Oct 11, 2022 Board of Aldermen

[00:00:02]

GOOD EVENING

[1. Meeting opened by Mayor Odham. Prayer Coordinated by Alderman Royal. Pledge of Allegiance.]

THE PRAYER TONIGHT WILL BE COORDINATED BY OTTERMAN ROYAL.

THANK YOU, MAYOR OLDEN.

PASTOR YVAN ARMAND FROM EAST COAST COALITION OF PASTORS WILL DIRECT US IN PRAYER.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

BOY.

LET US PRAY.

FATHER, WE THANK AND PRAISE YOU, GOD, FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE THIS EVENING.

THANK AND PRAISE YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE BECAUSE WE NEED YOU.

WE'RE ASKING GOD FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

FATHER, WE ARE ASKING GOD THAT YOU WOULD BRING THESE ALDERMANS TOGETHER WITH THE MAYOR AND GOD, THAT THEY WOULD HEAR THOSE THINGS THAT ARE NECESSARY AND IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO FOLLOW.

WE ASK GOD THAT YOU CONTINUE TO KEEP THEM TOGETHER.

KEEP THEM IN ALL OF THEIR WAYS.

ASK GOD THAT YOU'RE LEADING GOD THIS MEETING AND MAKE IT BE WHAT IT OUGHT TO BE.

AND FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU INTERVENE IN THOSE THINGS THAT ARE NECESSARY.

WE THANK YOU AND WE PRAISE YOU IN JESUS' NAME.

AMEN.

AMEN.

AMEN.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE FLAG OF OUR COUNTRY.

I PLEDGE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH SAND, ONE PATIENT UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.

PARA MADAM CLERK, IF YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE OTTERMAN PR HERE, OTTERMAN ROYAL.

HERE.

OTTERMAN ASHER.

HERE.

MAYOR OEM.

HERE.

OTTERMAN KINZIE.

HERE.

OTTERMAN DESK PRESIDENT OTTERMAN GSON HERE, UH, IS TO

[3. Approve Agenda.]

IF SO, I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

SO MOVE SECOND.

HAVE A MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND IN DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? RIGHT.

UH, MAD

[4. Request and Petition of Citizens.]

ANY PETITION OF CITIZENS? THANK YOU.

WE HAVE DAVID LEISURE.

OKAY.

LEISURE, IF YOU WOULD JUST COME TO THE MIC AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.

YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES, SIR.

THANK YOU.

IN GOOD EVENING, DAVID LEISURE.

29 0 6.

BETTY GRESHAM LANE, LAKEVIEW SUBDIVISION.

I'M ASKING, UM, FOR THE BUILDER OF THE LAKE USE OF N CCI.

THEY FAILED TO ADDRESS IMPROPERLY GRADED AND PLACED DRAINAGE SWALES, UH, CAUSING LOCALIZED FLOODING IN, UM, YARDS OF MY NEIGHBORS AS WELL AS OURS.

UH, AND ALSO FAILING TO ADDRESS STRUCTURAL CONCERNS IN A TIMELY MANNER.

UH, THE CONDITION OF BETTY AGGRESSION LANE, UH, WITH UNPATCHED, UH, REPAIR WORK, SOME AS OLD AS SIX OR SEVEN WEEKS, UH, SPEEDERS ON BETTY GRESHAM.

THEY SEEM TO THINK IT'S A RACE TRACK IN THE TIMING OF THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AT HIGHWAY 70 OF CAROLINA COLLEGE.

THAT WHEN I TRIED TO COME OVER HERE TONIGHT, LESS THAN 10 SECONDS.

GREEN LIGHT, UH, FOR THOMAS ROAD, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE DONE IS TO HAVE THE ER ADDRESS AND THE CORRECT THE DRAINAGE ISSUES.

UM, FIX MY HOUSE PATCH HOLES IN THE ROAD LEFT BY THE CONTRACTORS, AS I INDICATED A MOMENT AGO.

SOME IS OLD, IS 67 WEEKS.

LENGTHEN THE TRAFFIC LIGHT CYCLE TIMES ON THURMAN ROAD AND HAVE A POLICE PRESENCE ON BAD AGGRESSION.

UH, HOPEFULLY WITH AN UNMARKED CAR.

UH, I UNDERSTAND THEY DON'T HAVE ONE NOW, BUT MAYBE PROVIDE FUNDING SO YOU CAN GET AN UNMARKED CAR TO, UH, GET THE SPEEDERS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

I'M SURE ALDERMAN ASTOR WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU.

I'LL PASS ALONG YOUR INFORMATION.

YEP, IT'S RIGHT HERE.

THANK YOU.

IS THAT ALL? OKAY.

[Consent Agenda]

MAY THERE'S NO QUESTIONS, COMMENTS.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO, UM, AS ADOPT THE AGENDA AS IS STAND.

HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND.

ANY COMMENTS? DISCUSSION? WOULD, LET'S HAVE A ROLL, ROLL CALL, STARTING WITH OTTERMAN PR.

OTTERMAN PR.

YES.

OTTERMAN ROYAL.

YES.

OTTERMAN ASHER? YES.

OTTERMAN KINZIE.

YES.

OTTERMAN BEST? YES.

OTTMAN SSON.

YES.

MAYOR OEM? YES.

[9. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving the 2022 New Bern Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.]

MAYOR, AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK KIM MAXEY, OUR MPO ADMINISTRATOR TO COME UP AND MAKE THIS PRESENTATION

[00:05:08]

JUST A MATTER.

I SEE YOU BROUGHT BACK UP.

I DID.

OF COURSE I DID.

HERE.

OKAY.

YOU KNOW, SHE'S REALLY A BRAINS BEHIND THIS WHOLE THING.

ANYWAY, .

UM, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THOSE OF YOU WHOM I HAVE NOT YET MET YET.

I AM KIMBERLY MAXEY.

I AM THE NEWRY NPO ADMINISTRATOR.

I HAVE WITH ME TONIGHT FELICIA MCCREE, WHO IS THE MPO PLANNER.

AND TONIGHT WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE UPDATE TO THE NEWBURN, UM, BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN PLAN.

SO, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE MPO.

WE'RE A FEDERALLY FUNDED TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION.

WE HAVE FIVE MEMBER AGENCIES, ONE OF WHICH IS THE CITY OF NEW BERN.

UM, WE ALSO HAVE BRIDGETON RIVERBEND, TRENT WOODS, AND PORTIONS OF CRAVEN COUNTY THAT MAKE UP OUR MPO.

UM, WE ASSIST IN PLANNING FOR MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IS HELP UPDATE OR CREATE NEW PLANS, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE FOR THE CITY.

SO THE MPO PROVIDED FUNDING FOR AN UPDATE TO THE CITY'S PLAN.

PREVIOUSLY IT WAS TWO PLANS, AND NOW WE'VE KIND OF COMBINED IT INTO ONE.

A FEW YEARS AGO, WE DID THE SAME THING FOR BRIDGETON AND RIVERBEND WHO DID NOT HAVE PLANS.

