►
From YouTube: City of Charleston State of the City - January 22,2019
Description
City of Charleston State of the City - January 22,2019
A
A
Good
evening,
mr.
mayor
pro-tem
and
members
of
City
Council
honored
guests,
including
the
mayor
of
Mount
Pleasant,
is
with
us
this
evening,
will
Haney
my
fellow
Charlestonians
it's
an
honor
to
be
speaking
with
you
this
evening
from
these
historic
city,
council
chambers,
these
chambers
celebrate
their
200th
birthday
this
year.
This
is
the
place
where,
for
those
200
years,
our
elected
leaders
and
citizens
have
come
together
to
take
part
in
the
great
debates
of
the
day
and
to
forge
the
future
of
our
children
and
our
grandchildren.
A
What
we're
doing
and
what
we
plan
to
do
to
protect
our
citizens
and
property
from
flooding
and
sea
level
rise
next
city
council
meeting
I
will
be
presenting
to
you.
The
revised
flooding
and
sea
level
rise
strategy
for
the
city
of
Charleston.
Let's
have
a
little
history
lesson.
First,
if
you
look
at
this
old
map
of
Charleston
you'll
see
the
blue
areas
are
in
fact,
where
creek
beds
and
marshes
once
were
councilmember
your
mitchell
mitchell,
your
home
is
in
one
of
them
and
that's
where
we
have
historic
flooding
in
our
city.
A
So
in
1859,
the
city
in
earnest
first
started
building
infrastructure
to
deal
with
drainage.
With
these
archway
tunnels,
the
first
one
came
down
Meeting
Street
and
ends
at
White
Point
Gardens.
Tonight
we
approve
adding
a
check
valve
at
the
end
of
that
very
drainage
tunnel.
So
over
time,
the
peninsula
develop
into
this
grid
of
undersized
and
inefficient
pipes
and
and
and
flooding
features
that
don't
meet
today's
requirements.
A
So
the
city
back
in
1984,
even
before
Hugo,
knew
we
had
to
deal
with
flooding
and
drainage
and
and
and
requisition
a
master
drainage
plan
that
came
up
with
a
number
of
projects
that
we,
some
of
which
we're
still
working
on
today.
What
happened?
Oh,
the
last
four
years,
we've
had
his
start:
flooding
extreme
weather
hurricanes
year
after
year,
2015
the
thousand-year
rainfall
2016
hurricane
Matthew,
2017
irma.
A
We
had
a
close
hit
with
florence
last
year
and
you
can
see
on
this
chart
to
the
right
that
eight
and
nine
foot
tides
have
become
a
regularity,
whereas
before
they
were
stretch
out
over
the
decades,
relying
on
science.
We
now
know
that
sea
level
is
truly
rising
in
this.
In
the
harbor
of
charleston,
it's
actually
been
documented
over
the
last
hundred
years
that
that
does
that
the
harbor
of
charleston
has
risen
nearly
eighteen
inches
very
reliably.
The
city
believes
in
the
next
fifty
years.
A
There
will
be
a
sea
level
rise
of
two
to
three
feet:
that's
what
we're
planning
for
and
if
you
combine
the
extreme
weather
that
we're
seeing
the
sea
level
rise
that
we
know
is
coming.
We
have
a
situation
that
presents
the
existential
threat
to
our
city.
If
you
look
out
generations
to
come,
we
must
deal
with
our
drainage
and
flooding
issues
and
sea
level
rise
for
our
city
to
survive
for
our
children
and
our
grandchildren
to
be
able
to
enjoy
this
city
as
we
do
today.
A
You
know
next
year,
we're
going
to
in
2020,
have
our
three
hundred
and
fiftieth
anniversary
of
the
city
of
charleston
being
founded.
Don't
we
all
want
to
see
our
city
be
able
to
survive
and
be
enjoyed
by
generations
to
come
for
at
least
another
three
hundred
and
fifty
years,
so
we
have
to
have
a
vision.
This
flooding
strategy
is
built
on
that
clear
vision
of
protecting
our
citizens,
lives
and
their
property
of
preserving
economic
vitality
and
opportunity
and
improving
the
quality
of
life
for
our
residents
and
our
neighborhoods.
A
So
it
encompasses
some
many
things,
but
it's
a
strategic
plan
with
five
critical
components
and
the
two
that
we're
most
used
to
talking
about
in
these
council
chambers
are
the
projects
or
the
infrastructure
and
the
resources
about
how
we're
going
to
pay
for
them,
and
those
two
components
are
critical,
but
we're
adding
the
consideration
of
the
governance.
