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CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY
[1. Call to Order]
ALLEGIANCE, THE FLAG.UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TWO REPUBLIC STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INMI OF THE LIBERTY AND STRONG.
IF YOU REMAIN STANDING, WE WILL HAVE THE INVOCATION BY FATHER CHRISTOPHER LESTER.
NAME THE FATHER AND THE SON THE HOLY SPIRIT.
GOOD AND GRACIOUS GOD, WE COME BEFORE YOU THIS DAY TO GIVE YOU THANKS FOR ALL THE MANY BLESSINGS THAT YOU BETO UPON US.
WE ASK YOU, LORD TO LOOK OVER US, TO LOOK AT ALL THE ASPECTS THAT WE ENCOUNTER IN OUR LIVES.
WE ASK YOU, LORD, TO BLESS EACH ONE OF US HERE PRESENT TO BLESS OUR FIRE AND EMS, OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES, OUR POLITICIANS, OUR GOVERNORS, OUR PRESIDENT, OUR LEADERSHIP.
WE ASK, LORD, THAT YOU HOPE DECREASE THE VIOLENCE THAT THIS COUNTRY IS IN AND GOING THROUGH.
WE ASK LORD ALSO TO RESTORE PEACE IN OUR WORLD WHO IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF LOVE, NOT WAR.
WE ASK LORD, ALSO, THAT YOU CONTINUE TO BLESS THE PEOPLE OF THIS ISLAND AND THOSE WHO COME TO VISIT EACH YEAR, THAT HELP TO SUPPORT THIS ISLAND AND THOSE BUSINESSES AND INSTITUTIONS THAT
WE ASK ALL OF THIS IN YOUR NAME AND THROUGH YOUR MERCY.
[4. Adoption of the Agenda]
ANY CHANGES TO TODAY'S AGENDA? NO, SIR.ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE, PLEASE.
I REQUEST THAT WE REMOVE FROM, UH, CONSENT AGENDA, THE, UH, CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE TO REPEAL AND REPLACE TITLE 10, CHAPTER TWO OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE ENTITLED SHORT TERM RENTALS.
IT IS A CONTROVERSIAL MATTER AND SHOULD NOT BE UNDER CONSENT AGENDA.
HAVING THAT BEEN REMOVED, I MOVE APPROVAL, UH, HAVING THAT BEEN REMOVED FROM CONSENT.
UM, I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.
ALL IN FAVOR? NEXT, WE'LL HAVE THE
[5. Approval of the Minutes]
APPROVAL OF OUR MINUTES, UH, WORKSHOP MEETING, MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF OCTOBER 7TH, 2025, AND SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES OF OCTOBER 13TH, 2025.
[6. Presentations and Recognitions]
OUR TOWN MAN, MARK ORLANDO.GIVE US A REPORT, PLEASE, SIR.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, TOWN COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
I HAVE A FEW THINGS TO SHARE TODAY AS I, AS I, UH, TYPICALLY DO, UH, DURING THE TOWN MANAGER REPORT.
LOTS OF GREAT THINGS GOING ON.
UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST UNDER IN OUR FIRE RESCUE, UH, DEPARTMENT, THANK YOU TO OVER THE 500 MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT CAME OUT TO FIRE RESCUE ANNUAL PANCAKE BREAKFAST TO KICK OFF FIRE PREVENTION WEEK.
AND SO GREAT JOB CHIEF AND, AND YOUR TEAM.
BUT THANK YOU TO THOSE FOLKS THAT THAT CAME OUT AND CELEBRATED OUR NEXT FIRE RESCUE'S.
NEXT COMMUNITY EVENT IS THE SECOND ANNUAL TRUNK OR TREAT.
UH, JOIN US AT FIRE STATION NUMBER FOUR ON SQUIRE POPE ROAD ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25TH FROM FOUR TO SIX FOR, FOR A LOT OF FAMILY FUN.
SO AGAIN, OCTOBER 25TH, FOUR TO SIX, STATION NUMBER FOUR.
UM, OUR SECOND ANNUAL TRUNK OR TREAT, CRESCENDO OFFICIALLY KICKED OFF WHERE I SAW NATALIE SOMEWHERE.
UM, YOU'RE DOING NATALIE, UH, IS IS OUR LEAD IN OUR OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS, BUT IT DEFINITELY TAKES A TEAM.
IT DEFINITELY TAKES A TEAM FROM THE ARTS COMMUNITY AS WELL AS NATALIE IN THE, IN THE, IN THE SMALL TEAM THAT SHE'S ASSEMBLED HERE AT THE TOWN.
BUT WE'VE OFFICIALLY KICKED OFF CRESCENDO AT SHELTER COVE.
THERE'S A SCHEDULE OR THERE'S A PROGRAM, HARD COPY IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM, I THINK NATALIE.
AND IT'S ALSO AVAILABLE ON OUR TOWN WEBSITE, UM, AS WELL AS CULTURE
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HHI.ORG.SO IF, UH, YOU'RE INTERESTED IN, IN CRESCENDO, AND I SUGGEST AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO, PLEASE, PLEASE LOOK INTO THAT.
NATALIE WAS ALSO APPOINTED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, NATALIE, AM I READING THAT RIGHT? THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA ARTS FOUNDATION, WHICH IS FANTASTIC, JOINING OTHER ARTS LEADERS, UM, FROM ACROSS THE STATE TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA ARTS COMMISSION.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND THANK YOU TO YOU.
UH, WE ISSUED THIS FOR MORE FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AS WELL AS FOR JUST GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.
WE'VE ISSUED AN RFPA REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR SMALL PARK AND OPEN SPACE LANDSCAPING AND MAINTENANCE.
THE SCOPE INCLUDES LANDSCAPE SERVICES FOR SEVERAL TOWN PARCELS, AND PROPOSALS ARE DUE NINE FOURTH, UH, NOVEMBER 4TH, EXCUSE ME.
SO IF YOU'RE A SMALL BUSINESS OR A BUSINESS THAT IS INTERESTED, PLEASE, PLEASE CHECK THE RFP ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL.
UH, LANDSCAPE GROUNDS AND STREET MAINTENANCE.
LANDSCAPE CONTRACTS ARE ALSO BID.
THOSE ARE DUE NOVEMBER 4TH, AND THAT'S FOR THE OBVIOUS LANDSCAPE GROUNDS AND STREET MAINTENANCE.
SO, UM, THANKS TO DEREK COSO AND HIS ENTIRE TEAM.
AND THEN JUST AS AN FYI, SOME PATHWAY IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEGUN ON SQUIRE POPE ROAD AND GUMTREE ROAD.
SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SOME INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS TO BOTH OF THOSE ROADS.
THAT WILL ADD UP TO QUITE A BIT OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.
UM, WE'VE CLOSED, AND I THINK I CAN ANNOUNCE IT HERE, AND I KNOW A PRESS RELEASE IS FORTHCOMING, BUT THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE, UM, WITH OUR CDC, WITH OUR HISTORIC NEIGHBOR, GULLAH GEECHEE, HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, HAVE CLOSED ON THE MEMORY MATTERS BUILDING.
AND SO MEMORY MATTERS WILL MOVE TO A NEW LOCATION ON THE ISLAND.
AND WE WILL, AS, AS I SAY, IN, IN, IN ESTABLISH WITH MR. BOXLEYS LEADERSHIP AND HIS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, UM, THE HEADQUARTERS FOR OUR GULLAH GEECHEE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IN THAT SPACE.
SO MORE TO COME ON THAT, UH, FUNDS WERE USED FROM TAX INCREMENT FINANCE FUNDS ON THE TOWN'S BEHALF.
UM, AND THEN ON THE GULLAH GEECHEE SIDE, THEY'VE USED THE, SOME OF THE FUNDING THAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER FOR THE INITIAL GRANT, UM, WITH THE, WITH THE CDC.
SO, UH, MAYOR COUNCIL, EVERYBODY INVOLVED.
CONGRATULATIONS, THOMAS, TO YOU AND YOUR BOARD.
I JUST WANTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT, UM, THE RFQ FOR THE JONESVILLE STABLES AND PADDOCKS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT FOR A WHILE.
IT'S LIVE, IT'S ON THE STREET.
I EVEN DOUBLE CHECKED WITH SEAN LEININGER TODAY 'CAUSE I'M LIKE, IS THIS, DID I READ THIS RIGHT? SO THANK YOU FOR PUSHING AND GETTING THIS OUT THERE, SEAN.
UM, DEREK, EVERYBODY INVOLVED.
THERE'S A 90 DAY RESPONSE PERIOD, BUT ULTIMATELY, AS FOR A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS SO THAT WE CAN BID THE RIGHT GROUP, UM, TO COME IN AND MANAGE THE PROPERTY THAT WE KNOW AS THE JONESVILLE STABLES AND BARNES, WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A COMMUNITY DAY TO CLEAN THE PLACE UP, IMPROVE THE FENCE, IMPROVE SOME OF THOSE, THOSE BASIC ELEMENTS WITH THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
SEVERAL, UM, NEIGHBORS ALREADY CALLED ME TO ASK HOW THEY CAN HELP.
SO WE'LL HAVE A NEIGHBOR, HEY, BRING YOUR HAMMERS.
WE'LL PROVIDE THE NAILS AND THE GATORADE, AND WE'LL CLEAN THE SITE.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO REMOVE TWO, AND WE'LL DO THIS PROPERLY.
AND THROUGH CONTRACTS, REMOVE TWO OF THE THREE STRUCTURES THAT ARE OUT THERE.
THE HOMES ONLY, THE HOMES, NOT THE BARN, NONE OF THAT.
UM, AND THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER WORK SLATED FOR THIS PROPERTY AND JONESVILLE ITSELF, INCLUDING PATHWAYS AND, AND, AND SOME THINGS.
BUT WE'RE DEMOING TWO RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES.
WE'LL FINALIZE THE SITE IMPROVEMENTS.
WE PLAN THE COMMUNITY GATHERING, AND WE BID THE RFQ OUT FOR 90 DAYS, AND WE ANTICIPATE AWARDING THE RFP AND THEN A CONTRACT ON THE OPERATING LEASE OF THE SITE IN LATE, IF NOT LATE FIRST QUARTER, VERY EARLY SECOND QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR.
IT'S DEFINITELY, UH, A, A TEAM EFFORT, AND I'M ENCOURAGED BY ALL THE, THE, THE FORWARD PROGRESS.
NEXT WE HAVE THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT BY MR. WILLIAM ELLA.
WELL, THANK, THANK YOU ALL FOR, UH, LISTENING TO MY REPORT.
AND, UM, I'VE BEEN THE, UH, CHAIR OF THE PARKS AND REC COMMISSION FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
I'VE BEEN A LANDOWNER HERE, A PROPERTY OWNER SINCE 2010,
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AND, UH, CAME ON THE PARKS AND REC IN 2020, UH, ABOUT TWO 20 DURING THE THROES OF COVID.UM, SO WHAT I, THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE COVID TIME IS IT'S, THAT'S ABOUT WHEN WE POLISHED OFF OUR, UH, LONG RANGE PLAN.
AND DURING THE LONG RANGE PLAN, WE DID A LOT OF, UH, RESEARCH.
WE SURVEYED, WE HAD COMMUNITY GATHERINGS WHERE WE TRIED TO GET THE, UH, TO PREPARE A SWOT ANALYSIS.
AND SO I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE IN THAT.
UH, A LOT OF TIMES THIS BECOMES CREDENZA WEAR.
SO I THOUGHT A GOOD THING TO DO WOULD BE TO LOOK AT, UH, WHAT WE PLAN TO DO BACK THEN AND WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED AND WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE FUTURE.
AND THAT'S WHAT MY REPORT WILL BE.
SO THE, UM, OVERARCHING GOAL THAT I SAW IN THE, IN THE PLAN WAS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE BEST IN CLASS, UH, OR PRODUCE A BEST IN CLASS PARKS AND REC SYSTEM THAT WOULD, UM, ACCENTUATE THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE ISLAND, RECOGNIZE OUR CULTURE, OUR HISTORY, AND THE COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE HERE.
SO WITH THOSE GOALS IN MIND, THEY, UH, ALSO CITED A NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAD AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR, UH, DOING BETTER THAN WHAT WE WERE CURRENTLY DOING AND IMPROVING THE PARKS GOING FORWARD.
WHAT THEY WERE, UH, SUGGESTING OR RECOMMENDED, OR WE SUGGESTED OR RECOMMENDED, WAS TO, UH, CONTINUE LOOKING FOR LAND ACQUISITIONS, UH, FOR THE PARKS AND FOR OPEN SPACES FOR NEW PARKS.
THEY WERE, UM, WE WERE TO LOOK FOR NEW FUNDING MECHANISMS. UH, THERE WAS A GOAL TO, UH, OR OPPORTUNITY TO CONSOLIDATE OWNERSHIP AND MAINTENANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR PARKS AND REC.
THERE WAS, UM, UH, A OPPORTUNITY TO ENSURE THAT OUR PATHWAYS, UH, MEET THE COMMUNITY NEEDS AND, UM, ENSURE THAT, UH, ACCESS TO OUR PARKS BY, UM, UH, SPECIAL NEEDS PEOPLE.
SO, AND FINALLY THEY RECOMMENDED THAT WE DEVELOP A PRO DEVELOP PROGRAMS TO FULLY UTILIZE OUR PARKS.
SO, UM, WHEN I WENT, WHEN I LOOKED AT THAT RECENTLY, AND I LOOKED BACK AT WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, IT'S KIND OF, UM, I THINK IMPRESSIVE, UH, OF HOW WE KIND OF HIT THE TARGET ON MOST OF THOSE THINGS.
I CAN POINT TO LOW COUNTRY CELEBRATION PARK.
I WAS JUST DOWN AT, UH, SYMPHONY UNDER THE STARS.
I WAS AT SHELTER COVE, I THINK, FOR 4TH OF JULY AND COULDN'T GET OUT BECAUSE OF THE PARKING.
AND THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE THERE.
I THINK WE, THEY, THEY DO, UH, A GREAT DEAL TO BUILD COMMUNITY HERE.
AND WE'VE BEEN QUITE SUCCESSFUL, UH, AS FAR AS THE LAND AND ATTAINING, UH, OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND, AND MAINTENANCE, UH, I THINK BARKER FIELD DEMONSTRATES THAT.
I KNOW THAT WAS A LONG PROCESS, UH, TO, UH, GAIN CONTROL, LET'S SAY, OF THAT.
AND THEN I WAS OUT THERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND IT'S REALLY COMING ALONG NICELY.
THE, UM, UH, OTHER THING WAS, UM, WHICH I WAS SURPRISED THAT IT DUG A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE HAVE ALSO SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH BEST BUDDIES WHO ENSURES THAT OUR PARKS ARE, UH, COMPATIBLE FOR SPECIAL NEEDS, UH, CHILDREN.
AND, UH, WE WRAPPED THAT UP PROBABLY MAYBE A YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF AGO.
AND, UH, THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN AT THE, UH, TAYLOR AND PATTERSON, UH, PARTS THAT ARE BEING BUILT, UH, THIS YEAR, GOING THIS YEAR GOING FORWARD.
SO I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, I'D HAVE TO GIVE IT A VERY GOOD SCORE IF I THINK WE, WE, WE ARE KEEPING OUR GOALS IN MIND AND TRYING TO HIT THE TARGETS.
AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S A LONG PROCESS FOR THESE, AND THAT'S THE EDUCATION.
I, I ALSO WANTED TO BRING A COUPLE OF THINGS OUT.
WHEN I'M NEXT, I'LL TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE AND WHAT I SEE.
BUT, UM, COUPLE OF, UH, INCIDENTS, LET'S SAY THAT HAPPENED, UH, OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS THAT I THOUGHT MAYBE A GOOD WAY, A THING TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE FUTURE.
AND ONE OF THEM WAS SOON AFTER I, UH, CAME ON THE PARTS OF REC COMMISSION.
SOMEONE, UH, UM, OFFERED ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY PICKLEBALL AT THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE.
SO I WENT THERE AND I NOTICED THAT THEY WERE BUILDING SHACKS AND PUTTING UP FENCES AND ON THEIR OWN.
SO IT WAS A TREMENDOUS SIGN THAT SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE.
WELL, EVENTUALLY, THE TOWN WENT IN THERE AND DID IT RIGHT, SET THINGS UP FOR THEM, AND IT'S WELL USED.
AND NOW, NEXT YEAR, IT'S SCHEDULED TO BE, UH, DEVELOPED WITH SOME PAVING AND MORE PARKING OVER THERE.
SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, AND IT HAPPENED NOT OVERNIGHT, BUT FAIRLY
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QUICKLY.AND THE OTHER STORY I HAVE TO OFFER IS, UM, IT'S ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, UH, ONE OF MY FELLOW, UM, PARKS AND REC COMMISSIONERS SAID, UM, LET'S GO TO THE OAK, THOSE OAK TREES DOWN ON THE CORNER OF SQUIRE POPE IN 2 78.
WE HAD TO BASICALLY HACK OUR WAY IN TO GET IN, AND WE CAME BACK AND SAID, WELL, LOOK, THESE ARE BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL TREES THAT ARE IRREPLACEABLE, AND IT'S THE GATEWAY TO THE TOWN, SO SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE.
AND WE KIND OF EXPECTED THEY'D GO AND CLEAR AWAY SOME BRUSH.
INSTEAD, WE GOT A FABULOUS PARK WHERE YOU COULD SIT DOWN THERE.
AND I SUPPOSE EVERYBODY FROM NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY CAN ENJOY LISTENING TO THE TRAFFIC THERE.
