On the agenda: Kiawah Island Minutes — data center (Aug 4)

TOWN COUNCIL

Municipal Center Council Chambers
August 4, 2026, 1:00 pm

Minutes
1. Call to Order: Mayor Belt called the meeting to order at 1:00 pm.

I. Pledge of Allegiance

I. Roll Call:
Present at the Meeting: Bradley Belt, Mayor
Luke Farrell, Council Member
Lance Spencer, Council Member
Absent: Russell Berner, Mayor Pro Tem
Present Via Zoom: Madeleine Kaye, Council Member
Also Present: Stephanie Monroe Tillerson, Town Administrator

Mac McQuillin, Town Attorney
Dorota Szubert, Finance Director
John Taylor, Jr., Planning Director
Kyle Stewart, Crown Castle

IV. Approval of Minutes:
A. Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of July 7, 2026.

Mayor Belt noted that the minutes from the July 7, 2026 Town Council meeting had been circulated to
Council Members in advance and invited any questions, comments, or edits. Council Member Spencer
indicated that he had submitted a minor edit, which had already been incorporated.

With no further changes proposed, the minutes were deemed approved.

V. Citizen Comments (Agenda Items Only)
Larry Wolahan - 406 Snowy Egret

Mr. Wolahan, acknowledging it was not an agenda item, expressed gratitude to Public Safety Director
Harris for his work with the fire department on the fire alarm initiative, noting their importance.

On the conservation fund, Mr. Wolahan raised several questions, comments, and concerns:

¢ Heasked why the Town needed its own conservation program given the existing Sea Island and Charleston
Conservation Programs, noting that the island had previously benefited from Charleston County grants.

e He questioned a reference in the proposal suggesting that zoning requirements could be bypassed because
they might be amended in the future, which he felt was a problematic rationale.

e@ He expressed concern about the apparent absence of diverse perspectives on the advisory committee,
noting that members appeared to be predominantly from environmental backgrounds.

e He observed that a significant portion of the land covered by the proposed conservancy extended well
beyond the island itself and questioned the direct benefit to Kiawah residents.

° He additionally raised questions about administrative costs, the anticipated scale of funding, whether
annual reporting in the early stages was adequate, and whether the Town was making full use of other
available funding opportunities.

Mayor Belt thanked Mr. Wolahan and indicated that many of his questions would likely be addressed
during the later discussion of the conservation ordinance.

1]Page

Vi. Presentation:
A. Crown Castle — Kyle Stewart

Council Member Spencer introduced the Crown Castle presentation by providing context for the
Council and the public. He explained that the Town had been working for approximately two years to
address gaps in the island's cellular telecommunications infrastructure. The deficiencies affected not
only quality of life and home broadband alternatives, but also public safety operations. He noted that
Crown Castle, American Tower, and the wireless carriers had been strong partners in assessing
constraints, which ultimately led to an updated cellular infrastructure ordinance approved by the
Planning Commission and Town Council approximately one year prior. Since then, the work had been
largely administrative, involving site assessments, site planning, and environmental reviews leading to
the point where tangible progress was beginning to materialize. He indicated that it would still be
approximately 15 months before the first site comes online, and also noted that a minor zoning
boundary adjustment related to the Resort property hosting the Crown Castle tower sites was
scheduled for Planning Commission review the following day.

Council Member Spencer introduced Kyle Stewart, Public Policy Manager at Crown Castle, and Mr.
Stewart introduced his team: Jason Martin, Site Acquisition Manager; Zaki Mohammed, Senior RF
Engineer; and Aaron Wilson, Project Manager, who had deep familiarity with the complexities of the
island sites.

Mr. Stewart presented an overview of Crown Castle's four sites on Kiawah Island: the Ocean Course,
Cougar on Kiawah Beach Drive, Turtle on One Governor's Drive, and Osprey on 700 Governor's Drive.
He indicated that Ocean Course had been identified as the lead site for the first replacement tower
project, with the remaining three sites to follow.

Mr. Stewart walked through an estimated project timeline for the Ocean Course site. He noted that
beginning the following month, September 2026, the team would move into pre-zoning administrative
work, including balloon testing. He explained that balloons would be raised at each site to the proposed
tower height for a ten-hour period. When Council Member Farrell asked how balloon testing aided in
understanding coverage, Jason Martin clarified that the purpose was primarily visual to allow the
community te see the proposed height of the new tower rather than to provide technical coverage
data. Mayor Belt and Council Member Farrell both emphasized the importance of communicating
clearly to the community in advance of the balloon tests, with Council Member Farrell suggesting that
messaging should emphasize that seeing the balloon means better cell coverage is coming.

