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CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY.
[I. CALL TO ORDER ]
TODAY'S TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH, 2025, AND WE'LL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.WE'LL START WITH A PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE, FOLLOWED BY THE INVOCATION, A PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
CONTINUE FOLLOW FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER LIBERTY AND JUSTICE ALL RAISE YOUR, IF YOU LEAD US HEAVENLY FATHER RIGHT NOW, AND WE JUST COME TO SAY THANK YOU, WE'D LIKE TO THANK YOU NOT FOR SOME THINGS, BUT FOR ALL THINGS.
WE ALSO ASK, AND WE LIKE TO LIFT UP OUR NEIGHBORS SUFFERING FROM DEVASTATIONS, NATURAL AND MANMADE.
WE SEND PRAYERS TO THOSE IMPACTED BY THE HURRICANE RECENTLY IN JAMAICA AND THOSE BATTLING FOOD INSECURITIES AT HOME AND ABROAD.
MAY HUMANITY AND COMPASSION BE RESTORED IN OUR SOCIETY WHERE WE ALWAYS TREAT OUR FELLOW MAN WITH RESPECT AND KINDNESS.
WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO GIVE US THE GUIDANCE AND THE WISDOM TO LEAD AND SERVE ALL IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE COLLECTIVE.
THESE AND ALL THE BLESSINGS WE ASK IN JESUS' NAME.
[IV. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES ]
THE ADOPTION OF THE MINUTE.THESE ARE THE REGULAR AND WORKSHOP MINUTES.
MR. STEVE, HAVE THERE BEEN ANY CHANGES? UH, NONE SINCE THE PACKET WENT OUT.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I MAKE THAT MOTION.
UM, UP NEXT IS THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF 10 14 OR IS THAT THE QUARTERLY WORKSHOP? THE WAY THIS IS WRITTEN, REGULAR AND QUARTER.
SO WAS THAT BOTH OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME THERE, OR IS THAT NO SIR.
YOU HAVE TO DO THEM INDIVIDUALLY.
SO WHEN YOU DO A QUARTERLY WORKSHOP, SO THIS IS A QUARTERLY WORKSHOP MEETING.
[V. PRESENTATIONS, CELEBRATIONS, AND RECOGNITIONS ]
DO PRESENTATION CELEBRATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS UP.FIRST WOULD BE THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENT OF THE MONTH, AND THE, OKAY.
TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE DAR MOON MAJOR FROM MAY RIVER HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR AND HER CHARACTER TRAIT OF ACCEPTANCE.
IS SHE IN THE HOUSE? WELL, EXCUSE ME.
I CAME TO SUPPORT YOU EXCEPT HER.
SO YOU WANT TELL EVERYBODY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS GUY THAT WE RECOGNIZING WE CAN'T SEE? SO MY MAJOR IS A SENIOR AT HIGH SCHOOL.
UM, I'VE KNOWN HIM SINCE HE WAS A FRESHMAN.
UM, HE'S VERY ACTIVE, UM, CLASSES.
HE'S VERY GOOD WITH AUTISTIC KIDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
HE HAS A BEST FRIEND NAMED MILES ALSO.
IS THAT, IS THAT CLOSE? AND SHE IS A REPRESENTATIVE OF TEAMS FOR HELPING YOU REMEMBER SHE'LL ACCEPTATION, DO YOU WANNA REGISTER? THANK YOU.
WILL YOU TAKE THE MIC AND THANK YOU.
HELLO, MY NAME IS LAN WE CAMPER.
I AM THE CO-PRESIDENT OF MAYOR HIGH SCHOOL'S, THY CLUB.
UM, ON BEHALF OF THE LOWCOUNTRY ALLIANCE FOR HEALTHY YOUTH AND THEIR YOUTH COALITION, TEENS FOR HEALTHY YOUTH.
THANK YOU MAYOR TRU FOR ISSUING THE SMOKE-FREE VAPE
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FREE MONTH PROCLAMATION.WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE TO THE TOWN COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING US AND UNANIMOUSLY VOTING IN 2019 TO AMEND THE TOWN'S SMOKING REGULATIONS BY INCLUDING ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICES, INCLUDING VAPING IN THE TOWN.
SMOKING ORDINANCE SENDS A CLEAR MESSAGE TO OUR YOUTH AND OUR RESIDENTS THAT SMOKING THAT LIKE SMOKING VAPING IS A SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.
THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL.
I SHOULD HAVE READ THIS UP FRONT.
SMOKING IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF PREVENTABLE DEATH IN THE US E-CIGARETTES ARE VAPE ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY COMMON.
THESE PRODUCTS CONTAIN NICOTINE AND OTHER HARMFUL SUBSTANCES.
LOW COUNTRY ALLIANCE FOR HELP FOR HEALTHY YOUTH AND TEENS FOR HEALTHY YOUTH ARE WORKING TO EDUCATE AND IMPROVE AWARENESS ABOUT THE DANGERS OF SMOKING AND VAPING.
I'M MIKE, MAYOR LARRY UPTON TOWN COUNSEL.
I PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER TO BE SMOKE FREE AND FREE AWARENESS.
[VI. PUBLIC COMMENT ]
OUR PUBLIC COMMENT.PLEASE LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT RULES AS THEY'RE ON THE SCREEN, BUT SHOULD BE ABLE TO HEAR 'EM.
EACH SEE IS LIMITED TO A TOTAL OF THREE MINUTES PER MEETING, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE PERSON IS SPEAKING ON BEHALF OR FOR OTHERS MEETING THE TECH MAY NOT DONATE, TRANSFER MEAL OR CALL OR ANY PORTION OF RECEIVING TO ANOTHER PERSON.
BE CONDUCTED AND DIRECTED TO THE COUNSEL AND TO MEMBER THERE ALL SECRET SHALL BE MINDFUL RESPECT OF THOSE PARTICIPATING IN AT THE MEETING.
SPEAKERS SHALL BE EXPECTED TO BE CIVIL IN THEIR LANGUAGE AND SHALL REFRAIN FROM COMMENT BEHAVIOR THAT INVOLVES DISORDERLY SPEECH OR ACTION, NAME CALLING, PERSONAL ATTACKS, THREATS, OBSCENE OR INDECENT REMARKS AND OR DISRUPTIVE ACTIONS.
ALL SPEAKERS SHALL CONFINE THEIR COMMENTS TO ISSUES UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL.
SPEAKERS SHALL NOT USE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD TO PROMOTE OR ADVERTISE REPORTS
ANY SPEAKER THAT BIDEN COMMENT MAYBE RULE OUT ORDER BY OFFICER, ANY PERSON WHOSE S HAVE BEEN RULED OUT OF ORDER SHALL CEASE AND INDIVIDUAL TO DO THIS INDIVIDUAL TO REMOVAL FROM AND A CITATION FOR SECTION TWO DASH FOUR NINE CODE.
UH, FIRST WE'LL HAVE JACK SHEARER.
WHEN YOU COME UP, PLEASE SAY, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND WHETHER YOU LIVE WITHIN THE TOWN LIMITS OR NOT.
MY NAME IS JACK SHEARER LIVE AT EIGHT CROSSINGS BOULEVARD IN THE PINECREST COMMUNITY OF BLUFFTON.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY IN FRONT OF THE TOWN COUNCIL AS WELL AS CONGRATULATE FRED AND EMILY.
I'M HERE TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION PERTAINING TO THE GOLF COURSE REDEVELOPMENT.
RECENTLY, THERE'S BEEN TWO INDEPENDENT SURVEYS AND I WANTED TO SHARE THE, THE RESULTS OF THOSE SURVEYS WITH YOU.
THE ORIGINAL SURVEY DONE IN JUNE, 73% OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS RESPONDED TO THE SURVEY.
OF THAT 94% WERE AGAINST REDEVELOPMENT ALSO, 6% WERE ONLY IN FAVOR, SUBSEQUENTLY, IN OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR, THERE.
WHEREAS ANOTHER INDEPENDENT SURVEY WHERE 40, 47% OF THE RESIDENTS RESPONDED TO THE SURVEY, 93% WERE STILL OPPOSED.
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IN FAVOR OF THAT AND WHICH KIND OF SCARES ME, BUT AS, AS YOU HEARD, BETWEEN 93 AND 94% REMAINED AGAINST THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE PINECREST GOLF COURSE.WE ALSO COM CREATED SEPARATE COMMITTEES WITHIN PINECREST TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO.
DIS DISCUSS POTENTIALS IDEAS THAT COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PINECREST PROPERTY OWNERS AND THE GOLF COURSE.
TO DATE, NO SUCH MEETING HAS OCCURRED WHATSOEVER.
WE'VE NOT HEARD FROM ANYTHING FROM ANYBODY ABOUT MEETING AND DISCUSSING THOSE OPTIONS.
MAJOR CONCERNS OF THE RESIDENTS ARE OBVIOUS AND PARAMOUNT.
TRAFFIC, SAFETY, SECURITY, AND THE CONSTRUCTION.
IN ADDITION, THE IMPACT OF THE, TO THE APPEARANCE OF THE, OF THE, OF PINECREST BY ITSELF AND THE VALUE OF THE HOMES IS VERY, VERY CONCERNING.
THE CURRENT SITUATION IS THE PUB IS ALWAYS ALREADY CLOSED.
IT'S A PLACE FOR US TO GATHER, MEET EACH OTHER, GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER, GET TO KNOW THE COMMUNITY, AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.
IN ADDITION, ANY GOLFER KNOWS THAT A DRIVING RANGE THAT MAY CLOSE OR ANY PART OF A GOLF COURSE MAY CLOSE, COULD, IS NOT BENEFICIAL TO YOUNG AND OR ADULTS IN GENERAL.
YOU, YOU DON'T GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN THE GAME TO IMPROVE ON YOUR GAME.
SO NOW RECENTLY, BESIDES THE PUB BEING CLOSED, THE GOLF COURSE IS NOW CLOSED MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS WITH LIMITED HOURS.
