Jun 11, 2024 Bluffton Town Council

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

SO WE HAVE PRESENTATIONS, CELEBRATIONS, AND RECOGNITION.

NEXT, NEXT UP IS THE BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES FROM FIVE 16.

WE HAVE THE BUDGET WORKSHOP MINUTES FROM 5 30, 20 24.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SECOND.

[V. PRESENTATIONS, CELEBRATIONS, AND RECOGNITIONS ]

WE'LL HAVE SCHOOL DISTRICT CHARACTER, STUDENT OF THE MILES K CAR COME ON UP ALONG WITH YOUR FAMILY, WHOEVER WANTS TO, AND TELL US WHAT IT IS ABOUT THE YOU THAT'S SO SPECIAL.

YOU WANT TO TALK TO, YOU NEED TO GO TO THE MIC OVER HERE.

PROBABLY, MAYBE THAT CAN HEAR YOU.

IT'S KIND OF QUIET.

WHO IS Y'ALL ARE THE PARENTS? I AM, YEAH.

I CAN TALK.

SURE.

UM, MILES WORKED VERY HARD THIS YEAR TO OVERCOME SOME SELF-CONTROL AND BEHAVIOR ISSUES AND HIS GRADES REALLY IMPROVED AND HE WAS LIKE A WHOLE NEW MAN BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

AND WE JUST TRAVEL.

WHAT SCHOOL DO YOU GO? TOKEN MIDDLE.

AWESOME.

WELL, HERE'S A COUPLE LITTLE GIFTS FOR YOU.

YOU HAVE TO BE SPECIAL TO GET THEM AND DON'T LOSE 'EM.

AND THAT'S VERY ENCOURAGING TO SAY THAT YOU MADE A TURN AND NOW THAT YOU'RE DOING BETTER THAN YOU WERE, JUST STAY ON THE PATH AND WE, UM, APPRECIATE YOU AND THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS.

GOOD JOB.

I CAN'T SEE WHAT IS THIS? YEAH, BUT YOU DON'T TELL ME WHAT SCHOOL THEY FROM.

I'M HIS FIRST, I WAS HIS FIRST GRADE TEACHER AND IT'S JUST BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH CHRISTIAN.

UP NEXT WE'LL HAVE CHRISTIAN LICHENS.

WHAT SCHOOL IS SHE FROM? NICE TO MEET YOU SIR.

HI CHRIS.

LIKE HIS CHARACTER TRAIT FORGIVENESS FOR APRIL.

THAT'S PRETTY AWESOME.

WHO WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT HIM AND TELL US ABOUT HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS? I WOULD LOVE TO TALK ABOUT HIM.

MY NAME'S AARON TURNER.

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I COULD, I COULD PRETTY MUCH NOMINATE HIM FOR EVERY CHARACTER TRAIT JUST BECAUSE HE IS SUCH A, AN AMAZING KID AND JUST KIND TO EVERYONE AND A HARD WORKER.

AND, UM, HE'S JUST DONE A REALLY WELL JOB THIS YEAR.

A REALLY GOOD JOB THIS YEAR AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF HIM.

AND WHAT SCHOOL IS HE? VILLE.

OKAY, GREAT.

WELL, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SPECIAL LITTLE GIFTS FOR YOU.

DON'T LOSE 'EM.

HOLD ON.

10 YEARS FROM NOW, I WANT YOU TO COME BACK AND SHOW 'EM TO US IF WE'RE STILL AROUND.

AND THIS IS FOR YOU AND YOUR MOM TO PUT ON YOUR, ARE YOU READY? OKAY.

THANK YOU PROCLAMATION.

UP NEXT WE HAVE THE JUNETEENTH PROCLAMATION, WHO WE HAVE.

IT'S GONNA COME UP AND ACCEPTANCE G WHEN MS. GW GRETCHEN, COME ON PLEASE.

SO, JUNETEENTH PROC PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS ON JANUARY 1ST, 1863, PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN SIGNED THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION, WHICH DECLARED THE ENSLAVED PEOPLES OF OUR IN ANY STATE OR DESIGNATED PART OF THE STATE TO BE.

THEN ITS FORWARD AND FOREVER FREE.

AND WHEREVER THIS PRO WHERE THIS PROCLAMATION PAVED THE WAY FOR THE PASSING OF THE 13TH AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION, WHICH FORMERLY ABOLISHED SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AND WHERE AS ON JUNE 19TH, 1865 FEDERAL ORDERS WERE READ IN GALVESTON, TEXAS REACHING THE AUTHORITIES AND AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE SOUTH AND SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES WHO HAD NOT YET RECEIVED WORD OF THE SIGNING OF EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.

AND WHEREAS ON JUNE 19TH HAS SINCE BECOME KNOWN AS FREEDOM DAY OR EMANCIPATION DATE, A HOLIDAY THAT COMMEMORATES THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE ABOLISHMENT OF SLAVERY IN TEXAS IN JUNE, 1865, 901 DAYS AFTER THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION WAS ISSUED BY PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

AND WHERE AS TO BLUFFTON JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION IS SPONSORED AND HOSTED ANNUALLY BY THE BLUFFTON HILL K OBSERVANCE COMMITTEE WITH THE NINTH ANNUAL JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION, WITH THE THEME HONORING THE PAST, CELEBRATING THE PROGRESS, BUILDING ON THE PROMISE OF FREEDOM FOR ALL.

AND AT, EXCUSE ME, AND WAREHOUSE, THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON IS COMMITTED TO PURSUING THE IDEAS OF JUSTICE, EQUALITY AND PEACE.

THE TOWN RECOGNIZES JUNETEENTH AS AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR THE PRINCIPLES AND DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND TO CELEBRATE AFRICAN AMERICAN FREEDOM WHILE REFLECTING ON THE CONTINUOUS SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS TO THE BLUFFING COMMUNITY, THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND ACROSS OUR NATION.

AND THEREFORE, IN RECOGNITION OF THE 161ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE EMANCIPATION OF ALL PEOPLE WHO WERE ENSLAVED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, I MAYOR LARRY TUBER ALONG WITH BLUFFTON TOWN COUNCIL DUE, HEREBY DECLARE JUNE 19TH, 2024 IS JUNETEENTH DAY IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, DESIGNATING IT AS A TOWN OF LOUGHTON HOLIDAY.

SO BRIDGET, TELL THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE IF YOU WOULD LIKE.

SURE.

YOU WANNA GET OUR PICTURE FIRST OR YOU WANT ME? EITHER WAY.

I GOT IT.

A LOT OF AMAZING FOOD VENDORS AND, UH, RETAIL VENDORS AS WELL.

CONGRATULATIONS FOR JOB WELL DONE.

SURE.

SO, UH, FOR THE EVERYONE AT HOME CAME HERE.

SO JUNETEENTH, THIS IS THE NINTH YEAR THAT THE BLUFF AND MLK OBSERVANCE COMMITTEE HAS HOSTED, UH, JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS.

AND WE HAVE A WEEKEND LONG OF EVENTS, UH, CULMINATING WITH FRIDAY, WHICH WILL BE A BLACK FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL EVENT AT THE BUCK WALTER PARK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.

UH, WE WILL HAVE OUR CELEBRATION OF JUNETEENTH DAY ON SATURDAY, JUNE 15TH AT BURN CHURCH DISTILLERY.

WE HAVE A HOST OF ENTERTAINERS WHO WILL BE THERE, UH, DRUM CIRCLES, GULLAH STORYTELLING,

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AND, UH, WE WILL ALSO HAVE A REENACTMENT, UM, THIS YEAR FROM, UH, A GROUP WHO REENACTS WHAT THE 54TH INFANTRY DID WHEN THEY DID ARRIVE ON HORSES AND ACTUALLY MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE, UM, EMANCIPATION.

AND SUNDAY WE END WITH A BRUNCH CELEBRATION INSIDE OF THE DISTILLERY.

AND ALL OF THE EVENTS, UM, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND OPEN TO ANYONE WHO'D LIKE TO COME AND, UM, CELEBRATE COMMUNITY WITH US.

AND SO WE ARE ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO COME OUT IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN, AND IT IS DEFINITELY A GREAT, UH, EVENT.

UM, AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE TOWN AND COLLABORATING WITH THE MLK COMMITTEE ON THIS THANK HEARING.

UP NEXT HERE, YOU KNOW, SHE'S ALREADY UP HERE, .

OKAY, SO THIS IS GONNA BE OUR NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY PROCLAMATION.

I DO NOT HAVE REMARKS.

OH YEAH, YOU'RE GONNA GET SOME.

NO, I CANNOT GIVE ANY, THAT'S MY RULE.

GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS GUN VIOLENCE TOUCHES EVERY SEGMENT OF OUR SOCIETY AND IMPACTS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES IT IN, IT INCREASES THE PROBABILITY OF DEATH IN THE INCIDENTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, RAISES THE LIKELIHOOD OF FATALITY OF BY THOSE WHO INTEND TO INJURE OTHERS.

AND AMONG THOSE WHO ATTEMPT SUICIDE, IT TAKE, IT PLACES CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE AT RISK FOR PHYSICAL HARM AND INJURY AND DIS INAPPROPRIATELY AFFECTS COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

AND WHEREAS GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH HONORS THE MANY LIVES THAT HAVE BEEN CUT SHORT BY GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY AND OUR COMMUNITY, AND SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO REDUCE GUN RELATED CRIMES IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND WHEREAS IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WHICH ASSIST FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY GUN VIOLENCE AND PROVIDE A CONTINUUM OF CARE GRIEVING TO GRIEVING PARENTS, SPOUSES, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND FRIENDS WHO MUST CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THEIR SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS.

AND WHEREAS THE TOWN SUPPORTS CONTINUED STATEWIDE EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN GUN SAFETY LAWS AND EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON GUN SAFETY STORAGE, AND WHERE IS IT APPROPRIATE? IT IS APPROPRIATE TO SET ASIDE TIME TO HONOR THOSE AMERICANS WHOSE LIVES ARE CUT SHORT EACH YEAR BY GUN VIOLENCE AND THE COUNTLESS SURVIVORS WHO LIVES ARE FOREVER ALTERED NOW.

