Jun 18, 2024 Hilton Head Island Town Council - Complete Audio

[00:00:01]

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY OF TUESDAY, JUNE 18TH,

[1. Call to Order]

I PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

IF YOU WILL CONTINUE STANDING AS WE HAVE PASTOR BRETT MEYERS FROM FROM FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, SAY INVOCATION FOR US.

THANK YOU.

LETS PRAY.

GOD, AS WE COME TO OUR TIME OF INVOCATION, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE VERY MEANING OF THAT WORD IS THAT WE INVOKE YOU.

WE INVOKE YOUR SPIRIT TO GIVE WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT.

UH, SO GOD, WE ASK THAT, GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR LEADERSHIP.

GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT YOU'VE CALLED TO, UH, AND APPOINTED TO, UH, LEAD US TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS.

GOD, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TIME THAT THEY SPEND DAY AFTER DAY, UH, IN, UM, UH, TALKING THROUGH AND MAKING DECISIONS FOR THE BEST OF OUR COMMUNITY.

UH, GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE PLACE THAT YOU HAVE SO BLESSED US WITH TO CALL GOD AFTER SIX YEARS BEING HERE.

GOD, I'M STILL AMAZED AT THE BEAUTY THAT YOU HAVE CREATED AROUND US AND THE, THE PRIVILEGE AND BLESSING THAT IT IS TO BE ABLE TO LIVE HERE.

GOD, I PRAY THAT, UH, EVERYTHING THAT WE SAY AND DO IN THIS MEETING WOULD GLORIFY YOU AND THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THAT DISCERNMENT, GOD, THAT YOU WOULD GIVE WISDOM TO OUR LEADERSHIP.

AND AS WE'RE COMMANDED TO DO IN SCRIPTURE, GOD, WE PRAY FOR THEM.

AND GOD WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GIVE A SUPERNATURAL ABILITY TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS TO THEM IN A UNIFIED MANNER.

UH, GOD, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING HERE.

AND GOD, I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD HELP US ALL TO COME ALONGSIDE EACH OTHER AND TO SERVE THOSE IN THIS COMMUNITY, UH, AND GOD TO LOVE EACH OTHER.

WELL, THAT'S IN CHRIST AND WE PRAY.

AMEN.

AMEN.

THANK PASTOR.

MR. ORLANDO, DO WE HAVE ANY CHANGES? TODAY'S AGENDA?

[4. Adoption of the Agenda]

OKAY.

WE DO HAVE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES FROM JUNE 4TH.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I DO YOU WANT ME TO, UH, MOVE THAT WE ADOPT THE AGENDA AS SUBMITTED? OH, YES.

I SO DO DON'T LAST NIGHT'S TIME.

SECOND.

OKAY.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND.

SO MOVED SEVEN TO ZERO.

THANK YOU.

I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT THE MINUTES OF

[5. Adoption of the Minutes]

SECOND, YOU HAVE A FIRST AND SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND.

SO MOVED.

SEVEN ZERO.

THANK YOU.

DID I MOVE THAT WE WERE LISTEN TO THE TOWN MANAGER REPORT TO THE TOWN MANAGER.

MR. ORLANDO.

THANK YOU.

I I DID MISS MR.

[6. Presentations and Recognitions]

WE HAVE, I ONLY HAVE ONE ANNOUNCEMENT TONIGHT.

UH, UNDER THE REPORT, I WOULD LIKE TO REINTRODUCE DEREK COUM, WHO STARTED, UH, JUNE 10TH AS OUR FACILITIES DIRECTOR.

DEREK JUST PUT HIS ICE CREAM SUNDAE DOWN AND .

UM, DEREK IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERALL MANAGEMENT OF TOWN PROPERTIES, ALL OUR FACILITIES, OUR PARKS, BEACHES, PUBLIC SERVICES, SPECIAL EVENTS, AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER THINGS ON HERE.

MORE THAN 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

AND A LOT OF US KNOW DEREK, AND I WILL SAY TO YOU, WELCOME, WELCOME HOME, WELCOME BACK.

UM, WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE.

UM, THERE'S, UH, THERE, THERE'S A LOT OF OUR WORK IS IN OUR NEW FACILITIES DEPARTMENT, OUR OPERATIONS, OUR BEACH PARKS, OUR PARKS, OUR DIFFERENT FACILITIES, OUR FIRE STATIONS.

AND DEREK COMES HERE AS THE VERY FIRST FACILITIES DIRECTOR IN THAT REGARD.

KNOW THAT FACILITIES WAS WITHIN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT FOR A LONG TIME, BUT DEREK, AS A NEW DEPARTMENT HEAD AS A LEADER.

UM, WELCOME, WELCOME, SIR.

UH, DEREK'S A NATIVE OF ST.

HELENA ISLAND.

UH, GRADUATED FROM TCL WITH AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN ENGINEERING, UM, AND HAS MANY ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE LOW COUNTRY REGION.

SO WELCOME BACK AND THANK YOU.

LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

THANK YOU.

WELCOME.

THOSE FACILITIES INCLUDE THE AIR CONDITIONER IN THIS ROOM, .

IT DOES.

STARTING TODAY.

YEAH.

YEAH.

I, I I WILL SAY THE, IT WAS COLD LAST NIGHT.

WE, WE KIND OF JOKE AROUND.

WE HAD THE HVAC SHUT OFF, TURNED OFF, FAN OFF, AND IT CONTINUED TO PUMP.

I RECEIVED EMAILS TODAY, UM, CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

THE ROOM WAS COLD, BUT, UH, WE SHUT IT DOWN.

WE TURNED IT OFF, AND IT JUST KEPT PUMPING.

DEREK HAD, DID HAVE HVAC TEAM HERE THIS MORNING TO LOOK AT IT, SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

SINCERELY.

SO, SO, NO, WE WERE NOT TRYING TO FREEZE ANYONE OUT, SO THEY WOULD LEAVE EARLY.

AND OF COURSE WE KNOW IF THAT WAS THE CASE, IT DIDN'T WORK.

SO, BUT ANYHOW.

WE'LL, WE'LL GO ON FROM THERE.

UM, THAT DOES BRING ME TO A GENERAL REPORT THAT I'D LIKE JUST TO BRING UP REAL QUICK.

FIRST OF ALL, FOR THOSE OF YOU WERE HERE LAST NIGHT, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN

[00:05:01]

UM, IT, IT WAS, THERE WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT WAS PUT OUT, A LOT OF EMOTION THAT WAS PUT OUT.

UM, WE HAVE SINCE CHANGED OUR MEETING FOR THIS THURSDAY FROM A VOTE MEETING TO A DISCUSSION MEETING.

SO IT IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER WORKSHOP.

IT'LL BE IN THIS FORMAT BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAD HERE THE OTHER DAY.

AND THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE STANDING BEHIND US AND AROUND US.

WE'VE JUST GOTTA MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE DO IN A BETTER FASHION.

BUT THURSDAY AT THREE O'CLOCK, IT'LL BE ANOTHER WORKSHOP AND WE'RE GONNA DISCUSS THE, THE, THE PLAN WHERE, HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE, UM, AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT DISCUSSION IN A LONG TIME.

