Nov 08, 2022 Board of Aldermen

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO THE NOVEMBER 8TH, 2022 NEWBURN BOARD OF ALTMAN MEETING.

THE PRAYER TONIGHT WILL BE GIVEN BY ALTMAN ASER.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU FIRE SPECIALIST THREE, BEN DAVIES.

BEN, IF YOU WOULD COME FORWARD PLEASE.

BEN HAS, UM, BEEN WITH THE CITY OF NEW FIRE DEPARTS SINCE 2019, AND HE'S ALSO A MEMBER OF THE TECHNICAL RESCUE TEAM, AND HE'S GONNA LEAVE US IN PRAYER TONIGHT.

THANK SIR.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GOOD EVENING.

IF YOU WOULD BOW YOUR HEADS WITH ME.

WE'LL PRAY.

HEAVENLY FATHER, WE JUST COME TO YOU TONIGHT.

FATHER, WE GIVE YOU THE FIRST FEW MINUTES OF THIS MEETING TO, TO HONOR YOU.

LORD, WE PRAY THAT, UH, THE PROCEEDINGS TONIGHT, FATHER GOD, THAT, UH, YOUR WISDOM WOULD JUST BE UPON OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, FATHER GOD, WE UNDERSTAND THE, UH, THE BURDEN THAT IT IS TO, TO CARRY OUT THOSE DUTIES, LORD.

AND SO I JUST PRAY A SPECIAL BLESSING UPON THEM AS THEY CARRY OUT THOSE DUTIES THAT, THAT THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE TONIGHT, LORD, WOULD BE ANOINTED WITH YOUR WISDOM, LORD, THAT THEY WOULD BE, UH, JUST AND RIGHTEOUS DECISIONS.

AND FATHER GOD, WE JUST PLAY A BLESSING UPON, UM, THE MEMBERS OF THIS CITY, THE CITY THAT WE LOVE, THE CITY THAT WE WORK FOR.

FATHER, I PRAY A SPECIAL PROTECTION PRAYER.

FOR THOSE THAT ARE ON DUTY TONIGHT, JUST WATCH OVER AND PROTECT ALL OF US.

AND WE THANK YOU FOR THIS, AND WE GIVE YOU ALL THE GLORY AND ALL THE HONOR.

IN JESUS' NAME I PRAY.

AMEN.

IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF THE FLAG.

I PLEDGE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IS SIN, ONE NATION UNDER GOD AND INVISIBLE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR THANK YOU, MAN.

MADAME CLERK, IF YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ALDERMAN PR HERE, ALDERMAN ROYAL.

OTTERMAN BEST PRESIDENT OTTERMAN BURSON HERE.

ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA IF YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THOSE.

UM,

[3. Approve Agenda.]

SO MOVED.

MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ANY YOU OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NUMBER FOUR, IT.

CLERK, WE HAVE ANY PETITION OF CITIZENS? NO, SIR.

ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, MR. HUGHES, PRESENTATION BY EASTERN CAROLINA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS.

WE'LL MOVE ON

[Consent Agenda]

TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

IT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD.

MAY I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS HE IS? SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

HAVE A ROLL CALL, STARTING WITH ALDERMAN PR.

CONSENT, AGENDA CARES.

[7. Presentation by Eastern Carolina Council of Governments.]

YOU NEED ANY MAYOR AND OTTMAN AT THIS, THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE DAVID BONE.

HE IS THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE EASTERN CAROLINA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS.

DAVID, THANK YOU.

UH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR ALDER MEN.

ALDERWOMEN, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AND HOPEFULLY REINTRODUCE OUR ORGANIZATION TO YOU, UM, AND TO, TO YOUR COMMUNITY.

UM, JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF.

UH, I HAVE 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS A CITY AND COUNTY MANAGER.

MOST OF MY CAREER HAS BEEN IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

UH, I DID SPEND SOME TIME IN THE WEST, UH, BUT I'M VERY GLAD TO BE BACK HERE IN THE EAST.

UH, I STARTED WORK AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UH, ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, AND VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE.

JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION, AGAIN, FOR NOT ONLY FOR YOUR BENEFIT, BUT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITIZENS HERE, AS WELL AS THOSE THAT MAY BE WATCHING ON TV.

SO, UM, THE EASTERN CAROLINA COUNCIL IS A MULTI-COUNTY LOCAL GOVERNMENT PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION.

WE ARE ONE OF 16 COUNCILS OF GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

WE ARE A CONDUIT BETWEEN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS, AND WE PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND ADMINISTER PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS WHICH BENEFIT OUR REGION CITIZENS.

WE FOCUS ON REGIONAL COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIPS.

WE SERVE A NON COUNTY REGION.

OUR MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE REGION'S QUALITY OF LIFE BY PROVIDING, PLANNING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND SENIOR SERVICES TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND AREA RESIDENTS BY MAXIMIZING RESOURCES AND COLLABORATING REGIONALLY.

JUST WANNA TALK ABOUT, UH, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR TRADITIONAL, UM, SERVICES.

FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE OUR AREA AGENCY ON AGING.

THAT'S OUR LARGEST DEPARTMENT WITH OUR AAA.

UH, WE WORK WITH COUNTIES AND PROVIDERS TO SERVE AND ADVOCATE FOR THE SENIOR POPULATION IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

UM, WE ALSO HAVE TWO RURAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS, OR RPOS.

YOU HAVE YOUR MPO, YOUR METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION.

[00:05:01]

WE HAVE, UH, TWO RPOS FOR OUR RURAL AREAS IN OUR, IN OUR REGION WITH OUR RPOS.

WE DEVELOP, UH, IN COOPERATION WITH DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, LONG RANGE, UM, AND LOCAL AND REGIONAL MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION PLANS.

WE PROVIDE A FORUM FOR, UH, PARTICIPATION IN THE PRIORITIZATION PROCESS FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.

AND, UH, WE PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION RELATED INFORMATION TO, TO OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

WE ALSO PROVIDE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLANNING.

ECC IS, UH, THE FEDERAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION'S DESIGNATED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.

THAT'S A MOUTHFUL.

UM, WE HAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY, UH, AND, AND AN OPPORTUNITY.

AND WITH THAT COMES, UH, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY OR SETS.

BASICALLY WHAT THAT IS, IS A REGIONAL PLAN FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SO WE WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS, UH, IN OUR, IN OUR COUNTIES AND CITIES, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, PROFESSIONALS, UH, TO DEVELOP THIS REGIONAL CONCEPT, THIS REGIONAL PLAN FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON A FIVE YEAR UPDATE OF THAT PLAN, AND, UH, WE SHOULD HAVE THAT DONE BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

UM, BUT ALSO WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DON'T GO OUT AND RECRUIT INDUSTRY, BUT WE TRY TO BE GOOD PARTNERS, UH, WITH OUR COUNTIES AND CITY MEMBERS AND THEIR RECRUITMENT PROCESS.

AND AS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT FOUR ED, WE'RE KIND OF A CONDUIT FOR ED TO, UH, YOU KNOW, TO GET GRANTS FOR WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND SO, UM, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE THAT, UH, UH, EDD DESIGNATION TO, TO WORK WITH ED ON INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

WE ALSO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.

CURRENTLY, I'M WORKING WITH THE TOWN OF NEWPORT, UH, WITH ITS TOWN MANAGER SEARCH.

UH, THAT'S GOING VERY WELL.

WE ALSO HAVE COMMUNITY PLANNING AND, UH, PLANNING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

SO THIS IS A, A SERVICE THAT, UH, WE HAVE NOT HAD FULLY STAFFED, UH, FOR A COUPLE YEARS, BUT WE'RE REGROWING, UH, THAT CAPACITY RIGHT NOW.

UM, OUR PLANNING STAFF HAS HISTORICALLY, UH, ADVISED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, UH, ON CURRENT PLANNING ISSUES, UH, SUCH AS ZONING, UH, ONE 60 D UPDATES, ANNEXATION ORDINANCE, REVISIONS, AND RELATED, UM, RELATED PROJECTS.

UM, YOU KNOW, THIS INCLUDES, YOU KNOW, UPDATING ORDINANCES, MINIMUM HOUSING CODES, SUBDIVISION HISTORIC PRESERVATION, AND SO FORTH.

UM, WE'VE, WE'VE HELPED OUT WITH GIS MAPPING PROJECTS.

UH, WE HAVE, UH, CURRENTLY, UH, WE'VE HIRED A, A NEW PLANNER.

UM, SO WE ARE AGAIN, REESTABLISHING THAT CAPACITY.

AND WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON, UH, RECRUITING ANOTHER PLANNER AS WELL.

WE ALSO SUPPLEMENT THESE SERVICES WITH A STRATEGIC PARTNER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE STAFFING IN PLACE TO, UH, PROVIDE SERVICES FOR OUR MEMBERS THAT NEED IT.

SO, JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT OUR TRADITIONAL, OR EXCUSE ME, OUR, OUR 90 DAY PLAN FOR ACTION AND TO REESTABLISHING CAPACITY AND, AND OUTREACH TO OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND SO, UH, THIS WAS PART OF OUR, OUR 90 DAY PLAN FOR, FOR MY EMPLOYMENT.

UM, WE'RE ABOUT 180 DAYS NOW, BUT JUST WANTED TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN UPDATE WHERE WE STAND ON THAT.

SO, UH, THE FIRST PRIORITY IS TO ESTABLISH BOARD AND ORGANIZATIONAL PRIORITIES.

WE'VE DONE THAT.

SECONDLY, BUILD TRUST, RELATIONSHIPS AND LINES OF COMMUNICATION.

UH, WE STARTED DOING THAT WITH WEEKLY COMMUNICATION WITH OUR BOARD.

UH, WE RESTARTED A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER.

HOPEFULLY YOU'RE GETTING THAT.

IF NOT, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE ADD YOU TO THOSE.

WE ALSO STARTED MEETING WITH COUNTY MANAGERS, UH, TO, TO GET, UH, ADVICE AND INPUT FROM THEM.

UM, WE HAVE UPDATED BYLAWS, AND PART OF THAT INCLUDES, UH, COUNTY MANAGERS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

AND SO WE'RE GETTING INPUT FROM THE COUNTY MANAGERS, BUT ALSO WE'RE MEETING WITH THE CITY MANAGERS AS WELL.

UH, WE, WE'VE HAD, UH, UH, CITY AND COUNTY MANAGERS MEETING AND, YOU KNOW, GETTING INPUT FROM THEM AS FAR AS WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO SERVE OUR MEMBERS.

UM, WE'VE ALSO SENT OUT INFORMATION ABOUT GRANT FUNDING AND AMERICAN RECOVERY PLAN, OR A R P ARPA, UH, GRANT REQUIREMENTS.

UM, WE'RE REACHING OUT TO OUR MEMBERS.

AND, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE WITH EVENTS LIKE TONIGHT, THE THIRD, UH, OUR NEXT PRIORITY IS TO BUILD STAFF AND ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY TO EXPAND SERVICES, TO ADDRESS MEMBER NEEDS.

WE'VE GOTTEN A NUMBER OF GRANT, UH, FUNDING, UM, SOURCES THAT WE'VE, UH, THAT ARE HELPING US WITH THAT.

WE'VE GOTTEN SOME ARPA TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA AND THE NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF, UH, REGIONAL COUNCILS OF GOVERNMENT.

UM, WE'VE ALSO GOTTEN SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING THROUGH ED, SOME

[00:10:01]

CAPACITY BUILDING FUNDS.

