Update from Town Manager 5/20/2020

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An Update from Town Manager Steve Riley
5/20/2020
View a Video Update from Town Manager Steve Riley at https://youtu.be/BZ29Y89pczM
Congratulations Graduates!
Congratulations to all of our high school seniors and college graduates on the Island and across the Lowcountry. I know graduation is a little different this year, but we are certainly still excited for you and all of your possibilities. We wish you the best with your future plans.
Governor Henry McMaster Lifts Restrictions on Attractions Effective Friday, May 22
Governor Henry McMaster today announced that attraction facilities will be permitted to open throughout South Carolina beginning Friday, May 22nd. The governor’s announcement comes after AccelerateSC has been meeting for nearly a month to determine the safest ways to reinvigorate the state’s economy. Guidelines for attraction facilities can be found on the AccelerateSC website at https://accelerate.sc.gov, along with guidelines for all recently reopened businesses.
Examples of attraction facilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Zoos
  • Museums
  • Aquariums
  • Planetariums
  • Historic buildings and sites
  • Waterparks
  • Amusement park rides
  • Go-Kart tracks
  • Bingo facilities
  • Miniature golf facilities
Governor McMaster also announced that youth and adult sports leagues will be allowed to begin practicing on May 30th, with competitive play resuming on June 15th.
Beach No-Nos
Beach season is here and we must remind you of our No-Nos that help keep our award-winning beaches and beach parks safe and clean for everyone to enjoy! While we welcome you to the beaches, we do not welcome illicit behavior.
  • No alcohol (liquor), beer or wine. Violators may be cited and fined.
  • No dogs or other animals on the beach between 10 am & 5 pm Friday before Memorial Day thru Labor Day. That begins this Friday, May 22.
  • No shovels made of materials other than wood and/or plastic; And, as for size, the shovels must be less than 30″(L) and 6″(W).
  • No holes greater than 12″ deep. This helps protect our sea turtles. Please fill in holes before you leave.
  • No tents, towels, chairs, coolers or other personal belongings should be left overnight. Items left behind will be removed and disposed of.
Our beach regulations and penalties can be found at hiltonheadislandsc.gov.
Starting Friday, May 22, here’s what you can expect in regards to Hilton Head Island beaches:
  • All of our public access points to the beach will be open.
  • More Sheriff’s Deputies will be patrolling the beaches. Our staff will be around as well.
  • Security guards will also patrol Islanders’ and Coligny beach parks.
  • Be prepared to pay for parking in all metered spaces as we will resume collecting fees at the meters.
  • If you are a beach pass holder, you can park for free at any of our beach parks.
  • Coligny Beach parking lot will be fully opened.
  • Overflow parking for Coligny Beach parking will be at the USCB campus, 1 Sand Shark Drive. Palmetto Breeze will shuttle beach visitors back and forth.
  • Towing will be enforced for persons illegally parked in no parking areas and on road right-of-ways.
  • Please wear face coverings to protect yourself and others around you.
  • Please continue to practice safety and physical distancing guidelines to stay healthy and safe. Stay six feet apart.
Wear a Mask
Town Council passed a resolution Tuesday urging everyone to wear a mask or face covering when you are out and about in public. The CDC and other health entities have encouraged people to wear masks since this pandemic started and have communicated the benefits of doing so. Not everyone who has COVID-19 is symptomatic. Wearing a face covering reduces the chance of transmitting the virus to another person and vice versa. Face Covering Do’s and Don’ts and instructions on how to make your own cloth mask are available on the CDC web site at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html
Business Restoration Survey
The Town of Hilton Head Island is gathering information from our local businesses to gain a more complete understanding of the impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the business community and identify key areas where we can focus potential recovery efforts. Please take a moment to complete our survey at https://www.opentownhall.com/8851
Payment of Business Licenses, Hospitality and Accommodations
In preparation for the June 20th tax deadline, Revenue Collections has placed a secured mailbox at the main entrance of Town Hall for business license, hospitality and accommodations tax payments, and new business license applications. It is labeled “Revenue Collections.”
Please include the tax payment form or business license renewal form with your payment. Enclose your payment and tax form in an envelope. If you need a copy of your business license renewal form, contact Revenue Services at 843-341-4677.
Hospitality tax payment forms and accommodations tax payment forms are located on the Town’s website at www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov. Click Online Services, Business Related Fee and Tax Payments, Accommodations Tax or Hospitality Tax and print a payment form. You can pay your taxes using our online web portal. Your will need your PIN code and business license number to login to your account. The PIN code and account number can be found on the top right corner of your business license renewal form. You may also contact Revenue Services at 843-341-4677 for your PIN Code.
The Town has lifted the $2,500 credit card limit on web transactions and will not impose a fee if you pay online. Penalties will be waived for 1st quarter 2020 Hospitality Tax, Accommodations Tax, Beach Preservation Fees and 2020 business license renewal payments received no later than June 20, 2020. Please note, June 20th falls on a Saturday. Penalties will begin Tuesday, June 23, 2020.
Electronic Meetings
Town Council, for the time being, will continue to host electronic meetings and stream videos of Town Council meetings on Facebook and on our website. Additionally, we are preparing some of other Town committees to host their meetings electronically.
Stay Virtually Connected to Arts and Cultural Offerings
Visit http://culturehhi.org for information on happenings around Town or follow Culture HHI’s Facebook page.
Keep Up With COVID-19
For the latest update on COVID-19 cases in South Carolina and in Beaufort County, visit SCDHEC.gov.
Ways to Give
If you’re looking for a charity to support, visit the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber Commerce at https://www.hiltonheadchamber.org/covid-19/ You will find a list of very worthy organizations and initiatives that need your support as they continue to help individuals in our community.
Stay informed:
For more information visit