THEREFORE, I MAYOR LARRY TUBER ALONG WITH BLUFFTON TOWN COUNCIL, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 24TH AND BLUFFTON AS GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH AND EARN URGE ALL CITIZENS, BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND AGENCIES TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I'VE SET MY HAND CLOSE ANYWAY.

SO TELL US JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY YOU ARE VERY ACCEPTING THIS.

OH, WELL, UM, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE RIGHT NOW IN THE UNITED STATES.

GUNS ARE THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF CHILDREN UNDER 18, WHICH IS JUST COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.

SO THE GROUP THAT I'M WITH, WHICH IS EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY WORKS TO PROMOTE SAFE GUN STORAGES, UH, OR SAFE GUN STORAGE LAWS AND STRENGTHEN, UM, GUN SAFETY LAWS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

VERY WORTHY.

SO MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED, AND IT COULD BE OUR KIDS.

ANYBODY AT ANY KIND? ARE YOU READY? I GOT IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE.

[VI. PUBLIC COMMENT ]

OKAY, MOVING ON.

NEXT WE'LL MOVE INTO OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS SECTION.

DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? ONE, ONE PUBLIC COMMENT.

AWARDS, BUSINESSES, SERVICES, GOODS, OR CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE.

YOUR 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 BEING CONDUCTED FROM THE PODIUM AND DIRECTED TO TOWN COUNCIL AS A WHOLE 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 AND SHALL REFRAIN FROM COMMENT OR BEHAVIOR THAT INVOLVES DISORDERLY SPEECH OR ACTION, NAME CALLING, PERSONAL ATTACK THREATS, OBSCENE OR INDECENT REMARKS AND OR DISRUPTIVE ACTIONS.

ALL SPEAKERS SHALL CONFIRM THEIR CONFINE THEIR COMMENTS TO ISSUES UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF TOWN COUNCIL.

SPEAKERS SHALL NOT USE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD TO PROMOTE OR ADVERTISE

[00:15:01]

ANY SPEAKER THAT VIOLATES THESE RULES AND PROTOCOLS FOR THE PUBLIC MAY BE FOR, FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT, MAY BE RULED OUT OF ORDER BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER.

ANY PERSON WHOSE COMMENTS HAVE BEEN RULED OUT OF ORDER SHALL IMMEDIATELY CEASE AND DESIST FROM FURTHER IMPROPER COMMENTS.

THE REFUSAL OF AN INDI INDIVIDUAL TO DE CEASE FROM THIS FURTHER, 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.

SHARON BROWN.

I'M OUT OF.

COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

WELL IF SHE COMES IN LATER, I GUESS WE CAN SEE.

ALL RIGHT.

[VII. COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR AND COUNCIL ]

WE'LL START WITH, UM, TRIPLE MIX IT UP.

I'LL MIX IT UP.

UM, I GIVE MY TIME TO DAN WOOD .

WELL, I'LL TAKE THAT TIME AND I'M GONNA PASS MY TIME TO MS. FRAZIER.

COUNCILWOMAN FRAZIER RECENTLY PARTICIPATED WITH THE HILTON HEAD SYMPHONY, AND I WOULD LIKE TO HER FOR HER TO SAY A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT FOR US.

I THINK THAT WAS A BIG, BIG DEAL.

WELL, BECAUSE DAN PUT THE REQUEST IN.

I WILL.

UM, SO I WAS ASKED BY THE HILTON HEAD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA TO PARTICIPATE IN, UM, THE SERIES THEY HAVE THAT'S CALLED GU ME, GULLAH YOU.

AND IT WAS IN CONJUNCTION WITH, UH, MYSELF AND AMUD WARD, WHO'S THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MITCHELLVILLE.

AND, UM, IT WAS THEM TALKING ABOUT STARTING JUNETEENTH ON HILTON HEAD, WHICH THIS IS THEIR 10TH YEAR CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAY.

AND, UM, WE STARTED JUNETEENTH NINE YEARS AGO IN BLUFFTON, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE HISTORY, THE ORIGINS, AND THE BACKGROUND OF IT, AND KNOWING THAT OUR AREA ACTUALLY HAD A GREATER IMPACT, WHICH SOME PEOPLE AREN'T AWARE OF.

UH, SPECIAL ORDER 15, WHICH WAS INVOLVING GENERAL SHERMAN AT THE TIME.

AND, UM, AFRICAN AMERICAN, UH, PREACHERS IN THE SAVANNAH AREA AND OUR AREA ONE WAS ACTUALLY CALLED GARRISON FRAZIER, UM, MADE UP WHAT THEY FELT THE ENSLAVED OF THE TIME, UM, WHAT NEED IN ORDER TO SURVIVE SINCE THE THE WARD ENDED IN THE UNION WAS SUCCESSFUL.

UM, BUT WE GAVE A LOT OF THE BACKGROUND OF HOW HARRIET TUBMAN AND SO MANY OTHERS ACTUALLY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR, UM, HELPING THE UNION GAIN THE SUCCESS THEY DID IN THE WAR, UM, THROUGH THAT ESPIONAGE.

AND THE LINK BETWEEN WHAT WE KNEW AS THE BURNING OF BLUFFTON ALL, UM, IS A, A PART OF WHAT WE NOW KNOW, THE CELEBRATING OF THE EMANCIPATION.

SO IT WAS A GREAT, UH, EVENT TO BE A PART OF, AND I WAS GRATEFUL TO REPRESENT BLUFFTON AND HAVE AN ASKED TO DO SO.

UM, SO THOSE WERE CONSIDERED DAN'S TIME, MY MY TIME IN COMMUNICATION.

I JUST WANTED TO, UM, CONTINUE ALONG THE LINES OF HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE CELEBRATIONS WE HAVE COMING UP.

UH, THE RECOGNITION OF JUNETEENTH, UM, IS THIS WEEKEND WE HOPE EVERYONE COMES OUT AND PARTICIPATE.

UM, HAPPY EARLY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL THE FATHERS THAT WE HAVE HERE AND IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND JUNE IS ALSO NOW KNOWN AS PRIDE MONTH.

AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A HAPPY PRIDE MONTH TO ALL OF THOSE, UH, RESIDENTS AND EVEN STAFF THAT WE HAVE WHO DO IDENTIFY WITH THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY AND HOPING THAT EVERYONE'S ENJOYING, UH, JUNE AND THAT IT DOES NOT GET TOO HOT.

UM, I JUST WANNA SAY A FEW THINGS FOR THE RECORD.

WE, WE HAD A LOT OF RESIDENTS COMPLAINING ON SUNDAY ABOUT THE MUSIC, UM, AT OYSTER FACTORY PARK FOR THE, THE FESTIVAL THAT WAS GOING ON THERE.

UM, I HEARD IT MYSELF, UM, AND I'VE DISCUSSED IT A LITTLE BIT WITH OUR TOWN MANAGER AND SOME OF COUNCIL MEMBERS.

AND FOR THE RECORD, I WANT IT TO BE, WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT OUR ORDINANCE AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.

SO HOPEFULLY THAT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

IT'S NOT DONE YET, BUT WE ARE WORKING ON IT AND I, I HEARD IT WITH MY OWN EARS AND I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO GET, UM, CHANGE OUR ORDINANCE IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES, BUT WE NEED TO ADDRESS IT.

THAT'S ALL.

UM, I'LL REITERATE WHAT YOU JUST SAID.

AND THEN ALSO, UM, I AM EXCITED AND I LOOK FORWARD.

I KNOW THE STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING HARD ON OUR 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION THAT WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 30TH WITH THE 5K AND FIREWORKS AND EVERYTHING.

SO I HOPE EVERYONE WILL COME OUT FOR THAT AS WELL.

NEXT, WE'VE GOT A PUBLIC HEARING AND FINAL

OKAY,

[VIII.1. Consideration of an Ordinance Approving the Town of Bluffton Fiscal Year 2025 Proposed Consolidated Budget. – Public Hearing and Final Reading – Stephen Steese, Town Manager ]

[00:20:01]

READING FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE TOWN OF BLACKTON PHYSICAL YEAR 2025, PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED BUDGET.

SO RIGHT THIS TIME WE WILL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING FOR COMMENTS.

FIRST CALL FOR COMMENTS ON THE BUDGET.

SECOND CALL FOR COMMENTS ON THE BUDGET.

THIRD CALL.

SEEING NONE, PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.

MR. CEASE? YES, SIR, I WILL.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I WILL GO THROUGH THIS A LITTLE QUICKER THAN I HAVE THE PAST THREE TIMES THAT WE'VE HAD THREE MINUTES WORKSHOPS, .

UM, BUT AGAIN, IT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO GO THROUGH THIS FOR THOSE WHO COULD OR COULD NOT BE AT SPECIFIC MEETINGS.

SO THERE ARE STILL QUITE A NUMBER OF SLIDES, BUT FEWER THAN FIRST READING, FEWER THAN OUR WORKSHOPS.

BUT IT, AGAIN, WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH EVERY, UM, UH, THE DETAILS OF THE BUDGET.

UM, SO THIS IS OUR, UH, BUDGET PROCESS.

WE'RE AT THE LAST STEP, WHICH IS JUNE 11TH, WHICH IS THE, UH, PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING.

SHOULD COUNSEL APPROVE ITS SECOND READING TONIGHT.

THE BUDGET WILL GO INTO EFFECT JULY 1ST AND RUN JULY 1ST, 2024 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2025.

SO, UH, ONE CHANGE THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE SINCE, UM, FIRST READING ON MAY 14TH IS THE TOWN RECEIVED A GRANT, UM, IN THE AMOUNT OF $144,000 TO SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

IT CAME FROM THE BEAUFORT JASPER HOUSING TRUST AND IT IS TO HELP THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

AND IT IS AT NINE ADDITIONAL $9,000 PER, UM, HOME THAT WE GO GO TO REPAIR THAT WE CAN, UH, SUPPLEMENT TO MAKE SURE OUR MONEY GOES FURTHER.

UM, SO THAT'S THE ONLY CHANGE THAT'S BEEN MADE BETWEEN FIRST READING AND SECOND READING.

