2026-09-08 - City Council

00:19I'd like to call this September 8th

00:21meeting of City Council to order. Madam

00:25Clerk, would you please call the roll?

00:27>> Councilmember Greg. Councilmember

00:29Shealy. Councilmember McBride.

00:31Councilmember Poulton. Councilmember

00:33Brady.

00:34>> Present.

00:34>> Councilmember De Alassandro.

00:36Councilmember Waring. Councilmember

00:38Seekings. Councilmember Tinkler.

00:40Councilmember Bowden. Councilmember

00:42Apel. Councilmember Scardon. Mayor

00:45Cogswell.

00:46>> Here. I'd now like to ask Councilmember

00:48Seekings to give the invocation and lead

00:50everybody in the pledge of allegiance.

00:52>> Will you all please rise? Thank you.

00:56Heavenly Father, bless us all and keep

00:58us under your wing. May your divinity

01:00shine on us and fill us with your grace.

01:03Allow us all to feel your presence as we

01:06set about in our duties,

01:08mindful of your humble guidance. For

01:10those in need or feeling the effects of

01:12ill health, we pray for your gentle hand

01:14of relief and recovery.

01:16Let us strive all together and with your

01:19guidance to make this a better world.

01:22Amen.

01:23>> Amen.

01:23>> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

01:26United States of America and to the

01:29republic for which it stands, one nation

01:32under God,

01:33indivisible, with liberty and justice

01:36for all.

01:38>> All right. We [snorts] have

01:42one recognition tonight. I'd like to ask

01:44Judge Condon and staff from Charleston

01:47County Probate Court to join me up here

01:49as well as Terry Smith and

01:51Jackie

01:53Fussell?

01:54Hussell?

01:56Uh from FAVOR Lowcountry.

01:59>> Come on up.

02:02How are you?

02:03Good to see you.

02:05Good to see you.

02:07That's all right. Better late than

02:09never, I like to say.

02:13Good to see you.

02:14All right.

02:18Whereas, substance use disorder affects

02:21individuals, families, and communities

02:23throughout the city of Charleston. And

02:25recovery is possible when people have

02:27access to support, resources, treatment,

02:30connection, and hope.

02:32And whereas, September is nationally

02:34recognized as recovery month, providing

02:36an opportunity to celebrate individuals

02:38living in recovery, honor families and

02:41recovery professionals, raise awareness

02:43of effective recovery supports, and

02:46remind our community that people can and

02:48do recover.

02:50Whereas, stigma remains one of the

02:53greatest barriers of preventing

02:55individuals from seeking help, making it

02:57essential that Charleston promotes

02:58dignity, compassion, understanding, and

03:02multiple pathways to recover.

03:04And whereas, FAVOR Lowcountry Faces and

03:07Voices of Recovery Lowcountry serves as

03:11a recovery community organization

03:13dedicated to providing peer recovery

03:15support, advocacy, education, overdose

03:19prevention, resource navigation, and

03:22connections to treatment and recovery

03:24services for individuals and families

03:27throughout the Lowcountry. And whereas,

03:29FAVOR Lowcountry elevates the voices of

03:32individuals with lived experience and

03:34demonstrates the power of peer support,

03:37connection, and community in helping

03:39people begin and sustain recovery.

03:43And whereas, FAVOR Lowcountry's

03:44collaboration with the city of

03:45Charleston, the Charleston Police

03:47Department, treatment and healthcare

03:49providers, first responders, and other

03:51community partners strengthen

03:54Charleston's ability to respond to

03:56substance abuse disorder with

03:58compassion, connection, and recovery

04:01focused solutions.

04:03And whereas individuals in recovery

04:05contribute greatly to Charleston as

04:07parents, employees, business owners,

04:11public servants, advocates, neighbors,

04:13and community leaders demonstrating

04:15every day that recovery is a reality.

04:19And whereas the city of Charleston

04:21recognizes the importance of supporting

04:24recovery and ensuring that every

04:26resident impacted by substance use

04:29disorder knows that they are not alone,

04:32their lives have value, and recovery is

04:36possible.

04:37Now, therefore, I, William S. Cogswell

04:39Jr., mayor of the city of Charleston,

04:41do hereby proclaim September 2026

04:45as Recovery Month in the city of

04:47Charleston and encourage all residents,

04:50businesses, organizations, community

04:52leaders to join the city and favor low

04:55country in celebrating recovery,

04:57reducing stigma, honoring individuals

05:00and families impacted by substance abuse

05:02disorder, and strengthening pathways to

05:05recovery throughout our community.

05:09Let's give it a round of applause.

05:15Guys, would anybody like to say a few

05:16words or

05:19I'll come on up, man.

05:21I'll be brief. If you haven't, come over

05:24and see our drug court. We've got some

05:26people that have worked in it here. And

05:29it's on Wednesday afternoon at 4:00. And

05:32we're honored

05:333 weeks ago to have a commencement, a

05:35graduation, and to have your police

05:38chief, Chito Walker, come and be our

05:40commencement speaker. And if you talk to

05:43him, he'll tell you that he was very

05:44much moved by

05:47the way that we're trying to save lives

05:49and we appreciate the city's support and

05:52the community's support not only with

05:54favor but everyone that in the treatment

05:57community trying to help others. Thank

06:00you.

06:01>> Thank you.

06:38>> Councilman Balden.

06:40>> Thank you. I I just wanted to reiterate

06:42what Judge Condon said that you know, if

06:45if y'all get time, I know everybody's

06:46very busy,

06:49y'all should reach out to the court and

06:50find out when there's going to be

06:53graduation ceremony.

06:56You'll you'll never see anything as

06:58moving as this

06:59and

07:01it

07:02they'll do a very good job of making

07:04sure that you understand where where

07:06this person was when they started the

07:07program and and where they

07:10where they are that day.

07:12It is

07:14this program really does amazing

07:15transformations and it's

07:18I

07:19assume the veterans treatment court

07:20still exists. It did when I was when I

07:21was public defender and I had the true

07:24honor of working in that program

07:27and

07:28addiction is so pervasive. I'm sure it's

07:31touched all of our families if not you

07:33know, most of our families

07:36and you know, to to see the the genuine

07:39transformations that are happening in

07:41our community. It is It is a

07:43program that deserves all of our

07:45support, anything we can possibly offer

07:48to to support the the men and women in

07:51that program and the men and women doing

07:52the work cuz it's it's difficult for

07:54them as well.

07:57>> Good stuff.

07:59Okay.

08:00We actually have no public hearings

08:02tonight, believe it or not. So,

08:05we're on to approval of council minutes.

08:07Can I get a motion?

08:10Motion made, properly seconded. All

08:11those in favor signify by saying I.

08:14Opposed. Eyes have it. We are now on to

08:16citizens participation. This is an

08:18opportunity for people of the community

08:21of Charleston to have their voices

08:23heard.

08:24Madam Clerk, how many people do we have

08:26signed up to speak?

08:27>> We have 17.

08:28>> 17. Wow, okay.

08:31Let's give everybody, cuz this is

08:33limited uh

08:35in time, to

08:381 minute per speaker. I ask that the

08:40speakers

08:42adhere to the rules of decorum. Again,

08:45we are here to have your voices heard.

08:48This is not a question and answer.

08:50So, we ask that you respect the rules of

08:53decorum. If you do not, I will give you

08:55one warning.

08:56If you persist, then you will be asked

08:58to leave the chamber. Madam Clerk,

09:00please call the first speaker.

09:03>> All right. We'll start with our

09:04in-person sign-up sheet. First, Laura

09:07Stossel.

09:11>> Hello, everybody.

09:13I'm here again.

09:14Is this on?

09:17I'm here to discuss the situation about

09:19the food

09:20carts in town.

