City Council - Regular Meeting

It's a great question. Prior to opening the meeting to have a short prayer, tonight is my turn to lead us in prayer. And if you'd like to join us, we'd love to have you. Let us pray. Dear lord, thank you for this evening for bringing us all here together safely.

Thank you for the many blessings that you bestow upon us whether we recognize that or not at the time. We thank you for the long term blessings that we learn as we open our eyes and our ears towards your purpose and your plan. Your word tells us that man may make many plans, but you determine the order of where we walk or the footsteps that we take, and we're so thankful for that, for your love, for your mercy, and for your promise. And for all these things, are thankful and continue to praise you for those regards. And dear lord, we ask that you please be with everyone that works for the city to continue to guide them safely through their jobs on a daily basis and to show us all as a community how that we can better show or use our talents for your purposes.

In your name, we pray. Amen. Amen. I call this meeting on Monday, 02/09/2026 to order. Please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance.

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

Okay.

Council met in executive session. No action was taken. We'll move on to item three on our agenda. Consider approving the consent agenda as items three a, minutes of the regular session of 01/26/2026. Three b, minutes of the work session of January '63 c.

Second reading, the adoption of an ordinance to amend chapter seven, annexations with the code of the city of Rock Hill, so as to provide for the annexation, zoning, and award designation of Rock Hill Industrial Park Area 13, lying adjacent to the city limits of the city of Rock Hill, South Carolina. Three d, second reading and adoption of an ordinance to amend the zoning ordinance of the city of Rock Hill code by making certain changes in the official zoning map affecting approximately 4.4 acres located on Mount Gallant Road from urban Development UD to industry general IG. Three e, second reading an adoption of an ordinance to amend the zoning ordinance of the Rock Hill City code by making certain changes to official zoning map affecting approximately 3.88 acres located on South Jones Avenue from single family residential five, S f five, the office and institutional o I.

So move for for approving the consent agenda. Second.

We have a motion, second. Any discussion? Questions? Hearing and seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Approved. Item four a, consider ordinance for second reading and adoption and ordinance to amend the zoning ordinance of the city of Rock Hill code by making certain changes in official zoning map affecting approximately 13.2 acres located on Riverchase Boulevard for general commercial GC and planned unit development PUD to master plan commercial MPC. Mister Dillingham.

Mayor, members of council, there were some legal issues raised with the language and that's why I'm standing here before you presenting the sign for second reading, city staff planning is here in case you have any planning related questions. For second reading, I wanted to talk about two issues with council raise that were addressed in the master plan terms. The first has to do with parking and for the parking, the the applicant has has just agreed to follow the the zoning code as far as the required number spaces. So as you can see, the revised plan does show that we meet those spaces. There is some there is some creativity with some spacing and some striking just to get us there, but it is there is a way to meet the spacing requirement, our current zoning code.

Then as to the other item which had to do with waivers that were woah. Hold on. I guess that's it. They had to do with waivers in the in the actual and you can look at the master plan terms to see those what we did with the waiver language. One had to do with the with the length of stay requirements and what we did with that was instead of waiving our standards per se, we we put we put the standards to to match whatever the these quality flags, these Marriott flags, the these Hilton flags would require.

And so if they require, if they allow for stays longer than our zoning code, our zoning code would incorporate those. And I think what the what we heard the council or at least what I heard the council's concern was what happens if if those flags deteriorate and and we have to go to, you know, flags that aren't aren't the big quality nationally known flags as as the hotel may age. And so in that when that happens, these stands will just revert back to what the city has in place at that time. But for now, if a if a residence in, for instance, allow somebody to stay for, you know, for several days, that's going to be okay if council passes this master plan for this particular site. And so that's what we did with with that particular provision.

And that was actually sorry. But I missed this for a. Pardon me.

Actually, I created 12 spaces.

Almost there. And so the dual branded hotels, you can see that language is in that language is is in is in the in roman numeral four. And so right off the bat, you know, the developers not doesn't know whether, you know, exactly whether it's gonna be one hotel or two hotels, and then and so you can see what we've done there. There's a Marriott opportunity, there's a Hilton, but then the IHG and Hyatt would have to be approved by by city council. So as long as it's a Marriott or Hilton, the the extended stay is going to stay is going to stay as as what those those brands require.

Other than that, they would come back to city council. Then beyond that, they would go even as I mentioned earlier. Then the parking we've already talked about, and that's really it. Happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

Any question for Paul?

Oh, I'm sorry. One more thing. I know what it was. The reversion back

Mhmm.

The zoning, we changed that as well with for the direction of council.

Paul, I don't this is really not necessary question directed to you per se, but I brought this up at first reading is that there seemed to be some contradiction to the statement of a higher end brand versus what was being actually named in the the document. I'm a little concerned about that. So he says, you know, Residence Inn will be the first hotel. And then but in four b, the first bullet point under one, the franchise is a Residence Inn or a studio res or LiveSmart. Well, when you look at Marriott and Hilton, those albeit they're kinda new brands, flags, those are not anywhere close to being the high end brand higher end brand of the mid tier category.

Those are like, you know, for Marriott, I mean, you got Residence Inn, you got Element by Weston, you got TownePlace Suites, and then you got Studio Res way down at the bottom as a budget. And so it seems to be still contradicting what he says that they will do any statement is a higher end brand.