SO WE FUNDED NEW PLANS FOR BOTH OF THOSE MEMBER AGENCIES AS WELL.

SO TONIGHT WE'RE JUST GONNA KIND OF DO A BRIEF OVERVIEW.

HOPEFULLY YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO, UM, LOOK IT OVER.

SO, ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THE CITY OF NEW BERN, UM, AND THE MPO BEGAN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT UPDATING THIS PLAN.

WE CREATED A STEERING COMMITTEE AND WE HELD THREE MEETINGS.

THE FIRST WAS IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR, AND THE LAST WAS IN MAY OF THIS YEAR.

UM, ALTA PLANNING AND DESIGN OUT OF RALEIGH WAS OUR CONSULTING FIRM.

AND THEY COMPILED DATA, PUT TOGETHER A DRAFT PLAN THAT WE PROVIDED FOR PUBLIC REVIEW ON OUR MPO SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES ON OUR WEBSITE.

THE CITY DID THE SAME, AND I BELIEVE, UM, THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT DID THE SAME AS WELL.

SO THE DRAFT PLAN WAS THEN PRESENTED EARLIER THIS YEAR IN A PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT SESSION.

AND THE COMMENTS FROM THAT, UM, PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT SESSION WERE ALSO INCORPORATED INTO THE PLAN.

SO THEN, UM, THE FINAL PLAN WAS COMPLETED AND COMES BEFORE YOU NOW FOR ADOPTION.

SO THE STEERING COMMITTEE THAT WE PUT TOGETHER WAS, WAS EXCELLENT, VERY ENGAGED.

UM, OBVIOUSLY IT WAS MPO STAFF AND CONSULTING STAFF, UH, GEORGE TRIALS FROM PUBLIC WORKS, DAVID DANIELS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, MAYOR OEM, WHO AT THAT TIME REPRESENTED THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN AND WAS ALSO THE VICE CHAIRMAN ON THE NPO POLICY BOARD.

CARRIE WARREN FROM PARKS AND RECREATION, UM, KELLY WALKER FROM THE TRANSIT SYSTEM CARTS.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAD REPRESENTATION FROM, UM, N C D O T DIVISION TWO AS WELL.

SO THE FIRST CHAPTER IS REALLY JUST AN INTRODUCTION, OBVIOUSLY.

UM, IT WILL, IT GOES INTO THE HISTORY OF THE PLANS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY IN PLACE.

UM, AND IT TALKS ABOUT THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THE CITY OF NEW BERN HAS.

IT PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK TO CONTINUE EXPANDING AND IMPROVING CONNECTIONS FOR BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIANS.

UM, AND IN THE INITIAL DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CITY, THEY MENTIONED THEY WANTED TO HAVE A CORE, UM, DESIGNATED AREA THAT THEN THEY COULD BUILD OUT FROM TO ENSURE THE CONNECTIONS THAT THEY NEEDED TO COVER THE COMMUNITY.

UM, SO ALSO WITHIN THIS, OBVIOUSLY WE HAD TO COME UP WITH VISION AND GOALS.

UM, THE GOALS INCLUDED SAFETY, EQUITY, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS, CONNECTIVITY, AS WELL AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THE SECOND CHAPTER TALKS ABOUT EXISTING CONDITIONS.

SO OBVIOUSLY, IN ORDER TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE NEED, WE HAVE TO KIND OF LOOK AT WHAT'S THERE AND ALSO LOOK AT WHAT'S NOT THERE.

UM, SO NEW BERN IS VERY UNIQUE IN THE FACT THAT THE TOPOGRAPHY IS FLAT, RIGHT? SO IT JUST PROVIDES, UM, IT SUPPORTS AND ENHANCES NATURALLY, UM, BICYCLING AND WALKING WITHIN ITS COMMUNITY.

UM, DOWNTOWN PROVIDES EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONNECTIONS TO LOCAL BUSINESSES, TO HISTORIC LANDMARKS TO THE WATERWAYS.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE GAPS IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE CAN'T GET FROM DOWNTOWN, FOR EXAMPLE, TO OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY.

SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT THIS PLAN WILL ADDRESS.

UM, SAFETY IS ANOTHER ONE OF THE BIG OBSTACLES THAT, UM, BICYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIAN FACE.

SO ALSO IN THIS CHAPTER ARE SOME SAFETY DATA FOR BOTH BICYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS.

UM, SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY WILL WANNA TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION AS THEY DETERMINE WHAT TYPE OF FACILITIES ARE NEEDED TO BEST PROVIDE, UM, NOT ONLY CONNECTIVITY FOR THEIR RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO SAFE PASSAGE.

UM, CHAPTER THREE TALKS ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE RECOMMENDATIONS.

SO THIS WILL DIVE INTO THE BEARING FACILITY TYPES THAT WILL THEN TOUCH ON SOME OF THE SAFETY FEATURES THAT YOU NEED, WHAT'S BEST SUITED FOR EACH PARTICULAR AREA.

AND SO ON THE NEXT FEW SLIDES WITHIN THIS

[00:10:01]

HOPEFULLY I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THEM, BUT IT JUST KIND OF SHOWS HOW COMPREHENSIVE THIS PLAN IS IN PROVIDING WHAT IS THERE, WHAT ISN'T THERE, THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS OF WHAT THEY PROPOSE WOULD WORK WELL.

AND, UM, WHILE NOT SHOWN IN THIS POWERPOINT, CONSIDERATIONS IN THE PLAN ARE ALSO GIVEN FOR CONNECTIONS WITH, UM, TO AND CAROLINA COLORS AS WELL.

SO HOPEFULLY YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK THROUGH THOSE.

SO, UM, CHAPTER FOUR PROVIDES PROGRAM RECOMMENDATIONS.

THIS CHAPTER FOCUSES ON THE BEST WAY TO IMPLEMENT THE CHANGES THAT YOU WANT TO SEE WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITY.

UM, IT PROVIDES EXAMPLES TO OTHER NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITIES OF SIMILAR SIZE, UH, THAT HAVE DONE THE SAME THING THAT I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, WOULD GIVE GOOD EXAMPLES FOR WHAT WOULD WORK FOR THE CITY.

CHAPTER FIVE FOCUSES ON POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS.

SO THESE ARE SUGGESTIONS THAT ON THINGS THAT THE CITY CAN DO, FOR EXAMPLE, IMPLEMENTING LAND USE AND TRANSPORTATION POLICY SETTING DESIGN STANDARDS, UM, DEVELOPING REGULATIONS THAT PROMOTE WALKABLE BIKEABLE DEVELOPMENTS.

THERE'S ALSO VERBIAGE SUGGESTIONS FOR UPDATES TO THE CITY'S CODE OF ORDINANCES IN THIS CHAPTER AS WELL.

AND THEN OF COURSE, THE FINAL CHAPTER FOCUSES ON IMPLEMENTATION.

SO THIS PROVIDES GUIDANCE ON THE STEPS, UM, THAT THE CITY CAN TAKE FOR VIABLE IMPLEMENTATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.

