City Quick Connect Podcast From The Municipal Association Of South Carolina

At the Municipal Association’s 2023 Annual Meeting in Greenville, Casey Fields and Scott Slatton record a podcast episode in front of a live audience. They talk about the Municipal Association’s role in the Southern Legislative Conference, which took place in Charleston this year. They also talk about the Association’s participation in the National League of Cities’ State League Staff Workshop in Boston, covering such topics as municipal zoning authority trends nationwide.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton talk with Howard Duvall, at-large councilmember for the City of Columbia and former longtime executive director for the Municipal Association of SC. They discuss Duvall’s career in municipal government, beginning with elected office in the Town of Cheraw, and lessons learned from decades of legislative advocacy on behalf of cities and towns.

The City of Beaufort responded to Russia’s war in Ukraine by building a partnership with Ostroh, a city in western Ukraine, connecting them with needed support and supplies for refugees. Beaufort Mayor Stephen Murray shares with Municipal Association Executive Director Todd Glover about how he helped Beaufort build this effort, how fundraising efforts made use of local artisans, and how they forged a new partnership with a South Carolina-based MRE manufacturer.

Casey Fields will bring in guests to discuss the South Carolina political system while the General Assembly is not in session, beginning with former South Carolina Senate Clerk — and Casey’s father — Jim Fields. They discuss topics such as the state’s 1975 Home Rule Act, revisions of the state’s constitution, the processes of civility and decorum of the past and present, and relationship building in advocacy work.

Casey Fields, Joannie Nickel and Erica Wright discuss the governor’s vetoes on the state budget. They also talk about next steps for cities that will use a compilation of financial statements instead of a full audit, implementation of the squat truck ban, and how the state’s new first responder death benefit will work.

The House and Senate adopted the budget conference report this week for the new $41 billion state budget. Casey Fields, Joannie Nickel and Scott Slatton discuss the budget, which fully funds the Local Government Fund and which removed the proviso on short-term rental regulation. They talk about aspects of the budget involving transportation funding, state retirement system and health insurance contributions, first responder services and many other items.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton cover the House overriding the governor’s veto of S31, the bill that would allow smaller cities and towns to provide a compilation of financial statements instead of a full audit. They also talk about progress on H3503, the fentanyl trafficking bill, and the latest on the work of the budget conference committee.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton discuss the upcoming state budget work in budget conference committee, including the Municipal Association’s monitoring of the short-term rental proviso. They also talk about the Association’s recent visit to Washington to meet with the state’s Congressional delegation, the need for municipal leaders to connect with their U.S. representatives and senators, and Act 57, the state’s accommodations tax and workforce housing bill.

Municipal Association Executive Director Todd Glover and Chief Operating Officer Jake Broom talk about the Association’s first-ever Small City Summit, a one-day session on July 27 focusing on the specific needs and challenges of smaller cities and towns. Learn more: https://www.masc.sc/association-events/small-city-summit

Municipal Association Executive Director Todd Glover and Chief Operating Officer Jake Broom discuss the upcoming Annual Meeting, taking place in Greenville July 27 – 29, including sessions focused on civility and reconciliation, affordable housing, youth engagement, economic development, placemaking, communication, law enforcement and many others. Learn more: https://www.masc.sc/2023-annual-meeting

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton discuss the General Assembly’s passage of an abortion bill, as well as the passage of a budget continuing resolution in case no new state budget is passed by June 30. They also discuss the Senate’s override of the governor’s veto of S31, the compilation of financial statements bill.

Casey Fields and Joannie Nickel talk about the General Assembly’s actions since Gov. Henry McMaster called them back into session, including the abortion bill debate and ongoing budget work. S363, the bill prohibiting squat trucks, has been signed into law. S31, the compilation of financial statements bill; and S284, the development of workforce housing bill; have been ratified.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton discuss how the coming weeks at the State House will look in the absence of a sine die resolution, or adjournment resolution; and the final legislative steps for items such as the squat trucks bill, compilation of financial statements bill and the workforce housing bill.

Casey Fields, Joannie Nickel and Erica Wright discuss state budget action at the end of the legislative session, as the short-term rental bill, which did not advance out of subcommittee. They also discuss progress on the municipal audit bill, the squat truck bill, the bond reform bill and the affordable housing bill.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton take a look at the testimony of numerous mayors on H3253, the bill that would prohibit municipalities from enacting an ordinance that stops short-term rentals. After the original recording, the House subcommittee scheduled a new hearing for Wednesday, May 3, giving local leaders another opportunity to advocate. Casey gives updated details at the end. Scott and Casey also cover the bond reform bill, the squat truck bill, and debate adjournment on S284, the bill that allows local accommodations and hospitality taxes for the development of workforce housing.

Beaufort Mayor Stephen Murray returns to the podcast to discuss Beaufort’s approach to short-term rentals and the importance of maintaining cities’ and towns’ ability to regulate STRs. Murray's portion of the podcast begins at 19:45. Casey Fields and Scott Slatton discuss the need for local officials to contact their legislators about H3253, the bill that would prevent ordinances banning or regulating STRs. They also discuss the Senate version of the squat truck bill, progress on the ARPA funding bill and movement on the municipal election bill.

Erica Wright and Casey Fields talk about the current state of the bond reform bill, tort reform bill, American Rescue Plan Act allocations to the SC Office of Resilience and SC Rural Infrastructure Authority, as well as the hate crimes bill stopped for now by the objections of several senators.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton talk about the Senate Finance Committee’s version of the state budget. They also cover the proposed squat truck prohibition, the tobacco flavoring bill, the SC Constitutional Carry Act, and the municipal election bill that would require municipalities to have elections during certain months of odd-numbered years, clarify when a municipal term of office begins and require county election offices to run municipal elections when requested.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton explain the need for municipal officials to advocate for H3014, the hate crimes bill, and also discuss the latest action on the squat truck bill, the compilation of financial statements bill, the tor claims bill, the workforce housing bill and the tobacco flavoring bill.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton discuss action on S423, the new version of the medical cannabis bill, including how it would affect zoning in cities and towns. They also discuss S284, which would make workforce housing an allowable use of accommodations and hospitality tax, and S414, the bill that would prohibit cities from regulating ingredients and flavors of cigarettes and e-cigarettes.