Charleston City Council Regular Meeting - December 15, 2025
Charleston City Council Regular Meeting - December 15, 2025
The Charleston City Council held its regular meeting on December 15, 2025 at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers at City Hall, adjourning at 7:26 PM. The meeting featured public comments, unanimous approval of a zoning amendment for digital signs, two service contracts, and closing remarks from council members.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jeff Joseph (owner of Pigley Wiggly on Spring Street) spoke in support of updating the city's digital sign regulations, stating the new sign would be a plus for the West Side and improve communication. Note: The official minutes record Mr. Joseph as speaking in favor of Resolution No. 25-115 (cemetery mowing contract), but the transcript indicates his comments were about Bill No. 8065 (digital sign amendments). This discrepancy is noted.
- Tara Raymo read a passage from the Bible (John 1:1–18) as a Christmas message.
- Claims: Two claims were filed against the city (Samuel McCray for vehicle damage; David Miller for property damage). They were referred to the city solicitor.
Discussion Items
- Bill No. 8065 – Digital Display Sign Regulations: Councilmember Hoover, chair of the Planning, Streets and Traffic Committee, presented the bill. The amendment removes the previous restriction limiting digital freestanding signs to an area of 12 square feet or less. Digital signs must still comply with all other regulations: a minimum 15-minute static display, brightness limits (5,000 nits daytime, 250 nits nighttime), and prohibition in the Central Business District and East End Overlay District. The Planning Commission and committee both unanimously recommended passage. Councilmember Robinson confirmed the change is "more business friendly," and Councilmember Kerns supported it as an asset. The bill passed unanimously (25 yeas, 0 nays, 2 absent: Burka and Snodgrass).
- Resolution No. 25-115 – Mowing and Leaf Blowing Services for Spring Hill Cemetery: Councilmember Jenkins explained the resolution authorizes a contract with VBM Buildings and Grounds for 2026, with two optional renewal years. The contract is priced per service ($18,000 per mowing, $3,000 per leaf blowing), awarded through competitive bidding. The frequency is determined by the Cemetery Director. The resolution passed unanimously.
- Resolution No. 25-116 – Purchase of Dump Trucks for Street Department: Councilmember Jenkins noted the purchase of three International and one Kenworth dump trucks from Worldwide Equipment, totaling $727,376, is part of the normal replacement cycle and budgeted for the current fiscal year. The resolution passed unanimously.
- Reports of Officers: The City Treasurer’s Report and Municipal Court Report for November 2025 were received and filed.
Councilmember Remarks
- Mayor Goodwin thanked city employees for winter weather response, announced the departure of Assistant City Manager Jessica Wintz‑Adams, and reminded the public about holiday warming centers and food donations.
- Councilmember Kerns acknowledged the passing of Councilmember Burka’s mother.
- Councilmember Robinson thanked all members for their service in 2025 and noted the upcoming filing deadline for council seats (January 31, 2026).
- Councilmember Solomon announced a free public training on how to run for office, to be held Thursday, December 18 at 5:30 PM at the main library (room 311A).
- Councilmember Faegre reported several major break‑ins in Ward 5 and thanked the Charleston Police Department for their response.
- Councilmember Annie thanked the Public Works Department and highlighted the success of the incentive policy that has led to 40% of Charleston firefighters becoming paramedics, improving life‑saving capabilities.
Key Outcomes
- Bill No. 8065 (digital sign regulations) passed unanimously (25–0–2).
- Resolution No. 25-115 (cemetery mowing contract) passed unanimously.
- Resolution No. 25-116 (dump truck purchase) passed unanimously.
- The next regular meeting is scheduled for January 5, 2026 at 7:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
We're just turning this on to testing the microphone. We don't need to do them here. Just to see if they can look here on the street. Test over the channel. Members will please rise. Well, Councilmember Pepper. Leads us in prayer this evening. Dear God, give us the strength, the wisdom, and the courage to always act in ways in this chamber to benefit the people of this great city. Amen. Councilwoman Hoover, would you please lead us in the pledge? Thank you. And to republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. The clerk will please prepare the machine for roll call. All members present, please vote yes. Has every member voted? No. Has every member voted? Yes. Well, thank you. The clerk will please close the machine and ascertain the results. Mr. Clerk. Burka, excused. Snodgrass, excused. Thank you so much. Clerk will please read the journal. Madam President. Yes, ma'am. Mayor, I um request unanimous consent to dispense with the reading of the journal. The reading of the journals dispensed with. We have two public speakers this evening. Our first public speaker, Jeff Joseph, Mr. Joseph, from our favorite Bigley Pigley Wiggly. We love saying it, don't we? Never gets old. Yeah, we love that name. Yeah, so my name is Jeff Joseph. Uh I am the owner of the uh Piglawig on Spring Street. And um I'm here uh sort of started this uh project with a digital sign that we'd like to put up a few months ago. Um, maybe a little longer than that, but I've had a chance to meet some really great people. Uh uh, Dan Vrent and Matt Sutton. Uh that's been uh very involved with us, and I know a lot of people in here from coming in the store, and I appreciate that. Thank you. Uh but yeah, so you know, it this has been something that's been on our mind for uh many years, and um we took another approach at it a few years ago, but uh you know this the virus came around and kind of put the brakes on it, so we just now got around to reapproaching it, and we just feel that this sign uh without uh going into a lot of detail is going to be a plus for the West side, and uh it will help us communicate with the public uh quicker, more efficiently, uh, and be you know uh a good addition to you know helping the store in itself. So that's what we're after. Um we've spent a lot of time, money, and effort upgrading the inside of the store, the outside of the store, the software throughout the store, all this very expensive. The refrigeration system that goes in the grocery stores, very expensive. The last part of the puzzle is that replacing that uh uh antiquated out-of-date sign that's out there on Spring Street with something more 2026, and that's what we're after, and we would appreciate your your support. So thank you. Appreciate it.
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