City of Aiken, SC City Council Meetings, 22 Mar 2021

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From YouTube: City Council Meeting March 22, 2021

Description

City Council Meeting
March 22, 2021
7 PM

CALL TO ORDER
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE TO THE FLAG
GUIDELINES
ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA

I. MINUTES:
1) Consideration of the Minutes for the Work Session on March 3, 2021, and the Work Session and Regular Meeting on March 8, 2021.

II. OLD BUSINESS: Further Consideration of:
1) Discussion of Appointments to Boards, Commissions, and Committees.
2) Second Reading and Public Hearing of an Ordinance Amending the City Code to Adopt the 2022 Revised Model Business License Ordinance.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 12, ARTICLE II OF THE AIKEN CITY CODE TO ADOPT THE 2022 REVISED MODEL BUSINESS LICENSE ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF AIKEN.
3) Second Reading and Public Hearing of an Ordinance Amending the FY 2020- 21 Budget for Funding to the Aiken Municipal Development Commission.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE BUDGET OF THE CITY OF AIKEN FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2020, AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2021, FOR FUNDING TO THE AIKEN MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.

III. NEW BUSINESS: Consideration of:
1) First Reading of an Ordinance to Annex 5 Acres on Whiskey Road, Zone it Planned Residential, and Approve a Concept Plan.
AN ORDINANCE TO ANNEX TO THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF AIKEN CERTAIN PROPERTY LOCATED ON WHISKEY ROAD AND TO ZONE THE SAME PLANNED RESIDENTIAL ( PR) AND TO APPROVE A CONCEPT PLAN.
2) First Reading of an Ordinance to Annex Property at 116 Marvin Drive and Zone it Residential Single-family (RS-10).
AN ORDINANCE TO ANNEX TO THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF AIKEN CERTAIN PROPERTY LOCATED AT 116 MARVIN DRIVE AND TO ZONE THE SAME RESIDENTIAL SINGLE-FAMILY (RS-10).
3) Approval of AECOM Strategic Economic Development Action Plan.

IV. PETITIONS AND REQUESTS:
1) Approval of a Resolution to Provide Water and Sewer Services to Property located on Chukker Creek Road.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PROVISION OF WATER AND SANITARY SEWER UTILITY SERVICES TO PROPERTY LOCATED ON CHUKKER CREEK ROAD.
2) Approval of a Resolution to Provide Water Service to Property on East Pine Log Road.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PROVISION OF WATER UTILITY SERVICE TO PROPERTY LOCATED ON EAST PINE LOG ROAD.
3) Resolution Authorizing the City of Aiken to Enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with James S. Watson, Jr. and Powderhouse Partners, LLC.
A RESOLUTON AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF AIKEN TO ENTER INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH JAMES S. WATSON, JR. AND POWDERHOUSE PARTNERS, LLC.

V. INFORMATION
a) Issues and Updates.
b) Planning Commission Minutes for February 9, 2021.
c) Engineering & Utilities Report and Utilities Manager Report for February, 2021.
d) Public Services Department Report for January, 2021.

VI. ADJOURNMENT

A

If you're so inclined, please feel free to stand with us for the invocation, followed by our pledges to be led by chief barranco.

A

Let's pray, father, we're thankful for this opportunity to gather we're thankful for this day, which reminds us of your blessings and uh reminds us how lucky we are to live in this city. We pray that uh you would give wisdom to everyone who is here, may the decisions we make be pleasing to you and serve the people we represent.

A

We pray pray that everything that is said and done would be pleasing to you and we just pray lord, that you would keep your hand upon those who are hurting those who are injured and be with them through these times. In your name, we pray, amen chief good evening.

B

Good evening, chief.

C

C

D

To the republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible with liberty and justice for all, thank.

A

A

We'd like to go over the guidelines for city council meetings at this time,.

A

Good evening to our new city manager, our not city manager, assistant city manager, sorry sorry.

D

D

The guidelines.

A

For aiken city, council meetings, meetings or public forums in which many opinions are expressed in the business of the city must be conducted as such. Disciplined honorable and professional decorum is paramount. Courteous and respectful, respectful communication is expected during public hearings. All questions and statements from the public will be directed to the chair. If you wish to speak, raise your hand- and I will certainly recognize you- please approach the podium and state your name and address in order to allow an opportunity for everyone who wishes to address counsel.

A

Speakers should limit their comments to the subject being discussed.

A

Each speaker will be given five minutes to address an issue and may only address it once unless questions from counsel are posed to the speaker, and with that I'd like to recognize our mayor pro tem councilwoman leslie price for additions or deletions to the agenda good evening, councilwoman good.