BUT, UH, BUT I, BUT I THINK IT'S A VERY NICE GATEWAY TO HILTON HEAD.
SO, UM, AND I EXPECT THAT TAYLOR AND THE, UM, PATTERSON FAMILY PARKS WILL BE DONE AND COMPLETED ON TIME.
AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT WHEN THESE THINGS ARE DONE, IT'S FIRST CLASS, THEY ARE BEST OF CLASS, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE, UH, THERE'S NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED ABOUT THEN.
UM, BUT LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, LAST NOVEMBER, WE ASKED THE ENGINEERS, UH, PARK AND RECOGNITION TO PREPARE A SUMMARY OF THEIR FUTURE PROJECTS.
AND WE WANTED TO KNOW HOW MUCH WAS BUDGETED, HOW MUCH WAS APPROVED, WHERE THEY STAND, WHAT THEY, WHEN THEY PLAN TO DO IT.
AND, UH, THEY PRODUCED A RATHER RATHER LONG SPREADSHEET.
AND THE THING THAT AMAZES MOST OF US IS THAT THERE WERE 14 PROJECTS ON THAT TOTALING 26 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
NOW, WE CAN LOOK AT THAT AS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT.
WE'RE SAVING MONEY, BUT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
AND MY CONCERN IS THAT, UM, SETTING PRIORITIES THAT, UH, WHAT COMES NEXT, UH, OUR STAFF SEEMS TO BE STRETCHED TO GET IT DONE, AND IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET THE APPROVALS.
UH, MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT.
SO, UM, MY CONCERN FOR THE FUTURE IS THAT WE'RE GONNA LOOK LIKE WE'RE NOT MAKING ANY PROGRESS BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A BIG JOB.
SO, UM, MANAGING SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS REALLY PRETTY DIFFICULT.
AND, UH, I THINK, UH, ONE, ONE SUGGESTION I WOULD HAVE, AND I WOULD BE, UM, TO NOT TAKE A SERIAL APPROACH THAT WE DO THE TAYLOR PARK, PATTERSON PARK, WE COME OVER AND DO CHAPLAIN NEXT YEAR, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, BUT FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO I GAVE THAT A LITTLE BIT OF THOUGHT, AND I CAME UP WITH PATH, THE THREE PS PATH, PARKING AND PICKLEBALL.
AND, UM, IN LOOKING AT THESE THINGS, UH, THE, THE PARKS TOGETHER, ALMOST EVERYONE HAS A, HAS, UH, PATHS THAT ARE CLOSE BY OR NEEDS A CONNECTION.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT FINDING THE CAP CONNECTIONS.
BUT FIRST PRIORITY ALWAYS HAS TO BE ON THE PATH, IS MAINTENANCE.
IT MAKES IT SAFE, IT MAKES IT ENJOYABLE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I'D BE, I THINK WE NEED TO INCREASE THE MAINTENANCE A BIT FROM WHERE WE'VE BEEN DOING, UH, OR WE'RE GONNA FIND OURSELVES IN YEARS TO COME TO SAY THAT THESE THINGS ARE FALLING APART AND WE'RE NOT, WE'RE GONNA REALLY HAVE TO DO SOME MAINTENANCE.
AND, UM, WITH THE HELP OF SOME OF THE ENGINEERS, I CAN ESTIMATE THAT IT'S 170,000 A MILE TO REPAVE THE PATH.
SO, BUT WE HAVE 70 MILES A PATH, SO WE SHOULD BE DOING 70 A YEAR.
YOU DO THE MATH, IT'S $1.2 MILLION THAT WE SHOULD BE SPENDING TO KEEP UP.
SO I THINK GOING IN THE FUTURE, I THINK WE SHOULD, YOU KNOW, I AM ASK ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER IMPROVING THE MAINTENANCE FOR SAFETY AND COMMUNITY REASONS.
BUT IN THE FUTURE, UM, IF WE ADD MORE, THAT'S GOING TO GO UP, AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE A, YOU KNOW, A PROBLEM.
SO THE, UM, WHAT I MEAN BY PASS PARKING AND PICKLEBALL HIGH CONNECT THEM IS THAT, UH, THERE ARE PATHWAY PROJECTS OUT THERE.
WE DON'T NEED TO DO EVERY PATHWAY PROJECT FIRST, BUT, UM, THERE'S ALSO PARKING PROJECTS IN CHAPLAIN.
AND, UM, A NUMBER OF PLACES, UH, THAT, UH, CHAPLAIN ESPECIALLY AND THE, UM, ISLANDS BEACH, ADDING THOSE PARKING SPACES, YOU KNOW, UM, USUALLY ON THE HOLIDAYS, I DON'T GO TO THE BEACH BECAUSE THERE'S, YOU'RE FILLED UP.
BUT ADDING THOSE PARKING SPACES AT CHAPLAIN AND AT THE, UH, ISLAND BEACH WOULD IMPROVE THE SITUATION
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QUITE A BIT.IT WOULDN'T COMPLETE THOSE PROJECTS, BUT WE HAVE VERY DETAILED PLANS ON WHAT'S TO BE INCLUDED THERE, AND THEY CAN COME AS TIME GOES ON.
SO, UH, AND FINALLY, THE PICKLEBALL, UH, MY LAST LITTLE PARABLE IS, UH, WHEN I FIRST COME ON AND SAT UP THERE, PEOPLE WOULD COME IN AND SAY, I'M 73 YEARS OLD, I DON'T HAVE FIVE YEARS TO WAIT FOR PICKLEBALL.
WELL, THEY'VE WAITED FIVE YEARS.
AND, UM, I KNOW WE HAVE A PROJECT DOWN BY THE BRISTOL SPORTS ARENA THAT'S IN, YOU KNOW, BUT I GUESS THERE'S SOME PERMITTING ISSUES AND IT'S TAKING LONGER.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE SIX PICKLEBALL COURTS AT CHAPLAIN.
JUST DO 'EM LIKE YOU DID THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE ROAD.
SO, WITH MY THREE P I'LL SIT CLOSE WITH THAT, WITH MY THREE PS.
SO, UH, WITH THAT, I'LL ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN ELLA, ANYTHING FROM COUNCIL? MS. BRYSON? JUST, UH, ONE QUICK THING.
I, I'VE SEEN RECENTLY THAT THE, THE TOWN'S DESIGN REVIEW BOARD DID LOOK AT CONCEPTUAL PLANS FOR THE NEW PICKLEBALL COMPLEX AT CROSSINGS PARK, AND WONDERING IF THE TOWN MANAGER CAN JUST GIVE A BRIEF UPDATE ABOUT WHERE WE ARE.
UM, IT'S STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
WE'RE WAITING ON SOME FEDERAL LEVEL WETLAND PERMITTING.
UM, BUT THE PROJECT'S WELL UNDERWAY, UM, MOST STATE PERMITS ARE, ARE MOVING FORWARD, THAT FEDERAL WETLAND PERMITS IMPORTANT TO US, AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT CONSTRUCTION, IT SHOULD BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, SOONER THAN THIS TIME NEXT YEAR.
I'M, I'M LEANING ON AN, UH, AN AUGUST START DATE.
UM, JUST AS A REMINDER, WE HAVE DESIGN FUNDS, UM, IN THIS YEAR'S FISCAL YEAR BUDGET.
AND WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA FULLY FUND THAT PROJECT AS A PROPOSAL AND MOVING IT FORWARD IN NEXT FISCAL YEAR, WHICH STARTS JULY ONE.
SO, UM, GOOD NEWS IS MOVING FORWARD, AND IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE PLANS, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE GREAT.
THEY ARE PARKED AT, I BELIEVE, A RATIO OF MORE THAN FIVE TO ONE.
WE WERE TRYING TO FIT 20, WE CAN'T, WE CAN FIT 18 COMFORTABLY, TWO A DA COURTS, AND GOOD CLUBHOUSE, GOOD ARCHITECTURE, BATHROOMS, AND GREAT FACILITIES.
I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT.
UM, IT WAS VERY COMPREHENSIVE.
I APPRECIATED THE POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES THAT, THAT YOU, UM, MENTIONED AND ALSO THE ASKS.
AND YOU DID IT IN A WAY THAT, UM, I'VE TAKEN NOTES AND I'LL FOLLOW UP ON MANY OF YOUR, UM, YOUR, YOUR ASKS TO SEE THAT WE GET MOVING ALONG WITH SOME OF THOSE.
BUT I ALSO WANTED TO, I THINK WE JUST GOT AN INVITATION, A DATE, A REQUEST FOR A DATE FOR A GRAND OPENING FOR, I THINK IT WAS TAYLOR BAR.
IS THAT TRUE? WAS THERE SOMETHING THAT I RESPONDED TO? I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THERE WAS ADDITIONAL IT'S IN THE WORKS.
SO THERE IS ADDITIONAL PROGRESS RIGHT ON THE HORIZON.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOUR COMMISSION DOES, UM, TO HELP GET US THROUGH ALL OF THIS.
UH, MY APOLOGIES FOR, UH, FOR BEING LATE AHEAD A MEETING THAT RAN OVER A LITTLE BIT.
SO, UH, I APPRECIATE MR. BROWN STEPPING UP FOR ME.
UM, LOOKS LIKE THAT WE KNEW WE NEED TO MOVE ON TO REPORTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, GENERAL REPORTS, WELL, TRANSPORTATION.
UH, WE HAVE LOW COUNTRY REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY.
THANK YOU BRIAN, FOR BEING HERE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TAB COUNCIL, AND, UH, MANAGER ORLANDO.
I HOPEFULLY THIS IS A VERY REGULAR, UH, FEELING THING AND HOPEFULLY SOMETHING THAT, UH, WE ALL KINDA GET USED TO.
I WANNA START OFF TODAY WITH INTRODUCTIONS.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LOW COUNTRY REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY.
PHEW, UM, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS PAUL METAL BREEZE AND THE BREEZE TROLLEY WITH ME TODAY, UH, TWO OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS, UM, ISLAND NATIVE AND CHAIR OF OUR BOARD, CHARLES MITCHELL JUNIOR, AND HENRY.
CHRIS OWNS A BUSINESS AND, UH, AND LIVES ON.
UH, SO I APPRECIATE THEM BEING HERE TODAY.
I HAVE A VERY SUPPORTIVE BOARD FROM ALL ACROSS THE LOW COUNTRY REGION.
SO, UH, THAT, UH, MEANS A LOT TO US.
THE, UH, TODAY I'M GONNA DO A QUICK OVERVIEW OF ALL THE SERVICES THAT WE DO, SPECIFIC TO HILTON HEAD, NOT ALL THAT WE DO ALL OVER THE PLACE.
I'LL DO A SUMMARY OF THE 2025 TROLLEY SEASON, UM, TALK ABOUT HOW WE ENHANCE THE ISLAND BRAND AND EXPERIENCE.
UH, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR BUDGET CHALLENGE, WHICH I THINK I'VE TALKED A LOT SEPARATELY TO A LOT OF YOU, UH, OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
AND THEN OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION.
SO, SPECIFIC TO HILTON HEAD ISLAND, WE DO THE FOLLOWING.
WE PROVIDE EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR, 363 DAYS A, OR 360 2 DAYS A YEAR.
UH, HOME MEADOW BREEZE COMMUTER SERVICES FOR APPROXIMATELY ABOUT 200 ON AVERAGE, 2 10, 2 15.
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IT DEPENDS ON THE SEASON.UH, PASSENGERS, UH, TO AND FROM THE ISLAND, EVERY DAY, VITAL SERVICE TO OUR ECONOMY.
UM, THAT WOULD BE 200 PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT ON THE ISLAND OR, OR SEEKING EMPLOYMENT SOMEWHERE ELSE.
UH, WE ALSO PROVIDE WHAT WE CALL COORDINATED SERVICES MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
THOSE ARE FOR MEDICAL, UH, MEMORY CARE.
IT WAS INTERESTING TO HEAR THAT TODAY.
SO WE'LL HAVE A NEW LOCATION TO TAKE THEM TO, UM, GROCERY TRIPS, AND TO THE EXTENT WE CAN WORK TRIPS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO REQUEST THEM IN ADVANCE.
SO THOSE COORDINATED SERVICES ARE IN VERY, VERY HIGH DEMAND.
AND SO WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE THOSE MOSTLY FOR MEDICAL MEMORY CARE, GROCERY.
UM, WE ALSO, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE, AND THIS YEAR IT HAS NOT COME INTO NEED YET, IS THE EVACUATION ASSISTANCE REGISTRY.
WE KEEP A REGISTRY OF SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE ACROSS BEAUFORT AND JASPER COUNTIES, UH, INDIVIDUALS WHO THINK THEY MAY NEED ASSISTANCE IN THE CASE OF AN EVACUATION.
UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, WE SERVE ON THE COUNTY'S, UM, EOC AS THE TRANSPORTATION ARM.
UM, MOST IMPORTANTLY, I GUESS TO A LOT OF FOLKS, THE SEASONAL ABUSE TROLLEYS, PROBABLY ARGUABLY SOME OF OUR MOST VISIBLE SERVICE, UH, THROUGHOUT, UH, THE SUMMER MONTHS, WE DO THE SEASONAL BREEZE TROLLEY SERVICE.
AND WITH THAT, BECAUSE IT'S A FEDERALLY FUNDED TRANSIT, UH, FIXED ROUTE TRANSIT, THERE'S ALSO COMPLIMENTARY A DA SERVICE, NOT A VERY HIGH DEMAND SERVICE, BUT IT IS THERE IF FOLKS NEED IT.
AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE DO THE SEASONAL GNY BEACH SHUTTLE.
WE'VE DONE THAT FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
AND OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS SUPPORTING, UH, SOME OF THE, UH, CULTURE HHI EVENTS, SOME OF THE OTHER EVENTS THAT WE DO ACROSS THE ISLAND.
SO, THE TROLLEY SEASON, UH, WE, WE, I CONSIDER PRETTY SUCCESSFUL.
WE ALMOST TO THE, TO THE PASSENGER CARRIED THE SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE AS WE DID LAST YEAR, WHICH IS AMAZING.
UM, IT'S DEFINITELY ON PAR WITH THE LAST TWO YEARS, REALLY.
AND, UM, WE EQUATE THAT TO, WE DO, THE MATH IS ABOUT TWO AND A HALF PEOPLE PER, UH, INDIVIDUAL VEHICLE THAT WOULD'VE BEEN AN INDIVIDUAL VEHICLE INSTEAD OF ON THE TROLLEY.
SO THAT'S ABOUT 13,000 TRIPS THAT WE REDUCED FROM THE CONGESTED ISLAND ROADWAYS.
UH, THIS YEAR WE ADDED FOUR NEW STOPS ALONG WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY.
THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT.
WE DID A LOT OF COURTESY PICKUPS IN THOSE AREAS.
IT'S A LOT EASIER IF THERE'S A TROLLEY SIGN.
SO WITH STAFF'S HELP, WE WERE ABLE TO GET THOSE IMPLEMENTED.
THIS YEAR, WE ALSO RELOCATED A STOP THAT WAS A LITTLE UNDERUSED BACK ON DUNNIGAN ALLEY BEHIND, UH, THE VILLAGE AT WEXFORD.
WE MOVED IT TO THE NEW LOCAL LEGEND DEVELOPMENT AND WAS USED, UH, UH, QUITE FREQUENTLY FOR A BRAND NEW STOP.
UH, ONE OF THE FUN THINGS WE DID WITH THE HELP OF THE LOCAL ARTS COMMUNITY WAS UNVEILING THE LOGGERHEAD EXPRESS TROLLEY WRAP IN JULY.
UM, THAT'LL BE, UH, THAT WRAP WILL BE ON THAT TROLLEY FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
IT'S VERY WELL DONE BY A HILTON HEAD COMPANY HERE, A HILTON HEAD WRAP.
UH, WE ALSO LAUNCHED WHAT WE CALL POETRY IN MOTION.
UM, BUT THE, WITH THE ISLAND POET SOCIETY, THE FOLKS BEHIND THE POETRY TRAIL, UH, WORKED WITH, AGAIN, THE ARTS COMMUNITY TO INSTALL ON OUR INTERIORS SOME POETRY WRITTEN BY LOCAL POET POETS.
UM, I THINK THAT'S AN AWARD WINNER IN OUR INDUSTRY, AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
WE'RE GONNA TEST IT IN OUR, UH, IN OUR AWARDS SEASON.
AND THEN, MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO US, UM, WE HAD AN INCREDIBLY SAFE SEASON.
UM, THAT SERVICE HAS BEEN VERY SAFE SINCE INCEPTION.
UM, IT'S, IT'S, UM, IT'S NOT A MIRACLE BECAUSE IT'S BY DESIGN, BUT IN AUGUST, WE IN FACT CELEBRATED IT TODAY AT OUR MONTHLY SAFETY MEETING WITH OUR STAFF.
UM, WE HAD WHAT I CALL THE PERFECT AUGUST.
THIS IS ACROSS OUR SERVICE, NOT JUST THE TROLLEY.
ZERO ACCIDENTS, ZERO INCIDENTS, ZERO COMPLAINTS.
AND WHAT MAKES THAT REALLY UNIQUE IS THAT AUGUST IS OUR BUSIEST MONTH FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.
KEEPING VEHICLES ON THE ROAD IS HARD.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE, EVERY SERVICE WE RUN MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ANYWAY, IS OPERATING BECAUSE WE ALSO START THE USCB SAND CHART SHUTTLE, WHICH HAS GOTTEN, UH, MORE AND MORE UTILIZED BETWEEN BLUFFTON AND BUFORT.
AND WE TO DO THAT AND DO IT PERFECTLY, AS I PUT IT, IS A, IS SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE.
