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[I. CALL TO ORDER ]
TO THE ACCOMMODATION TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING, ALLEN SHOEMAKER, MEMBER MIKE ALDI.[III. ADOPTION OF MINUTES]
I'D MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AUGUST 19TH MINUTES.ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
UH, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? PUBLIC COMMENT? OH, PUBLIC COMMENT.
[V. FINANCIAL REPORT]
FINANCIAL REPORT.SHANNON, DO YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE EVERYBODY? CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY.
SO WE HAVE WITH US THIS EVENING, JEREMY BULLOCK.
HE'S THE TOWN'S NEW GRANTS ADMINISTRATOR, SO HE WILL BE ASSISTING ME WITH OUR AT TAX PROGRAM FROM HERE ON OUT.
SO YOU'LL PROBABLY SEE HIM COPIED ON EMAILS.
WE'LL BE STEPPING IN MORE OF A ROLE TO HELP ME OUT WITH THAT.
FROM NOW ON OUR FINANCIAL REPORT, UH, WE'VE RECEIVED OUR FIRST QUARTER OF FY 26 ALLOCATION, WHICH WAS JUST UNDER $280,000.
IT'S ABOUT 10,000 MORE THAN THE SAME QUARTER LAST FISCAL YEAR.
UM, WE'VE TAKEN OUT OUR STATE MANDATED ALLOCATIONS, THE FIRST 25 TO THE GENERAL FUND, THE 5%, THE DMO, AND OUR HOUSING ALLOCATION LAP LAPSED GRANTS FROM LAST FISCAL YEAR, ADDED BACK INTO THAT.
WE HAVE JUST OVER $258,000 IN FIVE APPLICATIONS THIS QUARTER, TOTALING JUST OVER 145,000.
CAN I ASK A QUESTION? UM, THE 15% TO TOWN OF BLUFFTON HOUSING, IS THAT SOMETHING WE'VE, WE'VE ALWAYS DONE? I JUST DON'T REMEMBER.
IT'S FAIRLY RECENT LEGISLATION.
WHERE THE STATE VOTED THAT TO BUMP UP THE WORKFORCE HOUSING, WHICH HAS BEEN SUCH AN ISSUE TOTALLY.
THAT WE ARE ALLOWED TO ALLOCATE UP TO 15% OF OUR COLLECTIONS TO GO TOWARDS THAT PURPOSE.
THE LAPSE GRANTS, THAT, THAT WAS JUST LIKE PIECE PARTS OF THIS ONE DIDN'T FINISH ALL OF IT.
AND THIS ONE, THERE WASN'T ANYTHING LIKE MAJOR.
ARE YOU'RE THE TOTAL FOR THE GRANT? 1 45 IS THE ONES FOR TONIGHT UNDER CONSIDERATION.
[VII.1. Adoption of Calendar Year 2026 Application Due Dates and ATAC Meeting Schedule]
WE HAVE A CALENDAR HERE OF WHEN OUR NEXT MEETINGS ARE FOR NEXT YEAR.MAY I GET SOMEBODY TO MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT? I'D MAKE, GO AHEAD.
I MOVE TO ACCEPT THE CALENDAR AS PRESENTED FOR THE MEETINGS FOR NEXT YEAR.
ANY DISCUSSION? PRETTY MUCH WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW.
I MEAN, THE ONLY ONE I ALWAYS WORRY ABOUT IS ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
DO WE HAVE ANY OLD BUSINESS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF? I DON'T THINK.
SO WE'LL JUST JUMP STRAIGHT INTO NEW BUSINESS AND, UM, HILTON, WHAT ARE THEY HERE? SAM'S FIRST MEETING, UH,
[VII.2. Grant Application Q&A: Hilton Head Choral Society ]
HILTON HEAD CHOIR SOCIETY, CORAL SOCIETY.UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY.
MY NAME IS CHRISTINE SIBLEY HART, AND I AM HONORED TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE
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HILTON HEAD CORAL SOCIETY.I WANNA TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OURSELVES.
WE WERE FOUNDED IN 1975 WITH A MODEST GRANT OF $500 AND A BOLD VISION TO BRING HANDLES MESSIAH TO THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
WHAT BEGAN AS A SINGLE PERFORMANCE HAS GROWN INTO THE ISLAND'S LONGEST RUNNING PERFORMING ARTS ORGANIZATION TODAY, THE CHORAL SOCIETY PRESENTS FOUR MAJOR CONCERTS EACH YEAR IN THE FALL FOR THE HOLIDAYS IN THE SPRING AND ON MEMORIAL DAY SUNDAY.
THESE PERFORMANCES ANCHOR OUR SEASON AND REFLECT OUR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE, REMEMBRANCE, AND COMMUNITY CELEBRATION.
NOW, AS WE MARK OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY, WE CELEBRATE A LEGACY BUILT ON GROWTH AND INNOVATION WHILE LOOKING AHEAD TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES.
