Jan 10, 2023 Board of Aldermen

THREE, WE'VE GOT A, A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SOME HOUSEKEEPING ISSUES.

UH, BOARD, BEFORE WE MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER

[3. Approve Agenda.]

I'D LIKE TO WELCOME.

WE HAVE A BOY SCOUT TROOP WITH US TONIGHT.

UH, YOU BOYS WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND TELL US WHAT TROOP NUMBER YOU'RE WITH AND WHAT GROUP AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU TONIGHT.

UH, HELLO.

I ROLL FOUR.

I'M JACOB.

THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

ANYTIME, UH, MR. HUGHES, I THINK YOU HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT OR TWO TO ME.

I'VE GOT A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU.

UH, A AS YOU, AS YOU MAY BE AWARE, CITY THREE TV BROADCAST, THE, UH, A LOT OF, UH, PROGRAMS, MAINLY THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN MEETING.

THAT'S THAT.

YOU CAN WATCH THAT ON THE WEBSITE.

YOU CAN WATCH IT ON SUDDENLINK CABLE CHANNEL, UH, 3.1 OR 3.3 AND YOU CAN WATCH IT ON FACEBOOK.

WELL, I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE TONIGHT AS WE SPEAK, UH, THIS IS NOW AVAILABLE ON ROKU AND SO LATER THIS EVENING WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF HOW TO DOWNLOAD THAT CHANNEL.

BUT ON ROKU, YOU CAN GO TO CITY OF NEW SEAR, CITY OF NEWBURN.

YOU CAN DOWNLOAD OUR CHANNEL.

YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE ALL OF THE PREVIOUS BOARD MEETINGS, AND YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO SEE THIS ONE LIVE.

SO IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO IS WATCHING NOW, WOULD LIKE TO TRY IT ON IT ON THE ROKU PLATFORM, PLEASE DO, DO SO.

AND WE ARE LIVE NOW, CORRECT, COLLEEN? OKAY, GREAT.

ALSO, I AM EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE A NEW DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND SHE IS HERE THIS EVENING.

SO, UH, I WANT TO INTRODUCE HER.

SO COME ON UP.

JESSICA RU IS OUR NEW DIRECTOR.

SHE COMES TO US FROM ENSLOW COUNTY WHERE SHE SERVED AS DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.

SHE PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND ZONING FOR THE TOWN OF ATLANTIC BEACH.

SHE HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN COMMUNICATION AND POLITICAL SCIENCE AND A MASTER'S DEGREE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND PLANNING FROM ECU, AND SHE'S ALSO A CERTIFIED ZONING OFFICIAL.

JESSICA .

HI.

THANK YOU FOR THAT INTRODUCTION.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND BOARD.

I AM JESSE RU.

I JUST STARTED LAST WEEK.

I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE.

I TRULY BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

UM, I AM A GRADUATE OF LEADING EDGE AT THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON, WHICH TEACHES YOU TO IMPLEMENT, UH, THE H P O MODEL OF A HIGH PERFORMING ORGANIZATION.

AND WE'VE ALREADY STARTED DOING SOME OF THOSE THINGS JUST IN THE LAST WEEK.

I CAN'T WAIT TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU AND MEET YOU ALL AND GET TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN DOING TO IMPROVE THE CITY, UM, PHYSICALLY AND STRATEGICALLY.

AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ABOARD.

THANK, GLAD TO HAVE YOU.

WELCOME BOARD.

AND I'VE GOT ONE MORE ITEM.

[00:05:01]

IT'S A CLARIFICATION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

UH, ONE OF THE ITEMS IS A RESOLUTION TO CLOSE SPECIFIC STREETS FOR VISION FORWARD'S BLACK HISTORY MONTH PARADE.

THE APPLICANT HAS REQUESTED A CHANGE TO THAT PARADE ROUTE.

THE ROUTE IS CHANGED FROM STARTING ON TRENT ROAD TO STARTING ON THIRD AVENUE AND, AND WINDING BACK TOWARDS STANLEY WHITE RECREATION CENTER.

UM, SO THAT WILL BE COMING OFF TO BROAD STREET AND CONTINUING ON THE REST OF THE PARADE ROUTE.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ON THAT.

BOARD.

SO MAKE NOTE OF THAT WHENEVER WE GET TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AND YOU SHOULD HAVE THAT INFORMATION UP THERE THAT YOU'RE RECEIVED AS WELL.

ALRIGHT, MOVING RIGHT ALONG TO ITEM NUMBER THREE.

IF I COULD GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

SO MOVED.

HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND IN DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

NUMBER FOUR, REQUEST AND PETITION OF CITIZENS.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM

[4. Request and Petition of Citizens.]

