City Council

COUNCIL CHAMBER Regular Meeting April 11, 2017 The thirty-first meeting of the City Council of Charleston was held this date convening at 5:01 p.m. at City Hall. A notice of this meeting and an agenda were mailed to the news media April 5, 2017 and appeared in The Post and Courier April 9, 2017 and are made available on the City’s website. PRESENT (12) The Honorable John J. Tecklenburg, Mayor Councilmember White District 1 Councilmember Waring District 7 Councilmember Williams District 2 Councilmember Seekings(absent) District 8 Councilmember Lewis District 3 Councilmember Shahid District 9 Councilmember Mitchell District 4 Councilmember Riegel District 10 Councilmember Wagner District 5 Councilmember Moody District 11 Councilmember Gregorie District 6 Councilmember Wilson District 12 Mayor Tecklenburg called the meeting to order at 5:01 p.m. The Clerk called the roll. Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Councilmember Seekings couldn’t be with us this evening. He is out of town. He did note that this was only the second time during his service as a Councilmember that he has missed a meeting. I would like to ask everyone to join us, if you please. Councilmember Wilson is going to lead us in an invocation and then the Pledge of Allegiance without the comma.” There was laughter in the Chamber. Councilmember Wilson said, “Yes, absolutely. Councilmember Moody, my right arm is incapacitated. Otherwise, I could reach him. Let us pray.” Councilmember Wilson opened the meeting with an invocation. Councilmember Wilson then led City Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Thank you very much. We have a number of proclamations and presentations to make here this evening which is good because we don’t have a lot of first and second readings tonight. So, we’re going to start, I would like to call Carole Swiecicki. She leads the Dee Norton Lowcountry Center, which is a remarkable organization that really serves  City Council minutes April 11, 2017 page 2 the needs of children who are found to have been victims of abuse. So, April is a month that we recognize this scourge of child abuse in our Country. I’ll present the proclamation and then ask Carole to share a few words with us.” Mayor Tecklenburg read the proclamation. ---INSERT PROCLAMATION--- Mayor Tecklenburg said, “I present this to Carole and ask her to share a few words with us.” Carole Swiecicki said, “Thank you so much. Thank you all for having me. I’m honored to be here, speaking about April being National Child Abuse Prevention Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month here in the City of Charleston. We talk at Dee Norton about April being a month for awareness and preparedness. So, awareness for adults to learn ways to prevent a child being abused, just like we learn about seatbelt safety to prevent injuries, we all learn driver safety to prevent accidents, preparedness is that second piece. In the event that child abuse happens, just like accidents, you want to know where to bring that child if something happens, and that’s what the Dee Norton Lowcountry Children’s Center, now doing business as the Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center, has been in our community for 26 years. We have an incredibly strong partnership with all of you here at the City. We are located here in the City. We have a great relationship with the police, and we provide essential resources from the moment of concern for abuse all the way through the healing process. In 2016, we saw 1,808 children. Thankfully, we do rule out abuse. We have trained professionals who are trained to ask non- leading questions, to record those interviews, so that they are available for law enforcement if they are needed, and to provide services for the children that do disclose. About 60 percent of children do disclose abuse, and we’re there to help them and coordinate services all the way through healing. So, we thank you all for your partnership and thank the Mayor for proclaiming April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month here in the City. I did want to tell you all we’ve announced some big news about opening a second location. Part of what’s in those stories, but isn’t highlighted as much as I wish it were, is that our location where we are right now, which we lease from you all for the generous amount of $1 a year, we also are planning a complete renovation and expansion of our King Street location to be able to serve an additional 500 children per year at that location in a way that will mirror our second location that will be opening on Longpoint Road. So, you all will hear more about that, but I wanted to tell you that today, as well. Thank you very much, and thank you again, Mayor.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Thank you, Carole, for the good work.” There was applause in the Chamber. Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Thank you. They really do terrific work. Also, we want to recognize, actually it was this past month, but we were away from City Council Chambers and wanted to wait until we were back here to recognize National Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month. I’m going to ask Councilmember Waring to join me on the podium along with Tiffany Williams, Ben Hagood is with you, and whoever else you would like to come forward and join us in this recognition. Then, I’ll call on Tiffany and Ben Hagood. Thank you for joining me up front, and if you don’t mind, I’ll just stay up here and proclaim this.” Mayor Tecklenburg read the proclamation.  City Council minutes April 11, 2017 page 3 ---INSERT PROCLAMATION--- Mayor Tecklenburg said, “I would like to call on Tiffany to share a few words with us. Thank you, Tiffany.” Tiffany Williams said, “Thank you, Mayor, and thank you, Councilman Waring. I’m joined today by the co-facilitator of our multiple myeloma support group, network group, Carol, and also, Connie, who is another survivor of multiple myeloma, our caregivers, and our care team, as well as Ben. So, we are all here as survivors of multiple myeloma. I mentioned our caregivers, and we’re really excited to share the information and increase awareness about multiple myeloma because I don’t know how many of you may have ever heard of it, but a lot of people haven’t. Considering it is the second leading cause of blood cancer, I think there is a lot of information and message to get out there about it. We have, Carol and I, started a support group here in Charleston because there wasn’t one, and we recognized the need to share resources and support one another through this journey. As the Mayor mentioned, multiple myeloma is incurable, but it is treatable. We live with this every day, we endure treatment every day, and it is a long journey, but we are providing means of support to others. So, if you can help us get that word and that message out to the community, anyone you may know, and your family or neighbors who might have multiple myeloma, we meet on the second Saturday of every month from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church on Sam Rittenberg.