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CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY.
[I. CALL TO ORDER]
MAY 14TH, REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING.WE'LL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
STARTED WITH THE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE, FOLLOWED BY THE END OF CONGRATULATIONS.
REPUBLIC STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
DEAR GOD, WE FIRST WANT SAY THANK YOU.
WE THANK YOU FOR LIFE, STRENGTH, COURAGE, AND COMMUNITY.
WE ASK FOR ENDURANCE TO FACE CHALLENGES, WISDOM TO OVERCOME THEM AND STRENGTH TO CONQUER THEM.
WE PRAY ALWAYS FOR A COMMUNITY WHERE HUMANITY IS AND SURPLUS.
UNITY IS MORE THAN AN IDEAL, AND EQUITY IS A BOTTOM LINE.
WE ASK THAT YOU REMIND US ALL THAT THE PROBLEMS OF A FEW SHOULD BE SOLVED THROUGH THE CONNECTION OF US ALL.
CONTINUE TO GUIDE US AND KEEP US, CONTINUE TO MAKE US SELFLESS LEADERS AND CITIZENS OF BLUFFTON WHEREVER THEY ARE, AND LEAD US TOWARDS A BRIGHTER BLUFFTON REFLECTING ON YESTERDAY AND WORKING TO LEAVE A BETTER TODAY AND EVEN BETTER TOMORROW FOR EVERYONE.
[IV. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES]
ON TO THE ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF LAST REGULAR MEETING ON 4 9 24.ARE THERE ANY, UM, CHANGES TO THE, LET'S SEE, WHERE AM I AT? REGULAR MEETING? ARE THERE? OH, I I DON'T HAVE THE AGENDA ON HERE.
WELL, THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF 4 9 24.
WE'LL MOVE TO THE, UM, ADOPTION TO THE AGENDA.
ARE THERE ANY CHANGES MR. C? UH, NO SIR.
THERE'S, IS THERE A MOTION? STOP.
ANY DISCUSSION? UNANIMOUS, I GET IT.
[V. PRESENTATIONS, CELEBRATIONS, AND RECOGNITIONS]
AND RECOGNITIONS.FIRST UP IS BUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT CHARACTER STUDENT OF THE MONTH MILES.
OKAY, NEXT UP IS NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION MONTH.
SO THIS IS NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS PROCLAMATION FROM THE TOWN OF CLOUGHTON.
WHEREAS DURING THE MONTH OF MAY, A NATIONAL HEALTH OBSERVANCE IS DEDICATED TO INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF AN ACTION AROUND THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF YOUTH AND ADULTS.
AND WHEREAS RATES OF SUBSTANCE USE AND REPORTS OF DEPRESSION, SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND ATTEMPTS AND SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESSES HAVE INCREASED.
AND WHEREAS ONE OUT OF FIVE CHILDREN EXPERIENCE A MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER IN A GIVEN YEAR AND HALF OF ALL LIFETIME CASES OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE BEGIN BY AGE 14 AND THREE-FOURTHS BY AGE 24.
AND WHEREAS YOU ASKED, WHEREAS YOUTH AND ADULTS WHO SUFFER FROM SOCIAL ISOLATION, FEAR, ANXIETY, LOSS AND UNCERTAINTY DURING COVID-19 CONTINUE TO SUFFER FROM OR MAYBE AT RISK FOR MENTAL AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS.
AND WHEREAS NATIONAL AND LOCAL CAMPAIGN GOALS ARE TO PROMOTE AND DECIMATE DECIMATE QUALITY, SUBSTANCE USE, PREVENTION AND MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION, PROMOTION RESOURCES.
AND WHEREAS THE NATIONAL MONTH OF AWARENESS CELEBRATES THE EFFORTS OF COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS COMING TOGETHER TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL WELLBEING.
AND WHEREAS THE BLUFF TOWN OF COUNCIL OF BLUFFTON, SOUTH CAROLINA JOINS AND SUPPORTS THE EFFORTS OF LOW COUNTRY ALLIANCE FOR HEALTHY YOUTH COALITION AND ITS YOUTH COALITION TEAMS FOR YOUTH HEALTHY YOUTH IN RAISING AWARENESS, COMBATING STIGMA, AND PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS ISSUES.
THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION NOW HERE, THEREFORE I LARRY'S
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TUMOR MAYOR OF TOWN OF BLUFFTON ALONE WITH TOWN COUNCIL DUE HERE BACK PROCLAIMED THE MONTH OF MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH IN THE TOWN OF LUPTON.SO WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SURE.
I CAN FEW URGE TO THE AUDIENCE.
SHOULD I GO UP HERE, COUNSEL? SURE.
I'M AVIANNA STEVENS AND I'M THE YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE FOR LOW COUNTRY ALLIANCE OF HEALTHY YOUTH.
AND I'M HONORED TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF LOW COUNTRY ALLIANCE.
MA IS KNOWN AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE, UM, PREVENTION MONTH.
SO I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO MAYOR TUBER AND THANK YOU TOWN COUNCIL.
THIS ONE'S NOT HERE, YOU SAID.
OH, SO WHAT'S HIS NAME? DAVID.
HOW ARE YOU? WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT A LITTLE BIT BEFORE I READ THIS.
GO RIGHT THERE TO THE MICROPHONE.
UM, WELL, MAY IS THE NATIONAL MONTH AWARE OF AWARENESS FOR TOURETTE SYNDROME AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT TOURETTE SYNDROME IS, IS IT CONSISTS OF WHEN SOMEBODY DOES, UM, LIKE MOR MOTOR OR ORAL, LIKE WHAT WE CALL THEM TICKS.
SO IT'S ESSENTIALLY REPETITIVE MOVEMENTS, SO LIKE BLINKING EYES, STRETCHING OUT YOUR ARMS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT YOU CANNOT CONTROL.
UM, AND IT'S NOT VERY COMMONLY KNOWN AND IT CAN OFTEN GET OVERSHADOWED BY OTHER DISORDERS.
UM, SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE IT.
UM, MAY A TUMOR AND THE REST OF TOWN COUNCIL IS RECOGNIZING IT.
SO WE HAVE A COUNT OF BLUFF AND TOURETTE SYNDROME AWARENESS MONTH PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS TOURETTE SYNDROME IS INHERITED IN NEUROLOGICAL IS A, AN INHERITED NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER THAT IS CHARACTERIZED BY INVOLUNTARY PHYSICAL OR VOCAL TICKS THAT MAY OCCUR MANY TIMES A DAY.
AND WHEREAS TOURETTES SYNDROME IS OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY OTHER MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS SUCH AS ATTENTION DESPOT AND OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER LEARNING DISABILITIES AND ANXIETY.
AND WHEREAS TOURETTE SYNDROME AND PERSISTENT TIC DISORDERS AFFECT ONE IN 50 CHILDREN ACROSS ALL RACES AND ETHNIC GROUPS, AN ESTIMATED 22,246 SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA ALONE ARE DEALING WITH TOURETTE SYNDROME AND THERE IS NO STANDARD TREATMENT OR NO CURE FOR THE DISORDER.
AND WHEREAS THERE IS AN IMPORTANT NEED FOR MORE PROFESSIONAL HELP TO IDENTIFY COUNSEL AND TREAT PEOPLE WITH TOURETTE SYNDROME, ESPECIALLY IN THOSE WITH LESS ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.
AND WHEREAS POSITIVE ACTIONS TO ASSIST CHILDREN AND FAMILIES LIVING WITH THE TOURETTE SYNDROME WOULD RESULT FROM A BROADENING OF PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND ACCEPTANCE OF TOURETTE SYNDROME.
AND I NOW, THEREFORE, I LARRY TRU, MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON ALONG WITH TOWN COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THAT MAY 15TH THROUGH JUNE 15TH, 2024 BE RECOGNIZED AS TOURETTE SYNDROME AWARENESS MONTH IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON TO PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING, COMPASSION AND ACCEPTANCE FOR ALL OUR FELLOW CITIZENS WHO DESERVE AND NEED OUR SUPPORT TO BREAK THE STIGMA AND SURROUNDS OF TOURETTE SYNDROME.
THESE ARE WORTH A LOT OF MONEY.
SO ARE WE GONNA MENTION THIS OR ARE WE GONNA, OR WE'LL JUST HOLD IT UNTIL NEXT, NEXT TIME.
UP NEXT WILL BE, UM, WE APPROVE
[VI. PUBLIC COMMENT]
THOSE AGENDA.[00:10:01]
PUBLIC COMMENT.OH, YOU AND I HAVE THREE, OH, EXCUSE ME, I FORGOT MY JOB DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.
EACH SPEAKER IS LIMITED TO A TOTAL OF THREE MINUTES PER MEETING, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE PERSON IS SPEAKING ON THEIR OWN BEHALF OR AS AN AGENT FOR OTHERS.
MEETING ATTENDEES MAY NOT DONATE, TRANSFER YIELD, OR GIVE ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THEIR SPEAKING TIME TO ANOTHER PERSON.
ALL PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE TO BE CONDUCTED FROM THE PODIUM AND DIRECTED TO TOWN COUNCIL AS A WHOLE, NOT, AND NOT TO ANY MEMBER THEREOF.
ALL SPEAKERS SHALL BE MINDFUL AND RESPECTFUL OF THOSE PARTICIPATING IN OR PRESENT AT THE MEETING.
SPEAKERS SHALL BE EXPECTED TO BE CIVIL IN THEIR LANGUAGE LANGUAGE AND SHALL REFRAIN FROM COMMENT OR BEHAVIOR THAT INVOLVES DISORDERLY SPEECH OR ACTION, NAME CALLING, PERSONAL ATTACKS, THREATS, OBSCENE OR IN DECEPT REMARKS AND OF DISRUPTIVE ACT ACTIONS.
ALL SPEAKERS SHALL COMBINE THEIR COMMENTS TO ISSUES UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF TOWN COUNCIL SPEAKERS SHALL NOT USE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD TO PROMOTE OR ADVERTISE AWARDS, BUSINESSES, SERVICES, GOODS, OR CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE.
ANY SPEAKER THAT VIOLATES THESE RULES OR AND PROTOCOLS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT MAY BE RULED OUT OF ORDER BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER, WHICH IS ME.
AND ANY PERSON WHOSE COMMENTS HAVE BEEN RULED OUT OF ORDER SHALL IMMEDIATELY CEASE AND DESIST FROM FURTHER IMPROPER COMMENTS.
THE REFUSAL OF ANY INDIVIDUAL TO CEASE FROM FURTHER IMPROPER COMMENTS MAY SUBJECT THE INDIVIDUAL TO REMOVAL FROM THE MEETING AND OR A CITATION UNDER SECTION TWO DASH FOUR NINE OF THE TOWN CODE.
MY ADDRESS IS 82 BUCK ISLAND ROAD, BLUFFTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.
AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN OF BLUFFTON, THE CHARMING CHARACTER OF BELOVED CALHOUN STREET, ALONG WITH BOUNDARY STREET AND OLD TOWN ARE UNDENIABLE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, ALONG WITH ITS ALLURE COMES A PRESSING ISSUE.
AS OUR TOWN HAS EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN POPULATION FESTIVALS, EVENTS AND TOURISM, THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF CALHOUN STREET HAS STRUGGLED TO KEEP PACE THE RESULT AND ALARMING DISREGARD FOR THE SPEED LIMITS AND A CLEAR THREAT TO THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND VISITORS ALIKE.
WE CANNOT IGNORE THE CONSEQUENCES OF INACTION EVERY DAY.
RESIDENTS, CHILDREN AND PEDESTRIANS BRAVE THE STREETS HOPING FOR SAFE PASSAGE.
AMIDST THE CHAOS OF SPEEDING VEHICLES, IT'S TIME FOR US TO TAKE A STAND AND IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM TO ADDRESS THE PRESSING CONCERN.
MY PROPOSAL INCLUDES DECREASING THE SPEED LIMIT AND INSTALLING SPEED BUMPS.
THESE MEASURES ARE NOT JUST ABOUT ENFORCING RULES, THEY'RE ABOUT FOSTERING A CULTURE OF SAFETY AND RESPECT ON OUR STREETS.
IMPLEMENTING A SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF CONVENIENCE, IT'S A MATTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY WELLBEING.
BY TAKING PROACTIVE STEPS NOW, WE CAN PREVENT ACCIDENTS, INJURIES, AND EVEN FATALITIES IN THE FUTURE.
I URGE EACH MEMBER OF THE ESTEEMED COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THE GRAVITY OF THIS SITUATION AND TO PRIORITIZE THE SAFETY AND WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
LET US WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT CALHOUN STREET AND THE OLD TOWN AREA REMAINS A PLACE OF CHARM, HOSPITALITY, AND ALL ABOVE SAFETY OF AND ABOVE ALL SAFETY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
I FREQUENTLY, I AM ON CALHOUN STREET DAILY AND I HAVE FIRSTHAND WITNESSED THE AMOUNT OF INDIVIDUALS THAT USE THAT STREET TO AVOID THE FOUR-WAY STOP THERE AT BLUFFTON AND MAY RIVER ROAD.
AND I, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE THE DISRESPECT THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE FOR THE PEDESTRIANS AND THE HOMEOWNERS.
THE BUSINESSES I HAVE, UM, STARTED A PETITION ON CHANGE.ORG WITH OVER 600 SIGNATURES TO
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HELP IMPLEMENT SOME TYPE OF SPEED CONTROL ON THIS ROAD.THERE WAS TWO SIGNS, TWO SPEED LIMIT SIGNS, ONE AT THE BEGINNING AFTER YOU TURN OFF THE 46 ONTO CALHOUN AND ONE ALL THE WAY AT THE END.
AND THE FIRST SIGN IS VANDALIZED.
AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT CONCERN AND WE WILL, UM, HAVE OUR TOWN MANAGER AND CHIEF GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU AND TALK TO YOU MORE ABOUT IT AND UM, FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
SHARON BROWN HANGER DIDN'T GO OFF.
I LIVE ON 1 6 3 BUCK ISLAND ROAD AND I AM HERE.
IT'S SUCH A FUNNY THING THAT LADY SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT TRAFFIC.
BUT FIRST I WANNA GIVE HEATHER KUDOS.
AND MR. HAMILTON, I CALLED THEM BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES I THOUGHT THAT WAS GOING ON.
SOME PEOPLE WERE WORKING UNDERGROUND ON BUCK ISLAND ROAD AND I CALLED MR. HAMILTON FIRST TO ASK HIM IF HE KNEW OF ANYTHING.
IT WAS UNDERGROUND WIRING OR SOMETHING.
WASN'T THAT MR. HAMILTON THAT WAS GOING ON? BUT HEATHER, UH, CALLED ME.
I CALLED HER AND SHE SAID ANYTIME THAT I HAD A PROBLEM THAT I COULD CALL HER TWENTY FOUR SEVEN.
THAT MEANS THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING IF I GOT A PROBLEM.
SO WITH THAT SAID, AND ALSO I WANNA GIVE KUDOS TO THE BLUFFTON POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR, UH, CINCO DE MAYO.
THE TRAFFIC, UM, THE SIGNS THAT YOU GUYS PUT NO PARKING, IT WAS, UH, JUST ABSOLUTE WHEN I GOT BACK IN TOWN, THE TRAFFIC WAS REALLY GOVERNED.
UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE HAVE TO HAVE CINCO DE MAYO ON THE BASEBALL FIELD, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY.
BUT I WANNA THANK YOU CHIEF AND YOUR DEPARTMENT.
THE ONLY THING THEY DIDN'T DO IS PEOPLE HAD TRASH ON, ON DOWN BALLFIELD ROAD.
SO I'M BACK HERE TO TALK ABOUT AGAIN THE DISRESPECT THAT THE TOWN MANAGER IS GIVING ME WITH THE EMAILS THAT I WAS GIVING HIM.
HE MUST BE GETTING READY TO QUIT OR SOMETHING 'CAUSE HE WON'T REPLY TO MY EMAILS.
I'VE ASKED, I'VE CALLED MARCIA TO MAKE SURE THAT I CALLED PERSONALLY AND ASKED HIM TO GIVE ME A CALL.
EVERYBODY'S SEEN MY EMAIL, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WHAT IS THE POLICY WHEN YOU ASK A PERSON, ESPECIALLY YOUR MANAGER, TO GIVE A CITIZEN A CALL, JUST WANNA SIT DOWN AND MEET ALSO WITH THE CHIEF AS WELL, BECAUSE THE POLICY SAYS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IT SAYS THE BUTAN POLICE DEPARTMENT ENCOURAGED CITIZENS TO REPORT WHAT THEY BELIEVE TO BE AN ACT OF POLICE MISCONDUCT.
I'VE EATEN EMAILED ALL YOU TOWN COUNCIL PEOPLE, YOU GUYS ALREADY KNOW WHAT I FEEL WAS A MISCONDUCT WITH THE ARREST OF BRIDGET A FRAZIER.
ALL WE WANT IS SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
WHAT'S THE PROTOCOL? THAT'S ALL.
AND I CAN'T GET ANY OF THESE PEOPLE TO GET BACK WITH ME WITH A MEETING.
SO I'M GONNA BE EMAILING YOU, MAYOR, BECAUSE ONE THING I CAN SAY ABOUT LISA SALKA, SHE WOULD ALWAYS EMAIL ME BACK AND SAY, SHARON, LET'S MEET TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE.
ANYTIME YORKTOWN EMPLOYEES DO NOT RESPECT CITIZENS ENOUGH TO GIVE THEM AT LEAST A PHONE CALL BACK, IF HE DIDN'T WANT TO MEET WITH ME, HE COULD HAVE CALLED ME.
THIS IS THE FIFTH EMAIL THAT I'VE SENT AND I ALSO SENT THE PICTURE WITH BRIDGETTE BEING ARRESTED.
IF IT WAS WRONGDOING, SO BE IT.
BUT SOMEBODY NEEDS TO GIVE OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN, UM, COMMUNITY SOME ANSWERS.
WE SHOULD NOT BE GOING AROUND HERE THINKING WE ALL FALL SHORT AND WE ALL ARE WRONG SOMETIMES.
SO THAT'S ALL WE WERE ASKING FOR.
SO FOR THE TOWN MANAGER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE DISRESPECT.
CHIEF, I KNOW I'LL BE HEARING FROM YOU, WE WANT TO BE CORDIAL.
THIS AIN'T NOTHING, BUT NO DISRESPECT.
AND CHRIS, YOU LOOK GOOD IN THAT, THAT JACKET THOUGH.
AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, THE PUBLIC SPEAKING, UH, TIME THAT YOU ALLOW AND ALSO FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU GIVE.
IF YOU SPEAK, SPEAK, SAY YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS IF YOU WILL.
FIRST MA'AM, CERTAINLY RECORD KAREN ARMS. I'M AT 40 DRAGON FLY DRIVE AND UM, UH, MY PHONE NUMBER IS AVAILABLE.
UH, THIS IS, UH, ABOUT AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED FOR LAST SATURDAY DURING BLUFFTON MAY FEST.
I PARKED AT THE RED CEDAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO TAKE THE SHUTTLE THAT'S PROVIDED BY, UH, UH, THE GROUP IN TOWN AND TO GET TO COME TO THE FESTIVITIES AND TO GO BACK TO YOUR CAR.
WHEN I WENT BACK AND THE PARKING LOT WAS TOTALLY FULL, THERE WAS NO PARKING STATION.
I WENT DOWN EVERY EVERY AISLE.
AND, UH, SO I DROVE ACROSS THE STREET INTO A A, AN ALLEY TYPE OF THING, AND THE PARKING LOT TO THE RIGHT HAD SOME
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PARKING SPACES IN IT.WHEN I CAME BACK, I FOUND THAT MY CAR HAD BEEN TOWED AND I HAD BEEN, WHEN I WENT INSIDE, UH, RUSSO'S FISHERY TO FIND OUT WHERE IT WAS AND WHAT WAS GOING ON, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THEIR RIGHT TO TOW MY CAR BECAUSE IN SOUTH SOUTH CAROLINA, UH, THAT PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF THE BUSINESSES BELONGS TO THEM.
AND THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WISH WITH WHATEVER IS PARKED OUTSIDE.
THERE WERE NO SIGNS ON THE ENTRANCE OR THE EXIT.
I PROVIDED PICTURES THAT YOU CAN SEE.
UM, THERE WERE ABOUT NO PARKING OR RESTRICTED PARKING OR ANYTHING ELSE.
AND THERE WAS A CLEAR DRIVE, HALF MOON DRIVE IN, AROUND, IN FRONT OF THE, THE BUILDING.
NOW THE PARKING THE LOT NEXT TO THE ROW OF BUSINESSES, UH, ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE.
I WENT IN THE RIGHT HAND SIDE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, HAD SIGNS SAYING NO PARKING HERE WITH RESTRICTIONS AND SO ON.
AND, UH, VERY MINDFUL OF THAT, BUT I DIDN'T EVEN SEE THAT 'CAUSE I WAS LOOKING FOR THE ONE PARKING SPACE THAT HAD HAD A PARKING SPACE.
UH, IT COST ME $300 IN CASH, DEMANDED TO BE IN CASH TO GET MY CAR AT 36 PERSIMMON STREET.
NOW THERE IS NO BUILDING AT 36 PERON STREET, AND IT'S EVEN OUT OF ORDER ALONG THE NUMBERING OUT ON PERSIMMON STREET IN CASE YOU WANNA CHECK IT OUT.
UH, AND THERE'S ONLY, UH, YOU KNOW, LOTS THAT ARE BLOCK HEATED IN, UH, A KIND GENTLEMAN FROM ROTARY WAS THERE AND GAVE ME A RIDE TO THE BANK TO GET $300 IN CASH AND THEN ONTO, UH, UH, THE PARKING LOT TO GET MY CAR.
I INSISTED AGAIN THAT IT WAS HAD TO BE CASH.
UM, THAT'S MY STORY AND MY SUGGESTION TO YOU THAT YOU INSIST THAT THESE PARKING LOTS WHO HAVE RESTRICTED PARKING LABEL, THE SO, AND I'M ASKING THAT YOU DO IT TO THAT PARTICULAR LOT.
AND I'LL PAY FOR THE SIGN IF THE TOWN OF LUPTON WILL SIMPLY INSTALL IT, BECAUSE THAT'S WAS TOTALLY UNNECESSARY AND VERY, UH, AND VERY UNSETTLING FOR THE DAY.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT AND I'M SORRY FOR THAT UNFORTUNATE EXPERIENCE.
WE WILL BE, UH, WE HAVE OUR CONTACT INFORMATION.
THE CHIEF WILL BE LOOKING INTO THE ENTIRE THING AND GET BACK WITH YOU SOON.
I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH THE RESPONSE.
AND I NEED TO LEAVE, BUT I DON'T, I'M NOT, NOT BEING DISRESPECTFUL BY LEAVING
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING.
[VII. COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR AND COUNCIL]
COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR COUNCIL.UM, JUST WANTED TO SEND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR CLASS OF 2024 GRADUATES.
I KNOW THIS IS GRADUATION SEASON EVERYWHERE FROM ELEMENTARY TO MIDDLE SCHOOL, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY OUR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES WHO ARE GONNA BE HEADING INTO THE NEXT CHAPTER OF THEIR LIVES.
AND, UH, SO JUST EXTENDING THAT TO CROSS SCHOOLS.
BLUFFTON HIGH, MAY RIVER HIGH AND HILTON HEAD, CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, UH, CLASS OF 2024 GRADUATES.
I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UH, BLUFFTON JASPER VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE HAD THEIR ANNUAL GALA.
UH, OBVIOUSLY THE WEATHER IMPACTED IT SOMEWHAT, BUT WE STILL TOOK IT INSIDE AT HEWITT OAKS AND WE WERE WELL SUPPORTED BY THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO ANYBODY THAT WAS THERE, WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT AND WE WERE GRATEFUL.
AND THERE STILL IS TIME FOR THE SILENT AUCTION ONLINE, WHICH ENDS SOON.
I'M DISAPPOINTED YOU READ ABOUT THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT PROCLAMATIONS AND DIDN'T GIVE ONE FOR MY BIRTHDAY,
THAT'S WHY YOU HERE, REVEREND KIT, THANK YOU FOR COMING.
I WOULD LIKE TO WISH COUNCILMAN HAMILTON A HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
IT'S NOT EVEN HIS BIRTHDAY YET.
YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE CELEBRATE FOR A WEEK FOR THEIR BIRTHDAY.
I NEVER OH, UM, WELL I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO, TO TOWN COUNCIL AS WELL AS STAFF, UM, AND EVERYONE ELSE FOR THE PRAYERS AND THE NICE WORDS AND TEXTS AND EMAILS AND EVERYTHING TO MY FAMILY OVER THE LAST WEEK OR 10 DAYS.
UM, WE LOST, I LOST MY MOTHER-IN-LAW, SO THOSE OF YOU WHO DIDN'T KNOW, BUT, UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THE FLOWERS FROM COUNCIL AND TOWN STAFF.
THEY WERE BEAUTIFUL AND THEY'RE ALIVE AND THEY'LL CONTINUE TO GROW.
AND, UM, SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MOTHER-IN-LAW.
SHE WOULD'VE BEEN 90 TODAY, SO SHE ALMOST MADE IT.
BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT, EVERYONE.
MOVING ON, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND FINAL READING ON A CONSIDERATION OF AN
[VIII.1. Consideration of an Ordinance to Amend Certain Sections of the Town of Bluffton’s Municipal Code of Ordinances, Chapter 23, Unified Development Ordinance, Article 5 – Design Standards, Sec. 5.4 (Wetlands) and Sec. 5.10 (Stormwater); and, Article 9 – Definitions and Interpretations, Sec. 9.2 (Defined Terms). Public Hearing and Final Reading - Kevin Icard, Director of Growth Management]
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ORDINANCE TO AMEND CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON MUNICIPAL CODE OF ORDINANCES.CHAPTER 23, UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE ARTICLE FIVE, DESIGN STANDARDS SECTION 5.4 WETLANDS AND SECTION 5.10 STORM STORMWATER AND ARTICLE NINE, DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION SECTION 9.2.
SO THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND FINAL READING.
MR. ICHART? YES, IF YOU COULD CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING, SIR.
THIS IS A CALL, FIRST CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
DO I NEED TO GET COMMENTS FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING? THREE CALLS.
SECOND CALL FOR PUBLIC HEARING COMMENTS.
THIRD CALL FOR PUBLIC HEARING COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
THIS IS PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
UM, THIS IS THE SECOND READING FOR THE, UM, UM, WETLANDS AMENDMENTS THAT YOU JUST REFERENCED.