B

Evening, mr mayor, and want to say, welcome to the entire audiences there that's here, uh but also acknowledge dr owner as well, who is chair of the arts commission that we just mentioned, but he's also the president, ceo of north savannah council government, that represents uh six counties within our region. So welcome dr mona.

B

Having said that, mr mayor, we do have a change to our agenda under petitions and requests uh item three which states uh the resolution authorizing the city of vacant to enter into a memorandum of understanding with james s, watson, jr powder house, partners, llc uh that is being proposed as a continuance to constitutional requests and uh with that uh change in our agenda other than this single change, our move. We adopt the agendas presented to aiken city council members.

A

All right, thank you. So we have a motion for approval of the agenda with item number, 300 petitions and requests uh pulled for a continuum. Is there a second? Second all right? Thank you, councilwoman gregory, all those in favor. Please raise your hand and that's unanimous. Thank you.

A

The myths were given to all those in favor of accepting the minutes as presented. Please raise your hand.

A

Moving down to old business, I'm number one appointments of boards commissions and committees. At this time, I'd like to recognize our city manager, mr stewart beanville good evening, mr beanville.

E

We have no nominations for consideration at this time and I just wanted to note uh we hope to be bringing an uh name to your election commission at a meeting next month. So if you have anyone for consideration, I know I've gotten a name, but if uh please share that with us again, it's it's one of three members of the election commission. That's appointing appointed to an unexpired term, but those are typically six-year terms.

A

Thank you, sir. This time, I'd look to council to see if there's any names to be considered, our next meeting for uh appointments to board commissions and committees.

F

Mr may I just have a question. Yes,.

A

F

uh With mr beadenball with the election commission uh nomination, you know at the last meeting we asked about how we go about that it's kind of different than doing it with our other boards and commissions. So if we think of someone, do we approach them and ask if they should be willing, but we don't know that they're going to be.

F

You know, I'm saying it if.

E

You haven't, if you have a name, uh we could, I guess, socialize it um and then approach the individual.

E

Before it is ultimately brought to the floor, that's how it's been done in the past, but yes, it is a little different. Since each council member doesn't have their own appointment.

F

Okay, I just wanted to double check that procedure.

E

I think the council, at the last meeting kind of wanted staff to uh kind of do some of that and do some of the vetting. Yes.

F

Thank you. Thank you, mr mayor.

A

All right, any other names to be considered our next meeting all right. Thank you.

A

Moving down old business item number two: this is a second reading in public, adopt the 2022 revised model business license ordinance by title chapter 12, article 2 of the aiken city code, 2022 revised model business license ordinance of the city of aitkin. Is there a motion?

A

Thank you, councilman jodo! Is there a second.

D

A

All right, thank you, councilwoman diggs. I know we had some questions on this from the last meeting and I know staff has looked into it. So uh mr beanville I'll turn it over to you.

E

Right. Thank you. Yes, the main question was about the potential shortening due date and in yes discussions with uh the municipal association and others. um The the fee is based on or on a retrospective amount of gross revenues, so the amount of the fee, the shortening, wouldn't necessarily affect it, um but council does have the ability, in this case, if to provide some sort of credit rebate.

E

What have you I would recommend if we go that route, that we do it in the form of a credit, because from a staffing, administrative perspective that would be, I think, simpler.

E

The um bills would go out with a due date of april 30th, but it passes tonight.

E

The due date without penalty would be the same as it's been for a number of years, which would be july 31st, but next year, regardless because of the change in state law, standardizing all the dues, it would be a due date of april 30th, but late charges would begin accruing. The next day may, the first so you're talking about in 2022. That is correct in 2022.

E

So we, the mindset behind bringing this now as opposed to later in the calendar year. Early next calendar year, was to give individuals and businesses the ability and an adjustment period, uh because we will not have the flexibility to have our own due date. um After this year, we have to be in compliance with the state code.

A

I would say I commend staff for doing it early because it does give businesses two years to adjust to the new due date as opposed to one year to uh to be in align with the state statute. This is legislation. I know the state chamber of commerce supported as well as municipal, because it aligns every every due date in the portal.

A

So when you go on to pay taxes, if you do business in multiple counties or multiple municipalities, you just check the box and it figures, whereas before they were having to try to figure out well, aiken is in july, but north augusta might be so so it consolidates it for business. I think the question that we all asked was we wanted to make sure that we weren't collecting an extra two months and getting over it.

A

What wasn't said in that meeting as an answer, is that it based on a calendar year, not a fiscal year like we are, so it would be. Just like the rs saying on set april 15th, your your taxes are due march: 15th you're, not paying more money, you're just paying them earlier. So it's not collecting more money, so I don't know why we would rebate. I mean it's just it's pushing it earlier.

