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CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BEAUFORT COUNTY.[1. Call to Order]
LIKE TO CALL THIS, UH, MEETING TO ORDER.UM, I'D LIKE TO CALL THE JANUARY 17TH, 2023 TOWN COUNCIL MEETING TO ORDER.
KRISTA, ARE WE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT? YES, SIR, WE ARE.
WILL YOU CALL THE ROLL PLEASE? MR. BROWN? HERE.
IF YOU WILL STAND AND SET THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND CONTINUE STANDING FOR THE, FOR THE PRAYER PLEDGE ALLEG, TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE.
DEAR GOD, I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TODAY.
LORD, YOUR WORD SAYS THAT YOU ESTABLISH GOVERNING AUTHORITIES.
AND SO I PERSONALLY THANK YOU FOR EACH OF THE MEN AND THE WOMEN WHO ARE BEFORE ME TODAY.
GOD, I ASK THAT YOU WOULD BRING UNITY IN ALL OF THEIR DISCUSSIONS AND APPRECIATION FOR EACH OTHER'S DIVERSE TALENTS AND EXPERIENCES, AND FOSTER AFFECTION FOR ONE ANOTHER, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY DON'T SEE EYE TO EYE.
I ASK THAT YOU WOULD PUT YOUR SPIRIT ON, IF NOT IN THEM, TO GRANT WISDOM AND GUIDANCE FOR THE BEST DECISIONS, THAT THEY WOULD STAND OUT FROM ALL OTHER OPTIONS UNDER THEIR SERVICE.
FURTHER PROSPER HILTON HEAD AS A WORLD-CLASS DESTINATION, AND A PLACE TO CALL HOME WITH AN EYE ALWAYS ON THE NEEDS OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS.
I ASK THAT YOU PROTECT AND CARE FOR THEIR FAMILIES AS THEY CARE FOR US.
DEMONSTRATE YOUR GOODNESS TOWARD THEM IN THEIR BUSINESSES AND THEIR PRIVATE LIVES AS THEY DILIGENTLY SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
WE PRAY THIS TODAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
[6. Approval of the Minutes]
THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES.WE HAVE THE REGULAR MEETING FROM DECEMBER 6TH, 2002, AND THE WORKSHOP OF JANUARY 3RD, 2023.
MOVE TO APPROVE AS, UH, SECOND, ARE THERE ANY CHANGES OR AMENDMENTS TO THE MINUTES? SEEING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
[7. Report of the Town Manager]
REPORT OF THE TOWN MANAGER, MARK.NOW, UH, I WAS GOING TO SAVE BOTH MINUTES AT THE SAME TIME.
ALRIGHT, THAT WAS THE INTENTION.
GOOD EVENING OR GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR.
COUNCIL, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
UH, JUST ONE ITEM OF INTEREST AND THEN WE HAVE A, A FEW UPDATES FOR EVERYBODY TODAY, JANUARY 24 AND 25, WHICH IS ALREADY NEXT TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY BY MY MATH.
WE HAVE A TOWN COUNCIL STRATEGIC PLAN WORKSHOP OVER A PERIOD OF TWO DAYS.
IT'S LOCATED AT THE WESTON CHRISTO.
THE STARTING TIME IS EIGHT 30 GATHERING AND A 9:00 AM SHARP STARTING TIME.
IT WILL BE, OF COURSE, IN PERSON AT THE WEST END AND ALSO, UH, AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING, UM, ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.
SO, AND WITH THAT, I'LL CALL UPON LARRY FINNEY, PARTNER WITH GREEN FINNEY COLLEY, UH, TO PRESENT OUR ANNUAL AUDIT FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2022.
THANK YOU, MR. ORLANDO, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AND I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND SAY UPFRONT, THIS IS ACTUALLY THE, THE LAST YEAR OF OUR CONTRACT WITH WORKING WITH THE CITY.
UM, NOT ONLY HAVE WE SEEN IN THE RESULTS OF THE AUDIT, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT ALL THAT IN JUST A MINUTE, BUT, UM, YOUR LEADERSHIP, BUT YOU ALSO JUST HAVE SOME GREAT FINANCE STAFF.
THEY'VE BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH, UM, AND JUST HAVE REALLY ENJOYED IT.
UM, SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS, IS REALLY TWO THINGS WITH THIS BRIEF PRESENTATION.
ONE IS TO TALK ABOUT THE AUDIT AND THE RESULTS OF THE AUDIT ITSELF, AND THEN ALSO TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A BRIEF OVERVIEW IN TERMS OF THE TOWN'S, UH, FINANCIAL CONDITION AFTER THE AUDIT.
SO, UM, LET ME GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
SO THE, I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE IN JUST A MINUTE, BUT THE END RESULT OF OUR AUDIT IS THE OPINIONS THAT WE ISSUE.
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BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY PAYS ATTENTION TO THE NUMBERS AND LOOKS AT THE NUMBERS.HOW ARE WE DOING? THE OTHER THING THAT WE LIKE TO REMIND YOU OF AS A COUNCIL AS WELL AS MANAGEMENT, IS WHAT'S BEHIND THE SCENES THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS SEE.
AND THAT'S THE INTERNAL CONTROLS, PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES, UM, THAT ARE REALLY JUST AS IMPORTANT.
UM, AND THE REASON IS THERE'S, THERE'S ALWAYS RISK CUZ THERE IS NO PERFECT INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEM.
AND SO THE IDEA OF MAKING SURE THAT ALL THOSE CONTROLS, PROCESSES, AND PROCEDURES ARE OPERATING AS WE PLAN FOR 'EM TO, TO REALLY REDUCE AND MINIMIZE THAT RISK IS JUST AS IMPORTANT.
AND SO WHAT WE ENCOURAGE, NOT ONLY COUNCIL, BUT MANAGEMENT TO DO IS WHAT WE CALL REGULAR RISK RISK ASSESSMENT.
AND THAT'S JUST KIND OF THINKING ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE OPERATING AND ARE, ARE THERE AREAS WHERE THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT IT'S WORTH TALKING ABOUT AND ASKING QUESTIONS.
SO WITH THAT, WHAT YOU THEN ASK US TO DO IS TO PERFORM OUR AUDIT.
THE RE THE PURPOSE, THE END PURPOSE OF, UH, OF OUR AUDIT IS THE OPINIONS THAT WE ISSUE.
UM, AND GOT A FEW COMMENTS THERE IN TERMS OF WHAT THE AUDIT DOES, WHAT IT DOES NOT DO.
UM, BUT THAT OPINION IN THE END, WHAT IT'S DOING IS PROVIDING REASONABLE ASSURANCE THAT EVERYTHING IS MATERIALLY CORRECT.
AND SO FOR THE YEAR END OF JUNE 30TH, 2022, THE TOWN HAS RECEIVED AN UNMODIFIED OPINION.
I KNOW THAT DOESN'T REALLY MEAN ANYTHING TO ANYBODY, BUT THAT'S THE BEST OPINION THAT YOU CAN RECEIVE NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF ENTITY YOU'RE, YOU ARE, YOUR GOAL IS TO RECEIVE THAT UNMODIFIED OPINION.
SO COUNCIL OUGHT TO BE VERY PLEASED WITH THAT.
UH, MANAGER ORLANDO, AS WELL AS THE FINANCE STAFF, AGAIN, THEY'VE, THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB.
SO WITH THAT, LET ME KIND OF TALK ABOUT WHERE THE TOWN WAS AS FAR AS ITS FINANCIALS AT LAST YEAR END.
YOU KNOW, IF, IF YOU WERE TO TALK TO ANYBODY THAT IS IN THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE WORLD, AND YOU WERE TO ASK THEM IF YOU COULD ONLY LOOK AT ONE THING FINANCIALLY TO SEE HOW A TOWN IS DOING, WHAT WOULD YOU LOOK AT? THEY WOULD TELL YOU GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE.
SO THAT'S WHY WE ALWAYS START WITH THIS.
AND SO YOU CAN SEE YOUR FUND BALANCE INCREASED ABOUT 3.4 MILLION, A LITTLE OVER 29 MILLION IN TOTAL.
MOST OF THAT 26.7 MILLION IS COMMITTED FOR YOUR DISASTER RECOVERY.
UM, AND I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, THAT'S FANTASTIC TO BE AT THAT POINT.
IT REPRESENTS 55% OF WHAT YOU HAVE FOR THE 23 BUDGETED EXPENDITURES.
SO YOU'VE, YOU'VE MADE TREMENDOUS IMPROVEMENT, UM, TO BUILD THAT BACK UP.
SO WHAT THAT LEAVES US WITH IS AN UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE OF ABOUT 2.3 MILLION.
YOU KNOW, ABOUT 5.4% OF WHAT YOUR 22 EXPENDITURES ARE.
G F O A IS THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, AND IT'S A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT MAKES SOME KIND OF GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND YOU CAN SEE YOUR PERCENTAGE IS QUITE A BIT LOWER THAN THAT.
NOT A CONCERN ON OUR PART AT ALL.
AND THE REASON IS, IF YOU REALLY NEEDED MORE, YOU CAN GO TO THAT DISASTER RECOVERY FUND AND, AND MOVE IT BACK.
AND SO JUST HAVING EVEN A COUPLE MILLION DOLLARS THERE IS VERY ADEQUATE FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE.
UM, AND JUST AS KIND OF A REMINDER ABOUT WHY A, A GOOD HEALTHY FUND BALANCE IS SO IMPORTANT, A NUMBER OF THINGS THERE.
THE, THE MAIN THING I LIKE TO POINT OUT IS JUST REMEMBERING THAT WHEN WE MEASURE THIS AT JUNE 30TH, UM, YOU'RE LOOKING AT GOING ABOUT FIVE TO SIX MONTHS BEFORE YOU'RE GONNA RECEIVE ANY MORE SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.
SO THAT HEALTHY FUND BALANCE, ALONG WITH SOME OF THE OTHER REVENUES IS WHAT, WHAT HELPS CARRY YOU THROUGH.
SO HOW'D WE GET THERE? UM, YOU CAN SEE YOUR, YOUR GENERAL FUND REVENUES AND OTHER FINANCING SOURCES WERE ABOUT 44 MILLION LITTLE 5.7 MILLION HIGHER THAN WHAT YOU HAD IN THE PRIOR YEAR AND 8.8 MILLION BETTER THAN BUDGET.
AND PROBABLY THE, THE MAIN THING I WANT TO POINT OUT, BECAUSE A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF THAT'S RELATED TO THE BUSINESS LICENSES AND FRANCHISE FEES, AND IF YOU REMEMBER, YOUR OLD CODE JUST REQUIRED TO LICENSE IF THERE WAS MORE THAN ONE RENTAL UNIT.
NOW THE NEW ONE, EVEN IF THERE'S ONE RENTAL UNIT.
SO THAT'S WHY THERE WAS A, A GOOD PIECE OF WHY THERE WAS A, AN INCREASE THERE.
AND YOU'LL SEE THAT GOING FORWARD AS WELL.
OBVIOUSLY, UM, ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, YOU CAN SEE ABOUT LITTLE OVER 43 MILLION, UH, ABOUT 2 MILLION HIGHER THAN WHERE YOU WERE IN THE PRIOR YEAR, BUT ABOUT A MILLION LESS, UM, THAN WHAT YOU'D BUDGETED.
SO END RESULTS, REALLY THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE, RIGHT? REVENUE'S A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN BUDGET EXPENDITURE'S A LITTLE BIT LOWER THAN BUDGET, SO ANOTHER GOOD YEAR.
UM, WHEN YOU ADD ALL OF YOUR FUNDS TOGETHER, OBVIOUSLY GENERAL FUNDS THE MAJOR FUND, THERE'S A NUMBER OF OTHER FUNDS, BUT YOU CAN SEE YOUR TOTAL REVENUES AND OTHER FINANCING SOURCES WERE ALMOST 114 MILLION.
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YOUR EXPENDITURES WERE QUITE A BIT LESS, AND PART OF THE REASON THEY WERE QUITE A BIT LESS IS BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT GOT DELAYED.UM, AND YOU'LL SEE, YOU'LL SEE THOSE CONTINUE IN THE FUTURE.
UM, STORM WATER FUND, YOU CAN SEE HAD AN INCREASE IN YOUR NET POSITION OF ABOUT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS, 10.5 MILLION.
YOU CAN SEE WHAT HAPPENED AS FAR AS OPERATING REVENUES WERE PRETTY CONSISTENT WITH THE PRIOR YEAR.
UM, YOUR EXPENDITURES DECREASED QUITE A BIT BECAUSE OF SOME REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE DECREASES.
UM, THE ONE THING I WOULD MENTION HERE, AND THIS IS PROBABLY THE ONLY REAL RECOMMENDATION THAT WE HAVE, UM, FOR COUNCIL MANAGEMENT TO CONSIDER, IS MAYBE LOOKING AT DOING A RATE STUDY WITH THE STORM WATER FUND.
AND FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, THE REASON THAT THAT COULD REALLY BE HELPFUL IS THAT WHAT A RATE STUDY'S GONNA DO IS THIS.
GONNA LOOK AT SHORT TERM, IT'S GONNA LOOK AT MEDIUM TERM AND IT'S GONNA LOOK AT AT LONG TERM.
AND IT'S GONNA LOOK AT NOT ONLY YOUR OPERATING EXPENSES, BUT IT'S ALSO GONNA LOOK AT YOUR, YOUR SHORT TERM, MEDIUM TERM, AND LONG TERM CAPITAL NEEDS AS WELL.
AND THAT ALL NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR RATES.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AS AS YOU GO FORWARD.
UM, JUST THE HIGHLIGHTS ON THE CAPITAL ASSETS, NOT, NOT A, A LOT OF ACTIVITY, BUT YOU CAN SEE YOU'VE GOT NET OF ABOUT 290 MILLION IN TOTAL FOR THE YEAR.
AND IT WENT DOWN THIS YEAR JUST SIMPLY BECAUSE YOUR DEPRECIATION EXPENSE WAS HIGHER THAN, THAN WHAT YOU, WHAT YOU ADDED TO YOUR CAPITAL ASSETS, YOUR LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS.
YOU CAN SEE 110 MILLION WENT DOWN PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF YOUR ONGOING, UM, TYPICAL PRINCIPLE PAYMENTS.
UM, THE ONE THING I ALWAYS LIKE TO MENTION IS THAT NET PENSION LIABILITY, YOU CAN SEE IT'S, IT'S ALMOST 16 MILLION WHEN YOU FIRST OPEN YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
ONE OF THE FIRST, IN THE FIRST STATEMENT THAT YOU WILL SEE, YOU'LL GONNA, YOU'RE GONNA SEE THAT LIABILITY OF $16 MILLION SAYING, WHAT IS THAT? HOW, HOW IN THE WORLD ARE WE GONNA PAY THAT? AND IN REALITY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
UM, WHAT THAT REPRESENTS IS YOUR NET PORTION OF THE UNFUNDED LIABILITY THAT EXISTS AT THE STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
IT'S THE STATE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT UNFUNDED PIECE.
SO AS LONG AS YOU ARE CONTINUING TO MAKE THE PAYMENTS TO THE SYSTEM JUST LIKE YOU ALWAYS HAVE, YOU'RE DOING EVERYTHING YOU CAN AND SHOULD BE, JUST KNOW AS HISTORICALLY THEY'VE DONE, ONE OF THE PRIMARY WAYS THAT THEY'RE GONNA DEAL WITH THAT UNFUNDED LIABILITY IS TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE THE RATES, UM, THAT YOU AS A TOWN PAY IN.
SO THAT JUST HAS A BUDGET IMPACT GOING FORWARD.
UM, THERE WASN'T A WHOLE LOT REALLY TO DEAL WITH EITHER THIS YEAR OR WHAT YOU'LL SEE NEXT YEAR.
THERE WAS A NEW GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS ON LEASES THAT REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE TOWN.
THERE'S SOMETHING SIMILAR NEXT YEAR WITH, UM, SOFTWARE RELATED, UM, IT ARRANGEMENTS.
UM, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE TOWN WILL LOOK AT ADDRESSING THE YEAR, THE FISCAL YEAR WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.
BUT THAT'S REALLY IT GOING FORWARD.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, IF THE TOWN RECEIVES A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FEDERAL FUNDS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY ASKED US TO PERFORM SOME WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TOWN IS COMPLYING WITH THE REQUIREMENTS.
UM, THIS YEAR, UM, BECAUSE OF THE FUNDS YOU RECEIVED, WE LOOKED AT YOUR COM CORONAVIRUS, STATE AND LOCAL, UM, FUND ACTIVITY, NO ISSUES, NO COMPLIANCE MATTERS.
UM, EVERYTHING'S, EVERYTHING LOOKS GREAT IN THAT REGARD.
UM, WE ALSO, THE OTHER DOCUMENT THAT YOU RECEIVED FROM US IS WHAT WE CALL A MANAGEMENT LETTER ON OUR LETTERHEAD.
AND IT BASICALLY, IT IS TWO THINGS.
ONE IS SOME REQUIRED COMMUNICATION FROM US TO YOU.
UM, IN TERMS OF WERE THERE ANY DISAGREEMENTS WITH MANAGEMENT, ANY SIGNIFICANT ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF, OF WHICH THERE WERE NONE.
UM, AND IF WE HAD ANY MATTERS THAT WE FELT LIKE NEEDED TO BE PUT IN WRITING, THEY WOULDN'T BE INCLUDED AS WELL.
BUT THERE WERE, THERE WERE NO MATTERS TO REPORT.
AND AGAIN, THE ONLY RECOMMENDATION WE HAVE IS RELATED TO CONSIDERING THE, THE STORMWATER RATE STUDY.
SO WITH THAT, I WILL JUST SAY, UM, GOOD STRONG FINANCIAL CONDITION, EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.
UM, AND YOU RECEIVE THAT GOOD OPINION.
I AGAIN, WANT TO THANK JOHN AND JEFF AND THE STAFF FOR THE GREAT JOB THAT THEY DO.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF ANYBODY HAS ANY.
UH, YOU MENTIONED THE STORMWATER RATE STUDY.
SO ARE YOU SAYING YOU THINK IT IS, IS OUT OF SYNC WITH WHERE WE SHOULD BE? NO, I'M GONNA EVALUATE IT.
IT'S, WE JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S A GOOD PROCESS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE JUST TO EVALUATE IT, TAKING IN, AGAIN,
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SHORT TERM AS WELL AS LONG TERM NEEDS.WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT KRISTA SENDS THIS PRESENTATION OUT TO ALL OF TOWN COUNCIL FOLLOWING THE MEETING.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, PATSY? YES, SIR.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, REPORT TO US TODAY.
IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE ONE OF THOSE GOOD REPORT CARDS.
YES, IT IS, ISN'T IT? CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR, OUR TOWN MANAGER AND HIS STAFF FOR, UH, GOOD REPORT CARD.
UM, JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
UM, ONE IS THE FUND BALANCE SLIDE THAT YOU SHOWED MM-HMM.
UH, IS THAT COMMON IN SOUTH CAROLINA OR IS THIS UNCOMMON? ARE WE UNUSUAL FOR HAVING THAT, UH, THAT MUCH LOWER THAN WHAT G F O A RECOMMENDS? WELL, WHAT, WHAT WE TYPICALLY SEE IS WHEN WE HAVE A MUNICIPALITY THAT HAS OVERALL A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE, BUT THEY'VE GOT IT IN DIFFERENT PIECES, THEY PROBABLY TEND TO KEEP A LOWER UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE AS OPPOSED TO A TOWN THAT DOESN'T REALLY HAVE ALL THOSE OTHER PLACES THAT THEY CAN GO, THEN YOU'LL TEND TO SEE A LITTLE HIGHER FUND BALANCE.
BUT AGAIN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR DISASTER RECOVERY PLUS THIS, YOU'RE AT, AT ABOUT 60%.
OVERALL, SO VERY, VERY HEALTHY COMPARED TO THAT 16.7.
I WAS GONNA ASK IF WE ADD THAT DISASTER FUND AND DO WE GET ABOVE THE 16.7 SOUNDS LIKE? WELL ABOVE THE ACCESS, YES.
UM, THEN, UM, YOU ALSO MENTIONED, UM, THAT THERE'S NO INTERNAL AUDIT FUNCTION.
UM, AND, AND I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR AN INTERNAL AUDITOR
THAT I NOTED THAT, BECAUSE YOU'VE MENTIONED IT BRIEFLY IN YOUR REPORT.
UM, THE, UH, THE LAST QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH, UM, OUR BOND RATING.
UM, AND SO IN, IN YOUR REVIEW OF OUR FINANCIAL RECORDS, DO YOU MAKE ANY NOTES? DO YOU DO ANY CONSIDERATION OF ANY IMPACT ON OUR BOND RATING? UM, WE REALLY DON'T.
I MEAN, WE, WE LOOK AT IT TO SEE, BUT UM, WE, WE KNOW THE FINANCIAL ADVISOR WORLD AND, AND ALL THE PEOPLE OUT THERE INCLUDING WHO THE TOWN WORKS WITH, AND SO THAT'S REALLY MORE OF THEIR FOCUS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, STEVE, WITH REGARDS THE, UH, UNFUNDED PENSION LIABILITIES, UH, WHO ARE WE PAYING FOR? IS IT THE BUFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE? UH, IS IT OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICES, OR IS IT JUST GENERALLY ROCK ACROSS THE STATE? YEAH, IT'S FOR, IT'S FOR EVERY, EVERYBODY REALLY THAT WORKS IN THE TOWN.
YOU HAVE BOTH THE, YOU HAVE BOTH THE POLICE OFFICER'S RETIREMENT SYSTEM, P R S AS WELL AS THE SOUTH CAROLINA RETIREMENT SYSTEM, S C R S, AND IT'S BOTH OF THOSE TOGETHER.
I MEAN, THERE, THERE MIGHT BE SOMEBODY DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION, THAT'S NOT A PART, BUT PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY IS.
I'M, I'M ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT I'M PLEASED TO SEE THAT THE OPINION YOU'RE GIVING IS REFERRED TO AS UNMODIFIED AS OPPOSED TO THE PRIOR STATUS YES.
TAMMY, JUST FOLLOWING UP ON THAT, YOU MENTIONED THAT, UM, WITH THAT UNFUNDED, UH, FUNDED LIABILITY, THAT AS RATES ARE INCREASED, WE'RE LED TO BELIEVE CORRECT, THAT ANY OF THE INCREASE OR A PORTION OF THAT INCREASE IS BEING DIRECTED TO AN ACCOUNT THAT WILL HOPEFULLY IT SOMEDAY CATCH UP SO THAT THAT DOESN'T REMAIN A CHRONIC SITUATION.
YEAH, AGAIN, THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY THE, IF YOU, IF THAT'S REALLY THE STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEMS MM-HMM.
UM, SO THEY'RE, AND THEY CAN, THEY CAN CHANGE THEIR INVESTMENT STRATEGY.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THEY CAN DO IT.
AND I, I KNOW SOMEBODY THAT'S PRETTY INVOLVED WITH ALL THAT, AND THEY DO LOOK AT ALL THOSE OPTIONS MM-HMM.
AND THANK YOU FOR SUCH A GREAT PRESENTATION.
IT WAS VERY DETAILED AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
MAYOR, IF I MIGHT HAVE ONE MORE FOLLOW UP QUESTION TO UNFUNDED LIABILITY, THAT ALWAYS SCARES FOLKS.
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COMMON, UH, THROUGHOUT STATES THAT, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF UNFUNDED LIABILITY FOR PENSION? WELL, ACTUALLY, EVERY, EVERY LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT PARTICIPATES IN THE STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM, THEY HAVE THE SAME UNFUNDED LIABILITY BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S A STATEWIDE ISSUE AND IT'S ACTUALLY A NATIONWIDE ISSUE.ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IT, IT, IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE'S TRYING TO TALK OVER THERE, TRYING TO, APOLOGIES, UH, MR. MAYOR, FOR PURPOSES OF, UH, CLARIFICATION, BECAUSE WE HAVE NEW MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO CLARIFY, UM, WHAT MEMBERS OF STAFF DO AND DO NOT PARTICIPATE, DEPART.
UM, YEAH, WE TALKED ABOUT THE STATE, UH, RETIREMENT, AND THAT'S FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS EMERGENCY WORKERS AND NORMAL TOWN STAFF OR THE REST OF TOWN STAFF IS ON A 401K SYSTEM.
UM, AND SO THAT'S HALF, AND SO THERE'S JUST TWO DIFFERENT WAYS.
NEXT, I'LL CALLING SEAN TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON OUR WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY GATEWAY CORRIDOR.
IT READS END-TO-END ANALYSIS, BUT I KNOW SEAN WILL GIVE A PRESENTATION, AN OVERVIEW ON WHERE WE ARE WITH THE RECENTLY ADOPTED MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH BUFORD COUNTY ONE, UH, UH, A REMINDER OF WHAT WE'RE AIMING TOWARDS AND, AND MAYBE AN OVERALL BRIEFING OF, OF WHERE WE ARE.
I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE BEFORE YOU AND AS WE'RE GETTING THIS UP HERE TO RUN THROUGH.
UM, IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS, I THINK, SINCE WE PROVIDED AN UPDATE ON THIS.
SO I WON'T GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF THE PROJECT, UM, FOR, UH, FOR TIME SENSITIVE REASONS, BUT, UM, I'LL GIVE YOU AN UPDATE STARTING ON OCTOBER 4TH WHEN, UH, TOWN COUNCIL AGREED TO ADOPT AN MOU OR MOA WITH THE COUNTY, UM, WHICH OUTLINED THE PROVISIONS AND STEPS NEEDED TO TAKE TO COMPLETE THE EVALUATION AND PUT TOWN COUNSEL IN A POSITION TO MAKE A DECISION ON THE PROJECT.
UM, I'M GONNA WALK THROUGH EACH OF THE PROVISIONS WITH AN UPDATE, UM, AND THEN PROVIDE SOME, UH, SUMMARY OF ACTIVITY THAT'S OCCURRED SINCE THE OCTOBER 4TH DATE.
UM, AND THEN ASK A COUPLE QUESTIONS OF COUNSEL AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION.
UH, PROVISION NUMBER ONE, COUNTY AND COUNTY AGREED TO WORK, UM, TO ADVANCE THE PROJECT IN A COOPERATIVE MANNER FOR THE DURATION OF THE PROJECT WE'RE ADVANCING, AS AGREED THROUGH THAT PROVISION.
UM, NUMBER TWO, THE TOWN AND COUNTY MUTUALLY AGREED TO WORK TOGETHER IN GOOD FAITH TO ADDRESS THE FEASIBILITY AND MERITS OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS APPROVED BY TOWN COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 12TH, 2021.
UH, THOSE WERE THE 26 RECOMMENDATIONS THAT RESULTED FROM OUR WORK, UM, IN THE COMMUNITY AND WITH CONSULTANTS.
UM, AND THAT TOWN COUNCIL ADOPTED, UM, AS THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO SUBMIT TO THE COUNTY AND THE STATE FOR CONSIDERATION FOR PROJECT ENHANCEMENT.
UM, AND THERE WAS ONE PROVISION THAT WILL AGREE TO WORK FORWARD WITH THE ACCEPTANCE THAT THERE'LL BE ONE BRIDGE DESIGNED FOR THE PROJECT, UM, RATHER THAN, UM, TWO, THREE LANE BRIDGES AS DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY.
THAT'S ADVANCING IS AGREED AS AGREED.
THE TOWN TOWN IS ALSO INVOLVED WITH CONSULTANTS TO DEVELOP FLY THROUGHS OF THE CORRIDOR TO HELP, UH, REPRESENT BOTH IN 3D, UM, AND MORE THAN PLAN VIEW OF THE PROJECT DESIGN AND CHARACTER.
UM, WE'RE ALSO EVALUATING THE ADDITIONAL PROJECT COSTS THAT WE'RE OUTLINED IN THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND WE'LL, AND THAT WILL CONTINUE TO PROCEED AS THIS PROJECT ADVANCES.
UM, NUMBER THREE IS PROBABLY THE KEY PROVISION WHERE WE'VE DONE A LOT OF, HAD THE MOST ACTIVITY SINCE OCTOBER 4TH.
UH, BUT THIS PROVISION, UM, OUTLINED AT THE COUNTY WOULD PROCURE THE INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT, AGAIN, ONE THAT DIDN'T HAVE ANY CONTACT OR ANY, UH, RELATIONSHIP WITH SOUTH COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, BEAUFORT COUNTY, OR THE TOWN OF HILTON AND ISLAND TO DO THIS INDEPENDENT REVIEW.
UM, THAT INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT WOULD DO THE END-TO-END SIMULATION, UM, WHICH INCLUDED STUDY AREA BEYOND WHAT WAS DEFINED IN THE CURRENT PROJECT.
UM, THE STUDY AREA ON THE CROSS ISLAND ROUTE GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO CINE CIRCLE ON THE BUSINESS ROUTE THROUGH HOOPING CRANE AND, UM, UM, WAY THE ENTRANCE INTO HOLAND PLANTATION.
AND THEN ON THE MAINLAND, IT WENT THROUGH THE SIGNAL AT MOSS CREEK AND ON THE BLUFFTON PARKWAY THROUGH THE SIGNAL,
[00:25:01]
UM, AT THE BUCKINGHAM, UH, LANDING, A BUCK BUCK PLANTATION DRIVE.UM, AND THERE WAS A SCOPE OF WORK THAT WAS OUTLINED IN THE MOA, AND THE, THE PROJECT WAS TO BE PROCURED USING THAT SCOPE OF WORK, UM, MATERIALLY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WAS IDENTIFIED.
SO THE UPDATE ON THIS BEAUFORT COUNTY DID SOLICIT AND RFQ, UH, WITH INPUT FROM THE TOWN SELECTION TEAM MEMBERS FOR THE SERVICES OUTLINED IN THE SCOPE OF WORK.
RFP WAS POSTED ON OCTOBER 26TH.
THERE WAS A MANDATORY PRE-BID AS PART OF THE RFQ SOLICITATION, UM, THAT WAS REQUIRED FIVE DAYS LATER ON NOVEMBER 1ST.
THERE WAS SEVEN FIRMS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE MANDATORY PRE-BID RESPONSES WERE DUE NOVEMBER 23RD TO THE COUNTY PROCUREMENT OFFICE.
AND THE RESULTS OF THAT SOLICITATION WERE ONE RESPONSE WAS RECEIVED FROM A FIRM, UM, TO THAT BID.
AND THE INFORMATION BELOW, I'VE TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE COUNTY'S PROCUREMENT SITE, SO YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THE, THE TITLE, THE DEADLINE, AND THE, AND THE INFORMATION THAT WAS INCLUDED ON THE TITLE FOR THE PROCUREMENT.
UM, SOME MORE INFORMATION, UM, AS A RESULT OF ONLY HAVING ONE RESPONDENT.
TOWN STAFF, UH, CONTACTED FOUR FIRMS, UM, THAT WE HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH PREVIOUSLY AND ASKED WHY THEY DIDN'T SUBMIT PROPOSALS.
UM, I'VE LISTED THE STATED REASONS WHY, UH, THEY DIDN'T RESPOND.
ONE MISSED THE PRE MANDATORY PRE BID MEETING.
AGAIN, THAT WAS FIVE DAYS AFTER THE SOLICITATION.
AND THEY ALSO WERE CONCERNED ABOUT MEETING THE LICENSING REQUIRE SOUTH CAROLINA LICENSURE LICENSING REQUIREMENT.
UM, ANOTHER FIRM WAS NOT SURE IF THEY COULD STAFF THE PROJECT IN SOUTH CAROLINA DUE TO VOLUME OF OTHER PROJECTS.
UH, THIRD FIRM WAS CHALLENGED TO FIND A NPA EXPERT THAT HAD SOME EXPERIENCE IN SOUTH CAROLINA COASTAL, UH, ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO PARTNER WITH.
UM, AND THEN ONE FIRM SAID THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO, UH, SECURE WORK IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND WITH S C D O T, AND THEY CHOSE NOT TO SUBMIT THE BID.
SO THOSE WERE THE RESPONSES THAT WE GOT TO, AGAIN, GAIN UNDERSTANDING WHY MOORE FIRMS DIDN'T RESPOND TO, UH, THE COUNTY SOLICITATION.
UM, THE FIRM THAT DID RESPOND DOES NOT HAVE AN EXISTING RELATIONSHIP WITH S C D O T, WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY, OR THE TOWN OF HILAND ISLAND.
UM, THE SELECTION TEAM HAS REVIEWED THE RES THE PROPOSAL, UM, AND THE FIRM DID DEMONSTRATE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROJECT, UH, THAT IT IDENTIFY COLLABORATIVE AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO APPROACH, UM, WHAT WAS OUTLINED IN THE SCOPE OF WORK AND, AND, AND THEIR PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD AND EVALUATE THE END-TO-END.
UM, THEY, THEY ALSO INDICATED IN THEIR, UM, IN THE PROJECTS THAT THEY PROVIDED, THAT THEY LOOK BEYOND JUST TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS TO REALLY UNDERSTAND KIND OF THE DNA OF THE COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTAND THE BALANCE BETWEEN TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS.
AND I WANNA MAKE SURE I JUST POINTED THAT OUT.
UM, AS, AS A POINT, UM, THE RESPONSIVE FIRM DOES HAVE A NUMBER OF, UH, TECHNICAL EXPERTS AND QUALIFIED STAFF, INCLUDING ENGINEER, TRANS TRAFFIC ENGINEERS, TRANSPORTATION PLANNERS, DESIGNERS, UM, THEY HAVE, UH, TRANSPORTATION SAFETY PROFESSIONALS, UH, AND OTHER, UM, PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL STAFF THAT WOULD SUPPORT, UH, THE EFFORT.
UM, THIS SLIDE IS TO REMIND, UH, COUNSELING COMMUNITY OF THE, OF THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE SCOPE OF WORK THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE MOA.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE INITIAL PART OF THIS WAS TO GAIN INFORMATION AND COORDINATE WITH A TOWN IN THE COUNTY WITH, THROUGH INITIAL, UH, MEETINGS, UNDERSTANDING OF CURRENT WORK DONE, DONE DATE TO COME AND DO A SITE FIELD VISIT, AND THEN TO DEVELOP A REGULAR SCHEDULE FOR REPORTING, UM, TO THE TEAM THAT WORK THAT'S WORKING WITH THE CONSULTANT, AND THEN ALSO UPDATES TO THE TOWN MANAGER AND THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, UM, ON A REGULAR BASIS.
THE SECOND TASK WAS TO EVALUATE THE MODELS THAT WERE USED, UH, THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, UH, FROM BACK FROM 2017 AND ON, UM, AS LONG AS THE RECOMMENDED CONCEPT REVIEW.
SO THE, THE FULL RANGE OF ALTERNATIVES, UM, THE REDUCTION TO REASONABLE ALTERNATIVES, PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE, MODIFIED PREFERRED ALTERNATIVES, KIND OF REVIEW ALL OF THAT CONCEPTUAL, UH, REVIEW AND THE MODELING THAT WAS USED, UM, TO DE TO GENERATE, GENERATE THE RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, THAT WE'VE, THAT WE'VE HAD IN FRONT OF US, UH, HERE IN THE PAST.
TASK THREE WAS TO UPDATE THE MODEL, RIGHT? UM, AND THE OPERATIONAL UPDATE.
SO THERE'S BEEN, UM, SOME CHANGES TO, UH, GROWTH RATES, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER THINGS SINCE THE INITIAL MODELING WAS DONE.
[00:30:01]
THE LOW COUNTRY AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY TRAVEL DEMAND MODEL, WHICH IS A REGIONAL MODEL, AND ALSO THE VISTA MODEL UPDATE, UH, TO LOOK AT MORE LOCALIZED OPTIONS.UM, IT WAS ALSO TO LOOK AT THE STATE MODEL AND TO LOOK AT CALIBRATION BETWEEN ALL OF THOSE TO, TO GENERATE THE BEST, UM, PROJECTION FOR, FOR FUTURE, UH, CONDITIONS.
