City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. I'd like to call August 27th, 2026 city council meeting to order. Please ride for invocation and the pledge of allegiance. God, we come to you today asking you to lead and guide and direct us today, as well as continue to love each one of us and have us to love one another the same. Father, we're trying to do your will. We're trying to make sure that we take care of your people, the people of North Charleston. We ask you, Father, to continue to help us to lead God and direct in the order you would have us to. All these blessings back in Christ Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

We'll have a community presentation by Dr. Swenson and Dr. Taylor.

Good evening, thank you for having us. Thank you. Okay, so I'm Dr. Cindy Swenson. I'm from the medical university, a professor there. And I would just like to, just by way of background, say in 1998, MUSC joined with the Union Heights community to do a community violence prevention project. And the stipulation of the project is it had to be what the community wanted to do about youth crime. And so the community said there are three things we need to do. Number one, keep our kids in school. Number two, get treatment for our families so that we get our kids off the street and away from drugs and crime. And number three, pro-social activities. We reduced calls for police service by 80%. We kept 100% of the kids we worked with in school. And the pro-social activity, we did many, many things that the community wanted. Ran the bridge run, a lot of different things. But one thing that we did that has brought us here tonight is that we started a West African dance and drumming company. It started out as six weeks of lessons. Our kids were really good. They got invited to Piccolo Spoleto. We needed professional drums. We found those drums in Ghana, West Africa. We purchased them. Our kids performed everywhere. They performed at the UN and a lot of different places in the United States. And before all was said and done, we found ourselves raising money to take our group of 21 children to Ghana, West Africa, to do some dance drama work there with the drummers and dancers in Ghana on HIV education and violence among youth, different things like that, giving messages and teaching. We spent 18 days, I think, in Ghana in the year 2006. And as we started to leave Ghana, we were in a small rural village that said, you see we have no clean water, you see we have no toilets, you see we have no education or health care. We would like to ask you all if you would partner with us to see if we can change some things. We will work as hard as we can, but we could never get the resources. And so we who had no resources said, of course, we'll do that. And so for 20 years, we've been doing this humanitarian effort in rural Ghana. Every year, we do a free medical clinic. This year, we just got back from that free medical clinic where we saw 1,500 patients, children, adults, babies, a lot of different people. ages and people from different communities. But this was our 20th anniversary while we were there. And so we had some cultural and music celebrations. And I'll just say that, Mary, you have a copy of this, but the work we did in Union Heights, we wrote a book about it. The police wrote a chapter. MUSC Health wrote a chapter. A lot of different people wrote. And we outlined what we did that was so successful in the community. And it was the idea of the community, not of MUSC. When we started working in Ghana, we joined with other people who are here. Clemson Architecture, College of Charleston, a lot of different universities join in. Clemson Architecture drew up a design that now is a school, that now is a medical center in this rural village in Ghana. So as we've celebrated our 20th anniversary, and we are so grateful to all of you for the kinship, the relationship that has been forged with this small community in Ghana that has spread among many, many people, we just brought a few things. So first, so hang on to that. So first, some things from the project for you, Mayor. May I bring it to you? OK.

Yes, yes. If you don't know, Elmina Slave Castle was one of the castles where the enslaved were brought over to the U.S. Every time we go to Ghana, we make an appointment to actually go there. Conditions were terrible, but we made it. Just before we left, we contacted the mayor and I think Chef, Mr. Chef here, about a proclamation that we would like to take to Ghana. And it was a very short notice, but you all got it done, and I thank you so much. Like you said, it's our 20th anniversary, and it was a two-day celebration in honor of that. And... The royal family there has sent this proclamation back to the city of North Charleston, and it says proclamation from the Abradi royal family of across the Ghana, West Africa, it's to Union Heights community and the city of North Charleston, South Carolina. It says, whereas O'Crossy Village in the Upper West Akeem District of the Eastern Region of Gangla, West Africa, has enjoyed a meaningful long-term relationship with the people of Union Heights Community, North Charleston. Whereas for the past 20 years, members of O'Crossy Village and the Abradi Royal Family, with Dr. Samuel Yeboah, have nurtured this relationship through joint service, friendship, and humanitarian outreach. Whereas cultural exchange has been a cornerstone of this relationship, demonstrating the values of unity and peace while building lasting relationships that go beyond cultures and borders, And whereas the bond established between O'Crossy Village and Union Heights and the City of North Charleston reflects a commitment to mutual respect, learning and common heritage, and the belief that communities are strengthened by cooperation and love for one another. And whereas this 20th anniversary represents an opportunity to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments that have come from this relationship, and whereas now therefore be it proclaimed that O'Crossy Village hereby declares and recognizes Union Heights Community and North Charleston as sister communities in honor of 20 years of friendship, collaboration, and improving and saving lives. Be it further proclaimed that this declaration affirms our continued dedication to cultural understanding and educational exchange and cooperative partnership between our communities and generations to come. It's a sign by the Chief of O'Cross.

