Jun 12, 2023 County Council

BUSINESS LICENSE REVENUE COLLECTOR.

UM, AND THEN ASHLEY.

THIS IS MR. ASHLEY PEES.

HE'S A REVENUE COLLECTOR.

HE'D ONLY BEEN WITH US SIX MONTHS.

WE SAY REVENUE COLLECTOR.

WE'RE NOT ABOUT BUSINESS SERVICES.

UH, HE ASSISTS BUSINESS OWNERS WITH OBTAINING AND RENEWING BUSINESS LICENSING AND PROCESSING HOSPITALITY AND ACCOMMODATION TAX REMITTANCES.

ALTHOUGH ASHLEY HAS ONLY BEEN WITH BUSINESS SERVICES FOR SIX MONTHS, THEY ALREADY SEE THE IMPACT HE HAS MADE ON A DAILY BASIS.

WE, UM, THEY RECEIVED HIM AT A CRUCIAL MOMENT AND HE STEPPED UP AND EXCELLED IN TRAINING WHEN THEY NEEDED HIM MOST.

UH, HIS QUICK GRASP OF, OF HIS RESPONSIBILITIES HAS PAID OFF.

UH, HE HAS A GREAT ATTITUDE AND IT FITS IN WITH THE TEAM EXCEPTIONALLY WELL.

HE PURCHASED STICKERS TO PASS OUT ON OCCASION, JUST TO LET THE CUSTOMER KNOW THAT WE KNOW THAT WE APPRECIATE THEM.

THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

THAT'S GOOD, MAN.

WE ARE THANKFUL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF WORKING WITH HIM.

UH, HE ALSO HAS A TREMENDOUS LOVE FOR HIS FAMILY.

AND GOD DO NOT MISTAKE ASHLEY FOR HIS QUITE AN INNOCENT DEMEANOR.

HE IS QUITE A CHARACTER AND FITS WELL WITH THE BUSINESS SERVICES TEAM.

[00:10:01]

THAT SENT TO CRACK ME UP ABOUT FITTING WELL WITH THE BUSINESS SERVICES TEAM WILL CAUSE CALL CAROLYN BACK THERE.

SO IF YOU, IF YOU'RE IN ANYTHING CLOSE TO HER, Y'ALL HAVE A LOT OF FUN UP THERE.

I KNOW.

SO ANYWAY, TURN THE MIC OVER TO YOU IF YOU WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

I JUST WANNA SAY I APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY COWORKERS AND BUSINESS SERVICES FOR SHOWING ME THE ROPES AND SUPPORTING ME DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

WITH THAT PARTICULAR EFFORT.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.

GREAT.

UH, BEFORE WE GO TO CITIZEN COMMENTS, MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE, PEOPLE ONLINE MEMBERS OF, UH, COUNTY COUNCIL, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO GIVE US SOME NEWS.

HE IS NO STRANGER TO US.

HE IS A FRIEND OF US, UH, SENATOR TOM DAVIS.

OH, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, VICE CHAIRMAN.

HOW ARE Y'ALL? UM, JUST WANTED TO REPORT TO YOU THAT THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE BUDGET CONFERENCE HAD REACHED AN AGREEMENT LAST WEEK IN REGARD TO THE, UH, CONFERENCE REPORT.

AND IT WILL GO TO THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE FOR VOTING ON THIS WEDNESDAY.

THEN DOWN TO THE GOVERNOR.

THE GOVERNOR THEN HAS FIVE WORKING DAYS IN WHICH TO ISSUE LINE ITEM VETOES.

WE'LL THEN GO BACK UP THE FOLLOWING WEEK TO PICK UP THOSE LINE ITEM VETOES, AND THEN THE FISCAL YEAR, UH, BEGINS JULY ONE.

SO I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE IN, IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, UM, FOR BEAUFORD COUNTY.

UM, THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE, REMEMBER THAT BACK WHEN WESTON NEWTON WAS CHAIRMAN OF COUNTY COUNCIL, HE ONE TIME ASKED FOR $25,000 FROM D O T TO PUT IN A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT SUN CITY.

AND THEY WERE TOLD THAT THERE WASN'T ENOUGH MONEY.

SO BEAUFORT COUNTY WAS OUTTA LUCK.

WE, WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN SEEN HISTORICALLY AS A COUNTY THAT SHOULD JUST BE QUIET.

WE'RE WEALTHY, WE SHOULDN'T ASK FOR ANYTHING.

UM, AND CERTAINLY WE SHOULDN'T GET AS MUCH AS SOME OF THE POORER COUNTIES, BUT WE OUGHT TO GET OUR SHARE.

AND I'M, I'M THANKFUL TO REPORT THAT WITH BILL HERB KURTZMAN, UM, AS A SENIOR MEMBER AND SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMAN ON HOUSE WAVES AND MEANS, AND I'M A SENIOR MEMBER AND SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMAN ON SENATE FINANCE.

WE WERE ABLE TO GET THESE THINGS FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY THIS YEAR, UM, IN ADDITION TO KEEPING U S C B RECURRING FUNDING AT 100% OF THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE, AND IT WAS 28%.

NOW IT'S UP TO A HUNDRED PERCENT.

UH, GOING FORWARD ON A RECURRING BASIS, THERE WAS A 10 MILLION ONE-TIME APPROPRIATION FOR THE CONVOCATION CENTER THAT'S ON TOP OF PRIOR YEAR APPROPRIATION FOR THE CONVOCATION CENTER.

I BELIEVE THEY'RE STILL A LITTLE BIT SHORT, BUT THEY'VE GOT ENOUGH MONEY NOW, I THINK, FOR THE PLANNING AND TO, TO KIND OF REALLY MOVE FORWARD AND WE'LL TRY TO CLEAN THAT UP AND GET THE REST OF THE MONEY NEXT YEAR.

UM, IN ADDITION, THERE WAS $10 MILLION FOR TCLS WORKFORCE TRAINING CENTER.

I THINK YOU'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THAT PROJECT AS WELL.

UM, THERE WAS $500,000 GIVEN TO U S C B FOR ITS OBLIGATIONS REGARDING PRITCHARD'S ISLAND.

UH, SOMEBODY RECALL THAT WAS A REVERSIONARY CLAUSE AND THAT DEED THAT COULD REVERT BACK IF CERTAIN THINGS WEREN'T TAKEN CARE OF.

UM, MITCHELLVILLE ON HILTON HEAD, UH, RECEIVED $922,000 IN AN APPROPRIATION PORT SOUND FOUNDATION GOT $400,000.

UM, BLUFFTON VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE GOT $300,000.

THE BEAUFORD JASPER HOUSING TRUST FUND, WHICH IS, UH, A GROUP THAT YOU AND JASPER COUNTY TOOK THE LEAD ON WITH ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN THE COUNTIES ALSO PARTICIPATING.

AND I THINK YOU ALL MADE COMMITMENTS OVER TIME TO MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS.

UM, WE SECURED IN THE BUDGET A, A ONE TIME $3 MILLION APPROPRIATION, UM, INTO THAT HOUSING TRUST FUND.

AGAIN, THE FUNDS WOULD BE AVAILABLE COME JULY ONE.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, IN REGARD TO WORKFORCE HOUSING, UH, A $2 MILLION APPROPRIATION WAS SECURED FOR HILTON HEAD, UH, HABITAT HUMANITY.

THEY OWN A LARGE TRACK OF LAND IN JASPER COUNTY, AND THAT $2 MILLION APPROPRIATION WILL GO TOWARD INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, FOR THE FIRST PHASE OF THAT, UH, WADDELL MARICULTURE CENTER.

UM, THEY HAVE SOME DEFERRED MAINTENANCE IN REGARD TO A BUILDING OR A HOUSE O ON THE PREMISES THAT A LOT OF VISITING SCIENTISTS AND STUDENTS AND OTHERS STAY AT.

THERE WAS A $500,000 APPROPRIATION FOR THAT.

UM, THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, UM, HAS A LINEAR TRAIL, UM, THAT IT PUT IN A REQUEST FOR 'EM.

WE SECURED A $2 MILLION APPROPRIATION FOR, UM, THE BLUFF AND LINEAR TRAIL.

UM, SHERIFF, UH, PJ TANNER HAD REQUESTED SOME MONEY FOR A CRIME LAB.

WE GOT $500,000 FOR A CRIME LAB, UH, FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF.

AND THEN LASTLY, UM, IN REGARD TO ST.

JAMES'S BAPTIST CHURCH ON HILTON HEAD, AS Y'ALL RECALL, WE NEED TO MOVE, UM, THAT PARTICULAR FACILITY TO ITS NEW SITE.

I THINK IT'S GONNA BE NEAR UNION CEMETERY.

AND, UM, AS PART OF THAT, WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT DOLLARS TO MAKE IT WORK.

YOU CAN ONLY GET A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM THE FAA AND WE COULDN'T QUITE GET AS MUCH AS THEY NEEDED OR WANTED.

SO WE SECURED A $750,000 APPROPRIATION IN THE STATE BUDGET TO ASSIST THE COUNTY IN THE FAA AND THE TOWN OF HILTON HU ISLAND

[00:15:01]

SO, YOU KNOW, ALL TOLD, UH, JUST IN REGARD TO THAT ONE TIME FUNDING THAT I JUST WENT THROUGH, THAT'S AN EXCESS TO $30 MILLION, WHICH IS A, A LONG WAYS AWAY FROM THE $25,000 TRAFFIC LIGHT THAT WESTON NEWTON TRIED TO GET A FEW YEARS AGO.

UM, SO IT WAS A VERY GOOD SESSION.

WE ALSO GOT THE, UM, UH, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACT PASSED THAT ALLOWS, UM, ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, INCLUDING BEAUFORT COUNTY TO ALLOCATE UP TO 15% OF YOUR ACCOMMODATIONS TAXES, UH, TOWARD WORKFORCE HOUSING.

UM, THAT'S ONLY GOOD FOR A PERIOD OF SEVEN YEARS.

THAT WAS A, A DEAL NEGOTIATED WITH, WITH P RT AND THE RESTAURANT LODGING ASSOCIATION.

UM, IF, IF IT EXCEEDS AND IT SUCCESSFUL OVER SEVEN YEARS, I DON'T THINK WE'LL HAVE ANY PROBLEMS STANDING THE PROGRAM BACK UP.

BUT, BUT INITIALLY, UM, IT'LL BE UP TO 15% OF YOUR A TAX MONEY FOR SEVEN YEARS CAN GO FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING.

SO, UM, THAT'S MY BRIEF REPORT, MR. CHAIRMAN.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT Y'ALL MIGHT HAVE.

UM, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, I WANNA SAY IN PARTICULAR THE ASSISTANCE THAT MR. GREENWAY GAVE IN REGARD TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BILL THAT PASSED.

HE CAME UP AND TESTIFIED AT SUBCOMMITTEE, UM, AND IT WAS REALLY A GROUP EFFORT AND I APPRECIATE THE ASSISTANCE HE GAVE IN THAT REGARD.

GREAT.

ANY, UM, QUESTIONS FOR SENATOR DAVIS? I JUST, I JUST HAVE ONE COMMENT IF I MAY.

I KNOW THAT YOU'RE, WHENEVER YOU MAKE A PRESENTATION LIKE THIS THAT YOU TEND TO GIVE ALL THE CREDIT TO OTHERS, BUT I, I'VE BEEN UP THERE, I'VE SEEN HOW HARD YOU WORK ON THESE THINGS, SO I KNOW, SPEAKING FOR EVERYBODY, WE OFFER OUR CONGRATULATIONS FOR THE HARD WORK.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

LEMME MAKE THIS ONE POINT ABOUT BEAUFORT COUNTY.

UM, WE HAVE THE CHAIRMAN OF HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE IN WESTON NEWTON, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE IN JEFF BRADLEY, THE VICE CHAIRMAN OF WAYS AND MEANS, AND BILL HARSMAN, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE REGULATORY COMMITTEE IN JEFF BRADLEY, THE CHAIRMAN OF LABOR COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY COMMITTEE, WHICH I CHAIR THE CHAIRMAN OF FISH GAME AND FORESTRY WITH CHIP CAMPSEN CHAIRS.

NO OTHER COUNTY HAS HALF AS MANY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN SHIPS AS BEAUFORD COUNTY.

SO I REALLY FEEL LIKE THE NEXT 10 YEARS FOR US, MR. CHAIRMAN.

UM, WHEREAS THE LAST 10 YEARS MAY HAVE BEEN FOR THE GREATER CHARLESTON AREA, THE 10 YEARS BEFORE THAT WAS IN THE GREENVILLE SPARTANBURG CORRIDOR.

, THESE NEXT 10 YEARS ARE GOING TO BE BEAUFORT, JASPER, THE SURROUNDING AREA.

AND I'M REALLY PROUD TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF BEAUFORD COUNTY AND JASPER COUNTY UP THERE.

IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT 10 YEARS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE'RE AT OUR FIRST CITIZEN COMMENTS.

[7. CITIZEN COMMENTS PERIOD - 15 MINUTES TOTAL]

UM, UH, SEVERAL OF THE PEOPLE WANT TO TALK ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 12 ON OUR AGENDA.

ITEM NUMBER 12, WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT SHORT-TERM RENTALS ON DSKY ISLAND.

SO LEANNE, WILL YOU COME FORWARD FOR YOUR THREE MINUTE PRESENTATION PLEASE? HI, MY NAME IS LEANNE COULTER AND I LIVE ON DSKY ISLAND FULL-TIME DSKY ALLEN WAS LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES IN 1982 AND IS PART OF THE CULTURAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR, WHICH WAS DESIGNATED BY CONGRESS IN 2006.

IN THE DSKY ISLAND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE, THERE IS A SUB ZONE TITLED RURAL GULLAH HERITAGE ZONE.

IT READS, THE INTENT OF THIS SUB ZONE IS TO PROVIDE A DISTRICT THAT PRESERVES THE GULLAH HERITAGE WHILE MAINTAINING THE RURAL CHARACTER OF THIS AREA OF DSKY ISLAND.

THIS SUBZONE PRESERVES THE GULLAH HERITAGE SITES AND ENSURES THAT NEW DEVELOPMENT IS IN CHARACTER WITH THE GULLAH HERITAGE.

THE DSKY ISLAND HISTORIC FOUNDATION HAS IDENTIFIED 20 HISTORIC SITES ON THE ISLAND.

16 OF THEM ARE IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.

THIS IS AN, THIS IS SIGNIFICANT IN AN AREA THAT IS FIVE MILES LONG AND TWO AND A HALF MILES WIDE.

AND I BROUGHT A BROCHURE FOR YOU ALL SO THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT SOME OF THE HISTORY AND JUST LOOK AND SEE WHERE THESE ARE MAPPED OUT.

THE DSKY ISLAND COUNCIL RECOMMENDS THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT PROCESS FOR SHORT TERM RENTALS IN THE RURAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.

THIS PROCESS IS THE FAIREST WAY TO ALLOW RENTALS IN OUR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.

THIS PROCESS ALLOWS NEIGHBORS TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD BEFORE IT HAPPENS, NOT AFTER IT HAPPENS.

WE ARE A VERY SMALL COMMUNITY, AS SOME OF YOU SAW, AND WE HAVE VERY LIMITED SERVICES.

ANY PROCESS THAT DOES NOT ALLOW RESIDENTS TO KNOW WHAT IS BEING PLANNED NEXT DOOR SEEMS INHERENTLY WRONG.

A COUPLE OF ADDITIONAL POINTS ABOUT THE PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENT.

SPECIAL USE PERMIT IS BEING PROPOSED ONLY IN THE RURAL RESIDENTIAL ZONE OF DUSKY ISLAND.

UM, THE ATTENDANCE AT ANY MEETING COULD BE DONE THROUGH ZOOM

[00:20:01]

IN MIXED USE AND COMMERCIAL ZONES.

SHORT-TERM RENTALS ARE ALLOWED AS PERMITTED USE.

UM, ALL SHORT-TERM RENTALS OPERATING LEGALLY BY DECEMBER OF 2022, WERE GRANDFATHERED.

THIS PROPOSAL DOES NOT PROHIBIT SHORT-TERM RENTALS ON DSKY.

THEY WILL BE ALLOWED IN ALL AREAS OF THE ISLAND.

THE RESIDENTS OF DSKY ISLAND WOULD LIKE TO BE AWARE IF A SHORT-TERM RENTAL IS BEING PLANNED IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

HOWEVER, WE REALLY HAVE TO MAKE THIS WORK FOR EVERYONE.

I'M ASKING YOU TO VOTE YES FOR THE PROPOSED SHORT-TERM RENTAL AMENDMENT TO THE DAUFUSKIE ISLAND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE AS PRESENTED TO YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE TIME TO SPEAK.

UH, BETH MCINTYRE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

MY NAME IS BETH MCINTYRE.

I'M THE SECRETARY OF THE DSKY ISLAND COUNCIL.

