0 2 0 2 / 9 1 20 Season
Town Notes ot es
Tickets are available online at www.kiawahisland.org/events. All events are open to the public, but Kiawah property owners have a 3-day lead time on tickets for Arts Council events. *Cultural events (in purple) have only one release date.
February
Get Ready for the 2020 Census
Saturday, March 14, 2020 Church of Our Saviour | 7:30 p.m. Ticket Release: Kiawah 2/25 Public 2/28 Cost: No Charge
Thursday, February 6, 2020 The Seabrook Island Club | 7:30 p.m. Ticket Release: Kiawah 1/20 Public 1/23 Cost: $10
Georgia Guitar Quartet
Sunday, February 9, 2020 Church of Our Saviour | 4:00 p.m. Ticket Release: Kiawah 1/21 Public 1/24
Feb. 21: Pavarotti Mar. 20: The Gold Rush The Sandcastle | 3:00 -5:00 p.m. No Tickets Required
4475 Betsy Kerrison Drive Kiawah Island, SC 29455 • 843-768-9166 • www.kiawahisland.org
Charleston Men’s Chorus
Bob Milne Ragtime & Boogie Woogie Piano
Art Film Series (Fridays)
2020 Quarter 1
New Title!
Yuriy Bekker Piano Quartet
Friday, February 21, 2020 Church of Our Saviour | 7:30 p.m. Ticket Release: Kiawah 2/4 Public 2/7 Cost: No Charge
Quentin E. Baxter presents Kate McGarry
Sunday, February 23, 2020 Turtle Point Clubhouse | 5:00 p.m. Ticket Release: 11/15 Cost: $25 or $60 for series via baxtermusic.com
March Charleston Symphony Orchestra
Sunday, March 8, 2020 Holy Spirit Catholic Church | 4:00 p.m. Ticket Release: Kiawah 2/18 Public 2/21 Cost: No Charge
Once a decade, America comes together to count every resident in the United States. The decennial census was first taken in 1790, as mandated by the Constitution. The 2020 Census will mark the 24th time the country has counted its population.
Quentin E. Baxter presents Chico Pinheiro
Sunday, March 15, 2020 Turtle Point Clubhouse | 5:00 p.m. Ticket Release: 11/15 Cost: $25 or $60 for series via baxtermusic.com
The census is much more than just a headcount. The data is of paramount importance to the nation and is used in determining representation in Congress, boundaries for voting and school districts, and allocation of billions of dollars in funding for many federal programs. That's why an accurate count is so important.
Piano Bar Series (Wednesdays)
The Census Bureau is bound by Title 13 of the U.S. Code to keep your information confidential. It cannot release any identifiable information about you, your home, or your business, even to law enforcement agencies. The answers you provide are used only to produce statistics and are kept anonymous.
Mar. 18: Blue Heron Pond Boys Apr. 1: Glenn Brown Apr. 29: Chris Dodson The Sandcastle | 5:00 -7:00 p.m. No Tickets Required
Important Dates March 2020—The public can begin responding to the 2020 Census. See response methods below.
College of Charleston: Student Chamber Music Ensemble Sunday, March 22, 2020 Church of Our Saviour | 4:00 p.m. Ticket Release: Kiawah 3/3 Public 3/6 Cost: No Charge
April Art Film Series
Apr. 10: Exit Through the Gift Shop Town of Kiawah Municipal Center 3:00 -5:00 p.m. New No Tickets Required
April 1, 2020— Census Day is observed nationwide. By this date, every home will receive an invitation to participate. Response methods include: • Online response (new) www.2020census.gov • Mail-back paper response • Calls to the Census Questionnaire Assistance tollfree hotline (844-330-2020) • Responses through in-person nonresponse followup
Venue!
June 2020 through July 2020—Census takers go door to door to count people who have not responded. Census takers are Census Bureau employees and will provide proof that they are official government personnel.
Tuesday, April 14, 2020 The Seabrook Island Club | 7:30 p.m. Ticket Release: Kiawah 3/27 Public 3/30 Cost: $10
December 31, 2020—As required by law, the Census Bureau reports to the President of the United States the population count and the apportionment of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives to each state.
Blues by the Sea
2021—Initial 2020 Census data are made available to the public on census.gov.
Fred Moyer Jazz Trio
Sunday, April 19, 2020 Freshfields Village | 3:00 -7:00 p.m. No Tickets Required
For more information, visit www.2020census.gov or call 800-923-8282.
The 2020 Census marks the first time you will have the option to respond online. By April 1, 2020, every home will receive an invitation to participate. Once the invitation arrives, you should respond in one of three ways: online, by phone, or by mail. Please be aware the Census Bureau will never ask you for your Social Security number, money or donations, political affiliations, or your bank or credit card account numbers. If someone claiming to be from the Census Bureau contacts you via email or phone and asks you for one of these things, it's a scam, and you should not cooperate. If you suspect fraud, call 800-923-8282 to speak with a local Census Bureau representative. The 2020 Census will ask questions relating to: • How many people are living or at your home. • Whether the home is owned or rented. • The sex of each person in your home. • The age of each person in your home. • The race of each person in your home. • Whether a person in your home is of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin. • The relationship of each person in your home.
Shop | Sip | Socialize | Stay
Events @
The Art of Adventure: A Weekend of Art & Film
www.freshfieldsvillage.com
Freshfields is hosting Benjamin Walls, for an art exhibit and private film screening. The weekend-long event will feature works from Benjamin Walls Gallery and a pre-release screening of KIFARU on the Village Green. The Art of Adventure: A Weekend of Art & Film will take place February 14 to 17, 2020 to coincide with the annual Freshfields Village Art & Wine Walk.
Cars & Coffee July 20, August 17, September 21 and October 19 9-11 a.m.
Anhinga – Bob Hill
Town Notes | Q1 Town Office Closures Monday, February 17, 2020– Presidents' Day
Solid Waste Notices February
No change in service.
March
Brown Trash & Hazardous Waste Collection: Friday, March 6. See adjacent article.
April
Paper Shredding – Thursday, April 23 | 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Municipal Center. Please remove all clips. Staples do not have to be removed.
Want to go Paperless?
If you would prefer to read Town Notes digitally and stop receiving the hard copy, please email klaughlin@kiawahisland.org to be removed from the mailing list. Please include your name and mailing address in your request.
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Calling all car enthusiasts! Arrive in your favorite ride for Cars and Coffee at Freshfields Village on the 3rd Saturday of every month. The free event will feature antiques, classics, exotics, concepts and any other cool cars. Coffee and other refreshments available for purchase by Java Java Coffee House.
Brown Trash & Hazardous Waste Collection - Friday, March 6
As a contemporary renaissance man, Benjamin Walls is an internationally acclaimed artist, avid environmentalist, and successful entrepreneur. Walls’ artwork has received seven international awards, and has been displayed in dozens of museums, including five exhibits at the Smithsonian and twice at the Natural History Museum of London. His work with major conservation organizations such as the Jane Goodall Institute has assisted nonprofits in raising over $500,000.
All brown trash must be placed on the curb by 7:00 a.m. to ensure collection. Hazardous waste cannot be placed at the curb and must be brought to the Municipal Center (4475 Betsy Kerrison Pkwy.) for disposal between 8:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. For larger items such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, etc., please call Carolina Waste at 843-576-1100 to schedule a pickup at an additional cost. What classifies as Brown Trash? Lawn chairs, grills, folding or beach chairs, mattresses & box springs (single or twin only), bicycles, strollers and small appliances (vacuums, toaster ovens, toasters, microwaves). What classifies as Hazardous Waste? Computers, monitors, televisions, printers, household & garden chemical, used motor oil, oil filters, antifreeze, paint and paint remover, varnish, pesticides, batteries, CFL/fluorescent/ incandescent bulbs.
Stay Connected Are you subscribed to the Town’s biweekly email notifications? To be added, send your name and email address to sbraswell@kiawahisland.org.
We're Social
Spring Sip & Stroll 3rd Thursday of the Month March-May 4 -7 p.m. Visit participating stores and restaurants during the monthly Sip & Stroll for special in-store events, sales and promotions along with sips and light snacks.
Schedule
Friday, February 14 Benjamin Walls Exhibit (10 a.m. to 9 p.m.) Art & Wine Walk (4 to 7 p.m.) Opening reception with Benjamin Walls (5:30 p.m.)
Saturday, February 15 Benjamin Walls Exhibit (9 a.m. to 9 p.m.) Exclusive Screening of KIFARU (4 p.m.) Sunday, February 16 Benjamin Walls Exhibit (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.) Monday, February 17 Benjamin Walls Exhibit (10 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
Benjamin Walls will be available throughout the weekend to personalize copies of his book BEYOND, with a foreword by Dolly Parton. Additional presentations and events will be added throughout the weekend. Check www.freshfieldsvillage.com for more details!
