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CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BEAVER COUNTY
[1. Call to Order]
PUSH TO PULL THE ROLL.WHERE WAS THE QUESTION? COULD YOU CALL THE ROLL PLEASE? YES, SIR.
MR. BROWN HERE, MR. HARKINS, MR. AMES HERE, MRS. BECKER HERE, MR. LENNOX, MR. STANFORD MAY OR MCCANN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, KRISTA, ARE WE IN COMPLAINTS TO THE FREE INFORMATION EX THANK YOU.
COULD YOU PLEASE PLEASE STAND AND JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND TRUST IS A, THE LOCATION TODAY WILL BE GIVEN BY THE REVEREND GREG CRUNCH FROM ST.
GOOD AFTERNOON, PASTOR, PLEASE BOW WITH ME IN PRAYER OR GOT IT.
THANK YOU FOR THE MANY BLESSINGS YOU GIVE TO US, ESPECIALLY THE BLESSINGS AND PRIVILEGES THAT WE HAVE AS WE LIVE ON THIS ISLAND AND IN THIS COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR OUR MAYOR, JOHN, FOR OUR TOWN MANAGER, MARK FOR THE TOWN COUNCIL AND ALL THE HARD WORK THAT THEY DO FOR THOSE WHO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY HERE AND ABROAD LORD WE'RE, ESPECIALLY MINDFUL, UH, DURING THESE DAYS OF MASS SHOOTINGS AND VIOLENCE, THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO PROTECT THEM AND PROTECT ALL OF US.
AND LORD SOMEHOW BEGIN TO BRING PEACE WHERE THERE'S SO MUCH UPHEAVAL AND DIVISION THESE DAYS.
WE THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO SERVE IN OUR COMMUNITY IN VARIOUS MINISTRIES, AGENCIES OUTREACH.
UM, WE THANK YOU EVEN FOR OUR TOURISTS AT TIMES CAN BE FRUSTRATING, BUT LAURA IS SUCH A BLESSING TO OUR ECONOMY AND TO THIS PLACE.
AND, UH, LORD GIVES SAFETY ON THE ROADS WITH THE TRAFFIC, UH, FOR THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR TOWN LEADERSHIP FACES, THE DECISIONS, ISSUES, TENSIONS, THAT THEY WOULD HAVE CLARITY AND WISDOM THAT THEY WOULD OPERATE WITH PEACE IN THEIR HEARTS.
AND AS THEY DISCUSS AND GIVE THEM A DISCERNMENT AND CLARITY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE DECISIONS THAT THEY MAKE THAT'S BEST FOR ALL.
WE PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR COUNTRY, BUT THEY WOULD SEEK YOUR WISDOM AND WILL YOUR DIRECTION STRENGTH, AND THAT THEY WOULD SEEK A WAY TO FIND COMPROMISE IN PEACE AND GRACE WITH ONE ANOTHER AND EVEN FORGIVENESS AT TIMES.
AND LORD FOR THIS MEETING TODAY, FOR THOSE, THOSE WHO ARE PRESENT, THAT WE, THEY MAY HAVE GRACE WITH EACH OTHER AS THEY DELIBERATE SHARE.
AND LORD TRY TO BE HELPFUL FOR THE SAKE OF THIS COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AS THE MINUTES
[6. Approval of the Minutes]
OF JUNE 20 OPTION IS WRITTEN THERE.SECOND, ANY COMMENTS BY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL COUNCIL THAT THE CALL, THE ROLL PLEASE.
MR. BROWN REPORT, MR. HARKINS, MR. AMES, MRS. BECKER, MR. LENNOX.
MR. STANFORD MAYOR MCCANN MOTION CARRIES PROBABLY BEFORE THE TOWN
[7. Report of the Town Manager]
MANAGER.UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR MCCANN, UH, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
UM, I'M GOING TO DEFER MY ITEMS OF INTEREST FOR, FOR TIME SAKE AND A HEAVY REPORT, UM, AND DIFFERENT UPDATES ALONG THE WAY.
SO, UH, I'LL MOVE RIGHT INTO THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD BY ANNUAL REPORT, KATHY FOSS, OUR CHAIR LO CATHY.
UM, WE HAD AN UNUSUAL SIX MONTHS IN THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR FOUR YEARS AND THIS IS THE SMALLEST AMOUNT OF APPLICATIONS WE'VE HAD AND ALL THE PROFESSIONALS THAT I TALK TO ARCHITECTS, LANDSCAPERS, GCS ARE BUSY AS ALL GET OUT.
SO WE, WE TALKED AMONGST OURSELVES.
WE HAVE NO IDEA WHY IT'S HAPPENED.
WE HAD THREE MEETINGS COUNCIL, UM, CANCELED BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ANYTHING ON THE AGENDA, EVEN JUST LAST TWO WEEKS AGO OR A WEEK AGO, IT WAS CANCELED BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING ON THE AGENDA.
WE ONLY HAD FOUR NEW DEVELOPMENTS AND SEVEN ALTERATIONS ADDITIONS.
UM, THE NEW DEVELOPMENTS WERE VERY SMALL AND SCALE AND NOT THAT SIGNIFICANT TO ANYONE, OUR ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT THREE OF THEM, THESE ARE THE ONES THAT I'LL KIND OF HIGHLIGHT OUR EXISTING BUILDINGS THAT ARE GOING TO GET MODIFIED AND UPDATED AND BEAUTIFIED.
AND THAT MAKES ME HAPPY WHEN WE'RE IN OUR TOWN.
UM, THE LUCKY BARN GRILL, WHICH IS AT 14 FULLY FIELD, WHICH WAS THE OLD CARRABBA'S ITALIAN
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GRILL, THEY WANT TO APPEAL TO BEACHGOERS FAMILIES.SO WE MADE SURE THAT THERE WERE PLENTY OF BIKE RACKS AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITY AREAS FOR PEOPLE WAITING OR, AND YOU'RE ABLE TO GRAB AND GO FROM OUTSIDE AND NOT HAVE TO GO INSIDE A NEAT.
SO I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY, REALLY FUN.
THE, UM, KMP FLOORING IS AT 8 0 7 WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY.
THAT'S WHERE THE OLD BLUES COMPANY WAS.
THEY'RE REALLY UPGRADING THAT BUILDING, UM, OPENING UP WINDOWS AND PUTTING IN SOME CANOPIES.
AND THEY ALSO ABOVE RIGHT NEXT TO, UM, I'M GOING TO FORGET THE NAME OF THE RESTAURANT, BUT IT'S AN ITALIAN, UH, INTERNATIONAL RESTAURANT IT'S IN THE SAME KIND OF BUILDING FACADE.
AND WE'VE ASKED THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WHOLE THING GETS PAINTED AND UPGRADED TOGETHER AND NOT PUT A STRIPE DOWN THE MIDDLE, OUR MOST FRUSTRATING PROJECT IN THE WHOLE FOUR YEARS I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD IS NORTHRIDGE WALKWAY CANOPY.
UM, IT'S BEEN SUCH AN EYESORE FOREVER, AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO BE POLITICALLY CORRECT IN SAYING THAT IT'S BEEN A HARD TIME FOR US.
IT'S, WE'VE APPROVED IT WITH CONDITIONS.
UM, AND THOSE CONDITIONS HAVE NOT BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO STAFF WITH TWO BOARD MEMBERS TO BE ON THE STAFF TO APPROVE IT.
AND ALL I'M GOING TO SAY BEYOND THAT IS, UM, I WISH THERE WAS SOMETHING IN PLACE TO SOMEHOW SHORTEN THAT LIFESPAN OF THOSE KINDS OF PROJECTS.
WE STILL DON'T HAVE GUARANTEE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO FIX, UM, THE FENCING AND THAT GOES ALONG MARSHLAND ROAD.
IT'S A VERY FRUSTRATING PROJECT AND IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS.
AND I KNOW ALL OUR CITIZENS ARE FRUSTRATED WITH THAT AS WELL WITH THAT.
THAT'S MY, OH, AND I SAID IT SIX MONTHS AGO, BUT I'M GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN.
CHRIS DARNELL AND THERESA HALEY HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL FOR US.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I'VE READ SOME ABOUT LOWE'S FOODS? WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THAT IN SO FAR AS THE DRB? THAT WILL BE NEXT WEEK ON OUR AGENDA? WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT TOO, KATHY, I THINK SPEAKING FOR EVERYBODY UP HERE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEAM.
WE'VE WATCHED YOU, YOU'RE DOING A VERY PROFESSIONAL JOB.
I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UPON MISSY LUECK TO GIVE US A QUICK UPDATE AND OVERVIEW OF OUR SEWER CONNECTION PROGRAM THAT WAS LAUNCHED LIVE ON JULY 5TH, COME ON UP MISSY, AND ALSO OUR HOME SAFETY AND REPAIR PROGRAM THAT ALSO LAUNCHED IN, IN, IN HIS LIVE ON THAT SAME DAY.
REMEMBER THAT THESE TWO PROGRAMS WERE FUNDED, UH, WITH THE USE OF A PORTION OF OUR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS.
OUR $5.2 MILLION APPROPRIATION, UM, RECEIVED, UM, HELPED US CREATE THESE TWO PROGRAMS. AND I KNOW MISSY HAS HAD A, UH, A LOT TO DO WITH, WITH, WITH SCOPING AND IMPLEMENTING.