UM, AND SO, UH, WE'VE ALSO NOT ONLY HIRED THE SENIOR COMMITTEE PLANNER THAT I MENTIONED BEFORE, BUT ALSO A NEW FINANCE DIRECTOR.

UH, SO, SO AGAIN, WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING THE FUNDS, WE'RE GETTING THE RESOURCES TO DEVELOP OUR CAPACITY TO SERVE OUR, OUR COMMUNITIES.

UH, FOURTH, OUR NEXT PRIORITY WAS TO DEVELOP A PLAN AND TAKE ACTION TO IMPROVE FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

UM, SO, UH, AGAIN, WE APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED SEVERAL GRANTS TO HELP US WITH THAT.

UM, AND WE'RE ADDING MORE BUDGET AND ALL INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE AND PROVIDING THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO OUR BOARD MEMBERS.

SO WE'VE GOT THAT TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

UM, ONE OF THE OTHER, UH, FUNDING PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE GOT THAT I DIDN'T MENTION BEFORE, WE HAVE ALSO GOTTEN SOME, SOME FUNDING FOR DISASTER RECOVERY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

SO THAT'S HELPING OUT AS WELL.

SO WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF GRANT PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE USING TO, TO HELP SERVE OUR MEMBERS.

OUR FIFTH FOCUS IS FU, UH, FOCUSING ON CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING VALUE TO YOU.

UM, OUR, OUR COMMUNITIES WITHIN OUR REGION.

UH, WE'RE, WE'RE CONTINUING TO OUTREACH.

UH, WE'RE WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES ON ARPA, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, UH, AND VARIOUS, UH, DISASTER RECOVERY TRAINING, SO FORTH.

UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE, ARE TAKING PRIDE IN IS, YOU KNOW, AND, AND REALLY FOCUSING ON, IS LISTENING TO OUR MEMBERS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED WITH, UH, THE COUNTIES ABOUT, UM, IS SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE DOCUMENTATION PROCESS FLOW OF WORK.

AND SO WE'VE, WE'VE TRIED TO SIMPLIFY THAT, AND, UH, THAT'S BEEN VERY WELL RECEIVED IN OUR AREA.

AGENCY ON AGING.

UM, WE'RE FOCUSING ON SOLUTIONS AND BRINGING, UH, PEOPLE TOGETHER, BRINGING OUR PARTNERS TO THE TABLE.

OUR NEXT FOCUS AREA IS TO SEEK OUT OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP FACILITATE REGIONAL, REGIONAL COLLABORATION AND PROVIDE REGIONAL LEADERSHIP.

WE WE'RE WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT ON, ON SEVERAL INITIATIVES.

UH, WE'VE HELPED HOST TRAININGS IN OUR REGION.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE REALLY HEARING FROM OUR MEMBERS IS THAT, UH, WHAT, WHAT THE VALUE THAT ECC HAS BROUGHT IN THE, IN THE PAST, UM, IS TO HOST THESE TRAININGS LOCALLY, REGIONALLY, SO THAT YOUR STAFF, YOUR OFFICIALS, DON'T HAVE TO GO TO RALEIGH OR CHAPEL HILL OR CHARLOTTE TO GET THE, THAT INFORMATION THAT THEY CAN DO IT LOCALLY AND NOT HAVE THAT TRAVEL EXPENSE AND THAT TIME AWAY FROM THEIR HOME.

SO WE ARE TAKE, TRYING TO TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO BRING TRAINING TO OUR REGION.

UH, WE ASSISTED WITH MY FUTURE NC, UM, IN, UH, SOME REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, UM, INITIATIVES.

UH, WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THAT, UH, ALONG WITH NC IMPACT, UM, AND, UH, TOWN HALL AND AT ECU THAT FOCUSED ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN OUR REGION.

WE, UH, WORK SUCCESSFULLY WITH THE EASTERN CAROLINA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD ON A NEW INITIATIVE FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP TRAINING.

UM, THAT IS, UH, WE'VE GOT A COHORT THAT'S PARTICIPATING TO DEVELOP AND GROW OUR CAPACITY FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN THE REGION.

AND I'VE BEEN BLESSED TO, TO BE ASKED TO BE A PART OF THAT.

AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M GETTING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING INDIVIDUALLY AS WELL.

SO, UM, ADDITIONAL, UM, EFFORTS WITH THE SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT.

WE HOSTED, CO-HOSTED A HUMAN TRAFFICKING TRAINING ON SEPTEMBER 9TH.

AND, UM, NEXT WEEK WE'RE WORKING WITH, UH, THE SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT ON HOSTING A WATER AND WASTE WATER OPERATIONS TRAINING, UH, IN OUR REGION AS WELL.

SO THAT, THAT'S GONNA BE, UM, A HYBRID EVENT.

FOLKS CAN GO IN CHAPEL HILL OR THEY CAN COME TO OUR OFFICE AND PARTICIPATE THERE AS WELL.

OUR SEVENTH PARTY IS JUST TO, YOU KNOW, TELL OUR STORY AND TO TELL YOUR STORY AS WELL.

UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S SO MANY TIMES THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT EMERGENCY, THAT WE DON'T FOCUS AND CELEBRATE THE SUCCESSES THAT WE HAVE.

AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT ONLY TELLING OUR STORY, TELLING OUR NARRATIVE, BUT YOURS AS WELL, UH, THROUGH OUR WEEKLY COMMUNICATION WITH OUR, OUR BOARD MEMBERS, UH, WITH OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER, UM, THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, UM, FACEBOOK AND LINKEDIN AS WELL.

SOME OF OUR CURRENT PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES, UH, WE HAVE, AGAIN, EXPANSION OF OUR COMMUNITY PLANNING STAFF AND SERVICES, A R P TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE NEW BERN, YOU'VE ALREADY GOT A GOOD PLAN, AND YOU PROBABLY SPENT MOST OF YOUR A R P FUNDS ALREADY, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF TOWNS THAT HAVE NOT YET, THAT HAVE NOT SPENT THE FIRST DIME.

AND SO WE JUST WANT TO HELP THEM, UH, MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE FOLLOWING THE RULES AND REGULATIONS AND DOING THINGS, UH, YOU KNOW, THE RIGHT WAY, YOU KNOW, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THEIR COMMUNITY.

AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S A BIG NEED.

AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE HAPPY TO FILL THAT, THAT NEED.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I DO WANNA MENTION, UH, WITH OUR AREA AGENCY ON AGING, I KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU MAY NOT DEAL WITH SENIOR SERVICES, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BENEFIT ALL THE RESIDENTS, UH, THAT ARE SENIORS IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE A GROCERY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

[00:15:01]

THAT WAS, UH, STARTED, UM, ON A PILOT PROGRAM IN A COUPLE OF COMMUNITIES, BUT WE'VE NOW, AS OF NOVEMBER 1ST EXPANDED THAT TO ALL COUNTIES IN OUR REGION.

AND WITH THAT GROCERY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, UM, ALL SENIORS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR $500 IN REIMBURSEMENT FOR GROCERIES.

SO AS LONG, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN'T BUY CERTAIN THINGS WITH IT, THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE, YOU KNOW, OTHER PROGRAMS, BUT THEY CAN APPLY FOR THIS PROGRAM.

UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE, WE'RE GLAD TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU.

SO YOU CAN SHARE THAT ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL.

BUT ALL THEY GOTTA DO IS APPLY FOR THAT, UH, THAT PROGRAM, SEND IN THE RECEIPTS, AND WE'LL GIVE THEM THE REIMBURSEMENTS.

SO $500, UM, PER HOUSEHOLD, UH, JUST AS A, AS A ONE TIME EXPENSE.

WE'RE THINKING ABOUT WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO EVALUATE OPPORTUNITIES IF WE WANT TO MAKE THAT A MULTI-YEAR PROGRAM.

BUT FOR NOW, IT'S JUST A ONE TIME.

IS, IS THAT BASED ON AN INCOME? NO, MA'AM.

SO ALL SENIORS ARE ELIGIBLE.

UM, NEXT, UH, OUR COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, AGAIN, THAT'S, UH, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE UPDATE EVERY YEAR, BUT EVERY FIVE YEARS IT'S A MAJOR, UM, UPDATE.

AND SO WE'RE CURRENTLY IN THAT PROCESS NOW.

UM, OUR RPOS, JUST LIKE YOUR MPO WORKING ON THE STATE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PLAN, UH, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF, UH, REALLY GOOD INFORMATION ON OUR RPO WEBPAGES.

AND AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW, YOU WERE IN THE MPO, I I CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT OUR RPO WEBSITES.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION ON THAT.

UM, AND AGAIN, I MENTIONED THE UPCOMING TRAINING OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE NEXT WEEK.

SO JUST FOR OUR VISION, UM, AND OUR PATH FORWARD.

YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO FOCUS ON CUSTOMER SERVICE TO YOU, UH, TO OUR COMMUNITIES, TO OUR MEMBERS.

UM, WE WANNA CREATE VALUE FOR YOU.

WE WANNA BE YOUR TRUSTED PARTNER.

UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT RESOURCES OUT THERE, SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION, SO FORTH, UH, FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN NORTH CAROLINA.

UH, I DON'T THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF CITIZENS THAT MAY KNOW ABOUT ALL THE GREAT RESOURCES THAT WE DO HAVE, AND THOSE ARE GREAT RESOURCES.

UH, BUT WE WANT TO BE YOUR TRUSTED PARTNER SO THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN FEEL CONFIDENT TO CALL US IF YOU'VE GOT A QUESTION.

AND WE MAY NOT HAVE THE ANSWER, BUT WE'LL FIND IT FOR YOU.

UM, NEXT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE'RE, WE'RE FOCUSING ON EXPANDING OUR PLANNING STAFF, EXPANDING OUR PLANNING SERVICES, AND EXPANDING GRANT WRITING OPPORTUNITIES.

JUST LIKE WITH THE TRAINING, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HEAR FROM ALL OF OUR MEMBERS, THAT WE NEED MORE CAPACITY TO HELP OUR COMMUNITIES APPLY FOR GRANTS.

AND SO, UH, WE, WE ARE GROWING THAT CAPACITY WITH, WITHIN OUR PLANNING STAFF.

UH, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD AT SOME POINT HAVE ENOUGH WORK AND ENOUGH FUNDING TO PROVIDE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT GRANT SERVICE THROUGH A DEDICATED GRANT WRITER.

BUT RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE A DEDICATED GRANT WRITER.

WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR PLENTY STAFF, AND THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOING MULTIPLE TASKS RIGHT NOW.

SO, UM, THAT'S KIND OF OUR VISION MOVING FORWARD.

UM, WE, UM, YOU KNOW, NEWPORT HAS BEEN A, A GREAT PARTNER AND MEMBER IN THE PAST.

AND, UH, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU BACK AT ECC AS A MEMBER.

UM, JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE, THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN IT WAS, BUT THE BOARD DECIDED TO EXIT LAST DECEMBER.

LAST DECEMBER.

SO ABOUT A YEAR AGO, UH, WE DECIDED TO EXIT, UM, THIS GROUP.

AND I'M, I'M SURE YOU COULD SHARE WITH US SOME OF THE STORIES OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WALKED INTO THAT YOU HAD TO FIX.

UH, BUT THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THE BOARD DECIDED, UH, TO NO LONGER PARTICIPATE.

