Jun 10, 2025 Bluffton Town Council

[I. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:07]

. I'LL HAVE A LOOK AT IT. YOU GO THOUGH AND WELCOME EVERYONE TODAY'S TUESDAY TO JUNE 2025 AND WE'LL CALL THIS MEETING.

THE ORDER WILL BEGIN WITH THE PLEDGE OFFICE ONLY IN AMERICA AND THE REPUBLIC AND WHAT UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE LIBERTY ZERO EVERYONE FATHER HAS IT HEAVENLY .

WE JUST COME AND SAY THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR THE ASSEMBLING AND THE GATHERING OF LIKE MINDED INDIVIDUALS COME ASKING YOUR MERCY AND ALSO ASKING FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AS WE NAVIGATE THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE AN IDEAL COMMUNITY IN THE WAY THAT IS EQUITABLE AND HABITABLE FOR ALL OF US. WE PRAY FOR PEACE ALL OVER THE WORLD THERE IS TURMOIL. WE JUST ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO LEAD AND GUIDE ALL OF OUR ACTIONS AND KNOW THAT IT'S NOT FOR ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL BENEFIT BUT ALWAYS FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF THE THESE ARE ALL THE BLESSINGS WE ACT IN JESUS NAME AMEN.

[IV. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES]

IS THERE ANY CHANGES? ANYONE WHO IS DANGEROUS OR IF NOT IS THERE A MOTION DURING THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF SUMMIT BUT AS YOU SAY THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

UP NEXT IS THE BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETINGS 522 THE COMMENTS REGARDING THEIR MOTION ARE MOVED TO THE GROUP'S SECOND ON IN FAVOR I THAT'S UNANIMOUS. UP NEXT IS THE BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES FROM FIVE 2725 IN DISCUSSION IS THERE MOTION BUT IS THERE A SECOND THANK YOU

[V. PRESENTATIONS, CELEBRATIONS, AND RECOGNITIONS]

BRAYSHAW SAID ABOUT ALISON. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE YOUR REMARKABLE ABILITY TO FORGIVE IN MOMENTS WHEN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY TO HOLD ON TO FRUSTRATION OR HURT YOU CHOSE UNDERSTANDING KINDNESS AND GRACE THAT TAKES STRENGTH, MATURITY AND A BIG HEART YOUR WILLINGNESS TO MOVE FORWARD AND TREAT OTHERS WITH COMPASSION SETS A POWERFUL EXAMPLE FOR THOSE AROUND YOU. IT SHOWS TRUE CHARACTER AND MAKES OUR CLASSROOM BETTER PLACE. THE IDEA OF BEING SO FORGIVING AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE IS NOT OFTEN SEEN. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD HAVE NOT EXHIBITED THE LEVEL OF ACCEPTANCE AND FORGIVING THAT YOU HAVE. THE STUDENT THAT I AM TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW IS ALLISON MENDEZ. SHE'S BEEN IN CLASSROOMS SITUATION WHERE SHE WAS IN A TOUGH SITUATION BUT CHOSE TO BE FORGIVING AND FRIENDLY TOWARD A STUDENT THE WRONGED HER INSTEAD OF HOLDING A GRUDGE AND MAKING THAT INDIVIDUAL FEEL BAD. I AM PROUD OF HER FOR HAVING THE STRENGTH MAKE THE MATURE CHOICE OF ACCEPTING ANOTHER STUDENT'S APOLOGY MOVING FORWARD. IT TAKES A LOT TO LOOK BEYOND SOME THINGS AND SHE WAS DEFINITELY ABLE TO DO THAT CONTINUE TO SHINE THANK YOU FOR BEING SOMEONE WHO CHOOSES FORGIVENESS. THINK CONGRATULATIONS THIS IS FOR YOU.

IT FEATURES SO MUCH IN A LITTLE BIT. YEAH I DO A LITTLE GUY.

YOU SOUND LIKE PEOPLE YOUR FACE YOU KNOW. ALL RIGHT, ARE YOU READY?

[00:05:09]

SURE, BUT UP NEXT WE HAVE THE AMERICAN HERITAGE GIRLS DIANA, JUST DON'T YOU WANT TO COME UP? THEY REMEMBER ANYBODY IN MY UNCLE DIANA AS A RECENT RECENT GRADUATE OF MAE RIVER HIGH SCHOOL WAS PART OF AN ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE GIRLS.

DIANA RECENTLY RECEIVED THE STARS AND STRIPES AWARD THE ORGANIZATION'S PINNACLE AWARD WITH EMPHASIS TO SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. THIS CERTIFICATE RECOGNITION SERVES AS A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND A TESTAMENT TO YOUR REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS AND YOUR SAFETY. I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE PROGRAM SINCE I WAS A YOUNG GIRL AND IT HAS TRULY CHANGED WHO I'VE GROWN UP TO BE.

I THINK BEING PART OF A COMMUNITY OF FELLOW YOUNG WOMEN AGES FROM 5 TO 18 WHO ALL PUT OUR FAITH IN EACH OTHER AND THE LEADERS AROUND US AND IN THE LORD AND HELPING DEVELOP WOMEN OF INTEGRITY AND BEING ABLE TO HELP THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL TO ME AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THEY WENT TO VERY YOUNG PICTURE APPRECIATE MY PLEASURE.

UP NEXT WE THE JUNETEENTH PROCLAMATION IF YOU GO TO A BOOK OR YOU HAVE SOMEONE ON JANUARY 1ST, 1863, PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN SIGNED EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION WHICH DECLARED ENSLAVED PEOPLES IN ANY TO BE FOREVER FREE ON JUNE 1865 FEDERAL ORDERS WERE READ IN GALVESTON, REACHING THOSE WHO HAD NOT YET RECEIVED WORD THE SIGNING OF THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION JUNE 19 HAS SINCE BECOME A HOLIDAY THAT CELEBRATE THAT COMMEMORATES THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE OBAMA ANNOUNCEMENT OF SLAVERY IN TEXAS THE BLUFFTON JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION IS SPONSORED AND HOSTED BY THE BOSTON MLK OBSERVANCE COMMITTEE WITH ITS 10TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION THIS YEAR. THE THEME THIS YEAR IS SANKOFA BUT ALSO CONNECTING THE PRESENT WITH PAST AND I'M GOING TO HEAR MORE IT ALONG WITH BLUFFTON TOWN COUNCIL DO HEAR OF BLAME JUNE 19TH 2020 BACK AS JUNETEENTH DAY AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT JUNETEENTH SERVED BEAR? UM, LET ME ANSWER WHAT DOUGLASS AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE MLK OBSERVANCE COMMITTEE AND THIS PAST FRIDAY WE KICKED OFF THE 10TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH A SERIES OF EVENTS THE WAS A RODEO THEMED EVENT AT HORSE EFFECT REPORT WHICH WAS WELL ATTENDED. OVER 400 PEOPLE CAME TO IT AND IT WAS A LOVELY AND THIS WE WILL CONTINUE THE CELEBRATION ON FRIDAY WITH A FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL AT WALTER PARK EVERYONE IS INVITED AND FAMILY AND AND EVERYONE WILL HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME YOU KNOW ON SATURDAY PART OF THE JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL WILL BE HELD AT THE SPORTS CAMPUS AND ON SUNDAY WE WILL CONCLUDE THE FESTIVITIES AND MAKE MARDI AS WELL WITH A JAZZ BRUNCH AND YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ALL OF THESE EVENTS ON THE MLK OBSERVANCE FACEBOOK PAGE. SO WE HOPE THAT YOU REALLY THINK GREAT, GREAT, GREAT ONE VERY INTERESTING LOOK RUN FROM THIS SEGMENT. OKAY WELCOME GUN VIOLENCE

[00:10:06]

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT TO GET THE LOCAL CHAPTER IS CALLED MOMS DEMAND ACTION STATEWIDE WE HAVE A LOCAL CHAPTER HERE IN BLUFFTON AND IT'S ALL AFFILIATED WITH THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION WHICH IS EVERY TOWN AMERICA JUNE SIXTH IS NATIONAL GUN AWARENESS DAY AND I TO THANK MR. MAYOR AND THE TOWN COUNCIL FOR RECOGNIZING THIS AND GIVEN HIM REQUEST AND THEN ALSO WITH A PICTURE OF A PICTURE OH I DON'T KNOW NOT SO LONG AS YOU WANT TO SEE MY MOUTH OPEN IN THINK ONE, TWO, THREE. THANK YOU.

SO WE WILL CONTINUE THIS PROCLAMATION. THERE IS NO ONE HERE TO SAY OR HOLD UNTIL NEXT MONTH. WHAT DO YOU IT'S ANYBODY ELSE FOR GOING TO BABY.

OKAY, I'LL READ IT ANYWAY. THAT WISDOM. ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS GOING NATION APPRECIATION WEEK PROCLAMATION THEY HAVE BEEN ESSENTIAL TO THE CULTURAL FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY AND WE'VE CREATED THIS WEEK SINCE 2013 2025 MARCH WE EACH SHEEP AS WE WEST FIFTH ANNIVERSARY AS HEAD ON NEWBORN THE GARLAND EACH NATION SAY THAT SHE HAS LED THE MOVEMENT TO PROTECT GARLAND GEECHEE CULTURE HUMAN RIGHTS, LAND AND WATER RIGHTS FOR OVER FOUR DECADES. MAYOR LARRY TOOMER ALONG WITH BLUFFTON TOWN COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JULY 26 THROUGH AUGUST GO ENGAGE IN OUR NATION APPRECIATION WEEK AND ENCOURAGE CITIZENS TO CELEBRATE THE WAY THAT ACTIVITIES HAPPENING LOCAL UNDER THE THEME 25 YEARS OF SELF-DETERMINE NATION CELEBRATING THE ROOTS AND LEGACY OF THE KUCHI NATION WITH COD SO NORMALLY WE MOVE INTO PUBLIC COMMENTS BUT SINCE WE

[VI. PUBLIC COMMENT]

EACH SPEAKER IS LIMITED TO A TOTAL OF 3 MINUTES PER MEETING REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE PERSON IS ON THEIR OWN BEHALF OR AS AN AGENT FOR OTHERS MEETING ATTENDEES MAY NOT DONATE, TRANSFER, YIELD OR GIVE ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THEIR SPEAKING TIME TO ANOTHER PERSON. ALL PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE TO BE CONDUCTED FROM THE PODIUM AND DIRECTED TO THE TOWN COUNCIL AS A WHOLE AND NOT TO ANY MEMBER THEREOF.

ALL SPEAKERS SHALL BE MINDFUL AND RESPECTFUL THOSE PARTICIPATING IN OR PRESENT AT THE MEETING SPEAKERS SHALL BE TO BE CIVIL IN THEIR LANGUAGE AND SHALL REFRAIN FROM OR BEHAVIOR THAT INVOLVES DISORDERLY SPEECH OR ACTION NAME CALLING, PERSONAL ATTACKS, THREATS OBSCENE OR INDECENT REMARKS AND OR DISRUPTIVE ACTIONS.

ALL SPEAKERS SHALL CONFINE THEIR COMMENTS TO THE ISSUES THE JURISDICTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL SPEAKERS SHALL USE THE PUBLIC PERIOD PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD TO PROMOTE ADVERTISE AWARDS, BUSINESSES, SERVICES, GOODS OR FOR PUBLIC SPEAKER THAT VIOLATES THESE AND PROTOCOLS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT MAY BE RULED OUT OF ORDER BY THE PRESIDING ANY PERSON WHOSE COMMENTS HAVE BEEN RULED OUT OF ORDER SHALL CEASE AND DESIST FROM FURTHER IMPROPER COMMENTS

[00:15:04]

[VII. COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR AND COUNCIL]

ALL RIGHT. SO I AM GOING CONFUSED ON MY IF YOU'RE GOING TO THE PUBLIC HEARING THE FIRST ONE IS THE BUDGET WELL WE HAVE A WORKSHOP AGENDA ITEM.

[IX.1. Consideration of an Ordinance Approving the Town of Bluffton Fiscal Year 2026 Proposed Consolidated Budget – Public Hearing and Final Reading – Stephen Steese, Town Manager]

OKAY. ALL RIGHT SO FIRST WE HAVE TO SIT ERATION OF AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE TOWN BUDGET AND FISCAL YEAR 2026 PROPOSED BECAUSE HOLLIDAY THE BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING AND FINAL READING WILL OPEN TO FINAL READING COMMENTS PUBLIC HEARING PUBLIC HEARING I WANT TO MAKE A CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT PERTAINING TO THE BUDGET THIRD PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED JUSTICES AND EVEN THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL ARE THIS PRESENTATION IS LOT SHORTER THAN WHAT WE'VE DONE FOR THE FIRST FIRST READING AS WELL AS THE WORKSHOPS AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH THOSE TO GET TO THE FINAL READING.

SO I HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THE SCHEDULE THAT WE HAVE GONE THROUGH FIRST READING WAS MAY 13TH WE HAD BUDGET WORKSHOPS THE 22ND 27TH AND WE'RE AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SECOND AND FINAL READING RIGHT NOW. SO THERE ARE A FEW CHANGES SINCE FIRST READING AND I WANTED TO GO HOW I THOSE THE CONSOLIDATED BUDGET DID INCLUDE ABOUT TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS THE REASON BEING IS WE UP OUR LAND ACQUISITION BUDGET TO JUST ABOUT $9.7 MILLION WHICH THEN INCREASED OUR CAP BY THAT SAME SAME AMOUNT OF 2.46 MILLION.

THIS IS TO CARRY FORWARD THE MONEY INTO NEXT YEAR SO THAT WE CAN CLOSE ON THE PROPERTY WE HAVE UNDER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS AT THIS TIME. WE ALSO AMENDED THE RESIDENT RIGHTS FOR THE RENTALS AND THE AND THE FEE SCHEDULE TO BE INCLUDE PROPERTY OWNERS.

THAT WAS A COMMENT THAT CAME UP DURING THE WORKSHOP WE HAVE A FULL TIME EQUIVALENT FOR AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING POSITION AND WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE ON THAT AND THEY'RE WORKSHOPPING IN JULY AND WE'LL BRING BACK ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COUNCIL . IT ALSO CAP THE INCREASE FOR THE PALMETTO BREEZE AND THAT COMES UP TO JUST SHORT OF 195,000 WHERE THEY WERE ABOUT 1/16 LAST YEAR.

WE ALSO INCREASED THE EXECUTIVE OPERATING BUDGET WHEN WE TOOK THE MONEY DOWN FOR PALMETTO BREEZE BY 50,000. WE HAVE A PARKS AND REC STUDY IN THERE.

WE'RE ALSO DOING A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER STUDY AND WE DIDN'T INCLUDE ANY MONEY IN THE FIRST READING FOR WHAT MAY COME OUT OF FOR NEXT PHASES OF THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER STUDY.

SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS IN THERE AS WELL SO THOSE ARE THE ONLY CHANGES SINCE FIRST WE WANT TO GO THROUGH HIGHLIGHTS RIGHT NOW AS YOU CAN SEE THE OVERALL BUDGET IS ABOUT 97 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS. THIS IS DOWN ABOUT SIX AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS OVER LAST FISCAL YEAR THE GENERAL FUND IS UP SLIGHTLY BUT FOR THE MOST PART THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND IS DOWN BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN COMPLETING PROJECTS WITH NEW RIVERSIDE, THE SPLASH PAD AND SO FORTH. WE'VE BEEN COMPLETING SOME OF OUR LARGE SCALE PROJECTS. THIS GOES OVER THE ENTIRE FUND TRANSFERS AS YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A LOT THAT MOVES WITHIN OUR BUDGET TO FUND DIFFERENT PARTS MOSTLY THE PROJECTS AS YOU CAN SEE THERE'S MONEY THAT'S COMING IN PRETTY MUCH FROM EVERY FUND HELP FUND OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS BUT WE ALSO MOVE MONEY IN FROM HOSPITALITY ,LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS AND SO FORTH INTO THE GENERAL FUND TO OFFSET FOR EMPLOYEES ADVANCE OPERATIONS OF TOWN FACILITIES SO SOME THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BUDGET IT DOES KEEP OUR PROPERTY MILLAGE FLAT AND 36 MILLS IT HAS SOME UPDATES TO THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE IT AGAIN CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON TOWN COUNCIL PRIORITY PROGRAMS . IT ALSO WORKS TO CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR PAY COMPETITIVE. IT HAS A COST OF LIVING INCREASE OF 3% FOR ALL EMPLOYEES AND THEN WE HAVE A MERIT INCREASE FOR MIDYEAR THAT WOULD BE UP TO 4% WITH A CAP OF 20 $500 WITH THE PURPOSE WORKING TO HAVE A HIGHER INCREASE IN IMPACT OUR

[00:20:05]

THE COUNCIL IS GOOD TO MOVE FORWARD AND I HAVE A MOTION FOR YOU ON THE THREE QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL HAMILTON. MR. FRAZIER THE MOTION SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION I MOVE TO APPROVE THE YEAR 2026 PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED BUDGET OF OVER THERE.

I KNOW THAT'S UNANIMOUS THANK YOU STEVEN FOR TRYING TO MAKE IT ON UNDERSTAND IT'S A LOT

[IX.2. Consideration of an Ordinance to Amend the Town of Bluffton Code of Ordinances, Chapter 23 - Unified Development Ordinance, Article 5 - Design Standards, Sec. 5.4 (Wetlands) and Sec. 5.10 (Stormwater); and Article 9 - Definitions and Interpretations, Sec. 9.2 (Defined Terms). Public Hearing and Final Reading - Kevin Icard, Director of Growth Management]

MR. CALVIN I CAN'T GUESS, SIR, IF YOU WANT TO CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT YES THEY WILL CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT LIST OF EVERYONE HAS SIGNED UP ALREADY AND WE'LL START WITH KINSEY PAUL GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS KINSEY POOLE AND I'M A STAFF ATTORNEY AT THE SOUTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL LAW PROJECT. WE USE LEGAL EXPERTIZE TO PROTECT LAND, WATER AND COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT SOUTH CAROLINA AND WE WORK HARD TO DEFEND AND PRESERVE OUR STATE'S LIFE SUSTAINING NATURAL SYSTEMS FOR FUTURE AND CURRENT GENERATIONS. I HERE TONIGHT TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THE AMENDMENTS AND TONIGHT'S AGENDA RELATED TO DESIGN STANDARDS WETLANDS AND STORMWATER WETLANDS ARE ESSENTIAL THREAD IN THE FABRIC OF OUR ENVIRONMENT AND SIMPLY BY EXISTING WETLANDS PROVIDE FLOOD CONTROL AND MITIGATION, STORM PROTECTION, EROSION CONTROL POLLUTION FILTRATION HABITAT FOR DIVERSE SPECIES UNIQUE SPACES FOR RECREATION ACTIVITIES AND MORE THE LOSS OF WETLAND AREAS CAUSES COMMUNITIES AND ENVIRONMENTS TO EXPERIENCE INCREASED DECREASED WATER QUALITY AND INCREASED EROSION A DESTRUCTIVE COMBINATION AS INTENSE STORM EVENTS BECOME MORE AND MORE FREQUENT. UNFORTUNATELY ARE BEING LOST AT AN ALARMING RATE WHICH HAS HAD AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE IRREVERSIBLE AND LONG TERM IMPLICATIONS NOT ONLY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT BUT ALSO FOR THE PUBLIC'S HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE AT THE SAME TIME THE LEGAL PROTECTIONS IN PLACE FOR WETLANDS HAVE PROVEN INADEQUATE AND INCONSISTENT. THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA CURRENTLY HAS NO INDEPENDENT PERMITTING AUTHORITY OVER WETLANDS WITH ALL OF ITS REGULATORY REGULATORY AUTHORITY BEING TIED TO EITHER THE FEDERAL CLEAN WATER ACT OR ANOTHER STATE OR FEDERAL PERMIT . FURTHER, THIS LIMITED REGULATORY AUTHORITY FOCUSES ON COASTAL TIDELANDS AND WETLANDS LEAVING ISOLATED FRESHWATER WETLANDS ESPECIALLY AT RISK OF FILL DESTRUCTION. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, FEDERAL CLEAN WATER ACT PROTECTIONS HAVE REPEATEDLY BEEN WEAKENED THROUGH JUDICIAL OPINIONS MOST RECENTLY AND THE COURT SACKETT DECISION LIMITED THIS LIMITED THE US AND U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AUTHORITY TO REGULATE CERTAIN WATERWAYS AND THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY PROTECTED UNDER THE CLEAN WATER ACT.

AS A RESULT MILLIONS OF WETLANDS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AS WELL AS HERE IN SOUTH CAROLINA ARE MORE VULNERABLE TO UNCHECKED DEVELOPMENT THAN EVER BEFORE.

THIS IS WHY EDO AMENDMENTS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA ARE SO IMPORTANT WITH THE FUTURE

[00:25:01]

THANK YOU. UP NEXT WE HAVE RONALD WILLIAMS .