AND SO WITH THAT, CAN YOU GIVE US A, A LITTLE UPDATE OF HOW THE PROGRAMS WILL WORK AND WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO APPLY? YES.
MISSY LEWIS COMMUNITY PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE TOWN.
UM, WE LAUNCHED BOTH THE HOME SAFETY REPAIR PROGRAM AND SEWER CONNECTION PROGRAM ON JULY 5TH.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, FLYERS IN BOTH ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH, UM, PROMOTING THE PROGRAMS, UM, THE SEWER CONNECTION PROGRAM.
UM, AGAIN HAS $200,000 IN FUNDING, UM, ALLOCATED OVER TWO YEARS.
IT'S A PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM WITH DEPO AND HILTON HAVE PSD AND LOW COUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS.
UM, IT SERVES AS A SIMPLE METAL PROGRAM TO PROJECT SAFE, UM, AND SERVES BOTH RENTERS AND OWNERS.
UM, WE'VE HAD SIGNIFICANT INTEREST IN BOTH PROGRAMS, UM, FOR THE SEWER CONNECTION PROGRAM.
WE ALREADY HAVE ONE APPLICATION IN HOUSE, AS WELL AS FOR HOME SAFETY AND REPAIR.
WE ALREADY HAVE SEVEN APPLICATIONS IN THE DOOR, UM, FOR HOME SAFETY AND REPAIR PROGRAM.
THERE'S $400,000 THAT ARE ALLOCATED OVER TWO YEARS FOR THAT PROGRAM.
THAT PROGRAM IS FOR HOMEOWNERS AND IT FUNDS $15,000 IN REPAIRS FOR EITHER HOME REPAIRS TO A HOME TO KEEP IT SAFE AND DRY, UM, HAZARDOUS TREE REMOVAL OR REMOVAL OF AN UNSAFE STRUCTURE.
UM, WE HAVE, UM, APPLICATION PACKAGES AT THE FRONT DESK FOR THE I'M THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THE TOWN FOR BOTH PROGRAMS. AND, UH, THE SEWER PROGRAM, UM, APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO FIRST GO TO PROJECT DEEP WELL, AND THEY WILL ASSESS THEIR, WHETHER THE APPLICANT MEETS THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR PROJECT SAFE OR THEY'LL REFER THEM AND ASSIST THEM WITH THE APPLICATION TO THE TOWN'S SEWER CONNECT PROGRAM.
WE HAVE, UM, INTERNAL PROCESS, UM, IDENTIFIED FOR HOW WE WORK WITH OUR PARTNER AGENCIES FOR BOTH PROGRAMS
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AND HOW TO ADVANCE THE PROJECTS THROUGH APPLICATION REVIEW AND IMPLEMENTATION.SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO MAKE A STRONG IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY ON THESE TWO PROGRAMS. THANK YOU.
AND, UM, I JUST WANTED TO COMMEND US AS A COUNCIL WHEN THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLANS MONIES CAME DOWN, WE WERE ALL IN AGREEANCE THAT WE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE MONIES WERE TOUCHING FOLKS, UH, THAT THEY WERE INTENDED TO TOUCH.
SO I APPRECIATE THE DIRECTION AND ALSO REALLY APPRECIATE MISSY BEING THE POINT OF CONTACT.
SO AS WE GET PHONE CALLS HERE, PERSONALLY, AS COUNCIL FOLKS, WE CAN SEND THEM OVER TO MISSY.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING AVAILABLE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS PROGRAM BEING SUCCESSFUL.
UH, NEXT STEP CALL ON JEFF BUCKALOO OR OUR TOWN ENGINEER DOESN'T NEED MUCH INTRODUCTION, UH, TO GIVE US A, AN UPDATE ON SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING EFFORTS.
UH, REMEMBER THE TOWN COUNCIL PASSED A RESOLUTION SENT TO US BY PLANNING COMMISSION SOMETIME AGO.
JEFF'S BACK HERE TONIGHT TO JUST SIMPLY GIVE A QUICK UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE, UH, THUS FAR.
AND, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON MEMBERS OF COUNCIL ON JEFF BUCKALOO TOWN ENGINEER, AND YES, THIS IS A, AN ITEM IN OUR STRATEGIC WORK PLAN.
I'M GOING TO BE HEADING IT UP.
UH, HERE'S THE, THE PURPOSE STATEMENT WITHIN THE PLAN.
IT KICKS OFF IN JULY OF 22, AND IT'S GOING TO RUN THROUGH JULY OF 23 THAT'S PHASE ONE.
UH, YOU WILL CALL, AS MARTIN MENTIONED, THERE WAS A RESOLUTION FROM THE GREATER ISLAND COUNCIL.
IT CAME FORWARD TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION LAST OCTOBER AND WAS FORWARDED ON TO TOWN COUNCIL IN APRIL.
IT WAS A UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY COUNCIL.
SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE SENT THAT A RESOLUTION AND YOUR APPROVAL TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND KEY STRENGTHS THAT THE COUNTY, AND I KNOW AT THAT TIME THEY WERE QUESTIONED.
WHAT'S NEXT? WHAT, WHAT IS STAFF GONNA DO? WHAT DO WE DO FROM THIS POINT ON, UM, THAT RESOLUTION BASICALLY SAID THAT THE GREATER ISLAND COUNCIL RECOMMENDS THE TOWN AND COUNTY COUNCILS WORK TOGETHER ON A LONG-TERM AGREEMENT FOR THE RECYCLING AND LANDFILL NEEDS OF THE ISLAND AND THE COUNTY.
UM, SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE, UH, BEEN TALKING WITH COUNTY STAFF.
UH, WE HAVE SET UP MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH KEY PERSONNEL, UH, S ALL THEIR WASTE AND RECYCLING DIRECTOR, CINDY CARTER, UH, MYSELF NEIL DECIDED PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.
UH, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO INVOLVE THE GREATER ISLAND COUNCIL.
PETER CHRISTIAN IS CHAIRMAN OF THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
PETER IS WIRED IN AND HAS EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE ON THIS ISSUE.
HIS COMMITTEE HAS DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH, AND WE'RE ALSO INVOLVING MIKE BENNETT.
HE IS THE DISTRICT THREE HILTON HEAD ISLAND REPRESENTATIVE ON THE, UH, COUNTY SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING BOARD.
UM, ALSO OF NOTE, JUST LAST MONTH, THE COUNTY APPROVED A SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN.
THIS IS A 20 YEAR PLAN TO GUIDE THEIR EFFORTS.
THERE ARE FIVE NATURE GOALS LISTED THERE.
UM, OF COURSE WE HAVE A LOT OF MUTUAL GOALS IN COMMON, UH, BUT WE'RE GONNA WORK TOGETHER ON THE GREATER ISLAND COUNCIL RESOLUTION, GETTING AMENDMENTS, ET CETERA, IN PLACE.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD OVER THE COMING YEAR.
I HAVE A LIST OF TASKS HERE THAT I'M GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THOSE FOLKS TO PUT IN PLACE.
UM, I HA WE'RE FLESHING OUT DATES AND, AND FLESHING OUT THE PLAN, OF COURSE, BUT ONE OF THE KEY THINGS ON THERE AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, THE TOWN MANAGER WILL CONSULT WITH TOWN COUNCIL AND WE'LL HAVE A WORKSHOP DEVOTED TO SOLID WASTE WASTE, AND RECYCLING.
AND I KNOW THAT'S A LOT ON THERE, BUT THOSE, THOSE ARE JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, THERE ARE TASKS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DIVE INTO OVER THE COMING YEAR.
AND WITH THAT, UM, IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, BE GLAD TO TRY TO ANSWER THEM ONE.
IS IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE ARE TWO MAIN ISSUES HERE.
ONE IS TRYING TO FIND A SITE FOR A NEW DISPOSAL FOR A NEW DUMP, IF YOU WILL, SOUTHERN BEAVER COUNTY CENTER.
WE KNOW THAT THE ONE, UH, AND JASPER COUNTY IS, UH, IS REACHING CAPACITY.
AND SO IS THAT GOING TO BE A THRUST OF YOURS? UH, YES.
THE COUNTY IS GOING TO RENEGOTIATE WITH HICKORY HILL WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR THAT LANDFILL SITE.
I UNDERSTAND THEY'VE APPLIED FOR PERMITS TO EXPAND THAT SITE TO BUILD 20 YEARS OF NEW CAPACITY INTO THAT SITE.
UM, BUT YEAH, THE MORE OPTIONS WE HAVE AND THE CLOSER PROXIMITY TO HILTON HEAD, THE MORE MARKETABLE AND FEASIBLE IT'S GOING TO BE TO, TO GET HIGHER RECYCLING NUMBERS.
AND THEN THE OTHER FOCUS IS TRYING TO PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO RECYCLE WASTE HERE.
UM, AND THERE ARE LOTS OF GOOD IDEAS OUT THERE, AND I HOPE THAT YOU GATHER ALL OF THOSE IN AND BACK WITH A PLAN.
UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, THIS IS A PRISTINE ISLAND, AND IT'S AMAZING THAT WE DON'T HAVE STANDARDS HERE FOR DISPOSAL
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OF, OF WASTE.AND I'M GLAD TO HAVE YOU HAVING DOING IT.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR REPORT.