UH, THERE ARE NO CHANGES FROM THE FIRST READING THAT WE HELD BACK IN, UM, APRIL.
UM, HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION, UH, IF YOU WISH, I CAN GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION IF YOU'D LIKE.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM ANYONE? I DO HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, NO QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO CHANGING ANYTHING.
I JUST HAD A QUESTION IN TERMS OF DOES THIS, UM, AMENDMENT MAKE IT, UM, EASIER FOR Y'ALL TO BE ABLE TO ENFORCE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ENFORCED? UH, RIGHT NOW? YES MA'AM.
FROM ANYONE ELSE? SO WE HAVE A MOTION.
IS THERE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.
UM, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS TO THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.
CODE OF ORDINANCE CHAPTER 23, UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE ARTICLE FIVE, DESIGN STANDARDS SECTION 5.4 WETLANDS AND SECTION 5.10 STORM WATER AND ARTICLE NINE, DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION.
ANY DISCUSSION FROM COUNSEL? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
NEXT WE'LL BE MOVING TO BECAUSE
[VIII.2. Consideration of an Ordinance to Approve an Amendment to the Town of Bluffton Zoning Map to Rezone Certain Real Property Owned by Cornerstone Church of Bluffton and Lalie Ann Mole Consisting of Approximately 43.31 Acres, More or Less, Located at 11 Grassey Lane and 21 Lake Lane and Identified by Beaufort County Tax Map Nos. R610 036 000 0014 0000 and R610 036 000 014B 0000 from Planned Unit Development Zoning District to a Mix of Agricultural Zoning and Rural Mixed Use Zoning Districts (ZONE-02-24-018921). - Public Hearing and Final Reading - Kevin Icard, Director of Growth Management.]
CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.ZONING MAP TO REZONE CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY CORNERSTONE CHURCH OF BLUFFTON AND LOWY AND MOLES CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 43.31 ACRES, MORE OR LESS, LOCATED AT 11 GRASSY LANE AND 21 LAKE LANE.
AND IDENTIFIED BY BEAUFORT COUNTY TAX MOUNT NUMBERS R 6 1 0 0 3 6 0 0 0 0 0 1, 4, 0 0 0 0.
AND R 6 1 0 0 3 6 0 0 0 0 1 4 B 0 0 0 0.
FROM PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT ZONING DISTRICT TO A MIX OF AGRICULTURE ZONING AND RULE MIX USE ZONING DISTRICTS, ZONING DISTRICTS ZONE ZERO TWO DASH 24 DASH 0 1 8 9 21.
AND FINAL READING, MR. KEVIN, AND WE'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THIS MATTER FROM THE PUBLIC CALLING TWICE.
ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? THIS IS THIRD AND FINAL.
UM, THIS IS THE SECOND READING AS YOU JUST STATED, UH, DURING THE FIRST READING, UH, TOWN COUNCIL DID UNANIMOUSLY APPROVE, UH, THE ZONING MAP AMENDMENT.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION.
IF NOT, I DO HAVE A PROPOSED MOTION FOR YOU ANYHOW.
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR WANT HIM TO REVIEW ANYTHING? I HAVE NO.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION HERE? WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.
I RECOMMEND TO APPROVE THE REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON ZONING MAP TO REZONE TWO PARTIALS FROM PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENT, PUD TO AGRICULTURE AND THE RULE MIX USE FROM, UH, THE SUBJECT PORTION CONSISTS OF APPROXIMATELY FOUR POINT 43.31 ACRES AND ARE IDENTIFIED BY THE TAX MAP.
R 6 1 0 0 3, 6 0 0 0 0 0 1, 4, 0 0, 0 0.
AND R 6 1, 0 0 3, 6, 0 0 0 0 1 4 B 0, 0, 0 0.
[00:30:03]
OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTIONS THERE.ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[IX.1. Consideration of an Ordinance Authorizing the Conveyance of Certain Real Property Owned by the Town of Bluffton to Workforce State of Mind, LLC, Located at 1095 May River Road and Consisting of 1.78 Acres, More or Less, and Identified by Beaufort County Tax Map No. R610 039 000 0498 0000; and, Authorizing the Execution and Recording of Associated Documents. – Second and Final Reading - Heather Colin, Assistant Town Manager]
MOVING ON NOW WE'LL UH, MOVE ON TO THE FORMAL AGENDA ITEMS. NEXT UP IS CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON TO WORK FOR STATE OF MIND LLC LOCATED AT 10 95 MAY RIVER ROAD AND CONSISTING OF 1.78 ACRES MORE OR LESS.AND IDENTIFIED BY BEAUFORT COUNTY TAX MAP NUMBER R 610 0 3 9 0 0 0 0 4 9 8 0 0 0 0.
AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND RECORDING OF ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS.
SO, UM, I'M HERE BEFORE YOU TO REQUEST THAT YOU, UM, CONSIDER SECOND RATING OF THE ORDINANCE TO TRANSFER THE PROPERTY THAT WE HAVE COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS 10 95 MAY RIVER ROAD TO WORKFORCE STATE OF MIND LLC.
UH, YOU MAY RECALL THAT, UM, Y'ALL DID HEAR, UM, THIS, LET'S SAY YOU HEARD THIS BACK IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR FOR FIRST RATING TO TRANSFER THE PROPERTY.
THIS, AS YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN A WORKFORCE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS ONE OF OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
AND ONE OF THE ACTION AGENDA ACTION AGENDA ITEMS IS SPECIFICALLY TO WORK WITH PARTNERS TO INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING HERE IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.
SO THIS IS, UM, THE NEXT STEP TO FACILITATE THAT ACTION AGENDA.
JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY OF THE PROPERTY WON'T GO THROUGH IT, BUT WE DID PARTNER WITH WORKFORCE STATE OF MIND LLC TO CONSTRUCT AT THIS LOCATION THERE WILL BE 12, 12 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.
THE NEXT STEPS WILL BE TO SECURE THE FINAL, UH, DEVELOPMENT, UM, PERMITS AND PLANS, JUST WAITING FOR A COUPLE OF FINAL OUTSIDE AGENCY APPROVALS, BUT EXPECT THOSE WITHIN THE NEXT, UM, THE NEXT LITTLE BIT, HOPEFULLY THE NEXT DAYS, NOT WEEKS.
BUT THEN THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO GO AHEAD AND TRANSFER THAT PROPERTY TO WORKFORCE STATE OF MIND PER THAT AGREEMENT.
ONCE THEY SECURE THOSE PERMITS SO THAT THEN THEY CAN SECURE FINANCING AND THEN BEGIN CONSTRUCTION AND THEN ULTIMATELY, UH, GO VERTICAL WITH THE BUILDING PERMITS.
THIS HERE IS THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT THEY'RE PROPOSING TO BUILD.
AS YOU CAN SEE TO THE RIGHT I GUESS OF YOUR SCREEN, YOU SEE MAY RIVER ROAD, UM, IT'S KIND OF LIKE AN L-SHAPED PROPERTY AND THOSE UNITS THEY WERE WILL BE FOR SALE, UM, SINGLE FAMILY UNITS.
UM, ANOTHER VIEW OF THAT PROPERTY LOCATED ON MAY RIVER ROAD NEAR POSEYS COURT.
AND AS I SAID, THE NEXT STEPS WILL BE THE FINAL APPROVAL OF THAT DEVELOPMENT PLAN, WHICH WE EXPECT VERY SOON.
THEN CLOSING, UH, SHOULD YOU ALL APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE, THEN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE BY WORKFORCE STATE OF MIND, AND THEN ULTIMATELY THE BUILDING PERMITS WILL BE APPLIED FOR AND ISSUED.
UM, I BELIEVE THERE'S ONE MEMBER OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT TEAM HERE TODAY.
WE ARE WILL BE SENDING OUT AN INVITE AND THERE WILL BE SOME NOTIFICATION FOR A, UM, GROUNDBREAKING IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
AGAIN, SHOULD YOU APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE, ANY IDEA ON THAT? UM, 30 DAYS, TWO WEEKS OR FOR THE GROUNDBREAKING? YES, THE GROUNDBREAKING IS, UM, IT'S THE END OF THIS MONTH.
I WAS WAITING ON, ON FRED TO READ IT.
I'M GONNA LET YOU DO THIS ONE.
I MOVED TO APPROVE AS AMENDED.
SECOND AND FINAL READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON TO WORKFORCE STATE OF MIND.
LLC LOCATED AT 10 95 MAY RIVER ROAD AND CONSISTING OF 1.78 ACRES, MORE OR LESS, AND IDENTIFIED AS BEAUFORT COUNTY TAX MAP NUMBER R 610 0 3 9 0 0 0 4 9 8 0 0 0 0.
AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND RECORDING OF ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS.
ANY DISCUSSION? COULD I, UM, UM, UM, COUNCILWOMAN FRAZIER, YOU INDICATED APPROVE AS
[00:35:01]
AMENDED THERE, THERE WERE NO AMENDMENTS, SO IF WE COULD JUST DELETE THAT FROM YOUR MOTION, I THINK IT WOULD MAKE IT JUST A LITTLE BIT CLEANER.ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT? MM-HMM,
YOU WANT ME TO REREAD IT? NO, YOU'RE GOOD.
AS LONG AS OUR CLERK MADAM CLERK.
SO WE HAVE A FIRST AND SECOND ON THE MOTIONS THERE.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION WITH ANYONE? OKAY.
[IX.2. Consideration of an Ordinance Approving the Town of Bluffton Fiscal Year 2025 Proposed Consolidated Budget. – First Reading – Stephen Steese, Town Manager]
NEXT, WE GOT A CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON PHYSICAL YEAR 2025, PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED BUDGET.THIS IS FIRST READING AND OUR TOWN MANAGER, MR. STI WILL PRESENT.
MAYOR COUNCIL, APOLOGIZE BECAUSE THIS ONE'S GONNA BE A LOT LONGER THAN THE PREVIOUS THREE BECAUSE NO, NO, NO, NO.
YEAH, START YOUR, IF YOU WANT ME TO KEEP IT AT THREE, I CAN FLY THROUGH IF I NEED TO.
SO, AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE DO AS A TOWN AND ONE OF COUNT TOWN COUNCIL'S.
MOST, UM, BIGGEST PRIORITIES IS TO ADOPT A BUDGET ANNUALLY, UM, FOR THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.
UM, I'M GONNA GO THROUGH, THIS IS A LOT OF SLIDES.
I'M GONNA GO THROUGH 'EM VERY HIGH LEVEL AS YOU KNOW, WHEN WE GET THROUGH THE PROCESS, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A BUDGET WORKSHOP COMING UP THIS THURSDAY.
UM, WHEN WE GET THERE, WE'LL GO MORE IN DETAIL.
OUR FIRST ONE, WE FOCUS ON THE GENERAL FUND, AND THEN WE HAVE A SECOND ONE ON MAY THE 30TH WHERE WE'LL GET MORE INTO CAPITAL PROJECTS AND SOME OF OUR OTHER FUNDS, DEBT AND, UH, STUFF LIKE THAT.
AND USUALLY THAT'S WHEN WE, UM, ALSO HAVE SOME OF OUR NON-PROFITS THAT WE ARE SEEKING THAT ARE SEEKING FUNDS FROM US THAT COME IN AND TALK TO Y'ALL AS WELL, LIKE THE CHAMBER LEFT IN BREEZE AND SO FORTH.
SO, AND THEN SECOND AND THE, THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE JUNE 11TH WITH THE SECOND READING AS WELL.
SO I'M GONNA GO THROUGH REAL QUICK KIND OF SOME ECONOMIC FACTORS, OUR BUDGET GOALS FOR 25, THE PROPOSED OVERVIEW AND THEN THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL PROCESS.
SO JUST SOME HIGH LEVEL ECONOMIC FACTORS FOR BLUFFTON 54 SQUARE MILES.
THAT HASN'T CHANGED MUCH OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
SO YOU CAN SEE WE'RE ESTIMATING OUR POPULATION TO BE FOR THIS CURRENT YEAR AROUND 35.
PROBABLY SOMEWHERE AROUND A LITTLE HIGHER THAN THERE RIGHT NOW.
YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE BREAKDOWNS PER CAPITA AND EMPLOYMENT AND KIND OF MEDIUM HOUSING COSTS.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD POINT OUT IS, UM, YOU CAN SEE THAT MEDIUM HOUSING HOME VALUE IS A LITTLE OVER $390,000.
UM, THAT IS CONTINUING TO CLIMB FROM WHERE IT WAS THREE TO FIVE YEARS AGO.
SO I JUST WANNA POINT THAT OUT AS WELL, AS WELL AS THE MEDIAN GROSS RENT.
THIS IS JUST TO SHOW THAT AS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS SUCH A HIGH PRIORITY FOR COUNCIL, JUST SOME OF THE ECONOMIC DRIVERS JUST KIND OF BREAKDOWN OF SOME OF THE MAKEUP OF OUR EMPLOYMENT.
YOU CAN SEE HEALTH AND EDUCATION IS DOWN A LITTLE BIT, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT'S PART OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM.
UH, YOU CAN SEE ACCOMMODATIONS, FOOD, ENTERTAINMENT, IT'S UP A LITTLE BIT, RETAIL'S DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
UM, AND THEN CONSTRUCTION, AS WE'VE SEEN WITH SOME OF THE NEW, UH, GO CONSTRUCTION GOING ON IS PICKING BACK UP AS A PERCENTAGE OF OUR WORKFORCE OVER THE LAST YEAR.
UM, UH, JUST TO HIT AGAIN ON ECONOMIC FACTORS, WE ARE AN EXCELLENT CREDIT POSITION.
WE GOT OUR AAA BOND RATING THIS PAST YEAR.
WE'RE STILL DOUBLE A PLUS BOND RATED WITH STANDARD AND POORS.
UM, AND I WOULD ASSUME THAT IF WE ASKED THEM TO COME IN AND DO A REVIEW, IF WE WERE ISSUING BONDS, THEY WOULD PROBABLY MATCH WHAT UM, WE SAW FROM UH, MOODY'S.
BUT WE, UH, GOT OUR AAA LAST YEAR.
UM, SO AGAIN, THE PART OF THE BUDGET IS WE DO STRATEGIC PLANNING ANNUALLY.
WE DO A, A, A TWO YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, REVIEW IT ANNUALLY IS TO IDENTIFY THE GOALS OF COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THOSE END UP IN OUR BUDGET.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE OUR BUDGET, UH, STRATEGIC PLAN PRIORITY BASED AND TO FOCUS ON THE MISSION AND MISSION THAT THE COUNCIL HAS.
SO YOU CAN SEE THINGS IN THERE LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UPDATE TO OUR, UM, COMMUNITY, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS, OUR MASTER PLANS, UM, WATERSHED RESILIENCY, OUR MAY RIVER ACTION PLAN, UH, PARTNERSHIPS TO PROTECT THE WATER, UM, WHETHER THAT'S RIVERS OR WATERSHEDS AND OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE GETTING DONE.
AND ADDRESS CA COUNTY, UH, COUNCIL'S GOALS AS WE LOOK TO ADDRESS THESE.
SO I'M GONNA GO THROUGH REAL QUICK AND TALK ABOUT THIS, UH, THE FUNDS, AND THIS WILL BE AT A HIGH LEVEL, LIKE I SAID, WHEN WE DO OUR WORKSHOPS, WE'LL GET INTO MORE DETAILS WITHIN EACH OF THOSE.
UM, GENERAL FUND OF THE FUNDS.
SO THE FIRST ONE IS GONNA LOOK AT OUR CONSOLIDATED OVERALL BUDGET.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE ON HERE, OUR CONSOLIDATED OVERALL BUDGET FOR ALL FUNDS IS A LITTLE OVER $90 MILLION, ALMOST 90 MILLION, UH, 500,000.
THIS IS ACTUALLY DOWN A COUPLE PERCENT FROM THE PREVIOUS
[00:40:01]
YEAR.MOST OF THAT HAS TO DO, AS YOU'LL SEE IN OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FUND, AS WE'VE KNOCKED OUT SOME OF THESE CAPITAL PROJECTS OVER THE LAST YEAR AND MADE PROGRESS ON OTHERS, THAT NUMBER'S COMING DOWN BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN CARRYING FORWARD SO MUCH MONEY TO GET THESE PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD.
NOW THAT THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD, WE'RE SEEING THAT THAT NUMBER DECREASE A LITTLE BIT OVER LAST YEAR.
SO IT'S DOWN ABOUT $4 MILLION.
UM, BUT YOU CAN SEE GENERAL FUND, UM, OUR, UM, STORM WATER'S UP A LITTLE BIT.
AND THEN OUR DEBT SERVICE, WHICH IS OUR TIFF FUNDS THAT WE DID LAST YEAR COMING IN TO HELP FINISH UP THE PARK OVER AT NEW RIVERSIDE.
SO BREAKING THIS DOWN INTO KIND OF A, JUST A, A PIE, MAKE IT A LITTLE EASIER TO SEE.
YOU CAN SEE ABOUT 16.8% OF OUR PROPERTY TAXES OR OF OUR REVENUES GENERATE FROM PROPERTY TAXES.
6% ARE LOCAL HOSPITALITY AND ACCOMMODATIONS.
LICENSE AND PERMITS MAKE UP ABOUT 17% AS WELL.
AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE GRANTS IS UP TO ABOUT 4.7% AND ENTITLEMENT.
A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH SOME GRANTS AND FUNDS THAT WE RECEIVED THIS YEAR THAT WILL CONTINUE TO GO FORWARD TOWARDS SOME PROJECTS.
AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE REST OF IT, UM, COMES IN FROM TRANSFERS ENDS AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD WHERE WE HAVE, UM, STORM WATER AND SOME OF THE OTHER FUNDS THAT TRANSFER INTO, UM, OUR GENERAL FUND TO HELP PAY FOR SOME OF OUR SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE AND ALSO INTO OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
SO HERE'S OUR REVENUES, KIND OF BROKEN DOWN OVER OUR, FOR OUR CONSOLIDATED BUDGET.
YOU CAN SEE THIS IS KIND OF WHAT THE PIE CHART SHOWED.
UM, SO I'M NOT GONNA GO TOO MUCH IN DETAIL INTO THAT, BUT YOU CAN SEE HOW IT'S A PERCENT CHANGE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR TO, UM, WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED.
SO YOU CAN SEE AN INCREASE IN OUR PROPERTY TAX BASED ON THE, UM, UM, VALUE INCREASE THERE.
UM, THINGS THAT HAVE GROWN IN VALUE, BUT ALSO MORE CONSTRUCTION THAT WE'VE HAD TAKE PLACE.
YOU CAN SEE LICENSE AND PERMITS HOLDING STEADY.
SAME THING WITH HOSPITALITY ACCOMMODATIONS TAX.
UM, THAT'S WHERE YOU CAN SEE OUR GRANTS AND ENTITLEMENTS.
I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT IT'S UP TO ABOUT 5% THAT'S ALMOST DOUBLE FROM WHERE IT WAS LAST YEAR.
AND AGAIN, THAT SPEAKS TO MONEY THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GO AFTER FOR GRANTS FROM THE STATE, UM, UH, AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP WITH SOME OF OUR, UM, CAPITAL ITEMS. AND THEN, UM, YOU CAN JUST KIND OF SEE HOW THAT COMPARES ALL THE WAY DOWN.
AND THEN ULTIMATELY WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO THE TOTAL CONSOLIDATED BUDGET, IT'S ABOUT 2 MILLION SHORT OF WHAT IT WAS LAST YEAR.
SO WHERE DOES THAT MONEY GO TO GET SPENT? AS YOU CAN SEE ABOUT 21% IS IN OUR, UM, PERSONNEL AND BENEFITS.
THAT'S ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT THINGS.
WE, WITHOUT GREAT PEOPLE, WE CAN'T PROVIDE GREAT SERVICES.
UM, THE REST OF IT GOES INTO OPERATING, UH, 13.9% AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE VAST MAJORITY OF IT IS IN OUR CAPITAL OUTLAYS.
THAT'S AGAIN, ONE OF OUR LARGEST, UH, IS OUR LARGEST, UH, LINE ITEM.
IT IS, UM, WHAT WE ARE DOING TO BUILD PARKS, TO DO SEWER PROJECTS, TO DO ALL THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ARE PART OF COUNCIL'S, UM, STRATEGIC PLAN.
THIS KIND OF BREAKS THAT DOWN INTO NUMBERS, THAT PIE CHART AND GIVES YOU, AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE WHERE, UM, PERSONNEL AND BENEFITS AGAIN IS INCREASING.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
UM, WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE REFLECTED THAT, THAT REFLECTS.
YOU CAN SEE OPERATING GOING UP A LITTLE BIT AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE REST OF THAT'S KIND OF NO MAJOR REALLY CHANGES UNTIL YOU GET INTO LAND ACQUISITION.
PART OF THAT IS WE'VE ACTUALLY SPENT MONEY THIS YEAR TO ACQUIRE LAND, SO IT'S REDUCED THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY DOWN.
UM, AND WE'LL CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT GETTING THAT NUMBER BACK UP SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE WE CAN CONTINUE TO BUY LAND AND TAKE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS OFF THE BOOKS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
UM, AND YOU CAN SEE STORMWATER AND SEWER PROJECTS ARE DOWN A LITTLE BIT JUST BECAUSE WE'VE SPENT MONEY ON, UM, GETTING SOME OF THESE PROJECTS DONE.
AND WE'RE LOOKING TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
MOST OF THAT'S STUCK ON SIMMONS V PHASE FIVE AND UM, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE STORMWATER PROJECTS THAT WE DID OUT HERE ON BRIDGE STREET AND SO FORTH.
SO WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER ABOUT HOW WE DO TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS, THIS JUST GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF THE FUNDS THAT ARE MOVING BACK AND FORTH WITHIN THE BUDGET TO HELP COVER OPERATIONS BASED ON CERTAIN THINGS.
SO THE GENERAL FUND, YOU CAN SEE WE TRANSFER MONEY IN FROM THE HOSPITALITY TAX.
THAT WOULD BE FOR THINGS LIKE WE'RE GETTING READY TO OPEN THE NEW, UM, WELCOME CENTER IN JANUARY IS OUR, UM, TARGET DATE FOR OPENING THAT.
SO WE WOULD NEED SOME OF THOSE FUNDS MAY GO TO HELP OPERATE THE WELCOME CENTER.
THEY CAN GO TO HELP PAY TO MAINTAIN PARKS, THEY MAY GO TO HELP, UM, POLICE, UM, OUT AT EVENTS, UH, OUR COMMUNITY AND OUT OUR COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH TEAM FOR PUTTING ON EVENTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THAT MONEY WOULD TRANSFER IN AND, AND OFFSET THOSE COSTS WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND.
SAME THING, UH, LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS TAX AND STORM WATER.
THEY TRANSFER, UM, INTO THE GENERAL FUND TO HELP PAY THE SALARY AND OPERATIONS FOR THAT DEPARTMENT.
[00:45:01]
SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT FUNDS THAT ARE TRANSFERRING INTO THE CIP FUND, WHICH IS WHAT, UH, FUNDS ALL THE PROJECTS THAT WE DO WITHIN THE TOWN.AND LASTLY YOU CAN SEE OUR DEBT SERVICE WHERE WE TRANSFER, UM, FOR OUR STORM WATER BONDS THAT ARE BEING PAID OUT OF THE STORM WATER.
SO HERE'S SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE OVERALL BUDGET.
IT DOES RECOGNIZE A SLIGHT GROW DOWN, UH, SLOW DOWN FOR CONSTRUCTION.
UM, AND THAT'S JUST HOLDING THE PERMITS, UH, STEADY.
UM, WE ARE SEEING THINGS GETTING COMPLETE AND OUR PROPERTY TAXES GROWING, BUT IT REALLY HOLDS THE PERMITTING DOWN, UM, TO, FROM WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS SINCE, UH, COVID KIND OF KIND, KIND OF GOT THROUGH COVID, WE'VE SEEN THE NUMBER OF PERMITS DECREASE.
IT HOLDS OUR, UH, PROPERTY TAX MILLAGE THE SAME AS IT WAS, UH, SET DURING REASSESSMENT AT 36 MILLS.
IT, AGAIN, YOU HEAR THIS A LOT.
WE FOCUS ON TOWN COUNCIL PRIORITY PROGRAMS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, UH, QUALITY OF LIFE, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND CELEBRATIONS.
WE ALSO WORK TO KEEP OUR COMPETITIVE, OUR PAY COMPETITIVE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
IT UM, WE DID A CLASS IN COMPENSATION, UH, STUDY THIS YEAR.
UM, WE WERE RECOMMENDING THAT IT BE IMPLEMENTED OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD.
UM, SO WE HAVE IN HERE OUR COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT AS WELL AS THE CLASS AND COMP, UH, COMPENSATION.
UM, THAT WILL PROVIDE A RANGE DEPENDING ON WHERE EMPLOYEES FALL WITHIN HOW FAR THEY ARE BEHIND THEIR MARKET.
SO THAT WOULD, UM, PROVIDE THAT, UM, INCREASE BASED ON THAT STUDY.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE OUR, OUR TYPICAL MID-YEAR MERIT INCREASE OF 2% THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE AFTER WE DO EVALUATIONS IN JANUARY.
WARY CONTINUE TO INVEST IN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE TALKED ABOUT CAPITAL PROJECTS, CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THOSE, BUT I'M GONNA CONTINUE ON SO WE CAN BE MINDFUL OF TIME.
AGAIN, WE SUPPORT OUR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE.
WE HAVE OUR PRIMEA BREEZE THAT WE FUND, UH, PUBLIC DEFENDER, OUR PROGRAMS THAT WE WORK WITH WITH USCB TO DO OUR WATER QUALITY SAMPLING.
UM, AND ALSO OUR BLUFFTON AMBASSADOR PROGRAM CONTINUES WITH THE BLUFFTON COUNTY, OR EXCUSE ME, BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND UH, LOCAL PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO HAVE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AND SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS.
THAT'S CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE WITH THEM AND GRANTS THAT THEY RECEIVE FROM, UH, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES TO HELP PAY FOR SOME ADDITIONAL CROSSING.
UM, UH, SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS ALSO CONTINUES DON RYAN CENTER AND ALSO, UM, I'LL HIT ON OUR ACCOMMODATIONS TAX.
THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR WE'LL BE USING OUR ACCOMMODATIONS TAX TO HELP FUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS. BY STATE LAW WE CAN NOW PUT 15% OF LOCAL AND 15% OF STATE.
