County Council - Regular Meeting

I'm Joe Boyin, the chairman of Charleston County Council. Uh I at this time I'd like to ask our council members and our key staff to please introduce themselves. Start with Mr. Moody. Brantley Moody, District 7. Darby, District 4, SAS, District 1. Kristen Salsbury, clerk of council. Bill Tutin, county administrator. Jenny Costa Honeyut, District 9. Eddie Pri, District 5. Rob Worman, District Three. Natalie Ham, County Attorney. Uh,

thank you all. Um, at this time, I'm going to call our special finance committee to order. I'm the chairman of the committee and all members of council are members of the committee. Uh, we'll begin with a presentation from Turnoff Newman with Mr. Peter Lamont uh, regarding a update on phase two of the transportation sales tax public outreach process.

Thank you, Chairman. Uh very quickly tonight we are here just to give you an update on the public input section of the TST uh program. Uh as you know uh back in September uh with the purpose of transparency and public engagement we were asked to solicit that public feedback. Uh and that is what we've done very quickly. Uh I would say it was a considerable success. We had uh 67 presentations and that fell onto the staff uh and great thanks to that staff because they roamed the county uh presenting to every municipality in the county uh community groups essentially anyone who requested the presentation. And that was an overview of what TST uh has been, what it's done, what it's accomplished, and what it is intended to do. Uh we did push out a regular newsletter as you can see uh we have still over a thousand uh individuals in the community that have signed up for that. And then the survey um I think at one point Secretary Hall mentioned that they had tried to do a survey like this statewide and they got about six uh thousand comments. here in the county, we got just shy of 30,000 comments uh along with specifically 600 project requests in that survey uh that accumulated to about 68 billion dollars in needs. Uh we then added uh a poll. So if you wonder why we do a poll, those surveys tend to attract those that are passionate, those who are encouraged. Uh and you can have bias. you can have those that um uh you know promote their organizations and their interest to take that survey. So it is very important

that you follow up with a poll which is does not have that same bias that makes sure that it is a representative sample across uh the county and uh that is what we did. We have provided that uh feedback. It is on the website uh and I won't go through it now. We had already been talked about earlier this year. However, why I'm here uh primarily is what happened on February 19th where we uh and the staff uh were set forth to uh gather public input once more. So really quickly just so you know what we're doing we're in phase two now we have changed uh the approach and remember this is specifically to show the uh the pie the allocation that was drawn up uh last month and you'll see there are three municipal uh meetings with Mount Pleasant up first then North Charleston followed by uh the city of Charleston. We still, as you will see, uh welcome any requests uh from any groups to present uh and the staff has agreed to to come out and present which walks through where we are as well as where the current allocations are. We have a updated and expanded the website. We have continued the newsletter. Uh we have a new survey uh and that will be live until April 5th. Remember we have a uh abbreviated time unlike last time uh it's just about 30 days. And then again for the same reasons we will have that polling and that is to get a true understanding

regardless of interest uh by going out and and uh polling the population of Charleston County to get a better understanding of where uh their opinions lie related to the uh the allocation. So I would encourage everyone to go to the website. The website address has not changed. Uh it is still uh charleston transportation.com. You will see uh there are ex there are new sections. Anything that is presented to the public will be found there. Uh there is also a breakdown of the data and that is critical. There's a lot of information. Um that's the key projects and the breakdown uh of the potential investment. So that can be found on the website and of course the survey which has been updated. It's not the same survey. It is specifically created for uh the new investment uh draft. So what do we need from the public? Uh we need people to continue to be involved. This is why we do these municipal meetings. This is why when folks ask we go out, we provide them with these presentations to walk them through. Uh and then finally that survey again is linked on the website. Um but for those in the crowd uh there are um they can scan the QR code. So anytime we have this presentation, it ends with this survey opportunity for folks to scan this and go straight to the survey.