ANYTHING ELSE, JEFF, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, LISTENING TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF CYNICISM RELATIVE TO OUR COMMITMENT TO RECYCLING.
AND THIS SEEMS TO EMANATE FROM THE AS-IS SITUATION WHERE TRUCKS COME IN AND HAVE ON THEIR, UH, ON THEIR SIGNAGE.
WE RECYCLE ONLY TO FIND OUT THEY REALLY DON'T, UH, WHEN THEY HEAD TO THE DUB, MANY OF THEM HAVE TO PAY AN EXTRA FEE FOR THAT RECYCLING TO BE DUMPED IN A CERTAIN LOCATION.
AND THAT HAS RESULTED IN THE CYNICISM OF WHAT WE WERE DOING TODAY.
AND I THINK, AND I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS GOOD.
WE'RE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
UH, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO, UM, HAVE AN ONGOING, UH, PROGRESS COMMUNICATION PROGRAM WITH THE COMMUNITY SO THAT THEY A KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
AND THEN B, UH, KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING TO LOOK AT SOLUTIONS THOUGH.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE THESE PRESENTATIONS ARE IMPORTANT, UH, BUT THIS IS, UH, A PROJECT THAT'S GOING TO, UH, EXTEND FOR A NUMBER OF MONTHS NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.
AND I THINK COMMUNITY EDUCATION IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO GET SUPPORT.
UM, I KNOW HE ASKED HIM THIS QUESTION.
I'M NOT SURE IF I'VE GOTTEN ANSWERED OUT OF, MAYBE IN THE EMAIL THAT I HAVE OVERLOOKED, BUT THE ALL IN THE VEINS OF RECYCLING, I KNOW THAT THE COUNTY CONVENIENCE CENTER WAS REQUIRING A DECAL FOR RECYCLING.
IS THAT STILL THE CASE OR HAVE WE, YES, YES.
AND RIGHT NOW I THINK WE'VE GOT FOLKS HERE FROM PUBLIC WORKS, BUT AS A WORK AROUND TO, TO LET PEOPLE RECYCLED ANYONE TO RECYCLE, THEY MAY NOT HAVE A DECAL TO DUMP THEIR THEY'VE STATIONED THE DECAL READER UP AT THE ACTUAL DUMPING DENS.
SO YOU COULD GO IN AND DROP OFF YOUR RECYCLING.
AND I THINK IF YOU GOT UP THERE AND DIDN'T HAVE A DECAL, THEY WOULD WAVE YOU THROUGH.
AND I THINK THAT'S KIND OF A, AROUND GIVEN THE LAYOUT OF THE SITE AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE, I THINK THE IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE MADE, BUT RIGHT NOW, IF SOMEONE WANTED TO COME UP AND RECYCLE AND DIDN'T HAVE A GIDDY COW, THEY WOULD DUMP THE RECYCLABLES, COME UP TO THE CHECKPOINT, THEY WOULD WAVE THEM THROUGH SAY, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DUMP YOUR TRASH HERE AND MOVE ON.
UM, SO COUNCILMAN HAWKINS POINT, UM, WE WANT TO SEND OFF THE MESSAGE THAT WE ARE, UH, IN THE BUSINESS OF RECYCLING HILTON, HILTON HEAD, MAYBE SOME FORM OF COMMUNICATION TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, I THINK IS APPROPRIATE, UM, FOR THAT WORK AROUND THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE AT THE MOMENT.
JEFF, DO YOU ANTICIPATE ANY CHANGES TO OUR LOCAL CONVENIENCE CENTER AS A RESULT OF THIS EVOLUTION? UM, YEAH, I THINK THERE COULD BE INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES OUT THERE.
I THINK WITH THE TRAFFIC DEMANDS, WE CAN BETTER SEPARATE TRAFFIC.
UM, THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, A CLASS TWO, UM, CENTER DOWN THE ROAD AT THE END OF SUMMIT DRIVE A LOT OF TRUCK TRAFFIC COMING THROUGH.
I THINK WE SEPARATED TRAFFIC THERE, BUT AS WE JUST SAID, GETTING RECYCLABLES AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE, YOU KNOW, EVEN WITHOUT THE DECAL IS KEY.
AND SO I THINK THERE'S INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS WE COULD MAKE TO THE SITE TO MAKE THAT MORE FUNCTIONAL AND EASIER FOR FOLKS TO USE.
YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN HARKINS, UH, MADE A STATEMENT THAT THERE'S CYNICISM IN THE COMMUNITY AND BECAUSE THE, UH, COLLECTED OF RECYCLED MATERIALS, AREN'T ACTUALLY RECYCLING IT.
UH, I'VE ASKED PREVIOUSLY TO CONFIRM THAT SO THAT OUR RESIDENTS WHO ARE PAYING A RECYCLING FEE CAN MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING THAT AT THEIR EXPENSE.
UH, IT WOULD BE MY GOAL THAT, UH, WE HAD A HUNDRED PERCENT RECYCLING ON THE ISLAND, BUT I THINK IT'S MISLEADING DISINGENUOUS IF CITIZENS ARE PAYING FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE NOT NOT RECEIVING.
SO I, AGAIN, REQUEST THAT WE CONFIRM THAT THIS IS HAPPENING OR NOT HAPPENING, SO THE RESIDENTS CAN GET AN ANSWER.
AND JEFF, YOU CLEAR ON THE TWO THINGS, ONE WITH THE BUSINESS LICENSING AND THE OTHER WITH THE COMMUNICATION ON RECYCLING AS A COUPLE ACTION ITEMS. WE'LL FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
NEXT, UM, MOST RECENTLY, UH, I RECEIVED, UH, A FEW PHONE CALLS AND A FEW EMAILS
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ABOUT OUR BEACH REGULATIONS.SO I'VE ASKED JOSH GRUBER, OUR DEPUTY TOWN MANAGER TO GIVE, UH, A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF THE ISSUE THAT WE, THAT WE ENCOUNTERED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
AND THEN ALSO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR CURRENT REGS AND WHAT WE DO MOVING FORWARD.
JOSH, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, MR. ORLANDO, JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF ITEMS, UH, AS, AS MR. ORLANDO HAD INDICATED FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT AN UPCOMING EVENT, MARK YOUR CALENDARS.
UH, THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE ON AUGUST 4TH AT 9:00 AM IS GOING TO BE HOLDING A MEETING AT THAT TIME.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE RECEIVING A PRESENTATION FROM PCI MUNICIPAL SERVICES.
PCI MUNICIPAL SERVICES IS THE FIRM THAT WE ARE, THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH IN TERMS OF OUR BEACH PARKING MANAGEMENT AND ENFORCEMENT.
UM, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST MONTH TO REALLY DEVELOP KIND OF A VERY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT LOOKS AT EACH OF OUR INDIVIDUAL, UH, AREAS SEPARATELY AND PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO THOSE PARTICULAR AREAS.
UH, PART OF WHAT REALLY DREW US TO THIS FIRM IS THE FACT THAT THEY ARE A BOUTIQUE FIRM.
WHO'S WHOLLY FOCUSED ON PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY MUNICIPAL PARKING AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO MUNICIPAL CLIENTS ONLY, UH, THEY ALSO TAILOR AND ARE FLEXIBLE TO EACH OF THEIR NEEDS TO MEET THEIR CLIENT'S UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES.
AND OBVIOUSLY I THINK MOST OF YOU WOULD AGREE THAT WE ARE NOT LIKE NECESSARILY OTHER PEOPLE.
AND SO THE FACT THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO COME IN AND CREATE A SOLUTION THAT IS TAILORED TO OUR SPECIFIC NEEDS REALLY GOT US EXCITED.
SO MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THAT.
UM, THAT'S BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR A WHILE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE AND CAN LISTEN AND ATTEND.
ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT VERY QUICKLY SOME RECAPS FROM THE RECENT HOLIDAY WEEKEND.
UH, THE BEACH OPERATIONS TEAM WAS OUT IN FULL FORCE FROM JULY 1ST THROUGH JULY 4TH.
UH, WE HAD A PRESENCE IN OUR PARKS ON THE BEACHES AND WITHIN ALL OF OUR FACILITIES FROM 5:00 AM UNTIL 10:00 PM EACH DAY, OBVIOUSLY IT WAS A VERY BUSY TIME.
UM, BUT AS OF NOW, THERE'S BEEN NO MAJOR INCIDENTS TO REPORT, UH, THAT HAVE COME BACK AT ANY OF THE TOWN FACILITIES.
ADDITIONALLY, UM, THE PALMETTO BREEZE WAS BUSY ALL FOUR DAYS PROVIDING SHUTTLE SERVICE.
AND, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO ESTIMATE THAT AT ANY GIVEN TIME, THE OVERFLOW LOT AT US CB WAS ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF THE WAY FULL.
AND THAT'S A NEW RECORD FOR US IN TERMS OF THE VOLUME OF PEOPLE THAT ARE UTILIZING THAT AS A VIABLE PARKING OPTION.
