[0:10] Okay, good afternoon, everybody. Welcome to the June 16th, special meeting, town council, a cold, cold, a roll. Can everybody hear me with my mask on?

[0:21] Okay, Mr. Grant, roll call.

[0:44] Be aware compliance the free information act

[0:46] Yes, sir. We are with you. Please join us in the pledge allegiance

[0:51] and pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands

[0:58] One nation on the God

[1:01] Indivisible the liberty and justice for all. Thank you. I say for any location has to talk calling from the Homeland Community Joint Church

[1:27] Good afternoon, Mayor and Town Council. Are we good now?

[1:30] Yes, sir.

[1:32] Very good.

[1:34] Well, let's begin with prayer. Is that all right, Mayor?

[1:39] Father, we thank you for our leaders.

[1:42] God, I thank you for our leaders here on Hilton Head Island.

[1:46] I thank you for their leadership, especially during these days.

[1:49] God, I thank you for our first responders or the efforts of all of those who have been

[1:56] working day and night through these very difficult days.

[2:01] And God, we thank you for your leadership in our lives and I think of Psalm 46 when your

[2:06] word says that you are our refuge and our strength, a very present help and trouble.

[2:12] Therefore, we should not fear that the earth gives way and the mountains be moved into the

[2:16] part of the sea. The water is roar and foam. The mountains tremble. God, you are there.

[2:23] And you tell us that while the nations rage in the kingdoms, they totter. You are there.

[2:29] And you tell us to be still and know that you are God.

[2:33] Father, I thank you that you lead us and I pray that you would lead and guide this town

[2:38] council meeting today. Father, I pray that you would give wisdom and discernment to these

[2:43] our leaders in Jesus name. I pray. Amen.

[2:53] Thank you. Thank you, everyone.

[3:15] Okay. Okay. Move

[3:16] for approval in the agenda. You're at that pressure call. It's in here. Not either. I haven't

[3:23] heard anything. He is second on the agenda. Anybody hear me? One second. It okay. Take the roll,

[3:31] call on the agenda approval in the agenda. Mr. Grant.

[3:36] Mr. Grant.

[3:39] The Hawkins here. Mr. Ains. Yes.

[3:43] Yes, Ms. Becker.

[3:45] Yes.

[3:46] Mr. Lennox.

[3:47] Yes.

[3:49] Mr. Stanford.

[3:50] Yes.

[3:51] And myself at 7-0.

[3:54] Mr. Riley.

[3:55] Okay.

[3:57] We're going in out to the public hearing of the municipal budget,

[4:02] officially 2021.

[4:04] And we have two citizens that hold into a.

[4:12] Okay, and the first citizen calling in is Mr. Holdlin. We'll be calling him.

[4:18] No, he's he's on. He's on Mr. Holdlin. You're with us today, sir.

[4:23] Yeah, it's okay. All right. Thank you very much. Good afternoon, everybody.

[4:30] I'd like to know how this council keeps approving town budgets and audits that have been hired by

[4:36] Steve Riley, Josh Gruber, and John Troyer, when all three have been caught secretly and

[4:41] even illegally issuing tax money to also be illegally issued or used by those, they issued

[4:49] to like a higher DMO Chamber.

[4:52] Does everyone understand they hired cookie cutter financial audit only presents the numbers

[4:57] Riley, Gruber, and Troy or want you to see.

[5:00] Only a totally independent forensic investigative detailed audit identifies crimes, waste, fraud, illegal use of our hard-earned tax money. Tell me how this council can confirm anything without full independent audits, full transparency, FOIA compliance, and South Carolina nonprofit corporation that compliance under Reagan principal trust verified. Banker Linux seems to avoid this. Tell me why this council is not complying to my eight tax FOIA.

[5:30] on where Bill Miles and other non-profits used and spent tax monies under this budget.

[5:36] Tell me why you, Vagger Lennox, would issue millions more of tax money to Bill Miles

[5:42] and all non-profits with no signed proper DMO contracts and tax recipient agreements

[5:48] that need to be developed, spelling out how tax funds must be legally and properly used

[5:54] under gold standards in this budget.

[5:56] Tell me why you would allow Mr. Raleigh and Gruber to illegally issue General Tax Money

[6:02] to Bill Miles secretly to join the town as a private chamber member.

[6:07] This is not a public tax use for the good of the public under South Carolina law.

[6:13] Tell me why you would allow General Tax Money to be issued to a chamber for hurricane marketing,

[6:20] in coronavirus marketing or anything else

[6:23] when the island packet, local media, weather channel,

[6:27] a hundred thousand local Facebook accounts do this for free.

[6:30] This is nothing but a fraudulent money grab

[6:33] that needs to end under this budget.

[6:36] The corruption must stop.

[6:38] Tell me why you hand 8x millions to a chamber to VDMO

[6:43] when this old failed business model

[6:45] has been totally replaced by technology.

[6:47] Local search, social media, independent marketing efforts of local businesses,

[6:53] again 100,000 Facebook accounts, local residents all for free.

[6:58] A tax fund should go towards bike paths, feature repairs,

[7:03] parks, recreation, other tourist usage.

[7:07] That's money should not be used to generate Bill Miles $400,000 salary.

[7:14] many taxpayers and local businesses do not support this chamber or it's illegal operations.