BY NOW, I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE T R ISSUE ON DSKY ISLAND AND HOW THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS PASSED WITHOUT DISSENT IN DECEMBER, 2022 CAME INTO EXISTENCE.

SINCE THAT TIME, THE POSITION OF THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL HAS NOT CHANGED.

WE ARE RECOMMENDING SPECIAL USE PERMITTING IN THE HISTORIC RESIDENTIAL AREAS OF DUSKY ISLAND BY RECOMMENDING SPECIAL USE PERMITTING.

WE HAVE NOT CAPPED STR, WE HAVE NOT STOPPED STR.

WE HAVE NOT LIMITED STR.

WE HAVE SIMPLY SAID THAT THE NEIGHBORS AND PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT SHOULD HAVE A SAY A VOICE IN ANY BUSINESS VENTURE IN THEIR RESIDENTIAL AREA.

WE ARE ASKING YOU TO APPLY THE SAME RULES THAT YOU APPLY TO OTHER UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF THE COUNTY.

WE ARE ASKING YOU TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC COMMENT.

THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO SPEAK.

EVERYONE WHO HAS COME BEFORE YOU OR WHO WILL COME BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TO PROMOTE THEIR USE OF CONDITIONAL USE.

PERMITTING IS NOW IN THE POSITION OF DENYING OTHERS THE SAME RIGHT TO WHICH THEY HAVE AVAILED THEMSELVES THEIR RIGHT TO SPEAK ON A MATTER THAT AFFECTS THEM.

THESE SAME PEOPLE ARE USING A PERMITTING TACTIC, WHICH WOULD SILENCE THOSE IN THE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS, THE ONES WHO ARE MOST AFFECTED BY A BUSINESS IN THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

THIS TACTIC IS USED AS A MEANS TO SQUASH PUBLIC COMMENT.

THEY WOULD PLACE THEIR PERCEIVED ABILITY TO MAKE MONEY ABOVE THOSE RESIDENTS WHO THEY NOW SAY, HAVE NO RIGHT TO VOICE THEIR OPINION, WHO THEY NOW WOULD LIKE TO SILENCE.

I COME BEFORE YOU TO ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE RAMIFICATIONS WHEN YOU SILENCE PUBLIC COMMENT, COMMENT THAT INVOLVES SOMEONE'S HOME, SOMEONE'S NEIGHBORHOOD, SOMEONE'S COMMUNITY.

THE BASIC TENANTS OF OUR DEMOCRACY SHOULD BE HELD FAST AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, THE BASIC RIGHT OF EVERY AMERICAN TO PARTICIPATE.

THE LINE STARTS HERE WITH YOU.

THE BASIC RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE WITH OUR VOICES ON THE SINGLE LARGEST FINANCIAL INVESTMENT THAT MOST PEOPLE WILL EVER MAKE THEIR HOMES.

WE WOULD LIKE TO USE OUR VOICE TO HELP DETERMINE THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR COMMUNITY.

ONCE AGAIN, WE HAVE NOT STOPPED OR IMPEDED THE RIGHT TO RENT PROPERTY FOR PROFIT, THE RIGHT TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT WITHIN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.

I AM SIMPLY ASKING ALL OF YOU THAT AS YOU APPROVE THE RIGHTS OF THOSE WHO WOULD MAKE MONEY BY RENTING THEIR HOMES, YOU DO NOT SUPPRESS THE BASIC RIGHTS OF OTHERS.

OUR DEMOCRATIC RIGHT, OUR AMERICAN RIGHT, THE RIGHT TO SPEAK, THE RIGHT TO VOICE OUR OPINIONS, TO MAKE THOSE OPINIONS KNOWN.

I'M ASKING YOU TO SPAT TO PASS SPECIAL USE PERMITTING IN THE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS OF DUSKY ISLAND.

WITH CONDITIONAL USE PERMITTING AND WITH INFORMATION COLLECTED, LIKE THINGS LIKE INCREASE THE STR FINANCIAL IMPACT ON SMALL BUSINESSES, UH, COMPLAINTS AND, AND THE, UH, DUSKY COUNCIL.

I'M KATE YARBOROUGH, VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE DUFUS ALLEN COUNCIL.

FIRST ON BEHALF OF THE DUSKY RESIDENCE, I'D LIKE TO THANK SO MANY OF YOU FOR TAKING YOUR TIME TO ATTEND THE FINDING COMMON GROUND TOWN HALL MEETING.

UH, TWO WEEKS AGO, MYSELF AND TWO OTHER COUNTY, UH, COUNTY COUN OR COUNCIL MEMBERS, DUFUS COUNCIL MEMBERS CALLED THIS SPECIAL EVENT FOR OUR LAST MEETING, UH, BECAUSE COUNCIL LAWSON DELAYED THE VOTE, UH, ON THE DUFUS S SCR ISSUE SO THAT OUR COMMUNITY COULD COME UP WITH COMPROMISE.

WELL, WE WERE SORRY OF THAT.

FOUR OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS DECIDED TO BOYCOTT THIS MEETING, INCLUDING THE TWO PREVIOUS SPEAKERS.

STILL, WE THINK THE TOWN HALL MEETING WAS SUCCESSFUL.

ONE OF OUR ISLAND RESIDENTS, PAM COBB, WHO RUNS THE COFFEE SHOP, SAID THAT SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE AFRAID WHAT DUSKY MIGHT LOOK LIKE IN 20 YEARS.

[00:25:01]

AND YOU FOLKS COULD DECIDE ON THE CHANGE IN THE PROGRAM.

UH, AS IT CONTINUES.

AT THE END OF THE TOWN HALL, THERE WAS A SHOW OF HANDS IN SUPPORT OF PAM'S COMPROMISE.

AT LEAST THREE QUARTERS OF PEOPLE RAISE THEIR HANDS.

THERE WAS ONE CONCERN ABOUT CONDITIONAL USE, WHICH WAS THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.

AND THAT WAS WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO REVOKE THE PERMIT IF THERE WERE VIOLATIONS.

NO ONE SEEMED TO THINK THAT THE COUNTY SHOULD GO TO COURT TO DO THAT.

SO IN RESPONSE TO MR. LAWSON'S REQUEST AT THE LAST MEETING TO REACH COMPROMISE, HERE'S A COMPROMISE THAT CAME OUT OF OUR TOWN HALL MEETING.

ALLOW CONDITIONAL USE PERMITTING AS A PILOT PROJECT FOR DUFUS.

WITH THE REVIEW THAT COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE DSKY COUNCIL AT THE END OF THE PROJECT COULD CHA UH, CHANGE AND BE REVIEWED.

IN ADDITION, A SECTION COULD BE ADDED THAT MAKES IT CLEAR THAT THE REMOVAL OF THE PERMIT, BECAUSE OF VIOLATION, SHOULD BE DONE THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS, NOT COURT PROCESS LANGUAGE FROM HILTON HEAD AND BLUFFTON CONDITIONAL USE REGULATIONS SHOULD HELP YOU WITH THIS NEW SECTION.

FINALLY, I, I THINK THAT MOST OF OUR COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE TO ASK TO YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE HILTON HEAD, BLUFFTON AND BUFORD, TO THOSE OF YOU WHO REPRESENT THESE SECTION, UH OH.

THESE TOWNS, THEY ARE, THEY HAVE CONDITIONAL USE PROGRAM FOR STR LESS THAN A MILE ACROSS THE WATER FROM HILTON HEAD IN BLUFFTON IS DUSKY.

WE KNOW YOU, WE DON'T LOOK EXACTLY LIKE THOSE TOWNS, BUT WE DON'T EXACTLY LOOK LIKE THE REST OF UNINCORPORATED BUER.

WE THINK THAT IT'S FAIR THAT A PILOT PROJECT BE APPROVED WITH AN ADDITIONAL USE PERMITTING FOR DUSKY TO SEE IF IT WORKS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AT THE END OF THE PILOT PROJECT CHANGES CAN BE MADE IF IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE WORKING OUT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU DEBORAH SMITH.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO SUMMARIZE THE ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF CONDITIONAL USE PERMITTING.

ONE, A SPECIAL USE PERMIT REQUIREMENT RE REQUIRES SEVERAL TRIPS TO BEAUFORT, NOT JUST TO THE Z B O A HEARING, BUT ALSO TO MEET WITH STAFF.

AND WE'VE DISCUSSED WITH YOU AT SOME LENGTH HOW ONEROUS THIS REQUIREMENT IS FOR DUFUS PROPERTY OWNERS.

TWO, THE PROPOSAL PENDING BEFORE YOU INCLUDES A LONG LIST OF REQUIREMENTS OR CONDITIONS.

THAT LIST IS MORE EXTENSIVE THAN IN ANY OTHER BEAUFORT COUNTY COMMUNITY AND INCLUDES THINGS LIKE CERTIFICATION BY A LICENSED BUILDING INSPECTOR EVERY THREE YEARS, TRASH MANAGEMENT ASSIGNED WITH A PHONE NUMBER TO REPORT PROBLEMS AND NOISE GUIDELINES.

THESE CONDITIONS AND MANY MORE SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH SAFETY AND PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS ARE SATISFACTORILY ADDRESSED AS WELL AS MINIMIZED PROBLEMS FOR SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS.

THREE, WITH NO HOTEL, MOST OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES FEAR THAT SPECIAL USE PERMITTING WILL MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR VISITORS TO VACATION ON DUFUS.

THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES TO OUR COMMUNITY COULD BE SEVERE.

FOUR SPECIAL USE CREATES UNCERTAINTY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT A PERMIT WILL BE APPROVED.

THIS IS ALREADY CAUSED A CHILLING IMPACT ON REAL ESTATE SALES WITH SEVERAL CASES OF PURCHASED CONTRACTS FALLING THROUGH BECAUSE THE BUYERS WERE NOT SURE THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO RECOUP SOME OF THEIR EXPENSES.

FIVE.

IF SPECIAL USE PERMITTING IS APPROVED FOR OUR HISTORIC DISTRICT, IT WILL ONLY IMPACT A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE ISLAND'S STR MOST ARE IN THE RESORTS OR OTHER COMMUNITIES.

FOR A TINY ISLAND WITH LESS THAN 500 RESIDENTS, TREATING PROPERTY OWNERS DIFFERENTLY LEADS TO RESENTMENT AND DIVISIVENESS.

IT COMES DOWN TO SIMPLE FAIRNESS.

SHOULD THE RESORT PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT STANDARD THAN OUR ISLANDS WORKING PEOPLE? SIX.

WE BELIEVE THAT THE SPECIAL USE PERMITTING PROCESS WILL BE USED AS A WEAPON TO RESTRICT ADDITIONAL STR.

ANYONE WHO QUESTIONS THIS SHOULD READ.

CHAIRMAN ROGER PINCKNEY'S QUOTE IN TODAY'S ISLAND PACKET ARTICLE ABOUT THIS ISSUE IN WHICH HE DEFENDS A SPECIAL USE REQUIREMENT BY SAYING WE HAVE ENOUGH STR ON DUSKY SEVEN.

WE VIEW WITH SKEPTICISM STATEMENTS ABOUT WHAT DUFUS MIGHT LOOK LIKE 20 YEARS FROM NOW IF CONDITIONAL USE IS APPROVED.

RIGHT NOW, THE HISTORIC DISTRICT IS LARGELY UNDEVELOPED.

THERE ARE 540 LOTS AND THE LIST OF STR IS NO MORE THAN 13.

EXCLUDING THE SMALL CABINS AT FREEPORT MARINA.

THE RECOMMENDATION THAT LAST WEEK'S TOWN HALL CALLS FOR A TWO YEAR PILOT PROJECT USING CONDITIONAL USE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

THIS ISSUE CAN ALWAYS BE RE REVISITED BY BOTH DUSKY AND YOUR COUNCIL.

EIGHT.

THIS ENTIRE PROCESS HAS BEEN AN ANSWER IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM.

OUR HISTORIC DISTRICT STR TEND TO BE SMALL AND ARE OCCUPIED BY COUPLES OR SMALL FAMILIES.

THEY ARE NOT THE PARTY GROUPS WE SEE IN THE RESORT AREA.

THERE IS NO RECORD OF ANY COMPLAINT ABOUT HISTORIC DISTRICT ST.

R GUESTS BROUGHT TO THE DEUS ISLAND COUNCIL.

FINALLY, WE BELIEVE CONDITIONAL USE USE HELPS PROTECT PROPERTY OWNER RIGHTS.

IT ALLOWS OWNERS WHO ARE WILLING TO FOLLOW THE EXTENSIVE LU USE OF CONDITIONS, LISTED CONDITIONS, THE RIGHT TO DEVELOP THEIR PROPERTY AS THEY CHOOSE

[00:30:01]

TO DO SO.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US DEFINE COMMON GROUND ON THIS VERY DIVISIVE ISSUE.

JOHN CHATER EVENING.

I AM, UH, ALSO A MEMBER OF THE PUKE ISLAND COUNCIL AND I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME IN LAST WEEK, UH, BY THE INVITATION.

MR. LAWSON.

WE ENJOYED YOU ALL COMING OVER AND I HOPE YOU SAW SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WE ARE HAVING WITH THE, UH, PROBLEMS OF THE SDR.

UM, DECISIONS.

UM, COUPLE WEEKS AGO, MR. LAWSON SAID THE MISSION OF FUKE ISLAND COUNCIL WAS TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF THE FUKE ISLAND.

WE DO NOT MAKE, UH, LAWS, WE DO NOT MAKE, UH, REQUIREMENTS.

WELL.

WE ARE JUST A BODY TO REPRESENT THE VOICE, THE OPINIONS OF THE DUSKY ISLAND TO YOU.

NOW, IN THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, THE CODES COMMITTEE AND THE DUSKY ISLAND COUNCIL HAVE BEEN HAVING NUMEROUS MEETINGS, PUBLIC MEETINGS ON THE SDR ISSUES.

WE HAD, UM, THREE PUBLIC SURVEYS.

WE HAD OVER TWO, 200 PEOPLE RESPOND TO EACH OF THOSE SURVEYS.

EACH SURVEY CAME OUT WITH TWO THIRDS OF THE POPULATION FAVORED CONDITIONAL PERMITS.

WE HAD OPEN DISCUSSIONS AT OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS AND JUST LIKE THE OPEN MEETING WE HAD LAST WEEK, TWO THIRDS OF THE PEOPLE AGAIN DECIDED CONDITIONAL PERMITING IS WHAT WE WANTED.

SO THE REPRESENTATION OF THE FOSKEY COUNCIL SAYING TO YOU THAT SPECIAL PERMIT IS WHAT THEY WANT IS MISLEADING, IS VERY MISLEADING.

SO WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY, AND ALSO A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM, UH, SAID THAT SPECIAL USE PERMITS COULD HAVE 3, 4, 5, 6 PEOPLE GO TO THE ZONING BOARD AND SAY, NO, WE DON'T LIKE MR. SO-AND-SO, WE DON'T WANT HIS SDR.

AND THAT'S A VERY GOOD POINT.

AND THAT'S THE WAY WE'RE AFRAID OF.

SO CONDITIONAL USE DOES NOT PIT ONE PERSON AGAINST THE OTHER AND IS WHAT THE, THE, THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMUNITY DECIDED UPON.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING.

OKAY, THAT ENDS OUR, UH, CITIZEN COMMENTS.

WE'LL NOW GO TO C COMMITTED REPORTS.

ANY COMMITTEE REPORTS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNTY COUNCIL.

OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ACTION ITEMS. I WOULD ASK A MEMBER OF COUNSEL FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

SEEING NONE, WE ARE NOW GOING TO MOVE ON TO

[9. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA]

MR. MCALLEN MAKES THE MOTION.

NUMBER 10 IS A TIME SENSITIVE ITEM THAT ORIGINATED FROM TODAY'S COMMUNITY SERVICES AND LAND USE COMMITTEE.

MR. DAWSON MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED.

ANY QUESTIONS? SEEING NO QUESTIONS? UH, THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM

[10. TIME-SENSITIVE ITEM ORIGINATING FROM THE JUNE 12TH COMMUNITY SERVICES AND LAND USE COMMITTEE- FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING PROCEEDS AND INTEREST FROM THE 2017 GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND ANTICIPATION NOTE TO DESIGN, ENGINEER, CONSTRUCT, AND EQUIP A JOINT FIRE/EMS STATION IN SUN CITY AND TO DEFRAY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PERMANENT EMBARKATION LOCATIONS FOR THE DAUFUSKIE ISLAND FERRY AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERETO]

IT IS THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING THE PROCEEDS AND INTEREST FROM THE 2017 GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND ANTICIPATION.

NOTE TO DESIGN ENGINEER, CONSTRUCT AND EQUIP A JOINT FIRE E M S STATION IN SUN CITY AND DEFRAY COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PERMANENT EMBARK LOCATIONS FOR DUSKY ISLAND FERRY AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERE TOO.

A MOTION.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

I'LL SECOND THE MOTION.