THE FIRST ONE WE HAVE TONIGHT IS JIM FISHER OF 1004 BEACON HILL ROAD.

MR. FISHER, IF YOU JUST COME TO THE, UH, FRONT MIC AND WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

GOOD EVENING.

EVENING.

I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE WE FOUND OUT YESTERDAY THAT THE APARTMENT COMPLEX NEAR OUR COMMUNITY, UH, IS REQUESTING AN EXTENSION OF THE, UH, NOISE ORDINANCE FROM SEVEN O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING TO NINE O'CLOCK AT NIGHT TO, WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG, BUT 24 HOURS A DAY.

BUT AFTER TALKING TO MR. BRINSON A LITTLE WHILE AGO, UH, WE FOUND OUT THEY'RE LOOKING TO DO THIS STRICTLY CONCRETE POURING THREE OR FOUR TIMES STARTING AT THREE IN THE MORNING.

I LIVE, WE LIVE CLOSE ENOUGH THAT I CAN SEE THE EQUIPMENT FROM OUR FRONT PORCH.

EVERY OSHA VEHICLE, A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT HAS TO HAVE A BEEPER EVERY TIME.

ONE OF THOSE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT, CONCRETE TRUCKS, PUMPERS OR ANYTHING MOVES.

WE'RE GONNA BE LISTENING TO IT AT THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND I WOULD RATHER NOT HAVE THEM EXTENDED SO THAT THEY'RE UNLIMITED NOISE FOR FIVE MONTHS.

THAT WAS, THAT WAS MY .

THAT'S, THAT WAS OUR OBJECTION.

THAT'SS, WHY WE'RE HERE.

WE LIVE CLOSE ENOUGH THAT WE'RE GONNA HEAR IT.

SURE.

NEXT, UH, LEILA RUTH COOPER OF 10 22 COLTON WAY IN TRENT WOODS EVENING.

HELLO, MAYOR AND BOARD.

UH, I AM LEILA RUTH COOPER.

ONE YEAR AGO, MY HUSBAND AND DOG AND I MOVED HERE FROM CINCINNATI.

UH, WHILE WE LIVE IN TRENT WOODS, WE SPEND ALL OF OUR MONEY IN NEW BERN AT GROCERY STORES, DISCOUNT STORES, LOWE'S, THE Y, ET CETERA.

UM, WE LOVE NEW BERN AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO AND HAVE DONE, ESPECIALLY THE, UH, ELEVATOR THAT'S ON THE WAY.

THAT SOUNDS REALLY GOOD.

UM, WE'RE VERY GLAD WE CHOSE TO RETIRE HERE.

ONLY RECENTLY HAVE I GOTTEN INVOLVED MORE IN THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AND LEARNED ABOUT DUFFY FIELD AND HOW PRONE IT IS TO FLOODING AND HOW DISADVANTAGED IT HAS BEEN OVER MANY YEARS.

I'VE SEEN A VIDEO OF A BIG ALL DAY CLEANUP THAT WAS DONE IN DUFFY FIELD A FEW YEARS AGO.

THEN THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, WHO WAS MATT, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S MON TANYA MONTAINE.

MONTAINE.

WOULD PLEASE, UH, HAVE THIS MAJOR CLEANUP AND PUBLICIZE IT WIDELY SO EVERYONE WHO MIGHT WANT TO HELP WILL KNOW ABOUT IT AND JOIN IN.

UM, AND AT THE TIME HE SAID THE CLEANUP WAS GOING TO BE A MONTHLY AFFAIR.

MAYBE HE WAS KIND OF WISHFUL THINKING.

BUT, UM, I'VE DRIVEN TO AND WALKED AROUND DUFFY FIELD A FEW TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH.

AND IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANY MAJOR CLEANUP HAS BEEN DONE RECENTLY.

I'VE CLEAN TRASH DEBRIS AND LEAVES FROM A DITCH ON BLOOMFIELD STREET AND A SWALE ON K STREET.

I HAD TO LOOK UP SWALE.

IT'S A SHALLOW SLOPING DITCH THAT COLLECTS RAINWATER FROM NEARBY STREETS, PARKING LOTS AND OTHER CONCRETE SURFACES.

UH, SWES PREVENT ROADS FROM FLOODING, UH, MANY ROADS IN TRENT WOODS AND STREETS NEAR IT, LIKE TRENT ROADS HAVE SWALES.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER LOOKED ALONG THE SIDES OF THE ROAD AND SEEN THESE SORT OF SHALLOW DEPRESSIONS.

UM, K STREET IS THE ONLY SWALE I'VE SEEN IN DUFFY FIELD.

THERE MIGHT BE OTHERS.

UM, BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, THE DUFFY FIELD PHOENIX PROJECT, AND CHURCH GROUPS AND OTHERS, AND MYSELF AND OTHER, YOU KNOW, CITIZENS TO JOIN IN A MAJOR CLEANUP OF DUFFY FIELD THIS SPRING.

