENGTH OF THE ECONOMY MOODY SAYS REAFFIRMED OUR AAA BOND RATING STATUS.

SO IF WE THINK BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC MOODY, PUT MOODY'S PUT A COASTAL COMMUNITY, ALL COASTAL COMMUNITIES ON CREDIT WATCH.

AND THAT WAS A, UH, AN INTERESTING TIME AND PUT EVERY COASTAL COMMUNITY ON A NEGATIVE OUTLOOK BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL IMPACT ON TOURIST FOCUSED COMMUNITIES.

AND AS A RESULT OF THE RECENT REVIEW, MOODY SAYS REMOVED THAT OUTLOOK, UM, FROM OUR, YOU KNOW, FOR OUR SPECIAL REVENUE HOSPITALITY AND BEACH BONDS, AND THEY WERE IMPRESSED WITH HOW WE WOULD STOOD THE TEMPORARY TURBULENCE ON THE COKE, CORONA VIRUS, PANDEMIC, SOA, UH, CONGRATULATIONS THE COUNCIL, A BIG THANK YOU AND CONGRATS TO OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR AND REALLY TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT CONTINUED TO STAY STRONG THROUGH, THROUGH, AND AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, UM, MOVING ALONG TURTLE NESTING SEASON HAS OFFICIALLY STARTED AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH OCTOBER.

I KNOW THERE WAS A BIG EVENT THE OTHER DAY AND REACHED OUT TO AMBER AND WE HAD SOME STAFF MEMBERS THERE, BUT THEY RECENTLY HELD THE, AN OFFICIAL KICKOFF EVENT WHERE THEY DEDICATED THE FIRST NEST IN HONOR OF SCOTT LIGATE.

SO I KNOW A VERY SPECIAL AND MOVING MOMENT.

UM, I KNOW SCOTT'S FAMILY WAS THERE.

UM, AND THANK YOU TO SEA TURTLE PATROL FOR DOING THAT ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY.

UM, FIRE RESCUE RECENTLY WORKED WITH EAGLE SCOUT CANDIDATE, PETER ROWE SHOE TO COMPLETE HIS EAGLE SCOUT COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT.

IT INSTALLED, HE INSTALLED FLAG DROP BOXES FOR OLDER AND TATTERED AMERICAN FLAGS THAT NEED TO BE RETIRED CORRECTLY.

AND THEY'RE LOCATED AT THREE LOCATIONS, FIRE RESCUE HEADQUARTERS AT 40 SUMMIT DRIVE BEHIND FIRE STATION ONE OFF EXECUTIVE PARK DRIVE AND FIRE STATION NUMBER FIVE AT 20 WHOOPING CRANE WAY.

SO THANK YOU TO THE EAGLE SCOUTS AND PETER AND TO FIRE RESCUE FOR HELPING THAT HAPPEN.

THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.

THANK YOU.

I'LL GET A GENERAL REPORT TO YOU THOUGH.

THE INTERFAITH COMMUNITY IN ACTION, AND IT OPENED ED ISLAND MUSIC AND ARTS COALITION WILL BE, WE'LL BE HAVING A BENEFIT AND SUPPORT OR THE EFFORTS FOR THE UKRAINE HILTON HEAD FOR UKRAINE WILL TAKE PLACE ON SUNDAY, MAY 22ND, FROM 12 TO SIX O'CLOCK AT THE LOW COUNTRY CELEBRATION PARK.

THERE WILL BE FOOD TRUCKS, ART CRAFT WA WIVE, CLASSICAL CHORUS AND DANCE PERFORMANCES FOR MORTIFICATION OF HOW YOU CAN DONATE TO THE CAUSE.

PLEASE CONTACT H H FOR UKRAINE.COM IS SOMETHING LED BY A RABBI BLUM IT'S TAKEN ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN.

THAT'S UM,

[00:05:01]

SO I'M GOING NOWHERE WE'RE PUTTING FORWARD.

[9. Reports of the Members of the Town Council]

THANK YOU.

EVERY GENERAL REPORTS BY MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

I HAVE A GENERAL REPORT.

YES, SIR.

UM, I ATTENDED LAST WEEK, THE FUNCTION AND HILTON HAD A MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHICH WAS CALLED ART MEETS HISTORY AND A GALLERY THAT CONSISTED OF A SERIES OF BEAUTIFUL MURALS, UH, THAT WERE PREPARED BY VOLUNTEER LOCAL ARTISTS.

AND THEN THEY WERE SUPPLEMENTED, UH, BY THE ARTWORK OF MANY OF THE STUDENTS THAT WERE THERE.

OUR OWN JEN MCEWEN LED THIS PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHERS.

AND I WANT TO SALUTE JAN FOR THE OUTSTANDING WORK OR EVERY CITIZEN.

WHEN YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO INTO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL TO SEE THIS OUT, IT TELLS THE HISTORY STORY OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER GENERAL REPORT THOUGH? YES.

MR. MERIT, UH, THERE'S A RIGHT OF ACCESS ISSUE, UH, NEAR THE, WITH THE CEMETERY NEXT TO A GRAND VIEW IN HILTON HEAD PLANTATION.

AND THE CEMETERY IS A NATIVE ISLAND CEMETERY, UH, THAT IS, UH, CONNECTED WITH THE, THE LOCAL CHURCH IN THE AREA.

AND, UH, THERE IS, UH, IT SEEMS TO BE SOME DELAY IN THE TOWN, UH, CLARIFYING ITS POSITION ON THIS MATTER.

SO I'M JUST REQUESTING THAT WE ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND RESOLVE THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

MONICA MYSELF, WE'LL FOLLOW UP THIS WEEK ON THERE.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

ANY OTHER GENERAL REPORTS? OKAY.

LOCAL COUNTRY AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY GLEN, NO REPORT ON THE SHAPING IT COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS.

JAMIE.

SO THE MOST INTERESTING THING THAT I, UM, WANTED TO REPORT IS THAT THE LOW COUNTRY, UM, EMPLOYMENT STATUS, UM, PROVIDED TO US ON APRIL 22ND, UM, THROUGH THE LOW COUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, UM, INDICATED THAT IN BUFORD COUNTY WE HAVE AN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF 4% AND SECOND AND THAT THERE WERE OVER 4,000 JOB OPENINGS IN BUPA COUNTY THOUGHT THAT WAS INTRIGUING.

INTERESTING INFORMATION AND THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE THAT TODAY.

THANK YOU.

THE LOCAL TOWN.

THANK YOU, JOHN.

SO LOCAL MET ON TUESDAY, APRIL 26TH AND HAD AN UPDATE ON THE REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND, UH, LED BY ERIC GREENWAY.

JENNIFER RAY IS THE TOWN'S REPRESENTATIVE IN THAT EFFORT.

UH, THEN THE TOWN MANAGER OF JAMASZI PRESENTED 2022 GOALS.

LIKEWISE, EACH ADMINISTRATOR FOR JASPER AND BUFORD COUNTY, UH, UPDATED THE BOARD ON 2022 GOALS FOR EACH COUNTY.

THANK YOU, TOM.

