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CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND WELCOME TO THE, EXCUSE ME.
UM, WELCOME TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING.
IT'S A SPECIAL MEETING TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7TH, EXCUSE ME, AT NINE O'CLOCK.
AND IF YOU WILL, PLEASE, UM, JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE BLACK OF THE UNITED STATES, AMERICA, THE, OR JEWISH EXPERIENCE, ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
AND DO WE HAVE AN, UH, MOTION FOR AN ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA? SO MOVED.
SO THE AGENDA, THE, UH, AGENDA HAS BEEN ADOPTED AND APPROVED? YES.
SO THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS, UM, PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS, NON AGENDA ITEMS. HOWEVER, BEFORE WE BEGIN, UM, I ALSO WANT TO REMIND YOU OF PROPER DECORUM.
THIS IS A PUBLIC SETTING AND THIS IS A PROCESS OF GOVERNMENT, AND I WOULD APPRECIATE, AND IT IS ACTUALLY REQUIRED THAT YOU REFRAIN FROM NAME CALLING FROM ANY OF THE OTHER DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIORS AND THAT WE GET THROUGH THIS MEETING AS ORDERLY AS POSSIBLE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT IN ADVANCE.
AND IS THERE ANYONE WHO HAS A PUBLIC COMMENT, UM, ON NON AGENDA ITEMS? I DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS. AND YOU HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP.
IT'S A CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE REPEAL AND REPLACE TITLE 10, CHAPTER TWO OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
IT'S ENTITLED SHORT-TERM RENTALS, AND TO AMEND AN ORDINANCE TO RAISE REVENUES, PROVIDE FOR EXPENDITURES, AND AN AMENDMENTS TO ORDINANCE 2025 DASH OH SEVEN, TO AMEND THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE OF THE ADOPTED CONSOLIDATED BUDGET FOR THE TOWN, TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2026, AND PROVIDING SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE FOR EACH.
UM, SEAN LINE JURORS, OUR TOWN MAN, UH, TOWN MANAGER, AND WE'LL, UM, ADDRESS THESE.
I ALSO WANT TO, BEFORE HE STARTS THOUGH, JUST GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF A BACKGROUND IN TERMS OF HOW, WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY AND HOW WE GOT HERE.
WE KNOW, WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS ON OUR ISLAND.
ALONG WITH THAT HAS COME SOME DIFFICULTIES AND SOME PROBLEMS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THOSE HAVE BEEN HIGHLIGHTED BY THE RESIDENTS SAYING THAT THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE HAS BEEN A DETRIMENT TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN AN INTEREST OF ADDRESSING THOSE CONCERNS, WHICH HAVE A MULTITUDE OF MA MANY FACETS TO IT.
YOU'VE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION, OBVIOUSLY.
UM, AND SO THAT IS WHAT OUR GOAL AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO OUR RESIDENTS HERE ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS.
AND IN DOING THAT, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I BELIEVE IT WAS 22, EFFECTIVE IN 23, WE, UM, INSTITUTED SOME LIMITED ORDINANCES AND REGULATIONS ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THAT WAS A BEGINNING STAGE.
IT HAS BECOME APPARENT THAT THERE ARE ADDITIONAL RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT MIGHT BE NECESSARY IF YOU LOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
IN FACT, IF YOU LOOK ACROSS THE WORLD, YOU'LL NOTE THAT ALMOST EVERY RESORT RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY HAS RULES AND REGULATIONS.
HILTON HEAD IS ONE OF THE FEW, EVEN WITH THOSE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN PLACE, THAT HAS A LIMITED AMOUNT OF RULES AND REGULATIONS.
AND THE ONES THAT WE HAVE, HAVE NOT BENEFITED THE RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY IN THE WAY THAT WE HAD HOPED AND THE WAY THAT THEY EXPECTED.
AND THAT'S WHAT BRINGS US HERE TODAY.
WE HAD A PROCESS BACK IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR WHERE THERE WERE ITEMS THAT WERE BROUGHT FORWARD, AND THERE WAS NOT A CONSENSUS AND AGREEMENT ON THE TOWN COUNCIL.
AND SO THOSE DID NOT MOVE FORWARD.
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HOWEVER, DURING THE MEANTIME, THERE'S BEEN WORK THAT'S BEEN BEING DONE ON THOSE ORDINANCES THAT WERE BROUGHT FORWARD THEN, AND IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE, AND THEN IN THE INTERVENING TIME, THERE WAS AN IDEA THAT WAS BROUGHT UP WITH REGARD TO SHOULD WE HAVE A MORATORIUM, WHICH WOULD'VE BEEN A PAUSE ON SHORT-TERM RENTAL APPLICATIONS WHILE THE WORK WAS DONE, THAT THE TIME WAS GIVEN TO STAFF TO DO THE WORK THAT THEY FELT NEEDED TO BE DONE, TO BRING US TO A PLACE WHERE THERE COULD BE CONSENSUS, AND WE COULD PROVIDE THOSE REGULATIONS THAT THE RESIDENTS HAVE ASKED FOR.AT THAT TIME, AT THAT MEETING JUST A MONTH AGO, WHEN THE MORATORIUM WAS PUT ASIDE, IT WAS PUT ASIDE WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE, THIS COMMITTEE, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE, WOULD BE THE ONE TASKED WITH THAT.
SO THE TOWN COUNCIL, FULL TOWN COUNCIL, SEVEN PEOPLE SENT TO THIS COMMITTEE, THAT JOB, TO WORK WITH STAFF AND TO MOVE FORWARD WHAT CAME OUT OF THOSE MEETINGS.
AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE THOSE MEETINGS HAVE BEEN HELD, AND IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A COMMITTEE TO BRING THEM OUT FOR PUBLIC, UM, TO HEAR, FOR US TO DEBATE, AND TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL RECOMMEND THEM TO THE FULL TOWN COUNCIL.
THERE IS NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON WHO IS DRIVING ANYTHING.
THIS IS A SEVEN PERSON EFFORT BASED ON THE NEEDS AND THE REQUESTS OF THE RESIDENTS OF THIS ISLAND.
AND IT'S BASED ON THEIR FEELINGS AND BELIEF AND EXPERIENCE THAT THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE, THAT THE QUALITY OF LIFE ON HILTON HAD FOR RESIDENTS.
AND FRANKLY, THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN DIMINISHED OVER TIME.
AND SO THEREFORE, HERE WE ARE TODAY, AND I, UH, INTRODUCED OUR DEPUTY TOWN MANAGER, AND, UM, I'M GOING TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO HIM.
GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, UH, SEAN LEININGER, DEPUTY TOWN MANAGER.
UH, SO BEFORE I GET INTO THE STAFF REPORT AND REALLY THE, THE, THE ORDINANCE THAT WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS THIS MORNING, UH, I HAVE JUST A HOUSEKEEPING ITEM.
UH, THE, THE, THE TITLE ON THE, OR ON THE AGENDA IS, IS A LONG TITLE, BUT THERE ARE ACTUALLY TWO SEPARATE DISTINCT ITEMS WITHIN THAT.
THEY'RE NOTED HERE ON THE SCREEN AS FAR AS THE RECOMMENDATION.
BUT THE FIRST IS THE CONSIDERATION OF THE ORDINANCE THAT WILL REPEAL AND REPLACE, UH, TITLE OR CHAPTER 10 DASH TWO OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE, WHICH IS OUR SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE.
THE SECOND ITEM IS TO AMEND, UH, ORDINANCE 2025 DASH ZERO SEVEN.
THAT'S THE ORDINANCE THAT E ESTABLISHED THE, THE FY 26 BUDGET AS PART OF THE FY 26 BUDGET.
THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS THAT GET PUT INTO THAT, INCLUDING A FEE SCHEDULE.
SO TO AMEND THE FEES FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS, WE HAVE TO, IN EFFECT, AMEND THE FY 26 BUDGET.
SO THAT'S WHY THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF INFORMATION TO REALLY CHANGE A HANDFUL OF WORDS WITHIN, WITHIN THAT BUDGET DOCUMENT.
SO THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE AND DISTINCT THINGS.
AT THE END OF THE MEETING, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE COMMITTEE DECIDES TO DO, I WILL ASK FOR TWO SEPARATE MOTIONS ON EACH THING, AND THEY WILL PROCEED, UM, EITHER BACK TO THE COMMITTEE OR ON TO TOWN COUNCIL AS AS, AS YOU SO CHOOSE, UM, REGARDING THE PACKET, UH, THE POST REGULATIONS AND FEES THAT ARE IN THAT PACKET GO BACK TO, UH, A WHOLE HOST OF MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD OVER MANY MONTHS.
GOING BACK TO WHEN WE PRESENTED A DRAFT ORDINANCE BACK IN FEBRUARY OF FEBRUARY 18TH OF THIS YEAR.
SINCE THEN, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, DIRECTIONS THROUGH WORKSHOPS, THROUGH COMMITTEE MEETINGS, THROUGH TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS, UM, MOST OF WHICH RECENTLY, WHICH OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 15TH AND 16TH, WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT THIS VERY ORDINANCE.
WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT MORATORIUM, WHICH WAS SPECIFIC TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
AMONG, AMONG OTHER THINGS, UH, ALL OF THIS COMMENT THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED AS A TOWN STAFF, UH, HAS BEEN PROVIDED WITH THE GOAL OF PROTECTING AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND FOR OUR VISITORS.
WHAT IS PRESENTED TODAY, UH, IS WHAT WE BELIEVE IS TOWN STAFF.
IT REPRESENTS THE CONSENSUS OF WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM, FROM COUNCIL, FROM COMMITTEES AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
THERE MAY BE SOME ADDITIONAL ALIGNMENT THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH, BUT IT'S THAT, THAT IS WHERE WE THOUGHT WE HAD HEARD AND THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY THAT WE COULD PUT TOGETHER.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL DISCUSS MORE HERE THIS MORNING.
THE PACKET ITSELF INCLUDES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INFORMATION, AND I THINK IT WAS OVER A HUNDRED SOME PAGES.
I, I, YOU HAD THAT FOR OVER A WEEK.
I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL THE INFORMATION.
I TRUST THAT YOU'VE GONE THROUGH THAT.
IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FOR ME, I'M HAPPY TO GO INTO ANY PARTICULAR TOPIC.
THE GOAL TODAY IS TO FOCUS ON THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE AND, AND THE FEES AND THE, AND THE BUDGET.
SO TO GET INTO THE ORDINANCE ITSELF, UH, WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED AND, AND MAYBE MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT IS NOT BEING PROPOSED AS PART OF THIS ORDINANCE.
AND BEAR WITH ME WHILE I CHANGE SCREENS HERE.
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WHAT IS NOT IN THE ORDINANCE IS ANY REQUIREMENT FOR A MINIMUM STAY.THERE IS NOT A MINIMUM TWO WEEKS STAY.
THERE'S NOT A MINIMUM THREE DAY STAY.
THE CURRENT ORDINANCE DOES NOT REQUIRE A MINIMUM STAY, NOR DOES THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE REQUIRE A MINIMUM STAY.
ALSO, THERE IS NOT A PERMIT CAP ON THE NUMBER OF SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMITS THAT CAN BE ISSUED.
IT'S NOT IN THE CURRENT ORDINANCE.
IT'S NOT IN THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE.
AND THEN FINALLY, THERE'S NOT ANY TYPE OF LOCATION RESTRICTIONS OR SHORT-TERM RENTALS CAN BE LOCATED.
IT'S NOT IN THE CURRENT ORDINANCE.
IT'S NOT IN THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE.
TO GET INTO THE SPECIFICS OF THE ORDINANCE, MADAM CHAIR, RATHER THAN GO THROUGH SECTION BY SECTION, LINE BY LINE, WHAT I, WHAT I PROPOSE THAT WE DO IS WE FOCUS ON SOME TOPIC AREAS.
UM, THOSE TOPIC AREAS ARE OCCUPANCY, PARKING, FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY, GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE, SITE PLAN, FLOOR PLAN REQUIREMENTS, INSPECTIONS AND FEES.
CERTAINLY THERE MAY BE SOME QUESTIONS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THOSE, BUT I THINK THAT AS A, AS A, THOSE ARE THE, BEEN THE, THE TOPICS OF CONSIDERATION AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
SO I'LL, I'LL, I'LL FOCUS THERE AND WE CAN LET THE CONVERSATION, UH, GO WHERE IT TAKES US FROM THAT POINT.
SO TO START, THE FIRST ITEM IS OCCUPANCY.
IN OUR DEFINITION SECTIONS, WE ARE PROPOSING A, A COUPLE OF NEW DEFINITIONS THAT ARE RELATED TO OCCUPANCY.
AND I'M GOING TO READ THESE JUST TO BE SO IT'S CLEAR AS TO WHAT THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE.
A BEDROOM MEANS A ROOM WITH A, WITHIN A SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROPERTY THAT IS DESIGNATED, DESIGNED AND USED AS A SLEEPING AREA RATHER THAN A LIVING, DINING OR COMMON SPACE.
THE ROOM MUST MEET BUILDING AND SAFETY CODES AND BE PRIMARILY USED FOR SLEEPING AND TYPICALLY CONTAINS AT LEAST ONE WINDOW, A DOOR, A CLOSET, AND A BED OR OTHER SLEEPING FURNITURE AS USING THIS CHAPTER, BEDROOM HAS THE SAME MEANING AS SLEEPING AREA IN THE NATIONAL FIRE ALARM AND SIGNALING CODE, WHICH IS AN FPA 72.
THE OTHER ITEM IS MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY.
MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY MEANS THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PER PER PERSONS PERMITTED TO BE IN A STR PROPERTY OVERNIGHT BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 10:01 PM AND 6:59 AM AS LISTED IN THE STR PERMIT AND IS SET FORTH IN SECTION 10 DASH TWO 60 D BELOW, THE REASON YOU SEE 10.0 OR 10:01 PM AND 6:59 AM IS IT'S, THAT IS RELATED TO OUR NOISE ORDINANCE AND QUIET HOURS THAT ARE SPECIFIED IN OUR QUIET OR QUIET OR IN OUR NOISE ORDINANCE.
UH, PREVIOUSLY WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT ACCURACY, WE TALKED ABOUT IMMA ACCURACY AS BEING A HARD NUMBER, 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
AS WE WENT THROUGH, IT WAS OUR, UH, IT WAS OUR UNDERSTANDING OF GOING THROUGH THE, AND AND LOOKING FOR CONSENSUS FROM COUNCIL.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY BEING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS WITH THE THOUGHT PROCESS BEING THAT PEOPLE MAY COME AND GO, UH, DURING THE, THE DAYTIME HOURS.
AND THE FOCUS WAS ON THE, ON THOSE NIGHTTIME HOURS.
AS IT RELATES TO THEN THE REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE PROPOSED FOR OCCUPANCY, SECTION TEN TWO SIXTY, UH, CONTAINS ALL OF THE REGULATIONS RELATED TO SHORT TERM RENTALS, UH, INCLUDING A NUMBER OF WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT HERE IN A A FEW MINUTES.
BUT AS IT RELATES TO OCCUPANCY, DURING THE ANCY OF A SHORT TERM RENTAL, THESE ARE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS THAT'LL BE PERMITTED IN ANYWHERE FROM A STUDIO TO A 10 BEDROOM.
THIS MATH IS BASED ON TWO PEOPLE FOR A STUDIO, AND THEN WHEN WE HAD BEDROOMS, IT'S TWO PEOPLE PER BEDROOM, PLUS TWO PEOPLE FOR THE UNIT.
AND THAT'S HOW THE MATH WORKS OUT, ALL THE WAY DOWN THROUGH THROUGH 10 BEDROOMS, WHICH IS THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF BEDROOMS WE HAVE CURRENTLY, UH, IN OUR SHORT TERM RENTAL PERMIT DATABASE.
THE NEXT ITEM FROM A TOPIC STANDPOINT IS PARKING.
THERE AREN'T ANY DEFINITIONAL ITEMS I NEED TO REVIEW, SO WE'LL GO RIGHT TO THE REGULATIONS.
UH, THE FOCUS IN RUNNING THE PARKING REGULATIONS, THERE ARE, THERE ARE CURRENTLY STANDARDS IN PLACE TODAY THAT A SHORT, UH, AS PART OF A PERMIT APPLICATION, A SITE PLAN HAS TO BE SUBMITTED, DESIGNATING WHERE THE, THE PARKING SPACES ARE ON THE SITE.
THAT CONTINUES, UH, WITH ADDITIONAL, UH, BIT OF CLARITY THAT NEEDS TO BE PROVIDED.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, PARKING IS ONLY GONNA BE PERMITTED IN SEVERAL AREAS.
IT NEEDS TO BE IDENTIFIED IN THAT SHORT TERM PARENTAL PERMIT APPLICATION AS IT IS TODAY.
MORE SPECIFICALLY, IT HAS TO BE OFF STREET PARKING SPACES WITHIN A DRIVEWAY.
THERE IS SOME LANGUAGE ADDED THAT, UM, WE'VE SEEN INSTANCES WHERE, WHERE PARKED VEHICLES ARE PARKED PARALLEL IN DRIVEWAYS.
UH, SO THIS IS ATTEMPTING TO CLARIFY THAT THEY NEED TO BE ARRANGED IN A ROW, UH, ALIGN PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER, NOT BLOCK ANY SIDEWALK PATHWAY OR THE PEDESTRIAN ACCESS THAT MAY CROSS A DRIVEWAY.
AND A NEW STANDARD AS WELL, IS THAT THEY HAVE TO MEET ANY STR PERMIT THAT COMES IN, HAS TO MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF THE LMO, WHETHER THAT'S ONE SPACE OR TWO SPACE.
AND THEN PERHAPS MORE SPACES DEPEND ON THE SIZE OF THE UNIT IS SPECIFIED.
IN THE LMO, THERE IS EXISTING LANGUAGE THAT WE RETAINED AS FAR AS THE
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SIZE OF SPACES AND IS COMPLIANCE WITH THE LMO TO PREVENT FRONT YARDS AND OTHER AREAS BEING EXPANDED UPON FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING ADDITIONAL PARKING.UH, WE'VE ADDED SOME LANGUAGE IN HERE THAT NO EXPANSION OF DRIVEWAY SHALL BE PERMITTED FOR THE PRIMARY PER PURPOSE OF INCREASING PARKING CAPACITY FOR A SHORT TERM RENTAL PROPERTY.
AND THEN PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE'VE SAID WHERE PARKING CANNOT BE, NOT BE, UH, CAN'T BE OFFSITE, CAN'T BE ON A STREET OR INCLUDING ADJACENT RIGHT-OF-WAYS OR ACCESS EASEMENTS CANNOT BE IN A REQUIRED BUFFER AND IT CANNOT BE ON, ON ANY UNIMPROVED.
UH, SURFACE LIFE SAFETY IS THE NEXT TOPIC.
THAT'S ALSO ONE THAT THERE'S NOT ANY DEFINITIONS THAT WE NEED TO GO BACK AND AND CLARIFY.
UH, SO WE'LL GO RIGHT TO THE REGULATION.
LIFE, FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY, A NUMBER OF THESE ITEMS WILL LOOK FAMILIAR BECAUSE WE ALREADY REQUIRE SMOKE CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTION IN THE UNIT.
WE ALSO REQUIRE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO BE IN THE UNIT.
UH, A NEW ITEM THAT IS SHOWN HERE IS THAT IF PROPANE IS USED AS A, UH, UH, INSIDE THE UNIT, WHICH IS A PROPANE, OF COURSE, IS A COMMON, UM, GAS THAT'S USED FOR, FOR, FOR, FOR OVENS HERE IN THE ISLAND, STOVES IN THE ISLAND, UH, IF THERE IS PROPANE PET PRESENT, A COMBUSTIBLE GAS DETECTOR NEEDS TO BE ADDED INTO THE UNIT.
AND THAT IS THE PROPER TERM FROM A, FROM A FIRE SAFETY STANDPOINT, IS A COMBUSTIBLE GAS DETECTOR.
I MENTIONED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER.
SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT PREVIOUSLY, UH, IS THE IDEA OF A FIRE ALARM SYSTEM BEING PROVIDED IN SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROPERTIES.
UM, SO IN THIS CASE, IF THERE IS NOT A FIRE SUPPRESSION, FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM BEING A SPRINKLER SYSTEM, A LOT OF OUR CONDOS AND VILLAS ARE BUILT AT A TIME WHEN AND, AND BUILT TODAY WHERE THERE'S A FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM REQUIRED.
IF THAT IS IN PLACE, THEY DO NOT HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THESE REQUIREMENTS.
HOWEVER, IF THERE IS NOT A FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM IN PLACE, YOU HAVE TO MEET THESE MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ANY SHORT-TERM RENTAL UNIT.
THAT MEANS THERE HAS TO BE A FUNCTIONING AUTOMATIC SMOKE DETECTION SYSTEM THAT IS MONITORED REMOTELY AND IT HAS TO BE PLACED IN THESE LOCATIONS THAT ARE SHOWN HERE.
AND THIS IS GENERALLY FOUND IN THE NFPA 72 CODE THAT I REFERENCED IN AN AN EARLIER DEFINITION.
THERE ALSO HAS TO BE A MANUAL FIRE ALARM SYSTEM THAT ACTIVATES THE SMOKE DETECTION SYSTEM, THE OCCUPANT NOTIFICATION SYSTEM.
UH, AND IT HAS TO BE PLACED NEAR A PRIMARY EGRESS OR NEAR THE PRIMARY ENTRANCE.
AND WHAT THAT IS, IS THAT'S A, A, A MANUAL ACTIVATION BUTTON PULL SWITCH, SOMETHING THAT WILL ACTIVATE THE NOTIFICATION SYSTEM IN THE EVENT THAT THEIR FIRE HAS STARTED.
AND THERE IS SIMPLY THE SMOKE HAS GOTTEN NOT, HAS NOT GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S ACTIVATED THE SMOKE DETECTION SYSTEM.
WE'RE ALSO ASKING THAT EXTERIOR GAS GRILLS BE FITTED WITH AN AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF TIMER FOR NOT MORE THAN 60 MINUTES.
THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDS TO QUITE REGULARLY, GRILLS GETTING LEFT ON CAUSING DAMAGE AND THAT THIS IS EXISTING PROVISION, OUR CODE THAT MAINTAIN NUMBNESS, DIRECTED ESCAPE ROUTES IN AN STR PROPERTY, ALSO RELATED TO, ALSO RELATED TO, UH, FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY.
I APOLOGIZE, I HAVE TO GO TO A SEPARATE SECTION FOR THIS 'CAUSE IT'S A NOTICE WITHIN THE UNIT IS THIS PART OF THE SHORT TERM RENTAL PERMIT APPLICATION.
AND AS PART OF A POSTING IN THE UNIT, WE ARE REQUESTING THAT A FLOOR PLAN BE PROVIDED TO AS PART OF THE PERMIT.
AND THEN THAT FLOOR PLAN BE POSTED IN THE UNIT.
THAT FLOOR PLAN IS TO INCLUDE THESE ITEMS THAT ARE LISTED HERE IN A WALLS, DOORS, WINDOWS, STAIRS, EXTERIOR EXIT, SO FORTH, BED LOCATION, SLEEPING CAPACITY, LOCATION OF THOSE SMOKE, THOSE SAFETY DEVICES THAT I JUST REFERENCED, AS WELL AS THEN TO HAVE A FIRE ESCAPE PLAN WITH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY ESCAPE ROUTES FROM EACH ROOM WITH A DESIGNATED MEETING SPOT OUTSIDE WITH SOME ADDITIONAL CLARITY ON WHERE THAT NEEDS TO BE POSTED IN THE UNIT.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS ALSO A LIFE SAFETY ITEM, UM, CONTAINED OUTSIDE OF THOSE, THOSE ORIGINAL REQUIREMENTS.
THE NEXT ITEM IS RELATED TO GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE.
PRESENTLY, WE DO NOT HAVE AN INSURANCE REQUIREMENT FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HEARD JUST AS, AS A, SOMETHING TO ENSURE THAT, UH, OUR, BOTH OUR, OUR OWNERS AND OUR RESIDENTS, OUR GUESTS ARE PROTECTED.
THAT THE OWNER MUST KEEP IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT DURING ALL TIMES A GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE AGAINST PERSONAL INJURY AND DEATH WITH LIMITS NO LESS THAN A MILLION DOLLARS.
AND THAT HAS TO BE PROVIDED TO US AS PART OF THE APPLICATION.
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A CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE FORM, UH, THAT COULD BE PROVIDED BY ANY INSURANCE COMPANY THAT PROVIDES A PROOF OF INSURANCE.WE RECEIVE THAT FORM FOR, FOR MANY OTHER BUSINESSES AND, AND OTHER ITEMS THAT WE, WE AS A TOWN CONTRACT FOR.
UH, THE NEXT ITEM I I ACTUALLY MENTIONED AS PART OF THE LIFE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS IS THE FLOOR PLAN AND SITE PLAN REQUIREMENT.
THIS SAYS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME THING THAT I READ BEFORE, SO I WON'T REHASH THIS, BUT AGAIN, THIS IS GETTING BACK TO THAT.
THERE IS A, AN ADDITIONAL FLOOR PLAN REQUIREMENT.
A SITE PLAN IS ALL REQUIRED TODAY THAT SHOWS TWO THINGS, PARKING AND TRASH.
THE NEW REQUIREMENT IS THE, IS THE FLOOR PLAN WITH THE FIRE ESCAPE PLAN.
I APOLOGIZE, I'M SCROLLING BACK AND FORTH, BUT IT'S, I THE NEXT ITEM ARE INSPECTIONS.
SO WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT INSPECTIONS IN OUR RECENT MEETINGS ABOUT WHETHER WE INSPECT EVERY PROPERTY, WHETHER WE INSPECT SOME PROPERTIES.
HOW DO WE SET THIS, HOW DO WE SET THIS UP? WHAT WE BELIEVE THE CONSENSUS IS THAT WE HEARD IS THAT ANY ST PRO STR PROPERTY IS SUBJECT TO INSPECTION BY TOWN STAFF TO VERIFY COMPLIANCE.
WE ALSO HAVE TO GIVE PROPER NOTICE BECAUSE THERE ARE AT TENANTS IN THE, IN THE UNIT.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE, UM, WORKING WITH, UH, STAFF AND TOWN ATTORNEYS.
WE'VE, WE'VE IDENTIFIED 48 HOURS OF WRITTEN NOTICE BEING PROVIDED TO THE CONTACT INFORMATION THAT'S ON THE STR PERMIT BEFORE WE CAN GO INTO THE UNIT.
AND THAT ALLOW US TO VERIFY ALL THE REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE IN THIS PROVISION OR IN THIS CODE, UH, ARE IN FACT IN PLACE.
UH, THE LAST ITEM IS RELATED TO FEES.
THIS IS A PRETTY LARGE DOCUMENT THAT I NEED TO SCROLL THROUGH.
SO WITHIN THE BUDGET ORDINANCE, EXHIBIT F, NOW SHOWN AS EXHIBIT FB INCLUDES THE BASIS IN FEES FOR SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMITS, WE HEARD A NUMBER SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 1,020 500 IS WHAT WE HAD HEARD FROM COUNSEL, WHETHER THAT SHOULD BE A FLAT FEE OR A GRADUATED FEE BASE NUMBER OF BEDROOMS. UM, THERE WE ALSO HEARD THAT THERE'S, THERE WAS, THERE WAS SOME CONSENSUS ON IT SHOULD BE A GRADUATED FEE.
WHAT IS PROPOSED HERE IS ADJUSTING THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMIT FEE FROM SEVEN FROM $250 PER PROPERTY AS A FLAT FEE TO $750 FOR PROPERTIES WITH ZERO TO FOUR BEDROOMS TO $2,500 PER PROPERTY WITH FIVE OR MORE BEDROOMS, AND THEN A $250 LATE FEE.
SO WHEN A LATE FEE WOULD KICK IN AS IF SOMEONE WERE TO OPERATE WITHOUT A A SHORT TERM RENTAL PERMIT, THEY COULD BOTH BE IN VIOLATION OF OUR CODE AND BE SUBJECT TO A, A CITATION, BUT THEY COULD ALSO BE SUBJECT TO A, AN ADDITIONAL TO A LATE FEE.
I KNOW THERE'S A, UM, NATURAL INSTINCT TO WANT TO CON TO MAKE COMMENTS AT THIS POINT AMONGST YOURSELVES THAT IT IS HARD TO HEAR AS IT IS.
SO IF EVERYONE CAN JUST PLEASE KEEP THAT QUIET SO THAT SEAN CAN CONTINUE, WE'D ALL APPRECIATE THAT.
UH, AS FAR AS THE MAIN TOPICS OF THE ORDINANCE, UH, THOSE WERE THE MAIN TOPICS THAT I LAID OUT.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT'S MISSING, I CAN, I'M HAPPY TO GO BACK TO THAT AND, AND PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL CLARITY.
UH, OTHERWISE, UM, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FROM THIS POINT AND GO FROM THERE.
THANK YOU FOR GOING OVER THAT AND POINTING OUT THOSE IMPORTANT PIECES OF WHAT IS IN THE ORDINANCE AND WHAT IS NOT IN THE ORDINANCE AS IT'S BEING PRESENTED TO THIS COMMITTEE TODAY.
I DO WANT TO MAKE, TAKE A MOMENT AND TO, UM, MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS AWARE THAT BESIDES THIS, THE THREE OF US WHO SIT ON THIS COMMITTEE, WE HAVE OUR MAYOR IN THE AUDIENCE.
WE ALSO HAVE COUNCILWOMAN BRYSON IS IN THE AUDIENCE AND COUNCILWOMAN TURNER IN THE AUDIENCE.
SO, AND I HAVE NOT SEEN COUNCILMAN BROWN TODAY.
AND SO YOU HAVE SIX OF THE FULL SEVEN MEMBER TOWN COUNCIL WHO HAS PROVED THIS TOWARDS THIS COMMITTEE TO REVIEW, UM, TO REVIEW IN THE AUDIENCE, AND THEY WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THE CONVERSATION.
SO WITH THAT, I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A CONVERSATION AND, UM, I'M GONNA START WITH OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND, UM, ASK IF ANY OF THOSE TOPICS, I REALIZE WE WENT THROUGH THEM VERY, VERY CLEARLY, BUT WITH SOME SPEED.
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IF THERE'S ANYTHING, LET'S TAKE IT IN ORDER AS IT WAS PRESENTED TO US WITH REGARD TO OCCUPANCY.UM, I KNOW THAT WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING A 10 PLUS TWO.
UM, I'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATION INSIDE AND OUTSIDE.
UH, I BELIEVE THAT, UM, THAT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
AND AS I DESCRIBED IN A MEETING I HAD YESTERDAY, UM, I THINK WE HAD NEED TO HAVE A BASELINE.
WE GOTTA GET STARTED SOMEWHERE.
UH, IT CAN BE QUICKLY CHANGED IF THERE ARE ANOMALIES THAT SHOW UP.
I'M NOT OPPOSED TO A 10 PLUS FOUR OR 10 PLUS SIX, UM, TO BEGIN THIS THING, BUT, UM, BUT AS IT SITS, AND THIS IS THE ONLY SUBJECT YOU'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT, AND THEN GO TO THE NEXT SUBJECT.
UM, WELL, LET ME ASK MY COMMITTEE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO THAT IN, IN THE ORDER AS IT WAS PRESENTED OR DO YOU WANNA JUST, I JUST HAVE A GENERAL QUESTION.
ANOTHER, ANOTHER, UM, WHEN YOU SAY MANUAL, WHEN YOU SAY MANUAL FIRE ALARM, IS THAT LOCAL MEANING LOCAL IN THE HOUSE OR DOES IT GO GO TO THE FIRE STATION? BOTH.
SO THIS REQUIREMENT IS FOR EVERY UNIT TO HAVE THIS HAND PULL? THAT'S CORRECT.
THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN INTO THE ORDINANCE, THAT IS THE WAY, AND THAT IS THE WAY THAT IT WAS PRESENTED.
AND, AND FROM MY EXPERIENCE RECENTLY SITTING IN THE MEETINGS WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN SMALL GROUPS, LESS THAN THREE, UM, THAT WAS SUPPORTED.
NOW IS ARE YOU ASKING SPECIFIC QUESTION WITH REGARD TO THAT? WELL, I JUST WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I RECALL SOME DISCUSSIONS THAT, THAT, THAT'S WHY I ASK IF IT'S LOCAL OR IF IT GOES TO THE STATION.
IS THAT JUST, UM, A HAND PULL TO ALERT THE HOUSE THAT YOU'RE IN AND A SIGNAL GOES OFF THAT, HEY, THERE'S A FIRE IN THE HOUSE, NOT NECESSARILY TO THE FIRE, THE FIRE STATION.
UM, SO YES, IT WOULD, IT WOULD LOCALLY ALARM, IT WOULD SET OFF THE DETECTION INSIDE THE HOME, BUT IT WOULD ALSO ACTIVATE THE MONITORING COMPANY.
CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT HOW THAT WORKS? UM, CHIEF? YEAH.
SO, UM, WHEN THERE IS AN ACTIVATION, WHETHER IT'S A SMOKE ALARM OR THE MANUAL POLE STATION, THAT IT SENDS A SIGNAL TO THE OFFSITE ALARM COMPANY, THEY IMMEDIATELY CONTACT OUR DISPATCH CENTER SIMULTANEOUSLY.
UM, THEY'RE ALSO TRYING TO CONTACT THE, UM, OCCUPANT OR THE OWNER, WHOEVER'S ON FILE WITH THAT.
AND OUR DISPATCHERS SIMULTANEOUSLY OR AFTER WE'RE DISPATCHED, ARE ALSO TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING.
IT'S JUST THE AUTOMATIC RESPONSE, UM, GETS US OUT THE DOOR FASTER, UM, FASTER THAN SOMEONE CALLING 9 1 1.
AND THIS HAS TO BE IF PASSED ACTIVE BY MAY THE FIRST.
DAWN, CAN YOU HELP US OUT WITH THE TIMEFRAME? YEAH, ACTUALLY, I REALIZED AS WE, AS YOU SAID, MAY THE FIRST, THANK YOU, CHRIS.
LEMME GO BACK TO THE GOOD MIKE.
ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT I INADVERTENTLY GLANCED OVER WAS THE EFFECTIVE DATE.
SO LEMME GO BACK AND CLARIFY THE EFFECTIVE DATE.
AND THE REASON I ASK IF, IF, IF IT PASSES, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A COMMITTEE MEETING AND THIS HAS TO GO BEFORE FULL COUNSEL, SO THINGS CHANGE ALONG THE WAY, BUT IF, IF, YEAH, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE AVAILABILITY OF HAVING THIS INSTALLED BY WHAT EFFECTIVE DATE? SO FIRST, LET ME, LET ME ADDRESS THE EFFECTIVE DATE.
SO THERE'S, THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITH THE EFFECTIVE DATE RIGHT NOW.
HOW THE ORDINANCE IS STRUCTURED IS PERMITS ARE ISSUED ON A CALENDAR YEAR BASIS, JANUARY ONE TO DECEMBER 31.
AS A MATTER OF POLICY, WE OPEN UP THE PERMITS ON NOVEMBER 1ST FOR A 60 DAY WINDOW FOR RENEWALS.
YOU CAN APPLY FOR A NEW PERMIT ANYTIME DURING THE YEAR, BUT THAT PERMIT IS ONLY GOOD FOR THE BALANCE OF THAT CALENDAR YEAR.
YOU DON'T, IF YOU, IF YOU APPLY IN OCTOBER, IT'S NOT GOOD FOR ALL OF THE NEXT YEAR.
WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING IN THIS CASE IS TO ALIGN OUR SHORT, SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMIT PERIOD WITH OUR BUSINESS LICENSE.
BUSINESS LICENSES ARE GOOD FROM MAY 1ST TILL APRIL 30TH.
THE WINDOW OPENS UP ON A, ON A SIMILAR PERIOD, A COUPLE MONTHS BEFORE, UH, THE, THE, THE, THE, THE LICENSES ARE ACTUALLY DUE.
GIVES US A COUPLE OF BENEFITS IN THIS CASE.
