Aug 30, 2024 Northern Regional Plan Implementation Committee

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:05]

BUTTER BUTTER AND I DON'T WANT WE HAVE WE HAVE A FORUM WHICH WE MIGHT HAVE ONE OR TWO OTHER MEMBERS JOIN US PLEASE IN JULY WE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO REPUBLIC STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

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

[3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – JULY 26, 2024]

[Additional Item]

WHY WE JUST KIND OF STARTED THIS AND COAT ROUND GRANT YOU KNOW WE ARE SPEAKING OF HI I'M GRAHAM MCCLURE WITH THE JOSEPH CONSERVATION LEAGUE FOR THE DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH STEVEN ANDERSON WSJ TAYLOR LAB SAY SAY LET'S GO MORE DRAMATIC FOR TRAVEL I AM KATE SCHAFFER WITH THE LAND TRUST MARITIME I THEIR STATION I'M DANA BAUER I'M THE COORDINATOR FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA LOWCOUNTRY VOLUNTEER NORTHROP STOURPORT PLANNING GOOD MORNING SCOTT MARSHALL SANDY BEAUFORT CITY MANAGER VAN WILL STEP FORWARD RUBBER OIL RUBBER AND SHIP DIRECTOR PLANNING AND SIGNING MY TOMMY CITY BEAUFORT JERRY ASTRONAUTS OUT FOR OIL READY GARAGE FORMER CITY MANAGER COLONEL CAMPBELL SCHOOL THANK YOU FOR INSPECTION CARSON CITY OF THE AND PURPOSE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION ALL RIGHT WELL THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY CITIZEN COMMENTS THAT WE NEED TO ENTERTAIN BEFORE WE GET INTO AGENDA? THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT HAS OPENED FOR THAT. OKAY. HEARING NOW AND THEN THAT

[5. LOWCOUNTRY SENTINEL LANDSCAPE PARTNERSHIP – DANA BAUER, BEAUFORT COUNTY OPEN LAND TRUST]

YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU ALL THIS MORNING.

SO AGAIN, MY NAME IS DANA BAUER. I'M THE COORDINATOR FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA LOWCOUNTRY SENTINEL LANDSCAPE AND ANOTHER KIND OF EXPLAIN WHAT A CENTRAL LANDSCAPE IS, WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE LOWCOUNTRY AND KIND OF WHAT THIS MEANS MOVING FORWARD. I WANT TO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE .

OKAY. SO WHAT IS A SENTINEL LANDSCAPE? SO FORMALLY THE SENTINEL LANDSCAPE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM IS, A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND SO THEY CAME TOGETHER TO RECOGNIZE THESE WHERE CONSERVATION WORKING LANDS AND NATIONAL DEFENSE INTERESTS CONVERGE AND OVERLAP BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF SHARED PRIORITIES AND GOALS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE THREE DEPARTMENTS THAT MAY NOT IMMEDIATELY COME TO MIND THAT AND FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE FOR EXAMPLE HAVE A LOT IN COMMON BUT THEY REALLY TRULY DO SO SETTING A LANDSCAPE THIS WAS REALLY AN EFFORT SPEARHEADED DOD WORKING WITH THE OTHER TWO DEPARTMENTS AND ALL OF THE SENTINEL LANDSCAPES ARE ANCHORED AT LEAST ONE HIGH VALUE MILITARY INSTALLATION TRAINING TESTING RANGE BUT THEY ALL CONTAIN HIGH PRIORITY LANDS FOR ALL THREE DEPARTMENTS AND SO I YOU KNOW WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MISSION FOR THE SENTINEL LANDSCAPE PARTNERSHIP YOU CAN REALLY SEE KIND OF THE OVERLAP THAT ALL THREE DEPARTMENTS HAVE SHARED PRIORITIES WHEN YOU AT ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT YOU LOOK STRENGTHENING MILITARY READINESS AND SUPPORTING OUR NATIONAL DEFENSE AND NATIONAL SECURITY, PRESERVING NATURAL INCLUDING THOSE AT RISK AND PROTECTED SPECIES, SUPPORTING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY AND KEEPING WORKING FARMS WORKING, INCREASING ACCESS TO OUTDOOR RECREATION AND OF COURSE ENHANCING RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

[00:05:03]

THIRD BULLET THEY'RE A BIG PIECE OF THIS IS ACCESS FUNDING.

SO YOU CAN SEE THROUGH JUST AT POINT TWO PROJECTS ACROSS ALL OF THE CENTRAL LANDSCAPES HAVE ATTRACTED ABOUT 335 MILLION AND USDA FUNDING 233 MILLION FROM DOD AND 92 MILLION FROM INTERIOR IN ADDITION TO LEVERAGING STATE, LOCAL AND PRIVATE.

IT'S A HUGE OPPORTUNITY OPENS A LOT OF DOORS AND SO ANOTHER PIECE OF THAT IS WHERE DOD IS REP PROGRAM SO THEIR READINESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION INTEGRATION PROGRAM YOU HAD ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH IN COUNTY HAS BEEN A LONGSTANDING PARTNER WITH THE RFP PROGRAM.

I THINK IT WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE FIRST IF NOT THE FIRST MARINE CORPS RFP PROGRAM HERE FOR MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEFORE. AND WHAT'S KIND OF NOTABLE ABOUT THE RFP PROGRAM IS THE WAY THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY WORKS FOR ESTABLISHING THE PROGRAM AND FUNDING MADE THROUGH THE RFP PROGRAM CAN THEN SERVE AS A NONFEDERAL MATCH TO A NUMBER OF OTHER FEDERAL PROGRAMS. I MEAN IT'S A HUGE CAPABILITY.

IT'S ALSO HUGE FROM ENHANCED COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITY WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT AGENCIES, DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE IT REALLY KIND OF PAVES THE WAY FOR THAT MORE OF THAT LANDSCAPE SCALE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION EFFORT AN EXCELLENT AND SO I THINK THIS IS A VERY BUSY GRAPHIC BUT I THINK IT'S HELPFUL JUST FROM A VISUAL STANDPOINT TO REALLY SEE KIND OF IN THE WHITE CIRCLE YOU CAN SEE KIND OF THOSE CORE VALUES THAT ARE REALLY SHARED ACROSS THESE THREE DEPARTMENTS AND EACH ONE KIND OF HAS THEIR OWN FOCUS AREAS. YOU SEE DOD PROGRAMS OF TO THE NORTH SOUTHEAST IT IS DEPARTMENT AG TO THE SOUTHWEST AS INTERIOR AND THERE'S OBVIOUSLY DIFFERENT AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS WITHIN THOSE DEPARTMENTS. A LOT OF THESE ARE ESSENTIALLY FUNDING GRANT PROGRAMS AND I THINK IT'S JUST HELPFUL TO SEE KIND THE INTERRELATEDNESS AND AGAIN THROUGH THE CENTRAL LANDSCAPE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM A LOT OF ACCESS TO THESE DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES AND ABILITY TO MATCH FUNDING SOURCES IS OPENED UP THROUGH THIS PARTNERSHIP EXCELLENT. SO WHERE ARE THE LANDSCAPES? SO AGAIN JUST FOR SOME CONTEXT THERE ARE NOW 18 CENTRAL LANDSCAPES JUST DESIGNATED FIVE MORE AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR AND IT'S ON A TWO YEAR CYCLE ESSENTIALLY SO THERE WON'T BE ANY MORE DESIGNATED FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS. I THINK IT'S REALLY HELPFUL. SEE YOU KNOW WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE MID-ATLANTIC AND SOUTHEAST REGION YOU CAN SEE OBVIOUSLY WE SHARE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SPAN A RIVER. WE HAVE OUR SISTERS OF THE LANDSCAPE, THE GEORGIA CENTRAL LANDSCAPE AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE YOU LOOK AT LONGLEAF PINE HABITAT WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE SHARED WITH EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA, NORTHWEST FLORIDA LOOKING AT COASTAL AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE ISSUES. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF SHARED GOALS WITH SOME OF THESE OTHER SAVANNAH LANDSCAPES AND SO ANOTHER PIECE OF THOSE PROGRAM IS BEING ABLE TO KIND OF WORK TOGETHER AND KIND OF LEVERAGE, YOU KNOW, THE RESOURCES THAT WE ALL HAVE KIND OF INDIVIDUALLY AS LANDSCAPES AND TO KIND OF DO MORE ON A MULTI-STATE LANDSCAPE LEVEL SCALE ACTUALLY. ALL RIGHT.

