[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6068871,"mediaKeyId","3080050-4b422d84542d3ec03e94f7619cac364d","parentId",3080050,"title","Resident urges anti-camping, anti-panhandling ordinances; mayor urges measured approach","audioSeconds",2743,"startMs",143000,"endMs",2886000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3080050-4b422d84542d3ec03e94f7619cac364d&start=143&end=2886","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3080050-4b422d84542d3ec03e94f7619cac364d/thumbnail_143000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6068871/Goose-Creek/Berkeley-County/South-Carolina/Resident-urges-anti-camping-anti-panhandling-ordinances-mayor-urges-measured-approach","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6068871-6accdbfed6c82d3a54c91d7dfdadfcd1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170359&Signature=ft31FnVQ-EKrBDonFKGwpwa7T6O99a7mM7ml0L00-rK~gUCqdKzHYB4SFZ2hmnpXP~WooaofslxdJFUWQ0ZJqzpEyEMR1mioFKrULpB71y2bkgZuGO2PNnuBE~4wRHy-oUgXZYyLd~AlWcuDBtcKWnW-OtOZzGCWF28ehEiE4UsAsHAxKAkF3ekIhFiuecKoDBMJUKBk8HC3hem8XjCTDVvXeraitM0vWc9YUpSmUSwzLf3xKxvbiEVExbmquf8oJQgoXzKsy8zpbfesjBv8ma0IDFQDMghdoW4DPLAw1UCjmcs9YsJjdxABjij0CJzDthheDHxD7tsECqWn5Y1Ulg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Goose Creek, SC","date","2025-04-08T00:00:00Z","article","A Goose Creek resident urged the city to adopt ordinances banning public camping and aggressive panhandling and to staff enforcement and outreach; Mayor Gregory Habib acknowledged the concern but cautioned council about legal and practical limits on enforcement.

“Goose Creek is facing a homeless problem that needs to be addressed. Particularly camping, hand handling, and soliciting is making our community and streets feel unsafe and dirty, and we need action now,” said Josh Renfro, a resident who spoke during the public-comment period. He told council he had “seen tents near and between Highway 52 and Saint James, people approaching cars at intersections, and trash piling up,” and asked that the council draft anti-camping and anti-panhandling ordinances by the next meeting. Renfro suggested pairing enforcement with shelter referrals and adding officers or a task force to patrol hot spots, clean up sites and connect people to services.

Mayor Gregory Habib responded that the issues raised are shared across the region but that legal and jurisdictional limits constrain local action. “You do have to be a little careful about the panhandling issue because there are First Amendment rights and there are things like that,” Habib said. He added that many locations cited by Renfro — storefronts and private property — require property owners to request trespass enforcement, and that city enforcement is typically complaint driven. Habib said the city has laws addressing panhandling, but where enforcement can occur is limited and often dependent on private-property owners initiating action.

Habib described regional collaboration and state advocacy as part of the city’s approach. He said Goose Creek has added a social worker to the police force and that mayors from neighboring jurisdictions are working on joint projects to address homelessness and mental-health service gaps. “Our state is not really good at serving those in need of mental health services,” he said, and he described ongoing efforts to press the state for expanded services while coordinating locally with other cities.

No ordinances or enforcement changes were proposed on the council floor during this meeting. The mayor encouraged residents to report incidents to the police and, when private property is involved, to ask property owners to contact police to request removal or trespass enforcement.

Why it matters
Calls for anti-camping and anti-panhandling laws touch on public-safety, public-health and civil-rights issues. The resident asked the council both for stronger enforcement and for social-service connections; the mayor signaled some willingness to pursue regional coordination and legislative advocacy while warning of constitutional limits and the need to respect property-owner rights.

Next steps
No ordinance was introduced at this meeting. The council did not vote on policy changes; staff and the mayor indicated continued regional coordination and internal steps (including the social-worker position) to address the issues raised.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council\tApril 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A resident urged the council to adopt anti-camping and anti-panhandling ordinances and to fund enforcement; the mayor said panhandling laws exist but enforcement is constrained by First Amendment and property-ownership limits, and noted regional and state-level coordination on mental-health services.","taxTitle","Goose Creek, Berkeley County, South Carolina","taxId",52179,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6068876,"Goose Creek council approves annexation, speed humps and several capital contracts",577,1935000,2512000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3080050-4b422d84542d3ec03e94f7619cac364d&start=1935&end=2512","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3080050-4b422d84542d3ec03e94f7619cac364d/thumbnail_1935000.jpg","/articles/6068876/Goose-Creek/Berkeley-County/South-Carolina/Goose-Creek-council-approves-annexation-speed-humps-and-several-capital-contracts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6068876-d2a2243dcc970ec9a924ab9a878d7c60/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170359&Signature=HHrzhV4ekCtcotQCmHk5BEwT78rfrRbixu0-VqTN2bhNboZscxsTQtH-d~FZjpOte~XPbg24dFteDJz-Yh54ZfXqv-jPOOsQ0VZY9B65DD~m~dTPVY7ZikYUSz~Go6MQYmeiOSfomimNP6oonuYvny-LHKOO1KHM9eyClRD6jWhLP006G8bARr9mZjSeR59Um5LWuRKkKuOZLVrf1iNdZMPP~v60TeLlaXdc3iBuYa1J4P6KSAyMBQvrLkKJiVpo9XIWcQ1iR5FwB-134Ila22X~3rusVHZxTrL4wDiXyaQ2anJq1LG2UxuskylKHzF0C2m8xMjP4bReOHOL1Q-1Ow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Goose Creek City Council voted to annex a half-acre parcel on Saint James Avenue, approve vertical construction change orders and emergency repairs, authorize speed-hump installation on Lucy Drive and appoint a business-license appeals designee during its regular meeting.

The council approved an ordinance to annex the parcel identified as TMS 2231303038 from Berkeley County into the city with general commercial zoning. Architect Kevin Wally, representing the property owner, said the annexation request is driven by a need for city water. “We need city water. So as a result, that is why we're here tonight to request this annexation,” Wally said. Council moved and carried the annexation after public comment and a brief discussion about how city site-plan buffers compare to county requirements.

Council also approved a resolution appointing a designee to hear business-license appeals. The resolution names the assistant city administrator as the city’s designee for business-license appeal hearings; the council approved that appointment on a voice vote after the staff explanation of the appeals process.

On traffic-calming, staff requested approval to install speed humps on Lucy Drive after a resident asked for the change during public comment. City staff reported the installation meets the city’s criteria and estimated the vertical-construction cost at $29,003.48. “They have met all of the criteria and regulations,” said Mrs. Ziegler, the staff presenter. Council approved the Lucy Drive speed-hump installation; staff said a pending Berkeley County grant could offset roughly $12,000 of the cost.

The council approved a change order for a previously authorized construction project that increases the vertical construction/renovation budget by $9,917,062, including a 4% contingency. Staff said that change will bring the total approved project cost to $11,966,805. Council approved the request on a unanimous voice vote after a motion and second.

Council also authorized an emergency contract with Jay Davis to repair an aging sewer line serving the women’s restroom at Crowfield Golf. Staff said the city used $50,000 from hospitality-tax funds allocated for a chipping-green project and $11,617.40 from the golf fund balance, bringing the total to $61,617.40; because this was an emergency repair, work began before council approval and is estimated to take 14 days. “Due to this being an emergency repair issue, we actually began work on Sunday. It's estimated to take 14 days,” said the presenting staff member, Mrs. Deaton. Council approved the contract on a voice vote.

Minor procedural items also passed: council approved minutes for previous meetings as presented.

Votes at a glance
- Annexation — Ordinance to annex TMS 2231303038 (Saint James Avenue) into Goose Creek as general commercial; motion to approve by Councilman Tikak, second by Councilman Harmon; outcome: approved (voice vote). Applicant representative: Kevin Wally, Architecture Plus.
- Business-license appeals designee — Resolution appointing the assistant city administrator as designee; motion by Councilwoman Eno Sims, second by Councilwoman Cox; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Lucy Drive speed-hump installation — Staff requested approval; presenter Mrs. Ziegler; estimated cost $29,003.48; pending Berkeley County grant could offset about $12,000; motion by Councilwoman Eno Sims, second by Mayor Pro Tem; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Construction change order — Vertical construction/renovation change order $9,917,062 (includes 4% contingency); new total $11,966,805; motion by Councilman Tikak, second by Councilwoman Cox; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Emergency sewer repair (Crowfield Golf) — Contract with Jay Davis for $61,617.40; funding: $50,000 hospitality tax, $11,617.40 golf fund balance; work already begun, estimated 14 days; motion to approve by Councilwoman Cox, second recorded; outcome: approved (voice vote).

Council did not record roll-call tallies in the transcript; all listed items passed on voice votes without recorded individual roll-call votes.

Why it matters
The annexation clears the way for development that requires Goose Creek water service; council discussion indicated city site-plan regulations (buffers, parking and setbacks) will apply once the property is annexed. The construction change order and emergency repair together represent significant near-term demands on city capital and operating funds. The Lucy Drive speed-hump vote responds directly to a resident complaint about speeding and crash risk; staff said the installation meets city criteria and may be partially funded through a county grant.

What’s next
Staff will proceed with site-plan review for the annexed parcel under Goose Creek ordinances, implement the Lucy Drive traffic-calming work per the approved contract, and finish the Crowfield Golf sewer repair. The business-license appeal designee will take effect for future appeal cases as specified by staff.","At its meeting, the Goose Creek City Council approved an annexation on Saint James Avenue, authorized speed-hump installation on Lucy Drive, approved a construction change order and an emergency sewer repair contract, and named a designee for business-license appeals.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident urges anti-camping, anti-panhandling ordinances; mayor urges measured approach

Goose Creek council approves annexation, speed humps and several capital contracts