ONE NOW SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMITS, WHICH REQUIRE A BUSINESS LICENSE ARE NOW ALIGNED AND WE'RE RECEIVING THOSE AT THE SAME TIME.
SO THERE'S SOME EFFICIENCY IN, IN OUR REVIEW.
YES, IT'S MORE REVIEW, BUT THERE IS EFFICIENCY IN THAT.
BUT IN THIS CASE, IT ALSO GIVES TIME FOR THE FINANCE TEAM, OUR REVENUE COLLECTION TEAM, TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THESE ITEMS THAT IF THEY'RE ADOPTED, NEED TO GO INTO OUR PERMIT SOFTWARE AND MAKE SURE OUR APPLICATION, OUR FIRST, OUR APPLICATIONS ARE UPDATED, OUR PROCESSES ARE UPDATED, AND WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE WITH, AND, AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE, WITH THE SHORT TERM RENTAL COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT'S GONNA BE REQUIRED WHEN THIS NEW APPLICATION COMES DUE.
[00:30:01]
SO THE NEW APPLICATION WOULD, WOULD COME UP NO LATER THAN, THAN MARCH 1ST, UH, AS PART OF THE WAY THIS IS PROPOSED HERE, AS FAR AS IN THE EFFECTIVE DATE TO YOUR, TO YOUR POINT.SO PERMITS THAT ARE IN EFFECT RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE IN EFFECT, THEY'LL, THEY'LL, THEY'LL BE EXTENDED OUT UNTIL THAT, THAT APRIL ONE, OR I'M SORRY, THAT, THAT APRIL 30TH DEADLINE.
ANY NEW PERMIT THAT WALKS IN THE DOOR AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ORDINANCE.
SO THE DAY THAT THIS IS ADOPTED, THE DAY AFTER THIS IS ADOPTED, THE ANY NEW PERMIT THAT WALKS IN WILL BE SUBJECT TO THESE NEW REGULATIONS.
FOR ALL THOSE PERMITS THAT ARE IN HAND, THEY WILL GO TO MAY 1ST, 2026, AND THEN EVERYBODY WILL HAVE TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHAPTER, INCLUDING THE FIRE, THE FIRE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS ON MAY 1ST, 2026.
UM, YEAH, I MEAN, UH, HERE AGAIN, PASS OR, OR NOT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE AVAILABILITY IS TO GET THAT INSTALLATION COMPLETED IN, WHAT, NINE MONTHS FOR 7,000 UNITS.
SO, YOU KNOW, SO BE, SO BE THAT AS IT MAY, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT IF, UM, WELL, DO WE HAVE ANY IN INFORMATION WITH REGARD TO AVAILABILITY OR COSTS, ET CETERA? 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT'S BEEN A POINT THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP.
SO IS, SO I'LL CHIEF HAS, UH, CHIEF AND HIS TEAM, THE FIRE TEAM HAS DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS, UM, SO THEY CAN SPEAK BETTER TO THE AVAILABILITY OF THE CONTRACTORS AND, AND COSTS.
SO YEAH, WHEN WE STARTED DOWN THIS, UM, BACK IN FEBRUARY, UM, WE DID GET WITH SOME OF THE LOCAL, UM, INSTALL COMPANIES AND THEY, THEY DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH AVAILABILITY.
SO AT THE TIME, WE'RE ONLY LOOKING AT 36 OVER 3,600 SQUARE FEET, WHICH IS ABOUT 500 AND SOME PROPERTIES.
AND WE KNEW AT THAT TIME IT WOULD TAKE SOME TIME, UM, YEAR AND A HALF OR SO TO GET THAT INSTALLED.
THEY'RE DEALING WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. EVERYONE ELSE IS FINDING PEOPLE TO, IF YOU GUYS WANT THE ANSWER, YOU NEED TO LISTEN.
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE AND YOUR DECORUM IN THIS MATTER.
SO YES, UM, I, I DO NOT THINK HAVING ALL THIS INSTALLED BY, BY MAY 1ST IN EVERY PROPERTY IS, IS FEASIBLE OR COULD EVEN HAPPEN.
UM, AS FAR AS PRICING, IT WAS VERY HARD FOR US TO GET ANY KIND OF PRICING AS THEY WANT SPECIFIC SPEC, UH, SPECIFICATIONS OF HOUSES AND STUFF.
I BELIEVE WE WERE ABLE TO ROUGHLY GET ONE, UM, ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
I CAN'T REMEMBER, DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT A YEAR AGO? ABOUT A, DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT PRICE IT WAS? I BELIEVE IT WAS 3,800.
ABOUT $3,800 FOR A 36, UH, HUNDRED SQUARE FOOT HOME FOR A 3,600 SQUARE FOOT HOME.
SO, SO LET ME ASK, LET ME ASK YOU, UM, ALL YOU'RE GETTING THE ANSWERS YOU CAME TO HERE, SO PLEASE, THANK YOU.
SO YOUR RECOMMENDATION HAS BEEN TO US CONSISTENTLY 3,600 FEET IN ABOVE YES.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S ADEQUATE WITH YOU AS YEAH.
SO, GOING BACK, WE, WE CAME UP WITH THAT NUMBER, UM, A A FEW YEARS AGO AS PERTAINING TO OUR RESPONSES IN THAT 3,600 SQUARE FOOT IS, IS THE NUMBER THAT THE, UM, WATER LINE INTO THE HOUSE GOES FROM RESIDENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL.
SO 30, UH, SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL UNDER 3,600 SQUARE FOOT REQUIRES A RESIDENTIAL WATERLINE.
WE THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD, UM, NUMBER TO USE AS WELL.
UM, IN 3,600 SQUARE FOOT, OUR LARGER HOME'S MORE COMPLEX.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO THINK AMONG, AS, AS A MAZE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WITH SMOKE FILLED GETTING OUT, IT'S A LARGER MAZE THAN A SMALLER MAZE TWO BEDROOM, UH, CONDO.
UH, SEAN, WHAT'S YOUR, WHAT'S YOUR, UM, CAN I GO, GO AHEAD.
YOU'VE GOT YOUR TRAIN OF THOUGHT GOING.
I JUST WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION BEFORE YOU LEAVE.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE TO US, THANK YOU.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE TO US THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE POLE ALARM AND YOUR TYPICAL SMOKE ALARM? UM, YEAH, THE POLE, THE POLE ALARM.
SO WHAT WE TYPICALLY SEE IN, SO OUR FIRES, UM, HERE IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, OUR FIRES ARE LARGER.
FIRES ARE STARTING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOMES.
UM, GRILL, FIRES, CANDLES, LEFT BURNING, STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO IT TAKES TIME FOR THAT SMOKE TO GET INSIDE THE HOUSE, WHICH IS WHERE YOUR SMOKE DETECTORS ARE.
SO THAT MANUAL ALARM ALLOWS YOU TO VISUALLY SEE A FIRE THAT HAS NOT REACHED, UM, EITHER THE SIZE OR GOTTEN INTO THE HOUSE, UM, TO WHERE IT'S ACTIVATED.
THE SMOKE DETECTORS, YOU CAN GO OVER, YOU CAN PULL THAT ALARM AND IT DOES EVERYTHING THAT THE SMOKE DETECTOR WOULD DO.
SO IT'S REALLY JUST, IT'S A, IT'S A VISUAL, BUT IT HASN'T, YOU KNOW, REACHED THE SIZE TO, TO SET OFF THE SYSTEM SO YOU CAN JUST ACTIVELY PULL IT.
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, YOU PULL THE PHONE MM-HMM
AND THEN HELPS TO GET Y'ALL THERE FASTER SO THAT YOU CAN RESPOND BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST, WHICH IS THE PRIMARY ISSUE, BUT ALSO HOMES ARE DESTROYED.
[00:35:01]
IF YOU CAN FIND YOUR PHONE.SO I HEARD A COMMENT, I'M JUST GONNA REACT TO IT AS I HEARD IT, BUT PLEASE DO NOT SHOUT OUT 9 1 1.
IF YOU CAN FIND YOUR PHONE, IF IT'S CHARGED, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA, THOSE ARE ALL FACTORS THAT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED.
YOU HAVE NINE ONE ONE, YOU CALL 9 1 1.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU CAN'T FIND YOUR PHONE, IF THE PHONES ARE DEAD? AND THEN YOU HAVE THE SITUATION WHERE THERE'S A LIFE THAT'S IN JEOPARDY, THAT'S JUST, IT'S JUST IN RESPONSE TO WHAT I HEARD THROWN OUT.
IF THAT'S NOT IMPORTANT TO YOU, THAT'S YOUR DECISION TO MAKE.
UM, FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC AND AUDIENCE, SO WHEN WE PUT THESE, WHEN WE PUT THIS AGENDA TOGETHER, WHEN SEAN STAFF PUTS THIS AGENDA TOGETHER, IT'S PUT TOGETHER LIKE SEAN SAID, BUT I LIKE TO REITERATE IT FROM A SERIES OF MEETINGS THAT ARE THREE COUNCIL PEOPLE OR LESS, MAYBE ONE-ON-ONE, MAYBE PHONE CALLS.
IT'S NEVER, IT'S NEVER, UM, A QUORUM OF WHICH WE'RE GONNA HAVE, YOU KNOW, IT'S COUNCIL MEETINGS.
SO THESE ARE IDEAS THAT COME FROM STEVE, FROM BECKER, MYSELF, ALL THE DIFFERENT COUNCIL FROM STAFF, AND THEY GET PUT INTO AN AGENDA ITEM TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS ON.
SO WHAT YOU SEE AND WHAT YOU READ IN THIS DOCUMENT MAY NOT BE THE, UH, FULL COUNSEL'S RECOMMENDATION THAT COULD COME FROM THREE PEOPLE.
SO AS WE TALK THROUGH THESE THINGS, AND AS YOU SIGN UP AND YOU HAVE YOUR, YOUR PIECE TO SAY ABOUT THESE, THEN WE TAKE ALL THIS INTO CONSIDERATION AND, UM, AND WE MOVE THE COMMITTEE FORWARD TO FULL COUNSEL.
AND, AND THEN AGAIN, IT'S GONNA CHANGE.
THOSE, THOSE CHANGES ARE MADE AND THEY'RE EVOLVING.
SO JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THAT.
SO WHAT YOU SEE HERE, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE IN THE ROOM TODAY, AND A LOT OF PHONE CALLS I'VE RECEIVED ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE FULL OUTCOME OF WHAT WILL COME OUT OF THIS.
UM, BUT A QUESTION FOR YOU, FLOOR PLAN, UM, WHAT'S YOUR FEELING ON, ON THAT ABOUT GETTING A FLOOR PLAN SUBMITTED CORRECTLY? SO BASED ON THE EXPERIENCE THAT OUR REVENUE COLLECTION TEAM HAS, EVEN WITH A, WITH A SITE PLAN, I SUSPECT IT'LL BE CHALLENGING FOR MANY PROPERTY OWNERS, MAYBE SOME OF THE, THE, UH, THE PROPERTY MANAGERS TO PROVIDE THAT.
LET'S GO BACK TO WHY THAT WAS, THAT WAS PART OF THE CONSENSUS THAT WE HEARD IT WAS IF WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING FOR OCCUPANCY, IF WE'RE GONNA BE ASKING FOR THESE LIFE DAY SAFETY THINGS, UM, SHOULD THERE BE A FLOOR PLAN THAT HELPS ARTICULATE THAT AND DEMONSTRATE COMPLIANCE WITH THAT AS PART OF IT, RECOGNIZING THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME ISSUE AND THAT WILL ULTIMATELY FALL BACK ONTO OUR REVENUE COLLECTION TEAM TO, TO WORK WITH AN APPLICANT TO RESOLVE.
RIGHT NOW THEY SPEND A LOT OF TIME, UH, WORKING BACK AND FORTH WITH, WITH, WITH, UH, APPLICANTS AS AS THEY NEED ASSISTANCE, WHETHER THAT'S WITH A SITE PLAN, WHETHER THAT'S WITH ANY INFORMATION, THERE ARE, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO ALSO ASK FOR THAT INFORMATION THROUGH THE SERIES OF QUESTIONS.
THERE'S OTHER WAYS WE CAN, WE CAN GLEAN THAT INFORMATION FROM AN APPLICANT TO DEMONSTRATE COMPLIANCE WITH THAT REQUIREMENT.
UM, WHAT'S YOUR, WHAT, WHAT DO YOU, THIS MAY NOT BE AS, THIS WASN'T A STAFF RECOMMENDATION, RIGHT? NO.
SO ALL THIS WAS BASED ON CONS.
WHAT WE BELIEVED WAS CONSENSUS FROM OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU.
SO IT WOULDN'T, IN YOUR OPINION, THEN, IF IT WASN'T A STAFF RECOMMENDATION, IT WOULDN'T PROVIDE YOU ANY HELP.
YOU JUST NEED TO KNOW NUMBER OF BEDROOMS, RIGHT? YEAH.
BEDROOMS IN SLEEPING CAPACITY.
UM, AS FAR AS FEES GO, AGAIN, THIS IS STRUCTURED THROUGH A SERIES OF MEETINGS, AND AS YOU HEARD SEAN SAY, IT WENT EVERYWHERE FROM HERE TO HERE.
AND SO WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA TODAY IS SEVEN, I THINK SEVEN 50 UP TO FOUR UNITS, AND 2,500 FOR FOUR AND ABOVE, UH, BEDROOMS. AND AFTER A LOT OF DISCUSSION, I FEEL LIKE THAT'S KIND OF, UH, EXCESSIVE.
UH, WE HAD ONE COUNCIL PERSON PUT SOME INFORMATION TOGETHER, AND I APPRECIATE PATSY DOING THAT.
UM, AND MELINDA, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON SOME NUMBERS AND I APPRECIATE, AND THEY'RE GONNA SPEAK TO THAT, I'M SURE.
BUT, UH, I COULD SEE IT MORE IN THE RANGE OF 500 AND A THOUSAND.
UH, AND I THINK IT MAKES MORE SENSE.
UH, IT GENERATES THE FUNDS THAT THE STAFF NEEDS TO PERFORM THIS, UH, PROPERLY.
[00:40:04]
YEAH, I JUST THINK 25 HUNDRED'S TOO HIGH.I THINK IT'S, UH, IT'S A LITTLE EXCESSIVE.
FIRST, A FEW GENERAL COMMENTS.
UH, I FOR ONE, AM VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE TURNOUT HERE TODAY.
MY LONG EXPERIENCE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT SAYS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE AN ATTENTIVE CITIZENRY, YOU HAVE A BETTER LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
SO I THANK YOU ALL FOR, UH, COMING OUT.
I ALSO WANNA THANK MR. LEININGER FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I PUT THAT, UH, MEMO TOGETHER IN VERY SHORT ORDER AND CAPTURED A LOT OF INFORMATION, UH, AND VIEWPOINTS OF VARIOUS MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AND OTHERWISE, BUT AS INDICATED, IT'S A STARTING POINT.
THE PRESENTATION, UH, MR. INGER PUT TOGETHER IS BASED ON, UH, WHAT HAS GONE ON ELSEWHERE.
HILTON HEAD IS SOMEWHAT SLOW IN GETTING AROUND TO DEALING WITH THE QUESTION OF SHORT TERM RENTALS.
UH, MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES, UH, AROUND THE STATE, AROUND THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD HAVE ALREADY ENACTED SHORT TERM RENTAL REGULATIONS AND THEIR PROVISIONS IN THEIR EXPERIENCES PROVIDED THE BASIS ON WHICH STAFF PUT THIS MATTER TOGETHER.
UH, IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAR, CAROLINA ALONE, OVER 30 COMMUNITIES HAVE ALREADY ADOPTED SHORT TERM RENTAL REGULATIONS.
AND OF COURSE, WE ALL KNOW ABOUT MAJOR, UM, BEACH AND SKI RESORT AREAS THAT HAVE ADOPTED RULES LIKE THIS.
AND WE ALSO OCCASIONALLY HEAR ABOUT WHAT GOES ON IN EUROPE.
UM, PEOPLE IN VENICE AND, UH, BARCELONA HAVE GONE TO THE EXTENT OF WATER CANNONS TO TRY TO KEEP THE TOURISTS AWAY.
UM, THE OTHER, ANOTHER ASPECT IS WE ARE TRYING TO MOVE THIS PARTICULAR PROVISION AMENDING THE MUNICIPAL CODE, ALONG WITH A GOOD DEAL OF SPEED.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THAT IS, IS, IS WHILE THIS MATTER HAS BEEN KICKING AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, AS YOU KNOW, WE RECENTLY CONSIDERED THE QUESTION OF WHETHER TO HAVE A MORATORIUM AND CONSUL'S ESSENTIAL CONCLUSION WAS, LET'S GET THE SUBSTANTIVE MATERIAL ADOPTED PROPERLY AND FORGET ABOUT A MORATORIUM.
SO WHAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY ARE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE MUNICIPAL CODE.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SUBJECTS, AS MR. LEININGER HAS INDICATED, ARE NOT INCLUDED HERE.
UH, SOME OF THEM INCLUDE THE CONCEPTS OF LIMITATIONS BY NUMBERS, PERCENTAGES, GEOGRAPHY, AND SO ON CAPS, IN OTHER WORDS, THEY'RE NOT HERE.
THOSE ITEMS AND ANY WILL BE PART OF WHAT COMES ALONG IN A, IN A LITTLE WHILE IN TERMS OF AMENDMENTS TO THE LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE.
UH, SO WE'VE GOT PART OF THAT HERE.
UM, I, IN, IN TERMS OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO AWAIT THE, UH, COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE BEFORE MAKING DETAILED COMMENTS.
BUT, UH, I THINK THE, UM, MATERIAL PRE PRESENTED BY STAFF IS VERY GOOD.
BUT I HAVE AT LEAST FIVE AREAS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHANGES IN, UH, AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE REALLY NEED SOME OF THESE PROVISIONS.
AND THEY RELATE TO FLOOR PLANS, FIRE ESCAPE PLANS, INSURANCE PULL ALARMS, FEES, AND THE 3,600 SQUARE FOOT.
UM, SOMETHING LIKE A FIRE ESCAPE PLAN, IN MY MIND, IF YOU PUT A NOTE UP ON THE TOP FLOOR, THE ATTIC OF A BUILDING, YOUR ESCAPE PLAN IS GO DOWNSTAIRS.
SO, ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT AND I'M GLAD WE GOT YOUR ATTENTION A LITTLE BIT.
UM, WELL, BEFORE I CHIME IN, I'M GONNA WELCOME OUR, UM, OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE IN ATTENDANCE HERE TODAY AND ASK THEM TO JOIN US IN THE CONVERSATION.
UM, I'LL LET YOU PICK AMONGST YOURSELF IF YOU LIKE, OR I'M GONNA CALL ON YOU.
SO WHOEVER WOULD LIKE TO COME UP FIRST.
IT LOOKS LIKE COUNCILWOMAN BRYSON IS COMING UP, I THINK IT'S CALLED, WHO GOT THE SHORT STRAW
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
UM, ALL ALONG, UM, FOR THREE YEARS NOW, PARDON ME, I'VE HEARD FROM COMMUNITIES, UH, AROUND
[00:45:01]
OUR ISLAND, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT, UH, TWO MAIN ISSUES WITH REGARD TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS.UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD SAY THAT, UM, MY HUSBAND AND I USED TO HAVE A SHORT-TERM RENTAL HERE ON THE ISLAND
SO WE HAVE HAD EXPERIENCE WITH SHORT-TERM RENTAL, ONLY ONE.
UM, AND SO I, I APPRECIATE IT.
WE ALSO ARE, UM, ON PROPERTY IN OTHER LOCATIONS WHERE WE ARE LONG-TERM RENTALS
WE ALSO HAVE OCCUPIED SHORT-TERM RENTALS, NOT JUST, UH, WITHIN THIS STATE, BUT THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND EVEN IN OTHER COUNTRIES.
SO, SO I HAVE EXPERIENCE ON, ON ALL THREE SIDES, BOTH AS, UM, PART OF A GOVERNING BODY, UM, AND ALSO AS SOMEONE OWNING A SHORT-TERM RENTAL, LONG-TERM RENTAL, AND THEN ALSO, UM, HAVING TRAVELED AND USED THOSE KIND OF FACILITIES.
UM, SO I, I, I, WHEN I LOOK AT IT, I LOOK WITH THAT BACKGROUND IN MINE.
UM, IN ADDITION, UM, MY FATHER WAS A REALTOR AND I GOT MY REALTOR'S LICENSE IN NORTH CAROLINA, WORKED WITH HIM FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS, UM, IN THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS, BOTH MY PARENTS OWN SMALL BUSINESSES.
SO I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE BUSINESS SIDE.
IT HAS NEVER BEEN MY IDEA OR INTENTION TO DO AWAY WITH SHORT TERM RENTALS.
MY IDEA HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO BALANCE THE INTEREST OF FULL-TIME RESIDENTS, THOSE WHO OWN SHORT-TERM RENTALS, THOSE WHO OCCUPY SHORT-TERM RENTALS, UM, AND THOSE WHO COME AND VISIT AND MAY DECIDE TO INVEST AND BECOME AN OWNER OF A SHORT-TERM RENTAL UNTIL THEY CAN INDEED MOVE HERE.
THAT'S WHAT MY HUSBAND AND I DID.
SO I UNDERSTAND THOSE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE THREE MAIN AREAS I'VE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT ALL ALONG ARE OCCUPANCY, PARKING, AND LIFE SAFETY.
OCCUPANCY AND PARKING HAVE BEEN THE DRUM BEAT FOR THREE YEARS OF RESIDENTS IN MANY EMAILS I AND OTHER MEMBERS HAVE RECEIVED.
SO FIRST OF ALL, I'LL GO DOWN THE LIST TO SAVE SOME TIME OCCUPANCY IN SECTION 10 DASH TWO DASH 60 C.
I SUPPORT THE TWO PER BEDROOM PLUS TWO.
AND THE REASON I DO THAT IS I LOOKED AT OCCUPANCY BY GOING ON A WEBSITE, HAPPENED TO BE VRBO, AND LOOKING AT, AT FIRST I PICKED A NUMBER OF 10 OCCUPANTS, AND THEN I PICKED 20.
WHEN I PICKED 20, I WAS GREATLY ALARMED.
FOLKS HAVE HEARD ME SAY THIS BEFORE, AND I'VE NOW GOT RIGHT HERE IN MY STACK, AT LEAST 13 HOMES WHERE THEY HAVE LIMITED SQUARE FOOTAGE AND OVER 20 OCCUPANTS.
AND WHAT ALARMED ME THE MOST WAS CHILDREN IN BUNK ROOMS ON A, A FINISHED TOP FLOOR AND ADVERTISED AS CHILDREN'S BUNK ROOMS. AND MY MOM HAD A DAYCARE CENTER BUSINESS FOR OVER 35 YEARS.
I WORKED AT MY MOM'S DAYCARE CENTER IN BETWEEN SCHOOL TIMES.
SO IT IS, IT, IT, IT SO ALARMED ME THAT I COULD NOT STOP THINKING ABOUT THOSE KIDS ON THE TOP FLOOR ALL IN THE BUNK ROOM, AND WHAT IF THERE WERE A FIRE? AND THAT'S WHEN I BECAME VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OCCUPANCY AND LIFE SAFETY.
SO I SUPPORT THE DRAFT WITH TWO PER BEDROOM PLUS TWO.
AND WITH REGARD TO PARKING IN 10 DASH TWO DASH 60 F, UM, MY MISSING CONCERN IS MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SPACES.
SO I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE GO BACK TO INCLUDING WHAT THE STAFF INITIALLY RECOMMENDED OF A MAXIMUM OF SIX SPACES.
BUT I WOULD INCLUDE AN EXCEPTION AND I PROVIDED SOME SUGGESTED LANGUAGE, AND THAT IS, IF YOU HAVE A PREVIOUSLY APPROVED SITE PLAN FOR MORE THAN SIX SPACES, THEN MORE THAN SIX SPACES MAY BE ALLOWED.
IF THERE'S COMPLIANCE WITH ALL THE OTHER, THIS, IF, IF YOU ALREADY HAVE APPROVED SITE PLAN, UM, IF YOUR COMPLIANCE WITH ALL THE OTHER PARKING REGULATIONS, IF THE PARKING PLAN IS IN CONCERT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER AND THE OFFICIAL, THE TOWN OFFICIAL APPROVES THAT PARKING PLAN.
WE, WE HEARD SOME COMMENTS ABOUT WHAT IF WE ALREADY HAVE MORE THAN SIX SPACES, WHAT IF THE, THE SITE CAN ALLOW, UH, I THINK I HEARD ONE INSTANCE OF NINE SPACES.
SO WHY NOT ALLOW A PROVISION FOR THAT AND INCLUDE A MAXIMUM? THAT'S WHAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN ASKING US FOR MANY PHOTOS, MANY PHONE CALLS, MANY EMAILS ABOUT PARKING INSTANCES, BLOCKING PATHWAYS, BLOCKING ROADWAYS, UH, ON, ON THEIR PROPERTY.
WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO CARVE THIS OUT WITH A
[00:50:01]
BALANCING TEST.AND I DO BELIEVE THAT THE MAXIMUM OF SIX WITH THAT PROVISO DOES THAT.
SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND FOR PARKING WITH REGARD TO FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY IN 10 DASH TWO DASH 60 C.
UM, AND ALSO, UH, AS MR. LEININGER POINTED OUT, THE EFFECTIVE DATE, I RELY UPON OUR FIRE CHIEF AND THANK YOU CHIEF FOR YOUR INFORMATION AND FOR ALL YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO, AND, AND LOOKING AT THE ORIGINAL PROVISION THAT WAS BEFORE US IN FEBRUARY, THE SYSTEMS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT JUST NOW ARE RECOMMENDED FOR HOUSES OF 3,600 SQUARE FEET AND ABOVE.
AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT IT, IT'S NOT BECAUSE I DON'T CARE ABOUT PEOPLE IN SMALLER HOUSES,
THERE CAN BE, I ABSOLUTELY CARE ABOUT EVERYONE, EVERY PLACE, NO MATTER THE SQUARE FOOTAGE.
BUT I WANNA BE PRACTICAL ABOUT THIS.
I WANNA COME BACK TO THE BALANCING TEST AND I'M LISTENING TO THE FIRE CHIEF AND I'M LISTENING TO HOW LONG IT'S GONNA TAKE TO MAKE INSTALLATIONS.
I'M THINKING ABOUT THOSE WHO HAVE A TWO BEDROOM VILLA, THREE BEDROOM VILLA, WHICH ARE THE BULK OF OUR PERMITS AND THE COST TO IMPLEMENT SUCH A SYSTEM IF THEY CAN GO FOR IT.
BUT I DON'T WANNA MAKE THEM DO IT BASED ON THE COSTS.
THE OTHER SAFETY THINGS THAT WE INCLUDE, SMOKE DETECTOR, UH, CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR, AND THEN THERE'S A PROVISION FOR THE SHUTOFF OF THE GAS PROPANE, WHICH I UNDERSTAND EVEN I COULD INSTALL
UM, SO I WOULD STICK WITH THOSE AND LIMIT THE OTHER KIND OF SYSTEMS. AND IF YOU HAVE A FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM, WHICH I UNDERSTAND TO BE A SPRINKLER SYSTEM, THEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO INSTALL THESE OTHER SYSTEMS. AND I DON'T WANNA RETROFIT A, A FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM.
I UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CONSTRUCTION, AND THAT'S NOT DOABLE IN, IN MOST CASES.
UM, SO I WOULD STICK WITH WHAT THE FIRE CHIEF INITIALLY RECOMMENDED, AND THAT IS FOR THOSE SYSTEMS, UNLESS YOU HAVE A FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM, UM, THAT ARE DESCRIBED IN THAT SUBSECTION FOR HOMES THAT ARE 33, 600 FEET AND ABOVE.
UM, WITH REGARD TO THE LIABILITY INSURANCE, UH, FOUND IN, UH, SUBSECTION 10 DASH TWO DASH 60 B, UM, I, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD PRACTICE FOR FOLKS TO HAVE.
UM, IT'S CERTAINLY A GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO INCLUDE IT IN A REQUIREMENT.
I WOULD DELETE THAT REQUIREMENT.
UM, WITH REGARD TO SITE PLAN AND FLOOR PLAN, UM, SITE PLAN, WE DO NEED, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE YOU SHOW YOUR PARKING THAT'S ALREADY IN THE ORDINANCE.
I WOULD KEEP THAT THE FLOOR PLAN I'VE HEARD FROM, UH, ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER, UM, THAT, UH, THAT IS AN ADDITIONAL, UM, UH, CHALLENGE FOR OUR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO REVIEW A LOT OF FLOOR PLANS.
AND THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, UM, AND I'VE LOOKED AT A LOT OF FLOOR PLANS AND, AND CONSTRUCTION PLANS, UM, NOT ANYONE CAN DRAW A FLOOR PLAN.
UM, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE A FLOOR PLAN, IT OUGHT TO BE SOMETHING LIKE A, IT OUGHT TO BE SOMETHING I CAN DRAW
BUT THE FIRST TEST IS DOES OUR STAFF NEED THAT TO BE ABLE TO SHOW COMPLIANCE WITH THE ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS? AND I HEAR FROM STAFF THAT WE DO NOT.
SO I WOULD STRIKE THAT REQUIREMENT FOR A FLOOR PLAN.
UM, WITH REGARD TO INSPECTIONS, I'LL STAY WITH THE LANGUAGE THAT'S THERE.
UM, IT'S GONNA TAKE US SOME TIME TO BE ABLE TO DO INSPECTIONS.
THERE ARE OVER 7,000 PERMITS AS OF 2025, AND I'LL LEAVE THAT TO THE TOWN MANAGER AND HIS STAFF TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PHASE IN MAYBE LOOKING AT THE CRITICAL AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND TO BEGIN WITH THOSE.
BUT I'M NOT GONNA TELL THE TOWN MANAGER AND STAFF HOW TO DO INSPECTIONS.
UM, BUT WE SHOULD HAVE, UM, SUBJECT TO INSPECTION.
UM, THEN, UM, WITH REGARD TO THE FEES, UM, AND, AND THANK YOU, UH, MR. DISIMONE FOR MENTIONING THAT, UH, MS. HUNTER AND I HAD WORKED AS MS. HUNTER IS THE FINANCIAL WIZARD, NOT ME,
I THINK AGAIN, ABOUT THE BULK OF THE TWO AND THREE BEDROOM UNITS THAT WE HAVE AND, AND, AND THE EXTRAORDINARY COSTS THAT WE WOULD BE ADDING ON.
I, I DO NOT SUPPORT THE PROPOSED FEES.
WHAT I DO SUPPORT IS FOR THE TOWN MANAGER TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE FEES AND TO RELATE THOSE FEES TO WHAT THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
UM, AND I THINK, UH, MS. HUNTER, UM, HAS SOME SUGGESTIONS ABOUT THOSE FEES, BUT THEY WOULD BE A LOT LESS.
UM, AND, AND THERE WOULD BE STILL TWO TIERS BASED ON THE SIZE OF, BASED ON THE NUMBER OF BEDROOMS. BUT I'LL DEFER TO MS. HUNTER TO ADDRESS THAT.
BUT I DO NOT SUPPORT THESE LARGE FEES.
[00:55:01]
DIRECTED TO ACTUAL COST OF ENFORCEMENT.UM, WITH REGARD TO THE EFFECTIVE DATES, UM, THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS IN HERE.
I THINK THAT, UM, OUR STAFF IN DRAFTING THIS NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE BIT CLEARER ABOUT.
UM, IT, IT'S CLEAR ABOUT THE, THE FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS. I'LL JUST CALL 'EM THE FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS FOR WHAT I'M DESCRIBING AS NEEDED IN 3,600 AND ABOVE BASED ON RELIANCE ON THE FIRE CHIEF.
UM, IT IS THAT IT, IT'S CLEAR FOR NEW PERMITS THAT UPON ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, AND THE FEES, WHATEVER THEY MIGHT BE, THAT APPLIES ALL NEW PERMITS WITH REGARD TO THOSE WHO HAVE PERMITS FOR 2025 AFTER ADOPTION, THEN THEIR TIME PERIOD IS EXTENDED UNTIL APRIL 30 AS NOW PROPOSED, WHATEVER THAT TIME PERIOD MIGHT BE.
BUT THAT THEN BEGS THE QUESTION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WITH THOSE KIND OF IN BETWEEN.
AND I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
THE OTHER THING THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP, AND THAT IS WHAT IF YOU HAVE PRIOR BOOKINGS, UM, AND I HOPE HE'S NOT SERVING PAPERS ON ME ANYHOW, I DEPUTY.
UM, SO BACK TO THE SERIOUS MATTER, BACK TO THOSE WHO HAD PRIOR BOOKINGS, I THINK IN THE EFFECTIVE DATE, WE OUGHT TO ADD A PROVISION ABOUT PRIOR BOOKINGS.
AND I'VE CRAFTED SOME LANGUAGE THAT I'VE GIVEN TO THE COMMITTEE AND THE STAFF, AND IT'S SOMETHING LIKE THIS AT NO POINT OF AUTHORSHIP.
BUT FOR ONLY THOSE STR PROPERTIES, WHICH HAVE AN STR PERMIT ISSUED PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS CHAPTER, AND FOR WHICH BOOKINGS HAVE BEEN MADE PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS CHAPTER, THE MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY IN SECTION 10 DASH TWO DASH 60 C SHALL NOT APPLY FOR ONLY THOSE BOOKINGS.
SO THAT TAKES CARE OF, IT TRIES TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE BOOKINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE FOR 2025.
AND, AND THE BURDEN OF THAT IS ON, UH, THE PROPERTY OWNER OR THE, UH, THE AGENT AUTHORIZED TO BOOK ON BEHALF OF THE PROPERTY OWNER TO SHOW THAT CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT IT WAS MADE PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE.
SO I, I THINK THAT WOULD HELP ADDRESS, AND THEN IF WE CAN CLEAN UP SOME LANGUAGE ABOUT HOW THE, WE HAVE SOME LANGUAGE ABOUT PERMITS AND SOME LANGUAGE ABOUT EFFECTIVE DATE AND JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE THAT CRYSTAL CLEAR, I THINK THAT THAT NEEDS SOME HELP.
UM, MADAM CHAIR, I THINK THAT ADDRESSED THE LIST OF ISSUES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, TALKED ABOUT.
AND UM, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE NEXT PERSON WHO WANTS TO SPEAK FROM TOWN COUNCIL.
UM, PATSY COUNCILWOMAN BRYSON, WELCOME, COUNCILWOMAN HUNTER.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK, UH, EVERYBODY WHO IS IN ATTENDANCE TODAY.
AND FOR ALL THE EMAILS THAT I RECEIVED, I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO GET BACK TO EACH AND EVERY ONE.
THERE WAS QUITE A VOLUME AND I HAVE BEEN BUSY PREPARING FOR THIS MEETING AND I HAD SOME OTHER OBLIGATIONS AS WELL.
SO, UM, ALTHOUGH I MAY HAVE NOT HAVE RESPONDED TO YOU, I DID READ YOUR EMAILS.
UM, WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, I'M LOOKING FOR SOME BALANCE.
UH, I WANNA MAKE SURE WE ADDRESS RESIDENT CONCERNS, BUT I ALSO WANNA LISTEN TO OUR BUSINESS OWNERS AS WELL.
AND I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON TWO THINGS, AND THIS IS PART OF THE FEEDBACK THAT I'VE SEEN FROM THE EMAILS.
I THINK WE NEED TO INCREASE OUR ENFORCEMENT, AND I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE ON THAT, BUT I THINK WE CAN DO THAT AS WELL AS MAKE ADDITIONAL POLICY CHANGES.
SO AS WE GO THROUGH THE LIST, UM, I AGREE WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN BRYSON'S, UM, LIST OF ITEMS. SO IN OCCUPANCY, I AM COMFORTABLE WITH THE APPROACH THAT HAS PROPOSED, UH, ON PARKING.
