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CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BEAUFORT COUNTY, THE FEBRUARY 21ST, 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? COMPLIANCE AS LIVE.
YOU'LL JOIN IN SAYING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND TWO, THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
IF YOU'LL CONTINUE STANDING WELL, REVEREND GENERAL HAY GIVES THE INVOCATION.
MR. MAYOR, TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE GREET YOU IN THE NAME OF AMI FINE KING ONE WHO CAN DO ALL THINGS BUT FAIL.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO DO A LIKE FOR US TO BIBLE HEADS.
SILENTLY PLEASED FOR THE UKRAINIAN VICTIMS WHO HAVE BEEN RAVAGED WITH WAR AND ALSO THE EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS OVER IN SYRIA AND TURKEY.
ETERNAL GUARD WHO HAS ESTABLISHED THE NATIONS OF THIS WORLD WHERE PEOPLE CAN LIVE TOGETHER IN HARMONY AND PEACE.
WE ACT THAT YOU HEAR OUR PRAYER AS WE THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SACRIFICED TO MAKE THIS SOVEREIGN COMMONWEALTH POSSIBLE.
AND I THANK YOU FOR THIS HILTON HEAD ISLAND COMMUNITY AND HIS TOWN COUNCIL, WHICH WORKS UNTIRING FOR HIS PEOPLE.
AND I THANK YOU GOD FOR THE DECISIONS THAT THEY HAVE MADE FOR THE FAITH THAT THEY HAVE EXEMPLIFIED AND FOR THE INSTITUTIONS THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED AS WELL AS PRESERVED.
I ASK THAT YOU KEEP THEM FROM EVER TAKING THIS COMMUNITY FOR GRANTED.
ENABLE THEM TO BE INSTRUMENTS OF LOVE, FOSTERING GOODWILL AND PEACE EVERYWHERE SO THAT OTHERS FOLLOWING ME.
WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US TODAY, INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY CONTINUE BEING THAT LAMP UNTO OUR FEET AND A LIGHT UNTO OUR PATHWAY.
THESE BLESSINGS WE ACT IN OUR SON JESUS NAME.
UNDER THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES, IS THERE A MOTION TO THE, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? BILL MOVED.
ARE THERE ANY SECOND OR CHANGES TO THESE MINUTES? UH, NO, NO, NO CHANGES.
MR. ORLANDO REPORT OF THE TOWN MANAGER.
FOR UH, SAKE OF TIME, I'M GOING TO MOVE STRAIGHT TO THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD, BIANNUAL UPDATE.
HELLO, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD, THANK YOU.
IS THE MIC ON? YES, I BELIEVE SO.
UM, FIRST I'D LIKE TO SAY WE'RE GONNA MISS, UM, CHRIS DARNELL, BUT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH SHEA FARISH.
SHE'S GOT A LOT OF EXPERIENCE HERE AND KNOWS THE LM O HAD LUNCH WITH HER AND I'M EXCITED TO WORK WITH HER.
I'M ALSO VERY HAPPY TO, UM, STAY.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE TWO ARCHITECTS ON BOARD NOW.
UM, IT IS, UH, I AM OF THE OPINION THAT WE SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE AT LEAST TWO.
WE, ONCE AGAIN, AND LAST, UM, SEMIANNUAL REPORT, I REPORTED THAT WE HAD A LOW AMOUNT OF PROJECTS AND SAME THING HAPPENED THIS SIX MONTHS.
UM, THREE NEW PROJECTS AND 12 ALTERATIONS, ADDITIONS, AND THEY WERE NOT MAJOR ONES.
SO WE'VE HAD A SMOOTH LIFE
IT USED TO BE, UM, YOU MULTI-UNIT
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UNITS, MULTI-FAMILY UNITS WITH NO POOL AND NO REALLY EXTRA STUFF AROUND THERE.THEY RENOVATED IT, UM, TO MAKE IT SINGLE FOUR SINGLE UNITS WITH A NICE SWIMMING POOL IN THE MIDDLE.
UM, AND THEN THEY PROPOSED IT TO US TO HAVE EACH BUILDING BE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT, UM, PASTEL COLOR.
BUT THEN THEY CAME UP WITH A REALLY GREAT, UM, WAY OF DIFFERENTIATING THEM BY BRINGING ARCHES AND FENCES THAT MATCH EACH UNIT, BUT THEY'RE DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHERS AND IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD.
UM, THE BEACH HOUSE, UM, IS, WAS A UNIQUE PROJECT IN THAT THEY'RE REDOING THE TIKI HUT.
THEY'RE GONNA EXPAND THAT ONE.
THEY'RE GONNA MAKE THE BANDSHELL, UM, MATCH THE TIKI HUT A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
THEY'RE REDOING THE COM, THE WHOLE POOL.
THEY'RE, THE EXISTING ONE IS A CIRCULAR TYPE POOL WITH THE ISLAND IN THE MIDDLE FOR A BAR AND SERVING FOOD THAT'S MOVING COMPLETELY OVER TO THE SIDE.
UM, THEY DID BRING IT UPON US A, UH, PAVILION, BUT THAT WAS OUTSIDE ZONING AND WE COULDN'T APPROVE IT UNTIL THAT GOT APPROVED.
SO THE PROJECT GOT SPLIT UP AND WE APPROVED THE EVERYTHING EXCEPT FOR THE PAVILION, WHICH WILL BE ON A SEPARATE THING ONCE IT GOES THROUGH ZONING.
AND THEN, UM, THE BANK WAS A UNIQUE ONE.
THAT'S THE OLD BANK ON 59 POPE ROAD.
THEY'RE GONNA BECOME A RESTAURANT, A BAR, A BREWERY, HAVE OUTDOOR, UM, EATING AND FAMILY GAME STUFF.
THEY BROUGHT IT, UM, IN FRONT OF STAFF AND IT WAS GONNA BE WHITE, SOLID WHITE AND STAFF CONTACTED ME AND SAID HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT IT.
SO WE CAME UP WITH A LIGHTER OR A GRAY COLOR.
I WASN'T HERE AT THE LAST MEETING, BUT UM, THE BOARD ACTUALLY WENT WITH AN EVEN DARKER GRAY COLOR THAN WHAT WE WERE RECOMMENDING.
IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, I'D LOVE TO HEAR ANY QUESTIONS, MAYOR, UM, NO QUESTIONS.
JUST AGAIN, A COMPLIMENT TO THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD.
YOU'RE LOOKING OUT FOR THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE ISLAND, AND WE APPRECIATE IT.
IF I COULD, YES, THANKS MS. VOSS FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THAT OF YOUR ENTIRE BOARD.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS ABOUT THE CONSTITUENCY OF THE BOARD.
THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW.
UH, THE OTHER THING THAT I HOPE THE BOARD WILL BE PLEASED WITH IS THAT THE TOWN COUNCIL IS PUSHING FOR CHANGES TO THE LM O, WHICH INCLUDE DENSITY, MASS, AND SCALE OF BUILDINGS.
OUR NEXT STOP WORKFORCE HOUSING PROGRAM, OUR UPDATE, OUR MONTHLY UPDATE UPDATE.
MISSY LUK, OUR COMMUNITY, WELL OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
UM, SO I HAVE A COUPLE OF WORKFORCE HOUSING UPDATES TO GIVE YOU, AND I'M GOING TO GIVE THEM AN ORDER OF THE PILLARS THAT WE HAVE.
SO FIRST, FROM THE COMMUNITY PILLAR, THERE'S UM, A FEW ACTION, UH, STEPS THAT I'D LIKE TO REPORT ON.
UM, WE ARE WORKING TO DEVELOP AN ASSET MAP, UM, THAT INCLUDES A BROAD LIST OF AFFORDABLE AND WORKFORCE HOUSING RESOURCES AND PARTNERS, PROGRAMS AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
IN ADDITION TO THE ASSET MAPPING PROJECT, WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON DRAFTING AN ANTI-DISPLACEMENT AND DISPLACEMENT SUPPORT ACTION PLAN TO BUILD A COMMUNITY-WIDE STRATEGY TO ADDRESS POSSIBLE RESIDENT DISPLACEMENT DUE TO PROPERTY SALES AND OR DISPLACEMENT IN THE FUTURE.
UM, AND SO RESEARCH ON THAT EFFORT HAS JUST BEGUN.
ALSO, WE'RE WORKING ON, UH, FUTURE CONSIDERATION OF ESTABLISHMENT OF A WORKFORCE HOUSING ADVISORY BOARD OR COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT AND PROVIDE COUNSEL WITH COMMUNITYWIDE WORKFORCE HOUSING RECOMMENDATIONS, IDEAS, AND PROGRAM ANALYSIS OF BEST PRACTICE MODELS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR WORKFORCE HOUSING ACTION PLAN.
SO TODAY WE'VE RESEARCHED 20 DIFFERENT HOUSING ACTION BOARD MODELS, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO RESEARCH THOSE AND, AND BRING THAT BACK AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
AS FAR AS THE PLANNING PILLAR, UM, WE'VE BEGUN TO RESEARCH AND DEVELOP THAT PLANNING TOOLBOX, UM, THAT'S TALKED ABOUT, UM, THAT WOULD PROVIDE BEST PRACTICE RESEARCH RECOMMENDATIONS AND STRATEGIES THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY BE PART OF OUR WORKFORCE HOUSING TACTICAL TOOLBOX AND PART OF THE WORKFORCE HOUSING ACTION PLAN.
FROM THE MANAGEMENT PILLAR, UM, WE ARE ACTIVELY RECRUITING THE WORKFORCE HOUSING PROGRAM MANAGER POSITION THAT WENT LIVE ON JANUARY 3RD.
UM, RECRUITMENT OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES IS OUR PRIMARY FOCUS.
UM, THAT POSITION HAS BEEN POSTED ON VARIOUS INDUSTRY SITES AND WE'RE ACTIVELY REACHING OUT TO QUALIFIED CANDIDATES.
UM, WE HAVE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS.
WE'VE CONDUCTED PRE, UH, INTERVIEWS AND WE'RE WORKING
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ON, UM, FINAL CANDIDATE SELECTION FOR A FULL INTERVIEW.UM, THE TOWN HAS COMMITTED TO THE REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND EFFORT, AND, UM, TONY ALFIERI IS THE TOWN'S REPRESENTATIVE ON THE REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND BOARD, AND TONY IS CHAIRING THE PRE-QUALIFICATION AND PROJECT ELIGIBILITY SUBCOMMITTEE.
AS FAR AS THE NORTHPOINT, UM, PROJECT AND UPDATES, WE ARE STILL MOVING FORWARD WITH THE, UM, SELECTION OF OUR DEVELOPMENT PARTNER AND, UM, I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE FURTHER UPDATES ON THAT.
BUT FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THESE UPDATES, UM, ARE ON A QUARTERLY FREQUENCY INSTEAD OF MONTHLY GOING FORWARD.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? JUST A QUICK COMMENT.
UM, THAT'S PROBABLY ALL I SHOULD SAY, BUT, UH, THANKS FOR REPORTING SUCCINCTLY ON THE FOUR PILLARS, ESPECIALLY ON DISPLACEMENT STRATEGY AND ESPECIALLY ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
OKAY, MISS, YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.
UM, I CAN'T SAY IT ENOUGH, SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.
ALL RIGHT, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, NATALIE HARVEY, OUR DIRECTOR OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS, TO GIVE A, A QUARTERLY UPDATE ON ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON.
UH, I'M GONNA TAKE JUST A FEW MOMENTS, UH, TO SHARE WITH YOU AN UPDATE.
I HAVE BEEN HERE, UH, JUST A QUARTER MYSELF.
UH, SO WE ARE DIVING INTO SOME GREAT OPPORTUNITIES.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST YEAR, LAST CALENDAR YEAR.
UH, THERE WERE SOME, SEVERAL SCULPTURES INSTALLED ALONG THE SHELTER CODE PATHWAY, UM, ALONG THE ART TRAIL, WHICH WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AT A COUPLE, COUPLE OF OTHER MEETINGS BEFORE.
I'LL SHOW YOU A COUPLE OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF THOSE.
OUR CRESCENDO CELEBRATION WAS HELD IN OCTOBER WITH OVER A HUNDRED EVENTS, AND IT CULMINATED IN THE LANTERN PARADE IN, UM, NOVEMBER.
THE INAUGURAL TREE LIGHTING AND MENOR LIGHTING EVENTS WERE VERY POPULAR THIS YEAR, MOVING DOWN TO CELEBRATION PARK, LOW COUNTRY CELEBRATION PARK, AND WE EXPECT TO BE OFFERING THOSE AGAIN THIS YEAR.
AND SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE IN OCTOBER, I'VE SPENT SEVERAL, UM, DAYS AT A TIME MEETING NEW COMMUNITY PARTNERS, GETTING TO KNOW THE ORGANIZATION, WHO IN TOWN HALL I CAN WORK WITH, UM, TO GET SOME OF THESE THINGS DONE, AND WHO IN THE COMMUNITY HAS OTHER PROJECTS THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN IMPLEMENTING.
SO IT'S BEEN A VERY EXCITING TIME, UM, FOR ME JUMPING IN, UM, RIGHT AT THE START OF CRESCENDO.
UH, THESE ARE THE SCULPTURES THAT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AT THE SHELTER COVE, UH, SCULPTURE TRAIL LEADING FROM SHELTER COVE COMMUNITY PARK DOWN BEHIND VETERAN'S MEMORIAL AND ONTO THE NEW TRAIL HEAD.
YOU'LL BE SEEING SOME NEW INSTALLATIONS, UH, IN THAT AREA COMING THIS SPRING.
A FEW, UH, PHOTOGRAPHIC HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE CRESCENDO EVENT.
THESE, UH, DURING OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER, WE HAD OVER A HUNDRED DIFFERENT EVENTS.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU WERE AT SEVERAL OF THESE, AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL SAVE THE DATES FOR NEXT YEAR AS WELL.
AND OF COURSE, I COULDN'T WRAP UP WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE LANTERN PARADE AND, UM, WE ARE REALLY EXCITED THAT WE HAD OVER A THOUSAND PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN MARCHING IN THE PARADE WITH SEVERAL THOUSAND MORE ON THE BEACH NEXT YEAR.
THE PARADE DATES WILL BE THE 18TH OF NOVEMBER, AND JUST A LOOK AHEAD TO THIS YEAR.
UM, WE WILL BE, UH, INSTALLING, UH, A MURAL AT THE ISLAND SCHOOL, UM, I'M SORRY, HILTON HEAD ISLAND CREATIVE ARTS IN TWO WEEKS, UH, FLORA AND FAUNA THAT WILL BE USED, UM, BY OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS.
I MENTIONED THIS TEMPORARY SCULPTURES AT SHELTER CODE PATHWAY.
UM, I'M PRESENTING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE ARB IN ABOUT A WEEK'S TIME, SO I HOPE TO HAVE NEWS ON THAT VERY SOON.
OUR CRESCENDO KICKOFF WILL BE HELD AT SHELTER COVE IN OCTOBER AND SAVE THE DATE FOR THE LANTERN PARADE OCTOBER 18TH.
UM, YOU MAY HAVE SEEN AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE NEW PLAY MITCHELLVILLE PRESENTED BY LEAN ENSEMBLE THEATER.
WE ARE WORKING TO, UM, THROUGH A GRANT FROM THE HUMANITIES COUNCIL TO HAVE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ATTEND THAT AT NO CHARGE AND PAY FOR TRANSPORTATION THROUGH A GRANT.
SO THAT'S COMING UP IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
AND THEN STAY TUNED FOR THE 360 40 MUSIC, UH, CELEBRATION, HONORING OUR 40TH ANNIVERSARY.
SO THAT IS ALL I HAVE GOING ON IN THE OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, ANY QUESTIONS.
I BELIEVE THE SECOND TIME I, I SAW NATALIE OR, OR, OR INTERACTED WITH NATALIE WAS DURING THE LANTERN PARADE, RIGHT? SO YOU JUST GOT HERE AND DOVE IN.
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SIR.AM MAYOR, COUNSEL, THAT, THAT CONCLUDES THE REPORT.
UH, ANY GENERAL REPORTS FROM COUNSEL? I DON'T HAVE A, A REPORT, BUT I DO HAVE A CONCERN AND AN INTEREST I THINK, UM, THAT IS SPREAD, UM, AMONGST OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
I RECEIVED A CALL EARLIER THIS WEEK, UM, OVER THE WEEKEND ACTUALLY FROM A RESIDENT WHO HAD A, UM, CHILD, 10 YEARS OLD WHO HAD FALLEN AND BROKEN THEIR ARM AND, UM, TRANSPORTED THE, THE CHILD WHO WAS IN A GREAT DEAL OF PAIN, OBVIOUSLY TO OUR HOSPITAL OR, AND WAS UNABLE TO BE SEEN AND CALLED ME IN A PANIC NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO OR WHERE TO GO.
AND I DON'T HAVE ANY RELATIONSHIP OR DIRECT, UM, CONTACT WITH ANYONE ELSE, BUT DID PROVIDE THEM WITH EVERYTHING THAT I COULD THINK OF.
THEY ENDED UP HAVING TO GO AN HOUR AWAY TO HAVE THE SURGERY ON THE CHILD'S ARM.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE ADDRESS THIS, BUT IT'S A CONCERN ACROSS THE ISLAND IN ALL AGE GROUPS, AND WE REALLY DO NEED TO BE THINKING COLLECTIVELY ABOUT WHAT'S A STEP TO TAKE SO THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE BETTER CARED FOR.
DO YOU ANY UPDATE ON THAT CHILD, BY THE WAY? UM, YOU HAD SURGERY? UM, HE IS HOME RESTING.
ANY OTHER GENERAL REPORTS? OKAY, SEEING NONE.
UM, MR. STANFORD, ANY REPORT FROM LATZ? YES.
UM, TO REFRESH EVERYONE, LATZ IS THE AREA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY.
I SIT ON THEIR POLICY BOARD REPRESENTING THE TOWN.
UH, WE HAVE MEET MEETINGS EVERY 60 DAYS OR SO, AND WE GET REPORTS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE TRANSPORTATION WORLD, UH, AROUND THE LOW COUNTRY.
FIRST REPORT WE HAD FROM D O T HAS TO DO WITH HIGHWAY NINE, INTERSTATE 95.
THEY'RE IN PRELIMINARY PLANNING FOR THE FIRST PHASE OF WIDENING, UH, 95, UH, FROM THE GEORGIA LINE UP FOR ABOUT 30 MILES.
THAT'S A PROJECT THAT'LL PROBABLY BE IN PLACE, BE STARTED IN A COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT THEY ARE AT LEAST UNDERWAY IN, IN STUDYING THAT.
UM, IN SO FAR AS 2 78 IS CONCERNED.
UH, THERE WAS NO PARTICULAR REPORT HAVING TO DO WITH A CORRIDOR PROJECT, BUT I GUESS AS AN OFFSHOOT FROM THE CORRIDOR PROJECT, UH, THE TOWN IS PUTTING IN, UH, ADAPTIVE INTELLIGENT TRAFFIC SIGNALS ON THE TA ON THE TOWN PROPERTIES, TOWN INTERSECTIONS, AND THE S C D O T IS GOING TO BE PUTTING IN THE SAME SIGNAL, OPERATED IN THE SAME OPERATION, UH, IN THE SAME MANNER, UH, FROM, UH, THE EDGES OF THE TOWN OUT TO ONE 70.
SO THAT SHOULD DO SOMETHING TO RELEASE AND RELIEVE TRAFFIC.
PALM BREEZE REPORTED THAT THEY'RE GONNA COMMENCE THE TROLLEY SERVICE AGAIN, ALSO FREE.
UH, THAT WILL COMMENCE ON APRIL.
UH, THE, THE FIRST, UM, PALMED A BREEZE IS ALSO STUDYING, PROVIDING, UH, A SHUTTLE SERVICE FROM THE AIRPORT TO VARIOUS LOCATIONS, UH, AROUND, UH, THE COMMUNITY, WHICH SHOULD AID IN RELEASING TRAFFIC SOMEWHAT IN THAT AREA.
THEY'RE WORKING ON ROUTE DESIGN.
UM, THEY HAVE SOME FEDERAL FUNDS TO PROVIDE NECESSARY BUSES.
UH, SO IT LOOKS LIKE THAT WILL, SOMETHING WILL BE IN PLACE, UH, TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC, UH, AND CONGESTION AROUND THE AIRPORT.
MS. BECKER, LOW COUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS.
UM, OUR NEXT MEETING IS JANUARY 23RD, SO NEXT TIME WE MEET, I SHOULD HAVE A REPORT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. AMES.
IT'S A COUNTY AIRPORT, BUT THE, UH, TOWN OBVIOUSLY IS VERY INTERESTED IN WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
UH, OPERATIONS, UH, UH, FROM LAST YEAR ARE DOWN APPROXIMATELY 10%, LARGELY DUE TO THE DIFFICULTY THAT AIRLINES ARE HAVING WITH CREWS BEING AVAILABLE.
AND ALSO THE TERMINAL PROJECT WAS REBID IN ORDER TO MESH MORE, UH, UH, ACCURATELY WITH THE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FUNDS, UH, THAT, UH, SHOULD BE COMING TO THE PUBLIC WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. BROWN REPORT FROM THE ISLAND REC ASSOCIATION BOARD.
UH, THE ALLEN REC CENTER BOARD, WHICH I AM A EX-OFFICIAL MEMBER OF, UH, MET ON LAST WEEK FRIDAY.
UM, LOTS OF GOOD DISCUSSION AROUND, UH, ONGOING EVENTS.
UM, PROGRAMMING IS, IS GOING WELL, FARING VERY WELL FINANCIALLY.
UM, OF COURSE THEY ARE IN, UH, IN PREPARATION FOR BUDGET SEASON, WILL BE COMING TO SEE US, UH, AT
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F AND A COMMITTEE MEETING AS ONE OF THE AFFILIATED AGENCIES.AND AS A SIDE NOTE, I DID, UH, SPEAK UP DURING THE MEETING ABOUT GATOR FOOTBALL.
UM, AS WE ALL KNOW, A LOT OF, A LOT OF THINGS HAVE NOT NECESSARILY RECOVERED SINCE COVID AND GATOR FOOTBALL IS ONE OF THEM.
AND, UH, MAYOR PERRY, YOU AND I KNOW VERY WELL THAT THAT IS A STAPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, SO I, UH, I DID OFFER ASSISTANCE FROM, FROM OUR SIDE, UH, WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO REESTABLISH THAT PROGRAM, UM, IN GOOD STANDING AS IT WAS BEFORE COVID CAME BEFORE US.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH MS. BECKER, COMMUNITY SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.
UM, AT OUR LAST MEETING, WE, UM, SELECTED APPLICANTS WHO WILL BE INTERVIEWED FOR OPENINGS ON OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS OUR NEXT MEETING, UM, AND THOSE INTERVIEWS WILL HAPPEN.
OUR NEXT MEETING, THOUGH, IS ON THE 27TH OF FEBRUARY.
WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME AND JOIN US.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. AMES, PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE.
UH, THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE MET, UH, 28TH OF DEC OF JANUARY AND FOR CONSIDERING THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE FOR THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCES TO AMEND THE LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE TO CREATE A NEW USE CALLED ISLAND MIXED USE WITHIN C PINE CIRCLE DISTRICT, AN UPDATE ON SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE IMPLEMENTATIONS, AND THEN ALSO A REVIEW OF THE CALENDAR YEAR 2 20 23 MEETING DATES.
OUR NEXT MEETING IS THIS THURSDAY.
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE.
UH, FNA COMMITTEE WILL BE MEETING, UM, MARCH 21ST.
UM, RANGE OF TOPICS, UH, OUR DESIGNATED MARKETING ORGANIZATION WILL BE PRESENTING, UH, THE START OF THE, UH, MARKETING PLAN.
UH, WE WILL PICK, BE PICKING UP, UH, CONTINUATION OF OUR CONVERSATION ON LOCAL SMALL MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE UTILIZATION PLAN.
AND, UM, OF COURSE WE WILL BE HEARING FROM OUR AFFILIATED AGENCIES ON THAT MEETING ALSO.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO APPEARANCE BY CITIZENS.
I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND OUR CITIZENS THAT EACH PERSON HAS THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS TOWN COUNCIL.
AT THE END OF THE THREE MINUTES, YOU'RE ASKED TO CONCLUDE YOUR COMMENTS.
PLEASE MAINTAIN A DECORUM SUITABLE FOR THE MEANING AND REFRAIN FROM USING ANY PROFANE, ABUSIVE, OR OBSCENE LANGUAGE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY MATERIALS YOU'D LIKE TO GIVE TOWN COUNCIL, PLEASE GIVE TO THE TOWN CLERK AFTER YOUR SPEAK.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WE FOLLOW AS A TOWN COUNCIL OUR CODE SECTION TWO DASH FIVE DASH 70 ON APPEARANCE BY CITIZENS.
UNLESS FURTHER TIME IS GRANTED BY MAJORITY VOTE OF THE COUNCIL THERE ABOUT, THERE SHALL BE NO ADDITIONAL REMARKS OUTSIDE OF THE THREE MINUTES.
ALL REMARKS SHALL BE ADDRESSED TO THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE AND NOT TO ANY MEMBER THEREOF.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, KRISTIN, IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TODAY? YES, SIR.
MR. MAYOR COUNCIL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, MR. ORLANDO, UH, I'M LUCKY TO BE THE FIRST TODAY AND I WILL STAY WITHIN THIS THREE MINUTES.
UM, I WANT ONE THING OUT OF THE WAY, WHICH IS THAT I'VE ENJOYED DRIVING OVER THE CROSS ISLAND PARKWAY.
IT LOOKS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, AND I THINK WE SHOULD CONSIDER CHANGING THE NAME TO THE ALAU BOULEVARD OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
I THINK THAT TEAM DID AN AMAZING JOB.
UM, I JUST WANT TO, UH, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, WHERE WE ARE, UH, WITH REGARD TO THE 2 78 CORRIDOR.
UM, THERE ARE MANY ENTITIES THAT ARE INTERESTED IN SEEING THAT A NEW BRIDGE OR BRIDGES GET BUILT, BUT NOT ALL THOSE INTERESTED PARTIES HAVE THE SAME VIEW OR CARE.
MOST DEVELOPERS AND BUILDERS SEE IT AS A BIG PROJECT THAT WILL HELP THEIR BUSINESS GROW OFF.
DEVELOPERS WELCOME THE EASY ACCESS TO OUR BEACHES AS IT HELP HELPS THEM SELL THEIR PROPERTIES AND INCREASE THE VALUE OF THOSE PROPERTIES.
UM, AND THAT GOES FROM MARGARITAVILLE TO ARGENT HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM.
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS YET TO BE CONVINCED THAT LESS IS MORE, AND THAT MORE CARS, MORE TOURISTS, MORE BUILDING IS NOT NECESSARY, CONSIDERED BENEFICIAL TO THE ISLANDS PRISTINE ENVIRONMENT NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.
UM, I MUST SAY THAT THE TOWN COUNCIL HAS SHOWN THE WILL AND ABILITY TO RISE ABOVE IT AND IN THE INTEREST OF THE RESIDENTS, UH, UH, RISE ABOVE IT.
IN THE INTEREST OF THE RESIDENTS, AND I APPLAUD THIS, I HOPE THE TOWN COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS LONG-TERM VISION AND MOVE FORWARD WITH DECISIONS THAT WILL IMPROVE THE
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OVERALL ENVIRONMENT OF HI AIR ISLAND.DESPITE THE PRESSURES FROM COUNTY AND OUTSIDE PARTIES, YOU ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS BY THE RESIDENTS OF HILTON NET AND NOT BY COMPANIES AND REAUTH AUTHORS, ET CETERA, WHO IN SOME CASES SPONSOR THE ELECTED ELECTIONS OF POLITICIANS.
THESE ENTITIES, IN THE END, AIM TO BENEFIT IN THE SHORT TERM FROM THE, FROM THE CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT.
TAKING BACK, UM, UH, TAKING BACK THE INDE INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF THE CORRIDOR PROJECT WAS A CRITICAL STEP IN THAT PROCESS BY THE TOWN.
AND I, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, UM, WITH A NUMBER OF ADDITIONS AND CHANGES, UM, THAT OUR TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP SUPPORTS THE STATEMENT OF WORK FOR THE INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT.
UM, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME RELEVANT CHANGES THAT, UH, WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO LOOK AT.
UM, SO, UM, THIS MEANS THAT WE ALL NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE ANALYSIS OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERNS, THE EVALUATION OF ALL OF THE ALTERNATIVES, AND COMING TO A CONCLUSION ON AND THE RIGHT CONCLUSION FOR THE SOLUTION FOR THE ISLANDS.
UM, THE INSULATION OF THE ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE US, UH, AND THE INDEPENDENT REVIEWER, UM, WITH VALUABLE DATA ON THE TRAFFIC PATTERNS AND THE SQUEEZE POINT ON THE RELEVANT TRACK.
UH, WE ARE THAT, THAT'S YOUR TIME.
NEXT, DON TIMS. MR. TIMS? YES.
SO I'VE GOT A POA IN MY HANDS.
AND A, A POA IS A POWER OF ATTORNEY.
YOUR TIME IS STARTED TO SPEAK TO THIS MAN.
CAUSE HE FEARS SPEAKING AND THE RISK, HE FEARS, HE FEARS HE'S GONNA BE REMOVED.
NOW, IF, IF A POA IS NOT VALID, LET ME FINISH.
A POA IS NOT VALID IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
WHAT HAPPENS TO ALL POAS? IF YOU GOT THE RIGHT OF A POA TO PULL THE PLUG ON SOMEBODY IN THEIR DEATHBED, YOU'VE GOTTA TELL ME THAT I DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK FOR THIS MAN.
UM, UNDER HOWEVER, ATTORNEY, CAUSE HE FEARS SPEAKING.
AND SHOW ME A LAW THAT DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO SPEAK WITH MY RIGHTS UNDER A POA.
THAT I WILL STAND DOWN AND I WILL NOT APPROACH THE JUDGE.
YOU, YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK ON FIRE OF ATTORNEY.
AND IT IS UP TO US TO MAKE A DECISION.
NO, IT'S NOT UP TO YOU, IT'S UP TO THE LAW.
LET'S GET THAT STRAIGHT TOWN COMMUNITIES PART-TIME BASED OFF OF THE ORDINANCE.
SPEAK TO THIS MAN, AND I'VE GOT SOMEBODY ELSE WHO WANTS ME TO SPEAK.
WE'RE WE ARE NOT GOING TO ACCEPT THAT WE LEAVE THE LAW.
WE ARE NOT LAW, WE ARE NOT ACCEPT ACCEPTING THAT.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA VIOLATE A POA IN SOUTH CAROLINA IF, IF YOU VIOLATE THIS POA AND I ALLOW YOU TO VIOLATE ME IN THIS POA, EVERY POA THAT WE'VE EVER SIGNED IN THIS STATE.
SO CURTIS GONNA BE, I'LL ASK YOU TO CURTIS STAND UP AND LEMME HEAR WHAT YOU GOTTA SAY.
MR. MAYOR, TWO TURN THOUGHT YOU CAN'T HEAR YOU.
CURTIS 2, 5 70 STATES THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL WISHING TO SPEAK BEFORE COUNSEL CAN SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES.
IF THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO PULL THEIR, UH, TI UH, UM, COMMENTS TO A SPOKESMAN, WHICH I SUPPOSE MR. HOLAND'S FOLKS HAVE DONE, THE SPOKESMAN GETS THREE MINUTES.
YOU, YOU HAVE WHAT HE IS AND YOU GET THREE MINUTES, YOU'RE NOW DOWN TO 1 0 2.
THEY'VE BEEN IN THE TOWN CODE FOREVER, AND THOSE OF GOOD FAITH WILL ABIDE BY THEM.
I'M GONNA SPEAK UP FOR ANYBODY THAT FEARS IN THIS ROOM TO STAND UP.
SO I'M GONNA CARRY ON WITH THIS SPEECH FOR THIS MAN, AND I'M GONNA MAKE ANOTHER ONE.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA MAKE ANOTHER ONE DURING THIS, THIS PERIOD YET.
OKAY? SO CAN WE 40, 40 SECONDS WE START THE CLOCK OVER.
BECAUSE YOUR TIME STARTED WHEN YOU GOT UP AND, AND STARTED SPEAKING.
NO, WE WERE ARGUING ABOUT IF I HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK.
THAT'S NOT WHAT MY SPEECH WAS AND THAT'S NOT WHAT HIS SPEECH WAS.
YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO SPEAK, STARTING REPUBLICAN AND THE CITIZENS AT YOUR THREE MINUTES FOR YOURSELF.
WHAT KINDA PLACE DO WE LIVE IN? GRUBER, DON'T BE SHAKING YOUR HEAD FOR A MAN THAT'S BEEN CONVICTED OF THREE ETHICS VIOLATIONS STILL EMPLOYED BY THE TOWN OF HILTON NEEDS TO SPRAY FOR, AGAIN.
YOU, YOU, YOU ARE VIOLATING THE RULES OF DEC QUORUM THAT WE HAVE WITHIN OUR ORGANIZ.
I I'M GONNA SPEAK THE MAN'S THREE MINUTES.
ALAN PERRY, YOU ARE NOT REPRESENTING US.
I'M GONNA SPEAK HIS, UH, I'M GONNA READ HIS SPEECH.