AND ALSO, AND IT MAY BE YOUR BENEFIT, IF YOU WANTED TO MAYBE FOLLOW UP WITH US IN THE COMING DAYS WITH WHAT THINGS YOU PROVIDE, THAT'S NOT A DUPLICATION OF WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, ALL THE PLANNING STAFF, WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE OUR OWN PLANNING DEPARTMENTS, SO WHAT YOU DO IS VERY HELPFUL FOR THOSE RURAL TYPE COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE THAT.

SURE.

BUT THE FACT THAT WE DO.

SO I THINK WHAT WOULD REALLY BE HELPFUL AS WE DELIBERATE AND WE THINK ABOUT NEXT BUDGET YEAR, IS TO PROVIDE US WITH SOME THINGS THAT YOU COULD DO TO HELP NEW BERN SPECIFICALLY.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL IN, IN THE DISCUSSION.

SO DEFINITELY WE'LL BE GLAD TO DO THAT, SIR.

AND, YOU KNOW, JUST IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ARE STRONGER AS, AS A GROUP, YOU KNOW, COMING TOGETHER AND, UH, YOU KNOW, EC ECC CAN BE THAT, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO, FOR REGIONAL COLLABORATION.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST BENEFITS THAT, THAT WE CAN PROVIDE BOARD.

YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

ON TO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, WE'VE GOT A PRESENTATION ON WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

MOVING

[8. Presentation on Wreaths Across America.]

MAYOR, AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK KEVIN YATES TO COME FORWARD.

[00:20:08]

AND THE TRUCKS COME RIGHT DOWN AND GO UNDERNEATH THE FLAG.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.

ALL THE, THE ALL WOMEN, UH, MY NAME'S KEVIN YATES.

I AM THE LOCATION COORDINATOR FOR REESE ACROSS AMERICA HERE AT THE NEWBURN NATIONAL CEMETERY.

UH, MANY OF YOU KNOW ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND KNOW ME PERSONALLY, BUT, UH, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT I'VE NOT HAD THE PLEASURE TO MEET YET, PREPARED THIS TO KIND OF BRIEF THE PROGRAM AND WHAT IT DOES FOR THE NATIONAL CEMETERY IN NEWBURN, EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA, ET CETERA, UH, AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, THIS IS AN ENTIRELY VOLUNTEER PROGRAM.

I HAVE A REGULAR NINE TO FIVE, UH, JUST LIKE ALL OF YOU DO.

UM, I RETIRED FROM MARINE CORPS.

I DID 20 YEARS.

UH, MANY OF THAT WAS HERE AT CHERRY POINT.

AND, UH, MY CHILDREN GREW UP HERE.

I'VE BEEN A, A CITIZEN OF CRAVEN COUNTY IN NEW BERN SINCE 2005.

I GOT INVOLVED WITH, UM, REESE ACROSS AMERICA IN 2014.

IT, UH, ORIGINALLY STARTED COMING, UH, HERE TO NEW BERN IN 2011.

IT NOW PARTICIPATES IN OVER 3000 CEMETERIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN THE NEWBURN NATIONAL CEMETERY.

THERE ARE 6,773 HEADSTONES.

IT WAS BUILT FEBRUARY 1ST AND OR DEDICATED FEBRUARY 1ST, 1867, UH, RIGHT AFTER THE CIVIL WAR.

MANY OF THOSE THAT ARE INCURRED THERE, UH, WERE TRANSFERRED FROM SMALLER BATTLE SITES ALL OVER EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

UH, OFFICIALLY IT IS NOW CLOSED FOR INTERNMENTS, ALTHOUGH IT, IT DOES, UH, OCCASIONALLY HAPPEN, UH, PARTICULARLY WITH SPOUSES AND FAMILY MEMBERS ARE STILL IN THERE ACTIVELY.

AND, UH, THERE ARE OVER A THOUSAND UNKNOWNS FROM THE CIVIL WAR ALL THE WAY UP TO WORLD WAR II.

AND IT DOES CONTAIN SEVERAL MASS GRAVES.

IT IS, UH, ONE OF THE LARGEST NATIONAL CEMETERIES HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA, UH, BY THE NUMBER OF HEADSTONES.

SO BY THE NUMBER OF INTERNMENTS, IT IS NOT, UH, BECAUSE THE CEMETERY IN SALISBURY HAS MANY LARGE MASS GRAVES.

UH, BUT AS FAR AS THE NUMBER OF HEADSTONES GO, IT IS ONE OF THE LARGER ONES.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROGRAM.

IT, UH, EVERY WREATH HAS TO BE SPONSORED TO BE PLACED THERE.

SO WE WORK ALL YEAR LONG FUNDRAISING, COORDINATING PLANNING, IN ORDER TO COME TOGETHER HERE AT THE LAST PART OF THE YEAR, AND HONOR THE SACRIFICES AND SERVICES, UH, SERVICE THAT WAS MADE, UH, AND REMEMBERING OUR VETERANS THAT ARE IN TURN HERE.

AND SO EACH WREATH COSTS $15.

IT IS A LIVE WREATH THAT COMES FROM MAINE.

UM, IT'LL BE TRANSPORTED AND DELIVERED HERE.

MANY OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE ARE, LIKE MANY OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE, UH, ONE BEING THE AGE OF OUR CEMETERY, UH, THERE'S A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THOSE THAT ARE LIVING TODAY AND SOMEBODY THAT IS IN FACT INCURRED WITHIN THE CEMETERY, UH, MILITARY.

A LOT OF US ARE TRANSPLANTS.

UH, WE DON'T HAVE A DIRECT FAMILY CONNECTION HERE.

UM, THE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY THAT MOVES HERE, AGAIN, DOESN'T HAVE SOMEBODY THAT'S, UH, DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE CEMETERY.

AND THEN, LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, OVER A THOUSAND UNKNOWNS.

SO THOSE ARE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE EVERY YEAR IN MAKING SURE THAT WE PLACE A WREATH ON EVERY HEADSTONE.

HERE IS A FEW PICTURES THAT WE HAVE OF THE ACTUAL CEREMONY.

SO, UH, IF YOU HAVEN'T COME OUT THERE OR PARTICIPATED, UH, PRIOR, I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17TH.

WE'LL BE OUT THERE.

UH, IT DRAWS A HUGE CROWD.

ON AVERAGE, WE GET FIVE TO 600 VOLUNTEERS EVERY YEAR THAT COME OUT AND HELP US PLACE REESE ON THE HEADSTONES.

UH, REGARDLESS, RAIN, SHINE AND COVID, WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH IT ALL AT THIS POINT, SO I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO PARTICIPATE.

THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO IT THAN JUST REESE.

UH, I GET ASKED THAT QUESTION ALL THE TIME.

WELL, WHAT ARE, ARE YOU DOING ABOUT LIVING VETERANS? WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT, UH, HELPING PEOPLE THAT ARE STRUGGLING NOW? UH, IT'S SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

THE REESE CROSS AMERICA MOTTO IS, UM, REMEMBER HONOR, TEACH, UH, REMEMBERING THE SACRIFICES, UH, MADE HONORING OUR VETERANS, BUT THEN ALSO TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION TO CONTINUE TO, UH, CONTINUE ON WITH THAT.

SO WHEN YOU COME OUT AND YOU VISIT THE CEMETERY, YOU'LL SEE THAT IT'S FROM EVERY GENERATION, FROM OUR, UH, VETERANS THAT ARE COMING OUT THERE AND NEED ASSISTANCE JUST TO WALK DOWN THE AISLES TO YOUNG CHILDREN THAT WILL BE OUT THERE ALSO PARTICIPATING.

UH, SINCE 2018, UH, WE HAVE ADDED SEVERAL THINGS TO THE EVENT TO TRY AND MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN JUST COMING OUT AND PLACING A WREATH ON THE HEADSTONE.

AND SO WE STARTED A TRUCK ESCORT.

THIS PICTURE HERE WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE DID IT, UH, INCORPORATING OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, NEWBURN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CRAVEN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, BUT ALSO THE NEW BERN FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THEN LOCAL MOTORCYCLE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANTED TO COME OUT.

AND WE ESCORT THE TRUCKS INTO NEW BERN, INTO THE CEMETERY, AND THEN OUR VOLUNTEERS WERE THERE TO HELP, UH, UNLOAD THE TRUCKS.

IT HAS CONTINUED TO GROW SINCE THEN, AND CHIEF BOYD DOES A GREAT JOB OF GETTING THE FIREMEN INVOLVED.

THEY HAVE THIS APPARATUS, UH, THAT THEY HANG THE NATIONAL INCIDENT OUT OVER BROADWAY OR BROAD STREET THERE,

[00:25:01]

AND IT'S A REALLY BIG, UM, EXPERIENCE.

UH, WE GET THE LOCAL MEDIA TO COME OUT THERE.

WE'VE HAD THE CITY DRONE COME OUT AND TAKE PICTURES.

IT'S, IT'S A REALLY NEAT EXPERIENCE AS WE'VE TRIED TO MAKE THE PROGRAM A LITTLE BIT BIGGER EACH YEAR.

UM, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE IN THIS PICTURE HERE, PEPSI IS ONE OF OUR BIG SUPPORTERS, AND THEY PROVIDE TRUCK TO CARRY THE REESE DOWN.

AND, UM, OBVIOUSLY BEING NEW BE PEPSI WANTS TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT.

AND THEN THAT RED TRUCK THERE IS HEART TRANSPORTATION.

IT'S AN INTERESTING CONNECTION, BUT HEART TRANSPORTATION IS A SMALL TRUCKING COMPANY OUT OF MAINE, WHICH IS WHERE THE REESE COME ANYWAYS, BUT THEY ALSO PICK UP APPLIANCES AT BOSCH, SO THEY HAVE A CONNECTION TO NEW BERN ALSO.

SO HEART TRANSPORTATION VOLUNTEERS EVERY YEAR TO BRING OUR RE UH, TO US.

AND WE'VE DEVELOPED THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH 'EM TO WHERE NOW THEY CALL US AND THEY SAY, HEY, WHEN DO YOU WANT YOUR REESE? AND THEN THEY KIND OF WORK FOR US AT THAT POINT.

SO WE, UH, WILL PLAN THIS YEAR ON DECEMBER 15TH FOR THE REEF TO ARRIVE AT EIGHT O'CLOCK, AND WE'LL HOPEFULLY DO ANOTHER ESCORTERS LIKE THIS.

WE GET THE TRUCKS RIGHT INTO THE CEMETERY IF YOU'VE BEEN OVER THERE BEFORE.

THE GATES WERE BUILT IN, UH, LIKE 1932, I BELIEVE.

AND IT'S ABOUT A 10 FOOT WIDE OPENING.

AND THESE PROFESSIONAL TRUCK DRIVERS BACK, THESE BIG HUGE TRUCKS RIGHT UP IN THERE AND DROP OFF OUR LEASE.

IT'S, IT'S PRETTY AMAZING.

BUT THEY DO IT EVERY YEAR PLACE IN THE LEASE.

SO THIS IS OBVIOUSLY WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT, RIGHT? GOING OUT THERE AND PUTTING REESE, UH, ON THE HEADSTONES.

WE HAVE A VERY BRIEF CEREMONY THAT WE CONDUCT, UH, AT THE BEGINNING.

AND THEN WE JUST, UH, OPEN IT UP AND WE LET THE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HAVE INTERNMENTS OR FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE TURD THERE GO FIRST, AND THEN WE OPEN IT UP TO THE REST OF THE VOLUNTEERS THAT GO OUT AND, UH, PLACE THE RE.