09:23I was surprised to hear that we were

09:25starting to take bids already before I

09:27thought we we had a second reading, but

09:29I was maybe confused.

09:32We also had the opportunity to give in

09:34our comments and then have response back

09:37from the city.

09:39It's scary

09:41because

09:42this

09:44the paperwork was not put out correctly,

09:46I don't think.

09:48It doesn't say pushcart. It says food

09:50vendor. So,

09:52you could get a little truck coming

09:54there, a trailer, and sell food.

09:58I think we have some problems with the

10:00wording. We also have in there electric

10:02generators. I thought we discussed um

10:06inverters, battery inverters, little

10:08tiny battery inverters. That's going to

10:10be a problem for the city. I will

10:12probably lose the bid because I don't

10:15have enough money, I don't think, from

10:18what other people do.

10:20But I

10:24>> Matt Colburn

10:29>> 1 minute, so democratic. Uh everybody

10:31knows why I'm here today. I'm here today

10:32to speak about the 1A repressive

10:34ordinance you have. Uh more specifically

10:36about my charging ordinance, disorderly

10:38conduct. Arrested 15 months ago, still

10:40have not been have my day in court. Why

10:41haven't had my day in court? One of you,

10:43some of you, all you, I don't know. Uh

10:45contact prosecutor Kevin Hills and tell

10:46them to kick this can down the road. We

10:48know why you're doing that, because this

10:49ordinance does not have a leg to stand

10:51on politically. You understand that. You

10:52don't want these cases to go to court

10:54cuz it's going to prove that your your

10:55amendment is your first amendment

10:56ordinance is unconstitutional and it's

10:58repressive. It threatens violence.

11:00People go to jail for protesting.

11:01Protesting is not a crime. But I'm not

11:03worried about it. I want my day in

11:04court, and I want y'all to stop

11:05interfering in my case. Uh again, it

11:07just shows how weak this ordinance is.

11:08You do still have the chance to repeal

11:10it. You should. You wouldn't be here

11:12wanting to talk about the ordinance. I

11:13know it's on the agenda because of the

11:14pressure being put on it. Y'all

11:15understand this ordinance has y'all in a

11:17rock and a hard place. So, you could

11:18pretend it doesn't, but we know it does,

11:20and we want it repealed. Police and and

11:22ordinances do not make our protest

11:23safer. Not a single person here who

11:25protests feels safer when we have the

11:26police. Matter of fact, you want to talk

11:27about violence at protests, it's started

11:29by the police first. So, I know y'all

11:30have the first amendment ordinance on

11:32the agenda tonight. I look forward to it

11:33and also look forward to either my day

11:35in court or dismissal. Again, if y'all

11:37if someone in the council members are

11:38interfering in my case, that's a good

11:40sign. That just means they sure don't

11:41want this to go to court because I

11:43understand that you have no legal

11:44standing on. Repeal 1A. I want my day in

11:46court or dismissal. Thank you, Charles.

11:47>> Emil Stosel.

11:52>> My wife left off some of the language

11:54that we proposed at a special meeting we

11:56had regarding the appearance of carts.

11:59What Laura said you could get a

12:01stainless steel thing in here that

12:02doesn't fit the city. Our particular

12:03cart does and so does Spritz's cart.

12:06The other thing is that

12:07with the

12:08with the ambiguity that went out, there

12:11were 60 questions posed to Mrs. Robinson

12:15and they were all regarding generators.

12:17They were all regarding things that a

12:18food truck would would have to ask a

12:21question at. I again, you need to be

12:24more specific on this language. Which

12:26carts? It has to fit the city and one of

12:28the suggestions we made was appearance

12:31and there would need to be someone who

12:32has to say, "Hey, that looks great. Hey,

12:34that doesn't fit." These are the things

12:36that I think we really need to look at.

12:37We don't need to fast track this thing

12:40and we all want to work together. We're

12:41we're here to offer our help, whatever

12:43we can do, speak with any or all of you

12:45and we're more than willing to do that.

12:47We think it's a great program

12:49and we're kind of the like I said, we're

12:51a little piece but all the tourists come

12:53and see us and talk to us and say, "Hey,

12:55this is a great town." And they go home,

12:56they're going to look through their

12:57pictures, they're going to say, "I'm

12:58going to go back. I'm going to tell my

12:59friends." And they're all going to come

13:01back and spend more tourist dollars and

13:02that's what

13:03>> Time.

13:04>> what we're looking for. Thank you.

13:07>> Tim Shaw.

13:12>> Good afternoon. I'm Tim Shaw. I live in

13:14Mount Pleasant.

13:15I'm here to speak regarding the first

13:17amendment um

13:19ordinance for Charleston.

13:22The law has to tell ordinary people

13:24what conduct is prohibited.

13:27Charleston's demonstration ordinance

13:28does not

13:30Section 25-52A2

13:34bans demonstrations from coming within

13:3615 ft of anything aesthetic or artistic

13:39significance.

13:41What does that even mean?

13:44Section 25-52A7

13:47makes it a crime to damage grass.

13:50How does the crowd damage grass versus

13:52compress it?

13:53The ordinance doesn't say.

13:56Section 25-36

13:59defines a demonstration so broadly that

14:02according to the defense attorney in the

14:04pending prosecution, it includes a city

14:07council meeting.

14:09And here's what makes this especially

14:11troubling. It's not ordinary citizens

14:13who can't interpret the the ordinance.

14:15The police can't either.

14:17Officers cited zones signs zoning at

14:21laws at demonstrations when they

14:23apparently couldn't identify a provision

14:25of the demonstration ordinance to the

14:27>> Time.

14:28>> Thank you.

14:30>> Izzy Waldring?

14:36>> Uh my name is Izzy. Um I'm here to speak

14:38about the 1A ordinance. I'm a college

14:40student and I live in Charleston. Um and

14:42as you all know, student protests are

14:44usually a big factor in changing laws or

14:47unfair regulations and the 1A ordinance

14:50severely prohibits that. Um and it

14:52hinders student gathering and student

14:54activism on campus and in Charleston.

14:57Um I'm here to say that I think that the

15:001A ordinance should be repealed. I think

15:02that having requirements that people can

15:04go to jail for protesting or

15:06demonstrating is unfair and does not

15:08lead to safe protests. Thank you.

15:12>> Mike Jones?

15:18>> Hello. My name is Mike Jones. Um I'm

15:21here with the First Amendment

15:22Restoration Campaign to call for the

15:24full repeal of the First Amendment

15:26Demonstration Ordinance and to stand in

15:28solidarity with my friend Matt Colburn,

15:30who was arrested under under the

15:32ordinance and has not had a court date.

15:34It just keeps getting kicked down the

15:36road.

15:36Um under this ordinance, I I think a

15:40a field trip to Marion Square would

15:42would require permission from the chief

15:44of police. And I just think that falls

15:47short of a society of free and equal

15:49citizens when political like

15:52let political speech, any kind of

15:54gathering, right? You want to go out to

15:55the park and and

15:57throw a frisbee around with a couple of

15:59your friends and

16:00you know,

16:01you're on kind of shaky ground. You

16:03might you might trip over a monument.

16:05So, I

16:08the it's it's it's inappropriate that

16:11law enforcement is this involved in

16:13political speech and in regulating and

16:16like essentially giving its permission

16:18of First Amendment protected and that

16:21our traditional public forums are

16:25you know, denied us.

16:27Um

16:27and that it any kind of

16:31you know, violation of this

16:33>> Time.

16:36Charlotte Lewis.

16:45>> Good afternoon.

16:47Thank you committee members and

16:48attendees this evening. My name is

16:49Charlotte Lewis.