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Thank you, Tiffany.” There was applause in the Chamber. Mayor Tecklenburg continued, “So, here is the proclamation, and these are all fine folks, but I do want to note to you my friend, Ben Hagood, who served our community as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. How many years, Ben?” Ben Hagood said, “Six years.” Mayor Tecklenburg continued, “He really did a fine job representing the Lowcountry and Columbia, and we thank him for his service, but he also is a, do you say a carrier?” Mr. Hagood said, “Well, I’m a survivor.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “He is a survivor of multiple myeloma.” Mr. Hagood said, “I was diagnosed about six years ago.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Six years ago, he was diagnosed with it.” Mr. Hagood said, “I am very blessed to still be here.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Thank you. Would you like to say a few words?” Mr. Hagood said, “Yes, very briefly. I will just say thank you for your support on the awareness of this disease and, Carol and Tiffany, for your work here locally. I want to underscore the importance of cancer research and funding, and the partnership that the City has with the Medical University, I think, is an important part of this. Frankly, I don’t know if any  City Council minutes April 11, 2017 page 4 of us would be here today if they hadn’t made some significant advances in treating this disease. Life expectancy used to be about five years. Sam Walton got multiple myeloma and was dead in about two years, but they’ve made tremendous advances. Cancer is hundreds of different diseases, and it takes research, development, and a lot of long, costly work to address each of the diseases. We’re fortunate that ours has made good progress. So, we just thank you, and thank you for your support of MUSC and our community, which is on the frontline of some good research. Thank you.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Thank you.” There was applause in the Chamber. Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Alright. Next, we have a proclamation recognizing National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, which is coming up in just a couple of weeks. Are Lisa Mitchell, Lou Winoski, Jason Sandoval, and Cindy Coats here to join me? Please come forward. I saw Ms. Coats. There she is. Thank you for your service on our School Board. So, this proclamation is about recognizing the fact that National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is coming up on April 29th, and I’m going to have an advertisement here that our Police Department will be taking back prescription drugs at Citadel Mall and at our main Police Station on Lockwood Boulevard on Saturday, April 29, 2017. Chief, did you check on the hours?” Chief Greg Mullen said, “10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. either at Citadel Mall or at the main station.” Mayor Tecklenburg read the proclamation. ---INSERT PROCLAMATION--- Mayor Tecklenburg said, “I don’t know who among the party is going to say a few words to us, but please step up.” Lou Winoski said, “Thank you, Mayor Tecklenburg, and members of the City Council. My name is Lou Winoski. I’m part of Wake Up Carolina. I’m here with my colleagues Cindy Coats, Kevin Dowds, and Jason Sandoval. Wake Up is a movement to resolve to end substance abuse in our community. We were born out of the tragic loss by our founder of her son, at age 19, three years after taking legally prescribed pain medication resulting in addiction and a death by overdose of heroin. In Charleston County in 2015, the last time we have statistics available, nearly $16 million hydrocodone tablets were prescribed, opioid tablets were prescribed legally, and that’s about half of what we can capture in the statistics. That’s 52 for every man, woman, and child in Charleston County. Charleston County’s rate of overdose is 70 percent higher than the national average, Dorchester County is 182 percent higher, and Berkeley County is 200 percent higher than the national average. So, we live in the midst of a killer. That killer is in our community, and it’s in our face. We at Wake Up, and we ask you to join us, to resolve to end the reign of that killer in our community. We’re going to stand up to it as the exigent threat that it is to us. Take-Back is one of the tools that we use, so our purpose, I stated, is to end this menace, but we do that by providing tools, awareness, education, and prevention. That’s what the Take-Back Program is all about. We get involved in the early stages of intervention. We have endorsed service providers, who are professionals that help for rehabilitation, and some of the other assistance that’s needed to integrate back into the  City Council minutes April 11, 2017 page 5 community once someone has gone through rehab. We’re very grateful for the recognition by the Mayor and the Council of this exigent threat through this proclamation, and we ask that you let everybody know that the whole purpose behind the Take-Back effort is to recognize that our medicine cabinets have supplanted the corner drug dealer or the back-alley drug dealer as the gateway to opioid abuse. So, we encourage you to get the word out, get folks turning in their medication, and if we can assist in any way, please call upon us. Thank you very much.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Thank you. We appreciate it.” Mr. Winoski said, “My pleasure. Thank you.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Thank you very much.” There was applause in the Chamber. Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Thank you for your fine work. I’ll share with you that I attended the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in Washington in January, and we had a presentation from the U.S. Surgeon General. Dr. Murthy is his name, and he had written, late last year, a white paper about addiction in our Country, and it’s just terrible, folks. Many people get started in their substance abuse by prescription drugs, or maybe some other substance, and then they’ll beef it up with prescription drugs. So, 52,000 people a year are dying from drug overdoses in our Country. It’s just terrible, and Dr. Murthy said only about 15 percent of those that have some substance abuse or addictive challenge are getting any kind of treatment whatsoever. I mean it’s just a really pervasive and terrible problem in our Country. So, thank you for the work that you do. Now, finally, is President Dot Scott with us here this evening? I was looking around, and I didn’t see her. Dot, are you with us? I don’t know if I should save this for the next meeting, maybe, until she can come and join us, but since they’re having their birthday this week, I will let everyone know that April 17, 2017 is the 100th Anniversary of the Charleston Branch of the NAACP, and they’ve been doing good work in our community for 100 years, and that’s really a remarkable achievement, but we’re going to come back to this next time. Maybe President Scott will be able to join us. So, next on our agenda, is approval of the last minutes from March 28, 2017.” Councilmember Moody said, “So moved.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “We’ve got a motion. Did anybody second?” Councilmember Waring said, “Second.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Are there any additions, deletions, or subtractions?” No one asked to speak. On a motion of Councilmember Moody, seconded by Councilmember Waring, City Council voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the March 28, 2017 City Council meeting. Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Next, is our Citizens Participation Period which is a 30-minute period. Did we do a sign-in sheet this evening?”  City Council minutes April 11, 2017 page 6 The Clerk said, “Yes, we’re getting it right now.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “So, it looks like we’ve got ten folks signed up. Marc Knapp is first up, and we’ll give you two minutes each. Yes, sir.” Mohammed Idris said, “The sign-in sheet, I forgot to sign in.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “You forgot to sign in. We’ll sign you in. Yes, sir. Marc Knapp.” 1. Marc Knapp said the stormwater system for the City was a mess because it was less than ten years old, and the water did not drain off of the street. He stated that it was going to be a big expense to fix, and the designed plans were not sufficient. He said the Stormwater Department was a disaster, and they needed to start with cleaning ditches. 2. Nicole Kernodle said since the last meeting she had created an online petition that had generated 1,466 petitions and signatures. She had also collected 179 extra paper signatures for a total of 1,645 signatures for the James Island Apartment Moratorium. She asked that the moratorium be placed on the agenda for the April 25th meeting, and if not, then as soon as possible for further discussion. 3. Glenn Zingarino, Commissioner for the Town of Summerville representing the First Lowcountry Affordable Housing Commission, spoke about the Housing First Model. He said that although the model had been successful in many communities, the Commission had not examined any other alternative programs. The Department of Housing and Urban Development compiled statistics every year on the Federal PIT Count which determined at any given time how many homeless people existed in the country. The Housing First Model had proven successful in other communities, but it had only been proven successful for people that were in the least amount of need and who had volunteers. He asked Council to look at other alternatives before voting on the measure. 4. Ryan Cockrell said he was a resident of Charleston and a filmmaker at Lunch and Recess located on Broad Street. He stated he wanted to talk about urbanism in Charleston as it pertained to bike and pedestrian infrastructure. He invited the Mayor and City Council to a private screening of a documentary he made entitled Back Pedal. He said the private screening will be May 4th at the Charleston Music Hall at 6:00 p.m. 5. Reverend Charles Heyward said on April 24th at 7:30 p.m. the Charleston Area Justice Ministry would be hosting its annual Nehemiah Assembly at the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church to address the issue of racial discrimination in the police department. He stated everyone needed to work together proactively to address the crisis, and he invited the Mayor and Councilmembers to attend. 6. Amy Horowitz, a resident of Charleston, member of the Charleston Area Justice Ministry and the Synagogue KKBE, said she wanted to dispel rumors and misinformation about their organization. She stated they had 20 sister cities successfully using the same model that they did, but each city had its own local  City Council minutes April 11, 2017 page 7 leadership, and as a community, identified its own issues to address. The community members voted and decided for themselves. Every year for the last five years, racial discrimination in policing had been among the top three issues raised by community members. In 2015 and 2016, they gathered over 600 people who voted to make it the priority to work on. They held Nehemiah Assembly because everyone impacted by this problem deserved a seat at the table when decisions were made that impacted them. 7. Christine Jennings said she was a resident of Charleston and attended church at the Church of the Holy Communion. She stated racial bias was a crisis in the Charleston Police Department. Her daughter shared a car with her African American foster son, and they had lost track of how many times he had been stopped by the Charleston Police Department. She was fearful that someday this would not end well, and every night when he went to work, she feared for him. This was a real problem in the city. She asked the Mayor and Council to attend the Nehemiah Assembly and to address this issue. She said they should care about it, and it should matter to them. 8. George Tempel of the Unitarian Church and member of the Charleston Area Justice Ministry, said he lived in the City and along with other constituents, they had done their research over the course of many months. They didn’t just complain about the problem, they identified it, researched it, and approached Council with the best practices and a way and a means to address the problem. They organized because they knew they were stronger together in numbers because that was the definition of civic engagement. He stated that serious civic engagement should be encouraged and celebrated and asked the Mayor and Council to come to the Nehemiah Assembly. 9. Alice Wakefield said she had been a resident for several years, and she was a member of CAJM and the Circular Church. She asked for a firm specializing in auditing police department racial bias. She stated an audit looking at whether or not there was racial bias would give concrete recommendations to improve trust in the community. An audit by a qualified firm that specialized in police auditing was the best thing they could do in the community to promote safety. 