City Council - Regular Meeting

Thank you for doing this. Good evening. We like to uh start a North Charleston City Council city hall council meeting for November 13, 2025. May we all rise for the invocation that will be said by Councilman Councilwoman Charmaine Palmer Roberts, doctor, and then we'll do the pledge of allegiance.

If all hearts and minds are clear, Father God, we thank you for another day to come together in unity, God, to lead your city. Thank you for all those that are assembled here. Let us have a productive meeting. Let us also remember those who cannot be in attendance. Bless those in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Amen. Uh before we get uh started, uh it was Veterans Day and I'd like any veterans in the house to stand. Thank you'all. [applause] [applause]

Thank you for your service. We'll have the new employees. When I call your name, please come to the front. Executive Department Karen Thrower, Police Dcoin Brown, Devon Ner, Jeremy Coast, Jaylen Managot, Juan Monslaw, Howard Thomas, Facilities, William Wright, Fire, Miss Abernathy, Public Works, Joine Blake, Recreation, Robert Krueger, and Denzel Meyers. Hey, good evening. Um, say welcome to the city of North Charleston and um, I know first day on employment. Some of you guys look like you've been here before, but welcome also. Um, if you turn around, that is a council member and the mayor. Uh it's good to know them. Uh come budget time. Um and um but these folks out here, these are one of the the greatest people you can become acquainted with and that is folks you're going to be working for. That is constituents for the city and also the folks who comes through the cities. I think you're probably looking at on a daily base that they said roughly it's about 250,000 people tour within the cities. So I know we don't sell anything. The most thing we do is give service and that's what I think we're expecting from each one of you guys. And I know that what you would be expecting from anyone also. So I want to say thank you. Welcome city North Charleston. And I know that the mayor have something to we would like to say to you guys also.

Uh just welcome aboard. Um just like like Councilman Brown stated, when you look at the citizens out there, that's your number one priority. number one priority uh to take care of them. You may not always get it right, but at least try to do right by them. God bless you. And if you don't want to, you don't have to stay. But if you can't, if you want to, you can. But do whatever you want to do. But God bless you. Welcome.

Thank you. [applause] Our first item on the agenda is a request to approve the city council minutes from the October 23rd, 2025 city council meeting. Move for approval. Second. We have a motion in a second. Any changes or corrections? Hearing none. Madam clerk, please call the role. Mr. Jones, I. Dr. Ganway Paisley, I. Dr. Palmer Roberts, I. Mr. MD, hi. Miss Brown, I. Mr. Hudson. Hi, Mr. Skipper. Hi, Mr. Brown. Hi,

Mayor Burgess. Hi. We have the final reading of an ordinance authorizing the approval of a short-term parking lease with the Boeing Company for a minimum of 36,000 a month. Move for approval. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussions? Hearing none, madam clerk, please call the role. Mr. Rome, I. Dr. Ganoway Paisley. Hi. Dr. Palmer Roberts. Hi. Mr. MD. Hi. Miss Brown. Hi. Mr. Hudson. Hi. Mr. Skipper. I, Mr. Brown. I, Mayor Burgess. I,

we have the final reading of the ordinance authorizing the mayor or his designate to execute a termination of revision reversion of property in the limited warranty deed for the parcel of land known as the former Shakura Elementary School, Charleston County TMS number 46912, parcel 115. Move approval. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussions hearing? None. Madam clerk, please call the role. Mr. Rome, I. Dr. Gan Paisley, I. Dr. Palmer Roberts, hi. Mr. MD, hi. Miss Brown, I. Mr. Hudson, hi. Mr. Skipper, hi. Mr. Brown, I. Mayor Burgess,

I. We have the final reading of an ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute a quick claim deed and any and all documents necessary and appropriate to transfer 0.950 acres of surplus property to eat and aerospace for the appraised value of 28,000 to allow expansion of existing facilities located in the city of North Charleston. Move for approval. Second. We have a Oh, [clears throat] okay. Sorry. We have a motion to second. Any discussion hearing? Now, madam clerk, please call the role. Mr. Rum. Hi. Dr. Ganway Paisley. Hi. Dr. Palmer [clears throat] Roberts. Hi. Mr. MD. Hi. Miss Brown. Hi. Mr. Hudson. Hi. Mr. Skipper. Hi. Mr. Brown. Hi.

