Aug 14, 2023 Community Services and Land Use Committee

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:02]

COMMUNITY SERVICES AND LAND USE COMMITTEE.

SETTLE.

PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE, ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

OKAY.

PUBLIC NOTIFICATION

[3. PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED, AND DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT]

UM, DO YOU CONCUR WITH THAT, MS. MS. SARAH? IS THAT YEAH.

OKAY.

YES, MA'AM.

I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN

[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

SO MOVED.

SECOND.

I SECOND THAT.

I SECOND BY.

I THINK MR. GLOVER GLOVER HAD THE SECOND WITHOUT OBJECTION.

THE AGENDA IS APPROVED.

WE

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES- May 8, 2023 and June 12, 2023]

MAY 8TH, 2023 AND JUNE 12TH, 2023.

UM, DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE MINUTES? SO MOVED.

I'LL SECOND A SECOND VOTE.

COUNCILMAN DAWSON.

UM, MOTION MADE BY CHAIRMAN PASSMAN, WITHOUT EXCEPTION, WITHOUT EXCEPTION.

THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED FOR MAY 8TH AND JUNE 12TH.

AND WE HAVE SEVERAL,

[6. CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD]

I'D LIKE TO READ THIS FIRST BEFORE WE GO INTO 'EM.

UH, PUBLIC COMMENT.

EVERY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO IS RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK SHALL LIMIT COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES AND OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING PROTOCOL, ADDRESS THE CHAIRMAN, AND IN SPEAKING, AVOID DISRESPECT TO COUNSEL AND ANY PERSONALITIES CONFINE THEMSELVES TO QUESTIONS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF COUNSEL, AND BE MINDFUL AND RESPECTIVE OF THOSE WHO ARE PRESENT AND OTHERS WHO MAY BE WATCHING ON TELEVISION.

ALL RIGHT.

SO WE HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKERS.

DON'T HAVE TO USE YOUR WHOLE, WHOLE, UM, 15 MINUTES.

I THINK SOME OF THEM ARE THE SAME SUBJECT.

UH, BUT WE'LL START WITH REVEREND WASHINGTON.

PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR ADDRESS AND YOUR NAME.

AND HE IS GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 10.

I AM, YOUR HONOR, I AM REVEREND DR.

ELIJAH WASHINGTON.

I LIVE AT THREE COLD DRIVE BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA.

THANK YOU.

YES, SIR.

TWO, THE HONORABLE CHAIRMAN OF THIS COMMITTEE AND ALL OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL TO THE ENTIRE COUNCIL.

WE, THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC COMMITTEE, WE TO THANK YOU.

AND ALL OTHERS INVOLVED WITH THIS NAMING OF THIS PARK IN HONOR OF THE FIRST SOUTH CAROLINA INVOLVED THEIR REGIMENT.

THERE ARE ANY NUMBER OF ACCOUNTS OF HISTORY AND STORIES OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA, ALL THEIR INFANT REGIMENT.

BUT ONE THAT I FOUND TO BE RATHER INTERESTING WAS THE ACCOUNT THAT WAS PUBLISHED ABOUT 13 YEARS AGO BY A BEAUFORT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE BY THE NAME OF ANDREW HOLLOWAY.

HE ENTITLES THE ACCOUNT TIGERS OF THE SEA ISLANDS.

AND I BELIEVE THAT MOST OF US ARE AWARE THAT THE MEN THAT WE ARE REFERRING TO TODAY COULD NOT READ OR WRITE.

SO WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THEM WAS WRITTEN BY SOMEONE ELSE.

THE EXCEPTION TO THIS WOULD BE SOMEONE LIKE PRINCE RIVERS, WHO LATER HELPED TO FORM THE COUNTY OF AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND GENERAL ROBERT SMALLS, WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE MANY.

HE HAS EVEN LEFT HIS MARK ON OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

LIEUTENANT CHARLES BERT OF COMPANY A OF HUNTERS REGIMENT SAID OF THESE MEN, THEY ARE FIGHTERS LIKE TIGERS GENERAL THOMAS KINSON AND HIS PAPER WROTE, WENT SO FAR AS TO SAY THAT THIS REGIMENT INCLUDED SOME OF THE BEST AND HAPPIEST SOLDIERS IN THE UNION ARMY.

AT THE START OF THE CIVIL WAR, MEN OF COLOR WERE BARRED FROM SERVICE IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

IN MAY OF 1862, MAJOR GENERAL DAVID HUNTER BEGAN ORGANIZING CONTRABAND FROM ISLANDS INTO THE CONTRABAND REGIMENT.

LATER, NEAR THE FIRST SOUTH CAROLINA AIRE ENTRY ELEMENTS OF THAT UNION FOUGHT ALONG GEORGIA AND EAST FLORIDA COAST, EVEN BEFORE THE REGIMENT WITH OFFICIALLY LEAGUE MUST HAVE DONE THE FEDERAL SERVICE ON JANUARY 1ST, 1863, THE IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY, THE SMITH PLANTATION WAS HELD ON THE SAME DAY THAT ABRAHAM LINCOLN EMANATION PROCLAMATION, THIS IS WHERE THEY RECEIVE THEIR COLORS.

BEFORE THE WAR ENDED.

SIX BLACK INFANTRY, UH, REGIMENTS, FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD SOUTH CAROLINA, UH, UH, DESIGNATED AS 33RD, 34, 1 0 3, 1 0 4, AND 1 28 U SS C T AND BAR G.

SECOND LETTER ARTILLERY REGIMENT.

U S C T WERE RAISED, UH, IN THE PORT ROYAL REGION.

THE FIRST COMMANDER OF THE FIRST SOUTH CAROLINA INVOLVED ENTRY AFTER THEY WERE FEDERAL AUTHORIZED WAS THOMAS WENTWORTH HIGGINSON ON G.

ON NOVEMBER 24TH, 1862,

[00:05:02]

HACKINSON REVIEWED HIS WORK AS BOTH MILITARY AND PHILANTHROPY IN NATURE.

HE BELIEVED THE OUTCOME OF THE WAR AND THE DESTINY OF AFRICAN AMERICANS MIGHT WELL REST ON THE PERFORMANCE OF BLACK TRUTH.

ON MAY 9TH, 1862, GENERAL HUNTER ISSUED ORDER NUMBER 11 FREEING THOUSANDS OF THESE INDIVIDUALS.

SHORTLY THEREAFTER, PRESIDENT LINCOLN PRESENTED THE ORDER BECAUSE GENERAL HUNTER DID NOT HAVE FEDERAL APPROVAL.

APPARENTLY, THE WASHINGTON WAS SLOW IN COMING, AND GENERAL HUNTER WENT ON TO ISSUE ORDERS TO FORM A REGIMEN.

THERE'S NO QUESTION, THERE WAS SOME QUESTION WHETHER THE FOUNDATION WAS VOLUNTARY OR BY DRAFT, BUT IT DID NOT TAKE LONG FOR A HUNDRED TO PUT TOGETHER FIVE TO 600,000 MEN.

IN JUNE OF 1862, GENERAL HUNTER WAS FORCED TO DECOM AND WAS TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE.

GENERAL HUNTER WAS REPLACED BY MAJOR GENERAL ROOFER SAXON.

HE ARRIVED ON SIX SEVEN ISLANDS IN HOSTILE TERRITORY.