UM, THE, ON JULY 5TH, THE DAY FOLLOWING THE JULY 4TH HOLIDAY, UH, STAFF WORKED WITH TURTLE TRACKERS, SHORE BEACH SERVICES AND OTHERS TO ARRANGE FOR A BEACH CLEANUP, UM, AS HAS HISTORICALLY HAPPENED.
WE HAVE A LOT OF REVELERS AND PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE OUT ON THE BEACH THE NIGHT OF JULY 4TH, THIS YEAR WAS NO EXCEPTION.
AND SO, UM, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT VOLUME OF TRASH THAT WAS LEFT ON THE BEACH AND STAFF WAS OUT THERE WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT GOT CLEANED UP AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
IN ADDITION, THEY ALSO HAD PRO DISPOSAL PLACE, AN ADDITIONAL 25 96 GALLON TRASH CANS TO TRY AND ANTICIPATE THE ADDITIONAL INCREASE IN VOLUME OF WASTE.
UH, THAT'S GOING TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT OUR BEACH OPERATION SERVICES AND OUR MASTER PLANNING FOR OUR BEACH PARKS, IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT.
HOW DO WE LOOK AT ADDRESSING THAT, UH, GOING FORWARD? AND THEN LASTLY, UM, WANT TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF CONCERNS THAT HAD COME IN WITH REGARDS TO BEACH FISHING OR FISHING ON THE BEACH.
AND SO WHAT I WANTED TO DO THIS EVENING WAS BASICALLY PROVIDE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT IS CURRENTLY IN THE TOWN CODE AND HOW STAFF GOES ABOUT APPLYING THAT LANGUAGE OUT IN THE, WHEN SITUATIONS ARISE.
SO CURRENTLY THE TOWN DELINEATES, BOTH AREAS WHERE FISHING IS PROHIBITED.
AND THEN THERE ARE AREAS WHERE FISHING IS PERMITTED AREAS, WHERE FISHING IS PROHIBITED ARE DELINEATED BY MARKERS THAT ARE PLACED IN THE DUNES AND THEIR DESIGNATED SWIMMING AREAS, UH, AREAS OUTSIDE OF THOSE MARKERS.
IT IS PERMISSIBLE FOR FISHING.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE SEVERAL ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS THAT ARE IN PLACE.
ONE YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO USE.
WE DO HAVE STAFF THAT GOES UP AND THEY WILL INSPECT TO SEE WHAT FORMS OF BAIT ARE BEING USED.
UH, WE DON'T WANT RAW CHICKEN.
WE DON'T WANT OTHER TYPES OF MEAT, BUT TYPICALLY WHAT YOU'LL FIND IS FISH SHRIMP, OTHER THINGS TARGETING THE FISH THAT ARE OUT THERE IN THE OCEAN.
UM, AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE IS AN EXPRESS PROHIBITION IN OUR CODE AGAINST SHARK FISHING.
NOW WHAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT ABOUT ENFORCEMENT OF THAT IS THAT AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, WITH FISHING, YOU MAY NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO CATCH UNTIL YOU HAVE ACTUALLY LANDED IT ON THE BEACH.
SO THE WAY THAT WE HAVE APPROACHED THE ENFORCEMENT OF THAT REGULATION IS THAT YOU ARE PRESUMED TO NOT BE SHARP FISHING UNTIL YOU CATCH YOUR SHARK.
THEN YOU ARE DETERMINED TO BE SHARK FISHING, AND YOU MUST SEE SOME FISHING AT THAT POINT.
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UM, THAT SOUNDS A LITTLE BIT CONVOLUTED, BUT AGAIN, KNOWING THAT THE LANGUAGE IS IN PLACE AND KNOWING THE PRACTICALITIES OF ENFORCING IT, THAT IS HOW WE HAVE GONE ABOUT WORKING BOTH WITH STAFF AND WITH SHORE BEACH SERVICES TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS, IF, AND WHEN THEY DO COME UP, UM, IN TERMS OF CONCERNS REGARDING THE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS, THAT WAS PART OF WHAT HAD COME ACROSS.UM, SOME OF THE CORRESPONDENCE THAT WE'VE RECEIVED, WE WERE CONTACTED THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.
THEY'RE THE STATE AGENCY WHO'S IN CHARGE OF REGULATING FISHING.
UH, WITHIN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
WE ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT BOTH VIDEOS AND PHOTOGRAPHS THAT HAD BEEN PROVIDED TO US AS PART OF THESE ISSUES AND BASED UPON THEIR OBSERVATIONS, THEY DID NOT OBSERVE ANYTHING THAT WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OR MISTREATMENT OF THE ANIMALS.
UM, NOW AGAIN, THAT IS ABSOLUTELY POTENTIALLY SUBJECT TO CHANGE ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS, BUT AT LEAST OF WHAT WE WERE PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED IN WHAT WE SUBMITTED TO DNR, THAT WAS THE RESULT THAT THEY CAME BACK WITH, UM, IN GOING FORWARD WITH THIS ISSUE, UM, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S LIKELY TO BE SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT BEST PRACTICES.
AND SO AS WE GO FORWARD WITH TALKING ABOUT IMPROVING OUR BEACH MASTER PLANS AND OVERALL BEACH EXPERIENCES, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING WITH STAFF IS ASKING THEM TO SURVEY OTHER COMMUNITIES, TO LOOK AT WHAT ARE IN FACT, THE BEST PRACTICES OF THIS ISSUE.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE VOCAL PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES, PEOPLE PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR BEACH EXPERIENCE, PEOPLE PASSIONATE ABOUT RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND OUTDOOR LIFESTYLES.
SO WE WANT TO KIND OF SEE, ARE THERE PEOPLE THAT HAVE GONE ABOUT ADDRESSING THIS IN A REASONABLE MANNER? AND IF SO, DO WE NEED TO ALIGN OUR PRACTICES WITH THOSE STANDARDS WITH THAT MR. ORLANDO, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
SO, UM, THANK YOU AND I, A LOT OF THIS DISCUSSION FOR ME, UM, CENTERED AROUND SOME OF THOSE VIDEOS AND PHOTOS, UM, AND, UM, I APPRECIATE ALL THE BEACH CLEANUP AND EVERYONE WHO'S PARTICIPATING IN IT.
HOPEFULLY EACH ONE OF US AND OUR VISITORS ARE ALSO PITCHING IN AND RESPECTING OUR ISLAND AS THEY USE IT SINCE, SINCE THE COMMENT WAS MADE THAT DNR DIDN'T SEE ANY ISSUES WITH WHAT CLEARLY WE ALL SAW.
UM, I'M GOING TO ADJUST, UM, PLEAD AND ASK, AND PERHAPS WE CAN CREATE A, AN ONGOING CAMPAIGN OF, UM, INFORMING, UM, OUR VISITORS AND RESIDENTS AND ALL WHO COME HERE TO ENJOY HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
TO REMEMBER THAT WE DO PROTECT OUR WILDLIFE HERE.
WE DO GO OUT OF OUR WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TURTLES HAVE A NESTING PLACE AND RETURN EACH YEAR.
AND THAT LIFE CONTINUES FOR ALL OF OUR FRIENDS WHO, UM, DON'T WALK ON TWO FEET AND ATTEND COUNCIL MEETINGS.
I'M ALSO GOING TO ASK THAT AS WE SEE PEOPLE DO THINGS THAT AREN'T NICE TO OUR WILDLIFE, THAT WE TAKE A MOMENT AND ASK THEM TO REMEMBER THEN ON HILTON HEAD, WE HAVE A STANDARD THAT IS, UM, THAT WE PROTECT AND WE PRESERVE, AND WE HONOR OUR WILDLIFE AND OUR ENVIRONMENT.
AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THAT, THAT THEY'RE COMING HERE.
IT'S BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'VE PRESERVED AND PROTECTED IN THE PAST, THAT BRINGS PEOPLE BACK AND MAKES THEM WANT TO BECOME RESIDENTS AND CONTINUE THE CYCLE THAT WE HAVE HERE ON HILTON HEAD.
IF WE DON'T DO THAT, THEN WE LOSE, WE CHANCE LOSING IT ALL.
SO I'M GOING TO ASK EVERYONE HERE TO SPREAD THE WORD.
I'M GOING TO ASK THAT IN SOME ARTICLE THAT SOME PAPER MAY BE WRITING THAT THEY MENTIONED CLEARLY THAT ON HILTON HEAD, WE PROTECT OUR WILDLIFE, THAT WE HONOR THE ENVIRONMENT, AND WE WOULD ASK EVERYONE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY REMEMBER THAT WHEN THEY'RE HERE.
UM, I DISAGREE WITH THE ASSESSMENT THAT WAS MADE AND I'M ASKING FOR EVERYONE'S HELP.
ALL RIGHT, LAST BUT NOT LEAST MR. SHAWN, UH, SHAWN IS HERE TO GIVE AN UPDATE, UH, MARIN COUNCIL TO YOU AND THE COMMUNITY, UM, TO LET US KNOW WHAT REALLY HAS TRANSPIRED ON THE WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY GATEWAY CORRIDOR PROJECT, SINCE WE'VE LAST, HAD OUR MOST RECENT PUBLIC MEETING, WHICH IS A FEW MONTHS AGO, THE JOINT PUBLIC MEETING BETWEEN BUFORD COUNTY COUNCIL AND, AND ALL OF YOU.