Yes. You would have to buy into the concept that we would be happy with a resident in our studio red red brand under the Marriott flag or the live smart brand under the Hilton system. Council would need to be comfortable with that to weigh these extended stay standards. And we did look those up online and and that and although they appeared to be nice brands and nice quality hotels, that's up to counsel to decide.

So

And then beyond that, if he goes back to the to the IHG or Hyatt, then then that's that comes back to you.

So I get it. I mean, you know, theoretically, maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm right. I don't know. But but if you build a residency in, it seems like he was committed to doing that. And so that's more of a mid tier upper class extended stay. I get doing a a studio res or a live smart kind of budget live since they they complement each other on the on the property on the site. But my fear is is if he comes back and says, oh, you know, the Residence Inn fell through. Now he has the ability to put two budget motels right beside each other. And so that's a concern of mine. I mean

Well, it does get a little tricky if you look under the brand's flag that if there's gonna be one hotel, it's either it's going to be the resident in our our equivalent, and you're right. It is a little ambiguous.

So what what I don't want to happen is a rope a dope. We've seen this happen way too many times that, oh, well, didn't get the residence in, so now I get to put Lipsmartin, whatever all the other ones are. So I and those are not what's described as higher end brand flags. Those are more low budget brand flags. So what I'm trying to prevent is having two low budget, you know, we got up and down Riverview.

We don't I'm not saying that those brands are not good. I'm just saying that the likelihood of two low budget brands fifteen, twenty years from now, what they may turn into if the flag changes and all this stuff happens, I I just wanna make sure that if they do one hotel, it's gotta be a higher end brand. If they're gonna do two, at least one of the two has to be, I think, a higher end for me to get comfortable.

So I when I was reading this before first reading, I thought we had a carve out that basically said the and and this is my terminology similar. Mhmm. Residence Inn, but if there's any variation, it would be subject to the approval of

the city. And that is true if they're gonna be two.

Yeah. So it would give us that protection. That decision would have to be made in conjunction with city hall.

Yeah. I In my presentation, we're dealing with the extended

Yeah. I got you. But I just wanna make sure I address the the what's what I I want I just wanna have some comfort that the language in here, you know, protects from him punting and saying, oh, I can't I can't pull this off. Now I got two budget hotels. Yeah. I'm

right there with

So yeah. I'm I'm with you with the comments that you're making. Paul, I'm looking at page three of six of the

Yes, sir.

Master plan terms and conditions under item for two brands and flags at the bottom of the page. Yes. And for council members to me. I like this proposal, but it's because of the residents in flag. I mean, that's the whole reason for me buying in.

So I just feel like we just need a period after the first sentence and then delete the other sentence. Because then we get into ambiguity of, another hotel of equivalency and you get into higher is it a higher level brand than what's being proposed right now? Like, to me, I just think number two should be for hotel number one. The developer will develop a residence in brand with the Marriott system, period.

Okay. So and I'm fine with that. It's gonna be council's direction. Of course, the the applicant will be willing accept, but the but the Could you read it? You got two you get you got three options. There could be one hotel on that property. There could be two hotels on that property, or there could be one hotel with two brands. So we're gonna have to address all three options.

Well, I was gonna get the Yes, sir. Two, but this would this would address if there's one hotel that it and my understanding talking to the applicant, they had the approval of the residence in Flag, I believe. So Right. So I guess I wouldn't think they would have a hard that that would be a problem.

Yes, sir. But

so anyway, I for council members, I mean, if we make a motion, I just feel like we just the first sentence should be sufficient.

Yes, sir. Can I just keep walking walking us through it if you don't mind?

Oh, I'll let you finish.

If it's got I'm sorry. But if you

go to hotel two,

what would you like there?

For me, when you start getting into the equivalent of a higher level brand, if the other brand gets into studio revs, I I I feel like we need something in writing to quantify what's equivalent and what's not, either from a Marriott and Hilton, IGA, Hyatt, whatever's in their system. I almost feel like we ought to spell it out versus leaving it.

Yeah. Because Ambiguous. Because if you look at it, this this studio res, I mean, got TownePlace Suites, Element by Weston, you got others that are higher than that. So when they keep putting this higher level brand equivalent, and and so that's I'm I've got a disconnect there because talking Residence Inn and then he's talking about a higher equivalent level, but but he's mentioned in there are not equivalent. Like the Hilton brand, you know, you got Homewood Suites, Home two Suites, and then you go way on down to on the extended stay lift.

So I I have a problem with the equivalency. If if I understand I I'm I could get more comfortable with one that's a lower cost budget if the if the first hotel, in fact, period is a Residence Inn. But if if the first hotel is not Residence Inn, they keep referring to this higher level equivalency brand and they're mentioning specific StudioRez and LiveSmart, which are not higher end brands.

That's for hotel two.

Right? That's hotel two. Which is the least Yeah. Which would but but I still don't I mean, well, if we have the period, that would help with hotel one. Yeah.

So if if the hotel one is going to be a residence in and hotel two, what what would you like there?

I mean, don't know if he's dead set on those two brands, but I just don't believe those are equivalently higher end brands that are offered by those flags.

So so what if you took out so when you read that for hotel two, the developer, you leave the first sentence and then at that semicolon after Hilton system, period, you strike or an equivalent, and then you just let if a brand other than Studio Rez or LiveSmart is chosen, approval

Yeah.

Would have to be granted either by the council. Just less wording. Yes, sir. And it doesn't lock us in to some legalese down the road that

Same thing. Yeah.

