James Island councilman reports 5-0 approval of accommodations-tax marketing group; bond and zoning measures advance

Councilman Dan Bowles on Feb. 27 told the James Island Neighborhood Council that last week’s town-council meeting included a unanimous 5-0 vote to approve an accommodations-tax marketing group and several ordinance readings and discussions about local projects and safety.

The vote to approve the accommodations-tax marketing group was 5-0, Bowles said, and followed an update from the town accountant, Love Bailey, who told council members the town “books look great.” The marketing group is intended to administer the town’s yearly accommodations-tax spending, Bowles said; he did not provide the group’s membership or budget in the Neighborhood Council update.

Bowles said the council also held a first reading on an ordinance that would allow the town to issue bonds and a separate first reading to update zoning ordinances to conform with nearby rules. He described the bond measure as a way to have the option available if the town decides to use bonds to finance projects. "Stay tuned for how that develops because we're not really sure if that's the route we're gonna take or not," Bowles said.

Council members also held a second reading on an ordinance to change the timing for when the council and mayor take office after elections; Bowles did not specify the ordinance number or whether the second reading resulted in final adoption. He said the council entered an executive session to meet with the town attorney about litigation matters and then reconvened.

Councilman Mullinax raised a concern about South Carolina Department of Transportation plans reported in the meeting for possible medians on Folly Road. Bowles said Mullinax and others asked for further community engagement; Councilman Wollongong is organizing a meeting to gather local feedback and consider sending comments to DOT that reflect neighborhood views.

Bowles also said the council discussed a grant application for Hillman Community Park and that the council welcomed two new members to the arts council. He noted the town passed “several other resolutions” but did not provide details in the Neighborhood Council update.

Why it matters: The accommodations tax governs locally collected visitor taxes used for marketing and visitor services; the town’s decision to approve a marketing group directs how that revenue will be spent. First readings on bond authority and zoning changes establish possible financing and land-use changes that could affect future local projects.

Votes at a glance

- Approve accommodations-tax marketing group — Result: 5-0 in favor (all five council members present voted yes), per Councilman Dan Bowles. Details on the group's membership, budget, and implementation were not specified. - First reading: ordinance to allow the town to issue bonds — Result: first reading held and advanced; final financing approach not decided. - First reading: zoning ordinance updates to conform with surrounding rules — Result: first reading held and advanced. - Second reading: ordinance changing the time council and mayor take office after elections — Result: second reading held; final adoption not specified in the Neighborhood Council update.

What the meeting did not specify: ordinance numbers, formal motions’ movers and seconders, detailed vote rolls for items other than the accommodations-tax approval, and the content of the "several other resolutions" Bowles referenced.

Bowles closed his briefing by noting the town’s schedule and inviting residents to next month’s meeting on the third Thursday at 7 p.m.