UH, I SUPPORT COUNCILMAN BRYSON'S PROVISION FOR A MAXIMUM OF SIX, BUT A PROVISION THAT ALLOWS IF THE SITE PLAN, UH, PROVIDES MORE CARS, UM, FIRE AND SAFETY, I WAS NOT SUPPORTIVE OF HAVING, UH, THE INTEGRATED SMOKE DETECTOR AS WELL AS THE PULL ALARMS FOR THE SMALLER, UM, SHORT, SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
AND SO I AM ALIGNED WITH 3,600 AND LARGER.
UH, WHAT WAS INTERESTING, HOWEVER, IS CHIEF'S COMMENT ABOUT THE TIME IT WOULD TAKE TO GET THOSE INSTALLED.
AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE SOME CONSIDERATION IN THERE, UM, WITH THE LACK OF VENDORS, ET CETERA.
[01:00:01]
COUNCILMAN BECKER AND I MET WITH THE VACATION RENTAL COMPANIES, AND SO, UM, I DID TAKE AWAY THAT WHEN NEW REGULATIONS ARE PUT INTO PLACE, IT DOES TAKE SOME TIME, EVEN IF IT'S SIMPLE TO GET THOSE ITEMS ADDRESSED.UH, IN REGARDS TO GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE, UM, I KNOW THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO REMOVE THAT.
THAT'S ONE THAT I STRUGGLE WITH.
I COME FROM THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY AND, UM, IN MY PRIOR LIFE.
AND SO I KNOW THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE PROPERLY INSURED AND I KNOW THE PEOPLE IN THOSE IN THE ROOM KNOWS THIS VERY WELL, BUT THAT YOUR PERSONAL INSURANCE POLICY IS NOT GOING TO COVER, UH, ANY LIABILITY WHEN YOU ARE RENTING YOUR HOME AS A BUSINESS.
AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT LIABILITY INSURANCE.
I AM WILLING TO BE FLEXIBLE ON THAT.
I KNOW THAT THERE IS A, UM, STATE SENATE LAW, UH, THAT IS PROPOSED 4, 4 2, WHERE THEY ARE PROPOSING TO HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS IN COMMERCIAL LIABILITY INSURANCE AS A REQUIREMENT FOR STR.
SO THAT IS, UM, HAS NOT BEEN PASSED YET, BUT THAT IS IN PROCESS IN THE STATE.
UM, SO THAT MIGHT BE, MIGHT BE THE WAY TO GO.
UH, IN REGARDS TO THE FLOOR PLAN, UH, YOU KNOW, AS I LOOKED AT AND READ THE FEEDBACK, UM, FROM PEOPLE WHO EMAILED ME, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS CONCERN THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE DONE BY AN ARCHITECT, ET CETERA.
AND SO I HAD SOME QUESTIONS ON THAT AS WELL.
UM, MS. BRYSON TALKED ABOUT A, A SKETCH THAT COULD BE DONE, BUT I'M ALSO, UH, LISTENING TO OUR STAFF TO SAY THAT IT WOULD BE CHALLENGING, UM, TO HAVE THAT COMPONENT.
UM, SO THAT'S AN AREA THAT I'M WILLING TO, UH, THINK ABOUT IN REGARDS TO INSPECTIONS.
UM, INSPECTIONS ARE GONNA BE VERY IMPORTANT, UM, AND I LIKE THE APPROACH THAT THE TOWN MANAGER IS GOING TO DECIDE HOW TO PUT THAT PLAN IN PLACE.
UM, SO I KNOW SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WAS IN THE EMAIL WAS THAT THERE WASN'T AN INSPECTION PLAN.
THERE WILL BE AN INSPECTION PLAN, BUT THAT'LL BE DESIGNED BY THE TOWN MANAGER, AND I TRUST THAT HE'LL PUT SOMETHING APPROPRIATE IN PLACE IN REGARDS TO THE FEES.
UM, THIS IS AN AREA THAT I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT WAS PROPOSED, AND IT REALLY GETS TO A QUESTION THAT I'VE ASKED BEFORE.
UM, ARE WE A PROFIT CENTER OR ARE WE A COST CENTER? AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS, ARE WE A PROFIT CENTER WHERE WE TAKE A PROGRAM AND WE WANNA GENERATE A LOT OF EXCESS REVENUE OVER AND ABOVE OUR COSTS? OR ARE WE, UM, MORE OF A COST CENTER WHERE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COVER OUR COSTS? AND WHEN I'VE ASKED THIS QUESTION BEFORE, THE FEEDBACK THAT'S BEEN GIVEN BY OTHER TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS HAS BEEN, UM, NOT ALL, BUT SOME THAT WE WANNA COVER OUR COSTS.
AND, UM, IF THAT'S THE APPROACH THAT WE WANNA TAKE TO COVER OUR COSTS, THEN THE PROPOSAL GENERATES, UM, A LARGE AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE.
SO, UM, COUNCILMAN BRYSON DID MENTION
I HEARD, UM, COUNCILMAN DESIMONE, UM, IDENTIFY A, A DIFFERENT STRATEGY.
UM, BUT, AND YOU CAN SLICE IT MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT THE POINT IS, I THINK WE NEED TO REDUCE IT, UH, THE STRUCTURE IN ORDER TO COVER OUR COSTS, UM, AND NOT EFFECTIVELY DRIVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL REVENUES IN REGARDS TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE.
I, UM, AM COMFORTABLE WITH AND SUPPORT THE CHANGE OF MOVING THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS TO ALIGN TO THE BUSINESS LICENSE TIMELINE.
I THINK THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
UM, BUT AGAIN, IN REGARDS TO EFFECTIVE DATES, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE ABILITY TO GET THOSE, UM, FIRE AND SAFETY ITEMS IN, IN A TIMELY MANNER FOR 3,600 FEET AND LARGER.
AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, OF THOSE WHO ARE ATTENDING AND PARTICIPATING IN THIS CONVERSATION FROM OUR TOWN COUNCIL MAYOR PERRY? YEAH, I, I'LL BE, UM, I'LL BE QUICK.
UM, STEVE, I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
YOU SAID 10 PLUS FOUR AND THEN 10 PLUS SIX.
[01:05:01]
EXPLANATION ON THAT AT SOME POINT IN TIME, THAT'D BE GREAT.WELL, I THINK, I THINK THE, UH, THE BIG CHANGE WOULD BE IN, IN STRUCTURES ABOVE FOUR BEDROOMS. OKAY.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE LOOKED AT THAT A LITTLE MORE CLOSELY, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S TODAY'S THE DAY RIGHT, BUT MIGHT BE BEFORE COUNCIL MEETING THAT IT GOES TO TEN FOUR OR, OR TEN SIX.
WELL, THAT'S JUST FOR, THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD THAT, SO IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
UM, AND I, I, IF SEAN CAN ANSWER THIS, YOU KNOW, NOT RIGHT NOW, BUT IN A MINUTE, BUT, UM, WHERE DOES IT APPLY? IS IT IN PUDS? IS IN POAS AS ACROSS THE ISLAND? I JUST THINK FOR THE, FOR THE GROUP, IT NEEDS TO BE ANSWERED SO THAT IT'S CLEAR AS TO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FROM THE, FROM THE PARKING TO THE OCCUPANCY TO THE FEES, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT SOME OF THE PUDS HAVE THEIR OWN FEES IN PLACE.
UM, I, I DO WANNA TURN AROUND AND, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR EMAILS.
AS MS. HUNTER SAID, YOU KNOW, WE, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ADDRESSING US.
I KNOW, I KNOW YOURS, NOT MINE.
I WAS TAKING SOME LENIENCY, BUT, UM, THANK Y'ALL.
UM, IT'S BEEN HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF EMAILS WITH A LOT OF GREAT SUGGESTIONS, AND I WASN'T GONNA SPEAK TODAY.
I WAS JUST GONNA LISTEN, BUT I, BUT I FEEL THE NEED TO, TO REALLY THANK EVERYBODY THAT HAS, THAT HAS SPOKEN UP AND HAVE BEEN BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS.
OUR JOB IS NOT TO PUT A, A CHALLENGE ON OUR INDUSTRY.
IT'S NOT TO PUT ANYBODY OUT OF BUSINESS IT, FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT'S ABOUT THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR RESIDENTS.
AND WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT CHALLENGES OF RESIDENTS BEING ABLE TO PULL OUT OF THEIR, THEIR DRIVEWAY IN THE MORNING, THAT'S A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE.
UM, OF COURSE WE WANT TO HAVE THE BEST GUESTS HERE AND WE WANT THEM TO HAVE THE BEST EXPERIENCE.
MS. TURNER SAID IT, IT IS ABOUT ENFORCEMENT.
AND I'M GONNA TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF LEEWAY IF YOU DON'T MIND, BOB.
UM, WE ENACTED ENFORCEMENT WITH ADMINISTRATIVE FINES THIS SUMMER.
NOW THERE HASN'T BEEN A WHOLE LOT OF FINES, BUT IT'S ALSO BECAUSE WE HAVE A GREAT CODE ENFORCEMENT TEAM THAT IS OUT THERE WORKING WITH OUR GUESTS AND OUR OWNERS TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THEY'RE COMPLYING WITH THE RULES AND REGULATIONS.
WE HAVE A HABITUAL OFFENDER THAT, THAT PROPERTY NOW HAS THREE CITATIONS, ONE MORE, AND THEY LOSE THEIR LICENSE.
THEY ARE IMPLEMENTING CHANGES TO IMPROVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THEIR PROPERTY.
THAT IS WHERE WE NEED TO FOCUS.
THEY'RE MAKING CERTAIN THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT PARKING OR THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO PARK.
THEY HAVE ADJUSTED THEIR NOISE, UH, METER SO THAT IT READS QUICKER.
SO WHEN PEOPLE ARE OUT OF LINE, THEY'RE NOTIFIED.
UM, PARKING IS AN ISSUE, OCCUPANCY IS AN ISSUE.
I THINK THAT SOME OF THIS WE NEED TO BRING INTO PLAY NOW, AND SOME OF IT WE NEED DO, NEED TO LOOK AT FOR 27 BECAUSE THEY'RE ELEMENTS THAT CAN'T NOT BE IMPLEMENTED.
AND SEAN, ALSO, I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO ADDRESS THE, JUST BRIEFLY, THE LMO UH, WORK THAT'S BEING DONE THAT WILL REALLY BE TAKING UP IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY, AND HOW IT WILL ADDRESS DIFFERENT AREAS WHERE SHORT-TERM RENTALS MAY OR MAY NOT BE ALLOWED.
BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS A BIG PART OF THE CONVERSATION HERE TODAY AS WELL.
UM, I APPRECIATE HOW YOU'RE HOLDING THE MEETING TODAY.
AND NO, IT IS NOT ONE PERSON THAT HAS SET THIS.
IT IS DIFFERENCES OF OPINIONS THAT HAVE COME TOGETHER WITH ALL OF THIS INFORMATION THAT TOWN STAFF HAS PULLED TOGETHER.
AND LASTLY, I REALLY THINK THAT MARK ORLANDO AND SEAN LAER AND HIS STAFF DESERVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE BECAUSE WHAT THEY HAVE PUT TOGETHER TODAY IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
AND WITHOUT THE LEADERSHIP OF MR. ORLANDO AND MR. LAER, WE WOULD BE IN A MUCH WORSE POSITION.
SO I THINK THEM, BECAUSE THEY HAVE GREAT KNOWLEDGE AND GREAT EXPERIENCE, AND TO HELP GUIDE US THROUGH THIS.
ALRIGHT, SO LET'S, UM, CIRCLE BACK TO A FEW THINGS.
UM, LET'S ASK SEAN FIRST AND THEN, UM, IF WE CAN GET, UM, A DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, INVOLVED A LITTLE BIT HERE TOO.
AND I JUST DO WANT TO REITERATE, UM, THE MAYOR'S COMMENTS WITH REGARD TO THE FACT THAT IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, LESS THAN A MONTH, WE ARE SITTING HERE WITH ALL SEVEN OF US HAVING WORKED REALLY HARD WITH THE DEPUTY TOWN MANAGER, OUR TOWN MANAGER, LEADING THE WAY, OUR SAFETY OFFICIALS, OUR FIRE CHIEF AND STAFF TO BRING THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS AND THE CONCERNS THAT WERE BEING ASKED OF US TO, TO SOLVE.
AND, UM, AND, AND WE ALL APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
AND, UM, WE APPRECIATE YOU AND ENJOY WORKING WITH YOU.
[01:10:02]
THANK YOU SOUH, SO THERE WERE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT THE, THE MAYOR ASKED, UH, THAT I ADDRESSED.
UH, THE FIRST WAS, WHERE DOES THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE APPLY? THIS IS A MUNICIPAL COURT ORDINANCE.
IT APPLIES TO THE ENTIRE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF HILL, NET ISLAND, WHETHER YOU'RE IN A POD, WHETHER YOU'RE OUTSIDE OF A PUD, IT APPLIES EQUALLY, UH, THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE ISLAND AS FAR AS THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE ON YELLOW MO BEFORE, BEFORE YOU START THAT, CAN WE CLARIFY WITH THAT THOUGH, PART OF THE QUESTION AS TO WHERE IT APPLIES? THE QUESTIONS HAVE COME UP, DOES IT APPLY TO TIMESHARES, DOES IT APPLY TO THIS CATEGORY OR THAT CATEGORY? CAN YOU DEFINE THAT FOR US SO THAT EVERYONE IS AWARE? YES.
SO THERE, THERE IS ACTUALLY EXISTING LANGUAGE IN THE ORDINANCE.
IT'S THE LAST SENTENCE OF THE PURPOSE AND OF INTENT.
AND IT SAYS THIS CHAPTER IS NOT INTENDED TO REGULATE HOTELS, MOTELS, HOSPITALS, OR INTERVAL OCCUPANCY USES INTERVAL O BE USES FOR THOSE THAT ARE TIMESHARES.
UM, SO THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE AREAS THAT WE DO NOT REGULATE.
THIS IS EXCLUSIVELY FOR PRIVATELY OWNED AND THIS IS UP AT THE TOP PRIVATELY OWNED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY THAT IS RENTED FOR TRANSIENT OCCUPANTS FOR PERIODS LESS THAN 30 CONSECUTIVE DAYS WITHIN MUNICIPAL LIMITS.
UH, AS FAR AS THE LMO, UM, AND THE AMENDMENT THAT WE ARE WORKING ON AND THE CONVERSATIONS RELATED TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND HOW DOES THAT FIT INTO IT? UM, AS PART OF THESE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE HAD CONVER WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT LOCATION RESTRICTIONS, USE RESTRICTIONS, UM, AS PART OF THIS CONVERSATION, THOSE TYPES OF CONVERSATIONS HAPPEN AS A ZONING.
AND RIGHT NOW WE DO NOT REGULATE SHORT-TERM RENTALS AS A USE IN OUR ZONING DISTRICT.
THE USE OF THESE HOMES AS SINGLE FAMILY, RESIDENTIAL, MULTIFAMILY, RESIDENCE, WHATEVER THE TYPE OF RESIDENTIAL UNIT THAT IT IS, THAT THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
WE JUST, WE, WE REQUIRE A LICENSE IF YOU RENT IT FOR THESE PURPOSES.
A BEST PRACTICE THAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTRY NOW, UH, AS IT RELATES TO SHORT TERM RENTALS IS THEY ARE BEING DEFINED AS A USE WITHIN THE ZONING ORDINANCE OR IN OUR CASE TO LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE.
SO THERE HAVE NOT BEEN DECISIONS MADE, BUT WE ARE HEARING THE INPUT THAT WE'RE RECEIVING THROUGH THESE CONVERSATIONS AND WE ARE TAKING THAT IN AND WE ARE STARTING TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO, DO WE, ONE, DO WE REGULATE SHORT TERM RENTALS AS THE USE IN YELLOW MO AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IS IT BASED ON THE SIZE, THE SIZE OF THE HOME, WHETHER THAT'S NUMBER OF BEDROOMS, WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE.
UH, WE'VE ALSO HAD COMMUNITIES REACH OUT TO US, NEIGHBORHOODS REACH OUT TO US AND SAY, WE DON'T WANT SHORT TERM RENTALS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY MAY NOT HAVE THEM NOW, THEY DON'T WANT THEM IN THE FUTURE.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE ADDRESS THOSE TYPES OF SITUATIONS.
AGAIN, THERE'S DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE ON THAT.
THESE ARE IDEAS THAT ARE STARTING TO INFORM, UH, CODE AS WE'RE WRITING CODE RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND WE'LL START TO SEE THAT COME TO FRUITION HERE AS WE RELEASE THE CODE IN, IN THE NEW YEAR AFTER DECEMBER 31.
SO DID THAT GET YOUR ANSWERS YOU WERE LOOKING FOR? YEAH.
AND THERE WAS ANOTHER, UH, POINT THAT HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY MADE WITH REGARD TO ENFORCEMENT.
AND THEN I, SO I THOUGHT WE'D ASK OUR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY, BOB MAGE, TO COME UP AND, AND TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES AND, AND HOW, HOW THIS LOOKS TO HIM.
MADAM CHAIR COMMITTEE MEMBERS, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
UM, BOB MAGE, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY, 32 YEARS, RETIRED MAJOR WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
THREE YEARS WITH THE TOWN AT THIS POINT, 35 YEAR ISLAND RESIDENT.
SO, UM, OUR ENFORCEMENT, WE LEARNED AS WE WENT, OKAY.
WE STARTED IN 2023 INTO 2024, REALIZING THAT WE NEEDED AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE, WHICH TOWN COUNCIL GRANTED, AND WE'RE ABLE TO NOW WRITE ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS THAT'S BEEN EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE.
I'VE WRITTEN FIVE SO FAR IN CONTACT WITH THE OWNERS, THE PROPERTY MANAGERS, AND HAVE RECEIVED RESULTS AND I MEAN, BOLLARDS AND YARDS.
INCREASED SENSITIVITY OF NOISE METERS.
UH, MY FOLKS, THERE'S SEVEN IN ME, TOTAL OF EIGHT IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS COME TO COME TO WORK WITH A GREAT, GREAT ATTITUDE.
THEY'RE AMBASSADORS OF THE TOWN.
THEY'RE NOT THE HARD-NOSED POLICE PRESENCE.
EVERY SHORT TERM RENTAL COMPLAINT.
THEY RESPOND, KNOCK ON THE DOOR, MAKE CONTACT WITH THE TENANTS.
IF IT THEY'RE PARKED IN A GRASS, THEY'RE PARKED ON THE ROAD.
HOW ABOUT MOVE THE CAR? A HUNDRED PERCENT COMPLIANCE THERE.
WHAT WE LOOK FOR WITH ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS AT THIS POINT IS A PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR.
SUBSTANTIATED COMPLAINTS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, PARKING IN THE GRASS.
AND AGAIN, THE RESPONSE FROM THE OWNERS AND THE PROPERTY MANAGERS, MANAGERS HAS BEEN MORE THAN APPROPRIATE.
SO WHAT DO WE DO MOVING FORWARD? WE HAVE SOMEBODY PARKING ON THE GRASS.
WELL, THAT'S KIND OF THE TENANT'S FAULT AT THIS POINT, IF, IF THE OWNER WENT OUT AND AND SPENT THE MONEY TO GET THESE BALLARD PUT IN.
[01:15:01]
AGAIN, COMPLIANCE IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR HERE.NOT TO, NOT TO WRITE A BUNCH OF TICKETS.
I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THAT'S A, A GREAT LOOK FOR THE ISLAND TO BEGIN WITH.
SO I AGREE WITH YOU, THAT IS NOT A GOOD LOOK FOR THE ISLAND IF WE WERE TO GO OUT AND BE HANDING OUT TICKETS.
WE ARE FAMILY FRIENDLY AND MOSTLY FRIENDLY, UM, ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE WANT OUR VISITORS TO HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE, BUT OUR RESIDENTS TO HAVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT THEY EXPECTED WHEN THEY MOVED INTO A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND SO WE APPRECIATE THE T THAT YOU'VE TAKEN AND THAT YOUR ENFORCEMENT AGENTS HAVE TAKEN.
UM, AND I WILL, I WILL SAY THIS, YES, WHAT WE COULD DO BETTER.
UH, WE COULD HAVE FULL-TIME STAFF.
WE MONITORING JUST SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
WE PATROL THE BEACH, MAKE THOUSANDS OF CONTACTS EVERY SUMMER, ADDRESS DUNES VIOLATIONS, DRINKING ON THE BEACH.
WE ALSO ARE, ARE CHARGED WITH PARKING ENFORCEMENT AT THIS POINT.
SO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MADE AN OPINION AND WE ARE NOW THE ENFORCEMENT BRANCH OF PARKING.
AND IN ADDITION, WE'RE REMOVING ABANDONED BOATS.
WE GOT 10 ABANDONED BOATS OUT THE SUMMER.
SO WE COULD USE DEDICATED STAFF JUST FOR SHORT-TERM RENTAL TO DETECT, UH, NON-COMPLIANCE.
UH, YOU KNOW, GOBOS SCRAPES THE INTERNET AND THEY GIVE US ALL THIS DATA.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW THAT UP AND ADDRESS THOSE OPERATING WITHOUT A PERMIT OR A BUSINESS LICENSE, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
AND YOU DO ALL OF THAT WITH, UM, INCLUDING YOURSELF, EIGHT PEOPLE? YES, MA'AM.
365 DAYS A YEAR, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
WE HAVE THREE ON EACH DAY OF THE WEEKEND, UH, INCLUDING ME AND TOM MCNEIL WHO HELPS OUT A SUPERVISOR.
SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE REVENUE GENERATED FROM THE SHORT TERM RENTALS, THIS IS AN EXCELLENT USE OF THAT SINCE ONE OF THE MAJOR COMPLAINTS IS THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ENFORCEMENTS.
IF WE WOULD ONLY ENFORCE OUR RULES, WE WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEMS. WELL, THIS IS A DIRECTION WE'RE HEADING IN AND THOSE FEES WILL HELP TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.
ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR BOB? NO.
ARE KNOW OUR TOWN MANAGER IS IN THE ROOM TOO.
WE'LL CIRCLE, WE'LL CIRCLE BACK WITH HIM.
I WANTED TO JUST ASK HIM IF HE HAD ANYTHING HE WANTED TO SAY WITH REGARD TO, UM, THE FEES AND STAFFING AND THAT SORT OF THING.
UM, BECAUSE WHILE I'VE HEARD THAT WE HAVE SOME ANALYSIS THAT'S TAKEN PLACE BY OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND IT'S, I'M SURE EXCELLENT WORK, I WANNA HEAR FROM OUR TOWN MANAGER ABOUT WHAT ARE HIS NEEDS.
WE ARE SIMPLY A POLICYMAKING LEGISLATIVE PART OF THAT.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR SPECIFICALLY IF HE HAS COMMENTS WITH REGARD TO HIS NEEDS.
AND IF HE'S NOT PREPARED TODAY, THAT'S CERTAINLY FINE.
THIS IS, UM, THIS IS JUST THE NEXT STEP BEFORE WE GO TO TOWN COUNCIL, UM, FOR A FULL VOTE.
BUT I'VE SAVED MY COMMENTS FOR THE LAST SO THAT I COULD HEAR FROM, FROM OUR OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE TODAY.
AND, AND I WANNA THANK YOU ALL ALSO FOR YOUR EMAILS.
THEY WERE NOT ALL, UM, FROM THE SHORT TERM RENTAL MARKETPLACE.
THEY WERE FROM VISITORS, THEY WERE FROM RESIDENTS.
AND THE OVERWHELMING SENSE IS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT WE NEED TO SOLVE.
AND HOW WE GET THERE IS WHAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF TODAY.
OUR RESIDENTS DESERVE BETTER THAN WHAT THEY'RE GETTING.
AND, UM, AS THE REPRESENTATIVE ON THIS ISLAND, FOR THOSE RESIDENTS, UM, IT'S MY JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING FORTH AS MANY SOLUTIONS AS POSSIBLE AND THEN WE DISCUSS THEM, DEBATE THEM, TAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM STAFF AND FROM THE, UM, FROM THOSE WHO ARE IN THE TRENCHES EVERY DAY.
SO WITH REGARD, I'M GONNA MAKE MINE THE SAME PROCESS AS OTHERS HAVE AND TALK ABOUT OCCUPANCY, OCCUPANCY I'M IN ALIGNED WITH THE WAY THAT IT IS WRITTEN IN THE ORDINANCE.
THAT IT'S TWO PLUS TWO, TWO PER BEDROOM PLUS TWO.
AND THE REASON THAT IS IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE IN A HOME CREATES MORE SAFETY CONCERNS IN THE END.
MANY OF THE HOMES, UM, DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY, UM, FOR MORE THAN THAT.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, IT'S A LIFE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE FOR THOSE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS AND ALSO FOR THE VISITORS.
THE, AND I'M GONNA ADDRESS THAT ONE BECAUSE IT GETS LEFT BEHIND SOMETIMES THE VISITORS WHO HAVE SAVED ALL YEAR TO BRING THEIR FAMILY TO OUR
[01:20:01]
SLICE OF ISLAND PARADISE, THEY TOO DESERVE TO HAVE A, A VERY COMFORTABLE AND QUIET AND ENJOYABLE VACATION.THEY KNOW ANY MORE THAN A RESIDENT WANTS TO MOVE INTO A BEAUTIFUL HOME AND START THEIR VACATION AND THEN FIND OUT THAT THE NEXT DOOR, NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR, SHORT-TERM RENTAL IS GOING TO BE PARTYING ALL NIGHT LONG.
SO THIS ISN'T ACROSS THE BOARD, IT'S FOR RESIDENTS.
RESIDENTS FIRST, ALWAYS YOU HEAR ME SAY THAT, AND I MEAN IT WITH ALL MY HEART.
BUT THIS IS ALSO FOR THE VISITORS WHO COME FOR THEIR PEACE, FOR THEIR ENJOYMENT.
SO THAT, AS Y'ALL HAVE SAID, MANY OF YOU, THEY LATER BECOME OUR RESIDENTS.
LET'S MAKE SURE THEY WANT TO, LET'S MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THAT THE, THAT THE TOWN LOOKS AFTER THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE YEAR ROUND, THAT THEY WANNA BE A PIECE OF THAT.
WHAT I DO KNOW, IN ADDITION TO THAT IS THAT OVER THE COURSE OF THIS LAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE ARE LOSING RESIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS VERY ISSUE.
WE HAVE FULL-TIME RESIDENTS WHO CAN NO LONGER TOLERATE LIVING WEEK AFTER WEEK WITH SHORT-TERM RENTALS, EITHER NEXT TO THEM OR IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND DISTURBING THEIR LIFE AND THEY'RE LEAVING.
SO IF WE WANT TO BE A COMPLETELY RES RESORT AREA WITH NOTHING BUT RENTALS, IF WE DON'T MAKE SOME CHANGES, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GONNA END UP WITH.
AND YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE DATA.
SO WITH OCCUPANCY, AS I'VE SAID, UM, WE HAVE THE CONCERNS WITH SAFETY, QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL INVOLVED.
AND SO I'M STICKING WITH THE, UM, WHAT IT CAME OUT OF THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, THE TWO BY TWOS, UM, THAT TWO PER BEDROOM AND PLUS TWO WITH REGARD TO PARK.
UM, AND ALSO THERE'S A, FOR ME, A GLITCH BEFORE I FORGET, UM, A GLITCH IN THE WAY IT'S WORDED IN THE ORDINANCE, THE WAY IT'S WORDED IN THE ORDINANCE, IT IS ONLY ENFORCEABLE FROM 10 0 1 TO 6 59, THE OVERNIGHT HOURS WHEN THE LEAST OF THE PROBLEMS ARE HAPPENING THAT I JUST DESCRIBED.
AND SO IT IS MY VERY STRONG FEELING THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS OCCUPANCY, IT HAS TO BE 24 HOURS A DAY.
WE HAVE NO REAL ENFORCEMENT UNLESS YOU CALL THE SHERIFF.
AND HE GOD LOVED THEM, THEY TOO LIKE BOB OR RESPONDING TO THINGS AFTER 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT.
AND THOSE, THOSE COMPLAINTS ARE NOT PART OF THE BIGGER DATA SET THAT YOU SEE.
SO, UM, OCCUPANCY SHOULD BE 24 HOURS A DAY, NOT THE OVERNIGHT, SIMPLY THE OVERNIGHT HOURS PARKING.
I'M SATISFIED WITH THE WAY IT IS WRITTEN.
I BELIEVE THAT THE PARKING, UM, IS DRIVEN PRIMARILY BY THE SITE PLAN.
AND I BELIEVE A WONDERFUL GENTLEMAN THAT I, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY BY THE WAY TO SPEAK TO FOR AN HOUR ON THE PHONE PRIOR TO THE MASSIVE SOCIAL MEDIA BLITZ THAT HE CREATED, SAID TO ME THAT THESE, UM, UH, PARKING SIZES ARE NOT ADEQUATE NINE BY 18.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? HE'S RIGHT.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THE CARS AND TRUCKS AND SUVS THAT COME TO OUR ISLAND TO VISIT, THEY'RE NOT, THEY DON'T FIT IN NINE BY 18.
YOU NEED A BIGGER SPACE FOR THOSE.
SO I THINK THOSE ARE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER, BUT NOT NOW.
SO THE SITE PLAN DRIVES THE AMOUNT OF PARKING THAT CAN BE ALLOWED ON A PREMISE AND, UM, IF, IF OTHERS, THE CONSENSUS IS SIX MAXIMUM, THAT'S WHAT PALMETTO DUNES DOES.
THAT IS A RULE THAT IS OUT THERE AND ENFORCEABLE WITHIN THAT PARTICULAR PUD.
UM, AND IF THAT'S THE WAY THE CONSENSUS IS WITH THIS COUNCIL, I'LL GO ALONG WITH THAT.
UM, I, I'VE HEARD IN THE CONVERSATION WITH REGARD TO PARKING THAT PEOPLE ARE PUTTING UP BALLARDS IN THEIR FRONT YARD TO KEEP PEOPLE IN COMPLIANCE.
WHAT THEY ALSO HAVE DONE IN THIS ORDINANCE ADDRESSES IS THEY'VE COME IN WITH TRUCKLOADS OF CRUSH AND RUN AND OTHER SURFACE AREAS TO CREATE ADDITIONAL PARKING FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DRIVE AROUND.
AND IF YOU LIVE BEHIND THE GATES, YOU KNOW THIS IS TRUE.
THERE ARE RULES AND REGULATIONS ABOUT THE AESTHETICS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU CERTAINLY COULD NOT GET AWAY WITH THAT IN, IN OTHER AREAS AROUND THE ISLAND.
SO WHY IS IT ANY DIFFERENT FOR THOSE WHO LIVE OUTSIDE THE GATES? YOU DRIVE THROUGH YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU EXPECT THAT THE MAILBOX IS IN
[01:25:01]
ORDER, THAT HOMES ARE IN ORDER, AND THAT THE CARS ARE PLACED IN PLACES WHERE THEY OUGHT TO BE, AND THAT THE LANDSCAPE AND THE AESTHETICS ARE KEPT IN THE MOST NATURAL AND PLEASANT WAY.WHY SHOULD IT BE DIFFERENT ANYWHERE ELSE? AND NOW I'M HEARING THAT PEOPLE ARE PUTTING UP BALLARDS IN THEIR, THEIR YARDS TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT.
NOW IF I'M THINKING OF BALLARDS, I'M THINKING OF THE, THE LARGER THINGS THAT YOU PUT, YOU SEE THEM ALONG THE ROADS IN COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS.
IS THAT FAIR? IS THAT FAIR? THAT NEIGHBORHOOD NOW HAS THAT TYPE OF AESTHETIC.
WOULD YOU WANT THAT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD? SO, UM, JUST, WELL, IT'S, IT'S SOME SELF-REFLECTION.
IF, IF YOU THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, AND YOU ARE OKAY WITH IF FOR THE REST OF US, BUT LET'S MOVE ON.
FIRE AND SA, LIFE SAFETY, PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF GOVERNMENT IS FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY, PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY.
I HAVE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATIONS, I HAVE HEARD THE DISCUSSIONS IN THE TWO BY TWOS WHEN IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THE PULL ALARMS SHOULD BE APPLIED ACROSS THE BOARD.
AND I HEARD THEN NO, NO PUSHBACK.
I'M HEARING SOME TODAY, BUT I DID NOT HEAR ANY THEN.
SO, AND WE'VE HEARD HOW IT FUNCTIONS AND HOW IT WORKS.
WE ALSO HEARD ABOUT THE COST AND THE TIME DELAYS, BUT I HAD A COUPLE OF SIMPLE SUGGESTIONS THAT WERE TAKEN OFF THE TABLE.
YOU PUT THINGS ON THE TABLE, YOU DISCUSS THEM, YOU NEGOTIATE THEM, COME, SOME COME OFF, SOME GET BETTER, SOME TAKE, UH, MOVE FORWARD.
BUT I JUST WANNA REVIEW WHAT MY SUGGESTION WAS BECAUSE LIFE AND SAFETY IS IMPORTANT.
MY SUGGESTION WAS A SIMPLE PRODUCT, AND I'LL USE THE PRODUCT THAT WE USE.
THERE ARE MANY OUT THERE TO CHOOSE FROM.
BEEN IN OUR HOMEM, WE USE SIMPLISAFE FOR OUR SECURITY AND OUR FIRE.
IT'S LESS THAN A COUPLE OF HUNDRED DOLLARS TO BUY IT.
YOU CAN INSTALL IT YOURSELF $30 A MONTH TO MAINTAIN IT.
SO ALL IN LESS THAN A THOUSAND DOLLARS.
THAT TOO IS CONNECTED INTO THE WIRED SYSTEM THAT DOES EXACTLY WHAT, UM, THE DESIRED EFFECT IS TO CONTACT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND TO LET THEM KNOW THERE'S AN ISSUE IN THE HOME.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE SMOKE AND THE HEAT TO RISE TO THAT LEVEL BECAUSE THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF DAMAGE THAT CAN BE DONE IN BETWEEN.
BUT IT'S A SIMPLE AND RELATIVELY EFFECTIVE WAY TO AT LEAST NOTIFY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO COME LESS THAN A THOUSAND DOLLARS.
I ALSO MADE A RECOMMENDATION THAT A SIMPLE KITTY DEVICE, THAT'S A BRAND NAME RELATED TO FIRE AND SAFETY THAT IS COMPACT AND SITS IN BEDROOMS ON THE UPPER FLOORS THAT COSTS LESS THAN A HUNDRED DOLLARS EACH COULD BE PUT INTO HOMES SO THAT IN THE EVENT THAT A FIRE COMES WHILE, YES, THE EXIT PLAN IS TO GET OUT.
WHAT IF YOU CAN'T? WHAT IF THE SMOKE HAS RISEN BECAUSE NOW WE DON'T HAVE THAT SYSTEM IN PLACE AND THE SMOKE IS THERE AND THE FIRE IS THERE AND THAT STAIRCASE MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE TO YOU.
YOU CERTAINLY CAN'T GO DOWN THE ELEVATOR.
SO FOR LESS THAN A HUNDRED DOLLARS, A SIMPLE LADDER, COLLAPSIBLE LADDER THAT GETS PUT OVER THE EGRESS WINDOW, WHICH EVERY BEDROOM SHOULD HAVE MUST HAVE, SHALL HAVE YOU DROP IT OVER THE EDGE AND YOU CLIMB DOWN.
YOUR CHOICE IS TO DIE OR TO JUMP.
YOU WANNA JUMP FROM THREE FLOORS WITH YOUR PETS AND YOUR CHILDREN.
THOSE ARE OPTIONS YOU'RE MAKING.
IF IT DOESN'T GET PASSED THROUGH HERE, THEN THAT'S THE CONSENSUS IN THE WILL OF THIS COUNCIL.
BUT I AM GOING TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE THAT EACH AND EVERY PERSON, NOT JUST SHORT TERM RENTALS, BUT EACH AND EVERY PERSON WHO HAS A HOME ON HILTON HEAD ANYWHERE HAS SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THEIR BEDROOMS. IT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE.
AND IT MAY NEVER HAPPEN TO YOU, BUT THE DAY IT DOES, YOU'LL BE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO GET OUT.