A different brand is equivalent. Now, you know, what the what the property owner may consider equivalent and what the city consider considers equivalent, maybe two different things.

That's right. Whereas, if

you just take that out, there's no ambiguity. If it's not a LiveSmart and it's not a studio res, then you just have to come back to the city for approval of whatever brand that would be.

And and I city manager. You're okay with that?

And that's fine if that's what council wants.

Yeah. And the big thing is that I don't mind that for hotel two per se. I just I just don't want it end up being, oh, the resident fell through. And last but not put Studio Res and a LiveSmart, our Studio Res in another budget hotel. Now we got two budget hotels on the

same property. Alright. So just to clarify, hotel one, Residence Inn, if not a residence in a hotel of equivalent or higher level brand by Marriott will be developed by approval of the city manager.

Yeah.

Yeah. That's reached the one.

You

know, the reason why I

was You're saying no. You're just saying Residence Inn.

And the reason why that

But but hold on. Let just finish this off. But if it's not Residence Inn,

Then they would come back to the scene. No. Come back to council. Okay. This is part of the

Okay. It's part of the situation. I'm sorry.

Go ahead.

No. Because you you're exactly right. When you're when you read that, I would I would I gained comfort when they said if it's not a residency and then equivalent or higher end brand offered by Marriott. But when he throws those those other hotels all in the same sentence

Yes, sir.

That gets

and this the way I read this

But that's hotel two. I know. But Okay.

But the way I read hotel one Yes. Right. If it not a resident in hotel, an equivalent or higher end brand offered by Marriott. So we've already established that those he thinks in hotel developers mind that that higher end equivalence is live smart and

got cash.

Studio rest. You wanna take the subjectivity out of it?

That that's right. Paul, is is if we

were doing the hotel one, that second sentence I mean, I don't know. I'm not an attorney, but the way it reads to me, although I understand what everyone's saying, it reads that if it's not a residence inn, it's gonna be a nicer hotel or at least one equal of Marriott. Yeah. It doesn't say or other brands in that hotel one.

Yes, sir. Marriott Studio Res is a Marriott brand.

Yes. But it

says it's gonna be a hotel of an equivalent or higher level than a resident residence inn brand offered by Marriott. So that means it's gotta be a Marriott, you know, something higher than that in Marriott.

I do agree that was the intent and that is what it says. I think that the the little bit of the ambiguity comes from the second part when those things are qualified as as a brand is good or higher. That's right. So I I think we can clarify that by by what mister Sutton suggested and come back to city. We've put it in there. Has come back to city council. That takes drones all one

and hotel two, just running

along the lines of what you just said.

Yeah. I mean, I can make it in a form of the motion. Please do.

Not yet. Yeah. Please. I'm just trying to get through this and dual brand option. What do you want there? Because dual brand, we need to

comes back to us. Yeah.

It comes back to us. Right? And and

And I as long as you're okay with that Yes.

It wouldn't I think we would split it down. I think we'd be fine.

You know, and I guess that gets all into the Marriott system. I

think it's a high animal.

I mean,

it's to me, it gets into the weeds. It just should just come back to the council if it

Okay. I think that'll do it for me.

So we have a mow we need a motion. Oh, please listen to the motion. Make sure I'm good.

Okay. You you finish that last language about the sentence in the residence in the wanna Yeah. And I'll listen and see if I need to add.

Alright. Alright. Ring and adopt.

Yeah. I'd make a motion for second ring and adoption with the following changes on to the master plan terms and conditions section four item b sec subsection two For hotel one, the developer will develop a residency in brand within the Marriott system, period. The rest of that language would be taken out, amended. For hotel number two, put a period after the Hilton system in the first sentence and delete or an equivalent higher level brand offered by Marietta Hilton. Delete the rest of that sentence.

And then the second sentence. Can remain. And then under the dual hotel option. If neither hotel is developed. Then it would come back to counsel for us to work with the property owner on hotels would go there and I make that a form of motion.

I concur. Second.

Here we have a motion and a second. I do. Further discussion, please.

The the only thing I would ask mister Sutton is when you say put a period there, I would still have this one come back before you as well on the first on the first one because that way you wouldn't have to start completely over the process. It would already be built in. If he's not putting a residence in, he could come back before council just for whatever flag Yeah.

Just just with that. Yeah. Item four or yeah. Item four b two.

And b. Yes.

B two. Yes. If not a residence in then come back to the city council. Yes, sir. Yeah.

And that and that still gives him the option of a lower budget friendly extended stay studio res or live smart

for hotel two. Yes, sir.

We're talking one now.

Yeah. But I'm just saying, it it still gives him the ability that well, I'm not I'm not making it unrealistic where he can't develop two big high class flags right side by side. He he has the ability to do a more of a budget when long as number one comes through.

Semantics were but very important semantics. Right? Yes. Any further discussion? Question? Is the applicant here?

I was gonna say the applicant was here the last time, and maybe he could help clear some here. Attach?

Attach? You wanna come forward? You don't have to. But just wanna make sure Hitesh Patel or the applicant wanna make sure you don't have any questions and sort of understand what everybody was sort of struggling with here and

Yeah. I have no issues with that. Okay. The first hotel, we we applied around three years ago, so we've moved the site a couple times. The plans are already done. We're about half $1,000,000 in cost. So we would be I mean, we would not put ourselves in a good situation if we went with a different flag because this is a top tier flag. We definitely would not wanna let this go. So I have no concerns with the changes that are made because we really wanna get that flag.

