2026-10-27 - City Council

00:11She's here.

00:37There's another thing.

00:56I'd like to call the October 27th

00:59meeting of city council to order. Madam

01:01clerk, please call the role.

01:02>> Council member Greg, council member

01:04Sheileely here, council member McBry

01:06here.

01:06>> Council member Poke, Council Member

01:08Brady, Council Member Dlesandro, Council

01:11Member Wearing, Council Member Seekings,

01:14Council Member Tinkler, Council Member

01:16Bowen, Council Member Appel, Council

01:19Member Scardan, Mayor Cogwell

01:21>> here. I'd now like to ask council member

01:24Appel to lead everybody in the give the

01:26invocation and lead everybody in the

01:27pledge of allegiance.

01:29>> All right. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, for the

01:31opportunity.

01:33[clears throat] Let us pause for a

01:34moment of reflection as we prepare to

01:36serve the people of our great city. We

01:38gather this evening mindful of the

01:40fast-paced and complex world around us.

01:43As we see daily headlines reflecting

01:45uncertainty and rapid change, we are

01:48reminded of our core responsibility here

01:50in Charleston to provide a foundation of

01:52stability, safety, and well-being for

01:55our community. Grant us the foresight to

01:57make decisions that strengthen our local

01:59economy, support our families, and

02:01preserve the unique character of our

02:03neighborhoods. In an era where society

02:05can often feel disconnected, let this

02:07chamber be a place of shared purpose and

02:09mutual respect. guide our discussions

02:12tonight so that we may bridge any

02:13differences, listen to one another with

02:15genuine empathy, and make choices that

02:17uplift all of our neighbors. May we lead

02:20with open minds and steady hands. Thank

02:22you.

02:25>> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

02:27United States of America and to the

02:30republic for which it stands, one nation

02:34under God, indivisible, with liberty and

02:37justice for all.

02:40Okay, we have four items on the agenda

02:44tonight for presentations and

02:47recognitions. The first one is uh a

02:51proclamation honoring somebody that we

02:54all know very well, Mr. Bill Walsh. Will

02:57you join me up here on the dis, please?

03:01How are you, man?

03:06Whereas Bill Walsh, a native of Rhode

03:08Island, studied meteorology at Emerson

03:11College and Lynen State College and

03:13began his career forecasting for

03:15television stations in New England

03:17before arriving in the Low Country in

03:191986 as a meteorologist for WCIVTV.

03:24And whereas just three years into his

03:25time in Charleston, Bill Walsh faced the

03:27defining storm of his career when

03:30Hurricane Hugo struck the Low Country in

03:331989, keeping residents informed of the

03:36danger while he and his colleagues

03:38evacuated their own station and was

03:41himself displaced from his home for

03:43months afterwards like so many families

03:46across our region. And whereas the

03:49lessons of Hugo have shaped his work

03:51ever since. as Bill Walsh has guided

03:54Charleston residents through hurricanes,

03:56tropical storms, tornadoes, floods, and

03:58winter storms with a steady, reliable

04:01information. And whereas since 1983,

04:04Bill Walsh has served as chief

04:06meteorologist and executive producer at

04:09WCSC

04:11Live 5 News, becoming one of the longest

04:14serving and most trusted television

04:17personalities in the Low Country. And

04:20whereas his work has earned multiple

04:23Emmy and telly awards in recognition

04:25from the Associated Press as best

04:28weather caster as well as the seals of

04:31approval of both the American Meteor

04:33Meteorological

04:35Society and the National Weather

04:37Association. And whereas Bill Wall

04:39served his country for two decades in

04:41the US Navy Reserve and US Air Force

04:44Reserve, rising to the rank of

04:46Lieutenant Colonel and earning a

04:48master's degree from Air Force Air

04:51University while all while continuing to

04:53serve viewers full-time on the air. And

04:57whereas he shares his expertise with the

04:59next generation of forecasters by

05:01teaching broadcast meteorology at the

05:04College of Charleston and is also a

05:06published novelist.

05:09And whereas on September 15, 2026,

05:12Bill Walsh celebrated 40 years of

05:16keeping people of Charleston informed,

05:18prepared, and safe. Now therefore, I

05:21William S. Cogwell Jr., Mayor of the

05:22city of Charleston to hereby proclaim

05:24September 15, 2026

05:27as Bill Walsh day in the city of

05:29Charleston and encourage all residents

05:32in to join me in congratulating him on

05:35this remarkable milestone and thanking

05:38him for four decades of dedicated

05:41service to our community.

05:50Yeah, good question.

06:01>> I'm short. Thank you, mayor. Thank you

06:03so much, city council. And uh I'm

06:05totally embarrassed. I never know what

06:06to say except partly cloudy with a

06:08chance of a shower. But 40 years is a

06:12long time. I'm thrilled to be here. I

06:14landed in the best city and the most

06:15beautiful in the entire world. And I'm

06:17just thrilled to be here. And uh this

06:19comes with free parking, doesn't it?

06:21Like for

06:21>> for a year or something like All right,

06:23just double checking. Well, thank you

06:25once again. God bless you all and I

06:27really greatly appreciate that. And

06:28here's to another 40 years. Well, or a

06:30couple more.

06:42>> Next up, I would like to invite Chris

06:45Wyn to join me on the podium.

06:48uh on a proclamation recognizing Lollo

06:51Day.

06:58Whereas cancer touches the lives of

07:00countless individuals and families in

07:02the Charleston community across South

07:04Carolina and around the world. And

07:06whereas in South Carolina alone, an

07:08estimated 36,900 new cases of cancer

07:12will be diagnosed in 2026 with more than

07:1511,000 lives expected to be lost to the

07:18disease. And whereas Lavell is an annual

07:21cycling event that brings together

07:23riders, volunteers, donors, sponsors,

07:26doctors, nurses, researchers, and

07:28community members in a shared commitment

07:30to advancing cancer research at MUSC

07:33Hollings Cancer Center, the only

07:35National Cancer Institute designated

07:37cancer center in South Carolina. And

07:40whereas since its founding, Lavell has

07:42raised more than $4.6 $6 million to

07:46support innovative cancer research at

07:48MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, funding

07:51high-risisk, highreward research that

07:54has helped drive new discoveries,

07:56treatments, and hope for patients and

07:58their families. And this groundbreaking

08:00work has gone on to secure 23.8 million

08:04in full-scale grants from the National

08:06Institutes of Health. And whereas Lavell

08:10is a unique is unique in that 100%

08:14of every dollar raised through the event

08:17directly supports cancer research making

08:20every mile ridden and every dollar

08:22donated a meaningful investment in a

08:25future without cancer. And whereas

08:28Lavell has become a meaningful annual

08:31tradition in Charleston that reflects

08:33the extraordinary generosity and

08:35community spirit of the Low Country,

08:37bringing together people of all ages,

08:40backgrounds to ride, volunteer, fundra,

08:43and stand together in the fight against

08:45cancer. And whereas the city of

08:47Charleston is proud to recognize the

08:50impact Lavell has made in our community

08:53and the important contributions of

08:55cancer researchers, patients, survivors,

08:59caregivers, volunteers, donors, and

09:02advocates whose efforts bring us closer

09:05to a world where cancer is prevented,

09:08treated, and ultimately defeated and

09:10encourages all residents to support

09:13efforts that promise that promote hope,

09:16health, and healing. Now, therefore, I,

09:19William S. Cogwell Jr., mayor of the

09:21city of Charleston, do hereby proclaim

09:23November 7th as Loello Day in the city

09:26of Charleston.

09:39>> Please just briefly, thank you, mayor.

09:42Thank you, city council. Uh, everyone in

09:45the room, anyone in the room who's been

09:46touched by cancer. We are we are

09:48humbled. I want to accept this on behalf

09:50of all the researchers and the folks who

09:51are doing doing the hard work and

09:54hopefully making all of our lives

09:55better. Uh, hopefully we look forward to

09:57many many years of beautiful rides and

10:00and better outcomes. Thank you.

10:02>> Thank you. Thank you, Chris.

10:11>> Okay.

10:13Next up, we have

10:16uh a graduation ceremony, guys. Got the

10:20diplomas here.

10:24As part of the city's commitment to

10:27public service, we have worked to expand

10:31civic education and encourage residents

10:34to participate more fully in local

10:38government. Towards that end, we

10:40launched the resident academy, a

10:44four-part seminar designed to help

10:47residents learn more about how the city

10:50of Charleston works, as well as the

10:53principles and practices of community

10:56organizing.

10:58The response to our pilot pilot program

11:01was tremendous. We received more than 90

11:05applications for just 15 available

11:09spots, demonstrating a very strong

11:12interest our residents have in

11:15understanding just what we do here at

11:18local government and helping to shape

11:20the future of our collective community.

