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CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY.
[1. Call to Order]
GOOD.UH, I'D LIKE TO TALK, CALL THIS TOWN COUNCIL MEETING OF THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18TH, 2025 TO ORDER, UH, PLEASE JOIN ME IN SAYING THE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE OF THE FLAG.
I PLEDGE THE LEADERS FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES ONE NATION UNDER GOD LIBERTY.
[3. Adoption of the Agenda]
DO, ARE THERE ANY CHANGES TO THE AGENDA TODAY? NO, SIR.WITH THAT AS IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA? I MOVED SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND? UH, SIX TO ZERO.
UM, KIM, DO WE HAVE MS. HUNTER? YES, I AM HERE.
UM, SO MRS. BECKER'S MICROPHONE IS NOT WORKING.
OKAY, WE'LL SHARE, WE CAN SHARE.
[4. Unfinished Business]
HAVE UNFINISHED BUSINESS.UH, WE HAVE A CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF THREE PARCELS OF REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, LOCATED AT 55 MAIN STREET, ONE AUTOMOBILE PLACE IN 3 55, WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY IN PROVIDING FOR SEVERAL ABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
UM, THEN MAYOR MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
KIM, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGN UP TO SPEAK ON THIS AGENDA ITEM? CHAD WILLIAMS? I DID NOT SEE MR. WAIT, I DON'T SEE WHO SECONDED.
UM, THEN YOU JUST WANNA SAY A QUICK THING ABOUT THIS SO WE KNOW JUST FOR THE PURPOSE.
I'LL PROVIDE BRIEF BACKGROUND AND CONCLUDE WITH NEXT STEPS.
THIS IS THE PROPERTY THAT THE TOWN ACQUIRED IN 2019.
IT WAS THE OLD HONDA DEALERSHIP, THE MODERN CLASSIC MOTORS PROPERTY.
THE TOWN PURCHASED IT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH GENERAL FUNDS.
IN YOUR STAFF REPORT, IT SHOWS THE PURCHASE PRICE.
IT SHOWS THE CURRENT APPRAISED VALUE THAT AT THE DIRECTION OF TOWN COUNCIL, THE STAFF PUT OUT AN RFP LOOKING FOR A QUALIFIED PURCHASER TO BRING HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO THE PROPERTY TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, AND ALSO TO BRING JOBS, MORE JOBS TO THE AREA.
NOVANT HEALTH SUBMITTED A VERY COMPETITIVE PROPOSAL TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY FOR $4,341,500, AND TO DEVELOP AT LEAST 2,500 SQUARE FEET OF MEDICAL OFFICES WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND ANOTHER 15, UH, THOUSAND SQUARE FEET, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE ZONING TO BRING, AT MINIMUM SERVICES TO INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO URGENT CARE, PRIMARY CARE, PHYSICAL THERAPY, UROLOGY.
AND, UH, WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY IS SECOND READING OF THE ORDINANCE, UH, WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY BY TOWN COUNCIL AT OUR LAST TOWN COUNCIL MEETING.
IT HAS A DUE DILIGENCE PERIOD OF ABOUT, UH, FIVE, FOUR MONTHS.
AND THE TOWN SHOULD BE, UH, SOLD BY THE BEGINNING OF MAY.
UH, THERE'S A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL AS WELL AS A NON PERFORMANCE BUYBACK AGREEMENT IN THE CONTRACT.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? YES.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IS THAT WE BEGIN THE WORK ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET THAT WE LOOK TO USE THESE PROCEEDS TO SUPPORT ADDITIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON THE ISLAND.
YEAH, I JUST WANNA SAY THIS IS A VERY EXCITING, UH, DAY FOR US, UM, TO HAVE A SECOND READING, UM, ON THE SALE OF THIS PROPERTY FOR IMPORTANT MEDICAL SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR COMMUNITY'S BEEN ASKING FOR MORE MEDICAL SERVICES, AND THIS RINGS THAT BELL.
SO I THINK WE SHOULD BE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
IT'S A GOOD USE FOR THAT PROPERTY.
ITS LOCATION IS A GREAT LOCATION.
UM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THIS PROJECT COME TO FRUITION, SO THANK YOU.
AS LONG AS COMMENTS ARE BEING MADE, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, SAY THANK YOU TO, UM, MARK, MR. ORLANDO, OUR TOWN MANAGER, AND THIS COUNCIL, UM, BACK IN 2019 WHEN WE PURCHASED THIS.
THIS WAS THE EXACT REASON WHY WE AS A COUNCIL THEN MADE
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THAT DECISION.SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD, MAKING IT HAPPEN, AND, UM, I HOPE THAT, UM, WE MOVE SMOOTHLY THROUGH THE DUE DILIGENCE AND WE QUICKLY SEEN THIS COME TO, UH, FRUITION.
IT'S ALSO A FAVORABLE, FAVORABLE RETURN ON THE TOWN'S INVESTMENT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YEAH, I WANTED TO JUST, UH, FOLLOW UP ON, UH, COUNCILMAN ANA'S, UH, REQUEST SLASH COMMENT.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THIS PARTICULAR ENDEAVOR, IT TOOK YEARS TO TURN AROUND AND SELL TO AN APPROPRIATE, UH, ORGANIZATION TO FULFILL A DEFINITE NEED HERE ON HILTON HEAD.
UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SHOWS UP IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE SAID WE WANT TO BE MORE INVOLVED IN, UH, CONTROL OUR OLD DESTINY, SO TO SPEAK.
UM, SO I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH HER AS WE MOVE INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR'S BUDGET, THAT WE DETERMINE HOW WE CAN PLACE FUNDS SUCH AS THESE INTO A PLACE SO THAT WE CAN USE THEM IN THE FUTURE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND SO, IF I CAN JUST FOLLOW UP ON THAT, UM, ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH THE CONCEPT OF MOVING THESE FORWARDS, UH, FUNDS FORWARD TO, UM, HELP ALONG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE TOWN.
UM, IN THAT LIGHT THOUGH, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO SUGGEST AND RECOMMEND THAT WE BEGIN TO LOOK AT HOW WE PUT TOGETHER A COMMITTEE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS STAFF TO, TO, TO BEGIN TO CREATE THOSE IDEAS AND LOOK FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING, UM, THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO FRUITION AS WELL.
SO, UM, I SUPPORT, AND I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT ADDITIONAL PIECE.
ANY OTHER, SEEING THAT, I JUST WANT TO, UM, SAY THIS REAL QUICK.
UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, REVIT REVITALIZATION OF DILAPIDATED PROPERTIES SHOULD BE A FOCUS OF OURS.
AND, UH, MS. DUNNER, I, I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT WE PUT THIS MONEY TOWARDS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE WE NEED TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION AS TO WHERE WE'RE GOING, UM, IN THE FUTURE.
AND AS WE LOOK AT THE LMO REWRITE, IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE GET IT RIGHT AND THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS A FOREFRONT OF OUR THOUGHTS.
UM, SO WITH THAT SAID, WE HAVE A, A MOTION BY MR. BROWN, SECONDED BY MR. ALFRED FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF THREE PARCELS OF REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, LOCATED AT 55 MAIN STREET, ONE AUTOMOBILE PLACE, AND 3 55 WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY, AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND EFFECTIVE DATE.
ALL THIS IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND OR SAYING, AYE.
UH, NEXT WE HAVE CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT BONDS AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERAL ABILITY AND EFFECTIVE DATE.
THIS IS THE SECOND READING THE FINANCE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE MET ON NOVEMBER 18TH AND VOTED TWO TO ONE TO FORWARD THIS ITEM OF THE TOWN COUNCIL FOR REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION FOR APPROVAL.
TOWN COUNCIL MET ON DECEMBER 9TH AND VOTED SIX TO ONE TO APPROVE, I'M SORRY, FIVE TO TWO TO APPROVE THIS ITEM ON FIRST READING MR. BYRD MAYOR, MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
SECOND, WE HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND.
KIM, HAS ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS AGENDA ITEM? NO.
MR. BIRD, IF YOU JUST WANNA GO QUICKLY THROUGH THIS.
WE, SINCE WE GOT IT FIRST AND A SECOND.
UH, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UM, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU THE HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US WITH THE UPDATED BOT ORDINANCE, WHICH IS REALLY REFLECTING THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS VOTED ON, UH, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO ON DECEMBER 9TH, TO INCLUDE, UH, PROCEEDS BEING USED TO FUND CERTAIN CAPITAL PROJECTS INCLUDED, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE ACQUISITION AND RENOVATION OF CERTAIN LAND AND EXISTING IMPROVEMENTS, IF ANY, LOCATED AT NINE PARK LANE AND TIM PARK LANE FOR THE NEW HEADQUARTERS OF FIRE RESCUE AND EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER, AND THE LAND ACQUISITION CAUSE FOR CONSERVATION PURPOSES.
SO THAT HAS BEEN AMENDED IN THE TITLE AND IN THE FIRST WERE AS IN THE BOT ORDINANCE BASED ON THE FIVE TWO VOTE WE DID HAVE.
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL MS. PACKER? I JUST WANT TO ONCE AGAIN SAY THAT I SUPPORT THIS IN TERMS OF, UM, BUYING LAND TO PUT INTO CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION FOR THE FUTURE.
UM, I DO NOT SUPPORT THIS, UM, WITH REGARD TO SETTING ASIDE FUNDS AS FOR SPECIFIC OR UNKNOWN CIP PROJECTS, I SHOULD GO BACK AND SAY, I ALSO SUPPORT THIS IN LIGHT OF PAYING FOR AND, UM, OPENING THE NEW FIRE AND RESCUE HEADQUARTERS.
UM, IT'S GONNA BE BACK AND FORTH.
[00:10:01]
THE EVENT THAT I COULD SUPPORT IT WHOLEHEARTEDLY, I CANNOT SUPPORT IT AT THE, UM, $35 MILLION, UM, BOND LEVEL.SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I SAY THAT AGAIN, UM, ON THE RECORD.
UM, THANK YOU FOR GETTING THE AMENDED LANGUAGE IN WRITING.
I, I CERTAINLY SUPPORT IT AND APPRECIATE THAT IT REFLECTS OUR VOTE LAST TIME.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
UM, UH, LIKE COUNCILMAN BECKER, I SUPPORT A BORROW OF 25 MILLION VERSUS THE 35 MILLION.
AND AS I ANTICIPATED, THE SCOPE OF THE USE OF FUNDS WAS INCREASED WHEN WE INCREASED FROM 25 TO $35 MILLION TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL CAPITAL PROJECTS.
UH, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD STRIVE TO PAY AS WE GO FOR CAPITAL RELATED PROJECTS, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE THAT ARE CONSIDERED DISCRETIONARY IN NATURE.
UM, SO AGAIN, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF 25 MILLION AND NOT THE 35 IN THE EXPANDED SCOPE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT.
SEEING NONE, WE HAVE CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF HILTON ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT BONDS AND PROVIDING FOR FAVORABILITY AND EFFECTIVE DATE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND OPPOSED TO SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND OR SAYING AYE.
PASSES FIVE TO TWO NEW BUSINESS, UH, WITH CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE DECLARATION OF AN INTENT OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND TO REIMBURSE CERTAIN EXPENDITURES RELATED TO THE ISSUANCE OF TOWN EXEMPT BONDS.
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MET ON NOVEMBER 18TH, VOTED THREE TO, TO FORWARD THE ITEM TO TOWN COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.
BUR, GOOD MORNING AGAIN, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
UM, SO WHAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU IS A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION FOR THE DECLARATION OF INTENT FOR THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD TO REIMBURSE CERTAIN EXPENDITURES FOR THEIR FIRE AND RESCUE HEADQUARTERS PRIOR TO THE ISSUANCE OF THE BONDS THAT WERE JUST VOTED UPON.
UH, THESE REIMBURSEMENTS WOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED VIA PROCEEDS FROM OUR TAX EXEMPT GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND ISSUE TO BE ISSUED BY THE TOWN IN FULL YEAR 2026.
SO, IN THE BACKGROUND, JUST INITIALLY WITH THIS, WE WILL USE GENERAL, THE GENERAL FUND AND REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEE DOLLARS TO PAY FOR THE PROPERTY THAT WE'RE MENTIONING, UH, FOR NINE AND 10 PARK LANE.
UM, 10 PARK LANE WAS EXPECTED TO CLOSE ON 1212, AND WE'RE NOT CLOSED YET, BUT THAT WAS THE DATE WHEN THE MEMO WAS WRITTEN, AND WE'RE EXPECTING TO CLOSE ON NINE AT THE END OF THE YEAR BY THE 29TH.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I MOVED SECOND.
KEVIN, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS AGENDA ITEM? NO.
ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL? MS. BECKER? UM, SO 10 PARK LANE DIDN'T CLOSE ON TIME? NOT AS OF TODAY.