SO, SEAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR STEADFAST APPROACH ON THIS PROJECT.
UM, WELL, ONE, I'M EXCITED TO BE BACK IN FRONT OF YOU.
I, UM, I'M EAGER TO MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD, AT LEAST OUTLINING THE STEPS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE, UM,
[00:30:01]
TO GET TO A DECISION.UM, WE HAVE SENATOR TOM DAVIS HERE AS WELL, AND I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH MY PRESENTATION AND ASK HIM TO COME UP AND SHARE COMMENTS IF HE HAS SOME, UM, ON THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC, UM, FOR THE BENEFIT OF COUNCIL AND THE FOLKS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE, I'M HAPPY THAT WE HAVE A FULL CROWD AND I HOPE THAT, UH, OUR ONLINE FOLLOWING IS ALSO PAYING ATTENTION BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE VERY INTENTIONAL ON THE ACTIONS THAT I'M ASKING YOU FOR TODAY AND THE DIRECTION.
UM, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THROUGH THE TOWN MANAGER, THAT WE'RE MEETING YOUR EXPECTATIONS AND THE COMMUNITY'S EXPECTATIONS ON THIS PROJECT.
OKAY, I'M GOING TO TALK JUST BRIEFLY ABOUT THEIR MOST RECENT MEETINGS WE'VE HAD RELATED TO THE PROJECT.
UM, NOT TO GO BACK TO OCTOBER, BUT THAT'S WHEN YOU APPROVE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
UH, WE RECEIVE A RESPONSE FROM BUFORD COUNTY STAFF, UM, EARLY PART OF THE YEAR AND THEN ASK COUNTY COUNCIL TO, TO PLAY, UH, YOU KNOW, TO, TO APPROVE THAT AS WELL AND SEND THAT ONTO US.
UM, AND THAT CAME ABOUT THE TIME THE SED OT HAD THEIR PUBLIC MEETING ON THE MODIFIED, REVISED, PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE.
I THINK SOMETHING LIKE THAT, UM, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT MODIFIED PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE INCLUDED SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COUNCIL SUPPORTED GOOD THING, UM, WHERE WE HAD SOME GAPS IS, UM, ON SOME OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND THAT'S WHY WE WENT FORWARD WITH SOME MORE MEETINGS.
UH, I'M GOING TO, UH, LEAD SOME DISCUSSION ON SOME KEY ACTIVITIES FOR PROJECT PLANNING TO GET FROM WHERE WE ARE TODAY, TO WHERE, UH, WE HAVE, UM, INFORMATION TO MAKE A DECISION TO CONSIDER AND MAKE A DECISION, UM, ON THE PROJECT.
UM, AND IT INCLUDES ELEMENTS ON THE REQUEST FOR THIS END-TO-END ANALYSIS, UH, THE ADAPTIVE SIGNALIZATION SYSTEM, UM, IMPLEMENTATION ON THE ISLAND, BUT ALSO COORDINATION WITH BUFORD COUNTY, UH, SO THAT WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER, UH, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE TOUCHING ON THAT BECAUSE IT'S A KEY ELEMENT THAT'S BUILT IN, UH, TO THIS CRITICAL PATH.
AND THEN I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME NEXT STEPS AND GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT I THINK THE SCHEDULE IS FOR EACH ONE OF THOSE STEPS, UM, TO COMPLETE THE WORK, EVERYBODY GOOD.
SO ON APRIL 5TH, WE HAD THE BENEFIT OF THE D C D O T PUBLIC MEETING AT THE ISLAND REC CENTER.
WE HAD THE BENEFIT OF HEARING FROM COUNTY STAFF AND COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE RESPONSES TO OUR, UH, 26 RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND AT THE APRIL 5TH WORKSHOP OF COUNCIL, I LED A DISCUSSION TO GO THROUGH EACH ONE OF THOSE 26 RECOMMENDATIONS AND TO GET BENEFIT OF FROM OUR COUNCIL BUFORD COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WERE THERE.
WE HAD SENATOR DAVIS IN ATTENDANCE AND ALSO, UM, UM, WE HAD STAFF FROM THE COUNTY AND THE TOWN THAT SHARED OPINIONS.
UM, WE LATER CONVENED AT BUFORD COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE ON APRIL 21ST, WHERE THEY HAD ASKED SED OT TO COME IN AND PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATED TO THE MODIFIED PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE, THE REACTION TO THE TOWN COUNCIL RECOMMENDATIONS, AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF SHARE, UM, SOME THOUGHTS BETWEEN PARTICIPANTS ON THERE ON THE RECOMMENDATION.
SO WE, WE KNOW WE HEARD SOME COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS DIDN'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COUNCIL HAD PUT FORWARD AND, UM, AND THERE WAS SOME ALIGNMENT ON OTHERS.
SO NOW IT'S REALLY JUST TO FOCUS ON A CRITICAL PATH TO GET US TO THE END OF, UM, UH, OF THE PROCESS TO MAKE A DECISION.
AND SO ON JUNE 6TH, UH, THERE WAS A MEETING CONVENED TO TALK ABOUT THAT CRITICAL PATH.
THERE WERE SOME MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING THAT WERE DISCUSSED FROM APRIL THROUGH JUNE, UH, ONE, UM, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN A SECOND, BUT YOU KNOW, AN OVERALL MOU AND THEN SOME PARTICULAR MOU WAS, UH, RELATED TO THE END TO END ANALYSIS, THE CREATION OF THE COMMUNITY VELMA CORPORATION.
UM, AND THEN THE ADOPTIVE SIGNALIZATION PARTNERSHIP MOVING THAT FAR WITH THE COUNTY.
SO THIS IS A LOT ON ONE SLIDE, BUT, BUT BEAR WITH ME, THESE ARE THE STEPS THAT ARE OUTLINED FOR EACH, UH, ARE FOR, TO, TO GET TO WHERE I THINK WE'VE GOT TOWN CONSIDERATION, WE'VE GOT THE INFORMATION NEEDED TO MAKE A DECISION, AND WE'VE, WE'VE GONE THROUGH KIND OF THE EXHAUSTIVE PROCESS HERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST, THE NEXT STEP IS EXECUTING AN MOU OR AN AGREEMENT WITH BUFORD COUNTY THAT PUTS ALL THIS STUFF IN PLACE.
WE AGREE ALONG WITH THE COUNTY TO DO THIS WORK STEP ONE THROUGH NINE.
AND AT THE END OF THAT, WE WILL BE IN A POSITION TO MAKE A DECISION.
AND IT'S, THAT'S A SIMPLE OVER-SIMPLIFICATION OF THIS WHOLE PROCESS, BUT THAT'S, WHAT'S OUTLINED HERE.
SO NUMBER ONE, KIND OF MEMORIALIZES AS COUNTY COUNCIL TOWN COUNCIL HAVE AN AGREEMENT THAT IF WE DO THESE THINGS, UM, WE WILL HAVE, WE WILL BE READY TO MAKE A DECISION,
[00:35:01]
UM, AND MOVE FORWARD.THE NUMBER TWO, THESE THREE ADDITIONAL MOU WAS TO BE DRAFTED AND THEN BROUGHT FORWARD TO OUR COUNCIL AND COUNTY COUNCIL FOR AUTHORIZATION IS AGREEMENT ON THE END-TO-END ANALYSIS.
UM, AND I'M GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT IN STEP THREE, BUT AGREEMENT ON THE END AND, AND ANALYSIS WHO'S DOING IT.
UM, UM, HOW ARE WE DOING IT? SCOPE OF WORK, TIMING AND SO FORTH, UM, AGREEMENT ON THE ADAPTIVE SIGNALIZATION SYSTEM.
UM, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIMING.
I THINK WE HAVE IT PROGRAMMED OUR CIP TO DO ALL THE SIGNALS ON THE ISLAND.
WE'D LOVE TO COORDINATE THAT WITH THE COUNTY TO MAKE SURE MAINLAND SIGNALS ARE PART OF THE PROJECT, UM, BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO SYNCHRONIZE ALL OF THEM AND THEN ALSO HAVE THE MAINTENANCE, UM, OPERATIONS IN PLACE SO THAT WE DON'T LOSE THE BENEFIT OF PUTTING THEM IN.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S ANOTHER MOU OR AN AGREEMENT.
AND THEN THE THIRD ONE IS AGREEMENT ON THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
AND I KNOW THAT'S ADVANCING IN PARALLEL, UH, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY RELATED TO THIS PROJECT AND THE BENEFITS, UM, THAT WE'VE TALKED WITH SENATOR DAVIS ABOUT, UM, OF CREATING THAT AND HAVING STATE FUNDING ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
SO I'M GONNA DIVE IN A LITTLE BIT IN THE NEXT STEP, THE COMPLETE, THE END-TO-END ANALYSIS.
SO WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS NOW FOR A FEW MONTHS, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A THIRD, UH, 90, 90 DAY SHOT CLOCK, AND I THINK IT'S BEEN A HUNDRED DAYS SINCE WE HAD THAT INITIAL DISCUSSION.
SO, UM, I'M READY TO, AGAIN, TO BEGIN WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, FILLING YOUR EXPECTATIONS AND EXECUTING THE WORK.
