Town Council - Special Meeting

I'd like good good uh good morning everyone. I'd like to talk call this town council meeting of Thursday, December 18th, 2025 to order. Uh please join me in saying the pledge of allegiance for the flag to the flag of the United States. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Mr. Orlando. Do are there any changes to the agenda today? No, sir. All right. With that, is is there a motion to adopt the agenda? So move. Second.

All those in favor signify by raising your right hand. Six to zero. Um Kim, do we have Miss Tunner? I am here. Okay, great. Um, so Mrs. Becker's microphone is not working.

We'll share. We can share. Here's another one. Thank you for sharing. Thank you. Okay. Um to begin, we have unfinished business. Uh we have a consideration of an ordinance of the town of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, authorizing the sale of three parcels of real property owned by the town of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, located at 55 Main Street, One Automobile Place and 355 William Hilton Parkway, and providing for severability and an effective date. This is the second reading. Um Ben, may I move for approval? Second. Tim, do we have anybody signed up to speak on this agenda item?

Chat Williams. I do not see Mr. Williams. Who seconded? Uh, I put down Mr. Alfred. I go back and it's fine. Um, Ben, you just want to say a quick thing about this so we know just for the purpose.

Yeah, I'll go through this quickly. I'll provide brief background and conclude with next steps. This is the property that the town acquired in 2019. It was the old Honda dealership, the modern classic motors property. The town purchased it for economic development with general funds. In your staff report, it shows the purchase price. It shows the current appraised value. the at the direction of town council, the staff put out an RFP looking for a qualified purchaser to bring health care services to the property to serve the residents of Hilton Head Island and also to bring jobs, more jobs to the area. Novant Health submitted a very competitive proposal to acquire the property for $4,341,500 and to develop at least 2500 square ft of medical offices with the opportunity to expand another 15 uh,000 square feet which is consistent with the zoning to bring at minimum services to include but not in limited to urgent care, primary care, physical therapy, urology And uh what we have before you today is second reading of the ordinance. Uh was approved unanimously by town council at our last town council meeting. It has a due diligence period of about uh five four months and the town should be uh sold by the beginning of May. Uh there's a right of first refusal as well as a non-performance buyback agreement in the contract. Thank you.

Any comments or questions from council? Yes. I just had one quick comment. Go ahead. Um, I would like to ask is that we begin the work on the fiscal year 2027 budget that we look to use these proceeds to support additional economic development on the island. That's it. So noted. Thank you,

Miss Bryson. Yeah, I just want to say this is a very exciting uh day for us um to have second reading um on the sale of this property for important medical services for our community. Our community has been asking for more medical services and this rings that bell. So, I think we should be very excited about this. It's a good use for that property. Its location is a great location. Um and I look forward to seeing this project come to fruition. So, thank you,

M. Becker. As long as comments are being made, I just wanted to um say thank you to um Mark, Mr. Orlando, our town manager, and this council. Um back in 2019 when we purchased this, this was the exact reason why we as a council then made that decision, and here we are. So, thank you all for bringing it forward, making it happen, and um I hope that um we move smoothly through the due diligence, and we quickly seen this come to uh fruition. Thank you. It's also a favor favorable return on the town's investment. Yes, it is. Any other comments?

Mayor, wanted to just uh follow up on uh Councilwoman Tana's uh request slash comment. Um obviously this particular endeavor. It took years to turn around and sell to an appropriate u organization to fulfill a definite need here on Hilton Head. uh economic development shows up in our strategic plan. Uh something that we have said we want to be more involved in uh control our own destiny so to speak. Um so I agree wholeheartedly with her as we move into the next fiscal year's budget that we determine how we can place funds such as these into a place so that we can use them in the future for economic development.

And go ahead. And so if I can just follow up on that, um, absolutely agree with the concept of moving these forwards funds forward to, um, help along economic development for the town. Um, in that light though, I would like to also suggest and recommend that we begin to look at how we put together a committee of council members, staff to to to begin to create those ideas and look for those opportunities to bring um that economic development to fruition as well. So, um, I support and I'd like to add that additional piece.

Thank you. Any other? Seeing none, I just want to um say this real quick. Uh economic development, revital revitalization of dilapidated properties should be a focus of ours. And uh Miss Tunner, I I appreciate you saying that we put this money towards economic development because we need to pay close attention as to where we're going um in the future. And as we look at the LMO rewrite, it's imperative that we get it right. and that economic development is a forefront of our thoughts. Um, so with that said, we have a a motion by Mr. Brown, seconded by Mr. Alfred for the consideration of an ordinance of the town of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, authorizing the sale of three parcels of real property owned by the town of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, located at 55 Main Street, one Automobile Place, and 355 William Hilton Parkway, and providing for severability and effective date. All those in favor, please signify by raising your right hand or saying I.