[00:30:01]
SIR.SO HERE'S WHAT THE MAN HAS WRITTEN IN AS GOOD INFORMATION, MR. HAR, ARE YOU READY? ARE YOU READY FOR THE MAN'S SPEECH? YOU ARE OUT OF ORDER.
NO, WE ARE GOING TO, YOU'RE A VIOLATION OF RECESS.
DID YOU KNOW VEHICLES IN BEAUFORT COUNTY MUST HAVE CURRENT REGISTRATION AND BE ROAD READY? VIOLATING THIS ORDINANCE CAN NET YOU A HEFTY FINE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO BC GOV.NET/CODE ENFORCEMENT FEAR BECAUSE THEIR IN FEAR BEING SUED FOR DEFAMATION.
THEY'RE SUED FOR BEING TAX MONEY.
THEY'RE SUED BY REMOVING BY THE POLICE FORCE.
IT'S IN IT'S CRAZY WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS TOWN.
WE CAN GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, WHICH IS AT THE END OF OUR AGENDA AND WASTE EVERYBODY'S TIME.
THEN LET ME SPEAK AND LET LET EVERYBODY SPEAK AND JUST GIVE THE THREE MINUTES AND WE'LL GET THROUGH THIS.
YOU, YOU'RE THE ONE THAT'S DISRUPTING.
YOU'RE THE ONE THAT'S VIOLATING THE POWER OF ATTORNEY.
I'M NOT, I'M NOT VIOLATING ANYTHING EVERYBODY HAS TO UNDERSTAND HERE.
I AM NOT IN, IN VIOLATION OF ANYTHING.
WHAT LAWS DO HAVE I NOT COMPLYING TO? DAVID, EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT I, I KNOW WHAT I CAN EXPLAIN THE LAWS YOU'RE NOT COMPLYING TO, BUT YOU CAN'T EXPLAIN THE LAWS THAT I'M NOT COMPLYING TO.
I'M HONEST AND EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM KNOWS I'M HONEST.
SO I I NEED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE GENERAL PENALTY FOR CONTINUING THE VIOLATION, UM, WHENEVER IN THIS CODE OR IN THE ANY ORDINANCE, ANY ACT IS PROHIBITED OR DECLARED TO BE UNLAWFUL OR IN OFFENSE OR WHENEVER IN THIS CODE OR IN ANY ORDINANCE, THE DOING OF ANY ACT IS REQUIRED OR THE FAILURE TO DO ANY ACT IS DECLARED TO BE UNLAWFUL WHERE NO SPECIFIC PENALTY IS PROVIDED.
THEREFORE, THE VIOLATION OF ANY SUCH PROVISIONS OF THIS CODE OR ANY SUCH ORDINANCE SHALL BE PUNISHABLE BY A FINE NOT EXCEEDING $500 OR BY IMPRISONMENT NOT EXCEEDING 30 DAYS OR BOTH.
YOU HAVE VIOLATED OUR DECORUM.
WHAT'S A VIOLATION FOR FOUR, FOR WHAT'S A VIOLATION FOR A POA? AND BY THE WAY, I'LL PAY THE $500.
HOW ABOUT THAT? SO GIMME MY THREE MINUTES.
I AM I'M GOING TO ASK IF THERE IS ANY MOTION ON COUNSEL TO THAT'S HOW MARK, MR. HOLAND TO CONTINUE SPEAKING? NO, SIR.
I'M GONNA FINISH MY, I'M GONNA FINISH ALL MY SPEECHES TODAY ON THE AGENDA SPEECHES AND MY, MY THREE MINUTE SPEECH.
AND I'M HAPPY TO PAY YOU $500 TO FINISH MY, MY THREE MINUTES.
NOW IF YOU WANNA TRY TO PUT ME IN JAIL FOR 30 DAYS.
MAYOR, YOU ASKED IF THERE WAS A COMMENT.
I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S A MOTION, BUT I'M GONNA MAKE A COMMENT.
SINCE EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE CHIMING IN.
WE HAVE A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE AND AN ISLAND FULL OF RESIDENTS AND VISITORS WHO EXPECT MORE OF ALL OF US, RIGHT? RIGHT.
AND THAT MEANS THAT IN A, IN IN OUR WORLD, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I DON'T KNOW WHY IT IS THAT WE HAVE WASTED AS MUCH TIME AS WE HAVE, NOT JUST TODAY, BUT ON PEST MEETINGS ARGUING ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE CAN SPEAK.
I DON'T NECESSARILY APPRECIATE THE SPEECH.
I DON'T, I DON'T NECESSARILY APPRECIATE THE SPEECH I HEAR FROM A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, BUT THAT'S NOT THE POINT.
WE SIT HERE FOR THREE MINUTES OF OUR LIFE AND WE GIVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND UP AND BE WHO THEY ARE, HOW THEY WANT TO BE.
I'M NOT JUDGING ANYONE, I'M NOT BEING DEFENSIVE, I'M NOT BEING ANYTHING BUT SAYING THAT IN OUR COUNTRY WE HAVE A SYSTEM AND WE HAVE AN RESIDENCE POPULATION WHO EXPECTS MORE OF US.
OUR FREE SPEECH, OUR MOMENT IN TIME IS SO LIMITED.
WHY ARE WE FIGHTING? CONSTANTLY FIGHTING? WHY? AND, AND THEN THAT'S NOT A MOTION.
BUT I HONESTLY THINK THAT WE CAN DO BETTER.
WE CAN ALL DO BETTER, RIGHT? I AGREE.
THERE, THERE HAS BEEN, THERE HAS BEEN NO MOTION TO GRANT YOU ADDITIONAL TIME TO SPEAK.
IF YOU DO CONTINUE TO SPEAK, YOU WILL RECEIVE ANOTHER VIOLATION
[00:35:02]
AND YOU WOULD BE SPEAKING AGAINST OUR OBJECTIONS.OKAY? AND I'LL, AND I WILL, UH, FILE A, UH, A VIOLATION.
I WILL FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST YOU FOR A VIOLATION OF A POA AND WE'LL SEE WHICH ONE WINS IN COURT THE POA OR A LOCAL RULE, LOCAL RULES CANNOT TROUBLE POA.
SO WE'LL, BUT WHY DON'T WE SETTLE THIS, LET ME FINISH OPENING MY SPEECH TODAY AND THEN WE'LL ALL FINISH THIS.
WE'LL READ ABOUT IT IN THE PAPER.
WHO WAS RIGHT AND WHO WAS WRONG? P I SAY A POA TRUMP'S LOCAL RULES.
AND CURTIS, YOU HAVE NOT SHOWN ME ANY REASON TO NOT TAKE THAT POSITION.
SO IN DUE COURT, THERE BE A JAIL TERM FOR YOU.
SO WHAT, WHAT IS AN IRS 5 0 1 C6 CHAMBER ORGANIZATION? IT'S A BUSINESS ASSOCIATION ORGANIZED TO PROMOTE BUSINESS MEMBERS ONLY AND NOT RUN IT LIKE A DM POINT OF ORDER ARISE TO A POINT OF ORDER.
UH, YOU HAVE READ TO MR. HOLAND THE RULES YOU HAD READ TO HIM THE CODE PROVISIONS.
OUR ATTORNEY HAS GIVEN US AN OPINION.
I ASK FOR THE NEXT SPEAKER TO BE CALLED AND FOR MR. HOLAND TO PLEASE SIT DOWN.
CAN I, CAN I, COULD I PLEASE PAT PATSY, COULD I PLEASE NOT BE INTERRUPTED SIR? UH, POINT OF ORDER HAS BEEN CALLED UNDER ROBERT CHAMBER PROCEDURE.
PAT, PATSY, ARE YOU GONNA, ARE YOU GONNA LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING, PATSY, ARE YOU GONNA VOTE TODAY FOR 800,000 MORE DOLLARS, UH, TO BILL MILES IN THE CHAMBER WHEN YOU KNOW IT'S ILLEGAL? ARE YOU GONNA ACTUALLY DO THAT? WHO IS GONNA VOTE? MR. HOLAND? MR. HOLAND MORE MONEY TO STEAL FROM US.
YOU ARE STEALING OUR CRIMINALS IF YOU DO THAT.
EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM NOW I'M GONNA FINISH MY SPEECH.
A D A CHAMBER DMO CANNOT MAKE A PROFIT FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CHAMBER, NOR PAY TO PLAY, NOR FAVORITISM OR CO-MINGLE AND LAUNDRY TAX MONIES FROM ILLICIT ADVERTISING PROFITS.
CAN CAN I HAVE A MOTION THAT WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? I MOVE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
AND AND THE PURPOSE OF THAT, UH, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IS PURSUANT UNBELIEVABLE TO THE UNBELIEVABLE SET FORTH ON AGENDA WORK FOR US.
IS THAT CORRECT? YOU DISRESPECT THE FREE SPEECH.
WILL YOU CALL RULE PLEASE ON THAT? YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR THE TRUTH, YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR THE FACTS.
FOR MOST YOU KEEP VOTING TO FUND ILLEGAL MILLIONS OF YES.
AND, AND, AND MOST MR. AMES ACCEPT IT.
YES, I FIGHT AGAINST IT AND I APOLOGIZE TO THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY.
I APOLOGIZE FOR EVERYBODY TOO.
I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE MR. ALFRED, THIS IS WHAT YOU CALL CANCEL CULTURE.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S REALLY, IT'S HEY GUYS, I'M ADAM FAR WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARIES AND I WANTED TO TELL YOU ABOUT OUR NEW STREAMING SERVICE CALLED HOOPLA.
IT'S A FREE SERVICE FROM BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARIES.
ALL YOU NEED IS A LIBRARY CARD AND IT'S AVAILABLE ON IOS, ANDROID, AND DESKTOP COMPUTERS.
I HAVE AN IPAD AND WE'LL DOWNLOAD THE HOOPLA APP.
YOU CAN GET UP TO 10 TITLES PER MONTH FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT US@BEAUFORTCOUNTYLIBRARY.ORG SESSION.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? CHRIS, WILL WE CALL THE ROLL ON THAT OR IS CAN I JUST SAY ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
UH, NOTHING TO REPORT FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UM, SO CHRIS, IF YOU'LL CONTINUE WITH THE, UH, APPEARANCE BY CITIZENS.
GRACE SMITH, 11 WILD CREEK WAY, HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
UH, I GAVE KRISTA, UH, COUPLE OF DOCUMENTS, UH, ONE OF WHICH IS THE DOCUMENTATION OF THE FACT THAT WE REALLY DO HAVE OVER 10,000 SIGNATURES ON OUR, UH, PETITION.
I, I'VE PICKED UP THAT THERE HAD BEEN SOME QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
UH, I'D LIKE TO PREFACE THIS BY SAYING THAT I SPEAK TODAY NOT ONLY, UH, FOR MYSELF AND THE FIVE MEMBERS OF THE
[00:40:01]
T WG, BUT FOR THESE, UH, MORE THAN 10,000 LOW COUNTRY RESIDENTS WHO HAVE SIGNED THE PETITION THAT CALLS FOR TOWN COUNCIL TO REJECT THE S C D O T ALTERNATIVE.THAT CALLS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SINGLE BROAD EXPANSE THAT IS 11 LANES WIDE AT THE ENTRANCE TO OUR BEAUTIFUL ISLAND.
UH, THE LOCAL CITIZENS DON'T LIKE ANY ASPECT OF THIS PLAN AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR YOU TO, UH, DO WHAT YOU ALL AGREE TO DO A FEW WEEKS AGO.
UM, WE, UH, THE LOCAL CITIZENS WANT, UH, TO IDENTIFY THE TOWN COUNCIL TO IDENTIFY AND HIRE A NATIONALLY RENOWNED INDEPENDENT TRAFFIC ENGINEERING CONSULTING FIRM.
AND THIS NEEDS TO BE CLEAR TO PERFORM A STUDY OF ALL ASPECTS OF OUR SAFETY AND P TRAFFIC FLOW ISSUES AND THEN PROVIDE OBJECTIVE SUGGESTIONS TO YOU AS TO HOW TO BEST SOLVE THIS.
THESE PROBLEMS, UH, THEY DON'T WANNA REVIEW OF THE S C D O T AND A RUBBER STAMP LIKE THE LAST TWO COUNTY EFFORTS HAVE BEEN.
THEY WANT YOU GUYS TO BE IN CHARGE OF A GENUINE AND OBJECTIVE STUDY.
OKAY, TURNING TO THE COMPOSITION OF THE INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT STUDY COMMITTEE, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE AS MUCH EXPERTISE FOR THIS HILTON HEAD TOWN EFFORT RIGHT FROM THE GET-GO, WE RECOMMEND THAT THE INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT STUDY COMMITTEE NOT BE RESTRICTED TO THE FIVE PERSONS LISTED ON PAGE TWO OF THE RECENT TOWN COMMUNICATION.
THAT LIST ALSO HAS ITS ROOTS IN THE COUNTY WHO DIDN'T EVEN WANT ANY COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES ON ANY, UH, STUDY COMMITTEE.
THERE ARE MANY PERSONS WHO LIVE ON THIS ISLAND WITH CONSIDERABLE BACKGROUND IN TRAFFIC ENGINEERING AND ROAD BUILDING PROJECT MANAGEMENT WHOSE EXPERTISE SHOULD BE SOLICITED AND INCLUDED ON THE COMMITTEE.
UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO ALSO REQUEST THAT THE MEMBERS OF OUR TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP BE INCLUDED ON THIS COMMITTEE.
WE ACTUALLY AUTHORED THE M O U AND S O W THAT WERE PRESENTED LAST APRIL BY SENATOR TOM DAVIS, UH, TO THE JOINT TOWN COUNCIL AND, AND COUNTY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR, UH, SINCE 2019 AS A GROUP.
WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT OUR PRESENCE ON THIS INDEPENDENT STUDY COMMITTEE WILL BENEFIT THE QUALITY OF THE WORK TO A VERY SIGNIFICANT EXTENT.
WE ALSO THINK THAT OUR PRESENCE WILL ACTUALLY ABBREVIATE THE TIME IT TAKES TO IDENTIFY HIGHER AND PERFORM THIS STUDY BECAUSE WE CAN BRING THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE UP TO SPEED MUCH MORE RAPIDLY AND THOROUGHLY THAN IF THEY HAVE TO START FROM SCRATCH.
AND WE DID RECEIVE THAT LETTER TOO.
MR. BEAR, THANK YOU FOR EXPANDING THE 2 78 CORRIDOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
HOPEFULLY INCLUDING MEMBERS OF OUR TECHNICAL TEAM, WE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL EYES FOCUSED ON POTENTIAL PROBLEMS AND TRAPS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE BACKDOOR FONZI TRAP, WHICH IS IDENTIFIED IN OUR MEMO TO YOU AND THE VALUE ENGINEERING TRAP, WHICH IS ALSO IDENTIFIED IN THE STATUS REPORT WE SENT YOU.
WE'VE BEEN READY TO WORK WITH THE TOWN ON THIS FOR OVER TWO YEARS.
OVER 10,000 PEOPLE WANT AN INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS OF THIS PROJECT, INCLUDING EVALUATING OTHER POSSIBLY BETTER OPTIONS OVER THE ACTUAL SCOPE OF OUR PROBLEM AND THE CONGESTION AND SAFETY AREAS WITHIN THAT ACTUAL SCOPE.
IF SC D OT DOT'S PLAN IS THE BEST, THAT ANALYSIS WILL SCIENTIFICALLY CONFIRM IT AND WILL ALL GO AWAY HAPPY.
BUT IT'LL ALSO IDENTIFY THE MISSING AND HIDDEN PARTS AND COSTS, WHICH WE KNOW ARE IN THERE, THINGS THAT'S A THIRD TRAP.
WE WILL ALSO ALL QUICKLY LEARN OF PROBLEMS AND OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE.
THE COUNTY HAS WORKED HARD TO PREVENT THAT.
CREATING SHAM REVIEWS TO TAKE THE PLACE OF THE ANALYSIS NEEDED.
THE TOWN'S DRAFT STATEMENT OF WORK IN YOUR AGENDA PACKAGE ATTEMPTS TO LOCK THE TOWN INTO ANOTHER SUCH SHAM REVIEW, A FATAL AND UNACCEPTABLE ERROR, A REPEAT, A FATAL AND UNACCEPTABLE ERROR.
THE SAL STATEMENT OF WORK DOES NOT REPRESENT CITIZEN VIEWS OR 10,000 PETITION SIGNERS.
ONLY ONE MEMBER OF TOWN COUNCIL WHO 35 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION VOTED FOR THE M A O A THAT ENABLED THIS SHAM REVIEW REMAINS ON COUNCIL.
SIX OUT OF THE SEVEN OF YOU NEVER VOTED TO ACCEPT THAT, UH, COUNTY EDICT.
THE COUNTY IS NOT INTERESTED IN TRANSPARENTLY EVALUATING NEW OPTIONS OUTSIDE ITS CURRENT SCOPE AND OUTSIDE ITS CURRENT FOOTPRINT, NOR LETTING ANYONE ELSE DO THAT AS WELL.
BASING THE TOWN'S WORK STATEMENT ON THE COUNTY SHAM IS A FATAL ERROR THAT WILL PROVIDE A LITTLE NEW INSIGHT.
IT'LL WASTE TIME AND $300,000 OF TAXPAYER MONEY IN ADDITION TO THE 200,000 THAT THEY ARE WASTING.
[00:45:01]
FOR HILTON HEAD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.WE WERE READY TO PLAN SCIENTIFICALLY IN 2020 AND IN 22, UH, 2022.
AND WE'RE READY AGAIN TODAY THE FASTEST PATH IS FOR THE TOWN AND CITIZENS TO COOPERATIVELY, COOPERATIVELY WRITE THE STATEMENT OF WORK FOR THE TOWN STUDY.
I ESTIMATE THAT ONCE WE AGREE ON MAJOR GOALS SUCH AS THE FEW SENTENCES ON PAGE FOUR OF THE STATUS REPORT WE SENT YOU, WE CAN COOPERATIVELY RATE THAT STATEMENT OF WORK IN ABOUT A WEEK.
CAN YOU THINK OF THAT? WE CAN ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING IN A WEEK OF TIME.
SOME WILL CLAIM RISK OF LOSS OF STATE OF CB FUNDING, BUT OUR PLAN OFFERS THE FASTEST PATH TO A SCIENTIFICALLY BASED PLAN WITHOUT TRAP DOORS TO ADDRESS OUR CONGESTION AND SAFETY PROBLEMS AND MEET THE DUE DILIGENCE THAT CITIZENS ASK YOU TO, TO CREATE.
THE ALTERNATIVE TO THAT IS EQUIVALENT TO FUNDING THE TITANIC.
HI, CARL BRADEN, UH, CHAPLAIN RESIDENT.
AND UH, JUST WANTED TO BRIEFLY GO ON THE RECORD ABOUT THE PROPOSED LMO AMENDMENTS AND, UH, IN PARTICULAR THE NUMBER 10 REGARDING THE CHANGES TO PREVIOUSLY PLATTED SUBDIVISIONS.
UM, AS ATTORNEY CHET WILLIAMS POINTED OUT AT THE PLANNING MEETING, THIS WOULD PRIMARILY I THINK, AFFECT THE ISLANDS OFF PLANTATION PROPERTY OWNERS.
UH, THESE ARE HISTORICALLY NATIVE ISLANDER NEIGHBORHOODS AND THESE TYPES OF CHANGES WILL, I BELIEVE PRIMARILY BURDEN THESE OWNERS, UH, IN MY OPINION.
AND IT'S EXACTLY THIS SORT OF CHANGE TO THE LMO THAT SHOULD REQUIRE THE CONSENT OF ALL THE LANDOWNERS.
UH, BUT PASSING THIS AMENDMENT WILL POTENTIALLY REQUIRE THEIR NEIGHBORS CONSENT TO DEVELOP THEIR LAND AS THEY WISH.
SO, UH, WITHOUT POAS AND HOAS IN, IN, UH, MANY OF THESE AREAS, THESE L O CHANGES ATTEMPT TO IMPOSE OTHER NEIGHBORS REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS BY LAW.
AND HOW WILL THE PLANNING COMMISSION NOW INTERPRET WHAT NEIGHBORS EXPECTATIONS ARE, UH, CONSIDERED REASONABLE? THIS EFFORT COINCIDENTALLY BEGAN AFTER A ATTEMPT BY THE TOWN MANAGERS TO PURCHASE LAND ON BRADLEY'S CIRCLE.
AND NOW THEY'VE JOINED WITH VOCAL JONESVILLE RESIDENTS WHO WISH TO LIMIT ALL DEVELOPMENT IN THIS OFF PLANTATION AREAS.
UM, AND SOMETIMES THESE LANDS ARE HELD FOR GENERATIONS AND, UH, UM, THESE CHANGES WERE NOT, IN MY OPINION, PROPERLY DEBATED AT THE PLANNING MEETING WHERE THEY WERE QUICKLY PASSED AND FORWARDED FOR ADOPTION BECAUSE THE PUBLIC WAS ANGRY AND, UH, THEY NEEDED TO BE, UH, CALMED DOWN.
BUT THE PUBLIC SEEMED, UH, WELL IT SEEMED LIKE THESE AMENDMENTS PASSED TOO QUICKLY AND PUT THE PUB JUST TO PUT THE PUBLIC AT EASE.
IT'S IN MY PERSONAL VIEW THAT THE PLANNING STAFF HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB FOR YEARS AND, UH, DON'T NEED TO BE STRIPPED OF THE ABILITY TO GRANT MINOR VARIANCES, BUT THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING INCIDENTALLY, THE OCEAN FRONTAGE LOTS AND BRADLEY CIRCLE WERE PREVIOUSLY OFFERED TO RESIDENTS AT A GREAT PRICE, BUT WE'RE DECLINED.
SAME FOR THE TOWN AND THE ADJACENT PARCELS.
SO TO NOW TRY TO IMPOSE, UH, THE SAME NEIGHBOR'S WILL, WHICH IS TO LIMIT ALL DEVELOPMENT ONTO OTHER RIGHTFUL LANDOWNERS IS ESPECIALLY UNFAIR IN MY OPINION.
UM, AND IN DEFENSE OF THE DEVELOPER THAT PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT, I JUST WANT TO SAY HE IS, UH, THE ONE PERSON WHO PAID FOR MATERIALS AND ACCRUE TO REPAIR OUR BEACH ACCESS BOARDWALK.
UM, AFTER A HURRICANE, WE DON'T HAVE A POA OR A HOA TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE THINGS.
UH, HE'S ALSO THE ONLY PERSON TO EVER COMPENSATE ME FOR MY CONTINUOUS EFFORTS TO PICK UP THE TRASH AND BLOW THE ROADS AT THE FRONT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS A COUNTY ROAD.
IT WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE KEPT CLEAN.
SO I JUST WANT TO SUGGEST THAT NEIGHBORS WORK TOGETHER TO FORM A HOA TO IMPROVE BRADLEY CIRCLE RATHER THAN BLAMING OTHERS, ATTEMPTING TO LIMIT THEIR RIGHTS AND STRESSING OUT ABOUT A FALSE CONCEPT OF A RUINED NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT WAS NOT RUINED WHEN THE MARRIOTT SURF WATCH BUILT RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO US AND IT WON'T BE RUINED WHEN THERE'S LOVELY HOMES ON THOSE LOTS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE HILTON HEAD, ISLAND TOWN COUNCIL MAYOR PERRY, MR. ORLANDO AND TOWN STAFF, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS SUSAN COOK AND I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND FOR ALMOST 22 YEARS.
I AM HERE TODAY AS A RESIDENT AND AS A WORKER, AND I WOULD LIKE TO KINDLY REQUEST YOUR SUPPORT TOWARDS THE APPROVAL OF THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND BLUFFTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT REQUEST.
THE HOTEL I CURRENTLY WORK FOR DEPENDS ON YEAR ROUND TOURISM FOR THE LIVELIHOOD OF OUR WORKFORCE,
[00:50:01]
SUTA AND THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT COMPANY THAT HAVE MADE AN INVESTMENT IN THIS AREA.THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN VERY TOUGH FOR OUR BUSINESS, HOWEVER YOU ALL EXPERIENCE HOW EVEN DURING THE PICK OF THE PANDEMIC WE WERE VERY BUSY, WE OFFERED THE POSSIBILITY TO RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS IN A SAFE, UNCOMFORTABLE WAY.
THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND BLUFFTON WAS THE PIONEER IN COMING UP WITH A PLAN FOR SAFELY REOPENING OF BUSINESSES, A PLAN THAT WAS COPIED BY OTHER COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE.
WHEN THE WORLD SHUT DOWN, WHEN PEOPLE AROUND, WHEN PEOPLE WOULD NOT TRAVEL BY PLANE, WHEN THE CRUISES WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND WHEN TRAVELING INTERNATIONALLY WAS NOT POSSIBLE, WE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS REAP THE BENEFITS OF LIVING IN THIS PARADISE.
WE STILL ENJOY GOLF COURSES, WATER ACTIVITIES, BIKES, FIRST CLASS RESTAURANTS, THE TOWN SO ARE MASSIVE VOLUME, INCOME FROM ACCOMMODATION TAXES, WHICH IS BEING USED TODAY TO MAKE COUNTLESS IMPROVEMENTS ON OUR ISLAND.
BUT TODAY THE SCENARIO IS VERY DIFFERENT.
THE WORLD IS OPEN, TRAVELING INTERNATIONALLY IS AVAILABLE.
CRUISE SHIPS ARE COMING UP WITH A, WITH VERY CREATIVE WAYS TO ADVERTISE AND GENERATE BUSINESS.
TODAY, WE ARE NOT THE ONLY OPTION.
THE OCCUPANCY RATES WE HAVE SEEN IN 2022 ARE NOT BETTER THAN PREVIOUS YEARS.
AND I'M AFRAID THAT IF WE STOP MARKETING AND ADVERTISING OUR AREA, WE WILL SEE A DEEP NEGATIVE IMPACT IN OUR PROFITABILITY.
STAYING RELEVANT ON TOP OF MINE IS PARAMOUNT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AND THE OVERALL ECONOMY OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO PUMP THE BRAKES AND STOP ADVERTISING.
WE DO NOT WANT THE WORLD TO FORGET ABOUT US.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE OUR PRESENCE TO REMAIN RELEVANT OR WE WILL BE FORGOTTEN BECAUSE WHEN THEY FORGET ABOUT US AND THEY STOP CLAPP, THEY STOP COMING.
YOU CAN CERTAINLY ALSO FORGET ABOUT BEING ABLE TO HAVE IRAN AMENITIES, WHICH I KNOW YOU ALL ENJOY LIKE I DO.
SO YOUR APPROVAL OF THE GRANT IS VERY IMPORTANT IN SAFEKEEPING OUR WAY OF LIFE.
YOU OWE IT TO ALL THE RESIDENTS THAT ELECTED YOU AND TO ALL OF US WORKERS OF THIS COMMUNITY.
SO MEMBERS OF TOWN COUNCIL, PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE.
WE'RE MAKING YOUR DECISION AND THINK ABOUT EVERYBODY THAT LIVES ON THIS ISLAND.
FROM THE LITTLE ONES TO THE PARENTS, US, THE WORKERS, AND ALL THE RETIRES.
GOOD AFTERNOON OR IS IT EVENING? I'M NOT SURE.
UH, FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS RICHARD BUSY AND I'VE LIVED HERE IN HILTON ED SINCE 2004.
READING THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE HIGHWAY 2 78 CORRIDOR PROJECT BEFORE YOU TODAY KIND OF REMINDED ME WHAT NANCY PELOSI SAID BACK IN 2010 ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WHEN SHE SAID WE HAVE TO PASS THE BILL SO THAT YOU CAN FIND OUT WHAT'S IN IT AFTER REVIEWING ALL OF THE MATERIALS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKAGE TODAY, THESE ARE MY OBSERVATIONS AND THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT I BELIEVE ALL OF YOU YOU NEED TO BE ASKING.
WILL THIS NEW INDEPENDENT TOWN REVIEW LOOK AT ALL OPTIONS? THE ANSWER IS NO, AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
IS IT SIMPLY A PEER REVIEW OF WHAT THE STATE AND COUNTY PROPOSE? THAT IS WHAT IT APPEARS TO BE IS THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION SIMPLY PROVIDING COVER FOR THE TOWN STAFF, WHICH DEEMS TO FAVOR THE COUNTY APPROACH.
THAT IS WHAT IT APPEARS TO BE IN ITS CURRENT FORM.
YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF WHAT'S THE BENEFIT OF THIS REVIEW? SINCE THE COUNTY IS DOING ITS OWN INDEPENDENT REVIEW, ZERO BENEFIT, BUT WASTING $300,000, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TOWN SO-CALLED INDEPENDENT REVIEW BEFORE YOU TONIGHT AND THE COUNTY REVIEW? WELL, THE STATEMENT OF WORK, AS MR. BEAR POINTED OUT, IS VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL TO THE COUNTY STATEMENT OF WORK EXCEPT FOR A FEW MINOR IONS.
SO THE QUESTION TODAY FOR YOU TO DISCUSS DEBATE AND DELIBERATE IS THIS, WILL YOUR RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU TODAY HELP DETERMINE IF THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO HELP SOLVE OUR CONGESTION AND SAFETY PROBLEMS? AND FINALLY, WILL THE RESOLUTION ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF MORE THAN 10,000 CITIZENS WHO HAVE SIGNED THE PETITION? WHICH READS IN PART WE THE CITIZENS OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND FORMALLY REQUEST OUR TOWN AND COUNTY COUNCILS TO REJECT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S.
[00:55:01]
SIX PROPOSED PLANS GO BACK TO THEM WITH THE MESSAGE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE CREATIVE AND LESS INTRUSIVE PLANS THAT ARE PROVEN TO ACTUALLY WORK.THIS IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR ISLAND TO GROW AS OUR RESIDENT'S DESIRE AND NOT AS A CONCRETE JUNGLE.
CONSIDERING THE COST IS AT LEAST 250 MILLION AND PROBABLY TO REACH 500 MILLION, THERE WAS TIME OPPORTUNITY AND FUNDING CAPACITY TO THINK MORE CREATIVELY.
THANK YOU PETER CHRISTIAN, MR. CHRISTIAN, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE TOWN COUNCIL.
I'M PETER CHRISTIAN, 23 JARVIS CREEK COURT, HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA.
I'M IN TAMARA BECKER'S, DISTRICT FOUR AND BEEN A RESIDENT FOR 23 YEARS AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING MYSELF.
UM, I WANTED TO POINT OUT THE WORK OF MISSY LUK, UM, WHO PERFORMED A PRESENTATION ABOUT THE MID ISLAND TRACK, WHICH WAS RIGHT ON THE MONEY, VERY WELL DONE AND WANTED OF TO ECHO OUR TOWN MANAGER'S COMMENTS, UM, REGARDING HER WORK AND WHAT AN EXCELLENT JOB SHE DOES.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH HER ON ACCESS TO ONE OF THE NATIVE ISLAND CEMETERIES AND IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO WORK WITH HER.
I'M GONNA SAY SOME THINGS THAT, UH, PROBABLY WOULD BE CONTROVERSIAL TO SOME FOLKS.
UM, I'M A MEMBER OF THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND BLUFFTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
I'M A GRADUATE OF LEADERSHIP HILTON HEAD BLUFFTON BACK IN 2003, WHICH OPENED MANY, MANY DOORS FOR ME.
I'VE VOLUNTEERED AND BEEN APPOINTED TO COMMISSIONS AND BOARDS IN BOTH COUNTY, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT BECAUSE OF THAT RELATIONSHIP.
TOURISM IS NOT OUR ENEMY IS WHAT PAYS FOR OUR LIFESTYLE.
I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE GREATER ISLAND COMMITTEE AND MANY OF THE FOLKS UP ON THE DAIS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THAT PROCESS AND BOTH OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT VILIFIED AS BAD FOR THE COMMUNITY, BAD FOR INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTS.
AND I JUST WANNA TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.
BACK IN THE DAY WHEN THE MAYOR MAYOR'S TEST FOR THE FUTURE WAS FORMED, THE GIC TOOK ON THE ROLE OF MAKING SURE THAT THOSE ITEMS CAME TO FRUITION, GETTING A SPONSOR FOR THE HERITAGE, WHICH WAS LOST.
UM, THE U S C B CAMPUS, THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES WE'VE OFTEN DISCUSSED.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WORKFORCE HOUSING PROMOTING RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNER VALUES, AND A HOST OF OTHER THINGS, INCLUDING THE 1% SALES TAX THAT FUNDED THE BRIDGE PROJECT WILL HOPEFULLY WILL FUND THE BRIDGE FIRE OBJECT.
WHENEVER WE COME TO A DECISION ON THAT.
WE ALSO SUPPORTED THE 1% SALES TAX FOR THE GREEN SPACE INITIATIVE AND WE'LL MOST LIKELY WORK VERY HARD WHEN THE SCHOOL BOARD COMES UP WITH A PROPOSAL FOR NEW SCHOOL'S CONSTRUCTION.
ALL OF THOSE HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY POSITIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
I DON'T WANT THE COUNCIL TO STEP AWAY FROM ITS OBLIGATION TO THE RESIDENTS ON THE ISLAND TO MAKE SURE THAT WORKERS CAN GET ON THE ISLAND.
WE ARE A TOURISM RICH ENVIRONMENT AND WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WE NEED HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF WORKERS TO COME OVER THAT BRIDGE EVERY DAY TO SUPPLY THE SERVICES WE NEED TO GET IT DONE.