Okay. We really want you to. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah.

And another thing is on the second hotel, I understand your concerns of the smart city arrest. And the reason why we haven't locked it in because we do wanna see the direction of the flag.

Yeah. They and they're new. They're they're pretty new. Right? And they're

new brands. So we do as a developer, we don't wanna, you know, spend that much money Mhmm. To develop a hotel and go the wrong direction as well. And other flags do come up about whether and there's a lot of politics that go into it. Right?

So throughout the meeting or in between the last meeting and this meeting, I did reach out to Marriott and they're and I had requested, hey, is there any other flag like Spring Hill Suites or something else that we can do? There's a lot of politics that go along with it as well where they promise it to other developers, someone that might, you know, maybe a Concorde or someone that's developing, you know, ten, fifteen hotels across the nation. So they do hold those kind of flags in certain situations. We were lucky enough to get residents in. And if another flag that's better does come out, then we wouldn't try to go that direction, but I completely understand your concerns.

Yeah. Good. So and I apologize. Last meeting, I think

you were here. You probably could help clear up some things if we got if I would have known you were

here some of the questions. But so does Residence Inn limit you in any way, or do they have any say on what the other hotel is, or do they put any requirements on?

They don't, but they are very aggressive on getting studio res next to it because from a certain standpoint, it's it's all about market share for Hilton or Marriott, so they want it to be a studio

You cover a wider Yeah. Customer base. And I get that. I'm I'm very comfortable with that.

And from that standpoint, they do want it to be a studio res. But now if LiveSmart is performing much better and each brand has market killers within its segment. So studio res or Residence Inn and Homewood Suites, you know, those are the two market killers. When it comes to select service, you gotta compare like a Hampton and the Fairfield and then Mako in that you may go in the Hilton direction. So with two new brands like LiveSmart and StudioRez, it's kind of the direction of, hey, let's see which one performs the best.

So that's kind of how that works. And another thing is there are limitations to brands as well. There's not that many brands available now in Rock Hill. You really only have residents or actually, you only have Spring Hill Suites, LiveSmart, and Studio Res available. And then Homewood Suites, I did we went to Hilton. We have Homewood Suites locked up as well, which is probably gonna be on Dave Law, but I tried to make it fit on the site. Homewood Suites and I have residents inside by side, but we just could not make it work. Okay. That's So we do have that flag log though.

Oh, good. Good. So that might become is what at some point down the road?

Yeah. And we're working on another site on Dave Law. Good.

Good. Yeah. Well, thank you for clearing that up. I just like I said, I get the you know, the budget cost and another higher end kinda side by side. It it it takes the market share is good. So I'm I'm good with that. I just

And and I I did try for the you know, I know you mentioned, like, the large box, you know, 200 rooms.

Mhmm.

From Marriott standpoint, their his response essentially, I mean, being full transparency is like, well, why would I give you, you know, a a room Spring Hill and a 110 room residence in what I can just get two people to build 220 room properties.

Mhmm.

So it's all about a room count for them.

Thank you very much.

Appreciate it. Thank you. K. We have a motion and a second. Yep. Any further discussion? Questions? Hearing and seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Approved. We'll move on to item five a, an ordinance for six supplemental ordinance providing for the issuance and sale of the city of Rock Hill, South Carolina limited obligation bonds is a hospitality fee pledge, and the personal amount of not exceeding $32,000,000 authorizing mayor, city manager to determine certain matters with respect to the bonds, prescribing the form and details of such bonds, and other matters relating there too. Madison Wilkerson.

Good evening, mayor, members of council. Item five a is a request to approve the issuance of bonds in an amount not to exceed 32,000,000 to be repaid over twenty five year period from hospitality tax revenues. Approximately 25,000,000 of the bond proceeds will fund the design, construction, and related improvements for the new regional park on the South Side Of Rock Hill. Planned amenities include artificial turf fields for baseball, softball, and football, stadium seating, multi multi purpose fields, concessions, restrooms, and parking The total project cost is estimated approximately 40,000,000. This investment is significantly offset by the $15,000,000 or lap grant forwarded by the national park service.

Additionally there is an opportunity to refund the city's twenty thirteen limited obligation bonds for interest rate savings. So we do recommend approval.

Thank you. Any questions for Madison? First big step on the big part. We've been working so hard on mister Gibson, thanks for all your leadership on that, getting us there. Mister Black.

So the 25,000,000 plus the 15,000,000, really, we're looking at 40,000,000. Right? Yes.

On 40,000,072 acres.

Yes, sir.

What's Hello, Louise.

So move for approval.

We have a motion, second. Any further discussion? Questions? Hearing and seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Approved. Congratulations, Madison. Thank you. We'll move on to item five b, an ordinance provided for the disposition by sale of property located on Palmetto Parkway, Rock Hill, South Carolina by the city of Rock Hill to project to mister Dillingham.

Said too much last time.

Alright. Thank you. Is there a motion?

So move for so move for first reading. Second.

Move a motion to second. Any discussion, questions, hear seeing and hearing none. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Approved. Move on to item six, consider planning commission recommendations. Six a, consider planning commission recommendation on petition t dash 2025Dash o four of the Rock Hill City manager to amend the zoning ordinance standards related to chapter five, land use accessory and temporary uses related to mobile food vendors and special event permits, mister Dennis Fields.