UH, I HOPE ONE MIGHT ALREADY BE IN THE WORKS.

I KNOW COVID HAS MADE IT HARDER FOR FOLKS TO GET TOGETHER, BUT THIS WOULD BE AN OUTDOOR EVENT AND FAIRLY SAFE PEOPLE COULD WEAR A MASK AND KEEP THEIR DISTANCE.

UM, I WOULD JUST REALLY HOPE THAT YOU

[00:10:01]

BECAUSE I THINK TO MAKE NEWBURN BETTER, WE NEED TO MAKE THE AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN KIND OF NEGLECTED, LIKE DUFFY FIELD BETTER.

AND I THINK A BIG CLEANUP WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO START.

SO, OKAY.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

OR MACKENZIE? YES, MA'AM.

I HAVE SOMETHING THAT I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT THE PHOENIX GROUP AND THE CITY JUST NOW, NOT TOO LONG AGO, MAYBE LAST MONTH, WENT INTO THE AREA TO CLEAN IT UP.

SO THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH ON POINT WITH THE ACTIVITIES THAT'S GOING ON TO GET THINGS PRETTY MUCH ACCOMPLISHED.

UM, I'M GONNA HAVE THE MANAGER TO GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN CONTACT THE VARIOUS, THEIR ORGANIZATION TO SHARE WITH YOU THE NEXT TIME THAT THEY WILL GO IN TO DO SOMETHING.

I, UM, I, I DID SEE, I BELIEVE THAT THEY DID A, A CLEANUP AROUND THE FIRST WEEKEND IN DECEMBER.

SOMETIME IN THAT, SOMETIME IN, I GUESS THE, THE VIDEO THAT I SAW BACK IN, I THINK IT WAS 2017 OR 2018, I MEAN, 30 PEOPLE FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WERE OUT THERE WITH BIG TRUCKS.

I MEAN, CUTTING TREE LIMBS AND BRUSH AND EVERYTHING.

SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE SMALL GROUP CAN'T DO.

BUT, UH, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING WE COULD DO AGAIN, GET A REALLY BIG I SEE YOU HAVE A GRAND IDEA.

SO HOPEFULLY WHEN THE MANAGER CONTACTS YOU, YOU'LL ALL CAN GET TOGETHER AND PUT THAT TO WORK.

UH, I BECAME INTERESTED IN A PIECE OF PROPERTY, PIECE OF PROPERTY, UM, NEARBY MY HOME AND MY BUSINESS ABOUT FIVE MONTHS AGO AND STARTED A PROCESS, UM, TO ACQUIRE THAT LAND THAT INVOLVED, UM, A LOT OF RESEARCH, FINDING OUT IF ANYBODY WAS IN, WELL, WHO OWNED THE PROPERTY, UM, IF IT WAS AVAILABLE, IF ANYONE WAS INTERESTED.

I LEARNED THAT, THAT THE RE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION WAS INTERESTED IN, UH, STARTING AN AUCTION PROCESS.

SO I DID, I TOOK ALL THE STEPS, UM, IN, IN THE ORDER.

YOU KNOW, I TOOK THE STEPS IN THE, IN, UM, I MADE MY PRESENTATION AT, AT A MEETING.

I THOUGHT THE MEETING WENT GREAT.

UM, A FEW, A FEW, UM, BOARD MEMBERS ASKED ME A FEW QUESTIONS, BUT IT, IT SEEMED LIKE THE MEETING WAS GREAT.

UM, WENT TO THE NEXT MEETING AND, UM, WAS MY, UH, OFFER WAS COMPLETELY REJECTED.

I THOUGHT THAT THE WORST THING THAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN WAS THAT I WOULD BE, UM, THAT IT WOULD GO INTO THE BIDDING PROCESS AND I MIGHT GET OUT BID.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT I COULD JUST, I WAS JUST GONNA BE TURNED AWAY.

UM, SO NOW, UM, ANOTHER MONTH WENT BY AND I DIDN'T HEAR FROM ANYONE.

I PUT IN ANOTHER BID ON THE SAME PIECE OF PROPERTY.

I STILL HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ANYONE ON THAT.

AND, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT, KNOW IF WHOEVER IS GETTING THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY, IF THEY'RE, IF THEY HAD TO GO THROUGH THE STEPS, THE SAME STEPS THAT I HAD TO, AND THE SAME PROCESS.

AND IF IT IS GONNA GO TO BID, LIKE IT, LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO BED, AND WILL I BE ABLE TO BID ON THAT PROPERTY? IF, IS THAT, IS THERE, IS THAT PROCESS GOING TO START? I JUST NEED, I'M JUST LOOKING FOR SOME INFORMATION ON THAT.