SO WITH REGARD TO THE FIRE AND SAFETY, THE REASON THAT THERE IS A SITE PLAN, A FLOOR PLAN THAT IDENTIFIES WHERE THESE, UM, ITEMS ARE AND WHERE THE BEDROOMS ARE, IS SO THAT WHEN FIRE CHIEF GETS THERE WITH HIS CREW, THEY CAN HELP SAVE YOUR LIVES AS BUSINESS
[01:30:01]
OWNERS IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, BUSINESS OWNERS, YOU'VE ALL CALLED YOURSELF THAT.ANYONE WHO IS HERE, WHO'S FROM THE BUSINESS INDUSTRY OR OWNS ONE, YOU'VE CALLED YOURSELF THAT YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THOSE WHO ARE INVITING IN AND TAKING MONEY FROM.
I DON'T KNOW IF THOSE ARE PERSONAL CHOICES OR IF THAT'S A GOVERNMENT OVERREACH, BUT I THINK THAT IT'S THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF GOVERNMENT TO KEEP OUR FOLKS SAFE AND THEIR HEALTH AND WELFARE IS MY PRIMARY CONCERN.
TALKED ABOUT, UM, FOLKS HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE.
TO ME, IF YOU'RE RUNNING A BUSINESS, THEN YOU NEED TO PROVIDE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT GO ALONG WITH RUNNING A BUSINESS.
YOU DO THAT AT YOUR OWN PERIL.
I DON'T HAVE A STRONG OPINION FRANKLY ON THAT INSPECTIONS.
I THINK WE'LL LEAVE THAT, UM, AS THE TOWN MANAGER HAS SEEN FIT AND HOW AT LEAST IN THIS FIRST YEAR, UM, IS BEST IMPLEMENTED WITH REGARD TO FEES.
UM, I'M OKAY WITH, UM, THE SUGGESTION THAT MY COLLEAGUE, UM, COUNCILMAN DEONE HAS MADE AND WILL SUPPORT THAT AS A CHANGE.
AGAIN, I THINK THAT'S A MATTER OF, UM, THE TOWN MANAGER AND HIS STAFF KNOWING HOW THIS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED FOR THE FUTURE SO THAT IT GOES SMOOTHLY.
EVERYONE IS AWARE AND ABLE TO COMPLY IN THE MOST EASY WAY, MAN FOR THEMSELVES.
UM, AND SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT, UM, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I TOUCHED UPON.
BUT BEFORE I GIVE UP MY MICROPHONE HERE, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I'VE ADDRESSED MY COLLEAGUES' CONCERNS AND STATEMENTS.
AND I THINK I HAVE, AND I THINK I HAVE.
I ALSO WANNA MAKE JUST ONE OTHER POINT.
UM, I ASKED FOR SOME DATA RECENTLY, AND I THINK THIS IS, UM, INTERESTING WAS TO ME.
BUT AS OF YESTERDAY, AS OF YESTERDAY, THERE ARE 7,208 APPROVED SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMITS.
LESS THAN A MONTH AGO O THERE WERE 7,042.
THAT'S AN INCREASE OF 166 PERMITS.
SO IT GOES BACK TO WHAT I SAID.
ARE WE LOSING OUR RESIDENTS IN FAVOR OF SHORT TERM RENTALS? PERHAPS WE ARE.
IN ADDITION, IN 2019, THERE WERE 104 BUSINESS LICENSE THAT WERE ISSUED TO VACATION RENTAL COMPANIES IN 2019 PRE COVID.
TODAY THAT BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY, AND MANY OF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN IT, THERE ARE 133 PERMITS.
WHERE ARE YOU DRIVING THIS COMMUNITY TO? IT'S PROBABLY THE THIRD WAY I'VE SET IT.
WHERE ARE WE DRIVING? HILTON HEAD, ISLAND TWO.
WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF HILTON HEAD? IS IT A RES RESIDENTIAL RESORT OR IS IT A RESORT? RESORT? ASKED.
I DID, BUT I WASN'T FINISHED WITH IT.
SO I HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE SAYING IT'S A RESORT.
I SEE A LOT OF FOLKS SHAKING THEIR HEADS.
REMEMBER THAT? REMEMBER THAT IT'S A RESORT, NOT A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY.
THAT'S WHAT YOU JUST TOLD EVERYBODY.
I HOPE THE RESIDENTS ARE LISTENING.
MY POINT IS TAKEN BY THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING, WHO, WHO ARE RESIDENTS WHO CARE ABOUT THIS.
SO MOVE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
SO MOVING ON, UM, WE HAVE, UM, OUR TOWN MANAGER BACK IN THE ROOM AND DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO ADD WITH REGARD TO FEES, STAFFING, STRUCTURE, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?
[01:35:08]
GOOD MORNING, MS. BECKER.YEAH, I WOULD SAY THIS, I'D LIKE TO JUST HOLD OFF SOME OF MY COMMENT AND MY SUMMARY AS I TYPICALLY WOULD IN A MEETING LIKE THIS.
I WILL SUMMARIZE YOUR DIRECTION.
I'LL SUMMARIZE THE INPUT THAT I RECEIVED FROM TOWN COUNCIL, UM, THAT HAVE SPOKE, AND PERHAPS AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT.
I THINK SEAN AND I COULD AT LEAST START HELPING FRAME THIS UP IF THESE ITEMS WOULD GO TO COUNCIL.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO ADD AT THIS POINT.
I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY ON STAFFING.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, MY STAFFING PROPOSAL WILL RELY AND BE ALIGNED COMPLETELY WITH THE ORDINANCE AND UNTIL, UNLESS AND UNTIL I KNOW WHAT THOSE FULL SPECTRUM OF THE ORDINANCES.
AS AN EXAMPLE I HEARD TODAY, INSURANCE, UH, COVERAGE AND, AND THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THAT.
WE HEARD ABOUT FIRE ESCAPE ROUTES.
UH, AGAIN, REQUIRING THOSE TAKES TIME, IT TAKES REVIEW, IT TAKES CUSTOMER SERVICE ASSISTANCE IF THEY'RE NOT IN THERE, THAT'S A DIFFERENT STAFFING LEVEL.
UM, WE, WE ARE PUSHING AS HARD AS WE CAN IN ENFORCEMENT.
HE, HE DRIVES AROUND WITH HIS SEVEN MEMBERS OF HIS TEAM SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
AND THEN THE SEASON, HIGH SEASON, WE'RE THERE TILL NINE, 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT.
UM, I WOULDN'T SAY WE'RE SHORT STAFFED, BUT WE'RE LEAN AND, AND I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD LEADER.
UM, THE DATA DOESN'T SUPPORT, UM, THE, THE 7,000 PLUS UNITS DON'T SUPPORT THE FEWER TICKETS, BUT WE DON'T LOOK AT IT THE WAY WE'RE NOT TRYING TO LEAN JUST ON CITATIONS COMPARED TO PROBLEMS. AND SO AGAIN, UH, I SAID IT'D BE SHORT.
I'M STARTING TO GET A LITTLE LONG-WINDED.
UM, BUT I DO WANT TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC AND THEN HEAR FROM YOU ALL COLLECTIVELY.
AND I COULD PERHAPS ADD HOW WE GET TO THE NEXT STEP.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE MORE BENEFICIAL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND UM, WE APPRECIATE YOU.
ALRIGHT, SO WE DO HAVE SOME PUBLIC COMMENT AND UM, KIM, IF YOU'D LIKE TO GET US STARTED, PLEASE.
KIM, HOW MANY DO YOU HAVE SIGNED UP? ABOUT 50.
DID YOU HAVE A SUGGESTION? WELL, UM, I MEAN, I SUSPECT A LOT OF YOU HAVE A LOT OF THE SAME THINGS TO SAY AND I SUSPECT THAT YOU HEARD EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID.
UM, AND YOU KIND OF GET A FEELING OF HOW THINGS ARE GOING, I BELIEVE.
AND SO MAYBE SOME OF YOU WANNA PASS
WELL, THAT'S A, THAT'S A SUGGESTION AND WE APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING IT OUT THERE.
UM, SO OTHERWISE IT'LL BE ONE 30, BUT UNTIL YOU'RE FINISHED.
UM, THIS ALL SOUNDS GREAT, UM, BUT LET'S NOT KID OURSELVES WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.
IF SOMEONE HADN'T FLOATED A, UH, PETITION AROUND MORATORIUM, I DON'T THINK WE'D EVEN BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, WOULD WE? SO, UM, WHAT WE'RE HEARING IN THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW AND IN THESE MEETINGS ONLINE, ACROSS OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND WHAT HAPPENS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN LEADERSHIP FAILS TO LEAD ON TOUGH CHALLENGES? FOR YEARS, THE TOWN COUNCIL HAS CHOSEN TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD ON MANAGING GROWTH REGULATIONS, STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, WORKFORCE, HOUSING, AND OVERALL TRANSPARENCY.
I COULD GO ON, THE STORY'S BEEN THE SAME.
DELAY IT, STUDY IT, OUTSOURCE IT, AND NEVER DECIDE.
SUDDENLY THERE'S URGENCY, SUDDENLY EVERYONE'S READY TO ACT.
BUT LEADERSHIP ISN'T ABOUT REACTING WHEN THE FLAMES ARE ALREADY SPREADING.
IT'S ABOUT HAVING THE COURAGE TO LEAD BEFORE THE FIRE STARTS.
RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS ARE AREN'T FRUSTRATED BECAUSE WE ENJOY CRITICIZING OUR TOWN.
WE ARE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE WE DEEPLY CARE ABOUT THIS ISLAND.
AND WE SEE PROBLEMS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED YEARS AGO.
IF THERE HAD BEEN THE WILL TO LEAD.
IF COUNCIL HAD ACTED WITH COURAGE EARLIER, IF IT HAD BEEN WILLING TO FACE HARD TRUTHS INSTEAD OF AVOIDING THEM, WE WOULDN'T BE IN THIS CYCLE OF CRISIS MANAGEMENT THAT WE'RE IN TODAY.
EVERY DELAY MAKES THE PROBLEM BIGGER AND THE SOLUTIONS HARDER.
THE COST OF INACTION IS MEASURED NOT JUST IN DOLLARS, BUT IN LOST TRUST, LOST RELATIONSHIPS, LOST TIME, AND QUITE FRANKLY, LOST OPPORTUNITY.
YOU ARE DIVIDING RESIDENTS RATHER THAN UNITING THEM BY NOT MAKING IMPORTANT DECISIONS.
TRUE LEADERSHIP MEANS TAKING RESPONSIBILITY BEFORE YOU'RE FORCED TO.
IT MEANS MAKING TOUGH CALLS EVEN WHEN THEY'RE UNPOPULAR.
IT MEANS STANDING UP FOR THE FUTURE INSTEAD OF SITTING ON THE FENCE, BECAUSE DOING NOTHING ISN'T NEUTRAL.
AND THIS RIGHT HERE IS WHAT THE DECISION LOOKS LIKE.
HILTON HEAD DESERVES BETTER THAN REACTIVE LEADERSHIP.
WE DESERVE VISION, COURAGE, AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
LEADERS WHO DON'T WAIT FOR PUBLIC PRESSURE
[01:40:01]
TO DO THE RIGHT THING, BUT WHO ACT IN INTEGRITY, FORESIGHT, AND PURPOSE BEFORE THE HOUSE IS BURNING DOWN, THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS OF THIS COMMUNITY ARE PAYING ATTENTION.WE'RE SPEAKING UP, NOT TO TEAR DOWN, BUT TO CALL THIS TOWN TO SOMETHING HIGHER.
IT'S GREAT TO SEE ALL THE RESIDENTS OUT TODAY.
UM, I THINK YOU SHOULD CONTINUE TO STAY ENGAGED IN ALL THE MATTERS IN TOWN.
AS, AS YOU HAS BEEN NOTED, WE HAVE 50 SOME ODD PEOPLE WHO MAY PLAN TO SPEAK TODAY.
WE NEED TO NOT DO THE CLAPPING THING.
AND BY THE WAY, I, I'M CERTAIN METAPHORICALLY WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE HOUSE BURNING DOWN.
THANKS, JAY SADOWSKI, UH, LIVE IN SEA PINES.
I, UH, RUN A SMALL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT BUSINESS.
UH, I'M THAT GUY THAT STARTED THE SOCIAL MEDIA STORM.
AND UH, FIRST COMMENT IS, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY LETTERS THE SUPPORT YOU GOT.
UM, MANY PEOPLE GENERATE OVER 250 LETTERS.
UM, ON THE, THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT TOOL I MADE, UH, ALL IN OPPOSITION.
SO JUST ON, ON THE NUMBERS, RIGHT? UM, FOR ME, WHAT THIS REALLY COMES DOWN TO IS THE RULES.
RIGHT NOW, THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH ENFORCEMENT.
I I DON'T THINK WE NEED A LOT OF WHAT'S BEEN PROPOSED.
I'M PRETTY MUCH OPPOSED TO ALL OF IT.
I THINK WE COULD DO A LOT WITH SOME JUST COMMON SENSE APPROACHES, RIGHT? PARKING SIZE SPACES.
YEAH, THEY PROBABLY SHOULD BE BIGGER.
YOU CAN'T FIT A PICKUP TRUCK IN 18 FEET.
SUV MINIVANS, RIGHT? MAKE 'EM BIGGER.
UM, SET UP OVERFLOW PARKING LOTS.
WE CAN'T TELL PEOPLE THERE'S JUST NO EXTRA SPACE TO, TO PARK LOTS.
YOU CAN MAKE MONEY CHARGE CHARGE FOR PARKING.
YOU CAN TOW CARS IF YOU NEED TO.
YOU KNOW, EVENTUALLY PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IF THEY COME TO HILTON HEAD THAT THERE'S AN EXPECTATION ON A WAY TO BEHAVE AND RULES TO FOLLOW.
AND I MEAN, YOU CAN'T SAY IT'S A FAMILY FUND REPLACE AND, AND WE'RE NOT GONNA TICKET IT AND TO PEOPLE.
AND THAT YOU'RE ALSO RUINING, YOU KNOW, THE LIVES OF THE FULL-TIME RESIDENTS.
YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS, RIGHT? UM, YOU KNOW, SAME THING ON OCCUPANCY.
I, YOU KNOW, I THINK TWO BY TWO IS JUST WAY TOO LOW TIED TO THE NUMBER OF PARKING SPOTS, YOU KNOW, LET'S JUST SAY FOUR PEOPLE PER CAR.
SO YOU GOT FOUR SPOTS, YOU CAN FIT 16 PEOPLE.
THE MARKET REALLY WILL DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S ACCEPTABLE USAGE FOR A HOUSE.
I THINK OBVIOUSLY THERE'S THE CORNER CASES OF PACKING, WHATEVER, 12 KIDS IN A BUNK ROOM IN AN ATTIC.
MAYBE, MAYBE WE NEED SOME SPECIFIC REGULATIONS AROUND THAT TYPE OF SCENARIO TO PREVENT THAT.
BUT LIKE WE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE THESE CRAZY, SUPER RIGID THINGS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GONNA JUST GET HAMMERED ON OCCUPANCY, UM, NOISE, RIGHT? IT, IT SOUNDS LIKE, YOU KNOW, BOB AND HIS TEAM DO A GREAT JOB, BUT WE, WE JUST NEED MORE PEOPLE.
IF PEOPLE ARE PARTYING AT AT MIDNIGHT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING AS A PROPERTY MANAGER, UH, WE CAN TELL PEOPLE NOT TO DO STUFF, RIGHT? THEY'RE GONNA GET, GET DRUNK AND HAVE A GOOD TIME AND, AND MAKE A RUCKUS.
WE NEED MORE PEOPLE THAT CAN GO OUT AND TALK TO THEM, EVEN IF IT'S MIDNIGHT, ONE IN THE MORNING, TWO IN THE MORNING, WHATEVER THE CASE IS, GIVE THEM A WARNING, GIVE THEM A FINE.
MAYBE EVENTUALLY, IF THEY KEEP DOING THAT, THEY NEED TO GET THE BOOT.
I, YOU KNOW, LIKE, LET'S BE PRACTICAL HERE.
YOU, WE WANT TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF RESIDENTS.
IF PEOPLE CAN'T BEHAVE WHEN THEY COME TO HILTON HEAD, MAYBE THEY, THEY JUST NEED TO GET KICKED OUT, RIGHT? UM, ALSO ALL THESE INTERACTIONS ARE TRACKABLE.
YOU KNOW, IT SOUNDS LIKE BOB'S TEAM IS DOING A LOT OF WORK, FRANKLY, IF WE HAD THE DATA ABOUT ALL THESE INTERACTIONS THEY'RE HAVING WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMPLYING, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
BUT WE WOULD TO COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES NEXT.
WELL, THE ISSUE OF SHORT TERM RENTALS IS NOT A NEW ONE, IS IT? LET'S BE HONEST.
RUNNING AROUND LIKE CHICKEN, LITTLE SHOUTING, THE SKY IS FALLING, ISN'T HELPING ANYONE.
EMOTIONAL PANIC WON'T SOLVE WHAT REQUIRES CLEAR-EYED DECISION MAKING.
ABOUT A YEAR AGO, TOWN STAFF HELD A SERIES OF MEETINGS WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE PUBLIC AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SHORT TERM RENTAL INDUSTRY.
AND THAT REVIEW BROUGHT TWO ISSUES TO LIGHT.
FIRST, WE NEED THE ABILITY TO HOLD PROPERTY OWNERS ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY OPERATE SHORT TERM RENTALS WITHOUT VALID PERMITS.
SECOND, WE'RE SEEING A GROWING NUMBER OF STRUCTURES BEING BUILT SOLELY FOR SHORT TERM RENTAL PURPOSES.
AND THESE BUILDINGS ARE OFTEN TOTALLY OUT OF SCALE AND OUT OF CONTEXT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND THEM.
BACK IN FEBRUARY, AS YOU WELL KNOW, THE TOWN COUNCIL HELD THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD'VE ADDRESSED SOME OF THOSE ISSUES,
[01:45:01]
BUT THAT ORDINANCE FAILED THREE IN FAVOR FOR AGAINST.SO DOWN THE ROAD WE WENT A MONTH AGO, THIS VERY COMMITTEE BROUGHT THE ISSUE BACK TO THE TABLE REVIEWING THE SAME AMENDMENTS.
AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN, STILL WAITING, STILL DEBATING, STILL DELAYING.
LET'S BE CLEAR, MUCH OF THE DAMAGE TO THESE NEIGHBORHOODS HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE.
LOOK AT SOUTH FOREST BEACH HOLIDAY HOMES, BRADLEY CIRCLE AND JONESVILLE, JUST TO NAME A FEW.
ONCE QUIET SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE BEEN TRANSFORMED BY THE UNCHECKED GROWTH OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS THAT OPERATE MORE LIKE SMALL HOTELS.
AND THOSE IMPACTS CANNOT BE UNDONE.
AND YES, WE'VE REACHED A TIPPING POINT, SO I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.
STOP KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
DAVID LAUDERDALE, ONE OF OUR MOST RESPECTED LOCAL VOICES, IN MY OPINION, SUMMED IT UP BEST WHEN HE SAID RECENTLY.
SHORT-TERM RENTALS, PER SE, ARE NOT THE PROBLEM.
THE PROBLEM ARE THE GIGANTIC HOMES THAT SLEEP AS MANY AS 30 GOING UP AND VIR WITH VIRTUALLY NO SETBACKS FROM LOT LINES, NO TREES, NO NATURAL BUFFERS, AND NO CONSIDERATION FOR HOW THIS IMPACTS NEIGHBORHOODS.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT BANNING RENTALS, IT'S ABOUT PROTECTING THE FABRIC OF OUR RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES.
AND FINALLY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE A STANDING ROOM ONLY CROWD HERE THIS MORNING, THERE ARE THOUSANDS UNTOLD THOUSANDS OF FULL-TIME RESIDENTS WHO WORK FULL-TIME AND ARE UNABLE FOR THE MOST PART TO BE AT A 9:00 AM MEETING.
YOU DO THE SAME THING THE TOWN COUNCIL DOES WITH THEIR 3:00 PM MEETINGS.
RESIDENTS WHO WORK FULL TIME ARE BEING DISENFRANCHISED.
THEIR VOICES ARE NOT BEING HEARD, AND IT SIMPLY IS NOT FAIR.
THANK YOU ELIZABETH PETRO MORNING.
I'M, I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF COMMENTS GOING AROUND AND, UM, I FIRST WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR PUTTING YOUR SERVICE TO THE TOWN.
UM, I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT THE FEEDBACK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN GETTING OVER THE PAST JUST MONTHS SINCE WE WERE LAST HERE HAS BEEN, AND THAT DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED TO, TO SOME OF THE RESIDENTS THAT WHO ARE ALSO BUSINESS OWNERS.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR TODAY IS TO LOOK AT A POSSIBLE DRAFT OF SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA GO TO THE TOWN.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP, MS. BRYSON, I'M VERY MUCH A, A APPRECIATIVE TO HEAR THAT THERE'S SOME CONSIDERATION TO BE DONE FOR ANY PRIOR BOOKINGS THAT WOULD NOT, UH, THAT COULD BE AFFECTED BY THESE POTENTIAL CHANGES.
UM, CONSIDERATION ON THE PROES THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT TO CON ACCOMMODATE CERTAIN PARKING NUMBERS.
THERE'S SOME THINGS IN THIS THAT WE'VE NOT DISCUSSED AND BEEN BROUGHT UP THE PARKING TO BE CHANGED.
THESE HOMES ARE, A LOT OF TIMES THEY ARE RESIDENTIAL HOMES PART OF THE YEAR AND OWNER OCCUPIED PART OF THE YEAR.
SO THERE IS A LINE IN THIS DRAFT THAT STATES THAT YOU CAN'T ADD ANY PARKING.
AND I'M GLAD THAT IT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP THAT THE PARKING SIZES ARE NOT ALWAYS, I HAVE A HOMEOWNER THAT HAS A CAR THAT DOESN'T FIT IN HIS OWN DRIVEWAY, AND JUST BECAUSE HE'S RENTING IT, HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE A VIABLE PARKING SPACE SINCE HE JUST BOUGHT THE HOUSE WITHIN THE LAST YEAR.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
THESE ARE ALL GOING DOWN INTO PERSONAL PROPERTY RIGHTS.
WHEN YOU GET TO THE CORE, UM, OF SOME OF THESE, STEVE, I'M VERY INTERESTED IN YOUR 10 PLUS FOUR AND 10 PLUS SIX OCCUPANCY RECOMMENDATION.
UM, I DO THINK THAT THE, THE TWO PLUS TWO DOES NOT LIMIT THE OCCUPANCY IN THE SMALLER PROPERTIES THAT CAN'T ACCOMMODATE FOR MOST OF THOSE.
THERE MIGHT BE A COUPLE OUTLIERS THAT ARE SLEEPING 12, BUT THE BULK OF THE TWO AND THREE BEDROOM PROPERTIES ARE SLEEPING FOUR TO SIX PEOPLE ALREADY.
THAT'S NOT ADDRESSING THE, THE INADEQUATELY BUILT PROPERTIES THAT ARE TRYING TO CRAM IN 20 PEOPLE IN THREE BEDROOMS. UM, THERE'S NO STILL NO CLEAR DISCUSSION ON HOW THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS OCCUPANCY WOULD BE DONE.
I UNDERSTAND A 48 HOUR WINDOW IS PUT IN THERE.
UM, A LOT CAN HAPPEN IN 48 HOURS.
SO, UH, HOW EXACTLY WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE PARKING AVAILABILITY AND TIE THAT TO THE OCCUPANCY, WHICH I'VE STATED IN IN OTHER MEETINGS.
I'M NOT GONNA TAKE MY WHOLE THREE MINUTES, BUT I TOOK MOST OF IT.
SHE, SHE COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.
VINCENT PAPPY VINCENT SENT PAP.
[01:50:02]
GOOD MORNING.I'VE BEEN A SEA PINES RESIDENT SINCE 2003.
UM, I RAISED MY DAUGHTER HERE.
SHE WENT TO THE HILTON HEAD SCHOOLS AND THEN TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF HILTON HEAD RESIDENTS.
I WOULD REAL QUICKLY LIKE TO ADDRESS YOUR COMMENT ABOUT THE INCREASE IN THE RENTAL APPLICATIONS.
THAT'S BECAUSE YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE GONNA PUT A STOP TO NEW PERMITS AND I MYSELF RECOMMENDED TO ONE OF MY FRIENDS THAT THEY GO AHEAD AND GET A PERMIT IN CASE THEY WANTED TO SELL THEIR HOUSE, RIGHT? BECAUSE I WAS HOPING IT WOULD GET GRANDFATHERED.
BUT JUST TO ADDRESS THAT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT AND YOU'LL HAVE EXTRA TIME BECAUSE I'M GOING TO REACT TO THAT.
THERE WAS NEVER A TIME, THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO HEAR THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE AND THOSE LISTENING.
THERE WAS NEVER A TIME, THERE WAS NEVER A TIME WHEN SHORT TERM RENTALS WERE GOING TO BE STOMPED.
THERE WAS NEVER A SUGGESTION OF THAT EVER PUT ON THE TABLE.
I'LL GO BACK AND FIND THE MINUTE IN THE LAST MEETING.
MY, MY HUSBAND'S PARENTS BOUGHT THEIR VILLA IN SEA PINES IN 1967 WHEN HE WAS EIGHT.
THEY USED TO JUST A SECOND HOME AND RENTED IT WHEN THEY WERE NOT HERE BECAUSE THEY LIVED IN MUNSTER, INDIANA.
THEY VACATIONED HERE UNTIL MY HUSBAND'S MOTHER PASSED AWAY AND HIS DAD RETIRED.
THEN THEY CONVERTED IT TO A STRICT SECOND HOME, WHICH HE USED FOR FOUR TO SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR UNTIL HE PASSED AWAY.
WE MANAGED IT AGAIN AS A SHORT TERM RENTAL AFTER HE PASSED SO THAT THE FAMILY COULD AFFORD TO KEEP THE HOME.
WE LIVE THERE NOW OVER ALMOST 60 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP.
THE HOUSE HAS BEEN RENTED, APPROXIMATELY 30 OF THEM.
SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT STR GIVE A LITTLE MORE CONSIDERATION TO REALLY WHAT THAT MEANS.
IN ADDITION, I HAPPEN TO BE FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK ON THE SOUTH SHORE OF LAKE ONTARIO.
I HAVE TWO SISTERS AND THEY'RE SIGNIFICANT OTHERS.
WE HAVE SIX CHILDREN, THE YOUNGEST OF WHICH IS MINE, SHE'S 26.
MY SISTER LIVES IN CONNECTICUT.
MY OTHER SISTER IS STILL IN UPSTATE NEW YORK.
MY DAUGHTER LIVES IN PHILADELPHIA.
MY NIECE LIVES IN RHODE ISLAND AS YOU CAN.
OH, MY OTHER NIECE LIVES IN FLORIDA.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE A LITTLE SPLIT OUT WHEN ALL OF US ARE TOGETHER.
WE RENT A HOUSE IN THE SUMMER FOR A WEEK IN UPSTATE NEW IN FAIRHAVEN, NEW YORK, WHICH IS WHERE I'M FROM.
MY PARENTS AND MY SISTER HAVE A PLACE, PLACE STILL IN FAIRHAVEN.
BUT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING WHEN YOU SAY TWO PER BEDROOM PLUS TWO, THAT WON'T WORK.
AND IF YOU CAN MAKE THAT STOP FOR JUST A SECOND.
AND YOUR TWO PLUS TWO ARE ARBITRARY NUMBERS.
WE DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE ONE OF THOSE BUNK ROOMS IN THE ATTIC.
WE HAVE ALL FULL EGRESS, BUT WE DO HAVE A BUNK ROOM, BUT THERE'S 27 OF US AND WE'RE NOT GOING HOME BY 10.
OH, AND BY THE WAY, EVEN IF WE HAD TO HAVE TWO HOUSES TO SLEEP, ALL OF US, YOU ARE SAYING, OH, IT'S 24 HOURS.
SO YOU ARE SAYING WE COULDN'T EVEN GET TOGETHER ON HILTON HEAD'S.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND COMMENTS AGAIN.
I'M A HIGHLAND RESIDENT AND A I OWN FIVE ONE BEDROOM SHORT-TERM RENTALS AS WELL AS MANAGE 40 OTHERS.
FOR OTHER PEOPLE THAT LIKE DON'T HAVE A SAY HERE.
UM, ALL OF THESE PROPERTIES ARE LOCATED IN, UM, OCEAN OR RESORT COMPLEXES THAT WERE BUILT FOR VACATION RENTALS.
[01:55:01]
SO MOST OF THESE ORDINANCES DON'T APPLY TO ME, UM, YET WE'RE THE ONES PAYING FOR THEM THROUGH WHAT'S BECOME A REGRESSIVE AND PUNITIVE PERMIT SYSTEM.RIGHT NOW, A ONE BEDROOM CONDO LIKE MINE PAYS THE SAME AS AN EIGHT BEDROOM OCEAN FRONT HOME.
AND THAT IS, UH, ESSENTIALLY A REGRESSIVE TAX ON THE, ON THE SMALLEST AND LEAST IMPACTFUL PROPERTIES.
AND THIS NEW PROPOSAL DOESN'T FIX THAT.
AND WHILE ADDING A PUNITIVE FINE FOR LARGER ONES, IT'S NOT EQUITABLE.
IN FACT, IT CREATES A SWEET SPOT FOR INVESTORS.
THE THREE AND FOUR BEDROOM HOMES, THE EXACT, UH, HOMES THAT WE DO NOT WANT TO BECOME SHORT TERM RENTALS.
EVEN WITHIN ONE BEDROOMS, UH, REVENUES CAN VARY DRAMATICALLY.
A SMALL CONDO OFF THE BEACH SHOULD NOT PAY US THE SAME AS A, AS A, UH, OCEANFRONT VILLA, MUCH LESS A FOUR BEDROOM HOUSE.
AT THE VERY LEAST, THE FEE SHOULD SCALE MORE FAIRLY, SAY AROUND $250 PER PERSON OR PER BEDROOM.
UM, BETTER YET CONSIDER A SYSTEM BASED ON RENTAL INCOME.
OTHER AREAS THAT I HAVE LOOKED INTO, UH, CHARGE A LOW FEE LIKE $75 PLUS, UH, ONE TO 2% OF RENTAL INCOME.
IT'S SIMPLE, SCALABLE AND IT SHOWS THAT THE TOWN WANTS TO SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS, NOT JUST TAX IT OR EVEN SIMPLER.
COLLECT THE SMALL PERMIT FEE AND RAISE THE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX THAT WAY IT'S PAY THE REVENUE COMES DIRECTLY FROM VRBO, AIRBNB, THE VACATION COMPANIES AND HOTELS.
NOT EVERY SINGLE PROPERTY OWNER ON THE ISLAND.
AND FINALLY, NUISANCES ARE NOT LIMITED TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
MY OWN HOME BACKS UP TO ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE A RESIDENT THROWS LOUD PARTIES WITH A PA SYSTEM.
OFTEN, UH, THERE'S NO PERMIT FOR THAT.
THERE'S NO HOTLINE FOR ME TO CALL.
I JUST HAVE TO CALL THE POLICE.
WHICH MAKES ME WONDER, WOULD OUR MONEY BE BETTER SPENT HIRING A LOCAL POLICE FORCE TO ENFORCE THE CODES WE ALREADY HAVE FOR EVERYONE RATHER THAN EXPANDING CODE ENFORCEMENT TO TARGET ONLY ST.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME PATRICK CO COCHLAN.
WELL, FIRST OFF, I JUST TAKE UMBRIDGE.
MS. BECKER, WITH THE WAY YOU STARTED THE MEETING, YOU STARTED IT IN A NEGATIVE TONE AND YOU KIND OF JUST CAST A DISPERSION ON SHORT TERM RENTALS IN GENERAL.
THE OTHER THING YOU DID WAS YOU ASKED DO THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE THESE PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS, DON'T THEY DESERVE TO, TO HAVE THE SAME THING? THE TRUTH IS THEY CHOSE TO LIVE THERE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT THESE RULES ON THEM.
UM, SO, AND SPECIFICALLY YOU WERE KIND OF DISPARAGING WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT BUSINESS OWNERS.
I'VE HEARD THIS FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE.
IT MAKES IT SEEM AS IF THEIR POINTS AREN'T VALID.
I EMPLOY 130 PEOPLE FROM HILTON HEAD AND BLUFFTON AND I'M PROUD OF IT.
AS DO MOST OF MY EMPLOYEES AS A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER, WE'RE WHAT DRIVES THE ECONOMY.
UM, SOME OF MY EMPLOYEES, YOU KNOW, THEY JUST DO IT TO SAVE UP MONEY FOR COLLEGE, BUT FOR OTHERS IT'S THE MONEY THEY USE TO PAY THEIR MORTGAGE, TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND TO SEND THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL WITH SHOES ON THEIR FEET AND A NICE SHIRT ON THEIR BACK.
THESE PROPOSED RULES ARE AN ATTACK NOT JUST ON ME, BUT ON EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT WORKS FOR ME.
THEY'RE AN ATTACK ON THE VISITORS AND THEY'RE ATTACKED ON THE RIGHTS OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS ALREADY PURCHASED HERE.
UM, THERE'LL BE CONSEQUENCES TO THE ENTIRE ISLAND IF THIS STUFF PASSES.
IT'S THE WORK OF A SMALL MO VOCAL MINORITY.
THEY'RE UNHAPPY WITH SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND AREN'T AFRAID TO SHOW IT.
THEY'RE ENTITLED AND WHAT'S WRONG? WHAT'S RIGHT AND WRONG DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER.
WE ALL KNOW THEY WANNA BE THE LAST OVER THE BRIDGE.
NONE OF THESE REGULATIONS ARE TRYING TO PASS, MAKE VERY MUCH SENSE.
THEY'RE INTENDED TO BE PUNITIVE AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO PEOPLE TO DO SHORT TERM RENTALS.
I'M SHAKING SO MUCH, I JUST CAN'T EVEN TALK.
HI ANGIE HUTCHINS PRESERVE AT INDIGO RUN.
LIKE EVERYBODY SAID, WE DO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD COMMUNITY ON THIS AMAZING ISLAND.
I AM VERY SADDENED AT THE RESPONSES FROM THE COMMITTEE CHAIR THAT SHE IS LISTENING TO THE RESIDENTS THAT WANT THIS TO BE MORE OF A PRIVATE ISLAND.
I LOVE THE COMMENTS FROM, UM, THAT THERE ARE
[02:00:01]
RESIDENTS THAT ARE PROBLEM NEIGHBORS IN REAL ESTATE.WE DEAL WITH PEOPLE WITH PROBLEM NEIGHBORS AND HOW TO WORK LEGALLY AROUND IT.
I COME UP WITH THIS INCREASING LIST OF LIKE THE, LIKE THE OTHER MAN SAID, I, I'M JUST SHAKING 'CAUSE I CAN'T BELIEVE THE LACK OF COMMON SENSE FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO RAN ON SMALLER GOVERNMENT ITEMS. SOMETIMES WE DO NEED RULES AND RESTRICTIONS, BUT SOMETIMES WE NEED TO PUNISH THE OFFENDERS IF WE ARE WILLING.
BOB RUMMAGE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR VO VOICING SO WELL THAT YOU'VE HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO GET PEOPLE IN COMPLIANCE WITH WARNINGS.
SO WE'RE WILLING TO GIVE WARNINGS TO STRANGERS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT COME BACK, BUT WE ARE WILLING TO PENALIZE ALL 7,000 SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNERS, MANY OF WHOM ARE LIVING THE QUINTESSENTIAL DREAM OF HOPING TO RETIRE HERE ON HILTON HEAD.
ONE DAY, 80% OF PEOPLE STARTED OUT THAT LIVE HERE, STARTED OUT AS TOURISTS.
THOSE ARE THE RESIDENTS OF THIS ISLAND THAT CHOSE TO LIVE IN A RESORT DOWN.
I AM CONCERNED THAT OVERALL THIS IS UNWELCOMING, UNENFORCEABLE, UNSUSTAINABLE, UNTENABLE AND UNNEIGHBORLY, ESPECIALLY ALL AT ONCE.