UM, LOOKING AT PROPOSED INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS AND POTENTIAL FUTURE PROJECTS BEYOND JUST THE DEFINED CORRIDOR, UH, TO INCLUDE AREAS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO SEA PINES ON THE CROSS ISLAND ROUTE, POA, BAY ROUTE, AND THEN ALL THE WAY THROUGH HOOPING CRANE, UH, TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT PUSHING THINGS DOWNSTREAM AND IF, AND IF IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEEDED.
THAT WAS PART OF THE EVALUATION ASSESSMENT, AND THEN RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND THEN FINALLY TO DRAFT, UM, A FINAL REPORT FOR REVIEW CONSIDERATION DISCUSSION, UM, AND THEN ADVANCEMENT OF ANY RECOMMENDATIONS AS NEEDED.
THAT WAS AN AWFUL LOT ON NUMBER THREE OF THE PROVISIONS.
BUT, UH, MOVING ON, UH, TO NUMBER FOUR WAS THAT THE TOWN AND COUNTY WOULD E ESTABLISHED.
THIS, UM, SELECTION COMMITTEE COMPRISED JOINTLY OF THREE MEMBERS, UH, REPRESENTING BEAUFORT COUNTY AND THREE MEMBERS REPRESENTING TOWN OF HILTON ISLAND.
UH, THAT SELECTION SELECTION COMMITTEE WAS ESTABLISHED FROM THE TOWN STANDPOINT.
IT IS ME AS ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER AND THEN PROJECT MANAGER ON THE TOWNSEND FOR THIS FOR, UM, ALMOST A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW.
UH, JEFF BUCKALOO, OUR TOWN ENGINEER, UH, AND THEN BRAD STRADER WITH OUR MK, SK, UH, TEAM, UH, TRANSPORTATION EXPERT.
AND HE'S BEEN, UM, RODNEY SHOTGUN THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROJECT AS WELL AS PART OF THE, UM, OUR CONSULTANT TEAM AND THEN REPRESENTING BEAUFORT COUNTY, JARED FRAK, WHO WE'VE, WHO'S BEEN HERE MANY TIMES.
AS YOU KNOW, THE ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, UH, ERIC CLAWSON, TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, UM, STAFF MEMBER AT BEAUFORT, UH, COUNTY, AND THEN JENNIFER BA, JENNIFER BRAGG, WHO IS THE, UH, COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM CONSULTANT THAT THEY HAVE.
SO WE DID CONSTITUTE THE SELECTION COMMITTEE.
AND THAT SELECTION COMMITTEE IS THE TEAM THAT HAS BEEN MOVING THROUGH IN COORDINATION ON THE PROCUREMENT, UH, EFFORTS THAT THE COUNTY HAS LED.
UM, NUMBER FIVE, ALL RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW FOR AREAS WITHIN THE PROJECT BOUNDARY WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR INCLUSION IN THE PROJECT.
THE COUNTY AND TOWN WILL AGREE TO PURSUE THE FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS, WHICH IS THE FONZI FROM FEDERAL HIGHWAYS, CONCURRENT WITH THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW.
AND THEN IF ANY FINDINGS FROM THIS INDEPENDENT REVIEW WOULD AFFECT THE ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS THAT WERE SUBMITTED, UM, THEN THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS COULD BE SUBMITTED, UM, TO MODIFY THE EA DOCUMENTS TO UPDATE AND TO RESUBMIT, UM, A AGAIN, TO, UH, FEDERAL HIGHWAYS FOR REVIEW.
THE, THE PATH HERE WAS THE TOWN AND COUNTY WOULD AGREE THAT ONCE THE PROJECT HAD RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL FUNDING, SO THERE WAS A GAP, AND, UM, AND, UH, BACK IN, UH, SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, THAT GAP HAD TO BE MADE UP IN ORDER FOR THE PROJECT TO BE FULLY FUNDED OR SUBSTANTIALLY FULLY FUNDED.
ONCE THAT HAPPENED, AND THE TIMEFRAME WAS SOMETIME IN JANUARY, I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S HAPPENED YET, BUT ONCE IT HAD SUBSTANTIAL FULL FUNDING, THEN THE COUNTY COULD SUBMIT THE, THE REQUEST TO FEDERAL HIGHWAYS BASED ON THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL, UM, ASSESSMENT DOCUMENT THAT IT HAD, THAT IT TO GET A TERMINATION OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.
UM, NUMBER SIX, THAT THE TOWN OF COUNTY AGREED AS PART OF THE NEPA PROCESS, UH, TO DO A VALUE ENGINEERING, UM, ELIMINATE UNWANTED COST, IMPROVE FUNCTION OF QUALITY, AND THEN OPTIMIZE THE, THE INVESTMENT SEEKING THE BEST BUY FOR LOWEST COST.
THAT'S A, THAT'S A REQUIREMENT OF THE NEPA PROCESS, UM, AND IT WAS EXPLAINED AT THE MEETING BACK IN OCTOBER, BUT THAT WILL ADVANCE AS PART OF THE NEPA PROCESS, UM, AS, AS THIS PROJECT REVIEW ADVANCES.
UM, NUMBER SEVEN, THE COUNTY AND TOM MUTUAL AGREED TO WORK TOGETHER WITH S C D O T AND LATZ TO DESIGN, IMPLEMENT, MAINTAIN A CONNECTED AND SYNCHRONIZED SIGNAL SYSTEM ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF WILLIAM PARKWAY, US 2 78 CORRIDOR FROM I 95 TO CINE CIRCLE.
UM, AND THEN THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL DETAIL ABOUT FIBER, FIBER CONNECTIVITY, ADAPTIVE SIGNAL TECHNOLOGIES, AND OTHER TOOLS TO MAXIMIZE FLOW, UM, AND THAT WE'D WORK TOGETHER TO SEEK FUNDING.
UM, THE TOWN IS CURRENTLY ADVANCING AN ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC SIGNAL THROUGH AT CIP P PROGRAM.
UM, I'VE JUST SIGNED OFF TODAY ON ROUTING, SO IT SHOULD GO TO THE NEXT PERSON, I THINK IS JOHN TROYER, AND THEN BE IN THE TOWN MANAGER'S, UM, UH, DESK HERE VERY SHORTLY.
UM, IT'S TO REPLACE ALL SIGNALS ON ALL 25 SIGNALS ON HILTON ISLAND WITH THIS, UH, BEST IN CLASS ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY,
[00:35:02]
THE TOWN IS ALS.UH, AND, AND AS PART OF THAT PROCUREMENT, UH, FOR THE RFP, WE INCLUDED, UH, COUNTY STAFF IN THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS SO THAT WE HAD SOME CONSISTENCY, UM, IN THE, IN THE PRODUCT, IN THE SYSTEM AND THE TECHNOLOGY SO THAT WHEN THE COUNTY ADVANCES THE SIGNAL UPGRADES ON THE MAINLAND, THAT IT'S ALL COORDINATED, SPEAKS TOGETHER, IT'S INTELLIGENT.
SO WE MADE SURE TO INCLUDE THE COUNTY AND THE PROCUREMENT, UM, PROCESS.
UH, WE'VE ALSO ASKED THE COUNTY FOR FUNDING, UH, FROM THEIR TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEE FUNDS.
THERE IS A HILAND ISLAND DUFUS BENEFIT DISTRICT, AND THEY HAVE TECH OR TRAFFIC IMPACT FEES THAT NEED TO BE PROGRAMMED WITHIN THAT BENEFIT DISTRICT.
AND WE'VE ASKED FOR FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $3.1 MILLION FROM THE COUNTY TO PUT TOWARD IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROJECT, WHICH WOULD AGAIN, FREE UP MONEY THAT WE PROGRAMMED IN OUR C I P TO ADVANCE.
UM, NUMBER EIGHT, ANY SIGNAL, UH, IMPROVEMENT, NOT, UH, WELL FROM THE SYNCHRONIZATION PROJECT THAT'S NOT ALREADY INSTALLED WHEN THE PROJECT F AND WHEN THE PROJECT MOVES FORWARD WOULD BE INCORPORATED IN THE PROJECT.
SO, UM, FOR AN EXAMPLE OF WINDMILL HARBOR, IF THAT, IF IT TURNS OUT TO BE A SIGNAL THERE, IF IT'S NOT INSTALLED, THEN THAT WOULD BE THE ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC SIGNAL WILL BE INSTALLED AT THAT.
UM, SO THAT WILL ADVANCE HIS AGREED, UM, REMINDER AT NUMBER NINE, THE AGREEMENT DID NOT PRO DID NOT PROVIDE THE TOWN'S MUNICIPAL CONSENT.
UM, THAT WAS, UM, RESERVED FOR, UH, ONCE THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW WAS COMPLETE, UH, THAT WAS JOINTLY WITH THE TOWN OF COUNTY, BUT BEFORE THE RIGHT, THE RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION, ACQUISITION PHASE OF THE PROJECT WERE TO BEGIN.
UM, AND SO ACTION PENDING RESULTS OF THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW, UH, AND END, END END ANALYSIS AND COUNCIL DIRECTION AT THAT TIME.
AND THEN NUMBER 10, THE TOWN AND COUNTY AGREED THAT THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW WOULD BE THE LAST AND FINAL STUDY NEEDED FOR THE TOWN TO MAKE A FINAL DECISION RELATED TO THE PROJECT.
AND AGAIN, I THINK THAT'S, UH, THAT'S RESERVED TO TOWN COUNCIL ACTION PENDING RESULTS OF THE EA UH, AND, AND, AND ANALYSIS TO, TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
UM, AS FAR AS NEXT STEPS, UM, BEFOR COUNTY CONTINUES TO COORDINATE THE PROCUREMENT, UM, OF THE INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT.
UM, THERE'S A MEETING OF THE SELECTION TEAM SCHEDULED FOR, LET'S SAY, TWO THURSDAY AT 2:00 PM TO TO DISCUSS PROJECT SCOPING WITH THE RESPON RESPONDING FIRM.
UM, THE, THE SELECTION TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO EVALUATE AND, UH, WORK TOWARD MAKING A RECOMMENDATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT THROUGH THAT JOINT EFFORT, AND THAT ONCE A FIRM IS UNDER CONTRACT, THE TOWN WILL CONTINUE THE PARTICIPATION, UM, UH, MUTUALLY WITH A COUNTY, UM, TO WORK, TO GO THROUGH THE WORK THAT WAS IDENTIFIED IN THE SCOPE OF WORK IN THE MOA, AND TO EVALUATE FINDINGS, PREPARE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TOWN AND COUNTY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION.
UM, I DO WANNA POINT OUT THERE'S BEEN EX, UM, BEEN EXPRESSED CONCERN FOR THE PRO FROM THE PUBLIC, THE FACT THAT ONLY ONE RESPONSE WAS RECEIVED TO THE RFQ.
UM, AND I'M HERE BEFORE COUNSEL TODAY TO UNDER, TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND, IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH MOVING FORWARD WITH THE CURRENT PATH AROUND WITH PROCUREMENT WITH THE COUNTY TO PERFORM THE AGREED UPON WORK.
UM, IF COUNCIL IS NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, UM, TO DO AN INDEPENDENT, UM, REVIEW AND END TO END ANALYSIS, UM, OUTSIDE OF THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE TOWN TO DO THE PROCUREMENT, UM, I RECOMMEND, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE ADVANCE WITH THE COUNTY ON THE JOINT EFFORT, AND THEN IT'S A DECISION TO COUNSEL.
IF THEY ALSO WANT TO DO AN IN A TOWN LED, UM, END-TO-END ANALYSIS THAT THE TOWN WOULD PROCURE, UM, WE CAN NEVER BE TOO CAREFUL TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION.
UM, SO I'M, I'M READY TO ADVANCE WITH THE COUNTY AND, AND HEAR COUNSEL'S DIRECTION ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE OKAY WITH THAT OR WOULD NEED TO ADVANCE A TOWN LED EFFORT, UH, IN ADDITION.
SO AT THIS POINT, I, I'M GONNA ASK COUNSEL, UH, WE WILL START WITH THE FIRST QUESTION, IS TOWN COUNCIL OKAY WITH MOVING FORWARD THE CURRENT PROCUREMENT TO PERFORM AGREED UPON WORK? SO IF WE'LL TAKE THAT TO DISCUSS FOR A MOMENT, STEVEN, I, I ASSUME THAT THERE'S BEEN EXTENSIVE DUE DILIGENCE DONE ON THE ONE RESPONDENT TO KNOW, UH, CHECKING WITH THEIR PEOPLE THAT THEY'VE WORKED WITH BEFORE AND OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
HOW COMFORTABLE DO YOU FEEL WITH, WITH THEIR OVERALL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS? WELL, ME, TO
[00:40:01]
BE COMPLETELY HONEST, I WISH WE HAD MORE THAN ONE RESPONDENT.UM, IT'S HARD TO EVALUATE OR COMPARE WHEN YOU GET ONE.
THEY'RE THE BEST AND THE WORST, RIGHT? THAT WE GOT.
UM, HOWEVER, WE HAVE EVALUATED THE, THE RESPONSE AND THE FIRM AND THE QUALIFICATIONS AND THE REFERENCES, UM, AND THEY ARE A QUALIFIED FIRM THAT CAN DO THE WORK.
SO I DON'T WANNA TAKE THAT AWAY FROM THE FACT THAT THERE'S ONLY ONE.
SO I DO, I DO WANNA POINT OUT THAT THE COUNTY IS GONNA MOVE FORWARD, UM, TO ADVANCE SELECTION OF A, UH, OF A FIRM TO COMPLETE THE WORK.
AND, AND THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING IF, IF THAT, IF THE COUNCIL'S COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, WE CAN ADVANCE IN THAT MANNER, OR IF NOT, WE CAN.
IS THERE A, UH, POSSIBILITY FOR OUTSIDE FUNDING OF A SECOND, UH, TRAFFIC CONSULTANT? YES, SIR.
I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T READ MY FINAL BULLET THERE, BUT, UM, YES, I'VE REACHED OUT TO SENATOR DAVIS AND, UM, UH, THE COST OF COMPLETE ONE, IF THE TOWN WERE TO CHOOSE TO GO THAT ROUTE IS ABOUT 250 TO 300,000 AS THE ESTIMATE, AND THAT THE FUNDING, UM, WOULD BE PROVIDED BY OR REIMBURSED BY THE STATE TO COMPLETE THAT EFFORT.
AND I, I ALSO ASSUME THAT, UH, IF THE WE PROCEED IN THE SECOND PATH AND THE ADVICE WE RECEIVE IS NOT FAVORABLE, UH, THAT THAT WOULD BE A REASONABLE BASIS FOR NOT GIVING MUNICIPAL CONSENT.
I THINK THAT DECISION IS ULTIMATELY WITH TOWN COUNCIL, BUT BASED ON THE, THE FINDINGS AND THE RESULTS, YEAH, IT WAS, IT SAID WE WILL NOT BE UNREASONABLE NOT GIVING MUNICIPAL CONSENT.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE PROVISIONS, SIR.
WELL, OVERALL, I, I APPRECIATE YOUR, UH, PRESENTATION.
I THINK IT'S EXCELLENT, AND I AM IN FAVOR OF, OF YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS TO GO WITH THE FIRST ONE AND GET A SECOND OPINION ON OUR OWN AT OUR EXPENSE, OR IF SENATOR DAVIS CAN HELP.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, SEAN, I APPRECIATE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION.
GOING BACK TO NUMBER THREE OF YOUR, UM, OF YOUR PRESENTATION, THE CONCERNS THAT I HAVE AS WE, AS I UNDERSTAND HOW THE RFQ WENT OUT, WAS THAT THE COUNTY DRAFTED IT AND SENT IT OUT WITH A FIVE DAY RESPONSE.
AND I KNOW WE HAVE, UH, COUNTY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY, AND I'M, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE REASONABLENESS IN TALKING ABOUT REASONABLE OF SENDING OUT SOMETHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE AND REQUIRE LIMITING OR REQUIRING THAT IT'S BACK WITHIN FIVE DAYS.
MOREOVER, THERE'S ANOTHER ONE THAT CONCERNS ME.
UM, AND IT'S RELATED TO THE EXTENSION OF THE TOWN, AND THANK YOU FOR DOING SO TO OTHER ORG, UH, COMPANIES THAT HAVE, UM, BEEN WORKED WITH IN THE PAST AND WONDERING WHY THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN INTEREST.
I REMEMBER, NOT VERBATIM, BUT I REMEMBER READING THAT PARTICULAR LINE IN THE COUNTY'S PAPERWORK WHERE IT SAID THAT THAT, UM, PRE-WORK MEETING WAS MANDATORY, BUT THEN THE SECOND SENTENCE OF THAT SAME BULLET POINT SAID THAT IT WAS OPTIONAL.
AND SO I WOULD WONDER WHETHER OR NOT THAT WAS EXPLAINED TO THAT PARTICULAR COMPANY.
UM, I'M BOTHERED THAT, UM, BY A NUMBER OF THINGS, THOSE BEING JUST TWO THAT I'LL MENTION HERE NOW, UM, WITH REGARD TO HOW THE, THE COUNTY PROCEEDED TO, UM, TO BRING IN THOSE, UM, BIDS AND THAT INTEREST.
UM, I THINK THAT THE COUNTY SHOULD STEP BACK AND PERHAPS REDO THEIR, UM, THEIR WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S DONE IN A WAY THAT WOULD ENCOURAGE MORE THAN ONE, UM, COMPANY TO COME FORWARD IF THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO DO SO.
I THINK THAT, UM, TWO QUESTIONS.
YOU HAD, UH, YOU HAD OUR COST TO BE ESTIMATED BETWEEN 250, $300,000.
WHAT IS OUR PORTION OF THE COUNTY'S, UM, COST TO RUN ANALYSIS? WHAT ARE WE CONTRIBUTING? WELL, THE AGREED UPON, UM, WORK FROM THE MOA WAS ALL GONNA BE COVERED UNDER THE PROJECT COST.
SO NO, THERE WAS NO COST TO THE TOWN.
IT WAS GONNA BE BUILT INTO PART OF THE, THE OVERALL PROJECT COST, WHICH LONG RUN IS DEFINITELY A COST TO THE TOWN, UM, JUST HIDDEN.
UM, SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS, UH, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.
UM, IF SENATOR DAVIS HAS GIVEN US ASSURANCE THAT THERE'S MONEY FOR REIMBURSEMENT, I THINK THIS TOWN HAS
[00:45:01]
AN OBLIGATION TO OUR RESIDENTS, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS DONE, UM, WITH ALL TRANSPARENCY AND WITH AN OPEN BIDDING PROCESS, UM, THAT ELICITS MORE THAN ONE, UM, TEAM TO EVALUATE.AND SO, UM, MR. MAYOR, I WOULD REQUEST THAT WE AS A COUNCIL, UM, MOVE FORWARD WITH, UM, ENLISTING OUR OWN END TO END, UM, PROJECT ANALYSIS, HIRE OUR OWN INDEPENDENT, UM, COMPANY TO DO THAT WORK AND TO ASK, UM, SENATOR DAVIS FOR HELP IN GETTING THAT REIMBURSED COST.
UH, SEAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK IN THIS AND FOR YOUR DETAILED REPORT.
UM, I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE SELECTION COMMITTEE AND THAT THERE'S A GOOD DEAL OF EXPERTISE HAVING TO DO WITH, UH, THESE TYPES OF MATTERS.
BUT I, I'M WONDERING YOU, YOU OUTLINED A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT THIS CONSULTANT HAS DEMONSTRATED EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE.
WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT WAS LACKING THAT YOU SOUGHT INFORMATION ABOUT? IN OTHER WORDS, DO THEY SHOW ANY DEFICIENCIES IN THE NEEDED EXPERTISE AND PRESENTATIONS? UM, IN, IN EVALUATING AGAINST THE CRITERIA, THERE WEREN'T ANY GLARING, UH, WEAKNESSES THAT THIS FIRM HAS, UM, THAT WOULD DISQUALIFY THEM FROM DOING THE WORK.
I THINK THE IDEA OF HAVING A BACKUP, UH, AS BEEN SUGGESTED HERE, MAKES SOME SENSE.
UH, WE NEED TO GET THIS PROJECT MOVING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? JUST POINT OF CLARIFICATION, MR. MAYOR, ARE WE STILL ON QUESTION NUMBER ONE AS FAR AS YOU, YOU CAN TAKE IT FURTHER.
I'M, UH, I'M UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT BECAUSE THE MOA HAS ALREADY BEEN ADOPTED, THAT MOVING FORWARD ALONG WITH THE COUNTY IS SOMEWHAT OF A DONE DEAL.
SO THE DISCUSSION AROUND HAVING OUR OWN IS PROBABLY MORE PERTINENT.
UM, A FEW THINGS STICK OUT TO ME.
UM, I, I, I SHARED THE APPRECIATION, SEAN, WITH YOU ALL FOLLOW UP WITH, UM, THE FIRMS THAT DID NOT RESPOND AND, UH, I TOO AM CONCERNED ABOUT ONLY ONE, UM, COMING BACK.
UM, ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT YOU LEARNED THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY PECULIAR TO ME IS THAT, UH, THERE WAS A FIRM THAT SAID THAT THEY DID NOT FEEL AS IF THEY COULD ACQUIRE A SOUTH CAROLINA EXPERT IN THE NEPA PROCESS.
AND THE NEPA PROCESS IS A FEDERAL
UM, SO THAT, THAT, THAT GIVES ME A LOT OF ANGST.
UH, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO, UH, BE MOVING FORWARD IN A DIRECTION WHERE WE ARE GETTING A TRUE INDEPENDENT, UH, LOOK AT THIS, AND IF IT TAKES SOMEONE OUTSIDE OF THE STATE TO HELP US WITH THAT, I'M DEFINITELY OKAY WITH IT.
UM, YOU, YOU MENTIONED THE, UH, THE SIGNAL PROJECT MOVING FORWARD.
UM, JUST QUICK TIMELINE AS TO ABSOLUTELY COMPLETE ON THAT.
WHAT, WHAT, WHAT ARE WE THINKING? YEAH, GO AHEAD, SIR.
THAT, THAT WILL HAVE MY SIGNATURE ON IT BEFORE TUESDAY'S STRATEGIC PLAN WORKSHOP.
SO IT GIVES US A COUPLE MORE DAYS.
TODAY, THE, THE BIG SIGN OFF WAS SEAN AND SEAN'S WORKED WITH BRIAN MCY AND, AND, AND JEFF BUCKLEY AND, AND A FEW OTHERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DETAILS OF THE DELIVERABLES MADE SENSE, BUT NOW THAT HE'S SIGNED OFF ON IT, THE REST IS JUST MR. TROY OVER THERE MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE MONEY.
I HAVE ASKED, UM, POLITELY AND RESPECTFULLY IF WE COULD USE SOME OR ALL OF THOSE IMPACT FEES WITH THE COUNTY.
WE HAVE FUNDS IN A BACKUP ACCOUNT, WE'VE APPLIED FOR A GRANT, WE DIDN'T GET IT.
SO IT'S JUST UP TO MR. TROY TO SAY, WE HAVE THE MONEY OR THE FUNDS AND WE, AND WE KNOW WE HAVE IT BAKED INTO THIS, THE CAPITAL PROGRAM.
SO IT'S HIS SIGNATURE AND MY SIGNATURE IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
THE REASON I ASK BECAUSE THAT, THAT IMPROVEMENT YES, IS GOING TO PLAY A HUGE PART IN WHAT THE OVERALL PROJECT, UH, DEMANDS.
UH, SO THAT, THAT PIECE IS, IS DEFINITELY, UH, SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE, UH, CONSIDERED.
AND YOU'VE GOT A 250 TO 300 K PRICE TAG UP THERE.
UH, ARE WE, UH, USING THOSE NUMBERS AGAINST THE CURRENT SCOPE THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED FOR THE CURRENT PROCUREMENT? YES.
UM, I'M ALSO IN FAVOR OF US GETTING, UM, OUR OWN, UH, INDEPENDENT, TRUE, INDEPENDENT, UM, STUDY ON THIS.
[00:50:01]
WE LOOK AT THAT SCOPE, UM, THE, THE, UH, THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT, IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, LEAN MORE TOWARDS FINDING THIS NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.AND I'M NOT SURE THAT I WANT TO INCLUDE THAT IN OUR SCOPE.
UM, I'D ALSO ADD THAT THIS PROJECT, ALTHOUGH WE, WE DON'T SEE IT, UM, RIGHT AWAY, IT ALSO AFFECTS ALL OF OUR INTERSECTIONS WITHIN AND THE INS AND OUTS THERE.
AND I THINK THAT PIECE HAS TO FALL INTO CONSIDERATION FOR US ALSO, KEEPING IN MIND WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON THE BRIDGES.
UM, ONCE YOU OPEN THAT VALVE WIDE OPEN, UM, IT WILL HAVE SOME ADVERSE EFFECTS ELSEWHERE.
UH, SO I, I'D LIKE FOR US TO SPEND A LITTLE TIME ON, ON OUR OWN SCOPE, UM, IF WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY.
FOLLOWING UP ON MR. BROWN'S QUESTION ABOUT THE ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEM.
I, I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.
WHAT'S OUR TIMELINE ON INSTALLATION AND BEING ABLE TO COLLECT DATA? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I WAS GOING TO AN ANSWER IN RESPONSE TO, TO MR. BROWN.
UM, COUNCILMAN BROWN, UH, END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, THE PERFORMANCE PERIOD WOULD BE NOW JANUARY THROUGH SOMETIME IN JUNE, JUNE 30TH, WOULD BE SORT OF THE, OUR EXPECTATION FOR FULL COMPLETION.
AND THEN BEING ABLE TO COLLECT DATA AFTER INSTALLATION IF IT OCCURS BETWEEN NOW AND JUNE 30.
UH, HOW SOON CAN WE COLLECT DATA ON ITS PERFORMANCE? THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.
I'D HAVE TO, UM, GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT TO UNDERSTAND, UM, ROLLOUT AND THEN, UM, AVAILABILITY THROUGH THE TECHNOLOGY TO, TO PULL THAT INFORMATION.
AND, AND WITH OUR OWN, UH, I ALSO SUPPORT GETTING OUR OWN STUDY DONE, UM, WITH, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE COUNTY AND IT IN ITS INTEREST, UM, I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE TOWN RESIDENTS AND THE WORKFORCE AND THE BUSINESSES ON THE TOWN.
UM, AND I, I WANNA CONTINUE TO HAVE DIALOGUE WITH COUNTY, UM, AND KEEP WORKING ON PROJECTS TOGETHER.
THIS DOES NOT MEAN I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
UM, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE OUR OWN, UM, AND, UM, I, I HOPE THAT WE CAN PROCEED EXPEDITIOUSLY TO DO THAT.
I HOPE WE'LL HAVE BETTER RESULTS WITH OUR PROCUREMENT METHOD
UM, BUT, UM, I, I, I'M ALSO, UH, AND I WANTED TO, UH, SAY A COUPLE THINGS ABOUT REACHING THIS DECISION.
WHENEVER I CONSIDER ANYTHING TO COME BEFORE THE TOWN COUNCIL, I'M GOING TO START USING SOME DECISION STANDARDS, AND THOSE STANDARDS ARE FIVEFOLD.
THE FIRST THING I'M GONNA ASK IS, DOES THIS HELP OUT WITH THE SAFETY OF RESIDENTS, WORKFORCE INVESTORS? AND I DO BELIEVE THAT HAVING GOOD DATA ON THIS KIND OF SYSTEM WOULD DO THAT.
SECONDLY, DOES IT PROVIDE FOR RESPECTFUL AND PROTECTION OF OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT? I'M VERY CONCERNED WITH THE IMPACT OF THIS PROJECT ON OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, UM, THE ENVIRONMENT ITSELF, AND ON THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.
WHICH LEADS ME TO ANOTHER POINT, AND THAT IS, DOES THIS HELP IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL OUR INHABITANTS? AND I DO BELIEVE THAT HAVING GOOD DATA TO LEAD US TO A GOOD DECISION ABOUT THIS, CARTER WILL DO THAT.
ANOTHER DECISION POINT IS ARE WE BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR RESOURCES, OUR FINANCIAL RESOURCES, OUR HUMAN RESOURCES, ALL OF OUR RESOURCES, AND NOT FINALLY THE DECISION POINT, BUT AMONGST ALL THE DECISION POINTS, BECAUSE I CONSIDER THESE TO BE OF EQUAL IMPORTANCE, IS ARE WE GIVING RESPECT FOR AND PROTECTION OF OUR HERITAGE, ESPECIALLY THE HISTORIC GULLAH COMMUNITIES? AND I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO KEEP THAT OF UTMOST CONCERN IN THIS PROJECT.
I APPRECIATE THAT SENATOR DAVIS IS GOING TO HELP US AGAIN WITH PROVIDING FOR SOME FUNDING.
UM, IN ADDITION TO PROCEEDING WITH OUR OWN ANALYSIS AND HIRING OUR OWN CONSULTANT, I WANT US TO REVISIT HAVING A COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE DATA THAT THIS CONSULTANT PROVIDES.
AND I WOULD RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST THAT WE CONSIDER INCLUDING ON THAT COMMITTEE, AT LEAST ONE TOWN COUNCIL MEMBER, AT LEAST ONE ENGINEER FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND AT LEAST ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE STONY COMMUNITY.
AND I WOULD ASK THE TOWN COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THAT, THAT THIS COMMITTEE BE APPOINTED SO THEY CAN WORK IN CONCERT WITH OUR OWN INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT.
NOT TO OVERSEE THE PROJECT, BUT TO FACILITATE IT AND TO BE ABLE TO REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE TOWN COUNCIL ABOUT THIS WORK AS IT PROCEEDS.
MS. MAYOR, IF I MAY JUST JUMP IN RIGHT AFTER THAT, BECAUSE I WANNA SECOND THAT LAST COMMENT.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR, FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
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PUT IT BEAUTIFULLY AND, UM, I WANT TO SECOND IT AND ENCOURAGE IT AND, UH, MOVE OUT EVERYTHING TO MAKE SURE IT HAPPENS.SEAN, UH, REFRESHED MY MEMORY.
WAS THERE ANYTHING IN THE ORIGINAL R F P THAT RESTRICTED THE CHOICE OF CONSULTANTS FOR THEIR OWN ELIGIBILITY? IN OTHER WORDS, DID WE RESTRICT THE CHOICES THAT THE TOWN AND THE COUNTY COULD MAKE BY WORDS THAT WERE IN THOSE RF, THE RFP, THE, THERE WAS A RESTRICTION THAT COULDN'T HAVE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH D O T AT THE TOWN OR THE COUNTY.
UM, THERE WAS SOME CONFLICTING INFORMATION IN THE MANDATORY PRE-BED THAT IT WAS MANDATORY, BUT ALSO ENCOURAGED.
UM, NO GEOGRAPHIC RESTRICTION? NO, SIR.
GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE HAD ONLY ONE, UM, RESPONSE, WHAT IS YOUR EXPECTATION THAT THE TOWN IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO APPEAL TO A QUALIFIED CONSULTANT TEAM TO DO THE WORK THAT WE'RE PROPOSING? I'M AN AN OPTIMISTIC PERSON.
I THINK WE WOULD GET MORE THAN ONE CAN'T, I CAN'T GUARANTEE IT.
UM, I, BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE, WE WOULD BE, UH, MINUS ONE IF THE COUNTY PROCURES.
I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GONNA DO THE JOINT ONE WITH US AND THE COUNTY.
AND SO I THINK WE'VE REDUCED THE POOL A LITTLE BIT.
I, I, I SHARED THE RESPONSES FROM THOSE THAT WE TALKED TO.
UM, I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT WE WOULD GET MORE THAN ONE.
I DON'T KNOW, ONLY FI ONLY SEVEN TO, UM, ATTENDED THE MANDATORY PRE PREBI AND ONLY ONE WAS RESTRICTED.
I'M, I'M SORT OF RAISING AN ISSUE THAT IF WE GO DOWN THE PATH AND WE FIND THAT ONE, WE DON'T HAVE A BONAFIDE OFFER, OR SECONDARILY, IF WE DO GET A CONSULTANT, WHAT'S THE TIMING COORDINATION WITH A COUNTY TOWN, UH, EFFORT? DO WE CREATE AN ISSUE IF THE TOWN CONSULTANT IS MUCH SLOWER IN DOING ITS WORK, WHAT DOES THAT CREATE WITH OUR TOWN COUNTY RELATIONSHIP? AND DO WE CARE? UM, I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS A CONCERN, UM, THAT ONE WOULD FINISH EARLIER.
UM, BUT CAN THE COUNTY MOVE AHEAD OR IS ARE, DO BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PROVIDE OUR AGREEMENT ON THIS, DO WE HOLD THE TRUMP CARD TO WAIT? YEAH, I BELIEVE UNTIL YOU ISSUE ADMISSIBLE CONSENT, IF YOU ARE EVALUATING, UM, INDEPENDENTLY OR IN PARALLEL WITH A JOINT EFFORT AND YOU NEED THAT INFORMATION TO MAKE THAT DECISION, THEN YOU ARE UNREASONABLY WITHHOLDING THAT CONSENT UNTIL YOU HAVE IT AT YOUR DISPOSAL.
UH, GETTING MORE AND MORE INFORMATION IS GREAT.
UM, I, I AM AT THE POINT THAT I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION AND, AND I'M WILLING TO GO ALONG WITH THIS DECISION TO HAVE A INDEPENDENT TOWN LED CONSULTANT, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO COORDINATE THE TIMING OF THAT WITH THE COUNTY SO WE DON'T GET INTO THE BIND OF HOLDING UP A PROJECT THAT NEEDS TO MOVE FORWARD.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, WE, WE'VE GOT AN MOA WITH THE COUNTY THAT WE HAVE TO ADHERE TO.
UH, I, I WANTED TO BE CLEAR THAT, THAT WE'RE NOT, NOT WORKING WITH THE COUNTY, UM, THAT WE ARE STILL IN THIS TOGETHER.
AND IF WE DO OUR SEPARATE END-TO-END STUDY, IT IS FOR US AND IT'S BECAUSE OF US HAS NOTHING AGAINST THE COUNTY AND THEIR DRIVE TO GET THIS FORWARD.
UM, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT, ESPECIALLY FROM A COUNTY STANDPOINT, THAT WE'RE NOT GOING AGAINST ANYONE ON THE COUNTY WITH THIS.
UM, THERE HAVE BEEN GREAT CONCERNS AND GREAT QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THE LOCAL CONSTITUENCY IN THE RESIDENTS OF HILTON HEAD ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
WE ALL KNOW IT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST, UH, PROJECTS OF THIS COMMUNITY WILL EVER SEE.
I AGREE WITH PATSY THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE THE CITIZENS' VOICES TO, TO HEART IT IS IMPORTANT.
UM, I AGREE WITH DAVID THAT I WILL FOLLOW ALONG WITH THIS IN SUPPORT OF IT AS LONG AS IT DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH THE TIMELINE AND THE, AND THE FUTURE PROJECT
[01:00:01]
AT HAND.JEREMY
SO, UM, IF YOU CAN GET US A ROUGH IDEA OF THAT, I'D APPRECIATE IT.
YEAH, WE WILL, WE WILL COMPILE SORT OF THE ROLLOUT SCHEDULE AND THE ABILITY TO GET FEEDBACK FROM THAT TECHNOLOGY ONCE IT'S INSTALLED.
