[00:00:13]
I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYBODY TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, PLANNING, COMMITTEES, UH, PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEES MEETING OF APRIL 28TH.
AND KRISTEN, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL PLEASE? YES, SIR.
MR. BROWN, DEAR MRS. BECKER, MR. STANFORD, MR. AMES HERE.
AND ALSO, ALSO, ARE WE IN COMPLIANCE WITH FOIL? YES, SIR.
IS THERE, ARE THERE ANY SUGGESTED CHANGING TO THE AGENDA HEARING NONE.
WE'LL ACCEPT IT AS SUBMITTED APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ADOPTION ADOPTIONS WRITTEN.
THAT'S I THINK ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
CHRIS, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SLATED TO SPEAK A GENERAL CITIZEN COMMENTS TODAY? NO, SIR.
WE HAD NOBODY SIGN UP FOR OUR PARENTS BY CITIZENS NOR WERE ANY COMMENTS SUBMITTED THROUGH THE PORTAL.
NEW BUSINESS DISCUSSION OF PALMETTO BREEZE, TROLLEY SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS THAT DELIVER AN INNOVATIVE AND MEMORABLE RIDER EXPERIENCE.
WELL, WITH THAT INTRODUCTION, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, I THINK THAT, UH, WE HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB IN ENHANCING THE EXPERIENCE EACH YEAR AS WE COME OUT AGAIN.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I, UH, GAVE EVERYBODY LOOK AT IS OUR NEW BROCHURE.
AND WHAT WE DECIDED EARLY ON IS WE DIDN'T WANT ANY ADVERTISING ON THE TROLLEY.
WE DIDN'T WANT IT A MOVING BILLBOARD AROUND HILTON HEAD.
AND SO THE BUSINESSES REALLY WANTED TO BE ABLE TO ADVERTISE.
AND SO THIS IS OUR FIRST VERSION WHERE WE'VE REALLY GOTTEN A LOT OF ADS IN THERE.
THE ADS ARE TIED TO THE MAPS, THE MAPS TELL YOU WHAT TROLLEY STOP YOU CAN GO TO WHAT BUSINESS.
AND, UM, WE SOLD OUT ALL THE ADS VERY QUICKLY.
IT PAID FOR 40,000 OF THOSE BROCHURES.
SO, UH, IT WAS REALLY A WIN SITUATION.
AND EACH YEAR WE TRY TO ENHANCE WHAT WE DO AS FAR AS THAT.
AND THE OTHER THING I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO POINT OUT, UM, BECAUSE I FIND IT VERY IMPRESSIVE, THE SOCIAL MEDIA THAT WE DO ON THE TROLLEY.
UH, I HAVE A MARKETING PERSON THAT'S VERY, VERY GOOD AT SOCIAL MEDIA AND BOOSTING AND ALL THE THINGS HE DOES, WHICH I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.
AND WE HAVE A HUGE FOLLOWING ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK.
AND, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WENT TO TICK TOP, BUT HE ANSWERS EVERY INQUIRY INTO FACEBOOK ABOUT THE TROLLEY, UH, OFF SEASON ON SEASON.
IT REALLY SURPRISES US SUNDAY NIGHT, HE'S RESPONDING TO PEOPLE.
SO I THINK THAT THAT DOES GIVE A, A VERY GREAT, UH, EXPERIENCE TO THE PERSON THAT'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER THEY WANT TO USE THE TROLLEY OR WHEN IT RUNS OR WHAT THEY CAN DO GETS RIGHT IN AND, AND, AND HAS THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH PEOPLE.
AND THE OTHER THING I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS, UM, WHERE WE ARE IN RIDERSHIP.
UM, THIS WAS AS OF THE 21ST, UH, WE WERE, UM, AT 4,774 PEOPLE FROM THE NINTH TO THE 21ST, WHICH IS MORE THAN, UM, ALL OF APRIL LAST YEAR.
SO WE'RE SEEING, UH, IT'S VERY PRELIMINARY.
WE'RE VERY PRELIMINARY THE NUMBERS, BUT WE'RE SEEING QUITE AN INCREASE ALREADY OR THIS EARLY ON.
AND SO WE'LL KEEP YOU UP TO DATE WITH THAT.
AND THEN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I DID DO SOME INVESTIGATION ABOUT, UM, HAD TO DO WITH, UM, I WAS ASKED TO LOOK AT SOME INNOVATIVE AND DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND ONE THING WE HAVE, UM, HAD ON THE RADAR AND BEEN LOOKING AT IS THE, UM, ELECTRIC TROLLEY.
AND I, I GAVE YOU THE BROCHURE OF THE TROLLEY.
THEY, UM, THEY HAVE NOT BUILT THIS YET.
THIS IS A, THE MANUFACTURER THAT BUILT OUR TROLLEY, WHO'S DOWN OFFERING THIS.
AND, UM, I THINK THE COSTS WILL GO DOWN AS TIME GOES ON, BUT JUST TO WANT YOU TO BE AWARE THAT THIS OPTION IS AVAILABLE TO ORDER AND PURCHASE AN ELECTRIC TROLLEY THERE $850,000 FOR ONE, UH, INCLUDING THE CHARGER.
UM, HOPEFULLY AS ELECTRIC VEHICLES, UH, GET INTO THE MIX THAT THAT PRICE WILL GO DOWN, BUT THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY WE COULD EXPLORE AS FAR AS GRANT FUNDING.
I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD GET US, BUT THERE IS GRANTS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
SO WE COULD LOOK INTO THAT, UM, POP THAT TABLE WOULD BE UP HERE THAT YOU PUT STUFF UP.
OH, NO, I DIDN'T REALLY WELL, IT JUST, I JUST WANT TO SHOW LIKE SOME OF THESE, UM, HANDOUTS I BROUGHT, I APOLOGIZE.
AND THEN WHILE YOU'RE DOING THAT, WHAT DOES A NORMAL GAS OR DIESEL
[00:05:01]
TROLLEY COST IT? OH, I THINK THE TROLLEYS, WE GOT WERE $374,000 AND THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE ALL OF THE THINGS WE PUT INTO THE TROLLEY, BUT, UH, THERE'S OTHER ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT GO IN TABLETS AND THINGS, BUT YEAH.UM, JUST FOLLOWING UP ON THAT, WELL, YOU'RE GETTING SET UP.
IS THERE AN ANNUAL COST ASSOCIATED WITH GAS, ET CETERA, JUST THE ELECTRIC TO RUN IT.
ONCE WE PURCHASE IT, THEN IT WOULD BE HOURS, UM, UH, TO OWN, OH, THE CURRENT ONES.
WHAT WOULD BILL ANNUALLY? UM, THEY PROBABLY GET, UM, AROUND SIX MILES TO THE GALLON.
I DON'T, I DON'T, I MEAN, I COULD FIGURE MY, THE MILEAGE AND DO IT THAT WAY, BUT I DIDN'T COME PREPARED FOR THAT, BUT INTERESTING.
AND WITH THE COST OF FUEL GOING UP, IT BECOMES EVEN MORE ENTICING THAT, BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS WITH US IN OUR BUDGET, WE MADE BUDGET A CERTAIN AMOUNT FOR FUEL.
AND YOU SEE WHAT HAS HAPPENED THIS YEAR, IT'S GONE UP TO $3 FOR DIESEL.
UM, IT REALLY THROWS OUR BUDGET OUT OF WHACK.
WHEREAS WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE PREDICTABLE.
ALTHOUGH I DO THINK THAT, UM, IT'S GOING TO PUT A, YOU KNOW, IT'S A SUPPLY AND DEMAND.
IT'S GOING TO PUT A DEMAND FOR ELECTRIC ON, ON THE, ON THE GRID.
AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GOING TO RAISE EVERYBODY'S ELECTRIC PRICE OR, YOU KNOW, HOW THAT EVEN WORKS.
