City Council

MINUTES CITY OF GOOSE CREEK, SOUTH CAROLINA CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2025 – 5:30 PM FIRE STATION I – 201 BUTTON HALL AVENUE MAYOR/COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Gr egory S. Habib; M ayor Pro Tem Debra Green- Fletcher; Councilme mber Hannah Cox; Councilmember Melissa Enos-Sims; Councilmember Christo pher Harmon; Councilmember Gayla McSwain; Councilmember Jerry Tekac CITY STAFF PRESENT: City Administr ator Natalie Zeigler ; Assistant City Administrator Brian Cook; City Clerk Kelly J. Lovette; Chief Financial Officer Tyler Howanyk; Special Projects Manager Alexis Kiser; Director of Planning & Zoning Kendra Wise; Police Chief LJ Roscoe; General Manager of Golf Troy Sanders; Planner II Emma Hall PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT SC CODE 30-4-80: WRITTEN NOTICE WAS DELIVERED TO THE PRESS BY EMAIL ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 2025, AND DULY POSTED AT CITY HALL LOCATED AT 519 N GOOSE CREEK BOULEVARD, AN ACCESSIBLE FACILITY, AND ON CITYOFGOOSECREEK.COM I. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Habib called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm. II. BUSINESS ITEM(S) a. BUILD THE BENCH INTERN CAPSTONE PRESENTATION Mrs. Alexis Kiser reminded City Council of the partnership the City has with the Municipal Association of South Carolina (MASC) to host Build the Bench Interns. She stated it is not just for students who have an interest in local government, it is for students who plan to have a career in local government. She stated the City’s current interns not only work on impactful projects they will face in the real world as a municipal employee, but also actionable for the City of Goose Creek itself. Mrs. Kiser introduced Mr. Rafael Guerra, a graduate student at the College of Charleston who is earning his master’s degree in public administration. Mr. Gara presented City Council with his Capstone project which consisted of redirecting local tax revenue over a 10 year period, stating it could generate approximately 3.1 million dollars in the Red Bank district. b. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED DESTINATION DISTRICT PHASE II PLANNED DEVELOPMENT ALONG NORTH GOOSE CREEK BOULEVARD/OLD MOUNT HOLLY ROAD Mrs. Kendra Wise reminded City Council that back in January 2024, the Destination District Phase I Planned Development was passed and there was talk about the potential for a phase II of planned development. She stated before City Council was the proposed Destination District Phase II Planned Development along North Goose Creek Boulevard and Old Mount Holly Road and what she would be showing and discussion with them was just a preliminary review and presentation. Mrs. Wise introduced Jeffrey Roberts of JJR Development and his team: Logan Stern, Patrick Head and Sherry Brown. She stated they were there to present the project and obtain feedback from City Council. Mr. Stern presented City Council with the conceptual plan of Phase II of their Goose Creek plan development projects, as well as their draft development agreement. Mr. Stern and the JJR Development team thoroughly briefed City Council and received feedback regarding the Page 1 of 4  project and answered all of City Council’s questions. c. DISCUSSION REGARDING ZONING AND DRIVE THROUGH USES Mrs. Kendra Wise reminded City Council of their discussion last month with City staff regarding zoning for drive through facilities wherein City Council provided good feedback. She stated they were back before City Council to provide alternative options based on those discussions. Mrs. Wise reviewed and provided details concerning these options being presented. Mrs. Wise and Mrs. Zeigler thoroughly answered all of City Council’s questions. Mayor Habib recommended city staff place it on a future workshop agenda to be discussed again with the recommended changes. d. DISCUSSION OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMPENSATION Councilmember Cox stated she would not be running for office, and she was not bringing up the topic of compensation for any personal gain. She stated she felt the compensation for the seats of Mayor and City Council should be addressed and reviewed more routinely than spread out wherein several years pass and they then receive a very large increase. Councilmember Cox stated she felt compensation should be addressed more often by any legislative body with small increases to be considered to keep up with the cost of living. She stated the last time compensation was discussed and received by the Mayor and City Council was five (5) years ago and the last time the Mayor and City Council received an increase was in 1998. Councilmember Cox stated she would suggest a nominal increase. Mrs. Zeigler stated the position of the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office is that Cost of Living Allowances are not allowed to be given to a Mayor or members of City Council. Councilmember Tekac stated he would be much more in favor of increasing the Mayoral salary than that of Council, but that was his opinion. He stated if a decision is made to take it before them for consideration, it would have to go before City Council prior to the upcoming election because it cannot be implemented until after the election. After some discussion, Mrs. Zeigler stated she would take it before City Council at their regular meeting in September. e. DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE STUDY Mr. Tyler Howanyk stated the last time the City performed a Development Impact Fee Study was in 2018, and the costs of construction have gone up and the fees that were set for Fire Station IV are low in comparison to other municipalities. He stated he was requesting $58,000 from the General Fund fund balance to go ahead and get the study started and in the current budget leave the Impact Fee the same, because we do not know what the amount will be after the study. He stated once it passes, the amount can be raised by way of consideration from City Council. f. DISCUSSION OF GOLF COURSE AND POOL HOUSE PARKING LOT EXPANSION OR RESURFACING AND GOLF COURSE RESTROOM ADDITION Mrs. Zeigler stated in 2024, City staff was directed by City Council to look at expanding the parking lot at Crowfield Golf. She stated City staff knows the parking lot needs resurfacing, as well as new lighting and landscaping. She stated City staff has been working with the engineering firm, approved by City Council, for the expansion of the parking lot and within their council packet was a design for the expansion. She stated City staff was seeking feedback as to whether they wished for the parking lot to be expanded or just resurfaced with new lighting and landscaping. After some discussion amongst City Council, the general consensus was to move forward with the resurfacing Page 2 of 4  of the parking lot with new lighting and landscaping. Mrs. Zeigler also briefed City Council of the status of the addition for a restroom and wherein they were provided with the schematic design. Mr. Sanders and Mrs. Zeigler thoroughly answered all of City Council’s questions. Mayor Habib stated the next step should be to come up with a cost estimator before moving forward and putting the projects out for bid. g. REMODEL OF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICES Mr. Howanyk briefed City Council regarding the remodel of the Human Resources (HR) Offices. He stated City staff have evaluated the current HR office layout and identified space limitations that hinder operations and affect service delivery. He stated the City’s Fire Marshal is currently working out of a janitor’s closet and new employee orientations are conducted in spaces not designed for training, limiting the effectiveness of the onboarding process. HR staff regularly handle confidential matters, including benefits, personnel issues, accommodations, and disciplinary discussions and the existing layout does not allow adequate privacy, creating risk to confidentiality and reducing employee trust. The costs associated with the remodel and furniture were provided and discussed with City Council. All of City Council’s questions were thoroughly answered. Mayor Habib directed City staff bring the item before City Council at their regular meeting in September. h. FIRE APPARATUS REPAIRS Mr. Howanyk stated Engine 12 had a catastrophic mechanical issue which has resulted in a warped head in the motor. He stated the total repair will cost approximately $35,000. He stated the fire apparatus was needed and there is money in Fund Balance to cover the cost for repairs. All of City Council’s questions were thoroughly answered. Mayor Habib directed City staff bring the item before City Council at their regular meeting in September. i. 2025/2026 STATE SRO GRANT Mr. Howanyk stated the City has been awarded a State Grant that provides funding for two additional school-based positions, bringing the total number of State-funded schools supported by this program to seven. The grant fully covers salary and benefits for these new positions, as well as the purchase of vehicles and equipment necessary for their duties. He stated the City will have to use Fund Balance to purchase the equipment and vehicles upfront, but that the City will be refunded the monies from the State. j. DISCUSSION REGARDING TREE FUND AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD FOREST GRANT Mr. Howanyk stated City staff was requesting $150,000 to be used out of the Tree Trust Fund balance for additional costs associated with upcoming plantings for tree canopies within the City as well as a Sustainable Food Forest to be added to John McCants Veteran Park. He stated there are plenty of funds and this was the intended use for the Tree Trust Fund. Ms. Emma Hall and Mrs. Wise provided City Council with a descriptive overview of the project. All of City Council’s questions were thoroughly answered. Mayor Habib directed City staff bring the item before City Council at their regular meeting in September. k. PURCHASE OF VEHICLE FOR BUILDING INSPECTION DIVISION Mr. Howanyk stated City staff was requesting $41,000 from the Fund Balance to purchase a new Page 3 of 4  vehicle for the Building Inspection Division due to the recent addition of a new Building Inspector position that was approved by City Council. The new vehicle will be assigned to the Chief Building Official, and the Chief’s current vehicle will then be reassigned to the newly approved Building Inspector, allowing both inspectors to be adequately equipped for field inspections. All of City Council’s questions were thoroughly answered. Mayor Habib directed City staff bring the item before City Council at their regular meeting in September. l. MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA INNOVATIVE MUNICIPAL PROJECTS FOR ADVANCING CHANGE AND TRANSFORMATION ("IMPACT") FUND - BIG IDEA GRANT RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT Mrs. Kiser stated the Municipal Association of SC is supporting local economic development initiatives through the Hometown Economic Development Grant program, commonly known as HEDG. She stated MASC is redoing the grant and opening it up a little more and the City is applying for the "Big Idea Grant". The Big Idea Grant is for $100,000 with a $5,000 match from the City. She stated this grant is designed for municipalities with bold, creative and forward-thinking ideas; and after speaking with the City’s IT Director, if awarded the grant, City staff would look at possibly moving forward with AI integration in some of the City’s practices. Mrs. Kiser provided City Council with a breakdown of the planning moving forward if the City is awarded with the grant. III. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Councilmember Harmon Discussion: None. Carried: All ayes. 7:02 p.m. Date: September 9, 2025 Kelly J. Lovette, MMC City Clerk Page 4 of 4