City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. I am calling the North Charleston City Council meeting for North Charleston for September 10, 2026. I'm calling the council meeting to order. I'd like you all to please stand for the invocation that will be said by Councilwoman Dr. Charmaine Palmer-Roberts and the pledged allegiance.

If our hearts and minds are clear. Father, we thank you for this day, God. We thank you for another opportunity to come together to lead and guide the city of North Charleston. Grant us wisdom. Grant us the spirit of discernment and a wishful heart that we will all do the right things. In your name we pray. Amen.

Our first item on the agenda is the recognition of new employees. When I call your name, please come to the front. Annie Mamar, Kimberly Watson for the Court Administration. In the Finance Department, we have Benjamin Hyman. Police Department, Jordan Hutcherson. Public Works, Demetrio Green to Wayne Durant, Clarence Owens, Bobby Warren.

How are y'all doing? Everything's good? On behalf of city council and our mayor, I'd like to be the first to welcome you as the new employees here at the city of North Charleston. It really is a great place to live, work, and play. So I'd like to welcome you. At this time, I'm going to ask you to turn around and face the council. And I'm gonna encourage you to get to know them very, very well, because they're the ones that vote on the budget, which ultimately determines whether or not you get a raise. So, um, you know, we, we welcome you. And at this time, I'm gonna ask the mayor to say a few words.

I just want to thank you all so much for investing in our city. It's an all-American city, so we have to keep it like that. I want you all to understand your number one priority, turn around, turn around. That's your number one priority, the people of our city. They're the most that we need to work hard toward, make sure their lives are safe and prosperous, because they will make sure that our financial lives are safe and prosperous. Okay. Now, if you all don't want to stay, you all can leave, but thank you all.

Okay. Will the military magnet girls basketball team come up, the state champions?

Yeah.

We... We have a proclamation. Whereas military magnate Lady Eagles girls basketball team has firmly established a culture of dominance, dedication, and historic excellence within the community and across the state of South Carolina. And whereas through unyielding teamwork, relentless work ethic, and elite... ATHLETICISM, THE LADY EAGLES CAPTURED THE SOUTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE CLASS A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, SECURING BACK TO BACK STATE TITLES AND AN ASTOUNDING FIVE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE LAST SIX YEARS. AND WHEREAS, THIS MONUMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT EXTENDS THE PROGRAM'S RECORD WITHIN CHARLESTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE MOST BASKETBALL STATE TITLES HELD BY ANY PROGRAM, SEEMING THEIR LEGACY AS ONE OF THE GREATEST DYNASTIES IN LOCAL SPORTS HISTORY. And whereas the members of this championship roster have proven themselves to be exceptional scholars who balance the heavy demands of rigorous military-style academic discipline with the elite physical requirements of championship-level basketball. And whereas these student-athletes serve as exemplary role models for youth throughout our city, demonstrating that true victory is achieved through impeccable character, academic focus, selfless team play, and mutual accountability. And whereas the unparalleled success of the program is a direct reflection of the guidance, strategy, and leadership of the coaching staff alongside the unwavering support of faculty, staff, students, and families of Military Madden Academy. Now, therefore, I, Reggie Burgess, Mayor of the City of North Charleston, do hereby issue this official proclamation to highly commend, recognize, and congratulate the Military Madden Academy Lady Eagles basketball team coaching staff for their spectacular multi-year championship run. I call upon all citizens to join me in celebrating these incredible scholars, athletes, and champions for bringing immense pride and honor to our entire city. And now we will present a proclamation to the team. Number zero, string being Pinckney. Number one, Mariah Brown. Number two, Jerry Smith. Number three, LaCie Taylor. Number four, LaMaria Brown. Number five, Skylar Gapes. Number 10, Kalia Brown-King. Number 12, Soraya Miller. Number 13, Kaylee Moultrie. Number 14, Jada Randolph. Number 15, Lauren Willis. Number 21, Camara Brown. And number 24, Destiny Wilson. And one of the girls that participated in the team, she's already went off to college and is playing basketball, Ms. Denaria Williams. And Gianni Smith. Diari Smith, number two.