I. 70. Thank you. Thank you, [clears throat] Ben. Uh, next we have consideration of an ordinance to the town of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, authorizing the issuance of general obligation debt, bonds, and providing for severability and effective date. This is the second reading. The finance administrative committee met on November 18th and voted 2:1 to forward this item to town council for review and consideration for approval. Town council met on December 9th and voted 6 to1 to approve, I'm sorry, 5 to2 to approve this item on first reading. Mr. heard. May move for approval. Second. We have a first and a second. Kim, has anybody signed up to speak on this agenda item? No.

Mr. Bur, if you just want to go quickly through this since we got a first and a second.

Okay. Uh, good morning, Mayor and Council. Um, merry Christmas. Um, just wanted to give you the highlights of what we have in front of us with the updated bot ordinance, which is really reflecting the language that was voted on uh a couple of weeks ago on December 9th to include uh proceeds being used to fund certain capital projects, including but not limited to the acquisition and renovation of certain land and existing improvements, if any, located at 9 Park Lane and Tim Park Lane for the new headquarters of Fire Rescue and Emergency Operations Center and the land acquisition cost for conservation purposes. So that has been amended in the title and in the first whereas in the bond ordinance based on the 52 vote we did have.

Y thank you. That's basically it. Any questions, comments from council? Miss Becker,

I just want to once again say that I support this in terms of um buying land to put into conservation and preservation for the future. Um, I do not support this. Um, with regard to setting aside funds as for specific or unknown CIP projects, I should go back and say I also support this in light of paying for and um, opening the new fire and rescue headquarters. Um, it's going to be back and forth. Apologize for that. had been and even if the event that I could support it wholeheartedly, I cannot support it at the um $35 million um bond level. So, just wanted to make sure I say that again um on the record.

Okay. Thank you, Miss Bryson. Um thank you for getting the amended language in writing. I I certainly support it. Appreciate that. It reflects our vote last time. Thank you. Any other comments or questions? All right, seeing none. Oh, Miss Mer. Yes. Yes. Sorry about that.

Um, uh, like Councilman Becker, I support a borrow of 25 million versus the 35 million. And as I anticipated, the scope of the use of funds was increased when we increase from 25 to $35 million to include additional capital projects. Uh, I believe we should strive to pay as we go for capital related projects, especially for those that are considered discretionary in nature. Um, so again, I'm supportive of 25 million and not the 35 and the expanded scope. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other comments? All right. Seeing none, we have consideration of an ordinance of the town of Hilton Island, South Carolina, authorizing the issuance of general obligation debt bonds and providing for severability and effective date. All those in favor, please signify by raising your right hand. Opposed, signify by raising your right hand or saying I. I. Okay. Passes five to two. New business. uh with with consideration of a resolution relating to the declaration of an intent of the town of Hilton Head Island to reimburse certain expenditures related to the issuance of town exempt bonds. The finance committee met on November 18th, voted 3 to forward the item to town council for consideration. B.

Good morning again, mayor and councel. Um, so what you have in front of you is a recommendation for the consideration of resolution for the declaration of intent for the town of Hilton Head to reimburse certain expenditures for the fire and rescue headquarters prior to the issuance of the bonds that were just voted upon. Uh, these reimbursements would be accomplished via proceeds from our tax exempt general obligation bond issue to be issued by the town in full year 2026. So, in the background just initially with this, we will use general the general fund and real estate transfer fee dollars to pay for the property that we're mentioning uh for 9 and 10 Park Lane. Um 10 Park Lane was expected to close on 1212 and we're not closed yet, but that was the date when the memo was written and we're expecting to close on 9 at the end of the year by the 29th. And

do we have a motion? So moved. Do we have anybody signed up to speak on this agenda item? No. Any comments, questions from council, Miss Becker? Um, so 10 Park Lane didn't close on time. Not as of today. Not yet. Are there any issues that we should know about or is that just a matter of We're just working through the due diligence. We are not We have not passed the closing date. We just anticipated to close a little earlier, but we're just dotting eyes and crossing tees. There are there are some due diligence items that are not yet complete, and when they're complete, I I imagine we'll close.