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Adolescence is a time where proper nutrition is critical because it is when brain development occurs. Without proper nutrients, development falters, resulting in long term adverse effects on learning abilities. Children living in food-insecure households experience more illnesses, frequent headaches, higher rates of hospitalization, anemia, asthma, tooth decay, and chronic conditions, including high blood pressure.
On Johns Island and Wadmalaw Island, they served at least fifty children at five partner sites, only a part of the more extensive tri-county program that serves more than 54,000 meals, including 3,000 pounds of fresh produce. At the Johns Island and Wadmalaw sites, there has been an increase in the attendance at the sites of 174% from 2018 to 2019. The LCFB is a reoccurring recipient of the Town’s charitable grant fund. Last year, the Town awarded $9,500 to the LCFB’s Summer Meals Program. That funding provided a portion of the total cost for the program on Johns and Wadmalaw Islands, which is $18,560.
During the school year, the Lowcountry Food Bank partners with public schools to provide essential meals to children and their families through BackPack Buddies, Kids Café, and School Pantry programs as well as other non-profit organizations that partner with LCFB. For many children, the final school bell of the year signifies three months of fun, but for others, summer means a season of food insecurity. This is painfully true in our backyard. On Johns Island, nearly 80% of children who attend public school in the area qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. Families who rely on school meals have a tough time feeding their children when school is out of session. According to No Kid Hungry, 43 percent of low-income families reveal it is harder to make ends meet during summer. To combat this issue, the Lowcountry Food Bank (LCFB) participates in the Summer Food Service Program, administered by the USDA. LCFB sponsors and distributes meals for kids through a series of Pop Up Picnics that run Monday – Friday from June to August, making it possible for children 18 years old and younger to enjoy delicious and nutritional food without charge.
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Mayor Craig Weaver visited the Johns Island Rural Housing Pop Up Picnic site over the summer. He participated in the Summer Splash event that included lunch, fresh produce, shelf stable pantry boxes, and activities for children and their families. Lowcountry Foodbank staff and volunteers distributed fresh fruit and produce like bananas, apples, oranges, carrots, and cucumbers. If you are interested in learning more, visit their website at www.lowcountryfoodbank.org
Charitable Contribution Update
In October, Former Councilmember John Wilson and Bruce Stemerman presented $2,000 contribution to Brenda Falls, Director of the Barrier Island Free Medical Clinic on behalf of Cars on Kiawah. Barrier Island Free Medical Clinic is a reoccurring recipient of the Town's charitable contribution fund.
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Charitable Contribution Spotlight
Mayor’s Corner With the myriad of communication channels available today, one might think that it would be easier than ever to keep a community informed. But keeping Kiawah's 3,500 property owners involved and informed is challenging. Last year the Town's twelve committees, involving 50 property-owner members, held 119 open public meetings covering a wide range of issues. To keep our community informed, we published four editions of Town Notes, emailed 24 regularly scheduled bi-weekly eblasts, sent another 41 special eblasts on specific news topics, and published 78 special news items on the Town's website. In addition, the Town maintains an up-to-date website with information and news directed separately at residents/property owners, visitors, and businesses. Monthly Council meetings are live-streamed, and all of our other committees' agendas and minutes are published. Finally, many Town news items are reported in other publications such as the Island Connection and KICA's publications or are disseminated on our social media sites Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. In all, over 6,000 people subscribe to one or more of our regular publications. With all these communications, why are residents and property owners too often unaware of events and issues affecting their community and perceive themselves to be out of the loop? If your experience is anything like mine, I am overwhelmed by the daily communications that I receive. Even the most dedicated resident or property owner would be challenged to stay attuned to everything going on of interest to them. I may receive in any given week multiple communications from a number of Kiawah's governing, commercial, and community organizations. All of these communications are useful, and I am interested in the content, yet too often, I gloss over the content
or, even worse, hit "delete." Ensuring that the Town's communications are "heard" by Kiawah's property owners is made more difficult because we all have such different communication preferences. Many residents prefer email, use our website, and follow social media, while others still prefer traditional publications. Adding to the challenge, fewer than a third of our property owners are full-time residents of Kiawah, so connecting with everyone in our community can be all the more difficult. Non-resident property owners share most of the same interests about staying informed about the Town and Town issues. Looking back at a poll of property owners from a couple of years ago, when asked about their top concerns and priorities, there was little or no difference between the priorities and interests of resident and non-resident property owners. Both segments of the community were principally concerned with keeping Kiawah a "premier" community, maintaining the beach, dunes and natural environment, improving property values, ensuring public safety, and improving road access to Kiawah. Despite the challenge, we remain committed to providing you with timely information about Kiawah and the actions of the Town government. If you have time for only one communication from the Town, I urge that you subscribe to our bi-weekly eblast, if you do not already. This will ensure the most timely information, and this communication provides links to other news and information that you might find useful. It is also the Town's primary channel for disseminating information during an emergency, like a storm or road closure. If you aren't receiving this, please subscribe at any time at www.kiawahisland.org/bi-weekly-email-notices. Finally, if you can't find the information you're looking for, you are always welcome to reach out to our Town Communications Manager Stephanie Braswell at sbraswell@kiawahisland.org, our Town Administrator, Stephanie Tillerson, at stillerson@kiawahisland.org or me at cweaver@kiawahisland.org.
Planning Efforts Begin
The 2021 PGA Championship at The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort will be played May 17-23, 2021. Although the event is more than a year away, PGA of America staff members are on the ground planning for South Carolina’s second-ever major championship. Championship Director, Scott Reid and a team of four relocated to the area and have an office at Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s East Beach Village. Group hospitality sales for chalet and skyboxes are on-sale. Ticket and volunteer opportunities will become available early this year. For more information visit www.pgachampionship.com/attend/2021/ tickets.
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Quarter In Review In October, Town Council
• Approved the second and final reading of Ordinance 2019-02 to adopt the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Budget. • Approved the first reading of Ordinance 2019-08, repealing Article 15, General Offenses, Chapter 8, Short-Term Rental Permit, and regulations of the Municipal Code; by amending Article 14, General Regulations and adding Chapter 5, Short- Term Rental Application and Regulations. • Held a public hearing and approved the first reading of Ordinance 2019-07 - Chapter 12, Land Use Planning and Zoning, by amending Article II, Division 3, Section 12-102. -Principal Uses and Use Regulations; Article IV, Section 12- 374.-Definitions; and adding Article I, Division 31, Section 12- 107. -Short-Term Rentals. • Approved to send a letter of support of the Medical University of South Carolina's Certificate of Need Application to the Department of Health and Environmental Control for a freestanding emergency department and medical office building to be located at 1884 Seabrook Island Road. • Held a special call meeting and entered into executive session to receive legal advice on the short-term rental ordinance related to destination/vacation clubs and voted to authorize the Town Attorney to negotiate any potential hearing or appeal of Exclusive Resorts' business license denial or revocation.
• Approved the 2019-2020 Kiawah Conservancy project funding (see pg. 8). • Reviewed the alligator audit update (see pg. 6).
In December, Town Council
• Approved employee health insurance assistance for 2020.
• Approved to enter into a contract with Segra for internet and phone service. • Approved to enter into a contract with Island Beach Service for evening code enforcement services of the Town’s Short- Term Rental Ordinance. • Approved a new position for a Short-Term Rental Compliance Clerk. • Approved the 2020 meeting schedules. • Approved the settlement agreement with Exclusive Resorts, LLC. Expanded information on the items above are available at www.kiawahisland.org/meetings-minutes/town-council
St. Johns Fire District
Jenkins. The report is available at www.kiawahisland.org/transparency. • Approved the McCormick Taylor Kiawah Island Parkway conceptual plan. • Approved the contract with Outdoor Spatial Design for the Kiawah Island Parkway landscape design in the amount of $49,250.00 (see pg. 6). • Approved the professional services agreement and contracted with Three+ One to provide cashVest® liquidity & treasury analyses services. • Approved the Town Attorney contract for Joseph Wilson. • Approved the second and final reading of Ordinance 2019-08 - Repealing Article 15, General Offenses, Chapter 8, Short-Term Rental Permit and Regulations of the Kiawah Island Municipal Code; by amending Article 14, General Regulations and adding Chapter 5, Short-Term Rental Application and Regulations. • Approved the second and final reading of Ordinance 2019-07 - Chapter 12, Land Use Planning and Zoning, by amending Article II, Division 3, Section 12-102. - Principal Uses and Use Regulations; Article IV, Section 12-374. - Definitions; and Adding Article I, Division 3, Section 12-107. - Short-Term Rentals. • Authorized the Mayor Pro Tem and Town Administrator to initiate a study of the property value and public policy implications of Kiawah's brand positioning, to include study scope, initial screening of consulting firms, costs, and approaches for inclusion of key stakeholder groups.