16:51In 2021, Jamal Sutherland was tortured

16:53and killed by officers in the El Canan

16:55Detention Center. We protested. Then

16:59this ordinance, this First Amendment

17:00ordinance, gave those same police the

17:02sweeping subjective authority to deny

17:05and delay protests they dislike and to

17:07arrest peaceful protesters. This is

17:09authority they continue to abuse. Would

17:12you like to be arrested for damaging

17:13grass in a park while protesting? Would

17:16you like the police to concoct

17:17justification long after they arrest

17:19you? This is our reality.

17:21Jamal's family was awarded $10 million.

17:24Failed prosecutions of this ordinance

17:25continue to waste the taxes that we pay.

17:28Repeal this ordinance.

17:30Let the people's voice again be heard in

17:32Marion Square.

17:33You should not fear arrest for speaking.

17:36This is our greatest American right.

17:38Thank you.

17:39>> Danielle Sutton.

17:45>> Yeah. My name is Danielle Sutton and I

17:48am a 20-year resident of Westside and

17:50I'm here to demand the repeal of the

17:51first amendment demonstration ordinance.

17:54As others have said, the ordinance is

17:55irredeemably vague and redundant.

17:58Um if vagueness was the point, that's

18:01pretty nefarious, but I want to believe

18:02that it was just rushed carelessness.

18:05Uh whatever the intent, the ordinance

18:06has had a chilling effect on the free

18:08speech in Charleston, which is

18:09measurable by the dwindling number of

18:11permits applied for since the ordinance

18:12was enacted. Further, the postponing of

18:15court dates from these unconstitutional

18:16arrests is so blatant blatantly

18:18intimidation and harassment. It is

18:20illustrates that the ordinance is being

18:22used as a tool of deterrence by the

18:23city.

18:24Um the DSA, Charleston Democratic

18:27Socialists of America, has robust

18:29marshaling infrastructure and we welcome

18:31the opportunity without the threat of

18:33arrest to have a dialogue with CPD about

18:35public safety before and during

18:37demonstrations. Protesting and

18:39demonstration are part of a healthy

18:40democracy in a time where our federal

18:42government is limiting mail-in ballots

18:43and throwing people off voter rolls

18:45among other shockingly undemocratic

18:47actions, it is crucial that our city

18:49governments nurture democracy within

18:51their jurisdiction.

18:52Repeal the ordinance.

18:54Um we demand a citizen or neutral review

18:56board for permits required. We demand

18:59decriminalization for protesting.

19:00Protesting is not a crime.

19:02>> I'm

19:04>> with all Marion Square.

19:07>> Andrew Blanchard.

19:14>> I just want to say that any right that

19:15requires the permission of the police

19:17chief to exercise it is not a right at

19:19all. I call on this council to repeal

19:21this ordinance and restore freedom of

19:23speech to Charleston. Thank you.

19:26>> Griffin Specker.

19:37>> Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'm

19:39here as a concerned citizen to speak

19:40about the First Amendment ordinance. Um,

19:43don't want to repeat these sentiments

19:45here expressed eloquently by some of my

19:48fellow committee members. All I will

19:50share is that the

19:53this implementation of this ordinance,

19:56whether well-intended or not, has had a

19:58chilling effect and has proven

20:01to show that it favors the feelings of

20:03tourists versus the uh

20:06First Amendment rights of citizens,

20:08corralling us to just one park or

20:11another park that is out of the way has

20:12shown that the city would rather just

20:14keep us out of sight and out of mind

20:16than hearing the concerns of those that

20:18the that you all represent. Thank you.

20:21Please repeal this ordinance.

20:23>> Julie O'Connor.

20:28>> Good evening. Speaking on behalf of Save

20:30Our Structures Charleston,

20:32we oppose

20:34the Dash Hall settlement agreement due

20:36to the precedent it would set in

20:37overturning a unanimous BAR decision,

20:41the lack of responsibility required of

20:43Ashley Hall to protect the building,

20:45the woefully inadequate timeline, and

20:47the final clause that allows demolition

20:49if no one comes forward in the time

20:50frame. Submittals are due October 31st.

20:53The deadline for removal is only 1 month

20:55later. A responsible relocation requires

20:57structural engineering, preservation

20:59specialists, contractors with

21:00appropriate experience, documentation,

21:02contracts, permitting, coordination with

21:04the new location, coordination of all

21:06the contractors and subcontractors

21:07involved, transportation and logistics.

21:10This schedule doesn't even take into

21:12account how long the decision process

21:13will take before notifying the chosen

21:15party. The timeline needs to be extended

21:17and include contingencies for unforeseen

21:20circumstances such as weather permitting

21:21delays.

21:23And the relocation should not be

21:25optional no matter what the timeline.

21:29>> Hosk

21:33And apologies if I mis pronounced that

21:35name.

21:37H O C E 128 Bounty

21:44All right. We'll go to the next speaker.

21:47Joel Milliken

21:55>> Good evening.

21:57I'm here to voice in the strongest terms

21:58possible my opposition to the first

22:00amendment ordinance though that

22:01department stands and in any minute

22:03field.

22:04As citizens and residents of the city of

22:06Charleston, we have a constitutional

22:07right to speech and assembly.

22:09This ordinance has made it incredibly

22:11difficult for us as citizens to exercise

22:13our fundamental rights.

22:14I understand you have an interest in

22:16keeping Charleston quiet, marketable and

22:17appealing to tourists. If you want fewer

22:20protests, do your jobs as elected

22:21representatives and respond to the

22:23demands of your citizens. Do not repress

22:25us with police.

22:28Repeal this oppressive ordinance and

22:30dismiss all charges against those who

22:32have been arrested in its name

22:34immediately. Thank you.

22:36>> Sam Carroll

22:43>> Good evening again council members. My

22:45name is Sam Carroll. I live technically

22:47in the city just over the border in

22:48North Charleston but play pay plenty

22:49plenty of taxes here.

22:51Um, I wanted to talk a little bit about

22:54the use case that CPD has had.

22:57Um, so back in July we had a Fight for

22:59the First March and Rally that we

23:01applied for.

23:03Um,

23:03Charleston Charleston police Department

23:05has around or over 500 uh members,

23:08officers, staff including

23:10uh it took 25 days for that for that

23:12permit to be approved. That exact same

23:14permit I gave to the National Park

23:16Service locally here

23:18um for the rally portion of the uh

23:20protest in Marion Square. Uh with a

23:22weekend included that took 4 days.

23:24Um

23:25now

23:27I understand that public safety is a big

23:29electability issue for many municipal uh

23:31seats anywhere, um but we have to

23:33remember that we cannot be a rubber

23:35stamp uh for uh local PD as friendly as

23:38they may be, you know, uh behind uh

23:40closed doors, not to us protesters.

23:42Um we call for once again to uh

23:45decriminalize this ordinance

23:47um or to decrim- yeah, decriminalize

23:49free speech in the city.

23:51Um Marion Square has to be a public

23:53forum again.

23:54And um

23:56yeah, thank you.

23:58>> Brian Helman.

24:06>> Hi Mayor Cogswell and members of

24:08Council. Brian Helman, 105 Broad Street

24:10on behalf of Ashley Hall. With me

24:11tonight is uh Anne West, the head of

24:14school, Sarah de Wolff, board chair, and

24:16Evan board member. We just want to say

24:18thank you for all the hard work that

24:20Council staff, City of Eagle staff, and

24:23Oakley and Magli Creech have put towards

24:26coming together to find a resolution to

24:29the matter of 148 Smith Street and again

24:32say thank you.

24:34>> All right, and we will move to our

24:35online list and you can press star six

24:38to unmute yourself. Anthony G. Bryant.

24:44>> Anthony G. Bryant, um I have my my mail

24:48um physical mail opened

24:51um from Scott Harris to me from DC in

24:54the Supreme Court

24:55uh opened, looked at, viewed.

24:59Um I got it on

25:01uh the 2nd.