OUR HISTORY HAS SHAPED US INTO A VIBRANT INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY, AND OUR FUTURE IS FOCUSED ON EXPANDING OUR REACH, DEEPENING PARTNERSHIPS, AND ENSURING THE ARTS CONTINUED TO THRIVE ACROSS THE LOW COUNTRY.
THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, WE'VE BUILT BRIDGES ACROSS GENERATIONS AND COMMUNITIES.
OUR COMMISSIONED WORK COURAGE SINGS THAT DEBUTED AT THE START OF OUR SEASON THIS YEAR, HONORED THE GULLAH HERITAGE AND INCLUDED A BLUFFTON WORKSHOP LED BY THE COMPOSER, Z RANDALL STROOP, A WORLD RENOWNED COMPOSER THAT ENGAGED LOCAL EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS THAT WAS HELD AT MAY RIVER HIGH.
TWO OF THOSE STUDENTS HAVE NOW JOINED THE CHORUS, HAVING TURNED 18, AND THIS REFLECTS THE KIND OF OUTREACH WE VALUE ROOTED IN MUSIC AND DRIVEN BY COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO SERVE THE REGION THROUGH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, PROVIDING MUSIC FOR HILTON HEAD'S VETERAN DAY AND MEMORIAL DAY SERVICES.
AND THIS PAST SEPTEMBER, WE'RE HONORED TO BE ABLE TO PERFORM AT THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF HILTON HEAD HOSPITAL.
THESE EVENTS REFLECT OUR COMMITMENT TO REMEMBRANCE, GRATITUDE, AND UNITY VALUES WE CARRY INTO EVERY PERFORMANCE.
BUT NOW WE'RE READY TO TAKE A BOLD STEP FORWARD.
ON FEBRUARY 23RD AND 24TH OF NEXT YEAR, WE WILL PRESENT THE WORLD RENOWNED VIENNA BOYS CHOIR AT LOW COUNTRY COMMUNITY CHURCH IN BLUFFTON.
THIS IS OUR FIRST EVER OFF ISLAND CONCERT.
THE VENUE WILL WELCOME UP TO 2000 ATTENDEES OVER TWO NIGHTS, AND THE CHURCH HAS GENEROUSLY PROVIDED ITS FACILITIES TO US WHILE WE'VE HOSTED THE VIENNA BOYS CHOIR.
BEFORE 2026 IS HISTORIC BLUFF IN ITSELF WILL BE THE STAGE PLACING THIS COMMUNITY AT THE CENTER OF A CULTURAL EVENT WITH REGIONAL AND NATIONAL VISIBILITY.
BOYS CHOIR IN BLUFFTON WILL GENERATE MEASURABLE TOURISM AND ECONOMIC IMPACT WITH UP TO 2000 ATTENDEES EXPECTED.
MANY WILL TRAVEL FROM OUTSIDE THE AREA, RESULTING IN HOTEL, HOTEL STAYS.
THEY WILL HAVE THE NEED FOR DINING, AND WHO DOESN'T SHOP WHEN THEY'RE TRAVELING.
THERE WILL BE SHOPPING IN BLUFFTON.
EVEN A MODEST PERCENTAGE OF OVERNIGHT VISITORS WOULD CONTRIBUTE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DIRECT SPENDING TO THE COMMUNITY BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE BENEFIT.
THIS EVENT ELEVATES BLUFF IT'S PROFILE AS A DESTINATION FOR WORLD CLASS PERFORMING ARTS.
WE PARTNER WITH OTHER ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND ALIGN OUR PROGRAMMING WITH COMMUNITY GOALS, DRAWING MUSICIANS FROM NOT ONLY THE ISLAND, BUT BLUFFTON, SAVANNAH, AND BEYOND.
THIS REFLECTS THE RICH TALENT AND THE SHARED COMMITMENT WE HAVE TO THE ARTS THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
THROUGH OUR AFFILIATION WITH CHORUS AMERICA, WE'VE BEEN INVITED TO SING IN DEMOCRACY TWO 50, A NATIONAL INITIATIVE, COMMEMORATING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, 250TH ANNIVERSARY.
WE'RE COLLABORATING WITH LOCAL CHOIRS, CHURCHES, AND HISTORIANS TO BRING THIS CELEBRATION TO LIFE.
ALSO IN THE LOW COUNTRY FINANCIALLY.
THE CHORAL SOCIETY SUPPORTED THROUGH MEMBER DUES, TICKET SALES, DONATIONS, ADVERTISING, SPONSORSHIPS, AND GRANTS.
WE'RE INTENTIONAL WITH EVERY DOLLAR WE RECEIVE, AND WE'RE PROUD THAT THE LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND BY THAT I MEAN BOTH HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND BLUFFTON AS A LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY, HAVE STEPPED UP TO SPONSOR OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON.