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A total of 611 sea turtle nests were deposited on Kiawah’s beach this year, including 35 found by SCDNR personnel on the far eastern end of the island. This is the highest nesting count ever recorded on Kiawah, topping the previous record of 402 set in 2013. The graph below shows the annual nest totals over the last 20 years. Kiawah also set another record this year. The first nest of the season was laid on Kiawah’s beach on April 26, making it the earliest documented nest ever along the South Carolina coast. Historically, Kiawah’s first nest is laid around May 10. Nest monitoring and protection on Kiawah Island are handled by the Kiawah Island Turtle Patrol, an all-volunteer organization supported by the Town. During 2019, a total of 257 volunteers participated in the program. This includes the nesting patrol, who travel the beach each morning via truck to locate and mark nests, and the hatching patrol. Hatching patrol volunteers patrol one-mile sections of the beach each day on foot to check each nest for signs of disturbance or hatching. Our volunteers worked long hours this year to keep up with the record number of nests, and we are grateful for their dedication and sacrifice. The 2020 nesting season officially begins on May 1.
Highlights 1st nest of the season for South Carolina was discovered on Kiawah on April 26, making it the earliest documented nest ever along the South Carolina coast. 611 Nests - Highest nest count recorded on Kiawah
For more information on volunteering, contact Lynne Sager by email at lynnesager@me.com.
In November, Town Council
• Viewed the FY 2019-2020 Audit Presentation by Mauldin
Turtle Patrol Season
By: Ryan Kunitzer Fire Marshal | Battalion Chief
The St. John’s Fire District recently took possession of the new Kiawah Island Station #6, located at the corner of Governors Drive and Flyway Drive. The new 9,600 square foot fire station includes expanded apparatus bays, improved living quarters, a workout room, and modern communications. The building was constructed to be fully operational following a major disaster or storm. “It is the duty of the St. John’s Fire District to respond during times of emergency and crisis,” said Fire Chief Colleen Walz. “We take tremendous pride in protecting the residents and visitors of Kiawah Island, and with new infrastructure like Station #6, we will be better prepared. Through the commitment and support of the District’s Fire Commissioners, projects like Fire Station #6 will protect and support Kiawah Island residents in critical emergencies.” Station #6 currently houses Engine 706 staffed with four firefighters. With the expansion of Station #6, additional firefighters and apparatus can be accommodated. The building was designed and constructed above the flood zone and meets current seismic and hurricane requirements. The station is equipped with modern safety amenities, which include an apparatus exhaust system, separate gear washing rooms, and a dedicated personal protective equipment room. For more information contact Chief Fire Marshal Ryan Kunitzer at r.kunitzer@stjfd.org or call 843-559-9194.
Sea Turtle Genetic Testing
By Alison Frey
Every spring, female loggerheads make their way to our shores to lay their eggs, sometimes nesting on our beaches up to six times in one nesting season. Nests begin to hatch in mid-summer, and hundreds of baby sea turtles (hatchlings) scurry into the ocean to start their life's journey. The Town of Kiawah Island Turtle Patrol works hard every season to protect the nests that are laid on our beach. One of the duties of the nesting patrol is to locate new nests, and when they do, they take a fresh egg from every nest so that it can be used for DNA sampling, also known as genetic testing. Every egg is like a fingerprint for that nesting female sea turtle, and exciting discoveries are being made with this testing. Kiawah Island, along with all the coastal beaches of South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and a few northern beaches in Florida, participates in the Sea Turtle Genetics Study hosted at the University of Georgia. It's the only genetic study of its kind. Loggerheads nesting in these states make up the Northern Recovery Unit (NRU) and are genetically distinct from loggerheads nesting in other parts of the world. This study was developed over Michael Watts ten years ago by Dr. Joseph Nairn, Georgia Department of Natural Resources Senior Biologist, Mark Dodd, and University of Georgia Research Assistant, Dr. Brian Shamblin, who led the discovery on extracting DNA from eggs shells. The Northern Recovery Unit (Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina) has been documenting female nesting turtles for nine years. The project monitors and samples over 1,000 miles of coastline each nesting season. DNA genetic testing can identify every individual nesting female and provide information on the size of our nesting population. In addition to estimating how many females are nesting in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina each year, we also have the potential to answer the following questions: How many nests does each female lay per year? Do females nest on more than one beach each year? How far apart are her nests? How many turtles are nesting in more than one state? How often does each turtle nest: every two years or more? Do female offspring return to their hatching site to nest? In 2018, this research showed one female traveled to five different beaches starting with two nests in Georgia, two nests in North Carolina, and then finally came to Kiawah to lay her last nest of the season. She averaged roughly 15 days in between each nest. Kiawah has had almost 90 females nesting on our beaches that returned to the nest two years in a row. This study will show us every 9 female that lays a nest on the shores of our state and the NRU.
Fall Migration Banding Summary
By Aaron Given, Wildlife Biologist
In addition to tracking migration patterns and monitoring populations, bird banding data is important because birds are indicator species. Since they can be sensitive to environmental changes, their behavior can be used to diagnose the health of an ecosystem. The 2019 fall migration banding season marked the 11th year of monitoring fall migration on Kiawah Island. This year the team banded 7,146 birds and had 1,670 recaptures of 104 different species at the two banding sites: Captain Sam’s (west end) and Little Bear (east end).
Captain Sam's Site
Captain Sam's had a 13.7% increase in the number of birds banded compared to last fall. 4,586 new birds were banded of 86 different species which included three species never banded at this site during the fall: Sora, Seaside Sparrow, and Fox Sparrow. This was the first time a Fox Sparrow has been documented on Kiawah Island! Top 5 Species Banded: 1. Common Yellowthroat (1,219) 2. Gray Catbird (703) 3. Yellow-rumped Warbler (656) 4. American Redstart (230) 5. Palm Warbler (217)
First Time Capture This was the first time a Fox Sparrow has been banded on Kiawah Island.
Little Bear Site
Little Bear exhibited a 5.6% decrease in the number of birds banded and had a 12.8% decrease from its five-year average. This site has experienced significant changes in habitat over the last three years. Increased flooding caused by large tides and storms has brought excessive saltwater that has killed many of the shrubs that created food and cover for many birds in this area. 2,560 new birds were banded of 78 different species, which included four species never banded at this site during the fall: Solitary Sandpiper, Loggerhead Shrike, Winter Wren, and Nelson's Sparrow. This is the first time a Solitary Sandpiper has ever been banded on Kiawah Island. Top 5 Species Banded: 1. Common Yellowthroat (627) 2. Gray Catbird (539) 3. Palm Warbler (210) 4. Painted Bunting (158) 5. Yellow-rumped Warbler (105)
First Time Capture This was the first time a Solitary Sandpiper has been banded on Kiawah Island.
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Unusual Find
Another was an Ash-throated Flycatcher, which is a western species – a rare find in the eastern U.S. They breed in desert scrub, riparian forest, brushy pastures and open woodland from the western United States to central Mexico, and spend the winter in coastal Mexico and northern Central America. Some years this species strays far from its normal range and finds it way across the eastern US. This was one of those years. To read the full report, visit kiawahislandbanding.blogspot.com.