SO LOW COUNTRIES ON THE LANDSCAPE WHAT DOES MEAN SO IT WAS OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED LAST YEAR. IT BECAME THE 11TH SEMINAL LANDSCAPE IN THE COUNTRY AND I KNOW A NUMBER OF YOU ALL WERE INVOLVED IN THIS EFFORT AND A BIG PART OF THIS EFFORT WAS FROM THESE TWO LADIES SITTING HERE IN THE ROOM WHO REALLY SPEARHEADED THAT KIND OF MONUMENTAL EFFORT TO GET THAT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE THROUGH THE DESIGNATION APPLICATION. BUT WE ARE OFFICIALLY A SEMINOLE LANDSCAPE NOW THE LANDSCAPE AND I HAVE A MAP ON THE NEXT SLIDE BUT LANDSCAPE IS OVER 2.2 MILLION ACRES.

[00:10:06]

SO THIS IS THE MAP YOU CAN SEE OUTLINED IN YELLOW HERE IS THE BOUNDARY OF THE LOWCOUNTRY CENTRAL LANDSCAPE. SO IT'S IT'S ALL OF BEAUFORT, JASPER HAMPTON AND COLLETON THEN PORTIONS OF OF KIND OF FIVE ALONG THE NORTHERN AND EASTERN AND ESSENTIALLY RUNS FROM THE SAVANNAH RIVER OVER TO THE EDISTO. AND YOU CAN SEE IN PURPLE THE SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE THAT'S OWNED AND MANAGED BY MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT AND THEN THE MILITARY FLIGHT TRAINING ROUTES ARE IN GRAY INCLUDING.

OBVIOUSLY THE THE ROUTES ARE BEING USED TO GO DOWN TO GEORGIA TO TOWNS IN BOMBING RANGE AND THEN PROTECTED LANDS ARE IN GREEN. AND I THINK IT ALSO SPEAKS TO, YOU KNOW, THE OPTIONS AGAIN FOR CONNECTIVITY WHEN YOU LOOK AT SAVANNAH RIVER, THE PROTECTED LANDS ALONG SAVANNAH RIVER WHICH IS VITAL FROM A WATER STANDPOINT ALSO IN THE AIR SPACE AND AREA AND JUST THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE SOME CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN WHICH KIND OF OVERLAP WITH YOU KNOW, THE MILITARY AS WELL BECAUSE REALLY I THINK ABOUT THREE FORCE OF OUR SETTING THE LANDSCAPE HAS A MILITARY MISSION FOOTPRINT WHEN YOU LOOK AT AIRSPACE AND THE ACTUAL INSTALLATION AND TRAINING AREAS.

SO IS THIS IS OUR LANDSCAPE MIKE FLYNN AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT YOU KNOW WHY THIS AREA WAS REALLY RECOGNIZED AS SO SIGNIFICANT AND WHAT EVENTUALLY LED TO THE SUCCESSFUL DESIGNATION AS A CENTRAL LANDSCAPE 58% OF THE LAND WITHIN THE LANDSCAPE BOUNDARY IS RECOGNIZED A NATIONAL LEVEL FOR ITS SIGNIFICANCE FROM A CONSERVATION PRIORITY STANDPOINT. I MENTIONED THE BOUNDARY OF THE SAVANNAH RIVER THAT'S WHERE WE GET OUR DRINKING WATER FROM. YOU KNOW, OVER 500,000 RESIDENTS BETWEEN THE TWO STATES. BUT IT'S ALSO WHERE THE MILITARY INSTALLATIONS GET THEIR DRINKING WATER FROM. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT WATER SECURITY AND WATER AVAILABILITY THAT'S DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, A SHARED GOAL WHEN YOU LOOK BETWEEN THE MILITARY AND THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO OF COURSE YOU HAVE TO TALK ABOUT SALT MARSH SO 55% OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S SALT MARSHES FOUND WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CENTRAL LANDSCAPE AND SOUTH CAROLINA IS HOME TO A THIRD OF ALL OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC SALT MARSH SO IT'S A VERY SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SALT OR SALT THAT'S VERY OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT FROM A COASTAL RESILIENCE STANDPOINT AND SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT MORE WHEN WE GET INTO SINKHOLES NEXT.

AND JUST QUICKLY AGAIN SOME SOME CONTEXT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SOUTHEAST REGION ON WHERE THE OTHER SIDE IN THE LANDSCAPES ARE IN THE SOUTHEAST AND JUST THE OPPORTUNITIES TO KIND OF WORK TOGETHER EITHER COLLABORATIVELY ON DIFFERENT PROJECTS AND ALSO TO KIND OF SHARE BEST PRACTICES AND LEARNED BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A LOT SHARED OVERLAP BUT AGAIN WE SHARE A BORDER WITH GEORGIA SEVEN THE LANDSCAPE AND I KNOW NORTHEAST FLORIDA CERTAINLY LANDSCAPE HAS BEEN WORKING ON GETTING DESIGNATED SO THAT WOULD PROVIDE AGAIN SOME ADDITIONAL CONNECTIVITY IN THE JACKSONVILLE AREA LIKE FLOOD AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE THREATS THROUGH A MILITARY COMMUNITY LENS WHEN WE LOOK AT ENCROACHMENT CHALLENGES A LOT OF THEM ARE REALLY SHARED BETWEEN OUR MILITARY PARTNERS AND THE COMMUNITY.

SO WHEN TALK ABOUT INCOMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT OBVIOUSLY THIS IS VERY RAPIDLY GROWING AREA THAT IS YOU KNOW PRETTY IMMENSE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. YOU KNOW OUR NEIGHBOR JASPER COUNTY IS THE FASTEST GROWING COUNTY IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND SO YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT AREAS WHERE THERE ARE OVERLAP WITH MILITARY TRAINING, WHEN WE LOOK AT LOW LEVEL FLYING AIRSPACE THAT THE AIR STATION NEEDS, YOU REALLY WANT KIND OF A PRISTINE TRAINING ENVIRONMENT UNDER THAT

[00:15:02]

AND SO RECOGNIZING THAT THOSE ARE GENERALLY IN AREAS WHERE ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS IDENTIFYING THOSE AREAS TO PROTECT AGAINST INCOMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT KEEP WORKING FARMS AND FOR US WORKING FROM A LIGHT POLLUTION STANDPOINT EXPOSURE TO TO NOISE IN THE COMMUNITY AND YOU WANT TO KEEP THOSE AREAS LESS LESS DENSELY AND SIMILARLY WHEN WE LOOK AT LAND CONVERSION FROM THOSE WORKING FARMS AND FORESTS INTO MORE DENSE USES OF OF HABITAT FOR AT RISK AND PROTECTED SPECIES THAT HAS THAT CAN HAVE RAMIFICATIONS ON WHAT MILITARY PARTNERS CAN DO ON THE INSTALLATION AND IN THEIR TRAINING AREAS AND ABILITY FOR THOSE RURAL PROPERTIES AS THEY CONVERTED TO BE ABLE TO DO KIND OF WHAT THEY NEED TO DO NATURALLY WHEN WE LOOK AT PRESCRIBED BURNS HAVING RESTRICTIONS IF THAT'S IN YOUR POPULATED AREA. SO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE THREATS TO DRINKING WATER CLIMATE CHANGE. OF COURSE WHEN WE LOOK AT INCREASED FREQUENCY OF LARGE RAIN EVENTS, EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS, LOOK AT STORM SURGE AND SEA LEVEL RISE.

YOU KNOW THOSE ALL HAVE THREATS TO MILITARY AND COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE FLOOD AND SO THIS IS REALLY MAGIC OF THE SENTINEL LANDSCAPE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.

