[00:00:02]
AND, UM, IT'S CRITICAL,[1. Call to Order]
UM, IN MY OPINION, UM,[*This meeting was joined in progress*]
THAT WE HAVE YOU HERE.AND WITH REGARD TO THE, UM, GARBAGE, THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK THAT WE DO, I THINK OUR NEXT STEPS IS TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR VISITORS KNOW THAT WE DO NOT ACCEPT THEIR HUNDRED AND 50 TONS OF TRASH ON OUR BEACH.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL? YES, SIR.
I WANTED TO REPORT THAT I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM A CITIZEN CONSTITUENT YESTERDAY, AND SHE SAYS, I READ THROUGH THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR OUR TOWN AND WAS VERY IMPRESSED.
I APPLAUD YOUR WORK ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO OUR ISLAND.
I FOUND THE WHOLE PLAN AND PROCESS VERY FORWARD LOOKING.
I APPRECIATE COMPLIMENTS FROM CITIZENS
'CAUSE WE HEAR LOTS OF OTHER THINGS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT.
[4.a. Review and Discussion of FY24 Strategic Action Plan]
YES.WE'VE LAST MET TOGETHER IN JANUARY TO REVIEW THE STRATEGIC PLAN, AND, UH, I WANT TO THANK COUNSEL TODAY AND FOR YOUR TIME THEN, AND YOUR COMMITMENT, UM, FOR PUTTING THIS, FOR PUTTING THIS PLAN TOGETHER.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS JUST BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO THE BINDER YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, AND THEN ALSO NOTE THAT I BELIEVE THERE ARE SOME STRATEGIC PLANS FOR THE PUBLIC.
SO WHAT I WANNA DO IS JUST SHOW YOU WHAT'S IN YOUR BINDER TODAY.
IT, WE, WE ARE UNVEILING TODAY OUR VERY, UH, NEWEST, LATEST, AND GREATEST STRATEGIC PLAN.
WE ALSO HAVE A DIGITAL, UH, BOOK ON OUR WEBSITE.
AND WE HAVE A GREAT WEBSITE, ACTUALLY.
IT'S GOT THE DIGITAL BOOK, A DASHBOARD TO KEEP MONTHLY UPDATES.
UM, IT, IT, IT'S BROKEN DOWN BY GOALS, STRATEGIES, PROJECT MANAGER, MONTHLY STATUS, UM, BUT FOR TODAY'S USE AND, AND FOR US TO DISTRIBUTE, THERE'S A HARD COPY BOOKLET, A BIG THANK YOU TO JOSH AND ZENOS FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER.
IN YOUR BOOK TODAY, YOU HAVE AN AGENDA.
YOU HAVE A, A TOP 15 STRATEGIC PRIORITY LIST.
UM, YOU ALSO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE FISCAL YEAR 24 CONSOLIDATED BUDGET.
UM, IN THAT BUDGET, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION AND DETAIL ABOUT THE BUDGET SPECIFIC, BUT THEN THERE ARE ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THAT LAY OUT THE ALIGNMENT WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE DO HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN, UM, PRESENTATION AT THE BACK OF YOUR BOOK.
SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO FOLLOW ALONG AND MAKE SOME NOTES, WE'VE LAID THAT, WE'VE LAID THAT OUT FOR YOUR USE TODAY.
UM, AS WE GET STARTED, I JUST DO WANT TO SAY A VERY, VERY BIG THANK YOU TO THIS GENTLEMAN.
TO MY LEFT, JOSH GRUBER, OUR DEPUTY TOWN MANAGER, A, A THANK YOU, JOSH.
A BIG THANK YOU TO ZENOS, WHO CAME TO ME EARLY ON AND SAID, I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I THINK WE CAN COMMUNICATE A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY THE WAY WE LAY OUT OUR DOCUMENTS.
AND SO I SAID, GREAT, YOU'RE IN CHARGE OF THE NEW STRATEGIC PLAN.
AND HE EMBRACED IT, UM, WITH BOTH ARMS AND A AND A BIG THANK YOU TO ZENOS FOR, FOR ENCOURAGING ME AND, AND FOR US TO THINK A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY ABOUT HOW WE COMMUNICATE.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A COUPLE OF SECONDS.
IF EVERYONE COULD JUST INTRODUCE THEMSELVES, NAME, TITLE, HELLO, AND MAYBE PASS THE MIC AROUND THE ROOM.
I'M BEN BROWN, SENIOR ADVISOR TO THE TOWN MANAGER.
I ASSIST THE TOWN MANAGER WITH SPECIAL PROJECTS AND POLICY INITIATIVES.
I'M ALSO INVOLVED WITH LAND ACQUISITION, ASSET MANAGEMENT, AND STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR THE TOWN.
I'M JUSTIN CUNNINGHAM, DEPUTY CHIEF OF OPERATIONS FOR FIRE AND RESCUE.
UM, MY DAY-TO-DAY JOB, I CONTROL THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS, UH, SAFETY AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING IN THE M S DIVISIONS.
I'M STANDING IN FOR CHIEF BLANKETSHIP.
I'M ANGIE STONE, ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER, OVERSIGHT OF, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
THAT INCLUDES TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION, CULTURE, THE OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS AND OUR MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT.
UM, NEXT TO ME IS OUR BRAND NEW MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, ANDREW DAVIS.
I'M SEAN COLEN, ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER, UM, WITH OVERSIGHT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
SO ALL PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, INSPECTIONS, UH, BUILDING, UH, ENGINEERING FUNCTIONS, STORMWATER AND, UM, AND TRANSPORTATION, AS WELL AS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECT CAPITAL PROJECTS.
[00:05:02]
GOOD MORNING.BOB BROMAGE, UH, OVERSEE CODE ENFORCEMENT, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, SHORT-TERM RENTAL, UH, ORDINANCE, OVERSEE ENFORCEMENT OF THAT AND CRISIS COMMUNICATION, AND HAPPY TO BE HERE.
TOMMY SUNDAY, DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION OVER OUR NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE, G I S, DAY-TO-DAY SUPPORT PROJECT AND IT PROJECT MANAGEMENT.
UH, BRIAN MCWE, ASSISTANT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
I ASSIST, UH, SEAN WITH TRANSPORTATION, STORMWATER ENGINEERING, AND CAPITAL PROJECTS.
I'M ASSISTANT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, UM, OVER SPECIAL PROJECTS AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT ARM.
GOOD MORNING, LISA STOFFER, THE HR DIRECTOR.
I'M THE TOWN'S, UH, EMPLOYEE AND EMPLOYER CHEERLEADER.
I'M CAROLYN GRANT, I WORK IN COMMUNICATIONS.
I AM THE CAPITAL PROGRAM MANAGER.
RENADO MCNULTY, SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST FOR THE TOWN.
JOHN TROYER, FINANCE DIRECTOR.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE'LL TRY ONE MORE TIME RIGHT HERE.
OH, UH, MAKING ME TALK, WHAT IT'S LIKE MY JOB OR SOMETHING NOW.
SO, UH, ANDREW DAVIS, FUTURE MARKETING, MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR.
I'M THRILLED TO BE HERE TO, UH, PUSH OUT THE IMPORTANT TOWN, EVENTS, MESSAGES, ET CETERA, AND DRIVE US FORWARD.
IT WAS FUNNY, UH, SOMEBODY ASKED ME, YOU GONNA TELL ANY STRATEGIC PLANNING JOKES, UH, BEFORE YOU START? MARK AND I OF COURSE, LOOKED SOME UP AND COULDN'T FIND ANY THAT I COULD SAY OUT LOUD WITHOUT EVERYONE BEHIND ME MAKING FUN OF ME.
BUT WHAT I DID FIND IS A COUPLE THINGS THAT REALLY HIT HOME, UH, A A COUPLE OF TARGETED MESSAGES THAT HIT HOME TO AT LEAST ME AS I START THINKING ABOUT OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
UM, YOU KNOW, ONE WAS STRATEGIC PLAN IS JUST FIGURING OUT A WAY TO GET THINGS DONE.
AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY THE, THE BREADTH OF WHAT WE REALLY ASPIRE TO DO AS, AS A, AS A TEAM THAT YOU JUST HEARD FROM.
BUT TO THINK FOR A SECOND, A VISION WITHOUT A STRATEGY REMAINS AN ILLUSION, RIGHT? I'LL SAY THAT A VISION WITHOUT A STRATEGY REMAINS AN ILLUSION, AND A STRATEGY WITHOUT A PROCESS IS A LITTLE MORE THAN A WISHLIST, RIGHT? SO TODAY, AND, AND I'LL SAY MY ROLE AS A TOWN MANAGER IS TO GIVE GUIDANCE TO YOU AS TOWN COUNCIL.
UM, WE KNOW WE WORK TOGETHER VERY CLOSELY.
I THEN TURN AROUND AND SET THE CONDITIONS AND, AND THE PRIORITIES WITH, WITH MY TEAM AND, AND OUR FULL STAFF TEAM, AND THEN WORK TOGETHER TO IMPLEMENT YOUR DIRECTION AND YOUR COLLECTIVE DECISIONS.
SO IN YOUR ROLE AS A COUNCIL, I WOULD SAY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN PROCESS BECAUSE YOU NOT ONLY SET THE GOALS, BUT YOU SET THE DIRECTION.
AND IN ONE LITTLE CASE STUDY OF THAT IS THAT AS WE UNVEILED OUR OUR WORK ON THE RESILIENCE PLAN, WE BROUGHT TO YOU THE SCOPE OF WORK BEFORE WE WORKED ON IT, RIGHT? YOU DIDN'T JUST SAY, SET THE, SET THE GOAL.
LET'S PUT A RESILIENCE PLAN TOGETHER.
YOU ALSO SET THE DIRECTION OF THE WORK YOU ACTUALLY SET US IN MOTION ON AND, AND GAVE US CLEAR DIRECTION ON WHAT TO ACCOMPLISH.
SO IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE.
YOU'VE PROVIDED SUPPORT THROUGH THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
YOU PROVIDE SUPPORT THROUGH THE BUDGET PREPARATION.
AND I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT I, I THINK MORE AND MORE EVERY TIME WE WE DO THIS, THE THE BUDGET AND THE STRATEGIC PLAN BECOME MORE ALIGNED.
AND, AND I, ALONG WITH THIS STAFF, APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
MAYOR SAID EARLIER THE PLAN WAS ADOPTED JULY ONE.
NOW, I'VE BEEN WORKING AT THIS WITH YOU OR YOU FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS.
UM, BUT REALLY THIS NEW STRATEGIC PLAN THAT I JUST HELD UP WAS EFFECTIVE JULY ONE.
THERE'S A LOT OF CARRYOVER FROM THE PAST STRATEGIC PLAN.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE JUST STARTED A LOT OF THIS WORK.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO SAY THAT, BUT YOUR, YOUR COLLECTIVE VISION, UM, PUT TO PAPER WAS JULY ONE.
WE KNOW WHAT OUR MAIN STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES ARE.
YOU WERE REALLY CLEAR IN, IN JANUARY, WE HAVE A TOP 15 AND WE'RE GONNA GO OVER THOSE TODAY.
UM, BUT TODAY'S TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON A, A LOT OF THAT.
AND THEN I'VE REALLY STARTED TO ASK MYSELF TO ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS.
YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE CLEAR PLAN TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS? WHAT ARE THE TIMELINES? WHAT ARE THE EXPECTED RESULTS? THOSE ARE THINGS WE WORK ON AS A STAFF EVERY DAY.
WHAT ARE WE DOING? WELL, I'D LIKE TO HEAR THAT TODAY.
WHAT, WHAT ARE WE DOING WELL, WHAT A K A, WHAT AREN'T WE DOING WELL AS WELL? UM, AND THEN HOW DO WE MEASURE SUCCESS OF EACH STRATEGY AND THEN THE MEASURE THE SUCCESS OF THE COLLECTIVE STRATEGIES.
ARE WE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION? ARE WE WORKING ON WHAT MATTERS? AND I, AND I THINK EVERYTHING MATTERS.
I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE HARDEST PART OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.
[00:10:01]
I COMPARE IT TO GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE HUNGRY.YOU, YOU, YOU BUY TOO MUCH, BUT YOU EVENTUALLY GET TO IT.
ALL RIGHT? SO, UM, WE ALSO HAVE TO BE AWARE OF OUR CHALLENGES, FINANCES, GROWTH PRESSURES, SUSTAINABILITY.
BUT ARE WE GROWING PROPERLY? UM, ARE WE PRIORITIZING THE RIGHT PRIORITY? ARE THE EXPECTATIONS CLEAR? IS THE PUBLIC PROCESS CLEAR? IS THE PUBLIC PROCESS REFINED? RIGHT? I, I, I SAID EARLIER, THE A STRATEGY WITHOUT PROCESS IS A LITTLE MORE THAN A WISHLIST.
IT'S THE PROCESS TO GET IT DONE.
AND, AND AS AN ASIDE, WE, WE STILL HAVE MORE THAN 20 OPEN POSITIONS.
NOT A COMPLAINT, IT'S JUST PART OF WHAT I DO.
WHAT LISA DOES, WHAT THE DEPARTMENT HEADS DO AND THEIR SUPERVISORS ON A DAILY IS WORK ON RECRUITING, WORK ON INTERVIEWING, WORKING ON, UH, TAKING A LOOK AT EVERY RESUME THAT COMES IN, COMMUNICATING WITH THOSE FOLKS THAT WANT TO BE HERE, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE HIRING THE VERY BEST WE CAN SO THAT THEY CAN WORK AS PART OF THIS GREAT TEAM TO ACCOMPLISH ALL OF THIS WORK.
AND THEN HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO ADAPT TO CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE ECONOMY? I KNOW THEIR ECONOMY'S A LOT DIFFERENT TODAY THAN IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO.
AND SO HOW DO WE KEEP ADAPTING? AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, UH, ONE THING THAT I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT I, I BELIEVE WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING WAY BETTER AT, UM, IS, ARE WE COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY? I SAID THE OTHER DAY TO SOMEBODY, I, I THINK COMMUNICATING, UH, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS MOST IMPORTANT AND THE PROJECT'S ALMOST SECONDARY.
AND IT'S USELESS IF NOBODY KNOWS WHAT WE'RE DOING, WHY WE'RE DOING IT, OR THAT WE DID IT.
UM, HOW IS IT BENEFITING? SO WE DO HAVE A MINDSET, UM, ON THIS TEAM, AND DEFINITELY BECAUSE OF OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, UM, AND COMMUNICATIONS WITH ANDREW.
UM, ANDREW DIDN'T START YET, WHICH IS PROBABLY WHY I WAS A LITTLE RELUCTANT TO TALK TO.
HE STILL, HE STILL WANTS A LITTLE DOWNTIME BETWEEN, BETWEEN OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO COME HERE.
BUT WE'RE EXCITED BECAUSE WE'VE BUILT A COMMUNICATIONS TEAM, AND I THINK THAT WILL BECOME, UM, REFINED IN SHORT ORDER AND ALSO PRIMARY IN WHAT WE DO.
SO BEFORE I DIVE IN, QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THAT.
SO, SO REALLY TODAY IS TO GO OVER, UM, THE STRATEGIC PLAN PROCESS.
WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT SOME ACCOMPLISHMENTS THIS YEAR TO DATE.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE TOP 15 PRIORITIES AND WHERE WE ARE.
UH, THERE'S A LOT OF, THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION.
SO I'LL GO AS FAST OR AS SLOW AS YOU WANT ME TO.
WE'LL, WE'LL DEFINITELY GET THROUGH THE 15 TODAY.
THERE ARE MANY OTHER STRATEGIC PRIORITIES, UM, IN THE, IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
BY NO MEANS ARE WE SAYING WE'RE ONLY WORKING ON THOSE TOP 15 AND 23 AND 24, BUT THERE'S MORE.
WE WON'T COVER THOSE AS DEEP TODAY, BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU WANT OR THE PUBLIC WANTS ON THAT.
UM, AND THEN JUST LEAVE SOME TIME FOR, FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR DISCUSSION.
I THINK SOME FEEDBACK'S GOING TO BE VERY HELPFUL.
DEFINITELY TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND MAYOR, YOU CAN, THERE'S NO SET TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, SO IT, IT'S UP TO YOU WHEN AND, AND HOW, UH, AND THEN ALSO SOME CLOSING THOUGHTS.
WE, WE LOOK TO BE OUT OF HERE BY THREE O'CLOCK.
WE HAVE TIME FOR SOME BREAKS AROUND 10, 10 30.
UM, A LITTLE BREAK IN THE AFTERNOON AND TRY TO BE OUTTA HERE FIRST THING RIGHT AT, OR, UH, SHOULD SAY AT THREE O'CLOCK QUESTIONS.
MR. AMES JUST POSED A GOOD QUESTION TO ME IN, IN THAT, SINCE WE DO HAVE, UM, SOME RESIDENTS HERE THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SPEND THE ENTIRE TIME UNTIL WE GET THE PUBLIC COMMENT, IF WE GO AHEAD AND, AND ALLOW SOME PUBLIC COMMENT NOW SO THAT THEY'RE FREE TO, TO GO AND, AND ENJOY THEIR DAY IF THEY DON'T WANNA SPEND THE WHOLE DAY HERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S EITHER YOU SPEAK NOW OR YOU SPEAK, WOULD SPEAK LATER THIS AFTERNOON.
UM, SO I THINK IF WE OPEN THAT UP NOW, THAT WOULD BE A, A BENEFIT TO, TO OUR CONSTITUENTS.
SO DO WE HAVE ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK NOW INSTEAD OF LATER? MS. OVENS DIDN'T.
YEAH, WE'VE GOT A MICROPHONE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? I'M PAMELA MARTIN OVENS, AND I'VE LIVED ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND FOR OVER 45 YEARS.
I CAME HERE BECAUSE OF THE NATURAL BEAUTY FROM THE LUSHNESS OF THE GREENERY TO THE BEAUTIFUL BEACHES, TO THE
[00:15:01]
AMAZINGLY SPECTACULAR NIGHT SKY THAT WAS SO CLEAR.YOU COULD SEE ALL THE STARS EVERY NIGHT.
MY HUSBAND PETER, HAS LIVED HERE OVER 55 YEARS.
HE CAME TO WORK FOR CHARLES FRASER.
PETER DREW THE MASTER PLAN FOR SEA PINES, AND HE SAILED CHARLES FRASER'S BELOVED SAILBOAT, THE COMPASS ROSES.
PETER WENT TO WASHINGTON D C TO STOP B A S F FROM BUILDING A PLANT HERE AND RUINING OUR ENVIRONMENT.
IRONICALLY, WE NOW HAVE THEIR PRODUCT STYROFOAM ON OUR BEACHES AND IN THE MOUTHS OF OUR FISH.
WE ENJOY WILDLIFE THAT FEW PEOPLE EVER EVEN SEE.
WE HAVE RAPTORS THAT ARE TOO MAG, SO MAGNIFICENT THAT TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY.
SADLY, WE ARE KILLING THEM BECAUSE WE ALLOW RODENTICIDES TO BE USED TO KILL THE RATS, AND THEN THE RAPTORS EAT THE RATS AND DIE.
WE ARE INTERRUPTING THE NATURAL CYCLE OF LIFE.
WE ARE USING PUBLIC FUNDS TO PAY LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS TO SPRAY ROUNDUP ON OUR PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS, AND BEACHES.
THE MAIN INGREDIENT, GLYPHOSATE IS LISTED BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION AS A PROBABLE CARCINOGEN.
WE DO NOT HAVE TO USE THESE DANGEROUS CHEMICALS ON OUR ISLAND.
THE COMPANY BAYER, WHO OWNS ROUNDUP, HAS A PROGRAM WHERE THEY REWARD THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR USING IT.
ARE YOU AWARE THAT IT CAUSES NON-HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA? IT DOES.
AND GUESS WHO MAKES THE PHARMACEUTICALS TO CURE YOUR CANCER? BAYER PHARMACEUTICALS.
THEY MAKE CHEMICALS AND THEN THEY MAKE THE PHARMACEUTICALS.
WHAT A SURPRISE, JARVIS PARK IS PROTECTED FROM THE USE OF HARMFUL CHEMICALS.
ON PAGE 14 OF THE CONTRACT WITH THE TOWN, IT SAYS, JARVIS CREEK PARK INCLUDES ALL TURF, ASPHALT, SIDEWALKS, NATURE TRAILS, AND PLAYGROUNDS.
NATURE TRAILS SHALL BE MULCHED WITH PINE BARK MULCH BETWEEN MARCH ONE AND APRIL ONE.
EACH YEAR, GRASS, WEEDS AND OTHER VEGETATION SHALL BE HAND PULLED FROM THE PLAYGROUND AREAS AS NEEDED TO MAINTAIN A NEAT APPEARANCE.
NO CHEMICALS SHALL BE USED IN THE PLAYGROUND AREAS.
THIS IS EXCELLENT AND MAY BE BECAUSE OF SCOTT LIGGETT'S INTEREST IN A CHEMICAL-FREE ISLAND.
MY FRIEND, KIM CONTI, FOUNDER OF NON-TOXIC NEIGHBORHOODS, WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO TRANSITION TO NON-HARMFUL WAYS TO KILL WEEDS.
WE WANT TO LIVE A BETTER LIFE IN A CHEMICAL-FREE ENVIRONMENT.
THIS DECISION WOULD NOT ONLY PROVIDE OUR ISLANDERS WITH A BETTER LIFE, BUT WOULD ATTRACT A DIFFERENT TYPE OF TOURIST PEOPLE WHO ARE MINDFUL OF THE ONE LIFE WE LIVE MAKE HILTON HEAD ISLAND THE GOLD STANDARD FOR A CHEMICAL FREE LIFE.
ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO SPEAK AT THIS POINT IN TIME? YES, SIR.
I I WAS ON THE COMPASS ROADS WITH WYMAN AND MR. EVANS AT THE HELM.
AND CHARLES RA STOPPING CHARLES RA FROM RUNNING IT A GROUND.
I'M A, UH, SEA PINES RESIDENT AND A REALTOR AT SEA PINES REAL ESTATE AT THE COTTAGE GROUP AND ALSO THE SELF-PROCLAIMED PICKLEBALL REALTOR.
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE BREAKFAST OUTSTANDING.
UM, I COMMEND THIS STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS FOR GUIDING THIS COUNCIL AND FUTURE ONES.
NOW, SHOCKINGLY, I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT PICKLEBALL.
PICKLEBALL HOLDS AN IMMENSE VALUE FOR OUR ISLAND, AND ITS GROWTH IS RECOGNIZED AS A TOP PRIORITY BY PREVIOUS MAYOR JOHN MCCANN'S.
AS A PREMIER FAMILY RESORT, HILTON NET ISLAND SHOULD PRIORITIZE PICKLEBALL THE ULTIMATE FAMILY GAME AS A FOUNDATIONAL RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY, WHICH MEANS ACTING NOW, DOING IT RIGHT AND DELIVERING ON WHAT WAS PROMISED.
LAST WEEK'S TOWN VISIT TO ADRIANA LANE EMPHASIZED THE URGENCY.
CURRENTLY, THERE ARE 161 PICKLEBALL COURTS ON THE ISLAND, BUT NOT ONE DEDICATED COURT BUILT BY THE TOWN.
MERELY 10% ARE PUBLIC AND FALL UNDER THE TOWN'S RESPONSIBILITY, INCLUDING FOUR NET LISTS AND FENCE LIST COURTS AT CHAPLAIN PARK, SIX CRACK COURTS AT ADRIANA WITH TEMPORARY NETS.
SIX CONFUSINGLY MARKED COURTS AT THE REC CENTER ON BASKETBALL COURTS, PRIVATE RESORTS, POAS, HOAS, AND BUSINESSES HAVE ALL SUCCESSFULLY ESTABLISHED COURTS ALL OVER THE ISLAND.
IT'S TIME FOR THE TOWN TO FOLLOW SUIT.
WE HAVE THE MONEY, THE PLANS, AND THE DEMAND TIMES OF THE ESSENCE.
SECOND, LET'S UPHOLD THE IDEALS OF EXCELLENCE NOTED IN TODAY'S STRATEGIC PLAN, ESPECIALLY COMMUNITY GOAL NUMBER FOUR, WHICH EMPHASIZES OFFERING AN EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH BEST IN CLASS FACILITIES.
JUST AS VISITORS COME FOR OUR CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSES, PRISTINE BEACHES, ENDLESS
[00:20:01]
BIKE PATHS, AND HUNDREDS OF TENNIS COURTS.WE SHOULD ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO TOP-NOTCH PICKLEBALL FACILITIES AS WE ADDRESS ADRIANA'S ISSUES.
LET'S ENSURE SPEED, BUT WITH QUALITY, INCLUDING ADEQUATE SHADE AND SEATING, RUNNING WATER AND PROPER RESTROOM FACILITIES.
AND LASTLY, CHAPLAIN PARK DESERVES THE SAME ATTENTION.
WE HAVE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO GET IT RIGHT.
RECENT DISCUSSIONS ABOUT A POOL HAVE SIDETRACKED FOCUS FROM THE ORIGINAL PLAN FOR A PICKLEBALL FACILITY WITH 24 COURTS LIGHTING A CLUBHOUSE AND ADEQUATE PARKING.
THIS WAS ALL PROMISED IN 2020 AND WOULD SECURE HILTON NET AS LEADING PICKLEBALL DESTINATION ALONG WITH ALL OF THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS THAT WOULD ACCOMPANY THAT.
LET'S DO WHAT THE CONSULTANTS ADVISED WHAT THE TOWN PROMISED AND WHAT THE PEOPLE HAVE VOTED FOR.
I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK, WHERE DOES PICKLEBALL REALLY STAND ON THE LIST OF CAPITAL PROJECTS? I ONLY SAW A PICTURE OF TWO PICKLES ON THE FIFTH PAGE, OR THE ALMOST THE LAST PAGE OF THE DECK.
AND NO MENTION THROUGHOUT PICKLEBALL MUST BE MORE THAN A PROPER, UH, PRIORITY.
GUYS, IT'S TIME TO STOP DISCUSSING, START BUILDING, AND DO IT RIGHT AND DELIVER ON WHAT WAS PROMISED.
THANKS FOR THE TIME CONSIDERATION.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? YES, MA'AM.
I LIVE AT 20 LENNOX LANE IN PENNETT HALL, AND I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT STRATEGY NUMBER 11, WHICH IS ACCESSING, ASSESSING ALTERNATIVE REVENUE SOURCES AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT THE LONG-TERM FINANCIAL STABILITY OF THE TOWN.
I KNOW THAT'S NOT AN EXCITING TOPIC TO MOST PEOPLE, BUT IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND MARK, AS YOU SAID, WITHOUT A PROCESS, IT'S A WISHLIST.
THE REASON I'M INTERESTED IS DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY PLANNED FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THE AMOUNT IS SUBSTANTIAL, TOTALING $233 MILLION WITH 2025 HAVING THE LARGEST SPEND OF 73.8 MILLION.
BUT I BELIEVE THERE ARE MORE REQUESTS COMING.
THESE NUMBERS DO NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE IMPACT OF A RESILIENCY PLAN, WHICH WILL REQUIRE A BIG INVESTMENT AS YOU LOOK AT MITIGATION STRATEGIES, POTENTIAL CHANGES FROM THE GATEWAY PROJECT REVIEW, ADDITIONAL LAND PURCHASES, FUTURE REQUESTS FROM NORTH POINT TO NAME A FEW.
THERE'LL NEED TO BE SOME SERIOUS WORK TO BUILD A PLAN TO FUND THESE STRATEGIES IN THE FUTURE YEARS.
ALTHOUGH FISCAL YEAR 2025 IS LESS THAN A YEAR AWAY, PERSONALLY, I FEEL YOU SHOULD HAVE HAD THESE CONVERSATIONS PRIOR TO APPROVING THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
SO YOU WOULD HAVE A ROADMAP, YOU COULD COMMUNICATE TO THE PUBLIC AND HOW YOU'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THIS.
THERE ARE SEVERAL STRATEGIES THAT CAN BE USED TO LAY OUT THAT ROADMAP.
DRAWING DOWN YOUR FUND BALANCES, MAKING CUTS OR REPRIORITIZING, PAYING OUT OF OPERATIONS, CHANGES TO THE MILLAGE RATE, ISSUING BONDS, FINDING MORE GRANTS OR OTHER FORMS OF FUNDING IN YOUR PLAN DOCUMENTS, YOU INDICATE THAT YOU ARE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF POSSIBLY PLANNING A NEW BOND ISSUE.
A PLACEHOLDER FOR BOND EXPENSES IS IN THE BUDGET.
AND YOUR INVESTMENT ADVISOR TALKED ABOUT, I PRBS YOUR RECENT MESSAGING CELEBRATED THE SUCCESS OF YOUR DEBT REDUCTION.
SO I THINK IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW RESIDENTS REACT TO MORE BORROWING.
AND THE TOWN IS NOT THE ONLY ENTITY THAT IS INTERESTED IN SPENDING MORE AS BEAUFORT COUNTY IS PLANNING TO PUT A REFERENDUM OUT IN NOVEMBER OF 2024 FOR A SUPER PENNY TAX, TO COLLECT MONEY FOR FUTURE PROJECTS WITHIN THE COUNTY AND EXTEND THE TIME PERIOD TO 25 YEARS.
IN MY OPINION, YOU NEED TO MOVE QUICKLY TO BUILD OUT A FUNDING ROADMAP AND COMMUNICATE HOW YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR YOUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE MY THOUGHTS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.
I CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE ALONG THE WAY.
UM, AND THEN I'LL ALSO ASK FOR YOUR ADVICE AND SEEK SOME OF YOUR GUIDANCE ON, ON SOME OF THOSE COMMENTS AS WELL.
MARK, FOR CLARITY, I DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND.
ARE YOU GOING THROUGH THE, THE BINDER THAT WE HAVE OR THE BOOKLET THAT WE RECEIVED THIS MORNING? THE, THE BINDER PRESENTATION THAT'S RIGHT THERE.
WHICH, WHICH IS REALLY A LOT OF THE BOOKS IN THERE.
THANK, SO, JUST A, JUST A REAL QUICK, WE KNOW VISION MISSION.
WE HAVE SOME, A GOOD VISION STATEMENT, A MISSION STATEMENT.
WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER OVER THE LAST WHILE TO ESTABLISH, UH, GOALS, THOSE STRATEGIES THAT ARE IN YOUR BOOK.
UM, AND WHAT I WORK ON ARE THE WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN GET THE WORK DONE RIGHT, THE, THE REAL TACTICS, THE PROCESS, THE DETAILS, UM, SO THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE
[00:25:01]
SUCCESS.OUR TOWN MISSION STATEMENT IS TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH AND VITALITY OF THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE THROUGH ETHICAL AND INCLUSIVE PROGRAMS, POLICIES AND ACTIONS AND OUR VISION STRAIGHT OUT OF OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
OUR 20 20, 20 40 VISION IS TO REINVENT SUSTAINABILITY AGAIN, TO FOCUS ON REVITALIZATION AND MODERNIZATION AND TO BUILD AN INCLUSIVE AND DIVERSE COMMUNITY.
I WON'T GET INTO ALL OF THIS, BUT A LOT OF WHAT'S ON HERE, AGAIN, IS ALWAYS A GOOD REMINDER.
OUR PLAN, THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT WAS UPDATED A A A FEW YEARS AGO NOW, UM, WAS REALLY TAKEN AND USED TO SET THE FRAMEWORK AND THE, THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
IT'S VERY CLEAR OF WHAT KIND OF COMMUNITY WE WANT TO BE, AND THAT WAS DERIVED WITH A LOT OF PUBLIC INPUT, A LOT OF TOWN COUNCIL AND OTHER STAKEHOLDER INPUT.
UM, AND SO WHAT WHAT WE'VE DONE IS ESTABLISH THOSE KEY COMMUNITY GOALS OUT OF OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
OUR PLAN TO ADOPT AND PURSUE IDEALS OF EXCELLENCE, PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
SO IT'S REALLY A GOAL SETTING EXERCISE THROUGH THAT COMP PLAN AND HOW IT TRANSLATES INTO THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
AS YOU REMEMBER, AND THIS LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN LAST TIME, BUT OUR PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY, UH, REVITALIZATION OF OUR ECONOMY, THAT WE CONNECT IN OUR COMMUNITY, THAT WE RIGHT SIZE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, WE'RE FOCUSED ON THE REGION, AND THERE'S ALWAYS A STRONG FOCUS ON PARKS AND REC IN ALL WE DO, UM, OPERATIONS AS WELL AS PROJECTS.
AND SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THOSE CORE VALUE FOCUS AREAS ARE THE OVERARCHING GOALS TO HAVE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN LAID INTO THAT.
SO THE PURPOSE OF OUR STRAP PLAN IS TO IDENTIFY AND PRIORITIZE CAP PROJECTS, UM, AND MAKE REVISIONS ALONG THE WAY.
RIGHT? BY NO MEANS WE DO HAVE A FIVE YEAR C I P PROGRAM, BUT BY NO MEANS HAVE I EVER BEEN A PART OF THAT IN YEAR FOUR.
IT'S THE EXACT PROJECT THAT YOU'VE PLANNED FOR FOUR YEARS AGO.
THE, THE, THE PROJECT LIST IS ALWAYS A ONE YEAR PROJECT LIST.
WE START PROJECTS AND WE BUILD THEM.
A LOT OF TIMES PROJECTS ARE TAKING US ABOUT THREE YEARS TO BUILD NOW DIFFERENT THAN ABOUT TWO YEARS, A FEW YEARS AGO, UM, JUST BASED UPON THE ECONOMY AND AND AVAILABILITY OF CONTRACTORS.
UM, BUT THE FIVE YEAR PROGRAM, UM, IS IMPORTANT.
BUT YOU WORK ON THAT THROUGH THE BUDGET.
YOU ALSO ALIGN THAT WITH YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
WE ALSO DEVELOP APPROPRIATE OPERATING BUDGETS.
WE DEFINE NEW PROJECTS AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND ENSURE THERE THEY'RE MATCHED WITH APPROPRIATE STAFF AND RESOURCES.
I CAN'T, CAN'T COMPLETE IT IF WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES IN, IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, UM, WAS A BIG STEP FORWARD TO PUT THOSE RESOURCES IN PLACE, UH, TO CREATE REALISTIC PROJECT SCHEDULES THAT ARE IN LINE WITH ESTABLISHED PRIORITIES.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOUR PRIORITIES ARE CLEAR TO US SO THAT WE CAN MATCH OUR SCHEDULES.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO SHARE WITH YOU THE SCHEDULE ISN'T AS, AS FAST AS WE FIRST THOUGHT, BUT BECAUSE OF CERTAIN FACTORS, IF THAT'S EVER THE CASE.
AND THEN REALLY TO DEVELOP, UH, ACCOUNTABILITY WITHIN THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION WITHIN THE STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION BY COMMUNICATING THE STATUS OF, OF EACH OF EACH STRATEGY ALONG THE WAY.
AND THEN ALSO TO CREATE MEASURABLE ANALYTICS TO BE CLEAR ON IF OUR PERFORMANCE IS SUCCESSFUL OR NOT.
SO JUST A COUPLE, A COUPLE OF OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS THIS YEAR.
I ALWAYS THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE JUST SLOW DOWN FOR A SECOND TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED REALLY.
AND A LOT OF THIS IS SINCE JANUARY ONE THAT WE, WE PUT THIS ON THE BOARD, OF COURSE, WE ADOPTED THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
YOU ADOPTED THE, THE, THE FISCAL YEAR BUDGET, 129, ALMOST $130 MILLION.
UM, YOU ADOPTED THE COMPREHENSIVE BEACH MANAGEMENT PLAN.
IT SEEMS TO ALWAYS BE, OH, THAT'S JUST A RUBBER STAMP.
BUT IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR BEACH MANAGEMENT.
UM, YOU APPROVE MASTER PLANS FOR ISLANDERS BEACH PARK, PLUGGED IT INTO THE CAPITAL PROGRAM AND FUNDED A GOOD ONE YEAR, ONE AND A HALF YEAR OF FUNDS FOR THAT PROJECT.
YOU DID THE SAME WITH SHELTER COVE PARK, THE EXPANSION SIDE.
YOU APPOINTED THE GULLAH GEECHEE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
AND WE STARTED AS A TEAM WITH THE BOARD, MYSELF INCLUDED, TO START RECRUITING AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
YOU ADOPTED A SMALL AND MINORITY OWNED DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM.
UM, AND THEN SEAN AND HIS TEAM, UH, THROUGH PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE, PLANNING COMMISSION, DEFINITELY, AND, AND TOWN COUNCIL.
YOU'VE MADE SEVERAL E EDITS, ADJUSTMENTS TO YOUR LAND, TO THE LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE THIS YEAR.
[00:30:01]
PLANS WASN'T JUST TURNING THE LIGHTS ON AND STARTING TO WORK ON EACH ONE.THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK THAT WENT INTO THE, THE PRIORITIZATION OF, OF THE DIFFERENT DISTRICT PLANS THAT WILL EVENTUALLY GUIDE THAT LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE OVERHAUL.
AND SO THAT WAS A, THAT WAS A BIG LIFT AND A GOOD A, A GOOD AMOUNT OF WORK SO FAR THIS YEAR.
AND THEN ALSO ISSUED A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR CODE WRITING EXPERTS TO START OVERHAULING THE LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE.
WE RECEIVED TWO PROPOSALS LATE JULY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
UH, WE PURCHASED SEVERAL TRACKS OF LAND, JONESVILLE ROAD, SHELTER, COVE LANE, MATTHEWS DRIVE, AND BRYANT ROAD HAVE WORKED ON OUR WORKFORCE HOUSING PROGRAM AS YOU PRIORITIZED IT IN YOUR, IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN AS YOU ADOPTED IT, AND IN THE BUDGET, BUT APPOINTED THE NORTH POINT PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO HELP ME THROUGH THAT PROJECT THAT WAS APPOINTED IN IN JANUARY.
CREATED A HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE, UM, IN SUPPORT OF WORKFORCE HOUSING, CREATED A HOUSING PROGRAM MANAGER POSITION, AND WE'RE STILL RECRUITING FOR THAT, THAT POSITION.
AND THEN APPOINTED TONY AFIRE TO THE BEAUFORT JASPER HOUSING TRUST, UH, BOARD, AND THEN ALSO COMMITTED A LITTLE MORE THAN $3 MILLION IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET TOWARDS HOUSING.
UH, WE CAN'T GET IT ALL DONE FAST ENOUGH.
WE HAD, WE HOSTED DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HERE, WHICH I THINK, UM, WAS ONE OF THE BETTER, UM, DAY LONG MEETINGS I'VE BEEN A PART OF.
UM, NEVER HAPPY TO BE A PART OF A DAY LONG MEETING, BUT WE HOSTED AND DROVE AND TALKED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION LEADERSHIP, UM, AND SHOWED THEM OUR AREAS IN OUR ISLAND WHERE WE THINK THERE WERE SOME OPPORTUNITIES AND HAD A LOT OF GREAT GUIDANCE AND, AND DIRECTION FROM THEM.
UM, AND SO WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT.
I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT THE ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC SIGNAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IS ALMOST IN PLACE.
UM, BRIAN, JOHN, AND EVERYBODY ELSE.
THOSE TWO ARE DRIVING THE CORRIDORS ON THE WEEKENDS AND LOOKING AT THE CAMERAS.