AND IT'S TIME THAT WE PUT THAT ON THE TABLE.

SO LOOK FOR THAT ON THURSDAY, THREE O'CLOCK NOW.

MOVING ON FROM THERE.

UH, GENERAL.

YEAH, SORRY.

GENERAL REPORTS FROM TOWN

[7. Reports from Members of Town Council]

CAN I MAKE A QUICK QUESTION? OH, YEAH, I'M SORRY.

YEAH.

HAPPY JUNETEENTH TOMORROW.

YES.

UM, AND THANKS TO THE MITCHELLVILLE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, UH, FOR SUCH A WONDERFUL CELEBRATION AT MITCHELLVILLE ON SATURDAY.

AND, AND THANKS ESPECIALLY FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME AND PLAY MY JIM BAY IN THE DRUM CIRCLE.

IT WAS LOTS OF FUN.

UM, AND IT'S A GREAT EVENT.

AND IF YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO BE THERE THIS YEAR, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME NEXT YEAR.

I'M SURE IT'LL BE JUST AS GOOD.

THANK YOU.

HAPPY JUNETEENTH.

ANY OTHER GENERAL REPORTS, MR. RAYS? THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UM, I RECEIVED A, THE FOLLOWING EMAIL FROM AMANDA WILLIAMS, NAN, I, SHE WAS NUDGING ME TO READ THIS EMAIL SO THE PUBLIC WOULD KNOW.

IT SAYS, I POSTED THIS ON MY FACEBOOK AND THOUGHT THE TOWN MIGHT BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE HIM AS YOU'LL EXPLAIN WHO HIM IS AT A TOWN COUNCIL MEETING.

HIS FAMILY HAS LIVED FOR YEARS IN SEA PINES AND THEY OWN GILMAN FLOORING.

ALL FOUR OF THEIR KIDS WENT TO HILTON HEAD PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ARE JUST GREAT PEOPLE.

I THINK THIS IS WORTH CELEBRATING.

I'M HOPING YOU CAN BRING THE HELP, BRING ATTENTION TO THIS WITH THE COUNCIL.

THANKS.

AND SHE SAYS IN QUOTES, TURN ON YOUR TV FRIDAY, JUNE 21ST AT 8:00 PM TO WATCH THE OLYMPIC TRIALS ON NBC.

OUR VERY OWN LOCAL KID, SAM GILMAN, IS RUNNING THE 1500 METER AS HE RACES TO BE A MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES OLYMPIC TEAM IN FRANCE.

THIS PUTS HILTON HEAD ON THE MAP.

OUR ENTIRE TOWN NEEDS TO GET BEHIND HIM.

HE WAS AN NCAA ATHLETE OF THE YEAR FOR THE MOUNTAIN WEST, HIS SENIOR YEAR AT THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY.

HE JUST RAN THE 1500 METERS IN THREE MINUTES AND 36 SECONDS TO QUALIFY FOR THE OLYMPIC TRIALS.

IF THIS DOESN'T MAKE YOU PROUD, I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAN RUN, SAM.

I'M GOING TO BE CHEERING LOUDLY FOR YOU.

OUR ENTIRE TOWN NEEDS TO CHEER.

THIS NEEDS TO MAKE THE HEADLINES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT GIVES ME GOOSEBUMPS.

YEAH, THAT'S ME TOO.

DAVID.

WHAT TIME WAS THAT ON FRIDAY? EIGHT EIGHT.

EIGHT O'CLOCK.

ANY OTHER FEDERAL REPORTS? ALRIGHT, UH, LOW COUNTRY AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY.

MR. STANFORD? YES, SIR.

UH, THE BOARD MET ON JUNE THE SEVENTH.

UH, I WANT TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION TO OUR JIM WAN NICKI, WHO IS OUR TRANSPORTATION SUPERVISOR.

HE SAT IN FOR ME.

I WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND.

GAVE ME, UH, LENGTHY NOTES.

UM, THE COMMITTEE REVIEWED THE COUNTYWIDE TRANSPORTATION IMPACT ANALYSIS ORDINANCE, UH, IN AN EFFORT TO MOVE IT FORWARD.

COMMITTEE APPROVED SUPPORT FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA DOT EAST COAST GREENWAY ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT.

UM, THE MOST ACTIVITY THOUGH THAT OCCURRED AT THIS MEETING WAS THERE WAS A DISCUSSION OF SECTION FIVE B OF THE, UH, HILTON HEAD, UH, THE BLUFFED PARKWAY.

UH, YOU'LL RECALL THAT THAT IS A SEGMENT THAT WOULD TIE THE TWO LEGS OF THE DOG LEG TOGETHER.

IT WAS AN, UH, A LARGE NUMBER OF CITIZENS WHO CAME IN OPPOSED TO THAT, UH, BECAUSE THEIR PROPERTIES WOULD BE IMPACTED.

UM, ALSO, S-C-D-O-T GAVE A REPORT ON WHERE THE, UH, IMPROVEMENTS TO INTERSTATE 95 WILL OCCUR.

PHASE ONE WILL START AT THE, AT THE STATE LINE AND CONTINUE ON TO B POST, UH, 10 THAT INCLUDES 14 BRIDGES AND TWO INTERCHANGES.

SO IT'S GONNA TAKE SOME TIME TO BUILD ALL OF THAT.

THAT'S MY REPORT, SIR.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU.

MS. BECKER, LOW COUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS.

I DO NOT HAVE A REPORT, SIR.

THANK YOU, MR. AMES.

UH, BEFOR COUNTY AIRPORTS.

NO REPORT.

MR. STANFORD.

SO LOCO? YES, SIR.

SO LOCO MET ON MAY 28TH.

UH, THE MAIN, UH, PRESENTATION WAS GIVEN BY JOEL TAYLOR, UH, PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL HOSPITAL.

UH, HE GAVE A REPORT ON THE IMPACTS OF THE

[00:10:01]

IN ADDITION, CHAIRMAN PASSMAN GAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE, UH, UH, SALES TAX REFERENDUM PROPOSAL THAT'S COMING FORWARD.

ASK MY REPORT, SIR.

THANK YOU, MR. BROWN.

ALL RECREATION ASSOCIATION.

NO REPORT, SIR.

MS. BECKER, COMMUNITY SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

THE YES.

WE MET, UM, TWICE AND INTERVIEWED, UM, APPLICANTS FOR A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT POSITIONS ON COMMISSIONS AND BOARDS, COMMITTEES THAT, UM, WERE OPEN.

AND TONIGHT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION WE'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT OUR RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL COUNSEL.

ALRIGHT, MR. AMS PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE, NO REPORT.

AND MR. BROWN.

FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE, SIR.

OKAY, NEXT WE'LL MOVE ON TO APPEARANCE BY

[8. Appearance by Citizens]

I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND OUR CITIZENS THAT SECTION TWO DASH FIVE DASH 70 OF THE TOWN'S CODE LIMITS EACH PERSON TO THREE MINUTES WHEN ADDRESSING TOWN COUNCIL, AT THE END OF THE THREE MINUTES, YOU'RE ASKED TO CONCLUDE YOUR COMMENTS.