I BELIEVE IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE DEVELOPMENT IS NOT WORTH THE EXPENSE, FRUSTRATION AND SAFETY OF THE PINECREST PROPERTY OWNERS AND SURROUNDING SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES.
THINK ABOUT THE MAJOR CONCERNS.
TRAFFIC WILL BE WORSE THAN EVER.
'CAUSE I HAVE TIME THIS TWICE.
SAFETY AND SECURITY, IT WILL ALWAYS BE A CONCERN.
AND THE NOISE FROM THE ONGOING CONSTRUCTION FOR MONTHS WILL BE CRAZY.
AND FINALLY, I'M HEARING PROPERTY OWNERS ARE CONSIDERING MOVING OUTTA PINECREST AND MOVING OUTTA BLUFFTON BECAUSE OF ALL THIS.
AGAIN, 90% OF THE PEOPLE ARE OVER IT TWICE IN TWO SURVEYS.
AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND LISTENING TO ME TODAY AND ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
BUT THAT WAS THREE, THREE FAST MINUTES.
OKAY, UP NEXT WE HAVE JAMES LATFORD.
MY NAME IS JAMES LATFORD AND I'M THE AUSTIN PARK HERE IN, UH, BLUFFTON.
MY CONCERN IS, I WANNA KNOW WHEN YOU GO TO YOUR BREAK AWAY, TO YOUR SESSION, YOUR EXECUTIVE SESSION, CAN SOMEONE MAKE COMMENTS BEFORE YOU GO BACK INTO THOSE SESSIONS? YOU CAN MAKE 'EM RIGHT NOW.
UH, I
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ROAD YOU'RE REFERRING TO AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT ROAD YOU'RE REFERRING TO SO I CAN ADDRESS IT PROPERLY.
AND I WANNA KNOW IF THAT'S HOLLY LANE.
AND THAT'S GONNA CONNECT AT SOME POINT IN TIME TO THE HERITAGE.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, YOU HAVE A COMMITTEE THAT HAS ALREADY CONTACTED BU UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY TO HELP FOOT SOME OF THAT BILL GOING INTO THE ROAD.
AND, UH, THAT'S WHAT I, I WAS TOLD, BUT, UH, WE DON'T, UH, WE UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S GONNA BE DONE.
BUT THE CHIEF HERE WILL CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THAT RECENTLY THERE'S BEEN ALMOST AN ACCIDENT A WEEK AT THAT, THAT STREET.
AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THE HIGH SCHOOL THERE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THE JUNIOR HIGH OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT'S BEING BUILT.
AND WE FEEL THAT IT'S REALLY UNSAFE TO HAVE THAT ROAD ALL THE WAY IN OTHER I KNOW WHY, BECAUSE 46 IS A NIGHTMARE FOR THOSE PEOPLE GETTING OUTTA THERE.
AND WE ALL KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC WHEN IT BUILDS UP, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
BUT I, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S TERRIBLE TO HAVE THAT MANY ACCENTS.
THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT DRIVE SOMETIMES DON'T DRIVE THE LIMITS AND THEY EXCEED THOSE LIMITS.
AND WHERE THIS ROAD IS GONNA BE PUT IN IS ON A CURB.
AND WE'VE BEEN ADDRESSING IT WITH THE, UH, WITH, WITH YOU ALL.
ONCE AGAIN, DAN, WE WENT THROUGH THIS
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BEFORE.BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT CUTOFF VALVE, BUT WE REALLY DON'T WANT IT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE DEVELOPER'S GONNA GO AHEAD AND PUT GATES ON THE NEW SECTION OF THE BUILDING WITH NO GATES ON OUR OR THE OLD SECTION.
AND THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO US.
THAT WAY IF THEY DO CONNECT IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THAT THEY WILL NOT USE THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO CUT THROUGH.
AND, AND FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US LATER OKAY.
OR WHATEVER, AND WE'LL TRY TO FILL YOU IN ON A LITTLE MORE OF THE FACTS.
OH, I'M GONNA KEEP IT SHORT AND SWEET.
UH, BRENDAN DOWNEY, TWO FISHERMEN LANE, NOT IN TOWN LIMITS, BUT UM, HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE GOLF CARTS AT NIGHT.
APPLAUD ALL YOU 'CAUSE YOU WERE GONNA PASS THAT TONIGHT.
BUT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE SEAT BELT THING.
UM, SOMEBODY YOU'VE SEEN MY NEW GOLF CART THAT'S SITTING OUT THERE.
I HAVE SEAT BELTS ON IT, THAT'S FINE.
AND THAT ALL THE NEW ONES ARE COMING WITH SEAT BELTS ON IT.
BUT I DON'T THINK A PERSON LIKE ME OR A ANYONE, IT'S OVER THE AGE OF 16 REALLY NEEDS TO HAVE A SEAT BELT, UH, USE ON A GOLF CART.
NOW THE KIDS WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE.
UM, AND IT'S NOT THAT EXPENSIVE TO ADD SEAT BELTS TO YOUR GOLF CART.
I LOOKED AT IT, YOU CAN GET A SET OF FOUR FOR 55 BUCKS OVER AT WALMART OR ON AMAZON.
UM, BUT WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS LAST TIME, UH, THE GENTLEMAN'S NAME I THINK WAS KEVIN.
WHAT WAS THERE CHIEF? WHAT WAS THERE? THREE ACCIDENTS? A COUPLE LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR INVOLVING GOLF CARTS.
OKAY, WELL I KNOW THERE WAS ONE THAT WAS OVER NEAR END MARKET AND THOSE KIDS WERE UNDERAGE AND THEY TIPPED THE GOLF CART OVER AND WHATNOT, SO THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DRIVING IN THE FIRST PLACE.
AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.
UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I'M ON ALL JOY.
SO UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S NOT IN BLUFFED AND PROPER, BUT WHAT I SEE, 'CAUSE I'M AN AVID GOLF CART DRIVER, IS PARENTS DRIVING WITH THEIR KIDS ON THEIR LAPS.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO ADD IN MAYBE A LITTLE ADDENDUM TO YOUR THING TONIGHT THAT THEY REALLY NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, IF SOMEBODY GETS INTO AN ACCIDENT AND THEIR KID GETS HURT, THAT WOULD BE JUST DEVASTATING TO YOU GUYS.
AND WE JUST DON'T NEED THAT IN THIS TOWN.
THERE'S ENOUGH STUFF GOING ON.
SO, BUT ALL GOING FORWARD, I'M GLAD YOU GUYS ARE PASSING GOLF CARTS AT NIGHT, BUT LET'S REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT THE SEATBELT THING.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE OVER 16 AND OVER THAT IT'S DRIVING A GOLF CART THAT GOES 25 MILES AN HOUR, NEEDS TO HAVE A SEATBELT, BUT THAT'S JUST ME.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE, UP NEXT WE'LL HAVE, UM, THE WORKSHOP AGENDA ITEM BEAUFORT COUNTY SINGLE USE PLASTIC SURVEY RESULTS.
JULIANA SAID THAT BEFORE THAT MARY, YOU HAVE COMMUNICATION.
[VII. COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR AND COUNCIL ]
FROM MAYOR AND COUNCIL.ANYTHING MR. WOOD? YEAH, I JUST WANNA SAY, UM, I JUST CELEBRATED MY 20TH ANNIVERSARY WITH A WONDERFUL PERSON.
EVERYBODY UP HERE WONDERS WHY SHE'S WITH ME, BUT, UH, ESPECIALLY FRED
SO, UM, I'M GONNA SPEAK IN THE MIDDLE THIS TIME SINCE FRED, I MEAN, SINCE DAN'S BEEN SO SWEET, MY WIFE'S OVER AT PALM DUNES RIGHT NOW DOING A CATERING EVENT FOR 200 PEOPLE SO WE CAN MAKE A LIVING AND PAY OUR BILLS AND HELP OUR KIDS.
MR. HAMILTON, WHO ARE YOU GONNA TELL US ABOUT?
AND CONGRATULATIONS TO EMILY ON YOUR ELECTION.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOU.
IT IS AN HONOR TO SIT UP HERE WITH ALL OF YOU.
AND SO I'M THANKFUL TO HAVE, UM, ANOTHER FOUR YEARS AND I GUESS WHY WE'RE AT THE STAND.
I BETTER TELL CHRIS HAPPY 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOO.
I THINK WE WERE MARRIED JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE YOU AND MISS DEBBIE 20 YEARS AGO, SO WE JUST HAD OUR 20TH AS
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WELL.CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF Y'ALL.
YES, BOTH OF I'VE SAID IT PERSONAL, BUT I, MY MY PLEASURE TO SERVE AS MAYOR WITH LEADERSHIP LIKE THEY PROVIDE.
IT'S MY TOTAL PRIVILEGE TO BE SITTING UP HERE WITH Y'ALL GUYS.
[VIII. WORKSHOP AGENDA ITEMS ]
WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT SINGLE USE PLASTIC.MS. JULIANA IS THAT ENVIRONMENTAL LONG RANGE PLANNER.
I AM THE ENVIRONMENTAL LONG RANGE PLANNER FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY.
AND IT IS MY PLEASURE TONIGHT TO GIVE YOU ALL UPDATES ON STEPS THAT THE COUNTY IS TAKING TO MAKE AMENDMENTS TO THE 2018 PLASTIC BAG ORDINANCE.
THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS WHY THE COUNTY IS CONSIDERING ADDING FIVE ADDITIONAL UNNECESSARY SINGLE USE PLASTICS THAT ARE NOT RECYCLABLE AND NOT BIODEGRADABLE TO THE 2018 PLASTIC BAG ORDINANCE.
THE FIRST BEING THAT WASTE REDUCTION AND ESPECIALLY REMOVING UNNECESSARY WASTE FROM OUR WASTE STREAM IS A NECESSARY STRATEGY TO PROLONG THE LIFE OF OUR CRI, ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT PIECES OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR LANDFILL.