25:04And I've been only affected the date, so

25:05definitely everybody's read my

25:07information has come to the conclusion

25:09by Anthony G. Brown.

25:11Uh

25:11deeply disappointed in terms of it. Um

25:14but I'm committed to my work and what

25:16I've done for 30 years, which is

25:18uh truth to power definitely in regards

25:20to this matter of my mail being opened

25:23and read.

25:25And uh and so based upon my speech and

25:27my points of views over 30 years in my

25:29opinion.

25:30So deeply concerned by that, I'll be

25:32addressing council in person probably

25:33next week. I'm the county council now.

25:36And I'll address county council right

25:37now. Have a nice evening.

25:40>> Brian Turner.

25:42And I believe he's actually in person.

25:49>> Uh good evening, Mr. Mayor, members of

25:51council. Brian Turner on behalf of the

25:52Preservation Society. And regarding the

25:54settlement agreement for the demolition

25:57of a 130-year-old building at 148 Smith

26:00Street, which otherwise protected by

26:02BAR. Uh we urge you not to open the gate

26:05uh for overturning the BAR's decision

26:07for two key reasons. First, the council

26:10is not informed by a policy to uh um

26:12overturn BAR determinations of this

26:15consequence. In the 95-year history of

26:17the BAR, it has not done so. And no less

26:20than clear and compelling evidence that

26:22BAR got it wrong is needed. And the

26:24complete loss of a historic structure

26:26would be an outcome. Hundreds of

26:27historic properties are in a distressed

26:29condition, and fair treatment requires

26:32setting that high bar.

26:34Second, in this case, the settlement has

26:36not resolved the question of what is

26:37being lost for the public.

26:40Appellant's position was at BAR was that

26:42it was a portion of Gadsden Hall, and

26:44that we included in packet a 1950

26:47newspaper notice saying that the

26:50building would be wrecked but for a

26:51one-story remnant. The new theory that

26:54it's another older structure moved to

26:56the site is not supported by written

26:57evidence and it contradicts real-life

27:00memories of Robert Anderson and relies

27:02on sandboard maps.

27:03>> Time.

27:05>> It's reasonable for a council to demand

27:07more at this point. Thank you so much.

27:10>> And we did receive some comments online,

27:12two from Mr. Bryant, which were sent to

27:14council in full, and one was received

27:16from Blake Scott on behalf of the Wagner

27:18Terrace Neighborhood Association asking

27:21the city to finalize negotiations and

27:23resolve the long-standing issues

27:25surrounding the Lombardo Green Space and

27:27Dock, establishing the site as a public

27:29waterfront resource for the Wagner

27:31Terrace community. And those are all the

27:33comments we received.

27:35>> Thank you, Madam Clerk.

27:37Um

27:38before we move on to committee reports,

27:40just want to let the public know there's

27:43some question about the First Amendment

27:45ordinance. Several people tonight spoke

27:47on that. Um for clarity, there's no vote

27:50on that tonight. What was discussed at

27:52the Community Development meeting was

27:55that uh some potential edits were going

27:58to be proposed, brought back to

28:00Community Development meeting for

28:03discussion, and then potentially moved

28:06to City Council uh for review and or a

28:10vote at that point. So, the next

28:12discussion and a potential vote on

28:15Community Development

28:18>> I'm sorry, Public Safety. Yeah. My

28:20apologies. I got the committee wrong.

28:22Let the record state that I got the

28:24committees wrong. Not Community

28:25Development, but Public Safety. And the

28:27date of that meeting is

28:29>> I believe the next one's on September

28:3015th.

28:31>> September 15th. So, just for people to

28:34understand

28:36uh flow events. Um okay. Moving on now,

28:40we are to petitions and communications.

28:44We have uh several members up for the

28:47commission on the arts. Um

28:50we have a motion made

28:52properly seconded. This is for

28:54commission on the arts and recreational

28:55commission. Uh any further discussion on

28:58these appointees? If not, all those in

29:00favor of approval signify by saying I.

29:04Posed. Eyes have it.

29:06Uh on the council communications.

29:09Uh no there are none nothing there. Now

29:11we're on to consent

29:12um agenda items. Uh we have two

29:15committee reports. There should be no

29:17action on those, but we call on

29:20Councilman or Chairman McBride for

29:22committee on rec.

29:24>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So on August 20th

29:26we had our recreation committee meeting

29:28and um

29:30old business of course was facilities

29:32and capital capital projects report,

29:33which is always a a mind-blowingly long

29:36huge list that uh

29:38they're managing on a on a weekly basis.

29:40For new business

29:42um Councilwoman Scarden brought up um

29:45the idea of requesting a formal analysis

29:46for allowing free access to city of

29:48Charleston recreation facilities for

29:50city of Charleston residents that are

29:52mobility disabled or legally blind. And

29:54it just so happened the next the

29:55following day was a

29:58uh disability um commission and they

30:01took that up that uh topic the following

30:04day.

30:05Um

30:06and then

30:08also uh Councilwoman Scarden asked for

30:11an update on the timing of the Steven

30:12Washington Park improvements.

30:14And we talked about the update on an

30:17update on the fall recreation

30:18programming

30:20uh organized by region around the city

30:22of Charleston. It's a good presentation.

30:24That's all I have.

30:25>> Okay.

30:27Um thank you, Chairman McBride. I would

30:28now like to call on um

30:32You You have a question? Sorry.

30:33>> I do. I do. Um

30:35>> Councilman Alessandro.

30:36>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. What kind of

30:37considerations go into adding a bathroom

30:41to a park.

30:46A lot of considerations go into

30:50considering whether or not to add a

30:51bathroom. Every park's different.

30:54Sometimes it takes a lot to just bring

30:57water and sewer to

31:00where a bathroom might be located, its

31:02potential use,

31:04it and like in the case of Steven

31:06Washington when we had a defined dollar

31:08amount, we asked the community would

31:10they like X

31:12A or B and they chose the bathrooms for

31:15example. So, we try and work with the

31:17community to determine

31:20what the most cost-effective approach

31:21might be. So, it kind of all depends to

31:24be honest.

31:27Any any further questions? Sorry to to

31:30to have

31:32moved through on rec. Any other

31:33questions on that?

31:35If not, since Councilman Shirley had to

31:37step out or Chairman Shirley had to step

31:39out with regards to public safety, I

31:40believe Councilman Waring you were going

31:42to step in for him.

31:44>> Yes, Mr. Mayor, thank you. The committee

31:46did meet. We had a hearty discussion on

31:49the First Amendment.

31:51Thought there was some

31:52and we did potentials for

31:55some working together.

31:57And that process not finished yet. When

31:59that does get finished,

32:02it'll go back to public safety as you

32:04just said earlier and then come forward

32:06to City Council.

32:08So, just for information.

32:11>> All right, thank you Councilman Waring.

32:13Moving now to committee reports. We have

32:18First up,

32:19Chairman Pell on community development.

32:25>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. City of Charleston

32:27Committee on Community Development met

32:29back on August 20th

32:313:00 p.m. There were three items on our

32:34agenda. The first was a resolution

32:37certifying 141 Meeting Street um for the

32:40South Carolina abandoned buildings uh

32:43tax credit. That was approved

32:44unanimously.

32:46Uh and then next up we had a very

32:48lengthy uh discussion about Dash Hall.

32:51Uh we heard extensively from both Ashley

32:54Hall and its representatives uh as well

32:57as uh the Preservation Society.

