Oct 09, 2023 Community Services and Land Use Committee

[*A portion of this video is without audio*]

[00:02:02]

WE GO.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A SHORT AGENDA TOO, SO.

ALRIGHT, UH, MR. ATKINSON, WELL, YOU'RE

[6. UPDATE FROM ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR CHUCK ATKINSON]

GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE.

I'M GONNA INTRODUCE OUR BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY DIRECTOR.

IT'S AMANDA DICKMAN, AND SHE'S GOING TO COME UP AND TELL US ABOUT ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM.

SO, MS. AMANDA DICKMAN.

WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON.

UM, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO SPEND A FEW MINUTES WITH YOU THIS AFTERNOON TALKING ABOUT MY FAVORITE COMMUNITY SERVICE.

I'M BIASED, BUT IT IS PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND MOST SPECIFICALLY THE BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY, WHICH, AS YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY BEFORE, HAS BEEN THE ONE THAT I'VE DEDICATED MOST OF MY CAREER TO SERVING IN.

SO, ON SCREEN, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A FEW VISUALS, BUT I KNOW YOU GET A LOT OF INFORMATION THROWN AT YOU, SO I'M GONNA MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THIS PRESENTATION TODAY GIVES YOU EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.

UM, TO START OFF, I JUST ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHAT COMES TO MIND, THE IMAGES THAT COMES TO YOUR MIND WHEN YOU THINK OF A PUBLIC LIBRARY.

I BET FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU THOUGHT ROWS AND ROWS OF BOOKS SHELVES FILLED TO THE BRIMM WITH STORIES WAITING TO BE BORROWED AND READ.

AND THAT IS TRUE.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

WE HAVE THE BOOKS, UM, BUT WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

WE HAVE FIVE LOCATIONS AND TWO BOOK MOBILES, AND WE'RE FAST WORKING ON A SIXTH LOCATION AND WORKING ON ACHIEVING, UM, POTENTIAL SITES TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOAL SET FORTH IN THE BEAUFORT COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS AND EXPANSION OF SERVICES.

BUT I WANNA FOCUS ON THE FIVE THAT WE HAVE AND THE SIXTH ONE THAT IS COMING IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.

I USED MY CARD, UH, MY LIBRARY CARD, AND THIS IS AN ADVANCING, SO I'M GONNA LET YOU DO IT.

UM, I USE MY LIBRARY CARD TO ACCESS THE NEW YORK TIMES ONLINE FOR FREE, WHICH IS SOMETHING IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW PRIOR TO TODAY, YOU CAN ACCESS THE NEW YORK TIMES FOR FREE WITH YOUR LIBRARY CARD.

IN THAT, UH, FEBRUARY ARTICLE, THERE WAS A LOVE LETTER TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

IN IT, THE AUTHOR SAID, THE MODERN PUBLIC LIBRARY KEEPS ITS CITIZEN WARM IN OUR CASE, SOMETIMES COOL WITH THOSE HOT SUMMERS, SAFE, HEALTHY, ENTERTAINED, EDUCATED, HYDRATED, AND ABOVE ALL CONNECTED.

AND PERHAPS AT THIS MOMENT IN OUR HISTORY AS A NATION, AS A WORLD, CONNECTIVITY IS THE THING WE NEED MOST CONNECTIVITY TO RESOURCES, CONNECTIVITY TO INFORMATION, CONNECTIVITY TO EACH OTHER.

AND THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS THE INSTITUTION IN EVERY COMMUNITY THAT PROVIDES THAT CONNECTION.

SO HOW DO WE DO THAT? WE PROVIDE IN OUR LOCATIONS FREE WIFI.

WE ALSO PROVIDE COMPUTERS FOR FREE FOR PEOPLE TO USE.

ONE OF THE HIDDEN GEMS THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT IS THAT WE HAVE A MACHINE IN EACH OF OUR LOCATIONS THAT WILL PROVIDE FOR FREE AT NO COST FAXING, SCANNING TO

[00:05:01]

THAT MACHINE WILL ALSO TRANSLATE INTO SEVERAL LANGUAGES, INCLUDING FOR OUR TRECHE, OUR STAR WARS PEOPLE OUT THERE CLING ON.

WE ALSO HAVE MEETING ROOMS AT EACH OF OUR LIBRARIES THAT CAN BE RESERVED IN ADVANCE FOR FREE FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO UTILIZE.

IN THE SUMMER, WE TURN OUR FOCUS ON ENCOURAGING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO PARTICIPATE IN SUMMER READING IN THE SPRING.

OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE OF THE LOW COUNTRY AND A A R P ALLOW OUR LIBRARIES TO BE PLACES THAT OFFER FREE TAX PREPARATION, SAVING OUR RESIDENTS HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN FILING THEIR INCOME TAXES.

WE ALSO SERVE AS POLLING LOCATIONS FOR ELECTIONS, AND OUR LIBRARIES HOST ABOUT 17,000 TRAINING AND WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

ON OUR SHELVES, YOU'LL FIND MOVIES AND TV SERIES FOR THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO SCRAMBLE TO CATCH UP ON YELLOWSTONE.

WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED.

WE ALSO OFFER MAGAZINES IN PRINT AND ONLINE, AND OF COURSE, THE BOOKS.

SO LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR.

WE WELCOMED OVER 300,000 PEOPLE TO THE LIBRARY.

STUDENTS, KIDS, PARENTS, ADULTS, RETIREES, TOURISTS.

WE ALSO, UM, REPORT ABOUT 96,700 ACTIVE CARD HOLDERS.

IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT BEAUFORT COUNTY'S POPULATION, THAT MEANS ABOUT 50% OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY CARD HOLDERS.

AND WITH THOSE CARDS, THEY CHECKED OUT OVER 800,000 MATERIALS IN THIS PAST YEAR THAT INCLUDED ALSO OVER 300,000 VISITS TO OUR WEBSITE.

AND OUR STAFF, WHICH I'M PROUD TO REPORT TO YOU, ANSWERED ABOUT 62,000 QUESTIONS.

THAT'S NOT ALL.

WE ALSO, UM, ENGAGED 35,000 PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED THOSE WORKSHOPS AND PROGRAMS. WE PROVIDED 1,137 MEETING ROOM RESERVATIONS.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER FACTORED IN HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO RENT A CONFERENCE ROOM IN THIS TOWN.

THAT'S A COST SAVINGS TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO UTILIZE THOSE MEETING ROOMS. OUR FACEBOOK FOLLOWING HAS GROWN TO ALMOST 4,000 LIKES.

SO I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO PULL OUT YOUR PHONES AND LIKE, AND SHARE THOSE FAX SCAN EMAIL MACHINES I MENTIONED EARLIER.

THEY SCANNED OVER 94,000 DOCUMENTS LAST YEAR.

IF YOU WERE TO CALCULATE THAT BY WHAT AN OFFICE SUPPLY STORE CHARGES FOR A FAX, YOU CAN SEE AUTOMATICALLY THE VALUE OF A LIBRARY CARD.

OUR DIGITAL MAGAZINES WERE BORROWED 16,000 TIMES.

OUR STAFF MADE 534 VISITS IN THE COMMUNITY TO DAYCARE CENTERS, NURSING HOMES, ASSISTED LIVINGS.