DAVID, DO YOU HAVE, WHAT ABOUT YOUR FOREHEAD? YOU HAVE A REPORT.

THE AIRPORT TERMINAL PROJECT WILL BE ADVERTISED FOR BIDS THIS WEEKEND.

UM, THERE'S NO DATES SET FOR START OF CONSTRUCTION AND THEREFORE NO COMPLETION DATE, BUT AT THIS POINT IT'S MOVING FORWARD.

AND THEN SECONDLY, THE EXPANSION OF THE APRON, WHICH ACCOMMODATES THE PLANES WHEN THEY'RE ON THE GROUND IS ALMOST COMPLETE.

IT'LL BE, UH, LINED THIS WEEKEND AND THE USEFUL USED, UH, VARIOUS SHORTLY.

THANK YOU.

MA'AM THANK YOU, COMMUNITY SERVICE BILL.

UH, THANK YOU, MR. MERRITT, THE CUB COMMITTEE WILL BE MEETING NEXT WEEK TO EXISTING APPLICATIONS FOR POSSIBLE OPENINGS WITH OUR, UM, POINT CARD COMMISSIONS AND, AND, UM, IN GROUPS.

SO MORE OF THAT LATER.

THANK YOU.

PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE, DAVID.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE MET ON APRIL 28TH AND APPROVED FORWARDING THE E-BIKES ORDINANCE ONTO COUNCIL.

THANK YOU.

MAYOR EXPLAINED HIS COMMITTEE, MR. LINUX.

YES, JOHN, THE NEXT MEETING OF THE FNA COMMITTEE IS TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY AT 10 O'CLOCK, APRIL 17TH IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

THANK

[10. Appearance by Citizens Citizens who wish to address Town Council must contact the Town Clerk at 843.341.4701 no later than 12:00 p.m. the day of the meeting. Citizens may also submit comments on agenda items via the eComment portal at (Town Council Meeting Information) ]

YOUR APPEARANCE BY CITIZENS KRISTA.

YES, SIR.

WE HAVE TWO CITIZENS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TODAY TO ADDRESS COUNCIL.

THE FIRST IS JUDITH HILLIS.

YES, MA'AM PLEASE STEP TO THE PODIUM.

CAN WE HAVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS PLEASE? UM, MY NAME IS JUDAH TELLIS AND I LIVE AT MARINERS CODE CLUB NUMBER 1 0 4.

AND AS YOU MIGHT GUESS FROM MY ADDRESS,

[00:10:01]

UH, AM I FACING THE RIGHT WAY? YES.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

UM, NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WAS SHOCKED ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO TO SEE IN THE PACKET THAT, UM, TWO BRIDGES WERE UNDER CONSIDERATION INSTEAD OF THE ONE.

UM, THROUGH THE YEARS I'VE ATTENDED AT LEAST THREE MEETINGS ABOUT THE BRIDGE, UH, WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

AND ONE MEETING WAS ESPECIALLY FOR MARINER RESIDENTS AND AT NO TIME DID THEY DISCUSS, YOU KNOW, THE OPTION THAT WAS IN PAPER AND THE ILLUSTRATION WAS SHOPPING BECAUSE THAT LITTLE WHITE SQUARE UNDER THE NEW BRIDGE IS MY HOUSE.

AND, UM, I'VE LIVED THERE FOR 32 YEARS, LIVED ON THE ISLAND SINCE 1970 WHEN THEY HAD A SWING BRIDGE.

SO I'VE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGE, BUT ANYWAY, I'VE BEEN THERE FOR 32 YEARS AND, UM, I WOULD SAY AT LEAST EIGHT OTHER WOMEN, SINGLE OLDER WOMEN, UH, LIVE OUT THERE OUT OF THE 40 UNITS.

AND UM, MANY OF THEM HAVE LIVED THERE LONGER THAN I HAVE.

IN FACT, WE HAVE ONE THAT IS AN ORIGINAL OWNER SINCE 1973 AND WE LIVE OUT THERE BECAUSE IT'S QUIET AND IT'S SAFE.

IT'S A GOOD PLACE FOR OLD WOMEN.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR SAFETY.

UM, I LOST MY HUSBAND IN JANUARY.

WE WERE MARRIED 52 YEARS.

SO THIS IS HOUSE REPRESENTS A LOT OF MEMORIES.

IT REPRESENTS MY STABILITY, MY SAFETY I'VE BEEN ANSWERED WITH SITUATION, EVERYTHING.

I JUST HONESTLY, UM, WONDER IF I WERE FORCED OUT OF MY HOUSE, WHAT I WOULD DO, WHERE I WOULD MOVE.

AND THE CURRENT HILTON HAD SITUATION.

I'D PROBABLY HAVE TO LEAVE THE ISLAND.

UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT THE POWERS THAT BE COULD REIMBURSE ME FOR HAVING A, A WATERFRONT PROPERTY, WHICH I DO NOW ON THE INTERCOASTAL.

ANYWAY, I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE LITTLE WHITE SKY EX-PLAYERS ON THAT ILLUSTRATION.

THOSE ARE REAL PEOPLE IN THE REAL HOMES, THE REAL LIVES.

UM, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. YES, SIR.

THE LAST, UH, CITIZENS SIGNED UP IS RICHARD ROSS, RICHARD KRAUSE, MR. ROSS, RICHARD, DEAR NOT SEEING HIM, SIR.

THAT CONCLUDES APPEARANCE BY CITIZENS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[Consent Agenda ]

OKAY.

MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

ANY QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL? ANY QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE ON THESE TWO ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, HAVING NONE WE'LL COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL ALL IN FAVOR.

PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEW BUSINESS

[12a. 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]

SECOND DISCUSSION OF AMENDMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL DISCUSSION BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

CHRISTIAN, MAKE THE ROLL CALL PLEASE.

YES, SIR.

MR. EXCUSE ME, MR. BROWN.

MR. HARKINS.

MR. AMES.

YES.

MRS. BECKER.

MR. LENNOX.

YES.

MR. STANFORD.

YES.

MAYOR MCCANN.

YES.

MOTION CARRIES SEVEN ZERO

[12b. 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]

UM, DURING COMMITTEE, WE, UH, ASKED STAFF THE QUESTION ABOUT THE ABANDONED, UH, SEPTIC SYSTEMS. I'M JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW IF WE GOT ANY WORD BACK ON THAT UH, YES SIR.

COUNCILMAN BROWN, SEAN COLLINS TO TOWN MANAGER.

UH, WE DID CHECK WITH D HECK THERE ARE NO REQUIREMENTS TO FILL IN OR, OR TO MODIFY THE SEPTIC TANKS.

UM, PROPERTY OWNERS CAN DO WHAT THEY WISH WITH THAT.

UM, A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE BROKEN UP OR REMOVED, UH, BY THE OWNER.

UM, BUT THAT'S, THERE'S NO DEACT REQUIREMENT TO DO THAT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS? MY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, BRINGING IT BACK TO THE COUNCIL.

KRISTA MR. BROWN,

[00:15:01]

OH, YES.

MR. AMES.

YES.

MRS. BECKER.

YES.

MR. LENNOX.