THEIR SUPPORT REFLECTS THE VALUE THEY SEE IN OUR MISSION IN A TIME OF NATIONAL ARTS FUNDING UNCERTAINTY, YOU KNOW, THAT LOCAL SUPPORT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE HILTON HEAD, CORAL SOCIETY WILL HELP US SUSTAIN OUR LEGACY, ENGAGE NEW GENERATIONS, AND DEEPEN THE CULTURAL PARTNERSHIPS THAT MAKE THIS REGION EXTRAORDINARY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR CONSIDERATION, AND YOUR STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO THE ARTS WITH YOUR SUPPORT.
BLUFFTON WILL NOT ONLY HOST THE VIENNA BOYS CHOIR FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, BUT WILL SHINE AS A CULTURAL DESTINATION RECOGNIZED ACROSS THE LOW COUNTRY AND BEYOND.
AND TOGETHER WE WILL SUSTAIN HILTON HEAD, CORAL SOCIETY'S LEGACY, AND IMPORTANTLY, ENSURE THAT CHORAL MUSIC CONTINUES TO INSPIRE, CONNECT, AND UPLIFT GENERATIONS FOR A TIME TO MANY GENERATIONS TO COME.
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WILL THE PERFORMANCE ON BOTH NIGHTS BE THE SAME PERFORMANCE, OR ARE THEY SEPARATE FOR, ARE THEY STANDALONE? THEY'RE STAND, THEY'RE THE SAME PERFORMANCE.SO THEY WILL DO ONE CONCERT ON MONDAY NIGHT, AND THEY WILL DO THE SAME CONCERT AGAIN ON TUESDAY NIGHT.
THAT ALLOWS US TO BRING IN, UM, UP TO 2000 ATTENDEES WITH A THOUSAND A NIGHT THOUSAND PER NIGHT.
UM, TICKETS ARE $50 FOR ADULTS, 18 AND UNDER IS 35.
FOR ANY OF YOU THAT KNOW THE VIENNA BOYS CHOIR, YOU WILL KNOW THAT YOU WILL NOT GET TO SEE THE VIENNA BOYS CHOIR FOR PRICES LIKE THAT IN, IN, UH, MOST LOCATIONS.
THEY'RE GOING TO THE BIG CITIES LIKE CHICAGO.
THE TICKETS ARE WAY MORE EXPENSIVE.
I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SEE THEM PERFORM IN VIENNA.
I DID NOT PAY $50 FOR MY TICKET, MUCH LESS RIGHT.
WHEN WILL TICKETS GO ON SALE? TICKETS ARE ON SALE RIGHT NOW, SIR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU KNEW HOW MUCH OF THE $10,000 REQUEST WAS GOING TO BE ALLOTTED TO, UM, ADVERTISING? IT IS GOING TO ADVERTISING.
IT IS GOING TO, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF, UH, OUR, OUR ADVERTISING IS RUNNING AROUND, UH, MEDIA WILL BE AROUND 7,000, PRINT AROUND 2100.
WE'LL BE USING WEB AND DIGITAL, ANOTHER 2,800.
UH, WE HAVE PROGRAMS TO PRODUCE, UH, $5,000.
SO WE ARE LOOKING AT, I'M JUST LOOKING FOR THE TOTAL HERE.
UH, WELL OVER $10,000 FOR THE ADVERTISING.
SO WE COULD CONSIDER THIS $10,000 REQUEST TO GO TO A HUNDRED PERCENT ADVERTISING.
IT WILL GO A HUNDRED PERCENT TO ADVERTISING.
THEN I WILL HAVE A, I HAVE A ONE PAGE LEAVE BEHIND IF YOU DIDN'T CATCH ALL OF MY COMMENTS.
HERE ARE SOME BULLET POINTS FOR YOU, AND PLEASE GO ONLINE AND GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY.
UM, MAY I HAVE A MOTION? WE, CARLOS, THANKS.
UH, MAY I HAVE A MOTION I MOVE TO APPROVE THE, UH, REQUEST FOR $10,000 FROM THE HILTON HEAD CHORAL SOCIETY ON BEHALF OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE VIENNA BOYS CO CHOIR CONCERTS, UM, AND THE, I SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[VII.3. Grant Application Q&A: The New Bluffton Worship]
NEW BLUFFTON WORSHIP.HOW ARE YOU? ARE YOU BY YOURSELF TONIGHT? I'M SO THOUGH, UM, WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING LAST 12 YEARS, I THINK YOU NEED TO, YEAH, THE, THE BIG ONE.
IF THE RED LIGHT'S ON, IT'S WORKING.
I THOUGHT I WOULD MAKE A GRAND ENTRANCE, YOU KNOW,
UM, SO OUR CHURCH NAME IS THE NEW BLUFF IN WORSHIP.
