Town Council - Special Meeting

That's ridiculous. Why are we doing it? I don't know. 20 20,000 to private. I'm done with that. 23,000. It doesn't make sense. Is that making sense? No. out there.

Yeah. So, uh, Katherine's going to be All right. Let me call to order the special town council meeting for this Tuesday, May the 12th. Um, Council Member Whitaker is flying back into town from a work trip and will be with us as soon as she lands and gets here. Um, item number two would be public comment. Is there anyone here to make a public comment? Uh, reminder, this is the special town council meeting. We have the monthly meeting at 6. Anyone for public comment? All right, public comment is closed. Item three, executive session for legal and contractual discussion and possible action regarding an economic development incentive package. Do we have a motion to go into executive session for that reason?

Move for approval, Mr. Chair. Second. All right. Before uh we vote, um council may take action on any item, including any subsection of any section listed on an executive session agenda or discussed in executive session during a properly noticed meeting. All in favor of the motion, please say I. I. Any opposed? All right, we are in executive session to the conference room for something.

We're still missing this Let the record show we have reconvened from executive session in our 5:15 special council meeting. Um, no votes were cast, no action was taken. Um, do we have a motion resulting from the information received?

Uh, yes, mayor. Um, I have a motion to approve economic development to and to negotiate an agreement as discussed in executive session. Second. We have a motion. We have a second. Is there any discussion? All in favor, please say I. I. All oppose? No. Motion carries and uh is approved. Thank you very much.

Item number five, National Tennis Month Proclamation. Mr. Rambo. All right. I will read the tennis month proclamation. Whereas the United States Tennis Association and the Town of Mount Pleasant Tennis Clubs promote the play and growth of the sport of tennis in South Carolina at every age, ability, and level of play from beginners to professionals. And whereas playing tennis at any ability and level improves heart health, agility, and can provide a positive and fun environment to spend time with family and friends while staying active. And whereas by increasing accessibility of tennis for Mount Pleasant residents of all ages and abilities, the USA and the town of Mount Pleasant have helped make our community healthier. And whereas USA has declared the month of May as National Tennis Month to encourage players, organizations, facilities, retailers, tennis manufacturers, and many other tennis providers to promote local programs and activities at public parks and facilities, private clubs, schools, colleges, and universities to showcase tennis and spread the word about the sport and its benefits, and to help players and non-players alike find courts and play and play opportunities in their communities. Now, therefore, I, Will Haney, sorry, mayor, it's just not me, uh, mayor of the town of Mount Pleasant, do hereby proclaim May 2026 National Tennis Month in the town of Mount Pleasant and encourage all of our residents from youth to senior to stay active and play tennis. And let me add that we have an exciting groundbreaking tomorrow at 2:00 for the uh additions to the Mugsy Kurr tennis facility um over off of Whipple

Road. So we are very excited about that and we invite anybody to come to that who would like to come. Would you guys like to say a few words or Yes.

Okay. I'm Andrea Weinstein, the president of the Low Country Tennis Association, and I've provided council members with um a handout here that has pictures of first of growth of tennis. And I want to emphasize how important Mount Pleasant is in terms of the Low Country Tennis Association. We have over 1,000 registered tennis players, adult tennis players who play from Mount Pleasant Wreck. And in addition, we have players that play um at some of the private facilities such as Snee Farm, Park West, Dunes West, Creekide. So Mark Mount Pleasant represents a large portion of the Low Country Tennis Association and we are the fourth largest tennis association in the United States by registrations

and that's because we live in Charleston area where we can play year round and we facilitate play all year round in um in this low country tennis area. And on the next page is um we try to improve the experience um for our players at our facilities through a facility improvement grant. And um there were some picnic tables at Mount Pleasant Wreck and you can see a picture of them. And on the next picture there are the four facil uh picnic tables that Low Country Tennis Association has provided uh for our players and other people who come to Mount Pleasant Wreck. So, that was a $7,200 expenditure that we made um to improve the experience and just to show how important Mount Pleasant is to our player experience.