UM, AND I THINK FROM A HIGH LEVEL, WE'LL, WE'LL PROVIDE THAT TO YOU ON THE 25TH AS WE REVIEW CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMMING AT 9:00 AM IN STRATEGIC PLAN.
NEXT WEEK WE'LL SHARE THAT SCHEDULE WITH YOU, BUT WE'LL ALSO THE ROLLOUT SCHEDULE, BUT WE'LL ALSO BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, ASK THE PREFERRED VENDOR, THE CONTRACTOR, WHEN WE COULD EXPECT TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION TO ASSESS.
THEY CAN GIVE US A QUICK YEAH.
WHEN DATA WOULD BE ABOUT MM-HMM.
RIGHT? WE'LL, WE'LL PROVIDE IT TO YOU ON THE 25TH.
MAYOR, DO YOU NEED A MOTION? THAT'S WHAT I WAS JUST GETTING READY TO ASK.
SECONDLY, TO DIRECT THE MAYOR TO APPOINT A REVIEW COMMITTEE IN CONSULTATION WITH A TOWN COUNCIL TO BE COMPOSED OF THREE TO FIVE MEMBERS, BUT AT LEAST ONE TOWN COUNCIL MEMBER, AT LEAST ONE ENGINEER FROM THE HILTON HEAD COMMUNITY, AND AT LEAST ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STONY COMMUNITY AND EX OFFICIO TOWN STAFF MEMBERS, AT LEAST A PLANNER AND AN ENGINEER IN ORDER TO REVIEW THE WORK OF THE INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY AND OF THE TOWN COUNCIL.
SO IT, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE DON'T VOTE ON THIS RIGHT NOW.
UM, SO I'M, I'M I QUESTION AS TO HOW WE SURE.
WELL, I, I COULD JUST, IF, IF I SEE SOME HEAD NODDING ALONG THAT SCOPE AND WHAT I'M, WHAT I'M TAKING NOTES UP HERE IS REFINE THE SCOPE, ESTABLISH THE COMMITTEE.
IF WE'RE GONNA PUT MEMBERS ON THE COMMITTEE, I'LL PUT THAT ON THE NEXT AGENDA AND WE CAN GET BACK IN THERE WITH YOU OF HOW WE DO IT BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.
WE'LL PUT THE, THE, THE BID DOCUMENTS TOGETHER.
WE'LL, WE'LL MOBILIZE THAT WAY, BUT IF I CAN HAVE SOME CONFIDENCE TODAY WITH SOME HEAD NODS, AND I THINK I'VE HEARD FROM ALL OF YOU, YOU'RE SUPPORTIVE OF US DOING IT OURSELF, WE'LL START MOVING.
I DON'T NECESSARILY NEED A VOTE ON THAT.
WE'RE GONNA NEED A VOTE ON THE COMMITTEE, WHICH SHOULD HELP SOLIDIFY THAT.
I, I WOULD SAY THAT BASED OFF OF EVERYONE'S COMMENTS THAT WE HAVE THE, THE DIRECTIVE TO MOVE FORWARD.
I'M OKAY WITH A MORE ARTFUL LANGUAGE THAN I PROPOSED
NEXT, UH, ONE THING THAT WE DID LAST YEAR AS MR. GRUBER WALKS UP IS WE HAVE ESTABLISHED YOU HAVE AS A COUNCIL, UM, AND WE HAVE AS A STAFF ESTABLISHED A GULLAH GEECHEE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
WE ARE LIVE WITH OUR CORPORATION, IT'S A NONPROFIT, AND WE ARE CURRENTLY SEEKING BOARD DIRECTORS, AND WE WILL SOON SEEK ANEC DIRECTOR.
NOT TO STEAL YOUR THUNDER, BUT I WAS GONNA SPEAK
UH, THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION WERE ACCEPTED IN OCTOBER OF THIS PAST YEAR.
ON JANUARY 6TH, UM, STAFF HAD PREPARED A RECRUITMENT BROCHURE TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE CORPORATION.
UH, THOSE MATERIALS WENT LIVE ON OUR WEBSITE, UH, ON JANUARY 6TH, AND ON JANUARY 9TH, WE ENACTED A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNICATION PLAN TO DISTRIBUTE THOSE MATERIALS ISLAND WIDE.
AS OF TODAY, WE'VE RECEIVED FIVE APPLICATIONS.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO SOLICIT AND ACCEPT APPLICATIONS, UH, UP THROUGH THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
AND JUST, UH, FOR REFRESHER, THERE'S A MINIMUM OF FIVE MEMBERS AND A MAXIMUM OF NINE MEMBERS.
THE, UH, MAKEUP OF THE BOARD IS TWO MEMBERS FROM TOWN COUNCIL, ONE MEMBER FROM THE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, IDENTIFIED WITHIN THE, UH, BYLAWS, AND THEN UP TO SIX THEN WOULD MEET THE MAXIMUM OF NINE MEMBERS TOTAL, UH, FROM A VARIETY OF PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES.
UM, AND AGAIN, WE'LL CONTINUE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS UP UNTIL THE POINT WE'VE APPOINTED ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS.
AND THEN WE'LL START DEVELOPING A TALENT BANK AFTER THAT POINT.
UH, STAFF IS ALSO FINALIZING A SEPARATE BROCHURE TO, UH, ISSUE TO RECRUIT AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE CORPORATION.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE THAT INFORMATION PREPARED AND RELEASED PUBLICLY BY THE END OF THIS MONTH.
[01:05:01]
THE, UH, DIRECTOR, ONCE THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE BEEN APPOINTED AND THE DIRECTOR'S BEEN HIRED, UH, SOME OF THE OTHER ITEMS THAT THEY'RE GONNA FOCUS ON ARE, WE'RE GONNA DEVELOP SOME TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS THEMSELVES.UH, MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ARMED WITH ALL THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED TO THEN HELP DEVELOP A STRATEGIC PLAN AND THEN ULTIMATELY OPERATIONAL BUDGETS TO SUPPORT THAT STRATEGIC PLAN GOING FORWARD.
JOSH, WHERE IS THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO REVIEW? SURE.
UNDER MAJOR INITIATIVES ON THE TOWN'S WEBSITE, WE HAVE A SPECIFIC, UH, DASHBOARD WITH ALL THE INFORMATION RELATED TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
WE KEEP ALL THOSE DOCUMENTS IN THAT PLACE, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE 'EM UNDER OUR BOARD'S, UH, RECRUITMENT.
UH, IS THE SOLICITATION OF BOARD MEMBERS EASILY FOUND? UH, I BELIEVE SO, SIR.
AND THEN WE'VE ALSO MADE SURE TO INCLUDE PAPER COPIES IN DIFFERENT, UH, LOCATIONS AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT, AGAIN, WE CAN GET THAT WIDE AS REACH AS POSSIBLE.
AND I COULD ADD IT, IT IS ONLINE.
WE, CAROLYN DID A GREAT JOB RELEASING A PRESS RELEASE.
KELLY, I'LL ASK YOU FOR AN EXTRA FACEBOOK POST OR TWO BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE, THE, THE RECRUITMENT IS REGIONAL AND LOCAL, SO IF YOU COULD DO THAT.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT THERE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
THIS, THIS ORGANIZATION HAS AN INCREDIBLE POTENTIAL FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
AND TO THE DEGREE THAT YOU KNOW, PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SPEAK TO THEM TO SIGN UP.
MR. MAYOR? UH, JOSH, ONE MORE QUESTION.
UH, I HAD, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF, UH, WALKING IN THE MLK MARCH ON YESTERDAY WITH SENATOR DAVIS, AND HE ASKED ME A QUESTION THAT I COULD NOT ANSWER.
AND THAT IS, HAVE WE RECEIVED THE FUNDS FROM THE STATE YET? WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE FUNDS, BUT WE HAVE BEEN IN, UH, DIRECT DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, WHICH IS THE STATE AGENCY WHO THE FUNDS WERE DEPOSITED WITH.
AND THEY'VE OUTLINED TO US KIND OF THE SERIES OF DOCUMENTATION THAT THEY'RE GONNA NEED IN ORDER FOR THEM TO RELEASE THAT FUNDING TO US.
AND STAFF IS WORKING ON PREPARING THAT INFORMATION.
SO BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, AS PART OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS IS AN ACCEPTANCE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THAT FUNDING THAT'S GONNA COME FORWARD.
AND THEN WE'LL WORK TO COMPLETE THAT, UH, TRANSFER HERE IN THE NEXT, UH, SEVERAL WEEKS PRESUMABLY.
BETSY MAY HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
UM, UH, HELP ME REMEMBER, UM, THE APPOINTMENT OF THE BOARD MEMBERS.
UH, DOES THAT COME BACK THROUGH TOWN COUNCIL? DOES IT GO THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE? IT WILL BE APPOINTMENTS BY TOWN COUNCIL, SO IT'LL COME BACK THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR RECOMMENDATION TO TOWN COUNCIL, AND THEN ULTIMATELY APPOINTMENT BY TOWN COUNCIL.
AND THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO DO IS TO THANK THE TOWN MANAGER AND HIS STAFF FOR BROADENING OUR OUTREACH AND, AND TO MR. AMES FOR SPEAKING ABOUT OUR OUTREACH FOR NOT ONLY MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD, BUT ALSO ALL OF OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, BECAUSE WE NEED TO HAVE, UH, UH, A MORE, UH, PROACTIVE OUTREACH PROGRAM.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT.
JUST FOR, UM, FOLKS WHO ARE HERE LISTENING, UM, THE FUNDING AMOUNT MM-HMM.
UM, I'LL STEAL A LITTLE BIT OF JOHN SCHROER'S THUNDER.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE GOING TO, UH, UH, LOOK TO DO $5 MILLION MM-HMM.
UH, AND THEN THERE WAS FUNDS FROM THE COUNTY THROUGH THE GOOD NEIGHBOR PROGRAM, WHICH WAS THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, WHICH I BELIEVE WAS $353,000, GIVE OR TAKE.
AND HOW WE'LL USE THOSE FUNDS IS THIS YEAR, AS WE PRESENT THE BUDGET TO YOU, WE'LL PRESENT A BRAND NEW BUDGET.
SO ANOTHER FUND, I SHOULD SAY.
WE'LL HAVE FIVE PRESENTED TO YOU IN THE BUDGET CYCLE, AND THE FIFTH, OF COURSE IS THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION THAT WILL BE CLEAR ON WHAT THE STARTUP OPERATING COSTS ARE, AS WELL AS THAT $5 MILLION AND HOW THAT'S HOW THAT'S PARKED IN A BUDGET FOR NOW.
UH, MISSY LUK, ASSISTANT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR TO GIVE A QUICK UPDATE ON OUR WORKFORCE HOUSING PROGRAM.
MISSY'S GOING TO GIVE AN UPDATE, AND THEN BEN WILL GIVE A QUICK UPDATE TO SEPARATE BUCKETS.
MISSY TALKING ABOUT THE, THE WORKFORCE HOUSING FRAMEWORK THAT WAS ADOPTED ON NOVEMBER 1ST AND THE WORK SHE'S DONE AND WE'VE DONE SINCE THEN.
AND THEN BEN'S RIGHT UP IN THE BATTER'S BOX TO GIVE A QUICK UPDATE ON THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
UM, MISSY MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
UM, SO YES, THE WORKFORCE HOUSING FRAMEWORK WAS ADOPTED ON NOVEMBER 1ST, AND IT'S MADE UP OF FOUR PILLARS, COMMUNITY PLANNING, MANAGEMENT, AND REVENUE.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE CREATION OF THE WORKFORCE HOUSING PROGRAM MANAGER POSITION HAS BEEN CREATED, WHICH IS DIRECT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MANAGEMENT PILLAR.
UM, AND WE HAVE A, A ROBUST RECRUITMENT
[01:10:01]
STRATEGY, UM, IN PLACE RIGHT NOW.UM, IT WILL REMAIN, UH, POSTED UNTIL IT'S FILLED.
UM, WE'RE ALREADY RECEIVING APPLICANTS.
UM, SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND, UH, WE ALSO ARE UNDER CONTRACT WITH, UH, A WORKFORCE HOUSING EXPERT, UM, CONSULTANT HERE TO HELP US BEGIN SOME IMPLEMENTATION, UH, PRIOR TO THAT STAFF MEMBER COMING ON BOARD.
UM, SO WE, UH, ALL WORKED WITH TAMMY HOY HAWKINS OF TOGETHER CONSULTING WITH THE CREATION OF THE FRAMEWORK, AND THAT'S WHO WE'RE WORKING WITH, UM, ON IMPLEMENTATION.
AND WE ARE WORKING ON THE FIRST KIND OF ITEMS RIGHT OUT OF THE GATES ARE, UM, TO CREATE THAT DISPLACEMENT STRATEGY THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, BOTH DURING THE FRAMEWORK CREATION AS WELL AS DURING THE DISCUSSIONS, UM, ABOUT CHIMNEY COVE.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO DEFINE THE STRUCTURE OF ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMMITTEE THAT WOULD HELP ADVISE, UH, WORKFORCE HOUSING.
UM, WE'RE WORKING TO ALREADY CREATE RELATIONSHIPS, UH, WITH HOUSING ORGANIZATIONS AND CREATE AN ASSET MAP OF, UH, THOSE WHO ARE WORKING IN THE HOUSING SPACE.
WE'VE ALREADY BEGUN MEETING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO, TO TALK ABOUT HOUSING.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO ALSO CREATE, UM, A RENT SURVEY AND THEN CREATE A DATABASE AND BEGIN THAT, UM, CATALOG OF HOUSING METRICS THAT WE'RE GONNA WANNA GATHER.
UM, AND THEN ALSO WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN, UM, TALKING ABOUT CREATING A WORKFORCE HOUSING COMMUNITY SURVEY.
SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON INITIALLY TO KIND OF LAUNCH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WORKFORCE HOUSING PROGRAM.
ANY QUESTIONS? OF COURSE,
I APPRECIATE THAT, THAT THAT'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DOING, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, JUST A TIMELINE ON THE HOUSING ACTION COMMITTEE SO THAT OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE WILL BE READY TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS, BUT DO WE KNOW WHEN, UH, THAT, UH, COMMITTEE PROPOSAL MIGHT COME BEFORE TOWN COUNCIL SO WE CAN FLESH OUT HOW, WHAT, WHAT ARE GONNA BE THEIR MISSION, THEIR STRATEGIES, ET CETERA, SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD? ANY KIND OF TIMELINE ON THAT? UM, I'M HOPEFUL THAT, WE'LL, SOMETIME IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, THAT WE'LL HAVE THE, THE STRUCTURE OF WHAT THAT COMMITTEE, UH, COULD LOOK LIKE AND, AND DISCUSS ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH, BE AN ADVISORY OR, OR WHAT KIND OF ROLE AND, AND HOW THOSE MEMBERS WOULD BE APPOINTED.
SO A RECOMMENDATION ON THAT WOULD HAPPEN IN THE FIRST QUARTER.
AND, AND, AND THAT MEANS JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH.
AND I'M GONNA CAUTION MISSY TO, TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT BECAUSE MISSY'S ALSO WORKING ON OUR LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE AND OUR DISTRICT PLAN.
SO THE ONE THING THAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN HURRY TO ONE WORK WITH TAMMY HOY, AND WE ARE ALSO REALLY SPENDING A LOT OF OUR TIME ON TRYING TO RECRUIT AND HIRE AND ONBOARD THE RIGHT PERSON.
THE HOUSING COMMITTEE IS IMPORTANT.
UM, I THINK MISSY AND I AND AND CHAIRPERSON, TAMMY, NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE AGENDA AND, AND COME BACK WITH A RESPONSIBLE GAME PLAN, IF I COULD SAY THAT.
NEXT, HERE'S THE REAL REASON WHY WE, UH,
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
I'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT OVER THE LAST ALMOST SEVEN MONTHS, AND I'LL PROVIDE SOME BRIEF BACKGROUND AND AS WELL AS ANTICIPATED PATH FORWARD, BUT IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL, PLEASE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
BUT GOING BACK TO APRIL, THAT'S WHEN THE TOWNS, UH, PREPARED THE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS THAT WENT OUT TO SOLICIT A DEVELOPMENT PARTNER.
WE HAD 10 COMPANIES THAT RESPONDED.
THEY WERE INTERESTED IN HELPING US PROVIDE WORKFORCE HOUSING ON HILTON HEAD.
IN JUNE, TOWN COUNCIL ADOPTED A RESOLUTION CREATING THE NORTHPOINT PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
AND I KNOW THAT HAPPENED ON JUNE 21ST, AND I KNEW IT WAS JUNE 21ST BECAUSE I, UH, I JOINED THE TEAM ON JUNE 20TH.
AND SINCE THAT TIME, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PROGRESS.
BUT WE HAD OUR FIRST KICKOFF MEETING IN JULY, AND WE REVIEWED THE, UH, THE, THE FIRMS, THE 10 FIRMS THAT SUBMITTED THEIR QUALIFICATIONS.
AND IT WAS THE ADVICE OF THE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO INVITE SEVEN OF THOSE FIRMS TO SUBMIT FULL DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS.
AND, UH, WE DIDN'T KNOW AT THAT POINT HOW MANY PROPOSALS WE HAD RECEIVED, BUT TO OUR DELIGHT, ALL SEVEN FIRMS SUBMITTED DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS.
AND WHILE WE WERE WAITING TO REVIEW THOSE, UH, WE REACHED OUT TO SOME OTHER COMMUNITIES.
WE TALKED TO MARTHA'S VINEYARD, WE TALKED TO CHARLESTON, WE TALKED TO THE ATHENS HOUSING AUTHORITY TO REALLY ASK THEM QUESTIONS ABOUT BEST PRACTICES.
WE ALSO COMPLETED AMI RESEARCH IN-HOUSE, AND I
[01:15:01]
FOUND THIS REALLY HELPFUL.UH, NICK TAY UNDER MISSY'S LEADERSHIP, DID A LOT OF GRASSROOTS RESEARCH WHERE, UH, WE IDENTIFIED OVER 20 KEY POSITIONS IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND THEN SHE REACHED OUT TO LOCAL EMPLOYERS TO ASK WHAT THE SALARIES WERE FOR THESE POSITIONS.
AND THEN SHE LINKED THE POSITION TO SALARY, TO BEAUFORD COUNTY AMI RANGE, VERY HELPFUL.
AND THEN WE COULD LINK AMI RANGE TO AFFORDABLE RENTS.
AND THAT WAS GREAT CUZ HER, HER LIST HAD EVERYTHING FROM CAREGIVERS TO TEACHERS, TO POLICE OFFICERS, TO FIREFIGHTERS TO NURSES, REALLY GOOD INFORMATION.
AND IT HELPED US AS WE WERE REVIEWING DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS TO UNDERSTAND WHO WE ARE TRYING TO SERVE.
AND THAT DATA SHOWED US THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SERVE REALLY A 60 TO 120% OF BEAUFORD COUNTY AMI RANGE FOR OUR FIRST PROJECT ON HILTON HEAD.
JUST QUICKLY, WHAT'S AMI? GREAT QUESTION.
AND, UH, THOSE ARE STANDARDS THAT ARE SET FOR THE COUNTY.
SO WE'RE USING THE COUNTY STANDARDS AND APPLYING THEM TO HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
WE ALSO COMPLETED A CAPACITY STUDY IN-HOUSE JUST FOR US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS REALLY AN APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF DENSITY FOR THIS PROPERTY.
AND THAT HELPED, FOR EXAMPLE, IF A, IF A FIRM CAME IN WITH SOMETHING WAY HIGHER THAN WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS APPROPRIATE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER OF THIS AREA, IT WOULD HELP US UNDERSTAND IF THAT WAS OR WAS NOT AN OUTLIER.
WE ALSO DID A SITE ANALYSIS TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE PROPERTY.
WHERE ARE SIGNIFICANT TREES, WHAT'S OUR TOPOGRAPHY, UH, WHERE ARE OUR CRITICAL WETLANDS SO THAT WE COULD DESIGN A PROPERTY, UH, A DEVELOPMENT THAT REALLY, UH, FIT IN NICELY WITH THE CHARACTER OF THIS AREA.
UH, I'VE MET WITH THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE, AND I'VE HAD EMAILS WITH THEM AS RECENTLY AS TODAY TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE CONNECTIVITY TO GUMTREE ROAD.
I'VE MET WITH, UH, MARSH POINT, THEIR PROPERTY MANAGER SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE PROJECT AND THEY CAN ASK QUESTIONS OF US, AND VERY EXCITING.
BUT WE, UH, REVIEWED THE SEVEN PROPOSALS WITH THE, THE SEVEN PROPOSALS THAT WE RECEIVED WITH THE HOUSING COMMITTEE, AND THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THAT WE INTERVIEW ALL SEVEN FIRMS. SO OVER A TWO DAY PERIOD, WE INTERVIEWED THE SEVEN FIRMS. VERY GOOD PROCESS.
WE ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS, WE GOT A LOT OF FEEDBACK, AND AS QUICKLY AS WE COULD, FOLLOWING THAT INTERVIEW PROCESS, WE RECONVENE WITH THE COMMITTEE AND WE DISCUSSED PATH FORWARD AND PATH FORWARD CONSISTED OF MY CALLING THE, THE SEVEN FIRMS, EVEN THE FIRMS THAT WE KNEW PROBABLY WEREN'T OUR DEVELOPMENT PARTNER, BUT REALLY TALKING WITH THEM SO THEY COULD UNDERSTAND OUR THOUGHT PROCESS, THANKING THEM FOR THEIR CONSIDERABLE TIME AND LETTING 'EM KNOW THAT EVEN IF THIS ISN'T THE PROJECT, MAYBE THERE IS ANOTHER PROJECT IN HILTON HEAD'S FUTURE THAT THAT COULD FIT YOUR COMPANY.
UM, WE ALSO, AS RECENTLY AS LAST WEEK, WE SPENT A DAY WITH ONE OF OUR FINALISTS AND WE STARTED OUT AT, UH, 10:00 AM AND WE DID A TOUR OF THE ISLAND.
IT CONSISTED OF THE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS AS WELL AS SOME STAFF MEMBERS.
WE VISITED THE, UH, SEA PINES AS PALMETTO VILLAGE PROJECT CLIFF WAS VERY, VERY HELPFUL IN HELPING US UNDERSTAND THAT PROJECT.
WE VISITED THE ISLAND REC, WE VISITED THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, AND WE ALSO VISITED THE NORTH POINT PROPERTY, BUT WE TALKED ABOUT DESIGN MATTERS ON HILTON HEAD, SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN MATTERS.
THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT, BUT THEY REALLY, I DON'T THINK TRULY APPRECIATED THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO WE, TILL WE SPENT TIME AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AND ISLAND REC AND I, I FOUND THAT TO BE VERY VALUABLE AND I KNOW THAT WAS VALUABLE TO OUR, OUR POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT PARTNER.
AND THEN WE CAME BACK TO TOWN HALL, WE HAD LUNCH AND WE SPENT ABOUT TWO HOURS REALLY DISCUSSING WHAT A PARTNERSHIP COULD LOOK LIKE AND GETTING AN OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER KNOW EACH OTHER AND TO SEE IF, IF, IF THIS IS THE RIGHT PARTNERSHIP.
SO WHAT IS THE PATH FORWARD? THE PATH FORWARD IS WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR LEGAL TEAM TO PREPARE A TERM SHEET.
AND IF THE TERM SHEET IS SUPPORTED BY THE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WE WOULD PRESENT THAT TERM SHEET TO OUR FINALISTS.
IF WE CAN AGREE ON TERMS AT THAT POINT, THE TOWN WOULD AWARD THE RFP TO THIS PREFERRED DEVELOPMENT PARTNER.
NOW, WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US AFTER THIS POINT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BEGIN TO NEGOTIATE A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
THIS IS CLOSE WORK WITH OUR LEGAL TEAM AS WELL AS OUR POLICY TEAM TO PREPARE A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT IS SUPPORTED BY THE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE, SUPPORTED BY THE TOWN MANAGER, SUPPORTED BY OUR PREFERRED DEVELOPMENT PARTNER.
BUT OUR ULTIMATE GOAL WOULD THEN BE FOR THE TOWN MANAGER TO PRESENT A PREFERRED DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TO THE TOWN COUNCIL FOR YOUR REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION.
[01:20:01]
ONE THING I'VE BEEN ASKED SEVERAL TIMES IS, WELL, WHEN ARE WE GONNA ACTUALLY START THIS PROJECT? AND I, I HATE TO SAY DATES BECAUSE I ALWAYS, I ALWAYS MAKE THE PEOPLE AROUND ME REALLY NERVOUS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE NOTHING MORE THAN TO HAVE SHOVELS IN THE GROUND IN EARLY 2024.AND I'M, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND, AND I I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND REALLY, I JUST APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT.
WHAT, WHAT IS THE TIMEFRAME TO HAVE THAT TERM SHEET COMPLETED? WE DON'T, IT REALLY DEPENDS ON HOW QUICKLY WE CAN COME TO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE DEVELOPMENT PARTNER, THE LEGAL TEAM.
WE HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY WHERE WE CAN START TALKING ABOUT THE TERMS. THEN AS SOON AS WE HAVE THAT, WE PRESENT IT TO THE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
WE COULD DO THAT IN ABOUT A WEEK, AND THEN WE WOULD PRESENT THAT TO THE PREFERRED DEVELOPMENT PARTNER.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHEN THE NEGOTIATION STARTS.
SO I, I MEAN, I, I WOULD LOVE TO SAY 30 DAYS, BUT I, I CAN'T AND, AND I'M GONNA KEEP YOU AS A TOWN COUNCIL UPDATED ALONG THE WAY.
YOU KNOW, MY GOAL IS TO HAVE A DRAFT DEVELOPMENT AND A TERM SHEET, OF COURSE, BUT A DRAFT DEVELOPER AGREEMENT, YOU KNOW, I'D CALL IT VERSION ONE IN FRONT OF YOU NO LATER THAN THE APRIL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING FOR US TO START TALKING ABOUT THE DETAILS.
LYNN, BEN, THANK YOU FOR A GREAT REPORT.
EXCITING THINGS THAT YOU'VE GOT GOT ONGOING AND IT SEEMS BEAUTIFULLY ORGANIZED.
I'M A LITTLE CONCERN, UH, CONFUSED ABOUT THE SELECTION.
HAVE YOU ESSENTIALLY SELECTED THIS ONE DEVELOPMENT PARTNER AS TO BE THE ONE THAT IS MOST LIKELY TO BE CHOSEN FOR, FOR NORTH POINT, OR I THINK I HEARD YOU SAY YOU HAD, YOU TOOK ONE AROUND TOWN AND YOU HAD SIX OTHERS.
SO DOES THAT MEAN THAT ONE IS LIKELY TO BE THE SELECTION? JUST A QUESTION.
WE ARE STILL TALKING WITH OTHER FIRMS, BUT THE ACTUAL RFP WILL BE AWARDED, UH, ONCE, ONCE THAT TERM SHEET IS AGREED ON.
I'M, I'M NEW TO PUBLIC SECTOR PROCUREMENT, SO I, I DON'T WANNA SAY PRIVATE SECTOR.
HE WANTS TO SIGN THE CONTRACT NEXT WEEK,
UM, BUT WE HAVE TO GET, WE, WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO GET TO A NEGOTIATION TABLE WITH WHAT WE BELIEVE AS A TEAM HOUSING COMMITTEE INVOLVED.
DEFINITELY ADVISING ME, UM, WHO WE THINK THAT PREFERRED CONTRACTOR PARTNER IS.
WE'RE GETTING CLOSER, NOT UNLESS AND UNTIL WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT, HA HAVE WE SELECTED.
AND, AND YOU WILL OBVIOUSLY BE PART OF THAT SELECTION.
YOU WILL VOTE ON THE CONTRACT, WHICH WILL THEN IN TURN SELECT THAT PARTNER.
SO REALLY MY ONLY QUESTION IS, IS THE ONE THAT WAS TAKEN AROUND TOWN MOST LIKELY TO BE THE ONE OR COULD BE ANY ONE OF THE SEVEN.
THEY'RE MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED, BUT I WILL SAY THE REST IS UP TO THEM.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, SIR.
UM, I'M CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO SUGGEST TERMS OF ANY SORT OF AGREEMENT, BUT, UM, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THE TOWN OWNS THIS PROPERTY AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, SOME SORT OF LONG-TERM LAND LEASE, NOT A CONVEYANCE OF THE PROPERTY.
IS THAT STILL WHERE OUR THINKING IS? WE'RE GONNA NEGOTIATE ALL THOSE POINTS, AND I'M NOT AT LIBERTY TO SAY THOSE OUT LOUD TODAY.
I JUST PREFER TO KEEP THOSE CLOSE TO US.
WELL, THEN I WON'T ASK ANY MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT TERMS,
STEVE, ARE YOU IN A, UH, POSITION TO IDENTIFY WHO THE INDIVIDUALS ARE WHO ARE PROVIDING YOUR FINANCIAL AND LEGAL, UH, EXPERTISE IN TERMS OF NEGOTIATING WITH THE PARTNER? FOR OUR, FOR OUR IN-HOUSE? YES.
OR IN-HOUSE OR OUTHOUSE, BUT FOR THE TOWN, YES, SIR.
UH, FIRM, UH, POPE FLYNN FINANCIAL ADVISORS, UH, LEGAL ADVISORS.
NO, POPE POPE FLYNN IS OUR, THE, IS THE LEGAL TEAM AND THEY'RE HELPING US WITH THAT TRANSACTIONAL CONTRACT AND DEVELOPER AGREEMENT.
STEVE, YEAH, STEVE, WHO'S OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, AND THEY HAVE A PIECE OF THE COMPANY, UM, YOU KNOW, AND THEY'VE WORKED ON OUR BONDS, SO WE, WE KNOW THEM.
THEY WORK CLOSELY WITH FRANNY HEISER, UM, BUT THEY KNOW US AS WELL, AND THEY HAVE A PART OF THEIR COMPANY THAT SIMPLY FO STRICTLY FOCUSES ON WORKFORCE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FINANCING.
AND SO WE'VE BEEN, UH, BLESSED TO HAVE THEM CLOSE TO US.
UM, I KNOW MARK, THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT BY APRIL YOU WOULD HAVE SOMETHING TO, UM, BRING TO THE FULL COUNCIL.
UM, IT SOUNDS AS WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I SHOULD JUST STOP.
VERY DETAILED, VERY THOROUGH, AND, AND VERY EASY TO FOLLOW.
I APPRECIATE THAT HARD WORK THAT IT TAKES TO DELIVER THAT.
AND I KNOW ALL THE WORK BEHIND IT HAS BEEN, UM, TOP-NOTCH.
I'M CURIOUS AS BEING AN OUTSIDER, UM, ON THIS.
[01:25:01]
PERHAPS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR A, UM, BEFORE A REVIEW? I KNOW WE HAVE A COMMITTEE, UM, COMPRISED OF SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT, UM, I FEEL AS THOUGH A LITTLE BIT MORE TRANSPARENCY, AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING WITHIN THIS COUNCIL, I IS APPROPRIATE.UM, APRIL'S AN AWFUL LONG WAY AWAY, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THINGS ARE MOVING VERY QUICKLY AND I'D LIKE TO BE INFORMED.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TODAY'S AGENDA, SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAD AN, UH, OPEN SESSION UPDATE.
WE HAVE PARKED AND HAVE KEPT, UM, THE NORTH POINT HOUSING, PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP CONTRACTUAL MATTERS IN EXEC SESSION, AND HAVE PROVIDED THOSE UPDATES, UH, FOR AT LEAST SIX-ISH MONTHS OF LAST YEAR.
SO WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THAT REMAIN ON THERE IN FEBRUARY AND, UM, CONTINUE.
ANYBODY ELSE? THANK YOU AGAIN.
[8. Reports of the Members of Town Council]
REPORTS FROM MEMBERS OF TOWN COUNCIL.ARE THERE ANY GENERAL REPORTS FROM ANYONE? SEEING NONE, WE'LL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.
UH, MR. STANFORD, ANY REPORTS, UH, FROM LATZ? NO REPORTS, SIR.
MS. BECKER, LOW COUNTRY COUNSEL ON GOVERNMENT REPORT? NOT CURRENTLY.
MR. AMES AIRPORTS, NO REPORT, BUT THERE'S A MEETING THIS THURSDAY AT ONE 30 IN THIS ROOM FOR THE AIRPORT BOARD.
MR. BROWN REPORT FROM ALLEN RICK RACE ASSOCIATION? NO RECORD THIS HONOR, SIR.
MS. BECKER COMMUNITY OF SERVICES PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.
I DO WANNA REMIND EVERYONE THAT MONDAY, JANUARY 23RD, WE HAVE A MEETING AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO PARTICIPATE, UM, BY ATTENDING.
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE? YES.
UH, F AND A COMMITTEE MET TODAY, UH, TWO TOPICS.
UH, ONE WAS TO APPROVE OUR MEETING SCHEDULE FOR 2023, UM, WHERE WE DECIDED TO ADHERE TO THE DATES PROPOSED, BUT CHANGE THE TIME TO 1:00 PM UH, SO THAT WE CAN, UH, CARRY THAT ON TO NORMAL TOWN COUNCIL.
UH, MEETING, UH, THE SECOND, UM, ITEM WE TOOK ON WAS THE, UH, ORGANIZATION OF A SMALL AND MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE, UH, PLAN AND PROGRAM.
UH, WE JUST OPENED DISCUSSION TODAY.
UM, LOTS OF GOOD FEEDBACK FROM THE, UH, COMMITTEE MEMBERS AS LONG AS AS, AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC.
AND, UH, WE WILL CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
[9. Appearance by Citizens]
APPEARANCE BY CITIZENS.I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND OUR CITIZENS THAT EACH PERSON HAS THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS TOWN COUNSEL, AT THE END OF THE THREE MINUTES, YOU'RE ASKED TO CONCLUDE YOUR COMMENTS.
PLEASE MAINTAIN A DECORUM SUITABLE FOR THE MEETING AND REFRAIN FROM USING ANY PROFANE, ABUSIVE, OR OBSCENE LANGUAGE.
IN ADDITION, IF YOU HAVE ANY DOCUMENTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE TO COUNSEL, PLEASE DO SO AFTER YOUR THREE MINUTES TO THE TOWN.
CLERK KRISTA, IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TODAY? YES, SIR.
UM, I DO HAVE A DOCUMENT POWER OF ATTORNEY THAT I'D LIKE TO JUST HAND TO YOU BEFORE IF WE DID THREE MINUTE AFTER.
JUST HAND IT TO THE TOWN CLERK, PLEASE.
UM, ACTUALLY, I'M GONNA GIVE MY THREE MINUTES TO SKIP HOLAND.
SKIP YOU E EACH PERSON HAS THREE MINUTES.
YEAH, BUT SPEAKER, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT MY POWER OF ATTORNEY IS THAT I'M GONNA GIVE HIM MY THREE MINUTES.
QUESTION CURTIS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THIS DOCUMENT? IS THAT ON UNDER THE COUNCIL'S RULES? EACH PERSON HAS THREE MINUTES.
WHETHER, WHETHER OR NOT MS. GREELEY HAS EXECUTED THE POWER OF ATTORNEY'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT.
MS. GREELEY HAD THREE MINUTES.
ANY OTHER PERSON WHO WISHES TO SPEAK AND SIGNED UP HAS THREE MINUTES.
CLOCK FOR MR. HO FOR THREE MINUTES.
PARDON ME? I ASKED HER TO RESET THE CLOCK FOR YOU.
ALAN, YOU SAID TOWN COUNCIL HAS TOO MANY COMMITTEES AND SHOULD DELEGATE MORE WORK TO THE CHAMBER.
WHEN ASKED HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE CHAMBER USING 2.5 MILLION IN ANNUAL TAX FUNDS WITH NO INVOICES OR RECEIPTS, YOU ARE OKAY WITH THE CHAMBER OPERATIONS.