[7:21] Why do you allow the hogland your three minutes?

[7:23] I would give in three minutes and thirty seconds.

[7:28] That's what I was given and I asked for and I was approved.

[7:32] Let me finish up, Mr. McCann.

[7:34] Please approve the extra minutes and we thank you for calling in, sir.

[7:37] I have a good name.

[7:39] Dr. McKenzie.

[7:41] County Bryson.

[7:42] He's having an issue calling and I'm catching up very now.

[7:47] Can I just ask a question?

[7:49] The time after time when Mr. Hogan calls in, he mentions a FOIA that's not been satisfied.

[7:57] Can I just ask, have all the FOIAs been satisfied as he got in everything he needs from this?

[8:04] I mean, yes, but I will get a report to you.

[8:07] I believe that he's asked for things that we don't have, and FOIA is about providing data that we have in our possession.

[8:15] Okay. Well, that makes sense, and I'm not questioning. I just, you know, we hear the same things over and over, and I just want to see if there's any that we can, we can tell you.

[8:24] We're good. That's all. Thanks.

[8:26] Are we waiting for Ms. Bryson?

[8:28] She's dialing in right now, but I do not see her on the line.

[8:32] Okay.

[8:32] Uh, well, we need to wait.

[8:34] Wait a minute.

[8:35] Wait a minute.

[8:35] Okay.

[8:36] We'll wait

[8:43] a couple of minutes.

[8:44] Okay.

[8:44] We'll wait a couple of minutes.

[8:44] Okay.

[8:44] We did.

[8:46] No special meeting number seven.

[8:48] Okay.

[8:49] I will wait through this price.

[8:50] And why don't we do the approval of the amendments for a special council meeting June 2nd?

[8:55] Have the motion to accept them.

[8:57] So the second.

[9:00] Okay.

[9:00] Roll call on the minutes.

[9:02] Mr Grant.

[9:06] Okay.

[9:06] Mr. Hawkins.

[9:07] Yes.

[9:08] Mr. Ames.

[9:09] Yes.

[9:10] Yes, it's thicker. Yes, Mr. Lennox. Yes, Mr. Stanford. Yes, I

[9:21] sell seven of them is the rally. Okay. She has not joined. She did, however,

[9:26] submit her comments in writing. So we do have them and we'll be

[9:30] up ended to the good. Thank you very much.

[9:32] I'm going to see it close, but we need to close the public here.

[9:37] Okay.

[9:38] I mean, emotional.

[9:39] The public here is now considered close.

[9:42] Thank you very much.

[9:43] Let's get into the municipal budget and how do you want to progress with Mr. Reilly?

[9:49] Well, I've perfectly had the update.

[9:52] Jeremy Clark is next to the original.

[9:54] Well, why don't we do Jeremy?

[9:57] Okay.

[9:57] He's out of order.

[9:58] We can do it.

[10:04] Jeremy, how are you sitting on? Doing great, Mayor, can you hear me? Yes, I can. Thank you. Excellent. Well, good afternoon, and very excited to be back with you this week. As in previous weeks,

[10:20] Hilton Head Regional Healthcare continues to operate effectively and safely and we remain ready to

[10:25] provide care as the situation evolves. I wanted to give you an update today as to what is happening

[10:31] locally today. So right now, neither Hilton Head Hospital nor Coastal Carolina Hospital is seeing

[10:38] a spike in hospital hospitalizations due to COVID-19. Combined, the two hospitals have fewer than

[10:45] and five total COVID-19 patients in-house.

[10:49] That said, we are very actively watching

[10:51] what is going on in the community.

[10:53] We are seeing an increase in positive patients,

[10:58] but thus far, these patients are not sick enough

[11:00] to be hospitalized, which is a very good thing.

[11:03] One of the reasons that we are seeing

[11:05] more positive patients is because we have significantly

[11:08] increased our testing capability.

[11:11] We are testing many more patients

[11:12] than we were even a few weeks ago.

[11:14] We're going to continue to ramp up testing and educating on this virus.

[11:19] Both hospitals are currently offering testing with a physician order every weekday at

[11:25] no cost to patients.

[11:27] We're also working with local community groups and South Carolina DHEC to bring more testing

[11:32] to this community.

[11:34] Before example, on June 29, we have partnered with volunteers in medicine, Hilton Head Fire

[11:40] rescue and de-hack to host a testing event at the Hilton Head Fire Rescue Training Center.

[11:46] There will be no cost to patients who want to get tested, no physician orders required,

[11:51] and no appointment is needed as well.

[11:53] We'll be getting more information out about this event over the coming weeks, but again,

[11:58] that's going to happen on June the 29th.

[12:00] As part of that event, we're not just being testing, but we'll be educating.

[12:03] We know that the vast majority of patients that get tested for this virus will be negative,

[12:08] which is great.

[12:08] We want to help provide that education so that patients know what to do to stay negative

[12:13] and to keep themselves and their families safe.

[12:16] We want everyone to know that if the situation in our community changes, we're ready.

[12:21] We've shown over the last couple of months that we can purposely reduce the number of patients

[12:25] that are in the hospital.

[12:27] We can pause elective procedures if needed.

[12:30] We can reassign resources to COVID-19 patients.

[12:34] And we have well rehearsed plans to add bed capacity if that is needed.

[12:40] We are also well-supplied in our personal protective equipment.