Coach, you've been coaching a mighty long time. I saw these girls when they were in, I think, ninth grade. The team before you. What year was that? You're 21. North Charleston, my alumni played before the girls. And the girls played. And I saw these. I said, these are little kids. I didn't know they were military men until I saw you on the floor. But you had them at ninth grade, man. You kept those girls together. And not only did they play together, five state championships, man. Five state championships, man. Come on. Man, we got children we love, man. Five state championships. Yeah, we have to. Yeah. Yeah. But, Coach, thank you so much. And young ladies, thank you all. We understand how it is to be North Charleston people. Anytime the blue lights come on from a former cop, people are all over the place. News media all over the place. This is where they need to be. This is where they need to be, right here. Because you all are showing everybody in the city and the state that you can be from this place and achieve the best. Our hats off to y'all. We love y'all. Love y'all. Thank you.

Our first item on the agenda is a request to approve the minutes from the August 27, 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. Dr. Ganaway-Paisley? Aye. Dr. Palmer-Roberts? Aye. Ms. Brown? Aye. Mr. Hudson?

Aye.

Mr. Skipper?

Aye.

Mr. Brown?

Aye.

Mayor Burgess?

Aye.

We have the first reading of an ordinance adopting a bill to be entitled the annexation ordinance of the City of North Charleston annexing an area of Dorchester County known as 55W TMS number 172-1301 parcel 5 and make it part of present City Council District 1, as known on map prepared by the GIS Department for purposes of this annexation, dated May 13, 2026, bearing the title Area Proposed for Annexation by the City of North Charleston, Section 55W in Council District 1.

Move for approval. Second.

Who's coming up? Okay. Okay, all right. We have a motion to second. Any changes or corrections? Hearing none, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Mr. Perry? Aye. Dr. Ganaway-Paisley? Aye. Dr. Palmer-Roberts? Aye. Ms. Brown? Aye. Mr. Hudson?

Aye.

Mr. Skipper? Aye. Mr. Brown? Aye. Mayor Burgess?

Aye.

We have the first reading of an ordinance rezoning the property addressed at 7890 Dorchester Road, Charleston County, TMS number 397, parcel 245, from B1 Limited Business to B2 General Business in Council District 1.

Excellent. All right. As stated, this is a request for rezoning of the property of 7890 Dorchester Road. The property is highlighted here on the map in the purple dashed line. You can see here properties currently zoned B1. They're requesting B2 zoning, general business. Surrounding properties are zoned B2 in the red, B1 across the street. Subject property is designated suburban residential within a mixed-use corridor of Dorchester Road. We can see the subject property here in the pictures. This is the Stanley Steamer building along Dorchester Road. You can see in the photos that it was noticed properly with a public notice sign. And this is the surrounding area along Dorchester Road. Most, as stated earlier, most of the properties are zone B2 directly adjacent with some B1 in the area as well, as well as some R2 to the north. Staff's recommendation for this requested rezoning is approval. The mixed-use corridor designation supports a combination of multifamily, commercial, office, other uses along those lines. Given its location at the corner and the surrounding zoning, Staff is recommending approval of the proposed rezoning from B1 Limited Business to B2 General Business. The Planning Commission made a recommendation of approval as well for three recommendations.

Without objection, this item will be referred to the Public Safety Committee for further review and consideration.

Next item on the agenda is the first reading of an ordinance rezoning the property addressed as 2141 South bowling circle, Charleston County TMS number 47207 parcel 25 from B to general business to in one light industrial and council district 6.

And see the subject property here requesting to be rezoned from B to to M one highlighted in the magenta color. Currently zoned B2, general business, adjacent to other B2 zone properties, as well as M1 directly to the south. Comprehensive plan has designated this area as employment center within a mixed use node. The subject parcel is currently an undeveloped lot. And adjacent properties consist of a mix of single-family and multi-family residential uses, as well as industrial uses on South Boland Circle. So staff's recommendation is contingent approval given the adjacent M1 zoned parcel and support from the comprehensive plan staff recommends approval of the request to rezone from B2 general business to M1 light industrial contingent upon the creation of a combination plant with the parcel addressed as 5555 Woodbine Avenue. Planning Commission's recommendation was the same contingent approval and that was a unanimous recommendation.