NO NEED FOR TRANSPARENCY, NO NEED TO GRIND DOWN ON EVERY INVOICE.
IS THIS HOW YOU OPERATE AS A MORTGAGE BROKER? ALLEN AND CHAMBERS, A LOCAL NONPROFIT BUSINESS LEAGUE AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GOVERNMENT OR BE TAX FUNDED TO PROMOTE TOURISM NOR SELL ADVERTISING FOR PRIVATE PROFIT? IT'S AN ILLEGAL, IT'S ILLEGAL UNDER STATE AND FEDERAL IRS
[01:30:01]
LAWS.FEDERAL IRS, NONPROFIT TAX TAX LAW PREVAILS OVER ANY CORRUPT STATE OR LOCAL LAW OR CODE.
BILL MILES SAID HE, HOW HE USES TAX MONEY IS HIS SECRET SAUCE AND IT'S NO ONE'S BUSINESS.
MR. PERRY, WHO RUNS THIS TOWN, BILL MILES, IS CERTAINLY ISN'T YOU AS A FULL-TIME MORTGAGE BROKER AND A PART-TIME MAYOR CAUSE NOTHING WORKS PART-TIME.
YOU SAID THE CHAMBER HAS A CONTRACT THAT FOLLOWS STATE LAW.
YOU WILL IN IN ENSURE SPENDING TRANSPARENCY AND DID NOT WANT THE TOWN TO GET INTO A LAWSUIT WITH THE CHAMBER.
THE CHAMBER CONTRACT IS FRAUDULENT.
THE TOWN IS IN VIOLATION OF PROCUREMENT.
A TAX AND FOYER LAWS TO AFFOR ENFORCE YOUR ASSOCIATE MILES TO SHOW HOW HE USES MILLIONS OF TAX MONEY.
IT SEEMS YOU HAVE BEEN COACHED BY BILL MILES AND THE TOWN AND CHAMBER LAWYERS ON WHAT TO SAY.
YOUR FRIEND STEVE ARNOLD AND THE ENTIRE AT TAX COMMITTEE AND TOWN COUNCIL KEEP VOTING FOR FUNDING TO THE CHAMBER, ALL KNOWINGLY BREAKING THE LAW.
WE WILL WATCH HOW YOU VOTE AND YOU WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR BREAKING THE LAW AND LIABLE.
MR. PERRY, YOU STATED YOU SAW THE CHAMBER OF ACCOUNTING 80% OF THE RECEIPTS AND INVOICES WHO GAVE YOU ACCESS WHEN NO ONE ELSE CAN GET THIS INFORMATION.
ARE YOU PREPARED TO COMPLY TO MY FOIA AND HAND OVER THIS CHAMBER OF ACCOUNTING TO ME TODAY OR THIS WEEK? MR. PERRY, YOU ARE FULLY AWARE OF BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS BEING VIOLATED BY BILL MILES.
YOU CAN'T BE THIS UNINFORMED AND DENY THIS.
IT'S CALLED CORRUPTION AND WHY YOU'RE NOT QUALIFIED TO BE A MAYOR.
MR. PERRY, YOU ARE PART-TIME FIGUREHEAD AND ADMITTED.
MARK ORLANDO IS A FULL-TIME LEADER IN POWER ASSISTED BY AS MY, IN, IN MY OPINION, CROOKED TOWN LAWYERS AND CPAS.
I SHOULD ADDRESS THEM DIRECTLY, NOT YOU OR THIS COUNCIL WHO ARE ALL WEAK AND CONTROLLED LIKE PUPPETS IN SO MANY WAYS BY THESE FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL CROOKS.
NONE OF YOU HAVE SEEN THE NUMBERS THESE EMPLOYEES HIDE IN OUR A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR TOWN BUDGETS OR AUDITS.
NONE OF YOU HAVE FORENSIC AUDIT KNOWLEDGE AND THE TOWN CORRUPTION AND THE LEGAL LEGAL TAX USE AND NON-TRANSPARENCY MUST END.
I'VE BEEN AT THIS FOR EIGHT YEARS, T 2023.
ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM, WE'RE GONNA DEMAND TRANSPARENCY AND WE'RE GONNA DR.
DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY AND ANYBODY GETS OUR TAX FUNDS NEEDS TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT.
UM, WE'RE ASKING FOR ONE THING TODAY.
I SENT YOU ALL A LIST OF DOCUMENTS.
PLEASE SPEND ONE HOUR 60 MINUTES AND READ THOSE DOCUMENTS.
THEY'RE FIVE DOCUMENTS THAT WE SENT YOU.
CLOSE TO 10,000 PEOPLE HAVE ASKED FOR AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF THE CORRIDOR PROJECT.
THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE ANY DETAILS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GETTING, IF IT'LL WORK, IF IT'S SAFE, WHAT IT WILL REALLY COST, HOW IT WILL IMPACT US, AND WHAT OUR OTHER OPTIONS ARE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THE 10,000 PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW THAT, AND NO ONE ON THIS DS KNOWS THAT THE TRANSPARENCY OF THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN CLOSE TO ZERO.
BUT I HOPE THIS NEW COUNCIL WILL FIX THAT.
THE SCOPE OF AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW MUST INCLUDE EFFICIENT LINKS TO THE CROSS ISLAND PARKWAY AND LOCAL 2 78, INCLUDING GUMTREE.
THE TRAFFIC AND CONGESTION ANALYSIS MUST INCLUDE THE COMPOUND EFFECT OF ALL THOSE MERGERS, SPLITS, INTERSECTIONS, AND TRAFFIC LIGHTS, NOT ADDING THEM UP ONE AT A TIME AS THE PRESIDENT COUNTY PROCESS DOES.
I JUST SEE WE HAD ANOTHER DEATH ON ON ROUTE 2 78.
WE'RE GONNA PUT A SIX LANE EXPRESSWAY DOWN THROUGH A HEAVY RESIDENTIAL AREA.
UH, HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE ARE WE GONNA KILL IF WE'RE NOT CAREFUL? THE MISSING AND HIDDEN PARTS OF THE PLAN MUST BE EXPOSED.
IF YOU READ THE DOCUMENTS, YOU'LL SEE THEY'RE MISSING IN HIDDEN PARTS.
ALTERNATE OPTIONS MUST BE SHOWN.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN ANY ALTERNATE OPTIONS.
WE'VE BEEN GIVEN SLIGHT PERTURBATIONS OF WHERE THEY'RE GONNA RUN THE CONCRETE OF THE SIX LANES.
THE CURRENT PLAN IS NEITHER EFFECTIVE OR SAFE.
AND I CHALLENGE ANYONE TO SHOW ME THAT IT IS OR US THAT IT IS.
UNFORTUNATELY, UP TO NOW, BEAUFORD COUNTY HAS CORRUPTED THE PROCESS BLOCKING PROPER OVERSIGHT OF THIS FOR YEARS.
WE HOPE CHANGES IN COUNTY COUNCIL AND CERTAINLY CHANGES HERE WILL CHANGE THAT.
IF YOU DO AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW, YOU'RE ACTUALLY GONNA SAVE TIME BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY FLAWS IN THIS CURRENT PLAN THAT S C D O T HAS PUT TOGETHER.
IT'S GONNA BOUNCE IN THE NEPER PROCESS.
AND IF YOU DON'T IDENTIFY IT, WE'VE INTERCEDED ALREADY WITH, UM, THE FONZI PROCESS.
AS YOU'LL SEE IN THE DOCUMENTS WE'VE WRITTEN DIRECTLY TO THE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES.
WE'RE GONNA TRY TO ENSURE THAT THIS PROCESS, THIS SYSTEM
[01:35:01]
IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE.WE HAVE EVERYTHING TO GAIN AND NOTHING TO LOSE FROM A PROPER INDEPENDENT REVIEW.
AND I'M DELIGHTED THAT YOU'VE ALL DECIDED THAT TONIGHT.
UH, WE CAN'T LET THE COUNTY DIVERT US AGAIN.
THEY'VE CONSISTENTLY DONE THAT.
THEY, THEY WANT US TO BUY A USED CAR WHERE THE DEALER WON'T LET US GET AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTION.
THEY PICK THEIR OWN INSPECTOR AND THEY RESTRICT WHAT THEY INSPECT.
I I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE SO AFRAID OF.
WE ASSUME THAT YOU FOLKS ARE DECENT AND HONEST PEOPLE.
WE TRUSTED YOU, WHETHER OUR MONEY IN OUR TOWN.
READ THE DOCUMENTS THAT I SENT YOU, HAVE A BEER, SPEND 60 MINUTES ON 'EM.
THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE FOR A GREAT PLAN.
BRING IN TOP EXPERTS AND HELP US SEIZE IT.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR KRISTA, PETER CHRISTIAN, PLEASE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, PETER CHRISTIAN.
THANK YOU PATSY AND TAMARA AND STEVEN BEING ELECTED.
YOU GOT A BIG JOB AHEAD OF YOU.
HEARD A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE 2 78 CORRIDOR AND THERE'S LOTS OF DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU KNOW HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED IN JASPER COUNTY AND ALSO A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT IMPROVED IN THE JONESVILLE ROAD AREA AND SPANISH FALLS ROAD AREA.
IT'S COMING, IT'S APPROVED AND IT'S GONNA BRING CARS AND IT'S GONNA BRING TRAFFIC.
AND I KNOW WE WANT TO STUDY THINGS PERFECTLY, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND WE NEED TO GET WORKERS ONTO THE ISLAND.
CAUSE WORKFORCE HOUSING IS NOT GOING TO BE THE SOLE SOLUTION TO THAT PROBLEM.
WE NEED TO MOVE FOLKS IN AND OFF THIS ISLAND.
I EMPLOY OVER A HUNDRED PEOPLE AND MANY OF THEM COME FROM RIDGELAND PARTS NORTH AND HOUR AND A HALF COMMUTE.
SO WE NEED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
SECOND THING, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR AUDIT.
HAVING AN AUDIT WITH OUTER MANAGEMENT LETTER AND ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE CORRECTED OR SUGGESTED TO BE CORRECTED IS A HUGE WIN AND A BIG COMPLIMENT TO THE TOWN AND TO THE STAFF THAT SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED.
I HAVE THE OCCASION TO READ REPORTS ABOUT EMS AND MY SECURITY DEPARTMENT RESPONDING TO MEDICAL EMERGENCIES.
AND IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS I'VE HAD A TEN SEVEN, WHICH IS AN INDIVIDUAL PASSED AWAY.
I'VE HAD AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS BEEN REVIVED, AN INDIVIDUAL THAT FELL DOWN AND NEEDED TO BE TRANSPORTED IN EACH AND EVERY CASE.
OUR FOLKS, OUR EMS RESPONDED IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER AND EVEN IN THE SITUATION WHERE THEY WORKED ON A POOR INDIVIDUAL WHO PASSED AWAY FOR OVER AN HOUR, THE FEEDBACK I RECEIVED FROM THE FAMILY ON HOW OUR EMS BEHAVED IN A PROFESSIONAL AND CARING MANNER WAS JUST UNSURPASSED.
SO COMPLIMENT TO THEM AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
WELL, MY COMMENTS AREN'T DIRECTED EXACTLY THAT WAY, BUT, UH, AS PRESIDENT OF THE JONESVILLE PRESERVATION SOCIETY A FEW WEEKS AGO, I ASKED FOR A MORATORIUM.
ACCORDING TO OUR OWN SURVEY, OVER 90% OF RESPONDENTS FROM ALL ACROSS THE ISLAND ARE IN SUPPORT OF A SIX MONTH MORATORIUM.
95% FAVOR A ROLLBACK ON ZONING TO DECREASE DENSITY.
THE JONESVILLE AREA IS A UNIQUE AND INTRICATE PART OF THE FABRIC OF THIS ISLAND.
WITHOUT THE MORATORIUM, WE ARE ALL SUBJECT TO THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF DEVELOPMENT.
DEVELOPERS, LANDOWNERS, AND INVESTORS WITH THEIR GREED, EXPLOIT, EXPLOIT THIS PART OF THE ISLAND SOON.
IF NOT ALREADY, IT WILL AFFECT OTHER AREAS.
I ASK YOU, IS THIS THE VISION COUNCIL FOR SEAS FOR HILTON HEAD? I UNDERSTAND THAT JONESVILLE AREA IS VERY APPEALING FOR DEVELOPERS.
THIS IS A VERY UNIQUE AREA OF THE ISLAND WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF HISTORICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL VALUE.
THIS IS A GUAG GEECHEE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS IS NOT AN AREA FOR MULTI-FAMILY DWELLINGS.
THIS COMMUNITY IS ASSESSED BY A SINGLE ROAD.
MULTI-FAMILY SUBDIVISIONS THREATENED THE VERY SAFETY OF THIS COMMUNITY AND ITS RESIDENCE.
THREE GENERATIONS OF MY FAMILY NOW CALL JONESVILLE THEIR HOME.
NOT UNLIKE MANY OTHER FAMILIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I BOUGHT MY HOME AND I SPENT ENDLESS HOURS DEVELOPING IT, DEVELOPING IT TO BE A PLACE WHERE MY FRIENDS, FAMILY MEMBERS COULD VISIT, ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS, BIRTHDAYS, FAMILY GATHERINGS, ET CETERA.
THIS IS MY LEGACY TO MY FAMILY TO BE HANDED DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.
WHAT WILL YOUR LEGACY BE TO HILTON HEAD? SHOULD WE ALL NOT STRIVE TO MAKE HILTON HEAD BETTER? WE HAVE ALL
[01:40:01]
AGREED IN PART THAT THE CURRENT LMO DOES NOT SERVE THE PURPOSES OF THE ISLAND.THE RULES AND REGULATION AND THE RULES AND REGULATION IS NO LONGER SERVE THE BEST INTEREST OF HILTON HEAD.
THE MORATORIUM WILL GIVE US ALL TIME TO EXPRESS OUR CONCERNS, FIND SOLUTIONS TO THE EXISTING DEVELOPMENTAL PROBLEMS ON THIS ISLAND.
WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE DISTRICT ANALYSIS IS BEING PERFORMED APPROXIMATELY A SIX MONTH TIMEFRAME.
SOUTH CAROLINA LAW STATES THAT A MORATORIUM OF SIX MONTHS WITH A ONE TIME EXTENSION OF UP TO THREE MORE MONTHS.
SO MY QUESTION IS, WHY CAN'T WE DO THE MORATORIUM NOW? STOP THE DEVELOPMENTS UNTIL A DISTRICT ANALYSIS IS PERFORMED AND THE UPDATED TRAFFIC STUDY IS COMPLETE.
WHY WOULD THE TOWN CONTINUE TO PROCESS APPLICATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENTS WITHOUT THESE ANALYSIS AND TRAFFIC STUDIES? LET'S FIX THE EXISTING PROBLEMS NOW BEFORE WE CREATE NEW ONES.
I IMPLORE THE TOWN COUNCIL, JOIN ME.
HELP US TO MAKE HILTON HEAD A BETTER PLACE.
LET'S STOP MAKING THE SAME MISTAKE AS PAST GENERATIONS, AS PAST ADMINISTRATIONS.
YOUR VERY OWN MISSION STATEMENT SAYS, ZONING IS TO PROTECT THE HEALTH, SAFETY, APPEARANCE, PROSPERITY, AND GENERAL WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY.
ZONING HELPS TO REGULATE LAND USE, PROMOTE ORDERLY GROWTH, AND PROTECT EXISTING PROPERTY OWNERS BY, IN, BY ENSURING A CONVENIENT, ATTRACTIVE, AND FUNCTIONAL COMMUNITY.
I CHALLENGE YOU TO SHOW ALL OF HILTON HEAD THAT THESE ARE NOT JUST MERE WORDS.
IT IS AN INCUMBENT UPON YOU TO PROTECT THIS ISLAND AND ITS RESIDENTS.
JOIN US AND CREATE A BETTER FUTURE FOR HILTON HEAD.
IT STARTS WITH THE MORATORIUM.
LASTLY, LASTLY, SIR, IS JAMES SK.
UH, I HAVE A RESIDENCE IN THE MITCHELLVILLE AREA OF HILTON HEAD.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK ON A PERSONAL MATTER.
I'M ALSO HERE TO TALK LATER ON THE BEACH, UH, PROTECTION ACT ON A PERSONAL MATTER.
I THINK, UM, I WILL BE SUBMITTING THIS.
I'D GIVE YOU A COPY, BUT I GUESS THAT'S NOT THE PROTOCOL.
UM, THERE IS A REGULATION IN THE BEACH.
REGULATIONS THAT ALLOW FOR ANY BOAT THAT REMAINS OVERNIGHT IN THE BEACH SHALL OBTAIN EITHER A SEASONAL OR ANNUAL BEACH PERMIT.
THEY DEFINE BOAT AS ANY WATERCRAFT.
I GOT A PERMIT THIS YEAR FOR REASONS I FIND DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND THAT PERMIT WAS REVOKED BECAUSE THEY FELT MY BOAT WAS NOT A BOAT.
UH, THERE ARE SOME CONFUSING WORDS IN THE PERSONAL PROPERTY SECTION OF THE REGULATIONS.
IT CLEARLY SAYS THAT ON PERMITTED BOATS CAN'T BE LEFT OVERNIGHT.
IT DEFINES A LOT OF PERSONAL PROPERTY, BEACH TOYS, GRILLS, COOLERS, KAYAKS, GENERAL ITEMS. THEY'RE TRYING TO SAY MY BOAT IS A KAYAK.
UNFORTUNATELY, KAYAK IS NOT A DEFINED TERM.
IN FACT, IF YOU GO TO THE OLYMPICS, THEY'D SAY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CANOE AND A KAYAK IS THE TYPE OF PADDLE USED.
THEY SAY ROBOS, ROBOS ARE EITHER A SINGLE OR A DOUBLE OR, AND THEY'RE GONNA CALL IT A ROWBOAT SWEEP ROLL OR SCULLING.
THERE ARE IMPORTANT TRADE TERMS THAT ARE USED THAT WE SHOULD RESPECT, BUT WE SHOULD ALSO RESPECT THE LAW.
THE HILTON HEAD REGULATIONS IS VERY CLEAR AND IT SAYS ANY BOAT.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA REGULATION IS VERY CLEAR WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT A WATERCRAFT AS A VESSEL AND BEING A BOAT.
AND, UH, IN TERMS OF PERSONAL PROPERTY, UH, I MAKE REFERENCE TO A SOUTH CAROLINA REVENUE RULING SAYING THAT ALL BOATS SMALL OR BIG ARE PERSONAL PROPERTY.
SO I THINK I'M ASKING FOR, UH, THIS TO BE REVIEWED.
I THINK I I HAVE A CERTAIN RIGHT, UH, TO HAVE THESE BOATS.
AND LATER I'LL TALK WHY THIS MIGHT BE IMPORTANT TO ME AND MAYBE EVEN USEFUL TO THE COMMUNITY.
UH, NOW TO A MAYORAL APPOINTMENT TO THE
[01:45:01]
SOUTHERN LOW COUNTRY REGIONAL BOARD.I WAS GOING TO, UH, YOU DIDN'T CALL MY NAME FOR A THREE MINUTE COMMENT.
YOU'VE ALREADY HAD YOUR THREE MINUTES.
NO, I DIDN'T HAVE THE THREE MINUTES.
YES, YOU DID THAT FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.
NO, AND, AND THAT WAS A LEGAL DOCUMENT THAT SHE GAVE ME TO READ FOR HERSELF CUZ SHE DIDN'T WANT TO DO, LEGAL COUNSEL SAID THAT THAT WAS NOT CASE A LEGAL DOCUMENT.
AND THE LAWYER CAN ATTEST THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA LET YOU SPEAK AT THE TIME.
I'M GONNA READ MY THREE MINUTES COMMENT.
MR. HOLAND, YOU NEED TO SIT DOWN AND RESPECT THE FORM OF THIS DI THAT A LEGAL DOCUMENT.
PLEASE TELL ME IF THAT WAS A LEGAL DOCUMENT.
HOWEVER, ATTORNEY, I COULD ASK FOR HER.
I'M, I'M NOT HERE TO GIVE YOU LEGAL ADVICE, MR. HOLAND.
I MEAN, YOU'RE A LAWYER AND, AND I, I RAN IT BY MY LAWYER AND, AND I DID THAT IN A FAVOR FOR HER.
AND NOW I I I HAVE MY OWN THREE MINUTES.
I MEAN, THAT'S A LEGAL REQUEST.
I I MEAN, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE, UH, UNDER, UNDER COUNCIL'S RULES.
YOU'VE HAD YOUR MINUTES, MR. WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK TO TAKE CARE OF IN, IN FRONT OF US.
WHY DON'T WE GET THROUGH THIS? LET ME FINISH THE NEED TO RESPECT THE PROCESS.
IF YOU WANNA STOP THAT CHALLENGE THAT IN THE FUTURE, THEN THAT'S FINE.
BUT LET ME FINISH MY SPEECH TODAY.
MR. HOLAND, YOU HAD YOUR THREE MINUTES.
NO, I DID NOT HAVE MY THREE MINUTES.
AND EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM SAW YOU SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES.
YOU CAN, IF YOU CAN TELL ME THAT WAS NOT LEGAL DOCUMENT FOR HER TO GIVE ME MY, HER, HER, HER POWER OF ATTORNEY.
YOU ADVISE THAT THAT IS NOT A LEGAL DOCUMENT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE TODAY.
YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT AS A MORTGAGE BROKER, THAT PEOPLE CAN HAVE A POWER OF ATTORNEY EVEN TO SIGN ANY, SIGN, ANY KIND OF LEGAL DOCUMENT IF APPROVED BY THE ENTITY THAT IS ISSUING IT AND ALLOWING IF YOU BY WHO YOU HEARD ME, PLEASE RESPECT THE PROCESS.
NO, I, EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM SAW, I WANT YOU RESPECT THE PROCESS.
EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM SAW YOU SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES.
I WANT YOU PLEASE RESPECT THE, SO I ASKED YOU PLEASE AND REFRAIN, RESPECT THE PROCESS AND LET US GET BACK TO THE BUSINESS AT HAND.
I I'D LIKE YOU TO RESPECT THE SIT DOWN.
LET ME FINISH HIS SPEECH, SIR.
AND THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT AFTER THIS AND SEE IF IT'S LEAK.
SO LET ME, LET ME FINISH MY SPEECH.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA TURN THIS INTO A CIRCUS, PLEASE.
I'M, I'M GONNA SIT HERE AND MAKE MY THREE MINUTE SPEECH.
NO, I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TALK OVER YOU THE ENTIRE TIME.
YOU'VE BEEN UP HERE FOR MORE THAN THREE MINUTES ALREADY.
SO PLEASE, I DON'T INTERRUPT YOU.
I'M ASKING FOR YOU TO ABIDE BY THE LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA THAT POA WAS A LEGAL DOCUMENT PERIOD.
EXCUSE SOMEBODY IN THE OTHER PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM MIGHT NOT LIKE IT.
BUT A POWER OF ATTORNEY IS A LEGAL DOCUMENT.
WE, WE ARE GOING TO RIGHT TO DO THAT.
WELL, AND I'M GONNA, WE'RE NOT GONNA AGREE TO DISAGREE.
WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA GET IT DECIDED ON THE LAW, ON THE LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
ALL OF, MOST OF YOU HAVE A HARD TIME FOLLOWING THE LAW.
AND I'M UP HERE TO ASK YOU TO FOLLOW THE LAW.
UM, YOU HAD YOUR THREE MINUTES TO NO, I HAVE NOT HAD EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM SAW YOU.
WE DID NOT, WE DID NOT ALLOW THAT.
I MEAN, LOOK, WE DID NOT, WE DID NOT ALLOW THAT MINUTES.
YOU WANT ME TO GIVE SOMEBODY IN THIS ROOM AND LET, I MEAN IF THEY WANNA READ IT, BUT I MEAN, LOOK, WE ARE DONE FOLLOW LAW.
WE ARE DONE WITH PALM PUBLIC COMMENTS.
NO, YOU'RE NOT FOLLOWING THE LAW.
WE ARE DONE WITH PUBLIC COMMENTS AND WE ARE MOVING FORWARD.
IF YOU'RE IT, IT'S, IT'S MY LAWYER'S OPINION AND MY OPINION THAT I'M FALLING.
SO YOU'RE SAYING THE POWER OF ATTORNEY'S NOT LEGAL.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? M SAYING YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO SIT DOWN.
NO, I HAVE A RIGHT TO STAND UP AND SPEAK.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE OBJECTED.
I NO, IF YOU START THAT, THEN YOU'RE IN A WHOLE NOTHER PROBLEM.
SO I'M, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA MAKE MY THREE MINUTE SPEECH.
I'M GONNA ASK THAT THE ROOM COME TO SILENCE.
MR. HOLAND, YOU HAVE MADE A MOCKERY OF THIS PLACE TIME AND TIME.
YOU'VE MADE A MOCKERY YOURSELF BY BEING DISHONEST.
UM, AGAIN, WE HAVE ASKED FOR DECORUM AND RESPECT AND YOU ARE NOT PROVIDING THAT.
UH, I GAVE YOU RESPECT EARLIER WITH YOUR THREE MINUTES AND HE WENT A LITTLE BIT OVER.
SO YOU CAN PLEASE SIT DOWN AND REFRAIN.
I'M GONNA SIT HERE AND READ MY SPEECH.
UM, I'M, I HAVE, I HAVE EVERY RIGHT UNDER SOUTH CAROLINA LAW READ MY SPEECH.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOLD COURT IN THIS ROOM.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE THE JUDGE AND JURY EITHER.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE A PART-TIME MAYOR.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT, AND I'M A CITIZEN.
YOU, YOU NEED TO REFRAIN FROM THAT WHO YOU SERVED, YOU SERVED THE CITIZENS OF IN THIS ROOM.
THIS IS YOU SERVE, YOU WORK FOR US AND YOU.
I WORK FOR THE RESIDENTS OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
AND IT'S, AND IT'S, IT'S GUESS I'VE BEEN HERE 47 YEARS.
I'VE BEEN IN HILTON HEAD IN THIS AREA FOR 47 YEARS.
CURTIS, IF YOU WOULD, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO, UM, YEAH.
I'M ALSO ADDRESS HOW WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.
I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT AS OUR LEGAL COUNSEL.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT YOU JUST SAID TO ME AND WHY YOU SAY THAT TO ME? I'D RECOMMEND IT TO RECESS FOR FIVE MINUTES.
SO I'M GONNA MAKE MY THREE MINUTE SPEECH.
UM, AND THEN, AND THEN WE, AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE'LL, WE'LL FIND OUT A LEGAL OPINION, FIND OUT WHO'S RIGHT, AND THEN WE'LL, IF THAT CAN BE PREVENTED FROM HAPPENING AGAIN, THEN WE'LL DO IT UNDER THE LAW.
BUT LET'S, LET'S, LET'S GO WITH THE PROCESS.
[01:50:01]
LET'S GO WITH THE PROCESS AND, AND, AND, AND NO, EVERYBODY, BECAUSE I GOT THREE MINUTES.NO, WHAT'S, WHAT'S THREE MINUTES? GONNA WORK A PRESIDENT MINUTES.
HEY HONEY, CAN YOU SET THE TABLE DALE 9 1 1.
WHERE IS YOUR EMERGENCY? BEAUFORT COUNTY IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING AND WE'LL KEEP YOU INFORMED.
THE COUNTY CHANNEL, YOUR SOURCE FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, FROM COUNTY COUNCIL TO THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD SCHOOL BOARD, AND LOCAL EVENTS.
THE COUNTY CHANNEL WILL KEEP YOU UP TO DATE.
FOR A COMPLETE LISTING OF THE COUNTY CHANNEL SCHEDULE, GO TO BC GOV.NET, CLICK ON THE COUNTY CHANNEL AND CHOOSE YOUR SELECTION FOR LIVE COVERAGE OF BEAUFORT COUNTY MEETINGS, BOARDS, AND COMMISSIONS.
YOUR COMMENTS WITH THE AGENDA ITEMS, SELECT.
[10.a. Mayoral Appointment to the Southern Lowcountry Regional Board ]
TO, UH, NEW BUSINESS, UM, MAYOR APPOINTMENT TO THE SOUTHERN LOW COUNTRY REGIONAL BOARD, BESIDES THE MAYOR BEING ON THAT COMMITTEE AND AS AN ADMINISTRATOR AS WELL.UM, MR. STANFORD, WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO, TO BE ON THAT COMMITTEE.
[10.b. First Reading of Proposed Ordinance 2023-01 Updating the Local Comprehensive Beach Management Plan for the Town of Hilton Head Island Pursuant to the Requirements of the South Carolina Beachfront Management Act ]
FIRST READING A PROPOSED ORDINANCE 2 20 23 0 1, UPDATING THE LOCAL COMPREHENSIVE BEACH MANAGEMENT PLAN TO THE TOWN OF HILTON AT ISLAND, PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA BEACH FRONT MANAGEMENT ACT.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? OR YOU GOTTA, YEAH, SEAN, COME ON UP.
WAS THERE A SECOND ON THAT? SECOND.
BE BACK IN FRONT OF YOU ON THIS ITEM AS WELL.
UM, I'LL, I'VE GOT A PRESENTATION.
I'LL TRY TO GO THROUGH IT PRETTY QUICKLY.
UM, THIS WAS PRESENTED TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, UM, BACK IN OCTOBER AND ASS BEFORE YOU FOR FIRST READING.
UM, I AM GONNA COVER A FEW THINGS AGAIN, KIND OF GO THROUGH IT RELATIVELY QUICKLY.
UM, A RECOMMENDATION, BACKGROUND, EXISTING CONDITIONS, OVERLAY DISTRICTS THAT ARE PART OF THE BEACH MANAGEMENT PLAN AND, AND LMO THAT HAVE FALLEN OUT.
UM, PUBLIC ACCESS, BEACHFRONT DRAINAGE, BEACH MANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES, LOCAL LAWS AND ORDINANCES, UH, EROSION CONTROL, UH, NEEDS, GOALS, IMPLEMENTATION, APPENDICES AND RECOMMENDATION AND QUESTIONS.
SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY AT THE END? UM, LET ME GO.
UH, WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR TONIGHT IS TOWN COUNCIL ADOPTION OF THIS AT FIRST READING AND TO BRING BACK, UH, TO YOU FOR SECOND READING AT YOUR NEXT ACTION MEETING, UM, IN FEBRUARY.
UH, JUST A BIT OF BACKGROUND, UM, THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT, EN ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL AND OFFICE OF COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE STATE'S BEACHFRONT.
UM, AND AS PART OF THAT BEACHFRONT ACT, THERE'S A REQUIREMENT FOR BEACH FRONT COMMUNITIES TO DEVELOP LOCAL PLANS THAT ARE THEN INTEGRATED INTO THE OVERALL STATE PLANS.
UH, THE STATE, UM, RELIES ON THESE LOCAL PLANS AND LOCAL POLICIES, REGULATIONS, AND PROCEDURES RELATED TO BEACHFRONT MANAGEMENT TO BUILD THEIR STATE PLAN.
UM, THEY'RE ALSO, THESE PLANS ARE ALSO AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR BEACHFRONT EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND DAMAGE ASSESSMENT PROGRAMS THAT ARE NEEDED.
WE'RE A LITTLE UNIQUE IN THAT WE HAVE OUR OWN, UH, FUNDING SOURCE FOR RENOURISHMENT, AND WE DON'T RELY, UM, ON A LOT OF, UM, STATE AND FEDERAL MONEY, UH, FOR THOSE, UH, RENOURISHMENT PROJECTS.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF IT DURING, UM, TIMES OF EMERGENCY.
AND I'LL, I'LL COVER THAT IN A SECOND.
AS WELL AS, UM, SOME, UM, SOME SMALLER SCALE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE, WE'VE GOTTEN GRANTS FOR FROM THE PAST.
SO THIS PUTS YOU IN POSITION FOR THAT.
UM, BEACHFRONT MANAGEMENT PLANS ARE ADOPTED EVERY 10 YEARS.
THEY'RE REVIEWED IN, IN THE FIVE YEAR INTERVAL, AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.
THIS WAS ADOPTED, UM, IN AUGUST OF 2017.
AND WE ARE, UM, UH, TRYING TO FINALIZE THE FIVE YEAR REVIEW.
UM, THIS IDENTIFIES THE OTHER COMMUNITIES WHICH ARE REQUIRED TO DO THE LOCAL BEACH FRONT MANAGEMENT PLANS.
AND YOU SEE THE LIST ON, ON THE RIGHT THERE.
[01:55:01]
UM, THERE'S OTHER JURISDICTIONS ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST, BUT NOT ALL OF 'EM HAVE BEACHES.UM, BUT THOSE, UH, LISTED ON THE RIGHT ARE THOSE THAT ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE THOSE 18 COMMUNITIES TOTAL IN THE STATE.
AND THEN THESE LOCAL PLANS ARE STITCHED TOGETHER INTO THE STATEWIDE PLAN.
UM, AGAIN, THEY'RE REVIEWED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
EVERY FIVE REWRITTEN, SUBMITTED EVERY 10.
UH, WE WORK CLOSELY WITH, UH, DH OCR M TO EVALUATE AS WE ARE PREPARING UPDATES, UH, TO MAKE SURE WE'RE FI UH, FOLLOWING THEIR GUIDANCE AND MEETING THEIR REQUIREMENTS WHEN WE SUBMIT THOSE TO THE STATE FOR REVIEW.
UM, THE TOWN HAS ADOPTED BEACH MANAGEMENT PLANS AS FAR BACK AS 1992, SO 92, 95, 98, 2001, 2009, AND 2017.
AND YOU CAN SEE 92, 2002, 2012.
AND 2022 ARE KIND OF THAT 10 YEAR WINDOW.
AND IT'S, WE'VE FALLEN ON ONE SIDE OF THE LINE, UM, BUT BASICALLY EVERY 10 YEAR.
AND THEN THIS IS, UM, THE FIVE YEAR UPDATE THAT WE BEGAN, UM, IN 2022, UH, AND BROUGHT THE COMMITTEE IN OCTOBER.
AND, UH, THIS WILL BE UPDATED IN 2023.
UH, WE HOPE, UM, THERE'S BEEN SIGNIFICANT BENEFIT TO, UH, BEACHFRONT MANAGEMENT AND THEN OUR RENOURISHMENT PROGRAM.
UM, SINCE WE'VE BEGAN BACK IN 1990, UM, WE'VE ADDED, UM, 13 AND A HALF MILLION CUBIC YARDS OF SAND OVER WHAT WAS THERE INITIALLY IN 90.
AND WE, UM, ACTIVELY MONITOR, MANAGE, AND MAINTAIN THAT RESOURCE, UM, AS, AS PART OF A MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE AND STRATEGY.
UM, OVER TIME, UH, WE, WE SURVEY THE BEACH EVERY YEAR, TWICE IN THE SPRING AND THE FALL.
AND THEN WE DEVELOP PROFILES AND INFORMATION RELATED TO, UM, HIGH WATER POSITION AND VOLUMETRIC CHANGES IN SAND AND BEACH VOLUME, UM, UM, REGULARLY.
UM, THE STATEWIDE, UH, POLICY IS TO RETREAT FROM THE OCEAN THAT, UM, AND THEY ESTABLISH A, UM, A BASELINE AND A SETBACK ROUGHLY EVERY 10 YEARS.
UM, WITH OUR BEACH RENOURISHMENT PROGRAM, UH, SOMETIMES THE BASELINE IS REESTABLISHED SEAWARD, AND WE'VE TAKEN ACTION HERE LOCALLY TO PROHIBIT SEAWARD ENCROACHMENT TOWARD THE OCEAN, UM, OR TOWARD THE, UM, THE HIGH WATER MARK BY, UH, ADOPTION OF THESE, UH, TYPE REGULATORY, UM, MEASURES.