YES.

MR. STANFORD.

YES.

MAYOR MCCANN

[12c. 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 ]

CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A TOWN MANAGEMENT TO ENTER INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE SOUTH SOUTH ISLAND DREDGING ASSOCIATION TO PROVIDE FUNDING ASSISTANCE WITH THE DREDGING OF THE HARBOR TOWN BASEMENT OF BASIN, MOVE HER APPROVAL DISCUSSION BY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, DAVID.

OKAY.

DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANT? OH GOSH.

ALEXA.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

MAYOR MARK AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

UH, EARLIER THERE WAS A QUESTION THAT HAD COME UP IN REGARDS TO THIS MATTER, UH, IN DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE REQUESTS THAT CAME IN AND THE INFORMATION THAT CAME OUT OF COMMITTEE THAT'S PENDING BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING, WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY AND CLARIFY, UH, THE AREAS THAT THE TOWN FUNDING WOULD BE UTILIZED TO PERFORM THE DREDGING ACTIVITIES.

AND SO WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS AN ARIEL THAT SHOWS BOTH AREAS THAT ARE REFERENCED IN THE DRAFT RESOLUTION THAT IS IN YOUR PACKET MATERIALS.

THE FIRST AREA IS THE HARBOR TOWN YACHT BASIN.

THE SECOND AREA IS BRADICK COV AND KRISTA, IF YOU COULD SCROLL DOWN, UH, WE'VE TAKEN BOTH OF THOSE AREAS AND WE'VE KIND OF ENLARGED THEM.

SO THIS IS THE HARBOR TOWN YACHT BASE.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE EXTENT OF WHERE THE DREDGING WOULD OCCUR WITHIN THIS PARTICULAR PICTURE.

AND THEN IF YOU SCROLL DOWN ONE MORE, THIS IS BRADICK COVE WITH THE SOUTH ISLAND MARINA BEING ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF THE WAY DOWN ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE.

SO WE WANTED TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING AS TO WHERE THERE'S THE MARINA, UH, AS TO WHERE THIS DREDGING ACTIVITIES WOULD TAKE PLACE.

AND TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE WAS ANY CONCERNS, UH, WHAT WE WOULD PROPOSE IS THAT WE WOULD TAKE THIS INFORMATION, ATTACH IT AS AN EXHIBIT TO THE RESOLUTION.

AND THAT WAY THERE'S A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE THE TOWN'S FUNDING WOULD BE UTILIZED TO PERFORM THE DREDGING ACTIVITIES.

TOM, YOU HAD A QUESTION.

NO, I, I WOULD ADD TO THIS, THE FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE REVIEWED THIS REQUEST AND PROPOSED RESOLUTION IN DETAIL TWO WEEKS AGO AND RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL THAT THIS COME FORWARD.

YES, SIR.

YES.

UH, JOSH, WHAT THE TOTAL COST OF THIS IS 5 MILLION YES.

BASED PRODUCTS APPROXIMATELY APPROXIMATELY.

YEAH, IT WAS THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE, I BELIEVE WAS 4.6 MILLION, BUT BY THE TIME IT'S COMPLETED, THEY ESTIMATE IT'S GONNA BE A TOTAL PROJECT COST OF 5 MILLION.

I WAS CONFUSED BECAUSE IN ONE LETTER FROM SOUTH ISLAND DREDGING, THERE WAS A REFERENCE TO BAYNARD CREEK AND 52,000 CUBIC YARDS.

SO AS THE 194,000 LESS 52, THAT'S CORRECT.

SO THE SOUTH ISLAND DREDGING ASSOCIATION IS GOING TO BE DOING MORE WORK THAN WHAT IS BEYOND WHAT THE TOWN IS PROVIDING FUNDING FOR.

AND SO THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO JUST IDENTIFY THE AREAS WHERE WE ANTICIPATE THE TOWN FUNDS BEING USED.

DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW THE, UM, PROPORTION OR THE NUMBER OF CUBIC YARDS COMING OUT OF HARBOR TOWN AS OPPOSED TO BRADDOCK COVE? I DO NOT.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM SOUTH ISLAND, I BELIEVE WE DO.

I WILL DEFER TO HIM AND HE MAY BE ABLE TO ANSWER YOUR TECHNICAL QUESTIONS, SIR.

UH, I'M JACK BRIEFLY, I'M THE PRESIDENT OF SOUTH ISLAND DRUDGING RIGHT NOW.

THE ESTIMATE FOR HARBOR TOWN IS JUST ABOUT 40,000 CUBIC YARDS.

UH, THE HERON POINT, UH, PROJECT IS STILL UNDER STUDY, UH, AND THERE ARE, THEY HAVE ISSUES THAT HAVE, THEY HAVE TO RE RESOLVE THEMSELVES BEFORE THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN, IN THIS DREDGE.

BUT THE BULK OF THE DREDGING, UH, IS FROM HARBOR TOWN, BUT ALSO FROM THE BRADDOCK CREEK, BRADDOCK CREEK IS A, A LONG, UH, CREEK THAT YOU HAVE TO OPEN UP, UH, TO GET TO THE PRIMARY POINT OF THE SOUTH BEACH OF, UH, MARINA, WHEREVER IS HERON POINT.

WELL, H HER HERON POINT IS, IS THE CREEK THAT'S, UH, IMMEDIATELY, UH, SOUTH OF, UH, OF, UH, THE HARBOR TOWN MARINA.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT ANSWERS THAT, ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UM, OKAY.

AND MR. AMES, ONE MORE THING THAT I WOULD ADD THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR THIS DISCUSSION IS WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED IS THAT THIS FUNDING WOULD BE PROVIDED ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS, WHICH MEANS INVOICES SHOWING WHERE THE WORK HAD BEEN PERFORMED WOULD THEN BE USED AS BACKUP TO PROVIDE THOSE PAYMENTS.

THANK YOU, JOSH.

UM,

[00:20:01]

UM, AND I MAKE THESE COMMENTS, UH, NOT SO MUCH, UH, DIRECTED AT THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, BUT TO MAKE A POINT GENERALLY.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, I ACKNOWLEDGED THAT, UH, THIS IS OUR, OUR BOAT TODAY IS BASICALLY, UH, CONSISTENT WITH SOMETHING THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

AND I'M NOT TRYING TO CHANGE THAT.

UM, MY COMMENTS ADDRESS THE FUNDING OF FACILITIES BEHIND PRIVATE GATES AND THE NEED FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES THEY ARE JUSTIFIED.

THE $600,000 OF HOSPITALITY TAX ATTACHED TO THIS PROPOSAL COULD BE INVESTED IN HIGHER PRIORITY AREAS.

IF THE COUNCIL DEEMED IT APPROPRIATE IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN, THERE'S REFERENCES TO PROGRAM ANY MAINTENANCE AND ENHANCEMENT OF PUBLIC REALM.

AND SO YOU INSTANTANEOUSLY HAVE THIS CONFLICT BETWEEN INVESTING BEHIND THE GATES AND INVESTING IN THE PUBLIC REALM.