11:24Because of the popularity of this

11:27program, I am pleased to announce to you

11:29tonight that we will offer the resident

11:32academy program again this spring. So

11:37today, as mayor, I am proud to present

11:40each of our graduates with this resident

11:44academy

11:45certificate. This certificate recognizes

11:48not only your commitment to learning,

11:50but also your willingness to engage with

11:54your city and with your community. We

11:56hope that you will take what you've

11:58learned here and use it to help inform

12:00our policym strengthen your own

12:04neighborhoods and empower your fellow

12:07residents to make positive change in

12:10their community. So again,

12:12congratulations to each and every one of

12:14you. Thank you for your commitment. And

12:18now I'll get a drum roll and I get to

12:21read off each of the graduates here. So

12:26we're going to start with Kaylee Cota.

12:30There

12:32Kayle's working. There she is. All

12:36right. Let's give her a round of

12:38applause.

12:42Absolutely.

12:45We have Pamela Degrrood.

12:49Perfect. Thank you.

12:53>> We have Michael Lepson.

13:01>> We have Ashton Peters.

13:09We have Emily

13:13P. Oh,

13:16>> okay. Perfect. Good. Glad I got her name

13:18right. [laughter]

13:19And we have Chem Wheeler.

13:25>> Thank you.

13:27>> And last but not least, we have Austin

13:30Doyle. Where is Austin? There we go.

13:32There he is on that end.

13:33>> Thank you. Thank you.

13:36>> Let's give them all one more round of

13:38applause. Really appreciate it.

13:40Get one quick.

13:45Show your show your diplomas. Prove that

13:47you uh graduated. Proof of graduation.

13:52All right. Well, good. Thanks, guys.

14:06>> All right.

14:09For our final recognition tonight or

14:12resolution, I'd like to ask council

14:15members Poke and Alesandro to join me on

14:19the podium as well as Bishop Woodliff

14:23Stanley Artist uh Rome Mortimer Evelyn,

14:29former counter council county council

14:32chairman Lonnie Hamilton III, Grace

14:35Wingfield,

14:37Bendu Gdoo, from the Foundation for

14:40Spirituality and of the Arts and any

14:44other uh guests from Calvary Church to

14:46come up here on the podium with me.

14:54>> I did say the bishop. Did I not say the

14:56bishop?

14:57>> The bishop, please. [laughter]

15:18whereas Calvary Episcopal Church was

15:20founded in 1847

15:22as a church for enslaved and free

15:24persons of African descent in the

15:27Charleston community. And whereas

15:29Calvary Church enjoys a prominent place

15:32in the annals of the holy city's

15:34history, beginning with its

15:36architecturally significant first

15:38edifice at 71 Bane Street, consecrated

15:42by the right Reverend Christopher E.

15:44Gadson in 1849.

15:47And whereas James El Pedigrew saved the

15:49church from destruction by calling off a

15:52mob attack in an address on the steps of

15:55city hall. And whereas in 1885,

15:59Jonathan Jasper Wright, the first

16:02African-American to serve on the South

16:04Carolina Supreme Court or any other

16:07appellet court in the United States, was

16:09buried in Calvary Church's cemetery.

16:12And whereas in 1940, Calvary Church

16:15relocated to 106 Line Street after its

16:19buffane street structure was demolished

16:22to expand the then whitesonly Robert

16:25Mills Manor. And whereas Calvary Church

16:28operated what was once the only

16:30preschool and kindergarten for

16:33African-American children on the

16:34peninsula, which was well regarded for

16:37its high educational standards and moral

16:40teachings. And whereas Father Steven

16:42Mackey served Calvary Church as priest

16:46and recctor with distinction for nearly

16:4940 years. And whereas Calvary Church's

16:52historic membership roster is a

16:55venerable venerable who's who of

16:58Charleston's most prominent citizens as

17:00exemplified in our time by the honorable

17:03Lonnie Hamilton III. iconic musician,

17:07first African-American elected to

17:09Charleston County Council, first

17:11African-American chairman of Charleston

17:13County Council, and who at age 98 is

17:17Calvary Church's longtime choir director

17:20and remains among its most active

17:24parishioners.

17:25And whereas in 2023,

17:28Calvary Church parishioner Grace

17:30Wingfield spearheaded an initiative to

17:34commission Icon Alterpiece, a new work

17:37of contemporary sacred art by Ge

17:40Mortimer Evelyn, London-based artists

17:43and residents at the Foundation for

17:46Spirituality and the Arts as part of his

17:49intended series of icons in location in

17:53locations integral to the transatlantic

17:56enslavement. And whereas Icon Alterpiece

18:00was inspired by Evelyn's two years of

18:03researching Calvary Church's history and

18:05interviewing its parishioners, many of

18:08whom also helped paint the piece. And

18:11whereas icon alterpiece which signifies

18:14the Episcopal Dasis of South Carolina's

18:17ongoing work of racial reconciliation

18:21restor restorative justice and inclusion

18:25was dedicated on October 10th 2026 by

18:30Bishop Ruth Woodliff Stanley alongside

18:33Reverend Ricardo Bailey who is the

18:35recctor and Reverend Marionette Bennett

18:38who is the deacon.

18:40And now therefore, be it resolved that

18:43I, William S. Cogwell Jr., mayor of the

18:46city of Charleston, and on behalf of all

18:49of our citizens, hereby congratulate and

18:52celebrate Graham Mortimer Evelyn, the

18:56foundation for spirituality and the

18:58arts, Calvary Church, and the Episcopal

19:01Dasis of South Carolina on the

19:04completion and dedication of icon

19:07alterpiece. encourage all Charlestonians

19:10to visit Calvary Church, view the

19:12alterpiece, and find inspiration in its

19:16message of strength and resilience.

19:19Let's give a round of applause.

19:40Thank you. I'm Grace Wingfield. I'm we

19:43our hearts are filled with gratitude and

19:45very excited that Calvary is finally

19:49getting its proper recognition in

19:51history and we are very excited to

19:53continue to connect with the Charleston

19:55community for this important history for

19:59the entire United States.

20:04>> And I'm going to take a moment the

20:05personal privilege uh thank you Ben for

20:07letting me step inside District 6 for a

20:09second. I am the I am the lum of the

20:12illustrious Calvary preschool in

20:14kindergarten. So

20:18[clears throat]

20:18I think it's important to acknowledge

20:20what you heard here. The man who's

20:23signified by that bus there stood on the

20:26steps of this building and saved that

20:29church from being burned down before the

20:32Civil War. Ain't that amazing? Ain't God

20:35good?

20:37And speaking of God being good, we also

20:40have to take a moment to acknowledge

20:42that we are in the presence of

20:43greatness.

20:45The Honorable Lonnie Hamilton III,

20:4898 years old, turning 94 on November

20:5214th,

20:55directing the choir, running things,

20:58still in the church, I'm sure. And I

21:00just want you to know, Mr. Hamilton,

21:02that is an indeed privilege and honor to

21:05welcome you back to the four corners of

21:07law and we thank you for your lifetime

21:10of service to this community, to your

21:13church, and to the Lord. Welcome back.

21:24Um, uh, thank you. Uh, this is the first

21:27time I've ever been in a building like

21:29this, so it's I'm a bit struck by

21:32everything. Um, thank you, Mayor. Um,

21:36um, thank you everybody here and a big

21:38thank you to the to Calvary and everyone

21:42here uh, and Episcopal Church of South

21:44Carolina. They've um awarded me a great

21:48honor and a great privilege to work with

21:51this amazing group of people who are so

21:56impressive to me and I've I've I've um

22:00grown to love Charleston through them

22:02through through their experiences. So

22:04big thank you again. Um and please visit

22:08the uh the autopiece as many many times

22:10as possible and hope it will be on a

22:12tourist map as well. pictures.

22:24>> Got pictures.

22:33>> Thank you all.

22:51Okay.

23:08>> All right.

23:11That concludes our presentations and

23:13recognitions. We are now on to public

23:15hearings. We have seven public hearings

23:19tonight. Uh the first is input on the

23:22city budget. Uh we also have uh E2 on

23:27the uh um uh agenda is being deferred

23:31until November sec 17th. E2 for those

23:35that are in the audience to talk about

23:37the short-term rental ordinance. Uh that

23:41item is being deferred until November

23:4417th. Um so we've got Christopher Morgan

23:49on the other items. Christopher Morgan

23:51here. There we go. U if you could

23:53present on the other public hearings.

23:58>> Mayor, should we take comment on the

23:59budget first before we get to the other

24:01items? That's right. Should we take

24:03comment on the budget first and then do

24:05the items to Mr. Morgan afterwards?

24:08>> Okay, sure. Um, I'm open to that. How

24:10many How many people do we have signed

24:12up to this talk?

24:16>> For public hearings in total, it's 15.

24:19We have one, two,

24:22uh, three, four, five, I think six for

24:27the budget.

24:29>> Okay. So, if you have signed up to speak

24:31on the budget, I would like to uh call

24:35those first. So, Madam Clark, we it's we

24:38have 15 in total.

24:40>> Let's give everybody a minute and a

24:42half. Um and would you please call the

24:45first speaker for the budget?

24:46>> Anthony G. Bryant.