STATE YOUR NAME AND FOR THE. MY NAME IS RONALD WILLIAMS. I LIVE IN HAMPTON HALL AT 24 HAMPSTEAD AVENUE. EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 2024 THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES BUREAU OF COASTAL MANAGEMENT COASTAL ZONE CONSISTENCY CDC DEPARTMENT INCREASES STAFF FROM 3 TO 9 TO PROVIDE GREATER OVERSIGHT AND ENFORCEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND COASTAL REGULATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA'S EIGHT COASTAL COUNTIES CCG, MANAGEMENT HAS OFFERED TO ASSIST AND NEAR TERM PLANNING STEPS TO DATE NO OTHER SOUTH CAROLINA COASTAL COUNTIES CITY TOWN IS KNOWN TO HAVE ENACTED A LOCAL WETLANDS LAW FOLLOWING THE 2023 SACKETT DECISION. NOR HAS ANY ONE OF THE COASTAL COUNTIES, CITIES OR TOWNS KNOWN TO HAVE DECLARED ANY THREAT TO THE GENERAL WELFARE OF ITS RESIDENTS BASED UPON FRESHWATER WETLANDS OR LACK OF ENFORCEMENT .

IN JANUARY 2025 TOWN COUNCIL AUTHORIZED THE MCCORMICK TAYLOR CONSULTING AGREEMENT TO PRODUCE AN INVENTORY OF WETLANDS WITHIN THE TOWN'S JURISDICTION. WHEN RECEIVED THE REPORT WILL DESCRIBE AND MET THE EXTENT OF WETLANDS WITHIN THE TOWN'S JURISDICTION A COMBINATION OF ACCURATE WETLANDS INVENTORY ALONG WITH SCIENTIFIC PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION WILL HELP PROVIDE ESSENTIAL INPUT FOR CONSIDERATION OF ALL PROPOSED WETLAND TEXT AMENDMENTS. WE ASK THAT YOU POSTPONE THE WETLANDS TEXT SECOND READING TONIGHT IN ORDER TO ALLOW TIME FOR A COMMITTEE OF CITIZENS LOCAL AND PROFESSIONALS AND TOWN STAFF SUFFICIENT TIME TO WORK TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT.

WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN PROVIDING TIMEFRAME TO WORK ON MORE EQUITABLE RESULTS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. UP NEXT WE HAVE OUR JOE OUR MEATY HOW WE MET. I WENT TO SCHOOL IN BLUFFTON. MY NAME IS JOE ALMEIDA LIVE AT 243 STONY CROSSING. AND I'M THE HEAD OF SCHOOL AT CROSS SCHOOLS.

MY PRESENCE HERE THIS EVENING ISN'T TO MAKE AN INTELLECTUAL PLEA ABOUT WETLAND BUFFERS.

I DO NOT POSSESS THE BACKGROUND TO PROPERLY ANALYZE OR DEBATE THE DATA SURROUNDING THIS SUBJECT MATTER. I AM HERE TO MAKE AN EMOTIONAL PLEA TO AS OUR PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVE. THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT ISN'T SINGULAR IT'S PLURAL.

ITS ROLE INCLUDES PROVIDING PUBLIC SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE EDUCATION, PUBLIC HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICE, LEGAL SYSTEMS, RECREATIONAL FACILITIES PROMOTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MUCH MORE OVER EMPHASIS AND ONE OF THESE AREAS CAN CAUSE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES IN OTHER AREAS. IF THIS CURRENT ORDINANCE PASSES OBSTACLES IT IMPOSES ON THE CHURCH OF THE CROSS AND CROSS SCHOOLS COULD BE ONE OF MANY UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES CROSS SCHOOLS WAS FOUNDED IN 1994 AS A MISSION OF THE CHURCH OF THE CROSS WITH SEVEN STUDENTS. WE ARE A 12 MONTHS TO 12TH GRADE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON ON OUR BUCKWALTER CAMPUS THE CHURCH HOLDS SERVICES FOR ITS 2800 MEMBERS AND THE SCHOOL SERVES OVER 700 STUDENTS NOW AND THEIR FAMILIES AND ABOUT OVER 100 STAFF MEMBERS. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN OUR K-12 PROGRAM OVER

[00:30:01]

OUR NEED FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT IS IMPERATIVE AS THE POPULATION OF BLUFFTON HAS GROWN THE CHURCH AND SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT PLAN HAS PROGRESSED TO MEET THE SPIRITUAL AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS ITS GROWING POPULATION OF CHURCH MEMBERS AND STUDENTS.

OUR DEVELOPMENT PLANS ON THE CURRENT CAMPUS HAVE BEEN APPROVED AND, APPLAUDED BY THE TOWN AND COUNTY OFFICIALS. TODAY WE RECEIVE AN EXCEPTION OR THE ORDINANCE IS POSTPONED.

WE ARE ESSENTIALLY BEING TOLD THAT WE CANNOT CONTINUE OUR DEVELOPMENT NOT ONLY FROM A FACILITY STANDPOINT BUT AS A SCHOOL. OUR NEED FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT DIRECTLY PARALLEL, OUR ABILITY TO GROW AS A SCHOOL AND UNLIKE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS DON'T HAVE THE OPTION TO PICK UP AND MOVE IN CLOSING. I WANT TO STATE THAT WE BELIEVE IN THE BROADER NOTION OF STEWARDSHIP FACT WE HAVE AN ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING PROGRAM AT OUR SCHOOL THAT TEACHES THREE YEAR OLDS ALL THE WAY THROUGH 12TH GRADE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CARING FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT INCLUDING OUR WETLANDS.

THIS PROGRAM TEACHES OUR STUDENTS THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING CARE OF GOD HAS ENTRUSTED TO US. WE'VE HIRED A DEVELOPMENT THAT INCLUDES QUALIFIED ENGINEERS, WETLAND CONSULTANTS AND ARCHITECT WHO HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF OPERATING AT A HIGH LEVEL. WE ASK UNDER THE ADVISEMENT OF OUR DEVELOPMENT TEAM WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOU CONSIDER OUR CIRCUMSTANCES TO OF OTHERS AND POSTPONE THE SECOND READING. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK THIS EVENING AND FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE BLUFFTON COMMUNITY. NEXT WE HAVE SCOTT THOMAS.

MY NAME IS SCOTT THOMAS. I AM A BLUFFTON RESIDENT. I LIVE AT 43 ROSE TO CREATE PLANTATION DRIVE. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF CROSS SCHOOLS.

I AM A BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEMBERS AND FATHER OF TWO STUDENTS THAT ATTEND THEIR PAST AND FUTURE OF CHURCH. SCHOOL PLANS HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO THE TOWN ENGINEERING DESIGN AND FUNDING PLANS FOR THE BUCK WALTER'S LAST THREE PHASES ARE WELL UNDERWAY. AS IT STANDS, WE ARE CURRENTLY JEOPARDIZED FOR THE TOWN'S PROPOSED 50 FOOT WETLANDS BUFFER TEXT AMENDMENT AND PENDING DOCTRINE ORDINANCE.

THE STAKES ARE VERY HIGH AT OUR CAMPUS. THE FINAL MASTER PLAN PHASE WILL PROVIDE CLASSROOMS FOR 250 ADDITIONAL STUDENTS AND ACCOMMODATING STAFF.

IT WILL PROVIDE FIELDS FOR SOCCER, FOOTBALL, BASEBALL, SOFTBALL, A GYMNASIUM LABORATORIES, ADMINISTRATIVE SPACE, FINE ARTS, MULTIPURPOSE INDOOR SPACES, ROADS, INFRASTRUCTURE AND CONSIDERABLE SITE WORK. THE ESTIMATED FINAL PHASE COSTS ARE IN EXCESS OF $30 MILLION. THE EXISTING $70 MILLION CAMPUS ASSETS AND OPERATIONS ARE RECOGNIZED BY SOUTH CAROLINA JOBS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AS A BENEFITS TO THIS COMMUNITY. COMPLIANCE WITH JENNA'S REQUIREMENTS AS A5A1C3 ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYER. THE CAMPUS AN IMPORTANT SPIRITUAL AND EDUCATIONAL CENTER IN THE BULL'S OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE CHURCH OF THE CROSS HAS EXISTED SINCE 1767. THE SCHOOL'S ACADEMIC ATHLETIC ADVANCEMENT PLACEMENT CREDENTIALS, UNIVERSITY ACCEPTANCES, SCHOLARSHIPS AND SAT SCORES ARE WELL KNOWN.

THE CHURCH'S SCHOOL PROGRAMS FUNCTION 365 DAYS A YEAR. ON APRIL 29TH THE COUNCIL RECEIVED CONCERNED PUBLIC COMMENTS IT WAS STATED BY COUNCIL.

MORE SCIENCE IS NEEDED AND MORE FROM PROPERTY OWNERS WILL BE INCLUDED.

WE ASK THAT PLEASE ALLOW ADEQUATE TIME FOR TOWN STAFF, STATE OFFICIALS CITIZENS, STAKEHOLDERS, RESIDENTS AND EXPERIENCE PROFESSIONALS TO EXAMINE THE WETLANDS INVENTORY REPORT AND AUTHORIZE BY THE COUNCIL ONLY WHEN THAT REPORT IS RECEIVED.

WE KNOW THE SCOPE ANY WETLANDS INVENTORY CHALLENGES AND HOW TO COMPREHENSIVELY WRITE EDIT, ADOPT AND PUBLISH TEXT AMENDMENTS. WE ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT WHEN POSTPONING THE SECOND READING TONIGHT UNTIL THE WETLANDS REPORT IS COMPLETED.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK AND FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE TOWN OF BOULDER.

THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE FRANK BYRD WHICH. GOOD EVENING FATHER IS FRANKFORT. I LIVE AND TALK TO THE RIVER. LET ME BE ON THE CLOCK TONIGHT RIGHT JUST 5 MINUTES A WHILE AGO WAS 15 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE WE GET HOLD THE ISLAND.

[00:35:08]

WE APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK IN TELLING GOVERNMENT AND THE HARD WORK OF MANY.

BLOCK TONY JONES COUNCIL STAFF STAKEHOLDERS AND VOLUNTEERS HAVE PAVED WAY FOR BULLETINS THREE THREE HI ACCESS TO THIS NATURAL SETTING ALONG THE MAIN RIVER CHARMING HISTORIC PROXIMITY TO THE ISLAND BEACHES DIVERSE OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, VIBRANT ARTS CENTERS FIRST OF ALL BRIDGE CONTRIBUTE TO THE TOWN'S GENERAL APPEAL OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTERS, MEDICAL CAREGIVERS, COUNTLESS BUSINESSES, SERVICE OPERATIONS, COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS, RESTAURANTS, EDUCATIONAL CAMPUSES, HOUSES OF LOWER AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS, TRADE AND, TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND USCCB BLOCKS IN ONE OF THE MOST DESIRABLE RESIDENTIAL DESIGNATION IN AMERICA, WE SEEK YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR DIRECTION AND THE WAYS FORWARD TO ENSURE THE CHURCH OF THE CROSS AND CROSS SCHOOLS CAN ACHIEVE ITS FINAL PHASE TO COMPLETE THE MUCH NEEDED DEVELOPMENTS IN RESPONSE TO THOSE LIVE HERE WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT THOSE COMMUNITIES BURKHALTER CAMPUS AND US IS IN JEOPARDY OF NOT BEING ABLE TO CONCLUDE THE VITAL IMPORTANT PHASES OF THE PLANS PRESENTED TO THE TOWN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.

NEXT STEVE KAISER CERTAINLY. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS STEVE KAISER.

I LIVE ON MYRTLE ISLAND PROPERTY OWNER RESIDENT THERE IN THE TOWNSHIP BUT I OWN A COUPLE OF PROPERTIES IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON SO I'M A TAXPAYER HERE AND OLD TOWN BLUFFTON ALSO AND I THINK THE LAST TIME I SPOKE TO YOU I CALL BEING A HYBRID SO WE ARE EXCITED BE HERE TONIGHT BEHALF OF A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE PRESENT TO TALK ABOUT OF THINGS OF IMPORTANCE IN BEHALF OF THE CHURCH OF THE CROSS AND CROSS SCHOOLS.

WE'RE HERE TO ADDRESS THE AGENDA ITEM THAT'S BEEN MENTIONED FAR.

OTHER PEOPLE YOU KNOW ABOUT THE 78 ACRE BUCKWALTER CAMP IS BY NOW WE DON'T NEED TO TALK A WHOLE LOT MORE ABOUT THAT. THE CURRENT CAMP HAS PROGRAMS TO SERVE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN ADDITION TO THE STUDENTS AND THE FACULTY, THE STAFF AND THE FOLKS THAT COME TO WORSHIP BECAUSE THE HOUSEHOLD A LOT MORE PEOPLE IN THEM THAN JUST THOSE WHO GO TO CLASS EVERY DAY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE PARTICIPATE AND BENEFIT FROM THE PROGRAMS ON THAT CAMPUS EVERY SINGLE WEEK AND WE NEED TOWN APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD JUST AS FAST WE CAN.

THE FINAL PHASES ARE UPON US AND I'D LIKE TO ASK SCOTT TO UP AND HOLD THIS YOU'VE RECEIVED A HANDOUT THE FIRST HANDOUT GRAPHIC THAT YOU SEE IS ON THE TOP IT SHOWS THE FIRST PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT 215,000 SQUARE FEET OF BUILDINGS AND CLUSTER CONTROLLED SPACES A CHAPEL ON THE OTHER END MULTIPLE BUILDINGS AND ONE OF THE SECOND PART OF THE CAMPUS IS THE MAJORITY OF THE AREA IN THE BACK YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT IS SHOWN ON THE PLAN THAT HAS NOT BEEN BUILT THAT'S GOING TO TAKE THREE OR FOUR YEARS AFTER THE PERMITS ARE TO ACHIEVE THE COMPLETION OF ALL THOSE PHASES YOU'LL AT IT AND SEE A LOT OF SPORTS FIELDS A SOCCER AND FOOTBALL FIELD, A BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL FIELD HAVE A BEAUTIFUL GYMNASIUM SITE AND THEN A NEW HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO HOUSE 250 NEW STUDENTS THAT ARE PROGRAMED TO BE ON THIS CAMPUS. IF SECOND READING IS APPROVED TONIGHT THE CHURCH AND SCHOOL WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO WHAT WAS JUST DESCRIBED TO YOU ON THE

[00:40:02]

SO IN ORDER FOR US TO ACHIEVE THE DEVELOPMENT AND COMPLETION OF THIS ADDITIONAL PHASE CONSTRUCTION WE HAVE TO HAVE THE MOST WE ASKED FOR IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I THINK YOU NEXT WE WALTER NESTER THANK YOU MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF TOWN MY NAME IS WALTER NESTER AND I'M AN ATTORNEY WITH THE BERN FORMAN LAW FIRM AND WE HAVE OFFICES IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON. WE DO APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF TOWN COUNCIL TO PROTECT US AND SUPPORT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES OUR TOWN SO GREAT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS WETLAND ORDINANCE AND PROVIDED THE COUNCIL MY SPECIFIC COMMENTS CONCERNING THE ORDINANCE BECAUSE I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME AREAS THAT NEED TO BE IMPROVED AND THEREFORE I TOO AM ASKING THAT THIS MATTER BE DEFERRED UNTIL THESE ITEMS CAN BE ADDRESSED THESE MY COMMENTS ARE NOT INTENDED TO CRITICIZE THE DRAFTERS DRAFTING AN ORDINANCE AND ORDINANCE IS VERY DIFFICULT IT'S COMPLEX MUCH EASIER CRITICIZE IT ON MONDAY MORNING AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATELY WHERE I AM AND THAT IS IDENTIFYING AREAS WHERE I THINK THAT THE ORDINANCE AS DRAFTED MAY BE UNENFORCEABLE FIRST THE ORDINANCE DOES NOT HAVE ANY WRITTEN STANDARDS FOR THE EXERCISE OF DISCRETION OF THE ADMINISTRATOR. I COUNT EIGHT DIFFERENT AREAS IN THE IN THIS NEW DRAFT ORDINANCE WHERE THE ADMINISTRATOR HAS THE HAS TO EXERCISE DISCRETION BUT THOSE STANDARDS ARE DESCRIBED WHERE HE OR SHE IS GOING BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS AND THEREFORE PROPERTY OWNERS PEOPLE WHO WANT TO USE AND DEVELOP THEIR PROPERTY NOT GOING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THAT DISCRETION IS EXERCISED. IT'S ALSO NOT CLEAR WHO IS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE A WETLAND DELINEATION. I THINK THE PROFESSIONALS IN THE CHAMBER ALL APPRECIATE WHAT A WETLANDS DELINEATION IS BUT IT'S NOT CLEAR IN THE ORDINANCE WHO IS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE THAT WETLANDS DELINEATION HAS NOTED IN MY COMMENTS TO COUNSEL THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS DISTRICT OF CHARLESTON IS NO LONGER PROVIDING WETLAND DELINEATIONS . THERE ARE NONE THERE ARE JURISDICTIONAL AND NON JURISDICTIONAL WETLANDS AND I KNOW THAT'S PART OF WHAT PROMPTED THE PRESENTATION OF THIS ORDINANCE BUT NON JURISDICTIONAL ISOLATED SHOULD BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY.

YOU HAVE AREAS WITHIN COMMUNITY WHERE YOU HAVE LAND THAT ONCE WAS A WETLAND THAT'S ISOLATED IT'S NOT CONNECTED TO ANY WATER BODY THAT THAT WELL THAT SHOULD BE PROTECTED OR WARRANTS PROTECTION UNDER TYPICAL STANDARDS AND THEREFORE THOSE I ISOLATED NON JURISDICTIONAL WETLANDS SHOULD HAVE A PROCESS A PROCEDURE WHEREBY AN OWNER CAN HAVE HIS OR HER LAND DEVELOPED AND USED. I ALSO NOTE THAT SOME OF THE EXCEPTIONS DO NOT APPLY TO THE OR QUASI GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND SO PROPERTY ASSOCIATIONS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATIONS IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT NEED TO FIX THEIR STORMWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES.

WELL THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND THEM BASED ON THIS ORDINANCE BECAUSE OF BUFFERS AND SETBACKS THAT ARE DESCRIBED IN THIS ORDINANCE APPLY AND THE SAME GOES WITH THE TOWN AND UTILITY COMPANIES EXPANDING ROADWAYS AND EXTENDING UTILITIES.

YOU CANNOT YOU CANNOT ENLARGE OR INCREASE THEM GREATLY. IT IS NOT CLEAR TO ME WHETHER OR NOT THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS THAT ARE THAT THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY A COUNCIL FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS APPLY OR DO NOT APPLY. THERE'S NO REFERENCE THE ORDINANCE TO DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS BUT WHEN I LOOK AT THE DEVELOPMENT FOR INSTANCE BUCKWALTER NOTWITHSTANDING CHANGES THE STORMWATER ORDINANCE BUFFERS AND SETBACKS ARE DESIGNED BY THE. YES SIR I JUST APPRECIATE IF COUNCIL WOULD LET US KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS AS YOU ARGUE ABOUT IT OR DISCUSSED OR ANYTHING BUT EVERYBODY'S HAD DIFFERENT TIME TO BRING ANY OF THEIR CONCERNS YOU STAFF INTO COUNCIL THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UP NEXT JACK REED GOOD COUNSEL . MY NAME'S JAKE REED. I LIVE AT 20 AVERY ON STROLL IN BLUFFTON. I ECHO THE COMMENTS OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE STOOD UP EVENING IN FAVOR OF DELAYING THE DECISION PROVIDING MORE INSIGHT AND DOING A LITTLE BIT

[00:45:05]

SO I WOULD JUST ASK THAT WE TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME PLEASE BECAUSE I THINK THERE WILL BE A MUCH GREATER IMPACT HERE THAN WE'RE ALL NECESSARILY PREPARED TO TO LIVE WITH.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DON REED REED.

GOOD EVENING. I'M JOHN REED, 38 MINUTE MAN. I'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME 4553 YEARS SO I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU TO POSTPONE AND UNTIL YOU CAN PASS AN ORDER THAT PROTECTS BOTH AND THE PROPERTY OWNERS, I THINK THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WANT WANT TO PROTECT THE WETLANDS BUT THEY ALSO WANT TO PROTECT THE PROPERTY. GOOD COMMON SENSE REGULATIONS I THINK YOU ARE RUSHING THIS WITHOUT THE ADEQUATE INPUT FROM THE FATHERS AND THE DEVELOPERS HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB AND THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND SO FORTH IS TAKE SOME ADDITIONAL TIME FOR EXAMPLE THE 50 FOOT BUFFER REQUIREMENT IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THE OLD THEME 50 FOOT RIVERFRONT REQUIREMENT TOTALLY DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THE OCR AND 50 FOOT BUFFER THAT WATER GOES DIRECTLY INTO THE RIVER OWN YOU REQUIRE ON THE WETLAND BUFFER IT WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO INTO THE WETLAND TO FILTER IT TO CAPTURE IT AND FILTER IT BEFORE IT GETS TO THE RIVER AND SO FORTH. SO IT'S A BIT IT'S A BIT DIFFERENT AND ALL THE FATHERS THAT WE'VE EVER SEEN SAID 25 TO 30 FEET IS PLENTY IS ADEQUATE AND PLEASE MAKE IT AN AVERAGE MAKE IT AN AVERAGE A MINIMUM OF A 10 TO 15 FEET BUT OVERALL HIS AVERAGE 25 OR 30 FEET OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE THAT WORK AND WE CAN WORK AROUND IT BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE DOING THIS VERY IMPORTANT ALSO THAT WE GET AWAY THAT WE DO NOT LOSE THE RIGHT TO THE GET TO FEEL ISOLATED NON-JURY IS NO WETLANDS THESE ARE LITTLE POCKETS THAT SPRING UP FROM TIME TO TIME THEY DON'T CONNECT TO THE WATERWAYS AND SO FORTH.