MR. MS. ICK MADE THE MOTION.

AND, UM, HOWARD MS. HOWARD.

MS. HOWARD? YES.

I'M LISTENING TO YOU AND WRITING SOMETHING ELSE DOWN.

DULY MOTION AND SECONDED.

ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.

THIS ITEM WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM

[11. TIME-SENSITIVE ITEM ORIGINATING FROM THE JUNE 12TH COMMUNITY SERVICES AND LAND USE COMMITTEE- FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS FOR THE SALE OF REAL PROPERTY WITH TMS NO. R600-009-000- 0003-0000, ALSO KNOWN AS CAMP ST. MARY'S, TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PROGRAM]

NUMBER 11 IS ALSO A TIME SENSITIVE ITEM ORIGINATING FROM TODAY'S COMMUNITY SERVICES AND LAND USE COMMITTEE.

IT IS THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS FOR THE SALE OF REAL PROPERTY, ALSO KNOWN AS CAMP SADE MARY'S TO THE BURET COUNTY RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PROGRAM.

A MOTION PLEASE SHALL MOVE, SIR.

MR. MCALLEN MADE THE MOTION.

I'LL SECOND THAT.

MS. BROWN MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTION.

DIDN'T SECOND IT.

ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.

THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

DID YOU SKIP OVER THE LAST ONE? IS THAT NO, I'M SORRY.

I'M MUST MISSED OUT.

NO, WE DID TENS.

NOW WE'RE ON 11.

ONE OF THOSE THINGS, LOGAN, YOU ADD A COMMENT ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 11.

UH, YES, MR. CHAIRMAN, I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING THERE IN PERSON TODAY.

UM, YEAH, I DO HAVE SOME RESERVATIONS ABOUT IT.

UM, ORIGINALLY WE TALKED ABOUT USING THIS LAND AND IT SWAPPED IN

[00:35:01]

RURAL INCREDIBLE LANDS OUT ON ONE 70.

UM, IT WENT TO SECOND READING AND THEN THAT ACTUALLY GOT TABLED.

UM, AND WE NEVER HAD ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT AFTER THAT SECOND READING.

AND THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY WAS KEY IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

SO I KNOW THIS IS THE FIRST READING, IT'S GOTTA GO TO THREE.

UM, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO CONCLUDE THOSE CON DISCUSSIONS FIRST.

I KNOW THAT ANY OF THOSE SUPER MAJORITY, I KNOW THAT THERE'S DISAGREEMENTS WITH THAT COMMITTEE WITH IT.

UM, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY THAT THIS COUNCIL THAT HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETELY UP TO DATE ON.

UM, I DON'T KNOW IF TODAY IS THE TIME TO DO THAT OR ANOTHER DAY, BUT, UH, I WILL BE VOTING AGAINST THIS BECAUSE THAT, UH, INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN, UH, CONCLUDED YET.

WHAT HE TALKING ABOUT THE LIBRARY? YEAH.

UH, THE, I KNOW I DO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

UM, UH, AND WITHOUT GETTING INTO THAT, THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS THE FIRST READING WHEN WE WERE AT THE COMMUNITY SERVICES AND LAND USE COMMITTEE.

THERE WAS A THOROUGH DISCUSSION.

UH, THERE WAS A PRESENTATION AND EVERYBODY WAS IN FAVOR OF ACTUALLY DOING WHAT WE SAID.

THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN IN THE HANDS OF THE COUNTY FOR 26 YEARS.

IT HAS HAD NUMEROUS DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW IT SHOULD BE USED, AND NOW IS THE TIME FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD AND MAKE THAT A PASSIVE PARK.

IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE WANT TO PUT IT IN THE HANDS OF RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THAT PARK IN PERPETUITY.

AND, AND I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO CREATE THIS EL PASO PARK.

AND THAT'S THE GOAL I WOULD LIKE TO SEE DONE AS WELL.

UM, I JUST THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FULFILL ALL NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FULFILL BALL FIELDS, UM, INSTEAD OF USING TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO FULFILL.

UM, BUT YES, I UNDERSTAND IT'S FIRST READING AND WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION LATER ON, UM, AS WELL.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

DID I STEAL ANY OF YOUR THUNDER, SIR? NO, SIR.

I, I DID A GOOD JOB.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? ONE OBJECTION.

ACTUALLY MAY HAVE TWO.

TWO OBJECTIONS.

IS THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR A TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE, THE DSKY ISLAND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE TO AMEND VARIOUS SECTIONS, UM, WITHOUT ME HAVING TO READ EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE SECTIONS.

BUT IT STILL PASSES ON.

FIRST READING.

ITEM NUMBER 12

[12. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR A TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE ("CDC") APPENDIX B:- THE DAUFUSKIE ISLAND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE, TO AMEND DIVISION B.3, SECTION B.3.20 (CONSOLIDATED LAND USE TABLE AND LAND USE DEFINITIONS), AND TO ADD A NEW SECTION B.3.30 (OTHER STANDARDS) AND A NEW SUBSECTION B.3.30.A (SHORT-TERM RENTAL) TO ALLOW THE USAGE OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS AS A SPECIAL USE IN D2 RURAL, D2R-CP (RURALCONVENTIONALLY PLATTED), D2R-GH (RURAL-GULLAH HERITAGE), AND D3 GENERAL NEIGHBORHOOD, AND A PERMITTED USE IN D4 MIXED USE, D5 VILLAGE CENTER, AND D5 GENERAL COMMERCIAL]

THIS IS THE ITEM FOUR S T R.

UH, I'M GONNA ASK, ASK FOR A MOTION AND A SECOND FIRST AND THEN WE'LL GET INTO THE DISCUSSION.

I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.

MR. LAWSON MAKES THE MOTION.

SECOND MR. GLOVER.

I MEAN, MR. DAWSON MAKES THE SECOND.

I THOUGHT FOR SURE YOU WERE GONNA WEIGH IN .

UM, A DISCUSSION.

MR. GREENWAY, I'M MOSTLY HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I WANTED TO GO OVER WITH YOU BRIEFLY THESE THREE TYPES OF USES THAT WE LIST, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE.

YOU ALL WERE EMAILED THIS, UH, ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, I BELIEVE.

UM, SO ESSENTIALLY A PERMITTED USE IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT'S LISTED BY RIGHT.

UH, IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE.

YOU JUST MEET THE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR THOSE, UH, UH, BUFFERS, SETBACKS, PARKING REQUIREMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND IT'S ALLOWED CONDITIONAL.

IS THAT ALLOWED IN THE P IN THE PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENTS LIKE PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENTS ARE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT USE OF, THE WAY I DESCRIBE PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENTS IS THAT'S WHERE YOU GO IN AND WRITE A ZONING CODE THAT APPLIES TO THAT PARTICULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY.

NONE OF THESE PERMITTED USES CONDITIONAL USE OF SPECIAL USES.

NO, NO.

I'M JUST TALKING HERE ABOUT PERMITTED USES.

IS THAT A DISTINCTION FOR A USE FOR SHORT TERM RENTAL? NO, IT IS NOT.

SO THE PERMITTED USES ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE FOLLOWING.

SO IN UNDERNEATH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE? YEAH.

THERE ARE TWO PLACES WHERE SHORT TERM RENTALS ARE ALLOWED AS PERMITTED USES.

AND THOSE ARE IN OUR COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS.

C4 AND C5.

UH, IN BUFORD COUNTY.

AND IF YOU MEET THOSE BUFFERS, SETBACKS, PARKING REQUIREMENTS, MEET THE BUILDING CODE FOR HAVING YOUR SHORT TERM RENTAL, YOU'RE ALLOWED TO OPERATE WITHOUT ANYTHING ADDITIONALLY, WITHOUT ANY CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT OR SPECIAL USE PERMIT.

SO THERE, BUT OUR C4 AND OUR C5, THAT'S A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE ZONING IN THE COUNTY.

SCHOOL, A PLAYGROUND OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT MIGHT HAVE LIMITATIONS ON THE OPERATING HOURS, HAS TO SHUT DOWN AT A CERTAIN TIME ON A SATURDAY NIGHT OR A SUNDAY MORNING, UH, BLAH, BLAH BLAH.

CONDITIONAL USES, UH, HAVE TO ABIDE BY THE DISTRICT'S STANDARDS THAT ARE PERMITTED, USES SUBJECT TO, SUCH AS BUFFERS, SETBACKS, PARKING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT THERE MIGHT BE ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, THAT HAVE TO BE MET.

SUCH AS IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO PUT A BAR, A BAR HAS TO MEET ALL THE PERMITTED USE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, BUT IT ALSO HAS TO BE 500 FEET FROM A CHURCH OR

[00:40:01]

SO THOSE ARE CONDITIONAL USES.

IF YOU MEET THE CONDITIONS, THEN YOU CAN OPERATE WITHOUT ANYTHING ELSE THAT REQUIRES THE SAME NUMBER OF TRIPS TO THE COUNTY.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND TO THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT HAS SPECIAL USE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE PARTICULAR THING.

SPECIAL USE, SAME THING.

ALL THE DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN ADMITTED USE MAY HAVE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS THAT SOMEBODY HAS TO MEET TO IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THE SPECIAL USE, SUCH AS UNDER CONDITIONAL USE.

BUT IT HAS TO BE, ONCE IT'S REVIEWED BY THE STAFF, IT HAS TO GO BEFORE THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS.

AND THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS MUST CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND DETERMINE THAT THAT USE IS APPROPRIATE FOR THAT PROPERTY IN THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION.

AND THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS CAN, CAN EITHER DENY THE REQUEST, APPROVE THE REQUEST, OR APPROVE THE REQUEST WITH ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS AND STIPULATIONS IN ORDER FOR THE USE TO OPERATE.

SO THAT'S A PUBLIC HEARING.

AND IT COULD BE CONDUCTED EITHER IN PERSON OR BY ZOOM? YES, SIR.

SO THAT THE PEOPLE ON DUFUS DON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL HERE AND SPEND THE NIGHT TO ATTEND THIS MEETING? THAT'S CORRECT.

THEY CAN PARTICIPATE AS WE DO IN A LOT OF MEETINGS IF THEY HAVE THE EQUIPMENT AND THE, UH, THE, UH, ABILITY TO DO SO.

OR, OR CAN OBTAIN THAT ASSISTANCE TO DO SO.

THEY WON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL HERE FOR THAT.

AS IS THAT THE ONLY DISTINCTION, IS THAT PUBLIC HEARING? YES.

AND THAT OCCURS BEFORE THE PERMIT WOULD BE ISSUED? THAT'S CORRECT.

UH, SO IF YOU'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE FOR ME, SARAH.

SO THIS IS THE ZONING.

YOU MAY HAVE TO ZOOM IN A LITTLE BIT FOR ME A LITTLE.

UM, SO UNDER THE CURRENT PROPOSAL ON THE FUSS ISLAND, ANYWHERE YOU SEE A P THAT'S WHERE SHORT TERM RENTALS WOULD BE PERMITTED.

WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING, WHEREVER YOU SEE AN S THAT WOULD REQUIRE A PUBLIC HEARING, A SPECIAL USE.

SO WHERE YOU SEE THE PINK AND THE PURPLE AND YOU KNOW, THE SHADES OF PURPLE AND ALL OF THAT, THOSE ARE PERMITTED.

THE AREA WHERE THERE IS NO COLOR, IT'S JUST GRAY.

THOSE ARE ALL PUDS OR RESORTS, MELROSE, BLOODY POINT, HAY POINT.

ALL OF THOSE PERMIT SHORT TERM RENTALS UNDERNEATH THEIR STANDARDS.

ALL THE OTHER AREAS THAT YOU SEE, THE GREENS, THE LIGHT GREENS, DARK GREENS, AND ALL OF THAT WOULD BE BY SPECIAL USE, UH, ON DUFUS ISLAND AS CURRENTLY PROPOSED.

SO DO YOU SEE ANY SEAS UP THERE? THERE ARE NO SEAS.

THERE ARE NO SEAS ANYWHERE FOR SHORT TERM RENTALS ANYWHERE IN BEAUFORD COUNTY.

I'M GONE.

SO, SO WHAT, WHILE WE TALKING ABOUT INSTITUTING CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS WHERE THEY DON'T EXIST, YOU ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT INSTITUTING CONDITIONS.

THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

PERMIT THIS IS BEING CONSIDERED AND DAR AND DAR IS TALKING ABOUT THAT.

BUT THE COUNTY STAFF HAS FROM DAY ONE PROPOSED THAT ALL SHORT-TERM RENTALS ON DUFUS ISLANDS OUTSIDE OF THOSE COMMERCIAL AREAS ON THE ISLAND, BE APPROVED THROUGH THE SPECIAL USE PROCESS, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE A PUBLIC HEARING THAT, AS WE ALREADY DISCUSSED, CAN BE PER PERFORMED VIRTUALLY.

SO ALL OF THE PERMITS THAT NOW EXIST EITHER ARE ZONED FOR IT OR IT'S A PERMITTED USE, OR THEY'VE PARTICIPATED IN A PUBLIC HEARING PRIOR TO THE ISSUANCE OF ALL OF THE ONES THAT EXIST.

NOW, WE, WE HAVE STAYED ANY KIND OF ACTION ON THOSE UNTIL WE CAN RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

NO, THE ONES THAT EXIST ALREADY, THE ONES THAT EXIST ON THE FUSS GALLON RIGHT NOW.

YEAH, YEAH.

MOST OF THOSE, WE HAVE STAYED ANY ACTION ON THOSE UNTIL WE CAN RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

SO THEY DON'T EXIST.

THEY DON'T EXIST LEGALLY BECAUSE SHORT TERM RENTALS, UNTIL WE DEVELOP, DEVELOPED A SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE.

SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN BURET COUNTY, WERE NOT A PERMITTED USE OR A SPECIAL USE OR A CONDITIONAL USE ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTY.

WERE PEOPLE DOING IT? YES, THEY WERE.

IN THE MAY RIVER AREA WHERE, UH, SOMEONE WAS LEASING THEIR HOME OUT FOR SHORT-TERM RENTAL.

BUT IT WAS NOT A LEGAL USE.

CAUSE WE HAD NO PROVISION IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE TO ALLOW SHORT TERM RENTAL.

SO ANYTIME SOMETHING IS AN EN ENUMERATED IN A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE OR A ZONING CODE, YOU TYPICALLY CONSIDER IT TO BE A PROHIBITED USE.

SO MANY OF YOU, MANY OF WHO WERE ON COUNCIL BACK THEN, UM, REMEMBER WHENEVER MR. VOX WAS ON COUNCIL, WE HAD A SITUATION

[00:45:01]

THEY RENTED IT TO A WEDDING PARTY.

THE WEDDING PARTY BROUGHT IN A TOUR BUS WITH THE WEDDING PARTY AND THEY GOT THE BUS HUNG UP IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE BUS COULD NOT GET OUTTA THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE GOT TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF COMPLAINTS AND CODE ENFORCEMENT, MR. ATKINSON AND I, I WAS THE PLAN DIRECTOR THEN.

WE SPENT DAYS DEALING WITH THAT SITUATION AND COUNTY COUNCIL DEMANDED THAT WE TAKE SOME ACTION.

SO MR. ATKINSON AND I DRAFTED A AMENDMENT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE TO ALLOW SHORT-TERM RENTALS ON THE CODE.

WE BROUGHT IT BEFORE COUNCIL.

THEN THE COUNCIL, BECAUSE OF THE OUTCRY, SAID, WE DON'T LIKE THIS.

WE DON'T WANT YOU TO DO THIS BECAUSE IT DIDN'T MAKE ANYBODY HAPPY.

SO THE COUNTY COUNCIL APPOINTED A COMMITTEE THAT WAS, UM, HAD CITIZENS THAT WERE AGAINST SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND PEOPLE THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THE ACCOMMODATIONS BUSINESS.

A PERSON BY THE NAME OF DREW FROM HILTON HEAD ISLAND, UH, THAT WAS, UM, LED SOME SHORT TERM RENTAL PROPERTY ON HILTON HEAD WAS ON THERE.

AND YOU ALL KNOW, UH, MR. DICK STEWART, HE SERVED ON THAT COMMITTEE.

THE AUDITOR SERVED ON THE COMMITTEE.

THE BUSINESS LICENSED DIRECTOR, UH, SERVED ON THE COMMITTEE AND A FEW CITIZENS SERVED ON THAT COMMITTEE.

AND SOME SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNERS SERVED ON THAT COMMITTEE.

SO WE PUT TOGETHER A PROPOSAL AND BROUGHT IT BACK TO COUNTY COUNCIL.

AND THE RESULTING PROPOSAL WAS THAT SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN BURE COUNTY WOULD ALWAYS GO THROUGH THE SPECIAL USE PROCESS AND HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICTS, WHERE THE INTENSITY AND DENSITY THERE IS SUCH THAT IT WOULDN'T MATTER ANYWAY BECAUSE YOU ALREADY HAVE ACCOMMODATIONS IN THOSE PARTICULARS.