New Conservancy Projects The Town has partnered with and provided financial support to the Kiawah Conservancy for many years. This year the Town is excited to support two significant Conservancy projects that were recommended by the Environmental Committee. The two projects detailed below will be an essential contribution to the community's joint effort to address the issue of flooding and sea-level rise. Resiliency
Groundwater Table Research ($50,000)
The ecological health of a barrier island is directly tied to the availability of freshwater in the soil. This groundwater takes the form of a freshwater lens that "floats" on deeper saltwater. Saltwater inundation during storms, king-tide events, and eventually, sea-level rise can threaten the quality of the groundwater by increasing the salinity. This can lead to a die-off of trees and other plants, negatively impacting the entire island ecosystem. This project will be the first phase of a multi-phase project to monitor groundwater across Kiawah Island, with a focus on salinity level and water table height. This phase will provide baseline information about groundwater on Kiawah and assist in developing a long-term monitoring program for the island's freshwater lens. Funds will be used to install and monitor 30-40 wells across the island and to support a graduate student researcher to gather and analyze data. Dr. Tim Callahan, Chair of the Geology Department at the College of Charleston, will serve as the faculty advisor for the project. Resiliency
Marsh Vulnerability Study ($19,000)
Salt marshes are one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. They provide essential food, refuge, and nursery habitats for more than 75% of fisheries species. They also provide important protection for shorelines from erosion by buffering wave action and trapping sediments. Salt marshes reduce flooding by slowing and absorbing rainwater and protect water quality by filtering runoff and metabolizing excess nutrients. Sea-level rise and stormwater discharge have the potential to significantly impact the health of our salt marsh and produce negative impacts on the community. This project will be conducted by a graduate student under the supervision of Dr. Norm Levine at the College of Charleston. The study will use GIS software, LiDAR elevation data, and aerial photography to map the current extent of our salt marsh, document changes over the last several decades, identify human influences on the marsh (drainage outfalls, bulkheads, docks, bridges, and homes), and help model future marsh impacts from flooding and sea-level rise. The project will also identify vulnerable areas of the marsh, prioritize restoration projects, and assist in the development of a Marsh Management Plan for the island.
New Town Attorney At the end of last year, Town Council approved a contract to hire Attorney Joseph Wilson IV as the new Town Attorney beginning January 2020. He was appointed by Council at the January 7 meeting. Mr. Wilson has served as the City Attorney for the City of Folly Beach since April 2016 and Town Attorney for the Town of Ravenel since October 2018. Mr. Wilson was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee, graduated magna cum laude from Boston University and received his law degree from Duke University School of Law in 1990. He has been practicing law in Charleston for 29 years. From 1990 to 1999, he was an associate and then a partner at the Hood Law Firm before becoming a founding member of the Pierce, Sloan, Wilson, Kennedy, & Early Law Firm. He recently became "of counsel" at Pierce Sloan, to focus his practice on the representation of municipalities. Mr. Wilson's background is in complex litigation with an emphasis on commercial and business litigation, appellate advocacy, professional malpractice defense, products liability, civil rights defense (on behalf of the Insurance Reserve Fund), and insurance coverage. He will serve a one-year contract with the option for the Town to renew annually.
Real Estate Market Study As previously announced, the Town will engage with an independent firm to study Kiawah's property values and trends, market position, and brand positioning. The purpose is to analyze the island's current position in the market and evaluate what actions the community can take to ensure Kiawah experiences growing property values and remains an excellent place to own property and live or invest. More information will be distributed later this year.
Flood Mitigation & Sea Level Rise Resiliency
The Town, alongside all the island entities, is taking a proactive approach to address the issue of flood mitigation and sea-level rise. Look for this resiliency icon in this issue that highlights projects and information on resiliency efforts.
Short-Term Rentals The Town's amended short-term rental (STR) ordinance became effective January 1, 2020. The changes incorporate a combination of measures to better regulate the operation and impact of short-term rentals on the community. More information on the amendments is available at www.kiawahisland.org/businesslicenses/str
New Resources New webpages have been added to the Town's website that will provide property owners detailed information on the rental presence on the island to include a rental location map, 24-hour hotline, and an online reporting form to report problems quickly. Residents can find these new resources on the Town's website at www.kiawahisland.org under popular links or directly at www.kiawahisland.org/short-term-rentals.
Enforcement Measures The Town has increased the number of code enforcement officers to extend patrol into the evening. The officers will focus primarily on STR compliance but will respond to any complaints of ordinance violations after hours. Also, an STR compliance clerk position has been added to the Town's staff to aid in compliance measures, accommodation tax audits, and processing STR business licenses. Report A Problem If residents experience any problems with rental properties and their guests, please report the issue to the new 24-hour hotline at 843-259-2137 or through the online form at www.kiawahisland.org/report-a-violation
24-Hour Hotline | 843-259-2137
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Alligator Awareness Study
By Maryanne Connelly, Councilmember
Wildlife is a crucial element and asset to the Kiawah Island experience. To ensure both the public and wildlife are protected, a periodic review of best practices for co-existing with wildlife, particularly alligators, is necessary. Last fall, the Town created an alligator audit committee to review all aspects of Kiawah's alligator program. The committee included members from the Community Association, the Golf Resort, Town Biologists, and an alligator research specialist from Clemson University. The committee developed additional recommendations to increase the effectiveness of the island's current alligator program.
Finally, the committee reviewed Kiawah's alligator population numbers and current management strategies. The alligator population on Kiawah has remained stable over the last ten years. Since alligators self-regulate their population, wildlife professionals discourage the practice of culling. Large alligators, which are a concern to some, are vital to the population as they provide a sense of order and control. Their removal is disruptive and can cause an increase in alligator issues. The Town's current policy of removing only nuisance alligators based on behavioral characteristics, not size, should be continued. If you have questions about the study, please contact Jim Jordan at jjordan@kiawahisland.org
Parkway Improvement Project
1) Gate passes should bring more attention to the island's alligator population and highlight how to safely observe alligators, including what behavior to avoid to minimize encounters. Appropriate agency phone numbers should be listed to report issues and concerns. 2) The Town needs to continue to reinforce alligator awareness and safety messaging in publications and communication channels, as well as expand the information provided on the Town website. 3) There should be increased education and training for handling alligator issues for KICA security personnel and deputies. Possibly even the creation of an educational training video demonstrating various alligator safety scenarios. 4) The Town should continue to work with the Kiawah Resort and Kiawah Club golf operations to post warnings to players against approaching alligators while on the courses. The Nature Center should continue its educational programs regarding wildlife safety. 5) The Town should require rental properties to notify all renters of alligator safety information (implemented 2020). The Town should also encourage the placement of small placards on rental property decks and porch railings to highlight appropriate behavior concerning alligators. The signs should contain visual instruction for the benefit of non-English speaking guests. The Town will continue to encourage property owners to inform their guests to respect the uncertainty of alligator behavior.
Early last year, the Town communicated that it would be pursuing two road improvement projects. The first was the construction on Beachwalker Drive of an additional turn lane into Beachwalker Park to relieve traffic congestion from the increased use of the park. That project was completed in May 2019. The second major project will include repair and resurfacing of the Parkway from the roundabout at Freshfields to the front gate. Significant reconstruction will take place at the curve before Beachwalker Drive that has historically had flooding issues in significant weather events. Also, shoulder stabilization material will be installed under the sod in some areas that are prone to rutting. Since the Parkway is the only access on and off the island, a great deal of planning will go into scheduling the activity to maintain access and minimize the impact of construction on traffic. McCormick Taylor was hired for design and engineering services for the project and to evaluate potential design modifications to the road. That work is complete, has been reviewed by the Town’s Public Works Committee, and bid packages for the construction and paving have been released. Assuming acceptable bids are received, the project is slated to be completed before mid-May of this year.
6) All community entities should audit and maintain safety signs along bike/pedestrian paths since they are critical to The improvement project also includes plans to make public safety. New signs should be added as necessary. Resiliency significant enhancements to the landscaping along the Other optional suggestions included the addition of barrier Parkway. The original landscaping has proven to be not fences and observation decks in certain locations to add an salt-tolerant, and storm surge has damaged, and in many element of security while providing visitors an opportunity to areas, killed the vegetation. The new plans will utilize more observe alligators safely. Also, some areas might benefit from the than 80% native plants, incorporate strategies to reduce and installation of basking platforms or islands. filter stormwater runoff, minimize the use of pesticides, and enhance wildlife habitat. Outdoor Spatial Design (OSD) was
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selected to design the landscaping component, and initial conceptual renderings were distributed to the community for feedback in December. At the January meeting, OSD presented to Town Council its site analysis and various concepts for consideration. Through a consensus, Town Council directed OSD to put together an estimated cost to complete the project and on-going maintenance costs based on the selected conceptual rendering. Residents can see the complete rendering online at www.kiawahisland.org/kiawahisland-parkway-improvement-project-landscaping-update. Look for updates on the status of the project in our bi-weekly e-blast.