Thank you.

This is the man crossing. Mr. Mayor. I'd say this in closing. Don't ever underestimate the power of dance. Had it not been for that dance that we witnessed at Starrett Hall, we probably wouldn't be standing here today. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Our first item on the agenda is a request to approve the minutes from the August 13, 2026 city council meeting. Move for approval. Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any changes or corrections? Hearing none, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Mr. Perry.

Aye.

Ms. Jerome. Aye. Dr. Galloway-Paisley. Aye. Mr. Emdy. Aye. Ms. Brown. Aye. Mr. Brown. Aye. Mr. Hudson. Aye. Mr. Brown. Aye. Mayor Burgess.

Aye.

1984 Forest Avenue was withdrawn prior to the meeting by the applicant. So our next item on the agenda is a resolution approving the proposed fiscal year 2026-2027 Charleston Area Transportation Operating Budget.

Madam Clerk, if there's no opposition by council, can we read items three through eight by title only?

All right. We will hear item three through eight without any objections by title only.

A resolution authorizing the mayor to execute a contract with the North Charleston District. A resolution authorizing the mayor or his designee to execute an agreement between the city of North Charleston and the Charleston Animal Society regarding an animal services contract. A resolution authorizing the City of North Charleston to accept a donation from Lowe's in the amount of $1,000. A resolution authorizing the City of North Charleston to accept the Bureau of Justice Assistance Fiscal Year 2025 Justice Assistance Grant Local Formula. And a resolution authorizing the City of North Charleston to accept the National Park Service Rivers Trail and Conservation Assistance Program Technical Assistance. Move for approval.

Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussions? Hearing none, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Mr. Perry. Aye. Ms. Jerome. Aye. Dr. Ganaway-Paisley. Aye. Mr. Emdy.

Aye.

Ms. Brown. Aye. Mr. Brown.

Aye.

Mr. Hudson. Aye. Mr. Brown. Aye. Mayor Burgess.

Aye.

Mayor Burgess. Yes, sir. If there is any... Opposition from Council, items 9 through 15. Can we do those by title only, sir?

Yes, sir. We will have items 9 through 15.

Mr. Mayor.

Yes, yes, ma'am.

I'm going to have a concern for item 10. 10?

Okay.

But we can still do it.

So what we'll do is we'll continue.

So if we can do 9 and skip 10 and go through the rest of them.

You can actually do them all together, and then when we get to that particular item, when it's time to vote, you can address whatever issue you have on that one. All right. Thank you, Council. Yes, ma'am.

That's 10 and 11. 10 and 11, yeah.

10 and 11, okay.

So items 9 through 15, by title only.

Okay. We'll hear items. 9 through 15, titles only.

A resolution certifying property located at 1929 Rivers Avenue, TMS number 469120, parcel 14, North Charleston in Charleston County, South Carolina as an abandoned building site pursuant to the South Carolina Abandoned Buildings Revitalization Act. A resolution authorizing the mayor or his destiny to execute an agreement between Charleston County School District and the City of North Charleston for the School Resource Officer Program, 2026 through 2027 through 2028, 2029 school years. A resolution authorizing the mayor and or his designee to execute an agreement between South Carolina Charter School District and the City of North Charleston for the School Resource Officer Program, 2026-2027 school year. A resolution authorizing the mayor or his designee to execute an agreement with Legends Global New York, New York to provide pre-development advisory services for the renovation of the North Charleston Coliseum Convention Center and Performing Arts Center in the amount of $180,125. We have a request to approve speed humps on SCDOT Road, Baker Avenue and Council District 10. A request to approve the evaluation committee for the outsourcing of solid waste collection in Dorchester County. In item 15, a request to approve the evaluation committee for the selection of architectural design team and program development for the renovation of the North Charleston Coliseum Convention Center and Performing Arts Center.

