[00:00:01]
[I. CALL TO ORDER]
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29TH, I MEAN DECEMBER 9TH, 2025.WE'LL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
WE'LL START WITH A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, FOLLOWED BY THE INVOCATION ALLEGIANCE WHO FIGHT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA INTO REPUBLIC FOR RICHES STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
HEAVENLY FATHER COME TO YOU TODAY AND JUST THANKING YOU FOR THE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF THINGS THAT YOU DO EVERY DAY TO KEEP US SAFE, TO KEEP US HAPPY, AND GET ALONG AND UNDERSTAND ONE ANOTHER AS WE GO INTO THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.
I JUST PRAY THAT YOU WATCH OVER EVERYONE'S FAMILY AND MOST, LIKE MOST OF ALL, THOSE ONES WHO AREN'T AS FORTUNATE AS SOME OTHERS.
I PRAY THAT YOU WILL WATCH OVER THE HAMILTON FAMILY AS THEY'VE HAD A ROUGH GO HERE THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.
YOU KEEP BROTHER FRED IN YOUR SIGHTS AND, AND YOUR HAND ON HIS HEAD.
SO THESE THINGS AND ALL WE ASK IN JESUS NAME.
[IV. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES]
NOW TO THE ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES MANAGERS.ARE ANY, UH, CHANGES? NO, SIR.
NONE FROM STAFF UNLESS COUNSEL HAS ANY YOUR A MOTION.
NEXT WE GOT PRESENTATION, CELEBRATIONS,
[V. PRESENTATIONS, CELEBRATIONS, AND RECOGNITIONS]
AND RECOGNITIONS.I GUESS YOU GOT ALL THAT DOWN THERE.
SO THIS IS THE, THE STATE OF MIND AWARD.
WE HAVE ANYONE FROM COME ON UP.
WHERE'S ASHLEY? SHE, SHE'S, I THINK, STUCK IN TRAFFIC
PALM PALMETTO PEDIATRICS HAVE HAS SIX BOARD CERTIFIED PROVIDERS CARING FOR FAMILIES ACROSS THE REGION.
ELMONT PEDIATRICS HAS BEEN SERVING THE LOW COUNTRY SINCE 2022.
SO WHY DON'T YOU TELL 'EM EVERYTHING ELSE THAT YOU GUYS DO? OH, YEP.
AND DR. ALBERT, WE GOT ONE MORE TOO.
Y'ALL WANNA COME UP HERE? SURE.
CAN'T GET THIS UNLESS YOU TELL EVERYBODY WHY YOU'RE GETTING IT.
WHAT DO WE DO AT POTO PEDIATRICS?
CARE FOR ALL THE CHILDREN IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I KNOW MINE COME UP THERE TO SEE YOU GUYS
SO I GUESS YOU KEEP 'EM SMILING, KEEP 'EM OUT OF PAIN.
KEEP 'EM HEALTHY MOST OF THE TIME.
YEAH, WHEN WE'RE NOT DOING SHOTS.
SO HOW DO YOU MAKE 'EM NOT SCREAM AND HOLLER WHEN YOU'RE WORKING ON I TRY TO BRIBE 'EM WITH BANDAIDS AND MOOP.
AND I THOUGHT I WAS LAUGHING DOWN.
WHOEVER'S, WHO WAS IT? OH, DOESN'T MATTER.
YOU GUYS DO A GREAT JOB AND THANK YOU.
AND IF YOU DON'T MIND SAYING FOR GROUP PHOTO AT THE END.
OKAY, UP NEXT WE HAVE THE BEST FLOAT OUTDOOR EMPIRE SHOW.
OUTDOOR EMPIRE IS A LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED FULL SERVICE, RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPING COMPANY.
OUTDOOR EMPIRE HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS SINCE 2022, LOCATED ON MAY RIVER ROAD.
SERVICE SERVICES SUCH AS PAVERS, PINE STRAW, CONCRETE, IRRIGATION, FORESTRY, MULCHING, AND LAWN MAINTENANCE ARE OFFERED.
SO WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD A LITTLE MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU GUYS DO? I MEAN, WE PRETTY MUCH LIKE TO DO EVERYTHING OUTDOOR, SO WE'RE GONNA BE ADDING A LITTLE BIT MORE TO THOSE SERVICES, UM,
[00:05:01]
YOU KNOW, YEAR BY YEAR, SO.IF YOU DON'T MIND SAYING FOR UP NEXT, WE HAVE BEST PERFORMANCE MAY RIVER HIGH SCHOOL, WINTER CHEER TEAM COME ON UP.
MAY RIVER WINTER CHEER TEAM IS MADE UP OF STUDENTS IN GRADES NINE THROUGH 12.
THESE ATHLETES PUT IN APPROXIMATELY 12 AND A HALF HOURS OF PRACTICE EACH WEEK.
YOU CAN CATCH THEM IN ACTION AT THE MAY RIVER HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GAMES, CHEERING ON BOTH THE GIRLS AND THE BOYS TEAMS. SO, I'M GONNA WALK OVER HERE AND I THINK MAYBE Y'ALL COULD DO A LITTLE CHEER FOR EVERYBODY.
DON'T MESS WITH, DON'T MESS WITH US.
SO WHO'S GONNA HOLD THIS AND GET A PICTURE? ALL OF US
YOU WANNA HOLD IT UP FRONT? ALL RIGHT, YOU READY? 1, 2, 1, 2, 3.
I GET EVERY, ALL THE OTHER WINNERS.
NEXT WE HAVE A STUDENT OF THE MONTH AND RETA, IF I SAID THAT RIGHT? IS SHE HERE? MR. OH, HERE YOU GO.
SHE'S 12TH GRADE FROM BUFTON HIGH SCHOOL WITH A TRAIT OF COURAGE AND TOLERANCE.
SO TELL US, WE, SO SHE WAS, APOLOGIZE, SHE'S NOT HERE.
THE FAMILY WAS HOPING THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO JOIN US TONIGHT, BUT THEY HAD SOMETHING COME UP.
BUT, UM, SERENE, UH, WAS A STUDENT AS SHE'S RECEIVING THIS FOR COURAGE INTOLERANCE.
UH, AS MAYOR TOMER SAID, UH, THE STORY IS, UH, SHE ARRIVED HERE, UH, LAST YEAR WITH HER FAMILY, UM, AND HAS HAD TO TAKE ON THE CHALLENGE OF LEARNING
[00:10:01]
A BRAND NEW LANGUAGE.UM, AND SHE TACKLED, UM, AND SHOWED GREAT PERSEVERANCE AND COURAGE AND TAKING ON EVERYTHING THAT, THAT THAT CHALLENGE, UM, UH, WAS PLACED IN FRONT OF HER.
AND SHE HAS STEPPED UP AND STARTED, UM, SUPPORTING OUR NEW SHOW PROGRAM.
UM, SHE'S SUPPORTING OTHER STUDENTS IN HER CLASSES, UH, WITH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION.
SO NOT ONLY HAS SHE LEARNED ANY LANGUAGE COMING TO OUR COUNTRY, UM, BUT SHE'S STARTING TO EMBODY EVERYTHING THAT BLUFF IS.
BLUFFING HIGH IS BEING A BOBCAT, UM, AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF EVERYTHING THAT, THAT, UH, THIS NEW OPPORTUNITY COMING TO OUR GROVE COUNTRY AS AFFORDING HER AND HER FAMILY.
SO, UM, SHE WAS A GREAT, GREAT STUDENT TO SELECT.
UM, AND AS ALWAYS, I JUST WANNA THANK THE TOWN FOR, UH, SPENDING SOME TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE WONDERFUL STUDENTS HERE IN BLUFFTON.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY, UM, THEY ARE VERY, VERY APPRECIATIVE OF YOU RECOGNIZING HER DAUGHTER.
YOU YOU DOING A GREAT JOB AS WELL.
HEY, Y'ALL KNOW THE BOBCAT, THE CHEERLEADER.
OKAY, UP NEXT WE HAVE RON RYAN CENTER.
MR. PAUL, ARE YOU READY? I'M READY, SIR.
I DIDN'T KNOW OFFICER SAID I HAVE TO FOLLOW THE CHAIR TEAM.
WELL, YOU GOTTA DO A LITTLE CHEER.
YOU DO THE DRCI CHAIR, BUT WE ON.
UM, SO THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO REPORT TO YOU ON THE DON RYAN CENTER TO DISCUSS SOME OF OUR PAST AND CURRENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND WHERE WE'RE HEADED.
SO A LITTLE BIT OF THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE.
UH, SINCE 2012, WE'VE WORKED WITH A TOTAL OF 105 DIFFERENT COMPANIES IN OUR FORMAL PROGRAMS, ASSISTED IN ADDITIONAL 628 COMPANIES.
UM, 84% OF THE COMPANIES THAT WE HAVE WORKED WITH IN OUR PROGRAMS ARE STILL IN EXISTENCE TODAY, WHICH IS A, A REALLY PROUD NUMBER, UM, CLOSE TO $30 MILLION IN GROSS REVENUE.
AND THROUGH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM THAT THE TOWN IS PROVIDING ANOTHER $39 MILLION OF ECONOMIC INVESTMENT, UH, CREATION OF 160 NEW JOBS WITH AN AVERAGE SALARY OF $75,000.
SO THIS SLIDE REPRESENTS THE 105 COMPANIES THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH IN OUR PROGRAM.
THE ORANGE REPRESENTS NEW COMPANIES THAT HAVE ENTERED INTO THE DON RYAN CENTER PROGRAMS EACH YEAR.
THE ORANGE AND BLUE COMBINED REPRESENTS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF COMPANIES WE WORK WITH, WE'VE WORKED WITH IN EACH YEAR.
SO THE DON RYAN CENTER WAS STARTED WITH THE FUTURE IN MIND, HOW TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES AS BLUFFTON HAS GROWN.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE GAINED SIGNIFICANT MOMENTUM AND IMPACT IN THE MOST RECENT YEARS, PRODUCING OUR LARGEST NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IN OUR PROGRAMS. CURRENTLY, WE HAVE 20 COMPANIES IN OUR FORMAL PROGRAMS, THE MOST EVER AS BLUFFTON HAS GROWN.
SO AS THE DON RYAN CENTER AND THEIR ABILITY TO ASSIST MORE BUSINESSES BEYOND OUR FORMAL PROGRAMS, WE'RE ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO HELP ANY COMPANIES IN NEED WITH QUESTIONS, UH, REFERRALS OR ASSISTANCE.
UM, PROVIDING ADVICE, DIRECTION AND SUPPORT TO THOSE COMPANIES.
WHETHER THEY WALK IN, MAKE A PHONE CALL, OR SET A FORMAL APPOINTMENT WITH US, WE'RE ALWAYS THERE TO HELP.
UH, WE'RE TRYING TO HELP AND HAVE AN IMPACT ON AS MANY BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITY AS POSSIBLE.
THERE ARE SOME KEY METRICS THAT WE KEEP TRACK OF.
UM, 76% OF THE BUSINESSES THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH OVER THE PAST YEAR WERE BLUFF AND BASED BUSINESSES.
HALF OF THOSE BUSINESSES WERE WOMEN AND MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES.
OUR MENTOR NETWORK CURRENTLY HAS 57 MENTORS IN IT, AND MORE THAN HALF OF THOSE MENTORS HAVE WORKED WITH BUSINESSES IN THIS PAST YEAR.
WE HAVE COMPLETED 10 AI SPECIFIC PRESENTATIONS OVER THE PAST YEAR WITH OVER 500 ATTENDEES.
REALLY LIKE TO FOCUS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDE.
IT'S REALLY, UH, AN IMPRESSIVE SLIDE.
SUPPORTED COMPANIES SIGNIFICANTLY OUTPERFORM NATIONAL AVERAGES.
UM, THE US NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR A COMPANY AFTER ONE YEAR IS ONLY 80% SURVIVAL RATE.
WITH THE DON RYAN CENTER, IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT.
AFTER FIVE YEARS, THE US NATIONAL AVERAGE DROPS TO ONLY 50% OF THOSE
[00:15:01]
COMPANIES ARE STILL IN BUSINESS COMPANIES THAT HAVE WORKED WITH US, 90% OF THOSE COMPANIES ARE STILL IN BUSINESS.35% NATIONAL AVERAGE SURVIVAL RATE.
86% OF THE COMPANIES WE'VE WORKED WITH ARE STILL IN BUSINESS TODAY.
SO I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF OUR RECENT AND ONGOING SUCCESS STORIES.
TWO COMPANIES THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH, PART OF THE FAMILY DEMENTIA CARE SERVICES, AND A MA PRIVATE DINING.
THEY'RE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MANY NEW AND CURRENT PROGRAM CUSTOMERS WE WORK WITH.
THEY BOTH JOINED THE DON RYAN CENTER AS STARTUP COMPANIES, AS SOLO ENTREPRENEURS, MEANING IT WAS JUST THEM THEMSELVES LOOKING TO CREATE A BUSINESS AND GROW.
SINCE JOINING, BOTH COMPANIES HAVE GROWN CREATED JOB OPPORTUNITIES, ADDED MULTIPLE EMPLOYEES TO THEIR BUSINESSES.
JUST THESE TWO SMALL COMPANIES HAVE ADDED 10 NEW JOBS IN THE PAST YEAR.
BOTH ARE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH US MOVING INTO OUR GROWTH PROGRAMS, WORKING ON OPENING PHYSICAL LOCATIONS AND BLUFFING, CREATING MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND ECONOMIC IMPACT.
THE FUTURE, AS WE'VE ALL HEARD, IS ABOUT AI AND WE PLAN TO STAY AT THE FOREFRONT OF THAT.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUSINESSES OF LEFTON, THE DON RYAN CENTER, WE WANT TO HELP EDUCATE BUSINESS OWNERS ON HOW TO UTILIZE THIS TOOL TO IMPROVE AND GROW THEIR BUSINESSES.
WE WILL OFFER ONLINE EDUCATION IN THE COMING YEAR THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH FURMAN UNIVERSITY AND THE Z SCHOOL, AS WELL AS PROVIDE HANDS-ON IN-PERSON TRAINING.
AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW CONFERENCE ROOM AND TRAINING SPACE IN THE NEW BUILDING, WHICH WILL ALLOW US TO DO EVEN MORE.
WE WANT TO BE THE LEADER IN AI BUSINESS EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
SO WE ARE ALSO FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE GENERATION OF WORKERS, LEADERS AND BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURS IN THIS AREA.
DID YOUR WORK WITH THE HILTON HEAD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY ON THEIR ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDING ONSITE EDUCATION AS WELL AS A SHARK TANK EXPERIENCE AT THE DON RYAN CENTER ANNUALLY? I KNOW SOME OF YOU HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THAT.
STUDENTS GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXAMINE ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS A CAREER AND PRESENT THEIR BUSINESSES, GET LIVE FEEDBACK FROM A PANEL OF EXPERIENCED ENTREPRENEURS AND STAFF.
RECENTLY WE WERE APPROACHED BY THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN BLUFFTON HIGH SCHOOL AS OUR NEWEST EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIP.
BLUFFTON HIGH WAS CHOSEN AS A PILOT PROGRAM IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOR A NEW AI EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS IN COMPUTER SCIENCE, HELPING STUDENTS TO GET READY FOR THE FUTURE BY GIVING THEM THE SKILLS THEY WILL NEED TO SUCCEED IN A NEW AI DRIVEN WORLD.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED AND APPRECIATIVE OF THE NEW COVE BUILDING.
THIS WILL PROVIDE US WITH LANDING PAD SPACE TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES FROM OUTSIDE OF BLUFFTON TO EXPLORE BLUFFTON AS A FUTURE HOME FOR THEIR BUSINESS.
WHETHER THEY ARE AN EXISTING BUSINESS OR A NEW BUSINESS.
LOOKING TO START UP IN BLUFFTON GIVES US GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES TO THIS AREA.