SO I'M GONNA GO THROUGH THE PROPOSED BUDGET OVERVIEW, AND AGAIN, I'M GONNA GO THROUGH THIS PRETTY QUICKLY SINCE WE'VE, UH, DONE THIS NUMEROUS TIMES.

UM, BUT OVERALL THE BUDGET IS, UH, ABOUT 90,620,000 FOR THE TOWN.

IT IS DOWN ABOUT 1.8 MILLION FROM THE PREVIOUS BUDGET.

THE MAJORITY OF THAT IS FROM THE REDUCTION IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FUND FROM WHERE WE'RE COMPLETING PROJECTS AND CARRYING LESS MONEY FORWARD.

UM, THE GENERAL FUND OVERALL IS UP ABOUT, UH, $760,000, WHICH IS A 2.4% INCREASE, BUT OVERALL, THE OVERALL TOWN BUDGET IS DOWN ABOUT 2% OVER WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE, UH, DO IS WE HAVE INTER INTER FUND TRANSFERS.

THESE ARE DEPARTMENTS THAT TRANSFER MONEY TO SUPPORT OTHER PRO OTHER DEPART OTHER, UH, FUNDS.

SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HIGHLIGHT WHERE THE FUNDS ARE MOVING WITHIN THE BUDGET.

SO YOU CAN SEE IN THE GENERAL FUND, UM, WHAT TRANSFERS INTO THOSE DEPARTMENTS.

YOU CAN SEE HOSPITALITY, LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS, TAX STORM, WATER FUNDS AND SO FORTH.

DOWN, YOU CAN SEE THE BIGGEST ONE IS OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND, AND THAT IS ALL THE TRANSFER ENDS COME FROM THE DIFFERENT, UH, FUNDS TO DO CAPITAL PROJECTS, UH, WITH THE MAJORITY COMING FROM HOSPITALITY AND THEN BROKEN UP KIND OF EVEN, I'M SORRY, UH, DEBT SERVICE WITH THE, UH, REST OF IT BROKEN UP OVER HOSPITALITY, LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS AND SO FORTH.

AND WE HAVE SLIDES IN HERE THAT WE'LL GET INTO MORE DETAIL ON THAT.

THIS IS JUST THE OVERVIEW OF IT.

UM, THERE IS A COUPLE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE.

WE'VE GONE OVER THESE AGAIN, UM, PREVIOUSLY.

UH, ONE IS ADDING A FEE FOR A THUMB DRIVE FOR ANYTHING THE POLICE HAS TO FILL THAT IS LARGER THAN A CD.

UM, AS YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T HOLD WHAT THEY USED TO COMPARED TO THE SIZE OF DOCUMENTS NOW.

SO WHEN THINGS ARE TWO OR THREE GIGABYTES, IT REQUIRES A THUMB DRIVE OVER A CD.

UM, WE'VE ADDED IN, UH, CALLS FOR RECHECKING, UH, ADDITIONAL BUILDING, UM, FEES, OUR PERMITS, OUR PLANS, UM, WE TALKED ABOUT THE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT FEES FOR THE POST INSPECTION FOLLOW UP INSPECTIONS, AND THEN ALSO REINSPECTION AFTER STOCK WORK ORDERS.

SO SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE CONSOLIDATED BUDGET.

IT DOES RECOGNIZE A SLIGHT, UH, SLOWDOWN IN GROWTH.

THIS HAS TO DO THE SLOWDOWN, HAS TO DO WITH THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE.

IT'S NOT NEARLY AS, UH, PROLIFIC AS IT WAS A COUPLE YEARS AGO DURING COVID, BUT WE ARE STARTING TO SEE COMMERCIAL PICKUP, BUT COMMERCIAL MOVES AT A SLOWER PACE THAN RESIDENTIAL DOES, AND ALSO COMES IN IN, UM, ONE BIG LUMP VERSUS COMING IN OVER INDIVIDUAL PROPERTIES WITHIN A DEVELOPMENT OVER TIME.

UM, IT DOES HOLD OUR PROPERTY TAXES, OUR TAX MILLAGE, UH, THE SAME AS IT, UM, WAS IN THE CURRENT BUDGET YEAR, WHICH IS 36 MILLS.

IT ALSO FOCUSES ON TOWN COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, ENHANCING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, AND DOING COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND CELEBRATIONS.

IT ALSO WORKS TO KEEP OUR, UH, PAY COMPETITIVE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.

THEY'RE OUR MOST IMPORTANT PART OF OUR,

[00:25:01]

UM, OPERATIONS IS WE HAVE TO HAVE GOOD QUALITY PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE TO OUR CITIZENS.

SO IT DOES INCLUDE A COST OF LIVING INCREASE OF 2% AND A CLASS AND COMP STUDY UP TO SEVEN.

THAT SEVEN DOES INCLUDE THE 2%, UM, COLA.

SO EVERYBODY WILL BE BETWEEN, UM, TWO AND SEVEN WITHIN THAT RANGE.

AND THEN A MID-YEAR MERIT INCREASE OF 2%, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

UM, IT CONTINUES TO INVEST IN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.

THESE ARE OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS.

YOU CAN SEE THE SEWER, STREET SCAPES, PARKS, AND WE'LL GO THROUGH WHERE THOSE, WHERE THOSE, UH, PROJECTS ARE IN A LITTLE BIT.

AGAIN, IT KEEPS UP OUR STRATEGIC INTERAGENCY PARTNERSHIPS.

YOU CAN SEE THOSE HERE AS WELL.

UM, PARTNERING WITH OUR LOCAL AGENCIES LIKE USCB, THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR OUR CROSSING GUARDS AND OUR SROS, DON RYAN CENTER FOR INNOVATION, UM, AS WELL AS OUR NEW, UM, ABILITY TO USE OUR ACCOMMODATIONS TAX FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS AND PARTNERING WITH OUR DMO, WHICH IS ON THE AGENDA LATER TONIGHT TO CONTINUE OUR AGREEMENT WITH THEM.

SO OUR ESTIMATED VALUE OF A MILL, THIS IS WHERE WE SEE THE GROWTH THAT WE'VE SEEN IN BLUFFTON AND THE INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUES CAPTURED.

YOU CAN SEE SINCE OUR CURRENT FISCAL YEAR TO OUR PROPOSED BUDGET, OUR, UH, NEXT FISCAL YEAR, WE'VE SEEN THE ESTIMATED VALUE INCREASE BY ALMOST $90 MILLION.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS A MEAL NOW IS WORTH ABOUT $90,000 MORE THAN WHAT IT WAS LAST YEAR.

UM, AND OVERALL YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE MILLAGE OF THE TOWN GOES, 34.3 INTO THE GENERAL FUND OPERATIONS, AND THEN 1.7 INTO OUR GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT TO SERVICE THAT, THAT DEBT.

SO A TOTAL OF 36 MIL, SAME AS THE CURRENT YEAR.

SO WE'RE GONNA GO INTO THE FUNDS INDIVIDUALLY NOW.

SO THE GENERAL FUND IS MOSTLY WHERE WE PERFORM THE TOWN'S DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OUT OF, IT'S WHAT MOST PEOPLE THINK OF WHEN THEY THINK OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS.

UM, THIS RIGHT HERE GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHERE OUR KIND OF, HOW OUR REVENUES AND OUR EXPENDITURES ARE KIND OF LUMPED IN THE CATEGORIES.

WE CAN KIND OF, WE'LL GO INTO A LITTLE BIT, UM, UM, MORE DETAIL IN A MINUTE.

BUT YOU CAN SEE WHERE, UM, THE DIFFERENT REVENUE SOURCES COME FROM OF THE TOP WITH PROPERTY TAXES MAKING UP, UH, ABOUT $10 MILLION OF THE REVENUE, UH, ABOUT 12 MILLION COMING FROM LICENSE AND PERMITS.

THAT'S YOUR BUSINESS LICENSE AND BUILDING PERMITS.

AND THEN GRANTS AND ENTITLEMENTS.

YOU CAN SEE THAT NUMBER IS UP SIGNIFICANTLY.

IT'S UP ALMOST A HUNDRED PERCENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

UH, THE LARGE PORTION OF THAT IS THE $1.6 MILLION WE RECEIVE FROM SENATOR GRAHAM'S OFFICE TO GO, UH, TO REPLACE POLICE EQUIPMENT.

AND AGAIN, THOSE GRANTS ARE FOR ONE TIME PURCHASES THAT WILL TAKE PLACE.

SO THAT'S WHY THAT NUMBER FLUCTUATES YEAR TO YEAR.

UM, YOU CAN ALSO SEE SOME OF THE TRANSFERS IN FROM HOSPITALITY, UH, THE LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS, STATE ACCOMMODATIONS, AND WE WILL BREAK THOSE OUT LATER ON WHAT THEY'RE SUPPORTING.

ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, YOU CAN SEE AGAIN, THE BIGGEST EXPENSE WE HAVE IS OUR EMPLOYEES.

THEY'RE, UM, WHAT MAKE THE TOWN THE TOWN AND MAKE US BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SUCH EXCELLENT SERVICES.

UM, YOU CAN SEE THAT INCREASE IN THE COST FOR SALARIES AND BENEFITS.

PART OF THAT IS AN INCREASE TO THE INSURANCE THAT WE HAVE.

IT'S UP, UM, 11.8%, UM, OVER THE CURRENT YEAR.

UM, THAT'S OUR HEALTH INSURANCE.

AND THEN YOU CAN ALSO WITH THE CLASS AND COMP AND THE INCREASE, UM, FOR MID-YEAR MERIT, THAT, THAT MAKES UP THE DIFFERENCE IN THE OTHER PART OF THE INCREASE THERE.

SO WHAT'S ALL INCLUDED? SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS IN THE GENERAL FUND.

WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THESE.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE CLASS AND COMP AND THE MERIT AND COLA INCREASES.

DOES CONTINUE OUR PTO OPTION TO, UH, PAY OUT UP TO 25 HOURS FOR EMPLOYEES.

UM, AGAIN MENTIONED THE 11.8% HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASE THAT WE'RE SEEING FROM THE STATE, UH, PBA.