ARE THERE ANY ISSUES THAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT, OR IS THAT JUST A MATTER OF WE'RE JUST WORKING THROUGH THE DUE DILIGENCE.
WE ARE NOT, WE HAVE NOT PASSED THE CLOSING DATE.
WE JUST ANTICIPATED TO CLOSE A LITTLE EARLIER MM-HMM
BUT WE'RE JUST DOTTING I'S AND CROSSING T'S.
THERE ARE, THERE ARE SOME DUE DILIGENCE ITEMS THAT ARE NOT YET COMPLETE.
AND WHEN THEY'RE COMPLETE, I, I IMAGINE WE'LL CLOSE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS BRIEFLY? MAYOR, UH, THIS, UH, WAS CONSIDERED BY A FINANCE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE.
IT'S IT'S TYPICAL PROCEDURE TO DO THIS, AND I CERTAINLY SUPPORT IT.
SO WE HAVE A CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE DECLARATION OF THE INTENT BY THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA TO REIMBURSE CERTAIN EXPENDITURES RELATED FIRE AND RESCUE HEADQUARTERS PRIOR TO THE ISSUANCE BY THE TOWN OF TAX EXEMPT BONDS.
MOTION WAS MADE BY MS. BRYSON, SECONDED BY MS. BECKER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNAL BY, BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND OR SAYING, AYE.
[5. New Business]
UNDER NEW BUSINESS, WE HAVE A CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HU ISLAND.I APPROVING THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH THE HILTON HU ISLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION SERVICES.
THIS ITEM WAS DISCUSSED IN TOWN COUNCIL EXECUTIVE SESSION ON DECEMBER 9TH.
ANGIE STONE, ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER, WILL CONDUCT THE PRESENTATION.
GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR, TOWN COUNCIL, MR. ORLANDO.
UM, I'M BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH A RESOLUTION, UH, FOR THE APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT WITH THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND BLUFFTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR DESTINATION MARKETING SERVICES.
UH, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I HAVE A, A SHORT PRESENTATION THAT COVERS THE PROCESS, UH, THAT WE WENT THROUGH AND HOW WE ARRIVED, WHERE WE ARE TODAY,
SO WE'RE GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE REQUIREMENT THAT WE SELECT A DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION, THE QUALIFICATIONS OF AN ORGANIZATION IN ORDER TO BE NAMED AS A DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION, THE SELECTION PROCESS, AND THEN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
[00:15:01]
FOR, UH, DMO SERVICES.I THOUGHT I HEARD MR. HUNTER SAY SOMETHING
SO, UH, THE REQUIREMENT TO SELECT A DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION COMES FROM SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS, AND IT, IT TALKS ABOUT A TAX THAT IS CHARGED TO TRANSIENT VISITOR OR TRANSIENT GUEST.
UM, A PORTION OF THAT REVENUE IS REQUIRED TO BE, UM, GIVEN TO A DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION TO MANAGE.
UH, AND SO WE ARE REQUIRED TO NAME A DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION TO HAVE OVERSIGHT OF THOSE FUNDS.
THE REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS ARE THAT THEY BE ORGANIZED AS A NONPROFIT AND THAT THEY HAVE AN EXISTING ONGOING TOURIST PROMOTION PROGRAM, OR DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY CAN DEVELOP ONE.
SO OUR SELECTION PROCESS, UM, IN THE 2020 AGREEMENT THAT WAS SIGNED WITH THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CALLED FOR A, UM, REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS TO BE ISSUED PRIOR TO THE END OF THAT CONTRACT.
WE PUT TOGETHER THIS, UH, REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS, PUT IT ON THE STREET FOR 90 DAYS.
UM, WE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF, UM, RESPONSES TO IT.
THE RESPONSES WERE EVALUATED BY A TEAM, UM, IN TERMS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE MARKETING SERVICES TO THE TOWN, AS WELL AS, UM, BY LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THEIR QUALIFICATIONS AS REQUIRED UNDER STATE LAW.
UH, WE DETERMINED BASED ON THAT, THAT THE, UH, HILTON HEAD ISLAND OF BLUFFTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WAS THE MOST QUALIFIED ELIGIBLE RESPONDENT AND BEGAN, UH, CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS TODAY.
WE'RE HERE WITH A RESOLUTION IN FRONT OF YOU ALL TO APPROVE THAT CON THE CONTRACT TERMS. ONCE THAT HAPPENS, UM, THE CONTRACT WILL BE EXECUTED DURING NEGOTIATIONS.
UM, AGAIN, THE CHAMBER WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE MOST QUALIFIED ELIGIBLE RESPONDENT.
UH, WE, WE NEGOTIATED A CONTRACT THAT IS FOCUSED ON CLARIFYING ROLES AND EXPECTATIONS BETWEEN THE TOWN AND THE DMO, IMPROVING FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY AND SCOPE OF SERVICE TRANSPARENCY, ALSO ENHANCING REPORTING AND ALIGNING, UH, MARKETING EFFORTS WITH TOWN, UM, CORE VALUES.
AND THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S STARTED ALREADY.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING TO CARRY THAT FORWARD.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT REFINING METRICS TO ENSURE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS ARE CLEAR.
WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING, WE KNOW WHAT THE REPORTING WILL BE ABOUT.
SOME OF THE KEY CONTRACT TERMS ARE THAT THIS IS A THREE YEAR TERM WITH AN OPTION FOR, UH, A RENEWAL OF UP TO TWO YEARS SUBJECT TO TOWN COUNCIL APPROVAL.
WE HAVE SOME VERY SPECIFIC BUDGET CONTENT REQUIREMENTS, AS WELL AS PUBLIC PRESENTATION REQUIREMENTS, UM, THAT WILL SPELL OUT HOW OFTEN THOSE, UM, REPORTS ARE GIVEN, HOW THEY ARE, UH, PRESENTED PUBLICLY.
UH, THEN WE ALSO HAVE MARKETING PLAN REQUIREMENTS FOR THE METRICS AND, UH, PUBLIC ACCOUNT ACCOUNTABILITY OR PUBLIC ACCESS TO ACCOUNTING REPORTS, BUDGET AND MARKETING PLAN ON A WEBSITE, UH, THAT THE CHAMBER MANAGES.
SO, KEY CONTRACT TERMS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT TIME AND TIME AGAIN, RIGHT? UM, WE WILL HAVE AN ANNUAL ACCOUNTING REPORT THAT INCLUDES A HUNDRED PERCENT OF ALL INVOICES AND RECEIPTS, PAID A HUNDRED PERCENT OF ALL REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES OF THE 30% FUND, SO THAT A TAX MONEY THAT, UH, THE STATE, UM, THE STATE GIVES TO US FOR DMO SERVICES.