Mayor Burgess. Hi. We have the first reading of an ordinance reszoning the property addressed at 1629 Sar Avenue, Charleston County, TMS number 47101, parcel 8 from R1 single family residential to R2 multif family residential and council district 8.

Good evening, uh, mayor and councel. Uh first resoning on the agenda is a requo request to reszone 1629 Sumar Avenue from R1 single family residential to R2 multifamily residential. Uh this property is located in Council District 8. [clears throat] You can see the property here highlighted in the blue outline. Um uh sorry, right there. Um, currently the property is being used as a single family home. As you can see by the zoning map, the property is currently zoned R1 and all adjacent zoning is currently R1 as well. Subject property is designated traditional neighborhood development. R2 zoning would be consistent with this designation which is applied to areas of the city to provide for and or sustain higher density neighborhoods with smaller lots and a mix of housing types. The principal use for this designation is mixed residential typical of urban neighborhoods including single family residential development on smaller lots, attached residential structures such as duplexes and town homes and small scale multifamily development. Uh you can see the the green here denotes that traditional neighborhood development subject property seen here in the photo. Can you see the single family residential uh single family house that currently exists and these are adjacent properties. Uh it's the property is located in the Charleston Farms neighborhood which is situated along Remount Road and north of Interstate 526. The area is developed with a mix of single and multifamily residential uses. Staff's recommendation uh is approval. Given that the uh given support from the comprehensive plan and the residential

character of the neighborhood, staff is recommending approval of the proposed resoning of the property from R1 single family residential to R2 multifamily residential. The planning commission also recommended approval of the resoning uh at their October 13th meeting uh 4 to 1. Okay. Without objection, this item will be referred to the public safety committee for further review and consideration. Our next item on the agenda is the first reading of an ordinance reszoning the properties addressed as 1628 and 1634 Sumar Avenue, Charleston County, TMS number 47314, parcel 99 and parcel 100 from R1 single family residential to R2 multif family residential in council district 8. This proposed resoning uh is across the street from the prior resoning here along uh Sumner. The request is to reszone from R1 single family residential to R2 multifamily residential. You can see the two parcels here outlined in blue across the street from the prior resoning. Again, the zoning map shows the current zoning of the properties being R1 and the surrounding zoning of the properties being R1 as well. Subject properties are designated traditional neighborhood development. R2 zoning would be consistent with this designation which is applied to areas of the city to provide for and or sustain higher density neighborhoods or smaller lots. uh you it's the same uh designation uh as the last one. The R2 designation would be consistent with traditional neighborhood development.

You can see the subject property here in the photos. Uh it's currently a single family home. The adjacent properties are part of the Charleston Farms neighborhood which is situated along Remount and north of Interstate 526. The prop the area is developed with a mix of single family and multif family residential. You can see here in the photos. Uh while the properties to the north and east of zone R1, they are functioning as legally non-conforming apartment complexes. Given the given the subject property's location in proximity to surrounding multifamily residential uses and the support from the comprehensive plans, staff is recommending approval of the proposed reszoning of the properties from R1 single family residential to R2 multifamily residential. The planning commission uh at their October 13th MI uh meeting also recommended approval to city council uh unanimously. Without objections, um this item will be referred to the public safety committee for further review and consideration.

Our next item is the first reading of an ordinance reszoning the properties addressed as 5523 and 5525 Adaway Street, Charleston County TMS numbers 47314 parcel 81 and parcel 80 from R2 single family residential to B1 limited business in council district 8. This proposed resoning is uh here same general vicinity as the last two uh properties are highlighted in blue here outline. The current zoning of these properties is R2. They are requesting B1 limited business. You can see the yellow, darker yellow or orange uh is the R2 zoning. Lighter yellow is R1. This blue here is B1 zoning that currently exists in the neighborhood. Subject properties are also designated traditional neighborhood development. Uh this uh applies to the Charleston Farms neighborhood which is where this these properties are located. Uh there's a mix of housing types that uh are supported single family residential on smaller lots attached residential structures, duplexes, town homes, and uh smallcale multifamily uh development. The subject parcels are two cleared vacant lots. see here in the photos and the subject properties are surrounded uh by R1 as you saw in the the zoning map before to the north and west east across Adway Street and B1 to the south. The area is developed with a mix of residential uses and some limited business zoning. Given the subject property's location and proximity to surrounding residential uses and the lack of support from the