SO WE CELEBRATED THAT WITH OUR TEAM TODAY.
THIS IS A CHART, JUST A KIND OF HISTORICAL RIDERSHIP NUMBERS.
UM, THERE'S SOME NOTES IN HERE BECAUSE THERE'S SOME KIND OF WEIRD THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED OVER THE INCEPTION OF THE, OR SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE SERVICE.
BUT THE TITLE OF THE SLIDE IS, IS DELIBERATE, THAT IT HAS NORMALIZED, I THINK WITH THE FREE FARE SETUP THAT WE'VE BEEN USING SINCE 2020, WITH THE SEASON THAT WE'RE RUNNING, WHICH IS BASICALLY APRIL OR MAYBE LATE MARCH TILL LABOR DAY, WE'RE GONNA SEE ABOUT 35,000 PEOPLE.
IT'S KIND OF PLAYED OUT IN THE NUMBERS.
UM, WE HAD AN UNUSUALLY VERY HIGH NUMBER OF, OF PASSENGERS IN 2021.
PART OF THAT WAS OCCUPANCY WAS
[00:30:01]
VERY, VERY HIGH AFTER THE COVID.AND, UH, BUT WE WERE ALSO RELYING ON A TECHNOLOGY THAT IS NOT PERFECT.
AND THAT WAS THE AUTOMATED PASSENGER COUNTERS.
UM, THEY OVERCOUNT IT, THAT'S MY PERSONAL OPINION.
IT'S TOO HARD TO GO BACK AND PROVE IT.
BUT THE WAY THEY WORKED IS, ANYTIME ANYBODY GOT ON A TROLLEY, IT COUNTED IT.
SO ANYTIME I GOT ON IT, IT COUNTED IT AS A PASSENGER.
SO WE DIDN'T DISCOUNT, I THINK, ENOUGH OF THE DRIVERS GETTING ON AND OFF.
UH, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR STAFF GETTING ON AND OFF.
SO I THINK THAT 52,000 IS A LITTLE INFLATED, BUT, UM, SO IT WAS A VERY BUSY YEAR THOUGH, AND THE NUMBERS WERE VERY, VERY GOOD.
SO, UM, YOU SEE THE PERCENTAGE CHANGE, AGAIN, WE'VE KIND OF STABILIZED.
WE'RE KIND OF RIGHT WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
UH, ALSO FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTO IT, UM, UH, FROM A FOLLOWING STANDPOINT, WE LIKE TO REALLY TARGET THE OUT-OF-TOWNERS, RIGHT? 'CAUSE THOSE ARE THE FOLKS WE REALLY WOULD LIKE TO KEEP OFF THE ROADS 'CAUSE THEY STILL HAVEN'T PERFECTED THE, THE TRAFFIC CIRCLES.
SO, UM, AGAIN, WE'VE HAD ABOUT A LITTLE OVER A HUNDRED PERCENT INCREASE IN OUR FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF THAT.
UH, THE FOLLOWER BREAKDOWN, WE'RE AT 80% AND HOLDING, IT'S EVERY YEAR, LAST THREE YEARS HAS BEEN 80% PEOPLE OUTSIDE OUR AREA.
AND THEN, UM, YOU LOOK AT THE, THE, UH, UNITED STATES THERE, KIND OF SEE A HEAT MAP OF OUR ACTIVITY ON OUR WEBSITE.
ALMOST THE SAME 75% FROM OUTSIDE THE AREA, 25% LOCALLY.
SO WE FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB REACHING THE OUT OF TOWNERS THINGS WE DO TO ENHANCE THE BRAND OF THE ISLAND.
UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, SAFE AND COURTEOUS OPERATORS.
WE ALL, OBVIOUSLY, WE TRAIN 'EM TO BE SAFE.
WE HAVE VIDEO MONITORS INSIDE THE TROLLEY VEHICLES WHERE WE, UH, PROMOTE THE LOCAL HISTORICAL, UH, CULTURAL EVENTS, UM, AS WELL AS THE HISTORIC MITCHELLVILLE, GULLAH MUSEUM, ET CETERA.
UH, WE TRY TO BE AS ACTIVE AS WE CAN.
SOME OF THE, WE'D LIKE TO BE MORE ACTIVE, I'LL BE HONEST.
UM, SOME THINGS WE'RE MANDATED THAT WE CAN'T DO.
BUT WE CAN DO THINGS LIKE PARADES, UH, PROMOTIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS WORKING ALONGSIDE TOWN STAFF.
UH, WE DO, UH, EVERY AUGUST, OUR BREEZE, CHARLIE ROCKS DOESN'T REACH A TON OF PEOPLE, BUT IT GETS A LOT OF PLAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
AND, UM, LASTLY, FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDPOINT, WE'VE INSTALLED SOLAR LIGHTING, BUT WE ONLY HAVE ONE RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE GONNA DO FOUR MORE THIS COMING OFF SEA OR DURING THIS OFF SEASON.
SO WE HAVE FOUR MORE SAFER STOPS WITHOUT HAVING TO DIG INTO THE GROUND AND PUT ELECTRICAL IN.
SO FOR 2026, LOOKING AHEAD, WHILE WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT THE TROLLEY SERVICE, UH, IT LOOKS LIKE OUR SCHEDULE'S PROBABLY GONNA BE MARCH 28TH THROUGH LABOR DAY AGAIN.
UH, PREPAID FARES, AGAIN COMING OUT OF THE, UH, CONTRIBUTION THAT THE TOWN MAKES IN ITS, UH, UM, ANNUAL, UH, AFFILIATED AGENCY.
UM, ONE THING I WANTED TO THROW OUT.
WE HAVE HAD REALLY FOR YEARS, UM, A CONSISTENT DEMAND AND REQUEST FROM RESIDENTS AS WELL AS VISITORS AND, AND PATRONS OF THE BUSINESSES IN PALMETTO BAY MARINA TO SEE IF WE CAN EXTEND THE LINE OR DO SOMETHING TO TRY AND SERVICE THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
WE'VE LOOKED AT THE MATH, I'VE JUST DONE IT ANECDOTALLY.
UM, I'VE DRIVEN THE ROUTE PROBABLY MORE OFTEN THAN MY WIFE WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU BECAUSE I MAKE HER COME WITH ME.
UM, BUT I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO DO, IF WE CAN GET THE FUNDING, WHAT I CALL ANOTHER FEEDER ROUTE UP TO, AND MAYBE EVEN BEYOND THE PALMETTO BAY MARINA, TO CAPTURE SOME OF THE TRAFFIC THAT'S ON PALMETTO BAY ROAD, AS WELL AS, AND THEN USE ARROW ROAD TO COME BACK AND CONNECT AT PARK PLAZA.
IT IS A VERY SIMILAR FEEDER ROUTE TO WHAT WE HAD VERY SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED IN 2021, UH, WITH THE MID ISLAND ROUTE THAT GOES ALONG FOLLY FIELD ROAD.
UM, I SEE THIS AS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD REALLY INVEST IN.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO CONSIDER FOR THE FUTURE GROWTH, AS LONG AS WE CAN FIND THE FUNDING TO DO IT, AND WE HAVE PRICED IT.
UM, THE OTHER THING WE'RE DOING, WE'RE SEEKING CAPITAL GRANTS FOR NEWER REPLACEMENT VEHICLES.
THESE ARE THE SAME VEHICLES WE'VE HAD SINCE THE INCEPTION.
THEY'RE NOT TOO OLD YET, BUT BEFORE THEY GET TOO OLD, WE NEED TO START REPLACING THEM.
SO WE'RE WORKING WITH S-E-D-O-T TO, TO FIND, UH, VEHICLE GRANTS FOR THOSE.
WE, AND I'M HOPING WE CAN FIND A GASOLINE POWERED SMALLER TROLLEY VEHICLE.
SO A LOT LESS EXPENSIVE TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN.
UM, AND I THINK THEY, WE, THEY COULD, UM, WORK FOR THE SERVICE.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED QUITE THE CAPACITY WE HAVE ON ALL THOSE BUSES.
UH, I MENTIONED THE FOUR NEWS, UH, LIGHTS.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON A 100% ACCESSIBLE WEBSITE THAT WILL LAUNCH IN MARCH.
UM, I KNOW ACCESSIBILITY IS A BIG DEAL TO THE TOWN.
UH, IT IS VERY BIG IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AS WELL.
AND WE WILL, WE HAVE THAT, UH, WE'RE WORKING HOPEFULLY TO GET A GRANT TO PAY FOR IT.
UM, NOT, NOT HORRIBLY EXPENSIVE, BUT SOMETHING WE DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO HOPEFULLY FIND GRANT FUNDING FOR.
SO EVERYTHING'S GOING REALLY, REALLY WELL.
WE'RE DOING GREAT, UH, IN A NUTSHELL.
BUT, UH, WE DO HAVE A REVENUE DEFICIENCY FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR THAT ENDS JUNE 30TH.
[00:35:01]
FIRST, WE HAD CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS IN JUNE AND JULY.UH, THEY MADE THE VERY DIFFICULT DECISION TO APPROVE A BUDGET THAT WE PRESENTED TO THEM, THAT STAFF PRESENTED TO THEM.
THAT INCLUDES A, A, A DEFICIENCY IN REVENUE.
WE JUST COULDN'T GET THE REVENUE NUMBERS TO MATCH THE TRUE COSTS OF OPERATING EVERYTHING WE CURRENTLY DO.
NO GROWTH, NO EXPANSION, NO NOTHING.
AND THAT NUMBER COMES TO $361,000.
UM, THAT BUDGET THEN, IN ORDER TO MAKE THE BUDGET MATCH, INCLUDES A SMALL SERVICE REDUCTION AT THE END OF OUR FISCAL YEAR.
SO, IN OTHER WORDS, WE OBVIOUSLY WANTED TO PUSH OUT AS FAR AS WE COULD.
WE WANTED TO LIMIT THE IMPACT AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN, BUT BECAUSE WE'RE A FEDERALLY FUNDED TRANSIT AUTHORITY, WE HAVE TO DO IT EQUITABLY.
WE CAN'T JUST ELIMINATE ONE SERVICE AND NOT ELIMINATE ANOTHER.
IF YOU ELIMINATE DAYS OF SERVICE, IF YOU ELIMINATE A ROUTE, IT'S GOTTA BE AS EQUITABLE AS IT CAN BE.
AND THE WAY OUR SERVICE IS SET UP, IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO DO THAT WITHOUT ELIMINATING DAYS OF SERVICE.
THAT'S THE MOST EQUITABLE WAY TO DO IT.
AND, UM, WE, BELIEVE ME, WE MODEL, WE MODELED PROBABLY 30 DIFFERENT THINGS.
UM, SO RIGHT NOW WHAT OUR BUDGET DOES INCLUDE TO IT, AND IT, IT, IT FILLS THE GAP WITH 366,000 IN COSTS.
ANTICIPATED COSTS IS TO ELIMINATE SERVICE ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS.
DEFINITELY NOT THE BUSINESSES THAT BENEFIT FROM THE, THE, THE, THE COMMUTERS AND DEFINITELY NOT MY BELOVED TROLLEYS
I WANT THAT TO RUN ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS.
SO WE ARE DETERMINED TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
I'LL SHOW YOU SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
UM, I WILL SAY BEFORE I FLIP OVER TO SOME OF THE, THE POSSIBLE, UH, SOLUTIONS THERE, UH, WE WILL HAVE THIS CHALLENGE GOING FORWARD.
WE SOLICIT LOCAL MATCH AND ADDITIONAL LOCAL MONIES FROM NINE DIFFERENT PARTNERS.
SO THERE ARE NINE POTENTIAL PARTNERS THAT CAN HELP US FILL THESE GAPS EACH YEAR.
SO WE ARE STARTING OUR BUDGET CONVERSATIONS AND DELIBERATIONS WAY SOONER THAN WE EVER HAVE GOING INTO FISCAL 27.
UM, AND AT THE SAME TIME, AS YOU ALL KNOW, NOTHING YOU HAVEN'T HEARD BEFORE, OUR MISSION IS TO SERVE A GROWING LOW COUNTRY COMMUNITY.
IT'S REALLY HARD TO DO THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A BUDGET SHORTFALL.
SO, UM, AND, AND I, AND AT THE SAME TIME, MAKE SURE THAT WE SUPPORT A THRIVING LOCAL ECONOMY, ESPECIALLY HERE ON HILTON HEAD.
SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS WE'RE GETTING CREATIVE, UM, IN THE SHORT TERM? THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE COULD DO, WE COULD TALK ABOUT HERE WITH STAFF AND WITH THE COUNCIL APPROVING AN OFF CYCLE, OFF CYCLE AFFILIATED AGENCY ADJUSTMENT.
UM, WE COULD PURSUE THE POSSIBILITY OF USING STATE ALLOCATED A TAX FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE TROLLEY SERVICE OR ANY OTHER SERVICES THAT SUPPORT TOURISM.
SPECIFICALLY THE, THE LEGISLATION OR THE STATE, UH, STATUTE CLEARLY STATES IT CANNOT BE USED FOR COMMUTER SERVICES.
UM, WE CAN ALSO SOLICIT ADDITIONAL LOCAL FUNDING FROM PRIVATE PARTIES.
UH, MARRIOTT WORLDWIDE VACATIONS SUPPORTS A ROUTE TO THE TUNE OF $60,000.
SO THIS IS, IT HAS A PRECEDENT HERE WITH US.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING I WOULD DEFINITELY STRONGLY ENCOURAGE.
WE THINK ABOUT ON THE LONG TERM, UH, DOING THE RESEARCH.
I FELT LIKE MY OLD DAYS IN COLLEGE IN HIGH SCHOOL WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH MICROFILM, BUT, UH, I FOUND OUR STATE CHARTER BROUGHT IT BACK OUT.
IT'S BEEN COPIED IN MIMEOGRAPHED AND FAXED A THOUSAND TIMES.
WE WERE CHARTERED 1978, AS WERE SOME OTHER RTAS ACROSS THE STATE BY THE STATE, BY THE GOVERNOR.
IT ALLOWS AS A PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE, A LOCAL VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEE.
I HAVE CHECKED WITH OTHER RTAS ACROSS THE STATE.
THEY CAN'T TELL YOU THEY WEREN'T HERE IN 1978.
SO I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN PURSUE.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT LONGER TERM, BUT IT IS SOMETHING TO, TO DO, BASICALLY A FEE ON TOP OF VEHICLES THAT ARE REGISTERED EITHER IN THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD OR IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
I WOULD ARGUE IT WOULD BE BEST TO DO A COUNTY, AND WE COULD DO ALL FIVE COUNTIES.
WE COULD DO JUST BEAUFORT COUNTY.
UM, THE, THE O THE ONLY THING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN FOR THAT, BECAUSE IT'S IN OUR CHARTER, IS TO GET THE MUNICIPALITY OR COUNTY TO APPROVE IT AS A RESOLUTION AND THEN TO GET A MAJORITY OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THE FEE TO APPROVE IT.
IT DOES NOT NEED TO GO TO THE STATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, JUST THE MEMBERS THAT ARE LOCAL HERE.
UM, ONE OTHER THING WE COULD DO IN SOME OF THE OTHER, UM, TRANSITS HAVE DONE THIS, IS THEY, THE SECOND PART OF THIS NEXT POINT IS A ROAD USER FEE.
IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEE.
IT HAS BEEN CHALLENGED IN THE COURTS.
IT WAS CHALLENGED AND TAKEN OFF IN GREENVILLE.
IT WAS CHALLENGED AND IT'S STILL ON IN MYRTLE BEACH.
SO THAT'S KIND OF A LEGAL BATTLE.
I'D RATHER GO BACK TO MY CHARTER AS MIMEOGRAPHED AND COPIED AS IT IS AND SAY, HERE'S WHAT THE CHARTER SAYS WE CAN DO.
UM, THE OTHER THING IS, AS YOU ALL KNOW, SALES TAX REFERENDUM, WE WERE ON, WE WERE, WE WERE
[00:40:01]
INCLUDED IN THE REFERENDUM IN NOVEMBER IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.AND SO, AND THAT WAS DEFINITELY A SOLUTION.
IT WOULD'VE BEEN A MAJOR SOLUTION FOR US.
UM, AND THAT COULD STILL HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
UH, AND ONE OTHER THING THAT'S HAPPENING AT THE STATE LEVEL IS THE MODERNIZATION OF S-E-D-O-T.
UM, OUR OWN REPRESENTATIVE ERICKSON AS A VICE CHAIR OF AN AD HOC COMMITTEE THAT WAS ASKED, THAT WAS SET UP BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO LOOK AT WHAT HE CALLS THE MODERNIZATION OF A-S-C-D-O-T.
THAT OBVIOUSLY IS MORE THAN JUST TRANSIT, BUT TRANSIT IS DEFINITELY A PART OF IT.
UM, THEY'VE BEEN HAVING LISTENING SESSIONS.
THEY HAD ONE IN BEAUFORT, UH, TWO WEEKS AGO.
WE WERE VERY WELL REPRESENTED AS A REGION.
WE WERE VERY WELL REPRESENTED AS A TRANSIT AUTHORITY.
UM, THE MESSAGE ABOUT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN PARTICULAR IS LOUD AND CLEAR TO THAT COMMITTEE.
UM, WE'RE VERY BLESSED TO HAVE THE FACT THAT THE VICE CHAIR IS RIGHT HERE OF BUFORT.
AND SO I EXPECT THAT TO HAVE SOME IMPACT STATEWIDE FOR PERSPECTIVE.
AND THIS WAS INCLUDED IN OUR COMMUNICATION TO THAT COMMITTEE.
THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA OF THE TILL 47, 48 STATES, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA THAT ACTUALLY HAVE STATE MASS TRANSIT FUNDS.
THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA IS SIXTH FROM LAST.
WE ARE GROWING AT A VERY RAPID RATE AS A STATE, NOT JUST THIS AREA.
AND SO I THINK IT'S GONNA, IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
SOMETHING'S GOT TO HAPPEN TO SUPPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN THIS ACROSS THE STATE AT A HIGHER LEVEL.
AGAIN, FROM A DOLLARS AND CENTS STANDPOINT, I CAN I, FROM A TRANSIT STANDPOINT, KIND OF COMPARE HILTON HEAD AND BEAUFORT COUNTY IN PARTICULAR, AND TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, JASPER, VERY MUCH TO THE COMMUNITIES IN FLORIDA NOW, YOU KNOW, MAYBE 30 YEARS AGO, THIS IS WHAT FLORIDA WAS GOING THROUGH.
FLORIDA SUPPORTS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PER CAPITA, PER PER RESIDENT, PER PER VOTER, OR PER PER INDIVIDUAL.
$10 PER PERSON PER HEAD STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA 96 CENTS.
SO YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET FLORIDA PIPE TYPE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF THE SIMILAR COMMUNITY AT 96 CENTS AHEAD.
SO AGAIN, THAT'S WAY ABOVE ALL OF OUR HEADS.
BUT IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INFLUENCE THAT MODERNIZATION PLAN, ESPECIALLY FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, IT'S ALSO ROADS AND BRIDGES.
SO NEEDS TO BE MODERNIZED TOO.
UM, I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE BEING INVOLVED TO HOPEFULLY INCREASE THE TRANSIT, UH, SLICE OF THE, UH, S-C-D-O-T PIE.
SO, UH, THOSE ARE THE LONG-TERM THINGS.
THERE'S THINGS WE CAN DO, NOT GLUE AND DOOM BY ANY STRETCH.
UM, THE OTHER THING WE'RE DOING INTERNALLY, UM, WE ARE MANAGING AN INCREDIBLY TIGHT BUDGET AND WE'RE DOING PRETTY WELL.
SO I FEEL VERY ENCOURAGED THAT NOTHING'S GONNA HAVE TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR, BUT IT SETS THE STAGE FOR TO, FOR THE CONTINUED CONVERSATION FOR FUTURE YEARS.
AND SO, IN A SENSE, WE HAVE A LITTLE TIME TO DO THINGS, UM, AND I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO FILL THAT GAP, FIND A WAY, AND FIND LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS.
SO YOU'RE NOT HEARING ME TALK ABOUT THAT.
YOU'RE TALKING MORE ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING ON THE GROWTH SIDE.
WHAT ARE WE DOING DIFFERENT THAT'S NEW? HOW ARE WE SERVING MORE, UH, ELDERLY AND AGING FOLKS HERE IN THE LOW COUNTRY? HOW ARE WE GETTING THEM TO THE VITAL MEDICAL? HOW ARE WE FINDING WAYS TO ADJUST TO COMMUTER PATTERNS THAT ARE GONNA CHANGE WITH ALL THE CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE LOW COUNTRY IN THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR YEARS? SO, UM, THOSE ARE, THEY'RE EXCITING THINGS.
THEY'RE KIND OF FUN THINGS TO THINK ABOUT.
I WANNA STOP THINKING ABOUT HOW, WHERE WE'RE GETTING OUR DOLLARS AND AND CENTS FROM.
I OPEN IT UP TO ANY KIND OF CONSISTENT, UH, UH, QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL T? YES, SIR.
FIRST OF ALL, MR. SOLOMON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UM, REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR REPORT AND ALL THE WORK THAT YOU, YOUR STAFF, BOARD MEMBERS DO TO PROVIDE THIS KIND OF TRANSPORTATION ON THE ISLAND AND THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
UM, YOU MENTIONED, UM, THE SHORTFALL OF $361,000 AND THAT THERE ARE NINE LOCAL AGENCIES WHO CONTRIBUTE.
SO WE CAN YOU NAME THOSE FOR US? WE HAVE THE FIVE COUNTIES.
SO, UH, ALLADALE, BEAUFORT, COLI AND HAMPTON AND JASPER.
UM, AND THEN FOUR MUNICIPALITIES.
THERE USED TO BE TWO, IT WAS TOWN HI HEAD TOWN OF BLUFFTON, UH, WHEN WE HAD OUR FIRST URBANIZED AREA, UH, SMALL URBAN AREA.
AND THEN, UH, WE HAVE A NEW SMALL URBAN AREA IN BEAUFORT, PORT ROYAL.
SO THEY, THEIR FIRST CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR BUDGET, WHICH WERE CAPITAL MATCH ONLY THIS YEAR, ARE TO START TO PURCHASE VEHICLES FOR SERVICE IN THE BEAUFORT PORT ROYAL AREA.
UM, AND IS THAT ON A PRO RATA BASIS? SO MAYBE THE COUNTIES OR THE LARGER COUNTIES CONTRIBUTE MORE THAN MUNICIPALITIES? THE WAY WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE IT, WHICH DOESN'T HAVE TO BE, THE WAY WE CONTINUE TO DO IT, IS MOSTLY BASED ON POPULATION.
UH, FOR THE URBAN AREAS WHERE WE HAVE RIDERSHIP IS THERE'S ALSO AN ELEMENT OF THE FORMULA THAT INCLUDES A RIDERSHIP ELEMENT, UM, I'M SORRY.
AND IN THE RURAL AREAS WHERE WE HAVE THE COMMUTER SERVICE, WHAT THAT DOES IS, UM, IT PUTS A LITTLE BIT HEAVIER BURDEN ON WHERE THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE TRIPS OCCUR.
SO ABOUT CLOSE TO 80% OF OUR TOTAL TRIPS OCCUR INSIDE BEAUFORT COUNTY.
UM, I DIDN'T DO THE MATH FOR HILTON HEAD IN PARTICULAR, BUT IT'S PRETTY HIGH.
UM, BUT AGAIN, IT DOESN'T AFFECT IT AS MUCH IN TERMS OF THE ASK THE REQUEST.
[00:45:01]
UM, THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO REQUEST, THERE'S NO HARD, FAST RULER REQUIREMENT THAT WE DO IT THAT WAY, BUT IT OBVIOUSLY HAS TO BE BASED ON SOME CONSISTENT SCIENCE.ARE YOU MAKING A REQUEST TO ALL OF THOSE JURISDICTIONS FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR? WE HAVE WHEN, ONCE WE PASSED OUR BUDGET AND HAD OUR, OUR REVENUE DEFICIENCY IDENTIFIED AND, AND JUST KIND OF SET INTO THE DOCUMENT OF THE BUDGET, WE STARTED WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY AND THE TOWN OF HILDE HEAD AS THE, THE TWO BIGGEST BENEFICIARIES OF THE TRIPS.
UM, YOU'LL BE COMING BACK TO THE FINANCE ADMINISTRATIVE THAT'S CORRECT.
UM, AND WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT, UM, THAT'S WHAT WE'LL HAVE THE DISCUSSION ON, ON FUNDING.
UM, THIS IS MORE ABOUT WHERE, WHERE WE ARE WITH RIDERSHIP, WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND, AND OF COURSE WE'LL LEAD INTO THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH F AND A.
I WAS ASKING THE QUESTION BECAUSE OF THE INFORMATION BEING PROVIDED IN, IN SEARCH FOR FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP UP SERVICES.
AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR IT'S COMING BACK FOR THE PHOENIX ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S PLANNED FOR THAT, BUT IT WOULD SEEM AS THOUGH SOME NUMBERS WOULD BE HELPFUL BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE MIGHT BE WITH REGARD TO WHAT FUNDING WAS PROVIDED IN THIS BUDGET VERSUS WHAT ELSE MIGHT BE AVAILABLE.
SO I'M, I'M UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS BEFORE, BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.
YEAH, I, UH, WHEN I PULLED THE PRESENTATION TOGETHER, I TRIED NOT TO BURDEN IT TOO MUCH WITH NUMBER DATA.
AND WE'LL BE, AS WE TALK WITH STAFF FOR THE MEETING IN NOVEMBER, UM, WE'LL BE PULLING THOSE NUMBERS TOGETHER AND TIGHTENING IT ALL UP.
THAT WAS, UM, I'M FORWARD LOOKING.
UM, THANK YOU MAYOR AND WELCOME.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT.
UH, BRIAN AND I SERVE ON THE, UM, LATS COMMITTEE TOGETHER.
AND SO, UM, IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU.
YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING THAT, UM, MAY BE ON THE SAME LINES THAT PATSY WAS GOING ON, BUT JUST CURIOUS, THE PALMETTO BAY, UM, ROUTE THAT YOU WERE MENTIONING.
I THINK YOU ALSO SAID THAT YOU HAD RUN SOME NUMBERS YES.
DO YOU HAVE THOSE OR? YEAH, I, IT'S, IT'S, UM, I THINK IT'S ROUGHLY AROUND $360,000 TO OPERATE.
WE BASICALLY, IT'S GREAT 'CAUSE WE HAVE HISTORY, WE HAVE OPERATING DATA NOW EIGHT YEARS OF SEASONS HERE IN HILTON HEADS.
SO YOU, IT'S VERY EASY AND I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD ESTIMATE, HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO DO THAT.
THE KEY TO THINK, TO REMEMBER IS THAT IT'S COMPLETELY INCREMENTAL AT A TIME WHERE WE HAVE A, A, A SIMILAR SIZED REVENUE DEFICIENCY.
SO, UM, AND, BUT AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, IT'S PRETTY SOLID DATA.
WE FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT ABOUT THAT NUMBER.
CAN YOU REPEAT THE NUMBER FOR ME AGAIN? I'M SORRY.
HOW MANY, CAN YOU REPEAT THE NUMBER FOR ME AGAIN? OH, 300 ABOUT 365, I THINK IT WAS THREE $65,000.
IT WAS REMARKABLY SIMILAR TO OUR REVENUE DEFICIENCIES.
I I WAS DOING THOSE CALCULATIONS IN THE SAME DAY, THINKING, WAS MY CALCULATOR WRONG? BUT THEY WERE ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER FOR THE ONE ADDITIONAL ROUTE.
JUST TO ADD THE ONE ADDITIONAL ROUTE FOR THIS, THE CURRENT SEASON.
SO, UM, PRE HERITAGE, UM, THIS, THE NEXT YEAR FOR FOLKS WHO MIGHT BE WONDERING WHY MARCH 28TH, I LIKE TO GIVE OUR TEAM A WEEK BEFORE A LARGE, UH, CAPACITY OR, UH, OCCUPANCY WEEKEND EASTER.
IS THAT FOLLOWING? I DON'T WANT, I WANT, I WANT THE, THE KINKS TO BE WORKED OUT BEFORE EASTER HITS HILTON HEAD AND THEN THERE'S THE HERITAGE.
SO IT'S ACTUALLY JUST TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE HERITAGE.
UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT.
UM, YOU PROVIDE A VITAL PUBLIC SERVICE FOR COMMUTERS AS WELL AS COORDINATING SERVICES AS YOU DESCRIBED FOR MEDICAL GROCERIES AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, AS WELL AS SUPPORTING OUR TOURISTS.
UM, I WAS WORRIED ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION AND WE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS AFTER THE AFFILIATED AGENCY PRESENTATION, UH, REGARDING THE DEFICITS THAT YOU'RE FEELING, UH, BECAUSE OF THE, UM, THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT IT IS THAT YOU PROVIDE.
SO I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SHORT-TERM SOLUTIONS, UH, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON A LONG-TERM FUNDING SOURCE SO THAT YOU ARE NOT FEELING THIS WAY, UH, EVERY YEAR.
AND, UH, I KNOW IT'S EVEN MORE COMPLICATED NOW WITH, UH, CHANGES GOING ON IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
UH, AND, UH, THAT UNKNOWN LANDSCAPE.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR BEING PROACTIVE AND COMING HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION AT THE FINANCE MEETING.
OTHER COMMENTS, MR. BROWN? YEAH.
UM, MR. SULLIVAN, THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION AT THE FINANCE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE.
UM, THESE LADIES ARE JUST WARMING YOU UP AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU HAVE A LOT OF DATA.
I WOULD, UH,
BUT, BUT I'D ALSO ASK YOU TO, TO BRING A, A, A SENSE OF, UH, THREAT WHEN YOU BRING THE DATA.
YOU MENTIONED THAT SATURDAY AND SUNDAYS COULD POTENTIALLY BE OUT OR FROM A ECONOMIC STANDPOINT, THOSE THAT YOU ARE SERVICING THE RIDERSHIP TO
[00:50:01]
COULD PROBABLY HELP US UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT BETTER WHAT THAT MEANS ECONOMICALLY.RIGHT? SO I WANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT AS WE HAVE THAT CONVERSATION DOWN THE ROAD AT F AND A COMMITTEE.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE, UM, SORT OF LAID OUT THE SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM GOALS.
I ALSO ASK THAT YOU BE VERY CONCISE WITH YOUR ASK TO US IF WE NEED TO TALK TO DELEGATION MEMBERS.
UM, IF YOU CAN TO WHATEVER DEGREE HAVE THAT PACKAGED UP FOR US ABSOLUTELY.
WHEN WE'RE HAVING THAT DISCUSSION.
SO WE CAN THEN SAY YES OR NO, WE LIKE OR NOT.
AND, UH, LASTLY I'LL JUST SAY CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SAFETY.
IT'S FOR THE AMOUNT OF TRIPS THAT YOU, UH, COVER, UM, TO HAVE A PERFECT RECORD THAT'S A TRIBUTE TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF.
ANY COMMENTS? SO I, OH, MR. UH, VERY BRIEFLY, THAT WAS, UH, MR. SULLIVAN AN EXCELLENT THROW COMPREHENSIVE REPORT, WHICH, WHICH I VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
AND IT'S CLEAR THAT BREEZE IS IMPORTANT TO SOME OF THE OBJECTIVES THAT THIS TOWN HAS, WHICH IS GETTING WORKFORCE, HOW, UH, WORKERS ON THE ISLAND AND REDUCING AUTOMOBILE TRAFFIC.
AND CERTAINLY BREEZE IS, PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE IN THAT REGARD.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I, I KIND OF WANNA REITERATE, UM, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY AS TO HOW WE FUNCTION AND, YOU KNOW, THE RAPID GROWTH OF THE STATE VERSUS REVENUES RECEIVED.
YOU KNOW, WHERE'S THE IMBALANCE? AND WE KNOW THAT NOT EVERYBODY IS MOVING TO HILTON HEAD AND BLUFFTON, BUT WE MAY HAVE A LOT OF WORKERS THAT ARE MOVING TO OTHER AREAS AS WELL.
SO WHAT, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? SO I, I DO LOOK FORWARD TO THAT FINANCE ADMINISTRATIVES, UH, BRIEFING WITH ADDITIONAL DETAIL.
UM, BECAUSE WE, WE CAN GO TO THE STATE AND, AND PUSH THEM AS WELL, AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
BUT WE'VE ALSO GOTTA FIND A WAY TO HAVE FUNDING, UH, LONG-TERM, UM, TO, TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE THAT IS NEEDED.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT CONVERSATION AS WELL.
[7. Reports from Members of Town Council]
WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE, UH, GENERAL REPORTS FROM TOWN COUNCIL.DO WE HAVE ANY MS. BRYSON? YES.
I, I COULDN'T LET TODAY PASS WITHOUT NOTING, UH, INCREDIBLY WONDERFUL CULTURAL AND ART EXPERIENCES.
UM, OVER THE LAST WEEK, UM, I ATTENDED THE, UM, COME FROM AWAY MUSICAL AT THE COASTAL ART CENTER.
INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCE, INCREDIBLE MUSICAL.
UM, AND THAT WAS SATURDAY NIGHT, A WEEK AGO.
UM, THEN THERE WAS CRESCENDO KICKOFF, UM, WHICH WAS ALSO WONDERFUL.
AND THE CAST FROM COME FROM AWAY CAME AND OPENED THAT.
UM, WE HAD A LOCAL SINGER SONGWRITER TO ALSO HELP OUT WITH THAT.
UM, ALL KIND OF OTHER ACTIVITIES ARTISTS, UM, YOU NAME IT.
UM, SO THAT WAS LAST TUESDAY, THEN SYMPHONY UNDER THE STARS, UH, FRIDAY NIGHT.
A LOT OF FOLKS THERE IS HAS BEEN MENTIONED, UM, INCREDIBLE MUSIC AND INCREDIBLE VOCALIST FROM CINCINNATI WAS BROUGHT IN FOR THAT.
LOTS OF FOLKS ENJOYED IT AND THANKFULLY THE WEATHER COOPERATED.
UM, THEN THIS PAST SATURDAY, UH, THERE WAS A GULLAH FOOD FESTIVAL AT THE GULLAH MUSEUM, ALSO THE ITALIAN HERITAGE, UM, FESTIVAL AT HONEY HORN.
AND THEN, UM, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, MY HUSBAND AND I ATTENDED A, A CONCERT OF A, THE CANE TRIO OUT OF NEW YORK CITY AT THE JAZZ CORNER.
IT WAS LIKE BEING IN A JAZZ CLUB IN NEW YORK CITY.
SO JUST KUDOS TO OUR COMMUNITY, UM, TO ALL THE ARTISTS, UM, INVOLVED IN THIS.
UM, AND SO MANY VOLUNTEERS WORKING ON, UM, THIS SEASON OF CRESCENDO, UH, WHICH, UH, WE FOLLOW UP AND END WITH THE LANTERN PARADE ON NOVEMBER 22ND.