AND THEN THE MOST RECENT APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDERAL TAX RETURNS.
IT ALSO REQUIRES USE OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA TURK COMMITTEE BUDGET FORM.
THAT'S A TOURISM EXPENDITURE REVIEW COMMITTEE.
AND SO I PUT THAT IN THE PRESENTATION BECAUSE I THINK THIS FORM SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
UH, I DID BLOW IT UP SO YOU CAN SEE IT A LITTLE BETTER BECAUSE IT WAS TOO TINY FOR ME TO SEE IT ON MY SCREEN, SO I FIGURED IT WAS TOO TINY, UM, ON THE BIG SCREEN AS WELL.
SO THIS FORM LAYS OUT THE TYPES OF EXPENDITURES, UM, AND THEN HAS A PLACE FOR THE AMOUNT THAT WAS BUDGETED FOR THE PREVIOUS, OR A CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, THE ACTUAL AMOUNT SPENT, AND THEN THE BUDGET FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
IT'S A PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD, CLEAR FORM.
THIS IS, WAS DEVELOPED BY THE TURK, UM, COMMITTEE AND IS PUBLISHED ON THEIR WEBSITE.
SO WHAT'S NEXT? AFTER APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION, WE WILL COMMENCE WITH COLLABORATIVE WORK BETWEEN THE TOWN AND THE DMO AND A COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIBLE TOURISM.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? WE HAVE A MOTION MOVED.
KEVIN, HAS ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS AGENDA ITEM? NO.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE WHO'S BEEN WORKING ON THIS.
I KNOW THAT A LOT OF HOURS, A LOT OF TIME, AND A LOT
[00:20:01]
OF EFFORT WENT INTO, UM, GETTING US TO THIS CONTRACT BEFORE US.UM, I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT IT INCREASES AND EMPHASIZES SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME.
AND I THINK MOST EVERYONE WHO LIVES ON HILTON HEAD, UM, RATHER PART-TIME OR FULL-TIME, AND THOSE WHO LOOK FORWARD TO LIVING ON HI NET, AND THAT'S HOW TOURISM IMPACTS THE RESIDENTIAL EXPERIENCE IN OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND I WANNA THANK THE CHAMBER FOR FOCUSING ON THAT AS A PRIORITY, UM, AS IT'S A PRIORITY OF MINE AS WELL.
AGAIN, I, I THANK STAFF AND AND CHAMBER FOR ITS HARD WORK AND LOOKING THROUGH THIS DOCUMENT AND, AND MR. ORLANDO AND ALL OF HIS STAFF AND OUR, AND OUR TEAM, UH, INCLUDING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IN TAKING A LOOK AT THIS PROCESS, IT'S, IT'S ALWAYS A BIT FRUSTRATING WHEN, UM, STATUTORY WE'RE TIED TO STATUTORY AUTHORITY AS TO WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO.
UM, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO LISTEN TO WHAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SAYING, OUR COMMUNITY'S BEEN SAYING FOR SOME TIME NOW WE NEED MORE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND MORE TRANSPARENCY WITH REGARD TO OUR DMO, OUR DESIGNATED MARKETING ORGANIZATION.
AND I DO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE THAT IN THIS AGREEMENT.
UH, LOOKING PARTICULARLY AT ARTICLES THREE, FIVE, AND SEVEN, SOME OF THE DETAIL THAT MS. STONE HAS ALREADY LAID OUT FOR US.
UM, BUT FOR THOSE WHO, UH, WOULD LIKE TO READ THE DOCUMENT, WE DO HAVE IT ONLINE.
AND I WOULD POINT OUT, AGAIN, ARTICLES THREE, FIVE, AND SEVEN WITH REGARD TO FINANCIAL DETAIL AND TRANSPARENCY, BOTH TO THE TOWN AND THE PUBLIC.
THERE'S A REQUIREMENT THAT FINANCIAL DETAIL BE INCLUDED ON THE WEBSITE OF THE DMO, AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW AS WELL.
THERE'S ALSO A REQUIREMENT FOR PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS HERE, UM, AND FOR A WORKSHOP WITH TOWN COUNCIL REGARDING THE ANNUAL BUDGET AND MARKETING PLAN.
AND SO THOSE ARE IMPORTANT NEW ELEMENTS, UM, IN THIS AGREEMENT AS WELL.
THE OTHER THINGS I WOULD POINT OUT IS THAT, UM, THE, UH, THE CORE VALUES THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THIS AGREEMENT, THOSE ARE THE FOCUSES FOR MARKETING.
UM, AND THOSE CORE VALUES, UH, RELATE TO OUR TOWN STRATEGIC PLAN AND ARE FOUND IN ARTICLE SIX OF THE AGREEMENT.
AND THOSE CORE VALUES ARE ECOTOURISM, ARTS AND CULTURE, HISTORY, WELLNESS AND RECREATION.
SO THAT'S GONNA BE THE FOCUS OF MARKETING.
IT'S WHAT KIND OF MARKETING DO WE WANNA HAVE AND WHAT KIND OF EMPHASIS DO WE INSIST THAT WE MUST HAVE ON OUR COMMUNITY CORE VALUES? AND THAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS AGREEMENT AND MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE MARKETING PLAN AND IN THE BUDGET AS WELL.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER IMPORTANT FOCUS.
THE OTHER THING IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ANALYSIS IS DONE BY METRICS THAT ARE THE CURRENT, UM, INTERNATIONAL MARKETING, UH, METRICS.
AND THAT'S ALSO INCLUDED IN ARTICLE SIX.
WE ALSO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, UM, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MARKETING OF LOCAL EVENTS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF IMPORTANT LOCAL EVENTS AND HOW THAT RELATES AND HOW THAT IS TRACKED.
AND THERE'S LANGUAGE IN THIS AGREEMENT AS WELL.
UM, THE, THE OTHER THING IS THAT IT'S A THREE YEAR AGREEMENT WITH TWO RENEWALS.
AND DURING THAT, UM, AT SOME POINT IN THAT THIRD YEAR, UM, THE TOWN WILL DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT TO ISSUE ANOTHER REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL.
ON THE REQUEST PROPOSAL THAT, UH, WE REVIEWED IS DETAILED.
AND MS. STONE HAS HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF THOSE FEATURES AS WELL.
UM, THE LAST THING IS A QUESTION THAT I STILL HAVE.