[12:44] We are also ready to advance care in our community for everyone, and it's important to remember

[12:48] that the vast majority of patients that we are seeing are not dealing with COVID-19.

[12:53] So, we are performing elective surgeries and have been doing this since April.

[12:57] We are allowing one visitor per patient per day, and we have been doing this for the last

[13:02] few weeks? Well, we can do this because we know that we've created a safe environment inside the

[13:07] hospital. Every visitor, every employee, every physician is screened, is given a mask and their

[13:13] temperatures taken before they enter the hospital. So we're going to do everything we can to maintain

[13:17] that safe environment, but we know that having a visitor is an important part of the healing process.

[13:23] Finally, we really want everyone to just stay vigilant. Please, wash your hands, wear a face mask,

[13:29] and keep your distance from others.

[13:31] We all need to take personal responsibility

[13:33] to prevent the spread of this virus.

[13:35] It is not going away, but we can help limit its spread.

[13:40] So again, at Hilton Head Hospital

[13:42] and Hilton Head Regional Health Care,

[13:43] we're ready.

[13:44] We're actively watching this situation in our community,

[13:46] and we're ready if we see a spike in hospitalizations

[13:48] or a surge in the future.

[13:50] But more importantly, we're ready to provide safe care today,

[13:53] and we're ready to continue to advance care

[13:55] for everyone in our community.

[13:57] Mr. Mayor, Town Council, we appreciate your leadership and the leadership that we're

[14:00] getting from other state officials and appreciate all of your support for our caregivers.

[14:04] And I'll turn it back over to Mr. Mayor or Mr. Ames if you have a question.

[14:09] Yes.

[14:10] Mr. Mayor, if I may.

[14:14] Chairman, you mentioned testing.

[14:17] How many tests have actually been administered on the island?

[14:21] Do you have any idea?

[14:23] I only have the numbers that have been administered by Hilton Head Hospital, and it is approximately 1,000.

[14:31] Okay. And if a tourist needs to be tested, they're given the same opportunity on the island, is that correct?

[14:41] They are.

[14:42] Yeah, okay. Thank you very much.

[14:46] Anything else for Jeremy?

[14:47] Do we have a question?

[14:48] Jeremy, as always.

[14:49] I thank you very much, and I thank you for your work for your community.

[14:52] Great.

[14:52] I appreciate it, Jeremy.

[14:53] Thank you.

[14:54] Thank you, sir.

[14:55] Mr. Riley.

[14:57] Any items of interest?

[14:59] Yes, sir.

[15:00] There are several others of interest. In 2019, we began a major transformation of our phone system. After a lot of work, infrastructure upgrades, we did migrate that new system over the in May. During this pandemic, the new system enhances collaboration and also includes service levels, but it also saves us more than $177,000 per year in our phone bill. And I want to thank the IT Department, particularly for

[15:29] and the work that went into all of this.

[15:32] Michael Schultz, a commercial combination inspector,

[15:35] has passed the exam and is now an accessibility inspector.

[15:38] Plans examiner, meaning he's now authorized

[15:41] to review and perform planned reviews

[15:42] and confirm compliance with 88 standards

[15:45] and we thank him for his commitment to the town

[15:49] and seeking that certification.

[15:55] Our design review board and accommodations tax committee

[15:58] have each started meeting to address past items. Our design review board was the first or

[16:04] non-town council bodies to begin meeting virtually. We are expanding this and planning to

[16:11] have each of our boards and committees meet at least once during the month of July in a virtual

[16:18] format and will continue to ramp up all that and move along. On Culture HHI on Facebook we have

[16:26] of the Crafty Hour series every Tuesday and Thursday at 5pm.

[16:30] We urge people to check that out.

[16:31] So neat stuff being done by our local artists.

[16:35] And then our records department,

[16:37] Office of Cultural Affairs is partnered on a project

[16:39] to capture community experiences during COVID-19.

[16:44] We're capturing stories for the future,

[16:47] and we hope that more and more people will pop into

[16:50] the open town hall and share their stories with us

[16:54] that we can have those for the future.

[16:58] And that is all that I have, sir.

[17:00] Okay, thank you, Mr. Rallye.

[17:01] I'll be brief, on the public planning committee,

[17:05] we're going to take it back to it's original members of three

[17:09] that would be Mr. Ames, his chairman, Miss Becker,

[17:12] and Mr. Stanford, Mr. Valenix,

[17:15] and Mr. Hawkins will take on her responsibility between now

[17:20] and the workshop in December of going out and listening to the community.

[17:26] We will identify the top 30 businesses on the community and they will spend time going

[17:31] out and listening to them.

[17:33] The other thing on the committee is that I wish the committee chairperson and the members

[17:37] would start thinking of things they want to do on their own as a committee and not just

[17:43] responding to the reports of the staff.

[17:48] I mean, there has to be a point where you have ideas in your own suggestions in your own and you should be able to pursue them on your own and not just respond to what the staff gives you along the way.

[17:59] With that, I thank you very much.

[18:01] Unfinished business, Mr. Riley?

[18:04] Mr. Mayor?

[18:05] Yes, sir.

[18:07] Could I share a special meeting that I've been asked to chair next week on the kind of clock on the 24th

[18:16] Where the Intergovernmental Committee is extending an invitation and this will be publicized to various media outlets.