THERE IS CONCERN THAT THE ONLY ENTITIES THAT WILL BE ABLE TO WEATHER ALL THESE INCREASING COSTS, NOT TO MENTION THE LOOMING THREAT OF MORE COSTS COMING SINCE THIS IS JUST STEP ONE IN THE PHASE OF WHAT'S COMING.
UM, AND THE OVERREGULATION OF STR WILL BE THE WILL BRING US THE VERY THING WE WANT THE LEAST.
THERE WILL BE PEOPLE SELLING, THERE WILL BE FIRE SALES WHO BUYS AT FIRE SALES, BLACKROCK, BIG CORPORATIONS.
WE WANT THE MOM AND POP SHORT TERM RENTALS THAT ARE DOING IT RIGHT IF WE CONTINUALLY PUNISH THE ONES THAT ARE DOING IT RIGHT, RIGHT.
WITH OVERBURDENING WITH TAXES.
I'VE ALREADY LOST CUSTOMERS TO FLORIDA, NORTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE BECAUSE OF TAXES.
THE BIGGER PICTURE IS I ALWAYS LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVEMENT.
I LIKE A POSITIVE SPIN ON THINGS.
I WOULD HOPE THAT OUR LEADERS CAN FIND A POSITIVE WAY TO WORK TOGETHER FOR EVERYBODY THAT GETS TO LIVE HERE.
UM, WHAT ABOUT IF YOU MADE A A LIST OF SUGGESTIONS? MANY PEOPLE WANNA PROTECT THEIR INVESTMENT WITH THEIR OWN FIRE STUFF THAT SHOULD NOT BE SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE TO CONTINUALLY CHECK THE BOX.
I WAS A NURSE, I WENT WITH OVERARCHING, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A CHART OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
WHAT IF YOU MADE A HILTON HEAD SEAL OF APPROVAL INSTEAD OF ALL THIS STUFF AND FORCING STAFF TO SHUFFLE AROUND WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THE LMO REWRITE.
MAKE A HILTON HEAD SEAL OF APPROVAL.
GIVE 'EM AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INSPECTION.
I GOT ONE SECOND, BUT LIKE, MAKE IT A POSITIVE.
AND BEFORE THE NEXT SPEAKER, JENNY JACKSON.
I DIDN'T SAY PRIVATE ISLAND, I SAID RESIDENTIAL RESORT, BUT THANK YOU.
I LIVE IN HILTON HEAD PLANTATION.
UM, I WANNA START OFF WITH, WITH A PHRASE MY HUSBAND SAYS TO ME A LOT WORDS MATTER.
PEOPLE STARTED THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA 'CAUSE WORDS MATTER AND YOU ALL ARE ELECTED TO A HIGH POSITION.
AND THE WORDS THAT COME OUT OF YOUR MOUTHS AND THE THINGS THAT YOU SAY TO PEOPLE MATTER.
AND OBVIOUSLY SOME OF YOU HAVE OFFENDED SOME PEOPLE HERE TODAY WITH SOME OF THE WORDS.
I THINK WHAT WE HAVE DETERMINED TODAY IS THERE'S A LOT OF AGREEMENT ON A LOT OF THE AREAS.
THE ONE AREA THAT I FEEL LIKE THERE NEEDS TO BE A DEEP DIVE INTO IS THE OCCUPANCY.
I PULLED FIVE PLUS BEDROOMS, UM, THAT ARE FOR THAT SOLD ON HILTON HEAD IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.
AND YOU'VE GOT A RANGE OF SQUARE FOOTAGE FROM 1,981 SQUARE FEET FOR A FIVE BEDROOM TO 7,320 SQUARE FEET.
IF YOU USE YOUR TWO PLUS TWO RULE, 12 PEOPLE CAN BE IN EACH ONE OF THOSE HOUSES.
UM, THE PRICE THAT THOSE PEOPLE ARE GETTING, THAT THEY'RE PAYING IS, IS EXORBITANT FOR THE HIGHER ONES.
AND THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
UM, YOU CAN HAVE A BUNCH OF THOSE LITTLE, YOU KNOW, MINI CARS IN A DRIVEWAY AND YOU COULD PROBABLY HAVE 10 OF 'EM IN THERE AND YOU COULD HAVE TWO HUGE SUVS.
HOWEVER YOU WANNA SAY THAT AS A TOWN IS THE CARS NEED TO FIT THE SPACE IN THE DRIVEWAY.
UM, ALSO, I JUST, I AGREE WITH A LOT OF THE PEOPLE HERE.
WE ARE ALL RESIDENTS OF THIS ISLAND.
UM, MY GRANDPARENTS BOUGHT A PLACE IN HI IN, UH, SEA PINES IN 1960.
WHEN I MOVED HERE WITH MY 10-YEAR-OLD AND MY 7-YEAR-OLD.
AND MY, MY HUSBAND WHO'S A SHERIFF'S DEPUTY EIGHT YEARS AGO, WE WANTED TO LIVE IN SEA PINES.
WE'RE LIKE, YEAH, IF WE CAN'T LIVE IN SEA PINES, THERE'S TOO MANY TOURISTS HERE.
SO WE DECIDED TO MOVE TO HILTON HEAD PLANTATION.
75% OF OUR ISLAND DOES NOT ALLOW SHORT TERM RENTALS.
I WORK WITH CLIENTS AND WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT, IF YOU WANT SHORT TERM RENTALS, HERE'S WHERE WE'RE GONNA LOOK.
IF YOU WANT PETS, HERE'S WHERE WE'RE
[02:05:01]
GONNA LOOK.PAY ATTENTION TO WHERE YOU'RE BUYING WHAT YOU'RE AROUND, AND MAKE A GOOD DECISION AND SHAME ON YOUR REAL ESTATE AGENT.
IF THEY TOLD YOU THAT YOU WEREN'T BUYING IN A RESIDENTIAL RESORT COMMUNITY AND THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE SHORT-TERM RENTALS AROUND YOU, SHAME ON THEM.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE RULES THAT ARE ENFORCED.
I HAVE FRIENDS THAT LIVE IN HOLIDAY HOMES.
THEY TOLD ME WE BOUGHT THERE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT THE REGULATIONS, AND NOW IT'S COMING BACK TO BITE US.
I HAVE FRIENDS THAT LIVE IN FOREST BEACH.
PEOPLE BLOCK HER IN IN HER DRIVEWAY.
YOU KNOW WHAT SHE DOES? SHE CALLS HER NEIGHBOR, WHO'S THE OWNER, AND THE OWNER CALLS THE PERSON AND THEY GET OUT OF THE WAY BEFORE THE TOWN HAS EVEN BEEN BOTHERED.
I HAVE ANOTHER CLIENT WHO MOVED TO, UM, SHIPYARD.
THEY WENT AND THEY KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND THEY ASKED THE PEOPLE TO BE QUIET.
WE NEED TO USE COMMON SENSE AND REMEMBER, OUR WORDS MATTER AND WE ARE SPREADING FEAR ON THE PEOPLE WHO SUSTAIN OUR BUSINESS AND OUR ISLAND.
DANIEL ANTHONY, DANIEL ANTHONY, UH, DANIEL ANTHONY.
I AM A RESIDENT OF THE ISLAND, HAVE BEEN FOR 40 PLUS YEARS.
SO I, I HEAR A LOT OF THE CONVERSATION GOING ON AND, UH, I'M, I'M HERE TODAY TO REPRESENT ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T SHOW UP BECAUSE THEY ARE WORKING.
THESE ARE THE HUNDREDS, EVEN THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT YOU DON'T GET TO HEAR FROM.
THEY MAY SEND YOU A LETTER, THEY MAY SEND YOU AN EMAIL OR SOMETHING, BUT THESE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS I TALK TO ON A DAILY BASIS.
SO WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE.
I MEAN, IT'S TAKEN YOU YEARS TO GET THIS FAR, AND, BUT WE APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE GETTING THERE.
UM, TWO QUESTIONS I HAD THOUGH.
UM, 'CAUSE I, I'M SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE AND I'M HEARING A LOT OF GRUMBLING.
ALL RIGHT, AS A BUILDER, IF I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE FLOOR PLAN, I GO TO THE TOWN BUILDING DIVISION'S RIGHT OVER THERE.
IF YOU CAN'T FIND IT THERE, YOU CAN GO TO YOUR HOA OR YOUR POA, EVEN YOUR PLANTATION AND YOU CAN FIND IT.
THEY MAY CHARGE YOU, I THINK SEA PINES CHARGES LIKE 25 BUCKS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO GET A FLOOR PLAN SO YOU CAN GET YOUR FLOOR PLANS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY DRAW IT.
UH, MOST OF THE TIME, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S EVERY SINGLE TIME, BUT MOST OF THE TIME I HAVEN'T HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT.
AND I'VE BEEN, I'VE BEEN A LICENSED BUILDER ON THIS ISLAND AND DOING RENOVATION WORK FOR 30 PLUS YEARS.
UH, THE OTHER THING I HAD WAS A QUESTION, AND I'LL POSE IT TO YOU 'CAUSE I'M, IF I TURN AROUND, YOU'LL SCORN ME.
UM, THE FIRE CHIEF, THE, THE, THE PULL DOWN THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHEN I MOVED INTO MY HOUSE, WE HAD NO KIND OF SECURITY AT, AT ALL.
NOT FOR FIRE AND NOT FOR ANYTHING.
I HAD A CO, A LOCAL COMPANY COME IN, TOOK ME TWO WEEKS TO GET AN APPOINTMENT.
THEY CAME IN, THEY HOOKED US UP THAT SAME, YOU KNOW, IN ONE DAY'S TIME.
AND THEY MONITOR 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
AND IT DIDN'T COST ME THAT MUCH.
AND I, AND THE, THE ALARM GOES STRAIGHT TO FIRE, UH, AMBULANCE OR, UM, POLICE.
AND ANY EVENT, AS YOU SOMEBODY SAID THAT IF YOU SEE SMOKE, WELL THERE'S A BUTTON, AN EMERGENCY BUTTON, YOU JUST PUSH IT, IT'S RIGHT THERE AND IT DOES THE SAME THING.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO ACCOMMODATE AND COMPROMISE WITH THIS POOL THING.
I DON'T KNOW, BUT BE A QUESTION I'D LIKE TO HEAR THE ANSWER TO.
ANYWAYS, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME.
I GOTTA APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE FOR MY COUGHING.
UH, MY, MY NAME IS, UH, RICK ROSS AND I'M A FULL-TIME RESIDENT IN THE SANDCASTLES BY THE SEA AND VALLEY FIELD.
I ALSO OWN A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY.
I'M BOTH A SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNER AND FULL-TIME RESIDENT, SO I CAN SEE THE ISSUE FROM BOTH PERSPECTIVES.
I'M HERE TODAY TO OPPOSE THE ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS ON RENTALS.
THE CURRENT ORDINANCE IS MORE THAN ADEQUATE, AND ITS EFFECTIVENESS IS EVIDENT IN THE VERY FEW COMPLAINTS THAT WE'VE HAD DOCUMENTED SINCE IT WAS IMPLEMENTED.
I FLEW INTO HILTON, THAT ISLAND AIRPORT LAST WEEK.
WHEN I ARRIVED IN THE TERMINAL, THERE WERE SIGN INSTALLERS THAT WERE MOUNTING A HUGE BANNER THAT
[02:10:01]
SAID, WELCOME TO AMERICA'S FAVORITE ISLAND.AND HERE WE ARE SEVEN DAYS LATER TRYING TO REDO ORDINANCES TO GET RID OF THE VERY GUESTS YOU'RE WELCOMING.
I HONESTLY SHAKE MY HEAD IN DISBELIEF.
THE TOWN SPENDS HALF OUR TAX DOLLARS.
MARKETING HILTON HAD TO ATTRACT VISITORS AND THE OTHER HALF TO REGULATE THOSE SAME GUESTS OUT OF THE TOWN.
IT'S A CONTRADICTION AND A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME AND RESOURCES.
THE PROPOSED EXORBITANT COST INCREASE FOR SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMITS IS PUNITIVE AND BEING USED UPON SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNERS.
SINCE FEES MUST BE REASONABLE AND RELATED TO COST OF ADMINISTRATION REGULATION, NON ARBITRARY AMOUNT, THE INCREASE IN PERMIT FEES ALONE GIVES THE TOWN NEARLY 7 MILLION IN NEW REVENUE.
YET THE TOWN AVERAGES LESS THAN ONE COMPLAINT PER DAY ACCORDING TO ITS OWN DATA.
THAT MEANS WE'RE SPENDING OVER $18,000 FOR A COMPLAINT.
IT'S A WASTE OF TAXPAYERS MONEY AND IT COULD BE BETTER USED ON REAL ISSUES LIKE ADDRESSING CRIME.
WOULDN'T OUR MONEY BETTER BE SPENT ON A REAL COMMUNITY NEED, LIKE ESTABLISHING A FULL POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ADDRESS ONGOING CRIME IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS? CRIME HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BIGGER ISSUE ON HILTON HEAD THAN THINGS LIKE TRASH CAN LOCATIONS AND DRIVEWAY SIZES.
FROM THE 1980S UNTIL COVID SHORT-TERM RENTALS CAUSED NO SERIOUS ISSUES.
IN FACT, THEY FUELED OUR ECONOMY.
YES, DURING COVID WE SAW A TEMPORARY SPIKE IN VISITORS IN CONGESTION LIKE EVERYWHERE ELSE.
LOOK AROUND, WE'RE BACK TO NORMAL LEVELS.
THE TOWN'S OWN VIOLATION DATA SPEAKS VOLUMES TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE NO WIDESPREAD PROBLEM.
WE CAN'T ALLOW A HANDFUL OF ISLAND RESIDENTS THAT PERSONALLY DON'T LIKE SHORT TERM RENTALS, DIRECT THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND DAMAGE OUR HEALTHY TOURISM AND REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY BY PUSHING FOR UNREALISTIC AND UNENFORCEABLE RULES ON OUR SHORT TERM RENTALS.
LASTLY, I JUST WANTED TO OFFER A WORD OF CAUTION TO ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THIS ORDINANCE, PERHAPS WITH THE HOPES OF GAINING FAVOR WITH FULL-TIME RESIDENTS AHEAD OF FUTURE ELECTIONS.
IF THESE CONSEQUENCES, IF THIS OVERREACHING ORDINANCE LEADS TO UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES SUCH AS DECLINING PROPERTY VALUES, STRUGGLING LOCAL BUSINESSES OR THE CLOSURE OF RESTAURANTS, THESE SAME FULL-TIME RESIDENTS MAY ULTIMATELY HOLD THE VERY OFFICIALS WHO SUPPORT IT RESPONSIBLE WHILE LIVELIHOODS ARE AFFECTED AND THE CHARACTER OF THE COMMUNITY CHANGES FOR THE WORST, VOTERS WILL REMEMBER WHO IS BEHIND IT.
I BELIEVE THE CURRENT ORDINANCE RAISE STRIKES A REASONABLE BALANCE.
IT HELPS PRESERVE THE CHARACTER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WHILE STILL SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES, PROTECTING OUR PROPER RIGHTS.
UH, MAYOR PERRY, MEMBERS OF TOWN COUNCIL.
MOST OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW WHO I AM AT THIS POINT, BUT, UM, CHRISTIAN POWERS.
I'M A 52 YEAR ISLAND RESIDENT.
UM, I'M THE OWNER OF HILTON HEAD AREA PROPERTIES, A REAL ESTATE COMPANY AND MANAGEMENT BROKERAGE, AS WELL AS THE FOUNDER AND ADMIN FOR WHEEL LOVE HILTON HEAD ISLAND, THE LARGEST SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE FOR HILTON HEAD ISLAND ON THE ENTIRE FACEBOOK PLATFORM IN THE, IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.
WITH 220,000 MEMBERS FOR DECADES, HILTON HEAD ISLAND HAS WORKED DILIGENTLY IN A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE VACATION MARKET TO POSITION ITSELF AS A DOMINANT PLAYER IN THE BUSINESS OF VACATION TRAVEL.
90% OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMY DEPENDS ON ANNUAL VACATION OR TRAFFIC FROM THE SIGNATURE LEVEL.
RBC, HERITAGE GOLF TOURNAMENT TO RESTAURANTS, ACTIVITY VENDORS, LOCAL AND NATIONAL RETAIL STORES, VACATION RENTALS, HOTELS, ET CETERA.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE REVENUE GENERATED FROM OUR OUR ACCOMMODATIONS.
TAXES HELP FUND A ROBUST ANNUAL BUDGET, ALLOWING HILTON HEAD ISLAND TO ACCOMPLISH MANY WONDERFUL THINGS LOCALLY.
THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE YIELDED A DECLINING VISITOR MARKET WITH MANY LOCAL BUSINESSES DOWN AS MUCH AS 30 TO 40% FROM 24 TO 25.
IMPOSING STRICTER SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE CHANGES WITH REGARDS TO SU UH, SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASING SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMITTING FEES, THREE TO 10 TIMES OCCUPANCY RESTRICTIONS IN HOMES THAT WERE ALLOWED TO BE BUILT TO COMFORTABLY ACCOMMODATE MORE THAN 18 PEOPLE.
A MANDATORY $1 MILLION LIABILITY POLICY AND A HIGHLY COSTLY UPFITTING REQUIREMENT FOR NEARLY 600 RENTAL HOMES TO INSTALL A CENTRALIZED FIRE SYSTEM.
THIS WOULD BE A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING CURRENTLY WITH LITTLE TO NO SUPPORTING DATA OR FORMAL IMPACT STUDIES COMPLETED TO DETERMINE POSSIBLE ECONOMIC FALLOUT CHANGING VISITOR TRENDS AND TRUE COMMUNITY NEEDS.
ONLY REAL DATA SHOULD BE THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND DECISION MAKING.
WE'RE LIKELY TO SEE A SUBSTANTIAL DROP IN SHORT TERM RENTAL APPLICATION PERMITS FOR 2026, MAYBE A THOUSAND OR FEWER OR, OR OR MORE PROVING THAT THE MARKET IS ALREADY SELF-CORRECTING WITHOUT THE NEED FOR GOVERNMENT MANIPULATION TO SLOW VISITOR TRAFFIC.
AFTER SHARING THESE CONCERNS AND PROPOSED ORDINANCE CHANGES TO MY FACEBOOK GROUP MEMBERS, IT IS OVERWHELMINGLY CLEAR BY THAT, BY THE COMMENTS THAT VISITORS FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS ATTACK AGAINST THEM AS WELL, CREATING THE PERCEPTION AND QUITE POSSIBLY THE REALITY THAT OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND RESIDENTS NO LONGER VALUE THE PEOPLE THAT PUT HIL HILTON HEAD ISLAND ON THE GLOBAL MAP, INCLUDING A MAJORITY OF OUR TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ACTUALLY MOVED HERE AFTER VACATIONING ON THE ISLAND FOR
[02:15:01]
YEARS, BUT NOW APPEAR TO BE PUSHING ORDINANCES THAT PROTECT THEIR OWN PERSONAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND NOT THE BROADER COMMUNITY THAT ELECTED THEM TO SERVE US ALL.IF THIS TOWN COUNCIL MOVES FORWARD WITH VOTING THESE ORDINANCES INTO EFFECT, THIS WOULD POTENTIALLY SEND US INTO A TAILSPIN ECONOMICALLY FOR BOTH RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ONLY TO FIND OURSELVES BEGGING TO RECLAIM OUR ONCE ACCLAIM MARKET DOMINANCE THAT MADE US WHO WE ARE.
HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I ENJOY DOING.
SO YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I'VE SEEN THIS HAPPEN IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AS A FULL-TIME RESIDENT ON HILTON HEAD.
I LOVE BOTH THE BUSY SEASON AND THE SLOW SEASON, AND I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SHORT TERM ORDINANCE, THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE.
IT, IT'S OBVIOUS THAT IT PENALIZES ALL RENTAL OWNERS INSTEAD OF THE TARGETED AREA WHERE OWNERS WHO ARE CAUSING ISSUES AS A SHORT TERM RENTAL OWNER, NOT HERE.
I WELCOME THE PRESENCE OF POLICE AND HELP.
IF I HAVE A TENANT THAT'S OUT OF LINE.
MY TENANTS KNOW THE RULES AND IF THEY'RE BREAKING THEM, I WANT SOMEONE ELSE TO STEP IN.
I WANT SOMEONE TO CALL ME AND LET ME KNOW.
THAT'S WHAT RESPONSIBLE HOMEOWNERS DO.
IF YOU'RE HAVING ISSUES WITH A FEW TARGETED AREAS, TARGET THEM.
NOT EVERYONE, IT MAKES NO SENSE.
I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE INSPECTIONS, BUT IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE YOU'RE DOING THAT.
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE PLANNING ON INSPECTING WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE IT.
IF, IF YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A TOWN ORDINANCE WITH RULES IN PLACE, MAKE SURE THERE ARE SAFETY CODES IN PLACE AHEAD OF TIME BEFORE YOU GIVE THAT PERSON A LICENSE.
YOU MUST HAVE FO SMOKE DETECTORS.
BUT I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU, ARE YOU DOING THIS FOR THE RESIDENTS? ARE YOU REQUIRING SOMEONE THAT LIVES HERE TO HAVE THE SAFETY CODES THAT YOU'RE ASKING THE SHORT TERM RENTAL OWNERS TO HAVE? YES.
ARE YOU ASKING THEM TO PUT SPECIAL FIRE EQUIPMENT IN THEIR HOMES? ARE YOU SAYING THEY CAN'T MANIPULATE THE FRONT OF THEIR PROPERTIES THE WAY THEY WANT? IF THEY'RE OUTSIDE THE GATES OF A COMMUNITY, ARE YOU GOING TO SAY TO THEM, WE ARE INSPECTING YOUR PROPERTY WITHIN 48 HOURS BECAUSE WE THINK YOU DON'T HAVE A SMOKE DETECTOR.
HOTELS, BY THE WAY, ARE ONE BEDROOMS, BUT THEY HAVE TWO QUEENS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, WE APPRECIATE THEM.
I'M A HILTON HEAD ISLAND RESIDENT, REALTOR AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU.
MY PREVIOUS PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND IS ACTUALLY IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, IN IN EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP AND SAFETY.
MY EXPERIENCE WITH BLANKET POLICIES ARE THAT EVERY TIME YOU HAVE AN ORDINANCE OR A REGULATION OR A RULE COMES, COMPLIANCE WITH COMPLIANCE COMES ENFORCEMENT.
MY QUESTION IS, ARE YOU READY TO MAKE EVERYBODY COMPLIANCE TO MAKE SURE THEIR BATTERIES ARE CHARGED IN THEIR SIMPLY SAFE SYSTEMS? ARE YOU READY TO COME IN AND MAKE SURE THAT ALL THEIR FIRE LIFE SAFETY EQUIPMENT IS WITHIN DATE? THERE ARE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.
[02:20:01]
THEY ARE LIFE AND DEATH.GOOD GOVERNANCE DEMANDS MORE THAN POLICIES.
IT DEMANDS INTEGRITY AND SPEECH.
WORDS CARRY WEIGHT ONCE SPOKEN, THEY CAN HURT DEEPLY AND THEY CAN NEVER BE TAKEN BACK.
WE LIVE IN A TIME WHERE RHETORIC IS AMPLIFIED THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS AND PUBLIC PLATFORMS. WE'VE SEEN HATEFUL LANGUAGE ESCALATE INTO REAL VIOLENCE.
THE TRAGIC ASSASSINATION OF CHARLIE KIRK, AND WEEKS LATER, THE MASS SHOOTING OF THE MICHIGAN CHURCH THAT TOOK INNOCENT LIVES DURING WORSHIP.
THESE ARE NOT ISOLATED INCIDENTS.
THEY SHOW US WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ANGER REPLACES EMPATHY AND DIVISION BECOMES NORMALIZED AS ELECTED OFFICIALS.
YOUR WORDS ECHO LOUDER THAN MOST.
YOU SIT SIDE BY SIDE AS COLLEAGUES, NOT OPPONENTS BEFORE YOU SPEAK.
LOOK TO YOUR RIGHT AND LEFT TO THE PEOPLE SITTING BESIDE YOU.
REMEMBER THAT YOUR WORDS CARRY THE POWER TO HEAL OR TO HARM, TO HARM ALL OF US, OR TO HEAL AND HELP ALL OF US.
THIS DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A KUMBAYA MOMENT, BUT IT SHOULD BE ONE OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND EXAMPLE, IF WE DON'T STAND FOR PEACE, WHO WILL? IF WE CONTINUE TO POUR FUEL ON THE FIRES OF FEAR AND RUMOR, WHETHER ONLINE OR IN PRIVATE MEETINGS, ARE WE REALLY THE EXAMPLES THAT WE WANT TO LEAVE OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN? THIS ISLAND IS ABOUT UNITY.
IT'S ABOUT LOVE, IT'S ABOUT ACCEPTANCE.
IT IS THE SPIRIT THAT HILTON HEAD WAS BUILT ON GRACE, HOSPITALITY AND COMMUNITY.
WE ARE KNOWN WORLDWIDE, NOT JUST FOR OUR BEAUTY, BUT FOR HOW WE TREAT ONE ANOTHER.
THAT KINDNESS, THAT SENSE OF WELCOME IS OUR ISLAND'S TRUE CURRENCY.
THE WORLD IS WATCHING HOW WE LEAD.
AND SO AGAIN, ARE OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
IF THEY SEE US LEAD WITH COMPASSION, THEY'LL LEARN TO DO THE SAME.
IF THEY SEE US LET ANGER GUIDE OUR ACTIONS AND CREATE DIVISION, THEY WILL DO THE SAME.
LET US LEAD WITH GRACE AND UNITY.
THANK YOU KATE MCCLELLAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
I'M KATE MCCLELLAN, FULL-TIME RESIDENT.
UM, I WORK FOR A VACATION RENTAL COMPANY, FULL-TIME MOM.
UM, I WAS ABLE TO BE HERE AT THIS MEETING THIS MORNING BECAUSE IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT TO ME.
UM, MY FRIENDS, THE COMMUNITY THAT'S HERE.
UM, AND WHAT'S REALLY SURPRISING SO FAR AND ALL THESE WONDERFUL COMMENTS THAT EVERYONE IS MAKING IS THAT NO ONE IS DEMANDING THE DATA.
WHERE'S THE STUDY THAT'S BEEN DONE FOR WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU LIMIT THE OCCUPANCY IN THESE HOMES, IN THESE SHORT TERM RENTAL PROPERTIES GOING, UM, 14 DOWN FROM 20, WHO'S, WHO'S MAKING UP THAT DIFFERENCE IN THE BIKE RENTALS IN THE ICE CREAM SHOPS AND THE LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES HERE OWNED BY THE RESIDENTS THAT YOU GUYS CLAIM TO CARE SO MUCH ABOUT? I'M REALLY CONFUSED AND IT'S SCARY THAT WE'RE GOING OFF OF FEELINGS AND NOT DATA.
SO WHERE IS THAT? I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE THAT INFORMATION.
UM, SORRY, I'M ALSO SHAKING 'CAUSE I'M UPSET, BUT IT'S ALSO REALLY FREEZING IN HERE.
UM, ALSO THE WORDS THAT HAVE BEEN USED ARE VERY CONFUSING AND ALSO MISLEADING.
I'VE HEARD SOUTH FOREST BEACH BEEN REFERRED TO AS A QUIET RESIDENTIAL AREA, UM, SURROUNDED BY BARS AND RESTAURANTS AND SHOPS AND FREE SHUTTLES.
SO MY, MY LITTLE COMMUNITY DOESN'T HAVE THAT.
UM, I'VE ALSO HEARD FOLLY FIELD REFERRED TO SO RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY, I'D LIKE TO BE CLEAR THAT THAT IS ZONED AS MIXED USE.
SO IT CAN BE SHORT TERM RENTAL AND FULL-TIME RESIDENTS.
SO IF YOU HAVE DECIDED TO LIVE THERE, YOU HAVE TO KNOW THAT THERE'S GONNA BE SHORT-TERM RENTALS BESIDE YOU.
IF YOU DON'T WANT THAT, PLEASE GO TO THE MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T ALLOW THAT.
UM, I AGREE THAT REGULATION IS NEEDED.
THAT'S HOW WE'RE ALL GONNA BE ABLE TO LIVE AND WORK, UM, TOGETHER AS A TEAM.
SO I, I AGREE AND I, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING.
I WOULD NOT WANNA DO IT, BUT THERE HAS TO BE A HAPPY MEDIUM SOMEWHERE AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO FIND THAT.
I THINK IT'S UNFAIR THAT YOU ARE PUSHING REGULATION ON SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNERS AND NOT FOR OTHER FULL-TIME RESIDENTS.
YOU GO THROUGH FOLLY FIELD AS AN EXAMPLE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT COMMUNITY A LOT.
THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS ARE BEAUTIFULLY MANICURED.
THEIR POWER WASHED, THEIR LANDSCAPING LOOKS GREAT, AND RIGHT NEXT TO THEM IS A CAR THAT'S BEEN SITTING THERE WITH FLAT TIRES FOR YEARS AND A BOAT THAT'S COVERED IN MOSS.
[02:25:02]
I ALSO, I AGREE I'VE BEEN AFFECTED BY, UM, LIFE SAFETY ISSUES AND FIRE ISSUES.WE'RE FORCING THAT, UM, FOR SHORT TERM RENTAL OWNERS, BUT WE'RE NOT ENFORCING IT FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT, AGAIN, YOU HAVE SAID YOU CARED SO MUCH ABOUT.
UM, TO ME, I AGREE WITH MAYBE IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT FIRES DOING THE LIMITATION ON THE GRILLS, UM, MAYBE THE FIREPLACES.
KIM, BEFORE YOU, KIM, BEFORE YOU CALL THE NEXT ONE, I'VE HAD A REQUEST THAT WE TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK.
WELL, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK.
WE'LL SEE EVERYBODY BACK HERE AT 1235 OR 1135.
ALRIGHT, I'D LIKE TO, I'D LIKE EVERYONE TO TAKE THEIR SEATS AGAIN, PLEASE, AND LET'S RESUME OUR MEETING.
HOPEFULLY THE LINES WEREN'T SO LONG THAT YOU, EXCUSE ME.
HEY, HOW ARE YOU? IF EVERYONE CAN TAKE THEIR SEATS AND WE'LL RESUME AGAIN AND, AND GET BACK TO, UM, THE BUSINESS HERE TODAY, RIGHT AT FIVE MINUTES.
SO, UM, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR GETTING IN ORDER, AND KIM, IF YOU'RE READY, WE CAN PROCEED WITH COMMENTS.
HI MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, NICE TO SEE YOU ALL.
MY NAME IS JOCELYN STEIGER AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE HILTON HEAD AREA REALTORS REPRESENTING MORE THAN 1600 MEMBERS WHO LIVE AND WORK ACROSS THIS ISLAND.
FIRST, THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING THIS OPEN DIALOGUE ON SHORT TERM RENTALS.
REALTORS, SHARE YOUR GOALS, SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS, RESPONSIBLE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, AND PRESERVING WHAT MAKES HILTON HEAD SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE TO LIVE AND VISIT.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT SEVERAL UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IS THE DRAMATIC FEE INCREASE FROM 250 TO AS MUCH AS 2,500 PER PROPERTY WITH NO CLEAR COST JUSTIFICATION.
THIS NINEFOLD JUMP WOULD PENALIZE RESPONSIBLE OWNERS WHO ALREADY COMPLY WHILE DOING LITTLE TO IMPROVE ENFORCEMENT FOR RETIREES AND LOCAL FAMILIES WHO RENT PART-TIME TO OFFSET EXPENSES.
IT COULD BE AN IMPOSSIBLE BURDEN.
THE PROPOSAL ALSO LIMITS PERMITS TO A NATURAL PERSON, EXCLUDING LLCS AND TRUSTS.
MANY OWNERS USE THOSE ENTITIES FOR LIABILITY OR ESTATE PLANNING.
THIS RESTRICTION CREATES LEGAL AND LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES.
A BETTER SOLUTION IS TO ALLOW ENTITIES TO HOLD PERMITS IF THEY DESIGNATE A RESPONSIBLE NATURAL PERSON AS A LOCAL CONTACT.
THESE OWNERS ARE STILL TAXPAYERS WHO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS SAFETY SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THEY DESERVE EQUAL TREATMENT OPERATIONALLY.
THE PROPOSAL ADDS HEAVY NEW REQUIREMENTS, FLOOR PLANS, EQUIPMENT LISTS, ONE HOUR RESPONSE TIMES AND FREQUENT INSPECTIONS WITH ONLY 48 HOURS.
NOTICE THE OCCUP OCCUPANCY CAP OF TWO PER BEDROOM PLUS TWO IGNORES HOMES DESIGNED FOR LARGER OR MULTI-GENERATIONAL FAMILIES.
TOGETHER THESE RULES ADD COST AND RED TAPE WITHOUT IMPROVING COMPLIANCE OR SAFETY BEYOND THE TECHNICAL DETAILS, THE TONE OF THIS DEBATE MATTERS.
FOR DECADES, RESIDENTS AND VISITORS HAVE LIVED IN HARMONY ON THIS ISLAND.
THAT BALANCE BUILT OUR ECONOMY AND OUR SHARED SENSE OF PRIDE.
PHRASES LIKE RESIDENTS FIRST RISK CREATING DIVISION WHERE THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN COOPERATION.
EVERY PROPERTY OWNER, WHETHER FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME, IS A TAXPAYER.
THEY FUND THE SAME ROADS, PARKS, AND BEACHES WE ALL ENJOY.
CREATING A DIVIDE BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND NON-RESIDENTS GOES AGAINST HILTON HEADS, HISTORY, ECONOMY AND THEIR CHARACTER.
WE URGE COUNSEL TO PAUSE BEFORE ADOPTING THESE CHANGES AS WRITTEN, LET'S ENSURE FEES ARE COST BASED,
[02:30:01]
RULES ARE REALISTIC, AND IMPLEMENTATION IS TRANSPARENT AND PHASED.HILTON HAD SUCCESS HAS ALWAYS COME FROM BALANCE BETWEEN PRESERVATION AND PROGRESS.
THANK YOU PROGRESS MUCH, BUT YOU'RE THREE MINUTES HAVE EXPIRED.
LET'S PROTECT THAT BALANCE TOGETHER.
TRAINING THAT SWALLOWED A TOY.
FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT IS BEFORE US.
MY FAMILY'S BEEN HERE OVER 60 AND THEY'RE BURIED IN SEA PINES.
WHAT I DON'T LIKE WHAT I'M HEARING, AND I'M THE TYPE OF PERSON, I KIND OF SIT BACK, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, TRY TO LISTEN QUICKLY AND THEN FOLLOW THROUGH.
WE CANNOT LET SHORT TERM RENTALS GO HERE.
YOU WILL BANKRUPT THIS WHOLE ISLAND FROM EVERY PROPERTY OWNER.
AND I HAVE MAJOR OWNERS THAT WE ARE STILL GOOD FRIENDS.
SOME OF THEM HAVE SOLD THEIR PROPERTIES THROUGH THE YEARS.
ALL MY FRIENDS ARE IN REAL ESTATE HERE, SHORT TERM RENTAL BUSINESS LONG TERM.
SO I KNOW, PLEASE, WE CANNOT LET THIS GO.
IF YOU'RE AN ISLANDER HERE, LIKE MY RICK AND HIS SISTER, THEY TEASE ME ALL THE TIME.
THEY GO, OH, WE DON'T LIKE RENTALS.
WELL, I'M LIKE, TOO BAD IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, PACK UP AND MOVE.
I ALSO, ONE OTHER THING AS A PROPERTY MANAGER HERE FOR 32 YEARS, IT IS OUR JOBS TO OVERSEE, HELP THE OFFICERS HELP WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.
IF WE SEE SOMETHING WRONG, REPORT IT.
AND PERSONALLY FOR ME, I TAKE IT ALL RESPONSIBILITY.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO WHEN PEOPLE COME HERE AND WHEN, YES, WE STILL HAVE IT.
I JUST LOVE TO SUGGEST RESTAURANTS, THINGS TO GO WHERE TO GO.
I'VE TRAVELED THE LAST SIX MONTHS, MYRTLE BEACH, TYBEE ISLAND KIAWA.