UM, AND THAT IS ARTICLE EIGHT WITH REGARD TO ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE CAN PULL THAT UP OR NOT.
CAN YOU PULL UP THE CONTRACT? ARTICLE EIGHT
SO THIS CONTRACT PROVIDES FOR, UM, THE DMO OR THE CHAMBER TO REQUEST ADDITIONAL GRANT FUNDS.
UM, AND AS WE JUST APPROVED A, UM, AT TAX GRANT AWARD FUNDS FOR A NUMBER OF AGENCIES IN OUR TOWN THAT DO A LOT OF WONDERFUL WORK FOR US.
UM, AND SO IT BOTHERS ME THAT THERE'S LANGUAGE IN HERE WHICH ALLOW THE DMO OR THE CHAMBER TO APPLY FOR ADDITIONAL GRANT OF ACCOMMODATION TAX FUNDS.
AS WE KNOW BY STATUTE, THE DMO ALREADY RECEIVES 30% AFTER, UH, TWO DEDUCTIONS THAT COME TO THE TOWN DIRECTLY.
UM, 25,000 PLUS 5% OF THOSE FUNDS, THEN 30% GOES TO THE DESIGNATED MARKETING ORGANIZATION.
AND, UM, IF, IF I LOOK AT THE CHART FROM, UM,
[00:25:01]
FY 25, WHICH IS THE CHART I COULD FIND MOST READILY, UM, WE SEE THAT, UM, IN 2023, THE DMO AT 30% WAS RECEIVING ALMOST $4 MILLION, $3,995,971 IN 2024, $4,141,096.IN 2025, IT WAS FORECAST RECEIVED $3,835,832, AND I THINK WE'RE AT CLOSE TO 3.9 MILLION EXPECTED THIS YEAR.
UM, SO IN 2023, UM, WHEN I FIRST STARTED SERVING ON TOWN COUNCIL, WE REDUCED THE SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIRE, UH, REQUEST FROM THE DMO FROM 530,000 THE PREVIOUS YEAR TO JUST UNDER 350,000 OR 349,348 IN 20 24 0 SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS IN 20 25 0 SUPPLEMENTAL FINES.
AND IN 2026 BUDGET, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS AS WELL.
SO MY PREFERENCE IS TO STRIKE ARTICLE EIGHT WITH REGARD TO ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
AND I WANTED TO SEE WHAT OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE THINKING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE NOW IT SAYS, ANY REQUEST BY THE DMO OR THE CHAMBER CAN MAKE A REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL GRANT OF ACCOMMODATION TAX FUNDS, WHICH WOULD THEN REDUCE THE AMOUNT AVAILABLE FOR OUR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVING AT TAX RENT FINES.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE, THAT IS THE CURRENT POLICY OF THIS TOWN COUNCIL, AND I HOPE IT WON'T BE IN THE FUTURE.
THAT'S, THAT'S, THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.
I DON'T WANNA GET AWAY FROM THOSE.
UM, BUT I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ABILITY TO REQUEST ADDITIONAL GRANT FUNDS.
ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION TO, TO STRIKE THAT? SO IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION, MOTION FAILS? ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? YES, I HAVE COMMENTS.
UM, SO COUNCILMAN BRYSON ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE SELECTION PROCESS.
UM, AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR P TO PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S VERY SPECIFIC AND STATUTORILY DEFINED, UM, AND THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THOSE CRITERIA.
AND WE HAVE, UM, I WANNA MAKE SOME COMMENTS BECAUSE MY FOCUS ON THIS CONTRACT WAS IMPROVING FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY, ENHANCING REPORTING, AND REFINING METRICS.
AND ANGIE DID A NICE JOB OF OUTLINING MANY OF THOSE, BUT I THINK ARE REALLY IMPORTANT DETAILS.
THE NEW BUDGET FORMAT THAT SHE SHOWED PROVIDES MORE DETAIL ABOUT HOW THE MONEY WILL BE SPENT ON MARKETING, AND WE WILL ALSO HAVE A CLEARER UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE EMPLOYEE AND THE EMPLOYEE RELATED COSTS OF THOSE THAT SUPPORT THE WORK.
UM, I PROVIDED SUGGESTIONS ON ACCOUNTING PROCESSES TO ENSURE SEPARATION OF FUNDS AND CLEARER AND EASIER REPORTING ON HOW FUNDS ARE SPENT IN DETAIL.
NEW METRICS THAT ALIGN TO THE CHANGING DYNAMICS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE'S IMPACT TO TRADITIONAL MARCH.
MARKETING METRICS IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
ACCOUNTING REPORTS THAT COMPARE THE MONIES SPENT TO THE BUDGETED AMOUNT, THE ABILITY TO INSPECT RECORDS TO ALIGN TO 100% OF THE EXPENSES USED FOR THE DMO STRONGER TERMS FOR ACCESS AND OR OWNERSHIP OF MATERIALS AND DATA.
THE WORKSHOP SETTING FOR THE BUDGET AND MARKETING PLANS, I THINK IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT.
UH, I SEE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE DIALOGUE IN REGARDING THE PROCESS AND TO PROVIDE, UH, FEEDBACK AND INPUT AND PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS TO INCLUDE OUR KEY METRICS, BUT ALSO INCLUDE THE STATUS COMPARED TO THE MARKETING PLAN AND A BUD BUDGET UPDATE.
AND I BELIEVE THESE CHANGES WILL PROVIDE MORE CLARITY AND HOW ADDRESS QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE MAY HAVE REGARDING HOW THE MONEY IS SPENT TO SUS TO SUPPORT THE MARKETING OF OUR ISLAND.
AND THAT WILL ALLOW US TO MOVE FORWARD TO FOCUS ON OUR WORKING RELATIONSHIP AND THE SUCCESS OF OUR PARTNERSHIP.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL? MR. BROWN? MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU.
UM, THIS HAS BEEN A, UH, A HOT TOPIC IN THE COMMUNITY, OBVIOUSLY.
UM, THE MARKETING OF OUR COMMUNITY IS SO IMPORTANT FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAY, UH, REASONS NOT JUST TOURISM.
UM, WE ALL KNOW THAT IF YOU POLL FIVE PEOPLE HERE ON HILTON HEAD, PROBABLY THREE OR FOUR OF 'EM WILL SAY, WE USED TO VISIT HERE AND THEN WE DECIDED TO MOVE HERE.
UH, SO THE, THE MARKET OF HILTON HEAD IS ALSO, HA HAS A RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT TO IT AS WELL.
UM, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND IF YOU PAY ATTENTION TO THE CONTRACT, IT, IT JUST SCREAMS TRANSPARENCY.