PLEASE MAY MAINTAIN A DECORUM SUITABLE FOR THE MEETING AND REFRAIN FROM USING ANY PROFANE, ABUSIVE, OR OBSCENE LANGUAGE.

IF YOU HAVE ANY MATERIAL YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE TO TOWN COUNCIL, PLEASE GIVE TO THE, TO THE TOWN CLERK AFTER YOU ARE FINISHED SPEAKING.

KIMBERLY, DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TODAY? YES, JOHN CASEY, MAYOR COUNCIL, UH, JOHN CASEY INDIGO RUN.

I'LL, I'LL BE BRIEF.

I'M VERY, VERY PLEASED THAT THURSDAY'S MEETING HAS BEEN TURNED INTO A WORKSHOP.

I WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY TO REVIEW THE HISTORY OF THIS PROJECT, BUT HOPEFULLY HAVE CONSTRUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHERE IT IS GOING TO GO, UH, IN THE FUTURE.

THE, UH, YESTERDAY'S LENGTHY MEETING DEMONSTRATED THAT THERE WERE CONFLICTING DATA, THAT, UM, THERE WERE NEW DOCUMENTS, UM, THAT THERE WERE DISPARATE OPINIONS.

UM, AND I THINK THEY ALL NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.

I THINK IT'S ALSO WORTHWHILE TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT DATE IS REALLY A DATE ON THE CALENDAR.

THE, UH, YOU MAY AGREE OR DISAGREE, BUT THE COUNTY HAS BEEN PULLING THIS KIND OF STUNT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, TRYING TO SLIP LANGUAGE IN THAT GIVES, UH, OUR, UH, THE TOWN HAS IMPLIED CONSENT SAYING THAT FUNDING IS GONNA BE LOST, THE SKY IS FALLING, THE BOY CRIED WOLF, WHATEVER METAPHOR YOU LIKE, JUST TO GET THIS PESKY MUNICIPAL CONSENT OUT OF THE WAY.

AND SO I HOPE THAT THE INDEPENDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE CAN COMPLETE ITS WORK.

UH, I HOPE THAT THE, THE CONSULTANT CAN COMPLETE THEIR REPORT AND THAT, UM, A RECOMMENDATION UP OR DOWN WILL COME IN A, IN A, IN A, IN A TIMELY BUT, UH, COMPLETE MANNER TO, UH, TO THE COUNCIL.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

THANK YOU, MR. CASEY.

JOHN DAVIDSON.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

JOHN DAVIDSON.

I LIVE IN SHIPYARD.

I'M AN URBAN ECONOMIST, AND UNFORTUNATELY, I'VE BEEN OFF THE ISLAND FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS BECAUSE MY WIFE HAS HAD TO HAVE EXTENSIVE HEALTH CARE IN MINNESOTA.

MY REASON FOR COMING TODAY IS TO TIE TOGETHER TWO PROPOSITIONS THAT I DON'T BELIEVE THE COUNCIL ACTUALLY HAS BEGUN TO REALIZE HOW THEY COALESCE AND HOW THEY THEN IMPACT THE DISCUSSION OF THE BRIDGE AND TRANSPORTATION.

YOU KINDLY JUST MENTIONED, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT IS HAPPENING ON HILTON HEAD RIGHT NOW IS THE INVESTMENT IN THE HOSPITALS.

IF WE STOP AND LOOK AT, AND I DISCUSS IT EXTENSIVELY FROM A BACKGROUND OF URBAN ECONOMICS, AND THE THREE PAGES THAT I HAVE FOR YOU, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ANY COMMUNITY NOW ARE HEALTHCARE KNOWLEDGE WORKERS.

IF THE HOSPITAL IS LOST, HILTON HEAD IS GONE.

THAT'S THE SIMPLEST PROPOSITION THAT I CAN ASSERT FOR YOU.

ACCORDINGLY, EVERY DECISION THAT THIS CITY COUNCIL MAKES HAS TO BE FIRST FILTERED THROUGH HOW DO WE IMPACT OUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, WHICH IS OVER 20% OF THE ECONOMY AND THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND SO FORTH.

AND IT DIRECTLY TIES IN.

I ALSO HAPPEN TO BE A LAWYER, AND I MENTIONED THE LEGAL STANDARD OF CARE, WHICH I HAVE WATCHED EVERY VIDEO OF EVERY MEETING ABOUT THE BRIDGE AND MOST EVERYTHING IN THE COUNCIL, WHICH IS NEVER DISCUSSED.

AND THAT IS THE PRIMARY OBLIGATION.

AND I'LL QUOTE TO SOUTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT IN 2021.

THE PRIMARY OBLIGATION OF THIS COUNSEL IS THE ENHANCEMENT OF PROPERTY VALUES.

IT IS NOT AESTHETICS.

IT IS NOT WORRYING ABOUT DISPUTES ABOUT

[00:15:01]

THE LEGAL TEST IS NOT IT'S GRADE D AND IT PASSES, OR IT COSTS TOO MUCH.

THE LEGAL TEST IS WHETHER OR NOT THE STEPS YOU TAKE ENHANCE PROPERTY VALUES.

NOW, ACCORDINGLY, WHAT YOU ALL SHOULD DO, RATHER THAN HAVE THAT MEETING THURSDAY, IS HIRE A GOOD URBAN ECONOMIC LAW FIRM AND FIND OUT TRULY WORKING WITH YOUR HEALTHCARE PEOPLE, WHICH IS ABOUT 20% OF YOUR REALLY SKILLED WORKERS.

WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO ASSURE THAT TOMORROW WE HAVE BETTER HEALTHCARE ON HILTON HEAD THAN WE HAVE TODAY? BECAUSE IF YOU DO NOT MEET THAT TEST, ANYTHING ELSE YOU DO WILL ULTIMATELY RESULT IN THIS COMMUNITY, BE HOWLED OUT.

AND THE REASON FOR IT.

AND THAT'S THE LAST THING THAT I WANNA SAY.

BEING AN URBAN ECONOMIST HERE IS RIGHT OUT THERE IS A CENTER OF GRAVITY, A DEATH STAR SAVANNAH.

AND IF HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND HOSPITALS CAN GET BETTER, HIGHER PAYING PATIENTS AND BETTER PAYERS, THEY'RE GONNA MOVE THERE.

AND INSTEAD OF BEING A 15 OR 10 MINUTE TRIP FROM THE SOUTH END OF THE ISLAND TO THE NORTH END OF THE ISLAND, IT IS GONNA BE AN HOUR AND A HALF TO SAVANNAH.

MR. DAVIDSON, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU ALL.

APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION.

I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR DISTRIBUTING MY YES, VERY GOOD.

SKIP POLAND.

JUST SO YOU KNOW, THE REASON I DIDN'T PASS THEM DOWN IS OUR POLICY IS TO HAND ANY HANDOUTS TO OUR TOWN CLERK, ROBERT, GIVE THAT TO YOU.

ONLY TWO PEOPLE I TRUST AND THAT, THAT I HAVE FAITH IN.

THAT'S PATSY AND, UH, TAMARA.

