ment among residents. These recommendations are for council to prioritize and act upon in alignment with the city’s strategic plan. I encourage every member of our community to take the time to review this report available at iop.net. Your feedback is invaluable as we move forward with the implementation of these recommendations. Together, we can ensure that the Isle of Palms becomes the most sustainable, family-friendly beach community in South Carolina. I am excited about the future and the positive changes that lie ahead. I am encouraged by the care, passion and dedication shown by our community members who are eager to give back and contribute to making Isle of Palms a great place for residents and visitors. report can be found on pages 3-40 here: iop.net/agenda-minute/city-council-workshop-6. I encourage you to review the report, provide feedback and join in our commitment to protect and enhance the resilience of our beach. 2. Community Enrichment Task Force – Appointed by city council in late 2023, this effort is the culmination of the hard work and dedication exhibited by this team of 13 residents who produced the Community Enrichment Plan. Over the course of one year, this group met regularly to assess our community's needs and develop thoughtful recommendations aimed at enhancing the quality of life for all residents and visitors on Isle of Palms. Their work is rooted with substantial community input, including a community-wide survey and two community listening sessions held at the IOP Recreation Center. The insights and recommendations generated by the task force are anchored in the belief that our community thrives when we prioritize collaboration and proactive engagement. Their recommendations encompass a variety of initiatives from enhancing public safety to balancing tourism with quality of life and environmental stewardship, while also fostering initiatives that promote connection and engage11 IslandVibesIOP.com CIVICS Mayor’s Message Positive environmental changes in full bloom By Phillip Pounds Mayor, Isle of Palms Spring has arrived! This means warmer temperatures, pollen, blooming plants and of course, our crowds start returning. I want to touch on two significant deliverables recently presented to city council from resident groups that met for the bulk of 2024 and early 2025. But first, a huge thank you and shout out to every member of our community who participated in these efforts and volunteered many hours doing research, attending meetings and working together to develop solutions to address city issues and ultimately, to improve our quality of life. Also, a big thank you to our staff for supporting each of these groups. 1. Beach Preservation Ad Hoc Committee – This committee was established by city council in January 2024. Its members included Tim Ahmuty, Dan Slotchiver, Cindi Solomon, Andrew Vega, Mayor Phillip Pounds and Councilmembers Katie Miars and Scott Pierce. The committee was supported by then City Administrator Desirée Fragoso, then Deputy City Administrator Douglas Kerr and Steven Traynum from Coastal Science & Engineering. Throughout the year, the committee convened 24 times to study the complexities of the beach erosion issue and engage with a range of stakeholders, including representatives from state and federal permitting agencies and staff and elected officials from other beach communities facing similar challenges. It explored innovative solutions aimed at preserving our precious beach. The goals and tasks of this committee included: 1) Reviewing overall beach restoration policies. 2) Developing recommendations for a more proactive response to beach erosion. 3) Developing new and consistent funding mechanisms for future needs and projects. The committee developed 21 actionable recommendations that were presented to city council in January. The full
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