OUR BUDGET IS RECOMMENDING THAT WE DO.
SO WE'RE LOOKING TO USE THE 15% OF STATE FUNDS TO GO TOWARDS CIP AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS.
THOSE COULD BE WHAT WE'RE DOING AT 10 95 MAY RIVER BLUFFTON ROAD, WHETHER IT'S ANY OTHER CAPITAL PROJECTS WHERE WE WANT TO DO THAT TO HELP SUPPORT PRIVATE PROJECTS THAT MAY BE GOING OUT THERE.
IT'S A FUNDING SOURCE THAT WE CAN USE THAT FOR.
WE'RE THEN RECOMMENDING THAT OUR LOCAL GO INTO OUR GENERAL FUND TO SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE, LIKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, UH, THE REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND AND AND PROGRAMS LIKE THAT AND KIND OF PUT OUR STATE INTO ONE PO ONE SOURCE OF PROGRAMS AND OUR, UM, UH, LOCAL INTO ANOTHER SOURCE OF PROGRAMS. UM, YOU WILL SEE STAFF COMING BACK WITH A AMENDMENT TO OUR CONSOLIDATED PLAN THAT IS REQUIRED, UM, PER STATE LAW THAT WE HAVE TO DO A STUDY TO USE THE STATE FUNDS.
SO THEY PLAN ON HAVING THAT, I THINK IT'S IN JUNE AND JULY, SO WE'LL HAVE THAT ADOPTED IN JULY SO THAT WHEN WE START SPENDING THOSE FUNDS IN THE NEXT BUDGET YEAR, THAT WE'LL MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE LAW.
UM, AND THEN AGAIN OUR DMO, WHICH IS UM, REQUIRED BY LAW THAT WE HAVE A DMO AND PARTNER WITH THEM AT THEIR PERCENTAGE.
AND THAT'S WITH STATE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX, NONE LOCAL.
SO ON THE, UM, THE LAW THAT WAS PASSED, IT'S GOOD FOR SEVEN YEARS, SO WE'RE TAKING THE 15%, WE WILL USE THAT THE CIP AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS.
SO THAT WILL LOWER THE NUMBER THAT WE'VE BEEN UTILIZING IN THE PAST.
SO WHERE WILL THE, IF WE COME SHORT, WHERE DOES THAT COME FROM ON THE STATE? UM, WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHORT ON THE STATE? I APOLOGIZE.
IS AT TAX DOLLARS, IS IT NOT? CORRECT.
OKAY, SO, SO IF, UM, THE 15% COMES OFF THE TOP OF THE AT TAX DOLLARS, RIGHT? SO JUST LIKE WITH THE STATE AT TAX, THERE'S A FORMULA WHERE 15% OF THIS CAN CAN GO AND THEN WE GET TO KEEP, WAS IT 8% CHRIS, OR THERE'S A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE WE GET TO TRANSFER INTO THE GENERAL FUND, 5%.
ALL THOSE PERCENTAGES COME OFF THE TOP.
WHAT GOES TO THE DMO AND THEN WHAT'S REMAINING IS WHAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR THE AT TAX COMMITTEE TO GIVE OUT? WELL THAT WAS MY QUESTION BASICALLY.
YEAH, IT WILL LOWER THE POT A LITTLE BIT TYPICALLY, RIGHT? YES SIR.
SO IF THAT HAPPENS, WHERE DO WE DIG TO
[00:50:01]
GET THE, SO IT'S A MATTER OF WHETHER WE STICK TO WHAT THE DIRECTION HAS BEEN FROM COUNCIL THE LAST TIME IT CAME UP THAT THERE WERE MORE REQUESTS AND THERE WAS FUNDING, RIGHT, WAS TO NOT GO BEYOND WHAT WAS AVAILABLE FOR FUNDING.IF WE CONTINUE, IF WE SEE A TREND WHERE THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH ACCOMMODATIONS TAXED TO, TO ADDRESS THOSE FUNDING REQUESTS, THEN COUNCIL CAN REVISIT AND GIVE DIRECTION OF WHETHER THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE OTHER FUNDS SUPPLEMENT IT OR WHETHER THEY WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE THE 15% AND REDUCE IT FOR AT TAX OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT, UM, WE'VE ONLY HAD ONE INCIDENT THAT IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH FUNDS TO COVER REQUESTS.
SO IF, IF WE SEE THAT BECOMING A TREND, THEN THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK COUNCIL CAN, WE CAN WORK ON SOLUTIONS.
ALRIGHT, SO FIRST UP IS THE GENERAL FUND.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE THAT THE VALUE OF OUR MILL, WHICH IS HOW WE BASE PROPERTY TAXES ON IT'S CONTINUED TO CLIMB FROM 24 TO 25.
IT INCREASED ALMOST A HUNDRED THOUSAND, ALMOST A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.
UM, SO YOU CAN SEE THE VALUE OF OUR, UH, MILL VALUE WENT UP ALMO JUST SHORT OF $90,000 FOR THE VALUE OF ONE MILL.
UM, THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE PROPOSING TO KEEP OUR MILLAGE RATE THE SAME AS IT WAS FOR THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
AND THAT'S REFLECTED IN THE NUMBERS THAT YOU SEE THERE.
UM, OVERALL YOU CAN SEE THE BREAKDOWN OF THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES.
UM, EVEN WITH THAT INCREASE TO THE ASSESS TO THE VALUE OF THE MILL, YOU CAN SEE IT STILL ONLY MAKES UP ABOUT 31% OF OUR OVERALL REVENUES.
ABOUT 37% COMES FROM LICENSE AND PERMITS.
THAT'S BUSINESS LICENSE BUILDING PERMITS AND SO FORTH.
AND YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE GRANTS AND ENTITLEMENTS BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH WE'VE BEEN ABLE, THE SUCCESS WE'VE HAD THERE IS UP TO 8.6% OF THE OVERALL, UM, REVENUES.
AND THEN YOU CAN SEE, UM, THE NEXT ONE THAT'S LARGEST IS 13.5% AND THAT'S THE TRANSFER ENDS.
AND THAT'S WHERE I COVERED EARLIER WITH SOME OF THE MONIES THAT COME FROM OTHER FUNDS TO HELP OFFSET OPERATING EXPENSES THAT SUPPORT THEM.
THIS IS THE NUMERICAL REPRESENTATION OF THAT CHART.
AS YOU CAN SEE OVERALL, THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES ARE PROJECTED TO BE UP ABOUT 7%, 7.5% OF WHERE THEY WERE LAST YEAR.
AGAIN, CONSOLIDATED BUDGET IS LOOKING TO DECREASE, BUT THE GENERAL FUND IS LOOKING TO GO UP ABOUT A LITTLE OVER 7.5%.
UM, YOU CAN SEE WHERE THOSE REVENUES ARE COMING FROM.
YOU CAN SEE, UH, MASE INSURANCE TAX UP ABOUT $500,000.
BUT AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE BUILDING PERMITS WITH US SEEING WHERE THE GROWTH NUMBERS ARE, THAT NUMBER IS REDUCING SIGNIFICANTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T OVERESTIMATE WHAT CONSTRUCTION'S GONNA BE AND PUT OURSELVES IN A HOLE SHOULD THINGS CONTINUE ON THE TREND THAT THEY ARE FOR THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
UM, AND THEN AGAIN, GRANTS AND ENTITLEMENTS.
YOU CAN SEE THAT NUMBER'S UP ABOUT $1.2 MILLION AS WELL AS, UM, SEEING SOME OF THE OTHER REVENUES DOWN PUTS US AT A TOTAL OF ABOUT $2 MILLION, UM, UP OVER LAST YEAR WITH ABOUT 1.2 MILLION OF THAT COMING DIRECTLY FROM GRANTS AND ENTITLEMENTS FOR THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR HERE.
SO WHERE DOES THAT MONEY GET SPENT? THIS GIVES YOU AN OUTLINE OF WHERE GENERAL FUND GETS, UM, OUT, UM, GOES AGAIN, A LITTLE OVER HALF OF IT, ABOUT 57% GOES TO PAY FOR OUR SALARIES AND BENEFITS OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
36% GOES TO OPERATIONS AND THEN THE REST ARE FOR CAPITAL AND TRANSFER OUT TO OUR CIP FUND TO FUND PROJECTS.
THIS IS THE NUMERICAL BREAKDOWN OF THAT.
AND THEN SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT'S IN THE GENERAL FUND THAT FOR THIS CURRENT YEAR, WE'VE ALREADY TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, UM, PROPOSED INCREASES FOR OUR EMPLOYEES TO KEEP UP WITH WHAT WE'VE SEEN WITH INFLATION AND THE GROWTH AND, UM, COSTS AND EXPENSES AND TO KEEP UP WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS AROUND THE AREA TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PAYING AT A COMPETITIVE RATE.
UM, AGAIN, CARRIES OUR PTO BUY PAYOUT OPTION OF UP TO 25 HOURS FOR EMPLOYEES THAT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS.
IT ALSO INCLUDES 11.8% INCREASE IN OUR EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE THROUGH THE STATE HEALTH PLAN.
SO THAT IS NOT AN INCREASE THAT WE GET TO CONTROL THAT IS MANDATED FROM THE STATE AND ADOPTED BY THE STATE LEGISLATOR.
AND THEY HAVE APPROVED 11.8% FOR THIS YEAR.
THE YEAR BEFORE THAT IT WAS LIKE 18%.
SO IT'S, IT'S FLUCTUATING RIGHT NOW.
IT DOES INCLUDE A FEW NEW POSITIONS.
AS I MENTIONED, WE ARE TARGETING JANUARY 1ST TO OPEN THE WELCOME CENTER AND THE SQUIRE POPE CARRIAGE HOUSE.
UM, SO WE NEED SOME PEOPLE TO STAFF THAT.
SO IT HAS A FULL-TIME PERSON AND A PART-TIME PERSON TO OPERATE THE WELCOME CENTER.
THE FULL-TIME IS RECOMMENDED TO BE HIRED SOONER RATHER THAN LATER TO HELP GET IT READY AND OPERATE AND HELP US GET EVERYTHING SET UP.
[00:55:01]
THE PART-TIME WOULD NOT BE NEEDED UNTIL THE WELCOME CENTER OPENS TO HELP STAFF DURING THE WEEKENDS OR LATER HOURS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.OR IN CASE SOMEBODY'S SICK AND SO FORTH.
UM, FOR THE POLICE, IT DOES INCLUDE A FULL-TIME COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER.
THIS IS TO HELP WITH IS, UH, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND THINGS AND EVENTS AND STUFF THAT THEY COORDINATE AS WELL AS THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA AND STUFF AND HELP TAKE SOME OF THE PRESSURE OFF OF, UM, DEBBIE AND HER TEAM FROM SUPPORTING, UM, THE WHOLE TOWN AND THEM, ESPECIALLY WITH US ADDING MORE EVENTS AND MORE IN THE WELCOME CENTER AND EVERYTHING UNDERNEATH THEIR DEPARTMENT.
IT'LL HELP TAKE SOME OF THAT, UM, STRESS OFF OF THEM.
UM, IT ALSO INCREASES THE CROSSING GUARD TO EIGHT, WHICH IS ONE ADDITIONAL FOR MAY RIVER.
AND THIS IS A REQUEST THAT CAME FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, FROM PARENTS THAT COMPLAINED ABOUT, UM, HOW CRAZY MAY RIVER IS WHENEVER SCHOOL PICKUP OCCURS AND DROP OFF WITH PARENTS TRYING TO PARK IN LIKE MIDPOINT AND KIDS CROSSING THE ROAD AND KIDS WALKING ON THE TRAILS TO GET THERE FROM ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
UH, THEY ASKED FOR A, UH, CROSSING GUARD AND, UH, ARE ARE FUNDING THAT POSITION.
I WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT, SO I'M GLAD TO SEE IT GETTING DONE.
UM, LASTLY, IT DOES INCLUDE THREE NEW PUBLIC SERVICE WORKER POSITIONS.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, WITH NEW RIVERSIDE BARN, UM, BUYING THE, UH, PARK IN, UH, BUCKWALTER AND LOOKING TO BUILD A NEW PARK IN BUCKEYE SIMMONS AND THE LAND THAT WE BOUGHT, WE ARE ADDING INTO THE FACILITIES THAT WE MAINTAIN AND THE PARKS THAT WE MAINTAIN AND WE ARE REACHING A POINT WHERE THEY NEED ADDITIONAL HELP.
SO WE'RE, WE HAVE RECOMMENDED THREE NEW PUBLIC SERVICE WORK WORKERS TO START, UM, IN JULY FOR THAT DEPARTMENT.
A FEW OTHER NOTES, WE ALWAYS SUPPORT, UH, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR, OUR STAFF.
UM, IT ALSO CONTINUES OUR CONTRACT WITH THE, UM, UM, THE, UH, HOW WE HAVE IN THERE FOR THE POTENTIAL INCREASE FOR THE COST RELATED TO THEM WITH THE WEEKLY GARBAGE AND BIWEEKLY RECYCLING.
IT, UH, AGAIN, SUPPORTS OUR PD, RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, OUR MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, OUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROGRAMS, AND DRCI.
IT ALSO MAINTAINS OUR DRUG TASK FORCE INVESTIGATIONS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE, OUR STAY SAFE BLUFFTON PROGRAM, AND ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE CROSSING GUARDS.
UM, WE CONTINUALLY REVIEW OUR TOWN CODE.
ANYTIME COUNCIL ADOPTS AN ORDINANCE, WE HAVE TO UPDATE IT AND GET OUR CODE UP TO DATE.
UM, AS YOU MAY KNOW, WE, UM, AND I SAY MAY BECAUSE WE HAVE A NEW COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THIS BUDGET YEAR, WE, UH, DO A LEASE PROGRAM FOR OUR POLICE VEHICLES.
THIS IS THE FOURTH YEAR THAT WE'VE IMPLEMENTED THAT.
UM, IT IS A FIVE YEAR ROTATION, SO THIS WILL, WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO NEXT YEAR, WE'LL BE LOOKING TO START ROTATING OUT SOME OF OUR FIRST, UH, FLEET VEHICLES FOR THERE.
SO WE'LL GET ALL NEW CARS AT THE END AFTER NEXT YEAR, RIGHT? OR I MEAN, 20%.
SO OVER FIVE YEARS WE GET 20% THAT ARE NEW EVERY YEAR, RIGHT? SO ONCE WE GET DONE THROUGH THE FIFTH YEAR, THEY'LL START REPLACING THE ONES THAT ARE FIVE YEARS, RIGHT? OR IF WE REACH A POINT WHERE THEY TELL US THAT IT'S MORE BENEFICIAL FINANCIALLY TO REPLACE 'EM AND THEN SELL THOSE, WE GET A BETTER RETURN.
THEY'LL, THEY'LL LET US KNOW WHEN THAT HAPPENS AS WELL.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE'LL BE ON A FI PRETTY MUCH 20% WILL BE REPLACED EVERY YEAR STARTING IN ANOTHER YEAR.
AND THEN THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS IN HERE TO HELP, UM, ENHANCE OUR EMPLOYEE PROGRAMS. ONE IS A PROPOSAL TO CREATE A, UM, WHETHER IT'S ONSITE OR LIKE A, UM, BLUFFTON MEMORIAL HAS LIKE A BUS THAT THEY CAN BRING OUT TO DO SOME, UM, HAVE LIKE A NURSE PRACTITIONER ON SITE ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK FOR OUR EMPLOYEES TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO SEE SOMEBODY.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, GET SEEKING MEDICAL CARE FOR A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN OR JUST TO TRY TO GET IN AND SEE SOMEBODY CAN BE DIFFICULT.
SOMETIMES THIS WOULD PROVIDE AN ABILITY FOR OFF FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES IF THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE GETTING A SINUS INFECTION, THEY HAVE SOMEBODY THAT THEY CAN GO SEE, NOT COST THEM ANYTHING AND BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING TO, UM, IMPLEMENT.
WE HAD TALKED ABOUT DOING IT PREVIOUSLY, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE SPACE.
NOW THAT THE SQUIRE POPE IS GONNA BE RENOVATING, WE'LL BE OPENING UP A POTENTIAL SPACE OR WITH BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HAVING A BUS, THERE MAY BE AN ALTERNATIVE TO THAT.
NOW WITH, UM, WITH THAT STEVEN, WILL THIS PERSON BE CONSIDERED MORE OF AN RN OR A, UM, WHAT COULD BE A NURSE PRACTITIONER OR COULD BE A PA? DEPENDS ON WHAT THE CON HOW, HOW THE CONTRACTS.
WE'LL PUT IT OUT FOR, UH, RFP PROCESS AND IT WILL DEPEND ON WHAT'S SUBMITTED.
UH, PLACES I'VE BEEN AT BEFORE THAT HAVE HAD THIS, WE'VE HAD A NURSE PRACTITIONER, UM, AND THEY CAN COME IN AND THEY CAN WRITE PRESCRIPTIONS, THEY CAN DO SOME, UH, BASIC DIAGNOSIS.
THEY CAN REFER YOU FOR ADDITIONAL, UH, TO SEE, UH, ADDITIONAL SPECIALISTS IF NEEDED AND SO FORTH, RIGHT? I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
AND WHERE I'VE DONE IT BEFORE AS WELL, THEY ALSO KIND OF OVERSEE WORK WITHIN OUR WELLNESS PROGRAM TO HELP EMPLOYEES THAT MAY BE WANTING TO STOP SMOKING OR LOSE WEIGHT OR DO SOME STUFF LIKE THAT AND CAN HELP GUIDE 'EM THROUGH THOSE PROCESSES AS WELL.
UM, THE OTHER THING IS A NEW PROGRAM THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO
[01:00:01]
IS AN EMPLOYER SHOULD BE EMPLOYEE, NOT EMPLOYER.WE'RE NOT BUYING HOUSES, EMPLOYEE HOME BUYING ASSISTANCE.
AND, UM, THAT IS FOR, UM, TO OFFER A WAY TO HELP EMPLOYEES THAT WORK FOR THE TOWN TO BE ABLE TO BECOME HOMEOWNERS WITHIN OUR TOWN.
AS WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU SAW THE COST OF HOME VALUES WHERE THEY ARE REACHING, IT'S BECOMING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO PURCHASE A HOME.
UM, SO WE'RE TRYING TO PUT A PROGRAM IN PLACE THAT WOULD ENCOURAGE AND, UH, HELP OUR EMPLOYEES BE ABLE TO BUY HOMES.
UM, THE GOAL FOR THAT IS I'M PLANNING TO BE ON THE AGENDA FOR JUNE TO, UH, PRESENT KIND OF THE OUTLINE TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE, GET THEIR INPUT AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL IN JULY, SHOULD IT MAKE IT THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS TO GET THE PROGRAM GUIDELINES ADOPTED SO WE CAN LOOK TO IMPLEMENT THAT WITH OUR EMPLOYEES.
UM, SPECIAL REVENUES FUND, KIND OF, THESE ARE HOSPITALITY AND LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS.
WE KIND OF TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THEY SUPPORT THE GENERAL FUND AND SOME THINGS AND SOME, UH, REQUIREMENTS AROUND THEM.
I'M GONNA START WITH HOSPITALITY TAX.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS ONE IS UP ABOUT TEN NINE PERCENT OVER LAST YEAR.
THE, THE MORE PEOPLE ARE SPENDING ON HOSP ON UH, FOOD AND BEVERAGE.
AND THAT IS BRINGING OUR HOSPITALITY TAX FUNDS HIGHER YEAR OVER YEAR RIGHT NOW.
SO THIS JUST, UH, SHOWS YOU WHERE THOSE FUNDS GO.
UH, MOST OF THEM GO EITHER TO CIP FOR OUR PARK PROJECTS OR THEY GO TO THE GENERAL FUND TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS FOR THE TOWN.
LIKE AGAIN, WHEN WE DO THE 4TH OF JULY EVENTS, THIS IS WHAT COVERS THE COST FOR THAT.
WHEN WE DO OUR MOVIE NIGHTS, WHEN WE START OUR CONCERT SERIES THIS FALL, THIS IS THE FUNDS THAT WILL COVER THE COST FOR THAT.
AND AGAIN, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT THIS YEAR IS WHEN WE SEE TRANSFER OUT OF FUNDS, WHAT'S THAT ACTUALLY SUPPORTING? SO THESE ARE ALL THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT HOSPITALITY, TAX OR FUNDING ARE WORKING TO FUND WITHIN THE BUDGET.
SO YOU CAN SEE MOST OF THEM ARE ALL PARKS OR THEY'RE RELATED TO TOURISM AREAS AND HELP WITH, UM, WITH TOURIST RELATED ACTIVITIES.
AND THEN WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO THE GENERAL FUND, THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE SUPPORTING.
AS WE TALKED ABOUT CIVIC EVENTS, THE PERSONNEL THAT PUTS ON THOSE EVENTS, AND THEN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE OVERSEEING THOSE BUDGETS AND SO FORTH.
PUBLIC SERVICES FOR MAINTAINING THE PARKS.
AND ALL OF THOSE ARE REQUIRE, ARE ALLOWABLE, UH, EXPENDITURES WITHIN STATE LAW FOR THOSE FUNDS.
SO LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS TAX, THIS IS, UH, 3% ON GROSS PROCEEDS FROM, UH, SLEEPING ACCOMMODATIONS.
UM, WE'RE ANTICIPATING WE'VE SEEN THIS NUMBER START TO DECREASE A LITTLE BIT.
AND, UM, UH, MAYOR AND I HEARD DURING THE, WE HAD A MAYOR MANAGERS MEETING ON MONDAY WITH SOME OF THE MAYORS AND MANAGERS AROUND THE COUNTY, UH, HILTON HEADS TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THEY'RE SEEING THEIR NUMBERS DOWN.
SO THIS IS KIND OF REFLECTED IN THAT YOU CAN SEE IT'S A DECREASE ABOUT 16% OVER LAST YEAR.
UM, AND, UH, WE, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING RIGHT NOW.
AND WE'LL, WE TRACK THOSE NUMBERS AS WE RECEIVE 'EM AND WE'LL ADJUST AS WE NEED TO THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AGAIN, THESE GO TO TRANSFER OUT 75% OF 'EM TO CIP PROJECTS, AND THEN 25% GO INTO THE GENERAL FUND TO OFFSET, UM, EXPENSES WE HAVE RELATED TO LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS ITEMS. I'LL GO THROUGH THOSE, UH, HERE.
SO YOU CAN SEE THESE ARE THE, UM, CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT THEY'RE GOING OUT TO SUPPORT.
AND THEN THESE ARE WHERE THEY'RE TRANSFERRING INTO THE GENERAL FUND TO HELP OFFSET AGAIN, THE EXPENSES TO OPERATE THE WELCOME CENTER, THE BLUFFTON AMBASSADOR PROGRAM, SPECIAL EVENTS WHERE THE POLICE ARE PRESENT.
AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE NEW ONE THERE WITH WORKFORCE HOUSING FOR THE 15% THAT SAYS WORKFORCE, SORRY, SHOULD BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, STATE LAW CALLS IT WORKFORCE.
WE GOTTA MAKE SURE WE GET THAT WORDING RIGHT BEFORE.
WHEN WE SEE WORKFORCE, IT SHOULD BE LIKE A BIG RED, YEAH, BIG RED WORD THAT WE SHOULD KNOW.
UM, SO THAT EXPLAINS WHERE THAT'S FOR.
SO GOING INTO STORMWATER, THESE ARE A LOT QUICKER THAN THE GENERAL FUND.
UM, THESE ARE GENERATED FROM THE STORMWATER UTILITY FEE.
THIS GIVES YOU A COMPARISON OF HOW OUR FEE IS.
WE HAVE NOT INCREASED IT IN SEVERAL YEARS.
GIVES YOU A COMPARISON OF WHERE WE ARE RELATED TO THOSE AROUND THE COUNTY.
YOU CAN SEE WHERE'RE 115 KEEPS US IN LINE, UM, WITH BUFORT, UM, UM, COUNTY, CITY OF BEAUFORT, HILTON HEAD A LITTLE HIGH COMPARED TO PORT ROYAL.
BUT IN, IN RELATIONSHIP TO OUR PAR, UH, SURROUNDING AREAS, WE'RE IN LINE WITH THEM.
THE REVENUE FROM THAT MOSTLY COMES IN FROM THE UTILITY FEES AND THEN SOME STORM, SOME TRANSFER IN FROM PRIOR YEARS.
MOST OF THAT IS CAPITAL PROJECTS AND THEN SOME LICENSING THAT THEY HAVE WHENEVER THEY DO INSPECTIONS.
AND, UH, PERMIT AND REVIEW OF PLANS.
SO THIS SHOWS YOU WHERE THE REVENUE COMES FROM.
[01:05:01]
PRETTY MUCH STEADY TO WHERE IT WAS LAST YEAR AND WITH, UH, CONSTRUCTION DOWN A LITTLE BIT.THEY'RE ANTICIPATING LICENSE AND PERMITS TO BE DOWN SLIGHTLY OVER LAST YEAR AS WELL.
SO WHERE DOES THAT GO? UH, ABOUT A QUARTER OF IT GOES TO PAY FOR OUR STORMWATER STAFF AND THEN TO THE OPERATING FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
UM, WE TRANSFER OUT A LITTLE BIT TO THE GENERAL FUND, AND THEN ABOUT A THIRD OF IT GOES TO CIP PROJECTS.
THESE ARE WHAT'S FUNDING OUR SEWER AND STORMWATER PROJECTS.
AND THEN YOU CAN SEE ABOUT 7% GOES TO PAY THE DEBT FOR THE GO BOND THAT WE'RE USING TO PAY FOR SOME OF THESE PROJECTS.
THIS GIVES YOU THE BREAKDOWN OF THAT WITH THE NUMBERS.
AND THEN THIS GIVES YOU SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS ON WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING TO KIND OF HOW HIT THOSE A MINUTE.
AND THEN TALK ABOUT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT.
THESE ARE ALL THE FUN PROJECTS WE GET DONE THROUGHOUT THE TOWN.
UM, THIS SHOWS YOU WHERE THE SOURCE OF FUNDS FOR THOSE COME FROM.
UM, THE VA, ALMOST 40% OF IT IS CIP FUND BALANCE.
AGAIN, THAT'S PROJECTS THAT ARE IN PROGRESS OR THAT HAVE FUNDING THAT WE'RE CARRYING FORWARD INTO NEXT YEAR.