SO I'M NOT GONNA HAND IT TO ANYBODY ELSE.

UM, UH, SKIP HOAGLAND, WINDMILL HARBOR, THE QUESTION FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THOSE RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

WILL YOU MAKE A PLEDGE TODAY TO STOP ALL THE ILLEGAL MILLIONS OF TAX FUNDING TO OUR CHAMBER AND ALL NONPROFITS AND AGREE TO AND TO FORCE ALL ACCOUNTING RECEIPTS AND INVOICES ON EVERY TAX DOLLAR OF TAX FUNDS? THIS COUNCIL, JUST HANDS TO EVERYBODY WITH NO ACCOUNTING AND ZERO TRANSPARENCY.

THIS CONTINUES TO VIOLATE YOUR, YOUR FIDUCIARY DUTIES AND CAMPAIGN PROMISES AND OATH OF OFFICE TO ALL ISLAND TAXPAYERS.

WILL YOU STOP ALL THE CHAMBER DMO STATE FEDERAL LAW VIOLATIONS AND THE IRS NONPROFIT TAX EVASION? WILL YOU ACT? DOES COUNCIL AGREE TO ALSO ENFORCE ALL OUR TOWN EMPLOYEES, OUR LAWYERS LEGAL FEES, GOOGLE HILTON HEAD OVERCHARGED LEGAL FEES, READ ALL ABOUT IT.

TOWN BUDGETS, YEAR END AUDITS, INCLUDING TENS OF MILLIONS OF HOSPITALITY AND AID TAX FUNDS THAT HAVE DISAPPEARED AND UNACCOUNTED FOR, THESE MUST UNDERGO AN INDEPENDENT FORENSIC AUDIT HIRED BY THE COUNCIL, NOT THE EMPLOYEES YOU'RE IN CHARGE, NOT THEM.

THEY WORK FOR YOU.

WHY WOULD ANY OFFICIAL ALLOW THIS IF PROVEN THAT MILLIONS OF OUR TAX FUNDS ARE MISSING? COUNSEL MUST STOP OUR TOWN MANAGER, CPAS AND LAWYERS TO CONTROL YOU AND, AND GET AND FORCE TRANSPARENCY.

TOWN COUNCIL AND JOSH GRUBER HAS BEEN IN VIOLATION OF MY CHAMBER TAX FOIA FOR SEVEN YEARS.

MR. PERRY, CAN YOU GET A COPY OF THIS FROM BILL MILES IN THE CHAMBER? OR WILL YOU FILE A TOWN LAWSUIT TO FORCE US ALSO? MR. PERRY, YOU SAID YOU SAW THIS.

WHERE IS IT? WHY DOES THIS COUNCIL KEEP ALLOWING BILL MILES TO SAY HIS USE OF TAX FUNDS ARE HIS SECRET SAUCE AND NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS? THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS.

I'M GOING TO SUGGEST THAT YOU HIRE THE QUICK GROUP AUDIT FIRM FROM CHARLESTON MADE UP OF FORMER FBI AGENTS TO PERFORM ALL THESE FORENSIC AUDITS.

THE ONLY REASON TAXPAYERS ELECTED YOU IS TO BE HONEST, COMPLY TO YOUR CAMPAIGN PROMISE OATH OF OFFICE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITIES TO APPROVE, GUARD AND SPEND OUR MONEY AND PROTECT OUR MONEY LIKE YOUR OWN FAMILY'S MONEY.

WE HAVE MANY PROBLEMS AND ISSUES.

I'M JUST FOCUSED MAINLY ON THE LARGEST ILLEGAL USE AND, UH, ISSUE OF OUR, OUR MILLIONS OF TAX FUNDS WITH ZERO ACCOUNTING.

WE NEED A TOWN COUNCIL TO STOP THIS AND PORT MORE FINANCIAL CONTROLS ON IN PLACE ON OUR TOWN EMPLOYEES.

I'M GONNA SUGGEST SOMETHING TODAY.

A A CAUGHT A FACT, A FORENSIC AUDIT COMMITTEE MADE UP OF LOCAL CPA VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST THIS COUNCIL.

WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER AT TAX COMMITTEE AND WE HAVE MANY COMMITTEES.

WHY NOT A FACT AUDIT COMMITTEE MADE UP OF CPAS FROM OUR RESIDENTS.

SET IT UP ASAP AND LET'S SEE WHERE ALL THIS MONEY'S GOING TO LET THESE CPAS DO IT.

BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT CPAS.

NOT ONE OF Y'ALL ARE QUALIFIED TO DO A AUDIT OR EVEN UNDERSTAND AN AUDIT.

NEITHER AM I, I'M NOT JUST, I'M JUST NOT BEING CRITICAL TO YOU.

I'M BEING CRITICAL TO MYSELF.

I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT IT EITHER.

THANK YOU, MR. LYNN

[00:20:01]

LYNN GREELEY, UH, I WAS GONNA SPEAK FOR, UH, LYNN GREELEY TODAY, BUT I THINK I WILL PASS ON THAT TODAY.

I'LL DO IT, UH, NEXT TIME.

AND WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE MORE INTERESTING THINGS COMING.

THANK YOU PAMELA MARTIN OVENS.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

I DON'T SEE.

OKAY, THANKS.

THAT'S ALL IT DIDN'T MAKE ON THERE.

NO LEFT.

LEFT.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU ALL.

NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE SECOND AND FINAL READING

[9.a. Consideration of an Ordinance Amending Section 10-5-50 of the Municipal Code of the Town of Hilton Head Island to Award a Non-Exclusive Commercial Beach Franchise Agreement - Second and Final Reading - Josh Gruber, Deputy Town Manager]

AT OUR MEETING ON JUNE 4TH, TOWN COUNCIL VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE ON FIRST READING MR. GRUER.

GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

UM, IF YOU'LL RECALL AT THE LAST MEETING, DURING FIRST READING, I BELIEVE WE MAY HAVE SET A RECORD FOR THE LONGEST MOTION, UH, IN THE HISTORY OF A TOWN COUNCIL MEETING THAT ENCOMPASSED A VARIETY OF TERMS. ULTIMATELY, ALL OF THOSE WERE INCORPORATED INTO THE DOCUMENT THAT'S IN YOUR BACKUP MATERIALS TONIGHT.

UH, WE'VE ALREADY BEGUN DISCUSSIONS WITH REPRESENTATIVE SHORE BEACH SERVICES AND TOWN STAFF TO LOOK AT WHAT TYPES OF DOCUMENTS WILL WE NEED IN ORDER TO REVIEW FINANCIAL, UH, RECORDS FROM THAT ORGANIZATION.

SO WE'RE ALREADY HEADED IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION, BUT WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT EVERYTHING THAT WAS DISCUSSED AT THE LAST MEETING HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY INCORPORATED IN THAT DOCUMENT AND IT'S PENDING BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING FOR APPROVAL.

OKAY, I'LL, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'LL OPEN UP FOR, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT.

ANYBODY FROM THE PUBLIC.

ALL RIGHT.

SEEING NONE, WE HAVE A MOTION.

YES.