UM, CHANGE LIKE THIS, I BELIEVE, IS GOING TO REQUIRE A CHAMPION.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LEADER, UM, THAT CAN PROVIDE LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION TO IMPLEMENTING THE CHANGES THAT YOU WANT TO SEE, BUT ALSO IN FINDING ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO FUND IT.

UM, AND WE'LL GET INTO THAT IN JUST A MINUTE.

UM, THIS IS A PLAN.

IT'S, IT'S JUST THAT IT'S A PLAN TO GUIDE THE CITY IN CREATING THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE.

SO HOW YOU CHOOSE TO UTILIZE IT AND WHERE YOU CHOOSE TO START, WE CAN CERTAINLY BE INSTRUMENTAL IN THOSE, IN THAT DIALOGUE, BUT THIS IS FOR YOU, THE CITY TO DETERMINE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH IT.

UM, AS FAR AS FUNDING GOES, APPENDIX B IN THIS DOCUMENT, WHICH IS NOT PROVIDED IN THIS, UM, POWERPOINT PROVIDES EXCELLENT INFORMATION ON THE MULTITUDE OF FUNDING OPTIONS AVAILABLE.

SO I THINK THAT YOU WILL FIND REALLY GOOD INFORMATION ON, UM, GRANT OPPORTUNITIES IN, OBVIOUSLY WITH THE I AJA MONEY, THERE'S A LOT OF FUNDING OUT THERE RIGHT NOW THAT HAS NOT PREVIOUSLY EXISTED AND PERHAPS WILL NOT EXIST AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.

UM, THE MPO CAN INCLUDE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN PROJECTS WITHIN OUR PRIORITIZATION PROCESS, BUT IT TAKES A LONG TIME FOR US TO FOLLOW THE STEPS WE HAVE TO FOLLOW.

AND MAYOR OEM KNOWS THIS ALL TOO WELL.

UM, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION PLANNING, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO REMEMBER THAT SHORT-TERM PLANNING IN A TRANSPORTATION WORLD IS A DECADE AND LONG TERM PLANNING IS 25 YEARS.

SO WE JUST FINISHED OUR LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN CALLED ENVISION 2045.

SO TR WOODS, FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF OUR MEMBER AGENCIES, THEY DIDN'T WANNA WAIT TO GO THROUGH THE STEPS THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW.

AND SO THEY FOUND ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SOURCES AND GRANTS AND, AND THEY HAVE JUST TAKEN OFF WITH THEIR BI PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE, UTILIZING THEIR OWN METHODS AND THEIR OWN FUNDING SOURCES.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.

AGAIN, WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU .

UM, BUT ANYTHING THAT WE ACCOMPLISH THROUGH OUR PRIORITIZATION PROCESS REQUIRES A 20% MATCH FROM THE CITY AS WELL.

SO THAT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER.

UM, WE HAD A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED SINCE, UM, THE 2006 AND 2009 PLANS WERE IMPLEMENTED.

UM, WE WERE NOT, THE MPO WAS NOT CREATED UNTIL 2013.

SO ANYTHING PRIOR TO 2013 IS NOT INFORMATION THAT WE ARE PRIVY TO NECESSARILY.

THAT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT SOMEWHERE IN THE CITY, THERE MIGHT BE SOME RECORDS IF THERE WERE THINGS THAT WERE ACCOMPLISHED IN THOSE INITIAL PLANS.

UM, I CAN TELL YOU THAT SINCE THE CREATION OF THE NPO IN 2013, UM, WE HAVE FUNDED MULTI-USE PASS ON BOTH SIDES OF GLEN BURNIE FROM ELIZABETH AVENUE TO, UM, NEW BOULEVARD.

WE RESURFACED FIRST STREET AND PROVIDED BICYCLE LANES AND ALSO SIDEWALKS ON BOTH SIDES.

THAT CONNECTED FROM BROAD TO THE T CENTER.

THE CITY THEN PICKED THAT PROJECT UP AND FINISHED OVER THE BRIDGE OVER 70 IN, INTO PEMBROKE.

SO THAT WAS EXCELLENT.

UM, THE CITY ALSO PROVIDED A SIDEWALK ON NEW BOULEVARD FROM THE HOSPITAL TO, UM, GLEN BURN ROAD.

I BELIEVE THERE WERE SOME EXTENSIONS TO, UM, THE RIVERWALK ALONG LAWSONS CREEK.

UM, THE RE REPEATING OF TRENTWOOD PROVIDED, UM, BICYCLE LANES ON EITHER SIDE OF THAT AS WELL AND, AND SOME SHADOWS AND, AND SHARED BIKE SPACE ALONG THE PORTION OF P*****K AS WELL.

UM, AND THEN I KNOW OLD AIRPORT ROAD WAS REPAVED, UM, WIDENING THE SHOULDERS.

I'M

[00:15:01]

BUT I DON'T, I THINK THAT THERE'S MORE WORK THAT CAN BE DONE FOR THE SAFETY OF, OF THE MANY BICYCLISTS THAT UTILIZE THAT CORRIDOR.

SO, UM, I THINK HOPEFULLY YOU HAD A CHANCE TO, TO GO THROUGH THE PLAN.

I THINK IT'S A VERY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

I THINK THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE OUTSTANDING.

UM, AND IF I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FOR YOU, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO TRY OR HAVE QUESTIONS.

UM, THERE HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS IF I COULD.

SURE.

UM, IF I, IF I, IN REVIEWING, UM, THE PLAN, UM, AND YOU'VE JUST INDICATED THAT CURRENTLY THERE, THERE IS A FAIR AMOUNT OF MONEY AVAILABLE YES.

TO COMMUNITIES TO GO AFTER.

UM, AND THAT, UM, THE MUNICIPALITY WOULD BE OBLIGATED TO FUND 20% OF IT, BUT THE OTHER 80% WOULD BE FREE MONEY.

THAT'S, THAT, THAT THERE'S A, THAT'S A MISNOMER, BUT I'LL, I'M SORRY.

I DON'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT.

UM, IF IT'S, IF PROJECTS ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE NPO AND THE PROCESS THAT WE FOLLOW, THERE'S AN 80 20 SPLIT WHEN IT COMES TO THE GRANT FUNDING, THAT'S GONNA DEPEND ON THE GRANT AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE PRESENTED THROUGH THAT GRANT.

SO THE GRANT FUNDS WILL VARY.

CORRECT.

OKAY.

UM, I WOULD HOPE, I MEAN, GIVEN THAT THERE IS THE POTENTIAL OF GETTING 80% OF A CO, OF A PROJECT COST PAID FOR WITH OTHER MONEY, UM, I WOULD HOPE MR. UM, MR. HUGHES THAT, UH, THE CITY IS AGGRESSIVELY LOOKING AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PLAN AND GO AFTER THAT MONEY.