THE REASON THEY CALL NON JURISDICTIONAL. SO WE NEED THE RIGHT TO COME FORWARD AND FILL BECAUSE IN THE LOW COUNTRY THEY'RE EVERYWHERE THEY UP EVERYWHERE TEMPORARILY AND SO FORTH AND BECOME ISOLATED JURISDICTIONAL. SO WITHOUT THESE CHANGES I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO CREATE A UNNECESSARY AND UNPROVEN BURDEN ON THE THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND YOU CONTRADICT THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS GUIDANCE. I BELIEVE IT COULD BE I BELIEVE IT COULD BE VERY BURDENSOME AND ALSO UNLAWFUL AS PER THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT RECENT SO WHILE I'M ASKING YOU TO DO IS JUST TAKE YOUR TIME, POSTPONE IT, GET IT INVOLVED IN IT AND WANT PROBABLY THE SAME THING YOU DO JUST COMMON SENSE PROTECTION OF PROPERTY RIGHTS IN WETLANDS. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU.

AND NEXT PANEL IS WILL HOWARD THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL WILL HOWARD 65 RED CEDAR STREET I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF BOSTON.

I CAME UP WITH SOME PREPARED COMMENTS BUT I'LL PROBABLY SPEAK BETTER JUST EXTEMPORANEOUSLY BUT FIRST OF ALL MAYOR I DO TAKE EXCEPTION WITH YOUR COMMENT THAT WE'VE HAD AMPLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH WITH COUNCIL STAFF.

I WAS PRETTY DISCOURAGED AFTER THE WORKSHOP MEETING WHEN TOWN ATTORNEY RICHARDSON THE BRUCE ADVISED THE STAFF TO ENGAGE WITH CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS AND CALLED US BY NAME, CALLED MYSELF, CALLED NESTOR CALLED MR. JURY MR. JOHN READ MR. MARCUSE FOR SAID HUTTON IDENTIFIED US BY NAME AND ASKED THAT THE STAFF REACH OUT AND ENGAGE WITH US FOR ASSISTANCE IN GETTING THIS ORDINANCE PROPERLY PREPARED GETTING IT RIGHT AND THAT NEVER HAPPENED.

SO THAT'S DISCOURAGING. I, I DO NOT ENVY THE POSITION THAT Y'ALL ARE IN TONIGHT BECAUSE YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A VERY DIFFICULT POSITION FORCED TO VOTE ON AN ORDINANCE THAT WAS PASSED BUILDING DOCTRINE BY YOUR OWN ADMISSION IT HAD TO BE ADMITTED BEFORE YOU COULD BRING

[00:50:05]

THE SECOND OPTION WOULD BE TO TABLE THE ORDINANCE DO WHAT YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO DO, LET THE PROFESSIONALS AND THE ENGINEERS ENGAGE WITH WITH STAFF AND THE INFORMATION AND WORK TO GET THIS RIGHT. LET'S NOT I COMPLETELY AGREE THERE THERE ARE PROTECTIONS THAT NEED TO BE IN PLACE BUT WE DON'T NEED TO RUSH TO JUDGMENT AND PASS SOMETHING JUST FOR THE SAKE OF PASSING IT BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY GOTTEN HALFWAY THERE WITH THE FIRST READING YOUR YOUR SECOND OPTION WOULD BE IF YOU REALLY WANT THE ENFORCEMENT CAPABILITIES ADDRESS THE NON JURISDICTIONAL WETLANDS THAT LOST PROTECTION AT THE SECOND A DECISION THEN GIVE YOURSELF THE ENFORCEMENT TO ENFORCE THE 25 FOOT BUFFER THAT ALREADY EXISTS IN THE AREA THERE'S A 25 FOOT WETLAND BUFFER THAT ALREADY EXISTS. GIVE YOURSELF THE ENFORCEMENT CAPABILITIES TO. DO THAT AND THEN IF YOU NEED TO COME BACK AND AMEND THE ORDINANCE 12 MONTHS LATER AFTER YOU KNOW AFTER STUDIES HAVE COME IN, YOU CAN GO THAT ROUTE IF NONE OF THAT WOULD HAPPEN AND IF YOU DO FEEL LIKE YOU'RE FORCED TO TAKE THIS TO TO A A SECOND READING, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU INCLUDE AN EXEMPTION TO INCLUDE NOT ONLY THE ARMY CORPS OF PERMITS THAT ARE LISTED HERE BUT INCLUDE THE PERMITS THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO GET WHEN WE GET A STORMWATER PERMIT WE'RE REQUIRED TO GET A PERMIT FROM THE CDC AND OCR CRM TO IMPACT THE NON JURISDICTIONAL WETLANDS. THOSE PERMITS SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED AS WELL AND WE SHOULD RECEIVE AN EXEMPTION HAVING RECEIVED AND THOSE PERMITS. SO AGAIN I DON'T EVEN NEED A POSITION.

I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS INFORMATION TONIGHT. THANK YOU. WE DID THIS KIND OF BACKWARDS I GUESS I'M GOING TO CALL IS THERE ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT PUBLIC HEARING FROM UP THE STATE YOUR NAME BECAUSE THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE A BLUFFTON RESIDENT IS SIR SO MY NAME GRANT MCCLURE AND I ACTUALLY LIVE IN BEAUFORT SO I'M NOT A BLUFFTON. MY ADDRESS IS 1511 SYCAMORE STREET AND I WORK FOR THE COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE AND THE CONSERVATION LEAGUE A501C3 NONPROFIT ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION. AND THEN OUR MISSION IS TO HELP PROTECT THE HEALTH OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA COASTAL PLAIN.

AND I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE VALUE OF THESE NON JURISDICTIONAL ISOLATED WETLANDS SINCE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S COME UP AS A NEED TO CONTINUE TO FILL JUST BECAUSE THOSE WETLANDS AREN'T NECESSARILY WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES OR CONNECTED TO THE REST OF WATERSHED, IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY AREN'T PROVIDING VALUE THROUGH HELPING MITIGATING FLOODING AND THROUGH REALLY PROMOTING BIODIVERSITY AND FROM A BIODIVERSITY STANDPOINT THESE ESPECIALLY THESE EPHEMERAL WETLANDS, THE ONES THAT SOMETIMES AREN'T EVEN THERE AT ALL ARE PROVIDING HUGE BENEFIT TO AMPHIBIANS. I'M SORRY I'M A LITTLE BIT OF A WILDLIFE NERD BUT THEY'RE STILL VALUABLE BECAUSE THE FISH CAN'T LIVE IN THERE.

RIGHT. THAT'S THE MAIN PREDATORS FOR THESE AMPHIBIANS AND SO THAT IS THE VALUE OF A NON JURISDICTIONAL SOMETIMES WETLAND THAT'S NOT EVEN THERE YEAR ROUND IS THAT IT REALLY IS PROVIDING BIODIVERSITY BENEFITS AND WE WANT A DIVERSE YOU KNOW WHAT WE WANT TO BE GOOD STEWARDS AND WE WANT THAT THAT DIVERSITY IS AN INDICATOR OF HOW WELL WE'RE DOING AS A SOCIETY TO BE CONSIDERATE OF OF THE CREATURES AROUND US AND ADDITIONALLY I DID WANT TO VOICE FOR THE 50 FOOT BUFFER I THINK THERE IS PLENTY OF SCIENCE TO SUPPORT 50 FOOT BUFFER AND IN FACT SOME SUGGEST EVEN MORE AND SO I SUPPORT THAT I THINK THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THINGS LIKE VARIANCES WHERE NEEDED.

I THINK EXPLORING DIFFERENT SITE DESIGNS TO WORK AROUND WETLANDS IS CERTAINLY A POSSIBILITY FOR SOME OF THESE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE COME FORWARD AND OPPOSITION.

[00:55:06]

BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE IS A THERE IS A TO WORK OUT SOMETHING WHILE STILL MOVING FORWARD THE ORDINANCE THIS EVENING YEAH AND I TEND TO AGREE WITH THIS SENTIMENT THAT THERE HAS BEEN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC INPUT AND IN FACT AT FIRST READING UM MANY OF THE FOLKS FROM THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY NOT PRESENT AND SO THERE HAS BEEN PUBLIC INPUT THIS HAS BEEN A LONG PROCESS. I SPOKE TO COLLEAGUES WHO THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS ALREADY A DONE DEAL AND IT'S YOU KNOW IT'S BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS NOW SO I SUPPORT THE TOWN STAFF WORK ON THIS. I SUPPORT THE MAE RIVER WATERSHED ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT HAS PLAYED A KEY ROLE AND GETTING THESE PROTECTIONS ENACTED AND SO JUST WANTED TO OUR SUPPORT AND I BELIEVE SOMETHING WAS SAID ABOUT PROTECTING PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER AND PROTECTING WETLANDS AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS ORDINANCE BOTH BECAUSE REALLY WE SHOULDN'T BE DEVELOPING IN THESE LOW LYING AND WHEN WE'RE SELLING THESE LOTS AND PUTTING THESE FOLKS AND WE'RE PUTTING FOLKS IN HARM'S WAY WHEN WE'RE FILLING IN WETLANDS THAT PROVIDE THESE RESILIENCE BENEFITS TO PEOPLE. OKAY.

SECOND CALL ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS PERTAINING TO THIS ORDINANCE OR YOUR COUNCIL? MY NAME IS BEN KENNEDY, A LOCAL LANDOWNER HERE IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.

I JUST GOT A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AND. I'M GOING TO CONTRADICT WHAT HE SAYS. THIS DOESN'T ADDRESS SORRY WITH YOUR ADDRESS TO 17 YOU LIVE IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON? I DON'T LIVE IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON OWNED LAND TOWN OF BLUFFTON ABEL STREET ZERO ABEL STREET. OKAY.

ALL SO A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I JUST WANT TO RESPOND. I DON'T THINK THIS HURTS ANYBODY HELP BY NOT PUTTING RESTRICTIONS ON THE 15 FOOT UNDISTURBED BUFFERS EXCESSIVE RESTRICTIVE WE UNDERSTAND THE INTENT OF THE TOWN TO PROTECT THE TOWN PROTECT THE WETLANDS BUT THERE'S ALREADY FEDERAL STANDARDS IN PLACE AND. CONSIDER THE SITE SPECIFIC NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL BUFFERS A 50 FOOT RIGID SET BACK CAN RENDER INFILL PARCELS IN OTHERWISE DEVELOPABLE LAND ECONOMICALLY UNUSABLE ESPECIALLY IN AREAS WITH FRAGMENTED AND SEASONAL WETLANDS. SO THERE IS FRAGMENTED THERE IS SEASONAL.

SO WE NEED TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. WE RECOMMEND A TIERED SYSTEM MAYBE AN EXAMPLE 25 FOR LOWER FUNCTIONING WETLANDS AND MAYBE 50 FOR LARGER FUNCTIONING WETLANDS. TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS .

WELL, I'M NOT AN ADVOCATE OF THE 50 BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT TAKE A LITTLE BIT BETTER APPROACH AND ISOLATED POCKETS OF HOW THEY'RE USED AND WHAT THEY DO AND HOW THEY OUTFALL PRE PERMANENT LOCAL REVIEW THAT'S REDUNDANT AND PROBLEMATIC REQUIRING DEVELOPERS OBTAIN APPROVAL BEFORE THE CORPS OF AN ENGINEERS AND BEFORE D HECK THAT'S VERY PROBLEMATIC THE FEDERAL WETLANDS DELINEATION AND A FOR FOR PERMITTING PROCESS ALREADY MANDATES COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS FIELD VERIFICATION AND MITIGATION PLANNING SO TAKE THAT IN MIND THE LOCAL PRE-APPROVAL PROCESS RISK CREATING STANDARDS LEAVING LANDOWNERS CAUGHT BETWEEN AGENCIES YOU GOT THREE DIFFERENT AGENCIES TO DEAL WITH. WE SUPPORT COORDINATION BUT NOT THE INDEPENDENT TOWN AUTHORITY TO APPROVE OR DENY ON FEDERALLY REGULATED WETLANDS LOCAL AND PENALTIES IS A RISK OF OVERREACH. THE TOWN'S NEW DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE OR WETLANDS ENFORCEMENT POWERS OPENS THE DOORS TO SUBJECTIVE INTERPRETATION AND INCONSISTENT APPLICATION WETLANDS REGULATION REQUIRES TECHNICAL EXPERTIZE IN HYDROLOGY SOILS ECOLOGY, ECOLOGY NOT JUST PLANNING STAFF INTERPRETATION WITHOUT DEFINED CRITERIA ENFORCEMENT BECOMES A POLITICAL RATHER THAN SCIENTIFIC PROCESS. WE URGE THE TOWN TO CLARIFY ITS ENFORCEMENT PROTOCOLS A TECHNICAL ADVISORY PANEL ENSURE THE STAFF DECISION ARE APPLICABLE TO THE INDEPENDENT BODY ART SO RECOMMENDATIONS OF ADJUSTMENTS A TIERED BUFFER CHANGE TO AN ADVISORY REVIEW NOT A REGULATORY REVIEW REQUIRED THIRD PARTY SCIENTIFIC REVIEW AND ALLOW FOR APPEALS AND USE CORE OF ENGINEER VERIFIED MAPS TO AVOID OVERREACH CHECK THE SUPPORT OF THE TOWN DESIRE TO LEAD ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP IS GREAT BUT THE ORDINANCE AS WRITTEN OVERREACHES AND DUPLICATES LAWS AND MAKES SMART SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT MORE DIFFICULT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. HOPE FOR YOUR POSITIVITY AND TAKE A LITTLE TIME TO REVIEW A LITTLE CLOSER. THANK YOU.

THE THAT AND ANYONE ELSE LAST CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS COME ON UP GEORGE WARD 217 PALMETTO BLUFF ROAD I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 40 YEARS AND KNOW A FEW PLACES UP THERE A LITTLE

[01:00:03]

THAT PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED. RIGHT? WHERE DO WE GO? SO PRESENTATION. YEAH, IT'S NOT LIKE THE FIRST TIME I'M PUTTING MY PRESENTATION HERE IN 1/2 AND A LOT OF WONDER IF YOU HAD 3 MINUTES TO PAY THE THANK YOU MAYOR GOOD EVENING AND COUNCIL WE ARE HERE THIS EVENING FOR THE SECOND AND FINAL READING ON WHAT WE'RE REFERRING TO AS THE WETLANDS ORDINANCE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT WHERE IT'S ARTICLE FIVE DESIGN STANDARDS. JUST A BRIEF REQUEST AGAIN IS FOR THESE SECTIONS THAT I HAVE LISTED ON THE SCREEN HERE. I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE A QUICK TIMELINE JUST TO KIND OF GET CONTEXT AS WE'RE MOVING THROUGH THIS SO KNOW 1998 THROUGH 2008 ALL THE PADS WERE CREATED WITH DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS THAT ESTABLISH VARIOUS BUFFERS FOR WETLANDS AND 2023 IS THE CASE THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN DISCUSSING HERE WHERE WE JUST TALKED ABOUT NO LONGER UNTITLED THE FEDERAL PROTECTION FOR THE JURISDICTIONAL NON JURISDICTIONAL WETLANDS IN MAY OF 2024 SO THAT WAS LAST YEAR THE TOWN IMPLEMENTED 25 FOOT WETLAND BUFFER THROUGH THE VIDEO AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT BUFFERS ESTABLISHED IN THE DEVELOPMENT GROUP IS STILL WOULD PREVAIL OVER THAT 25 FOOT BUFFER IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR WE BROUGHT THE THE CURRENT PROPOSED UTO EDITS TO YOU EXCUSE ME TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION THEY MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO FOR THIS TO YOU WITH APPROVAL MARCHES WHEN WE HAD THAT FIRST READING IT WAS PENDING DOCTRINE AND THE INTENT WAS FOR THE PROTECTION THE WETLANDS PROTECTION ORDINANCE THAT DEFINED A WETLAND IS LIMIT THE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN THOSE DEFINED THE ENFORCEMENT CAPABILITIES AND THE EXPANSION OF THAT BUFFER 25 FEET TO 50 FEET IN APRIL. AND I HAVE A COUPLE MORE SLIDES HERE TO GO THROUGH FOR BUT IN APRIL WE HAD A WORKSHOP AND THAT WAS WE RECEIVED A LOT OF PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN OF THE CONCERNS WERE OR SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT WE CAME

[01:05:01]

THAT'S THE FROM A HIERARCHY STANDPOINT AND I'VE GOT SOME OF THIS INFORMATION I PULLED FROM THIS SECTION THE SECTION TEN SUBSECTION ONE SPECIFICALLY OF THE BUCKWALTER TRACT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WHICH WAS RECORDED APRIL 19TH, 2020 AS WELL AS THE PALMETTO BLUFF AND SCHULTZ TRACT IN NOVEMBER 23 WHERE IT SPECIFICALLY AGREED HOWEVER THAT ANY ORDINANCES OF THE TOWN THAT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY AFFECT THE SETBACK BUFFER OPEN SPACE REQUIREMENTS PERMITTED PURSUANT TO ZONING REGULATIONS WILL NOT BE TO THE OWNER AND DEVELOPERS OF THE

[01:10:02]

OKAY? YES, SIR. FOR CLARITY.

SO THESE STANDARD HAVE BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS OR MORE? YES. RIGHT. SO THE MULTIFAMILY AND COMMERCIAL 50 FOOT BUFFER HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT.

YES. JUST MAYBE THE ENFORCEMENT HAS NOT BEEN AS STRONG.

CORRECT. THANK YOU. SO HOW DOES THIS WETLAND ORDINANCE PROTECT SMALL LOTS FROM RUNOFF OR DRAINAGE ISSUES ? SO OBVIOUSLY THE PRIMARY FOCUS IS THE PRESERVATION OF THE EXISTING WETLANDS WHILE RUNOFF DRAINAGE ISSUES ARE NOT DIRECTLY TOWN STAFF BELIEVES THE WET AND WET WETLANDS SHOULD POSITIVELY IMPACT THESE ISSUES AS PRESERVED WETLANDS WILL BE REDUCED AND CAPTURE SOME OF THAT SURFACE WATER. WHAT PORTION OF THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS FALLS WITHIN THE UDOT ADMINISTRATOR SO THE APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN FOR THE WETLAND BUFFERS CONCERNS RAISED BY DEVELOPERS AND OTHERS CONFIRMED THAT THE WETLAND REQUIRE SOME FLEXIBILITY.

SO YES WE DO BELIEVE THAT PARTICULARLY WHEN WITH THE WETLAND BUFFER RESTRICTIONS AS SUCH THE WETLAND ORDINANCE DOES GRANT YOU ADMINISTRATOR LIMITED DISCRETION TO PROVIDE EXEMPTIONS IF DESIGN CONSTRAINTS, EXISTING REPORTS PERMITS COVENANTS OTHER GOOD CAUSE JUSTIFIES IT WITH THAT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING MORE OF A POLICY WHICH STAFF WOULD BE ABLE TO WORK ON JUST BECAUSE THAT EVERY PROJECT ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS IS UNIQUE AND THAT IF WE CAN FIND OURSELVES TO REGULATIONS IT MAY HINDER PROJECTS MORE THAN IT ACTUALLY HELPS THEM SO DOES PROVIDE SOME OF THAT FLEXIBILITY FOR PROJECTS DEPENDING ON THE CASE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THAT UH DOES THE WETLAND ORDINANCE IMPOSE ANY ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATIONS THAT OWN OR MAINTAIN THEIR STORE SYSTEMS? NO IT DOES NOT. THE RECENTLY ADOPTED ORDINANCES HAVE DONE SO.

THIS ORDINANCE ONLY EFFECT FOR A FEW MONTHS SO WE DON'T KNOW THE FULL IMPACTS THESE EXISTING HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS. SO AS BROUGHT UP EARLIER ABOUT THE THE STUDY THAT WE'RE WORKING ON THE COMPREHENSIVE WETLAND PROTECTION STUDY AS STATED JANUARY 25 IS WHEN THE TASK AUTHORIZATION AND PROJECT MEETING CAME THROUGH IN AUGUST. WE HAVE A FIRST DRAFT OF THAT PROJECT AND THEN WE'LL WORK WITH A FIRST ROUND OF COMMENTS WITH THE CONSULTANTS.