ANYWHERE ANYBODY WOULD INVITE US, WE TOOK THE MESSAGE OF THE LIBRARY TO THE PEOPLE.

AND THEN WITH THE HELP OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, WE HAD OUR FIRST EVER LOCAL ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM.

AND THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO USE OUR LIBRARY SPACES TO ENGAGE AND INSPIRE A NEXT ARTIST BY CAPITALIZING ON THE TALENT THAT MAKES ITS HOME.

IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

THAT'S WHAT WE DO INSIDE THE LIBRARY.

BUT THERE'S ALSO A PORTION OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY THAT IS AVAILABLE OUTSIDE OF OUR OPERATING HOURS, OUTSIDE OF THE WALLS OF OUR LIBRARIES THROUGH THE DIGITAL LIBRARY THAT'S AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, SMARTPHONES, TABLETS, COMPUTERS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTY.

WE HAVE FOUR PRIMARY RESOURCES.

THE FIRST AND THE MOST POPULAR BEING HOOPLA.

THAT IS OUR EBOOK AND AUDIOBOOK, MOVIE, TV, MUSIC, AND MORE APP THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE ON THEIR SMARTPHONES OR THEIR INTERNET ABLE DEVICES TO ACCESS CONTENT ON DEMAND.

AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE DIGITAL VERSION OF THAT, AND THE WALL STREET JOURNAL RESEARCHERS IN GENEALOGY CAN ACCESS ANCESTRY THROUGH THE COMPUTERS IN OUR LIBRARIES, AS WELL AS OUR LIBRARY WIFI.

AND WE HAVE FLIPSTER ANOTHER APP THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO DIGITAL MAGAZINES.

IN ADDITION TO CONNECTING PEOPLE TO INFORMATION, WE ALSO CONNECT TO OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, SERVICES AND ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT SERVE OUR RESIDENTS.

THIS PAST YEAR, WE PARTNER WITH VITA AND A A R P TO PROVIDE THAT TEXT PREPARATION SERVICE IN THE SPRING.

WE ALSO PARTNER WITH THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE U S D A TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES A LUNCH MEAL TO STUDENTS IN THE SUMMERTIME WHEN THE SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED.

WE ALSO, UM, PARTNER WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT TO HOST A JOINT SUMMER READING PROGRAM SO THAT WE'RE BOTH, UM, PARTNERED TOGETHER TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO READ ALL SUMMER LONG.

WE ALSO SERVE AS A POLLING LOCATION.

SOME OF YOU EVEN ATTENDED, UM, SOME OF THE NARCAN TRAINING AND DISTRIBUTION AT OUR LIBRARIES THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY ALCOHOL

[00:10:01]

NOW IN INTO THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AHEAD, THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE IS USING OUR LIBRARIES TO HOST THEIR PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSIONS AND THE VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICE WILL BE UTILIZING OUR LIBRARY LOCATIONS TO HOST APPOINTMENTS WITH POTENTIAL CLIENTS FOR THEIR SERVICES.

SO WE DO INDEED CONNECT.

SO NOW I WANNA SHARE YOU SHARE WITH YOU HOW WE'RE WORKING TO CONNECT EVEN FURTHER.

WE WANT TO ALSO CONNECT LIBRARIES TO THE GREAT OUTDOORS.

BEAUFORT COUNTY IS HOME TO A LOT OF NATURAL ATTRACTIONS AND LANDMARKS, AND WE CAPITALIZE ON THAT BY TAKING LITERACY AND THE ENJOYMENT OF READING TO OUR PARKS.

UM, WE HAVE JUST FINISHED THE FIRST YEAR OF A STORY WALK AT THE BLUFFTON LIBRARY.

IN THE FRONT OF THE LIBRARY IS A, IS A PARK, AND WE'VE INSTALLED STATIONS THERE.

SO PEOPLE VISITING CAN READ A LI UH, A PICTURE BOOK AS THEY WALK IN THE SPACE.

UH, THANKS TO THE FRIENDS OF THE BEAUFORT LIBRARY IN THE RECEPTANCE FROM THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL IN THE SPANISH MOSS TRAIL.

UM, THERE WILL BE FUTURE STORY WALKS IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS AT NAVAL HERITAGE SKATE PARK AND THE SPANISH MOSS TRAIL.

AS I MENTIONED, WE WILL BE RESUMING OUR ARTIST IN RESIDENCE APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN RIGHT NOW ON OUR WEBSITE FOR THE NEXT ARTIST TO SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATION TO BE OUR, UM, ARTIST IN RESIDENCE.

WE ARE ALSO, UM, WORKING TO, UM, MITIGATE THE PARKING ISSUES AT THE DOWNTOWN BEAUFORT LIBRARY.

UM, OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF BEAUFORT AND THE BEAUFORT BRANCH HAS ALLOWED US TO HAVE ONE HOUR PARKING TOKENS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO GIVE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE VOLUNTEERING AT THE LIBRARY OR PERHAPS RESEARCHING IN THE BEAUFORT DISTRICT COLLECTION WHEN THEY GET THEIR FIRST LIBRARY CARD OR WHEN THEY ATTEND A LIBRARY PROGRAM.

OUR PILOT OF THAT WAS THE SUMMER AND SO FAR WE WERE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE ABOUT 414 ONE HOUR TOKENS TO REWARD AND INCENTIVIZE THE USE OF THE LIBRARY BY REMOVING THE OBSTACLE OF PAYING TO PARK.

AND LAST I'LL END WITH OUR MOST ANTICIPATED PROJECT, WHICH IS THE OPENING OF THE PORT ROYAL BRANCH LIBRARY.

WE ANTICIPATE THAT THERE'S ABOUT 15,000 PEOPLE IN THAT THIS LIBRARY WOULD SERVE ON OPENING DAY.

THE BUILDING ITSELF IS FAMILIAR TO YOU.

IT'S 1408 PARIS AVENUE, UM, RIGHT IN THE HEART OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT OF PORT ROYAL.

IT IS ABOUT 3,200 SQUARE FEET.

AND WE HOPE THAT ON OPENING DAY, UH, WHEN ALL THE DUST FROM THE CONSTRUCTION HAS SETTLED AND WE'RE ABLE TO UNVEIL THIS NEW TREASURE TO THE COMMUNITY, THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO OFFER A MEETING ROOM, A SMALL GROUP STUDY ROOM, A BROWSABLE COLLECTION OF ITEMS FOR, FOR CHECKOUT, A FREE FAX SCAN, EMAIL, A COPIER AND, AND STAFF THAT ARE WELCOMING AND INVITING THIS NEW TREASURE.

SO I STARTED OFF BY TALKING ABOUT THE LIBRARY BEING THE HEARTBEAT OF ITS COMMUNITY.

I'M, I'M NO CARDIOLOGIST, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT OUR HEART'S PUMPING FINE AND IT'S, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE WEEKS, MONTHS, YEARS AHEAD AS WE CONTINUE TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO EXPAND THE LIBRARY AND FURTHER OUR MISSION TO SERVE AND SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY FOR LEARNING, FOR LEISURE AND FOR LIFE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? JUST ONE.

MM-HMM.

UM, IT JUST SEEMED 3,200 SQUARE FEET IS RELATIVELY SMALL FOR A LIBRARY.