Thank you, mister mayor, members of the city council. We're addressing a couple of concerns related to mobile food vendors or what you better known as food trucks and then some special events just given some other concerns that happened over the last few years. Confusion just among the foot mobile food vendors about where they're specifically allowed. So a lot of this language in both those cases are meant to just kind of clean up the the language to allow for more clarity. And so first, we'll talk about the mobile food vendors.

These are some use specific standards that are already required in our ordinance. We've changed the ones that are there in red. That's one, two, six, and partial of eight, and then added two additional requirements for nine and ten, which we'll talk about individually. So just quickly to give you an overview, there are allowed locations in four cases, in the city. You can be approved by the planning commission for a pedestrian area such as downtown or a college campus, so we have them at York Tech.

And that was partially because of they were do redoing some of their kitchen and facility areas, but also in Hopin where they have a justification for souvenir food to residents that might be there enjoying a beverage. As part of the special vet permit is the second way, and so that might be something that we'll talk about afterwards, as part of a overall event that would be more than just a food truck. Right? And a third option is an accessory used to a primary use in the city that justifies its, service for customers. And so agritourism, craft breweries have an allowed section that says you can have a a food truck there, and then we also allow it at retailers that are greater than a 100,000 square feet.

Think of, like, a Lowe's. Someone has an ice cream truck outside. People come out of a garden center in the summer. They can buy an ice cream cone, that kind of thing. As long as they have permission from the property owner, that kind of thing. And then the fourth way is moving multiple sites within a mere meal period. So think about visiting construction sites or an ice cream truck driving down a residential neighborhood. They're moving around. They're not staying in one location over a whole mere meal period. So now we'll get into some of the changes.

We clarified a little bit about that planning commission review and what they would actually look through. One of those is that urban location meeting these two specific centers that we're talking about. Also having some local support from either local business association or a similar group near that location, and then impact on traffic parking and surrounding businesses, specifically if it's a food related business like a restaurant. We cleaned up some of the language about the special event permits just clarifying that we're putting in our section numbers for the other portions of our code. Some folks were understanding that a special event could be a sale at a business, and that's not true.

It's a special event through the city's special process, not a event that the business owner would have. And then the conditional accessory uses, we changed from from retail to nonresidential uses with buildings larger than a 100,000. So that would allow for a food truck to maybe go to a industrial user that has 300 employees and serve food to their employees with their permission, you know, for lunch hour or something like that. So we amended that slightly. We talked about acting, moving between sites. This really didn't change very much. We just moved it from a table at the beginning of the section into the section itself. We added a section or a the last sentence in that paragraph that says this does not mean being parked in one location over a meal period. And so you can't set up at a at one spot and and be parked there and say, well, no. I'm serving all these people, but they're coming to me.

No. You'd be moving through a neighborhood or something else. And so adding some a couple new locations. So this is pretty common to for them to go to common areas, a single family, multifamily residential neighborhoods with the permission of, you know, they park at their pool or something like that and and have people come to them from that neighborhood. And then also, we've added as part of a grand opening for a business.

So maybe they wanna have a food truck or some some other smoothie place or something like that that is limited to a minimum of seven consecutive days within the first ninety days that that place is open. So if they wanna throw some festival or something something as part of the grand opening, they can do that. And then we've amended the hours of operations with some exceptions. We did have some people trying to do some late night activities with different things. And so we suggested putting in some hours of operations, 6AM to 9PM.

The 6AM is there for, like, the coffee trucks and that kind of thing that might be around at at some point doing you know, in those same locations that we're just talking about, but but starting a little earlier than the other ones that we're serving lunch. And then some exceptions would be if a if a a brewery, for instance, says allowed to have a food truck is open until 11PM. They're still allowed to stay because the craft brewery is open till eleven. Other things like the planning commission could approve specific hours, maybe less or more depending on a specific location. And then as part of us approved special events, of course, that has to go through that other process.

And then we've just amended it to say and local just to make it very clear that they have to get a city business license. And then we've added the other two standards at the bottom. One of them is preventing alcohol sales or THC products sales or service. The alcohol sales again is approved as part of a special event permit or in under the muni code section of of of city events. It's just not allowed for to have a food truck that just goes out and sells alcohol at these other locations.

So there is an ability to do that, but it's through the special vending per permit process. And so speaking of special events, we're moving into that. The these only apply to events hold that are outdoors that are on private property. And so they're thinking about cultural events, musical events, or even like the the fair that's outside of the gallery in their parking Right? That's a special event permit that would be required. It's on private property. It doesn't apply to public property because those are regulated by the muni code. So think about food truck Friday, holiday events, that kind of stuff. The second set is actually supposed to be a separate bullet. I thought I changed it, but I didn't.

But it doesn't also apply to a private residence or common areas of a residential development. So if HOA wants to have a an event at their pool house, they can do that. There's no changes proposed to the the muni code section is what I meant by that next bullet. It also doesn't apply to sponsored events by the city, and it doesn't apply to events held at specific venues like event centers, churches, you know, wedding venues, sports complexes, that kind of thing. So looking at these changes, we've added just a couple of things to this section.