Thank you very much. Um I just want to say that y'all have done an outstanding job. We're very fortunate to have y'all on board and I'm very glad that you're going to be here for the phase two and thank you for everything you've done so far. Thank you, sir. Uh any questions of councel? Okay. Thank you, sir. Thank you. All right. Uh madam attorney, uh do we have need of an executive session to receive legal advice or discuss contractual matters? Yes, sir. We have a need for executive session to discuss a contractual matter with regards to uh HUD funding and North Char the city of North Charleston. So moved. All right. All those in favor say I. I.

Opposed? Eyes have it. Uh we will be in executive session. Not good. But thanks

67. It's on 70 right now. I didn't know Carter brought this in.

All right, we are now out of executive session. Uh, no motions were made, no votes were taken, and we'll move on to our public hearings. Here we go. Notice is hereby given that a public hearing shall be held by County Council of Charleston County before final approval of an ordinance authorizing the execution and delivery of a special source revenue credit agreement by and between Charleston County and Mainstream Pine Products LLC. And we have um Mr. Bryant.

All right, Mr. Bryant, will you please come forward?

Anthony G. Bryant, 223 Courtland Avenue, South Carolina 29403. And you know, this is my penny right here. So, I got my penny up, you know. So, I got my penny. And the reason why I got my penny up because I did do an input um and it's on record. I'll be respectful. You got to be respectful. Henry Darby's my friend. and I'll get in trouble, but I'm not respectful. But what I would say is um this is the problem we got with those who oppose. Right. Right. In terms of these incentives. Okay. Now, now what I heard the last time the incentives would provide a base a a a tax base or tax rate or whatever that would be steady. Right? So it it won't you know for them it won't go up or down. I'm not knocking you doing it. I'm not I'm not saying not to do it. Okay? But you asked me for something extra, right? You asked me for a penny extra. And my council member, I'm say this because I don't be respectful. My council member said he ain't gonna do do this. And my other friend said he ain't going to do this. And I'm concerned. And my other friend, he ain't going to do it either. I'm more concerned. That's why I'm doing this tonight because we as citizens are concerned who oppose it. And the money that that we see coming with this penny is it comes to a billion dollars, right? 20 years a billion dollars with two but my little this got a little penny you know what I'm saying that's all I got and a lot of people who ride the bus in my neighborhood Cos Grove and 20 and 11 and 10 Henry students parents whatever they well they got a little penny don't they Henry got a little penny right so I'm I'mma go out right now just to be respectful everybody to remind you that we got pennies too

thank you all right um notice is Hereby given that Charleston County Council will hold a public hearing on the question of the issuance of not exceeding $70 million of general obligation bonds in one or more series of the Charleston County Park and Recreation District, the proceeds of which will be expended to defay the cost of the project. Um, Mr. Bryant

Anthony G. Bryant president AG Bryant Paint 213 Courtland Avenue 29403. Now I I'm going to get in this room. I had I got two lawsuits that that I had filed as a citizen as a proit litigant um in the clerk of court. This is critical infrastructure and the critical infrastructure act. I'm a BZA member. I have a lot of credentials to support my position, but I also have some political points of views that may be somewhat unpopular. And if you combine the said unpopular point of view with my credentials, it could be perceived by the attorney general, it could be deemed by the city of North Charleston and even a corner office as questionable. So what I wanted to do cuz I'm I'm in opposition to something because I my friends ain't with it and my friends was with it and my district my hardworking principal and whatever was with it cuz and he Henry love everybody but he he just can't find a way to do this to us right and and and and all the kids love Henry I when I when I went against Henry in election I lost because everybody told me I voted for Derby and so I don't know how we can go in that neighborhood and knock on any doors in my neighborhood and say Oh, support my little penny I got, you know, and go against Derby.

I just don't see it after all he did in 526. I don't I don't see it. And I keep hearing Derby say he ain't with this. I'm getting all kind of phone calls in my Democratic party district where not many Republicans live at and see like they don't want to go at all. And with that eight meme, it's hard to get any recruits. But at the end of the day, I just want to let you know something, Henry. We understand why you don't want our pennies to be used. Thank you. Thank you, sir.