UM, ABOUT A QUARTER OF IT'S COMING IN FROM THE TIF BONDS, UH, THE TIF BOND THAT WE DID IN TIF FUNDS.
AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE LICENSE AND PERMITS.
UH, THE TRANSFERRING FROM THE GENERAL FUND MAKES UP ABOUT 3%.
THEN ALL THAT TOGETHER, UM, TOTALS ALL THE PROJECT OR FUNDING FOR ALL THE PROJECTS THAT WE GET TO DO.
AND THIS IS THE NUMERICAL BREAKDOWN OF THAT.
UM, YOU CAN SEE THAT UNDER GRANTS AND ENTITLEMENTS, WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR LATER THIS MONTH ON WHETHER WE'RE GETTING A MILLION DOLLAR, UH, SE POWER TEAM FOR SITE READINESS TO HELP WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON BUCKWALTER.
SO WE WENT AHEAD AND INCLUDE IT IN THERE, BUT WE WON'T ACTUALLY KNOW THAT UNTIL, UH, PROBABLY SECOND READING OR CLOSE TO SECOND READING.
AND THEN WHERE ARE WE USING THOSE? AS YOU CAN SEE ABOUT A THIRD OF ITS PARK PROJECTS, ABOUT A QUARTER OF IT IS STORMWATER AND SEWER PROJECTS.
THEN YOU CAN SEE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON THERE, LAND ACQUISITION HOUSING, UH, FACILITIES AND ROADS AND SO FORTH.
THIS WILL GIVE YOU THE NUMERICAL BREAKDOWN ON THAT.
AS YOU CAN SEE ABOUT 11 AND A HALF MILLION ON PARKS AND SO FORTH ON DOWN TO TOTAL ABOUT $33 MILLION TOTAL FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
AND THIS JUST GIVES YOU THE BREAKDOWN ON THE DIFFERENT, UM, TYPES OF PROJECTS AND HOW MUCH MONEY IS GOING INTO EACH, THROUGH EACH OF THEM.
I'LL JUST LET YOU KIND OF READ A LITTLE, AND THIS WILL BE PUT ON THE TOWN'S WEBSITE.
SHOULD COUNSEL APPROVE FIRST READING TONIGHT SO THE PUBLIC CAN PULL THIS UP AND GO THROUGH IT AS THEY WOULD LIKE, AND WE'LL BE DOING A PRESS RELEASE AND EVERYTHING ASSOCIATED.
UM, JUST STEVEN, ONE QUICK QUESTION THERE ON THIS, ON THESE DIFFERENT HISTORIC DISTRICT SEWER EXTENSION, THOSE ARE THOSE NUMBERS FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX? YES.
NO, I'M, I'M SAYING HOW OLD ARE THOSE ESTIMATED? OH, OH, NO, THOSE NUMBERS WERE UPDATED FOR THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR.
THOSE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN UPDATED FOR THIS BUDGET.
THE, UM, A MINUTE AGO YOU SAID THAT THE AT TAX DOLLARS WERE DOWN FOR THE YEAR.
WHY? WHY IS THAT? THE ISLAND'S NOT AS BUSY? WE'RE JUST SAYING AS WE SAW THEM SPIKE UP DURING COVID, WE'RE ONE OF THE FEW STATES THAT REALLY REMAINED OPEN THAT PEOPLE TRAVEL TO.
IT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAW WITH THE HOMES BEING BUILT.
UM, REALLY OVER THE LAST YEAR, WE'VE SEEN THE NUMBERS NOT NECESSARILY MATCH UP TO WHERE THEY WERE THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
AND AS WE HEARD FROM, UM, HILTON HEAD, UM, MONDAY, THEY'RE SEEING THAT SAME TREND THAT THEY'RE NOT SEEING THE ROOM, UH, RENTALS.
AND EVEN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RENTING FOR THE SUMMER AND EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW ARE DOWN TO WHERE THEY WERE LAST YEAR.
JUST A LITTLE LOWER THAN A YEAR AGO.
THEY'RE ALSO SEEING THE, THE, UM, THE COST PER ROOM DROPPING SOME AS WELL.
SO THEY MAY BE RENTING AS MUCH, BUT THEY'RE SEEING THEY'RE NOT GETTING AS MUCH PER ROOM OR THEY'RE SEEING LESS, UM, RENTERS.
SO WE'RE JUST SAYING, UM, SEEING THAT WE'RE, AGAIN, AS YOU KNOW, WITH, FOR THREE YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE WITH CHRIS AND I, WE LIKE TO BE, WE'D RATHER BE CONSERVATIVE IN SOME OF OUR ESTIMATES AND COME BACK TO Y'ALL AND, UH, WITH A, UM, AND HAVE POSITIVES VERSUS THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR VERSUS COME BACK TO Y'ALL AND SAY, HEY, WE ESTIMATED ACCOMMODATIONS TAX TO GO UP EVEN THOUGH A TREND SHOWED OTHERWISE AND END UP HAVING TO CUT STUFF MIDYEAR.
[01:10:01]
UM, BE MORE, UH, FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE WHEN IT COMES TO SOME OF OUR ESTIMATES JUST TO BE SAFE AND BE POSITIVE MIDYEAR VERSUS HAVING TO CUT.THAT'S A TOUGH THING TO GO BACK AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WHEN IT'S ALREADY, WHEN YOU'RE ALREADY BEHIND.
SO THIS JUST GIVES YOU A BREAKDOWN ON WHERE THESE CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE OCCURRING.
SO YOU CAN SEE THROUGH, THEY'RE ALL THROUGHOUT THE TOWN.
UM, AND THEN THIS GIVES YOU THE ONES THAT ARE, WE'RE DOING AN OLD TOWN AND MOST OF THOSE ARE STREET SCAPES IN THE SEWER PROJECTS.
UM, SO WE HAVE A LEGAL DEBT MARGIN THAT WE'RE ALLOWED TO TAKE IN THE STATE WITHOUT GOING FOR A REFERENDUM.
SO WHEN YOU ACCOUNT 8% OF ASSESSED VALUE, UM, THAT LEGAL DEBT MARGIN IS NOW AT, UM, $33 MILLION THAT WE CAN TAKE ON IN DEBT.
WE HAVE, UM, WITH WHAT WE WILL PAY FOR THIS YEAR TO PAY DOWN OUR, UM, BALANCE.
WE'LL BE AT ABOUT A LITTLE OVER 7 MILLION IN DEBT, UM, OUT THERE.
SO WE STILL HAVE ABOUT 26 MILLION, AND SO WE'RE ONLY ABOUT 21% LEVERAGED ON OUR MAXIMUM DEBT WE CAN TAKE WITHOUT A REFERENDUM.
SO THAT'S AGAIN, UH, VERY HEALTH, UH, SOUND, UM, FINANCIALLY.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO, WHEN WE DID OUR REVIEW, GOT POSITIVE REVIEWS ON OUR BOND RATING.
SO WHAT DO WE HAVE OUTSTANDING? WE HAVE, UH, MOSTLY TWO DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES OR TWO, UH, DIFFERENT BONDS.
ONE'S A GO BOND WE TOOK FOR IN 2020 FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
THE, UM, STORMWATER FUNDS GO TO PAY THAT ONE.
THE OTHER ONE WAS IN 2010, A GEO BOND TO BUILD THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, UM, CENTER AND BUCKWALTER.
UM, THAT ONE WILL COME UP, UH, I THINK IN, UM, TWO YEARS AND WE'LL HAVE THAT ONE DONE.
SO YOU CAN SEE THERE'S ONLY, UM, ABOUT THREE AND A HALF MILLION LEFT ON THAT ONE AND 3.6 LEFT IN OUR GO BOND.
UM, AND THEN OUR TIFF, UM, OUR INITIAL ONE WAS IN 2014.
WE DID A NEW ONE IN 2022, UH, FOR, UH, ABOUT $10 MILLION TO COVER THE NEW RIVERSIDE BARN PARK AND, UM, AND BUILDING.
SO THOSE ARE CURRENTLY WHAT WE HAVE FOR DEBT.
THIS COVERS KIND OF BACKGROUND ON OUR GO.
THESE TALK ABOUT OUR TIFF, UH, BACKGROUND AND WHAT THEY WERE USED FOR AND WHEN THEY'LL, UM, EXPIRE.
GOOD THING THERE IS THE, THERE'S MORE PRINCIPLE THAN THERE IS INTEREST.
WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO, WHEN WE DID, UM, WHEN THE INTEREST WAS DOWN, WE'VE REFINANCED ONES THAT WE HAD OUTSTANDING AND WE WERE ABLE TO REDUCE OUR PAYMENTS DOWN A LOT BY DOING SO.
SO AGAIN, GOOD FISCAL, UM, SOUND, UH, JUDGMENT THAT WAS PUT IN THERE.
SO, UM, THIS SHOWS YOU WHERE THE FUNDS COME TO PAY OUR DEBT.
UH, ABOUT HALF FROM PROPERTY TAXES AND A LITTLE SHORT OF HALF FROM, UM, UH, FUND BALANCE FROM THE, UM, UM, DEBT SERVICE FUND BALANCE AND THEN TRANSFERRING FROM STORMWATER.
THIS IS SHOWS THAT REPRESENTATIVE AS NUMBERS AND THEN THIS TELLS YOU WHERE THE EXPENDITURES ARE GOING.
AS YOU CAN SEE WHEN WE TAKE DEBT, IT IS FOR PROJECTS, 78.5% OF IT IS GOING OUT TO FUND CAPITAL PROJECTS.
THE REST OF IT, AS YOU CAN SEE, IS GOING TO ACTUALLY MAKE PAYMENTS FOR THOSE BONDS, AND THAT GIVES YOU THE REPRESENTATION OF THAT NUMERICALLY.
SO THIS, UH, TALKS ABOUT OUR FUND BALANCE.
OUR FUND BALANCE IS REALLY OUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT.
WE WANT IT TO BE HEALTHY FOR SEVERAL REASONS.
ONE, WE'RE GETTING READY TO HIT HURRICANE SEASON.
IT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO HAVE, UH, AVAILABLE FUND BALANCE TO COVER SHOULD THERE BE A NATURAL DISASTER.
UM, IT IS ALSO, UM, SHOULD WE HAVE ANY FINANCIAL ISSUES THAT ARISE.
BEING ABLE TO HAVE OPERATING FUND BALANCE ON HAND ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE WITHOUT HAVING TO DEPEND ON, UM, INCOME COMING IN FOR SET PERIOD OF TIME.
AND WE HAVE SEVERAL POLICIES IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THOSE ADEQUATELY IN PLACE.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS OUR, UM, ESTIMATED FUND BALANCE LEVELS AND YOU CAN SEE LIKE HOSPITALITY TAX FUND BALANCE GOING DOWN AS WE'RE DOING PROJECTS.
SAME THING WITH DEBT SERVICE, PAYING IT DOWN AND THEN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
YOU CAN SEE IT, UH, GOING DOWN AS WELL AS WE'RE COMPLETING PROJECTS.
AND THIS GIVES YOU THE NUMERICAL, OH, SORRY, WE'RE BACK TO PROPOSE CONSOLIDATED BUDGET.
SO WE'RE GETTING WRAPPING IT UP.
I KNOW THIS ONE'S ALWAYS LONG COMPARED TO OTHER PRESENTATIONS, SO, BUT THIS IS ALSO, AGAIN, VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR, UM, CITIZENS AND PUBLIC TO HEAR.
UM, AND IF, IF, UM, IF ANYONE HAS QUESTIONS, THAT'S FINE.
FOR A FEW, YOU KNOW, QUESTIONS, I WOULD UM, REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE HAVE A WORKSHOP ON THURSDAY, OUR FIRST WORKSHOP.
SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING, UM, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO FIND OUT
[01:15:01]
THAT MAY TAKE THEM A MINUTE TO, TO FIND OUT OR GIVE YOU THE CORRECT ANSWER, MAYBE MAKE A NOTE OF IT AND GIVE IT TO 'EM WHEN WE LEAVE TONIGHT SO THAT THEY'LL HAVE TIME TO, YOU KNOW, GET SOME OF THOSE ANSWERS BY THURSDAY.FEEL FREE TO GIVE ME A RING TOMORROW OR WHATEVER, OR I'LL, WE'LL BE GLAD TO A SUGGESTION.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS CONVERSATION THAT COMES UP DURING FIRST READING THAT WILL, OR FIRST WORKSHOP THAT WE'LL BRING THE ANSWERS BACK TO A WORKSHOP.
UM, NORMALLY THEY'RE ONLY A WEEK APART THIS WEEK WITH HOLIDAY.
THEY'RE, UM, AND OTHER MEETINGS, THEY'RE TWO WEEKS APART.
SO WE'LL HAVE TO ANYTHING TO COUNCIL AND PULL STUFF TOGETHER AS WE NEED TO.
SO, SO WITH THAT, UM, UNLESS COUNCIL HAS ANY OTHER, HAS QUESTIONS AS THE MAYOR SAID, OR, UH, WOULD LIKE ME TO CLARIFY ANYTHING, UM, SHOULD YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE THERE IS A MOTION FOR COUNCIL MS. BURDEN, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS YOU'D LIKE TO ASK NOW? UM, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
MY ONE SUGGESTION, AND I THINK I MENTIONED THIS TO YOU WHEN WE SPOKE, WAS JUST THAT, UM, AND I LOOKED THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR 24 BUDGET.
UM, I JUST GOT THE BUDGET 25 TONIGHT.
UM, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO JUST SEE AS MUCH INFORMATION AND VERY EASILY ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WHEN RESIDENTS GO ON THE TOWN'S WEBSITE AND THEY WANNA SEE WHERE HOSPITALITY TAX FUNDS ARE BEING USED OR LOCAL A TAX THAT IS VERY EASY TO SEE.
BUT THE SPECIFIC ONE, SIMILAR TO YOUR PRESENTATION TONIGHT, IT MENTIONS IT AND THEN OUR BOOK, UM, THAT WE DID ONE ON, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE MET ONE-ON-ONE, IT ALSO VERY GIVES IT VERY CLEARLY, UM, EXPLAINS IT.
BUT I WOULD LOVE FOR THAT TO BE OUT THERE FOR, UM, OUR RESIDENTS AS WELL.
OR ARE YOU REFERRING TO LIKE WHERE WE OUTLINED HERE WITH WHAT'S GOING, LIKE WHAT'S ACTUALLY BEING USED FOR IN THE GENERAL FUND AND THE PROJECTS AS WELL AS YES, AND I JUST, I, I HAVEN'T HAD TIME OBVIOUSLY TO GO THROUGH THE 25 BOOK, BUT I QUICKLY LOOKED AT IT AND I DIDN'T SEE IT IN EACH FUND IN THE BINDER.
AND SO THAT WOULD JUST BE MY ONE SUGGESTION.
WE DID HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT AND ALSO HOW TO INCLUDE THAT IN, WITHIN OUR, UM, OFFICIAL, UM, AUDIT AND BUDGET BOOKS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO WE CAN, WE CAN PUT THAT TOGETHER AS WELL.
ANYTHING ELSE, FRED? MR. WOODS? YES, SIR.
WHO WANTS TO MAKE A MOTION OR NOT? I WILL MOVE.
I MOVE TO APPROVE THE FISCAL YEAR 2025, PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED BUDGET ON FIRST READING.
IS THERE A SECOND? ANY CONVERSATION, DISCUSSION OR ANYTHING FROM ANYONE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
OKAY, WE'RE MOVING ON NOW TO A
[IX.3. Consideration of an Ordinance Amending the Town of Bluffton Code of Ordinances, Chapter 24, Taxation. - First Reading - Natalie Majorkiewicz, Director of Finance]
CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER 24 TAXATION.THIS IS FIRST READING AND MS. NATALIE WILL THANK THE FLOOR.
YES, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR IN TOWN COUNCIL.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO PRESENT, UM, A RECOMMENDATION FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT REGARDING, UM, CHAPTER 24, UM, TAXATION.
UM, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY.
UM, THIS IS REGARDING, UM, THE COMMITTEE PRIOR TO MARCH, 2007, THERE WAS A COMMITTEE OF FIVE MEMBERS AND THEY OVERSAW HOSPITALITY TAX, UM, FUNDS AND MADE RECOMMENDATIONS TO ACCOUNT TO TOWN COUNCIL ON, UM, HOW TO AWARD THEM.
UM, MARCH, 2007 IS WHEN AAC WAS, UM, STARTED WITH BLUFFTON AND WE STARTED RECEIVING STATE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX FUNDS.
SO THAT STATE REQUIREMENT KICKED IN AND WE NEEDED TO FORM ATAC, WHICH CONSISTED OF SEVEN MEMBERS AND THE VARIOUS DISTRIBUTIONS.
UM, ACCORDING TO STATE LAW IN JUNE OF 2019, WE CODIFIED ALL OF THAT.
PRIOR TO THAT IT WAS IN A RESOLUTION FORM, UM, BOTH THE DMO AND THE COMMITTEE.
AND IN 2019, WE PUT IT INTO OUR BUDGET BUDGET ORDINANCE.
THIS TALKS ABOUT THE STATE LAW AND THE REQUIREMENT FOR ATAC REGARDING STATE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX FUNDS.
UM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS TAX FUNDS, THERE IS NOT THAT, UM, ADVISORY COMMITTEE REQUIREMENT.
THIS IS A REGIONAL COMPARISON OF HOW THE VARIOUS JURISDICTIONS, UM, TREAT THEIR ACCOMMODATIONS.
BEAUFORT COUNTY DOES HAVE A SEPARATE GRANT APPLICATION OPPORTUNITY, UM, FOR THE LOCAL FUNDS.
THIS IS BOTH LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS AND LOCAL HOSPITALITY TAX FUNDS.
THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS AT THE STATE LEVEL.
IT DOES NOT GO THROUGH THE COMMITTEE, AND THEN IT GOES THROUGH THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THEN TO COUNTY COUNCIL.
EVERYBODY ELSE, UM, IS ON AN ANNUAL CYCLE.
I'M NOT RECOMMENDING THAT WE CHANGE THAT.
IT GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS TO COME IN, UM, THROUGHOUT VARIOUS TIMES OF THE YEAR, UM,
[01:20:01]
TO REQUEST FUNDING FOR EVENTS AND FESTIVALS.WHAT IS BEING RECOMMENDED IS A WORDING CHANGE IN SECTION 24 DASH 19.
CURRENTLY, IT STATES THAT THE COMMITTEE IS TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO TOWN COUNCIL CONCERNING THE EXPENDITURE OF REVENUE GENERATED FROM ALL ACCOMMODATIONS, TAXES.
UM, AND THEN THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A CONFLICT WHERE LATER ON IN THE, UM, ARTICLE WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS, TAXES, THAT THOSE SHOULD BE SET BY THE ANNUAL BUDGET ORDINANCE.
SO THERE'S JUST SOME CONFLICT, AND THIS IS TO HELP CLARIFY THAT.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, CURRENTLY IN OUR, ON OUR, UM, CODE, WE HAVE A CEILING ON WHERE THE LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS TAX FUNDS CAN BE TRANSFERRED INTO GENERAL FUND.
WITH THE WELCOME CENTER COMING ON, UM, WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT WE ELIMINATE THAT CEILING.
AND SO JUST TO TOTALLY TAKE OUT THAT PARAGRAPH FROM THAT SECTION.
SO THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO CHANGE THE WORD FROM ALL TO STATE ACCOMMODATIONS, TAXES, AND TO REMOVE, UM, THE CURRENT PARAGRAPH C THAT TALKS ABOUT THE 10% LIMIT.
AND THEN MOVING THE RESERVE FUND UP TO THE NEW PARAGRAPH C.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
UM, ANYTHING FROM YOU, BRIDGET, MR. DAN? THANK YOU.
SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION? ANYONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.
MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE AMENDING THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER 24, TAXATION AS PRESENTED.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[IX.4. Consideration of a Resolution to Adopt the Buck Island-Simmonsville Neighborhood Plan Update - Public Meeting - Kevin Icard, Director of Growth Management]
CONSIDERATION OF AN RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE BUCK ISLAND SUMMITVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, UPDATE PUBLIC MEETING.GREAT, THANK YOU MAYOR, AND GOOD EVENING COUNSEL AGAIN.
UM, WE'RE HERE THIS EVENING FOR, UH, FOR YOU TO, UM, ADOPT A RESOLUTION FOR THE BUCK ISLAND SIMPSONVILLE PLAN.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, THIS WAS INITIATED IN 2009 WITH THE ORIGINAL PLAN, UH, WHICH WAS PART OF PROPERTY THAT WAS ANNEXED IN 2005.
UM, THAT NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN IDENTIFIED, UM, A LOT OF CONCERNS, UH, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AGAIN, WITH THE MAP, YOU CAN SEE HIGHLIGHTED IN RED WAS THE, THE, THE BOUNDARY.
UH, SOME OF THOSE ISSUES DEALT WITH, UH, INCLUDED INADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, SOME LAND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES AND COMMUNITY SAFETY.
UM, WE ARE HERE TO, TO UPDATE THIS PLAN SINCE IT'S BEEN ABOUT 15 YEARS.
UH, AND THIS WAS ONE OF THE, UM, ACTION ITEMS THAT WAS IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND PART OF YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
SO AGAIN, THAT ROADMAP THAT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.
UM, WE'VE, UM, WE'VE KIND OF, UM, UH, SHRUNK THE, UM, THE AREA, UH, OR THE LIMITS OF THE, THE PLAN THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT.
UM, AND SOME OF THE NEW, UH, PRIORITIES WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE PLAN AS WELL, WHICH I'M GONNA GO INTO, UH, A LITTLE BIT.
UH, SO PLAN IS, IT'S BROKEN DOWN INTO THE INTRODUCTION, BACKGROUND AND HISTORY, SOME OF THE EXISTING CONDITIONS AND THE ACTION PLAN.
UM, AND AGAIN, BY THE ADOPTION OF THIS PLAN DOES NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THAT ANY AND ALL OF THE, UM, THE ACTUAL ITEMS, UM, UH, HOLD TOWN COUNCIL TO ANY KIND OF TYPE OF FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS.
UH, FROM THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, UH, WE HAD MULTIPLE MEETINGS, INCLUDING THE KICKOFF MEETING.
WE HAD OVER 50, UH, 50, UH, INDIVIDUALS IN ATTENDANCE.
UH, WE HAD AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING, UH, WITH FIVE DIFFERENT MAIN MEETINGS AND 10 MEMBERS.
AND THEN WE DID A DRAFT REVIEW, UH, IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR.
UH, JUST SOME, UH, JUST DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION HERE.
UH, A LOT OF THIS INFORMATION YOU'VE, YOU'VE, UM, YOU'VE PICKED UP ALONG THE WAY, BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT WE'VE HAD INCREASES IN THE POPULATION SINCE 2000 IN THE AREA.
UH, NEW DWELLINGS, APPROXIMATELY 400 NEW DWELLINGS IN THE AREA.
UH, THE NEW RESIDENTS, OVER 800 NEW RESIDENTS.
UM, THAT MEDIAN AGE, SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR TARGETED AREA WAS ROUGHLY, UH, ROUGHLY 33 YEARS OF AGE.
UM, AND THEN WHILE MY NUMBER OF ALMOST 30, 39, UH, FOR THE MEDIAN AGE IN BLUFFTON, UH, FROM OUR SOURCE MIGHT BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM THE SOURCE THAT WAS PROVIDED, UH, IN THE BUDGET, UH, THAT WAS JUST, UH, PRESENTED TO YOU.
UM, SOME DURING THE INVOLVEMENT.
UH, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD, UH, OR THE COMMITTEE HAD CONCERNS WITH IS THAT THERE WAS NO, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, FORMING.
UM, THERE WAS CONCERNS, JUST SOME OF THE NATIVE CONCERNS THAT WE HAD.
ONE OF 'EM ALSO INCLUDED HAVING
[01:25:01]
COMMUNITY EVENTS.SO WE ACTUALLY, SINCE, SINCE THE START OF THIS PROCESS, THAT NIGHT OF UNITY THAT WE HAD BACK IN JANUARY, THAT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
WE HAD DIFFERENT CHURCHES THAT CAME OUT OVER AT BUCK BUCKWALTER PLACE PARK.
UM, JUST HAD A GREAT NIGHT, UH, WITH FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP.
UH, SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS WAS, UM, TRYING TO FIND AND FORM A COMMUNITY IDENTITY, UH, WHICH INCLUDE, UM, POTENTIALLY ART AND OR SIGNAGE, UH, THROUGHOUT THE, THE, THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, FROM A LAND USE AND ZONING PLAN, UH, STANDPOINT.
UH, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE, THE GREEN HERE, A LOT OF AREAS IN GREEN ARE, ARE OPEN SPACE.
AND, AND WHAT THAT IS, IS THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, FLOODPLAINS AND WETLANDS IN THAT AREA.
SO, UH, WON'T NECESSARILY BE DEVELOPED.
BUT THEN FROM A ZONING STANDPOINT, YOU CAN SEE THE COLOR YELLOW HERE IS RESIDENTIAL GENERAL, UH, WHICH DOES ALLOW FOR UP TO FOUR UNITS, SINGLE FAMILY UNITS PER ACRE.
UH, SO WITH THAT, UH, SOME OF THE CONCERNS, UM, THAT THE, UH, THAT THE STUDY IS GOING TO, UH, TALK ABOUT IS THE COMPATIBILITY OF SCALE AND DENSITY.
UM, AND WHAT THIS, AGAIN, YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, THIS PLAN GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO MORE RESEARCH SO THAT MORE RESEARCH MIGHT BE TO FIND OUT WHAT IS A COMPATIBLE SCALE AND DENSITY FOR THE AREA, UH, WHICH COULD RESULT INTO CHANGES IN ZONING.
UH, IF, IF THAT DOES MOVE FORWARD, UH, WE'RE GONNA EVALUATE OUR MANUFACTURED HOME POLICY, UM, THE WAY WE HAVE IT.
NOW, AGAIN, YOU'RE ALLOWED FOUR UNITS PER ACRE.
UH, WE DO ALLOW FOR MANUFACTURED HOMES.
UH, IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, UH, FOUR UNITS AND YOU HAVE ONE ACRE, YOU COULD HAVE ALL FOUR OF THOSE UNITS ON YOUR ONE LOT.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO NECESSARILY SUBDIVIDE THE LOT IN ORDER TO HAVE THE UNITS THERE.
SO, UH, AN ISSUE THAT WE'RE FACED WITH IS, UH, WITH A LOT OF HEIRS PROPERTIES, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR INDIVIDUALS TO GET A CONSTRUCTION LOAN FOR A, A STICK BUILT HOUSE, LIKE A PERMANENT HOUSE.