OKAY? UM, THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT HERE IS IT STARTS TO SOLIDIFY THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE STARTED
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TO HAVE WITH THE CHAMBER OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS HERE AS FAR AS COMMUNICATING THE NEEDS AND WANTS OF THIS COUNCIL AND THIS ISLAND AS THEY MARKET TO THE WORLD.OKAY? AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE WORKSHOPS, UM, THAT TO ME DEFINITION OF THAT IS YOU SIT DOWN AND YOU WORK ON GETTING SOMETHING RIGHT.
AND THAT IS A LOT DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST, WHICH IS BASICALLY CHAMBER STANDS AT THE PODIUM AND TELLS US WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO BASED ON SOME INFORMATION WE MAY HAVE GIVEN THEM IN A MEMO.
UM, IT IS CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT RELATIONSHIP.
THE OTHER PIECE THAT I THINK IS ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT IS THAT WE ARE IN THIS BUSINESS IN A COMPETITIVE NATURE.
THERE ARE OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT WANT TOURISM JUST AS MUCH AS WE DO THE OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT WANT FUTURE RESIDENTS AS MUCH AS WE DO.
AND NOW WE WILL BE ABLE TO MEASURE THAT AGAINST OUR COMPETITORS.
THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW HOW WE STACK UP AGAINST OUR COMPETITORS.
AND IT ALSO GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE NIMBLE AND FLEX A LITTLE BIT IN SOME AREAS WE MAY HAVE NOT FLEXED IN THE PAST BASED ON THE BUDGET.
SO I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THIS, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, CREDIT GIVEN TO THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT.
UM, BUT I FEEL VERY FIRMLY THAT THIS CONTRACT IS BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAD BEFORE AND IT JUST CONTINUES TO, UH, ENHANCE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE CHAMBER.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
UM, BUT I WANTED TO, AND, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT EVERYONE'S DONE TO PUT IT TOGETHER, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT WHAT MS. BRYSON WAS TRYING TO MAKE A MOTION ON AND, UM, THE ADDITIONAL GRANT FUNDS, UM, KNOW MY FEELING ON THAT AND WITHOUT A SECOND TO VOTE IS THAT JUST BECAUSE THEY APPLY FOR ADDITIONAL GRANT FUNDS DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY'RE AWARDED ADDITIONAL ADDITIONAL GRANT FUNDS.
SO JUST TO HAVE THAT IN THERE WITH THE POSSIBILITY, UM, SEEMS MORE JUST FOR, FOR ME.
I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT, BUT THANK YOU.
ALRIGHT, MR. ALFRED, JUST A BRIEF COMMENT.
I THANK STAFF FOR THE WORK THAT WAS DONE ON THIS, BUT ALSO TO THANK THE CHAMBER PEOPLE AS WELL FOR, UH, RECOGNIZING THE INTEREST OF THE TOWN IN THIS SUBJECT AND HOW MUCH, UH, THE TOWN IN RECENT YEARS HAS COME UP WITH DIRECTIONS THAT IT FEELS ARE IMPORTANT.
AND I THINK WE ALL APPRECIATE THE CHAMBER'S WILLINGNESS TO, UH, MAKE EFFORTS TO ACCOMMODATE WHERE THE TOWN WANTS TO GO.
SO THANK YOU ALL, EVEN IF YOU'RE IN THE BACK ROW.
SO IT'S OKAY, MR. BROWN, MR. DECIMAL, UM, REMINDED ME OF THE ADDITIONAL GRANTS.
UM, I THINK THAT THAT, THAT SPEAKS TO US BEING FLEXIBLE AS WELL.
JUST BECAUSE OF THE APPLICATION DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE HAVE TO GIVE AND WE ALSO DON'T HAVE TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE GRANT FUND INSTEAD OF GOING TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S, UH, ATEX MONEY THAT WE'VE BEEN USING FOR OURSELVES THAT WE COULD CONSIDER IF THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY, IF SOMETHING HAPPENED.
UM, I JUST THINK THIS, YOU KNOW, ALLOWS THAT FLEXIBILITY.
UM, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, FUTURE COUNCILS HAVE THE DECISION MAKING POWER TO SAY YES OR NO TO IT.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS ON ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
UM, IT, IT STILL TROUBLES ME AND I I THANK YOU MR. BROWN FOR YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT OTHER FUNDS, BUT WE'VE, WE'VE JUST ADOPTED A NEW POLICY WITH REGARD TO THOSE FUNDS AND CERTAIN PERCENTAGES TO GO TO DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.
AND MY CONCERN IS ALWAYS ABOUT, UM, THE AT TAX GRANT AWARDS THAT OUR COMMITTEE WORKS VERY HARD AND REVIEWS ALL THOSE APPLICATIONS.
AND MY CONCERN REMAINS IF, IF A DMO HAS ALMOST $4 MILLION TO FOCUS ON MARKETING AND WE'VE GOT CORE VALUES TO FOCUS ON, THEN WHY IN THE WORLD DO THEY NEED ADDITIONAL MONEY? WE MAY HAVE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS HERE THAT NEED ADDITIONAL MONEY, AND A LOT OF 'EM WERE CUT THIS YEAR.
AND I DON'T WANNA ENCOURAGE THE DMO TO COME AND ASK FOR MONEY.
THERE MAY BE OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES.
UH, THIS TOWN COUNCIL, FUTURE TOWN COUNCIL CERTAINLY HAS A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY, UM, TO BE LOOKING AT OTHER SOURCES FOR IT, NECESSARY FUNDS FOR EMERGENCIES.
UM, AND WE DO HAVE THOSE FUNDS AVAILABLE, BUT I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE, UH, AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE FOR THEM TO DO THAT.
I THINK WE SHOULD DISCOURAGE IT.
AND, UM, I WOULD'VE PROBABLY PREFERRED TO
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HAVE A LITTLE MORE DISCUSSION BEFORE EVEN MAKING A MOTION, BUT RECOGNIZING THAT WE'RE ALREADY DOWN THIS FAR ON THIS ROAD, I THOUGHT WHY HAVE A LOT MORE DISCUSSION? AND OF COURSE NOW I'M DOING THAT, UM,BUT, UM, IT, I, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT WHAT'S BEEN DONE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND THE MESSAGE BEING SENT TO THE DMO THAT YOU HAVE THIS 30%, THIS IS WHAT WE EXPECT, THIS IS THE KIND OF REPORTING WE EXPECT, AND I THINK THIS CONTRACT REFLECTS ALL OF THAT.