24:53>> Anthony G. Bryant. Um, speaking in terms

24:56of the budget, um, the the issue with

24:59with this this conversation about

25:02Dominion Energy at $60 million, they

25:05don't honor the DPP agreements. They

25:07don't honor the 22 211 agreements. This

25:10has to change. If you're going to you

25:13have you're going to give 60 million.

25:15I've been an object at Dominion Energy

25:16for over a year and you mean to tell me

25:19you're going to go into an agreement

25:21with them and they're retaliating

25:22against me in my business on the 28th

25:25tomorrow. So, so h how is that going to

25:28work out? You hear somebody speaking on

25:30a budget with with our money and you're

25:33you're going around playing that kind of

25:35game with people, right? So, you're in

25:37negotiations with the mini corporation

25:39with this budget, increase it to $60

25:41million. The money's going to come back

25:43on us anyway, right? as rateayers and

25:46and in the next era, Dominion Energy's

25:48public comment wasn't even heard.

25:51It wasn't even it wasn't even discussed

25:54in the special meeting of them doing a

25:56$67 billion trade and you're going to

25:58get $60 million. They're going to go to

26:00the parachutes in Dominion. You've got

26:02my bill. You've got my information. Do

26:05the right thing by Anthony G. Bryant

26:08once and for all.

26:11>> Dr. Jack Simmons,

26:19>> city council, mayor, council, fellow

26:22citizens, I'm here for a very personal

26:26reason.

26:29March 26, 2026

26:32will forever

26:34be engraved in my psyche. That's when my

26:38dear wife Annie was the pedestrian

26:41killed at the corner of Broad uh in King

26:45Street. She was in a pedestrian lane

26:47with the rightway

26:49green light walking from Berlin's across

26:53the street south to come home from her

26:55morning walk at 8:30. And for whatever

26:58reason, a truck on King Street took a 90

27:00degree turn right across her uh and

27:05killed her. So, uh,

27:10my experience today, I went to a

27:12function at the Gibbs Art Gallery. All

27:14of us got run over twice

27:17crossing a meeting street at Queen.

27:19There are about four of us and maybe we

27:21were walking too slow, but somebody in a

27:24rush in a big van cut right in front of

27:27us. And if I hadn't been looking, I

27:29could have been clipped. coming up city

27:31hall crossing uh from a cross meeting

27:35going west. I was crossing and some

27:38other huge truck comes and I saw it and

27:40finally he saw me and stopped but he was

27:43halfway pointed across the pedestrian

27:46lane. So, I am here to lend my voice uh

27:53to encourage you to find a million

27:56dollars in the city budget for

27:58pedestrian safety projects. I know many

28:01of you have been to Europe. I don't know

28:03if you have noticed how safe it is to

28:05walk and bike in those cities. The

28:08automobile has not only destroyed our

28:11architecture and heritage with parking

28:14lots, but it's destroying our citizens.

28:17Thank you,

28:24>> Dr. Alex Rich.

28:31Hello, Mr. Mayor, city council members.

28:33Um, I'm Alex Rich. I'm the president and

28:35CEO of the Gibbs Museum of Art. Um, and

28:37I want to thank you in general for all

28:39of your support for our city

28:40organizations and for our cultural

28:42organizations like the Gibbs. As you all

28:44well know, the city actually owns half

28:46of our two buildings now at 135 and 141

28:50Meeting Street. We're on the precipice

28:52of an exciting new chapter for the Gibbs

28:54as we open up our new wing at 141

28:56Meeting Street, half owned by the city.

28:59Um, and it will be the home to a new

29:01dedicated education center, centering

29:03the the place for arts education in our

29:05city and really hopefully being a nice

29:08hub for that and filling a gap um in our

29:10needs for the city. Uh, so we're looking

29:12forward to that, celebrating continually

29:14the art of the south, the art of

29:15Charleston, but also connecting that

29:17through to the wider world, and we hope

29:19the Gibbs can really be a centerpiece

29:21for that. Moving forward, we will launch

29:22our new wing in April of this year, um,

29:26with a big exhibition featuring the work

29:28of Norman Rockwell um, with his ties to

29:30Charleston. Actually, Norman Rockwell

29:32was here in the Navy in 1918, so we're

29:35bringing him back to Charleston for the

29:36first time since then. Um, so that will

29:38launch our new wing again in celebration

29:41with the city. And so we are so

29:43fortunate for all of your support for

29:44the Gibbs continuing moving forward and

29:45we hope to celebrate this with the city

29:47um in the new year. Thanks so much

29:51>> Joe McGee.

29:57Joe McGee.

30:00>> Thank you very much. Um, so I'm Joe

30:03McGee, president of Harlesson Village

30:04Association. So, we urged the mayor and

30:06council to prioritize three basic

30:08services in 2027.

30:10First, storm drainage maintenance. Last

30:13year, we were told there are five vacuum

30:14trucks that had crews from only about

30:16half of that number with routine

30:19cleaning averaging once per year, four

30:22inlets across the city. This seems

30:25inadequate for a city that floods. of

30:28approximately 20,000 drains in the city,

30:303,000 in Harleston. Uh neighborhood

30:34input identifies five that need priority

30:36help. I'm not sure if we're getting that

30:38yet. Second, flood response. In December

30:422025, we showed the mayor's office uh

30:44along with Councilman Seekings

30:46photographly

30:50flooded streets, barricades that are

30:52placed then uh that do get placed then

30:55litter the streets for months

30:56afterwards.

30:58The chief of staff cited limited

31:00overtime funding.

31:02Please provide street closures or

31:03reliable street closures and adequate

31:05barricade and funds for adequate

31:07barricade removal. Third, uh,

31:09residential parking enforcement, a

31:10long-standing issue for many of us on

31:12the peninsula. The mayor's heard that

31:14issue plenty in August. More than 70% of

31:16our May survey respondents in Harleston

31:18village reported seeing illegal parking

31:21weekly. We identified five hotspots to

31:24target enforcement, plus other

31:25suggestions. We're still waiting for

31:28substantive response since that July

31:30meeting. We're ready to help. Uh please

31:34provide the direct direct the direction

31:36and the funding to improve these

31:38services.

31:40>> Jim Hemple.

31:49>> Good evening everyone. Um yeah Jim Hill

31:52with the East Coast Greenway Alliance.

31:54Um wanted to hold some space for M Mr.

31:58Simmons and his comments and I think

31:59that um focus is what we should all be

32:02focused on in this discussion. I'm here

32:03to talk about the budget and our ask for

32:07um a million dollars for safety

32:08improvements recurring uh in the city

32:11budget. Um so uh we were lucky to be

32:15involved and and fortunate to be

32:17involved with some great consultants and

32:18city staff on the city's uh safety

32:21action plan. Um it was a great roadmap

32:25for us um on how we can improve safety

32:27throughout the city, not just downtown.

32:29Um pedestrian safety and road safety. Um

32:32in that plan, we identified $20 million

32:35of safety projects right there. So I'm

32:37thrilled to see that the city is going

32:39for a safe streets for all

32:40implementation grant and uh would

32:43support that. Um I think we can also go

32:45further by uh having this earmarked fund

32:49for safety improvements moving forward.

32:51Um, one of my favorite parts of my job

32:53is I get to go to communities throughout

32:55the southeast and sort of take ideas

32:57like a like a pollinator bee. And one of

32:59those ideas I want to leave with is um

33:02the city of Savannah started a vision

33:04zero initiative in 2022.

33:07Um, since then uh and they set aside

33:10funding each year for safety projects

33:12for implementation of that pro that

33:14plan. Since 2022, they've constructed 71

33:18uh different safety projects, the city

33:21limits

33:22>> time.

33:23>> Last summer, they had their first summer

33:25without a fatality uh since they started

33:27uh keeping records. So, just some

33:29inspiration for you all. Uh thank you

33:31for the work you do.

33:33>> Former council member Carol Jackson.

33:41>> Thank you, Mayor and Council members.

33:43I'm here to support the theme you're

33:45hearing. Um, we would really appreciate

33:49and I thank uh, Council Member Appel for

33:52setting the table that our

33:54responsibilities are to bring stability,

33:56safety, and well-being.

33:59Um that that is the theme for the budget

34:03and we would appreciate and strongly

34:06recommend that you adopt the um the $1

34:10million pedestrian safety fund that I

34:14understand was originated and

34:16recommended by the very large and

34:20proactive Charleston Moves organization

34:24working in conjunction with our city's

34:26TNT staff. We we really need that money

34:29and we need the pedestrian safety all in

34:32all the burrows but mostly downtown.

34:35If I have any time left, I would also

34:37like to endorse that you take seriously

34:41any ideas and recommendations from our

34:44first year and third year council

34:46members. I'm working in anything that

34:50I'm involved in to pass the batons and I

34:53think it's time to pass batons to the

34:55future leaders of our community. Thank

34:57you very much.

35:00And if everyone could hold your

35:02applause, please. Thank you. Hart

35:04Hagerty or Hagerty, I'm sorry.