AND IT ALSO HAS SOME NEW PHYSICIANS IN PROPOSED IN THERE WITHIN THE COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

UM, WE WILL BE, WE WILL BE OPENING THE, UM, SQUIRE POPE CARRIAGE HOUSE AS THE WELCOME CENTER FOR THE TOWN.

THE TARGET DATE FOR THAT IS TILL JANUARY 1ST.

UM, ONCE THAT'S IN PLACE WE'LL HAVE, UM, WE'LL ACTUALLY HIRE THE FULL-TIME PERSON AHEAD OF TIME TO HELP US FINALIZE THE OPERATIONS AND GETTING IT READY TO RUN.

SO THAT'LL BE WHAT THAT POSITION'S FOR.

AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A PART-TIME PERSON THAT WILL HELP AND SUPPORT ONCE THE OPERATIONS CENTER IS UP AND RUN.

UM, THE WELCOME CENTER IS UP AND RUNNING.

UM, POLICE, WE HAVE A FULL-TIME COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER THAT WILL HELP, UM, WITH THEM COORDINATING COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS AND SO, AND, UM, OTHER MARKETING THINGS FOR THE POLICE, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL AS, UM, PR PRESS RELEASES AND COORDINATE WITH THE, UM, COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S COORDINATION THERE.

UM, IT ALSO INCREASES OUR CROSSING GUARDS BY ONE TO EIGHT.

UM, THIS WILL, THAT NEW ONE WILL BE STATIONED AT MAY RIVER TO HELP WITH SOME OF

[00:30:01]

THE CONGESTION AND TRAFFIC COMING OUT OF THAT SCHOOL COMPLEX ONTO NEW RIVERSIDE ROAD.

AND WE HAVE THREE NEW PUBLIC SERVICE WORKER POSITIONS.

THESE ARE ALL FULL-TIME POSITIONS AND THEY RECOGNIZE THE GROWTH THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE NUMBER OF PARKS AND FACILITIES THAT TOWN MAINTAINS AND THAT WE NEED TO HAVE ADDITIONAL HEALTH AND BEING ABLE TO, UM, KEEP THOSE UP TO THE QUALITY THAT WE EX EXPECT FOR OUR CITIZENS.

UM, A FEW OTHERS.

IT DOES CONTINUE OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND STAFF CERTIFICATIONS.

IT KEEPS OUR TRASH COLLECTION, UM, WITH, UM, IN PLACE AND RECOGNIZES THE POTENTIAL.

WE, WE DID RECEIVE NOTIFICATION THAT IT WILL CAP OUT AT OUR 3% FOR THE INCREASE THAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO, UM, RECOUP EACH YEAR.

UM, IT SUPPORTS OUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

AGAIN, I MENTIONED DON RYAN.

UM, SO IT SUPPORTS ALL OF OUR CONTINUING, UM, STAFF PROGRAMS. ALSO CONTINUE SOME OF OUR OTHER PROGRAMS HERE HAVE THOSE OUTLINED AS WELL AS CONTINUING OUR VEHICLE LEASE PROGRAM THAT WE'RE DOING FOR THE POLICE VEHICLES.

AND IT ALSO OFFICERS OFFERS, OFFERS A COUPLE ENHANCEMENTS TO EMPLOYEE PROGRAMS. WE TALKED ABOUT THESE MORE IN DETAIL, BUT ONE IS PROPOSED ONSITE, UH, WELLNESS CLINIC FOR EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS AN EMPLOYER HOME BUYING ASSISTANCE, WHICH, UM, WE WORKSHOPPED WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE LAST WEEK.

SO WE'LL, WE'LL BE BRINGING THAT TO COUNCIL SHOULD THIS CONTINUE FORWARD AND LOOK TO SET THAT, THOSE PROGRAMS IN PLACE.

SO MOVING ON TO SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS.

NOW THESE ARE OUR HOSPITALITY AND LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS TAX FUNDS.

SO OUR HOSPITALITY TAX IS THE 2% THAT'S COLLECTED ON GROSS SALES OF PREPARED MEALS AND BEVERAGES THROUGHOUT THE TOWN.

OVERALL, THAT FUND, UM, GENERATES IN REVENUES A LITTLE OVER $4 MILLION AND THEN YOU CAN SEE OUR EXPENDITURES, UM, ARE ACTUALLY A LOT HIGHER THAN THAT.

UM, A LOT OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS WHERE WE'LL BE TRANSFERRING OUT.

UM, WE'LL GO THROUGH THE DETAILS HERE OF THAT IN A SECOND.

ACTUALLY YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE TRANSFER IN FROM THE PRIOR YEAR FUND BALANCE.

I MISSED THAT, I APOLOGIZE.

SO THESE ARE THE CAPITAL PRO WHERE THE MONEY THAT'S BEING TRANSFERRED OUT TO GO, UM, OUT OF HOSPITALITY, UM, IT'S BEING REC TRANSFERRED OUT TO CAPITAL PROJECTS.

ABOUT 5 MILLION OF IT IS GOING IN THERE TO SUPPORT CAPITAL PROJECTS.

YOU CAN SEE THE LIST OF THAT HERE AND AT WHAT LEVELS YOU'LL SEE THAT MOST OF THEM HAVE TO DO WITH PARKS, UM, AS WELL AS, UH, UH, PROJECTS WITHIN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT AND STREETSCAPES.

OUTSIDE OF THAT, WE DO MAKE A TRANSFER TO THE GENERAL FUND AND THESE ARE THE ITEMS THAT IT OFFSETS.

UM, YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF IT ARE PERSONNEL, LIKE COMMUNITY COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

THEY PUT ON THE TOWN'S EVENTS.

THE FUNDING FOR MOST OF THE TOWN'S EVENTS LIKE THE, UM, FIREWORKS FOR THE JULY FESTIVAL THAT WAS MENTIONED, OUR MOVIE EVENTS CONCERT SERIES THAT WILL START THIS FALL, THOSE ALL COME OUT OF OUR HOSPITALITY TAX FUND.

SO, UM, THE PERSONNEL THAT PUTS THOSE ON THAT CALLS GETS TRANSFERRED IN TO OFFSET THAT WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND.

AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT, UM, SUPPORT THE DIFFERENT EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE TOWN AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC SERVICES THAT DOES CLEAN UP, HELPS SET UP, HELPS CLEAN, UM, HELPS COORDINATE THE EVENTS AS WELL.

AND THEN DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY USE IT FOR, LIKE THE ROTARY CENTER WHERE WE HAVE, UM, PEOPLE RENT, UM, SQUIRE POPE CARRIAGE HOUSE, WHICH IS GONNA BE THE WELCOME CENTER.

AND THEN TOWN WIDE IT DOES STREET LIGHTING AND IT ALSO DOES OUR TRANSPORTATION PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BLUFFTON BREEZE WHO PRESENTED AT OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP.

THE LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS TAX, IT'S EQUIVALENT TO 3% ON GROSS PROCEEDS TO READ FROM, DERIVED FROM RENTAL OR CHARGES FOR SLEEPING ACCOMMODATIONS.

THAT'S MOSTLY AIRBNB HOTELS.

SO OVERALL THAT'S ANTICIPATED TO DECREASE A LITTLE BIT OVER LAST YEAR.

UM, WE'RE SEEING THE RATES AS WELL AS THE, UM, YOU HEARD FROM THE UM, DMO AT ONE OF THE WORKSHOPS THAT WE'RE SEEING.

UM, RENTAL RATES, THE COST PER ROOM, AS WELL AS THE RATES OF OCCUPANCY DOWN A LITTLE BIT OVER WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR.

SO WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT TO DECREASE SLIGHTLY ABOUT 15, 16%.

UM, AND THEN WE, YOU'LL SEE UNDER THE EXPENDITURE EXPENDITURES, THE MAJORITY OF THAT GOES OUT TO AGAIN, OUR CIP FUND TO FUND CAPITAL PROJECTS AND SOME GOES INTO THE GENERAL FUND TO OFFSET EXPENSES AS WELL.

SO FOR THE CAPITAL PROJECTS, THIS GIVES YOU THE BREAKDOWN OF THAT.

THEN INTO THE GENERAL FUND.

AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE, UM, COMMUNITY OUTREACH FOR THE WELCOME CENTER.

UM, OUR BL BLUFFTON AMBASSADORS PROGRAM POLICE FOR SPECIAL EVENTS,

[00:35:01]

COMMUNITY SERVICE ASSISTANCE, THAT'S, UH, OFFSET SOME OF THE CALLS FOR THE TWO OF THOSE YOU SEE, UM, OPERATING WITH AN OLD TOWN.

AND THEN, UM, AGAIN, WORKFORCE HOUSING.

SO WORKFORCE HOUSING, THIS IS A NEW ONE THIS YEAR AND THAT'S, YOU'LL HEAR FROM KEVIN LATER ON, AMENDING THE COMP PLAN SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN, UM, USING 15% OF LOCAL AND STATE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX TO GO TOWARDS WORKFORCE HOUSING.

THIS IS, UH, SOMETHING THE STATE ALLOWED US AS PART OF THE, UM, LAW THEY PUT INTO PLACE LAST, LAST, UM, LEGISLATIVE SESSION, BUT IT CAME WITH SOME STIPULATIONS FOR LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS TAX.

WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMP PLAN CURRENTLY MEETS THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THAT.

WE'RE AMENDING THE COMP PLAN TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE EVERYTHING THAT'S REQUIRED FOR THE STATE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX.

SO, UH, THE 15% FROM LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS TAX IS RECOMMENDED TO GO TO SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMS. THAT WOULD BE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

THE ONE FROM UH, STATE A TAX IS RECOMMENDED TO GO TO SUPPORT OUR PROJECTS LIKE OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT ON 10 95 MAY RIVER OR ANY OTHER, UM, PROGRAMS OR PROJECTS WE MAY WANNA PUT IN PLACE MOVING FORWARD.

NEXT IS THE STORM WATER FUND.

SO THIS IS A CHARGE THAT SHOWS UP ON, UM, PROPERTY TAXES, BILL STORMWATER FEE, AS WELL AS IT'S COLLECTED THROUGH PERMITS THAT WE RECEIVE TO OPERATE THE TOWN STORMWATER SYSTEM.

WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO SO AS PART OF THE MS FOUR PROGRAM IS A REQUIREMENT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO THE STATE AND THEN FROM THE STATE TO US.

SO WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO THE, TO IMPLEMENT THIS AS, UM, BY BOTH AGENCIES.

UM, WE DO PARTNER WITH USCB TO DO MONITORING SERVICES AND MICROBIAL MICROBIAL SOURCE TRACKING AND THIS CONTINUES TO KEEP THOSE IN PLACE.

AS YOU CAN SEE, IT IS ESTIMATED TO, UM, GENERATE IN REVENUE ABOUT 2.4, 2.46, UM, IN MILLION.

THE MAJORITY OF THAT COMING FROM THE STORMWATER UTILITY FEE.

AND THEN A LITTLE, UH, ABOUT A LITTLE SHORT OF 400,000 COMING FROM, UM, PERMIT LICENSES AND PERMIT FEES THAT WE COLLECT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

UM, WE ARE TRANSFERRING IN PRIOR YEAR FUND BALANCE TO MAKE UP THE REST OF IT, BUT A LOT OF THAT IS GOING OUT TO CIP PROJECTS THAT WE FUND, UM, WITH STORMWATER AS WELL AS DEBT SERVICE THAT WE HAVE DEBT OBLIGATIONS AGAINST STORMWATER, OUR STORMWATER ACCOUNT, AS WELL AS SUPPORTING THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE OPERATIONS OF THE STORMWATER DEPARTMENT.

SO TO GIVE YOU A BREAKDOWN OF THOSE TRANSFER OUTS, YOU CAN SEE THE PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING FUNDED TOTAL ABOUT 1.28 MILLION AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT COMES INTO THE, UM, TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS.

AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE 2020 A GO BOND THAT IT'S PAYING THE DEBT ON OF ABOUT 300,000 BUCKS.

THE NEXT TO LAST IS OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, UH, PROGRAM.

SO THE FUNDING FROM THIS COMES FROM ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT OTHER FUNDING SOURCES AS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.

AND THEN IT GOES OUT TO A LOT OF CLUSTER OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS.

THEY'RE KIND OF CLUSTERED IN A DIFFERENT THING.

UM, CATEGORIES IN THE BOTTOM DOWN THERE.

UM, WE'LL SHOW THOSE A LITTLE MORE IN DETAIL IN A MINUTE, BUT YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE FACILITIES, HOUSING, LAND ACQUISITION, PARK PROJECTS, ROADS, STORMWATER AND SEWER.

OVERALL, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET IS A LITTLE OVER $33 MILLION PROPOSED FOR FISCAL YEAR 25.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE THAT IS ABOUT A FOUR AND A HALF MILLION DECREASE FROM THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.

THIS SHEET IS VERY, UH, BUSY.

UM, THIS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE AS SOON AS WE'RE DONE.

UM, BUT THIS IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT, UH, WAS IN THAT WE WENT THROUGH MORE DETAIL DURING OUR, UM, WORKSHOP ON CAPITAL PROJECTS.

WHERE THIS DOES IS IT GIVES YOU A BREAKDOWN OF ALL THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS ON THE LEFT, AND THEN IT TELLS YOU WHICH FUNDING SOURCES ARE ACTUALLY FUNDING THE PROJECT TO GET IT TO COMPLETION.

SO YOU HAVE HOSPITALITY TAX ON THE FAR LEFT, THEN LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS, STATE A TAX, UM, STORMWATER FEES, TIF, UM, BOND, UH, REVENUE, AND THEN TRANSFERRING FROM GENERAL FUND AS WELL AS, UH, CARRYING FORWARD FROM THE FUND BALANCE.

SO AGAIN, UH, BUSY BUT TRYING TO CONSOLIDATE COMPARED TO PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS, WHERE DO THESE CAPITAL PROJECTS TAKE PLACE? AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY GO ON THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE TOWN.

UM, YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE PARK PROJECTS, UM, SOME OF THE LAND ACQUISITION THAT WE'VE DONE, SEWER PROJECTS WITH STONY CREEK AND SO FORTH OUT OF THE TOWN.

AND THEN YOU CAN SEE A LOT IN OLD TOWN.

UM, SOME OF THESE ARE INDIVIDUAL SEWER PROJECTS, LIKE WE HAVE 4, 5, 6 OLD TOWN SEWER PROJECTS AS WELL AS SEVERAL, UM, SEVERAL STREET SCAPES THROUGHOUT OLD TOWN.

[00:40:02]

SO LAST IS DEBT SERVICE FUND.

SO THIS IS WHERE, UM, WE USE TO PAY OUR, OUR DEBT AND OBLIGATIONS, UH, FOR PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST THAT WE HAVE TAKEN FOR LONG-TERM DEBT.

UM, THE REVENUE FROM THIS MOSTLY COMES FROM THE GENERAL FUND AS WELL AS SOME STORMWATER FUND FOR THE, UM, FROM THE ONE YOU CAN SEE ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, IT GIVES YOU THE FOUR DIFFERENT BONDS THAT WE'RE PAYING FOR.

WE HAVE THE 2014 TIF BOND, THE 2022 TIF BOND, THE 2020 GO AND THE 2020 A GO BOND DEBT SERVICE ALSO TRANSFERS OUT AND FOR PROJECTS.

SO YOU CAN SEE WHERE SOME OF THOSE DEBT SERVICE FUNDS ARE BEING USED.

THOSE WOULD BE THE SEWER PROJECTS AND UM, LIKE THE SEWER REVENUE THAT WE HAVE FROM THE STORMWATER BOND, NOT SEWER STORMWATER BOND, AS WELL AS LIKE TIFF IS GOING INTO THE NEW RIVERSIDE, UH, PARK BARN SITE.

SO AFTER THE DEBT SERVICES TAKES US BACK TO OUR CONSOLIDATED BUDGET, WHICH, UM, BRINGS US KIND OF FULL CIRCLE AND IT GIVES YOU A BREAKDOWN OF ALL THE FUNDS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

YOU CAN SEE THE GENERAL FUND, UH, SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS THAT WE WENT THROUGH, THE STORM MORTAR FUND, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FUND AND DEBT SERVICE FUND FOR A TOTAL CONSOLIDATE BUDGET OF OF $90,620,863.

UM, SO THAT BRINGS US TO WHERE WE ARE TONIGHT, WHICH IS FOR SECOND AND FINAL READING, AND I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT COUNSEL MAY HAVE AND ADDRESS ANYTHING THAT I MAY HAVE NOT HIT THAT WE TALKED ABOUT DURING ONE OF THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS THAT YOU MAY WANT ME TO ADDRESS.

EMILY, I'M GOOD.

BRIDGET? YES.

GUESS WHAT? ? WHAT? OH, YOU'RE GOOD DANA.

QUESTION.

UM, SO IN THE LAST SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS, WE HAVE LOWERED THE MILLAGE FROM 40.35 TO 36.

UM, AFTER THE LAST ASSESSMENT WE, WE LOWERED IT.

DID THE COUNTY LOWER THEIRS OR DID THEY HOLD THEIRS? DID JUST GO UP.

DO YOU? NO, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WOULD KNOW THAT ANSWER TO THAT.

I COULD GET IT FOR YOU.

I WAS JUST CURIOUS.

WAS JUST CURIOUS.

I, I'M, I HATE TO SAY MAKE AN ASSUMPTION, BUT I THINK WITH THE INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUES, I'M ASSUMING THEY PROBABLY DID DECREASE THEIR MILLAGE RATE AS WELL.

BUT I'D HAVE TO GET AN ANSWER TO YOU.

I DON'T KNOW THAT.

AND THEN THE ONLY PART, OTHER PART OF THAT IS I THINK THE SCHOOL BOARD IS HAVING EITHER HAD OR IS HAVING LIKE A FOUR MILL INCREASE OR THEY NOT, I THINK THERE WAS PROPOSED FOR AN INCREASE.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT LEVEL.

I KNOW THEY'RE TRYING TO GET, UM, PAY UP FOR THEIR TEACHERS, UM, BUT I'M NOT SURE AT WHAT LEVEL THEY PROPOSED AN INCREASE.

THE REASON I MENTIONED THIS IS NOT TO, YOU KNOW, HOWEVER ANYBODY ELSE DOES THEIR BUSINESS AS THEIR BUSINESS.

IT'S JUST THE FACT THAT, SO OUR CITIZENS DO REALIZE THAT WE'RE VERY COGNIZANT OF HOW WE SPEND THE MONEY, ESPECIALLY WITH MILLAGE.

AND SO WE HAVE PROVIDED A LOT OF IT BACK OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS.

AND ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LEDGER SHEET BEING WHEN THE COUNTY OR SCHOOLS, IT HELPS OFFSET SOME OF THAT.

YES, SIR.

AND WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT DURING OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP ABOUT WHAT THE ACTUAL TOWN MILLAGE AND HOW IT BREAKS DOWN AS A AVERAGE HOME VALUE.

UM, AND I THINK OVERALL THE TOWN'S, WHAT, WHAT IS REMITTED BACK TO THE TOWN FROM PROPERTY TAXES IS ABOUT A QUARTER OF WHAT'S ACTUALLY PAID IN YOUR TOTAL PROPERTY TAX BILL BECAUSE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE FIRE DISTRICT, THE COUNTY, AND THE COUNTY COLLECTIONS WE MAKE OF ABOUT A QUARTER OF AN AVERAGE TAX BILL.

YES SIR.

SO DO WE, NO MORE DISCUSSION.

DO WE HAVE A, A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2025 PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED BUDGET? SO MOVE WE HAVE A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

MAYOR, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT THANK COUNCIL FOR THEIR, THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROCESS FOR FINANCE, FOR NATALIE, FOR SENIOR STAFF, CHRIS AND EVERYBODY WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED TO GET THE BUDGET TO WHERE IT IS AND TO GET IT TO ADOPTION.

SO THANK Y'ALL FOR APPROVING TONIGHT.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO FORMAL AGENDA ITEMS. THANKS.

YEAH, DID A GREAT JOB.

