City Council — Goose Creek, SC
Date: 2025-08-26

AGENDA
 CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
 TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2025 – 5:30 PM
 FIRE STATION I - 201 BUTTON HALL BOULEVARD
 GOOSE CREEK, SOUTH CAROLINA

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. BUSINESS ITEM(S)

 a. BUILD THE BENCH INTERN CAPSTONE PRESENTATION

 b. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED DESTINATION DISTRICT PHASE II PLANNED DEVELOPMENT
 ALONG NORTH GOOSE CREEK BOULEVARD/OLD MOUNT HOLLY ROAD

 c. DISCUSSION REGARDING ZONING AND DRIVE THROUGH USES

 d. DISCUSSION OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMPENSATION

 e. DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE STUDY

 f. DISCUSSION OF GOLF COURSE AND POOL HOUSE PARKING LOT EXPANSION OR
 RESURFACING AND GOLF COURSE RESTROOM ADDITION

 g. REMODEL OF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICES

 h. FIRE APPARATUS REPAIRS

 i. 2025/2026 STATE SRO GRANT

 j. DISCUSSION REGARDING TREE FUND AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD FOREST GRANT

 k. PURCHASE OF VEHICLE FOR BUILDING INSPECTION DIVISION

 l. MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA INNOVATIVE MUNICIPAL PROJECTS FOR
 ADVANCING CHANGE AND TRANSFORMATION ("IMPACT") FUND - BIG IDEA GRANT
 RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT

III. ADJOURN

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