IN ADDITION, THE FIRST FLOOR WILL HOUSE NEW, UM, NEW STARTUP BUSINESSES.
UH, CURRENTLY WE HAVE THE BRIGHT BEGINNINGS ACADEMY FOR CHILDCARE, WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN THE DAY THE BUILDING OPENS.
THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH US IN OUR STARTUP PROGRAM FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS.
THE DAY THEY ARE OPEN, THEY'LL BE FULL AND THEY'LL HAVE A WAIT LIST OF TWO TO THREE TIMES THE CAPACITY.
IT JUST SHOWS THE NEED AND THE TOWN SUPPORT BEHIND THAT NEED.
UM, THE SECOND FLOOR WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR DON RYAN CENTER, THE LANDING PAD OFFICES, AS I MENTIONED, A LARGE CONFERENCE ROOM AND TRAINING CENTER, AND ADDITIONAL OFFICES FOR OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, UH, I MENTIONED WE'RE DOING THE AI EDUCATION.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO PERFORM A LOT OF THAT IN PERSON AT OUR NEW, AT THE NEW SPOT THERE.
UM, WE'RE GONNA BE LAUNCHING A NEW WEBSITE IN 2026, WHICH IS VERY BUSINESS FOCUSED, UH, MODERN INTERACTIVE.
IT'LL ALLOW US TO DO THE ONLINE EDUCATIONAL PIECE I MENTIONED.
UM, AND WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE OUR PROGRAMS, ADD ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS SO THAT WE CAN REMAIN ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF BUSINESS ADVISEMENT.
QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL? I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN OBSERVATION.
THE, UM, THE CHART THAT YOU PUT UP THERE WITH THE DURATION OF YEARS FOR THE S YES.
WELL, THIS ONE, WHEN YOU STARTED WITH THIS ONE BEFORE, I KNEW YOU WERE GETTING TO THE OTHER ONE.
I WAS GONNA SAY, TELL US WHAT HAPPENS FROM ZERO TO FIVE.
'CAUSE A LOT OF COMPANIES, AS MOST OF US KNOW, STARTUPS DON'T MAKE IT PAST THE FIFTH YEAR.
I THINK THAT'S JUST, I DON'T EVEN HOW TO COMPLIMENT WELL ENOUGH.
[00:20:01]
THAT'S PHENOMENAL THAT YOU HAVE THAT KIND OF RECORD GOING FOR YOU.I THINK I APPRECIATE THAT AND YOU, WE'VE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT IN THE COMPANY'S PUT A LOT OF EFFORT IN.
I THINK IT SHOWS THAT HAVING ADVISEMENT AS THESE COMPANIES WORK THROUGH THE STARTUP PROCESS IS A KEY FOR THEM TO HAVE LONG TERM SUCCESS.
AND OUR GOAL IS TO SEE THESE BUS BUSINESSES IN BLUFFTON SUCCEED FOR A LONG TIME.
NOBODY WANTS TO SEE BUSINESSES COMING AND CLOSING.
WE WANT TO SEE THEM BE HERE LONG TERM AND GROW AS THE TOWN GROWS.
UP NEXT WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.
[VI. PUBLIC COMMENT]
EVERYONE WILL PAY ATTENTION AND LISTEN TO OUR GUIDELINE DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.EACH SPEAKER IS LIMITED TO A TOTAL OF THREE MINUTES PER MEETING, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE PERSON IS SPEAKING ON THEIR OWN BEHALF OR AS AN AGENT FOR OTHERS.
MEETING ATTENDEES MAY NOT DONATE, TRANSFER YIELD, OR GIVE ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THEIR SPEAKING TIME TO ANOTHER PERSON.
ALL PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE TO BE CONDUCTED FROM THE PODIUM AND DIRECTED TO THE TOWN COUNCIL AS A WHOLE AND NOT TO ANY MEMBER THEREOF.
ALL SPEAKERS SHALL BE MINDFUL AND RESPECTFUL OF THOSE PARTICIPATING IN OR PRESENT AT THE MEETING.
SPEAKERS SHALL BE EXPECTED TO BE CIVIL IN THEIR LANGUAGE AND SHALL REFRAIN FROM COMMENT OR BEHAVIOR THAT INVOLVES DISORDERLY SPEECH OR ACTION, NAME CALLING, PERSONAL ATTACKS, THREATS, OBSCENE OR INDECENT REMARKS AND OR DISRUPTIVE ACTIONS.
ALL SPEAKERS SHALL CONFINE THEIR COMMENTS TO ISSUES UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL.
SPEAKERS SHALL NOT USE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD TO PROMOTE OR ADVERTISE AWARDS, BUSINESSES, SERVICES, GOODS, OR CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE.
ANY SPEAKER THAT VIOLATES THESE RULES AND PROTOCOLS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT MAY BE RULED OUT OF ORDER BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER.
ANY PERSON WHOSE COMMENTS HAVE BEEN RULED OUT OF ORDER SHALL IMMEDIATELY CEASE AND DESIST FROM FURTHER IMPROPER COMMENTS.
THE REFUSAL OF AN INDIVIDUAL TO DESIST FROM FURTHER IMPROPER COMMENTS MAY SUBJECT THE INDIVIDUAL TO APPROVAL FROM THE MEETING AND OR A CITATION UNDER SECTION TWO DASH FOUR NINE OF THE TOWN CODE.
DID EVERYBODY HEAR THAT? OKAY.
UP FIRST, WE'LL HAVE, UH, JOHN BAROLA BARTOLA.
JOHN, IF YOU WILL, JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
I LIVE AT 1 94 PINE CREST CIRCLE IN PINE CREST.
I'M A RESIDENT OF THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.
UM, THE PURPOSE OF MY TALK TONIGHT IS TO AGAIN, BRING UP THE SUBJECT OF THE PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT OF THE PINE CREST GOLF COURSE AND, UH, ADDING ADDITIONAL HOUSING, A PROPOSAL THAT THE OWNER IS, UH, PUT ON THE TABLE FOR US AND ASKED US TO SUPPORT, EVEN THOUGH HE HASN'T YET MADE A FORMAL PRESENTATION TO ANY GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITIES, IS MY UNDERSTANDING.
I MOVED HERE ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK.
I'VE BEEN VACATIONING IN HILTON HEAD FOR 35 YEARS WITH OUR FAMILY.
ALWAYS SAID, THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GONNA END UP WHEN I RETIRE.
AND MY WIFE AND I MOVED DOWN A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
UM, I'VE WATCHED THE DEVELOPMENT IN BLUFFTON WITH ONLY THOSE YEARS WITH JUST TOTAL AMAZEMENT AS IT HAS GROWN OUT FROM THE BRIDGE OUT.
AND, UM, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME LONG, LONG TIMERS DOWN HERE WHO HAVE A BIT OF REGRET OVER THAT BECAUSE, UH, THEY MISSED THE SERENITY OF EARLIER DAYS.
BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, I FOUND THAT THE CHARM AND THE LIFESTYLE OF THE LOW COUNTRY IN THIS AREA IS JUST, UH, MAKES IT ALMOST AN INEVITABLE DRAW AS WE SEE THE EXPANSION GOING WESTWARD.
THE CHALLENGE, AS I SEE IT, THIS CHALLENGE IS, UM, AGAIN, JUST A CHALLENGE OF THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS COMMUNITY THAT I'M LOOKING AT AND MANAGING THE DEVELOPMENT OF GROWTH, HOW TO PROVIDE THE RIGHT HOUSING AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT, AND SUPPORTING THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY WITHOUT INCREASING THE DENSITY TO A POINT WHERE IT DISRUPTS WHAT I CALL THE KEY ISSUE HERE, WHICH IS QUALITY OF LIFE.
I'VE HEARD YOU MENTION THAT BEFORE IN PRESENTATIONS.
I GO TO A LOT OF THE MEETINGS.
QUALITY OF LIFE IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE ADDRESSING IN OUR OBJECTION TO THIS PROPOSAL.
UM, WE, WE MOVED INTO PINECREST BECAUSE IT APPEARED TO BE A SAFE, MATURE, UM, ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, FULLY DEVELOPED COMMUNITY WITH STREETS ACCESS, ROADS WELL-PLANNED, A MASTER PLAN THAT WAS WELL THOUGHT OUT
[00:25:01]
BY EVERYONE THAT WAS, UH, IN, INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS OF THAT DEVELOPMENT.AND THE, THE FEELING THAT I GET FROM OUR NEIGHBORS IS, YOU KNOW, THE INVESTMENT THAT THEY FELT SAFE IN THE INVESTMENT AS I DID IN OUR HOMES.
AND THAT THE INVESTMENT AND LIFESTYLE WOULD BE PRESERVED 'CAUSE IT WAS MATURE, DEVELOPED PROPERTY.
THIS DISRUPTIVE PROPOSAL HAS BEEN PUT ON THE TABLE, UH, INCREASES THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS BY 74%.
IT'S NOT PART OF THE MASTER PLAN AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE ZONING OR THE, THE UNITS TO DO IT, BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING.
'CAUSE THEY'RE THREE MINUTES IS UP
YEAH, THAT'S, I GUESS WHAT I WOULD SAY IS JUST BOILS DOWN TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
UM, I'VE HEARD A VERY IMPORTANT PERSON SAY RECENTLY THAT WE LIVE IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON AND NOT, IT'LL NEVER BE THE CITY OF BLUFFTON.
LISA SALKA, STATE YOUR NAME AND LET US KNOW IF YOU LIVE IN THE COUNTY.
LISA SALKA 37 STOCK FARM ROAD IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT OF THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.
AND I'LL READ IT SO I'LL STAY ON TIME.
MAYOR, COUNCIL AND STAFF, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK AGAIN TONIGHT AS AN UPDATE OF WHAT I TALKED ABOUT AT THE LAST PUBLIC COMMENT AT YOUR STRATEGIC PLANNING RETREAT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING BLUFFTON HISTORY.
SINCE THEN, I'VE CONNECTED WITH THOSE WHO ARE PASSIONATELY COMMITTED TO THE FUTURE AND THE PAST OF HISTORIC BLUFFTON.
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS, I HAVE MET AND SPOKEN WITH LEADERS FROM HISTORIC BLUFFTON FOUNDATION.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE LOW COUNTRY RISE WITH LIVING HOPE, PAUL TOLLEFSON AND A DOZEN MORE PRIVATE CITIZENS.
WE SHARE A COMMON PERSPECTIVE.
IF WE CONTINUE LOSING CONTRIBUTING RESOURCES, WE ARE ALSO LOSING THE FAMILIES, THE CRAFTSMANSHIP AND THE MEMORIES THAT TELL THE STORY OF HOW BLUFFTON BEGAN.
THESE PARTNERS SEE WHAT WE ALL SEE.
AGING HISTORIC HOMES, LIMITED OPTIONS FOR HOMEOWNERS AND INCREASING PRESSURE TO REPLACE RATHER THAN RESTORE.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE IS A GENUINE INTEREST IN WORKING TOGETHER.
WE ALIGN A MISSION AND WE WANNA BUILD A COORDINATED PRESERVATION EFFORT.
I STILL HAVE MORE GROUPS THAN INDIVIDUALS TO MEET WITH, INCLUDING SOME OF YOU.
UH, BUT SO FAR THE STR THERE IS STRONG SUPPORT FOR EXPANDING PRESERVATION EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY.
COLLABORATING ON RECOMMENDED UDO UPDATES FOR CONTRIBUTING RESOURCES, IDENTIFYING FUNDING PATHWAYS, PROVIDING VOLUNTEER SUPPORT FOR HOMEOWNERS WITH FINANCIAL NEED AND INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNITY PRESENT PRESENTATIONS.
WE NEED ALIGNMENT WITH OUR OWN TOWN'S LONG-TERM PRESERVATION VISION.
HOW WILL WE PROTECT THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALL OF OUR FAMILIES WHO WERE AND ARE A MAJOR PART OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS TOWN, ESPECIALLY BLACK FAMILIES WHO BUILT HOMES AND BUSINESSES FROM BRIDGE STREET TO HAYWARD STREET, DOWN MAY, RIVER ROAD, CALHOUN AND CHURCH STREET FAMILIES LIKE THE BROWNS, THE BRUINS, THE GARVINS, THE ALSTON'S, THE JOINERS AND OTHERS WHOSE STEWARDSHIP ALSO HELP PRESERVE LEFT IN THAT WE CHERISH TODAY, INCLUDING THE HAYWARD'S, THE MINGLE DORF MEMBERS OF CAMPBELL, A ME CHURCH, THE WONDERS THE TOWN.
MA DAISIES, OWNERS OF THE NATHANIEL BROWN COTTAGE AND OWNERS OF THE RED.TO NAME A FEW.
I'M NOT ASKING THE TOWN TO TAKE THE SON ALONE, BUT TO WORK WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND WITH RESIDENTS TO CREATE A CLEAR PRESERVATION STRATEGY THAT VALUES OUR CONTRIBUTING RESOURCES, ACCOUNTS FOR WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY LOST AND SETS A STRONG INTENTIONAL PATH FORWARD.
WE HAVE PARTNERS READY TO HELP.
WE HAVE RESIDENTS WHO DEEPLY CARE NOW.
WE NEED THE SHARED COMMITMENT FROM THE TOWN TO MAKE PRESERVATION AN ACTIVE PART OF BLESSING'S, LONG-TERM HISTORIC VISION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, ALWAYS FOR YOUR SERVICE.
YOU HAVE OUTDONE YOURSELF ON THE LIGHTING OF THIS TOWN FOR CHRISTMAS, AND I WANNA THANK TOWN, BUT I WANNA THANK Y'ALL TOO.
UP NEXT WE HAVE MR. CHARLIE WETMORE.
[00:30:02]
GOOD EVENING.CHARLIE WETMORE, 48 LAWRENCE STREET HERE IN OLD TOWN.
UM, GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT AS BOTH CHAIR OF PLANNING COMMISSION AND THEN AFTER, AS A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF BLUFFTON, CURRENTLY LIVING IN OLD TOWN.
FIRST AS PLANNING COMMISSION CHAIR, I WANT TO CLARIFY THE ORIGIN OF PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION REGARDING THE PROPOSED CAR CARPORT CLASSIFICATION DURING OUR PUBLIC MEETING.
THE MOTION TO REMOVE THE PERCENTAGE OF LOT COVERAGE REQUIREMENT WAS MADE BY A FORMER TOWN STAFF MEMBER WHO NOW SERVES ON THE COMMISSION.
THE FULL COMMISSION THEN CONSIDERED THAT MOTION AND VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO SUPPORT IT.
I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR COUNSEL TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS RECOMMENDATION AROSE FROM OPEN DISCUSSION AT THE MEETING.
IT WAS NOT ARBITRARY OR UNILATERAL DEPARTURE FROM THE INTENT OF THE UDL SECOND AND TONIGHT.
MORE IMPORTANTLY TO ME, I WANNA SPEAK FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOMEONE WHO'S LIVED IN BLUFFTON FOR MANY YEARS.
NOT AS MANY AS MOST OF YOU UP THERE, IF NOT ALL OF YOU.
UM, WE CAN AGREE THAT WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT WHAT MAKES THIS TOWN SPECIAL.
I'M INCREASINGLY CONCERNED THAT THE UDO PIECE BY PIECE IS REMOVING THE QUIRKINESS FLEXIBILITY AND INDIVIDUALITY THAT THE ORIGINALLY, THAT ORIGINALLY DREW SO MANY OF US TO BLUFFTON, WE ARE RISKING BECOMING A COMMUNITY SHAPED MORE BY UNIFORMITY AND REAL ESTATE MAXIMIZATION THAN BY THE ORGANIC ECLECTIC CHARACTER THAT BUILT BLUFF IN'S REPUTATION AS A STATE OF MIND.
WHEN THE UDO WAS ENACTED, SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT HAPPENED.