Kiawah’s Rising Deer Population By: Jim Jordan, Wildlife Biologist
White-tailed deer are very adaptable creatures and a common sight on all parts of Kiawah Island. Deer populations in suburban areas like Kiawah can become overabundant, increasing the risk of deer-vehicle collisions, zoonotic diseases, and damage to the surrounding environment. On Kiawah, deer numbers have been monitored since 1997 by Town Biologists using spotlight surveys. Surveys are conducted in early fall and late winter each year and then averaged together to create an annual estimate of deer density, expressed as deer per square mile. The 2019 Fall survey was completed in October, and the winter survey is scheduled for mid-January 2020. The official deer population estimate for 2019 will be available in early February 2020. The graph above provides densities from all fall surveys since 1997 and clearly shows an increase in deer numbers in recent years. Bobcats are the main deer predator on the island and have historically kept deer numbers in check. Data from the Town's ongoing Bobcat GPS study suggest that Kiawah's bobcat population has declined significantly in the last two to three years, likely due to habitat loss and a subsequent increase in mortality rates. Also, biologists have discovered that at least one bobcat has died from consuming toxic levels of rat poison. This is a concerning trend that we hope can be reversed so that bobcats can continue to provide natural control of the island's deer population. The Town is currently investigating deer management strategies. To help in the decision-making process, the Town conducted a survey of homeowners regarding deer presence on the island in October 2019. Overall, opinions on deer were split relatively evenly. The biggest concern about deer is deer-vehicle accidents. A summary of the survey results is below. The full results are available at www.kiawahisland.org/deer-survey-results.
86% of residents enjoy seeing deer on Kiawah
56% of residents have had landscaping damaged by deer in the last year
54% of residents would like to see a reduction in deer 7
Alligator Awareness Study
By Maryanne Connelly, Councilmember
Wildlife is a crucial element and asset to the Kiawah Island experience. To ensure both the public and wildlife are protected, a periodic review of best practices for co-existing with wildlife, particularly alligators, is necessary. Last fall, the Town created an alligator audit committee to review all aspects of Kiawah's alligator program. The committee included members from the Community Association, the Golf Resort, Town Biologists, and an alligator research specialist from Clemson University. The committee developed additional recommendations to increase the effectiveness of the island's current alligator program.
Finally, the committee reviewed Kiawah's alligator population numbers and current management strategies. The alligator population on Kiawah has remained stable over the last ten years. Since alligators self-regulate their population, wildlife professionals discourage the practice of culling. Large alligators, which are a concern to some, are vital to the population as they provide a sense of order and control. Their removal is disruptive and can cause an increase in alligator issues. The Town's current policy of removing only nuisance alligators based on behavioral characteristics, not size, should be continued. If you have questions about the study, please contact Jim Jordan at jjordan@kiawahisland.org
Parkway Improvement Project
1) Gate passes should bring more attention to the island's alligator population and highlight how to safely observe alligators, including what behavior to avoid to minimize encounters. Appropriate agency phone numbers should be listed to report issues and concerns. 2) The Town needs to continue to reinforce alligator awareness and safety messaging in publications and communication channels, as well as expand the information provided on the Town website. 3) There should be increased education and training for handling alligator issues for KICA security personnel and deputies. Possibly even the creation of an educational training video demonstrating various alligator safety scenarios. 4) The Town should continue to work with the Kiawah Resort and Kiawah Club golf operations to post warnings to players against approaching alligators while on the courses. The Nature Center should continue its educational programs regarding wildlife safety. 5) The Town should require rental properties to notify all renters of alligator safety information (implemented 2020). The Town should also encourage the placement of small placards on rental property decks and porch railings to highlight appropriate behavior concerning alligators. The signs should contain visual instruction for the benefit of non-English speaking guests. The Town will continue to encourage property owners to inform their guests to respect the uncertainty of alligator behavior.
Early last year, the Town communicated that it would be pursuing two road improvement projects. The first was the construction on Beachwalker Drive of an additional turn lane into Beachwalker Park to relieve traffic congestion from the increased use of the park. That project was completed in May 2019. The second major project will include repair and resurfacing of the Parkway from the roundabout at Freshfields to the front gate. Significant reconstruction will take place at the curve before Beachwalker Drive that has historically had flooding issues in significant weather events. Also, shoulder stabilization material will be installed under the sod in some areas that are prone to rutting. Since the Parkway is the only access on and off the island, a great deal of planning will go into scheduling the activity to maintain access and minimize the impact of construction on traffic. McCormick Taylor was hired for design and engineering services for the project and to evaluate potential design modifications to the road. That work is complete, has been reviewed by the Town’s Public Works Committee, and bid packages for the construction and paving have been released. Assuming acceptable bids are received, the project is slated to be completed before mid-May of this year.
6) All community entities should audit and maintain safety signs along bike/pedestrian paths since they are critical to The improvement project also includes plans to make public safety. New signs should be added as necessary. Resiliency significant enhancements to the landscaping along the Other optional suggestions included the addition of barrier Parkway. The original landscaping has proven to be not fences and observation decks in certain locations to add an salt-tolerant, and storm surge has damaged, and in many element of security while providing visitors an opportunity to areas, killed the vegetation. The new plans will utilize more observe alligators safely. Also, some areas might benefit from the than 80% native plants, incorporate strategies to reduce and installation of basking platforms or islands. filter stormwater runoff, minimize the use of pesticides, and enhance wildlife habitat. Outdoor Spatial Design (OSD) was
6
selected to design the landscaping component, and initial conceptual renderings were distributed to the community for feedback in December. At the January meeting, OSD presented to Town Council its site analysis and various concepts for consideration. Through a consensus, Town Council directed OSD to put together an estimated cost to complete the project and on-going maintenance costs based on the selected conceptual rendering. Residents can see the complete rendering online at www.kiawahisland.org/kiawahisland-parkway-improvement-project-landscaping-update. Look for updates on the status of the project in our bi-weekly e-blast.
Kiawah’s Rising Deer Population By: Jim Jordan, Wildlife Biologist
White-tailed deer are very adaptable creatures and a common sight on all parts of Kiawah Island. Deer populations in suburban areas like Kiawah can become overabundant, increasing the risk of deer-vehicle collisions, zoonotic diseases, and damage to the surrounding environment. On Kiawah, deer numbers have been monitored since 1997 by Town Biologists using spotlight surveys. Surveys are conducted in early fall and late winter each year and then averaged together to create an annual estimate of deer density, expressed as deer per square mile. The 2019 Fall survey was completed in October, and the winter survey is scheduled for mid-January 2020. The official deer population estimate for 2019 will be available in early February 2020. The graph above provides densities from all fall surveys since 1997 and clearly shows an increase in deer numbers in recent years. Bobcats are the main deer predator on the island and have historically kept deer numbers in check. Data from the Town's ongoing Bobcat GPS study suggest that Kiawah's bobcat population has declined significantly in the last two to three years, likely due to habitat loss and a subsequent increase in mortality rates. Also, biologists have discovered that at least one bobcat has died from consuming toxic levels of rat poison. This is a concerning trend that we hope can be reversed so that bobcats can continue to provide natural control of the island's deer population. The Town is currently investigating deer management strategies. To help in the decision-making process, the Town conducted a survey of homeowners regarding deer presence on the island in October 2019. Overall, opinions on deer were split relatively evenly. The biggest concern about deer is deer-vehicle accidents. A summary of the survey results is below. The full results are available at www.kiawahisland.org/deer-survey-results.
86% of residents enjoy seeing deer on Kiawah
56% of residents have had landscaping damaged by deer in the last year
54% of residents would like to see a reduction in deer 7
Fall Migration Banding Summary
By Aaron Given, Wildlife Biologist
In addition to tracking migration patterns and monitoring populations, bird banding data is important because birds are indicator species. Since they can be sensitive to environmental changes, their behavior can be used to diagnose the health of an ecosystem. The 2019 fall migration banding season marked the 11th year of monitoring fall migration on Kiawah Island. This year the team banded 7,146 birds and had 1,670 recaptures of 104 different species at the two banding sites: Captain Sam’s (west end) and Little Bear (east end).
Captain Sam's Site
Captain Sam's had a 13.7% increase in the number of birds banded compared to last fall. 4,586 new birds were banded of 86 different species which included three species never banded at this site during the fall: Sora, Seaside Sparrow, and Fox Sparrow. This was the first time a Fox Sparrow has been documented on Kiawah Island! Top 5 Species Banded: 1. Common Yellowthroat (1,219) 2. Gray Catbird (703) 3. Yellow-rumped Warbler (656) 4. American Redstart (230) 5. Palm Warbler (217)
First Time Capture This was the first time a Fox Sparrow has been banded on Kiawah Island.
Little Bear Site
Little Bear exhibited a 5.6% decrease in the number of birds banded and had a 12.8% decrease from its five-year average. This site has experienced significant changes in habitat over the last three years. Increased flooding caused by large tides and storms has brought excessive saltwater that has killed many of the shrubs that created food and cover for many birds in this area. 2,560 new birds were banded of 78 different species, which included four species never banded at this site during the fall: Solitary Sandpiper, Loggerhead Shrike, Winter Wren, and Nelson's Sparrow. This is the first time a Solitary Sandpiper has ever been banded on Kiawah Island. Top 5 Species Banded: 1. Common Yellowthroat (627) 2. Gray Catbird (539) 3. Palm Warbler (210) 4. Painted Bunting (158) 5. Yellow-rumped Warbler (105)
First Time Capture This was the first time a Solitary Sandpiper has been banded on Kiawah Island.