Mr. Stewart continued through the timeline: a zoning review was anticipated in October 2026,
concurrent with regulatory and environmental reviews, which were expected to take approximately
six months. Post-zoning engineering would follow in December 2026, with a building permit application
in February 2027. Reviews were expected to be complete by March 2027, with pre-construction work
proceeding thereafter. Tower construction at the Ocean Course site was scheduled to begin in October
2027, after the migratory bird nesting season, which runs from March through October, concludes.
Carrier customers were expected to begin migrating to the new tower by the end of 2027.

Council Member Kaye asked whether the Town's biologist, Aaron Givens, would be involved in nesting
season considerations; Mr. Taylor confirmed that he would. Mr. Stewart also affirmed that Crown
Castle maintains an internal team dedicated to migratory birds, ensuring that all protocols are followed.

Mr. Stewart reviewed the completed, in-progress, and upcoming steps for the Ocean Course site,
noting that site logs, preliminary power and grounding design, and initial lease terms with the Resort
had been addressed. Ground lease documentation preparation and carrier approval discussions were
currently ongoing.

Jason Martin then presented a visual comparison of the existing Ocean Course tower and the proposed
replacement. The existing structure is a 70-foot steaith monopole supporting two wireless carriers with
restricted equipment capacity. The proposed replacement would be a 150-foot monopole capable of
supporting at least three wireless carriers with unrestricted equipment capacity, enabling greater

2jPage

throughput and broader coverage. Mr. Martin summarized the three primary benefits of the upgrade:
an increase from two to three wireless carriers, expanded capacity enabling faster 5G speeds, and a
larger coverage footprint improving connectivity for public safety and residential use.

Council Member Farrell asked whether the remaining three Crown Castle sites would be developed in
parallel or in series. Mr. Martin indicated that the preference would be to submit those simultaneously
if possible, though sequencing would depend on how the process unfolded. Council Member Spencer
added contextual notes on the other sites: the American Tower site already had appropriate radios at
sufficient height; the Sanctuary resort tower was being modernized; and discussions with Berkeley
Electric regarding their hosted site were still ongoing.

Mayor Belt expressed optimism that the combined impact of all site upgrades would deliver true 5G
coverage across the entire island.

Zaki Mohammed presented radio frequency coverage maps comparing the current footprint of a single
carrier at the Ocean Course site against projected coverage at the increased tower height. He explained
that current coverage reached approximately 140 homes and that the proposed 150-foot tower was
projected to nearly double that to approximately 220 homes, with the caveat that additional carriers
would each have progressively smaller individual footprints.

Council Member Spencer added that the coverage improvements extended well beyond personal
cellular convenience, noting that beach patrol, EMS, and fire services all operated digital tools that
required reliable coverage, and that current gaps forced personnel to seek signal before completing
reports, creating operational disruptions and safety implications. He also highlighted that each carrier
offered fixed wireless home internet products capable of replacing or competing with traditional coax
or fiber connections once the 5G infrastructure was in place.

Mr. Stewart closed the presentation by reiterating Crown Castle's commitment to the island and
expressing a willingness to continue communication with the Council and the community. Council
Member Spencer confirmed that ongoing updates would be provided monthly through the
Infrastructure and Public Works Committee and brought to the full Council as warranted. He also
acknowledged the contributions of the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, specifically citing Mr. Dimitrov for
facilitating site access and assessments, and noted that the carrier-driven investment meant
there was no direct cost to the Town.

Vil. Updates:
A. Mayor

Captain Sams Spit - Legislative Funding Update - Mayor Belt reported that at the time of the previous
meeting, the state legislature had not yet acted on authorizing the $32 million state contribution
commitment to the Captain Sams Spit settlement agreement. He confirmed that the Budget
Conference Committee report, which included the state contribution, had since been issued and was
scheduled to come before the full legislature for consideration one week from the meeting date. The
vote was expected to be an up-or-down vote on the conference report, and passage was anticipated,
after which it would move to the Governor for signature.

Mayor Belt cautioned that this milestone, while critical, represented only the conclusion of the first
phase of a much longer process. Future steps would involve Town actions, including Planning
Commission proceedings and subdivision of the Captain Sams Spit parcel, and the Council would
continue to receive updates as developments warranted.

Captain Sams Spit - Inlet Relocation Permit Application Withdrawal - Mayor Belt reported that the Town
of Seabrook Island, which had applied to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and DHEC for a new inlet
relocation permit, had withdrawn that application. The stated reasons were timing considerations and
questions regarding ownership of the Captain Sams Spit parcel, with the applicant indicating an intent
to resubmit at a later date. Mayor Belt reiterated the Town’s position that any such permit application
is necessary but not sufficient for an inlet relocation. He emphasized that there can be no inlet

relocation without the Town's approval, and that any future consideration would involve an extensive
public review process.