I'LL MOVE TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 10 DASH FIVE DASH 50 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE TOWN OF HILTON NET ISLAND TO AWARD A NON-EXCLUSIVE COMMERCIAL BEACH FRANCHISE AGREEMENT.

THIS IS THE SECOND FINAL READING.

WE HAVE A SECOND.

OKAY, MR. ALFORD? THANK YOU.

WE HAVE A FIRST AND SECOND DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL.

OKAY.

I, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION.

I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT THE, I THINK I'M ON THE RED LIGHT'S ON .

UH, I'M CONFUSED ABOUT THE FRANCHISE FEE.

WHEN I LOOKED THROUGH THE STAFF REPORT, IT HAD JUNE 18 ALSO HAD JUNE FOUR, IT HAD 3%, AND ANOTHER PLACE THAT WAS 5.75%.

AND THEN ANOTHER PLACE WAS SAYING THE STAFF HAD SUGGESTED A, A GRADUATED FEE.

SO CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT FEE WE LANDED ON? YEP.

SO WHAT WAS SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THE RFP WAS A GRADUATED FEE BASED UPON NEGOTIATIONS WITH STAFF.

WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY PRESENTED TO COUNCIL PRIOR TO ADOPTION OF FIRST READING WAS A PROPOSAL FOR A FIVE AND THREE QUARTERS OF A PERCENT FEE, BUT BASED UPON DISCUSSIONS WITH SHORE BEACH SERVICES AND TOWN COUNCIL, ULTIMATELY THE MOTION THAT WAS MADE COMING OUT OF THAT MEETING WAS TO SET THE FRANCHISE FEE AT 3%, WHICH IS IN THE AGREEMENT THAT'S BEFORE YOU TODAY.

OH, THAT'S WHAT, THANK YOU.

THAT, THAT WAS WHY I WAS SO CONFUSED.

I'M LIKE, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHERE WE LANDED.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

COMMENTS.

ALL RIGHT.

SEEING NONE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND.

SO MOVE TO SEVEN TO ZERO.

OH.

NEXT WE WILL MOVE ON TO

[9.b. Consideration of an Ordinance Amending Sections 2-5-15 (Public Meetings and Public Hearings of Town Council and Boards and Commissions); 2-5-50 (Agenda and Order of Business); 2-5-70 (Appearance by Citizens During Public Meetings); and 2-5-80 (Rules of Decorum) of the Municipal Code of the Town of Hilton Head Island - Second and Final Reading - Josh Gruber]

AT OUR MEETING ON JUNE 4TH TOWN COUNCIL TOWN COUNCIL VOTED FIVE TO ONE TO APPROVE THIS FIRST READING OF THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE.

YES, SIR.

UM, AGAIN, BASED UPON OUR DISCUSSIONS AT THE LAST TOWN COUNCIL MEETING, THERE HAVE BEEN NO AMENDMENTS OR REVISIONS TO THE DOCUMENT AT THIS TIME.

UH, WE'VE ALSO NOT RECEIVED ANY PUBLIC COMMENT OR ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK REGARDING THIS MATTER THAT I CAN BRING FOR YOU THIS EVENING.

UM, HOWEVER, IF YOU DO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONTENTS OF IT, I'M HAPPY TO REVIEW IT AGAIN.

UH, BUT ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE KIND OF COVERED AT THE LAST MEETING IS IT CHANGES OUR CODE IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

FIRST, WITH REGARDS TO THE ORDER OF ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

SECOND, WITH REGARDS TO THE PROCESS BY WHICH PEOPLE CAN MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

AND THEN LASTLY, BASICALLY OUTLINING THE EXPECTED BEHAVIOR OF FOLKS PARTICIPATING IN PUBLIC MEETINGS AND WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE ACCEPTABLE AT THAT POINT IN, UH, OUR PROCESS.

OKAY.

WITH THAT, I WILL OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT.

YES, SIR.

COME ON UP.

THIS IS IN CONNECTION WITH THE OBSERVATION THAT I MADE IN THE HANDOUT, AND THAT IS AT THE SOUTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT IN 2021 SAID THAT EVERY ACTION THAT THIS BOARD TAKES REQUIRES A FINDING THAT THE TAXPAYER WILL BENEFIT BY THE ACTION.

AND I BELIEVE

[00:25:01]

AND THEY SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IMPACT WILL HAVE ON THEIR REAL PROPERTY VALUES ON THE DIFFERENT PROPOSITIONS THAT COME BEFORE YOU.

AND I BELIEVE THAT'S A NOTICE THING AND SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO DISCUSS BECAUSE THE PRIMARY DUTY OF THIS COUNCIL IS TO PROMOTE THE GROWTH OF REAL PROPERTY VALUES.

AND I THINK THAT FOCUS SHOULD THEREFORE BE BOTH ACKNOWLEDGED AND DIRECTED TO THE PUBLIC.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

THANK YOU.

OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT.

ALRIGHT.

SEEING THEN WE'LL BRING IT TO THE S DO WE HAVE A, A MOTION? YES, I MOVE.

OKAY, GO AHEAD.

I MOVE TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS TWO DASH FIVE DASH 15 PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS OF TOWN COUNCIL AND BOARDS OF COMM AND COMMISSIONS, TWO DASH FIVE DASH 50 AGENDA AND ORDER OF BUSINESS, TWO DASH FIVE DASH 70, APPEARANCE OF CITIZENS DURING PUBLIC MEETINGS, AND TWO DASH FIVE DASH 80 RULES OF DECORUM.

THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE TOWN OF HILL NET ISLAND SECOND AND FINAL READING.

WE HAVE A SECOND.

SECOND, MR. WE HAVE A FIRST AND SECOND DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL MS. BECKER.

UM, JUST AS BEFORE AND THROUGH ALL THE DISCUSSIONS WITH REGARD TO THIS ORDINANCE, I'M STRONGLY OPPOSED.

I FIND IT AN INFRINGEMENT ON, UM, FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

AND FURTHERMORE, UM, I THINK THAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE SHORT TIME THAT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE HEARD ON EVERY MATTER THAT IS CONCERNING THIS TOWN HAS BEEN, UM, LIMITED.

AND I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

SO FOR ME, AND I THINK THE REST SHOULD AGREE, THIS ORDINANCE IS INAPPROPRIATE, WRONG, AND, UM, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO IS PROTECT ALL OF OURS, ALL OF OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS TO SPEAK.

UM, AND SO I'M GOING TO OPPOSE THIS MOTION AS I HAVE BEFORE OTHER DISCUSSION.

COUNCIL? YES, SIR.

SORRY, GO AHEAD, MR. SAND.

GO AHEAD, LADIES FIRST.

UM, I'LL SEE IF I CAN FIND ONE.

SORRY, .

SORRY RIGHT HERE.

UM, AT ANY RATE, UM, I JOKE MY MOM TOLD ME A WHILE BACK, APOLOGIZE.