WHAT'S YOUR COMMENT ON THAT, I THINK, AND WHAT CAN YOU PROVIDE IN THAT COMMUNITY WITH 3,200 SQUARE FEET? UM, AND YOU TALKED ABOUT HAVING A SMALL MEETING ROOM, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, BUT YEAH, YOU JUST SEEM KIND OF SMALL, SO YEAH.

SO 3,200 SQUARE FEET IS ABOUT THE SIZE, VISUALLY OF THE LUKO LIBRARY IN TERMS OF SERVICE AREA, UH, AREA AVAILABLE FOR USE BY THE PUBLIC.

UM, AND IT WOULD SEEM SMALL.

WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THE FACT THAT IT WAS A COUNTY OWNED BUILDING SO THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO GO ACQUIRE A SITE, BUILD A SITE, UM, THAT WE'RE ABLE JUST TO, UM, RENOVATE AND, AND MAKE PROPER FOR THE USE OF A LIBRARY AT FIRST.

UM, MY PERSONAL OPINION, WHICH IS WHAT YOU ASKED FOR, , MY PERSONAL OPINION IS AT FIRST I THOUGHT, OH WOW, THIS IS SMALL.

BUT I ALSO THOUGHT IT LOOKED LIKE A LIBRARY FROM THE BEGINNING.

UM, GETTING TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO THE ARCHITECT AND TELL HIM ALL THE THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE AVAILABLE IN THE SPACE.

UM, I'M CONFIDENT IN THE DESIGN THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO OFFER EVERYTHING THAT PEOPLE EXPECT FROM OUR LIBRARIES, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A SMALL FOOTPRINT.

WE DO THINK THAT IT IS A GREAT FIRST STEP IN ESTABLISHING LIBRARY SERVICE IN PORT ROYAL.

OKAY.

UM, I AGREE WITH THE, UH, FIRST STEP, UM, IN THAT DIRECTION.

IS THERE ADEQUATE PARKING IN THAT AREA FOR THE LIBRARY? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION AS WELL.

THERE ARE A FEW SPOTS THAT ARE RIGHT AT THE LIBRARY.

UM, PARKING WILL BE, UM, SOMETHING CHALLENGE THAT, UM, THE ENTIRE PARIS AVENUE BUSINESSES AND, AND RESIDENTS THERE TALK ABOUT IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD.

UM, I DO THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY ITSELF

[00:15:01]

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO SEEING SOME OF THE WALK UP, UM, OR BIKE UP TRAFFIC.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

I THINK THE OTHER ATTRACTION, IT'LL BE, UM, KIND OF WHEN THEY DO THE CROSSING ON REBOLT ROAD ON SPANISH MOSS TRAIL FOR PEOPLE ON BICYCLES, IT'D BE EASY TO ACCESS THAT.

I MEAN, PARIS AVENUE WILL BE EASIER TO ACCESS THAT WAY TOO.

SO A LOT OF GOLF CARTS IN FORT WORLD TOO.

I KNOW.

, .

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM MS. COMMENT? I'M SURE IF ANYONE HERE DOESN'T HAVE A LIBRARY CARD, THEY COULD SEE YOU BEFORE YOU LEAVE , BECAUSE OTHER THAN, YOU KNOW, AS AMANDA SAID, BOOKS ARE WHAT WE ALL GREW UP WITH WHEN I TOUCH 'EM.

BUT THERE'S SO MANY ONLINE SERVICES YOU THAT WE ALL CAN ACCESS.

SO SEE HER IF YOU NEED A LIBRARY CARD.

THAT'S RIGHT.

OR THEY CAN SIGN UP ONLINE.

WE HAVE A FULLY OR SIGN ONLINE, UM, ONLINE APPLICATION READY TO GO.

I'D JUST LIKE TO COMMENT.

THE LUNCH PROGRAM HAS BEEN SUCH A SUCCESS.

DO YOU HAVE APPROXIMATELY KNOW HOW MANY CHILDREN PARTICIPATED? I DON'T ON HAND.

UM, I CAN TELL YOU EACH BRANCH IS DIFFERENT PER DAY.

UM, BUT WE DO THINK IT'S A VIABLE RESOURCE AND EVEN FEEDING JUST ONE CHILD MAKES IT WORTH IT FOR US.

AND YOU DO IT AT ALL THE BRANCH? WE DO IT AT ALL FIVE LOCATIONS.

THAT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK Y'ALL DO.

THANK YOU.

THANKS.

OKAY.

MR. JACKSON, DO YOU HAVE, IS THAT IT FOR YOUR REPORT? OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

UM, NEXT WE HAVE MR. ALLEN

[7. PRESENTATION BY THE COASTAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (CCDC) WORKFORCE HOUSING FUNDING - Alan Wolf, Chairman of the CCDC/President of the Serg Restaurant Group & Carletha Frazier, Program Manager for CCDC]

WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU CHAIRWOMAN HOWARD.

THANKS FOR HAVING US.

UH, CARLI FRAZIER'S, OUR PROJECT MANAGER, AND I APPRECIATE THE TIME TO EXPLAIN SOME OF THE EXCITING, UH, PROGRESS WE'VE MADE.

UH, THE COASTAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WEBSITES LISTED ON THE SCREEN.

THERE IS COMPRISED OF THE BOARD OF SEVEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

WE HAVE EXPERIENCE IN NONPROFIT ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE, HOUSING, TAX, CREDIT PROGRAMS AND DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS CORPORATE AND REAL ESTATE LAW, UH, ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

IN MY CASE, UH, WE ARE FORMED WITH THE EXPLICIT DUTY TO SERVE THE WORKFORCE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH IN THE HOUSING SECTOR ARE CHALLENGING.

UH, WE FILED FOR NONPROFIT STATUS IN FEBRUARY OF 23 AND RECEIVED THE APPROVAL OF THE APPLICATION IN MAY OF THIS YEAR.

THAT'S ALL.

HERE WE GO.

SO WHAT ARE WE DOING? UM, OUR MISSION, AS STATED ON THE SCREEN THERE, IS TO SEEK TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF HOMES FOR OUR LOCAL AND REGIONAL WORKFORCE BY PRESERVING EXISTING HOUSING, REDEVELOPING EXISTING PROPERTY, AND THEN DEVELOPING NEW PROPERTY TO MEET THE DEMAND OF OUR REGION WHILE SERVING WORKING RESIDENTS.

WE HAVE RESEARCHED AND IMPLEMENTED A NUMBER OF TOOLS TO ENSURE OUR IMPACT ON WORKFORCE HOUSING.

AND THE FIRST ONE IS THAT WE ARE TARGETING AREA MEDIAN INCOMES FROM 50% FOR HOUSEHOLD INCOMES UP TO 150%.

SO IT'S A WIDE RANGE THAT SERVES THE WIDEST SELECTION OF WORKFORCE NEEDS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ARE EXCITED TO BE, UH, WORKING WITH DEEDED RESTRICTIONS.

SO ONCE THESE PROPERTIES ARE PURCHASED, THEY'LL BE RESTRICTED TO THOSE AMIS FOR 99 YEARS.

SO IT'S REALLY A LONG TERM, UH, SOLUTION AND ONE WHERE WE'VE LEARNED FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES THAT HAVE TAKEN A SHORTER TERM AND WOUND UP IN A SIMILAR PROBLEM SOME 25 YEARS LATER.