UM, SO WE HAVE PROVISIONS THAT ALLOW FOR, YOU KNOW, A MANUFACTURED HOME CAN BE PLACED ON A PROPERTY.
UM, AND THEN WITH THE HEIRS PROPERTIES, AGAIN, IT'S DIFFICULT FOR INDIVIDUALS TO BE ABLE TO SUBDIVIDE THE PROPERTY TO, TO CARVE OFF LAND FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL TO PUT A A ONE UNIT ON ONE LOT.
SO WE HAVE A POLICY WHERE YOU ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE MULTIPLE MANUFACTURED UNITS ON A LOT, AS LONG AS YOU MEET YOUR, YOUR DENSITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE, FOR THE, FOR THE PROPERTY.
SO IF YOU OWN A ONE ACRE LOT, YOU COULD PUT UP TO FOUR MANUFACTURED HOMES ON YOUR LOT, BUT THEY CAN ALL BE ON A HALF A ACRE.
IF A HALF AN ACRE THAT LOT, HALF, HALF AN ACRE, YOU'D ONLY BE ALLOWED TWO.
SO, SO I THOUGHT WHAT I JUST HEARD YOU SAY WAS THEY DIDN'T EACH HAVE TO HAVE A QUART OF AN ACRE SPECIFIC, YOU DON'T SUBDIVIDED YES.
BECAUSE IT'S SARAH'S PROPERTY.
BUT, BUT IN ESSENCE, WHAT IT DOES IS IT, IT IT GIVES INDIVIDUALS THE ABILITY TO PUT MULTIPLE UNITS ON ONE LOT, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH ACREAGE YOU HAVE.
SO, SO I'M STILL, I I THINK THIS IS, THIS IS CLEAR AS MUD, YOU CAN, YOU CAN CLUSTER THEM.
SORRY TO INTERRUPT, THAT'S WHAT I WAS ASKING.
IF YOU HAD AN ACRE AND, AND MAYBE HALF OF YOUR ACRE WAS, IS WETLANDS HYLAND? YES.
YOU CAN PUT FOUR ON THE HIGHLANDS.
YOU CAN CLUSTER AND NOTHING ON THE OTHER AS LONG AS YOU HAVE THE OTHER YES.
THAT WAS, I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT I HEARD YOU SAY AND I WAS JUST TRYING TO CLARIFY.
UM, SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS, UM, UM, POTENTIALLY FINDING, UH, YOU KNOW, INCOME PRODUCING, UH, USES FOR, UH, RESIDENTS OUT THERE.
SO WE'D NEED A LOT MORE RESEARCH INTO THAT TO SEE WHAT IS FEASIBLE.
UM, ALSO ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THIS PLAN KIND OF TOOK LONGER THAN NORMAL TO GET, UH, IN FRONT OF YOU IS THAT, UM, THE, YOU KNOW, THE TOWN JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED THE ONE 40, UM, BUCK ISLAND ROAD, UH, THAT'S APPROXIMATELY 15 AND A HALF ACRE PARCEL.
UM, AND, UM, THIS WILL EVENTUALLY COME IN FRONT OF TOWN COUNCIL, UH, FOR POTENTIAL, UH, PARK USE.
UM, AND WHAT WE WOULD DO IS WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT KIND OF GOT INTO THE PLAN.
UH, AND THAT WAY AS IT MOVES FORWARD THROUGH OUR CIP PROCESS COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, WE'RE DEFINITELY GONNA WANT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT TYPE OF USES, UM, ON THAT PARK SPACE THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO.
UH, AGAIN, UM, CONCERNS ARE, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT TYPE OF HOUSING IS IS CURRENTLY ALLOWED OUT THERE.
IF THERE'S ANY POTENTIAL CHANGES, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'D ALSO LIKE TO AN INCREASE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
AND, AND, AND AS OF TODAY, UM, THE, UH, REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND IS PROPOSING, UH, WE WENT, UH, TOWARDS A GRANT, UH, WITH THE REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND, UH, FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE.
AND, UM, IT HASN'T BEEN FULLY VOTED ON, SO IT'S
[01:30:01]
NOT 100% OFFICIAL, BUT, UH, IT IS PROPOSED THAT WE WILL RECEIVE $144,000, UM, THAT CAN BE USED TOWARDS, UM, UH, HOME REPAIR, UM, IN THE TOWN.SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT WITH A CAP OF $9,000 PER UNIT.
UM, BUT THAT WILL HELP US IF OFFICIALLY APPROVED, TO BE ABLE TO USE SOME OF THOSE FUNDS FOR PROJECTS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN THE PIPELINE, UH, FOR, FOR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE.
AND THEN, UM, BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, UH, EXTEND OUT, UM, THE, THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO, TO HELP.
NO OF THAT WOULD BE INCOME ELIGIBILITY OR THAT, UM, THAT PORTION, YES.
UM, UH, THE OTHER HOUSING, UH, ALSO WE HAVE IS THE, AS, UM, AS MS. COLLIN HAD MENTIONED WAS THE, UH, THE TOWN, UH, TOWN HOME, SINGLE FAMILY, UH, UNITS, UM, UH, THE MAY ON, UM, 10 95 MAY RIVER ROAD PROJECT, UM, FROM THAT ORIGINAL PLAN, AS YOU REMEMBER, UH, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
UM, INADEQUACY OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
I WANTED TO PUT THIS, UM, THIS, UH, TABLE UP HERE TO SHOW HOW OVER, OVER THE 15 YEARS THAT THE TOWN HAS INVESTED WELL OVER $8 MILLION.
UM, IN, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE SEWER WATER CONNECTIONS, UH, THE LIGHTING, UH, THE SIDEWALKS, UH, ALL THOSE ARE, ARE INFRASTRUCTURE ITEMS THAT, UM, IF YOU WERE TO MOVE INTO A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT, UH, THOSE ARE ALL ITEMS THAT ARE PART OF THAT DEVELOPMENT AND ARE CONSTRUCTED AT THE BEGINNING.
UM, SO WE WERE ABLE TO GO BACK AND RETROFIT THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO INCLUDE A LOT OF THESE ITEMS, UM, AT VERY LITTLE TO ALMOST NO COST, UH, FOR THE RESIDENTS.
UM, AGAIN, SOME OF THE PROJECTS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, UH, ONE IN PARTICULAR, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO PUT THESE, UM, A, A BOARDWALK IN ONE PORTION OF BUCK ISLAND ROAD.
UH, UH, MS. BROWN, WHO'S ALREADY LEFT FOR THIS EVENING, UH, SHE HAD GRAVE CONCERNS ABOUT, UM, BECAUSE OF THAT, THE ELEVATED BOARDWALK OVER THE WATER, UH, FROM SAFETY REASONS, UM, SHE WAS ABLE TO WORK WITH THE TOWN.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET, UH, WE HAD SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDINGS AVAILABLE AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET RAILING, UH, INSTALLED FOR SAFETY MEASURES IN THAT PORTION.
UH, AGAIN, SOME OF THE OTHER SERVICES THROUGH THIS WOULD BE THE STREET SIGNS, UM, MAKING SURE THAT IF WE'RE MISSING ANY STREET SIGNS, WE'LL BE ABLE TO GO IN, UH, REPLACE THEM.
UM, MS. SMALLS RIGHT NOW, UM, IS WORKING WITH OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UH, SHE'S DOING A BLITZ ON GOING THROUGH HOMES TO MAKE SURE IF INDIVIDUALS DON'T HAVE SMOKE DETECTORS, UH, THAT WE CAN PURCHASE AND, UH, HELP WITH THE INSTALLATION OF THOSE, UM, SMOKE DETECTORS IN HOMES.
UM, I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE, BUT, UH, THERE ARE OVER 38, UM, STRATEGIES THAT ARE PROPOSED IN THIS PLAN.
UM, AND WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS, YOU KNOW, AS THIS MOVES FORWARD DURING STRATEGIC PLAN WORKSHOP, WE WOULD, THESE WOULD BE SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT WE WOULD BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF TOWN COUNCIL THROUGH THE TOWN MANAGER, UH, TO SEE HOW WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME OF THESE.
UH, AGAIN, WE CAN'T, UH, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO TACKLE EVERY SINGLE ONE AT ONE TIME.
UM, BUT WE WOULD PRIORITIZE AND THEN, UH, MOVE THESE FORWARD.
UM, OBVIOUSLY WITH YOUR, YOUR BLESSING.
SO FROM, UH, THE NEXT STEP STANDPOINT, UM, THIS WOULD BE, UH, YOU ACCEPTING THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS IN YOUR PACKET, UH, UPON APPROVAL, WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE'LL ACTUALLY FINALIZE THE DOCUMENT.
'CAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE A, LIKE A FINAL DATE ON IT.
WE TAKE THE, TAKE THE WATERMARKS, THINGS LIKE THAT OFF OF IT.
UM, WE'LL PRINT IT, BIND IT, UH, MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF YOU HAVE COPIES.
UM, ALL OF OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE, UH, MEMBERS HAVE COPIES AS WELL AS WE'LL HAVE COPIES AVAILABLE AT TOWN HALL AND ON THE WEBSITE.
SO IN CASE ANYONE WANTED A PRINTED COPY, THEY WILL DEFINITELY BE AVAILABLE.
UH, SO WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
UM, AND I DO HAVE A PROPOSED MOTION FOR YOU.
ANY QUESTIONS, BRIDGET? OKAY, GO AHEAD.
I HAVE A, A QUESTION AND SOME COMMENTS.
UM, FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO WORKED ON THIS PLAN FROM THE RESIDENTS, THE ADVISORY BOARD, UH, PLANNING COMMISSION IN TOWN STAFF.
I THINK WE HAVE A, A GREAT START, UH, TOWARDS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE TWEAKED TO BECOME A, A LIVING DOCUMENT TO GUIDE US WHERE WE WANT TO GO.
SO, WITH THAT SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST GIVE A BRIEF HISTORY AND THEN GO INTO SOME OF MY CONCERNS.
SO FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR, THE BUCK ALLEN SIMMONS AREA, UH, WAS ONCE COMPRISED OF WHAT THEY CALL KUNDUS AND KDA IN THE GULLAH LANGUAGE ARE, UH, CONSIDERED COMPOUNDS LIKE HOUSES OF HOPE.
SO IN LESS THAN A MILE, YOU COULD GO FROM YOUR GREAT-GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE, YOUR GRANDMOTHER, AUNT, UNCLE, COUSINS, EVERYONE LIVED IN THE SAME AREA, SAME SQUARE SPACE.
WE GET TO A PLACE NOW WHERE WE SEE THAT OUR POPULATION, THE BLACK ENG GULLAH POPUL IN BLUFFTON NOW SITS AT 8% FROM WHERE IT WAS ONCE OVER 80%.
UM, SO THERE ARE GRAVE CONCERNS THERE AS WE TALK ABOUT A PLAN THAT WOULD HELP US NOT ONLY HELP PRESERVE THE WAY OF LIFE
[01:35:01]
FOR RESIDENTS WHO, UH, NATURALLY SETTLED, NATIVELY SETTLED THAT AREA, BUT HOW DO WE ALSO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THEY UNDERSTAND THEY'RE A PART OF THIS LANDSCAPE, NOT ONLY FOR NOW, BUT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.AND SO, UM, ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT I HAVE THAT CAME OUT OF THAT, UH, LOOKING AT THE PLAN, IS THERE'S A MENTION OF CREATING A TASK FORCE.
AND I BELIEVE SOME ON THE, THE BOARD ADDRESSED THAT AS WELL.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE TOWN TAKE A STANCE AND NOT JUST SAYING WE WILL EXPLORE THAT OPTION, BUT IT WILL BE A TOWN SUPPORTED, UM, COMMITTEE IN THE SENSE OF, UH, IT'LL HAVE THE SAME FUNCTIONINGS OF HAVING APPOINTMENTS TO NOT ONLY INCLUDE, UM, NATIVE RESIDENTS, BUT IT SHOULD BE AN INCLUSION OF THOSE WHO LIVE IN BLUFFTON THAT MAY ALSO COME AND HAVE SOME IMPACT, WHETHER THEY'RE BEHIND A GATE OR NOT.
UM, I THINK HAVING A VERY, UH, DIVERSE BOARD THERE THAT TAKES OWNERSHIP OF THE IMPORTANCE OF, OF MAKING SURE WE KEEP OUR GULLAH, UM, IDENTITY AND AND CULTURE HERE, UH, I THINK WOULD BE GREAT.
AND WE HAVE EXAMPLES OF THAT TO BUILD ON.
UM, ALSO, UH, CONCERN THAT I HAD IS I SEE THERE'S A MENTION OF THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE IN, UH, SECTION NINE OF THE PLAN.
AND IT BRIEFLY TALKS ABOUT A FOCUS WITH, UM, HOW WE CLEAN AND CLEAR OUT THE DITCHES, BUT IT DOESN'T GO INTO ADDRESSING SOME OF THE PROBLEMS AND EVEN PROPOSING SOME IDEAS.
AND I THINK, UM, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THAT AREA SHOULD HAVE A, A GREATER FOCUS ON HOW WE DO ADDRESS THAT, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ONE, UM, SECTION OF LAND ANYTIME IT RAINS, UM, SIGNIFICANTLY THERE IT IS, UH, FLOODED TO, UH, STANDING WATER FOR QUITE SOME TIME IN RESIDENCE YARDS.
AND I KNOW DOT OWNS IT, BUT THE LAST TIME, UM, PUBLIC WORKS HAD TO COME OUT AND HELP RESIDENTS EVEN DIG THE DITCHES TO BE ABLE TO PREVENT, UM, SOME OF THAT WATER FROM JUST SATURATING THEIR YARD.
SO, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMEHOW, SOMEHOW WE CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING IN THAT PLAN THAT'S GONNA SPEAK TO THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S A, A GROWING CONCERN FOR RESIDENTS ALONG THOSE, UM, THOSE ROADS.
THOSE ARE MY, MY TWO COMMENTS.
UM, BUT ON, JUST, I WANNA SAY SOMETHING ON, ON YOUR COMMENTS THERE.
YOU KNOW, THAT WE DO THE, WE'RE DOING THE OLD TOWN DISTRICT DRAINAGE STUDY.
MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE, WE ALREADY FUNDED THAT AND YOU APPROVED THAT AT LAST MONTH'S MEETING WITH ME.
WE FUNDED IT, BUT IT HADN'T BEEN DONE YET.
THEY'RE ALREADY OUT THERE DOING ASSET INVENTORY ASSESSMENTS AND THEN WE'LL BEGIN TO DO THE MODELING.
SO THAT YOU ALREADY APPROVED THAT WORK.
THAT'S, UM, THAT'S A GOOD START RIGHT THERE TO GET THE PROFESSIONALS TO TELL US WHAT IT IS WE HAVE TO DO TO GET THE ORDER TO MOVE TO THE LOWEST POINT.
AND IT'D BE NICE TO ADD THAT IN THE PLAN TOO, SO YOU COULD ADDRESS IT AND THEN RESIDENTS COULD SEE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING ON PAPER IN TERMS OF HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT IT.
FRED BRIDGET, ALSO, IF YOU REMEMBER, UM, I DIDN'T LIKE THE FACT THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE A TWO YEAR STUDY, SO I ASKED TOWN TO MAKE SURE THAT WHILE WE ARE STUDYING, WE REPAIR WHAT WE FIND, IF IT'S OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
OR NOTIFY OTHERS, THEREFORE, OF MAINTENANCE NEEDED.
AND WE TOOK THE COMMENTS THAT YOU HAD IN THE CONTRACT THAT WE SIGNED WITH HIM, UM, OUTLINED THAT THEY'RE TO BRING US ANYTHING THEY FIND AS THEY FIND IT AND NOT WAIT TILL THE END.
AND, UM, AND I, UM, I LIKE ALL YOUR COMMENTS, BRIDGET, SO I, I'M GIVING KUDOS TO THOSE THINGS AND SAYING DID ALL TO YOUR COMMENTS.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, GREAT JOB WITH, ON THIS KEVIN AND I KNOW CHARLOTTE AND TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
UM, WHEN I WENT TO THE ONE, UM, PUBLIC MEETING AND THEN TO ONE OF THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, I FELT LIKE THE NUMBER ONE THING I HEARD WAS JUST THE OVERDEVELOPMENT WHERE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE SPECIAL NEIGHBORHOOD WITHIN OUR TOWN, WE COULD LOSE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF IT.
AND SO, UM, ON YOUR ACTION ITEMS, YOU KNOW, IT SAYS LOOKING AT THE SCALE AND THE RESIDENTIAL DENSITY, UM, AND I THINK IT HAS A FEBRUARY OF 25 DATE ON THAT.
AND I WOULD JUST, I HOPE THAT THAT CAN, UM, BE CONSIDERED BEFORE THEN, JUST BEFORE ANY OTHER DEVELOPMENTS POTENTIALLY POP UP.
I KNOW THERE'S THREE BIG ONES, UM, IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE HORIZON, AND I JUST HOPE THAT WE CAN RE-LOOK AT THIS BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE COMES UP.
OUR ZONING AND OUR UDO, UH, AND SOME OF OUR PLAN,
[01:40:01]
UH, UNIT DEVELOPMENT ALLOWS DEVELOPERS STILL TO BILL WITHOUT INCLUDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.UM, I KNOW THAT'S GONNA TAKE SOME WORK, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO ROLL OUR SLEEVE UP AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE SURE, AT LEAST IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE, UM, LOAD TO MODERATE INCOME, UM, THOSE, THOSE DEVELOPERS, WE, IF WE COULD FIND A WAY TO MAKE THEM AD ADHERE TO THE SAME 20%, UM, OF AFFORD OF AFFORDABILITIES, IT WOULD BE A GREAT, UM, ASSET TO COMMUNITIES TO KEEP THE CHARACTER THAT MS. BURDEN JUST TALKED ABOUT.
AND NOT ONLY THE CHARACTER, BUT ALSO PRESERVE THE, UM, THE CULTURE AREN'T, UM, AREN'T THOSE NEW DEVELOPMENTS OR ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THAT AREA REQUIRED TO COME UNDER OUR 20%? NO, NO, NO, SIR.
SO I'M CONFUSED AGAIN, WHO IS ANY NEW, ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT IS GOING INTO, IF, IF YOU ARE AN, LET'S SAY YOU'RE ANNEXING INTO THE TOWN AND YOU'RE GOING INTO AN EXISTING PUD OR CREATING A NEW PUD, UM, 20% OF YOUR RESIDENTIAL UNITS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE A AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING.
SO ONLY IF YOU'RE CREATING A NEW P UUD.
SO, OR OPENING IN THE OLD ONE IN A YES.
SO LIKE A LOT OF THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE IN THE BUCK ISLAND SIMMONS, A AREA ARE IN STRAIGHT ZONING DISTRICTS, MEANING THAT YOU'RE ALLOWED, YOU KNOW, BY RIGHT.
YOU'RE ALLOWED, YOU KNOW, FOUR UNITS PER ACRE, SO YOU KNOW, ONE PER QUARTER ACRE THAT YOU HAVE.
UM, SO YOU ARE NOT, YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED BY LAW TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
NOW WE HAVE PROVISIONS AND INCENTIVES TO, TO ENCOURAGE.
YOU CAN GET EXTRA, YOU CAN GET EXTRA UNITS IN THAT RESIDENTIAL GENERAL DISTRICT TO DO AFFORDABLE FOR, FOR THAT PURPOSE RIGHT THERE, BUT YOU'RE NOT REQUIRED TO DO IT.
YEAH, BUT WHAT I'M HEARING HERE FROM BOTH SIDES, WE'RE WE'RE SAYING THAT WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE OVERBUILT.
YOU KNOW, SO, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANNA, THEY DON'T WANNA SEE AN INCREASE IN DENSITY, BUT THEN WE'RE SAYING THAT WE CAN GIVE 'EM AN INCREASE IN DENSITY IF THEY BILL AFFORDABLE.
THAT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF, WELL, THEY HAVE TO BE TWO OF THE SAME, YOU KNOW, NOT, NOT NECESSARILY LARRY, IT, THERE HAVE TO BE SOME KIND OF BALANCE BECAUSE YOU, WE HAVE TO, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT, UM, A PERFORMER FOR A DEVELOPER.
WHY WOULD, WHY WOULD THEY WANT TO BUILD A AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHEN THEY CAN BUILD, UM, UM, THE STANDARD, UM, HOUSING AND MAKE AND MAKE MORE MONEY? I MEAN, IT'S BUSINESS NO MATTER HOW YOU LOOK AT IT.
SO IF, AND, AND I'M, AND I'M SPEAKING AS A, AS A BUSINESS PERSON MYSELF, IF I WANTED TO, TO CAPITALIZE ON ALL MY, ALL MY POTENTIALS, I'M GONNA GO FOR THE BIGGER, FOR THE BIGGER BANG.
HOWEVER, WE ARE SAYING WE HAVE TO BE, WE HAVE TO PUT ALL OUR TOOLS IN THE BOX TO MAKE IT, MAKE IT A BALANCE THAT YOU, YOU WOULD GIVE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR A DEVELOPER OR EVEN A PRIVATE OWNER TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND, AND, AND THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO THAT BECAUSE OF THE COST OF REAL ESTATE IS THE GIFTS, IS TO PROVIDE SOME INCENTIVES BECAUSE OF THE VALUE OF REAL ESTATE.
UM, OH, I, I GET THAT CONCEPT.
BEEN AROUND IT AND BEEN LISTENING TO IT FOR A LONG TIME.
WHAT I WAS JUST SAYING IS, WE JUST HEARD Y'ALL SAY THAT YOU DON'T WANT OVERBUILT, OVERBUILD IS OVERBUILD, OVERBUILD MORE DENSITY IS THE SAME THING IN WAY, IF NOT, WHAT WHAT THE, THEY GONNA BUILD IT ANYWAY.
YOU GOING TO, THEY GOING TO, THEY, THEY HAVE THE, BY LAW THEY CAN BUILD IT ANYWAY.
IT CAN ONLY BILL FOUR UNITS PER ACRE.
NO, IT DEPENDS ON HOW, IF THEY GO UNDER THE PUD, RIGHT? WELL, IN THE RESIDENTIAL GENERAL, YOU'RE ALLOWED FOUR UNITS PER ACRE.
SO IT DEPENDS ON YOUR ZONING DISTRICT.
NOW IN A, IF YOU WERE TO GO INTO A PUD, YOU COULD, YOU COULD REQUEST MANY UNITS AS YOU WANT TO REQUEST.
AND THAT'S WHEN WE CAN IMPLEMENT THE 20% YES.
BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S ONE, IT'S FOUR UNITS PER ACRE.
[01:45:01]
AND IF I MAY, I THINK COUNCILMAN HAMILTON, I, I BELIEVE, WELL PART OF THESE PREVIOUS STRATEGIC PLANS INCLUDES, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THOSE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS TO SEE HOW WE CAN IMPLEMENT THAT.SO I THINK THAT'S A, A, A PRIORITY AND A TASK THAT I'VE TAKEN FROM YOU.
SOMETHING THAT WE CAN WORK ON THAT'S ALREADY IN THE STRAP PLAN.
UM, SO I'M AWARE OF THAT NOW, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE BUCK ISLAND SIMPSONVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, SOME OF THE ACTION ITEMS, WHAT WE CAN DO IS, IF, IF, IF YOU SO CHOOSE TO ADOPT IT THIS EVENING IS TO, UM, AND WE HAVE, WE HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT A DRAINAGE PLAN AS THE, AS AN ACTIONABLE ITEM UNDER THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
BUT WE CAN MODIFY THAT TO SPECIFICALLY INCLUDE INFORMATION AS TO WHAT WAS JUST, UM, JUST APPROVED BY TOWN COUNCIL.
SO WE WILL UPDATE THAT UNDER THE ACTION ITEM.
ALSO, UH, WAS THE PRIORITIZATION OF, I THINK YOU SAID ITEM NUMBER FOUR UNDER LAND USE, WHICH WAS, WAS IT ITEM NUMBER FOUR? UM, IT WAS UNDER LAND, YES.
AND WHAT WE CAN DO IS WE CAN MAKE SURE WE CAN, WE CAN UPDATE THAT TIMELINE IN THERE TO, WE CAN ELEVATE THAT TIMELINE, UM, JUST SO THAT WAY IT'S NOT, WE, WE'RE NOT STARTING IN FEBRUARY.
UM, BUT WE CAN, WE CAN MAKE THAT ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES AS WELL.
AND DOES THAT, UM, ADDRESS THE, LOOKING AT SOME OF THE REZONING, BECAUSE I KNOW LIKE WE JUST TALKED ABOUT FOUR ACRES OR FOUR HOUSES PER ACRE FOR RESIDENTIAL, BUT I THINK SOME OF THE ISSUES ARE SOME THAT ZONE THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL IN WHICH THEY'RE GETTING, LIKE THE ONE, UM, IT'S GETTING 200 UNITS ON 10 ACRES THAT'S COMING UP.
I MEAN, THAT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED.
AND SO IT'S JUST TRYING TO PREVENT POSSIBLY THOSE, IF WE BUT WASN'T ZONED RESIDENTIAL THAT WAS ZONED, IT WAS ZONED, UH, NEIGHBOR NEIGHBORHOOD CORE, UM, WHICH IS, IT'S A, A FORM-BASED CODE, WHICH MEANS THAT AS LONG AS YOU CAN MEET ALL OF YOUR GUIDELINES OF YOUR PARKING, YOUR STORM WATER AND YOUR BUILDING PLACEMENT, YOU CAN GET AS, AS MANY UNITS AS YOU CAN FIT.
SO GO BACK TO YOUR, THAT'S WHERE THE PROBLEM IS, LARRY.
SO THE ISSUE WASN'T THAT, THAT PEOPLE ON THAT IN THOSE AREAS ARE OPPOSED TO DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S DEVELOPMENT THAT'S COMPARABLE TO WHAT THE, THE CULTURE, THE AREA IS.
SO WHERE YOU GO FROM THESE FAMILY COMPOUNDS, NOW YOU'RE GONNA HAVE 86 UNITS OVERNIGHT WITH TREES AND STUFF THAT HAVE BEEN CLEAR CUT AND THEN THERE WAS A PROVISION FOR, UM, FOUR ADDITIONAL APARTMENT UNITS THAT WOULD'VE BROUGHT MAYBE 90 UNITS BEFORE WE TOOK THAT OFF OF THE BOOKS WHEN WE PURCHASED IT.