COASTAL PROTECTION AREA TRANSITION OVERLAY THAT ARE CODIFIED, UM, IN TOWN CODE.
UM, AS PART OF THE BEACH MANAGEMENT PLAN, WE ALSO INVENTORY AND ASSESS PUBLIC ACCESS.
UH, WE MEET THE REQUIREMENT, UM, HERE OF THE 1400 SPACES.
UM, THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL, UM, INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THE UPDATE ON NEW PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS THAT HAVE STARTED SINCE THE 2017 ADOPTION.
THE, THE BEACH SHUTTLE SERVICE, UM, HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THE UPDATE.
UM, ALSO IDENTIFIED, UH, POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS AT, UM, SOME BEACH PARKS THAT WE HAVE IN DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE CIP P, UM, WHICH POTENTIALLY INCLUDE ADDITIONAL PARKING.
WE HAVEN'T REPRESENTED MORE PARKING, BUT JUST, UM, UH, NOTING IN THE PLAN THAT WE HAVE ARE EVALUATING THOSE.
AND THEN ALSO THAT THE TOWN INTENDS, UH, TO WORK FORWARD, UH, ON A PARKING MANAGEMENT, UH, PLAN, UH, TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH A CONSULTANT TO BETTER MANAGE BEACH PARKING ON HILTON LED.
UM, WE INCLUDE A LIST OF PUBLIC ACCESS POINTS AND PARKING AREAS ALONG WITH THE, THE TOTAL PARKING SPACES, UH, TO ENSURE WE'RE MEETING THAT PARKING REQUIREMENT.
UH, WE'VE AL ALWAYS HEARD THAT 1400 HUNDRED SPACE THRESHOLD IS IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN.
SO WE DON'T JEOPARDIZE ANY, ANY GRANTS THAT WE'VE GOT IN THE PAST.
UH, A COUPLE OTHER THINGS, UM, UH, RELATED TO BEACHFRONT MANAGEMENT.
UM, WE'VE BEEN TO A LOT OF, UH, COASTAL COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE DRAINAGE OUT, OUT, OUT OUTLINES OR DRAINAGE ONTO THE BEACH.
AND, UM, THERE'S BEEN TO MYRTLE BEACH AND SOME OTHERS, UM, WHICH ALLOW THE DRAINAGE RIGHT ONTO THE BEACH.
IT'S NOT A REAL SIGHT LEAK CONDITION.
UM, WE DON'T ALLOW THOSE HERE.
UM, THE ONLY, UH, DRAINAGE ON OUR BEACHES IS THROUGH THE NATURAL FOLLEY.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE MAJOR, UM, STORMWATER PUMPS THAT PUMP WATER AWAY FROM THE BEACH, THE HELP OF THAT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
UM, AND THEN AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AND ADOPTED DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, ADDITIONAL RETENTION AND, UH, UH, RETENTION AND DETENTION FOR STORMWATER RUNOFF TO HELP PROTECT THAT, THAT ASSET.
UM, AND THEN LAND C WORD OF THE SETBACK LINE.
THE, THE OCRM ESTABLISHES BASED ON AND SETBACK ARE MOSTLY WELL DRAINED, RIGHT? THEY'RE SANDY SOILS.
WE TAKE PRIDE IN ESTABLISHING, UH, DUNE AREAS AND DUNE PROTECTION AND DUNE FENCING AND, UM, AND TRY TO LIMIT ENCROACHMENTS THAT WOULD, UH, DEGRADATE THE, THAT BEACH ENVIRONMENT.
AND SO WE'VE TAKEN ACTIONS IN OUR CODE, UH, IN OUR PRACTICES TO
[02:00:01]
MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS PART OF OUR MANAGEMENT PLAN.UM, AN IDEA OF THE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES ON THE BEACH.
WE HAVE DEHA OCRM TO THE STATE, THE WHICH GOVERNS, UH, THE BEACHFRONT MANAGEMENT ACT, GOVERNS THE STATE AND FEDERAL PERMITTING AGENCIES.
WE HAVE OUR OWN, UM, MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY, UH, ON THE BEACH AND SOME ACTIVITIES.
UM, AND WE, AS I MENTIONED, THESE CODE CHANGES THAT WE'VE, UH, PUT BACK IN 2009 OR 10 ON THE COASTAL PROTECTION TRANSITION OVERLAY DISTRICT, UM, IN TOWN CODE.
UM, IT ALSO, UM, IN THE PLAN, IT ALSO INVENTORIES THOSE LOCAL LAWS AND ORDINANCES THAT WE HAVE ON THE BOOKS.
UH, THE GENTLEMAN THAT WAS UP HERE SPEAKING BEFORE THE, THE BEACHFRONT MANAGEMENT PLAN DOESN'T REGULATE THE BOAT, YOU KNOW, THE DEFINITION OF BOATS AND ALL THAT.
UM, BUT IT DOES INVENTORY THOSE PROVISIONS IN THE CODE THAT WE HAVE THAT GOVERN ACTIVITY ON THE BEACH.
AND YOU CAN SEE THESE, UM, SECTION 8.1 OF THE TOWN CODE AND ARTICLE ONE THROUGH SIX, UM, THAT TALK ABOUT DOING PROTECTION BOATS ON THE BEACH, ET CETERA.
AND THEN SECTION 8.5, WHICH IS SPECIFIC TO OUR SEA TURTLE PROTECTION, UM, WHICH WAS UPDATED IN 2021 AS COUNCILMAN NAMES REMEMBERS.
UM, WE REVISED THE BEACH LIMITS SINCE THE LAST UPDATE TO INCLUDE, UM, FROM FISH HALL CREEK, UH, UP TO PARK CREEK.
YOU CAN SEE THE RED AREA ON THE GRAPHIC ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN, UH, ADDING THAT SECTION OF BEACH TO, UM, THE DEFINED BEACH WITHIN THE TOWN, UH, CODE.
AND, UM, SO I'VE EXTENDED THAT, UM, AND INCLUDED IT IN THE, IN THE PLAN UPDATE.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE GOVERNED IN THE SPEECH MANAGEMENT PLAN.
IT REALLY IS A COMPREHENSIVE, UM, EVALUATION OF EXISTING CONDITIONS, UM, PROTECTIONS THAT YOU HAVE IN PLACE, UM, BUT, UH, PRIMARY, UH, ONE OF THE PRIMARY PURPOSES OF EROSION CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT.
SO HOW DO WE DO THAT? WE REERS OUR BEACHES REGULARLY.
WE STABILIZE AREAS ON THE BEACHES, WHETHER IT'S DUNE FENCING OR DUNE PROTECTION.
UM, WE LIMIT ENCROACHMENT ON THE BEACH.
UM, WE LIMIT, UM, ENCROACHMENT, SEAWARD ON THE BEACH.
AND THEN AGAIN, I MENTIONED DUNE PROTECTION IS VERY IMPORTANT.
UM, THERE ARE MANY, MANY BENEFITS OF HAVING A MANAGED BEACH AND, AND MOVING FORWARD, OUR RENOURISHMENT PROGRAM AND THE, AND THE PRACTICES THAT WE'VE IMPLEMENTED, UH, ONE IS RECREATION.
WE HAVE A NICE WIDE SANDY BEACH.
UM, IT PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT PROTECTION DURING NATURAL DISASTERS AND STORMS. UM, THERE'S ENVIRONMENTAL HABITAT, UH, BENEFITS FROM HAVING THIS MANAGED BEACH AND RENOURISHMENT.
UM, AND THEN AS, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, IF WE ARE HIT WITH A, UH, HAVE AN EMERGENCY CONDITION ON THE BEACH, UM, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO THEN REQUEST ASSISTANCE, UH, TO REPAIR THOSE DAMAGED ON THE MANAGED BEACH BY HAVING THIS IN PLACE.
UH, A FEW BEFORE AND AFTER, UH, PICTURES, YOU CAN SEE THE PICTURE ON THE TOP LEFT.
THAT WAS BEFORE 1990, BEFORE THE VERY FIRST RE-NOURISHMENT.
UM, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ROUGHLY THE SAME LOCATION ON THE BEACH IN EVERY ONE OF THESE PICTURES.
YOU CAN SEE THE STRUCTURE CHANGED, UM, HERE IN 2015.
UM, BUT THAT'S THE SAME SECTION OF BEACH.
UH, SO YOU CAN SEE, UM, THE EXPANSION OF THE BEACH, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ADDITIONAL PRIMARY, UH, SECONDARY, MAYBE EVEN TERTIARY DUNES ON THE SYSTEM.
UM, AND AREAS THAT WE'VE, UH, SEEN POSITIVE IMPACT FROM THIS EFFORT, UH, GOING FORWARD, UM, RE NOURISHMENT IS OUR PRIMARY TOOL FOR PROTECTION.
UM, YOU CAN SEE THERE HAVE BEEN, UH, FOUR MAJOR PROJECTS, 90 97, 2007 AND 2016.
UH, IT'S TYPICALLY ON A FIVE TO SEVEN YEAR WINDOW.
UM, AND SO WE ARE PROGRAMMING A 2025 MAJOR PROJECT.
WE'RE ALSO EVALUATING THE CURRENT BEACH CONDITION TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE, UM, ADDRESSED EARLIER OR IF WE NEED TO ADVANCE THE PROJECT, UM, IN ADVANCE OF THIS 2025.
BUT THAT'S THE, THE NEXT MAJOR, UH, PROJECT, UH, SCHEDULE.
AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE SMALLER PROJECTS WHERE WE'VE HAD AN EMERGENCY OR SMALL ISSUE, SMALLER ISSUE.
UM, THEY'RE ALL BIG ISSUES, BUT SMALLER ISSUE THAN THE MAJOR RENOURISHMENT THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, TO ENACT.
AND BY HAVING THAT BEACH MANAGEMENT PLAN, UM, IT'S POSITIONED US WELL, UH, TO BE RESPONSIVE, UH, TO, TO, UM, IDENTIFY AND, AND OBTAIN ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES IF, IF, UM, IF SO, UM, DIRECTED AND BEEN ABLE TO, TO CONTINUE THIS PROJECT GOING FORWARD.
UH, THERE'S MANY APPENDICES THAT ARE ALSO ALSO INCLUDED IN THE BEACH MANAGEMENT, UM, PLAN.
A LOT OF THEM ARE TECHNICAL IN NATURE, BUT THEY INCLUDE OVERLAYS FOR BEACH MANAGEMENT, THE TRANSITION AREA, THE CRITICAL PROTECTION AREA, INVENTORY OF ALL BEACHFRONT STRUCTURES.
SO ANYTHING THAT, UM, IS ALONG THE BEACH OR ENCROACHES INTO THAT BASELINE AND SETBACK.
UM, THE INVENTORY OF PUBLIC ACCESS POINTS.
UM, PARKING, UH, PRIOR STUDIES, LIST
[02:05:01]
OF PRIOR STUDIES, LOCAL LAWS AND ORDINANCE, WHICH I MENTIONED ARE INCLUDED BY REFERENCE AND OUTLINED IN THE APPEND.UM, AND THEN THE BEACH MANAGEMENT AGENCIES AND JU JURISDICTIONS, UM, THAT HAVE SOME LEVEL OF CONTROL OR HISPANIC CONTROL ON, UM, ON, ON THE BEACH AND BEACH ACTIVITIES.
THE BEACH MANAGEMENT PLAN IDENTIFIES NEEDS, GOALS, AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES.
AGAIN, THE BEACH MANAGE BEACHFRONT MANAGEMENT ACT, UM, OUTLINES THE STATEWIDE POLICY, RIGHT TO PRESERVE, PROTECT, RESTORE, AND ENHANCE BE BEACH AND DUNE SYSTEMS. OUR BEACH, OUR BEACH, UM, MANAGEMENT PLAN DOES EXACT EXACTLY THAT IT MEETS THOSE GOALS.
UM, THERE ARE SOME SPECIFIC, UH, ITEMS I IDENTIFIED HERE.
I WON'T READ THROUGH ALL OF THEM, BUT FOR BEACH PRESERVATION, ENHANCING PUBLIC BEACH ACCESS, WE INCLUDE THAT IN OUR CIP P PROGRAMMING, UH, THE BEACH RENOURISHMENT AND OTHER BEACH ACCESS AND, UH, BEACH ACCESS POINT IMPROVEMENTS, PARKING, UM, ET CETERA.
AS WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE GROWTH FRAMEWORK AND, AND DISTRICT PLANNING AND ALIBIED MASTER PLAN, YOU KNOW, NUMBER TWO HERE TO HOLD DENSITIES ALONG THE BEACH FRONT, THEIR CURRENT LEVELS ARE BELOW.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT IN OUR THINKING, UM, TO MOVE THESE THINGS FORWARD, UM, TO CONTINUE DEMAND AND ENFORCE THE LMO TO PROVIDE, PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PROTECTION.
AND THAT'S WHY THOSE, UH, TRANSITION AREAS WERE VERY IMPORTANT, RIGHT? THE BEACH WAS THE STATE WAS GONNA MOVE THE BASELINE, WHICH WOULD ALLOW DEVELOPMENT, UM, FOR THE BENEFIT OF, UH, TO, TO ENCROACH FURTHER SEAWARD AT THE BENEFIT OF THE PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL AT THE, AND AT THE, OF THE PUBLIC, UH, BENEFIT.
SO, UM, WE, WE MANAGED TO, TO ADD SOME ADDITIONAL CONTROLS THERE.
UM, AND I WON'T READ THESE ALL, UM, BUT WE DID COORDINATE WITH, UM, OCRM TO REVIEW AND EVALUATE OUR DRAFT PLAN.
UM, AND THEY'RE IN SUPPORT OF WHAT HAS BEEN DRAFTED, UM, AND WE HAVE UPDATED IT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THOSE TECHNICAL ELEMENTS, UM, REFLECT THE CURRENT CONDITION, UM, AND ARE READY TO KIND OF MOVE THIS THING.
UH, WE'VE MOVED IT FORWARD THROUGH COMMITTEE AND NOW HERE BEFORE COUNCIL.
UM, UM, AGAIN, SOME GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS GOING FORWARD, CONTINUE TO IMPROVE PUBLIC ACCESS.
AND, UH, WE TALKED ABOUT EXPANDING.
UM, THE, THE CONSIDERATION OF PARKING MANAGEMENT, I DON'T WANNA USE THE EXPANSION, BUT EXPANSION OR PARKING MANAGEMENT, UH, MANAGE EROSION THROUGH THE RENOURISHMENT, UM, AND PROTECT THE, THE BEACHFRONT AND, UM, AND THE, THE ISLAND IN GENERAL FROM, UM, NATURAL DISASTERS.
UM, CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND SEA LEVEL RISE.
WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE OUTLINED A DRAFT RF, UM, P TO GO OUT, AND A SWAT OF RESILIENCY IS ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN, UH, FOR THE TOWN.
AND WE PLAN TO MOVE THAT FORWARD AND, UM, INTEGRATE THE BEACH RE NOURISHMENT AS PART OF THAT, AS PART PART OF THAT PROTECTION, AND HOW TO, UM, MAINTAIN RESILIENCY AND IMPROVE RESILIENCY FROM STORM EVENTS.
AND THEN, AS ALWAYS, WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR STATE PARTNER, UM, AT, UH, DEH, O C R M ON REGULATIONS, FUNDING, UH, OPPORTUNITIES, UM, AND THE BEACH MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT I CAN.
AGAIN, THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF INFORMATION IN THE BEACH, COMPREHENSIVE BEACH MANAGEMENT, UM, PLAN.
WE'RE AT OUR FIVE YEAR REVIEW PERIOD, AND, UM, I'M REQUESTING COUNCIL, UM, THAT COUNCIL ADOPT THIS, AND WE, FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SUBMIT TO THE STATE TO FOLD INTO THE STATEWIDE PLAN.
I, I'VE GOT ONE QUICK QUESTION.
UM, BY ADOPTING THE FIVE YEAR PLAN AND THEN DOING A SWAT ANALYSIS, CAN THE PLAN BE UPDATED BASED ON THE FINDINGS OF THAT SWAT? YES, SIR.
THAT NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED EVERY FIVE, BUT IT DOESN'T SAY YOU CAN'T REVIEW IT NEXT YEAR IF THERE'S, UH, A REASON TO PROVIDE UPDATED INFORMATION.
I DO WANT, IF I CAN POINT OUT ONE MORE THING, THE BEACH ADOPTION OF THE BEACH MANAGEMENT PLAN, UM, DOESN'T IMPACT THE PERMIT FOR THE BEACH RENOURISHMENT PROJECT.
I WANNA MAKE SURE TO POINT THAT OUT.
AGAIN, BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR, UM, OUR OWN DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE.
IF WE DIDN'T, IF WE WERE ASKING FOR STATE FUNDS, I THINK THEN THAT WOULD TRIGGER THE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S UPDATED AND IN LINE.
IS THERE A DEADLINE WHEN THIS DOCUMENT HAS TO BE SUBMITTED? WELL, IN, IN GENERAL, IT'S A FIVE YEAR WINDOW.
UH, WE BEGAN THE UPDATE AND BEGAN, AND BEGAN MOVING IT THROUGH THE REVIEW PROCESS AT THE, ABOUT THE FIVE YEAR TIMEFRAME WITH PLANNING COMMISSION.
IT WAS ADOPTED IN AUGUST OF 17, STARTED MOVING THROUGH THAT REVIEW PROCESS.
I WOULD LIKE TO TRY TO GET A ADOPTED, UM, IN THE NEXT FEW, TWO OR THREE MONTHS IF, IF POSSIBLE.
UM, BUT THERE'S NO HARD AND FAST SHOT CLOCK.
SAYS YOU HAVE TO ADOPT IT TODAY, UH, OR NEXT WEEK.
OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, TAMMY? UM, THANK YOU, SEAN.
SO, AS I RECALL, WHEN THIS DID COME THROUGH,
[02:10:01]
UM, COMMUNITY SERVICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, UM, BEFORE THE NEW YEAR, ONE OF MY CONCERNS, UM, WAS THAT THERE, THERE IS A PAGE THERE WHERE, UM, THERE'S AN INCREASE IN PARKING SHALL BE, UM, INCORPORATED IN BOTH CHAPLAIN AND ISLANDERS.AND THEN I SEE IT AGAIN, THE, I THINK IT WAS NEXT TO THE LAST PAGE, THE ISSUE WITH INCREASED PARKING.
UM, IF I RECALL THOSE DISCUSSIONS, WE ALREADY EXCEED THE NUMBER OF REQUIRED PARKING, UM, THAT THE STATE HAS FOR US.
AND, UM, THE WORD SHALL BOTHERS ME TREMENDOUSLY BECAUSE IT TIES OUR HANDS.
ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT, UM, WE HAD WAS BY PUTTING OUT THERE THAT WE ABS THAT WE WILL INCREASE PARKING, ARE WE THEN SAYING POTENTIALLY, UH, TO THE STATE THAT, UM, OUR MEN, OUR, OUR MAXIMUM THAT WE THOUGHT WE WERE AT IS NOW ABLE TO BE EXPANDED, AND THAT THEY INSIST THAT WE START EXPANDING OUR, OUR BEACH PARKING.
AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE THERE'S A NUMBER OF THESE ITEMS IN HERE THAT WE CAN'T BE SENSITIVE TO OUR ENVIRONMENT AND TO OUR SURROUNDINGS AND TO OUR BEACHES AND TO OUR RESIDENTS COMFORT IF WE CONTINUALLY ARE EXPANDING, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR, UM, BEACH TRAFFIC AND PARKING.
AND SO I'M UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE WORD SHALL FIRST OF ALL, AT CHAPLAIN AND ISLANDERS.
UM, I'M ALSO UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE IDEA THAT WE ARE PUTTING FORTH, THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES, UM, TO EXPAND PAST WHERE WE ARE NOW, WHICH WE'VE ACCEPTED AS WHAT WAS OUR MAXIMUM ABILITY TO PARK ON THE ISLAND.
AND I'M NOT SURE OF THOSE WHO ARE HERE PREVIOUSLY RECALL THAT CONVERSATION, BUT, UM, UH, I, I CAN'T VOTE YES WHILE THOSE ITEMS ARE IN HERE.
IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME THEN, AND IT STILL IS NOW.
OKAY, OTHER COMMENTS, MAYOR? YES.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I'LL, I'LL LET, UH, THE PUBLIC AND THE TOWN COUNCIL KNOW THAT, UM, THIS, UH, PLAN, UH, IS 161 PAGES LONG.
UH,
THAT WAS ABOUT 90 MINUTES WORTH.
UM, AS A RESULT, I HAVE OVER 15 QUESTIONS,
UM, SO I'M MINDFUL OF THE TIME.
AND, UM, I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL BECAUSE, UH, THE, THE TOWN DOESN'T CURRENTLY HAVE A SEA LEVEL ADAPTATION PLAN.
WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR RESILIENCY SWAT ANALYSIS, AND I, I THANK THE TOWN MANAGER AND THE STAFF ARE INCLUDING THAT IN THE STRAT PLAN AND MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.
UM, BUT I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT WE REMAND THIS TO THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE FOR US TO TAKE A LOOK AT, UH, SOME OF THE IMPACTS INCLUDED IN THIS PLAN.
AT THE SAME TIME, I SAY THAT I'M, I'M VERY MINDFUL, AND AS I UNDERSTAND, UM, UH, RENOURISHMENT IS TO OCCUR IN, IN 2025, UM, THAT IF WE DO REMAND THIS AND SPEND A LITTLE MORE TIME TO CONSIDER IT, IT WILL NOT HOLD UP THAT PERMITTING PROCESS.
DID I, I UNDERSTAND THAT CORRECTLY.
UM, AND, UM, BECAUSE, UM, LET ME SAY ONE OTHER THING BEFORE I SAY THE CAUSE PART.
UM, I WAS VERY MUCH IMPRESSED WITH THE PRESENTATION BEFORE THE COMMUNITY SERVICES, THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE BY THE STAFF, AND BY OUR CONSULTING ENGINEER OLSON.
AND I REMEMBER, UM, UH, THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM OLSON ENGINEERING BEING ASKED ABOUT HOW WE STACK UP, AND HE WAS VERY COMPLIMENTARY OF WHAT WE'VE DONE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE PHOTOGRAPHS, I'VE WALKED ALONG NORTH FOREST BEACH WHERE THOSE PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN, AND IT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE.
UM, WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO WITH, UH, NOT JUST, UH, MANAGING OUR BEACHES, BUT PRESERVING THEM AND PROTECTING THEM IS IMPRESSIVE.
UM, SO I, I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT WHAT MY SUGGESTIONS ARE NOT DIRECTED TOWARDS US NOT HAVING A GOOD PROGRAM.
WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS, UM, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO ABOUT ISLAND RESILIENCY, ABOUT STORMWATER, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO ABOUT THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD'S, QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MASS AND SCALE OF OUR BUILDINGS AND, AND LANGUAGE IN HERE, WHICH ENCOURAGES PROMOTING OUR BEACHES IS OF CONCERN.
AND LANGUAGE IN HERE, WHICH ENCOURAGES DENSITIES, UM, AT THE SAME LEVEL THAT WE HAVE NOW IS, IS BOTHERSOME TO ME.
SO I WANT US TO TAKE A CAREFUL LOOK AT SOME OF THAT LANGUAGE BEFORE WE MARCH FORWARD IN, IN, IN, UM, ON FIRST READING OF A PLAN THAT'S OVER 160 OR 161 PAGES.
[02:15:01]
AND SO I WOULD, I WOULD, UH, MOVE THAT WE REMAND US TO THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE.UM, I'M, I'M GOING TO PIGGYBACK A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT MS. BECKER SAID, UM, BUT IN A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT WAY.
UM, IN THERE IT SAYS THE TOWN'S TENT IS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE DUNES, DEAL WITH DEVELOPMENT, DEAL WITH TOURISM, ANIMAL HABITAT, VEGETATIVE HABITAT, AND A RECREATIONAL BEACH DURING HIGH TIDE.
THOSE WERE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT IT SPOKE TO.
I THINK WHAT'S MISSING THAT IS CRITICAL TO ALL OF THOSE IS HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON THE BEACH.
SO I I I THINK WE JUST, JUST AS DEVELOPMENT IS CALLED OUT HERE AS HAVING THE POTENTIAL, UH, NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE BEACH, I BELIEVE POPULATION OVERPOPULATION HAS THE SAME NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, UM, THE, THE DUNES, WHATEVER.
SO I, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT WHETHER THIS IS A COMPLETE AND FINISHED PRODUCT, OR WHETHER WE SHOULD BE ADDING SOMETHING THAT ADDRESSES AN ATTITUDE TOWARDS WHAT WE CONSIDER TO BE A HILTON HEAD, BEACH EXPERIENCE THAT WE WANT TO RETAIN.
NOW, I WAS HERE A LONG TIME AGO, AND THERE WAS NOBODY ON THE BEACH.
I LIKED THAT EXPERIENCE, BUT SOME OTHER PEOPLE JOIN ME NOW, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE.
THE QUESTION IS, ARE WE GOING TO PROTECT WHAT WE HAVE NOW AND DO WE HAVE POLICIES IN PLACE TO DO IT? AND SO I'M IN AGREEMENT THAT, THAT THIS NEEDS TO, UM, BE THOUGHT ABOUT A LITTLE BIT MORE, AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE IT IN PUBLIC PLANNING IF IT'S THE WISH OF THE, IT'S A QUESTION HOW, UM, SINCE WE'RE GOING TO BE ADDRESSING THE LMO, UM, AND, AND THAT IS A, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S WITHIN THIS DOCUMENT, THOSE CHANGES WOULD THEN APPLY BACK TO THIS DOCUMENT.
THEY WOULDN'T, THE CHANGES WOULD SUPERSEDE ANYTHING THAT'S IN THE PLAN, CORRECT? CORRECT.
THE, THE LMO IS A MATTER OF ADOPTED POLICY, RIGHT? ADOPTING THIS PLAN, UM, ARE MORE GUIDELINES LIKE YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MM-HMM.
ANY OTHER? YES, GLENN, I RESPECT THE COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES, AND I'LL SUPPORT THIS BEING REMANDED TO APPROPRIATE COMMITTEE.
UM, ANY OTHER MAY I JUST, UM, WHEN THIS DID COME OUT OF, UM, COMMUNITY, UH, SERVICE AND PUBLIC, UH, SAFETY COMMITTEE, AND SO THAT'S WHERE I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE REMANDED TO.
AND I WELCOME ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
BUT, UM, THAT'S WHERE IT CAME OUT OF, AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE IT OUGHT TO BE SENT BACK TO.
UM, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY, PUBLIC COMMENTS? YES.
MR. HOLAND? I DIDN'T HEAR THE HANDICAP ACCESS MENTIONED.
I KNOW THAT THAT WAS A BIG ISSUE FOR TAMARA.
AND, UH, IN ORDER TO FUND THAT AND TO FUND ALL THE RENOURISHMENT, AND NOT JUST THE BEACH, BUT LET'S JUST SAY BIKE PATHS AND, AND, UH, PARKS AND MORE LAND TO SUPPORT SENATOR DAVIS'S 1% TAX ON ALL OF US LOCALS.
UH, I, I'M, I, I'M REALLY WOULD RECOMMEND THAT Y'ALL CONSIDER, UH, DEFUNDING THE AT TAX TO A LOT OF THE, UH, RECIPIENTS THAT DO NOT QUALIFY UNDER A TAX LAW.
I THINK YOU, YOU'VE GOT TO COME TO GRIPS WITH THAT.
AND WE REALLY NEED TO DEFUND THE CHAMBER TOTALLY.
THAT NEEDS TO GET BACK TO BEING JUST A BUSINESS LEAGUE, A CHAMBER FOR ITS LOCAL MEMBERS.
WE NEED TO GET 'EM OUT OF THIS BUSINESS, PERIOD.
AND THAT MONEY, UH, CAN, UH, I THINK CAN BE USED.
WE DON'T NEED THE CHAMBER ANYMORE.
A CHAMBER HAS BEEN REPLACED BY TECHNOLOGY, FACEBOOK, SOCIAL MEDIA, LOCAL SEARCH.
IF, IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE INTERNET, IT'S GONNA BE VERY HARD TO, TO LE TO LEAD THIS.
YOU GOTTA UNDERSTAND TECHNOLOGY.
WE DON'T NEED BILL MILES, $500,000 SALARY, $2 MILLION HOUSE IN INDIGO RUN, FUNDED WITH OUR TAX MONIES.
WE NEED TO GET RID OF THIS CHAMBER, MAKE 'EM GO BACK, RUNNING A NORMAL CHAMBER THAT WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND LET'S USE THESE MILLIONS OF A TAX MONIES, UH, FOR THE, FOR THE PURPOSE THAT THEY'RE INTENDED FOR, FOR THE GOOD OF NOT JUST THE TOURISTS, BUT THE LOCALS ALIKE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MAYOR, IF I COULD COME BACK TO THE, UH, REQUEST OR REFERRAL.
UH, THE REASON I SUGGESTED PUBLIC PLANNING IS BECAUSE I SAW MOST OF THE CHANGES THAT I WAS LOOKING AT TO BE IN
[02:20:01]
THE PLANNING.UH, NOT TO SAY THAT SHOULDN'T GO BACK TO COMMUNITY SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT THAT'S WHY I WAS RECOMMENDING PUBLIC PLANNING, SO, OKAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THIS PLAN, WHICH I HAVE REVIEWED, AND I DID, UH, LOOK UP HISTORY.
AND MANY TIMES IT TALKS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE AREA.
I'M A HYDROLOGIST, I'M A GEOLOGIST.
SO I'VE BEEN LOOKING TO GET MORE INTO MY HOBBY OF HISTORY, AND, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY THERE.
CERTAINLY THE GULLAH PEOPLE HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT TIME TAKING CARE OF THAT, BUT MAYBE FIRST NATION HASN'T BEEN LOOKED AT THAT MUCH.
AND FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE, THE, THE, THE MICRO, IF SOMEBODY LIVED WHERE I LIVE AT THE END OF BEACH CITY ROAD, AND HE HAD TO GO OUT THERE IN THAT LOCAL WATER WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE AND FEED HIS FAMILY, HOW COULD HE DO IT? WELL, UH, ONE WAY TO TRY TO DO THAT THERE IS THE, THE, THE RECORDS ARE TERRIBLE.
I MEAN, HERE IS, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, COLLEGE LEVEL BOOK, AND THEY'RE SHOWING THE ONE DRAWING THEY HAD FROM NORTH CAROLINA WHERE THEY HAD SHOWING THE CANOES AND THE, THE FIRE AND, AND THE BOATS.
WELL, GUESS WHAT? IF YOU WALK OUT THERE AT THAT LOCATION OFF OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, RIGHT OVER HERE, YOU HAVE JOINERS POINT.
YOU HAVE THIS LARGE W WATERWAY, WHICH IT JUST FILLS AND DRAINS, FILLS AND DRAINS.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO USE THAT KIND OF BOAT.
YOU'RE GOING TO GET A ROGUE WAVE.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY WERE USING.
SO I'VE BEEN TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, PLAY THE GAME, TRY TO REPLICATE HOW IT MAY HAVE BEEN DONE, AND I'VE KIND OF COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE SELF BAILING.
WHAT IS A SELF BAILING TYPE THING? IT'S A RAFT.
UH, AND I'VE ACTUALLY, UH, YOU KNOW, PURCHASED SPECIAL ORDER, A NICE SHORT ONE.
AND IF IT'S BASICALLY, THEY CALL IT SELF BAILING, THEY CALL IT SIT ON TOP BECAUSE YOUR ENTIRE BODY IS ABOVE THE WATER.
MARK TWAIN WILL, WILL LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, IT CALLS, IT'S A RAFT MARKETING TODAY.
THEY CALL IT SIT ON TOP KAYAK.
BUT IT'S THAT TYPE OF THING THAT I'M STUDYING.
AND, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU FISH FROM IT? HOW DO YOU WALK FROM IT? HOW DO YOU SHELL FROM IT? HOW, UH, CAN, CAN YOU PULL IT ON A ROPE WHEN YOUR WATER'S UP TO HERE AT LOW TIDE AND, AND GET SHELLS? FABULOUS THINGS.
THEY COME DOWN HERE IS TO GET 'EM OFF THE IPAD, GET 'EM OUT THERE, TEACH 'EM AGE APPROPRIATE.
EVENTUALLY, I HOPE TO, MAYBE THEY CAN MAKE THEIR OWN RAFT AS THEY GET OLDER.
AND IT SOUNDS PERFECT FOR LIKE A HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT TERM LETTER, BUT THAT'S WHY THAT LITTLE BOAT ISSUE IS IMPORTANT TO ME.
I NEED THOSE TOOLS IN ORDER TO DO THIS TYPE OF THING.
ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? OKAY.
UM, SEEING THAT THERE IS SOME DESIRE TO MOVE THIS BACK TO ONE OF THE TWO COMMITTEES, UM, SHOULD WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE VOTE AS, UM, HAS ALREADY BEEN, THE MOTION'S BEEN MADE? YES.
YES, IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN MADE.
AND SECOND, THE, THE ORIGINAL MOTION BEING THE, TO APPROVE THE FIRST READING, RIGHT? IF, IF YOU'RE REMANDING THAT TO, UH, OR, OR TO A COMMITTEE, THEN THAT MOTION THAT MRS. BRYSON OR MS. BRYSON MADE WOULD NEED A SECOND.
SHE DID NOT RECEIVE A SECOND ON THAT.
SO YOU WANT TO REISSUE YOUR MOTION? I RESTATE THE MOTION TO REFER IT TO THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE, BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT THE QUESTIONS AND AMENDMENTS I'M SUGGESTING HAVE TO DO WITH PLANNING AND DENSITY.
UM, AND, UH, WOULD ASK FOR A SECOND.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
CRYSTAL, WILL YOU CALL THE ROLL? YES, SIR.
UH, MR. BROWN SUPPORT THE MOTION.
MS. BRYSON SUPPORT MR. AMES? YES.
MS. BECKER? SO I, SO I, I WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT THIS.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, I DON'T KNOW, I PROBABLY AM OUT OF ORDER IN TERMS OF, UH, MAKING AN AMENDMENT, BUT I THINK THAT THE COMMITTEE GOES BACK TO, SHOULD BE LEFT OPEN UNTIL WE DECIDE WHERE IT'S PROPER PLACEMENT IS.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT THE MOTION WITH THAT CHANGE.
IS THAT POSSIBLE? DID I DO THAT? YES.
NO,
[02:25:01]
YOU AMENDING THE MOTIONS? I WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THE MOTION, PLEASE, TO LEAVE, UH, TO DO, UM, EVERYTHING THAT COUNCILWOMAN BRYSON MENTIONED OTHER THAN SPECIFICALLY NAME THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE AND LEAVE THAT PIECE OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.IS THERE A SECOND FOR THE MOTION TO AMEND? OH, I'M SORRY.
I'M TRYING TO FIGURE YOU'VE ALREADY STARTED TO VOTE ON THIS MOTION.
PARDON? THE, DOES THIS NOT WORK? I, I, I, THE COUNCIL HAS ALREADY STARTED TO VOTE ON THE EXISTING MOTION.
SO I, I THINK THE FLOORS CLOSED TO AMENDMENTS ON THAT MOTION AT THIS TIME.
UH, SO MS. BECKER, I'M GONNA VOTE NO BECAUSE OF THE REASON I JUST STATED MR. ALFRED? YES, MR. STANFORD SUPPORT THE MOTION.
MAYOR PERRY? UH, I'M GONNA SAY YES.
AND ALSO, UM, IT CAME THROUGH THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE AND THROUGH THE PUBLIC, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO, YES, SUPPORT, UH, MOTION CARRIE, SIR, TO REMAND IT BACK TO PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE? YEP.