WE WILL REVIEW IT THAT WILL GO TO A REGULAR MEETING AS OF RIGHT NOW FOR A NOVEMBER A WORKSHOP COMMENTS CAN BE PROVIDED DURING THAT TIME SECOND DRAFT IN DECEMBER PLANNING COMMISSION JANUARY FIRST READING IN FEBRUARY AND ULTIMATELY A SECOND READING IN MARCH. AS ALWAYS DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE SO THIS EVENING YOUR ACTION IS TO YOU CAN APPROVE THE FIRST READING VERSION THAT'S THE PENDING DOCTRINE VERSION YOU YOU APPROVED IN MARCH YOU CAN APPROVE THE SECOND READING OF THE VERSION THAT WAS SUBMITTED IN YOUR PACKET OR CAN DENY THE REQUEST AND THEN FROM A STEP WE'RE HERE AT THE FINAL AND SECOND READING HAPPY ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR IF YOU HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ITEMS ANY QUESTIONS FOR CHAIRMAN MR. FRAZIER, YOU WANT TO START? YES I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, KEVIN . I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS JUST IN TERMS OF PROVIDING CLARITY AS THIS IS A AN ISSUE THAT WE SEE MANY ARE DEFINITELY CONCERNED ABOUT ON BOTH SIDES AND JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ACCURACY AS WE ARE NAVIGATING THIS SO EVERYONE'S ON THE SAME PAGE HERE. SO WITH BEING SAID IS IT ACCURATE YOUR BEST KNOWLEDGE, KAREN, THAT SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES ALSO CRM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SOUTH

[01:15:05]

AND MANAGEMENT QUESTION IS VERY LIMITED. THEY DO HAVE OVERSIGHT OF IT.

THEY DO ISSUE PERMITS BUT AGAIN IF THERE IS NO STORMWATER REVIEW IF THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR A PERMIT. THEY DO NOT OVERSEE ANY JURISDICTIONAL.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT POINT JURISDICTIONAL AND MAKE SURE I PUT THAT UP.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT, DOES THE COASTAL WATERS ENTITLEMENTS ACT ALSO UNDER THAT SAME DEPARTMENT PROTECT PROPERTIES THAT AREN'T COASTAL TIDELANDS BEACHES OR BEACH DUNE SYSTEMS? MAKE SURE YOUR QUESTION CORRECT SO I'M REPEAT IT BACK SO DO THEY IF IT'S NOT INSIDE A COASTAL ZONE IF IT'S IF IT'S DO THEY HAVE ANY PROTECTION UNDER IT AND IT FALLS TO MY ORIGINAL COMMENT THEY DO IF THERE IS A PERMIT BUT THEIR PERMITS IS UNDER SAME PURVIEW SO IF IT FALLS OUTSIDE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY OVERSIGHT OVER DOES THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON WETLANDS YOUDO AT ANY POINT USURP ANY REGULATORY THAT ARE ALREADY GRANTED BY ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS OR? OCR NO IF THEY HAVE A PERMIT IN PLACE AND IT'S AND IT'S NOT EXPIRED. THE CORPS PERMITS OR PROCEEDS ARE YOU YOU THANK YOU AND LASTLY ANY VARIANCES AS MENTIONED IN THE YOUDO WOULD IT BE DEFERRED TO BE RESOLVED AT THE STAFF LEVEL. OKAY REPEAT IT ONE MORE TIME FOR ME THERE IS A PROVISION FOR VARIANCES IN THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE WHETHER THOSE VARIANCES BE RESOLVED OR DEFERRED TO A STAFF LEVEL OR WOULD IT BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD GO THROUGH ONE OF OUR BOARDS OR COMMISSIONS. I THINK THE INTENT THAT HAVE SET UP IS FOR THAT FLEXIBILITY OF THE ADMINISTRATOR TO TO TO SEE IF IT IS A IT IS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF OF HER OR HER DECISION, THEN THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD GO POTENTIALLY TO THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS. THANK YOU. AND I OF THOSE ROUNDS AND SERIES OF QUESTIONS BECAUSE THE GENERAL RESPONSE HERE IS THAT MANY HAVE QUOTED OR OFTEN REFERENCE WHAT WE DO SEE AS POLICY MANDATES BY OCR AM AND AS THE DEPARTMENT THE SERVICES BUT THOSE REGULATORY PROVISIONS DON'T ALWAYS EXTEND TO SOME OF THE ISSUE THAT WE CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE REGULATORY JURISDICTION OVER AND THOSE ARE PROPERTIES ARE NOT IN THESE COASTAL PROTECTIVE ZONES AND MANY WHERE RESIDENTS ARE BEING SECOND OR FALLEN VICTIM TO OF THE DEVASTATION THAT IS GOING ON WITH THOSE WHO ARE BUILDING OR DEVELOPING ON WETLANDS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEVELOPMENT SO AND KNOWING THAT THE TOWN DID NOT HAVE THOSE PROVISIONS AND WE AT NO POINT WOULD OVERRIDE OR OVERSTEP ANY POWERS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE FROM THAT LEVEL. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE WHO IS IS ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT TO NOT I'M NOT ASSUMING THAT THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON HERE IS TRYING TO TAKE ANY POWERS THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO TAKE BUT WE ARE JUST MAKING HERE POLICY THAT IS GOING TO BE IN THE BETTERMENT NOT JUST OF FOCUS HERE IS NOT JUST ON DEVELOPERS BUT ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND ON THE RESIDENTS RIGHT NOW WHO ARE EXTREMELY VULNERABLE IN INSTANCES WHERE THERE ARE NO PERMITTING PROCESSES BY CRM OR THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS THANK YOU KEVIN THANK YOU MR. HAMILTON WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT QUESTIONS FOR KEN.

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR KEVIN OR MAYBE STEVEN WAS WAS THE FLOOR STAKEHOLDERS THAT WE MENTIONED EARLIER I'M FIRST READING CONTACT ABOUT TRYING TO WORK OUT THEIR CONCERNS.

NO SIR I WASN'T CONTENT TO WAS THAT BECAUSE WHAT REASON WHY WE DIDN'T CONTACT SO WE WENT BACK WATCH THE VIDEO FROM THE MEETING AND WHEN IT WAS SUMMARIZED AT THE END THE

[01:20:03]

NOW HE MENTIONED THERE WERE SOME IN MY NAME IN THE AUDIENCE BUT HE SAID MY UNDERSTANDING IS COUNSEL WANTS US TO GET THE ANSWERS TO THESE SIX QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE THAT BACK.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE DID AND THAT'S WHY WE PROVIDED THE INFORMATION BACK TO COUNSEL TO SHARE OUT AND IN GO FROM THERE NO WE DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE GOING OUT AND SHARING INFORMATION THAT HAD NOT BEEN SHARED WITH COUNSEL UNTIL HAD THAT PREPARED AND READY TO GO GIVEN THEM CORRECT IF THERE WAS A A PROJECT WAS ALREADY ONLINE AND SUCH AS CROSS SCHOOL CAN I STOP YOU RIGHT THERE. OH GO AHEAD OKAY STAFF HAD A PRE APPLICATION MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF CROSS SCHOOL NO APPLICATION HAS BEEN SUBMITTED FOR ANY MASTER PLAN OR DEVELOPMENT FOR ANY ADDITIONS BEYOND. WHAT'S ALREADY EXISTING ON THE GROUND BUT IT WAS NOT A PRE APPLICATION MEETING. MAY I GO IN OFF OF THAT IN THE CROSS SCHOOLS EXAMPLE WHAT YOU SAID SINCE THEY ARE IN THE BUCKWALTER DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THEY WOULD HAVE TO ABIDE BY THE SETBACKS DESCRIBED THAT AT THAT TABLE THAT YOU HAD AT THAT 50 FOOT FOR COMMERCIAL. YES. WENT BACK TO 2000 OR WHATEVER BACKWATER AM I CORRECT ON THAT. YES. SO WHEN THEY DID INITIAL MASTER PLAN THESE WETLANDS SETBACKS WERE CLEARLY DEFINED IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IN THE FIRST PHASE OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT. YES.

SO BASICALLY WE ARE NOT CHANGING WHAT WAS IN THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS 20 YEARS AGO. NO. WHEN IT COMES TO COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, THE ONLY THING WE'RE CHANGING IS FROM WHAT I'M GETTING AT THE RESIDENTIAL LIVES WE'RE NOT CHANGING RESIDENTIAL THERE ARE IS STILL THE 20 FOOT DEFINED IN THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TO BE RIGHT BUT IF IT'S NOT UNDER A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IS IT CORRECT CORRECT THAT'S WHERE I'M FOR RESIDENTIAL REVIEW OR RESIDENTIAL WILL BE CHANGED FROM 1 TO 50 UNLESS THERE IS ALREADY IN THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT SAYS 25 IS APPROVED. THAT'S WHAT BE ACCOMMODATED. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THIS ORDINANCE SAYS RIGHT BUT MR. WOULD COMMENT QUESTIONS SO I WANT CLARITY ON ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WAS FRAZIER ASKED. SO WHERE IT STANDS RIGHT THIS MOMENT PENDING DOCTRINE AND IN THIS CAN CONTINUE TO GO ON FOR QUITE A WHILE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO GET CLARITY ON WHERE THEY CAN GO AND WHAT THEY CAN DO GETTING THAT RIGHT NOW YES THIS IS COMPLICATED. IT'S ONE OF THE TOUGHEST ONES I'VE EVER HAD TO BE INVOLVED WITH AND JUST ABOUT SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE AND KNOW WHO THEY ARE, YOU KNOW MOST OF THEM AND WE KNOW EACH OTHER WELL SO IT DOESN'T MAKE IT EASY FOR I GO ANY FURTHER I WANT TO COME IN MR. NESTER BECAUSE YOU KNOW A LOT OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT DID NOT GET THE CALL THEY FELT THEY SHOULD GET AND I WISH THEY HAD OF SOME OF THEM HAVE PICKED UP THE PHONE AND CALLED ANYWAY MR. NESTOR WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT I CAN RECALL SEEN SUBMITTED ANY DOCUMENT IN WRITING OF HIS CONCERNS WHICH HE EXPRESSED SO ELOQUENTLY TONIGHT AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THIS VOTE IS TONIGHT THAT THOSE THAT ARE SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE THAT HAVE CONCERNS PUT IT IN WRITING, SEND IT TO THE TOWN TO THE TOWN MANAGER, COPY THE COUNCIL THEN YOU HAVE A RECORD OF YOUR YOUR GRIEVANCE OR WHAT YOUR FEELINGS ARE ON THE TOPIC GOING BACK TO THE RIGHT THERE IS NO WAIVER, THERE IS NO VARIANCE AND IF THIS DOES GET PASSED THERE IS A WAIVER IMPLEMENTATION IMPLEMENTATION AND YOU CAN APPLY FOR A VARIANCE REGARDING VARIANCE MS. HEATHER IF YOU WILL CLEARLY HOW THAT WORKS A VARIANCE SO THERE'S WHAT YOU SEE SO. THERE'S TWO THINGS SO WHAT IS WRITTEN AND PROPOSED IN THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING IS A WAIVER SO .

THAT'S THE WAIVER THAT THE REO ADMINISTRATOR WHICH I'VE BEEN DESIGNATED CURRENTLY AS THE OR DELEGATED AS THE ADMINISTRATOR A WAIVER TO ALLOW FOR SOME ENCROACHMENT SO IT AND WE CAN SPELL THAT OUT IN A PROCEDURES MANUAL AND WE HAVE OTHER INSTANCES WHERE WAIVERS ARE ALLOWED FOR LIKE THE STORMWATER OR YOU KNOW THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PRACTICAL OR SOME THINGS RELATED TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION THAT WE DO HAVE A PROVISION FOR THAT.

SO THAT WOULD BE AN EXTREME INSTANCES WHERE YOU MAY HAVE TO IMPACT A WETLAND BUFFER

[01:25:07]

OKAY BUT THERE IS MECHANISMS IN PLACE OKAY NOW THE OTHER PART FOR ME IS THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THAT SO YOU KNOW I TALKED A LOT OF YOU AND YOU CANNOT WRITE A PERFECT ORDINANCE AND WHAT WE DO EACH AND EVERY YEAR AND MOST OF YOU ARE AWARE OF THIS WE CONTINUOUSLY GO BACK TO THE YOUDO AND WE UPDATE AND WE AND WE MODIFY IT WE DO IT EVERY YEAR THREE OR FOUR TIMES A YEAR BECAUSE WE FIND THINGS THAT ARE THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF SOME ACTION THAT WE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE AND SO WE TRY TO FIX IT AND CORRECT IT AND.

THIS PROCESS WILL BE VERY SIMILAR IN NATURE I'M SURE THINGS WILL COME UP THAT ARE NOT WRITTEN SPECIFICALLY IN THIS ORDINANCE AND THEY WILL BE ADDRESSED BUT LIKE ORDINANCES THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS WRITTEN 2527 YEARS AGO HAVE HAD AN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE IS PART OF THE PROBLEM TODAY IS THE STORM EVENTS ARE NOW LARGER AND MORE FREQUENT THAN WE'VE EXPERIENCED THE PAST THIS MIXED IN WITH THE VOLUME OF GROWTH ALLOWED IN THE LEGALLY BINDING DOCUMENTS ALONG WITH STORM DESIGNED BY THE ENGINEERING BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THAT TIME ARE BECOMING INSUFFICIENT TO THE RECENT FLOODS THAT WE'VE HAD FLOODING NOT ONLY WORKS AGAINST THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN, FLOODING WORKS AGAINST THE HOMEBUILDERS ORGANIZATION AS WELL BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE CHANCE LIKE THE FARM THAT IS FLOODED TWICE MADE TWO MAJOR FLOODS IN THE LAST EIGHT YEARS THEIR PROPERTY VALUES ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED ONLY OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO COUNTER THIS ISSUE WHETHER THIS IS LEGALLY BINDING IS THAT I'M AWARE AND IT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP FOR YEARS BY NOT ONLY THE COUNCIL BUT THE PUBLIC AND THE TREE PROTECTION CONSERVATION FOR TREES WHICH YOU KNOW THE THE DEVELOPMENTS WERE BEING CLEARCUT AND WE TRIED TO STOP THAT PROTECT THE WETLANDS WHICH WE'VE NOT DONE THE BEST JOB OF REDUCING IMPERVIOUS SURFACES WHICH WE WANT TO LIMIT THE WATER RUNOFF INTO THE MAE RIVER, FOR EXAMPLE AT 10% WELL BEYOND THAT THE MAY RIVER IS IMPAIRED AND IF WE DO NOTHING ELSE TODAY WE BUILD NOT ONE MORE HOUSE. THE MIGHTY RIVER IS IMPAIRED AND PART OF THE PROBLEM WAS WE WERE ALWAYS FOCUSED ON THE QUALITY OF THE RIVER BUT SINCE THE FLOODING HAS BECOME SO PRONOUNCED AND PROFOUND AND NOW WE'RE REALLY STARTING TO FOCUS ON THE FLOODING WHICH INCLUDES THE WETLANDS IF WE CAN HELP MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FLOATING PORTION OF IT WE WILL STILL HELP THE RIVER. ANOTHER ONE IS A MORE OPEN SPACE AND WE AND WE'VE DONE OUR BEST TO TRY TO RESTRICT UP ZONING THE BEST APPROACH THAT I UNDERSTAND IS TO ABSORB AS MUCH WATER AS POSSIBLE ON THE WATERSHED THAT WAS THERE WHICH HAS BEEN DIMINISHED.

NOW IT'S BEEN SAID ALSO THAT WE CAN DO DITCHES WHICH WE NEED TO DO MORE DRAINAGE.

I AGREE. I AGREE WITH THAT. BUT LET ME SAY THAT MORE WITH STORMWATER RUNOFF GOES INTO THE RIVER. SO IT'S A CONUNDRUM.

IT'S A CATCH 22. YOU WANT TO GET THE WATER OFF THE LAND BUT YOU'RE PUMPING WATER INTO THE RIVER WHICH IMPEDES AND IMPACTS THE RIVER IN A NEGATIVE.

[01:30:01]

THANK YOU, CHRIS BURTON. I THINK THAT WAS VERY WELL SAID COUNCILMAN WOULD I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU ONE QUESTION THAT CAME UP TONIGHT AND I KNOW THAT YOU SAID THAT CURRENT FEDERAL PERMITS WOULD BE HONORED AND SO WOULD CURRENT STATE PERMITS IF SOMEONE A PROPERTY OWNER WENT AND GOT A NEW STATE PERMIT. IS THAT CAN CAN THEY GO GET A STATE PERMIT? NO, I THINK IT'S BASED OFF OF WHAT WAS EXISTING. WELL I MEAN YOU CAN GET STATE PERMITS FOR IT. WE'RE JUST SAYING THAT YOU WOULDN'T YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO IMPACT THOSE JURISDICTIONAL WETLANDS FOR REFINEMENT. YES, IT WAS.

BUT EXPLAIN TO ME BECAUSE I'M PRETTY SURE IF YOU GO BACK TO YOUR TABLE DOES IT SAY IN THE THANK YOU IS THIS THAT I KNOW I SAW SOMEWHERE IN THERE THAT WHICHEVER IS GREATER EITHER BUFFER SETBACK OR THE STATE PERMIT SETBACK? YEAH.

YES. SO A LOT OF MOST LIKELY THEY ALREADY HAVE EXISTING THEY ALREADY HAVE EXISTING PERMITS HAVE ALREADY BEEN WHERE THEY WERE ABLE TO IMPACT IT AND THEY HAD THAT WERE ESTABLISHED WITH THOSE PERMITS THAT THEY RECEIVED THEN THOSE PERMITS ARE ARE THE IN PLACE. YES. AND AGAIN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A CASE BY CASE BASIS WE HAVE TO LOOK AT EVERY CASE ON AN INDIVIDUAL CASE BY CASE BASIS THERE MAY OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE AFFECTING THAT. THERE MAY BE UTILITY EASEMENTS, THERE MAY OTHER TYPE OF EASEMENTS THAT WILL RESTRICT THE THEY'RE ALLOWED TO PLACE DEVELOPMENTS. SO THAT'S WHERE THAT FLEXIBILITY OF BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT WAIVER IS IS IMPORTANT. AND YOU KNOW, I'VE MET WITH SO MANY I HEARD FROM A LOT OF YOU MET WITH A LOT OF YOU I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THIS AND I DEFINITELY DON'T TAKE THIS DECISION LIGHTLY. I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT A LOT AT STAKE. I'M CONCERNED THE INCREASED FLOODING THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THIS PAST YEAR I'M CONCERNED THE HEALTH OF THE MAY RIVER AND I DON'T WANT TO LOOK BACK AT FIVE, TEN OR 20 YEARS FROM NOW WISHING THAT WE WOULD HAVE DONE I THINK THE FACT THAT THESE THESE SETBACKS ARE CLEARLY DEFINED IN ALL OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS THAT WE GO BACK TO EVERY SINGLE TIME. IT'S HARD TO ARGUE WITH THAT IT'S RIGHT THERE IS WRITTEN ON 92% OF BLUFFTON AND SO I THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF MISUNDERSTANDING WITH THIS BECAUSE I THINK THAT TABLE SPEAKS FOR PERSONALLY. THANK YOU.

YES. TO EVAN, WOULD YOU COMMENT ON THE FACT THAT AN OWNER WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT IF HE FELT THE WETLANDS HAD DISAPPEARED AND IT WAS NO LONGER A WETLANDS HE WOULD HAVE A RIGHT TO DO A NEW WETLAND ORGANIZATION. AM I YOU ARE CORRECT.

YES. YOU WOULD DO THAT WETLANDS DELINEATION DELINEATION LANDSCAPER LANDSCAPE PLANNER SURVEY HERE THAT IS QUALIFIED TO DO AND ACCEPTED.

YES. IF WE WANT TO REMOVE THAT MR. HAMILTON, ANY QUESTION I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTION BUT I DO APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S INCHES AND OPINIONS HERE TONIGHT AND I'M DEFINITELY APPRECIATIVE OF THE TIME THAT THE HAS PUT IN THIS BUILDING AND.

HOW DO YOU GUYS REALLY PUT IN SOME IMPORTANT WORK HERE THAT THEY HELP US HELP GUIDE US? I'M SURE PRIOR TO LAST MONTH I THOUGHT WE HAD SOMETHING THAT WE NEEDED TO WORK ON AND WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS I REALIZED LIKE LIKE EMILY SAID IT WAS ALREADY THERE.

WE JUST WASN'T IMPORTANT. MOST OF IT SO EVERY CASE COULD BE DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, AND

[01:35:04]

SO THANK YOU. YOU I DON'T I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A QUESTION OR NOT BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT. I DON'T THINK THERE'S PERSON IN THIS ROOM THAT INVESTED IN PROPERTY IT WAS TEN YEARS AGO OR 25 YEARS AGO THAT WAS SO NAIVE THAT THEY DIDN'T LOOK AT WHAT THEY WERE BUYING AND SEE WHAT WAS UPLANDS AND WHAT WETLANDS MAYBE SOME OF THOSE AREAS HAVE THAT HAVE CHANGED. MAYBE THERE'S MORE WETLANDS NOW THAN WERE 25 YEARS AGO.