35:14Hello, my name is Hart Hagerty and I'm

35:17speaking today in support of

35:18Charlestonians Demand Safe Streets

35:20petition which received over 2,200

35:24signatures in the spring. We asked for a

35:26million-doll annual recurring budget for

35:28pedestrian safety. I'm a seventh

35:30generation Charlestonian. I own two

35:33stores on King Street. My office is

35:36downtown and I have two little kids who

35:37go to school downtown. I'm committed to

35:39this city as a local, a business owner,

35:42a homeowner, but most of all, as a

35:44mother. I love Charleston, but I'm

35:46deeply concerned about the lack of

35:48safety on our streets, especially for my

35:51children. It's just too dangerous for us

35:54to walk to school, period. A city's

35:57budget is a reflection of its values. It

35:59seems the city has made it easier for an

36:02outside developer to build in Charleston

36:04than for a local family to walk to

36:06school in Charleston. Case in point, the

36:08Four Seasons Hotel. The city has granted

36:11substantial road and sidewalks closures

36:13on Horlback Alley and Meeting Streets,

36:16resulting in extremely dangerous detours

36:18well in advance of the construction,

36:21sorry, groundbreaking construction and

36:23the 20 2030 planned completion. I am not

36:26an engineer, but surely we can phase

36:28this out in stages so the public can get

36:30its space back. So, I have a

36:32straightforward question. Why are we

36:34allowing entire streets and sidewalks to

36:36be closed before the construction

36:38actually requires that space? It appears

36:41the city has prioritize the convenience

36:43of a developer over the safety of the

36:46people who live here.

36:47>> Time.

36:48>> The irony is that the Four Seasons

36:51marketing campaign is going to show

36:53happy people walking and biking on the

36:56sidewalks to sell its hotel rooms. Thank

36:58you for listening.

36:59>> Katie Zimmerman.

37:10Hi.

37:16>> Can you speak a little closer into the

37:18microphone? I don't think you're

37:20>> getting picked up. Do it.

37:21>> There you go.

37:21>> Me and microphones. Um Katie Zimmerman,

37:24executive director of Charleston Moves,

37:26also a city resident, 45 Sycamore

37:28Avenue. And I too am here to request

37:33that a line item be included in the 2027

37:36budget recurring for a minimum of a

37:40million dollars annually to implement

37:42pedestrian safety improvements citywide.

37:45As Jim Hempl mentioned, the city already

37:48passed a safety action plan. There's

37:50already a list of prioritized projects

37:52to get started with. Many of those

37:54projects are already underway with the

37:57previous Safe Streets for All

37:59demonstration grant that the city was

38:01awarded. The city has applied again for

38:04an implementation grant. If they get it,

38:06that will be even more wonderful

38:08pedestrian safety improvements citywide.

38:11But I want to make sure that the ask is

38:14clear and that's that the city start

38:16budgeting 1 million annually for

38:18implementation of these projects

38:22regardless of whatever grants they are

38:24able to get to go with it. So you all

38:26already approved a million as a match

38:29for the safe streets for all grant

38:31application. I'm hoping that you will

38:33keep it in the budget for pedestrian

38:35safety projects regardless of whether

38:38that grant is awarded. Um, and I think

38:42that is everything. Thank you,

38:46Tyler Davis.

38:51And this is just for the budget public

38:53hearing. If you're here for short-term

38:55rentals or any of the others that will

38:56come later, Stephen Ramos,

39:01Stephen S Bennett,

39:06George Sego.

39:11All right. And then we also did receive

39:14some comments online. I think they were

39:16mostly from short-term rentals, but it

39:19might be best if I um summarize them all

39:22together at the end of all the public

39:23hearings.

39:24>> Okay.

39:25>> Like to call on Christopher Morgan now

39:27to present the other items that we're

39:29covering

39:31uh for

39:34um public hearings.

39:51Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Council. Um, okay.

39:54So, we will get to item E3.

39:58We'll skip by the short-term rental

40:00slide here. E2. E3 is property at SE

40:041176 and 1180 Sam Rittenberg Boulevard.

40:08This is a resoning for a rear portion of

40:10the property about 2/3 of an acre from

40:13single family residential SR1 to general

40:16business. Now this is a existing office

40:19complex here and in fact the building

40:21that's in gray there was built in the

40:23last few years. It was built under our

40:25zoning allowance that lets you extend

40:28one particular zoning category about 50

40:30feet for individual projects. Um, the

40:34reason that this property was splitzoned

40:36was back when we used to do zoning, I

40:38guess in the 70s, maybe into the 80s, we

40:41would bring parcels into the city with

40:43zoning to a certain depth on the parcel.

40:46Um, we don't do that anymore, but that

40:48was this is a end result of what

40:51happened there. And um, this property

40:53has a new owner. You may have read about

40:54it in the newspaper. And they are

40:56interested in having the entire parcel

40:58have the general business zoning. So

41:00that's why it's coming before you. Um

41:02there's an aerial image of the office

41:04buildings on the site. Uh again, I think

41:07if you asked anybody in the surrounding

41:08area, they would have always assumed

41:10that it was all commercially zoned. Um

41:12in our comprehensive plan, it calls for

41:14it to have that kind of city center or

41:16more intensive commercial zoning. So, uh

41:18we were recommending for it and the

41:19planning commission did as well. Then

41:22the next item is um a site at 438 King

41:25Street. Um this is um just north of John

41:30and it does have an access onto John

41:32from the rear and it is a request to go

41:34from general business to the MU2

41:37workforce housing. There is a historic

41:39building on the site and then a good bit

41:41of the site is undeveloped and I will

41:43show you the image here. There you can

41:45see that the historic building has the

41:46white roof up there and then there's

41:48some parking to the rear and access to

41:50John Street. um and um the comprehensive

41:54plan site to also be city centers. Staff

41:58is recommending for this uh change as

42:01did planning commission as well. And

42:03then the next items are recent

42:05annexations. We have 1657 Ashley Hall

42:08Road which would come into the city with

42:11general business. This is a site that

42:13recently had a building built on it

42:15under Charleston County jurisdiction.

42:17It's commercial building. Uh it's in the

42:19midst of a commercial center. Uh there

42:21you see the new building that's on it in

42:23the aerial photo, but that would come in

42:25the city with general business. And then

42:27immediately adjacent to that is 1610 San

42:30Rittenberg Boulevard. That's I'm sorry,

42:32that's the previous one, 1657. And then

42:35we have 1610 Sentinberg Boulevard that

42:37would also come in the city as general

42:39business. Uh it was it is a market, the

42:43El Molino uh uh Mexican market that is

42:47over there. uh and it would come in the

42:49city with the general business

42:50designation. Here you see an aerial

42:52image of it and uh we will now have this

42:55entire center that we're working hard to

42:58hopefully one day have a redevelopment

43:00plan for uh into the city. So I think

43:02that should help our redevelopment

43:03efforts in that area as well. And then

43:06finally we have a house uh 1106 San Juan

43:09Avenue in West Ashley that would come in

43:11as SR 4 I mean SR1, excuse me. And uh

43:15those are the public hearings for this

43:16evening.

43:27>> Okay, we've had all the speakers now.

43:29>> No, we have eight more people who would

43:31like to speak.

43:33>> We have eight more speakers. Okay. Um

43:35let's stick with the minute and a half.

43:37>> The next speaker,

43:38>> Anthony Bryant.

43:43>> Anthony G. Bryant. Um, my deepest

43:46concern

43:48for this issues are that the the the

43:50deal is cut with Dominion Energy

43:52Corporation, how that will will be

43:54passed on to the public. He did

43:56alienated between rateayers and also

43:59residents and I'm deeply concerned in

44:01terms of that and what he's cost the

44:03cost will be for everybody in terms of

44:05this new agreement you have $60 million

44:08which is capped at 7% for 146

44:11municipalities throughout the throughout

44:13the state. So it's a a cap percent. So

44:15you're not passing costs on the any any

44:18corporations, any other people. It's

44:20just being leaned on everybody the same

44:22way. And people are concerned about

44:23that. So hopefully we can get that done

44:26association in the future in terms of

44:28having our cities different the larger

44:30cities different than the smaller cities

44:32in terms of dealing these utility

44:34companies and also data centers.

44:40>> Tyler Davis

44:53Steven Ramos,

44:57Stevenson, Bennett,

44:59George Sego.

45:03All right, we will go to the comments

45:06submitted online. 34 comments were

45:08received requesting that council adopt

45:11the revisions to the short-term rental

45:13ordinance submitted by the cannonboro

45:15Elliot Burlos Hospitality Alliance. One

45:19comment was received from Steven Ramos

45:22asking council to defer the changes to

45:24the STR ordinance until the proposed

45:26language is publicly released.