HOMES THAT DEFINED BLUFF IN'S CHARM BECAME NON-CONFORMING.
THAT INCLUDES THE FORMER MAYOR'S HOME, THE CURRENT MAYOR'S HOME, COUNCILMAN WOODS' HOME, POSSIBLY OTHERS UP THERE ALONG WITH MY OWN HOME.
THESE ARE NOT FRINGE PROPERTIES, THEY'RE CENTRAL EXAMPLES OF BLUFF IN'S HISTORIC AND ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER.
THEY MAY NOT BE AS OLD AS SOME OF THE CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES, BUT THEY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO WHAT BLUFFTON IS.
UM, YET UNDER CURRENT REGULAT REGULATIONS, IF ANY OF THESE HOMES WERE DESTROYED, THEY COULD NOT BE REBUILT AS THEY EXIST TODAY.
THAT SHOULD GIVE ALL OF US SOME PAUSE.
THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF CONTINUAL TIGHTENING AND RECLASSIFICATION WITHIN THE UDO IS THAT BLUFFTON IS SLOWLY BEING RESHAPED INTO SOMETHING MORE RIGID.
SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE LESS LIKE THE TOWN WE FELL IN LOVE WITH AND MORE LIKE A STANDARDIZED DEVELOPMENT.
PROTECTING SAFETY AND CONSISTENCY IS IMPORTANT, BUT SO IS PROTECTING IDENTITY, HISTORY AND UNIQUENESS.
I URGE COUNSEL TO CONSIDER NOT ONLY THE SPECIFIC CARPORT AMENDMENT BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, BUT THE LARGER PATTERN.
WE NEED A UDO THAT GUIDES GROWTH WITHOUT A RACING CHARACTER IN ONE THAT DOESN'T RENDER, RENDER THE VERY HOMES OF OUR LEADERS, LONG-TERM RESIDENTS AND HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS, IMPOSSIBLE TO REBUILD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR ONGOING WORK ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TONIGHT.
AND YOUR, YOUR TIMING WAS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.
UM, UP NEXT WE HAVE TONY PRESLEY.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCILMAN AND STAFF.
UH, I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT A REOCCURRING, GET YOUR NAME, OH, SORRY.
TONY PRESLEY, 68 PRITCHER STREET HERE IN OLD TOWN.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT A REOCCURRING ISSUE THAT I'M SURE ALL OF US HAVE BEEN A PART OF.
UM, A FEW OF THE ISSUES THAT I'VE WITNESSED OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, RIDING THROUGH MARTIN'S PARK, RIDING THROUGH SHRIMP BOAT PARK, WITH KIDS WHO ARE PLAYING, BLOWING THROUGH STOP SIGNS WITH ANY, WITHOUT ANY REGARD OF PEDESTRIANS OR VEHICLES, UH, TAILGATING CARS.
I HAD ONE ON BEHIND ME THE OTHER DAY THAT I COULD NOT EVEN SEE IF I HADN'T HAVE PUT MY CAMERA ON, I WOULD'VE BACKED UP AND HIT 'EM.
UH, PASSING CARS ON ROADS SUCH AS PRICHARD CALHOUN, BRUIN, AS WELL AS BRIDGE STREET GOING AROUND THE CURB.
UM, SOME OF THESE, SOME OF THESE BIKES CAN GO UP TO 50 MILES AN HOUR.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF Y'ALL KNEW THAT.
MY FEAR IS SOMEONE IS GONNA BE SERIOUSLY HURT.
AND THIS WILL AFFECT ALL FAMILIES INVOLVED, NOT JUST THE FAMILY OF THE E PIKE.
AND IT COULD AFFECT THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
THE TOWN HAS MAKE, HAS TAKEN PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT THEIR GOLF CART COMMUNITY.
AND I ASK THAT YOU TAKE THE SAME PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT THE E-BIKE AND THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL.
[VII. COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR AND COUNCIL]
UP NEXT WE HAVE COMMUNICATIONS FOR MAYOR AND COUNCIL.UM, JUST WANTED TO OFFER CONDOLENCES AGAIN TO, UM, COUNCILMAN HAMILTON.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE HIM HERE TONIGHT ON THE, UH, LOSS OF HIS SISTER AND, UM, JABO DONE TO TOWN STAFF
[00:35:01]
ON ANOTHER, UH, AMAZING CHRISTMAS PARADE, EVEN ON THE RAIN.AND, UM, YEAH, WISHING EVERYONE A A GREAT HAPPY HOLIDAYS, MR. WOOD.
UM, SO IF YOU LIKE THE LIGHTS THAT ARE UP WHEN YOU DRIVE DOWN MAY RIVER ROAD, WOULD YOU RAISE YOUR HAND? LOOK AROUND THE ROOM REAL QUICK.
IT'S SMALL TOWN FEEL AND GOVERNMENT WORKERS A LOT OF TIMES GET, THEY DON'T, THEY'RE NOT GIVEN THE CREDIT THEY DESERVE.
THIS IS THE GENTLEMAN THAT RUNS THE CRUISE THAT GETS THOSE LIGHTS UP.
LINDA'S THE PIT BOSS THAT HELPS PUT ON THE CHRISTMAS PARADES EVEN IN THE RAIN.
AND ALL OF THE STAFF GIVE ALL THEIR EFFORT EVERY YEAR TO MAKE THIS PLACE LOOK MAGICAL.
AND IT'S TO NOT ONLY DO THAT, IT'S INTENTIONAL.
IT'S TO MAKE EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHY THEY LIVE IN BLUFFTON.
I'M JUST GONNA END THAT ON A POSITIVE NOTE.
I WISH EVERYBODY HERE A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
I WANT YOU TO KEEP IN MIND IT'S ABOUT PEACE, LOVE, HARMONY.
AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS BESIDES LOVE IS FORGIVENESS.
SO LET'S TAKE THIS AND, AND, AND MAKE IT A PERFECT TIME OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON FOR US.
AND I ASK EVERYBODY HERE, THERE ARE GREAT NONPROFITS IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.
MANY OF THEM YOU COULD NOT HAVE A GREAT COMMUNITY LIKE WE HAVE IN BLUFFTON WITHOUT THOSE NONPROFITS.
SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO LIFT SOMEBODY UP SOMEWHERE SOMEHOW.
WELL, I CAN'T FOLLOW ANY OF THAT, SO JUST NO, YOU'RE NOT.
AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR, UM, ALL THAT YOU DID AND, AND, UH, FOR MY FAMILY DURING THIS, UM, TRYING TIME.
BUT ALSO WANNA WISH YOU ALL A MERRY CHRISTMAS AS WELL.
UM, THIS IS A GREAT TOWN TO, TO BE IN.
AND, AND, AND BECAUSE OF, OF YOU, WE HAVE PROBABLY SOME OF THE BEST NEIGHBORS IN THE WORLD.
SO CONTINUE TO LOVE, CONTINUE TO SHARE, AND, AND, AND IT, IT IS A SEASON OF, UM, LOVE, PEACE, AND JOY.
WELL, I, I ECHO EVERYTHING EVERYBODY SAID, UM, TO LINDY AND LARRY AND ALL OF TOWN STAFF.
UM, Y'ALL DID AN AMAZING JOB WITH THE COLD AND THE RAIN FOR THE CHRISTMAS, UM, PRAYED.
AND WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK.
UM, AND I WISH EVERYBODY A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
UM, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO FOLLOW UP ON ALL THOSE NICE, SWEET THINGS, BUT I WISH EVERYONE THE SAME.
UM, I DO WANNA MENTION, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TWICE IN THE LAST FOUR DAYS TO COME ON.
NOT THAT BY CHOICE, BUT ON MAY RIVER ROAD FROM OUR JASPER COUNTY LINE, COME BY THE PARK AT NEW RIVERSIDE.
AND IF YOU THINK IT'S PRETTY COOL AROUND HERE, YOU GOTTA RIDE BY THERE AT NIGHT TOO, BECAUSE FROM WHAT I COULD SEE, IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.
UM, I MEANT TO TELL LARRY THAT IT LOOKED LIKE SOME OF THE LIGHTS ON THE WEST END OF THE FENCE.
IT MIGHT'VE NOT BEEN WORKING LAST NIGHT WHEN I CAME THROUGH THERE.
BUT, UM, THE, THE DECORATIONS AND THE EFFORTS AREN'T JUST HERE IN OLD TOWN.
AND, UM, AGAIN, YOU GUYS ARE DOING AN AMAZING JOB.
LARRY AND LINDY, I KNOW YOU HAD LOTS OF ELVES HELPING YOU.
I SAW MARSHA WORKING AT THE CHRISTMAS PARADE, UM, ALONG WITH A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE.
AND REMEMBER, THE ONLY WORD I DIDN'T HEAR A WHILE AGO FROM EVERYONE WITH THE LOVE, PEACE, AND JOY IS RESPECT.
WE CAN BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT AND STILL RESPECT ONE ANOTHER, WHETHER IT'S OUR OPINIONS OR OUR COLOR OF OUR TRUCKS, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
UM, JUST KEEP THAT LOVE AND RESPECT IN YOUR MIND, FOREFRONT AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
UM, MAYOR, UM, FOLLOWING UP ON WHAT COUNCILMAN WOOD JUST SAID,
[00:40:01]
UM, I DUNNO WHETHER IT'S MADE IT OUT 'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A LOCAL NEWS SOURCES THE WAY WE USED TO.BUT, UM, THE DEEP WELL PROJECT, UM, THAT HAS BEEN HERE FOREVER AND HAS HELPED SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE LOW COUNTRY, WAS NAMED THE NATIONAL CHARITY OF THE YEAR BY THE PGA TOUR LAST WEEK, WHICH IS ABOUT THE THIRD TIME THAT WE'VE HAD A LOCAL CHARITY BE HONORED BY THE PGA TOUR HERE IN OUR LOW COUNTRY.
SO THAT WAS, UM, IT SPEAKS WELL FOR OUR COMMUNITY, UM, HOW WELL WE SUPPORT DEEP WELL, AND HOW MUCH DEEP WELL DOES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
[X. FORMAL AGENDA ITEMS]
NEXT WE HAVE FORMAL AGENDA.ITEM NUMBER ONE, ACCEPTANCE OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON PHYSICAL YEAR 2025, AUDIT BY MALDEN AND JENKINS, LLC.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
UM, BEFORE I INTRODUCE MALDEN JENKINS, I JUST WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE EFFORTS OF THE ACCOUNTING AND RISK MANAGER, STEVEN PCO AND THE FINANCE TEAM TO GET THIS TO WHERE IT'S TO PRESENT TO YOU TONIGHT.
UM, AND I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE KIRK WITH MOLDED AND JENKINS.
UH, WE'VE GOT SOME GOOD NEWS FOR YOU WITH YOUR AUDITS.
ALWAYS GOOD TO PRESENT GOOD NEWS RATHER THAN BAD NEWS.
UH, SO WE GOT SOME GOOD NEWS WITH YOUR AUDITS TONIGHT.
I'M HAPPY TO PRESENT THAT INFORMATION TO YOU.
UH, AS NOW MY NAME'S KIRK ARCH.
WE'RE THE CPA FIRM THAT YOU ALL EMPLOY TO DO YOUR EXTERNAL, UH, YOUR EXTERNAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT.
I'VE GOT A SHORT SLIDE SHOW HERE.
UH, THE FIRST THING WE'LL KIND OF GO OVER JUST A SHORT INTRODUCTION OF THE FIRM, UH, GO OVER THE AUDITOR'S REPORTS, WHICH, UM, IS THE MAIN REPORT AND THE COMPLIANCE REPORTS, AND THEN A COUPLE OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT HIGHLIGHTS.
AND THEN I'LL GO OVER SOME REQUIRED COMMUNICATIONS AND TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
UH, ALTHOUGH WE ARE A FULL SERVICE FIRM, UNLIKE MANY FIRMS WE OFFER OF, WE HAVE A VERY DEDICATED GROUP OF PEOPLE WITHIN THE FIRM THAT SPECIALIZE FULL-TIME IN SERVING GOVERNMENTS, GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING, AND THE AUDITS THAT YOU ALL REQUIRE, AND THE OTHER SERVICES THAT YOU ALL REQUIRE QUITE UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE A DEDICATED TEAM TO SERVE YOU ALL AND BELIEVE THAT IT, UH, ALLOWS US TO BRING A HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE TO Y ALL TO REASONABLE CAUSE.
SO THERE ARE THREE OPINIONS THAT ARE CONTAINED IN THE AUDIT REPORT.
THE FIRST ONE IS THE, THE ACTUAL AUDIT OPINION.
AND THE ONE THING I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT IS WHAT THE TOWN'S ROLE IS AS IT RELATES TO THE AUDIT.
WHAT OUR ROLE IS AS YOUR AUDITOR.
SO THE THE TOWN'S ROLE IS THE, THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND ALL THE UNDERLYING INFORMATION THAT ARE CONTAINED.
OUR, UH, ROLE AS YOUR AUDITORS TO EXPRESS AN OPINION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE MATERIALLY STATED BASED ON THE RESULTS OF OUR AUDIT PROCEDURES.
WHEN WE DO OUR AUDITS, WE FOLLOW GENERALLY ACCEPTED AUDITING, AUDITING STANDARDS AND GOVERNMENTAL AUDITING STANDARDS THAT WE HAVE HERE AND THE US.
UH, SO I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THIS YEAR WE'LL BE ISSUING AN UNMODIFIED OR CLEAN OPINION.
THAT MEANS, UH, THAT WE DID NOT SEE.
IT MEANS BASED ON OUR AUDIT PROCEDURES.
WE BELIEVE THAT THE STATEMENTS ARE MATERIALLY STATED AND THERE ARE ARE NO MATERIAL OMISSIONS.
THIS IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ASSURANCE THAT WE CAN GIVE YOU AS YOUR EXTERNAL AUDITOR.
UH, YOU KNOW, CONGRATULATIONS ON GETTING A GREAT OPINION.
UH, MOVING ON TO THE COMPLIANCE REPORTS.
THERE'LL BE TWO COMPLIANCE REPORTS THAT ARE PART OF THE, UH, PACKAGE.
ONE IS THE REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROLS AND COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
THE SECOND IS THE SINGLE AUDIT REPORT.
THE FIRST ONE I MENTIONED IS A KIND OF, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING WITH REGARD TO INTERNAL CONTROLS IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, WE, UH, ISSUED A CLEAN OPINION ON THAT.
UH, THAT MEANS WE DID NOT SEE ANYTHING WE FELT NECESSARY TO REPORT YOU ALL TO YOU ALL.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S KIND OF THE BEST CASE SCENARIO YOU CAN HAVE, UH, WITH THAT TYPE OF AUDIT.
UH, THE THIRD REPORT AND THE FINAL ONE THAT WE'LL ISSUE IS THE SINGLE AUDIT REPORT.
AND IT BASICALLY LOOKS SPECIFICALLY AT YOUR FEDERAL PROGRAMS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE GUIDELINES OF THE GRANTS WERE FOLLOWED, THAT THE MONEY WAS SPENT, WHERE IT SHOULD BE, THAT KIND OF THING.
WE'LL ALSO BE ISSUING A CLEAN OPINION ON THAT.
UH, SO THREE CLEAN OPINIONS ALL AROUND.
IT REALLY DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT.
SO YOU HAVE HATS OFF TO YOUR FINANCE TEAM FOR DOING A GREAT JOB SO THAT YOU ALL CAN GET THOSE, UH, CLEAN OPINIONS.
UM, YOU ALL DO, LIKE YOU ALL DO THE, UH, ANNUAL FINANCIAL COMPREHENSIVE REPORT EACH YEAR AND SUBMIT THAT TO THE GEORGIA FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.
AND EACH YEAR, FOR THE PAST 17 YEARS, YOU ALL HAVE BEEN AWARDED A CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING.
THE 2024 CERTIFICATE WILL BE INCLUDED IN THIS YEAR'S FINANCIAL REPORT.