Notice hereby given that Charleston County Council will hold a public hearing regarding proposed amendments to the Charleston County zoning and land development regulations ordinance. We have Miss Miller for a presentation.

Good afternoon. So, at the December 18th um county council meeting, Council Member Moody requested that staff review the county's short-term rental regulations, particularly in concerns regarding license renewals and lack of public notification. So, today we are proposing amendments to the short-term rental regulations. Um, so we are proposing to add requirements for notifications to be sent within 15 days of issuance to our parties and interest and community interest lists for short-term rental property zoning permits issued for limited home rental, short-term rental properties and then also short-term rental property annual renewals. Here shows the notices table where we will be amending to add that short-term rental property application or zoning permit. I apologize. Here is our amendments to chapter 6 and then also to the table for permitting process. Now, we presented these before the planning commission at the February 9th meeting and they did approve the amendments recommendation for approval. No public input was received prior to the February 9th meeting, but we did receive two comments in opposition um as of today. And then the amendments were noticed as required. Thank you.

Anyone sign up? I I don't believe we had anyone sign up for public to speak. Oh, Mr. Bryant. Mr. Bryant.

This is very informative as a former member um of the BCA and you a BZA alumni. Mr. Chairman, did did you read did you read the paper that we're number one in the country in migration? Right. Number one in the country in migration. State of South Carolina. Number one in migration. Now, now some of us been a long time though. Some of us been here a long time. You know, we like them coming here. We to pay for some come stuff now. Well, if they got if they going to do something new and you going to charge them more money, put it put it in some benign funds, right? The benigns need some money right now cuz vineyards ain't got no extra pennies. You know what I mean? They coming in here with uh with with with bank approvals at 300,000 to buy a house, rental $3,500 a month. The college got 32,000 waiting lists. 32,000. in the culture is waiting, right? That's that's there. So, you got all these new people coming here, but then we trying to figure out all the vineyards like me. What going to happen with me? So, I'm letting you know that as you start counting this money around here and the state house right now, they working state right now as far as some some come money. The state house, this guy named him Davis out of Somerville, wherever his name is, he he ain't from Charleston though. He ain't that good, but he he out of Somerville somewhere. and he talking about, you know, charging some money finally. So we hope that so Henry can jump in this thing here with 100% transportation. I don't pay for no transportation from Charleston, whatever. Tedd, you hear me? All you if you can just get me get me from number 11 to Walmart and get me where I got to go in the bus, my little bicycle with all my little buddies.

I feel good about that. For them little folk that just got their little penny. We got penny now. We we might have we have billions, but we understand that Harlem was somebody that made a lot of money on pennies. So, it was called a lottery. All right. Um, now we'll move into our public comments. Uh, we all lot 30 minutes uh to public comments and lot two minutes per person uh to remind all that have signed up uh to speak to be mindful of our public comments code of conduct that you agreed to when you signed up to speak. Salsbury. Anthony Bryant,

if you give some money to solicitor, the coroner, the sheriff, the clerk, I can foyer them. They can tell me no or tell me yeah. If I go to a school board meeting and they tell me there's a new law coming up and you a juvenile right now and you got a gun, we call culturally a tool, right? You got a tool, right? And what'll happen is if you c like in northwest that's elementary school Henry, they had them two kids in North Charleston and this new law if they 15 years old, guess what? They gonna leave in juvenile for the rest of their time in corrections. They don't live in subdivisions in district one. They live in district six where I live at right. So at the end of the day, I see all them churning in my neighborhood and I'm worried about that now. They deserve you talking about freedom of movement and a party of movement and freedom. Then you have to give appropriate notice and prevention. If that's the case, to ensure their parents who pull and got pennies can be given notice of their child caught with a gun to get time in jail for a long time. We request that you do that. The corner to receive information. It was a strange call that came as I told you. Now, something else happened with a friend of mine. That ain't no coincidence. That ain't no coincidence. We go way back downtown. We boys. someone to give this back to Miss Armstrong and others. I paid $300 for lawsuits and either the attorney general will come to the house or some judge going to sign these documents. I am Anthony G. Bryant, president AG Bryant Group, Inc. and I don't run from nothing. I'm from downtown school in the southern part of North Charleston. We don't do that at all. We go right to it. Whatever it is,