AND WE ARE ADAPTING TO THAT NEW SYSTEM OURSELF AS A TEAM.
WE ARE, WE ARE IN A, IN A NEW BUSINESS THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN IN BEFORE.
SURE, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPERTS IN THE TRANSPORTATION FIELD, BUT NEVER DID THEY MANAGE A SYSTEM ON HILTON HEAD BEFORE.
YOU ALSO CREATED AND SELECTED MEMBERS FOR THE WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY GATEWAY CORRIDOR INDEPENDENT REVIEW ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THOSE COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS WERE MADE IN MARCH.
UM, WE EXECUTED STANDARDIZED STORMWATER AGREEMENTS WITH SEVERAL MORE COMMUNITIES.
UM, AND SO THAT PROGRAM KEEPS GROWING.
UM, MARK, SORRY TO, WHILE YOUR OWN RESILIENCY, I THINK THERE'S ANOTHER KEY THING, AND AND I KNOW IT'S LISTED LATER IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT THAT IS THE R F Q FOR A CONSULTANT TO HELP US ESTABLISH A RESILIENCY PLAN.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT HERE AS WELL.
LAUNCH SUMMER SEASON PROGRAMS, UH, FOR COMMUNITY CODE ENFORCEMENT.
I REMEMBER A COUPLE YEARS AGO, I KEPT ASKING EVERYONE, WHAT DO WE DO? HOW DO WE DO IT? WHERE'S THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE? HOW DOES SHORE BEACH SERVICE FACTOR IN? AND WHAT I'M REALLY, UH, PLEASED TO SEE IS THE, THE GREAT TEAMWORK WITH BEFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S SHORE BEACH INDEFINITELY WITH, WITH BOB BROM'S LEADERSHIP.
I THINK THAT OUR, OUR, OUR BEACH PROGRAM FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY STANDPOINT IS GREAT, BUT THEN YOU ADD MIKE DEMARIA AND HIS TEAM TO IT, AND THEN ALL THE OTHER PARTNERS THAT WE'VE BEEN MOBILIZING.
SO, MARK, MAY, MAY I, I WANT TO ADD TO THAT COMMENT.
IT, IN LOOKING AT THE TURTLE SITUATION ON THE BEACH, AMBER KON HAS COMMENTED THAT THERE IS A DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE IN THE, UH, DISRUPTION OF THE TURTLE.
UM, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TURTLE'S, ACCESS TO THE BEACH AND SO ON.
SO I, I JUST WANT TO, UM, EMPHASIZE THAT THERE IS A DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE IN WHAT WE SEE ON THE BEACH, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE GETTING TONS AND TONS OF TRASH OFF OF THE BEACH.
BUT TO THE MAYOR'S POINT EARLIER, IF WE WEREN'T DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING MM-HMM.
ANGIE LAUNCHED, UH, WITH HER TEAM, A BEACH GOER SURVEY, A KAGEY BEACH AND BURKES BEACH TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHO'S UTILIZING OUR BEACHES.
WE KEEP WONDERING, UM, WE ALL STOP.
SOME PEOPLE ONCE IN A WHILE HAVE CONVERSATIONS, BUT I'M HAPPY TO KNOW AND, AND SEE THAT WE, OUR SURVEY, UM, THAT'S LAUNCHED THIS YEAR.
WE'LL LEARN A LOT MORE BY THE END OF, BY THE END OF OUR BEACH SEASON THIS YEAR.
UM, WE'RE GATHERING INFORMATION
[00:35:01]
FROM WHERE THEY'RE, WHERE PEOPLE ARE FROM, HOW LONG THEY'RE VISITING, AND HOW MANY IN THEIR GROUP.WE PUT A SECURITY, UH, IN PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, MEASURES IN PLACE AT TOWN HALL.
WE LAUNCHED OUR SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROGRAM, INCLUDING OUR PERMIT SOFTWARE.
IT DOES FEEL LIKE ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO THAT WE DID THAT, BUT IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO.
WE CREATED, UH, A TOWN OWNED PROPERTY DASHBOARD ON OUR WEBSITE.
WE ALSO CREATED A TOWN COUNCIL ACTION SUMMARY ON OUR TOWN WEBSITE.
UM, IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS MAYOR PERRY ASKED ME TO PUT IN PLACE AS HE WAS COMING ON BOARD.
WE ALSO CREATED AND LAUNCHED THIS TRAFFIC AND ROAD NETWORK HUB ON THE TOWN WEBSITE AND GET ON OUR WEBSITE AND SEE THE TRAFFIC CAMERAS AND, AND, AND UNDERSTAND THAT THAT TRAFFIC FLOW, UH, NEW BEACH PARKING PERMIT APP PROCESS.
UM, WE ARE OFF TO A SHAKY START.
WE LEARNED, WE MADE SOME MISTAKES, WE CORRECTED IT.
UM, WE APOLOGIZED TO THOSE THAT IT CAUSED SOME, SOME, UH, DISCOMFORT TO, BUT WE THEN REBOUNDED AND, AND I THINK IT'S, IT'S WELL UNDERWAY.
I FORGET, JOSH, YOU TOLD ME THE OTHER DAY, 4,000.
SO WE'VE ISSUED 4,800 PASSES THROUGH THAT SYSTEM.
AND WE'VE HAD ABOUT, WELL, AT LEAST THEY'VE ONLY TOLD ME ABOUT FIVE COMPLAINTS.
SO I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE LEARNING, WE'RE GETTING BETTER AT THAT.
UM, BEACH SEASON AND PUBLIC SAFETY VIDEOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
OPEN THE SHELTER COVE SCULPTURE TRAIL WITH ALL OF YOU, MAY ONE.
UM, AND THEN WE'RE ALWAYS OUT.
I THINK ALWAYS THE QUESTION, YOU KNOW, THE, WE SAY, WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION? OR THE ANSWER IS YES.
WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION? WHEN IT COMES TO OUR PARTICIPATION TO GET OUT AND TALK TO PEOPLE, IT'S NOT JUST ME THAT GOES, IT'S NOT JUST JOSH, BUT ANGIE HAS DOVE IN, DEPARTMENT HEADS HAVE DOVE IN, AND WE ARE AS MANY PLACES AS WE POSSIBLY CAN BE TO ONE, SHARE WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND THEN ALSO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
AND ALSO, MOST IMPORTANTLY, I THINK BE PRESENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ISSUED 39 SINGLE FAMILY HOME PERMITS IN THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS.
SO CLOSE TO 40 PERMITS IN SEVEN MONTHS, 19 MULTI-FAMILY AND EIGHT NEW COMMERCIAL.
AS YOU KNOW, WE SEND THOSE MONTHLY, WEEKLY REPORTS OUT.
THERE'S A LOT OF UPFITS, BUT THAT'S NEW CONSTRUCTION.
MULTIFAMILY, ARE THOSE PROJECTS AS OPPOSED TO UNITS? THEY, UH,
I WOULD, I WOULD REQUEST KNOWING THE NUMBER OF MULTI-FAMILY UNITS AS OPPOSED TO PROJECT PERMITS.
MARK, I I, I, I THINK YOU ALSO MIGHT WANT TO TOUCH ON THE PERMITTING PROCESS.
AND, AND HOW THAT'S CHANGED, BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN A BIG UNDERTAKING AS WELL.
UNLESS, UNLESS I'M GOING TOO FAR AHEAD,
AT THIS POINT, I FORGET AS IT'S SLIDE 10 OR 20, BUT I KNOW IT'S IN THERE.
WE'VE MADE, WE'VE MADE SOME BIG STEPS AND ON, AND THEY'RE ONLY EARLY STEPS THOUGH.
WE HOSTED MARK ON THE, ON THE SINGLE FAMILY, UH, PERMITS.
HOW DOES THAT STAND AGAINST, UH, RECENT AVERAGES FOR THOSE PERMITS? I DON'T KNOW, SEAN.
AVERAGE OVER UNDER YEAR OVER YEAR, WE ON TRACK FOR LAST YEAR.
I I THINK IT'S AROUND THE SAME.
I JUST WANNA KNOW WHERE IT STOOD WHEN THAT, AND THE FACT THAT THERE'S LESS AVAILABLE PROPERTY TO BE BUILT ON.
SO, YEAH, I THINK SOME OF THE CONFUSION IS WE GET, UH, MAYBE A WEEKLY REPORT ON, UH, PERMITS AND THEN ALSO ON PROJECTS.
UM, AND A LOT OF THOSE ARE H V A C CONVERSIONS OR SOMEBODY REMODELING A BATHROOM.
AND SO I THINK MR. AMES IS ASKING LIKE, WHICH ARE THE BIG PROJECTS THAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT? RIGHT.
AND I'LL PROVIDE THAT TO YOU AT THE END OF THE YEAR IN OUR ANNUAL REPORT.
THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THAT INFORMATION CAN BE BAKED.
FROM A JANUARY TO DECEMBER-ISH TIMEFRAME, WE HOSTED ITALIAN STUDENTS AT TOWN HALL.
UM, SINCE WE ARE GOING AROUND WITH COMMENTS ON THAT, UM, I GUESS I'M, I'M GONNA THROW A LITTLE CURVE BALL AT US HERE.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE MR. ORLANDO, UH, PROVIDING US WITH THE WEEKLY UPDATES AS FAR AS THE PERMITTING AND HOW OUR COMMUNITY IS GROWING OR REDEVELOPMENT.
UM, BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT WE HAVE A, UH, VERY SEVERE ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING THAT IS AFFORDABLE.
SO WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF PERMITS THAT ARE COMING IN AND HOW QUICKLY WE ARE BUILDING OUT.
BUT I DON'T WANT US TO FORGET ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE ARE BEHIND WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND THE REPORTING THAT WE ARE GIVEN DOES NOT TELL US
[00:40:01]
IF ANY OF THOSE UNITS ARE AFFORDABLE OR NOT.I'M GONNA GO ON THE LIMB HERE AND THE GUEST THAT IT'S PROBABLY ZERO.
UM, SO I DON'T WANT US TO GET SO WRAPPED AROUND CAPACITY AND BUILD OUT AND NOT FORGET ABOUT OUR DI OUR OUR DIRE NEED HERE WITH HOUSING THAT'S AFFORDABLE.
AND AS WE PUT THAT ANNUAL REPORT TOGETHER, ONE THING THAT I SEE, ANGIE, TAKING A NOTE, WE'LL PROVIDE, AS WE SHOW AT THE END OF THE YEAR, SAY THERE'S 75 NEW SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, WE'RE GONNA PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION IN AN ANNUAL REPORT AND START TRACKING IT YEAR OVER YEAR, UM, FORMALLY, BUT THEN WE'RE ALSO GONNA BREAK IT DOWN BY, UH, PRICE.
I MEAN, WE'RE NOT GONNA TRACK HOW MUCH IT'S SOLD FOR OR FLIPPED FOR.
SO, ALRIGHT, I'M GONNA KEEP GOING AS WELL.
UM, IN TERMS OF BEING TO, TO ALEX'S POINT TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY, UM, WHICH ONES ARE WORKFORCE OR AFFORDABLE HOMING, THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY A CRITERIA WHERE IF A DEVELOPER COMES IN AND HE'S NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING FROM THE TOWN, HE'S GETTING A PERMIT, AND THEN WHATEVER HIS PURPOSE AND INTENT OF THAT PROJECT IS, THAT IF WE'RE NOT INVOLVED WITH ANY SPECIAL REQUEST, ET CETERA, THEN WE WOULDN'T KNOW THAT INFORMATION.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE, UM, THERE ARE DEVELOPERS WHO ARE BUILDING, UM, WORKFORCE HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING SERVICE WORKER HOUSING THAT GO UNNOTICED.
AND I WANT TO, TO THOSE WHO, UM, ARE DOING THAT GOOD WORK WITHOUT ASKING FOR AT THE TOWN FOR ANY SPECIAL EXCEPTION OR FUNDING OR THE REST, UM, CONGRATULATE THEM, THANK THEM VERY MUCH, AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS, INVESTORS AND DEVELOPERS WHO CAN DO THAT GOOD WORK, UM, AS WELL TO STEP FORWARD.
WE NEGOTIATED A CONTRACT WITH B M I FOR A MUSIC FESTIVAL.
WE'LL BE HELD SEPTEMBER 14 TO 17.
AND WE ALSO ARE HARD AT WORK FOR OUR 360 YEAR 40 YEAR CELEBRATION.
WE'VE DEVELOPED A WEBSITE, WE'VE MADE A LOT OF ARRANGEMENTS FOR, FOR THAT GREAT WORK.
AND, AND I'LL SHARE A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ABOUT THAT.
AT TOWN MANAGER REPORT AT COUNCIL THIS COMING WEEK, WE UPGRADED COUNCIL CHAMBERS, UH, TECHNOLOGY.
UH, WE ALSO HAD A TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION STRATEGIC PLAN GO THROUGH FINANCE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE ON MAY 18TH, AND IT'LL BE AT COUNCIL VERY SOON.
I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS, BUT HR, WOW.
LISA HAS BEEN BUSY, BUT I THINK MORE IMPORTANTLY THAN JUST BUSY, LISA HAS BEEN HELPING OUR TEAM GROW PROPERLY AND BE ALL THAT WE ASPIRE TO BE.
UM, THERE'S SOME HIGH EXPECTATIONS AS YOU COME ON BOARD, BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO THIS VERY OPEN, UM, AND I THINK MUCH IMPROVED ONBOARDING PROGRAM SO THAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS THE SAME GOALS ON DAY ONE.
UH, WE, WE, THIS YEAR ENHANCED THE SENIOR TEAM GOT TOGETHER AND REALLY THROUGH LISA'S LEADERSHIP ENHANCED OUR PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT PROCESS.
I WOULD SAY THAT IT'S EASIER TO FILL OUT, IT'S MUCH MORE SPECIFIC, UM, TO MANAGE, TO LEAD.
AND IT'S TIED TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND THE, AND THE, AND THE VALUES AND GOALS, UM, THAT ARE DERIVED FROM A LOT OF THAT WORK.
SO, UM, WE ONBOARDED, UH, ABOUT FOUR 50 PEOPLE SINCE JANUARY ONE.
WE PROMOTED NINE, RECLASSIFIED, SIX, IMPROVED EMPLOYEE BENEFIT OFFERINGS AND COMPENSATION.
UM, THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THAT IN OUR BUDGET, UH, UPDATES OR OUR BUDGET APPROVALS.
WE HAVE A CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM WHERE WE CAN PROVIDE UP TO 10 HOURS OF PAID TIME DURING WORK HOURS FOR AN EMPLOYEE, FOR A TEAM MEMBER TO PARTICIPATE IN A, IN AN ISLAND VOLUNTEER NONPROFIT OPPORTUNITY.
AND SO, SO FAR THIS YEAR, AS WE MEASURE IT, 120 HOURS OF WORK'S BEEN TRACKED THROUGH THAT PROGRAM.
NOW WE, SOME VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, WHETHER IT'S OFF ISLAND OR NOT A NONPROFIT, UM, IN THAT REGARD DON'T QUALIFY.
BUT THEN ALSO STAFFS REPORTED AN ADDITIONAL 250 HOURS OF, OF VOLUNTEER TIME.
SO REALLY OUR COMMITMENT, NOT JUST TO WORK HERE AND GET THE WORK DONE, BUT IT ALSO TO GIVE BACK AND BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK THAT IS, IS DEFINITELY GROWING AS A CULTURAL EXPECTATION AND OPPORTUNITY IN OUR, IN OUR ORGANIZATION.
A LOT OF TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES.
UM, AND THEN WE ALSO HELD PUBLIC OR EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES.
UM, MARK, UM, YOU REFERENCED 50 REGULAR AND TEMPORARY SEASONAL EMPLOYEES.
HOW MANY OF THE 50 WERE, UH, REGULAR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES? DO YOU KNOW? NO, THE REASON, THE REASON I'M ASKING IS THAT YOU REFERENCED 30 EMPLOYEES WE NEED MM-HMM.
SO IT SOUNDS TO ME AS THOUGH WE HAVE SOME SIGNIFICANT,
[00:45:02]
UH, NEW, SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF NEW EMPLOYEES AND I'M IN, IN KNOWING HOW THOSE NEW EMPLOYEES ARE CULTURALIZED TO OUR EXPECTATIONS.HOW MANY FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES IS IN THAT 50 ISH? SO WE HAVE SEASONAL, WE HAVE BEACH AMBASSADORS, YOU KNOW, HALF, PROBABLY 30 OF THEM ARE REGULAR.
20 OF THEM ARE PART-TIME TEMPORARY.
SO WE DO HAVE A STANDARDIZED ONBOARDING PROGRAM WHERE THE DEPARTMENT HEAD TAKES OWNERSHIP OF IT, UM, AND THEY WORK WITH THE SUPERVISOR AND THEY WORK WITH THAT NEW EMPLOYEE TO EXPOSE THEM INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY, WHETHER WE'RE ON A TOUR OF THE RIVER, WHETHER WE'RE ON A GULLAH, UH, GEECHEE NEIGHBORHOOD TOUR, WHETHER THEY'RE UNDERSTANDING OUR ENVIRONMENT, UH, INTRODUCTION TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, INTRODUCTION TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN, AND, AND THAT'S NOT A ONE WEEK AND THEN GO TO WORK.
AND THEN THERE'S SOME MANDATORY TRAINING, UM, HOW TO DRIVE A CAR PROPERLY, HOW TO CLIMB A LADDER PROPERLY, ALL THAT BASIC.
BUT THEN THE REAL ORIENTATION AND THAT CULTURAL AWARENESS OF OUR ORGANIZATION AND COMMUNITY HAPPENS OVER THAT FIRST YEAR OVER TIME.
I JUST WANT BE CLEAR, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE TALENT THAT YOU'RE ATTRACTING TO THE TOWN.
AND THEN THIS MORE FOR ALL OF YOU PERHAPS.
I, I, I SEE A LOT OF YOU AT THE RIBBON CUTTINGS.
YOU KNOW, WITH THE END OF THE DAY, 85 NEW BUSINESSES OR REINVENTED BUSINESSES OPENED ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND BETWEEN JANUARY ONE AND JUNE 21.
I, I CAN'T KEEP UP WITH ALL THE RUBEN CUTTINGS MYSELF.
SO I ALWAYS APPRECIATE TO, TO KNOW THAT OUR SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM IS THERE AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE BUYING IN AND DIVING INTO A NEW BUSINESS AND TRYING TO CELEBRATE AND, AND PROMOTE AND BRING AWARENESS TO THAT BUSINESS.
AND, UM, MAYOR, YOU'VE CUT THAT MANY RIBBONS PROBABLY, UM, SINCE JANUARY ONE.
I'VE GOTTA ASK SOMEBODY TO GO TO ANOTHER RIBBON CUTTING HERE NEXT WEEK,
BUT THAT'S A GOOD MEASURE, RIGHT? BECAUSE AS A BUSINESS OPENS, WE TAKE OWNERSHIP OF IT.
I EXPECT THAT, AND I KNOW WE HAVE THE RIGHT TEAM IN PLACE.
CHRIS YATES IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF IT.
WE ARE HELPING SOMEONE OPEN A BUSINESS.
WE AREN'T REQUIRING CERTAIN STANDARDS ONLY, RIGHT? WE KNOW THAT IF SOMEONE COMES IN WITH A NEW UPFIT OR A BRAND NEW PERMIT, THEY'RE, THEY'RE HERE TO START A BUSINESS.
UH, THERE'S JOBS AT STAKE, THERE'S SAVINGS AT STAKE.
THERE'S NEW E ECONOMY AT STAKE.
UM, AND SO WE, WE LOOK AT IT FOR, THROUGH THAT LENS QUITE A BIT.
WE'VE RECEIVED A, A BUNCH OF GRANTS, UH, CONSIDERABLE, AND I'M, I'M PROUD OF IT.
UM, AND I ALWAYS WANNA SAY, WE'LL, WE'LL BE EVEN BETTER NEXT YEAR BECAUSE OUR FOCUS ON GRANT, UM, OPPORTUNITIES GROWS.
UH, WE, WE HAVE A GRANT ADMINISTRATOR, BUT WE ALSO HAVE EVERY PERSON IN A DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE, RIGHT? THE DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE RESPONSIBLE TO FIND AND CHASE SOME OF THEIR OWN GRANTS TOO.
SO WE HAVE THREE APPLICATIONS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, TOTALING A LITTLE MORE THAN 200 GRAND.
WE RECEIVED THE STANDARD C D B G A LITTLE MORE THAN 180 GRAND, 185 GRAND.
BUT WE'VE RECEIVED FUNDING ON REALLY, EIGHT, EIGHT ASKS OVER THIS PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, $8.8 MILLION WERE BROUGHT INTO THE ORGANIZATION.
UM, JUST BY ASKING, JUST BY PUTTING IN PLACE A STRATEGY.
DEFINITELY THE $5 MILLION HELP SET EIGHT, THE GULLAH GEECHEE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP FUNDED WITH A $5 MILLION SOUTH CAROLINA, UM, STARTUP FUND.
THANK YOU TO SENATOR DAVIS, BUT ALSO THANK YOU TO TOWN COUNCIL FOR PUTTING THAT IN PLACE.
WE, WE MADE THE ASK, SENATOR DAVIS TOOK IT FROM THERE.
UM, BUT I'D SAY THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO RECEIVING THAT AND PREPARING FOR IT.
SO A BIG THANK YOU TO JOHN TROYER AND, AND EVERYBODY THAT'S INVOLVED WITH THAT.
SO IF, IF YOU COULD CLARIFY, UM, YOUR COMMENT, YOU SAID THAT YOU'RE GOING TO START NEXT YEAR GOING AFTER MORE GRANTS.
IS THAT NEXT PHYSICAL YEAR? IS THAT BEGINNING OF 24? WHAT IS THAT? WELL, I'LL, I'LL CLARIFY IT.
EVERY YEAR WE NEED TO BE BETTER THAN THE LAST, RIGHT? WE NEED TO LEARN, THERE'S SO MANY GRANTS THAT COME ACROSS OUR TABLE.
IF WE CHASED EVERY GRANT, I'D BE AFRAID TO CATCH THEM, RIGHT? 'CAUSE ADMINISTRATING FEDERAL GRANTS TAKE A LOT MORE TIME AND ENERGY THAN ADMINISTRATING SOME OF THE, THE LOCAL REGIONAL STATE GRANTS.
BUT WHAT WE ARE MORE FOCUSED AND TARGETED ON IS WHERE WE'RE ASKING FOR THE DOLLARS, RIGHT? WE SEE A RESILIENCE GRANT OUT THERE, IT'S FOR A MILLION DOLLARS, BUT WHEN YOU REALLY DIVE IN TO DETERMINE YOUR GO, NO, GO ON IT.
YOU MIGHT REALIZE IT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING BETTER FOR A REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT THAN THAN HILTON HEAD.
MY MY POINT BEHIND A LOT OF THIS IS AS
[00:50:01]
WE START TRYING TO BUILD PROJECTS AND OUR RESILIENCE PLAN IS IN PLACE, AND SOME OF THOSE STORM WATER KNOWLEDGE IS A LITTLE MORE, UH, ENHANCED BECAUSE OF THAT RESILIENCE PLAN, WE WILL PROBABLY START QUALIFYING FOR MORE GRANTS.AND IT, IT GOES BACK TO YOUR POINT, AS YOU SAID ABOUT THE, YOU KNOW, THE EIGHT POINT, YOU KNOW, $7 MILLION.
RIGHT? AND, AND YOU DON'T GET UNLESS YOU ASK.
THAT'S, YOU KNOW, BUT IT ALL, IT'S ALSO IDENTIFYING THAT SOURCE.
I WANT TO GO BACK ONE SLIDE JUST TO MAKE A POINT, UM, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE ENTREPRENEURS WHO SAID WE WANT TO INVEST ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
THE QUESTION IN MY MIND IS, WHAT'S THE NET BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY, BOTH IN TERMS OF, UH, BUSINESS LICENSE REVENUES, AND ALSO THE TYPES OF BUSINESSES THAT WE'RE LOSING AS OPPOSED TO THE TYPES OF BUSINESSES THAT WE'RE GAINING? IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH CREATING OUR, UH, UNDERGIRDING, OUR, OUR BRAND, AND HOW WE ARE ATTRACTING SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT.
IT'D BE AN INTERESTING POINT TO MEASURE JOSH AND ANGIE AND OUR ANNUAL REPORT TO TAKE A LOOK AT NUMBER OF BUSINESSES, INVESTMENT JOBS, AND THEN A NET NET COMPARED TO BUSINESSES PERHAPS THAT CLOSED.
SO, WE'LL, WE'LL TRACK A LOT OF THAT, THAT, THAT REALLY SUGGESTS A GROWING CONFIDENCE INTO WHERE WE ARE GOING, WHICH IS WHAT THE STRATEGIC PLAN IS ALL ABOUT.
RIGHT? AND PARDON ME, THAT I THINK IT ALSO NEEDS TO INCLUDE THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES GAINED OR LOST, RIGHT? WE'LL, WE'LL TRACK A LITTLE BIT OF THAT, NOT WE'LL TRACK THAT.
THE, THE TAKEAWAY MESSAGE, AND I'VE SAID IT MY ENTIRE CAREER, AND I SAY IT VERY LOUD AND I'M, I'M EXCITED TO SAY IT, SO EXCITED TO SAY IT HERE, WE'RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND WITHIN REASON, THE ANSWER IS YES.
WE WILL HELP YOU OPEN A BUSINESS.
WE WILL HELP YOU INVEST IN OUR ISLAND.
AND I ALSO THINK THAT OUR OWN INVESTMENT IS ALSO A CATALYST TO OTHERS' INVESTMENT.
MAYOR, IF I MAY JUST JUMP IN BACK RIGHT HERE ON THIS GRANTS PAGE FIRST, UM, I WANTED TO, UM, SHARE MY APPRECIATION FOR NOT ONLY OUR GRANTS MANAGER, MARCY BENSON, BUT TO ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR THESE GRANTS.
MANY OF THEM COME WITH STRINGS ATTACHED THAT ARE NOT, UM, THE TYPE OF STRINGS THAT THE TOWN OF HILTON HAD TYPICALLY, UM, HISTORICALLY, OR I BELIEVE FOR THE FUTURE, ARE GOING TO WANT TO BE TIED TO SO CAREFULLY RESEARCHING THOSE AVAILABLE GRANTS AND KNOWING THE, WHAT THOSE STRINGS MIGHT BE AND CHOOSING PROPERLY IS, IS A LOT OF WORK IN AND OF ITSELF AS A FORMER GRANT MANAGER, UM, FOR A LARGE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION.
I KNOW FIRSTHAND AND THOSE FEDERAL GRANTS THAT YOU MENTIONED, WHICH I ALSO WROTE AND MANAGED, ARE A LOT OF WORK, UM, AND INTENSE.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, MAKING THOSE, UH, DOING THAT, RESEARCHING, SELECTING CAREFULLY, UM, IS IMPORTANT TO OUR FUTURE.
NOT JUST THE DOLLAR AMOUNT, BUT THOSE STRINGS AS WELL.
GREAT POINT, MAYOR, YOU CAN'T RECEIVE, WHAT DID YOU SAY? YOU, IF YOU DON'T ASK, YOU CAN'T RECEIVE WHERE, HOW WOULD, IF WELL, YEAH.
AND SO WE ASKED BUFORT COUNTY BEFORE THE BUDGET WAS ADOPTED TO FUND THE ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, MORE THAN A $3.1 MILLION REGIONAL NETWORK INVESTMENT AND JUST HAPPENS TO BE ON OUR ISLAND.
IF WE COULD USE THE BEAUFORT COUNTY IMPACT FEES COLLECTED IN OUR AREA, RIGHT? OUR SERVICE AREA TOWARDS THAT PROJECT.
AND THEY, THEY AT FIRST SAID, MAYBE, WE'LL THINK ABOUT IT.
AND THEN, UM, IT SPED UP AND COUNTY COUNCIL WITH A LOT OF HELP AND LEADERSHIP FROM JARED FRA, UH, COUNTY COUNCIL, RECENTLY ADOPTED A $3.1 MILLION TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO OUR, TO OUR BOOKS TO PAY FOR THAT PROJECT, UH, AND, AND REIMBURSE.
SO WE ALSO ASKED BUFORT COUNTY FOR A $500,000 OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS.
WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THAT IN THE BUDGET.
DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A LOT WHEN YOU ADD IT UP TO THE OTHERS, BUT THAT'S AN IMPORTANT GRANT.
WE DON'T HAVE TO USE STORMWATER UTILITY FEE FOR, OR PROPERTY TAX FOR SOMETHING AS WE INVEST IN THE WORK TO BUILD THE RESILIENCE PLANT.
AND I THINK THAT GRANT DOLLARS TIED TO THE RESILIENCE PLAN ITSELF WILL DEFINITELY HELP THAT PROJECT.
SPEAKING OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, I, I TALK WITH, UM, YOU ALL, WE TALK MONTHLY MOST OF THE TIME, AND A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION TURNS TO WHAT ARE WE WORKING ON WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY? AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TODAY TO JUST
[00:55:01]
ONE STOP FOR A MOMENT AND SLOW DOWN AND SAY THANK YOU TO BEAUFORT COUNTY, UM, WITH THEIR LEADERSHIP.UM, DEFINITELY JARED, DEFINITELY HANK, WHO ELSE AM I MISSING? THE TRANSPORTATION, UH, GENTLEMEN, ERIC CLAWSON.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE SUCH A GREAT TEAM TO WORK WITH.
THEY ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR PEOPLE AND THEY'RE ALSO TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THEIR PRIORITIES AND WORK.
BUT WHEN WE ADD UP ON THE BOARD THAT WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH THEM VERY CLOSELY ON THE WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY GATEWAY CORRIDOR PROJECT, UM, PROJECTS IN THEIR HANDS.
WE KNOW THAT I'LL UPDATE THAT A LITTLE BIT AS WE GET THERE.
UM, ADOPTION OF THE UPDATED IMPACT FEES FOR THE LIBRARY AND TRANSPORTATION.
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM ON THAT.
JAMES BAPTIST CHURCH, RELOCATION, MITIGATION A LITTLE MORE.
UPDATE SEVERAL SLIDES IN A LAND SWAP OF BARKER FIELD, OLD SCHOOL HOUSE, ROAD PARK, AND CROSS ISLAND BOAT LANDING.
WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT THE PICKLEBALL AT OLD SCHOOL HOUSE ADRIANA LANE.
IT'S NOT OUR PARK YET, RIGHT? SO WE'VE GOT PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS THERE.
WE HAVE PLANNED SIX PICKLEBALL COURTS THERE.
UM, THERE ARE NO SEWER UTILITY ON THE GROUND THERE, BUT THAT'S NOT OUR PARK YET.
WHERE ARE WE WITH THE CLOSING COUNTY COUNCIL ADOPTS THIRD AND FINAL READING ON MONDAY OF NEXT WEEK.
AND SO WE'VE SWAPPED THE CROSS ISLAND BOAT LANDING, BUT IN THE COVENANT AND THE RESTRICTIONS AND THE RESTRICTIONS OF IT, IT CAN ONLY BE USED FOR WHAT IT'S CURRENTLY USED FOR.
THE COUNTY INTENDS TO BUILD A NEW DOCK.
WE HAVE DESIGN APPROVAL, SCOPE AND DESIGN APPROVAL OF THAT DOCK IN THE CONTRACT AND IN THE COVENANTS, IN THE, IN THE RESTRICTIONS.
MARK, I, I'D ALSO LIKE TO MAKE IT JUST A PUBLIC COMMENT SINCE THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS PREVIOUSLY THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.
UM, THE COUNTY HAS ALWAYS OPERATED THE BOAT LANDING.
IT HAS BEEN THEIR RESPONSIBILITY OVER YEARS TO MAINTAIN THAT PROPERTY AND TO OPERATE IT.
UM, SO NOTHING FROM AN ACCESS STANDPOINT IS CHANGING THERE.
IT'S STILL GONNA BE UTILIZED IN THE SAME CAPACITY, WELL EXPANDED CAPACITY WITH SOME EXPANDED PARKING AND AMENITIES.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE HAD CONTROL OVER THAT, RIGHT? FOR YEARS.
BUT NOW THEY'RE GONNA HAVE THE PROPERTY.
SO I JUST WANNA, I JUST WANNA PUT THAT OUT THERE FOR THE PUBLIC.
AND THE GREAT PART IS ADRIANA LANE, ADRIANA LANE, OLD SCHOOLHOUSE ROAD PARK, AND BARKER FIELD WILL ONCE AND FOR ALL BE TOWN ASSET IN THE TOWN PARK SYSTEM.
AND WE CAN START FIGURING OUT THE FUTURE OF THOSE IMPORTANT SPACES.
WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THEM ON THE GREEN SPACE LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAM, UH, 1% SALES TAX COMMITTEE AND PROGRAM PLANNING.
YOU'LL SEE THAT COMING NEXT WEEK.
VARIOUS ROAD IMPROVEMENTS AND MAINTENANCE PROJECTS.
WHEN WE CALL THEM TO CUT OR FIX OR IMPROVE, THEY'RE ALWAYS VERY RESPONSIVE AND HELP, UM, IMMEDIATELY.
AND I, I'D SAY OUR, OUR TEAM HELPS WITH THAT, RIGHT? OUR TEAM, ESPECIALLY A GENTLEMAN PROBABLY BACK AT WORK, WE'RE OUT IN THE FIELD RIGHT NOW FIGURING OUT JEFF INGER.
HE WILL CALL THE COUNTY AND IMMEDIATELY THEY'RE, THEY'RE RESPONSIVE.
THE FERAL CAT COLONY REGS, PROJECT CLOUD, WHICH WE'RE STARTING TO TALK ABOUT, WHICH IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BE FOR COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION RECRUITED PROJECT, UM, THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND, UH, PROPERTY REASSESSMENT A LITTLE MORE OF THAT NEXT WEEK.
AND THEN AGAIN, THE FUNDING FOR THE SIGNAL SYSTEM.
SO LOTS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS THIS YEAR ON, ON OUR BEHALF OPERATIONALLY AS WELL AS STRATEGIC WITH COUNCIL THROUGH COMMITTEE, AND THEN DEFINITELY WITH SOME OTHER AGENCIES, FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY INCLUDED.
SO MARK, ON YOUR PRESENTATION ABOUT WORKING WITH A COUNTY, UM, I SEE STAFF COORDINATION THERE, WHICH IS GOING VERY SMOOTHLY.
WE NEED TO RENEW OUR EFFORTS TO HAVE CONTACTS BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL SO THAT WE CAN DEVELOP MUCH BETTER RELATIONSHIPS AS THINGS MOVE FORWARD.
IT'S A COMPLICATED WORLD OUT THERE, AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER AS PARTNERS.
WE'RE ALL IN IT TOGETHER, RIGHT? OF COURSE.
AND SO NOW OUR TOP 15 STRATEGIES, I'M JUST GOING TO START DIVING RIGHT IN.
DO YOU WANT ME TO GET THROUGH ONE OF THESE AND THEN TAKE A BREAK OR WOULD YOU PREFER A BREAK RIGHT NOW? LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO A BREAK NOW.
THAT WAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL IN TUNE TO, TO THE, UM, INFORMATION AS WE START DIVING INTO THE TOP 15.
I'LL SAY AGAIN, AS YOU SEE IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN, IN THE PRESENTATION AS WELL, THERE'S A LOT MORE THAN 15 ITEMS WE'RE ALREADY WORKING ON.
BUT IN JANUARY TO REMIND US, YOU HAD, IN THIS, IN THIS ROOM, WE
[01:00:01]
TALKED ABOUT THE LIST OF MANY.AND OF THAT LIST OF MANY, WHAT WAS IMPORTANT IN 2023, WHAT WAS IMPORTANT IN 2024, AND THEN OF THOSE ELEMENTS IN THE 2023 PLAN, WHAT WERE THE TOP 15? AND BY NO MEANS DID YOU SAY THIS IS NUMBER ONE, THIS IS NUMBER 15.
THEY'RE SPREAD THROUGHOUT MANY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
THEY'RE SPREAD THROUGHOUT, UM, FINANCE, THEY'RE SPREAD THROUGHOUT HR, BUT THEY'RE MOSTLY, UM, IN THE BUCKET OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, GROWTH MANAGEMENT, PLANNING, ENGINEERING.
AND SO I'M GONNA CALL SEAN UP ACTUALLY, UM, BECAUSE I NEED A LITTLE BIT OF HELP, BUT I ALSO WANT SEAN TO BE HERE WITH YOU EXPLAINING WHERE HE'S GOING, HEARING FROM YOU DIRECTLY.
HE HAS MANY OF THE PRIORITIES IN PLACE.
I KNOW THIS COMMUNITY LEANS ON HIM.
SOME WANT THIS, SOME WANT THAT.
UM, AND HE'S DOING A GREAT JOB.
AND SEAN, IF, IF WE COULD, LET'S GET THROUGH SOME OF THIS WORK TOGETHER AND, UH, GIVE SOME UPDATES.
BUT I'LL, I'LL STEER FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
MAYOR, I, I, I'M SORRY, CAN I JUST ASK A QUICK QUESTION? I APOLOGIZE.
I WAS GONNA TRY TO ASK THIS DURING THE BREAK.
UM, DURING THIS TIME, WE'RE DISCUSSING THE TOP 15 STRATEGIES, UM, AS WELL AS THAT LONG LIST THAT APPEARS AFTER THE STRATEGIES.
UM, I THOUGHT I RECALL SOME LANGUAGE ABOUT US TRYING TO LOOK AT PRIORITIES FOR THE YEAR AND, UM, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER IF THAT WAS CALENDAR YEAR OR BUDGET YEAR.
UM, BUT IS THIS A TIME FOR US TO START FOCUSING IN ON WHAT THOSE PRIORITIES ARE AMONG THE STRATEGIES IN THE OTHERS? YES.
AND I, I WOULD ASK THAT WE HOLD THOSE UNTIL TOWARDS THE END, BECAUSE THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT TO GET THROUGH.
BUT YEAH, THIS IS THE TIME THAT, THAT, SINCE WE'VE, WE'VE REVIEWED THIS SIX MONTHS AGO, WE CAME UP WITH THIS LIST, NOW IT'S TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH AND WHERE WE'RE, AND HOW WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD AND WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO US.
THAT HELPS ME WITH MAKING NOTES AND ASKING QUESTIONS DURING THE PRESENTATION TO DIRECT TOWARDS THAT CONVERSATION.
AND, AND I'LL ADD, I STARTED OFF BY SAYING, AND I JUMPED THROUGH A LOT OF THIS EARLIER QUICK, BUT REALLY WHAT I WANT TO GET TO TODAY IS ONE, GIVE YOU AN UPDATE.
WE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT.
WE TALKED ABOUT IT AT BUDGET, WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN JANUARY.
WE, WE WORKED THROUGH, UH, VARIOUS DIFFERENT COMMITTEES AND THEN TO COUNCIL.
BUT BIG PICTURE, ARE WE ON THE RIGHT TRACK, RIGHT? BIG PICTURE, ARE THESE THE RIGHT TOP 15? UM, ARE WE CLEAR ON WHERE WE'RE GOING? IF WE'RE NOT, TELL US.