I'D LIKE TO START THAT PROCESS AGAIN.

SURE.

UH, I WILL, I'LL GET WITH STAFF TOMORROW TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHICH PIECE OF PARCEL YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS TIME, AND WE'LL FIND OUT, MAKE SURE WHO OWNS THAT.

CAUSE SOME OF 'EM ARE OWNED BY REDEVELOPMENT, SOME ARE OWNED BY THE CITY, SOME ARE OWNED BY CITY AND COUNTY.

SO ONCE I GET THOSE SPECIFICS, THEN, UM, WE'LL CERTAINLY FOLLOW UP WITH YOU IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO.

THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.

ARE THERE ANY MORE? NO, SIR.

ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA BOARD.

MOVE

[Consent Agenda]

HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NO.

IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH SOME CORRECTIONS TO, UM, ITEM NUMBER SIX.

THE BLACK HISTORY PARADE WILL NOT START ON TRENT ROAD, BUT WILL START ON THIRD AVENUE GOING DOWN BROAD.

YOU HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

GOT SEVERAL SECONDS.

SO I'LL LET THE CLERK PICK WHICHEVER ONE SHE WANTS TO USE.

USE ANY MORE DISCUSSION.

HEARING NONE.

IF WE COULD HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN PRI.

ALDERMAN PRI YES.

ALDERMAN ROYAL.

[00:15:01]

MOVING RUN ALONG TO ITEM NUMBER NINE.

ALDERMAN ESTHER? YES.

[9. Conduct a Public Hearing on the Rezoning of 910 and 914 Bloomfield Street; and a) Consider Adopting a Statement of Zoning Consistency or Inconsistency; and b) Consider Adopting an Ordinance to Rezone 910 and 914 Bloomfield Street from R-6 Residential to C-4 Neighborhood Business District.]

WE WILL CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE REZONING OF NINE 10 AND NINE 14 BLOOMFIELD STREET.

AND I ASSUME THAT WE PROBABLY HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM STAFF.

I'D LIKE TO ASK SETH LOUGHLIN TO COME UP AND MAKE THAT PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU, OFFICER.

UH, GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, BOARD OF ALDERMAN.

THIS IS GONNA GET THE CLICKER GOING HERE.

WE'VE GOT A REZONING REQUEST SUBMITTED BY THE, UM, REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION FOR NINE 10 AND NINE 14 BLOOM SHIELD.

THE EXISTING ZONING IS R SIX AND THEY HAVE REQUESTED C4 NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL.

THE TWO PROPERTIES TOGETHER, UM, EQUAL ALMOST A QUARTER OF AN ACRE OR JUST OVER A QUARTER OF AN ACRE.

AND THESE LOTS ARE, UM, 53 AND 54 OF THE ORIGINAL PAVY TOWN RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION.

AND BOTH OF THESE LOTS ARE CURRENTLY VACANT.

NOW THE SUBJECT LODGE ARE LOCATED BEHIND THE EXISTING WELLNESS CENTER, WHICH IS LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF BLOOMFIELD AND MAIN STREET.

THERE'S NINE 14 BLOOMFIELD AND NINE 10 BLOOMFIELD.

SO YOU CAN SEE THE SUBJECT PROPERTIES, UM, IN THE BLUE SHADED AREA.

AGAIN, THEY'RE EXISTING ZONING IS R SIX AND THEY'RE SURROUNDED TO THE EAST, WEST, AND NORTH BY MORE.

R SIX TO THE SOUTH IS THE REQUESTED C4.

WE'VE GOT A DISTRICT THERE ON BOTH SIDES OF MAIN STREET RUNNING EAST AND WEST.

AND AGAIN, C4 IS ONE OF OUR BUSINESS DISTRICTS.

WE'VE GOT A COMPREHENSIVE LIST HERE OF THE USES ALLOWED IN R SIX AND THEN, UM, WHAT THE PROPOSED C4 WOULD ALLOW.

LET'S GIVE Y'ALL A SECOND TO LOOK THROUGH ALL OF THOSE.

DISCUSS THIS A LITTLE BIT.

PLEASE.

SIR, CAN YOU SPEAK UP JUST A LITTLE BIT, PLEASE? OH GOSH.

I'M TRYING TO, I'M TRYING TO PROJECT THIS TIME.

, UM, UTILITIES PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF NEWBURN.

UH, THE LAND USE TO UPDATE, UH, REFERS TO THE AREA AS DEVELOPED.

UM, IT RECOMMENDS THAT THE SUBJECT PROPERTIES HAVE A HIGH SUITABILITY FOR DEVELOPMENT AND THERE'S NO KNOWN ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS ON THESE TWO PROPERTIES.