HE NOTED THAT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE WORKERS FROM HUNTER'S REGIMENT AND FELONY THE ATTACKS, THESE MEN WERE STILL APPARENTLY UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN CHARLES THRONE BRIDGE.

GENERAL SAXON, WITH THE EIGHT OF OTHERS, CONVINCED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO RECONSIDER THE REORGANIZATION TOOK PLACE NOVEMBER 24TH, 1862.

GENERAL THOMAS WHITWORTH WAS IN CONTROL AFTER THE MEETING GOT CAMP AMP ON THE FIRST SOUTH WERE DIVIDED INTO SEVERAL GROUPS.

ON MARCH 10TH, 1862, THE REGIMEN LEFT CAMP SAXON AND THE RIGHT OF FERNANDO BEACH, FLORIDA.

THEY WERE ENGAGED WITH ASSAULT JACKSONVILLE AND SHOWED THEMSELVES, WELL, THEY ACTUALLY WON THE CITY.

BUT BEFORE THE MILITARY PLAN TO BE COMPETED, ORDERS CAME FROM HEADQUARTERS IN BEAUFORT FOR THEM TO RETURN AFTER THE RETURN.

THEY WERE PUT ON PICKET DUTY AT PORT ROYAL FAIR.

AFTER JACKSONVILLE, THE FIRST SOUTH CAROLINA WAS INVOLVED IN A FEW SHORT SCRIMMAGES AND SMALL, UH, COASTAL CAMPAIGNS.

EVENTUALLY, THE FIRST SOUTH CAROLINA DISPENSE, SOME STAYED IN JACKSONVILLE.

OTHERS LIKE SERGEANT PRINCE RIVERS, UH, SERVED THE COUNTRY AS CITIZENS.

MR. REVEREND, REVEREND WASHINGTON, WE YOU'RE OVER YOUR TIME COULD OKAY.

BUT WE'D APPRECIATE THE HISTORY LESSON.

THANK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YES, SIR.

UM, MADAM CHAIRMAN? YES.

COULD MR. WASHINGTON, REVEREND WASHINGTON MAKE IT A PART OF OUR RECORDS? YEAH.

YES.

MR. REVEREND WASHINGTON, CAN YOU GIVE THAT TO OUR, OUR CLERK SO THEY CAN PUT IT IN THE RECORD? SOME GREAT DOCUMENTATION.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, MS. VALINDA LITTLEFIELD, WE'LL SPEAK, UM, ON THE SAME SUBJECT.

IF YOU CAN STATE YOUR ADDRESS TOO.

SURE.

IT'S VALINDA LITTLEFIELD AND I SAY IT.

1908 ROPER.

AND I AM THE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN, UH, STUDY OF THE RECONSTRUCTION ERA AT U SS C B.

AND I WILL BE BRIEF.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.

WHEN YOU THINK OF THE, UH, FIRST SOUTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEERS, I'M GONNA SHARE WITH YOU WHAT CHRIS ALLEN HAS ALSO BEEN SHARING FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

THE FIRST SOUTH CAROLINA IS THE FIR, IS THE CONTINUOUS BLACK SERVICE IN THE US ARMY BEGAN IN MAY, 1860, MAY 9TH, 1862.

AND THE FIRST PERSON TO RAISE THEIR HAND TO BECOME A FIRST SOUTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEER WAS WILLIAM BRONSON FROM ST.

HELENA ISLAND.

THE FORMATION OF THE REGIMENT PRECIPITATED THE MILITIA ACT OF 1862.

THE FORMATION OF THE RE REGIMENT INFLUENCED PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION DECISION, AND IT IS THE FIRST UNAMBIGUOUS BLACK REGIMENT.

APPROVAL BY LINCOLN'S CABINET WAS THE FIRST SOUTH CAROLINA, AND THAT WAS AUGUST 25TH, 1862.

THE FIRST INVOCATION OF THE ENACTED EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION WAS BY THE , BY THE FIRST SOUTH CAROLINA AT CAMP SAXTON.

THAT WAS JANUARY THE FIRST, 1862.

AND WE HAVE GRADUATE STUDENTS AND UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE FIRST SOUTH.

AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE AT 1100 NAMES AND WE HOPE TO GET TO ABOUT 14.

WE'RE AT THE S SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY TO DOCUMENT THE HISTORY OF THIS GROUP, AND IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT HISTORY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

UH, NEXT IS MAYOR STEVEN MURRAY FROM THE CITY OF BUFORT.

RIGHT.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.

FIRST, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE DURING THESE COMPLEX AND CHALLENGING TIMES IN OUR SELF-GOVERNING DEMOCRACY.

I'M HERE TO SUPPORT, UH, AGENDA ITEM 10, WHICH IS THE NAMING OF THE BOUNDARY STREET PASSIVE OPEN SPACE PARK THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON TOGETHER WITH THE OPEN LAND TRUST.

UM, ALSO WANNA THANK THIS COUNTY FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND WORKING WITH THE CITY AND WORKING WITH THE OPEN LAND TRUST TO CREATE A REALLY GREAT ENTRYWAY, UM, TO OUR CITY.

UM, AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM DR.

WASHINGTON AND DR.

LITTLEFIELD, UM, NAMING THE PARK AFTER THE FIRST SOUTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEERS IS AN ABSOLUTELY APPROPRIATE HONOR GIVEN THEIR, UH, UNIQUE STATUS AND HISTORY, THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEIR SACRIFICES, THE PROTECTION OF THE SEA ISLANDS.

UM, AND AGAIN, AND JUST, JUST THEIR HISTORY, UH, WITH THEIR TIES TO RUFUSS, UH, GENERAL SAXTON, UH, AND THE PROTECTION OF THE SEA ISLANDS ALL DURING THE CIVIL WAR.

UM, I HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER THIS REQUEST FAVORABLY TODAY.

UH, BEAUFORT CITY COUNCIL HAS NOT CONSIDERED IT, BUT WE ANTICIPATE

[00:10:01]

AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT THIS ITEM OR ANYTHING ELSE, PLEASE NEVER HESITATE TO REACH OUT.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.

ALL RIGHT, MR. ED ALLEN, I APOLOGIZE YOU HAD SIGNED UP AHEAD OF THE MAYOR, BUT PLEASE ACCEPT MY APOLOGIES.

, CERTAINLY MADAM CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE DIOCESE, IT GIVES ME A GREAT DEAL OF PLEASURE TO COME BEFORE YOU TO SUPPORT THE NAMING OF THE PASSIVE PARK ON BOUNDARY STREET FOR THE FIRST SOUTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEER.

I AM A MEMBER OF THE GRAND ARMY HALL OF THE REPUBLIC.

I AM A DESCENDANT OF A MEMBER OF THE FIRST SOUTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEER.

AND, UH, IT GIVES ME A GREAT DEAL OF PLEASURE.

IT'S NO NEED IN ME GOING OVER THE HISTORY.

YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN INFORMED OF THE HISTORY OF THAT.

BUT THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT IT IS THAT IT OPENED THE DOOR FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS REALLY TO SERVE IN THE US UH, MILITARY.

WHEN WE LOOK AT SO MANY THINGS THAT WENT ON HERE IN OUR FAIR CITY THAT HAVE GONE UNKNOWN BY SO MANY OF THE RESIDENTS AND THE VISITORS TO BEAUFORT, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE UNTOLD STORIES.