I WAS, UH, GIVEN THIS FLYER FOR THE ECO SHUTTLE.
UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, THAT IS MADE.
AND, UM, I ALSO HAVE REALLY QUICKLY I'LL SHOW THIS ONE AS WELL.
THIS IS, UM, A LITTLE GOLF CAR SHUTTLE THEY DO IN, UM, LAKELAND, FLORIDA.
AND, UM, IT'S CALLED CITRUS CONNECTION.
IT'S A THREE YEAR CITRIX CONNECTION IS THE BUS SYSTEM.
IT'S A THREE-YEAR PILOT PROJECT.
THEY STARTED OUT DOING IT AT LUNCHTIME AND ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS, AND THEN NOW THEY JUST DO IT FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS.
AND, UH, PEOPLE HAVE TO PAY A FAIR, BUT THEY RUN AROUND THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT.
AND, UM, SO THAT'S INTERESTING.
SO I RIGHT AWAY CALL AND TALK TO THEM.
AND, UH, THEY DID THAT WITH, UM, ALL NON FTA MONEY AND THAT, AND WHEN I'VE SAID BEFORE THAT, WE CAN'T REALLY DO THAT.
WELL, WE CAN DO ANYTHING REALLY IF IT'S TRANSPORTATION, BUT OUR GRANT MONEY WILL NOT FUND IT.
THE FTA REQUIRES OUR VEHICLES TO GO THROUGH, UM, CERTIFICATION AND THEY CRASH, TEST THEM IN PENNSYLVANIA TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY THEY'RE SAFE IN A ROLLOVER, SAFE IN A SIDE, HIT SAFE IN ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THEY COULD GET IN AN ACCIDENT.
AND SO THE ONLY WAY I CAN BUY VEHICLES WITH MY GRANT MONEY, THEY HAVE TO HAVE COME THROUGH ALTOONA TESTING.
THAT'S NOT TO SAY WE COULDN'T DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
IF THE TOWN WANTED TO DO THAT.
AND I WROTE THE PRICE INSPIRE EACH ONE OF THOSE VEHICLES UP THERE ON THE ECO SHUTTLE.
UM, I KNOW YOU'VE ASKED BEFORE, COULD WE DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS? AND THE ANSWER IS, YES, WE CAN DO IT.
WE CAN'T USE OUR GRANT FUNDING FOR IT, BUT WE COULD DO IT.
AMY, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY.
TAKE SOME TIME AND DO SOME ADDITIONAL RESEARCH ON IT.
I THINK THAT, UM, HILTON HEAD IS, UM, A PLACE WHERE WE EXPECT US TO USE WHATEVER MEANS TO, UM, BE SENSITIVE TO OUR ENVIRONMENT AND OUR, UM, AND I, WELL PERSONALLY NOT, UM, GOING OUT TO BUY AND EAT VEHICLE.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE COMPARISONS ON COST AND HOW THIS WOULD BENEFIT AND SET THE STANDARD THAT WE'RE, WE AS A, UM, TOWN ARE SENSITIVE TOO.
SO I AM GOING TO TAKE ALL YOUR GREAT INFORMATION HERE AND LOOK A LITTLE BIT FURTHER INTO IT.
AND I HOPE WE GET TO HAVE A CONVERSATION LATER ABOUT IT.
UM, YOU HAVE A NICE NUMBER, 4,700 FOR THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF SERVICE THE SPRING, UH, WHICH IS AN IMPRESSIVE NUMBER.
I WONDER IF THAT CAN BE BROKEN DOWN AT ALL IN TERMS OF HOW MANY ARE GOING TO THE BEACH VERSUS HOW MANY ARE GOING TO OTHER DESTINATIONS IN TOWN? WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO PULL THAT DATA OUT.
AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT'S BEEN A BIG PUSH OVER THERE WITH THE TROLLEY STARTING UP.
I HAVE SOME, UH, PERSONNEL CHANGEOVERS AND, AND, UM, TYPICALLY WE HAVE THIS DATA READY AND IT WAS NOT READY TODAY.
AND SO IT WAS FUN, BUT YES, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO STOP BY STOP, UM, WHERE PEOPLE GET ON.
AND, UH, WE HAVE, UH, PASSENGER COUNTERS THAT CAN DO THAT WITH, UH, ON THE BUSES.
AND WE CAN, WE GAVE YOU THE INFORMATION FOR THE YEAR LAST YEAR.
I THINK PERIODICALLY THAT WOULD BE USEFUL DATA FOR US TO HAVE.
[00:10:01]
OTHER QUESTION I'VE GOT FOR YOU IN THE SAME VEIN IS ARE PEOPLE USING THE SHUTTLE TO PARK AT USC AND GO DOWN TO COLLECT MONEY? IS THAT, IS THAT A ROUTINE? I KNOW ONCE WE RUN THAT BEACH SHUTTLE AND WE HAVEN'T STARTED YET, UM, BECAUSE LAST YEAR IN APRIL, WE DIDN'T REALLY CARRY ANYBODY.SO THEY ASKED ME FOR THE DATA.
AND SO WE HAVEN'T STARTED YET AS, I GUESS WE'RE NOT AT THAT POINT, BUT ONCE THE BEACH SHUTTLE STARTS RUNNING, THE TROLLEYS ALSO WATCH THAT US CB PARKING LOT.
AND THE ANSWER IS YES, THEY CARRY, UM, SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, ON A SATURDAY AND A SUNDAY AND MONDAY, IF IT'S A HOLIDAY FROM US CB TO COLLECT, COLLECTING IN CONNECTION WITH THAT, IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO KNOW IF IT WERE RECEIVING ANY COMMENTS FROM THOSE PASSENGERS.
YOU'VE HEARD ME BEFORE CONCERN ABOUT WHETHER THERE'S ENOUGH ROOM ON THE TROLLEY FOR ALL OF THE STUFF THAT PEOPLE WANT TO TAKE TO THE BEACH.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU'RE HEARING ABOUT THAT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, UH, AS IT'S MOVING FORWARD, I'M VERY PLEASED WITH THE SUCCESS OF THE SHUTTLE.
I APPLAUD YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I'M PROUD OF THE TOWN FOR PARTNERING WITH YOU.
I WOULD SAY THE ONLY COMMENT I'VE GOTTEN SO FAR, NO ONE HAS EVER MADE ANY COMMENTS THAT THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO BRING ANY OF THEIR THINGS.
THE ISSUE WE HAVE NOW IS PETS.
PEOPLE WANT TO BRING THEIR DOGS ON THE BUS AND WE ALLOW A PET IN A CARRIER.
AND THAT'S OUR RULE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THAT TROLLEY OVERRUN WITH BIG WET DOGS.
AND I LOVE DOGS, BUT IF THEY'RE IN A CARRIER, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THOSE LITTLE SOFT CARRIERS, THEY CAN BRING THEIR, THEIR PET THAT THEY BROUGHT ON VACATION IN THEIR CARRIER.
AND, UH, SO THAT'S PROBABLY THE BIGGEST CONCERN I'VE HEARD, UH, THIS YEAR.
GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, MARY LOU.
UM, I, I THINK I LOOK AT OUR CONVERSATION REGARDING INNOVATION FROM A, UM, A BRAND STANDPOINT AND YOU'RE WELL AWARE OF THAT EMPHASIS.
UM, SO I, I LOOK AT VEHICLES THAT SUGGEST A DIFFERENT SCALE THAN THE TROLLEYS THAT WE'RE USING.
I LOOK AT THE VEHICLES FROM A, FROM A FUND STANDPOINT, I LOOK AT THE VEHICLES FROM PERHAPS AN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDPOINT, I E DOES ELECTRIC, UH, SUGGEST SOMETHING ABOUT THE ISLAND THAT DIESEL DOESN'T SEWN, UM, SO HAPPENED.