Okay, sounds simple. Thank you. Any other questions, comments? Just briefly, mayor, this was considered by Finance Administrative Committee. It's it's typical procedure to do this and I certainly support it. Miss Toner, no comment. Okay. All right. So we have a consideration of a resolution relating to the declaration of the intent by the town of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina to reimburse certain expenditures related to fire and rescue headquarters prior to the issuance by the town of tax exempt bonds. Motion was made by Miss Bryson, seconded by Miss Becker. All those in favor signal by by raising your right hand or saying I. I.

All right, that passes 70. And finally, under new business, we have consideration of a resolution of the town of Hilton Head Island approving the execution of a contract with the Hilton Head Island Chamber of Commerce for destination marketing organization services. This item was discussed in town council executive session on December 9th. Angie Stone, Assistant Town Manager will conduct the presentation.

Good morning, Mr. Mayor, Town Council, Mr. Orlando. Um, I'm before you today with a resolution uh for the approval of a contract with the Hilton Head Island Bluffton Chamber of Commerce for destination marketing services. Uh, with your permission, I have a a short presentation that covers the process uh that we went through and how we arrived where we are today. [clears throat] So, we're going to talk a little bit about the requirement that we select a destination marketing organization, the qualifications of an organization in order to be named as a destination marketing organization, the selection process, and then contract negotiations for uh DMO services. Okay, I thought I heard Miss Tunner say something. [laughter] Um so uh the requirement to select a destination marketing organization comes from South Carolina code of laws and it it talks about a tax that is charged to transient visitor or transient guest. It's called a tax. Um a portion of that revenue is required to be um given to a destination marketing organization to manage. That's called the 30% fund. And so we are required to name a destination marketing organization to have oversight of those funds. The required qualifications are that they be organized as a nonprofit and that they have an existing ongoing tourist promotion program or demonstrate [clears throat] that they can develop one. So, our selection process um in the 2020 agreement that was signed with the Hilton Head Island Chamber of Commerce, it called for a um request for qualifications to be issued prior to the end of that contract. Um we did that. We put together this uh request for qualifications, put it on the street for 90 days. Um we received a number of um

responses to it. The responses were evaluated by a team um in terms of their ability to provide marketing services to the town as well as um by legal counsel for their qualifications as required under state law. Uh we determined based on that that the Hilton Head Island Bluffton Chamber of Commerce was the most qualified eligible respondent and began uh contract negotiations. Today we're here with a resolution in front of you all to approve that cont the contract terms. Once that happens um the contract will be executed. [clears throat] During negotiations um again the chamber was identified as the most qualified eligible respondent. Um we we negotiated a contract that is focused on clarifying roles and expectations between the town and the DMO, improving financial transparency and scope of service transparency. also enhancing reporting and aligning uh marketing efforts with town um core values and that's been something that's started already and so we're looking to carry that forward. We're also looking at refining metrics to ensure performance indicators are clear. We know what we're expecting. We know what the reporting will be about. Some of the key contract terms are that this is a three-year term with an option for a renewal of up to two years subject to town council approval. We have some very specific budget content requirements as well as public presentation requirements um that will spell out how often those um reports are given, how they are uh presented publicly. Uh then we also have marketing plan requirements for the metrics and uh public account accountability or public access to accounting reports, budget and marketing plan on a website uh that the chamber manages.

So key contract terms, [clears throat] this is something that we've heard about time and time again, right? Um we will have an annual accounting report that includes 100% of all invoices and receipts paid 100% of all revenues and expenditures of the 30% fund. So that a tax money that uh the state um the state gives to us for DMO services and then the most recent applicable state and federal tax returns. It also requires use of the South Carolina Turk Committee budget form. That's the tourism expenditure review committee. And so I put that in the presentation because [clears throat] I think this form speaks for itself. Uh I did blow it up so you can see it a little better because it was too tiny for me to see it on my screen. So I figured it was too tiny um on the big screen as well. So this form lays out the types of expenditures um and then has a place for the amount that was budgeted for the previous or current fiscal year, the actual amount spent and then the budget for the next year. It's a pretty straightforward clear form. This is was developed by the Turk um committee and is published on their website. So what's next? After approval of the resolution, we will commence with collaborative work between the town and the DMO and a commitment to responsible tourism.