AGAIN, IT IS A PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM AND SO YOU KNOW OUR PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM HAS OVER 30 PARTNERS ACROSS FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, PRIVATE AND NONPROFIT LEVELS.

WE ALSO HAVE OUR STEERING COMMITTEE WHICH A NUMBER OF THE PARTNERS LISTED HERE ARE PART AND WE ARE ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF STANDING UP WORKING GROUPS IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR SENTINEL LANDSCAPE GOALS ARE ON THE NEXT SLIDE IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THAT REGION MAKE SURE AND SO THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS TO BE DESIGNATED THE SENTINEL LANDSCAPE STEERING COMMITTEE REALLY WORK TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY WHAT THE KEY FOR OUR LOWCOUNTRY SENTINEL LANDSCAPE ARE AND SO THOSE ARE LISTED HERE YOU KNOW REDUCING VULNERABILITIES TO CLIMATE BY PROMOTING NATURE BASED SOLUTIONS PROTECTING AND ENHANCING ECOLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT AREAS TO SUPPORT THOSE IMPERILED SPECIES PROTECTING SOURCE WATER QUALITY SUPPORTING AND PROTECTING WORKING FARMS AND FORESTS. AND THEN THE FIFTH ONE IS REALLY SORT OF A CATCH ALL COMMUNICATIONS ORIENTED GOAL TO ESTABLISH AND PROMOTE THE SENTINEL LANDSCAPE PARTNERSHIP HERE IN THE COUNTRY THINGS LIKE AND SO THIS IS JUST SORT OF A REPRESENTATION YOU SEE THOSE FIVE GOALS ON THE LEFT, SOME EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED TO KIND OF ADVANCE TOWARDS THOSE GOALS.

AND I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT LATER ABOUT SOME OF OUR ONGOING PROJECTS THAT OUR PARTNERS ARE WORKING TOWARDS. SO THIS IS KIND OF A ROLL UP OF KEY ACTIONS SINCE MARCH 2023. SO IT WAS DESIGNATED A SENTINEL LANDSCAPE IN MARCH OF LAST WHEN WE LOOK AT LAND CONSERVATION JUST WITHIN OUR LOWCOUNTRY SENTINEL LANDSCAPE BOUNDARY OVER 22,000 ACRES HAVE BEEN PERMANENTLY PROTECTED. A SIGNIFICANT PROJECT OF THAT IS ONE I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHICH I'M SURE A LOT OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR THROUGH ONE OF OUR PARTNERS THE LOWCOUNTRY IS BASED ON SOLO LONGLEAF PARTNERSHIP.

THEY'VE BEEN CONDUCTING PRESCRIBED FIRE BURNS AND ALSO DOING ALL THE PINE REFORESTATION WORK. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT COASTAL RESILIENCE PROJECTS THAT ARE ONGOING AND I'LL TALK ABOUT AND THEN I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT OUR NATURE CONSERVANCY. ONE OF OUR PARTNERS WORKED WITH YOU FOR CONSERVATION DISTRICT TO DO A FOUR COUNTY NEEDS ASSESSMENT SPECIFICALLY WORKING WITH SMALL FARMERS AN EXCELLENT SO GREGORY PECK THIS IS REALLY KIND OF BECOMING THE KEYSTONE PROJECT BUT JUST TIMING WAS SORT OF I THINK KICKED OFF THE LOWCOUNTRY SENTINEL LANDSCAPE PARTNERSHIP AND SO IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT AND I'M SURE KATE CAN JUMP IN I WANT TO STEAL ANY OF HER THUNDER EITHER SHE SHE PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN THIS OF COURSE. BUT SO THIS IS 4400 ACRE PROPERTY REALLY AT THE MOUTH OF THE PORT RURAL SOUTH IN JASPER COUNTY AND SO IT WENT ON THE MARKET THE NATURE CONSERVANCY REALLY TOOK A LEAP OF FAITH IN SUBMITTING AN OFFER AND WAS SUCCESSFUL IN BEING ABLE TO THE PROPERTY WITH THE INTENT THAT THEY WOULD BE

[00:20:02]

AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THE BROAD RIVER CORRIDOR AND THE PORT WORLD SOUND, THERE'S HUGE OPPORTUNITIES FROM A LAND CONSERVATION STANDPOINT JUST PROVIDE THAT HABITAT CONNECTIVITY, WILDLIFE CORRIDORS WITH THOSE PROTECTED LANDS BUT ALSO TO SUPPORT THE WATER QUALITY EXCELLENT. SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ONGOING LIVING SHORELINE PROJECTS THAT OUR PARTNERS ARE WORKING TOWARDS. SO THE FIRST THING THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS THE NATURE CONSERVANCY RECEIVED FUNDING FROM NOAA'S TRANSFORMATIONAL HABITAT AND COASTAL RESILIENCE FUND AND A PART THAT OVERALL PROJECT THAT THEY'RE DOING IS THIS OYSTER REEF CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AT MARINE CORPS AIR STATION ITS LAUREL BAY HOUSING AREA TO ADDRESS SOME EROSION ISSUES. SO THAT'S THAT PHOTO IN THE UPPER LEFT CORNER IS AND SO THAT BE 2000 LINEAR FEET OF OYSTER CASTLE REEF I FORGET WHERE THEY ARE CURRENTLY BUT THAT IS THE END GOAL I THINK THEY HAVE FOUR OR 500 FEET COMPLETED RIGHT NOW. IT'S A GOOD WORK OUT IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN FUTURE BUILD EVENTS I ENCOURAGE IT BUT BE PREPARED. SECONDLY IS COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE IS THE LEAD FOR THIS PROJECT THAT FUNDING FROM NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATIONS NATIONAL COASTAL FUND WHICH I JUST WANT TO KIND OF PUT A STOP POINT DIRECT PROGRAM PROVIDES FUNDING TO THE NATIONAL COASTAL RESILIENCE FUND SO THAT SORT OF THEY HAVE A SET ASIDE SPECIAL EARMARKED FUNDING FOR PROJECTS THAT SUPPORT MILITARY INSTALLATIONS SO THEY'RE DOING 3.1 ACRES OF RESTORED MARSH FOOTPRINT USING MANUFACTURED WIRE REEFS WITH OYSTER SHELLS INSIDE PLACING THOSE UP POINTS ON THE PERIMETER OF BATTERY CREEK AT ARCHER'S CREEK THAT SUPPORT THAT ARE KIND ADJACENT TO PARRIS ISLAND OR NEAR PARRIS ISLAND THAT WILL KIND OF SUPPORT SOME MARSH LOSS EROSION AND STORM SURGE BENEFITS FOR FOR PARRIS ISLAND . AND THE THIRD ONE I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS A PROJECT THAT'S LED BY LEGACY WORKS GROUP. THEY RECEIVED FROM FOR AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL FUND WHICH PART OF THE AMERICA OF AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL FUNDING SOURCE IS THAT THEY HAVE A SET ASIDE FOR SETTING THE LANDSCAPES SO FOR THE NATIONAL LANDSCAPE SO THEY ARE WORKING TO BUILD CAPACITY TO CONSERVE SALT MARSH HABITAT WITHIN THE SOUTH ATLANTIC SALT MARSH INITIATIVE SAYS ME SO THAT MEANS GEOGRAPHY WHICH IS NORTH CAROLINA, CAROLINA, GEORGIA AND FLORIDA AND SO THE LOWCOUNTRY IS A PART OF THAT OVERALL YOU KNOW MULTI STATE EFFORT AND SO THEY ARE WORKING TO KIND OF STAND UP A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE TO WORK TOGETHER AND IDENTIFY A LIST OF 25 NATURE BASED SOLUTION TYPE PROJECTS AND A HANDFUL OF THAT

[00:25:03]

SO THIS FIRST PILOT PROJECT THAT MOVING FORWARD WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM OLD CC IS THE SHELL POINT PROJECT. SO THE SHELL POINT 21 INTERCHANGE OR ESSENTIALLY THE RAMP GOING OFF OF 21 AND ONTO THE CAUSEWAY PARRIS ISLAND WHICH OF COURSE IS THE ONLY WAY ON AND OFF THE INSTALLATION THAT IS MOVING TO THE SCOPING PHASE AND THEN A PARTIAL DESIGN ,THE 60% DESIGN THAT'S GOING TO DO A NUMBER OF OF EFFORTS SHORELINE STABILIZATION, FLOOD MANAGEMENT, WATER QUALITY, HABITAT RESTORATION. YOU CAN SEE SOME OF HARDESTY ADDRESSING EROSION, MARSH LOSS FLUVIAL FLOODING, COASTAL FLOODING, A STORM SURGE.

