City Council - Regular Meeting

I'd like to call this May 12th meeting of city council to order. Madame clerk, will you please call the role? Council member Greg. Council member Sheileley here. Council member McBride here. Council member Bulke, Council Member Brady, Council Member Disandro, 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 Council Member Sheileely to give the invocation and lead everybody in the pledge of allegiance.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. If you'll stand as you're able, please. Thank you. Let us pray. Our dear heavenly father, we thank you for the many blessings that you've given to each of us into this great city of Charleston. Lord, we thank you for our first responders and for all our city staff who just pour the work each day and make our city stronger and better. We ask that you'll bless each one of them, Lord. And during this National Police Week, we ask that you'll watch over and protect our police officers, comfort the family of the fallen heroes and and for and those who have made such ultimate sacrifices in the service to others. Lord, we thank you for small businesses throughout our community. We ask that you'll bless them as they provide goods, services, jobs, and opportunities to the people of Charleston. And as our temperatures rise, we enter the summer months. Lord, we ask that you'll watch over and protect our outdoor workers, the elderly, children, and those without access to adequate cooling. Lord, we thank you for this important work for of our municipal judges. Lord, we ask that you'll grant them wisdom and fairness as they uphold justice in our city. Lord, be present in our meeting tonight. Guide our hearts and minds so the decisions we make are pleasing to you and in the best interest of the people of Charleston. For it's in your holy and precious name we pray. 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.

Okay, we have got three presentations and recommendations tonight. First up, I'd like to call on Chief Walker and Sergeant Dose to join me up on the podium to recognize National Police Week. Okay. Whereas there are more than 800,000 law enforcement officers serving in communities across the United States, including the dedicated members of the City of Charleston Police Department. And whereas since the first recorded death in 1786, there are currently more than 24,500 law enforcement officers in the United States that have made the ultimate sacrifice and been killed in the line of duty, including 24 known members of the Charleston Police Department. And whereas the names of the dedicated public servants killed in the line of duty are engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington DC. And whereas 363 new names of fallen heroes are being added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial this spring, including 109 officers killed in 2025 and 254 officers killed in previous years. Whereas the service and sacrifice of all officers killed in the line of duty will be honored during the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund's 38th annual Candlelight Vigil on the evening of May 13, 2026. And whereas May 15th is designated as Peace Officers Memorial Day in honor of all fallen officers and their families.

and the US flag should be flown at half staff. And whereas we publicly salute the service of law enforcement officers in our community and communicate across the nation and thank them for safeguarding the lives of our citizens. Now therefore, I, William S. Cogwell Jr., and your mayor of the city of Charleston on behalf of city council do hereby proclaim May 11th through the 16th 2026 in the city of Charleston to be National Police Week. I got a sign. Uh

thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, leadership. Thank you to the community. Um, we do this job is is it we do it because we love the city and I'm appreciative of each and every person that decided to volunteer to service. But I'll be remiss as we talk about National Police Week. Um, without mentioning the loss we just had last night in Greenwood with our brothers and sisters up there. Um, Officer DJ Keller, for those that didn't know, lost his life last night during a vehicle pursuit um with suspects. It's kind of sobering that it happened this week as we remember the 24 officers that fell here. And to have that happened to a young officer that just came on in 2023. All right. 2025 he went to the K9 unit. He's the father of a young child. It puts things in perspective for us while we do what we do. And it's not about what we do when the cameras are watching us. It's about how we serve the community and how we take care of each other. And I'll be remissed if I didn't tell you how that means the world to this agency and to this leadership and especially to me as a resident in this community. So I thank you for the recognition, please, if you don't haven't done so already, pray for that family. This is going to be a tough week for them. And also just keep in mind of why we do what we do. Thank you.