45:28Stakeholders meaningfully engaged and

45:31proposed restrictions supported by

45:33documented evidence demonstrating their

45:35necessity. One comment was received from

45:37Stevenson Bennett asking council to

45:40ensure that the final STR ordinance

45:42protected previously approved sleeping

45:44accommodations in Charleston's oldest

45:46historic buildings. One comment was

45:48received from Lauren Thomas that said

45:50the clause G of the STR ordinance was

45:54added 24 hours before the planning

45:56commission's meeting and requested that

45:58council suspend further consideration of

46:00clause G withdraw the commission's

46:03recommendation as to that provision and

46:05provide adequate public notice and a

46:07reopen written comment period before any

46:09further action. One comment was received

46:13from Ham Morrison stating that limiting

46:15sizable fourbedroom STRs to a guest felt

46:19punitive. Three comments were received

46:21asking for more information regarding

46:23the STR ordinance. One comment was

46:27received from Garrett Bachmann asking

46:29council to reject changes to the STR

46:32ordinance. One comment was received from

46:34Chuck Wearing stating that the capital

46:36occupants in the STR ordinance

46:38amendments should be changed from a

46:40maximum of eight to a maximum of 10 with

46:42the exception of those grandfathered

46:44that have five or more bedrooms. 25

46:47comments were received requesting that

46:49pedestrian safety receive at least a

46:51million dollars as a line item in the

46:53city's budget. One comment was received

46:55from Sam Spence with the Preservation

46:57Society of Charleston supporting items

46:59in the city's budget, including proposed

47:01funds to hire a city archaeologist to

47:04implement a new archaeology ordinance, a

47:06new architectural survey. Another

47:09personal request to bolster Charleston's

47:11culture of stewardship and preservation.

47:14One comment was submitted by Tate

47:16Buffington asking council to fund paving

47:19or hard surfacing of the Bayiew soccer

47:21complexes road and to fund uh sorry um

47:27fund interim dust control and watering

47:30on tournament weekends. Two comments

47:32were received asking council to allocate

47:35funding for improvements to Parkhore

47:37Park. One letter was received from the

47:40Old Windir Neighborhood Association

47:42opposing the changes to the STR

47:44ordinance and requesting that the Old

47:46Windmir Neighborhood be removed from the

47:48changes. One letter was received from

47:51the North Central Neighborhood

47:52Association supporting a $1 million line

47:55item in the city's budget for pedestrian

47:58safety. And I believe that is it for the

48:01public hearings.

48:04>> Thank you, Madam Clerk. Any further

48:06questions, comments from any members of

48:08council on public hearing items?

48:10Councilman Tankler,

48:13>> I just this doesn't really relate to the

48:15zoning issue, but I wanted to point out

48:16since Mr. Morgan mentioned uh the 1176

48:21and 1180 Sar Mittenber property uh just

48:25had a sale uh for triple the price that

48:29it was purchased in 2019 at $14.5

48:33million. Um and they cited specifically

48:36uh the interest in Ashley Landings

48:39revitalization as well as the city

48:42office building that we are currently

48:45building on Oldtown on Ingram Road. So I

48:48just wanted to point that out there

48:49because I think uh it it's it's a just

48:53to illustrate what's happening over

48:55there and certainly this this zoning uh

48:58correction uh is is going to add to all

49:01that as well. So thank you. Just note

49:03Councilman Tinkler's pom poms. Thank

49:05you.

49:08[laughter]

49:11>> Okay. Uh if there no other questions or

49:13comments relate or I'm councilman

49:15seeking. Okay.

49:16>> I was going to move for two seven.

49:18>> We have a motion uh to take them

49:22together in approval.

49:24>> Motion made. Can I get a second?

49:25>> Second.

49:25>> Wait.

49:26>> Motion made. If no further uh

49:29discussion, all those in favor signify

49:30by saying I. What did I miss, Jennifer?

49:33>> All right, so this is three through

49:35seven.

49:35>> Sorry, because two is deferred.

49:38>> Okay, so would you

49:39>> we need a motion to defer two?

49:41>> Motion to defer to and take three

49:43through seven to for approval.

49:44>> Second.

49:45>> Motion made to defer to take 3 through 7

49:48for approval together. All those in

49:50favor signify by saying I.

49:51>> I.

49:52>> Opposed? Eyes have it. Okay, we are now

49:55on to approval of council minutes from

49:58October 13th. I get a motion.

50:00>> Move for approval. Motion made, probably

50:02second. If no further discussion on that

50:04item, all those in favor, please signify

50:06by saying I. Oppose. Eyes have it. No to

50:09citizens participation. Madam clerk, how

50:11many people we have signed up to speak

50:13for citizens participation?

50:15>> We have a few. Let's see here.

50:33Sorry, have 14. All right, we'll give

50:35everybody a minute on citizens

50:37participation. Just remind people the

50:39rules of the quorum. Um uh uh madame

50:44clerk, will you please call the first

50:45speaker?

50:46>> Right. And the I'm sorry, what was the

50:48time again?

50:49>> One minute.

50:49>> Thank you. All right. The time is one

50:51minute. We'll start with the inperson

50:53list. Uh, first Anthony G. Bryant.

51:00>> Anthony G.

51:05>> We lost you, Mr. Bryant.

51:07You can press star six to unmute

51:09yourself.

51:13>> Anthony G. Bryant. Sorry I couldn't be

51:14there. I'm a county council right now.

51:17I'm doing I'm doing double time. In

51:19terms I want to thank the mayor for and

51:21counsel and Mr. Poke and others with the

51:23public safety committee meeting. It was

51:25outstanding. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Um

51:28we could do more of it. Cuts out the

51:30middleman, all the press conferences and

51:32everybody else. Um secondly, I want to

51:35want to thank Josh Martin for his

51:37assistant to help with Dominion NG

51:39Corporation. Uh his negotiation with him

51:41for a year. We got to talk about the uh

51:44the issue in terms of 211 being

51:46modified, EPPP plans being modified in

51:49district 4. want to make sure we get

51:51public hearings to Dominion Energy and

51:53all the poor neighborhoods in Charleston

51:55County, Charleston City of Charleston.

51:56Make sure and Aaron Poke and and

51:59District 6 have Dominion to come talk to

52:01poor people about what they're doing

52:03because some of us really need their

52:04assistance. Thank you for your service

52:06and time.

52:08>> Mohamd,

52:12>> Lisa Jones.

52:17Hi. Good evening,

52:19>> Mayor Council. Good evening. Uh, I'm

52:22Lisa [clears throat] Jones and I'm here

52:23on behalf of Historic Charleston

52:25Foundation.

52:27I'm here to speak on the Dominion Energy

52:29and the City of Charleston franchise

52:31agreement. We recognize and appreciate

52:33the positive changes that respond to the

52:36concerns that we raised earlier this

52:38year regarding the franchise agreement,

52:40including clearer processes for

52:42initiating projects and moving them

52:45along to help address issues with

52:47delays. We continue to believe that this

52:50process would benefit from a shorter

52:52agreement term link, more public

52:55engagement, and more binding protections

52:57for our historic tree canopy. HCF and

53:00our supporters still have many

53:02questions. Because this agreement

53:04affects every resident in the city, we

53:06would like to see some sort of public

53:07engagement that can answer questions

53:09similar to what was done for city

53:11council but for the residents. Some of

53:14the questions include how does the

53:16non-standard service fund section of the

53:18franchise agreement correlate with the

53:20section of the ordinance? Will the

53:22ordinance be updated to reflect the

53:25process?

53:27I've

53:27>> got a long list of questions. Thank you.

53:30>> And Chris W and Kristen Lee signed up,

53:33but they were here for the Loello

53:34proclamation. I didn't know if they also

53:37wanted to speak or not.

53:40All right. Belvin Olasaf.

53:48Hello, council. Hello, mayor. I'm Belaf

53:51speaking my capacity as director of the

53:52Charleston Climate Coalition on the

53:54Dominion franchise agreement. Uh there

53:57is a snafu that the current agreement

54:00has that I would urge you to consider

54:02addressing before moving forward with a

54:04new franchise agreement. Namely,

54:07currently the city cannot

54:09um

54:11use off-site solar to power municipal

54:13facilities. That means that in scenarios

54:16where rooftop solar doesn't make sense

54:18or is insufficient, the city cannot

54:20partner with Dominion on a power

54:21purchase agreement for an off-site array

54:23because the city is not allowed to

54:25generate its own electricity. Uh if we

54:28could address this in the franchise

54:29agreement, this would open up the

54:30potential for the city investing in

54:33clean energy uh to an extent it cannot

54:36currently with the restriction on only

54:38being able to do rooftop solar. Um, so

54:41if it were uh if there were a change

54:45that there was an allowance to use

54:47off-site solar to power municipal

54:49facilities, that would be a very

54:51important step forward in meeting our

54:52climate goals. And if I have any more

54:54time, uh, earmarking some funds from the

54:58franchise fee uh, for renewable and

55:01energy efficiency investment would be a

55:04year-to-year source of funds for meeting

55:06our climate goals. Thank you,

55:09>> Carolina Richards.