[10.c. First Reading of Proposed Ordinance 2023-02 Amending Section 2-5-10 of the Municipal Code for the Town of Hilton Head Island Related to the Date, Time, and Place of a Regularly Scheduled Town Council Meeting]
UH, FIRST READING OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE 20 23 0 2, AMENDING SECTION TWO DASH FIVE DASH 10 OF THE INITIAL POST OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND RELATED TO THE DATE, TIME, AND PLACE OF REGULARLY SCHEDULED TOWN COUNCIL MEETING.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO, MOVE.
JOSH, DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION? BRIEF, BRIEF PRESENTATION.
JUST TO HIGHLIGHT THE, THE TOP LEVEL POINTS ON THIS, UH, EXISTING TOWN CODE REQUIRES THAT TOWN COUNCIL MEET ON THE FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAYS OF EVERY MONTH AT 4:00 PM BASED UPON THE COUNT, THE SCHEDULE THAT WAS ADOPTED BY THIS COUNCIL.
UM, IT DOESN'T LINE UP WITH THAT LANGUAGE.
SO WE'RE PROPOSING TO AMEND THE CODE LANGUAGE TO PROVIDE GREATER FLEXIBILITY TO COUNSEL.
SO LONG AS WE'RE SATISFYING THE STATE REQUIREMENT TO MEET MONTHLY, YOU WOULD OTHERWISE MEET BASED UPON THE SCHEDULE THAT'S APPROVED BY COUNSEL AS A BODY.
ANY DISCUSSION BY COUNSEL? ANY PUBLIC DISCUSSION? IS THAT A YES OR A NO? MEAN, MEAN RELEVANT TO OKAY.
THAT WAS, I WAS, I DIDN'T SEE THAT.
I DIDN'T SEE THE BUDGET REPORT UP THERE.
PLUS I'M PART OF HEARING BEFORE YOU START THE CLOCK, COULD YOU GIVE ME A FAVOR? WE'RE NOT, COULD YOU GET A HEARING? WE'RE WE'RE NOT UNDER BUDGET RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT BUDGET.
WHAT'S THE BUDGET YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT? NO, NO, THAT'S NEXT.
THIS IS, THIS IS WHAT, UH, HEARING IMPAIRED CAUSES, SO, SORRY.
SO, UM, HEARING NO MORE DISCUSSION.
CRYSTAL, CAN YOU CALL THE ROLL PLEASE? MR. BROWN? SUPPORT MS. BRYSON? THE BOARD.
[10.d. First Reading of Proposed Ordinance 2023-03 Amending the Municipal Budget for the Town of Hilton Head Island for the Fiscal Year Budget Ending June 30, 2023 ]
OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE 2023 DASH OH THREE, AMENDING THE MUNICIPAL BUDGET FOR THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BUDGET ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2023.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED.
IS THERE A SECOND? THANK YOU, MR. TROYER.
UM, WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IS, UH, SEVERAL DIFFERENT PIECES TO THIS.
THERE'S AN, UH, RECOMMENDATION FOR, UH, THE PARKING COMMITTEE OR THE PARKING CONSULTANT MADE A RECOMMENDATION.
AND SO THERE'S, UH, FUNDS THERE FOR THAT $869,000.
WE NOW HAVE A PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR.
AND HIS, UM, NOW THAT HE'S HERE, HE'S, UM, ABLE TO SAY, THESE ARE THE TOOLS THAT HE NEEDS TO GET STARTED.
AND SO THERE'S, UM, $84,000 THERE.
THERE IS A REQUEST FOR A HOUSING PROGRAM MANAGER, AND, UH, THAT TO DO THAT IMPORTANT WORK, UM, 50,625.
UM, THERE IS ALSO A PROPOSAL FOR TWO PIECES IN THE STORM WATER, SOME BACKFLOW PREVENTION GATES, AND, UM, REPLACEMENT OF TWO PUMPS AND THE LOTTON BASIN.
UH, THOSE ARE, UM, AND WHY ARE WE SPEAKING OF THIS IS MOSTLY BECAUSE OF THE LONG LEAD TIME AND IT TAKES EXTRA TIME TO ORDER, AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET THESE, UM, IN PLACE, UM, AS SOON AS WE CAN SO THAT, UM, WE CAN BE AS, UH, PREPARED AS WE CAN FOR HURRICANE READINESS AND TO ACCEPT THE, UM, 5 MILLION STATE GRANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
UM, THAT'S THE STATE FUNDS, AND THEN ALSO TO USE THE COUNTY, UM, ARPA FUNDS FOR THE, UM, C D C, UM, OPERATIONS.
AND SO THERE'S, UH, THERE'S KIND OF A LONG LIST HERE, BUT, UM, CERTAINLY WOULD WELCOME ANY KIND OF
[02:30:01]
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.ANY COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL? I HAVE, YES, TAMMY.
SO WE ARE USING FUNDS FROM THE SHORT TERM RENTAL PERMIT FEES MM-HMM.
UM, AND SO THERE'S, THERE'S TWO COMPONENTS TO THAT MM-HMM.
UM, BUT YES, WE ARE, UM, THERE'S, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO CAPTURE IS, UH, THE BUSINESS THAT IS REQUIRED OF SHORT TERM RENTALS MM-HMM.
SO JUST A QUESTION IN TERMS OF HOW THAT, UH, REVENUE LOOKS.
RIGHT NOW, WE'VE BEEN ENCOURAGED, UM, WE'VE HAD OVER 1700 APPLICATIONS.
UM, THERE HASN'T BEEN THAT MANY PERMITS.
THERE'S STILL BEING IN THE PROCESS, BUT IT'S A REALLY GOOD START FOR ONLY, UH, WE WENT LIVE JANUARY 3RD, 1700 APPLICATIONS.
WE'RE FEELING, UH, THIS IS A REALLY STRONG START.
UM, SO 17,000 APPLICATIONS, 17 FOUR SHORT.
AND THE PROCESS IS THAT THE APPLICATION, YOU GET A SHORT TERM RENTAL APPLICATION, A PERMIT, AND THEN YOU GET YOUR BUSINESS LICENSE.
AND SO THE BUSINESS LICENSES RENEWALS ARE DUE BY THE END OF APRIL.
AND SO OUR EXPECTATION IS, IS THAT WE'LL HAVE, UM, MUCH MORE COMPLETE NUMBERS ON OUR SHORT TERM RENTALS AS WE GET CLOSER TO THAT APRIL 30TH.
SO 1700 APPLICATIONS FOR SHORT TERM RENTAL PERMIT TO DATE, YES.
AND, AND WHILE I UNDERSTAND TWO THINGS, WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE OPTIMISM IN TERMS OF WHAT FUNDS THAT WILL GENERATE, WE'RE RELYING ON SOMETHING THAT'S UNKNOWN.
AND SO THAT'S ONE CONCERN IF ANYONE WANTS TO HELP ME WITH THAT.
AND THEN THE SECOND ONE IS, IT CERTAINLY WAS NEVER MY INTENTION THAT SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMIT FEES WOULD BE USED AS A REVENUE SOURCE TO FUND OTHER AREAS OF OUR TOWN GOVERNMENT.
AND THAT, IN FACT, THE FOCUS FOR ME WAS SOLELY ON MAKING SURE THAT WE HAD PERMITS IN PLACE THAT WOULD HELP TO BRING A BALANCE BETWEEN THE SHORT TERM RENTAL INDUSTRY AND OUR RESIDENTS, AND NOT USE IT AS A TROUGH OF FUNDS.
AND SO I'M A LITTLE BIT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
UM, BUT I, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT, THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE PERMIT WAS TO JUST HELP OFFSET THE, UM, ATTENTION AND, UM, THE RESOURCES NEEDED FROM THE, FROM THE TOWN.
AND SO I, I THINK IT'S CERTAINLY WE CAN HAVE A GOOD, UM, DISCUSSION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT, WHAT'S THE LIST AND WHAT SHOULD THE LIST BE? AND WE'LL CERTAINLY DO THAT IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.
BUT, BUT THIS STEP WILL ENABLE IT.
WE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS TOO FAR OF A STRETCH FOR SOME SMALL STEPS IN ORDER TO SAY, YES, WE KNOW THAT THAT IS IMPACTING TOWN OPERATIONS.
AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IF WE FALL SHORT OF THE, THE FUNDS NEEDED, UM, FROM THE SHORT TERM RENTAL, WE CAN SUPPLEMENT.
AND CERTAINLY THERE'S A COUPLE OTHER OPTIONS FOR SUPPLEMENT, UM, INCLUDING OUR HOSPITALITY TAX OR INCLUDING IF, IF NEED BE.
BUT WE LIKE TO ALWAYS PROTECT OUR GENERAL FUND.
AND SO THAT WOULD BE OUR MORE LAST RESORT.
AND SO, I'M, I'M COMFORTABLE, I'M COMFORTABLE WITH WHERE WE ARE AT 1700 TIMES, $250.
THERE WAS ANOTHER PLACE, WASN'T THERE? MM-HMM.
AND SO THERE'S AN OPERATIONAL COMPONENT AND THERE'S ALSO A CAPITAL COMPONENT.
AND SO, UM, THIS IS RESPONDING TO THE TOWN'S PARKING CONSULTANT.
UM, THEY WANTED TO GET SOME OF THESE, UM, IMPROVEMENTS IN PLACE BEFORE, UH, THE BUSIEST OF THE TOURIST SEASON.
AND SO THIS WILL HELP US TO GET THERE.
AND, UM, THE POLICIES THAT GO WITH THOSE PARKING, UM, WILL BE CONSIDERED A FUTURE TIME.
AND SO I, I, I THINK THAT WILL BE A, A REALLY INFORMATIVE AND HELPFUL DISCUSSION FOR COUNCIL THEN.
I'M VERY PLEASED TO SEE THE, UH, INCLUSION OF THE, UH, DRAINAGE PROBLEMS ON THE SOUTH END OF THE ISLAND THAT ARE THERE.
UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE WERE, UH, PUMP REPLACEMENTS JUST A SHORT TIME AGO WITH USED PUMPS.
THE SOUTH PART OF THE ISLAND IS THE LOWEST PART OF THE ISLAND.
[02:35:01]
WE HOPE YOU HURRY UP AND GET THEM SOON BEFORE WE HAVE ANOTHER FLOOD.WE APPROVED THE PARKING PLAN MANY MONTHS AGO.
ARE YOU SAYING NOW WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE THE PARKING PLAN IMPLEMENTED FOR THIS UPCOMING TOUR SEASON? WELL, THAT'S PART OF WHAT THE, UH, BUDGET AMENDMENT WILL ALLOW US TO, UM, EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH, UM, THE PROVIDER.
AND SO, UH, THE PARKING CONSULTANT DID THE BACKGROUND STUDY, RECOMMENDED, UM, A NUMBER OF, UM, PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS AS WELL AS OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS.
AND WE HAD SOME MONEY IN THE CIP P JUST TO GET IT STARTED.
BUT THIS WOULD ALLOW, UM, THE TOWN TO GO FORWARD WITH A CONTRACT FOR PARKING SERVICES.
SO IT'S NOT LIKELY WE'LL HAVE THE PARKING PLAN FULLY IMPLEMENTED FOR THE TOURIST SEASON THIS YEAR.
UH, THE EXPECTATION IS IT WOULD BE, YES.
UM, I, I'M, I'M IN SUPPORT OF, UH, AMENDING THE BUDGET.
UM, I, I DO HAVE, UH, JUST A, JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
UM, AND THE FIRST ONE IS NOT NECESSARILY I'M WANTING TO CHANGE ANYTHING TONIGHT ON THE AMENDMENT, BUT I'M JUST PLANTING A SEED HERE.
I KNOW THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT IS LOOKING FOR, UH, CAMERAS, UH, TO HELP WITH BEACH MANAGEMENT.
UM, I, I JUST, UH, OFFER THAT AS WE START TO GET INTO OUR, OUR BUDGET DELIBERATIONS THAT WE CONSIDER CAMERAS OUTSIDE OF THE BEACH AREAS ALSO.
UM, THAT TECHNOLOGY IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT CAN HELP US, UM, ALONG THE WAY WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, CRIME AND SAFETY.
UM, THE, THE, THE SECOND ONE IS AROUND THE BEACH PARKING, UM, DESIRE.
UM, THE, THE CAPITAL EXPENSE, UH, SPEAKS TO TECHNOLOGY FOR 155 SPACE SENSORS, BUT OUR INVENTORY OF, UH, TOTAL PARKING SPACES IS OVER 1600.
UH, SO I'M NOT QUITE CLEAR AS TO WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH CHARGING FOR PARKING WITH TECHNOLOGY, CHARGING FOR PARKING AT PARTICULAR SITES.
UM, I THINK I'M JUST GONNA TAKE A QUICK STEP BACK CAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A VERY METHODICAL AND INCREMENTAL PROCESS.
SO FIRST WE WORKED ON SELECTING A PREFERRED VENDOR.
THEN WE WORKED ON DEVELOPING A PROPOSED SCOPE OF SERVICES.
NOW WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE WE'RE READY GONNA ADOPT A CONTRACT THAT'S IN LINE WITH THOSE SERVICES.
WHAT THAT'S REFERRING TO IS SPECIFICALLY WITH ISLANDERS BEACH PARK, AND THEN A VERY SMALL PORTION OF DREESEN WHERE WE HAVE RESERVED SPACES FOR ISLAND RESIDENTS.
THOSE PARKING SENSORS WOULD BE USED TO ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE THAT IS PARKING IN THAT SPACE IS A PASSHOLDER IN AN ISLAND RESIDENT.
AND SO IT'S NOT FOR EVERY PARKING SPACE THAT WE HAVE, UM, THE CAMERAS THAT WERE PART OF THAT TECHNOLOGY AS WELL, THOSE WILL BE POSITIONED TO CAPTURE TRAFFIC COMING IN AND COMING OUT OF THOSE LOTS SO THAT IN A HOPEFULLY REAL-TIME BASIS, WE CAN COMMUNICATE WITH THE PUBLIC WHAT AVAILABILITY OR LACK THEREOF THERE IS WITH EACH OF THE PARKS.
SO THAT, THAT CUMULATIVE FIGURE CONSISTS OF A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TECHNOLOGY, WHICH IS CAMERAS, THE PARKING SENSORS, UH, PHYSICAL GATE ARMS AMONG A NUMBER OF THINGS.
SO SHOULD I SAFELY ASSUME THAT ROUGHLY 1400 PLUS SPACES ON HILTON HEAD ARE HOW WE BUILT THE PERFORMER AS TO THE END RESULT AS THE REVENUE STREAM COMING IN? THAT'S IT.
AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE NOT BRINGING FORWARD ANYTHING THAT TALKS ABOUT REVENUE AT THIS POINT.
WE'RE JUST BRINGING FORWARD A CONTRACT THAT'S IN LINE WITH THE SCOPE OF SERVICES THAT WERE APPROVED BY COUNSEL.
WHAT MR. TROYER REFERRED TO IS THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS WILL THEN BE TO COME WITH FORWARD WITH POLICY CONSIDERATIONS FOR DISCUSSION BY COUNSEL THAT THEN TALK ABOUT WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO IN TERMS OF CHARGING, IF ANYTHING, FOR THOSE SPACES, AND THEN LINE UP THAT, UH, THAT SCHEDULE, UM, WITH THE VARIOUS PARKS, KNOWING WHAT'S GOING TO BE IN PLACE PURSUANT TO THE CONTRACT.
UH, I'M GONNA STATE MY CONCERN OUT LOUD AGAIN.
UM, WE, WE ARE STILL NOT CERTAIN AS TO IF THIS IS GOING TO BE A REVENUE STREAM FOR THE TOWN OR NOT.
UM, AND OF COURSE, IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH THAT DEFICIT, WE WILL THEN HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON HOW MUCH TO CHARGE, WHERE TO CHARGE, AND THAT SORT OF THING.
UM, SO I, I, I STILL HAVE, UH, I, I, I UNDERSTAND THAT WE WANT TO GET SOMETHING IN PLACE BEFORE THE HEIGHT OF THE SEASON, BUT I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT WE'LL BE RACING AGAINST THE CLOCK AT THAT POINT AND NOT BEING CAREFUL WITH THE DECISIONS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE TO, TO, TO OFFSET ANY DEFICIENCIES THAT MAY COME LATER DOWN THE ROAD.
[02:40:01]
SO THIS ONE I THINK LEADS A LITTLE BIT MORE DISCUSSION IN, IN MY OPINION, UM, AT AT COMMITTEE LEVEL.WE ARE RACING AGAINST THE CLOCK FOR TOURIST SEASON OR WHATEVER WE CALL IT.
I FEEL LIKE THAT'S ABOUT 60 DAYS AWAY.
AND, AND GETTING INTO THE PEAK, UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF DECISIONS TO MAKE.
IS, IS CNI, ARE WE CHARGING AT COLIGNY, UH, VERRESEN VERSE ISLANDERS? AND, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT ARE THOSE RULES? NOT JUST HOURS OF OPERATION, UM, AT THE PARK? DOES CNI STAY OPEN TILL 11 AND WE CLOSE ISLANDERS AT NINE? SO THERE IS A LOT OF THAT WORK TO DO.
AND WHEN JOSH REFERS TO POLICY, IT'S RULES AND IT'S COST, RIGHT? SO IT'S, IT'S PER CAR, PER VEHICLE PER HOUR.
WE NEED TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS.
WE ARE TRYING TO BRING THIS FORWARD BECAUSE WE KNOW IT TAKES TIME TO MOBILIZE AND, AND INSTALL THE EQUIPMENT.
BUT WHILE THAT'S GOING ON, WE FULLY INTEND TO BRING THIS BACK TO APPROPRIATE COMMITTEE TO TALK ABOUT THAT POLICY.
THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO DO, AND I'M, I'M NERVOUS ABOUT GOING TOO FAST AND GETTING THE RULES WRONG.
UM, BUT I'VE, JUST FROM MY OWN PERSPECTIVE, I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THIS AS A REVENUE STREAM AS MUCH AS A BEACH PARKING MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
SO I WANT TO RESET THOSE EXPECTATIONS AS WE START TALKING ABOUT POLICY AND PRICE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL? MAYOR, CAN I JUST FOLLOW UP ON YES.
MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE, UM, SHORT TERM RENTAL PERMIT FEES? SO HAVING EXPRESSED WHAT I ALREADY DID WITH REGARD TO MY, MY BELIEF ON HOW THOSE FUNDS WERE, UM, BEING SET ASIDE, DO WE HAVE, SO THERE'S AN ENTIRE SYSTEM WITH SHORT TERM RENTALS, RIGHT? THAT WE HAVE SET UP, WE HAVE THE MONITORING, WE HAVE EXTRA CODE PEOPLE, WE HAVE ALL OF THAT IS ALL THAT WHEN IT'S ALL PAID FOR IN ADDITION TO THIS, UM, FUNDED YES.
ALL OF THAT, IN ADDITION TO THIS $134,000 AND $7,759 IS FUNDED.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL? SEEING NONE, PUBLIC COMMENT, MR. HOLAND, I'D LIKE TO APOLOGIZE FOR OUR LAST, UH, RUN IN THERE, BUT I DO THINK IT'S SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO GET OUT A PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATION TO OPPOSING VIEW IN THREE MINUTES.
UM, ONE OTHER THING BEFORE THE CLOCK STARTS, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO ASK, CUZ I AM HEARING IMPAIRED AND I KNOW THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM THAT ARE ALSO HEARING IMPAIRED, AND IT'S HARD FOR ME TO EVEN HEAR WITH MY HEARING AIDS IN.
SO I'M GONNA ASK IF YOU WOULD, UH, TO CONSIDER GETTING, UM, UH, HEARING ASSISTED HEADPHONES, HEADSETS, LIKE THEY DO, UH, IN THE BEAVER COUNTY COURT SYSTEM.
I JUST, YOU KNOW, I I, I ATTEND SOME TRIALS IN COURT COURT CASES NUMEROUS TIMES, AND IF Y'ALL WILL DO THAT SOONER THAN LATER, I WOULD, UH, BE HAPPY TO MAKE A DONATION AND PAY FOR THAT, UH, FOR ALL THE CITIZENS IN THIS ROOM BECAUSE IT WOULD REALLY HELP, UH, WITH THE ATTENDANCE.
OH, YOU GOT ONE? YOU GOT THE HEADSET ALSO.
IT'S, IT'S GOT A HEADPHONE ON HERE.
I'D LIKE TO TEST THAT, BUT, YOU KNOW.
AND I'LL COME OVER AND GET IT AFTER I'M FINISHED HERE.
TOWN BUDGETS AND AUDITS, I HATE TO SAY IT, ARE FRAUD, NO ACCOUNTING ON MILLIONS OF OVERCHARGED LEGAL FEES BY THE DISHONEST TOWN LAWYERS, OR MILLIONS OF A TAX FUNDS HANDED TO THE CHAMBER, PLUS MILLIONS OF HOSPITALITY TAX USAGE HAS DISAPPEARED.
GREEN FINNEY AUDITOR WAS HIRED BY VIOLATORS, ORLANDO GRUBER, BOTH CAUGHT COMMITTING ILLEGAL ACTS WITH C P CPA TROYER AND TOW.
THEY CALLED US A POSITIVE INDEPENDENT AUDIT.
THIS COULD NOT BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.
THIS IS NOT AN EXTERNAL INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL AUDIT.
IT'S AN INTERNAL AUDIT HIRED BY THE TOWN INSIDERS AND PAID BY TOWN TAX FUNDS TO HIDE AND CHEAT TAXPAYERS.
THE AUDIT ONLY SHOWS WHAT INSIDERS WANT US TO SEE.
ONLY AN INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL FORENSIC AUDIT SHOWS THE REAL NUMBERS ON HOW AND WHERE FUNDS WERE ILLEGALLY USED AND WASTED.
PEOPLE ARE OFTEN CONFUSED ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT PREPARED BY INSIDERS AND A DETAILED EXTERNAL AUDIT.
THE GREEN FINNEY AUDIT WILL NOT ANALYZE EVERY TRANSACTION OR LOOK FOR FRAUD.
SPECIFICALLY, I CALLED GREEN FINNEY AND THEY AGREED MY ASSESSMENT WAS CORRECT.
A FORENSIC AUDIT, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS CONDUCTED BY FORENSIC AUDIT EXPERT, SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO UNCOVER FRAUD, WASTE, ILLEGAL CRIMINAL USE AND ISSUE
[02:45:01]
OF TAX FUNDS, WHICH WE HAVE ALREADY CAUGHT THESE 10 EMPLOYEES, GRUBER, ORLANDO, AND COLTRANE DOING MR. ORLANDO, DO YOU AND TROYER AND THE LAWYERS AGREE TO A FORENSIC AUDIT TODAY, MR. ORLANDO? IF NOT, WHY NOT? IF YOU HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE.FACT IS THE TOWN COUNCIL HAS NEVER SEEN THE ACCOUNTING TO IDENTIFY ILLEGAL TAX USE.
ALEX BROWN, THE HEAD OF FINANCE COMMITTEE, WILL ACCOMPLISH NOTHING WITH VERY, UH, VERY LITTLE, UH, KNOWLEDGE AND ACCOUNTING.
LET ME, LET ME HELP YOU WITH A STATISTIC.
NEVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAS A FORENSIC AUDIT BEEN CONDUCTED ON A TOWN GOVERNMENT, A CHAMBER OF SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE WRONGDOING, WASTE, AND FRAUD WAS NOT DISCOVERED.
MOST OF THE TIME, THE AG AND THE FBI NEEDS TO ACT ON THIS TOWN FRAUD.
NOW WE END UP WITH A PART-TIME MAYOR WHO HAS STATED WE DON'T NEED CHAMBER OF TRANSPARENCY PASSED LENNOX SCHEMED TO HIDE EIGHT TAX FUNDING FOR BILL MILES, INCLUDING IN, INCLUDING HELP FROM LAWYERS FINGER AND CALL, TRAIN WHO DRAFTED THE FRAUDULENT DMO CHAMBER CONTRACT.
NOW, PERRY AND BROWN WILL DO THE SAME.
LAWYERS ARE ALSO ALLOWING THE CHAMBER TO USE TAX FUNDS FOR PRIVATE PURPOSES AND PROFIT.
THIS IS ALSO ILLEGAL UNDER SOUTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTIONAL STATE LAW.
AND A BUDDY OF MINE WON THAT, UH, THAT CASE AT THE SUPREME COURT LEVEL.
AND THE REASON THE TOWN IS BEING SUED, UH, RECENTLY, UH, BECAUSE THEY ISSUED $2 MILLION OF TAX FUNDS AS C PINES FOR THE DREDGING OF HARBORTOWN, YOU CANNOT USE TAX MONIES.
YOU CAN'T USE IT FOR PRIVATE PURPOSE.
AND I WANT THE $2 MILLION PAID BACK TO TAXPAYERS.
AND I WANNA STOP BILL MILES USING OUR TAX MONEY OKAY.
THANK MR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, MR. WILL YOU CALL THE ROLL PLEA? YES, MA'AM.
MR. TROY, CAN YOU, UM, THE, UH, PROPOSED, UH, OPERATING EXPENSE FOR THE BEACH, UH, PARKING MANAGEMENT, UH, 360 6 KK, UM, THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL? WAS THERE A DIFFERENCE IN THAT NUMBER IN THIS NUMBER? PROBABLY, UM, IT SHOULD BE, IT'S IN YOUR, UM, PACKETS.
UM, THIS IS THE MOST RECENT ONE, SO I, I I THINK IT'S BEEN THROUGH, UM, SEVERAL DIFFERENT ITERATIONS.
AND, AND THIS IS THE MOST RECENT ONE.
IS THAT YOUR QUESTION? I'M, I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW, WHEN WE DID THE ORIGINAL STUDY, THERE WAS A PROPOSED NUMBER OF OPERATING EXPENSES THAT WENT ALONG WITH US SAYING, GO AHEAD AND FIGURE THIS OUT.
I NEED TO KNOW IF THAT NUMBER IS IN THE SAME RANGE OF THIS 360 16.
IT IS THE WALKER REPORT, WHICH WAS JUST AN ESTIMATE ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT.
YES, I BELIEVE PUT THAT NUMBER AT AROUND $400,000 FOR ANNUAL OPERATING COSTS.
SO FOR CLARIFICATION, THE MOTION BEFORE US IS TO APPROVE THESE BUDGET AMENDMENTS? THAT IS CORRECT.
CRYSTAL, CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.
[10.e. First Reading of Proposed Ordinance 2023-05 Authorizing the Execution of a Deed Conveying a Portion of Real Property Owned by the Town of Hilton Head Island Located at 137 Squire Pope Road]
READING A PROPOSED ORDINANCE 2023 DASH OH FIVE AUTHOR AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A DEED CONVEYING A PORTION OF REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY THE TOWN OF HILTON NET ISLAND, LOCATED AT 1 37 SQUIRE POPE ROAD.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED.
JOSH, YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR US? YEAH.
I'M GONNA PULL UP A PICTURE HERE SO WE CAN, UH, JUST BRIEFLY CHAT ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
UM, THE TOWN PURCHASED A PIECE OF PROPERTY A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO.
IT'S THE SITE FOR THE ROWING AND SAILING CENTER.
AT THE TIME THAT THE PROPERTY WAS PURCHASED, WE BELIEVE THERE WAS AN EXISTING ENCROACHMENT INTO THE TOWN'S PROPERTY THAT WAS FAILED, UH, TO BE IDENTIFIED ON THE SURVEYS THAT WE OBTAINED AT THE TIME WE PURCHASED THE PROPERTY.
THE LOCATION OF THE DRIVEWAY SERVES THE ADJACENT RESIDENCE.
AND GIVEN THE LOCATION OF THE STRUCTURE AND HOW IT'S ORIENTED, IT REALLY IS THE ONLY WAY THAT THE ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNER CAN ACCESS THE DRIVEWAY AND THEIR, UH, GARAGE ON THE HOUSE.
SO, BASED UPON THE FACT THAT THE, UH, ENCROACHMENT EXISTED AT THE TIME THAT THE TOWN ACQUIRED THE PROPERTY STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THE COUNCIL ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TRANSFERRING, I BELIEVE IT'S 825 SQUARE FEET, UH, OF THAT TOWN OWNED PARCEL TO THE ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNER TO RESOLVE THE
[02:50:01]
CONFLICT AND ALLOW FOR THE CONTINUED USE AND ACCESS, UH, OF THEIR GARAGE.JOSH, IS THIS IN ANY WAY IMPAIR ACCESS TO THE ROWING AND SAILING CENTER? IT DOES NOT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BY COUNSEL? TAMMY? JUST A CONCERN THAT WE ARE SETTING A PRECEDENT WITH THIS.
UM, AND I WANT TO, UH, THAT IS A CONCERN.
UM, THERE ARE OTHER SITUATIONS I'M CERTAIN ACROSS THE ISLAND THAT WILL POP THEIR HEADS UP AND, UM, I'M UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
I KNOW IN THE PAST, UM, WHERE SITUATIONS OF, UM, A LAND NEEDED TO BE ADDED TO A PROPERTY, UM, THERE'S BEEN A PURCHASE WHILE IT WAS A REASONABLE AND, UM, UH, PURCHASE IT, IT, IT WAS SET FORTH IN, IN THAT TYPE OF WAY.
AND SO I'M UNCOMFORTABLE WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
WELL, A SET OF PRESIDENTS FOR THE FUTURE AND US BEING IN THE SAME SITUATION.
UM, AND I, I UNDERSTAND OUR DOCUMENTS AREN'T COM COMPLETE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL? ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? YES, SIR.
MY NAME IS GEORGE POTO AND, UH, I ONLY HAVE COUPLE QUICK COMMENTS.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE TOWN ORDERED GIVEAWAY ANY PROPERTY AT ANY TIME.
I THINK A DOLLAR HAS SET SOME SORT OF A MONETARY PRICE FOR THIS REASONABLY.
THE SECOND THING IS I WANT TO BE VERY CAREFUL OF WHAT HAS IS NOW IN THE PROCESS ON JONESVILLE ROAD, WHERE SOMEONE ACCUMULATES A LITTLE ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TO GET AROUND THE LMO, WHICH GIVES THEM A DENSITY OF OVER FIVE ACRES AND INCREASES THE DENSITY OF USAGE TO TWICE THAT AMOUNT.
SO IF THEY HAVE FOUR PER ACRE, BUT THEY GO OVER A FIVE ACRE PIECE AND HAVE FIVE AND A HALF, THEY GET EIGHT UNITS PER ACRE.
THAT MUST BE IMMEDIATELY ADDRESSED BY THE L M O.
AND ANYBODY THAT THINKS THAT THAT'S A FAIR REASONABLE SITUATION NEEDS SOME HELP TO GO FROM FIVE ACRES TO FIVE AND A HALF AND DOUBLE THE DENSITY, YOU GOTTA BE OUTTA YOUR MIND.
ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? OKAY.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL? OKAY.
CRYSTAL, WILL YOU CALL THE ROLL PLEASE? MR. BROWN? SUPPORT.
MOTION CARRIES SIX TO ONE, SIR.
[10.f. Consideration of a Resolution of the Town of Hilton Head Island Approving the Recommendation from the Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee for the Calendar Year 2023 Accommodations Tax Grants]
CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HU ISLAND APPROVING THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2023.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SHALL MOVED.
UH, I HAD ASKED KRISTA TO PUT THE, UH, SPREADSHEET OF THE RECOMMENDATION UP OF THE, UH, ACCOMMODATIONS TAX COMMITTEE.
AND I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL THAT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX COMMITTEE, UM, MR. FLUER, COULD GIVE YOU A VERY BRIEF, UM, REPORT OF, UM, THEIR WORK AND THEIR RECOMMENDATION.
I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
MR. MAYOR AND COUNSEL, HANG ON.
WELL, I THINK SHE'S GONNA PUT IT UP ON THE SCREEN REAL QUICK FOR YOU.
UM, WE HAVE 34 APPLICANTS THIS YEAR FOR THE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX.
UH, OF THOSE, UH, 34, UM, I CONSIDER THAT 32 OF THEM RECEIVED FULL FUNDING FROM THEIR REQUESTS.
THERE WERE FIVE THAT WERE LIMITED, UH, IN, UH, THEIR REQUEST BECAUSE OF TURK ACCOMMODATIONS, AND THAT'S FROM THE TOURISM EXPENDITURE REVIEW COMMITTEE, THOSE STANDARDS THAT THEY'VE PUT OUT AND THAT THE TOWN, UH, STAFF RECOMMENDED.
SO, UM, ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS, UH, FIT THE CATEGORY UNDER THE STATUTE FOR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, UH, MEANT TO, UM, ENHANCE OR DRIVE TOURISM.
AND THAT'S THE MAIN GOAL OF THE COMMITTEE IS, UH, ONE OF THE FIRST DECISIONS IS WHAT, UH, BASICALLY
[02:55:01]
HEADS AND BEDS AND, AND FEET ON THE GROUND.AND, UH, 32 OF THOSE, UH, OF THE 34, WE THOUGHT DID THAT COMPLETELY AND FULLY, THE TWO THAT WE DID NOT FUND FULLY.
UM, THEIR NUMBERS WERE JUST NOT, UH, ADEQUATE TO SUPPORT FUNDING.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY INDIVIDUAL REQUESTS, UH, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THAT.
UM, I THINK WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA RUN THROUGH THEM, SO STICK AROUND IN CASE THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, WHAT, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO NOW, MAY I ASK ONE QUESTION? GO AHEAD REAL QUICK.
WHAT WAS THE VOTE COMING OUT OF Y'ALL'S COMMITTEE IN TERMS OF MOVING THIS FORWARD? I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS THE FINAL VOTE? UH, COMING OUT OF COMMITTEE, MOVING THIS FORWARD TO TOWN COUNCIL? I THINK IT WAS, UH, SIX IN FAVOR WITH ONE ABSTENTION.
MR. TROY, WOULD YOU HAVE SOMETHING ADDITIONAL? UH, WE CAN GO DOWN THE LIST OR HOWEVER.
UM, WHAT, WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO, TO DO IS, UM, GO DOWN THE LIST AND TALK ABOUT EACH ONE.
IF THERE IS AN AMENDMENT THAT WANTS TO BE MADE THAT YOU WANNA MAKE ON ANY ONE OF THEM, PLEASE, LET'S NOTE IT.
AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK AND ADDRESS THAT INDIVIDUALLY.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF COLUMNS AND WE'LL BE FOCUSING ON COLUMN J, WHICH IS THE REQUEST COLUMN K, WHICH IS THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION.
AND THEN OF COURSE, TOWN COUNCIL AWARD IS BLANK AND YOU CAN DISCUSS AND, AND WE'LL TAKE NOTES AS COUNCIL MAKES DECISIONS, UM, ART LEAGUE OF HILTON HEAD, ARE THERE ANY, ANY AMENDMENTS THERE? ANY ADJUSTMENTS? OKAY, CONTINUE.
UM, ART CENTER OF COASTAL CAROLINA $420,000.
ANY ADJUSTMENTS OR AMENDMENTS THERE CONTINUE.
DAVID M CARMINE'S, MEMORIAL FOUNDATION, 181,000.
ANY ADJUSTMENTS OR AMENDMENTS? CONTINUE.
CULLUM, MUSEUM OF HILTON, HEAD ISLAND, ONE 39,700.
WHERE'D THAT GO? THAT'S OUT OF, WHAT WAS THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT AGAIN? I'M SORRY? CULLUM, MUSEUM OF HILTON.
ANY ADJUSTMENTS OR AMENDMENTS ON THAT? UH, MAYOR? YES.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND FULL FUNDING OF THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST AND THE AMOUNT OF 150,000.