WE, MANY PEOPLE ARE NOW BUYING OUT WHAT ROBERT SMALLS DID, NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF IN INTRODUCING THE ABILITY FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS TO SERVE IN THE US MILITARY, BUT ALSO WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT HE DID IN TERMS OF EDUCATION, ESPECIALLY FOR SOMEONE WHO WAS A SLAVE AND, UH, WAS NOT THEORETICALLY EDUCATED HIMSELF.

BUT WE LOOK AT OUR PAST AND WE ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT THIS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

IT WILL ALSO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF VISITATIONS THAT WE HAVE TO BEAUFORT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE THAT COME BY THAT SITE EVERY DAY.

AND THOSE THAT ARE HERE THEORETICALLY FROM WEDNESDAY TO FRIDAY AS THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS GRADUATE FROM PARIS ALLEN, TO THINK THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS STARTED THAT PROCESS AND STARTED IT HERE IN BEAUFORT.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, THOSE AT PARIS ISLAND ARE THERE BECAUSE OF AN AFRICAN AMERICAN MILITARY SERVER, ROBERT SMALLS, THAT WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN PARIS ISLAND BEING HERE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. ALLEN.

NEXT IS, UM, KRISTEN WILLIAMS, WHO'S GOING TO SPEAK TO NUMBER SEVEN ON THE AGENDA.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME'S KRISTEN WILLIAMS. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OPEN LAND TRUST, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING COMMENT TODAY.

I'M GONNA SPEAK VERY BRIEFLY ON AGENDA NUMBER SEVEN.

SINCE THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE WAS FORMED, THE LAND TRUST HAS ATTENDED EVERY GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE MEETING, AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY BECAUSE THIS COMMITTEE HAS BEEN WORKING INCREDIBLY HARD TO GET TO WHERE THEY ARE TODAY.

AND I WANNA COMMEND BEAUFORT COUNTY STAFF AND THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS ON THE WORK THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE UP UNTIL THIS POINT.

THERE IS INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF EXPERTISE SITTING ON THAT COMMITTEE, AND IT SHOWS, UM, IN WHAT YOU HAVE TODAY IN FRONT OF YOU IN THE ORDINANCE AND THE PROGRAM CRITERIA.

AND I THINK IT'S A REALLY EXCITING DAY FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY.

MANY OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY HEARD ME SAY THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, BUT BEAUFORT COUNTY HAS SO MUCH TO BE PROUD OF WHEN IT COMES TO CONSERVATION.

WE HAVE THE FIRST LAND TRUST IN THE STATE, UM, RIGHT HERE WITH OPEN LAND TRUST.

THE RURAL AND CRITICAL PROGRAM IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND.

AND NOW WE HAVE THE GREEN SPACE PROGRAM WHERE WE'RE THE FIRST COUNTY INTRODUCING THIS PROGRAM.

SO THE REST OF THE STATE IS LOOKING, UM, TOWARD BEAUFORT COUNTY AS GUIDANCE MOVING FORWARD.

AND THAT IS NOT TAKEN LIGHTLY BY THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND STAFF.

SO I, UM, FULLY SUPPORT WHAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY AND WANNA LEND OUR SUPPORT, UM, TO THAT COMMITTEE.

AND ALTHOUGH THIS WAS NOT WHAT I SIGNED UP FOR, OBVIOUSLY FOR REASONS, UM, STATED PREVIOUSLY, WE ARE IN FULL SUPPORT ON, UM, AGENDA NUMBER 10 IN AS A PARTNER ON THE BOUNDARY STREET LANIER PARK, UH, IN RENAMING IT FOR THE FIRST SOUTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEERS.

SO, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND JUST AS A COMMENT, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT THE THREE ENTITIES WORKED VERY WELL TOGETHER ON THAT PARK, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT WHEN WE COME TO THAT ITEM ON THE AGENDA.

UM, NEXT AND LAST ON OUR SIGNUP IS, UM, MR. GRANT MCCLURE, AND HE WILL SPEAK TO NUMBER SEVEN.

[00:15:04]

UH, MY NAME'S GRANT MCCLURE.

I WORK FOR THE COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE HERE IN BEAUFORT.

UM, I'M HERE ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THE GREEN SPACE, UM, PROGRAM AND THE, THE ITEMS THAT ARE BEFORE YOU TODAY.

UM, YOU MAY RECALL THE CONSERVATION LEAGUE WAS VERY INVOLVED IN, IN CAMPAIGNING FOR THIS, UH, PENNY PROGRAM TO, TO GET IN PLACE.

AND SO IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THINGS PROGRESSING AND, AND REALLY AT A PRETTY FAST CLIP.

AND SO I, I HAVE TO HAVE TO GIVE, UH, A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO THE COMMITTEE AND, AND STAFF, UH, FOR WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS TO, TO GET IT UP TO SPEED TO WHERE IT IS TODAY.

UM, I WANNA SAY, UH, I JUST, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER I'LL BE ABLE TO PULL THIS CARD, BUT I JUST TURNED 27.

UH, SO I CAN PULL THE YOUNG PERSON LIVING IN BEAUFORT CARD FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LOVE THE MOST IS JUST BEING ABLE TO GET OUT IN THE MARSH AND FISH.

UM, AND, AND SO I THINK, UH, THIS PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THAT AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL, UH, MAYBE I'M AN OLD SOUL, BUT HOPEFULLY IT'LL ATTRACT MORE OR FOLKS LIKE MYSELF, UH, TO THIS AREA.

UH, REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PROGRAM, UH, KIND OF, UH, STANDING UP.

ITS, ITS LEGS AND, AND HATS OFF TO THE COMMITTEE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON

[7. RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING BEAUFORT COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER 38, ARTICLE VII – GREEN SPACE PROGRAM, TO ESTABLISH SECTION 38-200 - GREEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (GSAC) PROGRAM CRITERIA AND APPLICATION PROCESS]

NUMBER SEVEN IS RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING BEAUFORT COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER 38, ARTICLE SEVEN GREEN SPACE PROGRAM TO ESTABLISH SECTION 38 DASH 200 GREEN SPACES COMMITTEE PROGRAM CRITERIA AND APPLICATION PROCESS.

AND CHAIRMAN OF THAT GROUP, MR. MIKE MCSHANE, WILL TAKE IT FROM HERE.

THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I'LL BE GIVEN AUTHORITY TO TAKE ANYTHING FROM HERE.

, GOOD AFTERNOON.

I AM MIKE MCSHANE.

I'M A RESIDENT OF CHARLESTON COUNTY.

JUST FOR THE RECORD, I, I, UH, AT 3 28 BAY STREET IN CHARLESTON.

AND I'M HERE TODAY AT THE, UH, AS A, ALONG WITH SEVERAL COLLEAGUES, AND IF I MAY, MADAM CHAIRMAN, JUST TO IDENTIFY YOUR COMMITTEE, MOST OF 'EM ARE PRESENT HERE TODAY.

UH, CHAIRMAN HOWARD IS A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE, BUT ALSO SENATOR TOM DAVIS REPRESENTS THE COUNTY DELEGATION.

LAUREL RODIN IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM IS YOUR, UH, EASTERN GEOGRAPHY, CORRECT.

EASTERN, CORRECT.

TIM EVANS FROM AUDUBON IS YOUR NORTHERN COUNTY.