UM, SO WHAT WAS I GONNA SAY? UM, , UH, LAST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT, UH, IF THIS WERE ADOPTED, THE NEED FOR TRAINING OF CHAIRS OF OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

UM, AND YOU POINTED OUT THE STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES FOR ELECTED APPOINTED OFFICIALS, WHICH I THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL, BUT I'M WONDERING IF THIS IS ADOPTED TONIGHT, WHAT PLANS DO WE HAVE FOR TRAINING FOR CHAIRS OF OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS? SO WE'VE STARTED HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN IDEA, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IS PUTTING UP ON THE SCREEN BEFORE THE START OF A MEETING NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT THESE NEW RULES, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE AND INFORM.

UM, THERE OBVIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE A TRANSITION PERIOD TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THESE AS WE GO FORWARD BEFORE WE, YOU KNOW, REALLY KIND OF UNDERTAKE ANY KIND OF STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF THEM.

UH, BUT THIS WILL ALLOW US TO COMMUNICATE TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT OUR EXPECTATIONS ARE, AND THEY ARE CLEARLY SET FORTH IN THAT DOCUMENT.

UM, ADDITIONALLY, WHEN WE HAVE ANNUAL BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS TRAINING, THIS WILL BECOME A PART OF THAT.

AND SO THAT WE CAN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THAT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE WITH THEM, MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT PROGRESSION IN TERMS OF RESPONSE.

AND THAT THESE ARE NOT MEANT IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM TO STIFLE OR LIMIT THE PUBLIC'S ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE.

IT'S JUST SETTING FORTH WHAT OUR EXPECTATIONS ARE WHEN YOU IN FACT DO GO TO PARTICIPATE AND HOW WE EXPECT YOU TO BEHAVE AND, AND GO ABOUT PROVIDING THOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

UH, AND SO THAT WILL BE INCORPORATED AS PART OF THAT ANNUAL TRAINING GOING FORWARD SO THAT WE CAPTURE ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ENTITIES THAT ARE GONNA BE COVERED BY THIS AND THE MEETINGS THAT THEY MAY HOLD WITH THE PUBLIC.

IT'D BE GOOD TO THAT, UH, ABOUT TO APPOINT SOME NEW FOLKS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS LATER TONIGHT.

SO IT'D BE GOOD TO GET THAT ORIENTATION READY, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE THIS.

THAT'S IT.

TYPICALLY OUR, OUR BIG REAPPOINTMENT TIMES IN JUNE.

SO TYPICALLY IN JULY, AUGUST, DEPENDING UPON SCHEDULING, IS WHEN WE'LL HAVE THAT REALLY BIG, UH, ORIENTATION SESSION.

GREAT.

THANK YOU MR. FA.

THANK YOU.

UM, THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS, JOSH, WILL THIS APPLY TO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING? IT WILL BE, IT WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE UPON ADOPTION.

SO IF IT'S APPROVED TONIGHT, IT WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE AS OF THE, THE VOTE ON THAT MATTER.

UH, BUT AGAIN, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC'S AWARE OF IT AND WE NEED TO START ISSUING THIS INFORMATION SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS CHANGED AND ALSO WHAT HAS NOT CHANGED.

I AGREE THAT THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

THANK YOU.

OTHER COMMENTS? I HAVE A FOLLOW UP QUESTION, UM, TO YOUR ANSWER TO, UM, PATSY, WHERE ARE THOSE STANDARDS COMING FROM? WHAT IS THE

[00:30:01]

AGAIN, THAT'S NOT BEING CODIFIED INTO TOWN CODE.

HERE WE GO.

IT'S THIS DOCUMENT RIGHT HERE, ATTACHMENT THREE.

UM, BUT IT BASICALLY PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO OVERSEE AND LEAD PUBLIC MEETINGS ON HOW THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO, UH, APPLY THESE STANDARDS IN TERMS OF SITUATIONS THAT MAY ARISE DURING THE COURSE OF A PUBLIC MEETING.

AND WHERE DOES THAT GUIDANCE COME FROM? WHERE'S THE RESOURCE FROM THAT GUIDANCE? WE, WE'VE DEVELOPED THAT AND WE ISSUE THAT INTERNALLY AS PART OF, UM, MANAGING OUR BOARD'S, AGENCIES, AND COMMISSIONS.

AGAIN, I HAVE A BIG PROBLEM.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

UM, MR. GRUBER, FOR THOSE THAT ARE, UH, NOT AS IN TUNE TO THIS DISCUSSION, UH, FOR THE RECORD AND FOR THE PUBLIC, COULD YOU PLEASE SORT OF REITERATE THAT WE ARE NOT, UH, DISALLOWING FOLKS TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS OR ADDRESS THE COUNCIL OR BOARD AND COMMISSIONS AT THEIR PLEASURE? ABSOLUTELY.

OKAY.

UH, WE WANT TO RESTATE THAT UNEQUIVOCALLY, THIS IS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO LIMIT ANYBODY'S ABILITY TO SPEAK.

ALL WE'RE DOING IS TRYING TO MAKE THE MEETINGS GO EFFICIENTLY.

SO DEPENDING UPON THE SUBJECT MATTER THAT YOU WANT TO TALK ON, IT MAY BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR YOU TO SPEAK WHEN THAT ITEM IS ACTUALLY PENDING BEFORE THE BODY ITSELF, OR IF YOU WANNA SPEAK ON SOMETHING THAT'S UNRELATED TO THAT PARTICULAR MEETING.

BUT YOU STILL WANT TO INTERACT AND COMMENT WITH PUB, UH, WITH, WITH TOWN COUNCIL, YOU HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

WE'RE JUST STATING WHEN IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE ON THE AGENDA TO DO THAT.

AND THEN AGAIN, AS YOU'RE PROVIDING THOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR WHAT OUR EXPECTATIONS ARE WITH REGARDS TO YOUR BEHAVIOR AND HOW YOU GO ABOUT PROVIDING THOSE COMMENTS.

BUT IN NO SHAPE, WAY, SHAPE OR FORM WILL THIS LIMIT THE ABILITY OF A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE, UH, IN ANY OF OUR PUBLIC MEETINGS.

THANK YOU, SIR.

MAY I FOLLOW UP ON THAT? PLEASE? YES.

THANK YOU.

SO, UM, IT'S THE, THE DECORUM, IT'S THE BEHAVIOR.

MM-HMM.

THAT THIS IS PRIMARILY ADDRESSING.

AND WHERE'S THE RESOURCE FOR JUDGMENT ON THAT? UM, SO AGAIN, WE SET FORTH VARIOUS BEHAVIORS WITHIN THE RULES OF DECORUM, UM, THAT WE EXPECT FOLKS TO FOLLOW.

AND, AND THE LIST IS HERE, AND I'M SHOWING IT ON THE SCREEN NOW.

MM-HMM.

.

UM, SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE EXPECTED TO NOT ADDRESS THE PUBLIC BODY WITHOUT FIRST BEING RECOGNIZED BY THE CHAIR THAT IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR YOU TO SPEAK.

SO YELLING AND SHOUTING FROM THE AUDIENCE, MAKING COMMENTS THAT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOLLOWING THESE GUIDELINES, BECAUSE THAT'S OUTSIDE OF OUR RULES OF DECORUM.

UM, I DON'T WANNA NECESSARILY GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE, BUT THEY'RE LISTED HERE IN TERMS OF WHAT THE BEHAVIOR IS AND WHAT OUR EXPECTATIONS ARE DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.

