Charleston City Council Meeting - September 9, 2025: Proclamations, St. Andrews PSD Dispute, and Historical Maps Presentation
Charleston City Council Meeting - September 9, 2025: Proclamations, St. Andrews PSD Dispute, and Historical Maps Presentation
The Charleston City Council met on September 9, 2025, at Bishop Gadsden on James Island. The meeting began with an invocation commemorating the 9/11 anniversary, a welcome from Bishop Gadsden's President & CEO, and a proclamation recognizing the South Carolina Community Loan Fund for its 20 years of service. Council approved routine items, heard public comments on flooding and preservation, and engaged in a lengthy discussion regarding the city's relationship with the St. Andrews Public Service District (PSD), culminating in a directive to develop a legal strategy. A special presentation highlighted the cataloging of 1,800 historical maps.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes of the previous meeting.
- Approved the petition to name Howell Avenue Park as the "Roman Myron Buck Park."
- Approved the mediation settlement agreement for 440 Sumter Street, which required a $1,087 fine for unauthorized demolition and restoration of a window on the west facade.
- Approved committee reports from Public Works, Community Development, and Ways & Means.
- Approved the third reading of an ordinance to repeal and replace Chapter 21, Article 3, Division 4 (sections 21-67 through 21-74) and amend Chapter 22, Article 1 (sections 22-7 and 22-8) to conform with state law. The vote was unanimous on a roll call.
- Approved items 1–19 on the consent agenda as amended, which included removing 2028 Ironstone from item 19 after that annexation request was deferred.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Anne Barnes thanked council for denying the annexation of two acres on Faley Road to the Spyglass Apartments, stating that the apartment complex has “detrimentally impacted flooding conditions for Seaside Creek and the surrounding Rooville Road extension properties.” She urged council to “get back on the fast track to adopt a new zoning code that will authorize elevation-based zoning for at-risk areas.”
- Bob Black (Fortsonville resident) expressed concern that two new homes approved in Ferguson Village did not address existing flooding issues. He stated that a contractor said water would “just go in the ditch,” but that ditches are not adequate. He asked council to include Ferguson Village in the budget for flood relief.
- Former Councilmember Jackson spoke in support of a “popularly supported tiny tweak to the BAR ordinance” that all neighborhoods support, encouraging council to move forward with it.
- The Clerk reported receiving seven written comments in opposition to the demolition of Theater 99 at 28 Meeting Street, and one comment from Anthony Bryan.
Discussion Items
- Historical Maps and Flats Presentation: The Records Management Division presented a grant-funded project to catalog the city's archival map collection. Project archivist Jacob Mossbrook and records specialist Kendall John reported that 1,800 maps (dating from the mid-1800s to early 2000s) were cataloged into a new collection management system. Highlights included an 1886 federal coast chart, Olmsted brothers’ plans for Cannon Park, 1901 blueprints for a proposed subway, naval mine base maps, and 1930s school district maps showing segregation. The collection is now publicly accessible online and by appointment at the Giliard Center.
- St. Andrews Public Service District (PSD) Discussion: Councilman Waring introduced the topic, stating that the city’s annexation efforts were being undermined by misinformation from the PSD. Molly Connor (Annexation Director) described how residents who sign annexation petitions are later approached by the PSD with false claims. Police Chief Walker noted the department has 455 officers (60 assigned to West Ashley) and requires a four-year degree and over 20 weeks of training. Fire Chief Curie stated the department is ISO Class 1 (one of 492 in the U.S.) and accredited, with 472 positions. Mike Say of Charleston Water System reported that City of Charleston water rates are 40% lower than PSD rates, saving average customers $600/year and high-use customers up to $1,800/year. He highlighted $200 million in capital projects in West Ashley, including $160 million for wastewater improvements to address legacy issues from the former PSD system. Councilman Waring noted over $500 million in total investment in West Ashley, including Ashley Town Landing. Councilman Bowden accused the PSD of operating with “staggering bad faith” and called PSDs “relics of a bygone era.” Councilman Tinkler noted resident confusion over which government to contact. Councilman Seekings urged transparency and independent review. Councilman Gregory asked about legal options. City Attorney Copeland explained that the city must provide 12 months’ notice to terminate the financial agreement with the PSD, and that notice was given in February 2024. She also stated the PSD owes the city money from that agreement.
Key Outcomes
- Council directed the legal department to return with a strategy for terminating the agreement with the St. Andrews Public Service District, including a demand for payment of money owed.
- Council deferred going into executive session until after the public portion of the meeting; they then entered executive session to discuss legal updates on 995 Morrison Drive and potential next steps regarding the St. Andrews PSD agreement. The item on the Charleston School of Law was deferred.
- The ordinance to update city code regarding demolition and state law was passed on third reading.
Meeting Transcript
Sally Radd, if you could please join us at the front, we have a seat reserved for you up here. Are we ready? Right. I'd like to call the September 9th meeting of City Council to order. Madam Clerk, would you please call a roll? Councilmember Greg, Councilmember Shaley, Councilmember McBride, Councilmember Mitchell, Councilmember Brady, Council, Gregory, Councilmember Wearing, Councilmember Seekings, Councilmember Templer, Councilmember Bowden, Councilmember Appel, Councilmember Parker, Mayor Coxwell. Here. I'd now like to ask Councilmember Bow to give the invocation and lead everybody pledger of allegiance. Thank you. And um, similar to uh what Councilmember Appel shared uh earlier were in a few days from commemorating the anniversary of the attacks of September 11th. Um I was in a sixth grade classroom. Uh with Martin was was um was my teacher at the time. Um and you know, I'll always remember that day like it was yesterday. Um I just wanted to to share an invocation related to that. Uh every everybody who was a victim of that attack, as well as the folks who served um afterwards. We pause to remember September eleventh, two thousand one. We remember the nearly three thousand innocent lives lost, the first responders who charged into danger to save others, and the families who continue to carry the burden of that day. We also remember those who answered the call in days and years that followed. Our servicemen and women who step forward to defend our country, many of whom gave their lives, were still there, the women's of that service. In the midst of tragedy, we witnessed resilience. The face of fear, we saw unity. Neighbors reached out to neighbors and communities found strength in one another. As we begin our work tonight, may we be guided by that same spirit of unity and service. May we seek wisdom in our decisions, compassion in our words, and courage in our actions, and may the memory of those we lost and the example of those who served inspire us always to care for one another and to strengthen our community. We remember, we honor, we will never forget. Amen. Certainly appreciate you all hosting. So I will be on especially uh uh good behavior this evening. Edmund and Sally Reddit. Uh, I'd now like to call Sarah Tipton, who is the president and CEO CEO of Bishop Gadson, uh, up to the microphone and say a few words. And again, we really appreciate you all hosting us here tonight. It is our pleasure. Mayor Coxwell, honorable council members, um, incredible city staff, all of Charleston's finest, everyone who's made this happen, and all the citizens of Charleston who are with us today, we welcome you to Bishop Gadston. Uh Bishop Gadston, although we've been on this site for 40 years, we're actually celebrating 175 years this year. And uh 135 of those years were spent on the Charleston peninsula. Uh, but in the early 80s, when it became a little difficult to care for seniors in a three-story uh historic Charleston town, and it was time to envision the future of this community. We received a wonderful gift of property here on James Island, and with the uh with the blessing of the donor of our original homes uh blessing, we uh went to the city and said maybe we become part of the city so that we could fulfill the wishes of that original donor to remain the city of Charleston. So we have a uh wonderful history uh in the city, and we're uh very thankful for that. A little bit about Bishop Gadston. Bishop Gadsden is a mission-driven organization. Our mission calls us to affirm positive living for all live and work here. Um, our our team is very important to us. We serve with integrity. We are uh we are committed to wise stewardship, which uh for everything that we've been entrusted with, and we reach out with a generous spirit, and to that end, Bishop Gadston has been recognized for its um for its uh philanthropy and uh for serving Charleston area organizations, uh meeting basic human needs over the years, uh giving somewhere in the neighborhood of 14 million dollars to a variety of community organizations. Uh we are uh presently we employ about 650 team members, and we are home to about 580 permanent residents. In 2022, we opened a new service line to provide post-acute rehab for uh the greater Charleston community, and we are presently serving about 400 members of the uh uh the Charleston community uh who come to us after hospitalization to recover and return to their homes healthy and well. So um again, we're just so very thankful to welcome the city uh council meetings here tonight. We think it's been about 10 years since this happened, and we'd love to make it not that long next time. So welcome to all of you and thank you again for all who made it happen. Thank you.
openpublica.com