What
kind
of
requirements
are
we
putting
in
place
to
protect
ourselves
from
flooding
and
to
control
future
development?
A
The
land-use
thinking
about
smartly
for
the
where
we
should
be
building
in
the
future
we've
seen
from
the
past
that
we
built
on
marshes
and
creek
beds,
and
it's
gotten
us
in
trouble
and,
lastly,
the
outbreak,
the
outreach
to
involve
our
citizens.
To
advocate
for
these
changes
that
need
to
occur
and
also
to
be
involved
each
on
an
individual
level.
So
we'll
talk
about
the
resources
first
and
the
most
important
is
the
human
resources
and
that's
why
this
council
approved
recently
to
create
a
new
stormwater
department
for
the
city
of
Charleston.
A
So
we
have
a
singular
focus
on
dealing
with
drainage
and
flooding
issues.
We've
also
in
our
current
year's
budget
have
provided
for
new
personnel
to
help
our
project
managers
with
maintenance
issues
with
small
projects
with
inspectors,
but,
most
importantly
with
new
construction
workers
to
help
maintain
ditches
and
the
drainage
features
that
we
have
throughout
the
city.
A
We've
initiated
a
number
of
resource
in
ishutin
too,
to
bring
expertise
like
this
city
has
never
seen
before,
including
a
national
effort
of
the
Army
Corps
of
Engineers,
a
partnership
with
the
city
of
Charleston
to
bring
their
best
experts
from
around
the
country
to
focus
on
our
flooding
and
drainage
issues.
The
Dutch
dialogues,
council,
members,
Gregory
and
sea
kings
went
with
me
early
last
year
to
go
to
the
Netherlands
to
see
really
the
world's
greatest
experts
are
doing
to
manage
water
and
learn
to
live
with
water.
A
So
even
the
Army
Corps
of
Engineers
partnership
began
about
three
months
ago.
They've
had
numerous
meetings
already
and
have
assembled
Corps
of
Engineers
personnel
from
around
the
United
States
to
help
us
with
this
effort.
But
the
most
important
thing
about
this
Corps
of
Engineers
initiatives
is
once
they
vet
the
projects
that
we
are
presenting
to
them
and
they
make
all
men
and
come
up
with
their
own
projects.
We
will
get
the
Army
Corp
of
Engineers
stamp
of
approval,
and
that
will
help
us
get
the
necessary
federal
funding
that
we
need
to
make.
A
Some
of
these
projects
happen.
It's
just
like
dredging
the
harbor
before
they
could
begin
the
multi-million
dollar
project
of
dredging
Charleston
Harbor.
They
had
to
get
the
Corps
of
Engineers
stamp
of
approval,
and
that's
what
we're
doing
within
the
Dutch
dialogues
is
going
to
be
amazing
process
over
the
next
seven
months
to
bring
the
world's
leading
experts
on
drainage
and
flooding.
This
was
an
example
that
we
saw
in
the
Netherlands,
where
they
literally
created
a
new
space
for
water
to
go,
because
we
realize
that
we
have
to
manage
water.
A
A
How
are
we
going
to
pay
for
all
these
projects?
Folks,
there's
no
silver
bullet.
It's
not
going
to
come
from
one
place.
We've
got
to
cobble
together
a
variety
of
resources
from
every
place
that
we
can
think
of
including
our
own
drainage
fund,
including
our
general
fund,
when
needed,
including
tax
increment
finance
district,
including
the
half
cent
sales
tax
that
Charleston
County
collects
the
state
infrastructure
board
accommodations
tax.
We
have
presented
again
to
the
state
legislature
and
hope
that
it
will
pass
this
year.
A
We
believe
it
will
to
allow
the
city
of
Charleston
to
be
able
to
use
accommodations
and
hospitality
taxes
to
be
able
to
pay
for
drainage
improvements
and
other
grants
as
well.
This
is
an
example
of
different
TIF
districts
in
the
city.
These
are
on
the
peninsula.
Where
you
see
the
colors
are
areas
where
the
city
has
created
these
special
taxing
districts,
where
we
get
extra
property
tax
in
order
to
to
invest
in
public
infrastructure,
including
drainage
projects.
A
A
The
half
cent
tax
allocation
every
year,
Charleston
County
allows
application
to
the
half
cent,
mostly
for
transportation
uses,
but
also
for
drainage
as
well,
and
we've
we've
met
with
the
county
of
where
appropriate,
where
they're
doing
a
transportation
project
like
the
widening
of
Glenn
McConnell,
and
we
have
a
project.
We
wanted
to
do
to
reconnect
late
daughter,
er
to
the
long
branch
of
drainage
basin
to
be
able
to
use
half
cent
sales
tax
transportation
dollars
for
that
drainage
project.