AND AT THIS TIME, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE CLEARLY EXPRESSED OR SPOKEN TO HOW WE QUALIFY THOSE INVESTMENTS BEHIND THE GATES.

I UNDERSTAND THE NEED AND BENEFIT FOR THIS.

UH, I HAPPEN TO LIVE IN BRADDOCK COVE A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO AND WAS VERY AWARE OF THE SILTING IN AND THE NEED FOR PERIODIC DRESS DREDGING.

BUT AGAIN, THE QUESTION BECOMES, AT WHAT POINT DOES SOMETHING BEHIND THE GATE RISE TO THE LEVEL OF A CLEAR PUBLIC BENEFIT, BOTH IN THE CASE OF HARBOR TOWN AND SOUTH BEACH.

IT'S OBVIOUS THAT HARBOR TIME HARBORTOWN RISES TO A VERY DIFFERENT LEVEL OF PUBLIC THAN SOUTH BEACH MARINA AND BRADDOCK CO IN THE STATEMENT OF A LETTER, IT SAYS BOTH ARE USED BY THE PUBLIC FOR DOCKING SIGHTSEEING NAVIGATION AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO PUBLIC FACILITIES AND OTHER TOURISM RELATED ACTIVITIES.

I DON'T, I, I WOULD CHALLENGE WHETHER OR NOT GO POINT DOES OR WHETHER THE, UH, CAPABILITY FURTHER DOWN IN BRADDOCK COPE DOES.

SO MY QUESTION IS, IS ACCESS TRULY PUBLIC.

IF A GATE PASS IS REQUIRED AND HYPOTHETICALLY, OR SHOULD THERE BE A REIMBURSEMENT FOR COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHED ESTABLISHMENTS OR FROM A COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT TO HAVE THREE ACCESS.

SO I'M JUST PROBING HERE AND CHALLENGING OUR WAY WE ASSESS WHETHER OR NOT WE OUGHT TO BE PUTTING PUBLIC DOLLARS BEHIND GATES FROM A TRANSPARENCY STANDPOINT, THE TOTAL BUDGET IS 5 MILLION, APPROXIMATELY 142 OF THAT IS IN HARBOR TOWN, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY.

AND 100,000 IS GOING DOWN INTO BRADDOCK COVE, WHICH IS A LOWER PRIORITY FROM A TOWN STANDPOINT AND A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF THAT IS NOT SERVICING THE COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS THAT ARE THEORETICALLY THE JUSTIFICATION.

SO I RAISED THESE QUESTIONS NOT TO CHALLENGE THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL, BUT FOR COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THAT IT PROBABLY WOULD BEHOOVE US TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT AND CLEAR IN WHY AND HOW WE CAN INVEST IN BEHIND THE GATES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

COMMENTS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, MR. BROWN.

REMEMBER THE COMPANY, SIR.

THANK YOU, SIR.

UM, JUST THE AMES PROVOKED SOME THOUGHTS FOR ME ALONG THE WAY THEN.

UM, I CAN REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST JOINED COUNCIL, WE WERE HAVING A STRATEGIC WORKSHOP, UM, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT RISING TIDES LOADING ALL BOATS.

AND IN THIS CASE, WE NEED TO DO A LITTLE DREADING TO GET THE BOAT TO THE FLOAT WITH THE TIDE RISING, RIGHT.

UM, UH, BUT YOU KNOW, TRANSPARENCY IS ONE WORD THAT DID COME, UH, COME TO MIND HERE.

AND EVEN AS YOU READ, UH, GENDA ITEM HERE, UM, IT READS PROVIDING FUNDING

[00:25:01]

AND I KNOW THAT HARBOR TOWN IS THE HIGHLIGHT AND, UH, BRINGS THE MOST ATTENTION, BUT, UH, THAT TRANSPARENCY IS IMPORTANT, UH, TO OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

AND I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS TO DAVE, UM, BECAUSE A COUPLE OF REASONS, NUMBER ONE, UH, HARBOR TOWN, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT TOTALLY PUBLICLY KNOWN, BUT FROM A WATER ACCESS POINT, IT IS PUBLIC.

YOU CAN DOCK THERE ON A DAILY BASIS FOR FREE THEY'LL EVEN CLEAN OUT YOUR WASTE FOR YOU.

UM, I DIDN'T LEARN THAT UNTIL I TOOK THE TOUR TO QUARTERDECK.

UM, BUT I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT, UH, BOTH OF THOSE, UH, AREAS ARE, UH, ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.

AND THE OTHER REASON IS THERE'S A LOT OF FUNDS THAT ARE GENERATED BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENS IN HARBOR TOWN IN SOUTH BEACH.

AND I'M JUST LOOKING FOR, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, ALL BOATS TO FLOAT BECAUSE OF THAT.

SO AS WE PAY ATTENTION TO THIS, WE ALSO NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO OTHER PARTS OF THE ISLAND OUT IN NEED OF FUNDING, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, STORM WATER AS A SUCH.

UH, SO THANK YOU MR. MAYOR, UH, FOR, FOR THE TIME.

THANK YOU.

ANY MORE COMMENTS BY THE COUNCIL COMMENTS, MY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

HAVE YOU SEEN THEM PUSH TO MAKE THE ROLL CALL PLEASE? MR. BROWN SUPPORT, MR. HARKINS.

YES.

MR. AMES.

YES.

MRS. BECKER.

YES.

MR. LENNOX.

YES.

MR. STANFORD.

YES.

MAYOR MCCANN.

YES.

[12d. First Reading of Proposed Ordinance 2022-09, Amending Section 4-5-20 of the Municipal Code of the Town of Hilton Head Island, Extending the Expiration Date of the Real Estate Transfer Fee from December 31, 2024 to December 31, 2044]

FIRST READING PROPOSAL IN IT'S 22, 20 22 DASH 9 0 9, MENDING SECTION FOUR OR FIVE 20 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF TOWN OF HILTON THAT I OWN EXTENDING THE EXPIRATION DATE OF THE REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEE FROM DECEMBER 31ST, 24 TO DECEMBER 31ST, 2044.

SO DISCUSSION BY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

YES, JOHN, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE HILTON HEAD, UH, ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS FOR DIVING IN ON THIS ISSUE AND HELPING US UNDERSTAND THE BEST WAY TO STRUCTURE, UH, THIS EXTENSION.

UH, THEY, THEY HAVE SUPPORTED THIS AND I THINK WE WOULDN'T BE WHERE WE ARE, UH, WITHOUT THEIR ASSISTANCE.

THANK YOU, MR. BROWN.

YEAH.

UM, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS ONE.

UH, THERE'S A COUPLE OF WORDS AND THE FIRST WAY IS THAT I'M GETTING EXCITED ABOUT IT.

I JUST WANTED TO SHARE IT PUBLICLY.

UM, WHEN IT, WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT, AND BY THE WAY, THOSE THAT, UH, ADOPTED THIS WAY BEFORE OUR TIME, I'M GLAD THAT THEY HAD THE FORESIGHT.

OKAY.

UM, BUT IT TALKS ABOUT ACQUIRING LANDS, BUT PUBLIC OWNERSHIP MAINTAIN OPEN SPACE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACQUIRE, DEVELOPED LAND OR DEVELOP RIGHTS.