AND WE GET A HUGE, UH, GROUP OF PEOPLE LIKE SAID FIVE TO 600 PEOPLE EVERY YEAR THAT COME OUT.

AND, UH, IT'S AN INCREDIBLE SITE WATCHING THE PEOPLE GO OUT THERE AND WORK SYSTEMATICALLY AND PLACE THE RE OUT ON THE HEAD ZONES.

UH, THIS WAS DURING COVID 2020, OBVIOUSLY, UH, EVEN THOUGH WE COULD NOT HAVE A LARGE CEREMONY, AND CHERRY POINT WOULD NOT ALLOW THE MARINES TO COME DOWN AND HAVE A BIG, UH, COLOR GUARD, THEY DID SEND THIS SMALL DETACHMENT, AND WE WERE STILL ABLE TO, UH, HAVE LET THE ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY COME OUT AND PAY THEIR RESPECTS.

ALSO, AGAIN, SOME MORE PICTURES OF THE CEMETERY IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OUT THERE TO SEE IT.

AND IT REALLY IS AN INCREDIBLE CONTRAST BECAUSE, UH, NOW NOT SO MUCH BECAUSE OF IT'S BEEN A WARM YEAR, BUT NEXT MONTH, HOPEFULLY, OR PROBABLY THE GRASS WILL HAVE TRANSITIONED OVER, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE THIS POPUP COLOR WITH THE GREENS AND THE REDS.

AND SO IT'S A VERY BEAUTIFUL SITE TO SEE THE CEMETERY.

ONCE IT IS FILLED WITH REESE, THEN, UH, WE'VE ADDED RETIRING THE REESE.

SO OBVIOUSLY IN, UH, JANUARY, THE NATIONAL CEMETERY, WE LIKE TO HAVE THEIR CEMETERY BACK.

AND SO, UH, WE HAVE TO GO OUT THERE AND PICK THE REESE UP AND RETIRE THEM AND REMOVE THEM FROM THE CEMETERY.

SO WE AGAIN, ASK OUR VOLUNTEERS TO COME OUT AND THEY SHOW UP.

UH, WE GET SEVERAL HUNDRED FOR THAT.

ALSO.

IT'S NOT AS, UH, AS MUCH CIRCUMSTANCE, BUT THEY, THEY SHOW UP AND THEY PICK UP ALL THE REESE AND WE RETIRE THEM.

AND, UH, AGAIN, IT HAS TO BE DONE.

WE GET A HUGE TURNOUT.

WE MAKE IT HAPPEN.

ALL KINDS OF FOLKS SHOW UP.

SO WHY AM I HERE TONIGHT? UM, WE CANNOT MAKE THIS PROGRAM WORK WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF NEW BERN.

AND SO, UM, WE NEED HELP FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CONDUCTING AN ESCORT, AND THEN AWARENESS THAT ON DECEMBER 17TH, WE'LL BE HAVING AN EVENT OUT THERE WITH FIVE TO 600 PEOPLE IN CASE SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN.

UM, I DON'T NEED NECESSARILY FOLKS THERE DEDICATED JUST AWARENESS THAT IF IT HAPPENS THAT WAY, THEY COULD RESPOND APPROPRIATELY, UH, FROM PARKS AND RECREATION.

WE'VE ASKED FOR BUSES BECAUSE, UH, DUE TO THE AGE OF THE CEMETERY, THERE IS NO PARKING.

IT'S VERY LIMITED.

UH, BUT GRACIOUSLY, UH, THE FORMER RO CHAPEL CHURCH AT OAKS ROAD AND SIMMONS STREET, THEY ALLOW US TO USE THEIR CEMETERY OR THEIR PARKING LOT, EXCUSE ME.

AND THEN WE USE THE PARKS AND RECREATION BUSES TO TRANSPORT PEOPLE FROM THE CHURCH TO THE CEMETERY AND BACK.

AND THEN IN JANUARY WHEN WE GO TO DO THE CLEANUP, WE JUST NEED A COUPLE DUMPSTERS TO BE ABLE TO RETIRE THE REEFS AND, UM, CLEAN UP THE CEMETERY.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.

THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING.

UH, IF I COULD GET THIS SUPPORT OF THE CITY AND, UM, MAKE THIS EVENT HAPPEN.

IT IS A VERY VALUABLE, UH, SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE, AND I THINK IT IS A VERY WORTHWHILE EFFORT.

AND SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION.

KEVIN, DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY YOU RAISED FRIDAY NIGHT? UH, RIGHT AT A THOUSAND DOLLARS, JUST OVER $900.

AND IT WAS, IT WAS A GREAT TURNOUT.

SUPPOSEDLY IT WAS THE BEST HOT HAMBURGER PLATE FUNDRAISER THAT THEY HAD THIS YEAR, SO THAT'S A GOOD, IT'S A GOOD HOT HAMBURGER.

WE, WE'LL HANG THAT ONE UP THERE.

SO, BOY, YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AND WE JUST NEED TO GIVE THE CITY MANAGER DIRECTIONS.

I THINK.

SO WE'VE SOMETHING

[00:30:01]

WE'VE DONE HISTORICALLY NOW FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

SO IF NO ONE'S OPPOSED, THEN WE WOULD JUST CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE TYPICALLY DO FOR THE EVENT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ITEM NUMBER NINE, CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION FOR THE SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE OF FENCING FROM COASTAL FENCE COMPANY FOR THE RIVER WALK FENCE REPLACEMENT PROJECT.

[9. Consider Adopting a Resolution for the Sole Source Purchase of Fencing from Coastal Fence Company for the Riverwalk Fence Replacement Project.]

THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO ASK MR. WARREN TO COME MAKE THIS PRESENTATION.

SO BACK IN, UM, 2020, WE REPLACED SOME OF THE FIS ALONG THE RIVER WALK AT UNION POINT PARK FROM THE FOOTBRIDGE UP TOWARDS THE CONVENTION CENTER BY THE GRAND MARINA DOCKS.

AND NOW WE ARE GOING, UM, BEING GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE ARPA FUNDS TO REPLACE THE REMAINDER OF THAT FIS AND FROM THE CONVENTION CENTER ALONG THE GRAND ARENA, UH, BEHIND, UM, THE RIVERWALK, WHERE IT GOES BY SKY SALE ON UP TOWARDS HANCOCK STREET.

AND SO IN ORDER TO DO THAT, UH, WE'RE REQUESTING TO USE THE SOLE SOURCE FENDER TO, UM, PURCHASE THE FENCING.

IT IS, UH, ONE OF A KIND FENCING.

AND IN ORDER FOR US TO CONTINUE WITH WHAT WE ALREADY PUT IN, WE NEED TO, UH, PURCHASE THE FENCE FROM A LOCAL FENDER WHO IS THE ONLY ONE THAT DISTRIBUTES IT IN OUR AREA.

SO WE'RE REQUESTING TO BE ABLE TO USE THE SOLE SOURCE FENDER FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE FENCE AND, AND INSTALL BOARD.

HAVE QUESTIONS.

CARRIE, WHEN WOULD THE PROJECT BE DONE? WHEN WILL IT BE DONE? WHEN WOULD IT, WHEN WOULD THE, THE, THE REMAINDER OF THE FENCE BE STARTED AND COMPLETED? ONCE WE HAVE THE FUNDINGS IN PLACE AND WE CAN SCHEDULE FOR COASTAL FENCE AND TO COME OUT, WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED QUOTES FROM THEM ON WHAT THE COST WOULD BE.

SO AT THIS POINT, WE'RE JUST LOOKING TO GET THE FUNDING IN PLACE.

SO IN PRI, UH, IT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY SIX, SIX WEEKS BEFORE THE FENCE, HE WOULD BE IN PLACE.

AND, AND, AND THEY COULD ACTUALLY HAVE THAT INSTALLED WITHIN ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT.

SO I ASSUME WE'RE WAITING UNTIL AFTER THE HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES? YES, IT WOULD, IT WOULDN'T TAKE PLACE UNTIL AFTER CHRISTMAS.

I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION.

I SAW THAT IT APPEARS THEY WANT LIKE A 50% DEPOSIT AND THEN THE BALANCE IS DUE UPON THE WORK BEING COMPLETED.

IS THAT, IS THAT NORMAL? WE, WE SEE THAT FOR CERTAIN ORDERS WHERE, WHERE, WHERE THE PRODUCT HAS TO BE ORDERED IN ADVANCE.

WE DO SEE THAT FROM CERTAIN VENDORS.

SO I, I ASSUME WE HAVE SOME PROTECTION IN PLACE IF WE GIVE 'EM 50% AND THIS PRODUCT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE, WE'RE WE CAN GET OUR MONEY BACK, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT.

THAT'S OKAY? YES.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO BOARD ON ITEM NUMBER NINE, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MOVE FOR THE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION FOR THE SO SOURCE PURCHASE OF FENCING FOR THIS PROJECT.

HAVE A MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.

SECOND.

I HAVE A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

I HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ROYAL.

ALDERMAN ROYAL? YES.

ALDERMAN ASTOR.

10, CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION TO DECLARE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3 0 4 AND 3 0 8 SOUTH FRONT STREET AS SURPLUS AND ESTABLISH A MINIMUM BID.

ALDERMAN KENZIE? YES.

[10. Consider Adopting a Resolution to Declare Property Located at 304 and 308 South Front Street as Surplus and Establish a Minimum Bid.]

MR. HUGHES.

SO, SO MAYOR, WE WERE PREVIOUSLY GIVEN DIRECTION BY THIS BOARD TO PUT THE, THE TWO LOTS THAT WE NORMALLY CALL THE TALTZ LOTS UP FOR SALE.

AND AT THE BOARD RETREAT ON NOVEMBER 3RD, UH, WE DISCUSSED THE MINIMUM PRICE TO, TO BE SET ON THE, UH, THOSE PARCELS.

AND THAT PRICE IS $750,000.

WE DO HAVE A RESOLUTION THAT WILL OFFICIALLY DEEM THOSE PROPERTIES OF SURPLUS AND MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE UPSET BID PROCESS AND ESTABLISH A MINIMUM BID OF $750,000.

MR. DAVIS, COULD YOU, FOR THE, UM, BENEFIT OF THE BOARD, IF WE WERE TO GET A BID AT THIS MINIMUM BID, THEN THE BOARD WOULD THEN ENTERTAIN WHETHER OR NOT WE WANTED TO ACCEPT THE BID AND THEN THAT WOULD START THE UPSET BID PROCESS, CORRECT? YES, SIR.

EXACTLY.

AND EVEN AT THE END OF THE UPSET BID PROCESS, IT WOULD COME BACK TO YOU TO, TO THEN DECIDE IF YOU WANT TO ACCEPT THE HIGHEST BIT OR NOT.

YOU'RE ALWAYS FREE TO STOP THE PROCESS EVEN AT THE VERY END.

AND THE INCREMENT THAT'S REQUIRED FOR EACH UPSET 5%, I BELIEVE UNDER STATUTE.

YOU CAN'T MAKE THAT MOTION NOW, MAYOR, I, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO DECLARE A PROPERTY LOCATED 3 0 4 THROUGH EIGHT SOUTH FRONT STREET AS SURPLUS AND ESTABLISH A MINIMUM BID OF $750,000 FOR THE TWO PARCELS.

BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

[00:35:01]

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION OF SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT, LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN.

PASTOR.

APPOINTMENTS, UH, OTTOMAN PRIL.

Y'ALL ARE GETTING PRETTY GOOD AT THAT.

I KNOW.

ALDERMAN KENZIE? YES.

ALDERMAN BEST? YES.