[18:27] But the Intergovernmental Committee will be extending invitation to the entire community to present questions to call in and share what's on their mind in terms of anything of particular interest or concern.

[18:44] and we will be listening to these comments and then determine, and determine either during

[18:55] that meeting or shortly thereafter where the appropriate question or concern should

[19:00] be channeled and it's our response to the entire community for those that do have ideas

[19:09] that they don't think are being listened to, do you have concerns? Or do you have suggestions?

[19:15] So it's an attempt to try to be more open and more transparent and quite invitational,

[19:22] if you will, to the entire community.

[19:26] Thank you. Thank you very much.

[19:29] Mr. Mann, I have a quick question with regard to that change, which is fine by me,

[19:38] I mean, I like the idea of going out and doing on things on our own, and certainly all of us have expressed over time and currently have many ideas that we'd like to see move forward.

[19:50] And that's the piece that I think I'm not real sure of.

[19:56] What's the protocol? What are the guidelines?

[20:00] What do we do? Who do we take it to? Right now, we're limited to whom we can speak to, and I'm even amongst them. First of all, it goes through the chairman of the committee. Let's slow it down. It goes through the chairman of the committee. The chairman of the committee, as we all know, submits the agenda to, to myself, who approves the, the agenda for the chairman. And then any support you would need from staff, you would work to adjust to get that support. But I'm sure he's all have great ideas, and it shouldn't just be a responsive committee, but an active committee as well.

[20:34] I think that's good for now. Thank you so much.

[20:39] Okay, close to one side. I'm the 10 unfinished business.

[20:43] Decorating a proposal in this 2020-12.

[20:46] The annual fiscal budget for the year 2021.

[20:51] Move for approval.

[20:54] Second by Mr. Stanford.

[20:57] Roll call again, Mr. Grant.

[21:09] All right. One thing I want to discuss in terms of the budget was that in terms of

[21:17] A tax money going towards addressing

[21:22] piling and also the

[21:25] Dredging your harbiter. I realize why I need it.

[21:29] And I really love why we do it.

[21:32] You're trying to, you know, keep

[21:35] it.

[21:37] But as we do that, there was some things

[21:40] that I thought made come make good

[21:42] sense too. I think we should do some

[21:44] funding in terms of even though we have

[21:48] I would like to request that we look at funding pedestrian crossing issues around the

[21:56] Oaks in San Luis, as you know, before the coronavirus and the people in the community

[22:06] asked us to come out and get him out at a situation where we don't realize that this

[22:12] was a trouble for us in spite.

[22:14] He said, y'all code is

[22:18] improved in terms of traffic and pedestrian crossing.

[22:21] I think it's time for us to make sure that this becomes a priority within the budget, that

[22:25] we have special funding for that.

[22:27] So I'm hoping that we can move forward and at least allocate some money towards that.

[22:33] So the community knows that we are serious about addressing those issues.

[22:38] Also, too, based on what Apache Bryson spoke to the current email, in terms of putting

[22:47] a lot of the side training of our police department.

[22:51] I know we have the funds,

[22:58] training, building strong relationships between the community and

[23:02] the sheriff and the patrol officers, and let them know that we do appreciate what they do

[23:09] and just using this as a way to be more demarcated.

[23:14] I'm hoping that's something that looked at in terms of that inside.

[23:18] But once we get in terms of public safety and the task,

[23:23] or it's hoping it looks at it,

[23:24] and we'll be seeing this day that the town is in an attempt

[23:27] to put this in the get-dressing premise in the country.

[23:32] Also the idea of a COVID-19,

[23:37] But maybe we can let the community know what money we want, if there is an emergency.

[23:43] So that goes out there, understand that we are prepared for any move for the case.

[23:49] The COVID-19 situation comes back up.

[23:52] And those measures.

[23:54] Thank you.

[23:56] Ms. Hawkins?

[23:57] No, I think one of the points shared, I think I have to go to the Public Safety Committee

[24:04] I think that would be very helpful.

[24:09] Okay. Ms. Ames.

[24:13] Yes. Thank you, Mayor.

[24:15] I do have some comments.

[24:18] The word that I think comes to my mind first off is community.

[24:27] Given the times of COVID and

[24:31] George Floyd and disruption across the country, the community is lost in the

[24:43] emotions and I think it's particularly important for us to reconnect to what

[24:53] minority means to us on the island, you know, we really do have to...

[25:00] Let's look out for our neighbors.

[25:03] The situation nationally is reminding us about fairness and equity. You know, there's talk about what does plantation mean. There's this, the situation that is pregnant in our community. And we've got to face it. And so, um, I think the, the budget

[25:29] budget has to have a fair distribution of capital dollars, targeted investment that

[25:39] benefits the whole community, and if I ask the question, does the budget do it? No, it

[25:49] doesn't. Let me explain why.

[25:53] First of all, there's been a significant reduction in the

[25:59] capital investment side of the budget. I disagree with that because I think that this community's future

[26:10] depends on targeted investment and continuous investment in its infrastructure, its facilities

[26:19] and its amenities that benefit residents and visitors.

[26:27] That drastic reduction this year affects

[26:30] road improvements, parks, there's no mention of planning on redevelopment possibilities

[26:36] or projects of the tired commercial areas.