HI, I'M LYNN GREELEY AND UM, I'M GONNA READ SKIPS SINCE YOU DIDN'T GIVE HIM THE TIME TO DO IT, BUT YOU KNOW, IF I HAD LARYNGITIS OR IF I WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR OR SOMETHING AND COULDN'T GET HERE, I GUESS WITH A POA IT WOULDN'T WORK, WHICH MAKES NO SENSE OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING ANYWAY.
WHAT IS AN IRS 5 0 1
IT CAN'T MAKE A PROFIT FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CHAMBER, NO PAY FOR PLAY, NO FAVORITISM OR CO-MINGLE LAUNDER TAX FUNDS FROM ILLICIT ADVERTISING PROFITS THEN BURY THEM IN HIGH SALARIES AND BENEFITS TO CHAMBER EMPLOYEES TO SHOW NO PROFIT ON YEAR END TAX RETURNS.
IT'S NOT POSSIBLE FOR BILL MILES TO PAY HIMSELF $500,000 A YEAR PLUS, UM, LEGALLY OPERATED CHAMBER.
THIS DISQUALIFIES THE CHAMBER AS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION EXEMPT FROM PAYING TAXES.
THEY CANNOT BE IN ANY BUSINESS WHATSOEVER.
[01:00:01]
NORMALLY CARRIED ON BY A FOR-PROFIT TAX PAYING COMPANY OR THEY LOSE THEIR NONPROFIT STATUS AND MUST PAY THE IRS U B I T UNRELATED BUSINESS INCOME TAX OR BE CONSIDERED A TAX DEFAULT AND FORCED TO PAY ALL THEY OWE.IF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IS DISCOVERED, ARREST AND CONVICTIONS WOULD SURELY FOLLOW PALM BEACH.
THE IRS DEFINES A BUSINESS LEAGUE AS AN ASSOCIATION OF PEOPLE WITH A SHARED BUSINESS INTEREST.
THE LEAGUE MUST PRO PROMOTE THE COMMON INTEREST OF ITS MEMBERS, BUT NOT BE ENGAGED IN BUSINESS FOR PROFIT AND MUST NOT PROVIDE SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS THE WAY A FOR-PROFIT BUSINESS DOES.
OR USE HIGH SALARIES, PERKS, BENEFITS, LAVISH ENTERTAINMENT, BONUSES, ET CETERA, TO HIDE ILLICIT PROFITS.
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE PROMOTE THE ECONOMIC INTEREST OF JUST BUSINESS MEMBERS IN A GIVEN AREA SUCH AS CITIES LIKE HILTON HEAD, BUFORD, BLUFFTON, CHARLESTON, MYRTLE BEACH, ET CETERA.
FACT IS HILTON HEAD CHAMBER IS AN ILLEGAL OPERATION OPERATING AS A PROFIT, DISGUISED AS A NONPROFIT TO TRICK IRS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND TAX EXEMPT CHAMBER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE IRS 5 0 1
THIS INCLUDES ITS APPLICATION AND ALL THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS AND ALSO HAS TO MAKE ITS LAST THREE INFORMATIONAL TAX RETURNS PUBLIC.
IF ASKED FOR COPIES, THE CHAMBER GROUP HAS TO PROVIDE THEM FREE IF TAX FUNDED.
THIS DETAILED USE OF ALL TAX MONEY MUST BE PROVIDED TO TAXPAYERS AS WELL AS THE COUNCIL WHO ISSUES THESE TAXES AND SUBJECT TO PAY, UH, TAXPAYER FOR YOUR LAWS.
IF ANY STATE AGENCY DOES NOT COMPLY TO ANY TAXPAYER FOR YOU, IT COULD RESULT IN LITIGATION AND PAYING THE TAXPAYER'S LEGAL FEES.
THIS HILTON HEAD TOWN COUNCIL IS A FOIA VIOLATION MUST COMPLY FOLKS.
BIG PROBLEM HERE IN SOUTH CAROLINA ARE THE CODES RULES.
A TAX LAWS ARE NOT ONLY ILLEGAL UNDER IRS FEDERAL REGULATIONS WHICH PREVAIL OVER ALL LOCAL AND STATE RULES, BUT THE FACT EVEN THE SC SUPREME COURT, A G D O R F B I AND IRS THANK ARE ALLOWING THESE ILLEGAL TAX FUNDED CHAMBERS.
YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE THIS PACKAGE.
I PREPARE COPIES AND I BELIEVE KRISTA HAS SUPPLIED THEM TO YOU AND THEY RELATE TO WHAT I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT TONIGHT.
ACCORDING TO THE ATAC COMMITTEE, ALL ATAC APPLICANTS QUOTE UNQUOTE FIT THE CATEGORY OF A NONPROFIT.
MY QUESTION TO YOU TONIGHT IS DO THEY OR SOME RUNNING BUSINESSES WHILE CLAIMING TO BE NON-PROFITS? EXHIBIT ONE, THE HILTON HEAD BLUFFTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
IN 2008, THE CHAMBER BEGAN PUBLICLY REPORTING THEIR UNRELATED BUSINESS REVENUE OVER THE PAST 13 YEARS, THIS REVENUE HAS TOTALED $6,189,291, ALTHOUGH I THINK IT'S SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, THEN THEY ZEROED OUT OR WRITE IT ALL OFF AS A LOSS TO THEIR NONPROFIT SIDE.
DOES ANYONE BELIEVE THAT OVER 6 MILLION IN REVENUE IS JUST A WRITE OFF WITH NO ONE BENEFITING IN ANY WAY? QUESTION.
CAN OTHER TOWN BUSINESSES THAT GENERATE REVENUE ANNUALLY LIKE THE CHAMBER CLAIM SIMILAR SIDE HUSTLES OF LOSSES AND BE EXEMPTED FROM PAYING THE TOWN'S BUSINESS LICENSE TAX? EXHIBIT TWO, THE CHAMBER SECURED A NONPROFIT ASSOCIATION BUSINESS LICENSE.
AT THE BOTTOM IT SAYS ANYONE GENERATING GROSS INCOME IN THE TOWN IS REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A BUSINESS LICENSE ANNUALLY.
QUESTION, IS IT ANTI-COMPETITIVE FOR THE TOWN TO CONTINUE SUBSIDIZING A BUSINESS THAT'S MADE OVER 6 MILLION IN REVENUE WITH MILLIONS MORE IN PUBLIC AT TAX MONEY SO THEY CAN GENERATE EVEN MORE BUSINESS REVENUE? QUESTION, WILL THIS GIVE RISE TO MULTIPLE LAWSUITS FROM THOSE SEEKING DAMAGES IN A REFUND FROM THE CHAMBER OR OTHER ENTITIES BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN MAKING UNRELATED BUSINESS REVENUE THAT IS ONE REGULARLY CARRIED ON, TWO CONSTITUTES A TRADE OR A BUSINESS.
AND THREE, THAT TRADER BUSINESS IS NOT SUBSTANTIALLY RELATED TO THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE FOR OVER 13 YEARS AND HAS THE CHAMBER RETROACTIVELY FORFEITED FOR 13 YEARS.
THEIR STATUS IS A NONPROFIT RENDERING THE DMO CONTRACT NULL AND VOID.
CAN THE CHAMBER GENERATE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR IN UNRELATED BUSINESS REVENUE WHILE CLAIMING THEY ARE A NONPROFIT? SIMULTANEOUSLY? EXHIBIT THREE, THE TOWN'S BUSINESS LICENSE RENEWAL DEADLINE IS APRIL 30TH.
[01:05:02]
QUESTION, AND THIS IS MY LAST QUESTION TO COUNSEL THE CHAMBER ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER ATAC APPLICANTS AND EXAMPLES ARE IN YOUR PACKAGE REPORT, SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF ANNUAL UNRELATED BUSINESS REVENUE.HAVE ANY OF THEM SECURED THE APPROPRIATE BUSINESS LICENSE AND PAID TAXES ON THIS REVENUE? AND IF THEY DID PAY TAXES EVERY YEAR ON THIS REVENUE, IS THAT NOT AN ADMISSION? THEY ARE RUNNING A BUSINESS AND IF THEY DID NOT, ARE THEY BREAKING THE LAW REPEATEDLY BY NOT PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE OF TAXES ON THEIR UNRELATED BUSINESS REVENUE.
THANK YOU, MR. THAT CONCLUDES APPEARANCE BY CITIZEN, SIR.
OKAY, WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
TODAY'S CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES FOUR ITEMS FOR I GET MY COMMENT.
I, I, I'M NOT, I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE POAS.
I JUST WANT YOU TO RESPECT MY, MY COMMENT.
WE'RE GONNA DEAL WITH THAT IN A COURT OF LAW.
LET ME READ MY THREE MINUTES LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, PLEASE.
I'VE RESPECTED EVERYBODY I GAVE.
OKAY, SO I'M, UH, THANK I MOVE THAT HAR, EXCUSE ME JUST A SECOND.
I MOVE THAT WE ALLOW SKIP HOLAND TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES.
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 CHAMBER OPERATIONS.
NO NEED FOR TRANSPARENCY, NO NEED TO GRIND DOWN ON EVERY INVOICE.
IS THIS HOW YOU OPERATE AS A MORTGAGE BROKER? ALLEN CHAMBERS, A NONPROFIT BUSINESS LEAGUE AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GOVERNMENT OR BE TAX FUNDED TO PROMOTE TOURISM NORTH SELL ADVERTISING FOR PRIVATE PROFIT.
IT'S ALL ILLEGAL UNDER THE STATE AND FEDERAL IRS LAWS.
FEDERAL IRS NONPROFIT TAX LAW PREVAILS OVER ANY CORRUPT STATE OR LOCAL LAW OR, OR TAX A TAX CODE.
BILL MILES SAID HOW HE USES TAX MONEY IS HIS SECRET SAUCE AND IT'S NO ONE'S BUSINESS.
MR. PERRY, WHO RUNS THIS TOWN, BILL MILES, IT CERTAINLY ISN'T YOU.
AS A FULL-TIME MORTGAGE BROKER AND A PART-TIME MAYOR, NOTHING WORKS WELL PART-TIME.
SAID THE CHAMBER HAS A CONTRACT THAT FOLLOWS STATE LAW AND I WILL ENSURE SPENDING TRANSPARENCY AND DID NOT WANT THE TOWN TO GET INTO A LAWSUIT WITH A CHAMBER.
THE CHAMBER IS A IS CONTRACT IS FRAUDULENT, IT'S NOT VALID.
TOWN IS IN VIOLATION OF PROCUREMENT, A TAX AND FOIA LAWS TO FORCE YOUR ASSOCIATE MILES TO SHOW HOW HE USES MILLIONS OF OUR TAX MONEY.
IT SEEMS YOU HAVE BEEN COACHED BY MILL MILES AND THE TOWN CHAMBER LAWYERS ON WHAT TO SAY.
YOUR FRIEND STEVE ARNOLD AND ENTIRE A TAX COMMITTEE AND TOWN COUNCIL KEEP VOTING FOR FUNDING TO THE CHAMBER.
YOU WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR BREAKING THE LAW AND YOU WILL BE DEPOSED.
MR. PERRY, YOU STATED YOU SAW THE CHAMBER 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 THIS CHAMBER ACCOUNTING YOU, YOU SAW 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 STUPID TO DENY THIS.
IT'S CALLED CORRUPTION AND WHY YOU ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO BE A MAYOR.
PERRY, YOU ARE A PART-TIME FIGUREHEAD AND ADMITTED.
MARK ORLANDO WAS A REAL FULL-TIME LEADER IN POWER ASSISTED BY CROOKED TOWN LAWYERS AND CPAS.
I SHOULD ADDRESS THEM DIRECTLY, NOT YOU OR THIS COUNCIL WHO ARE WEAK AND CONTROLLED LIKE MINDLESS PUPPETS 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.
THIS TOWN CORRUPTION AND LEGAL TAX USE AND NON-TRANSPARENCY.
AND BY THE WAY, TECHNOLOGY GENERATES TOURISM NOT BILL MILES IN THE CHAMBER.
IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND TECHNOLOGY, LOCAL SEARCH, FACEBOOK AND ALL THE REST, YOU SHOULDN'T EVEN BE SERVING ON COUNCIL.
BILL MILES DOES NOT GENERATE, HE GENERATES HIS OWN MONEY IN HIS $2 MILLION HOUSE.
STOP FUNDING THIS CHAMBER AND PUT THE MONEY TOWARDS THE BEACH REPAIRS AND BIKE PATHS.
1% BUYING LAND STOP THE CHAMBER TIME IS UP.
TODAY'S CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES FOUR ITEMS FOR APPROVAL WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY MATTERS THAT TOWN COUNCIL DESIRES TO BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA IN PLACE UNDER NEW BUSINESS? I SO YES, IF YOU COULD PULL C FOR ME, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT, BUT DOESN'T NEED TO GO UNDER NEW BUSINESS.
[01:10:01]
IS THERE A, A MOTION TO COMMENTARY? D IS, YEAH, ANY COMMISSIONER? YEAH.SO DO WE NEED TO PULL THAT OUT AS WELL? OKAY.
IS THERE A MOTION TO PULL? UH, I'LL MAKE YOU THE MOTION TO, UM, EXCLUDE D SECOND READING OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE 2023 DASH OH SIX.
OKAY, SO BOTH C AND D WILL BE PULLED OUT, UM, OF CONSENT AGENDA.
UM, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED? SO MOVE SECOND.
SECOND, I THINK, I THINK FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC, WE SHOULD SAY WHAT THEY ARE.
SECOND READING OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE 2023 DASH OH TWO AMENDING SECTION TWO DASH FIVE MUNICIPAL CODE TOWN HILL AND EDIT RELATED TO DATE, TIME, PLACE RAILS, SCHEDULED TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS, AND B SECOND READING OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE 2023 DASH THREE AMENDING THE MUNICIPAL BUDGET FOR THE TOWN OF HILTON NET ISLAND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BUDGET ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2023.
UH, CRYSTAL, WILL YOU CALL THE ROLL NOW, PLEASE? YES, SIR.
YOU SHOULD HAVE SOME COMMENT YES.
OKAY, SO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THOSE, UH, THOSE TWO ITEMS. A AND B.
MR. BEI, I HAVE A COMMENT AS WELL, PLEASE.
I JUST, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION.
I, UM, I HAPPEN TO BE RETIRED.
YOU PROBABLY COULD GUESS THAT, BUT, UH, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON HILTON HEAD WHO ARE NOT RETIRED.
WHAT I NEVER UNDERSTOOD IS WHY THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETS AT 3:00 PM NEVER UNDERSTOOD THAT MAYBE ONE OF YOU HAVE AN ANSWER, MR. HOLAND.
MY COMMENT IS ON B, BUDGET AND AUDITS.
TOWN BUDGETS AND AUDITS ARE A FRAUD.
NO ACCOUNTING ON MILLIONS OF OVERCHARGED LEGAL FEES BY DISHONEST TOWN LAWYERS ARE MILLIONS OF A TAX FUNDS HANDED TO THE CHAMBER, PLUS MILLIONS OF HOSPITALITY TAX USAGES THAT USAGE HAVE DISAPPEARED.
GREEN FINNEY, THE AUDITOR WAS HIRED BY VIOLATORS.
ORLANDO GRUBER BOTH CAUGHT COMMITTING EAGLE LEGAL ACTS WITH CPA TROYER AND TOW.
THEY CALLED THIS A POSITIVE BUDGET INDEPENDENT AUDIT.
THIS CANNOT BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.
THIS IS NOT AN EXTERNAL AUDIT, FINANCIAL AUDIT.
IT'S AN INTERNAL HIRED AUDIT BY TOWN INSIDERS AND PAID WITH TAX FUNDS TO HIDE AND CHEAT TAXPAYERS.
A BUDGET AND AUDIT ONLY SHOWS WHAT INSIDERS WANT US TO SEE.
ONLY A TRUE INDEPENDENT EXTE EXTERNAL FORENSIC AUDIT SHOWS THE REAL NUMBERS AND HOW WE, AND HOW AND WHERE TAX FUNDS WERE ILLEGALLY USED AND WASHED.
PEOPLE ARE OFTEN CONFUSED ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT PREPARED BY INSIDERS AND THE DETAILED EXTERNAL AUDIT.
THIS GREEN FI AUDIT AUDIT WILL NOT ANALYZE EVERY TRANSACTION OR LOOK FOR R FOR FRAUD.
SPECIFICALLY, I CALLED GREEN FINNEY AND THEY AGREED MY ASSESSMENT WAS CORRECT.
A FORENSIC AUDIT ON THE OTHER HAND, IS CONDUCTED BY A FORENSIC AUDIT EXPERT, SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO UNCOVER FRAUD, WASTE, ILLEGAL CRIMINAL USE AND ISSUE OF TAX FUNDS, WHICH WE HAVE ALREADY CAUGHT THESE TOWN EMPLOYEES, GRUBER, ORLANDO, AND COLTRANE DOING.
MR. ORLANDO, DO YOU TROYER AND LAWYERS AGREE TO FORENSIC AUDIT TODAY? IF NOT, WHY NOT? AND IF YOU HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE, FACT IS THE ENTIRE TOWN COUNCIL HAS NEVER SEEN THE ACCOUNTING TO IDENTIFY ILLEGAL TAX USE.
ALEX BROWN, THE HEAD OF FINANCE COMMITTEE, WILL ACCOMPLISH NOTHING.
HE HAS NO ACCOUNTING KNOWLEDGE.
LET ME HELP YOU WITH A, WITH A STATISTIC.
NEVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES AS A FORENSIC AUDIT BEEN CONDUCTED ON A TOWN GOVERNMENT, A CHAMBER, A SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE WRONGDOING, WASTE, AND FRAUD WAS NOT DISCOVERED.
MOST OF THE TIME, THE AG AND 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 TRANSPARENCY PAST LENNOX SCHEMED TO HIDE ATAC COUNTY WITH ATAC ACCOUNTING WITH BILL MILES, INCLUDING HELP FROM LAWYERS FINGER AND TR COLTRAIN WHO DRAFTED A FRAUDULENT DMO CHAMBER CONTRACT.
NOW IT SEEMS LIKE PERRY AND BROWN ARE ON THE SAME TRAIN AND WILL DO THE SAME.
LAWYERS ARE ALSO ALIGNED THE CHAMBER TO USE TAX FUNDS FOR PRIVATE PURPOSES AND PROFIT ALSO ILLEGAL UNDER SOUTH CAROLINA STATE LAW.
AND THE REASON THE TOWN WAS JUST SUED FOR ISSUING 2 MILLION OF TAX FUNDS OF SEA PINES FOR DREDGING OF HARBORTOWN, WE MUST STOP ALL THIS TAX THEFT IN THIS ILLEGAL USE.
AND I WANT THAT $2 MILLION FROM CARRIE CORBETT AND SEA PINES.
I WANT THAT PAID BACK TO TAXPAYERS.
YOU HAD NO RIGHT TO GIVE THAT MONEY TO THEM.
ANY, ANY COMMENTS, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE
[01:15:01]
GENERAL PUBLIC? ANY COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL ON ITEMS A AND B? HEY, CHRIS, IF YOU COULD CALL THE RULES ON A AND B, PLEASE? YES, SIR.BRING, BRING, UH, BRING IT TO, UH, AND MAKE A MOTION THAT, UH, COUNSEL DISCUSSED THE SECOND READING OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE 2023 DASH ZERO FIVE AUTHORIZING IN 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.
ALL IN FAVOR THAT NO, WE, NO DISCUSSION.
MY BRAIN'S GONNA, UH, DISCUSSION FROM COUNSEL.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY IS, IS DUE BEING CONVEYED DUE TO A SURVEY THAT DIDN'T, UM, DIDN'T HAVE LISTED ON IT IN EXISTING DRIVEWAY.
AND, UM, I THINK PERHAPS THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS THAN THE CONVEYANCE OF THE PROPERTY, UM, THROUGH A QUICK CLAIM, PERHAPS AN EASEMENT OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
BUT, UM, IT SETS A PRECEDENT THAT I'M UNCOMFORTABLE WITH.
AND I VOTED NO THE FIRST TIME.
I'M GONNA VOTE NO THE SECOND TIME.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? HOW MUCH ACREAGE ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE? UH, I THINK IT'S 589 SQUARE FEET.
UH, ANY COMMENT FROM THE PUBLIC? ANYONE BRING IT BACK TO THE, TO THE DIOCESE? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? CHRIS, IF YOU'LL CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.
SIX ONE, SIR, I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
THE SECOND READING OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE 2023 DASH ZERO SIX AMENDING A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE L M O AND I'M NOT GONNA READ 'EM ALL, BUT, UM, MAKE THAT MOTION.
SEAN, YOU GOT A COMMENT? GOT SOME INFORMATION FOR US? YES, SIR.
MR. MAYOR, COUNSEL, TIME MANAGER.
UM, THANKS FOR THE OP OPPORTUNITY.
UM, TOWN COUNCIL APPROVED SEVERAL LMO AMENDMENTS AT FIRST READING, UM, LAST WEEK ON THE 14TH.
UM, THE FINAL AMENDMENT RELATED TO SECTION 16 2 1 0 3 F SEVEN.
UH, THERE WAS SOME QUESTION WITH, UH, MEANT RELATED TO DEVIATIONS FROM PLATTED, SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISIONS THAT WERE, UH, MANY COMMENTS THAT, THAT WERE BROUGHT FORTH, UH, DURING THE PUBLIC MEETING.
AND WE HAVE DRAFTED SOME ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE FOR THAT SECTION AND WOULD LIKE TO SHARE IT WITH YOU NOW FOR CONSIDERATION, UM, IF TOWN COUNCIL, SO IF SO INCLINED COULD MOVE TO AMEND, UM, OR PROVIDE THESE REVISIONS IN, IN THE AMENDED, UH, ORDINANCES BEFORE YOU TODAY.
UM, YOU CAN SEE THE LANGUAGE ON THE LEFT AT FIRST READING, UH, WITH DEVI DEVIATIONS TO PLOTTED SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISIONS.
UM, IT OUTLINED THE PROCESS FOR THOSE PLOTTED SUB SUBDIVISIONS, UM, TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS, UH, THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UM, TO APPROVE BASED ON SOME CRITERIA.
YOU CAN SEE THE STRIKE-THROUGH LANGUAGE.
UM, THAT WAS CUR THAT'S CURRENTLY IN OUR CODE THAT REQUIRED BOTH MA MINOR AND MAJOR SUBDIVISIONS TO GO BACK THROUGH THE PROCESS IN WHICH THEY WERE APPROVED.
UM, SO THERE'S, THERE WAS ALREADY SOME PROTECTION ABOUT HAVING THAT PROCESS FOLLOWED AS YOU GO BACK THROUGH AND AMEND IT.
UH, THIS LANGUAGE HERE, UM, WAS LESS CLEAR, UH, ON THAT PROCESS.
UM, AND TO BRING IT BACK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO WE PROPOSED MODIFIED LANGUAGE TO FOCUS ON, UH, THOSE KEY AREAS THAT WERE SORT OF WITHIN THE PURPOSE AND INTENT.
SO WE'VE MODIFIED TO SAY IT'S DEVIATIONS FROM MAJOR SUBDIVISIONS.
UM, AND THE PURPOSE AND INTENT IS TO REQUIRE THAT THOSE MAJOR SUBDIVISIONS, IF THEY'RE AMENDED, UM, THEY GO THROUGH A PROCESS.
AND THEN HERE ARE THE TWO CONDITIONS THAT THEY MUST MEET.
RIGHT? CHANGES TO BE MADE TO COMMONLY OWNED PROPERTY, SUCH AS OPEN SPACE,
[01:20:01]
RIGHT OF WAY, AMENITIES AND PARKING OR ANY LOT ACCOMMODATIONS OR SUBDIVISIONS THAT RESULT IN AN, IN THAT RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN DENSITY ARE THE CREATION OF ADDITIONAL LOTS.WE'VE, WE'VE KEPT THE INTENT OF THE ORIGINAL APPROVAL OF THE MAJOR SUBDIVISION.
SO ANY AMENDED MA MAJOR SUBDIVISION, IF IT'S MODIFIED OR AMENDED, MUST GO THROUGH THE CURRENT PROCEDURES THAT ARE OUTLINED IN THE LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE FOR MAJOR SUBDIVISION APPROVAL.
UH, ONE FINAL, UH, POINT HERE THAT WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE MEETING LAST WEEK, UH, WAS RELATED TO FAMILY SUBDIVISIONS.
THAT'S A PROVISION THAT'S BEEN IN OUR CODE HERE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.
FAMILY SUBDIVISIONS ARE GOVERNED THROUGH A DIFFERENT SECTION THROUGH 16 2 1 0 3 Y.
UH, AND THERE'S VERY SPECIFIC PROVISIONS IN THERE THAT ALLOW A FAMILY SUBDIVISION TO OCCUR, AND THEN NO ADDITIONAL SUBDIVISION CAN TAKE PLACE FROM THAT FAMILY SUBDIVISION WITHOUT GOING THROUGH ONE OF THE REGULAR SUBDIVISION PROCESSES.
SO, UM, I I HOPE THAT PROVIDES A LITTLE BIT OF CLARITY.
UH, BUT WE'VE DRAFTED THIS LANGUAGE AND, AND, UM, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE TOWN ATTORNEY, UM, TO PUT BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, UM, FOR CONSIDERATION AS YOU MOVE THESE AMENDMENTS FORWARD, I, I WOULD HAVE TO AMEND MY MOTION TO INCLUDE THIS FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES.
UM, SEAN, THIS DOES NOT RESTRICT THE OWNER OF A, OF A LOT IN A FAMILY SUBDIVISION FROM ALTERING THE CONSTRUCTION THAT'S GOING ON THERE.
UNLESS, AND UNTIL THAT SOMEHOW IMPACTS COMMON AREAS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND COMMONLY USED PROPERTY WITHIN THE SUBDIVISION.
THAT THAT IS CORRECT, THEY CAN PROCEED UNDER THE APPROVED FAMILY SUBDIVISION, UM, THAT WAS RECEIVED.
IF THERE'S MODIFICATION TO, UH, THE OPEN SPACE AND OTHER PROVISIONS, UM, THEN YES, THAT HAS TO GO ON THAT, THAT WOULD IMPACT, UH, OTHER YES, SIR, PROPERTY OWNERS.
THAT WOULD THE PURPOSE OF THIS YES SIR, THAT WOULD KICK IN THE REGULAR SUBDIVISION PROCESS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YES, ALEX? UH, UH, SEAN, CAN YOU, UH, DEFINE MAJOR SUBDIVISION, MAJOR SUBDIVISIONS OR SUBDIVISION SIX OR MORE LOTS? THE, THE BOTTOM LINE ON THAT IS, IS AN INDIVIDUAL OWNER CONSENT IS NOT REQUIRED.
IS THAT CORRECT? THERE, THERE'S NO INDIVIDUAL OWNER CONSENT.
THERE WAS A PREVIOUS AMENDMENT WELL AMENDMENT IN THIS SET THAT DEALT WITH MINOR SUBDIVISIONS.
AND WE WERE REQUIRING OWNER'S CONSENT BECAUSE WE REQUIRE OWNER'S CONSENT ON ANY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY.
UM, SO THAT THEY NE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GONNA PROCESS THE DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION WITHOUT THE OWNER'S CONSENT.
BUT, BUT NO SIR, NOT NO OWNER, UM, CONSENT AS PART OF THIS REQUIREMENT.
UM, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE, THE SAME PROCESS IN WHICH IT WAS APPROVED ORIGINALLY.
THAT MEANS GOING BACK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSIONS.
IF THAT'S PART OF THE PROCESS.
THAT'S A YES, MAYOR, A PROCEDURAL QUESTION.
UM, CUZ THIS IS NEW LANGUAGE ON SECOND READING
UM, I, I THINK I JUST NEED TO FEEL, HAVE SOME COMFORT LEVEL THAT WE COULD VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT, UH, BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE IN THE LANGUAGE.
AND THEN I'LL HAVE SUBSTANTIVE QUESTIONS.
BUT I FIRST WANT TO ASK THE PROCEDURAL QUESTION.
AND IS, IS THIS A SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH CHANGE THAT HAS TO GO BACK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION? SO I BELIEVE THAT'S A QUESTION FOR YOUR COUNSEL.
THAT HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF SOME DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY WITH THE MAYOR AND MANAGER, AND I BELIEVE THAT IF YOU WANTED TO DISCUSS THAT, THE APPROPRIATE FORUM FOR THAT WOULD BE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
LET, LET ME, UH, MAKE A COMMENT.
UM, MY GUT IS TELLING ME THAT THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD NOT BE TAKING UP TONIGHT BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO THINK THROUGH IT.
SO I CAN WITHDRAW MY AMENDMENT IF THAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL, AND I CAN MAKE IT AN ALTERNATE AMENDMENT THAT WOULD TAKE THIS LANGUAGE OUT OF TONIGHT'S DELIBERATIONS.
SO IT'S WHAT, WHAT COUNCIL WANTS TO DO.
WOULD YOU STILL BE MOVING THE, THE SECOND READING THROUGH? YEAH, I'D BE ON THE FIRST.
I'D BE, I'D BE EXCLUDING THIS, BUT MOVING THE REST THROUGH.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE OUR COUNCIL TO CONTINUE ON THE PATH THAT IT'S BEEN.
THE LANGUAGE IS ACTUALLY CLARIFICATION ON MANY OF THE ASPECTS.
UM, AND FRANKLY, UM, PROVIDES A SAFETY NET.
UM, CLEARLY DEFINING THE FAMILY SUBDIVISIONS AS A SEPARATE ENTITY FOR, UM, UNDER DIFFERENT RULES.
AND SO, BECAUSE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT LMO AMENDMENT THAT HAS BEEN BEING WORKED ON, AND SEAN, YOU CAN TELL ME LITERALLY MONTHS, SIX MONTHS, EIGHT MONTHS, UM, THIS
[01:25:01]
IS NOT NEW TO ANYONE AND THE LANGUAGE IS NOT, UM, SO SUBSTANTIAL THAT IT SHOULD NOT CONTINUE AND THAT WE SHOULD NOT AND THAT, BUT THAT WE SHOULD PASS THIS, THIS EVENING.I THINK IN, IN MY OPINION AS THE COMMUNITY DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, UM, THIS IS A CLARIFICATION.
UM, THERE WAS ALREADY A PROVISION IN THE CODE THAT ALLOWED, UM, REVISION OR AMENDMENT TO SUBDIVISIONS TO GO BACK THROUGH THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED PROCESS.
UH, I THINK THIS DOES PROVIDE THAT CLARIFICATION ON FAMILY SUBDIVISIONS, UM, AND IS LESS CUMBERSOME THAN, UM, HAVING THE PLANNING COMMISSION GO THROUGH A NEW SET OF CRITERIA.
UM, I THINK THE PROCESS WAS ALREADY IN PLACE.
UM, BUT, BUT I THINK IT'S A CLARIFICATION.
I DO NOT HAVE HEARTBURN ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF THIS, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS SIGNIFICANT CHANGE COMING OUT, UH, WITHOUT HAVING TWO READINGS ON THIS CHANGE.
UM, AND I, UM, MORE THAN THANKFUL TO STAFF FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THIS AND REVISE IT.
UM, BUT I THINK WE OWE OURSELVES AND THE PUBLIC A CHANCE TO DIGEST IT AS WELL BEFORE WE MOVE IT FORWARD.
YOUR HONOR, AND I AGREE WITH, WITH GLENN MAY OR MAY I ASK THAT SEAN, HIGHLIGHT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THIS AND THE PREVIOUS SO THAT THAT, UM, CONCERN WITH REGARD TO DIGESTING CAN BE, UM, ALLEVIATED.
I WILL QUITE HONESTLY ADMIT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'M SEEING THE LANGUAGE, BUT IT'S NOT A LOT OF WORDS UP THERE AND IT'S FAIRLY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE HAD, UM, THE LAST READING.
UM, AND I DON'T SEE ANY REASON AS TO DELAY AS WE HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT TO MOVING LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS FORWARD IN ALL RAPID SPEED.
AND INDEED DELAY IS ONLY AN OPPORTUNITY ACROSS THE ISLAND FOR, UM, THERE TO BE ISSUES.
UM, UNINTENDED ISSUES BASED ON WHAT I HAVE HEARD THE COUNCIL SAY, I WOULD AMEND THE, UM, ORIGINAL MOTION TO EXCLUDE THIS PARTICULAR LANGUAGE AND THIS PARTICULAR SECTION OF THE, UM, PROPOSAL FROM THE, UM, APPROVAL OF THE, UM, READING SECOND READING TONIGHT, BECK.
AND JUST FOR CLARITY NOT TO ASK TO AMEND YOUR MOTION, BUT FOR CLARITY, THAT'S SUBSECTION D OF EXHIBIT A OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE.
UH, WHICH ARE THE AMENDMENTS TO, UM, 16 DASH TWO DASH 1 0 2 E TWO AND THE TABLE 16 DASH TWO DASH 1 0 2 E TWO.
AM I IN THE RIGHT PLACE? UM, NO, I BELIEVE IT'S, UH, SECTION 16 DASH TWO DASH 1 0 3 F SEVEN.
THIS REALLY STARTS TO GET CONFUSING THERE.
I'M LOOKING AT EXHIBIT A TO THE DRAFT ORDINANCE, UM, AND THERE'S A SUBSECTION 10, SO THAT'S CORRECT.