AND I GUESS THE FOLLOW UP QUESTION IS, UM, ARE THERE TIME LIMITS ON WHEN THAT MONEY HAS TO BE SPENT, UH, IF YOU'RE APPLYING FOR GRANT FUNDING, WHETHER IT'S GRANTS OR WHETHER IT'S THE OTHER MONEY WORKING THROUGH YOUR AGENCY? SO THERE ARE NO TIME, UM, RESTRAINTS NECESSARILY FROM THE MPO STANDPOINT.

UM, WE ARE, WE RELY ON THE STATE TO, TO LET US KNOW WHEN OUR FUNDING COMES INTO PLAY, WHICH IS WHY SOMETIMES IT TAKES MUCH LONGER.

I MEAN, IT'S BEEN 25 YEARS SINCE, YOU KNOW, NC 43 OR HAVELOCK JAMES CITY HAVE EVEN BEEN DISCUSSED, AND YOU'RE JUST NOW SEEING THOSE UNDERWAY.

SO YES, WE CAN PUT THINGS IN OUR, IN OUR PLAN AND WE CAN PRIORITIZE THOSE, AND THEY CAN BE FUNDED IN THE STEP, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT'S THE STATE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PLAN.

THAT'S WHAT THEY WORK OFF IS A FISCALLY CONSTRAINED DOCUMENT.

THAT DOES NOT MEAN, UM, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT PROJECT TAKE OFF WITHIN A DECADE.

SO THAT'S WHAT I MEAN.

THERE'S, WE ARE VERY SLOW IN ACCOMPLISHING WHAT WE CAN, UNLESS WE CAN FIND ALTERNATIVE METHODS TO HAVE SOMETHING FUNDED.

UM, AND WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT.

AND SOMETIMES THINGS ARE SPED UP AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE NOT.

SO THERE'S ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY.

UM, IT'S A QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE PROCESS, SO IT PUTS A LOT OF DATA INTO, UM, A, A PROGRAM ESSENTIALLY THAT THEN HAS TO SIFT THROUGH ALL OF THAT AND DETERMINE HOW MANY ACCIDENTS ARE THERE, HOW MANY BICYCLISTS ARE THERE, HOW MANY CARS ARE ON THIS ROAD.

SO IT'S A VERY CONVOLUTED PROCESS OF DETERMINING WHAT'S FUNDED AND WHAT MEETS THE CRITERIA TO BE FUNDED AND WHAT ISN'T.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? WELL, IT, IT DOES.

AND, AND I WAS LOOKING AT MORE THE BACKEND SIDE OF IT IN TERMS OF, UM, IF, UH, IF NEW BERN WERE TO, UM, GO AFTER SOME FUNDING AND WERE AWARDED SURE.

FUNDING, UM, WE MIGHT NOT SEE THAT FUNDING FOR X NUMBER YEARS, WHATEVER.

UM, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA BE REALLY PRESSURED TO COMPLETE THAT PROJECT, SAY WITHIN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

IT MIGHT BE A FEW YEARS DOWN THE ROAD BEFORE WE EVEN SEE THE MONEY AND IMPLEMENT THAT PROJECT.

AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN AGAIN, IT, IT KIND OF GETS BACK TO AGGRESSIVELY GOING AFTER FUNDING NOW.

YES.

AND WE, WHICH MIGHT STILL BE THERE FIVE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD UNSPENT, BUT THAT'S FINE BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING ON THE PROJECTS.

TRUE.

AND IT'S GONNA TAKE TIME TO IMPROVE, MAKE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS MM-HMM.

.

AND IF THAT FITS, I MEAN, AGAIN, IT'S JUST A RECOMMENDATION THAT, THAT I HOPEFULLY THAT WE ARE AGGRESSIVELY GOING AFTER THIS MONEY NOW, WHICH COULD BE COMMITTED TO THE CITY, UH, OVER THE NEXT HOWEVER MANY YEARS.

SURE.

MM-HMM.

AND ALDERMAN, TO ADD YOUR COMMENTS, UH, THE CITY IS QUITE AGGRESSIVE AT, AT, UH, AT GRANT FUNDS CURRENTLY, I BELIEVE WE'VE GOT ABOUT 57 GRANTS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED, MAYBE 58 NOW WITH THE LAST GOLDEN LEAF GRANT.

SO WE HAVE STAFF CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT THOSE THINGS.

ON AVERAGE WITH THE STATE AND FEDERAL GRANT, WE'RE LOOKING TO TWO TO

[00:20:01]

SO WE HAVE TO FUND THAT UP FRONT, AND THEN WE'RE REIMBURSED AFTER THE PROJECT IS COMPLETED.

SO HAVING THIS ADOPTIVE PLAN IN PLACE IS ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE BIG STEPS.

AND IT'S ALWAYS GAINS A LOT OF POINTS WHEN WE FILL OUT THOSE GRANT APPLICATIONS.

YES, WE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE, AND WE ALREADY KNOW WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE GOING WITH PUTTING SOME OF THESE SIDEWALKS AND, AND CONNECTIVITY IN PLACE.

KIM, MAYBE IT WILL BE HELPFUL, UM, IF YOU COULD JUST SPEAK TO YOUR EXPERIENCE.

SO IF THE CITY WERE TO GET A PROJECT APPROVED THROUGH THE STEP PROCESS MM-HMM.

, WHAT'S THE BEST CASE? AND A WORST CASE SCENARIO ON TIMING OF WHEN THAT FUNDING WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE.

THE BEST CASE SCENARIO IS THAT YOU COULD HAVE FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR TWO YEARS OUT.

UM, THAT WOULD START YOUR, ANY UTILITY, UM, ACQUISITION, ANY RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION, ANY EASEMENT NEEDS THAT WOULD COVER ALL OF THE, ALL OF THAT.

YOU MIGHT SEE CONSTRUCTION WITHIN THREE YEARS.

UM, WORST CASE SCENARIO COULD BE THAT IT'S IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE DEVELOPMENTAL PHASE OF THIS, UM, TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

AND IT'S, EVEN THOUGH IT'S THERE, IT'S NOT TECHNICALLY FUNDED, AND WE HAVE TO RESCORE, WHICH KIND OF STARTS IT ALL OVER AGAIN.

SO THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE KIND OF LOOKING AT, IT COULD BE 10 YEARS OUT TO EVEN START RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION, ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

SO, UM, I DO KNOW THAT SOME OF THE GRANT FUNDS THAT I'M FAMILIAR WITH, UM, THROUGH, UM, FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION AND THE OTHER, UM, GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES DO, UM, REQUIRE CERTAIN THINGS TO BE SHOVEL READY.

UM, THEY ALSO DO PUT, YOU KNOW, A LIMIT ON, UM, HOW LONG IT TAKES FOR SOMETHING TO GET DONE.

BUT IT IS, UM, AS, UM, THE CITY MANAGER SAID IT'S USUALLY ON A REIMBURSEMENT TYPE BASIS, AND IT'S A LITTLE MORE, I'M NOT GONNA SAY LENIENT, THAT'S NOT THE CORRECT WORD, BUT YOU DO HAVE A LITTLE WIGGLE ROOM IN THERE.

SO DOES THAT HELP? YES.

