Mayor Russ Touchberry Council Members: Aaron Brown Tiffany Johnson-Wilson Richard G. Waring, IV Kima Garten-Schmidt Bob Jackson  Town. Administrator Lisa Wallace Town Clerk Beth Messervy Town. Attorney G.W. Parker  RONNI IN ThA &  a  1847   TOWN of SUMMERVILLE  SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING/WORKSHOP  MINUTES January 25, 2024  ATTENDANCE  Present: Mayor Russ Touchberry, Councilmembers Kima Garten-Schmidt, Bob. Jackson, Aaron Brown, Tiffany Johnson-Wilson and Richard G. Waring, IV.. Also in attendance were Town Administrator Lisa Wallace, Town Attorney GW Parker, and Town Clerk Beth Messervy. A quorum wasi met. Public and press were duly notified. The meeting took place in the board room oft the Greater SummerilleDorchester County Chamber of Commerce at 402 North Main  Street and was livestreamed from the Town's website. CALLTO ORDER AND WELCOME  Mayor Touchberry called the meeting to order at 9:00am on Thursday,January 25, 2024. He thanked the staff for their work inj putting together the information to bej presented at the workshop. Town Administrator Lisa Wallace thanked staff as well. Everyone in attendance  introduced themselves.  PROPOSED NEW PUBLIC SAFETY COMPLEX  Frank Neal, Director of Community and Economic Development, gave al briefhistory ofhow the Municipal Public Safety Facilities Committee worked to get to today, where Creech and Associates then gave a presentation ofa a draft for their plans for ai new public safety complex for  the Town.  Brent Green with Creech & Associates, noted that thei renderings and ideas that hej presented are just a draft. Hej presented four site options for the fire department, police department, and municipal court. A copy oft the presentation can be requested through the Town Clerk. He stated that the cost estimates for the facilities on two different sites is $76,401,423. The cost estimate for all facilities on one site is $76,846,722. He went through the line items ofe each  estimate.    Special Town Council Meeting Minutes - January 25, 2024  Page 2  Mayor Touchberry stated that there are three challenges that the Municipal Public Safety Facilities Committee had to face during their meetings: 1)The' Town's current facilities have been inadequate for the past 20 years. 2) The Town has first class Police and Fire, and their facilities show reflect that excellence. 3) The Town of Summerville is the 7th largest municipality ini the state, and the public safety facilities need to reflect that in size. He stated Staff and Council gave their opinions on the site options. Mr. Green answered questions from Mr. Green then reviewed the 3 procurement processes available for the design and construction ofthej public safety facilities: )DesignBidBuild 2) Construction Manager at Risk 3) Design Build. He explained that #1 is an adversarial pathway, #2 is more prevalent in today's market, and #3 is ai relatively new municipal endeavor. Hei recommended #2 - Construction Manager at Risk because the contractors are interviewed up front, and the Town gets to select them. In addition, everyone works together as a team with a common goal. Each large trade package has tol be pre-qualified with 31 bids. Mr. Green answered questions from staff and Council regarding Finance Director Rhonda Moore presented two financing scenarios for thej public safety facilities complex. She noted that the millage increase listed on scenario #1 was not a suggestion, but rather used for a comparison ofn numbers. The first scenario included a suggestion to sell real estate to replenish the fund balance should Council choose to use: fund balance for the cost. She then presented scenario #2. A detailed breakdown ofboth scenarios are available from the Mayor Touchberry stated that there al lot of grant opportunities with the BCDCOG and CHATS. He also stated that Ron Mitchum with the COG would like to visit' Town staff and discuss grant opportunities. He also encouraged Town Council to contact the Town's legislative delegation to Some discussion followed regarding the inclusion ofa a parking garage in the public safety Mr. Jackson made ai motion, seconded by Mr. Waring, to accept the Berlin G Myers site plan as well as look at a second site plan whilel keeping both sites open during the process to see ifthe Town can cut costs. After further discussion, Council decided to choose options A and D to send back to Creech and. Associates with recommendations for certain changes. The: motion carried Ms. Johnson-Wilson made ai motion, seconded by Ms. Garten-Schmidt, to choose the Construction Manager at Risk procurement method with the stipulation that the Town get 5 bids  that Town Council has "failed to execute" a new plan.  the Councilmembers.  