HAVING SAID THAT, UM, I RECOGNIZE THAT THESE VEHICLES THAT YOU HAVE UP ON THE SCREEN PROBABLY AREN'T THE APPROPRIATE ONES TO BE DRIVING UP AND DOWN TO 78.
UM, SO IT BEGS THE QUESTION, UH, IF YOU WERE TO, UH, ANALYZE OUR ABILITY TO USE A VEHICLE LIKE THIS, HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT ESTABLISHING A ROUTE AND THEN DECIDING WHAT VEHICLE AND WHAT BUDGET MIGHT BE NEEDED TO MAKE IT A SUCCESSFUL IN THAT VENTURE? WELL, UM, AND I, WASN'T GONNA TALK ABOUT THE AIRPORT SERVICE TOO, CAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING NEW THAT WE'RE COMING THROUGH.
AND SO IF SOMETHING IS PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE AND FAIRLY LARGE AND NEEDS A LOT OF PUBLIC INPUT, I LOOK FOR CONSULTANTS TO HELP ME WITH THAT BECAUSE THAT'S REAL IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY ON HILTON HEAD THAT, UM, THAT EVERYBODY'S AFFORDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THEIR OPINION ON WHERE THEY WANT A BUS TO GO OR WHERE THEY WANT A ROUTE TO GO.
SO IF IT WAS A BIG PROJECT, LIKE I BELIEVE THE AIRPORT IS I WOULD GET A CONSULTANT TO DO IT.
IF YOU JUST ASKED ME TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN US CB AND COLIGNY, THEN I WOULD GO ABOUT IT A DIFFERENT WAY, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT, UM, WHAT THE DEMAND IS AND WHAT ARE PEOPLE, WHAT'S THE MISSION? ARE THEY TRYING TO BRING THEIR BEACH STUFF? ARE THEY JUST PARKING THERE AND HEADING INTO, INTO A COLIGNY AREA? SO, SO I GUESS THE APPROACH WOULD BE WHATEVER REALLY FITS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
I KNOW WITH THE TROLLEY, UH, COMING IN AND DOING THOSE ROUTES, I WORKED WITH YOUR TOWN STAFF, WHICH WAS AMAZING AND EVERY YEAR WE'VE ALTERED THAT ROUTE.
AND SO, UH, WITH THIS YEAR'S ALTERATIONS GOING UP INTO, UM, WHERE THE SANDBOXES AND IN LOW COUNTRY PARK, THAT DIDN'T EXIST WHEN WE STARTED.
AND SO IT DIDN'T REALLY MAKE SENSE.
AND SO I BELIEVE THAT IF YOU'RE, DON'T, AREN'T OPEN TO, TO MAKING THESE CHANGES AND LOOKING EVERY YEAR AT W YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE PEOPLE REQUESTING? WHAT'S A GOOD AREA, YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD WORK OUT THEN YOU'RE PRETTY STAGNANT.
AND SO THAT I COMMIT TO THAT EVERY YEAR WE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON, UM, WHAT DOES THE TOWN LOOKING FOR? AND THEN WHAT CAN WE DO WITH OUR EXISTING RESOURCES? YEAH, MY, MY, UH, MY OBJECTIVE HERE WOULD BE TO PROVIDE A SERVICE IN AREAS THAT ARE MORE CONCENTRATED.
[00:15:01]
I E THE POPE AVENUE, PALMETTO BAY ROAD CORRIDOR, WHERE PEOPLE MIGHT BE LESS INCLINED TO GET IN AN AUTOMOBILE, UH, AS A, AS A, AS A GOAL.UM, SO TH THE QUESTION THAT COMES TO MIND IS HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE ANALYZE THE POSSIBILITY OF TRYING TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL? UM, AND I LOOK TO ANNE IN MISSY AND THE STAFF, AND, UM, JUST, UH, WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S SOMETHING STAFF IS GOING TO BE DOING, OR WHETHER, UH, PALMETTO BREEZE WOULD BE DOING THAT.
BUT, UH, MY, MY PERSONAL OBJECTIVE WOULD BE TO MAKE IT MORE CONVENIENT FOR PEOPLE TO MOVE UP AND DOWN THE CORRIDOR WITHOUT GETTING IN AN AUTOMOBILE AND TO HAVE IT BE AN EXPERIENCE THAT, UM, BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY BRAND.
SO I THINK THAT WE RECOGNIZE, I MEAN, I THINK WE CAN RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE TIMESHARE VEHICLES GOING UP AND DOWN THE ROAD THAT, UH, PROVIDE A LEVEL OF SERVICE, BUT ARE THEY THE KIND OF MESSAGE THAT WE IN THIS COMMUNITY WANT TO BE REINFORCING? UH, SO I, I THINK THAT I MET A BREEZE IS DOING A ADMIRABLE JOB, MOVING PEOPLE UP AND DOWN THE 2 78 CORRIDOR DOOR.
I'D BE VERY INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE ARE USING THE TROLLEY TO AVOID GETTING IN A CAR IN THE MORE CONGESTED AREA OF POPE AVENUE AND SO ON.
SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT FOLLOWING UP ON THAT QUESTION.
UM, ALEX GLENN REMINDS ME THAT YOU'RE THERE.
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO ADD? YEAH, WE LOST ALEX.
AND MARY LOU, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AGAIN.
I AGREE WITH ALL COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE THUS FAR FROM MY COLLEAGUES.
UM, I WOULD JUST CHALLENGE US WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM.
UM, WE ALL KNOW THAT, UH, PARKING FOR EXAMPLE, IS A PREMIUM ON HILTON HEAD AND THE MORE THAT WE CAN DO TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF FOLKS DRIVING FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER, UH, IS SO IMPORTANT TO US.
WE WERE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO, TO BUILD ENOUGH PARKING, TO DEAL WITH ANY TYPE OF INCREASE OF CAPACITY.
NOT THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR RESEARCH, BUT WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE HAPPENING.
THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF, OF GRANTS AVAILABLE.
MARY LOU YOU'VE ALLUDED TO THEM, BUT I WOULD, I WOULD NOT BOX OURSELVES IN AS TO THE POSSIBILITIES BASED ON GRANT AVAILABILITY.
UM, I THINK TRANSPORTATION ON ISLAND IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT, UH, HAS TO BE INCORPORATED INTO OUR LONGTERM PLANNING, UM, INTO OUR, UH, BUDGET IN PROCESS AS WELL.
UH, SO BEAR LOU, I'D ASK THAT YOU BE MORE AGGRESSIVE IN YOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH STAFF AND START TO BRING BACK, UH, NOT ONLY MORE DATA AS COUNCILMAN STANFORD IS SUGGESTING, BUT ALSO MORE CONCEPTUAL PLANS WITH NUMBERS ATTACHED TO THEM SO THAT WE CAN START MAKING SOME DECISIONS AS FAR AS DIRECTION IS CONCERNED.
THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS, MR. CHAIR.
UH, MARY LOU, JUST ONE OTHER COMMENT I'D MAKE IN MY MIND.
UM, WE, AS MR. BROWN SUGGESTED WE NEED TO OPEN UP PARKING LOTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, UH, FOR THE BEACH AND THEY'RE OVER 300 PARKING PLACES DOWN BY CROSSINGS PARK.
UM, THAT WOULD BE A LOGICAL PLACE FOR A SMALLER VEHICLE TO MOVE UP AND DOWN POPE AVENUE IN PALMETTO BAY, COLLECTING PEOPLE AT DIFFERENT PARKING LOTS THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE TO THEM, US CB AND SO ON.
SO I THINK THERE'S A, THERE IS A, UH, A DIFFERENT SCALE OF OPERATION THAT SUGGESTED HERE.
AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK WE SHOULD BE LOOKING INTO TWO ADDITIONAL QUESTION, MARY LOU, IN TERMS OF THE, UM, DATA THAT, UM, GLEN MENTIONED, IS IT POSSIBLE TO ALSO LOOK AT IF ANYONE IS USING THE TROLLEY AS TRANSPORTATION TO GET FROM THEIR RESIDENCE TO WORK? UM, RATHER OTHER THAN JUST HAVING A SURVEYOR ON THE BUS, ASKING PEOPLE IN ANECDOTAL, UH,
[00:20:01]
RESPONSES, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD GET THAT DATA, BUT WE COULD, WE COULD PULL THE DRIVERS AND SEE WHAT THEY KNOW.THEY GET TO KNOW THEY HAVE THE SAME ROUTE EVERY WEEK.
THEY GET TO KNOW WHO'S RIDING AND THE PEOPLE THAT USE IT TO GO TO WORK WILL BE GOING EVERY DAY AND THEY'LL KNOW THE DRIVER.
AND SO I CAN FIND OUT THAT WAY.
AND THE OTHER THING WOULD BE TO PUT SOMEBODY ON TO SURVEY PEOPLE, RIGHT.
IF WE COULD HAVE THE, UH, STATISTICS THAT GLENN WAS REFERENCING RIDERSHIP AND SO ON AND STOPS ON A MONTHLY BASIS, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
THE OTHER THING I JUST HAVE TO SHOW YOU BECAUSE I'M HERE, UM, WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THIS AIRPORT, UH, SERVICE IT'S, UH, IN THE STUDY PHASE, AND WE ORIGINALLY WERE SUPPOSED TO GET THE VEHICLES THE END OF FEBRUARY.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HAS BEEN BUYING VEHICLES LATELY, BUT IT'S, IT'S A REAL CRAP SHOOT WHEN YOU GET THEM.
SO THEY DID LEAVE THE FACTORY LAST WEEK, TWO OF THE THREE LEFT TO HEAD TO, UH, COLUMBIA, WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO UPFIT THEM WITH SOME OF OUR CAMERAS AND DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO WE'RE THINKING WE WILL HAVE TWO BUSES BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY READY TO ROLL.
AND I, UH, UH, CONVEYED THAT TO THE CONSULTANT.
CAUSE BASICALLY I TOLD HIM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO NEED TO PUT THIS ON A SUPER RUSH BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE VEHICLES.
SO I JUST WANT TO SHOW YOU JUST A TEASER HERE, CAUSE IT'S NOT ALL THE DATA'S NOT OUT AND I CAN PUT THIS ON HERE.
AND, UM, THIS JUST SAYS, WHAT WILL THE SERVICE LOOK LIKE? AND, UH, I, UH, REALLY LIKE WHAT THEY'VE COME UP WITH SO FAR AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING, WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING THAT WE SHOULD DO IS THERE'S TWO LOOP ROUTES FROM THE AIRPORT GOING AROUND THE NORTHWAY AND AROUND THE SOUTHWEST.
SO IF YOU'RE CAUSE A LOOP ROUTE IS VERY PROBLEMATIC, IF THERE'S ONLY ONE, BECAUSE IF YOU LIVE THREE QUARTERS OF THE WAY AROUND, YOU'VE GOT A LONG RIDE TO GET HOME.
WHEREAS IF THEY GO BOTH WAYS, UNLESS YOU'RE HALFWAY OUT, YOU'D HAVE A QUICK WAY BACK AND FORTH.
AND SO I KNOW THIS IS REALLY SMALL.
I DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO GET DOWN INTO THE ROAD DETAILS, BUT THIS IS AFTER ALL OF THE PUBLIC INPUT AND THE, UM, UH, AND WHAT THEY'VE COME UP WITH SO FAR, THE ONE, THE NORTHERN MOST PIECE IS AROUND THE AIRPORT.
YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THE RUNWAYS, BUT IT'S USING THE CROSS ISLAND, UH, TO, TO COMPLETE THE LOOP.
AND WHAT MADE ME, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SAID, HEY, WE SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING ON PALMETTO BAY ROAD.
THIS, THIS BUS COULD DO THAT BECAUSE, UM, IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE AIRPORT, IT'S FOR, UM, TRANSPORTATION AROUND THE ISLAND.
AND I REALLY LIKED THIS CONCEPT.
AND I THINK THAT, UH, SHORT OF GOING THROUGH A LOT OF GATES AND THINGS, WE'RE SERVING A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE AND A LOT OF, UM, UH, HOMES AND VILLAS.
AND, UH, I JUST THINK THIS IS, THIS IS ONE PIECE OF OUR TRANSPORTATION PUZZLE.
AND WHEN THIS IS IN A FINAL FORM, IT WILL COME BACK FOR EVERYBODY TO COMMENT ON AND YOU GUYS ARE ALL STAKEHOLDERS.
THERE'LL BE A MEETING FOR EVERYBODY TO, TO COMMENT AND LOOK AT IT.
BUT I JUST HAD TO PUT THAT OUT THERE AFTER YOU MADE THAT COMMENT AS WELL ABOUT PALMETTO BAY ROAD AND THE CROSSINGS.
THIS COULD VERY, WELL-SERVED THAT? THANK YOU, MARY LOU.
THAT'S EXCITING TO SEE WHAT WE'VE DONE IN A, THIS IS OUR FIFTH YEAR AND IT'S REALLY COMING ALONG.
SECOND ITEM ON NEW BUSINESS CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE 2022 DASH OH EIGHT, AMENDING SECTIONS 12 1 1 10 AND 12 1 5 11 OF THE CODE OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, WITH REGARD TO E-BIKE REGULATIONS AND MISSY, YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR OUR BENEFIT AND SEE, I APPRECIATE YOUR JUMPING IN AND TAKING ON THIS PROJECT.
MY NAME IS MISSY LUECK, PRINCIPAL PLANNER FOR THE RECORD, AND WE ARE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING ELECTRICAL BICYCLES OR E-BIKES.
UM, YES, I DID JUMP INTO THIS A LITTLE BIT MIDSTREAM, UM, BUT I'M HAPPY TO DO SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF THE OVERVIEW THAT WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE PRESENTATION TODAY.
A LITTLE BIT OF SUMMARY OF WHERE WE'VE BEEN, UM, PROJECT HISTORY, SOME COMMUNICATION EFFORTS, PUBLIC FEEDBACK, AS WELL AS THE DRAFT ORDINANCE.
SO, UM, E-BIKE USE IS GROWING QUICKLY AND THIS TECHNOLOGY PROVIDES MANY POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES AND ALLOWING OLDER INDIVIDUALS, INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, COMMUTING WORKERS AND PEOPLE WHO MAY BE NEW TO BIKING,
[00:25:01]
THE ABILITY TO RIDE A BICYCLE AND TO ENJOY THE TOWN'S RECREATIONAL PATHWAYS.UM, THE USAGE OF THIS EQUIPMENT HAS LED TO INCREASED DEMAND ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND PRESENTED THE NEED TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE, UM, REGULATIONS OR, AND, OR POLICY GUIDELINES TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF ALL USERS ON OUR PATHWAYS.
AND, UH, YOU ALL PROBABLY KNOW THIS HISTORY BETTER THAN I DO, BUT, UM, THIS TOPIC HAS BEEN DISCUSSED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE.
UM, IT STARTED BACK IN JUNE OF 2021.
UM, THEN THE, THEN TOWN ATTORNEY PROVIDED, UM, SOME LEGAL OVERVIEW ABOUT E-BIKE DEFINITIONS AND REGULATIONS.
UM, THEN IN AUGUST OF 21, UM, IT CAME BACK TO PPC AGAIN.
UM, AND THE AFTER MATH OF THAT WAS TO HOLD A SERIES OF STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS, UM, THAT WERE HELD BETWEEN AUGUST AND NOVEMBER OF 21 WITH VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS, UM, THAT ARE LISTED HERE.
UM, AND THEN IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, AND THIS IS WHERE I KIND OF JOINED THE DISCUSSION.