33:00And if you're interested in this uh

33:03topic, I encourage you to check out

33:05city's YouTube page. I'm not going to

33:07attempt to cover everything in this

33:08report right now, but it was an

33:10extremely in-depth lengthy discussion

33:13about this uh property and it

33:16demonstrates uh just how complicated uh

33:19uh these issues can be, uh especially

33:22when it's facing uh a a

33:25beloved uh institution like Ashley Hall

33:28uh in our community. And so what came

33:31out of that process was a recommendation

33:35um for approval of the overall framework

33:39of the settlement, but an encouragement

33:41for the parties to get together to see

33:42if they could improve uh the structure

33:45of the settlement agreement specifically

33:48um to advance the um

33:51you know, first off to provide an

33:52opportunity for the public uh to come

33:55forward for a better solution for this

33:57property, to include a relocation, and

34:00also to enhance the um

34:02uh or to further clarify the uh the

34:05plaque curriculum and and other features

34:08of the site. And so I'd like to call up

34:12um

34:12Miss Creech uh if she's if she's still

34:16here to maybe give us a little bit of an

34:18update on the specific changes to the

34:21settlement agreement um

34:24to to show everybody on council sort of

34:26where it's come from when we first saw

34:28it. So.

34:29Thank you.

34:30>> Good evening, Mayor and council members.

34:32amended settlement agreement would allow

34:34Ashley Hall to proceed with the

34:36demolition of the structure, but before

34:38undertaking that effort, it would make

34:40it available to interested parties,

34:42those being either a nonprofit

34:44organization or a government

34:46organization for a relocation.

34:49That would allow the interested party to

34:51come and inspect it and have it uh

34:54examined by a professional for the

34:55purposes of uh submitting a relocation

34:58plan. That plan would need to be

35:00submitted to Ashley Hall and the city no

35:02later than October 31st and include the

35:05relocation site, which could be within

35:08the city or outside city boundaries.

35:11The identity of the licensed contractor

35:14that would perform the relocation,

35:16proof of funding sufficient for the

35:18relocation, adequate insurance and

35:21acceptance of the structure in its

35:23condition as is.

35:25They would then have until November 30th

35:27to complete the relocation and if it is

35:29not completed by then or any portion of

35:32it remains after November 30th, Ashley

35:34Hall would then be permitted to move

35:36forward with the demolition. Uh the

35:38agreement also expands the collaborative

35:40effort uh between Ashley Hall students

35:43and the city architect to commemorate

35:45Dash Hall

35:46um

35:48to participate in the creation of a

35:49historical plaque, marker, or monument,

35:52the plan for which would be presented to

35:54the uh commission of his for history for

35:56approval and then the uh placement of

35:59that plaque, marker, or monument would

36:02be in a publicly accessible location on

36:04or along Smith Street no later than

36:06December 31st of 2028.

36:10I'd be happy to answer any questions.

36:15>> All right. Thank you, um Ms. Creech. Um

36:18and I'll just finish this report and I

36:19guess we'll go through and approve what

36:21we need to approve

36:23after that. Um

36:25so the last item on our agenda was a

36:27discussion regarding uh an infill

36:31um

36:32housing development over in West Ashley

36:35at 806 Magnolia Road. And this was

36:38uh brought forward because this property

36:42was owned in in

36:44a local developer was seeking to put

36:46some additional what we call missing

36:48middle housing on this property but was

36:51running into some technical challenges.

36:54Again, I encourage folks that are

36:55interested in this issue to watch the

36:58YouTube video. It's very in-depth. It's

36:59very technical. But it demonstrates some

37:02of the challenges that the private

37:04sector faces when they're trying to

37:08develop housing in our community,

37:09missing middle. And as we look towards

37:12addressing our housing affordability

37:15challenges in the city, I think it's

37:17incumbent upon us to have a better

37:18understanding of these technical

37:20challenges that these local private

37:22developers are facing so we can better

37:26inform our zoning and other regulations

37:28to address better outcomes because

37:30there's no way the city on its own,

37:33despite the ambitious efforts that we're

37:34undertaking,

37:36can solve our affordable housing problem

37:38on our own. We got to find ways to make

37:40our zoning ordinance more conducive to

37:43appropriate scaled by right

37:47housing so we can actually get more of

37:49this

37:50on the market at scale to solve the

37:53supply issues that are driving up price.

37:55So,

37:56our hope is that we can take some of

37:58those lessons out of that presentation,

38:00roll it into

38:02some of the ongoing work that we're

38:03doing at the staff level, and hopefully

38:04have some recommendations come back

38:06before uh council at a future date on

38:09this issue. So, that concludes my

38:11report. I'm not sure if we need to take

38:13votes on any of these things. Okay, so

38:16we need to vote on

38:17uh two.

38:18>> Yes, and the resolution.

38:21>> Okay, great. Um, all right, so

38:25um

38:29>> I think this move for approval of the

38:31report will take care of it all. Move

38:33for approval of the report.

38:38>> Uh, on the Dash Hall

38:40uh, um

38:42agreement.

38:44Uh, can I get uh,

38:45uh, counselor or whoever uh

38:48Ms. Magal to come back to the microphone

38:50and go over that

38:51uh, part about um

38:55if it's relocated. Can you go over the

38:56timeframe?

38:58>> Yes.

38:58>> If if there is a nonprofit that came

39:00forward the time that they have to

39:03put the plan together, get funding and

39:05all of that. Can you

39:07>> Yes, sir. The relocation plan would need

39:08to be submitted by October 31st and the

39:11relocation would need to be completed by

39:13November 30th.

39:16>> Have we ever had a building in the

39:17history of

39:18uh

39:19city of Charleston

39:21that's um

39:24let's just say it's 75 years old. Let's

39:26say it's not Dash Hall.

39:28Have we ever had a building that's 75

39:30years old in the historic district

39:33that we were able to get moved in that

39:34short a period of time, funded, planned?

39:36Have we ever had that done?

39:42We got a lot of knowledgeable people in

39:43this room. Has that ever happened

39:45before?

39:47The answer is unequivocally no.

39:49So, that's a plan that's designed to

39:51fail.

39:52It is demolition by neglect. I don't

39:55know how many council people went over

39:56and took a look at it, but I did. I

39:58actually went over and took a look at it

39:59about

40:00three or four months ago.

40:03And it looks like to me they want to

40:05demolish the building and pick up three

40:07more parking spaces.

40:09As far as whether it's Dash Hall or not,

40:12I don't think anybody disputes that it

40:13is at least 75, maybe 76 years old.

40:17So, if there's a true effort to try to

40:20get it located,

40:21let's try to put a system in place that

40:23would work.

40:25Okay?

40:26And about

40:27the time frame that is baked in this

40:29agreement is designed for

40:32most nonprofits don't have money already

40:35pocketed or set aside to move a historic

40:39structure in the city of Charleston.

40:41That's an expensive process. A small

40:43building

40:44it certainly would be a tiny house

40:46wherever if it is relocated. But

40:49somebody did live in that house at one

40:51time. And we know how to protect a

40:53building in the city of Charleston when

40:56it leaks from the top. We put a tarp on

40:58it.

40:59If you don't believe it, anybody who was

41:01here after Hugo,

41:03whoever was selling tops tarps made a

41:05lot of money

41:07because they had a lot of blue tarps on

41:08roofs around here.

41:10So,

41:11uh

41:13Demolition by neglect that's not a

41:15question mark. That happened.

41:19What I'm concerned with is

41:23if we do this to one 75-year-old

41:26building,

41:27how many other 75-year-old buildings are

41:29there in the historic district that we

41:31begin to set a precedence with?

41:35If we can do this one,

41:37will there be two,

41:39three or four?

41:41We can do better than this agreement.

41:45I respect Ashley Hall.

41:48I respect its history.

41:50But whatever the history is on this

41:52particular parcel,

41:55with this time frame is not being

41:57respected.

41:59And this city can do better than that.

42:00So, number one, we need more time.

42:03Or they need more time, not me. It's not

42:06They need more time.

