* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:10] LIKE TO CALL THE BOARD ALL THE MEETING TO ORDER, WE WILL OPEN WITH A PRAYER BY DEACON WAVE FOUR, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. UMBRELLA. KOHLER IS FROM FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH HERE IN NEWARK FATHER. WE INVITE YOUR PRESENCE HERE AT THIS MEETING TONIGHT, OR DOES A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF THIS TOWN. I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR WHAT THE CITY HAS DONE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY OR WHAT HAS BEEN A PLACE THAT HAS PROTECTED US. IT'S PROVIDED US A PLACE TO HAVE AN INCOME, PUT A, PUT FOOD ON OUR TABLE, PUT SHELTER OVER OUR HEADS, BUT CLOTHES ON OUR BACK. IT'S PROTECTED US. IT'S EDUCATED, US PROVIDED LEISURE ACTIVITIES AND RECREATION, AND IN A GREATER WAY, BROUGHT US TO WALKS OF FAITH. SO LORD, THIS IS A GOOD CITY. IT IS A PIECE OF HEAVEN HERE ON THIS EARTH, AND WE GRATEFUL FOR IT. WE ASKED YOUR PRESENCE HERE TONIGHT TO BLESS THIS MEETING, TO BE IN OUR DISCUSSIONS, TO DICTATE THE TERMS OF OUR DECISIONS, THAT IT MIGHT GLORIFY YOU IN YOUR KINGDOM IN JESUS NAME. AMEN. SAY SELL AMERICA STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE. OH, . WE WOULD LIKE TO ALSO LET YOU KNOW, I'VE MET HER AS A LITTLE UNDER THE WEATHER AND WE ASK THAT YOU KEEP HIM IN YOUR PRAYERS AND YOUR THOUGHTS THIS EVENING. UH, THIRD ITEM, I MEAN, AS THE CITY CLERK, IF SHE WOULD GO AND CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE. THANK YOU. OUR THIRD ITEM PRE THE TASTE TO STEVE HICKS HAS BEEN TAKEN OFF THE AGENDA, UH, ON THE REQUEST OF THE MAYOR. WE UNDERSTAND THE MAYOR AND STEVE WERE VERY GOOD FRIENDS AND, UH, OUT OF POLITENESS THAT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED IF EVERYONE WOULD RETURN AGAIN ON OUR NEXT MEETING FOR THAT PRESENTATION. UM, AND THAT THE ACCIDENT HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM THE AGENDA. FOURTH ITEM IS REQUEST PETITION OF CITIZENS. UNDER THIS. WE ASKED THAT IF YOU HAVE REQUESTS AND PETITION FOR THE CITY OF NEWBURN FOR THIS BOARD, WE ASK THAT YOU COME TO THE MIC, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE. UH, IF POSSIBLE, WE ASK THAT YOU KEEP YOUR COMMENTS OR YOUR REQUEST TO AT LEAST FIVE TO SIX MINUTES. IS ANYONE HERE THIS EVENING, BUT LIKE TO APPROACH THIS BOARD THIS EVENING ON A REQUEST AND PETITION OF CITIZENS, I DON'T KNOW. MERLE MAYOR PRO TIM, MR. PRYOR, HAM BOARD, MR MANAGER, AND MR. WARD. UH, I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT, UH, ONE OF OUR FINE OFFICERS, OFFICER ERNIE FLOWERS. HE HAS A PRESENTATION THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE BEFORE THE BOARD, AND HE KEPT BACKING UP MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. AND, UH, MY NAME IS OFFICER FLOWERS. I LIVE AT 1 0 1 ROLLING LANE AND RAISE IT FOR A BEING BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS I ASKED THE CHIEF OF POLICE. IF I COULD COME AND ADDRESS THE, UH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ABOUT A YOUTH PROGRAM, IT'S CALLED A YOUNG MARINE PROGRAM. I HAVE SOME HANDOUTS. UH, I DON'T REMEMBER YES. WE'VE MAINTAINED THIS WITHIN FIVE MINUTES. I'LL DO MY BEST TO KEEP WITHIN THE FIVE MINUTE LIMIT, SIR, DO WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO THAT MEAN YOU CAN HAVE THE REST OF THE EVENING, YOU WORKING WITH KIDS, YOU HAD ARRESTED. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. AS I STATED, [00:05:01] MY NAME IS OFFICER FLOWERS. I AM A RETIRED SERGEANT MAJOR FROM MARINE CORPS. I SPENT 30 YEARS AND 17 DAYS IN MARINE CORPS AND I HAVE A VERY VESTED INTEREST IN THE YOUTH PROGRAM. AND I WANT TO TRY TO INTRODUCE YOU TONIGHT, THE YOUNG MARINE PROGRAM, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE, UH, THE HANDOUT, THE MISSION OF YOUNG MARINES PROGRAM IS TO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE THE YOUTH WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES, BY PROMOTING A HEALTHY AND A DRUGS, FREE LIFESTYLE THROUGH INSTRUCTIONAL AND ADVENTUROUS ACTIVITIES. WE DEVELOPED BY RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS USING VOLUNTEER RESOURCES OF A CIVILIAN AND MILITARY PARTNERSHIP, THE TEAMWORK AND SWEET ACCORD ENJOYED BY THE YOUNG MARINES. HE HELPED HIM DISCOVER THE HERO WITHIN OUR VISIONS, THE IMPACT OF AMERICA'S FUTURE BY PROVIDING A UNIQUE YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH NURTURES AND DEVELOPS CITIZENS IN OUR COMMUNITIES STILL INTO THE CORE VALUES OF HONOR, COURAGE AND COMMITMENT. WE'RE GUIDED BY THE PRINCIPLES OF PROVIDING THE HEALTH, WELFARE, AND SAFETY OF YOUNG. AND IF THIS IS PARAMOUNT, WE VIA VOLUNTEERS AND WE'LL PROVIDE THEM THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED. WE'LL NEVER FORGET THAT THIS PROGRAM IS FOR THE YOUTH. WE'LL PULL THE CORE VALUES OF HONOR, COURAGE AND COMMITMENT. WE PLEDGED TO THE PARENTS AS TO SERVE AS POSITIVE ROLE MODELS TO THEIR CHILDREN. AND WE GET BY GIVING. BASICALLY THE PROGRAM BEGAN IN 1958, A SMALL GROUP OF TO GET DEDICATED MARINE CORPS LEAGUE MEMBERS, A FORM YOUNG BRAINS OR WATERBURY CONNECTICUT YOUNG WOMEN'S PROGRAM IS FOCAL POINT OF THE MARINE CORPS, YOUNG YOUTH DRUG DEMAND REDUCTION PROGRAM EFFORTS. YOUNG RAIN'S MOTTO IS OUR YOUTH IS OUR FUTURE. THE FISHER CHARTER WAS ISSUED ON OCTOBER 17, 16, 19 65. AND THEY, AFTER THE PROGRAM SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY IN 1980, THE ORGANIZATION WAS GRANTED STATUS OF THE YOUTH EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION WITH AN IRS PACIFICATION OF 5 0 1 C3 UNITS INDEPENDENTLY CHARTERED WITHIN THEIR OWN STATE. AS YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS, THE ORGANIZATION OF THE YOUNG LEAN PROGRAM. WE HAVE A NATIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, DC. WE ARE REGIONAL COMMANDERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS 12 REGIONS WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION. AND ARE WE GOING TO BELONG TO REGION SIX? WITH REGIONAL COMMANDER WAS HEADQUARTERS OUT OF CAMBODIAN. NORTH CAROLINA. REGIONAL COMMANDER IS A CHIEF WANTS TO JONES. THERE'S TWO BATTALION WITHIN THE REGIMENT. FIRST BATTALION. THE SECOND BATTALION. SECOND BATTALION IS HEADQUARTERS. THE CHERRY POINT NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAIN BATTALION COMMANDER. AND WITHIN EACH BATTALION, OUR UNIT COMMANDERS. WE HAVE UNITS IN CHERRY POINT. WE HAVE UNITS IN RALEIGH-DURHAM CAPITOL CITY AND LITTLE WASHINGTON. AND TONIGHT I WANT TO, UH, SPEAK ABOUT THE TRIGGER POINT YOUNG MARINES, THE TRAIN THAT THEY RECEIVE, UH, CONSISTS OF HISTORY, CUSTOMER COURTESIES, UNIFORM, AND PERSONAL APPEARANCE, RANK RATINGS IN A SECOND-YEAR REQUIREMENTS TYPE OF ORGANIZATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES, ADMINISTRATIONS AWARDS, AND DECORATIONS, CLOSE AUDIT, DRILL. FIRST DATE, SANITATION, HYGIENE, FIELD, CAMPING, SURVIVAL, YOUNG RAIN, LEADERSHIP, TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION, LAND NAVIGATION, PHYSICAL FITNESS, PERSONAL APPEARANCE. I MEAN, AS YOU WERE PERSONAL AFFAIRS, SEVEN ONES IN PARADES, MILITARY TERMS AND JARGON AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO MEET THE YOUTH OF THE CHURCH UPON YOUNG MARINES, UH, THE PROGRAM IS FOR THEM AND THE PROGRAM IS RUN BY THEM AND ASSISTED ME IN, UH, RENDER PROGRAM. I HAVE MY XO AND JUNIOR EXOSPHERE WITH ME TONIGHT. SHE WANTS A PRIVATE PLEASE STAND UP IS THE X OR THE PROGRAM AND HIS WIFE, MS. FREDLISH. SHE'S A JUNIOR XL AND ALSO THE, THE ADDED THAT, AND SHE JUST GAVE TO THE JOB AT PAYMASTER. AT THIS POINT, I'D LIKE TO, UH, ALSO WE'RE GOING TO DO A COUPLE WHO HAS A VESTED INTEREST IN THIS PROGRAM BEING INTRODUCED INTO THE NEWBURN AREA. IT'S MRS. FISHERY, STAND