SORRY, I KIND OF THANK YOU DIGRESSED, .

ONE, ONE FOLLOW UP QUESTION IF I COULD.

ARE YOU AWARE, ARE THERE ANY STATISTICS OUT THERE, STUDIES OUT THERE THAT DO HAVE DONE COMPARISONS BETWEEN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE, I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE ARE CERTIFICATIONS OR JUST DESIGNATIONS, UM, THAT ARE GIVEN TO COMMUNITIES THAT THEY, THEY'RE, THEY'VE ACHIEVED, UH, SORT OF A WALKABILITY STANDPOINT OR, YOU KNOW, A CYCLIST, YOU KNOW, UH, CRITERIA.

SO A COMPARISON BETWEEN THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT, THAT HAVE IT AND THOSE THAT DON'T IN TERMS OF SAY, POPULATION GROWTH.

SURE.

I, OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, CAN THINK OF ONE THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.

I'M NOT SURE THAT IT, HOW WELL IT ACTUALLY COMPARES TO COMMUNITIES.

I WOULD ASSUME THAT THAT DATA WOULD BE AVAILABLE.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD BE HAPPY TO, UM, SEE IF I COULD FIND OUT FOR YOU AND, UM, GET BACK WITH YOU ON, ON WHAT'S OUT THERE.

THERE ARE SO MANY COMPETITIVE THINGS THAT, THAT COMMUNITIES CAN DO TO BE, UM, TO BE DESIGNATED AND RECOGNIZED AS YOU'RE DISCUSSING THAT.

I THINK THAT NEW BERN ABSOLUTELY HAS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY THAT HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN MISSED.

UM, AND NOW WE HEAR A LOT AS FAR AS THE NPO GOES, WE HEAR PEOPLE WANNA BITE, PEOPLE WANNA WALK, AND PEOPLE WANT A, A VIABLE TRANSIT SYSTEM.

THOSE ARE THE THREE BIGGEST THINGS THAT WE HEAR RIGHT NOW.

IT'S NOT VEHICULAR ANYMORE.

IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, OUR AIRPORT'S DOING A WONDERFUL JOB ON IMPROVING.

SO THOSE ARE THE THREE TOP THINGS THAT WE HEAR.

SO I THINK WE COULD DEFINITELY WORK TO IMPROVE UBER IN THOSE CATEGORIES, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO SEE IF I COULD FIND OKAY.

SOME DATA FOR YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

YOU, HAVING READ THE 2006 AND THE 2009 PLANS, THIS PLAN IS SO MUCH BETTER AND IS READY TO BE IMPLEMENTED.

UH, HAVING CAMPAIGNED ON SIDEWALKS AND BIKEWAYS, I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.

UH, IT HAS A LOT OF DETAIL THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY START WORKING WITH STAFF ON.

WE CAN ACTUALLY START WORKING WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD ON.

SO, UH, I'M PRETTY EXCITED TO WORK WITH YOU AND WORK WITH, UH, STAFF ON GETTING SOME OF THIS DONE.

AND SO IF THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE 2022 NEWBURN BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN PLANT.

SECOND, A MOTION OF SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? JUST HAVE A ROLL CALL, STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ROYAL.

YES.

ALDERMAN ROYAL.

YES.

ALDERMAN ASKED HER.

YES.

ALDERMAN KINZIE.

YES.

ALDERMAN VEST? YES.

ERMAN BRINSON.

YES.

ERMAN PR? YES.

MAYOR OUM? YES.

THANK YOU, KIM.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE IT.

ALL RIGHT.

ITEM NUMBER

[Items 10 & 11]

MR. USE

[00:25:01]

PROPERTY WAS ADVERTISED BUT NO UPSET.

BIDS WERE RECEIVED.

THE VACANT RESIDENTIAL LOT IS VALUED AT $4,000.

THIS PROPERTY WAS REQUIRED JOINTLY BY THE CITY AND COUNTY THROUGH TAX FORECLOSURE IN DECEMBER, 2016.

AT THAT TIME, UNPAID TAXES, INTEREST PENALTIES, AND COST DUE TO THE COUNTY WITH $3,527.

AND THE AMOUNT DUE TO THE CITY WAS $2,850 33 CENTS.

THE CITY ALSO HAS A LEAN ASSESSMENT ON, ON IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,860 IF THE PROPERTY IS SOLD.

IF THE CURRENT AMOUNT, THE CITY WILL RECEIVE $988 78 CENTS, AND THE COUNTY WILL RECEIVE $791 AND 12 CENTS FROM THE PROCEEDS.

CAN WE DO 11 IS ONCE, UH, BOARD WANTS TO DO 11 AS WELL.

MS. HUGHES, YOU WANNA GIVE US A SUMMARY ON THAT ONE? YES, SIR.

SO THE THIRD, UH, PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE, UH, INVESTMENT GROUP, UH, THEY MADE AN OFFER OF $9,000 FOR 2 0 8 DANIEL STREET.

THE OFFER WAS ADVERTISED BUT NO UPSET BID RECEIVED.

UM, THE TAX VALUE OF THE HALF ACRE VACANT PARCEL IS $18,000.

IT WAS REQUIRED BY THE CITY AND COUNTY IN 2019 THROUGH TAX FORECLOSURE.

AT THAT TIME, TAXES, INTEREST, PENALTIES, FEES, AND COSTS DUE TO THE COUNTY WERE $3,596 22 CENTS AND $713 18 CENTS TO THE CITY.

EARLIER THIS SUMMER, WE DEMOLISHED A MOBILE HOME ON THE PROPERTY THAT RECEIVED FLOOD DAMAGE DURING HURRICANE FLORENCE AND WAS BEYOND REPAIR.

IN EXCHANGE FOR THE DEMOLITION, CRAVEN COUNTY CONVEYED THE CITY ITS INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY THAT THE CITY WILL RECEIVE ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE.

SO, BO, IF WE WANTED TO DO 10 AND 11 TOGETHER, AS LONG AS YOU'RE UNANIMOUS, WE CAN DO THAT.

ANY QUESTIONS? THERE'S NO QUESTIONS.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

OKAY.

UM, I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION PROVING THE SALE OF SIX 12 SECOND AVENUE AND, UM, PROVE THE SALE OF 2 0 8 DANIELS STREET.

SECOND, HAVE A MOTION IS SECOND IN DISCUSSION.

NOT WE'LL HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH OTTERMAN ASTOR OTTERMAN ASTOR.

YES.

OTTERMAN KINZIE.

YES.

OTTERMAN BEST? YES.

OTTERMAN SSON.

YES.

OTTERMAN FRILL.

YES.

OTTERMAN ROYAL? YES.

MAYOR OEM? YES.

MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NUMBER 12,

[12. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving a General Warranty Deed between Habitat for Humanity of Craven County NC, Minnice Mabry, and the City of New Bern for 1205 Church Street.]

IN MARCH OF 2016, THE CITY APPROVED THE CONVEYANCE OF THIS PROPERTY TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEVELOPING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW AND MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES.