OTTERMAN BRINSON? YES.

[11. Appointment(s).]

UH, NUMBER 11.

DO YOU HAVE ANY APPOINTMENTS? NO, I DON'T.

OTTERMAN ROYAL? NO.

OTTOMAN AS NONE, NINE OR MCKENZIE? NO, SIR.

OR BEST? YES.

I HAVE TWO, UH, APPOINTMENTS TONIGHT FOR THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.

UM, WE ALL, UH, KNOW, UM, OUR RESIDENT, UM, CITIZEN OF NEW BERN, UH, MR. MIKE DUFFY, HE EXPRESSED AN, UM, EAGER DESIRE TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.

UM, DO I NEED TO DO THESE SEPARATE, UH, ATTORNEY DAVIS? YES, MA'AM.

THAT WOULD HELP.

SO I LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO, UM, APPOINT MR. MIKE DUFFY, WHICH IS A RESIDENT OF THE CITY TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.

IS AN ALTERNATE.

HAVE A MOTION.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

HAVE A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

UH, ATTORNEY'S REPORT, NOTHING'S IN REPORT BY MAYOR.

ANY OPPOSED? OKAY.

AND MY SECOND APPOINTMENT IS, UM, A YOUNG LADY, MS. KATHLEEN MARTY, UM, I SPOKE WITH HER, SHE WAS ALSO VERY EAGER TO SERVE ON AS AN ALTERNATE ON THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT, AND SHE TOO IS THE CITY RESIDENT.

SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT MS. KATHLEEN MARTY TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AS AN ALTERNATE SEAT.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

[12. Attorney's Report.]

CITY

[13. City Manager's Report.]

MANAGER'S REPORT.

JUST A FEW THINGS.

MAYOR, AS YOU'RE AWARE, WE WERE HAVING NORTHEASTERN WINDS THAT, THAT ARE CREATING A LOT OF WATER TO COME UP THE NEWS, UH, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN SOME FLOODING.

UM, UH, DEFINITELY ALONG THE, THE, UM, WATERFRONT AREAS WE'VE HAD TO CLOSE IN SOME STREETS.

AND YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THE, THE NEW BERN ALERTS POSTED HAVE GONE OUT.

WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT UNION POINT PARK IS CLOSED AND THEIR PORTIONS OF LAWSON CREEK PARK THAT ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED.

SO AS NICOLE COMES UP THAT WE COULD SEE DIFFERENT IMPACTS FROM THAT.

AND SO STAFF IS WORKING TO MONITOR, UM, THEY ARE EXPECTING, UH, WINDS OF 30 PLUS MILES PER HOUR OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS.

SO, SO STAFF IS, IS PREPARED TO RESPOND AS NEEDED.

DO WANNA ALSO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE CAPITAL CHRISTMAS TREE WILL BE IN NEW BERN ON SATURDAY AT 1:00 PM THE, UH, THAT SITE WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR UNION POINT PARK AT 1:00 PM UH, WE MAY HAVE TO CHANGE THAT LOCATION, BUT WE'RE GONNA SEE WHAT HAPPENS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS BEFORE A A DECISION IS MADE.

SO WE'LL MAKE SURE THE BOARD AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC IS AWARE.

UM, SO IF, IF IT CHANGED THAT, THAT LOCATION COULD GO TO LAWSON CREEK PARK, BUT AN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT WILL GO OUT AT THAT TIME.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

GO TO NEW BUSINESS STARTING WITH OTTOMAN BRISON.

WE'LL

[14. New Business.]

UH, YES, MR. MAYOR, JUST A REMINDER THAT TOMORROW, UH, FROM 10 TO 1:00 PM THE CRAVEN COUNTY VETERANS STAND DOWN WILL BE AT THE NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY AND, UH, ON GLEN BURNIE DRIVE.

IT'S SPONSORED BY THE VETERANS ORGANIC GARDEN AND THE NCWORKS, AND TO SUPPORT HOMELESS VETERANS AND VETERANS IN NEED WITH FREE SERVICES AND WITH FOOD.

AGAIN, THAT'S, UH, 10 TO ONE TOMORROW AT THE NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY.

AND THEN JUST AS A REMINDER, ALSO NOVEMBER 11TH ON UH, VETERANS DAY, THE CRAVEN COUNTY VETERANS COUNCIL IS HOSTING A VETERAN'S LUNCHEON AT TEMPLE BAPTIST CHURCH.

THE DOORS ARE GONNA OPEN AT 11 WITH A CEREMONY, AND THERE'LL BE A FREE LUNCH FOR THE FIRST 250 VETERANS.

IT'LL BE BARBECUE, UH, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED.

AND THEN THEY WILL ALSO PRESENT VETERAN OF THE YEAR AWARD AND THE VETERAN LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD AT THAT TIME.

UM, MR. HUGHES, COULD YOU GIVE, UM, ME A LITTLE BRIEF UPDATE, UM, ON THE ELEVATOR? I TELL YOU, I, I JUST LOOK OUT THERE IN THE AUDIENCE AND I DON'T

[00:40:01]

SEE OUR FATEFUL DEDICATED, UM, LEADER OF THIS CITY THAT'S BEEN SO INSTRUMENTAL IN IN CITY GOVERNMENT FOR, UH, LONGER THAN I AM OLD IS MISS, UM, SAMPSON, DO YOU GIVE ME A UPDATE OF WHEN THE, HOW IS IT PROGRESS THEN AND WHEN DO YOU ANTICIPATE ON IT BEING A, A GRAND SLAM AND WE CAN HAVE THAT CELEBRATION? YES, MA'AM.

WE HAD OUR MONTHLY PROGRESS MEETING WITH THE CONTRACTOR THIS MORNING.

UH, THEY'RE CURRENTLY STAYING AT 50% COMPLETE ON THIS PROJECT.

UH, SO WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS THEY HAVE IT TEMPORARILY DRIED IN.

UH, THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE, HAVING THEIR ROOFING MATERIALS COME IN FOR THE, FOR THE PERMANENT ROOF.

UH, THEY HAVE STARTED, UM, UH, UH, THEY'VE, THEY'VE GOT CONCRETE FLOORS ON ALL LEVELS.

THEY'RE STARTING TO DO SOME ROUGH IN WORK WHERE THE RESTROOMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT ARE GONNA BE, AND WHERE THE WALLS ARE GONNA BE.

UM, THE, UM, PRECAST MATERIAL AND THE BRICKS ARE GONNA BE COMING IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA START SEEING THE NEW SKIN ON THE BUILDING, WHICH WILL MIRROR CITY HALL.

UM, ONCE THE BUILDING IS FULLY DRIED IN, THEY WILL START PUTTING IT IN THE DRYWALL AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WE'LL SEE HOW THAT LOOKS.

IT SHOULD BE VERY NICE.

UM, THIS PROJECTED COMPLETION DATE IS STILL MAY OF 2023.

AND SO AS WE GET CLOSER, WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING A GRAND OPENING AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

BUT PROGRESS IS MOVING FORWARD.

THANK YOU, SIR.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE, SIR.

PAUL MCKENZIE.

YES, SIR.

IT'S SOMETHING I WANTED TO PUT TO REST TONIGHT.

UM, IT'S BEEN SOME, UH, FALSE ACCUSATION ABOUT WHERE I LIVE.

I LIVE IN THE CITY OF NEW BERN.

I LIVE IN THE FOURTH WARD, THAT'S WHERE I RESIDE.

SO, UH, NO ONE HAS COME TO ME TO ASK ME ANYTHING.

IT'S JUST BEEN NEGATIVE, UH, INFORMATION GOING ON.

AND THAT'S WHERE I LIVE AT.

I DO LIVE IN THE CITY.

IN MY WARD.

THAT'S WHERE I LIVE IN.

ANYTHING ELSE? NOTHING ELSE, SIR.

ARM.

AND AS THAT, SIR, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING, BUT I DO WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR THAT OUTBURST WITH MY TELEPHONE EARLIER.

IRONICALLY, I WAS TRYING TO SILENCE MY PHONE OR MAKE SURE IT WAS ON SILENCE AND BIG THUMBS HIT THE WRONG BUTTON, EVIDENTLY.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.

SIR, YOU GOT GRANDKIDS THAT CAN SHOW YOU HOW TO USE THAT THING.

OTTOMAN ROYAL.

YES, SIR.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP ONE ISSUE.

I, I KNOW THAT AS, UM, CITY GOVERNMENT AND CITY LEADERS, WE'VE EXPERIENCED A LOT IN THE PAST.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, THE COMMUNITY EXPRESSED WAS ABOUT THE DIVISION.

AND IN LIGHT OF THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A SUGGESTION THAT PROBABLY WOULD BRING SOME SOLIDARITY TO THE, UM, BOARD.

AND THAT IS IF WE COULD DO A FLOAT TOGETHER DURING THE CHRISTMAS PARADE WITHOUT INTERFERING WITH THAT QUOTE THAT, UM, UH, WHAT IS IT? QU QUO.

QUO.

THAT WAS THE WORD I WAS LOOKING FOR, BUT, UM, UM, I'D LIKE TO POST THAT TOUR TO SEE IF THE INTEREST IS THERE AND TO SEE HOW WE CAN ACTUALLY PULL THAT OFF.

THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

WE'LL, UM, MAYBE HAVE THE CLERK CIRCULATE AROUND TO SEE WHO'S AVAILABLE FOR THE DAY OF THE PARADE, AND THEN ONCE WE FIND OUT WHO WANTS TO PARTICIPATE, WE'LL START WORKING ON SOME LOGISTICS ON HOW TO PULL THAT OFF.

THANK YOU, SIR.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

IS THAT ALL QUESTION? YES, SIR.

ARE YOU WILLING TO HAVE THIS DURING THE TIME OF THE CHRISTMAS PARADE, OR IS THIS GONNA BE MAYBE LATER ON DURING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS? LIKE CLOSER TO CHRISTMAS? I MEAN, PARADE TO THE PARADE.

AND THE MAYOR HAS ALREADY VOLUNTEERED TO WORK IT OUT AND GET THE FLOAT THE TRUCK AND ALL THE TOOLS THAT ARE NECESSARY.

IS THAT RIGHT, MAAM? ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU SIR.

, ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU.

THE MEANS, UH, TO SUCCESSFULLY MOVE THE HOUSE TO A NEW LOCATION.

THAT WAS SO VERY GOOD.

OTTERMAN PR ONE ITEM JUST TO REVIEW WITH THE BOARD, UM, AS EVERYONE KNOWS, THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING FOR SOME TIME NOW TO GET THE, THE TISDALE HOUSE MOVED OFF OF THE STANLEY WHITE RECREATION CENTER PROPERTY TO A NEW LOCATION.

UM, SO THAT WHEN THE, THE STANLEY WHITE CENTER, UH, PROJECT GETS STARTED, UH, THERE WON'T BE, UM, AN IMPEDIMENT IN THE WAY WITH REGARDS TO THIS HOUSE STILL SITTING ON THE PROPERTY.

UM, WHERE THAT PROJECT IS AT RIGHT NOW.

UM, PROPOSALS WERE RECEIVED BY THE, UM, NEWBERG RESERVATION FOUNDATION.

THEY'VE BEEN REVIEWING THOSE PROPOSALS.

THEY'VE DETERMINED THAT THERE ARE TWO PROPOSALS THAT THEY FEEL HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED BY INDIVIDUALS, UM, WHO HAVE

[00:45:01]

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU RECALL THE, UM, THE REQUIREMENTS OR THE CONDITIONS THAT WERE PLACED ON ANYONE THAT WANTED TO POTENTIALLY SUBMIT A PROPOSAL.