AND ONCE THE REPORT'S COMPLETED THIS YEAR, IT WILL BE SUBMITTED FOR THAT SAME CERTIFICATE PROGRAM.
UH, THAT'S AN EXCELLENT ACHIEVEMENT FOR YOU.
UM, IT, THIS REPORT CONTAINS A LOT OF EXTRAS THAT AREN'T REALLY REQUIRED TO BE REPORTED.
THERE'S 10 YEARS WORTH OF STATISTICAL INFORMATION.
THERE'S A MANAGEMENT NARRATIVE IN THE FORM OF A TR UH, TRANSMITTAL LETTER AS WELL AS A MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS.
SO I'D JUST LIKE TO, YOU KNOW,
[00:45:01]
POINT OUT THAT Y'ALL ARE GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND AS FAR AS YOUR FINANCIAL REPORTING'S CONCERNED.WE GOT SOME QUICK LITTLE HIGHLIGHTS, UH, OF YOUR GENERAL FUND.
AND I FOCUS ON THE GENERAL FUND MAINLY 'CAUSE THAT'S YOUR, YOUR PRIMARY OPERATING FUND OVERALL, YOU, YOU ALL HAD A GREAT YEAR.
WE ENDED THE YEAR WITH 65.3 MILLION IN ASSETS OFFSET BY 23 MILLION IN LIABILITIES LEADING YOU ALL WITH A FUND BALANCE OR WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE CALL EQUITY.
UH, 42.3 MILLION WITH 27.4 OF THAT BEING UNASSIGNED.
AND THE, UH, THE UNASSIGNED MEANS THAT IT'S NOT EARMARKED FOR THINGS LIKE DEBT SERVICE OR SPECIFIC PROJECTS BE SPENT ON EVERYDAY EXPENDITURES.
WE HAD, UH, IN TOTAL ABOUT 34.4 MILLION IN REVENUES ALL SET BY 27.7 IN EXPENDITURES WITH ABOUT A MILLION AND A MILLION AND A HALF OF TRANSFERS.
OVERALL, WE HAD AN INCREASE IN FUND BALANCE OR AN INCREASE IN EQUITY OF ABOUT 8.2 MILLION.
UH, THAT'S AN EXCELLENT PLACE TO BE.
HAD NOT THE FUND BALANCE IS, UH, ALWAYS, ALWAYS A GOOD THING.
UH, I HAVE TWO LITTLE KIND OF MEASURES DOWN THERE WE LIKE TO LOOK AT, AT THE BOTTOM.
THE FIRST ONE IS MONTHS OF EXPENDITURES AND UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE.
AND THIS BASICALLY IS A, YOU KNOW, IF THE DOOR'S CLOSED AT THE DATE OF THIS FINANCIAL STATEMENT, HOW LONG YOU COULD OPERATE WITHOUT ANY FURTHER FUNDING.
AND SO YOU ALL BE ABLE TO GO ABOUT 11.8 MONTHS ALMOST A YEAR, WHICH IS AN EXCELLENT SPOT TO BE.
ANYTHING EVER ABOUT FOUR MONTHS FOR A JUNE 30 YEAR END IS, IS GOOD.
AND EVERYTHING ON TOP OF THAT IS JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST A LITTLE EXTRA.
LIQUID RATIO, THAT'S CURRENT ASSETS OF CURRENT LIABILITIES.
ANYTHING OVER ONE TO ONE IS USUALLY PRETTY GOOD.
SO YOU ALL ARE NEARLY AT THREE TO ONE, WHICH IS A GREAT PLACE.
UM, OVERALL, YOU ALL HAD A GREAT YEAR.
THE, THE GENERAL FUND IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND IT'S CONTINUED TO PAD UP FUND BALANCE.
UH, OH, CAN WE GO BACK? I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DID HERE.
UH, SO I, I INCLUDED A GRAPH HERE THAT'S GOT, UH, YOU KNOW, REVENUES THERE IN THE BLUE EXPENDITURES AND THE GREEN AND FUND BALANCE THERE, UH, OR EQUITY IN THE GRAY.
AND I, I KIND OF INCLUDED THIS GRAPH JUST TO SHOW THAT YOU ALL HAVE NOT ONLY HAD GOOD FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE IN THE PAST, BUT HAD CONTINUED TO ADD ON THAT YEAR OVER YEAR FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS.
UM, OBVIOUSLY EXPENSES EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK ARE INCREASING.
WE KNOW, WE KNOW THAT AT HOME AS WELL AS, UH, YOU KNOW, AS YOU ALL DO ACQUISITIONS FOR, FOR THE TOWN, BUT YOUR REVENUES HAVE OUTPACED THE, YOUR REVENUE GROWTH HAS OUTPACED THE GROWTH AND EXPENDITURES OVER THE YEARS AND YOU'VE CONTINUE TO ADD TO, UH, TO YOUR FUND BALANCE POSITION.
SO THAT'S A REALLY GREAT PLACE.
UH, YOU KNOW, HATS OFF TO YOU ALL AND THE MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR, FOR HAVING A GOOD YEAR.
ALL RIGHT, WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN GET THROUGH WITHOUT ANY OTHER DIFFICULTIES.
UH, THERE ARE SOME REQUIRED COMMUNICATIONS.
I WENT OVER THE OPINIONS WITH Y'ALL EARLIER.
UH, BEST CASE SCENARIO ON ALL THOSE.
WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY AUDIT FINDINGS.
WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MANAGEMENT POINTS.
THAT'S AS GOOD AS IT GETS IN THESE, UH, FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDITS.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS CONTAINED IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SO THAT, UH, MANAGEMENT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR, SUCH AS YOUR ACCOUNTING POLICIES, THE JUDGEMENTS OF THE, OF ACCOUNTING GUESSTIMATES AND DISCLOSURES.
WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY DISAGREEMENTS WITH MANAGEMENT.
WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY DIFFICULTIES WORKING WITH MANAGEMENT.
WE ALSO DID NOT HAVE ANY UNCORRECTED MISSTATEMENTS.
AND AS YOUR AUDITOR, WE ARE INDEPENDENT OF THE TOWN, UH, WHICH IS WHAT ALLOWS US TO BE ABLE TO DO THESE TYPES OF AUDITS.
UH, JUST SOME, ONE FINAL THING BEFORE I WRAP UP HERE.
WE DO OFFER FREE CONTINUING EDUCATION TO ALL OF OUR CLIENTS.
UM, THE GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD CONTINUES TO PRODUCE NEW STANDARDS FOR US TO FOLLOW AND ADOPT.
AND WE HOPE THROUGH THE CPE WE CAN HELP GUIDE THE FINANCE GROUP, UH, THROUGH, THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE STANDARDS AND CONTINUE COMPLIANCE.
SO WE ALWAYS JUST LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.
WITH THAT, I WILL JUST LEAVE IT WITH THIS, UH, BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY OR IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO PRESENT TO YOU ALL TONIGHT AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE WORKING WITH, UH, PARTICULARLY NATALIE AND STEVEN, UM, TO GET THE, GET THE AUDIT DONE, THEIR PLEASURE TO WORK WITH.
AND WE, UH, WE, WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE YOU AND HOPE TO WORK WITH YOU ALL GOING FORWARD.
MS. BURON, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO CHRIS, NATALIE, AND THE WHOLE FINANCE TEAM, UM, TO GET THIS GRADE OF A RATING.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE E MR. FRED.
THIS IS, THIS IS ALSO, UM, WHAT WE FEEL LIKE WE GIVE BACK TO OUR CITIZENS, THAT WE ARE GOOD STEWARDSHIP OF YOUR MONEY
[00:50:01]
AND THAT YOU, UM, MOST OF YOU'RE HERE TONIGHT TO SEE THAT OUR, OUR STAFF HAS PUT IN THE WORK AND, UM, AND OUR TOWN MANAGER AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, HAVE YOUR, HAVE YOUR BEST INTEREST AT AT HEART WHEN IT, AT, AT ALL TIMES.AND THIS IS HAVING A, A REPORT LIKE THIS, UM, ALSO GIVES ME SOME PLEASURE AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO'S, UM, INCLUDING COUNSEL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SERVE WITH, WITH INTEGRITY AND DIGNITY.
MR. HAMILTON AND A FEW MORE YEARS.
YOU KEEP AT IT NATALIE AND YOU TOO CAN HAVE AN ORANGE JACKET.
YEAH, I JUST WANNA SAY THANKS TO EVERYONE.
I'M VERY PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION, THAT BEING A BUSINESS PERSON, THESE NUMBERS ARE JUST A LOT BIGGER, BUT I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE THOSE RESERVES AND, AND THINGS THAT, THAT ARE IN PLACE HERE.
UM, SO JUST TAKE MY HAT OFF TO, TO ALL OF EVERYBODY AND CHRIS AND NATALIE AND EVERYONE INVOLVED AND I'M JUST VERY PROUD AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICES, SIR.
UM, NATALIE, SO WE HAVE TO VOTE? YEAH, THERE'S A MOTION.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? COUNSEL, BEFORE SOMEONE MAKES A MOTION TO ACCEPT THIS, WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
I MOVE TO ACCEPT THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 AUDIT FOR THE TOWN OF LEPTON, PRESENTED BY MALDEN AND JENKINS, LLC AND ITS INCLUSION AND THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2025.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
UP NEXT WE HAVE CONSIDERATION OF ACCOMMODATION TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE FUNDING COMMEND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR QUARTER ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.
SHANNON MILROY, BUDGET AND PROCUREMENT MANAGEMENT.
SHANNON ROY FROM THE TOWNS FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
I'M HERE TO, I CAN'T HEAR YOU TOO.
I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX GRANT APPLICATIONS THAT WERE RECEIVED LAST QUARTER THAT ENDED SEPTEMBER 30TH.
WE RECEIVED FIVE APPLICATIONS TOTALING JUST OVER $145,500.
OF THOSE FIVE, ONE WAS A NEW APPLICANT.
WE HAVE JUST OVER $258,000 AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION.
AND THAT'S AFTER WE'VE MADE OUR STANDARD ALLOCATIONS BY STATE REGULATIONS TO OUR DMO TO HOUSING.
AND THAT INCLUDES ADDING SOME LAPSE GRANTS BACK INTO THAT AVAILABLE BALANCE.
HERE'S A SNAPSHOT OF THE AVERAGE SCORING FROM OUR ATAC COMMITTEE FOR EACH OF THE APPLICANTS THIS QUARTER.
OUR FIRST ONE, WHICH IS CONGREGATION
THEY'RE REQUESTING $7,770 AND 25 CENTS.
CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE PREVIOUS SCREEN PLEASE? SURE.
SO WE NEED TO VOTE ON EACH ONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALLY, CORRECT? YES, SIR.
SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION OR ANY CONVERSATION OR WITH COUNSEL? ANYBODY GOT ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING? NOW I'LL MAKE THE MOTION MAYOR IF YOU ALLOW.
I MOVE TO APPROVE THE 7,000 7 70 25 AND 25 CENTS GRANTED CONGREGATION BETH YAM AND SUPPORTED THE 2025 HANUKKAH CELEBRATION IN BLUFF.
ANY CONVERSATION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
OUR NEXT ONE IS THE FARMER'S MARKET OF BLUFFTON, WHO IS REQUESTING $66,500 FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2026 MARKET SEASON THAT WILL RUN FROM JANUARY 8TH THROUGH DECEMBER 17TH.
QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL CONCERNS, IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION?
[00:55:01]
I MAKE A MOTION I MOVE TO APPROVE A $66,500 GRANT TO THE FARMER'S MARKET OF BLUFFTON IN SUPPORT OF THE 2026 MARKET SEASON.OUR NEXT ONE IS OUR ONE FIRST TIME APPLICANT THIS QUARTER, IT'S THE HILTON HEAD CHORAL SOCIETY.
THEY ARE CELEBRATING THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY AND ARE BRINGING THE VIENNA BOYS CHOIR TO BLUFFTON TO PERFORM TWO CONCERTS IN FEBRUARY OF 2026.
AS CONCERTS WILL BE HELD, I BELIEVE ON THE 23RD AND 24TH OF FEBRUARY, AND WILL BE HELD AT THE LOW COUNTRY COMMUNITY CHURCH ON BUCK WALTER MARCH.
CONCERNS IF NOT A THERE MOTION.
I MAKE A MOTION I MOVE TO APPROVE A $10,000 GRANT TO THE HILTON HEAD CORAL SOCIETY IN SUPPORT OF THE VIENNA BOYS CHOIR CONCERTS.
OUR NEXT ONE IS THE NEW BLUFFING WORSHIP REQUESTING $11,500 FOR THE 2025 CHRISTMAS EVE UNDER THE STARS EVENT THAT WILL BE HELD ON CHRISTMAS EVE DECEMBER 24TH AT OYSTER FACTORY PARK.
ANY QUESTIONS ON ANYONE? NOT IS THERE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.
MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE $11,500 GRANT TO THE NEW BLUFFTON WORSHIP IN SUPPORT OF THE 2025 CHRISTMAS EVE UNDER THE STARS EVENT FOR A SECOND.
AND OUR FIFTH AND FINAL ONE IS THE MAY RIVER THEATER, WHO'S REQUESTING $49,764 FOR THEIR 2026 PERFORMANCE SEASON, WHICH INCLUDES THREE MUSICALS AND TWO PLAYS.
WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION I MOVE TO APPROVE $49,764 GRANT TO THE MAY RIVER THEATER IN SUPPORT OF THEIR 2026 PERFORMANCE SEASON? I SECOND.
WE GOT THAT TAKEN CARE OF PRETTY QUICK.
UP NEXT IS NUMBER THREE, APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH HILTON HEAD LANDSCAPES, LLC FOR SITE DEVELOPMENT CONSTRUCTION OF BULK WALTER PLACE, PHASES THREE AND FOUR.
PHYSICAL IMPACT IS 1,000,007 $1,496 AND 54 CENTS.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT WATER PLACE PARK.
UH, WE SENT TO YOU A MASTER PLAN BACK IN 2024, WHICH YOU ALL APPROVED, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON INITIAL PHASES OF THAT OVER LAST YEAR.
AND NOW WE'RE GETTING READY TO DO THE FINAL THREE, TWO PHASES.
UH, YOU KNOW, BUCK WALLER PLACE PARK, IT'S FORMERLY KNOWN AS EOR PARK.
IT'S LOCATED OUT OF BUCK WALLER PLACE BETWEEN INNOVATION DRIVE AND CARE CORE DRIVE.
THIS IS THE WORK THAT WE'VE, UH, COMPLETED IN PHASE ONE AND TWO LAST YEAR, WHICH INCLUDED, UH, A RESTROOM EXPANSION.
WE EXPANDED IT, UH, WE TRIPLED THE SIZE OF THAT BUILDING.
UM, WE INC WE ADDED SOME PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS LIKE, UH, PERIMETER SIDEWALKS AND, UH, ADDITIONAL SITE LIGHTING.
UH, WE INCLUDED A NEW ENTRY FROM THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE PROPERTY AND, UH, ADDED LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENT.
SO THAT WORK WAS DONE LAST YEAR.
OH, AND ALSO THERE WAS A CROSSWALK PLACED ON INNOVATION DRIVE.
THIS MAP SHOWS THE, UM, THE PROPOSED, UH, UH, SCOPE OF WORK FOR PHASES THREE AND FOUR.
ALL THE ITEMS KIND OF HIGHLIGHTED IN BLUE AND GREEN ARE THE PHASES THREE AND FOUR.
THIS IS A MAP WE SHOWED YOU WHEN WE PRESENTED IT TO COUNCIL AND WORKSHOP.
UH, THIS PHASE INCLUDES TWO OPEN AIR PAVILIONS, TWO SHADE UMBRELLAS, SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT WE PUT IN PHASE ONE, A MISTING STATION WITH ADJACENT SHADE TRELLIS AND SEATING.