AND SO I THINK IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS THE CONSULTANT TEAM THAT IS LEADING THAT EFFORT, THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE HOLDING A STAKEHOLDER TABLETOP EXERCISE.

SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT NEXT ONE. AND SO THIS PROJECT THIS IS AN EXCITING ONE ALSO SO DUE FOR CONSERVATION DISTRICT FUNDING FROM THE NATURE CONSERVANCY TO SUPPORT A FIELD AGENT MR. WALTER MACK IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR AND SO HE DID THIS INITIAL KIND OF BASELINE FOR KIND OF ADDRESSING A GAP OF KIND A MISSED LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE COUNTY SMALL FARMERS ARE, WHO ARE THEY LIKE WHAT ARE THEIR NEEDS AND ALSO SPECIFICALLY TARGETING BLACK INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE COLOR BIPOC SMALL FARMERS HE DID ENDED UP DOING OUTREACH VISITS WITH 25 SMALL FARMERS AND YOU CAN KIND OF SEE MAP OBVIOUSLY A LOT ARE CONCENTRATED ON SAINT HELENA WITH A COUPLE SOUTH OF THE BROAD RIVER AND SOME OTHER SPREAD OUT KIND OF IN THE BURTON AREA.

AND SO THIS WAS REALLY A BASELINE ASSESSMENT TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHO THESE SMALL FARMERS ARE WHAT ARE THEIR FARMING OPERATIONS, THE SCALE OF THOSE FARMING OPERATIONS, WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES ARE THEY AWARE OF TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THOSE FUNDING INCENTIVES THROUGH USDA PROGRAMS? YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY WERE SIGNED UP FOR THE AG TAX RELIEF AND AGAIN AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEIR NEEDS WERE FROM AN EQUIPMENT STANDPOINT, YOU KNOW ,FROM A TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT STANDPOINT, WHAT DID THEY NEED? AND SO KIND OF THE NEXT STEPS OF THIS PROJECT ARE ONE WORKING WITH SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES THE CONSERVATION, SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS TO EXPAND THIS AND BASICALLY REPLICATE THIS NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROJECT AND OTHER COUNTIES AND THEN ALSO WITHIN COUNTY TO KIND OF ADVANCE INTO THE NEXT STEPS ADDRESSING SOME OF THE NEEDS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT WHICH IS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR GETTING ENROLLED WITH THE FARM SERVICE AGENCY AND OTHER USDA PROGRAMS THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR AG TAX RELIEF YOU KNOW SUPPORTING THAT PROCESS, TRYING TO STAND UP A FARM TOOL CARE PROGRAM, ADDRESS SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT NEEDS FOR SOME OF THESE SMALL SMALLER FARMERS, IMPROVING A REGIONAL OF FARM GOODS AND THEN SEEKING FUNDING FOR SOME OF THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE ADDRESSING COLD STORAGE STORAGE SHEDS ALL OF THOSE TO TO KIND SUPPORT REGIONAL FOOD DISTRIBUTION. SO I DID FOR THAT PROJECT AS WELL AND SO I'VE TALKED A LOT THROUGHOUT THIS KIND OF ABOUT THE DIFFERENT FUNDING AND THERE ARE A LOT AND I FEEL LIKE WE AS PARTNERS ARE APPLYING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING THIS IS SORT OF A LIST THAT'S GROWING. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY BUT I THINK IT SPEAKS TO JUST THE MANY LAYERS WHEN YOU LOOK AT FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL PRIVATE FUNDING SOURCES AND SO AND

[00:30:06]

SO I HAVE MY CONTACT INFORMATION HERE. WE HAVE OUR SNAZZY QR CODE THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO THERE AN OFFICIAL SENTINEL LANDSCAPES PARTNERSHIP PAGE AND FOLLOW THE COUNTRY SENTINEL LANDSCAPE HAS A WEB PAGE WITHIN THAT SITE SO THAT WILL REVIEW YOU THERE BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANYONE AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU THIS MORNING. JOB INITIATIVE YOU KNOW WHAT SMALL FARMS DO THEY DO THEY HAVE A ACREAGE REQUIREMENT OR FORCE OR CUT OFF OR I WANT TO SAY I THINK IT WAS LOOSELY DEFINED IN THIS EFFORT BUT I WANT TO SAY IT SORT OF MIRRORED THE USDA $8,000 A YEAR OF FARM INCOME JUST FLAT OUT THAT IT WAS SOME ACREAGE, SOME OTHER QUESTIONS.

I HAVE A QUESTION. YOU MENTIONED A STEERING COMMITTEE OVERSEEING THE PROJECT. ROMANS WHAT IS THE COMPOSITION OF IT? IS IT INCLUDE ELECTED OFFICIALS AS COUNTY SCHOOL OFFICIALS SO IT HAS REPRESENTATION FROM THE MILITARY INSTALLATIONS AS WELL AS SOME OF THE STATE FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES AND.

THEN STEPHANIE ROSSI ELCOCK IS A MEMBER NOT ELECTED OFFICIALS ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I THINK WE CAN GET A COPY OF YOUR CONTRAPTION IF WE'VE HAD THEM OUT AND THE MEMBERS OF OTHER QUESTIONS.

OKAY. DID YOU WANT ANYTHING I'M SURE I MEAN I HOPE YOU ALL ARE IMPRESSED. DANA'S BEEN ON THE TEAM SINCE MAY AND I THINK HAS REALLY SYNTHESIZED WELL THE INTERSECTIONALITY OF ALL OF THE WORK IF YOU'RE WONDERING LIKE WHY DOES THIS MATTER TO ME A CITY EFFORT PERSON OR A PORT ROYAL I MEAN INHERENTLY THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING BY DEVELOPING WELL INSIDE AN URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARY THINKING ABOUT WHO'S THINKING ABOUT HOW ALL THESE AGENCIES INTERACT IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF COUNTY IS SUPPORT THE COORDINATION THAT'S TAKING PLACE FROM THE MILITARY THE CONSERVATION THE RESILIENCE PARTNERS AND SO I HOPE YOU WALK AWAY FROM THIS PRESENTATION FEELING REALLY IN SYNC WITH A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AND THE OF THAT BEING ABLE TO ATTRACT MORE FUNDING SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE DO MORE GOOD STUFF FASTER AND MORE FREQUENTLY AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND THAT'S GOAL BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A HEALTHY COMMUNITY BOTH FOR OUR CITIZENS LIVE HERE AND FOR OUR MILITARY PARTNERS AND FOR CONSERVATION RESOURCES AND ONLY ALL POSSIBLE THROUGH EFFORTS LIKE THAT. SO JUST A HUGE THANK YOU TO, DANA, FOR BEING HERE, FOR LEADING IT, FOR SYNTHESIZING ALL THIS INFORMATION, FOR BEING A RESOURCE TO YOU ALL AND IF YOU CAN START TO FEEL HOW THE PUZZLE PIECES GO TOGETHER, WE WELCOME CONTINUED FROM THIS GREAT WRITING MARY DID YOU WANT ANYTHING? NO, I THINK THEY COVERED IT. I AGAIN THANK YOU VERY MUCH JENNIFER.

THANK YOU. PATIENT VERY INFORMATIVE JOB. LOTS OF THINGS GOING ON.