I WAS ON THE WAY TO OUTER BANKS LAST WEEKEND.
THE HOUSE WE WERE STAYING IN RENTED FELL INTO THE OCEAN.
I APPRECIATE WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING, BUT I'M GONNA SAY IT AGAIN WITH, WITHOUT SHORT TERM RENTALS ON THIS ISLAND, NONE OF US WILL HAVE A JOB.
AND I HOPE THAT EVERYTHING IS OKAY WITH YOUR PET ANDY REED.
UM, THANKS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UM, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A, I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL 'CAUSE SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, YOU BELIEVE CERTAIN THINGS AND OTHER PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENCES OF OPINIONS.
AND AS I'VE GOTTEN OLDER, I'VE LEARNED TO LISTEN TO WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY.
AND SIR, I I APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERNS.
THEY, THEY, THEY MUST, THEY'RE VALID TO YOU.
I AM A, UM, FULL IN FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT AND I AM HERE TO MAKE MY STATEMENT.
SO THERE'S LOTS OF PEOPLE FULL-TIME EMPLOYED WHO ARE MAKING, UH, UM, A STATEMENT HERE.
WHEN THIS WHOLE THING STARTED, I COULD NOT UNDER, I COULD NOT WRAP MY HEAD AROUND IT BECAUSE ULTIMATELY I WANT TO KNOW WHO HAS THE PROBLEM WITH SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
WHO HAS THE PROBLEM? IS IT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED? AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? IF YOU LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE SHORT TERM RENTALS ARE ALLOWED AND YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, YOU CAME TO THE NUISANCE, THE PERCEIVED NUISANCE.
THAT'S A, THAT'S A LEGAL DEFENSE WHERE IT'S A TRUE COURT CASE WHERE I BELIEVE IT WAS DEL WEBB BOUGHT A BIG PROPERTY, BUILT A HUGE DEVELOPMENT, THEN THEY CAME AND WANTED TO SUE OR, OR MAKE THE DAIRY FARM LEAVE 'CAUSE IT WAS CAUSING A SMELL.
AND THE COURT SAID, NO, YOU KNEW ABOUT IT BEFORE YOU GOT HERE.
THE REALITY IS DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT GOLF COURT BALLS.
IF YOU LIVE ON A GOLF COURSE, YOU'VE COME TO THE NUISANCE, YOUR PERCEIVED NUISANCE.
HERE'S WHY HILTON HEADS GREAT.
IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE SHORT TERM RENTALS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR YOU DON'T LIKE HOW IT'S
[02:35:01]
GROWN UP, GO OVER HERE.THAT'S WHY HILTON HEAD'S GREAT.
NOW THE SECOND PART, AND I GOT A MINUTE, I GOTTA BE FAST.
I, I WANNA TALK ABOUT THIS FEELS LIKE WE'RE PUNISHING SHORT, UH, SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNERS.
WE SHOULD BE FINDING WAYS TO ENCOURAGE THEM AND HELP THEM.
UM, ALL RIGHT, NOW HAVING SAID THAT, I'M ALL FOR THE SAFETY ISSUES.
I, I HAVE DISAGREEMENTS ON CERTAIN WAYS OF THAT, BUT I'M ALL FOR SAFETY.
I THINK EVERYBODY IN HERE WANTS SAFETY FOR PEOPLE.
BUT HAVING SAID THAT, YOU'RE PUNISHING THEM PUNITIVELY WITH THESE, THESE COSTS.
THE AVERAGE HOME CELL ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND ON THE MLS SO FAR THIS YEAR IS $1.5 MILLION.
A 4% TAX, 4% TAX RATE ON THAT IS $6,912.
THEY'RE PAYING REAL ESTATE TAXES.
THAT SAME NEIGHBOR WHO LIVES RIGHT NEXT DOOR, THEY'RE PAYING $21,700 IF THEY'RE A 6% RATE.
THE POINT IS, THESE PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR SO MUCH, WE SHOULD BE THANKING THEM, NOT PUNISHING THEM.
FOR CHASKA, I AM ALAN PROHASKA.
I AM A RESIDENT OF HILTON HEAD.
MY WIFE IS THE RESIDENT OF HILTON HEAD.
I OWN TWO PROPERTIES HERE, THE ONE I LIVE IN, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE IN A SHORT TERM RENTAL COMPLEX AND A LONG TERM RENTAL.
UM, MY STORY, AND ACTUALLY I'M REPRESENTING, I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE SHOREWOOD COMMONS AND I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE SHOREWOOD TWO HORIZONTAL PROPERTY REGIME.
AND I'VE PREVIOUSLY BEEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE SUMMER HOUSE BOARD.
I CAME HERE AND I BOUGHT IN SHOREWOOD FOR MY OCEAN VIEW, MY SMALL TWO BEDROOM PROFILE WITH A LONG-TERM INTENT TO LIVE HERE.
WHY DID I BUY IN A SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROPERTY? BECAUSE I LOVE NEIGHBORS AND IF I HAVE A BAD ONE, THEY'RE GONE IN A WEEK.
ALRIGHT, SO WE, WE ENJOY TALKING TO PEOPLE.
OUR SHORT-TERM RENTAL, WE HAVE 126 UNITS, 115 SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
THEY PAY $30,000 IN SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMITS FOR NOTHING.
BECAUSE WHEN WE HAD AN ISSUE AT OUR POOL AND I REACHED OUT TO MARK ORLANDO WHO SENT ME TO BOB, THERE'S NO UNIT ASSIGNED TO YOUR POOL.
DON'T CALL US, CALL THE SHERIFF.
SO WHO DO I CALL? I CALL CHRISTIAN POWERS PROBLEM SOLVE.
I CALL BEN KLAR, PROBLEM SOLVE.
I WORK WITH THE SHORT TERM RENTAL PEOPLE AND WE DON'T HAVE ISSUES, RIGHT? AND IF YOU RAISE THESE FEES TO 750, NOW YOU'RE GONNA GET, AND YOU ADDED BUSINESS LICENSE TAXES EARLIER, BY THE TIME WE'RE DONE, OUR SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNERS ARE PAYING A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR NOTHING.
WE USED TO, IF WE OWNED ONE SHORT-TERM RENTAL, WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE, RIGHT? SO FOLKS, YOU GOTTA UNDERSTAND I'M PILING ON BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE HAS BEEN AGAINST THIS, RIGHT? AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS.
SOMEBODY MENTIONED DATA IN GOD WE TRUST ALL OTHERS BRING DATA.
I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING MUCH FROM YOU GUYS.
AND THE LAST POINT I'M GONNA MAKE, LISTEN TO RONALD REAGAN WHEN HE SAID THE SCARIEST OR MOST TERRIFYING NINE WORDS ARE.
I'M FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND I'M HERE TO HELP TERRY SLING.
TERRY SLING, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
I'M A 40, UH, 40 PLUS YEAR, WENT TO HILTON HEAD HIGH.
AND UH, I ACTUALLY OWN NOT ONLY A VACATION RENTAL COMPANY, BUT THE OTHER SIDE OF IT.
AND I'M GETTING PHONE CALLS CONSTANTLY FROM THESE HOMEOWNERS ALREADY ASKING ABOUT WHERE THEIR PROPERTY, UH, VALUES ARE HEADED.
LACK OF COLLABORATION, DESPITE MANAGING HUNDREDS OF GUESTS AND PROPERTIES EACH YEAR, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANYONE FROM THE TOWN THAT HAS CONTACTED US OR ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES FOR INPUT, READY AND WILLING, BUT NO EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE AND TO GATHER DATA OR IDEAS TO, UH, TO WORK IN THE INDUSTRY, UH, FACTS AND NOT PERCEPTION.
I HOPE ALL MY NUMBERS CORRECT.
HIS, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF TIME AND I'M PRETTY SURE THAT WAS TO KEEP THE OPPOSITION ON THE BACK FOOT
[02:40:01]
OVER 7,000 SHORT TERM RENTALS OPERATE ON THE AISLE.UH, THE TOWN RECORDED ONLY 240 COMPLAINTS LAST YEAR.
THAT'S LESS THAN 3% WITH, UH, ROUGHLY 35,000 HOMES AND CONDOS AND SHORT TERM RENTALS REPRESENT UNDER 20% OF THE ISLANDS PROPERTIES.
THESE DO NOT JUSTIFY SWEEPING OR PUNITIVE REGULATIONS.
UH, QUICKLY, THE LA FAMILIA LOFT, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.
IT SAID, UH, LIMITS TO HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY CAN, UH, SHARE A BEDROOM.
UH, THEY OUTLAWED THAT THEY SAID IT WASN'T, UH, VALID BECAUSE, UH, AND THAT'S THROUGH FHA.
OF COURSE, WE'VE ALL BEATEN THIS WINDED DEATH.
TWO 50 TO 2,500 IS RIDICULOUS.
WE'VE ALL SEEN THIS ONE SPOKE TO A FRIEND OF MINE IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.
HE WAS MAKING A COMMENT ABOUT THIS OVER EXPOSURE.
UH, A LOT OF THESE COMPANIES AREN'T GONNA CARRY THE MILLION.
YOU WOULDN'T GET AWAY WITH IT.
UH, FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS. I'M GLAD THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS HERE TO SPEAK ON IT.
UH, REQUIRING THIS TO THOUSANDS OF HOME IS UNWORKABLE AND COSTLY.
UH, THE LIMITED CONTRACTORS TO DO THE DO THE WORK IS NOT MENTIONED.
PLUS, I'D HAVE TO ASK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ABOUT, UH, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT FALSE ALARM CALL OVERLOAD.
WHEN YOU HAVE THESE KIND OF, UH, SITUATIONS, UH, EXCESSIVE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDENS, UH, YOU HAVE ARCHITECTURAL STYLE PLANS, YES, YOU CAN GET 'EM FROM THE CITY.
YOU KNOW, WHY DOESN'T THIS CITY PULL 'EM FROM THEMSELVES? THEY'VE GOT 'EM SITTING RIGHT HERE FOR CRYING OUT LOUD.
IF YOU CAN'T GET 'EM, CALL, UH, PALM DUNES.
UH, IN CONCLUSION, WE ALL WANT A SAFE AND WELL MANAGED DIAL, BUT RULES MUST BE BASED ON FACTS, DATA AND COLLABORATION, NOT ASSUMPTION.
BEFORE ENACTING, ENACTING THESE THINGS, UH, COLLECT ALL THE DATA, CONSULT LOCAL PROFESSIONALS AND DEVELOP A BALANCE TO BALANCEABLE WORKLOAD FOR PROFESSIONALS.
I BOUGHT, I BOUGHT MY HOME IN A PLACE THAT HAS A POA THAT DOESN'T HAVE RENTALS FOR A REASON.
IF I DIDN'T WANT THEM, I CAN MOVE TO A DIFFERENT PLACE ON HILTON HEAD.
UH, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
OKAY, THANK YOU KEITH WALSTON.
GOOD MORNING MADAM CHAIRWOMAN COMMITTEE MEMBERS MAYOR PERRY, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK THIS MORNING.
YOU KNOW, I'VE LIVED HERE FOR 35 YEARS.
I'VE RAISED THREE KIDS, HAD A COUPLE BORN IN THE HOSPITAL, BEEN THROUGH THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I'VE BEEN A LONG TIME RESIDENT.
I EMPLOY UP TO 50 PEOPLE IN THE SEASON, SOME OF WHOM LIVE HERE, HAVE CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOLS AND CONTRIBUTE TO THIS COMMUNITY AS WELL.
SO I'VE SEEN A LOT OF THINGS HAPPEN OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
I OWN RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE, COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE.
I HAVE HOUSING I PUT MY STUDENTS IN OR MY EMPLOYEES RATHER IN, IN THE SEASON.
SO I HAVE A WIDE VARIETY OF EXPERIENCE WITH THE REAL ESTATE HERE AS WELL.
I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STRIKES ME THE MOST AS WE LOOK AT WHAT WAS WRITTEN, WHAT WAS PRESENTED, AND WHAT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT, AND I'VE LEARNED A LOT, AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS BY MS. PRINCETON AND MS. TANNER, WHO WERE ACTUALLY VERY GOOD.
UM, THEIR INPUT AND THEIR REASONABLENESS AND THEIR SEARCH FOR BALANCE WAS INCREDIBLY NICE TO HEAR MR. DESMOND'S QUESTIONS.
BUT WHAT STRUCK ME WHEN I READ ALL THIS LEADING UP TO THIS AND I HEAR WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY, I GO BACK TO INTENT.
WHAT WAS THE INTENT OF THIS AND THE MORATORIUM? 'CAUSE THIS IS A CONTINUUM THAT WE'RE ON HERE.
AND WHAT I REALLY FEEL I SEE HERE IS AN INTENT NOT NECESSARILY TO PUNISH THE INDIVIDUAL, SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNER.
I THINK IT'S MUCH BIGGER THAN THAT.
I THINK IT'S AN INTENT TO TRY TO TAMP DOWN, TO DO AWAY WITH, TO RESTRAIN SHORT-TERM RENTALS ON THE HILTON HEAD 'CAUSE OF A SPECIFIC AGENDA BY A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT THEIR HOUSE IS NEXT TO A SHORT TERM RENTAL.
AND IT'S COLORED THIS CONVERSATION.
WHAT COULD BE A REALLY CONSTRUCTIVE PROCESS, A FORWARD THINKING, PROACTIVE PROCESS TO MANAGE A REALITY THAT IS HILTON HEAD ISLAND IS INSTEAD BECOME A VERY VINDICTIVE, PROSECUTORIAL PROCESS TO CREATE AN ORDINANCE, TO PUNISH THINGS.
AND THAT IS VERY CONCERNING TO ME.
YOU KNOW, THIS ISLAND, THE 37,000 PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, THE 2.8 MILLION VISITORS
[02:45:01]
THAT COME HERE, THIS ISLAND FUNCTIONS BECAUSE OF THOSE PEOPLE.THE ICE CREAM SHOPS, THE RESTAURANTS, THE PUCK GOLF COURSES, THE BOAT BUSINESSES, EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF DOES NOT FUNCTION BECAUSE THERE ARE 37,000 RESIDENTS.
IT FUNCTIONS BECAUSE WE HAVE THOSE 2.8 MILLION VISITORS, IT IS THEIR CHOICE TO COME HERE.
IT IS THEIR CHOICE TO SPEND THEIR HARDER EARNED VACATION DOLLARS HERE.
NOW I'M BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH TO REMEMBER WHEN FRANK CHAPMAN SAID HE WAS ROLLING UP THE DOORMAT.
THIS IS THE NEXT EXISTENTIAL CRISIS TO OUR INDUSTRY.
THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S BRAVE WELCOME.
I'VE LIVED HERE FOR A LONG TIME, SO LONG THAT WHEN I RENTED MY FIRST HOUSE IN HILTON HEAD PLANTATION, IT HAD FOUR BEDROOMS AND THE RENT WAS $1,350.
I RAISED MY KIDS HERE, THEIR LIFERS EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER THROUGH HILTON HEAD HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OUR KIDS.
BUT WHAT THIS IS GONNA DO TO THEM, THEY LIVE HERE, THEY WORK HERE, THEY SCOOP ICE CREAM IN THE SUMMER TO PAY FOR THEIR SPENDING MONEY IN COLLEGE.
YOU HAVE LITTLE BOYS THAT GREW UP FISHING BEFORE THEY COULD WALK THAT DREAM ABOUT OPENING A CHARTER BUSINESS ON THIS ISLAND, ON THIS RESORT ISLAND WHERE WE ARE LUCKY TO LIVE HERE ON A RESORT.
WE CHOSE TO MOVE FROM PHILADELPHIA, NEW YORK, OHIO, TO A RESORT.
IT'S LIKE DISNEYLAND IN THE OCEAN.
IT BLOWS MY, AND I'M SHAKING BECAUSE I LOVE THIS ISLAND SO MUCH.
AND THIS IS JUST INSANE TO ME THAT WE ARE ALL HERE BECAUSE OF LESS THAN ONE COMPLAINT A DAY, LIKE $18,000 A COMPLAINT.
LEMME TELL YOU HOW IT WORKS IN OTHER PLACES.
WHEN I WAS 22, I RENTED A BEACH HOUSE IN NEW JERSEY WITH SEVEN GIRLS.
WE CAME HOME FROM THE BARS ONE NIGHT AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE A GREAT IDEA TO TURN THE RADIO UP AS LOUD AS WE COULD SING AT THE TOP OF OUR LUNGS AND DANCE ON THE COFFEE TABLE.
AND THAT LASTED ABOUT TWO MINUTES BEFORE THE POLICE WERE KNOCKING ON OUR DOOR.
AND IN 1997, GAVE US A CITATION FOR $770 FOR A NOISE VIOLATION.
I'M IN FAVOR OF ENFORCING THE ORDINANCES THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE BOOKS, BUT TO QUOTE JESSE COLE, WHO OWNS THE SAVANNAH BANANAS, WE NEED TO MODEL HIM FANS FIRST.
IF IT DOESN'T MODEL, IF IT'S NOT GOOD FOR OUR GUESTS, IT'S NOT GOOD FOR US BECAUSE WE ARE NOTHING WITHOUT OUR VISITORS.
I'M A LOCAL REALTOR AND HOMEOWNER HERE ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO MAINTAINING THE BEAUTY, SAFETY, AND SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT MAKE HILTON HEADS SO SPECIAL.
I WANT EACH OF YOU TO KNOW THAT I SHARE THAT GOAL WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
HOWEVER, I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT SEVERAL OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE COULD HAVE SERIOUS UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FOR OUR ISLAND'S ECONOMY, PROPERTY VALUES, AND THE VERY FAMILIES WHO LIVE AND WORK HERE.
FIRST, THE PROPOSED FEE INCREASE FROM 252 AS HIGH AS 2,500 PER YEAR PLACES A DISPROPORTIONATE BURDEN ON HOMEOWNERS.
MANY OF US RENT OUR HOMES ONLY PART OF THE YEAR TO OFFSET THE HIGH COST OF OWNERSHIP, PROPERTY TAXES AND MAINTENANCE.
THESE FEES WILL DRIVE OUT RESPONSIBLE OWNERS WHILE DOING LITTLE TO ADDRESS THE SMALL NUMBER OF PRO UH, PROBLEM PROPERTIES.
UH, NEXT, THE PROPOSED OCCUPANCY CAP OF TWO PEOPLE PER BEDROOM PLUS TWO PER HOME WOULD MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR LARGER FAMILIES AND MULTI-GENERATIONAL GROUPS TO GATHER UNDER ONE ROOF.
MANY OF OUR LARGER HOMES WERE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR FAMILY REUNIONS AND CELEBRATIONS.
EXACTLY THE KIND OF TOURISM THAT HILTON HAD HAS ALWAYS BEEN KNOWN FOR PUSHING THOSE FAMILIES TO RENT MULTIPLE HOMES OR TO VISIT OTHER DESTINATIONS ENTIRELY WILL HURT NOT ONLY PROPERTY OWNERS, BUT ALSO THE LOCAL RESTAURANTS, SHOPS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO RELY ON THEIR BUSINESSES.
MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED OUR FIRST HILTON HEAD HOME IN 2017, A SEVEN BEDROOM, FIVE BATH, 4,000 SQUARE FOOT HOME WHERE OUR FIVE CHILDREN, ALONG WITH THEIR SPOUSES AND NOW 17 GRANDCHILDREN COULD GATHER.
WE SIMPLY LOVE SPENDING TIME TOGETHER WITH EACH OTHER.
WE RENTED OUR HOME TO OTHERS SO THAT THEY COULD EXPERIENCE THAT SAME JOY AND TOGETHERNESS THAT DREW US HERE.
THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE FOR OUR FAMILY.
HAD WE BEEN REQUIRED TO IMPOSE THE CURRENTLY
[02:50:01]
PROPOSED RESTRICTIONS AS A REALTOR, I'VE HELPED MANY PEOPLE, UH, ACHIEVE THAT SAME GOAL THAT WE HAVE.OUR YOUNGEST DAUGHTER AND HER HUSBAND MOVED HERE IN 2021.
THEY SAVED FOR YEARS TO BUY A SMALL CONDO AND STARTED A SMALL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT BUSINESS TO HELP OTHERS RESPONSIBLY MANAGE THEIR SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
THEY PERSONALLY GREET GUESTS AND FORCE NOISE AND PARKING RULES AND MAINTAIN HOMES WITH CARE.
IF THESE PROPOSALS PASS THEIR LIVELIHOOD AND THEIR DREAM OF RAISING A FAMILY HERE WILL BE AT RISK.
HILTON HEAD NEEDS YOUNGER FAMILIES LIKE THEIRS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND RESPONSIBLE INVESTORS TO SUSTAIN THE COMMUNITY.
WE ALL LOVE OVERREGULATION RISKS.
DRIVE DRIVING THEM AWAY WILL DRIVE THEM AWAY WHEN INVEST, WHEN INVESTMENT DECLINES, HOME VALUES FALL, TOURISM SLOWS AND LOCAL JOBS DISAPPEAR.
I SINCERELY APPRECIATE THE TOWN'S EFFORTS TO PRESERVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE HERE.
I SIMPLY ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER SOLUTIONS THAT BALANCE ACCOUNTABILITY WITH OPPORTUNITY, PRESERVING HILTON HEAD'S, WELCOMING SPIRIT, ECONOMIC VITALITY, AND FAMILY LEGACY FOR THOSE SEEKING PEACE AND REFUGE IN THIS TROUBLED WORLD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR LISTENING WITH AN OPEN HEART.
THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE, MAYOR PERRY, THE TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS, TOWN MANAGER ORLANDO AND TOWN MANAGEMENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
MY NAME IS KATE KLU AND I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND BEACH AND TENNIS RESORT.
OUR COMMUNITY WAS BUILT BACK IN 1981 IN THE FOLLY FIELD COMMUNITY.
OUR WARD IS REPRESENTED BY TAMARA BECKER AND I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH HER REGARDING SOME OF THESE MATTERS.
OUR RESORT WAS BUILT WITH THE INTENTIONS OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
IT WAS DESIGNED IN A MANNER TO OFFER FAMILIES WELL DESERVED VACATIONS RIGHT ON THE OCEAN WITH OUR ONSITE FOOD AND BEVERAGE OPERATIONS.
IT WAS ALSO DESIGNED TO BRING GROUP BUSINESS TO THE ISLAND WITH 12,000 SQUARE FOOT BALLROOM CAPACITY TO HOST SMALL AND LARGE GROUPS.
OUR COMMUNITY IS SELF-CONTAINED.
WE ARE THREE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS WITH 846 UNITS, ONE AND TWO BEDROOM UNITS.
WE HAVE 24 7 SECURITY AND A FACILITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
WE HANDLE NUISANCE COMPLAINTS, TRASH ISSUES, AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ISSUES MOST TIMES FASTER THAN THE TOWN COULD RESPOND.
THE DEMOGRAPHIC IS A BALANCE OF INVESTMENT PROPERTIES AND RESIDENTS.
WE ARE OUR OWN MINI TOWN HANDLING MOST OF THESE ISSUES ON OUR OWN.
WITH THE DIRECTION OF MANAGEMENT AND OUR BOARDS.
WE TOO HAVE TO BALANCE LIFE BETWEEN SHORT-TERM RENTERS AND RESIDENTS WHO DID NOT PURCHASE AS AN INVESTMENT.
WE ARE A HYBRID PROPERTY, VERY UNIQUE TO THE ISLAND.
I WOULD ESTIMATE THE TOWN GENERATES ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS SOLELY ON ANNUAL ACCOMMODATIONS TAX FROM THE PROPERTIES, UM, BETWEEN THE, UH, HOMEOWNERS THAT RENT ON THEIR OWN AND THE NUMEROUS RENTAL COMPANIES.
THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE BUSINESS LICENSES AND THE PERMITS FEES THAT ARE NOW REQUIRED.
THE HILTON HEAD, ISLAND BEACH AND TENNIS OWNERS ARE ALREADY PAYING ENOUGH FEES TO FACILITATE DEMANDS.
MY REQUEST WOULD BE TO ASK THE COMMITTEE AND THE COUNCIL TO EXEMPT HILTON HEAD, ISLAND BEACH AND TENNIS RESORT FROM THESE NEW ORDINANCES.
IF YOU CAN EXEMPT HOTELS IN TIMESHARES, YOU CAN CERTAINLY ACCEPT OUR UNIQUE PROPERTY.
GOOD MORNING COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
I'M A 21 YEAR RESIDENT OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
I'M ALSO THE OWNER OF COASTAL HOME AND VILLA.
UM, I'M HERE ALSO SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF 74, UH, RESIDENTS WHO HAPPEN TO BE PART-TIME.
THEY TRUST US TO RESPONSIBLY MANAGE THEIR HOMES WHEN THEY'RE NOT LIVING HERE.
BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT NEW REGULATIONS, I WANT TO URGE THIS COUNCIL TO SLOW THIS PROCESS DOWN AND MAKE SURE WE GET IT RIGHT WITH A COMPLEX RED LINE ORDINANCE OF THIS SIZE.
IT IS NOT A REALISTIC TIMEFRAME FOR THE COMMUNITY TO REVIEW, DIGEST, AND PROVIDE THOUGHTFUL FEEDBACK WITH A POSSIBLE ADOPTION DATE OF OCTOBER 21ST, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE ALREADY ON DAY SIX OF THIS POTENTIAL 20 DAY PROCESS.
THAT'S RUSHED POLICY AND IT RISKS CREATING MORE PROBLEMS THAN IT SOLVES.
[02:55:01]
THE GOAL IS COLLABORATION AND TRUST, THE PROCESS MUST REFLECT THAT.THE TRUTH IS, OUR CURRENT SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE WORKS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE REVISED ENFORCEMENT STEPS.
THE TOWN HAS RECENTLY IMPLEMENTED THOSE UPDATES, HAVEN'T EVEN HAD A FULL SEASON TO PROVE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS YET WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE CODE ENFORCEMENT HAS FOCUSED ON EDUCATION AND COMPLIANCE RATHER THAN CITATION.
AND WE APPRECIATE THAT THOUGHTFUL MEASURED APPROACH.
BUT THE DATA NOW SHOWS SMALL REOCCURRING POCKETS OF PROBLEMS, AND THOSE PROPERTIES SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE INDIVIDUALLY.
WE SHOULD NOT BE ASKED TO BEAR THEIR FRUSTRATION COLLECTIVELY.
SOME GATED COMMUNITIES HAVEN'T SHARED THEIR DATA WITH THE TOWN, BUT BOTH SEA PINES AND PALMETTO DUNES HAVE SHOWN THAT CAN CONSISTENT FAIR ENFORCEMENT WORKS.
AND THAT ACCOUNTABILITY, EXCUSE ME, ACCOUNTABILITY ENSURES COMPLIANCE.
THE ISSUE ISN'T THAT WE LACK REGULATION, IT'S THAT WE NEED TO LET ENFORCEMENT WORK BEFORE ADDING MORE.
THERE'S A MISCONCEPTION THAT STRICTER OCCUPANCY LIMITS WILL SOLVE OUR ISSUES.
IN REALITY, OCCUPANCY HAS A LOT OF NUANCE.
IT SHOULD BE GUIDED BY BUILDING CODE PARKING AND THE LAYOUT OF THE PROPERTY.
PRACTICAL FACTORS THAT DIRECTLY INFLUENCE HOW A HOME FUNCTIONS SAFELY AND COMFORTABLY.
TAKING A LINEAR ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH, SUCH AS A, SUCH AS A FIXED NUMBER OF PEOPLE PER BEDROOM, DOESN'T ACCOUNT FOR THE DIVERSITY OF HOMES ON HILTON HEAD OR THE WAYS FAMILIES ACTUALLY USE THEM.
MANY OF OUR VISITORS WHO ENJOY THESE HOMES ARE MULTI-GENERATIONAL FAMILIES, GRANDPARENTS, PARENTS AND CHILDREN SPENDING A WEEK TOGETHER UNDER ONE ROOF, CREATING MEMORIES AND TRADITIONS THAT LAST FOR YEARS.
THERE'S AN INHERENT FEAR OF HIGHER OCCUPANCY HOMES AND FRANKLY, A STIGMA THAT'S DEVELOPED AROUND THEM, BUT RESPONSIBLY MANAGED AND PROPERLY PLANNED.
LARGER HOMES ARE PART OF HILTON HEAD'S HOSPITALITY, DNA, THEY'VE ALWAYS PLAYED A IMPORTANT ROLE IN WELCOMING FAMILIES TO THIS ISLAND.
THEY'VE ALWAYS, UH, THESE HOMES SERVE A PURPOSE.
THEY PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY FOR FAMILIES SEEKING SPECIFIC LAYOUTS OR AMENITIES, AND THEY ALSO OFFER OPTIONS FOR SMALLER GROUPS WHO VALUE SPACE AND COMFORT.
WE SHOULD AIM FOR THOUGHTFUL DESIGN, PROPER OVERSIGHT AND RESPONSIBLE USE.
IF THE TOWN WERE TO EVALUATE A MORE PRACTICAL APPROACH, ONE BASED ON SIZE PARKING AND LAYOUT, WE COULD ACHIEVE A FAIR, ENFORCEABLE AND BALANCED OUTCOME FOR EVERYONE.
HILTON HEAD HAS ALWAYS SUCCEEDED WHEN WE TAKE TIME TO LISTEN, BALANCE AND LEAD THOUGHTFULLY.
SO I'M ASKING THIS OF COUNSEL, LET'S TALK IT THROUGH, NOT PUSH IT THROUGH.
IN A, IN A PRIOR MEETING YOU HAD GIVEN ME YOUR CREDENTIALS.
COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT I, I DIDN'T WRITE 'EM DOWN.
COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT THOSE ARE AGAIN, IN TERMS OF CREDENTIALS? YEAH, UM, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? WELL, YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT YOU RUN YOUR BUSINESS PROFESSIONALLY AND YOU HAVE A WHAT? A REAL ESTATE LICENSE SURE.
WHAT WAS IT? UM, WELL, LICENSED BY THE PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT GROUP, UM, THAT'S HERE IS LICENSED BY THE STATE, LLR, UM, LICENSED.
AND THEY'RE EITHER OUT TO BE LICENSED AS A PROPERTY MANAGER IN CHARGE OR A BROKER IN CHARGE IN ORDER TO PROFESSIONALLY MANAGE PROPERTIES ON BEHALF OF OTHERS.
UM, WHICH INVOLVES A WHOLE DIFFERENT LE LITANY OF, OF STANDARDS AND, AND GUIDELINES THAT WE AS A, UM, INDUSTRY ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO OVER, LET'S SAY AN OWNER MANAGING A PROPERTY THEM THEMSELVES.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YEAH, IT IS, IT IS.
I JUST DIDN'T WRITE THAT DOWN WHEN WE MET AND NO WORRIES.
MONICA BERGMAN, DREW BROWN, BETH DRAKE.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE TIME AND AND APPRECIATE ALL OF THE TIME.
UH, I WANT TO THANK FIRST THE, UM, RESIDENTS OF HILTON HEAD THAT SHOWED UP TODAY, UM, TO JUST TO, TO SHARE THEIR OPINIONS ABOUT THIS.
I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS, IT'S ABOUT HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD? IF THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT REGULATION AND REGULATION BEING NEEDED, I THINK THAT WHAT REALLY NEEDS TO HAPPEN, AND, AND THIS HAS BEEN LOOKING AT, UM, AS MIKE SAID, A 21 DAY PROCESS, BUT REALLY FROM MORATORIUM TALK TO NOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LESS THAN TWO MONTHS.
SO THIS IS THE COMMUNITY'S REACTION FROM FROM THIS SIDE OF, OF, OF THE EQUATION.
YOU KNOW, AND, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY WANTED TO JUST REINFORCE IS, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, FAIR AND BALANCED.
WE'RE, WE'RE NOT AGAINST SAFETY REGULATIONS IN, IN, IN RESPONSIBLE MANNERS.
WE'RE NOT AGAINST, YOU KNOW, PARKING REGULATIONS THAT ARE, AGAIN, IN A SENSIBLE MANNER.
I THINK THAT PARKING, AGAIN, IS YOUR TOOL THAT YOU CAN ENFORCE OCCUPANCY BY.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS A, A TANGIBLE THING THAT WE CAN DO BECAUSE WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE VARIANCES OR FLOOR PLANS THAT WAS APPROVED WAS AN INDIVIDUAL DECISION.
SO TAKING A ONE SIZE FITS ALL FOR THE, THE OCCUPANCY SIDE JUST SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE BIT, AGAIN, OBTUSE.
SO THERE ARE WAYS THAT COULD BE LOOKED AT.
I DO THINK THAT TO YOUR POINT, AS WE HAD TALKED ABOUT, YOU COULD LOOK AT A TWO PLUS TWO TO A CERTAIN LEVEL OF BEDROOMS,
[03:00:01]
TWO PLUS FOUR TO A CERTAIN LEVEL OF BEDROOMS, OR TWO PLUS SIX FOR A CERTAIN LEVEL OF BEDROOMS, AND TAKE THAT IN TERMS OF ONE AND TWO BEDROOMS, THREE AND FOUR BEDROOMS AND FIVE AND PLUS BEDROOMS. THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE LESS IMPACT AS WE GO TO THE NEXT SEASON.BUT IT WOULD ALSO BE MORE ENFORCEABLE.
'CAUSE THEN IF WE WERE IN A POSITION WHERE WE DID IT BY PARKING, YOU WOULD HAVE TO SAY YOU HAVE TO HAVE PARKING FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF PARKING AS THERE ARE FOR THE BEDS.
SO AGAIN, TRYING TO MAKE IT SO THAT THERE ARE ENFORCEABLE THINGS.
AND THE OTHER POINT I REALLY WANTED TO REITERATE WAS THIS IS AN ECOSYSTEM.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT THERE ARE RESIDENTS THAT DEAL WITH THE NEGATIVE SIDES OF, OF THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS, BUT THESE ARE THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE, ARE FOR THE, THE, THE POSITIVE SIDES OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
AND THERE EVERYONE FROM TEACHERS TO JUST DIFFERENT BUSINESS OWNERS THAT ARE ALL AFFECTED BY THIS.
SO I THINK THAT AGAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE THAT ASPECT AND REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ARE USING THAT WITHIN THE WHOLE ECOSYSTEM OF HILTON HEAD.
I KNOW THAT WE NEED TO HAVE SOME REGULATION IN PLAY PRIOR TO AN LMO, BUT IF THE LMO IS REALLY GONNA BE WHAT WE LOOK AT ON HOW WE BUILD THE FUTURE OF THIS ISLAND, FURTHER REGULATION AT THIS LEVEL IS NOT NEEDED RIGHT NOW WHEN WE COULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM BY SOLVING IT WITH THE LMO CHANGES THAT WE ALL KNOW THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY.
MY NAME IS JULIE JANNING AND MY QUESTION IS, WHAT PROBLEM ARE WE TRYING TO FIX? WE HAVE HEARD COUNTLESS TIMES THE LOW PERCENTAGE OF CALLS INVOLVING COMPLAINTS AND THE DECREASING NUMBER OF VISITORS SINCE 2022.
THESE DEMANDS WILL PUT ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL PRESSURES ON OWNERS WHO RENT AND FURTHER RAISE RENTAL PRICES, FORCING OUR VALUED FAMILY VISITORS TO FIND OTHER PLACES TO VISIT FOR THEIR FAMILY VACATIONS.
THIS WILL NOT BE GOOD FOR OUR BUSINESSES, THE EMPLOYEES THAT WORK AND LIVE HERE, THE FULL-TIME RESIDENTS THAT LIVE HERE, OR THE HISTORY OF THE ISLAND ITSELF.
WE HAVE LONG BEEN KNOWN AS A FRIENDLY, WELCOMING ISLAND BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.
THESE JURASSIC MEASURES ACROSS THE BOARD HAVE CREATED A DIVIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE TOWN VERSUS THE GREATER GOOD OF THE ISLAND.
WHY DON'T WE HANDLE THIS IN A WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM CHILD, NOT PUNISH ALL OF THE OTHER OWNERS, BOTH RESIDENTS AND NON-RESIDENTS ALIKE THAT FOLLOW THE RULES.