Next up, a lady who needs no introduction, our own Ruth Jordan with Small Business Enterprise Manager. Please come up. And Angela Brewer with the state uh SBA and Carolyn Strange of the Regional Small Business Development Center. Y'all come on up. Very good seat. Whereas small businesses are the backbone of the American economy, representing more than 99% of all businesses and creating a significant share of new jobs. And whereas small businesses strengthen Charleston's local economy, foster innovation, provide essential goods, services, and opportunities that enrich our community. And whereas Charleston's entrepreneurs and small business owners demonstrate resilience, creativity, and dedication in adapting to evolving economic conditions. And whereas supporting small businesses helps promote economic growth, job creation, vibrant neighborhoods throughout the city of Charleston. And whereas National Small Business Week has been recognized since 1963 to honor the critical contributions of small businesses to our nation and local communities. Now therefore, I William S. Cogwell Jr., Mayor of the city of Charleston, do hereby proclaim May 3rd through the 9th, 2026 as National Small Business Week. On behalf of the of the United States

Small Business Administration, South Carolina District Office, and my director, um Melissa Lindler, who couldn't be here this afternoon, I would like to sincerely thank Mayor Coswell, the city of Charleston, and Miss Ruth Jordan for this recognition during National Small Business Week. Small businesses are the heartbeat of the communities. They create jobs, drive innovation, support local economies, and leaving lasting legacies for future generations. Every day we see entrepreneurs take risk, overcome challenges, and continue to push forward with determination and vision. At SBA, it is our mission to help businesses start, grow, expand, and recover. We are proud to stand beside the small business owners of Charleston and throughout the South Carol and throughout South Carolina as they pursue opportunities and strengthen our economy. I also want to recognize the partnership that makes makes this work. Strong collaborations between local government, community leaders, resource partners, lenders, organizations like the city of Charleston's help create pathways for entrepreneurs to succeed. To Mayor Cogwell and Miss Ruth Jordan, thank you again for your continued support to the small of the small business community and for recognizing the importance of National Small Business Week. Your commitment to economic growth and entrepreneurship makes a difference. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you all. For our final uh recognition this council meeting, I'd like to ask Dr. Scott Curtis of the Citrol's Near Center for Climate Studies and City's Casey Conrad to come on up. I think that's the two, right? We got anyone else? How are you, man? Good to see you. How are you, sir? Good to see you. Whereas Oh, Kayla, you come on up too. Get up here. Get up here. Get up here. Get up here. Whereas extreme heat is the leading cause of weather related fatalities in the United States with heat waves becoming more frequent, longerlasting, and more severe. And whereas heat related illnesses is preventable and public awareness is among the most powerful tools we have to protect our community members, especially outdoor workers, the elderly, children, and those without access to cooling. And whereas the city of Charleston's hazards, vulnerability, and risk assessment identified extreme heat as the as a key city vulnerability. And whereas the city of Charleston's GIS measured heat data across the city, identifying heat islands in various areas with simultaneous temperature readings varying as much as nearly 12

degrees. And whereas the city of Charleston in conjunction with our local, state, and federal partners including MUSC, the Citadel, the National Weather Service, Charleston, and South Carolina Crant developed the low country health action toolkit to promote best practices to prevent heat related illnesses and injuries. Whereas the National Integrated Heath Health Information System has designated May 18th through the 22nd, 2026 is National Heat Safety Week, a week-long campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of extreme heat and promote heat sa heat safety actions across the country. And whereas communities, organizations, and individuals across the city of Charleston are encouraged to take action to protect their neighbors, colleagues, and loved ones from dangers of extreme heat. Now, therefore, I, William S. Cogwell, Jr., mayor of the city of Charleston, on behalf of all of our citizens, hereby proclaim May 18th through the 22nd as heat safety week. All right. Thank you, Mayor Cogwell and members of council. Um uh no secret that we all experience heat in the summertime. Um but I think the point um that we're making with this proclamation is that the risks of heat health and heat injury are not born equally across our population. Um, so what this proclamation does is it says to our more more vulnerable communities, we see you. We're looking out for you. We are trying to make the summer safer for you. Um, so we've been working uh with the the partners the mayor mentioned with heat in the the low country for about five

years now. Uh last year we came out with our heat safety toolkit. This year, uh, we've been collecting heat emergency kits, uh, for the Hope Center and, um, some select libraries to distribute. So, we're making progress. Um, and, uh, just trying to keep folks safe in the summertime. So, check on your neighbors. Um, buy somebody a water bottle, direct a tourist to a library or museum. Uh, but look out for one another. Thank you.