ONLY DISTRICTS QUESTION.

UM, SO IF I JUST UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S NO CONDITIONAL USE IN THE REST OF THE COUNTY FOR SHORT TERM RENTALS? THAT'S CORRECT.

BUT THERE IS CONDITIONAL USE FOR OTHER THINGS.

SUCH AS IN TOFUS, IF YOU GO TO NUMBER NINE, RIGHT AFTER NUMBER EIGHT, WHICH IS SHORT TERM RENTALS, NUMBER NINE, LODGING, BED AND BREAKFAST, UM, FIVE ROOMS OR LESS.

, THOSE ARE CONDITIONAL USES.

UM, IF YOU GO TO DAYCARE, UM, IN A HOME, WHICH IS A COMMERCIAL USE, THAT IS A CONDITIONAL USE.

UM, OR DAYCARE FOR ADULTS IS, IS A CONDITIONAL USE.

SO CONDITIONAL USE IS SOMETHING THAT IS USED YES.

UM, IN THE COUNTY.

IT IS.

UM, AND THEN, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO OUR, OUR ACTUAL, UM, ORDINANCE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, IF YOU CAN JUST EXPLAIN TO ME, UM, REGISTRATION OF ALL, UH, S TPSS REQUIRE, UH, PERMIT, UM, HOWEVER, UM, WE'RE GOING TO GRANDFATHER IN, UM, THOSE FOLKS THAT, UM, HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN RENTING, DOING SHORT TERM RENTALS MM-HMM.

, UM, AND THE WAY, BUT THE WAY THAT WE READ THIS, IT MAKES IT SOUND LIKE WE'RE GIVING THEM A CONDITIONAL USE, UM, AS OPPOSED TO HAVING TO GO THROUGH A A, UH, HEARING PROCESS.

SO WHAT, EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT UM, SO WHENEVER YOU, SO THE GRANDFATHERING IN IS RIGHT, WHENEVER YOU DEVELOP A NEW ZONING CODE, YOU'RE TYPICALLY GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY DOING SOMETHING RELATED TO THAT PARTICULAR USE.

SO YOU SET, YOU SET THE STANDARDS IN THE ZONING CODE OR THE DEVELOPMENT CODE AS TO WHAT SOMEONE HAS TO DO IN ORDER TO BE LEGALLY NON-CONFORMING TO BE RECOGNIZED AS AN EXISTING USE.

DUSKY ISLAND AND BASICALLY HAVE SAID THAT IF YOU WERE IN A LEGALLY PERMITTED DWELLING AND YOU WERE PAYING YOUR ACCOMMODATIONS TAXES, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING, YOU CAN CONTINUE TO OPERATE YOUR SHORT TERM RENTALS.

AND THAT'S WHAT NUMBER C UH, UM, OUR NUMBER FOUR ON, UM, THIS SHEET HERE DOES, IT SAYS ALL LEGALLY PERMITTED DWELLING UNITS OPERATING AS STR UP THROUGH THE YEAR 2022, WHICH CAN PROVIDE PROOF THAT ACCOMMODATION TAXES HAVE BEEN PAID, SHALL BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE.

ALL NEW US STRS, THEIR ADDRESS SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE PROCESS ESTABLISHED IN B THREE 20.

I DO NOT HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF ME, B THREE 20, BUT IT IS THE SPECIAL USE PROCESS.

SO THE COUNTY COUNCIL SAID IF YOU WERE IN A LEGAL DWELLING, MEANING YOU DIDN'T, YOU WEREN'T RENTING OUT A STORAGE BUILDING BEHIND YOUR HOUSE FOR SOMEBODY TO STAY IN.

AND IF YOU ARE COLLECTING YOUR ACCOMMODATION TAXES AND SENDING THAT REMITTING THAT TO THE COUNTY AS YOU'RE REQUIRED TO DO, THEN UP THE 2022, WE'RE GOING TO GRANDFATHER YOU IN AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS SPECIAL USE PROCESS.

WE'VE DONE A SIMILAR THING WITH

[00:50:01]

THEM FOLKS STARTED SAYING, WELL, YOU KNOW, MY HOUSE WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND I WAS GOING TO USE IT FOR SHORT TERM RENTALS.

CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.

YOU GOTTA DRAW THE LINE SOMEWHERE.

SO WE, WE BASICALLY FOLLOWED THE SAME HOUSE CLAUSE.

I GET THAT, BUT WHEN YOU SAY THEY'RE GRANDFATHERED THAT HAD PERMITTED TO OPERATE, UH, WITH WHAT KIND OF PERMIT? SO THEY'RE PERMITTED TO OPERATE, THEY GET A SHORT TERM RENTAL PRO PERMIT IF THEY CAN PROVE TO US.

I KNOW, I GET THAT.

BUT WHAT'S IT CALLED? THE SHORT TERM? SHORT-TERM RENTAL.

SHORT TERM RENTAL PERMIT.

AN SST R PT.

THAT'S IT.

IT DOESN'T, IT'S NOT A SPECIAL USE.

IT'S NOT A CONDITIONAL USE.

IF THEY WERE OPERATING, IT'S AN S T RRP.

IF THEY WERE READY, IF THEY WERE WINNING PRIOR TO 2020.

I KNOW I GOT IT.

I GET IT.

BUT THEY'RE GETTING A PERMIT THAT'S NOT CONDITIONAL OR SPECIAL.

IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF PERMIT.

IT'S A THIRD ONE.

I GOT IT NOW.

WELL, IT'S GRANDFATHER, NO GRANDFATHER.

I GET IT.

OTHERS? I HAVE A QUESTION.

NO, ELSE GO AHEAD.

I GO AHEAD.

I TO GO ON.

MR. I I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.

ONE, UH, IN B ONE, UH, CAN YOU EXPLAIN, IT SAYS, IN CASES WHERE SPECIAL USE APPROVAL IS REQUIRED, THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS MAY ESTABLISH AN APPROPRIATE RENTAL LIMIT AS A CONDITION OF APPROVAL AFTER CONDUCTING THE PUBLIC HEARING AND FINDING THAT CONDITION EXISTS, MAKING SUCH A LIMITATION NECESSARY.

IS THAT ACTUALLY WHAT, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT TO ME? YEAH, BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S TRYING TO ACTUALLY LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF RENTALS.

I KNOW WE SAID NO CATS HAVE BEEN PLACED, BUT THEY COULD DO THAT.

CAUSE YOU KNOW, AS I'VE TOLD YOU ALL PREVIOUSLY, MANY JURISDICTIONS AROUND HERE AND THEN OTHER PLACES SAY, WELL, ONLY 10% OF THE HOMES ARE 12% OR 20% OF HOMES ON A STREET CAN BE SHORT TERM RENTAL.

WELL, IF YOU'RE THE FIRST 20% AND YOU GET YOUR SHORT TERM RENTAL, UH, NOBODY ELSE CAN GET SHORT TERM RENTAL ON THERE.

BEEN TIMES WHEN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DENIED A SPECIAL USE PERMIT IN BUFORD COUNTY AND ON THE MAINLAND, BUT THAT IS BECAUSE THERE WAS A LEGITIMATE PROBLEM.

I THINK THAT'S ARBITRARY PATRICIA'S, I DIDN'T SEE HOW ANYBODY COULD LEGALLY SAY, OKAY, WELL IT'S OKAY FOR YOU TO HAVE FIVE SHORT TERM RENTALS ON THE STREET, BUT IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO DO A SIX, THAT'S INAPPROPRIATE.

THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS, THAT LANGUAGE GIVES THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS TO SAY, HEY, YOU GOT FIVE, THERE'S EIGHT HOMES ON THE PROPERTY.

WE'RE NOT GONNA ALLOW ANYMORE.

IF THEY WANTED TO DO THAT, IF SOMEBODY ALLEGED THAT IT WAS JUST A, IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO CONSIDER SETTING LIMITATIONS ON THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER.

AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THE ANTENNA SPECIAL USE BEING THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THAT USE ON THAT PARTICULAR PROPERTY IN THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION, IT WAS JUST A SET OF STANDARD THAT THEY COULD CONSIDER MR. CHAIRMAN? YES.

UM, I REMEMBER WHEN ALL THIS HAPPENED, UH, WITH MR. VA'S DISTRICT AND THE STREET WAS BLOCKED AND IT WAS, IT BROUGHT EVERYTHING TO A HEAD.

UH, MR. GREENWAY DESCRIBED IT QUITE ACCURATELY.

I KNEW SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE ON THAT TASK FORCE COMMITTEE.

THEY SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT AND GOING BACK TO ONE OF THE PEOPLE DURING PUBLIC COMMENT THAT MADE, UH, THIS PROTECTS PEOPLE ON A STREET BY REQUIRING IT TO GO TO THE Z B O A.

AND WE HAVE THE MEANS TO DO THAT.

AND, UM, I, I AM VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF APPLYING THE SAME RULES TO EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTY JUST AS FAR AS SHORT TERM RENTALS GO, UM, IN THIS SITUATION TO, TO HELP US DIRECT THIS AND NOT JUST KEEP GOING OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

I HEARD SOME THINGS BY THE PRESENTERS.

THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE HISTORIC DISTRICT AS TO HAVING A SAY IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.

UM, HOW DO YOU ANSWER THAT ERIC? THE QUESTION WAS, IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, WE HAVE CONCERN ABOUT SHORT TERM RENTALS BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.

HOW DO WE ANSWER THAT? WELL, THE HISTORIC DISTRICT IN ON DUFUS ISLAND IS VERY, UH, RURAL SPARSELY POPULATED, UH, ON MANY OF THE STREETS.

BUT IN SOME AREAS, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE MORE HOMES ON THE STREET.

THE SPECIAL USE PROCESS WOULD ALLOW EACH ONE OF THOSE STREETS OR PEOPLE THAT LIVE AROUND THERE, THAT'S GONNA BE IMPACTED BY THOSE SHORT-TERM RENTALS.

TO HAVE A PUBLIC VOICE IN THE PROCESS IS WHAT HAPPENS THERE.

I WILL TELL YOU FROM EXPERIENCE, AND I KNOW IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, 95% OF WHAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH HERE IS PERCEPTION OF WHAT REALITY WILL BE.

IT'S NOT REALLY REALITY, IT'S JUST PERCEPTION.

COULD SOMEONE USE THE SPECIAL USE PROCESS AS A WEAPON AGAINST THEIR NEIGHBOR? POSSIBLY.

BUT THAT HAS NOT BORNE OUT IN THE EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER LOCATIONS OF THE COUNTY WHERE THE SPECIAL USE PROCESS HAS BEEN IN PLAY.

THERE HAVE

[00:55:01]

PEOPLE ALLOWING THEIR KIDS TO DRIVE GOLF CARTS ACROSS THEIR YARD, ON THEIR DRIVEWAY, GETTING ON THEIR PROPERTIES, HAVING PARTIES LATE AT NIGHT, YOU KNOW, DISTURBING THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO IF THE COUNTY COUNCIL WANTS TO ALLOW THIS TO BE CONDITIONAL AND SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY MEETS THE CONDITIONS, THEY CAN HAVE THEIR SHORT-TERM RENTAL OR ALLOWING THEIR NEIGHBORS TO HAVE A VOICE TO SAY, HEY, THIS IS THE WAY SHORT-TERM RENTALS ARE BEING HANDLED AND MANAGED ON OUR PARTICULAR STREET.

AND WE WOULD LIKE FOR THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS TO CONSIDER THAT.

AS YOU APPROVE THIS TO, TO YOUR POINT THEN IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS TO HAVE SETS OF RULES AND WE SHOULDN'T HAVE SETS OF RULES.

WE SHOULD HAVE ONE RULE.

AND THAT IS THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR A SHORT TERM RENTAL.

I'VE TAKEN A LOOK AT THE SHORT TERM RENTALS ORDINANCES IN THE VARIOUS MUNICIPALITIES AROUND US.

THEY DON'T TALK ABOUT CONDITIONAL, THEY DON'T TALK ABOUT SPECIAL USE.

THEY TALK ABOUT SHORT TERM RENTAL.

AND WHAT IS THE IDENTIFICATION OF A SHORT TERM RENTAL? THE CONDITIONS, WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU VIOLATE THE RULES AND REGULATIONS? I THINK FOR CONSISTENCY PURPOSES, THAT'S WHAT WE, THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON.

NOT THIS SHOULD BE A SPECIAL USE AND THIS SHOULD BE A CONDITIONAL USE.

IT IS A SHORT TERM RENTAL.

AND HOW DO WE WANT THAT TO BE DONE? I THINK THAT'S THE FOCUS OF OUR DISCUSSION.

MAYBE I CAN JUST COMMENT FOR A MINUTE ON SOMETHING THAT MIGHT PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE, WHICH IS I'M AN ENFORCEMENT AND VIOLATIONS GUY AND I, I'D LIKE TO TRY AND UNDERSTAND SOME THINGS.

, UM, IF WE ELIMINATE THE, THE REQUIREMENT TO COME TO BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING AND DO IT BY ZOOM, WE'VE ELIMINATED ONE OF THE ADVERSE PARTS OF THIS SPECIAL USE.

UM, CONDITIONAL USE DOESN'T NEED THAT IF WE GRANT CONDITIONAL USE.

UM, IF THERE IS A PROBLEM AFTER THE PERMIT HAS BEEN ISSUED AND IT'S A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, MY CONSULTATIONS WITH OR ESTEEMED BEAUFORD COUNTY ATTORNEYS HAVE INDICATED THAT THERE WOULD BE A CITATION ISSUED BY A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND THAT CITATION WOULD ESTABLISH A COURT DATE IN A MAGISTRATE'S COURT AND THEN THAT MATTER WOULD BE SETTLED BEFORE A JUDGE AT SOME POINT WHEN IT GETS ON THE DOCKET.

AND IF THAT DIDN'T GO QUITE THE WAY THEY WANTED TO, THEY COULD APPEAL IT PROBABLY TO THE MASTER IN EQUITY.

AND HAVING BEEN IN THAT BUSINESS, I CAN TELL YOU THAT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 18 MONTHS BEFORE IT WAS ACTUALLY HEARD.

SO RESOLVING THE ISSUE DOESN'T REALLY HAPPEN VERY QUICKLY WITH CONDITIONAL USE.

UM, IF WE ISSUE A PERMIT, I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU CALL IT.

IF WE HAVE A BEAUFORT COUNTY SHORT TERM RENTAL PERMIT AND WE HAVE THE HEARING AND IT'S DONE BY ZOOM AND NOBODY HAS TO COME HERE AND THEN WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A PERSON WHO'S RENTING THE UNIT, WE COULD HAVE THEM NOT HAVE TO GO TO RECEIVE A CITATION AND GO TO COURT.

WE COULD HAVE THEM ACTUALLY FILE THEIR COMPLAINT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING AND NOT GO TO COURT AND NOT HAVE A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

AND THEN IF THAT, UM, DECISION WASN'T, UM, SATISFACTORY TO EITHER PARTY, THEY COULD APPEAL THAT MATTER, UH, TO THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS AND IT WOULD STILL STAY HERE AND NOT GO TO COURT.

OF COURSE THERE'S ALWAYS MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES.

SO THAT MAY SATISFY PEOPLE WHO FEEL THAT THERE IS A VIOLATION OCCURRING WITH REGARD TO THE ISSUANCE OF THE PERMIT AND THEY HAVE A VOICE IN, IN SAYING, BAD THINGS ARE HAPPENING HERE AND WE'D LIKE TO HAVE IT ADDRESSED.

AND IT'S NOT GONNA TAKE 18 MONTHS TO GET IT RESOLVED.

IT'S GONNA BE RESOLVED PROBABLY WITHIN 30 DAYS.

UM, THERE'S ONE OTHER THING IT SAYS HERE THAT IF PEOPLE VIOLATE THE PROVISIONS OF THE PERMIT ON THREE OR MORE OCCASIONS IN A 12 MONTH PERIOD, THEN THEY WOULD CONSIDER RE UH, REVOKING THE PERMIT.

I, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IF YOU MAKE ONE MISTAKE, YOU SHOULD BE GIVEN ANOTHER CHANCE.

I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF THREE TIMES.

UM, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THREE TIMES IS WAY TOO MANY.

AND IF WE HAVE A BEAUFORT COUNTY PERMIT PROGRAM AND WE HAVE A HEARING AND THE PERMIT IS ISSUED AND THEN PEOPLE CAN HAVE THE PERMIT REVOKED FOR BAD BEHAVIOR, I THINK THAT MAY GO A LONG WAY TO RESOLVING SOME OF THESE THINGS RATHER THAN HAVING PEOPLE GET CODE ENFORCEMENT AND MAGISTRATES AND CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES INVOLVED IN RESOLVING THESE MATTERS.