AND THEN UNDERNEATH THAT THERE'S A SUBSECTION A AND A SUBSECTION B SAY, WE'RE ONLY DEALING WITH SUBSECTION B.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME?
IT WAS THIS, THE, THE LANGUAGE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PAGE.
SO IT IS NOT AMENDING SECTION 16 2 1 0 3 F SEVEN, AS I UNDERSTAND IT FROM COUNCIL NAMES.
BUT WE ARE INCLUDING
SO THAT'S STILL TO BE INCLUDED? YES.
WE NEED A VOTE ON DAVID'S AMENDMENT, DON'T WE? YES.
ARE WE STILL IN DISCUSSION? WELL, WE'RE STILL IN DISCUSSION.
WAS THERE, THERE WAS A SECOND TO THE MOTION.
SO THEN THERE'S PUBLIC COMMENT, MS. PRINCE, WITH ALL, WITH ALL DUE CONSIDERATION.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT AT YOUR LAST MEETING YOU ELIMINATED 16 DASH TWO DASH 1 0 3 F SEVEN FROM YOUR VOTE.
SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CAN HAVE A SECOND READING ON IT WHEN YOU HAVEN'T HAD A FIRST READING ON IT.
WE HAD A FIRST READING ON THAT THOUGHT.
IT WAS SENT BACK FOR WORDING CHANGES THAT ARE BEING PRESENTED TONIGHT.
SO I, I ASSUME THAT FIRST READING MEANS FIRST READING YEAH.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE IT WAS VOTED ON PREVIOUSLY.
SO I DON'T THINK IT CAN BE ADDED TO A SECOND READING, SECOND VOTE TONIGHT.
I THINK YOU WOULD HAVE TO CON CONSIDER THIS AS THE FIRST READING OF THIS SECTION.
[01:30:02]
CHRIS, I CAN HAVE SOME CLARITY FROM, FROM YOU.AT THE, UM, UH, MEETING ON FEBRUARY THE 14TH, AFTER A LENGTHY DISCUSSION, COUNSEL VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE THE, UM, L O AMENDMENTS PRESENTED BEFORE YOU TODAY AND THEN, UM, AS CURRENTLY WRITTEN.
AND THAT INCLUDES 16 DASH TWO DASH 1 0 3 F SEVEN.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? YES, CHAD.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, LET ME, SINCE I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS BEFORE, IT TAKES OUT THE REFERENCE THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY IN THERE TO REVIEW BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
AND IF YOU DON'T ALSO TAKE OUT, LIKE MS. BRYSON WAS SAYING, UH, THE CHANGE IN 16 2 1 0 2 E DOT TWO, I MEAN, THAT IS FOR THE NOTICE PROVISIONS FOR A HEARING BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON AN SUBDIVISION AMENDMENT.
AND RIGHT NOW THERE IS NO, IF YOU'RE GONNA PLAY BY THE CURRENT RULES, THERE IS NO REVIEW BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO, BUT TWO PROCEDURAL THINGS, UH, YOUR CODE SECTION TWO DASH 15 TWO DASH FIVE DASH 15 ONE, NO LESS THAN 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF ANY MEETING TO BE CONDUCTED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THIS SECTION 2 5 2 DASH FIVE, A COMPLETE AGENDA PACKAGE SHALL BE POSTED ON THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND WEBPAGE.
THE AGENDA PACKAGE THAT WAS POSTED FOR THE FEBRUARY 14TH MEETING DID NOT INCLUDE THE EXHIBIT A TO THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, SO THERE WAS NOT A COMPLETE AGENDA PACKAGE POSTED.
THE, THE AMEND THE, THE NOTICE THAT'S POSTED FOR TODAY'S MEETING DOESN'T INCLUDE THE NEW LANGUAGE.
AND SO I THINK YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE FIRST READING, BUT ASSUMING FIRST READING WAS OKAY, YOUR CODE SECTION TWO DASH SEVEN DASH 40 SUB B, DEALING WITH INTRODUCTION AND ENACTMENT OF ORDINANCES, UH, ANY ORDINANCE MAY BE AMENDED EITHER ON ITS FIRST OR SECOND READING PROVIDED.
HOWEVER, THAT IF AN ORDINANCE IS AMENDED ON SECOND READING, IT SHALL BE CARRIED OVER FOR A THIRD READING ON A SEPARATE DAY, AT LEAST SIX DAYS AFTER THE SECOND READING, ASSUMING THE FIRST READING WAS VALID, WHICH I THINK IS QUESTIONABLE.
YOU'RE AMENDING THE ORDINANCE THIS TIME, AND SO THE CODE REQUIRES THAT YOU CARRY IT OVER FOR A THIRD READING PROBABLY AT YOUR NEXT MEETING OR AT LEAST SIX DAYS FROM NOW.
SO I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO TAKE, I THINK FOR THE MOST PART, I HAVE SOME PROBLEMS WITH, WITH THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, BUT IF YOU'RE GONNA GO DOWN THAT ROUTE, THEN GO DOWN IT CORRECTLY.
DON'T, DON'T TAKE EXPEDITIOUS OVER COMPLYING WITH THE REQUIREMENTS.
ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, MR. CHRISTIAN.
AND REGARDLESS OF THE PROCEDURAL ISSUES, THERE ARE MANY AMENDMENTS THAT ARE IN HERE THAT WERE SITTING ON THE BZA A'S DOCKET WHEN PATSY WAS THE, THE CHAIR, AND NOW THEY'RE FINALLY COMING TO FRUITION AND ALSO FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
AND THESE NEED TO BE ACTED ON.
IF THERE'S A PROCEDURAL ISSUE THAT'S GONNA TAKE ANOTHER WEEK OR TWO WEEKS FINE.
UM, BUT I WANT FOLKS TO KNOW MY BZA HAT ON MY PAST PLANNING COMMISSION HAT AND SUPPORT THESE.
AND ALSO, AS YOU GO THROUGH THE LMO, WHICH I INDEED THINK YOU ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH, PLEASE MAKE THAT AS PUBLIC A PROCESS AS POSSIBLE.
AND I MEAN, OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST PUBLIC MEETINGS HERE, BUT GOING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND SPEAKING, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW IT ONLY BECOMES AN ISSUE WHEN SOMETHING GOES UP AND SOMEBODY SAYS, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS ZONED THAT WAY.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS IT'S ZONED THAT WAY.
AND THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE COMPETING FORCES THAT WANT A BUCK BECAUSE THEY WANT MORE DENSITY.
AND SOMEBODY ELSE WHO DIDN'T KNOW THAT THE DENSITY WAS THERE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY HAVE A FIVE STORY BUILDING WITH 10 BEDROOMS NEXT TO THEM.
NOW MAKE SURE IT'S A PUBLIC PROCESS AND MORE THAN JUST IN HERE FOR OUTREACH.
ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? OKAY.
BRING IT BACK TO THE DIAS, UM, PATSY.
THANKS MR. CHRISTIAN FOR POINTING THAT OUT AND, AND I AM REALLY WANTING TO MOVE FORWARD THOSE TWO, THE BZA RECOMMENDED, INCLUDING THE PROVISION REGARDING WAIVERS, WHICH WE ASKED THE PLANNING COMMISSION TOWN COUNCIL TO TAKE A LOOK AT.
[01:35:01]
WE NEED SOME HELP FROM OUR TOWN ATTORNEY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROCEEDING CORRECTLY PROCEDURALLY YES, I, I, I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.UM, YOU KNOW, I, I AGREE THAT, UM, QUALITY OVER SPEED IS VERY IMPORTANT IN THIS ACCURACY, UM, TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT IT'S DONE CORRECTLY.
SO, UH, MR. COLTRANE, IF YOU COULD HELP US WITH THAT.
I KNOW YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THAT A, UM, YOU KNOW, EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT I'D HATE TO HAVE TO GO BACK INTO THAT RIGHT NOW.
I, I AGREE AND I'D HATE TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW.
THE, THE ISSUE ON COUNSEL'S TABLE RIGHT NOW IS MR. AMES MOTION TO AMEND HIS ORIGINAL MOTION TO REMOVE 16 2 1 0 3 F SEVEN FROM THE SECOND READING, UM, TO, TO DEAL WITH IT LATER.
I, I, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT CREATES A PROCEDURAL ISSUE FOR THE TOWN, DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING ELSE IN THE ORDINANCE, YOU'RE SIMPLY NOT GOING TO GO FORWARD ON THAT ONE.
AND SINCE THE ONE THAT MR. AMES HAS SOUGHT TO REMOVE IS ALSO THE ONE THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THE AMENDMENT, IF IT IS REMOVED FROM THIS, WE CAN DEAL WITH THE ISSUES RELATED TO THE AMENDMENT AT A LATER TIME.
I AGREE WITH COUNSEL'S COMMENT.
I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THAT ASSUMES THAT THIS MOTION PASSES THE MOTION TO AMEND THAT IS, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ASK SOME CLARIFICATION.
SO IF, UM, IF, UM, MR. WILLIAMS IS CORRECT AND THE CHANGE IN THE LANGUAGE REQUIRES THEN A THIRD READING, THEN THAT CERTAINLY PASSING THE AMENDED LANGUAGE HERE, UM, CERTAINLY GIVES PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD READING FOR DIGESTION SUCH THAT MIGHT, MIGHT, MIGHT BE NEEDED FOR ANYONE, UM, BEFORE THE THIRD READING WOULD TAKE PLACE.
BUT THAT ASSUMES THAT THAT THIRD READING IS, WOULD THEN BE A REQUIREMENT.
THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR NOW REMOVES FROM YOUR CONSIDERATION, ONE, ONE SUBSECTION OF IT.
I DON'T BELIEVE ANYTHING ELSE HAS CHANGED, AND I DON'T BELIEVE ANY OF THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU ALL ARE GONNA VOTE ON HAS CHANGED.
SO IN THAT INSTANCE, ON WHAT YOU WOULD BE VOTING ON, ASSUMING THAT MR. AMES CURRENT MOTION PASSES AND THERE ISN'T A CHANGE, RIGHT.
AND THE ONE THAT MY QUESTION NOT VOTING ON CAN BE DEALT WITH A, AS IT COMES BACK BEFORE COUNSEL, YOU REPEAT THAT LAST PORTION I SAID, THE ONE THAT YOU, THAT IS POSSIBLY GOING TO BE REMOVED CAN BE DEALT WITH WHEN IT COMES BACK TO COUNSEL, AND IS THAT THEN THE SECOND READING AND FINAL READING? WHAT IS THE STATUS AT THAT POINT? I'M CONFUSED BETWEEN THE CONFLICTING INFORMATION.
WOULD WE, WOULD WE INFORMATION STILL BE IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAVE TO APPROVE THE NEW LANGUAGE? IF IT WAS TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL, THAT WOULD STILL BE, UM, THERE WOULD BE A SECOND READING ON THAT, AND THEN WE WOULD STILL HAVE TO HAVE A THIRD READING, CORRECT.
AND IF YOU WANT ME TO GO INTO THAT, I'M HAPPY TO DO IT.
WELL, I WOULD LOVE TO, SINCE I WASN'T A PARTY OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
WELL, THE QUESTION IS, DO WE DO IT HERE? WOULD THIS BE RECEIPT OF LEGAL ADVICE AND EXECUTIVE SESSION? AND I SUGGEST IT'S THE LATTER, BUT THAT'S A SEPARATE QUESTION FROM WHAT'S ON THE TABLE BEFORE YOU NOW, WHICH IS WHETHER OR NOT MR. AMES MOTION WILL BE AMENDED TO REMOVE CONSIDERATION OF THE REVISED LANGUAGE OF 16 2 103 F SEVEN FROM YOUR CONSIDERATION RIGHT NOW.
WELL, WHILE I RESPECT THAT, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS HERE.
AND IN ALL FAIRNESS TO A DOCUMENT THAT HAS BEEN BEING WORKED ON FOR LITERALLY MONTHS, UM, IT, IT IS AN UNFAIR POSITION TO CALL THE QUESTION AND, AND THE DEBATE, UM, THAT IS SIMPLY ADDRESSING THE MOST, UM, APPROPRIATE WAY TO MOVE FORWARD.
IF IN FACT, THREE READINGS IS NECESSARY, THEN THIS AMENDED LANGUAGE SHOULD BE APPROVED BY US ON SECOND READING, AND THEN PLENTY OF TIME BETWEEN NOW AND OUR NEXT SIX DAY OR BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON IT AGAIN, EXISTS FOR CONSIDERATION AND DIGESTION
[01:40:01]
AND CONSIDERATION.I, I'M NOT REALLY SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING WHY WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS, OR AS SUGGESTED BY OUR COUNSEL, UM, GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
IF I'M MISSING SOMETHING, FEEL FREE TO TELL ME STANDPOINT, MAYOR.
I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION'S BEEN CALLED, BUT, UH, UH, A SUGGESTION, UH, COULD WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MOTION, UH, THAT MR. AMES MADE, AND THEN AFTER WE'VE ALLOWED ALL THE PUBLIC TO, TO SPEAK ABOUT ALL THE OTHER ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA AT THE END OF THE MEETING, IF WE NEED ANOTHER EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DECIDE HOW TO PROCEED LATER, PERHAPS THAT'S A WAY TO, TO MOVE THROUGH THIS QUAGMIRE.
MY, MY GOAL HERE IS TO APPROVE THE VAST NUMBER OF THESE LMO AMENDMENTS TONIGHT.
I THINK THERE IS A QUESTION IN THE, THE MINDS OF SOME MEMBERS OF COUNCIL THAT ONE AT ONE SINGLE ELEMENT NEEDS TO BE THOUGHT ABOUT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.
AND THAT'S THE AMENDMENT THAT I MADE TO EXCLUDE, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD WITH THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE TONIGHT AND ONLY HAVE ONE OUTSTANDING ISSUE.
I THINK BECAUSE THE POINT HAS BEEN MADE, A, THAT THERE WERE CONVERSATIONS THAT ALL OF US HAVEN'T BEEN A PARTY OF.
AND SECONDLY, UM, I THINK I'VE ASKED FOR A SIMPLE EXPLANATION BETWEEN, UM, THE LANGUAGE THAT WE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED, UM, AT OUR LAST MEETING AND THE LANGUAGE BEFORE US NOW, AND HOW IT'S MATERIALLY DIFFERENT.
AND I KNOW SEAN IS NOW HERE TO DO THAT.
THE QUESTION HAS BEEN CALLED IT'S TIME FOR A VOTE.
I MEAN, AT THIS POINT, MR. AMES HAS MADE A MOTION.
THE QUESTION'S BEEN CALLED, I MEAN, QUESTION.
I MEAN, I MEAN, DEBATE'S CLOSED.
AND MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON HERE.
UH, MR. AMES, UH, MADE A MOTION TO AMEND OR TO AMEND HIS MOTION, REMOVING THE LANGUAGE CONCERNING 16 DASH TWO DASH 1 0 3 F SEVEN FOR DISCUSSION AT A LATER DATE.
PLEASE CALL CERTAINLY MR. BROWN.
MOTION CARRIE? SIX TO ONE, SIR.
I'M, I'M CALL THE QUESTION ON THE FIRST MOTION TO APPROVE THE REMAINDER OF THE ENTIRE LIST AS AMENDED.
DO WE NEED TO TAKE UP A TIMEFRAME TO TALK ABOUT THAT REMAINING ORDINANCE NOW? IS THERE A RECOMMENDATION ON HOW TO MO TO, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH DISCUSSION ON THE ONE PORTION THAT WE HAVE PULLED OUT FOR A LATER DISCUSSION? I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE NEW LANGUAGE BEFORE US, UM, THAT WE MAKE JIM, UM, WELL, IT'S HAD A, I'LL FORGET MR. MAYOR, I, I WOULD SUGGEST REPEAT MY SUGGESTION, DISCUSSIONS APPROPRIATE WITHOUT A SECOND.
OKAY, THEN WE WILL, WE WILL ADDRESS THAT AT A LATER DATE.
I, I IS THAT WHAT WE'RE WAITING FOR A SECOND TO HAVE A DISCUSSION.
UM, WHAT, WHAT I, WHAT I THINK WE PROBABLY NEED TO DO IS TO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION LATER ON TO DISCUSS THIS, UM, TO GET A TRUE UNDERSTANDING AS TO HOW WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD.
UM, AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT TO, TO THE END OF THE MEETING.
I'M GONNA BE LEAVING AT 15 MINUTES.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION FOR THAT? I'D LIKE TO MOVE THIS TO A DISCUSSION AT FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION AT THE END OF TONIGHT'S MEETING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? I'M GONNA HAVE TO ABSTAIN BECAUSE I WON'T BE HERE.
[01:45:01]
UNFINISHED BUSINESS CONSIDERATION, UH, OF THE, THE CALENDAR YEAR 2023 ACCOMMODATIONS TAX SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT REQUEST FROM THE TOWN OF HILTON NET ISLAND DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION.IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, UH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.
I MOVE COUNSEL, APPROVE A SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT TO THE TOWN'S DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION OF $350,000.
SECOND DISCUSSION? YES, MAYOR.
I I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS MOTION.
UM, I'VE SPENT A GOOD BIT OF TIME TRYING TO LEARN ABOUT THIS PROCESS, UM, AND HAVE MET WITH FOLKS ABOUT THIS.
UM, MET WITH FOLKS FROM THE CHAMBER ABOUT THEIR REQUEST TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND IT.
I'VE LOOKED AT THE MARKETING PLAN, UH, FROM THE CHAMBER.
UM, WE HELD A TWO DAY WORKSHOP ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN, UM, WHICH INCLUDED IF, IF YOU WILL, A REFOCUS, UM, ON, UH, TOURISM ON THE ISLAND TO SUPPORT ARTS AND CULTURE, UM, HERITAGE TOURISM AND WELLNESS TOURISM.
UM, AND IN ADDITION, UM, I HAD BEEN READING A BOOK CALLED EVOLUTION OF A TOWN BY THE LATE BUZZ KURODA, WHO WAS A TOWN COUNCIL MEMBER HERE, WHICH, WHICH TALKED ABOUT, UM, UH, ISSUES THAT CAME BEFORE THE COUNCIL OVER A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME.
AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, GROWTH MANAGEMENT WAS HIGHLIGHTED IN THAT BOOK.
AND I WANNA SHOUT OUT TO DAVID LAUDERDALE.
UH, HIS, ONE OF HIS ARTICLES LED ME TO THAT BOOK, SO THANK YOU, DAVID LAUDERDALE.
UM, AND IN LOOKING AT THAT, UM, THE CHAMBER HAD LEADERSHIP IN, IN, IN ADDRESSING ISSUES ON GROWTH MANAGEMENT.
SO I, I WANTED TO THANK THE CHAMBER FOR ITS PAST LEADERSHIP IN HELPING THE TOWN TO ADDRESS THIS.
I'VE HEARD A LOT FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT CONCERNS ABOUT, UM, UH, FURTHER MARKETING, UM, AND, AND WHAT IT'S DOING TO OUR ISLAND.
UM, SO, UM, THAT'S WHY I COULD NOT SUPPORT THE FULL REQUEST OF $710,000.
IN LOOKING AT THE FIGURE OF 350,000, I LOOKED AT THE PARTS OF THE PROPOSAL, WHICH SUPPORTED ARTS AND CULTURE TO THE TUNE OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND HERITAGE TOURISM TO THE TUNE OF 75,000 WELLNESS TOURISM TO THE TUNE OF 75,000, WHICH WERE THE THREE NEW FOCUSES ACCORDING TO OUR, UM, STRATEGIC PLAN.
IN ADDITION, THE FESTIVALS AND EVENTS PORTION OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND, UM, IT SUPPORTS A LOT OF OUR LOCAL FESTIVALS, UH, WHICH THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTS, UM, AND WHICH SUPPORTS A LOT OF OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, SOME OF WHICH, JUST TO NAME ONE, UM, THE, THE ONE OF THE LATIN FESTIVALS, UH, WHERE, UH, VIM THE VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE ARE SUPPORTED.
SO SOME OF THOSE FESTIVALS THAT ARE LOCAL, UH, BENEFIT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND ALSO SUPPORT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
SO THAT, TO ME, TOTALED THE 350,000, AND THAT'S WHY I WOULD SUPPORT THIS.
UM, BUT I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE, THE WORK OF THE, THE ATEX COMMITTEE IN LOOKING AT THIS.
UM, BUT SOME THINGS CHANGE OVER TIME, UH, SINCE, UH, THAT RECOMMENDATION WAS CONSIDERED IN THE FALL.
AND ONE OF THOSE CHANGES WAS OUR STRATEGIC, UH, PLANNING WORKSHOP WHERE WE IDENTIFIED A REFOCUS ON TOURISM, WHICH I BELIEVE THOSE THREE FOCUSES SUPPORT WHAT THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTS AND ALSO SUPPORTS, UM, SOME OF THE VALUES WE HAVE ON OUR ISLAND BEING ARTS AND CULTURE OF OUR ISLAND, THE HERITAGE OF OUR ISLAND, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO WERE LONG HERE BEFORE US, UH, PROTECTING AND BEING STEWARDS OF THE LAND, THE GULLAH COMMUNITY, UM, AND ALSO WELLNESS TOURISM BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH WONDERFUL BENEFITS HERE, UH, FOR RIDING BIKES AND, AND PLAYING TENNIS, PLAYING PICKLEBALL, PLAYING GOLF, PLAYING, YOU KNOW, UH, WALKING ON THE BEACH, ALL THOSE KIND OF WELLNESS SAYING.
SO I THINK THAT THOSE KIND OF VALUES ARE REFLECTED, AND I WOULD, UH, ENCOURAGE IF THIS, UM, MOTION DOES PASS THAT THE, THE CHAMBER USED THOSE FUNDS OF 350,000 TO FOCUS ONLY ON THOSE AREAS WITH THE SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL? YES, STEVE.
WELL, FIRST I WANNA SAY THAT I BELIEVE THAT THE, UH, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB FOR THIS COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF TOURISM OVER RECENT YEARS.
AND I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY AS ONE OF THE BETTER CHAMBERS IN THE COUNTRY.
UH, I THINK THEY'VE GOT GOOD PEOPLE WORKING FOR THEM.
I IN PARTICULAR, HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH MRS. PERISE, UH, AND HAS ALL BEEN VERY POSITIVE.
UH, SO I DON'T, I DON'T THINK IT'S A QUESTION OF WHETHER THE CHAMBER'S DOING A GOOD JOB.
I THINK THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.
I THINK THE PROBLEM ACTUALLY IS THEY'RE DOING TOO GREAT OF A JOB.
THEY'RE BRINGING MORE TOURISTS AND MORE TRAFFIC THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS BEGUN TO MOVE AWAY FROM.
AND THOSE OF US WHO SPENT THE FALL IN CAMPAIGN SESSIONS HEARD THAT QUITE FREQUENTLY, UM, IS A GOOD JOB.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE IN MY PERSONAL SITUATION,
[01:50:01]
I LOVE CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM, AND IF I HAD IT EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE, OF THE WEEK, I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY.BUT I'D GET SICK
AND TO ME, THAT'S SOMEWHAT OF WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
UM, I THINK THAT THE, UH, THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT NEED, UH, TO BE ADDRESSED.
ONE OF WHICH IS THE ECONOMIC BRACKET OF THE PEOPLE TO WHICH THE CHAMBER IS TARGETING ITS ADVERTISING.
I THINK IT IS TOO LOW AND NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED.
UH, AND AS A SECOND MATTER CHRONOLOGICALLY, THE BASIC 30% UNDER STATE LAW THAT GOES TO THE CHAMBER AND PROGRAMS ARE CONSIDERED AT ONE POINT IN THE YEAR.
THE SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT IS TAKEN UP SIX MONTHS LATER, THAT RESULTS IN A, UH, SPLIT APPROACH TO HOW TO ESTABLISH WHAT THE PROGRAM FOR THE YEAR IS GONNA BE.
UH, SO I AM STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF RECONSIDERING HOW THE DECISIONS ARE MADE, AND THEY SHOULD BE MADE AT ONE TIME AND ONE PROGRAM FOR THE WHOLE YEAR, UH, TO THE EXTENDED ADJUSTMENTS HAVE TO BE MADE.
UH, SO, UH, MY OWN VOTE IS THAT CHANGING THE RULES OF THE GAME IN THE MIDDLE HERE, OF THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR, BECAUSE WE'RE ON A, ON A, UM, SPLIT CHRONOLOGICAL APPROACH THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CHAMBER HAS A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF WHAT THEY ORIGINALLY ASKED FOR.
AND FOR THOSE REASONS, I WOULD SUPPORT THE MOTION.
TAMMY, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT? I DO.
UM, WHILE I APPRECIATE, UM, A, A NUMBER OF THINGS, UM, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ON HILTON HEAD DOES A PHENOMENAL JOB SUPPORTING OUR BUSINESSES, AND I THINK THAT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO US.
ALL OUR BUSINESSES, UM, ARE WELL REPRESENTED AND ENCOURAGED.
UH, THEIR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT IS ENCOURAGED AND SUPPORTED, UM, BY THE CHAMBER, AND I APPRECIATE THAT THE DMO PUTS FORTH A MARKETING PLAN WITH ANTICIPATED EXPENSES.
THOSE EXPENSES, UM, I UNDERSTAND THE SPLIT NATURE, UM, DO LOOK DIFFERENT SOMETIMES DOWN THE ROAD.
MY QUESTION IS, HOW DO THOSE DIFFERENCES COME ABOUT? WHO IS IT THAT'S COMING FORWARD? PERHAPS SAYING THAT THEY NEED ADDITIONAL, UM, ADVERTISING AND, AND, UH, ATTENTION TO THEIR ORGANIZATION AT ANY POINT DURING THE YEAR? AND HOW WERE THOSE, THOSE ORIGINAL FUNDS? NOT ACCOUNT, DIDN'T ACCOUNT FOR THAT E EXTRA NEED.
AND SO, IN MY MIND, I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW, UM, I DO HAVE THE LIST, AND AS PATSY HAS POINTED OUT, THERE ARE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT CATEGORIES WITH BUDGET NUMBERS ASSOCIATED WITH IT, AND REALLY GOOD, UM, IDENTIFICATION.
WHAT I DON'T HAVE IS, UM, SPECIFICS TO THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE COMING FORWARD AND ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL ATTENTION.
AND I WOULD LIKE THAT INFORMATION.
I KNOW THAT WE ARE IN SOMETHING OF A TRANSITIONAL YEAR AS WE'RE WORKING WITH THE D M O, AND I DO FEEL THAT, UM, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME RELIANCES ON AN EXPECTED RECOMMENDATION FROM THE ANTI COMMITTEE THAT MONIES WOULD BE FORTHCOMING.
AND SO, UM, FUNDS HAVE BEEN SPENT, I WANT TO SEE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT ARRANGEMENT MOVING FORWARD, MORE CLEARLY IDENTIFYING, UM, THE ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR REQUESTS, HOW THOSE DOLLARS ARE SPENT, UM, AND THEN RETURNING TO THE, UM, FUNDING FROM THE TOWN THAT THOSE INVOICES FOR THOSE EXPENSES ARE ATTACHED TO THE REQUEST FROM THE ORIGINATOR, NOT JUST COPIED ONTO LETTERHEAD.
UM, I WOULD ALSO, UM, WONDER, WHILE I, I APPRECIATE, UM, PATSY, YOUR IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIFICS HERE AND HOW IT ADDS UP TO THE THREE 50.
I WOULD RATHER HEAR FROM, FROM THE FOLKS AT THE DMO IN TERMS OF HOW THIS MONEY WILL BE SPENT.
WILL IT NOW BE EVENLY DISTRIBUTED, OR WILL THERE BE SPECIFICS THAT WILL BE FUNDED WITH THIS MONEY? HOW WILL THIS MONEY GO FORWARD? I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A GOOD ANSWER FOR THAT TONIGHT.
UM, BUT THE ASSUMPTION THAT IT WOULD BE JUST FOR THESE PARTICULAR ITEMS ALREADY MENTIONED, UM, IS AN ASSUMPTION THAT I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY DATA TO BACK
[01:55:01]
UP.SO I, I DO, UM, I DO APPRECIATE THOUGH ALL THE HARD WORK AND THE SUPPORT GIVEN TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THIS.
UM, AND IF SOMEONE CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR ME, THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO ME IF, UM, THAT'D BE VERY HELPFUL TO ME.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? COMMENTS FROM THE, FROM THE PUBLIC? YES.
YOU CANNOT ISSUE OUR A TAX MONEY TO NONPROFITS THAT'S NOT USED FOR THE PROMOTION OF MARKETING, OF TOURISM AND TOURISM RELATED PROJECTS.
YOU MUST MAKE EVERY RECIPIENT SIGN A TAX RECIPIENT AGREEMENT SPELLING OUT HOW A TAX FUNDS CAN BE LEGALLY USED IN ALL ACCOUNTING, FULLY REPORTED WITH RECEIPTS AND MATCHING INVOICES.
YOU CANNOT ISSUE PUBLIC FUNDS TO BE USED FOR PRIVATE PURPOSES AND ILLEGAL PROFITS LIKE THE CHAMBER AND THE LOW COUNTRY GOLF OWNER ASSOCIATION IS DOING BOTH OPERATING AN ILLEGAL FOR-PROFIT TAX SCAM WITH BILL MILES, CARRIE CORBETT AND BRAD, ME PAMELA DUNES HERE WITH US TODAY.
OUR PR OTHER PRIVATE NONPROFITS MIGHT BE WORTHY AND HEARTFELT, LIKE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, LONG COVE CLUB, WORLD OF FAIR COUNCIL, HERITAGE LIBRARY, MITCHELLVILLE, ET CETERA.
BUT IT'S ILLEGAL TO FUND THOSE FOLKS WITH PUBLIC FUNDS.
THESE TYPE NONPROFITS MUST ONLY BE FUNDED BY THEIR PRIVATE MEMBERS AND THEIR DONORS.
IT'S ALSO STATE CONSTITUTIONAL LAW THAT PROHIBITS THE USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS IN ANY FORM OR FASHION THAT DOES NOT DIRECTLY BENEFIT THE PUBLIC.
GOOD REASON AND USE A LAWSUIT WAS RECENTLY FILED AGAINST THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD FOR ISSUING 2 MILLION TO SEE PINES, A PROPAGATED COMMUNITY FOR DREDGING HARVARD TOWN.
THIS 2 MILLION MUST BE FUNDED BY THE OWNERS OF SEA PINES, NOT BY THE PUBLIC WHO HAS, HAS NO ACCESS.
I ASKED THIS TWO MILLIONS TO BE RETURNED BACK TO TAXPAYERS.
MANY OF THESE, A TAX RECOMMENDATIONS BY OUR CORRUPTED HAND-PICKED A TAX COMMITTEE ALL CONNECTED TO THE CHAMBER ARE KNOWINGLY RECOMMENDING A TAX FUNDS TO BE ISSUED AND USED ILLEGALLY WITH ZERO OVERSIGHT.
NO SIGNED TAX RECIPIENT AGREEMENTS ON LEGAL USE, NO ACCOUNTING, NO PROCUREMENT, AND COMPLETE VIOLATION OF A TAX LAWS.
YOU ARE VOTING TO ISSUE 800,000 MORE TO THE CHAMBER TODAY.
THIS IS WHY THIS IS JUST A SUPPLEMENT TO THE MILLIONS THAT CHAMBER RECEIVES AND HIDES UNDER THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD.
WITH ALL THE OTHER FUNDING SOURCES LIKE SOUTH CAROLINA, P R T, MILLIONS, AND EVEN GOVERNOR MCMASTER, 1.5 MILLION TO BILL MILES AND ILLICIT ADVERTISING PROFITS FROM THE DMO WEBSITE.
THE CHAMBER CLAIMS IT OWNS NOT THE TAXPAYERS.
THIS COULD NOT, THIS COULD BE WELL OVER 4 MILLION ANNUALLY, ALL SECRETIVE AND DISAPPEARED.
I HOLD ALL OFFICIALS WHO VOTE FOR THIS ILLEGAL FUNDING TODAY, FULLY ACCOUNTABLE, LIABLE FOR THIS INSANITY.
YOU WILL BE SUED AND YOU WILL BE DEPOSED.
YOU VOTE YES, YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A TAX FEE AND NOT FIT TO SERVE, IN MY OPINION, THE HILTON HEAD CHAMBER CV CVB TAX FRAUD AND SCAM IS IN FACT PART OF THE LARGEST NONPROFITS TAX SCAM IN 300 YEAR HISTORY OF THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES, NOT JUST SOUTH CAROLINA.
LAS VEGAS, ORLANDO MAKE THE HILTON HEAD CHAMBER DMO CROOK BILL MILES.
UH, IT MAKES HIM LOOK LIKE A, UH, UH, IT'S POCKET CHANGE.
UH, IT'S, IT'S HARD FOR, IT'S, IT, IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THE SCAM AND HOW BIG IT IS.
IT'S HARD FOR MOST PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND AND IMAGINE THAT THE TAX SCAM, YOUR TIME IS UP.
HEY, HOW'S EVERYBODY, MR. MAYOR, CONGRATULATIONS.
UM, I JUST, UH, WANTED TO COME UP AND INTRODUCE MYSELF.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED ON HILTON HEAD.
UM, I'M ON THE BOARD AT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
UM, I'VE HAD A AMAZING TIME GETTING TO KNOW BILL AND HIS TEAM, UM, AND, AND HE'S PUT TOGETHER A VERY IMPRESSIVE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF MANAGING THE MONEY THAT THEY GET FROM THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD.