55:16Hello, my Can you hear me? Hello. My

55:18name is Carolina Richards and my husband

55:20Edward Bennon and I live downtown with

55:22our three children. Uh we both

55:24enthusiastically signed the

55:25Charlestonians Demand Safe Streets

55:27petition this spring and ask that you,

55:29our elected officials, please support a

55:32recurring line item of at least $1

55:34million in the city's annual budget

55:36dedicated exclusively to pedestrian

55:38safety. We are a family that walks to

55:40school, to work, to church, and to local

55:42parks. Throughout the day, we regularly

55:44traverse crosswalks that aren't clearly

55:46delineated and have to maneuver

55:47strollers up and down sidewalk up and

55:50over sidewalk curbs simply because the

55:52curb cut uh would force us to walk into

55:54incoming traffic. These are not mere

55:57inconveniences. These are safety

55:58concerns that impact our daily lives and

56:00the lives and well-being of our

56:01children. Just last week, my husband was

56:04nearly killed in front of this building

56:06crossing Broad Street in the crosswalk

56:08with the signal when a pickup truck

56:09barreling down Meeting Street turned

56:11left and didn't see him over the hood.

56:12He's 6'6.

56:14Thankfully, um he was able to dive out

56:17of the way. Had it been one of our

56:19children, things would not have turned

56:20out as happily. I recognize that fixing

56:23this problem will take time and

56:24resources, [clears throat]

56:25and there's no silver bullet. All the

56:28more reason then, that today is time for

56:29us to take the first baby step. time

56:32>> in the form of this budget allocation.

56:34Thank you.

56:35>> Lori Smith,

56:41Hamlin O'kelly.

56:49Good evening, mayor and city council

56:51members. I'm Lorie Smith, executive

56:53director of NAMI Charleston area. At

56:56NAMI, we offer free peer-led support

56:59groups for family members and

57:02individuals affected by mental health

57:03conditions. We also have free education

57:07programs and resources throughout our

57:09community. We recently submitted a grant

57:12to the city of Charleston to bring NAMI

57:15on campus to the local colleges on the

57:18Charleston Peninsula. Our goal is to

57:20empower students to become mental health

57:22advocates, reduce stigma, and connect

57:25their peers in the community with

57:27support and resources. We want students

57:30and others to know they are not alone

57:31and that help is available. We look

57:34forward forward to partnering with our

57:36local colleges and the city of

57:37Charleston to build more supportive

57:41campuses and communities where mental

57:43health matters. Thank you for your time

57:45and for supporting the well-being of our

57:47community.

57:49Hamlin O. Kelly

57:54Stevenson Bennett

57:57will

57:59Okay. William Bennett. All right. Marcus

58:02McDonald.

58:06Alleg.

58:10All right. We did receive just a couple

58:11of comments.

58:13In addition to the public hearings, we

58:15had one email received from Lindseay

58:16Khan regarding construction noise. Four

58:19emails were received asking council to

58:21end the city's contract with flock

58:22safety and to take all flock cameras

58:25down. One comment was received from Mr.

58:27Bryant, which was sent to council in

58:28full.

58:30>> Thank you, Madam Clerk. We are now uh on

58:33to committee reports. I'd like to call

58:35in council member chairman Greg for the

58:38report on ways and means.

58:42Motion made for approval and adoption as

58:45amended uh and seconded. Any further

58:48discussion on this? If none, all those

58:51in favor signify by saying I.

58:54Oppos? Eyes have it. Um we are the only

58:58bill up for third reading has been

59:00deferred again. So we now have 10 bills

59:04up for second reading. We have number

59:08four is deferred and has been moved to

59:11first reading. So items 1 through three

59:15and 5 through 11.

59:18Council member Scardarden, I believe you

59:20are recusing yourself on item N-2

59:25and has submitted a conflict of interest

59:27form. So can I get a motion on items 1

59:30through three?

59:33>> So moved. Motion to take them together

59:36for approval.

59:37>> Correct.

59:38>> Uh, okay. Can I get a second on that?

59:43>> A motion made, properly seconded to take

59:45items one through three together and for

59:47approval. Second reading. All those in

59:50favor signify by saying,

59:53sorry, Councilman Seekings.

59:55>> I think I if you don't mind, Mr. Mayor,

59:58I'd like to just make a couple of very

59:59brief comments on number two.

1:00:03>> Okay. which is the franchise agreement.

1:00:04First off, thank you um to you and

1:00:07fellow council members for having the

1:00:09meeting yesterday and allowing us to sit

1:00:10and ask some questions of um both

1:00:14Dominion and Berkeley Electric. It was

1:00:16very helpful. Um we had some good

1:00:17follow-ups on that, too. Um, I think

1:00:19some of the things that really became

1:00:21clear to us during the conversation with

1:00:24Dominion is that we're going to have to

1:00:25work together, not only just to um

1:00:29deliver efficient, affordable, and safe

1:00:32methods of electricity and gas, but also

1:00:35really work creatively ultimately to

1:00:38bring the power lines underground. Um, a

1:00:40couple of things that were learned

1:00:41yesterday that sort of doesn't come out

1:00:43through the franchise process. the the

1:00:45cost for putting power lines underground

1:00:48in the city and we're a 150 square mile

1:00:51city if you take Daniel out of it

1:00:54because I don't think that that probably

1:00:56is a place for undergrounding is 2500

1:00:58bucks a linear foot. I haven't done the

1:01:00math today and gone on to Google maps

1:01:02but you're looking at you know over a

1:01:05billion dollars ultimately to get it

1:01:06done. So everything we can do to get

1:01:09money moving forward and available to us

1:01:11to get um power lines underground is

1:01:14essential. Um and so uh with the NSSF

1:01:19which is a non-standard service fund

1:01:20which is addressed in the franchise

1:01:22agreement being funded 5050 between us

1:01:25and Dominion the amount of monies that

1:01:28will be raised over the course of the

1:01:29life of the natural life by the way of

1:01:31the franchise agreement is about $60

1:01:33million. So, as you can see, that is a

1:01:36woefully short amount to get all of this

1:01:39done, but it is a place for us to start

1:01:41and be able to get these projects moving

1:01:43forward. And and one of the things that

1:01:45became very clear crystal clear to me

1:01:47and going through these conversations is

1:01:49the Dominion um contribution to that

1:01:53fund and our contribution back to that

1:01:56fund in the city comes from franchise

1:01:58fees that are collected from the

1:02:00rateayers, which is our constituents.

1:02:02And so I think one of the things that we

1:02:04need to do, and maybe we do this as we

1:02:06address the ordinance that will have to

1:02:08come behind the adoption of this new

1:02:11franchise agreement to make sure that

1:02:13we're in we're in sync is that we um

1:02:17take those monies that come back to us

1:02:20and dedicate another half a percent into

1:02:23the NSSF as opposed to putting it into

1:02:25our general fund. I think we've talked

1:02:27about that, Mr. Mayor, as a policy

1:02:28matter. I think that makes a big

1:02:30statement on our commitment to

1:02:32addressing what is a huge issue which is

1:02:34bringing those power lines underground.

1:02:35I mean from just what they look like to

1:02:37the public safety aspect to the quality

1:02:40of the service all of those things are

1:02:42addressed. The one big hurdle is cost

1:02:45everything we can do to get monies in

1:02:47there collectively with Dominion and

1:02:49then independently internally in the

1:02:50city I would highly recommend that we

1:02:52do. The other thing that we didn't get a

1:02:54chance to talk a lot about we did in

1:02:56some followup is in the interim when we

1:02:59have all of our electricity delivered

1:03:01over ground and on top of power poles is

1:03:05I think people I didn't ever know this

1:03:08but one of the things about power poles

1:03:09is they are effectively a utility

1:03:13collective that everybody can use them

1:03:16even though they might be owned by

1:03:18Dominion and as a utility collective

1:03:20it's hard for us to get around some of

1:03:22the challenges with what is on around

1:03:26and falling off of those poles, which is

1:03:27not always electrical lines. It is other

1:03:30utilities. So, I think this is an

1:03:32opportunity for us to take a deep

1:03:33breath, focus in on what's in terms of

1:03:36infrastructure around us, and make sure

1:03:38that we communicate very precisely,

1:03:41concisely, early, and often to all of

1:03:43the utilities about some of the

1:03:45challenges we've got with the poles that

1:03:46are around the city. Um, not just the

1:03:48poles themselves, but what's on them,

1:03:49falling off them, and getting in the

1:03:51way. I I I love the comments by Miss

1:03:53Bennett tonight about the passage of our

1:03:56of our safe passage of our sidewalks.

1:03:59Among the things that get in the way are

1:04:02utility um lines, infrastructure, and

1:04:05the like. And we've got to address that.