42:07We have a lot of areas, I think, in in

42:10of Charleston

42:12that's either owned by government

42:15or the school district or maybe even the

42:17county

42:18or maybe even the federal government. A

42:19small parcel of land that maybe can be

42:22found right here on this peninsula where

42:25that property can be relocated.

42:28Uh it is not a 3,000 square foot

42:31building.

42:32Um

42:34that property certainly I mean that

42:36building certainly can be restored.

42:38Ashley Hall can move forward

42:40with whatever its plans are.

42:42But um if we're going to

42:44vote on an agreement, I don't think this

42:46agreement uh allows for

42:49uh a proper non-for-profit to come

42:51forward. I've heard Jenkins Orphanage.

42:54Um believe me, I've helped Jenkins

42:56Orphanage

42:57uh in years past.

42:59But I think most of us know Jenkins

43:01Orphanage is a underfunded non-profit

43:04for its mission.

43:06So they're not going to be able to

43:07fulfill that uh time frame

43:11that Ms. Creech just uh explained to all

43:13of us so eloquently.

43:15But with all the ability in this room

43:17starting with the good folk at Ashley

43:19Hall

43:20um with a knowledgeable community

43:22development uh chairperson

43:25um

43:26with all the

43:27people with the historic and

43:28preservation societies and obviously

43:31uh a city that's been around since 1670

43:34why don't we do better than this

43:36agreement? Let's try to find

43:39uh uh

43:39uh uh put some more effort in where this

43:41property can be relocated and put

43:43together some funding

43:44to help that relocation take

43:47take place and

43:48restoration occur with this

43:51small but still historic building

43:53whether it's Dash Hall or not.

43:55Um

43:5775 years old in the city of Charleston

43:59in the historic district um

44:02we need to have better rules.

44:05So when we come to a decision like this,

44:07I think Mr. Turner made some suggestions

44:11um

44:12um at the committee meeting that could

44:15be um

44:17increase our

44:19um improve our ordinance on this. And I

44:21also listen,

44:22um I was part of the the mediation with

44:25uh the Beach Company and the Jasper

44:28and and what we now know as the Jasper

44:31over the old Sergeant Jasper.

44:33Uh when it comes to overturning the BAR,

44:36we better be careful.

44:38Um

44:40I'm a country boy from West Ashley.

44:43Um but I respect the BAR.

44:46That's a hard That's a hard job. I

44:48always um

44:50I did the ribbon cutting on the Grand

44:51Bohemian Hotel a number years ago like I

44:55doing Mother Emanuel tragedy.

44:57And I um

44:59uh everybody was so happy and I I said,

45:02you know, when you go through the BAR

45:04and the historic preservation process in

45:06the city of Charleston,

45:08um it's kind of like the birthing

45:09process. And any father who's going in

45:11the room with his wife

45:13doing that process, if you were going to

45:16live to 99, you lose a year off your

45:17life, okay? Um you're going to live to

45:19be 99, okay? Um but somehow

45:24when that child is born, it amazes me

45:27how many people

45:29uh in the gynecological department that

45:31that from the the doctor who's

45:33delivering it to the nurses who are

45:35there, everybody's peering to get the

45:37first glance at that new life that was

45:40born.

45:42It's a wonderful experience that stays

45:44with you the rest of your life.

45:46Um well, when we One of the good things

45:48about the city of Charleston

45:51is that these old buildings uh if you've

45:53ever been to St. Augustine, it's the

45:56oldest oak tree, it's the oldest dog

45:58house, it's the oldest lean-to. But we

46:01use our buildings.

46:04Every time I go down to Harris Teeter on

46:06East Bay Street, it used to be a old

46:08warehouse.

46:09But, I love going into that old store.

46:12The buildings up and down uh Broad

46:15Street, they aren't ornaments. We use

46:17these buildings in a living, growing

46:20city in 2026.

46:22And I believe that building

46:24can be moved properly

46:27and restored.

46:28But, we got to have more people trying

46:30to push in the direction for that to

46:31happen. So,

46:33I won't vote for uh the ordinance, I

46:35mean for the compromise, because I think

46:37who are we fooling?

46:39That's not going to happen.

46:42But, if we really want to try to make it

46:44happen, then let's put some efforts

46:46together

46:47with the influence of the people from

46:48Ashley Hall, with the strength of this

46:50city, with some of the

46:52uh land that is I think

46:54government-owned, trying to move that

46:55building up to um Interstate and and

46:59down and across bridges to get to

47:01um

47:02uh Jenkins Orphanage, it probably will

47:04fall apart.

47:06And then we're going to have the effort

47:08saying, "Well, we tried."

47:11But, we wouldn't have the effort that we

47:12put forth our best effort. So,

47:15I would hope that we can go back and

47:16come up with a um a better financial

47:18formula,

47:19a better financial funding formula, and

47:21a time frame to actually make what you

47:23all are suggesting, Mr. Hillman and your

47:26respected team over there, actually

47:28occur.

47:30Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

47:32>> Councilman Waring, um

47:34any further questions or comments on

47:36this?

47:37>> Mr. Mayor,

47:38>> Item

47:39>> Mr. Councilman Polka,

47:40>> Just from a parliamentary procedure, I

47:41don't know if there's a a a consent

47:43version of doing this or I have to do a

47:44motion to divide the question, but

47:46believe we should vote on number one and

47:48two separately, because we the motion

47:49was for the full report consolidated,

47:51and I believe this might be a separate

47:53um consideration. So, if that's in the

47:55form of a motion or a request to the

47:57mover.

47:59>> So

47:59>> amendment.

48:00>> If whoever made the initial motion wants

48:03to make an amendment that would be

48:06>> Fine with me.

48:08Divide questions. We can take them

48:10separately.

48:11So taking it separately, so let's take

48:13up um the ABA, is that the the

48:16resolution?

48:17>> Yes.

48:18>> So we have a motion for approval and

48:21properly seconded on that item. Any

48:23further discussion on that item? If not,

48:25all those in favor signify by saying

48:27aye.

48:28Those eyes have it. Now on the item

48:30related to 148 Smith Street, can I

48:33entertain a motion?

48:34>> So moved.

48:35>> Motion made.

48:37Properly seconded. Any further

48:39discussion on this?

48:39>> Can I call for a roll call?

48:42>> We can call for a roll call, but any

48:43before we do that, any further

48:44discussion?

48:47I only

48:48Councilman Councilwoman Scardon.

48:51Councilwoman Scardon, there we go.

48:53>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um

48:55I'm going to vote no on this and I just

48:57want to state for the record I think the

48:59lack of evidence from the 1950

49:02that the building was moved in 1950, the

49:04lack of evidence there is is what

49:06convinced me to vote no on this, just

49:08for the record.

49:10>> Um okay, Councilman Balden.

49:13>> I'm just I was a little bit um

49:16not troubled might be the wrong word,

49:18but

49:19um

49:20the the timing that Councilman Waring

49:23laid out that the speaker spoke about

49:26having you know, might might create an

49:27issue. How did we get to that timing?

49:33>> Scardon, you speak to that

49:35in terms of the timing.

49:41>> The 90 I'm going to call it a 90-day

49:43timeline essentially from today was what

49:45Ashley Hall had had submitted and had

49:47seemed appropriate in our discussion.

49:53>> The only point I would make on that

49:55relevant is that

49:57well I and I completely respect where

49:59Councilman Waring is coming from.

50:01In all fairness, this has been being

50:04discussed for quite some time

50:08and as I understand it Ashley Hall has

50:11always made the building

50:13available to be moved to anybody that

50:16might want it and that proposal was made

50:20months and months ago. So

50:22I think there is interest in it. I think

50:25that

50:27it's probably a little bit further down

50:29the road. I agree the logistics might be

50:32somewhat challenging if it is in fact

50:34the Jenkins Orphanage site.

50:36There are a lot of ways to move a

50:38building. It's not a big building.