BUT I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING HERE FOR US UNLESS WE COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF A UNIFORM PERMIT FOR EVERYBODY

[01:00:01]

TO USE.

AND I DON'T REALLY CARE WHAT YOU CALL IT.

WELL, IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN GIVE SO THAT EVERYBODY HAS AN EASE OF OBTAINING IT AND THEN HAS SOME WAY THEY CAN RESOLVE AN ISSUE WHERE IT APPEARS THAT SOMEONE IS ENGAGING IN BAD BEHAVIOR.

BUT, BUT AGAIN, ERIC, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING FORWARD CAUSE THIS IS, SOME OF THIS IS NEW INFORMATION FOR US.

SO WHAT, WHAT I JUST HEARD WAS THERE IS NO SPECIAL USE, THERE IS NO CONDITIONAL USE.

ONCE YOU HAVE AN STR R PERMIT, YOU HAVE A PERMIT.

SO THEY'RE ALL DEALT WITH IN THE EXACT SAME WAY.

SO THERE IS NO SPECIAL WAY FOR A CONDITIONAL STR R PERMIT.

AND THERE IS NO SPECIAL WAY FOR A SPECIAL USE.

IT'S JUST THE, IT'S, IT'S JUST THE, THE, UM, UH, GOING BEFORE THE ZONING BOARD TO GET THE PERMIT.

IS THERE ONLY ONE STR PERMIT? IS THAT THAT'S WHAT YOU JUST SAID? NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

UH, SO, SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT IS THE SPECIAL USE PROCESS AND THEN WHAT WE DID WITH EXISTING PEOPLE THAT WERE ALREADY OPERATING SHORT TERM GRANDFATHER, BUT THEY STILL GET THE SAME PERMIT IN THE, THEY DO GET THE SAME AST PERMIT.

SO YOU TREAT THEM THE SAME WAY ONCE YOU HAVE THAT'S MY POINT.

YES, YOU HAVE ALL THESE DIFFERENT DESIGNATIONS, BUT MAYBE WE COULD UNIFY EVERYTHING, MAKE IT EASY FOR PEOPLE TO GET THESE THINGS, BUT ALL HAVE THE SAME EXPECTATIONS GOING FORWARD AS TO HOW THEY COULD RESOLVE PROBLEMS. THAT'S ALL.

AND, AND IF I COULD, I MEAN, UM, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, UM, UH, WE, WE, WE WENT TO DUSKY AND WE HAD SOME GREAT COUNCIL, UM, MEN AND WOMEN GO WITH US.

AND, AND IT WAS A VERY, VERY INFORMATIVE, UH, MEETING ON DSKY.

VERY CIVIL.

WE HEARD FROM BOTH SIDES.

UM, AND, YOU KNOW, AND, AND REPRESENTING TOFUS.

NOW, THIS IS MY FIFTH YEAR RENTING, REPRESENTING TOFUS, TRYING TO FIND A COMPROMISE IN THIS THING BECAUSE TOSKY, UM, RELIES ON THEIR SHORT TERM RENTALS.

THERE'S NO HOTEL OVER THERE, SO THEY HAVE TO HAVE IT.

AND WHETHER THEY WERE IN THE PAST, WE'VE, WE'VE CHANGED OUR LOSS.

THAT'S WHY THEY NOW HAVE TO GET PERMITTED.

AND THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN DOING SHORT-TERM RENTALS WITHOUT A PERMIT, SOME THAT HAVE.

UM, AND AGAIN, WHENEVER YOU COMPROMISE, UM, YOU, YOU'RE NOT ALWAYS THE MOST POPULAR PERSON BECAUSE YOU, YOU KNOW, HAVE SOMEONE, THE ONES READ, AND THIS PEOPLE WENT RED, THESE PEOPLE WHO WENT YELLOW WHEN YOU COMPROMISE, YOU GIVE 'EM ORANGE AND NOBODY'S HAPPY.

UM, BUT, UM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT AT THIS POINT, UM, AND NOT TO, NOT TO CHANGE WHAT WE'VE GOT, UM, IN FRONT OF US AS AN ORDINANCE.

UM, BUT TO ADD, UM, A, A SIMPLE LINE THAT I THINK THEN WOULD, WOULD TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE.

AND IT'S NOT A SOLUTION THAT THAT'S GONNA SOLVE EVERYTHING.

UM, BUT, UM, WE WOULD STILL END UP HAVING THE SPECIAL USE PROCESS THAT EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT THAT'S GONNA PROTECT AFUS.

SO AT THIS POINT, WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND WHAT, WHAT YOU'RE CALLING, AND EVEN IN OUR, OUR INFORMATION HERE, GRANDFATHER SOMEONE IN.

SO THAT BASICALLY MEANS THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE GRANDFATHERED DO NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE ZONING BOARD, UH, PROCESS.

THEY ARE, ARE ABLE TO FILL AN APPLICATION AND THEY'RE ABLE TO THEN GET A PERMIT.

AGAIN, IT'S NOT A CONDITIONAL PERMIT.

IT'S NOT A SPECIAL USE.

IT IS JUST A, IT'S A BU S STR R PERMIT.

IT'S A BUFORD COUNTY PERMIT.

IT'S A BUER COUNTY PERMIT THAT YOU'VE GOT.

UM, BESIDES OFFERING IT, AGAIN, THIS IS MY AMENDMENT, UM, THAT, UM, WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT, UM, TH THOSE GRANDFATHERED IS ALSO TO INCLUDE ANY NEW APPLICANTS WHO WISH TO GET A PERMIT WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE ZONING BOARD.

SO ANYONE THAT, THAT, THAT CURRENTLY HAS A SHORT-TERM RENTAL, ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO DO A SHORT-TERM RENTAL, CAUSE IN, THERE WAS FOLKS OVER THERE THAT HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET A PERMIT FROM US SINCE WE'VE DRAGGED OUR FEET FOR THE PAST YEAR, THAT THEY'VE GOT A HOUSE AND THEY CAN'T GET A PERMIT THAT THEY WOULD HAVE 60 DAYS, JUST LIKE THE GRANDFATHER PEOPLE WOULD, UM, TO FILL OUT THE PROPER PAPER PAPERWORK.

AND THESE ARE EXISTING HOMES.

THESE AREN'T NEW HOMES.

THESE AREN'T ONES THAT ARE GONNA HAPPEN A YEAR FROM NOW OR TWO YEARS FROM NOW.

ALL THOSE WOULD BE UNDER THAT.

WHAT EVERYONE WANTS IS A SPECIAL USE PERMIT.

SO I'M ASKING THAT WE ADD LANGUAGE THAT SAYS THAT THE GRANDFATHER FOLKS WOULD BE ABLE TO GET A, A STR R PERMIT.

UM, AND ANYONE ELSE COULD APPLY FOR THAT SAME STR R PERMIT, STILL THE SAME APPLICATION PROCESS, FILL OUT THE SAME PAPERWORK, BUT THEY JUST WOULD NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE ZONING BOARD, UM, UH, PROCESS.

SO HOW LONG IT, IT'S 60, WE'LL GO WHAT'S IN HERE? 60 DAYS.

WE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE TO ADD THE LANGUAGE.

UM, AND, AND END OF 60 DAYS, EVERYTHING AFTER THAT WOULD THEN BE PART OF THE, UH, SPECIAL USE TO COME IN AND ACTUALLY HAVE TO DO THAT.

AND AGAIN, ERICA HAS PROMISED TO MAKE IT SIMPLE FOR THEM TO, TO COME IN AND, AND ACTUALLY DO IT ONLINE AS, AS YOU MENTIONED, LARRY.

UM, AND WE CAN THEN EVEN LOOK AT TRYING TO MAKE THIS SO IT'S NOT SO COMPLICATED.

SO, UM, I GUESS MY AMENDMENT WOULD BE TO ADD ONLINE, UM, IT'S, UM, ONE B FOUR, UM, TO ADD AFTER THE FIRST SENTENCE WHERE IT SAYS, UM, UM,

[01:05:01]

AND ALSO ALL NEW APPLICANTS WHO MEET ALL REQUIREMENTS SHALL BE ABLE TO GET A, UM, STR PERMIT AS WELL.

AGAIN, ELIMINATING THE, THE NEED TO COME BEFORE THE ZONING BOARD.

UM, AND AGAIN, SO THAT WOULD GIVE PEOPLE 60 DAYS TO, UM, FILE THEIR PAPERWORK, BECOME COMPLIANT FOR, FOR EXISTING HOMES.

FOR EXISTING HOMES TO HAVE.

COS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A, YOU CAN'T PERMIT SOMETHING THAT'S NOT THERE, RIGHT? SO, UM, IT WOULD BE FOR EXISTING PROPERTIES.

ANYONE THAT'S BEEN THERE PLANNED ON DOING IT CAN DO IT, THAT'S WILLING TO DO IT.

YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW ALL THE PAPERWORK YOU WOULD NORMALLY GET.

THEY JUST WOULD NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE ZONING PROCESS.

UM, BUT THE END OF 60 DAYS, ANYONE THEN AFTER THAT, THAT'S NEW.

AND, AND AGAIN, IN OUR LANGUAGE IT SAYS IF YOU SELL IT, YOU HAVE TO COME BACK AND GET IT REZONED.

UM, IN OUR, IN OUR, UM, UH, IN THE, THE CURRENT, UM, UH, ORDINANCE, IT SAYS THAT IF YOU DON'T APPLY AND DON'T HAVE THE SDR PERMIT YOU, YOU AND IT EXPIRES, YOU THEN HAVE TO COME BACK AND, AND REAPPLY FOR IT.

SO ALL THAT LANGUAGE, I'M NOT LOOKING AT CHANGE ANYTHING.

I'M JUST LOOKING TO, TO ADD THE PEOPLE BESIDES THE GRANDFATHER FOLKS THAT YOU'VE GOT WORDED IN HERE, UM, THAT ANYONE ELSE THAT WANTS TO APPLY THAT HAS BEEN THERE, HAS, HAS OWNED A HOME, CAN ALSO GET THAT SAME EXCEPTION.

UH, AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE DO THE S STS.

LET ME JUST ASK A QUESTION AND CLARIFY SOMETHING TO PROTECT THE NEIGHBORS, NOT THE PERSON WHO'S GOT THE SST RRP, BUT THE NEIGHBORS OF THE PERSON WHO HAS THE SD R P, I WANT TO BE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD CAN GO DIRECTLY AND SOLVE THIS PROBLEM ADMINISTRATIVELY AND NOT THROUGH THE COURT.

SO I WANT TO BE SURE THAT WITH THE SDPS AND IF WE'RE GOING TO STAY WITH SPECIAL USE, THAT THEY CAN GO TO THE, UM, THAT'S HOW COMMUNITY CREATE THE NEW ORDINANCE.

WHAT, THAT'S HOW WE'RE GONNA CREATE THE NEW, OR, YEAH.

I JUST WANT TO BE SURE THAT THEY CAN GO TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR FOR THE FIRST DECISION.

AND IF THEY WANNA APPEAL THAT, THEN THEY GO TO THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS.

NOT TO A, NOT TO A EN CODE ENFORCEMENT AND MAGISTRATE OR TO CIRCUIT COURT, BUT TO SOLVE IT.

AND EVERYBODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO SOLVE IT THE SAME WAY, WHICH WILL GIVE A VOICE TO THE NEIGHBORS IF THEY HAVE A PROBLEM.

WE NEED A SECOND TO HAVE A FURTHER DISCUSSION.

THAT'S A LITTLE COMPLICATED.

BUT I KNOW TOM, KEVIN'S WRITING ALL THIS DOWN.

I I'M WILLING TO MAKE THAT SECOND ON THIS.

I ADD SOMETHING TO THAT TOO.

GO AHEAD, .

UM, WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY HOUSES IN THE MIDDLE OF CONSTRUCTION NOW, BUT ANYBODY THAT HAS ALREADY BROKEN GROUND ON THE HOUSE TO GIVE THEM 30 DAYS AFTER THEY RECEIVED THEIR CO NO, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SURE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY PLANNED TO BUILD THESE HOUSES TO DO AIRBNB OR SHORT TERM RENTAL.

THERE COULD BE PEOPLE THAT WERE PLANNING ON MAKING THIS THEIR SECOND HOUSE.

YOU, YOU, YOU ARE, YOU ARE GETTING READY TO OPEN UP CAN OF WORMS FOR STAFF.

THAT IS JUST GONNA KILL US.

IT WOULD BE A, IT WOULD BE A BURDEN.

GET I GET CALLS, UH, MY PHONE STARTED RINGING AT SEVEN O'CLOCK THIS MORNING FROM DUFUS ISLAND, UM, ON MY WAY INTO WORK.

SO ABOUT, ABOUT A, SO LET'S DON'T DO THAT.

I'LL DROP THAT.

BUT CAN I ASK TWO QUESTIONS THEN? OKAY.

UM, ONE, DOES BLUFFTON BUER OR HILTON HEAD HAVE THIS SAME LANGUAGE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ADD TO DSKY CURRENTLY? DO THEY CURRENTLY HAVE THE EXACT SAME LANGUAGE? IT, IT APPEARS THAT THEY DO LOGAN AND IT APPEARS THAT THEY HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDY FOR ISSUES THAT WE, THAT I'VE BEEN ADDRESSING.

AND THEN MY SECOND QUESTION WILL BE, AND THROW THIS OUT, THE MEMBERS ON COUNCIL, COUNCIL WRESTLING WITH IT, WE'RE GETTING READY TO INVEST.

NO, NO, I KNOW.

EIGHT TO 12 MILLION INTO DOCKINGS AFTER THE COUNTY DELAY.

WE ALREADY PURCHASED FOR THE FERRY STATION, WHICH YOU JUST APPROVED ON NUMBER 10 TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, CAN THIS PROVISION HURT THE TOURISM ON DUSKY? IF SO, THEN WHY ARE WE ABOUT TO INVEST $12 MILLION INTO THE FUSS AND THEN MAKE THIS RULE RIGHT HERE THAT COULD HINDER THAT GROWTH IN THE FUGE? NO.

WELL, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE CHANGING WHAT WOULD BE HAPPENING THERE OTHER THAN AFFORDING A SIMPLER METHOD OF PROTECTION FOR PEOPLE IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT WHOM MAY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE WAY A PROPERTY MAY HAVE BEEN RUNNING.

SO IT'S INTERFERING WITH THE PEACEFUL ENJOYMENT OF THEIR OWN PROPERTY, WHICH EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO.

AND THAT'S THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE.

SO WITH REGARD TO, ALICE SAID THAT SHE DIDN'T THINK THE LANGUAGE WAS THE SAME AS THE MUNICIPALITIES.

I'M ONLY TALKING ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDY, ALICE, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE LANGUAGE THAT THEY USE OR WHAT THEY CALL IT OVER THERE, BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.

BUT I WAS JUST TRYING TO KEEP EVERYBODY OUT OF COURT BECAUSE YOU CAN'T RESOLVE ANYTHING IF YOU DO THAT.

THAT WAS MY, THAT WAS MY GOAL.

RIGHT, RIGHT.

AND, AND I AGREE WITH THAT A HUNDRED PERCENT.

THE COURT SYSTEM IS JUST GONNA GET TIED UP.

LICENSES, SHORT-TERM, RENTAL PERMITS ALL, ALL OVER, ALL OVER EVERYWHERE.

I GUESS MY, MY ONLY QUESTION IS HAVE WE EVEN HAD THESE ISSUES IN HISTORIC DISTRICT WHERE WE HAVE TO CHANGE IT? OR IS THIS SOMETHING THEY'RE JUST PREPARING FOR SOMETHING THAT'S NEVER EVEN HAPPENED? WELL, WE WE'RE REACTING TO SOMETHING THAT'S NEWLY HAPPENING BECAUSE OF REGULATIONS WITH REGARD TO BUSINESS

[01:10:01]

SO, SO SHORT-TERM RENTALS, AGAIN, ARE NOT LEGALLY ALLOWED ON DUFUS ISLAND CURRENTLY, BECAUSE THE DUFUS ISLAND ZONING CODE DOES NOT MAKE A PROVISION FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO CORRECT THAT.

AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO CORRECT THAT FOR GOING ON TWO AND A HALF YEARS NOW, I THINK IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.

SO IF WE DO THAT HERE NOW, I MEAN, YOU CAN, CAN DO IT HERE AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD DO IT AND DO IT QUICKLY.

CAUSE QUITE HONESTLY, I'M TIRED OF ALLOCATING THE STAFF RESOURCES TO DUFUS ISLAND IN THIS SYSTEM.

WE'LL TAKE THAT CHALLENGE.

SO, SO TO SUMMARIZE, THE, THE AMENDMENT IS TO ADD A PIECE OF LANGUAGE THAT SAYS OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT 60 DAYS, IF YOU HAVE A LEGAL RESIDENCE, IF YOU HAVE A CO, IF YOU HAVE A HOUSE THAT YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT, YOU'RE LIVING IN IT RIGHT NOW, YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT IT, AND YOU MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE NEXT 60 DAYS, IF YOU APPLY FOR A SHORT-TERM RESIDENT PERMIT, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH ANY SPECIAL PROCEDURE AFTER THE 60 DAYS.