OKAY.

UM, I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSION IN THE PAST, AROUND DEVELOPMENTAL RATES AND MOVING THEM FROM ONE AREA TO ANOTHER.

UH, AS YOU START TO READ THROUGH THIS, YOU, YOU, YOU GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT IS POSSIBLE.

OKAY.

THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO THAT.

UM, SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

AND THEN IT GOES ON FURTHER TO SAY, UH, THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING THIS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TOWN'S CURRENT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, NOT THE CONCERT PRINCIPAL PLAN FROM THEN, BUT THE ONE THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US NOW, OUR PLAN.

SO, UM, AGAIN, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE DIRECTION HERE.

UH, MY SHOW WITH MR. LANDO HAS MORE TO COME AS FAR AS DISCUSSION AROUND THIS.

UH, SO I'M, I'M READY TO MOVE FORWARD AND SUPPORT THIS ONE.

STANFORD, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, THIS SOURCE OF FUNDING HAS GENERATED MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, WHICH THE TOWN HAS BEEN ABLE TO REINVEST IN MAKING OUR COMMUNITY BETTER.

A LOT OF IT HAS BEEN SPENT MAKING HIGHWAY 2 78 AS GREEN AS WE POSSIBLY CAN MAKE IT.

THAT IS REALLY A GOOD THING.

SO THIS HAS BEEN A VITAL ECONOMIC RESOURCE WHERE PEOPLE THAT ARE BUYING HOMES, A SMALL TAX THAT GOES INTO A FUND, WHICH IN TURN IS AN INVESTMENT IN THIS COMMUNITY.

IT WAS AN OUTSTANDING IDEA.

WE ARE UNIQUE IN THE STATE AND HAVING THIS.

AND SO I CERTAINLY SUPPORT EXTENDING IT.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

THAT WAS IT.

THE COMMUNITY.

ANY COMMENTS? BRINGING IT BACK TO THE ACCOUNT, MR. MAKE THE ROLL CALL PLEASE.

MR. BROWN.

MR. HARKINS.

YES.

MR. AMES.

YES.

MRS. BECKER.

YES.

MR. LENNOX.

YES.

MR. STANFORD.

YES.

MAYOR MCCANN MOTION CARRIES SIR.

[12e. First Reading 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]

AND IT'S 20 DAYS, 22 DASH 10 MENDING SECTION 10, 9, 10,

[00:30:01]

THE FIFTH HEAD ISLAND REGARDING THE BILLING FOR AMBULANCE SERVICES.

SO MOVED DISCUSSION BY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

I MENTIONED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

KRISHA.

COULD YOU CALL THE ROLL CALL PLEASE? MR. BROWN.

MR. HARKINS.

YES.

MR. AMES.

YES.

MRS. BECKER.

YES.

MR. LENNOX, MR. STANFORD.

YES.

MAYOR MCCANN.

YES.

MOTION CARRIES, SIR.

OKAY, WE'RE

[12f. First Reading Proposed Ordinance 2022-06 Amending, Title 10 of the Municipal Code of the Town of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, by Adding Chapter 2 Entitled "Short-Term Rentals"]

NOW.

FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 20 DASH 22 OR SIX MENDING TYPE AMENDING TITLE 10 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF A TOWN HOME THAT I OWN BY ADDING CHAPTER TWO, ENTITLED SHORT TERM RENTALS, MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

SECOND.

THANK YOU.

HANS HOWARD PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU, ANNE.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSELORS FOR THE RECORD AND SIREN, INTERIM COMMUNITY PLANNING MANAGER.

AND WE'LL TRY TO MOVE THROUGH THIS AS QUICKLY AS CAN, AS I CAN WHILE GIVING YOU THE INFORMATION THAT I THINK YOU NEED.

OKAY.

WE'LL START WITH THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION REVIEW THE PROJECT PURPOSE STATEMENT, GIVE YOU A BRIEF SUMMARY OF OUR INITIATIVE TO DATE REVIEW SHORT-TERM RENTAL TRENDS, THEIR DISTRIBUTION AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT SHORT TERM RENTALS.

WE'LL DISCUSS INSPECTIONS, WHICH WAS A QUESTION THAT CAME UP DURING THE COMMITTEE MEETING.

UH, WE'LL DISCUSS THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE WITH THE REVISIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE, THE PROPOSED PERMIT FEE AND COMPARISON WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES FEES, THE OPERATIONAL PROGRAM TO MAKE THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROGRAM OPERATE AND NEXT STEPS.

AND THEN SUMMARIZE AGAIN WITH THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION, UH, MARCH 24TH, THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED ADOPTION OF THE PROPOSED SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE TO TOWN COUNCIL, SUBJECT TO SUCH REVISIONS AS MAYBE AGREED UPON BY TOWN COUNCIL AT THE TIME OF THE HEARING AND THE REVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCES YOU NOTED IN YOUR PACKET, UH, WERE NOTED ON THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, DOUBLE UNDERLINED AND START THROUGH.

AND WE'LL COVER THOSE AS WE REVIEW THE ORDINANCE, STARTING WITH THE PROJECT PURPOSE STATEMENT AGAIN, AS A RESORT AREA, HILTON HEAD HAS NUMEROUS SHORT-TERM RENTAL UNITS, AND I WANT TO STAY JUST AT THE OUTSET AT THE OUTSET, HOW IMPORTANT SHORT-TERM RENTALS ARE TO OUR ECONOMY, UH, EVERYONE ON STAFF AND EVERYONE, ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF SHORT TERM RENTALS.

SO WHEN I KEEP THAT IN MIND, AS WE DISCUSS THESE REGULATIONS, BUT THE LACK OF AN ORDINANCE HAS LED TO AN IMBALANCE BETWEEN RESIDENTIAL RESORT DISTRICTS AND THE ELIMINATION OF SOME LONG-TERM SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS TO CRAFT A SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE TO DEVELOP A FAIR, PREDICTABLE AND BALANCED APPROACH TO MANAGE THESE IMPACTS THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, THE ECONOMY, HOUSING STOCK, PUBLIC FACILITIES, AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF RESIDENTS AND THE EXPERIENCE OF OUR VISITORS.

NOW, THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE IS A STEP TOWARDS MANAGING THE IMPACTS OF SHORT-TERM RENTAL IMPACTS ON NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF RESIDENTS AND THE EXPERIENCE OF VISITORS ASIDE FROM IMPLEMENTING THE ORDINANCE AND THE OPERATIONAL PROGRAM THAT I'LL DISCUSS LATER IN MARCH, THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE APPROVED A PRELIMINARY FRAMEWORK TO EXAMINE OTHER ISSUES RELATED TO SHORT TERM RENTALS.

AND I'LL DISCUSS THAT LATER IN THE PRESENTATION.

SO THIS IS ONE STEP, A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INITIATIVE TO DATE.

