City Council - Regular Meeting

like to call this March 10th meeting of city council to order. Madam clerk, would we please call the role? Council member Greg, Council Member Sheileley, Council Member McBride here, Council Member Poke, Council Member Brady, Council Member Dlesandro here, Council Member Wearing, Council Member Seekings, Council Member Tinkler, Council Member Bowen, Council Member Appel, Council Member Scardan, Mayor Cogwell

here. I'd now like to ask uh Council Member Bowen to give the invocation and lead everybody in the pledge. Lord, tonight we pray for those living in the midst of war and conflict around the world, for American service members serving in dangerous places, and for innocent people who are in harm's way through no fault of their own. We ask for your protection over those facing danger, your comfort for families carrying fear and uncertainty, and your mercy for all those whose lives have been disrupted by violence. We pray for our national leaders and for all those entrusted with serious responsibility. Give them wisdom, clarity, guide them toward justice, toward peace, and toward decisions that value human life. And Lord, as we gather for this meeting tonight, give us the same wisdom and humility in the work before us. Help us lead well, serve faithfully, and remember the people who are counting on us. Amen.

Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

So before we get started tonight, I did want to recognize and thank our city employees who are active military. We have several that are uh on duty and been called up. So, in light of Councilman Bowen, your prayer tonight um uh hoping to keep uh those folks safe, I just wanted to give shout out to them and their service to our country um in these troubling times. Okay, we're going to we have first proclamation we have tonight is recognizing Women's History Month. Whereas American women of every race, class, and ethnic background have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of our nation in countless recorded and unrecorded ways. Whereas American women have played and continue to play critical economic, cultural, and social roles in every sphere of the life of the nation by con constituting a significant portion of the labor force working inside and outside of the home. And whereas American women were particularly important in the establishment of early charitable, philanthropic, and cultural institutions in our nation. And whereas American women of every race, class, and ethnic background served as early leaders in the forefront of every major progressive social change movement. And whereas American women have served her country courageously in the military. And whereas American women have been leaders not only in securing their own rights of suffrage and equal opportunity, but also in the abolitionist movement, the emancipation movement, the industrial labor movement, the civil rights movement, and other movements, especially the peace movement, which create a more fair and just society for all. Whereas despite these conditions,

the role of American women in history has been consistently overlooked and undervalued in literature, teaching, and the study of American history. So as now, therefore, I, William S. Cogwell, mayor of the city of Charleston, do hereby proclaim March 2026 as Women's History Month. Give a round of applause. Okay, keeping in that uh vein on theme, we have uh a proclamation rec recognizing women in construction. And I believe we have two ladies here. If y'all would like to join me up, we have Rebecca Mitchell, who is director of women of construction, and Sam Colner. Colin, nailed it. President of Women of Construction. Y'all, come on up. Come on up. Come on up. So whereas Women of Construction is a newly established organization dedicated to creating a strong network of women across the construction industry. And whereas this organization was founded to provide a platform for women in construction to connect, learn, and lead, fostering mentorship, professional development, and opportunities for growth in an everexpanding industry. And whereas the construction community continues to drive economic and community development through major infrastructure, industrial and civic projects, and Women of Construction proudly promotes the inclusion and advancement of women in every facet of that progress. And whereas Women of Construction partners with local businesses, trade organizations, and educational ex institutions to raise awareness of skilled trade careers, support workforce development, and inspire future generations to explore the many pathways within construction. And whereas through volunteerism, community engagement, and a spirit of

collaboration, Women of Construction seeks to make a lasting impact throughout the region. Now, therefore, I William S. Cogwell Jr., mayor of the city of Charleston, to hereby recognize Women of Construction and its dedicated founding members for their commitment to empowering women, supporting workforce growth, and strengthening our community. And to hereby proclaim the week of March 1st through the 7th, 2026 as women of construction week. Mom, you want to say who you want?

We just wanted to thank the mayor and the entire city council for acknowledging our new Charlestonbased association. So, this is the ground footprint of our association. We feel that eventually we're going to break past the boundaries, but we feel very passionate about what everyone in this room has offered in terms of development for our businesses, trades, companies in Charleston. Uh, but we're not going to stop there, but we want to make it very clear that we are a Charleston founded association. So, thank you to everyone. Thank you.

Okay, we have one more. proclamation honoring the Red Cross. And I would like to call on Ambassador Tom Carter to join me uh up on stage with the American Red Cross. How are you, sir?