UM, AND SO I WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS CONTRACT, BUT I STILL HAVE TO BANG THE DRUM ABOUT ADDITIONAL GRANTS.
UH, I LOOK AT IT, I'M SORRY, I LOOK AT IT KIND OF LIKE OUR 35 MILLION, 25 MILLION, YOU KNOW, KEEPING OUR POWDER DRY.
WE GOTTA, AND WE GOTTA HAVE THE ABILITY, 'CAUSE WE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GONNA NECESSARILY BORROW UP TO THE 35 AND WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY HAVING TO PUT MONEY TOWARDS AN ADDITIONAL GRANT REQUEST.
SO, BUT I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO.
JUST WANNA ALSO ADD, HAVING SAID, UM, ON THE COUNCILS THOUGH, IT DIDN'T COME THROUGH COUNCIL EVERY TIME WHEN THOSE ADDITIONAL FUNDS WERE REQUESTED IN THE PAST, UM, THERE WERE EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES.
WE HAD FACED HURRICANES, HURRICANE THREATS, ET CETERA.
AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, FOLKS DECIDE NOT TO COME, THEY WORRY, THEY SIT BACK.
AND IF WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT LETTING FOLKS KNOW WHAT THE STATUS OF THE ISLAND IS AND WHY IT'S OKAY, COME ON BACK IN, WE'RE SAFE.
WE, WE RELY ON, ON THE DMO TO DO THAT GOOD WORK FOR US.
AND SO IN THOSE INSTANCES, IT WAS PRUDENT AND, AND APPROPRIATE TO, UH, TO, UM, EXTEND THOSE ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
AND AS IT'S BEEN POINTED OUT HERE, AND CLEARLY STATES WITHIN THE CONTRACT TO BE CONSIDERED FOR APPROVAL BY THE TOWN COUNCIL, THE ADDITIONAL GRANT FUND BUDGET SHALL, IT HAS TO INCLUDE A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS, BUT IT HAS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR APPROVAL BY THE TOWN COUNCIL.
SO, UM, THERE'S PLENTY OF SAFEGUARDS IN THERE.
ANYTHING ELSE? UH, SORRY, MAYOR, ONE MORE THING.
OKAY, MS. STONE, UM, DO THESE REQUIREMENTS IN ARTICLE EIGHT, ARE THOSE IN ADDITION TO THE REQUIREMENTS FOR AN, UM, APPLICATION TO THE ATAC COMMITTEE? ARE THESE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OR THE SAME KIND OF REQUIREMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL GRANTS? THEY PUT THE SAME REQUIREMENTS ON THIS BUDGET, THE BUDGET THAT WOULD COME FORWARD FOR THESE ADDITIONAL GRANTS THAT ARE ON THE, THE BUDGET THAT YOU APPROVE FOR THE REGULAR DMO FUNDS.
SO THIS JUST REALLY PUTS INTO PLACE, UM, SOME MORE, UH, CRITERIA AND, UM, A REQUIREMENT FOR REPORTING BACK AND THAT SORT OF THING TO MATCH UP WITH WHAT'S IN THERE FOR THE BUDGET.
SO THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS IN ARTICLE EIGHT COMPARED TO THE REQUIREMENTS FOR AN APPLICATION COMPARED TO WHAT ANYONE ELSE WOULD DO IN TERMS OF THEIR APPLICATION.
UM, AS FAR AS, YES, I BELIEVE THAT IS THE CASE.
MARK, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? YES, UM, EXACTLY WHAT ANGIE'S SAYING IS, AND, AND I WORKED ON THIS CONTRACT, SO I CAN ADD SOME VALUE AND, AND I WANNA JUST TAKE A, A QUICK MOMENT AND THANK ANGIE AND THANK BRITTANY AND CURTIS AND EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN, IN THE TOWN COUNCIL.
THE THOUGHT PROCESS WITH THIS, JUST SINCE IT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT, I THINK IT'S, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CLARIFY WHY IT'S IN HERE.
UH, I THINK WE HAD AN OPTION TO, NOT TO PUT IT IN THE CONTRACT WITH, THAT THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO APPLY, UM, OR TO PUT IN THE CONTRACT IF THEY DID APPLY TO SET THE EXPECTATION OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR ABOVE AND BEYOND A TYPICAL AT TAX APPLICATION.
THEY'RE A NONPROFIT THROUGH DUE PROCESS, I BELIEVE AS A NONPROFIT, THEY'RE ALLOWED, THEY'RE ALLOWED TO APPLY THE, THE CONTRACT STANDS ALONE.
BUT IF THEY DO SUBMIT, THESE ARE THE EXPECTATIONS.
UM, AND IT, AND IT'S, AND IT'S SOME LANGUAGE THAT, THAT WE SUPPORT IT AS A TEAM.
SO WHAT MS. BECKER SAID IS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY.
SO I'M NOT GONNA TALK ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL GRANTS ANYMORE, BUT I DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND TALK ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP AND THE BUILDING OF A RELATIONSHIP AND HOW IT'S IMPROVED OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS.
UM, WE'RE AT A POINT NOW WHERE WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO PROMOTE OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT IS A TRUE POSITIVE STEP.
AND THIS IS WHAT WE DO WITH OUR PARTNERS, AND THIS IS HOW WE IMPROVE THE PROCESS AND THE EFFECT OF, OF THE MARKETING AND THE ADVERTISING.
SO I THANK THE CHAMBER FOR COMING TO THE TABLE.
I THANK COUNSEL FOR BEING THERE TO HAVE THE DISCUSSIONS.
AND I THINK STAFF ARE DIRECTING THIS, WE'RE IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE AND TOMORROW IS GONNA BE MUCH BETTER BECAUSE OF THE EFFORTS THAT EVERYBODY PUT IN.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE HAD A MOTION MADE BY MR. ALFRED, SECOND AMENDMENT, BY MS. BECKER, UM, CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION, THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, APPROVING THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND BLUFF, BLUFFTON, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION SERVICES.
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SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND OR SAY, AYE, ALL THOSE OPPOSED PUBLIC COMMENT.DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? NO, THANK YOU,
NOW ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND OR SAYING, AYE.
UM, KIM, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? NON AGENDA ITEMS? OKAY, SO BEFORE WE ADJOURN, I JUST WANNA THANK EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE TOWN STAFF FOR AN INCREDIBLE 2025.
WE HAVE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT TOPICS.
WE HAVE MOVED A LOT OF GREAT THINGS FORWARD.