SO, UM, I, I KNOW THAT WE'RE IN GOOD HANDS THERE, UH, FIRSTHAND.
UM, I'M ALSO ON THE BOARD AT THE COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE, UM, ALSO ON THE BOARD AT THE, UH, PORT ROYAL SOUND FOUNDATION.
AND MY FAMILY AND I HAVE A, A FOUNDATION, UH, WHERE WE DO A FUNDRAISER CALLED THE HILTON NET ISLAND SEAFOOD FESTIVAL, WHICH IS TAKING PLACE THIS WEEK OVER THE LAST 12 YEARS.
THE HILTON NET ISLAND SEAFOOD FESTIVAL HAS RAISED OVER ONE RAISED AND DONATED OVER 1.2 MILLION TO LOCAL 5 0 1
WE'VE, WE'VE, UH, DONE A LOT OF GOOD WORK FOR A LOT
[02:00:01]
OF VERY, VERY GOOD GROUPS THAT ARE TRYING TO MAKE HILTON HEAD IN, IN THE AREA A BETTER PLACE TO, UM, LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.AND THE CHAMBER'S SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT, UH, DOES SUPPORT OUR EVENT.
UM, BUT I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ME TO, TO SAY TODAY IN MY LIMITED TIME, GOD, IT IS TOUGH TO GET THINGS DONE IN THREE MINUTES, ISN'T IT? UM, IS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST MARCH OF 2020, I WAS WONDERING IF I WAS GOING TO HAVE A BUSINESS.
UM, THERE WAS SOME UNSURE TIMES THERE.
AND I HAD TO FURLOUGH 140 EMPLOYEES ON THAT DAY.
HARDEST THING I'VE EVER HAD TO DO IN BUSINESS.
UM, THE CHAMBER DID A, A REMARKABLE JOB OF PIVOTING WHEN WE DID REOPEN AND MARKETING TO PEOPLE THAT WOULD'VE TAKEN CRUISES AND GONE TO EUROPE AND DO THINGS LIKE THAT.
DO I AGREE WITH YOU THAT IT WAS ABSOLUTELY MR. ALFRED A TIME OF COMPLETE CHAOS ON THE ISLAND? YES.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU, AND YOU HAVE MY WORD, THAT IF YOU WANT TO CUT TOURISM BY 6%, YOU'VE ALREADY DONE IT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING ELSE THIS YEAR BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY HAPPENING.
THE CRUISE SHIPS ARE BACK, THE HOTEL, THE EUROPE TRIPS ARE BACK, UH, THE INTERNATIONAL TRAVELS BACK.
AND JUST THAT ALONE, WE'VE SEEN A, A MORE TRADITIONAL EBB AND FLOW TO OUR BUSINESS AS COMPARED TO THE LAST TWO YEARS, WHICH WERE GREAT FOR RESTAURANTS, BUT I EVEN GOT FRUSTRATED WITH SOME OF THE CROWDS AND WHEN, HOW THEY DIDN'T GO AWAY IN JANUARY, HOW THEY DIDN'T GO AWAY IN DECEMBER.
IT WAS HARD TO GET INTO YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS.
SO DO I THINK THEY DO A TOO GOOD A JOB? I DON'T THINK THEY'RE SUCH A THING.
AND, UM, I'M, I'M PROUD TO BE ON THE BOARD AND I'M PROUD TO WORK WITH, UH, THAT EXTRAORDINARY GROUP OF PEOPLE.
UM, WANT TO INTRODUCE MYSELF? MY NAME'S JOHN MONROE AND I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES MARKETING AND LODGING OPERATIONS FOR C PINES RESORT.
BEEN THERE FOR 24 YEARS AND AN ISLAND RESIDENT OF 40 YEARS.
SERVED FOUR YEARS ON THE ACCOMMODATION TAX COMMITTEE IN TWO YEARS ON TOURISM EXPENDITURE REVIEW COMMITTEE IN, UH, IN, UH, IN, UH, COLUMBIA.
ALSO SERVED 20, 20 YEARS ON THE BOARD OF, UH, THE SOUTH CAROLINA RESTAURANT LODGING ASSOCIATION.
UH, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF SEA PINES, WE STRONGLY SUPPORT FULL FUNDING OF THE CHAMBER SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT REQUEST OF $710,000.
TOURISM SUPPORTS RESIDENT LIVELY HERDS AND CREATES A QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL RESIDENTS TO ENJOY, INCLUDING EXCELLENT DINING O OPTIONS, WORLD-CLASS GOLF FESTIVALS AND EVENTS.
TOURISM IS THE ECONOMIC DRIVER OF AT TAX FUNDING, WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND ALL THE VARIOUS WAYS THOSE FUNDS ARE UTILIZED, INCLUDING TOWN INFRASTRUCTURE, CAPITAL PROJECTS, SUPPORTING ARTS AND CULTURE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND WAR.
THE V CB DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB PREPARING AND ADMINISTRATING THE DESTINATION.
TOURISM MARKETING, THEIR PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES, I PROMISE YOU, ARE ALL RESULTS DRIVEN.
THE V CB DRIVES REVENUE THROUGH DIGITAL MARKETING, CREATING IMMERSED WEB PLATFORMS AND MEASURABLE RESULTS REGARDING GOLF MARKETING.
WE OWN AND OPERATE THREE GOLF COURSES, INCLUDING HARVARD TOWN GOLF LAKES.
IN 2021, GOLF PEAKED IN THE SOUTHEAST AND AT THE RESORT.
HOWEVER, IN 2022, WE SAW A 13% DECREASE IN GOLF FROWNS VERSUS 2001.
SO FAR IN 2023 WERE FOR FORECASTING IN REALIZING A 6% DECREASE OVER 2022 FOR A COMBINED, UH, TWO YEAR DECREASE OF 20%, WHICH IS, IS SIGNIFICANT.
UM, BECAUSE OF THIS, AS ARE CRUCIAL, WE CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THE ISLAND AS A PREMIER GOLF DESTINATION REMAINED COMPETITIVE AMONG OUR GOLF DESTINATIONS.
THE SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT OF $260,000 TOWARDS GOLF MARKETING IS NECESSARY, PARTICULARLY FOR HILTON HEAD ISLAND COURSES WHO DO NOT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT GOLF MARKETING BUDGET.
THEY RELY ON THE EFFORTS OF THE BCBS GOLF MARKETING CAMPAIGNS, UH, GROUPS, UH, MEETINGS AND GROUPS.
GROUPS ARE BEEN BEGINNING TO TRAVEL AGAIN.
AND AS IMPORTANT, WE PROMOTE, WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS.
THE GROUP AND CONVENTION BUSINESS ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
SEA PINES RESORT, AS WELL AS AS THE OTHER HOTELS ON THE ISLAND.
WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THE, UH, SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
WITH THE VCB MARKETING SUPPORT, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE RATE VERSUS OCCUPANCY, WHICH IS IMPORTANT NOTE BECAUSE THIS IS IMPORTANT, ENSURING THAT THE ISLAND DOES NOT BECOME OVERCROWDED BY DRIVING RATE.
WE'VE ALSO ATTRACTING A VISITOR THAT WILL HAVE A HIGHER PROPENSITY TO SPEND MORE IN LOCAL SHOPS, RESTAURANTS, AND I GUESS THAT'S IT.
[02:05:02]
GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.I'M THE GENERAL MANAGER AT THE WESTON HILTON HEAD ISLAND RESORT.
AFTER BEING IN HERE TODAY, I HAVE A LOT, I HAVE A GREATER RESPECT FOR WHAT ALL OF YOU DO, SO KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.
I BELIEVE, UM, PART OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH AND VITALITY OF THE COMMUNITY.
UM, I ALSO BELIEVE IN THE STRENGTH OF OUR DESTINATION, WHICH INCLUDES ACCOMMODATIONS, MEETINGS, AND GROUPS, SPECIAL EVENTS, AIRLIFT AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND OUR STRENGTH OF OUR DESTINATION CAN BE ALIGNED, UH, WITH THE COMMUNITY TO INCLUDE LOCAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT, WORKFORCE, HOSPITALITY, CULTURE AND TOURISM.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM IS A VERY COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE.
AND SUCCESSFUL DESTINATIONS INTEGRATE THE COMMUNITY INTO MARKETING EFFORTS TO CREATE THE DESIRE AMONG TRAVELERS TO WANT TO EXPERIENCE THE DESTINATION.
THAT IS WHY I SUPPORT FULL FUNDING FOR THE CHAMBERS SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT REQUEST.
THE CHAMBERS GRANT REQUEST IS NOT GOING TO GROW SUMMER BUSINESS, AND THAT'S OKAY.
UM, SEASONAL BUSINESS AND HOTEL OCCUPANCY HAS REMAINED STEADY IN THE SUMMER, BUT WHAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT IS THE OFF SEASON, UM, MY BUSINESS, MY RESORT, AND THOSE I EMPLOY, UH, DEPEND ON YEAR ROUND TOURISM FOR THEIR LIVELIHOOD.
I LOVE LIVING ON THE ISLAND, AND I SUPPORT THE TOWN'S STRATEGIC ACTION PLANS, WHICH INCLUDES PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE, PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND REVITALIZATION OF THE ECONOMY, AND IMPROVING THE WELLBEING OF EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY.
I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO ALIGN THE TOWN'S STRATEGIC ACTION PLANS THAN THEM FULLY FUNDING THE CHAMBERS SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT.
THE FUNDING GOES DIRECTLY TOWARDS MARKETING EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY.
LET'S THINK OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF RESIDENTS, BUSINESS OWNERS, AND VISITORS.
ALAN WOLF, UH, PRESIDENT OF THE SURGE RESTAURANT GROUP.
UH, WE'D LIKE TO JUST MAKE A POINT, UM, THAT I WOULD REQUEST MR. ALFRED, TO YOUR POINT, NOW IS PROBABLY THE MOST DIFFICULT TIME FOR RESTAURANTS TO CONSIDER PULLING BACK ON THE FUNDS.
OUR 900 PLUS EMPLOYEES ON HILTON HEAD, OUR DOWNSTREAM OF THE ACCOMMODATIONS, UM, OUR LIVELIHOOD GOES IN LINE WITH THE YEAR ROUND, UM, BEDS THAT ARE FULL.
AND I WOULD REQUEST THAT YOU ALL CONSIDER A FULL FUNDING OF THE ATAC SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT.
UM, THE ECONOMIC INDICATORS FOR RESTAURANTS BEYOND THIS SEASON ARE TROUBLING.
OUR WORKERS ALREADY FACING DRAMATICALLY INCREASED RENTS AND COST OF LIVING.
SO TO, UH, THREATEN THEM WITH THE RISK OF LESS BUSINESS IN THE OFF SEASON, IN THE SHOULDER SEASON, UH, PRESENTS A VERY DIFFICULT RISK FOR US TO HAVE TO PASS ON TO OUR EMPLOYEES.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER NOW NOT BEING THE TIME TO PULL BACK, BUT ACTUALLY THE TIME TO STAY AHEAD SO WE DON'T LOSE VISITORS TO OTHER MARKETS THAT WE FIGHT SO HARD TO KEEP 'EM COMING TO HILTON.
UM, I JUST WANNA SAY EVERYTHING.
GE IS GEARED TO THE CHAMBER AND IS GEARED TO BRINGING MORE TOURISTS HERE, WHICH I DON'T THINK THIS AREA HAS A REAL HARD TIME.
WHEN I'M TALKING TO ALL THE PEOPLE OUT THERE, THEY'RE TIRED OF THE TOURISTS COMING.
ALL OF MY FRIENDS AND EVERYBODY, IF YOU TALK TO EVERYBODY IN THE PLANTATIONS, THEY'RE, THEY'RE SICK AND TIRED OF ALL THIS AND ALL THE CHAMBER STUFF AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE TALKING TO THE PEOPLE ACTUALLY, OR MAINLY JUST TALKING TO THE CHAMBER.
AND MS. BECKER, YOU SAID THAT YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THIS THOUSANDS, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ARE GOING.
IF YOU'RE GIVING ALL THIS MONEY AND YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW, YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS ACRONYM TO EVEN BE UP THERE TO BE DOING THIS.
I USED TO OWN A COMPANY AND IT WAS A BIG, IT WAS A FAIRLY BIG COMPANY AND I, I LEFT THAT COMPANY, BUT I HAD TO SUE MY OWNER BECAUSE HE WAS STEALING FROM THE COMPANY.
AND THE THING IS, I HAD TO DO IT A FORENSIC AUDIT BECAUSE I WOULD'VE NOT GOTTEN ANY INFORMATION FROM THE CHAMBER OR FROM WHEREVER, FROM THIS UNLESS I HAD DONE A FORENSIC AUDIT.
AND THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I WON.
AND THAT'S THE ONLY REASON, THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU ARE GONNA KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CHAMBER AND WHERE THAT MONEY'S BEING SPENT.
SO YOU CAN GIVE THEM HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND YOU DON'T KNOW A DAMN THING OF WHAT IS GOING ON.
MY NAME IS, UH, BARRY FLEMING AND I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LOW COUNTRY GOLF COURSE OWNERS ASSOCIATION.
AND I'VE BEEN THAT FOR ABOUT THE PAST 12 YEARS.
[02:10:01]
A LOW COUNTRY GOLF COURSE OWNERS ASSOCIATION.AND WE HAVE BEEN THE VOICE FOR GOLF ON HILTON HEAD FOR MANY YEARS.
WE REPRESENT 15 AND A HALF GOLF COURSES ON THE ISLAND, WHICH IS EVERY PUBLIC OR RESORT GOLF COURSE.
WHEN I STARTED ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO, WE HAD A VERY MINIMAL MARKETING BUDGET FOR GOLF.
UH, WE DEPENDED ON THE DMO FOR THE MAJORITY OF OUR GOLF MARKETING.
AND AS YOU KNOW, THE DMO, UH, BASICALLY MARKETS THE DESTINATION AND HAS TO MARKET THE DESTINATION AS A COLLECTIVE HOLE, UH, REPRESENTING ALL ISLAND ENTITIES.
WELL, WE FELT THE L G C O A FELT THAT GOLF, SINCE WE ARE THE SECOND LARGEST REGION, OUR BIGGEST REASON THAT BRINGS TOURISM TO OUR ISLAND, THAT WE NEEDED A MORE GOLF SPECIFIC MARKETING CAMPAIGN.
SO A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, WE, THE L G C O A WERE ASKED TO COUPLE OUR ATAC REQUEST WITHIN THE CHAMBER OR DMA D'S REQUEST.
UH, I'M NOT SURE WHY THAT HAD HAPPENED BACK YEARS AGO, BUT THAT'S WHERE OUR GOLF MAJORITY OF OUR GOLF MARKETING GOES IS, IS WITHIN THEIR $710,000 ASK.
UM, THIS HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM UNTIL NOW.
AND, UH, NOW 260,000 ARE APPROXIMATELY 70% OF OUR TOTAL GOLF MARKETING BUDGET IS IN JEOPARDY DUE TO THESE DISCUSSIONS.
WE HEAR AND UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENT THAT THE ISLANDS IS OVERCROWDED WITH TRAFFIC AND, AND ET CETERA, BUT OUR MARKETING EFFORTS ONLY FOCUS ON TIMES WHEN THE ISLAND IS, IS, IS NOT EXTREMELY BUSY.
WE FOCUS OUR MARKETING TO DRIVE PEOPLE HERE DURING THE SPRING, THE FALL, AND THE WINTER SEASONS, WHICH ARE VITAL TO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
GOLF IS NOT A THREE DAY FESTIVAL FOLKS.
IT IS THE SECOND LARGEST ECONOMIC ENGINE THAT PUTS HEADS AND BEDS, GOLFERS IN HOTELS, VILLAS, RESTAURANTS, RETAIL STORES, PURCHASING REAL ESTATE, AND THUS CONTRIBUTING TO TAX COLLECTIONS AND BOOSTING THE AMOUNT OF TAX.
DO A TAX DOLLARS THAT YOU ALL ARE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO ALL THESE WORTHY ORGANIZATIONS.
I MEAN, FOR EXAMPLE, MYRTLE BEACH, OUR GOLF MARKETING BUDGET, WHICH I'LL TELL YOU SAY, IS $400,000 A YEAR.
THAT'S OUR TOTAL GOLF SPECIFIC MARKETING BUDGET.
MYRTLE BEACH'S GOLF SPECIFIC MAR MARKETING BUDGET IS OVER 6 MILLION.
THEY HAVE ABOUT 80 GOLF COURSES.
WE HAVE ABOUT 25 TOTAL IN THE LOCAL AREA.
UM, SO OBVIOUSLY THE, THE COMPETITION'S UNBELIEVABLE.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT ECHO TOURISM AND CULTURAL TOURISM AND WELLNESS TOURISM.
IT HELPS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
BUT WE CAN'T FORGET WHAT GOT US HERE AND WHAT GOT US TO BE KNOWN.
WE ARE KNOWN AS A WORLD CLASS GOLF DESTINATION.
SO NOW WE ENCOURAGE YOU NOT TO CUT OUR BUDGET.
HELLO, I'M CARRIE CORBETT, AND WHAT BARRY JUST SAID IS SPOT ON.
I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS COMMUNITY, IN THE GOLF SCENE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
I JUST RETIRED SOME OF, YOU KNOW, AFTER 43 YEARS WITH THE SEA PINES RESORT FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.
I ALSO WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOW COUNTRY GOLF COURSE OWNER ASSOCIATION, AND I'M VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE DO.
AND FROM DAY ONE, OUR RELATIONSHIP HAS ALWAYS BEEN, WE ARE TIED TO THE HIP WITH THE, WITH THE DM, UH, THE CHAMBER AND THEIR MARKETING EFFORTS, AND THEY GOT A WONDERFUL STAFF.
AND I URGE YOU NOT TO CUT THE MARKETING BUDGETS ON ALL THESE DIFFERENT SUPPLEMENTAL REQUESTS.
THIS IS WHAT DRIVES HILTON HEAD ISLAND, THE BEACH'S NUMBER ONE, GOLF IS NUMBER TWO.
AND THIS IS A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY.
AND WE ARE ABOUT DOING IT IN THE SHOULDER TIMES OF THE YEAR LIKE BARRY HAS, HAS MENTIONED.
AND WE JUST, WE JUST NEED THE FULL CONSIDERATION.
SO THANK YOU ALL AND JUST THANK YOU CARRIE.
I'M BRAD MERA, UM, FROM PALMER DANCE RESORT COO.
THERE ALSO, UM, REITERATE THE SAME THINGS THAT BOTH CARRIE AND BARRY SAID.
UM, FOR US, IT'S REALLY OUR ENTIRE MARKETING BUDGET.
LIKE WE SAID, IT'S 70% OF IT, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.
UM, ALL THESE OTHER CATEGORIES ARE LOOKING FOR FUNDING ALSO.
BUT I, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE ATAC FRAMEWORK, AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, YOU CAN LOOK AT, UH, EVENTS AND CULTURE AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
THERE'S MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF ATX MONEY GOING TO THOSE CATEGORIES ALREADY, AND ONLY $50,000 IS GOING TO GOLF.
SO IT'D BE GOOD IF YOU, IF YOU HAD THE TIME TO LOOK BACK AND, AND CATEGORY, CATEGORY UP.
YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M TRYING TO SAY THOSE IN THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES TO SEE HOW MUCH FUNDING EACH OF THESE DIFFERENT INDICATORS ARE GETTING, BECAUSE YOU'LL SEE THAT GOLF IS OF, UH, EXTREMELY LOW FUNDING COMPARED TO EVERYBODY ELSE.
UM, AND I REALLY, UH, WE SUPPORT THE CHAMBER.
WE SUPPORT ALL, ALL THE DIFFERENT GROUPS HERE.
AND, UH, TOURISM IS VERY IMPORTANT HERE.
[02:15:01]
BEEN HERE 18 YEARS AND LOVE LIVING HERE.UM, I WANT MY KIDS TO GROW UP HERE AND ENJOY EVERYTHING HERE.
SO WHAT A GREAT PLACE AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE YEARS OF SUCCESS.
I'M GONNA APPROACH THIS FROM A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT ANGLE.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, I RUN THE LARGEST RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY ON THE ISLAND AND THE TANGENTIAL EFFECT OF TOURISM ON PROPERTY VALUES.
ALL OF THEM ARE PUBLIC GOLF COURSES.
LET ME GO BACK AND TELL YOU WHAT YOU GUYS CREATED.
AND WE ARE VICTIMS. AS STEVE POINTED OUT OF OUR OWN SUCCESS, YOU ENLARGE AN AIRPORT, WHICH WAS VERY CONTROVERSIAL.
YOU HAVE CELL PHONE SERVICE THAT HAS BEEN EXPANDED.
YOU HAVE AT LEAST TWO CARRIERS FOR HIGH SPEED INTERNET THROUGHOUT THIS COMMUNITY.
AND AFTER THE PANDEMIC, WHAT HAPPENED IS ALL THESE FOLKS REALIZED THEY DID NOT HAVE TO WORK WHERE THEY WERE WORKING.
AS LONG AS THEY HAD AN AIRPORT HUB, HIGH SPEED INTERNET, GOOD CELL PHONE SERVICE, THEY COULD WORK FROM HOME.
AND THEY CAME HERE AND DROVES AND IT DROVE UP RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY VALUES, AS YOU ALL KNOW.
AND STEVE, I'M A BIT CONCERNED WHEN YOU SAY TARGETING.
I WANT YOUNG FAMILIES HERE TOO.
AND I DON'T WANT JUST TO HAVE US OLD GEEZERS HANGING AROUND HERE.
WE NEED SOME YOUNG FOLKS TO TAKE CARE OF US.
SO, YOU KNOW, PLEASE, LET'S NOT JUST TARGET, UM, THE WEALTHY RETIREES.
WE NEED TO ATTRACT FAMILIES WHO WILL COME HERE AT THE RIGHT PRICE POINT.
THE SCHOOLS, YOU HAVE CHOICES OF BUFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHICH HAVE BEEN IMPROVED.
YOU HAVE SEVERAL PRIVATE SCHOOLS WHERE PEOPLE GO THROUGH.
BUT WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT WHAT THE CHAMBER DOES IN THE OFF SEASON AND DURING THE SEASON HAS A SPILLOVER TO THE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES.
AND THOSE TOURISTS PAY THE 1% SALES TAX, THEY PAY THE AT TAX.
AND THAT BENEFITS ALL OF US WHO LIVE HERE AND ALLOW US THE LIFESTYLE WE ENJOY AT THE TAX POINT WE DO.
AND THEY'RE LEAVING THE CRIME-RIDDEN AREAS.
THEY'RE LEAVING THE HIGH TAX AREAS, AND THEY'RE COMING HERE AND THEY'VE SLOWED DOWN IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, BUT THEY HAVE NOT SLOWED DOWN HERE.
THEY'RE STILL BUYING OUR REAL ESTATE AND MOVING IN.
I AM A RESIDENT OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
I AM A CPA AND HAVE BEEN RETIRED NOW FOR FOUR YEARS.
I DO SIT ON THE BOARD OF THE HILTON HEAD ITEM, BLUFFTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
AND I JUST WANNA SET A FEW THINGS STRAIGHT.
FIRST OF ALL, THE CHAMBER HAS TO BE, HAS TO BE TRANSPARENT IN WHAT THEY DO.
AND SO WHAT THEY DO IS THEY HIRE OUTSIDE EXPERTS.
THEY HIRE ACCOUNTING FIRMS TO COME IN AND PERFORM AN AUDIT, WHICH THEY HAVE DONE OVER THE MANY, MANY YEARS.
THEY'VE ALSO HAD TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE, WITH THE TOWN.
AND THAT IS TO PROVIDE AN AGREED UPON PROCEDURES REPORT.
NOW, ONE THING I WANNA TELL YOU ABOUT, ABOUT THE AUDIT, THERE'S, THEY, THE AUDITORS TYPICALLY WILL PLACE A MATERIALITY NUMBER, UH, AND ABIDE BY THAT.
IF THE NUMBER IS VERY SMALL, THEY DON'T NECESSARILY WORRY ABOUT WORRY ABOUT IT, BUT ON AN AGREED UPON PROCEDURES, IF IT'S 2 CENTS OFF, THEY MAKE IT KNOWN.
THEY WILL TELL YOU THEY WILL PRINT IT IN THE REPORT.
WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE REPORT, IT SAID THERE WERE NO ISSUES.
AND THEY LOOKED AT 80, I BELIEVE THIS PAST YEAR, 83% OF THE TOTAL EXPENDITURES.
THAT OUGHT TO GIVE YOU SOME COMFORT IN WHAT YOU SEE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THEY ALSO DO IS GIVE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE A, THE COPY OF THE AUDIT, A COPY OF THE AGREED UPON PROCEDURES SO THAT WE CAN REVIEW IT.
NOW, THESE ARE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING MYSELF.
I SIT ON THAT COMMITTEE AND THERE ARE REPUTATIONS AT STAKE.
THESE ACCOUNTING FIRMS HAVE THEIR REPUTATION, WE HAVE OUR REPUTATIONS, AND WE WOULD NOT NECESSARILY PASS UPON IT IF THEY WERE OUT OF COMPLIANCE.
WE'VE HEARD, WE'VE HEARD THAT FORENSIC AUDITS HAVE NEVER BEEN COMPLETED WITHOUT THERE BEING A PROBLEM.
WELL, WHY IS THERE, WHY IS THAT THE WAY IT IS? BECAUSE FORENSIC AUDITS USUALLY COME ABOUT WHEN THE AUDITORS TELL THEM THERE'S A PROBLEM, OR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TELLS THEM THERE'S A PROBLEM.
IN FACT, WHAT THE AUDITORS CAME IN AND SAID, WE ARE VERY COMPLIMENTARY OF THE STAFF AT THE CHAMBER.
AND THAT IS VERY COMFORTING TO HEAR.
WHAT THEY ALSO SAID IS, WE WISH EVERY ORGANIZATION HAD THE STAFF THAT THE CHAMBER HAS, BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE, WE COULD GET OUR WORK DONE A LOT QUICKER.
SO I WOULD SAY HATS OFF TO THE CHAMBER
[02:20:01]
STAFF.COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, MR. MILES, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, MR. ORLANDO, WHAT STARTED OUT AS A, A BEAUTIFUL HILTON HEAD ISLAND DAY AT 81 DEGREES AS MOVED ON INTO THE EVENING.
BUT THERE'S A FEW THINGS THAT I WANNA SAY.
I'M BILL MILES RESIDENT OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, AND I'M STANDING HERE TONIGHT AS A VERY, VERY PROUD REPRESENTATIVE OF THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND BLUFFTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
AND I ALSO WANNA MAKE IT VERY, VERY CLEAR THAT I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF OUR TEAM THAT'S HERE.
THE INDIVIDUALS FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT'S HERE, THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE HERE, AND THOSE ON OUR TEAM THAT ARE EITHER BACK AT THE CHAMBER OR AT HOME, UM, FOR ALL THAT THEY DO ON BEHALF OF THIS DESTINATION.
AND THAT'S NOT JUST EIGHT HOURS A DAY.
UH, A FEW OTHER THINGS I WANT, I WANT TO CLARIFY A COUPLE THINGS.
ONE IS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AUDITS.
I WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THEY'RE 10 YEARS OF OUR AUDITS THAT ARE POSTED ONLINE FOR ANYONE TO GO ON AND SEE.
10 YEARS EACH ONE OF THOSE 10 YEARS HAS BEEN CLEAN AND GREEN.
SO IT, NEXT YEAR THAT LAST, THE OLDEST ONE WILL ROTATE OFF AND THE NEWEST ONE WILL ROTATE ON.
ALSO WANNA MAKE CLEAR THAT, UH, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS NOT ABOUT MORE, MORE, MORE.
WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT ABOUT MORE, MORE, MORE.
AND I THINK THAT SHOWS THAT IT'S ABOUT THE DEED TO BALANCE OUR RESIDENT QUALITY OF LIFE ALONG WITH A VIBRANT VISITOR ECONOMY.
AND THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE JUST SPOKEN, THAT HAVE THE, THE AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY OF PROVIDING JOBS AND FEEDING FAMILIES DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
NOT FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS A YEAR, BUT 12 MONTHS A YEAR.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT ATTRACTS RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO THE ISLAND IS OUR COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION AS A COMMUNITY TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT.
AND WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT THIS SPECIAL PLACE, WE HAVE LISTENED CLOSELY.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE CLOSE LISTENED CLOSELY TO RECOMMENDATIONS FROM COUNCIL FROM MR. ORLANDO.
AND YOU'LL SEE THAT'S BEEN INCORPORATED INTO OUR MARKETING PLAN AND BUDGET, AS YOU HAVE SEEN.
AND AGAIN, IT'S ABOUT QUALITY OF VISITATION.
IT'S ABOUT MARKETING THE SHOULDER SEASON.
WE DON'T MARKET THE SUMMER SEASON.
WE MARKET THE SHOULDER SEASON.
AND YOU'VE HEARD THE DIRECT NEEDS OF THE SHOULDER SEASON AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS.
ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD MORE VISITORS THAN EVER.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THE FACTS SAY.
YOU LOOK AT THE OUTSIDE THIRD PARTIES AND OUR, OUR, UH, VISITOR BASE WAS FLAT.
HOWEVER, HOWEVER, THE AVERAGE DAILY RATE, UH, GREW APPRECIABLE, UH, APPRECIABLY.
AND THAT'S THE, THE VISITORS ARE COMING THAT ARE PAYING A HIGHER RATE TO STAY ON OUR PROPERTIES.
SO THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE GOAL OF VISITORS SPENDING MORE.
UH, THE SUPPLEMENTAL GRANTS DIRECTLY SUPPORTS THAT.
AND, UH, LASTLY I WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, IT REMAINS OUR GOAL TO PRESERVE OUR ISLAND CHARACTER, BOTH ENVIRONMENTALLY AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
ENHANCING THE ISLAND EXPERIENCE FOR BOTH RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.
AND IT'S ABOUT BALANCE, BALANCE, BALANCE.
AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR PERRY, COUNSEL.
AND MR. ORLANDO, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION AS A WHOLE.
MY OPPORTUNITY IS ONCE AGAIN TO SHARE THAT THESE REQUESTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ON, UM, UH, THROUGH ME AND OUR TEAM ARE ON BEHALF OF THIS COMMUNITY.
AND WE'VE SEEN EACH ONE OF THOSE, UM, TONIGHT.
AND THEY'RE ALSO IN THE AUDIENCE AND SOME ARE WATCHING ONLINE.
BUT, UM, I THINK I WANNA REITERATE THE FACT THAT NOT ONLY ARE WE ON, UH, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE PARTNERS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, WE'VE ALSO LISTENED.
WE'VE LISTENED, AT LEAST FOR AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN HERE.
WE'VE LISTENED AND IN PLACED INTO OUR PLANS AND INTO OUR RECAPPING AND OUR REPORTING, ALL THE REQUESTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE FOR US AND TO US.
UM, AND I THINK THAT TO PARTNER AGAIN ON CHANGES THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IS ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING THAT WE'RE OPEN TO.
I THINK THAT WHEN WE SAY WE NEED TO REFOCUS OUR MARKETING, THOSE THINGS ARE HAPPENING, GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU, TO EXPLAIN THE PROCESS, TO LOOK AT EACH ONE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE IN FRONT OF YOU BEFORE WE MAKE A QUICK DECISION THAT IMPACTS SO MANY IN THIS ROOM THAT IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE MID-CYCLE IN OUR FISCAL YEAR PROCESS.
WE ARE AS A DMO, AND MANY OF YOU WHO ARE IN BUSINESS UNDERSTAND THAT YOU MAKE COMMITMENTS WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE TIME THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE PLACED.
SO THOSE FISCAL YEAR OPPORTUNITIES HAVE BEEN PLANNED.
[02:25:01]
IN THE BUDGET HAS BEEN PLANNED AND IS BEING EXECUTED AGAINST.IF IT'S NOT BEEN EXECUTED, IT'S EARMARKED.
THE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAME FORWARD WITH YOU TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY ARE IN ADDITION TO THESE.
BUT THESE ARE DEDICATED PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS THAT YOU'VE REQUESTED THAT WE DO FOR THEM, WHETHER IT BE YOURSELF OR PAST, UH, COUNCILS.
AND SO WHEN WE WANT TO LOOK AT CHANGING IT MIDSTREAM, HOW CAN WE DO THAT? HOW CAN WE LOOK AND SAY, NO, IT'S, IT'S NOT A, WE CAN'T DO THAT.
WE CAN'T SUPPORT THIS FESTIVAL, THIS EVENT, THIS GOLF.
THAT'S NOT, I THINK, GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICE MIDSTREAM.
BUT I THINK THERE'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF US TO PARTNER AND MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER ON HOW WE WANNA APPROACH THAT GOING FORWARD.
THESE DEDICATED PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN THOUGHT THROUGH AND THEY BRING BUSINESS TO THE DESTINATION AND THEY NEED TIMEFRAMES.
AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN WE WANNA SAY ONLY SUPPORT X, Y, AND Z, I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT THE OPPORTUNITY, UM, FRAGMENTED OR SEGMENTED.
I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS HAVE A DIVERSE PORTFOLIO.
CAUSE A DIVERSE PORTFOLIO IS A GOOD PORTFOLIO.