the procurement methods.  Town Clerk.  get money for public safety facilities.  facilities plan.  unanimously.  instead of3. Thei motion carried unanimously. ROAD AND SIDEWALK PROJECTS:  Mayor Touchberry explained that when the interchange oft the Berlin G. Myers Parkway and East Carolina Avenue was designed, there were no plans made for landscaping and a vegetative buffer. He would like to see thei interchange landscaped to: fit the look and feel of Summerville    Special Town Council Meeting Minutes - January 25, 2024  Page 3  while preserving the functionality of thei road. He stated that the estimated cost is $21 million, including irrigation, planting, and a final design. Mayor Touchberry introduced aj preliminary rendering oft thel landscaping plans, and stated that he has ai request into the legislative delegation as well as to Dorchester County for funding assistance in the project. Mr. Brown: made ai motion, seconded by Mr. Jackson, to pursue the landscaping plan and work with government partners for Town Engineer Bonnie Miley gave an update on the Maple Street Extension project, including a construction schedule and the next steps to complete the project. Mr. Waring asked ift the project is on schedule, and Ms. Miley confirmed that iti is. Planning Director Jessi Shuler stated that the Town needs landscaping for aj portion ofthe Maple Street Extension, but that the Town has mitigation funds to use: for that landscaping. She also stated that the Town will havei increased mitigation fees for developers in thei next year. Some discussion followed regarding mitigation Ms. Miley then gave an update on thel North Cedar Street Extension project, whichi is tol help alleviate traffic on North Main Street. She explained that the plans are 85% complete and reviewed the planning and permitting schedule. Mayor Touchberry explained that since the project is in both Berkeley and Dorchester Counties, it can be funded by both counties' Town Administrator Lisa Wallace stated that the Town submitted a request to the State for funding on the Central Avenue Sidewalk project (from West Carolina Avenue to Parsons Road), and that the State awarded the Town $400,000 towards the project. Ms. Wallace stated that the delay in the process of getting thej project into construction has nowi made it a $600,000 project. She asked Town Council to talk to their Dorchester County counterparts to ask for help with the  funding. The motion carried unanimously.  fees.  transportation sales tax money.  $200,000 shortfall since the sidewalk serves Dorchester County residents.  MAIN STREET RESILIENCY PROGRAM:  Frank Neal, Director ofCommunity and Economic Development, presented the Main Street Resiliency Program, beautifying North Main Street from the railroad tracks to 500 North Main. He stated that Dorchester County is doing some updates, and he would like the Town to work with them on1 the project. He explained that the plans shown in the presentation are: for evaluation only and are not firm plans. Mr. Neal stated that the Town will need al lot ofbusiness and public input on the project. Mayor Touchberry explained that the Town has $12 million in State funding and a verbal commitment from Dorchester County. Ms. Wallace stated that the Town is still waiting for the contract from the State toi receive the first $4 million oft the phased Mr. Waring made ai motion, seconded by Mr. Jackson, to authorize staff to pursue the RFQ for design after the $41 million is in hand from the State. The motion carried unanimously. Planning Director Jessi Shuler gave ai recap ofthe Town's current Vision Plan from 2014a and Comprehensive Plan from 2020. She reported that oft the Top 10 "things to do" ini the Vision  award of$121 million.  VISION AND COMPREHENSIVE PLANS:  Plan, the Town has completed three and is working towards four more.    Special Town Council Meeting Minutes - January 25,2024  Page 4  Ms. Shuler then reviewed the contents oft the Comprehensive Plan, including Land' Use & Development, Economic Development, Housing & Neighborhoods, Transportation & Mobility, Community Facilities & Infrastructure, Natural Resources, Resiliency, Parks & Open Space, Cultural Resources, Priority Investment Projects, and the Action Matrix (192. Action Items). Ms. Shuler answered questions from Council regarding the Vision and Comprehensive Plans.  Council recessed at 12:12pm, for lunch. Councilreconvened at 12:45pm.  