WE ARE DIRECTING ADMINISTRATION TO COME UP WITH ALL OF THE APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE FOR A NEW YES.

FOR A NEW, UM, ORDINANCE, WHICH I THINK WE CAN DO IN 60 DAYS, BECAUSE WE CAN CHARGE YOU WITH COMING BACK TO US FIRST READING, SECOND READING, THIRD READING, PUBLIC HEARING FOR AN ORDINANCE THAT WILL SAY, THIS IS THE CONDITIONS BY WHICH YOU WILL GET A SHORT TERM RENTAL PERMIT.

AND THAT CAN THEN YOU CAN CHANGE THE ZONING IN THAT LANGUAGE TOO.

AND ADOPT IT ALL.

THAT'S THE SECOND CHAIRMAN, SECOND ORDINANCE.

WOULD THAT 60 DAYS TAKE EFFECT STARTING ON THE FINAL READING ON THE THIRD TAKE EFFECT ON THE END OF THE THIRD READING? UM, WELL, WE CAN HAVE A START DATE.

I MEAN, THAT'S NEGOTIATED.

WE CAN PUT YEAH, WE CAN PUT THAT AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

I MEAN, ALL RIGHT, SO LET ME MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND.

CAUSE I, I'M, I'M LITTLE, I'M REALLY CONFUSED NOW.

CAUSE I THOUGHT, I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING SPECIAL USE AFTER 60 DAYS ON THE FOSKEY ISLAND.

WE ARE.

AND WE ARE, WE ARE, WE ARE, WHATEVER WE'RE GOING TO CALL IT, WE DON'T HAVE TO CALL IT SPECIAL USE.

IT IS THE PROCESS BY WHICH YOU ARE GOING TO YEAH.

UH, GET A SHORT TERM RENTAL PERMIT.

THAT'S, IT INVOLVES A PUBLIC HEARING AND IT INVOLVES A PUBLIC HEARING COMPLETELY SEPARATE, SEPARATE, COMPLETELY SEPARATE ITEM.

THAT'S, THAT'S SPECIAL USE.

WE MAY HAVE TO SEPARATE THE NAME SO IT'S MORE ACCOMMODATING.

UH, BUT IT'S, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IS, IS SIMPLIFY THE PROCESS.

DON'T MAKE IT ONEROUS.

DON'T MAKE PEOPLE SUFFER TO GET THIS STR.

LET THEM GET IT, UH, IN, IN A WAY THAT'S NOT GONNA CAUSE PAIN.

AND THEN IF THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF PEOPLE WHO OWN THESE THINGS, GIVE THEIR NEIGHBORS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE THEIR, THEIR, THEIR THEIR RIGHT TO HAVE THE PEACEFUL ENJOYMENT OF THEIR OWN PROPERTY, NOT BEING INTERFERED WITH BY THE PEOPLE WHO RUN A DEFECTIVE STR.

YEAH, I'M, I'M GOOD SIR.

IT IS BASICALLY SAYING, HEY, GIVE EVERYBODY 60 DAYS IF THEY HAVE A HOUSE OUT THERE AND LET 'EM GET APPROVED, UH, AS A CONDITIONAL USE.

AND THEN NO, NO, NO, NO.

WHY, WHY YOU USING IT'S ANR PERMIT? YES.

LET 'EM GET, LET 'EM GET THE SDR PERMIT AFTER THAT.

CAUSE THAT ORDINANCE IS ALREADY WRITTEN.

AND THAT'S, THAT'S RIGHT.

AND I, THERE'S GONNA HAVE TO BE SOME CHANGES.

CAUSE YOU, YOU WANNA DO SOMETHING WITH THE ZONING.

YOU SAID YOU'VE BEEN TRYING TWO AND A HALF YEARS TO FIX THAT.

THE ZONING IS DONE, THE ORDINANCE IS DONE.

ORDINANCE, YOU'RE GETTING READY TO, YOU'RE GIVING A READING TO THE ORDINANCE.

IT'S DONE.

WE HAD, WE HAD ONE PERSON THAT PUT FORTH THE SHORT TERM RENTAL BEFORE THE Z B O EIGHT, AND THEY HAD PEOPLE RENT.

SO WHAT HIS ONLY CHANGE IS ANYBODY THAT'S GOT AN EXISTING CO AND LIVING OUT THERE CAN HAVE SHORT TERM RENTAL FOR 60 DAYS AFTER THAT, THEY GO TO THIS ORDINANCE THAT IS BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING.

DAVID, MR. CHAIRMAN, UH, REAL QUICK, UM, MR. GREENWAY, IS THERE OBJECTIVE STANDARDS THAT THE Z B O A USES IN DETERMINING THESE THINGS? UM, AND CAN WE DEFINE SOME OBJECTIVE STANDARDS THAT NOT ON THE REC ON THE RECORD, I'M GONNA SAY YES.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, IT'S, OUR BOTTOM LINE IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S THE SAME OBJECTIVE STANDARDS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE USE TO DECIDE THAT GOLF COURSES ARE NOT ALLOWABLE IN THE CPO.

GOTCHA.

YOU KNOW, ESSENTIALLY, MR. CAMERON, IF I COULD MAKE A, TO YOUR POINT YES.

CHANGES, WATCH SOME OF THE Z B O A MEETINGS WHERE THESE ARE BEING HEARD AND YOU'LL, YOU WILL HEAR THE VARIETY OF THINGS THAT NEIGHBORS OBJECT TO OR THAT NEIGHBORS AGREE TO.

AND THEN THE Z B A MAKES THEIR CALL.

[01:15:01]

THEY WERE RENTING SPACES IN A UNIT THAT DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THE APPROPRIATE HEAD CLEARANCE.

PEOPLE HAD TO ACTUALLY CRAWL UP THERE TO GET IN THEIR BEDS.

AND THEY WERE RENTING US OUT AT A SHORT TERM RENTAL.

THAT'S WHY YOU NEED A SPECIAL, THAT'S WHY YOU NEED A SPECIAL USED PERMIT, BECAUSE STAFF SITTING IN THE OFFICE LOOKING AT THAT APPLICATION DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS ON THE FIELD.

AND ONCE YOU ISSUE THE CONDITIONAL USED PERMIT AND THE BUILDING INSPECTOR GOES OUT THERE AND FINDS IT, YEAH.

YOU ARE IN FOR A WORLD OF HURT, THE SPECIAL USE PROCESS.

IF YOU HAVE THE SPECIAL USE PROCESS AND YOU HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING, THEN A NEIGHBOR THAT LIVES NEXT DOOR THAT'S OUT THERE 24 7 I KNOW WILL COME IN AND SAY, HEY, YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE CONDITIONS THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE RENTING TO THESE FOLKS.

OR, OR IF THEY MISS IT AT THE FIRST HEARING, THEY STILL HAVE AN ABILITY TO COME IN AND MAKE THAT COMPLAINT INSIDE THE HOUSE WE LIVE IN RATHER THAN GOING TO ANOTHER HOUSE.

THAT'S RIGHT.

EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THE AMENDMENT? OKAY.

SO WE HAVE TWO ACTIONS TO TAKE.

WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE UP FIRST THAT WE WILL DO.

NOW, ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AMENDMENT? OKAY.

LET ME, MR. CHAIRMAN, MAKE SURE, UM, I'M, I'M FOLLOWING LARRY AND THE ENFORCEMENT PART, THAT'S, THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW.

IT IS.

WE'RE GOING TO ALLOW FOR 60 DAYS.

THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET AN STR WILL GET IT.

SURE.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE ENFORCEMENT NEXT.

EVERYBODY IS OKAY? MM-HMM.

, UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, WE STILL NEED TO CLARIFY IF THAT'S TAKEN EFFECT TODAY OR AFTER THIRD READING THE 50 DAYS AFTER THIRD READING.

AFTER THE THIRD READING, YES.

BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST READING WITH THE AMENDMENT.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WILL OBJECT TO THIS AMENDMENT? SEEING NO OBJECTION.

THE AMENDMENT HAS PASSED.

WE'RE NOW BACK AFTER THE FIRST READING WITH THE AMENDMENT.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.

WELL, OKAY.

THIS, WHAT ABOUT THE, THE, UH, ALL THE ITEMS THAT I TALKED ABOUT WITH REGARD TO ENSURING THAT THIS STAYED IN OUR OWN HOUSE AND IT DIDN'T GO OUTSIDE? IS THAT IN THERE? THAT IT'S ALREADY IN THERE.

THAT'S ALREADY IN THIS ORDINANCE.

SO NOW WE'RE ACTING UPON THE ORDINANCE AS AMENDED FOR FIRST READING.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THE FIRST READING THE OF THE ORDINANCE AS AMENDED? YEAH, I'M GONNA VOTE NO ON.

OKAY, NOW WE'RE AT SOME PUBLIC HEARINGS, OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING AND THE SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS.

PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE.

THERE IS ONE OBJECTION.

ANY OTHER OBJECTION? THEN THE FIRST READING AS AMENDED HAS BEEN ADOPTED.

[13. PUBLIC HEARING AND A SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF, AND GRANT EASEMENTS ON, A PORTION OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED ON HIGHWAY 170 WITH TMS NO. R600 008 000 0005 0000; TO GRANT AN EASEMENT ON A PORTION OF REAL PROPERTY KNOWN AS THE COOLER TRACT; AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERETO]

PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF AND GRANT EASEMENTS ON A PORTION OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED ON HIGHWAY ONE 70, UH, KNOWN AS THE COOLER TRACT.

IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? SO SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

I NEED A MOTION.

AND SECOND FOR THIS ORDINANCE.

A MOTION.

I'M SORRY.

MR. MCALLEN MADE THE MOTION.

MS. BROWN MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTION THEN SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.

WE WILL ADOPT THE SECOND READING OF THIS ORDINANCE.

[14. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR A TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE (CDC): DIVISION 4.2.20 (GENERAL STANDARDS AND LIMITATIONS) TO CLARIFY CONNECTIVITY STANDARDS FOR PRIMARY STRUCTURES REGARDING BUILDING CONNECTIONS; DIVISION 4.2.30 (ACCESSORY/SECONDARY DWELLING UNIT) TO MODIFY ALLOWABLE DENSITY TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR AN ADDITIONAL ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT AND TO PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY FOR AREA OF UNITS; DIVISION 4.1.360 (SHORT-TERM RENTALS) TO MODIFY GENERAL STANDARDS TO ALLOW ONLY A PRINCIPAL DWELLING UNIT OR AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT AS A SHORT-TERM RENTAL ON A SINGLE PARCEL]

WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR A TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE CDC.

UH, REGARDING PRIMARY STRUCTURES REGARDING BUILDING CONNECTIONS REQUIRE, REQUIRE, RE REGARDING, UM, ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS, UH, ON A SINGLE PARCEL.

IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? SEEING NONE.

WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

I NEED A MOTION.

AND SECOND, FOR THE SECOND READING OF THIS, I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION.

WE ARE DULY MOTION IN SECONDED, UH, FOR THIS ITEM.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY, MS. HOWARD, MS. TABERNAC MADE THE MOTION IN SECOND.

SEEING NO OBJECTION.

THIS WILL BE APPROVED AS SECOND READING.

NEXT IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND

[15. PUBLIC HEARING AND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS FOR THE PURCHASE OF A PORTION OF THE REAL PROPERTY ABUTTING THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND AIRPORT LOCATED ON SUMMIT DRIVE WITH TMS NO. R510 005 000 271A 0000 ]

APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EX EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS FOR A PERSON PER PURCHASE OF A PORTION OF REAL PROPERTY OF BUING, THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND AIRPORT, LOCATED ON SUMMIT DRIVE.

A MOTION PLEASE TELL MOTION.

MR. MCCLELLEN MADE THE MOTION.

I'LL SECOND IT.

MS. BROWN MADE THE SECTION.

IS THERE ANY

[01:20:01]

MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ABOUT THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE.

WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT.

ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS? NO.

SEEING NONE, THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AS A SEC.

UH, AS A RESOLUTION.

ITEM NUMBER 16

[16. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR THE LEVY OF TAX FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2023 AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2024, AND TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR SAID PURPOSES]

IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR THE LEVY OF THE TAX FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES FOR BEAUFORD COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING JULY 1ST, 2023, AND ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2024.

AND TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR SAID PURPOSES, IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ABOUT THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE NEED A, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.

I'LL AT MS. CHAPNICK MADE THE MOTION.

MR. .

THANK YOU MR. MCGOWN.

I THINK WE'RE FALLING.

STEVEN.

MS. HOWARD MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTION THEN SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITHOUT OBJECTION? THIS ITEM WILL BE APPROVED.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

PUBLIC HEARING AND THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE THE APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICTS FOR BEAUFORD COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING 20, UH, JULY 1ST, 2023, ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2024 TO LEVY TAXES FOR THE PAYMENT THEREOF TO ADOPT LAW, LAW ENFORCEMENT, UNIFORM SERVICE CHARGES.

NEXT IS A

[17. PUBLIC HEARING AND THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICTS FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2023, AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2024; TO LEVY TAXES FOR THE PAYMENT THEREOF; TO ADOPT LAW ENFORCEMENT UNIFORM SERVICE CHARGES/ USER FEE; TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF SAID TAXES AND OTHER REVENUES COMING INTO THE COUNTY; TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF SAID LAW ENFORCEMENT UNIFORM CHARGES/ USER FEE; AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERETO]

USER FEE TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF SAID TAXES AND OTHER REVENUES COMING INTO THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF SAID LAW ENFORCEMENT, UNIFORM, UH, CHARGES, USER FEE AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERE TOO.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THE BUDGET? SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION? AND SECOND FOR THE BUDGET? MOTION.

MR. CHAIRMAN? MR. CUNNINGHAM MAKES THE MOTION.

MS. BROWN, YOU MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTION.

DIDN'T SECOND IT.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS ITEM, MR. CUNNINGHAM? THANK YOU, MS. CHAIRMAN.

UM, I'M GONNA PUT WHITNEY IN THE ROOM TODAY.

YES, SHE IS.

SHE'S, UM, I WAS JUST WONDERING IF IT WAS POSSIBLE SHE GOES AN UPDATE ON ANY CHANGES THAT WE'VE MADE TO THIS? SURE.

? I CAN.

CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME? YES.

HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE A MUCH LESS CONTENTIOUS ITEM AND I CAN DO SO BRIEFLY.

UM, YOU'RE THE, THE FIRST TWO READINGS, THERE WAS REALLY ONLY FEEDBACK CONCERNING THE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE COMPENSATION THAT STAFF HAD PROPOSED.

UM, THE FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVED, UM, REALLY HAD THREE MAIN POINTS TO IT.

THAT THE 3%, NUMBER ONE, UM, AS PROPOSED WITH IT BEING A COMBINATION OF A COLA AND WAS UNFAVORABLE BECAUSE OF SOMETIMES THE POTENTIAL FOR AN EVALUATION TO FALL PREY TO THE SUBJECTIVITY OR BIAS IN BEING CONDUCTED BY A SUPERVISOR.

THE SECOND, UM, CONCERN WAS THAT 3% ON A LARGER SALARY IS NOT EQUITABLE WHEN COMPARED TO 3% ON A LOWER EARNING SALARY.

UM, AND I FORGET WHAT THE THIRD ONE WAS.

A STIPEND, NOT THE STIPEND, THE HOURLY RATE.

NOW I REMEMBER, EXCUSE ME, IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY.

AND, UH, CONGRATULATIONS.

, THE THIRD CONCERN WAS THAT 3%, WHILE NICE, WAS STILL AN INSUFFICIENT AMOUNT TO REALLY BRING OUR LOWEST WAGE EARNERS UP TO A MORE COMPETITIVE OR LIVABLE WAGE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

SO STAFF REALLY TOOK TO HEART YOUR FEEDBACK, UM, SINCE THE PREVIOUS READING AND HAS COME UP WITH AN ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION THAT WE THINK YOU ALL WILL FIND FAVORABLE.

UM, SPREADSHEET JOKES ASIDE, WE HAVE STAFF WHO ARE REALLY GOOD AT CRUNCHING NUMBERS AND WHO ARE VERY TECHNICALLY PROFICIENT IN THEIR FIELD.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND, UH, MR. WILLIAMS, MISS CHRISTMAS, AND MS. MEAD AND MS. WEBB FOR THEIR WORK AND PUTTING TOGETHER THIS PROPOSAL FOR YOU.

AND THAT SIMPLY STATED TONIGHT IS THAT INSTEAD OF DOING A 3% ACROSS THE BOARD, INCREASE THAT WE WOULD DO A FLAT $3,000 ACROSS THE BOARD FOR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AND LIKELY A $1,500 INCREASE FLAT FOR PART-TIME EARNERS.