G

It if a business- let's just say they pay 1200 bucks a year on business, license they pay a hundred bucks a month. That's how they budget their business right now, we're going to give them two months overlap where they're going to be paying 200 bucks for a couple months.

A

E

Year, that's not correct, not this year.

A

It's going to run january december, no matter.

G

What I understand the collection is.

A

Going to run january to december no matter what right it's just it's just that money for that period is going to be because of the state law, not anything that we've done we're just complying with it. It's going to be due earlier, but it's not paying for those months twice.

A

It's just paying it earlier because of what we're doing we're allowing them to ease it up a month this year and then up next year, but I mean again it's like. If your taxes were due march, 15th april 5th, you wouldn't be paying more taxes, you'd just be paying them earlier.

A

E

D

E

I guess the irs just, for example, extended the payment date for individuals to may mid may instead of mid april, but you'll still be paying the same amount of tax, even though the due dates.

H

It's just earlier.

E

A

I didn't understand it and I thought it was a very valid question and I think this council was prudent and carrying that I'm very comfortable with it after looking into it. So anyway, I I regress. We've got a motion and a second comment from the audience.

A

Okay, we can have a discussion.

G

Yes, sir ex so you're saying if we collect this over 10 months,.

A

We're not collecting over 10 months we're collecting a 12-month period january because because the collections of business licenses on a calendar year, not a not a gross receipts, yes yeah right so and I know it took. I really spent two days with municipal association lawyers and our staff trying to so so helpful to have that.

G

Information in here it would have spent two days and we didn't get it. It's been helpful to get it.

A

Well, I I don't put this packet together, yeah, um yes, it would have been. I mean.

D

E

If the explanation didn't meet your satisfaction.

A

A

I mean so so it's not collecting an extra two months. It's just easing that payment in to comply with the state.

A

Okay, any other comments, questions.

A

It's it was a it's a valid discussion and I absolutely agree when you asked it the other day. I had no idea about it. So.

G

Yeah, if it took two days to understand it.

A

It took the lawyers who wrote it two days to explain it to me and maybe.

G

C

They just didn't.

A

Have a good person to explain it to. I don't know, but anyway, uh with that, before, let's amend the city code to adopt the 2022 revised model business license ordinance all those in favor. Please raise your hand and that's miss price. Yeah, miss gregory, the mayor, councilwoman diggs jaredo. All those opposed.

G

I don't know because I I can't understand it yet. I don't want to pass.

A

My donors, I understand, I understand councilman waltz about its name. It passes with a majority all right, moving down old business item number three: this is a reading and public hearing of inaudible submitting the fy 2021 budget, the funding to the aiken municipal development commission by thailand, ordinance amending the budget of the city of aitkin for the fiscal year, beginning july, 1, 2020 and ending june 30th 2021 for funding to the aiken municipal development commission. Is there a motion all right? Thank you, councilman rolos ourselves.

A

Second, thank you. Councilman jodo comments from staff.

E

At the march 3rd work session, council heard from the amdc chairman about a request for 500 000 dollars. We are going to go ahead. It should um count, prove this and fulfill 40 requests this fiscal year and it since it is amount over 25 000. It requires a budget adjustment by council in the form of an ordinance, so this uh budget adjustment to advance 200 000 of this request is before you this evening.

E

All right. Thank you, mr beanville.

A

Any comments from the audience.

A

Comments, questions from council hearing done all those in favor. Please raise your hand and that's unanimous.

A

Moving down into zone the same planned residential pr and to approve a concept plan. Is there a motion.

D

A

All right, thank you, councilwoman gregory! Is there a second second? Thank you, councilman steph.

E

Yes, the applicant is requesting the annexation and concept plan for five acres located off of whiskey, road adjacent to the fountain of life, fellowship church for a three-story 60 unit apartment complex, the building would be 47 feet in height and 70 percent of the property would remain green space and any property annexed into the city. uh This size must be zoned uh with the planned residential zoning, and any planned residential zone must have a concept plan that uh must be reviewed by the planning commission and approved by council.

E

The developer proposes this complex for those seniors and it will be a mix of 36 one bedroom apartments and 24 two bedroom apartments.

E

The planning commission heard this at the march 9th meeting and unanimously recommended approval of the development with the following conditions that there be a minimum 40 percent open space. That does not include the detention pond unless it is designated as an amenity pond or can be planted with trees.

E

Additionally, 20 percent of the open space should be improved for passive and active recreation use and channel the site plan that the site development comply with the tree preservation and landscaping requirements of the zoning ordinance with additional evergreen screening plants added as necessary that the site and landscape plan be reviewed and approved by the department of public safety regarding emergency apparatus turn around that an encroachment permit be approved by d.o.t that the the access to whiskey road be designed in such a way to provide ingressy to the adjacent undeveloped property to the south of the subject that this development comply with the whiskey road overlay requirements of ground-mounted monument signs, sidewalk street trees in the closing of any ditches along whiskey, road or payment of a fee in lieu of sidewalk street tree and curb and gutter installation, and that the applicants sign an agreement stating these conditions of approval within 180 days.