A RETRACTABLE AWNING ON THE AMPHITHEATER BUILDING, UH, OUTDOOR FITNESS STATION WITH THE OVERHEAD SHADE SALE, UH, ADDITIONAL SEATING, BENCHES AND ARBOR SWINGS PLUS, UM, ELECTRICAL UPGRADES FOR EVENTS, UH, TO ACCOMMODATE EVENTS.
AND THEN ADDITIONAL LANDSCAPE AND IRRIGATION.
THESE WERE THE SAME IMAGES WE PRESENTED AT THE TOWN COUNCIL WORKSHOP BACK IN 24.
THE, UH, LEFT IMAGE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE, THE TWO PAVILIONS WERE INCLUDING IN THIS SCOPE OF WORK THERE, 24 BY 34.
[01:00:01]
CENTER IMAGE IS THE SHADE SALE OVER THE FITNESS CENTER OR THE FITNESS STATION.AND THE IMAGE ON THE RIGHT BOTTOM IS A MISTING FEATURE.
IT INCLUDES KIND OF LIGHTING, SO IT'S KIND OF A SCULPTURAL PIECE THAT WILL BE IN THE PARK.
UH, AND THEN THE TOP CENTER IS, IS THE PRE-ENGINEERED TRELLIS GO AROUND THE, THE PERIMETER OF THE MISTING STATION, UH, FITNESS EQUIPMENT WE'RE UPGRADED USING UPGRADED, UH, FITNESS EQUIPMENT IN THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION.
IT'S ALL IN ONE LOCATION, UH, WITH A SHADE SALE OVER TOP.
BUT THIS USES RESISTANT TO GET YOUR, YOUR PHYSICAL EXERCISE.
UH, WE'RE ANXIOUS TO SEE HOW IT LOOKS.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S A WELL-MADE EQUIPMENT AND WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE IT.
THIS, UH, IF I DON'T MIND, IF YOU DON'T MIND, THIS IS ALL OUTDOOR.
NOT A LOT OF PARTS AND PIECES, BUT IT'S, IT USES RESISTANCE.
AND IT'S GONNA BE, UH, UNDERNEATH A SHADE SALE.
UM, AND IT'S GONNA BE IN A CIRCULAR ARRANGEMENT AROUND THE SHADES.
MAY I WAS GONNA SAY, I THINK THESE ARE SIMILAR NATURE TO THE ONES THAT WE HAVE OUT AT OSCAR FRAZIER THAT ARE AROUND THAT WALKING TRAIL AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE DURABLE AND OUTDOOR.
AND THOSE WERE HOLDING UP GOOD.
CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE TRS A BIT? TO WHAT? TRS TRELLIS.
TRELLIS IS THAT COVERED ON THE TOP? IT IT IS GOT HORIZONTAL AND, UH, IT HAS HORIZONTAL MEMBERS TO PROVIDE SHADE BENEATH IT.
IT'S NOT COVERED WITH A, UH, FABRIC, IF ANYTHING, TYPE LIKE THAT.
SO WOULD IF IT RAIN, WOULD WATER GET ON THE SEAT ON THE SEATS? YES.
YOU WOULD, YOU WOULD GET WET UNDERNEATH THAT? YES.
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE TRELLIS ITSELF? YES.
IT'S MORE FOR A SHADE FEATURE FOR PEOPLE SITTING AROUND THE MISTING STATION WATCHING THEIR CHILDREN.
SO WON'T BE USED QUITE AS MUCH WHEN IT'S RAINING.
I GUESS
UM, WE POSTED AN INVITATION FOR BID, UH, AND THEN REVIEWED THE BIDS FOR LOWEST PRICE, QUALIFIED, RESPONSIVE, AND RESPONSIBLE OFFERS.
AND, UH, THE LAST TWO CRITERIA ARE KIND OF CRITICAL IN THIS PARTICULAR BID IN THAT RESPONSIVE AND RES, UH, AND RESPONSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE WERE IMPORTANT FEATURES TO CRITERIA FOR THIS PARTICULAR BID.
ONE FROM HILTON HEAD LANDSCAPE AND ONE FROM CHARTER VISTA.
HILTON HAD, LANDSCAPE WAS REALLY THE ONLY BID THAT PROVIDED A COMPLETE AND RESPONSIVE BID CHARTER VISTA.
THEY ONLY INCLUDED ONE PAGE OF A PARTIAL UNIT PRICE SCHEDULE.
THEY DIDN'T BID EVERYTHING, THEY DID NOT INCLUDE, UH, LICENSES.
THEY DIDN'T INCLUDE VERIFICATION OF THEIR REFERENCES OR A BID BOND.
SO IT REALLY WASN'T A QUALIFIED BID, SO WE HAD TO THROW THAT PARTICULAR BID OUT.
SO STAFF IS REQUESTING TOWN COUNCIL AUTHORIZE THE TOWN MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH HILTON HEAD LANDSCAPE FOR 974,000 8777 CENTS.
UM, WE ARE ASKING FOR A 10% CONTINGENCY ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT TO, TO COVER ANY UNFORESEEN KIND OF CHANGES THAT MAY ARISE DURING CONSTRUCTION.
UH, SO THE TOTAL FISCAL IMPACT IS 1,071,496 AND 54 CENTS.
AND THAT'S ALL WITHIN THE EXISTING BUDGET WE HAVE FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
SO THE NEXT STEPS, IF YOU APPROVE, IS, UH, TO GO AHEAD AND SUBMIT THE CONTRACT FOR SIGNATURES AND INITIATE A PRE-CONSTRUCTION MEETING.
THEN WE, AT THAT MEETING, WE'D, UH, ISSUE A NOTICE TO PROCEED AND WE INTEND TO START THIS PROJECT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, UH, IN THIS MONTH'S YET.
AND IT'S, UH, FOR A HUNDRED FIFTY EIGHT FIFTY DAY DURATION.
UH, SO WE, WE HOPE TO SEE IT COMPLETED, YOU KNOW, EARLY OR LATE SPRING, EARLY, EARLY SUMMER.
SO, UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE OR PROVIDE FURTHER CLARIFICATION.
OTHERWISE, THERE IS A PROPOSED MOTION IN YOUR PACKET FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
QUESTIONS FOR MR. ROONEY? MS. FRAZIER? NO, THE ONLY QUESTION I HAD, UM, PAT PLACING THAT LAST SLIDE ON THE TIMELINE OF STARTING COMPLETION.
SO
SO WE WON'T HAVE ANY EVENTS OUT THERE UNTIL THIS, THIS SPRING OR SUMMER.
[01:05:02]
THANK YOU.ANY QUESTIONS, MR. WOOD? MR. HAMILTON QUESTION, MR. BURN.
SO WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOVING, A MOTION TO APPROVE? I MOVE TO APPROVE.
I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AUTHORIZING A TOWN MANAGER INTO A CONTRACT WITH HILTON HEAD LANDSCAPES FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE BUCK WALTER PLACE PARK PHASES IS THREE AND FOUR IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,071,496 AND 54 CENTS, WHICH INCLUDES A 10% CONTINGENCY.
PAT, DON'T COME BACK AGAIN THIS YEAR.
UP NEXT, WE HAVE CONSIDERATION OF PUBLIC ART.
PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION TO AWARD A PUBLIC ART COMMISSION AWARD, A PUBLIC ART COMMISSION AT NEW RIVERSIDE BARN PARK TO MICHAEL MCLAUGHLIN WITH A PHYSICAL IMPACT OF $58,000.
UM, SO AS YOU'LL RECALL, AGAIN, THE PUBLIC ART POLICY WAS APPROVED IN 2022 BY YOU ALL COUNCIL.
UM, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT THROUGH THE PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE.
WE BROUGHT A RECOMMENDATION FOR RIVERSIDE.
UM, AT THE TIME, UH, THE, THERE WAS FOUR COUNCIL PRESENT AND IT WAS A SPLIT VOTE.
UM, SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WAS GIVEN TO US WAS CONCERNS AROUND, AROUND THE COST.
UH, WE WERE ASKED TO GO BACK TO THE, UH, RECOMMENDED ARTIST AND SEE WHAT HE COULD, UH, WORK ON US WITH.
UM, BUT JUST A REMINDER, YOU KNOW, WHY WE'RE DOING THIS AGAIN? YOU ALL APPROVED THE POLICY, UH, FOR US TO WORK ON AND WE'RE TRYING TO, UH, BUILD A DIVERSE COLLECTION OF PUBLIC ART TO ADDRESS THE, UH, CULTURAL RESOURCES WITHIN TOWN, EXPAND THOSE RESOURCES, AND, UH, UH, PROMOTE A COMMUNITY QUALITY OF LIFE.
UM, CIVIC PRIDE, ATTRACTING VISITORS, INCREASING FOOT TRAFFIC, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT COME ALONG WITH WITH PUBLIC ART.
UM, THE LOCATION THAT WAS IDENTIFIED FOR THIS CALL FOR ART WAS RIVERSIDE BARN PARK.
UM, IT WAS OPEN TO OUR INTERPRETATION, ALTHOUGH WE WERE KIND OF STEERING ARTISTS TOWARDS, UH, COMPLIMENTING THE NATURAL LANDSCAPE.
UM, NO SIZE PARAMETERS WERE GIVEN AT THE TIME.
UH, THERE WAS A BUDGET THAT WAS GIVEN OF A NOT TO EXCEED OF 65,000.
UH, SOME OF THE PROGRESS WE MADE, SO FAR.
HERE'S A RECAP OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE, WE'VE, UH, UH, UH, IMPLEMENTED ALREADY.
OBVIOUSLY, THE WRAP OF THE BLUFF AND BREEZE.
WE DID THE, UH, EQUIPMENT BOX AT THE SPLASH PAD, AND OF COURSE, THE BLUFF AND PEARL.
A CRITERIA FOR SELECTION IS OUTLINED IN THE POLICY, AND THAT IS, UH, THESE ITEMS RIGHT HERE.
UH, A GOOD EMPHASIS IS PUT ON THE QUALITY, UM, AND THE DURABILITY OF THE ART.
UH, THE IDEA IS THAT WE PROCURE SOMETHING OF QUALITY THAT CAN WITHSTAND THE ELEMENTS AND LAST US FOR, FOR DECADES IF POSSIBLE.
UM, SO THE, THE FOCUS HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON PUTTING OUT ART THAT IS, UM, VERY DURABLE QUALITY, UH, HAS, UH, QUALITY FABRICATION AND MAINTENANCE ARE REASONABLE FOR US TO MAINTAIN.
UH, AT, ON OUR STAFF, THE RECOMMENDED ARTIST WAS MICHAEL MCLAUGHLIN.
UH, HE PROPOSED A, UH, ART PIECE TITLED RABBIT AND REN.
UH, YOU SEE THE SKETCH TO THE LEFT, THERE TO THE RIGHT IS A, AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF HIS ART PIECES.
UM, IN ANOTHER STATE, WHEN WE, UM, WENT BACK TO HIM, UH, TO TALK ABOUT THE PRICE, HE OFFERED US SOME SOLUTIONS, REDUCED COST BY $7,000.
UM, IT WOULD REDUCE THE, THE HEIGHT OF THE PIECE FROM SIX TO FIVE FEET.
UM, AND HE ALSO, UH, IS GOING TO TAKE ON MORE OF THE WORK HIMSELF RATHER THAN, UH, CONTRACTING SOME ENGINEERS TO WORK WITH HIM.
SO THAT ALSO HE'S, HE'S EATING THAT COST ESSENTIALLY, SO REDUCING THE COST OVERALL BY $7,000 TO $58,000.
AND HIS ESTIMATED TIMELINE IS 12 MONTHS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTION FROM COUNSEL, MS. FRAZIER? YES, I DO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.
UM, FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR OF, UM, THE, UH, PACT THAT WE HAVE AND IMPLEMENTED, IF YOU COULD PLEASE TELL US WHAT THE FUNDING SOURCE OF OUR PUBLIC, UM, ARTS COMMISSION IS? YES.
SO WHEN THE POLICY WAS ESTABLISHED, WE, UM, SET UP A DESIGNATED FUND WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND, BUT ANNUALLY, AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE IDENTIFY ALL THE ITEMS THAT THE GENERAL FUND SUPPORTS THAT ARE, UH, CAN SUPPORT TOURISM.
SO WE IDENTIFY HOSPITALITY TAX FUNDS THAT CAN BE TRANSFERRED INTO GENERAL FUND TO REDUCE THE OVERALL LIABILITY OF THOSE EFFORTS THAT WE PUT ON IN THE GENERAL FUND, UM, THAT SUPPORT TOURISM AND ATTRACTION IN, IN, IN OUR RESIDENTS.
AND DO ANY OF THOSE, UM, FUNDS COME FROM THE ATAC APPROPRIATION FOR
[01:10:01]
CULTURAL? UH, THERE IS A SMALL PORTION, UH, LOCAL, UH, AT TAX STATED TAXES THROUGH THE, THE COMMITTEE, MOST OF THE LOCALS TOWARDS CAPITAL PROJECTS.AND AGAIN, UH, WE DO FUND THIS OUT OF THE CIP, UM, I DON'T IDENTIFY ANY LOCAL AT TAX WAS SPECIFIC TO THIS PARTICULAR PIECE THOUGH.
QUESTIONS, MR. WOOD? I I HAVE A QUESTION INDIRECTLY RELATED.
UM, SO YEARS AGO WE BECAME, AND I KNOW THIS IS OUTSIDE THE CULTURAL DISTRICT, YEARS AGO, THE TOWN TOOK ON THE TITLE FROM THE STATE OF CULTURAL DISTRICT.
WE HAD A WHOLE LOT MORE ARTISTS AND EVERYTHING IN THE OLD TOWN AREA BACK THEN.
AND OBVIOUSLY OVER TIME WE'RE STARTING FOR WHATEVER REASON, THAT IS STARTING TO PHASE OUT A LITTLE BIT THROUGH ECONOMIC REASONS.
REAL ESTATE PRICES ARE HIGH AND EVERYTHING.
UH, THE ONLY THING I, I HAVEN'T READ THAT IN A LONG TIME WHEN IT CAME OUT, BUT HYPOTHETICALLY, THE CULTURAL DISTRICT, NOT THIS PIECE.
DOES IT ENCOMPASS ARTWORK ALONG WITH ARTISTS BEING GENERAL ARTISTS AS WELL AS LIKE YOU HAVE THE MAY RIVER THEATER THAT PUTS ON PLAYS AND STUFF.
DOES IT ENCOMPASS ALL OF THESE ISSUES? IT DOES, YEAH.
WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY NOT ONLY, UH, PUBLIC ART, BUT ALSO PRIVATELY ART WITHIN THE DISTRICT AS WELL AS BUSINESSES THAT, THAT, UH, THEIR CORE MISSION IS ART RELATED.
UM, THEATERS, EVERYTHING THAT CAN BE ENCOMPASSED WITHIN THAT, THAT UMBRELLA ARE IDENTIFIED AND, UH, MAPPED OUT WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
AND THEN WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE DISTRICT ON HELPING TO PROMOTE, UM, THE DISTRICT TO ATTRACT VISITORS.
AND THAT'S NOT EASILY GRANTED TO ANY NO DIS PENALTY? NO.
I THINK THERE'S SIX OR SEVEN IN TOTAL IN THE STATE.
ANY QUESTIONS? LAST TIME WE HAD THIS, MY CONCERN WAS THE COST OF THE ARTWORK, UM, SEEMED LIKE IT WAS, THERE'S A $7,000, UH, REDUCTION, BUT WE ALSO GETTING A REDUCTION IN THE PRODUCT SIZE OF YEAH.
SO ARE WE REALLY GETTING A REDUCTION? YEAH, WE ARE.
I MEAN, A LOT, MOST OF THE COST RELATED TO THE PIECE IS THE, THE MATERIALS.