UM, THE TOPIC WAS BEFORE PPC AGAIN, AND, UM, STAFF WAS TASKED WITH DRAFTING THE ORDINANCE FOR CONSIDERATION, AS WELL AS, UM, COMMUNICATING WITH, UH, AREA BIKE SHOPS AND CONDUCTING A SURVEY, UM, TO GET, UM, COMMUNICATION AND INPUT FROM THEM ON THE PROPOSED CONCEPTS THAT WERE UP FOR DISCUSSION.
UM, THOSE RESPONSES, UM, ARE INCLUDED IN THE PACKET MATERIALS TODAY, AS WELL AS THE DRAFT ORDINANCE.
SO, UM, SINCE, UH, THE LAST MEETING, WE DID CREATE AN E UH, EMAIL DISTRIBUTION LIST TO THOSE BIKE SHOPS.
UM, AND I'VE COMMUNICATED WITH THEM.
UH, SEVERAL TIMES WE DID SEND THE, THE WRITTEN SURVEY TO THOSE BIKE SHOPS.
UM, THERE WERE CERTAIN 37 LETTERS THAT WERE ISSUED AND, UM, WE RECEIVED FOUR WRITTEN RESPONSES THAT WERE, THAT WAS IN THE PACKET.
UM, AND THEN WE ALSO WORKED WITH BIKE WALK, HILTON, HEAD ISLAND ON THE SAFETY AND ETIQUETTE, UM, GUIDELINES THAT ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THE PACKET MATERIALS.
SO, UM, TWO OF THE MAIN AREAS OF PUBLIC COMMENT THAT WERE, UM, HEARD, UM, BASED ON THE FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED WAS THAT THERE WAS GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SAFETY AND ETIQUETTE MATERIALS AND THOSE GUIDELINES.
UM, THERE WAS SOME CONCERN THAT WAS EXPRESSED, UM, BY SOME OF THOSE WHO RESPONDED THAT IT PUTS THE BURDEN ON THE BIKE SHOPS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
UM, BUT OTHERWISE IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS OVERALL, UM, SUPPORT FOR THAT, UM, EDUCATION, UH, FROM THEM TO BE ABLE TO DO, TO HELP US, UM, WITH THE SAFETY AND ETIQUETTE COMPONENT.
UM, THE OTHER, UM, MAIN COMMENT THAT WE HEARD WAS RELATED TO THE REQUIREMENT OF LIMITING THE SPEED, UM, ON AN E-BIKE OR A GOVERNOR.
UM, WE DID HAVE SOME, UM, MIXED COMMENTS ON THAT.
AND THERE WERE SOME WHO DID EXPRESS SOME CONCERNS REGARDING THIS RECOMMENDATION.
SOME BELIEVE THE SPEED LIMIT IS TOO HIGH.
SOME FELT LIKE, UM, IT WAS A GOOD, WE, WE LOOKED AT IT AND THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A GOOD COMPROMISE TO FIGURE, UM, SOME THOUGHT THE RESTRICTION WAS NOT NECESSARY AND DOES PLACE AN UNDUE BURDEN ON THE BUSINESS TO MAKE ALTERATIONS TO THE BICYCLES, UM, THAN WHAT IS DELIVERED FROM THE FACTORY AND THAT IT MAY, UM, CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR WARRANTY ON THOSE ITEMS. AND THEN IN THE PACKET, THERE WAS, UM, A DRAFT ORDINANCE, UM, AND, AND THERE WAS AN AMENDED, UM, VERSION OF THAT THAT WAS, UH, HANDED OUT THIS MORNING THAT CORRECTED THREE TYPOS, UM, THAT WERE POINTED OUT.
UM, AND THERE WERE REALLY FOUR KEY POINTS THAT ARE PART OF THE ORDINANCE, UM, THAT IS TO AMEND THE TOWN CODE, TO DEFINE THAT CERTAIN TYPES OF LOWER SPEED E-BIKES ARE PERMITTED ON OUR PATHWAYS TO REQUIRE THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE TOWN BIKE SAFETY, ETIQUETTE MATERIALS WITH EACH TRANSACTION.
UM, AND AGAIN, THOSE MATERIALS, UM, ARE INCLUDED IN THE PACKET AND WAS THIS, THIS DOCUMENT, UM, THIRD TO REQUIRE THE USE OF A GOVERNOR THAT WOULD LIMIT THE SPEED, UH, TO NO GREATER THAN 12 MILES PER HOUR ON AN E-BIKE AND THEN TO ESTABLISH AN ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM.
THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THAT AREN'T IN THE CURRENT PROPOSAL, BUT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT, UM,
[00:30:01]
DISCUSSING ADDITIONAL PATHWAY SIGNAGE AND ETIQUETTE AND OTHER SAFETY PRACTICES, ESPECIALLY IN CRITICAL AREAS.FOCAL POINTS ARE CONGESTED AREAS ARE ON OUR TOWN PATHWAYS.
ALSO LOOKING AT THE POPE AVENUE STREETSCAPE PROJECT, THAT'S COMING UP IN THE CIP TO EXAMINE TRANSPORTATION-RELATED ISSUES IN THIS AREA.
UM, THE ITEMS OF STUDY COULD INCLUDE, UM, INCREASING THE PATHWAY WITS, ADDING ON STREET BIKE LANES, MULTIPURPOSE, TRAVELINGS, UNIFORMS, STRIPING, AND SIGNAGE, AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND CONGESTION, UH, IMPROVEMENTS, ET CETERA.
UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE FURTHER PARTNERING WITH BIKE AMBASSADOR PROGRAMS, UM, TO ENHANCE MORE OF THE EDUCATION AND PROMOTE SAFE BEHAVIOR ON THE PATHWAYS FOR ALL USERS.
UM, AND THAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE CONTINUE, UM, LOOKING AT ALL OF THESE ITEMS AND MONITOR THE PATHWAY SAFETY PROGRAMS FOR POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENTS.
AND FINALLY, IN A LOT OF THE COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED, UM, THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT E OTHER EQUIPMENT, NOT JUST RELATED TO E BICYCLES AND CURRENTLY, UH, MOTORIZED VEHICLES ARE PROHIBITED ON OUR PATHWAYS.
UM, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT, UM, E OTHER EQUIPMENT, UM, AND EVALUATE THAT IF THAT NEED ARISES.
SO ULTIMATELY, UM, STAFF IS REQUESTING THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE TO TOWN COUNCIL.
AND I CAN TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU, ALEX, ARE YOU ON BOARD? I WANT TO ASK A QUESTION, MAKE A COMMENT.
UH, THANK YOU, UH, MISSY, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, UH, I'M PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROPOSAL TO FULL TOWN COUNCIL HISTORIANS.
UM, I DID WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ON, UH, SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT THAT IS HE MENTIONED.
UM, WE, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO IMPROVE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE WHEN IT COMES TO OUR PATH, PLEASE.
UM, THE PART THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS, UH, I GUESS THIS IDEA OF LEADING ON THE AMBASSADOR TOURS, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, THE EXPERIENCE ON OUR FLIGHT PATHS, IT JUST, IT LEANS MORE TOWARDS THAT LIMITED SERVICE GOVERNMENT, UH, ATTITUDE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT PATHWAYS JUST ABOUT EVERYONE OUT, AND WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB WITH DOING THAT, BUT NOW WE AT A CRITICAL POINT WHERE THEY NEED TO BE ENHANCED, UM, MAKING THEM WIDER.
BUT WE'VE GOT LINE OF SIGHT ISSUES.
UM, IF WE'RE GOING TO ENFORCE SPEED LIMITS AND THAT SORT OF THING, WE NEED TO MONITOR THAT, UH, IN MY OPINION IN HOUSE, UH, SO LEANING MORE TOWARDS PUBLIC SAFETY WITHIN OUR PATHWAYS AND HOW A PATHWAY USER ENGAGES WITH THE ROADWAY USE, UH, IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
UH, SO WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE TO, UH, TO ENHANCE THAT, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS WITH THE GL.