IF YOU'D HAVE TOLD ME THIS TIME LAST YEAR, WE'D HAVE DONE, WE WERE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE DID, I WOULD'VE SAID, WOW, NO WAY.
BUT WITH EVERYBODY'S EFFORT, IT HAS BEEN AN AMAZING YEAR.
2026 IS GONNA BE EVEN GREATER, AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS ON OUR PLATE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE GREAT THINGS COMING OUT.
SO WITH THAT, MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HANUKKAH, HAPPY NEW YEAR.
I'LL TAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
SO, ALL IN FAVOR OF ADJOURNING 1140.
THE COUNTY IS ONE OF THE OLDEST FORMS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE UNITED STATES.
EARLY SETTLERS FROM ENGLAND BROUGHT THE TRADITION OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO AMERICA.
TODAY, MORE THAN 3000 COUNTY GOVERNMENTS PROVIDE SERVICES THAT AFFECT ALMOST EVERY CITIZEN'S LIFE.
SOUTH CAROLINA'S 46 COUNTIES ARE VERY REPRESENTATIVE OF HOW COUNTY GOVERNMENT HAS EVOLVED NATIONALLY.
THE COUNTY UNIT IN SOUTH CAROLINA WAS REGARDED AS A LOCAL EXTENSION OF STATE GOVERNMENT, BUT A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM MOVEMENT IN THE EARLY 1970S LED TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY, PASSING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAW, ALSO KNOWN AS THE HOME RULE ACT.
IN 1975, THE HOME RULE ACT GREATLY EXPANDED COUNTY AUTHORITY AND CHANGED THE NATURE OF COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION TO WHAT WE KNOW TODAY.
BEAUFORT COUNTY WENT FROM HAVING A BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO A COUNTY COUNCIL.
MEMBERS OF THE 1975 COUNCIL INCLUDED CHAIRMAN ARTHUR HORN, VICE CHAIRMAN, GRADY THAMES, LEROY BROWN, GARY FORDHAM, WILLIAM GRANT, HARRIET KEISLING, DAVID JONES, BILL MCBRIDE, AND BOOKER WASHINGTON.
AS THE NEW COUNCIL SOUGHT TO DISTINGUISH ITSELF, COUNCIL MEMBERS DESIRED AN OFFICIAL SYMBOL THAT WOULD REPRESENT THE JURISDICTION'S IDENTITY.
IN UNIQUE CHARACTER COUNCIL APPOINTED AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TO UNDERTAKE THE TASK AND CARRY OUT A CONTEST FOR THE BEST COUNTY SEAL DESIGN.
HARRIET KLIN WAS A MEMBER OF COUNTY COUNCIL, AND IT WAS HER IDEA BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT COULD SIGNIFICANTLY IDENTIFY OUR BEAUTIFUL BEAUFORD COUNTY.
WE MET THEN UP AT A, I THINK IT WAS A CAROLINA BANK, AND SOME YEARS AGO, BACK THERE ON WEST STREET, AND THEN WE PUT 'EM IN PILES, YOU KNOW, LIKE, GOOD, BAD MAYBE UNTIL WE FINALLY GOT IT DOWN TO THE ONE THAT WE NOW USE.
COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVED THE SEAL COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION, WHICH REFLECTED THE COUNTY'S HISTORY, TRADITIONS, AND NATURAL BEAUTY.
THE SEAL'S COLORS OF BLUE AND GREEN REPRESENT THE COLORS OF THE COUNTY'S OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT WITH ITS MANY WATERWAYS, MARSHLANDS, AND MARITIME FOREST.
THE FIVE IMAGES WITHIN THE SEAL DEPICT SOME OF THE COUNTY'S DISTINGUISHING FEATURES, ANCIENT LIVE OAK TREES, THE SEAFOOD INDUSTRY, RICH NATURAL RESOURCES, AND A RARE MARINE ECOLOGY, LOW COUNTRY ARCHITECTURE, AND MILES OF RIVERS, CREEKS, AND INLETS.
I THOUGHT IT ENCOMPASSED WHAT THE, WHAT WE AS A BODY WERE LOOKING FOR A SEAL THAT WOULD, WHEN YOU LOOKED AT IT AND JUST
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THOUGHT ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT, IT REALLY COVERS THE ASPECTS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.SO HE DID A GOOD JOB OF BRINGING TOGETHER THE THINGS THAT WE, UH, WHOLE, SO DEAR AND WHAT WE REALLY LIKE ABOUT BEAUFORT COUNTY.
COUNCILMAN BILL MCBRIDE WAS IN OFFICE WHEN THE CONTEST WAS HELD AND WAS PRESENT WHEN THE COMMITTEE REVEALED THE WINNING DESIGN.
I THINK COUNCIL WAS ECSTATIC ABOUT IT.
UH, WE THOUGHT THAT THE, THE SUMMERS ON THE SEAL REPRESENTED, UM, ASPECTS OF LIFE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANGE IN THE ORIGINAL ON DRAFT THAT WAS PRESENTED TO US WHERE YOU HAVE THE SHRIMP BOAT TODAY.
INITIALLY, THAT WAS A PLEASURE CRAFT, A SAILBOAT AND YACHT TYPE BOAT.
AND, UH, IT WAS CHANGED BY COUNTY COUNCIL BECAUSE WE FELT THAT THE SHRIMP BOAT WAS A BETTER REPRESENTATION, UM, OF A MORE COMPREHENSIVE, UH, ASPECT OF BEAUFORD COUNTY LIFE BECAUSE YOU HAD OTHER THINGS ON THE SEAL THAT REPRESENT THE PLEASURE AND RECREATION, THE FISHING AND THE BEACH.
SO THEY THOUGHT THE SHRIMP BOAT, WHICH WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF BEFORD COUNTY CULTURE, SHRIMPING, ESPECIALLY AT THAT TIME, WOULD BE REFLECTED ON THE SALE.
THE WINNER OF THE CONTEST WAS AN ARTIST FROM HILTON HEAD ISLAND, THE LATE LEE PAYNE, WHOSE DESIGN WAS SELECTED FROM MORE THAN 126 CENTURIES SUBMITTED FROM AS FAR AWAY AS INDIANA AND TENNESSEE.
HE WAS AWARDED $250 FOR HIS DESIGN.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE CAPTURED THE LEGACY OF OUTDOOR BEAUTY, CULTURE, AND HISTORY THAT HELPED TO DEFINE IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF LIFE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
TO SEE MORE BEAUFORT COUNTY MOMENTS GO TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY HOMEPAGE AND CLICK ON THE LOCAL HISTORY TAB.