And I want to thank you very much for reading the proclamation. That would have looked bad.

All right. Next, please. Um, item six, recognition of state champions. Our unified basketball team, the Stingers, and our unified swim team, the Piranhas. Who is going to do those honors? Shelley. What is it about Mount Pleasant and state championships? How many state championships can one town right now? Oh, that's a lot.

Oh, got it. I'm used to seeing you guys in here. Council members, this will probably be the best part of your night. So, enjoy it while you can. Kyle, you can go back up. As usual, no introductions need to be made. You have met our state champions, the MPD Stingers. Um, they went to a state tournament April 18th up in Colombia. There were over 500 other basketball players. There were 54 teams and they came back undefeated once again.

Wow. Just a quick side note, they had their new coach, Sarah Monday. Um, she is a rec specialist for the rec department. She has jumped right into everything unified and she got to be a part of the winning team this year. Um, I just want to say real quick, keep it short. Um, it's more than just a team. Um, I've been able to watch this particular team grow. We've had some new players come. We had some players leave, but to watch them become such a cohesive unit and be able to go out pretty much on their own and win these games, which is not all about winning, we know, but it's amazing to see the the relationships they are building on the court as well as off the court. A lot of them call each other up and go meet up for some basketball or food. We like to eat food. Um, so while the sport is very important, uh, I think it's key that they are also forming a lot of social relationships. So that's all. Congratulations, Stingers. Thank you all.

All right. I would like to invite the state piranhas up. Come on up if you went to Columbia. I see a lot of familiar faces. Great job. Great job, Stevie. How you doing, man? Good to see you, brother.

Playing some golf. Still playing some golf. All right. Yes, sir. Good to see you again. Multiple time champions.

Congratulations. It's okay. Congratulations. Oh, you you're on both basketball and swimming. All right. That's awesome. You ready? How amazing.

Don't be shy. All right. Once again, no introduction needed. You have met our NPRD piranhas. The team who stands in front of you actually just got back from Colombia. We did an overnight at Fort Jackson. Um there was over a thousand athletes at this state tournament. Uh eight different sports, aquatics being one of them. Um we came back, are you ready? We came back with three participation ribbons, a sixth place, three fifth place, six fourth place, 10 bronze, 12 silver, nine golds. We had 14 swimmers compete and represent Mount Pleasant. Um, all the swimmers did an amazing adjustment when we had some teammates who couldn't join us. We adjusted our relay teams and they did it all with smiles and lots of giggles, right? Um, real quick though, I do want to um give notice or give recognition to our teammates in the stands or in the audience. So, if you're a unified player, stand up, please, Courtney, or come up.

While everybody doesn't always get to join us for the state events, they are part of the team and they make the season happen. So, thank you guys for taking your time and recognizing your NPRD unified teams and have a great night. Yay. Panas, turn around and face me for a picture.

How?

Awesome. Thank you, Shelly. Thank you all athletes.

Round of applause for Shelly. Awesome. We'll we'll let everybody kind of

Good to see you again. Congratulations. Great job. All right. You, too. Good night.

This would be a good time to mention um speaking of Special Olympics that um from noon Saturday to noon Sunday, uh Debbie Anteneelli's 24 hours nothing but net was right here in the Debbie Anteneelli gym on U Town Hall property and there was a big turnout. Want to thank everybody for being there. Mr. Moore, I want to thank your staff for um all that they did. Everything from the police running the torch to uh public services having everything out in the parking lot and the rec department doing everything in the gym and um and this was our first um attempt to do a little community festival as part of that because Debbie wanted that. And it there was good turnout, but we've got ideas to make it bigger and better next time. And uh maybe at our June meeting we can get her here um just to give us a little recap, show us a highlight reel. But she did raise $195,000 in that 24 hours, bringing it to almost uh $1.6 million and she's on her way to $200,000 and has already announced that it'll be right back here next year as well. So um I just thought that deserved a little a little mention there. Um there is nothing else on our agenda for our special town council meeting. So with that being said, we will adjourn and then reassemble for our six o'clock monthly meeting. We are

journal.