VERY EXCITED THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED AN APPLICATION PROCESS WHICH WILL ALLOW US, WITHOUT VIOLATING FAIR HOUSING LAWS OR STANDARDS TO PRIORITIZE WORKERS WHO LIVE OR WANT TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH THEY WORK.

AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THERE WILL OF COURSE BE NO SHORT-TERM RENTALS, WHICH TIES IN VERY WELL TO THE, UH, GROWTH MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES THAT ALL OF OUR MUNICIPALITIES IN THE COUNTY ARE FACING.

SO WHY ARE WE WORKING SO HARD TO DO THIS? WELL, FRANKLY, WE FEEL LIKE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR LOW COUNTRY RESIDENTS IS AT RISK.

AND IT'S REALLY DUE TO THIS, YOU KNOW, RAPID INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUES THAT WE'VE SEEN SO MUCH GROWTH IN POPULATION.

AND WHAT IT'S LED TO IS SOME CHALLENGES IN THE AVAILABILITY, THE COST OF SERVICES, AND THE QUALITY OF SERVICES.

IF WE CAN INCREASE THOSE THREE, WE KNOW THAT WE CAN HAVE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR VISITORS TO THE AREA.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR MAKING THE BEFORD HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT COME TO LIFE.

BACK IN 2017, THE RESULTS WERE ISSUED, AND I HIGHLIGHTED THE NUMBERS AT THE BOTTOM BECAUSE WHEN YOU AGGREGATE BEAUFORT COUNTY, OVER 5,000 RENTAL UNITS WERE NEEDED ACCORDING TO THE ASSESSMENT BY THE YEAR 2027.

UH, HERE WE ARE SOME HALFWAY THROUGH OR JUST BEYOND THAT ORIGINAL 10 YEAR WINDOW.

AND ONE THING THAT I DON'T BELIEVE WE ACCOUNTED FOR IN THAT ASSESSMENT WAS THE LEAK IN THE BUCKET OF SHORT TERM RENTALS AND HOW WE, EVERY TIME WE PUT A NEW UNIT IN, WE SEEM TO LOSE MORE OUT TO THE SHORT TERM MARKET.

SO IT'S A VERY, UH, CHALLENGING ISSUE AND WE BELIEVE THAT DEVELOPMENT ALONE PROBABLY CANNOT SOLVE TO OUR STANDARDS.

THE SOLU THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE.

SO HOW WE'RE DOING IT,

[00:20:02]

THE FIRST ONE, AND WE LEARNED THIS FROM THE GREENVILLE HOUSING FUND, WHO'S ABOUT 10 YEARS AHEAD OF US, IS THAT THERE'S A I R S SAFE HARBOR LAW, WHICH ALLOWS FOR PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT.

IF YOU'RE DELIVERING, UH, UNITS BETWEEN 50 TO 120%, THAT MEANS YOU MAY HAVE 25% OF THE UNITS UP TO 50%, YOU CAN HAVE 55% OF THE UNITS UP TO 80%, AND THEN YOU CAN HAVE 20% OF THE UNITS UP TO 120% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOMES.

SO THAT'S A BIG PIECE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

AND BENDING THE COST CURVE.

UH, THE BIGGEST ONE WE'RE MAKING HEADWAY ON IS THIS ALTRUISTIC INVESTMENT.

WE ARE REACHING OUT TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, UH, BOTH SO SOUTH AND NORTH OF BROAD, WITH A 10 YEAR PROMISSORY NOTE TO HELP FUND THE DOWN PAYMENT CAPITAL FOR THE UNITS THAT WE'RE PURCHASING.

THERE WILL BE A 3% RETURN ON THOSE PROMISSORY NOTES AS A DEBT INSTRUMENT AND WITH A 10 YEAR BALLOON, WHICH WOULD BE REFINANCED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WHEN THE RATES ARE, ARE CERTAINLY FAVORABLE IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

UH, WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH REGIONAL AND LOCAL BANKS TO SECURE 6% AND 5% 30 YEAR MORTGAGES, WHICH ARE BELOW MARKET, AND SHOWS THE EFFORT THAT THE BANKS ARE WILLING TO PUT IN TO HELP SUPPORT THIS CHALLENGING CAUSE.

UH, WE STAND HERE WITH MUNICIPALITIES AND WITH THE COUNTY LOOKING FOR COMMUNITY INVESTMENT AS WELL.

CERTAINLY AS A NONPROFIT, WE'LL BE ABLE TO OFFER, UH, TAX, UH, EXEMPT STATUS FOR DONATIONS AND GRANTS WHEN THEY'RE MADE.

AND THEN WE WILL WORK FEVERISHLY.

IN FACT, WORK WITH SENATOR DAVIS THIS MORNING ON TRYING TO GET TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSING, UH, TRUST FUND SO THAT WE CAN START TO ACCESS STATE LEVEL HOUSING OPTIONS AS WELL.

AND AT FIRST, WHEN WE PUT THIS TOGETHER LAST YEAR, IT STARTED IN OCTOBER, THANKS TO A CRISIS SOUTH OF ABROAD WHERE 54 CHIMNEY COVE RESIDENTS WERE ABOUT TO BE EVICTED IN 30 DAYS.

YOU KNOW, WE SAID WE HAVE TO HAVE A NIMBLE SOLUTION TO ADJUST WHEN THESE THINGS COME UP.

AND WE WEREN'T SURE IF THIS WOULD BE A FOR-PROFIT OR A NOT-FOR-PROFIT, BUT WE ENDED UP SETTLING THAT NOT NOT-FOR-PROFIT WAS THE RIGHT APPROACH, WHICH OF COURSE, BENDS THAT COST CURVE THE FURTHEST.

WE ARE TAKING A PHASE APPROACH TO OUR IMPLEMENTATION.

UM, WHILE WE OWN THREE UNITS CURRENTLY AND ARE PLANNING TO GROW, I WANTED TO HONE IN ON A COUPLE.

THE FIRST ONE BEING WE'RE WORKING ON A 13 UNIT MODEL JUST FOR HILTON HEAD ISLAND, WHICH WE'VE ASKED THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN FROM THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL.

UH, WE HAVE APPLIED TO THE BE FOR JASPER HOUSING TRUST AS WELL, WHICH YOU ALL HAVE SUPPORTED.

AND THEN MODEL ON HILTON HEAD.

WE'VE ASKED THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD TO SUPPORT US WITH 600 HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.

AND THEN WE WOULD GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE BANKS FOR THE REMAINING, UH, CAPITAL BALANCE, THE BEFORD, JASPER, JASPER, UH, TRUST FUND.

WE'VE SUBMITTED A REQUEST FOR THE $2 MILLION GRANT.

WE ARE IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

IT WOULD BE PAID BACK, JUST LIKE WITH OUR ALTRUISTIC INVESTORS, 3% OVER A 10 YEAR PERIOD.

WE HAVE $10 MILLION TARGETED FOR THAT ACQUISITION PROJECT AND WOULD SECURE 42 HOMES THAT ARE ALREADY HERE AND LOCK THEM UP FOR NINE, NINE YEARS TO SERVE THE WORKFORCE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

REALLY, THIS C C D C PHASED APPROACH, AGAIN, CAN SCALE ANYWHERE ACROSS THE COUNTY.