1:04:07And this is the time, I think, again, as

1:04:09a matter of policy, as we look at the

1:04:11ordinance that will come behind the

1:04:12adoption of the franchise agreement to

1:04:15really hone in on that. So, as a matter

1:04:17of policy, anything we can do to get

1:04:19monies that are collected through that

1:04:20franchise agreement that are flow

1:04:22through to our constituency into the

1:04:24NSSF and get um underground projects

1:04:27designed and in process and to slim them

1:04:30down as small as possible because

1:04:31they're much more addressable at that

1:04:32point um I think will well serve us

1:04:34going forward for the next 20 years. So,

1:04:36I just want to make those comments. I'm

1:04:37going to support this um with the caveat

1:04:39that we need to keep talking about

1:04:41addressing and ultimately quickly making

1:04:44sure we can fund some of these projects.

1:04:46>> Very well said. And Mr. Mayor, chair of

1:04:48TNT, I think between public works and

1:04:52TNT, uh two good venues to uh really dig

1:04:56into that ordinance and how we can

1:04:57potentially adopt it. So, Councilman

1:05:00McBride.

1:05:01>> Yes, sir. Uh Mr. Mayor again I want to

1:05:03just highlight again that uh Berkeley

1:05:05Electric is what covers John's Island

1:05:07and there is overlapping but some unique

1:05:10concerns with John's Island with the

1:05:12beautiful live oaks that are up and down

1:05:14our our streets often branches fall hit

1:05:16the line hit the power lines

1:05:19that doesn't mean that therefore we must

1:05:21bury all the lines because there's pros

1:05:23and cons to burying the lines one of the

1:05:25cons being if you bury the lines they're

1:05:27harder to repair when they're damaged

1:05:29and more expensive to repair and and

1:05:30take longer to repair. However, uh I

1:05:33just in line with uh Councilman

1:05:36Seeking's uh comments that whatever we

1:05:38end up putting in an ordinance or

1:05:40whatever, as long as we keep in mind um

1:05:44and not forgetting the Berkeley Electric

1:05:46and and a different company, different

1:05:48different type of agreement that if

1:05:50there's any way we can uh strategically

1:05:52and tactically locate areas that they

1:05:55already know that should be underground

1:05:56but just cost money to do, if we can

1:05:58help with that would be great. No,

1:06:01>> I'm pretty sure that you will not let us

1:06:03forget Berkeley.

1:06:05[laughter]

1:06:06But very well said and and good point,

1:06:08Councilman Pulk.

1:06:09>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, and as you all

1:06:11uh heard me reflect during our call with

1:06:13Dominion, um, we uh, at least in

1:06:16District 4 receive a lot of uh,

1:06:19questions about this agreement when it

1:06:21comes to affordability issues with uh,

1:06:24uh, increases in and power bills,

1:06:26particularly for older uh, residents,

1:06:28residents with moderate incomes. And I

1:06:31was appreciative to hear um, uh, Mr.

1:06:34Brian's conversations as well as uh some

1:06:37information I received today from

1:06:38Dominion um to the Dominate around the

1:06:41district to make sure that they're aware

1:06:43of the resources that are out there, but

1:06:44also to understand that the resources um

1:06:47remain insufficient and in the

1:06:49appropriate venue, which is not this

1:06:50franchise agreement, um we can do some

1:06:52good work to make sure that we um help

1:06:54people who need help. Um, but the one

1:06:56thing I wanted to uh ask about if

1:06:59possible, and I don't know if this is a

1:07:00staff question or if there's anyone from

1:07:02Dominion still present that can help us

1:07:04with this, uh, but during community

1:07:06comment, we um were presented a very

1:07:08specific provision. Um, and I, uh, did

1:07:11not receive emails until today as to

1:07:14concerns from the solar and climate

1:07:17community. Um, and what I've heard from

1:07:20community comment and what I hope to

1:07:21verify or explore, um, I know this is a

1:07:24late date for this, is the veracity of

1:07:27the notion that this agreement

1:07:28precludes, um, solar from city

1:07:30buildings. Um, if that is true, that's

1:07:34concerning, of course, um, in light of

1:07:36the fact that it's a 20-year agreement.

1:07:39And I'd like to hear more information if

1:07:41possible from someone who could answer

1:07:43the question. Mr. Cassis is present is

1:07:45still I'm not sure to help us understand

1:07:47or rebut or confirm or respond to um the

1:07:52representation made to us that uh this

1:07:55agreement has that sort of uh provision

1:07:57in it.

1:07:58>> So Mr. Casses is here uh representing

1:08:01Dominion. Mr. Casses, can you give us

1:08:03some insight on uh the commentary we

1:08:05heard during public comment?

1:08:06>> I give you the short answer. There's no

1:08:08prohibition.

1:08:09>> Okay. So that was actually

1:08:12that was actually heavily heavily

1:08:14discussed in the old agreement and

1:08:16actually state law act 236 and then

1:08:18subsequently the energy freedom act 62

1:08:22provided for opportunities for solar

1:08:24either rooftop or direct

1:08:27>> connection. Okay. Well well thank you

1:08:29Mr. Mayor. Mr. Cassus you've been quite

1:08:30accessible. Perhaps what we can do is

1:08:32make sure you're connected with the

1:08:33individuals and organizations that are

1:08:35concerned about that provision to

1:08:37clarify that. Um, but I think we would

1:08:39all agree, and I appreciate hearing from

1:08:41you, um, that we would want to do

1:08:42nothing that would preclude over the a

1:08:45two decade period, um, the city's

1:08:47capacity to access that type of energy.

1:08:50>> Yeah,

1:08:50>> agreed. Thank you.

1:08:51>> Agreed.

1:08:53Any further comments, Councilman

1:08:54Warering?

1:08:55>> Yeah, I do. Uh, I think it's been a good

1:08:57process. Very good process. Um, but one

1:09:01thing that uh kind of struck when the

1:09:04gracious lady from historic Charleston

1:09:06came to the microphone, she's alluded to

1:09:08the fact that the public, we had a

1:09:10chance to ask our questions. We we just

1:09:12got through having a chance to ask ask

1:09:14very important ones now from Councilman

1:09:16Pokey. Uh,

1:09:20I think she has a valid point that the

1:09:21public should have a chance to ask a few

1:09:24questions. Our process

1:09:27doesn't allow for that. I'm asking. No,

1:09:30>> I mean I think we have

1:09:31>> I mean she had a minute to the

1:09:33microphone but

1:09:35>> fair enough. I mean and we we did meet

1:09:37with uh several groups about the

1:09:39franchise agreement early on including

1:09:41historic Charleston Foundation primarily

1:09:44about the issue over bearing the power

1:09:46lines and the non-standard service fund.

1:09:49Uh so I think she referenced that in in

1:09:52her initial comments. Um but in terms of

1:09:57a a formal public hearing

1:10:00uh where the general public can speak

1:10:02and sign up uh the only thing that we've

1:10:05done is to my knowledge is have the

1:10:08special counsel meeting and going

1:10:10through our normal u committee and um

1:10:14council process.

1:10:14>> You know the special council meeting

1:10:16again I appreciate it and thank you all

1:10:18for allowing that. I found it very

1:10:21beneficial. Yeah. Um

1:10:25certainly I want to vote for this. I

1:10:26just don't like the idea of u an

1:10:30important stakeholder in the city

1:10:32feeling and and more importantly being

1:10:34accurate. Not necessarily feeling being

1:10:36accurate that they didn't have the right

1:10:37to have uh air a few questions publicly.

1:10:41>> Well, so we do have I mean one

1:10:43suggestion this is second reading. Um we

1:10:45could have a third reading. Um would be

1:10:48>> and that was that's exactly what I was

1:10:50about to suggest.

1:10:51>> Okay. Great minds think alike.

1:10:53[laughter]

1:10:54>> So if we can if if I my colleagues would

1:10:56allow uh approving this just for the

1:10:59second reading not doing a concurrent

1:11:01third reading tonight.

1:11:02>> I guess we'll break up the motion um uh

1:11:05that has been made to take them together

1:11:06for approval items.

1:11:08>> I'll withdraw my mission so we can make

1:11:09a coherent

1:11:12>> motion going forward.

1:11:13>> And if I may, Mr. Council member Wearing

1:11:16um I do think you make a good point. Um

1:11:20there's a lot of misunderstanding about

1:11:23the franchise agreement and what the

1:11:25city legally can do and can't do. Um and

1:11:30so I think uh having that education

1:11:33further ability to educate people and

1:11:35allow people to ask questions I'm

1:11:37certainly supportive of. This is a

1:11:39long-term agreement. Dominion has been

1:11:41very respectful and patient and

1:11:44available um and I think transparent

1:11:46through this process. I just want to be

1:11:48on record there. I think they would be

1:11:50open to answering additional questions

1:11:53because um I think the more people are

1:11:56educated about it, the the the better

1:11:58off we'll all be. So um

1:12:00>> so thank you again, Mr. Mayor, for that.

1:12:02Uh thank you uh colleagues for allowing

1:12:04it and thank Council Member Brady for

1:12:07allowing amending his motion.

1:12:08>> Do we have to He's withdrawn the motion.

1:12:10We need to

1:12:11>> It might be easier to do a motion for

1:12:13item one and then take two and three.