Thank you. I got one final announcement uh you'll allow me a point of privilege. I I need you all to be very nice to me tonight because we have some special guests in the audience. I have my wife Lucille, my daughter, and my son I think is here. Uh oh, no, he's not here. So, uh anyway, well, he'll be the odd man out. Anyway, I appreciate them coming and uh watching how I I um operate every other Tuesday, how I navigate. Okay, we are now on to C approval of uh last council meeting meeting minutes. I get a motion. Motion made probably second. Any further discussion on this? If not, all those in figure favor signify by saying I. All right, eyes have it. We are now on to citizens participation. Madame clerk, how many people do we have signed up?

We have 15. All right. So, we have 15. Uh, so I'm gonna give everybody a minute. Uh, please recognize the rules of decorum. We are here to hear you, hear your voice. This is not a question and answer. Please be respectful of the speakers. Please be respectful of council. Uh, anybody that is not, we will give one warning to if that continues, we will you will be asked to leave. So, madam clerk, will you please call the first speaker?

All right. And this will um start with the in-person signup list first and agenda items first. Zach BCD rep. This is Annividi. Uh I'm not here to bismerch anybody or uh heap praise on anybody because that's not what this is about. This is about regulatory framework and fair rules on small business week. uh five years ago, those companies signed a contract. They said that they would be expiring in 2026 in August. And now it is about to be August of 2026 and they're set to expire. But instead of following that fair regulatory framework, we're trying to extend it. And we're saying that these are good guys. That's fine. You guys are all good guys. But when it comes time to vote and have uh public process, we still engage in those public processes because that's important part of America. That's what we're here for. We are here for small businesses. We're here to engage in those public processes and that's fine. That's all we're asking for. Not any support. Just allow for a public process to take place in a timely fashion. Time. Thank you. Katie Zimmerman having flashbacks. Um, I'm Katie Zimmerman, executive director of Charleston Moves, and I just wanted to thank you all for two things tonight. one, thank you for hopefully giving second reading to this evening to the ebike and bike parking ordinance as amended. You all did a wonderful job of digging into the details on that and getting it to a place that I think makes

a lot of sense. So, very appreciative of that. And also, thank you for voting in favor of um the staff submitting a grant application to US DOT under the safe streets and roads for all program. Thank you for both of those things. Appreciate it.

Mohamad Dice evening. This picture I have of the Pope Francis saying, "Peace be with you." There's 14 letters in that word, those words, those four words. And our mayor was born on the 14th of January. I bring this to your attention because I voted and helped the mayor get into office. He pays when he'll give yard $100,000. He pays Elizabeth $250,000 and a host of others big money. I have no nothing to show for my support for the mayor. He breached our contract, but he's not doing it to me. He's doing it to God. Thank you,

Chris Stonington. Chris Stonington, Will Meyer, Justin Fallon, Danielle Sutton. I am a 20-year resident of Westside District 6. And I would like to say first of all, we are very grateful as the DSA for the council members who have chosen to meet with us um over the past several months in regards to the first amendment demonstration ordinance. Your feedback has been invaluable. Uh several members of the council have not responded to our requests, namely council members Wearing, Brady, and Tinkler. Um we do hope you make the time to meet with us to hear our experiences and input in regards to the ordinance. We have significant contribution to make in regards to safety for ourselves and the broader community. To those in particular who were at the emergency meeting July 29th, 2021 when the ordinance was passed, council member Wearing and others um uh protested the lack of public engagement and transparency and then Mayor Tekkenberg said it should be revisited at a later date. Um we have a petition signed with 1500 signatures which should warrant the ordinance being come back back to committee. Um, the lawyers among you know that the ordinance will not hold up in court. What would Septima P. Clark and J Arthur Brown think of this ordinance? Um, holding you accountable to uphold our rights.