comprehensive plan, staff is recommending denial of the proposed resoning of the properties from R2 multifamily residential to B1 limited business. The planning commission at their October 13th meeting also recommended denial unanimously. Okay. Without objection, this item will be referred to the public safety committee for further review and consideration. The next item on the agenda is the first reading of an or ordinance reszoning the properties addressed as 2156 Midland Park Road, Charleston County TMS number 47816, parcel 64 from O neighborhood office to B1 Limited Business in Council District 2. the proposed resoning of the property at 2156 Midland Park uh from Owen to B1 Limited Business. You can see the property here uh on Midland Park Road just off of Rivers Avenue to the east. Property is currently zoned Oen and is developed with a commercial building on the property. zoning uh adjacent is mostly R1 some as well as uh M1. Here the subject property is designated mixed use which establishes a mixture of commercial and residential land uses located within close proximity to one another. Appropriate uses include offices, retail, multifamily and light industrial. See in the photos, the subject property is currently developed with a two-story office building seen here and here. The area is developed with a mix of residential zoning as well as some commercial zoning.

The mixeduse designation supports a mixture of commercial and residential land uses within close proximity. The existing neighborhood office zoning allows for businesses and professional offices. Staff believes the existing neighborhood office zoning is appropriate due to the parcel's location. Accordingly, staff is recommending denial of the proposed resoning of the property from O neighborhood office to B1 limited business. Uh the planning commission also recommended denial at their October 13th meeting uh 3 to two.

Without objection, this item will be referred to the public safety committee for further review and consideration. Next item on the agenda is the first reading of an ordinance reszoning properties addressed as 1161, 1165, and 1181 Wright Street, Charleston County TMS numbers 47103, parcel 43, parcel 38, and parcel 37 from M1 Light Industrial to R2 multif family residential and council district 10. The requested resoning uh as stated here are these three parcels off of Wright Street which is just uh to the east here of Rhett. Uh you can see the properties highlighted in blue. Currently they are vacant uh wooded lots uh that are zoned M1 light industrial. See the M1 zoning in the light purple. M2 is heavy industrial and there is some surrounding R1 zoning and B2 on North Rat. The subject properties are designated as traditional neighborhood development partially within the mixeduse corridor of North Rat Avenue. The mixeduse corridor supports a mixture of commercial and residential uses located within close proximity to one another. Uh traditional neighborhood development is applied to areas of the city to sustain higher density neighborhoods with smaller lots and a mix of housing types. It provides support for attached residential structures such as duplexes and town homes and small-cale multifamily development. The mixeduse corridor is denoted by the hatch here and it applies to all of 037 and part of 043.

Subject properties can be seen here as wooded lots in the photos. Properties are surrounded by some R1 zoning to the east and north across Wright Street, M1 to the east, B1 to the west, and R2 to the south. Given the subject property's location, the proximity of other residential uses, and support from the comprehensive plan, staff is recommending approval of the proposed reszoning of the property from M1 Light Industrial to R2 multifamily residential. Planning Commission at their October 13th meeting also recommended approval of the resoning 4 to one. Without objection, this item will be referred to the public safety committee for further review and consideration.