Good to see you. Good to see you. Whereas in March, we celebrate American Red Cross month by honoring our neighbors who make its humanitarian mission possible in Charleston. And whereas every day their acts of kindness change lives, bringing relief, comfort, and hope when they can't wait, when help can't wait, this compassionate spirit runs deep in our community, just as it has for 145 years through the American Red Cross. Whereas today, those who serve with the with the Red Cross light the way during emergencies, whether it's delivering shelter, food, and comfort after disasters, providing a safe, life-saving blood supply for patients facing conditions like cancer treatments, childirth complications, and traumatic injuries. Assisting military members, veterans, and their families with 247 global support. or empowering individuals with skills like first aid and CPR that save lives. And whereas these collective efforts are powerful reminder that the strength of our community lies in our shared commitment to one another. And whereas as we mark Red Cross Month, let's celebrate our local heroes and resolve to continue lifting each other up so no one faces an emergency alone. Now I, William S. Cogwell Jr., mayor of the city of Charleston to hereby proclaim March 2026 as Red Cross month. Thank you.

New York.

Thank you.

Thank you, uh, Mr. Mayor. And as you pointed out, the Red Cross goes back 145 years. What uh I recently learned speaking down at the library society a couple of weeks ago and I shared this with Jennifer earlier. Um the mayor of Charleston in 1886 kept a scrapbook and it's almost as big as this table right here and it's secured back in the back of the library society. So I encourage you someday to get back there. What was fascinating in there was there was a personal letter in there to the mayor of Charleston from Clara Barton, the head of the Red Cross. The American Red Cross was five years old. And that letter is a personal letter of her offering uh assistance to the mayor of Charleston. Fascinating document. I'll take my board down there pretty soon. But as he pointed out, every day we are in this community. We have over 800 volunteers with the Red Cross. and on any given day they are responding to home fires. Believe it or not, we average one home fire a day helping victims and also of course um as he pointed out the uh service to the armed forces and we're always preparing for the next hurricane or flood. But let me bring this home to you for each one of you that are sitting here tonight just a little bit more because every day we're collecting blood in this community. And someone in America needs blood every two seconds. Every two seconds. And I'll let you in on a little secret. MUSC uses 50,000 pints of Red Cross blood a year. 50,000 pints. And so I would just encourage you uh to go to redcrossblood.org org each day. Just look for donate, find a drive, put your uh uh zip code in there. They're really easy to find. Uh we also have fixed sites over in Mount Pleasant and and West Ashley. But here is what is really

really important is and I'm going to tell you a couple of statistics. Only 62% of the people in this room are eligible to give. Only 62%. And people go, "That's terrible." I said, "No, that's the good news. only 3% give. And so I would just caution you, be careful going home tonight because 100% of the people in this room tonight could possibly need life-saving blood. So the life you save could possibly be your own. Thank you. Okay, we are now on to um we have no public hearings actually. So I'm looking for we're on to council minutes. I got a motion.

Motion made approved minutes February 24th. If no further discussion, all those in favor signify by saying I. Opposed. Eyes have it. Uh now we are on to citizens participation. Madam clerk, how many people do we have signed up? We have six. All right, let's give everybody a minute. We're on a tight agenda. At least I am tonight. Uh I have to catch a flight to DC.

So give a minute. Uh and would you please call the first roll? All right, time is one minute. Um, we will start with the in-person list first. Agenda items first. Scott Norman or Scott Nunan, I'm sorry. Good evening. As she said, my name is Scott Nunan. Some of you may know me. My fiance and I have been very vocal on the ebike issue, something that we know you guys are looking at very closely. Uh, as a community, we're very clear in voicing our safety concerns regarding ebike usage by children on public roadways traveling on speeds up to 30 and 40 miles an hour. After reading the proposed ordinance that's coming before you, we can't help but be disappointed by its glaring weaknesses. We ask for age restrictions on children being allowed to ride motorized vehicles that can travel 40 mph on public roads. We got anyone of any age can ride anywhere except sidewalks. We asked that every ebike operated after dark have front and rear running lights and directionals. We got everyone under 21 must wear a helmet. We asked for stiff penalties and parental liability for strong as a strong deterrent. We got $50 fines. What we got basically were ebikes were treated like regular bikes. And this just isn't good enough. When we asked why, we got the same consistent response. This is the best thing we can probably pass. I was raised on a very simple and heavy principle. You do what is right, not what is easy. It's a lesson that is supposed to guide us and the stakes are high and the room is loud.

We feel like what's being happened being done here is easy. And we ask you to please not do the easy thing, but to do the right thing. I'd love to have more time, but I don't. I'd love to talk to anybody who's interested to talk to us about it. We have a very strong coalition who is very passionate about this issue. Thank you for your time.