UM, I WOULD ASK FOR AN EXPLANATION ON, ON THE TURK BASED, UM, ON THAT ACTUALLY, IF WE, IF WE CAN JUST IN, IN A NUTSHELL, UM, THERE'S EIGHT DIFFERENT CATEGORIES FOR REQUEST OF FUNDING AND THAT THAT SHOULD BE IN THE PACKET THAT YOU RECEIVED.
UM, AND SECTION ONE OR TYPE ONE FUNDING IS THE PROMOTION OF, UH, OF TOURISM.
AND THAT'S ALLOWED AT 100% OF WHATEVER YOUR BUDGET IS.
AND AGAIN, THESE NUMBERS ARE BASED ON WHAT THEY ASKED FOR IN THEIR BUDGET FOR DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS AND THE NUMBERS THEY PRESENTED TO US, UM, BASED ON TOURISM, VISITORS AND LOCALS.
AND SO IT'S, THE REASON THAT FIGURE OF 139,000 IN THAT CASE WOULD BE THAT THEY ASKED FOR A FIGURE, AND I DON'T HAVE THE SPECIFICS ON THEIRS, I CAN LOOK IT UP.
THERE'S ANOTHER SPREADSHEET THAT WE USED IN OUR, UM, CALCULATIONS, BUT CATEGORY ONE BEING THE, UM, ADVERTISEMENT AND PROMOTION OF TOURISM IS FUNDED AT A HUNDRED PERCENT.
SO WHATEVER THEIR BUDGET WAS, ASSUMING IT FELL UNDER THE RIGHT CATEGORY, CATEGORY ONE WOULD BE COVERED EVENTS THAT'S COVERED AT YOUR PERCENTAGE OF TOURISM.
SO IF THEIR BUDGET EXCEEDED THEIR NUMBERS FOR THAT, THAT WOULD BE THE REASON WHY THERE'D BE A DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN WHAT THEY REQUESTED AND WHAT THEY RECEIVED.
AND THAT WOULD BE IN ANY OF THE EIGHT, THE SEVEN OTHER CATEGORIES.
AND IN, IN THOSE CATEGORIES ARE THE EVENTS, UM, CULTURAL BUILDINGS, UH, POLICE OR, OR PUBLIC SERVICE FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, UH, BEACH EROSION, AND, UH, VISITOR CENTERS.
SO THOSE LAST SEVEN CATEGORIES ARE BASED ON THEIR TOURISM NUMBERS, AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY THEY MAY NOT RECEIVE FULL FUNDING UNDER THE STATUTE.
D DOES THAT EXPLAIN IT? UH, YEAH,
UM, BUT, UM, THE GULLAH MUSEUM IS INVALUABLE TO US.
UM, WE HAVE, UM, A, THE TOWN COUNCIL HAS ADOPTED THE GULLAH GEECHEE, UH, CULTURAL AND LAND PRESERVATION TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROTECTING AND PRESERVING THAT CULTURE IS PARAMOUNT.
UM, THIS MUSEUM IS, IS SELLER FOR, UM, PROTECTING THAT CULTURE.
[03:00:01]
TURK REQUIREMENTS, UM, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING, ENOUGH FUNDS IN, UM, THE COMBINATION TAXES TO IT.THERE'S ONLY A GAP OF, UM, LET'S SEE, $11,300.
UM, AND I THINK THAT'S CRITICAL MONEY TO THE GOLLUM MUSEUM.
AND, UM, NOT WITHSTANDING THE TURK REQUIREMENTS, I THINK THERE IS SOME DISCRETION WITHIN THE INTERPRETATION OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS.
I I, I DID LISTEN TO THE AUDIO OF YOUR FULL, UH, HEARING WHEN YOU MADE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, WHEN YOU CAME UP WITH IT, AND I HEARD THE STAFF, UH, CALCULATION OF TURK REQUIREMENTS, AND THERE ARE SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE THE COMMITTEE DID INCREASE, UM, THE AMOUNT OF RECOMMENDATION ABOVE THE TURK REQUIREMENTS.
AND SO I THINK WE OUGHT TO DO THAT IN THIS CASE.
AND I STAND BY MY REQUEST TO AMEND IT TO 150,000.
AND RESPECTFULLY, MS. BRYSON, WHERE THERE WAS A DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN WHAT THE COMMITTEE BELIEVED AND WHAT THE STAFF, THAT WAS AN INTERPRETATION OF THEIR, THEIR NUMBERS OF THE TURK REQUIREMENTS.
AND SO THERE WERE TWO, THEY, THEY THOUGHT THERE COULD BE SHIFTING WITHIN THEIR BUDGET IN ORDER TO MAKE CERTAIN THINGS FIT INTO TURK REQUIREMENTS.
UM, WE LOOKED AT THAT AND AS A COMMITTEE, BECAUSE WE HAD SUFFICIENT FUNDING, AS YOU SAID, TO FUND ALL PROJECTS FULLY, UH, WE LOOKED AT IT AND GAVE THE, THE DIFFERENTIATION TO TAKE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION, WHICH WAS HIGHER TURK FUNDING THAN THESE COMMITTEE HAD ORIGINALLY RECOMMENDED.
UH, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IF AGAIN, AND IT'S UP TO THE COUNCIL, AGAIN, WE'RE JUST MAKING A RECOMMENDATION.
UH, MY ONLY FEAR WOULD BE IS IF, IF THE BUDGET DOESN'T, UM, IT, IT, THEY, WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO ALLOCATING THOSE FUNDS AND SUCH, THE REVIEW BY THE, THE TOURISM COMMITTEE, UM, MIGHT REQUIRE THEM OR US.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHO DOES THAT TO PAY THOSE FUNDS BACK IN AND I'M NOT YES, YES.
SO I, I, I THINK WE NEED A CLARIFICATION ON, ON TURK AND WHAT, WHAT WE CAN OR CANNOT OVERRIDE, UM, FROM A COUNCIL STANDPOINT, BECAUSE IF IT'S BASED ON SOME FORMULA AND IT'S BASED OFF OF THEIR BUDGET MM-HMM.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON EACH ONE OF THESE, SO LET'S MOVE ON.
BUT I DO WANNA POINT OUT THAT THE ADHERENCE TO THE TURK REGULATIONS, THOSE EIGHT POINTS, IS CRITICAL TO THE WORK BEING DONE BY THE ATEX COMMITTEE.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, EACH SITUATION NEEDS TO BE BALANCED BY THE FACTS PRESENTED TO THEM.
SO THERE IS A RATIO OF THE SUCCESSFUL, UM, OBJECTIVES OF AN ORGANIZATION, THEIR, THEIR, UM, PRESENTATION OF WHAT THEY HOPE TO GAIN IN THE FUTURE TO WHAT, UM, IS, IS AWARDED.
AND I DON'T THINK WITHOUT REALLY REP, UH, RESPECTING THAT DISCUSSION AND THOSE CALCULATIONS, WE ARE DOING, UM, THE PROPER WORK, UM, ASSIGNED TO THE COMMITTEE IN THAT WE NEED TO, UM, OVERSEE WITH A FINAL VOTE.
SO THOSE EIGHT ITEMS, UM, AS AS I SEE THEM HAVE, UM, PERHAPS IN THE PAST NOT BEEN ADHERED TO.
AND I DO THINK THAT IT'S ABOUT TIME THAT HILTON HEAD ISLAND, UM, DOES.
UH, JOSH, UH, I I WANT A CLARIFICATION.
UM, SINCE A A MOTION HAS BEEN MADE FOR FUNDING, DO WE NEED TO CONTINUE THROUGH WITH THE VOTE ON THAT LINE ITEM OR CAN WE GO THROUGH ADDITIONAL RECIPIENTS? MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE BECAUSE THERE MAY BE DIFFERING OPINIONS AS TO EACH POTENTIAL AMENDMENT.
I WOULD VOTE ON EACH AMENDMENT SEPARATELY.
THAT WAY THERE'S NO CONFLICT WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS BEING ABLE TO VOTE FOR AGAINST.
BUT, BUT MY QUESTION IS, SINCE A MOTION WAS MADE, DO WE NEED TO VOTE ON IT NOW OR CAN WE DO IT LATER? YOU CAN GO THROUGH THE REST OF THESE AND IDENTIFY ALL THE ONES THAT, THAT'S FINE.
YOU JUST NEED TO TAKE 'EM UP INDIVIDUALLY ONCE YOU REACH THE ENDS.
HARBORTOWN MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION, $29,000.
ANY AMENDMENT ON THAT? CONTINUE.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, OTTOMAN SOCIETY, 17,588.
ANY AMENDMENT QUESTIONS? CONTINUE.
HILTON, HEAD ISLAND, CORAL SOCIETY, $10,000.
ANY QUESTIONS? CONCERNS? UH, WAS THE REDUCTION FROM THE AMOUNT REQUESTED, UH, IMPACTED BY INABILITY TO DEMONSTRATE THE IMPACT ON TOURISM OR YES, THAT WAS EXACTLY, UM, IT, IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THERE WASN'T ENOUGH FROM OUT OF TOWN.
AND SO OUT OF TOWN IS MEASURED AT 50 MILES.
[03:05:01]
THAT REGARD, THEIR APPLICATION SHOWED THAT THEY ONLY, UH, DURING THE YEAR, UH, UH, HAD 132 TOURISTS AND IT AT A $40,000 REQUEST.THAT'S AN AWFUL, WE LOOK AT THAT AS, UH, TOURIST PORTER DOLLAR AND SOMEHOW THAT'S HOW WE MAKE OUR DECISION.
AND WE THOUGHT THAT WAS TOO EXCESSIVE AROUND 300 PLUS DOLLARS PER TOURIST.
ANY AMENDMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON CONCOURSE? UH, MAYOR, I DO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDED WITHIN THEIR REQUEST.
UM, AS I UNDERSTAND IT'S A NOT NON-PROFIT AND THEIR FINANCIALS, AS BEST I CAN TELL, THEIR APPLICATION IS 172 PAGES LONG,
SO I DID NOT READ THE WHOLE THING, BUT I LOOKED AT SOME OF THE FINANCIALS AND THEY WERE SHOWING, UM, THAT THEY MADE MONEY IN SEVERAL YEARS.
UM, AND SO, UM, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY THEY NEED AN INCREASE.
I KNOW THERE'S AN ANNIVERSARY COMING UP, THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF CONCORDANCES, UM, THIS COMING YEAR.
UH, BUT THEIR INCREASE IS, UH, $78,000.
UM, IS THERE ANYBODY HERE FROM CONCORDANCES TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE QUESTIONS? WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND DANCE THEATER, $20,000.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND AIRPORT, $155,000.
HILTON AND ISLAND BRIDGE ASSOCIATION.
HILTON AND ISLAND RECREATION ASSOCIATION, THAT'S WIN WING FEST AND OTHER FESTIVALS.
UM, NOT ON MY, I DIDN'T ASK FOR ANYTHING THIS YEAR.
UH, HILTON AND ISLAND WINE AND FOOD RHYTHM AND BREW.
UH, DID I GET, UM, WINE AND FOOD FEST? THERE'S TWO ELEMENTS TO THIS, AND THERE WAS TWO DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS.
AND SO ONE WAS 25,000, THE OTHER WAS 130,000.
ANY AMENDMENTS CONTINUE? SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, 300,000.
LEAN ENSEMBLE THEATER, $50,000.
LOW COUNTRY GOLF COURSE OWNERS ASSOCIATION.
ANY AMENDMENTS CONTINUE LONG COVE CLUB 51,442.
ANY AMENDMENTS CONTINUE? LOW COUNTRY GULLAH, 95,889.
ANY AMENDMENTS? UH, YES, MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO INCREASE THAT TO THE AMOUNT REQUESTED BEING A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
CONTINUE MITCHELLVILLE PRESERVATION PROJECT, $185,000.
ANY AMENDMENTS CONTINUE NATIVE ISLAND BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY $235,000.
AS TO HOW IT FITS WITHIN THE EIGHT CATEGORIES.
HOW THE NATIVE ISLAND BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, HOW, WHICH ONE OF THE EIGHT CATEGORIES OR HOW IT FITS INTO THE REQUIREMENTS? I BELIEVE THAT THEIR, UH, RE THEIR REQUEST WAS ALL IN, UH, PROMOTION, ADVERTISING OF TOURISM PROMOTION, ADVERTISING OF TOURISM.
WHICH IS, AND THAT'S NOT A DUPLICATION OF WHAT WE CURRENTLY PLAY FOR THROUGH OUR DMO.
YOU KNOW, I, I DO NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION RIGHT WITH ME TODAY.
I MEAN, I DID THREE MONTHS AGO.
I TELL YOU, THAT WAS VOLUMOUS INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH.
AND, UH, IT'S, MOST OF IT'S ON, UH, WE HAVE 'EM ON, UH, DISK.
WE ACTUALLY LOOK AT 'EM ON OUR COMPUTER.
SO I DON'T HAVE ALL THE PAPERWORK HERE.
AND, AND MY COMMENT WOULD JUST BE THAT AS WE HAVE A DMO, UM, WHO WE ARE PAYING, AND NOT ONLY THAT, HAVE A CONTRACT WITH WHERE WE SCRUTINIZE THOSE DOLLARS AND THOSE ACTIVITIES.
AND WE HAVE, SINCE OUR LAST CONTRACT WITH THEM, UH, REQUIRED MORE, UM, TRANSPARENCY, BUT ALSO MORE ATTENTION TO BE GIVEN ON THE RESIDENT'S SATISFACTION PIECE OF THEIR WORK.
[03:10:01]
WE LOOK, UH, TO WHAT IS HAPPENING WITHIN THIS PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION THAT IN QUESTION NOW AND MAY PERHAPS CREATE SOME OF THOSE SAME STANDARDS.AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOOKED AT.
UH, IT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WE ADDED INTO OUR, UM, APPLICATION PROCESS THIS YEAR'S WAS COLLABORATION AND OTHERWISE TO SEE IF THERE'S DUPLICATIVE, UM, UH, RESOURCES OR, UH, EFFORTS.
UH, WE DID NOT MAKE IT THIS YEAR BECAUSE IT WAS A BRAND NEW CATEGORY THAT WE'D PUT INTO OUR, TO GET PEOPLE USED TO IT.
WE'RE GONNA MAKE SOME MORE CHANGES THIS APRIL WHEN WE GET BACK TOGETHER IN, IN, IN, IN AUGUST IN THE, UH, PROCESS MM-HMM.
AND I UNDERSTAND, UM, THAT WE'RE TALKING WITH THE ARTS AND CULTURAL AREA AND, AND SOMETIMES DEADLINES DON'T MEAN A LOT TO THOSE PEOPLE.
UH, I COME FROM A LEGAL BACKGROUND AND DEADLINES MEAN EVERYTHING IN A LEGAL BACKGROUND.
UM, SO THIS YEAR THERE'S GONNA BE SOME MORE CHANGES TO THE APPLICATION.
AND, AND ONE OF THOSE IS GONNA BE TIMELY FILING OF ALL YOUR DOCUMENTS UP FRONT.
AND WE MAY BE TALKING ABOUT THAT IN THE FUTURE, UH, BECAUSE WE MAY CONSI, WE MAY, AND AGAIN, THIS IS UP TO THE COMMITTEE, MAY CONSIDER NOT MOVING FORWARD WITH APPLICATIONS THAT ARE NOT, UM, ARE NOT TIMELY FILED COMPLETELY MM-HMM.
WE, WE ALLOW AMENDMENTS UP TO THE LAST MINUTE AND THAT BECOMES NERVE-WRACKING SOMETIMES TRYING TO GET A, ALL THAT INFORMATION.
LIKE, SO I DON'T HAVE ALL THAT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD SOMETIMES.
AND THOSE OF US WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH GRANTS UNDERSTAND THAT NORMALLY ON ALL GRANTS, THERE ARE PARTICULAR DATES, DEADLINES, UH, FONT THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED AND, AND ADHERED TO, OR YOU CAN LOSE YOUR APPLICATION.
SO, UM, I RESPECT THAT PROPOSED AMENDMENT ON THAT.
I DON'T HAVE A PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
I AM, I AM CON I AM INTERESTED IN SEEING HOW THE COLLABORATION, HOW WE MAY BE LUBRICATING EFFORTS.
AND I DO WANT TO SEE MORE INFORMATION, UM, IN STANDARDS SET BY THE OKAY.
COMMUNICATION WITH THE TOWN COUNCIL LIKE WE HAVE WITH OUR DMO.
IS THAT GOING FORWARD OR NOW? I'D LIKE TO HAVE THAT NOW, OF COURSE, BUT, UM, GOING FORWARD, IF IT ABSOLUTELY, BUT IF IT'S POSSIBLE NOW, YES.
AND MS. BECKER, I CAN TELL YOU THIS, THERE WAS AN APPLICANT IN LAST YEAR'S PROCESS, NOT THE, THE YEAR WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW LAST THAT WAS ATTEMPTING TO COME IN AND ACT AS A, AS A DMO OR AN ADJUNCT TO THE DM.
WE DID NOT, WE DID NOT, UH, TAKE UP THEIR, WE TOOK UP THEIR APPLICATION.
WE DID NOT GRANT THEM FUNDING MM-HMM.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S TWO OF THE THINGS WE LOOK FOR MM-HMM.
AND THE OTHER THING IS, IS WHAT IS YOUR, WHAT IS YOUR, YOUR DO UH, YOUR, YOUR YOUR FUNCTION.
AND WE'VE HAD THESE DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER ENTITIES THAT ARE UP THERE AND, UH, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE LOW COUNTRY GOLF COURSE OWNERS ASSOCIATION, BOTH THE DMO AND THE PROMOTE GOLF.
YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S THE QUESTION SOMETIMES IS, YOU KNOW, ARE, ARE WE OVERFUNDING AND THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS WE ASK, BUT THEY HAVEN'T BECOME PERTINENT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS CUZ WE'VE HAD ADEQUATE FUNDING.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED ON THE COMMITTEE IN 2018, WE WERE NOT FULLY FUNDING PEOPLE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ADEQUATE FUNDS.
SO I RECALL WE'RE TRYING TO SET UP A, A PROCESS STILL TO GET THAT DONE SO THAT WE CAN, UH, YOU KNOW, KIND OF, UH, UM, FRAMEWORK.
TAMMY, I I'M CURIOUS IF A LOT OF YOUR QUESTIONS MAY APPLY TO SOME OF THESE OTHERS AS WELL.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD MAYBE TO HAVE A BETTER EXPLANATION, UNDERSTANDING WHEN WE HAVE THIS MEETING NEXT YEAR MM-HMM.
WE, WE PLAN ON WORKING TOGETHER.
CAUSE WE HAVE A MEETING COMING UP IN, UH, IN APRIL WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DMO CON, THE DMO MM-HMM.
AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, ORGANIZATIONAL MEETINGS IN, UM, JULY AND AUGUST BEFORE THE APPLICATION PROCESS STARTS IN SEPTEMBER MM-HMM.
AND SO THE COMMITTEE, WHEN THEY MEET AT THOSE TIMES, WILL, WILL TAKE UP SUGGESTIONS AT THE TIME.
AND I THINK THAT MIGHT BE WHY I WAS TALKING ABOUT MORE OF A STRICT ADHERENCE TO THESE, TO THESE GUIDELINES, UH, THAT WE HAVE.
BECAUSE AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE HAVE INCREASED EXPENSES.
WE JUST, UM, ARE CREATING HOUSING WHERE WE HAVE PROGRAM MANAGERS AND WE HAVE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE MENTIONED TODAY AS WE ARE GOING THROUGH SOME OF THE BUDGET REVIEW, WHERE MONIES WILL BE TAKEN FROM OTHER, UM, AREAS.
AND PERHAPS AT THIS STAGE OF THE TOWN, THESE AEX FUNDS ARE BETTER SUITED FOR, UM, FOR USE, UM, BY THE TOWN AS WE ABSORB THE COSTS FOR TOURIST
[03:15:01]
RELATED ACTIVITIES.SO JUST MY 2 CENTS WORTH, AGAIN, WE MAKE A RECOMMENDATION.
I MEAN, AND IT'S UP TO THE COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, BUT WE LOOK AT IT FROM THE, BUT WE HAVE THE RESOURCES MM-HMM.
SO IF AN ORGANIZATION IS QUALIFIED AND IS PRO AND IS PRODUCING WHAT THEY SAY THEY ARE, THEN WE TAKE THEM UP.
IF THE COUNCIL DECIDES, UH, NOT TO, YOU KNOW, MOVE FORWARD.
THAT, THAT'S YOUR PREROGATIVE.
UM, SEA TURTLE, UM, PATROL 64,500.
SHELTER COVE HARBOR COMPANY ONE 95,195,000.
THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLO OF HILTON HAD 35,000.
ANY AMENDMENTS? THEY NOT HAVE AN AMENDMENT, BUT THEY HAVE THE SAME COMMENT.
IN TERMS OF, UM, LOOKING OVER THE EIGHT POINTS AND DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT, UM, SOME OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO, UM, ANY OF THOSE CRITERIA.
AND I WOULD PUT A QUESTION MARK BY THIS ONE AS WELL FOR, CAN YOU, COASTAL DISCOVERY MUSEUM $325,000.
COASTAL DISCOVERY MUSEUM, HONEY HORN 695,350, ANY AMENDMENTS CONTINUE.
FIRST E OF THE LOW COUNTRY, $40,000.
BUT THE SAME COMMENT, CONTINUE THE HERITAGE LIBRARY.
ANY AMENDMENTS, CONTINUE THE OUTSIDE FOUNDATION, $59,480.
ANY AMENDMENTS, CONTINUE THE SANDBOX.
ANY AMENDMENTS? CONTINUE, WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF HILTON, HEAD ISLAND, $5,000.
AND THE DMO SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT, 710,000.
ANY AMENDMENTS? UH, MR. MAYOR? UM, I'M NOT QUITE SURE ON THE, THE PROCESS HERE AS FAR AS THE ONES THAT ARE IN QUESTION OR THE AMENDMENTS WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THAT.
UM, BUT SO I, I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE'RE GONNA GO BACK THROUGH THEM INDIVIDUALLY AND TALK ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS.
I'D LIKE TO PUT AN ASTERISKS NEXT TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL GRAIN ALSO THEN.
AND THAT'S, UM, THE END OF THE LIST.
AND SO WE CAN GO BACK TO THE TOP.
AND IN TERMS OF PROCESS, OH, OH, OH, NO, I'M SORRY.
WHILE YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT, JUST AS WE HAD A FIRST AND SECOND OPEN THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION, WE ASTERISKS, I ASKED, I PUT AN ASTERISK ON SEVERAL, I THINK, TO, TO CHANGE THE STAFF REPORT OR RECOMMENDATION FROM ATAC AND, AND THROUGH THE CHAIR THAT WE AMEND EACH ONE AS A MOTION TO AMEND THE ORIGINAL MOTION.
AND IF WE DO IT THAT WAY, AT THE VERY END, YOU'LL HAVE A SERIES OF AMENDMENTS, RIGHT.
AND THEN YOU CAN VOTE ONCE ON ALL OF IT, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? IT'S FASTER.
OKAY, SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE GALA MUSEUM OF HILTON HEAD.
UM, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A QUESTION ON TURK BASED AND THE BUDGET IS HOW IT WAS DEVELOPED.
SO YES, I MOVED TO AMEND, UM, THAT AWARD FROM THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION OF 139,700 TO THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST OF 150,000.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THE MOTION.
SO DO WE CALL THE ROLL OR JUST DO DISCUSSION? DISCUSSION? YEAH.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IF WE FIND OUT THAT BASED OFF OF TURK IT IS ILLEGAL TO FUND THAT MUCH MONEY, THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDS? I, I THINK WHAT WE COULD DO IS WE COULD TAKE, UH, ONES THAT HAD A, A SEPARATE LEGAL
[03:20:01]
QUESTION AND WE CAN SEND THAT TO, UH, TOWN COUNCIL'S ATTORNEY AND, UH, AND GET AN OPINION.AND I'M SURE HE WOULDN'T WANNA DO THAT HERE, BUT WE CAN TAKE THE FACTS AND TAKE THE FULL APPLICATION AND AND LET HIM TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
IS THAT TABLING THAT MOTION OR DO YOU WANT TO HAVE IT PENDING? NO, I MEAN, I, OR YOU GOT A MOTION FOR YOU? YEAH.
UM, IT'S A MOTION, BUT CAN'T IT BE PENDING? LET ME ASK YOU THIS, UH,
I I, I, I CERTAINLY DON'T WANNA HOLD UP FUNDING TO THIS IMPORTANT ORGANIZATION, SO I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.
MS. MAYO JUST, UH, PORT OF ORDER, UM, TYPICALLY WHEN A MOTION IS, IS TABLED, YOU TAKE UP THE ITEM AT YOUR NEXT MEETING.
AND I'M MAKING AN ASSUMPTION THAT AS WE GO DOWN THIS LIST, THERE MAY BE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ON OTHERS.
UH, SO IS IT APPROPRIATE THAT WE AGREE THAT WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER MEETING IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO TAKE UP THESE CONSIDERATIONS VERSUS WAITING ANOTHER MONTH TO GET THERE? I THINK ROBERT'S RULES PROVIDES THAT, UH, THE TABLE NEEDS TO COME UP AT THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING, RIGHT? 30 DAYS.
I, I SHARE COUNCILWOMAN BRYSON'S CONCERN ABOUT WAITING 30 DAYS.
BUT IF, IF, IF WE APPROVE IT AS, UH, AS, AS STATED, YOU KNOW, AS WRITTEN NOW, WILL THE ARCHIVE OUT OF REVISITING IT FOR THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS, THEN IT'S NOT HOLDING UP FUNDING FROM THEM.
I'M LOOKING AT THE WHOLE PICTURE, NOT JUST I UNDERSTAND.
ITEM IN FRONT OF I UNDERSTAND.
BUT, BUT, BUT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS, IS WE'RE GONNA ADDRESS EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY AND, AND WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE, THE AMEND AND THEN COME BACK AND APPROVE IT ALL TOGETHER.
SO IT'S, SO THAT WOULD BE APPROVED WITH THE CAVEAT THAT IT COMES BACK FOR RECONSIDERATION OF THE ADDITIONAL $10,300.
COUNCILMAN BRA? YEAH, I
WITH REGARD TO THE ONES I HAVE SUGGESTED, UM, BEING THE, UH, WE'RE DOING THEM INDIVIDUALLY.
BUT I THINK AS I UNDERSTAND COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN ASKING ABOUT DOING IT AS HOW ARE WE GONNA PROCEED? ARE WE GONNA DO EVERYONE THE SAME WAY? UM, AND I HAVE CONCERN ABOUT THAT CUZ WE MIGHT HAVE DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES.
LET ME, LET ME MAKE A GENERAL COMMENT.
UM, I'VE WATCHED THE ATAC SITUATION OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS AND WHERE WE GET INTO TROUBLE IS WHEN AT THE LAST MINUTE THE POLITICIANS BEGIN TO MAKE THEIR DECISIONS BASED ON ASSOCIATIONS THEY HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE ATAC COMMITTEE UNDER JIM FLUKER HAS DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB PARSING OUT EVERY ELEMENT OF THESE MATTERS.
AND SO, UNLESS THERE ARE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES BEFORE US UP HERE ON THE DIAS, I'M GOING TO BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF WHAT THE ATAC COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO MY COLLEAGUE, I THINK WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY AS WELL.
AND THAT'S POLITICS ASIDE, ASSOCIATIONS ASIDE, I'M LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS, I LOOKED AT THE APPLICATIONS, I LISTENED TO THE COMMITTEE'S CONSIDERATIONS, AND THAT'S MY BASIS FOR MY DECISION.
WELL, AS LONG AS WE'RE ALL CHIMING IN, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA RESTATE WHAT I SAID BEFORE.
GENERALLY IN A GRANT APPLICATION, THERE ARE SPECIFIC CRITERIA THAT MUST BE MET.
[03:25:01]
AND AN ANALYSIS THAT IS DONE BY THOSE WHO ARE MAKING THE DECISION.AND FROM WHAT I HEAR THAT WAS MADE INCONSISTENT, UM, WITH THE WAY THEY MADE OTHER DECISIONS, UM, WHERE NECESSARILY THE REQUEST WAS NOT THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION.
AND SO BELIEVING THAT THAT PROCESS WORKED, UM, I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO, AS, UM, COUNCILMAN AMES SAID, TRUST, UM, TRUST THAT COMMITTEE AT THIS POINT.
MAY I SUGGEST THAT THESE PARTICULAR REQUEST IS AN UNUSUAL ONE? BECAUSE THE ISSUE HERE IS NOT A SUBSTANTIVE POLICY ISSUE, BUT WHETHER TURK APPLIES OR NOT, AND I, WE ARE TRYING TO POSTPONE IT SOLELY FOR DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT, UH, TURK APPLIES AND WHETHER WE CAN RESTORE THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNT.
WE CAN'T RESTORE THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNT RIGHT NOW WITHOUT A LEGAL OPINION.
SO BEFORE US, WE HAVE YOUR MOTION FOR FULL FUNDING AND WE HAVE A SECOND.
CAN YOU CALL THE ROLE KRISTA MR. BROWN SUPPORT? MRS. MS. BRYSON? YES.
BUT I WILL ADD A CAVEAT TO THAT, THAT I THINK IT IS A GREAT ORGANIZATION.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM.
IT IS STRICTLY BASED UPON TURKS INTERPRETATION OF HOW WE WERE TO MOVE FORWARD.
NEXT, LET'S GO TO, UH, LOW COUNTRY GULLAH, CUZ IT'S ALSO IN REFERENCE WITH THE TURK BASED FORMULA.
I MOVED THAT, UH, WE INCREASED THE AWARD, UM, TO 100,000, UH, FROM THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE OF 95,889.
IS THERE A SECOND? I I KNOW ME TOO.
WHAT ABOUT THE QUESTION MARK ON CONCOURSES? YEAH, I'M, I'M COMING BACK AROUND.
UM, SO CONCOURSE WAS PUT UP THERE AT THREE 85,000 FOR AN AMENDMENT OR QUESTION? WELL, I, I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS.
I I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE PUT THIS ONE ALL FOR DECISION BECAUSE, UM, UNLESS THERE'S SOMEONE HERE CAN ADDRESS THE QUESTIONS IN LOOKING AT THE A HUNDRED AND, UH, LET'S SEE, HOW MANY PAGES WAS IT? 172 PAGE APPLICATION? UM, THERE ARE SOME, UM, PRIVATE LAW STATEMENTS, PARDON ME, THERE'S ALSO SOME NINE 90 S.
UM, BUT JUST LOOKING AT THE, UH, P AND L, THEY SHOW THAT, UM, JANUARY THROUGH JULY OF 2022, AN INCOME OF $176,241, JANUARY TO DECEMBER, 2021 IN INCOME OF 56,414, JANUARY TO DECEMBER OF 2020, A LOSS OF 18,000 6 0 3, JANUARY TO DECEMBER OF 2019, AN INCOME OF 31,000 499 45.
UM, AND THEN THE, UH, PRELIMINARY OPERATING BUDGET FOR 2023 SHOWS, UH, A PROFIT OF 74,000.
SO MY QUESTION IS, WHY DO THEY NEED MORE MONEY IF THEY'RE MAKING MONEY?
AND, AND QUITE FRANKLY, CUZ ONE OF MY QUESTIONS IS, CUZ MY BACKGROUND IS HANDLING FAMILY LAW FOR A LOT OF YEARS.
UH, WHERE'S THE MONEY HIDDEN WHEN WE'RE DIVIDING UP ASSETS AND THINGS LIKE THAT? UH, YEAH, THEY HAD RE YOU KNOW, GOING ALONG WITH WHAT YOU SAID, THEY HAD RETAINED EARNINGS OF $214,000, UM, UP FROM 156,000 A YEAR BEFORE.
AND, AND THE QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE NONPROFITS.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY HAVE TO SPEND ALL THEIR MONEY.
WE HOPE AT SOME POINT THEY WOULD HAVE SOME, THEY EVENTUALLY THEY SHOULD AND HAVE TO, THEY CAN'T RETURN IT TO SHAREHOLDERS, OBVIOUSLY.
UM, AND THAT WAS A QUESTION THAT WE LOOK AT A LOT WITH THE COMMITTEE, AND THAT'S A QUESTION WE PONDER.
UH, UNLIKE YOU, WHAT WE DO, AND WE GO THROUGH EACH ONE OF THESE, IF THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, WE PULL 'EM.
WE JUST POLL, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T, DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE MOTIONS INTO THIS THAT WE DO THAT AS THE FINAL THING.
BUT WE POLL OUR MEMBERS AS WE GO THROUGH FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL, IF THERE'S A DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN THEM AND MAJORITY RULE MOVES ON.
I DIDN'T AGREE WITH EVERY ONE OF THESE THAT WERE UP THERE, BUT AT THE END, I VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE GROUP AS A TOTAL BECAUSE ONCE THE DECISION WAS MADE ON THE ANY INDIVIDUAL GROUP, WE MOVED ON.
THAT SAID WHAT WE DO ON A COMMITTEE, UM, I HAD SOME REAL ISSUES WITH A NUMBER OF THEM, AND WHEN WE POLLED, I'D BE ON THE LOSING END, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE DIDN'T MOVE FORWARD.
SO IF, IF WE COULD HAVE, UM, BOB COME UP AND, AND SPEAK, THAT WOULD BE AH, VERY HELPFUL.
MAY I ASK A QUESTION TOO? ISN'T IT PART OF THE GOAL IN
[03:30:01]
MANY INSTANCES WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT THIS IS A HELPING HAND AND THAT OVER TIME THAT THE, THEY INCREASE, UM, THE REVENUES SO THAT THEY DO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT? THEY DON'T BE COMING BACK.SOME OF, AND I GET, AND, AND, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE CONCOURSE DOES IS THEY DO HAVE, UM, SCHOLARSHIPS.
I SUSPECT OVER TIME THEY'LL MORE FULLY FUND THOSE SCHOLARSHIPS, JUST LIKE THE, UM, THE FOUNDATION, THE, UH, CARMINE FOUNDATION MM-HMM.
AND NEXT YEAR THEY'RE GONNA GIVE IT ALL AWAY.
I MEAN, THAT'S JUST KIND OF THE WAY IT IS.
I'M THE TREASURER FOR THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES IN THE CONCOR.
UM, THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS YOU RAISED AND I'LL TRY TO ADDRESS THEM ONE BY ONE.
UM, IT'S NOT FAIR TO LOOK AT OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ON AN INTERIM BASIS BECAUSE WE BOOK OUR REVENUES FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR, FIRST SEVEN MONTHS OF THE YEAR.
BUT WE'RE A ONCE A YEAR EVENT THAT OCCURS IN NOVEMBER.
SO MOST OF OUR EXPENSES ARE IN SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER WHEN WE'RE PAYING TO CREATE THE ACTUAL EVENT ITSELF.
SO WE WE'RE NOT LIKE A TYPICAL BUSINESS WHERE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE, UM, INCOME AND, AND, UM, EXPENSES EVERY MONTH EVENLY THROUGH THE YEAR.
IT'S HEAVY ON THE REVENUES IN THE FIRST PART OF THE YEAR, AND IT'S HEAVY ON THE EXPENSES AND THE SECOND PART OF THE YEAR.
ANOTHER THING IS, UM, IF YOU LOOK AT OUR CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, WHICH, WHAT IS WHAT WHAT YOU HAVE, WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED DRIVING YOUNG AMERICA FUND AND, UM, THAT DRIVING YOUNG AMERICA FUND.
WHAT WE DO DURING THE CONOR IS THE CONCORD DOES NOT GIVE MONEY TO CHARITY.