UM, AND FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD, THAT 200 UNIT THAT'S COMING, SO IT'S NOT THAT, UM, ANYONE'S ANTI-DEVELOPMENT IN THOSE AREAS, IT'S JUST DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GOING TO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THE AREA THAT CHANGES WHAT THAT LANDSCAPE WOULD'VE BEEN SIMILAR TO.
IF THOSE SAME TYPE OF DEVELOPMENTS WERE ALLOWED IN OLD TOWN OR, YOU KNOW, PALMETTO BLUFF, THE TYPE OF, YOU KNOW, OUTRAGE IT WOULD BE 'CAUSE YOU CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE OVERNIGHT.
AND SO IT'S MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THE UDO THAT SOMETHING TO THAT MAGNITUDE DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN TO IMPACT THOSE RESIDENTS WHERE THEY DIDN'T HAVE A SAY, UM, IN THAT UNTIL, YOU KNOW, AFTER THE FACT.
WELL, AND ALSO THOSE, THOSE NEW DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE COMING THAT WE REALLY CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO STOP.
THEY SHOULD PLAY A BIG ROLE IN THIS, UM, WATERSHED, THE WATER PROBLEM.
UM, KIM, KIM, UH, I'M SORRY, I'M FOLLOWING YOU THERE.
THERE'S THESE STUDIES THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW THAT'S INCLUDING THAT ENTIRE AREA, RIGHT? CORRECT.
I MEAN, SOME OF IT, NOT ALL OF IT THOUGHT IT INCLUDED ALL OF BUCK ISLAND AREA.
SO NOT ALL THE WAY UP, BUT I'M SORRY, I'M BEING VERY SPECIFIC ALL THE WAY TO THE PARKWAY.
I I WANNA MAKE ANOTHER OBSERVATION.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE TOWN HAS REALLY, REALLY STRIVED TO ACHIEVE WITH THE DIVERSITY WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY, 'CAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE ARE MOVING HERE THAT DON'T EVEN KNOW US.
UM, THEY DON'T KNOW OUR HISTORY.
AND THE OLD TOWN MASTER PLAN TRIED TO CAPTURE THAT.
AND UM, IT'S A GOOD MODEL TO GO LOOK IF YOU'RE NEW HERE AND GO READ THE FIRST FEW PAGES OF IT.
BUT I, I THINK AGAIN, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THE, UM, EAGLES BALL FIELD, WHICH IS THE ANCHOR, UM, IDENTIFIER TO WHAT THE COMMUNITY WAS.
[01:50:01]
CHANGING.IT'S, IT'S DRASTICALLY CHANGING RIGHT BEFORE OUR VERY EYES, JUST BASED ON THE PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION THAT IS NOW NATIVE ISLANDER, I MEAN NATIVE, UH, BIAN THERE.
ANYWAY, AGAIN, I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE, AND MAYBE IT'S IN THE PLAN IN DE DETAIL, BUT TO MAKE AN ALL OUT EFFORT TO IDENTIFY EVERYTHING WE CAN THAT IS BASED ON THE CULTURE AND THE HISTORY THAT YOU'RE TALKING TO, WHETHER IT'S SIGNAGE OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
SOMEHOW WE GOTTA FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAINTAIN THAT.
AND I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER TO THAT IS.
WELL, IT'S GONNA BE WHAT WAS MENTIONED BRIEFLY IN THERE WITH THE, UM, UH, TALKING ABOUT SETTLEMENT COMMUNITIES IN, UM, SECTION NINE WHERE ITEM FOUR WAS, IS CREATING.
RIGHT NOW WE JUST HAVE AN ADVISORY BOARD TAKE THAT UP A NOTCH AND LET IT BE A TASK FORCE, UM, SIMILAR TO WHAT OTHER AREAS HAVE TO WHERE THEY MEET AND HAVE DISCUSSIONS ON THESE ISSUES.
'CAUSE IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT GONNA BE EFFECTIVE IF IT'S NOT POLICIES BEHIND WHAT'S GOING ON.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT THESE, UH, AREAS THAT REALLY ALLOW THINGS THAT WE TALK ABOUT.
WHETHER IT'S UDO, WHETHER IT'S DRAINAGE AND INFRASTRUCTURE CONVERSATIONS.
IT HAS TO, PEOPLE HAVE TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN GO FROM HAVING A FORMALIZED, UM, GROUP THAT'S MEETING AND ADDRESSING THOSE CONCERNS THAT IT'S GONNA HAVE SOME TYPE OF POLICY, UM, IMPACT THAT COUNCIL'S GONNA BE ABLE TO WEIGH IN ON.
OTHERWISE IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE MEETING TO MEET AND WE DON'T WANT, WE DON'T WANT THAT.
'CAUSE THAT MEANS NOTHING'S GETTING ADDRESSED.
I THINK KEVIN'S TAKING YOUR COMMENTS AND UPDATING THE MOTION TO REFLECT THOSE.
UM, AND THEN BASED ON THAT, I THINK IT WILL GIVE US SOME PRIORITIES BASED ON THE COMMENT, SHOULD COUNCIL ADOPT IT TONIGHT ON WHAT WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE AND BASED ON WHAT COUNCILMAN FRAZIER JUST SAID, WE CAN, UM, SHOULD WE WANNA TAKE THAT DIRECTION ON THE TASK FORCE WE CAN BRING BACK AND HAVE IT ADOPTED BY RESOLUTION SIMILAR TO WE DID THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE AND STUFF LIKE THAT AND, AND BRING THAT BACK AND MAKE UP AND WHAT THE BOARD MAKE UP AND, UM, GIVE THEM SOME DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL AND WHAT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THEY ACCOMPLISH.
AND LIKE, UH, SHE SAID, UM, THERE'S SOME THAT STAFF, SOME INFORMATION STAFF'S ALREADY PULLED FROM THE ONE IN HILTON HEAD AND I THINK A SIMILAR ONE IN SAVANNAH THAT WE CAN USE AS A GUIDELINE FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER.
UM, AND THEN THE OTHER THINGS IS HE'S CAPTURING IS, UH, PRIORITIZING SOME AREA, SOME OTHER ITEMS THAT Y'ALL BROUGHT UP AS WELL.
SO WE'LL LET HIM FINISH TYPING WHILE EVERYBODY'S WATCHING AND THEN SEE IF HE CAPTURED, UM, EVERYTHING THAT YOU WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE GOT.
DO YOU HAVE MORE TO PUT ON THERE, KEVIN OR I, I, THOSE WERE THE THREE ITEMS. THE, THE OTHER ONE, COUNCILMAN HAMILTON IS DEALING WITH THE, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT'S ALREADY EXISTING IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
AND I THINK THAT'S A, THAT'S A SEPARATE ISSUE FROM THE BUCK ISLAND SIMMONS BILL NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY PART OF THE, THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN THAT'S MORE FOCUSED ON DEVELOPMENT, DEALING WITH DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS, DEALING WITH DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS, BUT ALSO IN THE COM IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND, AND, AND I I HAVE TO SAY GO THROUGH ROADS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN IN, IN IN THOSE KINDS OF, UM, CONSIDERATION IF, IF, IF YOU'RE GONNA ALLOW, UM, THAT TYPE OF GEN, WHAT, WHAT YOU CALL IT GENERAL, UM, THE THE RESIDENTIAL GENERAL RESIDENTIAL GENERAL.
AND WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T PUT 400, 200, $400,000, UM, UNITS IN THERE WHEN THEY, WHEN THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE THERE CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE THERE.
AND, AND, AND, AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HISTORICALLY, UM, BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS AND, AND, AND, UM, AND I'M NOT PUTTING ALL BLACKS IN THAT, IN THAT CATEGORY THAT THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE THERE.
BUT I'M, BUT I'M, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THEM NEED TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO, TO MAINTAIN, UM, THEIR, THEIR, THEIR FAMILY GENERATIONS OF, OF, OF, OF BEING LIVING IN BLUFFTON OR LIVING ON THE STREET WHERE THEY GREW UP.
I, I DON'T KNOW HOW FRED, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO THAT.
I MEAN, IF THEY'RE ZONED WELL AND THEY HAVE BY RIGHT ON CERTAIN ISSUES.
I WOULD SAY THE ONLY, ONLY THING REMAINING TO ME IS IT'S KINDA LIKE THE, THE DEVELOPMENT WE'RE DOING NOW OVER ON, UM, WHAT IS IT, 10 95? UM, I THINK WE WOULD HAVE TO OUR LOOK TO EITHER PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES OF A
[01:55:01]
DIFFERENT KIND OR MAYBE BUY THE LAND AND WORK WITH SOMEBODY TO PUT HOUSING BACK INTO THAT LOCATION.I THINK WE'RE GONNA GET A PUBLIC OUTCRY TOO FOR THE ONES THAT MAY OWN PROPERTY AND WANT TO SELL IT.
WE'RE GONNA BE TELLING THEM NO, THAT YOU CAN'T CAPITALIZE ON YOUR INHERITED LAND OR YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW BIG THAT NUMBER WOULD, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT WAS, IT'S HARD TO PUT THOSE, WE SAYING THE SAME THING 'CAUSE I DON'T THINK I'M TRYING TO STOP ANYBODY FROM SELLING.
I THINK, I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE DO DEVELOP, THERE'S A, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, UM, LOW TO MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES TO STILL LIVE THERE.
I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND YOU WHAT YOU'RE TRYING, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WORD THAT
IF WE RESTRICT IT TO THE POINT WHERE NO DEVELOPERS OR NOBODY'S GONNA BUY IT TO DEVELOPMENT.
WHAT I'VE, WHAT I'VE NOTICED, UM, IN GOVERNMENT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL TO DO THINGS.
SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE, WITHOUT THAT POLITICAL WILL, UM, YOU JUST DO BUSINESS AS USUAL AND THEN NOTHING CHANGED, DO THE SAME STATUS QUO FROM DAY TO DAY.
THAT THE, THE LIFE THAT, THAT I'M TRYING TO PRESERVE IS PEOPLE WHO CAN'T COME TO THIS TABLE AND MAKE THAT DECISION.
SO FIVE OF US HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
I, I SUPPORT SUPPORTING PEOPLE ALWAYS HAVE.
UM, WE JUST GOTTA FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS AND HOW DO WHAT IT IS WE'RE ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVE AND FIGURE IT OUT.
SO WE CAN ALWAYS REQUEST, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT OUR STATE DELEGATES AND REPRESENTATIVES, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT WAYS TO HELP SUPPORT THAT.
SO, UM, TRYING TO GET SOME LANGUAGE IN
COULD I SUGGEST THAT WE, UM, ON NUMBER THREE THAT WE TRY TO ADD SOME LANGUAGE TO THE EFFECT THAT THIS COMMITTEE, UM, WOULD BE TASKED WITH.
UM, I DUNNO, JUST SOME, RIGHT.
SOME WRITING SOME WORDS OUT TO ENHANCE AND PRESERVE THE IDENTITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND IMPLEMENT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TOWN STRATEGIC PLAN.
UM, WHICH COVERS THE WORKFORCE HOUSING.
'CAUSE WE KNOW THAT'S A, A, A VERY BIG THING AND, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I KNOW YOU CAN'T, SORRY, CAN'T.
NO, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD JUST, WE SHOULD, WE SHOULD GIVE THAT, IF WE'RE GONNA DO A COMMITTEE, WE SHOULD GIVE THAT COMMITTEE SOME TYPE OF CHARGE.
THIS IS WHAT WE WANT YOU TO HELP US DO.
UH, WE WE CAN, WE CAN BRING THAT BACK AS, AS WE FORMALIZE THIS COMMITTEE.
UH, WE CAN, WE CAN, WE CAN GET IN CHARGE.
SO TO REITERATE WHAT HE SAID IT WAS, THIS COMMITTEE WILL ENHANCE AND PRESERVE THE IDENTITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WORK TO IMPLEMENT THIS COMMUNITY PLAN THIS PLAN, THIS PLAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TOWN STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WILL GIVE US GUIDANCE ON HOW TO PUT THE, UH, UM, FOUNDING LANGUAGE TOGETHER FOR THE COMMITTEE FOR COUNSEL TO REVIEW AND ADOPT CHARGING MOTION.
ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION HERE.
IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS MOTION? I'LL MAKE IT THANK I MOVE TO APPROVE WITH CONDITIONS, THE ADOPTION OF THE BUCK ISLAND SIMMONS NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN UPDATE NUMBER ONE, UPDATE THE TIMELINE FOR ACTION ITEM NUMBER FOUR IN LAND USE AND ZONING FROM FEBRUARY, 2025 TO JULY, 2024 AND UPDATE STRATEGY ITEM NUMBER EIGHT AND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE BASED ON THE PROPOSED DRAINAGE PLAN FOR THE AREA.
ALSO NUMBER THREE, TO INCLUDE STRATEGY ITEM EIGHT AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND IDENTITY TO CREATE A TOWN SUPPORTED COMMITTEE FOR THE BUCK ISLAND VILLE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS COMMITTEE WILL ENHANCE AND PRESERVE THE IDENTITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WORK TO IMPLEMENT THIS PLAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TOWN'S STRATEGIC PLAN.
[02:00:01]
RESEARCH ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES TO HELP SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.GOT THE LAST WORD RIGHT? GOOD JOB.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[IX.5. Consideration for the Acceptance of Bryant Holding, LLC’s One Hundred Percent (100%) Annexation Petition to Annex Certain Real Property Contiguous to the Town of Bluffton’s Corporate Boundaries Consisting of a Total of 2.14 Acres, More or Less, Located at 30 Davis Road and Bearing Beaufort County Tax Map No. R600 029 000 0028 0000 (ANNX-03-24- 019045). – Kevin Icard, Director of Growth Management]
WITH NEXT.NUMBER FIVE IS CONSIDERATION OF THE ACCEPTANCE OF BRIAN BRYANT HOLDING LLCS.
100% ANNEXATION PETITION TO ANNEX CERTAIN PROPERTY, CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY CONTIGUOUS TO THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON CORPORATE BOUNTIES BOUNDARIES CONSISTING OF A TOTAL OF 2.14 ACRES, MORE OR LESS.
LOCATED AT 30 DAVIS ROAD AND BARING BEAUFORT COUNTY TAX MAP.
R 6 0 0 0 2 9 0 0 0 0 0 2 8 0 0 0 0 ANNEX ZERO THREE DASH 24 DASH 0 1 9 0 4 5.
AND MR. KEVIN, YOU'RE UP AGAIN.
WE ARE HERE THIS EVENING FOR THE INTENT TO ANNEX, UH, THE BRYANT HOLDING PROPERTY.
UH, MR. JOHNNY BRYANT HERE IS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.
UH, SO I JUST WANNA REP, UH, RECOGNIZE THAT HE IS HERE, UM, TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
UM, SO MR. UH, BRYANT DID SUBMIT AN APPLICATION ON MARCH, MARCH 14TH OF THIS YEAR.
UH, A 100% APPLICATION FOR THE ONE PARCEL THAT HE OWNS, WHICH IS THE 2.14 ACRES AS YOU'VE JUST DESCRIBED.
UM, SO PURSUANT TO THIS, HE IS REQUESTING TO GO INTO THE TOWN'S RESIDENTIAL GENERAL ZONING DISTRICT, UH, AS WE'VE STATED, ALLOWS FOR UP, UP TO FOUR UNITS PER ACRE.
UM, UH, HIS INTENT IS TO, UH, USE THIS FOR AS YOU REFER TO A COM UH, UH, FAMILY COMPOUND.
SO HE'S LOOKING TO PROVIDE, UM, UH, JUST HOUSING FOR, UH, FOR FAMILY MEMBERS.
UM, SO IF YOU SU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT THIS.
UH, WE HAVE CONCURRENT APPLICATIONS THAT WILL BE REQUIRED.
UH, AGAIN, A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND'S TWO POINT, UH, ONE FOUR ACRES.
SO HE IS ALLOWED UP TO EIGHT UNITS SINCE IT'S, UH, FOR A NINTH UNIT WOULD BE 2.25.
UM, SO THIS IS OFF OF DAVIS ROAD.
UH, YOU CAN SEE THE MAP LOCATED HERE.
UH, DAVIS ROAD, UM, IS OFF OF, UH, HIGHWAY ONE 70.
UH, IT IS CLOSE TO, THAT'S THE NATIONAL HEALTHCARE, UM, PROPERTY.
AGAIN, FROM THE ZONING MAP STANDPOINT, YOU CAN SEE HERE'S THE SUBJECT PROPERTY, WHICH IS THAT RURAL, THE T TWO RURAL, UH, UNDER CURRENT ZONING.
SOME OF THE USES THAT WOULD BE ALLOWED ON THAT PROPERTY.
UH, I'M NOT GONNA READ THROUGH ALL OF THEM, BUT YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE, UM, POTENTIAL USES FOR SOME GENERAL RETAIL GAS STATION, UM, DAYCARES, UM, AGRICULTURAL USES, UM, MINING EXTRACTION.
UM, SO THOSE ARE ALL UNDER THE CURRENT COUNTY ZONING REGULATIONS.
UH, AND AS PROPOSED, IT WOULD GO INTO, UH, THAT RESIDENTIAL GENERAL, UH, ZONING DISTRICT, UH, WHICH ALLOWS FOR, WE SAY, RESIDENTIAL AND SOME COMMERCIAL USES.
WHEN WE SAY COMMERCIAL, WE'RE REFERRING TO, UM, YOU COULD DO A, A FAMILY DAYCARE THAT, THAT'S CONSIDERED A COMMERCIAL USE OR A GOLF COURSE THAT'S CONSIDERED A COMMERCIAL USE.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU'RE NOT GONNA CREATE A GOLF COURSE ON TWO ACRES.
SO, UH, THAT'S WITHIN REASON THAT WE HAVE THERE.
UH, AGAIN, JUST TO BREAK DOWN OF THE COMPARISON, UH, AS WE TALKED ABOUT, I DO HAVE A TYPO HERE.
IT IS NOT 2.25, IT'S JUST TWO PARKING SPACES PER, UM, RESIDENTIAL DWELLING UNIT, UH, FUTURE LAND USE MAP.
UH, AGAIN, THE PROPERTY, UH, IS UNDER THAT, UH, SUBURBAN LIVING.
UH, IT'S LOCATED JUST OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARY LINES.
UH, SO, UH, FROM A REVIEW PROCESS STANDPOINT, UM, IF YOU SO CHOOSE TO ACCEPT THE ANNEXATION, UH, YOU CAN ACCEPT IT.
AND I, I DO HAVE, UM, TWO PROPOSED MOTIONS THIS EVENING.
UH, YOU CAN REFER THIS TO THE NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE IF YOU SO CHOOSE, YOU HAVE THAT ABILITY.
UM, IF IT, IF YOU SO CHOOSE, WE WOULD BRING IT TO THE NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE.
THEN ULTIMATELY, UH, WE'RE GONNA TAKE THIS TO OUR PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP.
UM, THEN PLANNING COMMISSION AGAIN, WILL HEAR IT, UM, WITH A PUBLIC HEARING AND RECOMMENDATION.
AND IT'LL COME BACK TO YOU WITH TWO READINGS.
SO, UH, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
LIKE I SAID, MR. BRIAN IS HERE, UH, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE AS WELL.
UM, FRED, YOU GOT ANY QUESTIONS? YEAH, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IS THE ZONE DOWN IN THE COUNTY THAT RTT RT CALL T TWO RURAL ONE UNIT THREE.
ONE UNIT PER THREE ACRE, IS IT? YES.
SO YES, IT IS TECHNICALLY AN UP ZONING.
[02:05:01]
ACRES, UM, HE WOULD BE POTENTIALLY ALLOWED UP TO EIGHT UNITS IF HE WISHED TO, TO DO ANY TYPE OF SUBDIVISIONS.BUT WE HAVE NO, WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T PUT ANY RESTRICTIONS ON, I I, I THINK YOU SAID HE WANTED TO MAKE IT A FAMILY COMPOUND, BUT WE CAN'T SAY IT HAS TO BE A FAMILY COMPOUND, RIGHT? UM, NO, NO.
I THINK THAT'S COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.
UM, I KNOW THAT MY FAMILY'S FARM RANCH IN FLORIDA, THERE WAS NUMEROUS HOUSES FROM OUR FAMILY THERE, FROM MY GRANDPARENTS TO SISTERS AND AUNTS AND UNCLES AND EVERYBODY BUILT HOUSES THERE.
AND THERE'S ONE LEFT BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE MOVED ON OR PASSED ON.
WELL, WE, WHEN WE MADE, WE HAVE MADE IN THE PAST SOME EXCEPTIONS FOR FAMILY COMPOUNDS AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT.
WE TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE.
UM, THE BIG THING IS, WHETHER IT'S A FAMILY COMPOUND OR NOT, THE MAXIMUM PER ACRE IS FOUR UNITS.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SAYING THEY WANT TO DO.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT IT IS RIGHT NOW.
THEY'RE GONNA HAVE ONE HOUSE ON 2.14 ACRES.
IT'S NOT LIKE THAT IN BLUFFTON.
UM, AND, AND JUST, JUST DOWNTOWN, JUST JUST SO YOU'RE AWARE FROM A, A DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, UM, IF MR. BRYANT WAS, UM, ANNEXED IN, AND IT WAS SO IN THAT RESIDENTIAL GENERAL, HE COULD POTENTIALLY CARVE OFF TWO LOTS OFF OF THE, THE, WE'LL CALL IT THE PARENT PROPERTY WITHOUT HAVING TO DO ANY TYPE OF ADDITIONAL, UM, ENGINEERED DEVELOPMENTS OR DEVELOPMENT PLANS.
UH, LET'S SAY THAT HE DID WANT TO CREATE A, A SUBDIVISION WITH, YOU KNOW, UH, SIX UNITS.
UH, HE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO GO THROUGH OUR DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCESS, WHICH INCLUDES, UH, GOING THROUGH OUR DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE AND PLANNING COMMISSION IN ORDER TO GET ENGINEERED PLANS THAT WERE, UH, REVIEWED AND, AND APPROVED.
SO HE WOULD, IF IN THE FUTURE HE DID ANYTHING LIKE THAT, HE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE LIKE, FULL ENGINEERED DEVELOPMENT PLANS, CREATING ROADS, ADDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THINGS LIKE THAT.
UNLESS, EXCUSE ME, BUT I JUST WILL ADD TO THAT TO AVOID ANY CONFUSION.
HOWEVER, IF IT IS A FAMILY COMPOUND, THERE IS THAT EXCEPTION TO THE PROCESS THAT YOU'RE EXEMPT FROM CERTAIN THINGS FROM THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN REVIEW, UM, REQUIREMENTS.
CAN YOU, SO SORRY, KEVIN, I KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THERE PERTAINING, SORRY.
SOMETIMES SITTING OVER THERE, I CAN
I THOUGHT MAYBE THIS IS WHERE YOU WERE GOING TO EARLIER.
SO THERE IS A PROVISION IN THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE THAT ADDRESSES FAMILY COMPOUNDS.
SO THERE'S CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS.
SO IF YOU ARE SUBDIVIDING OR PLACING HOMES ON THE PROPERTY FOR YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS AND NOT TO SELL IT AS IN A SUBDIVISION, THERE ARE CERTAIN EXEMPTIONS.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO, UM, PRODUCE ALL OF THOSE SAME DOCUMENTS THAT A DEVELOPMENT PLAN WOULD REQUIRE.
SO AS LONG AS IT IS, SO THAT'S WHERE, UM, THOUGHT MAYBE THAT'S WHERE YOU WERE GOING THERE EARLIER.
SO IT WAS, SO IF IT IS A FAMILY COMPOUND, SO TO SPEAK, THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS AND THINGS THAT HE MAY NOT HAVE TO DO.
BUT IF HE DOES TRULY SUBDIVIDE IT, SELL THE LOTS THAN, LIKE KEVIN SAID.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA ASK IT, IT WOULD SOLVE THEIR FAMILY NEEDS TODAY, BUT IT'S NOT IN PERPETUITY.
YOU COULD ALWAYS CHANGE IT AND COME BACK AND DO WHATEVER THE OTHER THINGS ARE BEFORE THEY, LIKE, IF YOU WANTED TO SELL IT OR WHATEVER.
AND IT'S WHATEVER IT WOULD BE AT THE TIME THE CODE CHANGES OR WHATEVER THE CODE IS AT THE TIME THE DEVELOPMENT'S PROPOSED.
UM, AND THIS IS INITIAL ANYWAY, RIGHT? YEAH.
ANYTHING ELSE? CHRIS GORDON, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS, BRIDGET? SAM? WELL, I HAVE, UM, I'VE, I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS SINCE IT WAS SUBMITTED AND, UM, WHILE WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT BUCK ISLAND, SIMPSONVILLE AND ALL THAT, I, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT OUR GOAL IS, IS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE FROM HERE, OR THEIR ANCESTORS ARE FROM HERE, WHATEVER, TO BEING ABLE TO, TO STAY HERE AND, AND KEEP THE CULTURE AND THE HERITAGE AND OUR WAY OF, I SAY OURS BECAUSE
[02:10:01]
I'VE BEEN HERE TOO WAY OF LIFE ALIVE.THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT, WANTING TO PROTECT ON BUCK ISLAND, SIMMONS, VILLE, AND GOTHE ROADS.
UM, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, THERE'S A, THERE'S A MOTION ON HERE IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION.
I'LL MAKE THE MOTION I MOVE TO ACCEPT BRIAN HOLDING LLC 100% ANNEXATION PETITION TO ANNEX CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY CONTIGUOUS TO THE TOWN OF BLUFF, COOPERATE BOUNDARIES CONSISTING OF A TOTAL OF TWO POINT 14 ACRES, MORE OR LESS LOCATED ON 30 DAVIS ROAD, IDENTIFIED AS BEAUFORT COUNTY TAX MAP NUMBER ARE 6 0 0 0 2 9 0 0 0 0 0 2 8 0 0 0 0.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
SORRY THEY PUT YOU, UH, SO LATE.
[IX.6. Consideration of An Ordinance Authorizing an Economic Development Incentive Agreement Between the Town of Bluffton and Palmetto Land Associates, LLC in Support of the Development of 11,800 Square Feet of Medical and Healthcare Facility Space. – First Reading – Chris Forster, Assistant Town Manager]
TO NUMBER SIX.CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SENATE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON AND PALMETTO LAND ASSOCIATES, LLC IN SUPPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF 11,800 SQUARE FEET OF MEDICAL AND HEALTHCARE FACILITY SPACE.