Katie Zimmerman. Hi, I'm Katie Zimmerman, executive director with Charleston Moves. Um, and I'm also here to thank you all for your consideration, ongoing consideration of an ebike ordinance. Um, I shared some of Charleston Move's suggestions on the ordinance language and some outreach efforts that we thought could be successful with Mayor Cogwell and with all of you. And I appreciate you all. I know many of you reviewed it and are thinking through elements of it. Um, and I just I also want to make sure that all of us, the community, elected officials, law enforcement, everybody is on the same page with some basic definitions about what it what it is, what problem we are trying to solve. So, I I really appreciate the opportunity to continue working with you on an ordinance that addresses an issue. When I hear that children are riding motor vehicles that can go 38 40 miles per hour, that's not an ebike, it's a motorbike and it's already illegal under state law. So, just want to make sure we're all on the same page and thank you very much.

Mohamd Adris and after Mr. Adris, we have Bob O'Brien and Zack Biti. If you want to queue up

with the name of God, the merciful benefactor and the merciful redeemer. We have a saying in our country that says a picture is worth a thousand words. I showed you all a picture of me and the mayor. I believe that is the true picture of the mayor. But the one that I saw in the courtroom when he had a lawyer lying said I did not have a breach of contract with him. I mean when he when I charge a breach of contract that wasn't the true mayor. I'm asking you all again. I'm not charging the city. I'm charging Mr. Causewell for what he did to me. I'm seeking my pay for the work I did for him.

Time Bob O'Brien.

Bob O'Brien. 10 Stuts Court Shadow Moss right next to the uh Bridge Point Park and now playground. Uh we love children, we love playgrounds. Uh but with the increasing interest in the playground, we have big problems with parking there and we really need someone to come out there and address the 20 families because we don't want to be law enforcement. They're parking in front of uh hydrants. They're blocking our mailing mailboxes and that's not our posture. We want to encourage people to use the playground. Uh so we would we would hope that you would bring come out there and visit us. Uh you have my name, address, phone number. Uh sanitation with the cars that are coming in. They're bringing their dogs with them and their dogs are considering it a dog park, but the people aren't bringing any situations with them. So, we need definitely need a uh a dog uh waste disposal and we need uh plastic bags desperately there.

Health issue as well. Thank you, Zach Bidi.

Uh Zach Bidi, 59 Cypress. uh deferred on the agenda today is a renewal of pettic cap decals. And uh I would highly encourage you all to take a look at the 2025 bid and compare that to the 2021 renewal. Uh the numbers are astounding. In 2021, you renewed 30 decals. You got a very poulry sum. In 2025, you bid out six limited use nighttime decals. And the economics are clear. uh please hold bids and allow individuals to invest back in their community, allow community members to start businesses and invest in their city. Um and you guys will reap the benefits. The city will reap the benefits and the financials are clear. Look at the 2025 procurement and compare that to the 2021 renewal and you will understand what I'm talking about. There is absolutely no ins, ifs, ends, or buts. Thank you.

And now we'll go to our online list. And if you're online, you can press star six to unmute yourself. Anthony Bryant.

Anthony G. Anthony G. Bryant, president of AG Bryant Group, Inc. Um, opposition the half cent sales tax is real. Um, very real. Char attorney general, city of North Charleston, Charleton County, even Charleston County's corner's office. Um, we're talking about Dominion Energy, Chelter Water Systems. We want to make sure that the chairman of that committee contacts Dominion and all them on my behalf ASAP. I'll be adding my lawsuits to the county record tonight in terms of Dominion and others in terms of their opposition to speech. Um, and also this climate right now in terms of speech. Uh it's very serious in terms of speech right now in this country and the world. If you disagree with this administration or anybody, you have some serious problems. We hope that speech is protected for those who oppose what's going on around the world. Have a nice day.

All right. And those are all the com u speakers that we had. We did receive two comments. Um one was from Mr. Bryant, which we sent to council in full. The other was from Carmen Torres asking council to ban horserawn carriages from the city. And those were all the comments we received.