[26:42] I believe we have to increase capital expenditures,

[26:46] targeted to areas of the island that need it most, not those that may have the most political

[26:52] cloud. In this budget, Harvard Town Marina will receive 200,000 from hospitality taxes,

[27:01] and Hilton Ed Plantations Pine Island will receive 100,000 from the storm water fund.

[27:07] At the same time, the John Troyer, our chief financial officer, is saying,

[27:13] we need to control expenditures. Hospitality taxes vulnerable. We ought to postpone

[27:21] and delay capital expenditures in 2021 were in a holding pattern.

[27:27] Those are all cautionary, and yet we are committing ourselves to spending $300,000 behind

[27:35] the gates when there are so many other crying needs that need our attention.

[27:42] Our public spaces need significant investment to reach the standard of quality that exists

[27:53] behind the gates, so I'm recognizing that there's a disparity between the quality inside

[28:02] the gates and those outside the gates, and I think we have to address that.

[28:08] But most troubling, for me anyway, is these expenditures were not approved by this council.

[28:18] When originally approved, they were limited commitments.

[28:25] I think the Arbiter town was $200,000 over three years, and I know that the Pine Island

[28:32] was $100,000 over three years.

[28:35] This would be the fifth year of that $100,000 commitment.

[28:43] Both of these issues are line items in this budget, and we're included, quote unquote,

[28:52] in accordance with town practices, not with our vote, but in accordance with our town

[28:59] practices.

[29:00] I think this is just flatly wrong.

[29:01] So in summary, I object to this budget because it substantially reduces capital investments

[29:10] in the public sector while maintaining public investment behind the gates without Council

[29:17] approval.

[29:18] I'll vote no.

[29:26] Mr. Baker.

[29:28] And so I think David pretty well summed that up and I won't bore you with repeating it.

[29:35] I will add that in terms of this disparity between behind the gates and outside the gates and particular sections of the island that demand to be looked at.

[29:55] There are areas that we have as you drive down to 78.

[29:59] Hey, sir.

[30:00] Absolutely beautiful. The landscaping and the median creates the type of environment that

[30:05] hook them head is known for. Trees, nature, greenery, and then somewhere along the line it

[30:13] stops, and there's nothing. It's a concrete mass from one side of the road going one direction

[30:20] to the other side.

[30:24] And I think that if some folks were to take some time to look at where

[30:27] those areas are they might think it's time to include that sort of island

[30:37] character in those neighborhoods as well. So I'm just going to add that and to

[30:42] what David had said and what others have said and I will be voting now as

[30:47] well.

[30:53] Okay now you're thank you.

[30:57] Mr. Mayor, I have your direction.

[31:00] You asked us to review and analyze the seven revenue sources most susceptible to the

[31:09] COVID virus emergency.

[31:11] We looked at road usage fees, A-tacks, hospitality tax, real estate transfer fees, beach fees,

[31:19] electric franchise fees and stormwater fees, to see what impact on those

[31:27] revenue sources the emergency had, especially in the months of March, April and

[31:34] May. I would like to report to you and to Council that those seven combined

[31:41] revenue sources are virtually level with the same revenue sources in 2019.

[31:49] It's probably no surprise that the largest variance, the largest unfavorable variance, is hospitality

[31:57] taxes for during the months of April and much of May restaurants and bars were closed down.

[32:08] That variance through 11 months through the end of May was just over $700,000.

[32:14] However, that $700,000 unfavorable variance was made up by favorable variances in ATAPs,

[32:26] real estate transfer fees, beach fees, and storm water fees.

[32:32] It is my opinion in concert with John Troyer that June could be good compared to the previous

[32:43] three months, and we could be very near our budgeted revenues for the year 2020. Who knows

[32:53] what the balance of the year will bring, but as we go into the first quarter, we don't anticipate

[33:02] going in with a huge, unfavorable revenue variance.

[33:09] Thank you, Mrs. Stanford. Yes, thank you.

[33:13] First, I would like to say that I appreciate the finance department of the town working

[33:20] so diligently on preparing this budget and the presentations that have been made to us

[33:26] most recently this morning in the Finance and Administrative Committee meeting.

[33:31] John Troyer gave an excellent presentation and it was very comforting to see that, as Tom

[33:43] The budget as was presented to us was a very conservative budget anticipating a potential

[33:50] decline in some of those revenue sources.

[33:54] We still don't know what the final outcome of that is going to be.

[33:59] But I believe, and I'm certainly hoping, that those revenue sources revive to the extent

[34:05] necessary and improve.

[34:08] Saying all that, the budget is a living document.

[34:12] We're not locked down to certain things indefinitely until next year.

[34:17] I anticipate, based upon revenue receipts that we have, being able to restore some of

[34:23] the capital projects that are being deferred, which I acknowledge are important and are

[34:29] needed for this community, but we needed to have a conservative budget moving forward all

[34:36] operating under the premise of no tax increase.

[34:39] We have all of that with this conservative budget and I look forward to the future when

[34:47] our revenue streams are fully restored and improving so that we can then reconsider

[34:53] many of the capital items that have been at least postponed for the time being.

[34:59] Try it.

[35:00] I salute the finance department for an excellent budget, and I will be voting in favor of the budget. Thank you. I'm going to call a vote. I'm going to call a vote now on the budget, Mr. Grant.