Which parcel is the one that, that one right there?

Yeah, so this is the requested rezoning. This is the recommended combination.

All right. Without objection, this item will be referred to the Public Safety Committee for further review and consideration.

The next item on the agenda is the first reading of an ordinance rezoning the property addressed as 5571 Woodbine Avenue, Charleston County, TMS number 47207, parcel 26, from B2 General Business to M1 Light Industrial and Council District 6.

Same request as the prior request, B2 to M1. We can see the surrounding properties again, B2 surrounding, M1 directly to the south. Has the same comprehensive plan designation as employment center within the mixed-use node of Rivers Avenue there. The subject parcel is currently an undeveloped lot as well, and the public notice signs were placed properly. surrounding areas developed with a few single-family residential units, as well as larger warehouses in the vicinity. Same recommendation as the last property, given the adjacent M1 zone parcel and support from the comprehensive plan, staff recommends approval of the request to rezone from B2 General Business to M1 Light Industrial, contingent upon creation of a combination plat with the parcel addressed as 5555 Woodbine Avenue.

Planning Commission's recommendation was the same contingent approval unanimously Without objection this item will be referred to the Public Safety Committee for further review and consideration

The next item on the agenda is the first reading of an ordinance rezoning the unaddressed property, Charleston County TMS number 47207, parcel 22 from B2 General Business to M1 Light Industrial in Council District 6.

Same general vicinity. Difference is a little bit further down on Boland Drive, highlighted here again in the magenta color. Existing Zonings B2 requesting M1. Same designation within the Comprehensive Plan of Employment Center within a mixed-use node. Subject property is also an undeveloped lot. Single-family houses and larger warehouses in the general vicinity as well as directly adjacent to I-26. Given, staff's recommendation for this property is denial. Given the limited size of the property, subject property, and the anticipated expansion of the I-526 Low Country Corridor project, staff recommends denial of the request to rezone the property from B-2 General Business to M-1 Light Industrial. Planning Commission's recommendation was denial as well at their request. July, no, August meeting, I'm sorry, and that was 6-1.

Without objection, this item will refer to the Public Safety Committee for further review and consideration.

We have four speakers tonight. When I call your name, please come to the front, state your name and address for the records, and you have three minutes. Monica Mumme.

good evening monica mummy 2474 vestavia road north charleston 29406. i am returning this evening to discuss some properties in our community that have failed code um we have repeatedly made complaints about eighty four seventy five deerwood now over the course of a complete year from september of twenty five through september of twenty six at our civic league meetings with more than twenty people present at each of these meetings with code enforcement present at these meetings as well so these are sustained substantial complaints I took the time to read Section 9 of Code Enforcement for the Municipal Codes of the City of North Charleston. I can go through step-by-step which ones they are in violation of, but that's not really the issue here. The issue is we are repeatedly told by Code Enforcement that they're working on it and that there's a process and that it takes time. We've heard that for a year in regards to that property. The process by code is that either a community member or a code enforcement officer finds the property in question, evaluates the concerns, documents the concerns, reports those up the chain of command to code enforcement. Code enforcement director and code enforcement officers make contact with owners, send written letters, file complaints, make liens, make charges, These are misdemeanor charges that can be filed against these property owners. Going the route of court allows not only the person that is in noncompliance, but also allows the community members with the concerns the opportunity to go to court and present these problems to a municipal judge. That's what this city's code is. That's how it's stated in your own codes from Section 1 through Section 93. process is not being followed. We have not had the opportunity to go before a judge. We are asking our city council to follow up with our code enforcement officers and take this through the proper steps. We should not have nine meetings in a row where we're told the same thing and then additional complaints over the summer and then our meeting on Tuesday. We had 40 residents that came to our Civic League meeting because I sent out a flyer with these concerns. That's my job as being a part of the board of the Civic League is to send out a newsletter. Multiple voices concerned about these properties. They are a health hazard, stagnant water, not keeping the grass off the road, overgrowth allowing for vagrants or homeless folks to take up residence in these properties. One of the properties had a fire. It's been condemned. It was in such disrepair that we brought that up several times. That finally has been taken care of. The process is there so that people like me don't have to do this month after month and have my blood pressure up here because nothing's being done by your own code. I can go over any of these code violations with you. I brought copies of all of them. But the problem is you have a process. Allow us the opportunity to speak in a court hearing in regards to these properties. Just follow the process. Thank you, ma'am.