PETER CHRISTIAN IS OUR SOUTHERN COUNTY.

AND, UH, CARMEN MANNING, WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO BE PHYSICALLY WITH US TODAY, BUT WAS ON VIRTUAL, REPRESENTS YOUR WESTERN BOUNDARY.

I ALSO THANK YOUR STAFF.

UH, IF YOU THINK ABOUT THIS COMMITTEE, YOUR REFERENDUM WAS JUST IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR.

THIS COMMITTEE WAS FORMED BY THE COUNCIL AND DIDN'T MEET UNTIL THE 1ST OF MAY.

AND HERE WE ARE THREE MONTHS LATER WITH A RECOMMENDATION FOR COUNCIL TO MOVE FORWARD FOR APPROVAL OF A PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE NOT, THAT WASN'T EVEN IN EXISTENCE UNTIL NOW.

AND AS POINTED OUT EARLIER BY SOMEONE WHO JUST HAD TO HIGHLIGHT HOW YOUNG THEY ARE, UH, THAT, UH, THAT WE MET RATHER RAPIDLY AND OFTEN YOU HAVE IN YOUR PROGRAM, UH, I BELIEVE THE, UH, THE ACTUAL PROGRAM CRITERIA.

AND WE'RE SEEKING THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION TO FULL COUNSEL FOR APPROVAL TONIGHT SO THAT YOUR FIRST READING WILL GO THROUGH.

AND WHAT, WHY THAT PLAYS WELL HERE IS IN THE, THE CONCEPT IS TO HAVE QUARTERLY APPLICATIONS COME THROUGH.

IT MATCHES UP WITH THE STATE CONSERVATION BANK.

UH, I THINK THIS HAS BEEN CLEARLY STATED.

AND, YOU KNOW, MY POSITION IS TO, TO LEVERAGE THESE AVAILABLE FUNDS THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE THAT.

AND SO THE, UH, PROTE PROGRAM CRITERIA SHOWS A SCHEDULE THAT WAS HAVE ACTUALLY ONE IN OCTOBER 31 BE AN APPLICATION DEADLINE.

SO WE'RE WORKING TO TRY TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING APPLICATIONS IN BY THE END OF THE FIR THE LAST QUARTER OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR, VERSUS WAITING IN THE 2024.

'CAUSE YOU'LL ACTUALLY HAVE SOME REVENUES THAT WILL BE ABLE TO BE PRODUCED.

YOU CAN SEE NOW ON THE SCREEN THOSE FOUR APPLICATION DATES THERE.

AND AS, AS I SAID, THEY MATCH UP TO WHAT THE STATE CONSERVATION BANK HAS SAID.

I ALSO WILL JUST HIGHLIGHT ON THE NEXT PAGE IS THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS IN YOUR ORDINANCE.

YOU ALLOW NOT ONLY THE PROCUREMENT OF A CONSERVATION EASEMENT AND FEE SIMPLE, YOU ALSO IDENTIFIED, UM, THE ABILITY TO PURCHASE EXISTING PLAN DEVELOPMENT OR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BUY DOWNS, UH, IN THAT.

AND YOU ALSO UNIQUELY ALLOW THE CONSIDERATION OF AN IMPACT IN A SURROUNDING COUNTY.

AND SO IN THIS CRITERIA, WE PUT SPECIFICS TO WHERE THAT WOULD QUALIFY OF AN APPLICATION.

THE APPLICATIONS THEMSELVES ARE BEING PRODUCED AND WORKED ON.

NOW.

IN FACT, SOME

[00:20:01]

UH, AND WE WILL, UH, BE IMPLEMENTING, THEY ALL WILL COME OUT OF THIS CRITERIA.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE, JUST MOVING THROUGH, UH, YOU CAN SEE HOW JUST WHEN WE GET CAUGHT UP, YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS THAT YOU HAVE THERE INCLUDES, WE HIGHLIGHTED STRONG OPINION OF HIGHLIGHTING FARMLAND PRESERVATION AS WELL AS NATURAL SCENIC OR WILDLIFE CORRIDOR PROCUREMENTS.

YOU GAVE US GREAT LATITUDE TO BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH THESE TYPE OF APPLICATIONS.

YOU, YOU'RE THE FIRST IN THE STATE I'M AWARE OF, THAT'LL ALLOW GREEN SPACE MONEY TO BE USED FOR THE BUY DOWN OF DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS, THOSE THAT EXISTED PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE.

AND THAT'S VERY CRITICAL AS PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION OF THAT ORDINANCE, THOSE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS ON THAT.

AND THEN WE PUT SOME ADDITIONAL CRITERIA THAT YOU'LL SEE IN TERMS OF HOW THEY'LL BE EVALUATED AND TO BE BROUGHT TO YOU AS A RECOMMENDATION AS THIS COMMITTEE TO THEN GO THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THIS COMMITTEE TO FULL COUNSEL FOR THAT.

IF THE COUNCIL CHOOSES TO DO THAT AT ANY TIME, IF THEIR COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE A QUESTION, YOU, UH, I THINK COUNCIL, UH, STAFF WILL ALWAYS KEEP COUNCIL INFORMED ON WHEN THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE WILL MEET.

AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO ATTEND THAT.

I COULD ASSURE YOU THAT THIS COMMITTEE HAS INDEPENDENTLY AND COLLECTIVELY COMMITTED THAT WE WILL ONLY BRING RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THIS COUNCIL, THIS COMMITTEE AND ITS COUNCIL WOULD FULLY WANT TO, UH, TO TAKE PART IN.

YOU HAVE OUR WORD ON THAT? OKAY.

WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.

OH, A COMMENT, NOT A QUESTION.

OKAY.

OH, LIKE COUNCILMAN TAVER.

SO I'M VERY, UM, EXCITED ABOUT THIS COMMITTEE.

I'VE SAT IN ON A COUPLE OF YOUR MEETINGS AND SINCE I WAS ON THE SELECTION COMMITTEE, I THINK WE DID A GREAT JOB PICKING THE PEOPLE FOR THIS COMMITTEE.

NOT THAT I WANNA BREAK, BUT THEY'RE ALL GOOD GUYS AND LADIES.

UM, BUT I THINK YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY.

I LOVE THE DISCUSSIONS YOU HAVE.

I THINK THEY'RE VERY OPEN AND HONEST, AND I THINK YOU'VE REALLY JUST DONE A GREAT JOB.

AND I CAN'T SAY IT ENOUGH, THESE, WHEN, WHEN YOU FLY THROUGH THE APPLICATION STUFF, IT IS A FLY BY.

BUT AGAIN, THAT'S NOT OUR JOB TO CRITIQUE THAT.

IT'S JUST TO KNOW YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

SO APPRECIATE THAT.

UH, SENATOR DAVIS'S PARTICIPATION IN THIS AND YOUR LEADERSHIP AS THE CHAIR.

YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB TO COALESCE THIS GROUP.

THANK YOU.

I REALLY LIKE YOU.

CHAIRMAN PASSMAN.

YES, MADAM, MADAM CHAIR.

I WOULD LIKE, UH, TO MAKE A MOTION TO HAVE THIS COMMITTEE APPROVE THIS, TO MOVE THIS FORWARD TO COUNTY COUNCIL.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? A SECOND.

OKAY.