Are there any questions? We have a motion. So moved. Second. Has anybody signed up to speak on this agenda item? No. Okay. Mer,

I just wanted to thank everyone who's been working on this. I know that a lot of hours, a lot of time, and a lot of effort went into um getting us to this contract before us now. Um I also want to highlight that it increases and emphasizes something that's important to me and I think most everyone who lives on Hilton Head um rather part-time or full-time and those who look forward to living on Hilton Head and that's how tourism impacts the residential experience and our quality of life. And I want to thank the chamber for focusing on that as a priority um as it's a priority of mine as well. Thank you, Mr. Bryson.

Yes. Again, I I thank staff and and the chamber [clears throat] for it hard work in looking through this document and and Mr. Orlando and all of his staff and and our team uh including council members in taking a look at this process. It's it's always a bit frustrating when um statuto we're tied to statutory authority as to what we can and cannot do. Um and it's important to listen to what our community has been saying. Our community has been saying for some time now we need more financial accountability and more transparency with regard to our DMO, our designated marketing organization. And I do believe that we have that in this agreement. uh looking particularly at articles three, five, and seven, some of the detail that Miss Stone has already laid out for us. Um but for those who uh would like to read the document, we do have it online. And I would point out again articles 3, five, and seven with regard to financial detail and transparency both to the town and the public. There's a requirement that financial detail be included on the website of the DMO, and I think that's important to know as well. There's also a requirement for public presentations here um and for a workshop with town council regarding the annual budget and marketing plan. And so those are important new elements um in this agreement as well. The other things I would point out is that um the uh the core values that are included in this agreement, those are the focuses for marketing. Um and those core values uh relate to our town strategic plan and are found in article six of the agreement. And those core values are ecoourism, arts and culture, history, wellness, and recreation. So that's going to be the focus of marketing. It's not just heads and beds. It's what kind of marketing do we want to have and what kind of

emphasis do we insist that we must have on our community core values and that's included in this agreement and must be included in the marketing plan and in the budget as well. So that's another important focus. The other thing is to make sure that the analysis is done by metrics that are the current um international marketing uh metrics and that's also included in article six. We also are concerned about um the relationship between marketing of local events. We have a lot of important local events and how that relates and how that is tracked and there's language in this agreement as well. Um the the other thing is that it's a three-year agreement with two renewals and during that um at some point in that third year um the town will determine whether or not to issue another request for proposal. Um the request proposal that uh we reviewed is detailed and Miss Stone has highlighted some of those features as well. Um the last thing is a question that I still have um and that is article eight with regard to additional funding. I don't know whether we can pull that up or not.

Can you pull up the contract article 8?

Yes. Attachment two. Yeah, it's on page seven. Yes, thank you very much. So, this contract provides for um the DMO or the chamber to request additional grant funds um and as we just approved a um a tax grant award funds for a number of agencies in our town that do a lot of wonderful work for us. Um, and so it bothers me that there's language in here which allow the DMO or the chamber to apply for additional grant of accommodation tax funds. As we know by statute, the DMO already receives 30% after uh two deductions that come to the town directly um 25,000 plus 5% of those funds. Then 30% goes to the designated marketing organization. And um if if I look at the chart from um FY25, which is the chart I could find most readily, um we see that um in 2023, the DMO at 30% was receiving almost $4 million, $3,995,971. In 2024, $4,141,96. In 2025, it was forecast to receive $3,835,832. and I think we're at close to 3.9 million expected this year. Um, so in 2023, um, when I first started serving on town council, we reduced the supplemental require request from the DMO from 530,000 the previous year to just under 350,000 or 349,348. In 2024,

zero supplemental funds in 2025, zero supplemental fines. And in 2026 budget, we didn't have any supplemental funds as well. So my preference is to strike article eight with regard to additional funds. And I wanted to see what other council members were thinking about that because now it says any request by the DMO or the chamber can make a request for additional grant of accommodation tax funds which would then reduce the amount available for our other organizations receiving a tax grant funds. And I don't think that's going to be that is the current policy of this town council and I hope it won't be in the future. That's that's those are my comments. A lot of positive comments. I don't want to get away from those. Um but I'm very concerned about the ability to request additional grant funds.

Are you making a motion to to strike that? So moved. Is there a second to the motion? Motion fails. Any other comments or questions? Yes, I have comments. Go ahead.