YES. OKAY. AND WITH US IN GOING TO SPEAK

[6. UPDATE ON BEAUFORT COUNTY PLASTIC BAG ORDINANCE – GRANT MCCLURE, PROJECT MANAGER, SOUTH COAST OFFICE, CCL]

THE OTHER INTERESTING THINGS GOING ON RIGHT NOW PLASTIC POSSIBLE.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME TODAY. MY NAME IS GRAHAM MCCLURE WITH THE CAUSE OF CONSERVATION THE LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE LEAGUE WE ARE A501 SEAT THREE OF OUR LITTLE ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION AND WE'RE HEADQUARTERED IN CHARLESTON BUT WE'VE GOT TWO FOLKS WORKING HERE AND BEFORE AND SO IT'S MYSELF AND THEN THE OFFICE DIRECTOR JESSE WHITE I GREW UP IN CHARLESTON BUT MY WHOLE FAMILY'S NOW DOWN AND BEFORE SO YOU MAY SEE THEM AROUND. I KNOW MY DAD'S BEEN AT THE HRP IN THE CITY UP FOR QUITE A BIT LATELY. HE'S AN ARCHITECT AND MY SISTER IS A VET.

SHE LIVES OUT ON LADY'S ISLAND AND MY OTHER SISTER IS A SCHOOLTEACHER AT RIVERVIEW SO I LIVE WITH MY WIFE AND THE POINT AREA SHE TEACHES AT BRIDGES AND UCB SO WE'RE WE'RE ALL HERE SO THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE I'LL RUN INTO Y'ALL OUTSIDE OF THIS MEETING TODAY AND YEAH JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY BACKGROUND. I WENT TO WOFFORD COLLEGE IN SPARTANBURG AND THEY DID WHEN THEIR FIRST FOOTBALL GAME YESTERDAY BY ONE POINT SO GOOD TERRIERS AND ALSO ALSO MASTERS FROM CLEMSON SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE BIG GAME SATURDAY BUT YEAH I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU

[00:35:02]

BUT IT JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT THAT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM IS THAT WE HAVE A PLASTIC POLLUTION PROBLEM WITH AS MUCH AS 30,000 ELEPHANTS. I IN WEIGHT ENTERING THE OCEAN EACH YEAR OKAY SO A BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS ORDINANCE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY THEY FIRST KIND OF STARTED DISCUSSING THE IDEA BACK IN 2017 AND AT THAT POINT THE COUNTY DECIDED THAT WORKSHOPS WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO GET SOME PUBLIC AND GAUGE SUPPORT AND THEN ALSO IT WAS DECIDED THAT BASICALLY MUNICIPALITIES IN THE COUNTY NEED TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE WITH BRINGING FORWARD ANY OF PLASTIC BAG BAN. AND SO IN 2018 EVERYBODY AGREED THAT WE WERE GOING TO BAN PLASTIC BAGS AND SO WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN PASSING THAT DESPITE OPPOSITION FROM FOLKS FROM THE PLASTIC INDUSTRY AND SOME THESE LARGER BIG BOX STORES LOBBYING AGAINST IT. SO THIS WAS REALLY A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT TO GET THAT FIRST BAG IN PUT INTO PLACE. YOU MAY RECALL STATEHOUSE AT THE TIME WAS TALKING ABOUT A BAN ON BANS ESSENTIALLY TAKING AWAY OUR RULE, HOW WE WERE SUCCESSFUL AND FIGHTING THAT OFF AS WELL. BUT UNFORTUNATELY AS KIND OF A BYPRODUCT WHAT WE SAW WAS THAT THOSE THICKER PLASTIC BAGS STARTED POPPING UP. I THINK THAT WAS LOT OF PEOPLE WEREN'T NECESSARILY EXPECTING THOSE TO START SHOWING UP AND THEY MARKET THOSE AS AS MULTI-USE. SO NOT SINGLE USE BUT WE CAN USE THIS SEVERAL TIMES.

THIS IS THICKER, THICKER PLASTIC. SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW SOME OF THESE GROCERY STORES GOT AROUND NOT SWITCHING MAKING THE SWITCH TO PAPER.

ADDITIONALLY, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A PANDEMIC IN 2020 AND SO THAT KIND OF LED TO I YOU KNOW, FOR VERY REASONABLE CAUSE LED TO VERY RELAXED ENFORCEMENT AND A LOT OF FOLKS ORDERING THINGS LIKE TAKEOUT AND SO IMPORTANT WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE FOR THAT PURPOSE DURING THAT TIME.

SO WHERE ARE WE NOW? IS THAT NOW THAT WE'RE POST-PANDEMIC A LOT OF THE MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES ACROSS OUR STATE ARE AT LEAST ON THE COAST ARE UPDATING THEIR ORDINANCES TO THE LOOPHOLE THAT ALLOWS FOR THOSE THICKER PLASTIC BAGS.

BEAUFORT COUNTY HAD PROPOSED SOME BGP FOR KIND OF BEAUTIFUL BOARD ACTUALLY HAD PROPOSED SOME LANGUAGE IT MEET SOME OPPOSITION AT THE COUNTY COUNCIL LEVEL BUT WE'VE TAKEN SOME OF THAT FEEDBACK. WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH DIFFERENT COUNTY STAFF AS WELL AS SUPPORT SOUND FOUNDATION AND OTHERS ON PROPOSING SOME NEW LANGUAGE AND YOU KNOW IN ADDITION TO ADDRESSING THE PLASTIC BAG LOOPHOLE WE WANT TO START HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT REGULATING THOSE FOAM CLAMSHELLS AS WELL AS PLASTIC CUTLERY.

WE TALKED ABOUT STRAWS AS WELL AND AND SO WE ARE WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THIS LANGUAGE.

IT IS IN PROCESS BUT WE'RE COMMUNICATING WITH THE CITY OF CHARLESTON ON THIS WHO IS KIND OF AT THE FOREFRONT OF A LOT OF THESE ORDINANCES. SO WHY SHOULD WE THESE ITEMS PLASTICS AND FROM WHAT WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE ENDING UP IN OUR ECOSYSTEMS AND CAN BE HARMFUL FOR MARINE HEALTH. WE ALSO KNOW THAT THESE ITEMS THESE LARGER ITEMS CAN ACTUALLY BREAK DOWN INTO SMALLER PARTICLES WHICH CAN NOT ONLY BE HARMFUL FOR ANIMALS, THEY INGEST THIS SMALL MICROPLASTICS AND IT MAGNIFIES SIZE UP THE FOOD CHAIN BUT IT CAN ALSO HAVE REPERCUSSIONS FOR OUR OWN HEALTH AS WE'RE CONSUMING THINGS LIKE FISH THAT ARE ADJUSTING THESE MICROPLASTICS. WE ALSO KNOW, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTING PAPER PRODUCTS AND MORE SUSTAINABLE CAN ACTUALLY BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE FORESTRY INDUSTRY.

AND THERE ARE BUSINESSES IN SOUTH CAROLINA THAT ARE ALREADY MANUFACTURING COASTAL WHERE THINGS LIKE BAMBOO CUTLERY AND SO WE CAN SUPPORT THOSE SMALLER AS WELL THROUGH THIS YEAH I THINK WE'VE ALL SEEN SOME OF THESE HORROR STORY PHOTOS I, I FOR WHATEVER REASON THE LIKE

[00:40:01]

OKAY WELL ADDITIONALLY TRULY BELIEVE THAT A LOT OF BUSINESSES IN COUNTY AND SURROUNDING AREAS ARE PROBABLY DOING THE RIGHT THING. I KNOW LIKE FOOD LION PAPER PUBLIX USES PAPER THERE'S JUST A HANDFUL OF OUTLIERS THAT AREN'T PROVIDING BETTER OPTIONS TO AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU KNOW FOLKS WILL ACTUALLY FREQUENT THOSE BUSINESSES THAT ARE DOING RIGHT THING I THINK WE'VE GOT A STRONG ENVIRONMENTAL ETHIC IN OUR COMMUNITY HERE AND BEFORE AND PEOPLE WANT THINGS THAT ARE GREEN, THINGS THAT ARE SUSTAINABLE.

THESE LARGE CORPORATIONS LIKE LET'S SAY GOOGLE HAVE THESE SUSTAINABILITY.

