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CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY A LITTLE LATE.
UM, IT TAKES LONGER THAN AN HOUR TO GET FROM BEAUFORT TO BLUFFTON.
I JUST FOUND OUT, SO MY APOLOGIES.
UH, PLEASE RISE FOR THE, UH, WORK COUNTY COUNCIL WORKSHOP FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
THIS MEETING HAS BEEN ADVERTISED AND COMPLIANT.
I'M LOOKING FOR MS. MS. BROCK.
IT'S BEEN ADVERTISED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, CORRECT? YES, MA'AM, IT HAS.
I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION, UM, FOR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
ALL IN FAVOR? BY SHOW OF HANDS, WE HAVE ONE PERSON ON ZOOM, UM, GERALD DAWSON.
ALRIGHT, AND THAT IS UNANIMOUS.
UH, WE HAVE ONE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER WHO'S OUR VICE CHAIR, WHO IS ON OUR WAY TO, SO, UH, NUMBER FIVE ON THE, WE HAVE, THIS IS PUBLIC PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION ITEMS. THESE ARE PRESENTATIONS FROM OUTSIDE ENTITIES REGARDING PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE BUFORT COUNTY WATERWAYS ORDINANCE.
AND, UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO, I'LL LET YOU BE THE MASTER OF CEREMONIES.
AND THE FIRST YOU, DO YOU WANNA INTRODUCE IT BEFORE WE INTRODUCE THE FIRST ONE? I JUST WILL GIVE A VERY BRIEF OVERVIEW TO GET US STARTED.
I DON'T WANNA TAKE UP ANY TIME FROM ANYBODY.
HERE'S HERE TO PRESENT OUR COMMENT TODAY.
UM, THIS IS OUR, OUR WATERWAYS WORKSHOP.
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH COMMITTEE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, AND WE VERY MUCH THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR FEEDBACK THROUGHOUT.
UM, LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING WHAT EVERYBODY HAS TO SAY TODAY.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE FIVE GROUPS WHO SIGNED UP TO GIVE PRESENTATIONS.
UM, WE HAVE THOSE SET FOR 10 MINUTES A PIECE, AND THEN WE WILL OPEN UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, IF YOU HAVE NOT SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, THERE IS A SIGNUP SHEET OVER THERE, OR NOW IT'S OVER.
BUT, UM, JUST LET US KNOW AND WE CAN DO THAT.
BUT, UM, WE HAVE THE CURRENT VERSION OF THE ORDINANCE AS, UM, AMENDMENTS WERE ADDED OVER TIME.
THEY ARE, WE ARE A BACKUP MATERIAL.
UM, THEY HAVE THE DIFFERENT HIGHLIGHTS TO SHOW THE DIFFERENT ADDITIONS THAT WERE ADDED THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
UM, WE, BUT WE, UH, SO FOR YOUR REFERENCE, YOU CAN FIND WHAT IS CURRENTLY OR WHAT WAS PROPOSED AT THE MOST RECENT MEETING, UM, FOR YOUR REVIEW.
BUT WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING WHAT EVERYBODY HAS TO SAY TODAY.
AND SO I WON'T TAKE UP ANY MORE TIME.
AND WE DO HAVE A HARD STOP FOR OUR CAUCUS MEETING AT FIVE O'CLOCK, SO I'D LIKE TO REMIND THE PRESENTERS OF THAT.
AND WE, WE WANT TO HAVE EVERYONE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, BUT BE MINDFUL OF YOUR TIME.
THE FIRST ONE IS THE BEAUFORT KAYAKS TOURS.
IF YOU'LL SAY YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD TOO.
I'M JIM POKY AND I'M WITH BUFORD KAYAK TOURS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, HAVE THIS DISCUSSION WITH COUNCIL AGAIN.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, WE ARE 24-YEAR-OLD BUSINESS IN BUFORD COUNTY.
AND IF THE PROPOSED PROPOSED ORDINANCE THAT'S BEING CONSIDERED PROHIBITS COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY FROM PUBLIC BOAT LANDINGS, MY BUSINESS WILL BE OUT OF BUSINESS FACILITY COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT I'VE PRESENTED TO IN THE PAST HAVE CLEARLY SUPPORTED SMALL BUSINESSES AND THEIR ENDEAVORS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
I WOULD IMPLORE THE COUNTY AND STAFF AS THEY CONSIDER THIS ORDINANCE AND ALL FUTURE ORDINANCES WITH REGARDS TO THIS TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE FACT THAT OUR COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES AT PUBLIC BOAT LANDINGS HAVE BEEN PART OF OUR COMMUNITY FOREVER.
THAT ALLOWING ACTIVITY TO PART, TO PARTICIPATE ON OUR WATERWAYS IS WHY PEOPLE COME TO BEAUFORT COUNTY.
NO STATE OR CITY OWNED BOAT LAUNCH IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
SO NO STATE OR CITY OWNED BOAT LAUNCH IN BEAUFORT COUNTY REQUIRES ANY TYPE OF PERMITTING, NOR DO THEY PROHIBIT COMMERCIAL
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ACTIVITY.OVER HALF OF MY CUSTOMERS RESIDE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
THEY HAVE CHOICES ON HOW THEY ACCESS THE WATERWAYS, AND THEY CHOOSE MY BUSINESS TO LAUNCH FROM COUNTY BOAT LANDINGS.
DON'T TAKE THAT OPTION AWAY FROM THE COUNTY RESIDENCE.
I OPERATE IN BUFORT COUNTY WHERE THERE ARE NO MARINAS WITHIN 25 MILES.
PART OF THE DISCUSSION IN THE PAST HAS BEEN IF COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY IS PROHIBITED, IT WILL BE PUSHED TO MARINAS.
I'M HERE TO SAY THERE ARE NOT MARINAS TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESS THAT I DO IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
WE WERE ALSO PART OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY BOAT LANDING STUDY THAT WAS CONDUCTED IN 2023 THAT WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE COUNTY.
SIGNS WERE PUT AT ALL PUBLIC BOAT LANDINGS IN THE COUNTY ASKING FOR FEEDBACK.
WE PARTICIPATED SOME SHORT OF 700 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN THAT EVENT.
ONE OF THE POINTS THAT WAS VERY CLEAR, AND I TOOK VERY CLOSE NOTE OF IT, AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO LOOK AT THE DATA, SAID THAT OF THE 700 RESPONSES, LESS THAN 3% VOICED CONCERN ABOUT COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY AT A PUBLIC BOAT LANDING IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, THAT WAS AFTER ACTIVE SOLICITATION ON THE WHOEVER CONVEYED THE STUDY THAT WAS HIRED, BY THE WAY, DID AN AWESOME JOB.
UM, THAT CERTAINLY SPEAKS TO WHAT IS GOING ON HERE TODAY.
THAT IS THE MOST RECENT STUDY YOU HAVE COMMISSIONED TO RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM BEAUFORT COUNTY RESIDENTS ON BOAT LANDINGS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
THE GREATER BEAUFORT PORT ROYAL CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU HAS BEEN TASKED WITH MARKETING OUR COMMUNITY TO VISITORS.
THEY REQUEST AND RECEIVE FUNDING FROM BEAUFORT COUNTY TO OPERATE AND INCREASE VISITORS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE DATA, THE CVB GATHERS REPORTS THAT 81% OF OUR VISITORS WANT WATER ACCESS DURING THEIR STAY.
81% THEY WANT IT EITHER IN, ON OR BY THE WATER, IS WHY THEY'RE HERE TO LIMIT WATER ACCESS IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE MESSAGE BEAUFORT COUNTY IS SUPPORTING IN OTHER ENDEAVORS, SUCH AS SUPPORTING THE CVB.
DON'T CHANGE YOUR MESSAGE NOW BY RESTRICTING COMMERCIAL USE.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS LOW COUNTRY WATERWAYS ALLIANCE, AND IF YOU'LL INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
ON BEHALF OF THE LOW COUNTRY WATERWAYS ALLIANCE, WE ARE REPRESENTING 40 SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE AREA.
SORRY, I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S NOT.
SO I WANNA TAKE A MINUTE AND TALK ABOUT HOW WE GOT HERE.
IN THE FALL OF 2025, COUNTY STAFF BROUGHT FORWARD A PROPOSAL TO ASSIST IN SOLVING FOR BOTH RESIDENT COMPLAINTS ABOUT COMMERCIAL USE AT THE BOAT LANDINGS, AND FOR ALLOWING FOR A MORE FLEXIBLE, FLEXIBLE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK.
BUSINESS OWNERS USING COUNTY BOAT LANDINGS THEN PUSHED FOR AN INCREASED ACCESS, CREATING A FRAMEWORK THAT ALARMED MANY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.
THE LOWCOUNTRY WATERWAYS ALLIANCE WAS THEN FORMED IN RESPONSE.
NOW DURING THE FEBRUARY 17TH, 2026 COMMITTEE MEETING LED BY LOGAN CUNNINGHAM, THE LOW COUNTRY WATERWAYS ALLIANCE OFFERED AN AMENDMENT APPLICABLE ONLY TO WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND TO THE PROPOSAL BY THE COUNTY TO EXPAND THE COMMERCIAL ACCESS AT RESIDENTIAL BOAT LANDINGS.
DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, SEVERAL CURRENT COMMERCIAL
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OPERATORS WHO UTILIZE THE CROSS ISLAND BOAT LANDING STATED THAT THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY FEES AND PARTICIPATE IN A PERMIT PROCESS.FOLLOWING THOSE COMMENTS, THE ALLIANCE YIELDED OUR TIME AND PULLED OUR AMENDMENT TO WORK WITH THE COMMERCIAL OPERATORS.
WE WANTED TO WORK WITH THE COMMERCIAL OPERATORS AND THE ALLIANCE BELIEVED THAT WE COULD COME TO AN AGREEMENT OUTREACH WITH A MEETING DATE AND A LOCATION WAS SET FOR USCB HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
WE INVITED FOUR OPERATORS, THREE OF VARIOUS CHARTER AND DOLPHIN CRUISES.
ONE AN INDIVIDUAL BARGE OPERATOR, SO TO FOUR TOTAL INVITES.
THREE OUT OF THE FOUR CONFIRMED THAT THEY WOULD BE IN ATTENDANCE.
THEY DID NOT SHOW A SECOND MEETING WAS SET WITH NO ATTENDANCE AS WELL.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TODAY, BECAUSE WHAT WE HEARD FROM COUNCIL AND WHAT WE AGREE WITH IS THE FOLLOWING.
WE WANNA PRESERVE RESIDENT FIRST ACCESS TO OUR LANDINGS.
WE WANNA PROTECT EXISTING SOUTH CAROLINA BASED BUSINESSES, AND WE WANNA SAFEGUARD OUR COUNTY ASSETS AND OUR TAXPAYERS.
OUR PROPOSAL IS ATTACHED THROUGH THE COUNTY BUSINESS LICENSE PROCESS, MEANING THAT NO OPERATOR MAY CONDUCT COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY AT THE PUBLIC LANDINGS WITHOUT MEETING THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.
AND AT A MINIMUM, WE PROPOSED MAINTENANCE OF PROPER LICENSING.
WE HEARD IN THE WORKSHOP THAT COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM LED THAT ONE OF THE OPERATORS DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A BEAUFORT COUNTY BUSINESS LICENSE.
WE PROPOSE THAT WE MAINTAIN PROPER LICENSING.
WE PROPOSE THAT WE DISCLOSE CRIMINAL HISTORY, THAT WE CARRY COMMERCIAL MARINE GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE, AND THAT THE FOLKS UTILIZING THE BOAT LANDINGS FOR COMMERCIAL USE PAY A REASONABLE USER FEE.
WE BELIEVE THESE ARE REASONABLE COMMON SENSE REQUIREMENTS THAT ENSURE RESPONSIBLE USE OF THIS PUBLIC RESOURCE.
NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BENEFIT.
USER FEES COLLECTED FROM OUR COMMERCIAL OPERATORS COULD BE REINVESTED DIRECTLY INTO SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE AT OUR LANDINGS.
WE COULD USE THEM FOR EXTINGUISHERS PUMP SYSTEMS, LIFE RINGS, BATHROOMS TO HANDLE THE CHARTER VOLUME, RECEPTACLES TO HANDLE THE VOLUME FROM CHARTER OPERATIONS, FUEL SPILL KITS.
THESE BASIC SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE ELEMENTS ARE NOT CURRENTLY IN PLACE AT OUR LANDINGS.
AND I WANNA TALK A MINUTE ABOUT THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
YES, YOU ALL RECEIVED PUBLIC COMMENTS IN YOUR BACKUP DOCUMENTATION, BUT SEVERAL COMMENTS HAVE COME IN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.
SPECIFICALLY, I WANNA POINT OUT THE ONE FROM INDIGO RUN.
AS A RESIDENT OF INDIGO RUN, I WATCHED LAST NIGHT'S MEETING AND I WAS HONESTLY STUNNED HEARING THAT A BOAT OPERATOR HAS BEEN RUNNING A BUSINESS OUT OF OUR PUBLIC LANDINGS WITHOUT EVEN HOLDING A BUSINESS LICENSE, RAISES SERIOUS CONCERNS AND SHE ENDS WITH THIS ISN'T COMPLICATED.
IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO RUN A BUSINESS, THEY SHOULD MEET THE SAME BASIC REQUIREMENTS, LICENSING, INSURANCE, AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
SHEILA MCCOY, JUST A FEW HOURS AGO, PUT IN USING PUBLIC BOAT RAMPS FOR BUSINESS, ADD ADDS PRESSURE TO SPACES THAT ARE MEANT FOR RESIDENTS AND FUNDED BY TAXPAYERS.
AND THEN MS. YOUNG, A COUPLE OF HOURS AGO WROTE, I'M GLAD THIS LINK WAS EMAILED TO ME.
THE LANDINGS NEED TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE PEOPLE.
FOR YEARS WE HAVE SEEN THE INCREASE IN PEOPLE DOING BUSINESS OFF THESE LANDINGS AND PUSHING RESIDENTS OUT, RUDE CAPTAINS WHO TAKE THE PEERS OVER THINKING THEY'RE SUPERIOR TO PEOPLE OUT FISHING.
AND WITH THAT, I COULD CONCLUDE MY PRESENTATION.
ALRIGHT, NEXT, NEXT WE HAVE DUSKY ISLAND, MIKE HUBBARD.
I DIDN'T THINK I'D BE WEARING A COAT TODAY.
I'M THE CHAIR OF THE, UM, THE FUSS GALLON COUNCIL.
TWO YEARS AGO WE LOST HUTCHINSON ISLAND TERMINAL, THE ONLY, UH, REGULARLY SCHEDULED BARGE SERVICE SERVING THE ISLAND.
UM, NON TIDE DEPENDENT BARGE SERVICE, WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT POINT.
UM, THAT LEFT US WITH ONE BARGE OPERATING OUT OF HILTON HEAD.
SHORTLY THEREAFTER, TWO SMALL BARGE OPERATORS BEGAN OPERATING
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BOTH ON A NON-TIME DEPENDENT BASIS.AND, UM, THAT HAS BEEN A, A, A TREMENDOUS, UM, ASSET FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THE BARGE, BOTH OF THE SMALL BARGES.
CURRENTLY NOW JUST ONE BARGE, UH, SERVING THE ISLAND OPERATES FROM THE PUBLIC BOAT LANDING ON DFOS ISLAND, UH, TO THE, UH, CROSS ISLAND BOAT, BOAT RAMP.
UM, I HAVE PERSONALLY, I'M A BUILDER, SMALL BUILDER.
UH, I HAVE PERSONALLY USED THAT RAMP AND AND SERVICE PROBABLY 25 TIMES.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I JUST SCHEDULED THEM THIS MORNING FOR, UH, UH, FREIGHT TO COME OVER ON WEDNESDAY AND THEN GO BACK ON FRIDAY.
IT'S THE NICE THING IS WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SCHEDULE THAT.
UM, SO, AND THEY'RE, AND THEY'RE VERY FLEXIBLE OPERATION.
WE EVEN HAVE SMALL BUSINESSES ON THE ISLAND THAT OPERATE THEIR OWN BOATS AND PICK UP FREIGHT FROM THE, UH, BOAT RAMP ON, UH, HILTON HEAD AND BRINGING IT BACK TO THE ISLAND.
ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WAS DISCUSSED IN THE, UH, FEBRUARY MEETING WAS, UH, THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD TAKING OVER THE OPERATION OF THE, UH, BOAT LANDING AT, UM, AT CROSS ISLAND OR ANY OF THE OTHER BOAT LANDINGS ON HILTON HEAD.
THAT WOULD BE A REAL PROBLEM FOR DE FASQUE ISLAND.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE OVER THERE, OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND.
WE'RE NOT TAXPAYERS ON IN THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD, SO WE WOULD LOSE ANY VOICE THAT WE HAVE IN THE OPERATION OF THOSE, UH, BOAT LANDINGS.
THERE HAS BEEN ALSO BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT PINKNEY ISLAND BEING AN, AN ALTERNATIVE TO CROSS ISLAND THAT IS NOT, UH, SUITABLE TOO FAR FOR THE SMALL BARGE OPERATORS.
ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT SEEMS TO HAVE COME UP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IS THE, THE, UH, FREIGHT SERVICE, UH, COMPETING WITH, UH, RESIDENTS WHO ARE TRYING TO PUT THEIR BOATS IN OR TAKE THEIR BOATS OUT OF THE WATER.
THE BARGE SERVICES OPERATE DURING NORMAL WORKING HOURS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
UH, THEY USED TO OPERATE, UH, ON SATURDAYS PERIODICALLY, BUT HAVE STOPPED THAT.
UM, THERE IS NO COMPETITION THAT I HAVE SEEN ON IN THE MANY TIMES THAT I HAVE BEEN TO CROSS ISLAND, CERTAINLY NO ISSUE ON, UH, THE END AT, UM, DUSKY ISLAND, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE.
PRETTY QUIET OVER ON THAT END.
WE, WE DO HAVE SOME FUTURE GOALS, AND WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS WITH STAFF AT, UH, AT THE COUNTY.
THE FIRST IS WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE SECOND RAMP AT, UH, THE PUBLIC BOAT LANDING ON DUSKY RESTORED AND PUT BACK INTO SERVICE THAT WAS TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN THE, WHEN THE NEW RAMP WAS PUT IN IN THE DOCK.
UH, THAT WOULD GIVE US ADDITIONAL CAPACITY THERE, UH, ON DUSKY.
AND IF YOU TAKE A LOOK, AND I THINK YOU'LL SEE IN A PRESENTATION LATER, UH, THE SAME COULD BE DONE AT, UM, CROSS ISLAND AND THERE WOULD BE AN A, A RAMP FOR THE SMALL COMMERCIAL OPERATORS.
ALL RIGHT, NUMBER FOUR IS THE DUSKY ISLAND TRANSPORT.
IF YOU COULD STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS JEFF GALE, MY BROTHER AND I OWN, UH, DFU ISLAND TRANSPORT.
IT'S A, UH, LOGISTIC BARGE OUT OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND THAT SERVICES DUSSE ISLAND AND BUCK ISLAND.
I WANNA BE VERY CLEAR UPFRONT THAT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT BUSINESS, IT'S ABOUT MAINTAINING RELIABLE ACCESS DELIVERY SUPPORT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON DUSSE ISLAND.
HERE ON HILTON HEAD, WE'VE SECURED A 10 YEAR LEASE, A WAREHOUSE SPACE THAT ALLOWS US TO RECEIVE, WE CAN STAGE AND WE CAN TRANSPORT EVERYTHING FROM HILTON HEAD ISLAND TO DUSKY ISLAND WITHIN A FLEET OF, UM, EQUIPMENT THAT WE OWN, WE HAVE FORKLIFTS, WE HAVE SEVERAL FLATBED TRAILERS, WE HAVE A BOX TRUCK, AND WE HAVE A CUSTOM BUILT 40 FOOT LANDING BARGE.
THAT BARGE, UH, HAS BEEN INSPECTED WITH THE COAST GUARD, AND IT IS DESIGNED TO FIT INSIDE OF THE PUBLIC BOAT LANDINGS.
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE ON THE, UH, ON TV THERE.
MY GOAL TODAY IS TO PROVIDE CLARITY
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ON WHAT WE DO, WHY IT MATTERS, AND ANY DECISIONS MADE HERE SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT SOME REAL WORLD IMPACT FOR THE RESIDENTS.FUSS ISLAND TRANSPORT IS OFTEN THOUGHT AS JUST A BARGE OR A TRANSPORT SERVICE, BUT WE ACTUALLY GO BEYOND THAT.
ONCE THE CARGO ARRIVES, WE CONTINUE THAT PROCESS TO THE RESIDENCE.
SO ONE THING THAT REALLY SEPARATES, SEPARATES US FROM OTHER PEOPLE.
AS WE CAN RECEIVE ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND, WE CAN STAGE IT AT OUR WAREHOUSE, WE CAN LOAD IT AT OUR WAREHOUSE, WE LOAD IT ONTO THE BARGE, AND THEN WE DO FINAL DELIVERY TO THE HOMEOWNER THERE ON THE ISLAND.
SOME OF OUR, UH, VITAL ROLES, AND WE HAVE A VITAL ROLE IN TOURISM UNDER SQUEE ISLAND, WE SERVICE, UH, 40 RENTAL HOMES FOR TRANSPORTING GOLF CARTS, GOLF CART, BATTERIES, CAR RELATED EQUIPMENT.
UM, THE LE THAT LEVEL OF SERVICE IS SOMETHING THAT THE RESIDENTS RELY ON, AS MIKE HUBBER JUST MENTIONED THERE.
AND IT PLAYS A MUCH LARGER ROLE IN THE DAY-TO-DAY LIFE THAN WHAT MIGHT APPEAR FOR THE, FOR THE RESIDENTS OF DUSKY ISLAND.
ACCESS ISN'T A CONVENIENCE, IT'S A NECESSITY.
THE SERVICE WE PROVIDE SUPPORTS THE DELIVERY OF FOOD, WATER, HOUSEHOLD GOODS, MATERIALS THAT PEOPLE DEPEND ON TO LIVE AND MAINTAIN IN THEIR HOMES.
OUR BUSINESS MODEL AND SHIPPING LOCATIONS HAS HAVE ALLOWED US TO STAY COMPETITIVE WITH THE LARGER BARGE SERVICE AND ALLOW MULTIPLE RUNS IN A DAY BECAUSE WE ARE NOT TIED DEPENDENT THERE OUT OF CROSS ISLAND.
UM, SOME OF OUR CUSTOMERS INCLUDE THAT WE DO DAY-TO-DAY, UH, I'M SORRY, SAME DAY SERVICE ARE GONNA BE THE CABINET COMPANIES, COUNTERTOPS, PLUMBERS, HVAC, ELECTRICIANS ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
WE PROVIDE FULL LOGISTIC SERVICE FOR THREE RESTAURANTS ON THE ISLAND AND ONE OF THE ONLY GROCERY SERVICES LOCATED ON DUSKY.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO RECEIVE, LOAD AND DELIVER TO THESE LOCATIONS ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
AND A RECENT, A RECENT INITIATIVE, WE'VE GROUPED UP THE DUSKY ISLAND COMMUNITY FARM WITH SEVERAL INDEPENDENT FARMS TO SHIP ALL OF THEIR GEAR, ALL THEIR SUPPLIES TOGETHER ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
THIS HAS REDUCED COSTS FOR THEM, INCREASED EFFICIENCIES.
SOME OF OUR CUSTOMERS ARE ACTUALLY BEAUFORT COUNTY, SO WE SERVICE BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
WE TRANSPORTED THE TRUCK OVER TO SQUEE ISLAND.
WE WORK WITH DAUFUSKIE ISLAND FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS ON THE ISLAND, TRANSPORTING VEHICLES AND SUPPLIES.
WE ALSO WORK WITH VERIZON CONTRACTORS, SPARK LIGHT CONTRACTORS FOR GENERATION GENERATORS IN COMMUNICATION TOWERS.
TO DATE, WE HAVE OFTEN SERVED EVERY MAJOR ESSENTIAL SERVICE THAT KEEPS THAT ISLAND SAFE AND OPERATIONAL.
IF THAT SYSTEM IS DISRUPTED, THE IMPACT IS IMMEDIATE AND VERY REAL.
ONE IMPORTANT OPERATIONAL DIFFERENCE IS THAT OUR SERVICE IS NOT DEPENDENT ON TIDES TIMING IN THE SAME WAY THAT OTHERS ARE.
SO THAT MEANS IN PRACTICAL TERMS, THAT WE ARE ABLE TO OPERATE MORE CONSISTENTLY AND RESPOND WHEN TIMING MATTERS.
SO WE HAVE SEVERAL LOCATIONS THAT WE COULD HAVE CHOSEN OUTSIDE OF CROSS ISLAND, BUT HERE'S THE REASON WHY WE'VE CHOSEN CROSS ISLAND, IS BECAUSE IT'S THE SHORTEST DISTANCE FROM OUR OPERATING MARINA, WHICH IS SHELTER COVE, THE ON ONSITE TRANSPORTATION AND LOADING DEPOT, WHICH IS OUR WAREHOUSE.
UM, IT ALSO HAS ENOUGH WATER TO OPERATE ANYTIME OF THE DAY.
THIS ALLOWS US TO START OUR MORNINGS AT 8:00 AM OR EARLIER AND HAVE CONTRACTORS OVER DUSSE ISLAND TO START WORK BY NINE 15.
IT'S IN DIRECT ROUTE FROM THE MARINA TO DUSKY, AND OUR TRANSPORT TRUCKS DO NOT HAVE TO FIGHT INBOUND OUTBOUND ISLAND TRAFFIC.
THIS HAS CUT DOWN ON FUEL, LABOR AND OVERHEAD COSTS, WHICH ULTIMATELY GETS PASSED ON TO DUSSE ISLAND.
THAT RELIABILITY BECOMES ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR THESE RESIDENTS WHO NEED TIMELY DELIVERY WHEN SITUATIONS REQUIRE FLEXIBILITY ONCE.
SO TALK ABOUT, UM, THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO TO FUSCA, ISLANDS NOT CONNECTED BY A BRIDGE, IT'S RESIDENTS RELY ON WATER-BASED TRANSPORTATION AS THEIR ONLY FUNCTIONAL SUPPLY CHAIN CHAIN.