OKAY,

[IX.1. Destination Marketing Organization Annual Marketing Plan and Consideration of a Resolution for the FY2025 Budget and Marketing Plan Presented by the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce in Accordance with Contract 2022-35 as the Town of Bluffton’s Designated Marketing Organization. – Ariana Pernice, Vice-President Visitor & Convention Bureau, Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and Natalie Majorkiewicz, Director of Finance ]

UP NEXT IS DESIGNATE AND MARKETING ASSOCIATE ORGANIZATION ANNUAL MARKETING PLAN AND CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION FOR THE 2025 BUDGET AND MARKETING PLAN PRESENTED BY HILTON

[00:45:01]

HEAD ISLAND, BLUFFTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONTRACT NUMBER 2022 DASH 35 AS THE TOWN OF LUTON'S DESIGNATED MARKETING ORGANIZATION.

ARI BERNICE, VICE PRESIDENT AND VISITOR OF VISITOR CONVENTION BUREAU.

AND NATALIE, I'LL BE PRESENT.

HI, NATALIE.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I'M HAPPY, UM, TO PRESENT THE, THE DMO UM, FOR RESOLUTION.

JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.

UM, THE STATE REQUIRES THAT 30% OF STATE ACCOMMODATIONS TAXI MANAGED BY A SELECTED OR ORGANIZATION AND THAT THE SELECTED ORGANIZATION PROVIDE A, AN ANNUAL BUDGET, UM, FOR REVIEW EACH YEAR.

UM, THIS BUDGET DID GO BEFORE ATAC ON MAY 21ST.

IT ALSO, UM, WAS PRESENTED AT THE SECOND BUDGET WORKSHOP TO TOWN COUNCIL.

UM, THE FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS TAX AS IT HAS IN TWO PRIOR FISCAL YEARS.

UM, AND THIS WILL BE YEAR THREE OF THE CONTRACT.

AND AFTER THAT WE WILL HAVE TO GO BACK OUT FOR AN RFP.

UM, THIS IS THE BUDGET.

UM, THEY ARE PROPOSING $350,000 FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, AND ARIANA IS IN THE AUDIENCE.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

UM, STAFF DOES RECOMMEND THAT TOWN COUNCIL APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AND THEN UPON, SO TOWN MANAGER, UM, IS AUTHORIZED TO THEN SIGN IT FOR FISCAL YEAR 25.

THIS RESOLUTION WILL BE FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, WHICH STARTS ON JULY 1ST.

AND AGAIN, UM, THIS WILL BE YEAR THREE OF THE CONTRACT.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL? OKAY, SOMEBODY LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET AND MARKETING PLAN PRESENTED BY THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND BUFTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONTRACT 2 0 2 2 DASH 35 AS A TOWN OF BLUFFTON DESIGNATED MARKETING ORGANIZATIONS.

NEXT WE HAVE A CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE AMENDING THE TOWN OF BLUFFING, CODE OF ORDINANCE CHAPTER 24, TAXATION SECOND AND FINAL READING.

ANY MORE DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

[IX.2. Consideration of an Ordinance Amending the Town of Bluffton Code of Ordinances, Chapter 24, Taxation. - Second & Final Reading - Natalie Majorkiewicz, Director of Finance ]

AND MS. NATALIE, IS STILL THERE? I'M STILL HERE EVERY TIME I LOOK DOWN.

I LOOKED BACK UP HERE.

UM, THIS IS SECOND READING.

UM, THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES SINCE FIRST READING, BUT JUST A QUICK NOTE THAT THIS PRESENTATION WAS ALSO GIVEN TO ATAC AT ITS MEETING AND THERE WERE NO COMMENTS OR RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE.

UM, AND THIS IS FOR SECOND READING AND I'M HAPPY TO GO THROUGH THE, THE ADDITIONAL SLIDES IF YOU LIKE, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES.

SCOTTON FROM COUNCIL? EMILY? NO.

RED BRIDGET? NO.

PAM AND I HAVE ANY.

I HAVE NONE.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE OF MANY OF THE TOWN OF LUNER COURT OF ORDINANCE CHAPTER 24.

TAXATION AS PRESENTED.

WE HAVE A SECOND.

HAVE DISCUSSION.

OKAY, UP NEXT WE HAVE CONSIDERATION OF ACCOMMODATIONS.

[IX.3. Consideration of Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee Funding Recommendations for Quarter Ending March 31, 2024. - Natalie Majorkiewicz, Director of Finance ]

TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE QUARTER ENDING MARCH 34, 20 24.

NATALIE .

UM, WE HAD SIX APPLICANTS, UM, FOR THIS QUARTER, UM, WITH FIVE HAVING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUNDINGS AND I'LL GO THROUGH EACH ONE.

UM, BUT FEEL FREE TO STOP ME.

DO WE WANT TO DISCUSS EACH ONE AND VOTE ON IT OR HOW WE'RE GOING TO STEAL? UM, THEY'RE LISTED UNDERNEATH INDIVIDUALLY SO THAT YOU CAN VOTE ON THEM INDIVIDUALLY.

SO SHE'S GONNA TALK ABOUT 'EM ALL FIRST AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND VOTE OR ARE YOU DOING 'EM INDIVIDUALLY? INDIVIDUALLY, CORRECT.

INDIVIDUALLY, YEP.

OKAY, SO WE'LL VOTE EACH TIME? YES SIR.

CURRENTLY THERE IS $938 $38,461 AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION FROM STATE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX FUNDS.

SO THE TOTAL RECOMMENDED AMOUNT FROM ATAC IS $148,632.

[00:50:03]

AND THIS IS JUST A SUMMARY OF SUMMARY, THE, UM, REQUESTED AMOUNTS AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE.

THE FIRST APPLICANT IS THE SOCIETY OF LEFT AN ARTISTS.

THEY WILL BE CELEBRATING THEIR 30TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY.

UM, AND THIS IS FOR ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION.

THEY ARE REQUESTING 20,000 AND ATECH IS RECOMMENDING 20,000 IN SUPPORT.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL SHALL I'M GOING TO MAKE A, MAKE A MOTION.

MAKE A MOTION TO GRANT SOCIETY OF LEFT AN ARTIST 20,000 IN SUPPORT OF THE 30TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY PROJECT AS PRESENTED IN THE STAFF REPORT BREAKDOWN FOR ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION TOURISM EXPENSES.

WE HAVE A SECOND.

I'LL SECOND.

THEY'RE REQUESTING $43,632.

THE NEXT APPLICANT IS THE HILTON HEAD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

THIS IS FOR THE 2024 BLUFFTON CONCERTS.

THEY HAVE SCHEDULED, UM, AN OUTDOOR POPS CONCERT ON OCTOBER 17TH THAT WILL COINCIDE WITH THE HILTON, UM, WITH THE ARTS AND SEAFOOD FOOD FESTIVAL AND THEN A HOLIDAY POPS CONCERT ON NOVEMBER 30TH AT ST.

GREGORY.

THE GREAT, AGAIN, THEY'RE REQUESTING 43,632.

AND THAT IS WHAT ATAC IS ALSO RECOMMENDING.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? A MOTION? I MAKE THE MOTION TO GRANT THE HILTON HEAD SYMPATHY $43,632 IN SUPPORT OF THE 24 BLOCK CONCERT AS PRESENTED IN THE STAFF REPORT, BREAKDOWN FOR ADVERTISING PROMOTION OF TOURISM AND FACILITY FOR CIVIL AND CULTURAL EVENTS.

EXPENSES.

THERE A SECOND.

ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

THE THIRD QUESTION FROM BLACKWOOD.

THIS IS FOR THE ROOTS AND RIVERS FESTIVAL.

THIS IS THEIR SECOND EVENT, UM, AND IT WILL BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 14TH AT OYSTER FACTORY PARK.

THEY'RE REQUESTING $25,000 IN SUPPORT OF THE EVENT.

I HAD LIKE TO MAKE MENTION THERE THAT I NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM THIS REQUEST.

OKAY, SO YOU HAVE THAT MARSHA OR MS. FRAZIER RECUSE.

IS THERE, UM, ANY DISCUSSION OR A MOTION? I MAKE THE MOTION TO GRANT BLACK CADE SOUTH CAROLINA 25,000 SUPPORTED 2024 ROOTS AND RIVER FESTIVAL EVENT AS PRESENT IN STAFF REPORT BREAKDOWN.

THAT'S UNANIMOUS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MS. FRAZIER FOR THE RECORD.

ALL RIGHT.

THE BLUFFTON MLK OBSERVANCE COMMITTEE, UM, WILL BE HOSTING THE NINTH ANNUAL BLUFFTON JUNETEENTH WEEKEND THAT, UM, COUNCIL LUMAN FRAZIER HAD MENTIONED BEFORE.

ON FRIDAY, THERE WILL BE A FOOD TRUCK EVENT AT THE BUCK WALTER PARK, AND THEN ON SATURDAY IN SENATE, THE EVENT WILL BE HELD AT FRONT CHURCH DISTILLERY.

THEY'RE REQUESTING 20 $20,000 IN SUPPORT OF THE, UM, WEEKEND.

AND I GUESS YOU'RE GONNA RECUSE YOURSELF.

YES.

I NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM THIS ONE AS WELL.

NONE IT, MS. MARSHA? OKAY.

ANY QUESTIONS THERE? A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO GRANT THE BLUFFTON MLK OBSERVANCE COMMITTEE, $20,000 IN SUPPORT OF THE BLUFFTON NINTH ANNUAL JUNETEENTH EVENT AS PRESENTED IN THE STAFF REPORT BREAKDOWN FOR ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION OF TOURISM FACILITIES, PACIFIC AND CULTURAL EVENTS, EXPENSES, PUBLIC FACILITIES AND TOURIST TRANSPORTATION.

THAT'S UNANIMOUS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MS. FRAZIER.

AND THE LAST RECOMMENDATION IS FOR THE HISTORIC LUPTON FOUNDATION TO SERVE AS THE TOWN'S WELCOME CENTER.

THIS IS A QUARTERLY REQUEST.

UM, SO THIS WILL SPAN THE TIMEFRAME BETWEEN JULY AND SEPTEMBER OF 2024.

AND THEY'RE REQUESTING $40,000 FOR THAT QUARTER.