Oh, really?

Let me call to order the 6 pm monthly town council meeting for Mount Pleasant Town Council for this Tuesday, the May the 12th. Good to see everyone here. We will begin with prayer by Chaplain Ray Gild and followed by the pledge of allegiance that will be led by Mayor Prom Howard Chapman. Please stand.

Would you join me in prayer? Almighty God, I pray for this council meeting tonight. Give each council member the wisdom and guidance as they deliberate on items before them. May every decision be righteous in your sight for our benefit and for your glory. In your holy name we pray. Amen. Amen. Please face the flag.

I pledge algiance 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 for all. Thank you both very much. Next is approval of the agenda. May I have a motion, please? Approval, Mr. Chairman. Second. Any discussion? All in favor, please say I. I. I.

All right. The agenda is approved. Motion carries. Item four is uh public hearings, awards, and presentations. We will have a public hearing to receive input on a proposal to amend chapter 155, land development regulations of the Mount Pleasant Code of Ordinances. This um has to do with um access to lots by means other than an improved public street. Um you're you are welcome to comment on this. It does not count as your public comment time if you signed up for that. And at the end of a public hearing, I am required by ordinance to sound the gavvel because the public hearing has ended. That is not the end of the meeting. We will go on for at least another 15 minutes, I'm sure. All right, Mr. Mitchell.

Yes, sir. Uh I think you summarized it very well with that brief uh intro with the ingress egress easement. This is land development regulations that goes for you guys for a public hearing. uh this is to exclude and get provide higher standards for subdividing property off of an ingress egress easement. This is uh adjusting the setback the building setback from the e property line and also excluding the ement area from the minimum lot area square foot area for the lot. All right. Is there anyone here to speak to that item in the public hearing? All right. Seeing none, um, this public hearing is declared closed.

Item five, approval of the minutes from the April 14th special and regular town council meetings and the March 2026 financial statement. We have a motion to approve and a second. Any discussion? All in favor, please say I. Motion carries. Item six is public comment. And if you signed up for public comment, please come forward, give your name and address, and the timer will show you when your two and a half minutes are up. Please, Mr. Demora will call your name. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. We have one speaker signed up this evening, Bill Reside.

Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Council. My name is Bill Reside. I live on Edesto Island. I'm here to introduce myself as a candidate for the United States House of Representatives, District 1. We'll talk about that District One thing in just a second. Um, in April of 2025, I started this quest. And in November of last year, I filed with the Federal Election Commission to run and filed with the state in March of this year. And on April 11th, the State Libertarian Party uh voted to give me their ballot line in November. Now, as we know, there's a little controversy over what this District 1 is going to look like. Right now, Mount Pleasant is in District 1, and uh I hope it stays in District 1, but I'm here to introduce myself, not to politic. So, I've lived the vast majority of my adult life in North and South Carolina. I've been a South Carolinian since 2008. I spent 40 years after earning a BS degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Virginia primarily in nuclear power construction maintenance and uh operations also in the research field up in New York for a few years primarily with Duke Energy. I've worked in nuclear power plants all around the world but primarily here in the Carolinas. So, I want to take that engineering expertise to Congress to solve problems. Again, I've been a formal uh resident of Edisto for about four years. I've owned property there for about 20. So, I am here only to introduce myself. I'll be back in touch with y'all. Whether you're in District 1 or District 7, I look forward to representing you in the House of Representatives next January. Thank you very much. Thank you. Anyone else for public comment who did not have the opportunity to sign up? Going once, going twice. All

right. Thank you very much. Public comment is closed. That moves us to item seven, consent agenda items, which is final reading on item A and final reading on item B. Do we have a motion? Please move for approval. Second. All right. Is there any discussion? All in favor of the motion to approve the consent agenda items, please say I. I. Any oppose? Motion carries. Final reading of consent agenda items A and B. Item eight is uh planning new business. Miss Reid, if you'll take us through.