UP, PLEASE STAND UP. THAT'S WHAT YOUR WIFE, HIS WIFE WAS IN SCHOOL TONIGHT, BUT MR. FISHER SON IS IN THE PROGRAM AND HE HAD BEEN COMMUTING DOWN TO CHERRY POINT TO BE PART OF THE PROGRAM. HE SAYS, HEY, CAN WE HAVE ONE HERE IN NEW BERN? AND, UH, IT'S BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR A LONG TIME, BUT I THINK WE CAN PROBABLY GET IT OFF THE GROUND. AND PRETTY MUCH IN THE FUTURE HERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE, I WANNA INTRODUCE YOU TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH WHEN YOUNG RAINS, THE MEMBERS THEMSELVES, UH, WE HAVE A COMPANY DOWN THERE AND ALSO IS A BATTALION HEADQUARTERS IN A CHERRY POINT. AND RIGHT NOW THE, UH, SENIOR ENLISTED PERSON AND THEY ARE IN A UNIT AND STATS OUT IN FREDERICK'S EXCUSE THE ACCENT FOR SERGEANT AND X, ALL THE ACTION BATTALION SERGEANT MAJOR STATESMEN OF FREDERICK, UH, WAS GRADUATE OF THE SECOND. BETWEEN THE WEEK HAD HAD TO GO THROUGH THE PROGRAM. SHE WAS HONOR GRADUATE FOR A PLATOON. SHE HAS COMPLETED THE, UH, NCO SCHOOL, THE STAFF NCO, A [00:10:01] LEADERSHIP COURSE, SHE'S BEEN INSTRUCTED TO DO ENGLISH, OF COURSE. AND SHE'S ALSO BEEN MOST PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT, BUT NATIONAL DIRECTOR AT QUANTICO, VIRGINIA. SHE IS A YOUNG WAIT A YEAR FOR 1999. THAT'S ON FREDERICK. THIS IS A SISTER. SHE WAS ALSO A GRADUATE HER PLATOON AND RECRUIT TRAINING THE UNDERGRADUATE. AND, UH, SHE'S COMPLETED THE NCO SCHOOL, THE STAFF NCO, ALICIA COURSE, SHE WAS INSTRUCTOR AT THE A GENIUS OF COURSE, AND I TEACH THE A STEP AND CILICIA COURSE AT QUANTICO, VIRGINIA. SHE'S ALSO WROTE THE PROGRAM ARTISTS, THE INSTRUCTION FOR OUR FIRST BATTALION NCO SCHOOL WAS CONDUCTED THE SECOND WEEK, FIRST WEEKEND IN FEBRUARY. AND SHE WAS ON A SQUATTER INSTRUCTOR FOR IT'S A PROGRAM ALSO STARTED FREDERICK SO I'D PHRASE ONE OPPORTUNITY TO IS THERE. AND HE'S BEEN WITH THE PROGRAM SINCE THE SISTERS JOINED. HE WAS ONE, ONE GRADUATES FROM THE SEC OF BATOON ALSO, AND HE'S ATTENDED THE JUNIOR LEADERSHIP COURSE WITHIN QUANTICO. BUT, UH, AS YOU WERE AT CAPITOL JUNE THIS PAST SUMMER SO I DID, KAYLA WAS WITH THE FIRST PLATOON TO GRADUATED WITH GRADUATED 18 YOUNG MARINES AT THAT FIRST YEAR IN 1998. AND, UH, SHE'S BEEN WITH THE PROGRAM SINCE THEN. UH, FATHER IS A WEBMASTER AND HE PRODUCE OUR WEBPAGE. HE'S ALSO A PACK SUPPORT ORGANIZER. CAN I GET HERE? HER MOTHER IS IN HERE WITH IT. THESE ARE THE LEADERS IN THE PROGRAM. THEY RUN THE PROGRAM WHEN THE MARINES YOUNG WOMEN SHOW UP AT THE, THEY TAKE CHARGE AND THEY INSTILL ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO BE DONE WITH A BABY ARE VERY GOOD. WHAT THEY DO, EXCUSE ME, SIR. YES, SIR. COULD YOU HAVE THEM DO IT ABOUT FACE SO THEY CAN GET ON TV? I THINK WITH ONE TYPE OF ACCOMPLISHED THAT THE PEOPLE SHOULD SEE THEIR FACES ABSOLUTELY ABOUT UH, WHEN YOU HAD THE, UH, THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH DRILL. THEY RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND I'M GOING TO ASK THE REST OF THE YOUNG MARINES IN THE, WE HAVE TO STAND UP IN THE FIRST SIDE AND WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE THEM DO THE OBLIGATION, WHICH IS THE LAST THING THAT THEY RECITE BEFORE THEY LEAVE THE PROGRAM FOR THE EVENING. I WAS ON PATROL THE OTHER NIGHT. SO WHEN I RAN INTO A, A MARINE THAT I SERVED WITH AT GAMBLE, JOAN, SOME YEARS BACK, AND I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO TAKE ON THE MISSION OF BEING A COMMANDING OFFICER FOR THE NEW BERN, UH, YOUNG MARINES OR WHATEVER NAME TO BRING ME UP. SO, UH, I'M GOING TO ASK SERGEANT MARTIN, HE STAND UP, HE'S A MARINE OF A CST 21 AT CHERRY POINT NORTH CAROLINA. SO HE AT LEAST INTERESTED IN THAT, UH, MR. FISHER WILL DEFINITELY COME ON BOARD AS THE XO, BECAUSE HE'S ALREADY HAD AN INTEREST IN THE PROGRAM TO BEGIN WITH. SO WITH THAT IN MIND, WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA BE LOOKING AT VERY NEAR FUTURE OF GETTING THE UNIT HERE IN NEWBURN ORGANIZED AND ON BOARD. AND WE JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW, HERE IN THE CITY OF NEW BERN, WHAT THE INTENT IS FOR THE YOUNG MARINES AND HOW DO WE WANT TO MAKE THEM BETTER CITIZENS. AND THEY'RE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY. I'VE SERVED MY COUNTRY AND I WANT TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY. AND I WANT TO DO THIS BY INTRODUCING THIS PROGRAM TO YOU TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, A BOY, AND THAT THIS IS MY PRESENTATION FOR YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANYONE FOR ME. I JUST HAVE A COMMENT AND I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS BECAUSE THAT IS A FORD IN THIS COMMUNITY. THERE AREN'T ENOUGH, UM, PROGRAMS THAT FOCUS ON YOUNG FOLKS. I CAN RECALL WHEN I COMING UP, THE OLDER PEOPLE KEPT US BUSY BY HAVING US IN THE CUB SCOUTS, THE BOY SCOUTS, [00:15:01] IF YOU WERE A GIRL, YOU A BROWNIE OR A GIRL SCOUT. AND, UM, BY BEING IN THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, WE CULTIVATED HOBBIES. WE LEARN VALUES. AND I SEE THE SAME KIND OF, OF, UM, VALUES BEING TAUGHT IN THIS, THIS JOAN MARINE PROGRAM THAT YOU PRESENTING TO US. AND I HOPE THAT YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL. AND, UM, IF WE CAN HELP YOU, YOU KNOW, JUST LET US KNOW WHAT WE, WHAT ROLE WE CAN PLAY. AT LEAST THAT'S MY OWN SENTIMENT. I CONCUR WHEN WE CAME UP TONIGHT TO THE MEETING, WAS THE STEADMAN STANDING ON THE STEP. AND HE LOOKED VERY HANDSOME IN THE PANTS AND UNIFORM THAT THE CITY PROVIDES. AND HE DID ONE OF THESE THAT WAS JUST WONDERFUL. I AM, I AM SO PROUD. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU CAN TELL ME HOW ALL THESE CHILDREN, CAN YOU BE? UH, THE, UH, THE PROGRAM THEY RANGED FROM AGE EIGHT THROUGH 17. OKAY. AND, UH, THE OLDEST ONE, UH, RED NOW WITH, THERE'S PROBABLY A STAFF SERGEANT ALICIA, STAND UP PLEASE. AND SHE'S 17. OKAY. SO CLOSE. I KNOW SHE'S GOT A BIRTHDAY COMING UP, WOMEN DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT. THAT'S REALLY GOOD. I COULD MEET ALL OF YOU. AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO, AND, UH, I'M SURE WITH THIS CONCUR, YOU KNOW, TO HELP GET STARTED AND GET ON YOUR WAY WITH HELPING THESE YOUNG PEOPLE. AND YOU JUST LET US KNOW. I WAS WONDERING IF ALL OF THE REST OF THEM WENT TO LOOK AT THE CAMERA. YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY LIKES TO BE ON THE TELEVISION. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN LINE UP WITH IT. I WANT TO SEE WHAT THEY DO. SO FIRST SERGEANT, WOULD YOU FOLLOW ME ON UP HERE, PLEASE? RIGHT HERE? YOU STAND THERE. SO YOU CAN FALL IN FACING THE CAMERA. IT'S A GIRL TOO. IT LOOKS SO GOOD. THREE SQUADS WOULD BE GOOD. GREAT. DO ANYTHING FOR CAMERA TO SWOOP ON THAT WHILE THE CAMERA'S DOING THAT THERE A NAME AND TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR THOSE THAT ARE LISTENING AND BE LOOKING AT THIS PRESENTATION WHERE SOMEONE CAN BE REACHED IF THEIR KID IS INTERESTED IN A PROGRAM. YES, SIR. I PUT IT ON THE BACK OF THE, UH, YOU CAN REACH THE, UH, OFFICE OF THE TRIP, WENT ON RAINS AT 4 6, 6 65 68. THANK YOU. NEXT UP. OR YOU CAN CONTACT ME. SO I'D MADE THE FLOWERS AT 5 1 4 2 3 4 1, OR YOU CAN CONTACT THE XL AT 2, 2 3 2 3 3 6 24 36. AND IF FOR SOME REASON YOU FORGET THAT CALL THE NEWBURN POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE WANTED A PIECE OF CALL, A NEWER POLICE PROBLEM WILL BE GROUPED. THEY WILL FIND YOU. YES, SIR. THEY WILL FIND ME MR. MAYOR PRO TEM. UM, BEFORE YOU GO, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE ADULTS WHO ARE WORKING WITH THESE YOUNG PEOPLE. UM, I REMEMBER HOW TOUGH IT WAS WHEN I WAS GROWING UP IN THE SCOUTS TO GET ADULTS TO WORK WITH THE, UH, WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE SCOUTS AND ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS THIS DO NOT LACK OR DO NOT FAIL FOR A LACK OF YOUNG PEOPLE. THEY FAIL WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ADULTS ABSOLUTELY PARTICIPATED. SO THANK YOU. NO OTHER QUESTIONS. OKAY. FOR SIDE YOU CAN DISMISS, UH . THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, SIR. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. DOES ANYONE ELSE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME ON AND REQUEST PETITION OF CITIZENS? [00:20:10] GOOD EVENING BOARD, UH, MAY OF PRO TIM PAUL HAM. I HAVE I'VE COME BEFORE YOU TO PUBLICIZE AN UPCOMING WORKSHOP THAT THE CITY IS INVOLVED IN MR. PROPER TREE MAINTENANCE WORKSHOP THAT WILL BE HELD RIGHT HERE IN CITY HALL ON FEBRUARY 19TH NEXT MONDAY AT SEVEN O'CLOCK. AND THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT WORKSHOP BECAUSE IT WILL EMPHASIZE HOW WE PROTECT THE URBAN FOREST. YOU KNOW, THE URBAN FOREST, THE TREES THAT WE HAVE AROUND US, UH, CONTRIBUTES MUCH TO OUR LIVES. UH, THE PREDATOR WAS GIVEN THIS EVENING, REMINDED ME HOW MUCH THE CITY OF NEWBURGH HAS BENEFITED FROM OUR SENSE OF PLACE AND FROM THE TREES THAT MAKE UP A LOT OF THE CHARACTER THAT WE HAVE HERE, THE BOARD AND HIS VISION SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BACK IN 1992, CAME UP WITH THE LAND USE ORDINANCE. YOU ADOPTED THE LAND NEW SUBORDINATES, WHICH HAS A TREE PRESERVATION AND MAINTENANCE PROVISION IN IT, A VERY FAR REACHING, UH, PROVISION THAT, UH, FRANKLY, UH, SOME DEVELOPERS IN THE CITY WERE SOMEWHAT LEERY OF AT THAT TIME. BUT SINCE THAT TIME, SINCE WE'VE HAD A TREE PROTECTION ORDINANCE, A TREE PRESERVATION ORDINANCE, THEY'VE REALLY SUPPORTED THAT ORDINANCE. VERY STRONG. AS WE LOOK AROUND THE CITY, WE SEE MANY OF THE DEVELOPMENTS WITH TREES IN IT, THE PARKING LOTS OF TRIATHLONS, AND THAT WAS ALL VERY WELL CONTRIVED BY OUR STAFF AND WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE WERE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THOSE MEASURES TODAY. WE HAVE, EVEN THOUGH WE DO HAVE SOME URBAN SQUASH, SOME DEVELOPMENT, VERY HEAVY DEVELOPMENT, SOME AREAS WE HAVEN'T BROKEN UP WITH TREES, WHICH ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH RAUF WITH THE, UH, DEGREGATION OF OUR ENVIRONMENT AND OWN IT BY REPLENISHING THE URBAN FOREST. DO WE LEAVE BEHIND A LEGACY FOR OUR CHILDREN? UH, THERE WAS A, UH, THERE WAS A RESEARCH DONE RECENTLY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS WHERE NEED DETERMINED THAT PATIENTS WHO WERE SICK REQUIRED FEWER MEDICATIONS AND RECOVERED MUCH QUICKLY WHEN THEY WERE SURROUNDED, WHEN THEY HAD VIEWS OF TREES AND LANDSCAPING FROM THEIR, UH, HOSPITAL BEDS AND WINDOWS. IT JUST DEMONSTRATES HOW MUCH WE DEPEND UPON TREES, BOTH PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY. WE HAVE A PROBLEM TODAY WITH GLOBAL WARMING WARMING. AND, UH, WE HAVE A PHENOMENON IN URBAN AREAS CALLED, UH, HEAT ALLEYS, WHERE TREES, ASPHALT BUILDINGS, THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT, THEY ABSORB THE SUN'S RAYS AND THEN REFLECT THAT SUN AND THAT HEAT AT A, AT A TREMENDOUS, UH, INCREASE IN HEAT. AND THAT CAN EVEN BE SEEN FROM OUTER SPACE, BUT IT'S PROJECTED AS WE CONTINUE TO TRY TO REPLENISH THE AREAS, SUPPLY TREES, THAT IT WILL REDUCE OUR ENERGY CONSUMPTION BY UP TO 50%. SO WE'RE VERY, UH, WE'RE VERY PLEASED WITH THOSE PROSPECTS AS WE CONTINUE NOW WITH IT EDUCATION ABOUT PUBLIC. WE HAVE A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS THAT WILL BE GIVEN THE, UH, ONE OF THOSE SERIES IS GOING TO BE ADDRESSED BY DR. TIMMER GRO HE'S HEAD OF URBAN FORESTRY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, NORTH CAROLINA STAY RATHER THAN IN WRITING AND HE'S GOING TO BE HERE. AND HE IS A STATE AND NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AUTHORITY ON TREES. AND THAT CARE WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE CALL TREE TOPIC, WHICH IN MANY CASES, MANIFOLD CALLED THE MURDERING OF TREES WHEREBY YOU GO IN AND YOU TAKE OUT THE TOPS OF TREES, YOU ALL TO THEM, SUCH THAT THEY ARE GENETICALLY AND STRUCTURALLY VERY FRAGILE WHEN AT LEAST THEIR DEATHS. SO AS WE TRY TO INCREASE THE PUBLIC AWARENESS, AND IN FACT, WE ENFORCE THE ORDINANCE, WE WANT TO, FIRST OF ALL, GET A PUBLIC, AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE EDUCATED ON HOW TREES, FIRST OF ALL, BENEFIT US AND HOW WE CONTINUE, HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO REINVEST IN THAT AND PROTECT THEIR INVESTMENT. ALSO, WE KNOW THAT TREES INCREASE PROPERTY BAGS AND THE LIVABILITY AROUND US. SO NEXT MONDAY NIGHT, WE WANT TO ASK THE PUBLIC, COME BACK. WE'LL BE RIGHT HERE IN THE ROOM. PROFESSOR JIM RAUL WILL BE HERE AND WE'RE GOING TO SPEND ABOUT TWO HOURS ON TREES. AND HOPEFULLY WE WON'T SEE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE HAD TO STOP. AS WE, UH, GONE INTO THE PRUNING, [00:25:01] UH, TIME OF THE YEAR. THIS IS THE WINTER. AND WE LOOK AROUND AND WE SEE SO MANY CREPE, MYRTLES AND OTHER STREET TREES. WHAT WE CALL BULLSHIT BECAUSE THEY'RE CUT BACK TO THE POINT WHERE THEY LOOK LIKE STICKS, STICKING OUT OF THE GROUND. AND IF WE DON'T PROTECT THEM NOW, UH, 10, 15 YEARS FROM NOW, WE DON'T WANT THE CITY TO LOOK LIKE OTHER AREAS, BUT WE WANT IT TO LOOK LIKE IT IS PROPERLY URBAN, URBAN FOREST FIRE STICK, AND IT IS ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY. SO I WANT TO INVITE YOU ALL BACK ON NEXT MONDAY NOW, UH, BERNARD, MAYBE WE SHOULD CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY OF TAPING THAT PROGRAM AND HAVING CHANNELS 10 PERIODICALLY RUNNING SO THAT PEOPLE THAT CAN'T GET UP HERE COULD, COULD ALSO SEE IT AS LONG AS WE GOING TO WANT TO BE RUNNING IT. AND I THINK WE COULD MAKE A RATE FOR CHANNEL 10 HERE. A LOT OF PEOPLE WATCH THAT CHILD. THANK YOU. I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT IDEA ON BALLENGER, MR. GEORGE, DON'T GO AWAY YET. I HAVE THIS, THIS IS A GREAT, YOU HAD REMINDED ME OF SOMETHING. I'VE TRIED TO THINK OF SEVERAL MEETINGS BEFORE, AND IT WOULD ALWAYS ESCAPED MY MEMORY, WHICH IS BECOMING MORE FAULTY. THE OLDER I GET. I KNOW THAT YOU WORK WITH THE DEVELOPERS, COMMERCIAL DEVELOPERS. I'M SPEAKING OF IN PARTICULAR NOW TO KEEP WHAT VEGETATION, WHAT TREES YOU CAN, WHEN A PIECE OF PROPERTY IS DEVELOPED COMMERCIALLY, OR TO TRY TO, TO REPLACE SOME THAT OF NECESSITY MUST BE REMOVED. IS THERE ANYTHING IN OUR ORDINANCE THAT REQUIRES THEM TO REPLACE TREES THAT ARE PLANTED DURING DEVELOPMENT, WHICH THEN DIE? AND THE REASON I BRING THIS UP IS I HAVE NOTICED THE COUPLE OF TIMES I'VE DRIVEN THROUGH THE PARKING LOT AT WALMART. AND I REMEMBER THAT THERE WAS A STRUGGLE, UH, AT TIMES WITH THE PEOPLE DEVELOPING THAT PROPERTY, TO GET THEM TO PUT SOME GREENERY BACK IN THAT PARKING LOT. AND I NOTICED THAT, UH, THEY DON'T APPEAR TO HAVE GROWN AT ALL. AND A LOT OF THEM NOW ARE MISSING. IS THERE ANYTHING IN OUR, IN THE PLANS, UH, THAT THAT WOULD REQUIRE THOSE TREES TO BE REPLACED? YES, THERE IS AUTO AND FREEZE. AND IN FACT, WE HAVE, UH, HAD WALMART TO REPLANT, UH, DO A MAJOR REPLANTING EARLIER. AND WE GO BACK IF YOU'RE RADICALLY BECAUSE TREES TAKE, UH, SOMETIMES TO DIE SOMETIMES DIE, UH, THREE, FOUR, SOMETIMES FIVE OR MORE YEARS BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY SEE THE EFFECTS OF, UH, YOU KNOW, LACK OF CARE, ET CETERA. BUT, UH, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH, THERE WE GO THROUGH PERIODICALLY, UH, TWICE A YEAR, WE CHECK THESE DEVELOPMENTS AND WE WILL TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT WALMART TO SEE IS THAT WHITE MATERIAL THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLANTED. THIS IS A GOOD TIME OF THE YEAR TO REPLANT TREES. OKAY. I APPRECIATE THAT. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE, UH, THE AVAILABILITY OF SOMEONE ON STAFF THAT COULD ADVISE HOMEOWNERS AS TO THE PROPER TREES TO PLANT. I KNOW YOU TALK ABOUT THE TOPPING OF THE TREES AND EVERYTHING, AND I'VE SEEN CASES WHERE PEOPLE WOULD PLANT THE WRONG TREES UNDER POWER LINES AND THEREFORE DOOM THAT TREE AND EFFECTS TO HAVING TO BE REMOVED AT SOME DATE IN THE FUTURE. I JUST, I WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH IF WE COULD, UH, AT SOME POINT, HAVE SOMEONE LIKE THAT AVAILABLE ON STAFF THAT COULD DO THAT SORT OF WORK, BECAUSE I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THE NEED FOR THE GREEN ROOM. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN EXPLORE THE RESOURCES OF THE COMMUNITY. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO LIVE RIGHT IN THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE A LOT OF EXPERTISE ABOUT PLANTING TREES AND OTHER KINDS OF THINGS WHO MIGHT, WOULD VOLUNTEER TO SERVE ON A COMMITTEE TO GIVE THAT KIND OF INFORMATION TO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO VOLUNTEER SOMEWHERE TO PUBLICIZE, PROBABLY CALL YOU NOW THAT THEY HEAR ABOUT IT. I THINK WE HAVE THIS, A BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE ASK SOME PEOPLE ON THAT, THAT, THAT ARE RETIRED THAT HAVE THIS KNOWLEDGE, AND I'M SURE THEY WOULD RELISH THE IDEA OF BEING ABLE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE INDIVIDUALS. SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE WE GOT THEM FOR THAT TO HELP BEAUTIFY THE CITY. MAYBE WE SHOULD USE THAT GROUP. YEAH. HAS A BROAD AS THE PARENTS COMMISSION, THEY AWARE OF THIS MEETING COMING UP. YES, THEY ARE. IN FACT, TOM GLASGOW, HE WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE APPEARANCE COMMITTEE COMMISSION. HE'S ALSO, UH, UH, WORKS WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE. THEY ARE HELPING US WITH THIS WORKSHOP. THEY ARE CORPORATE PARTNER WITH US AND ALSO TO NORTH CAROLINA, URBAN FOREST COUNCIL, WHICH TOM GLASGOW WAS THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF, UH, WE REFER MOST ABOUT QUESTIONS TO TOM GLASGOW. HE'S A TREE EXPERT. AND WE ALSO HAVE A PERSON ON STAFF, JOHN, JOHN, ALBERT HE'S WITH THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT. HE WAS HIRED AS A, UM, A TREE PERSON, UH, OR THE COURTROOM [00:30:01] IS OKAY. AND, UH, HE PROVIDES SOME OF THAT SERVICE TO OUR CITIZENS. I THINK WE'VE BEEN KEEPING HIM PRETTY BUSY, TOO. SURE. OKAY. WE SHOULD LOCAL. YOU ARE MEETING. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE ON THE REQUEST WITH JUST CITIZENS? OKAY. IF NOT, WE'LL MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. I'LL MOVE WITH AS BACK UP AND MOVING PROPERLY. SECOND, WE ASKED THAT THE CITY CLERK CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. YES, YES, YES, YES. UH, ANY APPOINTMENTS? NO, SIR. I DON'T HAVE ANY APPOINTMENTS. NO, SIR. NO, SIR. MISCELLANEOUS. I'M SORRY. YEAH, I DID. I'M SORRY. I HAD AN APPOINTMENT. I FORGOT WHAT MY APPOINTMENT IS. NIGHT. IF I CAN SUPPORT KNOCKING HEARKEN TO BE APPOINTED TO THE PARENTS COMMISSION. SO MY EX ALL IN FAVOR, THANK YOU, JAY. THIS LADY IS ON A PERSONAL NOTE. UH, ONE OF THE JANUARY WAS VERY STRESSFUL FOR ME. AND THEN I AGREED TO DO AN INTERVIEW WITH THE SUN JOURNAL ON, UH, THE DUTIES OF AN ALDERMAN AND HOW THEY GET A PROFILE ON US. AND, UH, MY ANXIETY GOT HIGHER AS I SPOKE WITH THE SUN JOURNAL REPORTER AND HE SPOKE WITH ME FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS. AND AFTER THAT TWO HOURS, WHEN HE LEFT, I WAS WONDERING WHAT IN THE WORLD HE WAS GOING TO WRITE ABOUT. WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION AND I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY, THANK YOU, MR. FOR THE EXCELLENT JOB THAT YOU DID WITH YOUR SKILL. AND YOU MUST HAVE SOME KIND OF A BLENDER AT THE OFFICE THAT YOU PUT ALL THESE WORDS AND PHRASES IN, AND