UM, AM I CLEAR FROM YOU OF WHAT YOU WANT FOR SECOND, THIRD, AND 50TH? ARE THE TIMELINES WHAT WE EXPECT? ARE WE DOING IT RIGHT? WHAT'S GOING WELL? WHAT'S NOT GOING WELL? IS IT THE RIGHT PROCESS? UM, WHAT NEEDS TO IMPROVE? HOW DO WE MEASURE SUCCESS? AND LIKE I SAID, FOR THE FIRST TIME, I THINK EVER WE WILL PRODUCE THIS YEAR AN ANNUAL REPORT.
IT WILL BE OUR FIRST EVER ANNUAL REPORT, AND WE'LL REPORT ON ALL OF THIS WORK.
A LOT OF THE METRICS THAT WE NEED TO MEASURE PERFORMANCE ON, BUT ALSO SOME OF THE STATISTICS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY.
UM, AND I ALWAYS CAN THINKING ABOUT WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES TO GET SOME OF THIS WORK DONE.
THE, THE, THE FIRST AND FOREMOST, THIS IS PROBABLY THE BEST ONE TO BE FIRST BECAUSE AS WE DIVE IN, WE SAID IN JANUARY, LET'S ESTABLISH A GROWTH MANAGEMENT STRATEGY, MANAGE THE INCREASING AND EVOLVING FUTURE GROWTH PATTERNS IN A MANNER THAT WILL ENSURE SUSTAINABILITY.
AND HILTON, HEAD OF HILTON HEAD ISLANDS UNIQUE CHARACTER.
ADDITIONALLY, THE TALUS MO MONITOR, ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS UNDERTAKE A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF FUTURE PLANNING ACTIVITIES AND PROACTIVELY PROTECT THE ISLAND'S RICH NATURAL RESOURCES THROUGH APPROPRIATE DESIGN REGS AND CAPITAL INVESTMENT.
AND SO HOW DO WE GET THERE, RIGHT? WHAT ARE THE TACTICS? WHAT ARE THE STRATEGIES TO GET THERE? AND AS WE WORKED WITH YOU, WE SAID WE CONDUCT A HILTON HEAD ISLAND CONDITIONS AND TRENDS ASSESSMENT, RIGHT? THE CAPACITY STUDY.
TRUTH BE TOLD, I DON'T LIKE SAYING CAPACITY STUDY OUT LOUD BECAUSE I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
IS IT FOUR MORE CARS ARE TOO MANY? UM, THREE MORE SECONDS ARE TOO MANY.
20 MORE HOUSES ARE TOO MANY MORE COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES THAT WE JUST CELEBRATE AS TOO MANY.
WHEN I LOOK AT CAPACITY, I THINK ABOUT THAT SUSTAINABILITY BALANCE.
AND SO WE'RE TAKING A LOOK AT WHAT THE CONDITIONS ARE AND WHAT THE TRENDS ARE, WHETHER THEY'RE GOING UP, ARE THEY GOING DOWN? HOW MANY HOSPITAL BEDS ARE THEY STAFFED? HOW MANY KIDS IN SCHOOL? ARE THERE ENOUGH TEACHERS? SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON
[01:05:01]
THAT.ESTABLISH A GROWTH FRAMEWORK MAP.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE, THROUGH THE GROWTH FRAMEWORK MAP, ARE WE GROWING IN CERTAIN AREAS OR AREN'T WE GROWING IN CERTAIN AREAS? ARE WE, ARE WE DECREASING IMPACTS TO RIVER'S EDGE? AND ARE WE INVESTING IN MAJOR INTERSECTIONS, RIGHT? SO THAT GROWTH FRAMEWORK MAP HELPS WITH THAT.
IT'S HARD TO JUST GO IN AS WE KNOW AS WE'RE LEARNING.
IT'S HARD TO JUST GO GRAB THE LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE IN AMEND CHAPTER FIVE AND CHANGE SOME STANDARDS WITHOUT KNOWING THE BIG PICTURE PATTERN OF SETTLEMENT, PATTERN OF DEVELOPMENT.
SO IDENTIFYING A DISTRICT PLAN, CREATING THE DISTRICT PLANS, THOSE DRIVE A FUTURE LAND USE MAP, THAT FUTURE LAND USE MAP DRIVES ZONING.
THAT ZONING IS EMBEDDED IN THE LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE, ALL OF WHICH HAS TO BE CALIBRATED WITH AND TO RIGHT TO AND FROM OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
UM, WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT THE MID ISLAND DISTRICT PLAN.
WE'RE LEARNING THAT IT THERE, THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD ELEMENT TO IT.
AND THEN AS WE ARE WORKING ON FUTURE DISTRICT PLANS, WE'RE ALSO REALIZING THAT MAYBE THERE'S, THERE COULD BE SOME ASSESSMENT OF THAT MID ISLAND DISTRICT ADOPT ZONING MAP AMENDMENTS.
AND REALLY THE OVERHAUL OF THE LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE IS THE LARGEST PUSHUP ON THE LIST.
UM, IS THE HEAVIEST IMPROVING OUR DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROGRAM.
MAYOR, YOU ASKED ABOUT THAT EARLIER.
THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THIS WORK CAN BE TOLD AND EXPLAINED.
AND THEN ALSO TO LET YOU KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH IT, AND THEN ALIGN OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN WITH THOSE GROWTH FRAMEWORK STRATEGIES.
MARK, I'D LIKE TO COMMENT ON, ON THIS WHOLE PROCESS HAVING TO DO WITH GROWTH MANAGEMENT, UH, THE STAFF STAFF HAS PRESENTED TO US, UH, A SERIES OF MAPS, UH, DEFINING THE VARIOUS, UH, AREAS OR DISTRICTS THAT ARE BEING SUGGESTED.
UH, EACH WITH A CREATIVE NAME.
THESE, OF COURSE ARE ALL OF THOSE OUTSIDE OF THE GATES.
AND I WANNA SALUTE THE STAFF FOR DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB IN CREATING THESE DISTRICTS.
I THINK THEY'RE VERY CLOSE TO THE FINAL ONES THAT WE CAN WORK WITH MOVING FORWARD.
AND IF I CAN JUST ADD A COMMENT TO GLEN'S, UM, THE STAFF HAS WORKED HARD AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ALL OF THAT WORK PRESENTED TO US.
BUT, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GLEN, YOU SAID THAT'S CRITICAL, UM, TO REMEMBER AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND TO FOCUS ON, IS THAT THIS WORK IS OUTSIDE THE GATES.
AND OVER THE YEARS OUTSIDE THE GATES HAS BEEN DEVELOPED IN THE SAME WAY WITH THE SAME, UM, PURPOSE TO PROVIDE A QUALITY OF LIFE AND RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AND PROTECTED AND WHERE MISTAKES MISJUDGMENTS POSSIBLY WERE MADE, THAT REMEDIES ARE, ARE PRESENTED AND, UM, MOVED FORWARD ON TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE OUTSIDE THE GATES HAVE THE SAME, UH, QUALITY OF LIFE THAT ALL HILTON HEAD ISLAND RESIDENTS, UM, DESERVE.
UM, AND WAS, UH, I DON'T THINK I NEED TO GO ON ANYMORE, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OF THAT OUTSIDE THE GATES OR, SO THE FIRST, THE CONDUCTING A HILTON HEAD ISLAND CONDITIONS AND TRENDS ASSESSMENT.
WE HAD A WORKSHOP WAY LONG AGO, JANUARY, 2022 WHEN WE HEARD A LOT OF, HEY, MAKE SURE WE ADD THESE COMPONENTS.
WHAT IS THIS CAPACITY ASSESSMENT? WHAT IS THIS TREND ASSESSMENT ALL ABOUT? AND SO WE HAD THAT WORKSHOP SOME TIME AGO, BUT OVER THE LAST YEAR, PLUS, WE HAVE BEEN STUDYING, SEAN AND HIS TEAM HAVE STUDIED THE DEMOGRAPHICS, HOUSING, WORKFORCE GOVERNANCE, ECO ECONOMICS, COMMUNITY, REAL ESTATE SYSTEMS, ENVIRONMENT, LAND USE.
AND I ALSO KNOW A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS IN BETWEEN.
I KNOW YOU'VE LOOKED AT UTILITIES, I KNOW YOU'VE LOOKED AT HEALTHCARE.
I KNOW YOU'VE LOOKED AT A LOT OF THAT WORK.
WELL, WE HAVEN'T STOPPED WORKING ON IT.
WE PUT IT ASIDE TO START WORKING PUBLICLY WITH YOU ALL AND THE COMMUNITY ON IT BECAUSE WE STARTED TO DIVE INTO OTHER WORK, SOME OF WHICH WAS THE DISTRICT PLANTS.
AND SO THIS IS GETTING REAL CLOSE TO, UM, BRINGING IT BACK AGAIN FOR YOUR REVIEW THROUGH PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE, THROUGH YOUR REVIEW, UM, COLLECTIVELY AS WELL.
AND THEN ALSO WITH SOME COMMUNITY INPUT AT, AT A LOT OF THOSE MEETINGS.
SO YOU SEE ON HERE THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT IT'LL PRESENT THE ASSESSMENT OF FINDINGS AT THE OCTOBER 12TH PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING.
EVERYTHING I SAY UP HERE IS SUBJECT TO THE MAYOR'S APPROVAL AND THE COMMITTEE CHAIR'S
[01:10:01]
RECOMMENDATION AND APPROVAL OF AGENDAS.BUT OUR TIMELINE PROCESS WISE IS BASED UPON THIS, SOMETHING MIGHT COME UP IN OCTOBER THAT THIS MIGHT NOT BE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY BECAUSE OF, AND SO WE ALWAYS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO WORK WITH THE COMMITTEE CHAIR AND ULTIMATELY THE MAYOR TO SET THOSE AGENDAS.
WE'LL THEN PRESENT THOSE ASSESSMENTS AND THOSE FINDINGS AT AN UPCOMING MARK.
SORRY, IF I CAN INTERRUPT YOU FOR ONE MOMENT.
UH, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THE COMMITTEE, UH, LIST OF POSSIBLE ASSIGNMENTS.
I KNOW IT'S COMING LATER IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT AS YOU MENTIONED THE COMMITTEES, I HOPE ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT BECAUSE I'VE ASKED A COUPLE TIMES ABOUT WHAT ARE OUR COMMITTEES SUPPOSED TO BE DOING TO PARTNER WITH STAFF ON THE STRAT PLAN.
SO THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THAT AND THE SPECIFIC CALL OUTS ON, ON THESE PAGES.
AND THEN WE WILL PRESENT THOSE FINDINGS AT AN UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETING.
WHEN YOU'RE READY, WHEN YOU'RE READY THROUGH COMMITTEE, WHEN YOU'RE READY FOR IT TO GO TO COUNCIL, WE'LL PRESENT IT.
UM, WE, WE HAVE TO WORK ON IT FOR A LITTLE WHILE TO KNOW WHAT WE KNOW AND KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT OUR ISLAND AND, AND MAKE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS.
ESTABLISHING A GROWTH FRAMEWORK MAP.
I HAVEN'T BEEN AS INVOLVED AS SEAN IS IN THIS.
UM, BUT SEAN I KNOW HAS BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE.
HE'S BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH A SELECT CONSULTING TEAM.
AND HE IS BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH A GREAT STAFF AND LOTS OF NEW STAFF MEMBERS TOO.
SO WE'RE ASKING FOR THEIR ASSESSMENT AND THEIR PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE, UM, IN ESTABLISHING THESE, THESE DISTRICT PLAN AND GROWTH FRAMEWORK MAP STRATEGIES.
SEAN, IS THERE ANYTHING TO ADD? YOU CAN COME ON UP HERE WITH ME.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING.
I KNOW A LOT OF THIS IS ON YOUR SHOULDERS, BUT YOU HAVE A GREAT TEAM BEHIND YOU.
AND, UM, AND WE BUILT, WE HAVE BUILT A GREAT TEAM AND FILLED A LOT OF, ALRIGHT, MAKING SURE IT'S GOOD.
SO IT STOP STANDING UP, LIKE I SAID THERE.
I'M SURE I LEAN ON SEAN A LOT.
UM, YEAH, SO WE DO HAVE A GREAT TEAM.
A LOT OF NEW ENERGY AROUND ADVANCING THESE EFFORTS.
AND, UM, I'VE BEEN ENCOURAGED BY THE QUALITY OF THE PRODUCT WE'VE BEEN PUTTING FORWARD, UM, TO THE PUBLIC, TO THE COMMITTEE AND ADVANCING THIS.
SO WE'VE TRIED TO SHOW THE, THE CONTEXT OF HILTON HEAD WITH THE REGION, UM, LOOKING AT THINGS THAT, IT'S A SERIES OF MAPS THAT SAW ON OUR WEBSITE.
UM, BUT THIS BOTTOM LEFT MAP IS REALLY IDENTIFYING THOSE AREAS THAT WE SHOULD PROTECT THOSE CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES.
AND THEN THE MAP ON THE RIGHT IS, IS SORT OF AN INTUITIVE, UH, MAP THAT SHOWS WHERE WE THINK ACTIVITY, UM, EITHER EXISTS TODAY, SHOULD EXIST, SHOULD BE, UM, WHERE WE HAVE STRATEGIC GROWTH AND INVESTMENT AND THE OTHER AREAS, UM, AREAS TO PROTECT.
AND THEN THOSE TRANSITIONS BETWEEN THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND THE, AND THE ACTIVITY CENTER.
SO, UM, I'M HAPPY THAT WE'VE ADVANCED THIS.
THIS IS, UM, PROBABLY ABOUT A THOUSAND TIMES BETTER THAN THE FIRST DRAFT MAP THAT WE PRESENTED.
UM, I THINK IT'S BEEN WELL RECEIVED AND PROVIDES A GOOD FRAMEWORK FOR THE, THE WORK.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONE PRIORITY IN THE STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN, BUT YOU SAW THERE'S 12 TACTICS.
SO THIS IS A HEAVY LIFT AND WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE THROUGH AS MUCH OF IT CONCURRENTLY AS WE CAN.
AND THEN, UH, SOME OF IT REQUIRES SOME SEQUENTIAL, UM, EXECUTION.
SO, UM, I THINK THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SHARE ON THIS MARK.
AND, AND, AND SO HOW DO WE USE THIS? HOW DO YOU USE THIS WHEN SOMEONE WALKS IN THE DOOR AND SAYS, HEY, I'VE GOT THIS GREAT GROUP.
THEY'RE A MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPER FROM SOMEWHERE.
WE'VE GOT A GREAT TEAM BEHIND THEM.
HERE'S THEIR WEBSITE AND THEY WANT TO REZONE WATER'S EDGE ON MARSHLAND ROAD AS A STAFF, WHAT DO WE TELL THEM? LET'S CHECK WITH TOWN COUNCIL.
YOU'LL GET THERE IN ABOUT 10 MONTHS.
YOU GOTTA GO THROUGH PLANNING COMMISSION, PUBLIC PLANNING.
WHAT THIS MAP IS INTENDED TO DO IS HELP US AS A STAFF WHEN YOU'RE NOT THERE AS A POLICY GUIDE ON REZONINGS, IT SHOULD HELP US ON A, AS A POLICY GUIDE TO THINK THROUGH CAPITAL INVESTMENT.
RIGHT? WHAT YOU'RE NOT SEEING ON THERE IS THE CONNECTED PARKS OR ANY NEIGHBORHOOD YOU'RE SEEING THOSE CENTERS AND THOSE EDGES.
AND SO I THINK THAT MAP WILL GO A LONG WAY TO HELP GUIDE THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP THAT HELPS GUIDE THE LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE.
SO, AND YOU'LL SEE HERE, IT'S BEEN A PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE A COUPLE TIMES.
UM, THERE'S A STANDING ITEM ON THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE AGENDA WITH MR. AMES AND ITS DISTRICT PLANS AND LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE UPDATES AND WORK.
AND SO, SEAN, I KNOW YOU'VE REALLY WORKED WITH PUBLIC PLANNING AS A WORKSHOP WORKING GROUP, AND YOU BRING THOSE UPDATES FORWARD AND YOU GET FEEDBACK.
AND SO YOU'VE BEEN THERE A COUPLE TIMES, APRIL, JULY ON THIS ELEMENT IN THAT YOU'RE GOING BACK WITH A, A REFINED APPROACH IN SEPTEMBER.
AND THEN AGAIN, WHEN THESE ARE READY TO GO THROUGH A RECOMMENDATION, UM, THROUGH PUBLIC PLANNING, WE'LL GET THOSE TO TOWN COUNCIL
[01:15:03]
DISTRICT BOUNDARIES.YEAH, SO THE, SO THE NEXT STEP IN, UM, AFTER CREATING THE, THE, WE'RE GONNA CALL IT CONSERVATION AND GROWTH FRAMEWORK.
'CAUSE I THINK THE CONSERVATION IS, UH, CERTAINLY JUST AS IMPORTANT.
UH, WE IDENTIFIED THE AREAS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THE PD ONE DISTRICTS, THE, THE, UH, MASTER PLAN COMMUNITIES.
UM, WE HAD EXECUTED DISTRICT NUMBER FOUR, WHICH WAS THE MID ISLAND TOWN COUNCIL, ADOPTED THE MID ISLAND DISTRICT PLAN ON NOVEMBER 1ST OF, OF LAST YEAR.
UM, BUT WE LOOKED AT SORT OF A LOGICAL DELINEATION OF THE REMAINING AREA AND IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF EIGHT DISTRICTS.
WE WILL REVISIT, UM, THE MID ISLAND DISTRICT BASED ON THE CONDITION AND TRENDS REPORT BASED ON, UM, WHAT WE LEARN AND, AND IMPROVE ON WITH THESE OTHER DISTRICT PLANS.
BUT WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING THROUGH, UM, TWO OF THE REMAINING SEVEN DISTRICTS.
UM, WE HAD IDENTIFIED WITH A COMMITTEE, UM, UM, DISTRICT NUMBER ONE, THE MARSHES DISTRICT.
UM, WE PRESENTED A DRAFT PLAN TO THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE LAST MONTH.
AND WE'LL, WE'LL PRESENT A REVISED PLAN TO THEM IN SEPTEMBER.
WE ALSO WERE LOOKING AT, UM, A SECOND DISTRICT, THE, WHICH WE CALL BRIDGE TO THE BEACH DISTRICT NUMBER EIGHT.
UM, WE HAD ADDED SOME ADDITIONAL CAPABILITIES WITH OUR CONSULTANTS.
UH, WE'VE GOT ZENOS, UM, TAKING A TRIP EARLY NEXT WEEK TO MEET WITH THE CONSULTANTS, UM, ALONG WITH SHARA TO DIVE INTO THAT.
I'VE SEEN A DRAFT PLAN FOR THAT, AND WE'LL BRING THAT TO THE COMMITTEE IN SEPTEMBER AS WELL.
BUT AT THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE TOMORROW, UH, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE REMAINING DISTRICTS, THE FIVE DISTRICTS, AND WE'LL ASK THE COMMITTEE TO HELP US PRIORITIZE HOW WE EXECUTE THAT WORK.
I'D LIKE TO COMPLETE TWO MORE.
UM, DISTRICTS AT LEAST HAVE TWO MORE DRAFT DISTRICTS BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
UM, AND THAT WILL LEAVE US THE REMAINING DISTRICTS TO COMPLETE IN THE EARLY PART OF NEXT YEAR.
AND WE ARE GOING TO BE COMPLETING THOSE DISTRICT PLANS AS WE'RE ALSO WRITING THE LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE.
AND SO IT'S ALL COMING TOGETHER.
AND, UH, I'LL SAY THIS, AND IT'S A LOT OF WORK, RIGHT? 'CAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITHOUT STUDYING EACH NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE SERIES OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND THOSE CONNECTIONS TO MAKE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS FORWARD.
SO THERE'LL BE A PLENTY OF TIME FOR PUBLIC INPUT ON A LOT OF THIS WORK.
BUT WE ARE GETTING SMART, AS I'D CALL IT, UM, THROUGH PUBLIC PLANNING AND, AND A LOT OF OUR WORK, YOU SEE THAT EACH DISTRICT PLAN HAS AN INTRO, UH, RIGHT.
WHAT'S THE PURPOSE? WHAT'S THE PROCESS? THE ANALYSIS OF EACH SERIES OF NEIGHBORHOODS A STRATEGIC DIRECTION.
UM, WHAT ARE THE GUIDING THEMES? WHAT ARE THE CONCEPTS TO CONSERVE, INVEST, UM, A FUTURE LAND USE SCENARIO PROPOSED, AND THEN A STREET AND PATHWAY SYSTEM, UH, I'D CALL IT AUDIT, RIGHT? IS IT, DO WE HAVE IT RIGHT OR SHOULD THERE BE SOME ADJUSTMENTS? AND THEN LASTLY, HOW DO WE IMPLEMENT? SO THE DISTRICTS AREN'T, THERE'S SOME SIMILARITIES, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THESE.
I THINK THEY'RE ORGANIZED BY, UH, SOME LOGICAL GEOGRAPHIES AND, UH, AND SHARED CHARACTERISTICS.
UM, BUT WHERE WE'D LIKE TO GET WITH THESE PLANS IS, IS REALLY TO SET THE EXPECTATION FOR PUBLIC INVESTMENT AND THE PROMISE OF WHAT THE FUTURE CONDITION, UH, WILL YIELD, UM, IF THESE PLANS ARE E EXECUTED.
SO IT'S GONNA REQUIRE A LOT OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AS WE REFINE THESE PLANS AND MOVE THESE FORWARD.
BUT I'M EXCITED, UM, PROBABLY FOR THE FIRST TIME, UM, IN HILTON HEAD'S HISTORY TO REALLY FOCUS ON THESE AREAS AS A COLLECTIVE SERIES OF DISTRICTS.
AND THEN TO STITCH THEM TOGETHER UNDER A ISLAND WIDE MASTER PLAN, FUTURE LAND USE MAP TO SET THOSE EXPECTATIONS.
AND TO KEEP IT SIMPLE, THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP THE COMPONENT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
WE DON'T HAVE ONE, WE DO NOT HAVE A FUTURE LAND USE MAP IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
AND SOME COMMUNITIES DON'T, AND A LOT OF COMMUNITIES DO.
BUT THAT FUTURE LAND USE MAP AS PART OF YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AS PART OF YOUR LAND USE ELEMENT ALWAYS DRIVES ZONING.
SO IT'S NOT ABOUT A ZONING ANALYSIS OR A EXISTING CONDITIONS OR AN EXISTING LAND USE SURVEY.
IT'S ABOUT WHAT SHOULD THE ZONING BE IN THE FUTURE, WHETHER THAT IS INDIVIDUAL REZONINGS, PARCEL BY PARCEL, OR DISTRICT BY DISTRICT, AND SOMETIMES A COMMUNITY-WIDE REZONING PLAN INITIATED BY THE PUBLIC BODY.
SO THIS MASTER PLAN IS REALLY THREADING TOGETHER ALL THE WORK WE JUST SAID.
AND AGAIN, THAT MASTER PLAN WILL DRIVE THE UPDATE TO OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, UM, AND THEN HELP US, GUIDE US TO ADOPT THESE ZONING MAP AMENDMENTS.
[01:20:01]
AND SEAN, YOU MIGHT AS WELL KEEP STANDING, SIR.UM, THIS IS THE, THIS IS THE BIG LIFT, RIGHT? YOU'RE, YOU'RE DOWN HERE.
YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON THESE PHASES FOR A WHILE.
TOWN COUNCIL'S AWARE OF IT, COMMUNITY'S AWARE OF IT.
I KNOW WE HAVE A PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING TOMORROW.
AND WE KNOW ABOUT ALL THAT WORK.
I THINK THE, THE, THE BIG NEWS THAT WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT TODAY IS WHERE ARE YOU, WHERE'S THE TEAM WITH OVERHAULING THE LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE? ALRIGHT.
WE'VE, WE'VE, UM, EXECUTED, UH, THE FIRST THREE PHASES OF ADJUSTMENTS TO THE L M O TO PROVIDE SOME, UM, SOME CLARITY, SOME, UM, UH, DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONS AND SOME, UH, RULES TO HELP PROVIDE PROTECTIONS WHERE WE'VE HAD SOME ISSUES.
UH, PHASE FOUR A, UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE GOT SO MANY PHASES IN HERE, BUT FOUR A IS GOING TO PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE TOMORROW TO TALK ABOUT FLOOR A RATIO AND PARKING.
UM, THERE IS A BIG PHASE THAT WE'LL COMPLETE IN THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS TOO.
BUT THE OVERALL, UM, PROJECT TO, TO OVERHAUL THE L M O, YOU CAN SEE THE, UM, THE INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP INFORM THAT WITH THE DISTRICT PLANS, THE ALL WIDE MASTER PLAN, THE DISTRICT OR THE, UH, FUTURE LAND USE MAP.
UM, WE HAVE WENT OUT AGAIN FOR R F Q TO IDENTIFY CODE WRITERS.
WE HAD A COUPLE OF RESPONSES HERE IN LATE JULY.
WE'RE EVALUATING THOSE RESPONSES.
UM, WE'VE GOT A, A PLAN, UM, TO LEARN FROM THE CONDITION AND TRENDS FROM THE DISTRICT PLANNING AND TO, UM, IDENTIFY THE FRAMEWORK AND STRUCTURE FOR THE LU NEW LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE.
WE'LL EXECUTE THAT HERE, UM, AS WE CONTINUE TO GET INFORMATION FROM THOSE OTHER EFFORTS.
BUT OUR PLAN TO OVERHAUL THE, UM, ENTIRE L M O, AND YOU CAN SEE IT'S KINDA SET UP IN SEQUENCE HERE.
YOU KNOW, BY THE TIME WE, UM, COMPLETE OUR DISTRICT PLANNING, UM, WITH DRAFT PLANS AND THE CONSIDERATION, WE'RE LIKELY INTO, UM, END OF FIRST QUARTER OF 2024.
AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO INFORM THE L M O OVERHAUL, UM, INTO SECOND QUARTER OF 2024, AND THEN BEGIN TO MOVE THAT THROUGH THE PUBLIC PROCESS, INCLUDING PLANNING COMMISSION, PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE, AND TOWN COUNCIL.
AND IT'S INTERESTING, I MET WITH THE REGIONAL MAYORS AND MANAGERS THE OTHER DAY, AND PART OF THE TOPIC WITH SOME OF THE MANAGERS AND A LITTLE SIDEBAR WAS CITY OF BEAUFORT, TOWN OF BLUFFTON BOTH ASKING WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR UPDATE TO OUR LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE, BECAUSE BEAUFORT IS UPDATING THEIRS, BLUFFTON IS UPDATING THEIRS.
AND I JUST THINK THAT EVERY 10 YEARS OR SO, IT'S REALLY GOOD TO GET INTO THE WEEDS OF YOUR OVERALL LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE AND NOT JUST MAKE AMENDMENTS INCREMENTALLY.
SEAN, IF YOU COULD, EXCUSE ME, IF YOU COULD GIVE US AN, AN IDEA OF STAFF REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS TIMING.
YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT GOES INTO IT? BECAUSE AS COUNCIL LOOKS THROUGH PRIORITIZING THE STRATEGIC PLANS, YOU KNOW, STAFF CAPACITY IS A HUGE PART OF OUR, OF OUR THOUGHT PROCESS.
SO CAN YOU TALK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
AND I'LL RELATE IT TO, UM, ALL THE DISCIPLINES THAT, UM, THAT ARE REQUIRED TO DO PLAN REVIEW.
WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT THE, THE EXPANSE OF THE YELLOW MO, UM, IT'S, UH, IT'S NOT JUST A PLANNING EXERCISE.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ENGINEERING TRAFFIC, STORM, WATER, CIVIL, UM, WE LOOK AT, UH, DRAIN, UM, DRAINAGE REQUIREMENTS, A LOT CLEARING, UH, THERE'S INPUT FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UM, SO, UH, TREAT ENVIRONMENTAL TREE PROTECTION, DOING PROTECTION, UM, CRITICAL ZONES.
SO IT, IT'S NOT JUST A CORE TEAM OF PLANNERS THAT GET TOGETHER WITH A CONSULTANT TO REVIEW AND OVERHAUL THIS.
IT'S A COMPLETE, UH, TEAM EFFORT.
AND, UH, WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE, WE'LL CALL THE PHASE FOUR ITEM, UH, WE HELD A, A, A COUPLE OF DAY FOCUSED EFFORT WITH, UM, A CORE GROUP OF ABOUT SIX PEOPLE.
AND THEN WE HAD DIFFERENT GROUPS COME IN.
WE HAD THE STORMWATER GROUP COME IN.
WE HAD, UM, FIRE AND RESCUE COME IN.
AND, YOU KNOW, BY THE TIME IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, WE PROBABLY HAD 20 TO 25 DIFFERENT STAFF MEMBERS PARTICIPATING.
AND SO, PHASE FOUR, WHICH IS OUT RIGHT NOW TO MAKE SOME ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE L M O, THERE ARE, THERE'S A DISTRIBUTION TO JUST ABOUT EVERY DISCIPLINE THAT'S INVOLVED IN THIS L M O.
UM, AND IT, AND IT REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME AND DEDICATION TO TURN THAT AROUND WITH OTHER WORK EFFORTS TO PROVIDE THAT FEEDBACK.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT THE TEAM, NOT JUST IN MY, UM, NOT JUST IN MY AREA, BUT THE ENTIRE TEAM IS EXCITED BECAUSE I THINK THEY, THEY'VE WANTED SOME CHANGES, UM, MAYOR FOR A WHILE, AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET 'EM.
SO, UM, IT'S A LOT OF MEMBERS OF STAFF
[01:25:01]
INVOLVED IN THIS.UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T, I COULDN'T GIVE YOU A MAN HOUR, BUT, UM, IT IS SIGNIFICANT.
AND THEN ALSO I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WE, WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE HAVE CONSULTANTS SUPPORT, BUT YOU HAVE TO MANAGE THE CONSULTANTS.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE MEETING YOUR EXPECTATIONS.
THERE'S A PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, THERE'S A MEETING COORDINATION, THERE'S COMMUNICATION TO AND FROM LEADERSHIP.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF COMPONENTS THAT GO INTO THIS PROJECT.
UM, AND, UM, AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO EXECUTE.
AND FOR, FOR Y'ALL'S INFORMATION, I, I ASK THIS QUESTION BECAUSE, UM, RETENTION OF STAFF IS, IS SO IMPORTANT.
AND WHEN YOU'RE RESPONDING TO A QUESTION AT 3:45 AM THAT DOESN'T TELL ME THAT YOU'RE GETTING YOUR TIME AWAY AND YOUR REST AND RELAXATION.
SO, BUT, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE GOTTA BE VERY COGNIZANT OF AS TO WHAT WE ASK STAFF TO DO.
YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK AND, AND WE CAN'T JUST TELL THE CONSULTANT, THIS IS WHAT'S WRONG.
THIS IS WHAT WE WANT, AND TURN IT OVER.
IT'S OUR, OUR TOWN, IT'S OUR PROJECT AND WORK TO PROPOSE TO YOU.
AND EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IS SIMILAR HERE, AND EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD HAS GOT ITS DIFFERENCES.
AND SO I'M IN A HURRY TO FINISH THIS WORK, BUT I'M IN A HURRY TO DO IT RIGHT.
I'M NOT IN A HURRY TO WATCH THE SHOCK CLOCK ABOVE THE BACKBOARD, WONDERING IF WE HAVE THREE MORE SECONDS TO SHOOT THE BALL.
I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE US TO, IF WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON THIS WORK, TO DIVE IN, TO SLOW DOWN AND TO GET IT RIGHT.
AND I CANNOT THANK SEAN ENOUGH.
YEAH, HE DID SEND THAT EMAIL AT THAT HOUR.
THAT'S NOT A, THAT'S, THAT'S THE TRUE STORY, UM, GETTING READY FOR TODAY.
UM, BUT I THINK THAT'S JUST THE SENTIMENT OF A LOT OF THE STAFF MEMBERS AND A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE.
IT'S NOT DEMANDED, BUT WE'RE ENCOURAGED BY THE WORK.
AND, BUT THIS IS A BIG, THIS IS A BIG LIFT.
AND IT'S NOT THAT WE CAN JUST FINISH THE CAPACITY OR TRENDS ANALYSIS AND CHECK OFF THE EIGHT DISTRICTS AND BRING YOU A FEW PARK PROJECTS TO APPROVE.
AND, OH, HERE'S A NEW LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE AND, AND WE'RE DONE BY NOVEMBER.
LET'S, LET'S REALLY START DIVING INTO SOME OF THESE ISSUES.
UM, THIS IS SEAN'S HIGHEST PRIORITY.
NOTHING'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN THIS.
CAPITAL PROJECT BUILDS ARE IMPORTANT AS SEAN'S TIME'S HERE, MOST OF HIS TIME, A LOT OF HIS TIME IS HERE, MISSY AS WELL.
AND THE GREAT TEAM SHE'S BUILDING.
SO, UH, DEVELOPMENT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
A DEVELOPMENT REVIEW IMPROVEMENTS, RIGHT? SO I'VE ALWAYS SAID, AND I I SAID IT TO START TODAY.
WE ARE GOING TO HELP YOU APPROVE YOUR PROJECT.
UM, WE HAVE GOTTEN OURSELVES OUT OF THE REGULATORY ONLY MINDSET.
UM, I THINK WE'VE LEARNED SOME LESSONS.
UH, I SEE SEAN MAKES SOME JUDGMENT CALLS DIFFERENT TODAY THAN THE TEAM BEFORE HIM, RIGHT? HE WAS NOT THE LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE SOME TIME AGO, ORDINANCE ADMINISTRATOR SOMETIMES AGO.
HE'S MAKING DIFFERENT JUDGMENT CALLS TODAY, DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS.
UM, CODE HAS A LOT TO DO WITH HOW MUCH OR HOW LITTLE THOUGH WE CAN AFFECT THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.
SO ONE THING WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE PUT AN ONLINE CUSTOMER SERVICE PERMITTING PORTAL IN PLACE, UH, ONLINE SUBMITTALS, ONLINE REVIEWS, ACCESS TO US, EVEN WHEN WE'RE NOT OPEN, UM, REPORTING AND THAT REAL CONNECTION AND COMMUNICATION.
YOU DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO DRIVE SOME SAVANNAH AND CHARGE YOUR CLIENT TO DROP OFF A SET OF PLANTS.
UH, TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO WAS THE MIDDLE OF COVID.
WE WERE STACKING PLANS ON THE PORCH, AND THEY WERE FULL OF, UH, THEY WERE FULL OF DIRT.
UH, IT WAS FULL ON THE PORCH, AND WE REALLY CONVERTED, RIGHT? IT WAS THAT TIME OF YEAR, THERE WAS A LOT OF POLLEN IN THE AIR.
AND WE HAVE IMPROVED OUR PROCESS.
WE'VE IMPROVED OUR TECHNOLOGY THANKS TO TOM SUNDAY, WHO'S SITTING IN THE ROOM BACK THERE TO COME ON BOARD AND, AND, AND JUST HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
WE HAVE CUSTOMER SERVICE SURVEYS, UM, INITIATED FOR EVERYTHING WE APPROVE.
UH, WE'RE NOT GETTING A LOT OF RESPONSE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO TELL US WHAT THEY REALLY THINK OR IF THEY'RE JUST BUSY WORKING ON THE NEXT PROJECT.
BUT WHAT WE WANNA REALLY PUSH ON AND UNDERSTAND IS HOW DID WE DO RIGHT? YOU SHOPPED HERE.
HOW DID WE DO, HOW, WHAT COULD WE DO BETTER? WHAT DID WE DO WELL? UM, WERE THERE ANY TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS AS PART OF THE PROJECT? I HEAR A LOT ABOUT THE CASE STUDIES, BUT EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT IS APPROVED AS A PERMIT, REGARDLESS OF A SUBDIVISION OR A BUILDING PERMIT, WE ARE PUTTING SURVEY IN PLACE MORE AND MORE, RIGHT? UM, TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE A SINGLE FAMILY HOME REVIEW CHECKLIST AND, AND SS O P STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE TO ALLOW FOR A HIGHER QUALITY
[01:30:01]
CONTROL OF THOSE SINGLE FAMILY BUILDING PERMIT PLANS AS SOMETHING THAT CHRIS YATES TOOK AND RAN WITH.DONE A GREAT JOB WITH ALL OF THAT WORK.
AND THEN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS IMPROVEMENT, RIGHT? I JUST SAY WE HAVE A BETTER TEAM.
WE HAVE A BETTER TEAM THAT'S REVIEWING PROJECTS.
WE'VE LEARNED FROM MISTAKES IN THE PAST, AND WE'VE IMPROVED OUR TEAMWORK AS WE'RE REVIEWING PLANS.
UM, AND THEN YOU HAVE SOME REAL WORK AND SOME REAL EFFORT FOR NEXT YEAR.
WHAT'S COMING? WHAT'S STILL, WHAT'S STILL TO DO? SO WE, WE HAVE INITIATED A, A, AN INITIAL CUSTOMER SERVICE SECTION, UM, SURVEY.
UH, WE'LL HAVE A MORE ROBUST SURVEY, UM, BY END OF YEAR REALLY IS MY EXPECTATION.
UM, AS PART OF THE L M O O OVERHAUL, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE AN APPLICATIONS MANUAL THAT IS, HAS ALL THESE CHECKLISTS THERE.
THEY'LL BE CLARIFIED THE PROCESS FOR EVERY APPLICATION.
UM, THERE'LL BE A WORKFLOW ON THE BACK THAT GUIDES PEOPLE A ALONG.
AND SO, UM, WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADVANCE ELECTRONIC PLAN REVIEW AND ROUTING.
UM, WE'VE HAD THE ABILITY, COVID, I THINK HELPS SPEED IT UP A LITTLE BIT.
UM, MARK MARK'S RIGHT, WE DID HAVE, UM, COLORED PLANS.
THEY WERE POLLEN, UM, IN OUR TOTES OUTSIDE.
UM, SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA ADVANCE TO CONTINUE TO EVOLVE WITH TECHNOLOGY.
UM, THERE'S A, THERE'S OUR, THERE'S SOFTWARE OUT THERE THAT CAN HELP US BE MORE EFFECTIVE, UM, AND EFFICIENT IN OUR REVIEW AND TURNAROUND WITH COMMENTS AND RESUBMITTAL.
AND THAT'S THE PLAN FOR, UM, THAT'S, UH, IDENTIFIED HERE FOR THE FIRST COUPLE QUARTERS OF 24.
AND, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE END OF THE DAY, THE, THE REAL WORK IS CLEAR AND CONSISTENT DIRECTION TO EVERY CUSTOMER, REGARDLESS WHO WE ARE, AND THAT THERE IS A CLEAR PROCESS AND THAT THERE ARE PREDICTABLE OUTCOMES, RIGHT? SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK THAT CODE'S GONNA REALLY DRIVE THAT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE THE CODE.
I TELL YOU, I ASKED SEAN AND SEAN MIGHT ASK SOMEBODY ELSE.
THAT CLEAR AND CONSISTENT RULE IN REG WILL GET BUILT IN OUR CODE.
AND THEN THOSE PREDICTABLE OUTCOMES, AND OUR EXPECTATIONS ARE A LOT HIGHER THAN PERHAPS A LOT OF OTHER PLACES.