WE CAN EXECUTE ON THINGS THAT WE KNOW WORK FOR US AND CONTINUE TO BRING BEDS, OUR HEADS INTO OUR BEDS, WHICH PRODU PRODUCES THE ACCOMMODATION TAX.
THAT HELPS US REACH OUR GOAL OF HAVING OUR, UM, MANY PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING AROUND THIS DESTINATION.
BUT IT ALSO LETS US, LET US, LETS US FOSTER THE NEW OPPORTUNITIES IN FRONT OF US LIKE WELLNESS AND HISTORY AND MANY OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US.
HELLO, I'M DON TIMS. I HEARD WORD OF YEARS OF CLEAN AUDITS, AND I'D JUST LIKE TO ASK HOW MANY OF THOSE WERE FORENSIC AUDITS? HEARING NONE.
I SUPPOSE THAT THE ANSWER IS NONE.
AND THERE IS NOTHING RIGHT? ABOUT HAVING NO FORENSIC AUDIT WHERE NOTHING GETS CAUGHT FOR YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? SEEING NONE, WE'LL BRING, BRING 'EM BACK TO THE DIOCESE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM, FROM COUNCIL? I, I HAVE COMMENTS THAT I'LL MAKE BECAUSE I THINK IT'S FAIR TO ALWAYS BE OPEN, UM, WITH, WITH WHAT ARE MY CONCERNS THAT ARE RELEVANT TO THE CONCERNS THAT I HEAR THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
SOME OF THE INTEREST IN FLAT OR DISCUSSION ABOUT FLAT TOURISM.
UM, I, I QUESTION I HAVE, AND I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER, UM, DOES THAT ACCOUNT FOR THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING ONTO THE ISLAND AND STAYING IN THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS? AND SPECIFICALLY YOUR SH SO IT DOES ACCOUNT FOR SHORT-TERM RENTAL STAYS AS WELL, THAT'S INCLUDED.
WELL, SOME OF THE CONCERNS OF THE NOW THE RESIDENTS ON THE ISLAND HAS TO DO WITH SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, SHORT-TERM RENTALS THAT AREN'T YOUR NORMAL, YOU KNOW, HOMEOWNER WHO'S WAITING TO RETIRE AND OFFSETTING THEIR EXPENSES WHILE THEY'RE PART-TIME RESIDENTS, BUT THAT THEY ARE THE COMMERCIAL ENTITIES THAT ARE TAKING OVER OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED TOURISM WHERE MORE HEADS ARE NEEDING BEDS THAT WE HAVE THIS PROBLEM.
AND SO AS WE LOOK FORWARD, I THINK THAT HAS TO BE AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION.
I HEAR THE CONVERSATION BEING OPENED TO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
AND THAT HAS TO BE PART OF WHAT IS, WE DISCUSS IT'S HAVING A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE ISLAND.
I THINK WE ALL HAVE HEARD THOSE CONVERSATIONS, SO I WON'T BELABOR IT, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT.
UM, AND, AND, AND THEN THE OTHER ONE, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK TO THE QUESTION AS TO SEVEN 10 VERSUS THREE 50 OR WHATEVER THE NUMBERS MIGHT BE AT THIS MOMENT, UM, OF THE VARIOUS CATEGORIES, WHAT ARE YOU CUTTING? WHAT ARE YOU FOCUSING ON? WHO'S GETTING HIGHLIGHTED? I KNOW THAT THERE ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY MY FAVORITES AND THERE ARE CERTAINLY ONES ON HERE THAT HONESTLY, UH, YOU KNOW, I'D PUT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST IF I THE LIST AT ALL.
SO, BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? NOTHING
SO FROM Y'ALL'S PERSPECTIVE, WITH A CUT FROM THREE 50 DOWN, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO CUT? WHO ARE YOU GOING TO CUT OUT? WHAT ISN'T GONNA BE THE FOCUS? WELL, I YEAH, SURE.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I THINK IT'S A TOUGH QUESTION.
[02:30:01]
OF THOSE PARTNERS ARE, AGAIN, PEP IN THIS ROOM.AND WE TALKED ABOUT, I THINK THE 350,000 DOESN'T ALLOW US TO DO THE JOB PROPERLY.
I THINK IT PUTS US AT RISK FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF, UM, MATURE PROGRAMS AND ALSO NURTURE NEW PROGRAMS. AND SO I THINK THE RESPONSIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR US IN HOLDING HANDS AND PARTNERSHIP GOING FORWARD IS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE DOLLARS REQUESTED ARE TO SUPPORT PROGRAMMING THAT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO SUPPORT EACH PROGRAM IN THEIR CURRENT STATE.
WE KNOW THAT GOLF WORKS HARD FOR US, AND IT WORKS REALLY WELL TO DRIVE A QUALIFIED AUDIENCE TO THIS DESTINATION.
IT PUTS A HEAD IN A BED AND IT'S A DEMOGRAPHIC THAT WE'RE GOING AFTER.
BUT ON THE SAME TURN, IT ALLOWS US, IF WE WERE TO BE REWARDED FULL FUNDING TO EXPLORE NEW PROGRAMMING, WE TALK ABOUT OUR RICH HISTORY AND CULTURE HERE ON THE ISLAND, BUT WHAT MORE CAN WE DO? WHAT MORE CAN WE DO WITH THE WEBSITE, WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS, DEEPER STORYTELLING TO NOT BEING, NOT RECEIVING THOSE FUNDS LIMITS US IN WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO.
THOSE ARE THOSE DETAILED PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST THAT ALLOW US TO GO DEEPER AND TELL THAT STORY TO WORK CLOSER WITH HISTORIC, UM, PRESERVATION, I'M SORRY, MITCHELLVILLE, AS WELL AS THE GULLAH MUSEUM AND OTHERS WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY TO TELL THAT DEEPER STORY AND WELLNESS AS WELL.
WE TALK ABOUT WELLNESS ON THIS REALLY BROAD SPECTRUM, BUT HOW CAN WE NARROW THAT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO US ON THIS ISLAND? WE ALL EXPERIENCE IT, WE ALL LOVE THE ISLAND FOR ALL THAT IT HAS TO OFFER IN TERMS OF OUTDOOR.
SO WHEN 350 IS AWARDED, WHICH WE APPRECIATE THAT OPPORTUNITY AND, AND FOR DISCUSSION, BUT THE SEVEN 10 ALLOWS US TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAMS AS THEY'RE CURRENTLY LAID OUT.
AND I THINK COUNCILWOMAN BECKER, YOU ASKED SPECIFICALLY WHO ARE THEY TOUCHING? AND I AM HAPPY TO GO THROUGH EACH PROGRAM AND TALK TO AT LENGTH WHO THOSE PARTNERS ARE JUST FOR ARTS AND CULTURE.
CRESCENDO, WE HAD MS. NATALIE HARVEY COME UP EARLIER, HER PREDECESSOR WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH.
WE WANNA CONTINUE THAT RELATIONSHIP AND TELL THOSE STORIES OVER A HUNDRED EVENTS THAT REALLY DRAW THAT DESIRED CONSUMER SUBSET TO THIS DESTINATION.
AND WON'T WE BE ABLE TO DO THAT IF THOSE FUNDS ARE CUT? I CAN'T SAY YES THAT WE WILL BE.
HOW ARE WE ALSO GONNA TELL THAT DEEPER STORY OF HISTORY WHEN WE HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED TO EXPLORE IT TO THE LENGTH THAT IT NEEDS TO BE WITH HERITAGE LIBRARY, UM, LEGACY TOURS, UM, THE GULLAH HERITAGE TOURS, WE NEED TO TELL THAT DEEPER STORY.
IT'S WHAT'S BEEN REQUESTED OF US.
IT'S WHAT OUR RESIDENTS WANT, IT'S WHAT WE WANT, BUT WE CAN'T FORGET THE THINGS THAT WORK HARD TO GUARANTEE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THAT STORY, WHICH IS GOLF.
THAT DIVERSE PORTFOLIO ALLOWS US SECURITY IN TELLING THE DESTINATION STORY WHOLLY AND FULLY.
BUT WE CAN'T ALLOW OURSELVES TO START FRAGMENTING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND TELLING ONLY CERTAIN STORIES BECAUSE CERTAIN STORIES DON'T ALWAYS GUARANTEE THE BIGGER OPPORTUNITY FOR US, WHICH IS YEAR ROUND, RESPONSIBLE TOURISM.
WE DO HAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY AS A COMMUNITY AND AS RESIDENTS HERE TO DO IT PROPERLY AND TO DO IT CONSISTENTLY AS WELL AS YEAR ROUND.
ARE THERE, ARE THERE, SO SOME OF THESE ARE NEW, RIGHT? SOME OF SOME OF THESE ARE NEW INITIATIVES.
WHAT IS DEVELOPED ALREADY THAT YOU ARE DRIVING? WHAT IS THE, WHAT IS, SO WE HAVE THE RELATIONSHIPS, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STARTING TO SCOPE WHAT THOSE WOULD BE.
SO THAT 75,000 BE FOR BOTH INDIVIDUALLY WELLNESS MM-HMM.
UM, KEEP IT RELEVANT, KEEP IT CURRENT, KEEP IT GOING BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THE SITE, BUT IT'S ALL THE DIFFERENT PIECES THAT TOUCH THAT, THAT DRIVE PEOPLE BACK TO THE SITE.
SOCIAL MEDIA, BLOGS, TALKING ABOUT IT IN A MORE DEEPER LEVEL WITHIN OUR, UM, MEDIA PARTNERSHIPS.
SO AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST, OH, LET'S GO AND ASK X, Y, AND Z PARTNER ABOUT THIS AND IT'S ENOUGH.
NO, IT'S SITTING DOWN AND TALKING WITH HERITAGE LIBRARY SAYING, HOW DO WE WANNA DO THIS LEGACY TOURS? HOW DO WE WANNA DO THIS? GULLAH HERITAGE TOURS, HOW DO WE WANNA DO THIS AND DO IT, DO IT'S RIGHT.
AND SO THERE TAKES A BIT OF TIME AND THAT, THAT FIRST STEP MM-HMM.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A WHOLE LIBRARY OF CONTENT READY TO GO.
BUT I CAN'T TAKE THOSE RESOURCES AND DEVELOP THEM ALL OR SET THEM ASIDE JUST FOR THIS ONE, UM, EFFORT AND FORGET ABOUT THE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT ALLOW US I INTERESTING.
AND SO THE WELLNESS PIECE WOULD BE THE OUTSIDE FOUNDATION.
UM, WHAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED THERE, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A REALLY RICH AND DEEP RELATIONSHIP WITH AMBER C**N AND ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT SHE'S DONE.
UM, SO WE ARE EXTENDING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES OF THIS PROGRAM IS ABLE TO COME TO FRUITION.
UM, WE'VE HAD, UM, RECENT OPPORTUNITIES WITH OUTSIDE FOUNDATION AND DR.
JEAN FRU, WHO'S BEEN HERE AND HELPED US WORK
[02:35:01]
THROUGH SOME OF OUR MEDIA PARTNERS TO TELL THAT DEEPER STORY OF CONSERVATION AND HOW THE OYSTER RECYCLING WORKS.UM, WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT IF THOSE WERE PRO PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WHEN THEY CAME TO VISIT THAT THEY COULD DO REGULARLY? AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY PROMOTE, BUT WE WANNA ALSO PARTNER WITH THEM TO HELP PROMOTE IT EVEN FURTHER.
RIGHT? WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO DO THAT.
WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR OVER 16 YEARS, BUT THAT WAS THE REQUEST THAT CAME, UM, TO US AS AN ORGANIZATION TO SAY, AS THE DMO HELP OUR PARTNERS REACH DEEPER AND FURTHER TO THE QUALIFIED AUDIENCES BECAUSE THOSE THINGS ARE BEING ASKED OF THEM WHEN THEY GO UP TO PRESENT IN FRONT OF THE ATAC COMMITTEE.
HOW MANY VISITORS DID YOU HAVE? WHERE WERE THEY FROM? ARE YOU TAKING ZIP CODES? IN ADDITION TO HELPING THE MARKET, WE ALSO HELP THEM DO RESEARCH ON THE OTHER SIDE, WHO IS COMING, WHO IS ATTENDING? AND THAT IS ANOTHER PARTNERSHIP TOO, THAT IS BEING JEOPARDIZED.
AND WE TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY AWAY.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SO I, I'VE, I'VE GOT AN ISSUE THAT WE'VE GOT A COMMITTEE ON THE ATAC COMMITTEE THAT'S GONE THROUGH A LOT OF WORK AND DETERMINED AND DID ALL THE DI DEEP DIVING, UM, TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNSEL.
I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM THAT IT'S FEBRUARY 23RD AND, AND NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE ON THIS.
THE FUNDS THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS RECEIVED OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS BECAUSE OF INCREASED TOURISM HAS BEEN HUGE.
YOUR 30% IS REFLECTIVE UPON THE MONIES THAT ARE, ARE GENERATED.
THAT VALUE, THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT IS NOT BASED UPON US SAYING YAY OR NAY.
UM, I KNOW THAT THE, THE D O'S REQUEST WHEN IT'S MADE APRIL 30TH, ROUGHLY APRIL.
SO THAT'S WHEN YOUR, YOUR MARKETING PLAN IS PUT INTO PLACE.
THE ATAC COMMITTEE DOESN'T REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION TO COME IN UNTIL, UH, I BELIEVE IT'S AUGUST.
HOW CAN YOU, HOW CAN YOU BUDGET, HOW CAN YOU PLAN YOUR MARKETING? I ALSO HAVE AN ISSUE THAT WE'RE COMING OFF THE TWO BIGGEST YEARS WE HAVE HAD AND WHAT'S GOING FORWARD AND WHERE WE'RE, WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE.
WE KNOW THAT, UH, THAT RENTAL PROPERTIES ARE UP.
AND YES, WE'VE GOT AN ISSUE WITH SHORT-TERM RENTALS, BUT I ALSO WANT TO KNOW WHERE THAT'S GONNA LIE, LIE DOWN IN THE NEXT YEAR AFTER THOSE TWO BIG YEARS, WHAT IS THE NEW ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE? WHAT IS IT GOING TO TELL US? THE FUNDS THAT ARE GENERATED AND HOW THEY'RE PUT BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITY FROM BEACH GREEN NOURISHMENT TO INFRASTRUCTURE TO EVERYTHING ELSE THAT MAKES THIS PLACE BEAUTIFUL.
WE'RE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE, WE'RE PLANNING NOW FOR OUR BUDGET AND WE'RE LOOKING AT A TAX DOLLARS, HOSPITALITY TAX AND HOW WE CAN UTILIZE SOME OF THOSE FUNDS TO IMPROVE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THERE'S MANY UNKNOWNS THAT WE HAVE.
ONE, WHERE IS TOURISM GOING WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY? IF IT DROPS AS IT HAS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES, WHAT IT DOES IT DO TO, HOW DOES IT AFFECT US NEGATIVELY IN TRYING TO REBUILD AND, AND BEAUTIFY OUR COMMUNITY? I KNOW THAT WHEN YOU STOP MARKETING, YOUR BUSINESS DROPS, SOMEBODY'S GONNA PICK IT UP.
SO THERE'S QUESTIONS AND, AND SOMETHING ELSE THAT I'VE GOT A REAL ISSUE WITH IS A LEVEL OF TRUST.
AND I WANNA THANK Y'ALL FOR TAKING THE TIME TO MEET WITH EACH COUNCIL MEMBER OVER THE PAST 30 DAYS TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND TO HEAR IT FROM YOU DIRECTLY.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO DO AND MOVE IT FORWARD.
I DON'T THINK THE $350,000 IS ENOUGH FOR OUR COMMUNITY FOR WHAT THE SUPPLEMENTAL DOES WHEN IT'S PASSED THROUGH DOLLARS THAT IS BEING UTILIZED TO MARKET EVENTS THAT HELP DRIVE SMALLER ORGANIZATIONS.
UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, MR. AMES HAS LEFT, SO HE CAN'T AMEND HIS MOTION.
WHERE IS THE VALUE IN, IN SUSTAINABILITY WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION NOW, A YEAR FROM NOW, WE WILL.
THE PROCESS HAS BEEN QUESTIONED.
I'VE QUESTIONED THE PROCESS AS WELL.
[02:40:01]
TALKED ABOUT THAT, HOW WE CAN SIMPLIFY THAT AND MAKE IT CLEAR AND BETTER FOR THE COMMUNITY SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS AFTER IT COMES OUT OF ATAC COMMITTEE.UM, TRUST BUT VERIFY, WHICH WE'VE DONE.
WE'VE GOTTA TRUST OUR COMMITTEES TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THEY'RE GIVING, DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR ALL OF US.
I DON'T THINK $350,000 IS ENOUGH.
I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GONNA VOTE ON THAT YET BECAUSE IT'S NEEDED, BUT I DON'T WANT IT TO BE ZERO.
SO, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL? I LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, WORKING TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM, THE PROCESS.
AND I KNOW THERE'S A VARIETY OF POINTS TO THAT AND I WON'T BELABOR IT.
Y'ALL KNOW, AND I'LL FOLLOW UP
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, PATSY MAYOR FOR MIGHT QUICKLY SAY, UH, FIRST OF ALL, THANKS TO ALL WHO CAME HERE TONIGHT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR WORDS, UM, AND WHAT YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY.
UM, I, I DON'T MAKE THIS DECISION LIGHTLY.
UM, I, I KNOW I'VE WORKED WITH MS. BERNICE ON BIKE WALK AND WE'VE APPRECIATE WORKING TOGETHER AND I APPRECIATE WHAT MR. MILES SAID ABOUT BALANCE, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
UM, AND I THINK WE'LL CONTINUE TO, TO MOVE FORWARD AND WORK ON THAT.
UH, UH, I APPRECIATE WHAT MR. CARMINE SAID, UH, BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE FESTIVALS THAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT, UH, GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY WHEN I, WHEN I MENTIONED ONE FESTIVAL, I, I DIDN'T MEAN TO EXCLUDE ANY.
UM, BUT I APPRECIATE, UM, ALL THE INPUT.
UM, AND, AND THE REASON THAT I TALKED ABOUT READING THE SPECIFIC BOOK THAT I DID, PROBABLY FOLKS ARE GOING LIKE, WHY IS SHE TALKING ABOUT THAT BOOK? IS BECAUSE I, I, OH, THERE IS MR. CARBIN.
UM, AND, UH, ANYHOW, UM, UH, BECAUSE OF WHAT I SAW THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CHAMBER IN THE PAST, WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY OWNED GROWTH MANAGEMENT.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN A WAY.
AND, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH ALL THE COMMUNITY, THE RESIDENTS WHO CARE VERY MUCH ABOUT WHERE WE LIVE AND TRYING TO F FIND A BALANCE OF QUALITY OF LIFE.
SO I'M LISTENING TO LOTS OF VOICES AND, AND THAT'S HOW I TRY TO MAKE MY DECISIONS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE SINCE WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE.
CRYSTAL, WILL YOU CALL THE ROLL MR. BROWN SUPPORT? MS. BRYSON? YES, MR. SORRY, HE'S GONE.
AS I SAID, I THINK YOU NEED MORE MONEY.
SO, UM, THAT IS THE LAST OF THE BUSINESS EXCEPT FOR GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION AGAIN? OH, THERE IS ONE MORE.
IS IT'S GONNA KEEP, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? OKAY.
GOT A LOT OF PIECES OF PAPER UP IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT NOW.
SO, CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CREATION OF THE WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY GATEWAY CORRIDOR INDEPENDENT REVIEW ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS MATTER? NO MOVE.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND JOHN PRESENTATION? YES, SIR.
UM, IN YOUR TOWN COUNCIL PACKET, UM, THEY'RE PUTTING TOGETHER A, A STAFF, EXCUSE ME, A STAFF, UM, MEMO THAT OUTLINES, UM,
[02:45:01]
THE BASIS OF REACHING THE, UM, RECOMMENDATION TO CREATE AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THIS INDEPENDENT REVIEW.UM, I'VE GOT A LOT OF INFORMATION HERE.
I'VE GOT ONE DOCUMENT THAT IS A TIMELINE OF EVENTS THAT LED US TO THIS POINT.
AND THEN I HAVE THIS INFORMATION THAT, UM, GETS US TO THE RESOLUTION TO CREATE THE COMMITTEE.
SO IF YOU'LL INDULGE ME, I'D LIKE TO GO THROUGH THE TIMELINE FIRST, UM, AND THEN MOVE THE ITEM BACK, UH, FOR THE ACTION, UH, FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION.
SO I JUST WANNA PROVIDE SOME, UH, SOME BACKGROUND ON THIS PROJECT.
IT STARTED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2017, UH, WHEN THE DEFICIENT BRIDGE WAS IDENTIFIED.
1 0 4 BRIDGES TO HILTON AND ISLAND, UM, ALONG WT HILTON PARKWAY, UM, THE TOWN AND COUNTY, UM, AND WORK WITH D O T TO EXPAND THE, THE PROJECT TO INCLUDE REPLACEMENT OF ALL FOUR SECTIONS, UH, OF BRIDGE AND TO LOOK AT THE CORRIDOR AS A WHOLE.
UM, IT WAS IDENTIFIED IN THE 2015, UM, LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN THROUGH, UH, LOTS, UH, THE LOCAL, UH, LOW COUNTRY AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY TO LOOK AT REPLACING THAT SECTION.
SO IT'S CONSISTENT WITH OUR REGIONAL PLAN.
UM, AS SUCH, THE, THE, UM, S E D O T AND COUNTY MOVED FORWARD TO LOOK AT THAT AND IDENTIFIED, UM, A PROJECT.
AND THEY'VE BEEN MOVING THROUGH THE NEPA PROCESS SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2017.
UM, I'M GONNA FAST FORWARD TO APRIL, 2021.
UM, AT THAT POINT, THE TOWN ENGAGED WITH MK SK CONSULTANT TO HELP EVALUATE WHAT WAS BEING DRAFTED THROUGH THE NEPA PROCESS AND THE, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, UH, TO LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES THAT WERE, UH, PRESENTED TO DATE, UM, INCLUDING THE, THE REASONABLE ALTERNATIVES, AND THEN ULTIMATELY THE, UH, PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE, WHICH WAS RE, WHICH WAS RELEASED IN JULY OF 2021.
UM, BUT STARTING IN APRIL OF 2021, UH, WE BEGAN WORKING WITH MK SK.
WE WORKED WITH 'EM DILIGENTLY FOR A PERIOD OF ABOUT SIX MONTHS, AND THEN OCTOBER OF 2021, UH, WE BROUGHT FORWARD RECOMMENDATIONS WITH MK S K'S ASSISTANCE FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION.
CO TOWN COUNCIL, UH, APPROVED 26 RECOMMENDATIONS IN OCTOBER OF 2021, UH, TO BE CONSIDERED, UM, TO IMPROVE THE PROJECT ALIGNMENT AND DESIGN ELEMENTS.
UH, MANY OF THOSE ITEMS, UH, WERE DISCUSSED.
WHILE ALL THOSE ITEMS WERE DISCUSSED WITH THE COUNTY AND SHARED WITH THEIR PROJECT TEAM, UH, FOR CONSIDERATION, UM, THE, UH, THE PROJECT TEAM, UH, SPONSORED BY THE COUNTY AND MANAGED BY D O T CAME FORWARD A MODIFIED PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE IN MAY OF 2022.
UM, SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE MET WITH THE COUNTY ABOUT A PATH FORWARD.
THERE WAS TWO MEETINGS IN APRIL, UM, TO IDENTIFY THE PATH FORWARD, AND IT LED TO, UM, ULTIMATELY A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT, WHICH WAS APPROVED BY THE TOWN AND COUNTY IN OCTOBER OF 2022.
UM, THE PROVISIONS THAT WERE OUTLINED IN THE MOA I'VE LISTED UP HERE, AND I'M GONNA GO THROUGH THEM.
UM, THE TOWN COUNTY AGREED TO ADVANCE THE PROJECT IN A COOPERATIVE MANNER FOR THE DURATION OF THE PROJECT.
UH, THE TOWN COUNTY MUTUALLY AGREED TO WORK TOGETHER IN GOOD FAITH TO ADDRESS THE FEASIBILITY AND MERITS OF THE APPROVED, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS FROM TOWN COUNCIL AND THAT OCTOBER 21, UH, MEETING AND FURTHER AGREE THAT ONE BRIDGE WILL BE DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED FOR THE PROJECT.
UH, THAT'S IMPORTANT AS WE GET INTO THE SCOPE, UM, IN A MINUTE.
UM, NUMBER THREE, THE COUNTY WILL PROCURE AN INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT, UM, ONE THAT DOES NOT HAVE A PREVIOUS OR CURRENT CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH S C D O T, THE COUNTY OR THE TOWN TO PERFORM THAT ADDITIONAL INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF THE PROJECT, UM, AND THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW AND THE END TO END SIMULATION, UM, WAS TO INCLUDE INTERSECTIONS CONSISTENT WITH THE SCOPE OF WORK THAT WAS PART OF THE M MOA.
UM, THE TOWN COUNTY WILL ESTABLISH A COMMITTEE TO SELECT INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT THROUGH COMPETITIVE BID PROCESS.
THE TOWN HAD THREE REPRESENTATIVES, UM, WHICH CONSISTS OF, UH, ME, JEFF BUCKLE, WHO OUR TOWN ENGINEER, AND BRAD STRADER TRANSPORTATION, UM, EXPERT ON THE MK SK TEAM.
AND THE COUNTY, UM, HAS THREE MEMBERS AS WELL, JARED FRAK, ERIC CLAWSON, AND JENNIFER BRAGG, THEIR TRANSPORTATION ADVISOR.
UM, THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW, UH, CAN BE CONCLUDED, UH, FOR CONSIDERATION WITHIN THE PROJECT.
UM, THE TOWN AND COUNTY ALSO AGREED AS PART OF THE MOU, UM, TO PURSUE THE FINDING OF SIGN, NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT, THE FONZI FROM THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, UM, CONCURRENT WITH AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW.
AT THAT DISCUSSION, THE COUNTY SAID THAT THEY WERE WAITING ON, UM, SIGNIFICANT FUNDING, UH, UM, TO BE COMPLETED.
THERE WAS A GAP OF ABOUT 29 MILLION.
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UH, AND ONCE THEY HAD THAT SUBSTANTIAL FUNDING GAP FILLED, UH, THEY WOULD SUBMIT, UM, FOR THE FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.UM, BUT ALSO AS PART OF THE MOU, IF ANYTHING COMES OUT OF THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW, UM, THAT WAS AGREED TO, UM, THOSE EA DOCUMENTS COULD BE MODIFIED AND RESUBMITTED TO THE FEDERAL HIGHWAYS, UM, AS, AS APPROPRIATE AND AGREED TO BY THE TOWN AND THE COUNTY.
THE TOWN, THE COUNTY OF THE TOWN, AS PART OF THE NPA PROCESS, UM, WOULD COORDINATE WITH S E D O T TO DO A VALUE ENGINEERING.
IT'S REQUIRED THROUGH NPA, UM, AND IT'S, UH, MET TO IDENTIFY, UM, WAYS TO, UH, FIND EFFICIENCIES IN THE SYSTEM, OPTIMIZE THE LONG-TERM INVESTMENT, AND THEN SEEKING BEST VALUE FOR LOWER, LOWER COST OR THE LOWEST COST.
UM, NUMBER SEVEN, THE TOWN AND COUNTY AGREED TO WORK WITH D O T AND LOTS ON THE, UH, IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC SIGNAL PROJECT, SYNCHRONIZED SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF, WE'LL CALL IT TWO SEVENTY EIGHT WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY FROM I 95, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO C PINE CIRCLE.
UM, IT WOULD INCLUDE FIBER CONNECTIVITY AND, UM, THAT THE TOWN AND COUNTY WOULD, WOULD SEEK TO FIND FUNDS TO IMPLEMENT THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS.
UM, NUMBER EIGHT WAS ANY SIGNAL THAT WASN'T PART, UM, WHAT WASN'T IN PLACE AS PART OF THE PROJECT WOULD BE INSTALLED, UM, AS PART OF THE PROJECT INCORPORATED AS SUCH.
UM, NUMBER NINE, THE, THE MOA AND THE AGREEMENT DID NOT PROVIDE THE TOWN'S MUNICIPAL CONSENT.
UM, THE MUNICIPAL CONSENT WAS RESERVED UNTIL THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW WAS COMPLETE, UM, AND THAT THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS COULD BE EVALUATED TO DETERMINE IF ADDITIONAL CHANGES, UH, WERE, WERE NEEDED.
UM, THE AGREEMENT ALSO SAID THAT THE, UM, MUNICIPAL CONSENT WOULD, WOULD NEED TO BE PROVIDED BEFORE RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION PHASE OF THE PROJECT WOULD BEGIN, AND THAT MUNICIPAL CONSENT WOULD NOT BE UNREASONABLY WITHHELD.
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.
UM, I DO WANNA POINT OUT, AS PART OF THE DISCUSSION HERE IN OCTOBER, UH, WE HAD SENATOR TOM DAVIS HERE TALKING ABOUT THE CB FUNDING.
UM, HE HAD SPOKEN WITH SECRETARY HALL WITH D O T, UM, AND THEY PROVIDED SOME DIRECTION THAT, UM, THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW COULD NOT INCLUDE, UM, SORT OF AN OPEN-ENDED EVALUATION OF ALL A ALTERNATIVES, UM, IN THE UNIVERSE THAT IT NEEDED TO BE FOCUSED ON THE, ON THE, UM, THE ALTERNATIVES, THE REASONABLE ALTERNATIVES, THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE AND MODIFIED PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE THAT WERE INCLUDED AS, AS PART OF THE EA DOCUMENT.
AND THE ANY DEVIATION TO ADD OTHER ALTERNATIVES COULD JEOPARDIZE THE GRANT FUNDING.
UM, I'M JUST MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF WHAT WAS STATED, UM, AT THAT MEETING.
UM, ON, IN OCTOBER OF 2022, THE COUNTY ISSUED THE RFQ, THE RFQ THAT WAS AGREED TO THROUGH THE MOA, UH, JOINT BETWEEN THE TOWN AND THE COUNTY, UM, AND SOUGHT TO GET RESPONSES FROM QUALIFIED FIRMS. UM, THEY ISSUED IT IN OCTOBER.
UM, THE SELECTION TEAM WORKED, UH, TO PUT THE RFQ OUT.
UM, A MANDATORY PRE-BID WAS HELD AS PART OF THAT PROCESS.
RESPONSES WERE DUE AND WERE RECEIVED ON NOVEMBER, UH, 23RD, 2022.
AND I REPORTED LAST MEETING, BUT ONE, ONE RESPONSE TO THAT SOLICITATION WAS RECEIVED.
THE SELECTION TEAM REVIEWED THAT ONE SUBMISSION, UH, RE UM, AND DEEMED IT RESPONSIVE, AND THAT THE FIRM WAS QUALIFIED TO PERFORM THE WORK IDENTIFIED IN THE SCOPE OF WORK.
UM, MOVED FORWARD TO JANUARY OF SEVEN, UH, JANUARY 17TH, 2023.
I PROVIDED YOU ALL AN UPDATE, UM, THAT WENT THROUGH THE MOA PROVISIONS AND PROGRESS BEING MADE.
UM, AT THAT POINT I ASKED TOWN COUNCIL, UM, IF THEY WERE COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE JOINT, UM, INDEPENDENT REVIEW WITH A CONSULTANT THAT THAT WAS PROCURED THROUGH THE COUNTY'S PROCESS.
UM, AT THAT POINT, TOWN COUNCIL, UM, DIRECTED TO MOVE FORWARD JOINTLY AS OUTLINED IN THE MO A WITH THE COUNTY, BUT ALSO TO PROCURE, UM, ITS OWN CONSULTANT TO DO AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW.
UM, UH, IN, IN ADDITION TO THAT, TOWN COUNCIL ALSO, UM, DIRECTED THAT AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE B CREATED TO ASSIST IN SELECTING THE PREFERRED CONSULTANT, UH, AND TO GUIDE THE WORK IN COORDINATION WITH STAFF AS WE WORK THROUGH THAT.
THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW, UH, FEBRUARY, 2023, UH, WE'RE HERE TODAY FOR TOWN
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COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THE RESOLUTION TO CREATE THE WILLIAM MILTON PARKWAY INDEPENDENT REVIEW ADVISORY COMMITTEE.UM, NEXT STEPS IN, IN FEBRUARY, THE COUNTY IS READY TO EXECUTE THE CONTRACT WITH THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION FIRM, CBB FROM MISSOURI, TO COMPLETE THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW AND JOINT COORDINATION WITH THE TOWN.
UM, AND THAT'S THE ONE FIRM THAT WAS SUBMITTED.
THE ESTIMATED TIMEFRAME FOR THEM TO COMPLETE THE REVIEW WAS SEVEN MONTHS AND AN ESTIMATED COST OF ROUGHLY 200,000, 197,000.
UM, I'M MOVING FORWARD, UM, WITH ANTICIPATION IN MARCH, IF THE TOWN, UM, CREATES THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT THE TOWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE WOULD BE APPOINTED, UM, AND REVIEW OF THE RFQ SCOPE OF WORK TO BE COMPLETED WITH A SELECTION TEAM, UH, AND THE ADVISORY, UH, COMMITTEE, AND THAT THE RFQ WOULD BE SOLICITED FOR A PERIOD OF 30 DAYS.