MR. CHRIS BATHING, UH, COUNSEL.
UM, SO JUST TO, TO KICK THIS OFF, THIS IS OUR SECOND, UM, APPLICATION FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE.
UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE A QUOTE FROM DR. JEFFREY SOLOMON.
HE'S THE FIRST RECIPIENT, UM, THAT HE PROVIDED TO US.
WHEN THAT WAS, UM, UH, THE PRESS RELEASE RELEASE WAS SENT OUT.
SO THIS TOWN PROGRAM, ALONG WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY, EASED THE PROCESS OF RELOCATING MY BUSINESS TO BLUFFTON.
THE BUSINESS INCENTIVES HELPED WITH THE UNFORESEEN COST.
HOWEVER, THE INTANGIBLE BENEFITS WERE ALSO INVALUABLE.
THE TOWN'S PROGRAM WAS LIKE HAVING MATURE GUIDE THROUGH THE PROCESS.
IT INCREASED MY COMFORT LEVEL WITH ALL THE MOVING PARTS OF BEING A NEW BUSINESS OWNER IN A NEW TOWN.
UM, AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE.
AND THAT WAS THE INTENT OF PASSING THE, UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE AWARENESS TO, TO BEGIN WITH.
UM, SO TO AS BACKGROUND, UH, AS THAT'S THE OTHER, YEP.
SO BACKGROUND ON THIS, THE, YOU ALL PASSED IN SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2023.
THE, UH, THE ORDINANCE AND IT IDENTIFIED THESE SEPARATE AREAS OF, UM, THE SOUTH, UH, SC ONE 70, THE LOCAL PARKWAY AND LHAM PARKWAY INCENTIVE AREAS AND THE TARGET OF BUSINESS PURPOSES ARE ALL IDENTIFIED THERE.
UH, AS PART OF THE ORDINANCE, THE APPLICANTS, UH, ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A LETTER OF INTENT ALONG WITH THE SE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IMPACT WORKSHEET.
UM, AFTER WE RECEIVED THOSE STAFF, MYSELF AND DAVID REVIEW THAT, UH, WE ACTUALLY SET UP AN INTERVIEW WITH THE DEVELOPER BUSINESS OWNER TO GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM THEM.
UM, WE GO THROUGH ADDITIONAL STAFF REVIEWS AND COME UP WITH A RECOMMENDATION AND WE BRING IT TO YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
THE, UH, DEVELOPMENT IN QUESTION TONIGHT IS, UH, REFERRED TO AS BLUFF AND YARDS, OR THEY REFER TO AS BLUFF AND YARD YARDS, AND IS A PROPOSED NEW DEVELOPMENT FOCUSED ON PICKLEBALL, FITNESS, FOOD, AND BEVERAGE AND HEALTHCARE.
UM, THE ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT AS OF RIGHT NOW, IS PROPOSED AT 70,000 SQUARE FEET OF TOTAL COMMERCIAL.
UM, THE TOTAL INVESTMENT ESTIMATE IS AROUND 25 MILLION.
THE, UM, AS PART OF THEIR APPLICATION TO, FOR THE INCENTIVE, UH, THEY WERE WILLING TO COMMIT 11,800 SQUARE FEET, UH, AND DEDICATED TO HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL AND THEIR OUT PARCELS ON THE, UM, DEVELOPMENT.
AND THEY'RE ESTIMATING $4 MILLION IN INVESTMENT FOR THAT PIECE OF THE, THE PROJECT.
THIS IS AT, UH, THE CURRENT SITE PLAN AND JUST TO NOTE THE, THE PICKLEBALL PORTION OF IT TO YOUR RIGHT ON THE SCREEN.
UM, UH, AND THE COURTS IN THAT BUILDING RIGHT THERE, THAT IS A, THE COFA AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN HAS, HAS BEEN APPROVED.
THE OUT PARCELS STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT APPROVAL PROCESS.
UM, SO THEY'RE LOOKING FOR AN INCENTIVE GRANT TO, UH, HELP THEM KICK OFF THAT, THAT PROCESS.
THE, UH, AS A REMINDER, WHAT'S ELIGIBLE AS PART OF A GRANT IS THE PERMANENT DEVELOPMENT FEES UP TO 50%, UH, OUR BEAUFORT JASPER WATER, UH, OR CAPACITY FEES UP TO A HUNDRED PERCENT, AND OUR BUSINESS LICENSE FEES UP TO 50% FOR FIVE YEARS.
[02:15:01]
AS MENTIONED BEFORE, THE ORDINANCE ALSO THROWS IN THERE OTHER INCENTIVES, UH, ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS, DETERMINED BY COUNSEL.AS I PRESENTED AT THE LAST GRANT, WE HAD KIND OF PUT TOGETHER THIS GUIDE TO HELP US, UH, IDENTIFY WHERE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD LAND ON WHAT PERCENTAGES THEY SHOULD GET.
UM, THIS, UH, PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BE 44 JOBS IN HEALTHCARE AND, UH, 4 MILLION, UH, DEDICATED TO THE HEALTHCARE OUT PARCEL.
SO, UH, IT, UH, QUALIFIES BASED ON OUR CURRENT GUIDE, UH, FOR THE FULL GRANT, UH, PROPOSAL.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, I TRY AND DO AN ANALYSIS FOR YOU ALL TO PUT NUMBERS TO THAT.
UM, GIVEN WHERE THEY ARE ON THE PROCESS, THESE ARE VERY ROUGH ESTIMATES AT THIS MOMENT, AND IT'S BASED ON, UH, WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER PROJECTS.
UH, THESE ARE ALL SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
AND AS A REMINDER, THESE GRANTS, UM, OCCUR AFTER THE FACT.
SO, UH, ONCE THE THE CRITERIA ARE MET AND THE ITEMS ARE PAID, THEY WOULD RECEIVE A GRANT BACK FOR, FOR THE PORTION THAT IS AGREED TO, THE PERCENTAGE THAT IS AGREED TO.
UM, SO THEY, EVEN THOUGH YOU APPROVE IT TONIGHT, UM, THESE NUMBERS CAN ADJUST BECAUSE YOU'RE APPROVING THE PERCENTAGE IS NOT THE ACTUAL DOLLAR AMOUNTS.
UH, THE CURRENT ESTIMATE OVER FIVE YEARS IS A BENEFIT TO THE, UH, DEVELOPER OF, UM, 72,671.
AND OVER THE FIVE YEAR PERIOD, THE DEVELOPMENT COULD GENERATE TOTAL ON TAXES AND FEES OF, UH, ALMOST 120,000.
UH, SO THE NET REVENUE OVER THAT PERIOD IS ABOUT 46,921.
AS A REMINDER, UH, THE DEVELOPER WOULD BE COMMITTING TO, UH, COMMIT 11,800 SQUARE FEET TO MEDICAL AND HEALTHCARE SPACE.
AND, UH, 4 MILLION, UH, DOLLAR INVESTMENT IN MEDICAL AND HEALTHCARE SPACE.
THE GRANT PAID WOULD BE PAID ANNUALLY ON THE MONTH IN WHICH OPERATIONS ARE ESTABLISHED.
UM, AND THE GRANT EQUIVALENTS ARE THERE.
UH, WE'RE PROPOSING 50% OF PERMIT FEES, A HUNDRED PERCENT OF CAPACITY FEES, AND 50% OF BUSINESS LICENSE FEES FOR FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE SECOND INCENTIVE GRANT? UM, EMILY, NO QUESTION.
WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS FROM, FROM STAFF? UM, THE, THE PROS IS THAT HE'S, HE'S GONNA BE COMMITTING, UH, SOME OF THE ART PARCEL OUT PARCELS TOWARD, TOWARDS HEALTHCARE.
UM, WITHOUT THE GRANT, UH, HE COULD LEASE IT ALL TO RETAIL OR, OR LEASE IT TO FOOD AND BEVERAGE.
UH, THERE WOULD BE NO COMMITMENT TO IDENTIFY, UH, SPACE FOR HEALTHCARE, WHICH IS WITHIN OUR TARGET, UH, INDUSTRIES, IN OUR, IN OUR ORDINANCE.
UM, SO THAT, THAT WOULD BE THE PRO, UM, REALLY, THE, THE CONS ARE THE, OOPS, GOING THE WRONG WAY.
YOU'RE GIVING UP 72,000, UH, IN FEES AND TAXES TO, FOR HIM TO DO THAT IN A WAY, BUT ALSO IN A WAY, WHEN I LOOK AT THIS, I'M SEEING THAT $40,000 IN CAPACITY FEE CREDITS, THAT THAT'S OUR, AND THAT'S THE DOLLAR DOLLAR VALUE OF 'EM, BUT IT'S NOT MONEY THAT WE COULD SPEND ANYWHERE ELSE, RIGHT? IT WOULD ONLY BE FOR, EXCEPT FOR PROJECTS LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? THE CREDITS ARE NOT ACTUAL CHECKS.
SO THE OTHER THING IS, TAKE THAT BIG, THE BIGGEST PART OF THAT IS THE 40,000.
SO THEN YOU LOOK AT IT, YOU'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT 32,000 OVER, UM, INCENTIVE OF OVER FIVE YEARS, WHICH IS RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE, UH, THE, THE FACE VALUE PROS AND CONS.
THE OTHER THING IS JUST THE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY THAT'S GENERATED ON, ON THE BACK END.
HEALTHCARE JOBS GENERATE PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE.
IT'S ABOUT 44 FTE HEALTHCARE JOBS.
UM, SO IT GENERATES SOME, UH, STRONG ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND IT'S ALSO WHAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE SAYING WE NEED MORE OF.
SO THE OTHER THING I WOULD ADD THAT IS A PRO AND CON WITH THIS IS TO REMEMBER THAT WITH THE WAY OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCES ARE SET UP IS EVERYTHING IS REIMBURSEMENT BASED.
THE GRANTS ARE BACK TO EQUIVALENT TO WHAT THEY PAY.
SO THE TOWN IS NOT UP OUT ANY FUNDS UNLESS THEY ACTUALLY OPEN, OPERATE AND ACTUALLY MEET EVERYTHING THAT THEY SAY THEY'RE GONNA MEET.
SO WE'VE TRIED TO BALANCE ANY LIABILITY WITH THAT.
SO THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD BE ANY POTENTIAL UPFRONT FUNDS THAT MAY COME UP WOULD BE THE CAPACITY FEES, LIKE THE MAYOR WAS TALKING ABOUT.
BUT IF THEY DON'T RESERVE THAT MEDICAL SPACE, THEN THEY DON'T GET ANY OF THESE THINGS.
SO, UNLIKE SOME OF THE BIGGER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THINGS THE COUNTY DOES, WHERE THEY FRONT FUNDS AND THEN TAKE ON SOME OF THAT RISK, WE'VE BALANCED THAT WITH THIS.
SO WE'VE TRIED TO MAKE THAT A PRO WITH THIS AS WELL.
UM, ONE OF THE, WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ONE OF THE THINGS SOMETIMES I
[02:20:01]
THINK WE MISS THE BOLD ON IS THAT WE DON'T ASK THEM FOR GUARANTEED BLUFFTON EMPLOYEES.'CAUSE WE, WE MAKE, UH, EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE CREDITS THAT WE GIVEN, BUT WE GIVEN BLUFFTON MONIES AND THE JOBS COME FROM SAVANNAH AND POOL OR WHATEVER, THE RESIDENTS COME FROM THERE.
SO, AND, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO DO THAT FOR THIS ITEM TONIGHT, BUT IN THE FUTURE WHEN WE NEGOTIATING, LET'S TRY TO NEGOTIATE ABOUT HOW MANY JOBS YOU'RE GOING TO, YOU GOING TO SEND TO BLUFFTON OR, UH, PICK FROM BLUFFTON.
WILL YOU DO THAT? ALRIGHT, I HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, CHRIS, SO WHAT'S THE TIMELINE AND IN WHAT WE, AND WHEN WE WOULD KNOW, UM, DEFINITIVELY IF THEY ARE GOING TO, UM, DEVELOP THOSE MEDICAL FACILITIES? UM, WE DON'T HAVE A REQUIREMENT ON THERE.
UH, WE JUST SAY THAT THEY WON'T BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE GRANT, UM, UNTIL THE MONTH IN WHICH OPERATIONS ARE ESTABLISHED.
SO, UM, AGAIN, IT'D BE BASICALLY THEY'D PAY EVERYTHING UP FRONT.
UM, AND THE ONES THAT BUSINESS LICENSE ISSUED FOR THE HEALTHCARE FACILITIES WITHIN THOSE OUT PARCEL OUT PARCELS, THEY'D BE ELIGIBLE TO GET THAT GRANT ISSUED BACK TO THEM.
UM, SO WE'RE PROTECTED FROM THAT STANDPOINT.
WE, THEY DON'T HAVE A COMMITMENT AS FAR AS A TIMEFRAME AS, AS OF THIS MOMENT.
I I'M ASSUMING THAT WITHIN ONE TO TWO YEARS YOU WILL GO BACK AND REVIEW AND LOOK AND SEE WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY DEALING WITH BASED ON WHAT THE ASSUMPTIONS WERE.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL? IS THERE SOMEONE WHO'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT, SO I'LL MAKE IT, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO ENTER, ENTER INTO AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON AND TOWN MEADOW LAND ASSOCIATES.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[IX.7. Consideration to Authorize a Contract Renewal with Palmetto Bluff Preservation Trust, Inc. to Reimburse for Residential Trash Removal Services in the Palmetto Bluff Community for the Calendar Year 2024 (Fiscal Impact: $193,744). – Chris Forster, Assistant Town Manager]
NEXT WE HAVE CONSIDERATION TO AUTHORIZE A CONTRACT RENEWAL BETWEEN PALM ROYAL BLUFF PRESERVATION TRUST, INC.TO REIMBURSE FOR RESIDENTIAL TRASH REMOVAL SERVICES AND THE PALM OF BLUFF COMMUNITY FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2024.
PHYSICAL IMPACT IS $193,744, MR. FORESTER.
UH, OBVIOUSLY THE TOWN OF TON PROVIDES, UH, RESIDENTIAL TRASH SERVICE.
CURRENTLY IN 2013, THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT WITH PALMETTO BLUFF PRESERVATION TRUST, UH, TO PROVIDE PAYMENT TO THEM EQUAL TO THE AMOUNT THE TOWN WOULD'VE OTHERWISE INCURRED IF IT PROVIDED TRASH SERVICE, UM, THROUGH THE TOWN CONTRACT WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT.
UM, SO THE CURRENT PROJECTED NUMBER OF UNITS RECEIVING TRASH PICKUP WITH PALMETTO BLUFF IS 1,095.
UH, THAT'S THE FY 25, UH, PROJECTION.
AND THE, UH, CURRENT CONTRACT HAS BEEN SET TO AN ANNUAL, UH, RENEWAL BASIS.
THE, UM, RENEWAL AMOUNT ESTIMATE, AGAIN, IS AN ESTIMATE BASED ON THE, UH, INCREASE IN WASTE MANAGEMENT FEES, AS WELL AS INCREASE IN NUMBER OF UNITS.
SINCE IT'S OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND, UM, IT IS ALL COMING BEFORE YOU ALL, UH, THIS EQUALS THE AMOUNT THAT THE, THAT WE'VE INCLUDED IN THE, UH, THE BUDGET AND ALSO EQUAL TO THE, UH, AMOUNT THAT WOULD'VE BEEN CHARGED FOR TRASH SERVICE SHOULD WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDING SERVICE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OUT THERE.
THE STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL TO RENEW THIS AGREEMENT FOR THE AMOUNT OF 193,744 ON A ONE YEAR BASIS.
QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL, MR. BURDEN? NONE.
YEAH, THEY DON'T HAVE A TRASH PICKUP.
AND, AND WHO IS THEY? WHAT'S, WHAT COMPANY DO THEY USE? UH, I'M NOT SURE OF THE COMPANY THEY USE.
UM, BUT THEY, THEY HAVE A SEPARATE CONTRACT, AND ACTUALLY I THINK THEY, THEY PAY MORE FOR THEIR SERVICE BECAUSE OF SOME SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS.
UM, BUT WE, AGAIN, WE WERE, ARE ONLY GIVING THEM THE AMOUNT THAT THEY WOULD'VE GOTTEN IF WE PROVIDED THEMSELVES OURSELVES.
THEY HAVE A TRASH SERVICE, BUT THEY DON'T WANT US, THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T WANT TO USE THE COMPANY THAT WE USE.
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WE'RE ONLY PAYING THEM THE SAME THING THAT WE'RE PAYING FOR YOUR HOUSE AND MINE.THEY, THEY'RE NOT GETTING MORE MONEY THAN A HOUSE GOES QUESTIONS ALREADY.
SO
SO THAT CAN BE TRACKED A LITTLE MORE CLOSELY AND JUST REVISITED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
SO I WOULD ASK THE QUESTION, UM, IT HASN'T BEEN A PROBLEM TO DATE, BUT IF IT BECAME AN ISSUE DOWN THE ROAD WITH OTHER PS WANTING TO DO THE SIMILAR TYPE THING, I WOULD THINK COUNSEL WOULD'VE TO STEP BACK AND REEVALUATE THIS AT THAT TIME.
I THINK WE, THAT WAS GONNA BE TIME.
I THINK WE NEED TO EVALUATE NOW,
IT'S IN THE CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE SIGNED OR WAS SIGNED IN RIGHT.
WITH DEPARTMENT OF LAW DEVELOPMENT.
SO IF YOU GO WAY BACK, IT'S A LEGAL DOCUMENT THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO.
AND THE REASON WHY THIS WAS SET UP A LITTLE UNIQUELY IS IF YOU GO WAY BACK TO THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, UM, IT, IT, IT SAYS IN THERE THAT, UH, THE TOWN WILL PROVIDE TRASH SERVICE FOR THE SCHULTZ TRACT, AND THEN IT SPECIFICALLY CALLS OUT PALMETTO BLUFF AND SAYS THAT, UH, THEY WILL PROVIDE THEIR OWN TRASH SERVICE UNTIL A TIME COMES WHERE THEY REQUEST IT FROM THE TOWN.
UM, AND, UM, THE, UH, THE, THE REVENUE GENERATED FROM THE COMMUNITY IS ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE, THE ACTUAL, UH, TRASH SERVICE BEING PROVIDED.
UM, SO AT, IN 2013, AND THAT WAS WAY BEFORE MY TIME, BUT IN 2013 WHEN THE CONVERSATION CAME UP, UM, THEY AGREED TO BASICALLY ONLY GET REIMBURSED THE AMOUNT THAT OTHERWISE WOULD'VE BEEN PROVIDED UNDER THE LEVEL OF SERVICES THAT THE TOWN CONTRACTS FOR THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS.
BUT IT WAS SET UP UNIQUELY TO BEGIN WITH BECAUSE OF THAT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT PROVISION.
SO THAT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT GIVE US A LIFETIME COMMITMENT? UM, NO, NO, IT DOESN'T.
IT IT CAN, IT CAN BE REVIEWED AS PART OF THIS AGREEMENT FROM, FROM THE WAY I INTERPRET IT, UNLESS TERRY SAYS OTHERWISE.
UM, BUT AGAIN, AS OF RIGHT NOW, UH, WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO PROVE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS WITH THE IDEA THAT, UH, WE'RE BRINGING RICHARDSON TERRY TO LOOK AT WAYS THAT WE CAN RESTRUCTURE THE CONTRACT.
ONE OTHER PIECE, IT MAY BE IN PLAY HERE, IS IF THEY'VE ALREADY CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED THEIR SELF TO SOMEBODY, THEY MAY BE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CONTRACT UNRELATED TO WHAT WE'RE DOING, BUT IT CERTAINLY COULD BE REVIEWED.
THE ONLY ADVANTAGE THAT I COULD SEE FROM THIS WHOLE THING, INSTEAD OF DOING IT LIKE THIS, WOULD BE THE INCREASED VOLUME AND MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF A LESSER RATE THAT WE WOULD GET FROM WA WASTE MANAGEMENT IF THOSE THOUSAND HOMES WERE INCLUDED, YOU KNOW, ALONG WITH OUR OTHER WHATEVER THOUSANDS WE HAVE.
SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? IF YOU, I MEAN, BUT OTHERWISE THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO ADVANTAGE OR DISADVANTAGE THAT I CAN THINK OF UNLESS SOMEBODY'S GOT ONE THAT I DON'T, I'M NOT SEEING, WELL, TO COUNCILOR HAMILTON'S POINT, IT'S NOT, UM, THE ADVANTAGE IS OF DISADVANTAGE, BUT MORE SO THE PRECEDENT THAT'S SET HERE.
SO IF ANOTHER PUD OR ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT IS LIKE, WELL, WE DON'T WANT WASTE MANAGEMENT, BUT WE KNOW YOU ALL ARE CONTRACTED TO BECAUSE YOU COLLECT FEES FROM US FOR THAT PARTICULAR PURPOSE, WE WANNA ALLOCATE THOSE FEES TO, UH, A SEPARATE, UM, WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
AND SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE GOING BACK TO ALSO WHAT COUNCILMAN WOODS SAID.
WHEN DO YOU STEP IN TO INTERVENE TO KIND OF SAY NO TO ONE? IF YOU'RE SAYING YES TO THE OTHER, YEAH, BUT HOW CAN, I MEAN, IF THEY'RE IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFING AND WE'RE DOING IT FOR SOME, THEN REALISTICALLY I WOULD THINK THAT WE'RE OBLIGATED TO DO IT FOR ALL, UM, OBLIGATED TO DO IT WHEN WE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? OR, OR ALL OR NONE.
THAT'S, AND I WOULD HATE TO TAKE THAT SERVICE AWAY FROM OUR RESIDENTS BECAUSE THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT REQUIRES IT THIS POINT.
SO I THINK WE'RE, UNTIL WE AMEND THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT WOULD BE WITH THEIR CONSENT AT THIS POINT.
UM, WE'RE, WE'RE UNDER THE HOOK.
WE'RE ON THE HOOK TO, TO PROVIDE TRASH SERVICE FOR THEM, JUST LIKE WE DO FOR THE REST OF OUR RESIDENTS.
SO IF THEY WANT TO SUB IT OUT, THIS A THIRD PARTY THIRD, WE ARE ONLY OBLIGATED TO PAY WHAT WE WOULD'VE HAD TO PAY IF WE WERE DOING IT UNDER OUR CONTRACT.
THAT'S WHAT THESE NUMBERS ARE TODAY, CORRECT, CHRIS? YEAH.
THESE ARE BASED ON OUR CURRENT CONTRACT.
WHAT I'M TRYING TO, UM, SET STATE HERE IS IN LOOKING AT, BECAUSE PREVIOUSLY WE DIDN'T HAVE, UM, WE DIDN'T HAVE IT TO WHERE AMOUNTS OF A OF A OR EXPENSES OF A CERTAIN AMOUNT HAD TO COME BEFORE COUNSEL WE APPROVED.
SO NOW THAT WE'RE HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS AND IT'S MORE ACCESSIBLE, UM, I'M JUST LOOKING AT HOW DO WE MITIGATE THOSE WHO WOULD SEE THIS AND SAY THAT, WELL, IF WE DON'T HAVE THOSE SAME
[02:30:01]
EXCEPTIONS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WANTED TO DO THE SAME THING, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE SAYING WE'RE PROVIDING THAT TRASH SERVICE FOR THEM, THEY'RE STILL SUBBING OUT THEIR SERVICES AND WE ARE SENDING OVER THE FEES TO THEM TO BE ABLE TO PAY A THIRD PARTY TO COLLECT THEIR TRASH.THEY'RE SAYING WE'RE NOT USING WASTE MANAGEMENT.
I'M SAYING, HOW DO WE LOOK AHEAD IF ANOTHER COMMUNITY COMES TO US REQUESTING TO DO THE SAME THING, WHAT WOULD OUR, WHAT WOULD OUR RESPONSE BE? EXACTLY.
AND IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN CONSIDERATION, I THINK WE SHOULD BE PREPARED TO LOOK AT THAT, THAT SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT THINK, HEY, I WANNA DO THE SAME THING.
I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING FROM COUNSEL IS UNTIL SUCH TIME AS WE CAN REWORK OR REOPEN THAT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, WE'RE OBLIGATED TO IT.
IF THEY EVER COME BACK, I TECHNICALLY, WE PROBABLY COULD HAVE HAD THIS DISCUSSION WITH 'EM, WE WERE DOING THE MARINA, YOU KNOW, BUT, UH, BUT ANYWAY, UM, I THINK THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING IS NO, NO.
AND WE WILL REVISIT THIS LEGALLY WHEN WE CAN TO BRING THEM BACK INTO THE HOUSE.
IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING? WELL, MAYBE DAN, MAYBE DAN NO TO ANYBODY ELSE CAN, CAN WE REALLY STAND ON THAT? RIGHT.
CAN WE REALLY SAY NO TO SOMEBODY ELSE IF WE ALREADY PROVIDING THAT? AND WOULD WE AS A COUNCIL WANT TO SAY NO TO ANYONE THAT'S WITHIN THE TOWN? I THINK, I THINK HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE WOULD BE MY CONCERN.
AND YOU MADE THE POINT, LARRY, YOU SAID BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER, THE VOLUME OF OF OF RESIDENT THAT WASTE MANAGERS IS SUPPORTING, WE GET, WE PROBABLY GETTING A DISCOUNT.
SO IF WE KEEP LOSING THE VOLUME, WE'RE GONNA LOSE A DISCOUNT.
I MEAN, I, I JUST SAID IT LIKE THAT MEANING THAT, THAT WAS, THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY THING IN MY OPINION, THAT COULD REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE, YOU KNOW, IN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY.
UM, THEN, THEN LET'S ASK THIS QUESTION AND MAYBE WE CAN ASK WASTE MANAGER MANAGERS SAY, OKAY, GO AHEAD AND ADD, ADD ANOTHER THOUSAND HOMES, WHATEVER WE'RE, WHAT DO THEY HAVE 1100 OR SO? UH, ABOUT APPROXIMATELY, I MEAN 11,000, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT OH POUND BL ABOUT 1100.
1100, WHICH WOULD BE ABOUT 10%.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE COULD ALWAYS ASK THEM AND SAY IF WE INCREASED IT BY 1100, BUT THEN I'M NOT SURE BY THE TIME THEY GO ALL THE WAY OUT THERE WHERE THOSE HOUSES ARE AND THROUGH ALL THOSE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WHETHER WE, WELL, IF WE DID IT, IT WOULD BE AT THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE TO ALL CITIZENS, WHICH WOULD BE JUST, THEY PEOPLE WOULD'VE TO WHEEL THEIR CARTS OUT.