A SERVICE THAT FACILIT FACILITATES NOT ONLY THE TRANSPORTATION OF GOODS TO THE ISLAND, BUT ALSO FINAL DELIVERY TO THE RESIDENT'S HOME.
WE FUNCTION AS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF RESIDENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO FROM DAY ONE ON PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION PLAN, ALONG WITH ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARDS THAT INCLUDE INSURANCE FOR CARGO LIABILITY.
SO WE HOLD INSURANCE FOR CARGO LIABILITY FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.
WE ALSO HAVE A MILLION DOLLAR SPILL AND POLLUTION POLICY, AND WE HAVE A SPILL PREVENTION PLAN IN PLACE.
THE BARGE IS EQUIPPED WITH SOFT LANING LANDING INTEGRATIONS, WHICH MINIMIZE OUR IMPACT.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S ON THAT SLIDE, BUT IN THE FRONT OF THE METAL LANDING DOOR, WE, UM, PUT A LARGE PIECE OF WOOD DOWN SO IT DOESN'T SCRAPE ANY OF THE CONCRETE OR LEAVE DAMAGES TO THE, UH, BOAT LANDING.
AND THEN THE SECONDARY, UM, LANDING RAMPS
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WE CAN LOWER DOWN.BOTH OF OUR CAPTAINS ARE A HUNDRED TON COAST GUARD LICENSED.
THEY'RE ENROLLED IN DRUG CUSTODIANS ALONG WITH THE CREW, WHICH IS NOT REQUIRED BY THE SIZE OF OUR VESSEL FROM THE COAST GUARD, BUT IT'S AN INTERNAL REQUIREMENT, BOTH CAPTAIN AND MATE, ALONG WITH THE LOADING VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH RADIO COMMUNICATIONS, WHICH REDUCE OUR LOAD TIMES.
I KNOW WE'RE ALLOWED 15 MINUTES, WE AVERAGE ABOUT EIGHT MINUTES A LOAD AT CROSS ISLAND.
WE ALSO OPERATE ON THE WORK WEEK SCHEDULE AS MY COVER MENTIONED.
SO WE ARE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
UH, WE TEND TO LEAVE AT 8:00 AM 8:00 AM BUT SOMETIMES AS EARLY AS SEVEN.
WE DO NOT WORK ON THE WEEKENDS, AND WE DO NOT WORK ON HOLIDAYS.
SO I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT THE COUNTY HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO MANAGE ACCESS SAFELY AND REGULATION AT THIS TIME.
I BELIEVE THERE'S A PATH FORWARD FOR THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES TO BE MET WITHOUT UN UNINTENTIONALLY DISRUPTING A SERVICE THAT RESIDENTS DEPEND ON.
WE DO BELIEVE THAT CROSS ISLAND, WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE CROSS ISLAND IS CONGESTED.
AND AS MIKE MENTIONED, THE THIRD LANDING THERE, UM, WE WOULD ALSO SUPPORT THAT IF THE COUNCIL DOES FEEL THAT IT IS NEEDED.
WE DO NOT FEEL THAT IT'S BUSY DOWN THERE.
WE DO NOT FEEL IT'S CONGESTED, AND WE DO NOT FEEL LIKE IT ABSOLUTELY IS A MUST.
BUT IF YOU GUYS DETERMINE THAT IT IS, WE WOULD SUPPORT THAT.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS COMES DOWN TO PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON DUSKY.
THAT SYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS THEM, INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION AND DELIVERY, ARE PART OF WHAT ALLOWS THAT COMMUNITY TO FUNCTION.
OUR REQUEST IS SIMPLY THAT ANY DECISIONS MADE HERE, YOU TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT.
NEXT WE HAVE, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THESE THREE PEOPLE ARE GONNA SPEAK TOGETHER OR SEPARATELY, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO ON THE AGENDA WE HAVE, UH, MARK PAN.
HOW DO YOU SAY IT? ARE, ARE THE, IS COREY CUNNINGHAM AND MEGAN MCLAUGHLIN GONNA, I THINK COREY'S GONNA DO, UH, MEGAN'S GONNA DO PUBLIC COMMENT.
JUST COME A COUPLE MINUTES AFTER MYSELF HERE.
I ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE LIKE A, SO I HAVE TO, I'M NO TECH SO I UNDERSTAND HAND.
SO GUYS, MY NAME IS, UH, MARK PCH.
UM, I'M HERE TO, UH, SPEAK ON BEHALF OF A FEW MARITIME PROFESSIONALS THAT HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN CONTINU TO ACCESS TO OUR BOAT LANDINGS.
UM, THIS BIG ISSUE RIGHT NOW SEEMS TO BE ABOUT, UM, WHETHER OR NOT THE COMMERCIAL CHARTER ARE OVERRUNNING THE, UH, THE LANDING.
SO I FIGURED WE'D LOOK AT THE DATA POINTS THAT THE COUNTY ITSELF HAS.
UM, THE FIRST ONE, AS JIM MENTIONED OUT, WAS THE, UH, PUBLIC BOAT LANDING FACILITY STUDY COMMISSIONED IN 2023.
NOW, THIS WAS A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT.
IT ELEVATE OR EVALUATED EVERY LANDING IN THE COUNTY, INCLUDING SITE CONDITIONS, OPERATIONAL STANDARDS, LONG-TERM PLANNING, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT NEEDS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT INCLUDED DIRECT FEEDBACK FROM ACTUAL USERS.
UH, QR CODES WERE POSTED AT LANDINGS ASKING FOR INPUT WHERE PEOPLE WERE FROM, HOW OFTEN THEY USE FACILITIES, WHAT WORKED, WHAT DIDN'T.
NOW, THE COUNTY RECEIVED 632 RESPONSES DURING THAT SURVEY REQUEST.
OF THOSE ONLY 6% IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES AS VISITORS.
SO OUT OF ALL 632 RESPONSES, LESS THAN 3% MENTIONED COMMERCIAL OR CHARTER ACTIVITY AS A CONCERN, THAT DOESN'T INDICATE THAT THERE'S A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH CHARTER ACTIVITY.
NOW, SINCE MUCH MUCH OF THIS DISCUSSION HAS FOCUSED ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND, WE LOOKED AT ACTUAL COMPLAINT DATA.
UM, WE CONTACTED BUFORT COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS, WHOSE NUMBER IS POSTED AT THE LANDING FOR REPORTING ISSUES RELATED TO OPERATIONS, PARKING AND MAINTENANCE THROUGH A FOIA REQUEST.
WE ASK FOR COMPLAINT HISTORY AT 68 HELMSMAN WAY OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD, THE RESULT, ZERO COMPLAINTS RELATED TO CHARTER OR COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY.
NOW, MANY OF THESE CALLS THAT YOU SEE ON THAT LITTLE LIST SHOW, THE COMPLAINTS WERE ABOUT LONG-TERM PARKING PEOPLE USING THE LANDING FOR ABANDONED CARS, UM, OLD BOATS, EMPTY TRAILERS, AND MANY OF THOSE CALLS CAME FROM A LOT OF THE CAPTAINS THAT OPERATE THERE COMPLAINING ABOUT IT OURSELVES.
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BUT TO VER FURTHER VERIFY MORE DATA, WE WENT TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND REQUESTED CALL DATA FOR THE EXACT SAME LOCATION AND TIMEFRAME TWO YEAR PERIOD.SO THERE WERE 47 CALLS THAT INVOLVED THINGS LIKE ABANDONED VEHICLES, WELFARE CHECKS, UH, MISCELLANEOUS NON-OPERATIONAL ISSUES, BUT NOTHING THAT WOULD INDICATE A PATTERN OF CONGESTION, SAFETY CONCERNS OR PROBLEMS TIED TO CHARTER USE.
NOW FINALLY, DURING THIS ORDINANCE PROCESS, THERE'S BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVEN MONTHS-ISH.
NOW, THE COUNTY HAS OPENED MULTIPLE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS AND OUT OF MORE THAN 130, MAYBE 140 AS OF TODAY, UM, SUBMITTED, THERE ARE ABOUT EIGHT COMMENTS SUPPORTING THE RESTRICTION OF COMMERCIAL AND CHARTER ACCESS.
AND THOSE CAME ALL WITHIN A VERY SHORT WINDOW ABOUT THE PAST 72 HOURS.
UM, AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH OBVIOUSLY DOING A LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN, BUT IF THIS WAS SO IMPORTANT TO THE OTHER SIDE, WHERE WERE THEIR VOICES IN NOVEMBER, IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY? IT'S JUST COMING UP NOW.
SO WHEN YOU STEP BACK AND LOOK AT ALL OF THIS TOGETHER, LESS THAN 3% OF USERS RAISE CONCERN.
ZERO FORMAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT PUBLIC WORKS, NO PATTERN OF ISSUE THROUGH LAW ENFORCEMENT, MINIMAL PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR RESTRICTIONS.
THIS PAINTS A VERY DIFFERENT PICTURE THAN WHAT'S BEING PRESENTED.
UH, WE, WHAT WE APPEAR TO HAVE IS NOT A DOCUMENTED SYSTEMIC PROBLEM, BUT AN ANECDOTE NARRATIVE REPEATED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO MAKE IT SOUND LIKE IT'S FACT.
NOW, PUBLIC BOAT LANDINGS ARE BY DESIGNED, SHARED USE INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE COUNTY HAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED CLEAR BOUNDARIES FOR THOSE USES.
COMMERCIAL OPERATORS CANNOT DELAY OTHERS FROM MORE THAN 15 MINUTES.
THAT SYSTEM ALREADY HAS RULES IN PLACE.
NOW, DOES CONGESTION HAPPEN? YES, WE LIVE IN A TOURIST DRIVEN COMMUNITY AND SHORT-LIVED CONGESTION IS PART OF THAT REALITY.
YOU DON'T DRIVE ON THAT BRIDGE ON A SATURDAY IN JUNE WITHOUT EXPECTING HEAVY TRAFFIC.
YOU DON'T WALK THE PEDESTRIAN PATHS IN THE SUMMERTIME WITHOUT WATCHING FOR HEAVY RENTAL BICYCLE USE.
BUT WE DON'T RESPOND TO THESE SITUATIONS.
BY RESTRICTING ACCESS, WE ADAPT, AND WHEN NECESSARY, WE IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE SAME PRINCIPLE APPLIES HERE.
BEFORE CREATING NEW REGULATIONS, NEW FEES, OR NEW BARRIERS, WE SHOULD ASK A SIMPLE QUESTION, ARE WE SOLVING A REAL MEASURABLE PROBLEM? OR ARE WE JUST RESPONDING TO A PERCEPTION? BECAUSE THE DATA THAT WE HAVE TODAY POINTS CLEARLY IN ONE DIRECTION, AND BASED ON THAT DATA, THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR RESTRICTING ACCESS TO PUBLIC RESOURCES THAT ARE MEANT FOR EVERYONE.
NEXT, UH, YOU SAID COREY CUNNINGHAM.
HEY, EVERYBODY, I'M CORY CUNNINGHAM.
AND, UH, THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
UH, I'VE SPENT NEARLY FOUR, UH, DECADES ON THE WATERS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY AND HAVE WORKED PROFESSIONALLY AS A LICENSED US COAST GUARD CAPTAIN SINCE 2010.
I STARTED MY CAREER RUNNING FROM THE CROSS ISLAND BOAT RAMP.
AT THAT TIME, THOSE OF US OPERATING OUT OF THE CROSS ISLAND BOAT LANDING TAKE PRIDE IN BEING ACTIVE CARETAKERS OF THAT SPACE.
WE COOPERATE, STAY, ORGANIZE, AND DO OUR PART TO KEEP THINGS MOVING EFFICIENTLY.
FOR EVERYONE WHO USES THE BOAT RAMP.
BASED ON CONSISTENT DAY-TO-DAY EXPERIENCE, PERSISTENT CONGESTION IS NOT OCCURRING DUE TO THE, DUE TO THESE FACTORS.
MOST CHARTER OPERATORS ARE LAUNCHED AND CLEAR WITHIN MINUTES.
WE ROUTINE ROUTINELY DEFER TO RECREATIONAL BOATERS AND MANY OF US INTENTIONALLY SPACE OUR SCHEDULES TO OVER TO MINIMIZE OVERLAP.
BEING PRESENT EVERY DAY ALSO MEANS WE CONTRIBUTE TO REAL TIME SAFETY AND ORDER, OFTEN STEPPING IN TO ASSIST LESS EXPERIENCED BOATERS AND KEEP THINGS RUNNING SMOOTHLY.
IT SEEMS LIKE SOME OF THE CONCERNS BEING PRESENTED DON'T ALIGN WITH WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO DEFINE, TO DEFINE WHO WE ARE.
WE ARE CREDENTIALED AND INSURED PROFESSIONALS.
WE'RE INDEPENDENT, LICENSED, LOCALLY OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES, AND WE ARE A PART AND WE ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE FABRIC THAT SUPPORTS BOTH TOURISM AND LOCAL MARITIME TRADITION.
THE PROPOSED LIMITATIONS WOULDN'T ACT ADDRESS A CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED ISSUE, BUT THEY WOULD DIRECTLY IMPACT THE ABILITY OF WORKING CAPTAINS TO EARN A LIVING.