UM, I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF THE TOWN STAFF TO DEVELOP THIS ISSUE, UM, AND IT ALWAYS MAKES IT EASIER WHEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS TO HAVE THE CLEARLY PRESENTED.
AND YOU'VE DONE THAT ONE ADDITIONAL ITEM FOR COMMUNICATION THAT I DON'T THINK YOU MENTIONED IS THAT WE NEED TO ENGAGE THE VILLA RENTAL COMPANIES, UM, THE MARKETING COMPANIES, UH, THE TIMESHARE PROVIDERS, ET CETERA, UH, COME UP WITH A, A BROCHURE, COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF STATEMENT THAT THEY CAN USE TO IN TURN CIRCULATE, UH, TO TENANTS AND OTHERS WHO WOULD BE COMING TO THE ISLAND, BRINGING THEIR OWN E-BIKES BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT'S COMING THEN AS A MATTER OF COMMENT AND EX EXPLANATION HERE, I FEEL TRAPPED IN THIS HAVING TO MAKE THIS DECISION.
THE TRAP IS THAT WE HAVE A STATE LAW THAT SAYS THAT E-BIKES ARE BICYCLES.
SO THE ONLY WAY WE COULD TRULY BAN E-BIKES WOULD BE TO BAN BICYCLES FROM THE PATHWAYS.
AND THAT'S JUST NOT A VIABLE CONCLUSION FOR US TO REACH.
UH, WE HAVE TRIED TO COME UP WITH REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS ON, UH, THE USE OF THESE BICYCLES, UH, SPEED, ET CETERA, UH, TRYING TO
[00:35:01]
ENGAGE THE BICYCLE RENTAL COMPANIES AND HOW THEY PROVIDE THE SERVICES.UM, AND IT'S GOING TO BE AN ONGOING PROCESS BY SO MANY THINGS THAT WE HAVE HERE.
I'VE HEARD FROM MANY WELL MEANING CAREFULLY THOUGHT OUT COMMENTS FROM MANY CITIZENS HERE ON THE ISLAND WHO WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF THAT.
WE UNDERSTAND IT, BUT WE JUST SIMPLY CANNOT BAN BICYCLES FROM THE PATHS.
SO I INTENDED TO SUPPORT MOVING THIS FORWARD TO THE FULL COUNCIL AS WELL.
AND, UM, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SENT THEIR COMMENTS DIRECTLY.
I THINK TO ALL OF US, UM, I KNOW THAT EACH OF US HAVE READ THEM CAREFULLY AND CONSIDERED, UM, ALL OF THOSE COMMENTS CAREFULLY.
I DO HAVE, YOU KNOW, MY OWN QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS, FIRST OF ALL, UH, REGULATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF JUST HAVING SOMETHING ON THE BOOKS TO ME NEVER MAKE SENSE.
AND SO HAVING SAID THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS ORDINANCE REALLY ACCOMPLISHES, UM, VERY MUCH.
I DO LIKE THE FACT THAT, UM, WE ARE EDUCATING PEOPLE AND I WOULD, AS GLENN MENTIONED, AS PART OF OUR PERMITTING, UM, AND THE INFORMATION THAT THE TOWN IS ASKING SHORT-TERM RENTALS TO INCLUDE IN THEIR VILLAS, THAT THIS IS A REQUIRED PIECE OF INFORMATION.
WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE BRINGING THEIR BICYCLES AND NOW THEY'RE BRINGING THEIR BICYCLES WITH THEM.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS OTHER THAN THE EDUCATIONAL PIECE TO THOSE WHO BRING THEIR BICYCLES IN TERMS OF REGULATING THEIR SPEEDS WITH ANY TYPE OF CONTROL FEATURES AND LIKELY TO HAPPEN.
UM, THOSE OF US WHO LIVE ON THE ISLAND, WHO OWN E BICYCLES, WE AREN'T HELD BY, UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE WILL REACH AND HOW MANY WILL REGULATE, UM, THEIR BICYCLES.
IT DOESN'T SPEAK TO THE BEACH, WHICH WE KNOW, UM, INCREASING NUMBERS OF PEOPLE USING OUR BEACHES MEANS LESS ROOM FOR PEOPLE TO RIDE THEIR BICYCLES, ET CETERA.
HISTORICALLY, WE USED TO HAVE ALL SORTS OF WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITIES ON OUR BEACH WITH THE, UM, THE SAND CRUISERS AND THE, UM, SUNFISH, UM, BOATS THAT WERE ABLE TO BE RENTED AND UTILIZED.
AND NOW WITH MORE AND MORE PEOPLE TAKING UP MORE AND MORE SPACE, WE DON'T HAVE THOSE.
AND I DON'T SEE HOW, UM, HE BICYCLES AND THEIR SPEED IS BEING ADDRESSED THROUGH THIS ORDINANCE.
SO A MISSING PIECE THERE FOR ME IN TERMS OF SAFETY, OBVIOUSLY EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO, UM, PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT ON THE ISLAND.
WE'RE ALL IN ON THIS FIRST RESPONSIBILITY OF BEING, UM, UP HERE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SAFETY.
BUT IF THAT MEANS E-BIKES, UM, IN LARGE NUMBERS, ON OUR PATHWAYS THAT ARE ALREADY POPULATED WITH BICYCLES AND PEOPLE WALKING AND CHILDREN AND DOGS AND TRAINS, LITERALLY TRAINS OF BICYCLES WITH CONNECTING PIECES DOWN THE, DOWN THE BACK OF THEM.
UM, I'M NOT SURE THAT SIGNAGE MORE SIGNAGE, ISN'T NOTHING, ANYTHING MORE THAN A DISTRACTION.
THE STOP SIGNS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE ARE RARELY, UM, NOTICED OR, UM, OR, UM, PAID ATTENTION TO WITH A, WITH AN ACTUAL STOP.
SO THOSE ARE ALL CONCERNS THAT I HAVE.
UM, THE IDEA THAT WE WOULD WIDEN OUR AND STRIPE OUR ROADWAYS AND PATHWAYS ANYMORE IS, UM, GOES COUNTER TO MY BELIEF THAT I'M TRYING TO HOLD BACK ON ANY FURTHER URBANIZATION OF OUR SMALL PARADISE ISLAND HERE.
UM, THAT INCLUDES OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT THAT WE LOOK TO RETAIN.
SO LOTS OF PROBLEMS FOR ME IN THIS ORDINANCE.
UM, AND I THINK RIGHT NOW THAT'S WHERE I HAVE TO STOP BECAUSE, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF HAVING AN ORDINANCE FOR THE SAKE OF HAVING AN ORDINANCE THAT DOESN'T FULFILL ANY NUMBER OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE BROUGHT UP.
IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE FOR ME.
IF WE COULD ATTEND TO EVERYTHING IN A MEANINGFUL AND THOUGHTFUL WAY AND ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING, THEN I'D BE ALL IN, BUT NOT SURE WHERE THERE,
[00:40:01]
THANKS.UM, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THEM, THE STAFF, UH, PROPOSAL AND MOVE IT ON FROM MY STANDPOINT, MOVE IT ON TO FULL COUNCIL.
UM, WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR PATHWAYS ARE A LOT LIKE OUR ROADS THERE'S LIMITED CAPACITY AT THIS POINT.
ANY DECISION THAT WE AS A COUNCIL MAKE TO BRING MORE PEOPLE ONTO THE ISLAND IS GOING TO EXASPERATE THAT THOSE ISSUES, UM, INCREASED TOURISM IS GOING TO COMPLICATE THOSE ISSUES.
BUT, UM, WE ARE WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF THE WIDTH OF OUR PATHWAYS.
UM, SO IT REALLY DEPENDS TO A LARGE DEGREE ON WHAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON OUR PATHWAYS FEEL IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND THE TOWN'S EXPECTATIONS.