50:40And I think that

50:43um

50:44I suspect I don't want to speak for

50:46Ashley Hall, but if there's another two

50:49week extension or something that is

50:50needed to get it to the location, I

50:53think they would probably be more than

50:55willing to work with whoever the

50:56non-profit was.

50:58And so I think this is a good

51:01compromise. I appreciate all the effort

51:04and discussion that have gone into it. I

51:06completely respect the concerns that the

51:09Preservation Society has had on setting

51:13precedent, but we discussed that at

51:15length in the Community Development

51:17meeting about how we got to where we are

51:21and what the laws in South Carolina are

51:23that bring

51:25the question back to us as council

51:28members to make a decision when you have

51:31an issue like this come up. So it was an

51:35education for me and I again

51:37think that Councilman Pell makes a good

51:39point that anybody who wants to dig into

51:41that should should review the tape on

51:43the Community Development meeting. So

51:45I'm voting in favor for the resolution

51:47and I appreciate everybody that put the

51:49work in to make it happen. Any further

51:50discussion?

51:51>> Just very briefly, I'll sort of in short

51:53form going to make a comment similar to

51:55yours, Mr. Mayor.

51:56The timeline [clears throat]

51:58that was presented to us has, as part of

52:01it, a condition precedent, which is

52:02someone stepping forward and showing

52:03interest in moving the building.

52:06I have no doubt that if someone comes

52:08forward and has interest in moving that

52:09building, which heretofore has not

52:11happened, while you've pointed out a lot

52:13of time has passed, more importantly, a

52:15lot of resources have been expended. And

52:17if someone steps forward and we stop

52:19expending those resources on talking

52:20about it and says, "We're interested in

52:22taking it." I suspect some resource will

52:24go towards making that happen, and that

52:27there will be some grace given on the

52:28back end for the close down of the time

52:30period in which this actually gets

52:32moved. But, the really important time

52:34frame is between now and wherever that

52:36date is. I think it was October 31st, to

52:38see if someone is actually interested in

52:40it and has at least a thoughtful plan to

52:43do it forward. So, I don't think that by

52:45approving this settlement, we're

52:46foreclosing it. We're just moving the

52:48ball to the next stage.

52:51Any further discussion on this?

52:53Councilman Waring.

52:55>> All that's nice and eloquent, but is

52:57that an agreement, Councilman? I mean,

52:59if that's in written in this what we're

53:00voting on right here. I I'm not saying

53:02that this hasn't been debated for a long

53:04time.

53:05But, this is the first time it's been in

53:06in front of this chamber.

53:08And

53:08>> second time.

53:09>> [laughter]

53:11>> Cuz it was originally uh then we put it

53:13back to community development came out

53:15with this

53:16compromise.

53:17Um

53:19>> Okay. Thank you. I have my say. Thank

53:21you.

53:22>> Okay.

53:23>> Mr. Mayor, I I don't want to hold people

53:24up, but uh it is no secret that I voted

53:27no in committee. I will vote again no

53:29tonight. I will vote no for the same

53:31reasons that I voted no in committee. I

53:34believe that um

53:36uh although there have been

53:37extraordinarily uh good faith and

53:39meaningful efforts to try to

53:42uh answer a question that I posed, which

53:44was um can we find some proof of where

53:47the structure was and when and how it

53:49was moved um sometime in the '50s. Uh

53:52that's proved to be elusive.

53:54Uh in the light of that, therefore, um

53:56we still have a a reasonable um or

53:59meaningful dispute of fact, material

54:01dispute of fact, as to whether or not

54:02that is, in fact, a remnant of Dash

54:04Hall.

54:05Um so, uh that not being uh resolved to

54:08my satisfaction, that's the basis of my

54:10vote no for this settlement agreement.

54:13>> All right. Uh thank you, Council

54:15Councilman Brady.

54:17>> Yes, Mayor.

54:18Um

54:19I I just want to I agree with Councilman

54:22Waring. The timeline

54:25uh especially asking a nonprofit to come

54:26up with it is short. I know several of

54:28us around the table either serve on

54:29nonprofit boards or have

54:32uh worked for nonprofits and uh to come

54:35up with a significant sum within 60 days

54:38is

54:39asking a lot when capital campaigns and

54:41everything else take years of planning

54:44uh to go through. So, to act as if

54:49six, you know, through October 31st is

54:51enough time for a nonprofit to get

54:53something together to move this if they

54:54wanted. Um this strikes me, as

54:57Councilman Waring said, um you know,

55:00it's a it's it's

55:02it even if this has been discussed over

55:04time,

55:05that lead-in would still not give enough

55:08uh to do that. And so, I'll be voting no

55:10on this.

55:13>> Okay.

55:14Uh

55:15any further discussion?

55:16>> Well, so, uh thanks, Mr. Brady. If um

55:20if if

55:22if we defer it,

55:23can we move the dates at all? Or what

55:26happens if it fails here tonight?

55:29>> Uh it would have to be taken back up um

55:33by the parties and come back to us with

55:36perhaps a revised

55:39timeline or conditions or

55:42uh what have you. Sounds like there's

55:44concern over the time frame.

55:47>> Well, the parties are the city and

55:49Ashley Hall. So, I would call for a vote

55:51here and let's see how we do.

55:53>> Right. Councilmember Tinkler.

55:55>> Uh I I personally think the settlement

55:58allows for the Dash family and the Dash

56:01Hall story

56:02to get told. I don't know how it gets

56:05told if we don't approve this. So, I'm

56:08voting yes.

56:11>> All right. Uh we've had a a roll call

56:13vote has been requested.

56:15So, Madam Clerk, will you please call

56:17the roll?

56:17>> Councilmember Greg.

56:19Councilmember Greg votes I.

56:21Councilmember Shealy is absent.

56:23Councilmember McBride.

56:25>> I.

56:26>> Councilmember McBride votes in favor.

56:29Councilmember Polkey.

56:30>> Nay.

56:32>> Councilmember Polkey votes nay.

56:37Councilmember Brady.

56:38>> Nay.

56:39>> Councilmember Brady votes nay.

56:41Councilmember D'Alessandro.

56:43>> I.

56:44>> Councilmember D'Alessandro votes I.

56:46Councilmember Waring.

56:49Councilmember Waring votes nay.

56:51Councilmember Seekings.

56:53>> I.

56:54>> Councilmember Seekings votes I.

56:58Councilmember Tinkler.

57:00Councilmember Tinkler votes nay.

57:04Councilmember Balden.

57:06>> I.

57:08>> Councilmember Balden votes I.

57:10Councilmember Appel.

57:14Councilmember Appel votes I.

57:17Councilmember Scardon.

57:19>> Nay.

57:20>> Councilmember Scardon votes nay.

57:23And Mayor Cogswell.

57:25>> I.

57:26>> Mayor Cogswell votes I. The motion

57:28passes 7 to 5 7 to 5.

57:33>> Okay.

57:34Uh

57:35>> Moving on now, we are to Chairman Bowden

57:40on community

57:42on

57:44human resources report.

57:46>> We already took up the the biggest thing

57:48that was on the agenda. We met on August

57:5120th at 4:00 p.m.

57:53We spent the the majority of the meeting

57:55talking about the health care budget.

57:57Unfortunately, some things are are

57:59beyond

58:01our control to to keep those costs in

58:03line and and

58:05you know, unfortunately, they're they're

58:07going up as a result. I will say that

58:10the HR department and and staff are

58:12doing a fantastic job trying to

58:15keep costs in line

58:17in the going forward

58:20to include more like remote care options

58:24and and more things that will make it

58:26easier to do like physical therapy if

58:28somebody experiences an injury or you

58:30know, having some backaches,

58:32things that you know, can really go on

58:34for a long time and cost a lot of money

58:35to treat.