MEANWHILE, ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS ARE LIMITED.
MANY MARINAS ARE EITHER AT CAPACITY OR NOT OPEN TO WELCOMING OTHER OPERATORS, WHICH EFFECTIVELY NARROWS ACCESS RATHER THAN EXPANDING SOLUTIONS.
I BELIEVE THERE IS AMPLE OPPORTUNITY FOR COEXISTENCE, MAINTAINING ACCESS TO PUBLIC LANDING SUPPORT, SMALL BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY, ECONOMIC BALANCE, AND AUTHENTIC
[00:35:01]
CHARACTER AND HOSPITALITY.THIS AREA IS KNOWN FOR POLICY.
DECISIONS SHOULD REFLECT, OBSERVE REALITY AND PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE, NOT ASSUMPTIONS OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.
HERE ARE A FEW CORE CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES.
ONE RIGHT TO PURSUE A LAWFUL OCCUPATION.
THE 14TH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION PROTECTS INDIVIDUALS FROM ARBITRARY GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE WITH LIFE, LIBERTY, OR PROPERTY.
COURTS HAVE LONG RECOGNIZED THAT THIS INCLUDES THE RIGHT TO EARN A LIVING IN A LAWFUL PROFESSION.
A LOCAL RULE THAT UNREASONABLY RESTRICTS SMALL OPERATORS FROM WORKING WITHOUT CLEAR NECESSITY CAN BE CHALLENGED AS ARBITRARY GOVERNMENT CAN REGULATE FOR SAFETY.
BUT IT CANNOT UNREASONABLY BLOCK SOMEONE FROM EARNING AN A LAWFUL LIVING.
TWO EQUAL PROTECTION 14TH AMENDMENT LAWS MUST BE APPLIED FAIRLY AND EVENLY, NOT IN A WAY THAT FAVORS ONE GROUP OVER ANOTHER.
IF ACCESS IS RESTRICTED IN A WAY THAT BENEFITS PRIVATE INTERESTS WHILE EXCLUDING SIMILARLY SITUATED OPERATORS THAT RAISES EQUAL PROTECTION CONCERNS IN SHORT, PUBLIC FACILITIES CAN'T BE SELECTIVELY CLOSED TO SOME WHILE RESERVED FOR OTHERS.
UH, PUBLIC TRUST DOCTRINE, A LONGSTANDING LEGAL PRINCIPLE RECOGNIZED BY STATES, INCLUDING SOUTH CAROLINA, THAT SAYS NAVIGABLE WATERS AND ACCESS POINTS ARE HELD IN TRUST FOR PUBLIC USE.
THIS INCLUDES NAVIGATION, COMMERCE AND ACCESS.
PUBLIC WATERWAYS AND REASONABLE ACCESS TO THEM EXIST FOR THE BENEFIT OF EVERYONE, NOT JUST THE SUBSET OF USERS.
UH, IN THE US CONSTITUTION PROTECTS INTERSTATE AND MARITIME COMMERCE FROM UNDUE LOCAL INTERFERENCE.
CHARTER BOATING, SERVING VISITORS, TOURISM AND TRANSPORT CAN FALL UNDER COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY TIED TO MARITIME COMMERCE.
THIS IMPLIES THAT LOCAL, UH, RULES CANNOT UNNECESSARILY BURDEN LEGITIMATE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY CONNECTED TO BROADER COMMERCE.
OKAY, UH, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT NOT LONG AGO DURING THE SHORT TERM RENTAL DEBATE HERE ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND, CONCERNS WERE RAISED ABOUT GOVERNMENT OVERREACH HARMING LOCAL BUSINESSES, VISITORS, AND BROADER COMMUNITY.
THOSE CONCERNS APPLY HERE AS WELL.
IF WE BELIEVE IN PROTECTING SMALL BUSINESSES AND FAIR ACCESS, THAT PRINCIPLE SHOULD REMAIN CONSISTENT.
YOU KNOW, THIS ISSUE TOUCHES ON WELL ESTABLISHED CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES.
THE RIGHT TO EARN A LAWFUL LIVING, EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW, AND THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO ACCESS NAVIGABLE WATERWAYS HELD IN TRUST FOR ALL REGULATION HAS ITS PLACE, BUT IT MUST BE REASONABLE EVENLY APPLIED AND GROUTED IN ACTUAL CONDITIONS WHEN IT GOES BEYOND THAT AT RISK CROSSING FROM STEWARDSHIP INTO OVERREACH.
WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL WORKING WITH US TO GET THROUGH THIS ISSUE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DUE DILIGENCE AND TIME.
UM, SO WE HAD MEGAN MCLAUGHLIN ON THEIR AGENDA.
UH, WELL, NO, WE'RE GONNA OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT NOW.
AND DID YOU SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? NO.
THE FIRST PERSON TO SIGN UP IS, UM, TERRY ORR.
AND I'D LIKE TO REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT EVERYONE IS SPEAKING, UM, TO DO SO IN A CIVIL MANNER.
WE COUNCIL WILL NOT TOLERATE PERSONAL ATTACKS ON INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNTY STAFF, OR ANY PERSON OR GROUP.
COUNTY COUNCIL WILL NOT REPLY TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
RACIAL SLURS AND PRO PROFANITY WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.
AND, UM, WE, WE EACH HAVE THREE MINUTES.
MY NAME IS TERRY ORR AND I LIVE AT 43 RIVER CLUB DRIVE IN THE RIVER CLUB NEIGHBORHOOD OF INDIGO RUN.
I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT AND IMPLEMENT ACTION FOR AN ORDINANCE THAT REQUIRES ANY AND EVERY ENTITY THAT USES THESE RAMPS FOR NON RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.
NUMBER ONE, TO DECLARE THEMSELVES A BUSINESS, TO OBTAIN A BUSINESS LICENSE FROM THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD AND ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE COUNTY ENTITY, PROCURE APPROPRIATE COMMERCIAL, GENERAL MARINE LIABILITY INSURANCE AND WATER QUALITY AND POLLUTION INSURANCE TO PROTECT THE CONSUMING PUBLIC AND FOR IT TO PAY A LICENSING FEE AND A PORTION OF THEIR REVENUE STREAM IN THE FORM OF A USER FEE TO THE TOWN OF HILTON ED AND ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE COUNTY ENTITY.
[00:40:01]
WITH TAXPAYER FUNDS FOR THE USE OF THE COMMUNITY'S RECREATIONAL BOAT USERS, NOT COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES, SKI BOATS, SMALL FISHING BOATS, SAILBOATS AND JET SKIS.AND SIMILAR VESSELS ARE THE INTENDED USAGE.
OTHERS WHO CHOOSE TO IGNORE PUBLISHED AND POSTED REGULATIONS OR AN OFFENSE TO THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD AND THE COUNTY IN CITIZENS, AND EFFECTIVELY VIOLATE THE TRUST OF THE COMMUNITY.
RULE RULES, REGULATIONS, ORDINANCES AND LAWS ARE CREATED NOT SIMPLY TO DISCOURAGE, BUT TO PREVENT ACTIONS WHICH ARE INAPPROPRIATE, UNETHICAL, ILLEGAL, AND ESPECIALLY UNLAWFUL.
THE COMMERCIAL USE OF OUR RAMPS BY THOSE WHO VIOLATE THE REGULATIONS IS NOT ONLY AN OFFENSE TO THOSE WHO FOLLOW BEST BUSINESS PRACTICES.
IT IS ILLEGAL, PURE, AND SIMPLE.
THE TAXPAYERS ARE BEING IGNORED AND ABUSED BY THOSE PERSONS WHO BRING TRAILER LOADS OF JET SKIS AND KAYAKS TO OUR PUBLIC REALMS. OUR CON OUR CONCERNS ARE NOT HYPOTHETICAL.
AUGUST, 2019, 20-YEAR-OLD CHIARA IRIS WAS KILLED IN A JET SEA CRASH IN SKULL CREEK JUNE, 2024.
ERHART PATEL WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS, UM, ROB BENDER.
I'M GONNA START WITH A SIMPLE BUT IMPORTANT QUESTION.
WHAT DOES FAIRNESS REALLY LOOK LIKE FOR A SMALL BUSINESS IN THIS COMMUNITY? AGAIN, MY NAME IS ROB BENDER.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE HARBORTOWN YACHT BASIN ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
I WANNA SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR PAUSING THIS ORDINANCE.
IT SHOWED A WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN, AND WE TRULY APPRECIATE THE CHANCE TO BE PART OF THIS CONVERSATION.
I ALSO WANNA BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT SOMETHING.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT BEING AGAINST SMALL BUSINESSES.
THE CHARTER OPERATORS AT OUR MARINA ARE SMALL BUSINESSES.
PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, WORK HERE, RAISE THEIR FAMILIES HERE.
THEY'VE INVESTED IN THEIR SAVINGS INTO THEIR, THEY'VE INVESTED THEIR SAVINGS INTO THEIR BOATS.
THEY HIRE LOCAL CREWS, SUPPORT OTHER LOCAL SERVICES, AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE FABRIC OF THIS COMMUNITY EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND THEY'VE MADE A COMMITMENT TO OPERATE RESPONSIBLY.
THEY CARRY INSURANCE, THEY OBTAIN LICENSES, THEY FOLLOW REGULATIONS, THEY PAY THE COSTS REQUIRED TO RUN, RUN A LEGITIMATE BUSINESS, AND THEY CHOOSE TO OPERATE FROM A MAR LIKE OURS BECAUSE IT PROVIDES A SAFE, STRUCTURED AND ACCOUNTABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM AND FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS.
WE IN TURN, INVEST HEAVILY TO SUPPORT THEM.
WE MAINTAIN DOCKS, RAMPS, PARKING RESTROOMS, TRASH COLLECTION, LIGHTING, ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ALLOWS THEIR BUSINESSES TO OPERATE SAFELY AND PROFESSIONALLY.
THOSE INVESTMENTS ARE SIGNIFICANT AND THEY ARE ONGOING.
THIS IS WHAT DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY LOOKS LIKE.
WE ALSO RESPECT AND SUPPORT THE OYSTERMEN AND CRABBERS WHO HAVE LONG RELIED ON COUNTY LANDINGS.
THEY'RE PART OF THE FABRIC OF THIS COMMUNITY AND ITS HISTORY.
BUT AS WRITTEN, THIS ORDINANCE CREATES A VERY DIFFERENT PATH FOR OTHERS.
IT WOULD ALLOW COMMERCIAL OPERATORS TO RUN BUSINESSES FROM PUBLIC LANDINGS WITH NO PERMITS, NO FEES, NO INSURANCE, AND NO REAL OVERSIGHT ON TAXPAYER FUNDED PROPERTY.
AND THAT'S WHERE THE CONCERN BECOMES REAL, BECAUSE THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AT OUR MARINA, THE ONES WHO HAVE TAKEN ON THE COSTS, THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND THE RISKS OF DOING THINGS PROPERLY ARE NOW BEING PUT IN A POSITION WHERE THEY HAVE TO COMPETE AGAINST OPERATORS WHO ARE NOT HELD TO THOSE SAME STANDARDS.
THIS IS JUST NOT INCONSISTENCY.
IT'S AN IMBALANCE THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTS THEIR LIVELIHOODS.
IT TELLS THE BUSINESSES WHO FOLLOWED THE RULES, MADE THE INVESTMENTS, AND DID EVERYTHING THAT WAS ASKED TO THEM, THAT THOSE EFFORTS MAY NOT MATTER.
AND THAT'S A HARD MESSAGE TO SEND TO PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO BUILD SOMETHING THE RIGHT WAY.
WHAT'S ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT IS THE COUNTY ALREADY HAS A FRAMEWORK FOR THIS PERMITS INSURANCE, LICENSING AND FEES FOR COMMERCIAL USE OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU TO CREATE SOMETHING NEW.
WE'RE ASKING YOU TO APPLY WHAT ALREADY EXISTS CONSISTENTLY.
BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT CONSISTENCY,
[00:45:01]
WE CREATE TWO SYSTEMS. ONE WHERE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE ACCOUNTABLE AND ONE WHERE THEY ARE NOT.AND OVER TIME, THAT GAP WILL ONLY WIDEN.
UM, NEXT ON OUR LIST IS, UM, PAT, PAT.
DID I PRONOUNCE THE LAST NAME CORRECT? YEAH, THAT WAS GREAT.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO, TO, I DON'T KNOW, VOICE MY OPINION ON A COUPLE OF THINGS.
I THINK THIS REALLY IS ABOUT SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES.
I THINK WE HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF SMALL BUSINESSES THAT DON'T WALK PAST THE SIGN THAT SAYS NO COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY.
WE, THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE WILLING TO PAY RENT TO DO IT RIGHT, TO BE IN A MARINA WHERE THERE'S THE LADDERS, WHERE THERE'S, I MEAN, ALL THE REGULATION PUT UPON THE MARINAS COST MONEY.
WE HAVE TO HAVE FIRE EQUIPMENT.
WE HAVE TO HAVE, UM, THE SAFETY LADDERS.
WE HAVE TO HAVE FUEL SPILL, WE HAVE TO HAVE PHONE LINES PRESENT, ALL SORTS OF THINGS.
BY ALLOWING OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES A FREE RIDE, YOU SET UP UNFAIR COMPETITION.