SO THE TWO THINGS THAT WE ARE INCLUDING IN THIS ORDINANCE THAT I THINK ARE SIGNIFICANT IS WE ARE REGULATING SPEED.
AND THERE IS AN EXPECTATION OF ETIQUETTE BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNICATION THAT IS PROVIDED WITHIN THE ORDINANCE.
UM, I ALSO THAT, UH, WITHOUT THE ORDINANCE, WE REALLY ARE A LITTLE BIT LIKE THE WILD WEST AND THE ORDINANCE DOES BEGIN TO BRACKET STANDARDS FOR RENTAL COMPANIES THAT I THINK ARE IMPORTANT AND APPROPRIATE.
THE BOTTOM LINE THOUGH IS THE STATE LAW THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN AND HAVE TO ABIDE BY.
AND THAT SAYS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE THIS COUNCIL DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO, UH, PROHIBIT E-BIKES WITHOUT PROHIBITING BIKES.
SO OUR OPTION THAT IS LEFT IS TO REGULATE IN SOME WAY REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS AND REASONABLE SPEED.
AND I THINK THIS ORDINANCE HAS DONE THAT.
WE WILL ALLOW PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT, UH, IT'S APPROPRIATE TO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BEFORE WE DO THAT.
SO IS THERE A MOTION TO, UM, MOVE THIS FORWARD TO TOWN COUNCIL? YES.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD MOVE THAT THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE RECOMMEND FORWARD TO THE FULL TOWN COUNCIL ADOPTION OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE THAT'S BEFORE US TODAY.
MISS ALVIN, STEVE ALFORD ON BEHALF OF THE BIKE WALK, HILTON HEAD ISLAND, FRANK, BUT WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE TODAY, BUT FOR THE UNFORTUNATE LOSS OF HIS WIFE ON MONDAY, UH, FIRST TIME ON, UH, CONGRATULATE, MISSY FOR DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB OF PUTTING TOGETHER A PROPOSAL, UH, FOLLOWING, HAVING TO STEP IN ON, ON DIANE'S DEPARTURE.
UH, THE OBJECTIVE HERE IS SAFETY PRIMARILY, AND THAT BOILS DOWN SIMPLY TO SPEED.
THIS TO MY UNDERSTANDING IS, IS THE FIRST PART OF WHAT COULD BE A, UH, TWO PHASE APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM.
UH, THIS ORDINANCE DEALS ONLY WITH BIKES THAT COME THROUGH THE RENTAL COMPANIES.
IT DOESN'T DEAL WITH EBIKES THAT COME FROM OTHER SOURCES.
SO IT'S ONLY GOING TO HIT A PORTION OF THE E-BIKE RIDING POPULATION, UM, IN PHASE TWO, WHICH I HOPE THERE WILL BE.
I THINK WE'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH A BROADER AUDIENCE.
UM, LET ME SAY ONE TECHNICAL POINT THAT I THINK IS A PROBLEM, OR IT COULD BE A PROBLEM IN THE ORDINANCE AS PRESENTED IS THAT IT PROPOSES TO LIMIT THROUGH THE GOVERNOR ON THE ELECTRIC MOTOR, THE SPEED TO 12 MILES PER HOUR.
I, MY PERSONAL VIEW IS THAT THAT'S NOT REALLY THE WAY TO GO.
UH, THE GOVERNORS HAVE TO BE SET FOR CLASS TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO.
IT AT 20 MILES AN HOUR, THEY CAN BE SET BY THE BIKE SHOPS AT ANY SPEED THEY WANT, THEY CAN MAKE THEM 35.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE BIKE SHOPS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A LIMIT THAT IS ACTUALLY LESS THAN 20 THAT'S UP TO THEM.
UH, BUT THESE BIKES CAN BE USED ELSEWHERE.
THEY CAN BE USED ON THE, ON THE MAIN STREETS.
[00:45:01]
CAN BE USED OFF ISLAND.THEY CAN BE USED IF THEY'RE OWNED, THEY CAN BE TAKEN BACK AT HOME.
UH, SO THAT LIMITING THE SPEED OF THE BIKE TO ANY PARTICULAR NUMBER BY THE GOVERNOR IS, SEEMS TO ME, IT SHOULD BE UP TO THE BIKE SHOPS, NOT IN THE ORDINANCE.
OUR OBJECTIVE HERE IS TO OBTAIN A SPEED LIMIT OF SAY, 12 POPE AVENUE, SPEED LIMITS.
MAYBE IT SHOULD BE LOWER THAN THAT ELSEWHERE.
UH, WELL, SEEMS FINE, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO LIMIT THAT IN ANOTHER WAY THAN BY GOING AFTER THE GOVERNOR, THAT THE BIKE SHOPS, UH, CAN ADJUST WITH A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN SEA PINES ON THE SAME ISSUE WE HAVE FOUND BASICALLY THAT PAMPHLETS AND OTHER WRITTEN, UH, ADVICE HANDED OUT THROUGH THE BIKE SHOPS IN AND OUT THROUGH RENTAL AGENCIES AND OTHER SOURCES, UH, A ARE NOT READ OR B ARE NOT REMEMBERED WHEN THEY GET ON THE BIKE PATHS.
UH, SO MY VIEW ESSENTIALLY IS IF YOU WANT TO OBTAIN A PARTICULAR TYPE OF BEHAVIOR BY YOU CYCLIST ON THE BIKE PATHS, YOU HAVE TO TELL THEM THE MESSAGE WHERE THEY ARE.
THAT MEANS ON THE BIKE PATHS, AND THAT MEANS SIGNS.
SO I HOPE THAT WE, WE GET TO THAT IN PHASE TWO, UH, OF DEALING WITH THAT PARTICULAR ASPECT OF IT.
OH, WHAT'D YOU DO? BAZZI TOO MUCH EXERCISE.
UH, PASSY BRYSON 30, 60 ALLION AVENUE.
I DID NOT FALL OFF A BICYCLE AND I WAS NOT RUN OVER BY BICYCLE, BUT I HAVE A BROKEN ANKLE.
UM, BUT, UH, I DO, UH, STAND HERE WITH SEVERAL HATS ON, UM, I'M CO-FOUNDER OF THE COALITION OF ISLAND NEIGHBORS.
WE'VE SENT A MEMO TO THE COMMITTEE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ORDINANCE, BUT IN FAVOR OF SAFETY REGULATIONS, UH, ALSO I'M A MEMBER OF THE BIKE WALK, HILTON HEAD ISLAND BOARD.
THERE IS A DIVISION OF OPINION ON THAT BOARD, UM, AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE ORDINANCE TO ADOPT, INCLUDING A DIVISION OF OPINION, WITH REGARD TO THE STAFF'S INTERPRETATION OF THE STATE LAW.
UM, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THEY REVISIT THAT OPINION, WHICH IS HANDICAPPING YOU AT THIS POINT, UH, BECAUSE THE, UH, PARTICULARLY POINTING OUT THE STD OT DESIGN MANUAL WAS REVISED IN FEBRUARY, 2021 TO DEFINE A SHARED YOUTH USE PATHWAY, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE AS NOT ALLOWING NON-MOTOR NOT ALLOWING MOTORIZED VEHICLES, SO IT ALLOWS NON-MOTORIZED VEHICLES.
SO I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT BASED UPON THE INFORMATION THAT I HAVE PERSONALLY PROVIDED TO THE COMMITTEE AND TO THE TOWN STAFF, THEY REVISIT THAT OPINION, WHICH DATES BACK, UM, AND ALSO IT'S IMPORTANT AS WE ALL KNOW, TO ASK THE PROPER QUESTION TO THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE QUESTION THAT THEY, UH, RESPONSE, UH, COMPORT WITH WHAT THE TOWN REALLY DESIRES.