UM, IT'S, IT'S A BRONZE STATUE ESSENTIALLY, AND THERE'S A PATINA THAT HE PUTS ON IT TO COLOR IT.
UM, SO REDUCING THE SIZE WILL, WILL REDUCE THE COST IT'S OUTLINED, I DON'T HAVE IT IN THE, THE PRESENTATION, BUT IN YOUR PACKETS, IT'S LINE ITEM, WHICH WHERE IT'S COMING FROM, THERE'S LIKE A FEW THOUSAND FROM MATERIALS, AND THERE'S A FEW THOUSAND FROM, UH, LABOR THAT OF AN INDIVIDUAL.
HE'S NO LONGER GONNA PAY FOR IT.
MR. PARDON? UM, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST GO BACK UP, GO BACK TO SOME OF COUNCILWOMAN, UM, FRASIER'S QUESTIONS.
SO YOU SAID THAT THIS IS FUNDED OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, BUT THAT HOSPITALITY TAX DOES, DOES THAT YOU MOVE OVER TO GENERAL FUND? AM I CORRECT? YEAH, SO IT'S PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS EVERY YEAR.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THE GENERAL FUND SUPPORTS, UM, THAT'S TOURISM RELATED OR EVENT RELATED.
UM, AND WE IDENTIFY THOSE COSTS TO MAXIMIZE HOW MUCH WE CAN U UH, MOVE HOSPITALITY FUNDS, FUNDS INTO GENERAL FUND TO SUPPORT THAT.
UM, AND JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, HOSPITALITY FUNDS ARE, UM, HOTEL NIGHT NIGHTLY, HOTEL STAYS, AND OUTSIDE PREPARED FOODS.
SO AT THE, WHEN YOU GO TO RESTAURANT, THAT LITTLE BIT, THAT'S, YEAH, IT'S MY, UM, UNDERSTANDING FROM ASKING LOTS OF QUESTIONS TOO.
IT DOES SEEM LIKE A, A LOT OF MONEY, BUT AFTER WITNESSING THE, UM, PEARL AT, AT THE SQUIRE POPE COTTAGE, LIKE FOUL, YOU KNOW, SO, UM, ALL THOSE THINGS DO, AND, AND, AND THE H TACS CAN ONLY BE USED FOR CERTAIN THINGS, BUT THIS IS DIRECTLY IN TIED TO TOURISM.
THAT CASE PEOPLE WILL WANT TO ONE OF HEAR ABOUT THAT, WANT TO SEE IT.
I'VE ALREADY QUESTIONED EVERYTHING IN THE PAST, SO I'LL JUST ASK TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE ANYBODY WANTS TO SAY.
IF NOT, WOULD SOMEONE MAKE A MOTION TO OR NOT TO? I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PUBLIC ARTS COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION TO AWARD THE PUBLIC ART COMMISSION AT NEW RIVERSIDE BARN PARK TO MICHAEL MCLAUGHLIN WITH A FISCAL IMPACT OF $58,000.
[01:15:01]
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.THANK YOU, MR. THANK YOU, CHRIS.
SO WITH CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON MUNICIPAL CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 23, UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE, ARTICLE FIVE, DESIGN STANDARDS, SECTION EIGHT ACCESSORY BUILDINGS NEW AND SECTION 0.5 A E, MAXIMUM LOCK COVERAGE.
NEW MR. KEVIN, UH, YOU KNOW WHAT, ALL I JUST READ THERE, BUT
WE ARE HERE FOR THE, UM, THE PROPOSED EDITS TO THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE, AS YOU'D STATED.
UM, SO JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME, UH, BRIEF BACKGROUND, UH, THIS REQUEST INITIALLY WAS, UM, CONS, UH, REQUESTED BY A PROPERTY OWNER, UM, IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, UM, WHO HAD BUILT A CARPORT WITHOUT, UH, RECEIVING THE PROPER PERMITS.
UM, AND THEN, UM, SO A COUPLE OTHER THINGS TO REMIND YOU IS THAT, UH, UH, PRIOR TO 2011, UM, WE CLASSIFIED, UM, CARPORTS THAT THEY WERE AT, UM, THEY WERE IN ESSENCE WHERE OUR CARRIAGE HOUSES.
SO WE WERE, UH, WE HAD SOME CONCERNS, UM, THAT WE WERE, WE HAD SOME AMBIGUITY AS TO WHAT WE WOULD CLASSIFY CARRIAGE HOUSES, UH, FOR.
SO THIS HAS COME IN FRONT OF YOU A COUPLE TIMES.
UH, JUST MOST RECENTLY, THIS WAS IN FRONT OF PLANNING COMMISSION AT THEIR, AT THE OCTOBER 22ND MEETING, UH, WHERE THEY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE, UH, THE, THE, UM, THE, THE DOCUMENTATION EXCEPT FOR THE MAXIMUM LOT COVERAGE.
I'M GONNA GO INTO THAT INFORMATION HERE IN JUST A SECOND.
BUT, UM, SO WE HAD MULTIPLE, UM, UM, WORKSHOPS BOTH IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER OF, OF, OF LAST YEAR, AND THEN APRIL, AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR BEFORE IT WENT TO PLANNING COMMISSION.
UM, AND WE WORKED, UH, I THINK WE WORKED PRETTY DILIGENTLY ON, ON PULLING SOME OF THIS INFORMATION, UH, TOGETHER.
SO WHEN THIS GOT IN FRONT OF PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, INITIALLY, UM, AS YOU GUYS REMEMBER, WE HAD SOME, UH, QUESTIONS ABOUT THE, THE SIZE OF, UH, THE CARPORTS THAT WE WERE INTERESTED IN HAVING.
UM, INITIAL CONVERSATIONS WERE SET AT 600 SQUARE FOOT, UH, IN ESSENCE, WHICH IS A, IT'S, YOU KNOW, LIKE THAT WOULD BE A 20 BY 30 OR, UM, UH, YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT? YEAH.
UM, SOME OF THE OTHER ITEMS WE HAD IN HERE WE'RE DEALING WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE GONNA, HOW ARE THESE GONNA BE DESIGNED? UM, YOU KNOW, COULD THEY BE ATTACHED OR DETACHED? UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO HAVE ATTACHED CARPORTS.
UH, SOME OF THE CONCERNS WE HAD WAS THE PLACEMENT OF IT.
SO BEING PLACED BEHIND THE FRONT PLANE OF THE PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE, UH, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CHARACTER WAS THE SAME.
UM, SO WE HAD, UH, QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PITCH OF THE ROOF, UH, WHICH IN HERE WE HAVE IT SET AT A MINIMUM OF A FOUR 12 PITCH ROOF.
UH, WE TALKED ABOUT THE ENCLOSURES, UH, NOT HAVING LIKE SOLID WALLS, BUT RATHER HAVING, UM, LIKE, UH, A LOUVERED PANELS AND ONLY TWO OF THE SIDES OF THE CAR COULD, OUR CARPORT COULD BE ENCLOSED.
UH, A COUPLE OTHER ITEMS WAS THE ROOF.
UM, THE HEIGHT OF IT WAS, WE STUDIED IT THAT, UH, IT'S NO TALLER THAN THE PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE OR 18 FEET, WHICHEVER IS LEFT, UH, LESS.
AND THE CONCERN WAS IF YOU HAVE A BOAT, UH, TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD, UH, AMPLE CLEARANCE IN ORDER FOR YOUR BOAT TO GET IN THERE.
SO, UH, WHAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU, UH, WE, OBVIOUSLY THE RED LINE VERSION IS WHAT, UM, WHAT HAD GONE THROUGH PLANNING COMMISSION AND ULTIMATELY, UH, APPROVED, UM, OR RECOMMENDED, APPROVED ON THIS SECTION.
AND HERE'S JUST A, IT JUST BROKEN DOWN SPECIFICALLY, UM, TO, TO WHAT WE HAD JUST DISCUSSED.
UH, THE NEXT SECTION WAS DEALING WITH THE LOT COVERAGE.
UM, AS YOU REMEMBER, WE, WE, UH, BROUGHT FORWARD, UH, THIS INFORMATION TO YOU, UM, UH, WITH THE CONCERNS TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, SITE PROPERTIES WEREN'T LIKE OVERCOVERED, UH, WHICH WOULD THEN CAUSE IMPACTS ON STORMWATER INFILTRATION.
UM, WHICH IF YOU WERE TO DESIGN A SITE, YOU CAN STILL DESIGN A SITE, UM, THAT HAS IMPERVIOUS AREA AND IMPERVIOUS AREAS.
UH, SO LIKE RIGHT NOW, A DRIVEWAY, UM, DEPENDING IF IT'S A CONCRETE DRIVEWAY, WELL THAT'S AN, THAT IS AN IMPERVIOUS AREA.
BUT IF YOU DESIGNED YOUR DRIVEWAY, UM, THAT WAS GRAVEL THAT HAD FILTRATION INTO, DESIGNED INTO IT, THEN THAT WOULDN'T COUNT TOWARDS MEETING YOUR, UH, MAXIMUM LOT COVERAGE.
SO, UH, ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS, UH, AS THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAD HAD DISCUSSED, UM, AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THEY HAD, I GUESS THEY HAD DECIDED TO, UM, RECOMMEND NOT INCLUDING THIS, BUT I WANTED TO SAY THAT, UM, STAFF WILL USE, UM, WE HAVE A, A TABLE ALREADY IN THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE THAT TALKS ABOUT MAXIMUM LOT COVERAGE, AND IT'S FOR THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE LOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
SO WHAT WE DID IS WE CROSS-REFERENCED THE, THE TABLE OF THE LOT STANDARDS FOR THOSE PROPERTIES OUTSIDE THE HISTORIC DISTRICT BASED OFF OF WHAT WOULD BE THE, UM, THE BUILDING TYPE STANDARDS.
THAT'S HOW WE CAME UP WITH THAT MAXIMUM PERCENTAGE.
UH, SO THAT'S, THAT WAS THE REASON THAT WE HAD THAT IN HERE.
AGAIN, WHILE PLANNING COMMISSION MADE A RECOMMENDATION, UM, THAT WAS THEIR RECOMMENDATION TO NOT
[01:20:01]
INCLUDE IT STAFF IS PROPOSING THAT WE KEEP THIS AMOUNT IN HERE.UM, SO A COUPLE OF THE REVIEW CRITERIA MET ALL THE REVIEW CRITERIA THAT WE HAD.
UH, WE ARE HERE AT FIRST READING, UM, AND AGAIN, FROM THAT, UH, STAFF, UH, STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS, UH, YOU KNOW, WE DO AGREE WITH THE TEXT, UH, THE TEXT PORTION OF IT.
UH, BUT WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT SECTIONS A THROUGH E THAT, UM, THE, THIS WOULD BE THE, UM, THE, THE, UH, BUILDING TYPE DIMENSIONS, UH, THAT, THAT SECTION WOULD BE INCLUDED, WHICH IS, UH, 5 15 5 A THROUGH E.
SO A, UM, IT'S EACH OF THE ZONING DISTRICTS, UM, IS, IT'S HOW WE HAVE THAT CLASSIFIED.
SO WITH THAT, UM, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE, UM, START WITH MS. BURDEN.
UM, I DO HAVE, UM, A COUPLE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
UM, AND I'D LIKE TO COME BACK TO THAT MAXIMUM LOCK COVERAGE, BUT JUST WANNA MAKE A COUPLE OTHER COMMENTS FIRST.
I KNOW THAT WE'VE WORKSHOPPED THIS A COUPLE TIMES AND YOU'VE GONE TO PLANNING COMMISSION AND HPC, SO I DON'T WANT TO, UM, MAKE TOO MANY MORE CHANGES, BUT I DO, I THINK THAT PLANNING COMMISSION CHANGED IT BACK DOWN TO 400 FROM 600.
I PERSONALLY THINK THE 600 IS MORE APPROPRIATE.
UM, I MEASURED MY HUSBAND'S AND MY CARS AND WE WOULD ABSOLUTELY NOT FIT IN A 400 SQUARE FOOT, UM, CARPORT.
AND SO, UM, I THINK 600, UM, IS MORE APPROPRIATE.
UM, AND THEN SOMETHING ELSE I JUST WANT TO ASK ABOUT IS, ONE REQUIREMENT WAS FOR IT TO BE BEHIND, UM, THE PRIMARY STRUCTURE, CORRECT? SO I THINK ON SOME LOTS, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S QUITE A FEW WHERE IT SEEMS THAT IT BEING ON THE SIDE OF IT WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE THAN BEHIND.
WOULD THAT BE ALLOWED? UM, IF, IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'D LIKE, WHAT WE COULD DO IS, UM, WE COULD ADJUST THE LANGUAGE TO SAY THAT IF IT IS ATTACHED THAT, THAT IT WOULD BE ALLOWED IF IT'S ATTACHED TO THE HOUSE, YES.
I, I MEAN, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD, A GOOD RECOMMENDATION.
AGAIN, THE INTENT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE IS, IS THE FOCAL POINT, RIGHT? AND NOT NECESSARILY A CARRIAGE HOUSE OR A, A GARAGE DOOR OR A CARPORT.
UM, SO THAT WAS OUR INTENT OF HAVING THAT, UM, HAVING THAT PUSHED BACK FROM THERE.
UM, I, WHEN I WAS DRIVING AROUND TOWN, I SAW NUMEROUS LOTS WHERE I THOUGHT IT WOULDN'T FIT IN THE BACK OF THE HOUSE FOR DIFFERENT REASONS AND THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO GO ON THE SIDE.
SO I JUST THOUGHT I'D BRING THAT UP.
JUST, I DON'T WANNA CREATE SOMETHING THAT THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO CONSTANT VARIANCES FOR.
UM, AND THEN ONE MORE QUESTION IS, WILL THIS BE APPROVED AT THE STAFF LEVEL, ASSUMING THAT IT DOES MEET THE GUIDELINES, OR WILL IT HAVE TO GO THROUGH HPC? OUR INTENT IS THAT, UM, IF THIS WOULD BE APPROVED, THAT THEY WOULD, UM, THEY WOULD, UH, REQUEST A SITE FEATURE PERMIT, AND THAT IS A STAFF LEVEL.
UM, SO THEY WOULD GO THROUGH THE, AND THAT'S TYPICALLY A, UH, MAYBE A THREE DAY TURNAROUND, UM, OF JUST ONCE THEY ACTUALLY SUBMIT THE APPLICATION FOR US TO REVIEW IT, AND THEN, THEN, UH, GIVE, PROVIDE THAT APPROVAL.
FROM THERE, THEY WOULD THEN, UH, BE REQUIRED TO GET A BUILDING PERMIT.
SO THE FIRST STEP IS SITE FEATURE, SECOND STEP WOULD BE BUILDING PERMIT.
I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA JUST TO, YES, HELP STAFF AND HPC, UM, AND SOME, SO SOME, I WANNA GO BACK TO THAT MAXIMUM LOCK COVERAGE.
AND WHY GO OVER ONE MORE TIME WHY YOU'RE PROPOSING TO KEEP IT, UM, EVEN THOUGH PLANNING COMMISSION.
UM, AND TO BE HONEST, I FEEL LIKE Y'ALL'S INTENTS ARE THIS, OR INTENTIONS ARE THE SAME, UM, WHICH IS TO, UM, KEEP MORE PERVIOUS SURFACE THAN NOT.
AM I CORRECT? THAT'S YOUR INTENT BY KEEPING IT IN THERE? YES.
UM, AND WHEN I WENT BACK AND WATCHED THE PLANNING COMMISSION, IT SEEMED LIKE THEY DIDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE MAXIMUM LOT COVERAGE PERCENTAGE BEING IN THERE, BUT, UM, MORE OF THE PERCENTAGE, THE NUMBER, UM, AGAIN, I THINK THE GOALS WERE THE SAME, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF MAYBE WHEN WE GO BACK THROUGH THE OLD TOWN MASTER PLAN OVER THE NEXT 12 TO 18 MONTHS, IF WE COULD REVIEW, UM, THE PERCENTAGE PUT IN HERE, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT WE ARE NOT ALLOWING OVER BUILDING, UM, WHERE WE COULD, UM, ACTUALLY, UM, ALLOW FOR MORE STORM WATER AND RUNOFF ISSUES.