UM, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

IT WAS EITHER COUNCILMAN DAWSON OR COUNCILMAN GLOVER.

THEY SPOKE AT THE SAME TIME.

MR. WE'LL TAKE A VOTE.

OKAY.

MR. DAWS DAW, ALL WITHOUT FURTHER DISCUSSION OR ANY OBJECTION? NO OBJECTION.

I JUST HAD ONE, ONE QUESTION.

MR. MCSHANE.

UM, UM, THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE APPLICATION, AND THERE'S THE WORD GREEN SPACE, UH, THERE'S ONLY ONE GREEN SPACE MAP IN THE COUNTY, IS IT? SO THAT, ONE MORE TIME FOR ME, SIR, IS THERE'S ONLY ONE GREEN SPACE MAP THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH, HUH? I THINK YOU, IF I'M FAMILIAR WITH, I THINK YOU REFER TO THAT HERE AS A GREEN PRINT PRINT.

THE GREEN PRINT.

THE GREEN PRINT, YES SIR.

MM-HMM.

.

BUT WE'LL USE, THERE'S THERE ONE.

EACH OF THESE INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS WILL REQUIRE MAPPING.

SO WE CAN SEE WHAT CONNECTIVITY ADJACENCY, 'CAUSE THAT'S A COMPONENT OF WHAT YOU WANT TO CONSIDER WHEN YOU'RE GONNA INVEST IN THAT TYPE OF PROGRAM.

ALSO, THE STATE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS DESIGNATED THE CONSERVATION BANK TO HAVE THE STATE'S CONSERVATION MAP.

WE WILL OVERLAY THAT WITH YOUR GREENPRINT.

IT'S JUST PULLING FROM DIFFERENT RESOURCES TO STRENGTHEN THE CASE THAT WOULD COME BACK IN FRONT OF YOU TO MAKE A DECISION TO INVEST IN THAT PROJECT.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

AND I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.

WE CAN USE FUNDS IN OTHER COUNTIES, BUT WE WOULD ALSO, WE HAVE A LOT OF, UH, GUIDANCE ON HOW THAT WOULD BE DONE.

AND THEY ALSO HAVE THEIR OWN COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLANS.

UM, IF WITH YOUR PERMISSION, CHAIRMAN MCSHANE, I'D LIKE TO ALSO THANK STAFF.

THEY DID A GREAT JOB.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN.

'CAUSE I WAS JUST GONNA HIGHLIGHT FOR YOUR INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR THAT YOUR TEAM HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING, AND THAT INCLUDES, UH, ROBERT MERCHANT, UH, MARK DAVIS, CHUCK ATKINSON, AND OF COURSE, TOM KEVIN HAS BEEN PROVIDING LEGAL COUNSEL TO THAT.

SO WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THEIR, UH, REALLY THEIR SUPPORT AND THEIR, UH, PARTICIPATION IN THIS.

UH, MADAM CHAIR, WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE FOR YOUR COMMITTEE TO SHARE HOW MUCH REVENUE'S BEEN BROUGHT IN ALREADY FOR GREEN SPACE? I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THAT.

YEAH, I'D LIKE TO KNOW.

YEAH.

SO I CAN REPORT THAT AT OUR, OUR MEETING EARLIER THIS MONTH,

[00:25:01]

WAS IT ONE MONTH OR TWO? JUNE 30TH.

TWO MONTHS.

TWO MONTHS, YES.

MM-HMM.

, UH, WAS A LITTLE OVER FIVE AND A HALF MILLION APPROXIMATELY.

SO IF YOU TAKE THAT IN CONSIDERATION IN THAT QUARTER.

AND SO DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE WILL, UH, GIVE YOU THAT ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.

I THINK SEPTEMBER 30TH DATE WILL REALLY BE INDICATIVE OF HOW THE PROGRAM'S GOING.

'CAUSE THAT'LL GIVE YOU ALL OF JULY, AUGUST, AND SEPTEMBER.

AND SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES THAT TAKE PLACE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, THAT'S GONNA BE A REALLY BUSY TIME.

BUT I THINK THE FORECAST THAT YOU PUT IN PLACE IN THE DISCUSSIONS EARLY ON ARE GONNA HOLD.

IT'S IN THAT TWO YEAR PERIOD, WE ARE PROBABLY LOOKING SOMEWHERE AROUND A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS AVAILABLE IN THE OVERALL PROGRAM.

GOOD QUESTION.

GOOD, GOOD QUESTION.

WITHOUT OBJECTION.

THIS, WE'LL GO ON TO FULL COUNSEL AT THE MEETING FOLLOWING THIS ONE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

NUMBER EIGHT

[8. RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO PROVIDE FOR A MODIFIED MILLAGE RATE FOR THE LEVY OF TAX FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2023, AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2024, AND TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR SAID PURPOSES.]

AND TO MAKE APPROPRIATION FOR SAID PURPOSES.

OKAY, MS. CROSBY, WE'LL BE PRESENTING.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

UH, TANYA CROSBY, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER WITH THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO PRESENT TODAY.

UM, I HAVE TO SAY, AFTER MANY YEARS OF PRESENTING THE BUDGET AT, AT COUNCIL AND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THIS IS MY DEBUT MEETING, UH, PRESENTATION AT THE COMMITTEE , THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE.

SO THANK YOU FOR, UH, ALLOWING US TO FA FAST TRACK THINGS A LITTLE BIT AND GET ON, UH, GET TO THE BUSINESS OF ADJUSTING, AMENDING THE MILLAGE, UM, AND, UH, BY THE ORDINANCE DATE OF AUGUST 31ST.

SO I JUST HAVE TWO SLIDES FOR YOU TODAY, AND THEN I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A SUMMARY THAT I'M GOING TO USE.

IT'S ACTUALLY CRAFTED BY ONE OF YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, AND SO I'M GONNA USE THAT AS SOME OF MY TALKING POINTS TODAY 'CAUSE IT WAS SUCH A WONDERFUL SUMMARY.

SO, UM, MS. TABER, UH, COUNCILMAN TABER HAS, HAS, UH, PROVIDED A WONDERFUL SUMMARY OF SORT OF THE HISTORY IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND THE REASONS WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.

SO, UH, THE FIRST SLIDE TALKS ABOUT, UM, THE, WHERE WE STARTED IN BLUE, UM, ON JUNE 26TH, I BELIEVE IT WAS, WAS FINAL READING OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S BUDGET.

UM, THE TOTAL, UM, AMOUNT OF REVENUE NEEDED FROM TAX REVENUES WAS $195 MILLION AT THAT TIME.

UM, THE CURRENT LAST YEAR'S MILLAGE IN OPERATIONS WAS 125.6 MILS, AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT APPROVED, AND THE COUNCIL APPROVED AS WELL, A 4.4 MIL INCREASE TO, TO MOVE OUR OPERATING MILLAGE TO 130 MILLS.

DURING THAT TIME, WE DID DISCUSS IT BEING A PRE-ROLL BACK MILLAGE NUMBER.

UH, I MADE SURE TO PUT THAT, STIPULATE THAT THROUGHOUT MY PRESENTATIONS, KNOWING THAT WE WOULD LIKELY COME BACK WITH A ROLLED BACK MILLAGE NUMBER AT SOME POINT IN TIME.

SO WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING TODAY IS IN GREEN.