ONE OF THOSE, UM, CONDITIONS INVOLVED THAT THE PROPOSAL HAD TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE PROPONENT HAD CONTROL OVER A LOT WHERE THE HOUSE WOULD BE MOVED TO THE TWO PROPOSALS THAT, UH, THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION FEEL ARE POTENTIALLY VIABLE.

BOTH INDIVIDUALS HAVE IDENTIFIED LOTS, BUT THEY, THEY WERE NOT NECESSARILY IN CONTROL OF THOSE LOTS.

ALSO, DURING THE KIND OF INTERVENING TIMEFRAME, UM, THERE WAS ANOTHER AVENUE BEING PURSUED BY THE CITY THAT BEING, THAT THE CITY WOULD PROVIDE OR COULD PROVIDE A LOT FOR THE HOUSE TO BE MOVED TO AND THEN LET THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION WORK WITH THE ENTITY THAT THEY FELT WAS THE MOST LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO SUCCEED WITH THIS PROJECT.

I RAISED A QUESTION, UM, AND I JUST WANT TO BRING IT TO THE BOARD'S ATTENTION.

I, I'VE DISCUSSED THIS WITH, UM, THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT I JUST BRING IT UP TO THE BOARD TO SEE IF ANYBODY ELSE HAD, AND THEY HAVE A CONCERN, UM, THAT I'VE RAISED THAT BEING THAT THE, THE CITY ADVERTISED CERTAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS THAT THAT NEEDED TO BE MET, BUT ONE OF THOSE THAT BEING THE ENTITY HAD TO BE IN CONTROL OF A LOT THAT'S BEEN CHANGED OR MODIFIED FROM THE APPLICANT.

PRESENTING A LOT TO THE CITY NOW HAS MADE A LOT AVAILABLE.

I RAISED THE CONCERN THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S A, WHAT I FELT WAS A SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH CHANGE THAT WE MIGHT NEED TO STEP BACK, UM, AND RE ADVERTISE THE PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER ENTITIES OUT THERE WHO WANTED TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL BUT CHOSE NOT TO BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE A LOT THAT THEY HAD CONTROL OF.

BUT GIVEN THAT THE CITY IS PROVIDING A LOT, THEN THEY MIGHT BE INTERESTED.

SO I'M JUST, I'M RAISING THAT AS A POTENTIAL CONCERN AND WHETHER OR NOT THE BOARD SHARES IN THAT CONCERN OR WHETHER YOU FEEL THAT THAT MODIFICATION IS NOT SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO REQUIRE THE PROCESS TO, IF YOU WILL, START OVER AGAIN.

SO, SO AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S A CONCERN I'M RAISING, IT'S A PROCEDURAL QUESTION MORE THAN ANYTHING, AND I'M JUST RAISING IT TO MAKE THE, THE REST OF THE BOARD AWARE OF THAT CONCERN.

AND OR THE LOT TO THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION.

ALLMAN PRS.

UM, MR. ATTORNEY OR MANAGER, COULD YOU CLARIFY? I WANNA BE CLEAR, I DON'T THINK THE CITY WAS GOING TO PROVIDE A LOT.

WE WERE OFFERING ONE THAT COULD BE PURCHASED FOR THIS, CORRECT.

WELL, EVEN MORE SUBTLE THAN THAT, UM, IVAN PRILL GAVE A GREAT SUMMARY OF, OF THE PROCESS, UM, THE DETOUR, UM, WAS THAT LATE IN THAT PROCESS, THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION, DESPITE THE OTHER PARTIES HAVING IDENTIFIED SOME LOTS, PREFERRED THAT THE CITY SUBDIVIDE THE LOT ON REM STREET.

THAT WAS A PREFERENCE FROM THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION AND THAT'S WHAT CAUSED THE BOARD TO PIVOT TO THEN TRY TO ACCOMMODATE THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION.

LEGALLY, WHAT THE CITY WILL BE DOING, IF YOU PROCEED, IS SELLING THE LOT TO THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION.

THE REASON YOU WOULD DO THAT IS THAT IS THE ONLY LOCAL ENTITY THAT ALLOWS THE CITY TO SELL THE PROPERTY FOR FAIR MARKET VALUE WHILE PUTTING RESTRICTIONS ON THE PROPERTY THAT REQUIRE THE HOUSE TO BE CONSTRUCTED THERE AND FOREVER MAINTAINED ON THAT PROPERTY IN ITS HISTORIC CONDITION.

SO LEGALLY WE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO CONVEY THE HOUSE

[00:50:01]

THE ADVERTISEMENT PROCESS WAS TO DRUM UP INTEREST SO THAT APPLICANTS COULD THEN APPROACH THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION WITH THEIR HOPES, DREAMS AND IDEAS AND RESOURCES TO REHAB THE HOUSE.

OTTOMAN PR RAISES A GOOD POINT AND, AND IT'S MORE OF A POLITICAL POINT AND A FAIRNESS POINT WAS THAT INITIAL ADVERTISEMENT DRAWN TOO NARROW, GIVEN THE CURRENT FACTS AT THE TIME, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE BOARD WANTED TO DO, BUT THE VISION HAS NOW BROADENED, UM, TO INCLUDE A LOT THAT WAS NOT IN PLAY AT THAT TIME.

SO I'M COMFORTABLE ON THE LEGAL SIDE THAT PROCEDURALLY WE ARE GOING TO BE CONVEYING THAT LOT TO THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION.

HOWEVER, POLITICALLY, AS A MATTER OF FAIRNESS, DO YOU FEEL THAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND ANYBODY ELSE HAD FAIR NOTICE THAT THERE'S A DIFFERENT DEAL AND, AND I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION, AND I THINK THAT'S WHY OTTOMAN PRO IS RAISING IT TO YOU, AND THAT WE DON'T WANT SOMEONE, UM, TO HAVE REGRETS THAT THEY MISSED OUT ON AN OPPORTUNITY WHEN THEY WERE THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB AND SIMPLY DIDN'T KNOW THAT THE GAME HAD CHANGED LATE IN THE PROCESS.

SO, SO JUST I WANNA ASK OTTOMAN PR, SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT FOLKS WHO EXPRESSED INTEREST WERE REQUIRED TO HAVE SITE CONTROL OF WHERE TO MOVE THE HOUSE.

AND NOW SOMEBODY THAT MAY HAVE HAD INTEREST BUT DIDN'T HAVE SITE CONTROL, NOW THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO GET IN THE GAME, IF YOU WILL.

CAUSE THERE'S A LOT AVAILABLE.

IS THAT ESSENTIALLY THAT THAT'S THE POINT THAT I'M MAKE.

YEAH.

AND, AND MAYOR, EXCUSE ME.

UM, ONE THOUGHT THIS CONTRACT IS PROPOSED TO BE ON THE NEXT AGENDA FOR THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION.

SO THERE IS A COUPLE WEEKS, IF SO, THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY, IF THE BOARD WANTED TO ADVERTISE SOMETHING, THERE'S AT LEAST SEVERAL WEEKS TO GET THAT WORD OUT.

UM, IF WE WANT TO KEEP THE OFFER TO PURCHASE ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT BOARD MEETING TO THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION.

BUT EITHER WAY, BASED OFF OF WHAT YOU SAID, THIS HOUSE HAS TO GO TO THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION.

YES, IT DOES.

IF WE WANT RESTRICTIONS ON THE, ON THE PROPERTY, I, I SUSPECT YOU DO.

ARE YOU AWARE MR. CITY MANAGER, UM, WHERE THEY'RE AT WITH THIS? DO YOU, DO THEY HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S SERIOUSLY INTERESTED IN IT? AND IS THE PROCESS MOVING FORWARD? I I, I THINK WE'VE GOT GEORGE BREAK HERE WITH THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION.

HE COULD PROBABLY UPDATE YOU ON WHERE THINGS STAND ON THEIR END BOARD.

DO YOU WANT TO ALLOW HIM TO SPEAK? ANYONE ELSE WITH THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION? I DUNNO.

IF'S HERE OR NOT SPEAK ON.

COULD WE GET A BOARD WITH, CAN WE GET A MOTION? MOTION? MAKE A MOTION TO ALLOW HIM SPEAK.

I HAVE A MOTION.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

HAVE A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

WAS LOOKING AT IT, WAS SORT OF BACKING OFF OF IT.

ANY OPPOSED? SO I, IF YOU WOULD, SIR, COME TO THE MICROPHONES.

PEOPLE AT HOME WON'T HEAR YOU.

UM, UH, SO I'M DAN TOWER.

UH, I'VE LIVED HERE FOR THREE YEARS.

UM, AND WHEN THE HOUSE WAS ADVERTISED, I STARTED TALKING WITH GEORGE ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO MOVE THE HOUSE, TO PRESERVE THE HOUSE.

UM, I'VE DONE COUNTLESS HISTORIC RENOVATIONS.

I OWN A HOUSE IN RALEIGH THAT'S JUST LIKE THIS SUBJECT HOUSE, ALMOST IDENTICAL SOUTHERN COLONIAL STYLE HOUSE.

UM, YOU KNOW, THE HOUSE IS BUILT THE SAME STYLE AS, UH, SAY THE PRESIDENT'S HOUSE OF CAROLINA AND OTHERS.

AND SO GEORGE AND I, UH, WENT THROUGH A PROCESS AND INITIALLY I DIDN'T HAVE A PLACE TO MOVE THE HOUSE TOO.

UM, SO I WENT THROUGH A PROCESS OF ACTUALLY BUYING A LOT FROM THE CITY ON CHAUKA, WHICH IS MAYBE THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE DOWN THE STREET.

HAD THE, UM, UH, A CONTRACTOR THAT HAD, UH, DONE THE HAT LIGHTHOUSE AND OTHER PROJECTS, LOOK AT IT TO SEE IS FEASIBLE.

HOW CAN WE DO IT? AND WE DETERMINED THAT WE COULD DO IT.

UM, BUT THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT.

THEY REALLY FELT LIKE THE HOUSE, WHICH IS A VERY, UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN IN THE HOUSE.

IT'S REALLY SIGNIFICANT HISTORIC BUILDING AND IT'S, IN MY MIND, VERY IMPORTANT THAT IT BE, UH, PRESERVED.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, A PART OF NEWBURN HISTORY.

AND, YOU KNOW, GEORGE SAID HE'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE IT IN DOWNTOWN OR IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.

AND, UM, HE HAD BEEN TALKING WITH THE PRIOR COUNSEL ABOUT THE IDEA OF MOVING IT OVER TO REM STREET, WHERE IT WOULD SORT OF SIT VERY NICELY WITH THE OTHER HOUSES THAT ARE ON THAT STREET.

UM, I THINK INITIALLY WHEN HE BROUGHT IT UP, THE COUNCIL OR THE CITY OR WHOEVER IT WAS THAT

[00:55:01]

IT WASN'T CERTAIN THAT THAT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION AT THAT TIME.

SO I WENT, UH, THERE WAS ONLY ONE OTHER PIECE OF PROPERTY, UH, WHERE IT COULD BE MOVED TO THAT WAS SORT OF SUITABLE.

IT WAS ON THE CORNER OF NEW STREET AND BURN STREET HERE IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.

SO, YOU KNOW, I, I SORT OF SAID TO GEORGE, I AGREE WITH YOU THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE MOVED TO GREEN PARK.