Anthony Bryant.

I come as a cousin and a friend. I want to put you on notice in terms of Dominion Energy and NextEra will be merging. Dominion Energy just basically approved merger and so the next era has 12 million customers in florida and the million have three million customers 860 000 or us in in our area so um the public comment was made as 20 26 186 eg by the partnership's commission i hope that mayor burgess and other staff can look into the impacts of this merger in hopes that low- to moderate-income communities could have some benefit in this merger. The Federal Energy Commission is that commission, Reg, that maybe you want to contact in terms of getting the heads up with the CEOs of both of these companies to ensure that Nora Charles is at the table. With the emerging growth with your comprehensive plan, which is a great idea, I commend the mayor for that, but the state doesn't define growth. So therefore, we can't define mitigation. So we're hearing here, as growth is here, and I served in the BZA for years, as you know, but before the first UDO, and our county definitely needs to get with you, because they're the bank on a lot of issues. Now, I told Joe Boykin my concerns in terms of the county's position with a lot of municipalities in terms of groups coming to county council without talking to city council. And I think that it should be some level of intergovernmental relationship to ensure that, you know, you're talking about food deserts and all kinds of stuff, but maybe it's a transportation question, maybe it's a consumer to customer situation, consumer to, you know, whatever. I don't know what it's about with FinTech going on and all these other things going on in the community. So I think that we have to think outside the box in terms of these issues. Now, of course, you and I have been friends forever. You're my brother, so... You know, I got to always come and bring forth notice to you because I know your commitment. But your commitment is based in a municipal box. And therefore, you need help from the county and the state and the federal government. And they have to do their job. We hope that some councilman is pointing in the other direction because complaints here may not be here. There may be other places. So if people have a complaint, they'll have a list of places they can go with their complaints. Because you're the closest to us, municipal government. You're the closest to us, so therefore we see you the most. The further you go up, the least you see people. And I have a document I want to get to Senator Scott. He's from the northern part of the city, not from the southern part. So culturally he may have an indifference in terms of how we do things. But what I would like to do... is is is to be able to get that to to to the brother and uh and hope that he could talk to you about that because maybe like smitty and hoppy miss smitty sanford and son i think that in this situation you may be brother smith but um take care of my good brother and the best this whole council you're doing a great job to me i think you're doing a good job thank you sir you state your name and address for the record please Anthony G. Bryant, 2123 Courtland Avenue. Y'all talking at 29403. Matter of fact, he was my bus driver in 84.

Jillian Hollingsworth.