1:12:16Okay, let's do one and then I'll come to

1:12:18you. Okay,

1:12:18>> so I'll move item one for second reading

1:12:21>> and approval. Yep. Yes. Okay. Motion. We

1:12:24have a second. A motion made, properly

1:12:26second. Any further discussion? All

1:12:27those in favor signify by saying I.

1:12:29>> I. Opposed. Eyes have it.

1:12:31>> I'll move item one for third reading and

1:12:32ratification.

1:12:33>> Motion made. Seconded. Any further

1:12:35discussion? If not, all those in favor

1:12:37signify by saying I. Opposed, eyes have

1:12:40it. Now we're on to item two. Can we

1:12:42entertain a motion, get on the floor,

1:12:43and then I'll come to Councilman Appel.

1:12:48We have a motion made, properly seconded

1:12:50for discussion. Council appel.

1:12:52>> Um, thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I'll um

1:12:54try to be brief on this. Uh, I think

1:12:56there's been a lot of great work on um

1:12:59this new franchise agreement both from

1:13:01the city side and also of course with

1:13:03Dominion, various stakeholders that have

1:13:04weighed in. And um I thought yesterday

1:13:07was very informative too as well. And

1:13:10the thing that dawns on me and is that

1:13:13having you know having represented a

1:13:15district that um is very interested in

1:13:18doing these projects and has completed a

1:13:20lot of these projects over the years.

1:13:22The Crescent is underground. Country

1:13:24Club One is underground. Country Club 2

1:13:26is underground. Walking

1:13:27>> Yeah. We we've gotten Well, Mike Mike's

1:13:29responsible for a lot of these. A lot of

1:13:31these happened before I got there. I

1:13:32can't uh take credit for uh everything,

1:13:35but but it is the one thing I think we

1:13:38can all agree on is that it's a very

1:13:40complicated process with a lot of

1:13:42different moving parts to getting these

1:13:44projects completed. And what I think we

1:13:46ought to maybe consider, and you know,

1:13:48uh Councilman Seekings has brought up a

1:13:50lot of very important questions and

1:13:51issues around funding and things of that

1:13:53nature. Um years ago we had the

1:13:56underground utilities um committee that

1:13:59was formed um and and that's sort of

1:14:02what led to the adoption of our current

1:14:04non-standard service agreement that sort

1:14:07of created this matrix and the small

1:14:09projects. I think we ought to maybe

1:14:10consider uh and I know we all have a lot

1:14:13of work to do and I'm not trying to put

1:14:14any more you know uh burdens on our

1:14:16schedule but this is such an important

1:14:18issue. I think it needs sustained focus

1:14:21and engagement because it's not just a

1:14:25uh uh uh public works and utilities

1:14:27issue. It's not just a transportation

1:14:29issue. It's calling on so many different

1:14:31things to come together. Want Dominion

1:14:33to certainly be a part of this um

1:14:35committee process which which they were

1:14:36when when we last had it constituted.

1:14:39So, I would just put that out there um

1:14:41for everybody's consideration that we

1:14:43maybe um uh revive that committee moving

1:14:46forward so we don't lose some of this

1:14:48momentum and we can continue to evaluate

1:14:51our processes, figure out where things

1:14:54are getting stuck, figure out solutions

1:14:56on the funding, on the easements,

1:14:58everything in between so we can get more

1:15:00of these projects done for our

1:15:03constituents. What I think which I think

1:15:04is what it's all about. So, I just

1:15:06wanted to add that um to the discussion

1:15:08and appreciate the time and opportunity.

1:15:11>> You know, I love a committee. Um but I

1:15:13think actually think in this case u you

1:15:15make a really good point. This is

1:15:17complicated. It is nuanced. It does

1:15:19require uh some pretty heavy lifting and

1:15:22technical expertise. So, um I like the

1:15:26suggestion uh and maybe it's something

1:15:28that we can talk through one of the

1:15:30committees and having a subcommittee of

1:15:32some sort. Well, I was thinking that

1:15:35sustainability advisory committee

1:15:36because Dominion sits on that committee.

1:15:39>> Not a bad point.

1:15:40>> So, I think that would be a natural for

1:15:42and this is really a sustainability

1:15:43long-term sustainability issue if there

1:15:45ever was one. It's a perfect issue for

1:15:47that committee and don't have to create

1:15:49a new one and we have council members

1:15:50on.

1:15:52>> So, anyway, just food for thought, not a

1:15:53motion suggest on that, but maybe we'll

1:15:56we'll we'll we'll touch base on that. So

1:16:00>> I was just want to uh commend uh my

1:16:02colleague this institution of knowledge.

1:16:05I do see a little bit of gray coming in

1:16:06his head.

1:16:07>> Right. Watch out.

1:16:09>> But can that be recommended as an action

1:16:11step to the sustainability commitment?

1:16:15>> It it seems like a natural place to

1:16:17land.

1:16:18>> Yeah. Um sure. Let we'll uh let's um

1:16:24let's take that in consideration and and

1:16:26and go from there. I like it though. Um,

1:16:28okay. So, we have a motion properly

1:16:31seconded on item two. If there's no

1:16:34further discussion, let's go ahead and

1:16:35vote on it. All those in favor signify

1:16:37by saying I. Opposed? Eyes have it. We

1:16:42have one recusal, I believe. Right.

1:16:45Okay. So, then we've got item three.

1:16:49Um,

1:16:51>> motion made, properly seconded. Uh, all

1:16:54those in favor signify by saying I.

1:16:57opposed. Eyes have it. Now we have item

1:17:02four is deferred. So 5 through 11.

1:17:04>> So the

1:17:06>> motion take together and approval. I

1:17:08have a um quick uh item number six uh is

1:17:12we need to revise that to Berkeley

1:17:14County instead of shown as Charleston

1:17:16County. Hypo there

1:17:20>> and the TMS number.

1:17:21>> Uh very good catch there. So uh maybe

1:17:25amend who who made the motion?

1:17:28>> Yeah, maybe uh

1:17:30>> as amended to reflect the appropriate

1:17:32county.

1:17:34>> Okay, so we have motion amended to take

1:17:37them all together as amended. Um on item

1:17:41six, all those in favor signify by

1:17:44saying I.

1:17:46>> Opposed eyes have them have it.

1:17:50Can I get it?

1:17:51>> I'll move for third reading and

1:17:52ratification items 5 through 11 as

1:17:54amended.

1:17:55>> Second.

1:17:56>> Okay. Motion made.

1:18:00Any further discussion on that?

1:18:06No further discussion.

1:18:09Uh all those in favor please

1:18:15signify by saying

1:18:18>> then

1:18:19>> I

1:18:22>> all those opposed

1:18:24>> I'll send you a whole slide there

1:18:26tonight.

1:18:26>> The eyes

1:18:30have it

1:18:34second.

1:18:36>> Mr. Mayor, if you need a second. Um,

1:18:40just wanted to uh quickly say now that

1:18:43the state of the city addresses are are

1:18:46over and y'all have made your made your

1:18:48rounds.

1:18:49>> Not over yet. We haven't done downtown

1:18:51yet.

1:18:52>> All right. Well, the the important parts

1:18:53of the city uh

1:18:56uh

1:18:56>> I object to strike.

1:18:58>> Um

1:18:59>> sensor

1:19:01to defer those. Anyway, uh it's it was

1:19:04very meaningful to my constituents um

1:19:07that you and staff um pulled a pulled a

1:19:10late night and and um you know all the

1:19:14all the production value that went into

1:19:15it and the thought um about you know

1:19:18what was important to people in various

1:19:20parts of the city uh that you know

1:19:22really haven't gotten in the past uh

1:19:24with the you know the one address um

1:19:27downtown. I I just thought that was a a

1:19:29great idea and I'm so appreciative of

1:19:32everybody who worked hard to put that

1:19:34together. Um and so thank you for for

1:19:36doing that.

1:19:37>> Well, I appreciate that and uh we we we

1:19:39got to give a shout out to the comm's

1:19:41team because um they did a lot of the

1:19:43heavy all all the really heavy lifting

1:19:46uh but also all the city staff that you

1:19:49know attended and were were there to

1:19:50answer questions. It was a very much a

1:19:53group effort and um appreciate the

1:19:56comments and and we'll convey that to to

1:19:58staff as well. And like I say, we got

1:20:00two more to go. James Island and

1:20:02downtown. So, uh we're learning as we

1:20:04go, figuring it out, but uh appreciate

1:20:06the comments, Councilman Bowen. Okay, so

1:20:09we are now

1:20:11on I think that's it, right? Um we got

1:20:16no bills up for first reading. So, next

1:20:21council member, I do want to uh just

1:20:23remind everybody in de in November, our

1:20:26council meetings are going to be on

1:20:27November 10th and then we're going to

1:20:29have one the next week so we're not have

1:20:32the Brady amendment uh so that we don't

1:20:34have a meeting the week of Thanksgiving.

1:20:37So, it's the 10th and the 17th. If there

1:20:40are no further things to come before

1:20:43this body, we are adjourned.

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