UH, FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS, WE'VE BEEN DOING A CHRISTMAS EVE UNDER THE STARS WORSHIP SERVICE.
UH, FOR THE LAST, I WOULD SAY NINE YEARS WE'VE BEEN HOLDING IT AT OYSTER FACTORY PARK.
UH, WE HAVE HAD A WONDERFUL RESPONSE.
UM, WE HAVE AROUND A THOUSAND PARTICIPANTS THAT COME AND JOIN US TO WORSHIP THAT EVENING.
UM, BUT BEING A STAPLE AND HAVING IT BEING A, A CONSISTENT EVENT IN OUR COMMUNITY, UH, WE HAVE REALLY SEEN THAT PEOPLE LIKE FAMILIES COME FROM OUT OF TOWN.
UH, WE HAVE SEEN REPEAT PEOPLE
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COME, UH, WANTING TO BUILD TRADITIONS AROUND THIS AND COME INTO BLUFFTON AND CELEBRATE WITH US.UM, WE NOT ONLY DO IT WITH THE NEW BLUFF AND WORSHIP, IT'S KIND OF, IT'S NEAT BECAUSE IT'S THE NEW BLUFF AND WORSHIP.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE HISTORIC FIRST SCION MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH THAT DOES IT IN CONJUNCTION WITH US.
UH, SO IT'S, UM, A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER AND PRESENT THAT TO THE COMMUNITY.
UM, OUR CHURCH IS VERY COMMUNITY DRIVEN, NOT JUST THROUGH THIS WORSHIP SERVICE, BUT ALSO WE SERVE, UM, IN OUR COMMUNITY A LOT.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IN OUR COMMUNITY JUST TO KIND OF MAKE A STAND AND, AND MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY KNOWS WHO WE ARE AND, AND THAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT BLUFFTON.
DID YOU SEE AN INCREASE IN, UM, ATTENDANCE LAST YEAR? OR WAS IT ABOUT THE SAME? WHAT DID YOU, WHAT WAS THE DI WOULD SAY YES.
WE DID SEE AN INCREASE IN ATTENDANCE LAST YEAR.
UH, I KNOW MY SON WALKED THE, THE ROAD AND HE SAID, MOM, THERE WERE A HUNDRED GOLF CARTS, UH, ON, YOU KNOW, ALONG THE ROAD THERE.
AND SO WE KIND OF, WE THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND WE WERE LIKE, WELL, EACH GOLF CART AT LEAST HAS FOUR PEOPLE, MAYBE HAVE SIX.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE RIGHT THERE JUST SITTING.
UM, SO IT WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I MAKE A MOTION.
AND, UM, HAPPY THANKSGIVING, BUT ALSO MERRY CHRISTMAS
WE CAN'T PUT OUR, WE CAN'T EVEN PUT OUR LIGHTS UP YET IN MY PLACE.
YOU, RACHEL, JUST GIMME ONE SECOND BEFORE YOU COME.
[VII.4. Grant Application Q&A: Congregation Beth Yam ]
OKAY.RACHEL, YOU WANNA INTRODUCE ME OR CAN I INTRODUCE MYSELF? YOU CAN INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING FOR CONGREGATION BETH YAM.
WE ARE BEAUFORT COUNTY'S ONLY FULL SERVICE SYNAGOGUE.
UM, AND WE'RE HERE THIS EVENING, UM, WITH OUR ASK FOR OUR THIRD ANNUAL BLUFFTON HANUKKAH CELEBRATION, WHICH IS IN MARTIN FAMILY PARK.
UM, WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON AGAIN FOR THIS PROGRAM.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE IN OUR APPLICATION, WHICH YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, OUR TOTAL SHARE IS $7,770 AND 25 CENTS.
UM, THE BULK OF THE ASK IS FOR ADVERTISING DOLLARS.
UH, WE WILL BE ADVERTISING IN LOCAL LIFE MAGAZINE, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN SUBMITTED, THE BLUFFTON AND THE HILTON HEAD SUN.
UM, WE'LL ALSO BE USING SOCIAL MEDIA FOR ADVERTISEMENT THIS YEAR, AS WELL AS OUR COLOR POSTERS, WHICH GO UP ALL AROUND TOWN AND LOCAL BUSINESSES.
UM, AND ALSO WE DO PUT SOME ON THE ISLAND AS WELL, UM, FOR PEOPLE TO COME FROM THE ISLAND TO THIS, UM, EVENT.
UM, AND THEN, UM, WE DO HAVE SOME, UM, FACILITIES, UM, UH, AMOUNTS THAT WE HAVE LISTED IN HERE BECAUSE WE ARE IN MARTIN FAMILY PARK.
PART OF THIS CELEBRATION, UM, FOR HANUKKAH INCLUDES MUSIC, AND IT'S VERY FESTIVE.