UM, AND THE, THEY ARE NOT LOCATED IN THE 100 YEAR FLOOD PLANE, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.

SO IN, UM, LOOKING AT THE CHARACTER OF THE ADJACENT LAND USES AND THE, UH, ADJACENT ZONING DISTRICT'S, UH, STAFF HAS GOT NO OBJECTION TO THE REQUESTED CHANGE.

I'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.

SO I HAVE A QUESTION.

WHAT IS THE CONDITION OF THAT HOUSE THERE? SO, I THINK IT, UH, WE'VE GOT MEMBERS OF THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION HERE.

THEY COULD PROBABLY ANSWER THAT BETTER THAN ME.

I THINK THAT IT'S, UM, BEEN VACANT FOR A LONG TIME, BUT I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHAT KIND OF CONDITION IT IS ON THE INSIDE.

SETH, WAS THIS, UM, HOW WAS THIS APPROVED BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD? IT WAS, UM, IT WAS UNANIMOUS VOTE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL BY THE PLANNING ANDELL BOARD.

BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I'D LIKE ME, OH, WE GOTTA DO A PUBLIC HEARING FIRST.

SO IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING.

ANYONE HAS ANYTHING TO SAY FOR OR AGAINST THIS REZONING? PLEASE STEP TO THE MIC.

YOUR, LIKE, MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

SECOND, HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING IN A DISCUSSION.

HEARING NONE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING, SAY AYE.

TO C4 NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DISTRICT.

ANY OPPOSED? PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.

IT'S PLEASURE OF THE BOARD.

ON ITEM NUMBER NINE, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, ADOPT A STATEMENT OF ZONING CONSISTENCY OF NINE 10 AND NINE 14 BLOOMFIELD STREET.

SECOND, HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT A STATEMENT OF ZONING CONSISTENCY.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

LET HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ROYAL.

NOW WE NEED TO, UM, CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE MAY.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE NINE 10 AND NINE 14 BLOOMFIELD STREET FROM R SIX RESIDENTIAL

[00:20:01]

I HAVE A MOTION.

AND SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ASTOR.

ITEM NUMBER NINE CARRIES.

MOVING ON TO

[10. Presentation by Redevelopment Commission on Proposed Housing Project.]

ITEM NUMBER 10.

WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ON A PROPOSED HOUSING PROJECT.

MAYOR, AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK BETH WALKER WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO COME UP AND MAKE PRESENTATION.

AND IT MAY BE SEVERAL OF THEM.

UH, KIP EXCUSE ME.

JUST A MINUTE.

UM, MR. MAYOR, BEFORE THEY START THE PRESENTATION, AND I THINK I'D LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT, UM, BACK IN SEPTEMBER, I STARTED THINKING ABOUT SOME, UM, WAYS OF USING THE, UM, A R P MONEY.

AND KNOWING THAT HOUSING IS IN CRITICAL NEED, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS IN A CRITICAL NEED IN NEWBURN, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT MY IDEA OF BUILDING SOME HOMES WITH MY A R P MONEY OR WITH THE A R P MONEY, UM, AT THAT POINT.

AND, UM, WE SCHEDULED A MEETING WITH CITY STAFF AND WITH SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.

AND THAT MEETING WAS HELD ON OCTOBER THE 25TH.

I LAID OUT MY IDEA TO THE, UM, THE COMMITTEE, AND WE AGREED TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND MEET BACK ON NOVEMBER THE 11TH TO DISCUSS IT FURTHER.

AT THAT TIME, A PIECE OF PROPERTY WAS IDENTIFIED TO ME BY THE DE DIRECTOR OF THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, UM, FOR, UM, JONES STREET AND WALT BELLAMY CORNER LOT.

UH, I, THEY HAD SOME MAPS.

I LOOKED AT THE MAPS.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE FOR THIS PROJECT.

AND I PROCEEDED TO PURSUE, DO IT, GETTING THE JONES STREET PROPERTY FOR THIS PROJECT.

UH, KIPP HAS BEEN, AND BETH BOTH HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL HELPING ME WITH THIS, UH, THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.

UM, GOT ON BOARD WITH THE PROJECT AND BETH IS GONNA SHOW YOU A FEW MINUTES, WHAT'S THE PROJECT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE.

SO I WON'T SPILL THOSE BEANS.

BUT, UM, THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO DO WITH SOME OF THE A R P MONEY.

UH, I THINK IT'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS SOMETHING THAT'S DESPERATELY NEEDED.

THIS HOUSING WOULD BE BUILT, TURNED OVER TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, AND THEY WILL COLLECT THE PROCEEDS OFF OF THE RENT FROM THE HOUSE AND USE THE PROCEEDS TO REDEVELOP AND REMODEL ADDITIONAL HOMES IN THEIR DISTRICT.