UM, SO IF YOU ROLLED BACK THE, WE ROLLED BACK THE ORIGINAL NUMBERS TO 117.4, WHICH IS AN 8.2 MIL ROLLBACK.

AND, UH, WHEN KEEPING THE 4.4 MIL INCREASE, IT WOULD MOVE OUR OPERATIONS MILLAGE TO 1 21 0.8.

SO THE IMPACT ON THE TAXPAYER IS THEY WOULD'VE SEEN 1 25 0.6 LAST YEAR.

THEY WOULD SEE 1 21 0.8 THIS, THIS COMING YEAR, WHICH IS A 3.8 MIL REDUCTION IN WHICH WE BELIEVE WILL GENERATE THE AMOUNT OF REVENUES THAT IS LISTED IN THE BUDGET ORDINANCE.

SO THE SECOND SLIDE IS JUST KIND OF REITERATING THE MILLAGE AMOUNT.

UH, WHAT WE'RE SEEING THOUGH IS THAT IF WE HELD TRUE AT THE A HUNDRED AND HELD AT THE 130 MILLS AT A $1.6 MILLION MILL VALUE, WE WOULD GENERATE ABOUT $13 MILLION MORE THAN WE BUDGETED IN OUR ORDINANCE.

SO WE WOULD'VE, WE PREDICT OR PROJECT THAT WE WOULD'VE, UH, GENERATED $208 MILLION VERSUS THE 195 MILLION THAT'S IN THE ORDINANCE.

AND SO DUE, AND ALL OF THIS IS DUE TO THE INCREASED, UH, VALUES AS A RESULT OF THE REASSESSMENT.

AND, UM, AS A RESULT OF THIS AFFECTED WINDFALL OF REVENUE, WE ARE REQUIRED BY STATE LAW TO ROLL THAT MILLAGE BACK, ADJUST IT TO GENERATE THE SAME LEVEL OF REVENUE THAT WE APPROVED IN THIS BUDGET.

SO THAT'S THE, UH, THE PURPOSE OF TODAY'S MEETING TO, UH, GENERATE REVENUE NEUTRALITY.

AND, UM, THIS MILLAGE WOULD ALL STAY IN LINE AND MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE MILLAGE CAP.

UH, IT ACTUALLY ARE, THE NUMBERS IN THAT CALCULATION WOULD NOT CHANGE BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL BASED ON THE PRIOR YEARS MILLAGE RATE.

SO WE FALL WELL WITHIN THAT, UM, THOSE REQUIREMENTS.

[00:30:01]

AND I JUST WANNA SHARE A FEW, UH, THOUGHTS.

I MISS TABER DID SEND AN EMAIL TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND I, I BELIEVE THAT IT DID A WONDERFUL JOB OF SUMMARIZING.

SO I'M JUST GONNA HIT SOME HIGHLIGHTS OUT, UM, FROM THOSE NOTES.

UM, SO AGAIN, WE APPROVED A BUDGET OF 195 MILLION IN, UH, ULTIMATELY JUNE 26TH.

AND IN THAT ORDINANCE WAS A CLAUSE THAT INTENTIONALLY STATED THAT THE COUNCIL RESERVED THE RIGHT TO MODIFY THESE MILLAGE RATES AS MAY BE DEEMED NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE NO LATER THAN AUGUST 31ST OF THE TAXING YEAR.

AND IF IT DOES DETERMINE NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE, THEN THE MILLAGE RATE WOULD BE ATOP ADOPTED BY RESOLUTION.

SO UNTIL WE GOT TO, UM, UH, EARLY AUGUST OR LATE JULY, WE, WE WERE ANTICIPATING ONE VOTE OF COUNSEL.

UH, AND SO WHEN WE, UH, BEGAN TO, WHEN I REACHED OUT TO THE COUNTY AND SAID, WE'RE READY TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND HAVE AN AMENDED RESOLUTION, UM, THERE WAS SOME INTERPRETATION.

THEY BELIEVED THAT IT WAS, UM, I REACHED OUT TO LEGAL COUNSEL AND WE BELIEVE THAT IT WAS, UM, IT SHOULD INSTEAD BE AN AMENDED ORDINANCE AS OPPOSED TO A RESOLUTION AND THAT WE WOULD NEED TO DO THREE READINGS OF, OF COUNSEL.

SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.

AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE FAST TRACKED SOME THINGS TO GET US, UH, THE THIRD READING IN BY AUGUST 31ST.

AND ALSO THEN AS SOON AS THE ORDINANCE IS APPROVED OR THE AMENDED ORDINANCE IS APPROVED, THEN THOSE FIGURES WILL GO AND, UM, ALL THE, OR THE COPIES OF THE ORDINANCE WILL GO ONTO THE COUNTY AUDITOR'S OFFICE.

SO, UM, BASICALLY, UM, THE, UH, SO THE AMENDED ORDINANCE WILL GENERATE THE 195 MILLION AND WE WILL, UH, IT PROPOSING A 3.8 MIL REDUCTION OVERALL FOR TAXPAYERS.

AND WE'RE JUST ASKING YOUR SUPPORT TO IN THAT, UH, ROLLBACK AND COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW.

SO THAT I'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.

I FIGURED EVERYBODY WOULD CLAP.

IT'S A REDUCTION IN .

IT'S GOOD NEWS.

ANY QUESTIONS? I WILL MAKE THE MOTION TO HAVE THIS APPROVED TO BE SENT TO COUNCIL FOR FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE.

SECOND.

SECOND.

I SECOND I THINK, I THINK COUNCILMAN HAD THE SECOND.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

WITHOUT OBJECTION.

MM-HMM.

, ANY DISCUSSION? THIS WILL GO FORWARD TONIGHT.

YES, MA'AM.

THANK YOU FOR BEING, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

EXCELLENT JOB.

THAT'S GREAT.

OKAY,

[9. RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 62, SOLID WASTE, BEAUFORT COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCE]

UM, AND MR. DESAI WILL SPEAK ABOUT THIS AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIRMAN AND THE COMMITTEE.

SO BEFORE YOU, OUR TEXT AMENDMENTS FOR CHAPTER 62 OF THE SOLID WASTE ORDINANCE, UH, WITHIN OUR BRIEFER COUNTY CODE.

UH, UPON REVIEWING THIS, PRIOR, PRIOR TO THIS EXERCISE, WE NOTICED THAT BOTH THIS ORDINANCE, AS WELL AS THE CODE ENFORCEMENT ORDINANCE HAD SOME DISCREPANCIES AND SOME CONTRADICTORY LANGUAGE.

WE WORK WITH OUR LEGAL TEAM TO CLEAN BOTH OF THOSE UP.

WHAT'S BEFORE YOU IS CHAPTER 62.

AND A COUPLE EXAMPLES WANTED TO KIND OF PRESENT TO YOU TO WHERE WE DID SOME OF THE CLEANUP INCLUDE SECTION 62.4, THE ENFORCEMENT ARM, WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT OFFICERS FOR SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING, AS WELL AS THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

WE WENT AHEAD AND INCLUDED THAT 62.5, UH, WHERE WE PUT THE FINE INCONVENIENT WHERE THEY'RE BOTH READING AT $500.

SO WE CLEANED SOME OF THAT UP AS WELL AS IF YOU'RE MOVING ON TO PAGE 43 OF YOUR PACKET WHERE WE MOVED ARTICLE TWO, UH, TO CHAPTER 38.

