City of Charleston SC Ways and Means, 26 Mar 2018

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From YouTube: City of Charleston Ways & Means Meeting -March 26,2018

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City of Charleston Ways & Means Meeting -March 26,2018

A

Today's March 26 2018, this is committee on ways and means and if I could ask councilman Wagner to lead us an invocation.

B

Live drugs drive recent events, school tragedy, the March I think well just take a couple minutes to ourselves and think about the world as we now know it and what we can look forward to in the future. So I'm gonna ask for a moment aside. Let's please.

B

And amen, amen.

A

Thank you, sir item two is approval of minutes for February 26th and March 13th.

A

Okay, so we're only going to take 20 February 26 we're going to defer March 13.

A

Do I have a second in discussion, all those in favor signify by saying aye those opposed. Now, let's have it item. 3 is bids and purchases in discussion hearing none all those in favor signify by saying aye those opposed you guys have it item. 4S police department approvals submit to 2018 VOC application council member moody.

C

I guess his last year was a student.

A

Miss Warren: do you know if there's anybody that can speak to the grant? This.

D

Is one where we have to hire them on after the grant is over, but I'll verify that but I don't think it's one of the ones that we have to hire the person after do we do we have somebody there? Okay, oh she's, here I'm. Sorry, oh.

A

A

Yeah please hi.

E

I'm sorry I'm Catrice malls I am the program director for the Family Violence Unit with the city of Charleston. I, didn't hear your question all the way back. There.

C

What my question was: is there a problem out there that we're facing? What's the extent of that problem? Is this something we would like to have, or is this something we really need? Is this a need or a want? Okay,.

E

Are you talking in reference to the employees or just the UM supplies and training I didn't hear that? What are you and are you referencing the employees, this the personnel or are you referencing supplies and training.

A

Mostly the need, as as to the the elderly issues, I.

C

Mean how many, how many cases do we have every year of this? What's the what's the magnitude of the problem, that's causing us to ask for this money. Okay,.

E

But the elder population we've had 1,150 three cases total, but the elderly population that came that population is rising.

E

E

Really working within the community and working with our community partners trying to find a solution in regards to assisting the elderly, but that population is our most difficult to provide resources to and the Resource Coordinator as and the victim advocate. They are working in collaboration with community partners to facilitate or try to find resources for that population.

F

E

F

Won't even be funded by by the funders. If they're not need this right, we have to. We have to make an assumption that when we do submit an application as part of the application process, we have to show the need for it. Otherwise, they're not even going to entertain funding it right.

E

F

It might be an unfair question because I think the basis that most, if not all, applications are based upon me well, I guess.

C

I didn't understand the need we.

F

G

If I may make a testimony of a council member, Rudy and and you've heard that there are over a thousand cases a year, I just want to share a brief story, and this was back when I was a citizen, not a mayor.

G

Almost 15 years ago now my former neighbor, who was elderly and without local family or children, she never had any children, I moved away, but I stayed in touch with her and over a few years time it was clear she was having some issues and in fact she developed dementia or Alzheimer's disease, and but before that was realized, she was taken advantage of in a scam and I found about out about it.

G

When her phone finally got cut off, you know because she wasn't able to pay her bills and her bank account had been robbed and all this stuff, and it was the elder advocate of the Charleston Police Department. That put me on the path to get help for my former neighbor today.

G

I still remain her conservator, but they really do a remarkable job and if there are thousand cases a year in this city, where they're stepping forward to advocate for some senior citizen, that's being taken advantage or need some assistance, I would say it's a need rather than a warrant. So.

C

These people are right now the police officers are mostly taking care of these and they're kind of that's what we're doing with it. Now, no.

E

C

Have we just need another? We.

E

C

Have another and we need another advocate, that's what no.

E

No, this is a continuation.

E

We already have that person in place all.

C

Right but you also said: did you say that maybe this was not a requirement down the road.

D

I think it's just something we apply for continued.

E

Continuously so that.

D

The grant actually pays for the the advocate and we're just paying the match for that, so it'll be the salaries benefits and the supplies. So it's really $27,000 for a whole person person. My.

C

Last questions to you: Amy: are we keeping because I know we I, don't think we had that information? Do you entertain some kind of reserve out there in our finances so that we know each year as we're preparing the budget that we've got this this wave coming down the road we.

D

C

D

Have we keep track of it and when all these grants come forth like if we were to keep, they have to keep that person on staff so that we know going forward when that will hit the budget, which here it's going ahead, so that we can.

A

Inject, do you have a question.