IT'S JUST NOT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE DONE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU HEARD STUFF, AND I'LL BE THE FIRST ONE TO SAY, I UNDERSTAND DUSKY NEEDS FERRY SERVICE, BUT BASED ON THE SUCCESS THAT YOU'RE HEARING HERE, CROSS ISLAND LANDING IS BECOMING A FERRY TERMINAL.
WE'VE SEEN THAT, UM, ALSO, UM, WHAT YOU CALL IT, IT, IT IS JUST BEEN ONGOING.
COUNTY STAFF IMPLEMENTED THIS ORDINANCE IN THE BEGINNING BECAUSE THEY SAW THE PROBLEMS. WE DIDN'T VOICE ANY CONCERNS PRIOR TO THAT.
IT WASN'T UNTIL COUNTY COUNCIL OPENED IT UP TO ALL BUSINESSES WHATSOEVER.
ANYBODY WANTING TO DO ANYTHING OFF OF A RAMP COULD DO IT.
AND THAT'S WHEN WE STARTED VOICING CONCERN.
FLORIDA HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM, FLORIDA HAS DEALT WITH IT.
WE DON'T NEED TO LOOK AT A CRYSTAL BALL HERE.
WE CAN ALREADY SEE WHAT'S HAPPENED.
AND I THINK THE COUNTY NEEDS TO MAKE AN INTELLIGENT CHOICE ON THIS.
PROTECT SMALL BUSINESSES, PROTECT ALL THE SMALL BUSINESSES, AND NOT GIVE SOME SMALL BUSINESSES AN ADVANTAGE TO NOT OPERATE WITHIN, WITHIN GUIDELINES.
IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.
I AM VAGABOND CRUISE, UH, DOWN IN HARBORTOWN INSIDE OF SEA PINES RESORT.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER TOGETHER AND, UH, GET TO SHARE OUR THOUGHTS AND OUR EXPERIENCES.
UM, WHAT WE'RE ASKING, WHAT HEATHER IS ASKING IS NOT COMPLICATED.
PROPER LICENSING, PROPER INSURANCE, AND A PAYMENT OF A REASONABLE USER FEE FOR THE USE OF A PUBLIC ASSET.
SOMETHING YOU DO EVERY DAY IN YOUR SOCCER FIELDS, YOUR TENNIS COURTS, YOUR SOFTBALL FIELDS, AND YOUR BASEBALL FIELDS.
IT'S NOT, IT'S NOTHING UNUSUAL.
NOW, I WAS GONNA TALK ABOUT, ABOUT SOME OTHER STUFF, BUT, UM, HEATHER WAS ASKED BY COUNCIL TO PUT TOGETHER A WORKSHOP WHERE WE COULD TRY TO BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER AND SHARE IDEAS AND FIND SOME COMMONALITY.
AND SHE WORKED REALLY HARD TO DO THAT.
AND, UH, AT THE END OF THE DAY, UH, NOBODY CAME.
BUT, UM, THROUGH THAT PROCESS THOUGH, I GOT TO TALK TO, UH, BRIAN GALE, JEFF'S BROTHER.
JEFF JUST SPOKE TO YOU ABOUT THE BARGE.
AND BRIAN AND I TALKED ABOUT BEST PRACTICES, RESPONSIBLE USE, UM, HOW TO MAKE THIS WORK.
AND WHEN BRIAN EXPLAINED TO ME WHAT HE AND JEFF WERE WILLING TO DO, HE, WHEN JEFF EXPLAINED TO YOU THIS AFTERNOON, WHAT HE IS DOING IN HIS BUSINESS WITH HIS BROTHER BRIAN, HE'S DOING EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
HE HAS A FANTASTIC INSURANCE PRODUCT THAT BACKS HIS OPERATION, THAT PROTECTS HIS CUSTOMERS, PROTECTS THE COUNTY, PROTECTS THOSE ASSETS FROM UNFORTUNATE THINGS WHEN THEY HAPPEN.
HE HAS THE PERMITTING AND THE LICENSING.
HE'S DRUG TESTING HIS CREW AND CAPTAINS LIKE I DO.
IF YOU WANNA LOOK FOR A BEST PRACTICES SCENARIO, YOU SHOULD LOOK AT WHAT BRIAN AND JEFF ARE DOING, AND YOU SHOULD ASK, WHY CAN'T THIS BE APPLIED? T THEOR OPERATORS USING THIS LANDING? SURELY IF JEFF AND BRIAN CAN MAKE THIS WORK, SURELY EVERYBODY ELSE CAN, NOT JUST AT THE LANDING, BUT EVERYBODY ELSE ON THE ISLAND OPERATING FROM MARINAS IS ALSO ADHERING TO THESE PROCEDURES.
MR. BENDER, WHO YOU JUST HEARD FROM,
[00:50:01]
AS NICE AS HE IS, IF MY INSURANCE GETS CANCELED, HE'S KICKING ME OUT OF THE HARBOR.UM, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR BUSINESSES THAT OPERATE TO DO SO WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF GOOD PRACTICE.
AND THAT'S ALL WE'RE ASKING, PERMITTING, INSURANCE, AND A REASONABLE USER FEE TO RESPECT THE INVESTMENT OF THE TAXPAYERS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
UH, NEXT IS CHRISTOPHER SHOEMAKER.
HOW'S IT GOING? THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
UM, I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
I'VE BEEN USING THE PUBLIC BOAT LANDINGS, UH, PROFESSIONALLY FOR 17 YEARS.
I'VE USED THEM IN NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY AND SOUTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
THE PICTURE THAT THEY PAINT IS NOT ACCURATE.
UM, I'VE NEVER ENCOUNTERED, UH, LITTER ISSUES, UM, PEOPLE DESTROYING DOCKS, UH, MAJOR CONGESTION OR, UH, PROBLEMS BETWEEN RECREATIONAL BOATERS OR COMMERCIAL BOATERS.
UH, THE ORDINANCES THAT, UM, THEY PROPOSE ABOUT RESTRICTING, UH, THE ACCESS, UH, OR CHANGING IT, UM, FROM CROSS ISLAND, UM, IS, UM, I JUST DON'T, DON'T SEE THAT.
I DON'T UNDER, I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
UM, AND, UH, I THINK IT WOULD ACTUALLY RESTRICT THE PUBLIC'S USE.
UM, A LOT OF THE PUBLIC IN BEAUFORT COUNTY DO NOT OWN BOATS.
UM, SO IF YOU TAKE AWAY PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO HIRE BOAT CAPTAINS TO TAKE 'EM OUT ON DIFFERENT WATERWAYS AROUND THE COUNTY, UM, AND FORCE THEM TO GO THROUGH MARINAS, YOU'RE ACTUALLY HURTING, UH, THE RESIDENTS AND RESTRICTING THEIR USE.
AND, UH, AS MARK'S PRESENTATION, UM, YOU ACTUALLY HAVE DATA THAT SHOW THAT THE PUBLIC IS NOT UPSET OR, UM, IT'S NOT AN ISSUE, UM, WITH THESE COMMERCIAL OPERATORS THAT USE THESE COUNTIES AROUND OR LANDINGS AROUND THE COUNTY.
SO, UH, I JUST HOPE YOU TAKE THE DATA INTO CONSIDERATION, UH, WHEN YOU CONSIDER EVERYTHING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HEARING FROM US TODAY.
UH, I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AS A MARINA OPERATOR.
UM, I'VE SPENT THE LAST TWO YEARS WORKING THROUGH STAFF ON SEVERAL PROJECTS AND APPRECIATE THE PROFESSIONALISM AND CARE THEY CONTINUE TO SHOW TO THEIR WORK.
UM, ALONG WITH MY FELLOW OPERATORS, I'VE SPENT MEANINGFUL TIME VISITING EACH MARINA ON THE ISLAND HOLDING MEETINGS AND SPEAKING TO EACH INDIVIDUAL OPERATOR THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET AHOLD OF.
WHAT I'VE COME AWAY WITH IS A CLEAR PICTURE.
OUR MARINAS HAVE AVAILABLE SPACE.
THEY HA WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE ALREADY BUILT IN.
WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE ZONING, WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE PERMITS NECESSARY TO DO THIS.
WE'D BE HAPPY TO HELP FACILITATE MORE BUSINESS, BUT WE'RE RESTRICTED IN OUR ZONING AS WELL.
SO WE ARE TRYING TO OPEN UP A ZONING PLATFORM FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO NOT BE REQUIRED TO HAVE THE SAME ZONING REGULATIONS THAT WE FALL UNDER.
IF WE WERE TO OPEN UP ZONING IN MARINAS, WE'D BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE COMPANIES IN OUR MARINAS AT THE CURRENT MOMENT.
IT, WITH THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE, IT IS ALLOWING THE SMALLER OPERATORS FOR THE CHARTER COMPANIES TO UTILIZE THESE FACILITIES WITH NO PARKING ARRANGEMENTS, NOTHING, ANYTHING, ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE COUNTY IS PROVIDING ITSELF.
THIS ISN'T ABOUT LI UH, LIMITING ANYONE'S LIVELIHOOD.
WE WANT SMALL BUSINESSES TO THRIVE.
WE ARE ONLY ASKING THAT EVERY OPERATOR UNDER THE SAME, BE UNDER THE SAME SET OF RULES.
IF ZONING ORDINANCES APPLY TO US, THEY SHOULD APPLY TO THEM UNIFORMLY.
IF THERE IS A PATH TO OPENING IN A ADDITIONAL PERMITTED USES, WE'D LOVE TO ENCOURAGE THAT SO THAT WE CAN ALSO BE ENC OR BE ABLE TO OPEN UP AS WELL.
THE PRINCIPLE I'M ASKING THE COUNCILS TO UPHOLD THE STRAIGHTFORWARD, LAWFUL CONSISTENT OPERATION.
OUR ZONING ORDINANCES DEFINE HOW PUBLIC LENDINGS MAY BE USED.
AND THE 14TH AMENDMENT REMINDS US THAT NO STATE SHALL DENY ANY PERSON WITHIN ITS JURISDICTION TO EQUAL PROTECTION OF LAWS.
SO WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR THE SAME PROTECTION TO BE GRANTED TO NOT ONLY SMALL OPERATORS, BUT TO MARINAS AS WELL.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
IS IT SURE HOW TO LAST NAME? SO AM COTTER.
UM, I AM A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER, SOUTHERN DRAW OUTFITTERS AND COASTAL FLY SHOP OVER HERE IN THE MOSS CREEK SHOPPING CENTER.
UM, I AM A FORMER FLY FISHING GUIDE OR FISHING GUIDE, AND
[00:55:01]
I CERTAINLY DID OPERATE OFF OF THE, UH, THE BOAT LANDINGS, UH, HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, UH, AND BEYOND, UH, DOWN IN SOUTH FLORIDA FOR A LONG TIME.SO I'VE, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF THIS GOING DOWN OVER THE YEARS AND, UH, I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS RIGHT NOW.
UM, AS I WAS SITTING BACK THERE, I THOUGHT ABOUT RESPONDING TO SOME OF THE COMMENTS, BUT I'LL JUST KEEP IT TO WHAT I ORIGINALLY PLANNED ON SAYING.
SO MY GOAL HERE IS TO MAYBE REFRAME THE PERCEPTION OF THE OPERATORS OFF OF THE BOAT LANDINGS.
'CAUSE I'M HEARING A LOT OF, A LOT OF COMMENTARY OF FOLKS THAT ARE COMING UP HERE.
BUT, UM, THESE ARE NOT UNREGULATED OPERATORS CUTTING CORNERS.
OKAY? THESE ARE LICENSED INSURED PROFESSIONALS.
UH, MANY HAVE SPENT YEARS, IF NOT DECADES, ON THESE WATERS.
UH, THEY ARE EXPERIENCED, DISCIPLINED AND DEEPLY CONNECTED TO THE LOW COUNTRY FISHERY.
UH, THEY ARE ALSO STEWARDS OF THESE WATERWAYS.
THEIR LIVELIHOODS DEPEND ON THE HEALTH OF OUR RESOURCES, AND THEY TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY.
UM, FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT, THESE GUIDES ARE MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTORS, UH, ESPECIALLY IN THE SHOULDER SEASONS.
UH, I, I'VE PERSONALLY HOSTED CLIENTS WHO'VE TRAVELED HERE, UH, TO FISH WITH ME FOR MULTIPLE DAYS.
OKAY? UH, AND IN WHICH CASE, THEY, THEY'RE STAYING AT LOCAL HOMES OR HOTELS.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE EATING AT RESTAURANTS AND THEY'RE SUPPORTING OTHER SMALL, LOCAL BUSINESSES.
AND I'VE EVEN HAD SOME CLIENTS THAT HAVE ACTUALLY BOUGHT HOMES HERE IN THE SHOULDER SEASON TO FISH, UM, AS A, AS A SECOND HOME.
UM, SO WHAT THEY PROVIDE IS, IT'S NOT JUST A SERVICE.
IT'S AN AUTHENTIC LOW COUNTRY EXPERIENCE THAT YOU MAY NOT GET AT A MARINA.
AND I SHOULD ALSO BE CLEAR, I'M, I, I'M, I'M A HUGE SUPPORTER OF THOSE THAT OPERATE FROM THE BOAT LANDINGS, AND I'M A HUGE SUPPORTER OF THOSE THAT OPERATE FROM MARINAS.