BUT YOU'RE GONNA KNOW THAT BEFORE YOU WALK IN THE DOOR, WHETHER IT'S WHAT PROCESS I NEED TO UNDERTAKE TO REZONE MY PROPERTY, OR HOW LONG AM I GONNA HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL I HEAR BACK FROM YOU ON MY SUBDIVISION SUBMITTAL OR A BUILDING PERMIT.
AND, AND MARK, JUST LAST THING, IT'S IMPORTANT BOTH FOR THE CUSTOMER TO UNDERSTAND CLEAR AND CONSISTENT EXPECTATIONS, BUT ALSO STAFF.
AND SO IT'S ALSO THE INTERNAL CONSISTENCY THAT I EXPECT AS WE MOVE THROUGH AND PROVIDE SERVICE TO THE, TO OUR CUSTOMERS.
WE HAVE A DESIGN STUDIO THAT IS REALLY GEARED TOWARDS THE GULLAH GEECHEE NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, BUT WE TREAT THOSE PROJECTS, UM, WITH CARE.
AND WE ALSO HELP PEOPLE GIVE REAL GUIDANCE, NOT REVIEW GUIDANCE ON SUBDIVIDING, SUBDIVIDING, FIRE HYDRANT LOCATION ACCESS EASEMENTS.
AND WE, WE'VE, WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF GREAT RESULTS FROM THAT, BUT WE'VE ALSO RECEIVED A LOT OF FEEDBACK AND TOOK IT TO HEART AND TRY TO GET BETTER AT WHAT WE DO.
AND WE'VE, AND, AND WHAT WE'VE LEARNED FROM THAT DESIGN STUDIO, WE'VE ALSO TRANSLATED INTO OUR DEVELOPMENT REVIEW TEAM.
WE CALL IT THE DIRT TEAM, BUT DEVELOPMENT REVIEW TEAM, A D R T TEAM, BECAUSE WE'RE LEARNING COLLECTIVELY, EFFECTIVELY AT EVERY ENGAGEMENT WE HAVE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND OUR, AND OUR CUSTOMERS.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UH, GO THROUGH THIS A LITTLE QUICKER, BUT OUR DISTRICT PLANS AS THEY'RE IN PLACE, WILL GUIDE OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST CURRENT YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, ROAD WATER, SEWER STORM, STORMWATER, PARKS, FACILITIES, UM, EQUIPMENT, PURCHASE OF VEHICLES, INCLUDING A, A MAJORITY OF OUR FIRE FLEET.
UM, BUT THEN AGAIN, THOSE DISTRICT PLANS WILL START GUIDING OUR FUTURE LAND ACQUISITIONS AND A LOT OF THAT OTHER INVESTMENT.
AND WE'LL, AND WE'RE IN THE INFANCY STAGE HERE, RIGHT? COUPLE BUDGETS AGO, WE DID NOT HAVE THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
WE DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T IDENTIFY THE PROJECT THROUGH BUDGET AND LIST THE SOURCE OF REVENUE THAT DROVE THE PROJECT, RIGHT? SO, UM, THAT WORKS BEING WORKED ON.
SO NEXT, SO I'M GONNA MOVE ON NEXT.
LUNCH ARRIVES, KIM, AT WHAT TIME? 12.
IMPLEMENT THE WORKFORCE HOUSING FRAMEWORK.
I KNOW THAT WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK EVEN BEFORE MY TIME ON HOUSING.
DIFFERENT STUDIES, A LOT OF WORK.
UM, TOWN COUNCIL LAST YEAR, NOVEMBER 1ST, I BELIEVE THE
[01:35:01]
DATE WAS 2022, ADOPTED THE FINDING HOME PLAN.AND IN THAT FINDING HOME PLAN, THERE WERE SEVERAL ELEMENTS TO IT.
UM, BUT OUR COMMITMENT TO PRESERVE AND EXPAND WORKFORCE HOUSING OPTIONS ON HILTON HEAD, THROUGH THE ADOPTION OF FOUR COMPONENTS OF THE PRO OF THE PLAN, A COMMUNITY COMPONENT, A PLANNING COMPONENT, MANAGEMENT, AND REVENUE.
AND COLLECTIVELY, WE'VE STARTED TO PUT THOSE STRATEGIES IN PLACE TO IMPLEMENT THAT FINDING HOME PLAN.
SO UP HERE, YOU SEE, COMMIT TO DEVELOP, MAINTAIN AND SUPPORT PARTNERSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY ORGS.
UM, ENGAGE A HOUSING ACTION COMMITTEE TO COORDINATE.
IF SOMEONE ASKED ME THE OTHER DAY, WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE HOUSING ACTION COMMITTEE? AND IT WAS GREAT 'CAUSE I WENT TO THE FINDING HOME PLAN, LOOKED AT IT, ALSO, WENT TO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN DRAFT, LOOKED AT IT AND HAD A REAL ANSWER.
NOT MY INTERPRETATION OF THE ANSWER.
TO COORDINATE WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS IN THE HOUSING SPACE WHILE CULTIVATING AN ONGOING HOUSING DIALOGUE, ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY AND HOUSING EDUCATION, PLANNING, INNOVATION, AND PROVIDE ADVICE AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND ADVICE AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MOSTLY TO YOU, BUT ALSO INTO THE COMMUNITY.
UM, COMMIT TO CREATE A MULTI-YEAR WORKFORCE HOUSING ACTION PLAN THAT WILL INCLUDE A RANGE OF PRIORITIZED HOUSING TACTICS, TOOLS, UM, ADD DEDICATED STAFF TO THIS EFFORT.
UH, EXPLORE A PROFESSIONALLY MANAGED HOUSING ORGANIZATION, UM, COMMIT TO AND MAINTAIN DASHBOARD OF CORE METRICS.
AND WE TALKED, YOU TALKED ABOUT THAT A LITTLE, LITTLE WHILE AGO.
COMMIT TO A FUNDING PLAN THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE MULTI-YEAR WORKFORCE HOUSING ACTION PLAN, AND THEN THE NORTH POINT PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, COMPLETE THE EXECUTION OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND SEE THAT PROJECT THROUGH.
AND SO THOSE ELEMENTS ARE ALSO BEING MANAGED OUT OF SEAN'S OFFICE THROUGH AND WITH MISSY, WHO'S ALSO WORKING ON THE LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE DISTRICTS AND, AND WHATNOT.
UM, WE STILL HAVE THE WORKFORCE HOUSING PROGRAM MANAGER.
I THINK FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU, YOU APPROVED IN THE BUDGET AND GAVE ME DIRECTION SOME TIME AGO TO FIND SOMEBODY THAT HAS PROVEN TO BE A VERY DIFFICULT POSITION TO FILL, ESPECIALLY ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
UM, IT'S, IT'S A, INTO THE SIX FIGURES, THAT POSITION, I THINK IT'S COMPENSATED WELL.
IT'S JUST WE HAVE NOT YET FOUND THE CANDIDATE.
AND I'M, AGAIN, IN A HURRY TO FIND THE RIGHT CANDIDATE, NOT JUST TO BRING SOMEBODY ON BOARD.
WE, WE WERE CLOSE WITH A COUPLE CANDIDATES, BUT THEY HAVE FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, UM, NOT ACCEPTED OUR OFFER AFTER A LONG INTERVIEW PROCESS.
SO IF ANYONE'S OUT THERE LISTENING, WE NEED HELP.
MARK, IF, IF I CAN, JUST IN THE, IN THAT, UM, OUTLINE, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD WORKED ON PREVIOUSLY AND COMMITTED TO OVER THE LAST COUNCIL AND INTO THIS COUNCIL, OBVIOUSLY, UM, WAS COMMERCIAL CONVERSION.
PRIVATE INVESTORS COMING FORWARD AND TAKING, UM, OPPORTUNITIES HERE ON THE ISLAND WHERE WE COULD WORK WITH THEM, BUT NOT NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE SUPPORTING THEM FINANCIALLY OR OTHERWISE.
UM, THAT PRIVATE INVESTMENT, UM, NEEDS TO BE HIGHLIGHTED IN OUR EFFORTS.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE PRIVATE INVESTORS WHO ARE GOING TO COME IN AND DO THAT GOOD WORK.
UM, IT IS BENEFICIAL TO THE BLIGHTED AREAS AND ON OUR ISLAND, IT'S BENEFICIAL TO OUR TAXPAYERS, AND IT ACHIEVES A GOAL THAT WE'RE NOT ACKNOWLEDGING, I DON'T THINK FULLY AND ENCOURAGING AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT DISCUSSION IS PART OF THE OVERALL WORKFORCE HOUSING FRAMEWORK.
UM, AND I KNOW YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE TALKING WITH, WITH EVERY, EVERYBODY, UM, THIS DASHBOARD OF CORE METRICS NEEDS TO SHARE THAT THE LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE UPDATE NEEDS TO EXPLORE THAT A LITTLE FURTHER AND, AND GO FROM THERE.
BUT TO START DIVING IN, MAINTAIN SUPPORT, PARTNERSHIPS, RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY ORGS, A LOT OF WHAT YOU'RE GONNA START SEEING HERE WITH THESE HEADINGS COME STRAIGHT OUT OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN, STRAIGHT OUT OF THE TACTICS AND STRATEGIES YOU TALKED ABOUT IN JANUARY, RIGHT? SO JUST SOME UPDATES.
WE TALKED ABOUT MR. AFIRE AS A MEMBER OF THE BUFORD JASPER HOUSING TRUST.
UM, AND THE HOUSING TRUST IS STARTING TO GET GOING.
I WAS IN A MEETING THE OTHER DAY WITH A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HOUSING TRUST, WHERE THEY'RE INVESTING DOLLARS, WHAT THEY'RE INVESTING.
I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THEM LITERALLY YESTERDAY.
I READ IT LAST NIGHT, ALTHOUGH NOT AS LATE AS SEAN READS HIS EMAILS, UM, ASKING US TO DONATE LAND TOWARDS THE HOUSING TRUST.
SO THEY'RE STARTING TO TURN A LITTLE BIT, UM,
[01:40:01]
ENGINE RUNNING.AND I THINK THERE'S SOME WORK TO DO WITH US TO BE CLEAR ON WHAT WE EXPECT MOVING FORWARD IN THAT, IN THAT REGARD AS WE INVEST THE TOWN COMPLETED AN ASSET MAP OF PARTNERSHIPS WITH BEAUFORT, JASPER HOUSING TRUST MAP INCLUDES HOUSING RELATED COMMUNITY PARTNERS, NONPROFITS, LOCAL AND STATE AGENCIES.
REALLY, THAT'S JUST THE FOUNDATION.
AND IN, IN, IN BASELINE ASSESSMENT OF, OF WHO'S IN THE BUSINESS.
THE TOWN SUBMITTED COMMENTS RECENTLY TO STAFF DID TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY ON ITS LATEST 2024 DRAFT OF THE QUALIFIED ALLOCATION PLAN FOR, FOR THE STATE LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS, RIGHT? SO THEY WRITE THE RULES AND PROPOSE 'EM AND OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, APPRECIATED MISSY AND TAMMY HOY HAWKINS GRABBING A HOLD OF THAT AND JUST ASSESSING IT AND COMPARING NOTES WITH WHAT, WHAT, WITH WHAT THE RULES IN REGS ARE COMPARED TO HOW IT EVEN ADDRESSES OR ACKNOWLEDGES.
YOU APPROVED A CREATION OF A HOUSING ACTION COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP FROM VARIOUS BACKGROUNDS, NOT LIMITED TO WORKFORCE HOUSING, REAL ESTATE, HOME BUILDING.
AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THOSE UP THERE.
JACK ALDERMAN, STUART BELL, CANDACE BIRKENHAUER, A A X CASTELLANOS, SORRY, SANDY GILLIS, SARAH JONES, ANDERSON, MARK NER, LUANA, GRAVES SELLERS, AND SANDY WEST.
SO, UM, THAT, THAT GROUP STARTS.
SEAN, WHEN'S THE KICKOFF MEETING? JUST, UM, AUGUST 22ND.
IS THE, THE DATE RIGHT NOW THAT WE ARE PLANNING TO HOLD THAT KICKOFF MEETING, THE HOUSING ACTION COMMITTEE.
AND SO, AUGUST, BUT LATE AUGUST AND THE EARLY ACTION ITEMS ARE WHAT YOU ASKED FOR, AND YOU, I THINK YOU TALKED ABOUT IT OUT LOUD, EVEN AT SOME COUNCIL MEETINGS, AN ANTI DISPLACEMENT PLAN, JUST TO HAVE A PLAN READY.
WHAT IS OUR ROLE? WHO ELSE IS A COMMUNITY PLAYER WHO CAN HELP IF THE NEXT EMERGENCY DISPLACEMENT ISSUE ARISES WITH A, A, A SUBMITTAL OF A DEVELOPMENT PERMIT THAT WOULD CAUSE PEOPLE TO BE DISPLACED, UM, FOR, FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.
UM, AND TO HAVE A SUPPORT PLAN IN PLACE.
AND THEN ALL OF THOSE STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS IN THAT TOOLKIT PART THAT WAS IN FINDING HOME.
AND, AND SOME OF THAT IS WHAT YOU WERE ALL TALKING ABOUT, UH, EVEN MS. BECKER, SOME OF THOSE TOOLS IN THAT TOOLKIT ARE THOSE ENCOURAGEMENT AND THOSE TACTICS AND HELP TO CONVERT COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL, UM, FOR, FOR WHATEVER REASON, RIGHT? THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT TACTICS IN THAT TOOL.
ONE THING THAT WE ALWAYS DIDN'T THINK ABOUT ISN'T JUST NEW HOMES, NEW OPPORTUNITY, BUT I THINK IT'S STABILIZING NEIGHBORHOOD AND STABILIZING HOME.
AND THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDING $5.1 MILLION RECEIVED A COUPLE YEARS AGO FROM THE TOWN.
YOU HAS A COUNCIL OVER AND OVER, HAVE COMMITTED FUNDS TOWARDS, I THINK, TWO PROGRAMS THAT ARE STARTING TO REALLY BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, IT TOOK US A MINUTE TO GET GOING.
I'LL EXPLAIN WHY WE WEREN'T IN THE BUSINESS OF REALLY ASSESSING A STRUCTURE TO FIGURE OUT THE PRICE, TO FIGURE OUT THE COST, TO FIGURE OUT THE CONTRACT TO HELP IMPROVE IN A HOME REPAIR PROGRAM, RIGHT? BUT THAT'S NOW WITH OUR BUILDING SAFETY TEAM, RIGHT? LED BY CHRIS YATES.
UM, AND WE HAVE RECEIVED 112 APPLICATIONS FOR OUR HOME SAFETY REPAIR.
AND SO THEY'RE VETTED, THEY'RE VETTED FOR DETAIL, INCLUDING QUALIFICATIONS.
THAT'S A LITTLE MORE THAN $300,000 UNDER CONTRACT, FIVE HOMES ONLY, BUT FIVE HOMES MORE THAN LAST YEAR COMPLETED NINE TREE REMOVALS.
AND SO THE PROGRAM'S NOT JUST FOR SAFE AND DRY HOME REPAIR, RIGHT? WINDOWS, PORCHES, ROOFS, BUT IF THERE'S A DANGEROUS BRANCH OR TREE HANGING OUT OVER YOUR HOUSE OR IN YOUR YARD, THOSE FUNDS CAN ALSO GO TOWARDS THAT.
AND WE'VE TAKEN AND CUT TREES.
WE'RE NOT OUT THERE REMOVING TREES, BUT DANGEROUS TREES WITH AN ARBORIST AND SOME STAFF ASSESSMENT INVOLVED.
SEWER CONNECTION, 27 APPS RECEIVED FOR SEWER CONNECTION.
UM, AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THOSE SEVEN ARE, WHY WE DIDN'T APPROVE 'EM, MAYBE THEY DIDN'T QUALIFY.
MAYBE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALL THOSE DETAILS.
BUT FOR TODAY, 20 ARE UNDER CONTRACT THOUGH 20 APPROVED, 20 UNDER CONTRACT, MORE THAN $200,000.
AND WE'VE, WE'VE COMPLETED 18.
UM, WE'VE ALSO BEEN ASKED TO TAKE A LOOK AT TOWN OWNED LAND AND DETERMINE WHAT PROPERTIES COULD BE USED FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING.
WE PUT A DASHBOARD TOGETHER, WE REALLY PUT A DASHBOARD TOGETHER TO LEARN AND GET SMART ABOUT IT ALL WHAT WAS PURCHASED WITH REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEE, UM, BOND REFERENDUMS, DIFFERENT
[01:45:01]
SOURCES OF FUNDS THROUGH THE YEARS.THERE'S A GREAT DASHBOARD ON OUR WEBSITE.
AND BY NO MEANS AM I HERE TO TELL YOU TODAY THAT WE HAVE 130 ACRES FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING.
BUT THE EXERCISE WAS ASKING ME WHAT HAS SO-CALLED STRINGS OR NOT.
AND THERE'S ABOUT 130 ACRES OF OUR MORE THAN 1300 ACRES IN OUR ASSET, IN OUR ASSET, UH, BASE WITHOUT THOSE STRINGS.
WE'VE RECENTLY MET WITH HABITAT, UH, HILTON HAD REGIONAL HABITAT FOR HUMANITY ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF ADDITIONAL SITES.
AND WE HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL, UM, OPTIONS FOR SITES.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THEM.
UM, AND THEN ALSO HABITAT AS, AS I RECALL, WENT THROUGH FINANCE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE SOME MONTHS AGO.
AND WE TALKED ABOUT PUTTING, PUTTING A, A GAME PLAN TOGETHER, AT LEAST IN CONCEPT AND BRINGING IT BACK TO YOU.
AND, WE'LL, WE'LL WORK ON THAT AND BRING THAT BACK.
YOU APPROVED IN YOUR BUDGET THIS YEAR, $3.3 MILLION TO, TO, TO, FOR A NEW HOUSING FUND.
SO SIX FUNDS THIS YEAR IS A REMINDER.
AND, UM, 3.3 OF, OF 3.3 MILLION IS PLEDGED TOWARDS THAT NEW HOUSING FUND.
SENATOR DAVIS, UH, WORKED WITH ALL OF US AND, AND, AND SOUTH CAROLINA, THEY APPROVED THE, THE USE OF STATE ACCOMMODATIONS TAXES.
UM, 15% OF COLLECTED STATE A TAXES TO SUPPORT WORKFORCE HOUSING.
WE'RE PREPARING A HOUSING IMPACT ANALYSIS.
WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS TO SAY THAT WE WILL ABSOLUTELY USE 15% OF STATE AAX.
THAT'S ALWAYS THROUGH A BUDGET PROCESS, WHETHER YOU WANT TO AMEND THE BUDGET THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, OR SIMPLY GET TO THE FINISH LINE OF THIS FISCAL YEAR AND HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO MAKE DECISIONS COME NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
BUT REGARDLESS, WE'RE COMPLETING THIS HOUSING IMPACT ANALYSIS AS A STAFF, UM, THAT IS A REQUIREMENT TO ASSESS YOUR HOUSING, TO QUALIFY FOR THE USE, OR AT LEAST THE CONCEPT OR POTENTIAL USE OF THOSE FUNDS.
YEAH, MARK, AS, AS WE LEARNED THE OTHER DAY, CHARLESTON HAS MADE APPLICATION FOR THIS, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE SOMETHING REALLY INTERESTING TO FOLLOW WITH THEM BEING THE FIRST OUT OF THE GATES, SEE HOW THEY UTILIZE IT SO THAT THE, THE COMMITTEE, IF THEY COULD BE ON TOP OF THAT AND REPORT BACK TO US, THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.
WE'RE A PARTNER IN THE HOUSING TRUST, THE TRUST REQUESTED APPS FOR INTERESTED DEVELOPERS.
AND I THINK IN AN R F Q BACK IN MAY, OVER 7.5 MILLION WAS REQUESTED FOR PROJECTS IN OUR REGION.
AND THEY'RE STARTING TO MAKE DECISIONS, AND THAT'S WHY I THINK WE'VE GOTTA BE CLOSE BY.
I KNOW MR. AFIRE IS DOING A GREAT JOB FOR, FOR YOU, FOR THE TOWN ON THE BOARD, BUT MANAGING THAT AND UNDERSTANDING WHERE THEY'RE GOING IS IMPORTANT.
UM, NORTH POINT, NORTH POINT PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, WE RELEASED THE R F P SEPTEMBER, 2022, SO ALMOST A YEAR AGO, UM, TO LOOK FOR A DEVELOPMENT PARTNER.
THERE WERE 10 COMPANIES FROM ACROSS THE NATION THAT SUBMITTED AN R F P.
WE TALKED WITH THEM, WE TALKED TO 'EM SEVERAL TIMES.
WE INVITED THEM AFTER THEY QUALIFIED TO SUBMIT AN R F P, AND THEN WE PUT A NORTH POINT HOUSING COMMITTEE TOGETHER, COUPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUPLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO HELP UNDERSTAND THE PROJECT AND GIVE ME ADVICE.
THERE'S FOLKS ON THERE WITH REAL, REAL, REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT, REAL, REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT FINANCING, UM, REAL COMMUNITY NETWORK, UM, EX EXPERIENCE ON THAT COMMITTEE.
BEN IS TAKING A LEAD ON THIS PROJECT, BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY A PROJECT THAT I AM IN REAL TIME CONNECTED WITH.
I I'M WORKING ON THIS PROJECT MYSELF.
I KNOW BEN IS, IS, IS, IS A PUSHER, AND HE IS DOING A GREAT JOB.
WE ARE DOWN TO, UH, CLOSE TO MAKING A DECISION, BUT THE, THE MARKETS HAVE, UM, CHANGED A LITTLE BIT.
AND SO BEFORE WE HURRY TO BRING A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TO YOU, I'M MAKING SURE THAT I'M NOT SETTING OURSELVES UP OR A DEVELOPER UP FOR ANY TYPE OF FAILURE OR HIGHER RISK THAN WE NEED AS WE THINK ABOUT PLEDGING LAND.
AS WE THINK ABOUT PLEDGING A MILLION DOLLARS OF THE FEDERAL AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN GRANT TOWARDS THIS PROJECT, THE GOAL OF THE PROJECT OUTTA THE GATE WAS THAT ON THE PROPERTY THAT IS IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE POST OFFICE ON THE NORTH END, RIGHT? IT, IT'S BOUND BY WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY.
IT'S BOUND BY DEVELOPMENT AND, AND, AND PEOPLE, UM, IN THE BACK, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ON MARSH AND, AND TIDE MAR TITLE MARSH ON, ON THE SIDE.
AND IT'S IN A, IT'S IN A GREAT SPOT IF YOU LOOK AT THE PROJECT THAT, THAT IS IN NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND SO WE'VE STARTED TO TAKE A
[01:50:01]
LOOK AT THE PROJECT A LOT, AND WE AREN'T THERE YET.I WILL BRING YOU THIS PROJECT WHEN THE MARKETS ALLOW AND WHEN THE PROJECT LINES UP.
MARY, YOU, YOU AND I CHATTED YESTERDAY ABOUT THAT PROJECT A LITTLE BIT.
SO, UM, AS WE ARE ALL ARE VERY AWARE THAT THE, THE CAPITAL MARKETS EVERY DAY SEEM TO FACE ANOTHER HURDLE.
UM, AND, AND I REALLY, UM, AM GONNA TAKE THIS CONVERSATION BACK TO A 2008 CONVERSATION WHEN IT WAS REGARDS TO THE ISLAND REC ASSOCIATION AND THE BUILDING OF THE NEW FACILITY.
UM, WHILE CAPITAL MARKETS WERE IN A TOTAL DISARRAY AND WERE A MAJOR RECESSION, IT WAS A GREAT TIME TO PLAN FOR WHAT WAS COMING BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE MARKETS WILL CHANGE AND THEY WILL IMPROVE.
SO, YOU KNOW, I I'M OF THE OPINION THAT, UM, WE'RE GONNA COME OUT OF THIS, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, UM, PEOPLE SAY IT'S A MILD RECE RECESSION OR NOT, BUT WITH CAPITAL MARKETS BEING TIGHT, UM, THE FUNDING FOR THIS MAY NOT BE THERE, BUT THE PLANNING NEEDS TO MOVE FORWARD SO THAT WHEN IT DOES CHANGE, THAT WE'RE READY TO IMPLEMENT AND MOVE FORWARD.
AND SO IT'S ALL ABOUT GETTING YOUR P PLANS IN PLACE, UNDERSTANDING THE GROUNDS, UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE COSTS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH IT, AND WHEN THE CAPITAL MARKETS DO LOOSEN UP, YOU'LL PULL THE TRIGGER AND MOVE FORWARD.
SO NOT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROJECT IN SPEC, SPECIFICALLY IN IT, IN ITS ACCEPTANCE AND, AND IT'S MOVING FORWARD, BUT WE KNOW THAT CAPITAL IS A CHALLENGE, ASSETS A CHALLENGE.
SO WE NEED TO BE PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD IF THAT IS STILL AN ISSUE, RIGHT? SO WHAT I THINK NORTH POINT IS A PROJECT THAT NEEDS TO MOVE FORWARD, AND THE PLANNING MAKES SENSE AT THIS TIME FOR THE REASONS THAT THE MAYOR JUST SAID.
BUT A BROADER ISSUE IS WE'VE LEARNED THAT CREATING A PROJECT ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND WHERE THE WORKFORCE THAT'S AFFORDABLE AND THAT WILL REMAIN IN STOCK OVER TIME IS A REAL CHALLENGE.
WE CAN'T DO A NORTH 0.1 AT A TIME.
WE HAVE TO INTEGRATE OUR PLANNING INTO THE PIPELINE OF WORKFORCE HOUSING.
AND, AND THE IMPORTANT THING THERE IS TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT HAS TO SURVIVE OVER TIME BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BUILD BEYOND OUR SHORES.
AND SO WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IN, FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THE ISLAND TO BE RELEVANT IN 15 YEARS OR 20 YEARS, IT HAS TO SURVIVE FROM A DEEDED STANDPOINT AND AN AGREEMENT STANDPOINT.
NOW, HAVING SAID THAT, THAT PUSHES OUR, OUR NEED FOR CAPACITY.
AND THE QUESTION, UH, MARK, IS WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND A PROGRAM MANAGER FOR HOUSING.
IF WE HAD HAD THAT PROGRAM MANAGER, THAT PROGRAM MANAGER WOULD HAVE BEEN RELYING ON STAFF TO DEVELOP A PIPELINE PLANNING PROCESS.
IS, IS THE PROGRAM MANAGER ESSENTIAL FOR US TO BE MOVING FORWARD? AND IF SO, IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE COULD CREATE A POSITION INTERIM PROGRAM MANAGER AND SOMEHOW GO TO THE COMMUNITY AND YEAH.
AND AND SOLVE THE PROBLEM? YES.
I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT THE, THE PROJECT FIRST.
WHAT I AM WORKING ON, ON THIS PROJECT IS A PROJECT THAT'S MULTIFAMILY IN NATURE THAT HAS A VERY HIGH DESIGN AESTHETIC, RIGHT? NOT JUST BOARD AND BATTEN AND COLOR AND SIDING, BUT THAT IT'S AN INTEGRATED NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S NOT A MULTI-FAMILY PROJECT.
THEN YOU, YOU WATCH KIDS PLAY FRISBEE IN THE PARKING LOT, RIGHT? SO THE PROJECT HAS TO BE RIGHT SIZED.
UM, IT HAS TO BE A WORKFORCE HOUSING IT PROJECT.
SO YOU HAVE TO WORK HERE TO LIVE HERE IN THAT PROJECT AND THAT IT'S A RANGE OF INCOME AND FAMILY SIZE AND UNIT SIZE SO THAT IT HOUSES WORKERS, RIGHT? IT DOESN'T JUST HOUSE THE HIGH END WORKER, THE HIGH END OF THE, OF THE, UM, CAREER SALARY
[01:55:01]
GRADE.AND IT DOESN'T JUST HOUSE THE LOWER END.
WE HAVE TALKED AND CAN I SAY OUT LOUD THAT MISS WILL HELP US? NOT YET.
WELL, I'LL JUST SAY WHAT WE ASKED.
TAMMY HOY HAWKINS, WHO I HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF REGARD AND RESPECT FOR IS ALREADY HELPING US ABOUT 20 HOURS-ISH A WEEK.
AND WE ASKED HER RECENTLY IF WE CAN SIMPLY ANNOUNCE HER.
SHE'S IN FLORIDA BASED, SHE'S LEFT GREENVILLE AND RETIRED FROM, UH, WHAT'S THE COMPANY COMMUNITY WORKS.
UM, AND WE ASKED HER IF FOR THE TIME BEING SHE CAN SERVE AND WORK AS OUR INTERIM PROGRAM MANAGER.
SO, TAMMY, IF YOU'RE LISTENING, HOPE YOU'RE DOING GREAT.
ASK IF WHAT'S THE QUOTE OF THE DAY? YEAH, YOU DON'T ASK.
MARK, BEFORE YOU GO ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
'CAUSE WE GOT 15 PLUS A BUCKET OF, I THINK I COUNTED 40 ON THE TAIL END.
UM, I I JUST WANNA SAY WE HAVE NUMBERS BY THESE ONE AND TWO, ET CETERA.
UM, WE HAVEN'T RANKED THEM, BUT I WANNA SAY OUT LOUD THAT I RANK STRATEGY ONE, GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION.
THANK YOU SEAN, FOR A ADDING THAT WORD IN THERE, THAT'S ESSENTIAL, ESPECIALLY IN THE, IN THAT MAP
UM, BUT I WANNA SAY THAT, UH, GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND WORKFORCE HOUSING ARE MY NUMBER ONE'S TIED.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, IF I COULD, UM, Y'ALL PLEASE TAKE MY, UH, SILENCE AROUND STRATEGY ONE AS, UH, SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT THAT WE'RE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
UM, AND WHEN YOU OPEN UP, UH, MR. MANAGER, YOU, UM, OFFERED UP US TO GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY IN THE AREAS THAT WE MAY NOT BE DOING AS WELL.
AND I KNOW WE'VE HUNG OUR HAT, SO TO SPEAK ON THIS, UH, PROGRAM MANAGER COMING IN AND WAVING A MAGIC WAND AND EVERYTHING GETTING BETTER, RIGHT? UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS ESSENTIAL TO US MOVING FORWARD.
I SEE STRATEGY NUMBER TWO WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH STRATEGY NUMBER ONE MM-HMM.
AND WE ARE, AND, AND AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME WELL AHEAD AS FAR AS POTENTIAL POLICY DECISIONS BE IN FRONT OF US FOR STRATEGY NUMBER ONE WITH GROWTH WORK FRAMEWORK, BUT NOT SO CLOSE WITH THIS ONE.
THE, THE WORDS ON PAPER HERE, AS YOU LOOK AT THE STRATEGIES DON'T REALLY SUGGEST POLICY CHANGES.
AND I THINK WE HAVE TO REALLY CONSIDER THAT AS WE MOVE ALONG, BECAUSE YOU MADE THE COMMENT THAT WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS IN A LOT OF WAYS WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE COMING TO CREATE BUSINESSES ON DEN HEAD, BUT I'M NOT QUITE SURE THAT WE'RE RAISING THAT SAME FLAG WHEN IT COMES TO THIS.
ALRIGHT? WE'VE TAKEN THE LEAD WITH NORTH POINT AND I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN AMES.
WE CAN'T JUST RELY ON THAT HOME RUN.
WE'VE GOT TO HAVE SOME BASE HITS ALONG THE WAY.
UH, SO I GUESS WHAT I'M OFFERING IN THESE COMMENTS IS THAT THIS STRATEGY BE NEEDLED INTO STRATEGY NUMBER ONE AS WE ARE STARTING TO BRING, UH, POLICY FORWARD.
I MEAN, WE'VE GOT FUNDING HERE, BUT WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW WE'RE GOING TO DISTRIBUTE THAT FUNDING.
OKAY? HAVING THE MONEY AND NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO WITH IT, I GUESS THAT'S GOOD BECAUSE WE'VE GOT THE FUNDS.
BUT I THINK IN ORDER TO REALLY, UH, THRUST THIS FORWARD, WE HAVE TO HAVE POLICY IN FRONT OF US TO GIVE THAT MONEY OUT SO THAT WE MOVE FORWARD.
AND, UH, AS FAR AS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO END UP IN 15 YEARS AS FAR AS, UH, LAND USE PLAN, THIS IS A HUGE COMPONENT IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT HAVING IT DONE HERE ON HILTON HEAD.
AND RIGHT NOW, I'M NOT SURE SEEING THAT CONNECTION.
OKAY, LET ME, LET ME PUT WORKFORCE HOUSING IN A, THROUGH A DIFFERENT LENS.
I THINK WHAT WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO DO IS PROVIDE HOUSING FOR YOUNGER PEOPLE WHO WILL GROW WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY IN ORDER FOR THIS COMMUNITY TO SURVIVE.
IT NEEDS THE ENERGY, THE MINDSET, AND THE WORKERS FOR THIS COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO PROSPER.
SO I THINK IF YOU, IF IF YOU BEGIN TO LOOK AT IT AS PROVIDING HOUSING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF HILTON HEAD ISLANDERS, YOU'RE REALLY SEEING SOMETHING THAT IS INCREDIBLY MORE IMPORTANT THAN JUST THE WALLS OF A STRUCTURE.
I, I, I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT AND, AND I LISTENED TO, UH, TOM HENS YESTERDAY SPEAK TO LOFTON TOWN COUNCIL ABOUT THEIR PUSH ON EMPLOYEES AND A DRIVE TO PULL
[02:00:01]
'EM IN.SO YOU KNOW THAT THEY'VE GOT TO BE A, A PARTNER IN THIS AS WELL TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE'RE GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT THERE.
THAT ONE, UM, WE'RE GOING TO, WE'RE WE'RE PUTTING HOUSING AS A PRIORITY, WE'RE MOVING IT FORWARD AND IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
TWO, WE'VE GOTTA GET PEOPLE TO FILL IT AND WE'VE GOT TO BE, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY OPEN FOR BUSINESS, BUT OPEN FOR NEW RESIDENTS.
MAYOR, IF I MAY, UM, AGREED THAT OUR WORKFORCE, OUR SERVICE WORKERS ON THE ISLAND, UM, ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
THE AFFORDABILITY OF NEW FAMILIES, STARTING THEIR LIVES HERE, GROWING THEIR FAMILIES HERE, AND BECOMING AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR LEADERSHIP, UM, OF THIS ISLAND IS, IS FUNDAMENTAL TO TOMORROW.
UM, AND THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE ISLAND, WHAT THE MISSTEP THAT MIGHT BE PART OF THAT CONVERSATION AT THIS PART POINT IS, UM, WE ARE THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND IS A LIMITED GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION.
AND EACH TIME WE PUT THE PUBLIC, UM, EFFORTS INTO SOMETHING AS THE PRIMARY FOCUS, LIKE WORKFORCE HOUSING, WE BECOME SOMETHING OTHER THAN A LIMITED GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION.
WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRIVATE INVESTMENT TO COME IN AND TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY BUILD THAT WORKFORCE SERVICE WORKER AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR TOMORROW'S LEADERSHIP.
AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE US BECOME AN ORGANIZATION AS A TOWN THAT THINKS WE CAN SOLVE ALL THE PROBLEMS. UM, WE WEREN'T ESTABLISHED THAT WAY.
AND IT'S, UM, I I, I, I DON'T THINK FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, MY OPINION, THE BEST WAY TO MOVE FORWARD.
THE PRIVATE SECTOR NEEDS TO BE MOVING IN THIS COMMUNITY AND DOING THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR TOMORROW'S FUTURE.
WE ARE A LIMITED GOVERNMENT AND WHILE I'VE HEARD IN THIS CONVERSATION IN THE PAST, FOLKS WHO SAY, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT A LIMITED GOVERNMENT IS, WELL, WE HAVE ALL BEEN BLESSED TO RECEIVE RECENTLY SEVERAL BOOKS AND KNOW OF OTHER BOOKS THAT HAVE WRITTEN AND HISTORICALLY WITHIN OUR DOCUMENTS THAT CLEARLY STATES THAT THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AS A LIMITED GOVERNMENT.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS, WE ARE STRAYING AWAY FROM THAT.
I ENCOURAGE US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T BECOME SOMETHING WE WEREN'T PLANNING TO BE.
UH, MAYOR, IF I CAN SAY WHICH, IF I CAN COME BACK TO WHAT, UH, ALEX WAS TALKING ABOUT, UH, LOOKING AT, UM, GOSH, IT'S PAGE 36 IN OUR BOOK ABOUT THE HOUSING ACTION COMMITTEE.
AND THE FIRST TASK, UH, WE'LL INCLUDE AN ANTI DISPLACEMENT AND SUPPORT PLAN.
AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF THE POLICY THAT WE'VE BEEN MISSING AND HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THAT? AND IF WE LOOK AT THOSE WEEKLY REPORTS, UH, ABOUT PERMITS AND PROJECTS THAT WE GET, AND, AND I'D REALLY LOVE TO SEE THE ONES HIGHLIGHTED WHERE DISPLACEMENT IS GOING ON.
I PRINT 'EM OUT, I CIRCLE 'EM, I ASK ABOUT THEM.
BUT WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON THOSE.
AND I'M, I'M SO GLAD THAT WE FINALLY ARE GETTING THIS HOUSING ACTION COMMITTEE TOGETHER, LOOKING FORWARD TO THEIR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS AND GLAD THAT THEY'RE GONNA TACKLE THIS FIRST, BECAUSE THAT IS ESSENTIAL.
I AGREE THAT WORKFORCE HOUSING IS ONE OF OUR VERY TOP PRIORITIES, AND I WANT TO SUPPORT SEEING DEVELOPMENT OF THIS, BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT SOME DEFINITIONS.
OUR WORKFORCE HOUSING ORDINANCES DEFINE WORKFORCE HOUSING IN A CERTAIN WAY.
THE PROJECTS WE'RE LOOKING AT ARE MUCH HIGHER A M I THAN THAT.
AND SO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT SERVICE WORKERS? IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SERVICE WORKER WHO TO ME, IS, UH, SOMEONE WHO IS SERVING IN A, A STORE AS A CLERK, SOMEONE WHO IS A WAITER, UH, SOMEONE LIKE THAT.
WHEREAS THE LOWER FORM OF A M I IS TRULY WORKFORCE, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM THAT POINT OF VIEW.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO REVIEW OUR ORDINANCE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS WE'VE ALREADY IMPOSED ON OURSELVES.
AS WE LOOK AT THE LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE OVERHAUL, A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FROM THAT, THAT GROWTH POLICY IS IMPORTANT, RIGHT? SO DOES THE DENSITY BONUS WORK.
[02:05:01]
A HALF YEARS, NOBODY'S KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND SAID, HEY, THIS IS GREAT.HOW CAN I SIGN UP? THE COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL CONVERSION MIGHT WORK IN THE OPEN MARKET.
I KNOW THAT SOMEBODY'S CONVERTING SOME SPACE, PROBABLY SOME STORAGE SPACE ABOVE A STORE TO REAL UNITS THAT I UNDERSTAND IS FOR THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY, RIGHT? SO, BUT THEY DIDN'T COME AND KNOCK ON OUR DOOR AND SAY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
BUT TO MR. BROWN'S POINT, I I HEAR YOU AND I HEAR YOU ALL, BUT, AND I'M GONNA GO BACK TO THIS.