Good evening, Mayor and Council. My name is Jillian Hollingsworth, and I live at 1264 Sumner Avenue in the Charleston Farms neighborhood, where I serve as the president for our community neighborhood organization. I have lived there with my family for 20 years, and I have come before you before, but tonight I am here to speak on behalf of an issue that has plagued our neighborhood for as long as I have lived there, so for decades, and that is the issue of illegal dumping, trash in general, and repeated code violations. As Monica spoke to some code concerns, we have areas in Charleston farms that are in disrepair, primarily because of absentee landlords and property owners who live out of state. which makes it very difficult to contact them, to summon them to court, and even if they are summoned, they're given a slap on the wrist, the fine is reduced. It is not enough to deter this poor behavior. We are an all-American city, and we don't act like it. We don't look like it. Drive through Charleston Farms any day of the week, before trash day, after trash day, and you're going to see the same thing, which are piles and mounds of Household debris, tires, mattresses, construction debris, we can throw blame all day long on where this is coming from. But the fact remains that it is a problem that our children that live in our neighborhood, we have a ton of young people walking to and from the bus stop. We have older people using the sidewalks with their wheelchairs. They have to go in the road because the sidewalks are often littered with trash. What are we doing about it? We send emails weekly. We have people here from Charleston Farms and other neighborhoods. Please stand up if you're here in support of this issue. We are trying to create pride of place, and that is evident by the people that are here. We have people walking the streets daily, picking up trash. We have people coming to our civic club meetings more and more every month because we care. We want our neighborhood to be a place that we are proud of. We have people driving from other parts of the county through Sumner Avenue, through Attaway to get to some of the best schools in the state, SOA and Academic Magnet, and they drive through our neighborhood, and it looks like a dump, and that is not an adequate representation of who we are as a people, who we are as a city, so what are we doing about it? I'm here tonight to ask you to take bold action. We can't just put bandaid fixes on it. I appreciate we have a litter crew. That's great. They spend half their time chasing the claw to pick up the debris left behind from in compliant property owners who are not held accountable. We have to increase the fines for repeated offenders. We have to make sure that if you own property and you live out of state that you have a designated entity that we can reach, that we can go to and give them the fine. We have property owners here tonight who don't live in our neighborhood, but they participate. We can learn from them. What are we going to do about it? That is what I'm asking you tonight. We have to come up with a bold plan and stop making excuses. This can be better, and we can come up with a solution.

Thank you, ma'am.

Kathy Roberson.

Good evening. I'm Kathy Robertson. I live at 8095 Long Shadow Lane in Northwest Estates. And I'm here tonight to thank the people who took their time to talk to me today. And to reiterate the fact that what Julian just said and what Monica said, that we expect our city to do their job. including code enforcement, including building, including zoning, and we will look forward to a follow-up on this. Thanks again.

Thank you, ma'am. Councilwoman Nefertiti.

Hello, everyone. I just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the recent excuse me, the recent deaths of the children in the District 6 area, and I just want you guys to know that as a parent, my heart does go out to each family who is grieving. The current loss of a child is unimaginable pain, and I want to extend my deepest sympathy compassion and prayers to all the families and communities mourning the loss of the infant that just lost their life last night in District 6. Also, I wanted to acknowledge the infant who lost their life in the Russelldale community and also the young man, again, once again, Mercy, who lost his life tragically due to gunfire. It's kind of a sensitive subject for me, but I just wanted to make sure that I take a moment to speak on these heartbreaking situations and just remind everyone in the city of North Charleston how precious our children are and how deeply their lives are impacted by our decisions. During this difficult time, I do encourage family, caregivers, neighbors, and our entire community to continue to watch over our children and let us be intentional about creating safe environments, checking on one another, and making sure our children know that they are loved, valued, and protected. I do want to continue to keep our children and families and our communities in prayer because it's not easy for any of us. But during these times of grief, we do have to continue to stand together, love one another, and keep watch over each other and our children. And to every family experiencing this loss and communities experiencing these loss, please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers, and I pray that God provides you with comfort, strength, and peace during this difficult time. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other business to come before the body?

Mr. Mayor?

Yes, ma'am.

Today is September 10th, and I want to remember tomorrow, September 11th, that we should pause as a nation to remember the lives that were lost on September 11th, 2001. We remember the innocent men, women, and children who never made it home. We remember the first responders who ran toward danger while others were running away. And we remember the families who continue to carry the pain today. So let us remember that September 11th reminds us that freedom, unity, and courage and service should never be taken for granted. So as a councilwoman, As someone with a PhD in psychology, I am passionate about understanding the pain that people went through on September 11. I want to honor those we lost, those we served, and the families we continue to remember. May we never forget their sacrifice, and may we continue to stand together as one community, as one nation, and as the mayor always says, as one North Charleston.

Thank you very much. We have the celebration tomorrow, 11 a.m. We all can remember a lot of things, and that is one thing that I don't think we will ever forget. Hoping and praying that that never happens again. But one thing we do as Americans, we forge on, we don't forget, and we bring along everybody in this nation because we are one nation under God. Any other business that come before the body? If none, hearing none, this meeting is adjourned.