we don't run from nothing. We only built one way. When born in subdivisions, we were born in the hood. So here's my document here. Mr. Chairman, you to call Dominion Energy Corporation, Charleston Water System. Guess what? I offer myself to the library, too. I love my librarians. Ah, go there part time, my full-time consulting business, and go help the librarians out. They created an atmosphere that's toxic. Mr. Bryant, it's the librarian. Your time is up, but thank you so much for your comments. The documents who got the documents to get hook hook them up got to go. Take care. Pull them down. All right. Bill Reside F followed by Sam Sprouse.

Good evening. Thank you, Chair Boyin, and thank you to the council members for this opportunity. My name is Bill Reside. I'm a resident of the town of Edisto Beach, and one week from today, I will file with the state for the United States House District 1 being vacated by Representative Nancy Mace. So, I'm making my way around the district putting a face with the name and more important making sure I understand the federal level issues important to the leaders and 700,000 plus residents of the district. So, I'll be following up with the council and staff over the next seven months. And in closing, thank you for your service to Charleston County.

Thanks, sir. Sam Sprouse. Hi, good evening. Uh, my name is Sam Sprouse. I'm the principal, instructor, and owner at the Charleston Bworking School, 2338 Ashley River Road um in West Ashley. Um, again, I just wanted to thank you all for considering um the proposal to uh reszone our property. Um, also wanted to thank Mr. Moody uh for recommending uh the vacant uh property uh tax credit. It looks like that might be something that uh could definitely help us out in the future and uh we're going forward with that. So, thank you very much. Have a great evening. All right, that's it.

Okay. All right. Uh this time we'll move into our county council meeting. Uh we'll begin with a pledge by Miss Honeyut followed by the pledge of allegiance with Miss Salsbury.

Let us pray. Father God, we come humbly before you to ask you to guide us. Help give us discernment as we lead. Help give us peace as we discuss and uh debate these issues. Give us wisdom as we lead our fellow constituents. And thank you for all of those who serve uh with their lives on the line, our first responders, our EMS and firefighters, our police. We thank you for all of our county staff who work so hard every day to serve the constituents of Charleston County. And we thank you again for the opportunity to serve and lead in this capacity. Bless us as we go in Jesus name. Amen.

Amen. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. All right. Uh, Freedom of Information Act. In compliance with the Freedom of Information Act, notice of meeting was posted and agendas were distributed to news media and persons requesting notification. Minutes of February 24th. All those in favor say I. I. Eyes have it. All right. Third reading of ordinances 3A.

An ordinance authorizing the execution and delivery of a special source revenue credit agreement by and between Charleston County, South Carolina, and Mainstream Pine Products LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, to provide for the provision of special source revenue credits to express the intent of Charleston County to maintain the project property in a multi-county park and to provide for other matters related there too. Mr. Derby. Hi. Mrs. Honeyut. Hi. Mr. Kabowski. Mr. Middleton is absent. Mr. Moody. Hi. Mr. Prior. Hi. Mr. Sass. Hi. Mr. Warman. Hi. Mr. Boyin. I.

The ordinance passes. Third reading with seven eyes, one nay, one absent. Uh, second reading of ordinances 4 A. An ordinance amending the Charleston County Comprehensive Plan Map 3.12 Ashley River Road Corridor Overlay Zoning District to amend the zoning and future land use designation for the real property located at 2338 Ashley River Road parcel identification number 35305001 from the neighborhood commercial designation to community commercial designation. Mr. Darby, I Mrs. Honeyut. Hi Mr. Mr. Kabowski. Hi, Mr. Moody. Hi, Mr. Prior. Hi, Mr. Sass.

