Results - City of North Myrtle Beach FY 2019 Budget Retreat

The North Myrtle Beach City Council held its fiscal year 2019 budget retreat meeting February 26-27 at Santee Cooper’s Wampee Conference Center in Pinopolis, SC. 

No final decisions were made regarding the budget.

The city’s fiscal year is July 1-June 30.

The proposed FY 2019 budget involves 16 separate funds with significant interrelations and transfers between the various funds. 

The proposed FY 2019 budget is $96.2 million, about $8 million less than the FY 2018 budget.

First reading of the proposed FY 2019 budget ordinance is tentatively scheduled for theApril 16 City Council meeting.

Potential Property Tax Increase

City Council discussed a proposed property tax increase of between 1 and 2 mills.

The proposed increase is driven by the need for more funding for capital improvement projects; funding a state retirement system-mandated $260,000 increase in the city’s contribution for police and fire retirement funding for FY 2019 (other City employees are not part of the state retirement system); increases in health insurance; and a 4% pay increase for all full-time employees.

In North Myrtle Beach, 1-mill of property tax equals about $375,000 in revenue. A 1-mill property tax increase on a $350,000 home would amount to an increase of $14 annually and a 2-mill property tax increase on a $350,000 home would amount to an increase of $28 annually.

The current North Myrtle Beach property tax rate is 41.3 mills, the lowest in Horry County and one of the lowest in South Carolina. An increase of 1 or 2 mills would increase the property tax rate to 42.3 mills or 43.3 mills, still the lowest in Horry County.

Additionally, 6.2 mills of the city’s current 41.3 mills property tax rate goes to pay down the land purchase/construction bond on the 162-acre North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex. The bond debt will be retired in calendar year 2019 and the city’s property tax rate will then be reduced6.2 mills in FY 2020 to reflect a projected property tax rate of 37.2 mills.

It is interesting to note that in 1986 the City’s property tax rate was 71 mills. Over a period of 32 years, the City’s property tax rate hasdecreased 29.7 mills.

Proposed Adjustment of Business License Fee

City Council reviewed a proposed increase in business license fees.

The City has not adjusted its business license fees since 1986.

The proposal is to adjust business license fees by25% of the differencebetween North Myrtle Beach rates and Myrtle Beach rates.

Example: In the “Building, Auto Parts & Clothing” business license category, the current Myrtle Beach base rate is $105 and the current North Myrtle Beach base rate is $35. The difference between the two rates is $70. 25% of $70=$17.50. Thus, the proposed North Myrtle Beach base rate for this category would change from $35 to a proposed $52.50, still lower than the Myrtle Beach base rate of $105.

Proposed Adjustments of Sewer Base Rate and Volume Charge

Proposed adjustments to the sewer base rate and volume charge would bring sewage revenue in line with sewage expenses. For about 12,660 of the City’s sewer customers, the base rate on a ¾-inch meter would go from $6.32 to a proposed $8.00, plus 7-cents per gallon for 10,000 gallons. The total proposed adjustment would be about $2.38 for the first 10,000 gallons on a ¾-inch meter. Larger meter sizes could realize larger adjustments.

Proposed Solid Waste Fee Adjustment

A $2 per month pass-through-fee increase from the Horry County Solid Waste Authority that the City has delayed passing on to its customers for the past couple of years is included in the proposed FY 2019 budget. A proposed $1 per month fee increase would enable the City to create a long-term program to fund the replacement of roll-out containers as they age out.

SOME PROPOSED BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS

-- The proposed FY 2019 Budget includes continuation of localized drainage projects based on priorities established in 2017 by City Council. The $2 million worth of projects extend over several years.

-- Significant proposed water and sewer improvement projects include rehabilitation of the Cherry Grove Water Tank ($1.2 million), improvements to the wastewater treatment plant ($875,000), and sewer pump replacements ($300,000).

-- Continuation of the Cherry Grove Dredging Project is budgeted for FY 2019. Continued payment on the 5-year bond issue for the accomplished first dredge continues, and work will occur on marsh and oyster bed mitigation required as part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredging permit.

-- Proposed transportation improvement priorities include intersection improvements at 2nd Avenue North & Highway 17, and secondary road resurfacing projects. A proposed multipurpose path for Little River Neck Road would currently require a 50/50 funding commitment between the City of North Myrtle Beach and Horry County.

-- The City has accomplished 5.3 miles of underground utility conversion and the FY 2019 budget proposes design and construction of another mile.

-- Replacement of City equipment would continue on a pay-as-you-go basis.

-- Funding for future beach renourishment would come from a portion of the state accommodations tax revenue.

-- City Council reviewed about $3.9 million in proposed FY 2019 accommodations tax revenue expenditures.

City Council also discussed several non-budget items.

Plastic Bag Ban: During a recent City Council meeting, several residents spoke to Council of their desire to see the provision and/or use of plastic bags banned within the city limits. It was determined that the issue be put on the agenda for a future meeting of The Coastal Alliance, which is made up of Horry County and municipal governments. It would be of benefit to the public if all governments within Horry County could find common ground on the issue, as opposed to having different laws within different jurisdictions.

Temporary Business Tents: Some businesses have asked the City to change its ordinance governing the use of temporary tents employed outside qualifying businesses for the sale or display of merchandise. Currently, a qualifying business may set up such a tent for seven days each quarter for a total of 28 days each year, however, they would prefer to have a longer use period during the more active tourism months. Council members asked the city manager and city attorney to create an ordinance for consideration that would allow qualifying businesses to set up temporary tents two times annually, each for a period of 14 days. The two periods would not run concurrently but would be separated by at least 30 days.

Music on Main Concerts:Some businesses on Main Street asked the City to move its Music on Main concerts from Main Street to the Horseshoe on Main Street (oceanfront), so that people can better access their businesses. City Council agreed to move a couple of the Music on Main concerts to the Horseshoe on a trial basis.

Mayor Marilyn Hatley of North Myrtle Beach Speaks Out Against Offshore Drilling

During a February 13 press conference in Columbia, S.C., organized by Oceana, the world’s largest international ocean conservation and advocacy organization, North Myrtle Beach Mayor Marilyn Hatley joined local and state legislators and citizens from Greenville to Charleston in speaking out against offshore drilling.

In her speech Mayor Hatley said that she opposes seismic air gun testing and oil and gas exploration and drilling in the ocean off the coast of North Myrtle Beach and South Carolina because the slight and speculative benefit that would likely accrue to the global energy market from such activity is not worth the potential for a single incident that could cripple local and statewide economies, and ruin natural resources.

Mayor Hatley said domestic travelers spend more than $12 billion in South Carolina each year, with a total annual economic impact of about $20 billion. Tourism sustains more than 116,000 jobs statewide, and generates more than $485 million in state and local taxes. Visitor spending on the Grand Strand (Horry and Georgetown Counties combined) totals more than $7 billion annually and supports more than 83,000 jobs, an impressive 80% of which are year-round. More than 17 million people visit the grand strand annually, representing 37% of tourism’s statewide economic impact.

“The City of North Myrtle Beach works hard to protect and preserve its 9 miles of beautiful beaches and our other natural resources for the enjoyment of current and future generations of residents and visitors,” Mayor Hatley said. “Preserving these natural attributes is essential to our healthy economy and to our quality of life.”

Following her speech, Mayor Hatley joined other state and local legislators, including South Carolina Congressman Mark Sanford, State Representative Greg Duckworth, and State Senator Luke Rankin, at a rally at the State Capitol building in opposition to offshore drilling.

The North Myrtle Beach City Council has passed a resolution against offshore drilling and the Council recently resolved to join a proposed lawsuit with other South Carolina coastal communities initiated by the South Carolina Environmental Law Project (SCELP) opposing seismic air gun testing and oil and gas exploration and drilling off the North Myrtle Beach/South Carolina Coast.

North Myrtle Beach City Applies for Permit to Accomplish Additional Dune Restoration Work

The City of North Myrtle Beach has applied to the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control’s Office of Ocean & Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) for authorization under OCRM General Permit 17-SMD to place sand excavated from an inland source onto the dune system fronting the Atlantic Ocean between 41^stAvenue South and 45^thAvenue South, between 37th Avenue North and 42nd Avenue North, and between 61st Avenue North and 63^rdAvenue North in North Myrtle Beach.

The City is nearing completion of a previously permitted dune restoration project from 45th Avenue South to 48th Avenue South and from 42nd Avenue North to 55th Avenue North.

Sand used in the second dune restoration project will come from the same dredging spoils basin located on Little River Neck Road that supplied sand for the first project. Sand currently in the spoils basin is from the Cherry Grove dredging project. Prior to dredging the canals, sand located in the canals was tested and found to be compatible with existing dune and beach sand. The City must remove all of the sand from the spoils basin. Since some sand will still remain in the basin after the first dune restoration project is complete, the City has opted to continue to utilize the remaining sand for more dune restoration.

As with the initial dune restoration project, street trucks will haul sand from the spoils basin to the beach where off-road vehicles will carry the sand along the beach to the dune line. From there, bulldozers will work to achieve the desired dune berm configuration, which is about 7 feet high, 35 feet wide at the base, and 20 feet wide at the top. Over time, wind, rain, and tides will reshape the sand to a more natural looking dune.

There may be some intermittent closures of sections of beach, particularly when the tide is high.

The project focuses on protecting exposed oceanfront structures from storm surge.

Following the reconstruction of dunes, sand fencing will be installed along the dunes and beach grass will be planted.

The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach Offers "Macaroni Mania" on February 17, 11am-4 pm at the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex

The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach invites you to enjoy Macaroni Mania on Saturday, February 17, 11am-4pm

 at the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex.

Proceeds from the family-friendly event will benefit The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach Building Fund.

Macaroni Mania offers a macaroni cook-off between various area restaurants, including Midtown Bistro, Benito’s, The Main Slice, Wild Wings Café, Logan’s Roadhouse, Mellow Mushroom, Snooky’s, Brisket, Greg Norman’s Australian Grille, and Longbeard’s Bar & Grill. For a small donation you can sample macaroni dishes created by the restaurants.

Macaroni Mania will also feature live entertainment from the local band, "Cornbread", plus children’s activities, a petting zoo, raffles, auctions, and an adult beverage garden.

Dogs from The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach and other local shelters and animal rescue organizations will be available for adoption.

The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach is located at 409 Bay Street, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582.

Results - February 5 North Myrtle Beach City Council Meeting

Prior to the start of the February 5 North Myrtle Beach City Council meeting, City Council met in an executive session that included the following agenda items (no action taken):

           

-- A legal briefing to discuss Brandon Mykal Cook vs the City of North Myrtle Beach

-- A legal briefing to discuss Martin and Rhonda Ottoway vs the City of North Myrtle Beach, Et Al

-- Potential litigation in conjunction with other S.C. coastal municipalities and the S.C. Environmental Law Project in opposition to offshore seismic testing and oil and gas exploration

-- Interview of potential candidates for the position of North Myrtle Beach municipal judge

City Council received an update on the activities of North Myrtle Beach Tree City Board from Chairman Tom Walker.

City Council reappointed Tom Walker to serve on the Tree City Board.

City Council approved a special event permit for the St. Patrick’s Day Festival, March 17, 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. on Main Street. The North Myrtle Beach Parks & Recreation Department manages the festival.

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade, managed by the North Strand Optimist Club, precedes the festival from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. on Main Street. City Council approved a special permit for the parade during its January 8 meeting.

City Council approved a Resolution allowing the City to join a proposed lawsuit with other S.C. coastal communities initiated by the South Carolina Environmental Law Project (SCELP) opposing off shore seismic testing and oil and gas exploration. SCELP will file the lawsuit and will represent the City regarding the lawsuit at no charge.

The purpose of the proposed lawsuit is to oppose the issuance of permits by the federal government for seismic air gun testing and oil and gas exploration and drilling off the coast of North Myrtle Beach/Horry County and other South Carolina coastal communities.

City Council approved first reading of an ordinance toannex lands totaling about 0.40 acres identified by TMS # 144-06-03-019 and or PIN # 356-01-01-0014. The lot is currently unincorporated and zoned RE-1 (Neighborhood Retail Services District) by Horry County. The petition also reflects the requested City of North Myrtle Beach zoning district of R-1 (Single Family Residential Low Density).

Property owners Robert and Deena Shartzer have petitioned the City to annex the land, currently occupied by an existing single-family home. Surrounding land uses are highway commercial and mobile/manufactured home residential within the adjacent city parcels, and highway commercial and  residential district MSF 10 within the adjacent unincorporated county parcels. Upon annexation, the parcel would be designated R-1 (Single-Family Residential Low-Density).

City Council passed first reading of an ordinance for a zoning map amendment to apply the Small Lot Outdoor Living Overlay Zone to the Timber Ridge Village Neighborhood.

Due to support from the residents of the Timber Ridge Village neighborhood, the Planning Department has initiated a request to apply the Small Lot Outdoor Living Overlay Zone to the 154 lots of the Timber Ridge subdivision. Except for two undeveloped lots and three common area lots, all lots feature single-family homes.

The purpose and intent of the Small Lot Outdoor Living Overlay Zone is to permit owners of small parcels in the R-3 zoning district to utilize outdoor space by constructing unenclosed decks or porches, whether covered or uncovered, to within five feet of property lines. When considering requests for application of this overlay, the average lot sizes of the surrounding neighborhood are considered. Prime candidates for the use of this overlay include neighborhoods with a predominance of lot sizes that are at and/or sometimes below the minimum size for the underlying district.

The subdivision is bordered by a mobile home park to the west (R-3 Mobile/Manufactured Home Residential District), the Grand Strand Airport to the north (LI Limited Industrial District), the North Village Shopping Center to the south (Highway Commercial District), and single­-family homes to the east across 33rd Avenue South (R-1 Single-Family Residential Low-Density District).

City Council passed a Resolution approving a pre-annexation agreement for Lot 32B Riverside Drive. Property owners Brian and Anne Dushanko have requested water and sewer service for their residence at Lot 32B on Riverside Drive. The property is not contiguous to the city limit, and the Dushankos have filed a petition for annexation and zoning designation as R-1 (Single-Family Residential Low Density) when the property does become contiguous to the city's corporate boundary.

The property owners have signed a pre-annexation agreement that would require them to complete the annexation process when possible, but would allow them to receive city water and sewer service in the interim. While the property remains outside the city limits the property owners will pay outside water and sewer rates, which are higher than rates paid by customers located within the city limits. The property owners have also paid toward the extension of City water and sewer service to their property.

City Council passed first reading of an ordinance to approve a Franchise Agreement between the City of North Myrtle Beach and Business Telecom LLC. The proposed franchise between the City and Business Telecom, LLC, (BT) authorizes BT to install and maintain its lines, wires, cables, conduits and other facilities within the public rights of way (ROW) within the city. The initial term of the agreement is for 10 years. Thereafter, the City will have the option to renew the agreement for three additional five-year terms. BT would pay the City is a $750 annual franchise fee, which is set by the South Carolina Code of Laws for municipalities with a population between 10,001 and 25,000 people.