THIS BEGAN IN SPRING OF 2021 IN RESPONSE TO INCREASING BLANES AND CONCERNS ABOUT SHORT TERM RENTALS, TOWN COUNCIL DIRECTED STAFF TO DEVELOP AN ORDINANCE, UH, AS DISCUSSED IN THE PROJECT STATEMENT, UH, PROJECT PURPOSE STATEMENT, UH, STAFFERS IN RESEARCH ON OTHER COMMITTEES ORDINANCES TO THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE AND RECEIVE FEEDBACK.

IN THE SUMMER, WE EXECUTED CONTRACT WITH A CODING CONSULTANT AND DEVELOP A PROJECT FRAMEWORK, UH, STAFF AND THE CONSULTANT PRESENTED THAT FRAMEWORK TO THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE IN THE FALL THROUGHOUT THE FALL AND WINTER, WE EXITED THE PROJECT FRAMEWORK, INCLUDING RESEARCH, GATHERING DATA AND EXECUTING AN EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PLAN.

SO WE HELD 13 STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS, THREE PUBLIC OPEN HOUSES.

WE HAD A SURVEY WITH A HUGE NUMBER OF RESPONSES.

WE HAD LOCAL MEDIA ARTICLES AND INTERVIEWS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE GATHERING AS MUCH INPUT AS POSSIBLE, MOVING THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND BASED ON OUR FINDINGS AND LEARNINGS TO DATE IN JANUARY, WE PRESENTED A, UH, AN ORDINANCE TO ADDRESS THE ORGANIZATION, CHARACTER EXPECTATIONS AND OPERATIONS OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS, WHICH IS THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU'LL BE REVIEWING.

UM, THE POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR THE ORDINANCE INCLUDED STANDARDS FOR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, SAFETY, NOISE, TRASH AND PARKING WE PRESENTED A PROPOSAL, UH, THE ACTUAL DRAFT ORDINANCE WITH THE ELEMENTS OF THAT FRAMEWORK TO THE COMMITTEE IN MARCH.

UM, WE ALSO PRESENTED A LIST OF ISSUES FOR FUTURE REVIEW TO THE COMMITTEE AND RECEIVE FEEDBACK.

WE BROUGHT THAT REVISED ORDINANCE BACK TO THE PENNY IN MARCH, AND WE'LL BE REVIEWING THE REVISIONS BASED.

THE OTHER COMMENTS ARE RECEIVED TO THAT MEETING TODAY.

OKAY.

TAKING A LOOK AT SHORT TERM RENTAL TRENDS.

[00:35:03]

WE ESTIMATE ABOUT A 31% INCREASE IN SHORT TERM RENTAL LISTINGS BETWEEN JULY, 2019 AND JANUARY, 2022.

UM, WE'VE ACTUALLY JUST CLOSED OUR BIDS FOR A SHORT TERM RENTAL MONITORING SOFTWARE.

AND I'LL DISCUSS THAT AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE PRESENTATION, THAT'S GOING TO PROVIDE US MORE DETAILED DATA AND TRENDS OVER TIME BY NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO WE ESTIMATED THE NUMBER OF SHORT-TERM RENTAL LISTINGS BY AVERAGING THE DATA FROM THREE SHORT-TERM RENTAL MONITORING SERVICES, AND ALSO HAVE DATA ON SHORT TERM RENTALS FROM BUSINESS LICENSE APPLICATIONS AND FROM AIR DNA, WHICH IS A SHORT TERM RENTAL COMPANY THAT'S PRIMARILY USED FOR MARKETING PURPOSES, BUT IT DOES GIVE AN OVERALL, UH, UNDERSTANDING FOR US OF SHORT TERM RENTALS.

UNLIKE OTHER BUSINESSES THAT ARE EASIER TO IDENTIFY USING ADS WITH ADDRESSES AND PHONE NUMBERS, SHORT-TERM RENTALS ARE MORE DIFFICULT TO MONITOR.

UH, THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS IMPACTING THAT, INCLUDING THE ANONYMITY OF ONLINE HOST SITES LIKE AIRBNB AND THE FACT THAT SOME SHORT-TERM RENTALS ARE ONLY OFFERED FOR RENT DURING A FEW WEEKS OR MONTHS DURING THE YEAR.

UM, ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTE IS THAT UNTIL JANUARY OF THIS YEAR OWNERS WHO ONLY HAD ONE SHORT TERM RENTAL, WE'RE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE.

SO USING THE DATA WE HAVE, WE ESTIMATE THAT APPROXIMATELY 10,000 SHORT TERM RENTALS ARE LISTED FOR RENT.

AT SOME POINT DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR, IT'S ABOUT A THIRD OF THE RESIDENTIAL UNITS THAT ARE ON THE ISLAND.

AS I MENTIONED, WE ISSUED A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR SHORT TERM RENTAL MONITORING COMPLIANCE SOFTWARE.

UM, AND WE'RE REVIEWING THOSE BEDS.

NOW, THE SOFTWARE IS EXTREMELY USEFUL, ENSURING ALL SHORT-TERM RENTALS ARE LICENSED AND REGISTERED AND THAT THEY'RE REMITTING TAXES.

WHAT THEY DO IS REGULARLY SCRAPE THE DATA FROM SHORT-TERM RENTAL LISTING SITES AND IT GEO LOCATES THOSE LISTINGS.

SO INSTEAD OF SAYING, GIVING YOU A PICTURE IN A GENERAL NEIGHBORHOOD, WE CAN ACTUALLY FIND THE SPECIFIC ADDRESS.

IT ALSO USES HUMAN VERIFICATION TO ENSURE THE LISTINGS ARE GENUINE AND THAT THEY'RE NOT DUPLICATED.

THAT DATA WILL BE CROSS-REFERENCED WITH THE TOWN'S BUSINESS LICENSE REGULATIONS TO ASSURE EACH LISTING IS A BUSINESS LICENSE AND WILL BE ABLE TO AUTO-GENERATE LETTERS TO NOTIFY OWNERS WITHOUT BUSINESSES, LICENSE, WITHOUT BUSINESS LICENSES THAT THEY NEED TO COME INTO CLIENTS.

UM, THE CONTRACT WILL INCLUDE SHORT-TERM RENTAL MONITORING, COMPLIANCE SOFTWARE, INCLUDING A PERMIT PORTAL, A COMPLAINT HOTLINE AND PORTAL.

AND I'LL DISCUSS THOSE IN A MINUTE.

WE'LL ALSO BE ABLE TO IMPORT THAT DATA INTO OUR GIS SYSTEM TO MAKE MAPS, SHOWING US THE EXACT LOCATIONS OF SHORT TERM RENTALS.

SO A LOT OF INFORMATION THERE ABOUT NUMBERS AND WHAT'S GOING INTO LOCATIONS.

SO AS THE DISCLAIMER STATES, THIS MAP IS A GENERALLY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN THE ISLAND.

SO EACH DOT REPRESENTS A SHORT-TERM RENTAL LISTING FROM AIR DNA.

SO THIS THEY'RE NOT EXACTLY CAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN GEOCODED AND VERIFIED BY HUMAN, BUT THIS GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED.

UM, NOTABLY IN THE LARGER GATED COMMUNITIES THAT ARE ALLOWED IN C BUY-INS, PALMETTO DUNES IN SHIPYARD, AND THEY'RE NOT PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED IN THE OTHER LARGE GATED COMMUNITIES.