THEY STRIVE TO REACH AND SO BEING GOOD ON THE ENVIRONMENT ISN'T INHERENTLY ANTI BUSINESS AND ADDITIONALLY IT'S JUST TIME TO CATCH UP TO SPEED SO SEE HERE ARE SOME OF THE OTHER PLACES THAT HAVE GONE IN AND UPDATED THEIR PLASTIC ORDINANCES TO ALSO INCLUDE THINGS LIKE FOAM AND AND CLOTHES THAT WE OFFER FOR THE THICK BAGS.

SO CITY OF CHARLESTON RECENTLY UPDATED THEIR ORDINANCE AS WELL AS THE TOWN OF MOUNT PLEASANT, JAMES ISLAND AND COLLIN BEACH HAVE ALL GONE IN AND UPDATED THEIR ORDINANCES WITHIN THE PAST YEAR OF A LITTLE BIT OF DATA TO SUPPORT UPDATING THE PLASTIC ORDINANCE.

THIS IS JUST A SMALL DATA POINT BUT IN 2023 THE AQUARIUM FOUND 875 PLASTIC RETAIL BAGS IN THE CHARLESTON HARBOR AND PENINSULA AND A LOT OF THEM WERE THOSE THICKER REUSABLE BAGS.

AND THERE WAS ALSO A STUDY DONE BY SOME COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON AND SEATTLE STUDENTS THAT ACTUALLY FOUND THAT THERE WAS A 50% DECREASE AND SINGLE USE PLASTIC BAGS AFTER THAT INITIAL PLASTIC BAG BAN WENT INTO PLACE. BUT THEN AS A RESULT OF THAT INITIAL BAN THERE WAS A 200% INCREASE AND THOSE FACTS SHOWING UP SO IT SHOWED THAT THAT FIRST BAN WAS EFFECTIVE. HOWEVER AS A BYPRODUCT WE GOT THIS 200% INCREASE IN THICK BAGS AND THEN JUST ADDITIONALLY TODAY WE KNOW 1600 SPECIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO INGEST PLASTIC AND 1300 OF THOSE HAVE BEEN OCEAN DWELLERS. SO THIS GRAPHIC GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHERE THERE ARE STATE WHERE STATE WIDE BAG LAWS AS WELL AS STATES THAT HAVE HAD HOME RULE. SO HERE IN SOUTH CAROLINA WE'RE BLUE.

IT'S KIND OF HARD TO TELL BUT THAT MEANS THAT BASICALLY COUNTIES, MUNICIPALITIES HAVE THE ABILITY TO STILL ADOPT BACK PADS AND HOW PLASTIC ORDINANCES THE DARKER BLUE STATES THOSE ARE THOSE ARE STATE WIDE BACKED BANS THOSE STATES SO NO PLASTIC BAGS ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE AND THEN THE THE RED STATES IS STATE PREEMPTION SO THOSE WERE STATES THAT WERE SUCCESSFUL IN PASSING A BAN ON PLASTIC BAG BANS AND SO YEAH YOU CAN SEE THAT ACROSS OUR COAST IT'S ESPECIALLY THE EAST COAST IT'S FAIRLY COMMON SO CONSUMERS HAVE ADAPTED TO THIS YOU KNOW, HAVING THESE REGULATIONS IN PLACE WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT VISIT FROM UP NORTH AND THEY'VE GOT SIMILAR A SIMILAR BAN UP THERE AND SO IT'S NOT SUPER UNUSUAL FOR THEM TO COME DOWN TO SOUTH CAROLINA AND WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SEEING THOSE THICKER PLASTIC BAGS.

OKAY, SO THESE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF SMALL DATA POINTS THAT I WANTED TO SHARE FOR SOME RECENT LITTER SWEEPS TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF JUST HOW MUCH TRASH IS ACTUALLY SHOWING UP DURING SOME OF THESE LITTER SWEEPS THAT ARE GOING ON. THIS WAS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE HEAVIER TRAFFICKED BEACHES ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND BACK IN JUNE THERE WAS A SEA TURTLE AUXILIARY GROUP THAT FOUND EIGHT STRAWS AND A BUNCH OF PLASTIC BEACH TOYS 46 AND A HALF POUNDS OF TRASH. WE CAN GO ON AND THEN THIS THIS DATA I THINK IS ESPECIALLY RELEVANT BECAUSE THIS LETTER SWEEP WAS DONE LITERALLY RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THIS ALONG BOUNDARY STREET AND WITH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CONSERVATIONIST LEAGUE OF CORAL SOUND FOUNDATION WE FOUND SIX BALLOONS, TEN PLASTIC CUTLERY, 22 PLASTIC STRAWS, 28 PLASTIC BAGS AND 44 THIN PLASTIC BAGS AS WELL AS 68 OF THOSE PLASTIC TAKEAWAY ITEMS INCLUDING LIDS, CUPS AND

[00:45:07]

AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT THAT MEANS IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ORDER TAKEOUT THAT YOU MIGHT EAT WITH YOUR OWN SILVERWARE AT HOME EXCUSE ME YOU'RE NOT AUTOMATICALLY GOING TO HAVE JUST PLASTIC CUTLERY THROWN IN THERE THAT ENDS UP IN YOUR JUNK DRAWER FOR YEARS AT A TIME.

AND SO YOU YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET ON YOUR DOORDASH APP IT'LL ASK YOU IF YOU WANT CUTLERY YES OR NO IN CHARLESTON WE GOT SOME FEEDBACK THAT A LOT OF BUSINESSES ACTUALLY SUPPORT POLICY BECAUSE IT'S A COST SAVINGS FOR THE CUSTOMERS DON'T GET IT UNLESS THEY WANT IT AND SO THEY'RE GOING THROUGH LESS PRODUCT SO YOU KNOW THIS IS JUST ANOTHER WAY AND I HEARD RECENTLY FROM POOR SOUND FOUNDATION THERE WAS A STUDY AND SHOWED THAT ON REQUEST CAN CAN BE AS MUCH AS A 70% REDUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF SINGLE USE PLASTIC THAT AT CIRCULATING SUGGESTS IF THERE IS ANXIETY ABOUT NOT WANTING AN OUTRIGHT BAN ON THESE ITEMS THAT IS A WAY TO TO SORT OF PROVIDE SOME FLEXIBILITY AND YOU'LL ALSO NOTICE THAT IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING JUST TWO OF THE BEACH COMMUNITIES FARLEY AND ISLE PALMS BOTH HAVE BALLOON BANDS AND INTERESTINGLY THE OF THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA THIS LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION PASSED A BAN ON BALLOON RELEASES TEN BALLOONS OR MORE I THINK NINE IS STILL A LOT OF BILLIONS PERSONALLY TO RELEASE BUT JUST SOMETHING ELSE TO THINK ABOUT.

OKAY SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? WELL, WE'RE WORKING ON PROPOSING NEW LANGUAGE WITH THE COUNTY AND WE'D LIKE THE MUNICIPALITY TO BE A PART OF THAT AS WELL. AND WE'RE KIND OF PRIORITIZING ITEMS WE WANT TO BAN AND I THINK RIGHT NOW WE'RE THINKING WE WANT TO CLOSE THAT LOOPHOLE ,THE THICK PLASTIC BAGS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DOING AWAY WITH THE FOAM CLAMSHELL CONTAINERS AND ALSO MAKING THE CARRY OUT CUTLERY ON REQUEST. SO I THINK THOSE ARE THE THREE THAT WE'VE KIND OF IDENTIFIED AND WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON PROPOSING NEW LANGUAGE WITH ROB AND DIFFERENT COUNTY STAFF AND LIKE I THINK FOR THIS TO BE SUCCESSFUL IT'S IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY LIKE IN 2018 EVERYBODY IS ON THE SAME PAGE. ADDITIONALLY WE'RE CONTINUING TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS BUSINESS OWNERS BECAUSE WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS SOME COST TO THIS BUT THERE IS ALSO A COST TO DOING NOTHING AND SO AND THAT'S WHAT THESE ITEMS END UP IN OUR ENVIRONMENT AND SO IF THERE'S WAYS THAT WE CAN TALK TO BUSINESSES AND TRY MITIGATE SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS, WE'RE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS I'M MEETING WITH I HOPE TO MEET WITH A DIFFERENT AREA HOSPITALITY ASSOCIATION FOR A SECOND TIME THIS WEEK OUR NEXT WEEK AND ALSO I HAVE THE SEARCH GROUP WHICH IS ONE OF THE LARGER GROUPS ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND SO THEY'RE AWARE THAT THESE CHANGES ARE THE WORKS AND WE'RE WE'RE IN COMMUNICATION TO TRY TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN RECONCILE SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS AS WE WORK ON PROPOSING NEW LANGUAGE.