Yes, sir. Thank you, Mayor and Council. Uh so this first um proposal before you is our new 10mi zoning overlay district. It has been to committee several times for discussion. It did go to planning commission for a public hearing and it comes to you from commission and committee with a recommendation for approval. I'm going to briefly go through it. Um it does come from uh the Charleston County zoning overlay that was recently adopted. Uh the Charleston County overlay um they worked on their process for about three years. Um and that was to really kind of implement some uh some zoning and standards that they wanted to do um based on their historic district. Uh the county's overlay establishes density, intensity, and and dimensional standards. It establishes standards for fences, signage, pedestrian walkways, storage of vehicles, street names, and storm water requirements. Um we are proposing a very similar overlay. Any differences are minimal. Most of them have to do with references to the the county zoning overlay referenced their county ordinances. So, we had to make some changes there. But there were several points um where the committee discussed policy issues and they this comes to you with their recommendations. So, I did want to touch on those real quick. Um one of them they talked about the ADUs in the county overlay zoning district. There is no standard uh on their ADUs. it is covered by their overall coverage. Um, we talked about that because the town does have a a set size for ADUs. Um, but we did decide to go with that because the building coverage is very strict. It's 25%. And that includes all your structures. And so that really does kind of limit the ADU size. Uh, signage and street names require coordination with the 10 pound neighborhood association. Um, affordable and workforce housing.

We did decide to keep the town densities. Um the county allows overlay d uh bonus densities. This is not just in the 10 mile overlay. This is countywide. And um they can get in some cases up to 18 units an acre I believe. So yeah, the committee was pretty uh and commission was very adamant that they did not want to go with that. So we did keep our town densities of the rural residential and then the suburban urban residential. But we are allowing certain uses, duplexes, triplexes, quad, quadplexes as workforce housing, but they would have to go through a special exception to the board of zoning appeals and meet that standard. And that's the same as it is in the county overlay. Uh the county overlay does have a special storm water requirement. We deleted that and just reference our own storm water requirements. They are um just as strict, if not more strict. And then the district boundary. Um I'll get to that on this next one. So, the county historic district is this map you're seeing right here. Um, between the time they created their historic boundaries and they created this zoning overlay, some properties were annexed out of the out of the county or I'm sorry, they were removed from the county and annexed into the town. So, when the town looked at what is our boundary going to look like, we wanted to make it on that original historic overlay. And so there's a few areas here where um we had to go back and look and with the committee's help uh we did end up with this map that mirrors the county's historic boundaries and not their zoning overlay. So we've pulled those properties that were annexed into the town back into the our overlay district. Um there are a couple of properties that I want to point on. One of them, let me go back to it. These three properties here were not originally included. We have included them in ours. And then also

there's a section in the county that you'll see here that was not included and that is because there's an existing overlay there. We have the same overlay. It's a community mixeduse overlay. So those are the the two things that may look a little bit different. But other than that, everything else pretty much mirrors what the county has done with commission and committee input. And um I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. Any questions? Yes, sir. M.

Yes. Uh, thank you, Miss Reed. And I think this is a great step forward for um ensuring that the um areas in the settlement community, the historic district are treating treated uniformly um whether they're in the town or the county. um did have a question. Um in in the um settlement communities um you'll notice a lot of the or some of the homes are manufactured or mobile homes. I'm wondering if we have contemplated um whether to allow those um within the historic district or not.

Um they are allowed. I'm going to double check now that you say that. Um, but the manufactured home should be allowed as a permitted use in the use table. And you all should have gotten a link to the actual draft document and it has its own table. Okay, I see it there. Yeah, I would point out that anything that's permitted so and the hierarchy would be this overlay is priority. It supersedes and then anything not addressed in this overlay, we would revert to our our um town code. But the manufactured housing is allowed.

Okay, great. I just didn't want there to be a disincentive um for somebody to come into the town. Um so that's great news. Um did also have a question on and I presume it's straight from the county and and you may not necessarily have the answer to the question um but there is a prohibition on um community docks and boat ramps. I'm just curious why that is. I think some of those potentially could be an amenity to the the community at large. So, just wanting to understand the rationale behind those two things being prohibited.