SO WE HAVE A STAGE THAT WE BRING IN FOR OUR BAND.
UM, AND SO WE, WE NEED THE STAGE RENTAL CHAIRS AND TABLES FOR PEOPLE TO SIT.
UM, AND THEN WE DO, UM, HAVE SWAMP FIRE RECORDS, WHICH IS JOHN CRANFORD COME IN AND HE'S OUR, UM, SOUND GUY FOR THAT EVENING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY CAN HEAR EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.
UM, AND THEN, UM, AS ALWAYS, WE TAKE SECURITY VERY SERIOUSLY, UM, ESPECIALLY IN RECENT, YOU KNOW, TIMES.
AND SO WE DO REQUEST THE SUPPORT OF LHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND WE NORMALLY, UM, SPEAK TO THEM DIRECTLY WHEN WE ORGANIZE THAT.
AND I BELIEVE WE'VE ALREADY REACHED OUT TO THEM TO PREARRANGE THIS EVENT.
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WE DID, UH, PRE-ARRANGE FOR THIS YEAR THAT WE DID NOT, UH, DO IN PREVIOUS YEARS IS A RAIN OUT LOCATION.UM, SO, UH, WHILE I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CHRISTIE FOR HOSTING US AT THE VERY LAST, SECOND, LAST YEAR WHEN IT RAINED, UM, THIS YEAR WE HAVE PRE, UH, RESERVED, UH, THE ROTARY CLUB, OSCAR FRAZIER PARK, AND IT'S ON ALL OF OUR ADVERTISEMENTS AS THE RAIN OUT LOCATION.
SO GOD WILLING, THAT MEANS THAT IF IT'S RAINING, EVERYONE KNOWS WE WILL BE THERE AND IT SHOULD NOT AFFECT OUR NUMBERS.
ANY QUESTIONS? YEAH, I, SO YOU'RE PUTTING POSTERS, I'M SORRY? YOU'RE PUTTING POSTERS MOSTLY IN BLUFFTON, BUT A FEW ELSEWHERE? YEP.
SO WE PUT SOME OUT IN BLUFFTON.
UM, WE PUT SOME OUT IN RIDGELAND, WE PUT SOME IN BEAUFORT, WE PUT SOME ON THE ISLAND.
WE KIND OF SPORADICALLY PUT THEM AROUND, BUT THEN WE ALSO USE A LOT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ADVERTISING IS WHAT WE'RE PLANNING TO USE THIS YEAR.
AND SO THEN LAST YEAR YOU SAY YOU HAD A TOURISM PERCENTAGE OF ABOUT 38%? YEAH, OUR NUMBERS LAST YEAR WERE VERY MUCH SKEWED.
AND I THINK I HAVE SOME NOTES THAT ARE THERE FROM LAST YEAR, BECAUSE WE HAD TO MOVE OUR LOCATION WITH LESS THAN 48 HOURS NOTICE BECAUSE OF THE RAIN.
SO WE JUST, HONESTLY, WE DIDN'T HAVE, WE MEASURED IT.
I MEAN, WE TOOK EVERYBODY'S ZIP CODE WHEN THEY WALKED IN, BUT WE JUST WERE NOT ABLE TO GET THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WE THOUGHT WE WOULD GET IN THE FIRST PLACE, SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAD TO PIVOT OUR LOCATION WITH LESS THAN 48 HOURS NOTICE.
'CAUSE IT WAS TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR.
I I WAS JUST MAKING SURE I WE'RE GETTING OUR NUMBERS CAPTURED CORRECTLY.
YES, WE WERE TAKING ZIP CODES AT THE DOOR AND WHAT WE DID THE YEAR PRIOR WHEN WE HAD IT IN MARTIN FAMILY PARK, WHERE WE HAD OVER 300 ZIP CODES THAT WE CAPTURED, I BELIEVE, OR 2 97, MAYBE IT WAS, IT'S IN HERE SOMEWHERE.
UM, WE HAD PEOPLE AT ALL FOUR ENTRANCES TO THE PARK, AND WE WERE COLLECTING ZIP CODES THERE AS WELL.
ONE, ONE QUESTION I HAVE, UM, THE LAST TWO YEARS, YOU'VE HAD A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE GRANT HAS LAPSED BECAUSE IT WASN'T SPENT.
CAN WE, I COULD SPEAK TO IT FOR LAST YEAR.
WELL, FOR LAST YEAR, AS IT'S NOTED IN THE CHART THAT I SUBMITTED THE RENTALS, YEAH.
I SUBMITTED A WHOLE, YEAH, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE EXPENSE FOR THE RENTALS BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T USED.
UM, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT ASK WAS $900.
UM, CAPTAIN FERELLI PUT UP THE SIGNUP FOR IT HERE.
I HAVE A WHOLE EXPLANATION RIGHT HERE.
THE TABLE AND CHAIR RENTALS WERE CANCELED DUE TO THE RAIN OUT EVENT.