10. Pastor Leonard Griffin with Morris Street Baptist Church said their church will have been in the City for 152 years next month, and he had served for the past 12 years as their seventh pastor. He was also one of the founding pastors of the Charleston Area Justice Ministry. Many of the citizens who lived and worked in the city were fearful of the law enforcement officers who were sworn to protect and serve. He stated living in that fear was a weakness that was not of their own making. He asked that everyone come to the Nehemiah Assembly to be part of the solution and not continue the problem. 11. Mohammed Idris said on April 22nd they were having Community Day from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at America and Columbus Streets to deal with the root cause of racism. He said April was a very profound month in that it was the month that the Civil War started, the month it ended 152 years ago, the month Dr. King was assassinated, and the month Walter Scott was killed. He said it was not about race, but about evil and corruption. Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Thank you very much. That will be the end of our Citizens  City Council minutes April 11, 2017 page 8 Participation Period. Thank you for you all joining us and sharing your thoughts and comments with us. Next, we’ll go to our Petitions and Communications. We had one Board and Commission to ask for your approval. I did get a request from Councilmember Seekings for us to defer this matter. He wanted to have a few comments about it, and he couldn’t be with us tonight. So, if it’s okay with Council, we’ll bring it back to you at the next meeting.” Councilmember Moody said, “Maybe you can answer a couple questions that I had about what was presented for our voting.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Perhaps. Yes, sir.” Councilmember Moody said, “This is March 1st, and I’m assuming that these people would take effect as soon as we vote for them, that it would be March 1, 2017 for a year, but it also says that what this ordinance is trying to do is to establish staggered terms, and all of these are one year.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “I don’t know if this particular Commission was just a year-to- year appointment. I think that’s the case. There were some of them that were set up that way.” Councilmember Moody said, “Well, it says that an ordinance was passed that set the commencement date for terms of Boards and Commissions to March 1st and to establish staggered terms, but what you’re saying is that’s not applicable here.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “That’s correct.” The Clerk said, “I think Rick (Jerue) wants to say something.” Rick Jerue said, “They’re all one-year terms.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “They’re all one-year terms for this particular Commission. They were set up that way.” Councilmember Moody said, “Okay, we probably ought to strike that then.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “That’s probably a form statement that’s applied to most of the Boards and Commissions that we brought to you.” Councilmember Moody said, “Yes, I don’t have the ordinance here, but I assume that would be part of the ordinance, so we probably ought to strike it, if it ought to say ‘for one-year terms’, I think.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “That’s correct. We’ll correct that when we bring it back to you. Alright. So, if there are no further comments, we’ll move along.” Mayor Tecklenburg recognized Councilmember Waring. Councilmember Waring said, “Are we deferring something?” The Clerk said, “Yes.”  City Council minutes April 11, 2017 page 9 Mayor Tecklenburg said, “It’s been asked that this be deferred until the next meeting. Councilmember Seekings wanted to weigh in on it. He had some comments or contribution to make. So, next, is a resolution that I would ask for Council’s actual support of and would take action on it. This is regarding the Housing First Model. I would like to ask Robert Clement to join me on the podium. Robert is serving as the President, the Head, the Chair of our Mayors’ Commission on Homelessness and Affordable Housing. You may recall, this is the one that we formed last year to include the other Mayors in our region, Mayor Page of Mt. Pleasant, Mayor Johnson of Summerville, and Mayor Summey of North Charleston, and I just want to shout-out to the other members that the City of Charleston appointed Tracy Doran, Kathy Clineman, Otha Meadows, Lavanda Brown, Mr. Clement, Deborah Wade, and Mr. Zingarino.” Mr. Zingarino said, “Glenn.” Mayor Tecklenburg continued, “Glenn is also a member of the Commission. He was appointed by Mayor Johnson of Summerville. So, we did pass at the last Commission meeting, and I was present, I’m a member as well, the support of this Housing First Model. So, I have a Resolution about it, which you may have read in your package. ‘We have the desire to improve the quality of life in the City of Charleston. In partnership with the other Mayors, we formed this Commission. The Commission has adopted the Housing First Model as an approach to end homelessness in the Charleston community by providing immediate access to permanent housing with no housing readiness requirements, consumer choice and self-determination, recovery orientation, and whereas, many of the most effective outcomes of permanent supportive housing studied, utilizes the Housing First approach which is generally distinguished by its emphasis on moving people into stable housing first, and then working to provide robust wrap-around services that address the medical, mental, or behavioral conditions and other needs of the homeless individuals,’ and I’m going to just skip to the end and say that we resolve, the City of Charleston, ‘to recognize the necessity of implementing the Housing First Model in the Charleston community as one approach to ending homelessness, and encourage other local governments and partners at all levels to collaborate toward that end.’ I would note that last year when we conducted, I think, what many consider a very successful operation to end Tent City, we utilized, in effect, the Housing First Model because what we tried to do and actually did do, was help those individuals first get a roof over their head because to get your act together and get a new start in life and to be living in a tent under a bridge with no bathroom and no real facilities and the public safety challenges that were there, the first approach is get a stable place to live and then provide those services that can help that individual, whether they need substance abuse counseling, job training, a GED, or whatever. So, our success right here in Charleston is using this Model, and I would ask Council to support this resolution.” Councilmember Riegel said, “I move for approval of this resolution, Mr. Mayor.” Councilmember Williams said, “Second.