City Council Highlights - September 24, 2024

Isle of Palms City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at Council Chambers in City Hall. Listed below are the highlights from the meeting:

Action Items:

• City Council recognized Johnny Himmelsbach with the Signal 30 award for his heroic efforts on September 14, 2024, when he rescued a couple who drove their vehicle down the boat ramp at the IOP Marina. The award was created in 2002, and it is named the "Signal 30" award because "Signal 30" is an Isle of Palms Public Safety code for "citizen service."
• City Council recognized Deputy Fire Chief Richard Hathaway for his 23 years of service as a member of the Isle of Palms Fire Department and celebrated his upcoming retirement. The mayor presented him with a Key to the City and thanked him for his exemplary service and dedication to the fire service and the Isle of Palms community. City Council also approved a resolution recognizing Deputy Chief Hathaway and naming the Training Room at the Public Safety Building in his honor.
• Steven Traynum, Coastal Science and Engineering provided an update on beach conditions, the shoal management permit and the USACE beneficial use project. City Council approved a contract for the second phase of permitting for the next large scale nourishment projects. City Council also approved another allocation of $225,000 for additional sandbags as needed to address emergency erosion hotspots on the south and north ends of the island.
• City Council approved the FY25 millage rate which will not result in property tax increase.
• City Council approved budgeted expenditures for improvements to the Public Safety Building, including a new building control access system and IT enhancements for the Training Room.
• City Council approved entering a contract with a new vendor for bulk container garbage collection. After October 31, 2025, businesses on the island will be responsible for their own bulk container garbage collection.

Ordinances, Resolutions and Proclamations

Ordinance 2024-06 

Council approved an ordinance prohibiting the feeding of wildlife, except for feral cats and birds. The intentional feeding of wildlife can lead to various ecological and public health issues, including increased human-wildlife conflicts, the spread of disease, and encourages concentration and growth of animals in urbanized areas, which can pose a hazard to humans, pets and plant life.

Resolution 2024-08 

Resolution to authorize the creation of a Youth Council to engage and empower the youth in Isle of Palms and give them a voice in local government decisions that affects their lives and the future of the community.

Resolution 2024-10

Resolution identifying policy initiatives and priorities for city lobbyists to pursue on behalf of the Isle of Palms in the General Session of the General Assembly. The policy priorities include beach nourishment funding, limits to the amount of funding required to be spent in tourism advertising and promotion and funding for stormwater improvements and the expansion of sewer.