LET'S ADDRESS THE LMOS, FOR INSTANCE, THAT ALLOW THE EIGHT PLUS BEDROOMS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY FOR YOU OPENING UP THIS DISCUSSION SO YOU CAN HEAR WHAT WE'RE THINKING.
WE CAN HEAR WHERE Y'ALL ARE COMING FROM TOO.
UM, I AM MORE RECENT OF A RESIDENT HERE ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND, BUT MY LOVE FOR THIS ISLAND STARTED IN THE SEVENTIES.
WHEN MY FAMILY STARTED VISITING HERE, MY PARENTS THEN MOVED HERE AND IT BECAME MY SECOND HOME.
I ESCAPED FROM THE REAL WORLD OUTSIDE OF HILTON HEAD AND I LOVE THIS AND I KNOW THAT MOST ISLAND RESIDENTS STARTED THIS WAY BY BEING TOURISTS FIRST.
AND THIS ISLAND WAS BUILT FOR TOURISM.
THE INITIAL MODERN COMMUNITIES HERE, YOUR SEA PINES, PALMETTO, DUN SHIPYARDS, HOMES AND VILLAS WERE BUILT IN HARMONY WITH EACH OTHER.
AND THOSE VILLAS HAVE BEEN WELCOMING PEOPLE FOR DECADES.
SO SHORT TERM RENTALS, YOU KNOW, ARE NOT ANYTHING NEW.
I KNOW THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC AND THE RISE OF AIRBNB, VRBO ISSUES CAME UP AND YOU ALL DEALT WITH THAT AS A COUNCIL.
LET'S PUT DOWN SOME RULES, MAKE YOU PAY PERMITS, GET BUSINESS LICENSE AND YOU'VE DONE IT AND YOUR DATA, EVERYBODY'S GONE THROUGH THE DATA, IT'S WORKING.
ENFORCEMENT SEEMS TO BE WORKING, LET'S GET MORE ON ENFORCEMENT.
[03:05:02]
UM, RATHER THAN REALLY GETTING TO SOME OF THESE SHORT TERM, THE OWNERS OF SHORT TERM RENTALS WHO SOME ARE JUST SCRAPING BY, UM, WITH THE COSTS THAT ARE INCURRED.THERE ARE A COUPLE THINGS THAT, UM, REALLY HAVEN'T BEEN ADDRESSED TODAY THAT I WANTED TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE TALK ABOUT.
JOCELYN KIND OF BROUGHT THEM UP.
UM, BUT SECTION 10, 2 40 ABOUT PERMITS THAT SAY THAT ONLY A NATURAL PERSON'S NAME CAN BE ON A PERMIT THAT BYPASSES SOME OF THE LIABILITY REGULATIONS AND PROTECTIONS FOR LLCS, WHICH IS REALLY, IT OPENS INDIVIDUALS UP FOR FURTHER LIABILITY.
UM, THE ONE HOUR IN-PERSON RESPONSE TIME TO SOME COMPLAINTS, SOME LEVELS OF COMPLAINTS.
WELL, I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THE OWNER OF A RESIDENT ISN'T AN OFF ISLAND DURING RUSH HOUR AND HAVING TO GET BACK ONTO THE ISLAND TO DEAL WITH A COMPLAINT.
IS THAT REALLY LOGISTICALLY POSSIBLE TO PUT A TIMESTAMP ON WHEN PEOPLE MUST BE HERE? I REALLY WOULD LOVE THOSE TO BE LOOKED AT.
AND READDRESSED, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN DISCUSSED MUCH HERE.
UM, I, I JUST REALLY WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS RATHER THAN CREATING MORE.
UM, FOR OUR SHORT TERM RENTAL OWNERS HERE, IF YOU LOOK AT INTEREST RATES, MORTGAGES, HOA FEES, POA FEES, INSURANCE TAXES, AND THEN ADDING $200 OF SIMPLY SAFE, IT JUST IS UNMANAGEABLE.
I GUESS I PROBABLY DON'T, UH, QUALIFY AS A, UH, LONG TERM RESIDENT.
UH, I'VE ONLY OWNED FOR IN SEA PINES FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS AND MY FAMILY COME DOWN FOR A LONG TIME PRIOR TO THAT AND WE FINALLY WERE ABLE TO BUY A PLACE.
AND SO POST COVID, I WAS ABLE TO WORK REMOTELY.
SO I GET TO SPEND A LOT MORE TIME HERE.
SO NOW I'M NOT REALLY A, UH, I'M SORT OF A PART-TIME RESIDENT, BUT I GET, I FEEL LIKE I GET TREATED LIKE, YOU KNOW, A SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNER.
LIKE EVERYWHERE I TURN IT'S LIKE, OH, YOU'RE SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
I'M DOWN HERE ABOUT FIVE MONTHS AND WHEN I'M NOT HERE I RENTED.
SO WHY IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT? I FOLLOW THE RULES.
IF YOU PUT A A BEACH BLANKET OVER THE PORCH, YOU GET SOMEBODY COMES BY AND AND WRITES YOU UP.
SO THE RULES YOU'RE PUTTING IN COMPARED TO SEAT PINES, LIKE A DAY AT THE BEACH, BUT FOR ALL THESE OTHER PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU'RE GOING WAY OVERBOARD AND YOU'RE NOT MAKING IT FRIENDLY.
AND I USED TO LOVE COMING DOWN HERE AND NOW I COME DOWN HERE AND I GET ALL STRESSED OUT.
'CAUSE ALL I DO IS GET AGGRAVATED AND, YOU KNOW, GOING FROM TWO 50 TO SEVEN 50, WHERE'S ALL THE MONEY GO? YOU REALLY NEED $7 MILLION FOR 220 PE 220 ISSUES A YEAR.
I MEAN, REALLY THINK ABOUT IT.
YOU, YOU'RE TURNING YOURSELF INTO WE PAY ENOUGH IN TAXES.
IT IS, I'M NOT A RESIDENT, BUT I'M A TAXPAYER AND I PAY A LOT OF TAXES AND I FEEL LIKE I GET NOTHING FOR IT EXCEPT GET AGGRAVATED.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
I, UH, I'M A RESIDENT AND MUL, I'VE LIVED HERE FOR, UH, OH SIX, SIX YEARS NOW.
I'VE GOT TIES HERE FOR OVER 20 AND OWN, I OWN MULTI PROPERTIES HERE AT HILTON HEAD AND, UH, HAVE, AND UH, I JUST WANTED TO, I KNOW EVERYBODY HAS TO HAVE RULES AND, AND YOU NEED GUIDELINES.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I, I WANTED HOPE THAT YOU ALL CONSIDER IS I MANAGE A, A RESORT HILTON HEAD RESORT, WHICH YEARS AGO WAS NOT VERY NICE.
UM, IT WASN'T SHORT TERM RENTALS BACK IN THE DAY.
IT WAS MORE LIKE A SECTION EIGHT HOUSE BACK IN THE DAY.
AND WE TURNED THAT PLACE INTO A GOLD MINE, UM, WHICH IS MOSTLY SHORT TERM RENTALS, BUT THERE WERE ABOUT 50 PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE YEAR ROUND.
AND THERE'S SOME LONG, LONG-TERM GUESTS THAT LIVE THERE AS WELL.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HOPE THAT YOU, YOU KEEP IN, IN MIND IS, UH, THE PROPERTY VALUES.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT MY, MY VERY FIRST UNIT BACK IN 2016, I WAS PAYING $900 A YEAR FOR PROPERTY TAXES.
AND EVEN THOUGH I'M A RESIDENT DOWN HERE, YOU KNOW, YOU PAID A 6% AND AS I SAID, I ONLY THREE OF 'EM NOW.
SO THAT 900 HOUR UNIT NOW, I SOLD IT AND IT'S SOLD FOR LIKE 400,000.
SO THAT PERSON'S PAYING THE TOWN OF HILTON HAD LIKE
[03:10:01]
$7,000 VERSUS 900.AND I THINK WE'VE GOTTA KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN WE LOOK AT SHORT TERM RENTALS, AS MUCH AS IT'S A PAIN FOR SOME PEOPLE.
UM, LOOK AT THE REVENUE BESIDE THE 3% AND ALL THE OTHER LITTLE THINGS.
BUT MIKE, MY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP IS THAT YOU MAKE A CONSIDERATION FOR LIKE A HILTON HEAD RESORT.
THEY'RE TWO BEDROOM, THEY THREE BEDROOM.
IT'S LIKE A SEPARATE TOWN, KIND OF LIKE KATE WAS SAYING, WITH BEACH AND TENNIS.
WE GET NO BENEFIT AT ALL FROM THE TOWN.
NONE AS FAR AS THIS, YOU KNOW, THE SHORT TERM RENTAL THING GOES, WE DO OUR OWN VILLA INSPECTIONS ANNUALLY.
WE HAVE OUR OWN WATCH DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS BASICALLY SECURITY.
WE HAVE OUR OWN RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT WE ENFORCE, UH, WITH FINES.
WE ARE FIRE AND SAFETY IS, IS ONE OF THE TOP-NOTCH THINGS BECAUSE ACTUALLY MY SON'S A 20 YEAR FIREFIGHTER HERE IN HILTON HEAD.
UH, SO THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE WITH US.
WE HAVE INSPECTIONS, UH, DANIELLE AND EVERYBODY ELSE COMES DOWN AND, AND WE'RE, WE'RE RIGHT THERE VISIBLY WE'RE ONE OF THE BEST.
WE, WE HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH PARKING AT ALL EXCEPT FOR ON 4TH OF JULY WE HAVE OUR OWN TRASH PICKUP.
WE HAVE OUR OWN SAFETY PROGRAMS. SO JUST WAS HOPEFUL THAT MAYBE YOU GUYS WOULD KEEP IN, KEEP THAT IN CONSIDERATION WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT FEES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEE FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AND TO OTHER TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF BECAUSE YOU'VE REALLY DONE, UH, A YEOMAN'S WORK HERE.
UH, MY NAME IS AMY FEE AND I'M A RESIDENT OF NORTH FOREST BEACH.
UM, I CAME DOWN HERE WITH MY HUSBAND IN 2001 ON VACATION LIKE MOST OF US, AND WE LOVED IT SO MUCH, BUT WE COULDN'T MAKE THE NUMBERS WORK TO PURCHASE A PROPERTY AT THAT TIME.
SO WE WAITED UNTIL 2004 WHEN WE WERE IN A DIFFERENT FINANCIAL SITUATION.
PURCHASED A PROPERTY IN SOUTH FOREST BEACH, WENT THROUGH SHORT-TERM RENTAL, CONVERTED TO LONG-TERM RENTAL.
DID NOT WANNA LIVE IN SOUTH FOREST BEACH BECAUSE IT WAS TOO CONGESTED.
AND SPENT THREE YEARS TRYING TO FIND A HOME THAT WAS GONNA FIT OUR NEEDS.
THEY'RE GONNA BRING ME OUT FEET FIRST.
OKAY, SO THERE ARE NUMEROUS, UM, WHEN I BOUGHT MY HOUSE, I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHEN WE BOUGHT OUR HOUSE, WHEN 2008, IT WAS A NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE HAD FULL-TIME RESIDENTS ALL AROUND US.
THERE WERE TWO SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND MAYBE THREE OR FOUR LONG-TERM RENTALS.
FOREST BEACH WAS BUILT FOR THE WORKERS OF SEA PINES, THE PLUMBERS, THE ELECTRICIANS, THE CARPENTERS.
THOSE WERE THE HOMES THAT THEY LIVED IN WHEN SEA PINES WAS BUILT.
AND I WAS ATTRACTED TO THE BEAUTY OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE CHARACTER AND THE PROXIMITY TO THE BEACH.
SO NOW I'M GONNA READ, THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPETING INTERESTS AND OPINIONS ON SHORT-TERM RIFLES AS WE'VE HEARD TODAY.
AND UNLESS YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY THEM AND YOU DON'T EXPERIENCE THE DAY-TO-DAY DISRUPTIONS, YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE.
WE'RE ASKING YOU TO CREATE A BALANCE FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS AND SHORT-TERM BUSINESS OWNERS.
REASONABLE OCCUPANCY LIMITS, DEFINED PARKING REQUIREMENTS, FIRE SAFETY MEASURES.
I THINK MANY OF YOU BELIEVE IN THE HOME RULE.
SHORT-TERM RENTALS IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY.
THERE'S NEIGHBORHOOD DISRUPTIONS WITH NOISE PARTIES AND OTHER DISTURBANCES NEGATIVELY AFFECTING RESIDENTS', QUALITY OF LIFE.
IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO ENJOY YOUR OWN YARD AND PROPERTY BECAUSE OF DISRESPECTFUL BEHAVIOR AND THE LACK OF CONSIDERATION OF NEARBY SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
MUSIC BLARING, SHOUTING, AND DOGS THAT BARK AND CHARGE THE FENCE ARE A DAY-TO-DAY OCCURRENCE.
THERE'S A LOSS OF COMMUNITY CHARACTER.
THE OVERWHELMING INFLUX OF TRANSIENT VS VISITORS HAS CHANGED THE CHARACTER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND OTHERS TOO.
IT'S DIMINISHED OUR SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND UNDERMINES THE SOCIAL FABRIC THAT TIES US.
WE ARE HILTON HEAD ISLAND ORDINANCES ARE BENEFICIAL AND CAN PROVIDE NEIGHBORHOOD STABILITY AND MAINTAIN THE RESIDENTIAL CHARACTER.
I ASK FOR A CLEAR REGULATORY FRAMEWORK WITH OCCUPANCY LIMITS, PLEASE.
RESIDENTS HAVE PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS AND CONTRIBUTE, EXCUSE
[03:15:01]
ME, THIS IS A, EVERYONE ELSE OPEN THREE MINUTES.BUT SECONDLY, THIS IS A BALANCED CONVERSATION, ISN'T IT? OKAY, AMY, CAN I ASK STOP.
OKAY, HERE'S, CAN I JUST FINISH, I GUYS, SERIOUSLY, ARE YOU THAT AFRAID OF WHAT A RESIDENT FULL-TIME RESIDENT IS GONNA SAY? AMY, IF YOU CAN FINISH UP IN 10 SECONDS OR SO, PLEASE.
CAN I HAVE SENTENCE, UH, IF I MAY JUST FINISH ONE LAST SENTENCE.
RESIDENTS HAVE PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS TOO, AND WE CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY YEAR ROUND WITH OUR TALENTS, OUR TIME, AND OUR TREASURES.
ANDRE BOOKER, ANDRE BOOKER, CONNIE DALLAS, POLITICAL.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
UM, I AM SORT OF NEW TO, UM, A CITY COUNCIL MEETING OR THIS SORT OF THING, BUT TAKE YOUR TIME.
ONE THING I DID WANT TO BRING FORWARD WAS SOME NUMBERS.
UM, I AM A RESIDENT FULL-TIME WITH MY FAMILY, AND I LIVE IN WEXFORD, BUT I DO OWN FOUR SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
I SOLD A THREE BEDROOM, TWO AND A HALF BATH HOUSE IN, IN PALMETTO DUNES JUST BECAUSE IT HAD BECOME UNPROFITABLE FROM THE ONEROUS TAXES AND EXTRA INSURANCE THAT YOU PAY.
I DID CARRY THE MILLION DOLLAR COVERAGE.
I DID EVERYTHING RIGHT, BUT IT CAME TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS JUST TOO MUCH HEADACHE FOR THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE.
AND I MANAGED MY OWN PROPERTY AND I DO ALL OF THEM.
BUT THE NUMBERS I CAME UP WITH WHEN I SOLD YESTERDAY, I TOOK $96,200 OUT OF THE LOCAL ECONOMY ON THE SALE OF ONE HOUSE THAT SOLD FOR 1.2.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE MY TAX BILL, WHEN I BOUGHT IT FROM THE PRIOR RESIDENT WHO LIVED THERE WAS $3,354.
MY NEXT YEAR TAX BILL WAS 16,224.
SO WHEN SOMEONE THINKS THAT THEY'RE ONLY PAYING 2% MORE, THAT'S NOT TRUE.
YOU'RE PAYING SCHOOL TAXES TO THE TUNE OF 10,000 THAT MY RES I'M NOT PAYING AS A RESIDENT AND RESIDENTS AREN'T PAYING.
I FEEL THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN ENOUGH TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH THE STR DOES FOR THEM.
HOW MUCH MONEY IS SAVED BY THE, THE MONEY THAT WE SPEND.
SO THE WAY I CAME UP WITH 96,000 WAS I PAY AN ADDITIONAL 13,000 ADDITIONAL, NOT TOTAL ADDITIONAL, BECAUSE I'M A SHORT-TERM RENTAL.
I PAY 6,000 IN SALES TAX ON THAT RENTAL, SAYING, ASSUMING THAT MY AVERAGE WAS A HUNDRED THOUSAND A YEAR, I PAID $3,000 IN BEACH TAX.
I PAID 18,000 TO MY LOCAL MAID, WHICH ATTRIBUTED TO THE ECONOMY.
AND MY GUESTS SPEND AT LEAST A THOUSAND DOLLARS A WEEK AT THE RESTAURANTS, THE GOLF CLUBS, WHATEVER.
AND THAT'S HOW MY SELLING MY ONE PROPERTY TOOK AWAY $96,200 BECAUSE IT JUST BECAME TOO DIFFICULT, TOO NASTY.
AND TOO JUST, WHY CAN'T WE DO MORE TO MAKE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH THE STR DOES FOR THEM? NOT AGAINST THEM.
I LIVE ON WALKING HORSE STREET, WHICH IS OFF OF JONESVILLE ROAD.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I GREW UP HERE.
I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF THE MARSHES, THE MARSHES DISTRICT NOW THAT WE'RE SET UP IN DISTRICTS.
UM, DAVE, MOVE THE MIC A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO YOU SO THE FOLKS CAN HEAR JUST A LITTLE BIT.
BETTER? IS THAT BETTER? MUCH BETTER, THANK YOU.
OUR DISTRICT IS HOME TO A DIVERSE ARRAY OF OCCUPATIONS, INCLUDING PLUMBERS,
[03:20:01]
LANDSCAPERS, DOCTORS, CONTRACTORS, SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS, TEACHERS, CAFETERIA WORKERS, DENTISTS, BUSINESS OWNERS, AND RESTAURANT OWNERS.THIS EXTENSIVE LIST UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF THE EXISTING WORKFORCE, WHICH WHO CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE VIBRANCY AND THE FUNCTIONALITY OF OUR COMMUN OUR COMMUNITY.
DOES IT MATTER TO SOME WHERE THE WORKFORCE LIVE AND RAISE THEIR FAMILIES? OUR FAMILY ORIENTED COMMUNITIES ARE BEING TRANSFORMED FROM A COMMUNITY TO A COMMODITY FOR SALE TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER.
IS THAT, IS THAT, IS THAT ALL THAT OUR FAMILY NEIGHBORHOODS ARE NOW A COMMODITY.
WE ARE LIVING, WE ARE A LIVING, BREATHING PART OF THIS ISLAND.
AS HIGH DENSITY SUBDIVISIONS CONTINUE TO BE BUILT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, IT BRINGS IN THE THREAT OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
WE HAVE SEEN THE DAMAGE IN THE ISSUES TO OTHER COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE ISLAND CAUSED BY SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
WE ARE STANDING UP FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ARE STANDING UP FOR OUR COMMUNITY THAT CONTINUE THAT IT CONTINUES TO BE SAFE.
NOT EVERY COMMUNITY ON THE ISLAND WAS MEANT TO BE A VACATION DESTINATION.
TIMES HAVE CHANGED ON THE ISLAND.
I REMEMBER WHEN A BUSY DAY ON FOYLE BEACH WAS A, WAS A FAMILY WHERE IT WAS THREE FAMILIES.
THAT WAS BEFORE BEACH AND TENNIS WAS BUILT.
AND WHEN PEOPLE COULD HORSEBACK RIDE ON THE BEACH WITH SUCH AN, THOSE DAYS ARE LONG GONE WITH SUCH A INFLUX OF PEOPLE.
UM, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT, WE WON'T GET THAT BACK.
AND FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE TO PUT RULES IN PLACE TO PROTECT EVERYONE.
AND I BELIEVE THE ISLAND'S GREATEST STRENGTH, BIGGEST ASSET AND LARGEST VALUE IS ITS PEOPLE, NOT THE PROPERTY VALUES.
UM, A PREVIOUS SPEAKER MENTIONED THAT, UM, THE DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE.
ANOTHER SPEAKER MENTIONED THEY CAME HERE EIGHT YEARS AGO, THOUGHT ABOUT LIVING IN SEA PINES, LOOKED AT THE CONGESTION, AND MO IN FACT BOUGHT IN HILTON, HAD PLANTATION AND THEN MADE REMARKS ABOUT BEFORE YOU BUY, LOOK AROUND.
WELL, WE PURCHASED AT THE END OF 2000 IN SEA PINES AND DID LOOK AROUND.
WE'VE MOVED ROUGHLY 15 TIMES IN OUR MARRIED LIFE.
SO WE'RE TO THE PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS GOING ON.
CAN Y'ALL PLEASE EITHER GO OUT IN THE HALLWAY OR IT'S NOT AND YOU'LL HAVE THE EXTRA TIME? YES, SIR.
UM, AND EIGHT YEARS AGO, UH, THEY DECIDED IT WAS VERY CONGESTED.
WELL, WHEN WE BOUGHT AT THE END OF 2000, ROUGHLY 75% OF PROPERTIES WERE OWNER OCCUPIED.
IT'S CURRENTLY SOMEWHERE AROUND ABOUT 20%, A PHENOMENAL CHANGE.
SO THE RESEARCH WE DID, WE DID VERY CONSCIENTIOUSLY WITH MATTERS.
UM, I THINK IT'S BEYOND QUESTION THE IMPORTANCE OF SHORT TERM RENTALS TO THE ECONOMY OF THE ISLAND.
BUT THIS, UH, I'D LIKE TO COMPLIMENT THE, THE STAFF AND YOUR COMMITTEE FOR ACTUALLY, UH, ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE AND GRASPING THE, THE FACT THAT THE COUNCIL HAS A DUTY, A FIDUCIARY DUTY, AND THE DUTY OF CARE AND THE COUNCIL BENEFITS SIGNIFICANTLY FROM SHORT TERM RENTALS AND THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.
YOU HAVE A MAJOR EXPOSURE, WHICH MEANS WE, THE TAXPAYERS HAVE A MAJOR EXPOSURE.
AND THIS, UH, DRAFT IS, IS A START.
IT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF RISK MANAGEMENT IN ACTION.
I HOPE IT'S, UH, GONNA BE IMPROVED AND YOU'LL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT VARIOUS PEOPLE'S CONSIDERATIONS.
BUT WE DESPERATELY NEED IMPROVED REGULATION TO PROTECT US ALL.
OKAY? UM, ANY ECONOMIST WILL TELL YOU THAT WHEN A MARKET IS SATURATED WITH CONTRACTORS, THERE'S A LOW ENTRY AND THERE'S HIGH PROFIT.
AND THAT'S WHY THE SHORT TERM RENTAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT MARKET IS A VERY GOOD ILLUSTRATION.
SO WHEN THESE PEOPLE ARE MAKING THESE REMARKS, THEY ARE ACTUALLY DEFENDING THEIR LIVELIHOOD.
AND IT'S ENTIRELY UNDERSTANDABLE, BUT DON'T BE NICKLED AND DIMMED.
THEY HAVE A VERY SELF-INTEREST AND THEY'RE PRESENTING IT COLLECTIVELY.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE 1600 RIALTOS ON AN ISLAND, EIGHT BY 14, THAT'S ANOTHER ILLUSTRATION OF A SATURATED MARKET.
AND AN ECONOMIST WILL TELL YOU THERE'S EXCESSIVE PROFITS BEING MADE AND IT ATTRACTS MORE SUPPLIERS DON'T BE NICKED.
[03:25:01]
GLIO AND LISA FLEMING.UM, MAYBE IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT I'M THE LAST ONE, BUT BECAUSE I HAD ORIGINALLY THOUGHT I WAS GONNA SAY A BUNCH OF THINGS, BUT I COULDN'T COMPARE TO ALL THE ELOQUENT SPEAKERS BEFORE ME.
SO WHAT I WANNA ADD IS REALLY AN OBSERVATION.
UM, ONE, WE HAVE TWO EARS, ONE MOUTH.
AND I HAVE SEEN A HUGE IMBALANCE IN THIS ROOM TODAY.
AND THOSE OF US HERE FOUND THIS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE TOOK THE DAY OFF OF WORK TO BE HERE.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE IT IS VERY CRITICAL TO OUR FUTURE OF THIS ISLAND, WHETHER WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR FOUR YEARS OR 40 OR A HUNDRED, WHATEVER.
SO YOU WOULD THINK THAT THIS IS THE TIME TO REMEMBER THAT RULE.
BECAUSE THE ONE MOUTH SEEMS TO BE CREATING A LOT OF DRAMA RATHER THAN COMMON SENSE.
AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
UH, TONY FAULKNER, UH, 25 YEAR RESIDENT, UH, SINGLETON BEACH.
NOT FAR FROM TAMARA AND I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS.
UH, I ALSO, UH, MY WIFE KNOWN A SHORT-TERM RENTAL COMPANY.
I'VE BEEN A REALTOR HERE SINCE, UH, 98.
SO THE QUESTION I HAVE IS, IS THE TOWN.
OUR BUSINESS IS PREPARED FOR A 20 TO 30% DROP IN REVENUE IN VISITORS.
UH, THE OCCUPANCY STANDARD THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS A 20 TO 30% REDUCTION.
I'VE WENT AROUND SINCE THEN, AND I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE YOU GUYS SHOULD AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'VE GONE TO BUSINESSES, OVER 200 BUSINESSES WITH THE FLYER THAT EXPLAINED SOME OF THIS STUFF AND REALIZING THAT 37% OF THE RESIDENTS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, NOT JUST HILTON HEAD, RELY ON HILTON HEAD SPECIFIC TOURISM.
THAT'S WHY IT'S THE HILTON HEAD, SAVANNAH AIRPORT, NOT THE SAVANNAH AIRPORT.
THIS ENTIRE AREA IS AFFECTED DRAMATICALLY BY A DECREASE IN PEOPLE COMING.
IN FACT, SO MUCH SO THAT WE WORK SO HARD TO GET PEOPLE HERE.
THESE REDUCTIONS WOULD BE SO PUNITIVE IN PROPERTY VALUES AND TAXES, ALL THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED THAT GOES WITHOUT SAYING, ENFORCEMENT SEEMS TO BE ALREADY WORKING.
TO ME, IT APPEARS AS THOUGH MOST OF THE RESIDENTS HERE THAT ARE IN HILTON IMPLANTATION OR THE OTHER AREAS DON'T ALLOW FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
THEIR AGGRAVATION IS THE TRAFFIC ON THE ISLAND THAT IS NOT THE PEOPLE WHO BRING DOLLARS HERE.
THAT IS THE DAY TRIPPERS THAT COME IN FROM SAVANNAH, THE DAY TROOPERS FROM, UH, FROM BUFORD, THE DAY TROOPERS FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE.
BLUFFTON, THAT AREA HAS EXPANDED.
AND THE GROWTH THERE, WE CAN'T CONTROL AND KEEP UP WITH PENALIZING THE PEOPLE WHO DO BRING THE ECONOMY UP IS WRONG.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO HAVE SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
THESE OCCUPANCY RATES ARE JUST OBSCENE.
THEY WOULD DESTROY THE LOCAL ECONOMY.
AND I ENCOURAGE YOU, ALL OF YOU WHO ARE ON TOWN COUNCIL, TO GO OUT AND START SPEAKING TO BUSINESSES BECAUSE WHEN THESE BUSINESSES START SHUTTERING, AND IF YOU GO AROUND, WE HAVE SEVERAL ALREADY STOREFRONTS THAT ARE EMPTY, IT CREATES A CANCER.
WHEN PEOPLE START COMING HERE AND THINK THAT THIS ISLAND IS IN DECLINE, THEY WILL COME LESS AND LESS AND LESS.
AND WE NEED TO PROTECT NOT JUST THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE, BUT THE ECONOMY AND THE 37% OF PEOPLE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY WHO RELY ON THE INCOME THAT COMES FROM THESE RENTALS.
WAS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO DIDN'T GET US TO SPEAK, WHO WAS WAITED PATIENTLY FOR THREE AND A HALF HOURS? YES, MA'AM.
ALL THESE PEOPLE IN SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM, AND THAT'S ALL GREAT.
WHERE IS OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT? YOU ALL WANT FINES.
THEY DON'T JUST HAPPEN ON PEOPLE'S GOODWILL.
NOW, I'M SURE THAT PEOPLE CALL, PEOPLE ARRIVE, IT'S OVER.
SO I THINK THAT 140 OR 170 IS WAY OFF.
YOU DON'T WANNA PAY FEES, YOU DON'T WANNA PAY ALL THIS EXTRA MONEY.
AND I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.
BUT IF YOU WANT THAT, I WANT A POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ONE LAST ONE I SEE IN THE BACK.
AND THIS IS, UM, THIS IS GONNA BE OUR LAST COMMENT AND
[03:30:01]
THEN WE'RE GONNA BRING IT BACK UP TO THE DICE.I AM A RESIDENT OF HILTON HEAD AND I DO HAVE SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
MY REAL CONCERN IS YOUR OWN NUMBERS SHOW.
50% OF THE SHORT TERM RENTALS ARE BEHIND GATED COMMUNITIES.
WE ALREADY PAYING FOR OUR SECURITY AND ALL THE HANDLING OF WHAT THIS SHORT TERM RENTAL IS DOING.
SO THE OTHER 50% ARE WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO INCREASE ALL THESE FEES TO POLICE THEM WITH SECURITY AND STUFF.
AND IT'S A HUGE OVERREACH BECAUSE COMMUNITIES THAT WE BUY INTO THAT WERE BEHIND GATES ARE ALREADY HANDLING ALL THIS.
YOU'RE NOT GIVING ANYMORE HILTON HEAD RESORT, HILTON HEAD BEACH AND TENNIS PALMETTO DUNES SHIPYARD.
I COULD SURE WOULD, I COULD KEEP GOING ON AND MENTIONING ALL OF US.
WE'RE PAYING A POLICE FEE AND WE'RE PAYING A SECURITY FEE.
AND NOW WE'RE PAYING A PERMIT FEE.
WE PAY 6% TAXES, WHICH IS TRIPLE THE PROPERTY RATE, NOT 2% MORE.
THERE'S GOTTA BE A POINT AT WHICH YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THIS AND REALLY LOOK AT IT.
THE SECOND THING BEHIND ALL THIS IS BUSINESSES.
ALL OF MY FRIENDS HERE WHO OWN BUSINESSES ARE SCARED TO DEATH IF YOU CHANGE THE SHORT TERM RENTAL OCCUPANCIES, BECAUSE SINCE 2022, THERE HAS BEEN A HUGE DECLINE IN BUSINESS ON THE ISLAND.
AND THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE.
THEY SAID, IF YOU CHANGE THE OCCUPANCY AND YOU IMPLEMENT THESE CHANGES, THESE BUSINESSES ARE GOING OUT OF BUSINESS.
AND THEY'RE NOT JUST THE RESTAURANT, THEY'RE NOT JUST THE MOM AND POPS, THEY'RE ALSO ELECTRICIANS AND PLUMBERS AND CARPENTERS.
BECAUSE IF YOU GET RID OF THE SHORT TERM RENTALS OR YOU PUT ALL THESE REGULATIONS IN, THEY WON'T HAVE THE PEOPLE WHO CAN SPEND THE MONEY TO IMPROVE THE PROPERTIES.
WE TALK ABOUT THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE HERE ON THE ISLAND.
YOU DON'T SEE A RUNDOWN PROPERTY THAT'S A SHORT TERM RENTAL.
WE DO NOTHING ABOUT A RUNDOWN PROPERTY THAT IS NOT A SHORT-TERM RENTAL.
WE DO NOTHING ABOUT THE CARS PARKED ON THE LAWN.
I'M ALL FOR THE SAFETY STUFF, BUT WE NEED TO DO IT TO EVERYONE.
IT'S NOT A SHORT-TERM RENTAL ISSUE.
IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE YOUR LONG-TERM RENTALS ARE, THEY HAVE A LOT OF SAFETY ISSUES.
WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO PROTECT THOSE PEOPLE.
THIS HAS TO BE ACROSS THE BOARD.
IT'S NOT A RENTAL ORDINANCE ISSUE.
YOUR SAFETY ISSUE, IT IS A TOTAL ISLAND ISSUE FOR SAFETY.
AND I DO BELIEVE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT POLICE.
YEARS AGO WE TALKED ABOUT GETTING OUR OWN POLICE FORCE.
WE'RE IN THE LAWSUIT WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY.
I THINK OUR ISSUE IS WE NEED TO TURN AROUND AND CHANGE OTHER THINGS BEFORE SHORT TERM RENTALS.
CAN I MAKE ONE MORE COMMENT? WOW.
IT'LL, IT'LL, IT'LL BE, IT'LL BE QUICK.
WELL, I WOULDN'T, UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULDN'T HAVE SAID NO ANYWAY, BUT YES, THE BABY DOES HELP
UM, JUST REALLY QUICKLY, I WANNA BRING JUST KIND OF A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE.
I'M PROBABLY THE YOUNGEST ONE TO GET UP AND SPEAK TODAY.
BUT, UM, I FEEL LIKE THERE IS LIKE A COMMON THEME THAT HAPPENS WHERE DECADES AGO WE HAVE THESE VISITORS THAT COME IN AND THEY END UP BUYING HERE AND BECOMING FULL-TIME RESIDENTS.
AND THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISLAND THAT THEY REALLY ENJOYED AND THEY GOT TO ENJOY IT FREELY WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS.
AND THEN ONCE THEY GET HERE, IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEY WANNA GATE KEEP THAT.
UM, AND ALSO, I WILL SAY, I, I DO WORK IN REAL ESTATE.
WE HAVE A SHORT-TERM RENTAL BUSINESS, SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF BIAS THERE.
BUT I WORKED FOOD AND BEVERAGE BEFORE THAT FOR EIGHT YEARS AND THAT WAS MY LIVELIHOOD.
AND I KNOW HOW THE, JUST THE SMALLEST, THE SMALLEST CHANGES CAN BRING SUCH BIG IMPLICATIONS TO THOSE BUSINESSES AND THE FOOT TRAFFIC THAT COMES INTO THOSE BUSINESSES.
SO I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO KEEP THOSE, THOSE TYPES OF WORKERS IN MIND AS WELL.
UM, AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE WORKING DAY TO DAY.
THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE RELYING ON THE FOOT TRAFFIC.
THEY DON'T HAVE A GUARANTEED PAYCHECK COMING IN.
UM, AND ALSO, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS JUST FULLY AGAINST THESE RESTRICTIONS PER SE, BUT I THINK IT'S MAYBE THE WAY THAT WE'RE GOING ABOUT IT, I THINK THESE FEES THAT ARE GOING FROM, FOR EXAMPLE, $250 AND THEN ALL THE WAY UP TO THESE, THESE CRAZY FEES BEING PROPOSED, I THINK IT'S JUST PUTTING IT, THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION IS BEING HINDERED A LITTLE BIT.
SO I THINK IF WE CAN JUST COLLECTIVELY COME UP WITH MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF A BETTER SOLUTION, IT'LL GIVE PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT OF LIKE A, A BETTER, A BETTER THOUGHT ABOUT ALL OF THIS.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THESE CONVERSATIONS, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE FOR, RIGHT? THESE ARE DISCUSSIONS, THEY'RE COMMUNITY DISCUSSIONS.
WE'VE OPENED IT UP PREVIOUSLY, WE'VE HAD THEM
[03:35:02]
AND NOW WE'RE NARROWING AND SIPHONING DOWN TO WHAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE ACROSS MULTIPLE, UM, SITUATIONS.UM, WE WE, WE HAVE JUST ONE QUESTION.