[35:34] Don McCann, yes, budget passes four to three.

[35:38] New business, consideration of resolution, designated authority, assigned certain legal documents.

[35:45] You want to go over that second, Mr. Riley?

[35:47] Sure, we have a number of internal labor attorney that we use.

[35:54] We have questions, and I want to make sure that we're on the right track.

[35:57] In fact, we discovered recent changes that actually bring even on board that it says

[36:08] these services were supposed to be done by council.

[36:12] We think the intent had been actually the talent attorney purchases at a council point.

[36:17] And these are internal matters that the manager ought to handle over the years.

[36:22] This would clarify that and delegate in that authority for things that are strictly on

[36:27] and journal operational basis.

[36:30] Okay, the discussion.

[36:31] Mr. Grant, we need to move from this item.

[36:35] Yes, my question is, please call to the table.

[36:38] Yeah, I have a motion.

[36:40] I move forward to address the resolution.

[36:42] Second, Mr. Stanford, okay, Mr. Grant.

[36:45] Yes, I have one question.

[36:48] One question.

[36:49] All right, when as the town manager,

[36:52] when you deal with legal issues,

[36:54] in terms of contract, will you make the council wear those contracts in a future meeting

[37:00] so we at least know where the money's been spent on in terms of the address the certain

[37:04] chief.

[37:05] I would do that.

[37:08] The answer was yes, Mr. Benson.

[37:10] Oh, okay.

[37:12] Okay.

[37:12] And then my other question is too, I don't know where we're going to turn to the future in terms

[37:17] of town management.

[37:18] Is this thing that we can be looking at in terms of person earning our trust to be able

[37:24] to do certain things that we may or may not be aware of after the fact, I think that's something we might need to look at.

[37:32] But I could, in terms of today, I'm addressing it as support.

[37:37] Okay.

[37:38] Mr. Hawkins?

[37:39] Yes.

[37:41] These names.

[37:42] I have no comments.

[37:44] Mr. Becker?

[37:49] So my comments sort of pick up with Mark left off.

[37:54] And I think at this juncture with our researching and searching for a new town manager to replace Mr. Riley when he departs, delegating more responsibilities at this time, just to me, doesn't sound right.

[38:16] and so I don't think that this is something I will support, the idea already that the

[38:25] town manager has as much power over the town as it is is something that I don't

[38:35] think we need to complement with additional delegation or responsibilities at

[38:42] this time. Good. No comment. Mr. Stanford. I support this proposal. Okay, the vote, Mr. Grant. Yes, no.

[38:56] Yes, Mr. Hawkins. Yes, yes. Mr. Stames. Yes, the specter. No.

[39:09] Yes, Mr. Stamford. Yes, and myself. Yes, six, one, Mr. Varley. Okay, I live at two.

[39:19] I'm granting authority to sign right to our entry. You want to go over that?

[39:24] Certainly. You saw this six months ago. We put in for a six month trial.

[39:28] Well, we would like to make it semi-permanent that rights of entry is where we allow a contractor

[39:34] onto our property, sometimes it's de-hack testing, sometimes it's somebody who needs

[39:38] to make a connection to a pipe, sometimes it's a variety of things, allowing somebody,

[39:44] our contractors to use one of our storage sites while they're doing a town project, this

[39:50] could be given a town manager authority to grant these rights of entry across town properties

[39:56] for no greater periods in six months.

[40:00] Local government supporting this resolution. In the second discussion, Mr. Grant,

[40:10] Mark? Yes, I agree. That's a point. The only thing is, let's get, you know, loosen form the council and the public and meetings like this, where the town manager gives this presentation. Let us know about various contracts, rights of entry and so on. So at least we're aware what's going on, the town on property. Yes, Mark. Mr. Hawkins, yes, the same.

[40:33] Yes.

[40:34] Mr. Baker.

[40:38] No.

[40:39] Mr. Lawrence.

[40:42] Any questions?

[40:44] No comments?

[40:45] Okay, Mr. Stanford.

[40:47] Discussion?

[40:48] Okay, the vote now, Mr. Grant.

[40:50] Yes, no.

[40:52] Yes.

[40:53] The thought is yes.

[40:54] The stains.

[40:55] Yes.

[40:56] Mr. Baker.

[40:58] No.

[40:59] Mr. Lawrence.

[41:01] Yes.

[41:02] Mr. Stanford.

[41:04] Yes, and myself yes, six one Mr. Riley, okay? Okay, you are a report to council. Oh, what was I open Mike? Mr. Grant

[41:16] You're time to say what I want

[41:19] Only thing I want to add one of my constituents called me and came up with a good idea in terms of bird speech

[41:24] He had a question and reference why we have the area roped off on the left. I told them why but he also came up with suggests

[41:31] maybe we should do around about where five people can drop off or pick up people and then that

[41:41] will be an easy entry and easy entry and exit area instead of you know parking here. So I

[41:49] wanted us to think about that and maybe look at the future on that particular topic but that's it.

[41:56] Also, too. Yeah, that's it for there.

[41:59] Okay, Mr. Hawking.

[42:01] In my opinion,

[42:04] social distancing and worry mass is not at the level it should be.

[42:10] And I know we're doing a lot in terms of encouraging our residents

[42:17] and our guests to up the game a little, hopefully a lot more.