The next item on the agenda is the first reading of an ordinance reszoning the property address. That's 2737 Dancler Drive, Charleston County TMS number 486, parcel 16 from R1 single family residential to neighborhood office in council district 3. The requested resoning is from R1 to01 neighborhood office. Subject property is located here at the curve uh of Dancler Drive just uh around the bend. It's currently a cleared vacant lot. As you can see here with the zoning you can uh property zoned R1 denoted by the light yellow. O is directly adjacent on Dancler Drive. The subject property is designated as suburban residential which is applied to areas of the city where the city intends to sustain lower density neighborhoods. The principal use of land within these designated areas is low density single family residential development with large yards and open space. See here that light tan. It's just outside of the mixeduse quarter of University Boulevard. Subject property is currently a clear vacant lot as you can see here in the photos. and the area is developed with single family residential uses along with some commercial uses along University Boulevard and Dancler Drive. The future land use designation for this parcel is suburban residential which does not support the requested resoning. Given the lack of support of the comprehensive plan and the and the residential character of Dancler Drive, staff is recommending denial of the proposed resoning of the property from R1 single family residential to

neighborhood office. The planning commission at their October 13th meeting also recommended denial uh unanimously. Without objection, this item will be referred to the public safety committee for further review and consideration. So, uh the next item on the agenda is a text amendment. Uh, it's an ordinance to amend sections 32 5. Oh, sorry.

That's not Yeah, that was a test. Okay. Thank you, buddy. I'm sorry. Thanks, Jim. Thank you.

We have five speakers tonight. When I call your name, please come to the front. State your name and address for the record, and you will have three minutes to speak. Timothy Potter.

[clears throat]

Good evening, mayor and council members. My name is Timothy Potter, and I'm here for the second time because my family and I have been failed by the very department that swore to protect us. On October 11th, on our quiet culde-sac became a scene of chaos. Several criminals came to our neighborhood and recklessly fired their weapons, damaging my car and my [clears throat] home. My wife, my four-year-old son, and I were terrified. Since that night, we've lived with the constant fear that those dangerous men might return. But what made things worse is not just the violence. It's the response from our police department. From the beginning, the investigation has been handled with negligence. Reports were incomplete. Detectives were slow to follow up. Promises made by the chief of police have gone unfulfilled. from the at one point I was even told by an officer not to paint a target on my back to avoid retaliation against my home. But in the same conversation, I was told to go doortodoor myself to ask my neighbors, excuse me, to ask my neighbors for evidence and video of the incident.

[snorts]

Why should I, a taxpayer, a victim of gunfire, do the investigative work that trained, salaried officers are supposed to handle? Then on October 27th, I received another blow, a phone call from the detective saying the case was being closed due to inadequate information. The same detectives that haven't yet come to meet with me yet. Just the next evening at a police town hall meeting at Royal Baptist Church, we were told the case was still active. Which is it? Who's being honest with the citizens of this city? My family doesn't feel safe. We don't feel heard and we certainly don't feel protected. I'm standing here tonight because I refuse to let my family safety be demised by poor communication, lack of accountability, and empty promises. I ask this council and the mayor to ensure what happened to us and how it's been handled is reviewed seriously. We need transparency, professionalism, and genuine action from our police department because at the end of the day, my family deserves to live without fear just like every other family in North Charleston. Thank you for listening.

Thank you, Mr. Potter. Rajie Gillard. Afternoon, kings and queens, ladies and gentlemen, esteemed members of North Charleston City Council and fellow citizens. Today I stand before you to address a matter that is is not just vital but foundational to our shared values and the very fabric of our community. The importance of integrity and the unwavering need to uphold our bylaws and the laws of the state of South Carolina. and an error where respect for our laws seems increasingly tenuous. We must confront insidious forces of racism and nepotism that threatens to undermine our moral values and dismantle the trust that bind us as a community. Integrity is more than just a word. This is a commitment. A commitment not just to the law but to one another as individuals who share this space and its life. It demands accountability and transparency. a refusal to allow personal biases, connections, or prejudices to dictate the enforcement of justice. Our bylaws and state laws are designed to protect every citizen, to ensure fairness, and to foster the community where everyone feels safe and respected. When those tasked with upholding these laws turn a blind eye to injustice or allow the scales of justice to tip based on the color of someone's skin, we all suffer. It is deeply concerning when those who apply the law display a blatant disrespect for it. How can we expect our citizens to uphold the laws when they see that it does not apply equally to all? The erosion of truth in our enforcement