A
Then
the
infrastructure.
What
are
you
actually
doing?
What
are
the
projects
you're
working
on
here's
a
long
list,
including
Forest,
Acres,
Church,
Creek
drainage,
basin
and
right
on
down
the
line
I'm
going
to
show
you
highlights
of
a
few
of
the
projects
that
we're
engaged
in
now
and
have
plans
to
do
in
the
near
future.
A
In
addition,
we're
providing
check
valves
at
the
major
what
they
call
out,
Falls,
where
stormwater
goes
back
to
a
river
or
to
the
harbor
to
prevent
storm
surge
and
tidal
action
from
pushing
water
up
into
our
storm
drain
system.
These
are
very
effective
and
even
though
there's
a
prediction
that
we'll
have
many
more
sunny
day,
flooding
days
as
time
goes
on,
these
check
valves
have
already
produced
benefits
in
the
locations
where
they've
already
been
installed.
A
This
map
of
the
peninsula
shows
the
checks
where
check
valves
have
been
installed
and
then
the
blue
lines
show
where
tunnel
systems
are
either
already
underway
or
planned
for
the
future.
The
first
tunnel
system
came
down
meeting
street
oval
Calhoun
Street
to
the
Concord
Street
pump
station.
This
is
right
in
front
of
where
the
new
international
african-american
museum
is
going
to
go
during
Hurricane
Matthew,
this
pump
station
pumped
in
a
24-hour
period
about
58
million
gallons
of
water
out
of
the
city
and
into
the
harbor.
A
A
A
This
map
shows
a
spring
fishburne
drainage
basin.
That's
currently
underway
it's
about
a
six
hundred
acre
drainage
basin,
including
all
of
the
septum
of
Clark
Parkway,
and
this
shows
a
little
more
detail
of
where
the
tunnels
will
go
from
coming.
Street
up
on
the
right
hand,
side
down
to
the
drop
shaft
that
will
be
between
the
two
Ashley
River
bridges
and
then
a
cross
tunnel
that
starts
up
just
below
Burke
High
School
and
runs
down
to
Cannon
and
President
Street.
A
This
photo
shows
a
the
drop
shaft
there
at
coming,
Street
right
where
the
interstates
end
and
this
drop
shaft
will
be
the
site
of
the
wet
well
and
pump
station.
That
will
evacuate
this
whole
tunnel
system
when
it
fills
with
water
into
the
Ashley
River.
It's
estimated
that
the
three
pumps
that
will
be
installed
at
this
location
will
far
exceed
the
capacity
of
the
Concorde
station,
pumping
able
to
pump
up
to
five
hundred
million
gallons
in
a
24-hour
period.
A
This
diagram
shows
the
tunnels
underneath
for
spring
Fishburn
drainage
system
and
what
the
wet
well
system
with
the
pump
station
will
look
like
and,
finally,
a
rendition
of
the
pump
station
itself
once
it's
installed
on
top
of
the
wet
well.
This
system
will
end
the
day
where
the
septum
of
Clark
Parkway
is
a
hindrance
to
mobility
in
our
city
whenever
it
rains.
A
This
will
make
the
difference
folks,
this
last
tunnel
system
would
be
the
Calhoun
West
and
it's
a
nearly
700
acre
area,
drainage
combination
of
drainage
basins,
that
is,
on
the
lower
western
side
of
the
peninsula
of
Charleston.
This
shows
where
the
tunnels
will
go
starting
up
at
Marsh,
Street
and
in
st.
Philip
and
running
all
the
way
down
to
the
coastguard
station
just
below
Broad
Street.
A
A
Eventually,
we
will
have
a
perimeter
wall
protection,
all
the
way
around
the
perimeter
of
Charleston,
but
do
it
in
a
way
where
it's
a
benefit
to
our
citizens
with
walkways
and
amenities
and
and
then
have
the
pump
the
tunnel
systems
in
place.
So
when
rainwater
other
water
happens
to
get
beyond
the
perimeter
wall
we'll
be
able
to
pump
it
out.
It's
it's.
It's
an
amazing
technology,
it's
very
complex,
but
it's
a
system
that
will
really
work
for
the
peninsula
of
Charleston
turning
west.
A
Actually,
we've
just
completed
phase
one
of
the
forest
acres
of
drainage,
improvements
which
converted
an
old
pump
system
to
a
gravity
flow
system,
and
it's
always
best
if
we
can
to
have
what
they
call
open,
conveyance,
open
systems
that
work
with
gravity
rather
than
having
pumps,
if
possible,
Phase
two
on
this
project
will
start
this
year.