UH, WE CALLED THE RAIN OUT OF EVENT OVER 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE, SO WE WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE A REFUND, SO WE DIDN'T NEED TO USE THOSE FUNDS.
THE BLUFF AND SUN AD WAS NOT RUN DUE TO SOME REORGANIZATION OF CHAIRPERSONS WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION AND THE DEADLINES OF THE PUBLICATION.
THEY'RE ALSO A CORRESPONDENT FOR THE HILTON HEAD AND BLUFF AND SUN NOW.
SO WE'LL ALSO HAVE AN ARTICLE ABOUT HANUKKAH AT NO ADDITIONAL COST.
UM, LAST YEAR WE UTILIZED SOME FREE SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING WITH LOCAL GROUPS.
THIS YEAR WE'VE DECIDED TO INVEST WITH PAID ADS FOR LARGER ROI, UM, BLUFFTON PD POSTED FIVE OFFICER SLOTS TO FILL LAST YEAR, ONLY TWO OFFICERS SIGNED UP.
WE WILL ARRANGE TO A CAPTAIN FERELLI FOR THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE WILL REQUIRE EXTRA SECURITY GIVEN RECENT EVENTS IF BLUFFTON POLICE DEPARTMENT CANNOT FILL THE SPOTS.
WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH ISLAND SECURITY FOR OUR SYNAGOGUE, AND WE WOULD HAVE TO HIRE THOSE ADDITIONAL SECURITY.
AND I EVEN HAVE A QUESTION HERE THAT SAID, WOULD THAT BE REIMBURSABLE VIA AT E IF WE NEEDED TO USE THEM TO FILL THE VACANCIES? UM, THAT WAS UNEXPECTED ON OUR PART.
IT WASN'T TOLD TO US BY BLUFFTON POLICE.
SO WHEN WE SHOWED UP TO ONLY TWO OFFICERS, WHEN WE ASKED, WHERE'S THE REST? AND THEY SAID, THESE WERE THE ONLY ONES THAT GOT FILLED.
SO THAT'S, THAT WAS WHY WE ONLY USED SOME OF THAT MONEY.
BUT YOUR REQUEST IS SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR, ISN'T THAT CORRECT? MY NO.
IS IT THE SAME? IT'S MORE, IT'S MORE BECAUSE WE'RE RAMPING UP OUR ADVERTISING AND THIS YEAR IT'S TWICE THAT.
CAN A SECOND? OH, THAT WAS OUR DISCUSSION.
DID WE, I DIDN'T THINK WE DID IT.
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MOVE.SAM, MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE? OKAY.
YOU, YOU HAVE A MOTION I MOVE TO ACCEPT THE APPLICATION, UM, FROM CONGREGATION BETH YAM FOR ACCOMMODATION TAX GRANT AND THE AMOUNT OF $7,770 AND 25 CENTS FOR THE, UH, HOLIDAY, UM, HANUKKAH CELEBRATION FOR 2025.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[VII.5. Grant Application Q&A: Farmer's Market of Bluffton]
FARMER'S MARKET.HOW ARE YOU? HAVEN'T SEEN YOU SINCE LAST YEAR, SO NICE TO SEE EVERYBODY.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FARMER'S MARKET.
UM, AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN AROUND SINCE 2008, SO WE'VE BEEN AROUND A WHILE.
UM, IF YOU'VE BEEN DOWNTOWN ON A THURSDAY AND TRY TO FIND PARKING OR TRY TO GET IN A RESTAURANT OR GO INTO A STORE, UM, YOU, YOU CAN ATTEST TO THAT.
UM, THIS YEAR WE ARE PRETTY MUCH COMING BACK FOR THE SAME THING THAT WE HAVE IN YEARS PAST FOR OUR ADVERTISING.
ONE THING WE WANNA DO DIFFERENT THIS YEAR IS REALLY UP OUR ADVERTISING AND MARKETING GAME, UM, WHICH IS GONNA TAKE SOME THINGS OFF OF MY PLATE FOR ME TO DO SOME MORE IMPORTANT THINGS LIKE GET OUT TO SAVANNAH AND BEAUFORT AND THE HOTELS AND THE RV PARKS, WHICH WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE FOLKS COMING TO THE MARKET FROM.
UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO, UM, SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY ON HIRING A MARKETING, UM, COMPANY TO COME IN AND HELP US A LITTLE BIT WITH OUR MARKETING, UM, UP OUR GAME IN TERMS OF OUR MARKETING PLACEMENT, SEE WHERE WE NEED TO BE, MAKE SURE WE'RE SPENDING ALL OF THIS MONEY EXACTLY WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO.
UM, IN YEARS PAST, WE'VE HAD TROUBLE SPENDING OUR ENTIRE ASK BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
WE ARE PRETTY MUCH A HAND TO MOUTH KIND OF ORGANIZATION.