YOU CAME OUT WITH A, WHAT I CONSIDER IN MY CASE, VERY COMPLIMENTARY STORY. APPRECIATE THAT. AND MY ONLY HOPE IS THAT THE LIBRARY IN HEAVEN HAS A SUBSCRIPTION TO THE SUN JOURNAL. SO THEN MY MOM CAN READ THAT ARTICLE AND WE WAITING A LONG TIME. WELL, MAYBE YOU'RE ON EMAIL. I COULDN'T FIND THEM. MY PARENTS WERE MY ROLE MODEL. MY MOM AND DAD, UH, GAVE ME A LOT OF, UH, WHAT I EXPRESSED IN THAT INTERVIEW. AND I WANT TO APPRECIATE THAT THE FACT THAT YOUR, YOUR PAPER ALLOWED US TO TELL THE COMMUNITY WHAT WE THINK ABOUT COMMUNITY. OKAY. UH, I DON'T HAVE ANY MISCELLANEOUS. OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S QUITE AN ARTICLE. IT'S REALLY SOMETHING THAT TELLS YOU. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAD TALKING TO A NEWS REPORTER AND AFTER THEY WRITE THE ARTICLE AND YOU COULD SAY, THANK YOU SO THAT WASN'T GOING TO A NEWS, REPORT THEM AND GO, OKAY, WHAT'S HE WRITING DOWN ABOUT THAT? BUT IT CAME OUT VERY WELL. I LIKED THE IDEA THAT IT CAME OUT INTO A POSITIVE TONE. I LIKED THAT THERE ARE A LOT, A LOT OF NEGATIVE ABOUT BEING IN GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE USUALLY ACCENT THOSE NEGATIVES. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE DENTIST SEE ANYTHING POSITIVE. THAT'S BEING DONE BY THOSE OF US WHO CAME ON TIME TO SIT UP HERE. BUT, UM, THAT WAS VERY COMPLIMENTARY. I MEAN, I KNOW WHAT IT'S ABOUT, WHAT MAKES UP A BAD NIGHT AND WE WILL HIT THAT. THANK YOU. UH, JUST WANT TO MENTION, I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY OBJECTIVE. I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY WELL DONE AND I HAVE GOTTEN SEVERAL CALLS FROM PEOPLE WHO WANT TO KNOW, DO YOU GO TO SCHOOLS AND TAKE THE INDIANA RELICS? YES, I DO. SO IF, UH, IF THERE'S A SCHOOL TEACHER WATCHING THAT WANTS A DISPLAY OF INDIAN RELICS AT SOME POINT DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, I'M EASY TO FIND IN THE PHONE BOOK. IT'S ABOUT, UH, YEAH, I KNOW CADRE KEN GOT MY VOICEMAIL. I'M SURE THAT, UH, WHEN I CALLED YOU ON THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NO, I HAD NOT INTENDED OR COMMENTING ON THIS, BUT, UH, I CAN'T LEAVE HERE TONIGHT AND LET YOU FOLKS OUT DO ME, BUT I DO WANT TO PERSONALLY WILL OPENLY THANK YOU, UH, FOR THE, UM, CLEAN SPIRIT OF REPORTING THAT YOU DID ON ME. AND, UH, I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY ACCURATE AND OBJECTIVE AND JUST DONE WITH A GOOD CLEAN SPIRIT. AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING IN THE CITY BECAUSE, [00:35:01] UM, A LOT OF REPORTERS JUST DON'T FUNCTION WILL FAIL WITH GOOD WHEEL AND JUST A GOOD SPIRIT. BUT, UH, YOU DID. AND, UM, I THINK YOU, YOU WERE A JEW FOR THIS AREA, FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. I DON'T WANT TO OVERDO IT CAUSE I DON'T WANT YOU TO DO ANYTHING TO COMPROMISE YOUR OBJECTIVITY. I DID NOT ASK YOU TO WRITE THE ORDER. ROBERT, HOW MANY PROPOSALS OF MARRIAGE DID YOU GET? WELL BUT ANYWAY, I APPRECIATE IT. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR EDITOR ALSO BECAUSE OF YOU FOLKS ALL DIFFERENT. AND I MEAN THAT IN A GOOD WAY. UH, NO, MY ONLY QUESTION IS JAY WAY TO GET THE MICKEY MOUSE CLOCK, BRO. WELL, I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO GIVE A SPEECH ON MY CLOCK COLLECTION, THE SLURS, UH, YOU SENT, YOU MENTIONED THE CLOCKS, MR. BOUNDS, OR HEAD DOWN DOOMING BECAUSE IN HIS PICTURE HE HAD THE BIGGEST CLOCK IN THE CITY. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME, RIGHT? MR. WARD, MR. MAYOR, BRO. DAMN. I HAD SEVERAL MATTERS ON THE AGENDA THAT I HAD TO HAVE PULLED OFF PARALEGAL SECRETARY RIGHT ON SICK LAST WEEK. SEE THE MAJOR, I HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT AN OPEN SESSION, BUT WE DO NEED TO HAVE A BRIEF EXECUTIVE SESSION ON PROPERTY ACTIVITY ACQUISITION. SO MOVE PROBABLY SECOND SESSION. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.