Okay. Thank you, madame clerk. Um, moving on, we are now under petitions and communications. I have a few things I want to highlight. First, uh, next week starting, I think it is March 16th through the 20th, we will have, uh, some design professionals in town doing a chet all week long, uh, to address affordable housing, particularly on the peninsula. I welcome all of you to stop by. This is uh, open to the public uh, to get people's input on different ideas on how to address it. We're going to be looking at specific sites, West Edge, other city-owned properties. We're also going to look at um the county site at Morrison Drive. They have uh tentatively agreed to let us work with them on um co-arketing that uh and also housing authority sites too. Uh so it's going to be I think very um informative and look forward to what they come up with. So, just so you all are aware, you you were given a a breakdown in your uh package that went out, but for the record and for those listening, did want to just highlight that on Monday um the 16th there will be uh a kickoff from 5 to 6:30 as well as a lecture from Hugh Peters with Adams Architecture out of London. Um that will be at 6:30 again at the Dock Street. On Tuesday, there will be another lecture by Ben Pentr who is also uh based in London and in Scotland and done uh some incredible what they call social housing. um he will be giving a lecture and then finally on Wednesday there from 5:00 to 6:30 there will be a studio open house um for folks to uh come and see what the product is that they've been working on as well as

a lecture from 6:30 to 8 by Vince Graham um a local uh developer who has some experience and then finally um on Friday from 6 from 5 to 6:30 there will be a presentation on everything that uh has been done that week. So again, really encourage you all to participate as you can. I think it's going to be uh pretty pretty interesting. Um also wanted to highlight for council members, put this on your calendar. Uh and for those new council members really want to make a special point here, April 21st is going to be Charleston Day in Colombia. So that is where we will go up to Colombia, meet with legislators, um wine and dine them and twist their arms uh on things that we need. Uh and I think we're still working out the schedule with our lobbyist Parker Poe, but if you want to get specific meetings with legislators, I uh strongly encourage that. We can maybe group up together. Um, but transportation's provided through the CVB. Um, and our our our lobbyist with Parker Po can help you arrange meetings. Uh, if you don't have any direct contacts with our legislators, uh, we may go up the evening before. Um, usually on Tuesday night, you get a better turnout from um the legislators because it's the first day in session. So, I'll keep you posted on that, but wanted to put that that day on your your calendars. And then finally, some really incredible great news from our fire department. Want to give them a real shout out. Just uh uh yesterday, I guess they uh it became official that they have been awarded reacreditation and will remain an accredited agency with the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, CF AI. So, hats off to Chief Curia, Chief Galazida, and and the whole fire

department team for what they uh have continuely being able to accomplish. For those that you that aren't aware, this is pretty impressive. Out of um there only about 335 fire departments that have this accreditation and only 14 of the percent of the population in the United States is protected by this. So this really helps with people's insurance rates, things like that. So it's very important that we try and maintain this for our residents. And then one other just interesting stat here that I think is impressive, only 125 of those uh 334 agencies or fire departments have the distinction of being an accredited agency and also achieving an ISO class one rating. And we are one of those. So again, if we could just recognize uh the men and women in red and give them a round of applause for job benefits. Okay. Uh those are the petitions and communications uh except for I have a few appointments. Want to nominate uh put Jim McBride up for the COG board. Can I entertain a motion for approval? Motion made, properly second. If there no f further discussion on that, all those in favor signify by saying I. Opposed? Eyes have it. We're now on to consent agenda items. We have two committee reports. We've got uh start with uh recreation. There's nothing to report out, but um Chairman McBride, you want to give a quick rundown?

Yeah, thanks, Mr. Mayor. Um it's our first uh recreation committee with the new council members and we talked about uh just kind of an overview of the different playgrounds under city's jurisdiction in the different districts uh requested by council member Leslie Scardan. Talked about um Alan Fleming tennis courts uh and just the idea of when these courts get surfaced resurfaced um cracks can appear. It's kind of a normal thing. um we just addressed that still the courts are still functional and then um that I just we talked about the city's recreation commission and I encouraged the new council members to reach out to their rep respective representatives in the commission and um Lori Yarboro talked about the meeting the initial meeting she had with that commission and for how that's going to proceed from here on out. That's all I have.

All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd now like to um uh HR chairman uh that's B. Yeah. Sorry, I'm getting getting used to my new new appointment. Sorry about that.

Same. Um all right. Yeah, we uh met on February 19th at 4 PM. Uh I would actually encourage everybody to go watch that meeting. Um it was it was really good. Uh a lot of lot of stuff we've been talking about for for a while. uh updates on that um as well as uh future projects. Really great update on um what they're doing to try to control costs on health care. Um and including some things that uh like you know virtual urgent care that might benefit y'all if you're on the city's healthcare. So um uh yeah, definitely worth going to check out.