DEPARTMENT REPORTS:  Chief Wright gave a update on the Police and Communication Department's current status, as well as ai rundown of crimes by type in 2022 versus 2023. He also presented future budget ChiefMelcher gave an update on thel Fire and Rescue. Department's current status, as well as a Rhonda Moore, Finance Director, presented her list of"to do's" for the Finance Department to Frank Neal, Director ofCommunity and Economic Development, presented the ongoing projects in his department, highlighting wayfinding signage in conjunction with Dorchester County. Some discussion followed regarding annexation ofresidential properties in donut holes. Lenny Larkin, ITI Manager, reported that since coming to the Town in 2007, hel has transitioned the' Town to cloud-based applications. Hei noted important steps that he and his department are taking to increase cybersecurity, and stated that he could use a secunity/complance position. Ryan Dews, Stormwater Manager, reported that the Town is in need of cured in-place pipeliners to continue to repair the pipes in the' Town limits. CIPP allows pipe replacement without tearing up residents' and commercial businesses' property. He stated that he would like to continue working on CIPP throughout the' Town, but the cost is going up. He also presented his capital expenditures requests over the years and for the future, explaining that his equipment is very expensive and that he would like to use budgeted funds instead ofs stormwater fund balance for them. Mr. Dews also reported that his turnover is not that bad, but he continues to lose Amy Evans, Parks and Recreation Director, presented four needs: Maintenance expansion at Gahagan Park, maintaining and improving existing facilities, equipment needed for the jobs, and personnel to meet the growing demands ofthe Town population. She reviewed projects such as plans for where the Cuthbert Center used to stand, ai renovation oft the Doty Park playground, and replacing some oft the fields at Gahagan with turf. Ms. Evans concluded with future plans including a skate park renovation and an environmental education center at the Summerville  requests, including an emergency communications IT position.  list of priorities for the coming year.  serve the' Town's citizens in the most efficient manner.  employees to the private sector.  Preserve.  COUNCILMEMBERS TIME:  Aaron Brown (District #1) stated that he is pleased with the work ofthe Town employees.    Special Town Council Meeting Minutes - January 25, 2024  Page: 5  Tiffany. Johnson-Wilson (District #2) stated that she would like to work with Senator Sandy Senn toj put Dorchester County and the' Town of Summerville in at taskforce to address flooding. She also stated that she would like to look into incorporating a transportation impact fee. Richard Waring (District #4) thanked all Town staffmembers and stated that hei is looking Kima Garten-Schmidt (District #5) stated that the' Town staffo does a great job with what they are given to work with. She would like to see: more community involvement for litter pickup. Bob Jackson (District #6) stated that the staff] presented great ideas at the workshop, and that he  forward to upcoming projects.  is thankful for thei new. Mayor. MAYOR'S WRAP-UP:  Mayor Touchberry told stafft that he senses "excellence in your service to the' Town." He: stated that the Council needs to execute thej plans brought before them by staff. He thanked the  Chamber and DREAM for their partnerships.  EXECUTIVE SESSION: discuss the following:  Mr. Brown made ai motion, seconded by Ms. Garten-Schmidt, to enter into Executive Session to  Contractual matter related to' Town. Administrator  Thei motion carried, and Council entered into Executive Session at 2:09pm.  Council reconvened at 2:56pm. Town Attorney GW: Parker stated that Council met in Executive Session to discuss the following, and that no action was taken in Executive Session on the items:  Contractual matter related to Town Administrator  OTHER BUSINESS:  Mr. Waring made a motion, seconded by Mr. Jackson, to authorize Mayor Russ Touchberry to negotiate and execute a contract extension with the Town Administrator up to December 31,  2024. The motion carried unanimously.  ADJOURN:  Mr. Jackson made ai motion, seconded by Ms. Garten-Schmidt, to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried unanimously, and Mayor Touchberry adjourned the meeting at 2:57pm.  Respectfully Submitted,  APPROVED: 7  T9  PIEAALG Beth Messervy, Town Clerk  Russ Touchberry, Mayor