We found that some people were trying to do some different uses at some of these special events, tattooing, things like that. And so if it's not allowed on the property, it wouldn't be allowed also at a special event. And so we're prohibiting potty piercing tattoos, sales of THC products, that kind of thing. And then also the use of RVs for camping or use of RVs for, like, offices at these type of things. We've also added the noise ordinance stuff, and this really isn't this already was in effect, but we're just copying the language essentially from the Munich code to make it very clear that this is the standard 60 decibels within 300 feet of residential.

So that's already in the Munich code. We're just basically copying that language over into the ordinance to make it clear. So that also added hours of operation from 7AM to 11PM. This would be also include any setup or takedown activities that are happening as well, testing music, that kind of stuff. And then requirements for off duty police officers could be determined by the city manager or chief of police. We did our normal advertise advertisement in the Herald for the text amendments. We sent to local developers and design professionals who've asked to be more involved. We brought this to the planning commission. They had some discussion, but no substantive changes, and then no public comment was given at the planning commission either. So staff and the planning commission recommend approval as proposed. I think it's your questions.

Any questions for Dennis?

Yeah. Dennis, real quick. So a business less than a 100,000 square feet couldn't have it, food trucks on their private property unless it was grand opening.

Unless it was a special vest permit as part of a special permit that we would approve you and approve at the city or it was part of a grand opening which is now allowed as part of that section. But those would be they're really the only two scenarios where they would be able to have that at a at a building smaller than a 100,000

square So not to throw a business under the food truck, but Kimbrel's I saw Kimbrel's the other day. They had flags out and had food trucks in their parking lot and stuff. So, obviously, they've been open for a hundred hundred years. Long time. So but something like that, they could apply for a permit and still do that. Or you're saying that would not be allowed, period.

No. That that is not allowed, period. And so we do code enforcement on them, and we have to stay on some of the food trucks that operate. There are other locations, of course, that are just outside of the city limits that you see that happening. Sometimes along selling these people assume it's in the city limits. It's not. And so but we do if we see them operating, obviously, you know, police sometimes let us know about stuff happens over the weekends. But if they're operating during the day, we have code enforcement that actively talks to them about it. And that's part of the reason why we're proposing some of the language because it was a little confusing about where they can locate. Right. And so we're just trying to clean up that language and make it a little more clear.

So any milestone, hundred years in business, or some kinda like that, that could maybe fly in some kind of special permit Right. On the special occasion.

They could apply for a special event permit to say, hey. We're doing this festival. It's gonna have face painting and puppies and pet or whatever whatever else is gonna happen there. We're also gonna have a food truck, and then that could be allowed as some larger event. But just having a food truck in their parking lot for the purposes of having a food truck

Okay.

Would not be allowed.

Okay. So Dennis, if you know, I I wasn't familiar with the that example particularly, but you know, if I own a business and I've got a 90,000 square foot building, but I have I don't know, say I have 50 employees and we had a perfect, you know, injury free year and so we were celebrating that we were, you know, injury free for the year and I want to buy my my employees lunch. Mhmm. What's the problem? Why wouldn't we allow them to bring a food truck there and feed our employees? Like, I don't understand why that would be a problem.

Yeah. And you could if you ask for a special event program. There may be no other, like, inspections or permits and things you get. Some people would have tents and, you know, that kinda thing. It's depending on if you had if you had a lot of employees and you wanna do something outside and you'd have these larger tents, we'd need to inspect some of those. But if it's just having a food truck, like, in your back of house area, it could be something that's a really quick review for staff to say, yep. That's totally fine to do.

Okay. But thought you just said we couldn't do that.

Well, I

think Through a special event permit. Yes. We need to apply for the special event permit to do that.

So tell me this is where you're trying to prevent. Mhmm. A business that use their parking lot to generate revenue to bring food trucks in on a regular basis to sell food just to the general public.

That's right. And and Not for those circumstances, they also couldn't be up along the road with their flags out and signs and that kind of stuff getting attracting, from the street. Right? It's gonna be up by the front door using that example again, like Lowe's and have an ice cream truck. They're gonna be up by the front door because that's where people are coming and going in and out. They wouldn't be out by the street trying to get traffic off of Dave Lal Boulevard with signs and feather flags and stuff like that that wouldn't be allowed.

Gotcha. So

And how much a special event permit?

I'm not sure if what the fee schedule is and it may depend on the large how large the the thing is. Sealing off top of

people, man.

I was about to say it's $50.

Okay. And

the the staff over the past couple years have made it very easy. Like, the process is very easy.

Especially if it was just a one thing like a food truck thing. Basically, we're trying to keep people honest, and we're not trying to hurt local businesses that are in the area that pay, you know, brick and mortar taxes and that kind of thing because we would have them, you know, all over in downtown or on every street corner that has a gas station because they they pay the people to be there too. And so the gas station is like, You wanna take up an extra spot on my corner? Go ahead. And they're gonna give them 10% or, you know, whatever. Yeah. And so that that happens. So we've we've seen that happen the last couple years.

I will make a motion to accept the planning commission recommendation.

Second. We have a motion and a second. Complaining discussion. Any other? Any questions? Hearing and seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Approved. We'll move on to item six b at ordinance to amend the zoning ordinance of the city of Rock Hill code chapter five land use accessory and temporary uses concerning mobile food, vendors, and special event permits.

So move for first reading.

Second. Second. We have motion in the seconding. Further discussion, questions, hearing and seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed? Approved. Move on to item seven a. Consider resolution relating to the declaration of attempt by the city of Rock Hill, South Carolina to reimburse certain expenditures made prior to the issuance of federal tax exempt bonds. Madison, this goes back to five a. Is that right? Please go ahead.