SO A LOT OF THE FUNDS THAT WE COLLECT AS A NONPROFIT ARE VERY MINIMAL.
AND IN ORDER FOR US TO SPEND THAT MONEY ON ADVERTISING, WE NEED TO HAVE IT IN HAND TO SPEND, TO ASK FOR IT TO BE REIMBURSED.
UM, ONE THING THAT WE'VE CHANGED THIS YEAR, AND WE'RE DOING A LOT BETTER WITH THAT, AND NEXT YEAR IS I PROMISE WE'RE GONNA SPEND IT ALL.
WE'VE BEEN, UM, REALLY WORKING ON OUR SPONSORSHIPS, OUR CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS, UM, OUR ANNUAL SPONSORSHIPS, WHICH IS HIGH DOLLAR FOR US.
AND I THINK WE'LL HAVE TWO FOR NEXT YEAR.
WE HAD ONE FOR THIS YEAR, WHICH IS A LOT OF MONEY FOR US, UM, AS WELL AS OUR MARKET DAY SPONSORSHIPS, WHICH ARE $175 PER MARKET.
SO THE ASK THAT I'M ASKING IS FOR 49 EVENTS.
IT'S NOT JUST ONE EVENT, IT'S 49 EVENTS.
AND ON AVERAGE, WE ESTIMATE ABOUT 1500 PEOPLE COMING THROUGH THERE.
AND THE WAY THAT WE ESTIMATE THAT IT'S, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT ENTRANCES, IS BASICALLY JUST THE OLD FASHIONED WAY WITH A LITTLE CLICKER EVERY HOUR AND A HALF, WE ESTIMATE PEOPLE TO BE THERE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND HOUR AND A HALF, GO BY, CLICK COUNT, DO THAT ON A REGULAR BASIS, DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE SEASON.
SO WE KIND OF, UM, AVERAGE THAT OUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
UM, WE'LL CONTINUE WITH ALL OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA EFFORTS, ALL OF OUR ADVERTISING IN OUR MAGAZINES.
UM, WE'D LIKE TO DO A LOT MORE.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BILLBOARDS IN THE PAST.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS SAVANNAH AIRPORT KIOSK.
I THINK ABOUT THAT EVERY TIME I GO OUTTA TOWN AND I'M WAITING FOR MY LUGGAGE, IT WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE TO, TO HAVE THE FARMER'S MARKET MARKET THERE.
UM, SO BY HAVING SOMEONE COME IN, KIND OF HELP US GET OUR OUR ADVERTISING IN PLACE, UP OUR GAME, THERE'S A LOT OF NEW THINGS GOING ON.
WE WANNA KEEP UP WITH ALL THOSE GREAT REGIONAL FARMERS MARKETS.
WE'RE KNOWN AS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE STATE.
UM, WE'VE APPLIED FOR A LOT OF OTHER GRANTS.
WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED A $5,000 GRANT FROM AG SOUTH, WHICH IS GONNA BE FOR OUR CHILDREN'S PROGRAM FOR NEXT YEAR.
THAT WILL BE PART OF OUR ADVERTISING THAT WE'RE GONNA NEED SOME HELP WITH.
UM, BUT THAT'S GONNA BRING KIDS, IT IS GONNA BE FOCUSED ON THE SUMMERTIME, THE KIDS, THE FAMILIES THAT ARE COMING TO HILTON HEAD TO SAVANNAH TO BEAUFORT, BRING THEM ALL TO BLUFFTON FOR THAT DAY, TEACHING THE KIDS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM AND, AND HAVING A LITTLE FUN DOING THAT.
SO PRETTY MUCH THE SAME ASK US LAST YEAR.
UM, JUST WANTED TO REALLY UP OUR GAME THIS YEAR.
I THINK WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING, IT'S INCREASED EVERY SINGLE
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YEAR.WE'RE GETTING BETTER, UM, AT WHAT WE'RE DOING.
BUT I THINK WE'VE GOT SOME ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENTS.
AND WITH ME BEING A ONE MAN BAND WITH SOME GREAT SUPPORT ON THURSDAYS, WE HAVE A BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
BUT I THINK BRINGING SOMEBODY IN TO, TO UP OUR GAME A LITTLE BIT IS REALLY GONNA HELP.
UH, WE APPROVE THE FARMER'S MARKET OF BLUFFTON REQUEST FOR $66,500 FOR THE 2026 MARKET SEASON.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[VII.6. Grant Application Q&A: May River Theatre, Inc.]
MAY RIVER THEATER.OH, UM, I AM ELIZABETH SCHLAGER.
I AM OUR BOARD CHAIRPERSON FOR MAY RIVER THEATER.