EVERYBODY WHAT THEY WERE BUYING AND EVERYBODY KNEW THAT IT WAS NEVER AN EASY THING TO FILL WETLANDS AND BUILD HOUSES. I MEAN THAT WAS YOU KNOW IT'S EXPENSIVE IF YOU CAN GET THE PERMISSION TO DO IT IT'S STILL A VERY COSTLY WAY OF DEVELOPMENT THE CROSS PROPERTY THERE I HEAR YOU GUYS I KNOW EVERY ONE OF YOU EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT RIGHT NOW YOU CAN GO ONLINE RIGHT NOW AND PULL UP ANY PIECE OF PROPERTY YOU WANT TO AND IT'LL SHOW YOU HOW MANY ACRES ARE UPLANDS AND ,HOW MANY ACRES OF WETLANDS. SO ARE WE REALLY AS HUMANS SUPPOSED TO BE BUILDING IN THE SWAMP OR ARE WE SUPPOSED TO LISTEN TO MESSAGE AND PUT ODDLY IN THERE FOR US SO THAT WE COULD STAY OUT OF THE WATER AND WE COULD BE SAFE AND OUR KIDS COULD BE SAFE? I DON'T THINK WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE I DON'T THINK IT WAS MEANT FOR US TO BUILD IN THE SWAMPS. YOU KNOW, WE WON'T BUILD A TREEHOUSE BECAUSE THAT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. THERE'S ENOUGH LAND WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BUILD A SKYSCRAPER IN BLUFFTON WE DON'T WANT BLUFFED AND THINK ABOUT THE VERY REASON THAT EVERYBODY LOVES BLUFFTON BECAUSE WE AREN'T ALLOWING BLUFFTON TO TURN INTO SOMEWHERE ELSE SO WE'RE TRYING NOT TO ALLOW IT EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BUILD, SELL, MAKE THEIR MONEY AND MOVE ON TO THE PLACE, YOU KNOW YOU KNOW, I MEAN I'M NOT POINTING FINGERS BUT. EVERYBODY KNOWS THE BUSINESS AND I'VE BEEN WATCHING IT FOR A LONG TIME SO I THINK IT'S MY JOB AS LEADER OF THIS TOWN TO DO SOMETHING IF IT'S WRONG, DON'T SIT BACK. WAIT.

KICK THE BALL DOWN THE ROAD FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS OR EIGHT MONTHS WAITING ON SOMEBODY TO COME UP WITH AN IDEA. EVERYBODY'S GOING TO BE HAPPY BECAUSE YOU CAN'T MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY WITH YOU. DO YOU GET 50%? YOU'RE DOING GOOD AND I'M CERTAIN THAT OVER 85 90% OF THE PEOPLE IN BLUFFTON WOULD DEFINITELY APPROVE AND SUPPORT ANYTHING THAT WE DO TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE FROM COUNCIL? NO. MAYOR I'D LIKE TO ADD ONE THING ABOUT MITIGATION ALONG WITH WAIVERS AND BCA VARIANCES THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MITIGATION TO THE MPP PROCESS AND ALSO THROUGH THE OCR PROCESS THEY HAVE A MITIGATION PROCESS TOO SO YOU CAN MITIGATE WITHIN A WETLAND IF THIS PART OF THE YOU DON'T THINK YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE FOR US CAN DOES SIR WE NEED ANY MORE DISCUSSION COUNCIL ZERO BUT I HAVE A PROPOSED MOTION IN FRONT OF YOU IF YOU SO CHOOSE AND THIS IS BASED OFF OF WHAT IS THE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE PROVIDED IN YOUR PACKET YOU'LL MOVE TO MAKE THE MOTION AS SHOWN ON THE AND PRESENTED BY STAFF ACTION AND IN DISCUSSION I WOULD SAY WOULD I I THAT'S A UNANIMOUS VOTE.

[IX.3. Consideration of an Ordinance to Amend the Town of Bluffton Code of Ordinances, Chapter 23 - Unified Development Ordinance, Article 4, Section 4.3 Uses by District to Allow Schools in the Preserve (PR) District. Public Hearing and Final Reading - Kevin Icard, Director of Growth Management]

YOU DO NEED TO CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING. PLEASE, SIR, THIS IS YOUR FIRST CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. THE CURRENT AGENDA ITEM AND SECOND CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

[01:40:06]

THERE ARE NO CHANGES FROM FIRST READING. I DO HAVE SUGGESTED MOTION FOR YOU. I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION. I MOVE TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER 23 UNITED UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE ARTICLE 406 TABLE AS A PERMITTED USE AND HAVE PRESERVED ANY DISTRICT AS BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION THE SECOND CIRCUIT PAPERS SAY THAT UNANIMOUS NEXT WE HAVE A

[IX.4. Consideration of Ordinances for that Certain Real Property Owned by Beaufort County School District, Consisting of a Total of 24.12 Acres, More or Less, Located at 1105 Bluffton Parkway and Bearing Beaufort County Tax Map Nos. R600 029 000 011A 0000, R600 029 000 1736 0000 and R600 029 000 0034 0000 into the Town of Bluffton corporate limits. Public Hearing and Final Reading - Kevin Icard, Director of Growth Management For the Following Applications: A. Consideration of 100% Annexation Request to Annex the Subject Properties into the Town of Bluffton Corporate Limits; and, B. Consideration of Zoning Map Amendment to Rezone the Subject Properties Listed Above AND R610 029 000 0012 0000 and R610 029 000 0084 0000 to the Preserve (PR) District]

YES, SIR A PUBLIC HEARING FOR BOTH THE ANNEXATION AND THEN THE REZONING ARE THE ZONING OKAY. FIRST CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS CURRENT AGENDA ITEM.

SECOND CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THIRD CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT JUST FINAL THIRD, THIRD AND FINAL PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. THANK YOU, SIR. WE DO HAVE MOTIONS.

THE FIRST MOTION IS FOR THE ANNEXATION REQUEST AND CAN IF YOU SO CHOOSE YOU CAN SAY AS NOTED ON THE SCREEN THEN VOLUNTEER ME AS SOON I MOVE TO APPROVE UM THE ANNEXATION OF REQUEST THIS ON SCREEN AS THEIR SECOND DISCUSSION IN FAVOR SAY I I THAT UNANIMOUS AND THEN WE HAVE THE SECOND MOTION AS WELL AND THIS IS FOR THE ZONING MAP AMENDMENT AND READ THAT ONE SOMEBODY WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ON THE SCREEN I MOVE TO APPROVE PROPOSE MOTION NUMBER TWO FOR ZONING MAP AMENDED AS SHOWN ON THE SCREEN CIRCULAR SECOND ANY DISCUSSION ALL IN FAVOR SAY I THAT WAS UNANIMOUS AGAIN GREAT THANK YOU VERY MUCH OKAY WE REALLY WILL MOVE ON TO FORMAL AGENDA ITEMS. FIRST IS CONSIDERATION OF AN

[X.1. Consideration of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 2 – Administration, Article IX – Purchasing. Second and Final Reading – Chris Forster, Assistant Town Manager]

IS THERE A MOTION LIKE THE AS SHOWN BY STAFF ON THE SCREEN AS PRESENTED IS THERE A SECOND I THINK YOU NEED TO STATE TO APPROVE I MOVE TO APPROVE. OKAY ALL RIGHT THANK YOU THANK YOU ALL IN FAVOR SAY THAT UNANIMOUS NEXT WE ARE CONSIDERATION OF THE EXERCISE

[X.2. Consideration of the Exercise of Contract Extension for One Five-Year Term with Waste Management. - Chris Forster, Assistant Town Manager]

ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING. SO THIS IS RELATED TO OUR WASTE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT UM THE TOWN FIRST CONTRACTED WITH THE WASTE MANAGER BACK IN 2001 CONTRACT PER STANDARD OVER TIME THE LAST THE RFP ISSUED IN 2020 UM WASTE MANAGEMENT IS AGAIN THE RANKED HIGHEST BIDDER AND THEY WERE AWARDED A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT WITH ONE FIVE YEAR RENEWAL OPTION AND LOOKING FOR YOU TO EXERCISE THE RENEWAL OPTION JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND CURRENTLY UH HOUSEHOLDS SERVED THERE ARE 11,000 736 THEY PROVIDE WEEKLY BIWEEKLY RECYCLING PICKUP THE CURRENT UNIT COST PER PER MONTH IS 1434 THE ONLY CHANGE THERE'S ONLY ONE CHANGE THAT WAS NEGOTIATED AND THAT WAS THE CURRENT ANNUAL INCREASE PEGGED

[01:45:02]

SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT THAT CHANGE TO THE CONTRACT ALTHOUGH ALL OF THE TERMS REMAINING THE SAME SIGNATURES SO WHAT SO WHAT WOULD THAT CHANGE THE MONTHLY RATE TO IF HE IF HE GET THE INCREASE OF THE C THE 1434 IT WOULD JUST I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CURRENT CPI IS YET.

I THINK THAT WE'LL ASSESS THAT IN JULY BUT I BELIEVE IT'S AROUND 3%.

SO JUST AT 3% OF THAT AND THAT WOULD BE THE ANNUAL LIKE I SAID THE PAST FIVE YEARS HAS BEEN WELL ABOVE THAT THAT CAP YOU WOULD TAKE IT TO 1477 IF THEY CAMP OUT IN 77 AND THEY WOULD RAISE IT BY ABOUT 27 WITH THIS BURDEN BECOMING YOU KNOW THE FRASER NO SO SO SOMEONE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE A MOVE TO APPROVE THE EMOTION SHOWN ON THE SCREEN THERE A SECOND SECOND AND MORE DISCUSSION I. I ALMOST LIKE MR. FORRESTER. UP NEXT WE HAVE CONSIDERATION

[X.3. Consideration of an Ordinance Authorizing an Economic Development Incentive Agreement Between the Town of Bluffton and Sunshine Bluffton Group, LLC. Second and Final Reading – David Nelems, CEO of DRCI]

WE'RE GOING TO DO TWO OF THESE IN A ROW. THE FIRST ONE IS FOR THE SUNSHINE GROUP WHICH IS WE'RE CALLING THE GODDARD NOW ONE OF THE FOUR I'M TRYING TO GET LIKE KEVIN I JUST READ THE TITLE SLIDE AND I GAVE YOU THE MOTION PICTURES AGAIN THIS IS OVER IN WASHINGTON SQUARE $7.6 MILLION IN DEBT INVESTMENT, 17,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY.

YOU'VE SEEN THE FIVE PICTURES FROM LAST TIME TO SEE WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE AND GET A BRAND PICTURE FOR YOU HERE SOMEWHERE. BUT IT IS NOT IN THE PRESENTATION OF SOMEHOW BUT ANYWAY NO CHANGES FROM FIRST READING BEGIN OPERATIONS IN FALL 2026 AND GENERAL KEVIN AND GO I HAVE A MOTION FOR YOU SINCE NOTHING'S CHANGED ANY COUNSEL I HAVE A DAVID CAN'T GET UP THAT EASY YOU GOT TO GIVE ME MORE THAN YOU GOT TO GIVE ME MORE INFORMATION DAVID WHERE YOU WANT TO HANG AROUND A NUMBER OF CONCERN I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH COUNSEL AND I JUST LEARNED TODAY AND IN COMMAND STAFF THAT WHEN WE FIRST WERE GOING THROUGH THE EXERCISE WITH THE SUNSHINE BLUFFTON GROUP ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE 230 CHILDREN I BELIEVE UNDER 42 AND 40.

SO I STAFF TO PLEASE CONSIDER GOING BACK AND ASKING FOR SOMETHING IN THE CHILD CARE ARENA AND YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT THIS YEAR THE TREY SCOTT WHO'S THE OWNER OF THE GODDARD SCHOOL HERE IN BLUFFTON HE OWNS SOME SCHOOLS IN FLORIDA AS WELL HE DOES PARTICIPATE IN THE VOUCHER SYSTEM IN FLORIDA AND OPEN TO DOING THAT IN BLUFFTON AS WELL AND RESERVING UP TO 5% OF THE SEATS FOR THE VOUCHERS. THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT WILL PAY FOR EVERYTHING BUT FROM FINANCIAL ACCOMMODATION FOR 5% OF THE ENROLLMENT SO WE PICKED UP 15 CHILDREN AT NO COST. THE TOWN IS THERE. I BELIEVE THAT THE DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS BUT I BELIEVE THAT CONCEPTUALLY HE'S OPEN TO DOING ALL THAT AND AND LOWERING THE COST FOR THOSE STUDENTS. THANK YOU. GREAT JOB WITH THAT TEAM EFFORT. THE SOMEWHAT LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION I MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE SHOWN ON THE SCREEN FOR THE GRANT SUNSHINE GROUP SO A SECOND I GOT A DISCUSSION ON PAPER SAY I IT'S UNANIMOUS YOU SAID IDENTIFY UP NEXT WE HAVE CONSIDERATION OF OUR ORDINANCE

[X.4. Consideration of an Ordinance Authorizing an Economic Development Incentive Agreement Between the Town of Bluffton and Ninety Seven, LLC. Second and Final Reading – David Nelems, CEO of DRCI]

THERE ARE NO CHANGES FROM THE PREVIOUS READING MR. FORESTER PRESENTED TO YOU AT THE 27 MAY

[01:50:06]

[X.5. Consideration of Ordinance Amending Chapter 6 – Businesses and Business Regulations, Article III – Soliciting and Mobile Vending. Second and Final Reading – Natalie Majorkiewicz, Director of Finance & Administration]

THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES SINCE THE FIRST READING AND I DO HAVE A MOTION BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. MR. FRAZIER ANY QUESTIONS? MR. WOOD SIR? MR. HAMILTON THIS FROM MR. FRAZIER DOES IT FEEL LIKE THEY'VE BEEN GOOD WITH YOU MM OKAY I MADE THE MOTION I MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE NOTICE THE MEN IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON QUOTE US IN THE CHAPTER SIX BUSINESS AND BUSINESSES REGULATION ARTICLE THREE SOLICITING AND MOBILE VENDING AS PRESENTED THEIR SECOND SECOND UNIT ANY QUESTIONS ANY OF THE PAPERS SAY THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

[X.6. Consideration of a Three-Party Intergovernmental Agreement for Indigent Defense Representation at the Town of Bluffton Municipal Court with the Law Office of Carol A. Miller and City of Beaufort. - Lisa Cunningham, Clerk of Court]

THANK YOU, EMILY. I YOU KNOW, WE PREPPED HER FOR HARD QUESTIONS.

FIRST OF ALL, CHEAPER THAN IT WAS. BRAD'S HAPPY.

LET'S MOVE ON. YES EMOTION I I MOVE TO APPROVE THE MOTION AS SHOWN ON THIS FILM. SECOND, ANY QUESTIONS ALL IN FAVOR SAY I BY UNANIMOUS UP

[X.7. Consideration of Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee Funding Recommendations for Quarter Ending March 31, 2025. - Natalie Majorkiewicz, Director of Finance & Administration]

[01:55:04]

THEY WILL BE DOING A CONCERT AGAIN WITH THE ARTS AND SEAFOOD FESTIVAL IN OCTOBER AND THEN THE HOLIDAY POPS CONCERT IN NOVEMBER AT THE SAINT GREGORY. THE GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCH ATTACK HAS RECOMMENDED WHAT WAS REQUESTED AT $48,781. SO WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON THESE AS COME UP. YES, SIR. QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL COUNCIL IF THERE'S NOT SOMEBODY LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION HERE, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION REGARDING THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 48 781 IS PRESENTED BY STAFF FOR APPROVAL ON THE SCREEN THERE'S A SECOND DISCUSSION ALL IN SAY I'M NOT UNANIMOUS NOTHING ON THE NEXT APPLICANT IS THE HISTORIC FOUNDATION THIS IS FOR THEIR OPERATIONAL EXPENSES FOR THE HAYWARD HOUSE MUSEUM AND THE LAST IN MARCH COUNCIL APPROVED THE RECOMMENDATION TO CAP THE OPERATING EXPENSES AT $50,000 AND THIS IS THEIR REQUEST FOR THE FISCAL YEAR STARTING JULY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MAYOR OH NO I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THEIR REQUEST BUT AS I LOOKED INTO THE BUDGET AND I WAS CONFUSED BY THEIR BUDGET. I THINK YOU WERE AS WELL SO I WOULD JUST YOU WORK WITH THEM A LITTLE MORE CLOSELY NEXT TIME THEY PRESENT THEIR BUDGET TO THE STAFF WILL DO.

THANK YOU. YES. IS THERE MOTION I MADE THEM I MADE THE MOTION TO GRANT HISTORIC BUT THE FOUNDATION 50,000 IN SUPPORT OF THE HUBERT HOUSE MUSEUM OPERATING EXPENSES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 BEGINNING ON JULY 1ST 2025 THE SECOND CIRCUIT ALL IN FAVOR I OKAY THE NEXT ONE IS ACTUALLY FROM THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.

THIS IS A REQUEST TO SUPPORT THE SARA RILEY HOOKS COTTAGE RESTORATION AND THE REQUEST AND THE RECOMMENDATION IS FOR $257,304. I DID NOT NOT.

IT'S A QUESTION FROM COUNSEL KNOW NOT A SET IN MOTION I MAKE THE MOTION TO GRANT THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON $257,304 SUPPORT OF THE RALLY COTTAGE RESTORATION PROJECT SO SO I GOT SECOND ALL THE PAPERS THEY ARE I UNANIMOUS OKAY THE NEXT APPLICATION FOR BLACKWOOD THIS IS FOR NATALIE BEFORE YOU BEGIN THIS ONE MAYOR I DO NEED TO RECUSE FROM VOTING UNLESS YOU GOT THAT MARSHALL OKAY. THIS IS FOR THE WRITTEN RIVERS FESTIVAL.

IT IS SCHEDULED TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 6TH AT THE OYSTER FACTORY PARK AND THE REQUEST AND THE RECOMMENDATION IS FOR $27,000. QUESTION FROM COUNSEL SIR I MAY MAKE MAY OR I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO GRANT BLACKWOOD 27,000 SUPPORTED IT TO 025 ROUTES AND RIVERS FESTIVAL EVENTS IS PRESENTED IN THE STAFF REPORT A MOTION TO APPROVE A SECOND

[02:00:03]

NO. OKAY. THIS IS FOR THE 10TH ANNUAL JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION THAT WAS DISCUSSED EARLIER AT THE COUNCIL MEETING.

THE APPLICANT HAS REQUESTED $23,000 AND THAT IS WHAT TACK IS RECOMMENDING THE WHAT ARE MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY SERVICES IS A QUESTION. YEAH NO THAT IS TYPICALLY FOR SECURITY WE DISAGREE WITH THAT IN THEIR AND I KNOW THAT IT IS INCLUDED IN IF THE TOWNHOSE SERVICES BUT THERE IS AN OPTION TO REQUEST ADDITIONAL SECURITY .

THERE'S OTHER THINGS SUCH AS TRASH THAT'S ALSO LUMPED IN THERE AS WELL WELL.

PUBLIC FACILITIES IS YES. SO LIKE IF THEY NEED TO RENT PORTA POTTIES TO COME IN FOR TO SUPPORT THE THE ATTENDEES TO I'M SORRY I'M SORRY I'M SORRY I APOLOGIZE.

THOSE ARE FOR TENTS AND FOR THINGS THAT LIKE CHAIRS, TABLES THOSE SORT OF THINGS FOR THE EVENT. MY APOLOGIES. SO FACILITIES IS THAT A FACILITY IS A PLACE WE WE INCLUDE LIKE IF NEED TO BRING IN A TENT OR IF THEY NEED TO HAVE SUPPLY TABLES AND CHAIRS SO THAT IT'S MORE WELCOMING FOR THE VISITORS AND THE ATTENDEES TO ENJOY EVENT AGAIN CAN YEAH IN MY QUESTION FOR CALHOUN YEAH THERE ARE MOTION YES I MADE THE MOTION TO GRANT THE BLUFFTON LIMO OBSERVANCE COMMITTEE 23,000 IN SUPPORT OF CAMP AND THE JUNETEENTH EVENT AS WE THEN STEP COULD BREAK DOWN FOR SECOND SO I WOULD SAY I FOR ONE WOULD USUALLY THINK OKAY BUT NEXT CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION WE'RE DONE WITH YOU RIGHT NOW YOU TO STAY UP THERE. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE YOU

[X.8. Consideration of a Resolution for Exercise of a Contract Extension for One Two-Year Term and Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Marketing Plan Presented by the Destination Marketing Organization. - Ariana Pernice, Vice-President Visitor & Convention Bureau, Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and Natalie Majorkiewicz, Director of Finance & Administration]

THEY ARE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL I AM NOT ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR KNEES AT THE MOMENT BUT WHAT I LET STEPHEN SEARS KNOW THAT I REALLY WANTED TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL TO SHARE SOME AND MEDIA COVERAGE THAT BLUFFTON HAS RECENTLY GARNERED. HE SUGGESTED THAT I DO SO ON THE FRONT OF THIS PRESENTATION . I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF SLIDES TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT I THINK YOU'LL FIND INTERESTING AND SOME PHENOMENA.