SO EVERYONE GO OUT AND GET YOUR LANTERNS READY AND COME OUT.
UM, AND, AND I JUST KEEP GOING ON AND ON ABOUT, WOW, WHAT OTHER COMMUNITY COULD YOU LIVE IN THIS SIZE AND HAVE THAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE DURING THE WEEK.
ALL OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY, MR. DESMO.
UM, YESTERDAY I SPENT, UM, I DON'T KNOW, AN HOUR AND A HALF ON THE BEACH TREE NOURISHMENT AND TOOK A LOT OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND WATCHED HOW, HOW THEY WERE PERFORMING.
AND WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO THE PAST, THE METHODS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT IT'S, UH, IT REALLY LOOKS GOOD.
THEY'RE REALLY DOING A GREAT JOB.
UM, IT'S, IT'S JUST, UM, IT LOOKS LIKE IT ARE A LITTLE BIT BEHIND, BUT THE METHOD THEY'RE USING AND THE WAY THEY'RE DOING IT, I THINK THEY'RE GONNA CATCH UP.
AND WE'RE SO LUCKY RIGHT NOW SINCE THAT LAST STORM THAT THIS IS HAPPENING.
YEAH, I JUST WANNA FOLLOW UP ON CRESCENDO.
UM, WHAT A NATALIE, WHAT A GREAT KICKOFF.
UM, GREAT ARTIST, YOU KNOW, ONE OF 'EM IN PARTICULAR, PHOENIX MENDOZA, HE'S BEEN HERE FOR HILTON HEAD JAMS, UH, FOR
[00:55:01]
THE PAST THREE YEARS.HE'S WRITTEN A SONG THAT HE WROTE HERE, AND WE'RE, WE'RE WAITING FOR THE FINAL RECORDING, THE MASTER TO COME THROUGH SO WE CAN ACTUALLY PLAY DURING ONE OF OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS IF WE HAVE THAT TECHNOLOGY.
BUT, BUT, UM, JUST A GREAT, UM, A GREAT KICKOFF TO THE FALL AND REALLY SPEAKS VOLUMES AS TO WHAT SOME OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT HILTON HEAD ARE.
AND, UM, SO NATALIE JUST REALLY YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE DONE AN, AN AMAZING JOB THIS YEAR.
SO, UH, WE'LL MOVE ON TO EACH REPORTS.
UH, MS. BECKER, YOU HAVE LOW COUNTRY AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY.
WHEN WE DID NOT HAVE A MEETING, UH, LAST MONTH, OUR NEXT MEETING IS COMING UP IN THE FIRST OF, UH, JANUARY.
UH, MR. ALFRED LOW COUNTRY COUNCIL, THE GOVERNMENTS I REPORT YOU, MS. HUNTER BUFORT COUNTY AIRPORTS BOARD.
THERE'S ALWAYS A LOT GOING ON AT THE AIRPORT.
FIRST ONE IS THE FAA INSPECTION.
AT LAST MONTH'S TOWN COUNCIL MEETING, I REPORTED ON AN FAA INSPECTION AT THE HILTON HEAD AIRPORT THAT IDENTIFIED CONCERNS REGARDING THE HEIGHT OF TREES IN THE AIRPORT'S RUNWAY APPROACH AREA.
AND THAT CAUSES A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD TO THE AIRCRAFT.
UM, AFTER THE INSPECTION, THE FAA ISSUED A NOTICE TO AIR EMISSIONS LIMITING CERTAIN INSTRUMENT FLIGHTS UNTIL THESE TREES ARE REMOVED.
SO THE TOWN HAS BEEN WORKING WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION WHILE MINIMIZING ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY IMPACTS.
A DETAILED TREE SURVEY WAS COMPLETED.
THEY IDENTIFIED 21 PINE TREES RANGING IN HEIGHT FROM 61 64 TO 91 FEET ON COUNTY OWNED LAND ON DILLON ROAD.
THAT WILL BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THAT SITUATION.
AND WORK WILL BEGIN THIS WEEK AND THERE IS A PRESS RELEASE THAT WENT OUT REGARDING THAT, IF YOU WANT MORE DETAIL.
THE SECOND ITEM IS THE FEDERAL SHUTDOWN.
THINGS ARE RUNNING SMOOTHLY AT THE AIRPORT.
UM, I WAS, UH, I LEARNED AND I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING THAT THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ON HILTON HEAD ARE NOT IMPACTED AT THIS TIME AS THEIR CONTRACT EMPLOYEES, AND THEY'RE NOT FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, SO THEY'RE FULLY FUNDED FOR NOW.
TSA EMPLOYEES, HOWEVER, ARE REQUIRED TO WORK AND ARE NOT RECEIVING PAY.
AND I WANNA THANK THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
UH, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH LOCAL RESTAURANTS TO PROVIDE FREE LUNCHES FOR THE TSA, UH, WORKERS, AND THEY ARE SO APPRECIATIVE.
SO RESTAURANTS LIKE SURGE, UH, NOVANT, AND STREET MEAT, UH, TO NAME A FEW, UH, PROVIDED THOSE LUNCHES TO IMPACT TSA WORKERS.
AND LASTLY, THERE'S SOME NEW FAA SOFTWARE.
THE AIRPORT BOARD APPROVED A RESOLUTION THAT'LL BE PUT, UH, IN FRONT OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL FOR AN AGREEMENT TO DEPLOY AND FUND A NEW FAA APPROVED SOFTWARE.
UH, THE HILTON HEAD AIRPORT DOES NOT HAVE A RADAR, AND THIS SOFTWARE IS ACTUALLY THE FA A'S NEXT GENERATION REPLACING GROUND RADAR SYSTEMS. SO WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA BE AHEAD OF THE GAME.
AND THAT SOFTWARE PROVIDES RADAR, RADAR VIEW CAPABILITIES UTILIZING GPS, AND THAT'LL PROVIDE AIRBORNE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND IT'LL IMPROVE SAFETY AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY AT OUR AIRPORT.
AND SO, UH, TRUST ME, THE AIRPORT IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS, UH, NEW TECHNOLOGY TO BE PLACED AT OUR AIRPORT.
MS. BRYSON SOUTHERN ONE COUNTRY REGIONAL BOARD.
OUR LAST MEETING WAS ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, UM, IN HARDY V.
UM, AND THERE WERE TWO MAIN TOPICS.
ONE IS CB'S EXPANSION PLANS, UH, PRESENTATION BY DR.
PANU, THE CHANCELLOR FOR WHAT THEY CALL, UM, SAND SHARK 2020 PROJECT, A MULTI-PHASE MASTER PLAN.
UM, ABOUT A HUNDRED AND, UH, ALMOST A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN PROJECT.
UM, THE STATES, UH, PLEDGED 47 MILLION.
SO USCB IS LOOKING FOR MATCHING FUNDS FROM BUFORT AND JASPER COUNTIES, UM, AND POSSIBLE MUNICIPAL SUPPORT.
UM, THE, UM, THE PLAN IS TO, UM, REQUEST, UM, MULTI-COUNTY INDUSTRIAL FUNDING.
UM, AND, UM, UH, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING.
UM, I, I'M NOT SURE THEY'RE GETTING A STRONG RECEPTION.
I DID LISTEN TO, UM, BEFORD COUNTY, UM, CONSIDERATION OF THE REQUEST.
UM, ALSO, UH, DICK GE, THE, UM, CHAIR OF THE SCHOOL BOARD READ A STATEMENT OBJECTING TO THE USE OF SCHOOL MILLAGE FUNDS FOR THIS PROJECT, UM, AND GAVE THE REASON FOR THAT.
UM, IN ADDITION, UM, HARDY V WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR WORKFORCE HOUSING INITIATIVES BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WITHIN SO LOCO, UH, THE PRESENTATION THIS TIME WAS FROM THE TOWN OF HARDY V, UM, SORRY, IT SHOULD BE THE CITY OF HARVILLE, I GUESS.
[01:00:01]
AND, UH, THE FULL REPORT ON BOTH OF THOSE, UH, HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE.THANK YOU, UH, MADAM CLERK FOR PROVIDING THAT TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN, IN, UH, LEARNING MORE ABOUT THAT PRESENTA, THOSE PRESENTATIONS, IT'S AVAILABLE ON THE BEAUFORT COUNTY CHANNEL.
JUST LOOK UNDER, SO LOCO AND YOU'LL FIND IT.
UM, THE, UH, THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE OCTOBER 28TH, NEXT TUESDAY AT 10:00 AM AND SO THAT WILL BE IN BLUFFTON.
UM, THE AGENDA PLAN FOR NOW IS UPDATES FROM TWO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES OR COUNTIES REGARDING, UM, HOUSING INITIATIVES.
UH, THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON AND PERHAPS PORT ROYAL WILL BE MAKING PRESENTATIONS.
IF NOT, UH, ANOTHER JURISDICTION WILL PLACE PORT ROYAL.
UM, IN ADDITION, THERE'S GONNA BE A PRESENTATION OF FINDINGS FROM BUFORT COUNTY COMMUNITY SURVEY ON THEIR PLASTIC BAG ORDINANCE SUR EFFORTS.
UM, AND SO, UM, I WOULD COMMEND THE REST OF THAT REPORT TO TOWN COUNCIL'S READING AND TO THE COMMUNITY'S VIEWING OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 23.
THANK YOU, MR. BROWN ISLAND RECREATION ASSOCIATION.
UH, THE FALL IS EVENT SEASON, UH, DESPITE THE WEATHER, UH, THE JEEP ISLAND SLASH CHILI COOKOFF, YOU WENT RIGHT? MM-HMM
WELL, WELL ATTENDED, UH, THIS LONGSTANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH KIWANIS CLUB.
NOT ONLY BENEFITS ISLAND REC SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING, IT ALSO HELPS MANY OTHER COMMUNITY YOUTH PROGRAMS. OVER 2,400 CHILDREN, PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS TOOK PART IN THE ANNUAL PUMPKIN PATCH EVENT AT SHELTER.
COLE PARK WAS A GREAT KICKOFF TO THE HALLOWEEN SEASON.
UH, WINTER SPORTS PROGRAMS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR REGISTRATION, UM, ALLEN REC CENTER.ORG.
AND FINALLY, THE MAC AND CHEESE FESTIVAL IS THIS SATURDAY AT LINCOLN AND SOUTH FROM 5:00 PM TO 8:00 PM AND THEY CURRENTLY HAVE 18 VENDORS SIGNED UP.
I JUDGE AND I HAD 20 DIFFERENT CHILIES.
BUT ANYWAY, UM, BEAUFORT COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SINCE I WAS RUNNING LATE, I DID NOT GRAB MY NOTES, SO I'LL MAKE THAT REPORT NEXT MONTH.
UM, GULLAH GEECHEE, HISTORIC COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, MR. BROWN.
THE NEXT GULLAH GEECHEE, HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, CDC WILL BE MEETING ON NOVEMBER 18TH AT 10:00 AM.
THE CDC IS ALSO HOLDING ITS MONEY TALKS FINANCIAL EDUCATION SEMINAR TONIGHT FROM 5:37 PM AT THE ALLEN REC CENTER.
TONIGHT'S TOPIC WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF NON-TRADITIONAL LENDING OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO SMALL BUSINESSES.
AND MS. BECKER, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, COMMITTEE MET YESTERDAY AND WE COVERED ONE, UM, TOPIC AND PAST, UM, IT ON TO TOWN COUNCIL, SO WE'RE GOOD WITH THAT.
THE NEXT MEETING IS NOVEMBER 17TH AT 10:00 AM AND WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO ATTEND.
AND MR. BROWN, FINANCE ADMINISTRATION.
THE NEXT, UH, F AND A MEETING, WHICH WAS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 30TH IS CANCELED.
SO WE WILL BE MEETING ON NOVEMBER 18TH AT 10:00 AM ALL RIGHT.
[8. Consent Agenda]
AND AGENDA ITEM EIGHT A.THIS ITEM WAS APPROVED BY A VOTE OF SIX TO ONE.
FIRST READING HELD ON, UH, OCTOBER 13TH.
THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES SINCE APPROVAL.
BEFORE YOUR ARRIVAL, MS. BRYON, IT ASKED THAT WE REMOVE THIS FROM CONSENT AGENDA.
SO WE DO NOT HAVE A CONSENT AGENDA.
SO NOW WE HAVE, UH, ITEM EIGHT A THAT WAS APPROVED BY A VOTE OF SIX TO ONE.
THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES AS APPROVAL.
IS THERE A, THERE'S NO PRESENTATION.
IS THERE A DISCUSSION FROM COUNCIL OR IS THERE A MOTION SO WE CAN DISCUSS? I'LL MAKE A MOTION, UM, THAT WE APPROVE THE ORDINANCE TO REPEAL AND REPLACE TITLE 10, CHAPTER TWO OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND ENTITLED SHORT TERM RENTALS AND PROVIDING FOR SEPARATE AND THE EFFECTIVE DATE.
IS THERE, UH, KIM, IS THERE ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS AGENDA ITEM? ADAM? I DO HAVE A FEW, YES.
UM, CHESTER WILLIAMS, WHO PASSES? UH, CHARLIE CLARK.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR PERRY COUNCIL AND MARK ORLANDO.
I JUST WANNA TAKE A MOMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CHAMBER AND OUR 1300 PLUS MEMBERS, JUST WANNA BEGIN BY SAYING THANK YOU.
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TO LISTEN, TO PAUSE, AND TO TAKE A THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT MEANS A GREAT DEAL TO THE COMMUNITY.SO THANK YOU FIRST AND FOREMOST FOR THAT.
YOU KNOW, I'M FORTUNATE TO HAVE RAISED A FAMILY HERE.
I'VE LIVED ON THE ISLAND FOR 24 YEARS AS AN ISLAND RESIDENT, AND I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SEEN AN ISSUE BRING FORTH SO MUCH COMMUNITY INPUT IN THOSE 24 YEARS.
AND ENGAGEMENT, UH, IT'S JUST A SHI SHARED DESIRE TO PROTECT WHAT MAKES THE ISLAND SPECIAL, IT'S BALANCE, IT'S SUSTAINABILITY, AND SENSE OF PLACE.
UH, AND BY CHOOSING TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION THROUGH THE LML LENS OR STEWARDING WHAT MATTERS FOR THE LONG TERM WHEN IT COMES TO DEVELOPMENT, AND WE COMMEND YOU FOR THAT APPROACH AND APPRECIATE IT GREATLY.
AS THE SAYING GOES, THEY DON'T REMEMBER HOW FAST YOU DID IT.
THEY REMEMBER HOW WELL YOU DID IT.
UH, WE'VE ALSO HEARD FROM SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THE LAST FEW MEETINGS, UH, FROM MORE DATA FROM STR COMPANIES RELATED TO THE ISSUE WOULD BE HELPFUL.
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH ALL OUR STR COMPANIES, AND WE HAVE THAT DATA, THIRD PARTY RESEARCH BASED DATA, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE IT SO YOUR DECISIONS CONTINUE TO BE GROUNDED IN FACTS.
SO, ON BEHALF OF OUR MEMBERS AND OUR MANY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES WHO CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, WE ENCOURAGE YOU AND ARE THRILLED THAT YOU'RE STAYING THE COURSE, UH, SET FORTH IN THE LAST MEETING.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND RESPONDING WITH CARE AND BALANCE.
AND, UH, I APOLOGIZE, MS. PETRO, YOU'VE SIGNED UP FOR TWO ITEMS. PASS FOR BOTH OF THEM.
DISCUSSION FROM COUNCIL MS. BREON? SURE.
UH, WOULD YOU LIKE, I JUST HAVE A COMMENT.
UM, I WOULD LIKE, UM, TO REQUEST THAT THE INFORMATION, THE DATA THAT THE CHAMBER HAS WITH REGARD TO STRS IS PROVIDED TO THE TOWN, UM, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, UM, I'M ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO THE LMO REWRITE.
I HAVE BEEN SINCE THE FALL OF 2015
THAT'S HOW LONG I'VE BEEN WANTING TO MAKE SOME CHANGES TO THAT DOCUMENT.
UM, AND I PLEDGE TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THE COUNCIL, THE LMO TASK FORCE IN THE COMMUNITY TO GET THE BEST PRODUCT POSSIBLE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
IN FACT, I KEPT THINKING ALL WEEKEND, PROVE ME WRONG,
UM, UH, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH, UH, I THINK WE ALL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM.
UM, AND SO WHAT IS THE SOLUTION? WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS? UM, I'M NOT ONE TO BE A DEAD HORSE, BUT I AM ONE TO LOOK AT A PROBLEM AND TRY TO FIND A SOLUTION, A SOLUTION WHICH REFLECTS COMPROMISE.
UM, I DO FEEL LIKE THAT WE'RE NOT THERE YET.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITIES.
UM, JUST LAST NIGHT, SOMEONE C CAME AND SAID TO ME, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE IN AN AREA, UM, IN THE FOREST BEACH AREA, WHERE, UM, DURING THE SUMMER, YOU CAN'T, UM, WHEN WITH ALL THE OCCUPANCY, THE SEWER SYSTEM BACKS UP IN MY UNIT AND I CAN'T FIND A PARKING PLACE.
UM, AND I ALSO AM WOKEN UP DURING THE NIGHT.
I'VE HEARD THAT FROM MANY, I'M GLAD THE CHAMBER IS OFFERING MORE DATA, UH, BECAUSE I WAS INTERESTED IN LOOKING BACK AT THE, THE SURVEYS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE OVER FOUR YEARS.
UM, AND THE PAST SURVEY HAD, BEAR WITH ME WHILE I FIND THE NUMBER, UM, 3,383 RESIDENTS.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WAVE, UM, COMPARED TO WAVE THREE, WAVE FOUR, 76% OF THOSE SURVEYED, WHICH IS WELL ABOVE THAT 50% NUMBER OF 1692, SAYS THAT TOURISM CREATES TRAFFIC CONGESTION PROBLEMS FOR RESIDENT.
53% SAYS, BRINGS TOO MANY PEOPLE TO HILTON HEAD ISLAND, 51% SAYS NEGATIVE NEGATIVELY IMPACTS OUR NATURAL RESOURCES.
AND 76% CREATING TRAFFIC CONGESTION PROBLEMS FOR RESIDENTS.
AND IT'S INTERESTING IN THE DATA TO LOOK AT WHO'S LIVED HERE SO MANY YEARS VERSUS WHO'S LIVED HERE A LONGER TIME, AND WHAT THEIR RESPONSE IS, THOSE WHO'VE BEEN HERE LONGER THINK THERE'S MORE IMPACT, UM, IN A NEGATIVE WAY ON TOURISM.
SO IT'D BE GOOD TO, UH, HAVE THAT DATA SHARED WITH US.
THIS IS FROM THE 2024 DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION, INDUSTRY METRICS.
AND MS. CLARK KNOWS HOW I LIKE TO LOOK AT DATA.
I KNOW MS. TANNER DOES AS WELL.
SO, AND, AND TO MS. BECKER'S REQUEST TO HAVE THAT
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DATA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.UM, I, I, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIMING, UM, OF WAITING ON OCCUPANCY, UM, WITH THE LMO REWRITE.
YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THAT BEFORE.
I'LL SAY IT AGAIN WITH REGARD TO LOCATION.
UH, LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE, UM, IS DIRECTED TOWARDS LOCATION, TOWARDS USES AND LOCATION.
IT'S NOT NORMALLY DIRECTED TOWARDS, UM, UH, SHORT TERM RENTAL OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS.
THAT'S USUALLY DONE UNDER SEPARATE REGULATION, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE US.
UM, SO AGAIN, I'M NOT INTERESTED IN TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, BEAT A DEAD HORSE, BEAT THE SAME DRUM OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
BUT IF WE WAIT UNTIL THE LMO IS ADOPTED, UM, AND THEN COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF OCCUPANCY, THEN UH, WE HAVE LET SOME OF OUR COMMUNITIES SUFFER A A LONGER AMOUNT OF TIME.
AND SOME OF IT WILL BE A IRREPARABLE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE BAILEYS COVE SUBDIVISIONS PHASES ONE TWO A AND TWO B 146 NEW UNITS, HOW MANY OF THOSE WILL BE SHORT TERM RENTALS? THERE'S ZERO LOT LINE, LOTS, VERY SMALL, LOTS DRIVE OUT THERE.
FIRST OF ALL, THE TREES ARE GONE.
SECOND OF ALL, I'M NOT VERY TALL.
I HAVE REALLY SHORT ARMS, BUT I, I CAN IMAGINE STICKING MY HAND, STICKING MY ARM OUT THE KITCHEN WINDOW AND TOUCHING THE NEXT BUILDING BESIDE OF IT.
AND IMAGINE LARGE OCCUPANCY IN EACH OF THOSE BUILDINGS.
IT, IT, IT DISTURBS ME GREATLY.
THIS, WHICH IS WHY I'M TALKING ABOUT IT AGAIN TODAY.
UM, I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO MOVE UP CONSIDERATION OF OCCUPANCY.
UM, I WISH THAT WE COULD COME UP WITH SOME COMPROMISE.
I MENTIONED LAST TIME THAT MIKE ALCO HAD PRESENTED US WITH SOME NUMBERS AND COMPROMISE.
I THINK WE OUGHT TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THOSE, UM, AND TO GATHER SOME DATA.
IF IT'S PART OF THE LMO PROCESS, THAT'S THE WAY WE GO.
UM, BUT I, I PLEDGE THAT I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN PERSONALLY TO WORK ON THE LMO REWRITE PROCESS TO GET IT DONE AS QUICKLY AS EFFICIENTLY, BUT AS CAREFULLY AS POSSIBLE.
UH, I'M VERY PLEASED AT THE LAST MEETING THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE SOME SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN ADOPTING REGULATIONS DEALING WITH SHORT TERM RENTALS.
I'M DISAPPOINTED, HOWEVER, THAT WE LEFT OUT OCCUPANCY LIMITS.
UH, I AM NOT AWARE OF MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE ALREADY ADOPTED SHORT TERM RULES WITHOUT INCLUDING OCCUPANCY LIMITS.
FROM WHERE I SAT, IT SEEMED TO ME THAT A COMPROMISE SOLUTION WAS AVAILABLE BASED ON THE MEETINGS, BASED ON THE EMAILS THAT I RECEIVED.
A COMPROMISE SEEMED TO POP UP THAT WE PROBABLY COULD HAVE AGREED TO ALTOGETHER.
AND WHAT, WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
AND THIS LEADS ME TO EMPHASIZE, UH, MS. BRYSON'S POINT OF NOT LETTING THIS GO TOO LONG.
NOW, IF YOU'VE GOT A HOUSE WITH AN ATTIC, YOU COULD PUT A WHOLE BUNCH OF DOUBLE DECKER, DOUBLE DECKER BUNK BEDS IN THE ATTIC AND, AND PUT 10, 15, 20 PEOPLE UP THERE.
SO I WANTED TO THANK STAFF AND EVERYONE FOR THE HARD WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE FOR YEARS NOW ON TRYING TO GET TO A BETTER PLACE.
WE HAVEN'T REACHED A BALANCE, UM, BUT Y'ALL HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD TO BRING THAT TO US.
WHAT WE'VE BECOME AWARE OF IS THERE'S A FEW PITFALLS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS STILL.
AND, UM, IT'S BEEN HEIGHTENED, UM, TO US THAT OUR ENFORCEMENT NEEDS TO BE STEPPED UP.
UM, AND I HAVE ASKED THAT THE TOWN DO THAT.
AND I, UM, AM HOPEFUL THAT THE TOWN MANAGER WILL SOON BE ABLE TO, UM, INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CODE OF ENFORCERS TO GO OUT TO PROVIDE THAT TYPE OF ENFORCEMENT, UM, THAT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED IS SORELY MISSING.
SO HAVING SAID THAT, I ALSO HAVE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME OF THE, UM, RENTAL MANAGEMENT FIRMS. AND I THINK THAT PERHAPS, UM, CONTINUED DIALOGUE AND WORKING TOGETHER AND TRYING TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS, UM, AND LETTING US, UM, BE PARTNERS COULD, COULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE FUTURE TOO.
SO WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE ANSWERS TO ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT PATSY YOU HAVE HIGHLIGHTED HERE AND THAT I HAVE AGREED WITH OVER THE YEARS, UM, AND LOOK FOR THE BALANCE THAT WE HOPEFULLY CAN ACHIEVE WHILE OUR RESIDENTS ARE ARE ASKING DESPERATELY CRYING FOR HELP, UM, I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO
[01:15:01]
ASK FOR COLLABORATION WITH THE SHORT TERM RENTAL MANAGEMENT COMPANIES AND FOR CONTINUED EFFORTS TO INCREASE ENFORCEMENT, UM, IN, IN HIRING CODE OF OFFICIALS TO BE ABLE TO HELP, TO HELP OUT WITH ALL OF THAT.I THINK THOSE ARE GOOD NEXT STEPS, UM, FOR US TO, TO LOOK FORWARD TO.
AND, UM, I'M CERTAINLY HERE WILLING TO PUT ALL OF THAT TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE A BETTER COMMUNITY FOR EVERYONE, BUT TO ALSO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS' RIGHTS.
OTHER COMMENTS, MS. TONER? YES.
UM, I SUPPORT THE POLICY AS REVISED AT FIRST READING AND PRESENTED BY STAFF TODAY, UH, TO INCLUDE STRONGER ENFORCEMENT, PARKING LIMITS, FIRE AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, INSPECTIONS, AND BACK CHOP OFFICE IMPROVEMENTS.
UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION WITH A BUDGET ADJUSTMENT REGARDING FEES.
AND AS YOU KNOW, I SUPPORT THAT FEES IN THE FUTURE SHOULD, UM, REFLECT THE ADDITIONAL COST ASSOCIATED WITH OUR IMPROVEMENTS IN ENFORCEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELATED BACK SHOP OFFICE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE MAY EXPERIENCE.
UM, THERE'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, HOWEVER, THAT THESE CHANGES DO NOT ADDRESS ALL OF THE ISSUES AND CONCERNS REGARDING STR, BUT IT IS A MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUED CONVERSATION AS WE WORK THROUGH THOSE IN THE FUTURE.
AND I RECOMMEND THAT THE TOWN MANAGER REPORT BACK ON A REGULAR BASEMENT, UH, BASIS ON OUR ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE TRANSPARENCY.
AND LASTLY, I APPRECIATE THE CHAMBER'S, UM, SUPPORT IN PROVIDING DATA TO US.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, SHARING THAT DATA WILL BE GOOD, BUT I THINK IT WOULD ALSO BE GOOD FOR US TO SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT THE DATA AS WELL.
OTHER COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, UM, UH, PATSY, YOU GOT SOMETHING ELSE TO SAY? I HAVE A MOTION, BUT I'LL WAIT ON YOUR COMMENTS.
UM, BASED UPON, UH, THE INFORMATION PROVIDED TO ME, UM, I MOVE THAT THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR BE AMENDED TO INCLUDE THE OCCUPANCY PROVISIONS, UH, BEFORE US THAT HAVE BEEN STRICKEN IN SECTIONS 10 DASH TWO DASH 30, 10 DASH DASH 60 N, DASH TWO DASH 70, AND ANYWHERE ELSE I HAVE OMITTED OF THE OCCUPANCY PROVISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN STRUCK.
AND I WOULD ASK FOR A SECOND FOR DISCUSSION.
IS THERE A SECOND BRAFORD, MR. ALFRED? MR. AND, AND IT'S A, UH, AMENDMENT ON THE OCCUPANCY PROVISIONS, 10 DASH TWO DASH 30 10 DASH TWO DASH 60, AND 10 DASH TWO DASH 70.
SO, UM, WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY IS THAT LAST, LAST WEEK'S MEETING, I I, I MEANT TO SAY, MEANT TO TELL THE GROUP THIS, UM, I, I DO WANT TO COMMEND OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT.
UM, THERE WERE A LOT OF COMMENTS ABOUT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CODE ENFORCEMENT, WE'RE NOT DOING ENOUGH FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT.
WELL, I WILL TELL YOU, THEY'RE DOING A LOT FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT.
UM, AND, AND I, I WANNA MAKE THAT THAT PUBLICLY KNOWN BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THEM TO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE NOT DOING THEIR JOB.
UM, WE NEED TO ENHANCE CODE ENFORCEMENT AND WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS GONNA COST TO ENHANCE CODE ENFORCEMENT.
AND THAT'LL COME THROUGH THE FEE STRUCTURE THAT WE'LL GET BACK THROUGH MR. ORLANDO.
UM, AND I'LL CLOSE IN SAYING THIS, WE ARE NOT EVEN THREE YEARS IN ON INITIAL REGULATIONS ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
UM, WE'RE STILL LEARNING, AND WE HAVE GOT TO DO AN EXCELLENT JOB OF WORKING WITH THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL INDUSTRY TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE ARE APPROACHING IT WITH OPEN EYES AND, AND CLARITY IN, IN CREATING THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME THAT WE CAN.
SPEED IS NOT THE ANSWER, BUT DOING IT RIGHT AND EFFECTIVELY IS THE ANSWER.
SO, ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS ON MS. TURNER'S? I MEAN, MS. UM, BRYSON'S, I DO THAT AGAIN.
MR. ALFRED, I WANNA DEFEND MR. UH, BROMAGE AND HIS CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ASPECTS HERE THAT NEED TO BE RECOGNIZED.
FIRST OF ALL, TWO OF THE LARGEST GATED COMMUNITIES DO NOT ADVISE THE TOM OF VIOLATIONS AND A METHOD OF OBTAINING THAT INFORMATION HAS TO BE A PRIORITY.
NUMBER TWO, BROMAGE HAS TAKEN THE BASIC POSITION INITIALLY OF PERSUADING
[01:20:01]
OWNERS TO COMPLY RATHER THAN TRYING TO FIND THEM RIGHT OFF THE BAT.AND I THINK THAT'S A COMMENDABLE APPROACH, AND BOTH OF THOSE ASPECTS IMPACT WHAT THE ULTIMATE ENFORCEMENT RESULTS LOOK LIKE.
YOU KNOW, THE DISCUSSION MS. BECKER, WHAT? I JUST WANNA FOLLOW UP ON BOTH OF THOSE COMMENTS.
UM, BOTH YOURS, MAYOR AND, UM, COUNCILMAN ALFREDS, I HOPE THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE THIS COUNCIL, I BELIEVE, AND I'LL SPEAK FOR ALL OF US AS I'M SEEING HEAD SHAKE, FULL SUPPORT, CODE ENFORCEMENT HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH THE, UM, STAFF THAT YOU HAVE.
AND, UM, IT'S MY INTENTION TO HELP GET YOU MORE STAFF.
THAT'S WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS ASKED FOR.
YOU'VE SAID THAT IT'S A BIG ENFORCEMENT ISSUE, AND SO WE'RE GOING TO HELP SUPPORT YOU SO THAT WE CAN GET THE, UM, GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF.
AND, UM, MR. ORLANDO, YOU AND MY FULL SUPPORT, WHATEVER YOU SEE FIT, MAKE SURE YOU GET IT FROM US SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT BOB HAS WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO HIS JOB.
AND WHAT I WANNA SAY MOSTLY THOUGH, IS THAT APPROACH THAT YOU WERE JUST REFERRING TO IS A TOWN FRIENDLY APPROACH, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.
WE DON'T WANT THAT ASPECT TO CHANGE.
HILTON HAD IS A WELCOMING COMMUNITY AND, UM, WE WANNA REMAIN THAT WAY, BUT ENFORCEMENT IS WHAT WE'RE BEING TOLD IS MISSING, THEN WE NEED TO STEP THAT UP.
AND THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS, BUT THANK YOU AND THANK YOUR ENTIRE STAFF FOR WHAT YOU DO.
OKAY, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YOU SUBSEQUENTLY CHANGED THINGS.
MR. COLTRANE, I'M GONNA LOOK FOR YOU FOR ADVICE ON THAT SINCE WE, YOU KNOW, SINCE THINGS HAVE CHANGED UP.
NOW, DO WE, UH, OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? THE CODE REQUIRES THAT YOU TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE YOU TAKE A VOTE ON ANYTHING.
I'M GETTING, I'M GETTING ADVICE FROM LEGAL COUNSEL.
I MEAN, I IS THE QUESTION, DO YOU TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON, ON THIS ITEM? DO SINCE, SINCE WE HAD OPENED IT UP FOR DISCUSSION BEFORE WE HAD PUBLIC COMMENT, DO WE NEED TO OPEN IT BACK UP? SINCE THE SUBSTANCE CHANGE HAS BEEN MADE ON THE, ON THE, UH, WITH THE AMENDMENT, I WILL OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I, I I WOULD OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT BECAUSE THERE IS A VOTE COMING.
AND CAN I ASK ANOTHER PROCESS QUESTION TO FOLLOW UP ON YOURS? UM, SO I HAD MADE A MOTION AND THEN THERE WAS A SECOND MOTION MADE AN AMENDMENT TO MY MOTION.
DID I NEED TO ACCEPT THAT AMENDMENT? NO.
AFTER WE GET THROUGH THE PUBLIC COMMENT, WE'LL COME BACK AND THEN WE'LL, WE WILL VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT AND THEN WE'LL VOTE ON THE ORIGINAL MOTION.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR CHESTER WILLIAMS. UM, AS I MENTIONED LAST TIME, WE WENT ROUND AND ROUND ABOUT THIS, YOU KNOW, I REALLY DON'T HAVE A DOG IN THIS FIGHT.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE ANY SHORT TERM RENTALS OR ANYTHING.
UH, AND I FULLY AGREE WITH ALL Y'ALL'S COMMENTS ABOUT THE TOWN CODE ENFORCEMENT, BUT YOU'RE GONNA PUT THEM IN A VERY DIFFICULT POSITION IF YOU ADOPT SECTIONS OF THE ORDINANCE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY WAY TO ENFORCE.
HOW ARE YOU GONNA, HOW ARE YOU GONNA COUNT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN EACH HOUSE? I SAID LAST TIME, AND I'LL REITERATE FOR YOU, IT'S NEVER A GOOD IDEA TO ADOPT REGULATIONS THAT YOU CAN'T ENFORCE.
I'M SHOCKED AND OFFENDED THAT YOU WOULD COME HERE AND SAY, OH, WE'RE GONNA PASS THIS.
AND THEN YOU SAY, GIVE US YOUR PUBLIC CONFIDENCE.
AND THEN YOU SAY, OH, WAIT A MINUTE.
WE FORGOT ABOUT THESE LITTLE OCCUPANCY RULES WE WANNA ADD IN.
THIS COUNCIL BUILDING HAS BEEN FULL FOR THE COMMITTEE MEETING AND FOR THE LAST TIME COUNCIL MEETING.
AND WHEN I GOT GET ON THE INTERNET TONIGHT, WHO KNOWS WHAT'S GONNA GO ON NEXT? BUT IT IS RIDICULOUS FOR YOU TO OPPOSE A RULE THAT YOU DID NOT PUBLICIZE.
YOU DON'T HAVE ANY NEW DATA THAN YOU HAD BEFORE.
YOU THINK THEY'RE GONNA PUT 20 PEOPLE IN ATTICS? THERE ARE ONLY A COUPLE HUNDRED HOUSES.
MAYBE YOU COULD CHECK THE PICTURES FOR THOSE.
IT IS NOT FAIR TO THE PUBLIC, AND IT IS A TERRIBLE REFLECTION ON YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE, MS. PETRO? I TRIED, GUYS.
I REALLY TRIED NOT TO SPEAK TODAY.
UM, AGAIN, THE SAME COMPLIMENTS I HAVE ABOUT OCCUPANCY TIME AND TIME AGAIN IS ONE, HOW ARE WE GOING TO ENFORCE THEM?
[01:25:01]
HOW ARE WE GOING TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE RESERVATIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN BOOKED AND THE GUESTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN ALLOWED TO MAKE THEIR DEPOSITS, MAKE THE RESERVATIONS BAKED ON WHAT'S IN THE HOUSE? NOW, YOU CANNOT ENFORCE OCCUPANCY BY OCCUPANCY JUST ITSELF.UM, I WON'T EVEN MENTION THE PROCEDURAL PIECES OF ALL OF THIS, BUT IT'S, IT DOES SEEM VERY ODD THAT IT WOULD COME INTO JUST A, A RANDOM MOTION AT THE END OF THE ENTIRE DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT BEING CLOSED.
OH, I DON'T REALLY HAVE A VOICE.
I WASN'T PLANNING ON SPEAKING TODAY, BUT KATE OLGAN WITH VACATION HOMES OF HILTON HEAD, UM, I'M JUST AS SURPRISED AS EVERYONE, UM, HERE IS, PLEASE DO NOT, UM, PASSED THIS.
THE MOTION IS A LITTLE BIT SURPRISING, UM, AND VERY UNEXPECTED.
UM, A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I'D LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER IS THERE'S NO WAY TO ENFORCE IT.
WE HAVEN'T EVEN DISCUSSED HOW YOU WOULD ENFORCE IT, AND THAT'S FOLLOWED UP BY ALL THIS TALK ABOUT HOW WE'RE LACKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
SO IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE AT THIS TIME.
UM, AND JUST PIGGYBACKING ON THAT, BOB ROMAN IS EXCELLENT.
THAT WAS, I THINK, THE WHOLE, UM, POINT LAST WEEK.
SO HOW DO YOU ENFORCE IT? YOU SAID YOU GIVE 48 HOURS NOTICE.
ARE YOU JUST GOING INTO THESE PEOPLE'S HOMES? SEEMS A LITTLE INVASIVE.
UM, AFTER JUST SAYING THAT WE ARE NOT THAT TYPE OF COMMUNITY, THAT WE'RE A WELCOMING COMMUNITY, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE, THE DATA THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT IS HOW OFTEN ARE THE HOMES AT FULL OCCUPANCY.
I THINK YOU'LL BE SURPRISED AND HAPPY TO SEE THAT THESE HOMES ARE NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT AT A HUNDRED PERCENT OCCUPANCY.
IT'S ACTUALLY A REALLY LIMITED, UM, TIME OF THE YEAR.
SO I THINK WE'RE MAKING MOUNTAINS OUTTA A MO HILL.
UM, THIS WAS JUST REALLY SURPRISING.
I WASN'T PLANNING ON SPEAKING.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING PREPARED.
PLEASE DO NOT ACCEPT THIS MOTION.
ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS? MR. BROWN? HI DREW BROWN, UH, HILTON HEAD, PLANTATION ISLAND TIME HILTON HEAD, UH, MANAGING PARTNER.
UM, A LITTLE SURPRISED AS EVERYONE ELSE.
UH, I THINK THERE ARE MULTIPLE THINGS TO BE THINKING ABOUT AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME.
ONE, WE'VE ALL MENTIONED ENFORCEABILITY, BUT I THINK THAT IF YOU REALLY WANNA THINK ABOUT ANY GOODWILL IN BUILDING OF BRIDGES WITH SHORT TERM RENTAL COMMUNITY AND THEN YOU BACKDOOR IT LIKE THIS.
OTHER COMMENT? ANYBODY ELSE? ALRIGHT.
UM, MR. ALFRED, I JUST WANTED TO SAY IN REGARD TO, UH, ENFORCEMENT, WHICH HAS JUST BEEN RAISED, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS THINKING ABOUT SENDING SOMEBODY AROUND AT 10 O'CLOCK TONIGHT AT NIGHT TO SEE WHO'S, WHO'S IN WHAT BEDROOMS. THERE ARE MORE PRACTICAL WAYS TO APPROACH IT, SUCH AS LOOK AT THE ADS AND IF THE AD COMES OUT FOR A HOUSE THAT'S WAY OVER WHAT THE, WHAT IS ON FILE FOR THE OCCUPANCY OF THAT HOUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOT A VIOLATION THERE.
SO IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO ENGAGE IN SOME ENFORCEMENT HERE.
OTHER COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, SEEING NONE, I'M GONNA READ BACKWARDS.
SO I'M GONNA READ WHAT THE ORIGINAL MOTION WAS, WHAT THE AMENDMENTS WERE.
CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE TO REPEAT IT WHEN REPLACE TITLE 10, CHAPTER TWO OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND ENTITLED SHORT-TERM RENTALS AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND EFFECTIVE DATE.
THIS IS THE SECOND READING IT MOTION WAS MADE BY MS. BECKER, SECOND BY MS. CENTER.
MS. BRYSON MADE AN AMENDMENT TO OCC OCCUPANCY PROVISIONS.
10 DASH TWO DASH 30 10 DASH TWO DASH 60 AND 10 DASH TWO DASH 70 MR. ALFRED.
SECOND THAT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND OPPOSED MOTION FAILS ON THE FIRST CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE MADE BY MS. BECKER.
OPPOSED? THAT PASSES SIX TO ONE.
[9. New Business]
NEW BUSINESS AND WE HAVE A CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND TO AMEND MUNICIPAL CODE TITLE 10 SECTION 10 DASH ONE DASH TWO 50.THE BUSINESS LICENSE ORDINANCE TO UPDATE THE BUSINESS LICENSE CLASS SCHEDULE AS REQUIRED BY ACT 1 76 OF 2020 FOR THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERAL ABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
THIS ITEM WAS PRESENTED TO THE FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE ON 9 30 25 AND WAS RECOMMENDED TO PRE PRESENT TO FULL COUNSEL FOR CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL.
MS. AKINS PROOF OF APPROVAL MR. MAYOR, MR. BROWN MOTIONS TO APPROVE.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND MS. BECKER SECONDS.
[01:30:03]
KIM, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED TO SPEAK ON THIS AGENDA ITEM? NO.ANY DISCUSSION FROM COUNSEL? SEEING NONE, WE'VE GOT A MOTION BY MR. BROWN, SECOND BY MS. BECKER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND.
UP NEXT, WE HAVE CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE FOR PROVIDING ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND SPECIAL OBLIGATION BONDS BEACH PRESERVATION FEE PLEDGE IN ONE OR MORE SERIES AND THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT EXCEEDING $19 MILLION, DELEGATING THE AUTHORITY OF TO THE TOWN MANAGER TO DETERMINE CERTAIN MATTERS WITH RESPECT TO THE BOARDS PRESCRIBING THE FORM AND DETAILS OF SUCH BONDS AND OTHER MATTERS RELATING THERE TO AND PROVIDINGS ABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MR. MCGOWAN, THANK YOU MAYOR AND THANK YOU MEMBERS OF TOWN COUNCIL FOR YOUR TIME TODAY AND FOR YOUR INPUT THROUGHOUT WHAT HAS BEEN, UM, PRACTICALLY A YEAR LONG PROCESS.
UH, WE STARTED, UH, WITH PUBLIC MEETINGS LAST OCTOBER.
THANKS ALSO TO MARK ORLANDO FOR HIS GUIDANCE AND LEADERSHIP THROUGH THE PROCESS.
THANKS TO OUR MUNICIPAL ADVISOR, FIRST TRYON REPRESENTED TODAY BY ANDY SMITH.
THANKS ALSO TO OUR BOND COUNCIL BY FOREMAN, REPRESENTED TODAY BY MICHAEL SEASON AND TO MANY MEMBERS OF THE TOWN STAFF, INCLUDING JOHN TROYER AND THE FINANCE TEAM, STAFF AS WELL AS KEY MEMBERS OF THE CIP TEAM.
JOHN TI CALL HIM JOHN T JOHN TROYER AND MICHAEL.
AND ANDY AND I ARE AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THIS PRESENTATION AND CERTAINLY AFTERWARDS TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
THE AGENDA PACKET INCLUDES THE STAFF MEMO, UH, THE DRAFT BOND ORDINANCE, THE RFP, AND THE, UH, THERE'S SOME SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL, UH, MOST OF WHICH I'M GONNA, IS COVERED IN THE STAFF MEMO.
BUT, UM, I KNOW, UM, COUNCILWOMAN TANNER HAD SHARED WITH US SOME COMMENTS THAT MARK SHARED WITH US TODAY.
SO, UM, IF WE CAN MOVE TO THAT SCREEN QUICKLY AND, AND ADDRESS, UM, THE CASH FLOW, UH, THAT WE'RE PROJECTING ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ISSUE.
THIS PROPOSED ISSUE IS ON THE RIGHT SIDE THERE.
SO BASICALLY THE CHANGES WE MADE ARE ZEROING OUT THAT FEMA ESTIMATED PAST STORM REIMBURSEMENTS, AND REALLY THAT'S A, A FUNCTION OF THE FACT THAT WE'RE JUST NOT SURE WHAT FEMA'S GOING TO BE DOING, IF THEY EVEN WILL EXIST IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.
UH, BUT WE, WE ZEROED THAT OUT AND WE ALSO CHANGED A COUPLE OF THOSE SMALLER LIGHT ITEMS, UM, FROM POSITIVE TO NEGATIVE.
SO AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, OUR ESTIMATE, AND IT'S ONLY AN ESTIMATE, IS THAT OUR FUND BALANCE WOULD BE ABOUT 27.8 MILLION, WHICH IS CERTAINLY WELL ABOVE OUR NEW MINIMUM FUND BALANCE POLICY.
UH, BACK TO THE RECOMMENDATION, UM, TOWN RECOMMENDS CONSISTENT WITH THE F AND A COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION AT THE SEPTEMBER 30TH MEETING THAT THE, UH, THAT TOWN COUNCIL ADOPT THE ORDINANCE, UH, ISSUING $19 MILLION IN SPECIAL OBLIGATION BONDS.
AND THOSE BONDS OBVIOUSLY WOULD BE BACKED BY THE BEACH PRESERVATION FEE REVENUES, AND THE BOND PROCEEDS, OBVIOUSLY OF 19, ROUGHLY 19 MILLION WOULD BE USED TO PAY FOR A PORTION OF THE ONGOING BEACH FOR NOURISHMENT PROJECT.
UH, JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND, WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF ISSUING BONDS, UH, BACKED BY BEACH PRESERVATION FEES, UH, THAT ARE USED TO PAY FOR BEACH NOURISHMENT PROJECTS.
IN 2006, WE DID A $19 MILLION DEAL, UH, WITH A NINE YEAR PAYBACK PERIOD.
IN 2011, WE DID AN 11 YEAR, UH, EXCUSE ME, $11 MILLION DEAL WITH A SEVEN YEAR PAYBACK PERIOD.
AND IN 2017, WE DID A $30 MILLION DEAL WITH A 10 YEAR PAYBACK PERIOD.
AND JUST TO NOTE, SO ALL OF THOSE BONDS ARE PAID BACK, BUT JUST TO NOTE ON THE 17 BONDS, UH, WE HAD TWO OUTSTANDING MATURITIES AUG AUGUST OF 26 AND AUGUST OF 27.
WE HAD A REDEMPTION PROVISION ON THOSE, AND WE, UH, TOOK THOSE OUT ON AUGUST 1ST OF THIS YEAR.
UM, WE'VE ALSO HAD MULTIPLE PUBLIC MEETINGS RELATED TO THIS TOPIC.
UH, WE HAD WORKSHOPS IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.
UH, THIS TOPIC WAS PART OF THE CIP WORKSHOP IN AUGUST OF 25, AND OBVIOUSLY AT THE SEPTEMBER 30TH F AND A COMMITTEE A FEW WEEKS AGO, THERE WAS A THREE OH VOTE TO RECOMMEND TOM COUNCIL ADOPT THE ORDINANCE.
UH, A FEW MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS AND TAKEAWAYS, UH, UH, IN THIS PROPOSED BOND OFFERING, UH, THE, UM, PAYBACK PERIOD IS SEVEN YEARS, UH, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY MATCHING THE MINIMUM EXPECTED USEFUL LIFE OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
AND SOME OF THAT OBVIOUSLY IS DEPENDENT ON STORM ACTIVITY OVER THE NEXT 7, 8, 9, 10 YEARS.
UH, FIRST TRYON, UH, WILL SOLICIT BIDS FROM BANKS, UH, AND, UH, WHO ARE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THE MUNICIPAL FINANCE MARKETPLACE.
[01:35:02]
UH, THEY LIKE SIMILARLY SIZED LOCAL GOVERNMENT TAX EXEMPT DEALS LIKE THIS, UH, THAT ARE OF SIMILAR QUALITY.AND SPEAKING OF, UH, THE QUALITY OF OUR, OUR, UM, CREDIT, UH, AS WE, I THINK WE ALL KNOW AT THIS POINT, THE TOWN CARRIES A TRIPLE, TRIPLE A RATING, UH, ON ITS GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, UH, WHICH IS ONLY ONE OF TWO TOWNS IN THE, IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO CARRY THAT TRIPLE, TRIPLE A.
AND WE ALSO HAVE THAT PAST DOUBLE A ONE, DOUBLE A PLUS RATING ON OUR FORMER BEACH PRESERVATION BONDS.
UM, AND BOTH OF THOSE, UH, FACTS ARE REFERENCED IN THE RFP.
UH, ALSO A QUICK NOTE ON, UH, REVENUE COLLECTIONS.
WE COLLECTED 13.9 MILLION IN BEACH PRESERVATION FEE REVENUES IN 2025.
THAT'S MORE THAN DOUBLE WHAT WE COLLECTED IN 2000 2017 WHEN WE LAST ISSUED.
UH, AND RECALL THAT ISSUE WAS FOR 30 $30 MILLION.
SO WE'RE PROPOSING TO ISSUE A SMALLER PAR AMOUNT, A SMALLER DOLLAR AMOUNT, UH, WITH, UH, MORE THAN TWICE THE REVENUES AVAILABLE TO BACK IT UP.
UH, IF TOWN COUNCIL WERE TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE TODAY, IT WOULD GIVE THE TOWN THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN AND EXCEED THE MINIMUM FUND BALANCE POLICY THAT WAS SET IN THE BUDGET LAST YEAR.
UH, IT GIVES THE TOWN ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY IF THERE WAS TO BE A NATURAL DISASTER.
IT ALIGNS THE BOND PAYBACK PERIOD, AS I MENTIONED A FEW MINUTES AGO, UH, TO THE MINIMUM EXPECTED LIFE OF THE PROJECT IMPROVEMENTS.
AND IT PRESERVES THE TOWN'S NON REFERENDUM BORROWING CAPACITY BECAUSE THESE ARE NOT GENERAL OBLIGATIONS OF THE TOWN.
THEY ARE SPECIFICALLY BACKED BY THE BEACH PRESERVATION FEE REVENUE SOURCE.
UH, AND IT PROTECTS THE TOWN'S BIGGEST ASSET, OBVIOUSLY OUR BEACHES.
AS FAR AS NEXT STEPS, IF THE BOND ORDINANCE FIRST READING IS APPROVED TODAY, TOMORROW, FIRST TRYON WOULD DISTRIBUTE THE RFP TO THEIR LIST OF POTENTIAL BIDDERS.
UH, ON NOVEMBER 4TH, THERE'S ANOTHER TOWN COUNCIL MEETING.
AT THAT MEETING WE WOULD HAVE THE SECOND READING OF THE ORDINANCE.
ON NOVEMBER 12TH, THE BANK BIDS ARE DUE AND THE WINNING BID WOULD BE AWARDED.
AND IN, UH, EARLY DECEMBER, ON DECEMBER 3RD, WE'D HAVE THE CLOSING AND THE BOND PROCEEDS WOULD BE DEPOSITED IN THE BEACH PRESERVATION FEE FUND AND OBVIOUSLY BE USED TO PAY FOR A PORTION OF THE BEACH RENOVATION PROJECT BEACH REN NOURISHMENT PROJECT.
SO WE'RE AVAIL WE'RE, WE ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
SECOND, KIM, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS AGENDA'S ITEM? NO QUESTIONS FROM, UH, COUNSEL.
COUNT FROM COUNCIL MS. DONNER
UH, WELL FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE PROCESS.
AS YOU SAID, IT HAS BEEN A CONVERSATION OVER A PERIOD OF TIME THAT BRINGS US HERE TODAY, UH, WITH THIS PROPOSAL.
AND I AM, UH, SO MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE PROPOSAL AS WE HAVE LANDED ON, YOU KNOW, AS I LOOK AT, UH, BORROWING MONEY, I WANT TO BORROW AS A LITTLE AS POSSIBLE, UM, BUT, UH, ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE TOWN.
AND I THINK WE'VE LANDED ON THAT GOOD BALANCE, UH, WITH WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TODAY VERSUS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE TALKED ABOUT SEVERAL, UM, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.