SO YOU CAN SEE IT COVERS ALMOST ALL OF NORTH AND SOUTH FOREST BEACH AND FOLLY, FOLLY FIELD AND HOLIDAY HOMES.

SO REGARDING COMPLAINTS, UM, SOME NEIGHBORHOODS, BOTH IN GATED COMMUNITIES, NOT GATED COMMUNITIES HAVE RECEIVED A REPORT AT SHARP INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN RECENT YEARS.

UM, IF YOU LISTENED TO THE STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS AND OPEN HOUSES, AND IF HE VIEWED THE COMMENTS AND THE SURVEY AND THE COMMENTS SUBMITTED INDIVIDUALLY, YOU'LL HAVE SEEN THE COMPLAINTS FROM RESIDENTS ABOUT HOW THEIR FORMERLY QUIET NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE BEEN TRANSFORMED BY THE PRESENCE OF SHORT TERM RENTALS.

UM, AGAIN, WHILE MANY SHORT-TERM RENTALS ARE WELL-MANAGED, SOME ARE A CONSISTENT OR EVEN INCONSISTENT NUISANCE, UH, DEPENDING ON HOW POPULAR THE PROPERTY IS AND HOW WELL MANAGED IT IS.

AND THIS GREATLY IMPACTS THOSE RESIDENTS QUALITY OF LIFE.

WE HAVE DATA FROM BEAVER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WHICH CONFIRMS THE RISE OF NUISANCE ISSUES LIKE PARKING NOISE AND GENERAL DISTURBANCE FOLLOW THE RISE IN SEASONAL VISITORS.

AS YOU'D IMAGINE SHORT-TERM RENTALS LIKE HOTELS ARE MORE OR LESS OCCUPIED BASED ON THE SEASON RIGHT NOW RDNA ESTIMATES AN OCCUPANCY RATE OF 81%.

IT'S CLOSER TO 60% IN THE WINTER DURING SOME HOLIDAYS TO A HUNDRED PERCENT.

UM, SEA PINES PROVIDED DATA SHOWING A RISE IN BOTH SHORT-TERM RENTAL PASSES AND CALLS FOR SERVICE, UH, WHICH I'LL REVIEW IN A MINUTE, THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE WOULD FACILITATE THE CREATION OF A SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROGRAM THAT WOULD AL ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO ENFORCEMENT AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT OPTIONS FOR NON-COMPLIANT PROPERTIES.

PROPERTY OWNERS, ASSOCIATIONS HAVE SOME OPTIONS TO RESPOND TO PROBLEMATIC SHORT TERM RENTALS, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE OPTIONS THAT THE TOWN HAS AS A MUNICIPALITY.

THE TOWN HAS THE ABILITY TO ISSUE CITATIONS OR AN EXTREME CASE SUSPEND OR REVOKE SHORT TERM RENTAL PERMIT FOR AN INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OR TO SUSPEND OR REVOKE A BUSINESS LICENSE.

[00:40:01]

UM, THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE ISN'T MEANT TO ALLOW OR ENCOURAGE THE TOWN TO ISSUE MORE CITATIONS.

IN FACT, IT'S THE OPPOSITE.

UH, THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE HAS MEANT TO SET EXPECTATIONS THROUGH PERMITTING FOR HOW SHORT-TERM RENTAL SHOULD BE MANAGED.

UH, THE COMPLAINT HOTLINE AND PORTAL WILL ALLOW THE TOWN TO EFFECTIVELY MONITOR AND TRACK THE FEW SHORT-TERM RENTALS THAT ARE MISMANAGED IN THE CASE THAT A COMPLAINT IS UNRESOLVED, OR IF THERE ARE REPEATED COMPLAINTS, THE TOWN CAN REVIEW THE INFORMATION GATHERED BY THE SOFTWARE TO START A CONVERSATION WITH THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY OR THE OWNER.

OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE REPORTED THAT FOR THE MOST PART, THEY DON'T ISSUE CITATIONS BECAUSE THE OWNER AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES WORK WITH THEIR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO REPEATED COMPLAINTS.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE SHORT TERM OR THE DATA FROM SPINES.

SO THIS WAS PROVIDED BY, UH, CPI AND CSA, UM, AT OUR REQUEST AND WITH THEIR PERMISSION.

UM, YOU CAN SEE THE, THE CALLS FOR SERVICE, WHICH IS THE BLUE LINE RISES RATE ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF HER SHORT-TERM RENTAL PASSES, WHICH IS THE GRAY LINE ISSUED IN RECENT YEARS.

THE 40% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF SHORT-TERM RENTAL PASSES BETWEEN 2019 AND 2021 TRACKS WITH THE TOWN'S TREND IS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER, BUT WE SAW THE SAME SHARP INCREASE FROM 2019 TO 2021 WITH A COMPLAINT HOTLINE AND PORTAL, WHICH I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE PURPOSE OF THOSE SERVICES IS TO DECREASE CALLS FOR SERVICE AND OTHER THIRD PARTY INTERVENTION LIKE TOWN CODE ENFORCEMENT SURFACES BY REQUIRING AN OWNER OR THEIR MANAGER TO BE THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT FOR COMPLAINTS ABOUT SHORT-TERM RENTALS, THE HOTLINE, WHICH IS STAFFED 24 HOURS A DAY.

AND THE COMPLAINT PORTAL BOTH SERVE THE SAME PURPOSE THEY TAKE IN AND REPORT COMPLAINTS VERIFY THEIR REGARDING SHORT TERM RENTAL, UH, CONTACT THE OWNER OF THEIR AGENT TO NOTIFY THEM OF THE COMPLAINT AND FOLLOW UP THE COMPLAINANT TO ENSURE THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED.

IF THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED, THE TOWN DOESN'T NEED TO INTERVENE, BUT IF THERE ARE ONGOING PROBLEMS OR PROBLEMS THAT AREN'T BEING RESOLVED, THE TOWN HAS THE BENEFIT OF DETAILED RECORDS OF THE PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS, UH, WHICH CAN INCLUDE EVIDENCE SUCH AS PHOTOS AND AUDIO AND VIDEO FILES WITH THIS NUMBER FOR CALLS FOR SERVICE.

SO YOU CAN SEE HOW A COMPLAINT PORTAL AND HOTLINE COULD BE HELPFUL FOR BOTH NEIGHBORS, UH, AND PRIVATE COMMUNITIES BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF TIMES THEY NEED TO INTERVENE WITH A COMPLAINT.

IN MOST CASES, THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED WITH A QUICK PHONE CALL OR TEXTS FROM THE OWNER OR MANAGER TO THE GUEST.

SO I'LL DISCUSS ENFORCEMENT MORE WHEN WE REVIEW THE, THE ORDINANCE.

OKAY, GO OVER INSPECTIONS.

VERY, I'LL TRY TO BE AS BRIEF AS I CAN.