H

A

Any further discussion do we have a motion? Okay, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Those opposed you guys have it. I had a five is Office of Cultural Affairs verbalize, six thousand dollar grant any discussion hearing, none all okay, good, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Those opposed now is have it item six as parks and capital projects approved the CPD forensic lab professional services contract fee amendment number one with stubs, Muldrow Herron is there motion.

H

A

Discussion, caPSURE Shirley.

B

We've got these extra expenses, but we're saying this is not gonna go beyond the budget. That.

A

That was my same question: that is there somebody from Capitol projects who can answer that Edmond? Are you project manager, Jason? Who, who might be able to answer that for us specific to the change in the scope of work and how it stays within budget.

D

Well, we were under budget a little with this project, so we added some money with a new installment revenue bond that we had to cover the additional cost. So it's not under it's not additional per se. That makes em.

I

Cash I'm wearing a follow-up. We own item six me.

I

Malin stay how you can go from 11,000 square feet to 22,000 square feet and stay within budget.

D

We didn't say with it that was, we didn't, have the full budgeted amount for that project to go up to the 22,000 square feet? So when we did the installment purchase revenue bond that covered the the shortage that we had, the shortfall that we had to go up to the 2022.

I

In here, 20.

D

To 22 thousand square feet so.

I

It was always 22 thousand.

D

It wasn't, but they did a study, and everyone can probably speak to that more for the needs of the police department.

H

D

That's why it went higher because otherwise we would have been it would have been obsolete by the time we've finished. Building the lab. This.

I

Is still the site next to the fire department on B's Pharaoh, so sites still big enough and all of it. Thank you. Oh.

I

A

You hey any fell discussion Abner. Let me ask if I could one one question specific to the fee itself, so we're basically going from eleven to twenty two thousand square feet and the fee on the architecture is basically doubling so I get that we're basically doubling the square footage, but shouldn't there be some I mean sort of base value. The professional services already established. You wouldn't think it'd be a one-to-one increase and when you do it as a percentage of the overall project, it does seem fairly excessive from a fee standpoint.

A

Is there something that they're doing yes.

J

They actually put additional scope in there. So previously we did not have the IT pathways as part of this design contract, and we have so many capital projects going on right now. I think we have seven eight buildings when historically we only have one or two a year, we're overwhelming the IT department right now, so we're having to look for IT consultants to help with putting that those designs in the buildings right now. Okay,.

A

J

Was an additional fee for that there was not an additional fee for the Landscape Architecture for the civil engineering or the site work portion of this. There was also some additional testing and required in this as well. It's all broken down in that fee. Amendment they're, actually right, yeah.

A

I went through it and I guess: I really didn't quite understand what some of those items were. I mean, I saw them broken out and one was like a low voltage. Yes, that's the IT component. Yes, sir, okay gotcha all right! Thank you. Any further discussion hearing, none all those in favor signify by saying aye opposed you guys have it. I had them set as capital projects approved for 2018, tennis and.

K

Basketball resurfacing.

A

Any discussion, all those in favor signify by saying aye aye, those opposed and the eyes have it item. 8 capital projects, approval approval, contract for Daniel, Allen 500 feet. A linear shoreline, I heard any discussion all those in favor signify by saying aye those opposed yeah as habit item 9 is public services approval to change order. Number thirty, six thousand eight thirty four for peach blossom lane will try out an engineering nearing council moody.

A

All those in favor signify by saying aye, as opposed now is have it item, tend public service approval JMT. The prepare plans assist with additional design development for service $50,000 for low battery. Is there motion discussion, cancer, moody, yeah.

C

That particular item I really got two questions about here. This work, can you tell us where that fifty thousand dollars is being paid from.

D

The current project budget Chris.

C

What's funding that hospitality.

D

Well, it's a municipal and hospitality, George.

C

Being paid out of those hospitality funds great at what point are we going to get?

C

Some of the plans are well I mean we've seen some plans out there that you know 100 million 50 million, all this kind of stuff. What are we gonna get to look at this, or is that what you're doing here, or is this something completely different? I know you're not doing capital projects is to.

D

A

Seeking did you want to weigh.

K

In I can yeah yeah that's what we're approving tonight is part and parcel of the whole design process, so jmt can get forward kept going forward and get us some plans, so we can show them to, among others, this council, which I know everyone's asked for we're desperate to get. So that's exactly what this is doing is.

C

K

That design together and getting complete so we're gonna bring it to you in the.

C

Poach that what's the schedule on that no I.

K

Do I talked to Frank, know him the other day, and the idea is to get these plans out, get them approved, get them out in the public and put them out to bid by the end of the summer. That's sort of the schedule goal, so we can actually put this thing out there for bed by the summer. Thank you, council, wearing.