THE MARINA LIFE IS, IS A FANTASTIC LIFE FOR SURE.
UM, BUT IT'S AN AUTHENTIC LOW COUNTRY EXPERIENCE THAT BRINGS PEOPLE BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT GUIDING, UH, WHETHER IT'S FISHING, WHETHER IT'S, UH, AN ECO TOUR, UH, BUT PARTICULARLY IN THE FISHING SPACE, IS AN HONORABLE PROFESSION.
OKAY? UH, THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO BUILD LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR CLIENTS, MANY OF WHOM ARE BUSINESS LEADERS AND RETURNING VISITORS WHO VALUE THE EXPERIENCE AND THE PEOPLE BEHIND IT.
UH, SOME OF THESE GUYS ARE RECOGNIZED AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF THE INDUSTRY.
THEY'RE FEATURED IN PUBLICATIONS.
THEY'RE WORKING WITH MAJOR BRANDS AND REP AND, AND REPRESENTING THIS REGION ON A NATIONAL STAGE.
THERE'S ONE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW DOING A TELEVISION SHOW THAT RAN FROM CROSS ISLAND BOAT LANDING TODAY.
UH, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I WOULD SIMPLY ASK THAT ANY DECISIONS MADE HERE REFLECT A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHO THESE OPERATORS ACTUALLY ARE AND THE ROLE THEY PLAY IN BOTH OUR ECONOMY AND OUR COMMUNITY.
PHIL SMITH, 44 YEAR RESIDENT, UH, MASTER MARINER FOR ABOUT 37 YEARS.
UH, OPERATE OUTTA SOUTH BEACH MARINA.
YOU GUYS GOT A PROBLEM? THIS HASN'T BEEN GOING ON JUST RECENTLY.
THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LOT OF YEARS.
I USED TO OWN A KAYAK BUSINESS OUT OF, UH, OUT OF SHELTER COVE.
AND WE WERE IN COMPETITION WITH THE GUYS RUNNING OUT OF THE RAMPS THEN.
AND THEY WERE HOLDING UP THE RAMPS EVERY TIME THEY WOULD PUT 20 KAYAKS IN.
MY NEIGHBOR, UH, TIM OLANDER, THE FIREFIGHTER HERE ON THE ISLAND HAS NOW MOVED HIS BOAT TO A, UH, FACILITY BECAUSE HE COULDN'T PUT HIS BOAT.
THE ONE DAY HE GETS OFF, TWO DAYS HE GETS OFF, COULDN'T PUT HIS BOAT IN 'CAUSE HE'S FIGHTING ALL THE GUYS UP AT THE CROSS ISLAND EXPRESSWAY AT THE LANDING THERE.
SO HE GAVE UP ON IT AND PUT IT, AND NOW HE'S PAYING MONEY.
THERE'S A LOCAL FIREFIGHTER, THERE'S SOLUTIONS.
YOU'VE HEARD EVERYBODY TALK HERE.
THESE GUYS ARE DOING GREAT WITH THEIR BUSINESS HAULING STUFF OVER TO DUSKY.
HOW MANY MORE BUSINESSES ARE GONNA START THAT? GET TWO, THREE MORE.
I DON'T WANNA SUBSIDIZE DUSKY AND I DON'T WANNA SUBSIDIZE THE BOAT RAMP AS A BUFORT COUNTY TAXPAYER.
EVERY TIME MY KIDS DRIVE AND THEY GO SOMEWHERE, I GET A TICKET BACK IN THE MAIL BEFORE THEY EVEN GET HOME.
THEY GO TO NEW YORK, FLORIDA, I GET A TICKET IN THE MAIL.
YOU GUYS CAN SET THIS UP EASILY WITH A KIOSK, WITH A DATE CODE, CHARGE EVERYBODY A FEE.
AND I DON'T CARE IF IT'S RESIDENTS OR NOT.
'CAUSE ONLY ABOUT 5% OF THE ENTIRE BEAUFORT COUNTY RESIDENTS OWN A BOAT.
YOU DO A $30 A YEAR FEE FOR THE RESIDENT.
YOU DO A $500 A YEAR FEE FOR THE COMMERCIAL, AND EVERY TIME THEY PUT A BOAT IN, IT'S $5 FOR A RESIDENT, $30 FOR COMMERCIAL.
IT'S NOT PUTTING ANYBODY OUT OF BUSINESS.
AND THEN YOU TAKE THE CRUMMY BEAUFORT COUNTY RAMPS.
'CAUSE YOU GO TO FLORIDA AND THE RAMPS ARE BEAUTIFUL.
AND YOU TAKE THAT MONEY AND YOU ENHANCE WHAT YOU HAVE HERE, AND YOU MAKE IT BETTER, AND YOU MAKE IT SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF.
[01:00:02]
AND THEN THESE GUYS THAT WANT TO PUT IN ANOTHER RAMP UNDER THERE, YOU CAN DO IT.ALL YOU, IT'S $10 GOES TO THE LANDING FUND.
THE MAIN REASON WHY I'M SPEAKING TODAY, MY NAME IS DAVID SPAR.
I'M HILTON HEAD UNDER, UH, UM, A CASUAL CONVERSATION WITH A FRIEND, CAPTAIN OF MINE.
I WAS, UH, TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO HIM THAT I WAS LEGITIMATE AS ANY PERSON THAT OPERATES IN A MARINA, EVEN THOUGH I OPERATE OUT OF A LANDING, REFERRED TO A COUNCIL MEMBER TO SPEAK AT THE LAST MEETING.
HE ASKED ME TO MENTION THAT I HAD SOME EXPERIENCES I HAD, AND THERE'S SOME PROBLEMS THAT I HAD.
ONE OF 'EM WAS MAYBE AS WELL, I'D LIKE THIS STATE THAT, UM, I HAVE A CHARTER FISHING LICENSE FOR THE STATE.
I HAVE CHARTER INSURANCE THAT MY AGENT SAYS, COVERS EVERYTHING THAT I DO.
UM, RECENTLY HAVE TAKEN A DRUG TEST.
I HAVE A CURRENT COAST GUARD LICENSE.
I HAVE A CURRENT BEAUFORT COUNTY BUSINESS LICENSE.
UM, RECENTLY I WAS BOARDED BY THE COAST GUARD AND ANY CAPTAIN THAT'S IN THIS ROOM UNDERSTANDS WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY ABOUT A GOLDEN TICKET.
THAT MEANS THAT MY BOAT HAS BEEN SEARCHED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, BUILT SAFETY.
UM, ANY CREDENTIALS THAT I HAVE THAT THEY NEED.
OBVIOUSLY WHEN THEY GET THIS RECEIPT, YOU CARRY IT ON YOUR BOAT.
AND, UM, THEY, SO I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY ALONG WITH GRAHAM, UH, THERE IS SOME, UH, SELF-GOVERNING SITUATIONS THAT ARE GOING ON.
UM, PEOPLE THAT HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE LIKE GRAHAM, UH, LIKE CAPTAIN PHIL AND OTHER CAPTAINS IN HERE THAT WERE STATED LIKE COREY.
UH, WE ARE SELF-GOVERNING SOME SITUATIONS AND, UM, UH, I CAN BE AN EXAMPLE TO OTHER GUYS SIR, UM, THAT ARE NOT IN THE MARINA TO OPERATE PROFESSIONALLY IN THE WAY YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO, NO MATTER WHERE YOU'RE AT.
SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UM, THE LAST PERSON TO SIGN UP WAS JOSH, UH, TWI MEYER.
I, I DON'T THINK THERE'S MUCH I COULD SAY AFTER EVERYBODY.
I THINK EVERY, THERE WAS NOTHING HERE SAID THAT WAS TOO CRAZY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I LIVE, MY NAME IS JOSH MEYER.
I USE ALL THE PUBLIC RAMPS ALMOST ALL THE TIME.
ANYWAY, I ACTUALLY, UM, WENT TO THE, I'M AT THE CALHOUN RAMP RIGHT NOW WITH MY 14 FOOT LITTLE SKIFF, AND I JOGGED HERE BECAUSE IT WOULD'VE, IT WAS GONNA BE 20 MINUTES TO WAIT FOR AN UBER AND I WOULD'VE BEEN LATE.
SO ANYWAY, I'M A LITTLE WINDED EVEN STILL.
SO, UM, I JUST WANTED TO MAYBE JUST ADD SOMETHING.
UM, I'VE BEEN OUT ON BUCK ISLAND FOR FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.
IT WAS AN ENORMOUS UNDERTAKING.
UM, BUT OVER THAT TIME I MET MARK AND COREY AND MEGAN AND SEAN AND JEFF OR CAPTAIN SEAN OVER HERE WHO RUNS THE BARGE.
AND I FEEL VERY CONNECTED TO THEM.
THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN KIND TO ME.
UM, THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE MADE WAY FOR ME.
THEY'VE HELPED ME WHEN I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND MAYBE A BOATING RULE OR PROTOCOL.
I'M A RELATIVE NOVICE, ALTHOUGH NOW I HAVE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF HOURS ON THE WATER.
UM, AND I, I JUST WANTED TO SUPPORT THEM.
THESE ARE NOT, UM, THESE ARE NOT BAD PEOPLE TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE.
UM, IT, IT, IT, TO SOME EXTENT, I UNDERSTAND THE, THE FAIRNESS ARGUMENT A LITTLE BIT IN THE, IN ONLY IN THE SENSE THAT, UM, THE PEOPLE RUNNING THEIR CHARTERS OUT THERE, THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR SOMETHING FAIR.
THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR BATHROOMS TO BE INSTALLED ON THE COUNTY DOCK.
THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR ALL OF THE AMAZING THINGS THAT HARBORTOWN HAS OR PALMETTO BAY HAS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THIS IS JUST A PLACE TO TEMPORARILY HAVE A BOAT PICK UP THEIR PEOPLE AND LEAVE.
UM, UH, BUT AGAIN, I, I DON'T EVEN NECESSARILY DISAGREE WITH, WITH THE PROPOSALS, YOU KNOW, PUT FORTH ALL, ALL, ALL IN.
I DO THINK THOUGH, UM, SOME OF THE CONCERNS ARE ALREADY
[01:05:01]
TAKEN CARE OF BY THE COAST GUARD.THE COAST GUARD ALREADY MAKES SURE YOU'VE GOT YOUR LICENSES IN THIS TYPE OF THING.
SO I'M NOT SURE WHY WE WOULD ADD AN EXTRA LEVEL OF BUREAUCRACY ON THESE SMALL BUSINESSES, MY OPINION.
UM, BUT, UH, ANYWAY, THAT'S MY 2 CENTS.
UM, AT THIS TIME WE HAVE A FEW MINUTES.
DID ANYONE, WHO DID YOU WANNA SPEAK, MISS? I'M SORRY.
YOU CAN, YOU CAN MA'AM, YOU CAN COME UP.
DO YOU HAVE YOUR THREE MINUTES? OKAY.
WE, YEAH, YOU JUST SAY YOUR NAME AGAIN FOR THE RECORD.
GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I HAVE OPERATED A LICENSED US COAST GUARD CERTIFIED SIX PACK PASSENGER CHARTER BUSINESS OUT OF THE CROSS ISLAND BOAT LANDING FOR NEARLY 18 YEARS.
I AM REGISTERED WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND CARRY FULL COMMERCIAL INSURANCE, INCLUDING A $1 MILLION INSURANCE POLICY.
I SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY ENFORCEMENT AND THOUGHTFUL STRUCTURE.
HOWEVER, AT THIS TIME, I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT THE CURRENT PROPOSAL BEING ADVANCED PRIMARILY BY MARINA OPERATORS WHO HAVE A DIRECT FINANCIAL INTEREST IN RESTRICTING ACCESS TO PUBLIC LANDINGS.
FROM A BROADER PERSPECTIVE, RESTRICTING COMMERCIAL USE OF PUBLIC LANDINGS DOES NOT JUST IMPACT CHARTER CAPTAINS.
IT CREATES A RIPPLE EFFECT ACROSS MANY OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES THAT OPERATE IN PUBLIC SPACES.
THIS INCLUDES SURF INSTRUCTORS, FITNESS AND YOGA GROUPS AND PARKS, GUIDED TOURS, PHOTOGRAPHERS AND MANY OTHERS.
THESE BUSINESSES CONTRIBUTE TO THE VIBRANCY OF THE ISLANDS, AND THEY ARE KEY TO OUR TOURISM DRIVEN ECONOMY.
VISITORS ARE DRAWN TO HILTON HEAD BECAUSE OF THESE EXPERIENCES AND NOT IN SPITE OF THEM.
PUBLIC SPACES INHERENTLY INVOLVE RISK.
THOSE RISKS ARE MANAGED THROUGH EDUCATION ENFORCEMENT AND RESPONSIBLE USE, NOT BY SELECTIVELY RESTRICTING ACCESS TO CERTAIN GROUPS.
IF CONGESTION OR SAFETY WERE TRULY THE DRIVING ISSUE, WE WOULD EXPECT TO SEE OBJECTIVE DATA.
CONGESTION STUDIES AND INCIDENTS.
REPORTS HAVE NOT BEEN PRESENTED OTHER THAN THE 2023 STUDY THAT WAS SPOKEN ABOUT TODAY AND RESPONSE TO THIS SIGN THAT KEEPS BEING BROUGHT UP.