Okay. Um we now are on to committee reports and Councilman Sheileley is not here. So, Councilman Tinkler, you're going to take public safety for us.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, the committee on public safety met February 17th at 4 p.m. A number of items were taken up. Uh, the first was a uh approval to submit an application for a forensic science improvements grant of $75,420. It's also on the ways and means agenda, but that's to cover it's no match and that covers uh crime scene photography equipment. Uh there are also twous that were on uh the committee's agenda. Uh one relating to uh the a partnership between the city and the international association fire chiefs. Uh they they did this last year. There's a program that they they bring firefighters from Saudi Arabia over and embed them with with our firefighters and there's there's a whole lot of learning between the two groups uh about fire techniques and and and culture. So that was a um successful program last year and they're going to do it again. So, uh, the secondou, uh, relates to, uh, what agreement between the city and the the school district to get a program at St. John's. Uh, there there's been some attempts over the last several years to provide some equipment to get some some of these this programming. Uh but um we now have an official agreement with the Charleston School District uh to get this program moving forward and hopefully inspire some high schoolers uh to come and join the the ranks of the city of Charleston fire department. So uh the final um item was a report from emergency management on on the recent winter storm that we had. I guess the two takeaways from that, what they did differently this time, if I recall, was

they had a warming shelter for the first time here on the peninsula uh just so no one had to cross the bridges if they closed down and they also uh did a lot of the the operations remotely using Microsoft Teams to keep staff from having to to come downtown. So all that worked worked very well. uh and I think they pulled it off um without without any major issues. So uh thanks to to all the team with that. So um that's everything we dealt with at the committee. Uh that's my report. Uh I would ask that it be accepted. Motion made properly seconded. Any further discussion on this? If none all those in favor signify by saying I opposed eyes have it. Now I'd like to call on Councilman Appel or Chairman Appel for Committee on Community Development.

All right. Um thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um reporting out on two community development uh meetings. First on February 5th and the other on February 19th. Um the February 5th meeting, the theme was affordable housing and all the things that the city of Charleston is doing in that regard. Uh we got updates on um the city-led property acquisition on 899 Morrison Drive as well as 993995 Morrison Drive. Got an update on the West Edge plan. And then talked about the uh housing authority partnership agreement. Uh we talked a lot about project 3500 and the sharet uh that's being hosted next week that we've got um the itinerary for on our desk and I'll be monitoring everybody closely for attendance next week. I'm looking at everybody here. Let's have a good showing. Uh very exciting. Um then we also talked about the DRB review for cityled capital projects. I know that's garnered some attention. Um, and that matter is going to be back before us uh later this month at our next city council meeting. Um, we got an MU3W uh overview. That's our new uh mixeduse workforce housing um zoning district that we're intending to really um assist with project 3500. That also will be coming before council later this month for second and well actually first reading public hearing and first reading later this month. And then we um took up and authorized uh the city to pursue all means necessary up and to including a uh condemnation for 74 and 76 Stewart Street and I believe that is in connection with the project we're doing at 899 Morrison Drive. Um then at our February 19th meeting, we got an update on our zoning rewrite project. Uh the mayor uh spoke about how um uh the

transportation sales tax measure and what projects are going to be included on that are are very germanine to how the zoning rewrite goes. We want to know where infrastructure is so we can coordinate growth and development uh accordingly. And we also talked about how the house cleaning or housekeeping uh function of the zoning rewrite making our code read better, read more consistently is something that is uh going to be severable from from that that issue. So that's going to be moving forward uh this year. And then finally, we had a long talk about um the West Edge uh project, MUSC Foundation, the affordable housing um and workforce housing development opportunities that we've planned over there. And we talked we had a good robust discussion about going back to MUSC talking about sort of the structure and how to move forward with that um initiative. And so with that, that concludes my report. Um and uh I'll ask that it be accepted.

We got a motion for approval. Uh all right. Who made the motion for approval? Tinkler. Okay. All those in favor signify by saying I opposed. Eyes have it. Now I'd like to call on Councilman Wearing.

Committee on public works uh met February 23rd. One thing I'd like to call out to your attention is discussion on the stormwater fee exemption. Uh, no, not that one. The update on the fee schedule that Mr. Buchcci was kind enough to email out to all of you all so we have chance to review it. Just to refresh, this is a initiative frankly started by the mayor or enhanced by the mayor to have outside help reviewing projects coming through development with the city of Charleston. So that frankly the line wouldn't be two years long uh is working but uh the fee schedule certainly needs to be revisited. So that's what that that's about. Beyond that, everything you see outlined on the agenda passed uh actionable items passed unanimously and I move adoption of the grid board.