[42:23] I would just encourage that Dave and his staff to even increase the amount of communication

[42:33] to our public and it's clear that the incidence, I believe, is increasing, granted we are

[42:47] We're doing a lot more testing, so that number can go up, but we are not doing what we need to do. All you have to do is run through a through progress here.

[43:00] If you're wearing a mask, you're in the minority.

[43:03] If you go to the north end, if you go to Harris-Teter, if you don't wear a mask, you're in the minority.

[43:11] So, something, I think we can do better.

[43:16] Thank you.

[43:17] Ms. Haynes?

[43:18] Yeah, I'd just reiterate what Bill was talking about.

[43:22] I've received several contacts from constituents concerned about the increase.

[43:28] Even one constituent provided 10 ideas, guidelines, and thinks that they ought to be distributed

[43:36] on a continuous basis to accommodations, hotels, time shares, and so on and so forth.

[43:41] And I think something like that is a good idea.

[43:45] We're not settling the community.

[43:49] On another subject, we have had a number of examples in the last couple of weeks about

[43:58] activity and behavior that is under coming to the island.

[44:03] It seems as though we're beginning to lose our way.

[44:10] I wonder sometimes whether people even understand

[44:15] what our community was built upon.

[44:18] And a few years ago, I was asked to do a document in a short memo.

[44:27] Where are the core values of the island came from?

[44:30] And if you'll permit me, Mr. Mayor, I'd like to read what I wrote back then.

[44:38] It's easy to imagine people's motivation to explore this undiscovered subtropical island

[44:44] in the 60s was merely wonderlust.

[44:48] Certainly, the island's beauty and natural environment were a draw, but it was Charles Frazier's

[44:54] visions, words, and deeds that convince those early adventures.

[45:00] The residents, the guests, the business owners to pick up, leave everything behind and invest

[45:05] in this place. The sheer boldness of Frazier's vision inspired them to come. Charles' mantra

[45:15] of blending development in with nature came from his spiritual perspective. It was more than

[45:21] just a marketing strategy. It had to do with our role and place in the larger order of things.

[45:29] He saw hope, rejuvenation, and fulfillment in nature, and also through art and culture,

[45:37] recreation, family, and community, health, education, and religion.

[45:42] These human needs, essential to the quality of life he aspired to create, became building

[45:50] blocks of modern Hiltonette Island.

[45:54] Charles had an insatiable appetite for knowledge and thirst for new ideas, energized by the endless

[46:01] possibilities that burned within his mind. His fuel was what he read, what he saw, and what he learned

[46:07] from others. His passion and ideas attracted people who were similarly inspired by the excitement

[46:16] and challenge of creating this special community.

[46:20] Those pioneers took what Charles dreamed and made it Hilton Head Island.

[46:26] It was an exciting time filled with optimism and civic pride.

[46:32] I believe those core values of that time are durable and relevant today.

[46:39] And most importantly, they are indispensable.

[46:42] If this island is to retain its uniqueness and reputation, the core values are environmental

[46:52] stewardship, nature's significant role, and development's responsibility to understand

[46:59] and respect it, volunteering, building a caring community, leading in ideas, creativity,

[47:08] creativity and innovation, hope, revitalization and fulfillment through nature, religion, arts,

[47:17] culture, recreation, education and health, and lastly commitment to quality in planning,

[47:26] building and undoing. I would add that we probably ought to add open to diversity and hospitable

[47:34] to all. But this is modern day core values. What it doesn't include are the core values of

[47:45] native islanders. And if we are going to create community, then we have to understand and

[47:52] appreciate the core values of native islanders because they created those core values long before

[48:00] or we came to the island.

[48:02] I would also add that Fred Hack also was a contributor

[48:06] in a significant way to building this community

[48:10] and creating those core values.

[48:12] Thank you for allowing me that time, Mr. Mayor.

[48:15] Thank you very much.

[48:16] Ms. Becker.

[48:20] So, Ms. Harkins, you're right.

[48:23] The mask issue is something we're continuing to hear

[48:27] about emails and phone calls and concerns.

[48:30] were all receiving them. And by your description, it seems to be the places where, and not exclusively,

[48:40] but it seems to be that the places where we don't see that type of conscientious safety precautions

[48:47] being used, masks, et cetera, on the areas where our valued visitors and tourists go most often.

[48:58] So, while it's not exclusive, it certainly does point to the fact that we're not doing

[49:04] the right job or not doing enough to help our tourists understand how important this is

[49:12] here on our island during their stay with us, that when they come we want them to have a great

[49:19] time, we want them to do all of the wonderful things that Health Head offers, but we don't want

[49:24] them to leave behind anything that jeopardizes our community and our residents.

[49:31] And so we've heard about things through those emails.

[49:34] We've all gotten them.

[49:35] I'm just going to point out a couple of them.

[49:37] Apparently there was a signage issue as you come onto the island that people have pointed

[49:43] out that if in fact it's the way it is at that time is being moved, reminding folks to

[49:51] keep those masks handy and to utilize them.

[49:54] Then can we please either make sure

[49:57] that it is there throughout the weekend,

[49:59] and can...

[50:00] Continuously, seven days a week. And if we don't have two, then I think that might be an appropriate place to use some of our budget money.

[50:09] Moving on from that, with regard to the now better behavior that we're seeing, we still have many issues that are coming up that we've been dealing with with the last couple of years. With trash and with.