YOU TOLD ME AS YOU ADOPTED THIS PLAN, THIS IS THE BUSINESS I'M IN, RIGHT? AND SO DEVELOPING AND SUPPORTING THOSE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS, I THINK WE JUST GOT BETTER BEING ABLE TO DO THAT WITH A HOUSING ACTION COMMITTEE.
I THINK THEN THE NINE MEMBERS ON THERE WILL PUSH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL ON SOME OF OUR WORK.
THEY'LL GUIDE A LOT OF THIS PLANNING, RIGHT? WHICH IS A RANGE OF PRIORITIZED HOUSING TACTICS AND TOOLS.
WE HAVE IT, WE HAVE, WE HAVE THE TOOLKIT.
IT'S JUST HOW MANY ITEMS ARE IN THE TOOLKIT, GUESS? OH, PROBABLY, PROBABLY A COUPLE OF DOZEN, RIGHT? AND SO WHAT DO WE DO FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, AND FIFTH? UM, BUT I KNOW THAT THAT PLANNING WILL DRIVE OUR FUTURE REVENUE.
I THINK WE'VE TAKEN A BIG STEP FORWARD FROM A FINANCIAL POSITION AS MUCH AS A MINDSET POSITION THIS YEAR BY STARTING A HOUSING FUND.
WE WERE THE FIRST IN THE STATE TO GET BEHIND THE STATE A TAX CHANGE, RIGHT? I REMEMBER THE DAY I HAD, UH, OUR, OUR DEPUTY MANAGER SENDING IT OUT TO ALL HIS FRIENDS ON HIS LISTSERV, LETTING THEM KNOW THAT TOWN COUNCIL PASSED A RESOLUTION AT LEAST TO LOOK AT IT AT THE STATE LEVEL.
I I THINK WE'RE WORKING ON A LOT OF THIS.
AND THE POLICY SIDE OF IT IS THE BIG LIFT.
THE BIG LIFT IS, IS THE DENSITY BONUS APPROPRIATE IN OUR LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE OR NOT? IS IT ENOUGH? IS IT EXPANSIVE ENOUGH? I DON'T KNOW.
UM, IS THE COMMERCIAL THE CONVERSION PROVISIONS ENOUGH, THE DISPLACEMENT STRATEGY, WE CAN PUT THAT IN PLACE, UM, INCENTIVES.
IS THERE AN INCENTIVE CHAPTER, RIGHT? IS THERE AN INCENTIVE CHAPTER IN OUR NEW LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE THAT ENCOURAGES, HEY, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO IT, OR WE INCENTIVIZE YOU TO DO THAT.
THOSE ARE DECISIONS THAT Y'ALL HAVE TO MAKE WITH THAT POLICY, AND WE'LL BRING THAT FORWARD SOONER THAN LATER.
I, I, THIS IS A, UM, PERSONAL OPINION AS THE MAYOR.
AND WHAT I FORESEE IS COMING THROUGH LEADERSHIP.
UM, IT STATES UP THERE SUPPORT PARTNERSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
I AM GOING TO LEAD THIS COUNCIL THROUGH THE AGENDA TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH EVERY POSSIBLE ORGANIZATION TO PROVIDE WORKFORCE HOUSING.
AND I'M GOING TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE ARE NOT ONLY PUSHING A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, BUT PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AS WELL.
RIGHT NOW THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY, I THINK IT IS 32 UNITS OF COMMERCIAL CONVERSION BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING AROUND.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL MORE THAT ARE COMING AROUND.
THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS MOVING MUCH FASTER THAN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
UM, WE HAVE NORTH POINT ON THE BOOKS, WHICH WAS BROUGHT FORWARD THROUGH PREVIOUS COUNCIL.
WE NEED TO SEE THAT THROUGH AND MAKE CERTAIN THAT IT HAPPENS.
WE HAVE STATED EARLIER THAT WE HAVE A MEETING IN TALKING WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, UM, ABOUT HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.
SO FROM A LEADERSHIP STANDPOINT, I'M GOING TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE PUSH FORWARD WITH BOTH PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND PRIVATE.
UM, AND IF I CAN JUST JUMP IN ONE MORE TIME IN THIS CONVERSATION, UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, ALAN, I APPRECIATE YOUR, UM, YOUR, UM, LEADERSHIP IN THAT REGARD.
ONE OF THE POINTS YOU JUST MADE IS THAT INDEED THE PRIVATE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN STEPPING FORWARD.
AND AGAIN, THAT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IN THOSE NUMBERS, UM, AND THAT ENCOURAGEMENT THAT WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS FOR, FOR THEM TO DO MORE OF THAT IS, UM, NEEDS TO BE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO MAKE A POINT WITH REGARD TO GLEN'S COMMENT, WHICH IS WELL TAKEN, UM, WITH REGARD TO THE A M I 60 TO 80% HERE.
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AND MY OPINION, THE PROBLEM IS WITH NOT LOOKING BEYOND THAT, WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT THOSE RANGES, THOSE LOWER RANGES, AND LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP FOLKS GET ESTABLISHED ON OUR ISLAND AND TO WORK AND BUILD THEIR LIVES HERE.
BUT THEN WHAT IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE 60 TO 80 A M I
[02:10:01]
RANGE, AND WE'RE USING HILTON HEAD ISLANDS, A M I, NOT BEAUFORT COUNTY OF AROUND $111,000 A YEAR, CORRECT? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET MARRIED AND YOU HAVE COMBINED WAGES THAT TAKE YOU ABOVE THAT, AND YET THAT SALARY MAY NOT BE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE GIVEN INTEREST RATES IN THE, IN WHERE WE ARE, UM, ALLOW YOU TO, TO MAKE THAT NEXT STEP OUT OF THAT PUBLIC HOUSING.WHERE DO YOU GO? ARE YOU STAYING ON HILTON HEAD? UNLIKELY.
SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT A M I, WE CAN'T LEAVE IT AT 80%.
IF WHAT YOU REALLY WANNA DO IS PROVIDE A QUALITY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR FOLKS TO BEGIN THEIR LIVES WORKING AND RAISING THEIR CHILDREN HERE.
SO IT'S A STEPPING STONE AND THAT FOLKS AREN'T TRAPPED IN A PUBLIC HOUSING SITUATION, WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE ANY ONE OF US ON THIS COUNCIL OR ONE RESIDENT IN THIS ISLAND WANTS TO SEE HAPPEN.
SO TO LIMIT IT TO 80% IS NOT DOING ANYONE A FAVOR, MR. CHAIR.
UH, AND, AND THE ONE THING THAT WE WILL LEARN FROM, WITH NORTH POINT, AS WELL AS SOME OF THIS PLANNING WORK AND SOME OTHER ELEMENTS, IS THAT THE REAL ANSWER IS THE, IS THE SUPPORT OF THE HOUSING CONTINUUM IS YOU, WE CAN'T JUST PICK ONE BUCKET AND SOLVE IT.
YOU HAVE TO ALLOW AND SUPPORT THE HOUSING CONTINUUM, RIGHT? AND SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.
AND WE ACTUALLY ARE WORKING ON THIS MULTI-YEAR WORKFORCE HOUSING ACTION PLAN INTERNALLY AND WITH OUR CONSULTANT RIGHT NOW, WE ARE ALSO FIRMING UP THE DISPLACEMENT STRATEGY.
AND SO TO, TO YOUR POINT, SIR, THE POLICY WILL BE ON DESKS SOONER THAN LATER.
I HEAR YOU AND I HEAR ALL OF YOU, AND I'M GONNA GO BACK TO THE STRAP PLAN, UH, ADOPT MAJOR CORRIDORS, STREET ENHANCEMENT POLICY.
SO I THINK SOME OF THE TAKEAWAY TODAY IS THAT WE ADOPT SOME IMPROVEMENT PLANS FOR OUR MAIN CORRIDORS, RIGHT? AND THOSE MAIN CORRIDORS ARE, AREN'T JUST PRIMARY ROADS OR SECONDARY ROADS AS WELL, RIGHT? SO MAIN STREET, JUST AS IMPORTANT AS WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY, JUST AS IMPORTANT AS ARROW ROAD.
A LITTLE WHILE AGO, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG AGO WEEKS WE WERE WITH YOU AT A VERY LONG WORKSHOP, WE TESTED WHERE YOUR MINDSETS WERE ON SOME OF OUR WORK.
UM, WE HAVE MOBILIZED, UH, BACK AT THE OFFICE AND WE WILL, STARTING IN SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER AND INTO THE NEW YEAR, BRING YOU SMALLER PIECES TO ASSESS AND DIGEST.
SO FIRST PRIORITY IS NORTHRIDGE AREA, WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY, SOME IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY ENHANCEMENTS.
THEY PUT THEIR EYES ON MIDBLOCK CROSSWALKS.
THEY TOOK A LOOK AT THE MAP THAT SHOWS WHERE PEOPLE ARE INJURED, IF NOT KILLED, UM, WITH CONFLICT, WHETHER THEY'RE DRIVING, WALKING, OR BIKING.
UM, WE HAVE A GOOD CONSULTING TEAM ON BOARD THAT UNDERSTANDS THE DIALECT OF THE D O T, BUT ALSO SHARES THE SAME MINDSET AS, AS YOU AS WE'RE TRYING TO IMPROVE OUR ROADS.
WE ARE TRYING TO CONNECT SIDES OF THE ROAD AND CREATE SAFE STREETS.
UM, AND SO A LOT OF THAT WORK THAT WENT THROUGH YOU RECENTLY, WE WILL BRING BACK SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER AND SOME WORKSHOPS.
I DO NEED TO TALK WITH SOME OF YOU, PERHAPS ALL OF YOU, BEFORE WE GET TO THAT WORKSHOPS SO THAT I'M CLEAR ON A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED AT THE WORKSHOP.
AND THEN WE'LL BRING THAT BACK.
WHAT I'M LOOKING TO DO IS BRING THOSE BACK A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME TO LET YOU ASSESS AND DIGEST AND GIVE US DIRECTION, ME DIRECTION, AND THEN PACKAGE THEM ALL UP WITH A NICE BOW ON IT EARLY NEXT YEAR TO SAY, THIS IS OUR EXPECTATION TO IMPLEMENT THAT WILL FEED OUR CAPITAL PROGRAM.
IT WILL FEED THE BEAUFORT COUNTY 1 CENT SALES TAX REFERENDUM IF IT PASSES, IF IT'S, IF IT MOVES IN THAT DIRECTION.
AND SO I THINK IT'LL PAY SOME DIVIDENDS.
THERE'S SOME OTHER WORK ON HERE.
WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING ON, UH, CORRIDOR SAFETY BEAUTIFICATION ENHANCEMENTS.
WE'VE GOT A GOOD FUND THIS YEAR IN THE BUDGET.
WE'VE GOT GREAT STAFF, UH, NO LESS THAN WHITAKER, WHO'S OUT AND ABOUT AND TRYING TO IMPROVE SOME CORRIDOR LANDSCAPING.
AND, AND WE'VE GOT OTHER TEAM WORKING ON THE ADAPTIVE SIGNALS, WHICH I THINK I, I'M NOT SURE, BUT I, TRAFFIC SEEMS CALMER AND I KEEP LOOKING AT SEAN SAYING, IS THAT THE ADAPTIVE SIGNALS OR NOT? WE ARE STUDYING TRAFFIC PATTERNS.
WE ARE STILL DOING OUR OWN COUNTS, AND WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT IT THIS MONTH OVER LAST MONTH, THIS MONTH OVER LAST YEAR, AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IT BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC IS
[02:15:01]
CALMER ON THE WAY IN THIS MORNING.HOW WAS TRAFFIC ON THE WAY IN? WE'LL, WE'LL KNOW WHEN THE SCHOOL GETS BACK, BUT, UM, I'LL, I'LL JUST GIVE TWO ANECDOTAL EXAMPLES.
UM, A COUPLE OF NIGHTS AGO, I LEFT WORK AT FIVE 30.
I LIVE OUT ON ONE 70 AND NORMALLY TAKES ME PROBABLY ABOUT 50 MINUTES.
UM, AND THEN ON THE WAY IN TODAY, I DIDN'T STOP UNTIL I GOT TO GUMTREE ROAD, NOT EVEN SLOWED DOWN THROUGH THE STONY CORRIDOR.
SO I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING, MARK.
IT COULD BE LUCK, BUT I THINK IT'S GOTTA BE A COMBINATION OF GOOD PLANNING, BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE, AND, AND, UM, AND THINGS ARE STARTING TO, STARTING TO WORK.
AND, AND SEAN'S THE SMARTEST PERSON IN THE ROOM WHEN WE TRY TO GIVE HIM CREDIT FOR IT.
HE WON'T ACCEPT ANY CREDIT FOR THE GOOD TRAFFIC.
'CAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT US TO BLAME HIM FOR THE BAD TRAFFIC.
SO MARK, WE KNOW THAT OUR MAJOR ROADS AND STREETS YEAH.
ARE MOSTLY OWNED BY THE COUNTY OR THE STATE.
LATZ IS THE ORGANIZATION THAT DISTRIBUTES FEDERAL FUNDS FOR HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT.
WE NEED TO GET SOME OF OUR PROJECTS ON THE LONG RANGE PLAN, UH, FOR LATS SO THAT WE CAN, WE'RE SEEKING OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDS, RIGHT? THERE'S ANOTHER SOURCE THAT WE NEED TO BE DIPPING INTO RATHER THAN JUST OUR OWN REVENUE SOURCES.
RIGHT? AND, AND WE KNOW THE ROUTINE.
EVERY COUPLE YEARS, THE COUNTY WILL ASK US WHAT OUR FAVORITE OR EMERGENCY OR INTENDED PROJECTS ARE TO PUT 'EM ON A POTENTIAL LIST.
AND LATS WILL ASK US THE BENEFIT OF THIS WORK.
WHILE IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF PLANNING IS GOING ON, I DON'T KNOW FORMALLY WHAT TO TELL LATS WHEN YOU ADOPT THIS MAJOR CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
WE CAN SEND THAT WITH A COVER LETTER SIGNED AND ON BEHALF OF ALL OF YOU, THAT THAT IS THE TOWN'S POSITION ON ROADWAY PRIORITIES.
UM, AND THEN YOU CAN ALSO USE THAT SAME DOCUMENT FOR THE 1 CENT SALES TAX OR WHATEVER ELSE WE'RE CONTEMPLATING.
WE DON'T HAVE THESE IDENTIFIED AS PROJECTS.
BUT WHEN WE HAVE THEM IDENTIFIED AS PROJECTS, WE NEED TO REACH OUR HAND INTO THE COOKIE JAR AND SEE WE CAN COLLECT THE MONEY.
AND IF I CAN ADD ON TO THAT FROM THE STATE LEVEL, I, I KNOW WE NEED TO HAVE OUR LIST FIRST, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO INVOLVE SENATOR DAVIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN THIS, BECAUSE, UH, I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED TO HIM THAT I THINK IT'S A GOOD PLACE FOR FUNDING FROM THE STATE TO HELP US OUT WITH THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.
AND I KNOW HE'S AWARE OF SOME, SOME ASK AND SOME DISCUSSION, ONE OF WHICH IS SEA PINE CIRCLE AND SOME, SOME OTHER ELEMENT.
SO MAY I JUST ALSO SAY WHAT I'VE SAID FOR MY YEARS NOW.
UM, THE ROADS ON HILTON HEAD SHOULD BE OWNED BY HILTON HEAD, ESPECIALLY THOSE RESIDENTIAL OUTSIDE THE GATE ROADS WHERE WE WANT TO PROVIDE QUALITY OF LIFE TO OUR RESIDENTS AND SOMETIMES ARE LIMITED ON WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THEM BECAUSE WE DON'T OWE THE ROADS.
SO I REALIZE THERE'S A COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
THERE'S LONG-TERM EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
I'D LOVE TO SEE THE NUMBERS AGAIN ON THAT.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THEM AS A REQUEST AGAIN TO, TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION SO WE HAVE AN IDEA WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE SHOULD BE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE AS WELL.
AND I'M GONNA ASK YOU ALL THAT IMPORTANT QUESTION IN THE FUTURE AS WE START GETTING INTO A LITTLE MORE OF THIS WORK.
DO YOU OR DON'T YOU WANT TO OWN CONTROL AND MAINTAIN AND PAY FOR THE, THE ROADS, WHETHER IT'S PRIMARY ROADS, SECONDARY ROAD, OR A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET? 'CAUSE THAT'S A POLICY DECISION AND A LOT OF TIMES, OF COURSE, IT'S GONNA COST MONEY, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS, WHETHER IS THE STATE INVESTING IN IT, IF THEY'RE NOT, IS IT A BENEFIT TO OWN AND MAINTAIN THERE? THERE'S ALL KIND OF WORK TO THINK THROUGH.
SO IT, IT WOULD MATTER WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE A LIMITED SERVICES GOVERNMENT, R AND D, IF WE'RE A GOVERNMENT THAT'S TAKING CARE OF OUR RESIDENTS OUTSIDE OF THE GATES AS EQUALLY AS THE ONES INSIDE THE GATES, UM, IT SHOULD FALL UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE GOVERNMENT.
WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT A COMPLETE STREETS POLICY.
UM, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA DIVE INTO THAT A LITTLE MORE AS WE COME BACK TO SOME OF THESE WORKSHOPS.
A COMPLETE STREET HAS BIKE LANES, A COMPLETE STREET HAS PARKING, A COMPLETE STREET HAS CROSSWALKS.
A COMPLETE STREET IS AS PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED AS IT IS VEHICULAR ORIENTED, IF NOT PERHAPS EVEN A HIGHER PRIORITY TO THE PERSON, LESS THE VEHICLE.
AND SO I REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND FROM ALL OF YOU WHAT YOU DEFINE AS A COMPLETE STREET, BECAUSE WHAT I'M HEARING SOMETIMES IS THAT WE SUPPORT COMPLETE ISH STREETS.
SO I REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE DIVE INTO THAT POLICY BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE SHAPE AND THE NATURE OF OUR STREETS CONSIDERABLY.
TRAFFIC, CALMING POLICY, AND THEN ASSISTING WITH THE CROSS ISLAND PARKWAY TOLL BOOTH REMOVAL, UM, AND RECONFIGURATION.
WE'VE, WE'VE WORKED ON A BUNCH OF STUFF.
COUNCIL WORKSHOPS, MARCH, JULY, CONTINUE TO REFINE
[02:20:01]
THE PLANS.WE'RE BRINGING WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY.
WE CALL THE NORTHRIDGE AREA SEGMENT THREE, SEGMENT TWO, THAT WHOLE STRETCH AND MAIN STREET AS TOP PRIORITIES.
WE ANTICIPATE FINALLY HAVING MAIN STREET IN OUR NETWORK, TRANSFERRED WITH SOME FUNDING FROM THE REGIME, P O A BY END OF YEAR.
UM, AND THEN WE, AS I MENTIONED, HAD D O T HERE, WHICH I THINK WILL PAY DIVIDENDS.
UM, VARIOUS PROJECTS PLANNED AS THE ADOPTED 24 25 PROJECT.
A LOT OF INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS, PATHWAY CONNECTIONS, UM, AND, AND SOME IMPROVEMENTS.
AND YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THESE OTHER UPDATES.
YOU WILL SEE OUR US DO SOME WORK ON THAT CROSS ISLAND TOLL BOOTH ADMINISTRATION BUILDING IN THE EARLY YEAR.
AT FIRST, I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO SEE IF WE COULD USE THAT BUILDING.
THEY TRANSFERRED THE TITLE TO US.
WE HAVE DONE SOME ASSESSMENT THERE.
WE HAVEN'T SPENT TOO MUCH TIME OR MONEY ON IT, BUT I REALLY WANTED TO UNDERSTAND IT FROM JUST MAYBE BRIAN AND SEAN AND I AND ZENOS HAVING AN OPINION.
SO WE'VE, WE'VE DONE, UM, SOME SORT OF ASSESSMENT, UM, IN THE NEW YEAR.
UH, BUILDING WILL BE DEMOED AND WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THAT PROPERTY LONG TERM.
WHETHER IT REMAINS EMPTY OR SOME FUTURE, SOME FUTURE, UH, OPPORTUNITY.
MARK, MARK, SORRY, WHILE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH THAT PROPERTY,
UH, YOU'VE ALREADY COVERED HOW MUCH WE BOUGHT THIS YEAR AND, AND PERHAPS, UH, MAYOR, WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT ALL THIS NEW PROPERTY WE ARE ACQUIRING AND WHAT TO DO WITH IT ALL.
I'M SURE THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION A LITTLE BIT LATER.
UM, TYING TOGETHER MAYBE THREE THINGS THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED.
ONE IS DISTRICT PLANNING SLASH MASTER PLAN CAPACITY.
IF YOU LOOK AT OUR ROAD SYSTEM, IT CAN'T GET TOO MUCH BIGGER.
DO WE REALLY WANT IT TO BE BIGGER? SO HOW DO YOU MOVE MORE POPULATION ON THIS ISLAND MORE SMOOTHLY? I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'RE ASKING ALL THE QUESTIONS WE SHOULD BE ASKING IN THIS CORRIDOR PLANNING.
'CAUSE I I, WE HAVE A CONUNDRUM YES.
GORDIAN KNOT THERE THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT BECAUSE THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT CAPACITY LIMIT, RIGHT? FOR OUR EFFICIENCY AND TOLERANCE IN THE LIMITED ROADS THAT WE HAVE.
AND THAT WAS, IT WAS MY TAKEAWAY FROM THE WORKSHOP.
WE CAME TO THE WORKSHOP WITH, I DON'T KNOW, NINE, 10 DIFFERENT I'D CALL STREET SCAPE PLANS.
AND WE CHALLENGED THE ROAD, RIGHT? THE MIDBLOCK CROSSWALK IN FRONT OF THE SHOPPING CENTER WHEN THERE'S A SIGNAL 200 FEET UP THE STREET.
WE CHALLENGED THE PATTERN OR OR LACK THEREOF OF CROSSWALKS.
WE CHALLENGED SIDEWALK VERSUS PATHWAY VERSUS BALLARD LIGHTING, LOW LEVEL TO CROSS STREETS.
WE DIDN'T CHALLENGE THE NETWORK.
WE DIDN'T CHALLENGE THIS SYSTEM.
AND SO MY TAKEAWAY FROM THAT, THAT, THAT SEAN HAS HEARD, OR THAT KIMLEY HORNE HAS HEARD IS AS WE BRING THESE PROJECTS BACK, LOOKING AT POPE, POPE OR ARROW, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE STREET, RIGHT? THE STREET'S GONNA DRIVE THE REAL ESTATE ON THE SIDE AND THE REAL ESTATE IS GONNA DRIVE THE STREET.
BUT CHALLENGING THAT NETWORK IN THAT SYSTEM IS IMPORTANT.
PARALLEL ROADS ARE THE SOLUTION, RIGHT? I DO NOT WANT IT TO SOUND LIKE I'M, I I I, I'VE SAID A COUPLE TIMES 'CAUSE I READ IT SOMEWHERE, MADE ME LAUGH.
WIDENING A ROAD, RIGHT? ONLY TO, THERE'S A LOT OF TIMES YOU HAVE TO WIDEN A ROAD, BUT WIDENING A ROAD FOR TRAFFIC VOLUME IS LIKE LOOSENING YOUR BELT TO LOSE WEIGHT, RIGHT? THERE'S OTHER SOLUTIONS.
SO, KIM LUNCH READY? IS THIS A GOOD PLACE TO STOP? KIM? MAYOR, WE OKAY TO STOP HERE? GOOD.
AND THEN WE CAN TAKE A BREAK FOR ABOUT A HALF HOUR, HAVE LUNCH.
THERE'S ONLY A WHOLE BUNCH MORE STRATEGIES TO GET THROUGH.
I'M LOOKING AT TRYING TO GET THROUGH A LOT OF THIS WORK BY ABOUT ONE 30 ISH.
WE HAVE SOME MORE PUBLIC HERE.
PERHAPS WE COULD START WITH SOME PUBLIC COMMENT TO COME, COME BACK OR END THE DAY.
BUT I WANT TO SPEND SOME TIME AT THE END OF ALL OF THIS FOR SOME GENERAL DISCUSSION.
HOPE EVERYBODY HAD A GOOD LUNCH.
DO YOU WANT TO START WITH SOME PUBLIC COMMENT OR MAYBE RE REST AND TRY TO DO THAT AROUND ONE 30? YEAH, I WOULD RATHER DO IT AROUND ONE 30.
GET THROUGH SOME OF THIS FIRST.
ALRIGHT, WELL I'M GONNA GO AS FAST AS YOU LET ME RIGHT NOW WITH A LOT OF THIS WORK.
'CAUSE I THINK A LOT OF THE HEAVY LIFTING WAS BEFORE LUNCH, AND SOME OF THIS IS UPDATES AND SOME OF THIS IS STUFF THAT YOU'VE SEEN AT TOWN COUNCIL.
[02:25:01]
DOWN ON THOSE ELEMENTS THAT WE DIDN'T TALK TOO MUCH ABOUT AT TOWN COUNCIL, ESPECIALLY LATELY.SO I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE WILLIAM HILTON GATEWAY CORRIDOR PARKWAY.
ITEMS FOUR ONE THROUGH FOUR SEVEN HAVE OUTLINED THE WORK WE STILL HAVE TO DO FOR THE TOWN COUNCIL TO CONTEMPLATE MUNICIPAL CONSENT AND BEYOND MUNICIPAL CONSENT, CLEAR PROJECT DIRECTION.
UM, THIS IS A BUFORT COUNTY PROJECT.
UM, WE KNOW WHAT THE PARTICULARS ARE.
I THINK SOME OF THE BIG TAKEAWAYS ARE THAT WE DO HAVE THIS EXECUTED MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH BUFORT COUNTY.
THERE ARE SEVERAL STEPS, SO TO SPEAK, SEVERAL ITEMS TO COMPLETE.
UM, ONE OF WHICH IS A JOINT INDEPENDENT REVIEW WITH THE COUNTY AND CONSULTANT.
WE ARE WORKING ON THAT IN PARALLEL.
WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON OUR OWN.
I KNOW THAT A COMMITTEE IS IN PLACE, UM, ON OUR END TO, TO WORK IN THAT REGARD.
AND THEN WE ALSO HOSTED A RECENT MEETING WITH D O T LEADERSHIP AND WE HAD SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT THE SYSTEM, THE NETWORK, AND DEFINITELY DIFFERENT, UH, AREAS IN OUR ISLAND, POPE AVENUE BEING ONE.
BUT DEFINITELY I'D SAY THE STAR OF THE SHOW THAT DAY AND IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS WAS THE WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY GATEWAY CORRIDOR, RIGHT? SO, UM, IT'S JUST A, AN UPDATE TODAY.
PART OF THAT HAS TO BE A STONY CORRIDOR MASTER PLAN.
WE ARE DOING AN ASSESSMENT RIGHT NOW OF THE STONY NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT EASIER TO UNDERSTAND, UH, OPPORTUNITY COMPARED WITH IMPACT WHEN WE HAVE A STONY AREA CONCEPT IN PLACE, RIGHT? UH, SO A, A TRUE BASELINE INVENTORY OF PROPERTY OWNERSHIP OF RIGHT OF WAY, UH, OF, OF PUBLIC, OF PUBLIC SPACE, PUBLIC PROPERTY, AS WELL AS A COMPARABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT PROPERTIES ARE BEING IMPACTED AND BY HOW MUCH I THINK THAT THAT IS GOING TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE CONCEPT.
SO THAT'S ALSO A PART OF THAT 26, UH, ITEMS. YEP.
SORRY, ONE QUICK QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
HOW DOES THAT FOLD INTO OUR DISTRICT PLANNING PROCESS? YEAH, IT, IT, IT FOLDS IN.
WELL, THIS IS ALMOST A SUB AREA OF A DISTRICT.
YOU CREATED YOUR OWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN FEBRUARY.
UH, MAYOR PERRY, UM, AND SEVERAL OTHERS SIT ON THAT.
SEAN IS, UH, THE POINT PERSON.
UH, THEY'RE TAKING AN ENTIRE LOOK AT THE SYSTEM FROM CROSS ISLAND ALL THE WAY TO THE BRIDGE, ALL THE WAY TO SEA PINE CIRCLE.
THE R F Q WAS ADVERTISED ON JUNE 9TH.
RESPONSES RECEIVED IN JULY, I BELIEVE.
YEAH, TWO, TWO DIFFERENT COMPANIES, UH, SUBMITTED.
UM, MANY MORE WERE INTERESTED.
MANY MORE PARTICIPATED IN A PRE-BID, BUT TWO SUBMITTED.
UM, ACCORDING TO SEAN, THEY'RE BOTH GREAT COMPANIES.
AND THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE LAST MET ON AUGUST 3RD AND THEIR DIRECTION TO SEAN AND, AND, AND PATH FORWARD IS TO INTERVIEW BOTH WITH A CONTRACT AWARD EXPECTED BY END OF AUGUST, SEPTEMBER.
BY THE TIME WE NEGOTIATE THAT, THAT CONTRACT AND, AND ONCE IN PLACE, THAT'LL TAKE ABOUT FOUR TO SIX MONTHS.
THERE'S ALWAYS A SPECULATION THAT WE ARE HOLDING THE PROJECT UP.
I'VE HEARD FROM FOLKS, HURRY UP TOWN HAS TO DO SOMETHING SENSE OF URGENCY.
AND I'LL REITERATE, THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE'RE DOING WITHIN THIS TIMELINE THAT WILL HOLD THE PROJECT UP.
THERE ARE STILL FUNDS TO BE FOUND.
THERE'S STILL THE FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT, UM, PERMIT, SO TO SPEAK, TO BE SUBMITTED TO FEDERAL HIGHWAY.
AND LAST I CHECKED THAT WAS NOT SUBMITTED YET BY BUFORD COUNTY.
AND THEN WE STILL HAVE SOME WORK TO DO.
SO WORK IN PROGRESS COMMENCE THE OPERATIONS OF THE GULLAH GEECHEE.
HISTORIC ONE THING ON MR. MAYOR, JUST ONE COMMENT.
UM, COUNCILMAN STANFORD, UH, TOUCHED ON THIS EARLIER.
OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE, UM, SOME REALLY INTENSE DIALOGUE WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS AT THE COUNTY.
UM, AND MR. OLAND, YOU, YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN REALLY GOOD AT SETTING FORTH SORT OF CRITICAL PATH MM-HMM.
AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THAT TODAY, BUT I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US ALONG THE WAY.
WE'LL ADD THAT ELEMENT OR MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T DISAPPEAR.
SO COMMENCING THE GULLAH GEECHEE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP, ITEMS FIVE ONE THROUGH FIVE SIX, FACILITATING THE COMMUNITY
[02:30:01]
REDEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE GULLAH GEECHEE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS THAT BENEFIT RESIDENTS FOSTERING, PROMOTING REDEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY AND STABILIZATION OF THOSE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS WITH A PROMOTION AND FOCUS ON CULTURAL RESOURCES AND ASSETS TO ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE, RIGHT? SO ALL THESE THINGS, YOU KNOW, IT'S IN THE BYLAWS.IT'S BAKED WELL INTO THE BYLAWS OF THE DEVELOPMENT CORP.
UM, AND SO WHERE ARE WE? YOU'VE APPOINTED AS A COUNCIL, FIVE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
UH, THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ARE COUNCILMAN AMES, COUNCILMAN BROWN, MR. TERRY BRUBAKER, REVEREND LEWIS JOHNSON, AND MS. SHIRLEY PEACHES PETERSON.
MS. PETERSON IS THE BOARD CHAIR.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH SANDA AND LISA.
WE'VE RECRUITED, UM, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
WE'VE HAD MORE THAN 90 APPLICATIONS COME IN, I THINK AT LAST COUNT WE'RE PROBABLY SOMEWHERE AROUND 105, 110 OR SO.
LISA'S LIKE EVEN HIGHER, UM, APPLICATIONS, MANY OF WHICH ARE QUALIFIED.
UH, AND, AND WE'RE, WE'RE STARTING TO WIND DOWN THE INTERVIEW PROCESS AND TRYING TO SELECT SOME FINALISTS, UM, AND START MEETING THEM IN PERSON AND INTERVIEWING THEM IN PERSON.
THEIR JOB IS GOING TO BE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NONPROFIT OF THE, OF THE 5 0 1 C THREE AS IT'S ESTABLISHED OF THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WITH THE BYLAWS.
AND THEN THERE'S SOME TO-DOS RIGHT OUTTA THE GATE, RIGHT? ADOPT THEIR OWN STRATEGIC PLAN, BRING IT WITH YOU AND TO YOU AT COUNCIL, BUT WORK WITH THAT BOARD TO ESTABLISH IT, WORK WITH THAT BOARD TO IMPLEMENT IT.
UM, THE CORPORATION HELD ITS FIRST MEETING ON MAY 17TH, MET AGAIN ON THE SEVENTH, AND THEN A WHOLE BUNCH MORE TIME SINCE THEN TO START THE INTERVIEWS.
UM, AND THANKS TO THE WORK OF THE STATE AND SENATOR DAVIS AND, AND ALL OF YOU, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE'S A STARTUP BUDGET OF 5.3 OR SO MILLION DOLLARS, ALL OF WHICH CAME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE STATE, AND OR THE COUNTY THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR THE STATE.
SO WE HAVEN'T TAKEN ANY TOWN RESOURCE, ANY, ANY FUNDING YET FOR THAT, FOR THAT WORK.
A SWOT ANALYSIS OF OUR ISLAND RESILIENCY PLAN.
I'M NOT GOING TO GET THROUGH ITEM SIX, ONE THROUGH SIX NINE, BUT YOU HAVE SEEN THAT ON YOUR TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA.
WHAT COMMITTEE DID THAT GO THROUGH? DID IT GO THROUGH COMMITTEE? YEAH.
PUBLIC PLANNING MADE THE RECOMMENDATION, FOUND ITS WAY TO TOWN COUNCIL AND WHAT YOU APPROVED IS THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR THIS PROJECT.
AND SO ONCE YOU ADOPTED THAT SCOPE OF WORK, UM, WE SET OFF TO, TO START WORKING.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE STILL ARE FOCUSED ON ADDING TIDE GAUGES AND, AND PARTICIPATING IN C-LEVEL MONITORING.
UM, WE'VE PUT TWO NEW TIDE GAUGES IN IN APRIL.
AND, AND IN ADDITION TO THE ONE WE WE PUT IN, IN 2022, THE R F Q WAS SHARED WITH THIS, THE NEW OFFICE, RIGHT? THE STATE, THE SOUTH CAROLINA OFFICE OF RESILIENCE.
UM, WE SHARED OUR R F Q WITH THEM AND GOT SOME FEEDBACK.
UM, WE WERE AWARDED A GRANT OF 56,000 IN CHANGE TO HELP BUILD THE PLAN.
THE OTHER COSTS ARE IN OUR STORMWATER BUDGET, STORMWATER UTILITY FEES, AND SOME OTHER, SOME OTHER GENERAL FUND, I BELIEVE, UM, TO FUND THAT PROJECT.
UM, THE R F Q FOR THE RESILIENCE PLAN WAS ADOPTED OR SENT OUT ON JUNE 9TH.
UM, FIVE SUBMITTALS WERE RECEIVED A MONTH LATER IN JULY.
AND THEN WE ARE RECOMMENDING A CONTRACT AWARD EXPECTED SEPTEMBER, AND THEN AN UPDATE TO PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE IN SEPTEMBER.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE CONTRACT AWARD IS NOT A TOWN COUNCIL ACTION, IT'S A STAFF ACTION.
WE HAVE SOME AMAZING COMPANIES AND TEAMS THAT HAVE SUBMITTED, AND WE WILL HIRE A GOOD ONE WITHIN BUDGET, WITHIN SCOPE, AND WITHIN OUR DESIRED EXPECTATIONS.
ONE, ONE QUICK COMMENT ABOUT THAT.
THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA ADOPTED ITS OWN REALLY LONG RESILIENCY PLAN, SO I'M SURE THAT'S GONNA BE CONSIDERED BY OUR SELECTED CONSULTANT AS WELL.
I HAVE NOT READ IT ALL, BUT UH, I HAVE SEEN REFERENCE TO IT.
UH, THE WAY WE'VE TAKEN A LOOK AT OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AS OF LATE, AS OF THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, WE KNOW IT'S A FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM.
WE KNOW THAT'S MANDATED IN STATE LAW AND WE FUND EVERY YEAR AND WE PROJECT YEARS OUT.
UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO STILL FIGURE OUT IN THAT WHOLE C I P PROGRAM.
I HEARD A GREAT PUBLIC COMMENT EARLIER TODAY ABOUT JUST LINING UP THE PROJECTS, THE PRIORITY, THE EXPECTATION WITH A REAL FUND GROWTH
[02:35:01]
PLAN.UM, BUT WE HAVE FOCUSED ON BEACHES, PATHWAYS, ROADWAYS, PARKS, FACILITIES, AND EQUIPMENT.
UH, WHERE'S THE NEXT ONE? SORRY, I LOST IT.
FLEET LAND ACQUISITION AND HOUSING.
AS WE KNOW, WE'VE TAKEN HOUSING OUT AS A FUND AND WE PUT IT INTO ITS OWN HOUSING FUND, BUT WE STILL LOOK AT HOUSING AS PART OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
IF WE'RE WORKING ON ANY SORT OF HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT.
YOU HAVE ADOPTED THE ISLANDERS BEACH PARK MASTER PLAN.
YOU WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD AS SOON AS THE SEASON'S OVER TO PUT A PATHWAY INTO MAKE IT SAFE.
BUT THEN WE'RE GOING TO REALLY DIVE IN TO START THE DESIGN ENGINEERING IN BID IN BIDS, CONSTRUCTION BIDS FOR THE ISLANDERS BEACH PARK, ALWAYS BEING MINDFUL OF BEACH SEASON.
SO WE'RE GONNA WORK AROUND THE PEAK, BUT THAT PROJECT OVER TIME WILL GET BUILT.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL, UH, WE FOCUSED ON THAT.
WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT BEACH VOLLEYBALL.
WE JUST PUTTING SOME BEACH VOLLEYBALL COURTS UP IN FRONT OF THE TIKI HUTT LIKE THE OLD DAYS AND MAKING A LITTLE INVESTMENT DOWN THERE GO A LONG WAY.
WE'RE ALMOST PUTTING 'EM BACK WHERE THEY, THEY FIRST WERE DREESSEN BEACH BOARDWALK REPLACEMENT.
UM, AS SOON AS THE SEASON'S OVER FOLLY FIELD, BEACH PARK, BOARDWALK REPLACEMENT, DITTO.
AND THEN OF COURSE, WE'RE WORKING ON THE BEACH, RENOURISHMENT PERMITTING UNDERWAY AND ALL.
A LOT OF THAT PRE-PLANNING FOR THE 2025 BEACH RENOURISHMENT, UM, PATHWAY.
WE, WE FINISHED THE SHELTER COVE SCULPTURE TRAIL.
IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OUT THERE, GO PARK IN ONE OF THE TOWN AREAS OR AT SHELTER COVE AND GO VISIT THAT TRAIL.
GREAT JOB BY A, A TEAM FOCUSING ON PALMETTO BAY ROAD ARROW INTERSECTION, SOME PATHWAYS AT CORDO AND POPE AND SHIPYARD, SHELTER COVE LANE WOODHAVEN DRIVE.
