A - Town Council Meetings

SPECIAL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING Tuesday, August 8, 2023, 4:45 p.m. Municipal Complex, Council Chambers 100 Ann Edwards Lane, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 MINUTES 1. Call to Order Mayor Haynie called the meeting to order at 4:45 p.m. Howard Chapman, Laura Hyatt, Gary Santos, Jake Rambo, John Iacofano, Guang Ming Whitley and Carl Ritchie were all present. Brenda Corley arrived at 4:46 p.m. 2. Public Comment Carol Hallman, 2352 Parsonage Woods Lane stated she is encouraged that the Culture, Arts and Pride Commission (CAP) is taking seriously the Town’s need to establish adequate arts facilities, however she has some concerns. She asked why there has not been systematic public input. She said absent this input, recommendations by CAP cannot reflect any open or systematic assessment of Mount Pleasant’s needs. Ms. Hallman said a lack of transparency can give rise to speculation which can lead to division. She said one theory that is circulating is that the proposed facility would be intended to house the Village Repertory Company, which is a respected private theater company, founded in Mount Pleasant and driven out like all of our other theater companies by the rising price of land. She said all groups’ needs should be considered in the initial proposal. She said she is concerned that the temporary facility may become the template for what is ultimately designed. She said with regret that she has concluded that the CAP Commission is not the group to head up the community arts center project. She said they are very good people who are undertaking really valuable projects, but they are not adequately staffed, funded or organized to undertake this vital once-in-a-lifetime project. Ms. Hallman urged Council to establish a separate, temporary, single-purpose entity to undertake this important task. Ron Mendola, Musical Director of the Mount Pleasant Symphony, 511 Two Mile Run, Johns Island stated they are grateful for accommodations tax support which currently funds roughly one quarter of their annual expenditures, and the rest is raised via donations, and through corporate and private donors. He said their last two seasons have ended slightly in the red. He said they pay for their rehearsal space, and for the costs of doing concerts anywhere but Christ Church, which they currently use free of charge. He said they cannot do concerts at Lucy Beckham as the costs are prohibitive. He said there are many fully operational arts organizations in Mount Pleasant that have similar financial circumstances, and if the Town would wish to provide a structure for collaborative fundraising, these organizations would be all-in and would all be winners. That would require the formulation of an arts development and fundraising strategy that could reach a specific niche of potential donors. In regard to the theater under discussion from the site planning to the design of temporary lease space to the ultimate goal, he would think all of his colleagues would wish to be engaged now rather than rely on a single planner. Marie-Louise Moreto, 1133 Liberty Court, President of the Mount Pleasant Community Arts Center Committee (MPCAC) stated in March Town Council voted to postpone a vote on a Mount Pleasant Community Arts Facility that was originally intended to provide studio space, and rehearsal space, but not performance space. She said there was a lot of misinformation regarding that item, and Town Council requested that the CAP Commission research the issue and present a report to the Town. She said she applauded the CAP Commission for the time they spent on this report, however there is still a lack of accurate information, details and community and public input. She asked if the proposed facility was intended to be a temporary or permanent arts center. Two conversations between CAP and the MPCAC were held in May and November of 2020, and since those conversations, the Town has not reached out to the MPCAC or other Mount Pleasant art organizations. She said CAP seems to be recommending issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for an artistic director to take charge of the project, even though the location for a center has not been decided. She said identifying a location should be the first step, and then an RFP for a professional theater consultant and project manager should be issued. She said Mount Pleasant does not need a small inadequate facility but deserves an arts center that is an iconic structure that honors its performing, visual and literary artists and cultural heritage. She said the MPCAC recommends establishing a body with a single mandate and remove the CAP Commission from the responsibility for envisioning, planning and overseeing a community arts center. She asked for establishment of a separate body under the Town’s oversight to Page 2 of 7  study, plan and oversee the arts center and to follow through to the arts center opening. 3. Recognition of Palmetto Strikers Volleyball Club Ms. Hyatt recognized the Palmetto Strikers for placing in the top two at the Amateur Athletic Union National Championships in Orlando, Florida. 4. Presentation of Culture, Arts, and Pride Commission recommendations with regard to a Community Arts Center Kathryn Whitaker, Chair, and Bren Monteiro, Member, represented the Culture, Arts and Pride Commission. Ms. Whitaker presented the following: Page 3 of 7 Page 4 of 7 Page 5 of 7  Mayor Haynie said he liked the phased approach to nurture the local community first and asked that the CAP Commission please keep in communication with Committees so that we can see some progress. 5. Executive Session Mr. Rambo moved to go into executive session to discuss the items listed on the agenda as read by Mayor Haynie, seconded by Mr. Chapman. All present voted in favor. The meeting was adjourned into executive session at 5:10 p.m. a. Legal and Contractual Update and possible action on Deierlein, Green, et. al. v. Town of Mount Pleasant, and Charleston County Page 6 of 7  b. Personnel Consideration of applications to serve on boards and commissions 6. Post Executive Session Committee may take action on any item, including any subsection of any section, listed on an executive session agenda or discussed in an executive session during a properly noticed meeting. Mayor Haynie reconvened the meeting at 5:58 p.m. stating no votes or action had been taken. Mr. Chapman moved to appoint David Creech and Warren Player to seats 2 and 4 on the Historic District Preservation Commission, seconded by Mr. Santos. All present voted in favor. Ms. Whitley moved to authorize legal counsel to negotiate an agreement as discussed in executive session, seconded by Mr. Rambo. All present voted in favor. 7. Adjourn There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Christine Barrett Clerk of Council August 8, 2023 Page 7 of 7