HABITAT SUBSEQUENTLY CONSTRUCTED A HOME ON THE PROPERTY, AND FOLLOWING BOARD APPROVAL IN MARCH OF 2020, THE PROPERTY WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE BUYER.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT BUYER HAS SINCE PASSED AWAY, AND THE PROPERTY REVERTED TO HABITAT.

THE BOARD IS ASKED TO EXECUTE A DEED TO TRANSFER OWNERSHIP TO A NEW BUYER.

BY DOING SO, THE CITY WILL RELEASE ANY RIGHTS RETAINED DURING TRANSFER AND REVERSION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND HABITAT.

THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? MAKE A MOTION.

SURE.

MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION APPROVING A GENERAL WARRANTY DEED BETWEEN HABITAT OR HUMANITY OF CRAVEN COUNTY, MANICE MABRY, AND THE CITY OF NEW BERN FOR 1 25 CHURCH STREET.

SECOND, HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND ANY DISCUSSION, NOT, LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL, STARTING WITH OTTERMAN KINZIE OTTERMAN KINZIE OTTERMAN BEST? YES.

OTTERMAN BRINSON.

YES.

OTTERMAN PR? YES.

OTTERMAN ROYAL? YES.

OTTERMAN ASTOR.

YES.

MAYOR OEM? YES.

MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM

[13. Consider Adopting an Amendment to Section 54- 157 — Employee Residency Requirements of the Code of the Ordinances.]

UM, CURRENTLY THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPARTMENT HEADS IS THAT THEY MUST LIVE EIGHT MILES, EIGHT LINE OF CITY HALL IN, IN ANY ONE DIRECTION.

AND, AND THAT'S OVERALL WORKED OUT WELL UNTIL WE'VE HAD OUR ISSUES WITH COVID, THE ECONOMY, UH, THE SHORTAGE OF, OF, OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR AREA, AND A VARIETY OF FACTORS.

AND WHAT WE HAVE FOUND OUT OVER THE LAST EIGHT TO 10 MONTHS WHEN WE HAVE OFFERED CERTAIN POSITIONS THAT REQUIRE RELOCATION.

WE'VE HAD SEVERAL OF OUR CANDIDATES THAT HAVE HAD TO BACK OUT FOR, FOR WHAT ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, BUT MOST OF THEM HAD REVOLVED AROUND THE RELOCATION.

UH, EVEN IF THEY HAD BEEN WITHIN A 30 TO 50 MILE RADIUS, THAT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IF, IF, UM, THE, THE CANDIDATE HAD A SPOUSE THAT WAS WORKING AND COMMUTING IN ANOTHER DIRECTION, OR THEY HAD A HOUSE THEY LIKED AND IT JUST WAS A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION FOR THEM TO MAKE.

WE HAVE SEEN THIS REQUIREMENT DROP ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS WELL AS IN THIS STATE.

MOST RECENTLY, JACKSONVILLE DROPPED THEIRS JUST BECAUSE OF THE SAME THING THAT I AM COMING TO YOU ABOUT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS LIVE WITHIN THE CITY OF NEWBURN.

WE, UH, WE'VE GOTTA UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN, WHEN THAT CAN'T HAPPEN.

UH,

[00:30:01]

UM, AND I'M HAPPY TO, TO, TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR, OR TALK ABOUT ANY CONCERNS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.

YES, SIR.

WHEN THE APPLICATION IS SENT OUT, THE REQUIREMENTS OF LIVING IS ALL THAT AVAILABLE FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, IS IT ANY WAY THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO PROBABLY LOOK FORWARD TO YOU GO THROUGH ALL THE APPLICATIONS TILL WE CAN FIND THE RIGHT PERSON THAT IS WILLING TO MAKE THAT MOVE TO MEET THE STANDARDS OF WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE? HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN IN PLACE? ONE YEAR, TWO YEARS? THE, THIS CURRENT RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT? YES.

I DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN ADJUSTED THAT THAT WHOLE THING HAS BEEN ADJUSTED.

IT'S MAYBE 2015 OR 16.

SOME VERSION OF THAT WAS ADJUSTED BACK IN.

I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT EXACTLY IT WAS.

WHEN YOU TAKEN THE JOB, DIDN'T YOU NOT HAVE TO MOVE? YES, SIR.

SO I FEEL THAT IT NEEDS TO STAY THE SAME, THAT IF THEY WANT TO WORK HERE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, THAT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TO CONTINUE TO GO THROUGH THE APPLICATIONS TOO.

WE CAN FIND THE ONE THAT'S WILLING TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CITY OF NEW.

THIS IS JUST MY TAKE ON THINGS.

SO, SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO, I LET YOU KNOW, IS BY CHARGE OF THE CITY MANAGER.

UM, I HAVE TO LIVE IN THE CITY OF NEWBURN.

UM, AND IN, IN THE RECOMMENDATION OF COURSE, THE CITY MANAGER, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER HAVE TO, BUT WE ARE MAKING THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, THE POLICE CHIEF, FIRE CHIEF WOULD STILL HAVE TO MAINTAIN THAT RESIDENCY BECAUSE OF, OF THE NATURE OF, OF THEIR JOBS.

UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT ANYONE HAS? HAS THIS PREVENTED YOU FROM HIRING A GOOD CANDIDATE? YES, SIR.

RECENTLY? YES, SIR.

AND IT'S, UH, IT'S, IT'S ALSO BEEN THE RESULT OF SEVERAL.

THE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE ADVERTISE FOR, FOR CERTAIN KEY POSITIONS THAT, THAT RESONATES THROUGH.

YOUR REQUIREMENT IS IN THERE.

AND, AND, AND A LOT OF OUR CANDIDATES SEE THAT THEY APPLY ANYWAY.

AND THEN I THINK ULTIMATELY WHEN IT GETS DOWN TO IT, WHEN, WHEN A CANDIDATE IS OFFERED A JOB AND THEY SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH THEIR, THEIR FAMILY ABOUT THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S WHEN USUALLY THINGS CHANGE.

UH, EVERYONE'S ALWAYS ANXIOUS, UH, TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH, UH, WITH A CLIENT AND HOPEFULLY IF THEY'RE OFFERED A POSITION.

BUT YES, WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL THAT HAVE, UH, DECLINED CAUSE OF THAT.

AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING ALSO THROUGH YOUR INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM, THAT IF WE WERE TO HAVE, UH, AN APPROACHING HURRICANE OR SOMETHING, ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE REQUIRED TO BE AT THE COMMAND CENTER, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE THEY WOULD HAVE TO TRAVEL OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THEY'RE GONNA ALREADY BE IN TOWN AND YOU PROVIDE 'EM WITH PLACES TO STAY AND THEY HAVE TO STAY AS LONG AS NECESSARY.

THAT'S CORRECT.

IF, IF, IF THEY'RE SEQUESTERED CAUSE OF EMERGENCY, WE'RE ALL TOGETHER WITH THE EXCEPTION OF, OF UTILITIES WHO ARE IN THERE, IN THEIR AREA, DOWN ON LL ROAD.