This
map
shows
the
drainage
basin
that
phase
one
and
phase
two
cover
all
West.
Actually,
this
is
about
a
300
acre
drainage
area.
A
Earlier
last
year
we
completed
the
church
drainage
study
that
came
up
with
I
believe
seven
different
projects
costing
about
fifty
million
dollars
that
will
need
to
be
accomplished
in
order
to
address
drainage
in
the
church,
Creek
drainage
basin.
The
first
we've
already
started
the
Hickory
Farms
diversion
channel,
but
there's
very
there's
more
to
come,
and
luckily
council
has
approved
that
TIF
district
I
mentioned
in
order
for
us
to
have
a
funding
stream
to
be
able
to
put
these
improvements
in
place.
A
This
watershed
is
called
the
DuPont
watered
DuPont,
Waku
watershed,
and
it's
about
a
five
hundred
acre
area.
It's
not
just
a
study,
as
we've
been
going
through
and
identifying
the
drainage
features
in
this
area,
we've
been
doing
maintenance
and
repairs
and
we'll
be
planning
further
projects
that
will
improve
drainage
in
this
watershed.
A
In
the
meantime,
we've
been
engaged
with
smaller
neighborhood
projects
that
help
drainage,
like
the
Ashley,
Hall
Manor
drainage
project,
which
improved
the
dish's
ditches
and
created
another
easement
for
water
to
be
able
to
get
out
of
the
neighborhood
and
in
similar
fashion
we
just
started
the
Westwood
project,
which
is
right
next
to
Blessed
Sacrament
Blessed
Sacrament
church
there
on
Moore
drive
off
of
Savannah
Highway
on
James
Island.
The
county
is
helping
us
with
a
study
of
the
signal,
Point
Road
area,
and
we
all
agree-
we've
been
talking
about
this
tonight.
A
The
Wawa
area
study
area
is
the
next
study
area
for
the
city
county
cooperative
effort,
which
will
involve
many
projects
to
come
and
in
similar
fashion
John's
at
Island
master
plan
is
being
done
for
drainage
improvements.
It
was
precipitated
by
a
problem
in
the
barbary
woods.
Neighborhood
maintenance,
though,
is
a
key
thing
and
I
want
to
add
we're
any
new
technology
in
order
to
keep
track
of
ditch
maintenance,
we've
had
a
GIS
mapping
to
all
our
ditch
maintenance,
and
so
that
will
increase
of
accountability
and
reliability
of
our
projects.
A
Now
for
governments,
the
rules
and
regulations
setting
control.
All
this,
the
big
thing
is
that
the
city
will,
this
year
improve
and
update
our
stormwater
manual
and
we've
already
put
in
place
new
requirements
for
the
church,
Creek
drainage
basin,
because
they
were
so
important
there
so
we'll
be
doing
that
this
year.
A
task
force
has
already
been
assembled
and
has
been
meeting
we'll
be
bringing
those
recommendations
to
Council
this
summer.
A
We
are
improving
our
rating
system,
so
folks
can
save
more
money
on
their
flood
insurance.
Now
we
got
a
20%
savings.
We
hope
to
earn
enough
points
with
the
National
Flood
Insurance
Program,
to
get
25%
savings
for
our
citizens.
We
put
new
regulations
in
place
for
elevating
homes
in
the
historic
district,
and
this
is
part
also
part
of
the
mitigation
grants
that
we
are
applying
for
not
just
a
buyout
of
homes
that
have
been
sedative
ly,
flooding,
but
also
to
elevate
homes
that
need
to
be
elevated.
A
All
these
things
we'll
have
to
do
together
as
a
community
to
create
a
mindset
among
Charlestonians
not
only
of
the
importance
the
existential
importance
of
dealing
with
flooding,
flooding
and
drainage,
but
for
us
all
to
become
a
part
of
the
solution.
So
folks,
that's
a
vision
to
protect
our
city,
our
citizens,
our
safety,
our
property
for
the
long-term
for
generations
to
come.
A
This
is
the
issue
that
we
must
address
and,
and
all
these
things
are
coming
together
here
in
2019,
in
such
an
incredible
way,
bringing
the
expertise
from
around
the
world
to
review
our
projects
and
add
to
them
to
help
garner
the
resources,
both
from
initiatives
that
we're
doing
and
from
the
money
that
we
need
to
apply
for
to
pay
for
the
infrastructure
and
to
involve
our
citizens.
I,
ask
you
all
I
challenge
you
to
join
me:
join
our
City
Council
and
recognizing
the
importance
of
this
issue
and
for
the
future
of
our
city
and
I.