I I'm not sure why those were prohibited. Um I can get back to you on that. Um, all I can say is that it they had the input from the community throughout those years, uh, those three years of when they worked on this document and, um, and they decided to not make those allowed. And that's we really didn't question it. Um, well, we did question it. We wondered why, but um, I'm not sure that we ever really got any answer um, on that, but we wanted to honor what they had decided with the 10 mile community.

Sure. And then the final question, um, I think is, um, so I know the county has a historic district review board of some kind that, um, uh, judges whether properties are complying with the, um, historic regulations and the overlay district. Um, I know that we're kind of contemplating how we can potentially either replicate it or or um, join in on the county board. Um, but for the time being, would the would this overlay then be enforced by uh the planning department? That's correct. Okay. Yep.

Well, th thanks again and uh really appreciate all of the hard work that you and your team put into this and I I do think it's a great step forward uh for how we're treating our settlement communities. Of course,

we're still questions. All right. We don't have a motion yet. Go ahead and move to approve. Second. We have a motion in a second. Now, is there any other discussion on first reading of this ordinance establishing our 10mi community overlay zoning district? All right. All in favor, please say I. I. Any oppose? Motion carries. First reading ordinance number 26026. All right. This next proposal is uh to reszone a move to deny. Second.

All right. We have a motion to deny. Um this would be reszoning from area business area wide business to um R2 residential. Um this is in kind of behind Arch Bar and Grill as I understand. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. All right. Is there any discussion on the motion to deny? All in favor of the motion to deny, please say I.

Any opposed? Motion carries. Item uh section B, there are no old planning uh business items. Section nine, accommodations, tax advisory commission uh funding recommendations. We went through this, made some changes, I believe, at um at a recent meeting and um who would be making the motion for this, please? I I'll make it up. Okay. Uh um recommend uh that we approve the accommodations tax advisory committee recommend funding recommendations for FY 2627 budget.

Second. Is there any further discussion? Yes, sir. Yeah. Uh a question about the turkey day run. It's been a um ongoing concern for me, I guess. Uh that race is in Charleston. That's right. Yes. on Thanksgiving. Yes, sir. Um it's curious. Um they they claim it it's going to create how many room nights or how many hotel nights? Uh I don't recall the exact number right off the top of my head, but they did include some hotel room nights based on their um registrations. I'll I'll answer that question. Okay.

During the meeting, Mr. Brownstein. Um, I made a suggestion not only to the Turkey Day run people, but also to all of the people who submitted requests. A number of them submitted requests for advertising that they were going to do the advertising. That's something that Explore Charleston does very well. And Explore Charleston agreed to assist not only Turkey Day run, but also any other applicant for funds from the town of Mount Pleasant. Explore Charleston receives a lot of money on their own. And part of that is because they do advertise not just nationally but worldwide. So the point was that they already have worked with the Turkey Day run as part of the meeting that they could have their applications available at our town center that they help operate. Not necessarily town center, but our location where they work with us for areawide notice. As such, they also recommended to the Turkey Day run that included in that advertising

that we have a number of hotels and motel right across the street. And as such that the Turkey Day run could notify their per people and suggest staying at those locations right across the street where they had agreed to give out their um packets. So whether there's one person or a thousand, we don't know. But this is the first time that they've they've worked with Explore Charleston, both for giving out their applications here in Mount Pleasant, as well as encouraging people not just to stay downtown, but to stay in Mount Pleasant. Thank you, sir. I can appreciate that. Um, my my frustration or concern about this one has been that it's it's a Thanksgiving Day run, so it's mostly, I believe, catering to people who either already live here or we're going to visit for other purposes. Um, and so I'm just uh trying to stay consistent with my previous stance on it. So, I'd like to make an amendment that we remove the turkey day run from a tax All right, we have a motion in a second to remove the um $5,000 uh for the turkey day run.

Um I'm not sure we had a motion. We did. There is a motion to approve. Thank you. Okay. Somehow I didn't make Mr. Mr. Mayor.