AND SO BASICALLY THIS WAS A GOOD HOUSEKEEPING MEASURE WHERE WE CLEANED UP THIS ORDINANCE AND THEN THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, UH, CODE ENFORCEMENT PORTION WILL ALSO COME BACK TO COMMITTEE AT SOME POINT.

SO CODE ENFORCEMENT WILL BE BACK IN FRONT OF US.

YES, MA'AM.

UM, LATER, YES, MA'AM.

WITH THE SAME CHANGE.

UM, OKAY.

I'D LIKE TO OPEN UP FOR QUESTIONS.

UM, TOM, I HAD, I HAD A QUESTION, UM, THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THIS MORNING.

UM, EXAMPLE OF, SO CODE ENFORCEMENT CAN GIVE YOU A $500 FINE.

THAT'S CORRECT.

AND ALSO YOUR LITTLE CONTROL OFFICERS CAN GIVE YOU A $500.

FINE.

IF A COMPANY IS NOT COVERING THEIR TRUCKS ON THE WAY TO THE LANDFILL, THEY COULD POSSIBLY BE FINE AS TRASH FALLS OUT OF THEIR TRUCK.

CORRECT.

ET CETERA.

OKAY.

BOTH CODE ENFORCEMENT AND, AND LETTER CONTROL.

AND SOMEONE'S DUMPING PROP DUMPING ON SOMEBODY'S PRIVATE PROPERTY CODE ENFORCEMENT COULD

[00:35:01]

CORRECT.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

ANY, ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT? THIS IS SIMPLY FOR CONSISTENCY.

THAT'S CORRECT.

MM-HMM.

.

OKAY.

ENTERTAIN A MOTION, MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

OKAY.

COUNCILMAN DAWSON? DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT.

ALL RIGHT.

COUNCILMAN TABER SECOND.

WITHOUT, EXCEPT WITHOUT OBJECTION.

THIS WILL GO FORWARD TO COUNSEL IN SEPTEMBER.

ALL RIGHT.

UM, NUMBER 10

[10. RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO NAME THE BOUNDARY STREET OPEN SPACE/POCKET PARK LOCATED IN THE CITY OF BEAUFORT: " 1ST SOUTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEERS PARK"]

AND MR. ATKINSON WILL BRIEF US ON THAT.

I WILL.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY, THE CITY OF BEAUFORT, AND THE OPEN LAND TRUST.

UH, BOTH OF THOSE YOU HEARD FROM MAYOR MURRAY AND, UH, KRISTEN EARLIER.

I HAVE WORKED TOGETHER OVER SEVERAL YEARS TO ACQUIRE PARCELS OF LAND ALONG BA UH, BOUNDARY STREET AND BATTERY CREEK, LOCATED WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY OF BEAUFORT.

FOR REFERENCE, THIS PARCEL SITS ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE FROM WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

UH, IF YOU'RE HEADING OUT OF TOWN ON BOUNDARY STREET, IT'S THAT VERY NICE GRASS OPEN AREA ON THE LEFT.

THAT'S WHERE WE JUST TORE DOWN AN OLD, UH, COUNTY OWNED BUILDING.

AND IT'S WHERE THE OLD, UM, WENDY'S USED TO BE LOCATED.

UH, THE THREE ENTITIES HAVE COMPLETED THE PURCHASES OF THESE PARCELS DEMOLISHED THE COMMERCIAL STRUCTURES THAT WERE FORMERLY LOCATED ON THE SITE.

THE BOUNDARY STREET, OPEN SPACE PARK IS STRONGLY TIED TO THE LEGACY AND IMPORTANCE OF THE FIRST SOUTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEERS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION TOWARD THE PROTECTION OF THE SEA ISLANDS AND BRAVERY IN OTHER CIVIL WAR ACTIVITIES.

THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE, SACRIFICE AND COMMITMENT OF THE FIRST SOUTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEERS IS WORTHY OF RECOGNITION.

AS SUCH, THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION NAMES THE PARK IN HONOR OF THE FIRST SOUTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THIS RESOLUTION.

OKAY.

I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, MADAM CHAIRMAN, I'D FOR THAT AS A FORMAL MOTION.

OKAY.

UM, AND WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT IF I CAN GET A SECOND, I'LL SECOND.

SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DAWSON? YES, SIR.

UM, DISCUSSION AND COMMENT.

SURE.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO DISCUSSION.

I THINK THIS IS AN HONOR, UM, THAT'S BEING RECOMMENDED.

I WANT TO COMMEND THOSE WHO BROUGHT THIS FORWARD.

UH, AT THE SAME TIME, I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE FORMER MAYOR , WHO WAS VERY, UM, DILIGENT AND, UM, GETTING, UH, SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT SOME FOUR, FIVE YEARS AGO.

AND, UM, SO I JUST WANT TO JUST COMMEND HIM FOR THAT.

ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE INTERESTING, UH, THING ABOUT, UH, HISTORY OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS IS THAT, UM, REALLY HADN'T BEEN TOLD.

AND, UM, HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT TO BE EXTENDED, UM, TO BE, SO THE STORY CAN BE TOLD THE, THE COMMITMENT OF THE PARTICIPATION.

UM, ONE OF THE REASON I WAS STRONGLY, UH, SUPPORTING THE, THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR BATTLE OF PORT ROYAL IS BECAUSE OF THAT.

UM, AND SO I THINK ANYTIME WE CAN GET A, A TRUE HISTORY OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED AS A COMMUNITY, INCLUDING ALL THE RACES, ALL THE RELIGIONS, UM, UM, I THINK IT'S A GREAT THING.

AND BEFORD IS UNIQUE, AND THAT BUFORD, UM, IS A REALLY A SEABED FOR A LOT OF HISTORICAL EVENT, AND THIS IS JUST ONE OF THEM.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

UM, AND FROM WHAT MS. LITTER, UM, LITTER LITTLEFIELD SAID 1100 OR MORE DESCENDANTS, MAYBE 1100 PARTICIPATED.

AND IT WILL BE WONDERFUL IF A LOT OF THOSE DESCENDANTS, INCLUDING MR. ALLEN, CAN BE THERE WHEN WE, UM, TOGETHER NAMED THE PARK.

MADAM CHAIRMAN, I MISSED, I MISSED, UH, ANOTHER POINT.

I'M GLAD YOU RAISED THAT.

MM-HMM.

.

UM, I RECENTLY DISCOVERED, UH, A CIVIL WAR GRAVE ON ST.

HELENA, AND I WAS JUST AMAZED, UH, THE STONE IS THERE.

UM, NOT A LOT OF BROADCASTING BECAUSE WE DO NOT WANT PEOPLE TO START VIOLATING, UM, UM, SOMEONE'S GRAVE.

BUT, UM, THE HISTORY IS THERE MM-HMM.

, AND, UM, THE NAME I WAS TOLD WAS BAILEY, UH, I CAN'T THINK OF THE FIRST NAME AT THIS TIME, BUT THE NAME WAS BAILEY.

SO, UM, YEAH.

JUST THANK YOU MADAM CHAIRMAN.

YES, SIR.

YEAH.

UH, I, UM, I SAY KUDOS TO, UH, THE COMMENTS THAT YORK MAKE AND TO YOUR POINT AS WELL.