UM, I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR NOW.
UM, AND I, I HAVE AN EXAMPLE HERE I WANTED TO PROVIDE, MAYBE IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL.
UM, SO HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF A LOT, UH, THAT'S ON LAWRENCE STREET AT LAWRENCE, UM, AND DUBOSE, UM, RECENTLY CONSTRUCTED WITHIN THE PAST, UH, MAYBE THREE OR FOUR YEARS.
UM, IT'S IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD GENERAL, UH, HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THE LOT ITSELF IS 4,970, UH, 47 SQUARE FEET WHEN YOU, UM, INCLUDE THE HOUSE, UM, THE CARRIAGE HOUSE, THE DRIVEWAY, AND THE SIDEWALK, WHICH ARE ALL IMPERVIOUS STRUCTURES, UM, OR FEATURES THAT TOTALS 58, UH, PERCENTAGE.
SO 58% OF THE LOT IS COVERED WITH AN IMP IMPERVIOUS SURFACE.
[01:25:01]
SO BASED OFF OF THAT ADDITIONAL BUILDING TYPE, WHICH ALLOWS A MAXIMUM OF LOT COVERAGE, THERE STILL WOULD BE SOME ROOM, UH, TO WHERE THEY COULD HAVE, UM, THEY COULD HAVE SOME TYPE OF IMPERVIOUS STRUCTURES ON THE PROPERTY.HOWEVER, BASED OFF OF JUST THE CON SHEER CONFIGURATION OF THIS LOT, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR THIS, THIS PROPERTY TO HAVE A, A CARPORT ON IT.
UM, ANOTHER EXAMPLE, UM, IS THIS IS A PROPERTY OVER, UM, IN THE STOCK FARM AREA.
UM, AND WHILE IT'S A MUCH LARGER LOT, YOU CAN SEE AT A 16, UH, THOUSAND 828 SQUARE FEET, UM, THEY ONLY HAVE 30%, UM, IMPERVIOUS AREA THAT HAS SHOWN.
SO THEY, THEY WOULD HAVE AMPLE SPACE IN ORDER TO, UM, PROVIDE A CARPORT ON THERE.
I, I THINK, I THINK THE VISUAL KIND OF HELPS TO, TO GIVE THOSE PERSPECTIVES AS TO, TO WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NOT RIGHT NOW.
WHEN WE REQUIRE THE, UH, CARPORT TO BE IN THE BACK OF THE, THE ASSISTING OR DWELLING, DO THEY HAVE TO HAVE A DIFFERENT DRIVEWAY TO, TO ACCESS THE CARPORT? WELL, IT, IT DEPENDS ON, ON HOW THE LOT IS CONFIGURED RIGHT NOW.
UM, SO IT, IT TRULY DEPENDS ON HOW YOU HAVE TO CONSTRUC IT.
WHAT, WHAT IS AN GO BACK TO YOUR BUILDING TYPES AGAIN? I THINK, UM, WHAT IS THE, THE BOTTOM ONE ADDITIONAL BUILDING TYPE? WHAT, WHAT, WHAT THAT MEAN? IT'S KIND OF LIKE A, I, I DON'T WANNA USE, I'M USING THE TERM A CATCHALL, SO TO SPEAK, WHERE YOU MIGHT HAVE COMPONENTS OF CERTAIN, UM, BUILDING TYPES, BUT IT DOESN'T MEET THE EXACT, UM, CONFIGURATION OF THAT ONE BUILDING TYPE.
SO IT, IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO WHERE, UH, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE TALKED ABOUT THE, THE UNIFORMITY OF, OF BUILDINGS.
IT DOES PROVIDE THAT LITTLE BIT OF UNIQUENESS THAT PEOPLE COULD DO IN A BUILDING TYPE THAT THEY WANTED.
UH, SO WE HAD TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF PROVISIONS IN PLACE SO THAT WAY, YOU KNOW, IF, IF YOU'RE, YOU KIND OF GET LUMPED INTO THAT LAST ONE, THAT'S WHERE, UM, THAT'S WHERE WE'LL, WE'LL, WE CLASSIFY THOSE ADDITIONAL BUILDING TYPES.
MAYOR, CAN I FOLLOW UP ON A QUESTION THAT COUNCIL HAMILTON HAD? UM, KEVIN, JUST TO HELP CLARIFY, WHEN, WHAT IS THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT TO, IS IT REQUIRED TO HAVE A DRIVEWAY IF YOU PUT A CARPORT IN? I I, I'M NOT SURE.
CAN YOU JUST DRIVE ACROSS YOUR GRASS OR DO YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO MAKE AN IMPROVEMENT IF YOU PUT A CARPORT IN? UH, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY SAY THAT.
UM, SO YOU, THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET TO, IS IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO PUT A CARPORT IN, THERE'S, THERE'S NOT A REQUIREMENT THAT YOU HAVE TO GRAVEL OR PUT PAVERS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN TO THE YARD WITH THE CARPORT? CORRECT.
YOUR, YOUR ONLY REQUIREMENT ARE THE, THE TWO REQUIRED, YOU KNOW, OFF STREET PARKING SPACES PER, PER UNIT.
SO THAT'S TYPICALLY YOUR DRIVEWAY.
BUT LET'S SAY YOU WANTED TO PUT A CARPORT IN THE, IN THE BACK, UM, AND YOU DIDN'T WANT TO EXTEND YOUR DRIVEWAY, BUT YOU JUST DRIVE OVER YOUR GRASS, YOU CAN DO THAT RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU WANTED TO SAY, IF YOU JUST WANTED TO PARK YOUR GOLF CART AND LAWNMOWER UNDERNEATH THERE, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE.
SO I JUST WANTED, YOU DON'T HAVE TO FORMALIZE IT, THAT THAT'S WHERE I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR QUESTION.
COUNCILMAN HAMILTON IS JUST, THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT TO EXTEND OR ADD ANYTHING ELSE MM-HMM
UM, TO MAKE MORE IMPERVIOUS OR WHATEVER TO PUT A DRIVEWAY IN, IF YOU WANNA DO A CARPORT, IT J IT'S UP TO THE OPTION WHETHER YOU WANT TO OR NOT.
UM, MR. HIM, MR. WHAT'S YOUR NAME? D MR. WOOD
UM, SO I'M GOOD WITH THE 600 FOOT AS SUGGESTED BY MS BURDEN, AND I THINK THAT WAS ORIGINALLY STAFF'S DIRECTION AS A PROPOSAL.
UM, I THINK THE IMPERVIOUS QUESTION IS PARAMOUNT TO KEEP THAT THE, UH, THE PERCENTAGES YOU HAVE FROM MAXIMUM MAXIMUM LOT COVERAGE.
I MEAN, WE'RE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY TO PROTECT WETLANDS AND STUDIES AND IMPERVIOUS SERVICES IF RENDERED HIS PROBLEMS. AND SO I THINK THAT'S A HEALTHY THING TO LEAVE.
UM, THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION I WOULD HAVE IS ON THE AESTHETIC SIDE.
I KNOW COUNSEL ASKED THIS QUESTION PREVIOUSLY DURING A WORKSHOP OR WHATEVER.
UH, I, I UNDERSTAND THE SIDEWALLS THAT WE CAN DO, BUT WHAT ARE THE AESTHETICS ON THE ROOFING SIDE OF IT? CAN IT BE A CANVAS TARP OR A BLUE TARP? DOES IT HAVE TO BE SOMETHING MORE PERMANENT? IT FITS IN WITH THE OLD TOWN, UH, LOOK AND MASTER PLAN.
WHAT IS IT? SO I THINK THAT'S WHY BULLET NUMBER FOUR, WHERE IT SAYS MUST HAVE THE SAME GENERAL CHARACTER AS THE PRIMARY STRUCTURE.
UM, WE DIDN'T WANT TO BE SO SPECIFIC ON A SPECIFIC MATERIAL FOR THE ROOF THAT WE LEFT IT AS THE
[01:30:01]
GENERAL CHARACTER.SO THAT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM, YOU KNOW, THE, UM, THE FIVE V CRIMP, UH, METAL ROOFING THAT WE HAVE, WE SEE ON A LOT OF HOUSES.
UM, YOU COULD HAVE ARCHITECTURAL SHINGLES, UH, THERE COULD BE, YOU KNOW, THERE YOU MIGHT HAVE TERRACOTTA LIKE, I MEAN THERE'S, THERE'S DIFFERENT POSSIBILITIES THAT ARE OUT THERE FOR ROOFING MATERIALS THAT YOU COULD USE.
WE DIDN'T WANNA SPECIFICALLY SAY IT, BUT JUST GENERALIZE IT TOWARDS THE PRIMARY STRUCTURE, UH, THAT WAY YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE NOT DOING SOME CRAZY OFF THE WALL TYPE OF THING THAT, UM, IS NOT, THAT'S NOT IN CHARACTER OF THE, THE ENTIRE AREA.
I LEFT IT VERY, WE LEFT IT VAGUE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE US THE ABILITY TO NOT PIGEONHOLE SOMEONE INTO EXACTLY WHAT IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE.
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG ON THIS.
DAN OR KEVIN STILL HAS TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF OF BUILDING POOL HURRICANE.
SO IT, IT CAN'T BE THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
YOU KNOW, SO WHATEVER MATERIAL IT IS, AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, WE, THE, THERE IS NO REGULATION ON COLOR.
SO YOU CAN'T SAY IT'S GOT TO MATCH THE COLOR OF THE ROOF.
SO I MEAN, THAT SOLVES MY PROBLEM.
SEE WHAT I MEAN? YEAH, NO, GREAT, GREAT POINT.
MS. FRAZIER, ANYTHING FROM, YEAH, I HAVE A, UM, A QUESTION, KEVIN, BUT ALSO ON THIS, UM, UH, SUBJECT, I THINK IT'S GONNA BE GOOD FOR US TO LOOK AT NOT JUST, UM, MAKING SURE THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE A WAY TO HAVE COVERAGE OF LIKE PURVIEW SURFACES.
UM, BUT KNOWING THAT WE LOOK AT TO OUR PROBLEMS AREN'T JUST, UM, THE SURFACE, UH, MATTER, BUT ALSO IN THE LACK OF FOLIAGE, SOMETIMES THAT'S TAKEN AWAY WHEN WE DO ADD AN IMPERVIOUS SURFACES.
UM, BUT MY QUESTION IS STEMMING FROM WHAT COUNCILWOMAN, UM, BURDEN ASKED.
I THINK IF, UM, GOING FROM THE 600 TO THE 400 IS GOING TO CREATE AN ISSUE THAT WOULD PLACE EXISTING STRUCTURES IN A NON-CONFORMING, UM, STATUS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE EITHER ALREADY BUILT TO THAT STANDARD OR, UM, WOULD CREATE A PROBLEM OF THOSE WHO NEED TO BUILD TO THAT STANDARD, I THINK WE SHOULD GO WITH WHATEVER'S GONNA REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD HAVE TO GET, UM, VARIANCES OR WHAT WOULD BE THE LESS PROBLEMATIC, UM, UH, PROCESS FOR STAFF.
AND THE POINT THAT YOU RAISED SEEMED TO BE ONE THAT MANY MIGHT FIND THEMSELVES IN, IN TERMS OF, UM, NOT BEING ABLE FIT THE VEHICLES THAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE INTO THAT.
IF THAT THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE CARPORT BEING ABLE TO GIVE RESIDENTS THAT OPTION, UM, I WOULD LOOK TO SEE LIKE WHAT THE, THE BETTER OPTION IS GONNA BE IN THE REST OF COUNCIL FIELDS.
BUT IF IT'S 600, I THINK WE SHOULD CHANGE THE LANGUAGE TO THAT.
IF, UM, CLARIFY WHAT YOU JUST SAID, SIX RIGHT NOW THE MAXIMUM IS 400 SQUARE FEET, BUT RIGHT.
BUT WE, AS SHE WAS SAYING, WHEN THEY, SHE MEASURED HER OWN PERSONAL VEHICLES, UM, THEY DON'T FIT.
AND I'M SURE THAT MANY PEOPLE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE A SIMILAR ISSUE TO THAT.
THIS MAY BE FLOAT THE MOTION WITH INSTEAD OF THE 400 AS A 600 AND SEE HOW THE VOTE GOES.
YES, THAT'S, WELL THAT'S WHAT I WAS ON MY NOTES.
THAT'S ONE THING THAT I WAS GONNA MAKE A POINT TO.
AND, AND IF, IF YOU DON'T MIND, CAN I, UH, GO BACK TO ONE OF YOUR, YOUR CONCERNS DEALING WITH THE NON-CONFORMITY MM-HMM
UM, I THINK THAT, SO OBVIOUSLY BY, BY INCREASING UP TO THAT 600%, THAT WILL, THAT WILL HELP A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS THAT MAY HAVE EXISTING CARPORTS IF THEY WERE TO GO TO, UM, WELL, IF THEY WERE JUST REPAIRING THEM, THEY CAN DO THAT WITH NO PROBLEM.
THERE'S, THERE'S NO ISSUES WITH THAT.
UM, BUT IF THEY, IF IT WAS LIKE SUBSTANTIALLY, UH, YOU KNOW, DESTROYED AND THEY WANTED TO REBUILD, HOPEFULLY THAT 600 IS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE RIGHT NOW.
THEY MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING ACTUALLY SMALLER.
SO, UH, THAT WOULD DEFINITELY GIVE MORE LEEWAY THAN, THAN WHAT THE 400 SQUARE FOOT WOULD.
AND THAT WOULD BE MY THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, IN THE, IN THE EVENT THAT WE HAVE SOME DISASTER AND LET'S SAY CARPORTS ARE DAMAGED, UM, I THINK IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR A LOT MORE PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO REBUILD.
UM, YOU KNOW, IF IT WASN'T AS, AS MUCH OF AN ISSUE AS THAT 400 THAT DOES LIMIT.
OPPOSED, MAY I ASK A QUESTION? JUST GOING OFF OF THAT THOUGH, BUT IT, LET'S SAY THERE WAS A HURRICANE IN SOME OF 'EM THAT ARE CURRENTLY EXISTING, UM, WERE DESTROYED, LIKE SOME OF THE METAL ONES THAT WE'VE SEEN AROUND TOWN, THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PUT THAT WHAT THEY LIKE THE METAL STRUCTURE BACK IN, AM I CORRECT? WELL, IF THEY MEET THE, THE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE HERE, IT MIGHT NOT BE THE EXACT SAME, UM, BUT THEY COULD MEET THE GENERAL CHARACTER BASED ON THAT FOOTPRINT.
I, I, I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GETTING, YOU'RE GETTING TO THE, THE ONE AND A HALF INCH METAL PIPED TYPE CARPORTS THAT ARE, I THINK, YEAH, SOME I THINK IN PRIOR PRESENTATIONS THAT YOU'VE SHOWN THROUGHOUT TOWN.
AND I'M JUST CURIOUS 'CAUSE I THINK, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE COULD BE A HARDSHIP TO THEN HAVE TO BUILD
[01:35:02]
UP TO THIS NEXT ONE.UM, OR THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO FOLLOW THE CODE OF CURRENT CODES ANYWAY.
YEAH, I MEAN, LETS JUST HIT THAT IF THEY'RE DAMAGED, YOU KNOW, FROM A NON-CONFORMITY STANDPOINT, IF THEY'RE DAMAGED LESS THAN 50%, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN MAKE THE REPAIRS.
UM, BUT IF IT GOES BEYOND THAT, THEN DEF THEY DEFINITELY HAVE TO FOLLOW WHATEVER THE NEW REQUIREMENTS WERE.