OKAY SO IF THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN SPEARHEADING, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY ABOUT IT. YOU KNOW, IF IF YOU ALL ARE INTERESTED IN TACKLING THIS, FIGURING OUT YOU COULD BE A CHAMPION AND MAYBE THERE ARE ADOPT A HIGHWAY OR LITTER PATROL GROUPS IN YOUR AREA THAT ARE ALREADY COLLECTING A LOT OF LITTER BUT AREN'T NECESSARILY LOGGING IT. I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO COLLECT THAT DATA GOING TO BE IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT ANY ANY CHANGES ADDITIONALLY YOU KNOW LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE HELPFUL AS OKAY.

SO A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION. YOU KNOW I MENTIONED EARLIER

[00:50:04]

ADDITIONALLY THERE IS THE CITY OF CHARLESTON DID ACTUALLY LIKE A TRANSITION PERIOD THEY A GRANT FROM DEAC WHICH ALLOWED FOR I ESSENTIALLY IT GAVE SOME FUNDING TO BUSINESSES TO PURCHASE SOME THESE MORE SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS BUT IT ALSO INCLUDED THEY ALSO DID LIKE A GRACE PERIOD WHERE IF YOU HAD LITERALLY JUST STOCKED UP ON LIKE UNSAFE FOAM CLAMSHELLS YOU WERE ABLE TO USE UP THAT SUPPLY BEFORE YOU KNOW, ENFORCEMENT ADDITIONALLY I THINK ENFORCEMENT IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION. I THINK A LOT OF THIS ESPECIALLY WITH LIKE HAVING THE ITEMS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST REALLY FALLS ON CITIZENS TO REPORT AND SO HAVING LIKE A TOOL FOR CITIZENS TO REPORT I THINK IS GOING TO BE KEY.

YEAH. SO WE TALKED ABOUT MAYBE THERE'S A WAY TO DO LIKE A HARDSHIP EXEMPTION FOR A SMALL BUSINESS IF. THERE IS IF THEY CAN PROVE THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE REALLY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO CONTINUE OPERATING AND ADDITIONALLY YEAH I THINK I THINK I DON'T THINK THERE'S OKAY AND SIMILAR TO THE SLIDE WE LOOKED AT EARLIER THERE DURING DANA'S PRESENTATION, THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS DURING THIS CONSERVATION WE ALL WORK TOGETHER AND SO WE WANT TO BE A RESOURCE AND SO JUST WANTED TO OFFER THAT SUPPORT AS WELL THROUGH THESE CHANGES AND ADDITIONALLY I WANTED TO INVITE ANYONE IN THIS ROOM TO JOIN US FOR A LITTLE SLEEP ON OCTOBER 10TH AT WHITEHALL PARK ON LADY'S ISLAND. SO BE CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT WE WHAT WE FIND AT WHITEHALL AND WE'D BE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU ALL THERE. SO THAT'S TO BE FROM 530 TO 730 THAT IS ACTUALLY WITH THE BEAUFORT LITTER PATROL GROUP WHICH DOES A LOT OF WORK IN PORT ROYAL. IT'S A YOUNGER GROUP AND PRETTY FUN TO GET OUT THAT SO YEAH LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT AND HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS QUESTIONS THANK YOU ANSWERED BY THE GRACE PERIOD I USE AN AWESOME BRAND DEFINITION AND COUNCIL COMMITTEE WHAT IS THAT THAT MISSION. WELL SO I THINK PROBABLY THE EASIEST WAY WITH ARE YOU REFERRING TO LIKE THE DEFINITION FOR THE PLASTIC I THINK THERE'S A CERTAIN BUILD SO IT'S LIKE FOR OR MELTS THAT'S LIKE THE THICKNESS SO ADDRESSING THAT I THINK THERE'S A WAY TO WORD IT SO IT'S LIKE BAGS OF MORE THAN FOUR MILS AND THEN I'M I DON'T KNOW I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT LANGUAGE BUT IT'S SIMILAR TO THAT IT'S DEALING WITH THE THICKNESS AND THEN THE HANDLES SO IT'S IT'S IT DOESN'T ALLOW AND ROB THE BAY NO BUT THERE'S SOME SOME SPECIAL LANGUAGE THAT ADDRESSES THE WAY THE HANDLE WAS MADE YEAH.

COVERS YEAH YEAH. SO THE THICKNESS AND THE HANDLES ARE DEFINED IN A WAY THAT PRECLUDES THAT THE BIG BOX STORES FIGURE OUT LAST DEFINITION YEAH YEAH SO IT'S, IT'S I'D LIKE TO ADD UM WE REACHED OUT TO THE CITY OF CHARLESTON BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY CURIOUS THEY HAVE ONE OF THE MORE STRINGENT ORDINANCES IN SEVERAL FOUND OUT SEVERAL INTERESTING THINGS THEY DID A LOT OF UPFRONT WORK BEFORE THEY ROLLED OUT THEIR ORDINANCE ONE OF THE THINGS INCLUDED PROACTIVELY REACHING OUT BUSINESSES RETAILERS BUT ALSO THEY DID A SURVEY AND I WAS KIND OF YOU KNOW BASICALLY THEIR TAKEAWAY AND THIS IS JUST FROM SPEAKING TO THEIR STAFF PERSON WHO'S INVOLVED THAT'S IS THAT THE LARGER THE FRANCHISES THEY'RE USED TO ADJUSTING TO THIS IN OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTRY THAT ALREADY HAVE RESTRICTIONS ON PLASTIC USE SO THERE YOU KNOW THEY YOU KNOW, COMPLAIN THAT THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES SO THEY HAVE ALSO THE PRECEDENT IN OTHER COMMUNITIES TO DO SO THAT'S NOT MUCH OF AN ISSUE. THE OTHER THING THAT THEY FOUND OUT WHICH THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING IS THERE WERE A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WANTED TO DO THE RIGHT THING, YOU KNOW, SO WE KEEP LOOKING AT THIS AS THE GOVERNMENT STEPPING IN TO DO SOMETHING I THINK A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES WERE EXCITED ABOUT BEING YOU KNOW BECAUSE WE'RE VERY CONSERVATION MINDED COMMUNITY UM AND THAT THEY'VE SEEN COST SAVINGS THE I YOU'VE MENTIONED THE REDUCTION

[00:55:06]

SO IT WAS REALLY HELPFUL TO REACH OUT TO THEM BECAUSE THE SAME BUSINESSES THAT WE HAVE ARE OVER THERE. YOU KNOW, THE FRANCHISE THE FAST FOOD PLACES SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE PAVING NEW TERRITORY . GRANT YOU MENTIONED YOU KNOW UPON REQUEST AND THAT INTRIGUES ME YOU CAN GO SHOPPING AT PUBLIX JUST ON TARGET BOULEVARD JUST ON THE OTHER SIDE IN JASPER COUNTY. YOU KNOW WE GIVE YOU PLASTIC BAGS. WE'VE GOT TO POINT OUT WHERE THOUGH DO YOU WANT PLASTIC OR PAPER? YOU KNOW I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE PICKING PLASTIC SO I KIND OF WONDER UPON REQUEST IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY SORT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS SIGNIFICANT ONE SEVERITY OF THE DOWNSIDE OF PLASTICS YOU KNOW WHETHER IT'S THE FOOD USE SOME OR POTENTIALLY IN DRINKING WATER WITHOUT GOOD SUPPLY REQUESTS I DON'T KNOW HOW IT CAN BE REAL VALUE ABSOLUTELY. I THINK I THINK THE EDUCATION PIECE YOU KNOW CONTINUING CONTINUING THAT EVEN AFTER ANY KIND OF ORDINANCE UPDATE IS IS KEY.