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Unusual Find
Another was an Ash-throated Flycatcher, which is a western species – a rare find in the eastern U.S. They breed in desert scrub, riparian forest, brushy pastures and open woodland from the western United States to central Mexico, and spend the winter in coastal Mexico and northern Central America. Some years this species strays far from its normal range and finds it way across the eastern US. This was one of those years. To read the full report, visit kiawahislandbanding.blogspot.com.
New Conservancy Projects The Town has partnered with and provided financial support to the Kiawah Conservancy for many years. This year the Town is excited to support two significant Conservancy projects that were recommended by the Environmental Committee. The two projects detailed below will be an essential contribution to the community's joint effort to address the issue of flooding and sea-level rise. Resiliency
Groundwater Table Research ($50,000)
The ecological health of a barrier island is directly tied to the availability of freshwater in the soil. This groundwater takes the form of a freshwater lens that "floats" on deeper saltwater. Saltwater inundation during storms, king-tide events, and eventually, sea-level rise can threaten the quality of the groundwater by increasing the salinity. This can lead to a die-off of trees and other plants, negatively impacting the entire island ecosystem. This project will be the first phase of a multi-phase project to monitor groundwater across Kiawah Island, with a focus on salinity level and water table height. This phase will provide baseline information about groundwater on Kiawah and assist in developing a long-term monitoring program for the island's freshwater lens. Funds will be used to install and monitor 30-40 wells across the island and to support a graduate student researcher to gather and analyze data. Dr. Tim Callahan, Chair of the Geology Department at the College of Charleston, will serve as the faculty advisor for the project. Resiliency
Marsh Vulnerability Study ($19,000)
Salt marshes are one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. They provide essential food, refuge, and nursery habitats for more than 75% of fisheries species. They also provide important protection for shorelines from erosion by buffering wave action and trapping sediments. Salt marshes reduce flooding by slowing and absorbing rainwater and protect water quality by filtering runoff and metabolizing excess nutrients. Sea-level rise and stormwater discharge have the potential to significantly impact the health of our salt marsh and produce negative impacts on the community. This project will be conducted by a graduate student under the supervision of Dr. Norm Levine at the College of Charleston. The study will use GIS software, LiDAR elevation data, and aerial photography to map the current extent of our salt marsh, document changes over the last several decades, identify human influences on the marsh (drainage outfalls, bulkheads, docks, bridges, and homes), and help model future marsh impacts from flooding and sea-level rise. The project will also identify vulnerable areas of the marsh, prioritize restoration projects, and assist in the development of a Marsh Management Plan for the island.
New Town Attorney At the end of last year, Town Council approved a contract to hire Attorney Joseph Wilson IV as the new Town Attorney beginning January 2020. He was appointed by Council at the January 7 meeting. Mr. Wilson has served as the City Attorney for the City of Folly Beach since April 2016 and Town Attorney for the Town of Ravenel since October 2018. Mr. Wilson was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee, graduated magna cum laude from Boston University and received his law degree from Duke University School of Law in 1990. He has been practicing law in Charleston for 29 years. From 1990 to 1999, he was an associate and then a partner at the Hood Law Firm before becoming a founding member of the Pierce, Sloan, Wilson, Kennedy, & Early Law Firm. He recently became "of counsel" at Pierce Sloan, to focus his practice on the representation of municipalities. Mr. Wilson's background is in complex litigation with an emphasis on commercial and business litigation, appellate advocacy, professional malpractice defense, products liability, civil rights defense (on behalf of the Insurance Reserve Fund), and insurance coverage. He will serve a one-year contract with the option for the Town to renew annually.
Real Estate Market Study As previously announced, the Town will engage with an independent firm to study Kiawah's property values and trends, market position, and brand positioning. The purpose is to analyze the island's current position in the market and evaluate what actions the community can take to ensure Kiawah experiences growing property values and remains an excellent place to own property and live or invest. More information will be distributed later this year.
Flood Mitigation & Sea Level Rise Resiliency
The Town, alongside all the island entities, is taking a proactive approach to address the issue of flood mitigation and sea-level rise. Look for this resiliency icon in this issue that highlights projects and information on resiliency efforts.
Short-Term Rentals The Town's amended short-term rental (STR) ordinance became effective January 1, 2020. The changes incorporate a combination of measures to better regulate the operation and impact of short-term rentals on the community. More information on the amendments is available at www.kiawahisland.org/businesslicenses/str
New Resources New webpages have been added to the Town's website that will provide property owners detailed information on the rental presence on the island to include a rental location map, 24-hour hotline, and an online reporting form to report problems quickly. Residents can find these new resources on the Town's website at www.kiawahisland.org under popular links or directly at www.kiawahisland.org/short-term-rentals.
Enforcement Measures The Town has increased the number of code enforcement officers to extend patrol into the evening. The officers will focus primarily on STR compliance but will respond to any complaints of ordinance violations after hours. Also, an STR compliance clerk position has been added to the Town's staff to aid in compliance measures, accommodation tax audits, and processing STR business licenses. Report A Problem If residents experience any problems with rental properties and their guests, please report the issue to the new 24-hour hotline at 843-259-2137 or through the online form at www.kiawahisland.org/report-a-violation
24-Hour Hotline | 843-259-2137
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Quarter In Review In October, Town Council
• Approved the second and final reading of Ordinance 2019-02 to adopt the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Budget. • Approved the first reading of Ordinance 2019-08, repealing Article 15, General Offenses, Chapter 8, Short-Term Rental Permit, and regulations of the Municipal Code; by amending Article 14, General Regulations and adding Chapter 5, Short- Term Rental Application and Regulations. • Held a public hearing and approved the first reading of Ordinance 2019-07 - Chapter 12, Land Use Planning and Zoning, by amending Article II, Division 3, Section 12-102. -Principal Uses and Use Regulations; Article IV, Section 12- 374.-Definitions; and adding Article I, Division 31, Section 12- 107. -Short-Term Rentals. • Approved to send a letter of support of the Medical University of South Carolina's Certificate of Need Application to the Department of Health and Environmental Control for a freestanding emergency department and medical office building to be located at 1884 Seabrook Island Road. • Held a special call meeting and entered into executive session to receive legal advice on the short-term rental ordinance related to destination/vacation clubs and voted to authorize the Town Attorney to negotiate any potential hearing or appeal of Exclusive Resorts' business license denial or revocation.
• Approved the 2019-2020 Kiawah Conservancy project funding (see pg. 8). • Reviewed the alligator audit update (see pg. 6).
In December, Town Council
• Approved employee health insurance assistance for 2020.
• Approved to enter into a contract with Segra for internet and phone service. • Approved to enter into a contract with Island Beach Service for evening code enforcement services of the Town’s Short- Term Rental Ordinance. • Approved a new position for a Short-Term Rental Compliance Clerk. • Approved the 2020 meeting schedules. • Approved the settlement agreement with Exclusive Resorts, LLC. Expanded information on the items above are available at www.kiawahisland.org/meetings-minutes/town-council
St. Johns Fire District
Jenkins. The report is available at www.kiawahisland.org/transparency. • Approved the McCormick Taylor Kiawah Island Parkway conceptual plan. • Approved the contract with Outdoor Spatial Design for the Kiawah Island Parkway landscape design in the amount of $49,250.00 (see pg. 6). • Approved the professional services agreement and contracted with Three+ One to provide cashVest® liquidity & treasury analyses services. • Approved the Town Attorney contract for Joseph Wilson. • Approved the second and final reading of Ordinance 2019-08 - Repealing Article 15, General Offenses, Chapter 8, Short-Term Rental Permit and Regulations of the Kiawah Island Municipal Code; by amending Article 14, General Regulations and adding Chapter 5, Short-Term Rental Application and Regulations. • Approved the second and final reading of Ordinance 2019-07 - Chapter 12, Land Use Planning and Zoning, by amending Article II, Division 3, Section 12-102. - Principal Uses and Use Regulations; Article IV, Section 12-374. - Definitions; and Adding Article I, Division 3, Section 12-107. - Short-Term Rentals. • Authorized the Mayor Pro Tem and Town Administrator to initiate a study of the property value and public policy implications of Kiawah's brand positioning, to include study scope, initial screening of consulting firms, costs, and approaches for inclusion of key stakeholder groups.