IN APRIL OF 2023, THE RESPONSES TO THE RFQ WOULD BE REVIEWED BY THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND SELECTION TEAM, UM, TO REACH A RECOMMENDATION ON THE PREFERRED CONSULTANT THAT THE TOWN WOULD THEN EXECUTE A CONTRACT TO DO THAT WORK.
UH, TIMEFRAME AND COST ARE TO BE DETERMINED.
THE, THE, THE ONE FOR THE COUNTY WAS ROUGHLY 200,000.
I WOULD ANTICIPATE ROUGHLY A SIMILAR TIMEFRAME AND COST.
I REPORTED LAST MEETING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN TWO 50, UH, 2, 2 50 OR TWO 50 AND 300.
UM, BUT ROUGHLY IN THAT SAME TIMEFRAME, UM, SEVEN MONTHS, EIGHT MONTHS.
UM, THE, FROM THAT POINT FORWARD ARE THE REMAINING STEPS.
AND SO I WANNA POINT OUT, THE TOWN IS EXECUTING THE INSULATION OF THE ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC SIGNALS FOR ALL SIGNALS ON HILTON AND ISLAND THROUGH ITS C I P PROGRAM THAT IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETE BY, UH, JUNE OF THIS YEAR.
I BELIEVE THE SIGNALS ARE SCHEDULED TO BE IN, IN MAY.
UM, BUT THEN WITH FINAL FLIPPING THE SWITCHES, MAKING SURE THERE'S TRAINING, EVERYTHING'S RUNNING.
THE, THE DEADLINE IS, UH, JUNE 30TH.
UM, INITIAL DATA BASED ON THAT SYSTEM.
AND YOU IMMEDIATELY HAVE, UM, IN INFORMATION, UM, DATA FROM THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THAT SYSTEM IS LIKELY AVAILABLE AS EARLY AS FALL OF 2023, BUT NOT A, A FULL EVALUATION.
UH, PERFORMANCE WOULD NOT LIKELY TO TO OCCUR UNTIL PROBABLY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS OF, OF THE SYSTEM.
UM, TOWN STAFFS ALSO WORKING WITH MKS K TO COMPLETE FLY THROUGH GRAPHICS TO SHOW THE EXISTING CORRIDOR, THE, UH, CORRIDOR AS DEFINED WITH A MODIFIED PREFERRED AND THE TONE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN AGREED TO.
AND THEN ULTIMATELY, WHATEVER THE FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS LEAD TO FOR A, UH, TREATMENT THROUGH THAT CORRIDOR SO THAT, UH, WE CAN CONVEY THAT TO, TO COUNSEL TO THE PUBLIC AND REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THAT'S BEING PROPOSED AND WHAT THAT EXPERIENCE WOULD BE THROUGH THE CORRIDOR.
UM, AND WE WON'T HAVE THAT FINAL INFORMATION UNTIL THE, THE FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE INDEPENDENT REVIEWS ARE BACK, BUT WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING ON THAT.
UM, BEAUFORT COUNTY CONTINUES TO WORK, WORK WITH D O T, UM, TO LOOK AT THE NECESSARY FUNDING TO FILL THAT GAP.
I MENTIONED 29 MILLION, UH, PLUS OR MINUS ONCE THE, ONCE THEY RECEIVE THAT SUBSTANTIAL FUNDING GAP, UM, THEY PLAN TO SUBMIT FOR THE FONZI TO FEDERAL HIGHWAYS.
UM, AND SO THEY HAVEN'T DONE THAT YET.
UM, THERE WAS, THEY, THEY HAD TARGETED JANUARY, UH, WHEN THEY DISCUSSED IT IN OCTOBER, IT STILL HASN'T COME THROUGH, SO THEY'VE NOT SUBMITTED FOR THE FONZI AT THIS POINT.
UM, I WANNA POINT OUT AGAIN, IN THE MOA, THE TOWN AND COUNTY AGREED TO PURSUE THE FONZI FROM FEDERAL HIGHWAYS.
UM, AND THAT ANY CHANGES THAT COME OUT OF OUR, UM, INDEPENDENT REVIEW FROM THE CONSULTANTS COULD BE USED TO MODIFY THE EA DOCUMENT AND RESUBMIT AND BE RESUBMITTED.
UM, WE ANTICIPATE THAT THE, THOSE RESULTS FROM THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW PRESENTED TO RESPECTIVE COUNSEL'S THIRD QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, BOTH THE JOINT, THE JOINT EFFORT, AND THE TOWNS.
THE TOWNS MIGHT BE SLIGHTLY BEHIND THAT.
UM, AGAIN, IF ANY, IF ANY FINDINGS COME FROM THOSE EFFORTS, THEN WE CAN MODIFY THE, UM, THE INDEPENDENT OR THE, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT DOCUMENTS.
UM, TOWN AND COUNTY WOULD AGREE, UM, ON ANY SUBMISSION TO MODIFY THOSE DOCUMENTS.
UM, THE TOWN AND COUNTY AGREED.
UH, LAST STUDY, LET'S GO DOWN HERE AT THE BOTTOM.
UM, TOWN APPROVAL, THE MOA DID NOT PROVIDE MUNICIPAL CONSENT, NOR DID IT PRECLUDE THE SUBMISSION OF THE AMENDED DOCUMENTS.
UM, ANYTHING THAT EMERGES FROM THIS INDEPENDENT REVIEW CAN BE USED TO MODIFY YOUR POSITION AND RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE SUBMITTED FOR PROJECT CONSIDERATION.
UM, THE CONSENT WAS RESERVED IN THE MOA TO ONCE YOU HAD THIS INFORMATION BEFORE YOU, UM, AND BEFORE THE RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION FOR THE PROJECT.
SO THAT'S THE, UM, SOUP TO NUTS FROM BEGINNING A PROJECT THROUGH THE MOST RECENT TWO YEARS OF TOWN, UM,
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ACTIVITY IN TOWN COUNCIL DIRECTION AND POSITION, AND THEN SORT OF THE REMAINING STEPS TO MOVE THROUGH AND HAVE THE RESULTS FROM INDEPENDENT REVIEWS TO HELP INFORM, UH, UM, SOME DECISION MAKING HERE LATER THIS YEAR.ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION FROM COUNCIL? OUTSTANDING SUMMARY, SEAN.
NOW, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO GO THROUGH THE RESOLUTION? UM, YEAH.
NO, I'D JUST LIKE TO RE MAKE SURE THAT I'M RESERVING MY COMMENTS UNTIL AFTER WE HEAR IF THERE'S ANY PUBLIC COMMENT TO THIS, UH, AGENDA ITEM.
YOU CAN, YOU CAN, YEAH, I'LL, AND I'LL, I'LL TRY TO GO THROUGH IT QUICKLY.
UH, THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT WAS SUBMITTED IN YOUR PACKET.
WE HAD THE M O U OR M MOA, THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
UH, WE HAD THE, THE COUNTY'S RFQ, THE DRAFT TOWN RFQ, UM, AND THEN THE RESOLUTION TO CREATE THE COMMITTEE.
UM, SO I'M GONNA RUN THROUGH IT, UM, RELATIVELY QUICKLY.
UM, BUT WE'RE, BASED ON THE MOA AND THE DIRECTION FROM TOWN COUNCIL LAST MEETING, UM, WE'VE BROUGHT FORWARD A RESOLUTION TO CREATE A COMMITTEE, UM, TO GUIDE THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW.
I'M GONNA GO DOWN TO WHERE IT IS.
IT'S, UH, 71 PAGES OF INFORMATION THAT IS PART OF, UM, WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE PACKET, UM, TO GET TO THE RESOLUTION THAT IS BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.
SO BASED ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL DIRECTION LAST MEETING, UM, WE PUT TOGETHER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CREATION OF AN INDEPENDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
UM, THERE'S SOME BOILER PLATE STUFF AT THE BEGINNING, BUT IT IS, UH, FOR THE PURPOSE OF IDENTIFYING IMPROVEMENTS, UM, TO LOOK AT THE RANGE OF ALTERNATIVES THAT WERE PRESENTED THROUGH THE EA PROCESS AND TO RECOMMEND AND TO CONSIDER RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WOULD HELP IMPROVE THAT, THAT SYSTEM.
UM, SO, EXCUSE ME, LET ME, UM, JUMP FORWARD JUST A LITTLE BIT HERE.
CAUSE I THINK I'VE COVERED MOST OF THIS IN MY PREVIOUS COMMENTS.
UM, THE, WE WE GET DOWN HERE, UM, FROM THE MODIFIED PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE THAT WAS DELIVERED IN MARCH OF 2022.
AGAIN, AT THAT POINT, REALLY TRIGGERED SOME DISCUSSION WITH THE TOWN AND COUNTY, UM, AND ANOTHER INDEPENDENT REVIEW WOULD BE DONE.
UM, THE, THE COUNTY DOES IS READY TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW, UM, THEY PRESENTED TO THEIR COUNCIL LAST WEEK, AND ONCE I PROVIDED THIS UPDATE, THEY INTEND TO MOVE FORWARD THE EXECUTION OF THE CONTRACT OF THE JOINT CONTRACT, UH, OR THE CONTRACT TO WORK ON THE JOINT EFFORT WITH, UM, WITH A TOWN.
UM, WE BASED THE, UM, INFORMATION FOR THIS COMMITTEE, UM, ON THE COMMENTS THAT WERE RECEIVED AT TOWN COUNCIL.
UM, IN, BACK IN, IN JANUARY, THE DIRECTION WAS TO CREATE AN INDEPENDENT, UH, REVIEW ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
UM, THE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO HAVE A MEMBER OF TOWN COUNCIL ON THAT, UH, COMMITTEE, A MEMBER OF THE AREA MOST IMPACTED THE STONY COMMUNITY, AND TO HAVE A, UH, CITIZEN ENGINEER SERVE ON THAT COMMITTEE.
UH, THERE WASN'T A LOT OF ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE ON RE REMAINING ITEMS. UM, AND SO WE'VE TAKEN AND DRAFTED THIS RESOLUTION TO INCLUDE THOSE THREE MEMBERS PLUS TWO ADDITIONAL, UM, COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO SERVE.
UM, WE'VE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS PACKET THAT THE COUNTY'S RFQ AND ALSO THE TOWN'S DRAFT RFQ.
THE, THE GOAL HERE IS IF COUNCIL CREATES THE COMMITTEE, THAT THE COMMITTEE WOULD THEN REVIEW THAT DRAFT SCOPE OF WORK BEFORE IT IS FINALIZED AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION.
SO I'M GONNA GOT HUNG UP TOO MUCH ON THE SPECIFICS RELATED TO RFQ.
IT WAS MODELED ON THE, UM, THE STATEMENT OF WORK AND THE MOA THAT TOM DAVIS HAD PUT FORWARD BACK IN JULY.
UM, THERE'S SOME REASONS THAT THAT ORIGINAL MOA WAS CHANGED, AGAIN, BASED UPON THE COUNTY COMMITTING AND AND TOWN GREEN, THAT IT WOULD BE ONE BRIDGE, UM, BASICALLY IT NEAR ITS CURRENT ALIGNMENT.
UM, AND THEN ALSO BASED ON THE PROVISION FROM, OR THE INFORMATION FROM TOM DAVIS, UM, AND SECRETARY HALL, THAT IF WE OPENED IT UP TO LOOK AT ALTERNATIVES THAT WEREN'T BE, WEREN'T PART OF THE EXISTING EA THAT WOULD JEOPARDIZE, UM, POTENTIALLY JEOPARDIZE THE SI FUNDING.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT FO UH, HONED IN THE COUNTY, UM, SCOPE
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OF WORK THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THEIR SOLICITATION.UH, WE'VE EXPANDED THE SCOPE OF WORK IN OUR DRAFT TO INCLUDE SOME ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS THAT WERE PART OF THE ORIGINAL TO LOOK AT SAFETY, TO LOOK AT, UM, OTHER CONNECTIONS WITHIN THAT SEGMENT, UM, INCLUDING A DEEPER DIVE INTO MITIGATION, EXCUSE ME.
BUT THAT DRAFT RFQ IS INCLUDED IN THE PACKET, UM, AND WOULD BE, UM, VETTED THROUGH THAT ADVISORY COMMITTEE IF CO IF COUNSEL, UM, CHOOSES TO APPOINT ONE.
UM, AND SO BASED UPON YOUR DIRECTION, WE HAVE THIS RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU, I'M GONNA GO THROUGH THE PROVISIONS, UM, UH, FOR THAT COMMITTEE TO, TO, UM, TO OPERATE.
UM, IT WOULD BE CREATED CONSIST OF A MEMBER OF COUNCIL, A CURRENT OR FORMER LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER IN THE FIELD OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, ONE CITIZEN MEMBER FROM STONY AND TWO CITIZEN MEMBERS FROM THE COMMUNITY TO BE APPOINTED BY COUNCIL.
UM, THE COMMITTEE AND COORDINATION WITH A TECHNICAL REVIEW TEAM DESIGNATED BY THE TOWN MANAGER WOULD REVIEW AND ASSESS THE STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS TO THE RFQ, UM, AND IDENTIFY REASONABLE NUMBER OF FIRMS TO IDENTIFY AS A PREFERRED, MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON THE PREFERRED AND TO, TO, UM, UH, TO VET THAT AND TO, AND TO RECOMMEND A FIRMED TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH.
UM, THIS IS THE, HOLD ON, THIS IS THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS IN YOUR PACKET.
I'M GONNA OFFER A SLIGHTLY MODIFIED, UH, RESOLUTION THAT INCLUDES, UM, ONE MORE PROVISION.
SO, AND THE ONE IN YOUR PACKET.
UM, IDENTIFY THE COMPOSITION AND THE KEY AREAS OF WORK THROUGH SELECTION OF THE COMMITTEE, UM, AND SELECTION OF THE INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT, UM, TO RECOMMEND FOR CONTRACT.
UM, BUT I'M ALSO, UM, IN THIS ONE OFFERING A REVISED RESOLUTION, UM, THAT CLARIFIES THAT THE INDEPENDENT RE REVIEW ADVISORY COMMITTEE WORK IN COORDINATION WITH TOWN STAFF TO GUIDE THE WORK OF THE SELECTED CONSULTANT CONSISTENT WITH THE SCOPE OF WORK TO COMPLETE THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW, TO INCLUDE DELIVERY OF FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CONSULTANT ADVISORY COMMITTEE THROUGH TOWN STAFF TO TOWN COUNCIL.
SO THIS CLARIFIES THAT THE INDEPENDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS INVOLVED, UH, FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END IN SELECTING THE CONSULTANT THROUGH DELIVERY OF RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, TO TOWN COUNCIL, UH, AT THE END.
AND THEN NUMBER FIVE, IT REALLY JUST OUTLINES THE, UM, CONSISTENT WITH THE MEMBERSHIP THAT WAS NAMED ABOVE.
UM, I ANTICIPATE THAT IF COUNCIL CREATES THE COMMITTEE, UM, THEN THEY WOULD SOLICIT INPUT FOR MEMBERSHIP AND, UM, AND MAKE THOSE APPOINTMENTS AT A SUBSEQUENT DATE, UM, APPROVED BY THE MAYOR.
ANYTHING ELSE? UH, I THINK, I THINK THAT, I THINK THAT'S JUST TRYING TO GET THINGS MOVING ALONG.
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL BESIE? UH, SURE.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU
UM, IT, IT APPEARS AS THOUGH WHAT WE ARE TO DO TONIGHT IS TO CONSIDER THIS RESOLUTION.
AM I ACCURATE ABOUT THAT? THAT'S OUR MAIN THING TONIGHT.
UM, SO, UM, I DO APPRECIATE THE ADDITIONAL PARAGRAPH.
UM, BECAUSE, UH, IN LOOKING AT THE DRAFT RFQ OF THE TOWN, IT DID SHOW THAT THE COMMITTEE WOULD BE WORKING THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS AND NOT ONLY IN THE SELECTION OF THE INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT.
UM, AND, AND I DO HAVE SOME SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS TO THE RESOLUTION.
UM, SO I, I, SO THIS IS THE CREATION? YES, YES, I GOT THAT.
UM, SO I, I, I DO SUPPORT THE ADDITION OF THE NEW SUB, UH, SECTION FOUR, BUT I THINK SECTION FIVE IS STILL CONFUSING, UM, BECAUSE IT HAS BLANKS HER NAMES.
SO I'D RECOMMEND WE DELETE THAT ONE BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO SOLICIT FOLKS AND THEN APPOINT THEM LATER.
UM, THE FIRST SECTION, IF YOU COULD GO BACK UP TO NUMBER ONE, UM, UM, I HAD SUGGESTED AN ENGINEER, UM, AND I, AND I APPRECIATE, UM, CIVIL ENGINEERING.
I'VE WORKED WITH CIVIL ENGINEERS, BUT IN CASE WE COULD FIND A TRAFFIC ENGINEER, I THINK IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO TAKE OUT THE LIMITATION THERE.
JUST GIVES US A LITTLE BIT OR MORE BROADER OPPORTUNITY.
SO, UH, JUST TAKE OUT IN THE FIELD OF CIVIL ENGINEERING IS ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS I WOULD MAKE.
UH, THEN, THEN, UH, SECTION TWO, UM, BECAUSE THE TIMELINE IS, AND AS YOU JUST MENTIONED, THE COMMITTEE WOULD ALSO PARTICIPATE IN, IN LOOKING AT THE SCAPE OF WORK, UM, IN, IN DEVELOPING THE RFQ FOR THE, UM, INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT.
THEN I WOULD SUGGEST, UM, IN NUMBER TWO IN THE THIRD LINE WHERE IT SAYS, SHALL REVIEW AND ASSESS ALL STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS, I WOULD ADD, SHALL REVIEW AND ASSESS THE
[03:10:01]
RFQ TO MAKE IT EASIER.UM, AND ALL STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS.
SO THE REST OF IT WOULD BE THE SAME CUZ THAT'S WHAT YOU HA UNDERSTOOD IT, THAT'S WHAT YOU HAD IN THE TIMELINE.
UM, AND, AND SO THOSE ARE FOUR BASIC AMENDMENTS, THE ONE THAT YOU SUGGESTED, SECTION FOUR, TAKING OUT FIVE SO IT'S CLEAR WE'RE NOT APPOINTING PEOPLE TONIGHT.
UM, AND THEN, UM, AND NUMBER ONE, UM, NOT LIMITING IT TO CIVIL ENGINEERING, AND NUMBER TWO, MAKING CLEAR AS THE TIMELINE SUGGESTED.
UM, AND AFTER WE HAVE DISCUSSION, I'D BE HAPPY TO PUT THAT IN A FORM WON MOTION.
OTHER DISCUSSION? I RESERVE MY RIGHT
ALEX, UM, I'M GONNA GO BACKWARDS JUST A LITTLE BIT.
UM, I HAVE THE FOND MEMORIES OF SERVING ON THE FIRST 2 78 CORRIDOR COMMITTEE AND PREVIOUS COUNSELS, UH, MADE THE DECISION TO NOT CARRY FORWARD ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT COMMITTEE'S WORK.
IN PARTICULAR, THE MITIGATION, WE ARE PICKING THAT UP HERE.
I'M ASKING US TO CONSIDER THAT THE STONY COMMUNITY MEMBER BE EXPANDED TO ALSO INCLUDE AN ALTERNATE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE LIVING IN STONY THAT ARE GONNA BE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THIS, UH, CORRIDOR CHANGE THAT ARE ELDERLY AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND.
UH, WHAT I'M GOING TO IMAGINE AS BEING VERY STRENUOUS TECHNICAL TYPE MEETINGS AS A YOUNGER GENERATION, THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE WORKING WHILE THESE MEETINGS ARE HAPPENING.
SO I'M ASKING THAT WE ALLOW SOME FLEXIBILITY IN THAT PARTICULAR CRITERIA OF MEMBERSHIP TO HAVE AN ALTERNATE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE REP REPRESENTATION.
THANK YOU WILL MAKING A MOTION THERE.
SO ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE DI PUBLIC COMMENT? YEAH, I THINK BOTH OF THOSE SUGGESTIONS ARE VERY GOOD ONES.
WELL, I THINK I'M GONNA, WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE THREE MINUTES? ALL RIGHT.
WE WERE VERY DISAPPOINTED WHEN WE SAW THE DOCUMENT PRODUCED ON FEBRUARY 12TH.
IT APPEARS TO BE BASED ALMOST ENTIRELY ON THE VERBIAGE PRODU PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND STAFF.
PLEASE RECALL THAT THE COUNTY HAS SABOTAGED TWO PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS AT AN OBJECTIVE AND INDEPENDENT TRAFFIC CONSULTANT STUDY, NOT REVIEW SEISMIC SHIFT.
WHAT YOU ALL AGREED TO WAS TO HAVE THE TOWN COMMISSION A INDEPENDENT STUDY, NOT JUST A RUBBER STAMP OF, UH, THE S SC D SCD OTS, UM, PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE.
UH, EVEN IN THIS TOWN COMMUNICATION DATED FEBRUARY 12TH, THERE IS WORDING ON PAGE TWO THAT STATES THAT NO EVALUATION OF ADDITIONAL ALTERNATIVES SHOULD BE PERMITTED.
WELL, IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE ANOTHER THIRD OR FOURTH FAILED WASTE OF MONEY BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT ALLOWING AN EXPERT TO COME IN.
LOOK AT OUR WHOLE PROGRAM, GET AWAY FROM THE COUNTY WHO ONLY WANTS THIS, THIS HILTON HEAD ISLAND TO BE THEIR CASH COW.
AND, AND SO, AND THEY WANT THIS 11 LANE SUPERHIGHWAY SLAB.
DO YOU THINK, DO YOU THINK THESE PEOPLE REALLY THINK THAT THAT ENTRANCE TO THE ISLAND IS GONNA ENCOURAGE MORE TOURISTS? WHAT? NO, IT JUST DOESN'T, DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.
SO ALL I'M SAYING IS THIS IS, THAT'S NOT WHAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE CALLING FOR.
THEY ARE CALLING FOR A COMPLETELY OBJECTIVE SELECTION BY THE SELECTION COMMITTEE.
AND BY THE WAY, I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE MORE MEMBERS WITH MORE EXPERTISE.
BUT ANYWAY, UM, AND, AND MAYBE THAT'S WHAT MARK'S PLANNING WITH HIS TECHNICAL EXPERTISE GROUP.
[03:15:02]
WE HAVE TO DO IT INDEPENDENT.YOU HAVE TO GET OUT FROM UNDER THE THUMB OF THE COUNTY BECAUSE THE COUNTY IS CONTROLLING THIS AND THE COUNTY CONTROLLED THAT DOCUMENT.
AND I'M SORRY, BUT THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.
SO WHAT WE NEED IS TO HAVE YOU FOLKS ASSERT YOURSELVES AND HIRE AN INDEPENDENT OBJECTIVE TRAFFIC EN NATIONALLY RENOWNED TRAFFIC ENGINEERING CONSULTING FIRM TO LOOK AT THE ENTIRE AREA AND GIVE THEIR OBJECTIVE OPINIONS, NOT JUST, NOT JUST PERIPHERAL AROUND THE EDGES OF, WELL, YEAH, WE WE'RE GOING TO SAY THAT.
UH, IT'S GONNA BE A, A GIANT SLAB AND WE'RE JUST GONNA WORK A LITTLE AROUND THE EDGES.
SO THE WHOLE, THE WHOLE VIEWPOINT HAS TO CHANGE, YOU KNOW, TO, TO GET SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA BE WORTHWHILE.
I RECALL, UH, VERY VIVIDLY, UM, THE LAST FALLS MAYORAL CAMPAIGN, AND BOTH, UH, MAYOR PERRY AND MRS. ORACH, UH, DURING THAT CAMPAIGN, UH, TALKED ABOUT, UH, SUPPORTING THE TOWN TO DO ITS OWN INDEPENDENT REVIEW.
NOW, I DON'T THINK, PERHAPS MR, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR MR. PERRY, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY HAD IN MIND JUST TO DO A REVIEW OF THE REVIEW AND THAT RESOLUTION, DESPITE WHAT THIS GENTLEMAN HAD TO SAY TO YOU.
UH, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.
STEVE BARR, UH, TONIGHT SUGGESTED THAT HIS TECHNICAL GROUP COULD WORK WITH THE TOWN TO PRODUCE A BETTER STATEMENT OF WORK AND GET THAT DONE IN ONE WEEK, ONE WEEK, GIVEN THE HOUR.
UM, AND YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR MORE THAN FOUR HOURS.
AND MAYBE THAT EXPLAINS WHY YOU, YOU DO MEET AT THREE O'CLOCK.
BUT IN ANY EVENT, I'VE NOTICED, UM, A NUMBER OF YAWNS, AND PERHAPS IT WOULD BE BETTER, UH, ALL AROUND THAT, A SPECIAL MEETING BE CALLED IN THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, 10 DAYS OR SO, UH, TO GIVE THIS ISSUE IT'S DUE DILIGENCE.
NOW, I KNOW SOME ARE GONNA ARGUE AND, AND, AND SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED AND TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT THIS IS PROBABLY, UH, THE MOST CRITICAL ISSUE, UH, FACING THIS TOWN FOR THE NEXT FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
AND AGAIN, THE INDEPENDENT RE TOWN REVIEW THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IN YOUR RESOLUTION DOES NOT LOOK AT ALL OPTIONS.
IT JUST SIMPLY REVIEWS THE REVIEW OF THE COUNTY.
AND WE KNOW WHAT THE COUNTY WANTS.
IT'S, IT'S A, IN ESSENCE, IT'S A PEER REVIEW.
AND SO WHAT'S THE BENEFIT? NOT MUCH, BUT YOU'RE GONNA SPEND $300,000 TO FEEL BETTER PERHAPS, AND SAY, SEE WHAT THE COUNTY WANTS, WHAT THE STATE WANTS IS, IS A GOOD THING.
SO I, I REALLY THINK THIS, UH, THIS ISSUE, UM, YOU KNOW, GIVEN THE TIME, UH, AND THE DURATION OF THIS MEETING, UH, AND THE, UM, I JUST THINK IT NEEDS MORE DEBATE, MORE VIGOROUS DEBATE, DISCUSSION, UH, DELIBERATION.
AND PERHAPS YOU COULD ACCOMPLISH THAT IN A SPECIAL MEETING IN THE NEXT SEVEN TO 10 DAYS.
OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS, MR. HOLAND? ANYBODY ELSE? THAT'S IT.
FBI, IRS, FORENSIC AUDITS AND PRISON END THE STORY.
NOW I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF 2 78 GATEWAY AND CORRIDOR TO HILTON HEAD.
I HAVE SEVERAL COMMENTS THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN DISCUSSED BEFORE.
FIRST, ONCE YOU CROSS OVER THE LAST BRIDGE OF HILTON HEAD, YOU ENTER JENKINS ISLAND, PART OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, NOT THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD.
THERE'S A SMALL D O T MILE MARKER SIGN THAT SAYS HILTON HEAD ISLAND TOWN LIMIT, JUST ON THE RIGHT SIDE AFTER THE BRIDGE.
THEN ONCE YOU REACH WHIT WINDMILL HARBOR, THERE'S A BRAND NEW REDONE SIGN THAT SAYS, WELCOME TO HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
THIS SIGN IS ON PRIVATE WINDMILL HARBOR, P H O A PROPERTY.
THIS IS NOT HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
THIS SIGN IS A LIE AND IT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED OR CHANGED TO.
AND THE ANNEXATION ATTEMPT BY ETHICS VIOLATOR, JOSH GRUBER AND OTHER WINDMILL HARBOR BOARD CROOKS, WAS REJECTED AS RE AS, AS MOST RESIDENTS, INCLUDING ME AT WINDMILL HARBOR AND ALL OF JENKINS ISLAND DO NOT WANT TO BE PART OF HILTON HEAD IN OUR CORRUPTED
[03:20:01]
TOWN GOVERNMENT, AND ITS WASTE AND ILLEGAL USE AND ISSUE OF MILLIONS OF HARD-EARNED TAX FUNDS, NOR WAS LYING.ETHICS VIOLATOR, JOSH GRUB WERE ABLE TO TELL US ANY ADVANTAGE OF BEING PART OF TOWN OF HILTON HEAD VERSUS BUFORD COUNTY.
MY QUESTION IS EXACTLY WHERE DOES HILTON HEAD ISLAND OFFICIALLY START? AND WHAT WILL OUR GATEWAY ENTRANCE AND SIGNAGE LOOK LIKE? SINCE THE ASSIGN, WHEN THE HARBOR AND PRIVATE PROPERTY ON JENKINS ISLAND WILL NOT WORK, WHO APPROVED THIS FRAUDULENT SIGN AND WHO PAID FOR IT? MY LAWYER JUST SENT A LETTER TO WINDMILL HARBOR BOARD TO REMOVE THE SIGN OR CHANGE IT ALONG WITH OTHER WINDMILL HARBOR ISSUES.
AND IF NOT FIXED, I'VE ASKED HIM TO FILE ANOTHER LAWSUIT, JUST ANOTHER ILLEGAL USE OF TAXPAYER'S MONEY.
FURTHER, HOW DID THIS SIGN GET APPROVED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY BY BEAUFORD COUNTY SIGN ORDINANCE? IT'S ILLEGAL.
IT ALSO SEEMS JOSH GRUBER PLAYED A ROLE IN NOT JUST THE ANNEX ATTEMPT, BUT ALSO THE ILLEGAL DESTROYING OF OUR PETITION DOCUMENTS WITH PRESIDENT, UH, PAST PRESIDENT OF WOMEN HARBOR, DON BALDWIN, WHO WAS NEVER PROSECUTED FOR THIS CRIME BY HIS OWN ADMISSION.
FURTHERMORE, AT THE TIME, THE HILTON HEAD TOWN LAWYER WAS DIANE BUSH, AND TO OUR SURPRISE, ALSO SERVED IN THE WINDMILL HARBOR BOARD IN CONFLICT AND COLLUDED WITH JOSH GRUBER AND OTHERS TO ANNEX WINDMILL HARBOR IN SECRET.
NOW WITH THE LATEST ILLEGAL SIGN, SEEMS ANOTHER ATTEMPT IS IMMINENT, BUT BE ASSURED IT WILL BE STOPPED.
THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD CORRUPTION AND DYSFUNCTION SEEMS TO NEVER END.
WE HAVE SO MANY ELECTED OFFICIALS, DISHONEST ELECTED OFFICIALS AND TOWN EMPLOYEES.
IF YOU WOULD JUST BE TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE, I WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE HERE.
I DON'T WANT TO TO BE HERE, BUT I HAVE TO BE HERE.
WE HAVE TO BE HERE TO SPEAK UP OR IT'S NEVER GONNA STOP.
MR. MR. MAYOR TOWN COUNSEL, SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE SAID, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR A LONG TIME, AND IT'S TIME TO PUT A STAKE DOWN.
UM, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE 2017, AND WE DO STUDY AFTER STUDY AFTER STUDY.
AND I'M NOT OPPOSED TO DOING ANOTHER STUDY, BUT MANY OF YOU SPOKE ABOUT FISCAL CONSERVATISM.
YOU'VE GOT THE COUNTY DOING A THREE, $200,000 STUDY.
WE'RE GONNA DO A $300,000 STUDY.
IT'S ALL TAX FAIR MONEY, WHETHER IT COMES OUT OF THE STATE COFFERS OR OUR COFFERS OR SOMEBODY ELSE'S COFFERS, THEY'RE BUILDING OUT IN HARDY.
YOU JUST HAD A FOUR HOUR MEETING ON PARKS THAT YOU WANT TO BUILD TO ATTRACT PEOPLES TO COME HERE.
WE NEED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND WE NEED TO DO IT EXPEDITIOUSLY.
WE NEED TO DO IT THOUGHTFULLY.
WE NEED TO DO IT OUT OF TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESPECT TO THE STONY COMMUNITY, BUT WE NEED TO GET IT DONE.
THERE IS A FEELING THAT WE'RE DRAGGING OUR FEET TO THE POINT.
WE WILL NEVER DO ANYTHING IF WE ARE STUCK JUST FIXING THE EXISTING BRIDGE, THE NIGHTMARE THAT WILL OCCUR WHEN WE CLOSE DOWN TO TWO LANES, ONE IN EACH DIRECTION, TO ACCOMMODATE REPAIRING THAT SINGLE SPAN.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WOULD DO DURING A HURRICANE EVACUATION.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD GET PEOPLE TO WORK HERE.
UH, WE NEED TO THINK IN PRACTICAL TERMS, DO IT THOUGHTFULLY, BUT WE NEED TO GET IT DONE.
YOU KNOW, THE PROBLEM IS THIS IS NEVER DONE RIGHT? IT'S NEVER DONE RIGHT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
I MEAN, YOU'VE, YOU'VE SAID THAT FOR YOURSELF.
THE QUESTION I HAVE THOUGH IS, UM, WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE MONEY THAT YOU WERE GIVEN TO THE CHAMBER, DID YOU ALL VOTE TO GIVE THEM MORE MONEY? I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT, AND NEITHER DID SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE WATCHING, YES.
AND HOW MUCH MONEY ARE THEY GETTING? THREE 50.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DIAS.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION? WE DO HAVE A MOTION.
DO YOU HAVE AN
YEAH, I DON'T THINK THERE'S A MOTION ON THE TABLE.
I I THOUGHT I'D BE HAPPY TO MAKE ONE.
CRYSTAL, WOULD YOU CLARIFY THAT THAT WAS AN AMENDMENT? YES, SIR.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT, UM, MS. BRYSON WANTED TO AMEND THE INITIAL MOTION THAT WAS MADE, WHICH WAS A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION.