UH, TYPICALLY OUR MODELS RANGE AROUND 50 UNITS, AS OUR GOAL WOULD BE TO SECURE 50 UNITS A YEAR, AND THAT MEANS 20% DOWN AS A REQUEST FROM MUNICIPAL OR COUNTY SUPPORT WOULD LEAVE US FUNDING THE OTHER 80%.

SO FOR EVERY $1 OF MUNICIPAL OR COUNTY MONEY THAT'S FUNDED, WE WOULD FIND THE OTHER FOUR PRIVATELY.

SO WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR, UM, WE ARE OFF AND RUNNING WITH OUR ADMINISTRATIVE, UH, BUDGET.

WE HAVE $100,000 AS A MATCHING GRANT FROM THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF LOW COUNTRY.

AND WE ALSO SECURED $125,000 OF PRIVATE DONATIONS, WHICH ALLOW US TO FUND JUST OVER THE FIRST YEAR OF ADMINISTRATIVE, UH, OPERATING WORK.

WE HAVE CLOSED ON THREE UNITS ON

[00:25:01]

AND THEN WE HAD SOMEBODY WHO MOVED OUT OF A ONE BEDROOM ON MARSH SIDE ON GUMTREE ROAD ON HILTON HEAD.

THEY MOVED TO TENNESSEE.

SO THAT UNIT WAS GOING TO THE MARKET AND WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE A PARALEGAL THAT WAS LIVING IN BLUFF AND AT AN EXTENDED STAY, UH, SHORT-TERM HOTEL SCENARIO AND GOT HER MOVED IN ON HILTON HEAD WHERE SHE LIVES AND WORKS.

AND WE'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO WELCOME CARLY AS UNDERNEATH THE PROJECT MANAGER.

UM, WOULD YOU MIND SHARING THE VIDEO? THIS IS A LITTLE, UH, TESTIMONIAL OF THAT MOST RECENT TENANT THAT WE MOVED IN.

I MOVED DOWN HERE FROM COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.

I WORKED ON THE ISLAND AT ONE OF THE LOCAL LAW FIRMS. I'M A PARALEGAL AND WANTING TO PURSUE MY EDUCATION AND GET MY LAW DEGREE EVENTUALLY AND BECOME AN ATTORNEY.

THERE WAS NOTHING AVAILABLE AT THE TIME, MOVED INTO THE ONLY THING THAT I FOUND, WHICH WAS OUT IN BLUFFTON.

AND RENT WAS JUST VERY EXPENSIVE TO BE IN A STUDIO APARTMENT.

A LOT OF EMPLOYERS ON THE ISLAND NEED QUALIFIED, YOUNG, ENERGETIC PEOPLE, AND THEY'RE NOT MOVING TO HILTON HEAD BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT.

THEY'RE MOVING OFF ISLAND, THEY'RE MOVING FURTHER AWAY.

BLUFFTON, YOU KNOW, JUST GET THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE.

HOWEVER, EVERYONE'S COMING ONTO THE ISLAND AND LEAVING THE ISLAND AT THE EXACT SAME TIME EVERY DAY.

IT COULD BE AN HOUR TO TWO HOUR COMMUTE EVERY MORNING.

SO WHEN YOU START FIGURING OUT HOW MUCH TIME YOU'RE SPENDING COMING BACK AND FORTH, YOU'RE NOT GONNA MAKE THAT DECISION.

YOU'RE GONNA FIND ANOTHER JOB SOMEWHERE ELSE.

SO THIS IS A WAY TO BRING SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE BACK AND TO HELP THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THRIVE.

WANTED.

HI MADISON, I WANT YOU TO SEE THIS.

WELL, MADISON'S AT A BRAND NEW UNIT FOR US.

IT'S ONE BEDROOM, ONE BATH.

IT'S NOT OVERLY BIG, IT'S ABOUT 800 SQUARE FEET.

MADISON QUALIFIED FINANCIALLY, AND SHE'S THE QUINTESSENTIAL CANDIDATE WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

THAT'S REALLY NICE.

IT'S A GREAT SPACE.

THERE'S A WALK-IN CLOSET, NEWER FURNISHINGS IN BOTH THE LIVING ROOM WITH THE BUILT-IN BOOKSHELVES AND THEN APPLIANCES IN THE KITCHEN.

IT'S JUST A GREAT SPACE TO LIVE IN.

SO NICE TO MEET JACK MADISON.

I'M YOUR NEW NEIGHBOR.

WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THANK YOU.

IT'S VERY EXCITING.

THESE GUYS ARE TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER 40, 50 UNITS AND THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT WHERE THE EMPLOYEE CAN AFFORD TO LIVE ON HILTON HEAD AND WORK ON HILTON HEAD.

I'M GONNA BE PAYING JUST THE FLAT 1600 A MONTH AND I'M MUCH CLOSER TO WORK.

SO GAS, I'LL BE SAVING ON TIME, I'LL BE SAVING ON TIME IS MORE VALUABLE THAN ANYTHING IN THE WORLD.

BEING ABLE TO BE A PART OF THIS PROGRAM IS SAVING ME SO MUCH MONEY THAT WAY I AM ABLE TO CONTINUE TO WORK AND NOT HAVE TO LEAVE HILTON HEAD.

I CAN STAY IN THIS AREA, UM, INVEST MORE IN THE COMMUNITY, GET MORE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY, AND NOT HAVE TO PAY $3,000, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATELY IS NOT AFFORDABLE FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS LIKE MYSELF.

SO I'M EXCITED TO JUST GET EVERYTHING UNPACKED, GET EVERYTHING WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO, AND JUST START FROM THIS NEW BEGINNING.

MADISON REALLY EMBODIES OUR GOAL OF LETTING PEOPLE LIVE WHERE THEY WORK.

SO I SAW SOME SNICKERS ABOUT THE TRAFFIC PART OF THE VIDEO, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE KEYS IS TO GET PEOPLE LIVING CLOSE TO WHERE THEY WORK, UH, TO REDUCE SOME OF THOSE CHALLENGES IN THE COMMUTE.

SO WHERE DOES BEAUFORT COUNTY FIT IN? UH, WE WOULD CERTAINLY APPRECIATE ANY WORK THAT YOU COULD PROVIDE IN BEING A LEADER AND, UH, POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT SOLUTIONS WHICH WOULD HELP US LAUNCH FURTHER INTO OUR, UH, MISSION.

UH, RECENTLY STATE BILL 2 84 WAS PASSED, WHICH ALLOWS ATAC TO BE CONSIDERED AS A USE FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING.

UH, WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY CONSIDERATION THERE.

WE CERTAINLY SEE OUR BIGGEST UPSIDE IN BONDING ONCE THERE'S AVAILABILITY OF BONDS, WE CAN EX UH, EXTEND OUR, OUR EFFORTS MUCH LARGER.

AND THEN THERE'S ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY, OF COURSE FOR LAND LEASEBACKS, UH, AND DEVELOPMENT, IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES IN YOUR PORTFOLIO THAT YOU'D LIKE TO LOOK AT THERE.

UH, SO THE, THE WRAP UP FOR US IS WHY PARTNER WITH US? WELL, WE HAVE AN IMMEDIATE SOLUTION.