Architectural Review Board Memo — Mayor Belt reported a memo issued by the Architectural Review
Board (ARB) to builders and contractors, approximately 300 entities on an email distribution list,
contained significant inaccuracies and overreach, which had raised significant concerns. The memo
indicated an increasing trend of contractors undertaking work without obtaining necessary ARB
approval and asserted that doing so was illegal under binding covenants and subject to fines and
further action.

Mayor Belt noted that after a follow-up meeting with ARB representatives, it was hoped the ARB would
issue a corrective communication. However, none had been forthcoming as of the meeting date. Mayor
Belt indicated that if the ARB did not, the Town would issue its own corrective statement.

Mayor Belt clarified that the ARB has review authority over buildings, fences, and structures for their
aesthetic aspects under the general covenants; the conduct or practices of contractors and
construction workers on the island are matters entirely outside the ARB's jurisdiction under the general
covenants. He also expressed concern about related content in ARB’s Designing with Nature
document, which he said goes well beyond the ARB's actual authority under the general covenants. He
noted that it asserts the ARB may issue stop-work orders, which is not supported by the general
covenants.

In response to Council Member Farrell's question on the ARB granting variances, Mayor Belt noted that
Designing with Nature states that rules and guidelines on building setbacks, lot coverage, building
height, and square footage are determined by the ARB, which, in its sole discretion, may grant a
variance, which Council Member Farrell noted was factually incorrect.

Mayor Belt elaborated by noting that variances from the zoning ordinance can only be granted by the
Town’s Board of Zoning Appeals, and that while a private body such as the ARB may adopt more
restrictive standards and grant limited relief from those more restrictive standards, it does not have
sole discretionary authority to override or supersede the Town's zoning and land development
regulations.

Council Member Spencer raised concerns that regulatory confusion and ARB overreach risk making
Kiawah Island less attractive to contractors, potentially compounding the existing difficulty of finding
builders willing to work on the island.

Design Review Board and KICA ARB Transition - Mayor Belt addressed the status of discussions regarding
a potential carve-out or modification to the Town's Design Review Board (DRB) jurisdiction in
connection with the ongoing transfer of architectural authority (ARB) from the developer to KICA
(Kiawah Island Community Association). He reported that KICA's Board Chair had indicated that a
forthcoming letter would request that the Council consider disbanding the Town's Design Review
Board (DRB) or narrowing its jurisdiction, particularly with respect to properties subject to the Kiawah
covenants. Mayor Belt noted that the same issue had also surfaced at the DRB's first organizational
meeting the prior week.

Mayor Belt noted that the Town established its DRB in October 2025 in response to a recognized public
interest in design oversight, particularly for larger commercial and multi-family projects, and that the
developer's ARB lacked transparency and accountability. He noted that the Council had included a
provision indicating it would revisit the DRB’s scope if architectural control transferred from the
developer to KICA by June 30, 2026, a condition that had not been met. Until the terms, conditions,
and phasing of any actual transfer are fully understood in the omnibus agreement, Mayor Belt indicated
it would be premature to consider any carve-out or roll-back of DRB authority. He expressed concern
about several specific issues raised by the Memorandum of Understanding made public in January,
including that the developer ARB would retain authority over certain pending matters and multi-family
improvement applications through multiple phases, and that changes to Designing with Nature cannot
be made without the developer ARB's approval until the end of Phase Four.

a[Page

Council Members Farrell, Spencer, and Kaye each concurred that it was premature to reduce DRB
authority.

Council Member Farrell agreed, stating that the missed deadline was one factor, but that execution
was equally important. He wanted to see evidence that the KICA ARB was operating transparently,
following established procedures, and meeting design standard requirements before any rollback of
the Town's DRB was considered.

Council Member Spencer shared similar reservations. He emphasized that the DRB was deliberately
established as a backstop, noting that standing it up required significant effort and that dismantling
that work before the KICA ARB has proven itself would be imprudent. He also raised an unresolved
question about KICA's enforcement mechanism, noting that a relevant covenant change may not have
passed, potentially leaving KICA's architectural authority unenforceable.

Council Member Farrell recalled that the original January MOU discussed a phased approach to
transferring single-family dwellings, commercial properties, and multifamily properties, noting the
change and the complete reversal of the MOU.

Council Member Kaye, participating remotely, concurred that the backstop must remain in place given
the developer ARB's historical pace of transition and expressed confidence in the DRB's role in the
future.