AND WHAT'S NOT ON HERE IS THE WORK WE'RE DOING ON JONESVILLE TO REALLY FIGURE OUT THAT PATHWAY.
I KNOW THAT STAFF'S MADE THAT A, THAT A PRIORITY.
UM, AND THERE'S MORE IN OUR C I P PROGRAM THAT I COULD HAVE PUT ON HERE, BUT I'M JUST HIGHLIGHTING THOSE REAL ACTIVE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE PUSHING HARD TO START CONSTRUCTION ON IN THAT REGARD.
ROADWAY PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION.
SO WE'RE WENT FROM BEACH TO PATHWAYS TO ROADS.
UM, WE'RE FOCUSED ON THAT ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC SIGNAL.
MARY, YOU ASKED A QUESTION EARLIER TO SEAN, HOW, HOW MUCH TIME IT'S TAKING OR SOMEBODY ASKED HOW MUCH TIME IT'S TAKING.
UM, FOR THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT WORK, THE ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC SIGNAL IS DEFINITELY MORE THAN A PROJECT MANAGER.
IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK FROM IT TO OUR TRANSPORTATION TEAM TO SEAN'S HELP, DEFINITELY BRIAN MCELWEE.
I MEAN, WE'VE PUT THAT SIGNAL SYSTEM IN AND REALIZED THAT SOMETHING WAS TRIPPING AT A LOT OF THE SIGNALS.
AND SO WE HAD TO GO BACK AND WORK WITH PALMETTO ELECTRIC AND WORK WITH THE VENDOR WHO TRAVELED FROM GERMANY TO START FIGURING OUT WHY SOME SIGNALS WERE WORKING AS DESIGNED AND PROGRAMMED AND OTHERS WERE, THE WIRES WERE TRIPPING AND, AND THE TIMING WAS OFF.
WE PUSHED HARD TO COMMUNICATE THAT.
WE, WE BUILT A WEBSITE, WE PUT A PHONE NUMBER, WE PUT AN EMAIL, AND WE ASKED THE COMMUNITY, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT'S OFF, TELL US.
RIGHT? BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY TO TEST THIS SYSTEM IS TURN IT ON AND THE LONGER IT'S ON, THE SMARTER IT GETS.
AND SO THAT SYSTEM IS ALMOST IN PLACE, BUT BEYOND THAT BEACH CITY TO DILLON ROAD, UM, NEAR TERM IMPROVEMENTS, WE'LL BE BACK TO TOWN COUNCIL, UM, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER WITH SOME OF THOSE DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS.
AND WE WILL WORK WITH D O T BEFORE WE BRING THEM TO YOU INSTEAD OF JUST SUGGESTING SOMETHING THAT THEY WON'T SUPPORT IN SOME OF THOSE.
SEE A LOT OF DIRT ROAD, UM, PAVING WORKUP HERE.
I APPRECIATE STAFF'S FOCUS ON THAT.
I KNOW THERE WAS A WORKSHOP LAST NIGHT WELL ATTENDED.
UM, SOME CORRIDOR LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS BE ON THE LOOKOUT BETWEEN NOW AND DECEMBER 31ST.
UM, SOME, SOME REAL IMPORTANT LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS AS WELL AS SOME ENHANCED, UM, PEDESTRIAN CONNECTION STRIPING AND WHATNOT IN SOME OF OUR, UM, IMPORTANT, WELL, WELL TRAVELED AREAS.
MAIN STREET WE TALKED ABOUT WE'RE CLOSE.
SOMEBODY ASKED ME OUT IN THE HALLWAY, WHY IS MAIN STREET TAKING SO LONG? FULL DISCLOSURE, WE SAID WE WOULD ACCEPT THE ROAD AS WE WENT TO ACCEPT THE ROAD.
WE DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE SIGNATURES THAT WE NEEDED TO ACCEPT.
WE HAD A DECISION TO MAKE WHETHER WE WERE ACCEPTING A DONATED ROAD OR IF THERE WERE SOME OTHER LEGAL ACTIONS WE NEEDED TO TAKE TO ACQUIRE THAT ROAD.
WE ARE STILL WORKING TOWARDS THAT.
AND I ANTICIPATE THAT THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE DONATING MAIN STREET TO HAVE THEIR DONATION IN PLACE
[02:40:01]
BY THE END OF THE YEAR WITH THE FUNDS THAT WERE INDICATED BY TOWN COUNCIL OUT LOUD, TRANSPARENT IN THE, IN THE TRANSFER.JUST TO BE CLEAR, NOT SIGNATURES FROM OUR SIDE.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, PARKS, WE TALKED, UH, MID ISLAND PHASE ONE.
YOU KNOW, PHASE ONE IS A STABILIZATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF THE STORM WATER PROGRAM PATHWAY, UH, BATHROOM RESTROOM FACILITY AND SOME PARKING.
UM, PHASE ONE IS GETTING THAT STORM WATER, UH, SOLUTION, NOT JUST AT THE PARK ITSELF, BUT IN, IN THAT SUB AREA APPROPRIATE.
WE'RE WORKING ON SOME ENHANCEMENTS TO KAGEY CIRCLE, CHAPLAIN COMMUNITY PARK, RACKETS, FACILITY, CROSSINGS PARK, PATTERSON, TAYLOR, AND SOME OTHERS ARE COMING BACK TO YOU SOONER THAN LATER AS ANOTHER WORKSHOP.
I MEAN, WE HAD A LONG ROAD WORKSHOP.
WE ALSO HAD A LONG PARK WORKSHOP.
WE TALKED ABOUT TENNIS PICKLEBALL IS A PRIORITY.
WE'RE MOVING FORWARD RIGHT NOW WITH A CONTRACT AT, UM, OLD SCHOOLHOUSE ROAD PARK TO RESURFACE THOSE SIX COURTS AS SOON AS WE OWN THAT PARK.
UM, AND THEN LASTLY, WE WILL BRING CHAPLAIN AND RACKETS AND CROSSINGS AND ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS BACK TO YOU.
YOU GAVE US SOME GOOD FEEDBACK AT THE WORKSHOP.
I THINK THAT WE LEARNED A LOT, UM, WHETHER WE'RE FOCUSING ON A POOL AT CHAPLAIN, PICKLEBALL AT CHAPLAIN OR OTHER SOLUTIONS AT CHAPLAIN, YOU GAVE US SOME WORK TO DO.
WE'RE WORKING ON IT RIGHT NOW AND WE'LL BE PREPARED TO COME, COME BACK IN ABOUT 60 DAYS TO START IN MY, IN, MY HOPE IS, IS, IS MOVING ALONG AND GETTING THESE MASTER PLANS APPROVED AND UNDERWAY SO THAT WE CAN PROGRAM DIFFERENT PHASES AS WE START THINKING OF THIS CURRENT CAP PROGRAM AS WELL AS NEXT YEAR'S AND BEYOND.
SO, I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD, TAMMY.
UM, MARK, I JUST WANT TO, UM, ADDRESS ONE OF THE ISSUE, UH, PARK ISSUES ON THIS SLIDE, THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE PARK PICKLEBALL COURTS.
UM, I KNOW THAT IT'S UNDERWAY.
I KNOW PICKLEBALL IS A PRIORITY.
I KNOW THAT THE PICKLEBALL CLUB AND PLAYERS ACROSS THE ISLAND HAVE BEEN PASSIONATE NOW FOR YEARS HAVING EVEN GONE TO THE EXTENT OF COLLECTING THEIR OWN FUND THROUGH FUNDRAISING, THEIR OWN DOLLARS TO HELP, UM, IN ANY WAY THEY COULD TO GET THIS MOVED FORWARD.
I APPRECIATE, I WAS, I WAS APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE.
I WAS ASKED TO ATTEND, UM, UH, BY THE PICKLEBALL CLUB TO ATTEND, UM, A MEETING OUT AT ADRIANA.
UM, WITH REGARD TO THE, UH, REFURBISHMENT OF THOSE COURTS.
I KNOW THAT YOU AND I HAVE SPOKEN AND I UNDERSTAND PROCESS AND TIMING AND PHASING AND THE FACT THAT WE FIRST HAVE TO GET THROUGH OWNING THE PROPERTY, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, UM, YOU AS I HAVE AND THE COUNCIL TO MAKE THAT A PRIORITY IN TERMS OF PHASE TWO THAT WOULD BRING IN THE SEWER AND THE WATER AND BE ABLE TO REALLY PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATE TYPE OF FACILITY THERE.
UM, WE ARE A, UM, POPULATION OF, UM, SLIGHTLY OLDER PEOPLE AND THE CONDITIONS OUT THERE ARE NOT CONDUCIVE TO HEALTH.
UM, AND, AND I THINK THAT HAS TO BE MADE A PRIORITY.
I'VE HEARD IT SAID BOTH FROM OUR RESIDENTS AND FROM OUR TOWN MANAGER TODAY, THAT WE DO THINGS THE RIGHT WAY AND DOING IT RIGHT AS WE MOVE PAST THE RECONSTRUCTION INTO THE PHASE TWO AS A PRIORITY.
I'M ASKING FOR SUPPORT FOR THAT, THAT WE DO IT RIGHT, UM, FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
OKAY, SO I, SO I GOING TO LEAVE THAT ON, UH, THE MAYOR TO ASK OUR COUNCIL AND THEN TO MAKE THAT A PRIORITY TO, TO, UM, TO MOVE THAT FORWARD.
RIGHT? AS A REMINDER FOR EVERYBODY TOO, TOWN COUNCIL APPROVED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET, $250,000, SEAN, 2 52 QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS FOR OLD SCHOOLHOUSE ROAD PARK TO INVEST IN THE FACILITY.
THE, THE, THE BIDS JUST CAME IN.
UM, WE REFINED THEM A LITTLE BIT, HAD TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS, A LITTLE MORE THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO DO A GREAT JOB TO RESURFACE THOSE COURTS.
AND SO STAFF IS LINING THAT UP.
WE'VE IDENTIFIED A GOOD IN-HOUSE PROJECT MANAGER.
UM, I I, DID WE PICK THE COLOR OF THE COURTS YET? I THINK THEY'RE BLUE.
ISN'T THAT CORRECT, BRIAN? BLUE COURTS
WELL, I UNDERSTAND THE COLOR IS IMPORTANT.
I I DON'T WANT MY POINT TO BE MISSED.
IT'S REALLY, IT'S A SHADE FACILITY AND IN A BATHROOM
[02:45:01]
AND, AND REALLY DOING IT TO THE STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE THAT, WELL, I, I HEAR YOU, YOU, THE PHASE ONE THOUGH DOES NOT HAVE A BATHROOM PLAN BECAUSE THE UTILITIES AREN'T THERE.I THINK THAT'S JUST IMPORTANT.
SO I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING MS. BECKER ASK ME IS TO PUT PHASE TWO THAT WOULD INCLUDE A BATHROOM, AN EXPANDED PARKING LOT WITH A D A, UM, SPACES AND BARRIER FREE AS WELL AS A D A SPACES, UM, AS PART OF THAT PLAN.
AND I WILL WORK WITH MAYOR ON WHEN TO PUT THAT WITH THE REST OF THE PARKS ON IT.
IT'S, IT'S NOT A HARD TO DO, BUT WE HAVE TO JUST BE MINDFUL THAT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT OLD SCHOOLHOUSE ROAD PARK AS PART OF THE STONY NEIGHBORHOOD CORRIDOR AND THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS, NOT JUST THINKING ABOUT PICKLEBALL, BUT THINKING ABOUT THE LONG GAME AND THE CONTEXT OF THE STONY NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK THROUGH THERE.
SO AGAIN, UM, NOT TO COMPLICATE IT, BUT I KNOW THAT AT THE VERY LEAST, AND, AND BY NO MEANS WAS I LIGHTNING, THAT I'M EXCITED THAT THEY'RE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE DETAIL OF WHAT COLOR THE FENCE IS.
THEY'LL PUT SOME SHADE AND THEY'LL MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS.
AND THE GOOD NEWS IS OF THE $250,000 EARMARKED, WE'RE, WE'RE SPENDING LESS THAN HALF TO GET THE SIX COURTS RIGHT, RIGHT NOW.
UH, MARK, I JUST WANTED TO JUMP IN.
THE PREVIOUS SLIDE SHOWED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TIMING FOR THE CHAPLAIN, UH, COMMUNITY PARK RENOVATION FOR THOSE WHO INTERESTED IN PICKLEBALL AT THAT LOCATION, JUST TO POINT OUT SOME, SOMEONE CAN'T READ THOSE DATES, WHAT OUR EXPECTED TIMELINE IS ON THAT.
YES, AND I AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT, I'VE BEEN OUT TO THE ADRIANA, UM, ADRIANA LANE, UM, OLD SCHOOLHOUSE PARK.
THE ACCESS THERE IS REALLY DIFFICULT YEAH.
UM, AND SO WE DO NEED TO TAKE A CAREFUL LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO THERE, RIGHT? YEAH.
I TRY TO JUMP OVER THAT TIMELINE WHEN I SAW IT UP THERE, I'M LIKE, WELL, I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THAT TODAY, BUT I, I HEAR YOU BECAUSE THAT'S INTENTION, RIGHT? IF WE COULD BRING IT BACK TO YOU TO A WORKSHOP IN OCTOBER AND HAVE A DECISION MADE A CHAPLAIN, AND WE WOULD GET IT ON THE PARKS AND REC COMMISSION IN NOVEMBER AND TOWN COUNCIL APPROVAL IN DECEMBER OR JANUARY, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE AGENDA, UH, STACK LOOKS LIKE IN DECEMBER OR JANUARY.
WE COULD HAVE CHAPLAIN COMMUNITY PARK DECIDED UPON WITH SOME FUNDS IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET TO GET GOING.
AND THEN THINK THROUGH WHAT THAT EARLY PHASE STABILIZATION OF DESIGN AND PERMITTING LOOKS LIKE, AND THEN REALLY DIVE INTO CHAPLAIN PARK NEXT YEAR.
THESE SCHEDULES ARE IN PLACE, RIGHT? I THINK I SAID EARLIER ABOUT PROCESS, THE PROCESSES THERE IS JUST WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE FLAVOR OF CHAPLAIN PARK? WHAT'S THE CROSSINGS PARK? IS IT FIVE FIELDS WITH A 400 FOOT FIELD SOMEWHERE ELSE, OR IS IT FOUR FIELDS AT, AT, AT CROSSINGS? WE, WE HAVE TO DO A DIFFERENT JOB, BETTER JOB BEFORE WE GET BACK TO YOU AT WORKSHOP BASED UPON ALL OF YOUR GOOD INPUT YOU GAVE AND THE PUBLIC INPUT WE RECEIVE TO DATE, WE'LL GET THERE.
UM, WHAT I WILL BRING YOU BACK THOUGH IS PARKS THAT DON'T INCLUDE TENNIS AND RACKETS AND PARKS THAT DO.
SO YOU CAN THINK ABOUT RIGHT SIZING THAT AND MANEUVERING, IS IT ALL IN THAT CHAPLAIN OR NOT? AND SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE RACKETS FACILITY ALONG WITH CHAPLAIN, ALONG WITH SOME OTHER OP OPTIONS.
AND LET'S TALK ABOUT PATTERSON AND TAYLOR AS REAL NEIGHBORHOOD INVESTMENT, SEPARATE DAYS, SEPARATE WORK.
SO TOWN HALL FACILITY, WE'RE, WE'RE CONSTANTLY PUTTING BAND-AIDS ON THAT BUILDING, SO I THINK THAT'LL REMAIN ON THERE.
UM, WE DO HAVE SOME STRUCTURAL ISSUES THERE, BUT WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS WE'VE IMPROVED SOME TECHNOLOGY IN THE BUILDING ONCE AND FOR ALL.
SO THAT WILL NEVER BE LOST NO MATTER WHAT, WHAT HAPPENS.
THAT BUILDING DEFINITELY HAS SOME GREAT TECHNOLOGY IN THERE RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON SOME OF THESE OTHER PIECES, INCLUDING THIS PARKING MASTER PLAN, RIGHT? INSTALLATION OF GATES, CAMERAS, EQUIPMENT.
I KNOW AT COMMUNITY SERVICE, PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE COMMITTEE, UM, THE OTHER DAY YOU STARTED TO TALK ABOUT, UM, THE PARKING PLAN AND THE PARKING REGS AND THE PARKING RATE STRUCTURE AND A LOT OF THAT POLICY WORK.
A LOT OF THAT, THE POLICY DECISIONS THAT NEED TO BE IN PLACE BEFORE WE GO LIVE WITH THIS PROGRAM.
BUT YOU HAVE APPROVED THE FUNDS, WE'VE APPROVED THE CONTRACT, AND WE ARE INSTALLING THE, THE TECHNOLOGY AND THE HARDWARE IN THE, IN THE, IN THE SYSTEM AS WE'RE WORKING WITH YOU ON, ON THE POLICY DECISIONS.
MARK, IS THAT ANTICIPATED TO BE IN PLACE AND OPERABLE BY THE NEXT SUMMER SEASON? YES.
HISTORIC MITCHELLVILLE, FREEDOM PARK PARKING LOT.
UM, WE'VE CLEANED UP MODERN CLASSIC MOTORS AND SOME STU SOME STORM WATER WORK AT GUMTREE ROAD.
[02:50:01]
DOING SOME SURVEYING, SURVEYING AND DESIGN.AND A LOT OF THAT WORK HAS PROVEN TO TAKE A LOT LONGER IN THESE DAYS THAN THAN OTHER DAYS.
SO, UM, LAND ACQUISITION MANUAL, THIS IS ONE THAT, THAT IS ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND IT'S A, IT'S A MANUAL THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR SOME TIME FOR A LONG TIME.
IT HASN'T BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2005.
AND YOU HAD TOLD ME IN JANUARY, AND THEN AGAIN AS YOU ADOPTED THE PLAN TO EVALUATE THE LAND ACQUISITION MANUAL FOR PARKS, OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION, TOWN FACILITIES, COMMERCIAL WORKFORCE, HOUSING DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS, PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS, AND IDENTIFY POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES.
WE DIDN'T GET STARTED ON THIS YET.
I KEEP THINKING WE'RE GOING TO, I KEEP WAITING TO SEE IF SEAN CAN HANDLE IT OR BEN CAN HANDLE IT OR SOMEONE ELSE CAN HANDLE IT, JOSH INCLUDED.
AND WE JUST REALLY HAVEN'T DOVE INTO THIS YET.
WE STILL HAVE SOME MONTHS LEFT TO, TO GET THERE AND WE WILL.
BUT WHAT WE HAVE DONE SINCE JANUARY IS WITH YOUR DECISIONS, THE TOWN HAS PURCHASED SEVERAL PROPERTIES AND, AND ONE THAT'S NOT ON HERE ACTUALLY IS SOME OTHER WORK NEGOTIATED IS THE CROSS ISLAND BUILDING, RIGHT? I WAS TOLD JOSH ON BREAK, WE BOUGHT THAT ONE FOR FREE.
AND SO WE'VE ACQUIRED FIVE PROPERTIES SINCE JANUARY.
UM, THE USE OF REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEE WE WILL USE FOR SOME PROPERTIES, ACCOMMODATIONS TAX AT CLOSING, JOHN TROY, RIGHT? A TAX BEACH PRESERVATION FEE, HOSPITALITY TAX, AND STARTING TO TAKE A LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE SOURCES OF FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US IN THOSE I WOULD CALL TRANSFERS INTO OUR BUDGET.
NOT THE GENERAL FUND, NOT THE, NOT THE, NOT THE STANDARD REVS IN OUR BUDGET, BUT THOSE TRANSFERS IN WE TALKED ABOUT AT, AT TIME OF BUDGET PREP AND APPROVAL.
WE'VE ALSO PUT A MILLION DOLLARS IN AN, IN ITS OWN FUND, I'D SAY PLAYING OFFENSE TO SAVE FUND.
IT'S TO SAVE DOLLARS FOR LAND ACQUISITION IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
WE CAN USE REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEE, A TAX BEACH, PRE H TAX HOSPITALITY.
AND WE ARE ALSO STARTING TO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE BEAUFORT COUNTY GREEN SPACE SALES TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE WITH A LOT OF COMMUNICATION, DIRECT COMMUNICATION TO SENATOR DAVIS WHO'S HELPED PROGRAM THAT AS WELL AS THROUGH OUR OWN REPRESENTATIVE AS YOU APPOINTED MR. PETER CHRISTIAN GM OF, OF HILTON HEAD PLANTATION, BUT ALSO YOUR APPOINTMENT ON THAT COMMITTEE.
SO THAT'S A GREAT SOURCE OF DOLLARS.
THAT'S A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.
AND THOSE DOLLARS ARE IN PLACE TO BUY DENSITY RIGHTS TO BUY PROPERTY IN WHOLE OR IN PART.
BUT THERE'S ALSO SOME POLICY THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW TO QUALIFY PROJECTS AS WELL AS ASK FOR, UM, CONTRIBUTING FUNDS, YOU KNOW, MATCHING, MATCHING FUNDS.
AND THAT'S A SLIDING SCALE AS I FIRST SAW IT.
SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT POLICY SIDE OF IT, GIVING SOME OPINION TO BUFORD COUNTY COUNTY THROUGH MR. CHRISTIAN AS WELL.
MARK, MAY I ADD A COMMENT ON THAT? UM, I THINK IN THE LONG RUN, WHAT WILL DISTINGUISH HILTON HEAD ISLAND IS THAT OUR CARE OF PRESERVING EDGE CONDITIONS, WHETHER IT'S ON THE MARSH, THE OCEAN, OR OUR ROADWAYS.
AND SO I THINK TO SOME DEGREE OUR LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAM OUGHT TO HAVE CONSERVATION AS A PART OF IT, BUT ALSO A PRIORITY OF EDGE CONDITIONS.
AND WHETHER IT'S OUTRIGHT PURCHASE OR THE PURCHASE OF EASEMENTS, I THINK WE AS A TOWN OUGHT TO BE PROACTIVE IN TRYING TO PROTECT THOSE LONG TERM.
THE SWOT ANALYSIS OF THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND SOLID WASTE RECYCLING COUNCIL APPROVED THE APPROACH ON THE SWAT.
UH, BACK IN MAY, A CONTRACT WAS SIGNED WITH A GOLD SMITH RESOURCES IN JUNE, AND A DRAFT REPORT AND FINDING IS DUE TO US IN NOVEMBER.
WHEN WE RECEIVE THAT, DIGEST IT, UNDERSTAND IT, PERHAPS GIVE SOME COMMENT BACK AND GET IT BACK TO YOU, THIS WILL BE READY FOR COMMITTEE WORK AND PROPOSAL TO EVENTUAL PROPOSAL TO TOWN COUNCIL.
UM, AND A LOT OF WORK WITH BUFORT COUNTY ALONG THE WAY EARLY INTO NEXT YEAR, MEASURING THE PERFORMANCE, REALLY REFINING THE, THE, THE, THE MARKETING PLAN AND MEASURING PERFORMANCE.
WE'VE GOT ITEMS UP THERE THAT HAVE BEEN LAID OUT, SURVEY CURRENT METRICS, REVIEW THE METRICS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, SUPPORT THE D M O MARKETING COUNCIL, CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND INCLUDE ECOTOURISM, UH, CULTURAL TOURISM, WELLNESS TOURISM, SPORTS TOUR TOURISM INTO THE MARKETING MATERIALS WE RECEIVED AND REVIEWED THOSE INDUSTRY METRICS IN APRIL.
THE ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY CORNERSTONE ELEMENT AND
[02:55:01]
METRICS ARE IN THE D M O MARKETING PLAN.THE MARKETING COUNCIL WILL CONVENE IN FEBRUARY ALREADY, IT SEEMS LIKE, AROUND THE CORNER TO START TALKING ABOUT NEXT YEAR'S.
AND THAT THE IN INVOLVEMENT INCLUSION OF THOSE ELEMENTS, ECOTOURISM, SPORTS, TOURISM, AND THOSE THINGS IN BETWEEN HAVE BEEN PRIORITIES WITHIN THE MOST RECENTLY ADOPTED PLAN.
I THINK WHAT IS GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE ISN'T JUST WHAT'S IN THE PLAN IS, BUT HOW THAT'S MEASURED FORWARD AND HOW WE SEE THOSE RESULTS GETTING INTO THAT FEBRUARY PLANNING AND REPORTING FROM THIS CURRENT YEAR.
YEAH, I, I'D JUST LIKE TO, TO NOTE FOR THE, FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WATCHING AND, UM, AND THOSE THAT ARE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT COUNCIL DID, UH, ONE-ON-ONE, TWO ON TWO MEETINGS WITH THE CHAMBER AND STAFF TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AS TO THEIR GOALS, OUR GOALS.
AND IT WAS A GREAT EFFORT, UM, TO OPEN UP COMMUNICATION AND PUT THINGS ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
SO I JUST WANNA LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT AS WELL.
AND MAYOR, IF I CAN ADD TO THAT, UM, DURING THOSE MEETINGS WITH THEIR CONSULTANT ON THEIR STRATEGIC PLAN, WE LEARNED THAT THEY'RE BETTER, NEWER METRICS TO BE USED.
AND SO I WOULD ASK US TO TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE NEWER METRICS THAT, AS I UNDERSTAND BETTER REFLECT SOME OF THE VALUES THAT WE IDENTIFY AS BEING HILTON HEAD VALUES.
LET'S PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE NEW METRICS.
I DON'T HAVE THEM, I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THEM, BUT I DO KNOW THERE'S SOME NEWER, BETTER METRICS TO BE USED.
MAY I, UM, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, AND I THINK THOSE ARE ALL GOOD, UM, STATEMENTS UP THERE.
MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE THAT SOONER THAN LATER, THE MAYOR, YOU MARK CREATE, UM, A SMALL COMMITTEE TO BEGIN UNDERSTANDING WHAT PATSY JUST SAID.
WHAT ARE THE METRICS? WHAT'S THE ALIGNMENT WITH OUR COMP PLAN? WHAT'S THE COMMUNICATION WE WANT WITH THE D M O GOING FORWARD, YOU KNOW, CLIENT AGENT RELATIONSHIPS AND SO ON.
I THINK ALL THOSE THINGS NEED TO BE THOUGHT ABOUT IN ADVANCE OF OUR DISCUSSIONS ON THE CONTRACT THIS TIME.
SO I, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE SOONER THAN LATER.
MR. DAVIS WOULD BE A GOOD, GOOD WAY TO DIVE INTO SOME OF THAT WORK AND THEIR ROLE ASSESSING ALTERNATIVE REV SOURCES AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.
IT'S CLEAR UP HERE, RIGHT? WE'RE TAKING A LOOK AT LAND ACQUISITION FUNDING, THE BEAUFORT COUNTY GREEN SPACE, IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE ALREADY USED THROUGH THE YEARS, THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM WE HAVE WITH AS MUCH LAND HAS BEEN VERY CREATIVE, BUT ALSO VERY STABLE NON-RISK WAYS, RIGHT? ME MEANS TO LEVERAGE DOLLARS AND INVEST THOSE DOLLARS IN LAND ACQUISITION.
BUT THAT GREEN SPACE PROGRAM IS, IS RIPE FOR US RIGHT NOW.
WE TALKED AT STRATEGIC PLAN, UH, ASSESS A VOTER REFERENDUM.
WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT DEDICATED FUNDING FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING.
AND BECAUSE OF THIS, WE STARTED THAT NEW FUND AND PUT 3.3 INTO IT, UM, EVALUATE THE MID ISLAND TIFF.
WE DIDN'T DIVE INTO THAT YET, BUT THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT MID ISLAND DISTRICT.
AND IF YOU'D LIKE, THINK THROUGH A TIFF DISTRICT IN THAT REGARD THAT COULD HELP FUND THOSE PUBLIC PROJECTS IN THE MID ISLAND AREA.
ASSESS DEVELOPMENT, PERMIT FEES, AND PROPOSE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS.
I THINK WE ADDED, YOU KNOW, WE TOOK A LOOK AT SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMITS AND WE TOOK A LOOK AT DEVELOPMENT PERMITS AND A STORMWATER PERMIT FEE.
THAT ALONE ADDED THOSE ALONE, ADDED AROUND $2.2 MILLION OF RECURRING FUNDS ANNUALLY TO OUR, TO OUR BUDGET.
UM, BUT IT ALSO INDICATES TO CON THAT WE NEED TO CONDUCT A STORMWATER UTILITY RATE STUDY.
WE ARE CURRENTLY THE HIGHEST RATE IN THE REGION BY A BUNCH OF BUCKS.
BUT TO REALLY ASSESS IT, MY ADVICE BACK WHEN AND, AND REMAINS TODAY, LET'S FINISH THE RESILIENCE PLAN FIRST AND SEE WHAT THAT CAPITAL COST COULD BE AND REALLY MEASURE IT AGAINST OUR LEVEL OF SERVICE AND EXPECTATION AND TAKE A LOOK AT OUR RATE AT THAT TIME.
I THINK THAT'S THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO LOOK AT THAT.
UM, ASSESS MUNICIPAL BOND CAPABILITIES, THE INSTALLMENT PURCHASE, REV BOND, THE MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT INSTALLMENT
[03:00:01]
PURCHASE REVENUE BOND, AND ALSO ADOPT AN AT TAX FUNDING POLICY.SO YOU CAN SEE, AND JUST FROM YOUR OWN KNOWLEDGE, WE'RE, WE'RE WELL UNDERWAY OF, OF A LOT OF THIS WORK.
UM, WE REALLY HAVEN'T DOVE INTO 11 FOUR OR 11 EIGHT YET, BUT WE'RE STARTING TO THINK THROUGH THE, THE LONGER GAME OF, OF, OF REVENUE.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY, I'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE MR. BROWN AS THE CHAIR OF THE FINANCE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE ON HOW TO, HOW TO REALLY DIGEST A LOT OF THIS ON, ON AGENDAS AS, AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
MARK, COULD I MAKE A COMMENT PLEASE? ON THE, UH, GREEN SPACE? YES, SIR.
UH, REFERENDUM, UH, THAT'S A SALES TAX REFERENDUM AND SOMETHING LIKE 25% OF THE SALES TAX REVENUE IN THIS COUNTY IS DEVELOPED ON THIS ISLAND.
SO WE NEED TO BE ASSURED THAT WE'RE GONNA GET OUR FAIR SHARE OF THAT A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS TOWARDS GREEN SPACE PRESERVATION RIGHT HERE ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
I'VE MADE THAT CLEAR TO PETER.
I BELIEVE PETER'S MADE THAT CLEAR TO THAT COMMITTEE, AND THAT AS WE WORK CLOSELY WITH, UH, THE INTERIM OR FUTURE ADMINISTRATOR OF BUFORT COUNTY AND THE CHAIR OF COUNTY COUNCIL, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS $25 MILLION.
THERE'S A BUNCH ON THIS PAGE, YOU KNOW, ESTABLISHED LAND ACQUISITION FUNDING STRATEGIES.
UH, AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T UPDATED THAT MANUAL TO CLEARLY STATE WHERE ALL THOSE REVS ARE, BUT IN THE WORK THAT WE'VE JUST DONE TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTIES, WE'VE USED MORE THAN JUST A REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEE.
AND WE AREN'T JUST TRYING TO USE GENERAL FUND TO ACQUIRE, ACQUIRE PROPERTY.
UM, WE ARE RESEARCHING THE, THE NEW STATE LAW THAT ALLOWS THE USE OF AT TAX FUNDS, UM, FOR HOUSING.
THERE'S SOME WORK TO DO THERE.
I'M NOT SURE I REALLY CAN GIVE YOU GREAT ADVICE ON HOW TO EXACTLY TO USE IT TODAY, BUT I KNOW THAT THAT HOUSING STUDY NEEDS TO BE IN PLACE, THAT HOUSING ASSESSMENT AND THAT WE'RE ALSO BRINGING MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA THAT HAD A LOT OF WORK BEHIND THIS WITH THEIR, WITH THEIR FOLKS TO TOWN SOON TO REALLY DIVE INTO, INTO THAT WORK.
UM, BEFOR COUNTIES CONSIDERING A POSSIBLE VOTER REFERENDUM, YOU'LL HEAR A LOT MORE ABOUT THAT ON TUESDAY EVENING AT COUNCIL.
WE'VE USED RECURRING AND NON-RECURRING FUNDS IN THE FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING.
UM, YOU'RE ALSO CONSIDERING OTHER FORMS OF FUNDING, UM, AND THAT YOU ESTABLISHED A HOUSING ACTION COMMITTEE.
AND I KNOW THAT THAT WILL BE SOME OF THE WORK THEY DO TOO.
AT THE END OF THE DAY IN THE BUDGET IS WHERE I'VE LINED UP WITH OUR FEARLESS LEADER, JOHN SCHROER, OF ALL THOSE DIFFERENT SOURCES OF REVENUE.
AND I THINK THAT THIS YEAR, THE ADDITION OF $10 MILLION INTO THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, UH, ABOVE AND BEYOND, UH, UH, JUST A GENERAL FUND USE HAS BEEN A TESTAMENT TO US USING THOSE DOLLARS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY AND MORE APPROPRIATE TO, TO WHAT YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.
WE HAVEN'T EVALUATED THE MID ISLAND TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT YET, BUT THE FIRST STEP IN A TIF IS TO HAVE A GREAT PLAN IN PLACE THAT PRIORITIZE PROJECTS BASED UPON COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
UM, IF WE, IF WE GET INTO THAT, UM, WE'LL GET INTO THAT IN THE NEW YEAR.
UH, YOU ADOPTED A NEW FEE SCHEDULE IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
AND THEN, LIKE I SAID, WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH FINANCE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE ABOUT THE MUNICIPAL BOND CAPABILITIES, SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROGRAM.
SORRY, JUST ONE QUICK, TRY BE QUICK WITH MY COMMENTS RIGHT NOW.
UM, SO WITH REGARD, WE HAD A PUBLIC COMMENT WITH REGARD TO OUR STRAT PLAN AND ALL ACCOMPLISH ALL, ALL THE THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IN FUNDING.
AND I, I'M HOPING THAT THIS GIVES SOME FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT AREAS WE'RE CONSIDERING AND LOOKING AT FUNDING SOURCES TO BE ABLE TO DO THE THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS TOLD US THEY WANT US TO DO.
THE WAY I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT IT WITH JOHN, AND IN SOME OF MY CONVERSATIONS WITH MR. BROWN IS THE BUDGET'S INTACT, RIGHT? WE HAVE A, A ROBUST, VERY ROBUST CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, AND IT'S FUNDED BY CASH THIS YEAR, AND MOST LIKELY NEXT YEAR, SIMPLY BECAUSE WE CAN'T BUILD PROJECTS FAST ENOUGH BASED UPON LIFECYCLE OF CAPITAL PROJECT, RIGHT? YOUR WORK TOGETHER TO DECIDE ON WHAT TO DO, THE REAL DESIGN, PERMITTING, SURVEYING, DESIGN PERMITTING, UM, AND THEN MOBILIZING AND, AND BIDDING, AND MAKING SURE THOSE, THOSE BIDS COME IN AT BUDGET OR BELOW OR REFINING SCOPE BY THE TIME WE GO BACK AND FORTH ON A LOT OF THAT TO BUILD THE PROJECT, RIGHT? WITH THE DOLLARS WE HAVE, IT'S TAKING TIME.
AND SO WE CAN'T BUILD AND SPEND IN 12 MONTHS, RIGHT? THAT SHOCK CLOCK ISN'T ONLY 12 MONTHS, BUT IF WE ARE ADOPTING A RACKETS FACILITY, MASTER
[03:05:01]
PLAN, AND A CHAPLAIN, AND A CROSSINGS AND A PATTERSON AND A TAILOR, AND A LOT OF THOSE ARE C D B G FUNDS, THE LAST TWO, BUT NOT ALL, AND THEN A FEW OTHERS, LET ALONE SOME ROADS IN THE 1 CENT SALES TAX PROJECT LIST, YOU HAVE TO DECIDE AND I'LL HELP.UM, BUT YOU HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SPEND AND WHEN AND WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE REVENUE SOURCES BEYOND OUR CURRENT BUDGET.
OUR BUDGET IS SO HEALTHY, IT IS, IF NOT THE VERY BEST, WELL-BALANCED BUDGET ALIGNED WITH STRATEGIC PLAN AND EXPECTATIONS FOR CAP PROJECTS.
BUT WHERE, WHERE WE NEED TO IMPROVE IS YEAR TWO, THREE, AND FOUR, RIGHT? WE'RE REALLY GOOD LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR, BUT I THINK THAT'S A LOT OF OUR WORK WE NEED TO DO.
AND SO I THINK A LOT OF THAT ASSESSMENT OF SHOULD WE MOVE FORWARD WITH A TIF DISTRICT IN MID ISLAND RIGHT NOW? ARE WE READY? ARE WE READY TO BUILD? BUT KNOW THAT BORROWING MONEY IS GOING TO TAKE US SIX TO NINE MONTHS, SO WE HAVE TO BE READY AND COGNIZANT OF THAT.
MR. MAYOR, LET ME, LET ME JUST ADD TO THAT.
UM, I SORT OF FEEL LIKE THIS, UH, STRATEGY NUMBER 11 IN THE SEQUENCE OF THE CONVERSATION SHOULD PROBABLY BE AT THE END BECAUSE MUCH OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING, WE CAN'T DO WITHOUT FUNDING.
AND I WANT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS COUNCIL CURRENTLY IS REAPING THE BENEFITS OF PREVIOUS COUNCILS BEING BOLD ENOUGH TO BOND, OKAY? SO I DON'T WANT US TO BE RELUCTANT ABOUT THE WHOLE IDEA OF BORROWING MONEY BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE FOR US TO STAY PACE WITH OUR EXPECTATIONS.
YOU CANNOT BE EXCELLENT WITHOUT HAVING THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO GET THERE.
UH, SO I'M JUST TRYING TO OPEN OUR, OUR MINDS AND THOUGHTS AROUND THIS TOPIC.
I UNDERSTAND IT IS SOMEWHAT SCARY, UM, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IF WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE OUTCOME TO BE THE SAME THAT IT HAS BEEN OVER TIME, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE SERIOUSLY.
SHORT TERM RENTAL PROGRAM FOR TODAY'S SAKE.
AND WE'LL JUST DIVE IN A LITTLE BIT OF THE DATA REVIEW DATA OBTAINED THROUGH OUR SHORT-TERM RENTAL SOFTWARE AND EVALUATE PERMITS LOCATION MAGNITUDE.
SO ARE WE DOING THAT? ABSOLUTELY.
WE'VE BEEN, I'VE SENT YOU A COUPLE OF EMAILS HERE AND THERE ON SOME OF THAT DATA, BUT GOV OS, WHICH IS OUR SOFTWARE SYSTEM, BUT REALLY THE, THE, THE SOFTWARE THAT'S MINING, SO TO SPEAK, THE, THE SPACE WHERE SOCIAL MEDIA AND WEBSITE, UH, MARKET AND, AND RESERVE SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
AND SO WHAT WE'VE LEARNED, SO FROM JANUARY 3RD TO JULY 19TH, THERE WERE A LITTLE MORE THAN 15,600 ACTIVE LISTINGS THAT DOES, UM, SOMETIMES THINGS LIST TWICE.
GOV OS HAS IDENTIFIED 7,585 SHORT-TERM RENTALS WITH ACTIVE ADVERTISEMENTS.