DOESN'T REQUIRE ZONING CHANGES.

IT DOESN'T REQUIRE 24 MONTHS BEFORE A SHOVEL GOES IN THE GROUND.

WE CAN MAKE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE'VE ALL BEEN LOOKING FOR AS FAR AS I CAN TELL FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS.

UM, AGAIN, THE STRATEGY IS IN LINE WITH GROWTH MANAGEMENT.

WE HAVE COVENANTS THAT WILL RESTRICT THE USE FOR 99 YEARS.

AND THEN ONE THING WE'RE MOST EXCITED ABOUT IS WE'RE GOING TO PRIORITIZE HOME OWNERSHIP.

SO AS A RENTER WITH US, YOU'LL BE ACCRUING, UM, EQUITY TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF ONE OF THE UNITS THAT WE LIVE IN.

OUR MODEL ONLY ACCOUNTS FOR APPRECIATION OF THE UNITS AT 4.17%, WHICH IS THE 20 YEAR HISTORICAL AVERAGE ACROSS BEFOR COUNTY.

AND THAT MEANS IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO BUY ONE OF OUR UNITS FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, THEY'D BE ABLE TO PURCHASE IT AT THAT SAME 4.17% PRICE THAT WE HAVE BUILT INTO THE

[00:30:01]

SO THERE'S POTENTIALLY QUITE A BIT OF SAVINGS BY HAVING THEM BE ABLE TO, TO BUY THE HOME AT THE SAME BASIS, PLUS THAT SMALL LEVEL OF APPRECIATION THAT WE'RE IN AT, WE BELIEVE IT'S A COMMUNITY SOLUTION.

WE'RE HAPPY TO BE, UH, THIS FAR IN THE PROCESS, BUT LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING FURTHER STRIDES AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT I CAN.

OKAY.

I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.

YEAH.

A YES SIR.

I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'VE DONE AND THE PROGRAM THAT YOU'VE PUT TOGETHER.

IT'S, IT'S REALLY REMARKABLE IN YOUR COST CURVE, BENDING STRATEGIES.

MM-HMM.

, I SAW YOU LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL BONDS, TAX CREDITS, ARPA AND STATE HOUSING PROGRAMS. HOW DO WE FIT INTO THAT, INTO THAT PORTION OF LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL? AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP YOU HAVE MORE SUCCESS WITH THIS PROGRAM IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF THE COUNTY? GREAT.

WELL, CERTAINLY THAT AT A S 2 84 IS AN OPTION THAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO LOOK AT.

I KNOW THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD IS LOOKING THROUGH THAT AS OUR, UH, CHARLESTON MYRTLE BEACH, OTHER AREAS IN THE STATE, AND I BELIEVE THERE'S SOME WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ALLOW THOSE FUNDS TO BE ACCESSIBLE.

BUT IF THAT'S, UH, SOMETHING THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE FOR YOU, WE'D APPRECIATE THAT.

CERTAINLY.

UM, ON THE BONDING SIDE OF IT, YOU KNOW, THE BONDING CAPACITY OF THE COUNTY AND THE MUNICIPALITY, UH, IS VERY STRONG.

SO IN THE INSTANT THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP US WITH GROWTH CAPITAL TO, UM, TO BUY THESE UNITS, THERE'S NOBODY TO BENEFIT FROM THIS.

YOU KNOW, THE BOARD MEMBERS ARE ALL UNPAID.

THIS IS STRICTLY A COMMUNITY EFFORT.

SO THE, THE MONEY WOULD BE WELL SPENT IN THAT MANNER.

UM, AND THEN CERTAINLY THE, UH, THE LAND LEASEBACK.

I KNOW IF THE COUNTY IS SITTING ON ANY LAND THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE DEVELOPMENT ON, THE EASIEST WAY FOR US TO ACCESS THE LOWEST LEVELS OF AREA MEETING INCOMES, 50%, 80%.

WE, WE NEED SUPPORT.

THE, THE PROPERTIES ARE ALREADY TOO EXPENSIVE ON, IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, UH, THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

SO THAT WOULD BE THE OTHER THING I'D REQUEST.

WITH THAT FIRST PART OF YOUR ANSWER, UH, WITH, UM, A GRANT OR, OR MONEY, IS THERE A TARGET NUMBER THAT YOU WOULD NEED? I, I SEE THAT YOU RECEIVED 600,000 FROM THE, OR PENDING 6,000 FROM THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD.

DO YOU HAVE A NUMBER IN MIND THAT YOU THINK WOULD BE GOOD FOR US TO CONSIDER? YOU KNOW, FOR US, WE REALLY LOOK AT 50 UNITS AS KIND OF OUR TARGET ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, AND 20% OF THAT IS 3 MILLION.

SO THAT CERTAINLY WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, AN AMAZING, UH, TARGET TO SHOOT FOR IF IT'S POSSIBLE.

AND THAT WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND RAISE THE OTHER EIGHT, UH, EXCUSE ME, OTHER 80%, UM, WHICH WOULD BE 12 MILLION ON OUR SIDE.

SO THAT, THAT'S REALLY THE NUMBER THAT WE WORK AROUND.

AND WE'RE APPROACHING IT WITH THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD IN A DRAW DOWN SCENARIO WHERE IT'S NOT HANDED OVER IN A LUMP.

OBVIOUSLY IT'S, AS WE CLOSE ON PROPERTIES ROUGHLY ONE A WEEK IN THAT CASE, YOU KNOW, WE'D BE ABLE TO, UH, DRAW DOWN ON THE FUNDS IN A MATCHING MANNER LIKE THAT.

I SEE.

YOU MENTIONED ARPA FUNDING.

YEAH.

HAVE YOU DONE ANY RESEARCH ON THAT TO SHOW HOW YOU WOULD QUALIFY FOR A RELEASE OF SOME OF THAT MONEY? WELL, I BELIEVE IT CERTAINLY HOUSING FITS DIRECTLY INTO THE USE OF ARPA.

I GUESS THE BIGGER CHALLENGE IS, ARE THOSE FUNDS ALREADY ALL ALLOCATED ACROSS THE REGION? AND IF SO, HAS THE FEASIBILITY OF THE, UH, DEPLOYMENT OF THOSE FUNDS PAST MUSTER AT THIS POINT.

BECAUSE THEY DO EXPIRE FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND.

SO THOSE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, IF THERE ARE FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN EARMARKED THAT POTENTIALLY WOULD DISAPPEAR BECAUSE PROJECTS ARE DELAYED OR OVER BUDGET, THEN I THINK THIS IS A GOOD ALTERNATE USE TO CONSIDER.

AND I, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITIES STAND ON THOSE FUNDS.

OUTSTANDING.

MM-HMM.

IS IT, UM, IS IT ALICE, IS IT, UM, APPROPRIATE TO ASK FOR A MOTION TO DIRECT THE EXECUTIVE STAFF TO, UH, TO LOOK INTO SOME OF THE OPTIONS THAT ALAN HAS MENTIONED AS POSSIBILITIES? OR DOES THAT HAVE TO, CAN THAT COME FROM THE COMMITTEE OR DOES IT HAVE TO BE FULL COUNCIL? TOM, DOES THAT HAVE TO COME FROM THE COMMITTEE OR FULL COUNCIL? A DIRECTION TO THE EXECUTIVE STAFF TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS IN THE AREAS THAT ALAN HAS MENTIONED? COUNCIL, COUNCIL.