I

Thank You, mr. chairman, we saw three iterations that I can remember of what was to happen at the battery this plan, design, which one are they gonna, be working on. They're gonna be working on three two one. What's it gonna be mr.

A

Lindsey yeah comments on that one.

L

The earlier plans that you saw, of course, were they were the early conceptual designs.

K

L

Is in the process of doing exactly that, they're resolving it at a you know, an engineering level I think it's it's gonna, be something that's a little bit of a compromise. You know among those so they're developing the design as we go. That's what.

I

I'm, not journalist, for you, see, I, think whatever they work on ought to be something that we approve on the front end, we wish we were showing those three iterations without it was as I thought was just for information. How can we go to engineering firm, mr. Mia or mr. Lindsey and Gibbs we'll get mr. Mir and give them instructions on what to work on specifically.

G

Is the wall, the foundation and really what's left to be decided will be the parking and the median size and the what I would call the window dressing on top of what the engineering work is going to be so.

I

We're not going to be addressing the parking on expansion or not expansion. We will Park.

G

I

With this, but.

G

The work the JMT is doing is almost at this point, regardless of what we decide goes on top right, as that makes that and.

K

Actually, it will drive what goes on top when we see what the engineering is necessary to build up the seawall to the height and spec required, and what that all entails, then, on the backside on the land side, will allow us to build it in from behind I.

I

Think I have the flow. Mr. chairman I think I have the floor. Thank you as we move forward into engineering and I believe that's the question that obviously we're not going to answer it today, but I'll certainly put it put it on the agenda for next week on the next meeting. Whatever engineering we do ought to include restrooms at the battery now, my understanding is: is that can be part of the engineering, because water and sewer lines as part of that infrastructure that's below the surface.

I

If we are not going to be, and that question needs to be placed before this council vote up and down, do we design this with restrooms and mind because actually, depending on how high that wall goes, that could possibly provide an answer for restrooms. So I don't want to stop spending taxpayers dollars on a engineering design that does not include restrooms at the battery.

I

That question needs to be answered up and down one way and not get too far down the road, and then we didn't we spending 50 million dollars without a restroom, but for people to use and.

G

I, don't disagree as a matter of fact we're exploring a different location for some restrooms. You know to put a bathroom right on the wall itself is probably not a practical thing for us to do, but there's another location, we're exploring with property on right now, they're thinking about calling it the John they might.

I

That's nice limiting all of that, but the fact is engineers I mean people go to school for design and things like this right. They may be a wife that, depending on how high the low battery wall has to go to, hopefully prevent the water from coming over except you're, depending on the level of storm, of course, that restrooms could be placed under the wall so and if an engineer has given act that instruction they'll seek that out. If they're not given that instructions, they won't. So that's my point now.

I

There's I don't want to spend money in a wasteful manner because down the road when we go out to bid this cross project. If we come back with something, we didn't even ask for restrooms. Shame on us.

A

Jackson yeah.

H

I just was running for the record: what's the total budget of this design effort by James so we're doing another 50,000 I'm.

G

Not sure Edmund Jason do y'all know what JM T's total budget is.

D

H

I mean we're saying additional services it's being paid to this company.

D

A

Any further discussion hearing, none all those in favor signify by saying aye those opposed no, as have it item. 11 is public service approval of B and C land development, install check valves at view fain street for eighty-three thousand dollars in discussion all those in favor signify by saying aye as opposed yeah. Let's have it item 12 s public service, lady. This is for check valves for two hundred twelve thousand as well for more strive and do T right away.

G

Miss mayor, so both number 11 and 12 are for additional check valve and I. Just want to thank Frank knew him and his initiative and work on this matter, because what he's been empowered to do and what he's been doing is is looking at every single, solitary drainage, outfall around the city and testing each one to see if installing a check valve would would hinder tidal, flooding from occurring and in fact, he's going.

G

As he's been doing, this he's been getting good results that, yes, it will make a difference, and then we asked Charleston water service thanks to them also for agreeing to fund 50% of this, because what happens, because our systems are kind of old and interconnected in ways when that tidal water, then to the city and various of storm storm drains that it it tie.

G

It bleeds into the sewer system as well, and so Charleston water system has been treating tidal water unnecessarily because of this water getting into our drainage system and the hints into their sewerage system, and so anyway, I just want to commend Frank for his work and we've already seen that these check valves can make a difference. It's it is some money, but it's really dollars well spent.

A

Announcer Mitchell last.

M

Night I think this played big with the residents on the east side too, with the Aiken Street. Even it might help with the Drake Street venison uh those areas in the up, because you know they flood this budding. When it's high tide, just flooding I mean you can't even get into a lot of people in Aiken, Street brown lines became get in the church, because that's what flooded in the area so I believe it. The check valve then could cut it off from coming in.