WITH THE GOAL BEING THAT OUR LEASED EARNING WAGE, WHICH IS CURRENTLY 1381 AN HOUR, IF IT IS BUMPED UP BY THAT MINIMUM, WILL NOW BE 1525 AN HOUR, WHICH MAKES US MORE COMPETITIVE IN THE MARKET.

IT MEANS THAT OUR EMPLOYEES NOW HAVE A LIVABLE WAGE.

IT PROMOTES EQUITY BECAUSE YOUR HIGHER EARNERS DIDN'T RECEIVE A GREATER INCREASE THAN YOUR LOWER EARNERS, AND IT DOES NOT CREATE COMPRESSION.

SO EVERYONE IS MOVING UP EQUALLY.

SO FOR THOSE REASONS, WE ARE ASKING THAT TONIGHT, UM, THAT YOU AUTHORIZE THE INCREASE STILL, BUT RATHER THAN BEING DISTRIBUTED IN THE FORM OF A 3% THAT IT'S DONE BY THESE FLAT

[01:25:01]

RATES.

UM, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE WITH THAT.

AND LOGAN, DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS RIGHT ON THE MONEY TO, TO BE HONEST, I KIND OF GOT GOOSEBUMPS ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW, CUZ I KNOW IT WAS A TALL TASK FOR YOU GUYS TO DO IN TWO OR THREE WEEKS MM-HMM.

UM, WE WEREN'T SURE IF WE WERE GONNA BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH AN IDEA.

UM, YOU GUYS HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM TO BE ABLE TO PULL THAT OFF.

UH, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY ELSE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IT, BUT Y'ALL, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ADVOCATED REALLY HARD, UM, THE LAST COUPLE YEARS FOR OUR TEACHERS, UM, BUT NOT NECESSARILY THE REST OF OUR COUNTY STAFF.

SO I'M GLAD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT.

I THINK THAT'S A BIG JUMP.

UM, I DO THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

A FLAT FEE INSTEAD OF PERCENTAGES GOES A LONG WAY TO ALL OF OUR STAFF AND THIS DEFINITELY MAKES US COMPETITIVE.

UM, COMMEND YOUR GUYS' HEALTH FOR THE REST OF THE STAFF.

UH, THEY KNOCKED IT OUTTA THE PARK AND I HOPE THE REST OF COUNCIL GETS BEHIND IT AS WELL.

I FORGOT TO ADD THAT WE ARE DOING WITH THIS, WITHIN THE SAME MILLAGE THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY PRESENTED, THERE IS NO INCREASE IN THE MILITARY.

WHITNEY, THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MR. CHAIR? THAT WAS THE MEMO QUESTION.

DO WE NEED TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT FOR THAT OR IS, IS THAT ALREADY, IT'S ALREADY ALREADY INCLUDED.

IT IS IN THERE IN ORDER TO FUND THIS.

THERE IS NO CASHING OUT OVER ACCRUED LEAVE TIME THIS YEAR.

THAT WAS THE ONE CAVEAT TO MAKING THIS DOABLE WITHOUT INCREASING THE MILLAGE RATE.

AND ANY OTHER APPLIES TO EMPLOYEES ON THE COUNTY'S COMPENSATION PLAN.

WOULD YOU FILL OVER THE MILL BY FOUR AND A HALF, I BELIEVE TOO, RIGHT? OVERALL, I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

THIS IS WITHIN THE OPERATING MILLAGE, WHICH I THINK PREVIOUSLY WAS 53.9 AND IS NOW 51.7.

, I BELIEVE THAT'S RIGHT.

SO THE OPERATING MILLAGE PIECE STILL DECREASES AS DOES THE DEBT SERVICE PIECE.

THIS TIME YOUR TEAM WAS ABLE TO GIVE THE RAISE AND SAVE OUR TAXPAYERS AT THE SAME TIME.

YES, SIR.

UM, I WAS SIMPLY GONNA POINT OUT THAT MR. WILLIAMS, MS. RICHARDS, AND ALL OF THESE PEOPLE HEARD FROM ALL NUMEROUS COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UH, I MEAN, I, I HARASSED HAYES ENDLESSLY AND, AND THEY DO A LOT WITH SPREADSHEET AND THEY LISTEN TO ALL OF US AND THEN THEY CAME UP WITH THIS SOLUTION.

SO I THINK THEY'RE ALL TO BE GIVEN KUDOS TO GET US TO WHERE WE ARE.

ANY OTHER, MR. CHAIRMAN, JUST ONE MORE THING.

I, I DON'T SEE MS. WALLS IN HERE.

I KNOW THAT ISSUE CAME UP THE LAST TIME AT THE LAST HEARING.

RIGHT? UH, DID HER BUDGET PROPOSAL, DID THEY HAVE WORKED IN OR DID Y'ALL WORK THAT OUT? I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING REGARDING ISSUE ANYMORE.

SO HER EMPLOYEES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS EXACT SAME INCREASE.

BECAUSE THEY ARE ON THE COUNTY'S COMPENSATION PLAN.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? UH, JUST ONE, UM, UM, DID THE, UM, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, UM, WAS PLEASED OR HE'S STILL NOT SATISFIED WITH THE INCREASE? I'M NOT SURE.

I'VE NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING FROM PUBLIC WORKS.

I, I'M NOT AWARE OF WHAT YOU WERE SPEAKING TO.

UH, THE INCREASE IN HIS, UH, WAGES, UH, A LOT OF HIS WORKERS WERE PROBABLY AT THE $13 LEVEL.

YES, SIR.

ACTUALLY, THIS DOES AFFECT SOME OF OUR, MANY OF OUR EMPLOYEES IN THE LOWEST BRACKET DID FALL WITHIN PUBLIC WORKS.

I'M SORRY.

NOW I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.

UM, MOST NOTABLY, MANY OF OUR, OUR CONVENIENCE, I'M SORRY, NOT CONVENIENCE CENTER ATTENDANCE.

WHAT DO WE CALL THEM? UM, JARED, HELP ME OUT HERE IN MY OLD COUNTY, WE CALLED THEM CONVENIENCE CENTERS.

COLLECTION CENTERS.

UM, THIS WILL IMPACT OUR COLLECTION CENTER'S ATTENDANCE AS WELL.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? NO SEEING NO OBJECTIONS.

WE NOW HAVE A BUDGET BUDGET.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE STAFF BECAUSE WE HAVE GONE YEARS IN THE PAST WHERE WE HAD TO HAVE SPECIAL MEETINGS IN JUNE ON THE LAST DAY OF JUNE TO ADOPT A BUDGET.

SO, CONGRATULATIONS.

I AM SORRY.

I I DID NOT REALIZE THAT.

UM, WE ARE DOING SECOND READING FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, SO WE GOT ONE MORE READING FOR THEM.

WOW.

NUMBER 18 IS APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AND APPROVAL TO ENTER INTO AN IGA INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD FOR AN EXPENDITURE FOR OF TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES ON THE ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC SIGNAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

THAT'S WHY I CLAPPED.

CAUSE I THOUGHT, I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE LAST TIME WE DO THAT.

NO, IT'S, I JUST GOT ONE MORE NOW.

WE KEEP CONGRATULATING THEM.

IT'LL, IT'LL BE DONE.

ITEM

[18. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AND APPROVAL TO ENTER INTO AN IGA WITH THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD FOR AN EXPENDITURE OF TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES ON THE ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC SIGNAL MANAGEMENT (ATSM) SYSTEM (FISCAL IMPACT: $3,100,000 TO COME FROM ACCOUNT 23020011- 51160 WITH A BALANCE OF $3,298,434]

A MOTION AND SECOND, PLEASE.

I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.

ITEM NUMBER 19 IS APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO USE IMPACT FEES TO RETAIN HDR ENGINEERING INC.

MS. TABERNAC MADE THE MOTION.

MR. LAWSON MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTION AND SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? NO.

SEEING NONE.

THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.

[19. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO USE IMPACT FEES TO RETAIN HDR ENGINEERING, INC TO STUDY, RECOMMEND, AND DESIGN ENHANCEMENTS TO BLUFFTON PARKWAY PEDESTRIAN ACCOMMODATIONS AND AESTHETICS AKA BLUFFTON PARKWAY ENHANCEMENT PROJECT (FISCAL IMPACT: $259,954.84)]

TO STUDY, RECOMMEND AND DESIGN ENHANCEMENTS TO BLUFFTON PARKWAY, PEDESTRIAN ACCOMMODATIONS AND AESTHETICS.

[01:30:01]

A K A BLUFFTON PARKWAY ENHANCEMENT PROJECT.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION MR. CUNNINGHAM? NO MOTION.

MR. CHAIRMAN .

MR. CUNNINGHAM DULY MAKES THAT MOTION.

I'LL SECOND IT FOR HIM.

MISS KAEPERNICK MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? DOES IT INCLUDE GOLF CART ACCESS? IT BETTER? NO.

? YES, THAT FORM.

THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.

AND OUR FINAL

[20. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO PLAN FOR A FUTURE SALES TAX PROGRAM]

ACTION ITEM IS THE APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO PLAN FOR A FUTURE SALES TAX BROKER.

I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.

AT OUR CITIZEN COMMENTS, AND WE DO HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME BEFORE US.

MS. HOWARD MADE THE MOTION.

MR. DAWSON MAKES THE SECOND DUELING MOTION AND SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NO DISCUSSION? THIS ITEM WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

AND THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS.

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE WONDERING, THIS IS THE GROUP THAT IS GOING TO WORK VERY HARD AT PRESENTING WHAT WE NEED FOR THE FUTURE IN THE WAY OF TRANSPORTATION, CAPITAL PROJECTS, OTHER PROJECTS TO BE INCLUDED IN A POSSIBLE REFERENDUM IN 2024.

FINALLY, WE ARE

[21. CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD- 15 MINUTES TOTAL Anyone who wishes to speak during the Citizen Comment portion of the meeting will limit their comments and speak no longer than three (3) minutes. Speakers will address Council in a respectful manner appropriate to the decorum of the meeting, refraining from the use of profane, abusive, or obscene language]

AND THE FIRST PERSON IS JAKE RAIL.

JAKE, THANKS FOR WAITING.

YOU'RE A PATIENT, YOUNG MAN.

REALLY BRING THAT MICROPHONE DOWN SO WE CAN HEAR YOU.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.

PERFECT.

TAKE YOUR TIME, JAKE.

UH, GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEN AND WOMEN.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TONIGHT.

MY NAME IS JAKE RAO AND I PLAY BASEBALL FOR THE BLUFFTON WAVES 10 TEAM.

I STARTED PLAYING BASEBALL WHEN I WAS FOUR YEARS OLD AND FELL IN LOVE IMMEDIATELY.

OVER THE YEARS I'VE PLAYED SECOND BASE, THIRD BASE, RIGHT FIELD.

AND AFTER YEARS OF PRACTICE, I FINALLY ACCOMPLISHED MY GOAL TO START AS A PITCHER.

COACH JOHN SAYS THAT BASEBALL TEACHES A LOT ABOUT LIFE.

FOR EXAMPLE, I HAVE LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING HARD, SETTING GOALS, TEAMWORK, LISTENING AND COMMUNICATING, THE ART OF WINNING AND LOSING GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP, HAVING GOOD ATTITUDE, TAKING CHANCES AND MAKING QUICK DECISIONS.

MY COACH MAKES SURE THAT ME AND MY TEAMMATES KEEP OUR GRADES UP.

HE ALSO HOLDS US ACCOUNTABLE, MAKING SURE WE REMEMBER TO BE ON TIME AND BE PREPARED TO PLAY.

HE ALSO MAKES IT A LOT OF FUN FOR US.

SINCE I'VE JOINED THE WAVES, I'VE MADE OVER A DOZEN NEW FRIENDS.

THEY'RE ALL GOOD GUYS.

WE PRACTICE OR PLAY GAMES TWO TO FOUR TIMES A WEEK, SOMETIMES MORE.

THERE'S NO TIME FOR US TO GET INTO TROUBLE.

OUR TEAM IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION.

THE COACHES ARE NOT PAID.

IT IS ALSO NON EXCLUSIONARY.

ANYONE CAN PLAY ON OUR TEAM AS LONG AS THEY HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE, GOOD GRADES, AND LOVE BASEBALL.

IT IS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER ELITE TRAVEL TEAMS BECAUSE THO THOSE TEAMS CHARGE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR KIDS TO JOINS.

WE, WE TRY TO RAISE MONEY FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES FOR OUR TEAM THAT GOES TO PAYING FOR OUR TOURNAMENTS, WHICH ARE USUALLY IN SAVANNAH, CHARLESTON, STATESBORO, AND RANKIN.

BUT WHAT WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARDS TO IS GOING TO COOPERSTOWN, NEW YORK IN TWO DA TWO YEARS TO REPRESENT THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.

FOR ANYONE THAT DOESN'T KNOW COOPERSTOWN IS A GREAT HONOR.

IT IS AN INTERNATIONAL BASEBALL TOURNAMENT.

NOT EVERYONE GETS A CHANCE TO PLAY THERE.

WE'LL NEED TO RAISE, AT, RAISE AT LEAST $25,000 TO GO.

WE ARE GETTING SPONSORS, BUT ARE HAVING A HARD TIME RAISING IT.

HARD TIME SAVING EACH BECAUSE EACH, EACH, UH, YEAR, WE SPEND ALMOST $4,000 TO RENT FIELDS FROM THE COUNTY TO PRACTICE ON.

WE NEED A SOLUTION, AND I'M HOPING YOU CAN HELP.

WE NEED AN IMPORT, AN AFFORDABLE PLACE TO PRACTICE ON.

SO YOU, SO WE CAN GO TO COOPERSTOWN AND MAKE YOU ALL PROUD.

PLEASE HELP ME AND MY TEAM.

I'M SURE YOU CAN KNOCK IT OUTTA THE PARK FOR US.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

VERY GOOD.

JAKE, COME ON UP HERE A SECOND.

COME HERE A SECOND.

I GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU.

SO YOU CAN START A COLLECTION.

TAKE THAT HOME.

WHAT IS THAT? THANK YOU.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS YET, SO WILL TELL YOU WHEN THEY READ IT.

MR. I, I PROMISE YOU I DIDN'T PLAN THAT.

UH, JAKE, I'M GOOD FOR 10 GRAND FOR YOU BUDDY.

OH, 10 GRAND.

AND THAT'S AN EXAMPLE, NOT A NEFARIOUS ONE.

WE CAN MAKE THINGS WORK

[01:35:02]

LIKE THAT.

GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN.

JAKE, YOU'RE A STUD.

EVERYTHING THAT YOU JUST SAID IS THE, FIRST OF ALL, UNBELIEVABLE THAT YOU GOT THE CARDS.

YOU GET UP HERE AND SAY THAT I FINALLY GOT TWO TODAY.

BUT, UM, HE, WHAT, WHAT AN AWESOME KID.

UM, EVERYTHING THAT HE TALKED ABOUT ABOUT SPORTS IS WHAT I LEARNED IN FOOTBALL, UM, AND HONESTLY TRANSLATES, UH, TO, TO GOLF REALLY WELL.

BUT, UM, WE'LL GET THERE.

UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, UH, COUNSEL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT ITEM 14 ON THE LAST AGENDA, BUT UNFORTUNATELY I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK ON IT THEN.

IT, I TRUST THE COUNCIL'S BEEN RECEIVING LETTERS FROM PEOPLE, MY NEAREST NEIGHBORS, PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTY, AND YOU'RE GONNA START GETTING A LOT MORE OF 'EM.

UM, AS THESE FACTS BECOME REALITY, UM, THERE'LL BE MORE VOICES COMING FORWARD.

UM, AND IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THEM TO COME FORWARD BECAUSE THIS ROOM'S HAVE BEEN TOUGH.

PEOPLE LIKE JAKE REMIND ME THAT THAT'S WHAT THIS ROOM IS ABOUT.

IT'S CHANGED AND I KNOW WE'VE ALL FELT, FELT IT, IT'S PALPABLE.

UM, BUT WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA MOVE IT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND I TRUST THAT BO, EVERYONE ON THIS COUNCIL HEARD FROM, UM, MR. ORAGE AND MR. TERRELL.

UM, I COMMEND THEM FOR THEIR COURAGE TO STAND UP SEEMINGLY IN THE FACE OF THEIR COMMUNITY, BUT ACTUALLY STANDING UP FOR IT.

I HOPE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT DARRYL IS THE VICE CHAIR OF THE CPO COMMITTEE.

AND FOR HIM TO STAND UP AND SAY THAT IS A EXTREMELY IMPACTFUL THING.

AND I WANT EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND THE MERITS BEHIND WHY I WAS HOPING TO PRESENT IT TODAY.

BUT A MAJORITY OF YOU HAVE NOW BEEN OUT TO MY PROPERTY TO UNDERSTAND HOW SPECTACULAR IT IS.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW UNIQUE IT IS GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE'RE IN.