JUST WANTED TO GIVE EVERYBODY, I THINK I COMMUNICATED WITH EVERYBODY ON THE BOARD ABOUT THIS.

I KNOW I MADE A PHONE CALL THE DAY AFTER THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO EVERYONE.

I, I TRIED CALLING HAZEL AND I COULDN'T GET AN ANSWER.

AND, UM, I, I JUST, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT IT WAS TIME THAT WE GET THIS PROJECT ROLLING.

SO, KIT, THAT BEING SAID, YOU AND BETH TAKE IT OVER.

WITH A VACANT PIECE OF PROPERTY ON THAT CORNER, AND WE BEGAN WITH OUR HOUSING WORK GROUP TO TINKER WITH PLANS, LAND PLANS, SO TO SPEAK, TO PUT HOUSING ON THAT CORNER LOT TO MEET PART OF OUR GOALS, ONE OF OUR MAJOR GOALS, WHICH IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND APPEARANCE OF HOUSING IN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA.

UH, LIKE BOBBY, I JUST WAS, WANTED TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY, UH, WITH YOU.

THE RE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, UH, BOUGHT THE PIECE OF PROPERTY, UH, THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHICH IS 2 0 3 AND 2 0 7 ON JONES STREET.

UH, IN JULY OF 2021, UH, WE PAID $38,000 FOR THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY.

AND AT THAT TIME, IT HAD ONE, TWO STORY STRUCTURE ON THE CORNER LOT.

UH, WE EVALUATED THE EXISTING STRUCTURE TO SEE IF IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS WORTHWHILE TO REHABILITATE AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS SUCH SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL ISSUES WITH THAT PARTICULAR HOUSE.

IT WAS BUILT, UH, BEFORE THE TURN OF THE 19TH CENTURY IN BACK IN 18 SOMETHING.

AND, UH, HAD HAD SOME SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS THAT, THAT WE DIDN'T THINK THAT WE COULD EFFECTIVELY OR EFFICIENTLY COST-WISE DEAL WITH.

UH, AFTER THAT, UH, WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS OF GOING THROUGH A DEMOLITION PROCESS.

WE HAD THE HOUSE ENVIRONMENTALLY ASSESSED FOR ASBESTOS, AND THEN WE WENT THROUGH AND PAID FOR ASBESTOS ABATEMENT.

AND WE, UH, REMOVED THE HOUSE.

AT THAT TIME, WE WERE LEFT

[00:25:01]

AND THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO.

UH, PROBLEM WAS WE DIDN'T HAVE FUNDS TO PROCEED WITH IT AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME.

SO WE CONTINUED PLAYING WITH LAND PLANS AND SO FORTH LIKE THAT.

AND THEN IN OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR, AS MR. ASTRA HAS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, UH, HE CAME FORTH WITH THIS PROPOSAL TO FUND THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING ON THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY.

AND WE CONTINUED MEETING WITH ALDERMAN, ASER AND CITY STAFF TO REVIEW PLANS AND DEVELOP WHAT WE THINK IS, UH, THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE FOR THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY.

UM, AND THAT'S WHAT BETH IS GOING TO PRESENT, WHICH IS OUR VERSION OF WHAT WE THINK IS THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE OF THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY TO MEET THE NEEDS AND THE GOALS OF THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.

BEFORE SHE START, I HAVE SOMETHING THAT JUST HIT MY HEAD REAL HARD.

THIS YOUNG MAN JUST COME UP MM-HMM.

AND SAID WHAT HE WENT THROUGH.

DID MR. ASTRA GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS THAT HE WENT THROUGH? UH, MR. ASTRA, YES OR NO? DIDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS BECAUSE THE LAND IS OWNED BY THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND THERE IS NO SALE OF THE PROPERTY INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS.

SO WHAT THIS GUY JUST COME UP TO THE PODIUM AND JUST SPOKEN ABOUT MM-HMM.

THE ISSUE THAT HE WAS NEVER CONTACTED THAT, UH, HE WENT THROUGH DUE DILIGENCE, OKAY.

SO NOTHING EVER HAPPENED FOR HIM.

TO ME, THAT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT.

SOMEONE ASKED THE CITY ATTORNEY.

UH, COULD YOU RESPOND TO MY QUESTION, SIR? YES, SIR.

I'M AFRAID I DON'T KNOW ALL THE FACTS.

UM, IS THIS PROPERTY ON A SURPLUS, SURPLUS PROPERTY LIST THAT THE COMMISSION HAS FOR SALE? NO.

SO, UM, PUBLIC BODIES HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO SELL REAL ESTATE THAT THEY OWN.

, THE CITY HAS DEVELOPED A SURPLUS PROPERTY LIST.