SUBJECTIVENESS OF, HANG ON ONE SECOND.

SKIP YOUR, UM, I THINK YOUR, YOUR HEARING AID IS REVERBERATING.

OH, WELL.

OH, THAT THING RAN.

I'M SORRY.

YEAH.

I SAY, SORRY, .

IT'S NOT OVER HERE.

I'M TELLING IT'S TERRIBLE.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

SO I THINK WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE SUBJECTIVE NATURE OF THAT AND THE EQUAL APPLICATION.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU FIND A RESOURCE THAT DELINEATES THAT SPECIFICALLY ENOUGH SO THAT, UM, IN FACT, ALL CITIZENS ARE TREATED THE SAME.

MM-HMM.

.

SO AGAIN, THESE ARE MY OBJECTIONS, THESE ARE MY CONCERNS.

I THINK IT'S MISGUIDED.

OKAY.

OTHER COMMENTS? ALRIGHT.

SEEING NONE, WE'LL TAKE A VOTE.

UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY GOODBYE BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED, THAT'D BE SIX TO ONE.

I WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT.

I NEED, I NEED TO COMMENT ON THAT.

WE, WE ALREADY, IT'S OPEN TO COMMENT FOR AGENDA ITEMS. SO PLEASE, MR. HO, I CALLED FOR, FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

HUH? I CALLED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT EARLIER.

SO LET, WE'LL LET YOU SPEAK FOR, FOR THREE MINUTES.

YES.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

I'LL TRY NOT TO EVEN TAKE THREE MINUTES.

FIRST OF ALL, JUDGE BOX RULED IT'S LEGAL FOR ME OR ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM TO SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES FOR SOMEBODY ELSE WITH A POA POWER OF ATTORNEY.

IT'S A, IT'S AN ALL POWER DOCK.

IT'S ALSO, UH, TOTALLY LEGAL FOR IF THEY'RE, IF THEY'RE A, A HERE, THAT THEY CAN ASSIGN THEIR THREE MINUTES AND ASK SOMEBODY TO SPEAK FOR THEM.

I'M GONNA READ A COUPLE OF THINGS FROM, UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF AND THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF.

TO ALL MAYORS, HE SAYS, ARREST PUBLIC SPEAKERS AND YOU'LL GET YOUR BUTT SUED OFF.

BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF PJ TANNER SAID IN HE AND HIS DEPUTIES WILL NOT REMOVE PEOPLE FROM MEETINGS IF PUBLIC OFFICIALS AREN'T HAPPY WITH HOW THEY'RE BEHAVING OR WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.

AND AT THE MEETING OF THE, OF THE 20 HIGHEST ELECTED OFFICIALS IN BEAUFORT, BLUFFTON AND HILTON HEAD AND PORT ROYAL TANNER SMACKED DOWN AN, AN ORDINANCE RECENTLY INTRODUCED BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL TO CONTROL SPEAKERS AND SAID HIS DEPUTIES WOULD NO LONGER COME TO MEETINGS ON HILTON MID ISLAND IF THE MAYOR TRIES TO TELL THEM WHAT TO SAY AND HOW TO SAY IT.

WE, WEDNESDAY'S MEETING COMES AS TENSIONS ESCALATE BETWEEN SPEAKERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.

[00:35:02]

TANNER SAID, ANY ORDINANCE PASTOR CURTAIL HOAGLAND'S NEAR CONSTANT ATTACKS WOULD APPLY TO ALL PUBLIC SPEAKERS.

TANNER SAID HE WOULD REFUSE TO ENFORCE ANY LOCAL ORDINANCES OR A MAYOR'S DIRECTING A DEPUTY TO ARREST SOMEBODY OR INTERRUPT 'EM OR WHATEVER, WITHOUT A CLEAR VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL STATUTE.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT COULD BE ENFORCED BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

HE SAID, I COULD NOT ALLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS TO GIVE ANY DIRECTION OF ANY KIND TO MY DEPUTIES.

AND THAT'S WHY YOU DON'T SEE HIM HERE, AND YOU SEE BOB HERE AND HE CAN'T DO ANYTHING.

HE HAS TO SIT THERE AND LISTEN TO ME LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

WHEN TOWN WHEN TOWN WOULD BLUFF AN ATTORNEY TERRY FINGER ASKED TANNER WHETHER HIS DEPUTIES WOULD ENFORCE A REQUIREMENT FOR A SPEAKER TO BE A RESIDENT.

TANNER REPLIED, ABSOLUTELY NOT BEING A CITIZEN OF HILTON HEAD, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? COME WITH YOUR CITIZEN CARD OR YOUR ELECTRIC BILL THAT'S GOING TO END UP BEING ANOTHER FORCED AMENDMENT ISSUE.

ANOTHER FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUE.

YOU'RE GONNA GET YOUR BUTT SUIT OFF.

TANNER TANNER SAID THE NAME, NO ONE WANTED TO HIM TO SAY, WHICH MIGHT AS WELL BE CALLED THE SKIP HOAGLAND ORDINANCE.

HOAGLAND IS A TALE WHO HAS BEEN WAGGING THE DOG IN THE RECENT PAST.

TANNER, AS THE DEPUTIES HAVE REFUSAL ORDERS TO REMOVE HOAGLAND FROM MEETINGS BECAUSE HOAGLAND HAS NOT BROKEN ANY LAWS.

SO LIKE THE MUNICIPALITIES, THE COUNTY APPEARS WHO HAVE WRITTEN A LAW FOR ME TO BREAK, BUT THIS IS NOT ABOUT ONE PERSON.

THEY SAY THE RULES OF DECORUM THEY SAY AREN'T DESIGNED TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR HOAGLAND, A FREQUENT PUBLIC COMMENTATOR TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC MEETINGS.

I COULD GO ON AND ON AND ON, BUT YOU CAN READ ALL THIS ONLINE.

THESE ARTICLES ARE ALL AVAILABLE AS THE ARTICLES OF THE OUTRAGEOUSLY OUT CHARGED LEGAL FEES BY GRUBER AND COLTRANE IN THE PAST.

ALFRED, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

SINCE, SINCE I ALLOWED HIM, I'LL ALLOW OTHERS AS WELL.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR CHESTER WILLIAMS. I WASN'T GONNA SAY ANYTHING, BUT SINCE THE DOOR'S BEEN OPENED NOW, UH, AND YOUR ATTORNEY, MR. COLTRANE CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW IS THAT YOU CAN REG, YOU CAN'T REGULATE WHAT, WHAT SOMEONE SAYS, BUT YOU CAN REGULATE THE TIME, PLACE, AND MANNER OF THAT SPEECH.

AND I THINK WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE IS EXACTLY THAT.

I THINK IT'S CONSTITUTIONAL.

I THINK THE COURTS WILL UPHOLD IT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

YES, SIR.

JUST A QUESTION ACTUALLY.

UH, WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? WE WERE CLEANING UP AN OLD ORDINANCE IS WHAT WE WERE DOING.

SO, SO THE, THERE'S THE, YOU'RE NOT TRYING TO CORRECT OR, OR, UH, OR PUNISH SOMEBODY WHO IN THE PAST HAS MISBEHAVED.