of laws is not merely a legal issue. It is a moral crisis. Consider, if you will, a scenario that would easily happen to anyone here. Imagine your son or your daughter who find themselves in a defensive position trying to fend off a vicious attack from someone wielding a steel pipe. They've been a subtle repeatedly with and by and their torso head while being choked unconscioned. Yet after the chaos, they're called back to the scene of the accident after being struck by a semitr by the North Charleston Police Department and no arrest is made. Instead of providing justice and protected protections, officers laughed and make a mockery of the situation. Filing a false police report, committing obstruction, and tampering with video evidence simply because of the hue or the color of a person's skin and finding satisfaction through racism, would you feel safe? Would you be feel respected? Would you feel that our community, our laws, our leaders genuinely protect you and your loved ones? I think not. It is our responsibility as leaders and citizens alike to demand that our laws are applied uniformly and that our moral compass guides our action. Accountability and transparency must be our victors in the struggle against these soci societal maladies which is struggles. We must take a stand against racism and nepotism not only because they are wrong but because they erode the trust necessary for unity within our community. We must challenge each other to foster a culture where integrity prevails, where every citizen is treated fairly and where no one is above the law. As council members and stewards of this community, I implore you reflect on our commitment to integrity and your role in ensuring that our laws uphold the values we cherish.

Time, I think. Can you allow me to finish, please? Mayor, how long you have, Mr. Just maybe another minute and I'm and I'm done. Okay, I'll let you do that. I appreciate it. Okay, go ahead.

Let us support policies that encourage accountability and let us create pathway to transparency that expose and eliminate the shadows where corruption and injustice thrive. Together we can build the trust that is crucial critical and crucial for unified North Charleston where every individuals feels valued and safe no matter their background. The time for change is now. Let us be the champions of integrity, defenders of justices and the guardians of unity in our beloved community. So I say to you, Mayor Burgess, what type of sacrifice are you willing to make? Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son, but God provided a ram in the bush. And I say to you, don't ambush your ram in the bush for others. The journey that God has you on isn't meant for everybody, especially if you have to sacrifice your integrity for others. And with that being said, good night to each and every one of you, gentlemen.

Okay. One one thing and and you can leave after this. Yes, sir. I just want to make a correction or maybe I got it wrong. Okay. Okay. You stated that you were hit by a North Charleston vehicle. No, sir. Okay. That's that's not what I stated. I stated that North Charleston Police Department came to the scene. The truck that hit me already left the scene. It wasn't. They were called back to the scene by North Charleston Police Department. You saw it. I saw it. The legal council saw it. Your armed bossman saw it. Whereas while we were sitting there,

the witness stated inside the video that we were waiting, not that I exit the truck. There's no sign of me jumping on top of the truck as written in the police report. And I'm asking you, yeah, to do what is right as mayor. Don't don't don't allow your judgment to be for some. Allow it to be for all. And that's where I'm at today. All right. Well, Major Aken is back there, the same one that worked on the case, and we'll give you update on it. We were actually we we went to the judge and he kind of told us some things. So, we were going to contact you anyway, but we got you. We got you. I just didn't want to make sure that it folks would know that it wasn't any of our vehicles that hit you. That's all I want. No, it wasn't your vehicle. All right, cool. Thank you. Thank you.

Your officers didn't arrest anyone for the vehicle that left the scene of the accident and came back once called them back to the scene. Yes, sir. For that, my voice must be heard. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Sir, thank you. Mr. Gillard. Gillard. Mr. Can you state your name and address for the record? Minister Gillyard. Ro J. Gillyard, 4338 Perdue Drive, North Charleston, South Carolina 29418. All right. Thank you. We're going to call you now. Okay. I'll be glad if you call. Okay. All right. Only thing I want is what Okay. All right.