SO YOU'VE DETERMINED WHAT IS NOT NECESSARY.

IT IS THEN SURPLUS.

IT GOES ON A LIST.

THE BOARD THEN SETS A POLICY FOR A MINIMUM BID THAT IT'S WILLING TO ENTERTAIN FOR THOSE.

AND AT ANY POINT THEREAFTER, A CITIZEN IS FREE TO MAKE A BID THAT MEETS THAT MINIMUM AMOUNT AND IT WILL MAKE THE AGENDA AND GET BEFORE YOU.

IF IT'S NOT ON THE SURPLUS LIST, THERE'S NO OBLIGATION FOR THAT BID TO EVER GET TO YOU.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF SOMEONE OFFERED TO BUY CITY HALL FOR A HUNDRED DOLLARS, THAT WOULD NOT BE ON YOUR AGENDA FOR YOU TO CONSIDER BECAUSE IT'S NOT BEEN DECLARED SURPLUS.

SO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION DOES NOT HAVE A SURPLUS PROPERTY LIST, THEREFORE THEY HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO EVER ENTERTAIN SELLING THEIR PROPERTY.

THEY CAN IF THEY WANT TO.

TO THE GUY THAT JUST CAME TO ANYONE.

SPOKE TO ANYONE.

I'M JUST TRYING.

YOU ARE FREE TO GO UNDERSTAND.

ANYONE IS FREE TO GO ASK MM-HMM.

, BUT THE COMMISSION OR ANY PUBLIC BODY THAT OWNS REAL PROPERTY IS NEVER OBLIGATED TO FOLLOW THROUGH.

I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING.

MEETING IS WHEN YOU GET THE ANSWER.

AND CAN I ADD TO THAT, UM, CITY ATTORNEY THAT PART OF OUR PLAN THAT SAYS, UM, WE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE THAT IS PUBLISHED THAT THE PROCESS IS TO, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN A PROPERTY, AND YOU'RE RIGHT, IT WAS NOT A SURPLUS PROPERTY THAT WAS ON THAT LIST.

YOU'RE INTERESTED IN A PROPERTY, BRING IT TO THE COMMISSION, DO A PRESENTATION, AND THEN THE FOLLOWING, THE HOUSING, UM, WORK GROUP, WHICH I'M PART OF, WE ARE CHARGED WITH TAKING THAT PROPOSAL, DISCUSSING IT WITH THE TERMS OF ALL THE WORK WE'VE DONE IN OTHER AREAS AND DOESN'T MEET OUR GOALS, DOESN'T MEET THAT.

AND THEN WE ARE CHARGED WITH BRINGING THAT BACK TO THE COMMISSION AT THE NEXT MEETING.

SO A FULL MONTH PASSES ON EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE THAT WE HEAR.

THAT IS OUR STANDARD PROCEDURE.

SO WHEN MR. FRY CAME TO OUR MEETING TO HEAR THE RESULTS, THE RESULTS WERE THAT WE DID NOT FEEL THAT THAT WAS THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE OF THIS PROPERTY.

AND THAT WE HAD ALREADY BEEN WORKING ON SOME THINGS WORKING AS, UH, MR. COMMISSIONER PERGO SAID THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE HIGHEST AND BEST ISSUES TRYING TO GET AS MANY, UM, QUALITY OPPORTUNITIES ON THIS LOT.

WE'VE HAD THAT PLAN WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON SINCE 2021.

SO WHEN HE CAME BACK TO THE NEXT MEETING IS WHEN HE GOT THE ANSWER.

AND THAT IS OUR STANDARD PROCEDURE THAT THE NEXT

[00:30:01]

AND IF HE'S BEEN TRYING TO GET WITH OTHER CITY OFFICIALS, I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY, THAT'S WHERE HE WAS, FELT LIKE HE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING.

NOW I WAS JUST LISTENING TO, UH, SATAN, HE MADE JUSTN.

SO HE WAS TRYING TO PURCHASE SOME PROPERTY AND HE WASN'T, UH MM-HMM.

PROPERLY RESPONDED BACK TO.

SO I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND SO THIS, THIS PLAN THAT WE HAVE WOULD KEEP THE PROPERTY IN UNDER THE OWNERSHIP OF THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.

AND WE HAVE TAKEN WHAT WAS TWO LOTS AND RE DESIGNATED THE LAND PLAN FOR THREE LOTS.

AS YOU CAN SEE, IT IS ON THE CORNER OF WALT BELLAMY AND JONES STREET AND WOULD HAVE A ACCESS FROM JONES STREET THAT WOULD COME BEHIND EACH OF THE HOUSING, UM, UNITS.

WE HAVE TWO ONE BEDROOM UNITS AND TWO TWO BEDROOM UNITS THAT ARE SHOWN HERE IS KIND OF THE DUPLEX SITUATION.