IT IS NOT, THIS IS NOT ABOUT ONE INDIVIDUAL.

IT'S ABOUT HAVING A ORDINANCES IN PLACE THAT IS ENFORCEABLE.

SO IT'S A SIMPLE ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER.

PARDON? IT'S A SIMPLE ADMINISTRATIVE CORRECTION.

YES.

THAT'S ALL IT IS.

YES.

OKAY.

WELL, THE, I WOULD, I WOULD ALLOW THAT, YOU KNOW, MR. GRUBER CAN ADDRESS THAT WHEN HE COMES BACK UP TO THE PODIUM.

WOULD YOU PLEASE, BECAUSE I, I'VE UNDERSTOOD VERY CLEARLY WHAT JOSH HAS SAID, AND IT'S VERY CLEAR.

AND, AND READING WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING IS VERY CLEAR AND JUST HAVING A GREAT DEAL OF DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING WHY IT'S NECESSARY.

SO IF, IF JOSH COULD, IT'D BE MUCH APPRECIATED.

THANK YOU.

ABSOLUTELY.

ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT? YOU'VE ALREADY MADE ONE, I BELIEVE, DIDN'T YOU? YES.

YEAH.

BUT IN RESPONSE TO, AND WE WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT GONNA GO THERE.

MR. DAVIDSON.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SIR.

ALL RIGHT, JOSH, IF WE'LL COME BACK UP.

YES, SIR.

LEMME TAKE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY JUST TO QUICKLY HIGHLIGHT THE REVISIONS THAT ARE UNDER DISCUSSION FOR TODAY.

UM, SO THE FIRST SET IS ESSENTIALLY REVISING THE ORDER OF TOWN COUNCIL'S, UH, AGENDA.

AND THE PRIMARY PURPOSE BEHIND THAT IS TO IDENTIFY THAT PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS THAT ARE ON AN AGENDA FOR THAT MEETING WOULD BE TAKEN UP AS THAT ITEM IS BEING DISCUSSED WITH COUNCIL.

AND THAT IF A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WANTS TO TALK ABOUT ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA THAT EVENING, THEY CAN DO THAT, BUT IT WILL BE TAKEN UP AFTER THE MATTERS, BEFORE THE BODY HAVE BEEN ALREADY DISCUSSED, BUT BEFORE PUBLIC OR, UH, BEFORE RECESSING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

SO AGAIN, SAME OPPORTUNITIES.

IT'S JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE EFFICIENTLY GO THROUGH THE ORDER OF BUSINESS OF COUNSEL AND TAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE APPROPRIATE TIMES.

UM, IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'RE ALSO MAKING SOME ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES WITH REGARDS TO OUR CODE.

THE MAYOR MENTIONED IT'S OUTDATED.

UH, TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, IT SAYS THAT, UM, WE'LL MEET AT THREE O'CLOCK AND WE WILL ADJOURN AT EIGHT O'CLOCK, WHICH EVERYBODY KNOWS BASED UPON YESTERDAY IS NOT ACCURATE.

CAN YOU READ THAT BACK IN AGAIN, ? SO AGAIN, WE'RE, WE'RE, A LOT OF THIS IS LOOKING TO CLEAN UP OLD MATTERS OF THE CODE, BUT WE ARE GONNA HOPEFULLY THEN BE ABLE TO EFFICIENTLY HAVE MEETINGS.

AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO PROVIDING PUBLIC COMMENT, OUR GOAL IS TO

[00:40:01]

AND SO THAT, THAT IS THE, UH, UM, THE, THE CONTENT OF WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

WELL, WE'VE ALREADY VOTED ON IT.

YEAH.

SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT NEW BUSINESS.

UH, WE HAVE MR. GRUBER

[10.a. Consideration of an Ordinance of the Town of Hilton Head Island Authorizing the Execution and Delivery of Quit Claim Deeds for a Portion of Property Owned by the Town of Hilton Head Island Identified as 54 Muddy Creek Road and the Purchase of a Stormwater Easement for the Same - First Reading -Josh Gruber, Deputy Town Manager]

MR. GRUER? YES, MR. MAYOR.

UH, I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO KIND OF, UH, GO THROUGH KIND OF A CHRONOLOGICAL SEQUENCE OF HOW THIS MATTER IS PENDING BEFORE TOWN COUNCIL.

SO, UH, A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, THE TOWN PURCHASED A PIECE OF PROPERTY, UM, ADJACENT TO 54 MUDDY CREEK ROAD.

THE HISTORY OF THAT PROPERTY IS THAT SEVERAL YEARS PRIOR TO THAT TIME, IT HAD BEEN SOLD AT A TAX SALE.

IT HAD BEEN PURCHASED BY ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL, AND THEN THE TOWN SUBSEQUENTLY PURCHASED THE PROPERTY FROM THAT INDIVIDUAL.

UH, A NUMBER OF YEARS FOLLOWING THAT PURCHASE, A SEWER LIFT STATION WAS INSTALLED AT THE VERY SOUTHERN END OF THE PROPERTY AND CURRENTLY EXISTS TODAY AND PROVIDES THOSE PUBLIC UTILITIES.

UM, A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, THE FAMILY WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY AT 54 MUDDY CREEK ROAD, REACHED OUT, CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE PROPERTY HAD INITIALLY BEEN LOST TO TAX SALE, AND WAS ALSO THEN FURTHER CONCERNED THAT THE PROPERTY RECORDS REFLECTED THAT THE TOWN HAD OWNERSHIP OF THAT PARCEL.

IN TALKING WITH THE TOWN ATTORNEY, UM, AND IN TALKING WITH THE FAMILY MEMBERS, WHAT WE'D PROPOSED WAS A SERIES OF ACTIONS THAT WOULD ACCOMPLISH TWO THINGS.

ONE, IT WOULD ALLOW THE TOWN TO RETAIN THE PORTION OF PROPERTY THAT'S BEING USED FOR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE PURPOSES, BUT WOULD ALLOW US TO HAVE A BETTER QUALITY OF TITLE ON THE PROPERTY THAN WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.

NOW, BY ACCEPTING A QUICK CLAIM DEED, SIMILARLY THAT PORTION OF THE PROPERTY THAT WE ARE NOT UTILIZING, WE WOULD BE RETURNING BACK TO THE FAMILY VIA GIVING THEM A QUICK CLAIM DEED TO THAT PORTION OF THE PROPERTY.

LASTLY, IN THE MIDDLE OF THOSE TWO SECTIONS, THERE IS A STORMWATER DITCH.

UM, AND OUR STORMWATER FOLKS HAVE INDICATED THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO ACQUIRE AN EASEMENT SO THAT THEY CAN MAINTAIN THAT DITCH AS IT'S PART OF AN OVERALL LARGER SYSTEM THAT FLOWS IN THROUGH AND THROUGH THAT AREA.

UM, THROUGH OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE FAMILY, WE OBTAINED AN APPRAISAL OF THE PROPERTY, UM, AND THEN ENTERED INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE FAMILY TO PURCHASE THE DRAINAGE EASEMENT ON THAT PARCEL.