SO I THINK ABSOLUTELY CONTINUING TO EDUCATE US IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT OTHER QUESTIONS IF YOU LOOKED AT THE COST OF CLEANUP, I MEAN WOULD YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH PLASTIC AND ALL THAT AND WE HAVE TO COLLECT IT GET RID OF IT ALL THAT IS I'VE BEEN FACTORED IN AND YOU'VE GOT NUMBERS BECAUSE I THINK THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO IF YOU'RE GOING TO SELL THIS . YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. AND IT'S YOU KNOW, IT COSTS PEOPLE'S TIME TO GO OUT THERE AND PICK IT UP AND I KNOW ONE BIG ISSUE IS THAT GETTING LIKE PLASTIC GUYS GETTING OUT STORM DRAINS AND ALL OF THAT HAS A COST.

I DON'T I DON'T HAVE THOSE NUMBERS BUT. MAYBE SOMETHING OUT THERE ABOUT RECYCLING THROUGH THE AREA. THIS WOULD ACTUALLY BE MORE OF A CATALYST FOR ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO SHIP REPLACEMENT YOU KNOW AS FAR AS DISPOSAL OH YEAH I'M NOT I'M NOT SO SURE LIKE I KNOW THE COUNTY JUST ENTERED NEW CONTRACT WITH IT RECYCLING AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY PLASTIC BAGS OR NOT ARE YOU REFERRING TO SOME OF THE OTHER NOT ALL OF THEM ARE PLASTIC BOTTLES AND YOU KNOW THINGS THAT DO HAVE RECYCLED RECYCLABILITY AS FAR AS THEY'RE TOUTED AS BEING RECYCLABLE AT LEAST. YEAH I GUESS AGAIN LIKE THAT EDUCATION PIECE OF IT IS STILL IMPORTANT EVEN IF WE DO MAKE THESE CHANGES WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO OUT AND LIKE I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE I KNOW LIKE I HAS SOME VERY SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS LIKE. I THINK YOU CAN'T HAVE ITEMS SMALLER THAN A CAR.

THEY ALSO ASK THAT YOU TAKE OFF ALL YOUR CAPS AND I'M SURE THAT LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE MIGHT NOT BE AWARE OF THOSE RULES AND I DON'T THINK THAT THAT DOESN'T EXIST FOR US BECAUSE.

I'M ALL FOR THE LARGE CAPS NOT NOT IN THE CITY ASSETS EVERYWHERE IS DIFFERENT SO IT'S NOT AN ISSUE HERE AS A INDIVIDUAL TRYING TO RECYCLE. YEAH.

YES, I KNOW A GUY UP IN ALASKA THAT OWNS OVER 2000 ACR WELL OVER 200 EMPLOYEES AND NO ATV SO EVERYTHING UP THERE THAT THEY USE AND HE TAKES PLASTIC AND TURNS IT INTO FUEL, TURNS IT INTO GASOLINE AND HE OPERATES ALL OF HIS EQUIPMENT FROM THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT OR IS THAT SEEMS LIKE A GREAT IDEA.

I DON'T KNOW HOW COST IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE BUT IT'S SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING THAT NOBODY ELSE IS EVEN THINKING ABOUT. YEAH, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT THAT INDUSTRY BUT IT MAKES SENSE SINCE THE PLASTIC IS JUST KIND OF MADE FROM A FUEL SOURCE TO CONVERT IT BACK TO A FUEL SOURCE. BUT ONE THING I WILL SAY I THOUGHT YOU GOING TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE WITH THAT WHICH IS A COMPOSTING FACILITY WHICH SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T HAVE IT AT BEFORE COUNTY BUT THE CITY OF CHARLESTON DOES HAVE AN INDUSTRIAL COMPOSTING FACILITY SO I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN TALKS ABOUT THAT LIKE A SUSTAINABILITY CAMPUS FOR

[01:00:02]

YEAH. THANKS FOR CLARIFYING THAT BUT DO YOU GO TO LOWE'S AND THEY HAVE PAPER YEAH AND YOU KNOW YOU GET BUY ONE THING BUT YOU GOT THIS HUGE BAG SOMETHING SO YOU JUST KEEP THE BAG AND YOU HAVE TO STORE THE RECEIPT BUT I THINK IT CAN HAPPEN BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE SURE NOW COSTCO HAS GONE TO CARDBOARD BOXES YEAH YEAH I MEAN IF YOU TO BUT IT ALL BOXES RECYCLE A CARDBOARD IN A OKAY OTHER QUESTIONS NOT THE PRESENTATION IS IMPORTANT TO A LOT OF ATTENTION ALL RIGHT WE'RE APPROACHING OUR LIMITED TIME

[7. REVIEW OF NEXT MEETING AGENDA]

ANYTHING ELSE? SAME THING BUT I KIND OF LIKE TO GET AN UPDATE ON LADY'S ISLAND. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON .

I REALLY LIKE IT OR NOT BUY ON THAT IS THAT IT'S PRETTY MUCH PART OF THE TRANSPORTATION MUCH OF IT'S DEPENDENT UPON THE TRANSPORTATION VERY YEAH I UNDERSTAND THAT BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT IS EITHER. IS THERE ANY NEW INFORMATION ON THE TRANSPORTATION MEAN MAYBE THAT WOULD BE MARKETING FOR TRANSPORTATION PLANNING EDUCATING CUSTOMERS OR SORT HOW HOW HAVE YOU GOT OUT HERE? I KNOW THAT WE'RE GETTING UP TO AGE.

I THINK THERE IS AN UPDATE TO THE CITY. YEAH WE HAD A REALLY GOOD PRESENTATION FROM THERE I JUST THIS PAST TUESDAY NETWORK SESSION SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING NEW ANY NEW INFORMATION HE HAS TO IMPART. IT WOULD BE A GOOD TOPIC TO ASK GET CLOSER TO THE ELECTION. YEAH IT'S GOING TO LAST MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU'RE AT THAT MEETING THE THING THAT STUCK OUT TO ME AND I THINK IT WAS A GOOD PERSUASIVE ARGUMENT HAS THE PUBLIC SAFETY PART OF IT NOT BUILDING MORE ROADS, MAKING ROADS BECAUSE YOU HAD 43,000 PEOPLE OR ACCIDENTS SINCE 2017 AND 400 PEOPLE KILLED. IT KIND OF SHOCKED SOME PEOPLE AND I THINK ABOUT IT IF YOU DO THE OVERLAY MAP YOU LOOK OH MY GOSH, ALL THESE CRASH SITES GOT THEM ALL OVER. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

TRANSPORTATION REFERENDUM LATEST WHERE WE'RE AT. I KNOW THERE'S AN EFFORT TO GET UNDERWAY WITH A CONSUMER PROMOTION. I THINK SOME OF THE CHANGES ARE REAL AND REAL STRONG IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY ARE NO PART IN CREATING SOME TENSION ACROSS THE FRONT. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT STANDS. I THINK MEGHAN MORRIS IS ORGANIZING A MEETING TO DISCUSS THAT CONFERENCE IN HALF AN HOUR AND WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE AND THEN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WILL NEW DIRECTOR HOUSING AUTHORITY STAFF AND IF WE CAN JUST GET KIND OF A COMPOSITE OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE LADY'S ISLAND MASTER PLAN OH THAT'S THE ONE THING AND YOU'RE HEADING RIGHT LIKE PRESENT TO ME WE CAN MAKE A PRESENTATION ON THAT OKAY I'M OKAY SO ARE THERE OTHER COMMENTS QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IN CLOSING I'VE SAVED LABOR DAY. OKAY THAT'S ALL ABOUT NOTHING FURTHER

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.