Monica. Mommy. I am Monica Mummy, 2466 Vistavia Road, North Charleston 29406. I would like to introduce the rest of my community that came in support tonight of Mr. Potter um in the shooting on B Bo Bordeaux Court. I'm here to address that shooting. had occurred in my neighborhood over a month ago. Mr. Potter and I were here at the last meeting and shared our concerns. We've been told it would be addressed and it has not. We were told cameras would go up by Monday. Monday has come and gone and we still don't have any cameras. I was told today that they were going to be up today. I actually went out there before coming in. That's why I looked like this. I came straight from work and took pictures of the pole that the camera is supposed to go up on. And I have a picture of a pole with no cameras. If anybody wants to see them when I'm done, I'll be glad to show you the blank poll. Um, I have I've been told that there are delays. Well, this is over a month old. If the city would pay CPI, CPI would have had cameras out in 48 hours. So, over a month is a bit extensive for a time frame when there's been a shooting in a quiet residential neighborhood. Um, the police have evidently been making more rounds than we're aware of, but we were we were told that they would be making more trips through this area. We don't have that on our cameras. Um, this is hard because there was a four-year-old that could have been shot in this incident and it makes both Mr. Potter and myself kind of shake with anger and it kind of makes me wonder, who is the city protecting? We have an obviously suspicious home that has obviously bizarre behavior going on where they have people sitting in cars watching what's going on and looking for

any kind of people coming up to approach them. I walk my dog. They now have two big dogs in the backyard that act as watchd dogs. As soon as you come by pedestrian or vehicle, they alert. It's easy to train a big dog to alert. I mean, this is like a huge w Rottweiler and another big dog. Um, we had patrols at Halloween. I never saw him go down Bordeaux. I've been making this an effort of my own to be there to look for these things. Walk my dog 45 minutes, three miles every day. There I was passed three times by a police officer on Wednesday. Never once did I see anybody go down Bordeaux. Um, the white car involved in the shooting has been back on the scene. The five males that jumped the fence on Bill's property have been back at the scene. If this camera was up, you would have proof with license plates and these five men jumping over fences, through privacy fences, and into private properties. We would not still be worried about our children and our community members being shot up. These people had a rifle. whether it was an AR or whether it was a rifle with a modifier on it, it was able to rapid fire over 20 rounds to the point where I couldn't speak last time I was here because I listened to that gunfire again and it was so distressing. And you guys know it's hard to make me shut up, but I I couldn't follow my chain of command. Delays are not a legitimate excuse. And I really don't feel like coming from the chief that that's the right thing to be telling us at this point. the duty officer told us if we wanted to have police available, we would have to pay an offduty police officer to be present. And then he said, "Well, that's not they shouldn't have said that." Well, that woman, that duty officer was speaking truth because if we really wanted a police officer in the area, we would have to pay an offduty police

officer despite us all paying taxes and providing your salaries and their salaries. We just want to be kept safe. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. Dr. Justin Bufort.

Uh, I have a a copy of an email that I would like to uh give to everyone up there if I can walk up there.

Name and address, please. Dr. Justin Buett, 3945 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston, South Carolina 29405.

I'm Dr. Justin Buford, a graduate of North Charleston High School and still a North Charleston uh citizen still to this day. Last time I stood inside this spot, I was receiving a proclamation for my own day back inside 2018, which is the fourth Saturday in June every year called Be Yourself Day. I was made aware of a email that was sent out to several principles that I feel defended my company's name. Each of you have been given a copy of the section of the email referencing High Star Hoops. The North Charleston Rick department established a middle school basketball league approximately five years that included three schools, Morningside Middle, Northwoods Middle, and Jerry Zucker. This puts out kids at a disadvantage continuously playing the same kids. In my dissertation entitled Exploring Alternatives for Low Socioeconomic Student Athletes, that study was conducted specifically in North Charleston. It depicts this de demographic needs exposure more than anything. It was introduced to me to help combine our league with the wreck program league. I chose to do so knowing that our company would suffer financially, but it would create more exposure for our kids. This email was sent the principles that we brought to your league. I feel this email painted a painted a stereotype that gives a negative connotation to our company when we elevated a weekend program. For example, we took that same middle school league from six teams to 24 teams. We brought those 18 teams. Another example, we collaborated and conducted a free clinic with my name on it. In April of this year, over 120 kids showed up. Another clinic, free clinic was conducted. A month later,