Miranda Long. Yes. Sorry about that.

Sorry. One sec. Good evening. Uh my name is Miranda and I am a resident of district 6 in the city of Charleston. I'm here today to talk about the first amendment ordinance. Um as a young person and student, we are constantly taught to speak up for ourselves and stand up for what we believe is right. In fact, Eony, I'm sure many of you sitting here um ran for your seat because you also believe in that power and the power of your voices of your constituents to make a change. I'm here to tell you today that the way that this ordinance is actually being enforced in practice uh seems to have a bias against those who are standing up for black lives, Palestinian lives, and the lives of our undocumented community members. In one of the most historic cities in America where first amendment demonstrations have elevated the voices of the marginalized. From the 1969 Charleston hospital strike to the mass mobilizations for the defense of the Charleston 5. It's a shame that the council has decided to crack down on these deeply enshrined first amendment rights in a time when they are needed the most. I urge the council to repeal the first amendment ordinance. Thank you. Max Sorgenfry. Hey everyone, my name is Max Sorgenfrey and I am also here with the Democratic Socialists of America to speak on the city's first amendment demonstration ordinance. I'd just like to spend my public comment time highlighting a contradiction between the proclamation of heat safety week uh with the fact that the ordinance does not allow the erection of temporary structures such as tables, tents, and chairs. These are vital to protect the elderly and young who do engage at these protests from the heat of the Charleston summer. It allows us to set up aid stations and water stations and to keep them safe from the uh beatdown of the Charleston summer sun. So, just to add to the list of reasons why the ordinance needs to be repealed. Thank you,

Chris Title. Good evening. My name is Chris Tiddle. I'm a resident of West Ashley, District 7, and I urge you to consider repealing the unnecessary undemocratic first amendment demonstration ordinance. In October 2024, I engaged in what literally millions of American citizens have done since this ordinance was passed, which was participate in a peaceful demonstration. A sunny afternoon in Marian Square where several do dozens of us gathered. Police were on site the entire time. Demonstrators obeyed all lawful orders. The police repeatedly affirmed that we were okay to be there, that we communicated professionally with police. And yet, after the demonstration concluded peacefully, and as people were leaving, I was singled out, detained, and charged with violating the First Amendment demonstration ordinance. To be clear, I was charged with no other crime simply for being at a protest that did not have a permit on it. This is a crime that is subject to 30 days in jail. I spent over a year with those charges hanging over my head until the city prosecutor decided to dismiss the charges presumably because they're not willing to

argue them in court. I urge you to consider repealing this ordinance, especially at a time when our voting rights are being stolen. that only exists because people used their voice. Thank you, Heath Ellison.

Hello, my name is Heath Ellison. Uh I'm a resident of West Ashley, District 7. Um I am also voicing my support for repealing the First Amendment ordinance. Uh in the 10 years I've lived here, uh I have fallen in love with this city and the history that it represents and seeing this ordinance passed feels like we are losing so much of what has made the city important, which is the fact that so much has been fought for and protested for. I ask that uh you please repeal that. Um also, I did not appreciate seeing you two talk when my friend was speaking. Thank you,

Myra Pollson. Good evening. My name is Mara Pollson. I live at 22 Laurens Street. And first of all, thank y'all for reigning the streets on President's Behind the Veterans Hospital and putting reflectors. That's a whoop whoop. Today I want to talk about uh public docks or peers there the merit time. I just learned I've been down here since 2019 and I just learned that I could go fish off of those docks. But the people the boats that probably lease this thing anyway, they not going to be happy with me down there fishing off where they dock to get tourists onto their boats. And there's nothing down there that says that that's those do two docks are public and giving any kind of safeties for anybody to be down there fishing. I live in a 65 plus apartment complex and I feel sure there's a lot of gentlemen that's in there that would love and I know I would to go be able to go down there and fish and not and feel like that I belong there. Thank you,