SO, UM, BECAUSE OF THE SHOT CLOCK, WE HAD REACHED OUT TO OUR TRANSPORTATION EXPERT AT MKS KAY, TO GET SOME ADVICE ON FOLKS THAT MIGHT BE QUALIFIED TO DO IT IN THAT TIMEFRAME, YOU KNOW, NIGHT.
AND I THINK IT GOT SHRUNK TO 90.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF ENGINEERING FIRMS THAT COULD DO WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE I THINK ARE ASKING THEM TO DO IN THAT TIMEFRAME.
UM, BUT THAT, THAT ASIDE THEY DID HELP US IDENTIFY ONE.
UH, WE MET WITH A PROJECT MANAGER OUT OF MOUNT PLEASANT, UH, SHARP GUY.
UH, WE HAD MARK AND I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH HIM ALONG WITH BRAD STRAIGHTER WITH MKS KAY.
AND WE HAD A LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE THAT HE WAS ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS, UM, AND, AND THEY COULD PERFORM SOME LEVEL OF ANALYSIS.
UM, AND, AND IF THAT WAS THE DIRECTION THAT THE TOWN AND COUNTY WERE GOING COLLECTIVELY, THEN, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS, THAT WAS AN OPTION.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SINCE HEARD SOME, UM, CONCERN FROM CITIZENS, UM, AND OTHER SENATOR DAVIS HAD OUTLINED A VERY SPECIFIC, UM, INDEPENDENT REVIEW WITH NO AFFILIATION TO S C D O T.
AND, UH, THE UNFORTUNATE THING WITH KIMBERLY HORN IS THEY HAVE A PRETTY EXTENSIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH SED OT.
SO WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT, UH, WELL, I'M SORRY, AND THEN BUFORD COUNTY, BECAUSE THEY HAVE KIMBERLY HORN ON ON-CALL PREFERRED TO, YEAH, LET'S GO FORWARD WITH THE KIMBERLY HORN.
WE HAVE THEM ON AN ON-CALL CONTRACT.
WE CAN EXECUTE THAT, UH, MORE QUICKLY.
UM, AND IF THAT'S AN OPTION THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THEM TOGETHER, UM, IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION OF COUNCIL, WHICH I'M NOT SUGGESTING, THEN THAT'S AN OPTION.
UM, WE NEED TO DECIDE IF WE'RE READY TO MOVE FORWARD ON OUR OWN, UM, THE FUNDING AND I'LL HAVE SENATOR DAVIS CONFIRM IT, BUT I'VE, I'VE ASKED HIM LAST WEEK IN CONVERSATION, THE, THE FUNDING THAT THE STATE HAD IDENTIFIED TO DO THIS PROJECT, IT COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO US ON A REIMBURSEMENT FOR THIS, THIS EFFORT.
IF WE DECIDE TO GO AND PROCURE AN INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT TO DO THE WORK OKAY.
AND THE END ANALYSIS IS IT, THE COUNTY US WITH THE COUNTY AND KIMBERLY HORN IS US INDEPENDENTLY.
UM, AND WE'LL, I'LL ASK FOR YOUR DIRECTION ON THAT.
AND JUST A MINUTE, WE'VE ALSO ASKED TO FINALIZE THE POSITION, UM, BUFORD CONNIE POSITION ON OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE HAD THE MEETING BACK IN APRIL.
WE KNOW THAT THERE WAS MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF MOVEMENT ON SOME OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, CLOSER TO WHERE THE TOWN, UM, WAS WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THERE'S KIND OF A HARD LINE, BUT I THINK IN ORDER TO DO THE EVALUATION TO UNDERSTAND IMPACT MITIGATION FUNDING, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW EXACTLY WHERE BUFORD COUNTY IS AND HAVE THAT EVALUATED.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WHEN WE COST OUT THE OPTIONS TO KNOW, ARE WE, IS IT A 10 FOOT WIDE BREAKDOWN LANE OR SHOULDER IS AT SIX FEET WIDE AND THERE'S ALREADY BEEN SOME MOVEMENT.
SO ONE FINAL, UM, POSITION ON THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BUFORD COUNTY.
AND THAT WILL BE A REQUIREMENT AND THE MOU THAT WE WOULD ENTER WITH THE COUNTY ON THIS OVERALL, UM, SCOPE, OKAY.
TO COMPLETE THE WORK, UH, NUMBER FIVE, WE WILL WORK WITH MKS KAY AND THEIR TEAM TO DO THE EVALUATION OF PROBABLE CAUSE ENGINEERING PROBABLE COSTS FOR ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS SO THAT WE CAN SPEAK INTELLIGENTLY TO KNOW, IS THERE COST SAVINGS WITH OUR RECOMMENDATION, OR IS IT MORE, IS IT COST MORE? AND
[00:40:01]
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT'S THE NET GAIN OR, OR NET DEFICIT THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE UP WITH THIS, YOU KNOW, WITH THIS PROJECT, I WILL SAY THAT MKS CAN HDR HELP THE PROJECT LOOK AT, UM, THE, THE TRADITIONAL CULTURAL PROPERTY IMPACT.AND BASED ON THAT EVALUATION, WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE
SO WE MADE, SO THERE'S OPPORTUNITY.
WE NEED TO HAVE THAT ASSESSMENT BECAUSE IT'S PART OF THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS.
WE NEED TO HAVE A LEVEL OF COMFORT THROUGH THIS COMPLETE IMPACT MITIGATION ASSESSMENT FOR THE WHOLE, FOR THE CORRIDOR.
WE REALLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT DOWN TO THE, YOU KNOW, THE FINEST DETAIL THAT WE CAN, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO GET ONE CHANCE TO GET IT, TO GET IT RIGHT.
AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR EVERYTHING WE NEED TO, UM, AS THIS PROJECT MOVES FORWARD, BUT THAT'S A CRITICAL POINT AND A CRITICAL STEP IN THIS PROCESS, UM, COMPLETE THE VALUE ENGINEERING.
AND AGAIN, SOME BENEFIT OF TALKING WITH JONATHAN GUY AT KIMLEY-HORN THAT'S PART OF THE NEPA PROCESS THEY'RE REQUIRED TO DO IT, WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW IT, BUT REALLY IT'S WHERE WHERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COST SAVINGS.
AND CAN WE REPROGRAM THAT FUNDING BACK INTO THE PROJECT? AND SO EVERYTHING'S NOT JUST AN AD, UM, AS WE GET TOWARD THE END OF THIS PROCESS, THE COORDINATION OF A MEETING, UM, ON THE, ON THE GATEWAY PROJECT, WE'LL COORDINATE THAT WITH TOWN COUNCIL, DOES THAT INCLUDE COUNTY COUNCIL? I DON'T KNOW, BUT WE'LL COORDINATE WITH TOWN THROUGH MARK ON, ON THAT MEETING.
AND THEN WE'LL GO THROUGH THESE, UH, THESE, UH, THESE KEY ELEMENTS IMPACT MITIGATION, THE DESIGN, THE FUNDING, THE SEDL D D O T POSITION, WHERE ARE WE AS AN IMPACTS PROJECT, UM, BUDGET FROM WHAT'S BEING PROJECTED TO THE FINAL CONFIGURATION THAT WOULD BE REPRESENTED AS A RESULT OF THIS PROCESS.
AND WE HAVE MKS K UH, AGAIN, WORKING ON THE COST EVALUATION, BUT ALSO ON SOME FLY THROUGHS TO REALLY BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE EXPERIENCE THROUGH THE CORRIDOR, UM, AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S REPRESENTED WHEN WE HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS AT THE END OF THAT'S A CRITICAL ELEMENT.
UM, AND THEN AT THE END, YOU KNOW, IT'S BACK IT'S TOWN COUNCIL CONSIDERATION FOR CONSENT, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BRIDGE, THE CORRIDOR IMPACTS THE MITIGATION WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE DESIGN.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE ALIGNMENT AND THE KEY ELEMENTS, AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE THROUGH OUR MOU TO BE INVOLVED IN A PARTNERSHIP THROUGH ALL ELEMENTS OF DESIGN, THROUGH THE END OF THE PROJECT, CRITICAL THAT'S THE CRITICAL, CRITICAL PATH.
UM, DOES IT MAKE SENSE? DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? UH, WE CAN OPEN UP QUESTIONS AT THE END TOO, BUT THAT'S WHAT I SEE AS THE PATH FORWARD TO GET US FROM WHERE WE ARE TODAY, TO WHERE WE WOULD NEED TO BE, TO MAKE A DECISION.
NOW, I'M GOING TO GO ON FOR ONE NEXT SLIDE HERE, NEXT STEPS AND SCHEDULE.
SO DO WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH KIMLEY-HORN? WHO HAS THE RELATIONSHIP WITH DEITY? WE'VE GOT SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE INDEPENDENT, THE OPTICS ABOUT INDEPENDENCE AND BEING OBJECTIVE.
UM, I TRUST JONATHAN GUY, I TRUST BRAD STRAIGHTER.
UM, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THE, THE CONCERN.
I HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT OPTICS AS WELL.
I THINK DATA IS DATA METHODOLOGY AND SCOPE OF WORK IS GOING TO BE METHODOLOGY AND SCOPE OF WORK.
BUT IF THE DIRECTION IS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THEM, THAT'S AN OPTION.