WE WOULD PICK UP TRASH ONCE A WEEK, RECYCLING EVERY TWO WEEKS.
UM, BUT, AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT, IS THEY PROVIDE PROBABLY ADDITIONAL SERVICES THAT WE DON'T, THE QUESTION WE COULD ASK WASTE MANAGEMENT IS, COULD THEY PAY FOR THE DIFFERENCE FOR THEIR, FOR THAT? I DON'T KNOW.
UM, BUT RIGHT NOW, WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WRITTEN, THE WRITTEN THE WAY IT IS, WE CAN START LOOKING AT THAT AND HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WHILE IF WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT, WITH THIS YEAR WITH THE WAY IT'S IN DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, AND WE CAN LOOK AT PUTTING SOME THINGS IN PLACE SO THAT IF ANYBODY COMES IN AND ASK ADDITIONALLY, WE CAN BE PREPARED TO ANSWER THAT.
OR WE CAN HAVE THE CONVERSATION WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT ABOUT HOW COUNCIL MAY NOT BE TOTALLY COMFORTABLE WITH THEIR ARRANGEMENT THAT'S IN PLACE.
AND HOW DO WE REVISIT THAT? YEAH.
AND WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND TOO, YOU KNOW, THAT THE, THE VALUE OF THOSE HOMES OVER THERE, THE AMOUNT OF TAX REVENUE THAT WE COLLECT FROM THOSE PEOPLE IS THEY, THEY HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE GET THEIR TRASH PICKED UP.
YOU KNOW, YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? I MEAN, THE AVERAGE VALUE OF A HOME THERE, HE SAID LAST TIME HE WAS IN HERE WAS THE AVERAGE RESALE WAS TWO AND A HALF MILLION AVERAGE.
SO THE CUT OF TAXES OFF OF THAT PROPERTY TAX BILL THAT THE TOWN GETS, IT'S A SUB SUBSTANTIAL.
UM, AND THAT'S WHAT'S HELPING US BEING ABLE TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING FOR ALL OUR OTHER RESIDENTS.
SO, WELL, THE OTHER QUESTION, I DON'T BELIEVE I, YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA REMEMBER WHERE THE, THE GOOSE THAT LAY THE GOLDEN EGG.
WE ALSO DON'T WANNA SEND THOUGH A, UM, A SEDIMENT THAT, UM, HAVING OR MEETING A, SO A CERTAIN SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS ALLOWS PRIVILEGES THAT OTHERS DON'T GET TO ALSO ABIDE BY.
I THINK WHATEVER THE RULES ARE, IF IT WORKS FOR, IF WE'RE GONNA SAY EVERYONE NEEDS TO ABIDE BY A CERTAIN POLICY, THEN IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT ANY, ANY RESIDENT WHEREVER THEY ARE, ARE ABLE TO ACCESS IT.
WELL, LET ME GO BACK TO COUNSEL AGAIN.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING THAT SAYS THAT WE HAVE TO LET SOMEBODY ELSE DO THIS, THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF.
IS THERE NO, IF A PUD CAME IN AND SAYS, WE WANNA DO WHAT THEY'RE DOING, WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.
RIGHT? AND SO I, I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET TO HERE, HEARING EVERYONE AT THE TABLE, WE CAN'T CHANGE THIS TONIGHT.
WE DO WANT TO CHANGE IT AS A COUNCIL AND WE HAVE TO LOOK FOR THE RIGHT TIME AND OBLIGATION TO ALLOW US TO DO THAT AND FIX IT WHERE EVERYBODY'S ON THE SAME FIELD, BUT
[02:35:01]
WE CAN'T DO THAT TONIGHT.WE, WE CAN ALSO RELAY THAT TO, UH, PALMETTO BLUFF AND SOUTH STREET TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME LEVEL OF UNCOMFORT WITH COUNSEL AND, AND THIS, AND SEE WHAT, AND START THAT CONVERSATION AND SEE HOW WE CAN GET TO THAT POINT.
WOULD SOMEBODY LIKE TO MAKE IT MAKE A DIFFERENT ONE? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.
I MAKE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE A CONTRACT RENEWAL WITH PALMETTO BLUFF PRESERVATION TRUST TO REIMBURSE FOR RESIDENTIAL TRASH REMOVAL SERVICES IN THE PALMETTO BLUFF COMMUNITY.
SECOND THAT, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
UM, SO WE GOTTA GO BACK TO THE NUMBER SIX.
I I'D HEARD THAT BEFORE DAN, UM, TERRY AND I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD MAKE A MOTION.
I THINK OUR, I THINK OUR CODE STILL HAS, UNLESS IT'S A SPECIFIC TOWN CODE, BECAUSE I THINK STATE CODE SAYS THAT I CAN STATE CODE SAYS YOU CAN.
I THINK OUR, OUR TOWN CODE, I THINK HAS A PROHIBITION OF MAYOR MAKING, UM, MOTIONS.
SO WE SHOULD GO BACK TO NUMBER SIX.
YEAH, WELL LET'S DO, IT CAME FROM DOWN THERE AND I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T CATCH IT.
SO WE NEED TO GO BACK TO NUMBER SIX, CHRIS.
AND, UM, SOMEONE ELSE WILL NEED TO MAKE A MOTION.
HOW DO I DO, DO I NEED TO WITHDRAW MY MOTION? JUST YOUR MOTION IS VOID BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE IT.
SO SOMEONE ELSE NEEDS TO JUST MAKE THE MOTION UNDER NUMBER SIX, PLEASE.
I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON AND PALM PALMETTO LAND ASSOCIATES.
IS THERE A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
I GOT A LITTLE CONFUSED ON THAT 'CAUSE I READ THE STATE LAW AND STATE LAW SAYS I CAN CORRECT
[X. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS]
THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. IS THERE ANYTHING ON HERE THAT ANYBODY ON COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO TAKE OFF OR HAVE PULLED OR DISCUSS? MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO PULL ITEM THREE FOR DISCUSSION, PLEASE.UM, I GUESS WE'LL PULL THAT OFF AND TALK ABOUT IT BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO, TO APPROVING THE, UM, OTHER ITEMS. IS THAT THE WAY WE DO THAT? EITHER WAY, TAMMY REPORT.
SINCE DO WE HAVE NUMBER THREE IS CONSIDERATION OF THE MAY RIVER WATERSHED ACTION PLAN AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION FOR TOWN COUNCIL TO PURSUE A NEW MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MAY RIVER WATERSHED ACTION PLAN THROUGHOUT THE MAY RIVER WATERSHED.
MS. KIM JONES, DIRECTOR OF PROJECTS AND WATERSHED RESILIENCE.
SO THIS IS COMING FROM STRATEGIC PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE MAYOR RIVER WATERSHED ACTION PLAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE ADOPTED BY COUNCIL AS PART OF YOUR ACTION PLAN AND AGENDA ITEM TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION AND THE ATTACHMENT IS A MEMO FROM THE CHAIR STAN, UH, ROGERS TO YOUNG ON WAY PACK'S RECOMMENDATION THAT WE HAVE A FORMAL AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY THAT THEY ADOPT AND AGREE TO IMPLEMENT THE MAY RIVER WATERSHED ACTION PLAN WITHIN THEIR JURISDICTION.
THAT IS THE MAY RIVER WATERSHED ITSELF.
AT THIS TIME, WE'VE KIND OF HAD A HANDSHAKE.
WE'VE NEVER HAD A FORMAL AGREEMENT, AND THEY BELIEVE THAT IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO FORMALIZE IT.
STAFF APPROVES THAT RECOMMENDATION AND IS BRINGING IT FORWARD FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
SO WHEN YOU FORMALIZE THE AGREEMENT BASED ON THIS ITEM, THERE IS NOTHING THAT OBLIGATES EITHER PARTY FINANCIALLY AT THIS TIME.
IS THAT A TRUE OR FALSE STATEMENT? I WOULD SAY THAT'S A TRUE STATEMENT.
THERE IS NOTHING THAT OBLIGATES EITHER ONE FINANCIALLY.
FOR INSTANCE, WHAT WE ARE CURRENTLY AGREEING TO DO AND PARTNER ON WITH THE STONY CREEK SEWER, THAT HAS ITS OWN CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION.
HOWEVER, THAT DOES ORIGINATE FROM THE MAY RIVER WATERSHED ACTION PLAN.
SO TO THAT END THAT I SAID IT'S BEEN A SORT OF A HANDSHAKE AND WE'VE BEEN MOVING FORWARD IN CERTAIN ASPECTS WITH THE COUNTY.
THIS IS FORMALIZING THAT THEY RECOGNIZE THE MAY RIVER WATERSHED ACTION PLAN IS A LEGITIMATE WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE MAY RIVER, WHICH IS WITHIN THEIR JURISDICTION.
AND THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE ACTIONABLE ITEMS WITHIN IT THAT THEY SUPPORT.
FOR THOSE THAT HAVE CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS, MONETARY
[02:40:01]
OBLIGATIONS, WE WOULD HAVE INDIVIDUAL AGREEMENTS FOR THOSE.THE REASON I BRING UP THIS LITTLE DEVIOUS QUESTION IS, UM, I'M STILL, AND, AND I HAVEN'T SEEN IT COME BEFORE US YET.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN IN THE STAFF REPORTS IN THE, IN THE TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT, AND I SAID IT A YEAR OR TWO AGO.
I'M NOT SAYING PRO OR CON ABOUT THIS, THIS HOMEWORK WE'RE DOING ON IMPERVIOUS ISSUES.
UH, YOU KNOW, WITH THE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE TAKEN ON AND WAITING TO SEE THE AFTER EFFECTS OF THAT, BECAUSE AGAIN, THE DOLLARS THAT WERE HYPOTHETICALLY BUDGETED MM-HMM,
AND SO I'VE ALWAYS, ALWAYS INDICATED TO YOU, I WANT A RED FLAG, DAN, WAKE UP, DON'T SLEEP.
WE'RE GETTING READY TO TALK ABOUT THESE DOLLARS WHEN THEY GET READY TO COME.
AND WE'RE STILL MOVING FORWARD ON THE, ON THE GEOTECHNICAL ANALYSIS FOR THAT IMPERVIOUS RESTORATION WORK SO THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE GOOD SOILS TO GET WATER BACK DOWN INTO THE GROUND ON CERTAIN SITES AND PREVENT RUNOFF.
SO IT'S NOT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION AND THERE WASN'T REALLY A QUESTION, BUT LITTLE ON THAT.
I HAVE NO OBJECTIONS ON ANY, UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ANYBODY? SO, SO DO WE MAKE A MOTION FOR THIS TERRY OR YES.
SO WHO WANTS DAN, YOU THE ONE THAT CAUSED THIS
OH, CAN WE DO IT THAT WAY? THAT'S FINE.
SO WE TOOK IT, PUT IT BACK ON AND THEN WE OKAY.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? YEAH.
YOU SURE WE CAN DO IT THAT WAY? ANY DISCUSSION? SURE.
HE TOOK IT OFF TO CONSIDER GENESIS.
HE, HE MOVED TO PUT IT BACK ON AND APPROVE IT.
HE DIDN'T VOTE ON THAT TO PUT IT BACK.
[XI. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
I THINK IT'S TIME TO SEE IS THERE A MOTION TO MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS LEGAL AND PERSONNEL MATTERS RELATING TO THE LE TO THE RECEIPT OF LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING POLICE DEPARTMENT EXPERT REVIEW, PERSISTENT TO SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION 30 DASH FOUR DASH SEVEN A 12, AND PERSONNEL MATTERS RELATING TO TOWN MANAGER'S ANNUAL REVIEW, PERSISTENT TO FREE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 30 DASH FOUR DASH SEVEN A ONE.I DON'T THINK IT'S, WE'LL HAVE TO SEE
IT'S A BIG FISH, WHATEVER IT IS.
LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THIS RED FISH.
YOU HEAR THAT? HEAR THAT DRUMMING NOISE.
SEE THESE THINGS MAKE A FABULOUS DRUMMING NOISE.
ANOTHER NAME FOR THIS RED DRUM.
AND YOU CAN HEAR HIM JUST, JUST CROAKING AWAY.
SO BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL ANIMAL.
AND YOU SEE HE'S GOT THAT KIND OF REDDISH, PINKISH COLOR.
THE SPOT TAIL BASS IS ANOTHER NAME FOR THIS GUY.
I MEAN, FABULOUS, FABULOUS FISH.
I MEAN, IT IS INCREDIBLE WHAT WE HAVE HERE.
ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE HAVE SUCH A VARIETY OF FISH IS BECAUSE THIS AREA'S STILL STILL IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE.
WE HAVE GOOD WATER QUALITY, WE HAVE DEEP WATER, WE HAVE HIGH SALINITY, HIGH TIDE AMPLITUDE, AND ALL THOSE THINGS ARE A RECIPE FOR GREAT FISHING AND GREAT DIVERSITY OF LIFE AROUND HERE.
JOIN ME FOR COASTAL KINGDOM ON THE COUNTY CHANNEL.
[02:45:08]
WE ARE OUT OF EXECUTIVE[XII. ACTION FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION]
SESSION.WHAT, WHAT IS IT I'M SUPPOSED TO SAY OUT OF EXECUTIVES? SO WHERE DID I PUT MY GLASSES? UM, SO WHO'S GONNA READ THIS MOTION? I COULDN'T HEAR YOU.
SEE HOW IT, WE CAN VOTE DIFFERENT.
SO I GOT THAT THERE AND THEN WHERE THE CONTRACT COMES OUT, TERRY WROTE THAT SO YOU UNDERSTAND IT.
WHERE'D TERRY GO? I'M HERE FOR CLARITY.
SHOULD NOT BE MENTIONED ABOUT A TWO YEAR THING BECAUSE THE 365 DAYS, THERE'S NOTHING INDICATING HOW YOU NEGOTIATING.
NO, IT JUST, IT JUST NO, WE JUST TERMINATE THAT PROVISION.
ARE YOU SAYING THAT BY HERE? YES.
DO I GOT A MOVE THAT WE GRANT A RAISE OF 4% TO STEVEN STEVES EFFECTIVELY JUNE THE FIRST 2024.
UM, THAT'S THE MOTION ON THAT.
WELL, IS THAT A SEPARATE MOTION YOU HAVE HERE? IS THIS ALL ONE MOTION? SHOULD BE TWO, BOTH.
ONE PERTAINING TO SALARY AND BONUS.
YOU SALARY ONE AND BONUS SECOND.
AND THE OTHER, DO I READ 'EM BOTH AT THE SAME 'CAUSE I COULDN'T TELL WITH IT.
UM, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
YOU'RE GONNA MAKE A WHOLE NOTHER MOTION FOR THAT.
UM, NEXT MOTION IS I MOVE THAT THE AUTOMATIC EXTENSION IN SECTION ONE B AND C OF THE CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT DATED JUNE THE 14TH, 2021, BE TERMINATED EFFECTIVELY IMMEDIATELY.
AND THIS WILL ALSO INCLUDE A $5,000 BONUS.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
THANKS FOR WATCHING BEAUFORT COUNTY TV.
HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
THE LARGEST SHIPS IN THE WORLD COULD SAIL INTO PORT ROYAL SOUND, AND THAT'S WHAT JEAN BOAT, THE FRENCH EXPLORER SAID, SHED ALL THE SHIPS OF FRANCE, NA ALL THE SHIPS OF THE WORLD COULD SAFELY RIDE IN ITS MOUTHS.
IT'S VERY DEEP AND VERY UNUSUAL.
AND IF YOU'RE A SAILOR AND YOU GO UP AND DOWN THE COAST ON THE INLAND PASSAGE, YOU COME INTO PORT ROYAL SOUND, YOU KNOW IT'S DIFFERENT.
IT'S 60 FEET DEEP IN THE MIDDLE OF PORT ROYAL SOUND, 30 FEET DEEP OVER THE BAR.
AND THE INTERESTING THING TO ME IS THAT THE SHAPE OF THE ENTRANCE HAS NOT CHANGED FOR 500 YEARS, MILLIONS OF SHELLS LEFT BY NATIVE INHABITANTS OVER THOUSANDS OF YEARS ATTEST TO THE BOUNTY OF ITS WATERS.
CLOVIS POINTS, WHICH ARE MORE THAN 10,000 YEARS OLD, HAVE BEEN UNEARTHED ON ITS SHORES.
INEVITABLY, THE NATURAL RICHES OF THE SEA ISLANDS SURROUNDING PORT ROYAL SOUND ATTRACTED THE GREAT EMPIRES OF THE 17TH AND 18TH CENTURIES.
FIRST, SPAIN ARRIVED IN 1521, THEN
[02:50:01]
FRANCE CAME ASHORE IN 1562.FINALLY, THE BRITISH CLAIMED THEM AS CAROLINA.
IN 1663, THE LAND OF CHARLES, AFTER BARELY SURVIVING A DEADLY CLASH WITH THE NATIVE AMERICANS, THE SETTLERS DEMANDED PROTECTION FROM THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENT.
THEIR LOG FORD IN BUFORT TOWN HAD BEEN BURNED.
AND IT WAS IN THAT EARLY PERIOD, IN THIS EARLY 1720S THAT THE PEOPLE OF BUFORT SAID, WE NEED A FORT TO PROTECT US.
SO THEY BUILT THIS TO PROTECT THE INLAND PASSAGE BEFORE IT GOT TO BEAUFORT, WHICH IS THE REASON FOR THE LOCATION OF WHAT EVENTUALLY BECAME FORT FREDERICK OR FORT PRINCE FREDERICK.
THE NEW FORT BEGAN TO TAKE SHAPE IN 1726 AFTER THE FAMOUS SETTLER COLONEL JOHN BARNWELL, BETTER KNOWN AS TUSKA JACK RETURNED FROM ENGLAND WITH THE INDEPENDENT COMPANY AFOOT A REGIMENT OF BRITISH REGULARS.
FOR THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS, FORT PRINCE FREDERICK, A SMALL STRUCTURE MEASURING JUST 125 FEET BY 75 FEET EXISTED AS A TYPICAL FRONTIER STYLE LOG AND EARTH.
AND FORT ARTILLERY STOOD AT THE READY TO SLOW ANY APPROACH BY THE SPANISH FLEET.
AS SOON AS THE FIRST WARNINGS FROM THE WATCH CANNONS AT THE MOUTH OF THE SOUND WERE FIRED, THE MILITIA WOULD BE DISPATCHED.
THE SETTLERS OF THE ISLANDS ENVISIONED SOMETHING STURDIER, A STRUCTURE THAT COULD OFFER THEM REAL PROTECTION IN TIMES OF TROUBLE.
BUT THE PEOPLE KEPT PETITIONING THE COMMONS HOUSE ASSEMBLY OF THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENT FOR MORE MONEY TO FINISH THE FORT AND BILL MORE STOUTLY.
IN 1773, THE FRENCH HUGIN, NOT SETTLER AND CONTRACTOR, JOHN DIBERT WAS HIRED TO DEVISE A MORE SUBSTANTIAL STRUCTURE.
AND HE SAID, I'LL BUILD A FORT OF OYSTER SHELL AND LINE, WHICH IS WHAT WE SEE THERE TODAY.
AND AS IT WAS DESCRIBED IN 1733, WAS FIVE FEET THICK AND FIVE FEET HIGH.
THE FORT WAS NAMED FOR THE ELDEST SON OF KING GEORGE II OF ENGLAND.
SO FORT PRINCE FREDERICK, WHICH IS HIS FORMAL NAME, WAS BUILT IN 1726, COMPLETED IN 1733, PROBABLY ABANDONED BY 1740.
AND FOR THE FIRST SEVEN YEARS OF ITS EXISTENCE, 1726 TO 1733, IT WAS THE SOUTHERN FRONTIER OF ENGLISH NORTH AMERICA.
AND ALTHOUGH THE BRITISH OCCUPIED PORT ROYAL FOR A TIME DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, THE GREATEST BATTLE WAGED BY FORT PRINCE FREDERICK OVER THE NEXT CENTURY AND A HALF WAS WON WITH THE WEEDS AND THE WEATHER.
A PLANTER BY THE NAME OF JOHN JOYNER SMITH CAME INTO POSSESSION OF THE LAND EARLY IN THE 18 HUNDREDS, TURNING THE EXPANSE ABOVE THE OLD FORD INTO FIELDS OF COTTON TENDED BY THE ENSLAVED.
BUT ALL THAT CHANGED IN NOVEMBER OF 1861 WHEN UNION FORCES OVERCAME THE CONFEDERATE TERRITORY.
WHEN THE PORT ROYAL BATTLE OF PORT ROYAL SOUND HAPPENED IN THE FALL OF 1861, AND THE PLANTERS FROM THE BEAUFORT REGION, SKEDADDLED, AS THEY CALL IT, UM, THEY LEFT BEHIND BETWEEN EIGHT AND 10,000 SLAVES.
IT'S THE PEOPLE WERE SO JUBILANT, UH, WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY HEARD THE CANNONS GO OFF, BECAUSE THEY WERE ABOUT 55 SHIPS COMING INTO THAT AREA THAT THEY CALL IT BIG GUN SHOOT DAY
AND WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY HEARD THE BIG GUN SHOOT, THEY, THEY SAID, FREEDOM IS HERE.
THE YANKEES ARE HERE, SO WE ARE FREE.
BUT THAT AREA ON THOSE BLUFFS ABOVE FORT FREDERICK IS, UH, WHERE THERE'LL BE CAMPS AGAIN THROUGHOUT THE WAR, AND THERE'LL BE EVERYTHING FROM ARTILLERY TO INFANTRY.
ENC CAMPED BOTH WHITE AND BLACK TROOPS THROUGHOUT THE AREA.
THEY WILL BUILD A PIER OVER TOP OF THE WALLS OF FORT FREDERICK OUT INTO THE BEAUFORT RIVER.
OVER THE TOP OF OLD FORT FREDERICK STEPPED THE FIRST BLACK REGIMENT MUSTERED IN AS THE FIRST SOUTH CAROLINA OF AFRICAN DESCENT.
IT'S GONNA BE IN THE SUMMER OF 1862.
EVERYTHING SORT OF BEGINS TO CHANGE AND PERMISSION IS GIVEN TO BEGIN RAISING BLACK REGIMENTS.
AT THAT TIME, PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN SENT A MILITARY GOVERNOR TO PORT ROYAL GENERAL RUFUS SAXTON IS GIVEN PERMISSION TO BEGIN RAISING UPWARDS OF 5,000 BLACK TROOPS.
AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS HE DOES IS HE ORDERS THEM TO ASSEMBLE AT THE SMITH PLANTATION.
AND THAT WILL BECOME THEIR CAMP.
AND EVENTUALLY IT WILL BE NAMED CAMP SAXTON IN HIS HONOR.
DOZENS OF MISSIONARIES, TEACHERS AND PHYSICIANS FROM THE NORTHEAST PART OF THE US ARRIVE IN SOUTH CAROLINA
[02:55:01]
TO BEGIN A PROJECT THAT WILL COME TO BE KNOWN AS THE PORT ROYAL EXPERIMENT.THEY ARE JOINED BY THE FAMED HARRIET TUBMAN, WHO BROUGHT MANY PEOPLE TO FREEDOM WITH THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.
SHE NURSED THE CIVIL WAR INJURED WHILE SHE SHOWED THE NEWLY FREED PEOPLE HOW TO WILLINGLY WORK IN A WAGE BASED SYSTEM RATHER THAN BEING FORCED TO LABOR UNDER THE THREAT OF THE LASH.
MISS LAURA TOWN ESTABLISHED THE PENN SCHOOL ON ST.
HELENA ISLAND, JUST A FERRY RIDE ACROSS THE SOUND FROM FORT FREDERICK, AN INSTITUTION THAT IS STILL IN OPERATION TODAY.
LINCOLN WATCHED THE EXPERIMENT WITH GREAT INTEREST, AND DURING THE SUMMER OF 1862, ANNOUNCED THE PRELIMINARY EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.
IMMEDIATELY PLANS WERE MADE FOR AN ELABORATE CELEBRATION AT CAMP SAXTON FOR JANUARY 1ST, 1863, THE DAY THE PROCLAMATION WAS TO BE SIGNED.
UH, THEY ROASTING 10 OXEN AND, UH, PREPARING TABLES FOR FOUR OR 5,000 PEOPLE TO COME DOWN TO IT.
OF COURSE, WHEN IT WAS READ AND AFTER IT WAS READ, SOMEONE SPONTANEOUSLY POPPED OUT WITH THE SOUND.
MY COUNTRY TEARS, THE AND JUBILATION TOOK PLACE.
BUT THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION WAS A HIGH POINT IN THEIR LIVES.
AT THAT TIME WHEN THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION WAS READ, THEY USED THAT FORT AS THE BASE FOR THEIR DOCK, YOU KNOW, AND THE DOCK WAS BUILT OVER THE TOP OF THE FORT AND BOATS CAME IN.
AND, BUT THERE IT WAS, I MEAN, IN GROUND, AT GROUND ZERO OF THAT EVENT.
AND, UH, THAT EVENT IS AS SIGNIFICANT EVENT HAS EVER OCCURRED IN 500 YEARS OF THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTY, CERTAINLY.
AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS IN THE STATE'S HISTORY.
A DEVASTATING HURRICANE SHOOK THE SEA ISLANDS IN 1893, CAUSING MASSIVE DAMAGE.
YET THE ST STURDINESS OF THE FIVE FOOT TALL AND FIVE FOOT WIDE WALLS SAVED THE FORT FROM ANNIHILATION.
TODAY, IT STILL STANDS AS THE OLDEST TABBY STRUCTURE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
IN THE WINTER OF 2015, ARCHEOLOGISTS WORKED TO EXCAVATE THE REMAINS OF FORT FREDERICK.
IN PREPARATION FOR THE DAY WHEN IT WILL BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC BY LAND.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY YEARS, OLD FORT FREDERICK IS ALSO BEING GIVEN A NEW LAYER OF TABBY IN PREPARATION FOR ITS FUTURE.
AS THE ONE REMAINING AMBASSADOR TO WITNESS A PIVOTAL HISTORICAL EVENT, THE FORT'S MOST IMPORTANT JOB, AS IT TURNED OUT, WAS TO SERVE AS THE ACTUAL BRIDGE FROM THE WATERS OF PORT ROYAL SOUND, SUPPORTING PEOPLE AS THEY STEPPED TOWARD THEIR CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.