COUNCIL WOULD, OKAY.

UM, THERE'S, I WAS GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU HAD MENTIONED THE BEAUFORT JASPER HOUSING TRUST FUND.

YES.

AN APPLICATION YOU HAVE PUT IN AN APPLICATION WITH THEM.

YES.

UM, AND THE LAND LEASE BACK MM-HMM.

, UM, YOU'RE NOT JUST LIMITING IT TO HILTON HEAD.

CORRECT.

YOU'RE LOOKING ANYWHERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY ABSOLUTELY.

FOR LAND LEASE.

IN FACT, I'D SAY HILTON HAS PRETTY TIGHT TO BEGIN WITH.

RIGHT.

LIKE SOME OTHER AREAS.

YEP.

BUT THERE MAY BE SOME POSSIBILITIES FOR THE COUNTY WITH YOU.

YOU WOULD LOOK FOR A 99 YEAR LEASE FOR ABSOLUTELY.

THAT TOO.

ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH.

SO, UM, I KNOW, I KNOW WE HAVE SOME LAND DIFFERENT PLACES MM-HMM.

, THE COUNTY DOES, BUT WE'VE NEVER LOOKED AT IT THAT INTENSELY.

BUT THERE WAS A LIST OF LAND AT ONE TIME, UM, FOR POSSIBLE USE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

UM, THAT'D BE EXCELLENT.

DUST THAT BACK OFF AGAIN TOO, SO THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUES YES.

COUNCILMAN DAWSON? YEAH.

UM, HE MENTIONED, UH, UM, FUNDING FROM THE AT TAX.

I WOULD SAY THAT, UM, PERHAPS, UH, YOU MADAM CHAIR THROUGH OUR, UM, STAFF CAN ACTUALLY GET HIS CONTACT INFORMATION AND LET HIM KNOW WHEN THE APPLICATION PROCESS OPENS SO THAT HE THEN CAN APPLY FOR SOME OF THOSE SURE.

FOR SOME OF THOSE FUNDS.

MM-HMM.

.

EXCELLENT.

WE GOOD? SO IT'S OPEN NOW MM-HMM.

.

BUT, UM, I ASKED MR. KEVIN ABOUT THIS, UM, BILL FOR USING AT TAX FUNDS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A REAL VIABLE OPTION FOR US FOR

[00:35:01]

WHAT I DO LIKE ABOUT YOUR PRESENTATION IS, UM, I'M ON PAGE THREE MM-HMM.

THAT YOU WANT TO WORK ON PRESERVING EXISTING HOUSING SO WE'RE NOT TALKING ALL NEW MM-HMM.

AND REDEVELOPING EXISTING PROPERTY AND THEN NEW PROPERTIES AS WELL.

MM-HMM.

AND THOSE ARE THE GOALS WITH THE HOUSING TRUST FUND.

AND SO THIS IS REALLY VERY GOOD.

YEAH.

THERE'S ENOUGH UNITS, UH, TO FIX THAT 5,000 NUMBER THAT WE SAW.

YEAH.

UM, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SHORT TERM RENTAL SIDE OF THINGS.

AND IF WE CAN START TO BRING THIS COMMUNITY BACK INTO BALANCE, THEN THERE'S, THERE'S PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY THERE.

SO THIS WOMAN THAT WAS IN THE MM-HMM.

, I'M GONNA CALL HER WOMAN MADISON TO ME, BUT, UM, I FIGURED OUT HER RENT NOW IS 19,000 SOMETHING A YEAR.

IT WAS AT 1600 A MONTH.

AT 1600 A MONTH.

MM-HMM.

, CAN SHE AFFORD THAT? BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME IS $111,000 RIGHT NOW IN BEFORD COUNTY.

SO, UM, THE 50% LINE IS, UH, WHAT, 55,000 MM-HMM.

, UH, JUST, JUST OVER THAT.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE SERVE DOWN TO THAT 50% AS AN A M I.

WHAT'S CHALLENGING WITH AREA MEDIAN INCOMES IS WHEN YOU'RE ADD A SECOND WAGE EARNER IN YEAH.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE TWO 55,000 OTHER WAGE EARNS.

THEY'RE AT A HUNDRED PERCENT.

AND THAT'S WHY WE SEE SUCH A NEED, NOT JUST UP TO 80 OR 100 OR ONE 20, BUT EVEN UP TO ONE 50, UH, BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE TEACHERS AND WE COULD HAVE A, A SERVICE MANAGER THAT ARE MAKING, YOU KNOW, WELL OVER THE 100% AIR MEDIAN INCOME SOUNDED LIKE FROM THE VIDEO SHE WAS PAYING 3000 IN BLUFFTON.

SO THIS IS A BIG DISCOUNT.

WE, YEAH.

THIS IS A DISCOUNT.

1600 A MONTH, SO 19,200 A YEAR.

AND THE THING THAT WE'RE SEEING, WHICH IS SO SCARY, ARE THESE, YOU KNOW, WE LOST A SERVER FROM FRANKIE BUN'S BLUFF AND SHE MOVED HOME TO INDIANA BECAUSE HER RENT WENT FROM 1600 TO $2,200.

AND YOU COULD FIND ANECDOTES OF THAT ALL OVER THE COUNTY.

AND IT'S SIMPLY BECAUSE THESE, YOU KNOW, THESE PROPERTIES KEEP TURNING AND OF COURSE THE BRANDS ARE SKYROCKETING ALONG WITH IT.

YOU KNOW, WE BELIEVE WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY NOT JUST A VIABLE SOLUTION.

IT'S AN EXPENSIVE SOLUTION TODAY.

HAD WE THOUGHT OF IT 10 OR 20 YEARS AGO, THAT'D HAVE BEEN GREAT.

GOOD NEWS IS IT ONLY GETS CHEAPER OVER TIME.

SO WE'RE ABLE TO SLOT, YOU KNOW, SERVE A LOWER AND LOWER SECTION OF THE A M I SIMPLY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE BASIS TURNING OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

OUR BASIS WOULD BE THE SAME, YOU KNOW, 50 YEARS FROM NOW.

SO IT'S, THE SOLUTION ONLY GETS BETTER WITH TIME, BUT WE NEED A JUMPSTART AND WE NEED COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO DO THAT.

I HAD A QUESTION.

IS THERE A REASON 50 UNITS AT A TIME? IS THAT JUST WHAT YOU THINK IS MANAGEABLE AND, WELL, CAR LETHA WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CLOSING ON ONE A WEEK AT THE, BUT IF YOU'RE UP TO FIVE OR 10, THEN YEAH.

, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WILL BE PREPARED TO SCALE UP.

I IT'S A COMMUNITY CHALLENGE THAT A LOT OF RESOURCES ARE FOCUSED ON, SO I'M SURE WE'D BE ABLE TO SCALE UP IF THE DEMAND WAS THERE AND, AND WE'VE SEEN IT, YOU KNOW, WHERE LIKE YOU ALREADY MENTIONED WHERE PEOPLE, UM, OWNERS WILL, AS SOON AS THE 20 YEARS ARE UP AND THEY'VE GOTTEN THEIR TAX CREDIT, IT'S FLIPPED AND EVERYONE HAS TWO WEEKS TO MOVE OUT.