AND THIS WILL BE THEIR LAST REQUEST FOR,

[00:55:01]

THEY WILL COME AGAIN.

THEY'LL COME AGAIN PROBABLY, YEAH.

YEAH.

FOR OCTOBER THROUGH DECEMBER.

SO WE GET MM-HMM.

WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING TO OPEN IN JANUARY.

JANUARY, SO THEY'LL HAVE TO DO TWO QUARTERLY APPLICATIONS SHOULD EVERYTHING DOWN SCHEDULE.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? I MAKE A MOTION TO GRANT HISTORIC BLUFFTON FOUNDATION, 40,000 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 QUARTERLY APPLICATION FROM JULY THE FIRST, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER THE 30TH, 2024 FOR WELCOME CENTER SERVICES.

DO YOU HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

AND THEN I JUST WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER APPLICANT, UM, FROM HCF FOR THE LUKE PEOPLES MUSIC EVENT, BUT THE, UM, COMMITTEE IS REC IS TABLED IT AND HAS RECOMMENDED THAT THEY COME BACK AT THIS NEXT QUARTER.

UM, I'D JUST LIKE TO ASK ONE QUESTION.

HOW, HOW MUCH I DON'T SEE OUR BALANCE ON HERE.

LIKE HOW MUCH WE GAVE AWAY, HOW MUCH WE AWARDED TOTALLY.

AND HOW MUCH WE HAD AVAILABLE.

YES.

SO LET'S SEE HERE.

THIS WOULD PROBABLY BE ANOTHER SLIDE.

IN THE ORANGE THERE'S AVAILABLE $398,451, WHICH WILL LEAVE A BALANCE OF JUST SHY OF $250,000.

OKAY, UP NEXT WE HAVE CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

[IX.4. Consideration of an Ordinance to Amend the Town of Bluffton’s Comprehensive Plan (“Blueprint Bluffton”) to Incorporate a Housing Impact Analysis - First Reading (Kevin Icard, Director of Growth Management) ]

BLUFFTON, I MEAN BLUEPRINT BLUFFTON TO INCORPORATE A HOUSING IMPACT ANALYSIS.

FIRST READING MR. KEVIN ICART.

THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNSEL.

UM, WE ARE HERE THIS EVENING.

UH, THIS IS A FIRST READING ON OUR REQUEST TO AMEND OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

UM, THIS IS, UH, PART OF THE, UM, UH, AS, UH, UH, THE TOWN MANAGER HAD MENTIONED, UH, WE HAD ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT WERE, THAT WERE COMING IN, UH, THROUGH THE, AT TAX FUNDING, UM, AND STATE LEGISLATION THROUGH, UH, THE STATE ACT 57 ALLOWS FOR 15% OF THE TOWN'S COLLECTION OF THOSE, UH, ACCOMMODATION TAX, UH, TO BE USED FOR THE SUPPORT OF, UH, WORKFORCE HOUSING.

UH, SO THE DEFINITION THAT THE STATE HAS FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING IS THAT HOUSING AT 30% TO 120% OF THE LOCAL AREA MEDIAN INCOME.

AND TO GIVE YOU A PERSPECTIVE OF FAMILY OF FOUR IN BEAUFORT COUNTY IN 2024, THAT IS $106,400.

UM, SO THERE IS A SUNSET ON THIS, UH, THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2020.

UH, WE'RE APPROXIMATING ABOUT $150,000 THAT WE CAN USE OF A TAX FUNDING, UH, THAT WOULD SUPPORT, UM, ALL OF THE INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

UH, AS STATED IN HERE, WE CAN USE THE MONEY WE CAN DISTRIBUTE TO NON-PROFIT OR PROFIT FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IF WE DECIDE, AGAIN, INTERNAL TRANSFERS, DEBT SERVICE ON CAPITAL PROJECTS, FUNDS TO SPONSOR, UM, HOUSING PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IF WE SO CHOOSE.

UM, AND IT ALSO ALLOWS THE TOWN TO ISSUE BONDS TO DEVELOP WORKFORCE HOUSING.

UM, SO THE HOUSING ANALYSIS, WHICH WAS PROVIDED, UM, AS AN ATTACHMENT IN YOUR, UH, YOUR PACKET, UM, IS PART OF THAT REQUIREMENT WHERE WE HAVE TO PROVIDE A COPY OF THIS HOUSING ANALYSIS TO THE, UH, DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THAT THEY DID RECEIVE THIS ON MAY 31ST.

UH, SO WE'VE MET THAT QUALIFICATION.

UM, THERE WAS NO, UH, THEY WEREN'T REVIEWING IT FOR, UM, FOR ANY TYPE OF INFORMATION, JUST A MATTER THAT ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WAS STATED IN THAT, UM, THAT STATE, UM, SEVEN, UH, WAS IN THERE, UH, WHICH IT IS.

UM, SO FROM THE CRITERIA THAT WE HAVE, UH, LISTED IN OUR UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORG, AS YOU CAN SEE, UH, IT MET ALL THE CRITERIA.

I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH ALL THESE, BUT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO TO TO GO THROUGH 'EM.

SOME OF THEM ARE NOT, NOT APPLICABLE, UH, FROM A STEP STANDPOINT.

UH, THIS WENT TO PLANNING COMMISSION THAT IS A WORKSHOP, NOT A SHIP.

UH, JUST NOTICE THAT, UM, IN APRIL.

UM, AND THEN IT WENT BACK TO PLANNING COMMISSION WITH A PUBLIC HEARING AND RECOMMENDATION, WHICH WAS FAVORABLE.

UH, AND THIS EVENING WE'RE HERE FOR A FIRST READING AND WE WILL BRING THIS BACK TO YOU FOR A FINAL, UH, READING AND PUBLIC HEARING 10 TENTATIVELY IN JULY.

UM, AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS FOR THE FUNDING WE WOULD BE A FUNDING WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN OCTOBER.

WE RECEIVE IT QUARTERLY.

QUARTERLY, SO, RIGHT.

SO THERE WE GO.

UM, I HAVE A MOTION FOR YOU AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL BRIDGET, GO AHEAD.

UM, I HAVE A QUESTION.

KEVIN, I RE RECALL FROM THE WORKSHOP ON THIS ITEM, OUR LAST, UM, MEETING.

THERE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE TWO ITEMS, UH, OR RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS.

ONE ABOUT THE HOUSING IMPACT ANALYSIS AND ONE ABOUT

[01:00:01]

AN INCLUSION OF A COMMISSION OF SOME SORT, UM, FOR THE GULLAH COMMUNITY.

AND I DON'T SEE ANY, ANY MENTION OR ADDITION OF THAT, OR AM I MISTAKEN OF THAT BEING ADDED BACK IN? I, I THINK THAT'S THE, THAT'S A SEPARATE ITEM THAT WE ARE WORKING ON, ON THAT.

UM, BUT THAT'S NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS HOUSING IMPACT ANALYSIS.

AND I'M HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU AFTERWARDS, BUT WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS THAT RIGHT NOW.

I WAS LOOKING AT, THIS WAS US APPROVING FROM THE LAST, UM, CONVERSATION OF BLUEPRINT, UM, THAT WAS PRESENTED.

SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF THIS IS A FOCUS ON WE'RE FINALIZING OUR APPROVAL OF THE BLUEPRINT OR IS THIS JUST AN ISOLATED APPROVAL OF THE HOUSING ANALYSIS? THIS IS ISOLATED FOR THE HOUSING ANALYSIS.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T, UM, NOT INCLUDE OR OVERLOOKED THAT.

YES, CORRECT.

AND I KNOW THERE WERE SOME ITEMS UNDER THE BUCK ISLAND SIMMONS HOLE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN THAT WE REFERRED TO AND THAT WE ARE WORKING ON, BUT THIS IS A, A, A SEPARATE ITEM.

YES, MA'AM.

ANY QUESTIONS? DAN? I'M JUST GONNA MAKE AN OBSERVATION.

I, UM, IT WAS STAGGERING TO LOOK AT THAT REPORT, WHICH IS EXTREMELY WELL WRITTEN BY THE WAY.

I'M JUST CLASSIC.

UM, I'VE BEEN SITTING WITH MR. HAMILTON FOR EIGHT YEARS.

UH, HE HAS, YOU KNOW, RAISED THE FLAG IN THE COUNTY ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE'RE DOING THINGS, WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AVERAGE SALARY IN THE TOWN, WHICH THE REPORT REVEALED AT 58,952, BUT THE, THE MEDIAN HOME COST IN BLUFFTON IS 494,000.

IT'S LIKE, IT JUST, IT JUST ILLUSTRATES THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BATTLE THAT'S BEEN FOUGHT ALL THESE YEARS.

AND, UH, WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP DOING OUR BEST TO BRING LIVABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY TO OUR TOWN AND OUR CITIZENS FAIR.

CORRECT.

MR. ANDERSON AND KEVIN, UM, CAME TO A COUPLE OF OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING MEETING WHEN THAT DISCUSSION SAID THAT WE GOT TO FIND WAYS TO INCREASE MORE INCENTIVE TO ENCOURAGE DEVELOPERS OR EVEN PRIVATE LANDOWNERS TO BUILD THOSE, UM, THOSE PRODUCTS.

SO KEEP LOOKING FORWARD TO MAYBE A, A ANNUAL WORKSHOP, BUT, UM, BUT AS WELL AS STAFFED TO CONTINUE TO GIVE US SOME GUIDANCE ON HOW WE CAN ENCOURAGE Y'ALL ENHANCE WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE.

YES, SIR.

I WAS ACTUALLY WITH STAFF TODAY BRAINSTORMING ABOUT THAT, AND OUR GOAL IS TO KIND, KIND OF WORKSHOP SOME ITEMS THAT WE'RE COMING UP WITH, UH, WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE AT THEIR NEXT MEETING.

YES, SIR.

MR. I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY WELL DONE.

GOOD JOB.

UP NEXT WE HAVE CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON AND PALM LAND ASSOCIATES, LLC IN SUPPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF 11,800 SQUARE FEET OF MEDICAL AND HEALTHCARE FACILITY SPACE.