A motion made probably seconded. All those in favor signify by saying I opposed. Eyes have it. Now on to Councilman Greg for Ways and Means. You're not. Oh, sorry. I didn't Did I miss it? Fine. We can skip it. Hang on. I'm sorry. Councilman Seings on TNT.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor, uh, the committee on traffic and transportation met on February 24th. Um, you see in front of you the topics that we took up. The first was a project update on the Ashley River crossing. Mr. Moost from our staff and Michael Duffy from HDR came and gave us an update on the Ark Bridge. It is progressing um, very well. Um, it is a tough project, but if you go and take a look at it today, you will see the span from West Ashley heading towards the city is coming out of the ground and across the river. They're in the toughest probably part of the project right now in terms of construction across the river, but it's going well. We had a um not in real time, but in slow motion video of the span, which is fascinating. And when you look at the span right now, and I've had this question a few times, and I think a few of them were actually serious. Are we going to put up guard rails along the span? We are. It's going to be safe when it's all said and done. So, um, we're going to have regular updates from Mr. Mo. Thank you for doing it and and doing it again. Um, that's a really incredible project and when it's all said and done, we'll change the game. We'll talk a little bit more about the Ark Bridge in a second. Um, we then had a discussion with the mayor about Charleston County transportation sales tax priorities. I think everyone around this table has been updated on that and knows what's happening at the county. As you probably know right now, since the last meeting of county council, there is an open forum online and several meetings by the county taking public input about the TST. I would certainly encourage anybody who's got the time to go to those meetings and bring along as many people as you can and the extent you're speaking out in public to your constituents with neighborhood associations and the like, please let people know what's going on with the TST, what it means for this region, what it means for the city, and how important it is. Um, we're really sort of in the last 20 yards right now. So, let's set it up for success to the extent we can. Um, we then had a discussion and consideration of proposed amendments to the ebike ordinance. That on your agenda is a misnomer and a misstatement. We don't have an ebike ordinance. Uh, I

want to start out my comments when I'm going to keep brief by saying we absolutely positively must include ebikes in our city transportation ordinance. That being said, um leading with my chin at the at the close of my comments, I'm going to ask this um council to defer tonight with the conditions that we hold a special TNT meeting on April 20 on March 24th before the next city council meeting that we take up ebikes and ebikes only. The um ordinance that is in your packet that we discussed at the last TNT meeting is literally just a mlange sort of a cornucopia of things from our ordinances and it needs a lot of work and refinement. Um at that meeting we'll take public comment. Um and we're going to ask Chief Walker and his staff to come and be part of that meeting with us so that we can talk about the following things. um we need before we can add ebikes to any ordinance whether it's collectively or separately to define what we're talking about and um staff has done a really great job of considering that and it's not an easy necessarily thing to define globally what you see in your packet tonight is the state definition and as you see it's about 8 n 10 c um lines long in one paragraph it's kind of untenable and workable we need to work on what the definition of ebike is and what it isn't, especially when it gets out of the ebike category into the moped and motorized vehicle category. That is a whole different set of circumstances and a whole different um approach that we need to take or the state needs to take when it comes to motorized vehicles. Um we at the committee anyway um and I as chairman really tried to focus our conversation on place not person. And the reason is we're going to have to

make sure whatever we do solves a problem is enforcable and will be enforced. And um that I think is going to be a big part of our conversation at our next TNT meeting. Um there are some sort of metric management challenges to anything that we adopt that goes forward. Um essentially what I think I've heard with some exceptions from the community is that we need to on the lower end the pedal assist bikes that are the functional functional equivalent of a bicycle. They're not the same but in terms of operation speed and the like they're the functional equivalent equivalent of bicycles. we need to probably treat them, if not exactly the same, very similarly. Then you go into the next realm, which is those that go fast um and out of control. And look, let's be frank about this. The one place in our city where it has become a problem and it's heading towards being a big problem is where council member Boyd lives and represents and where I represent a good bit of. Uh that's Daniel Island. They know is built differently, was built at a different time, and the ebike um explosion has really hit it. And if you have any question about that, go and spend a day up there. Um make it a school day. Uh pretty good in the morning and in the mid afternoon. Um if you go by the Daniel Island School, which tops out at 8th grade, and I did this a couple weeks ago, um I didn't want to think anyone was stalking the school. I wasn't, but I went through the parking lot and looked at the bike rack and there are any number and manner of electric charged bikes on the racks there uh all over the place. So, we have to address it. Um I think we as a committee generally agreed that the deeper we get into micromanagement of ebikes, the lesser powered version, the better. um when we get into the greater powered version and

those which go over a certain speed limit, we probably need to think about an enforcement protocol um because I really don't think that that's been part and parcel of where we've gone in the city for the last um number of years. Certainly the 17 I've been on the city council. I doubt we've given many tickets to mopeds um whatever that means. So um just a couple of things that is important for me anyway. The most comments I've got are one is we got to have something. Two is what do we do with certain areas in the city that are quote unquote multiuse paths? Daniel Island is loaded with multi-use paths of any manner, shape, and form. Other parts of the city have very particularized multi-use paths. Um, some examples that I'm thinking about I want to sort of point out. But first, let me just tell you we have a definition in our city code of what a multi-use path is. And it's important that we all are on the same page of this before we go forward at the next TNT meeting in city council because it says, and I'm going to read it. I don't usually do this. Multi-use path means a bikeway physically separated from motorized vehicular traffic by an open space or barrier and either within the highway rideway or within an independent rideway. Period. Multi-use pads may also be used by pedestrians, skaters, wheelchair users, joggers, should be runners as well, and other nonmotorized vehicles. So, under our current definition, if you try to slot ebikes in there, technically they would be banned from all multi-use paths. On Daniel Island, I think the people are going to tell you thank you. other parts of the city like the greenway, like the future arc bridge that's coming our way, um like the low line which is coming our way, we're going to have to really think about and and really address it. I just want to sort of point out a few things in terms of metrics. The Raven Bridge,

which is sort of the first celebrated linear bike pedestrian facility in the city and the region, um is functionally 10 feet wide. It's split into two lanes for bikes and pedestrians. So you functionally got three feet in each direction for each one of two feet, two and a half feet for each one. Super small, super narrow, and lots of things going on up there. As opposed to that, the arc bridge when it's complete will be functionally 18 feet wide, almost double the width. So we need to think about it. The low line 12 ft. Folly Road multi-use paths 12 feet. Town and country design specs for subdivisions mostly off the peninsula. We require 10 feet for multi-use pads. The greenway, eight feet. Eight feet. So, we've got a number of different widths out there with a lot of people wanting to use them. So, my ambition at the TNT meeting is to really focus on what we're going to define as an ebike, where we're going to allow and when we're not, and what we're going to do about enforcability and enforcement. So, I would move to defer this item to a special TNT meeting with public comment on the 24th. We're going to invite Chief Walker and his team, and we're going to talk about this focused and functionally um and get something on the books that makes sense and really be able to split the the difference between what an ebike is for purposes of regulating them on our streets and what it then becomes a motorized vehicle, which then puts it into the realm of licensing, state law, and the like. So, um, thank you. And one other thing before we vote on this, um, we did have a request for approval for certificate of public convenience and necessity for about to pull up taxi service. Um, it's not a service that is about to pull up. It's their name. Um, they've been approved. So, I would move for deferral on the ebike ordinance with those conditions and um, move for approval of the certificate of public

convenience and happy to answer any questions you'all might have about our ebike compensation. So, you have a second on that motion. Any further discussion on member Greg would like, Mr. Mayor.

Uh, I'm going to oppose the deferral. Um, I I understand your reasons and you did a great job explaining. Um, Mr. Nan's right. Uh, the ordinance is it does fall short. Uh, I was hoping to address at least a couple of his items through an amendment. Um, if we're moving for a deferral, that's not going to happen. Um, I will say this, 20 miles an hour, if you've ever tried to ride a bike 20 miles an hour, it is difficult. It's not uh that's not an easy thing to do. Uh you got to be huffing and puffing pretty good. It's not difficult to do on an ebike. You press a button, you go 20 miles an hour. Uh that's the issue we have here. And so uh the idea that you can go put these things on the greenway and that that it's going to be comparable in speed to the other bikes on the greenway is crazy. Uh the ebikes always go faster than a regular bike. It takes much more effort. It's much more difficult to ride an ebike, a a regular bike 20 miles an hour versus an ebike. Um, I want to say that if the deferral moves moves forward, um, I would ask that that we at least try to do some targeted enforcement on Daniel Island. Um, much of what I'm seeing on Daniel Island are mopeds. They fit our city definition as it currently stands as a moped. Um, we have tools in the law enforcement toolbox right now to uh to give tickets for moped drivers. Uh, you state law says you have to be a licensed driver. Um, and uh, and and the moped has to be registered with the DMV. So, I would just ask that um, that if we move forward with the furl that we try to get some additional law enforcement resources on Daniel Island. I should not be seeing 12-year-old kids on Clemens Ferry Road driving south in a 55 mph traffic zone on an ebike or whatever we're calling them, a moped. Uh I hate to be parabolic or hyperbolic here, but um I mean some some somebody is going to get killed. Um and and then maybe the

state will wake up and do something in the legislature to address ebikes, but um I I I think we need to take this very seriously. there is going to be somebody that gets killed soon. Um I don't want it to be in the city of Charleston. I would like us to take the lead on this. Um I I hate that uh that it has come to this that we have to be sort of the I hate to say the nanny state um enforcing this kind of stuff, but it's clear that that that parents and 13-year-olds are not [snorts] going to sort of self-regulate this problem. Um, so, uh, given that I won't be able to make an amendment, uh, with the motion that's currently on the floor, I would just ask that we we devote some additional law enforcement resources to what's happening on Daniel Island and try to crack down on this in the meantime.

Very briefly, Mr. Mayor, I forgot two things. Um, another thing that we're going to talk about at TNT is building in an education period into this with our police department and with Berkeley County and Charleston County School District. And secondly, it was brought up tonight, uh, whatever we put in place, and we're going to put something in place and it's going to be enforceable, the fines are not going to be 50 bucks. Okay? That is not happening. It's going to be a hell of a lot more than that. Um, so just be prepared for that discussion, too. So, we we will take it all up. We will get something to bring back to this body quickly, but it's going to be something that works. This one is a little bit too much. In the spirit of that, I mean, I guess, you know, the in addition to law enforcement resources for for enforcement, uh, I would ask that maybe we we start our education campaign a little earlier uh, and start that effort now.

And I get that. I just my my thing is if we're going to send our police department in particular out into the school districts, I'd like to send them with whatever we're putting on the books so they know what we they can tell people we're enforcing. I would say that I think we can start maybe not quite with the education until we have what we're educating on, but the enforcement. There's no question about it. I think Mr. Chairman, you made a really, you know, compelling case for the deferral, but I share Councilman Boyd's um uh concerns. This is an urgent issue. Uh I the one thing I would disagree with him on is that we're not going to be able to legislate this problem completely. I mean, this is a parenting issue, too. So, I think we need the help from the parents in the community to make sure that their kids are not doing things that put their lives in danger and other folks lives in danger.

I agree with all that. Any you want to make a further comment? Yeah, I do. I mean, you disagree with the deferral. Um, and you do, too. No, I do not disagree with the deferral. Oh, no. Well, I encourage you cuz I The only thing I disagree with uh on that I you know that parents I think really do need to up on this. There's some things we can do now. Do it. So So we going to be this will be expedited. That's right. No question. All right. So we have a motion properly seconded uh for adoption of the report uh with the deferral on the ebike ordinance. Any further discussion on this? If not, all those in favor signify by saying I opposed. eyes have it. Now we're on to ways and means

and there is just one name for the record. Council member Greg. Yep. Guys, we got we got ways and means. Hello. [laughter] You go through this whole report. Move for approval properly seconded. I'll read through the whole thing again if you want me to. [laughter] So, we have a motion made to adopt Ways and Means. It has been properly seconded. Any further uh comments there? If none, all those in favor signify by saying I. I oppose eyes have it. We have 10 bills up for second reading. Um I get a motion on those. Motion made probably seconded. Any further discussion on those 10 items? If not, all those in favor signify by saying I eyes have it.

Move the third reading. We have motion made properly seconded for third reading on that. Um any further discussion? If not, all those in favor signify by saying I oppose. uh is have it. Uh now we are on to two bills uh first reading. We got um two bills up for first reading and maybe I could call on uh uh chairman Brady with rules commission if you need ad hoc rules. Yep. Little time to sign. That's fine. Y um [laughter] thank you.

Yep. So the uh the first the two that we have before us um and then I'll move to take them together is uh reforming uh some of the membership requirements of the commission on the arts um so that a lot of the arts organizations can be represented have their own um appointee on there um and that passed unanimously out of committee. And then uh the second ordinance just cleans up um how uh council member resolutions uh would be able to come to the floor. Um because we already have a process for the ordinances and we wanted to line up the resolutions as well. Um and just of note, it would not um it would be an a resolution that would be having city council adopt a position on something. It does not affect proclamations. Um, so it's more for asking the city government through council to take an official stance on something. We wanted to have a process for that. So I would move to take one and two together for approval.

Second. Okay. For approval. For approval. Okay. We have a motion made probably second. Any further discussion on this? Really quick question. Yes. Do you have a regular scheduled next meeting of your committee? Uh, we do not due to the ad hoc nature. So it's as needed. I'll get with you. I got something I'd like to take up. Thank you. Okay. Uh, all right. So, we have motion made, properly seconded. All those in favor signify by saying I. Opposed. I just have it. Uh, and our next meeting, ladies and gentlemen, will be on March Tuesday, March 24th. If there's no further um to come for this body, we stand adjourned.