Hi, Mr. Wman. Hi, Mr. Boyin. I The ordinance passes second reading with eight eyes and one absent. 4B. An ordinance amending the Charleston County Zoning and Land Development Regulations Ordinance number 1202 as amended. Chapter 5, Overlay and Special Purpose Zoning Districts, Map 5.10 and Map 5.10 10 C to amend the zoning designation for the real property located at 2338 Ashley River Road, partial identification number 35305001 from neighborhood commercial designation to community commercial designation. Mr. Darby, I Mrs. Honeyut. Hi, Mr. Kabowski.

Hi, Mr. Moody. Hi, Mr. Prior. Hi, Mr. Sass. Hi, Mr. Worman. Hi, Mr. Boyin. I the ordinance passes second reading with eight eyes and one absent. Uh item five, committee recommendations for first reading of ordinances. Move for approval all three. Second. Properly moved and seconded. Any discussion? Mr. Kraski. Separate. B and C. Move for approval items A and C. Or do you want us to vote them all separate? Separate. If you would move for approval item A. Thank you. Second. Seconded. Discussion. All right. All those in favor say I. I. Opposed.

Eyes have. An ordinance finding that Charleston County Park and Recreation District may issue not exceeding $70 million general obligation bonds in one or more series to authorize Charleston County Park and Recreation District to issue such bonds and to provide for the publication of the notice of the said finding and authorization. All right. 5B. Move for approval. Second. Any discussion? This briefly is the Mr. Kowski.

Thank you very much. And I just asked all these questions. I would if I had the grid and I just asked you that this because it's a public meeting. So you can say for anybody listening or watching or here now that say what the incentive is, what we're giving up and what we're gaining. It's an what is the incentive that we're giving and how many jobs do we think we'll get and Yeah. Yes sir. Mr. Thank you.

Yes sir. Mr. Kasi. Yes sir. Following the uh the yellow sheet. Um this is uh for project clean um and it is a fe of taxes uh with a fixed millage rate as well as a 6% assessment ratio over um 20 years. It will include approximate $ 1.5 million of of of taxing revenue. um with approximately 228,000 coming due to Charleston County. Um it is a fiscal benefit cost ratio of 8 to1. So for every dollar that the the the county is incentivizing, the county will get $8. And then the taxes collected on the site um over the past 5 years equated to $24,764.71. Uh with the approval of this, it will generate $376,186 every five years, which is a $1,419% increase. And then as far as the jobs are, sir, um it is a total of 30 new jobs at an average wage of $50 per per hour. Sir,

is project is we don't know the name of the company yet. Is that right? I I can't disclose it at this point. Yes, sir. All right. Thank you. Yes, sir. Any other discussion? All right. All those in favor say I. I. I opposed. All right. Eyes have it. Be the same question for C for approval. Item C 5c ordinance. All right. Um, property move. Sorry. Did you need to read that? I'm sorry. Sorry. I can read them both together. If y'all want to go,

you go ahead. I'm sorry. M. an ordinance authorizing the execution and delivery of a fee agreement by and between Charleston County, South Carolina and a company known as Project Clean providing for a payment of a fee in lie of taxes and other matters related there too. All right, back to 5C. We good. So it's approval 5C. All right. Uh any discussion, Mr. Kraki? Yes. Thank you, sir.

Yes, sir. Um and then so um this one is for Center Capital Properties Partners. Um and this is a fee in of taxes um with a 6% assessment ratio um as well as a fixed millage rate over 20 years. Um and this one will where's the total $1.6 million approximate for the taxing entities with 213,000 coming due to the to the county. Um this has a fiscal benefit to cost ratio of $1 in incentive for $4 to the county. And then the taxes collected over the past five years was $29,700. Upon approval, the site will generate $415,271, which is a $1,300% increase. And um we have a prospective tenant that is looking at this. It's in the uh manufacturing uh aerospace manufacturing realm. It is a of 10 new jobs.

All right. We don't know the name of the company. Is that again? We know this one, Mr. Kavski, but I can't disclose that at this point. Thank you, sir. Yes sir. Further discussion hearing none. All in favor say I. I. I. Opposed. All right. Moving to the consent agenda. I got to read this one.