M

That would kind of help them a little business, particularly ever even on Morrison Drive. The same thing so I'm glad to see that just is there and it might be able to help their constituents in that area. Yes, my residents, they lived waitin a long time. I need the something that happening until we get the drainage work on it. I won't be stolen that pretty so that's.

H

F

H

Bigger picture question is: is the fact that CWS has offered to reimburse the city fifty percent for this cost? Is that gonna continue, or are we getting a bonus from the water system? The pattern that works.

G

I think it's a case-by-case request so.

H

If it benefits their.

G

It benefits their system as well.

K

Just briefly respond because Frank's, not here Laura too councilmember Mitchell, specifically related to Drake Street. There was a huge outflow from Drake Street that goes out underneath the Port Authority properties, it's one of the biggest outflows in the city and they're absolutely the process of putting in a test valve in there to see if it works, and that is definitely unless, because Drake Street is the most it's the worst in the entire city.

K

By far and we've been beating up on the county to get him over there to repave it as well, but we thought let's get a check valve in there first and get it repaid. So that is on the pump. It's like the next one on the list, but it's the it's the biggest outflow, probably on the peninsula. You can, you can walk through it. It's massive! Basically, the.

M

Postal service right- that's right, yeah, the postal service next and because they're there.

A

All right discussion.

F

K

Yeah Drake South. What comes back behind it? That whole area is bad.

A

All right anymore, all those in favor signify by saying aye those opposed yeah as habit item 13 housing, community development, approval of the opportunity zone, application submitted to Sacramento for commerce. Second, in discussion, miss.

G

Mayor I did want to share that the governor did in fact approve part of our submitted, as in his recommendation, I think it now has to be approved by the Department of Treasury, but about half of the area that we applied for did get recommended by the governor, and so to the extent this this program is going to bring investment. Oh we're going to be included Thanks any.

A

Further discussion hearing, none all those in favor signify by saying aye.

N

A

Has had a have it item: 14, executive, resiliency, emergency management, division, acceptance of the mayor's challenge, a grant in the amount of $100,000. Is there emotion some.

H

A

Discussion: cancer Moody.

C

We got a separate sheet and I guess this was I, didn't understand exactly what all this was about. So what what's the total cost of this project Alouette mark is here or not, but is the total price? Is the total cost gonna be the hundred thousand dollars and we're getting 96 from? What's the total cost.

O

Total cost is 96 thousand eight hundred and twenty one dollars. We actually have to had to submit a budget and we have to work to that budget. We can't go over it, so this.

C

So they will fund the whole the.

O

Whole your funding, the whole thing there's no matter solely because.

C

That's what it said I was looking at unclear, says no city match. There is no city, my didn't know what the total cost was total cause of that very good. Thank hi.

F

G

Mary so I just want to thank mr. Bloomberg Michael Bloomberg, he's incredibly generous when it comes to helping cities think about good solutions and going forward and and this doesn't include incidentals, that they help pay like Mark and two other staff members. Three other staff members just went for session in New York to meet with Bloomberg, of course, Bloomberg paid for y'all to fly up there and stay up there. I mean they're, just amazingly generous and, and so my my hat's off and my thanks to Michael Bloomberg, he's terrific I'm sure he'll be watching.

A

A

Further discussion hearing, none all those in favor signify by saying aye, those opposed and the eyes have it item. 15 s committee on real estate comes from moody, Thank.

C

You mr. chairman Committee on real estate met on Friday. It was we're still dealing with this acquisition of the archer school and the agreement that was on your desk is kind of where we are just a couple things that are meeting there's nothing for us to vote on tonight.

C

But we had asked the school district to extend our due diligence period to 120 days. We thought we need a little bit more. Several places in here had referred to.

C

Time is of the essence, and we did not see that it was time was of the essence to us, and we asked that that be removed, and probably a lot of the discussion paragraph. If you look at page five, paragraph, eight, a other agreements that deals with Stonyfield and and how that's going to be worked into this and basically what we asked was that and I'll just read. This is kind of the wording that we put together that paragraph eight.

C

A of the agreement is to be amended to provide that following execution of the agreement during the due diligence period, the city of the School District will meet to determine and agree on the scope of the work for Stonyfield renovations and how the renovation project will be managed and paid for the renovation of Stonyfield will not be contingent on the closing of Archer school we're trying to separate and not make them contingent.