I APOLOGIZE FOR TAKING UP TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME, EH, REGARDING INSPECTIONS, UH, WE STAFF RECOMMENDS OPTION A OR OPTION ONE, EXCUSE ME, WHICH IS OUR ORIGINAL SUGGESTION, WHICH IS THE OWNERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR INSPECTING AND VERIFYING THAT THEIR PROPERTIES MEET SAFETY REQUIREMENTS, UM, FIRE RESCUE AND TOWN BUILDING INSPECTORS DO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS ON A COMPLAINT DRIVEN BASIS ABOUT SHORT TERM RENTALS AND ALL OF THE PROPERTIES WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

UM, WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT A NEW INSPECTOR BE HIRED TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS AND, UH, PERFORM SPOT INSPECTIONS ON SHORT TERM RENTALS TO ENSURE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS ARE MET.

SO THE OPTIONS ARE OUTLINED IN THE MEMO BY CHIEF TATLOCK AND YOUR MATERIALS.

WE'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR COVER THAT FURTHER, BUT WE DO HAVE OPTION TWO AND OPTION THREE OUTLINED.

SO AGAIN, WE RECOMMEND OPTION ONE AND THAT WE REEVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF REQUIRING ANNUAL INSPECTIONS.

AS WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SHORT TERM RENTALS, MOVING ON TO THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, AS A NOTE, AGAIN, THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE SINCE THE MARCH 24TH PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE ARE INDICATED WITH A STRAIGHT-THROUGH OR A DOUBLE UNDERLINE.

AND CRYSTAL, COULD YOU OPEN THE ORDINANCE PLEASE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY.

BEFORE WE BEGIN, I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT, UH, CONCERNS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY RAISED ABOUT COMPLEX BETWEEN THE ORDINANCE AND STATE LAWS SPECIFICALLY RENTER'S RIGHTS, UM, HAVE BEEN, UH, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS ASSURED THAT THERE IS NO CONFLICT BETWEEN THE ORDINANCE AND ANY KIND OF STATE LAWS.

UM, WE DID IN, AND YOU CAN SEE IN THE WHEREAS SECTION HERE AT A TWO GENERAL WHEREAS STATEMENTS AND SCROLLING DOWN, DO I HAVE THE ABILITY TO SCROLL ALMOST KRISTA I'M HAPPY TO DO, DOES THAT MEAN SCROLLING? NO.

ALRIGHT.

WE DID ADD A PURPOSE AND INTENT STATEMENT.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE ORDINANCE IS NOT INTENDED TO REGULATE HOTELS, MOTELS, HOSPITALS, OR INTEGRAL OCCUPANCY USES, WHICH ARE TIMESHARES.

UH, SO THIS ORDINANCE WOULD NOT

[00:45:01]

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE ORDINANCE IS NOT INTENDED TO REGULATE SHORT-TERM LEASE AGREEMENTS, UH, THAT MAY ARISE OUT OF REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS.

SO THAT WAS A QUESTION THAT CAME UP AMONG THE REALTORS.

IF I SELL MY HOUSE AND I, UH, THE NEW OWNER LEASES IT BACK TO ME FOR TWO WEEKS.

AM I, AM I, DO I FALL INTO THIS ORDINANCE? NO, NO, YOU DON'T.

UM, THE ORDINANCE WAS REVISED TO, UH, MAKE THE OWNER DEFINITION A LITTLE MORE THOROUGH.

UM, AND JUST TO NOTE THAT THE DEFINITION OF SHORT-TERM LEASE IS LESS THAN 30 DAYS, UH, REGARDING SHORT-TERM RENTAL AGENTS.

UH, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WAS WHO CAN ACT AS MY AGENT, IT'S ANYONE WHO AGREES TO ACT AS YOUR AGENT.

NOW THERE'S NO LICENSING REQUIREMENT.

IT CAN BE A NEIGHBOR OR A TRUSTED RELATIVE, UH, ORIGAMI, A COMPANY, WHOEVER YOU PREFER.

UH, JUST A NOTE THAT THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMIT IS AN ANNUAL PERMIT.

AND MOVING ON TO THE NEXT SECTION REGARDING SHORT TERM RENTAL PERMITS.

UM, THIS IS AN ANNUAL PERMIT.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE TOWN IS REVIEWING RESPONSES TO REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS, FOR MONITORING AND COMPLIANCE SOFTWARE.

UM, WE HOPE TO INSTALL, TEST AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC THIS FALL, THE PERMITTING PORTAL, SO THAT FOLKS WILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THEIR SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMITS FUTURA JANUARY, JANUARY 1ST, 2023, WHEN ENFORCEMENT OF THE ORDINANCE BEGINS.

AND I'LL TOUCH ON THAT LATER.

UH, JUST AS A NOTE, UM, THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMIT IS DIFFERENT FROM A BUSINESS LICENSE.

YOU WOULD NEED TO OBTAIN BOTH A BUSINESS LICENSE AT A SHORT TERM RENTAL PERMIT, AND I'LL GO INTO THE DIFFERENCES.

AND THE BENEFITS ABOUT THAT LATER, THE APPLICATION FEE IS THAT EACH YEAR BY TOWN COUNCIL, JUST AS A NOTE, WE DID NOT INCLUDE THAT IN THE ORDINANCE SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE FLEXIBILITY TO RESPOND TO TOWN COUNCIL IF THEY WANT TO MOVE THAT UP OR DOWN.

AND THE APPLICATION REQUIREMENT FOR A SITE PLAN FOR A SINGLE FAMILY, DETACHED RESIDENCE WAS ADDED TO, UH, MAKE ENFORCEMENT EASIER.

UH, THIS DOESN'T NEED TO BE A SURVEYED SITE PLAN, AS LONG AS IT IS ROUGHLY TO SCALE, IT CAN BE HAND DRAWN, BUT PRIMARILY IT'S GOING TO SHOW US WHERE THE PARKING IS LOCATED AND WHERE THE TRASH ENCLOSURE IS LOCATED ON A SITE FOR A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE.

MOVING ON.

WE ADDED A SECTION STATING THAT, UM, THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMIT CANNOT BE ISSUED FOR A WHERE THEY'RE OUTSTANDING CITATIONS, OUTSTANDING, MEANING NON ADJUDICATED CITATIONS.

THE NEXT SECTION WAS ADDED TO SPECIFY EVERY PERSON BUSINESS ENTITY, UH, SCROLL UP JUST A LITTLE BIT.

THANK YOU.

UM, WHO SUBMITS AN APPLICATION? THIS IS JUST TO CLARIFY IF AN OWNER WANTS TO HAVE THEIR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY SUBMIT THE ENTIRE APPLICATION FOR THEM AND THEY JUST SIGNED CONSENTING, THEY CAN DO THAT.

UM, THEY CAN ALSO SUBMIT THE APPLICATION THEMSELVES, UM, SCROLLING DOWN TO SECTION FIVE, 10 TO 15.

UM, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, BEFORE I DIVE INTO THE SPECIFIC REGULATIONS, HOW OWNERS OR AGENTS WILL VERIFY THAT THEY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS, THERE'LL BE AN APPLICATION FORM STATING MY PROPERTY MEETS THESE REQUIREMENTS.