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion?” No one asked to speak. On a motion of Councilmember Riegel, seconded by Councilmember Williams, City Council voted to adopt the Resolution in Support of the Housing First Model.  City Council minutes April 11, 2017 page 10 Mayor Tecklenburg said, “I would like to call on Robert Clement, if he would like to share a few words with us about the Commission.” Robert Clement said, “Thank you, Mayor Tecklenburg. I’ll just leave that as is, so I won’t break it.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “No, I’ll turn it on. There you go. You got it.” Mr. Clement said, “First of all, thank you for having me. Homelessness is a problem that permeates this Country, and it just goes on from there into affordable housing. This is a program that has been approved. It’s used nationally. It’s a great program. It’s proven effective, as Mayor Tecklenburg says, here in Charleston. So, we appreciate your support. We’re going to need a lot more of it, but some words of encouragement, we don’t have an overwhelming problem. We have a problem that, as a community, if we unite behind it, we should be able to eliminate it. So, thank you, again, for your support and your help.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Thank you, Robert. So, and you all know Ty Bailey has been our staff person working with the Commission on Homelessness, and Glenn mentioned the point-in-time count that’s done annually around the Country. So, I’m pleased to report to you in the Charleston Metro Region, this includes up to Summerville, that the point-in-time count is down about 15 percent from last year. The number was 409 individuals that they counted the last weekend of January, and about 200 of those are actually in shelters. There were only a little over 200 folks that were living in the open, and so we’re not going to eliminate homelessness, because you always have folks that are falling into homelessness who might be a paycheck away from becoming homeless when they lose their job, but with just a number of 409 in this community of nearly 750,000, that’s a number we can manage. That’s a number, if we really get the four cities and the other governmental agencies, private citizens, and church/faith community together, we can find homes for those individuals. Then, as I said, we won’t eliminate the problem, but we will be ready, so that when the next person falls into homelessness, we have the support system in place to help them find housing and help them get on with their lives. Anyway, thanks to Robert and Glenn and all of the people who are serving on there, and we’re going to keep working on that.” Mayor Tecklenburg recognized Councilmember Mitchell. Councilmember Mitchell said, “Yes, Mr. Mayor, along with this Resolution, I would like to ask the staff to work hard with One80 Place on the building they are planning for to work with the homeless individuals in the community. If they are able to build this housing there, this will house a lot of the people who are homeless, even if they don’t have an income, because they’re going to handle that themselves. Some of the homeless have income, but they will be able to teach them, and counsel with them to make sure that they don’t get back into that situation. So, I would ask the staff to work hard with One80 Place to try to get that done. I think that is going to play a big part in working with the individuals who are homeless in this community.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Absolutely. Thank you, Councilmember Mitchell.” Councilmember Mitchell said, “We’ll have the permanent housing there, and we can educate and counsel them at the same time. This is something we need to work hard on with One80 Place.”  City Council minutes April 11, 2017 page 11 Mayor Tecklenburg recognized Councilmember Gregorie. Councilmember Gregorie said, “Yes, Mayor, I think maybe three or four years ago, this body passed a resolution to end chronic homelessness and to come up with a ten-year plan to do that. There were several meetings, because we wanted to take the regional approach, which includes many of the municipalities that are part of this Commission.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “That’s right.” Councilmember Gregorie continued, “I’m saying that, to say that we don’t reinvent the wheel. There was an abundance of information collected to come up with a strategy to end homelessness in ten years in the region. So, I would like for the Commission, at a minimum, to just take a look at the fine work that the collaboration came up with, so that we don’t reinvent the wheel.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Yes, sir, right. In fact, we found that report last year when we were dealing with Tent City, and Ty and Geona have that, and it’s I think been reviewed already by the Commission.” Councilmember Gregorie said, “Okay.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “But, good point. Thank you.” Councilmember Gregorie said, “Thank you.” Mayor Tecklenburg recognized Councilmember Moody. Councilmember Moody said, “Yes, I want to just make mention of something that’s going on that you all probably don’t know about. I know Councilmember Mitchell and Councilmember Lewis know about it because they help us, but I’m on the Board of Directors of Star Gospel Mission, and we have a dormitory where we can house 27 men. These men are coming out of horrible situations. They’re, in effect, homeless. They have no place else to go, and we bring them in where they have their own bed and a little area, and where they can get a meal. They get food, and they have a place to sleep. Several years ago, we took over a house on Nassau Street, and we put four units in there. There are about 250, and they are for a little bit longer transitional housing. They can rent these things by the month. We are right now in the process, and actually own another house on Nassau Street, and we are getting ready to build four more. Then we’ve got two lots, and we hope to put at least 16 more on our sites at 474 Meeting Street and 83 Nassau Street. So, there is some stuff going on, it’s way short of what it needs to be, but we just need to stay at this and keep plugging away, but this is permanent-type housing for the homeless, in effect, and it’s a little bit different. God knows we need One80 Place, because that’s a lot of folks, but those people have to get out of there every morning, and they don’t have a place to store their stuff. At Star Gospel, they’ve got a little cabinet where they can store their stuff. They have to go to work, and they can’t be out, they can’t be drinking, and they can’t be doing drugs, but we’ll have a shelter for them. So, anyway, I just wanted you to know we’re working on it.