PER THE CURRENT ORDINANCE AT THIS TIME, IT STATES THAT WE HAVE 15 MINUTES TO LOAD AND UNLOAD AND THERE IS NOTHING ILLEGAL ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE STAY WITHIN THE PARAMETERS THAT ARE PRESENTED IN THE POLICY.
MEANWHILE, REAL ENFORCEMENT ISSUES DO PERSIST AT THE CROSS ISLAND BOAT LANDING, INCLUDING LONG TERM STORAGE OF BOATS, TRAILERS, THERE'S RV ENCAMPMENTS, VANDALISM, SANITATION CONCERNS, AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.
THESE ARE ENFORCEMENT FAILURES, NOT ISSUES CAUSED BY LICENSED CHARTER OPERATORS.
IN THE INTEREST OF CONSISTENT AND FAIR POLICY, ANY REQUIREMENT REPLACED ON ONE GROUP USING PUBLIC LAND MUST BE APPLIED EQUALLY ACROSS ALL SIMILAR USERS.
IF CHARTER OPERATORS ARE REQUIRED TO PAY FEES AND CARRY HIGHER INSURANCE, THEN THOSE SAME REQUIREMENTS MUST LOGICALLY APPLY TO YOGA INSTRUCTORS IN THE PARK, PHOTOGRAPHERS ON THE BEACH, AND OTHERS OPERATING IN PUBLIC SPACES.
MARINAS ARE NOT A PRACTICAL ALTERNATIVE.
MANY ARE FULL AND OPERATE UNDER NON-COMPETE AGREEMENTS THAT PREVENTS US SMALL BUSINESSES FROM RELOCATING PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE HAS HISTORICALLY SUPPORTED WORKING WATERMEN AND SMALL OPERATORS, AND THAT ACCESS SHOULD NOT BE REMOVED WITHOUT ANY CLEAR JUSTIFICATION.
I TO CALL, UH, MR. KID BACK UP TO ANY DISCUSSION, UH, FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HE CAN ADDRESS.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL? ANYTHING WE'D LIKE TO ADDRESS AT THIS TIME? NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YES SIR.
UM, THE GENTLEMAN FROM BUCK ISLAND, I BELIEVE.
HAS THAT CHANGE BEEN MADE ABOUT? 'CAUSE I KNOW WE HAD IT IN THERE.
I BELIEVE THAT WAS ONE OF THE, THE RED HIGHLIGHTS.
I'M GOING THROUGH IT AND I MAY,
[01:10:12]
WE DID HAVE THAT CHANGED TO YES.THE BARGES FOR DUSKY AND IT WAS TO ALLOW TO OTHER BARRIER ISLANDS, CORRECT.
THAT WAS, IT WAS THE INTENDED, I JUST DIDN'T SEE IT IN THIS, THIS VERSION.
I HAVE TO THE EXTENT IT'S NOT INCORPORATED.
UM, OTHER COMMENTS? DISCUSSION? YES.
UM, YEAH, FOR AT LEAST, AT LEAST KIND OF GIVE A DISCUSSION AND AGAIN, APPRECIATE EVERYONE COMING OUT AND, AND GIVING THEIR OPINION.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS TWO SIDES THAT WE'VE GOT.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND LOOKING AT THIS, UM, THE, THE BRIDGE TO HILTON HEAD DIDN'T START UNTIL 1956.
SO BEFORE THAT TIME, EVERYONE USED THE LANDINGS.
THAT WAS HOW EVERYONE GOT THERE.
I MEAN, I THINK EVEN AT ONE POINT, UM, DUSKY ACTUALLY HAD MORE RESIDENTS THAN HILTON HAD.
UM, AT, AT THAT TIME, UM, THE HARBOR TOWN YACHT BASIN, UM, I THINK WASN'T BUILT UNTIL 1969.
I DON'T THINK SHELTER COVE WAS BUILT UNTIL 1983.
SO IN, IN OUR TIME THAT'S ACTUALLY ALL FAIRLY, FAIRLY RECENT.
THAT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT, THAT HAS GONE BACK HUNDREDS OF YEARS.
BUT THE LANDINGS AND THE USE OF THOSE LANDINGS HAS GONE BACK HUNDREDS OF YEARS.
I MEAN, FOR NOT ONLY FOR JUST SHRIMPERS AND CRABBERS AND AND FISHERMEN, BUT FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF PEOPLE, FOR LIVESTOCK, FOR CROPS, HOME GOODS, FURNITURE, UM, YOU KNOW, BUILDING SUPPLIES, UM, FOOD SUPPLIES.
UM, SO, SO AGAIN, THESE LANDINGS HAVE BEEN USED FOR RESIDENTIAL, BUT ALSO FOR COMMERCIAL FOR, FOR AS LONG AS PEOPLE HAVE LIVED HERE IN BUFORT COUNTY.
UM, SO FOR US NOW TO TRY TO REGULATE THAT, NOW, I, I AGREE, AND I THINK I HEARD WHAT I HEARD THE MOST WAS IS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WHOEVER'S USING THEM HAVE INSURANCE AND HAVE, HAVE A LICENSE.
AND, UM, AND THE REASON THAT THIS ALL HAS COME ABOUT, IT'S NOT BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING TO GO AND REGULATE IT WAS THE FACT THAT THAT, UM, WE HAD A BOAT THAT WAS IT, A LANDING FOR A LONG TIME.
AND WE WENT BACK TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET IT OUT, OFF THE LANDING.
AND WE REALIZED THAT OUR ORDINANCE WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
AND OF COURSE, MR. KIDD HERE HAS SAT DOWN TO WRITE THIS, AND HE HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB.
SO ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW WE HAVE EVERY POSSIBLE THING WE CAN THINK ABOUT FOR THE, FOR THE, FOR THE LANDINGS AND WHAT HAPPENS.
AND BECAUSE AGAIN, WE, WE REALIZE WE HAD NO TEETH IN OUR EXISTING ORDINANCES.
IF THERE WAS AN ISSUE OR IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM, OR IF THERE WAS THINGS HAPPENING THAT WE, WE, WE COULDN'T STOP THEM.
SO FOR ME, UM, REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE OF DUSKY AND ALSO THE PEOPLE OF BLUFFTON, BEAUFORT COUNTY IS HALF WATER.
UM, AND SO WHERE YOU LOOK, THE THE LANDINGS ARE, ARE HOW PEOPLE GET TO THE WATER.
UM, I, AGAIN, I THINK THEY SHOULD BE LICENSED AND INSURED.
UM, AND AGAIN, AS WE TALKED ABOUT THE COAST GUARD, UM, APPROVED, UM, BUT AGAIN, I WOULD NOT BE FOR US, UM, PUTTING ANY NEW REGULATION, UM, ON THESE FOLKS OR MOVING THEM TO, TO THE MARINAS THAT, THAT ARE THERE.
UM, WHICH THEN I THINK WOULD LIMIT LIMIT COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY AS OPPOSED TO, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, LETTING SMOKE CARRIERS BECAUSE OF THE WATER, UM, THAT, THAT WE'RE HERE.
BUT AGAIN, I, I UNDERSTAND BOTH SIDES SEE BOTH SIDES, AND AGAIN, ADHERE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT, THAT IT, IT IS SOMETHING THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.
AND MR. HER PURSE BACK THERE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING, BILL, OR WOULD YOU WELL, I THINK COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM HAD HIS HAND UP.
I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T REALIZE IT.
YOU WANNA COMMENT BACK TO MARK LAWSON FIRST, AND THEN IF BILL WANTS TO SPEAK, IT'S FINE.
WELL, I JUST TO, TO LEVELS SET TO WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY, JUST WITHIN, SO EVERYBODY'S ON THE SAME PAGE.
UM, THE, THE MOST RECENT VERSION THAT WAS PRESENTED, UM, TO PFC ON FEBRUARY 17TH BEFORE WE CAME TO THE WORKSHOP, WE HAVE, UM, EXEMPTIONS FOR CHARTER, UM, FISHERMEN, CAPTAINS, ET CETERA.
SO THEY ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THE LIMITATIONS OTHER THAN TO SAY THEY ARE LIMITED TO CARRYING THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS THAT IS ON THEIR LICENSE, WHICH IS, AS WE DISCUSSED, THE CATEGORIES FROM ZERO TO SIX, SEVEN TO 49, ET CETERA.
THERE IS A LIMITATION OF UP TO, UM, 12 PASSENGERS THAT WAS PLACED.
SO IT'S EITHER YOU NEED A NUMBER ON YOUR LICENSE OR A MAXIMUM OF 12.
AND THAT'S, THAT WAS FOR THE CONGESTION PURPOSES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT PREVIOUSLY.
DID, DID 12 COME FROM, UM, IT WAS, SO IT WAS ORIGINALLY, UH, SIX, WHICH WAS THE MOST COMMON LICENSE THAT WE LOOKED AT WHEN WE HAD THE DATA.
BUT COUNSEL OR COMMITTEE MEMBERS ASKED, UM, THAT WE INCREASE THAT NUMBER AT ONE OF THE PRIOR COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
SO THAT WAS THROUGH THE PUBLIC FEEDBACK AND THEN AGREEMENT OF COMMITTEE, WE TOOK DIRECTION AND WE CHANGED THAT FROM, FROM SIX TO FOUR.
PART OF THAT TOO WAS THE LICENSE GOES FROM SIX AND THEN ABOVE SIX, IT GOES LIKE 37 TO 49.
THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SIX AND 49.
SO HAVE THE, UM, WE HAVE AN EXEMPTION OBVIOUSLY FOR DUSKY
[01:15:01]
BARGES TO AND FROM, AND WITH THAT WAS INTENDED TO BE FOR ALL BARRIER ISLANDS AS WELL.HERS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE COMMENTS? YES.
WE CALL OUT MADAM CHAIRMAN, HONORABLE MEMBERS.
UH, I, I GUESS I HAVE TO SIDE WITH, UH, MR. LAWSON ON THIS TO SOME EXTENT.
I MEAN, THERE'S TWO, TWO SETS OF SPECIAL INTEREST IN HERE.
ONE IS, UH, IS DEFINITELY CREDIBLE.
THE, UH, UH, THE MARINA OPERATORS AND OWNERS AND ALL THAT.
AND MATTER OF FACT, I GET MY GAS AT PALMETTO BAY, UH, AND THEY, THE OTHER SET OF SPECIAL INTERESTS WHO ARE CREDIBLE ARE ALSO THE, UH, THE WATERMEN.
I HAVE TO SIDE ON THIS MOSTLY WITH THE WATERMEN, BECAUSE IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT IN TWO CHAIRS BACK THERE, THERE'S OVER 140 YEARS OF WATERMEN EXPERIENCE BACK THERE FROM THE FAMILIES.
AND LIKE, LIKE YOU SO ELOQUENTLY PUT, MR. LAWSON, THE, THESE FOLKS HAVE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME BEFORE THESE MARINAS WERE A LONG TIME BEFORE THE BRIDGE WAS.
AND IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO MAINTAIN THIS PART, THIS CHARACTER OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
I MEAN, TO TAKE THAT AWAY OR TO REGULATE THAT, WHERE WOULD WE, WHERE WOULD WE START IN THAT? WOULD WE START WITH THE OYSTERMEN? I MEAN, IT'S, YOU KNOW, EQUAL PROTECTION.
WHERE WOULD WE START WITH THE, UH, THE, THE KIDS IN HIGH SCHOOL WHO ARE TAKING THEIR BOATS OUT AND TAKING PEOPLE FISHING TO PAY THEIR WAY THROUGH COLLEGE, WHICH WE ALL KNOW OUR GOOD FRIEND JOHN ACKERMAN HAS WORKED WITH, UH, MR. SHOEMAKER FOR YEARS.
UH, A KID WITHOUT A DAD TO PUT HIMSELF, UH, THROUGH COLLEGE ON THAT.
SO WHERE ARE WE GONNA START WITH THIS? YOU KNOW, THERE'S A COMMON SENSE ANSWER ON THIS, BUT I THINK TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF THE PEOPLE IS I THINK WHERE IS INCUMBENT UPON US AS, AS THE, UH, REPRESENTATIVES REPRESENTATIVE OF THEM.
UM, ANY, UH, ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR POINTS? YES, COUNCIL, I MAY, YEAH.
UM, JUST SOME ANSWER A COUPLE OF THE QUESTIONS FROM COMMENTS MADE FROM BOTH SIDES.
IS IT TRUE THAT ONLY 3% IN THAT REPORT, UM, COMPLAINT ABOUT ISSUES OF CONGESTION? IT SAYS I'VE DONE THE QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY REASON TO DISPUTE THAT.
AND THEN, DO WE CURRENTLY HAVE ANY LEVEL OF CHECKS AND BALANCES TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR VOTERS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY ARE LICENSED AND INSURED? SO, I I, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE'S ANY REASON TO THINK THAT THEY SHOULD NOT FALL UNDER THE CATEGORIES OR THE RESTRICTIONS REGULATIONS, UM, FOR OTHER BUSINESSES.
SO TO THE EXTENT THEY ARE OPERATING A BUSINESS WITHIN BEAVER COUNTY, THEY SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE SAME REQUIREMENTS AS, AS ANY OTHER BUSINESS WITHIN THE COUNTY.