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A total of 611 sea turtle nests were deposited on Kiawah’s beach this year, including 35 found by SCDNR personnel on the far eastern end of the island. This is the highest nesting count ever recorded on Kiawah, topping the previous record of 402 set in 2013. The graph below shows the annual nest totals over the last 20 years. Kiawah also set another record this year. The first nest of the season was laid on Kiawah’s beach on April 26, making it the earliest documented nest ever along the South Carolina coast. Historically, Kiawah’s first nest is laid around May 10. Nest monitoring and protection on Kiawah Island are handled by the Kiawah Island Turtle Patrol, an all-volunteer organization supported by the Town. During 2019, a total of 257 volunteers participated in the program. This includes the nesting patrol, who travel the beach each morning via truck to locate and mark nests, and the hatching patrol. Hatching patrol volunteers patrol one-mile sections of the beach each day on foot to check each nest for signs of disturbance or hatching. Our volunteers worked long hours this year to keep up with the record number of nests, and we are grateful for their dedication and sacrifice. The 2020 nesting season officially begins on May 1.
Highlights 1st nest of the season for South Carolina was discovered on Kiawah on April 26, making it the earliest documented nest ever along the South Carolina coast. 611 Nests - Highest nest count recorded on Kiawah
For more information on volunteering, contact Lynne Sager by email at lynnesager@me.com.
In November, Town Council
• Viewed the FY 2019-2020 Audit Presentation by Mauldin
Turtle Patrol Season
By: Ryan Kunitzer Fire Marshal | Battalion Chief
The St. John’s Fire District recently took possession of the new Kiawah Island Station #6, located at the corner of Governors Drive and Flyway Drive. The new 9,600 square foot fire station includes expanded apparatus bays, improved living quarters, a workout room, and modern communications. The building was constructed to be fully operational following a major disaster or storm. “It is the duty of the St. John’s Fire District to respond during times of emergency and crisis,” said Fire Chief Colleen Walz. “We take tremendous pride in protecting the residents and visitors of Kiawah Island, and with new infrastructure like Station #6, we will be better prepared. Through the commitment and support of the District’s Fire Commissioners, projects like Fire Station #6 will protect and support Kiawah Island residents in critical emergencies.” Station #6 currently houses Engine 706 staffed with four firefighters. With the expansion of Station #6, additional firefighters and apparatus can be accommodated. The building was designed and constructed above the flood zone and meets current seismic and hurricane requirements. The station is equipped with modern safety amenities, which include an apparatus exhaust system, separate gear washing rooms, and a dedicated personal protective equipment room. For more information contact Chief Fire Marshal Ryan Kunitzer at r.kunitzer@stjfd.org or call 843-559-9194.
Sea Turtle Genetic Testing
By Alison Frey
Every spring, female loggerheads make their way to our shores to lay their eggs, sometimes nesting on our beaches up to six times in one nesting season. Nests begin to hatch in mid-summer, and hundreds of baby sea turtles (hatchlings) scurry into the ocean to start their life's journey. The Town of Kiawah Island Turtle Patrol works hard every season to protect the nests that are laid on our beach. One of the duties of the nesting patrol is to locate new nests, and when they do, they take a fresh egg from every nest so that it can be used for DNA sampling, also known as genetic testing. Every egg is like a fingerprint for that nesting female sea turtle, and exciting discoveries are being made with this testing. Kiawah Island, along with all the coastal beaches of South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and a few northern beaches in Florida, participates in the Sea Turtle Genetics Study hosted at the University of Georgia. It's the only genetic study of its kind. Loggerheads nesting in these states make up the Northern Recovery Unit (NRU) and are genetically distinct from loggerheads nesting in other parts of the world. This study was developed over Michael Watts ten years ago by Dr. Joseph Nairn, Georgia Department of Natural Resources Senior Biologist, Mark Dodd, and University of Georgia Research Assistant, Dr. Brian Shamblin, who led the discovery on extracting DNA from eggs shells. The Northern Recovery Unit (Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina) has been documenting female nesting turtles for nine years. The project monitors and samples over 1,000 miles of coastline each nesting season. DNA genetic testing can identify every individual nesting female and provide information on the size of our nesting population. In addition to estimating how many females are nesting in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina each year, we also have the potential to answer the following questions: How many nests does each female lay per year? Do females nest on more than one beach each year? How far apart are her nests? How many turtles are nesting in more than one state? How often does each turtle nest: every two years or more? Do female offspring return to their hatching site to nest? In 2018, this research showed one female traveled to five different beaches starting with two nests in Georgia, two nests in North Carolina, and then finally came to Kiawah to lay her last nest of the season. She averaged roughly 15 days in between each nest. Kiawah has had almost 90 females nesting on our beaches that returned to the nest two years in a row. This study will show us every 9 female that lays a nest on the shores of our state and the NRU.
Adolescence is a time where proper nutrition is critical because it is when brain development occurs. Without proper nutrients, development falters, resulting in long term adverse effects on learning abilities. Children living in food-insecure households experience more illnesses, frequent headaches, higher rates of hospitalization, anemia, asthma, tooth decay, and chronic conditions, including high blood pressure.
On Johns Island and Wadmalaw Island, they served at least fifty children at five partner sites, only a part of the more extensive tri-county program that serves more than 54,000 meals, including 3,000 pounds of fresh produce. At the Johns Island and Wadmalaw sites, there has been an increase in the attendance at the sites of 174% from 2018 to 2019. The LCFB is a reoccurring recipient of the Town’s charitable grant fund. Last year, the Town awarded $9,500 to the LCFB’s Summer Meals Program. That funding provided a portion of the total cost for the program on Johns and Wadmalaw Islands, which is $18,560.
During the school year, the Lowcountry Food Bank partners with public schools to provide essential meals to children and their families through BackPack Buddies, Kids Café, and School Pantry programs as well as other non-profit organizations that partner with LCFB. For many children, the final school bell of the year signifies three months of fun, but for others, summer means a season of food insecurity. This is painfully true in our backyard. On Johns Island, nearly 80% of children who attend public school in the area qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. Families who rely on school meals have a tough time feeding their children when school is out of session. According to No Kid Hungry, 43 percent of low-income families reveal it is harder to make ends meet during summer. To combat this issue, the Lowcountry Food Bank (LCFB) participates in the Summer Food Service Program, administered by the USDA. LCFB sponsors and distributes meals for kids through a series of Pop Up Picnics that run Monday – Friday from June to August, making it possible for children 18 years old and younger to enjoy delicious and nutritional food without charge.
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Mayor Craig Weaver visited the Johns Island Rural Housing Pop Up Picnic site over the summer. He participated in the Summer Splash event that included lunch, fresh produce, shelf stable pantry boxes, and activities for children and their families. Lowcountry Foodbank staff and volunteers distributed fresh fruit and produce like bananas, apples, oranges, carrots, and cucumbers. If you are interested in learning more, visit their website at www.lowcountryfoodbank.org
Charitable Contribution Update
In October, Former Councilmember John Wilson and Bruce Stemerman presented $2,000 contribution to Brenda Falls, Director of the Barrier Island Free Medical Clinic on behalf of Cars on Kiawah. Barrier Island Free Medical Clinic is a reoccurring recipient of the Town's charitable contribution fund.
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Charitable Contribution Spotlight
Mayor’s Corner With the myriad of communication channels available today, one might think that it would be easier than ever to keep a community informed. But keeping Kiawah's 3,500 property owners involved and informed is challenging. Last year the Town's twelve committees, involving 50 property-owner members, held 119 open public meetings covering a wide range of issues. To keep our community informed, we published four editions of Town Notes, emailed 24 regularly scheduled bi-weekly eblasts, sent another 41 special eblasts on specific news topics, and published 78 special news items on the Town's website. In addition, the Town maintains an up-to-date website with information and news directed separately at residents/property owners, visitors, and businesses. Monthly Council meetings are live-streamed, and all of our other committees' agendas and minutes are published. Finally, many Town news items are reported in other publications such as the Island Connection and KICA's publications or are disseminated on our social media sites Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. In all, over 6,000 people subscribe to one or more of our regular publications. With all these communications, why are residents and property owners too often unaware of events and issues affecting their community and perceive themselves to be out of the loop? If your experience is anything like mine, I am overwhelmed by the daily communications that I receive. Even the most dedicated resident or property owner would be challenged to stay attuned to everything going on of interest to them. I may receive in any given week multiple communications from a number of Kiawah's governing, commercial, and community organizations. All of these communications are useful, and I am interested in the content, yet too often, I gloss over the content
or, even worse, hit "delete." Ensuring that the Town's communications are "heard" by Kiawah's property owners is made more difficult because we all have such different communication preferences. Many residents prefer email, use our website, and follow social media, while others still prefer traditional publications. Adding to the challenge, fewer than a third of our property owners are full-time residents of Kiawah, so connecting with everyone in our community can be all the more difficult. Non-resident property owners share most of the same interests about staying informed about the Town and Town issues. Looking back at a poll of property owners from a couple of years ago, when asked about their top concerns and priorities, there was little or no difference between the priorities and interests of resident and non-resident property owners. Both segments of the community were principally concerned with keeping Kiawah a "premier" community, maintaining the beach, dunes and natural environment, improving property values, ensuring public safety, and improving road access to Kiawah. Despite the challenge, we remain committed to providing you with timely information about Kiawah and the actions of the Town government. If you have time for only one communication from the Town, I urge that you subscribe to our bi-weekly eblast, if you do not already. This will ensure the most timely information, and this communication provides links to other news and information that you might find useful. It is also the Town's primary channel for disseminating information during an emergency, like a storm or road closure. If you aren't receiving this, please subscribe at any time at www.kiawahisland.org/bi-weekly-email-notices. Finally, if you can't find the information you're looking for, you are always welcome to reach out to our Town Communications Manager Stephanie Braswell at sbraswell@kiawahisland.org, our Town Administrator, Stephanie Tillerson, at stillerson@kiawahisland.org or me at cweaver@kiawahisland.org.
Planning Efforts Begin
The 2021 PGA Championship at The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort will be played May 17-23, 2021. Although the event is more than a year away, PGA of America staff members are on the ground planning for South Carolina’s second-ever major championship. Championship Director, Scott Reid and a team of four relocated to the area and have an office at Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s East Beach Village. Group hospitality sales for chalet and skyboxes are on-sale. Ticket and volunteer opportunities will become available early this year. For more information visit www.pgachampionship.com/attend/2021/ tickets.
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Shop | Sip | Socialize | Stay
Events @
The Art of Adventure: A Weekend of Art & Film
www.freshfieldsvillage.com
Freshfields is hosting Benjamin Walls, for an art exhibit and private film screening. The weekend-long event will feature works from Benjamin Walls Gallery and a pre-release screening of KIFARU on the Village Green. The Art of Adventure: A Weekend of Art & Film will take place February 14 to 17, 2020 to coincide with the annual Freshfields Village Art & Wine Walk.
Cars & Coffee July 20, August 17, September 21 and October 19 9-11 a.m.
Anhinga – Bob Hill
Town Notes | Q1 Town Office Closures Monday, February 17, 2020– Presidents' Day
Solid Waste Notices February
No change in service.
March
Brown Trash & Hazardous Waste Collection: Friday, March 6. See adjacent article.
April
Paper Shredding – Thursday, April 23 | 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Municipal Center. Please remove all clips. Staples do not have to be removed.
Want to go Paperless?
If you would prefer to read Town Notes digitally and stop receiving the hard copy, please email klaughlin@kiawahisland.org to be removed from the mailing list. Please include your name and mailing address in your request.
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Calling all car enthusiasts! Arrive in your favorite ride for Cars and Coffee at Freshfields Village on the 3rd Saturday of every month. The free event will feature antiques, classics, exotics, concepts and any other cool cars. Coffee and other refreshments available for purchase by Java Java Coffee House.
Brown Trash & Hazardous Waste Collection - Friday, March 6
As a contemporary renaissance man, Benjamin Walls is an internationally acclaimed artist, avid environmentalist, and successful entrepreneur. Walls’ artwork has received seven international awards, and has been displayed in dozens of museums, including five exhibits at the Smithsonian and twice at the Natural History Museum of London. His work with major conservation organizations such as the Jane Goodall Institute has assisted nonprofits in raising over $500,000.
All brown trash must be placed on the curb by 7:00 a.m. to ensure collection. Hazardous waste cannot be placed at the curb and must be brought to the Municipal Center (4475 Betsy Kerrison Pkwy.) for disposal between 8:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. For larger items such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, etc., please call Carolina Waste at 843-576-1100 to schedule a pickup at an additional cost. What classifies as Brown Trash? Lawn chairs, grills, folding or beach chairs, mattresses & box springs (single or twin only), bicycles, strollers and small appliances (vacuums, toaster ovens, toasters, microwaves). What classifies as Hazardous Waste? Computers, monitors, televisions, printers, household & garden chemical, used motor oil, oil filters, antifreeze, paint and paint remover, varnish, pesticides, batteries, CFL/fluorescent/ incandescent bulbs.
Stay Connected Are you subscribed to the Town’s biweekly email notifications? To be added, send your name and email address to sbraswell@kiawahisland.org.
We're Social
Spring Sip & Stroll 3rd Thursday of the Month March-May 4 -7 p.m. Visit participating stores and restaurants during the monthly Sip & Stroll for special in-store events, sales and promotions along with sips and light snacks.
Schedule
Friday, February 14 Benjamin Walls Exhibit (10 a.m. to 9 p.m.) Art & Wine Walk (4 to 7 p.m.) Opening reception with Benjamin Walls (5:30 p.m.)
Saturday, February 15 Benjamin Walls Exhibit (9 a.m. to 9 p.m.) Exclusive Screening of KIFARU (4 p.m.) Sunday, February 16 Benjamin Walls Exhibit (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.) Monday, February 17 Benjamin Walls Exhibit (10 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
Benjamin Walls will be available throughout the weekend to personalize copies of his book BEYOND, with a foreword by Dolly Parton. Additional presentations and events will be added throughout the weekend. Check www.freshfieldsvillage.com for more details!
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0 2 0 2 / 9 1 20 Season Tickets are available online at www.kiawahisland.org/events. All events are open to the public, but Kiawah property owners have a 3-day lead time on tickets for Arts Council events. *Cultural events (in purple) have only one release date.
February
Charleston Men’s Chorus
Bob Milne Ragtime & Boogie Woogie Piano
Thursday, February 6, 2020 The Seabrook Island Club | 7:30 p.m. Ticket Release: Kiawah 1/20 Public 1/23 Cost: $10
Georgia Guitar Quartet
Sunday, February 9, 2020 Church of Our Saviour | 4:00 p.m. Ticket Release: Kiawah 1/21 Public 1/24 Cost: No Charge Friday, February 14, 2020 Turtle Point Clubhouse | 7:30 p.m. Ticket Release: Kiawah 1/28 Public 1/31 Cost: $10 Feb. 21: Pavarotti Mar. 20: The Gold Rush The Sandcastle | 3:00 -5:00 p.m. No Tickets Required
Quentin E. Baxter presents Chico Pinheiro
Sunday, March 15, 2020 Turtle Point Clubhouse | 5:00 p.m. Ticket Release: 11/15 Cost: $25 or $60 for series via baxtermusic.com
Piano Bar Series (Wednesdays)
Stories of Love
Art Film Series (Fridays)
Saturday, March 14, 2020 Church of Our Saviour | 7:30 p.m. Ticket Release: Kiawah 2/25 Public 2/28 Cost: No Charge
New Title!
Yuriy Bekker Piano Quartet
Friday, February 21, 2020 Church of Our Saviour | 7:30 p.m. Ticket Release: Kiawah 2/4 Public 2/7 Cost: No Charge
Quentin E. Baxter presents Kate McGarry
Sunday, February 23, 2020 Turtle Point Clubhouse | 5:00 p.m. Ticket Release: 11/15 Cost: $25 or $60 for series via baxtermusic.com
March Charleston Symphony Orchestra
Sunday, March 8, 2020 Holy Spirit Catholic Church | 4:00 p.m. Ticket Release: Kiawah 2/18 Public 2/21 Cost: No Charge
Mar. 18: Blue Heron Pond Boys Apr. 1: Glenn Brown Apr. 29: Chris Dodson The Sandcastle | 5:00 -7:00 p.m. No Tickets Required
College of Charleston: Student Chamber Music Ensemble Sunday, March 22, 2020 Church of Our Saviour | 4:00 p.m. Ticket Release: Kiawah 3/3 Public 3/6 Cost: No Charge
April Art Film Series
Apr. 10: Exit Through the Gift Shop Town of Kiawah Municipal Center 3:00 -5:00 p.m. New No Tickets Required
Fred Moyer Jazz Trio
Venue!
Tuesday, April 14, 2020 The Seabrook Island Club | 7:30 p.m. Ticket Release: Kiawah 3/27 Public 3/30 Cost: $10
Blues by the Sea
Sunday, April 19, 2020 Freshfields Village | 3:00 -7:00 p.m. No Tickets Required