All right. Um, so Councilman Bryson already talked about the selection process. Um, and I think it's very important for PE people to understand that it's very specific and statutoily defined. um and that we have to follow those criteria and we have um I want to make some comments because my focus on this contract was improving financial transparency, enhancing reporting and refining metrics and Angie did a nice job of outlining many of those, but I think they're really important details. The new budget format that she showed provides more detail about how the money will be spent on marketing and we will also have a clearer understanding about the employee and the employee related costs of those that support the work. U I provided suggestions on accounting processes to ensure separation of funds and clearer and easier reporting on how funds are spent in detail. New metrics that align to the changing dynamics of artificial intelligence's impact to traditional mar marketing metrics is going to be important as we move forward. Accounting reports that compare the monies spent to the budgeted amount. The ability to inspect records to align to 100% of the expenses used for the DMO. Stronger terms for access and/or ownership of materials and data. The workshop setting for the budget and marketing plans I think is an important component. U I see it as an opportunity to have dialogue in regarding the process and to provide uh feedback and input and public presentations to include our key metrics but also include the status compared to the marketing plan and a bud budget update. And I believe these changes will provide more clarity and help address questions that

people may have regarding how the money is spent to sus to support the marketing of our island. And that will allow us to move forward to focus on our working relationship and the success of our partnership. Thank you. Thank you. Any other comments or questions from council? Mr. Brown.

Mr. Mayor, thank you. Um this has been a a hot topic in the community. Obviously um the marketing of our community is so important for a lot of different way uh reasons not just tourism. Um we all know that if you poll five people here on Hilton Head probably three or four of them will say we used to visit here and then we decided to move here. Uh so the the marketing of Hilton Head is also has a residential component to it as well. Um we talk a lot about transparency and if you pay attention to the contract it it just screams transparency. Okay. Um, the other thing that I think is very important here is it starts to solidify the relationship that we have started to have with the chamber over the last few years here as far as communicating the needs and wants of this council and this island as they market to the world. Okay. and the fact that we're going to have workshops um that to me definition of that is you sit down and you work on getting something right and that is a lot different from what we have done in the past which is basically chamber stands at the podium and tells us what they're going to do based on some information we may have given them in a memo this is totally different um it is continue to work on that relationship the other piece that I think is absolutely absolutely important is that we're in this business in a competitive nature. There are other communities that want tourism just as much as we do. There other communities that want future residents as much as we do. And now we will be able to measure that against our competitors. That is extremely important for us to know how

we stack up against our competitors. And it also gives us the opportunity to be nimble and flex a little bit in some areas we may have not flexed in the past based on the budget. So I feel good about this. Um you know uh credit given to the original contract. Um but I feel very firmly that this contract is better than what we had before and it just continues to uh enhance the relationship with our partners at the chamber. All right. Thank you. Any other comments? Desmond,

appreciate all the hard work staff um chamber. This [clears throat] has been a long time coming and um it's been some contentious moments over the last few years. Um but I wanted to and and I appreciate everything that everyone's done to put it together, but I want to make a comment about what Miss Bryson was trying to make a motion on and um the additional grant funds. Um, my feeling on that and without a second to vote is that just because they apply for additional grant funds doesn't mean that they're awarded addition additional grant funds. So, just to have that in there with the possibility um seems more just for for me. I just wanted to let you know that. But thank you.

All right, Mr. Alfred, just a brief comment. I thank staff for the work that was done on this, but also to thank the the chamber people as well [clears throat] for uh recognizing the interest of the town in this subject and how much uh the town in recent years has come up with directions that it feels are important. And I think we all appreciate the chamber's willingness to uh make efforts to accommodate where the town wants to go. So, thank you all even if you're in the back row. So, it's okay. Mr. Pre,

Mr. Desimal U reminded me of the additional grants. Um I think that that that speaks to us being flexible as well. Um he's absolutely right. Just because of the application doesn't mean that we have to give and we also don't have to take away from the grant fundings that are going to other organizations. You know, there's uh a tax money that we've been using for ourselves that we could consider if there was an emergency, if something happened. Um I just think this, you know, allows that flexibility. Um but at the end of the day, future councils have the decision making power to say yes or no to it.

Right. Thank you, Miss Bryson. Thank you for the comments on additional funds. I appreciate that. Um it it still troubles me and I thank you Mr. Brown for your comments about other funds, but we've we've just adopted a new policy with regard to those funds and certain percentages to go to different categories and my concern is always about um the ATAX grant awards that our committee works very hard and reviews all those applications and my concern remains if if a DMO has almost $4 million to focus on marketing and we've got core values to focus on then why in the world do they need additional money? We may have a lot of organizations here that need additional money and a lot of them were cut this year and I don't want to encourage the DMO to come and ask for money. I appreciate that there may be other circumstances uh this town council future town council certainly has a lot of flexibility um to be looking at other sources for necessary funds for emergencies. Um, and we do have those funds available, but I don't think this is the appropriate authority to provide for them to do that. I think we should discourage it. And um, I would have probably preferred to have a little more discussion before even making a [clears throat] motion, but recognizing that we're already down this far on this road, I thought, why have a lot more discussion? And of course, now I'm doing that. Um but um it I think it's important to look at what's been done over the last several years and the message being sent to the DMO that you have this 30% this is what we expect this is the kind of reporting we expect and I think this contract reflects all of that. Um and so I will be supportive of this contract but I still have to bang the drum about additional grants. I look at it, I'm sorry. I look at it