I DON'T KNOW WHO MADE THE MOTION.
UM, WHILE YOU ARE FIGURING THAT OUT, I DID RESERVE MY RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO COMMENT UNTIL LEFT OF THE PUBLIC, AND I'D LIKE TO EXERCISE THAT RIGHT NOW, PLEASE.
AS I RECALL, AND YES, WE HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND DURING THAT TIME, THROUGH ALL OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND INFORMATION THAT WAS SHARED
[03:25:01]
IN SPAGHETTI MAPS, ET CETERA, UM, THERE CAME TO BE A PETITION THAT NOW HAS OVER 10,000 SIGNATURES OF RESIDENTS WHO EITHER LIVE ON THE ISLAND OR ARE IMPACTED BY THE BRIDGE IN ONE WAY, SHAPE OR ANOTHER.THE REASON WE'RE HERE TODAY TALKING ABOUT THIS, UM, ITEM IS BECAUSE AT THE MOST RECENT MEETINGS, ATTENTION HAS STARTED TO BE PAID TO THOSE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE ASKED FOR US TO SLOW DOWN AND TO LOOK AT THIS, UM, CORRIDOR AND BRIDGE ONCE AGAIN TO MAKE SURE THAT IN FACT, WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
AND THAT IS AN INDEPENDENT STUDY OF THE ISSUES PERTAINING TO THE BRIDGE IN THE CORRIDOR.
IT'S IMPORTANT, THEY'VE SAID IT IS IMPORTANT.
THAT'S 10,000 PEOPLE VERSUS SEVEN.
AND SO WHAT I'M GOING TO SUGGEST IS THAT WITH THE NEW INTEGRATED LIGHTING SYSTEM, THE CONVERSATION, AS I RECALLED, THAT ALONE WILL PRESENT NEW DATA, AND THAT NEW DATA NEEDS TO BE INCORPORATED INTO ANY DECISION MAKING GOING FORWARD.
AND SO CLEARLY IT'S NOT, IT CAN'T BE A SIMPLE REVIEW, UM, LIMITED TO CERTAIN, UM, PRESENTATIONS MADE IN THE PAST.
AND WHILE I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A CONSIDERATION AND A CONCERN OF A JEOPARDY OF, UM, FUNDING, UM, WE WERE GIVEN ASSURANCES, UM, ALSO THAT WE WERE, OUR DUE DILIGENCE WAS WELCOMED BY THE SECRETARY.
AND THAT FURTHER HILTON HEAD ISLAND BEING, AS FOLKS HAVE SAID, AND I'LL USE THEIR WORDS, CASH COW, UM, THAT IT WOULD BE UNFATHOMABLE ESSENTIALLY, THAT THAT MONEY WOULD GO AWAY, THAT S MONEY WOULD GO AWAY, AND IF SO, WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE RECLAIMED AT A LATER POINT.
SO THAT PROPOSED JEOPARDY, UM, ACTUALLY IS IN CONFLICT WITH THE ASSURANCES THAT WE'VE BEEN GOVERNED OTHERWISE, THAT IT, IT'S, IT'S NOT TRULY IN JEOPARDY, AND WE KNOW THAT.
SO THE SCOPE OF WORK NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS, NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT A REVIEW, THAT THIS IS TO INCLUDE NEW DATA, NEW INFORMATION THAT IS, IS GATHERED THAT OTHER OUTSIDE INDEPENDENT EYES WILL ALSO BRING TO THE TABLE THAT MAYBE HADN'T BEEN CONSIDERED PREVIOUSLY.
AND THAT ALL OF THOSE PIECES VERY WELL MAY LEAD TO SOMETHING THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT HAS BEEN CONSIDERED PREVIOUSLY.
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THE LANGUAGE CORRECT, UM, THAT THIS ISN'T A REVIEW, IT'S A STUDY THAT INCLUDES NEW POTENTIAL DATA FROM THE, UM, THE LIGHTING SYSTEM.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE LIGHTING SYSTEM THE WAY IT WAS, UM, DESCRIBED, UM, STARTING IN JUNE WITH DATA NOT BEING FULLY, UM, IN FULLY PRESENTED TO US UNTIL EARLY 2024, THAT WE MISSED THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY TO INCORPORATE THAT DATA INTO ANY FINAL, UM, OUTCOME FROM THIS NEW INDEPENDENT STUDY.
SO THAT IS, UM, A CONCERN OF MINE.
FURTHER, UM, THE COMPOSITION OF THE GATEWAY, UM, ADVISORY COMMITTEE, I RECALL.
AND I THINK IT'S ONLY RIGHT, UM, THAT WE HAVE MEMBERS OF THE TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP WHO HAVE BEEN THE MOST ACTIVE IN BRINGING FORTH THE CONCERNS OF THE RESIDENTS.
WELL OVER 10,000 NOW THAT THEY HAVE, UM, A SEAT AT THAT TABLE.
AND SO, UM, WHILE I SEE COMMUNITY MEMBER LISTED TWICE, I THINK WE NEED TO BE MORE SPECIFIC AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE SITTING ON THAT COMMITTEE WHO REPRESENTS THOSE 10,000 SIGNATURES.
SO, UM, I WOULD REQUEST THAT ONE COMMUNITY MEMBER MINIMALLY, IF NOT, EXPAND THE LIST BEYOND THE FIVE TO INCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP SO THAT THOSE 10,000 RESIDENTS WHO HAVE SIGNED THE PETITION ARE HEARD BY A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THAT GROUP.
AND, AND, AND THEN THE, UM, THE OTHER PIECE, WHICH I APPRECIATE BECAUSE I LOVE THE WORK THEY DO, I'VE SEEN THE, IS THAT MK SK IS WORKING ON THIS FLYOVER, AND IT'LL BE WONDERFUL TO SEE HOW BEAUTIFUL THAT CAN LOOK, BUT THAT'S NOT THE BRIDGE.
[03:30:01]
TALK ABOUT THE BRIDGE, THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN.THE BRIDGE IS 11 LANES OF CONCRETE THAT WILL BRING MORE TOURISTS, MORE HEADS FOR BEDS, MORE CROWDED BEACHES, AND ALL MORE NEED FOR SHORT-TERM RENTAL ENTERPRISES IN OUR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THE RESIDENTS OF THIS ISLAND HAVE SAID THAT THEY DON'T WANT.
SO IF IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT LONGER TO GET ONTO OUR ISLAND, SO BE IT.
AS LONG AS IT'S SAFE, AND WE HAVE, AND WE HAVE THE NECESSARY ACCESS THAT WE NEED FOR EVACUATION, FOR SAFETY REASONS, WE, UM, WE REALLY SHOULD LISTEN TO WHAT IT IS.
NOT ONLY THE PETITION SIGNERS ARE ASKING FOR, BUT ALSO THE RESIDENTS OF THE ISLAND WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE, UM, GROWTH, UM, ON THE ISLAND, NECESSARILY CREATED BY THE SHORT, UM, BY THE TOURIST AND VISITOR INDUSTRY.
IF YOU RECALL, AND DAVID'S NOT HERE FOR ME TO ASK HIM BECAUSE I'M SURE HE HAS IT AT HIS FINGERTIPS, IT'S LATE, AND I DON'T, BUT IN THE HOUSING REPORT, THERE WAS A STATISTICS THAT WAS, UM, INCLUDED THAT, UM, SPOKE TO THE AMOUNT OF WORKFORCE NEEDED FOR EVERY TOURIST WHO COMES TO VISIT.
AND EVERY TIME WE BRING MORE TOURISTS IN WHICH THIS BRIDGE WILL CERTAINLY DO, WE CREATE THE NECESSITY FOR MORE WORKFORCE, MORE WORKFORCE HOUSING.
AND THE VICIOUS CIRCLE CONTINUES.
THE INSATIABLE CIRCLE CONTINUES.
AND SO THERE'S A WHOLE HOST OF REASONS WHY I THINK THAT, UM, PERHAPS THE SUGGESTION THAT WE TAKE A, A SHORT BREATH REVIEW, UM, NOT ONLY THIS DOCUMENT, UH, THE AMOUNT, THE NUMBER OF, UH, AND THE COMPOSITION OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND THAT THE AMENDMENTS THAT PATSY'S ABOUT TO MAKE AND FULLY UNDERSTAND THEM, ALLOW THE COMMUNITY TO RESPOND TO THEM, UM, IS IMPORTANT.
SO, UM, I WOULD, UH, MAKE THAT SUGGESTION AND PERHAPS A MOTION AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
BUT, UH, THOSE ARE THE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT I WANT TO, TO BRING FORTH.
IT IS OUR LAST OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.
UM, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE RESIDENTS ARE HEARD, THE SIGNATOR ARE HEARD, AND THAT THE NEW DATA IS INCORPORATED INTO ANY FURTHER DECISION MAKING DOWN THE ROAD.
MAYOR, CAN I JUST, UM, ADD ONE CLARIFYING POINT.
SO WHEN THE ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC SIGNALS ARE IN PLACE, WE'LL HAVE ACCESS TO DATA PROBABLY THIRD QUARTER.
THEY'RE GONNA DO A COMPLETE REVIEW IN MARCH, LIKE PRE-PROJECT.
AND THEN ANOTHER ONE NEXT MARCH WILL GIVE US A FULL PICTURE OF THE EFFICIENCY AND PERFORMANCE.
BUT WE'LL HAVE SOME DATA WE BELIEVE IN THIRD QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.
AND, AND SEAN, PLEASE BE CLEAR.
CLEAR, WE'RE NOT WAITING A YEAR FOR NEW DATA, RIGHT? DATA, WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT.
WE WOULD LIKE TO ADVANCE THE WORK AND I WANNA BE VERY DIRECT ABOUT THAT.
WE'RE SAYING MAYBE NEXT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN GET THAT AS FAST AS WE POSSIBLY CAN CALIBRATE THAT SYSTEM AND START COUNTING IT.
WE MIGHT NOT HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED BECAUSE IT WILL BE PRELIMINARY NUMBERS, BUT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO START UNDERSTANDING IF THE SYSTEM IS WORKING ONE BY STANDING AT AN INTERSECTION IN JUNE, BUT TWO, BY REALLY COLLECTING THAT DATA OVER.
AUGUST, SEPTEMBER TIME TIMELINE.
I NEED SOME CLARITY ON THAT ISSUE.
SO, SO WE'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE TABLE.
UH, MAYOR, JUST TO CLARIFY, WHO MADE THE MOTION IN THE SECOND CAUSE? I NEED TO KNOW WHAT MOTION I NEED TO MAKE.
UH, I'VE GOT MR. STANFORD MAKING THE MOTION TO APPROVE, AND I THOUGHT I HEARD MS. BRYSON, UM, SECOND THAT MOTION, BUT I'M, I MAY, IT MAY HAVE BEEN MS. YES, MR. ALFRED? I DID NOT.
I WAS TALKING ABOUT AMENDING IT.
THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT MOTION I NEED TO MAKE
UM, BEFORE I GET OUT OF ORDER, SORRY, PATSY, BEFORE I GET OUT OF ORDER, CUZ I, UM, HAVE A TENDENCY TO DO THIS.
UM, IF, IF I WANTED TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE TABLE THIS UNTIL, UM, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DIGEST THE, UM, NEW LANGUAGE THAT PATSY'S ABOUT TO PROPOSE AND HAVE PUBLIC, UH, REACTION TO THAT, WOULD I MAKE THAT NOW
[03:35:01]
OR AFTER HER AMENDMENT FOR CLARITY? I, I WHAT I THINK, BUT PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M INCORRECT.UM, SINCE THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND ON THE TABLE, WE WOULD EITHER HAVE TO VOTE FOR THAT OR THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE RESCINDED.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
CURTIS, TAKE A MOTION THE TABLE ANYTIME AND HEAR YOU SEE IF THERE'S A SECOND FOR THE MOTION TO TABLE AND THEN MOVE FORWARD.
SO YOU, YOU CAN, YOU CAN TABLE IT AT ANY TIME.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS DISCUSSION.
IS THERE A SECOND? SEEING NONE WILL GO BACK TO THE FIRST MOTION, BUT YOU WANNA MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THAT? YES, SIR.
UH, IF YOU'LL BEAR WITH ME, CAN WE BRING UP THE RESOLUTION, UM, THE PAGE WHICH HAS THE, UNDER THE NOW, THEREFORE THE, OR FIVE SECTIONS, I THINK THAT'D BE HELPFUL FOR FOLKS TO SEE.
SO I MOVED TO AMEND THE DRAFT, UH, RESOLUTION AS FOLLOWS, NUMBER ONE IN THE FOURTH LINE TO DELETE THE PHRASE IN THE FIELD OF CIVIL ENGINEERING.
AND IN THE SAME LINE TO ADD ONE CITIZEN MEMBER AND ONE ALTERNATE CITIZEN MEMBER FROM THE STONY COMMUNITY IN SECTION TWO.
YOU CAN SCROLL TO SECTION TWO IN THE THIRD LINE DOWN, UM, TO ADD THE FOLLOWING PHRASE, AFTER SHALL REVIEW AND ASSESS THE PHRASE, THE RFQ AND, AND THE RFQ WOULD INCLUDE THE SCOPE OF WORK, WHICH WAS RAISED TODAY.
UM, THEN TO ADD THE NEW SECTION FOUR, WHICH STATES AS FOLLOWS, I THINK I'M READING THE RIGHT ONE HERE.
THE WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY GATEWAY CARTER INDEPENDENT REVIEW ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL WORK IN COORDINATION WITH TOWN STAFF TO GUIDE WORK OF THE SELECTED CONSULTANT CONSISTENT WITH THE FINAL SCOPE OF WORK TO COMPLETE THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW TO INCLUDE DELIVERY OF FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CONSULTANT AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE THROUGH TOWN STAFF TO TOWN COUNCIL.
THAT'S THE ONE APPEARING ON THE SCREEN.
AND THE FINAL AMENDMENT IS TO DELETE SECTION FIVE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT APPOINTING FOLKS TODAY.
AGAIN, IF I COULD MAKE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT.
UM, WE HAVE LISTED COMMUNITY MEMBER TWICE.
I WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE A COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP WHO REPRESENTS MORE THAN 10,000 SIGNATURES OF A PETITION ON THIS ISSUE.
AND THE MAKER WILL NOT AGREE TO A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
I'M SORRY, PAT, I DIDN'T HEAR YOUR COMMENT.
I, I DO NOT AGREE TO A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
SO TO BE CLEAR, WE ARE VOTING ON THE FIRST OR ON THE, ON THE MOTION AND THE SECOND WITH THE AMENDMENT AS MS. BRYSON HAS STATED OUT.
WILL YOU CALL THE RULE PLEASE? YES, SIR.
SO DO, DO WE NEED TO VOTE ON THE MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED NOW? THANK YOU.
MS. BECKER? IS THIS THE ADJOURNMENT MOTION?
NOW IS THERE A MOTION, UH, MAYOR IN LIGHT OF OUR PREVIOUS CONVERSATION, UM, AND I MIGHT NEED SOME ASSISTANCE WITH THE LANGUAGE.
I'M LOOKING AT THE TOWN ATTORNEY.
I MOVE TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE FROM THE TOWN ATTORNEY PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT SECTION 30 DASH FOUR DASH 70 A TWO, WHICH I HOPE IS THE CORRECT SUBSECTION WITH REGARD TO, UM, A, A CLAIM ABOUT, UM, THE ACTION WE TOOK ON THE L O AMENDMENTS EARLIER, IT'S IS THAT RECEIPT OF RECEIPT
[03:40:01]
OF LEGAL ADVICE AND CONNECTION WITH COUNSEL'S CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE? WHAT HE SAID? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.WHAT DO YOU CALL THE ROLL PLEASE? MR. BROWN? THE BOARD.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PATIENCE SO FAR.
THE COUNTY CHANNEL IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON VIDEO ON DEMAND.
GO TO BEAUFORT COUNTY SC.GOV, 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 DENNIS ADAMS, AND THIS IS A BEAUFORT COUNTY MOMENT.
CALL IT FROGMORE STEW LOW COUNTRY BOIL BEAUFORT BOIL.
THIS ESTY POT OF SHRIMP, SAUSAGE AND CORN ON THE COB MAY BE OUR BEST KNOWN SPECIALTY, BUT THE RECIPE IS LESS THAN A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.
IN FACT, HISTORIAN GERHARD SPIELER SAID THAT THE KIND OF LINK SAUCE USED IN THE STEW CAME TO THIS AREA WITH IMMIGRANTS NO EARLIER THAN THE 1940S.
BEFORE THAT TIME ONLY PATTY STYLE SAUSAGE COULD BE BOUGHT.
THE SPIELER THINKS THAT THE RECIPE WAS THE ACCIDENTAL INVENTION OF SHRIMPERS THROWING EVERYTHING THEY HAD ON HAND TOGETHER.
ALTHOUGH BOILED SHRIMP HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF SEA ISLAND DAILY LIFE.
THE 1847 CHARLESTON COOKBOOK, THE CAROLINA HOUSEWIFE HAD NO RECIPES LIKE PRESENT DAY FROGMORE STEW, BUT FOR A BATCH OF WHAT HAS BECOME THE TASTE OF THE LOW COUNTRY.
BOIL CORN AND SAUSAGE IN WATER WELL SPICED WITH SEAFOOD SEASONING POWDER, ADDING RAW SHRIMP AT THE LAST MINUTE, DRAIN FAST AND SERVE HOT.
I'M DENNIS ADAMS. 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.
GATES, TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TIMELINESS OF THE RECONSTRUCTION SERIES.
WHY NOW? 12 YEARS OF BLACK FREEDOM FOLLOWED BY AN ALT-RIGHT ROLLBACK, A PRESIDENT IMMEDIATELY, UM, FOLLOWING ABRAHAM LINCOLN, WHO REFUSED TO RENOUNCE WHITE SUPREMACY A CONSERVATIVE SUPREME COURT THAT EFFECTIVELY UNDID THE POWER OF THE 14TH AND 15TH AMENDMENTS.
WHAT'S THAT SOUND LIKE? CONTEMPORARY TIMES.
SO IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT WE COULD TEACH OUR FELLOW CITIZENS IN AMERICA ABOUT THE PERILOUS MOMENT IN WHICH WE'RE LIVING BY ANALOGY THROUGH TELLING THE STORY OF RECONSTRUCTION IN ITS ROLLBACK.
AND I FIRST STARTED THINKING ABOUT IT AFTER, UH, THE HORRIBLE MURDERS OF, UH, REVEREND CLEMENTA PINKNEY AND THE OTHER INNOCENCE AT MOTHER MANUEL CHURCH BECAUSE THE JUSTIFICATIONS THAT DYLAN ROOF, UH, SUMMONED FOR HIS ACTIONS, UM, WERE VERY REMINISCENT OF RACIST RHETORIC ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE CIVIL WAR AND FOLLOWING RECONSTRUCTION.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE A HORROR MOVIE WHEN YOU THINK THAT THE VAMPIRE'S
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DEAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY COME UP OUT OF THE CASKET AND YOU THINK, DAMN, I THOUGHT I'D PUT A STAKE IN YOUR HEART.I THOUGHT THAT THE WORST AND MOST PERNICIOUS, HEINOUS ASPECTS OF ANTI-BLACK WHITE SUPREMACY WE'RE LONG GONE.
AND THAT I WAS NAIVE ABOUT THAT.
AND WE'VE SEEN A RISE IN HATE SPEECH, ANTI-SEMITISM, ANTI-GAY ATTITUDES.
AND PEOPLE, WHEN PEOPLE BECOME FRIGHTENED, PARTICULARLY ABOUT THEIR ECONOMIC FUTURE, THEY LOOK FOR SCAPEGOATS.
AND THE SCAPEGOATS TRADITION HAVE BEEN JEWISH PEOPLE, WOMEN, GAY PEOPLE, AND OF COURSE IN THIS COUNTRY, PEOPLE OF COLOR.
UM, LET'S SOME GO BACK TO WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE ROLLBACK TO RECONSTRUCTION.
RECONSTRUCTION IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF AMERICAN HISTORY, AND YET IT IS SO MISUNDERSTOOD.
WHY IS THAT? WHY IS IT THAT WE DON'T HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THIS PERIOD AND WHAT IT ACTUALLY MEANT? WELL, W W E DUBOIS WROTE A BOOK IN 1935 CALLED BLACK RECONSTRUCTION, AND ONE CHAPTER'S CALLED THE PROPAGANDA OF HISTORY.
AND HE ANALYZES HOW WHITE HISTORIANS HAD WRITTEN ABOUT RECONSTRUCTION, AND THAT WAS PART OF THE ROLLBACK TO CREATE A MYTH MYTHOLOGY OF BLACK INCOMPETENCE THAT BLACK MEN HAD BEEN ELECTED TO OFFICE AND COULDN'T PROPERLY SERVE.
THAT BLACK VOTERS HAD BEEN MANIPULATED BY NORTHERN SCALLYWAGS AND CARPETBAGGERS, THAT BASICALLY THEY WERE TOOLS AND PAWNS THAT THEY WERE DISHONEST.
UH, ROBERT SMALLS WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST, UM, HEROES OF THE CIVIL WAR.
AND RECONSTRUCTION SERVED FIVE NON-CONSECUTIVE TERMS IN CONGRESS BECAUSE HE WAS CONSTANTLY BEING ACCUSED YET OF STEALING MONEY AND, UH, MISAPPROPRIATING FUNDS.
THEY WERE, UM, THERE WAS A MYTHOLOGY SANCTIONED BY THE DISCIPLINE OF HISTORY LOCATED AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY CALLED THE DUNNING SCHOOL, LED BY HISTORIAN, PROFESSOR DUNNING.
AND THEY FOUND EVERY WAY TO PRODUCE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF BLACK PEOPLE.
AND THAT HAS ONLY BEEN UNDONE BY HISTORIANS SINCE DUBOIS PUBLISHED BLACK RECONSTRUCTION.
AND MOST NOTABLY UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ANOTHER COLUMBIA PROFESSOR, PROFESSOR ERIC FONER, WITH WHOM, UH, WE MADE A RECONSTRUCTION SERIES.
PLUS WE HAVE OVER 40 HISTORIANS DOING MODERN, UM, CUTTING EDGE SCHOLARSHIP ON RECONSTRUCTION THAT WHOM WE FEATURE IN THE SERIES.
SO IT'S VERY MUCH A COLLECTIVE, UM, SERIES AND IT'S VERY MUCH, UM, COUNTERPOINT TO THE RECEIVED INTERPRETATIONS OF RECONSTRUCTION FABRICATED BY THE DUNNING SCHOOL.
WELL, FOR US, IT'S, THIS IS THE PHONER SCHOOL.
IT, IT HAS A VERY SPECIAL MEANING.
WHY IS THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA SO PIVOTAL TO AN UNDERSTANDING OF RECONSTRUCTION? SOUTH CAROLINA WAS GROUND ZERO FOR RECONSTRUCTION BECAUSE IT WAS A MAJORITY BLACK STATE.
THE, UM, THERE'S A FAMOUS 1872 LITHOGRAPH OF THE FIRST COLORED SENATOR AND THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
AND THREE OF THOSE MEN IN THAT LITHOGRAPH WERE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
WHEN RICHARD T GREENER GRADUATED FROM HARVARD, THE FIRST BLACK MAN TO GRADUATE FROM HARVARD IN THE CLASS OF 1870.
WHERE WAS THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY? WAS IT IN NEW YORK? WAS IT IN BOSTON, WAS IT IN PHILADELPHIA? CHARLESTON CAME TO CHARLESTON AND WENT TO, UH, COLUMBIA AND SERVED ON THE FACULTY, UM, AND TOOK LAW CLASSES THERE.
THE, UM, A BLACK MAN FROM ENGLAND, FROM LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, ROBERT BROWN ELLIOT CAME TO, TO BOSTON IN 1867.
THE BRITISH NAVY COULD SMELL THE OPPORTUNITY HEADED STRAIGHT TO SOUTH CAROLINA AND WORKED FOR RICHARD HARVEY KANE'S NEWSPAPER, THEN WAS ELECTED TO TO CONGRESS.
AND UM, THIS WAS WHERE IT WAS AT, THIS IS WHERE IT WAS HAPPENING.
AND WHEN I INTERVIEWED REPRESENTATIVE CLYBURN, HIS OFFICE IN THE, IN THE CONGRESS, WELL, HE'S LONG BEEN A STUDENT OF RECONSTRUCTION.
YEAH, I MEAN IT'S LIKE A MUSEUM.
YOU GO IN THERE AND ALL THESE BROTHERS ARE ON THE WALL.
AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT, UH, SOUTH CAROLINA HAD A BLACK MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
YOU CAN'T IMAGINE THAT NOW SOUTH CAROLINA, EVEN IN THE 18TH CENTURY, WAS CALLED NEGRO COUNTRY.
UM, AND VERY SOON THAT WAS DISMANTLED.
SO IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT MANY OF THE MOST VICIOUS BATTLES
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OVER RACE OCCURRED HERE CUZ THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT TO CONTROL THIS BLACK MAJORITY.I WENT TO CALHOUN COLLEGE AT YALE UNIVERSITY.
HE NOT ONLY WANTED SLAVERY TO CONTINUE, HE WANTED TO RESURRECT THE SLAVE TRADE
HE WAS A, HE WAS A ROUGH BROTHER.
UM, PARTICULARLY THE CHURCHES, FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS, SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS, THE FACT THAT SO MANY OF THE SLAVES WANTED TO GET MARRIED AND LEGALIZED THEIR LOVE RELATIONSHIPS.
THE, UM, THE TAKING OUT OF ADS AND NEWSPAPERS TO REUNITE FAMILIES.
AND THE FACT THAT 80% OF THE ELIGIBLE BLACK MEN IN THE SOUTH REGISTERED TO VOTE IN WHAT I CALL THE FIRST FREEDOM SUMMER, THE SUMMER OF 1867, AND 500,000 OF THEM CAST THEIR VOTES IN THE GENERAL ELECTION OF 1868 FOR ULYSSES ESS GRANT.
AND PEOPLE FORM SCHOOLS HISTORICALLY BLACK, WHAT WE NOW CALL HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES LIKE SHAW AND HOWARD, BUT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND IN SOUTH CAROLINA, ALAN AND BENEDICT AND CLAFLIN AB ABSOLUTELY.
AND YOU KNOW, JUST ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT, THAT THE SLAVES HAD A HUNGER FOR LEARNING BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT THE MOST VALUABLE THING THAT HAD BEEN KEPT FOR THEM WAS KNOWLEDGE OF READING AND WRITING.
AND THEY KNEW THAT WAS THE PATHWAY TO, TO SUCCESS.
ISN'T IT INTERESTING THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION GREW OUT OF THIS PERIOD? MM-HMM.
THERE WEREN'T PUBLIC STATEWIDE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND THE RECONSTRUCTION GOVERNMENTS PARTICULARLY, UM, IN SOUTH CAROLINA, AND PARTICULARLY AS DESIGNED BY ROBERT SMALLS, UM, ESTABLISHED STATEWIDE PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS, WHICH HADN'T BEEN DONE BEFORE, WHICH IS A SHOCK TO PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE BLACK PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THE VALUE OF EDUCATION.
IT'S ALSO INTERESTING THOUGH THAT THINGS LIKE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND CERTAINLY, UH, ENFRANCHISEMENT AND, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ALL THESE POSITIVES THAT GREW OUT OF THE RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD ARE STILL UNDER ASSAULT.
AND IT'S, WE HAVE TO, UM, ANY SOCIETY IS JUDGED BY THE QUALITY OF ITS PUBLIC EDUCATION.
AND WE AS AMERICANS SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED AT HOW WE'VE ALLOWED OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHICH ARE POPULATED BY BRILLIANT TEACHERS, THEY'RE SO MOTIVATED, BUT THEY'RE UNDERPAID AND UNDER-RESOURCED.
AND, UM, WE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THAT.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE, UM, A GENERAL IDEA THAT THE COLLAPSE OF RECONSTRUCTION WAS SOLELY IN THE HANDS OF THE SOUTH.
THAT'S NOT TRUE, ISN'T IT? NO.
THE COLLAPSE OF RECONSTRUCTION WAS A CONSPIRACY BETWEEN ECONOMIC INTERESTS AND POLITICAL INTERESTS IN THE NORTH AND IN THE SOUTH.
THERE WAS A PAN ECONOMIC PANIC OF 1873, WHICH WAS CALLED THE FIRST GREAT DEPRESSION.
AND PEOPLE LOOKED AROUND AND SAID, WHY DON'T WE SPEND ALL OUR MONEY ON THESE NEGROES IN THE SOUTH? LET 'EM THRIVE.
AND THEY ACTED BARREL AS IF 200 YEARS OF SLAVERY COULD BE WIPED OUT WITH NO REPARATIONS, WITH, WITH, WITH, UM, NO BENEFITS GIVEN NO 40 ACRES IN A MULE, NO HELP.
UM, THAT EACH, EACH OF THESE PEOPLE WERE ON THEIR OWN.
NOT ONLY THAT NEW FORMS OF OPPRESSION WERE INSTITUTIONALIZED DEBT, P AND H SHARECROPPING, THE RISE OF THE KLAN, THE RISE OF THE COOK, TERRORISM.
AND SO VERY MUCH, UH, RECONSTRUCTION IS ABOUT ISSUES THAT STILL ROYAL OUR SOCIETY TODAY.
WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO BE A CITIZEN? WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO BE AN AMERICAN? WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC DEMOCRACY? AND WHAT IS THE ROLE OF TERRORISM IN THE HEALTHY FUNCTIONING OF A, OF A DEMOCRACY? WHAT'S THE ROLE OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE IN, IN THE FACE OF THE MANIFESTATIONS OF TERRORISM? HOW CAN WE HAVE THIS VERY BLATANT REMINDER FROM 150 YEARS AGO AND NOT BE MINDFUL OF ITS IMPACT TODAY? THAT'S WHY DYLAN MCGEE AND I MADE THIS SERIES AND WITH PBS WE'LL GET, AND I AM ON THE ROAD, YOU KNOW, I FLEW DOWN TO BEAUFORD FROM HARVARD.
UH, I DID MY OFFICIAL DUTIES ON, JUMPED ON JETBLUE AND CAME DOWN HERE CUZ I WANTED A SOUTH CAROLINA SCREENING TO
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REMIND PEOPLE THAT THIS IS GROUND ZERO, THAT THEN IS NOW, AND I WANT TO DO ONE IN CHARLESTON.UH, AND I WANNA DO ONE AT THE PENN CENTER.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE COUNTRY UNDERSTAND THAT WE MADE THIS SERIES ABOUT THE CURRENT RACIAL CLIMATE IN THE UNITED STATES, THOUGH IT'S THROUGH THE MIRROR AND THE ANALOGY OF RECONSTRUCTION AND ITS ROLLBACK CALLED REDEMPTION.
WHAT IS THE MEASURE OF SUCCESS FOR YOU FOR THIS SERIES? UM, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT RECONSTRUCTION MODULES.
FIRST, I WANT RECONSTRUCTION MODULES TO BE CREATED IN THE CLASSROOM SO THAT RECONSTRUCTION IS AS CENTRAL TO A COURSE IN AMERICAN HISTORY AS THE CIVIL WAR IS, OR WORLD WAR I OR WORLD WAR II.
RECONSTRUCTION WAS OUR FIRST EXPERIMENT WITH INTERRACIAL DEMOCRACY AND IT WAS CRUSHED.
AND THE ONLY WAY THAT WE'RE GONNA SURVIVE AS A SOCIETY IS IF WE FASHION FORUMS OF INTERRACIAL DEMOCRACY AND COLLABORATION THAT ALLOW MULTIPLICITY OF VOICES, SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS, RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, ET CETERA, GENDER IDENTITIES TO THRIVE AND LIVE IN HARMONY AND PEACE.
THAT'S MY GOAL IN CREATING THIS SERIES, AND I HOPE PEOPLE WILL WATCH IT.
OKAY, SO WE GOT ANOTHER ONE ON.
I DON'T THINK IT'S, WE'LL HAVE TO SEE
LISTEN, I'M NO EXTROVERT AT THIS.
IT'S A BIG FISH, WHATEVER IT IS.
LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THIS RED FISH.
DO YOU HEAR THAT? HEAR THAT DRUMMING NOISE.
SO THESE THINGS MAKE A FABULOUS DRUMMING NOISE.
ANOTHER NAME FOR THIS RED DRUM AND YOU CAN HEAR 'EM JUST, JUST CROAKING AWAY.
SO BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL ANIMAL.
AND YOU SEE HE'S GOT THAT KIND OF REDDISH, PINKISH COLOR.
THE SPOT TAIL BASS IS ANOTHER NAME FOR THIS GUY.
I MEAN, FABULOUS, FABULOUS FISH.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE'LL LET HIM GO.
I MEAN, IT IS INCREDIBLE WHAT WE HAVE HERE.
ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE HAVE SUCH A VARIETY OF FISH IS BECAUSE THIS AREA IS STILL STILL IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE.
WE HAVE GOOD WATER QUALITY, WE HAVE DEEP WATER, WE HAVE HIGH SALINITY, HIGH TIDE AMPLITUDE, AND ALL THOSE THINGS ARE A RECIPE FOR GREAT FISHING AND GREAT DIVERSITY OF LIFE AROUND HERE.
JOIN ME FOR COASTAL KINGDOM ON THE COUNTY CHANNEL.