I'M JUST REALLY GLAD TO BE SHARING GOOD NEWS . I DON'T I DON'T THERE'S NOT WETLANDS IN IT THERE'S NOTHING ELSE RELATED. SO SOME GREAT NEWS ABOUT BLUFFTON PR THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING RECENTLY I'M REALLY REALLY FORTUNATE WE HAVE JUST HOSTED IN BLUFFTON WHAT WE WOULD CONSIDER TO BE SORT OF THE SUPER BOWL OF INFLUENTIAL BLACK ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. WHAT A WHAT A GROUP OUR ORGANIZATION WAS PROUD TO HOST AS YOU CAN SEE MEDIA COMING IN FROM REFINERY 29 ESSENCE THE GRIO EBONY TRAVEL ONE ALSO DOES DOUBLE DUTY FOR BETTY FOR THE NETWORK SO SOME PHENOMENAL JOURNALISTS HERE TO REALLY TALK ABOUT THE BLUFFTON CULTURAL HERITAGE CENTER THE OPENING OF MY DAISIES AND THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF BLUFFTON IN MY TIME IT DOESN'T REALLY GET BETTER THAN THAT LINE OF WHAT WE HAD COMING IN AND I THINK YOU'LL SEE SOME PHENOMENAL COVERAGE FROM IT OF BLUFFTON AND ITS RICH HISTORY AND GULLAH PAST.

IT'S ALREADY COME OUT IN THE GRIO. THERE'S ALSO TALK WITH NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC RELATED TO THE FOOD AND CULTURE OF AREA AND ALSO FORBES IS GOING TO BE COVERING IT IS SORT ANOTHER SIDEBAR FROM A WRITER WHO WAS HERE, ONE OF THOSE WHO ALSO FREELANCES.

FORBES THAT IS PHENOMENAL COVERAGE. IF YOU CAN LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THOSE THE THE NUMBERS OF EYEBALLS ARE SEEING BLUFFTON AND GULLAH CULTURAL HERITAGE.

[02:05:05]

THEY HAD A VERY SPECIAL EXPERIENCE WHILE THEY'RE HERE ON THE GROUND IN BLUFFTON.

I ALSO WANTED TO JUST BRIEFLY TOUCH ON THE HGTV DREAM HOME SINCE IT JUST WRAPPED THE HOME WAS AWARDED IN AS YOU MAY HAVE SEEN IN THE MEDIA COVERAGE AND AGAIN THESE NUMBERS TO PUT THIS TOGETHER TO PUT THE THE BRAND OF BLUFFTON TOGETHER AND TO HAVE OUTLETS LIKE HGTV AS WELL AS OTHERS TALKING ABOUT THE CHARM OF BLUFFTON SHOWING BLUFFTON AND ALL THESE IT'S NOT JUST ON HGTV. JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA FOR THAT HOME THERE WERE 118 MILLION ENTRIES TO WIN THE HOME THAT'S HERE. SO EVERY TIME THAT HOME WAS MENTIONED, BLUFFTON WAS ALSO MENTIONED. YOU MAY HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE ANCILLARY VIDEO THAT WENT WITH IT SHOWING THE TOWN SHOWING THE BEAUTY OF THE MAE RIVER, TALKING ABOUT THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF BLUFFTON AND ALL IN THAT AND ALSO JUST THE SYNDICATION THAT COMES WITH THAT LOOK AT THAT FOR PEOPLE MAGAZINE IF YOU CAN SEE THAT YOU PROBABLY CAN'T THE UPM IS A FANCY PANTS MEDIA TERM WE SOMETIMES USE IT TALKS ABOUT UNIQUE VISITORS PER MONTH 67 MILLION PEOPLE AND IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER COVERAGE THAT WAS GARNERED FOR NOT JUST HGTV BUT CNN THE FOOD NETWORK REALLY POSITIVE POSITIVE ABOUT BLUFFTON IN THE MEDIA JUST TALKING ABOUT THE CHARM AND THE SMALL TOWN FACTOR THAT MAKES BLUFFTON VERY SPECIAL. ALSO I JUST WANT TO TOUCH BRIEFLY ON SOME OTHER COVERAGE THAT CAME FROM THAT BECAUSE OF THE HGTV HOME HERE WE WERE ABLE TO HOST ADDITIONAL MEDIA TO COME IN FOR THAT YOU MAY HAVE SEEN RECENTLY IN COUNTRY LIVING NOTED BLUFFTON IS ONE OF AMERICA'S TEN BEST SMALL TOWNS FOR 2025 THAT'S A DIRECT RESULT OF THE MEDIA THAT WAS BROUGHT IN FOR THAT AND THE COVERAGE GARNERED THROUGH THAT SMALL TO CHECK OUT THIS SPRING AS WELL AS ONE OF THE WRITERS ACTUALLY NAMED THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON WAS THE LOCATION THAT SHE HAD THE BEST MEALS SHE'D HAD LAST YEAR OF ANY PLACE SHE'D BEEN IN A COUNTRY AND SHE WAS A FOOD WRITER FOR MANY PUBLICATIONS THAT'S SAYING SOMETHING AS YOU CAN SEE THE PHOTOS AND THE PICTURES KIND REALLY TELL THE STORY AS WELL AND OTHER HIGHLIGHTS FOR MEDIA THAT WE'VE WERE LEISURE I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE BEAUTIFUL COASTAL AARP AND AS WELL AS SOUTHERN LIVING ON THE 15 SMALL TOWNS IN SOUTH CAROLINA THEY MOVED TO IN HEARTBEAT GOES A LONG WAY IN POSITIVE COVERAGE IN TELLING THE THAT ARE SAYING WHAT A GREAT PLACE BLUFFTON IS IT'S NOT YOU SAYING IS A GREAT PLACE IT'S EDITORS AND WRITERS THAT ARE TRUSTED RESOURCES SAYING WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT BLUFFTON. SO WE JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT POSITIVE MEDIA WITH YOU THANKS AND MY COLLEAGUE ARIANA PERNICE THANK YOU CHARLIE THANK YOU CHARLIE WHAT A GREAT UPDATE AND AS SHE MENTIONED MY NAME IS ARIANA PERNICE I AM THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE VISITOR AND CONVENTION BUREAU AT THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND BLUFFTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. I HAVE MY COLLEAGUE AS WELL. SHE'S AROUND THERE WHO FOCUSES ON OUR RESEARCH, ANALYTICS AND METRICS. SO ANY QUESTIONS WE ARE HERE TO FIELD AND I WILL BE PRESENTING A RECAP OF THE CALENDAR YEAR 24 AS WELL AS PROPOSING OUR FISCAL YEAR 526 MARKETING PLAN AND BUDGET FOR YOUR REVIEW APPROVAL AND I ALWAYS LIKE TO START WE USE A LOT OF VISUALS HERE BUT I HOPE THAT IN OUR EFFORTS AND TIME SPENT TOGETHER THE VISUALS HELP US KIND OF TIE THAT COMMON THREAD OF OF OUR EFFORTS AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU AT THE TOWN AND WITH THE OUR ORGANIZATIONAL GOVERNANCE AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THIS SLIDE REALLY STARTS AS THE DEMO WE ARE BY OUR CONTRACT WITH THE TOWN OF BOSTON.

WE HAVE ANNUAL INDEPENDENT AUDIT GOVERNMENT REVIEW ACCREDITATIONS AS WELL AS A GOVERNANCE FROM OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS EVERY SINGLE DAY WE WORK TOWARDS A VISION OF A WORLD CLASS COMMUNITY EMBRACING NATURE, CULTURE AND ECONOMIC VIBRANCY FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS WITH A MISSION TO STIMULATE THE REGIONAL ECONOMY ENHANCEMENT QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL. I PROMISE I WON'T READ THINGS BUT I THINK THAT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT. WE TAKE A LOOK BACK 2024 YEAR IN REVIEW AGAIN AT THE METRICS THAT WE'VE DEFINED WITHIN THE CONTRACT AND TOGETHER AS WE CHOOSE KPIS THAT CAN LOOK AT THE SUCCESS AND EFFORTS THAT WE DO TOGETHER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON OFFICE OF TOURISM ANALYSIS IS JUST A QUICK SNAPSHOT OF HOW WE DID IN TERMS OF OVERALL IT'S LIKE A HEALTH CHECK IF YOU WILL. SO IF I HAD ONE SLIDE ON BRING THIS FORWARD TO SAY OUR YEAR OF EFFORTS HAVE REALLY BROUGHT THE FOLLOWING WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT DRIVES ACCOMMODATION IT IS HEADS AND BEDS AND WE WANT TO THAT PEOPLE WHEN ARE VISITING HERE IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON THEY ARE COMPELLED AND EXCITED TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN MULTIPLE HERE IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON AND DRIVE UP THE OPPORTUNITY TO WITH THE OCCUPANCY NUMBER THAT

[02:10:08]

IT'S JUST HOW ARE WE TRACKING THOSE NUMBERS? SO THE NUMBERS MIGHT LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT YEAR TO YEAR BUT AGAIN WHAT THEY'RE SCRAPING THEY'RE BRINGING FORWARD IS STILL US AS THE AUTHORITY AND THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT IN THAT CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING THAT BECAUSE I NOTICED THE METRICS WERE DOWN AND I HAD I WAS GOING TO BE PAST THAT SO THAT WAS VERY GOOD DEFINITION. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. SO WE WENT FROM TO SCRAPING CERAMIC IN THE DAY 2530 GOOGLE WAS SURFING THE WEB AND NOW WE SCRAPE ON THE AIR. YES, IT'S BROKEN BUT WE'RE TRYING WE'RE GOING TO BE THE AUTHORITY WHEN THEY ARE SCRAPING.

SO IT'S GOOD THAT WE'RE OUT THERE AND THE GOOD PIECE OF THAT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OTHER AND SO AGAIN AND THAT EFFORT OF BEING NIMBLE AGAIN WORKING ON THE THINGS THAT WE CAN IMPACT ON THE WEBSITE COMPONENT WHICH WOULD BE CONTENT TO BE ENSURING THAT YOU KNOW THE WEBSITE IS AIR READY AND FRIENDLY. THE OTHER COMPONENT OF THAT IS USING THE TOOLS THAT WE KNOW PEOPLE ARE USING AS WELL TO FIND THE CONTENT THAT THEY'RE LOOKING PEOPLE ARE MAKING DECISIONS USING SOCIAL MEDIA WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT A LOT IN SOME INSTANCES YOU KNOW MAKING WHOLE ITINERARY DECISIONS.

SO WHEN THEY'RE TRAVELING THEY'RE USING TECH TALK OR INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK SO THE PIECES THAT BRING THEM TO THE DESTINATIONS ARE TRAVEL DESTINATION OF CHOICE AND SO SEPARATE OF WHAT A GOOGLE IS DOING, THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS ARE ALLOWING A LITTLE BIT MORE OF OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW REALLY SUPPORTING US IN THIS TIME OF DISRUPTION WITH WHAT WE ARE USED TO BEING THE WEBSITE BEING OUR OUR VIRTUAL FRIEND WHICH IT STILL IS BUT WE'RE JUST FINDING WAYS TO USE IT AND WE'RE USING OTHER DIGITAL PLATFORMS SUCH AS SOCIAL MEDIA TO BRING OURSELVES THROUGH TO THE WEBSITE AND THAT HAS BEEN WORKING HARD FOR US AND REALLY DOING WELL AND IN FACT THAT GROWTH IS REFERENCED REFERENCING QUICKLY CORRECTLY

[02:15:02]

SO SHE'S OUT THERE REALLY TALKING ABOUT THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON ONLINE CONSISTENT BASIS AND BRINGING THOSE STORIES FORWARD AND I THINK YOU NOT ONLY SEE HERE BUT IN THE THINGS SHE JUST MENTIONED ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE REALLY BEING SHOWCASED AT THIS TIME. WE DO HAVE OUR ONE PRINTED PIECE THAT WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE TOWN ON AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THIS BOOK. I KNOW THE TOWN IS VERY PROUD OF THIS BOOK. WE WORK REALLY HARD ON ALL THE CONTENT MAKING SURE THAT WHEN THE BOOK IS PRINTED IT'S ALSO AVAILABLE DIGITALLY AND THEN WE EXTRACT THE CONTENT, ALL THE IMAGERY, ALL THE RENDERINGS WE HAVE ILLUSTRATIONS AND WE USE THOSE ACROSS NOT ONLY THE WEBSITE, ALSO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA, OUR BLOGS AND SO IT REALLY JUST ,YOU KNOW, KIND OF SET OFF HERE AND THEN NOT USED AGAIN. IT REALLY IS A VERY EXCITING BOOK THAT WE CAN BRING LIFE IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. WE'VE ORDERED 30,000 LAST YEAR AND WE FULFILLED OVER 25,000 ALMOST 26,000 OF THOSE. WHERE THOSE BOOKS GO, WHERE DO THEY LIVE? NOT ONLY ARE THEY FULFILLED FROM OUR OFFICES WHEN PEOPLE WALK IN OR THEY CALL OR EMAIL AND THEY REQUEST THOSE THEY'RE IN ALL OF OUR NINE STATE WELCOME CENTERS ALL TRIPLE-A OFFICES ARE TAKEN TO ALL OF OUR TRADE SHOWS AND EVENTS AND AS CHARLIE JUST MENTIONED ALL THE PEOPLE THAT SHE JUST ENTERTAINED AND WAS ABLE TO SHOWCASE THIS BEAUTIFUL DESTINATION. SHE ALSO SHARED THIS BOOK WITH THEM.

SO AGAIN WE ARE CONSTANTLY PUTTING IN FRONT OF ON A REGULAR BASIS EVERY YEAR THEY ON THE TOP OF THE SCREEN IT SAYS THE OFFICIAL VACATION PLANNER FOR HEAD ISLAND WAS MAILED AND DISTRIBUTED. OH, I'M SO SORRY. WELL, IT WAS IT IT WAS THE OFFICIAL VACATION PLANNER BOSTON. SO I APOLOGIZE I'M SURE I APOLOGIZE FOR THE NUMBER IS CORRECT. I TRIPLE CHECK THAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH APOLOGIZE AND LOOKING FORWARD SO AS WE CLOSE OUT 24 WE LOOK BACK ON OUR LEARNINGS, LOOK BACK ON SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES THAT ARE TAKING PLACE YEAR OVER YEAR. ARE THERE NEW CHALLENGES OR HEADWINDS AS THE GOOGLE PIECE THAT WE'RE FACING AND HOW ARE WE BEING IN ADDRESSING SOME OTHER NEW OPPORTUNITIES AS THEY COME OUR WAY SO WE TAKE ALL THAT INTO CONSIDERATION IN ADDITION TO WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE TOWN ON THE PRIORITIES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THIS COMMUNITY AND BRINGING THOSE FORWARD INTO OUR PROPOSED PLAN FOR THE COMING FISCAL YEAR .

OUR OVERARCHING GOAL HAS BEEN TO MAKE SURE THIS MARKETING PLAN DRIVES QUALIFIED QUALIFIED VISITATIONS DESTINATION. WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THOSE THAT ARE RESTING HERE AND DESTINATION ARE ALSO POURING BACK INTO IT AND THEY'RE ENJOYING IT AND RESPECTING IT AS MUCH AS WE DO AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WHAT DOES THAT TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC OR TRAVELER LOOK LIKE ON PAPER THEY ACTUALLY SKEW IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE A LITTLE BIT MORE MALE IN TERMS OF THE DECISION MAKER. BUT WHAT WE REALLY SEE HERE IS THAT PERCENTAGE FLUCTUATES YEAR OVER YEAR AND THAT WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO IS IT'S A FAMILY DECISION, A HOUSEHOLD DECISION THAT PEOPLE TOGETHER AND IN THE HOUSEHOLD ARE MAKING A DECISION ON WHETHER THERE MIGHT BE A FINAL PERSON WHO PUSHES THE BUTTON ON RESERVE OR BOOK BUT. REALLY IT'S A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AND PEOPLE ARE TALKING IN THE HOUSEHOLD ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO.

BUT AGAIN WE'VE SEEN THAT FLUCTUATE PERCENTAGEWISE YEAR OVER YEAR THE AFFLUENT TRAVELER FOR US AS WE IDENTIFY THEM IS 100,000 TO JUST UNDER 200,000 HOUSEHOLD INCOME.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE HOUSEHOLD INCOME BEING 200,000 THAT'S LESS THAN 8% OF THE US POPULATION SO WE'RE REALLY LASER FOCUSED IN BRINGING THAT QUALIFIED USER WE THAT THERE WILL BE THERE WILL BE INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS ON EITHER SIDE OF SPECTRUM BUT AGAIN WE'RE LOOKING FOR THOSE AGAIN WHO HAVE HOUSEHOLD INCOME WITHIN THAT SPAN AND JUST

[02:20:02]

SO YES, THOSE SIX ARE THEMES FOR US AS WE CURATE OUR MESSAGE AND PUT THAT OUT INTO THAT OUT MARKET EFFORT. HOWEVER THERE ARE NUANCES AND SPECIFICS AS WE DOVE DEEPER INTO EACH ONE OF THOSE AND THAT IS A STORYTELLING EFFORT THAT WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE TOWN ON THE PLAN IS REALLY BROKEN INTO THESE FIVE AREAS OR STRATEGIES AND THEN UNDER EACH ONE OF THEM THERE'S DIFFERENT EFFORTS THAT TAKE PLACE BUT JUST OVERARCHING WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU IN THE TOWN AND THE COMMUNITY ON REALLY LIVING THROUGH THESE FIVE IS ONE OF THE SIX PILLARS THAT WE JUST SAW IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE AND THEN UNDERSTANDING THAT WITH THESE FIVE STRATEGIES THAT THERE'S SOMEWHAT OVERARCHING AND THAT WE CAN CUSTOMIZE AND CURATE THE EFFORTS UNDERNEATH EACH ONE OF THEM TO FIT THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR IN FRONT US SO BUILDING BRAND AWARENESS AND SUPPORT OF QUALIFIED DRIVE THE DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION WHAT WE FIND IS THAT THERE IS A STRONG REPEAT RATE BACK TO THE DESTINATION AND WHAT WE LIKE TO SEE IS THAT MAYBE ON YOUR SECOND OR THIRD TRIP INTO THE TOP LEFT AND YOU'RE DRIVING A LITTLE DEEPER INTO MAYBE TRYING A DIFFERENT RESTAURANT OR EXTENDING YOUR STAY BY A COUPLE OF DAYS AND EXPLORING A LITTLE FURTHER DEEPER INTO A PARTICULAR INTEREST THAT YOU HAVE. AND SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE STORIES THAT WE LOVE TO HEAR AND LEVERAGE A STRATEGIC MIX OF TARGETED METHODS IDENTIFY AND REACH THE MOST QUALIFIED USER. SO CHASE HAS WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH SOME OF OUR TECHNOLOGY THAT HE'S FORWARD AND HAS THE ABILITY TO NOT ONLY UNDERSTAND THAT CONSUMER IS BUT WHEN THEY'RE HERE IT'S THE GEOFENCING PLACE OR API TECHNOLOGY WHICH WAS REALLY GREAT FOR US AND HAS ALLOWED US TO SEE A BIT FURTHER INTO WHO THE VISITOR IS AND HOW THEY DIGEST THE DESTINATION OVERALL AND THEIR INTEREST. SO IT'S BEEN REALLY INSIGHTFUL AND WE CAN BEST WITH THAT INFORMATION WE CAN BEST SERVE THEM THE MOST APPROPRIATE MESSAGING. WE ALSO WANT TO ENSURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHEN VISITING THEY'RE CREATING, WE'RE CREATING AND ENSURING A RESPECT FOR THE DELICATE ECOSYSTEM OF THE DESTINATION. I THINK YOU KNOW THE BEST VISITOR IS THE ONE THAT LEAVES AND SAYS I REALLY FEEL LIKE A MEMBER THE COMMUNITY AND I CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK AND THAT REALLY DOES COME AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO US AS PART OF THE COMMUNITY. AND SO WE REALLY LOVE AND PUSH THAT UNDERSTANDING THROUGH EVERYTHING TO ENHANCE THE LEISURE AND GROUP BUSINESS THROUGH QUALIFIED VISITATION SO THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE LEISURE JUST IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT THE GROUP COMPONENT AS WELL. SO WE WANT TO THAT WHATEVER CAPACITY IS APPROPRIATE THE ACCOMMODATION LOCATION THAT THEY ARE THERE AND SUPPORTING THE GROUP SIDE AS WELL.