MM-HMM.

, I REALLY LIKE THE DEED RESTRICTIONS THAT YOU'RE, UM, WOULD'VE IMPOSE.

RIGHT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THIS? I DON'T HAVE, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION FOR ALAN, BUT I DO HAVE ONE FOR YOU.

MM-HMM.

.

SO AS A NEXT STEP FOR US TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE HERE, WE WOULD'VE TO TAKE SOME KIND OF ACTION TO GET THIS MATTER ON AN AGENDA FOR THE FULL COUNSEL TO CONSIDER.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND.

RIGHT.

SIMPLE MOTION FROM HERE.

MM-HMM.

MM-HMM.

.

YES.

FROM THIS COMMITTEE TO COUNCIL.

OKAY.

WELL I'D LIKE TO MAKE THAT MOTION.

OKAY.

I HEAR A SECOND THIS FORWARD CONSIDERATION TO PLACE IT ON THE AGENDA.

SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN BARTH HOLMAN.

OKAY.

WHAT DID YOUR MOTION TO EXPLORE FURTHER WITH FULL COUNSEL YES.

OPTIONS.

YES.

WITH THAT TO SEND IT FORWARD TO, TO, TO FULL COUNSEL FOR PLACEMENT ON THE AGENDA FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION.

YEAH.

OKAY.

GREAT.

THANK YOU.

SO I, I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.

DOES ANYBODY WAS WITHOUT OBJECTION FOR THE, OH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, BUT FOR THE ATEX FUNDS, HE DOESN'T HAVE TO APPLY, DOES HE? BECAUSE THAT'S A DIFFERENT BUCKET.

PART OF ATEX.

WELL, I THINK THIS IS A, A ISSUE THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT AT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE YES.

MEETING PERHAPS NEXT WEEK.

BUT IF HE WANTS TO APPLY FOR LOCAL AT TAX, HE'LL HAVE TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION MM-HMM.

.

AND WE WE'RE LIMITED ON WELL, STATE AND THAT'S FOR LOCAL STATE AT TAX IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

WE HAVEN'T EVEN DONE THE STUDY THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR THIS IS 15% FROM AT TAX.

YEAH.

YEAH.

SO THIS WOULD BE LOCAL.

I THINK THERE'S OTHER OPTIONS TOO.

WELL, THIS WAS GREAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YES, SIR.

COUNCIL COMPREHENSIVE.

WHEN WE TAKE THIS TO COUNCIL, THIS PRESENTATION WILL BE MADE TO THE FULL BOARD IF ALAN WANTS TO COME BACK.

ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

APPRECIATE THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL BECAUSE WE, WE HAVE QUITE A FEW ABSENT TODAY.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE, WHEN WE GO TO FULL COUNCIL, HOPEFULLY WE CAN COME BACK WITH MORE, UH, PROOF MORE THAN THREE UNITS.

WE, WE'LL KEEP WORKING AND MAYBE, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE FROM THE BEAUFORT, JASPER HOUSING TRUST FUND HERE TO, UM, SPEAK UP FOR YOU TOO.

GREAT.

THANK YOU.

SO I KNOW THEY WILL.

YEAH.

VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU ALI, FOR GOOD LUCK IN THAT JOB.

I THANK YOU'RE GONNA BE BUSY .

THANK YOU MS. FRAZIER.

ALRIGHT.

ONE OF HIS OTHER JOBS.

UH, NUMBER EIGHT, UPDATE ON

[8. UPDATE ON DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CITY OF BEAUFORT REGARDING THE LADY'S ISLAND VILLAGE CENTER MASTER PLAN]

THIS IS A CARRYOVER FROM OUR LAST MEETING AND IT'S PROBABLY GONNA REMAIN

[00:40:01]

OKAY.

WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON.

THANK YOU MR. MERCHANT .

YEAH, JUST A QUICK UPDATE.

UM, WE, UM, WORKED WITH THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT TO KINDA LOOK AT WHAT WOULD BENEFIT THE COUNTY AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, UM, WORK ALONG THE, IN THE VILLAGE CENTER ALONG THE SEA ISLAND PARKWAY CORRIDOR.

AND SO, UM, WE MET WITH THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.

THEY REACHED OUT TO STANTEC, WHO ARE, THEY'RE CURRENTLY UNDER CONTRACT WITH TO DO THE DESIGN WORK FOR A LOT OF THE IMPROVEMENTS ON LADIES ISLAND.

UM, THE SECTION OF SEA ISLAND PARKWAY FROM THE BRIDGE TO THE MAIN INTERSECTION WITH 8 0 2 IS ONE THAT WAS KIND OF PUT ON HOLD ABOUT A YEAR AGO.

UM, YOU KNOW, WHILE THE OTHER PROJECTS MOVED FORWARD.

AND SO WE REALLY SAW THE NEED TO, UM, DO SOME PLANNING WORK THERE THAT WOULD SET US UP FOR FUTURE REFERENDUM TO, TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CROSS SECTION OF THAT ROAD AND FURTHER, UM, YOU KNOW, I GUESS FURTHER THE VISION OF LADIES ISLAND.

SO TAKING THAT INFORMATION, WHAT WE DID IS WE REACHED OUT TO THE CITY BASICALLY SAYING THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE WILLING TO OFFER AS A COUNTY.

AND THEN SAYING TO THE CITY, YOU KNOW, TO BE MORE HOLISTIC OR COMPLETE PLAN, WHAT OTHER ELEMENTS DO YOU BELIEVE ARE NECESSARY THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN A VILLAGE CENTER MASTER PLAN KIND OF UNDERSTANDING THIS NEEDS TO BE A JOINT EFFORT.

AND SO KIND OF OFFERING THIS INITIAL WORK FROM THE COUNTY TO THE CITY AND SAYING, OKAY, WHAT ADDITIONAL ITEMS ARE NECESSARY? AND THEN THE GOAL IS TO MEET AND DEVELOP A SCOPE AND THEN BE ABLE TO COME BACK WITH, YOU KNOW, AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT IT WOULD, WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO, TO COMPLETE THE PLAN.

SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE ARE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S DOING SOME INITIAL WORK ON OUR END AND REACHING OUT TO THE CITY.

ANY QUESTIONS? CAN COUNCIL ACROSS ALL ME? YEAH, I KNOW.

UM, I, I KNOW THINGS MAY HAVE GOT PUSHED BACK A LITTLE BIT WITH MAYOR MURRAY RESIGNING, UM, BUT WHO, WHO'S, WHO'S YOUR POINT OF CONTACT OVER THERE? UM, THE CITY PLANNER OR IS IT SOMEBODY IN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT OR CITY OF BUFORD? WELL, I MEAN, I THINK THAT THE CONVERSATION NEEDS TO START WITH THE CITY MANAGER.

OH, OKAY.

GOTCHA.

YEAH.

GOTCHA.

UM, AND IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO TO HELP, UM, SHAPE THE PLAN? IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO ON MY END? BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE STILL TRYING TO GET THE WHOLE SCOPE AND, AND TRY TO GET A GOOD IDEA OF WHAT WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE A SMART APPROACH MOVING FORWARD.