another another clinic was conducted. Uh, a month later, less than 10 kids showed up. We are asset to this community. As you know, there's no football program. There's no recreation football program because of the community the community and department's disconnect. This is unheard of inside any other city. I believe Charleston to be the standard for other cities to follow. Basketball is headed in that same direction and we've tried to collaborate. Our athletic program lacks familiarity with the history of our community and where our community is going. I'm a proud product of Halen Gates. I've I've established relationships across the tri county area because I played basketball in Star Hall, Northwoods, Ferndale, Danny Jones, the outside courts such as Daz Hill, Union Heights, North Park Village, up to Peppa Hill. The reason why I'm sadness is because as a black man, that's all I have is my reputation and my name. And I can't afford implicit bias. I wanted to let you know that it hurts. I believe to be important to this community, and I was devalued. I take this email as the highest level of unpre unprofessionalism. Unprofessionalism in comparison to my uh contributions to the city. Can I uh please continue? I have few more questions have questions that don't necessarily have to be answered, but these this is what I like to say to the board. Why are we dividing and the goal is to come together? Two, can we immediately retract this email and can we receive a public apology for mentioning our name in a negative connation insinuating we do not have great working relationships with these with these uh middle schools and we currently have 16 middle schools returning back to our league in this December. For the record, I applied for a position to be a part of the recreation pro uh recreation department because I felt that all three of my degrees supplement the population that

we are trying to serve. I was interviewed, never heard anything back. As I conclude, I leave you with a quote by Albert Einstein that sticks out to me in reference to our city. God doesn't play with dice. Um Justin, before you before you leave, thank you. Uh the second thing you asked for was the retraction of this. Yes sir. Tom Khan current whoever this is not our a director. I have not chosen an athletic director. What we have right now is two deputy directors.

Yeah. Tom Kern from Han. Well he doesn't he doesn't represent the city of North Charleston. And I'll say this to you too. Young young man. My great-grandmother who was born in 1890s said this. A hint to the wise is sufficient. Don't let this rhetoric stop you from trying to change lives. Don't let this rhetoric see these things happen to try to derail you from doing the work that you've done. I've been in your life for a long time. And your brother, I know what you're trying to do. I know what you have done and we know that. So, continue to keep moving on and doing what you need to do to improve the quality of life for our young kids. Okay. Yes, sir. All right. Appreciate you.

You're welcome. Ronald Smith,

Ronald Smith, uh 3440, um a Peachy Street, now Charleston.

Yeah. I'm coming to you all a day because I wanted to um put something um in front of you all ahead of time. Positive eyes is having a Thanksgiving giveaway on next Saturday. Um and I would love to invite you all out to be able to come out. I will pass these flyers to Courtney and she can put in each one of you boxes. Um we also have a MLK lunchon that's going to be in January. Um it's all about bringing MLK back. You know what I mean? About bringing the people together. Um this is our second one. Um last year was very successful. Um we looking for this year to be successful again and we talking about bringing everyone together. Next thing is our MLK parade. For the last two years we had it on the south side. Um this year it will be coming from the coliseum um and going to the CCSD um stadium and um it also will be we are putting together to be a nice show after show there. So I would love to invite you all out to be able to show your presence and then be able to announce your names. Um this is something that we are trying to do continue to do to bring everyone together to unite. Um this is a hard fight. uh left today from the state house and we were talking about juvenile crimes. Our city is hitting juvenile crimes hard. Also, I fight every day for our juveniles. I have a program that meets every Monday. I partnership with Department of Juvenile Justice. Um so, we fight all around helping juveniles to succeed. But what I have seen about juveniles is their emotions. Once the emotions get ahead of them, you can't control it. And when they can't control it, that's when gun violence kick. And I know that we all are hearing gun violence. I hear what they're saying. Um we also are certified um violence interrupterss. I still fight in the community the same way since I lost my daughter four years ago.

And that case have slap me in the face. But you know what? It keep on making me push harder. You know, sometimes we don't get what we want, but we have to try to figure out better ways. And I like that the state house recognize us today for the fight that we are doing. You know, someone kind of recognize that the fight we are doing in this city, people are seeing it. And all I ask is that the city council, y'all see the same thing that we are doing. Um, and also next thing, it's getting very cold out there. Looking at people sleeping in the cold again, it it makes me angry because I understand I not slept in the cold before and the weather that hit the other night was too cold and no shelters was open. I feel that we need to do something better for the city and trying to put something together for those people that sleeping on the streets because unless we going to have people just freeze to death. So, I'm here to say um thank you all for the work that y'all have doing so far. Let's continue to push the needle. Let's continue to make this city different. Thank you all.

Thank you, Mr. Smith. Okay. Any other business to come before the body? Mr. Mayor. Yes, ma'am.

I just wanted to update council real quick. Uh Darvis and the building team and myself, we met at Tunnel to Towers yesterday and they gave us a walk through. It's really going to be nice. It's actually up to 93 rooms now. summer one-bedroom studio, small, small, medium, and large. I mean, they have a penthouse in there. Okay. But each floor has its own lounge and its own case worker. Okay. Which I thought was really nice. But Mr. Somo said he would be happy to come back down from New York and let council come back anytime they want to.

Great. Um, another thing that Councilwoman Jerome did, she got us connected uh with Colombia. We took a road trip to Colombia. Uh, they have a uh a shelter for homeless

who house designed they actually uh they build many houses and they have uh inside like a gymnasium. Um on one side of the gymnasium they have about 20 to 39 beds and then another side they have about 60 beds and this is outside of the many uh the many houses and what happens is this. Now hear me out before you automatically think it doesn't work. What happens that they have uh they have a bus line that's dedicated to the five points to where the general assembly is at and all that downtown. What they do that bus takes all the homeless people that actually are registered uh and bring them back to offsite. Um let's say let's say we have an offsite near the neck area. Um just saying it's some place is huge that we can develop. All the the uh folks that homeless that's in the northern part of the city, central part of the city and southern part will get on our bus and go there. The men will sleep on the left side of the building which they have 24-hour security. They have an individual bed and the women will sleep on the right side and they have individual beds too. They don't meet each other. Well, outside of it, they have small mini homes that are built that are they're very awesome. This the thing that we had to question. What happens is the they have to be in by 10 really 9:30 at night, but in the morning they get back on the bus, they go back to the city. Don't don't get upset. Don't think, well, it's it's not productive. But what happens is this because they know that they have to come back to that living quarter. They get fed there. They have showers. They have round wraparound services. They

must come back to that place. Therefore, when the people in Colombia get ready to go out to eat at night to entertain, to have a look at a basketball game or whatever, the homeless people are going back to the shelters. We really thought and counciloman Jerome I I don't know how you found that but that was nice because they recognized that if we have a place for them to go and they know they have rules and regulations they will go and the people who were socialized in that you know outdoor life where they can get a a meal or or go to a movie they won't have to uh intermingle with people who basically rather be with themselves elves than with the populist community. Yeah. Thank you for, you know, getting us there. It was awesome.

I just have a brief statement, Mr. Mayor. Um, in reference to the town hall meeting that occurred a few weeks ago, um, there was a lot of talk and rhetoric on social media and in other platforms with regards to council members not being in attendance. First, let me state that I was not in attendance because I was not invited nor was I made aware of the town hall meeting. And proper decorum is that if you do not receive confirmation of attendance, never reserve seating. So, please never put a reserve sign for me if you've not received confirmation. Thank you.

All right. Um um good point there. Let's go back to history. Now when when Chief Jumalt was here, he had what we call uh meetings with the community and those meetings were at the end of the year and they talked about the crime in the city of North Charleston. The reason why he created that because in 200 between four and 2007 we were number number seventh in the nation number seventh in the nation for violent crime. He got with all the leaders and we started meeting and then we had a summit at the end of the year because of the violent crime. You're right councilwoman. Then when Chief Driggers became the chief, he started having meetings as well that was based off the Walter Scott shooting. History, folks. Then in 2019, I asked for a racial bias audit. That's when I start having my summits to talk about violent crime in our community. So she's right. We've normally not ever invited a council person unless they want to come on their own. We were inviting the citizens to be there to talk about the issues that they either felt needed to be addressed inside the communities or with law enforcement. And you're right, that's why it was never none of the council woman council people was ever asked to come. If they wanted to, they could. But it was a law enforcement and community function. So that's you're you're 100% right. 100% right. Um anything else to come before the body? Other than that, this meeting is a journ.

Go girl.