[50:29] I'll just use the word to give.

[50:31] and behaviors that we don't like.

[50:33] And it's causing trouble with regard to crime.

[50:37] It's causing trouble with regard to trash.

[50:40] It's causing trouble.

[50:42] There's probably a long list.

[50:43] I'm not gonna name them all.

[50:45] It's causing trouble.

[50:46] So we have a code enforcers.

[50:49] We have two of them.

[50:53] I know they're working hard.

[50:55] I know that when matters are being brought to their attention,

[51:00] that they're not able to get to them all, but I've asked and I haven't gotten a response,

[51:05] but I've asked, what is it that residents do when they can't reach a code enforcer,

[51:11] and it is a matter that needs to be dealt with right away?

[51:15] Right, so a bag of garbage, yeah, that's important.

[51:17] Nobody wants to see it. We see violations.

[51:19] They call code, nobody wants all of that nonsense,

[51:22] but there are other things when code needs to respond.

[51:24] And I've asked, what is it? What is the protocol?

[51:27] Who do you call if you can't get a code enforcer and it just seems that I can't get an answer from that from town on that so I'd like an answer so that we can make sure that all of our residents know we owe that to them.

[51:42] And in terms of what David beautifully laid out.

[51:47] I've heard comments over, you know, of course, a time that we talk about Charles Frazier

[51:53] and we all do with such great love and affection.

[51:58] And then we hear comments that, well, Frazier said, we have to decide what our own new

[52:03] courses for the island.

[52:06] I would just like to say that thank God that he was here and that he, his legacy, was

[52:15] is something that drew us all here.

[52:19] What he put into place, what David spoke about,

[52:21] was what drew us all here.

[52:24] And if we were drawn here by all of that,

[52:28] then we, especially as leaders in the community,

[52:32] have been charged, we have an obligation

[52:36] to uphold those core values,

[52:39] to extend those core values at every opportunity,

[52:41] and to ensure that this island continues to grow

[52:47] and extends his Charles Fasier's legacy

[52:50] well past the next several generations

[52:52] and into the future.

[52:54] And I don't think there's something

[52:55] anything more important than that.

[52:57] So that's really all I have to say today.

[53:02] Thank you, Mr. Otis.

[53:07] Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[53:08] This morning we held a special finance

[53:11] and administrative committee meeting.

[53:13] And most of town council was part of that meeting and there were two agenda items.

[53:20] The agenda item in open session, as I mentioned earlier, was a review discussion of the town's

[53:28] year-to-date revenue and the May 2020 financial statements.

[53:33] In executive session, we adjourned to discuss the proposed contractual negotiations relative

[53:41] to our designated marketing organization and services

[53:46] pursuant to the South Carolina Code of Laws.

[53:49] No action came out of executive session

[53:53] and the general session or the open session was adjourned.

[54:00] Thank you, Mrs. Stanford.

[54:03] Yes, thank you.

[54:04] I have a good friend who lives on this island

[54:07] who is a noted epidemiologist.

[54:09] He is very, very concerned about the actions of people on this island that are not following

[54:18] necessary and appropriate health restrictions, masks, social distancing and the like.

[54:26] He knows what he's talking about there.

[54:29] He is willing to try to help us here in the town if we need that help in developing these

[54:36] techniques.

[54:37] David mentioned that he got a list of 10 good ideas. I would like to see those

[54:43] circulated around us and possibly the town adopting them. We need to

[54:49] emphasize and focus on the fact that the pandemic is not over. We've all seen

[54:56] the reports that the number of cases is

[55:00] It's increasing, and apparently it's increasing in an absolute number over and above those that might be attributed to additional testing. So I see this as the vital issue for us to deal with. It is a public health and safety issue. I don't have ideas, frankly, about how to convince those in the public that this is serious, but we must do that. Now,

[55:29] County mentioned that there was a signage issue. That is correct. There was a signage issue on the weekend, but that has been resolved.

[55:39] Those signs will now be in place seven days a week until the decision is made to remove them. That is a step.

[55:48] But it occurs to me that we need to have other steps, whether that means other signs around in popular areas.

[55:55] in Sheltercove Mall. How can we publicize the fact that folks, the pandemic is not over.

[56:03] You are still at risk. You are risking your life and the lives of others by not following

[56:09] these safety practices. So I urge all of us to try to be a good example of applying those

[56:16] safety principles and moving this thing forward and hopefully getting out of this pandemic

[56:22] sooner rather than later. Thank you. Thank you very much, everybody. Mr. Riley, do we need an executive session?

[56:31] Yes, sir. I need an executive session for a land act with additional matter. Discussion and

[56:36] negotiation is instant proposed sale. These are part of the shelter code area. I'd also like to add

[56:42] the 278 Spanish Wells Road area and being legal matters. You see the legal advice that

[56:47] depending on the location, the current property, and the Bradley Circle area.

[56:51] Founder, Mr. Mayor, I move we go into executive session for the reasons that work by our town manager.

[56:57] Second?

[56:57] Second by Mr. Timbitt.

[57:00] All in favor, just raise their right hand.

[57:02] Okay, we are now with one more executive session.

[57:05] Please hold on the minute until we switch over.

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Hilton Head Island Town Council Special Meeting

Agenda

Transcript