Yes, sir. So as you mentioned, this does go back to item five a and this is just a reimbursement resolution related to limited obligation bond ordinance and this allows the city to actually reimburse ourselves for expenditures incurred on the Bleach Creek Fieldhouse up to or since 12/10/2025. So, you can only go back sixty days for the law. So, this that's why it's kind of separated out normally when you would see this. It would actually be a part of the original bond ordinance. But due to the the field house opening in December, we have some expenditures back through December 10 that we would like to reimburse ourselves for with that bond. We recommend approval.

So move to approve the resolution.

Second.

We have a

motion to second any discussion, Questions? Hearing and seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Approved. We'll move on to item eight a, consider approval for the Rockoeconomic Development Corporation goals for fiscal year twenty twenty six and fiscal year twenty twenty seven. We have the chairman of the Rock Hill Economic Development Corporation, Robert Alexander. Robert?

Good evening, mister mayor, members of council. Wanted to present the the coming goals for the Rock Hill Economic Development Corporation. I certainly appreciate your consideration on this. Wanted to, first of all, thank all the city council mayor, city manager. Also, mister Bagel came and spoke at our meeting on last week about power, and that was a good thing to learn about. Also, we've got lots of staff that work on this, lot of volunteer board members, and I'd like to say thank you to them as well. And there is a presentation. I don't know if you can see it. Mm-mm.

Hit that arrow. Oh, sorry. Arrow hit it all.

Hit the arrow. Arrow. Down arrow.

The key.

No. No.

Oh, okay.

There you go.

There you go. Now I'm doing it. Alright. So there's forty two years of successful partnership. Rocket Laredon Development Corporation was formed forty two years ago to combat the downtown area and its decline.

We are completely in a different situation now. Thanks for the the city and also the staff of our GDC. There's business parks downtown, knowledge park revitalization, partnerships, and community capacity. We have engaged the community convening a lot of constituencies. We definitely support small business and entrepreneurs and workforce development, place making, and you can read the rest.

Okay. Part of what we do is sometimes the city, you know, lets us take care of some things that perhaps could be better focused on for from Rock Hill Economic Development Corporation. And a lot of that stuff, there's a coolness factor in some of the things that we do, and that's the place making alleyways, art installations. I think part of, the coolness factor actually brings people to the city and lets them work, live, play. So, one of the others is student made, Raquel.

I'll go over that in a little bit. So in 2025, this is the development, metrics. We had a $139,000,000 of investment with 550 jobs created, $26,000,000 of expansion investment with 270 jobs, and the 100% business retention expansion calls made by in 2025, that was a 153 calls to businesses that exist and want to expand. So thank you very much for staff for doing that. That's a lot of work and I definitely appreciate them doing that.

So the next one we have is a couple of metrics for Shop Rock Hill. You may have seen some stickers on windows in in in Old Town and in other places in Rock Hill. So that's the Shop Rock Hill metrics. And the one I wanted to focus on is it had 42,000 Facebook reach. Right? So that's a lot of eyes, looking at Shop Rock Hill, and you can see other, metrics there. So I think that's a very successful program. We wanna continue to do that. Focus on shopping in Rock Hill. So student made is is is with Winthrop, and they basically have students that make things and actually market their goods.

And they've done that on Main Street. And the metrics there focusing on 4,300 visitors to the website or online. And you can look, there's 1,200 units sold. So, I mean, that is not only allowing the students to get their wares out there, but also supporting them perhaps in an entrepreneurial journey in the future. Right?

And then, and when they become entrepreneurs, we have some programs I'll talk about in just a second. Couple workforce development things, there's vehicle fare metrics. This is kind of a fun thing where there was 300 students and teachers served, 13 trucks and equipment, personal protective equipment. It's kind of a really cool way to get to to students and to show them all about the cool trucks and equipment that we have, but also, that the city has. But then a student, quote was, school can be fun.

Right? And that's, you wanna hear our students saying that. So definitely appreciate those people that, that did that work. One of the things that we do is we support entrepreneurship and small business by sponsoring the fuel program, and that's facilitating upcoming entrepreneurial things. So there's a program metrics there.

Couple of things to concentrate on is that the number of of founders that are in the program at the moment are 11, and there's 23 specialists, mentors that volunteer their time. And so there's a lot of mentors out there. We're doing great work and trying to get them to the next level, make their businesses better. And so I'm a lead mentor on two founder programs, and I really enjoy it. I enjoy giving back, but I think I get more out of it than what I give because it's really a great program.

We're always looking for more mentors more founders. So if you if you're interested, please let me know. So the current board composition, you can you can read there. We have 15 members on the board, and we definitely appreciate each person volunteering their time and effort. And the next slide is about the vision.

So the old vision was basically tied to combating the decline of of the city, economics. And that was there for a long time. And I think now we can focus on the Rock Hill Economic Development Corporation as a non profit organization representing the business educational and community interest of the city while promoting quality jobs, facilitating capital investment, and supporting growth. And that's a it's a big change since the eighties and early nineties, those of you that were here. And so I think that that's a nice vision for our fiscal year 2627.

We changed last year to be more aligned with the city physical year. So now our our year is July to June as well. And so when we do these goals that I'll talk about in a second, we look out eighteen months and we try to focus on some of those things and maybe having them be a little bit longer term as well. But we wanna keep June 2027 in mind when we're doing these goals. So there's a lot of detail.