ON THE LATE FEE PROPOSAL, IS THAT A CURRENT, WHAT IS THE CURRENT LATE FEE FOR A, UH, RENTAL PERMIT? IS THERE ONE IMPOSED NOW ON THE 200? ON THE $250 FLAT, UH, PERMIT FEE? IS THERE NO LATE FEE NOW NOW THAT WOULD JUST BE A NEW PROPOSAL.
I'M GONNA ASK FOR CONFIRMATION ON THAT.
UM, WE HAVE OUR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE HERE, IF HE CAN HELP US OUT WITH THAT.
JUST, JUST TO CLARIFY, I DIDN'T, I DON'T THINK
I SAW JOHN SITTING BACK THERE, SO I FIGURED.
I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT OR WILLINGNESS.
UH, SO THE QUESTION IS, IS THERE CURRENTLY A, A, A LATE FEE? NO, THERE IS NOT CURRENTLY A LATE FEE IN THE ORDINANCE THAT HAS AS IT'S PROPOSED.
UM, YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S IN THE EXISTING ORDINANCE, WHICH HAS STRUCK OUT IN THE NEW PROPOSAL IS THE NEW TEXT BELOW THAT, THE LATE FEE IS A NEW EDITION.
THANK YOU, UH, SEAN FOR THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
SO THAT'S GONNA CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND I THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION, THOSE LISTENING.
THANK YOU FOR HANGING IN OR WATCHING AND FINISHING UP LATER.
WE HAVE, UM, BEEN GIVEN A LOT OF INFORMATION, A LOT OF INPUT, UM, FROM THE FOLKS ARE HERE.
KEEPING IN MIND THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE LISTENING AND WATCHING TOO.
UM, STEVE, I'M GONNA GO TO YOU BECAUSE YOU HAD SAID THAT YOU WERE GOING TO DEFER YOUR COMMENTS EARLIER UNTIL YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LISTEN TO FOLKS.
SO YOU GET TO START THIS TIME GOING THROUGH SOME OF THIS LIST HERE.
IN TERMS OF OCCUPANCY, UH, I AM PERSONALLY IN FAVOR OF THE CURRENT PROPOSAL IN TERMS OF THE ITEMS HERE FOR OCCUPANCY AND PARKING.
I AM CURRENTLY IN FAVOR OF WHAT'S BEEN PROPOSED, TWO PLUS TWO AND A LIMITATION OF SIX.
UM, IN TERMS OF FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY, I DO NOT BELIEVE WE NEED FLOOR PLANS.
DO NOT BELIEVE WE NEED A FIRE ESCAPE PLAN.
I DO NOT BELIEVE WE NEED PULL ALARMS. AND I THINK THAT THE, UH, PROVISIONS WITH RESPECT TO SPRINKLER SYSTEMS OR ALTERNATIVELY CONNECTED ALARM SYSTEMS SHOULD APPLY ONLY TO HOMES OF 3,600 SQUARE FEET OR MORE.
AND I THINK THAT IF WE MAKE THOSE ELIMINATIONS, WE WILL REDUCE THE NEED FOR PERSONNEL ON TOWN STAFF AND THAT WILL PERMIT A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN FEES.
UM, CAN I JUST ASK YOU, OOPS, SORRY.
UM, CAN I ASK YOU TO CHIME IN ON, UH, GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE? OH, I'M SORRY.
UM, GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE IS A BUSINESS MATTER IS A VERY GOOD IDEA.
I DO NOT THINK WE NEED TO REQUIRE IT, HOWEVER.
AND THE MR. LIMO, I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION.
WELL, BEFORE YOU DO THAT, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE REST OF OUR TOWN COUNCIL WHO IS IN ATTENDANCE, HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN MAKING AT THIS TIME.
JUST, JUST REAL QUICK, UM, SURE.
I HAD MADE A COMMENT ON WHHI THAT WE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT AT A COUNCIL TODAY.
IT WAS MEANT FOR THIS MEETING.
AND THERE WILL BE ANOTHER MEETING NEXT MONDAY AT THREE O'CLOCK AT TOWN HALL.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE THAT STATEMENT TO, TO DISCUSS JUST THE MOTION THAT COMES, COMES OUT TODAY.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE THAT CLEAR.
THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
UM, COUNCILMAN BRYSON OR TURNER, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD AT THIS TIME? IF SO, PLEASE JOIN US UP HERE SO THAT WE CAN HEAR YOU.
I'LL SEE A LOT OF CONSULTATION AND CHECKING TO MAKE SURE.
WE WERE JUST DISCUSSING WHETHER WE NEEDED TO COME UP OR NOT TO MAKE, UH, ANY COMMENTS BECAUSE
[03:40:01]
WE WERE BOTH PRETTY THOROUGH IN OUR COMMENTS TO BEGIN WITH.UH, AND AGAIN, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE, UM, WHO SPOKE HERE TODAY.
I LISTENED AND I TOOK NOTES AND I, UH, AGAIN, APPRECIATE THEM TAKING TIME OUTTA THEIR BUSY SCHEDULE TO SHARE THEIR POINT OF VIEW.
UM, THERE WERE JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I OBSERVED.
UM, AND IT GETS TO THE MEASUREMENT.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT THE MEASUREMENT, UM, WHICH AS A FINANCE PERSON, I LOVE MEASUREMENT, UH, AND DATA.
AND SO WHAT WE HAVE IN REGARDS TO CODE ENFORCEMENT ARE OUTCOMES.
SO THOSE THAT HAD VERBAL OR CITATION OR WHATEVER, BUT IT DOESN'T REALLY MEASURE HOW MANY CALLS WERE RECEIVED OR HOW MANY TOUCHES THERE WERE.
AND I'M STRUCK BY, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU TALK ABOUT BEING ON THE BEACH AND YOU'RE TALKING TO 20,000 PEOPLE.
IT JUST BLOWS MY MIND HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU TALK TO.
BUT THOSE DON'T SHOW UP AS INCIDENTS OR, YOU KNOW, IN A MEASUREMENT REPORT.
SO I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY IN THE FUTURE TO LOOK AT HOW WE MEASURE AND THAT WE SHOULD BE CAPTURING THOSE FIRST TOUCHES AS WELL, AND NOT JUST THE OUTCOMES.
AND I THINK FROM THAT, WE'LL HAVE SOME BETTER DATA.
SO THAT WAS JUST ONE THING THAT I NOTICED.
UM, THE OTHER THING THAT I HEARD IS IN REGARDS TO THE INTEGRATED FIRE SYSTEM, THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME MORE AFFORDABLE OPTIONS THAT, UM, MIGHT MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE'VE SPELLED OUT EXACTLY WHAT THOSE SPECIFICS ARE THAT WOULD BE APPROVED, BUT THERE MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY THERE, UH, FOR SOMETHING THAT IS, UH, MORE AFFORDABLE.
SO, UH, THOSE WERE THE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS THAT I WANTED TO MAKE.
UM, I DID SUGGEST THAT THERE BE, UH, A DIFFERENT EFFECTIVENESS WITH REGARD TO PRIOR BOOKINGS.
AND SO I'M HOPING YOU WOULD INCLUDE SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THIS, IN THE MOTION.
AND THEN ALSO WITH REGARD TO THE MAXIMUM OF SIX PARKING SPACES, THE, UH, ALSO PROVISO THAT I SUGGESTED, AND THAT IS IF YOU HAVE A PREVIOUSLY APPROVED SITE PLAN, A CURRENT PERMIT, UM, AND, UH, IF YOU COMPLY WITH THE OTHER PARKING REGULATIONS, PARKING PLAN IS IN CONCERT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER AND THE OFFICIAL APPROVES THE PARKING PLAN.
SO FOR THOSE WHO DO HAVE SPACE OR WHO HAVE HAD SPACE, OR MORE THAN SIX WOULD HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
SO IF WE COULD ADD THOSE, UM, AND THEN, UM, CLEANING UP THE LANGUAGE AND THE EFFECTIVE DATE AND THE PERMITTING TIME PERIOD, I THINK THE STAFF CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT IF YOU'LL JUST ASK THE STAFF TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.
UM, THE QUESTION THAT WAS RAISED, UM, BY MS. DYER ON BEHALF OF THE REALTORS, UH, WITH REGARD TO OWNER VERSUS, UM, THE PER THE NATURAL PERSON.
SO THE DEFINITION OF OWNER DOES INCLUDE, UH, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES, PARTNERSHIPS, UH, C COOPERATIVE, NON-PROFIT, ET CETERA.
THERE'S A WHOLE LONG LIST OF FOLKS WHO ARE DESIGNATED AS THE OWNER.
WHAT THE APPLICATION WANTS YOU TO DO IS PUT AN ACTUAL CONTACT NAME OF A REAL PERSON.
SO I THINK THAT WE'RE OKAY THERE.
I'LL DEFER TO THE TOWN ATTORNEY, UH, IF WE NEED TO STRAIGHTEN OUT ANY OF THAT LANGUAGE.
UM, AND THE LAST TECHNICAL THING THAT I WOULD ASK YOU TO ASK, UH, THE TOWN ATTORNEY AND STAFF TO ADDRESS IS UNDER SUSPENSION AND REVOCATION.
UM, THOSE TWO TERMS ARE MIXED UNDER SUBSECTION A SUSPENSION AND REVOCATION ONLY APPLIES TO THE HEARING PROCESS.
SO I'VE GIVEN SOME MARKUPS TO THE STAFF, AND IF YOU'LL JUST ADD, PLEASE ADDRESS THAT SECTION AS WELL TO MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR.
ONCE AGAIN, WE ARE BACK UP HERE TO OUR COMMITTEE AND, UM, IF YOU HAVE A MOTION, WELL, I THINK, UH, SOME OF THAT'S GONNA GET ADDRESSED BETWEEN NOW AND COUNCIL MEETING.
UM, BUT, UM, WE'VE LISTENED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, NOT JUST TO PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM TODAY, SPEAKING A LOT OF RESIDENTS AND, UM, AND FOR NO REASON AT ALL.
UH, YOU KNOW, I CAN TELL YOU THE RESIDENTS WAY OUTNUMBER THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE TO SAY.
UH, BUT WE, BUT IT'S, IT IS A BALANCED THING AND WE'VE HEARD WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.
AND AS YOU CAN UNDERSTAND FROM THE CONVERSATION THAT WE LISTEN, WE'RE LISTENING.
SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS MAKE A MOTION AT THIS TIME IN CONSIDERATION OF THE ORDINANCE TO REPEAL AND REPLACE TITLE 10, CHAPTER TWO, THE MUNICIPAL CODE TO INCLUDE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
[03:45:01]
WITH THESE CHANGES THAT WE DO NOT, UM, REQUIRE THE INSURANCE THAT THE FEES BE FROM ZERO TO FOUR BEDROOMS, $500, AND FROM FOUR BEDROOMS ABOVE $1,000, THAT THE, UH, FIRE CODE AND, UH, ALARM SYSTEM IS, WILL BE RESPECTED FOR 3,600 FEET AND ABOVE SQUARE FEET AND ABOVE THAT THE PARKING SPACES REQUIRED, UH, WILL BE PER THE SITE PLAN, BUT THEN NOT TO EXCEED SIX PARKING SPACES THAT AT THIS TIME AS A BASELINE, WE, UH, PROPOSE A TWO AND TWO WITH CONSIDERATION, KNOWING THAT THERE'S AN ANOMALIES OUT THERE THAT WE'LL REVISIT IN THE FUTURE, UH, THAT WILL REQUIRE NO FLOOR PLAN, AND THE EFFECTIVE DATE WILL BE PER STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.UM, AS, AS YOU MENTIONED CORRECTLY, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT COUNCILWOMAN BRYSON BROUGHT UP AND OTHER LITTLE TWEAKS LANGUAGE, UM, THAT CAN BE WORKED ON BETWEEN NOW AND THE OCTOBER 13TH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING THAT, UM, ALAN, OUR MAYOR JUST MENTIONED TO US.
UM, SO I WON'T INTERJECT A COUPLE OF LITTLE WORDS THAT, UM, THAT ALSO NEED TO BE TWEAKED IN CONTEXT.
UM, MR. ALFRED, YOU SECONDED IT.
WAS IT FOR DISCUSSION OR, OR ARE YOU, DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? YOU'RE GOOD.
WELL THEN, UM, WHEN UH, EVERYONE IS READY, WE'LL TAKE A VOTE.
AND THIS VOTE AGAIN IS TO TAKE THIS MOTION AND THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND FORWARD THEM TO TOWN COUNCIL.
THAT NEXT MEETING, OCTOBER 13TH, UM, I BELIEVE IS THE FIRST READING.
UM, AND THEN A SECOND READING TOWARDS THE END OF THE, CAN WE REPEAT THE MOTION ONCE MORE? UH, YES.
UH, MOTION IS IN CONSIDERATION OF THE ORDINANCE TO REPEAL AND REPLACE TITLE 10, CHAPTER TWO OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION WITH THESE CHANGES THAT AT THIS TIME, WE REQUIRE NO INSURANCE, THAT WE, UH, ENACT THE FEES OF $500 FROM, UH, BEDROOM UNITS, ZERO TO FOUR AND ABOVE $1,000.
THAT THE FIRE SUPPRESSION IS FOR SQUARE FOOTAGE OF HOMES 3,600 FEET AND ABOVE THAT WE, UH, RECOMMEND, UM, PARKING PER THE SITE PLAN NOT TO EXCEED A MAXIMUM OF SIX PARKING SPACES THAT WE USE AT THIS TIME, A TWO AND TWO CALCULATION FOR OCCUPANCY, THAT WE ARE NOT REQUIRING A FLOOR PLAN TO BE SUBMITTED AND THAT THE EFFECTIVE DATE WILL BE PER STAFF'S, UH, RECOMMENDATION.
JUST AS A POINT OF A POINT OF CLARIFICATION ON THE STUDIO.
SO THE STUDIO IS STILL TWO, OR IS THE STUDIO A TWO PLUS TWO AS WELL? IT'S A, IT'S A TWO PLUS TWO.
I DON'T THINK IT MAKES THAT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE.
UM, AND WE HAVE, UM, SOME COMMENTS THAT OUR TOWN MANAGER WOULD LIKE TO MAKE.
HELLO AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO ADD SOME CLARITY, UH, IN THE STAFF REPORT.
AND WE DID HEAR A LITTLE BIT, UH, A LOT OF BIT TODAY ABOUT STAFFING AND ENFORCEMENT AND, AND IN OUR WORK.
UM, AND I DID SAY EARLIER THAT ONCE I KNOW WHAT THE CODE AND THE POLICY RECOMMENDATION AND APPROVAL IS, I'LL BE BETTER ABLE TO WRAP OUR HEAD AROUND A BUDGET ASK AND, AND OR NEW PEOPLE.
SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE SOME, UH, INSIGHT INTO HOW I'M GONNA GET THERE.
SO THAT, THAT FIRST AND FOREMOST, THERE'S NONE OF THIS IS, IS PART OF A, OF A BUDGET AMENDMENT.
I WOULD MAKE THAT TO YOU SEPARATELY, UM, AND JUSTIFY IT ACCORDINGLY.
SO SINCE EVERYONE'S IN THE ROOM, THE WAY WE LOOK AT STAFFING STAY RIGHT HERE, UM, IS AN INVESTMENT IN COMPLIANCE AND REALLY AN INVESTMENT IN RESIDENT SATISFACTION AND SHORT TERM RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
SO ANYTHING WE DO, WE'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE SEVEN CODE OFFICERS, PLUS THE BIG GUY OVER THERE, PLUS BOB, UM, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK
[03:50:01]
AS EARLY AS WE CAN TO ABOUT 9:00 PM AND THEN SOME, UM, THREE TO FIVE PEOPLE A DAY, SLOWER DAYS, BOTH THREE PEOPLE BUSIER DAYS, ABOUT FIVE PEOPLE.UM, BUT WE HAVE SEVEN FOLKS PLUS BOB WORKING IN A SEVEN DAY SHIFT, ESPECIALLY IN PEAK SEASON.
SO I'M, I'M LOOKING AT IT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.
I'M LOOKING AT IT FROM COVERAGE.
AND SO IF OUR NUMBERS ARE DOWN, I DON'T LOOK AT IT AS OUR NUMBERS ARE DOWN.
ONLY IT MIGHT BE COVERAGE, RIGHT? IT'S LIKE TRYING TO COUNT SPEEDING TICKETS.
THE SPEEDING TICKETS AREN'T HIGH.
IT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE NOT SPEEDING.
IT JUST MIGHT MEAN WE'RE NOT THERE TO CATCH PEOPLE SPEEDING.
AND SO, UM, ABOUT 10, ABOUT 8% OF THE FIRE RESCUE CALLS FOR SERVICE COME FROM SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROPERTIES.
SEAN DID A GREAT JOB HIGHLIGHTING THAT IN THE, THE CODE.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT IN, IN SOME SORT OF COST COVERAGE.
BUT WITH BOB'S TEAM, AND I THINK THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT, WE JUST LOOK AT SHORT-TERM RENTALS ONLY, AND IF WE JUST LOOKED AT THE CALLS FOR SERVICE, I THINK AS I PROPOSE THAT TO YOU IN THE FUTURE, THAT DOES, THAT'S A DISSERVICE TO JUST THE 360 DEGREE WEB OF CODE ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY.
CODE ENFORCEMENT, WE CALL IT, BECAUSE IT'S COMMUNITY FIRST.
UM, WE ARE LOOKING FOR COMPLIANCE, NOT QUOTAS, UM, BUT THEIR OVERSIGHT AND EXAMPLE ABOUT 20,000 TOUCH POINTS, UH, AS WE SAY, UM, FOR JUST DRINKING ON THE BEACH IN 20, 24, 20,000 PEOPLE, CORRECT? YEAH, APPROXIMATELY.
BUT WE'RE NOT GIVING CITATIONS, BUT WE ARE MEASURING THAT.
AND I THINK SOME LESSONS LEARNED FROM ME IN THE ROOM TODAY IS WE'RE MEASURING CALLS FOR SERVICE.
WE'RE ME MEASURING TOUCHPOINT ON THE BEACH, BUT ARE WE MEASURING ENOUGH THOSE TOUCHPOINTS AS IT RELATES SOLELY IN DIRECTLY TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS? AND WE WILL DO A BETTER JOB, BUT THEY OVERSEE BEACH PARKING, SHORT-TERM RENTAL CALLS, NOISE PARKING, WHATNOT, BEACH OPS, CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES, NEW HOMES, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, STORMWATER TREE CUTTING, BUFFER CLEARING, MUNICIPAL CODE VIOLATIONS.
THEY LIAISE WITH THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND WE APPRECIATE THEM.
AND SO AS I LOOK AT THIS, IT'S NOT SO MUCH WHAT'S THE REVENUE? HOW DO WE BACK INTO IT? I LOOK AT IT AT A, AS A COST VERSUS REVENUE STANDPOINT, UM, WITH NO PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.
THAT'S WHAT I'VE ALWAYS PLEDGED TO YOU.
I THINK WE'VE REDUCED MILLAGE A COUPLE TIMES IN A FEW YEARS.
UM, OUR CURRENT TWO 50 DO $250 DOES NOT FULLY COVER IT.
AND WE KNOW THAT, Y'ALL KNOW THAT WE TALK ABOUT IT.
I KNOW THAT WE KNOW THAT THE OPERATION ISN'T AS EASY AS LET'S JUST GRAB SOME REVENUE, ASSIGN IT WITH ONLY CODE ENFORCEMENT AND SAY WE'RE COST COVERING.
IT DOES, IT DOESN'T WORK LIKE THAT.
AND WITH A MODEST INCREASE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHETHER IT'S RIGHT, YOUR RECOMMENDATION WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE FEEDBACK I HEARD A LITTLE EARLIER.
BUT REGARDLESS, THERE'S SOME MODEST, THERE'S SOME MODEST CALIBRATION OF IT FOR US TO START WRAPPING OUR HEAD AROUND WORKLOAD VERSUS CAPACITY.
I'M NOT GONNA GET INTO THIS TODAY TO SAY STAFF CAN'T ABSORB THE CURRENT WORKLOAD.
WE WORK HARD, WE'RE PROUD TO WORK HARD, IS WHAT WE SIGNED UP FOR.
UM, BUT I'M LOOKING AT IT IN CASE THE SYSTEM GROWS OR CHANGES OR EXPANDS.
ARE WE SCALABLE? ARE WE RESILIENT? AND SO AS I COME BACK TO YOU, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA POINT SOME OF THOSE THINGS OUT.
WHAT WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB AT, AND I WILL VOUCH TODAY IN FRONT OF Y'ALL AND IN FRONT OF THIS CROWD, WE WILL IMPROVE OUR BACKLOG.
WE HAVE A BACKLOG OF PERMITS WE DON'T ALWAYS KEEP UP WITH.
SOMETIMES IT TAKES ABOUT TWO MONTHS TO GET A SHORT TERM RENTAL PERMIT, AND THAT MAKES MY HEAD EXPLODE.
UM, QUALITY ASSISTANCE, PERMIT TURNAROUND TIME, PUBLIC SAFETY, PRESENCE, COVERAGE AND RESPONSE TIMES, UM, UNPERMITTED ACCOUNTS.
SOMETIMES THAT RAISES ABOVE A THOUSAND.
UM, THE COMPLAINT LINE, IF I'VE HAD A DOLLAR FOR EVERY TIME SOMEBODY COMPLAINED ABOUT THE GO OS SHORT TERM RENTAL, OVERNIGHT COMPLAINT LINE, WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO HAVE A FEE HERE IF WE HAD A DOLLAR FOR EVERY COMPLAINT.
UM, BUT WHAT WE WILL PREPARE IS A DASHBOARD OF THOSE TOUCHPOINT.
SO THOSE MEASUREMENTS OF NOT JUST CALLS, BUT ACTIVITY AND TIME AS WELL AS, UM, OUR ENFORCEMENT PART.
WE ARE ONLY A FEW MONTHS IN OF ADMINISTRATIVE FINES.
UM, NOT TO GET INTO THE DETAILS OF IT ALL TODAY, BUT, UM, THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE AMENDED YOUR CODE TO ALLOW THE ADMINISTRATIVE FINES TO BE ASSESSED AND AND CHARGED BY BOB AND TEAM AND APPEALED IN A PROPER, UM, PROCEDURAL WAY HAS, HAS HELPED US DO A BETTER JOB.
AND SO, ONE THING I JUST WANT TO TAKE AWAY TODAY IS WE ARE DOING A BETTER JOB THAN TWO YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE AT NO PROGRAM.
AND I THINK WE'RE BETTER TODAY BECAUSE OF IT.
HE'S BEEN EMAILING BACK AND FORTH.
AND JUST, UH, WANTS YOU TO KNOW TODAY IS NOT A BUDGET AMENDMENT, IT'S NOT A STAFFING ASK, BUT KNOW THAT WE'LL PUT THAT TOGETHER BEFORE NOW
[03:55:01]
IN FIRST READING ON THE ORDINANCE, BUT I'M GONNA COME BACK TO YOU AT A SEPARATE TIME TO ASK FOR PEOPLE AS IT RELATES TO REVENUE.THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION.
AND ONE THING TO, ONE THING TO POINT OUT, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, UM, IT'S ALREADY BEING TAKEN CARE OF BEHIND THE GATES.
WELL THAT'S, HE, HE TAKES THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN HE BUILDS HIS STAFF PROGRAM.
YOU KNOW, IF WE, IF THEY WERE DOING NOTHING AND WE HAD TO GO BEHIND THE GATES, HIS STAFF WOULD BE ENORMOUS.
SO THAT, THAT'S ALREADY BALANCED IN THERE.
AND, AND INSTEAD, INSTEAD OF AN EXCUSE, IT'S, IT'S A HELP.
AND WE'RE, WE'RE HERE TO HELP BEHIND THE GATES TOO.
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SECURITY FORCE AND THEY'RE THERE 24 7 AND THEY'RE THERE, THEY'RE GONNA CALL THEM FIRST, BUT I WILL ASSURE YOU, BOB DOES, BOB IS ALLOWED BEHIND THE GATES, HE GETS BEHIND THE GATES.
WE'VE SENT LETTERS TO FOLKS BEHIND THE GATES.
WE'VE CLEARED UP SOME ISSUES IN SEA PINES TO THE POINT WHERE THERE WAS, UH, UH, CONSISTENT COMPLAINTS.
AND THEN NOT THAT LONG AFTER OUR ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS AND, AND BOB'S LETTERS AND, AND MAKING SURE FOLKS ARE LIVING BY A GOOD NEIGHBOR RULE.
I RECEIVED AN EMAIL SAYING, THANK YOU, YOU HELPED US.
AND SO THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE.
WE ARE JUST NOT THERE AS MUCH.
YEAH, WELL MY POINT IS, MY POINT IS, IS IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE HELP FROM GATE, YOUR STAFF WOULD BE GREATER, RIGHT? THE ASK WOULD BE GREATER.
UM, I, I JUST WANNA, UM, SAY A COUPLE THINGS HERE WITH REGARD TO MAYBE, MAYBE IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED NOW, OR AT LEAST I SHOULD SAY IT NOW.
BACK IN FEBRUARY, I VOTED NO ON ALL OF WHAT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD.
AND IT WASN'T FOR, YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T FOR A LOT OF THE REASONS, BUT MOSTLY BECAUSE THERE WERE THINGS THAT COULD NOT BE ENFORCED.
AND WITH THE RESTRICTION OR WITH THE PIECE WRITTEN IN THAT THIS IS FROM 10 0 1 TO 6 59, 10:01 PM TO 6:59 AM AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE ENFORCING AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE ENFORCE IT.
SO UNLESS WE CHANGE THAT LANGUAGE TO INCLUDE DAYTIME HOURS, AND MAYBE THERE'S SOME TWEAKING TO THAT BECAUSE I DON'T WANNA START A FIRESTORM.
AGAIN, THESE ARE IDEAS AND CONCERNS THAT NEED TO BE EVALUATED AND THOUGHT THROUGH.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT OCCUPANCY IS SOMETHING THAT I CAN VOTE FOR BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ENFORCE.
SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT TIMEFRAME REMOVED FOR NOW OR FOR NOW OR OTHERWISE ADDRESSED WHEN WE MEET ON THE 13TH.
UM, FOR MORE INFORMATION, I'LL GO EITHER WAY WITH IT, BUT, UM, RIGHT NOW IT SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S RELATIVELY UNENFORCEABLE.
MARK, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INSIGHT WITH REGARD TO THAT.
I'VE HEARD A LOT OF FOLKS TALKING ABOUT, UM, A PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT AND I THINK THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE ALREADY PUT INTO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT, UM, WE ARE GOING TO FOCUS ON THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE AN INEXPENSIVE ENDEAVOR.
AND, UM, AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO STRONGLY LOOK AT THAT AGAIN.
AND I THINK THAT WE, TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN, SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT THAT PRIOR TO OCTOBER 13TH.
UM, YOUR POINT WITH REGARD TO THE BACKLOG IS, UM, IS TRUE AND THE STAFF IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO BE HANDLING THE NUMBERS AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES TO BOTH THEIR JOB PERFORMANCE, BUT ALSO TO THE CONSUMERS WHO ARE ASKING FOR THEIR, UM, APPLICATIONS TO BE PROCESSED, UM, QUICKLY OR MORE QUICKLY.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I, UM, SAID THOSE THINGS AND FOR THOSE WHO THINK WE'RE MOVING TOO FAST, THIS WAS AN OUTCOME OF THE OUTCRY AGAINST A MORATORIUM THAT WE'RE MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION.
AND AS HAS BEEN POINTED OUT BY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, THERE IS ALWAYS OPPORTUNITY FOR TWEAKING AS TIME GOES ON.
SO I WON'T STAND IN THE WAY OF THE MOTION, BUT BETWEEN NOW AND THE 13TH, UM, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT I THINK WE'RE ALL LOOKING TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A FINE, UM, IDEA OF WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS AND HOW IT GETS DONE.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE AND WE HAVE A SECOND AND ALL IN FAVOR TO MOVE THIS ITEM TO TOWN COUNCIL FOR FULL REVIEW AND DEBATE AND VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? OKAY, WELL THANK YOU AGAIN FOR PARTICIPATING AND YES MA'AM.
WHAT DID I MISS? BACK TO THE BEGINNING.
[04:00:01]
WE HAVE TWO SEPARATE ORDINANCES IN FRONT OF YOU.SO YOU, YOU INCLUDE THE FEES IN THE, IN THE SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE, WHICH IS OKAY, BUT I WOULD ALSO RECOMMEND THAT WE TAKE THE FEE PORTION AND MAKE THAT A CONDITION OF THE SECOND ORDINANCE, WHICH IS AMENDMENT TO ORDINANCE 20 20 20 25 DASH ZERO SEVEN WITH A NOTE THAT YOU SAID, UH, COUNCILMAN DE SIMONE, THAT ZERO TO FOUR BE $500, FIVE OR MORE BE A THOUSAND DOLLARS.
SO, UH, A MOTION TO CONSIDER TO AMEN.
UH, I CAN MAKE A MOTION TO CONSIDER THE, UH, AN AMENDMENT TO ORDINANCE 25 0 7 TO AMEND THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE OF THE ADOPTED CONSOLIDATED BUDGET OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD, UH, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 30 20 26, TO INCLUDE THE NEW FEE STRUCTURE OF ZERO TO 4, 500 0 0 TO FOUR, UH, BEDROOMS, $500 AND ALL THE ABOVE A THOUSAND BUCKS.
UM, CAN YOU SECOND IT FIRST? SECOND? OKAY, A QUESTION.
UM, IF I UNDERSTOOD THE TOWN MANAGER CORRECTLY, WHEN WE TAKE CARE OF THE MATTERS THAT, THAT WERE IN THE FIRST MOTION, THAT WILL GIVE THE, UM, TOWN MANAGER A BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO DETERMINE WHAT STAFF REQUIREMENTS ARE, WHICH IN TURN WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON WHAT WE NEED IN THE WAY OF INCOME TO COVER COSTS.
HOWEVER, THE ORIGINAL MOTION HAD THE ZERO TO 500, UH, WAS IN IT AND IT WAS LEFT IN, WE CAN, WE CAN SET THAT ASIDE AND LET THAT CONVERSATION HAPPEN.
BUT I WAS TRYING TO LINE THE TWO ORDINANCES.
YOU, YOU, YOU WOULD JUST AS SOON HAVE APPROVAL OF THE TWO ORDINANCES AND WE CAN DEAL LATER WITH POTENTIAL VARIATIONS IN THOSE NUMBERS.
UH, I'LL ASK Y'ALL A QUESTION.
DID YOU NOT MAKE AS PART OF YOUR MOTION THE $500 AND THE THOUSAND DOLLARS? I DO.
THAT'S WHO WE'LL BRING TO TOWN COUNCIL.
UM, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THAT PORTION OF IT IS A BUDGET AMENDMENT AND WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO COMPLETELY ALIGN THOSE TWO.
I WILL TALK WITH MAYOR PERRY HOW TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
UH, IT'S, IT'S YOUR WILL YOU WANNA DO A BUDGET AMENDMENT RIGHT NOW FOR 500 AND A THOUSAND FOR TOWN COUNCIL CONSIDERATIONS, SO BE IT.
UM, THAT'S, THAT'S YOUR WILL AS A COMMITTEE.
UM, LEMME I LET ASK YOU, YOU DID ASK ME TO ALIGN STAFFING AND FEES COMPARED TO CODE AND WITHOUT A LOT OF THOSE THINGS IN THERE, I DEFINITELY WOULD NOT ASK FOR THE SAME.
I WOULD, I WOULD NOT ASK FOR THE SAME, UM, STAFFING LEVEL WHATSOEVER.
AND I JUST HAVEN'T WRAPPED MY HEAD AROUND THAT YET.
I HAVE TWO VERY, UH, IMPORTANT PEOPLE THAT I NEED TO TALK WITH.
THAT IS BOB BROMAGE AND CHIEF BLANKENSHIP.
SO YOU'LL KNOW THAT BY NEXT MONDAY.
SO WE SHOULDN'T, UH, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE A SECOND MOTION.
AND, AND NEXT MONDAY YOU'LL HAVE THE TRUE FIGURES OF WHICH, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, EVERYTHING CHANGES AND ONE WEEK THOSE NUMBERS WILL BE MOVED IN SOME FORM OR FASHION UP OR DOWN OR THEY'LL STAY THE SAME AND THEN AT THAT TIME WE CAN MAKE THAT SECOND MOTION.
YEAH, AND I THINK WHAT'S HELP HELPFUL AND, AND JUMP IN SEAN WITH ME, I THINK WHAT'S HELPFUL IS WE KNOW WHERE THE COMMITTEE MEMBER STANDS ON THE FEE FROM TWO 50 TO 500 AND FROM TWO 50 TO 1,004 BEDROOMS AND LESS AND FIVE AND MORE.
UM, LET, LET ME PUT MY HEAD AROUND THAT FOR A COUPLE DAYS OUTSIDE OF THIS ROOM AND MAKE SENSE OF IT.
I I HAVE A STAFFING PLAN, UM, THAT I WILL PUT AS PART OF ANY SORT OF FEE ADJUSTMENT AND, AND SUBSEQUENT BUDGET AMENDMENT.
OF COURSE IT WOULD COME WITH THAT.
THE QUESTION FOR YOU ALL, AND INCLUDING MAYOR PERRY WHO'S GONNA SET NEXT WEEK'S AGENDA AND FINALIZE IT, IS WHAT IS ON NEXT WEEK'S AGENDA.
DOES THAT INCLUDE ONLY THE STR ORDINANCE IN A BUDGET AMENDMENT THE SAME DAY OR A BUDGET AMENDMENT AT A SEPARATE ADDITIONAL TIME IN THE, IN THE NEAR FUTURE? IT'S JUST, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO GO AHEAD WITH A MOTION AT 500 AND A THOUSAND WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WILL NOT ENGAGE IN A BUDGET AMENDMENT AT THE CURRENT TIME.
SO AT THIS TIME, THAT'S THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE IT.
UM, I THINK THERE'S CONSENSUS, UM, UH, HERE.
AND SO, UM, I THINK WE'RE DONE.
ARE WE, DID WE COVER EVERYTHING THAT NEEDED TO BE COVERED? YES.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU.
THANK OUR TOWN MANAGER, OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THEIR PARTICIPATIONS AND THEIR TIME.
[04:05:01]
OUR FIRE AND RESCUE HAVE SPENT THE, A MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON WITH US.I DO SEE HANDS IN THE AUDIENCE.
WE HAVE A CHANCE TO SPEAK AT THE NEXT YES, YOU ALWAYS DO.
YOUR INPUT HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL.
I HOPE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY GRANDKIDS TO TRAVEL WITH.
I'M CAMPBELL AND THIS IS BEFORD COUNTY MOMENTS.
I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FOOD TODAY.
THE FOOD HAS BEEN A GREAT PART OF OUR LIFE IN TERMS OF GATHERING FOOD AND PREPARING THEM.
OUR FOOD IS BASED ON THE LAND AND THE SEA.
THE LAND FOOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN RICE.
WE DON'T FEEL WE HAVE EATEN DINNER UNLESS WE'VE HAD RICE.
RICE WAS MIXED WITH VARIOUS ITEMS FROM THE SEA, LIKE OYSTERS OR SHRIMP.
AND WHEN THEY'RE COOKED WITH RICE IN ONE POT, WE CALL IT A RICE OR SHRIMP OR AN OYSTER PERLOW.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE WATERMELONS AND THE SWEET POTATOES.
SWEET POTATOES WAS ALWAYS EATEN WITH FISH AND FRESH FISH WITH GRAVY AND A SWEET POTATO.
OKRA HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR FOOD WAYS.
WE, WE, WE RAISE THEM AS WELL AS WE PREPARE THEM WITH SHRIMP AND TOMATOES.
AND SOME PEOPLE WOULD CALL THAT A GUMBO.
AND THAT'S WHAT EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.
AND SO ENJOY THE FOOD OF THE LOW COUNTRY BECAUSE IT'S BEEN VERY MUCH A PART OF OUR HISTORY.
THIS HAS BEEN YOUR BEAUFORT COUNTY MOMENT.
TO SEE MORE BEAUFORT COUNTY MOMENTS GO TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY HOMEPAGE AND CLICK ON THE LOCAL HISTORY TAB.