C

If we can do, we had a lot of questions about Archer school, affordable housing, how that's going to go forward and we're still working on that, but we didn't see that the Stonyfield ought to be tied to it. So we need to move on. We need to move on with that. I think that was that kind of what if we've asked the snap to go back to the school district and try to put all that together. So we don't have a vote tonight. Mr.

G

Chairman and mr. chairman, respectfully I thought that, with the changes proposed that you just outlined, that we were in fact going to approve this tonight, because staff has taken those proposed changes to the school board and they are voting on the same change. Okay,.

C

Well, in that was that was our.

G

Maybe this Carducci would like to give us a report on what happened since Friday correct.

P

So I contacted the school district, let them know of the amended motor or the motion that was approved by the real estate committee and told them that that we were taking out the this time is of the essence and adding in that changes regarding the stony agreement, so they were bringing that to their board this afternoon at their meeting as well. So they know what our changes were and I told them. We were coming forward to request approval of our changes tonight. I.

C

Will make that as a motion so that we can start to do diligence if they agree we're.

A

All in the same.

C

Okay, counselor.

A

F

School board had a specific dollar amount for Stonyfield am I correct, wasn't it 2.7 million or something that was supposed to go to white Stonyfield two point.

G

F

Two point: two: seven there yeah that's held harmless in this transaction.

F

That plus the additional.

G

F

Additional men.

G

Point to seven plus they were going to put in an additional million and plus an additional nine hundred and seventy five thousand dollars. Okay,.

F

All right, thus Tony feels specifically for which will have nothing to do with this transaction, necessarily accept this all right. Okay, all right, I'm, clear now. Thank you.

I

Constant wearing that's not the explanation now it is not full point to five million coming from the school district for Stonyfield.

I

So I think what we're talking about I think we got a contract that we can go forward with. Okay, but I think the amendments need more clarification for the remainder counsel. The the contract that I think most of us had on the desk had the two point: two seven, four million being I guess contingent. You lack of a better term. Well what the committee didn't correct me if I'm wrong as we separated that, in other words, they're two separate transactions arches school, certainly is a will, be a challenge, but potentially could work with some alternatives.

I

Okay, but we don't need to hopefully discuss here, but so we wanted to look at Archer school based on its merits, whether it's being cost effective, affordable housing, alternative uses, etc. Stonyfield should not be tied to that stony fields, a separate entity transaction by itself. So we that's why we removed it. It was kind of clouding the issue.

I

The second thing was time being of the essence, but a city to do proper, due diligence 120 days, hopefully he's in there to find out some of the alternatives uses that we would like it for and by the same token, we've got some other funding sources, LDC being one that would be part of this transaction, potentially also so time being of the essence, really wasn't in the city's best interest. But as far as a everybody moving in the right direction.

I

Trying to make this thing work, we need it more more background information on what certain things would cost and we need more time for that. So that's why the two transactions were separate.

C

Yeah, the the the LDC was going to make a grant to the city of 3.9 million for affordable housing. We were that's where we were going to get the money to pay. That's part of this agreement here, the 2.2 and that it just so happens. The school district owes us that amount of money, so there was gonna, be an offset on that transaction. So we had to put the money in, but the affordable housing piece. The LDC will only fund that they don't fund football stadiums.

C

So that's why we wanted to separate these two agreements and we want to deal with Stonyfield. The school district owes us some money. They have some responsibility there. We want to get Stonyfield fixed, but we're gonna negotiate that separate policies.

F

Around okay I, don't like I, don't like flying blindly. What would our Jocasta 40 50 60 million? We have any idea.

C

Well, that's part of our due diligence. We've got. We've got to figure out what the mitigation is for earthquake asbestos. Maybe whether or not we can tear it down. Maybe just keep the facade. That's why we were not willing to go forward with if we can walk. If, if all those answers don't come at our due diligence, we will walk away from that Kandra Thank.

F

You, mr. chairman, but.

C

That doesn't we didn't want to walk away from stony places. Okay, we in the same place come.

A

O

I, just I just want to make sure that I'm, clear he's out I thought I was but now I'm a little concerned. Are we eliminating paragraph.

J

8 of this as women we're.

C

Amending it is.

O

That right so we're out 8 the other agreements is coming out. I'm, sorry, paragraph.

F

8 of the agreement.

A

All right, any further discussion motions been made and seconded all those in favor signify by saying aye. Now, let's have it. If there's no more business coming for this committee, we will let's.

I

Assume I have to go back with housekeeping. Maybe we should have passed that as amended say, that was the motion to approve it as amended the contrary, I.

A

Think that was the that was that your.

C

Expectation: okay, okay,.

A

As amended and okay, all right for the business, if not, we stand adjourned.

G

Goodin start right up away.

G