CONCOR ALLOWS DRIVING YOUNG AMERICA TO DO ITS OWN FUNDRAISING EFFORTS DURING THE ACTUAL EVENT ITSELF AT THE AIRPORT ON FRIDAY NIGHT, SATURDAY NIGHT AT HARBORTOWN, WE HAVE AUCTIONS, WE THINGS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO WHAT YOU REALLY NEED TO DO TO GET TO THE OPERATING STATEMENT OF JUST THE CONCORD, THE EVENT IS TO SUBTRACT OUT THE DRIVING YOUNG AMERICA REVENUES AND TO SUBTRACT OUT THE DRIVING YOUNG AMERICA EXPENSES.
WHEN YOU DO THAT, WHAT YOU FIND IS THAT WE ARE, LIKE MOST EVENTS, WE DON'T MAKE A LOT OF MONEY.
AND IF WE DO, IT'S A VERY, VERY GOOD YEAR.
LAST YEAR WE LOST MONEY ON AN OPERATING BASIS.
UM, BEING A ONCE A YEAR EVENT, UM, IN, IN NOVEMBER, YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA GET TO UNTIL YOU GET TO THE EVENT ITSELF.
RAIN CAN KILL US EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE RAIN INSURANCE.
SO, UH, IT'S AN OUTDOOR EVENT.
UM, THE OTHER THING IS THE SPONSORS, UM, YOU, WE TRY TO BUILD THEM UP AS YOU GO ALONG, BUT YOU JUST DON'T KNOW REALLY WHAT YOU'RE GONNA GET UNTIL YOU GET THROUGH THE FIRST SIX, SEVEN MONTHS OF THE YEAR.
SO WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS RETAIN AS MUCH CAPITAL AS WE CAN BECAUSE WHILE WE'RE BOOKING REVENUES, POSTING REVENUES FINANCIALLY, IT ISN'T CASH UNTIL THE SIXTH OR SEVENTH OR EIGHTH MONTHS.
SO WE HAVE TO LIVE OFF OF OUR RETAINED EARNINGS FOR THOSE FIRST SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS.
AS FAR AS THE INCREASE IS CONCERNED, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING FOR THIS YEAR IS TO GET HEAVY INTO ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
THAT IS THE, WHERE THE, WHERE THE INDUSTRY IS GOING.
AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE TAKING MOST OF THAT INCREASE AND WE'RE SPENDING IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS FOR THEM TO HELP US GET THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CROWD TO OUR EVENT.
BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING TYPICALLY CONCOR LIKE OURS DON'T, UH, DO.
WE HAD A RECORD ATTENDANCE LAST YEAR, ALMOST 22,000 PEOPLE.
UM, AND OVER 50% OF THEM WERE, UM, WERE VISITORS BEYOND 50 MI UH, MILES.
SO WE HAD OVER 10,000 VISITORS AT OUR EVENT MAKING US, I THINK THE SECOND LARGEST DESTINATION EVENT IN HILTON HEAD.
DO YOU HAVE ANY AMENDMENT DID YOU LIKE TO PROPOSE? UH, I WOULD MOVE TO REDUCE, UH, THEIR FUNDING BACK TO THE 2022 AMOUNT OF FIND.
307,000 FROM THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION OF 385,000.
IS THERE, IS THERE A SECOND? AND THAT'S, THAT'S BA IF I, IF I MIGHT SPEAK MOMENTARILY IN SUPPORT OF THAT MOTION, I'M LOOKING AT THE PROFIT AND LOSS JANUARY THROUGH DECEMBER, 2021, WHICH I AM LOOKING AT THE INCOME AND THE EXPENSES OF DRIVING YOUNG AMERICA.
UM, SO I, I'M NOT SATISFIED WITH THE FINANCIAL EXPLANATION AND, UM, I I THINK IT'S PART OF OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO BE STEWARDS OF THESE FUNDS AND THAT'S THE REASON FOR MY REQUEST FOR THE REDUCTION OR FOR THIS TO BE PUT OFF FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
IS THERE A SECOND? I WANNA BE CLEAR WHAT COUNCILWOMAN BRYSON IS ASKING FOR.
ARE YOU ASKING THAT WE REMOVED THE ITEM FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION OR JUST THE REDUCTION? WELL,
[03:35:01]
YOU, YOU'RE RIGHT TO ASK THAT QUESTION CUZ I THREW BOTH OF THOSE IN THERE.MY, MY FIRST MOTION WAS, UM, UH, TO REDUCE IT.
UM, BUT, UM, I, I WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THAT MOTION, WITHDRAW THAT MOTION AND MAKE A MOTION TO, UM, SET THIS MATTER ASIDE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION TO TABLE THIS REQUEST.
IS THERE A SECOND TO TABLE THIS REQUEST? I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION.
CRYSTAL, WILL WE CALL THE ROLL PLEASE? UH, IS THERE DISCUSSION AMONGST TOWN COUNCIL? PARDON? COUNCIL? PARDON? WAS THERE A DISCUSSION AMONGST TOWN COUNCIL? YEAH, WELL, DISCUSSION.
I THINK THERE'S NO DISCUSSION AND A MOTION TO TABLE.
PAT, LET'S NOT DISCUSS THE DISCUSSION.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY? LET'S GO, LET'S GO WITH THIS NON DEBATABLE AT THIS POINT.
CHRIS, IF YOU'LL CALL IT ROLL IN.
UH, BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF HILTON HEAD 35,000 FUNDING.
SO I WASN'T, UM, ASKING FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THAT, BUT I DO WOULD LIKE, I WOULD LIKE THE, UM, COMMENT THAT I WAS CONSISTENT WITH, WITH REGARD TO HOW WE MOVE FORWARD, UM, TO THE NEXT, UM, ROUND OF APPLICANTS AND AWARDS THAT WE ARE MORE CLOSELY, THAT WE ARE CLOSELY, THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THE CRITERIA AS SET FORTH IN THE, UM, TURP AND ABIDING BY IT.
UM, I DON'T WANT TO AT THIS POINT DEBATE THE DECISION OF THE COMMITTEE, HOWEVER, MOVING FORWARD, I DO WANT TO SEE A MORE CLOSELY ALIGNED, UM, UH, AWARDS, UM, CLOSELY ALIGNED AWARDS WITH THE TURK.
I DON'T FEEL THAT SOME OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS FIT THE CRITERIA.
UH, THE LAST ONE WE HAVE IS THE HILTON BLUFFTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS.
UM, THIS, THIS ONE IS, UH, SIMILAR TO THE DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE HAD ON ON OTHERS.
UM, THERE'S BEEN A, UH, PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE FUNDING OVER THE PAST YEARS TO THE, UH, THE DMO AND, UH, BASED ON THE BACKUP MATERIALS, UM, I, I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NEED FOR THE ADDITIONAL MONIES.
UM, SO THIS, THIS IS ONE THAT, UM, I'M DEFINITELY PROPOSING THAT WE, IT'S THE PROPER TERM THAT WE'VE BEEN USING TODAY IS TABLE FOR MORE DISCUSSIONS, UM, AT A LATER DATE.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? OKAY.
SO, UH, SINCE CHRIS, IF YOU'LL A, UM, IF YOU'LL CALL THE VOTE ON THAT, DO WHAT? WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THAT? YES.
THAT'S WHAT JUST HE READY TO DO.
CHRIS, IF YOU'LL, UH, CALL THE ROLL ON THAT, PLEASE, MR. BROWN.
SO, SUPPORT WHAT MS. BRYSON? YES.
NOW WE ARE GOING TO APPROVE THE ENTIRE PACKAGE WITH THE MOTION THAT WAS SET FORTH IN THE BEGINNING AND IN ACKNOWLEDGING THE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE MADE.
I, BUT FIRST YEAH, I'VE, I'VE GOT JUST ONE QUESTION FOR, UH, MR. FLOCK OF THE CHAIR.
UM, I, I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY THAT, UM, I GUESS THAT THERE ARE SEVEN TURK REQUIREMENTS, BUT THE COMMITTEE HAS ADDED AN EIGHTH.
NO, NO, THERE'S EIGHT SECTION, THERE'S EIGHT SECTION SECTIONS IN THE, IN THE TURK OKAY.
BUT I'M GONNA MAKE SURE I HEARD YOU CORRECTLY, THAT THERE'S NOW A NEW NO CRITERIA THAT THE NO COMMITTEE IS CONSIDERING.
WE WERE, WE, WE, WE, WE'VE ASKED GROUPS TO CONSIDER HOW MUCH THEY WORK TOGETHER, THE COLLABORATION.
TO SEE IF THEY'RE, BUT THAT HAS NOT BECOME, THAT HAS NOT
[03:40:01]
BEEN NECESSARY AT THIS POINT BECAUSE OF THE FUNDING.IS THAT A TURK REQUIREMENT? NO, IT'S NOT A TURK REQUIREMENT.
THAT'S A, THAT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S A REQUIREMENT JUST LIKE, UH, IT, IT'S KIND OF LIKE ANY GUIDESTONE THAT WE WOULD HAVE.
UH, WE'RE LOOKING FOR BEST PRACTICES OURSELVES BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT THESE DOLLARS ARE MEASURED.
IF WE DON'T HAVE 3.1 MILLION VISITORS NEXT YEAR OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE THAT MONEY.
UH, MR. MAYOR? I WOULD, UH, I WOULD ASK THAT, UH, WE, WE SET FORTH A, UH, A MEETING WITH THE F AND A COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS, UH, PARAMETERS AROUND ATAC DISTRIBUTION, UM, BEFORE THE ATAC COMMITTEE GETS AHEAD OF COUNCIL AND START TO PROVIDE THEIR OWN CRITERIA TO MANAGE FUNDING.
I THINK THAT'S OUR JOB AS POLICY MAKERS.
UH, SO BEFORE THEY MOVE FORWARD, LET'S DISCUSS IT AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL.
THANK THREE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT, UNLESS, JOHN, DO YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING FIRST? OKAY.
UM, I SEE YOU HAVE THE, THE CHAMBER ON HERE, BUT I DON'T SEE IT UP THERE.
WELL, IT'S ON, IT'S ON THE LIST.
IT'S AT THE BOTTOM UNDER DMO, RIGHT? BOTTOM OF THE LIST.
YEAH, BUT I DON'T SEE IT UP THERE.
OH, IT'S THE SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT.
BECAUSE YOU CALL IT SOMETHING ELSE HERE.
YOU, UM, IT DOESN'T SAY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND HERE IT SAYS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT IS.
WHAT DOES DMO STAND FOR? DESIGNATED MARKETING ORGANIZATION.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MR. HOLAND? WHY WOULD IT LISTED CHAMBER LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, LIKE IT DOES IN THIS SHEET? 2 2 23.
ALSO, THIS GOLF, UH, HILTON HEAD GOLF MAGAZINE THAT YOU SEE AROUND, IT'S GOT A HILTON HEAD GOLF ISLAND.COM THAT'S OWNED BY THE CHAMBER.
THIS IS TIED INTO THE LOW COUNTRY GOLF OWNERS ASSOCIATION.
IT'S A FOR-PROFIT, IT'S ILLEGAL.
AND THE CHAMBER'S LISTED ON THIS TWO, TWO, 2002 THREE ACCOMMODATION TAX, WHICH YOU'VE ELIMINATED THERE.
YOU ALSO HIDE THE CHAMBER UNDER THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
YOU HIDE THAT FOR THE, UH, NOT THE SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT, BUT THE DMO FUNDS.
AND THEN OF COURSE, THEY GET SOUTH CAROLINA P R T FUNDING A MILLION AND A HALF FROM THE GOVERNOR.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH COMES FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA P R T THAT GOES DIRECTLY TO BILL MILES' POCKET, NOT THROUGH, THROUGH, THROUGH, THROUGH THIS.
AND THEN WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HIS PROFITS ARE FROM THE DMO WEBSITE IN CANADA, WHERE HE SELLS ADVERTISING TIED IN WITH THE GOLF ASSOCIATION.
WE CARRY CORBIT AND, UH, BRAD MERO PALM DUNES.
IT COULDN'T BE ANY MORE CROOKED AND COULDN'T BE ANY MORE LEGAL.
AND THE F, THE FBI AND THE IRS, IT WILL GET INVOLVED IN ALL THIS.
THEY, THEY'LL LOOK AT ALL THIS.
AND YOU CAN'T JUST KEEP ON FUNDING ALL THIS.
YOU CANNOT USE ISSUE TAX MONEY TO NON-PROFITS.
IT'S NOT USED FOR THE PROMOTION AND MARKETING AND TOURISM AND TOURISM RELATED PRODUCTS.
YOU MUST MAKE EVERY RECIPIENT SIGN A TAX RECIPIENT AGREEMENT, SPELLING OUT THE HOW A A TAX FUNDS CAN BE LEGALLY USED IN ALL ACCOUNTING, FULLY REPORTED WITH RECEIPTS AND MATCHING INVOICES.
YOU CANNOT ISSUE PUBLIC FUNDS AND BE USED FOR PRIVATE PURPOSES.
ILLEGAL PROFITS LIKE THE CHAMBER AND THE LOW COUNTRY GOLF OWNERS ASSOCIATION PERIOD.
UM, PRIVATE NONPROFITS MIGHT BE WORTHY, HEARTFELT.
THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, LONG COVE CLUB, CARMINE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION, THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL, HERITAGE LIBRARY, MITCHELLVILLE MITCHELLVILLE PROJECT.
BUT THE FACT IS, IT'S, IT'S ILLEGAL.
IT'S ILLEGAL TO USE PUBLIC FUNDS TO, TO, TO, TO, UH, UH, FUND PRIVATE, UH, NONPROFITS.
THESE NONPROFITS MUST BE FUNDED BY THEIR PRIVATE MEMBERS AND THEIR DONORS, NOT TAX TAXPAYERS MONEY.
Y'ALL HAVE TO START LEARNING AND UNDERSTANDING THAT PUBLIC MONEY IS FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD REASON AND BENEFIT.
IT'S NOT JUST TO THROW OUT LIKE A GAME OF MONOPOLY AND FUNNY MONEY.
GIVE THEM A HUNDRED THOUSAND, GIVE THEM 500,000.
YOU KNOW, WHAT Y'ALL NEED TO START DOING IS LEARNING TO, TO SPEND WHAT YOU AND LIVE BY YOUR CAMPAIGN PROMISES TO SPEND AND PROTECT AND APPROVE MONEY LIKE IT WAS COMING OUTTA YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.
WE'RE, WE'RE TRUSTING Y'ALL TO SPEND OUR MONEY, OUR HARD-EARNED TAX MONEY TO BE RESPONSIBLE.
AND YOU'RE NOT BEING RESPONSIBLE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ABSOLUTELY.
SEEING NONE, UH, CHRIS, PHIL, ANY DISCUSSION FURTHER ON COUNSEL CHRIS, IF YOU'LL CALL THE ROLL.
[03:45:01]
MS. BECKER? YES.[10.g. Consideration of a Resolution Approved by the Greater Island Council Requesting Beaufort County and the Town of Hilton Head Island Work Jointly on Improvements to the Solid Waste and Recycling Facilities]
OF A RESOLUTION APPROVED BY THE GREATER ALLEN COUNCIL REQUESTING BEAUFORT COUNTY AND THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND WORK JOINTLY ON IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING FACILITIES.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? NO.
HAPPY TO BE BACK IN FRONT OF YOU AGAIN.
UM, THE GREATER ISLAND COUNCIL HAD SUBMITTED A RESOLUTION TO TOWN COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.
UH, IT'S THE SECOND OF, UM, SECOND RESOLUTION THEY'VE SUBMITTED, UM, IN THE PAST YEAR FOR CONSIDERATION.
UH, THE SECOND RESOLUTION FOCUSES ON THE IMPORTANCE OF A SOUTHERN, UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY MATERIALS RECYCLING FACILITY, UM, AND PHYSICAL OPERATION IMPROVEMENTS AT THE HILTON HEAD CONVENIENCE CENTER.
UM, BOTH OF THESE, UM, WOULD REQUIRE, UH, CONSIDERATION WITH TOWN AND COUNTY C I P PROGRAMS. UM, THE, I I'M TRYING TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN THE RESOLUTION THAT CAME FORWARD, THE FIRST ONE AND THE SECOND ONE.
THE FIRST ONE WAS ABOUT EXTENDING THE HICKORY HILL LANDFILL AGREEMENT AND LOOK AT HAULER OPERATIONS.
UH, THE SECOND ONE IS, UH, FOCUS MORE ABOUT MORE ON A BEAUFORT COUNTY, UH, FACILITY BUILT FOR MATERIAL RECYCLING.
UM, ALSO LOOKING AT SINGLE STREAM RECYCLING, UH, FOR SOLID WASTE RECYCLING AND ORGANIC WASTE.
UM, AND THEN IMPROVING THE CONVENIENCE CENTER HERE ON HILTON ISLAND.
UM, THE RESOLUTION THAT'S BEFORE TOWN COUNCIL, UM, OUTLINES THE CONSISTENCY WITH THE TOWN'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
UH, OUR PLAN, WHICH HAS, UM, SEVERAL CONSISTENT GOALS AND STRATEGIES THAT ARE RELATED TO THIS EFFORT.
UM, THE, OUR PLAN TALKS ABOUT WAYS TO SEEK INCREASE ISLAND WATER RECYCLING, IMPROVE ORGANIC WASTE, UM, COLLECTION ON HILTON ISLAND.
UM, I WANNA POINT OUT THAT THE TOWN IS GONNA BE CONDUCTING A SWAT ANALYSIS OF SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING AS PART OF A STRATEGIC PLAN, UH, EFFORTS ON HILTON ISLAND.
UM, AND, UH, WANT TO THANK THE GREATER ISLAND COMMITTEE AND THE SUSTAINABILITY ACTION COMMITTEE AND BRINGING THIS, UH, CONTINUE TO PUSH THIS, UH, AGENDA FORWARD, UM, AND, UH, WORK FOR, AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO WORK FORWARD TO BEAUFORT COUNTY OR INDEPENDENTLY ON HILTON AND ISLAND TO ADVANCE.
HI, UH, THESE RECYCLING AND SALWAY EFFORTS, THERE ARE REC UH, REP REPRESENTATIVES HERE.
SORRY, IF I COULD JUST JUMP IN AND HELP SEAN.
YEAH, I, I THINK YOU NEED TO SCROLL THROUGH THE RESOLUTIONS AS WELL.
CAUSE THESE SCROLLING, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT THE GREATER ISLAND COUNCIL PROVIDED A RESOLUTION.
ARE YOU GONNA EXPLAIN THAT PART? THAT IT CAME THROUGH COMMITTEE.
THE COMMITTEE HAD PASSED THAT RESOLUTION FORWARD WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO TOWN COUNCIL, AND THEN AS A RESULT, WE'VE CREATED A RESOLUTION OF OUR OWN, UM, FOR TOWN COUNCIL CONSIDERATION TONIGHT.
FULLY SUPPORTING THE GICS RESOLUTION.
AND WE DO HAVE REPRESEN REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE GIC HERE, UH, PETER CHRISTIAN, UM, MARK BAKER.
WE HAVE NEIL DESAI COUNTY, UH, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, UH, ALSO WHO CAN AND SPEAK ON THIS.
UM, I CAN RUN THROUGH THE RESOLUTION, UH, QUICKLY.
UM, AGAIN, THE FOCUS OF THE SECOND RESOLUTION IS ON THE, ON THE MERF, ON THE MATERIAL RECYCLING FACILITY AND COORDINATION OF BEAUFORT COUNTY ON ITS, UH, INSTALLATION.
AND THEN WORKING ON, UH, SOLID WITCH RECYCLING OPERATIONS, UH, JOINTLY WITH THE COUNTY.
UM, SO WOULD YOU GO SCROLL BACK UP TO THE TOP, PLEASE? YES, SIR.
SO THAT ESSENTIALLY IS THE MOTION.
I I CAN MAKE A MOTION, UM, IN FAVOR RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING HILTON HEAD, ISLAND TOWN COUNCIL AND BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL WORK TOGETHER IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW LONG-TERM AGREEMENT THAT WILL SECURE THE LANDFILL AND RECYCLING NEEDS OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND BEAUFORD COUNTY.
[03:50:01]
YES, SIR.THIS PROMOTES COOPERATION BETWEEN THESE TWO ORGANIZATIONS DOES NOT REQUIRE THE EXPENDITURE OF MONEY BY THE TOWN, OR DOES NOT OBLIGATE THE TOWN TO TAKE ANY ACTION.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT THAT IS CORRECT.
OTHER THAN THE ACTION THAT WE WOULD DO THROUGH OUR SPOT ANALYSIS, THAT'S PART OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
SEAN, I READ SOMETHING YEAH, THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN THAT.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO REPHRASE MY YES SIR.
WHAT WAS ON THE SCREEN WAS THE GIC RESOLUTION.
THIS IS A RESOLUTION THAT'S DRAFTED FOR, SO I'M GONNA WITHDRAW MY MOTION.
I'LL WITHDRAW MY SECOND, AND I'LL MAKE ANOTHER MOTION TO SUPPORT A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, PUBLICLY STATING ITS COMMITMENT TO WORKING WITH THE BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE AND VIABLE LONG-TERM RESIDENTIAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RECYCLING INITIATIVES THAT WILL IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL, INCREASE THE COLLECTION OF RECYCLABLE MATERIALS, AND IMPROVE OVERALL RECYCLING RATES, AND SUPPORT THE EXPLORATION OF NEW WASTE DISPOSAL EFFORTS, SUCH AS COMPO COMPOSTING ON HILTON NET ISLAND AND WITHIN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
YOU WANNA ADD THAT AGAIN, GLEN, WHAT YOU JUST SAID A MINUTE AGO? I'M, I'M HAPPY
UM, UH, I GUESS THIS IS JUST A, UH, CURIOSITY ON MY POINT.
I, I KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE HAVING, UH, CONVERSATIONS AROUND SUSTAINABILITY.
WE'LL HAVE A SWAT ANALYSIS AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
UM, DURING THE STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP, I'M MAKING AN ASSUMPTION THAT WE WILL BE GIVING MR. ORLANDO SOME TYPE OF DIRECTION AND HOW THAT DIRECTION THEN FOLDS INTO THIS RESOLUTION.
UH, I'M NOT QUITE CLEAR AT THE MOMENT, AND I, I GUESS THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE FOR THE, THE FOLKS THAT ARE PRESENTING THE RESOLUTION, IS THERE SOME TYPE OF TIME SENSITIVE MATTER THAT WE NEED TO DO THIS TONIGHT VERSUS WAIT UNTIL WE GET OUR HANDS WRAPPED AROUND GIVING MR. ORLANDO SOME DIRECTION? BECAUSE I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN STANFORD.
WE'RE NOT MAKING A FINANCIAL COMMITMENT AT THE MOMENT, BUT WE'RE NOT, NOT NECESSARILY UNDERSTANDING OUR OWN DIRECTION BEFORE WE GET
[04:12:48]
INSTRUMENTS.[04:12:49]
MAKE[04:12:49]
NOTES.[04:13:01]
NOTES PLAYED IN HARMONY.MAKE MUSIC, MUSIC THE POWER OF DIVERSITY.
THE WORLD SERIES, THERE'S A SMASH TO RIGHT FIELD.
SO BEAUFORT COUNTY HOME RUN SHOT OVER THE RIGHT FIELD.
[04:17:43]
THE COUNTY CHANNEL IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON VIDEO ON DEMAND.SCROLL DOWN TO PUBLIC MEETINGS.
AND THEN CLICK THE VIDEO ON DEMAND BUTTON AND SELECT YOUR PROGRAM FROM THE LIST CALL MEETING TO, UH, ORDER.
IF YOU'D LIKE A DVD OF THIS PROGRAM, CLICK ON THE LINK ON THE RIGHT AND FILL OUT THE ORDER FORM.
AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THE COUNTY CHANNEL.
I'M NATALIE HECTOR, AND THIS IS YOUR BUFORD COUNTY MOMENT.
OYSTERS PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR SOCIAL SCHEDULE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS AT OYSTER ROASTS, BUT FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, THEY'VE BEEN IMPORTANT TO OUR HISTORY HERE.
NATIVE AMERICANS USED THEM FOR FOOD.
WE USED IT FOR PROCESSING INDIGO AND EVEN FOR FERTILIZING FIELDS OF COTTON.
OYSTER FACTORIES WERE USED IN THE BEAUFORT COUNTY AREA ALL THROUGH THE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURY TO PROCESS OYSTERS AND CAN THEM AROUND TOWN.
YOU CAN SEE EVIDENCE OF TABBY ARCHITECTURE THAT'S MADE FROM OYSTER SHELLS.
BUT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT OYSTERS DO FOR US IS FILTER OUR WATER.
SEVEN GALLONS OF WATER PER OYSTER PER DAY.
THIS IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO KEEP OUR WATERWAYS CLEAN OF STORM WATER, AS THESE ARE FILTERING ALL THE TIME.
REMEMBER TO RECYCLE THOSE OYSTER SHELLS WHEN YOU FINISH YOUR OYSTER ROAST.
SO WE HAVE NEW PLACES FOR BABY OYSTERS TO GROW.
ENJOY THE SEASON, AND THIS HAS BEEN YOUR BEAUFORT COUNTY MOMENT.
TO SEE MORE BEAUFORT COUNTY MOMENTS, GO TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY HOMEPAGE AND CLICK ON THE LOCAL HISTORY TAB, THIRD QUARTER.
THE SWAT TEAM, WE STARTED BACK IN 1986,
[04:20:01]
AND, UH, I WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE FIRST TEAM MEMBERS OF THE SWAT IN 1986.AND IT WAS MAINLY TO, UH, YOU KNOW, TO SERVE HIGH RISK WARRANTS.
AND, UH, AND WE WERE, DURING THAT TIME, WERE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN SOME, UH, V I P PROTECTION BECAUSE OF HILTON HEAD AND, AND SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT VISITED US HERE IN IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
UH, SWAT, UH, BASICALLY STANDS FOR SPECIAL WEAPONS AND TACTICS, AND BASICALLY IT'S MADE UP OF SPECIALIZED OFFICERS WITH SPECIALIZED TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT.
THEIR PRIMARY MISSION IS TO SUPPORT THE ROAD PATROL.
ANYTHING THAT'S, THAT IS OUT OF THE CAPABILITY OF THE ROAD PATROL.
THE SWAT TEAM WILL HANDLE, UH, ANYBODY THAT'S ARMED AND DANGEROUS, UH, HAS A EX EXTENSIVE CRIMINAL HISTORY.
UM, HIGH-RISK WARRANT SERVICE, UM, DRUG RAID, UH, V I P PROTECTION, BARRICADES, HOSTAGE RESCUE, UM, OR EVEN SURVEILLANCE DETAILS WHERE WE'RE SURVEILLING AN ARMED AND DANGEROUS PERSON.
UM, THEY ARE CALLED IN TO DEAL WITH THAT SUSPECT DUE TO THEIR EXPERIENCE IN THE UKRAINE TRAINING, UH, CONSISTS OF, UH, WE, WE TRAIN TWICE A MONTH, EIGHT HOURS A DAY FOR TOTAL 16 HOURS.
THAT'S NOT INCLUDING ANY TYPE OF SPECIAL EXERCISES OR, UH, ADDITIONAL TRAINING.
AND BASICALLY WHAT THOSE TRAINING HOURS DO IS ALLOW US TO, UH, REHEARSE AND TO, UH, WORK ON THE, THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE JOB SUSPECT.
TAKE DOWN, OBVIOUSLY WEAPONS TRAINING, UH, EXTENSIVE WEAPONS TRAINING, UM, AND WE HAVE VERY, WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PIECES OF EQUIPMENT THAT OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO KEEP UP ON.
THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA HAS RECENTLY STARTED UP A, UH, UH, THE, THE STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION.
UH, OUR STATE POLICE HAS STARTED UP A WMD INITIATIVE FOR ANTI-TERRORIST OPERATIONS IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
AND THEY'VE, I, THEY'VE IDENTIFIED SEVEN, UH, SWAT TEAMS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, UH, TO BASICALLY COME TOGETHER AND PROTECT THE STATE AGAINST TERRORIST, UH, UH, SITUATIONS.
AND BUFORD COUNTY SWAT TEAM IS ONE WE HANDLE THE LOW COUNTRY, UM, WHICH IS SEVEN COUNTIES.
AND WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE ARE, OUR TEAM IS COMBINED WITH THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND, UH, HAZMAT TEAM, OUR SWAT TEAM, AND THE, THE, UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY BOMB SQUAD.
AND WE CAN RESPOND REALLY ANYWHERE IN THE STATE, BUT NORMALLY THE LOWER PART, THE LOWER SEVEN COUNTIES OF THE STATE, UH, FOR ANY TYPE OF TERRORIST INCIDENCE, WE WILL ACTUALLY RESPOND THERE AND HANDLE THOSE CALLS.
WHAT WE'RE TRAINED FOR HERE IS IF WE HAVE A BARRICADED SUBJECT INSIDE A BUILDING WITH, UH, MULTI-STORY WITH SOME WINDOWS THAT WE CAN REPEL INTO.
UM, SOME OF THE TIME WE CAN'T, UH, MAKE ENTRY INTO A BUILDING FROM OUTSIDE PERIMETER BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WITH ALL THE WINDOWS, HE CAN SEE WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM.
IF WE CAN GET ON A SIDE THAT WE KNOW HE'S NOT LOOKING AT, WE CAN GET TO THE TOP OF THE BUILDING AND REPEL DOWN IN THROUGH THE WINDOWS AND GAIN ENTRY TO ONE OF THE MULTI, UH, STORIES AND COME DOWN THE STAIRS AND, YOU KNOW, GET THE SUBJECT FROM THERE WHILE, UM, AT THE SAME TIME COMING IN WITH THE ENTRY TEAM SO WE CAN GET 'EM FROM BOTH SIDES.
ONE THING IS THE CAMARADERIE, JUST BEING ON A TEAM ASPECT.
UM, IT'S ALWAYS AN ADRENALINE GATOR, EVERYTHING WE DO, AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT EXCITING IS DANGEROUS, BUT IT'S ALSO EXCITING AT THE SAME TIME.
I SERVED FOUR YEARS WITH THE MILITARY, UM, AND THEN WENT TO COLLEGE AND IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO DO.
THREE, TWO, WHAT I AM THE REPEL MASTER FOR THE TEAM AND THEN THE SCHOOLS TO LEARN HOW TO TIE THE SYSTEMS AND HOOK EVERYTHING UP SO IT'S DONE IN A SAFE MANNER.
IN A REAL SITUATION, THEY MIGHT BE EXPECTING US TO COME FROM THE BOTTOM FLOOR, AND IN FACT, WE CAN EITHER COME THROUGH THE TOP FLOOR WINDOWS, WHICH WOULD BE AN ADVANTAGE, I'LL ANNOUNCE CUZ WE GET THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE.
OR WE CAN ALSO, UH, YOU KNOW, DEPLOY FLASH BANGS.
ALL THESE GUYS IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, SWAT TEAM VOLUNTEER FOR THIS.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS, UH, IT'S A COLLATERAL DUTY FOR THESE GUYS AND, AND THEY ALL VOLUNTEER TO DO IT AFTER COMING OUTTA THE MILITARY.
UH, SWAT TEAM HAD THE OPTIONS AND THE SAME THINGS I DID WHEN I WAS IN THE SERVICE.
AIRBORNE INFANTRY, YOU KNOW, BEING ON THE FRONT LINES, TIP OF THE SPEAR, DOING THE TYPES OF, UH, HIGH SPEEDED THINGS THAT DID THE MILITARY, UH, PROVIDED GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY TO THE, UH, CENSUS OF COUNTY.
ONE THING ABOUT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, I CAN DEFINITELY SAY IS WE DO HAVE TOP LINE EQUIPMENT, UH, ALL THE NEWEST GADGETS AND GIZMOS WEAPONS, YOU KNOW, AND ANYTHING THAT'S GONNA HELP US DO OUR JOB BETTER AND SAFER.
WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY ALL THE WEAPONS.
WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A LARGE SELECTION OF WEAPONS FOR THE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS.
WE HAVE REPEL GEAR, RESCUE GEAR.
WE HAVE A LOT OF, UH, WATERBORNE TYPE, UH, GEAR BECAUSE WE DO, CUZ THE, THE AREA THAT WE LIVE IN, WE WORK ON THE WATER A LOT.
[04:25:01]
HAVE A LOT OF PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, WHICH ARE BALLISTIC SHIELDS AND VESTS AND HELMETS.UM, AND THEN WE HAVE DIFFERENT CHEMICAL MUNITIONS.
SO IF WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO FORCE SOMEBODY OUT OF A LOCATION, WE HAVE, UH, A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF CHEM, CHEMICAL MUNITIONS THAT WE CAN DEPLOY TO TRY TO RESOLVE THAT SITUATION.
THE BOMB TEAM CAME AROUND, UH, OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS.
UH, AND THE REALITY THERE IS WE WERE DEPENDENT UPON AN AGENCY, UH, WHICH IS REFERRED TO AS SLED LOCATED IN COLUMBIA, WHICH REQUIRES SEVERAL HOURS OF NOTICE BEFORE THEY CAN RESPOND AND ACTUALLY BE HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
AND WE SAW THE BENEFITS OF WHAT SWAT HAS DONE, UH, FOR, FOR US LOCALLY, AND KNEW THAT THE BOMB TEAM WOULD DO THE SAME THING.
WE'VE HAD A BOMB SQUAD, UH, COMING UP ON THREE YEARS NOW.
AND, UH, I, ONE OF THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS, MYSELF AND CAPTAIN WITH WHAT BIT OF KNOWLEDGE I DID HAVE FROM THE MILITARY OF, UH, MECHANICAL THINGS AND EXPLOSIVES AND ELECTRICAL, UH, THAT IT, THAT, UH, I MIGHT MAKE AN ASSET TO IT.
AND, UH, I THINK, UH, BURE COUNTY IS VERY PROGRESSIVE.
EVERY BOMB SQUAD IN THE UNITED STATES IS ACCREDITED THROUGH THE FBI.
AND ONCE WE GOT THAT ACCREDITATION, WHICH WAS A COMBINATION OF ACQUIRING THE EQUIPMENT AND SENDING OUR OUR PEOPLE TO BOMB SCHOOL, THAT'S WHEN THE, THE TEAM ACTUALLY, UH, WAS STOOD UP AND WE STARTED ANSWERING CALLS IN THE COUNTY.
WE HAVE, HAVE GROWN BOTH OF THOSE UNITS TO INCLUDE, UH, WATER RESCUE WITH OUR ZODIAC, UH, BOAT.
UH, WE ARE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN, YOU KNOW, IN, IN WATERBORNE UH, SITUATIONS, UH, BECAUSE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND THE PROTECTION OF OUR COUNTY.
BUT WE ARE, WE'RE A COASTAL COUNTY.
THE, THE THEORY BEHIND ALL OF THOSE SPECIAL TEAMS IS TO HAVE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, UH, VERY QUICKLY, UH, IN CRITICAL SITUATIONS AND TO PROTECT BEAUFORT COUNTY CITIZENS AND GUESTS THAT, UH, THAT UH, WE'RE HERE AND SWORN TO PROTECT BECAUSE OF THE JOB.
WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO WORK IN THE WATER, YOU KNOW, WORK IN THE WOODS, YOU KNOW, WORK IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS, UH, UH, BECAUSE WE NEVER KNOW WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE CALLED TO, TO RESPOND TO THESE GUYS AND GALS.
THEY WORK HARD, THEY TRAIN HARD, UH, THEY DO AN EXCELLENT JOB AND THEY'RE ABLE TO DO ALL OF WHAT THEY DO, NOT ONLY WITH THEIR PRIMARY JOB, BUT THEIR SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES AS WELL.