OKAY, ANYBODY LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? I'LL, I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

I MOVE TO APPROVE THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT TO INCORPORATE THE HOUSING IMPACT ANALYSIS INTO THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

I'LL SECOND THAT.

NO DISCUSSION IS THERE EVERYBODY, SO ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

[IX.5. 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. – Second & Final Reading – David Nelems, CEO Don Ryan Center of Innovation ]

THIS WILL BE SECOND AND FINAL READING.

AND DAVID, NO, RYAN CENTER, CEO.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL, PLEASURE TO BE HERE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY.

I APOLOGIZE CHRIS WOULD NOT LOAN ME HIS ORANGE JACKET AND I CANNOT POP LIKE CHRIS DOES ON THE VIDEO OR IN FRONT OF YOU.

UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, THIS IS A SECOND READING FOR THIS, UH, PALMETTO LAND GRANT ASSOCI, THIS LAND ASSOCIATES.

UH, THERE'S ONLY ONE CHANGE THAT THE COUNCIL SUGGESTED THAT THERE BE A TIMEFRAME ADDED, A THREE YEAR TIMEFRAME AGREEMENT.

SO WE HAVE ADDED THAT THE GRANT WILL EXPIRE BY SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2027.

UH, WOULD NEED TO BE RE-APPROVED BY COUNCIL THAT TIME AS DEVELOPMENT HAS NOT OCCURRED.

HOWEVER, THEY DO PLAN TO BREAK GROUND, UH, THIS YEAR AND BE WELL WITHIN THAT TIMELINE.

BUT THAT'S THE ONLY CHANGE THAT, UH, WE HAVE TO THIS, UH, THIS SECOND READING.

I HAVE A MOTION FOR YOU AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROVE YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE AS WELL.

UM, ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL? YES, I HAVE A QUESTION.

IN LOOKING AT THE, UM, THE AGREEMENT THAT WAS, UH, CRAFTED HERE, THAT INCLUDED THE ADDITION OF THAT THREE YEAR TIMEFRAME THAT'S GONNA GO OUT TO THE DEVELOPER, UM, I HAD A QUESTION IN TERMS OF WHAT'S GOING TO

[01:05:01]

BE THE, UM, TIMEFRAME OF OUR ALLOCATION OF THOSE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES, KNOWING THAT THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS PROJECT IS THE, UH, PICKLEBALL AND FOOD AND BEVERAGE PORTION AND NOT THE HEALTHCARE FACILITY.

AND SO IN THE EVENT THAT WE GET TO THAT THREE YEARS AND THEY'VE RECEIVED LIKE THE WATER AND THE CAPACITY CREDITS AND WHATEVER, UM, OTHER FINANCIAL INCENTIVES WE GIVE THEM, UM, IF THEY DO NOT HOLD UP THEIR END OF THE BARGAIN, UM, WHAT DO WE HAVE IN PLACE IN TERMS OF, UM, UM, ENSURING THAT, UM, OR EVEN PENALIZING THEM IF THEY VIOLATE WHAT THEY PROMISED THEY WERE GONNA DO? WELL, KEEP IN MIND, UH, IT IS A REIMBURSEMENT GRANT, SO THEY ONLY GET PAID IF THEY HIT THE MILESTONES.

AND ONE OF THOSE MILESTONES IS TO MAKE SURE THAT 11,800 SQUARE FEET OF MEDICAL SPACE PROVIDING A CERTAIN NUMBER OF JOBS THEY'VE ALREADY SPECIFIED, HAS OCCURRED.

SO ONCE THAT OCCURS, THEN THEY GET REIMBURSED.

SO THE TOWN'S NOT OUT ANY MONEY IF THEY, UNLESS THEY, YOU KNOW, THE TOWN WON'T BE OUT ANY MONEY BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO DO THAT FIRST TO GET THE MONEY BACK.

SO AS LONG AS THEY DO IT WITHIN THE TIMEFRAME, THEY GET THE GRANT FUNDING.

AND IF THEY DON'T DO IT WITHIN THE TIMEFRAME AT ALL, THEY'D HAVE TO REAPPLY FOR THE WHOLE PROCESS.

SO IF THE ACCOUNT'S PROTECTED UNDER THAT SCENARIO.

OKAY, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TIMETABLE, IT IS A LITTLE CONFUSING.

'CAUSE UNDER THAT FIRST YEAR, YES, IT SAYS A HUNDRED PERCENT OF LIKE CAPACITY CREDITS AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS KIND OF PHASED OUT GOING FROM YEAR ONE TO YEAR THREE.

SO ROLLING CONSTRUCTION PHASE.

BUT THEY DO HAVE TO DO, THEY DO HAVE TO EXECUTE THE THINGS WE'VE SPECIFIED IN THE GRANT FOR THE MEDICAL PORTION BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE, UM, ADDRESSES.

AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY DO NOT GET ANYTHING UNTIL THE CO YES, SIR.

UNTIL THEY'VE OBTAINED A CO AND THEN WE REIMBURSE THEM UP TO THE AMOUNT THAT WE'VE, IT'S NOT A RISK FOR THE TOWN.

'CAUSE THEY HAVE TO, THEY HAVE TO BUILD IT UP FRONT AND THEN THEY GET THE MONEY BACK.

CORRECT.

THAT'S THE WAY I NO, NO, NO MONEY FRONTED TO THEM.

NO, SIR.

UM, EMILY, QUESTIONS ON US? NO QUESTIONS.

I THINK TO ADD TO BRIDGET, CONCERN, UM, HOW DO, DO WE PRIORITIZE WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM DO IN THIS, THIS MEETING? WELL, WHAT OUR PRIORITY IS THAT AS PART OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE, THAT WE CREATE JOBS IN THOSE TARGET INDUSTRIES.

MEDICAL BEING ONE OF THEM THAT'S ADDRESSED HERE IN THAT GEOGRAPHIC PORTION OF THE TOWN.

SO THEY, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING THEM TO DO.

AS FAR AS THE EARLIER COMMENTS ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, HIRING PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN BLUFFTON, THAT TYPE OF THING.

THAT'S A MARKET DRIVEN, UM, UH, TYPE OF THING.

I KNOW THAT WAS MENTIONED AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN WORK ON AS A MARKETING TYPE OF AGREEMENT.

BUT, UH, UH, THEY'RE, WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE TO HIRE AND DO THOSE TYPES OF INDUSTRIES BASED ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE.

THAT'S HOW THE ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN CURRENTLY.

THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME.

I KNOW IT IS.

THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT IT UP.

UNAIDED ? YES, SIR.

MR. WOOD? NOTHING SIR.

MOVING ON NOW TO THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS ON THIS LIST THAT ANY OF COUNSEL WOULD LIKE TO PULL OFF? OTHER THAN ME? EVERYTHING GOOD? I'M GOOD.

ANYBODY LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE, BUT SECOND READ, SECOND AND FINAL READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING INTO AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON AND PALMETTO LAND ASSOCIATE.

LLC.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? SAY AYE.

[X. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS ]

UM, JUST FOR, UM, SINCE FELICIA'S HERE, I'D LIKE TO PULL OFF NUMBER SEVEN.

JUDGE.

I JUST HAVE A QUESTION.

OR PERTAINING TO VEHICLE CONTRACT? YEAH, VEHICLE MAY.

YEAH, JUST, JUST, I, I'M, I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE.

I JUST HAVE WANT CLARIFICATION.

SO MY QUESTION IS, UM, NOW THAT WE ARE UNDER THE, ALL OF OUR CARS ARE LEASED, OR THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF OUR VEHICLES ARE NOW UNDER THE LEASE PROGRAM, IF I UNDERSTAND.

SO THE LEASE IS JUST FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE'RE, AND YEAR FOUR OF FIVE WILL BE, WE'RE THROUGH YEAR THREE OF FIVE RIGHT NOW FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

OUR TOWN CARS, OUR REGULAR, NOT OVERALL.

NOT THE OTHER TOWN VEHICLES?

[01:10:01]

NO, SIR.

THE LEASE IS JUST WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ONLY.

I DON'T KNOW.

GRANTED, THEY MAKE UP THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR CARS, BUT IT'S JUST WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SO YOU CAN SIT BACK DOWN TO ANSWER MY QUESTION.

THANK YOU SIR.

HAPPY TO BE OF SERVICE .

I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT SLIPPED ME, BUT, OKAY.

SO IF NO ONE HAS ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

NOW DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? SO MOVED.

[XI. EXECUTIVE SESSION ]

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

WE ARE NOW IN EXECUTIVE SESSION

[XII. ACTION FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION ]

SESSION.

THERE WERE NO VOTES TAKING, NO DECISIONS MADE.

WE DO HAVE BUSINESS COMING OUT.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION.

YES.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.

I MOVE THAT WE APPOINT OR REAPPOINT THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE TO THE TOWN'S, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES.

WITH ALL TERMS EXPIRING JUNE 30TH, 2027, JEAN WILSON AND SAM BRETT TO THE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE, JOHN BOWEN AND DOT YEAGER TO THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE.

DAN STARK TO THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION COMMISSION, CORRE REEVES AND TABLE AND REVISED VACANT POSITION TO THE WALL OF HONOR COMMITTEE, FRED HAMILTON, GRACE STAPLES, GWEN CHAMBERS, AND EMILY BURDEN TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE.

DON EMRICH TO THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS.

RYAN YAKO, ADAM LOVE AND BILL HUGHES TO THE CONSTRUCTION BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND APPEALS.

EVAN GOODMAN GOODWIN, TERRY SMELTER, AND TIM PRO TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION.

RICH DELCO AND DAN GROVE TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

AND JENNIFER MORROW AND WILLIAM O'TOOLE TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

MAYOR TIM, IF I MAY JUST, JUST AS A, UH, CLARIFICATION ON ONE OF THOSE, IF YOU DON'T MIND, UH, BEFORE THERE'S A SECOND, THE SECOND, THAT SECOND WALL OF HONOR POSITION, UH, THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT, THE, THE, THAT, THAT WILL REMAIN VACANT, UM, UNDER, UNDER THE PROPOSED MOTION.

JUST TO CLARIFY FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THAT MOTION? MM-HMM.

I SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.