IT ALSO HELPS ADDRESS LITTER ISSUES IN OUR COUNTY BY REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF WASTE, GETTING INTO THE WASTE STREAM AND POTENTIALLY MAKING ITS WAY INTO OUR ENVIRONMENT WHERE IT CAN THREATEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FROM FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AS WELL AS THE WILDLIFE THAT WE SHARE OUR HOMES WITH, NOT JUST THROUGH ENTANGLEMENT OR ENTRAPMENT, BUT ALSO THROUGH CONTAMINATION WITH MICROPLASTICS, WHICH IS WHAT PLASTICS BECOME WHEN THEY'RE IN THE ENVI ENVIRONMENT.
THEY WILL BREAK DOWN INTO MICROSCOPIC LITTLE PIECES OF PLASTIC THAT CAN BE CONSUMED BY OTHER ANIMALS.
THEY HAVE BEEN FOUND IN FOOD ITEMS THAT WE ALL RELISH HERE IN THE LOW COUNTRY, INCLUDING SHRIMP, OYSTERS, AND FISH, WHICH MEANS THAT THESE UNNECESSARY SINGLE USE PLASTICS ARE MAKING THEIR WAY INTO OUR BODIES AS WELL.
SO SCIENTISTS ARE FINDING THEM VIRTUALLY EVERYWHERE THEY'RE LOOKING IN THE HUMAN SYSTEM.
AND ONCE MICROPLASTICS ARE IN THE HUMAN BODY, THEY ACT AS FOREIGN AGENTS THAT ARE LINKED TO HIGHER RATES OF CANCERS AND DISEASES.
AND ONE OF THE, THE MORE STARLING FACTS FOR ME THAT I CAME ACROSS THROUGH MY RESEARCH ON THIS WAS THAT THEY'RE BEING FOUND IN THE FIRST BOWEL MOVEMENT OF NEWBORN BABIES IN THE FIRST 24 HOURS OF LIFE.
SO THEY'RE LITERALLY MOVING THROUGH OUR ADULT SYSTEMS INTO THE NEXT GENERATION.
NOW WE KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT WHEN IT COMES TO ADDRESSING UNNECESSARY WASTE IN OUR REGION, LOCAL ACTION AS THE GREATEST IMPACT.
THERE'S NO GLOBAL ACTION TO STEM THE TIDE OF UNNECESSARY SINGLE USE PLASTICS.
AND THERE'S NOT REALLY MEANINGFUL ACTION ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL, BUT WE'VE SEEN UP AND DOWN THE COAST OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND THE EASTERN SEABOARD THAT LOCAL COMMUNITIES CAN ACT ON THESE ITEMS. SO WITH THAT IN MIND, BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL ASKED STAFF TO LOOK AT WAYS TO IMPROVE THE 2018 PLASTIC BAG ORDINANCE.
WE PULLED TOGETHER A MULTIDISCIPLINARY WORKING GROUP AND SEVERAL MEMBERS FROM THAT WORKING GROUP ARE IN THE AUDIENCE WITH ME, BRENDA AND JEAN.
UM, AND WE CAME TOGETHER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR COMMUNITY WANTS WITH REGARD TO UNNECESSARY SINGLE USE PLASTICS AND HOW TO ADDRESS THEM.
SO WE CREATED A SURVEY, TWO DIFFERENT ONES, ONE FOR BUSINESSES AND ONE FOR RESIDENTS TO TEST LEVELS OF OPPOSITION AND SUPPORT FOR TAKING ACTION ON FIVE UNNECESSARY SINGLE USE PLASTICS.
AND ALSO TO SOLICIT FEEDBACK ON THE MOST EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR REGULATING THEM, INCLUDING TAKING NO ACTION AT ALL.
THE SURVEYS WERE DEPLOYED JANUARY TO APRIL, JUST UNDER THREE MONTHS EARLIER THIS YEAR.
AND TO ENSURE THAT WE HAD A ROBUST RESPONSE RATE AND WE COULD FEEL, UM, THAT WE COULD TRUST THE DATA COMING FROM THE SURVEY IS REPRESENTING WHAT OUR COMMUNITY WANTS TO SEE HAPPENING.
WE DEPLOYED A MEDIA AND BUSINESS OUTREACH CAMPAIGN, AND THE RESULTS OF THAT WAS THAT WE RECEIVED IN JUST UNDER THREE MONTHS, A WHOPPING 6,200 RESPONSES TO OUR SURVEYS.
NOW, BEFORE YOU ON THE CHART IS THE BREAKDOWN OF THE GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION FROM OUR SURVEY RESPONDENTS.
SO THIS IS BASED ON THE ZIP CODES THAT THEY PROVIDED US.
AND YOU CAN SEE LOOKING ACROSS BOTH PIE CHURCH CHARTS THAT WE HAVE A RELATIVELY EVEN DISTRIBUTION COMING OUT ACROSS BOTH SURVEYS.
ABOUT A THIRD OF THE RESPONDENTS ARE COMING FROM THE HILTON HEAD AND DUSKY ISLAND AREAS.
A THIRD ARE COMING FROM THE BLUFFTON OKEE AREAS.
AND ABOUT A THIRD ARE COMING FROM THE NORTH OF THE BROAD REGION.
AND THIS TRACKS WELL WITH POPULATION TRENDS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
SO IT HELPS ASSURE US THAT THE DATA WE'RE LOOKING AT REPRESENTS A REGIONAL CONSENSUS ON WHAT IS TO BE DONE REGARDING FIVE UNNECESSARY SINGLE USE PLASTICS.
THOSE PLASTICS ARE THICK PLASTIC BAGS, STYROFOAM TAKEOUT CONTAINERS, STYROFOAM CUPS, PLASTIC STRAWS, AND
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PLASTIC UTENSILS.THIS FIRST CHART HERE IS SHOWING RESIDENTS RESPONSES TO THE QUESTION, HOW MUCH SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION DO YOU HAVE FOR ENACTING A COMPLETE BAN ON EACH OF THESE ITEMS? AND YOU CAN SEE IN BROWN, OUR LEVELS OF SUPPORT IN NAVY BLUE ARE LEVELS OF OPPOSITION.
AND WE WERE REALLY AMAZED TO SEE HOW STRONGLY OUR RESIDENTS FEEL ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
SO THEY WANT TO SEE A REDUCTION IN THE ACCUMULATION OF THESE ITEMS. AND SO ACROSS THE BOARD, WE HAVE VERY HIGH LEVELS OF SUPPORT FOR COMPLETE BANS ON EACH OF THESE ITEMS, I PULLED OUR BLUFFTON AREA ZIP CODES BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE MORE RELEVANT FOR YOU ALL.
YOU'D WANNA KNOW WHAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE THINKING, AND IT VIRTUALLY MIRRORS WHAT WE'RE SEEING COUNTYWIDE IN THE TRENDS.
OUR BUSINESSES ALSO HAVE STRONG REACTIONS TO THIS.
AND SO LOTS OF SUPPORT FOR TAKING A COMPLETE ELIMINATION REGULATION ON ALL FIVE ITEMS. BUT IT IS NOTABLE THAT FOR PLASTIC UTENSILS AND PLASTIC STRAWS, OUR BUSINESSES HAD HIGHER LEVELS OF OPPOSITION TO A BAN.
SO THAT, THAT LENDS TO US THE IDEA THAT MAYBE WE NEED TO TAKE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES FOR EACH OF THESE ITEMS. IT MIGHT NOT BE A ONE SIZE FITS ALL SOLUTION.
AND AGAIN, WE PULLED OUR BUSINESSES FROM THE BLUFFTON AREA AND SEE THAT THEY ESSENTIALLY MIRROR THE BEAVERT COUNTY TRENDS.
SO WITH THAT IN MIND, THAT WE MIGHT NEED TO TAKE DIFFERENT TAX WITH DIFFERENT ITEMS. WE DID FORTUNATELY HAVE THE FORESIGHT TO INCLUDE THE QUESTION, WHAT TYPES OF REGULATORY ACTION WOULD BE MOST EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING THESE NON-BIO GRADABLE ITEMS FROM OUR WASTE STREAMS? AND THOSE ARE THE RESULTS BEFORE YOU.
SO SURVEY RESPONDENTS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SELECT NONE OF THESE ACTIONS.
SO TAKING NO ACTION BY REQUEST ONLY REGULATORY ACTION, WHICH ESSENTIALLY MEANS THESE ITEMS ARE STILL AVAILABLE, BUT YOU HAVE TO REQUEST THEM TO RECEIVE THEM.
THEY AREN'T AUTOMATIC CUSTOMER FEE, WHICH IS WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE.
THE FEE IS PASSED ON TO THE CUSTOMER AND A COMPLETE ELIMINATION AND REPLACEMENT IN THE FORM OF A BAN.
WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE RESULTS OUR RESIDENTS PREFER, OR, UM, OUR RESIDENTS FIND THAT A BAN IS MOST EFFECTIVE FOR THICK PLASTIC BAGS, STYROFOAM CONTAINERS, AND STYROFOAM CUPS.
BUT WHEN IT CAME TO THE PLASTIC UTENSILS AND THE PLASTIC STRAWS, WE START TO SEE BY REQUEST REGULATION COME OUT ON TOP AS MAYBE BEING THE MOST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION FOR THIS.
UH, WHICH MAKES SENSE CONSIDERING THE LEVELS OF OPPOSITIONS THAT, THAT WE SAW KIND OF FLUCTUATING BACK IN OUR EARLIER QUESTION.
OUR BLUFFTON AREA RESIDENTS VIRTUALLY MIRROR THIS TREND.
THEY FEEL A LITTLE MORE STRONGLY THAT BY REQUEST ONLY IS THE APPROPRIATE AND MOST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION HERE FOR OUR PLASTIC STRAWS PARTICULARLY.
AND THEN WE TOOK A LOOK AT OUR, OH, HERE WE GO.
I WENT BACKWARDS AND THEN WE TOOK A LOOK AT OUR BUSINESSES.