IT WASN'T AN IDEAL LOCATION TO PUT THE HOUSE, BUT IT WAS JUST SORT OF, THIS IS A PLACE THAT WE CAN FIND.

SO I ACTUALLY FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH THE PURCHASE OF BUYING THAT LOT JUST IN CASE SOMETHING GOES WRONG.

AND IN MY MIND, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, OR A VERY IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THE HOUSE BE SAVED.

UM, BUT I AGREE WITH THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION THAT THAT'S NOT REALLY THE RIGHT PLACE TO MOVE IT TO.

BUT I STILL JUST SORT OF, YOU KNOW, I STARTED THAT PROCESS.

SO I FINISHED THAT PROCESS AND PURCHASED THAT PROPERTY FROM THE CITY FOR THAT CONTINGENCY.

UM, BUT, BUT BASED ON THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY AND, AND GEORGE'S RECOMMENDATION, I WENT OUT AND SIGNED A CONTRACT TO PURCHASE THIS OTHER LARGER LOT, WHICH IS JUST HERE ON BROAD STREET.

UM, LIKE I SAY, THE CORNER OF VERNON NEW STREET, I, I DON'T THINK THAT WAS REALLY THAT GREAT A LOCATION FOR IT EITHER, CUZ IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ON BROAD STREET, IT'S NOT IN A PROMINENT LOCATION.

IT'S SORT OF TUCKED AWAY.

BUT IT WAS A LOT THAT WAS BIG ENOUGH TO PUT IT THERE.

AND IT WAS IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT AND I FELT LIKE THAT WAS A BETTER LOCATION FOR IT.

YOU KNOW, THE IDEA IS TO PUT IT IN A PLACE WHERE IT'S CONGRUENT WITH OTHER HOUSES SO THAT IT KIND OF PROMINENTLY SITS THERE.

AND SO I ACTUALLY PUT THAT UNDER CONTRACT AND WAS MOVING FORWARD TO PURCHASE THAT, TO MOVE IT.

WHEN GEORGE CALLED ME AND SAID, THE CITY IS RECONSIDERED, THEY NOW WANT TO PUT IT IN REM STREET, WHICH IS WHERE WE REALLY WANT TO SEE IT GO.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S OUR PREFERENCE.

SO THEN I STOPPED SORT OF PURCHASING THIS OTHER LOT TO PUT IT THERE BECAUSE WHAT I WAS HEARING WAS THIS IS REALLY, YOU KNOW, THE BEST PLACE FOR IT.

UM, I DO THINK THAT THIS SUBJECT LOT IS, IS A GREAT PLACE FOR IT BECAUSE IT SORT OF PRESERVED SOME OF THE PROMINENCE OF THE STRUCTURE AND UM, YOU KNOW, IT ALSO WILL REALLY SIT THERE NICELY ON REM AVENUE.

IT'S CONGRUENT WITH THE OTHER HOUSES, ALL THIS AND THAT.

UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN SORT OF SITTING HERE ON GO WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE SPENT MONEY ON OTHER LOT.

I'VE GOT THE MONEY APPROPRIATED TO MOVE IT.

UM, I WISH GEORGE WAS HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT, BUT I, I MADE IT CLEAR TO HIM THAT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO IT.

I HAVE THE MONEY TO DO IT, I'M READY TO DO IT.

UM, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT IT, THEY WERE SAYING IT NEEDED TO BE MOVED IN ORDER TO BE SAVED BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

AND SO I WAS SORT OF TRYING TO MEET THAT DEADLINE AND TRYING TO KEEP MY CONTRACTOR IN LINE AND TALKING WITH THE CITY MANAGER A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, I SAID BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, I'M READY TO DO THIS AND MOVE THIS HOUSE.

I'VE GOT THE CONTRACTOR LINED UP TO MOVE IT.

I'VE GOT THE PEOPLE LINED UP TO PUT THE FOUNDATION UNDER IT TO PRESERVE IT TO GET IT DONE.

BUT I CAN'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL I'M GIVEN, YOU KNOW, UNTIL, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY SAYS, GO AHEAD AND DO IT.

AND AT THAT POINT, YOU KNOW, I'M READY TO, UH, SORT OF MOVE QUICKLY, GET IT MOVED.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TIMETABLE IS AS FAR AS THE STUFF WITH THE RECREATION CENTER AND HOW QUICKLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT WAS INITIALLY PRESENTED TO ME, IT WAS LIKE, WE REALLY GOTTA MOVE THIS HOUSE NOW CAUSE WE HAVE THESE OTHER PLANS.

BUT I'M SURE THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE HERE CAN SPEAK TO THAT.

BUT I, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE YOU GUYS HAD, YOU KNOW, ALL THE INFORMATION, THE PROCESS THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH, YOU KNOW, UH, THIS HAS BEEN I THINK FIVE OR SIX MONTHS OR SO WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ANY OF YOU MAY HAVE.

ARE YOU A MEMBER OF THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION? NO, I'M NOT.

SO, UH, I MOVED TO NEWBURN THREE YEARS AGO.

UM, UH, I'M A CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE AND CORPORATE ATTORNEY, UH, ORIGINALLY.

OF WHAT THE PROCESS HAS BEEN AND YOU KNOW, WHAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED AND ALL THAT FOR, DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR HEARING.

UM, BUT I'VE ALWAYS DONE A LOT OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION, UH, NUMEROUS PROJECTS.

I OWN A LOT OF HISTORIC HOUSES.

UH, I I'VE RENOVATED THEM MANY TIMES AND, YOU KNOW, I COME AT IT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE ALWAYS OF REALLY WANTING TO PRESERVE THE ELEMENTS AND DOING THE OTHER THINGS.

AND, YOU KNOW, I, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT.

I THINK THIS HOUSE IN PARTICULAR, IF ANYBODY'S BEEN INSIDE OF IT TO SEE IT, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE.

IT'S GOT BEAUTIFUL FEATURES AND, UH, SOMETHING THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN I MOVE IT, IT'S GONNA BE GIVEN A NEW LEASE ON LIFE, IT'S GONNA HAVE, YOU KNOW, NEW SYSTEMS PUT, PUT IN IT, SIGNIFICANT RENOVATION.

I'VE GOT THE MONEY TO DO IT.

I'M NOT GETTING ANY BANK FINANCING.

AND UM, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S A PROJECT I'M EAGER TO DO, BUT I CERTAINLY, I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S COMPETING CONCERNS AND OTHER THINGS.

BUT I JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO SORT OF HAVE THE BENEFIT

[01:00:01]

I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED HERE.

UM, ATTORNEY DAVIS, CAN YOU PUT SOME LIGHT ON, ON THIS FOR ME? UM, IS THIS, I DON'T REMEMBER.

I I CAN'T REMEMBER THAT WE MADE THE DECISION THAT THAT HOUSE WOULD GO ON REM AVENUE, THIS BOARD OF PRIOR BOARD.

WHEN WAS THAT DECISION MADE? I, I, I COULDN'T TELL YOU THE MEETING.

IT WAS MADE, BUT STAFF WAS GIVEN DIRECTION TO, TO PROCEED WITH THE SUBDIVISION OF THAT PROPERTY, UM, AND TO PROCEED WITH THE, THE NEW VISION FOR THE NEW LOCATION.

AND I JUST COULDN'T TELL YOU WHAT MEETING IT WAS SPECIFICALLY.

WHEN YOU SAY STAFF, YOU MEAN EMPLOYEES OR YOU MEAN BOARD? NO, MA THE BOARD.

WE TAKE DIRECTION FROM YOU.

SO IT WOULD'VE BEEN BOARD DIRECTION TO THE CITY MANAGER TO PROCEED WITH THE SUBDIVISION THAT THE NEW BE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION WOULD OWN THIS HOUSE AND THAT WE PUT, WE PUT ON RIM AVENUE.

WELL, THAT THERE'S A BUYER.

WE PUT ON RIM AVENUE.

THE, THE, THE, THE FOUNDATION WAS ALWAYS THE CONDUIT TO GET IT INTO PRIVATE HANDS.

UM, BUT THE REM LOT WAS AN ADJUSTMENT THAT WAS MADE LATE IN THE GAME.

AND THIS GENTLEMAN GAVE A GREAT SUMMARY AS TO THE HOW AND THE WHY'S.

THE OTHER ALTERNATE OPTIONS, UM, WERE JUST NOT, UM, AS GOOD A FIT AS THE REM LOT WILL BE.

THE COUNSEL, LET ME, LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT , UM, WE SELL A LOT TO THE NEW BERN PRESERVATION SOCIETY, CORRECT? YES, SIR.

AND THEN THEY TURN AROUND IF THIS GENTLEMAN SO DESIRES, HE MOVES THE, BUYS THE LOT FROM THEM.

AND HE MOVES THIS HOUSE ON THAT LOT AND BASICALLY THE CITY'S OUT OF IT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF WE SELL THE LOT.

YES, SIR.

WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN ON YOUR NEXT AGENDA IF WE MOVE FORWARD IS THAT WE'LL HAVE A, A, A REAL ESTATE CONTRACT WITH THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION AND IT'S GONNA SAY THAT THEY WILL PAY THE CITY X FOR THE LOT AND THEY'LL GET A BILL OF SALE FOR THE TISDALE HOUSE.

AND THAT CONTRACT IS GOING TO PROVIDE THAT THEY HAVE X NUMBER OF DAYS TO MOVE THEIR HOUSE OVER TO THAT LOT.

AND WHEN WE CLOSE ON THAT WITH THE FOUNDATION, THEY'LL GET A DEED, BUT THERE WILL ALSO BE PRESERVATION RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON THAT LOT THAT WILL APPLY TO THE PROPERTY AND THE HOUSE SO THAT IT WILL HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED AND PRESERVED.

NOW OUR CONTRACTS WITH THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION, THOSE OBLIGATIONS WILL PASS TO WHATEVER BUYER THEY CHOOSE.

AND DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY BUYERS ARE, ARE INTERESTED OTHER THAN THIS GENTLEMAN? I DO NOT KNOW.

SO I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH, WITH GEORGE BRA TODAY, AND HE TOLD ME HE WAS GONNA BE HERE THIS EVENING.

UH, CAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT THE CONCERNS THAT OTTERMAN PRILL HAD AND WHAT, WHAT WE WERE AWARE OF IS THAT THEY HAD ORIGINALLY HAD ABOUT EIGHT TO 10 PARTIES THAT WERE INTERESTED IN THE HOUSE, AND THERE WERE TWO SERIOUS CONTENDERS FOR IT.

THAT, AND THAT'S, WERE THOSE EIGHT OF 10 UNDER THESE CURRENT, UH, GUIDELINES? THAT'S CORRECT.

WITH THE CITY.

WITH THE REM STREET, IS IT REM STREET AND RIM AVENUE? RIM AVENUE? NO, THAT WAS, THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL, UM, THAT WE HAVE NOT GONE BACK TO RE-ADVERTISED ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE RIM, BUT WE'RE NOT, I MEAN, WE'RE GIVING THE HOUSE AWAY BASICALLY.

I MEAN, GIVING THE HOUSE AWAY.

YEAH.

SELLING THE LOT OF FAIR MARKET VALUE.