LIKE IF YOU HAD A BENT POLE, THEN YOU'D BE ABLE TO GO IN AND REPAIR THAT SAME TYPE OF BENT POLE TO PUT IT BACK INTO PLACE.
I JUST GOT A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE FOOTPRINT, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO BUILD IT 20 BY 30, YOU COULD BUILD IT 10 BY 60 IF THAT'S WHAT YOUR LOT DEMANDS, YOU KNOW, WHICH 10 FOOT WIDE WOULD BE ENOUGH FOR A CAR, BUT IT WOULDN'T BE ENOUGH FOR A BOAT.
AND THE RULES ABOUT THE, I I, IF IT'S POSSIBLE PUTTING IT BEHIND THE HOUSE, BUT IF YOU'RE, I'M THINKING BOATS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY LIVELIHOOD.
SO YOU CAN'T BACK A BOAT AROUND THE CORNER AND GET IT STRAIGHT AND GO INTO THE GARAGE.
WE'VE ALLOWED SOME OF OUR HOMES THAT ARE BUILT IN THE VERY CLOSE PROXIMITY, SOME OF HERE THAT IF YOU DRIVE A PICKUP TRUCK, YOU CAN'T GET IN THE GARAGE BECAUSE YOU COME STRAIGHT IN, THEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE A HARD TURN AND THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH ROOM WITHOUT BACKING INTO YOUR NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE.
AND I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE SEEN WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
SO NO NEED TO CREATE A RULE LIKE THAT, THAT'S GONNA JUST NOT MAKE ANY SENSE.
UM, WELL MAYOR THE EIGHT BEFORE YOU GO FURTHER TO HELP HIM.
SO WHERE HE'S GOT CHARACTERISTICS BASED ON WHAT YOU JUST SAID, SO WHAT YOU'RE REALLY, I THINK YOU'RE GETTING AT, THEY WOULD SCRATCH OUT PLACEMENT IN THE REAR OF LOT AND JUST BASICALLY GO WITH THE 20 FEET BEHIND THE FRONT PLANE.
IS THAT RIGHT? UM, THAT WOULD BE MORE SENSIBLE.
UM, UM, NO, BECAUSE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING, YOU CAN'T PULL A TRAILER ABOUT THE TRAILER IN MOST OF THE LOTS.
YOU KNOW, I, I THINK, UM, AT AN ANGLE LIKE THAT, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO COME STRAIGHT IN BACK JUST, JUST TO GET TO AN AERIAL.
UM, THAT'S PROBABLY, THAT'S NOT A GOOD EXAMPLE.
UM, BUT IF, YOU KNOW, IF YOUR, IF YOUR, IF YOUR DRIVEWAY WAS THE LENGTH OF, YOU KNOW, THIS, THE SIDE RIGHT HERE, THEN YOU'D BE ABLE TO BACK TO STRAIGHT IN.
SO IT WOULD BE PUSHED FURTHER BACK, NOT NECESSARILY TURNED, TURNED TO THE SIDE.
BUT, UM, YEAH, YOU KNOW, THE REGULATION OF HAVING TO GO IN THE BACK, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO DO THAT.
AND IT'S, IT'S DIFFICULT FOR US TO, TO TO, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A WHAT IF FOR EVERY POSSIBLE SCENARIO, RIGHT? UM, IT, IF I, IF I MAY, IF THE, IF KIND OF THE CONSENSUS IS THE CONCERN OF THE PLACEMENT IN THE REAR OF THE LOT, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE THING IS WE COULD ADJUST THIS, UM, UM, THIS LANGUAGE TO, TO READ THAT IF IT WAS, YOU KNOW, ATTACHED, UH, YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE ATTACHED TO, TO THE SIDE OF A HOUSE, UM, BUT, BUT WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO GO, UM, IN FRONT OF THAT FRONT PLANE.
UM, AND THEN IF IT IS, IF IT IS DETACHED THAT IT WOULD THEN NEED TO BE PLACED BACK AND YOU CAN, YOU CAN GO WITH 20 FEET, YOU CAN GO WITH 10 FEET.
I THINK THE INTENT, OUR INTENT IS TO JUST KIND TO, IF IT'S SEPARATED THAT IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT WOULD HAVE TO, WHAT WE HAVE TO WORD SOMETHING LIKE AS, AS FAR BACK AS POSSIBLE IS FEASIBLE BECAUSE EVERY LOTS, EVERYTHING IS GONNA BE EVERYONE'S UNIQUE.
SO THE, THE OPTION IS IT MUST BE BEHIND THE FRONT PLANE OF THE HOUSE.
WE CAN'T, WE, WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T FIX EVERY SCENARIO THAT'S NOT EVEN OUT THERE YET.
SO IF YOU BUY A HOUSE THAT HAS SMALL SIDE YARDS, DON'T BUY A BOAT.
IS THAT WHY YOU DON'T HAVE A BOAT? THAT'S WHY.
SO CAN I ASK A ANOTHER QUESTION THERE? SO HELP ME WITH THE LANGUAGE MM-HMM
WHERE IT SAYS PLACEMENT IN REAR OF LOT OR AT A MINIMUM OF 20 FEET BEHIND THE FRONT PLANE, YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES.
IF YOU DECIDED YOU WANTED TO TRY TO BUILD IT IN THE BACK OF THE LOT, YOU COULD.
IF YOU CAN MAKE THE RADIUS MM-HMM
OR YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUILD IT THERE, ALL WE ALL TOWN STAFF IS ASKING JUST SHIFT IT BACK 20 FEET.
SO IT'S NOT THE PREDOMINANT FEATURE MM-HMM
IS THAT, IS THAT CORRECT? YES.
AND IF I COULD MAYBE, MAYBE WHAT THE WORDING WOULD BE, PLACEMENT IN THE REAR OF THE LOT OR BEHIND THE FRONT PLANE OF THE PRINCIPLE STRUCTURE.
SO WE WOULD STRIKE, STRIKE THROUGH AT A MINIMUM OF 20 FEET IN THAT SECTION RIGHT THERE.
SO, BUT THE WORD OR STAYS CORRECT.
SO IF I MAY, BASED OFF OF THE DISCUSSIONS, WHAT I'M HEARING SO FAR, SO WHERE IT SAYS
[01:40:01]
MAXIMUM FOOTPRINT ON THE SCREEN HERE, WE WOULD SAY 600, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE GOING WITH, UM, BULLET NUMBER, UH, THREE WOULD SAY PLACEMENT IN THE REAR OF LOT OR BEHIND THE FRONT PLANE OF THE PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE.UM, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE, UH, LOT COVERAGE, MAXIMUM LOT COVERAGE INFORMATION AND THE HEIGHT, KEVIN, IS, ARE WE GOING WITH 18 FEET? YES SIR.
AGAIN, HOW TO EXCEED THE HEIGHT OF THE HOUSE.
AND KEVIN, BACK TO WHERE YOU JUST SAID OR BEHIND THE FRONT PLANE OF THE PRINCIPLE STRUCTURE, YOU STILL NEED A, A, A FOOTAGE BECAUSE YOU COULD BE ONE FOOT BEHIND THE PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE OR AN INCH OR AN INCH.
WELL, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S JUST IT.
I MEAN, I THINK, AND YOU, YOU TELL ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JUST HAVE IT TO WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN HAVE IT, YOU CAN HAVE IT FLUSH WITH THE FRONT PLANE, YOU COULD HAVE IT FIVE FEET.
I THINK THE INTENT IS THAT IF YOU'RE ATTACHING IT TO THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE, THAT IT WOULD, IT WOULD MEANS YOU ALWAYS IN ESSENCE KIND OF FLUSH VARIANCE WITH THE, WITH THE FRONT.
I CAN'T EVEN, THE PITCH OF THAT ROOF WOULD BE FLUSH WITH IT.
I THINK YOU'RE PUTTING IT TO, I THINK ANYONE THAT'S PUTTING UP SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD WANT TO PUT IT BACK.
YOU KNOW, AND NOT, YOU KNOW, EVEN WITH THE FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE, BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA, IF YOU HAVE SPACE TO GO BACK, YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO ACCESS IT ONCE YOU BUILD A STRUCTURE.
YOU MIGHT AS WELL PUT THE STRUCTURE BACK THERE SO YOU CAN ACCESS YOUR DRIVEWAY BASICALLY, OR, OR PART OF YOUR FRONT YARD.
I DON'T, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WOULD WANT TO PUT IT IN FRONT OF THE, YOU KNOW, THAT CLOSE.
WE DEFINITELY DON'T WANT IT IN FRONT OF THE NO, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT IT'S, IT IS OPEN AIR.
UM, SO IT'S NOT A, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THEY'RE NOT, WELL THEY MIGHT, IF THEY HAVE A SIDE LOAD, THEY COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE, UM, THE LUBERT PANELS ON THE SIDE.
BUT AGAIN, AGAIN, WHAT IF SCENARIOS, I MEAN WE COULD, WELL THAT'S WHY WE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NEW SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO YEAH.
UM, SO WE'RE ADJUSTING THE 600 SQUARE FEET AND THEN BULLET NUMBER THREE, REMOVING THE, AT A MINIMUM OF 20 FEET.
AND I BELIEVE EVERYTHING ELSE WAS, EVERYTHING ELSE THAT SEEMED WAS YES.
KEVIN, YOU, YOU HAD MENTIONED A NUMBER OF TIMES, UM, A POSSIBLE ATTACHMENT OF THE CARPORT TO THE HOUSE.
DO YOU THINK THAT WE NEED TO ADD SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THERE, IN THESE CHARACTERISTICS? UM, I, I, WE HAVE THAT, UM, BULLET NUMBER ONE, IT SAYS A DETACHED OR AN ATTACHED ACCESSORY STRUCTURE.
AND I BELIEVE BY US REMOVING THAT AT A MINIMUM 20 FEET BEHIND THE FRONT PLANE, THAT ACTUALLY THEN GIVES THEM THAT ABILITY TO HAVE IT, UM, AT, AT THAT, AT THE FRONT PLANE OF THE HOUSE.
SIDE ON THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE.
SO BY ATTACHED THERE, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? YES, SIR.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL? NOT, IS THERE SOMEONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION MAYOR AS UH, REFERENCED ON THE SCREEN FOR THE, UH, CARPORT A SECOND WITH, WITH THE OKAY, THANK YOU.
WITH THE PROPOSED I DIDN'T HEAR YOU CHANGES.
SO HE'S GONNA HAVE TO MAKE THE MOTION WITH THE PROPOSED CHANGES OR IS THERE CORRECTIONS? OH YEAH.
WITH THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF STUFF, YEAH.
YEAH, I MEAN I CAN, I CAN WRITE IT ON HERE IF YOU LIKE.
UM, MAKE THE EDIT ON THERE AND MAKE IT EASIER.
SORRY, YOU JUST AS A REMINDER, YOU CAN SAY I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE WITH CONDITIONS AS STATED ON THE SCREEN.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO READ ALL OF THAT.
[01:45:02]
READ ALL THAT, YOU AT LEAST FEEL FREE.YOU ARE YOU COMPLETED? I THINK SO.
IT'S, I HOPEFULLY TRY LEGALLY.
IS THAT GOOD ENOUGH? ALRIGHT, WE GOT A THUMBS UP.
PROVE WHAT THE CONDITIONS AS SHOWN ON THE SCREEN.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY, UH, I DO HAVE MY SON, UH, ELI EKER, HE IS IN THE AUDIENCE.
HE'S PART OF THE JUNIOR LEADERSHIP COURSE.
UH, SO HE'S, HE GETS TO SEE, UH, HE GETS TO SEE HIS DAD IN ACTION TONIGHT.
SO WE SHOULD HAVE GIVEN HIM A HARDER TIME THAN WE DID, BUT THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ON THE FRONT END.
I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ON THE FRONT END.
FRONT END BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO, TO DO THAT.
SO WOULD'VE GOT YOU RIGHT? YES SIR.
LITTLE BIRD HAD ALREADY TOLD ME SO I
[XI. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS]
OKAY, WE'RE MOVING ON TO CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO PULL OFF OF HERE.WHO WANTS TO MAKE THAT? YES SIR.
MAYOR, IF WE CAN HAVE SOMEBODY, UM, WE NEED TO PULL OFF THE APPROVAL OF THE QUARTERLY WORKSHOPS.
WE'VE HAD A COUPLE EDITS THAT WE'VE HAD TO MAKE SINCE THE AGENDA WAS PUBLISHED.
AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE QUARTERLY WORKSHOPS.
THERE'S A COUPLE CONFLICTS AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADOPTED THOSE WITH THE CORRECTED DATES.
EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND THAT? MM-HMM
WOULD SOMEBODY LIKE TO PULL THOSE? I MAKE A MOTION TO, UM, PULL CONSENT AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE FOR A VOTE.
THAT ALL WE NEED TO DO, WE NEED TO APPROVE ONE THROUGH FOUR.
SO IS THAT GOOD ENOUGH? THE MOTION THAT SHE MADE YOU REMOVED TO REMOVE IT? YES SIR.
Y'ALL JUST NEED TO, SO THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TO VOTE ON? NO, NO SIR.
THEN YOU'LL NEED TO VOTE TO, TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SO IS THERE A SECOND ON HERS? I DID SECOND HERS.
NOW WE NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS ITS WITH THE DELETION OF THAT ONE.
[XII. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
AND IS THERE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? HANG ON A SECOND.WE NEED, WE NEED TO APPROVE THE QUARTERLY, THE ITEM NUMBER FIVE WITH THE AMENDMENT FOR, UM, THE WORKSHOP, THE AMENDED WORKSHOP THAT IS IN FRONT OF COUNSEL.
YOU GOT THAT? DO I HAVE IT? YEAH.
SO ON ITEM NUMBER FIVE, CONSENT AGENDA.
UM, I MAKE THE MOTION TO CHANGE THE PROPOSED DATES FROM JANUARY 20TH TO JANUARY 27TH, 2026.
OCTOBER THE 20TH TO OCTOBER THE 27TH.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY THAT IS UNANIMOUS.
NOW IS THERE A MOTION WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR LEGAL ADVICE PERTAINING TO AN APPEAL OF A DECISION MADE BY THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION COMMISSION PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 30 DASH FOUR DASH 70 AND DISCUSSIONS RELATING TO PROPOSED LAND ACQUISITION IN THE AREA OF THE BUCK WITHIN THE BUCK.
WALTER PUD PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMA INFORMATION ACT 34 DASH 70 DISCUSSION RELATING TO PROPOSED CONTRACTUAL MATTERS REGARDING LEASE AGREEMENTS FOR TOWN OWNED PROPERTY AT 97 PROGRESSIVE STREET PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF FOR INFORMATION ACT 30 DASH FOUR DASH 70 LEGAL ADVICE PERTAINING TO THE CONSIDERATION OF CONDEMNATION OF PROPERTY IN SUPPORT OF PRITCHARD STREET, IN SUPPORT OF PRITCHARD STREET FOR LIGHT POLE PLACEMENT PURSUANT OF FREEDOM INFORMATION ACT 30 DASH FOUR SEVEN.
IS THERE A MOTION I MAKE A MOTION TO GO IN EXECUTIVE SESSION? WE THERE'S A SECOND.
[XIII. ACTION FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION]
READY, SIR? YES SIR.WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? YES SIR.
UM, THIS WAS REGARDING, THIS IS REGARDING NUMBER FOUR RIGHT ON THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO THE MOTION IS FOR ITEM FOUR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I MOVE THAT WE AUTHORIZE STAFF AND TOWN ATTORNEY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN AN EASEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE PRITCHARD STREET LIGHT POLE PLACEMENT PROJECT.
[01:50:01]
IF AN EASEMENT IS NOT AGREED, THEN TO THE PROCEED WITH CONDEMNATION TO PAY A FAIR AND REASONABLE REASONABLE PRICE FOR THE EASEMENT.ANY DISCUSSION FAVOR? SAY AYE.