UM, I, I WANNA THANK, UM, ALL THE PARTICIPANTS WHO WERE INVOLVED IN BRINGING THIS FORWARD TO BEFORE US AND

[00:40:01]

THIS IS A GREAT HONOR TO HONOR THOSE BALLOT MEN WHO, UH, FOUGHT ACTUALLY TO, UH, PRESERVE AND PROTECT OUR SEA ISLAND.

UM, AND I WOULD DARE SO, I HEARD ED ALLEN SAY HE'S ONE OF THE DESCENDANTS OF ONE OF THE, UH, SOLDIERS, AND SO AM I.

AND SO I, I THINK IT'S JUST, UH, BE FITTING AND RIGHT FORCE TO, UH, GIVE CONSIDERATION TO PASSING THIS.

THANK YOU.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, THIS WILL GO FORWARD TO FULL COUNSEL.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, NUMBER 11,

[11. RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT SC AERONAUTICS COMMISSION GRANT OFFER 23-025 FOR $378,044 FOR TAXIWAY F STRENGTHENING AND FOR PARTIAL ACQUISITION OF EXEC AIR PROPERTY AT THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND AIRPORT]

THIS IS A HUNDRED PERCENT GRANT WITH NO LOCAL MATCH.

MR. FRAS GONNA, YEAH, I'M JUST GONNA INTRODUCE IT AND THEN JOHN CAN GIVE THE DETAILS.

JOHN'S GONNA GIVE IT, UM, BUT BASICALLY WANTED TO INTRODUCE ONE.

TYPICALLY OUR, UH, AIRPORT, UM, FUNCTIONS COME THROUGH PUBLIC FACILITIES.

UM, THE REASON WE'RE COMING HERE TODAY OF A COMMUNITY SERVICES, THIS WAS A GRANT AWARD, UM, THAT WAS MENTIONED TOWARDS THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

UM, WE ACTUALLY HAVE AN ACCEPTANCE DUE, IT'S DUE ON THE 15TH, SO TOMORROW.

UM, SO WE WERE JUST, THIS WAS THE NEXT COMMITTEE SINCE WE LAST MET IN ORDER TO BRING IT THROUGH.

AND THUS, THE REASON THAT IT'LL ALSO BE GOING TONIGHT TO, TO COUNTY COUNCIL MEETINGS, JUST SO WE CAN HAVE THE PAPERWORK IN ORDER TO, TO GO WITH THE GRANT.

BUT IT IS A HUNDRED PERCENT GRANT, AND JOHN CAN GIVE US SOME MORE DETAILS ABOUT THAT.

THANK YOU.

UH, MR. RAMO.

YEAH.

THANK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US AT, AT YOUR COMMITTEE.

UM, WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE SPREAD THE WEALTH AND LET YOU ACCEPT A, A GRANT AS WELL.

BUT AS JARED EXPLAINED, THIS IS A, UH, GRANT FROM SOUTH CAROLINA AERONAUTICS COMMISSION.

AND REALLY THE, JUST FOR YOUR EDIFICATION, THE WAY THAT THE FUNDING NOW WORKS THROUGH THE AERONAUTICS COMMISSION FOR THE COMMERCIAL AIRPORTS IS THERE'S A, A SET AMOUNT OF, OF FUNDS THAT GOES TO THE AIRPORT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

MM-HMM.

.

SO IT GETS ASSIGNED TO SPECIFIC PROJECTS AS YOU COME FORWARD WITH A PROPOSAL, BUT IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN IT USED TO BE, WHERE IT WAS, UH, WHERE A INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT LIKE THIS WOULD BE FUNDED 90% F A A, AND THEN 5% STATE, AND THEN 5% THROUGH THE AIRPORT.

SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS CHOOSING TO USE A PORTION OF THE ANNUAL FUNDS, UH, FOR THESE TWO PROJECTS.

IT'S ACTUALLY TWO YEARS WORTH OF FUNDS.

SO IT, IT TAKES UP TWO, UM, TWO DIFFERENT FISCAL YEARS WORTH OF FUNDS FROM AERONAUTICS.

BUT PART OF THAT WOULD GO TO THE TAXIWAY PROJECT WHEN WE EXECUTE THAT.

AND THEN THE REST OF IT IS FOR A SMALL ACQUISITION OF A, OF A VERY SMALL PART OF EXEC AIR, WHICH IS THE PRIVATE HANGAR ASSOCIATION AT THE NORTH END OF THE AIRPORT.

UM, AND THAT BECAME AN ISSUE, OR NOT AN ISSUE, BUT A NECESSITY BECAUSE YEARS AGO WHEN WE, UM, RELOCATED THE TAX AWAY ON THAT SIDE OF THE AIRPORT, IT, IT BASICALLY RENDERED A SMALL, VERY SMALL SLIVER OF THEIR PROPERTY UNUSABLE TO THEM BECAUSE IT HAD AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE IN IT.

SO WE'RE KIND OF MAKING THINGS RIGHT AND PURCHASING THAT PROPERTY TO BE ADDED INTO THE AIRPORT.

OKAY.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

AND OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.

OKAY.

AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION A SECOND.

I'LL SECOND, SECOND.

BOTH.

MR. RENTZ, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THIS WILL GO FORWARD.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

MOVING

[12. RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE REALLOCATION OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) FUNDS FOR THE PLANNING, PERMITTING AND CONSTRUCTION OF INFRASTRUCTURE NECESSARY TO RELOCATE THE OPERATION OF THE PUBLIC DAUFUSKIE ISLAND FERRY SERVICE (FISCAL IMPACT: No Impact)]

UH, RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE REALLOCATION OF, UH, ARPA FUNDS FOR THE PLANNING, PERMITTING, AND CONSTRUCTION OF INFRASTRUCTURE NECESSARY TO RELOCATE THE OPERATION OF THE PUBLIC FUSS ISLAND FERRY SERVICE, PHYSICAL IMPACT.

NO IMPACT.

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

UH, THE AGENDA ITEM BEFORE YOU NOW IS TO MAKE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR THE PROJECT TO BE DISCUSSED IN THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.

UH, AS FOR THE FUNDING TO BE UTILIZED, AS COUNSEL KNOWS, THEY RECEIVED ARPA MONEY IN 2022 INTO BUCKETS OF ALLOWABLE USES.

THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE, WHICH WAS 22 DASH 16 2 20 22 DASH 16, GAVE THE ADMINISTRATOR AUTHORIZATION TO REALLOCATE FUNDS WITHIN THESE CATEGORIES AS WE PROGRESSED.

AND WE ASSESSED FEASIBILITY OR ALLOWABILITY OR COMPLETE ABILITY OF PROJECTS, BUT WE FELT IT BEST TO COME TO THE COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL TO MAKE THIS MANEUVER IN REALLOCATING THESE FUNDS IN AN EFFORT TO BE, UH, AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE, COUNCIL ALLOCATED 11.7 MILLION TO A, AN INFRASTRUCTURE CATEGORY WITHIN THAT CATEGORY OR BUCKET AS WE REFER TO THEM.

THERE WAS A SPECIFIC FERRY LINE ITEM, AND THERE WAS ALSO A SPECIFIC GENERAL LINE ITEM.

THE GENERAL LINE ITEM WAS FOR PROJECTS CREATIVELY NAMED GENERAL THAT WEREN'T SPECIFICALLY DEFINED, UH, NOT YET DEFINED, UH, BUT