Robin Condan. My name is Robin Condan. I am the founder of the Charleston Visibility Brigade. You've probably seen our protest signs while driving under the pedestrian bridge of the Septima Clark Expressway. The Visibility Brigade's First Amendment rights are routinely challenged by Charleston City Police despite our signs being in accordance with city ordinance section 19-441. We do not attach to the bridge. We do not block pedestrian traffic. Our protest signs are handheld. And in nine months of protesting, there have been no accidents. We are not a safety issue. I remind city police, city solicitors, and city council tonight that to keep a democracy, you must protect and serve the First Amendment. Daniel Cleveland Hi everyone, my name is Daniel Cleveland and I wanted to speak today on the first amendment ordinance. This ordinance is a violation of our first amendment rights and judgments from supporting cases. Heg verse committee for industrial organization and US first grace agree. Furthermore, the city has challenged folks under this ordinance but have never taken anyone to court because they understand it is unconstitutional. I also want to speak on my experience safety marshalling nearly every event this year in the low country. I can deal with agitators, but what I can't deal is with police agitating. I've had to stop anyone, whether they are participating

in a protest or just walking through Marian Square to let them know they can't wear a scarf, even if it's cold or they'll be arrested. Please stop flying drones over our heads at protests. Please stop sending anxious horses to do unnecessary crowd control. Please stop manufacturing a climate of aggression and repression. Learn from the police of North Charleston. We held a protest of over 3,000 people with no permit, no cops, and no incident. Thank you. And we'll go to our online list. And if you're online, you can press star six to unmute yourself. Anthony G. Bryant.

G Bryant. Anthony G. Bryant. President EG Bryant Inc. regarding Charleston County and school districts in our conversation in terms of my opposition to the TIFF district which you're involved with option to the curfew which you're involved with and our concerns with the lack of planning incentives and permits to mitigate adverse effects regarding uh this curfew which has now become a statewide issue with S85 which is databases that go back to the 1970s. That's a main concern. Dominion Energy Corporation. I made public comment there. You had no involvement in that. We went from $20 to $11. So our citizen citizens are down $11 without your your your involvement. You're more concerned about trees and you're concerned about people's bills this summer. So I I don't like hypocrisy. Let's be real. If you got a problem AG Brackley Banking, my company, just let me know and send a letter. Have a nice day.

All right. And those that was everyone who signed up to speak. We did receive some comments online. One comment was received from Zack Biti opposed to government intervention and private enterprise. One comment was received from Jake Thomas urging council to vote against the proposed amendment concerning petticap operating decals. Six comments were received from employees of petty capab companies expressing their positive relationship with their employers and work experience. And two comments were received from Mr. Bryant which were sent to council in full. And those are all the comments we received.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. All right, we're now on to petitions and communications. We have the reappointment of three municipal judges. Judges Bird, Judge Ferguson, and Judge Shade. Can I entertain a motion? Second.

Motion made, properly seconded. Any further discussion on this? If no further discussion, all in favor signify by saying I. Opposed? Eyes have it. Want to thank those judges for all their work. Um, we were going to have uh a presentation on the King Street bid. Unfortunately, uh, Miss Amy Barrett, who is the executive director, had something that called her away tonight and she is rescheduling that, I think, to the next meeting. So, that is now uh no longer an agenda item. Uh, I'd now like to call on Councilman McBride for uh special recognition on uh Keep Charleston Beautiful. Council member McBride.