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Yes, sir. Thank you.” Mayor Tecklenburg recognized Councilmember Mitchell.  City Council minutes April 11, 2017 page 12 Councilmember Mitchell said, “Councilmember Moody, I was alluding to the housing that One80 Place is proposing to build, which is going to be permanent housing, with a kitchenette for some of the people that are homeless. Even if they don’t have an income, they will still be able to be housed there, and they will teach and work with them in getting some type of income, training, and things like that. So, this would be on both sides. You will have some that can pay, some that cannot pay, but they will still be able to be housed permanently. So, that’s why I’m asking staff to look into that very seriously and try to work with One80 Place, because I know they are running into some problems. I think they want another building to be torn down, and I think there are some problems getting in there, but I want City staff to work with them to try to help them in getting this done. Even with Star Gospel Mission having that, if we can get this done, this could help a lot with the homeless situation in the area.” Councilmember Moody said, “What we really need are permanent 100 percent shelters for women.” Councilmember Mitchell said, “Well, that’s going to be, because they’ll have that for women, also. It’s going to be both, but they’ll be separated.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “One80 Place did recently expand and re-open their shelter for women and families. So, they expanded their capacity, but that’s not to say we don’t need more, and it takes all community partners and our faith community to pull together and do this. Thank you, Councilmember Moody, for your work with Star Gospel Mission, as well. Alright. So, tonight is just the night of Resolutions. We’ve got one more and that’s a Resolution in support of Charleston’s military and veteran caregivers, and this kind of movement was founded by former U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole. She has a foundation, and she is supporting ways to recognize and support those in our community and across the nation who give care to those wounded warriors who are our veterans, and she herself was one. As you all know, Senator Bob Dole served so faithfully our Country during World War II and was wounded and, about six years ago, he had somewhat of a relapse and was at Walter Reed Hospital. It was there that Senator Elizabeth Dole really recognized the level of care and compassion that so many caregivers were giving those military veterans in our nation. So, anyway, we have this Resolution tonight. We will officially become what she calls a Hidden Heroes City. She recognizes not only those who have served our Country, but those who serve our Country as Hidden Heroes in our community. We recognize them, and in the month of May, we’ll observe them during Military Appreciation Month. So, without further ado, if it’s Council’s pleasure, I would appreciate your support.” Councilmember Gregorie said, “I so move.” Councilmember Lewis said, “Second.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Is there any discussion?” No one asked to speak. On a motion of Councilmember Gregorie, seconded by Councilmember Lewis, City Council voted to adopt the Resolution in support of the City of Charleston becoming a Hidden Heroes City.  City Council minutes April 11, 2017 page 13 ---INSERT RESOLUTION--- Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Now for our Council Committee Reports. First, our Committee on Community Development, Councilmember Gregorie.” The Clerk said, “Councilmember Mitchell.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Oh, Councilmember Mitchell, I’m sorry.” Councilmember Mitchell said, “That’s alright.” Mayor Tecklenburg recognized Councilmember Mitchell. There was laughter in the Chamber. Councilmember Mitchell said, “The Community Development Committee met on Thursday, March 30, 2017 and we had two items: Financing Affordable Housing through Bonds and Review of the Amended MU-2 Workforce Housing Formula, and both were received as information. We’ve got some more work to do in the Community Development Committee, and at that time, we will be able to make a motion and kind of bring it back to Council. It will be going to Planning before it comes back to Council anyway, but we will be able to have another meeting prior to approving this. Right now it is for information only, because we’ve got some more work to do. I think the Mayor was there, so I think he might have some other information he wants to say.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “We modified the fee in lieu provision of the MU Workforce pending ordinance, and it will now go to the Planning Commission, and then come back to City Council.” Councilmember Mitchell said, “So, once it comes back to Council, then we will be able to deal with it at that time.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “That’s right.” Councilmember Mitchell said, “I don’t think we need a motion.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “So, that’s for information only. Without further comment, unless anyone would like to make a comment on that, we’ll go to our Committee on Public Safety, Chairman Wilson.” Councilmember Wilson said, “Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The Committee on Public Safety held a Special Meeting on Tuesday, April 4, 2017, and we discussed the possible creation of a Department of Public Safety. The Mayor offered a presentation. It was followed by a very robust discussion among committee members. We took no action. The closest we came to taking action was to request additional information, for example, detailed budgets from Police and Fire and opening the discussion to members of the community and members of the Police and Fire Departments. No action was taken in that meeting.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Alright. Thank you, and we’ll be following up with that information as time goes by. I’ll just comment that regardless of what comes of this proposal, that I think it’s going to be a healthy discussion about our Public Safety Service Delivery System  City Council minutes April 11, 2017 page 14 in general, and good things will come of it. So, thank you all.” Mayor Tecklenburg recognized Councilmember Moody. Councilmember Moody said, “Just a quick question, it occurred to me, are we going to start a search? Regardless of the head of Public Safety, we’re going to need a new Fire Chief. We’ve got a very capable interim. Are we going to start a national search to start that process, or is all of that going to be delayed? What’s the plan on that in the Fire Department?” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “I plan to come to Council, either next meeting or the meeting thereafter and have a recommendation for you for Fire Chief.” Councilmember Moody said, “You’re not ready to reveal that at this time?” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Yes, sir.” Councilmember Moody said, “Okay.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Alright. So, next, we’ll have our Committee on Public Works and Utilities, Councilmember Williams.” Councilmember Williams said, “The Committee on Public Works and Utilities met this afternoon. We had a series of Acceptance and Dedications, and I move for approval.” Councilmember White said, “Second.” Councilmember Williams said, “Thank you.” Councilmember Waring said, “Mr. Mayor, Item J-3, I believe on that 3(i), I need to abstain from, so I just want the record to reflect that.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Yes, sir. It will be noted.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Is there any discussion?” No one asked to speak. On a motion of Councilmember Williams, seconded by Councilmember White, City Council voted unanimously to adopt the Committee on Public Works and Utilities Report as presented: ---INSERT PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES REPORT--- a.) Acceptance and Dedication of Rights-of-Way and Easements: i.) Oakfield Phase 1 - Acceptance and dedication of Elvington Road (50-foot right-of-way [1,308 linear feet]), Toland Court (50-foot right-of-way [306 linear feet]), a portion of Vincent Astor Drive (50 -foot right-of-way [1,641 linear feet]), and a portion of Lanneau Lane (50 -foot right-of-way [467 linear feet]). There are 86 lots. All improvements have been bonded (per PUD Agreement).  City Council minutes April 11, 2017 page 15 - Title to Real Estate - Affidavit for Taxable or Exempt Transfers - Plat - Exclusive Storm Water Drainage Easements ii.) Oakfield Phase 4 - Acceptance and dedication of Gin Bay Road (50-foot right-of-way [559 linear feet]), Gantt Drive (55-foot right-of-way [859 linear feet]), Schwerin Lane (20-foot right-of-way [526 linear feet]), Lily Pond Lane (20-foot right-of-way [491 linear feet]), Valerian Lane (20-foot right-of-way [530 linear feet]), Groghan Avenue (20-foot right-of-way [647 linear feet]), a portion of Shadetree Boulevard (right-of-way varies [2,180 linear feet]), a portion of Mossdale Lane (50-foot right-of-way [627 linear feet]), and a portion of Lochness Lane (50-foot right-of-way [206 linear feet]). There are 61 lots. All improvements have been bonded (per PUD Agreement). - Title to Real Estate - Affidavit for Taxable or Exempt Transfers - Plat - Exclusive Storm Water Drainage Easements iii.) A new 18-foot drainage easement on TMS 418-11-00-034 Ashleyville Subdivision. - Plat Councilmember Waring abstained from voting for Item J3(a)(iii). Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Next we have our Committee on Ways and Means.” Councilmember Moody said, “Move for approval of the Ways and Means Report as presented.” Councilmember Gregorie said, “Second.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Alright. Is there any discussion?” No one asked to speak. On a motion of Councilmember Moody, seconded by Councilmember Gregorie, City Council voted unanimously to adopt the Committee on Ways and Means Report as presented: ---INSERT WAYS AND MEANS REPORT--- (Bids and Purchases (Police Department: Approval to accept the FY16 Special Solicitation VOCA grant award for a Victim Resource Coordinator salary, supplies, training, and two vehicles for $61,663. A cash match of $15,415 will derive from the 2017 CPD General Fund. (Request authorization of the Mayor to execute the attached Quit-Claim Deed (535 King Street; Collins Court Common Alley) [Ordinance] The property is owned by the City of Charleston. David Abdo is the member of New Sky, LLC.  City Council minutes April 11, 2017 page 16 (Request authorization of the Mayor to execute the attached Quit-Claim Deed (TMS: 458-05-03-108; Northeast corner of State and Cumberland Streets) [Ordinance] The property is owned by the City of Charleston. Shareholders of East Bay Company, LTD are the William E. Murray Revocable Trust and Catherine Murray Smith. (Consider the following annexations: -- 2413 Spring Garden Street (TMS# 309-14-00-039) 0.29 acre, West Ashley (District 7). The property is owned by Joyce H. Murray. -- Vacant property on Brownswood Road (TMS# 280-00-00-054) 0.13 acre, Johns Island (District 5). The property is owned by Phillip Simmons. -- 822 Playground Road (TMS# 418-05-00-302) 0.23 acre, West Ashley (District 7). The property is owned by Harriett S. Pinckney. First reading was given to the following bills: An ordinance authorizing the Mayor to execute on behalf of the City a Quit Claim Deed to New Sky, LLC a strip of land approximately 8.3 feet in width and 150 feet in depth lying between 535 King Street and 529 King Street and being designated as Collins Court Common Alley on that certain plat entitled in part “PLAT OF #535 KING STREET AND #537 KING STREET SITUATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF KING STREET BETWEEN MORRIS AND CANNON STS. SHOWING RIGHT OF WAY FROM PROPERTY TO MORRIS ST.” PREPARED BY JOE NEEDEL, DATED JANUARY 12, 1935 AND RECORDED IN THE R.M.C. OFFICE FOR CHARLESTON COUNTY AS AN EXHIBIT TO A DEED RECORDED IN BOOK W36, AT PAGE 267.” An ordinance authorizing the Mayor to execute on behalf of the City a Quit Claim Deed to East Bay Company, Ltd. of a 0.007 acre piece of land located at the northeast corner of State and Cumberland Streets, as more particularly set out on a plat by George A. Z. Johnson, Jr., Inc. dated January 17, 2017, entitled “PLAT SHOWING THE PROPERTY LINE ABANDONMENT BETWEEN TRACT B, A 0.213 ACRE TRACT OWNED BY EAST BAY COMPANY, LTD. AND THE 0.007 ACRE PIECE OF LAND OWNED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA RAILWAYS COMMISSION”. An ordinance to provide for the annexation of property known as 2413 Spring Garden St (0.29 acre) (TMS# 309-14-00-039), West Ashley, Charleston County, to the City of Charleston, shown within the area annexed upon a map attached hereto an ordinance and make it part of District 7. The property is owned by Joyce H. Murray. An ordinance to provide for the annexation of property known as vacant property on Brownswood Rd (0.13 acre) (TMS# 280-00-00-054), Johns Island, Charleston County, to the City of Charleston, shown within the area annexed upon a map attached hereto and make it part of District 5. The property is owned by Phillip Simmons. An ordinance to provide for the annexation of property known as 822 Playground Road (0.23 acre) (TMS# 418-05-00-302), West Ashley, Charleston County, to the City of Charleston, shown within the area annexed upon a map attached hereto and make it part of District 7. The property is owned by Harriett S. Pinckney. The Clerk said, “Mayor, for the record, this includes five bills that are up for first reading associated with Ways and Means.”  