THE INTENT OF THE ORDINANCE IS TO PREVENT GENTRIFICATION.

THE RAPID AND MIGRATION OF RESIDENTS RURAL DISPLACEMENT.

WE ALL KNOW THAT 550,000 NEW CARS AND 500 PLUS NEW RESIDENTS WILL CHANGE THE DYNAMICS OF PLACES FOREVER.

BUT WE'RE STUCK IN A SEEMINGLY CONCENTRIC CIRCLE OF ZONING LAW AND SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T QUITE MAKE SENSE.

THAT'S WHY IT'S UNIQUE.

NOW I GET IT.

I DID IT.

BUT I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN ALL UNDERSTAND THE FACTS IN A MANNER THAT ALLOWS US TO COME TO A PRAGMATIC SOLUTION.

AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT THIS COMING WEEK, I'M GONNA BE SUBMITTING TO STAFF, TO COUNSEL, TO LEGAL DEPARTMENT, THE SCAFFOLDING OF CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENT.

THEY'LL HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE TO REMOVE ALL THE ELEMENTS THAT I'VE DISCUSSED FROM MY PROPERTY FOREVER.

PEOPLE, DOCKS, HOUSES, ROOFS, PERVIOUS SURFACES, ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DON'T WANT ANYMORE OF IS SOMETHING THAT I AM WILLING TO DO.

AND I EXPECT THESE TO BE CONSIDERED IN AN ACTUAL TIME SENSITIVE MANNER.

NOW, THIS WILL BECOME A CHOICE, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S WHAT IT'S COME TO.

BUT I WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE FACTS TO EVERYBODY HERE AND THE WAY TO MAKE THAT CHOICE.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS, HOPEFULLY NOT IN THREE MINUTES AND HOPEFULLY ANCHORED BY JAKE.

UM, BUT I APPRECIATED THIS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY, LITERALLY TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF THE ENTIRE AREA.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

IS UH, MARTHA HUTTON STILL HERE? OH YEAH.

NO, MARTHA'S NOT HERE.

BRITNEY, IS BRITNEY HERE? NO.

UM, SARAH REYNOLDS GREEN.

UH, CHAIRMAN PASSMAN AND COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS RAH REYNOLDS GREEN.

OH, SURE.

AND I LIVE ON ST.

HELENA ISLAND.

UM, I'M HERE.

I'M A NATIVE OF ST.

HELEN ISLAND, AND I HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE FOR MANY YEARS IN OUR COMMUNITY, TEACHING OUR STUDENTS ABOUT THEIR SACRED CULTURE, TRADITIONS AND HERITAGE, AND THE ROLE THAT THEY PLAY IN LIVING IN THIS HARMONIOUS AND PRESTIGIOUS PLACE.

AND ALSO TEACHING THEM HOW TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE LAND ENVIRONMENT AND TO BE RESPECTFUL AT ALL TIMES.

WE HAVE BEEN HERE FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS OR SO, UM, WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY TO APPELL UPHOLD THE CPO.

AND I FIND IT VERY TEDIOUS AND VERY, IT GRIEVES ME REALLY TO BE HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE COULD SIT DOWN AND COME TO A BETTER CONCLUSION.

UM, WE HAVE BEFORE IS TWO OPTIONS, BUT I THINK THERE ARE MANY OPTIONS BESIDES TWO OPTIONS.

AND I FEEL THAT HE'S ABLE TO COMPROMISE.

, AND I WANNA SEE SOME OF THOSE OPTIONS EXPLORED.

UM, I'VE TALKED TO, UM, MR. UM, AVIO,

[01:40:01]

AND I THINK WE NEED TO COMPROMISE BECAUSE HE'S A LANDOWNER.

HE WANTS TO DEVELOP SOMETHING, HE WANTS TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.

WE NEED TO PULL OUR RESOURCES TOGETHER AND FIND A WAY TO DO IT.

AS I SAID, IT GREETS ME TO HEAR THAT SUCH VALUABLE AND HISTORICAL PLACE CAN BE DEVELOPED INTO A GOLF COURSE.

AND I'M DEFINITELY AGAINST THAT.

AND I'M AGAINST THE 166 HOUSES AS WELL, BECAUSE THE, THE POINT OF IT IS THAT WE NEED TO PUT SOMETHING THERE THAT IS NOT GONNA DESTROY AND LESSEN THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY, BUT ENHANCE IT FOR ALL OF US TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

ADDITIONALLY, UM, ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN VERY GOOD IN VOTING AGAINST THE DEVELOPMENT, BUT I KNOW YOU HAVE RESERVATIONS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

AND YOU ARE GONNA BE CHARGED WITH, UM, THE, UH, RESPONSIBILITY OF IF THAT PROPERTY GETS DEVELOPED TO THE POINT THAT HE HAS SAID IT COULD BE DEVELOPED.

IT'S GONNA BE ON ALL OF US.

AND SO ALL OF US GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE, AND WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT IN CONSIDERATION ALSO.

UM, WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY A LOT, AND SUSTAINABILITY MEANS THAT A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY MANAGES ITS HUMAN, NATURAL, AND FINANCIAL CAPITAL TO MEET THE CURRENT NEEDS WHILE ENSURING THAT ADEQUATE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

NOW, WHAT FUTURE GENERATIONS DO YOU THINK IN YEARS TO COME, WILL THEY HAVE? IF ST.

HELENA BECOMES ANOTHER HILTON HEAD, WE WON'T BE HERE.

OUR LAND WILL BE GONE BECAUSE SEA LEVEL RISE, EVERYTHING THAT DESTROYS THE, THE WATERWAYS, THE LAND.

I'M A FARMER AND I DON'T WANT, I DON'T EVEN WANT MOSQUITO PEOPLE TO COME AND SPRAY IN OUR AREA BECAUSE IT CONTAMINATES THE AIR, CONTAMINATES THE PLANT, CONTAMINATES THE SOIL.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT ECOLOGICAL PRESERVATION.

AND AS OUR CONTINUE, UH, OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO GROW, WE HAVE A BIG, UM, TASK ON OUR SHOULDERS TO DO SOMETHING, TO SLOW IT DOWN AND TO MAKE IT SO WHERE IT IS SUSTAINABLE, THAT PEOPLE CAN CONTINUE TO LIVE HERE AND LOVE IT AND ENJOY IT LIKE ALL OF US DO NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING.

IS HE NOT HERE? NO.

IS HENRY BRANDT HERE? HEY Y'ALL.

HI.

YOU'LL HAVE TO FORGIVE ME TOO.

THIS ISN'T USUALLY THE FORM WHICH I SPEAK TO PEOPLE, SO I'LL WORK MY WAY THROUGH THIS THE BEST I CAN.

BUT MY NAME'S CAPTAIN HENRY BRT.

I'M ONE OF THE, UH, OWNER OPERATORS OF COASTAL EXPEDITIONS.

AND, UH, I RUN THE BEAUFORT BRANCH HERE AND MY PARTNER CHRIS, RUNS SOMEONE UP IN CHARLESTON AND, UH, COASTAL EXPEDITIONS GOT HERE TO BEAUFORT IN, UH, 2020 CUZ WE PICKED UP A CONTRACT WITH S E P R T.

AND, UH, WE RUN A FERRY SERVICE FOR 'EM.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BROUGHT US DOWN HERE.

AND, UH, IN OUR SEARCH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S LIKE CERTAIN CRITERIA, YOU KNOW, BEFORE WE MAKE THE TYPE OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT IT TAKES TO MOVE TO A NEW AREA LIKE THIS IS KIND OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE IT IS THAT WE FIT IN, LIKE, AND FIT IN IN BEAUFORT.

AND, UH, ONE OF THE PLACES THAT REALLY STRUCK ME WHEN WE FIRST MOVED TO THIS AREA WAS, UH, ST.

HELENA.

UM, I MOVED TO CHARLESTON BACK IN THE LATE NINETIES, AND IT REMINDED ME A LOT OF, UH, WHAT JOHNS ISLAND USED TO LOOK LIKE, LIKE BACK WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO THE CHARLESTON AREA.

AND IT STILL HAD A LOT OF THOSE, UH, REALLY QUINTESSENTIAL RURAL LOW COUNTRY ASPECTS TO IT.

AND WE WERE KIND OF THINKING ABOUT WHERE WE WANTED TO FIND A NICHE FOR OURSELVES.

WE TOOK A LOOK AT THE OVERLAY OF ST.

HELENA ISLAND TO KIND OF SEE WHERE WE FIT IN, AND WE SAW THAT IT WAS A BUNCH OF CULTURAL PRESERVATION OVERLAY AND THAT A LOT OF COMMERCIAL FISHING VILLAGE OVERLAYS TO KIND OF PROTECT THOSE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF LOW COUNTRY CULTURE, THE FISHING AND, YOU KNOW, THE GULLAH GEECHEE.

AND I WAS LIKE, THIS IS REALLY COOL.

THEY PUT SO MUCH EFFORT INTO THIS AND THEY HAD THE FORESIGHT TO SEE THAT THIS WAS GONNA BE AN ISSUE DOWN THE ROAD,

[01:45:01]

AND THEY FORECASTED IT.

AND WE WERE HAPPY WHEN WE LOOKED AT THAT CULTURAL PRESERVATION OVERLAY AND THE COMMERCIAL FISHING VILLAGE AND SAID, WELL, WE FIT IN, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE LIKE US TO MOVE INTO THIS AREA.

AND, UH, WHEN I SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH PINE ISLAND, IT SEEMED SO AGAINST THE GREATER VISION OF WHAT THEY HAD IN MIND FOR SAINT HELENA.

YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO WORK AROUND THIS CULTURAL PRESERVATION OVERLAY, WHICH IS THERE TO CAPTURE THE ESSENCE OF THE AREA AND WHAT GOLF COURSES AND GATED COMMUNITIES WILL INEVITABLY DO IF APPROVED, WILL SET A PRECEDENT, RIGHT? AND THEY'LL SAY, WELL, THIS PRECEDENT WILL THEN CAUSE A TRAINED REACTION.

OTHER PEOPLE WILL TRY TO DUPLICATE THE SAME THING AND IT WILL EFFECTIVELY STERILIZE THE CULTURAL ELEMENTS THAT IT WAS THERE TO ORIGINALLY PROTECT.

SO I, WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS, IS LIKE, LOOK FOR BUSINESSES AND FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO FIT INTO THE VISION THAT WAS PUT THERE.

AND I'LL TRY AND CHANGE THE CULTURAL FABRIC OF THE LOW COUNTRY.

ON A NIGHT BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED, SHE CAME BACK WITH A SUITCASE, STAYED THE NIGHT AT THE FAMILY HOME, WAS PRESENT IN THE HOME WITH THE HUSBAND.

I BELIEVE I WAS NOTIFIED ON THE LIST.

UH, DOESN'T MATTER.

I CHOOSE WHO I WANT TO HEAR FROM.

I WAS LOOKING FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

WE HAVE USED UP OUR 15 MINUTES AT THIS TIME.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER ACTION TO COME BEFORE COUNTY COUNCIL SAYING NONE.

THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

THE COUNTY CHANNEL IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON VIDEO ON DEMAND.

GO TO BEAUFORT COUNTY SC.GOV, SCROLL DOWN TO PUBLIC MEETINGS, CLICK WATCH NOW, AND THEN CLICK THE VIDEO ON DEMAND BUTTON AND SELECT YOUR PROGRAM FROM THE LIST.

CALL THE 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.

MAY 24TH, 1995 ALONG COTTON HALL ROAD IN YEMENI, THE BODY OF A WOMAN WAS FOUND IN A DITCH WEARING NOTHING BUT A PAIR OF PANTIES IN AUTOPSY REVEALED THE WOMAN HAD BEEN DEAD FOR A DAY OR TWO.

THE CAUSE OF DEATH.

STRANGULATION INVESTIGATORS KNEW COTTON HALL ROAD WASN'T WHERE SHE WAS MURDERED, BUT DUMPED TO LIKELY NEVER BE FOUND.

WITH LITTLE EVIDENCE.

THE UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN'S PHOTO TAKEN DURING AN AUTOPSY WAS DISTRIBUTED IN HOPES OF LEARNING HER NAME.

THE CASE QUICKLY GREW HOLD SEVERAL YEARS LATER, SHERIFF PJ TANNER TASKS AN INVESTIGATOR BOB BROICH WITH LOOKING INTO THE AGENCY'S COLD CASES.

THIS CASE, UH, CLEARLY WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO US TO IDENTIFY HER.

SO WE WE TRIED NUMEROUS, NUMEROUS JUST OUTSIDE THE BOX IDEAS AND, YOU KNOW, USING INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON NATIONAL LOCAL MEDIA, UM, LOOKING THROUGH DATABASES OF, OF MISSING PERSONS.

BUT WE NEVER FOUND HER AS TECHNOLOGY ADVANCED.

THE UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN'S DNA N A WAS ENTERED INTO VARIOUS DATABASES WITH THE HOPES OF A MATCH.

IN 2020, IT WAS SENT TO PARABON NANOLABS, A COMPANY LEVERAGING THE POWER OF DNA FORENSICS AND GENETIC GENEALOGY.

PARABON HAD SOME SUCCESS NATIONALLY WHEN THE GOLDEN STATE KILLER WAS COP THROUGH GENEALOGY RESEARCH.

THAT WAS INCREDIBLE.

IT'S ANOTHER TOOL AND IT'S ANOTHER NEWER TECHNOLOGY, AND WE DECIDE TO GIVE IT A SHOT.

OCTOBER, 2022, A MATCH.

THE MATCH WAS BETTER THAN 99%.

SHE WAS IDENTIFIED AS MARIA TELUS GONZALEZ.

SHE WAS 36 YEARS OLD, A MOTHER OF THREE, A WIFE.

SHE HAD DISAPPEARED FROM A KISSAME FLORIDA HOME IN MAY OF 1995, BUT NEVER REPORTED MISSING.

INVESTIGATORS TRAVELED TO FLORIDA INTERVIEWING MARIA'S HUSBAND, CHILDREN AND FAMILY MEMBERS.

DURING THE INTERVIEWS, IT WAS LEARNED THAT MARIA HAD RETURNED FROM PUERTO RICO FROM VISITING HER FAMILY.

[01:50:01]

WHEN THE CHILDREN WENT TO SCHOOL, ALL THREE CHILDREN WENT TO SCHOOL THAT DAY.

THE MOTHER WAS THERE, THE FATHER WAS THERE, THEY RETURNED FROM SCHOOL, SHE WAS GONE.

AND THE SUITCASE, HER VEHICLE WAS STILL THERE.

IT'S CLEAR THAT SHE WAS NOT MURDERED IN BUFORD COUNTY AND PROBABLY OCCURRED IN FLORIDA.

INVESTIGATORS ALSO LEARNED OF TWO PEOPLE CLOSE TO MARIA AT THE TIME OF HER DISAPPEARANCE.

HER BEST FRIEND, WHOSE NAME MAY BE PATTY OR PATRICIA, AND A MAN MARIA, HAD BEEN HAVING AFFAIR WITH INVESTIGATORS, WANT TO SPEAK TO THEM AND NEED HELP IDENTIFYING AND LOCATING THEM.

YOU'RE ALMOST SHOCKED, YOU KNOW, DISBELIEF BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DECADES OF, YOU KNOW, PROMISING LEADS THAT JUST TURNED INTO NOTHING.

YOU KNOW, WE CONTACTED INTERPOL.

I MEAN, I WOULD'VE NEVER THOUGHT I'D HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH INTERPOL, RIGHT? CONTACTED OUR POLL.

THEY, THEY ISSUED A BLACK NOTICE, WHICH IS AN UNIDENTIFIED REMAINS TO ALL THESE COOPERATING COUNTRIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

SO THINGS LIKE THAT.

THEY, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU FIND HOPE AND IT'S LIKE, OKAY, WE'RE ALMOST THERE.

AND THEN NOTHING.

THE WOMAN WHO REMAINED UNIDENTIFIED FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS NOW HAS A NAME MARIA TAIS GONZALEZ NEVER REPORTED MISSING AND LEFT ON A RURAL COUNTY ROAD TO NEVER BE FOUND.

THE BIG QUESTION IS NOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR ANSWERS TO WHO MURDERED MARIA.

AND WE LOOK TO BRING THAT PERSON TO JUSTICE.

YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WEAR YOUR PT GEAR ANYMORE, RIGHT? IT'S COMFORTABLE HOW CIVILIAN LIFE TREATING YOU.

IT'S FINE.

WHEN I GOT OUT, I DIDN'T WANNA ADMIT THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG BECAUSE I FELT LIKE A FAILURE.

AND THEN I REALIZED LIKE, THERE'S NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF.

SO I STARTED TALKING TO SOMEONE.

MAYBE YOU ARE FINE, BUT IF YOU'RE NOT, IT'S OKAY.