58:37So, more to come on that, but you know,

58:39hopefully like like Ms. Morton said,

58:42those costs will be

58:44you know, more controlled going forward

58:46and everybody knock on on wood.

58:48There

58:50we had a good conversation about the

58:52a quick conversation about comp study.

58:54Believe it's it's done and just kind of

58:56being implemented.

58:58Um the um

59:00We also talked about drug testing policy

59:02for the city. I think that's a I think

59:06it's a really big deal.

59:08It's you know, small thing in the grand

59:10scheme of things, but there's a fourth

59:13there's fourth amendment implications.

59:15You know, this is the Supreme Court took

59:18up a case this term where they talked

59:20about um

59:22you know,

59:22marijuana use and one of the justices

59:25acknowledged that maybe some people on

59:27the court might be using it might be

59:29using marijuana to help them sleep. Um

59:32so you know when when it's being talked

59:34about in chambers like that

59:37perhaps it's worth a societal rethinking

59:40of our position on marijuana and whether

59:43we are stuck in a war on drugs that was

59:45lost a long time ago

59:47and whether that um

59:49uh is having an effect on our ability to

59:52hire and retain employees which we just

59:55talked about is extraordinarily

59:56expensive. Um certainly there are folks

59:59I'm sure I'm getting some looks from the

1:00:02police chief over there.

1:00:03Maybe

1:00:04you know our our sworn staff might need

1:00:07to be treated a little bit differently

1:00:08under this policy as well as

1:00:11folks who are

1:00:12um have licenses from the you know the

1:00:15federal Department of Transportation and

1:00:17such.

1:00:18Um so you know more to be worked out

1:00:19there but I I do think that that's worth

1:00:22you know digging into and getting to a

1:00:23policy that makes sense for the city.

1:00:26Um we were supposed to talk about

1:00:29parental leave but um

1:00:31Councilmember Scarden wasn't able to be

1:00:32with us and I know that that is

1:00:34something that's very important to her

1:00:36as it is to all of us who have kids our

1:00:39age I think

1:00:40and so we will be taking that up at our

1:00:42next meeting.

1:00:46>> Okay we're

1:00:48uh can I get a motion on

1:00:51adopting the report?

1:00:54Motion made properly seconded no further

1:00:55discussion on this. All those in favor

1:00:57signify by saying I.

1:01:00All right now we want to Chairman Greg

1:01:02for Committee of Ways and Means.

1:01:05Motion made properly seconded on

1:01:08adopting the Ways and Means report did

1:01:09want to

1:01:11add one comment here and set the record

1:01:14straight during Ways and Means meeting I

1:01:16spoke about the last item on this agenda

1:01:20relating to the $5 million bonus that we

1:01:23are giving to our employees and that it

1:01:25was performance-based based on

1:01:29performance reviews that were provided

1:01:32and

1:01:34it was people were rated one, two, or

1:01:36three. What I want to just make sure

1:01:39everybody's aware of is that all the

1:01:41people that scored a two

1:01:43will get the same amount of money. I

1:01:45think I said it was prorated. It would

1:01:46be the same dollar amount if you're

1:01:48making $30,000

1:01:50or $100,000. So, it'll make a big bump

1:01:53for the folks that are on the lower.

1:01:55Same thing that

1:01:57for those that got a three, same dollar

1:01:59amount. So, I misspoke on that. Just

1:02:01wanted to make sure that the record was

1:02:03clear. Really excited to send those

1:02:05bonuses to our employees in the upcoming

1:02:10days. So, we have a motion made,

1:02:11properly seconded on adopting this

1:02:13report. All those in favor, signify by

1:02:15saying I.

1:02:17Both opposed, I'd have it. There's was

1:02:21only one bill up for third reading,

1:02:22which has been deferred. We're now we

1:02:24have 12 bills up for second reading.

1:02:26>> I would move to take one through 12

1:02:28together and move their adoption.

1:02:29>> Can I ask just a quick question about

1:02:31the bills up for third reading as to the

1:02:33the why it's been deferred? Has it been

1:02:35deferred while we wait for Berkeley

1:02:36County to do whatever they're doing?

1:02:38Just cuz I know we're going to get asked

1:02:39about that tomorrow night on Daniel

1:02:40Island. All three of us. So, okay.

1:02:44>> That

1:02:46is correct. You were correct in your

1:02:47assessment.

1:02:48>> Thank you.

1:02:49>> Waiting on Berkeley County. So, we have

1:02:5112 bills up reading. Did I get a motion?

1:02:53>> Yeah, move move to take one through 12

1:02:54together.

1:02:57>> Any discussion on any of these items? If

1:03:00not, all those in favor, please signify

1:03:03by saying I.

1:03:05Opposed, I'd have it.

1:03:06>> I'd move third reading and ratification

1:03:08for one through 12.

1:03:10>> Motion made, properly seconded for third

1:03:12reading on these 12 items. If no further

1:03:14discussion, all those in favor, signify

1:03:15by saying I.

1:03:17Opposed.

1:03:19Uh the eyes have it.

1:03:22Um

1:03:25We got

1:03:27one bill up for first reading. Um a

1:03:31sustainability and advisory committing.

1:03:33Can I get a really slow

1:03:36uh

1:03:40>> [laughter]

1:03:46>> Not very slow, guys.

1:03:49We have a motion made

1:03:53that

1:03:56has been

1:03:58>> And I would just say that this is part

1:04:00of cleaning up uh some of the boards and

1:04:02commissions as we've talked about

1:04:03before.

1:04:05Uh making sure that we're um

1:04:08moving things forward at the best rate

1:04:09for the city in terms of our boards and

1:04:11commissions. As we know, many of us

1:04:13serve on those, so just cleaning it up.

1:04:18>> Anything else you want to add to that,

1:04:19Chairman

1:04:20>> Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor, I I'll add

1:04:22something I learned when I was watching

1:04:24council meetings. I was quite confused

1:04:26during this period of time, Mr. Mayor.

1:04:28Why why is this happening? And the

1:04:30reason why this is happening for folks

1:04:32as I found here is because the mayor's

1:04:34got to sign

1:04:36the ordinances that we approve between

1:04:38something between the second and the

1:04:40third reading, right? So, he's up there

1:04:41signing things right after third

1:04:43reading, right? And he's got to do it

1:04:44while we're in here so he doesn't like,

1:04:46you know, run wild with the city or

1:04:47something. Uh so

1:04:50>> me.

1:04:50>> Yeah, so this is what's happening right

1:04:51now. In case you're wondering why we're

1:04:53being weird.

1:04:55>> But

1:04:56>> So, to to further fill the air in this

1:04:58awkward time period, um

1:05:02I represent a few local governments

1:05:03around the state. I'm not going to name

1:05:05any names here, but one of the local

1:05:07governments I represent was sued.

1:05:10And it was under FOIA and the claim was

1:05:14that the ordinances that we were

1:05:16adopting were not following state law

1:05:20because we were not reading them.

1:05:23Meaning reading them.

1:05:26Like the words of the ordinance, the

1:05:29whole thing, every single one of them.

1:05:31And so we had to argue in court

1:05:33that the word read

1:05:36doesn't mean

1:05:37read.

1:05:39So, the more you know.

1:05:41>> Um more you know.

1:05:42>> So, we're we're we're we're doing it the

1:05:44right way around here. Just so you know.

1:05:46>> affairs from district four reads all

1:05:47ordinances.

1:05:48>> Yes.

1:05:49>> All right, we've made a motion. Probably

1:05:50second. We do have to vote on that last

1:05:52item. All those in favor signify by

1:05:53saying aye.

1:05:54Opposed, as have it. Our next meeting

1:05:57will be held on Tuesday, September 22nd

1:06:005:00 p.m. If nothing further, this

1:06:02meeting

1:06:03is adjourned.

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