SO AS OF THE NEXT MEETING, WHEN WE TAKE CARE OF THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK FOR THAT, HOW LONG WOULD IT BE BEFORE THEY WOULD ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO ADVERTISE THE PROPERTY AND, AND THE HOUSE? I MEAN, CAN, IF THIS GENTLEMAN WANTED TO, HOW QUICKLY COULD HE START HIS WORK PROCESS? WELL, UM, ONCE YOU SIGNED THE CONTRACT, UM, ONCE THE CITY UNDERSTAND THE CONTRACT AT THE NEXT MEETING, IT'S A MATTER OF A WEEK OR TWO UNTIL WE HAVE THE CLOSING AND THEN THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION WILL BE BOUND TO LIVE UP TO ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE CONTRACT.

SOUNDS LIKE, SOUNDS LIKE IT'S IN THE WORKS THEN, RIGHT? I MEAN, YES, SIR.

AND ALL THIS IS A LONG WAY OF COMING AROUND TO OTTOMAN PRILLS CONCERN THAT THE RULES OF THE GAME GOT MODIFIED IN THE NINTH AND EIGHTH AND, AND THAT'S A POLITICAL WORRY THAT IT WASN'T A FULL AND ROBUST NOTICE TO OTHER PEOPLE.

LEGALLY IT'S GOING TO THE PRESERVATION

[01:05:01]

FOUNDATION.

SO THAT'S NOT A LEGAL WORRY TO ME, IT'S, IT'S MORE OF A NOTICE AND POLITICAL CONCERN TO YOU.

HAVING HEARD THE FULL STORY NOW, AND I THINK WHAT CITY MANAGER IS SAYING THAT THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION WOULD SAY THEY HAVE INTERVIEWED AND VETTED A GREAT MANY PEOPLE AND THEY'VE IDENTIFIED THEY, WHO THEY THINK IS THE MOST RESPONSIBLE PERSON TO DO THIS JOB.

BUT OTTERMAN CRILL IS RAISING THE QUESTION, ARE THERE OTHERS THAT DIDN'T HAVE, UM, THE BENEFIT OF THESE FACTS? WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE, UM, PRESERVATION SOCIETY TO, TO MAKE CONTACT BACK WITH THESE OTHERS AND JUST SAY HAS BEEN A SLIGHT CHANGE IN THE RULES AND SEE IF THEY BECOME INTERESTED AT THAT POINT? THEY COULD DEFINITELY DO THAT.

I, I, MY MY IMPRESSION, I I WISH THEY WERE HERE TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

YEAH.

MY IMPRESSION IS THAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR EXPERTISE AND RESOURCES AND, AND I THINK THE CREAM CAME AT THE TOP IN THEIR, IN THEIR MINDS ALREADY.

SO WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND WE DO , IF, IF YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT FAIR NOTICE, LIKE I SAID, THERE IS TIME, THERE IS TIME TO PUT THE NOTICES THAT WE'RE GIVING ARE TO BENEFIT THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION AND MAKE THEIR JOB EASIER.

MY CONCERNS THAT EVERYONE'S HAD A FAIR CRACK AT IT.

SO, SO WE ARE NOT FOLLOWING A LEGAL PROCESS TO SOLICIT SPECIFIC BIDS BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE POTENTIAL BUYER.

WE ARE JUST TRYING TO GENERATE INTEREST TO GET AS MANY QUALIFIED PEOPLE TO THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION AS POSSIBLE, UM, SO THAT THEY CAN VET THEM AND, AND DECIDE WHO'S THE BEST FIT FOR THEM.

CUZ THEY'RE GONNA HAVE THE BURDEN OF CARRYING OUT OUR CONTRACT.

SO THE ADVERTISING WE'RE DOING IS TO HELP THEM AND, AND THERE IS TIME IF, IF WE ARE WORRIED TO PUT AN AD IN THE PAPER AGAIN, UM, ONLINE, UM, AND, AND LET IT RUN FOR A FEW WEEKS TO HELP THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION FIND MORE PEOPLE, IF THAT'S A WORRY.

WELL, IT'S GONNA BE TWO WEEKS BEFORE WE HAVE THE CONTRACT READY ANYWAY.

AND, AND THEN, AND CLOSING AND ALL THAT CAN TAKE PLACE.

UM, , WHAT, WHAT DID YOU HAVE IN MIND AS FAR AS WHAT YOU THINK WE SHOULD DO TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE? YOU, I, I WASN'T REALLY COMING AT IT FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT THE CITY NEEDED TO DO OR TAKE ANY ADDITIONAL ACTION.

MY CONCERN WAS PRIMARILY WHETHER OR NOT WE MIGHT BE INADVERTENTLY SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR SOMEBODY COMING IN POTENTIALLY WITH A LEGAL CHALLENGE AFTER EVERYTHING HAS ALREADY BEEN CONSUMMATED.

AND WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE US? UM, NOT THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN, I MAY BE OVERTHINKING IT.

IT'S JUST A CONCERN THAT I HAD BASED ON THE FACT THAT WE, WE MODIFIED ONE ONE OF THE TERMS, IF YOU WILL, OF THE ORIGINAL ADVERTISEMENT AND, AND THAT JUST, I'M JUST RAISING A CONCERN.

SURE.

UM, MR. DAVIS INDICATES THAT IT, IT'S NOT A LEGAL PROCESS THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING.

I MEAN, ANYBODY CAN SUE US FOR ANYTHING.

SURE.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF IT HAPPENS, IT HAPPENS.

I, I'M NOT TRYING TO STOP THE PROJECT.

I THINK THAT THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION, UM, WILL DO AN EXCELLENT JOB OF BEING A STEWARD OF THIS, THIS PROCESS TO GET THE HOUSE MOVED, TO GET IT REHABILITATED AND TO GIVE IT NEW LIFE.

UM, THEY, THEY'VE DONE IT FOR 40 YEARS.

I HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THEY WON'T DO IT AGAIN.

SO, UH, YOU KNOW, I I, I CERTAINLY SUPPORT THE PROJECT.

I, I JUST FELT A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT THIS ONE PROCEDURAL ASPECT OF IT AND WANTED TO BRING IT TO THE BOARD'S ATTENTION.

MR. DAVIS.

WOULD, WOULD IT MAKE SENSE FOR THE BOARD OR THE CITY TO JUST RE ADVERTISE THE SAME METHOD THAT WE DID THE FIRST TIME WITH THIS NOTICE AND THEY SHOULD BE CONTACTING THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION AND NOT US.

I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA DEFER TO THE CLERK.

MY RECOLLECTION WAS THAT DID THE CONTACTS COME TO YOU FIRST AND THEN YOU FORWARDED THEM TO THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION? YES.

I, I WOULD DO THE, IF IT'S A WORRY, I WOULD RUN IT AGAIN FOR A WEEK TO 10 DAYS.

AND AGAIN, JUST, JUST IN THE SPIRIT OF, OF, OF BEING TRANSPARENT AND, UH, OFFERING A FAIR DEAL FOR THOSE OF YOU ON THE PRIOR BOARD, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN A LONG SLOG FOR ALL OF US.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE SECOND OR THIRD GO AROUND, UM, WHICH, WHICH DOES REDUCE

[01:10:01]

BUT IT'S A, IT'S AN EASY THING TO RUN THAT NOTICE.

UM, AND BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY.

WOULD THAT, THAT'D BE SATISFACTORY TO YOU? THAT WOULD BE FINE.

ULTIMATELY, ULTIMATELY, THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION HAS THE FINAL SAY AS TO WHO THEY WANNA DEAL WITH.

DO YOU WANT A MOTION OR JUST DIRECTION? UM, DIRECTION'S FINE.

ANYBODY OPPOSED TO JUST RERUNNING? ONE MORE TIME? OKAY.

10 DAY PERIOD.

AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T INTERFERE WITH THE NEXT MEETING SO WE CAN GET THE CONTRACT MOVED FORWARD.

UM, COLLEEN, I SENT HER A PICTURE.

UH, EVERYBODY KNOWS MY AFFECTION TOWARDS SIGNS.

UM, BOTH, UH, I LOVE 'EM AND I HATE 'EM.

AND I WANT TO SHARE JUST ONE PICTURE WITH YOU.

AND I ACTUALLY RECEIVED AN EMAIL YESTERDAY FROM A CONCERNED CITIZEN.

SO MR. DAVIS, THIS IS ON A CITY RIGHT AWAY, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE POLITICAL AND SOME NON-POLITICAL, ARE ANY OF THOSE SIGNS PLACED LEGALLY, ACCORDING TO OUR ORDINANCE? WELL, THAT, THAT MAYOR, THEY'VE GOT TO BE OUTSIDE OF THE ORDINANCE WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE LANDOWNER.

AND OUTSIDE OF THE, THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.

SO EVERY ONE OF THESE SIGNS ARE IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.

MM-HMM.

AND THEY'RE ALL ILLEGAL.

AND IF, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE NOTICED, BUT WE BECOME A BILLBOARD CITY, ALMOST EVERY INTERSECTION YOU GET TO, THERE'S A BANNER, THERE'S A SIGN, THERE'S SOMETHING THERE.

UM, I DON'T EXPECT US TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT TONIGHT.

I JUST WANNA PUT ON YOUR RADAR.

UM, BUT TO ME, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS SOMEHOW, UM, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS DURING POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS, BUT YOU CAN SEE OUT OF ALL THOSE, ONLY TWO OF 'EM ARE POLITICAL SCIENCES.

THE REST OF 'EM ARE ADVERTISEMENTS FOR PRIVATE BUSINESSES.

SO I THINK, UH, MIGHT BE ONE OF THOSE WORK SESSION TOPICS THAT WE HAVE IN THE FUTURE, UH, TO GET EVERYBODY UP TO SPEED ON WHAT OUR ORDINANCE IS REGARDING SIGNS.

AND THIS IS JUST ONE PICTURE OF MANY, ALMOST EVERY INTERSECTION GET TO MANEUVER.

AND I SAW ONE TODAY THAT WAS HANDWRITTEN, THAT HAS PUPPIES FOR SALE.

UM, SO THEY'RE EVERYWHERE.

ONE HANDWRITTEN, WRITTEN ABOUT MATTRESSES FOR SALE.

I'LL TAKE Y'ALL ALL OVER THE PLACE.

SO I, I HAD PLANNED ON BRINGING THAT UP.

YOU JUST PICK 'EM UP.

I MEAN, I TOLD IT WORKS YOU TO GO PICK 'EM UP.

I, I BELIEVE WE CAN, BUT IT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING WE NEED TO DISCUSS AS A BOARD ABOUT THE RESOURCES AND HOW MUCH TIME WE WANNA SPEND AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

BUT THEY COULD LEGALLY ALL BE PICKED UP, INCLUDING THE POLITICAL SIGNS BECAUSE THEY'RE PLACED ILLEGALLY.

SO YES, SIR.

THAT'S CORRECT.

JUST WANTED TO PUT ON YOUR RADAR SOMETHING WE CAN TALK ABOUT IN THE FUTURE.

UH, THAT WAS ALL OF MY NEW BUSINESS.

DO WE NEED A CLOSED SESSION?

[15. Closed Session.]

UH, YES, MAYOR.

UM, PURSUANT TO 1 43, 13, 11 A TWO, UM, UM, PURSUANT TO, UM, 1 43, 3 10, 11, A THREE TO MAINTAIN OUR ATTORNEY PRIOR PRIVILEGE, UM, AND PURSUANT TO 1 43, 13 11 A FIVE TO, UM, UH, DISCUSS THE POTENTIAL ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO GO IN CLOSED SESSION? HAVE A MOTION.

WE HAVE A SECOND.

SECOND.

HAVE A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.