YEAH, I, I, I AGREE WITH THIS CHANGE IN THE POLICY.

UM, I AGREE ALSO THAT PUBLIC SAFETY SHOULD STAY AS IT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE REQUIRED TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES IN THE CITY, YOU KNOW, AT ALL TIMES.

BUT I JUST DON'T, AND I'M WANT TO USE, UM, YOU KNOW WHAT, I DON'T WANNA USE OUR HR DIRECTOR AGAIN, I I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE NECESSITY FOR OUR HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR TO LIVE INSIDE THE CITY OR EIGHT MILES FROM THE CITY.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT LIKE SHE'S REQUIRED TO JUMP UP AT THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND RACE TO THE CITY LIMITS.

UM, I HAD, I'M, WHEN I BECAME A DEPARTMENT HEAD, I HAD TO LIVE INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.

SO THIS HAS BEEN A BIG CHANGE BACK IN 2000, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS 13 OR 14 WHEN THEY GAVE THEM THE, THE EIGHT MILES.

UM, SO IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE I ENDED UP BUILDING A HOUSE IN TO, AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUY A HOUSE IN TR WOODS, WHICH WAS A HALF A MILE FROM THE CITY LIMITS.

AND I'M LIKE EIGHT MILES FROM THE CITY LIMITS FROM WHERE I LIVE NOW, WHICH IS IN THE CITY.

BUT I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY.

I, I THINK IT'S, IT IS HURTING OUR RECRUITING.

UM, AND I'LL CERTAINLY VOTE FOR THIS CHANGE.

SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS THAT, UM, WE HAD A, UH, ANOTHER EMPLOYEE THAT LIVED IN KINGSTON AND, UM, BECAUSE, UH, HE LIVED THAT FAR AWAY, UM, WE DIDN'T CHANGE THE POLICY FOR HIM, BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW WE WANTED TO CHANGE THE POLICY.

UH, WE CHANGED THE POLICY FOR

[00:35:01]

WELL, IF IT STARTS HURTING, IF IT STARTS HURTING OUR, OUR ABILITY TO HIRE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND SENIOR STAFF, IT'S TIME TO LOOK AT CHANGING THE POLICY.

HOW CAN IT HURT YOU WHEN YOU HAVE A APPLICATION THAT YOU GO THROUGH AND READ? THEY PRETTY MUCH ALREADY KNOW, UH, WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE.

SO WHY CONTINUE TO DO SOMETHING THAT YOU ALREADY SAID IN PLACE TO FOLLOW? SO YOU WANT TO CHANGE IT, HOW LONG YOU THINK THAT PERSON'S GOING TO WORK HERE? WELL, AND THAT'S, THAT'S CERTAINLY YOUR, YOU'RE RIGHT.

I MEAN, YOU, YOU CAN VOTE AGAINST IT IF YOU SAY CHOOSE.

BUT I HAD ONE QUESTION FOR YOU.

THAT'S A HERE OR THERE.

I HAD ONE QUESTION FOR YOU.

WHAT BENEFIT IS IT FOR OUR HR DIRECTOR TO LIVE WITHIN EIGHT MILES OF THE CITY? WHAT BENEFIT IS? WELL, IT'S BASED ON THE POLICY.

IF THEY'RE WILLING TO FOLLOW THE POLICY, WHAT BENEFIT IS IT? I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S FOR YOU DO KNOW? YES.

I'M NOT, I DON'T HAVE A CONCERN WITH THAT.

MY CONCERN IS THE POLICY.

ARE WE GONNA KEEP THE POLICY? ARE WE GONNA MAKE A POLICY THAT WE FOLLOW? UH, WE GOING TO, UH, COME IN AND SOMEONE SAY, WELL, OH, I FEEL LIKE CHANGING THE POLICY TODAY.

I FEEL THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT.

THE HIRING PRACTICES THAT THE PERSON THAT WANTS TO WORK HERE, THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO CHANGE BECAUSE OF WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO PLEASE ANYONE WAS JUST FOLLOWING THE POLICY THAT WE PASS.

THAT'S ALL.

WELL, YOU DIDN'T, WELL, UM, KINZIE, UM, I, I AGREE WITH YOU.

I DON'T THINK THAT THIS, UH, POLICY SHOULD BE CHANGED BECAUSE NUMBER ONE, YOU HAVE, OUR DEPARTMENT HAS THEIR INSTRUMENTAL PART OF THE CITY.

UM, WE, WE HAVE WHAT, EIGHT OR NINE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE THEY, THEY HAVE A REALLY NICE SALARY.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT AND YOU'RE TAKING TAXPAYERS DOLLARS THAT LIVE IN THIS CITY, AND WE'RE PAYING THOSE SALARIES, AND THEN THOSE INDIVIDUALS DON'T LIVE IN THIS CITY.

THEY LIVE IN ANOTHER COUNTY, OR, YOU KNOW, THAT RIGHT THERE IS AN ISSUE FOR ME.

THEY'RE TAKING THATT THOSE TAX DOLLARS OUT OF OUR CITY AND PUTTING THEM INTO THE CITY THAT THEY'RE LIVING IN.

THAT'S THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE WITH IT.

UM, AUTO INVEST, JUST JUST TO CLARIFY STAFF, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THE EIGHT MILE RULE, YOU COULD THEORETICALLY LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY, BUT MEET THE POLICY.

YEAH.

EIGHT MILES.

SO I JUST LIVE IN COUNTY.

SO IT'S POSSIBLE YOU COULD LIVE OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS, BUT STILL FIT WITHIN THE EIGHT MILE ROLE THAT WE CURRENTLY OPERATE UNDER.

SO, BUT YOU, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE ONES THAT DON'T LIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS.

RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

SO IF, IF STAFF WERE TO HIRE A DEPARTMENT HEAD AND THEY LIVE WITHIN THE EIGHT MILES, THAT MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.

SO IT COULD BE BRIDGETON.

CORRECT.

SO BRIDGETON WOULD PROBABLY FALL WITHIN THAT CRITERIA.

SO THEY WOULD ACTUALLY BE A BRIDGETON RESIDENT, PAID BRIDGETON TAXES, NOT CITY OF NEWBURN TAXES, BUT THEY WOULD MEET THE CURRENT POLICY AS IT IS TODAY.

OKAY.

I ASSUME WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS IF YOU LIVE IN ANOTHER CITY, YOU DON'T EVEN LIVE IN CRAVEN COUNTY, YOU'RE TAKING THOSE TAXES OUT OF SI OUT OF CRAVEN COUNTY, OUT OF THE CITY, AND YOU'RE PAYING 'EM TO THE CITY THAT THAT TAX, THOSE TAXES IS GOING INTO THAT CITY'S TAX BASE, WHICH IS WHAT OUR CURRENT POLICY ALLOWS TODAY.

I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I'M LOOKING AT IT FROM .

YOU, YOU WE'RE PAYING SOMEONE SIX FIGURES AND, AND THAT'S COMING FROM TAXPAYERS DOLLARS AND, UM, THOSE THAT LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE CITIES MAKING THAT TYPE OF MONEY.