UM, SO HERE YOU CAN SEE THAT WE STILL HAVE HIGH LEVELS OF, UM, PREFERENCE FOR TAKING A BAN ACTION ON PLASTIC BAGS, STYROFOAM CONTAINERS, AND STYROFOAM CUPS.
BUT BUY REQUEST ONLY COMES OUT ON TOP FOR PLASTIC UTENSILS.
INTERESTINGLY, BUSINESSES FOUND A BAN TO BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION FOR PLASTIC STRAWS, WHERE OUR RESIDENTS WERE MORE PARTIAL TO THAT BY REQUEST ONLY SOLUTION.
AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO BLUFFTON AREA BUSINESSES, WE'RE SEEING A SIMILAR TREND.
AND I JUST WANNA NOTE TOO, AT NO POINT DID TAKING NO ACTION, UM, COME OUT ON TOP.
SO RE IN GENERAL, TAKING A REGULATORY ACTION ON EACH OF THESE ITEMS, UH, WAS THE RECOMMENDED SOLUTION THROUGH THE SURVEY RESULTS.
THIS REFLECTS LARGER LIVE COUNTRY REGIONAL EFFORTS.
WE'VE SEEN ACTION TAKEN ON THESE ITEMS UP AND DOWN THE COAST OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
AND ANY ACTION THAT WE TAKE HERE WILL FIT IN THOSE PROTECTIONS AND HELP PROTECT OUR WATERSHEDS ON A BIGGER LEVEL.
NOW, ON THIS SCREEN, UM, IS A CHART.
AND I PRESENTED THIS AT SO LOW CODE, BUT IN FRONT OF YOU ALL, IT'S AN UPDATED CHART.
WE DON'T WANT TO OVERBURDEN ANYONE WITH REGULATORY ACTION ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS. THE CHART ON THE SCREEN ARE GLOBAL AVERAGES, BUT IN FRONT OF YOU ALL IS A CHART THAT SHOWS PRICE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TRADITIONAL PLASTICS AND ECO-FRIENDLY VERSIONS OF TABLEWARE AND GROCERY BAGS FROM VENDORS THAT WE CAN ALL ACCESS HERE LOCALLY.
WHILE THERE IS AN INCREASE IN PRICE, IT'S REALLY ONLY PENNY'S DIFFERENCE.
I DO WANNA POINT OUT THE VERY LAST ITEM IS ALMOST 10 CENTS DIFFERENCE THERE.
ANY, THE AMENDMENT THAT'S BEING CONSIDERED FOR OUR TAKEOUT CONTAINERS TO GO FROM STYROFOAM TO SOMETHING ELSE WOULD NOT PREVENT ANY BUSINESSES FROM USING TRADITIONAL PLASTICS.
AND SO THOUGH THAT IS A COMPOSTABLE BAMBOO, WHICH WOULD
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BE IDEAL TO GO TO IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GET THE MOST ECO-FRIENDLY OPTION, IT'S, IT WOULDN'T BE REQUIRED.SO THAT COST, UM, CAN BE AVOIDED.
WE ALSO TOOK A LOOK AT CASE STUDIES ABOUT BUY REQUEST ONLY REGULATIONS SO THAT WE COULD UNDERSTAND WHETHER OR NOT IT'S AN EFFECTIVE ACTION TO TAKE.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE FROM RED BANK NEW JERSEY THAT SHOWS LAST YEAR WHEN THEY ENACTED A SKIP THE STUFF ORDINANCE, THEY SAW A 94% REDUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF PLASTIC CUTLERY LEAVING 16 RESTAURANTS.
UM, THAT MEANS THAT OVER 1.5 MILLION PIECES OF PLASTIC CUTLERY WERE PREVENTED FROM ENTERING THE WASTE STREAM, WHICH IS JUST OVER 10,000 POUNDS OF WASTE.
IT ALSO MEANS THAT THERE WAS A 94% REDUCTION IN INVENTORY WALKING OUT THE DOOR FOR THESE BUSINESSES.
AND THAT WAS JUST UNDER A YEAR.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE CLEAR FROM OUR SURVEY RESULTS.
OUR COMMUNITY WANTS TO SEE AN, A COMPLETE ELIMINATION AND REPLACEMENT FOR STYROFOAM CUPS, STYROFOAM TAKEOUT CONTAINERS, AND THICK PLASTIC BAGS.
AND THEY PREFER TO SEE A BUY REQUEST ONLY REGULATION AND ENACT FOR PLASTIC UTENSILS AND PLASTIC STRAWS.
SO THEY'D STILL BE AVAILABLE, THEY JUST WOULDN'T AUTOMATICALLY BE GIVEN AWAY.
SO WHERE IS THE COUNTY IN THE PROCESS OF EXPLORING THIS ISSUE? WELL, RIGHT NOW THE WORKING GROUP IS GOING AROUND AND GIVING UPDATES TO OUR 2018 PARTNERS IN THE PLASTIC BAG ORDINANCE, WHICH BLUFFTON WAS A PART OF.
ALL OF THE MUNICIPALITIES IN BEAUFORT COUNTY DID THAT, WHICH IS A PRETTY NEAT THING.
UM, AND SO WE WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW WHAT THE SURVEY RESULTS ARE AND KIND OF GIVE YOU INFORMATION ABOUT OUR INTENTION WITH THE, THE PLASTIC BAG ORDINANCE.
BUT WE ALSO WANT FROM YOU ALL INPUTS AND FEEDBACK ON HOW WE CAN MAKE THIS THE MOST EFFECTIVE, UH, REGULATION POSSIBLE TO MEET THE GOALS OF REDUCING THESE UNNECESSARY WASTE ITEMS. AND ULTIMATELY, WE'D LOVE TO PARTNER WITH YOU IN THIS EFFORT.
IF BEAUFORT COUNTY IS THE ONLY ONE TO ENACT ANY CHANGES TO THE 2018 PLUS A BAG ORDINANCE, IT'S GOING TO HAVE A REALLY LIMITED EFFECT.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA RELY ON OUR MUNICIPAL PARTNERS TO HELP US WITH THIS EFFORT.
ONCE WE'RE THROUGH OUR ROAD SHOW, WHICH WE'RE ABOUT HALFWAY THERE, WE WILL START TO DEVELOP AMENDMENT LANGUAGE, INCLUDING FEEDBACK AND INPUT FROM YOU ALL AND BEGIN TO CREATE AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
HERE ARE THE SOURCES CITED IN THE PRESENTATION, IF YOU'D LIKE TO DIG INTO ANY OF THIS.
I'VE ALSO GOT THE LINK IN THE TOP RIGHT CORNER TO THE FULL REPORT, WHICH WAS INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA BACKUP.
BUT THAT'S THERE IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO ACCESS IT.
AND I TRY TO GET THROUGH THAT QUICKLY.
ANY QUESTIONS, MR. FRAZIER? I DO.
UM, GREAT INFORMATION AND, AND COLLECTIVENESS.
UM, DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT I SUPPORT.
UM, I SEE THAT YOU HAVE THE LIKE FINDINGS WITH BEFORD COUNTY.
I'M INTERESTED TO KNOW, UM, OUTSIDE OF CHARLESTON COUNTY, HAVE YOU DONE SIMILAR RESEARCH TO SOME OF THE COUNTIES THAT WE NEIGHBOR LIKE CARLTON COUNTY? I KNOW, I KNOW THAT CHARLESTON'S REALLY BEEN THE BIGGEST PLACE TO DO IT.
UM, EDISTO, UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S IN CARLETON COUNTY ANYMORE, SO THEY WOULDN'T COUNT ON THAT.
IT'S BEEN, SO I DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON CARLETON COUNTY, BUT I CAN TAKE A LOOK AND SEE WHAT I CAN FIND.
THE ONLY REASON I ASK IS THAT AS WE, UM, HAVE PUT THAT INTO EFFECT, I THINK WE'VE BEEN COMPLYING WITH THAT THE LAST FEW YEARS.
UM, IT'S BEEN EFFECTIVE FROM THOSE WHO HAVE, YOU KNOW, WHO'VE BEEN, UM, RESPONDING TO IT.
BUT I KNOW WHEN YOU STEP OUTSIDE, NOT TOO FAR FROM US, YOU, YOU SHOP IN OTHER PLACES.
YOU KNOW, IT'S THE OPPOSITE EFFECT WHERE, UM, MANY ARE STILL USING PLASTIC.
SO I ONLY ASK IF YOU'VE DONE DATA COLLECTION FOR NEIGHBORING ONES, JUST TO SEE LIKE HOW THAT IS, UM, HOW THEM NOT HAVING OR NOT USING THAT AND HOW THAT'S IMPACTED US HAS AN IMPACT.
AND I HAVE HEARD, UM, ANECDOTALLY ABOUT JASPER COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE ANY OF THE REGULATION FOR THE PLASTIC BAG IN PLACE.
AND SO THEY'RE STILL AVAILABLE THERE AND WE'LL CROSS COUNTY LINES, BUT OUR COUNCIL HAS ASKED US TO GO TO OUR JASPER COUNTY NEIGHBORS AND INFORM THEM AND SEE IF WE CAN DEVELOP A PARTNERSHIP THERE AS WELL.
THAT WAS GONNA BE MY NEXT QUESTION.
SO YOU DO HAVE PLANS TO GO INTO SOME OF THOSE? YES.
WELL, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WE'VE, FEW OF US HAVE SEEN IT AND IT'S IN OUR PACKET, BUT I WANT TO COMMEND YOU, JULIANA, IT'S, UH, YOU, YOU'RE A GREAT PITCH.
THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IS STELLAR.
I THINK IT, UH, IT, IT DRIVES THE POINT ON CLEARLY AND CONCISELY.
UM, THE ONLY QUESTION I HAD WAS, AND YOU PRE PRE PRESENTED THIS TO SO LOCO, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S EASIER FOR THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, YOUR BOARD CHAIR OR YOUR, UH, COUNTY CHAIR SITS ON THAT, THAT BOARD AND IT'S AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, BUT LOTS OF GOOD THINGS HAVE COME FROM SO LOCO AND ARE YOU CONTEMPLATING MAYBE HAVING SO LOCO HELP THIS INITIATIVE IN SOME WAY TO SEE HOW THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES FEEL ABOUT IT? THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
[00:35:01]
MAYBE TALK TO MAYOR WILLIAMS MM-HMMBECAUSE THAT'S, YOU HAVE US ALL AT THE TABLE AT THE SAME TIME.
AND WE JUST DID A SIMILAR ACTION, UH, UNRELATED TO THIS ON TRI SHARE.
SO LOCO, UM, IT'S NOT MANDATORY FOR ANYBODY, BUT AGAIN, IT'S A, IT'S AN EASIER METHOD TO SEE HOW TO GET EVERYBODY ON BOARD QUICKLY IF, IF THEY'RE SO INTERESTED.
AND SO I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH HIM AND, AND SEE WHAT SORT OF STRATEGIES WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DEPLOY THERE.
AND I WILL SAY, I'M, I'M LIKE MS. FRAZIER.
SAID, IT WAS A VERY THOROUGH AND EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATION.
AND UH, I'M STILL WAITING ON SOME SAME THING I ASKED FOR LAST TIME ABOUT SOME DATA OF WHAT YES SIR.
YOU KNOW, SO KEEP PLUGGING ALONG.
[X. FORMAL AGENDA ITEMS ]
AGENDA ITEMS. UH, NUMBER ONE IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO EXECUTE AND DELIVER SUCH DOCUMENTS, COVENANTS, EASEMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS IMPOSED BY BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL AS PART OF THE GREEN SPACE PENNY PROGRAM OVER CERTAIN REAL PROPERTIES TO BE PURCHASED BY THE TOWN OF TON WITH A SIGNED TAX MAP NUMBERS.I GOTTA READ ALL THOSE PRINTED ON THERE.
SO MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'M, UH, HERE AGAIN TONIGHT AS I WAS LAST MONTH TO GO THROUGH.
I'M GONNA FLY THROUGH THIS VERY QUICK 'CAUSE NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED SINCE LAST MONTH, BUT I DO WANT TO GET TO ONE SLIDE AND HIGHLIGHT JUST, UM, SOME PROGRESS WE'VE MADE IN OUR DISCUSSIONS AND, UM, AND THEN WE'LL GET TO, UH, ACTION ITEMS TOWARDS THE END.
SO JUST AS A REFRESHER, THESE ON ARE ON THE TWO PARCELS THAT Y'ALL APPROVED THE TOWN TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PURCHASING ON, UM, BELOW, UH, BETWEEN ROSE HILL, UH, SOUTH OF WILLOW RUN AND THAT AREA.
UM, WE ARE, UH, COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVE THOSE, UH, FOR THE GREEN PENNY PROGRAM AND REIMBURSE THE TOWN.
UM, AS PART OF THAT, LET ME SKIP TO THE AFTER APPROVAL.
WE HAVE TO ADOPT COVENANTS ONTO THE PROPERTY AND WE HAVE TO DO A GRANT AGREEMENT FOR THE MONEY TO GET REIMBURSED.
UM, THE GRANT AGREEMENT FOR THIS ONE AND THE GRANT AGREEMENT FROM THE FUNDS WE'RE GETTING FROM THE STATE CONSERVATION BANK MIRROR EACH OTHER, UM, OUR LEGAL IN REVIEWING THOSE HAVE NOT HAD ANY CONCERNS.
UM, THE OTHER ONES THAT WE HAVE TO DO IS WE HAVE TO DO A COVENANT ON THE PROPERTY FOR FUTURE USE TO ENSURE THAT IT'S BEING PROTECTED AND BEING PRESERVED AS GREEN SPACE.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO OUTLINE IS THIS SLIDE BECAUSE SINCE THE LAST MEETING WE'VE GONE THROUGH AND WE'VE HAD A COUPLE MEETINGS WITH THE COUNTY TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE USES WE ENVISION FOR THE PROPERTY IN THE FUTURE WITH THE PASSIVE RECREATION TRAILS, ANY OF THAT KIND OF STUFF WILL BE ALLOWED.
UM, WE'VE WORKED THROUGH SOME OF THE LANGUAGE AND, UM, FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT THEY'VE APPROVED.
THAT LIST IS IN FRONT OF YOU NOW.
SO IT INCLUDES NATURE, TRAILS AND BOARDWALKS, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL, HISTORICAL AND LAND USE, PLANNING, EDUCATION, NATURE, VIEWING LOW IMPACT PARKING AREAS, UM, PASSIVE RECREATION, UH, PONDS, LAKES, OTHER PASSIVE RECREATION SUPPORT PARK USES AND OR THAT SERVE AS A STORM WATER.
SO IF WE HAVE TO DO SOME PARKING FOR THE TRAILS AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A LITTLE STORM WATER THAT WILL BE ALLOWED 'CAUSE THAT WASN'T CLEARLY DEFINED PREVIOUSLY, SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS INCLUDED.
UM, AGAIN, ALSO OPEN AIR PAVILION, SHELTERS AND PICNIC AREAS.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS INCLUDED.
SO IF WE BUILT TRAILS THAT THERE WERE PLACES THAT PEOPLE COULD STOP AND PICNIC AND AS WELL, UM, AND THEN ALSO THE BUILDING SIGNAGE AND OTHER SUPPORT STRUCTURES THAT WOULD SUPPORT ANY OF THOSE USES.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS CLEARLY DEFINED SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO COME BACK AND BUTT HEADS ON TRYING TO DETERMINE MEANING OF WORDS HERE IN A FEW YEARS OF WHEN WE DECIDED TO DO STUFF.
UM, WE ALSO, UM, SET OUT SOME CUSTOMIZABLE TERMS BASED ON, UM, THE AMOUNT OF UP AREA SO THAT, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO DISTURBANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PRESERVE AT A MINIMUM 85% OF THE, UH, FOLIAGE WITHIN THE LAND AS IT IS AT THE CURRENT TIME.
SO IF WE BUILD TRAILS, PAVILIONS, OR ANY OF THAT, WE MAKE SURE WE KEEP AT LEAST A MINIMUM OF 85% GREEN FOLIAGE, UH, UH, COVERAGE.
UM, WHICH I DON'T THINK SHOULD BE AN ISSUE WITH WHAT THE PLAN USE THAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT.
UM, AND IT ALSO CONTAINS THE WETLAND BUFFER LANGUAGE THAT IS MIRRORED WHAT COUNCIL ADOPTED EARLIER THIS YEAR WITH THE 50 FOOT BUFFER
[00:40:01]
OFF OF ALL INLAND WETLANDS.UM, AGAIN, UM, THANKFUL TO TERRY AND, AND HIS, BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE COUNTY AND THEIR ATTORNEY TO GO THROUGH THIS.
AND I THINK WE'VE GOT TO A POINT WHERE IT'S, UH, MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL FOR ALL PARTIES.
IT ALLOWS US FOR THE USES THAT WE INTEND, IT PROVIDES THE PROTECTIONS THAT THEY WANT.
AND, UM, WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK ON SOME LANGUAGE, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY PERTINENT TO USES.
IT'S MORE JUST ABOUT HOW WE DEFINE THINGS.
UM, BUT WE FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT WE'RE AT A, A LEVEL THAT SHOULD COUNSEL APPROVE TONIGHT THAT ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE AMENDED OR ADDRESSED WOULD NOT CHANGE THE USES AND THAT LEGAL FEELS THAT THEY ARE COMFORTABLE WITH SIGNING OFF ON THAT WOULD NOT HAVE TO COME BACK TO COUNSEL FOR ANY APPROVAL.
SO WITH THAT, UM, COUNSEL HAS FOR ACTION TONIGHT, THE APPROVAL OF THE TERM OF THE TWO GRANTS APPROVAL OF TERMS FOR THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT.
AND WE'RE DOING THIS THROUGH TWO READINGS TONIGHT WOULD BE THE SECOND AND FINAL READING, OOPS.
UM, AND WE, OUR PURCHASE AND SELL AGREEMENT RUNS THROUGH, I BELIEVE IT'S TOMORROW, UM, FOR THE DUE DILIGENCE.
SO ONCE THAT EXPIRES, WE'LL HAVE 30 DAYS TO CLOSE ON THE PROPERTY AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TIME EVERYTHING WITH COUNCIL APPROVALS TONIGHT TO CLOSE AND PUT THE COVENANTS AND THE GRANT AND EVERYTHING TOGETHER AT CLOSING AND NOT HAVE TO DOUBLE UP AND DO THAT AT A LATER DATE.
MORE THAN GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
IF COUNSEL IS GOOD TO PROCEED, I DO HAVE A RECOMMENDED MOTION COUNSEL QUESTIONS? ANYBODY? MR. HAMILTON? PASSIVE RECREATION.
PASSIVE RECREATION IS ANYTHING THAT IS NOT PROGRAMMED.
SO, SO LONG AS WE DON'T DO THINGS LIKE A SOCCER FIELD WHERE WE WOULD BE PROGRAMMING IT, THAT'S CONSIDERED ACTIVE RECREATION.
SO PASSIVE RECREATION, WE HAVE, EVERY PARK THAT WE'VE BUILT IS COMPLETELY PASSIVE RECREATION.
AND WITH THIS COVENANTAL AGREEMENT, IS IT, UM, GONNA BE DONE IN PERPETUITY? YES, MA'AM.
IT WILL BE RECORDED IN PERPETUITY.
BEEN LOOKING AT THIS FOR, SO WE'RE READY TO CLOSE.
PUT IT, THIS IS OUR FIRST GREEN PENNY APPLICATION, AND I THINK HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE THE LONGEST ONE THAT WE'VE EVER HAD TO GO THROUGH.
UM, WE, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OTHER, UH, THAT'S GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS NOW.
WE'RE HOPING THEY WILL MOVE MUCH QUICKER, UH, WITH NO OTHER QUESTIONS.
SOMEBODY WANNA MAKE A MOTION? UH, MAYOR, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION, UH, AS INDICATED ON THE SCREEN.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
UP NEXT WE HAVE CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 26, ARTICLE TWO OF THE TOWN CODE TO ESTABLISH RULES OF OPERATION FOR SPECIALIZED SECOND FINAL MEETING.
UH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UM, THERE ARE NO CHANGES FROM FIRST READING.
UH, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
I DO HAVE A SUGGESTED MOTION FOR YOU QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL.
MS. FRAZIER, MR. WOOD? NO, NOT AT, NOT AT THIS TIME, NO.
MR. HAMILTON? I HAVE MORE COMMENT THAN A QUESTION FOR KEVIN.
UM, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT Y'ALL, BUT I HAVE HEARD FROM QUITE A FEW PEOPLE, UM, OVER THE LAST MONTH ABOUT REQUIRING ADULTS TO WEAR SEAT BELTS.
I, I THINK IT'S SMART TO WEAR SEAT BELTS, BUT I THINK IT'S UNENFORCEABLE AND I DON'T THINK, UM, WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TRULY ENFORCE THIS.
AND SO THEN I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE CREATING AN ORDINANCE FOR IT.
UM, I MEASURE RESTRICTIONS WHERE GOLF CARTS ARE LEGAL, DO NOT REQUIRE ADULTS TO WEAR THEM.
UM, BUT FOR CHILDREN, THEY DO.
I THINK THIS IS OVER GOVERNMENT AND I DON'T, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, REQUIRE SEAT BELTS FOR ADULTS ON GOLF CARTS.
LIKE WHERE DO WE DRAW THE LINE? DO WE REQUIRE HELMETS ON E-BIKES? WHICH CAUSES PROBABLY MORE ACCIDENTS, UM, THAN ON GOLF CARTS.
AND SO I, I AM OPPOSED TO THAT PART OF THIS ORDINANCE, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IN IT, I AM IN FAVOR OF.
I, I UNDERSTAND I WANNA PUT IT ON, BUT I, IN MY OPINION, I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO REQUIRE IT.
AND JUST OVER THE LAST WEEK OR TWO AS I WAS DREAMING ABOUT IT OR WAKING UP THINKING ABOUT IT, TRYING TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT MADE SENSE, I, IT CAME TO MY MIND.
IT'S LIKE PARENTS SET BY EXAMPLES.
[00:45:02]
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I CAN TELL YOU THAT I'VE SEEN MY OWN KIDS AND OTHER KIDS LEAVING MY YARD OR LEAVING AT THE OYSTER FACTORY OR WHATEVER, CAR MOVING AND NO SEAT BELTS ON.AND I KNOW I'VE SAID IT A THOUSAND TIMES IF I'VE SAID IT ONCE, PUT YOUR BELT ON.
I DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN SAY THAT WE'RE OLD ENOUGH TO RIDE WITHOUT 'EM.
AND THEN THE STATE SAYS THAT ANYONE UNDER 16 HAS TO UNDER 12.
SO YOU CAN DRIVE THE GOLF CART AT 16, BUT UNDER 12.
SO IF YOU, I DON'T KNOW, I, I JUST, I'M GONNA STICK WITH MY GUN AND, AND TO SUPPORT SEAT BELTS FOR EVERYONE.
SO IS THERE ANYONE THAT WANTS TO MAKE A MOTION? WELL, I'D LIKE TO JUMP IN OR COMMENT PLEASE, MAYOR.
UM, HERE, MS. BURDEN, AND I KNOW HOW THE, THIS COUNCIL FEELS ABOUT SAFETY AND, AND THAT'S BEEN THE PARAMOUNT IDEA BEHIND FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THE SEAT BELTS, WHICH I APPLAUD.
UM, I, I GUESS THE BIGGEST THING FOR ME IS, UH, IS THERE A WAY TO DO IT, YOU KNOW, TO EXEMPT ADULTS ON THE FRONT END WHEN WE PASS THIS ORDINANCE? BUT WHAT YOU, YOU HAVE TO DEFINE WHAT AN ADULT IS IF YOU DO THAT, IS THAT CONSIDERED 18 AND ABOVE? WHAT'S AN ADULT IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA? UM, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.
JUST, JUST SO YOU KNOW, THE WAY THAT THE, UM, ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN, IT SAYS ALL OCCUPANTS.
SO IT DOESN'T DEFINE YOUR AGE, IT JUST SAYS ALL OCCUPANTS, THE ONE THAT WE'RE PROPOSING YES.
BUT I'M SAYING IF WE WANTED, IF THERE WAS, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS, IF THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF MODIFYING THAT ORDINANCE FOR EXEMPTING ADULTS, I GUESS WHEN I'M ASKING THE QUESTION WOULD BE IS WHAT, WHERE WOULD THAT DRAW THE LINE? WOULD IT BE 18 OR 16? I MEAN, I, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER.
WHAT ABOUT DRIVER'S LICENSE AT 1666?
MAYBE PHIL'S THERE'S MOVEMENT HERE OR NOT.
IT'S OPEN FOR DISCUSSION IF ANYBODY WANTS.
TO ME, IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO JUST FOLLOWING WHAT THE STATE LAW IS AND WHAT THEY APPROVED.
AND THAT IS CHILDREN UNDER 12.
AGAIN, I THINK IT'S SMART TOO.
AND I THINK ANY ADULT CAN LEAD BY EXAMPLE BY PUTTING IT ON THEMSELVES.
I'M JUST SAYING, I JUST DON'T THINK WE SHOULD REQUIRE IT AND MANDATE IT BECAUSE I TRULY DON'T THINK IT'S ENFORCE ENFORCEABLE AT FIRST.
I'M NOT OPPOSED TO HAVING THE SEATBELT FOR ALL OCCUPANTS, ONLY BECAUSE WE'VE CHANGED THAT CONVERSATION WHERE GOLF CARTS TRADITIONALLY WERE RESERVED FOR USE ON A GOLF COURSE.
AND BECAUSE WE'RE NOW GIVING EXCEPTIONS FOR IT TO BE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH OTHER, UM, OPERABLE MOTOR VEHICLES, UM, I THINK THE SAME SAFETY, UH, MEASURES THAT ARE, ARE RECOMMENDED IN ALMOST THERE, UM, SHOULD FOLLOW UNDER THAT SAME AUSPICES.
BECAUSE IF A PERSON, YOU KNOW, ON A GOLF CART IS, UM, FOLLOWING BEHIND, LET'S SAY A VEHICLE THAT SLAMS ON THEIR BRAKES, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE OCCUPANTS THAT VEHICLE, THE GOLF CART.
SO BECAUSE THEY'RE COMPETING HERE IN A SENSE, UM, ACTING AS A REGULAR VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY, I PERSONALLY DON'T SEE THE, UM, SEE THE, THE DETRIMENT AND ADDING THAT LEVEL OF SAFETY, UM, UH, MEASUREMENT THERE FOR THOSE VEHICLES.
UM, YOU KNOW, I I REMEMBER BACK WHEN I WAS ALL RIDING THE BACK OF THE PICKUP TRUCK, GO TO SAVANNAH, ACROSS SAVANNAH BRIDGE IN THE BACK OF THE PICKUP TRUCK, BUFORD WERE DRIVING
UM, YOU DON'T SEE THAT ANYMORE.
AND I GUESS THERE WAS A REASON FOR IT.
AND I JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY THAT 90% MORE PEOPLE INJURED IN GOLF CART ACCIDENTS ARE FROM LOSS.
WHEN YOU'RE SITTING ON A GOLF CART AND YOU'RE LOOKING BACKWARDS, YOU KNOW, AND SOME OF THEM, YOU KNOW, I GOT ONE, TWO SEATS FORWARD, ONE SEAT BACKWARDS AND WATCHING THE DRIVER OR WHERE YOU'RE GOING WHEN THE DRIVER, WHETHER IT'S AN ANIMAL OR WHETHER IT'S ANOTHER CAR, THEY'RE JUST TALKING AND LISTENING TO THEIR SNATCH SKILL A LITTLE BIT.
YOU MIGHT FLYING VERY EASILY, UM,
[00:50:02]
ADULT OR CHILD.SO JUST TRYING TO THINK OF THESE REAL LIFE EXAMPLES TO CARE.
BUT I THINK THE CHIEF, I THINK LAST TIME YOU PULLED, HOW MANY ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED IN THE LAST YEAR? AND ONE OF THEM I KNOW IS BY TEENAGERS THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DRIVING ANYWAYS.
AND I WANNA SAY IT WAS, I JUST LOOKED IT UP.
CHIEF, WILL YOU GO TO THE MIC? IT I'VE HAD SIX ACCIDENTS SINCE, SINCE 2024.
SO AVERAGING ABOUT THREE A YEAR.
UH, THE MOST RECENT ONE INVOLVED JUVENILES.
UM, AS FAR AS THE OTHER ONES GO, I THINK THAT THERE WAS A MIX BETWEEN ADULTS AND JUVENILES OPERATING THOSE VEHICLES.
UH, I KNOW THAT FOR A FACT THAT THERE WAS ONE ADULT THAT FELL FROM THE, THE, UH, GOLF CART THAT WAS, UH, SERIOUSLY INJURED.
AND THOSE ARE JUST ACCIDENTS THAT ARE REPORTED 'CAUSE WE'D HAVE NO DOCUMENTATION OF UNREPORTED ACCIDENTS WITH THAT.
ANYTHING, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL? IF NOT, IS THERE MAKE A MOTION.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
OKAY, NUMBER THREE, CONSIDERATION AN ORDINANCE IN CHAPTER SIX.
BUSINESS LICENSE AND BUSINESS REGULATIONS APPENDIX, A BUSINESS LICENSE RATE SCHEDULE AND APPENDIX LICENSE CLASS BY N-A-I-C-S CODE OF THE TOWN CODE OF THE TOWN CODE AS REQUIRED BY ACT 1 76 OF 2020.
THIS IS ACTUALLY SECOND READING.
UM, I DIDN'T UPDATE THAT SLIDE.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THERE WERE NO CHANGES, UM, FROM FIRST READING.
AND I HAVE A MOTION AVAILABLE UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL.
NO MOVE AS SHOWN ON THE SCREEN.
OKAY, NEXT CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE MUNICIPAL CODE, CHECK, CONTROL, AND CHECK TO PUBLIC
THIS IS SECOND FINAL READING, MS. HEATHER? YES.
SO SINCE UH, FIRST READING THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES MADE.
SO FIRST READING WAS, UM, LAST MONTH, OCTOBER 14TH.
AND AT THE TIME THERE WAS THE MOTION WAS TO AMEND THE ORDINANCES PRESENTED IN YOUR PACKETS TO REMOVE THE PROPOSED RESTRICTION THAT THE NOISE LIMITATIONS FOR THAT AMPLIFIED NOISE THAT WE HAD BEEN DISCUSSING SPECIFICALLY AND ONLY AT OYSTER FACTORY PARK BE PROHIBITED, UM, AND STOP AT 9:00 PM RATHER THAN 10:00 PM.
SO THE MOTION WAS THAT THAT, UM, LIMITATION BE REMOVED FROM THE PROPOSAL.
SO YOUR UM, PACKET DOES REFLECT THAT.
AGAIN, I'M JUST WAS STRUCK THROUGH THE CHANGE THAT I DID MAKE SINCE FIRST READING.
JUST TO CLARIFY, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS STILL RESOLVE THAT CONFLICT, THE CONFLICTING LANGUAGE FOR SPECIAL EVENTS AND THE NOISE ORDINANCE SO THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN ENFORCE, UM, THOSE LIMITATIONS, THOSE TIME LIMITATIONS.
UM, IT ALSO ADDS INCLUDE, EXCUSE ME, IT KEEPS THE RESTRICTION OF FOUR HOURS OF CONTINUOUS PLAY OF OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT OR MUSIC ONLY AT OYSTER FACTORY PARK AND THEN ALSO STRENGTHENS THE VIOLATIONS.
JUST A REMINDER, THIS IS, UM, WHAT WAS ADDED, THE LAWFUL NOISE LIMITATIONS.
SO AGAIN, THIS IS JUST THE 50 DECIBELS IS MEASURED AT 250 FEET FROM THAT SOUND SOURCE.
AND THE LIMITATION IS, UM, EXCUSE ME, THAT AMPLIFIED MUSIC IS ALLOWED FROM 12:00 PM TO 10:00 PM AND IT ALSO, IF YOU READ THAT LAST SENTENCE, DOES APPLY TO SPECIAL EVENTS UNLESS THE TOWN MANAGER, UM, AUTHORIZES ANY CONDITIONS OR EXCEPTIONS TO THAT SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT.
AGAIN, JUST HIGHLIGHTING THAT THAT EXCEPTION HAS BEEN REMOVED BASED ON THE VOTE AT FIRST READING FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.
AND AGAIN, THIS ALL REMAINS THE SAME.
AND ALSO THERE'S ALSO CHANGES THAT WERE MADE, UM, FOR THE TOWN FACILITIES, PUBLIC PROPERTY, AND SPECIFICALLY
[00:55:01]
OYSTER FACTORY PARK.AGAIN, THAT LIMITATION FOR THE TIMES HAS BEEN, UM, DELETED FROM THE PROPOSAL.
HOWEVER, THAT FOUR HOURS OF CONTINUOUS PLAY STILL REMAINED BASED ON YOUR FIRST READING MOTION UNLESS THERE'S ANY OTHER CHANGES.
THERE'S A PROPOSED MOTION ON THE SCREEN OBJECTION FROM COUNSEL.
MS. BERGMAN, I DO HAVE, UM, UH, SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT WE, UM, STOP THE MUSIC AT 9:00 PM SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
I WAS THINKING LATE FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND THEN AND AMPLIFIED.
ANYONE WANNA FOLLOW UP WITH, I WANNA HEAR IT STATED AGAIN PLEASE FOR CLARITY.
MY SUGGESTION IS THAT WE LEAVE IT AT 10 O'CLOCK ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS AND CHANGE IT TO 9:00 PM SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
YOU GOT A COMMENTS? UM, NO, I'M WAITING TO HEAR WHAT ANYBODY ELSE ELSE SAYS AND HEAR ABOUT.
YOU WANNA COMMENT ON THAT, BUT I CLARIFY, IS THAT FOR TOWN WIDE OR IS THAT JUST FOR OYSTER FACTORY PARK? I WAS SUGGESTING JUST AT OYSTER FACTORY PARK.
'CAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY PLACE I HEAR ALL OF THIS IS JUST THE OYSTER FACTORY PARK, CORRECT? WELL, THE NOISE ORDINANCE IS TOWN WIDE, BUT THEN THERE IS THE EXCEPTIONS HERE ON THE SCREEN SPECIFICALLY ONLY FOR OYSTER FACTORY PARK? YES.
WELL, THE, THE FOUR HOUR DURATION IS ONLY FOR OYSTER FACTORY PARK MAJOR.
I'M FINE WITH THE ORDINANCE AS IS MR. HAM.
IF WE WERE TALKING FROM MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
HE'S SAYING MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, THE TIME CHANGE, NOT SUNDAY.
I THINK DOING SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN DOING NOTHING, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THIS IS A HOT TOPIC AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN ONGOING HOT TOPIC.
UM, PERSONALLY, I I I DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE GONNA PROPOSE THAT I, I COULD ACCEPT THAT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S SHOWING GOOD FAITH THAT WE'RE, WE'RE HEARING TO PEOPLE ON, YOU KNOW, DURING THE WEEK WHEN THEY WANT TO GO TO BED AND ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF THE YEAR WHERE IT'S DARK AT FIVE O'CLOCK, PEOPLE DON'T WANNA BE LISTENING TO SOMEBODY'S MUSIC FOR FIVE HOURS AFTER SUNSET.
UM, DO YOU WANT TO GET HER TO MAKE A MOTION SO THAT INTO A MOTION AND SEE WHERE IT GOES? SURE.
THE SAME EXCEPT FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.
SO BASED ON WHAT YOU SAID IT WOULD, I'VE RECORDED MUSIC, SHE'LL BE PROHIBITED FROM 9:00 PM TO 10:00 AM SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY AND THEN 10:00 PM TO 10:00 AM SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
DOES, DOES THAT CAPTURE WHAT YOU'RE GOING FOR? UH, I DIDN'T CATCH ALL OF THAT.
I THINK THE ONLY THING WE'RE CHANGING IS IF MUSIC HAS TO STOP OR AT NINE SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, RIGHT? YES, HE STATED IT.
SO IS THAT, CAN I MAKE A MOTION TO, YOU WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO, YOU WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND SECTION 13 DASH 38 TO REFLECT LIVE AND RECORDED MUSIC SHALL BE PROHIBITED FROM 9:00 PM TO 10:00 AM SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY AND 9:00 PM OR AND 10:00 PM TO 10:00 AM SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
AND I THINK SAY I MAKE THAT MOTION, I MAKE A MOTION, I MAKE THAT MOTION THAT YOU JUST SAID, AND I JUST WANNA STATE THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE A SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE TO,
[01:00:01]
UM, FIRST READING.SO WOULD NOT REQUIRE THIS TO GO BACK TO AN ADDITIONAL FIRST READING.
SO WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THAT'S GONNA FLY YET, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT, SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MOTION SAYS AT THE MUSIC STOPS AT NINE O'CLOCK SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.
THE MUSIC CAN GO UNTIL 10 O'CLOCK.
CORRECT? THE ONLY EXCEPTION ON TIMING IS FROM MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, SUNDAY, I'M SORRY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY ENDS AT NOT AMPLIFIED.
MUSIC ENDS AT 9:00 PM FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.
IT STAYS UNTIL 10:00 PM BASICALLY ON THIS.
AND IF I HAD MY KEYBOARD TO TYPE HERE, I WOULD DO IT.
AND THE HIGHLIGHTED AREA WOULD SAY LIVE AND RECORDED MUSIC SHALL BE PROHIBITED AS THE TIME MANAGER SAID FROM 9:00 PM 9:00 PM TO 10:00 AM SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.
SO, OR STEVEN, Y'ALL WANT TO PUT THIS IN OR, OR HELP US WITH A SHE WE'RE GOOD.
SHE JUST, SHE JUST SAID THAT SHE WOULD MAKE THAT MOTION.
SO WE HAVE IT RECORDED IN THE MINUTES AND WE'LL MAKE SURE IT'S RECORDED AS WAS JUST MADE, UH, DEFINED.
SO IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THAT DISCUSSION.
UH, MY DISCUSSION WAS, UH, IS THAT I CAN'T SUPPORT IT ON SUNDAY, BUT I WAS SUPPORTED ON MONDAY AND ABOUT TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, MS. I'D SUPPORTED THE ORDINANCE THE WAY IT WAS, UH, WRITTEN FROM FIRST READING.
OKAY, SO WE VOTING ON THE MOTION ON THE TABLE.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
SO THAT THE AMENDED MOTION IS APPROVED THREE TO TWO, BUT THAT, UM, THAT AMENDS WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED.
SO NOW YOU WOULD NEED TO VOTE ON THE AMENDED ORDINANCE.
IS THERE A MOTION TO TO APPROVE THE MOTION? APPROVE THE BALANCE OF THE ORDINANCE.
I MAKE OBJECT TO THE, SAY THAT AGAIN.
I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BALANCE OF THE ORDINANCE, SUBJECT TO THE AMENDMENT.
ANY DISCUSSION? IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION NOW? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
MS. FRAICHER, I DIDN'T HEAR YOU.
'CAUSE I OPPOSE ON THAT ONE TOO.
UP NEXT IS NUMBER FIVE, CONSIDERATION OF INTER GOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH SOUTH CAROLINA MEDICAL INSURANCE TRUST WORKERS COMPENSATION PROTECTION FOR THE TOWN OF STER
SO IF YOU RECALL, I WAS HERE BACK IN JUNE TO DISCUSS US CHANGING OUR INSURANCE PROGRAMS, UM, FOR AUTOMOBILE AND PROPERTY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, FROM IRF TO THE SMURF PROGRAM.
SO THIS IS PART TWO OF THAT CHANGE, WHICH IS, UM, GOING WITH ALSO WITH MASC THROUGH THEIR SMIT PROGRAM FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION COVERAGE.
SO, JUST A QUICK BACKGROUND AGAIN.
SO WE JOINED SMURF, UH, JULY, 2025.
PROVIDES THOSE INSURANCE AS YOU SEE THERE, AND RENEWS ANNUALLY ON JANUARY 1ST.
AND THEN THE OTHER COMPONENT IS THROUGH STATE ACCIDENT FUND.
THEY PROVIDE OUR WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE AND WE'VE BEEN A MEMBER SINCE 2009.
AND THAT ALSO REVIEWED OR RENEWS ANNUALLY.
UM, THIS IS JUST A QUICK SNAPSHOT OF OUR PREMIUMS FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.
UM, IT CAN FLUCTUATE FROM YEAR TO YEAR DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF CLAIMS WE HAVE.
UM, OUR EXPERIENCE RATE FACTORS.
SO THAT'S WHY THE 2025 ESTIMATE WAS A LITTLE BIT HIGH.
UM, BUT IT, UH, LET'S SEE HERE.
ALL RIGHT, SO THEN WE STARTED REVIEWING DIFFERENT, UH, WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE PROVIDERS.
UM, WE REVIEWED THE SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES WORKERS' COMPENSATION TRUST.
UH, WE LOOK AT SELF INSURANCE AND THEN WE ULTIMATELY LANDED ON, UM, MSCS, UM, SMIT PROGRAM.
SO IT PROVIDES SELF-FUNDED WORKERS COMPENSATION PROTECTION FOR MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES.
UM, PART OF THAT PROCESS WE HAD TO DO SELF RISK ASSESSMENTS JUST LIKE LAST TIME.
THEY REVIEWED OUR CURRENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND ALSO HAVE MADE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, FROM LOSS CONTROL STAFF AT MASC.
SO SOME ADDITIONAL SUBMIT BENEFITS, UM, IF WE WERE TO GO WITH THEM.
SO SIMILAR TO THE SMURF PROGRAM, THERE ARE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC SERVICES AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
[01:05:01]
UM, FOR, FOR, UM, SAFE PRACTICES, UM, WE DO GET 5% PREMIUM CREDITS FOR COMPLETING THAT ANNUAL RISK SELF-ASSESSMENT AND THEN ALSO GET AN ADDITIONAL 2% DISCOUNT FOR MEMBERS ENROLLED IN BOTH, UM, SMURF AND SMITH.UM, AND A MATTER OF FACT, YESTERDAY MORNING, UM, THEIT PROGRAM EMAILED OUT THAT THEY'RE RETURNING $2 MILLION AS A RETURN OF SURPLUS.
UM, SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE WOULD ALSO BE ENTITLED TO IF WE JOINED THAT PROGRAM AS WELL.
WE COULD GET, SO THE AMOUNTS THAT YOU SEE THERE, UM, THE, THE STATE ACCIDENT FUND ESTIMATED PREMIUM, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OVERSTATED.
UH, WE DID RECEIVE ARE 2026 ESTIMATE YESTERDAY MORNING IN THE MAIL.
IT'S ROUGHLY ABOUT THE SAME, UH, 297,000 AS MASD.
BUT AS YOU, WHEN YOU FACTOR IN THOSE POLICY DISCOUNTS AND THE, UH, SELF-ASSESSMENT CREDIT, WE WOULD, UM, SEE SOME SAVINGS THERE AT THAT TIME.
SO WITH THE TIMELINE, SO THE SMIT BOARD DID APPROVE THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON ON OCTOBER 8TH, UM, TO JOIN SMIT.
UM, ON 10 23, WE NOTIFIED OF OUR INTENT TO NOT RENEW, UM, TO THE STATE ACCIDENT FUND.
DIDN'T GIVE THEM ANYTHING FORMAL YET.
JUST PENDING YOUR DECISION TONIGHT.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THE PRESENTATION OF TOWN COUNCIL TONIGHT, UM, OUR WORKERS' COMPENSATION COVERAGE WOULD REMAIN EFFECTIVE WITH STATE ACCIDENT FUND THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR.
AND THEN ON JANUARY 1ST, OUR WORKERS' COMPENSATION COVERAGE WOULD BECOME EFFECTIVE.
UH, WITH SMITH, ALL I'VE GOT TONIGHT, UH, THIS IS THE RECOMMENDED MOTION, IS TO, UM, AUTHORIZE THE TOWN MANAGER TO APPROVE THE INTERMENTAL AGREEMENT THAT'S IN YOUR PACKET TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY.
THIS WILL TAKE ONE READING, CORRECT? YEP.
QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL MS. FRAZIER? YES, THAT'S ALL THE, UM, THE DISCOUNT THAT WAS MENTIONED ON THE PREVIOUS SCREEN.
UM, WITH OUR MEMBERSHIP WITH THE MASC, UM, ARE WE SEEING AN INCREASE IN PREMIUMS EVEN WITH THAT DISCOUNT? SO, SO FOR, FOR THE SMURF PROGRAM WE HAVE, UM, WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE, THE INVOICE FOR THAT YET.
UM, SUBMIT FOR THE 2020 SECOND, THIS IS WHAT OUR, OUR AMOUNT WOULD BE FOR THAT FIRST YEAR.
AND THEN YEAH, SUBSEQUENTLY THERE ON OUT, WE WOULD SEE THOSE, THOSE DISCOUNTS EVERY SINGLE YEAR AS LONG AS WE STATE A MEMBER.
THERE'S A MOTION ON THE BOARD IF SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT.
MOTION TO APPROVE THE MOTION AS PRESENTED ON THE SCREEN.
SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVORS SAY AYE.
WE'VE GOT CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE FOR MASTER LEASE.
THE DON RYAN CENTER FOR INNOVATION IN THE REAL FOR REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY THE
LOCATED AT PROGRESSIVE STREET IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
COUNSEL, UH, THIS IS SECOND AND FINAL READING.
THE ONLY CHANGE FROM FIRST READING WAS
GO BACK TO THE, THE LAST SCREEN PLEASE.
SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.
MAYOR, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION AS PRESENTED ON THE SCREEN.
[XI. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS ]
IS THERE ANYTHING ON THIS CONSENT AGENDA THAT ANY OF COUNSEL WOULD LIKE TO PULL? SEEING NONE.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? ALL MOVED.
READ MR. HAMILTON FIRST AND MR. FRAZIER SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[XII. EXECUTIVE SESSION ]
ARE MOVING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOUR.[01:10:02]
PERSONNEL MATTERS REGARDING TOWN COUNCIL APPOINTMENT SUPPORTS, COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS.STOOD TO FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 30 DASH FOUR DASH 70 A ONE AND NUMBER TWO, DISCUSSIONS RELATING TO ARRANGEMENTS PROPOSED LAND ACQUISITION IN THE AREA WITHIN THE BUCK, WALTER, PUD, AND THE NEW RIVERSIDE PUD.
PURSUANT TO FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 30 DASH FOUR DASH 70 A TWO.
NUMBER THREE IS DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED AGREEMENT FOR ENGINEERING SERVICE FOR A CONNECTOR REP IN THE NEW RIVERSIDE MASTER PLAN PURSUANT TO INFORMATION ACT 30 DASH FOUR DASH SEVEN ZERO.
SO IS THERE A MOTION TO MOVE IN SESSION? MOVE A SECOND.
[XIII. ACTION FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION ]
TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT MICHAEL SUTCLIFFE TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION WITH THE TERM STARTING JANUARY 1ST, 2026 AND ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2027.ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
UM, IS THIS A MOTION? I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO SIGN AND APPROVE AN AGREEMENT FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES BETWEEN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON AT BEAUFORT COUNTY AND VILLAGE.
LLC FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES, FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PLANS FOR THE FUTURE CONSTRUCTION OF HOLLY HILL LANE FROM NEW RIVERSIDE ROAD TO THE ENTRANCE OF NEW RIVERSIDE PARK.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? THERE'S A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
I'M MARY CAMPBELL AND THIS IS BEAUFORD COUNTY MOMENTS.
I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FOOD TODAY.
THE FOOD HAS BEEN A GREAT PART OF OUR LIFE IN TERMS OF GATHERING FOOD AND PREPARING THEM.
OUR FOOD IS BASED ON THE LAND AND THE SEA.
THE LAND FOOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN RICE.
WE DON'T FEEL WE HAVE EATEN DINNER UNLESS WE'VE HAD RICE.
RICE WAS MIXED WITH VARIOUS ITEMS FROM THE SEA, LIKE OYSTERS OR SHRIMP.
AND WHEN THEY COOKED WITH RICE IN ONE POT, WE CALLED IT A RICE OR A SHRIMP OR AN OYSTER PERLOW.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE WATERMELONS AND THE SWEET POTATOES.
SWEET POTATOES WAS ALWAYS EATEN WITH FISH AND FRESH FISH WITH GRAVY AND A SWEET POTATO.
OKRA HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR FOOD WAYS WE, WE, WE RAISE THEM AS WELL AS WE PREPARE THEM WITH SHRIMP AND TOMATOES.
AND SOME PEOPLE WOULD CALL THAT A GUMBO.
AND THAT'S WHAT EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.
AND SO ENJOY THE FOOD OF THE LOW COUNTRY BECAUSE IT'S BEEN VERY MUCH A PART OF OUR HISTORY.
THIS HAS BEEN YOUR BEAUFORT COUNTY MOMENT.
TO SEE MORE BEAUFORT COUNTY MOMENTS GO TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY HOMEPAGE AND CLICK ON THE LOCAL HISTORY TAB.