kind of like our 35 million, 25 million, you know, keeping our powder dry. We got to we got to have the ability because we, you know, we're not going to necessarily borrow up to the 35 and we're not necessarily having to put money towards an additional grant request. So, but I appreciate what you're trying to do. Thank you. Just want to also add having sat um on the councils though it didn't come through council every time when those additional funds were requested in the past um there were extraordinary circumstances we had faced hurricanes hurricane threats etc. And when that happens folks decide not to come they worry they sit back and if we're concerned about letting folks know what the status of the island is and why it's okay come on back in we're safe. everything's good. We we rely on on the DMO to do that good work for us. And so in those instances, it was prudent and and appropriate to uh to um extend those additional funds. And as it's been pointed out here, and clearly states within the contract to be considered for approval by the town council, the additional grant fund budget shall, it has to include a whole bunch of things, but it has to be considered for approval by the town council. So, um there's plenty of safeguards in there. [clears throat]

Anything else? Sorry, mayor. One more thing. Yes. Okay.

Miss Stone, um do these requirements in article 8, are those in addition to the requirements for an um application to the ATAC committee? Are these additional requirements or the same kind of requirements for additional grants? They put the same requirements on this budget, the budget that would come forward for these additional grants that are on the the budget that you approve for the regular DMO funds. So, this just really puts into place um some more uh criteria and um a requirement for reporting back and that sort of thing to match up with what's in there for the budget. So, there's some additional requirements in article 8 compared to the requirements for an application

compared to what anyone else would do in terms of their application. Um, as far as Yes, I believe that is the case. Yes. I had to phone a friend. She nodded. Do you have anything you'd like to add?

Yes. Um, exactly what Angie's saying is and I worked on this contract so I can add some value and and I want to just take a a quick moment and thank Angie and thank Britney and Curtis and everybody involved in in the town council. The thought process with this just since it's been talked about, I think it's it's really important that we clarify why it's in here. Uh, I think we had an option to not to put it in the contract that they were not allowed to apply. Um, or to put in the contract if they did apply to set the expectation of what we're looking for above and beyond a typical a tax application. They're a nonprofit through due process. I believe as a nonprofit, they're allowed they're allowed to apply. The contract stands alone, but if they do submit, these are the expectations. Um, and it and it's and it's some language that that we supported as a team. Okay. So, what Miss Becker said is exactly what I was going to say. So, I'm not going to talk about the additional grants anymore, but I do want to take a moment and talk about the relationship and the building of a relationship and how it's improved over the past three years. Um, we're at a point now where we're working together to promote our community and that is a true positive step and this is what we do with our partners and this is how we improve the process and the effect of of the marketing and the advertising. So, I thank the chamber for coming to the table. I thank council for being there to have the discussions and I thank staff for directing this. We're in a much better place and tomorrow is going to be much better because of the efforts that everybody put in. So, with that being said, we had a motion made by Mr. Alfred, seconded by Miss Becker. Um, consideration of a resolution the town of Hilton Head Island approving the execution of a contract with the Hilton Head Island Bluton Chamber of Commerce for destination marketing organization services. All those in favor, please

signify by raising your right hand or say I opposed. Public comment. Oh, public comment. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Do we have anybody signed up for public comment? No. Thank you. [laughter] Now, all those in favor, please signify by raising your right hand or saying I. I.

Okay. Motion passes 70. Um, Kim, do we have anybody signed up for public comment, non-aggenda items? Okay. So, before we adjourn, I just want to thank every council member and the town staff for an incredible 2025. We have gone through a lot of different topics. We have moved a lot of great things forward. If you'd have told me this time last year we'd have done we were able to do what we did, I would have said, "Wow, no way." But with everybody's effort, it has been an amazing year. 2026 is going to be even greater and we've got a lot of things on our plate and I look forward to more great things coming out. So with that, merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, happy new year. I'll take a motion to adjurnn. So

all in favor of adjourning 11:40. Look at that y'all. We're turn.