HERE IS THE TRAVEL JOURNEY AND THE TOUR CAN I JUST MENTIONED A BIT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE TOOL KIT THIS VISUAL IS REALLY HELPFUL FOR ME BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS YOU KNOW IN THE PAST YOU COULD HAVE ONE MARKETING EFFORT AND IT COULD ON AND END YOU CAN SAY TWO WEEKS LATER I'M GOING TO DO THIS MAYBE ON THE RADIO OR COULD BE, YOU KNOW, A MAYBE AN INTERNET PIECE THAT YOU WERE DOING TODAY THE CONSUMER IS LESS THAN 3 SECONDS WITH YOU AND YOUR BRAND AND THAT'S ACROSS ANY, YOU KNOW, VERTICAL IF YOU WILL IT'S NOT JUST SPECIFIC TO TOURISM BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GARNERING SOMEONE'S ATTENTION OF YOURSELF AS A CONSUMER HOW QUICKLY THOSE PIECES GO BY AND THAT YOU'RE INUNDATED NOT ONLY FROM OUR BUSY LIVES, THE DEVICES THAT WE HAVE ON AND ALL

[02:25:04]

SO AS CHARLIE WAS TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC RELATIONS, WE COULD ALSO HAVE IT ON SOCIAL.

WE COULD BE WORKING WITH A COMMUNITY PARTNER TALKING ABOUT OUR CRM AND SEO AND WEBSITE SO SO ON AND SO FORTH BUT HAVING THAT THOSE PIECES READY AND READY TO DEPLOY AT ANY POINT I USE THIS VISUAL AGAIN TO TALK ABOUT THE FUNNEL WHEN WE CAST THAT NET WHICH HAS A VERY BROAD NET BUT TO GET BACK TO THE CONSUMER THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR WE HAVE TO DRAW IT IN AND AS WE DRAW THAT NET IN WE'RE REALLY QUALIFYING THE CONSUMER ALONG THE WAY.

SO AS YOU PULL IT IN WE'RE KIND OF FILTERING OUT THOSE THAT MAYBE THEY REALLY WERE INTERESTED IN TRAVELING BUT THEY HAVEN'T REALLY PICKED A TIME FRAME YET.

MAYBE THEY HAVE AN INTENT TO TRAVEL BUT THEY REALLY WANTED TO GO TO A MOUNTAINOUS REGION.

AND SO AS YOU'RE PULLING THE NET IN YOU'RE FILTERING THOSE WHAT WE WOULD CALL UNQUALIFIED VISITORS AT THE TIME OUT AND WE'RE BRINGING THEM CLOSER IN. SO STARTING WITH AWARENESS BRINGING THEM THROUGH MIDDLE THE FUNNEL TO THE INTENT AND THEN CONVERSION CONVERSION FOR US AS A DEMO IS REALLY A HANDSHAKE OUT TO OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS HERE IN THE COMMUNITY AND SO WE HAVE DONE THE JOB BY BRINGING THEM CLOSER TO YOU THOSE THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE FOUND BLUFFTON ON THEIR OWN. WE THROUGH OUR CHANNELS HAVE BROUGHT THEM CLOSER TO THE HERE AND INTO THE COMMUNITY AND WITH THAT AND THE LESSONS THAT WE HAVE GARNERED FROM THIS PRIOR YEAR, THIS NEW FISCAL YEAR, WE BRING FORWARD A BUDGET HERE OF A REQUEST TO THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON TO MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL LOOK DOWN $365,000 FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION CONSIDERATION. BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER, TWO THINGS IF YOU CAN JUST LIGHTLY TOUCH ON IT. ONE WAS I NOTICED THAT FLORIDA HAD JUMPED AHEAD OF NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTH CAROLINA FOR WHATEVER REASON. AND THEN THE SECOND ONE IT WAS OF INTEREST TO ME WAS ON YOUR YOUR YOUR THREE PRIMARY REASONS TO VISIT BLUFFTON.

YOU HAVE ONE WITH HERITAGE ATTRACTIONS MUSEUM AND HISTORICAL TOURS WHICH I THINK WE ALL TAKE PRIDE IN UP HERE BECAUSE WE WORKED HARD TO PRESERVE OUR HISTORICAL STRUCTURES AND TO KEEP OUR HISTORY ALIVE. AND SO I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT BECAUSE THE NUMBER TWO WAS BEACHES WHICH WOULD BE HILTON HEAD BEACHES OF COURSE.

SO MAYBE YOU MIGHT JUST TOUCH ON THOSE TWO PIECES FROM THE VISITOR PROFILE I BELIEVE PART OF THAT IS JUST IN DIFFERENCES IN HOW PEOPLE RESPOND TO SURVEYS OBVIOUSLY WITH THIS SURVEY THERE'S ALWAYS THE BIAS OF A SURVEY IT'S GOING TO BE ANSWERED ABOUT THE KIND OF PERSON WHO ANSWERS THE SURVEY. RIGHT.

SO WE HAD SELF SELECTS SO THAT'S PART OF THE DIFFERENCE THAT MAY CHANGE YEAR OVER YEAR . I WOULD LIKE TO THINK IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB OF ADVERTISING THOSE PIECES TO OUR CONSUMERS AND HAVING AN IMPACT ON THEM WHEN THEY COME TO VISIT THE TOWN IN REGARDS TO HAVING AN UPTICK IN PEOPLE FROM FLORIDA PART OF THAT CAN JUST BE AGAIN VISITOR PREFERENCES THE WAY WE'RE TARGETING SPECIFIC CONSUMERS AND HOW DO YOU CONSUMER OUR MESSAGE MAY BE REACHING POCKETS WITHIN THE FLORIDA AND SO THAT MAY BE A NEW OR EMERGING MARKET THAT WE'RE THAT WE'RE REACHING AND IS COMING IN BUT IT REALLY JUST KIND OF DEPENDS WE DO SEE FLORIDA KIND OF MOVE UP AND DOWN THE LIST ESPECIALLY WITH BEING SO CLOSE TO BEING SUCH A BIG POPULATION AND WE DO KIND OF SEE THEM CREEP UP THE LIST FROM TIME TO TIME AND IF YOU WILL I THINK IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE THE FACT THAT IN EFFORTS CHASE UNDERSTANDS THAT WITH A I AND THIS TECHNOLOGY OVERALL KIND OF REALLY BEING TOP OF MIND HOW WE'RE ADDRESSING RESEARCH OVERALL AS WE PRESENT IT GOING FORWARD AND SO WE'RE DOING SOME TASKS THAT I JUST WONDERED IF YOU COULD SKIP OH YEAH. SO TWO PIECES THAT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING TO AIR ON BECAUSE YOU KNOW MY MENTALITY IS IS HERE YOU CAN EMBRACE OR YOU CAN FIGHT AGAINST PEOPLE WHO FIGHT AGAINST WHO ARE GOING TO END UP LOSING. IT'S HERE WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT SO ONE END THAT WE ARE USING IT THE VISITOR PROFILE IS A BIG EXAMPLE IN THE PAST A LOT OF THAT HAS BEEN DONE THROUGH SURVEYING BUT I SPOKE WITH OUR RESEARCH PARTNERS AT THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON DR. DANIEL GUTEN TAG AND HIS PARTNER MELINDA PATIENTS AND WE

[02:30:06]

SO GOING FORWARD WE'RE GOING TO BE INCORPORATING OF THAT INTO THE VISITOR PROFILE STUDIES.

SO THE INFORMATION YOU SEE IT'S NOT JUST GOING TO BE BASED ON WHO ANSWERED THE SURVEY ABOUT THAT DAY BUT RATHER ON A TOTALITY OF THE PEOPLE WHO CAME AND VISITED AND VISITED BLUFFTON DURING THE YEAR, I THINK THAT WILL GIVE A MUCH CLEARER AND MUCH MORE REPRESENTATIVE PICTURE OF WHO OUR TRAVELERS ARE I DON'T EXPECT IT TO CHANGE A WHOLE LOT. WE HAVE NOTICED THAT HIS TECHNIQUES DO LINE UP FAIRLY CLOSELY BUT YOU KNOW WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STATISTICS YOU WANT TO BE AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE AND AGE PARTICULAR IS ONE WE'D LIKE TO GET A BETTER HANDLE ON. OUR SURVEY IS ONLINE SO THE KIND OF PERSON WHO'S ANSWERING THAT RIGHT NOW IS GOING TO SKEW LITTLE BIT YOUNGER THAN OUR TRAVELER MAY WHEN WE LOOK AT THE APIS THROUGH GEOFENCING AND THEN TO BRIEFLY TOUCH ON OTHER PART ARI MENTIONED WITH GOOGLE'S RESEARCH IT'S REALLY DISRUPTED THE SEARCH SPACE.

SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS MAKE OUR WEBSITES MORE AI FRIENDLY AGAIN WE'RE EMBRACING THAT RIGHT? SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT EVEN IF WE'RE GETTING LESS VISITATIONS TO OUR WEBSITE WHEN YOU GO INTO GOOGLE, WHEN YOU TYPE IN YOU KNOW THINGS TO DO IN BLUFFTON AT THE TOP OF THE LIST YOU'LL GET A LIST OF EVENTS OR A LIST, A LIST OF THINGS TO DO IN TOWN AND THAT LIST IS GOING TO BE PULLING FROM OUR WEBSITE.

WE WANT TO BE THE SOURCE OF RECORD THAT THE AIR IS PULLING SO THAT EVEN IF THE PERSON NEVER MAKES IT TO OUR WEBSITE THROUGH OUR ARE GETTING THAT SAME TRAFFIC THROUGH THE APIS BECAUSE WE MADE SURE THAT WE WERE THE SOURCE OF RECORDS THAT THEY WILL BE GOING PRE THANK YOU YEAH I THINK IT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF AGAIN BEING NIMBLE AND BEING RELEVANT WITH WHAT IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING AND THAT KNOW WE KNOW THEIR CONTRACTS SO WE HAVE METRICS IN THERE BUT THINGS CHANGE QUICKLY WITHIN THE TECHNOLOGY AND DIGITAL SPACE THAT WE HAVE READY TO GO AND I THINK TRACERS AS WELL THEY BROUGHT SOME GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR IT SO WE'RE EXCITED TO BRING THOSE FORWARD TO YOU ON A REGULAR BASIS AND EXCITED SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. MR. MAYOR, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.

YES, MA'AM. MR. BURTON HOW DID THE OCCUPANCY I THINK IT WAS 77/%.

HOW DID THAT CHANGE YEAR OVER YEAR DO YOU KNOW? I BELIEVE IT WAS DOWN RIGHT AT 1%. IT WAS RELATIVELY FLAT. I BELIEVE I HAVE MY NUMBERS CORRECT HAVE THEM IN FRONT OF ME BUT I DID LOOK AT THEM EARLIER TODAY AND I DO THINK IT WAS FAIRLY STABLE LAST YEAR. AND THEN WHAT ABOUT THE ADR 129? DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT CHANGE WAS? I BELIEVE THAT THAT ALSO FAIRLY FLAT. YEAH. I DON'T THINK THERE WAS A HUGE VARIANCE YEAR TO YEAR ON THOSE NUMBERS. SO ON THE REGION THE VACATION PLANNER UM DO YOU MEMBERS PAY EXTRA TO BE IN THAT. YES THEY DO.

OKAY SO YOU GET MONEY FROM MEMBERS TO DO THAT AND THEN ALSO I KNOW THAT IT'S BUDGETED LIKE 81,000 RIGHT FROM US AS WELL. SO THE BREAKDOWN IS FOR THE COST TOO AND I GET MORE FOR YOU AND IS FOR PAPER. IT IS FOR OUR PUBLISHING COMPANY AND IT IS FOR THE SYSTEM THAT COMPONENT OF IT AS WELL.

AND THEN WHAT IS YOUR TOP SOCIAL MEDIA APP IN TERMS OF STATED ON NUMBER OR YOU JUST WHICH ONE IS IT IN GENERAL I MEAN IN SIMILAR NUMBER BUT THEN I GUESS ENGAGEMENT I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, I DON'T TICKTALK I MEAN FACEBOOK OVERALL FOR THE DESTINATION IS DRIVER BUT INSTAGRAM IS REALLY COMING THROUGH TO BE THE NUMBER TWO.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE ENGAGING MORE BECAUSE LIKE THE QUICK VIDEOS OR STORIES OR REELS THAT THEY'RE SEEING AND I THINK THAT'S HOW PEOPLE ARE DIGESTING THAT IS A LIGHTER VERSION OF WHAT'S HAPPENING ON TIK TOK AS YOU KNOW TIK TOK IS REALLY WHERE WE'RE SEEING A YOUNGER DEMOGRAPHIC OF INDIVIDUALS LIVING THAT REALLY ARE TRIED AND TRUE WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHO IS HAPPY WITH US THE LONGEST AND WHERE WE SEE GROWTH IS REALLY ON THAT FACEBOOK BUT QUICKLY RIGHT BEHIND IT WOULD BE INSTAGRAM I CAN GET THE NUMBERS FOR YOU AND DOWN BUT I'M TOTAL UP THOSE ARE THE NUMBERS THAT WE SHARED FOR YOU AS A WHOLE.

I KNOW I SAW THAT I THINK INSTAGRAM IT'S ABOUT 13,500 FOLLOWERS FOR THE BLUFFTON.

HOW DO YOU KNOW HOW THAT CHANGED YEAR OVER YEAR? IS THAT THOSE FOR YOU AND WE CAN SHARE WITH YOU ON SOMETHING I DON'T HAVE A BROKEN DOWN BY PLATFORM BUT I CAN FOR YOU WHO DOES YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA WE DO IT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AGENCY FIRM INTERACTIVE SO WE DO IT ARE THEY OUT OF WHERE ARE THEY OUT OF HERE AS WELL? THEY'RE NOT NOW THEY'RE OUT OF NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA. OKAY. BUT WE HAVE BOOTS ON THE GROUND HERE AND ARE WORKING REAL TIME WITH THEM TO SURE YOU KNOW REAL TIME CONTENT IS CREATED AND USED I'M HOPING YOU KNOW I SEE IT'S IT'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT GOES TOWARDS THAT AND THE

[02:35:03]

I THINK I'M JUST THAT FOR THAT MUCH MONEY THAT THERE'S NOT A GREATER FOLLOWING THAT THOUSAND 500 I WAS REALLY SHOCKED IT I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THAT TO BE PROBABLY THREE OR FOUR TIMES THAT NUMBER. SO I HOPE TO SEE A CHANGE IN THAT KNOW I KNOW I MET WITH A GROUP OF MERCHANTS LAST NIGHT WHO BUSINESS IS DOWN MEAN BUSINESSES ARE STRUGGLING IN OUR TOWN RIGHT NOW THEY WANT TO SEE MORE FROM THE CHAMBER TO HELP WITH IT SO I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT MENTION THAT AND YOU KNOW AS WE'RE BEING ASKED FOR MONEY I JUST I WANT TO SEE, YOU KNOW, IN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN TO HELP DRAW TOURIST TO TO GET THEM IN OUR BUSINESS. YEAH WE'VE NOTICED THE SAME THING WE WE WERE WAY SLOWER IN THE LAST TWO YEARS ACTUALLY I MEAN LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR SO PART OF AND INVOLVED YOU KNOW JUST NOT ANYBODY'S FAULT AND WE'RE NOT SPECIFIC TO SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS NOT JUST THE OF BOSTON BUT ALL OF THE COUNTRY AND BEYOND. I THINK PEOPLE DUE TO A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS WITH THE CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATION WITH UNCERTAINTY IN THE ECONOMY JUST PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING DIFFERENTLY TODAY AND I THINK THAT THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR BROUGHT ON A BIT MORE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF PULL BACK.

WE'RE ALSO SEEING CHANGES IN HOW PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING, WHERE BEFORE WE WE GET 3 TO 6 MONTHS TO WORK WITH THEM ON HOW ARE THEY GOING TO TRAVEL, WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO, HOW WE CAN TELL OUR STORY THERE NOW A DECISION IN THREE WEEKS THEY'RE DOING A LOT MORE OF THE DRIVE THAN THEY WERE IN THE PAST. AND SO JUST AGAIN, THINGS ARE REALLY DIFFERENT THAN THEY WERE NOT JUST EVEN LAST YEAR. AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW WE CAN ENGAGE WITH OUR POTENTIAL CONSUMER AND BRINGING THEM IN BUT ALSO FOSTER THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE THAT IS A PART OF OUR STRATEGY IN TERMS OF BRINGING THEM BACK AND ALSO CREATING NEW AND WE'RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT OUR COMPETITIVE MARKET, YOU KNOW, OUR COMPETITIVE SET AROUND US WHO MIGHT BE HAVE THERE WHAT IS OUR FAIR SHARE COMPARED TO WHAT THEY HAVE IN TERMS OF NOT VISITORS BUT FOLLOWERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. SO THOSE THINGS ARE THINGS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT BUT WHAT WE WILL DO IS BREAK DOWN THOSE NUMBERS YOU AND NOT JUST THE NUMBER, RIGHT? BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF VISITORS THAT YOU HAVE IS IMPORTANT TO YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA BUT IT'S ALSO REALLY THE BIGGER STORY OF ENGAGEMENT.

AND ARE THEY ENGAGED WITH YOU AS A BRAND? ARE THEY TALKING IT? ARE THEY SHARING IT? ARE THEY DOING SOMETHING WITH IT? AND SO WE'LL ALSO SURE THAT YOU HAVE THAT NUMBER AS PART OF THE STORY SO YOU CAN SEE NOT JUST FOR ONE PLATFORM BUT ALL OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA BROKEN DOWN. I, I HAD A COMMENT UM, TWO THINGS THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION ARI. I APPLAUD YOU ALL FOR LEANING INTO SOME CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM THAT WAS GIVEN A FEW YEARS BACK IN TERMS OF NOT BEING SO MONOLITHIC IN A CERTAIN APPROACH BUT ALSO LIKE CAPTURING THE FULL ESSENCE OF ALL OF UPTON AND I WOULD SAY WITHIN THE LAST FEW YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF THAT.

I DEFINITELY LIKE THE CONTENT THAT'S BEING SHARED IN OUR SPACES AND IN VACATION PLANNER.

I WOULD ALSO JUST LIKE TO ADD TO SOME OF THE QUESTIONS I KNOW SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL HAVE EXPERIENCED OR GOTTEN FEEDBACK FROM IT BUT I KNOW WHEN I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME VISITORS WHO'VE TO BLUFFTON EITHER FOR DINING EXPERIENCES OR THEY LOVE WALKING DOWN CALHOUN FOR THE SHOPS OR UM EVERYONE'S IN LOVE WITH THE WRIGHT FAMILY PARK AND OTHER THINGS. ONE OF THE BIGGEST DRAWBACKS HEAR FROM VISITORS IS THAT UM THERE'S NOT A HOTEL HERE THAT'S AS REFLECTIVE OR AS I TO WHAT THEY WANT TO SAY IN SO THAT BECOMES A I KNOW FOR SOME FOLKS UM THEY STAY ON HILTON HEAD BUT THEY COME TO BLUFFTON BECAUSE NO SIDE AGAINST HILTON HAD THEY LOVED BLUFFTON BETTER BUT BLUFFTON DOESN'T REALLY HAVE A LOT OF ACCOMMODATIONS IN TERMS OF THE TYPE OF TRAVELER WITH

[02:40:01]

BUT IN TERMS OF HEADS TO WHICH IS THE M.O. OF THE DEMO AND ATTACK, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF VARIETY FOR AVERAGE SALARY RANGE WE'RE ATTRACTING I WAS SAID ALL THAT TO SAY THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL HAVE OR I'VE GOTTEN FEEDBACK ON AS WELL HOW SPECIFICALLY IN RECENT MONTHS THAT IT HAS BEEN A CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE HAD THROUGHOUT THE YEARS YOU KNOW JUST HOW WE CAN HELP SUPPORT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES THEY COME FROM THE WORD YES.

I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION BECAUSE WHAT THAT REALLY IS TALKING ABOUT IS WHAT'S THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE, RIGHT? SO WE HAVE THE FOUR PROPERTIES THAT ARE IMPORTANT, THE IMPACT AND FROM THAT AND AGAIN THOSE FOUR WHAT ELSE CAN WE BRING TO THE TABLE OR WHAT OTHER OFFERINGS IN TERMS OF FLAGS THANK YOU FROM ANYBODY ELSE? NO, I THINK WE'RE GOOD FOR 20 FOUR. OH, OKAY.

UP NEXT WE HAVE CONSIDERATION OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH SOUTH CAROLINA MAY.