IT'LL TAKE ABOUT SIX TO NINE MONTHS FOR TOWN, UH, THE TOWN TO PROCURE ITS OWN ENGINEERING CONSULTANT.
UM, WE COULD HAVE, WE'VE ALREADY STARTED TO DRAFT THE RFQ.
WE COULD HAVE IT ON THE STREET AND ABOUT A WEEK, AND IT'D BE OUT FOR 30 DAYS B CARA CONTRACTOR, UM, ESTIMATES THAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT SIX TO NINE MONTHS TO COMPLETE THIS AND TO END, UM, ANALYSIS, UM, AND TO HAVE SOME, UM, SOME, UM, PRODUCTS TO EVALUATE AT THE END, ALTHOUGH WE'LL BE EVALUATING IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE SCHEDULE I PUT ON THAT IS TODAY, I WOULD LOVE TO GET FROM TOWN COUNCIL, MOVE FORWARD WITH THE COUNTY AND KIMBERLY HORN OR MOVE FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY, UM, WITH OUR OWN CONSULTANT TO DO THE WORK, UM, KNOWING THAT, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE STEPS THAT WE NEED TO GO THROUGH.
OKAY, I'M GOING TO COME BACK TO THAT.
THE NEXT STEP IS TO FINALIZE THE MOU, THIS BIG MOU THAT INCORPORATES ALL OF THESE STEPS.
UM, WE THINK WE CAN HAVE THAT NO MORE THAN 60 DAYS, UM, AND TAKE THAT FORWARD TO BOTH OUR BOTH COUNCILS FOR, THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATOR AND MANAGER FOR CONSIDERATION AND AGREEMENT.
THAT'S THE BIG MOU THAT SAYS IF WE AGREE TO DO IT, AND WE AGREE TO DO IT THIS WAY, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD IN PARTNERSHIP TO REACH AN AGREEMENT AT THE END OF THIS PROCESS.
UM, WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH MKS.
K I'VE ALREADY SIGNED A JOB ORDER WITH THEM TO DO THE ENGINEERING
[00:45:01]
OPINION OF PROBABLE COST, ALONG WITH THE GRAPHICS AND THE FLY-THROUGHS TO HELP US WITH THAT EXPERIENCE.SO THAT'S IN PLACE, IT'LL BE DONE CONCURRENT IN PARALLEL WITH THE END TO END ANALYSIS, BUT I DON'T WANT TO HOLD THEM OFF TOO MUCH LONGER.
UM, I'VE GOT BRAD STRAIGHTER COMING HERE ON AUGUST 1ST.
BRIAN KINSMEN MIGHT BE IN TOWN TODAY, BUT WE'VE EXECUTED ACTUALLY THAT JOB ORDER TO BEGIN THAT WORK.
UH, WE HAVE THE, HAVE TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE THE MOU ON THE SIGNAL SYNCHRONIZATION STRATEGY, THE ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC SIGNAL.
UM, WE'VE MET AT THE STAFF LEVEL.
THERE'S, THERE'S PRETTY WELL ALIGNMENT.
I THINK WE'RE READY TO ROLL RIGHT AWAY BASED ON OUR BUDGETED FUNDS.
AND IT'S JUST A TIMING ISSUE TO GET THE COUNTY ONLINE, BUT IN 30 TO 60 DAYS, HAVING AN MOU TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD, UM, TOGETHER ON THAT, ON THAT, UM, TRAFFIC ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC SIGNAL PROJECT, AND THEN ESTABLISH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
UM, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME DISCUSSION HERE MAYBE TONIGHT.
UM, AND THEN COMING FORWARD ABOUT THE SOUTH YOU CONSIDERATION TO ESTABLISH THAT CORPORATION.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S US, THAT'S THE TOWN, YOU KNOW, UH, WORKING FORWARD ON THAT, BUT ESTABLISHING THAT WAS ANOTHER KEY ELEMENT OF THIS PROCESS.
AND ONCE THAT'S SET UP, THEN I THINK WE CAN CELEBRATE THAT, THAT ACCOMPLISHMENT.
UM, SO THIS IS THE NEXT STEPS AND SCHEDULE.
I'M GOING TO COME BACK TO THE TOP AND ASK RESPECTFULLY TO COUNCIL TO GIVE ME SOME GUIDANCE ON HOW TO PROCEED WITH THIS END TO END ANALYSIS.
UM, AGAIN, THERE'S BASICALLY TWO OPTIONS ON, ON THE TABLE.
UM, I THINK OPTION TWO, UH, BASED ON THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO HAVE, UM, TH TH THERE'S SOME WORK THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE EVALUATED AND AT THE OPTICS TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, WE ARE MEETING THE INTENT OF, OF OUR CITIZENS, THAT OPTION OPTION TWO, TO DO IT ON OUR OWN MIGHT BE THE BEST DIRECTION, HOW MY BRAIN SENATOR DAVIS UP.
IT'S GREAT TO HAVE SENATOR DAVIS AS A CLOSER HERE.
THANK YOU, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, MARK.
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO SHARE WITH YOU GUYS AGAIN.
UM, I THINK THIS, UM, PROCESS AS OUTLINED BY COLLIN, UM, IS EXCELLENT IN FORMAT IN TERMS OF ESTABLISHING A CRITICAL PATH OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE, UH, IN ORDER FOR THIS COUNCIL TO MAKE A DECISION BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF HILTON HEAD AND YOU'RE TO BE COMMENDED FOR, FOR DOING THAT DUE DILIGENCE.
I THINK THAT'S BEEN EXEMPLARY.
UM, HE'S TALKED ABOUT THE MKS K RECOMMENDATIONS, THE 26 RECOMMENDATIONS.
I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT THAT'S MOVING FORWARD IN TERMS OF MONETIZING WHAT THOSE WOULD COST THAT WILL THEN HELP ME DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT S C, D A T CAN ACCOMMODATE THOSE CHANGES WITHIN THE BUDGET.
UM, SECONDLY, IN REGARD TO THE, UM, SIGNALIZATION WITH THE COUNTY, I'M ALSO GLAD TO HEAR THAT THERE IS DISCUSSION AT THE STAFF LEVEL ABOUT, UM, MESHING THE COUNTY'S PROPOSED STUDY OUT ON THE MAINLAND AND THE TOWN'S PROPOSED STUDY ON THE ISLAND, UM, IN TERMS OF USING THE SAME METHODOLOGIES SO THAT THEY'RE CONSISTENT WITH EACH OTHER.
UM, I AGREE WITH COLIN THEN IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, THAT MOVED FORWARD IN TANDEM WITH THESE OVERALL DUE DILIGENCE ITEMS, BECAUSE THE OUTCOME OF THOSE TRAFFIC OPTIMIZATIONAL STUDIES IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, HOW YOU CAN MAXIMIZE TRAFFIC FLOWS MAY HAVE SOME MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON THE DECISIONS YOU WANT TO MAKE IN REGARDS TO THROUGH 78 CORRIDOR.
SO I THINK HAVING THAT DATA RELEVANT PARALLEL TO THESE OTHER EFFORTS IS, IS A GOOD IDEA.
UM, ALSO YOU GUYS ARE TO BE COMMENDED FOR THE INITIATIVE YOU'VE TAKEN WITH THE STONEY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
I MEAN, YOU GUYS TOOK THE BULL BY THE HORNS.
UM, YOU, YOU PASSED A RESOLUTION I BELIEVE WAS THREE OR FOUR MONTHS AGO NOW, UM, ON THE STRENGTH OF THAT, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE A $5 MILLION APPROPRIATION FROM THE STATE.
I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN WITH OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION, AS SOON AS THAT IS STOOD UP AND GIVEN THE THINGS THAT IT STANDS FOR.
I THINK THERE'S AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR A FILM FEDERAL FUNDS COMING IN TO SUPPLEMENT THESE STATE DOLLARS VIA SECURE FOR THE CDC AS WELL.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
SIMILAR WITH THE MKS K AND THE, UM, TRAFFIC SIGNALIZATION, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE TAKING IT UP TODAY FOR IT TO RUN CONCURRENT WITH THE 2 78 CORRIDOR DISCUSSIONS, BECAUSE I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE ESSENCE OF THAT CDC IS WHAT PROACTIVE THINGS CAN THIS TOWN DO, UM, TO, TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, REINVIGORATE OR PROTECT THAT COMMUNITY.
AND OBVIOUSLY THAT HAS A MATERIAL IMPACT ON WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH 2 78 CORRIDOR, BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S IN CONSIDERATION HERE.
UM, I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE LAST OF THE FOUR THINGS, THE FOUR THINGS BEING THE MKS K RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, THE ST.
SIGNALIZATION COORDINATION BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE, UH, IN THE, IN THE CITY AND THE, UH, STONEY CDC, THE LAST BEING THE END-TO-END,
[00:50:02]
UH, SIMULATION, AND, AND, UH, I SUSPECT THAT'S GOING TO BE THE FOCUS OF A LOT OF DISCUSSION, UM, WITH THIS COUNCIL.ALL I CAN DO IS SHARE WITH YOU MY STEPS AND MY THOUGHTS ON THAT REGARD.
UM, THE FIRST ONE IS, UM, THERE IS AN ABSOLUTE NEED FOR AN END AND SIMULATION.