Mr. Mayor, thank you for the opportunity. Uh this is uh the reason I'm doing this is because this is a significant effort on John's Island. Um and keep Charleston Beautiful is uh we got Darby Reed here. Um, you can you guys can stand up and Marlo from uh, adopt the highway and Joel Olg who is a resident of John's Island who I was just getting up on the D. We we're going to celebrate. This is good stuff.

I was just getting a lot of uh, complaints for trash collecting along on John's Island on our roads and um, just over time and there's not a lot of easy ways to to do it. And uh, Mr. Ogle, he asked me a while back to to ask for uh the city to help out cleaning the John's Island City Park on John's Island. And that's when I learned and met Darby for the first time and saw the effort that she puts in with keep Charleston beautiful. Um did a fabulous job with Joel and a whole bunch of volunteers on the John's Island City Park a few months ago. And then I again was getting complaints about all the trash collecting along the roads which are state roads. Nope. you know, not a lot of sidewalks, not a lot of multi-use paths, which is why the trash collects there more than other places. So I reached out to Darby again and uh county councilman Joe Boyin and because so much of it is in the in the county not in the city and Joe told me about Marlo who works with uh adopt a highway and also with Charleston County and uh reached out to Charleston police team 3 Lieutenant Odell um because to get volunteers to clean the trash along the roads with no sidewalks, we need police protection to protect them. And I just asked Darby and Marlo to see if they can come up with a plan to to clean up as many roads as possible on John's Island. And wow, did they um they came up with a plan to clean up six simultaneous locations on John's Island on River Road, North and South River Road, uh Cane Slash, Main Road, May Bank, U and advertised and we got almost 200 volunteers and Charleston Police Team 3 protected all the different areas and escorted the volunteers um and we ended up collecting uh just in like three or four hours about 3,000 lbs of crash on John's Island. So, it was uh an unprecedented coordination of the especially the six locations. I know Darby's been working and Marlo's been

working for for a long time doing this, but the amount of coordination it took to do those six locations at one time was just astounding and it really made us a very big impact on John's Island. And I I think we're going to continue to try to do it every six months or so. So, just the the collaboration from city to county. I just wanted to ask uh Darby to come up and just talk about uh that effort and also what what what you all are doing and and again and Joel is not with the city or the county. He's just a rep a citizen on John's Island and just he picks up trash all the time everywhere. So I wanted to call his attention up as well. Yeah, John's Island, the John's Island cleanup was a super large success and it was because of that successful event that we had the idea to do the greatest Charleston cleanup. Um, which was a large communitywide cleanup in every section of the city. Um, and the goal for these events were not just to remove litter, but they were to bring community together. And I think that these events have been so impactful because it proves what is possible when community comes together. So these events have been great because we've been able to work with local community members, local organizations and groups and have them really identify what areas needed to be cleaned. We have had council member support, Charleston city police support, as well as county sheriff support that allows us to get to these hard-to-reach places. um and really ensure that these are safe and impactful events. And then it's just proven that we've had hundreds of community members who have come out and they want to help and they want to take care of where we live and work and play and keep our community um clean. So yeah, they've all been great events and it's all thanks to Marlo from Adopt a Highway, Joel, um, and the efforts that

we had on John's Island. And we'll be doing West Ashley and downtown next. Love it. Give them all a round of applause. Good picture. You don't mind hanging out a little bit longer. Thanks guys. Really appreciate it. Good stuff.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Absolutely. Absolutely. That's good stuff. Um, okay. We are now on the consent agenda items. We have two committee reports. like to call on committee on recreation, Council McBride. Yes. So, we um just had a couple of agenda items. Let's see if I can find my spot here. Yeah, no action on these. Yeah, no action on anything. just talked about the um updates on the Steven Washington Park funding and um the coach Stanley Chisum Park um the pros and cons for potential rugby and just other programming going on there. That's it.

Okay. Uh Councilman Appel, Chairman Appel on community development. Anything you want to report out? not plugged in here. Sorry.

Um yeah, we had a good discussion. Um staff's already working on a lot of things uh that we can do to improve our processes. And um we discussed um having staff bring some of those back to us this summer when they're ready to CD for us to talk about them and move some ordinances forward for this full council to consider at the appropriate time. And the goal here is to strike the right balance between um architectural um design and historic preservation, but also ensuring that we're not putting up too many roadblocks that are preventing West Ashley revitalization from actually happening. And so I'm really excited about that and look forward to uh more to come on that. And that concludes my report. Thank you.

All right. We are now on to actual committee reports and would call on um Councilman Sheileley, public safety.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh the committee on public safety met on April 28th at 4 p.m. Uh we unanimously approved to submit three applications for grants and we approved receiving three grants as well. Uh the police and fire department also received approval on the city on the Charleston County Consolidated 911 Center Intergovernmental Agreement to continue the public safety agency emergency communication consolidation under the Charleston County Consolidated Emergency Communications Center. Um of course, as you know, we uh had the approval of Judge Bird, Judge Shade, and Judge Ferguson to uh be reappointed as municipal uh court judges. And um then we have a u an ordinance that we will also after I give this report will need to take first reading. Madame clerk um the um but the for the police department uh I'm sorry here we go. an ordinance to amend chapter 20 article 1 section 20-4A of the code of the city of Charleston to provide for the position of bond court judge who shall be elected by the city council and serve a term of four years and to further amend chapter 20 article 1 by adding a new subsection 20-4C whereby the bond court judge shall report to the chief judge of the municipal court and oversee the judicial operations of the municipal court bond court hearings and perform such related duties as may be required by law or to promote the efficiency of the municipal court. And I that concludes my report. I would ask for the adoption of this report, please.

Motion made, properly seconded. Any further discussion on public safety report? If none all those in favor signify by saying I I eyes have it. I'd like to call on Councilman Wearing. We need to Do we need to vote on the first? No, that includes I was just going to say that includes the first reading of the ordinance. Yes. Thank you. Okay. So, now call on Chairman Wearing for Public Works and Utilities.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I'd like to call your attention to agenda items four, two, I'm two, and four. Agenda items C 2 and four. Um, these have been approved through uh ways and means, but um these brick arch uh projects in the city of Charleston, when they fail, we get big sink holes, streets get blocked, and this uh partnership between the uh core of engineers and the city of Charleston just outstanding. Sometimes we kind of roll these things through uh like u it's just a natural order of things. That wasn't always the case. So kudos to relationship building. But anyway, um and obviously there's been a long time coming on Central Park Road drainage project and the one that's being done there is such a unique project and that it's just not pipes and drainage, but it's going to actually create a night unique little part uh in solving drainage of all things. So anyway, uh all items passed unanimous on the committee and I so move the adoption of the report.

Second. Motion made, properly seconded. Thank you for those words, Mr. Chairman. Any further discussion on this? If not, all those in favor adoption of the report signify by saying I. I. Opposed? Eyes have it. I would now like to call on council member chairman seekings for traffic and transportation committee report.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Fellow council members, please excuse my raspy voice. It's coming back. Um, the committee on traffic and transportation's had a number of meetings. The last one being April 23rd of 2026. Um there are a couple of items to discuss. The first one is item number three on our agenda which is also tonight on our agenda M9 for second reading. That's what's come to be known as the ebike ordinance which we passed on first reading at the last meeting. Um there have been a couple of adjustments and amendments made to that ordinance since first reading as requested by the committee and this council. We have made it clear that um multi-use paths and the such on Daniel Island are going to be off limits and there will be enforcement. Um the remainder will remain open. We will have a review of how it's working on Daniel Island to see if it needs to be expanded to multi-use paths in the rest of the city. Daniel Island will remain um as it is unless amended on this ordinance. We also um took out the um parking limitations on around the city. We we um deleted the deletion. Um that's back in. And then we amended the portion that addresses scooters to make it clear that scooters on roads of 25 miles an hour or less, not 30 miles an hour or less. So that is on our agenda tonight. M9 for second, third reading. We took up um the um extension of um operating decals for pettic cabs. We've been talking about for a long time. The committee unanimously recommended that we um extend by five and five years to um terms to extend those um existing decals at a rate to be determined through work with TNT, the TNT committee and ultimately city council. Um at our next meeting, um if you are at the TNT meeting, um just a reminder that this is really not just a pettic cab ordinance. This is in order supporting small business that are bricks and mortar um

businesses in the city of Charleston and giving them the opportunity to continue to succeed at by the way rates that are fair and make sense to the city. We are looking at doing a blended rate which will up the ante for the um cost of actually being permitted out there. That was um also passed unanimously. We had one request for public convenience of necessity for um Southern Screams, aka the Epic Express, that passed. We approved unanimously and we did it again tonight at Ways and Means the application to the US DOT for Safe Streets and Roads grant um of $4 million with a $1 million um grant. And I would also like to just um take a moment of um personal um reflection. our good friend and section head Robbie Somerville is not here again tonight as you know he has been struggling with his wife Tracy who's um had some health issues I'm happy to report she is no longer in the ICU in MUSC she has been moved to rehab but it is going to be a long and winding road any thoughts u prayers or whatever thing you do to call on a higher power to bring to the summer family would be greatly appreciated um and with that I would ask um approval of this Motion made. Can I get a second? Motion made probably seconded. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Any further discussion? If none, all those in favor signify by saying I.

I. Opposed? Eyes have it. That concludes the first reading of the petty cab ordinance. It does include the first reading of pettic cab ordinance. I now like to call on chairman of ways and means, Mr. Chairman Greg, for ways and means report. Move for approval. Motion made properly. going to love this. Uh any further discussion on ways and means? If not, all those in favor signify by saying I. Opposed eyes have it. Now on to Sorry, that includes all of the first readings under ways and means. That includes all the Right. Yes. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Uh we are now on to second readings. We have nine bills up for second reading. Mine I would move to take one through nine together for approval as amended. Second. We have a motion made probably seconded. Any further discussion on any of these nine. Uh I would like to note uh that um item number nine is our ebike ordinance and uh we've already seen some positive feedback on uh on Daniel. I've seen a lot of ebikes for sale on uh good news there. Uh the problem seems to be taking care of itself.

So yeah, apparently they're they're for sale for very cheap on Daniel Island. Thank you.

So we have a motion made properly seconded on these items. Any further discussion? If not, all those in favor signify approval by saying I opposed. Eyes have it. Uh, are we going to third reading? Motion made, properly seconded for third reading on these items, items one through nine. All those in favor signify by saying I opposed. Eyes have it. Okay, let's see. We've got one item up for first reading uh to accept amended restrictive covenants related to piece of property on John's Island that currently houses Trophy Lake. We've got Mr. Somerfield here or Miss Creech available if there are any questions on this. This is basically just to expand the uses that are allowed on the Trophy Lakes property. Uh but it's all within reason and nothing that would be I think offensive or um problematic with the neighborhood that does surround it. Council member Bride, you want to say a few things?

Sure. For those that don't know, there's uh Charleston Aqua Park is on the Trophy Lakes right now. It's a private business that uh does all kinds of great uh aqua events and stuff for families. Um the way the covenant was written 40 years ago, it's very restrictive as to not allowing anything other than that and all that this modification allows is to add like paddle ball courts which is similar to pickle ball and you know beach volleyball, things like that, other recreation activities. So it makes it a more uh fun place for people to come and have a good time when John's on. Okay, we need a motion on that.

Move slowly. Second.

We have a motion made, properly seconded. Any further discussion on that while I sign my name? If not, all those in favor, please signify by saying I. Opposed? Eyes have it. Okay. Okay. I think that is it. The next city council meeting, our next regular council meeting will be held on Mar 26. If there is nothing more to come before this body, I call this meeting