Okay.

Move for approval.

Second.

We have a motion and a second. Any discussions other than that one item?

Discussion council. I mean, Mr. Mayor.

Okay. Which item is that?

Item number 10. Number 10. Due to my professional relationship with Charleston County School District, I cannot vote on that item. I'm going to recuse myself from that item.

I think I may have to recuse myself, too, because I'm a Tulsa County School graduate. Nah, I'm a specialist. I'm a non-minister. I'm good. Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman. Any other discussions? Hearing none, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Mr. Perry.

Aye.

Ms. Jerome. Aye. Dr. Ganaway-Paisley. Aye, with the exception of 10. Mr. Emdy.

Aye.

Ms. Brown. Aye. Mr. Brown.

Aye.

Mr. Hudson. Aye.

Aye.

Mr. Brown?

Aye.

Mayor Burgess?

Aye.

We have a request to approve the reappointment of Charles Monteith to the Planning Commission.

Move to approve. Second.

We're here. We have a motion and a second. Any discussions? Hearing none, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Mr. Perry. Aye. Mr. Rome. Aye. Dr. Ganaway-Paisley. Aye. Mr. Emdy. Aye. Ms. Brown. Aye. Mr. Brown.

Aye.

Mr. Hudson.

Aye.

Mr. Brown.

Aye.

Mayor Burgess.

Aye.

We have two speakers tonight. When I call your name, please come to the front and state your name and address for the record, and you will have three minutes to address counsel. Ms. Darlene Green. Darlene Green, Monica Mumy,

Monica Mamie, 2474 Vestavia Road. I need to address several derelict properties in Northwoods Estates that have been addressed multiple times at Civic League meetings with code enforcement present and city officials present. We had an ancillary meeting in August to readdress these properties. 2550 Vestavia, post-fire, has a third of the roof and no power, no water, and no yard maintenance. It's our understanding now that it is set to be demolished after six months of 84-75 Deerwood, nine months of complaints, eight times code enforcement was present and acknowledged those complaints at Civic League meetings. The backyard has not been mowed in at least two years. The front yard has been mowed twice in that time and once was by me. We also are well past city codes 90 days prior to being able to file misdemeanor charges against these property owners. Mr. Altman has had property complaints for over three years regarding the Deerwood property. He is much more likely to respond to misdemeanor charges. He is a resident at Al Cannon or Lieber frequently. I think misdemeanor charges would go farther than letters and citations. 8297 Delhi has been vacant for four years. The pine straw is so thick that the grass doesn't grow. There was a tree in the driveway. That's when we realized it had been vacant for so long. The roof has enough pine straw to make it a significant fire hazard. There's no power, no water, litter and debris, and large overgrowth surrounds the house. After an attempted break-in, the house was boarded up. All of these conditions make this property a health and safety violation. Code enforcement is aware of the owners, the Browns, and the man that's supposed to be responsible for yard maintenance. Neighbors complained previously over three years ago and finally gave up after nothing was done. these properties encourage criminals and vagrants to break in and become squatters as a community we should not be inflicted with this kind of sanitation and safety concerns there are city codes and city codes eight and nine that go over what are violations and how they can be handled unfortunately the largest derelict property in our community are the lakes which are owned by the city they've not been maintained the city hired surveys they recommended drainage and dredging unfortunately the city is only willing to do a band-aid fix to prevent flooding We were told by Mr. Brigham at our last Civic League meeting that if we wanted a bigger fix, it would cause us more in taxes. That's a political trope to shut people up. I was quite offended. So were my community members. I went to the city of a whole meeting last week, and we were informed by the accountant that there's an $18 million over budget run for funds available by this city. It's really kind of appalling that we've been told there's not funds to properly fix and maintain these lakes that the city owns. It's really hard to hold neighbors accountable for property management when the city fails to do the same with the properties that they own. You're looking at $18 million and you sat there and said at that meeting that you don't have any plans on how to spend it and you have to come up with a means of allocating those funds properly. Our community would like to see those funds properly allocated to provide services for those lakes that you are responsible for. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other business coming for the body? Is Mr. Monteith here? Okay. I just want to thank him. He served on that board for many, many years, and he was reappointed. So I want to thank him for serving until we got everything together. But he was here.

Okay.

Other than that, all hearts and minds clear? One North Charleston. That's it. That's it. Together. Together. Meeting is adjourned.