SO I HOPE THAT THAT CAN BE REVISITED AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO COUNCIL MEMBER BECKER FOR RAISING THE ISSUE ABOUT THE BEACHES.
MY HUSBAND AND I DO BIKE A LOT, AND WE BIKE ON THE BEACH AS WELL AS ON THE PATHWAYS, SOMETIMES ON THE ROAD.
UM, BUT, UM, IT, IT, WE DO NOT BIKE AT HIGH TIDE ON THE BEACH.
THERE'S JUST NOT ROOM EVEN DURING THE OFF SEASON.
AND I DON'T THINK WE EVEN HAVE AN OFF SEASON THESE DAYS, MOTHER HATS, UM, ARE, UM, AS A, UM, ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN PEDAL HILTON HEAD ISLAND UNTIL THIS YEAR I'VE EVEN BEEN A BIKE LEADER.
UM, SO, AND ALSO ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND JOHN WEATHERSPOON, UM, AM A BIKE AMBASSADOR, BUT NOT RIGHT NOW.
SO, UM, I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH PATHWAYS.
I'VE PROVIDED EVIDENCE TO THIS COMMITTEE OF THE CHALLENGES OF THE BIKE PATHS WITH E-BIKES ON THEM.
UM, THERE'S BEEN NO EVIDENCE THAT I'VE SEEN THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS RECEIVED TO THE CONTRARY.
BECKER'S CONCERN ABOUT WIDENING PATHWAYS IN CERTAIN PLACES, BECAUSE I TOO BELIEVE IN MAINTAINING THE BEAUTY OF THIS ISLAND, BUT THE FACT IS OUR MULTI-USE PATHWAYS ARE NOT SAFE FOR E-BIKES AND FOR YOU TO PUSH FORWARD WITH THIS ORDINANCE WITHOUT ADDRESSING THAT.
AND WITHOUT REQUESTING THAT IT BE REVIEWED BY YOUR ATTORNEY AGAIN, IN LIGHT OF SOME CHANGES IN THE LAW, I THINK IS A MISTAKE.
AND ON BEHALF OF ALL THOSE HATS AWARE, I RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO NOT MOVE THIS FORWARD, TO SEND IT BACK TO STAFF, BUT TO ADOPT THE SAFETY REGULATIONS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. BOARD.
I OWN MULTIPLE BIKE BRANDS ON THE ISLAND.
I AGREE WITH BOTH OF THEM ON DIFFERENT SIDES OF THE ISSUE.
I AGREE WITH MS. BRYSON, THAT I THINK THAT THE
[00:50:01]
LEGAL INTERPRETATION OF THE CODE IS COMPLETELY INCORRECT.IT DOESN'T DEAL WITH MULTI-USE PATHWAYS.
IT DEALS WITH PATHWAY SPECIFICALLY SET ASIDE FOR BIKES.
IF THE COMMITTEE IN THE TOWN ARE GOING TO JUMP PAST THAT, I AGREE WITH THE EARLIER SPEAKER FORCING US TO MODIFY SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION IS WRONG.
MAKING US MODIFY SOMETHING THAT IS BUILT TO A SPECIFICATION IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU SHOULD MAKE US DO, FORCING US TO MAKE AN ITEM GO 12 MILES AN HOUR, MODIFIES AND VOIDS THE WARRANTIES AND PUTS US IN VIOLATION OF IT.
UM, AND I FIND IT ODD BASED UPON THE TWO OF THE LARGER BIKE RENTERS ON THE ISLAND, MR. HOLLAND, MYSELF, WRITING TO THE COMMITTEE AND EXPRESSING OUR DISPLEASURE WITH THE IDEA OF FORCING US TO DO SPEED LIMIT SPEED LIMITS ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
SPEED LIMITS ARE ABSOLUTELY NICE, BUT YOU'RE NOT FORCING HERTZ OR AVIS TO MODIFY CARS TO ONE GO 45 MILES AN HOUR.
THE MAXIMUM SPEED ON THE ISLAND TO FORCE US TO MODIFY SOMETHING BUILT TO A SPECIFICATION IS WRONG.
SO WITH THAT, I HOPE AT LEAST YOU RECONSIDER THE FORCING OF THE 12 MILES AN HOUR.
MR. POPE IS WITHDREW, UH, JOHN WITHERSPOON, CHAIRMAN OF THE BIKE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM.
I DIDN'T PLAN ON TALKING TODAY, BUT I JUST WANT TO GO INTO A LINE WHAT STEVE BETSY PATSY SAID.
UH, THESE ARE FANTASTIC FLYERS THAT WERE DESIGNED AND PRODUCED BY TAYLOR LAUDER, THE TOWN STAFF.
WE LOVE THEM, BUT, UH, OUR BIKE AMBASSADORS HAVE, UH, ONLY A FEW SECONDS TO INTERACT WITH PEOPLE ON VACATION, UH, ANSWERED QUESTIONS, PASSING OUT MAPS.
SO, UH, FLYERS IN THE PAST HAVE NOT BEEN VERY EFFICIENT WAY TO GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS MORE.
AS STEVE SAID, FIRST, UH, INFORMATION.
HOWEVER, HAVING SAID THAT ANOTHER COMMITTEE MEMBER AND I WILL BE TAKING THESE OUT WITH US, I'M GOING TO PATROL IT JUST AS A TEST WRONG.
SEE IF, UH, YOU KNOW, WE CAN, UH, GET THEIR ATTENTION FIRST FEW MINUTES, BUT, UH, THAT'S THE BEST WE CAN SAY AT THIS POINT, BUT THOSE ARE FANTASTIC.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORT TO IT'S.
WE'VE GOT TO TRAIN HIM 17 MORE BIKERS, UH, OR LATE NEXT MONTH, ALL HIGHLY MOTIVATED.
WE'VE GOT TO GOT AN HOUR AMBASSADOR CREW EXPANDED TO MEET THE DEMAND THAT YOU SEE EVERY DAY WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING AROUND THE AISLE.
ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS IN RESPONSE TO THIS PROPOSAL? SEE NONE.
WE'LL BRING IT BACK FOR THE DYESS OTHER COMMENTS FROM UP HERE.
WHY DIDN'T I ASK WHY? UM, WELL, FOLLOWING UP ON SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE PRESENTED, UM, I'D LIKE TO ASK, UM, CURTIS HAD WHERE THE LEGAL OPINION IN HIS MIND, UM, SETS IN WHETHER OR NOT HILTON HEAD HAS ANY ROOM TO, UM, CREATE A SITUATION WHERE WE MAKE OUR OWN DECISIONS ON WHAT'S BEST ON OUR, UM, IRELAND.
AND I DON'T MEAN TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'D PREFER TO ANSWER AFTER THAT'S, THAT'S FINE TOO.
I WOULD PREFER TO ANSWER THAT LATER.
UM, AND THEN SECONDLY, ON THE BICYCLES THEMSELVES, IS THERE, IS THERE AN ODOMETER, IS THERE SOMETHING THAT INDICATES WHAT SPEED YOU WERE RIDING OUT THERE IS ON ALL OF THEM THAT COMES AS A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.
THOSE WERE TWO QUESTIONS THAT I HAD.
PARDON ME? AND WHAT UH, SO IT DOESN'T INDICATE THE SPEED THAT YOU'RE RIDING AT ABOUT 50 50.
SO THAT'S NOT THE SAME ON ALL BIKES.
EXCUSE ME, MRS. I JUST WANT TO COMMENT TO MR. WEATHERSPOON AND TO THE OTHER BIKE AMBASSADORS, HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE YOUR VOLUNTEER SERVICE, PROMOTING SAFETY, PROMOTING THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS ISLAND.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS IN THAT REGARD.
THERE'S A MOTION BEFORE THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE, CHRISTA, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL PLEASE? YES, SIR.
[00:55:01]
BECKER.THAT CONCLUDES THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO THE, IS THERE A SECOND? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.