PRESENT: Mayor Council: Riley Bradham, Judy Suggs, David Dunn, Frank Thornhill, Henry Holst and Town Clerk Colleen Key
ABSENT: None
Meeting called to order at 7:00
Others Present: Linda Folk and Libby Holst
No changes to agenda. No time requested.
Mayor motions to approve prior Meeting Minutes. Seconded by Judy Suggs. Unanimously approved.
TREASURERS REPORT:
FINANCIAL REPORT as of 1/30/2023
PREVIOUS Ending $ CURRENT Ending $
Wells Fargo Checking $78,937.36 $78,421.90
S.C. Local Government Investment Pool $292,881.94 $294,019.21
Road Repairs YTD – $0
NOTE: A virtual $10,000 is held aside for disaster clean up
Municipal Assoc. dues – $300
MAYOR / COUNCIL REPORTS:
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
- Planning: No one reporting.
- BZA: No one reporting.
- Code Enforcement: No one reporting
- DRB: Linda Folk – DRB will not have a meeting this month/no application submitted. A committee plans to look into UDO upgrades with regard to the DRB. Linda and Jimmy Folk have completed their recertification and for documentation purposes are submitting written statements to the clerk for verification.
- WILPC: Henry Holst – No prior meeting. The group is meeting tonight.
Old Business:
Current Town Attorney Chuck Baker is retiring. Matt Tillman has stepped in for the STR draft. Mayor comments that the Town will scale back on what he has submitted, for example the Town does not want to get in the business of permitting.
Comments on current draft:
-Change 100 night to 75
-Applicability – all zoning districts, only habitable structures
-License and Registration – have county enforce. Town does not have the personnel. Henry Holst comments we should ask Joel Evans from the county.
-Draft calls for owners to register in writing – this should be simplified/scaled back. Possibly just simply notify via email? Linda Folk suggests a form on website that property owners could use.
Frank Thornhill comments that we need to include wording regarding unoccupied rentals. Define in STR Rules. Bed and Breakfast are already defined in UDO
-In this draft, a registration fee would be required. Libby comments the money changing hands will solidify rules regulations. Mayor agrees as this would be more contractual.
-Limit on the amount of people to stay in a STR. To discourage a “party house”. Frank Thornhill notes that neighborly relations could be affected if people are counting heads. Judy Suggs suggests amount of STR occupants could depend on the number of beds.
-30 consecutive days is not an STR and is permissible.
-1 off street parking spot per 2 bedrooms
-1 STR per Tax Map Parcel
-No signage advertising a rental is allowed.
-Weddings or events are prohibited during use as STR.
-STR owner must have valid business license.
-STR ordinance must be accessible to renter.
-Violations – Code enforcement officer shall be responsible for enforcing violations. $500 fine per offense. 2 offenses could result in having license revoked or suspended. County would handle.
-Amortization- Property owner must be legally registered as STR prior to March 2023 to be able to rent as they have been (non-conforming) for 5 years, after the 5 years new STR rules apply.
-Appeals to any decisions must be made within 30 days.
-Any conflict with the UDO – STR would control. Frank Thornhill comments that we need to be sure that we do not affect the current rules for Bed and Breakfast in the UDO.
-Severability Clause – standard language – means if the Supreme Court illegalizes some section of the Ordinance, the rest still stands.
Schedule 1 – Indicates areas that fall under new STR – all in town limits and waterfront and lists tax map parcels.
Council to provide feedback to Attorney and then send to planning/zoning for approval.
Henry Holst suggests special meeting to accomplish passing STR Ordinance sooner. Mayor may have Town Attorney sit in on meeting after draft is revised. County needs to be consulted on which aspects of the new rules that they will handle. Possibly Joel Evans attend.
Main issues to address: Unoccupied, 75 nights, $10 fee and licensing and permitting.
1099s sent to CDH and Town Clerk.
Clik bill due $520 for web hosting.
Audit is complete. Of note, business license revenue was reportedly low for the period, possibly due to COVID?
Roads – Rockland is still out to bid. CDH to add dirt to S. Rockland. Grading may be required. Currently working on SIYC Road. Judy Suggs asks if the section that is out for bid will be maintained in the meantime? Mayor will ask CDH or Rhett Hanckel to look at it.
Henry Holst comments that someone, possibly DOT has been trimming trees.
Libby Holst asked about wear and tear on roads from private events held in the Town. Mayor comments that registered property owners are allowed by the County to have up to five 100-200 person paying events per year. There is concern that this may be happening more that 5 times by certain residents. The issue is commercial vs. noncommercial use of residentially zoned property. Some of the recent events have been explained as family or nonprofit events. The question of a Use Tax charged to certain residents for all the damage done to the roads from traffic at the many events was raised. Mayor notes that any new tax would have to be represented in an ordinance and might be beyond the Town’s current ability to manage and pay for. In the discussion it is suggested that something be done about the fact that there may be more events happening than are allowed. Mayor comments that any transgression would have to be proven by the Town. The question of verifying events as charitable was raised? The Town does not currently have rules on this. Currently the County would be notified and it would be up to them to enforce or penalize. Linda Folk asks if there is a reporting process for upcoming events? Currently there is not but property owners are required to comply with the current statutes. Henry Holst comments that the Town of Mt. Pleasant requires a $25 permit for each event if traffic is going to be affected.
There is a Carolina Yacht Club event planned in June on Maybank property on Goat Island. Representatives from the event have reached out to town regarding rules and regulations. Frank Thornhill notes that most attendees will come by boat. For the record, Mayor wants to point out their good faith effort to respect the Town.
Mayor motioned to adjourn at 8:15 Seconded by Judy Suggs.