SO THAT MEANS, THAT MEANS THERE'S THAT MANY SHORT-TERM RENTALS BEING ADVERTISED ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND, WE RECEIVED 6,825 SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMIT APPLICATIONS.
NOT ALL OF THOSE ARE APPROVED.
THERE'S STILL ABOUT 200 PENDING.
WHY? WELL, WE'RE STILL GETTING INFORMATION FROM THEM.
SOME DON'T HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE.
WE AREN'T GIVING YOU A SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMIT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE.
SO WE'RE WORKING, IT'S ABOUT 200.
OUR INVENTORY OF THE 68 25, OR I SHOULD SAY YEAH, 72% ARE VILLAS, 28% SINGLE FAMILY, 70% OF OUR INVENTORY, OUR PERMIT INVENTORY, WHICH IS 66 25, IS CONCENTRATED.
SO 70% SEA PINES PD, FOREST BEACH, AND WE'RE COLLECTING DATA FROM SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMIT APPS ON HOW MANY ARE YOU ADVERTISED AS OCCUPIED, NUMBER OF BEDROOMS AVAILABLE, PARKING SPACES, AS WELL AS OTHER DATA.
SO WHAT WE SAID A YEAR PLUS AGO, HEY, WE'RE GONNA PUT THIS IN PLACE.
WE'LL PUT THE RULES OF OF, OF ENGAGEMENT IN PLACE.
WE'LL MEASURE IT, WE'LL MONITOR IT, WE'LL INCREASE THE EXPECTATIONS OF HOW YOU TREAT THE HOME, LET ALONE HOW YOU TREAT THE RESIDENT NEXT DOOR IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AS THIS PROGRAM CAME IN PLACE, WE'RE MEASURING IT, UH, IT'S SUCCESSFUL EARLY ON, GOBOS SAID THAT THEY ANTICIPATE A 90% COMPLIANCE RATE BY THE FIRST YEAR.
WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 89, RIGHT? SO IN TERMS OF COMPLIANCY, WE HAVE
[03:10:01]
68 25 PERMITS APPLIED FOR WITH 75, 85 ACTIVE, UH, ACTIVE ADVERTISEMENTS.SO, UM, WE'VE BEEN VERY DILIGENT TO PUT A COMMUNICATION PLAN TOGETHER TO HOLD STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS, NOT JUST BEFORE AND DURING, AND RIGHT BEFORE YOU APPROVED IT, BUT AFTER THE FACT, REALLY TO ASK HOW ARE WE DOING WITH SOME OF THESE LARGER SCALE PROJECT MANAGERS? DREW BROWN COMES TO MIND, WHAT A GREAT RESOURCE HE'S BEEN BECAUSE HE'S TOLD US WHAT'S GOING WELL AND WHAT HE NEEDS US TO THINK ABOUT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY, AT LEAST FROM HIS LENS AS WELL AS SOME OTHERS HAVE SHARED THAT.
UM, WE'VE HAD SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS, TV NEWS INTERVIEWS, PRESS AND NEWS RELEASED, EMAIL BLAST WEBPAGE, PUBLIC MEETINGS, STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS DIRECTLY AND IN A GROUP, UH, AND ON AND ON.
AND WE DO HAVE A SHORT TERM RENTAL PUBLIC DASHBOARD.
UM, WE'VE RECEIVED ABOUT 143 COMPLAINTS.
AND IT'S NOT PERFECT TO START, I'LL ADMIT THAT, RIGHT? YOU NEED TO PUT SOME GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE OUT.
WE ARE ALSO LEARNING ON HOW TO MOBILIZE.
AND WHEN SOMEONE'S, UH, PUTTING A COMPLAINT DIRECTLY VIA AN EMAIL THAT'S NOT PICKED UP BY GOBOS, IT'S PICKED UP BY ME OR STAFF AND STRAIGHT TO BOB.
I APPRECIATE BOB GETTING OUT THERE ON A FRIDAY NIGHT OR A SATURDAY MORNING IF HE NEEDS TO, UM, WITH HIS TEAM.
BUT OF THE 1 43, 30 9% WERE PARKING COMPLAINTS, 34 NOISE, 13% TRASH, 7% ILLEGAL RENTAL, AND 7% OTHERS.
UM, I, I THINK OUR PROGRAM'S DOING WELL BECAUSE WE ARE QUICK TO RESPOND, ALL RIGHT? AND I GIVE BOB AND HIS ENTIRE TEAM, FIVE OR SIX FOLKS THERE AS THEIR PRIORITY, UM, AND HOW THEY MOBILIZED TO JUST GET OUT, KNOCK ON THE DOOR, MOVE A CAR, QUIET THE NOISE, AND REPORT THAT, BUT WE ALSO REPORT BACK TO THE HOMEOWNER AND THE PROPERTY MANAGER, NOT JUST THE PERSON THAT PARKED IN THE WRONG SPACE.
SO I THINK ALL OF THAT'S REALLY WORKING.
WELL, MARK, IF I MAY, JUST FOR A SECOND, STOP THERE AND, UM, YES.
EVERY I, BOB, UM, AND HIS TEAM ARE DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB.
THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WENT INVOLVED, ARE DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB.
WHAT I WANNA JUST ADDRESS IS THE 143 COMPLAINTS THROUGH GOBOS.
YES, YOU'VE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT SOMETIMES I THINK YOU, JOSH, STAFF ALL GET COMPLAINTS DIRECTLY TO YOU.
I'M SURE THAT EACH COUNCIL MEMBER SITTING UP HERE ALSO GETS COMPLAINTS DIRECT AT US.
BUT, UM, I WOULD ASK IF WE CAN GO AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CHECKING IN WITH THE, UM, WITH THE, UM, PLAN DEVELOPMENT, PALMETTO DUNES, SEA PINES, OTHERS WHO ARE ALSO GETTING COMPLAINTS THAT DON'T NECESSARILY, THAT THEY'RE ADDRESSING THEMSELVES INTERNALLY, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADDING THOSE NUMBERS TO OUR OVERALL NUMBER.
AND THE REASON IT'S IMPORTANT IS, I KNOW THROUGH VARIOUS CONVERSATIONS, PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT 143 COMPLAINTS, AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT THESE PERCENTAGES AND THEY'RE SAYING, SO WHAT WAS THE BIG DEAL? AND I THINK THAT IF YOU TAKE ALL THOSE VARIOUS PLACES, ADD THEM TOGETHER, IT'S MORE THAN 143 COMPLAINTS.
AND I WANNA BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, UM, WITH THAT ANSWER.
THANK YOU TO BOB AND HIS TEAM.
IT HAS MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE, I BELIEVE, THIS SUMMER.
I'D LIKE AN EXPLANATION OF 15,000 OR SO TOTAL ADS OUT THERE, BUT ONLY 7,000, 7,800, UM, RENT UNITS.
AND FEWER THAN THAT ARE COMPLETE.
WHAT, WHAT'S THE DOUBLING? IS IT, IS IT JUST TWO ADS? HERE'S AN EXAMPLE.
AND THEY CAN'T TIE SAME UNIT TIE TOGETHER AT ONE.
IF WE JUST LOOK AT THE AD, HOW MANY ADS ARE OUT THERE, WHERE ARE THEY BEING ADVERTISED? BUT THE REAL NUMBER, SIR, IS THAT GOV OSS THROUGH THEIR INVESTIGATIONS HAVE IDENTIFIED 75 85 UNITS.
SOMETIMES TWO ADS, RIGHT? IF I'M, I'M PUTTING MY HOUSE ON AIRBNB, I MIGHT ALSO LIST IT SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND I GUESS A QUESTION THAT'S TIED TO, TO GLEN'S QUESTION IS, HOW OFTEN IS THAT BEING LOOKED AT? IS THAT ON AN ONGOING BASIS? IS IT EVERY SIX MONTHS? I, I, EVERY DAY.
WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS EVERY DAY.
WE'RE IN THE INVESTIGATING BUSINESS, THE INSPECTION AND FORCE EVERY DAY.
I'D LIKE TO FOLLOW UP ON SHORT TERM RENTALS.
[03:15:01]
TOMORROW, THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE IS GOING TO BE DEALING WITH L M O AMENDMENTS THAT, IN MY OPINION, ARE PRINCIPALLY DRIVEN BY THE CONFLICT WE HAVE BETWEEN PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES AND THE SCALE OF, UM, UH, SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND THE PARKING DEMANDS OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS.TO ME, THE CRUX OF THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL ISSUE IS MORE GEOGRAPHIC.
IT'S WHERE THEY ENHANCE OR ARE EASILY ASSIMILATED INTO AN AREA AND WHERE THEY ARE NOT.
SO MY QUESTION IS, WHEN IS COUNCIL GOING TO GRAPPLE WITH THAT CRUX, THAT SORT OF PIVOTAL ISSUE? WE'RE TOUCHING THIS, THE, THE EDGES MM-HMM.
AND UNTIL WE SAY, THIS IS WHERE WE WANT TO ACCOMMODATE, AND THIS IS WHERE WE DON'T, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE PUSHING IT DOWN THE ROAD.
I SEE YOU WRITING THIS GREAT QUESTION.
IN THE LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE, DISTRICT PLANNING, GULLAH GEECHEE TASK FORCE WORK PLAN.
UM, WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON SOME TOP RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, SORRY, I CAN'T READ IT.
REMAINING RECOMMENDATIONS ARE BEING ADDRESSED THROUGH DISTRICT PLANNING, CONTINUING IMPROVEMENT OF OUR RESOURCES, UM, AND THEN COLLABORATING WITH THE COMMUNITY.
SO, UM, 15 OF THE TOP 16 HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED OR IMPLEMENTED.
UM, FOUR, ALLOW MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR LANDOWNERS.
STAFF HAS FORMED A REFERRAL RELATIONSHIP WITH A HERITAGE LIBRARY.
UH, SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS ARE BEING ADDRESSED THROUGH THE TOWN'S ONGOING DISTRICT PLANNING AND LAND MANAGEMENT AMENDMENT INITIATIVES.
WE ARE WORKING ON A PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EFFORTS, AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH SEVERAL WORKSHOPS IN HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS.
I KNOW THAT CENTER FOR HEIRS, PROPERTY PRESERVATION, AND BEFOR COUNTY TREASURER AS IT'S TWO EXAMPLES.
AND THEN WE ARE WORKING TO REALLY BRING TO LIFE THE PRODUCTION OF THE CULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR TOWN EMPLOYEES AND OFFICIALS OF THE, THE FRAMEWORK OF THAT IS IN PLACE.
AND THE ANTICIPATED LAUNCH DATE OF THAT IS LATER IN 2023.
SO, AM I MISSING ANYTHING RIGHT NOW FOR THAT? OKAY.
I'LL ALSO SAY TOO, THAT AS WE GO LIVE WITH OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, OUR GULLAH GEECHEE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, THE ALIGNMENT HERE HELPS A LOT, UH, AS WELL, FACILITATING THE RELOCATION OF THE HISTORIC ST.
JAMES BAPTIST CHURCH TO MITIGATE ANY IMPACTS CAUSED FROM THE AIRPORT OPS AND EXPANSION, AS WELL AS SAFETY CONCERNS.
UM, WE SAID WE'D WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH ST.
JAMES AND BEAUFORT COUNTY, AND THAT WE WOULD SUBMIT AN AGREED UPON RELOCATION PLAN FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, THE F A A, UM, AND THAT, THAT SUBMISSION IS IN THE WORKS.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING LEFT, RIGHT AND CENTER.
SOMETIMES ONE STEP BACK, ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS BACK, ONE STEP FORWARD ON THIS.
BUT I THINK THAT AS OF LATE, THERE IS A GOOD PLAN IN PLACE TO WORK WITH ST.
JAMES CHURCH, DEFINITELY IN CONJUNCTION AND IN CONCERT WITH BUFORT COUNTY.
AND JARED RELIC'S POINT ON THIS, UM, AND XENOS IS OUR POINT ON THIS.
ZENO, YOU'RE, YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND YOU'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE HERE, SO I APPRECIATE IT.
UM, COUPLE UPDATES TODAY, BUFORT COUNTY IS DESIRED, THOUGH THAT THEY BE THE LEAD ENTITY IN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT.
I'D SAY THAT JARED FRAX, HE AND I TALKED TWICE THIS PAST WEEK, UM, AND THAT WE HAVE A REVISED PLAN IN PLACE TO BRING THIS PROJECT FORWARD TO F A A.
ON JUNE 29TH, BEAUFORT COUNTY CONDUCTED A MEETING OF A NEWLY FORMED TASK FORCE REPS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL, ST.
JAMES MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, BELIEVE MR. BROWN, MR. STANFORD, UM, SENATOR DAVIS AND OTHER LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS.
THE RESULTS OF THE MEETING WERE THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY WAS GONNA SET UP A MEETING WITH THE F A A TO DEFINE CONDITIONS THAT ARE AGREEABLE, LIKE FOR LIKE, RIGHT? SO THE BIG DETAIL HERE IS THAT, AT LEAST ACCORDING TO THE PROJECT EXPECTATION RIGHT NOW, THAT IT'S A, LIKE, FOR, LIKE, THAT THE PROJECT THAT'S MOVING IS A SIMILAR PROJECT AS IT ESTABLISHES COMPARED TO WHERE IT CURRENTLY SITS.
WHAT AN IMPORTANT THOUGH PROJECT
[03:20:01]
WE'RE WORKING ON, AND WE'VE GOTTA BE CAREFUL WITH IT.UM, STAFF ANTICIPATES THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY TO ALLOW AND HELP, NOT ALLOW, BUT TO HELP ST.
JAMES PUT AN OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE CONSULTANT ON THE PROJECT IN THE COMING WEEKS, ON JULY 6TH, SENATOR DAVIS SENT A LETTER TO THE U S D O T AND OTHER F A A OFFICIALS REQUESTING THEIR SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT.
AND SENATOR DAVIS ALSO LET US KNOW THAT THE STATE, WITH HIS LEADERSHIP SECURED FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION DOLLARS AS A STARTING POINT, OR PERHAPS AN ADD TO THIS PROJECT COMING TO LIFE AND, AND TO FRUITION.
WE TALK IN THE LAST STRATEGY, IMPLEMENT BEACH PARK ENHANCEMENTS.
UH, LITTLE BIT OF DETAIL, I THINK THAT WE'RE MANAGING BEACHES A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY ON A AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET BETTER ALL THE TIME.
SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'VE ADDED SEASONAL BEACH TECHS AND BEACH AMBASSADORS FOCUSING ON CUSTOMER SERVICE, CONSUMER SERVICE, GENERAL MAINTENANCE WITHIN THE PARKS.
THERE WERE 36 BEACH WEDDINGS IN JUNE AND 27 IN JULY.
HOW ABOUT THAT? I DIDN'T KNOW THE NUMBER WAS THAT HIGH UNTIL I LOOKED AT THIS.
COLLECTIVELY, WE'RE WORKING ON THE ROLLOUT OF THE NEW BEACH PARKING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITH OUR, WITH OUR GROUP THAT WE HIRED TO PUT THAT PROGRAM IN PLACE.
THERE'S 293 TRASH CANS ON THE BEACH TRASH COLLECTION AND BEACH DEBRIS IS HIGH.
AND WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS.
WE HAVE A COUPLE DIFFERENT CONTRACTS.
ONE'S WITH SHORE BEACH, ANOTHER WITH, UH, SPARTINA.
UM, BUT A TOTAL OF 104 TONS OF TRASH REMOVED FROM THE BEACH IN JUNE AND 154 IN JULY.
SOME OF THAT 338 CHAIRS, 351 TOYS, AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER ELEMENTS.
I WAS AT THE BEACH THIS WEEKEND WITH MY FAMILY.
I WAS WALKING BY A GROUP AND IT WAS GREAT.
THERE WAS THE, THE BIN AT, UH, SEA PINES, AND THERE WERE FOLKS LEAVING, AND THEY WERE PUTTING THEIR CHAIR IN THE BIN.
THEY WERE PUTTING THEIR PADDLES IN THE BIN.
THEY WERE PUTTING THEIR BUCKETS IN THE BIN, AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE BIN SAYING, OH MY GOODNESS, WE CAN USE THIS NEXT TIME INSTEAD OF BUYING IT ALL AND COMING BACK TO THE BEACH.
SO I'LL, I'LL TELL YOU A, A BIG SHOUT OUT TO ANGIE FOR, FOR PUSHING A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS, BUT ALSO A BIG THANK YOU TO THOSE PARTNERS IN PLACE.
'CAUSE WE DIDN'T DO THAT OURSELF.
UM, AND SO IT, IT'S, IT'S WORKING.
I WOULD SAY BEACH WHEELCHAIRS.
WE RENTED 22 WHEELCHAIRS IN MAY, 94 IN JUNE, 151 IN JULY.
AND SO I THINK THE PROGRAM'S GROWING.
AND THE PALMETTO BREEZE TROLLEY IS RUNNING.
HERE'S SOME, SOME DATA ON THE TROLLEY HAS BEEN RUNNING AS PLANNED.
SO KIND OF A LOW NUMBER FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE.
BUT THEN 861 RIDERS OVER THE JULY 4TH WEEKEND.
AND RIDERS, UH, IN JULY WERE 3,364.
OUR BEACH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM, I BELIEVE, IS IN ITS THIRD YEAR.
UH, SOME OF THE AMBASSADORS ARE PROVIDING THOSE SURVEYS.
WE LOOK, WE, WE SURVEYED 1,518 PEOPLE.
UH, LOCAL ZIP CODES ACCOUNTED FOR 13%, 25% CAME FOR THE DAY, AND 74% STAYED OVERNIGHT.
AND ABOUT FOUR PEOPLE PER PARTY.
WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH SEA TURTLE PATROL.
UM, 339 TURTLE NEST SITES, TURTLE PATROL AND TURTLE TRACK TRACKERS ARE IN FULL SWING.
UM, AND WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORT THEM.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO DO THEIR WORK FOR THEM 'CAUSE THAT'S THEIR WORK, THAT'S THEIR PASSION.
BUT WE'RE THERE TO SUPPORT THEM AND WE'RE THERE TO ENFORCE AS WE NEED TO THROUGH THE SAME PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, GROUP.
AND SHORE BEACH, UH, PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE THEM FIRST BECAUSE THEY ARE INCREDIBLE AT WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
UM, THEY RESPONDED TO REPORTS OF 366 MISSING PERSONS THIS SEASON, AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER DATA ON THAT PAGE, UM, STINGRAYS JELLYFISH AND, AND WHATNOT.
SO WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO SUPPORT THEM AS WE NEED TO.
UM, I'M, I'M GLAD TO SEE WE, WE ARE CONDUCTING THESE SURVEYS THROUGH THE BEACH AMBASSADOR.
UH, AND IT'S MY FIRST TIME REALLY, I GUESS SEEING THIS, WHERE WE'VE GOT SORT OF THREE QUARTERS OF OUR RESPONDENTS SAYING THAT THEY STAY OVERNIGHT AND ABOUT A QUARTER OF THEM SAYING THAT THEY'RE HERE FOR
[03:25:01]
THE DAY.AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING OR ARGUING THAT A DAY TRIPPER IS GOOD OR BAD FOR OUR COMMUNITY AT THE MOMENT, BUT I KNOW THAT DAY TRIPPERS GET A BAD RAP.
SO I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW IF THERE'S A WAY TO EXPAND THIS SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT BETTER THE TRUE CONTRIBUTION OF DAY TRIPPERS.
BECAUSE SOME BUSINESSES WILL SAY THAT THEY WELCOME, AND THEN YOU HAVE RESIDENTS THAT SAY, NO WAY.
SO FOR US, AS WE CONTINUE TO PLAN FOR OUR FUTURE, I THINK UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, WHAT THAT RATIO LOOKS LIKE IS IMPORTANT, BUT WHERE DO WE WANT TO END UP BASED ON THE TRUE CONTRIBUTION, I THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR US AS WELL.
I'LL GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT ON HOW TO DO THAT TO REALLY DIVE IN.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE TOP 15, AND I'M GONNA GET THROUGH THE REST RIGHT NOW IF YOU'D LET ME.
SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE TAKEN ALL THE TOP 15 AND WE'VE GROUPED THEM TOGETHER, BUT WE WERE MINDFUL TO SAY THE FOCUS AREA, WHETHER IT BE A PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE OR INCLUSIVE, RIGHT, AS I LAID THAT OUT FOR YOU TO BEGIN WITH.
AND SO THE REST AND THE REST, NOT TO REALLY GET IN THE DETAILS TODAY, BUT I THINK IT'S GOOD TO REMIND US, IMPLEMENTING CULTURAL FAIR STRAP PLAN, CELEBRATING OUR 360TH ANNIVERSARY, UM, OUR 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF MUNICIPAL INCORPORATION.
I KNOW THAT THE CHIEF'S WORKING ON A NEW FIRE RESCUE STRAP PLAN AND DID A GREAT JOB GETTING WORD OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, UM, FOR SOME FEEDBACK.
WE'RE SOON TO BRING FORWARD A, A HUMAN RESOURCES STRATEGIC PLAN.
ON THIS MONTH'S AGENDA, WE WILL HAVE AN, IT, REALLY A TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION STRATEGIC PLAN.
UM, MEASURE AND COMMUNICATE RETURN ON PUBLIC INVESTMENT, UH, PERHAPS MORE OF A REPORTING MECHANISM IN OUR ANNUAL REPORT THAN ANYTHING.
IMPROVING ADMIN AND SUPPORT PROCESSES FOR BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES.
I THINK WITH KIM HERE AND SANDIS HELP, WE WILL CONTINUE TO GET BETTER IN THAT ARENA, UH, RESEARCH TRENDS, BEST IN CLASS DELIVERY OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES.
AND I'M NOT GONNA GET INTO ALL OF THEM, UH, BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER WORK ON THE TABLE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON AND CAN SHOW GREAT RESULTS ON THAT BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, IN, IN ADDITION TO JUST THOSE, THOSE 15, FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY STANDPOINT, WE HEARD SOME PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY, BUT WORK WITH PSDS ON LONG-TERM CAPITAL PROJECTS.
SPENDING MOST OF YOUR DAY WITH US IS GREAT.
UM, BUT SUPPORTING OUR PSDS AND, AND A LOT OF THEIR WORK.
I KNOW THAT THAT'S BEEN ON YOUR AGENDAS A COUPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
UM, ESTABLISHING NATIONAL LEADERSHIP CREDIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND RESOURCE PROTECTION, ASSESSING AND IMPLEMENTING ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY LANDSCAPE AND GROUNDS MAINTENANCE BEST PRACTICES, HOSTING AND SPONSORING A RESILIENCE SYMPOSIUM, ESTABLISHING A SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN ALONG WITH SOME WORK IN 2024, WHICH IS ABOUT TOWN AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, ASSET MANAGEMENT AND UTILIZATION.
AND THEN CONTINUING TO WORK ON OUR AUDUBON INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY RECERTIFICATION.
ONE THING THAT WE'VE DONE IN OUR, OUR WORK TOGETHER RECENTLY IS WE'VE MOVED SOME FOLKS AROUND SO THAT WE CAN START WORKING ON WORK THAT ISN'T AS, UH, DIVERSE, RIGHT? A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING IS KIND OF GOING TO ONE PERSON.
I'VE MOVED SOME THINGS AROUND ON THE ORG CHART TO CREATE SOME SPACE FOR A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE.
AND I'M NOT QUITE A HUNDRED PERCENT WHERE THE, THE, THE TITLE OF THE POSITION YET IS.
BUT A CHIEF ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER IS SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE WE NEED, RIGHT? WHEN WE WORK ON A RESILIENCE PLAN, A SWOT ANALYSIS OF SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING.
WE WANT TO BE NATIONAL LEADERS IN RESOURCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WHEN WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE A ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY LANDSCAPING GROUNDS MAINTENANCE PROGRAM THAT'S NOT A BEACH TECH OR A FACILITIES TECH, OR A DIRECTOR OF A DEPARTMENT INCREMENTALLY WORKING ON THAT WORK.
SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE PUT A POSITION ON THE TABLE, RECRUIT SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING THAT'S SEEN IT BEFORE, DONE IT BEFORE, AND, AND CAN HELP US WITH THAT WORK.
SO I'M EXCITED TO GET THROUGH SOME OF THIS WORK, BUT I ASSURE YOU THAT WE ARE WORKING ON A LOT OF IT.
WE'LL BRING FORWARD AS AN EXAMPLE, THIS LANDSCAPE AND GROUNDS MAINTENANCE BEST PRACTICES FOR DISCUSSION THROUGH COMMITTEE IN THE NEXT 60 DAYS.
SO, SIR, MAY I ADD, UM, I'M ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT YOU JUST SAID ABOUT THAT POSITION, BECAUSE IF THIS ISLAND IS GOING TO PROTECT ITS REPUTATION
[03:30:01]
REGARDING THE ENVIRONMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, SUSTAINABILITY, RESILIENCE, TURTLES, RECYCLING, WE NEED SOMEBODY WHO WAKES UP IN THE MORNING AND SAYS, WHAT DO I HAVE TO ACCOMPLISH TODAY TO PROTECT THAT BRAND? THANK YOU.AND DAVID, IT ALSO GOES TO, UM, IN, IN MY OPINION, IT GOES TO LOCAL, COUNTY, STATE, FEDERAL POLICIES THAT COME INTO PLAY REGARDING THE ENVIRONMENT.
SO IT'S A, IT'S A, UM, MORE OF A CONTENT AGGREGATOR POSITION WITH THAT REGARDS.
BUT IT ALSO REMINDS ME A LITTLE BIT OF SALLY KREBS BACK IN THE DAY, MAKE, YOU KNOW, PROTECTING OUR TREES.
AND, AND I'M GONNA WHOLEHEARTEDLY SECOND MR. AMES COMMENTS.
AND AS I SAID IN JANUARY, WE NEED TO BE ENVIRONMENTAL STRONG.
SO YES, SALLY WAS MY FIRST BOSS.
I WAS AS, I'M A BOW, I PAID ATTENTION.
HOW MANY TIMES DID SHE CUT YOU DOWN? NEVER, NEVER.
SALLY WAS ONE OF THE, THE GREATEST, UH, SUPERVISORS, BOSSES THAT I'VE EVER HAD.
AND I ALWAYS THINK THAT HAD I NOT HAD SALLY'S LEADERSHIP ON A DAY-TO-DAY AND AN INFLUENCE ON MY CAREER, I PROBABLY WOULDN'T THINK THE WAY A LOT OF WHAT I DO.
SO I DOUBT SHE'S WATCHING THIS.
BUT IF SOMEONE COULD TELL HER HELLO, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
UH, REVITALIZING OUR CO ECONOMY, ESTABLISHING AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A FEW DIFFERENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES RIGHT NOW.
THOSE ALSO TAKE US SETTING THE CONDITIONS TO BE REAL OPEN, REALLY OPEN FOR BUSINESS.
UM, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO BE VERY MINDFUL OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING, WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GROW IN, IN THAT REALM.
UM, WE WILL ADDRESS FOOD TRUCK ORDINANCES IN OUR L M O UPDATE AND A SWOT ANALYSIS OF HIGH-SPEED FIBER.
UH, WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE TALK ABOUT IN HERE? ESTABLISH A PUBLIC INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERSHIP TO SUPPORT ARTS AND CULTURE.
A HUD ANNUAL ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM, WHICH WE WORK ON A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SURVEY, UH, IMPLEMENTING THE MITCHELLVILLE MASTER PLAN, REALLY ASSISTING, INCORPORATING PUBLIC ARTS AND CULTURE INTO PARKS, UH, DEVELOPING IN 2024, A LANDMARK PROTECTION PROGRAM.
AND THEN REALLY, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS, ASSESS REVISIONS OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY IMPACT FEES, WHICH WE'VE WORKED ON AND HAVE ADOPTED, UH, ESTABLISHING RECURRING JOINT MEETINGS WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL AND HILTON HEAD COUNCIL.
WE'VE TRIED, I THINK THAT THE WORK THE STAFF'S DOING WITH THE STAFF IS PAYING DIVIDENDS.
THE FACT THAT WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL TO ASK FOR AND RECEIVE THE $3.1 MILLION OF TRAFFIC IMPACT FEES TO PAY FOR THE ADAPTIVE SIGNALS IS A TESTAMENT TO THAT.
LET'S GIVE OURSELVES 30, 60, 90 DAYS TO SEE HOW FAR WE CAN GET TO IN ADVANCE ST.
SO THERE'S SOME WORK, THERE'S SOME WORK STARTING TO, TO HAPPEN THERE, AND I'M, I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.
EVALUATE ACCESS BETWEEN THE GREATER REGION AND HILTON HEAD THROUGH MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION.
AND FOR CLARITY, WE AREN'T TRYING TO START ANYTHING IN 24 UNTIL WE'RE COMPLETE THOSE ITEMS IN 23.
UH, ACQUIRING MAIN STREET AS A PRIORITY, UH, ADOPTING A COMMUNITY ADDRESSING ORDINANCE AS A PRIORITY, ASSISTING WITH FORD.
SHELL RING IMPLEMENTING THE PARKS REC MASTER PLAN AND DEVELOP A PARKS REC MARKETING PLAN.
UM, OUR PRIORITIES, SO I'M GONNA READ MY QUOTE AGAIN 'CAUSE I THOUGHT I WOULD REMEMBER IT, BUT IT WAS A GOOD ONE.
I THINK WHERE I SAID THIS MORNING, THE VISION WITHOUT A STRATEGY REMAINS AN ILLUSION.
AND A STRATEGY WITHOUT A PROCESS IS A LITTLE MORE THAN A WISHLIST.
AND SO, WHAT MS. BRYSON ALLUDED TO EARLIER TODAY, 'CAUSE WE'VE TALKED A FEW TIMES THROUGHOUT THE LAST BUNCH OF MONTHS, HOW DO WE GET THERE? WHAT'S EVERY COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE FOR? AND SO THE WAY WE TRACK ALL THIS ISN'T THAT I'M TRACKING THE STRATEGIC PLAN EVERY DAY, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE A GREAT WEBSITE, THANK YOU TO JOSH AND EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT DEFINITELY JOSH, WE HAVE A GREAT DASHBOARD, IN MY OPINION.
IT'S SIMPLE, IT'S CLEAR, IT'S MORE OR LESS AN ONLINE EXCEL SPREADSHEET THAT IS EASY TO UPDATE AND IT CLARIFIES THE TASK AT HAND, RIGHT? THE STRATEGY, THE PROJECT MANAGER, THE SCOPE OF WORK WITH A MONTHLY UPDATE, AND IT CLARIFIES WHAT COMMITTEE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WORK, RIGHT? SO ONE EXAMPLE IS EVERY MONTH WE HAVE A STANDING COMMITTEE ITEM ON PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE WITH MR. AMES THAT SPEAKS TO DISTRICT PLANS AND L M
[03:35:01]
O.AND SO I THINK THAT'S STARTING TO PAY SOME DIVIDENDS BECAUSE WE KNOW WE CAN GO WORK FOR 29 DAYS AND BRING BACK WHAT WAS ASKED FOR AND WHAT WE WERE DIRECTED TO DO, UM, AT THE LAST MEETING.
AND SO I THINK THAT THAT PROCESS, THAT SYSTEM IS STARTING TO PAY DIVIDENDS.
BUT WHEN WE TRY TO GET IT ALL DONE AT ONCE, IS WHERE I'M STRUGGLING A LITTLE BIT, TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF AGENDA TIMING.
AND SO WHAT I GOT AWAY FROM IS REALLY TRYING TO WORK WITH THE MAYOR SIX MONTHS OUT WHAT'S ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA, AND REALLY FOCUSING ON WHAT'S ON THESE COMMITTEE AGENDAS.
80% OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE GOES THROUGH COMMITTEE.
AND THERE'S THREE COMMITTEES FOR, FOR THE PUBLIC RIGHT, FINANCE, ADMINISTRATIVE, MR. BROWN'S CHAIR, PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE, MR. AMES AND MS. BECKER, COMMUNITY SERVICE PUBLIC SAFETY, C S P S C FOR SHORT.
AND SO BEHIND THE SCENES, IT'S F N A P P C, OR C SS P, SS C.
SO WHAT WE'VE DONE FOR TODAY'S WORK IS STARTED TO LINE UP THE WORK WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THE UPCOMING COMMITTEE ACTIONS.
SO WE KNOW, AND I'M NOT GONNA REHASH ALL OF THIS, BUT WE KNOW THAT THE WORK TO THINK THROUGH THE BONDING CAPACITY, THE INSTALLMENT PURCHASE REV BONDS IS WITH F AND A COASTAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP REQUEST, WHICH WE KNOW ABOUT, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT F AND A, UH, REASSESSMENT VALUES, ALTHOUGH I THINK THAT'S GOING STRAIGHT TO COUNCIL.
WE HAD PLANNED IT UP HERE, BUT AS OF YESTERDAY, IT'S GOING STRAIGHT TO COUNCIL FOR THE TIMING OF IT ALL.
UM, AS IT RELATES TO BUDGET, UH, R'S M O U WITH ISLAND REC, M O U, WITH U S C B A, A DISCUSSION OF AN M O U WITH HABITAT, UH, RESOLUTION APPROVING THE COMMS STRAP PLAN, WHICH WE'LL BRING FORWARD RESOLUTION APPROVING THE HR STRAP PLAN, UH, AT TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE GRANTS, AND THEN A RESOLUTION WITH THE MARKETING PLAN.
AND A LOT MORE OF THE SAME FOR PUBLIC PLANNING.
L M O HOUSING, WORK GROWTH FRAMEWORK WORK, LAND USE, UH, WHATNOT, DISTRICT PLANS.
AND THEN IN THE FUTURE, LANDMARK PROTECTION AND MORE OF THE SAME, BUT DIFFERENT TOPICS WITH COMMUNITY SERVICE, PUBLIC SAFETY, BEACH PARKING, MILITARY ENHANCEMENT, UM, YOU TALKED ABOUT THAT THE OTHER DAY.
ENHANCEMENTS, UH, TO THE BEACH, UH, ORDINANCE, STANDARD OPERATING HOURS FOR TOWN PARKS RESOLUTION, ADOPTING THE ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY LANDSCAPE GROUNDS PRACTICES AND SO ON, SO FORTH.
SO WHAT WE'RE REALLY DOING IS TRYING TO LINE THIS UP.
AND WHAT YOU'RE NOTICING UP HERE IS NOT EVERYTHING THAT GETS ON COMMITTEE IS STRAIGHT OUT OF THE STRAP PLAN, RIGHT? A LOT OF STUFF COMES UP.
WE GET A REQUEST FOR SOMETHING NEW AND THAT COMES UP A REZONING APPLICATION.
THOSE THINGS, OF COURSE, CAN'T BE PROGRAMMED OUT, BUT WHAT WE DO A LOT IS WORK WITH EACH CHAIR, AND THEN I WORK WITH THE MAYOR TO LINE THOSE UP TO BRING FORWARD ON AGENDA.
SO IT'S REALLY HELPED THAT YOU ADOPTED THE STRATEGIC PLAN ON JULY ONE.
UH, WE ARE AT IT TO GET THAT DASHBOARD IN PLACE, THAT OPEN DIALOGUE AND THAT COMMUNICATION ON OUR WEBSITE.
UM, ANDREW AND I TALKED EARLY ON, WELL BEFORE HE CAME ON BOARD, UM, ALONG WITH A A LOT OF THE OTHER TEAM, IS HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE BEST COMMUNICATE THOSE TOP PRIORITIES MORE OFTEN THAN TWICE A YEAR, RIGHT HERE? IS THERE A, IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN, FROM A PUBLIC RELATIONS AND PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS STANDPOINT, UPDATE ON HOUSING, UPDATE ON GROWTH, UPDATE ON RESILIENCE, AND NOT JUST IT BE SOME PRESS RELEASE ONCE IN A WHILE.
I'M, I'M EXCITED TO SEE, UM, SOME DIVIDENDS, UH, BE PAID, UH, ON HOW WE COMMUNICATE.
BUT AGAIN, I THINK I STARTED TODAY AND I SAID, I THINK COMMUNICATING WHAT WE'RE DOING, WHY WE'RE DOING IT, WHEN WE'RE DOING IT AS PRIMARY AND ALMOST THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING HAS TO BE SECONDARY.
SO DID MY BEST TODAY TO PUT ALL THIS IN A PRESENTATION.
UM, THE REST OF THIS TODAY PUBLIC COMMENT DISCUSSION AND ANY WORK YOU WANT ME TO THINK THROUGH DIFFERENT THAN THIS, I'M HERE.
[5. Appearance by Citizens]
PUBLIC COMMENT, KIM, YOU'VE GOT A LIST OF, UM, PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ALREADY, AND THEN I THINK WE'VE HAD THREE OF THEM SPEAK THIS MORNING, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.[03:40:02]
OKAY, WELL, SEEING THAT, THAT, THAT NONE OF THOSE ARE HERE.WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK
YOU SPOKE EARLIER, BUT COME ON,
UH, JUST REAL QUICK, THANK, THANKS SO MUCH, MELINDA TENNER.
UM, I'LL BE INTERESTED IN YOUR MEASURES OF SUCCESS.
UM, YOU SPOKE ABOUT IT AT THE BEGINNING, THAT WOULD BE LOOKING AT MEASURES OF SUCCESS FOR YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND WHAT THOSE ARE, BE BEYOND COMPLETION, TIME OF PROJECT AND MONEY.
UM, I'M GLAD YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE D M O METRICS.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
UH, SO I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT.
UM, JUST WANTED TO SAY, UM, THERE WAS COMMENT ABOUT OUR CAPITAL PLAN IS BASED ON WHAT PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR.
I JUST WANT 'EM TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE'RE SPENDING AND HOW WE'RE GONNA PAY FOR IT.
YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT IT LIKE, IF SOMEBODY ASKED ME WHAT DID I WANTED WHEN I WANNA BUILD A HOUSE, I'D ADD A LOT OF STUFF.
AND THEN WHEN I'D SEE THE PRICE TAG, I'D GO, EH, MAYBE I DON'T NEED THIS.
UM, SO THAT'S ALL I, UM, WANNA SAY ON THAT.
AND THEN ALSO MAKING SURE THAT AS YOU MAKE DECISIONS REGARDING THESE LARGE PROJECTS SUCH AS PARKS, THAT WE'RE JUST NOT FOCUSED ON THE NEXT YEAR'S, UH, DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THE WHOLE PIE.
UH, AND SO FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I LOOK AT THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN FOR THE MID ISLAND TRACK, YOU HAVE 900,000 PLANNED IN 2024.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE FIVE YEARS, IT'S 18.9 MILLION.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, I COULD GO ON FROM THERE.
UM, I JUST WANT TRANSPARENCY SO PEOPLE KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE SPENDING THEIR MONEY ON.
BAL, I'M STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WALK IF YOU'RE WONDERING, UH, FIRST OF ALL, MARK, THANK YOU FOR A GREAT MEAL,
AND ALSO, MARK, THANK YOU FOR NOT OVERWHELMING EVERY WAY WITH A LOT OF BIKE STORIES.
SO, UM, I, I'D LIKE TO JUST SAY THAT, UH, THE, THE TOWN STAFF HAS DONE JUST A TREMENDOUS JOB IN THE LAST FEW YEARS IN BUILDING OUR SYSTEM TO WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW.