E

I do note that there's only one point of access to this development connecting to whiskey road only so the zoning ordinance requires inter-parcel connectivity. So an access point designated the southern property boundary should be included when the site and landscape plan is submitted to allow for future connectivity. uh Basically, like a stub out, no traffic study will be required since the maximum trip generation is less than the 100 trip a day threshold which would trigger a traffic study.

E

So the uh this is before you deny for first reading to annex five acres and a concept playing with the conditions. Just read all right. Thank you, mr.

A

B, is there anybody one here representing the developer tonight? Yes, sir good good evening.

I

Good evening, mr mayor and council, my name is max zelby with low low country housing communities.

I

I am here today to request five point: acres of land, currently zoned urban development to be annexed and zoned, to plan residential, to enable us to develop an additional 60 units of senior housing for residents, age, 55 and older in one and two bedroom apartment homes and one in a three-story building with an elevator.

I

Our community will provide our residents with on-site amenities that include a community community center equipped with gathering areas for community events, a business center, a.

C

I

Center equipped with fitness equipment appropriate for an aging population as well as a walking trail, the building will be constructed with brick and cement, fiber siding only all of our units will be accessible and adaptable to those with disabilities.

I

We will have a property manager and maintenance technician on site to ensure that our residents and our property's concerns are met. Timely. Furthermore, we'll engage a third-party landscaping company to perform regular landscaping to make sure our property is kept in pristine condition. Throughout the year our community will be a senior community for those aged 55 and older. I want to make it clear that our development is and will remain a senior community now and into the future.

I

No one can reside that that is less than 55 years of age.

I

Thank you and I'm happy to answer any questions you all may have yes, ma'am.

D

Well, you actually answered two of the questions I had already.

H

D

Going to ask about the on-site management and property management managers and, of course, the landscaping and you covered that, but you said it was affordable housing for seniors. How affordable are we talking.

I

Well, at 80 percent of the area medium income is is who we went to.

D

Any idea how much the units will rent for.

I

I mean we're still trying to finalize that right now, but you know anywhere from 550 to 750 dollars.

A

Are they subsidized units or.

I

They're not subsidized. Now I mean what we utilize tax credits to.

H

I

Our development, so you know we're not a project based section 8 property. What happens is you.

C

Know we agree to.

I

Keep our rents and our and rent to people at 80 or less than medium income right. Obviously, since our rents are low, we can't afford you know a big mortgage like a traditional market rate apartment complex.

I

So we apply to south carolina housing for tax credits, those tax credits, then, if, if we're fortunate to be awarded, those tax credits are syndicated to an investor that to offset their tax liability, they become our partner in the deal for a 15-year period and they get the tax credits um as the benefit. So that enables us to keep a lower mortgage yeah. Okay,.

H

I

Ownership in these or do so now we maintain ownership in them. Yes,.

F

Mr mayor had a question to you:.

A

Yes, miss me councilwoman.

F

How would you have you done a similar development in our area or.

I

I actually have I did um longleaf senior village, um which is on the north side of the bypass off of busch willow circle um and, if you all, are familiar with where that's at north, I guess bypass 118 and highway. One on new york street.

D

I

We did that project uh or that development. I want to say six or seven years ago and we still maintain ownership of that development.

D

Someone came before us a short while ago um asking about putting some additional units at lonely. Is that still planned.

I

That was that was me, that was probably two or three years ago.

H

Yeah we didn't.

I

Our financing did not did that. We didn't, we did not get awarded the taxes.

D

I know the demand is definitely there and those those units are nice and they look like they stay occupied.

I

Occupy I wish we could do more. Yes, well.

F

It's good that there's a successful yeah.

H

He's done that already.

F

He's really nice all.

A

Right any other.

B

Questions I just want to comment on the longleaf properties and I visit that area pretty frequently because I'm curious as to how you're maintaining the property frankly is, is my curiosity- and I have found it to be you. You have a property manager at that site because it's always maintained.

I

B

Don't see people just lingering out there with with, unless they're coming and going, uh you need to be applauded, but what I like about this development is that they're they're, more individualized versus your your higher eyes, and that's that's quite appealing, I think so. We're.

I

Excited about it, yes, ma'am.

B

Great project, thank you.

A

All right any more questions at this time.

C

um Just to reiterate, I think it's pretty cut and dry from looking at this, just so the sanity of soul. Access to this property is coming from whiskey road and won't even come.