AND I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

WELL, I MEAN, IF APARTMENT HEAD TODAY COULD PROBABLY LIVE IN HAVELOCK, BUT THAT'S STILL CRA COUNTY.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH CITY.

BUT IT'S STILL CRA COUNTY.

EXACTLY.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH CRA COUNTY.

ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF CRAVEN COUNTY, I DON'T THINK THAT, I DON'T, I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT AS BEING A CITY EMPLOYEE.

I HAVE A QUESTION ALSO.

YOU RAISED THE ISSUE OF HOUSING INVENTORY.

IN ANY OF THE RECRUITS OR CANDIDATES THAT YOU HAVE INTERVIEWED, DID THEY RAISE THAT ISSUE ALSO OF INVENTORY AS FAR AS HOUSING IS CONCERNED? YES, THEY HAVE.

HAS IT BEEN, UH, ONGOING OR ISOLATED CASES, OR IS BEEN MORE THAN A HANDFUL? WE HAVE HAD APPROXIMATELY A HANDFUL OF OFFERS ON THIS, AND SO PROBABLY 50 50 ON THAT.

AND YOU KNOW, SOME OF 'EM MAY HAVE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THEY HAD MULTIPLE PETS AND THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE THEY COULDN'T FIND A HOUSE AND THEY WERE GONNA HAVE TO GO IN A DEPARTMENT AND AN APARTMENT WOULD NOT ACCOMMODATE THREE DOGS, FOR EXAMPLE.

THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT ISN'T THAT PRETTY MUCH EVERYWHERE THOUGH?

[00:40:02]

I, I DON'T WANT TO GO OFF ON A TANGENT, BUT THIS IS MORE OF A PROCESS QUESTION.

UH, THIS IS A CHANGE TO AN ORDINANCE.

IT DOESN'T REQUIRE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ONE.

NO, BECAUSE IT'S PERSONNEL.

IS THAT THE ONLY STATE ONLY, ONLY BUSINESS STATE.

OKAY.

IT'S A GENERAL RULE.

OKAY, MAYOR.

UM, IF I COULD, UM, I, I FULLY UNDERSTAND, UM, THE CHALLENGE, UM, THAT STAFF HAS, UM, HAVING IN, IN MY PREVIOUS LIFE OF 30 YEARS, BEING A MUNICIPAL MANAGER, UM, I'VE DEALT WITH THAT ISSUE IN OTHER COMMUNITIES.

I'VE ALSO FACED THAT ISSUE PERSONALLY, UM, IN COMMUNITIES WHERE A POSITION, YOU KNOW, WAS OFFERED, UM, AND ACCEPTED BY ME, AND THEN BEING INFORMED THAT, OH, OH, BY THE WAY, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO MOVE TO THE COMMUNITY.

UM, AND THAT MAKES IT A BIT DIFFICULT WHEN YOU ARE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A FAMILY, YOU'RE, YOU'RE HAVING TO LOOK AT THE COST OF UPROOTING A FAMILY, UM, AND MOVING TO THE, THE NEW COMMUNITY.

AND, AND IN A LOT OF INSTANCES THAT COMMUNITY IS NOT OFFERING ANY RELOCATION ASSISTANCE.

SO THERE IS A, A TREMENDOUS FINANCIAL IMPACT ON, ON CANDIDATES.

IT STIFLES THE ABILITY TO ATTRACT THE HIGHEST QUALITY CANDIDATES, WHICH WE NEED TO BE TRYING TO ATTRACT ALL THE TIME.

SO I'M COMFORTABLE WITH HAVING FLEXIBILITY IN OUR POLICY TO BE ABLE TO ADJUST POLICIES AS TRENDS IN THIS COUNTRY AND CIRCUMSTANCES IN THIS COUNTRY ARE CHANGING.

IF WE AREN'T GIVING OURSELVES THAT FLEXIBILITY, UM, WE ARE GOING TO SUFFER AS AN ORGANIZATION OVER THE LONG TERM BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ATTRACT THE VERY BEST PEOPLE.

AND WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE LOOKING TO DO THAT, ESPECIALLY AT THE, THE HIGHER MANAGEMENT BUBBLE.

SO I UNDERSTAND THE DESIRE TO HAVE THESE INDIVIDUALS LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THE ARGUMENT THAT I'VE, I'VE HAD ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS, UM, WITH PEOPLE, WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS AND WITH RESIDENTS, IS THAT IF THEY LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY ARE GOING TO PROVIDE A HIGHER LEVEL OR HIGHER COMMITMENT TO THEIR POSITION YEAR.

UM, I, I DISAGREE WITH THAT.

IN ANY JOB THAT I ACCEPTED, I COMMITTED MYSELF TO THAT POSITION.

WHETHER I'D LIVED IN THE COMMUNITY, CLOSE TO THE COMMUNITY, OR WAS OR COMMUTING AN HOUR TO GET TO THE COMMUNITY, WHICH I'VE DONE.

MY COMMITMENT NEVER WAVERED.

AND I THINK YOU'LL FIND THAT TO BE THE CASE OF PROFESSIONALS AT THE LEVEL THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIND.

SO I'M, I'M COMFORTABLE WITH GIVING OURSELVES THE ABILITY TO ATTRACT THE BEST TALENT THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN.

WELL SAID.

BUT ISN'T THAT THE REASON WHY YOU HAVE POLICY AND PLACE TOO HARD THIS PERSON? AND ISN'T IT THAT IF THE ONES THAT YOU SELECTED IS NOT READY TO MOVE, YOU GO TO THE NEXT APPLICATION TILL YOU FIND THAT RIGHT PERSON? POLICIES ARE MEANT TO BE CHANGED FOR TIME TO TIME.

AND I'M HEARING THAT.

AND THESE, I MEAN, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS CHANGING IT BACK IN 2013 OR 2015 WHEN WE WERE REQUIRING ALL APARTMENT HEADS TO LIVE INSIDE THE CITY, AND THAT, THAT CHANGE TOOK PLACE WHERE THEY COULD NOW MOVE OUT WITHIN EIGHT MILES.

SO NOW IT'S TIME TO JUST GO A STEP FURTHER WITH IT.

IT'S JUST SO YOU SHOULD CHANGE YOUR BODY FOR EVERYTHING THEN IF YOU CAN START.

WELL, IF IT'S FOR THE BETTER THE CITY, I THINK WE SHOULD CHANGE THE POLICY.

OH, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA SHARE A, A PERSONAL STORY AND THEN, UM, WE'LL SEE HOW THIS GOES.

BUT I INTERVIEWED FOR A MANAGEMENT POSITION, SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME AGO NOW.

AND WHEN I INTERVIEWED, UH, INTERVIEWED IN RALEIGH, AND THE GENTLEMAN THAT INTERVIEWED ME SAID, YOU DO KNOW THAT IT'S A REQUIREMENT THAT YOU LIVE IN RALEIGH.

I SAID, I WAS AWARE OF THAT, BUT I WANNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT.