May 20, 2024 Tega Cay City Council Meeting

The Tega Cay Council meeting began with a welcome and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a moment of silence. The Mayor highlighted the presence of many young attendees and expressed appreciation for their efforts.

Proclamations:

National Safe Boating Week: May 20-26 was declared National Safe Boating Week, emphasizing safe boating practices and the role of the Coast Guard.
Fort Mill High School Girls Lacrosse Team: Recognized as the 5A Upper State Champions. The team was commended for their achievements and sportsmanship.
Fort Mill High School Boys Soccer Team: Celebrated for winning the 5A State Championship with an impressive season and significant victories.

Presentations:

Walkability Study: Liz Duda presented the Fort Mill High School area walkability study. The study, conducted with various stakeholders, aimed to improve the safety of routes for students walking or biking to school. Recommendations included enhanced collaboration, setting walking targets, improving road safety measures, and exploring long-term infrastructure solutions like bike lanes and multi-use pathways.

Committee Reports:

Economic Development Committee (EDC): Focused on gathering feedback from current and potential businesses to improve the business environment in Fort Mill and planning a business connect event in June.
Planning Commission: Discussed potential changes to the marina overlay district, including outdoor seating requirements, live music regulations, and multifamily areas. They also considered assigning liaisons to various local planning commissions and school boards.

New Business:

Firefighting Breathing Air Compressor: The Council awarded a bid for a new firefighting breathing air compressor to Reinhardt Fire Services for $79,000. The current compressor had failed, impacting training and operations.
Glennon Center Facility Project: The Council considered awarding a bid for exterior maintenance and repairs to the Glennon Center and the clubhouse. The project would be funded using golf operational funds, emphasizing the importance of maintaining these key facilities.
Windward Drive Street Patching. Council approved awarding a bid for patching Windward Drive.
Ordinance establishing the structure by which the City attorney is appointed the scope of services to be provided and the parameters in which council members can seek guidance from the city attorney. Key discussion points include defining the City Attorney’s role and services, concerns about uncontrolled spending if any two council members can seek his advice (as he bills by the hour), and potential conflicts if council members use legal services against each other. There was debate over the current system requiring the City Manager’s involvement to contact the City Attorney, viewed by some as necessary structure and by others as a restriction. Additionally, a proposed two-year term for the City Attorney was argued to potentially cause instability. Ultimately, the council decided to table the ordinance for further research and revisit it later.
Freedom of Information Act Policy. The policy aims to address issues such as the time and cost of processing FOIA requests, with staff explaining that charges are based on the lowest-paid qualified employee’s time. Concerns were raised about potential cost increases during processing and ensuring transparency without deterring public access to information. It was highlighted that under state law, municipalities are required to charge for the staff time involved in fulfilling FOIA requests, which can be significant for extensive searches. The policy also includes provisions for refining requests to reduce costs. The council discussed the possibility of a waiver for fees in cases of public interest or financial hardship, ultimately emphasizing the importance of balancing efficiency and accessibility. The motion to adopt the policy was passed unanimously.
Leaf Composting Facility. Council approved locating a new leaf composting facility at the current wood chipping site on Gardendale Road.
Public Art Jury. Council appointed new members to the City’s public art jury.
Deer Survey Results and discussion of deer management plans. The survey, conducted from April 8th to 29th, gathered 1,198 responses, with the majority indicating that the deer population affects their quality of life and property. Key survey findings showed a community split on deer presence, but significant support (73%) for a lethal deer management program, such as sharpshooting. Other management methods like immunocontraception (70% support) and sterilization (51% support) were also discussed.City officials presented various deer management options, including sharpshooting, sterilization, and hybrid approaches. Cost estimates and population impact projections were provided, demonstrating that a combination of methods could significantly reduce the deer population over five years. The council discussed the importance of addressing the deer problem promptly, particularly in high-complaint areas, and recognized the need for a balanced, cost-effective solution.
Ultimately, the council favored a hybrid approach combining culling and sterilization, as recommended by Dr. DeNicola. This strategy aims to reduce the deer population more effectively while considering community safety and financial constraints. The council decided to move forward with planning and scheduling these deer management operations, with a focus on areas with the highest impact from deer.