I CAN REMEMBER IN 2011 WHEN WE GOT THE, UH, THE SILVER LEVEL BIKE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY, AND WE WERE FLYING REALLY HIGH.
AND THEN WE GOT JUST PARALEGAL GOLD IN 2015.
AND THEN 2019 WE WERE SOLID GOLD.
AND NOW, UH, THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER THE, THE REAPPLICATION FOR GOLD AGAIN.
SO THAT'S QUITE A, THAT'S QUITE A, A, A BIG DEAL.
AND, UH, AND TO HAVE THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN BICYCLISTS SUGGEST THAT WE SHOULD BE THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE FIRST APPLICATION FOR PLATINUM ON THE EAST COAST IS QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT.
AND SO YOU SAY WHAT HAS REALLY BEEN ACCOMPLISHED, UM, THROUGH THE YEARS.
I REMEMBER IN 2011, WE HAD SIX OR SEVEN BIKE SHOPS.
UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE COMMUTING BY BIKE.
UH, IT'S, IT'S A VERY SUCCESSFUL, IT'S A GREAT AMENITY AND IT'S BRINGING A LOT OF TOURISTS HERE.
BUT AS I LOOK AT THIS, UH, ALL THIS STUFF THAT'S HAPPENING, SO THANK YOU TOWN STAFF FOR DOING WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND SUPPORTING US, AND, UH, WE'RE ABOUT TO GO INTO, INTO A BRAND NEW ERA WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE ON THE DOCKET AND THE GREAT TEAM THAT'S BEEN PUT TOGETHER, UH, WITH MARK AND HIS PEOPLE.
UH, AS YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN TODAY THOUGH, LET ME JUST SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING.
I MEAN, WE SPENT A VIRTUALLY A DAY GOING THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, AND I COUNT SEVEN OF YOU ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND I COUNT LIKE MORE THAN A HUNDRED OF THEM.
AND SO IT'S REALLY EASY TO DIG INTO THE WEEDS, YOU FOLKS, AND TO GET INVOLVED WITH A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT'S INTERESTING TO YOU.
BUT I THINK AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE FOCUS BE ON POLICY AND THINGS THAT CAN'T REALLY BE DONE BY STAFF INTERACTING MAYBE WITH THE REGION, THE STATE, AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT, COMING UP WITH NEW IDEAS, THINKING THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, ALL THESE THINGS THAT ARE, REQUIRE A LOT OF THINKING AND POLICY ISSUES.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO DO THAT.
ALL THE STUFF THAT HAVE TO BE DOING THAT HAS TO BE DONE HERE.
IF YOU GET INTO EACH OF THESE ISSUES, YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU STRONGLY, AND I HAVE BEEN IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMPANIES THAT HAVE DONE IT THIS WAY AND THAT WAY, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU REALLY THINK AS YOU GO FORWARD LOOKING UP AND THINKING ABOUT IT AS OPPOSED TO LOOKING DOWN AND GETTING THE WEEDS.
[03:45:01]
FRANK.I THOUGHT IT WAS A FIRE ALARM.
UM, WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? OKAY.
SEEING, SEEING NONE, UM, WE WILL BRING IT BACK FOR GENERAL COUNSEL DISCUSSION AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
SO WHO'S READY TO SPEAK? MR. ALFRED? I WANTED TO ALERT EVERYBODY, UH, FOR A TOPIC WHICH I THINK IS OF SIGNIFICANT IMPORTANCE.
IT'S, IT'S ALREADY BEEN IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WE ADOPTED IN, IN JANUARY UNDER THE C I P, AND THAT IS THE MATTER OF AN ARTS CAMPUS FEASIBILITY STUDY.
UH, I'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH VARIOUS MEMBERS OF THE ARTS COMMUNITY WHO ARE VERY INTERESTED IN SEEING THIS MATTER GO FORWARD.
UH, THE ABILITY TO, TO, UH, COME UP WITH A PLAN IS ENHANCED SIGNIFICANTLY BY AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WAS DONE A FEW YEARS AGO.
AS A NUMBER OF, YOU MAY REMEMBER, UH, WHAT THE, IT'S BEEN SUGGESTED, THE BEST WAY TO BRING THIS FORWARD WILL BE PART OF THE DISTRICT PLAN FOR THE AREA THAT INCLUDES SHELTER COVE.
SO AT SOME POINT LATER ON THIS YEAR, EARLY NEXT YEAR, WHEN WE GET A DISTRICT PLAN, UH, FOR SHELTER COVE, THERE WILL BE, I AM HOPEFUL, UH, SOME ELEMENTS IN THERE THAT SUGGEST HOW WE MIGHT GO ABOUT AND, UH, IMPLEMENT, UH, A STUDY OF A POTENTIAL ARTS CENTER ARTS CAMPUS IN THE SHELTER COVE AREA.
UM, WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT, UM, PLANS FOR THE WORKSHOP TODAY, I LOOKED BACK AT THE NOTEBOOK AND MY NOTES FROM OUR JANUARY WORKSHOP,
AND SO BASED ON THAT, I PREPARED A LIST, AND IT'S A BRIEF LIST, MAYOR OR SO.
UM, IT, IT, FIRST OF ALL, IN LOOKING AT 15 STRATEGIES AND ALL THE DIFFERENT ACTION PLANS ON 'EM, IT'S TOO MUCH TO BITE OFF.
I THINK WE OUGHT TO ESTABLISH PRIORITIES.
I REMEMBER WHEN THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED TO US, UM, HOW TO RANK THE C I P PROJECTS.
THEY'RE ALL RANKED NUMBER ONE.
I HOPE WE'LL DO BETTER THAN THAT.
UM, I, I LOOKED AT, UM, THE ADDITIONAL STRATEGIES, THE LAST PIECES, UH, EXCEPT FOR THE COMMITTEE, UM, OUTLINE, UH, THAT THE TOWN MANAGER MENTIONED.
I COUNTED 40 ADDITIONAL ONE
AND I, I THOUGHT, I CAN'T EVEN DECIDE WHICH OF THOSE I WOULD PUT IN A PRIORITY LIST.
UM, THE OTHER THING IS TO THINK ABOUT WHAT TO SEPARATE WITH REGARD TO, UH, WHAT, WITH REGARD TO POLICIES AND ANY PARTICULAR ACTIONS WE'RE SUPPOSED TO TAKE VERSUS OPERATIONAL, WHICH THE STAFF CARRIES OUT.
UM, SO IF, IF I LOOK AT ALL THOSE THINGS, I CAME UP WITH MY PRIORITY LIST, UM, AND I COMPARED IT TO THE PRIORITY LIST I MADE IN JANUARY, AND THEN ALSO, UH, THE DECISION STANDARDS.
SO, SO, UM, AND, AND THE, THE LAST THING I'LL MENTION BEFORE I GET TO MY LIST IS THAT I'M REALLY HEARTENED AS, AS, UH, THE TOWN MAJOR KNOWS TO SEE THE COMMITTEE LIST BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ASKING SINCE JANUARY, WHAT ARE OUR COMMITTEES SUPPOSED TO BE DOING?
JUST ASK MY HUSBAND, WHAT'S OUR PLAN.
UM, SO LOOKING AT DECISION STANDARDS, UM, AND I DON'T, UH, HAVE THESE IN A PARTICULAR ORDER, RANKING THE ORDER, BUT THESE ARE THE FIVE STANDARDS I USE IN MAKING DECISIONS.
NUMBER ONE, DOES IT IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF RESIDENTS, WORKFORCE AND VISITORS? NUMBER TWO, DOES IT RESPECT AND PROTECT OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT? NUMBER THREE, DOES IT MAKE US GOOD STEWARDS OF ALL OUR RESOURCES? NUMBER FOUR, DOES IT HELP WITH QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL INHABITANTS? NUMBER FIVE, DOES IT RESPECT FOR AND PROTECT OUR HERITAGE, ESPECIALLY THE PROPERTY AND CULTURE OF NATIVE ISLANDERS? AND AGAIN, I DON'T, THOSE ARE NOT MY ONE THROUGH FIVE LIST, THOSE ARE ALL FIVE I CONSIDER.
SO IN LOOKING AT THE 15 STRATEGIES, THESE ARE THE ONES THAT I WOULD PICK OUT.
I'VE ALREADY SAID THAT GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND WORKFORCE HOUSING ARE MY NUMBER ONES, INCLUDING MY DECISION STANDARD ABOUT SAFETY.
I WOULD PUT TOGETHER SAFETY FOR PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS TOGETHER AS MY THIRD
[03:50:01]
PRIORITY.AND THE STRATEGIES THAT COME UNDERNEATH THAT ARE OUR CORRIDOR PROJECT WORK, AS WELL AS THE S E D O T GATEWAY PROJECT.
THOSE TWO TOGETHER, THE FOURTH ONE, AND, AND THESE LAST THREE DON'T HAVE PARTICULAR RANKING.
THEY'RE KIND OF EQUAL, ALTHOUGH I JUST SAID WE SHOULD, WE SHOULD DO SOME RANKING.
I'M TRYING TO PICK OUT THE KEY ONES OUT OF 15 PLUS MAYBE 40.
THE OTHER TWO ARE RESILIENCE PLAN, BECAUSE UNLESS AND UNTIL WE CAN DETERMINE A WAY TO PROTECT THIS ISLAND FROM STORMS, STORM SURGES AND FLOODING, THEN ALL THE REST WILL BE, FORGIVE ME, WASHED AWAY.
AND THE OTHER ONE THAT I WOULD FOCUS ON IS BEACH MANAGEMENT, BECAUSE THAT DOES PROTECT THE REST OF OUR ISLAND, HOW WE MANAGE OUR BEACHES AND HOW WE MANAGE THE FLOW OF LIFE ON AND OFF THE ISLAND.
SO THOSE ARE MY FIVE GROWTH MANAGEMENT WORKFORCE HOUSING SAFETY, WHICH MORPHS INTO THE QUARTER PLAN, OUR MAJOR QUARTER, UH, THOROUGHFARE PLAN, AND ALSO THE, UM, SS E D O T QUARTER PROJECT PLAN, RESILIENCE PLAN, AND BEACH MANAGEMENT.
UH, THIS PROCESS IS VERY MEANINGFUL TO ME AND TO THIS ENTIRE COUNCIL, AND I HOPE TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL IN THAT WE ARE LAYING OUT VARIOUS PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE AND THEN BREAKING THEM DOWN INTO STRATEGIES AND FURTHER INTO TACTICS.
THIS DIDN'T OCCUR WHEN I WAS FIRST ON COUNCIL, AND IT WAS, IT WAS MORE HAPHAZARD.
THIS IS PLANNING AND WE CAN CHECK SOMETHING OFF OF THE LIST NOW WHEN IT'S ACCOMPLISHED.
AND SO THAT IS VERY MEANINGFUL IN TERMS OF THE MANY THINGS THAT ARE BEFORE THIS COUNCIL ON A DAY-TO-DAY AND YEAR TO YEAR BASIS.
IN TERMS OF PARTICULAR COMMENTS THAT I WOULD MAKE ABOUT TODAY, I AGREE THAT GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND THE DISTRICT PLANNING ARE VITALLY IMPORTANT.
I'M CONCERNED, THOUGH, ABOUT HOW WE IN FACT IMPLEMENT THAT, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO ZONING CHANGES.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT LEGAL LIABILITIES ASSOCIATED WITH ZONING CHANGES.
AND SO WE NEED TO HAVE ADVICE AND TOOLS FOR DEALING WITH THIS.
IF WE, FOR EXAMPLE, WERE TO CHANGE, UH, UH, R ONE ZONING, WHICH IS NOW AN ESCALATOR ZONING, IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN FIVE ACRES, CHANGE IT BACK TO WHERE IT ONLY MEANS FOUR UNITS PER THE ACRE PERIOD.
IS THAT A DOWN ZONING? I DON'T KNOW.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT MOVING THIS THING FORWARD ENTIRELY SEPARATELY.
UM, HEALTHCARE IS A VITAL CONCERN FOR US.
IT'S A PRIVATE ENTERPRISE UNDERTAKING.
IT'S NOT A COUNCIL UNDERTAKING, BUT I'M VERY TROUBLED BY THE PROBLEMS AT OUR HOSPITAL.
THEY, THEY DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE NURSES.
WE ALL KNOW THAT THIS IS AT LEAST SOMEWHAT, IF NOT ENTIRELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE FACT THAT NURSES CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE ON THE ISLAND.
MAYBE IT HAS TO DO WITH COMPETITION.
BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO FIND A WAY TO TRY TO SUPPORT THE HOSPITAL TO MEET ITS NEEDS, ITS STAFFING NEEDS, IF WE POSSIBLY CAN.
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IT IS NOT OUR TRUE RESPONSIBILITY, EXCEPT THAT WE ARE STEWARDS FOR THE WELLBEING OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
THEN FINALLY, I AM VERY TROUBLED ABOUT SOLID WASTE.
I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE PRIORITIES THAT WE'VE GOT HERE, BUT ASSOCIATED WITH SOLID WASTE, WE HAVE THE CURIOUS SITUATION OF THERE'S ONLY ONE MOVE-IN DAY FOR THE TOURISTS.
WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO ENCOURAGE VARIOUS DEVELOPMENTS TO ADOPT DIFFERENT MOVE-IN DAYS TO RELEASE AND RELIEVE A LOT OF THE TRAFFIC HERE.
I DON'T HAVE A SOLUTION TO THIS ONE EITHER, BUT IT'S A CONCERN IN MY MIND.
THANK YOU TO OUR WONDERFUL STAFF FOR A GREAT PRESENTATION AND GIVING US INTERESTING CHALLENGES TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND, UH, THANK YOU MARK, UM, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND FOR THE STAFF'S WORK, UM, WITH YOU PUTTING IT TOGETHER.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO CAME OUT, WHO PARTICIPATED, WHO LISTENED CAREFULLY, AND, UM, WE VALUE THAT PARTICIPATION AND LOOK FORWARD TO ANY COMMENTS YOU MAY HAVE LATER, UM, ABOUT THIS OR ANYTHING IN TERMS OF, UM, WHERE WE ARE, WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING,
[03:55:01]
WHAT'S BEFORE US TO THINK ABOUT FOR THE FUTURE.IT'S A LOT TO ASK OF STAFF TO DO.
AND IF WE WANT TO DO THINGS RIGHT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PLATES AREN'T OVER SPILLING.
AND SO WITH RESPECT TO THE TOWN MANAGER AND HIS STAFF, UM, I CERTAINLY, UM, DON'T WANT TO MAKE EVERYTHING A ONE AS A PRIORITY.
AS PATSY MENTIONED, I DO THINK THAT WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
I THINK THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN LAID OUT TODAY AS, UH, IN THE BEGINNING OF THE PRESENTATION WITH REGARD TO OUR, UM, UH, LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE, OUR FUTURE, UM, AS WE USE AND, AND, UH, SET PRIORITIES FOR BUSINESS AND HOUSING AND THE REST, UM, SHOULD, SHOULD REMAIN EXACTLY WHERE IT IS.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOUSING, I'VE MENTIONED ALREADY THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK BEYOND A PARTICULAR A M I THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK TO ALLOWING PEOPLE TO GROW.
AND THAT MEANS GROWING IN THEIR FAMILY, UM, JOINING TOGETHER, ADDING TO THEIR CUMULATIVE HOUSEHOLD WORTH, UM, BUT STILL NEEDING A FIRST STEP ONTO THE ISLAND, INTO HOUSING, INTO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THAT RAISES, UM, THEIR A M I.
WE ALSO WANT TO ENCOURAGE AND, AND, UH, AND UNDERSTAND, UH, AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE LOOK FOR PEOPLE TO MOVE UP, RIGHT? YOU START AT ONE LEVEL, YOU'RE MAKING X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS, AND HOPEFULLY WITHIN SHORT ORDER, YOU ARE MAKING MORE THAN THAT.
AND I WOULDN'T WANT THAT THEN TO MEAN THAT THEY HAVE TO MOVE OFF THE ISLAND TO FIND SOMETHING BECAUSE WE'VE LIMITED OURSELVES TO A PARTICULAR, UM, A M I, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT FIRST, MAYBE SECOND EVEN STEP BEFORE THEY CAN BUY AND BEGIN TO, UM, LIVE THE AMERICAN DREAM WITH HOME OWNERSHIP AND GENERATION BEGIN GENERATIONAL WEALTH FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
SO I'D LIKE TO, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT LIMITING THAT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WHEN WE DO, WE TRAP PEOPLE, WE TRAP THEM IN POVERTY, WE TRAP THEM IN A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN'T GROW THEIR LIVES, OR WE TRAP THEM INTO A SITUATION WHERE THEY HAVE TO MOVE OFF ISLAND, WHICH, IF ANYTHING, ALL OF THIS DISCUSSION IS DESIGNED TO STOP THAT FROM HAPPENING.
SO I THINK MORE THOUGHT, MORE CARE, MORE FORWARD LINKING, LOOKING, UM, AND EMBRACING THOSE STAGES OF LIFE AND GROWTH ARE IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONTINUE TO CONSIDER, UM, IN THAT DISCUSSION.
OBVIOUSLY, SAFETY WILL ALWAYS BE A PRIORITY.
SO ANYTHING THAT WE CAN THEN DO TO ENHANCE THE SAFETY AND THE CHARACTER OF OUR ISLAND WITHIN THE CHARACTER OF OUR ISLAND, WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE FOCUSED ON AS A PRIORITY.
I APPRECIATE AND RESPECT, UM, THE FACT THAT WE HAVE ESTABLISHED A FIRE AND RESCUE TEAM THAT IS ABOVE AND BEYOND, UH, FIRST CLASS, WHATEVER THAT IS.
THEY ARE, UM, THE EPITOME OF EXCELLENCE.
AND I WANTED TO THANK THEM PUBLICLY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY RECENTLY TO SIT IN ON A, UM, EDUCATIONAL COURSE ON C P R AND LIFESAVING.
UM, IT WAS EASY, IT WAS UNDERSTANDABLE, AND I WALKED AWAY FEELING CONFIDENT THAT IN AN EMERGENCY I COULD DO THAT SKILL.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS TO, UM, MAYBE PUT TOGETHER A SMALL GROUP AND, UM, GO THROUGH THAT ONE HOUR COURSE SO THAT YOU TWO WOULD BE PREPARED IN AN EMERGENCY WHILE YOU'RE WAITING FOR OUR EXCELLENT FIRE AND RESCUE TO GET TO YOU.
YOU'RE NOT A SUBSTITUTE, BUT THAT FIRST FEW MINUTES CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.
AND SO WITH THAT, I DON'T WANNA OVERBURDEN YOU.
I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE, UM, GOOD WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO, BUT IF I HAD TO GIVE YOU, UM, WHAT I THINK ARE MOST IMPORTANT, WHERE WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED, UM, THOSE ITEMS I'VE MENTIONED ARE THOSE THANK YOU.
AND I WANNA JUST TAKE A MOMENT, FIRST OF ALL, TO, UH, THANK MR. ORLANDO AND HIS STAFF, UH, FOR THEIR CONTINUED EFFORTS.
[04:00:03]
I MADE SOME COMMENTS AROUND MAKING SURE THAT WE SUPPORT MR. ORLANDO AND BEING ABLE TO PUT THE ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES INTO FINDING STAFF TO GET THE MOUNTAINOUS JOB DONE.SO, UM, I COMMEND YOU ON, ON YOUR, YOUR CONTINUING AND, AND HIRING AND, UH, REORGANIZING SO THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, GET TO, UH, A BETTER PLACE HERE.
UM, AND I TOO AGREE THAT WHERE WE ARE AS FAR AS PROCESS AND HAVING A PLAN IN FRONT OF US THAT WE CAN, UH, GO BACK AND HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE IS SOMETHING THAT WAS MISSING BEFORE YOU ARRIVED, MR. ORLANDO.
SO I, I THANK YOU, UH, FOR THAT.
UM, I GUESS THE FIRST THING I WANT TO MENTION IS THAT WE COLLECTIVELY AS A COUNCIL REPRESENT OVER 30,000 PEOPLE HERE ON HILTON HEAD.
AND EVERY MEETING WE'RE ASKING MS. KIM TO READ OFF THE LIST OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'VE EVER SEEN ALL 30,000 PLUS.
THERE IS A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE NOT NECESSARY ENGAGED AS SOME OF US ARE.
UM, AND WE HAVE TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS ALONG THE WAY.
POLITICAL WILL, I THINK, GETS TRICKY SOMETIMES BECAUSE WE RESPOND TO THE IDEAS THAT ARE IN FRONT OF US ALL THE TIME, BUT THERE ARE OTHERS OUT THERE THAT WE NEED TO BE CONSIDERATE UPON.
AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO, TO THINK THROUGH THAT AS WE'RE MAKING OUR POLICY DECISIONS.
AS I LOOK AT THESE 15 PRIORITIES, I'M UNDERSTANDING THAT SOME OF THEM ARE A MULTI-YEAR APPROACH.
THE, THE GATEWAY DISCUSSION HAPPENED, WELL STARTED MANY YEARS AGO.
AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE FAIR TO MR. ORLANDO TO HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE WITH THE, A END DATE TO THAT BECAUSE THERE'S CIRCUMSTANCES THERE THAT YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY CONTROL.
WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THAT ONE.
AND AT THIS POINT, WE'RE NOT SURE WHEN THE EIGHT END DATE IS GOING TO BE.
WE JUST HAVE TO BE STEADFAST AND MAKING SOLID DECISIONS ALONG THE WAY.
THERE ARE OTHERS IN HERE THAT I THINK REQUIRE US MEASURING THE SUCCESS BY IMPLEMENTATION AND THEM FALLING OFF OF THE LIST.
OKAY? UM, SO I'M VERY INTERESTED AS WE PRESS FORWARD, AS WE GET THROUGH THE REST OF THIS FISCAL YEAR IN SAYING, OKAY, THIS WILL BE DONE.
WE WON'T TALK ABOUT IT NEXT YEAR.
OKAY? UM, I, I THINK THAT'S, AT LEAST FOR ME, A METRIC THAT, THAT I'M GOING TO USE AS WE, AS WE PASS FORWARD HERE.
UM, SO AGAIN, I, I WANT TO THANK YOU.
I'M NOT GONNA SPEND A LOT OF TIME PICKING OUT ONE THROUGH FIVE, BUT I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT WE HAVE CROSSED SOMETHING OFF THE LIST AND MOVING FORWARD WITH GETTING OUT OF THE PLANNING STAGE AND INTO THE IMPLEMENTATION STAGE, OKAY.
WHERE IT'S TRULY AFFECTING SOME CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS, MR. MAYOR.
APPRECIATE THE TIME AND I APPRECIATE THE PUBLIC BEING INVOLVED IN WHATEVER CAPACITY THEY CAN.
CERTAINLY WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE STAFF.
AND MARK, UM, AS I SAID EARLIER, I HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE IN THE EXPERIENCE AND THE CAPABILITY OF STAFF, BUT ALMOST MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE EXCITEMENT I HAVE BECAUSE OF YOUR COMMITMENT TO DOING THE RIGHT JOB WITH ALL OF US ON BOARD.
UM, I'VE BEEN AROUND HERE FOR A WHILE.
I SENSE A SPIRIT IN THIS STAFF THAT I HAVEN'T FELT BEFORE.
IT MEANS A LOT TO ME, AND I THINK IT MEANS A LOT TO THE RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY, BUT THERE'S ANOTHER DIMENSION, UM, TO THIS COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S OUR BUSINESSES.
AND SO WHEN I LOOK AT 15 PRIORITIES, UM, I ASKED THE QUESTION, WHAT ARE WE COMMUNICATING TO OUR
[04:05:01]
RESIDENTS AND TO BUSINESSES ABOUT WHO WE ARE? AND I THINK THE DOWNSIDE OR THE RISK IN HAVING 15 PRIORITIES IS THAT YOU GO AWAY SAYING, OKAY, WHO ARE THEY? WHAT DO THEY REPRESENT? WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO THEM? UM, AND THAT CHALLENGES US FROM AN OPERATIONAL STANDPOINT AS WELL.UM, SO, SO I GO IN THE DIRECTION OF SAYING, OF THOSE 15 PRIORITIES THAT ARE LISTED, WHAT ARE THE ONES THAT WOULD SEND THE MOST POTENT MESSAGE TO OUR RESIDENTS THAT WE ARE ON THE RIGHT COURSE AND HILTON HEAD, IT'S GOING TO BE A BETTER PLACE IN FIVE YEARS, IN 10 YEARS, IN 15 YEARS.
AND ALSO, WHAT ARE OF THOSE 15 WILL RAISE THE LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE IN BUSINESSES THAT THIS IS A PLACE THEY WANT TO INVEST EVEN MORE DOLLARS.
I, I THINK WHEN COUNCIL DOESN'T FORCE ITSELF TO HAVE THE TOUGH DEBATES ABOUT WHICH ARE THE STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE PRIORITIZED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, WE ARE KICKING THAT PROVERBIAL CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR COUNCIL TO HAVE THOSE DIFFICULT DEBATES AND DECIDE WHAT IS THE STRONGEST MESSAGE THAT WE CAN SEND TO OUR RESIDENTS AND TO OUR BUSINESSES THAT THIS IS WHAT WE STAND FOR AND THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO INVEST OUR MONEY.
FOR ME, I HAVE FOUR GROWTH AND CONSERVATION.
I E ALL OF THAT PLANNING WORK.
OUR RESIDENTS WHEN THEY BUY PROPERTY, OUGHT TO KNOW WHERE WE'RE HEADED AND OUR BUSINESSES NEED TO KNOW THE SAME HOUSING.
WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THAT HOU ON THE HOUSING SUBJECT.
UM, I'VE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THERE'S NO WAY ON THIS ISLAND THAT WE CAN PROVIDE HOUSING THAT'S AFFORDABLE TO A LARGE SLICE OF OUR WORKING FORCE AND TO OUR YOUNG RESIDENTS WITHOUT A SIGNIFICANT PARTICIPATION ON THE PART OF OUR TOWN AND PUBLIC SUPPORT.
I AGREE WITH MS. BRYSON ON THAT.
UNTIL WE UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR ULTIMATE RISKS ARE, WE'RE NOT DOING OUR JOB.
AND THEN THIRDLY, C I P C I P REPRESENTS TO ME, INVESTMENT.
AND I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THE REASON HILTON HAD ISLAND GAINED THE REPUTATION THAT IT DID, WAS THAT IN THE EARLY YEARS, THE PRIVATE DEVELOPERS WERE WILLING TO INVEST SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DOLLARS FOR THE PROGRAMS AND THE FACILITIES AND THE AMENITIES THAT THIS MA THAT MADE THIS PLACE SO ATTRACTIVE TO RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.
SO I THINK THOSE ARE THE FOUR.
PLANNING, HOUSING, RESILIENCE, AND INVESTMENT.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR, YOUR COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK.
UM, FROM, FROM THE PUBLIC AND, AND FROM COUNCIL.
UM, I, I'VE GOTTA START OFF WITH STAFF.
UM, AND, AND I, UH, HIPAA IS NOT GONNA BE VIOLATED HERE, BUT, BUT I DO KNOW THAT SEVERAL STAFF MEMBERS HAVE, HAVE REDUCED THEIR MEDICATIONS, UM, IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS BY, BY BEING HERE, UM, AND WITHIN HOW WE'RE OPERATING AND WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE A BETTER ENVIRONMENT, NOT ONLY TO WORK, LIVE AND PLAY, BUT GROW.
UM, I, I DO WANNA CALL OUT TWO INDIVIDUALS SPECIFICALLY.
AND, UM, THE FIRST IS, IS BOB BROMAGE.
UM, COMMENTS WERE MADE EARLIER REGARDING COUNSEL RECEIVING COMPLAINTS AND ISSUES.
AND I HAVE FORWARDED HIM, FORWARDED HIM BOTH, UH, EMAILS, TEXTS, AND VOICEMAILS, AND TO SAY THAT THEY'RE NOT RESOLVED WITHIN 24 HOURS AS AN UNDERSTATEMENT, AND THE TRUTH OF THE COMPLAINTS COME OUT, IT'S VERY INTERESTING WHEN YOU INVESTIGATE, YOU LEARN.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE, BECAUSE THAT HAS GONE
[04:10:01]
FROM, UM, PEOPLE ON THE BEACH, PEOPLE IN PARKS, PEOPLE ELSEWHERE.BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT NOT ONLY ARE RESIDENTS BEING TAKEN CARE OF THROUGH YOUR EFFORTS, BUT ALSO OUR GUESTS.
UM, ANDREW, I WANT TO CALL YOU OUT EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVEN'T FORMALLY STARTED YET.
UM, OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS SINCE THE ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN RELEASED THAT YOU WERE JOINING US, I HAVE HAD MANY A CONVERSATIONS WITH MANY OF DIFFERENT LEADERS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THERE IS NOT ONE THAT IS NOT A SUPER EXCITED FOR OUR TOWN AND OUR TOWN GOVERNMENT TO HAVE THE COMMUNICATION THAT'S GONNA BE COMING THROUGH YOU.
UM, IT IS GOING TO CHANGE HOW WE OPERATE.
THE TRANSPARENCY QUESTION THAT COMES AROUND OFTEN IS GETTING AMPLIFIED, AND IT IS GOING TO BE A REALLY GREAT, GREAT BENEFIT TO ALL OF US IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO JUST TWO, BUT THE REST OF YOU, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH.
I MEAN, IT IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
UM, WHAT IS OUR PURPOSE TODAY? OUR PURPOSE IS TO DETERMINE A DIRECTION ON WHERE WE TELL MARK AND STAFF TO GO.
THAT'S OUR JOB THROUGH POLICY.
WE'VE GOTTA SAY, LAY OUT, THIS IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO US AND THIS IS WHERE WE THINK YOU NEED TO BE TAKING EVERYTHING.
OF THE 15 ITEMS ON THE LIST, SEVEN ARE READILY UNDERWAY, SEVEN OR EIGHT.
SO, YOU KNOW, I ASKED THE QUESTION, HOW CAN I TELL YOU WHAT TO DO? BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE CAPACITY OF YOUR STAFF AND, AND WE ALL KNOW THAT, THAT MAINTAINING, UH, A WORK ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU'RE NOT OVERBURDENED AND YOU HAVE TIME TO YOURSELF IS MOST IMPORTANT.
THE VALUE OF RETURN THE NEXT DAY IS WHAT WE HAVE TO HAVE FROM AN ISLAND STANDPOINT.
AND WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY IS, IS PRETTY MUCH THE THINGS THAT MR. AMES AND MRS. BRYSON HAVE BOTH JUST SPOKEN ABOUT, UM, AS A PRIORITY.
THEY'RE, ALL OF THEM ARE, ARE AS EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT, BUT THE SAFETY ASPECT, THE ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENT IMPACT, UM, IS, IS WHAT WE ARE.
SO I LOOK AT IT IN THAT IF, IF I'M GOING THROUGH THE LIST, YOU KNOW, GROWTH MANAGEMENT, THAT'S BEEN A REAL BIG ISSUE FOR A LONG TIME AND IT COVERS A LOT OF DIFFERENT, A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS.
SO IN MY MIND THAT IS, THAT IS REALLY ONE OF THE KEYS.
AND, AND I ALSO WONDER IF SOME OF THESE OTHER ELEMENTS WITHIN THE 15 NEED TO BE GROUPED TOGETHER, UH, BECAUSE THEY DO GO HAND IN HAND.
SO GROWTH MANAGEMENT, WELL, THAT INCLUDES HOUSING, RIGHT? SO HOW WE WORK TOGETHER AND AS WE TALK ABOUT DISTRICT PLANS, HOW THINGS FALL INTO PLAY.
SO MR. AMES, YOU SAID GROWTH AND, AND CONSERVATION, HOUSING, RESILIENCE, AND C I P COULDN'T AGREE MORE.
REINVESTMENT IN YOUR COMMUNITY IS KEY.
AND NOT ONLY REINVESTMENT IN YOUR COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO REINVESTMENT IN YOUR L M O THAT IT HAS HAS ADAPTED TO CURRENT DAY BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO MIRROR WHAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS LOOKING FOR, BUT ALSO WHAT WE WANNA BE.
OKAY, SO MS. BRYSON, YOU SAID ESTABLISH GROWTH MANAGEMENT, IMPLEMENT WORKFORCE HOUSING FRAMEWORK.
PEDESTRIAN BIKES, SMART STREETS, ALL COMPLETE STREETS, ABSOLUTELY.
PART OF THE, PART OF THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND FRAMEWORK.
YOU KNOW, THE D O T GOES INTO THAT AS WELL.
I MEAN, THAT'S AN ONGOING THING THAT IS GONNA BE TAKEN CARE OF EVERY YEAR BECAUSE IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR FUTURE.
YOU'RE RIGHT, IT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE.
UM, THERE ARE SOME AVENUES THAT ARE BEING ADDRESSED ON THAT RIGHT NOW.
I WON'T GO INTO DETAIL BECAUSE I'M NOT ALLOWED TO DO THAT.
UM, BUT THE FUTURE I THINK THERE IS PROBABLY BRIGHTER THAN WE REALIZE.
SO I'M JUST GOING THROUGH A COUPLE MARK TO, TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT I FORESEE WILL BE COMING THROUGH TO THE COMMITTEES AND THROUGH ON COUNSEL.
UM, I KNOW YOU, YOU NEED A DIRECTION FROM US AND WE'VE GOTTA MAKE, AS, AS MR. AMES SAID, WE'VE GOTTA HAVE SOME SERIOUS DEBATES AS SOME THINGS COME OUTTA COMMITTEE AND COME TO COUNCIL TO, TO, TO REFINE SOME OF THESE AND, AND REALLY PINPOINT EXACTLY
[04:15:01]
WHAT IT IS THAT WE EXPECT AND HELP SET THOSE GOALS.SO, BUT I, I GOTTA, AS A, AS A LONGTIME ISLANDER, I HAVEN'T FELT BETTER ABOUT THIS COMMITTEE THAN I DO NOW.
AND, AND, AND I CONGRATULATE ALL OF Y'ALL FOR GETTING US THERE.
SO IT'S, IT'S REALLY A GREAT PLACE TO BE AND I KNOW THAT THROUGH ALL OF OUR EFFORTS, WE WILL BECOME EVEN BETTER.
AND WE'RE GONNA FACE SOME CHALLENGES.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE MORE OPEN COMMUNICATION AND DISCUSSIONS, BUT WE'RE GONNA DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
SO I, I JUST WANNA CONGRATULATE ALL OF Y'ALL FOR THAT.
SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO ADD AT THIS POINT.
THANK YOU CO COUPLE THINGS FOR ME.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANKS FOR THE, THE FEEDBACK AND COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH THE FOLKS SITTING IN THE ROOM WITH US.
UM, AND I THINK MY JOB IS REALLY TO STAY CONNECTED AND ALIGNED WITH, WITH YOUR COLLECTIVE WISHES.
I SPEND A LOT OF TIME, UM, MAKING SURE THAT THE COMMITTEE AGENDAS ARE APPROPRIATE, THE POLICY COMING FORWARD IS APPROPRIATE AND TO YOUR EXPECTATION AND MINE.
UM, AND THEN ALSO GROWING THIS TEAM, RIGHT? MY, MY JOB'S NOT TO WORK ON THE WORK, IT'S TO WORK ON SUPPORTING THIS TEAM AT THIS LEVEL, UH, OF, OF, OF JOB.
AND SO I AM MORE PROUD OF, OF, OF THIS GROUP WITH ME TODAY THAN I'VE EVER, EVER BEEN.
SO NEXT STEPS, RIGHT? SO IF I, I COULD SUGGEST YOU SAW YOUR COMMITTEE LINE UP UP THERE.
I, I DO KNOW WHAT SEAN AND ANGIE AND TOMMY AND EVERYBODY ELSE CAN FIGURE OUT BETWEEN AUGUST, WHICH THE AGENDAS ARE ALREADY SET, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER-ISH, BECAUSE WE ALWAYS DON'T HAVE A BIG AGENDA IN DECEMBER, RIGHT? BUT WE HAVE ABOUT FOUR MORE MONTHS OF AGENDAS.
THAT'S 2 4 6, 6 7 COUNCIL MEETINGS AND IT'S ABOUT 12 COMMITTEE MEETINGS BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO I SUGGEST THAT WE KEEP OUR HEADS DOWN AND WORK AS MUCH AS WE CAN ON THOSE PRIORITIES BETWEEN NOW AND DECEMBER 31.
WE WILL HAVE AN ANNUAL REPORT THIS YEAR.
YOU WILL HAVE A COMMUNICATIONS PLAN THAT COMES FORWARD THROUGH COMMITTEE, BUT ALSO A BIG PART OF THAT IS AN ANNUAL REPORT.
UM, JANUARY, WE'LL BE BACK IN THIS ROOM.
UM, AND BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE A TWO YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, IT, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE, WELL, LET'S TAKE OUT THE OLD ONE AND START A NEW ONE, RIGHT? THIS IS ARGUABLY OUR PUBLIC SECTOR BUSINESS PLAN.
AND SO WE'LL BE BACK HERE IN JANUARY TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW FAR WE GOT.
AND TO MR. BROWN'S POINT, I'M, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CROSSING SOME THINGS OFF.
I CAN'T CROSS 'EM OFF UNTIL YOU RECOMMEND THEM, UNTIL YOU VOTE ON 'EM.
PARKS ARE A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE AND I'M GONNA PUSH ON THOSE AGENDAS TO BRING THOSE FORWARD TO YOU.
BUT ALSO WE CAN'T HAVE THAT ON THE SAME AGENDA AS A RESILIENCE PLAN AND THE SAME AGENDA AS ROAD PLANS AND THE SAME AGENDA AS OUR LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE AND THE SAME AGENDA AS HOUSING, RIGHT? SO MAYOR, I'LL, I'LL WORK WITH YOU ON REALISTIC AGENDAS SO THAT WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BRING SO MUCH WORK FORWARD THAT WE'RE GETTING CS AND SO MUCH WORK FORWARD.
THAT COUNCIL DOESN'T HAVE TIME AND A APPROPRIATE MEETING AMOUNT OF TIME FOR YOU TO REALLY DIGEST, THINK AND VOTE, RIGHT? SO THERE'S A LOT OF THAT.
UM, BUT THEN COME JANUARY, LET'S COME BACK TOGETHER AND SEE WHAT WE FIGURED OUT AND SOLVED AND WHAT'S STILL ON THE HORIZON.
UM, SO BETWEEN NOW AND DECEMBER, EXPECT THAT, KNOW THAT ANNUAL REPORT IN DECEMBER, JANUARY TIMEFRAME AND THEN BACK IN THIS ROOM, UH, AT OUR NEXT DAY OR DAY AND A HALF, HOWEVER YOU WANNA SOLVE THAT.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME MORE THAN I CAN SAY THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY THAT ARRIVED HERE.
UH, I'M DOING MY BEST JOB AND I'M STILL AS PROUD AND EXCITED TODAY AS I WAS WHEN I WAS FIRST BROUGHT ON BOARD.
WELL, YOU SAID THE RIGHT THING ABOUT NOT OVERPOWERING COUNCIL MEETINGS.
SO INSTEAD OF SEVEN HOUR MEETINGS, WE'LL GO TO SIX HOURS FROM 45 MINUTES, SAVE 15 MINUTES, WHICH WILL BE A BEAUTIFUL THING FOR US.
AND THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT.