RESULTS -- NOVEMBER 15 NORTH MYRTLE BEACH CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
The North Myrtle Beach City Council met at City Hall on Monday, November 15, for a 7:00 pm meeting.
During the meeting, Mayor Marilyn Hatley, Councilwoman Nicole Fontana (Windy Hill Ward), Councilman Trey Skidmore (At-Large), and Councilman Bubba Collins (Ocean Drive Ward) took their oaths of office for new four-year terms.
City Council passed second (final) reading of an ordinance to lease office space and to authorize the use of a portion of the pool and other areas of the North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center to McLeod Seacoast Hospital.
City Council passed the first reading of an ordinance to amend Ordinance 19-22, changing the effective date for implementation of the City’s ban on single-use carryout bags by retail establishments from January 1, 2022, to July 1, 2022. As initially presented to City Council, the proposed ordinance had January 1, 2023, as the new start date for the City’s ban, however, after input from members of the public and discussion among Council members, it was decided to cut the proposed year-long postponement to a six-month postponement.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of the ordinance was postponed from January 1, 2021, to January 1, 2022. The new six-month postponement is also driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and its continuing negative impact on manufacturing and shipping. This situation will hopefully ease in the coming months.
During the six-month delay, Destination North Myrtle Beach (North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce) leadership has agreed to work with the City to form a committee to help educate local businesses and others about the coming implementation of the ban on plastic bags and to work with them to ensure that they are prepared to adhere to the ordinance when it becomes effective on July 1, 2022.
Council members and residents also spoke to the fact that individuals need not wait for the bag ban to go into effect, but can make their own decision to stop using plastic bags now. Many businesses offer for sale or for free reusable, recyclable bags that can hold good amounts of groceries and other goods.
MAYOR MARILYN HATLEY TAKES HER OATH OF OFFICE
COUNCILWOMAN NICOLE FONTANA (Windy Hill Ward) TAKES HER OATH OF OFFICE
COUNCILMAN TREY SKIDMORE (At-Large) TAKES HIS OATH OF OFFICE
COUNCILMAN BUBBA COLLINS (Ocean Drive Ward) TAKES HIS OATH OF OFFICE