UM, WE ARE HERE TO DO OUR ASK FOR THE ROYALTIES AND, UM, ADVERTISING FOR THE ENTIRE 2026 SEASON IS WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
UM, IT'S REALLY CLOSE IN LINE TO WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR, UM, WHERE WE ARE SEEING SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES.
UM, OUR NEWEST BOARD MEMBER, UM, IS A RETIRED MARKETING SPECIALIST.
UM, SO WE'VE REALLY, I YOUR THINGS, UM, UPPED ON FOCUSING ON OUR SPONSORSHIP.
UM, WE'VE ALREADY BEEN SUCCESSFULLY, UM, OBTAINING A SPONSOR FOR OUR NEXT SEASON.
UM, AND OUR PARTNERING WITH OCON WITH MANY, UM, LIKE A DINNER AND SHOW TYPE PACKAGE.
UM, WE CONTINUE OUR WORK WITH THE GULLAH TRAVELING THEATER AND HOSTING THEM FOR ONE PRODUCTION A YEAR.
UM, LET'S SEE, THIS PAST SUMMER OUTSIDE OF OUR MAIN SEASON, WE HAD OUR FIRST 10 MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL, UM, WHERE IT'S PEOPLE WRITING 10 MINUTE PLAYS AND THEN PRODUCING THEM, UM, IS REALLY EXCITING BECAUSE THREE OF OUR PLAYWRIGHTS WERE, UM, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
SO IT WAS ABLE TO GIVE THEM CHANCE TO WRITE, TO DIRECT, AND REALLY KIND OF SEE THEIR THINGS COME TO LIFE.
SO THAT'S KIND OF, KIND OF, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE OUTSIDE OF OUR MAIN SEASON, BUT THE SUPPORT OF OUR MAIN SEASON LETS US CONTINUE TO DO SOME OF THOSE.
UM, WE'VE STARTED BRINGING IN AN IMPROV GROUP OUT OF SAVANNAH THAT IS THEN ALSO PULLING IN OTHER PEOPLE.
AND I THINK MY FAVORITE STORY IS OUR SUMMER SHOW.
WE HAD SOMEBODY COME AND THEY'RE LIKE, I SAW YOU'RE DOING THIS SHOW AND WE DROVE EIGHT HOURS TO GET HERE,
SO ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? OKAY.
Y'ALL ARE MAKING THIS EASY TONIGHT.
I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE MAY RIVER THEATER, UH, 2026 PERFORMANCE SEASON REQUEST OF $49,764.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERED CONTINUED SUPPORT.
[VIII.1. ATAC Bylaws Updates ]
SO NOW WE ARE GONNA HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE BYLAWS.AND THIS IS JUST GONNA BE A BRIEF DISCUSSION BECAUSE IT'S HERE.
I JUST SAID THAT, UM, THIS WOULD BE A BRIEF CONVERSATION JUST 'CAUSE MOST HA HALF OF US ARE IN A HERE ALMOST.
[00:35:25]
SO LIKE, UM, UNDER THE SECOND SECTION WHERE IT SAYS A SECRETARY SHALL ALSO BE APPROVED, IS THAT ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE COULD TAKE OUT? 'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A SECRETARY.I THINK JOINED BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE, I WANTED TO BECOME THE SECRETARY SOLDIER.
READY? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
UNANIM, YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS? DON'T NOTES.
THAT ALSO MEANS THAT YOU ARE NOW THE CHAIR, THE VICE CHAIR.
ALSO AT THE SAME TIME, UPON REVIEW OF MY PREVIOUS COMMENT,
WELL, I MEAN, THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS I THINK THAT COULD HAVE A LITTLE TWEAKING.
I DON'T THINK ANYTHING IS HUGE THOUGH.
DOES ANYBODY ELSE? I DON'T SEE ANYTHING, ANYTHING.
DOES THE WHOLE COMMITTEE HAVE A COPY OF THE PACKET FOR THE NIGHT? IT WAS IN, MINE WAS IN THE PACKET.
I JUST MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAD A CHANCE.
SO PERHAPS WE COULD JUST TABLE THIS TILL NEXT MEETING AND GIVE EVERYBODY A CHANCE TO REVIEW AND DISCUSS IT.
AND JUST KNOW WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TO, TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING IN HERE THAT WE'RE DOING THAT WE SHOULDN'T.
AND MAKE SURE THAT SOMETHING THAT MAY BE IN HERE, LIKE TIMING CORRECTED
SO MAKE IT IT AS ANY CHANGES BEFORE THE FEBRUARY OUR NEXT MEETING IS IN FEBRUARY THAT FAR AWAY.
WE'LL TABLE IT AND MAYBE I'LL SEND AN EMAIL OUT TO EVERYBODY JUST TO REMIND EVERYBODY TO LOOK AT THIS AND UNDERLINE, HIGHLIGHT SOME IDEAS TO BRING INTO OUR NEXT MEETING.
SO THAT BEING SAID, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? I MOTION TO A, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.