UM, THE SIMULATION THAT HAS BEEN DONE TODAY, AND BY THAT, I MEAN, PROJECTIONS OF WHAT TRAFFIC FLOWS WILL LOOK LIKE GIVEN VARIOUS ALTERNATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED, UH, THE SEGMENT THAT WAS SUBJECTED TO A SIMULATION EARLY ON BY THE STD A T WAS NOT EXPANSIVE ENOUGH.
SO, SO I THINK THAT'S THE FIRST OBSERVATION WE MADE.
IF YOU'VE GOT THE PROPER SCOPE FOR THE SIMULATION, I THINK YOU'D GET BETTER DATA AND A BETTER WAY TO COMPARE OPTIONS.
AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS ON THE TABLE IS THE, UM, THE SCOPE BEGINNING AT THE MOSS CREEK LIGHTS AND THEN EXTENDING TO THE, UM, UH, GUMTREE AND TO THE, UM, UH, CROSS ISLAND, UM, UH, INTERSECTION.
UM, THE SECOND THING I WOULD SAY IS, UM, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU NOT TO BE, NOT TO FEEL CONSTRAINED BY 90 DAY DEADLINE.
UM, I, I SPOKE WITH SECRETARY HALL ABOUT THIS.
I THINK IT WAS BACK IN APRIL WHEN WE FIRST HAD THE JOINT MEETING BETWEEN THE TOWN AND THE COUNTY ABOUT THE NEED TO DO SOME NEW END TO END SIMULATIONS WITH THE REVISED SCOPE.
AND, UM, SHE INDICATED AT THAT TIME IT WAS GOING TO TAKE SIX TO NINE MONTHS AND MAY HAVE COST UPWARDS OF $800,000.
AND SHE EXPRESSED NO CONCERNS IN EITHER OF THOSE RESPECTS, EITHER IN REGARD TO THE LENGTH OF TIME NEEDED TO DO THE SIMULATION, NOR IN REGARD TO THE COST.
SO, AND, AND I APPRECIATE EFFICIENCY.
I APPRECIATE THE ATTEMPT TO SAVE MONEY.
UM, BUT THERE'S RISK HERE BEING PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH BY TELESCOPING YOUR SIMULATION PERIOD IN THE 90 DAYS, WHICH SEEMS TO BE KIND OF ARBITRARY.
IF WE'RE BEING TOLD THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE SIX TO NINE MONTHS AND THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION IS SAYING SHE SEES THAT AS REASONABLE AND NOT THREATENING OTHER THE DOD PROJECT OR THE SIPP FUNDING.
I'M NOT SURE WHY WE'RE TRYING TO TELESCOPE THINGS DOWN INTO THE 90 DAY WINDOW.
SO THAT'S ONE OBSERVATION I'LL MAKE THE SECOND IS IN REGARD TO THE CONSULTANT THAT IS SELECTED.
UM, AND OBVIOUSLY TO A MATERIAL DEGREE, THAT'S A SUBJECTIVE DETERMINATION AS TO WHO'S, THAT'S QUALIFIED.
I CAN ONLY OFFER YOU W THIS ANALOGY, UM, I VIEW YOUR ROLE HERE.
SO I LOOK AT THINGS IN TERMS OF HOW DO I REPRESENT A CLIENT AND HOW DO I BEST REPRESENT THAT CLIENT, UM, BY ANALOGY YOU ARE THE ATTORNEY FOR, OR YOU REPRESENT THE CITIZENS OF HILTON HEAD, AND YOU'RE TRYING TO PUT YOURSELF IN THE BEST POSITION TO MAKE THE BEST POSSIBLE DECISION ON BEHALF OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
UM, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING BAD TO SAY.
I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT KIMBERLY HORN.
UM, I CAN SAY THAT THERE IS ALWAYS THE DANGER OF MY EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU HIRE A CONSULTANT FOR THERE TO BE CONFIRMATION BIAS, AND THAT IF YOU HAVE AN EXISTING RELATIONSHIP WITH AN AGENCY THAT OBVIOUSLY HAS A MATERIAL INTEREST IN SEEING ITS PROJECT PROCEED IN THE WAY THAT ITS ENGINEERS DESIGNED IT, THERE IS GOING TO BE A TENDENCY.
IF YOU HAVE AN EXTENSIVE EXISTING RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT AGENCY TO GO AHEAD AND CONFIRM, WHAT'S BEEN PROPOSED AND IN AT THIS TOWN, TRULY HAS AS THIS OBJECTIVE TO PUT ITSELF IN THE BEST POSITION TO MAKE DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
IT'S NOT SIMPLY MERELY A MATTER OF OPTICS AND WHAT, WHAT PEOPLE MIGHT SAY.
I THINK IT GOES TO THE QUALITY AND WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT OUT OF THE PRODUCT AND THE CONFIDENCE THAT THAT INTERN INSTILLS IN THE PUBLIC, WHICH IS A MATERIAL REASON WHY WE'RE DOING THIS CRITICAL PATH.
AND SO I, I OFFER ALL THAT BY WAY OF SAYING, I RESPECT EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE TO DATE ON THIS, HAVING MKS K ON BOARD, YOU KNOW, GETTING THE CDC STOOD UP, COORDINATING THE TRAFFIC OPTIMIZATION STUDIES.
I MEAN, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN PROACTIVE AND LOOKING OUT FOR THE CITIZENS OF HILTON HEAD.
I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE YOU THAT IN REGARD TO THIS END TO END SIMULATION, WHICH IS NECESSARY, UM, THAT YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE POSSIBILITY OF CONFIRMATION BIAS, UH, THE NEED TO INSTILL IN THE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE PROCESS.
AND THEN THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IN REGARD TO THE SIMULATION, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT FROM THE CONSULTANT YOU, YOU CHOOSE, AND PERHAPS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT IS THE SCOPE OF WORK AND THE THING THAT YOU WANT THAT CONSULTANT TO DO.
IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW GOOD YOUR CONSULTANT IS.
IF THE SCOPE OF WORK YOU'RE PERFORMING, ISN'T GOING TO PUT YOU IN A POSITION TO QUALITATIVELY ASSESS VARIOUS OPTIONS.
AND THEN TO SAY, YES, WE HAVE LOOKED AT ALL THE POSSIBLE INFORMATION AND WE'VE MADE THE BEST DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.
AND SO IN MY OPINION, THAT THAT QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OR THAT SIMULATION NEEDS TO LOOK AT THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE BY THE DEITY FACTORING IN THE TRAFFIC OPTIMIZATION, THAT HOPEFULLY THAT DATA WILL BE AVAILABLE AND OTHER ALTERNATIVES THAT WERE PRESENTED THE DEITY SO THAT YOU CAN COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE SIMULATION RESULTS IN REGARD TO EACH OF THOSE ALTERNATIVES.
AND SO, UH, I'LL SUM UP BY SAYING THIS.
I, I THINK THAT, UM, THAT, THAT COLLIN SET FORTH AN EXTREMELY
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GOOD CRITICAL PATH.UM, THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS, YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BE WRESTLING WITH SOME OF THOSE DETAILS TONIGHT.
UM, THESE ARE MY THOUGHTS, AND THEY'RE MY THOUGHTS ONLY.
I RECOGNIZE THAT THE END OF THE DAY, I'M NOT THE PRINCIPAL IN THIS TRANSACTION, THE PRINCIPALS, OR THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD AND BUFORD COUNTY IN INTERACTION WITH THE DEITY.
UM, SO, BUT ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO, UM, YOU KNOW, TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS, UM, I, I SET FORTH SOME DRAFT MOU JUST SIMPLY TO GET THE BALL ROLLING, TO LOOK AT IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY MIGHT LOOK LIKE, BUT ANY WAY THAT I CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE TO YOUR EFFORTS IN THIS REGARD.
CAUSE I HAVE SAID AT THE END OF THE DAY TO CONTINUE THE ATTORNEY ANALOGY, YOU'RE MY CLIENT.
AND SO I ADVOCATE ON YOUR BEHALF TO THE DEITY, I ADVOCATE ON YOUR BEHALF, UH, TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.
AND SO WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, UH, SENATOR, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND IN THE EVENT, IT'S THE COLLECTIVE WISDOM OF THIS GROUP TO GET A INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT, NOT, NOT KIM KIMBERLY HORN.
UH, IS IT A GIVEN THAT THE COUNTY WILL CONTINUE? HE USED KIMBERLY HORN.
I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE COUNTY'S DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, MR. HARKINS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I CAN ONLY SAY THAT, UM, A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, UM, AFTER WE MET IN THAT JOINT MEETING, I THINK IT WAS AN APRIL.
I MEAN, IT WAS THREE MONTHS AGO NOW.
UM, BUT I MET SHORTLY THEREAFTER, UM, WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, A COUPLE OF MEMBERS OF COUNTY COUNCIL AND, AND I THINK A MEMBER OR TWO OF COUNTY COUNTY STAFF.
AND AT THAT TIME I EMPHASIZE THE THINGS THAT I, THAT I HAD STATED DURING THAT JOINT MEETING, THAT THERE WAS AN IMPORTANCE TO THIS INDEPENDENT END-TO-END SIMULATION AND THAT IT BE IMPORTANT THAT IT BE DONE