WE NEED YOU FOR ACCOUNTING. YOU MAY I'M STILL HERE WE SAY OKAY ARE YOU TRYING TO GET RID OF OUR BEFORE YOU FINISH? OH YOU WANT TO KEEP ME NOW YOU WANT TO GET RID OF ME ALL OF THAT I THOUGHT WE WERE JUST DOING THE PRESENTATION. YEAH, OKAY UM, SO THIS IS NOW RECOMMENDATION TO EXTEND THE CURRENT WITH THE DMO. THERE'S AN OPTION IN THEIR CURRENT CONTRACT TO FOR TWO YEARS AND THEN ALSO ALSO APPROVE THE BUDGET THAT WAS RECOMMENDED JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND STATE LAW DOES REQUIRE THAT 30% OF THE STATE TAX FUNDS BE MANAGED BY AN ORGANIZATION AND THAT THAT ORGANIZATION SUBMIT A BUDGET EVERY YEAR. THIS SAME PRESENTATION WAS PRESENTED TO AND ITS MAIN MEETING AND THEY HAVE RECOMMENDED WHAT WHAT WAS PRESENTED AND AGAIN INCLUDED IN THIS RECOMMENDATION IS THE TWO YEAR RENEWAL THAT WILL GO INTO EFFECT FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR AS YOU HAD JUST SEEN WHAT ARIANA HAS PRESENTED THIS IS THE BUDGET BREAKDOWN OF THE MARKETING PLAN. THIS SHOWS THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR AGAINST THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. SO YEAH CAN I JUST SO THE 30% THAT THEY'RE REQUIRED TO GET BY LAW YES. WHERE'S THAT NUMBER I MEAN WHAT WAS THAT WHAT THEY THIS IS THEIR PROPOSED 30% THAT THEY ARE THAT IF THEY WERE TO RECEIVE WHAT THEIR PROJECTION IS WHAT THAT BUDGET IS AND WHAT THEY WOULD DO WITH IT. BUT THAT 30% IS ONLY BASED ON WHAT WE MAKE RIGHT. IT'S NOT GUARANTEED RIGHT. IF THE REVENUES FOR ATTACKS ARE DOWN THEY'LL GET LESS MONEY, IF IT'S THEY'LL GET MORE MONEY FROM THEM 30% BY STATE LAW OF THE CITIZENS QUESTION WOULD WE HAVE TO DO WE I SHOULD KNOW ALL THIS I'VE DONE THIS FOR A LONG TIME SO IF WE DON'T MAKE I MEAN UP TO PERCENT DOES NOT MAKE YOUR BUDGET THAT WE VOTE TO APPROVE THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE UP DIFFERENCE NO MORE SO WE DON'T I DON'T CLAIM THAT WE WORK ON A QUARTERLY BASIS WITH YOU AND RECEIVE THE FUNDING AND SO WHAT HAPPENS WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN WE RECEIVE THE FUNDING WE ADJUST ACCORDINGLY. SO THIS IS THE PROPOSED PLAN BASED ON OUR COMPTROLLER RADIO AND THE TEAM HERE AT THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON WORKING CLOSELY ON THREE THREE CONFIRMED BUDGET ALLOCATIONS OR QUARTERLY ALLOCATIONS AND A PROJECTION ON WHAT Q4 WILL BE. AND SO BASED ON THAT HE WAS ABLE TO WORK ALONGSIDE THE TOWN TO COME UP WITH THIS FORECASTED NUMBER OF 365 AND WITH THAT WE PLAN AGAINST IT IN THESE CHANNELS AND THEN ON A REGULAR ON A QUARTERLY BASIS WE GO BACK AND ADJUST ACCORDINGLY IF THOSE WERE HIGHER OR LOWER AND WE CAN REPORT THOSE OUT TO YOU SO SAY ON Q ONE THE PROJECTION IS

[02:45:05]

BUT IF WE HAD TO PULL BACK IN Q2 BECAUSE THOSE DOLLARS WEREN'T THERE WE COULD ADJUST ACCORDINGLY. THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE HIRE WITHIN THE QUARTER BUT IT TAKES PLACE BUT THAT'S WHAT WE KNOW WE WOULD SPEND ON THAT OPPORTUNITY IF GIVEN IT GIVEN THAT IT WENT TO THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY. OKAY.

QUESTION OKAY. SO AS I STATED, STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVING THE RESOLUTION TO RENEW THE CONTRACT FOR A TWO YEAR TERM AND THE 2026 MARKETING PLAN.

AND THEN THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TOWN MANAGER WALTHER AUTHORIZE A RESOLUTION.

ANY QUESTIONS? NO. OKAY.

AND I HAVE A RECOMMENDATION. I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AS OUTLINED ON THE SCREEN I'LL SECOND AND DISCUSSION I'LL IF I SAY I OKAY.

THANK YOU. OKAY. UP NEXT WE HAVE CONSIDERATION

[X.9. Consideration of an Intergovernmental Agreement with South Carolina Municipal Insurance and Risk Financing Fund for Risk Sharing (SCMIRF) for Property and Casualty Coverage Including Tort Liability and Automobile Coverage for the Town of Bluffton - Steven Pecko, Accounting & Risk Manager]

SO I'M HERE TONIGHT TO PRESENT CONSIDERATION OF AN IDEA SMART IS WHAT IT'S CALLED TO THAT WE WANT TO SEE THAT NAME OVER AND OVER AGAIN A LOT OF ACRONYMS THIS WEEK SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THE TOWN'S INSURANCE. SO THE INSURANCE RESERVE FUND OR IMF IS OUR PRIMARY PROVIDERS AND THINK OF YOUR AUTOMOBILE COM COLLISION LIABILITY OR INLAND MARINE ITEMS SO ANY KIND OF EQUIPMENT LIKE PUBLIC SERVICES MIGHT HAVE THAT OUT THERE HIGH DOLLAR AMOUNTS BUILDINGS ARE PROPER AND ALSO OUR TORT LIABILITY AND THAT RENEWS ANNUALLY MAY 30TH AND THEN OUR STATE ACCIDENT FUND THAT THEY PROVIDE OUR WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE AND THAT RENEWS ANNUALLY ON JANUARY FIRST SO IRF BEING OUR PRIMARY PROVIDER THOSE POLICIES WE KNEW ABOUT SOME CHANGES THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMING WITH THIS MAY 30TH THE DATE THAT JUST PASSED WITH OUR POLICY. SO AS YOU CAN TELL A LOT OF THIS WE'RE INCREASING PRETTY HEFTY AMOUNTS AND ALSO THEY MADE AWARE THAT FOR FY 27 THERE WOULD BE SOME RATE INCREASES AS YOU CAN SEE THERE WHICH WOULD AMOUNT TO AT LEAST A $70,000 IMPACT FOR THE RENEWAL THIS TIME NEXT YEAR. SO KNOWING THOSE THINGS, STAFF DECIDED TO LOOK AT WHAT ARE SOME ALTERNATIVES? YOU KNOW, WE'RE BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WHERE OTHER OPTIONS OUT THERE, SOME DIFFERENT ONES THAT WE LOOKED INTO.

SO THERE'S THE SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES WHICH YOU HAVE TO BE A COUNTY TO JOIN IT SO KIND OF RULED THAT OUT. THERE'S COMMERCIAL INSURANCE POLICIES AND ALSO SELF-INSURANCE SO YOU WOULD SET ASIDE A POOL OF FUNDS TO PAY ANY CLAIMS THAT WOULD ARISE.

BUT THERE'S ALSO MHC HAS AN OFFERING HAVE THE SMR FUND AND ALSO THE SMIT FUND SO ESSENTIALLY OPERATES THE SAME AS IRF SAME TYPE OF COVERAGES TORT LIABILITY AUTO COVERAGE AND THEN SMIT WILL ALSO PROVIDE OUR WORKERS COMPENSATION PROTECTION SO WE REACHED OUT TO MHC, WE DID THE APPLICATION CONSISTED ALSO OF AN INTERVIEW WITH THEIR LOSS CONTROL TEAM AND OBVIOUSLY WE REVIEWED OUR CURRENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THEY OFFERED SOME OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE COULD FURTHER MINIMIZE RISK. WE CONDUCTED SELF RISK ASSESSMENTS HERE AT TOWN HALL AND ALSO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT JUST GOING THROUGH SAME TYPE OF THING OUR POLICIES, PROCEDURES YOU KNOW WHAT ARE SOME AREAS WE CAN IMPROVE ON AND THEN THEY ALSO CAME DOWN HERE TO DO A SITE VISIT TO MEET STAFF AND ALSO ASSESSED OUR TOWN PROPERTIES AND SO IN APRIL WE RECEIVED OUR PROPOSALS BACK FROM IRF MHC.

[02:50:02]

SO WHILE THE PREMIUMS MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT LOWER FOR IRF THOSE MSE DEDUCTIBLES ARE LOWER WHICH CAN HELP WHEN THOSE CLAIMS COME THROUGH AND THEN SOME ADDITIONAL SMURF BENEFITS . SO LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE MEMBERS ARE ENTITLED TO 1 MILLION AND CYBER INSURANCE IN THEIR COST. THERE ARE SOME GREAT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO SERVICES AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS SO THEY LOOK AT WAYS THAT ARE GOING TO HELP MITIGATE RISK YOU KNOW, WITH TASERS OR YOU KNOW, BACKGROUND CHECKS, YOU KNOW, PUTTING PIECES OF EQUIPMENT ON PUBLIC SERVICE EQUIPMENT TO LIMIT, YOU KNOW, ANY KIND OF INJURIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND THEN SOME ADDITIONAL BENEFITS YOU GET 5% PREMIUM CREDITS FOR COMPLETING THOSE ANNUAL SELF RISK ASSESSMENTS WHICH LIKE I SAID WE DID OF THOSE WE WOULD PLAN TO DO THOSE EVERY YEAR AND THEN YOU ALSO GET ADDITIONAL 2% DISCOUNT IF YOU'RE ENROLLED IN BOTH THESE MURF AND SMITH PROGRAM. MSE SO IN LOOKING AT SMITH WE WOULD APPLY TO JOIN LATER THIS FALL SINCE OUR STATE ACTOR FUND POLICY EXPIRES AT THE END OF THIS YEAR THERE'S SOME EARLY TERMINATION PENALTIES SO WE WOULD WAIT TILL THAT EXPIRES AND THEN MAKE THE SWITCH AND THE PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES REFLECT A COST SAVINGS OF OVER 60,000 BY SWITCHING BEFORE ANY POTENTIAL DISCOUNTS OR CREDITS .

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WHOLE SNAPSHOT WHEN LOOK AT THE IRF AND THE STATE EXIT FUND WORKER'S COMP POLICY, IT GETS YOU TO ABOUT 980,000 TOTAL. AND THEN WHEN YOU COMPARE THE ESTIMATED PREMIUMS SO YOU KNOW BOTH POLICIES AND THEN YOU THIS POLICY DISCOUNTS IT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT AND WE WERE PRETTY IMPRESSED WITH TALKING WITH THEIR LOSS CONTROL TEAM THEY'RE VERY PROACTIVE TO TRY TO MINIMIZE RISK WHICH WOULD THEN LOWER OUR PREMIUMS THE FUTURE SO DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH THEM. AND THEN HERE'S THE TIMELINE.

SO 630 ARE POLICIES REMAIN EFFECTIVE WITH IRF THROUGH THIS DATE AND THEN IF WE WERE TO APPROVE THIS OUR SUMMER OF COVERAGE WOULD BECOME EFFECTIVE THE SAME DAY TO ENSURE NO GAPS OF COVERAGE AND THEN LATER THIS FALL STAFF WOULD APPLY TO JOIN SMITH WE WOULD PRESENT A SIMILAR AGREEMENT TO PARTICIPATE IN SUBMIT TO TOWN COUNCIL.

OUR WORKERS COMPENSATION COVERAGE WOULD REMAIN EFFECTIVE WITH THE EXIT FUND THE END OF THIS YEAR AND THEN ON JANUARY 1ST SUBMIT WORKER'S COMPENSATION COVERAGE WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE AND THEN HERE'S THE RECOMMENDED MOTION I'D BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE MY QUESTION IF YOU COULD GO BACK TO THE BREAKDOWN SCREEN AND NOTICE THAT THE PREMIUM THERE IN THE LEFT COLUMN TORT LIABILITY WHERE IT'S 285 AND THEN ESTIMATED FOR ME I SEE IS THAT DROPDOWN ON REFLECTIVE OF THE RECENT TORT REFORM THAT THEY WERE WORKING ON AT THE STATE HOUSE OR IS THAT JUST I DON'T BELIEVE SO THAT.

THE PRIMARY FOR THIS WAS WE HAD TO PROVIDE FIVE YEARS OF CLAIMS HISTORY FOR BOTH THESE ARE WORKERS COMP AND ELSE SO THEY KIND OF THEY WENT THROUGH THE DIFFERENT CLAIMS THEY HAD QUESTIONS EACH ONE AND YOU KNOW THEY HAD THE PAYOUTS AND WHAT THOSE WERE SO I THINK THAT'S THAT NUMBER WAS A LOT HIGHER AND ONLY ASKED THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IN TERMS OF COVERAGE THAT AND WORK WORK COMP ARE THE THE HIGHEST AND JUST WANTED TO SEE IF THERE WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY AT SOME POINT TO SEE THOSE BE AT A MORE COMPARABLE RATE SO THANK YOU EVERYONE. OH, MR. HAMILTON KNOWS SIMILARLY WITH YOUR QUESTION YOU KNOW OH OKAY THIS MOTION THE SCREEN WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE IT I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE A STRIKE TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AS SHOWN ON THE SCREEN THE SECOND CIRCUIT OF THEY WOULD SAY I UNANIMOUS THANK YOU. UP NEXT WE HAVE APPROVAL TO

[X.10. Approval to Authorize a Construction Contract with Nix Construction Company, Inc. for Construction of the New River Linear Trail (Fiscal Impact: $4,108,518.11). - Pat Rooney, Capital Improvements Program Manager]

I'M HAPPY TO PRESENT ANOTHER CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR YOUR REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION.

THIS ONE IS FOR THE NEW RIVER LINEAR TRAIL. THIS IS A LOCATION MAP AND THE SHOWS THAT THE TRAIL ORIGINATES AT NEW RIVER LINEAR TRAIL TRAIL, TRAILHEAD PARK AND THEN GOES EXTEND SOUTHWARD TOWARDS THE NEW RIVER AND NORTH TOWARDS SIN CITY.

[02:55:05]

OUR REQUEST TONIGHT IS FOR TOWN COUNCIL TO AUTHORIZE TOWN MANAGER TO ACTUALLY EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH NEXT CONSTRUCTION FOR 3,423,630 A 765 AND $0.09 ADDITION WE'RE GOING TO ASK FOR A 20% CONTINGENCY TO ALLOW FOR ANY UNFORESEEN CHANGES WE MAY ARISE DURING CONSTRUCTION.

SO THE TOTAL FISCAL IMPACT IS 4,108,500 AND 1811 CENTS AND THAT THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT IS WITHIN THE PROJECTED AND APPROVED BUDGET FOR NEXT STEPS ARE IF YOU ALL APPROVE THIS CONTRACT TONIGHT WE WOULD GO AHEAD AND INITIATE A PRE-CONSTRUCTION MEETING AND THEN AT THAT PRE-CONSTRUCTION MEETING WE WOULD ISSUE AND THEN PROCEED WE HOPE TO START THIS WORK THIS SUMMER AND EXPECTED TO LAST UNTIL NEXT SUMMER, THE SUMMER OF 2026 AS QUICK A QUICK GO THROUGH BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I'D BE GLAD TO ANSWER THEM OTHERWISE A MOTION ON THE SCREEN DO WE DO WE HAVE A DEADLINE FOR THE WORK TO BE COMPLETED? I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A SPECIFIC DEADLINE ON FINANCE FROM YOUR FAMILY ON THAT THAT MONEY WE RECEIVED FROM THE STATE I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK BUT I'M NOT I'M NOT SURE THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS WELL WITH THE CONTRACTOR DO YOU HAVE ANY AGREEMENT AS TO WHEN IT SUPPOSED BE FINISHED? YEAH, IT IS IN THE CONTRACT. I THINK IT'S IN YOUR PACKAGE BUT WE'RE WE'RE PROJECTING OR WE ARE ESTIMATING A SCHEDULE FOR OUR YEARS FRAME FOR THAT THAT IS THE CONTRACT. YES. SO IF IT'S NOT DONE BY A CERTAIN DATE THAT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN SOME OF THESE JOBS GET OFF FOR A LONG TIME, LONG TERM WE HAVE PRETTY GOOD TRACK RECORD WITH NEXT CONSTRUCTION OH DELIVER THEIR PROPERTIES ON TIME AND UNDER BUDGET ACTUALLY I'M JUST GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT EVERY CONTRACT NOT JUST THE ONE HERE TONIGHT QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL CIRCLE WHAT IS LINEAR FEET OF THIS TREE YOU GET MY CALCULATOR IS 3.2 MILES AND IT'S 1607 FEET IN THE 3.2 MILES AND OF COURSE IS $4 MILLION.

I'M HOPING IT'S THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT THAT WE GOT IN THE CONTRACT THAT WILL COVER IT JUST WHEN WE HAVE A THEN WE ONLY HAVE TWO BIDS AND THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO. WE LIKE TO PUT IN A LITTLE 20% CONTINGENCY TO COVER ANY UNFORESEEN THINGS THAT MIGHT HAPPEN. THE OTHER THING TO GO ALONG WITH THIS IS WE RECEIVED $2 MILLION FROM THE STATE TO FUND THIS PROJECT FROM APPROPRIATION FROM OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION . WE ALSO HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE POWER COMPANY THAT HAS AN THAT HAS AN EASEMENT ACROSS THIS AND THEY'RE CONTRIBUTING FUNDS HELP COVER THE COST TO REBUILD THE BRIDGES WHICH IS ONE OF THE MAJOR EXPENSES ON THIS BECAUSE THOSE THREE BRIDGES ARE GOING TO BE BUILT BACK TO ALLOW THEIR VEHICLES TO DRIVE ACROSS THEM SO THEY CAN ACCESS THE EASEMENT AND I THINK THEY'RE CONTRIBUTING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 4 TO $600000 TO HELP CONSTRUCT THOSE BRIDGES. SO ABOUT TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS OF THE OVERALL PROJECT BUDGET WILL BE CONTRIBUTED PRIOR TO THE GRANT AND PARTNER THE WITH THIS AND BUILDING THOSE BRIDGES AND PART OF THIS CORRECT AS WELL AS A PAVILION AT THE END OF THE THE OVERLOOK AT THE AT THE RIVER AND THE PAVING THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT IT'S ALSO THE BRIDGES AND THE OVERLOOK AT THE NEW RIVER. SO OUR PART IN THIS IS 1 TO 1 AND ABSOLUTELY IF IT GOES TO USING THE FULL CONTINGENCY IF IT DOESN'T GO TO USING THE FULL CONTINGENCY, THEN WE'VE RECEIVED A B HOPEFULLY BECAUSE UNDER JUST UNDER A MILLION AND

[03:00:09]

ANY MORE QUESTIONS FROM ANYONE ANYONE WILL MAKE A MOTION TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT FOR NEXT CONSTRUCTION AS SHOWN ON SCREEN. OKAY.

I NEVER HEAR YOU SAY NOTHING. MAYBE I WANT YOU DO YOU FEEL GOOD? YEAH. IT'S OKAY. OKAY.

[XI. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS]

NEXT WE HAVE THE CONSENT AND THE CONSENT AND AGENDA ITEM. WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO REMOVE ANYTHING OFF OF THE IF NOT IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE OF SO THEY WERE SAYING I MOTION TO GO

[XII. EXECUTIVE SESSION]

[XIII. ACTION FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION]

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT LISA SOLE GO TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION WITH TERM EXPIRING JUNE 30TH 2028 DISCUSSION FOR SECOND SECOND AND REAPPOINTMENT OKAY AND THAT CAN DO THIS AT THE SAME TIME WE VOTE ON THIS I THOUGHT I HAD TO DO THEM SEPARATELY BUT APPARENTLY YOU CAN DO THEM ALL AT ONCE. OH OKAY I MAKE A MOTION TO RE APPOINT THE FOLLOWING CITIZENS TO THE TOWNS BOARDS COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES WITH ALL TERMS EXPIRING JUNE 30TH 2028 ELLEN SHOEMAKER DO THE ACCOMMODATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE THEN SHOULD READ INTO THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE SCOTT MIDDLETON, DAVID DARNELL AND MIKE VACCARO TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND APPEALS CHARLIE WETMORE AND JIM FLYNN TO PLANNING COMMISSION GEORGE BAILEY TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE BRANT BOWDLER, PAM DAVIS AND ROCCO HENDERSON TO PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE M IN LA HAROLD TO THE WALL OF HONOR COMMITTEE BUT I WOULD SAY ARE I I GIVE IT TO HIM TO GIVE THEM I HAVE A COPY ALREADY OKAY WE HAVE ONE MORE PIECE OF BUSINESS PERTAINING TO TOWN MANAGER. WELL THERE'S IS THERE A MILLION ACQUISITION STUFF ON HERE THAT THAT THERE'S NO MOTION THERE'S NO ACTUALLY I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR ALL RIGHT SO PERTAINING TO THE TOWN MANAGER'S REVIEW AND CONTRACT I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE MOVE, THAT WE INCREASE MR. THE SALARY TO 190 192,000 THAT HIS NEW CONTRACT BE EXTENDED FOR TWO YEARS WITH A ONE YEAR EXTENSION SIMILAR TO CURRENT CONTRACT THAT HE RECEIVED THE SAME COST OF LIVING RAISE THAT OTHER EMPLOYEES RECEIVE AND THAT OTHER TERMS OF THE CONTRACT BE REPEATED. THE MOTIONS THAT ALL IN FAVOR

[03:05:04]