I didn't put it in the slide, and I wanted to thank Damian and Lisa for preparing the slide deck and doing a great job. So overall, the full board basically has board engagement strategy and goal. And what that means is we would like each board member to be on a committee. Almost 75 are currently on committees and participate that way, but we'd like to get that further to 100%. So then industrial site suitability analysis and advocacy.

We also have financial oversight. So that's the full board has financial oversight and and those things. So from workforce development, then we do the student and employer workforce engagement, trying to bridge skill gaps as well and veteran support. So those are some focuses going into 2627. From a small business and entrepreneurship, we do the advocacy for small business in all areas of Rock Hill.

And so we make sure and the staff has done a great job in our small business and entrepreneurship committee to be able to have representation in most areas of the city. And that's that includes, you know, the South Side, that includes Old Town, that includes, Heckle and and and Hurlong. It includes all those different areas, Galleria area. The that tries to make sure that everyone is fairly represented in that. We're not just focused on one simple area.

The shop local and other small business events, well, I will mention that before. And the student made Rock Hill is in its first year. We want to try to see that we can make that sustainable going forward because we believe that's an important thing for not only our university, which is a gem in our downtown, but then also for the students there. Placemaking, the South Side Music And Cultural Trail is on the is on is in focus. We wanna make sure that that comes off well and that we can support that every place that we can.

The public art installation continues. We like to see public art and that coolness factor as well, part of downtown. Also, alleyways reimagine. So if you've been to the alleyways, they used to be dark and and kind of people didn't wanna go down them. Now we've done a lot of work to try to make those alleyways reimagine and make it more inviting as as a as a pass through.

And then inside the investment and development committee, looking at south side investment and seeing, you know, how we can, you know, try to advocate for that, but also be a part of that if if we can. The voluntary cleanup contracts are always gonna be important. That's where we go in as as kind of a proxy to clean up a site that may have been a garage or or repair facility where, you know, they the somebody wants to develop land, but it has some environmental concerns. We go in, we clean that up, and then we then pass it over to the developer that's already in line so that they can then do their development on that property. And we've done that a couple of places.

One was the Good Motor Site, which is now the exchange. So that's a big one. Also, part of the the the new Bleachery is also part of of a voluntary cleanup contract as well. So those are important to continue to do, but also marketing and business attraction. So we always have staff involved in, people that are interested in the city and and coming here, participating with York County Economic Development to to entertain and make sure that we can do our best and put our best foot forward in that.

So one of the other things that we are doing in investment and development is we're focusing on kind of a knowledge based jobs and tech kind of based jobs, and that's a a big focus. We had a strategy TIP strategies came in and did a tech analysis of what we have and what we are missing. And then each one of the committees can take a piece of that tech strategy and then implement something in their goals. So there's a lot more work behind all of this, but this is just the the highlights, the overview of the goals. And so with that, I think that ends my presentation.

Once again, I wanted to thank staff and I want to thank the city and the city manager for providing staff to Rock Hill Economic Development Corporation and the council as well because without that, I think that a lot of these things that we have going on, the coolness factor, the investments, the expansions wouldn't be possible without that. So thank you very much for all the support that you give Rock Hill Economic Development Corporation. And we're looking forward to finding a a business model in the future that provides sustainability in the future. So that's my presentation.

Thank you very much.

Yeah. Any questions for Robert? Any discussion? Any motion? So move for approval.

Second.

We have a motion, a second. Any further discussion?

I'll just say, Robert, I appreciate you thanking the staff and getting staff their due. There's countless hours. A lot of people go into this, but I would be remiss if I did not mention you specifically and many other volunteers who spend many, many hours and are passionate about development of Rock Hill. That's your time. You you spend it for free. And we have a lot of volunteers like you that spend countless hours working on RGDC to the benefit of Rock Hill. And so we we it would not function without you you guys. We can sit up here and just say yes or no sometimes, but there's so many people in the background that do a lot of good work. RQDC has gone through metamorphosis the last three years. We've changed a lot of things.

So I think we're on a good track and it's from people and volunteers like you. So thank you all.

Thank you. Well said.

We have a motion, second. We've had discussion, questions? Hearing and seeing none, all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Approved. We'll move on to item eight b, elect mayor pro tem quick.

Mayor, I would make a motion to elect Don Black as next mayor pro tem. Second.

We have a second. So no discussion, no questions.

Do I need to recuse myself so I don't know or if I don't

No. Home rule requires us to have a mayor pro tem to act in the absence of the chair and to handle other things as we go throughout the city to show up when a lot of the people of Rock Hill show up, and council member Black can do a fantastic job of that. I look forward to your service and customer connect winners. Congratulations, Helen Loveless. You are smart switch winner, and our customer connect winner is Matthew Lee Bolin.

You'll each receive a $50 credit on your next utility bill. Any city council committee reports? Any miscellaneous business? Just two items. Number one, two weeks ago in January 29, we celebrated the day that mister Behan became the longest serving city manager in the city of Hill's history. I mentioned that not so we can have a love fest yet again, but so that it's in the public record, so it's easily searchable as we go forward, David. Congratulations. Thank you for all your service in that regard. And then also Jimmy Bagley, happy birthday. Yeah. So I gotta get somebody. Alright. We're in executive session. We'll see you in a few weeks. Thank you very much.