Mayor Belt noted that the Town's DRB, by the terms of its enabling ordinance, is, in any case, far more
limited in scope than the ARB asserts in Designing with Nature. Boardwalks, yard art, landscape
maintenance, and maintenance and repair, all subjects of ARB review under that document, fall outside
the Town DRB's authority.

Council Member Spencer raised a final observation that no formal application had yet been submitted
through any of the involved entities, and expressed hope that when that eventually occurred, all parties
would engage professionally and courteously. Mayor Belt noted that the Town itself would likely be
among the first to submit an application in connection with the Civic and Cultural Center project.

Civic and Cultural Center - Sewer Connection - Mayor Belt indicated that he would hold the update
regarding the Civic and Cultural Center wastewater management solutions until the discussion later in
the agenda.

Special Events Permit Ordinance - Mayor Belt noted that a special events or public gatherings ordinance
had been contemplated for this meeting's agenda but was still being refined. The primary question was
one of calibration, determining when there is genuine public interest in regulating a gathering and
when private indoor events on private property do not warrant a permit. He indicated the Council may
return to the matter in September.

Retirement of Roger Warren - Mayor Belt noted the recently announced pending retirement of Roger
Warren, President of the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, after nearly a quarter century of service. Mayor
Belt expressed that the reference to Mr. Warren having left an indelible mark on the Resort was a
significant understatement, as his contributions had shaped the entire island. He noted that
opportunities for Mr. Warren's continued advisory involvement in select development and transition
matters were being explored and indicated that the Town would look to formally acknowledge his
contributions at a future date.

B. Council Members

Council Member Kaye offered comments on three matters: she affirmed her support for keeping the
DRB in place; she praised Roger Warren's contributions to the island, calling his impact incalculable and
his manner always judicious, candid, and respectful; and she expressed her strong support for the hiring
of Lucas Hernandez as the Town's new Resiliency Director. She described the scope of resiliency issues,
including climate change, sea level rise, and stormwater management, as requiring expertise and
coordination beyond what the existing Resiliency Committee could provide. She characterized Mr.

5|P

Hernandez as immensely qualified, noting his ten years of engagement with Kiawah Island resiliency
and environmental issues, his multiple academic degrees, and his instrumental role in drafting the 2017
Sea Level Rise report. She expressed confidence that Mr. Hernandez would position the Town as a
leader in resiliency along the East Coast and anticipated his arrival in mid-September.

Mayor Belt echoed Council Member Kaye's praise for Mr. Hernandez. He noted that staff member
Michael Nardelli had been given expanded responsibilities as Operations and Risk Manager, with a
focus on conducting a comprehensive islandwide risk assessment in partnership with Mr. Hernandez,
covering critical infrastructure vulnerabilities, including the causeway, bridge, and utilities.

Council Member Farrell provided a brief update for the benefit of any residents who had not been
present at the prior meeting. He noted that the July meeting had included a presentation by the
portfolio manager for the state's investment program, which manages the Town's investment
portfolio. He indicated that materials from that presentation, including the performance report, had
been made available through the Town Treasurer and were accessible to any resident who wished to
review them.

Council Member Spencer noted that he had been observing what appeared to be a marked increase in
the use of the island's beaches, trails, bridges, and ponds. He described the volume of trash he had
personally observed as significantly higher than in prior years and noted that the intensity of fishing
and crabbing activity was notably greater than before. He suggested the Council should bear this trend
in mind as it considered future policies and actions related to the preservation and management of the
island's natural environment.

Cc. Administrator

Ms. Tillerson recognized two Town employees celebrating employment anniversaries in August: Aaron
Givens, Assistant Town Biologist, who was marking 18 years of service; and John Taylor, Jr., Planning
and Zoning Director, who was celebrating 10 years with the Town. She extended congratulations and
appreciation on behalf of the Town.

Ms. Tillerson also reminded the community that Food Truck Friday would continue through the end of
the month, having been extended beyond its original July end date due to the event's success. She
additionally noted that the Kiawah Arts Council was commencing its season, with the first event, the
Marsh Grass Mamas performance, scheduled for August 14th, She directed residents to the Town
website for further information and ticketing.

Vill. Old Business:
None

TX. New Business:
A. Update.on the Civic & Cultural Center.and Consider Approval of an Early-Release, Structural Steel
Package

Mayor Belt introduced the item, noting that the project was fairly well advanced in the conceptual
design phase, with the footprint substantially locked in. He introduced the architect of record, Steve
Coe, and Josh Spencer of Edifice Construction, the project's Construction Manager at Risk, describing
the two as working closely together through biweekly and weekly meetings with the Town and the
extended design team.

Mr. Coe provided an update on the design progress. He explained that the site plan had remained
largely consistent since the Council's last review and included a lobby expansion, a community room
addition, and a new performance space attached to the existing building. Site improvements included
adding 45 parking spaces, improving vehicular circulation, upgrading pedestrian pathways, and
enhancing landscaping. Mr. Coe noted that a 300-seat auditorium requires a minimum of 100 parking
spaces, with an additional 20 spaces allocated for back-of-house, maintenance, and staff use during
events. ADA-accessible parking would be relocated much closer to the building's main entrance. He
also noted that a septic field associated with the overall site plan is configured with parking.

6|Page

At this point, Mayor Belt interjected to update the Council on the wastewater connection situation. The
site plan continued to show a septic field rather than a connection to Seabrook Island Utility's sewer
system, because efforts to secure a written commitment for service had stalled. The Town had sent a
letter, and a verbal acknowledgment of acceptable terms had been received through counsel, but no
formal letter of intent had followed. Subsequent engineering-level outreach requesting an urgent
meeting and the exchange of technical documents had gone unanswered, despite follow-up from both
the Town's engineer and the Director of Public Works.

Mayor Belt expressed frustration with the lack of responsiveness from Seabrook Island Utility, noting
that this contrasted with the Town of Seabrook Island's Council and Mayor, who remained supportive
and had, in fact, amended their ordinance to facilitate the connection. He acknowledged that a retrofit
connection remained possible in the future and that plans allowed for it, but that the septic field was
now required where other uses might have been placed. Council Member Spencer noted that a utility
connection would ultimately be the most environmentally responsible solution.

Following a request of a brief orientation for members of the public on the project's site layout, and
Mr. Coe walked through the floor plan, identifying the existing building and its entry, the new lobby
addition, the community room, the outdoor garden courtyard, the performance hall, back-of-house
support spaces including dressing rooms, a green room, loading dock, piano storage, and wing spaces
for the performance hall. He noted that the design incorporates a sloped floor that uses the site's
lowest grade point as the flood elevation benchmark, and that the lobby was designed to allow level
access throughout for both the community room and council chambers, with a stepped transition into
the performance hall to manage the grade difference.

Mr. Coe also described efforts to preserve mature trees on the site, with an arborist engaged to assess
and categorize existing trees, and to plan selectively for removal versus retention. Future connectivity
to adjacent amenities and a broader campus master landscape plan were also being coordinated with
the Town, with the intent of creating a park-like setting that embraced the surrounding marsh, live
oaks, ponds, and pollinator gardens, along with overflow parking and outdoor event space.

Mr. Coe then described the acoustical design philosophy guiding the performance space. The walls of
the performance hall are intended to be tunable to accommodate a variety of performances, including
orchestral, amplified, spoken-word, and dance performances. Drawing inspiration frorn the irregular
patterns of live oak trees on the island, the design evolved away from a regular, repeating wall panel
pattern, which creates acoustically problematic interference, toward a randomized solid-to-void
pattern that shifts from a higher void percentage near the stage to a higher solid percentage toward
the rear of the house. The design team developed an approach using zero-waste plywood panels that
can be cut and reassembled to achieve this random patterning economically. Acoustic baffles in the
ceiling would direct sound from the stage back toward the audience. A large window at the rear of the
performance hall had been included from the outset of the design competition in response to the
Town's request for a visual connection to the natural environment; blackout shades would be available
for film screenings or other events requiring darkness.

Mr. Coe shared interior renderings showing the movement sequence from the parking area through
the new lobby to the performance hall, with an updated entry desk configuration that provides visual
control over the main and secondary entries. The community room, lobby art display areas, and
outdoor courtyard were also depicted.

Josh Spencer of Edifice Construction then addressed the rationale for the early-release structural steel
package. He explained that in today's construction environment, structural steel lead times range from
32 to 44 weeks from order to on-site delivery, driven largely by nationwide demand for data center
construction. Based on the current design development, the building would require approximately 36
weeks of lead time. The intent was to mobilize on-site for foundation work in February 2027, which
required releasing the steel order no later than November 2026. The Construction Manager at Risk
arrangement gives Edifice the flexibility to release specific packages before the final contract value is
set. The approach would result in two Guaranteed Maximum Price components: GMP No. 1 for the early

7[Page

site, foundation, and steel work, and GMP No. 2 covering the balance of the scope, expected in early
2027.

Mr. Coe elaborated on how this phased approach avoids a situation in which foundations are
completed, but construction must pause for weeks while steel arrives, extending the overall
construction duration and increasing overhead costs. By releasing steel in October or November 2026,
delivery can be timed to coincide with the completion of foundations. The design team had also worked
to reduce the total quantity of steel required by incorporating concrete masonry unit construction in
the auditorium, which also provided acoustic benefits.

Mayor Belt noted that the Ad Hoc Building Committee, comprised of himself, Mayor Pro Tempore
Berner, Rob Glass, Mark Caymens, and Arts Council Chair David Wohl, had met the prior week and
unanimously recommended moving forward with the early release package. He characterized the
design process as involving a great deal of productive give-and-take, and noted that the committee had
accepted some cost-reduction recommendations while declining others where quality was deemed
essential to delivering a genuinely world-class performance facility.

Mayor Belt invited citizen questions while the project team was present.

Larry Wolahan asked about the overall project cost. Mayor Belt acknowledged that earlier public
estimates in the $12 million range had been conceptual. He indicated that, based on the most recent
discussions, hard construction costs were estimated at approximately $13 million, including
contingencies and design fees, He noted that the addition of approximately 1,000 square feet of lobby
space beyond the original program was one of the considered decisions that had contributed to the
increase. Mr. Spencer affirmed that locking in the steel price through the early release package was
itself a cost-mitigation tool against further escalation.

Roger Warren, attending as a member of the public, asked about current construction cost escalation
rates and the contingency percentages being carried. Mr. Spencer indicated that the current escalation
assumption was approximately one percent per quarter. He noted that the project carried a three
percent construction contingency within the GMP and a twelve percent design and estimating
contingency, which would be reduced as design decisions became more definitive. Mr. Coe noted that
the team had begun with a twenty-five percent contingency, which had already been reduced as pricing
became tighter, and that Mr. Warren was correct to anticipate it would not remain at that level through
to a hard construction price.

Motion to approve the recommendation of the architect, construction manager at risk, and ad hoc
building committee to proceed with an early release structural steel package for the Civic and Cultural
Center was made by Council Member Farrell and seconded by Cauncil Member Spencer. The motion
carried unanimously.

Kite Lt ishing t ._Island_ Conservation h_Islanc
Conservation Advisory. Committee; Providing for the Funding, Administration, and Operation of the
Authorizing Grants and Loans for Conservation Purposes; Providing for Permanent
Conservation Protection of Funded Properties; and Providing for Other Matters Related Thereto -

Council Member Spencer introduced the ordinance and provided historical context. He noted that the
initiative originated in deliberations for the Town's Comprehensive Plan, KiawahNExT, which had now
been adopted, and that the plan included establishing a Town-level conservation fund equivalent to
the county's green belt program. The core purpose of the fund would be to enable the Town to make
strategic investments, in partnership with qualified organizations such as the Kiawah Conservancy and
Lowcountry Land Trust, through land purchases with conservation easements or the removal of
development rights from parcels within the Kiawah Island watershed. The goal was to preserve open
space that protects wildlife habitat, water quality, air quality, and the natural ecosystem that underpins
the island's character.

8|Page

Council Member Spencer explained that, after significant research, including consultations with the
County's Green Belt Program, the Conservancy, and the Lowcountry Land Trust, the team settled on
the Kiawah Island watershed as the fund's geographic jurisdiction. This boundary encompasses lands
that directly affect the ecology of the waters flowing into and surrounding Kiawah, including much of
southern Johns Island. The structure of the governing documents placed broad authority in the
ordinance, which is harder to change, and ina more flexible policy document for the operational details,
criteria, scoring, priorities, and board composition that future councils could amend as they learn from
implementation.

Council Member Spencer indicated that a framework document had been shared with the Council
several months prior and had received broad support, with no negative feedback. He noted that the
program was designed not to compete with the Conservancy or Lowcountry Land Trust, but to serve
as a partnering funding source, with those organizations acting as the executing agents for any
acquisitions or easements.

Council Member Kaye stated that she had initially been skeptical of the initiative but had become a firm
supporter as the details were developed. She credited Council Member Spencer and his team for the
thorough work in bringing the proposal together.

Mayor Belt clarified for the record that the first reading of the ordinance involved no funding
authorization whatsoever. Any decision to allocate funds, whether through a midyear budget
adjustment or otherwise, would be a separate action of the Council. Even if funds were eventually
allocated, approval of any specific conservation transaction would stifl require a return to the Council
for final authorization.

Council Member Spencer confirmed that the advisory board would review applications and make
recommendations, but the Council would retain final approval authority over any proposed
expenditure.

Council Member Farrell offered a lengthy and candid reflection on the ordinance. He expressed genuine
enthusiasm for environmental conservation while also articulating several areas of uncertainty. He
questioned whether the fund placed the Town in competition with existing conservation organizations
or genuinely amplified their capacity. He raised questions about the geographic scope of the watershed
boundary, noting that it extended to areas near the airport that seemed distant from Kiawah's direct
interests. He acknowledged that what had drawn him toward supporting the concept was the idea of
protecting the corridor approaching the island, what he described as the front door to Kiawah, and also
protecting the socioeconomic diversity of Johns Island by maintaining small farms, wooded areas, and
varied land uses rather than seeing continued residential development. He emphasized his desire to
understand prioritization criteria, how one parcel would be evaluated against another, and expressed
the importance of remaining fiscally disciplined in allocating and spending any future funds.

Council Member Farrell also acknowledged the considerable work reflected in the policy document and
thanked Council Member Spencer for responding to his earlier request for a detailed framework before
any funds were earmarked.

Council Member Spencer responded to several of Council Member Farrell's points, noting that the
watershed boundary was a reasonable starting point and that the council and advisory board would
learn from experience and refine priorities over time. He reiterated that the program was explicitly
collaborative in nature and not a replacement for existing organizations. He also floated the possibility
of bringing individual or packaged funding proposals to the Council more dynamically through the Ways
and Means process, rather than relying solely on annual or semi-annual budget cycles, to maintain
appropriate fiscal discipline.

Mayor Belt added that the ecological rationale for including broader Johns Island in the watershed
boundary was sound, given documented impacts of agricultural runoff and development on water
quality in the Kiawah River, as evidenced by ongoing harvesting restrictions. He also noted the practical
traffic: management benefit of keeping land undeveloped along the island's ingress and egress routes.

g|Page

He emphasized that the county green belt fund, state conservation programs, and other resiliency
funding sources would all be potential co-investors in any specific transaction, providing an additional
validation of conservation value.

Motion to approve Ordinance 2026-14 on first reading was made by Council Member Spencer and
seconded by Council Member Farrell. The motion carried unanimously.

C. Discussion of Trash and Recycling Site Management at Sora Rail and Town Hall

Mayor Belt introduced this item, noting that trash and recycling management at the Kestrel Court
convenience site had been a persistent issue, made more acute by KICA's removal of the dumpsters
and recycling containers from the Beach Walker Center. The Kestrel Court facility was now absorbing
additional use, and misuse of the site had continued.

Brian Gottshaik, Public Works Manager, provided an operational overview. He explained that the site
had recurring problems, most visible on Monday mornings, with large volumes of refuse deposited on
the ground outside the compactor units. The causes were varied: prohibited items clogging the
compactors and creating voids that prevented compaction; bulky items that could not fit into the units;
and a pattern in which individuals, upon seeing refuse already on the ground, would add to the pile
rather than check whether there was space in the compactor units. The cleanup demands fell on Public
Works staff, and the volume of trash had, on occasion, been so great that service vehicles could not
access the compactors until the ground-level accumulation was cleared. Recent improvements had
included camera upgrades, additional camera installation, enhanced signage, and increased
monitoring, but the misuse had continued.

Mr. Gottshalk confirmed the site was not experiencing a fundamental capacity problem; in most cases,
the materials left on the ground could have been accommodated by the compactors if they had been
used properly. The root issue was behavioral misuse and the deposit of prohibited and bulky items.

Council Member Farrell asked whether the problem could be attributed primarily to capacity, and Mr.
Gottshalk confirmed it was not. He described the site's historical intent as a resident-convenience site
for occasional overflow items, large boxes, post-event trash, rather than a primary disposal location.
He indicated that use patterns had shifted and the site was now being used as a primary disposal site
by some, for which it was not designed.

The discussion explored potential remediation options. Council Member Spencer suggested that a
physical enclosure, fencing around the usable area, might create a psychological deterrent, making it
less instinctive for individuals to leave items outside. He also raised the possibility of limiting hours of
operation, as commercial housekeeping crews active on turnover days and construction crews working
later in the evening may account for a portion of the misuse. Closing the site at four or five in the
afternoon could reduce commercial abuse without eliminating resident access.

Mr. Gottshalk agreed that an enclosure with posted hours was a viable option, though it would require
some investment and coordination. Ms. Tillerson noted that the site is leased from Kiawah Island Utility,
meaning any improvements would need approval from the utility, and that fencing also possibly require
an KICA encroachment permit.

Council Member Farrell strongly advocated keeping the site open, describing it as a valuable amenity
he personally used several times per year. He suggested a more targeted analytical approach,
monitoring the site by day of week to identify when the worst abuses occurred, and proposed
exploring technology solutions such as barcode scanning for resident access, which could help limit use
to authorized residents and property owners while excluding commercial operators.

Council Member Kaye expressed strong opposition to closing the site, noting that the unintended
consequences of eliminating it, particularly in terms of where refuse would otherwise end up, would
be far worse than the current situation. She urged the Council to find a solution that preserved resident
access.

1o|Page

Council Member Spencer suggested that updated signage, clearly stating that abuse of the site would
result in its closure, might provide an additional deterrent. Council Member Farrell added that signage
in multiple languages, including Spanish, would be advisable given the contractor workforce that may
be using the site improperly.

Ms. Tillerson suggested working with the Town's communications team to develop improved and
perhaps bilingual signage, potentially incorporating a QR code linking to additional information.

Mayor Belt summarized the direction as follows: short-term measures would include improved
monitoring, increased CSO drive-by, updated signage, and a public communication reminding residents
of the rules and the risk that the facility could be removed if abuse continued. if behavior did not
improve within the next quarter, the Council would revisit options including fencing and hours
restrictions.

Regarding the Town Hall site, Mr. Gottshalk noted similar issues, most notably a rigid inflatable boat
left there. Mayor Belt observed that the Town Hall site appeared to be used by residents of Johns tsland
and unincorporated Charleston County, noting that vehicles leaving the area typically turned toward
Johns island rather than deeper into the island. Council Member Farrell agreed and suggested a fence
at that location might also be warranted.

Citizen Comments:
Philip Mancusi-Ungaro - 13 Bufflehead Drive

Mr. Mancusi-Ungaro addressed the Council regarding Kestrel Court. He confirmed the site's value to
residents and shared a recent personal experience in which every compactor at the site, trash,
cardboard, and recycling, was completely full and inaccessible. He had brought his overflow items to
Town Hall and found a rigid inflatable boat deposited there. He identified rental management
companies! Saturday changeover operations as a likely source of heavy compactor use and suggested
that labels on discarded cardboard could be used to trace the origin of improperly deposited items.

Larry Wolahan, 406 Snowy Egret

Mr. Wolahan addressed the Kestrel Court situation, expressing his view, based on direct experience,
that the problem had worsened since the Beachwalker Center dumpsters were removed, and
suggesting that the core issue was insufficient capacity rather than exclusively bad behavior by a
minority of users, He shared that he and a fellow resident had spent considerable time on a hot Sunday
afternoon attempting to use a malfunctioning cardboard compactor, illustrating that operational
failures at the site contributed to the appearance of misuse.

On the conservation fund, Mr. Wolahan expressed that many of his earlier questions had been at least
partially addressed. He noted, however, that discussions about managing development pressure on
the island had to be viewed alongside the approximately 700 remaining development units already
approved and still permitted there. He cautioned against conflating off-island conservation activity
with island traffic solutions, as internal development would continue regardless of what happens on
Johns Island.

Mr. Wolahan also raised concerns about the Town's investment portfolio, noting what he perceived as
a mismatch between the short-term nature of LGIP investments and the long-term nature of the
Town's expenditures. He expressed a preference for diversification of investrnent custodians and
raised questions about the sufficiency of the audit firm serving the 38-billion-dollar LGIP fund. Council
Member Farrell acknowledged these points and invited Mr. Wolahan to discuss them further offline.

Mr. Wolahan also raised concerns about water pressure and its implications for fire hydrant
performance, and made an observation about the condition of the Freshfields Village Harris Teeter
from a health and environmental quality standpoint.

Mayor Belt offered a factual data point for context: the Town of Kiawah Island generates an
extraordinary level of property tax revenue, exceeding that of Sullivan's Island and Isle of Palms

nl[Page

combined, totaling approximately $100 million annually, all of which flows to Charleston County. The
Town's own total revenues are approximately $15 to $16 million, with nearly half derived from
accommodations and hospitality taxes. He noted the Town was actively engaged in discussions with
the County about whether Kiawah residents were receiving appropriate value in return.

XL Executive Session:
A. Pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-70(a)(2), to Receive Legal Advice Protected by the Attorney-Client
Privilege Regarding Pending Litigation.
B. Pursuant to S.C, Code Ann. § 30-4-70(a)(1), to Receive Legal Advice on Personnel Matters.

Upon returning to open session, Council may take action upon matters discussed in Executive
Session.

Motion to enter Executive Session was made by Council Member Farrell, and Council Member Spencer
seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

Upon conclusion of the Executive Session, a motion to return to regular session was made by Council
Member Spencer and seconded by Council Member Farrell. The motion carried unanimously.

Council Member Farrell moved to suspend PTO requirements for a new hire discussed during Executive
Session, and Council Member Spencer seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

Xi. Council Member Comments:
No additional Council Member comments were offered.
XI. Adjournment:
There being no further business, Mayor Belt adjourned the meeting at 4:50 pm.

Submitted

AS aaalk2
Petra S. Reynolds, Town Clerk

A-4. Lele
Date

n[Page