UH, DO WE CONDUCT A SPECIAL LIKE INQUIRY FOR MARINE OPERATORS THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM BUSINESS LICENSING WRIT LARGE? NO, THERE'S NO SEPARATE PROCESS FOR THAT.
SO THEN THEORETICALLY WE COULD HAVE BOATERS OUT THERE OPERATING WITHOUT INSURANCE AND WITHOUT A BUSINESS LICENSE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, IT WOULD BE IN VIOLATION OF BEAUFORT COUNTY'S BUSINESS LICENSE ORDINANCE IF THEY DID THAT.
I, I GUESS I, I, I'M WITH MARK ON THIS TO BE HONEST.
I, I KNOW WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING EVEN OUTSIDE OF THE COMMERCIAL USE.
WE KNOW OUR BOAT LANDINGS NEED HELP.
IF THE CHAIRWOMAN WOULD ALLOW ME, IF I COULD CONDUCT A LITTLE EXERCISE THAT'S A LITTLE UNORTHODOX WITHOUT CONVERSATION, JUST SHOW OF HANDS, HOW MANY OF YOU OPERATE A BOAT HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY? HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE? HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE INSURANCE ON THAT BOAT? HOW MANY OF YOU WANT TO SEE OUR BOAT RAMPS IMPROVED? HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD BE OKAY WITH A FEE SCHEDULED FOR THE FUNDING TO GO TOWARDS THAT? THERE'S, THERE'S OUR DISCONNECT.
SO EVERYBODY AGREES THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THE SAME REQUIREMENTS TO OPERATE.
THE DISCONNECT COMES FROM WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE ON THE PUBLIC LANDING? ONLY? IT'S, WE ALL KNOW THAT WE NEED TO BE INSURED, WE NEED TO BE SAFE, WE NEED TO BE COMPLIANT.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S UP FOR DISCUSSION, EVEN THOUGH WE FOCUS ON THAT A LOT IN THIS MEETING.
THE QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO ABOUT SPECIFICALLY JUST THE BOAT RAMPS.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS REALLY JUST FLUFF BECAUSE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE WITH THAT.
IT'S WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO WITH THE ACTUAL BOAT LANDINGS AND SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE TO GIVE OUR STAFF SOME TYPE OF TEETH TO GET INTO IT, OR, OR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, WHOEVER'S, UM, CONTROLLING IT.
BUT I'M NOT THE ONE THAT HAS ANSWER.
SO
BUT I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE THE LANDINGS THE WAY THAT YOU NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL, THE SAME AS OUR RESIDENTS.
SO OUR JOB IS WE NEED TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION.
EVERYONE'S KIND OF QUIET TODAY, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION OF WHAT ARE WE GONNA DIRECT STAFF TO DO TODAY? THAT'S WHAT THIS MEETING'S FOR.
COUNCILMAN DAWSON, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? NO COMMENT.
UH, I ENJOYED HEARING THE, UH, THE, UH, COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE FROM THE PUBLIC AND, UM, WE JUST NEEDED TO TAKE THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE, UH, THE PROS AND THE CONS, AND TRY
[01:20:01]
COME UP WITH A RE RESOLUTION OR SOME SOLUTION THAT WOULD ACTUALLY ALLOW US TO, UH, ACCOMMODATE BOTH THE, UM, PRIVATE BOARD AS WELL AS THE, UM, PRIVATE BUSINESSES AS WELL.AND COUNCILMAN DAWSON, WHO'S BEEN I KNOW WAS A FISHERMAN, UM, HAD SPEAKS FOR HIS OWN EXPERIENCE, I THINK.
UM, IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE PAST, PREVIOUS COUNCILS AND STAFF PUT TOGETHER LAWS AND RULES THAT YOU NEVER HAD OR WE NEVER CAME TOGETHER LIKE THIS.
SO TODAY I'M ENCOURAGED BY WHAT THIS COUNCIL'S DONE IN THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS.
BUT TODAY TO GET TOGETHER AND LISTEN TO EVERYBODY, WE'RE GONNA TAKE EVERYBODY'S INPUT AND PUT TOGETHER, I HOPE AND PRAY THE BEST ORDINANCE WE CAN, BUT IT TAKES YOUR INPUT TO HELP US GET THERE.
LOOK WHAT WE DID FOR THE LAST, WE HEARD, I THINK THE LONGEST RUN HERE IS 37 YEARS.
SOMEBODY HERE WORKING THESE, UH, PEERS JUST AS THEY ARE 37 YEARS, WE GOTTA COME UP WITH AN ORDINANCE, BUT WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOUR INPUT.
AND TODAY, AND THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS HAS BEEN WONDERFUL.
I OKAY, WE'VE GOT, OH, GO, GO AHEAD.
OKAY, SO I'M NOT A BOAT PERSON EITHER, BUT I CAN SWIM, SO I'LL LEAVE THAT.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT SINCE THE LANDINGS, THE DOCKS ARE FUNDED BY THE PUBLIC, THEY SHOULD REMAIN PUBLIC USE.
I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER FOR THE REGULATIONS.
UH, IF CODE ENFORCEMENT'S AN ISSUE, I WOULD LOVE TO GO BACK TO, I THINK IT WAS THE FIRST PERSON WHO SAID, WE WANT, WE NEED THIS BATHROOMS, THIS, THIS ALL.
IF, IF WE COULD FIND A TREASURE CHEST UNDER THE BROAD RIVER BRIDGE, WE COULD DO THAT BECAUSE WE NEED WORK ON OUR BOAT LANDINGS.
WE'VE SEEN THIS STUDY, I THINK IT WAS A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS TWO YEARS AGO.
SO WE JUST DON'T HAVE THAT MONEY RIGHT NOW.
BUT I DO UNDERSTAND BOTH SIDES OF THIS COIN.
BUT I WANNA REMEMBER THEY'RE PUBLIC LANDINGS AND WE SERVE THE PUBLIC.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'VE TALKED TO, UH, SEVERAL FOLKS THAT ARE SITTING OUT THERE IN THE AUDIENCE AND, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THE HILTON HEAD ISSUES THAT ARE COMING FORWARD, HIGHER POPULATION DENSITIES, BUT YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I HAVE TO PROTECT THE NORTH OF THE BROWN FOLKS THAT I REPRESENT.
SMALL BUSINESSES THAT I DO REPRESENT.
AND I WAS, I I'M SORRY, I CAUSED SEVEN MONTHS DELAY ON THIS THING.
I KNOW BIFURCATED IT ORIGINALLY, BUT TO THE FEE RESEARCH ON IT.
UM, I, I FALL BACK ON THE SOUTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE 14, SECTION FOUR THAT SAYS THAT THE NAVIGABLE WATERS PARAPHRASING HERE ARE, ARE NOT SUBJECT TO TAX, THAT THEY'RE OPEN AND FREE.
I FALL BACK, NO, SORRY, I, I FALL BACK ON THAT AS WE GO FORWARD WITH THE REGULATION THAT WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF KEEPING THE NAVI WATERWAYS OPEN AND FREE TO THE PUBLIC AND THAT THAT CONSTITUTES THE BOAT LAUNCHES TOO.
I THINK WE'VE BEEN REASONABLE WITH THE REGULATIONS ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE.
DYLAN, I THINK YOU'VE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB WITH WHAT WE HAVE WRITTEN SO FAR.
UM, I WOULD BE INCLINED TO PASS IT AS IS RIGHT NOW.
AND THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAY FOR ME IS BRINGING BACK THE CODE ENFORCEMENT, UH, PORTION, BRINGING IT IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR MAGISTRATE COURT WHERE TICKETS CAN ACTUALLY BE ISSUED.
THAT A THOUSAND DOLLARS FINE, I DON'T THINK WAS ENFORCEABLE.
AND I THINK DROPPING IT BACK DOWN TO $500 AND ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO BRING ISSUE CITATIONS AND BRING THOSE, THOSE CITATIONS BEFORE FOR DUE PROCESS IN OUR MAGISTRATE COURT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND I, I THINK BEFORE WE MAKE ANY MAJOR, ANY ADDITIONAL MAJOR CHANGES, WE NEED TO ANALYZE HOW ACTUAL ENFORCEMENT'S GOING TO CHANGE AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM? YEAH, I THINK, I THINK YOU BRING UP A GOOD POINT, MR. BARIO AND ALSO ONE OF THE PRESENTERS, I'M SORRY, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO SAID THAT YOU GUYS GOVERN YOURSELVES AND YOU GUYS KEEP CHECKS AND BALANCES.
SOME PERSON EVEN SAID THAT THEY HELD HIM OUT WHEN HE GOT INTO TROUBLE.
IF THIS COUNCIL ISN'T GONNA PASS SOMETHING WITH A REGULATION RIGHT NOW TO, WITH BOAT LAMPS AND FEES AND WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING CURRENTLY IN PLACE TO ACTUALLY FOLLOW THROUGH WITH PEOPLE AT THE MOMENT THEY ARE ON THAT BOAT, THAT BOAT RAMP AND THEN OUT IN THE WATER TO SEE IF THEY HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE.
THAT'S GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT Y'ALL HAVE TO DO TO BE HONEST.
'CAUSE THAT THREATENS YOUR LIVELIHOOD.
'CAUSE ALL IT'S GONNA TAKE IS ONE TIME FOR A PERSON WITHOUT A BUSINESS LICENSE OR WITHOUT THAT PROPER INSURANCE FOR THE ENTIRE INFRASTRUCTURE OF YOUR GUYS' ECONOMY TO CRUMBLE.
THAT'S REALLY ALL IT WOULD TAKE.
SO IF YOU'RE REALLY SAYING YOU'RE POLICING YOURSELF OR YOUR OWN GOVERNING BODY, BUT THAT WAY YOU, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT LEADS TO.
'CAUSE WE'RE NOT ALL GONNA BE HERE FOREVER.
UM, BUT THAT'S WHAT IT WOULD TAKE ONE TIME THAT YOU GUYS KNOW SOMEONE'S OUT THERE WITHOUT PROPER LICENSING OR INSURANCE
[01:25:01]
AND THE WHOLE THING COMES CRUMBLING DOWN.UM, SO I, I'M WITH MARK AND I'M WITH DAVE.
UH, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THIS RIGHT.
I'D LIKE TO SAY, UH, WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE TURNOUT OF THE PUBLIC TODAY FOR THIS AND ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS.
A LOT OF, UM, THOUGHT AND EFFORT WENT INTO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WHEN YOU MADE YOUR COMMENTS, IT WAS OBVIOUS.
UM, IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE FROM COUNTY COUNCIL ONE, THE LAST ONE OKAY, THAT'D BE FINE.
AND THEN WE'LL LET OUR ATTORNEYS SPEAK.
LET ME LET COUNCILMAN GLOVER GO FIRST.
UM, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, UH, THE REQUIREMENT FOR BUSINESS LICENSE INCLUDES INSURANCE AS WELL, RIGHT? THAT IS STANDARD UNDER BEAUFORD COUNTY BUSINESS LICENSING ORDINANCE.
PROBABLY WE SHOULD ANNOUNCE THAT THE PLAN NOW WOULD BE TO BRING THE ORDINANCE AS IT EXISTS TODAY, BACK TO THE NEXT PUBLIC FACILITIES COMMITTEE MEETING AND THEN DISCUSSION.
IF ANYBODY WANTED TO PROPOSE A CHANGE, THAT WOULD BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE PLEA AND THAT WOULD BE IN, UH, MAY, CORRECT? YES, MA'AM.
AND WITH THAT, WE ARE ADJOURNED.
THE NEXT MEETING IS AT FIVE O'CLOCK.
I AM CAMPBELL AND THIS IS BEAUFORD COUNTY MOMENTS.
I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FOOD TODAY.
THE FOOD HAS BEEN A GREAT PART OF OUR LIFE IN TERMS OF GATHERING FOOD AND PREPARING THEM.
OUR FOOD IS BASED ON THE LAND AND THE SEA.
THE LAND FOOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN RICE.
WE DON'T FEEL WE HAVE EATEN DINNER UNLESS WE'VE HAD RICE.
RICE WAS MIXED WITH VARIOUS ITEMS FROM THE SEA, LIKE OYSTERS OR SHRIMP.
AND WHEN THEY'RE COOKED WITH RICE IN ONE POT, WE CALL IT A RICE OR SHRIMP OR AN OYSTER PERLOW.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE WATERMELONS AND THE SWEET POTATOES.
SWEET POTATOES WAS ALWAYS EATEN WITH FISH AND FRESH FISH WITH GRAVY AND A SWEET POTATO.
OKRA HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR FOOD WAYS.
WE, WE, WE RAISE THEM AS WELL AS WE PREPARE THEM WITH SHRIMP AND TOMATOES.
AND SOME PEOPLE WOULD CALL THAT A GUMBO.
AND THAT'S WHAT EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.
AND SO ENJOY THE FOOD OF THE LOW COUNTRY BECAUSE IT'S BEEN VERY MUCH A PART OF OUR HISTORY.
THIS HAS BEEN YOUR BEAUFORT COUNTY MOMENT.
TO SEE MORE BEAUFORT COUNTY MOMENTS GO TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY HOMEPAGE AND CLICK ON THE LOCAL HISTORY TAB.