City Council minutes April 11, 2017 page 17 Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Right. So, next we have bills up for second reading. I believe they are all zoning changes or annexations.” Councilmember Moody said, “Can we just take all four of them together? Anybody make a motion to include all four of them?” The Clerk said, “Items K-1 through K-4.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Items K-1 through K-4.” Councilmember Gregorie said, “Second.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “We’ve got a motion and a second.” The Clerk said, “Okay, so, we’re taking Councilmember Moody’s request as the motion?” Councilmember Lewis said, “I don’t think we got a second on his motion.” The Clerk said, “Yes, Councilmember Gregorie did.” Councilmember Lewis said, “We passed it?” Councilmember Gregorie said, “Not yet.” The Clerk said, “Not yet.” Councilmember Lewis said, “Okay.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Okay, we have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion on Items K-1 through K-4 for second reading?” No one asked to speak. On a motion of Councilmember Moody, four (4) bills (Items K-1 through K-4) received second reading. They passed second reading on motion by Councilmember Gregorie and third reading on motion of Councilmember Mitchell. On further motion of Councilmember Gregorie, the rules were suspended, and the bills were immediately ratified as: 2017-035 An ordinance to amend the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Charleston by changing the Zone Map, which is a part thereof, so that property on Forrest Drive (Cainhoy) (approximately 2.145 acres) (TMS #271-00-02-150) (Council District 1), be rezoned from Gathering Place (GP) classification to Diverse Residential (DR-9) classification. The property is owned by David Gibbs Family Partnership. 2017-036 An ordinance to amend the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Charleston by changing the Zone Map, which is a part thereof, so that 26 F Street and adjacent vacant lot (Peninsula) (0.12 acre) (TMS #463-16-03-047 and 463-16-03-046) (Council District 4), be rezoned from Diverse Residential (DR-1) classification to Diverse Residential (DR-2F) classification. The property is owned by Arnold and Sara Mack.  City Council minutes April 11, 2017 page 18 2017-037 An ordinance to provide for the annexation of property known as 1844 Produce Lane (0.65 acre) (TMS# 313-00-00-157), Johns Island, Charleston County, to the City of Charleston, shown within the area annexed upon a map attached hereto and make it part of District 5. The property is owned by the estate of Mary Lurie Hewett. 2017-038 An ordinance to provide for the annexation of property known as 113 Riverland Drive (0.55 acre) (TMS# 343-01-00-006), James Island, Charleston County, to the City of Charleston, shown within the area annexed upon a map attached hereto and make it part of District 11. The property is owned by Mary and James Gatch. Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Then, believe it or not, we only have one bill up for first reading, but the Clerk wants to insist that I sign these matters while we’re still in session, so give me just a second.” Councilmember Mitchell said, “Move for approval.” Councilmember Gregorie said, “Second.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “One more. Okay, thank you. Okay, back to L-1. We already have a motion and a second for a Quit-Claim Deed. Is there any discussion?” No one asked to speak. On a motion of Councilmember Mitchell, seconded by Councilmember Gregorie, City Council voted to give first reading to the following bill: An ordinance to amend the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Charleston by changing the Zone Map, which is a part thereof, so that property on Forrest Drive (Cainhoy) (approximately 2.145 acres) (TMS #271-00-02-150) (Council District 1), be rezoned from Gathering Place (GP) classification to Diverse Residential (DR-9) classification. The property is owned by David Gibbs Family Partnership. Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Our next meeting will be on April 25, 2017 right back here at City Hall. If there is no further business . . .” Councilmember Mitchell said, “Mr. Mayor.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Order, please. Councilmember Mitchell.” Councilmember Mitchell continued, “Councilmember Riegel.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Councilmember Riegel, please join us.” Councilmember Mitchell said, “I know I see Mr. Jones back there, but I just want to let most of the Councilmembers know that normally they have their fundraiser, what they call a fundraiser, a dinner once a year. Their dinner is going to be held Saturday at the City Gym. What time is that, Mr. Jones?” Mr. Jones said, “5:00 p.m.”  City Council minutes April 11, 2017 page 19 Councilmember Mitchell continued, “5:00 p.m. So, if you are available to come, this is a fundraiser they have every year. They work in the community, and they work with the young people in the community. It’s the Concerned Citizens on the Peninsula (CCPLC). You hear about them a lot working in the community. So, if you are able to come and join them at 5:00 p.m. at the City Gym, and if you have something you want to bring, they’re going to have a Silent Auction. They work a lot in the community throughout the Eastside, Westside, and everywhere with our young people. So, this is something that he does every year, and so I’m just letting you know if you are available, please come to the dinner.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Thank you very much.” Mayor Tecklenburg recognized Councilmember Shahid. Councilmember Shahid said, “Mr. Mayor and Council, I recognize several members of our Fire Department that are here. We want to thank them for being here this afternoon. They are interested in the direction to be taken in the Fire Department.” Mayor Tecklenburg said, “Thank you for coming. Thank you for your service. Yes, sir. Thank you for being with us. There being no further business, this meeting is hereby adjourned.” There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:11 p.m. Vanessa Turner Maybank Clerk of Council