SO, UM, I'M VERY PLEASED WITH THAT.
UH, WE ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AT THE FINANCE MEETING TO TALK ABOUT, UH, ACCOUNTING RELATED QUESTIONS, WHICH I KNOW EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT.
UH, BUT, UH, THEY WERE IMPORTANT TO ME TO UNDERSTAND.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I JUST WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW IS, YOU KNOW, AS THIS MONEY COMES IN, IT WILL BE, UM, PLACED INTO A SEPARATE ACCOUNT.
IT WILL NOT BE COMMINGLED WITH OTHER BEACH RENOURISHMENT FEES THAT WE COLLECT.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT THIS MONEY IS ONLY TO BE USED FOR THE BEREN NOURISHMENT PROJECT.
SO, UH, I APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL AND UNDERSTAND HOW IT'S GONNA FLOW THROUGH THE ACCOUNTING STRUCTURE.
UM, THE, THE OTHER ITEM THAT I AM LOOKING AT IS, UM, YOU KNOW, AS WE COLLECT MONEY, WE COLLECT ABOUT $14 MILLION A YEAR.
WE MAKE OUR PAYMENTS ABOUT 3 MILLION.
WE PROBABLY HAVE ABOUT A MILLION IN IRREGULAR MAINTENANCE.
HOW FAST CAN WE SAVE OUR MONEY TO PAY FOR THE NEXT SPEECH RENOURISHMENT, BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF THIS PROPOSAL AS WELL.
WE'RE BORROWING MONEY NOW, BUT OUR GOAL IS TO SAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN THE FUTURE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO BORROW.
AND IF WE LOOK AT THE AMOUNT AFTER WE TAKE THE 14 MILLION, THE MAINTENANCE AND OUR PAYMENT, UH, WE'RE NET $9.9 MILLION A YEAR.
SO AFTER SEVEN YEARS, WE WOULD'VE COLLECTED $69.3 MILLION.
UH, SO THAT GIVES US ROOM TO HAVE SOME CA CAPITAL RELATED PROJECTS THAT WE MAY WANNA IMPLEMENT, AS WELL AS HAVING ENOUGH MONEY, UH, TO REPAY, UH, BEACH RENOURISHMENT IN THE FUTURE.
AND THAT NUMBER JUST GROWS OVER, YOU KNOW, EIGHT TO 10 YEARS.
[01:40:01]
YEARS IT'D BE, UH, $99 MILLION.SO, UM, I THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT STRATEGY.
I THINK IT'LL BE IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE WANNA SAVE THIS MONEY FOR BEACH RENOURISHMENT, WE SHOULD FIGURE OUT A WAY TO IDENTIFY AND REPORT AND TRACK THAT FOR FUTURE COUNCILS, UM, SO THAT, UH, WE KNOW THAT WE ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, LIVING INTO THAT, UH, AGREEMENT AND PHILOSOPHY.
UM, AND THOSE WERE MY COMMENTS.
OTHER COMMENTS, BRYON? UH, THANKS MS. TONER, I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THOSE CALCULATIONS.
THANK YOU, SIR, FOR YOUR REPORTS.
VERY THOROUGH AND VERY HELPFUL.
UM, AND THE FACT THAT YOUR, YOUR PAST EXPERIENCE IN THE BOND MARKET IS EXTRAORDINARILY HELPFUL FOR OUR TOWN TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF EXPERTISE IN HOUSE.
UM, AND, AND I APPRECIATE, UH, MS. TURNER RUNNING THOSE NUMBERS BECAUSE ONE OF MY QUESTIONS BEFORE FINANCE ADMINISTRATIVE IS I RECALLED SEEING A CHART WHERE OVER THE NEXT SO MANY YEARS, SEVEN TO 10 YEARS, WHAT WE WERE GONNA TRY TO DO IS TO KEEP ADDING TO THAT FUND AND THEN SUBTRACTING THE MINIMUM FUND BALANCE OF 20 MILLION AND THEN SEEING HOW MUCH AT THE END OF THAT TIME PERIOD, WE WOULD STILL HAVE TO BE ABLE TO APPLY TOWARDS THE NEXT BEACH RENOURISHMENT PROJECT.
SO I, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT CHART WAS THAT I THINK I SAW BEFORE
UM, I DON'T THINK I DREAMED IT UP, BUT, UM, IF WE COULD HAVE THAT BEFORE THE SECOND READING IT, SURE.
IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO, FOR ALL OF US TO SEE THAT.
AND I COULDN'T KEEP UP WITH MS. HUNTER'S NUMBERS AS SHE READ 'EM OUT.
I KNOW SHE WOULD SHARE THEM, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO SEE THAT CHART, UM, BEFORE THE SECOND READING.
'CAUSE THAT'S CERTAINLY A WONDERFUL GOAL TO HAVE AND, AND INCREDIBLY WONDERFUL TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT ABILITY TO DO THAT.
AND I THINK THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO SEE THAT AS WELL.
OTHER COMMENTS? WELL, I, I, I THINK IT PUTS US ON A GREAT, A GREAT PATH, UM, AND A GREAT PLAN MOVING FORWARD.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF WE REALLY LOOKED AT IT IN THE PAST AS TO WHERE WE WERE WHEN IT CAME TO SPENDING ON RENOURISHMENT IN THE FUNDS THAT WERE COMING THROUGH AND WHAT THE FUTURE PLAN AND GOAL IS AND THE POSITION THAT WE WANNA BE IN.
SO, I I I, IT MAY HAVE TAKEN PLACE, I JUST, I, I WASN'T VERY PRIVY TO ALL THAT, UH, OR, OR PAID THAT MUCH ATTENTION AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
BUT, UM, BUT RIGHT NOW, I, I THINK THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, PLANNING FOR THE NEXT ONE HAVING FUNDS IN PLAY AND IF, IF A BORROWER DOES COME BACK FOR THAT, AT LEAST IT'S, IT'S A LOWER BORROWER IF THAT'S, IF THAT IS THE NEED AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH HEALTHY RESERVES THAT WE HAVE AND HEALTHY REVENUES COMING IN, WE SHOULD BE IN A GREAT POSITION.
SO, MR. ORLANDO, MAY I ADD SOMETHING? YES.
I, I OVERLOOKED THE GENTLEMAN IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM WHO'S COME BACK HERE TO HELP US AS AN INTERIM FINANCE DIRECTOR FOR A FEW MONTHS.
HIS LAST DAY WILL BE BEFORE THE NEXT COUNCIL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING.
AND SO I WANT TO THANK JOHN FOR HIS FRIENDSHIP AND HIS HELP, BUT ALSO FOR HIS AMAZING LEADERSHIP AS WE, AS WE WORKED OUT THE DETAILS THAT YOU ALL ASKED FOR, AS WELL AS A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER THINGS HE'S WORKED ON.
AND SO, MR. TROYER, UH, SORRY I OVERLOOKED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE ROOM, BUT THIS IS PROBABLY THE BEST PLACE TO SAY THANK YOU.
NOTHING LIKE RETIRING AND COMING BACK AND SAYING, OH, I NEED I, WHY DID I COME BACK? I NEED TO RETIRE.
ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL SEEING THEM? WE WILL TAKE THE VOTE WE HAVE GOT, AND I'LL READ THROUGH IT FOR YOU.
KIM, CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDER PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HAD ON SPECIAL OBLIGATION BONDS BE ITS PRESERVATION FEE PLEDGE IN ONE OR MORE SERIES IN THE PRINCIPLE AMOUNT OF NOT EXCEEDING $19 MILLION.
DELEGATING THE AUTHORITY TO THE TOWN MANAGER TO DETERMINE CERTAIN MATTERS WITH RESPECT TO THE BONDS, PRESCRIBING THE FORM IN DETAILS OF SUCH BONDS, OTHERS MATTERS RELATING THERETO AND PROVIDING SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
IT WAS, MOTION WAS MADE BY MS. BRYSON, SECOND BY MS. BECKER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND.
[10. Public Comment - Non Agenda Items]
WE'LL MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.KIM, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP? SPEAK? YES, SIR.
I'M A FOURTH GENERATION LOW COUNTRY NATIVE, BORN AND RAISED IN BAMBERG, SOUTH CAROLINA.
I HAVE THE GREAT FORTUNE OF SERVING WITH YOUR INCREDIBLE DELEGATION MEMBERS HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY IN THE STATE HOUSE BEFORE GOING THERE, I SERVED ONE TERM ON MOUNT PLEASANT TOWN COUNCIL.
SO COUNCIL MEMBERS, I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE SITTING IN THE SEAT YOU'RE IN AND THE HEALTHY DEBATE Y'ALL HAD HERE TONIGHT.
AND I GOTTA SAY I'M SUPER, SUPER PROUD OF, OF THE GOVERNANCE THAT I SAW HAPPENING HERE, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE.
SO CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
IT'S ALSO HEARTWARMING TO SEE Y'ALL COME UP TO COLUMBIA DURING MUNICIPAL DAY TO MEET WITH YOUR ELECTED, YOUR DELEGATION MEMBERS AND OTHERS LIKE
[01:45:01]
MYSELF AND THE STATE HOUSE.IT'S BEST WHEN WE ALL WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE AS WE TALKED ABOUT JUST IN YOUR, UH, YOUR, YOUR, YOUR REVIEW THERE, THERE'S NO WAY POSSIBLE THAT YOU CAN POSSIBLY SPREAD THE DOLLAR TO COVER ALL THE NEEDS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN TO PROVIDE THE GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE THAT YOU HAVE HERE IN HILTON HEAD.
UM, IT'S AN HONOR TO SERVE AS YOUR, ONE OF YOUR 124 STATE REPRESENTATIVES IN THE STATE HOUSE.
UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT NEXT SESSION.
UM, NEXT NOVEMBER, NEXT JUNE, WE HAVE A BIG DECISION TO MAKE.
WE'RE GONNA BE REPLACING OUR FEDERAL CONGRESSIONAL FIRST DISTRICT MEMBER.
I'VE THROWN MY HAT IN THE RING FOR THAT.
THIS IS NOT A CAMPAIGN SPEECH, THIS JUST SIMPLY AN INTRODUCTION.
SO WE ARE ALL GONNA HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
AND IT'S A SHAME THAT YOU HAD TO ZERO OUT A FEMA LINE ITEM IN YOUR BUDGET.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY A SHAME BECAUSE BEACH RENOURISHMENT ISN'T SOMETHING THAT ANY OF YOU OR YOUR STAFF MEMBERS ARE NOVICE AT.
Y'ALL BEEN DOING IT FOR A LONG TIME, YOU KNOW HOW TO DO IT.
WELL, THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT INCLUDES EVERY SINGLE COASTAL COMMUNITY FROM MCCLELLANVILLE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO HERE.
SO THAT COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT IN THE STATE HOUSE AND IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF HILTON HEAD AND OTHERS SHOULD HAPPEN ON EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION AND TALKING WITH YOU ALL LATER, UH, AS WE MOVE ALONG.
GOD BLESS YOU GUYS AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
[11. Executive Session]
DO WE HAVE A NEED FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION THIS EVENING? YES.MAYOR PERRY AS IDENTIFIED ON THE AGENDA.
ITEM 11, EXEC SESSION ITEMS A, B, C, AND B.
DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND.
[12. Action from Executive Session]
COUNCIL AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR AND TOWN MANAGER TO BE AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE AND DELIVER THE PROPOSED CONTRACT BY AND BETWEEN THE TOWN OF HILTON, HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA AND DOROTHY W. TAYLOR AND HAROLD TAYLOR FOR THE PURCHASE AND SALE OF 0.79 ACRES, MORE OR LESS AT THE CORNER OF US HIGHWAY 2 78 ROAD WILDHORSE ROAD.AND TO TAKE SUCH OTHER AND FURTHER ACTION AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE TRANSACTION DESCRIBED IN THE CONTRACT.
SECOND, THEY WERE FIRST AND SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION FROM THE AUDIENCE? SEEING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND.
MOTION WAS MADE BY MR. BROWN, SECONDED BY MS. BRYSON.
ALSO MOVE THAT THE TOWN COUNCIL AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR AND TOWN MANAGER BE AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE AND DELIVER THE PROPOSED CONTRACT BY AND BETWEEN THE TOWN OF HILTON, HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA AND D ROYSTER, MELVIN JOHNSON, LESLIE JOHNSON, VALDEZ HART, JOHN MONROE, EARL O SMITH, SENIOR EARL O SMITH JUNIOR IN THE CORNER, SMITH FOR THE PURCHASE AND SALE OF 0.75 ACRES, MORE OR LESS AT THE CORNER OF US HIGHWAY 2 78 AND OLD WILDHORSE ROAD.
AND TO TAKE SUCH OTHER AND FURTHER ACTIONS AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE TRANSACTION DESCRIBED IN THE CONTRACT.
SECOND, WE HAVE A FIRST BY MR. BROWN, SECOND BY MS. BRYSON, THE PURCHASE OF 0.75 ACRES.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF SIGN FIVE BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND.
ALSO MOVE THAT THE TOWN COUNCIL AUTHORIZED THE MAN TOWN MANAGER BE AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE AND DELIVER THE PROPOSED CONTRACT BY AND BETWEEN THE TOWN OF HILTON, HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA AND SP FOUR LAND COMPANY, LLC FOR THE PURCHASE AND SALE OF 1.49 ACRES OF IMPROVED REAL PROPERTY, LOCATED AT NINE PARK LANE, HILTON, HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA.
AND TO TAKE SUCH FOR OTHER AND FURTHER ACTIONS AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE TRANSACTION DESCRIBED IN THE CONTRACT, SIR MATTER FIRST OF ALL, MR. BROWN, SECOND BY MS. BECKER FOR THE PURCHASE OF SP FOUR, UH, 1.49 ACRES AT NINE PARK LANE.
UH, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
I MOVE THAT THE TOWN COUNCIL AUTHORIZED THE MAN TOWN MANAGER BE AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE AND DELIVER THE PROPOSED CONTRACT BY AND BETWEEN THE TOWN OF HILTON, HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND THE CORNER BAR HOLDINGS, LLC FOR THE PURCHASE AND SALE OF 1.676 ACRES OF IMPROVED REAL PROPERTY, LOCATED AT 10 PARK LANE, HILTON, HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND TO TAKE SUCH OTHER AND FURTHER ACTIONS AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE TRANSACTION DESCRIBED IN THE CONTRACT.
SECOND, I HAVE A FIRST BY MR. BROWN, SECOND BY MS. BECKER FOR THE PURCHASE OF CORNER BAR, 1.67, SIX ACRES
[01:50:01]
AT 10 PARK LANE.ANY DISCUSSION? DISCUSSION FROM THE AUDIENCE? ALL RIGHT.
ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
ALSO MOVE TO APPOINT THE FOLLOWING TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS TO THE LAND MANAGEMENT TASK FORCE.
UH, COUNCILMAN STEVE DECIMAL COUNCILWOMAN TAMMY BECKER AND COUNCILMAN PANY BRYSON.
ANY DISCUSSION HERE? WE HAVE A MOTION BY MR. BROWN.
SECOND ON MR. ALFRED TO APPOINT THOSE THREE MEMBERS TO THE TASK, THE LMO TASK FORCE COMMITTEE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND.
LASTLY, I MOVE TO APPOINT THE FOLLOWING.
UH, COUNCILMAN STEVE DESIMONE AS CHAIR OF THE LMO TASK FORCE COMMITTEE AND COUNCILWOMAN TAMARA REBECCA AS VICE CHAIR OF THE LAND MANAGEMENT TASK FORCE COMMITTEE.
THERE A SECOND ION SEEING NONE.
THERE WAS A MOTION MADE BY MRS. BROWN, MR. BROWN, UH, SECONDED BY MRS. TANNER TO APPOINT STEVE DESMO CHAIR MR. BECKER, UH, VICE CHAIR OF, OR CO-CHAIR, VICE-CHAIR OF THE, UM, ALAMO TASK FORCE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND.
MR. BROWN, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? THAT'S IT.
CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? I, UH, WE ARE ADJOURNED.
I AM DENNIS ADAMS, AND THIS IS A BUFORT COUNTY MOMENT.
FORREST GUMP, THE PRINCE OF TIDES, THE GREAT SANTINI.
THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE BIG HOLLYWOOD MOVIES FILMED IN BUFORT COUNTY DURING THE 1980S AND 1990S.
BUT THE EARLIEST BIG SCREEN PRODUCTION, A SHOT HERE DATES BACK NEARLY A CENTURY.
LATE IN NOVEMBER, 1917, AMERICAN FEATURE FILMS OF GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA SENT A COMPANY OF ACTORS ON LOCATION TO ST.
HENA ISLAND AND AMONG THE ANTEBELLUM MANSIONS OF BEAUFORT AND THE WORDS OF THE BEAUTIFUL GAZETTE, THE RISE AND FALL OF THE CONFEDERACY IS ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE AND STUPENDOUS MOTION PICTURE SCENARIOS EVER ATTEMPTED BY ANY DRAMATIST.
IT CERTAINLY WAS A COSTUME DRAMA WITH OVER 640 PIECES OF PERIOD CLOTHING SHIPPED IN FOR THE ACTORS.
JOINING THE PRODUCTION JUST BEFORE FILMING WAS ONE WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM OF PEERLESS FILM COMPANY OF LOS ANGELES.
HE LENT A HOLLYWOOD TOUCH TO THE PRODUCTION.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE FILM HAS DISAPPEARED.
IT WOULD SEEM THAT THE STUDIO EXAGGERATED HIS CLAIMS OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE MOVING PICTURE SINCE THE BIRTH OF A NATION.
I'M DENNIS ADAMS, AND 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.