An ordinance authorizing the execution and delivery of a fee in l of tax agreement by and between Charleston County and Center Capital Project. Center Capital Partners DBA TL Charleston South Rail SPV LLC. the company including any related or affiliated entities and any sponsor affiliates whereby Charleston County will enter into a fee in le of taxes arrangement with the company providing for payment by the company of certain fees in lie of ad valorum taxes and other matters related there too. Mr. Chairman. Yes sir. I'm going to move for approval for 7 A through C because no action was needed on D nor E six. Six. Mr. Prime

six. Oh, I'm sorry. I thought we all right let me go to six and okay move for approval 6 A through E second all right properly moved and seconded any discussion all those in favor say I opposed eyes have it now Mr. Chairman with approval 7 A through C um with the 993 and 9995 Morrison Drive the caviard that has to come back for council for final approval before the chairman signs a second. Second. All right. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I opposed. Eyes have it.

All right. 7 D. There was no need. No action. Oh, sorry. and E as well. Thank you. Okay, sir. Those are gone. All right. All right. Well, we'll move on to uh council comments. Um start with Mr. Prior tonight. I I'm good tonight. I'm going to keep it short, but uh thanks staff for all the hard work and thank you council members for your dedication and uh hope everybody have a nice end of the week. Thank Mr. Weman. I would echo uh Councilman Prior's comments. Nothing nothing more for me tonight. Thank you. Okay. Uh Mr. Moody.

Um nothing except to thank Mr. Johnson for that those details are I've been preaching that for years. The properties generate nothing and now they're going to generate huge dollars. That's uh that's pretty um pretty impressive stuff and and a headquarters to boot if I read that first one. That's a big deal. Big deal. So thank you for that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Derby.

Yes, sir. Mr. chairman. Um within our miss, we have one of the most superlative personalities uh within Charleston County. That's Mr. Michael Allen. Um a former ranger of the National Park Service for over 40 years who interprets the history of Fort Sumpter as well as Fort Mutri, Galagichi, and reconstruction. Am I right about a former student from Burke High School? This is Michael Allen, ladies and gentlemen. and what he has done for this county in terms of the park services is just incomparable for what he has done and I'm I'm so happy that he's a graduate of Burke and the next time we have a class reunion invite the old man.

Thank you sir. All right. Um Mr. Kowski

just briefly I'm glad we move forward on the Morrison Drive. I just like to say I wish we could have um in the best of all worlds made this like a central park for Charleston. As somebody who worked, you know, in Peninsula Charleston for decades now, I saw when the waterfront park, you know, first came, it was wonderful. There was nothing around it. It was really a thing for the people to go to. And now when you go, you're surrounded by hotels and condos that kind of make it more of a a Disneyland for people that aren't from here. And the hotels that I recently saw that it starts like $1,200 a night with presidential suites to 12,000. And I just wish we could use waterfront property and um as it's on a flood zone, it could have been this land that kind of like the forest and Solvin's Island and help protect the rest of Peninsula Charleston. But I think we did the right thing by what we voted on for the incentives. But I uh we're making the as I've seen the changes in downtown Charleston, we lose who we are and we make it a playground for people who aren't from here for cost that most people can't afford. Thank you.

All right, Mr. Sass. Nothing for me tonight. Thank you, sir. Miss Honeyut. Yes, Mr. Administrator. I would like to see if we cannot get our building department to develop a checklist that we use when a person or company comes in to get a permit, especially when that permit is for an existing use and they want to continue operating but need a new CO under the new new building. I would like to see an actual checklist that we use. Could we do that? Yes. Thank you, Mr. Administrator. Good night, Madam Clerk. No, sir. Madam Attorney, sir.

All right. Well, um I want to thank everyone for doing such a great job here tonight and working together and uh especially the steps and progresses we've made um on the transportation sales tax. Turnoff Newman has really done an outstanding job. And I also want to recognize all the work that our staff put in to make this all possible. Um it's a tremendous undertaking but uh I commend uh the transparency and the hard work and the diligence that went into this process. And with that we are ajourned.