Yes. So, I mean, I sat on a tech before. I I would I'd agree with the motion from Mr. Brownstein and um Mr. Rambo in the fact that um I think people are on vacation. You happen to go do a turkey day run. I don't I don't see a lot of vacationing for a turkey day run personally. And this is held in Charleston. Have Have they received Charleston funds from their ATAC? They they've asked and received from the city. And how much do you know? I don't know off the top of my head, but it's an easier sell on that side. It's easier sell on that side.

Might be the smartest thing I'm going to hear tonight as So, um I I would I would agree with that motion and uh I I I'll rest at that. Thank you for everything else on it and for increasing the funds for the for the group. Yes, sir. Mr. Rambo, I would just like to add that I personally do not believe in running on Thanksgiving which days and I do not want to subject anyone. Give us a list of the days you do anytime. I mean I not for me but Thanksgiving.

Um did the did the ATAC uh committee recommend that 500 did the the appointees to the committee?

They did. Um, and I think the last three cycles, ATAC has recommended some funding that has been eliminated once it got to y'all. And, um, they keep trying. Um, and they actually have improved their application over the years, but um, this has kind of been where it's done. I just to put my cards. I think I'll stick with that recommendation for this year and I'll join you next year after I run it. Any others? All right. The motion is to remove the turkey day run $5,000 from the accommodation tax uh funding recommendations. All in favor, please say I.

I. All oppose. No. How many notes? One, two, three, four. And how many yeses were there? Oh, there's four. Four. Four. Okay. Doesn't pass. Four. Four. All right. This may be their lucky year. There you go. That's the amendment. Yep. So now we vote for that. Yes. Is there any discussion on the primary motion? Uh that would be um as you see it before us there as it was presented. Any further discussion? All right. All in favor, please say I. I.

Any opposed? All right. Motion carries and it is approved. That completes section nine. This is section 10, council new business. Uh first would be an adoption of a resolution to adopt capital improvement plan for uh 2027 to 2031. Miss Harnesses. Good evening. So, within the CIP budget, um this CIP plan that you see now does reflect the amendment um of reallocating 150,000 from Pit Street into the Miriam Brown project. Move to approve. Second.

Second. All right. Is there any discussion? All in favor of the motion to approve, please say I. I. All right. Motion carries. Resolution 26051. Moving on to item uh 10 A2. Another resolution um making declaration to approve a lease purchase agreement. And again, this is for this is for uh the 2.5 million. It's a five-year lease purchase for the items that you see listed here.

Got it. We have a motion. Any further discussion? All in favor of the motion to approve, please say I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Resolution 26052. Item three, a resolution to move to approve. Second. All right. To adopt a town of Mount Pleasant 5-year general fund financial plan for the years 27 to 31. The motion is to approve. Is there any discussion? All in favor, please say I. I.

Any opposed? Motion cares. Resolution 26053. Old business. Um item one, final reading on an ordinance to adopt and appropriate a budget for the town of Mount Pleasant for the fiscal year beginning um for 2027, beginning this July 1. Um just to be clear, we will need a motion to get the budget out there and then we will amend it with all of the amendments we made in committee. Um but since that was committee it could not be made on the um on the primary motion then we'll vote on that then we'll vote on it with the amendments. So first can we get Thank you. second

we have a motion to approve. Do we want to go ahead with uh the amendments that we spent how long meeting? About an hour a little over hour and a half. Yes sir. Okay. Going over the amendments. Miss Harness are you just dying to tell us? Yes. This is everything that was discussed during budget committee. These are what was moved by budget committee. Amend based on budget committee's listed recommendations. Second. Thank you very much. Is there any discussion on the amendment? All right. All in favor, please say I. I.

Any opposed? All right. The amendment passes. Is there any further discussion on the motion to approve which would be of course as amended? All in favor of the to adopt the resolution for the budget um excuse me an ordinance for the budget uh as as amended please signify by saying I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Ordinance number 26024. Uh item number 11 is to adjourn. Um, with there being no further