SO THERE IS ZERO LOT LINE, UM, CONNECTED AS A DUPLEX.

SO THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY ON THIS LOT ON THIS PROPERTY NOW TO BE THREE LOTS WITH, UM, HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOUR INDIVIDUAL UNITS.

AND SO THAT YOU GUYS WOULD BE THE ONE THAT WOULD BE RENTING NOW THE PROPERTY? CORRECT.

WE WOULD NOT, WE ARE NOT, UH, COMMISSIONED THAT WOULD BE RENTING, BUT WE WOULD DEFINITELY HIRE A MANAGEMENT COMPANY TO DO THAT.

SO THAT WOULD BE ADDED TO THE TAX RULES, CORRECT? YES, I THINK SO.

IT, IT WOULDN'T BE IF IT'S STAYING IN THEIR POSSESSION, SO IF IT STAYS IN THEIR POSSESSION.

SO IT'D BE A LOT THAT WOULDN'T BRING IN TAXES, BUT IF THIS GUY HERE WOULD BE ABLE TO PURCHASE IT, IT WOULD BE, UH, A LOT THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE TAXES FROM IT.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT, THAT WOULD BE CORRECT.

ALDERMAN MCKENZIE, I THINK WHAT I, AND I MET WITH MR. FRY, I GUESS IT WAS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

UM, MYSELF AND A COUPLE OF ALDERMAN MET WITH HIM.

HE WANTED TO EXPRESS HIS CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROCESS.

UH, WE, WE LISTENED TO HIM.

UM, THEN I FOLLOWED UP WITH THE MEETING WITH A COUPLE OF ALDERMAN WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND EXPRESSED THE CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THE WHOLE THING WENT DOWN, ESSENTIALLY.

AND I THINK THERE WAS SOME LEARNINGS THAT EVERYONE TOOK AWAY FROM THAT, THAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNICATION.

UM, THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION NEEDS TO CREATE THIS SURPLUS PROPERTY LIST IF THEY DO INTEND ON OFFERING PROPERTY FOR SALE.

UH, RIGHT NOW, UH, I I SAY IT STILL IS AN INFANCY, ALTHOUGH IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A FEW YEARS.

UM, THEY'RE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY HOW THEY WANT TO GO TO MARKET, IF YOU WILL.

AND I KNOW THAT, UH, I'VE, I'VE WATCHED A COUPLE OF THE MEETINGS WHERE FOLKS HAVE COME AND MADE OFFERS TO PURCHASE PROPERTY AND IT JUST DIDN'T, IT WASN'T A GOOD FIT AND THEY DID NOT SELL TO THEM.

SO IT'S NOT UNPRECEDENTED BY ANY MEANS, UH, THAT THEY DID NOT ACCEPT SOMEONE'S BID.

I THINK THE, I'M NOT GONNA SPEAK FOR MR. FRY AND, UH, IT'S NOT, NOT THE TIME FOR HIM TO COME BACK UP HERE, BUT, UM, I THINK HE WAS, HE FELT LIKE HE WAS SORT OF LED ON, UH, AT THE FIRST MEETING AND THEN THE SECOND MEETING HE WAS SORT OF, UH, DUMPED ON HIM THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE WORKS THAT HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE.

SO AGAIN, I THINK IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON FROM THAT DISCUSSION.

I, I'M GONNA FOLLOW UP WITH MR. FRA ON THE SECOND PIECE OF PROPERTY HE HAS SOME INTEREST IN, AND WE'LL MOVE ON FROM THERE.

UH, BUT AT THIS POINT, I THINK THIS IS THE PRESENTATION THAT'S IN FRONT OF US NOW FOR US TO CONSIDER, UH, WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.

JOHNNY RAY, YOU GUYS CAN REMEMBER ALSO THE, THE, THE HOUSING, UH, THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION IS GONNA COLLECT RENT, WHICH THE MONTHLY RENT ON THESE FOUR UNITS WILL PROBABLY EXCEED ANY TAXES THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE GENERATED OFF OF A SINGLE HOUSE AS WELL.

SO, AND THEN THEY CAN TAKE THIS MONEY AND THEY CAN REMODEL OTHER HOUSES AND MAKE OTHER HOUSES IN THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONS AREA AND, AND, AND MAKE 'EM, YOU KNOW, SO SOMEBODY CAN MOVE IN.

POINT IS WELL TAKEN.

IT'S JUST THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD IT.

NO, IT'S NOT.

AND I CALLED YOU AND TALKED TO YOU ABOUT IT.

WELL, I DON'T REMEMBER THAT RIGHT OFF HAND.

SO EXPRESS, THAT'S CONVENIENT BECAUSE I CALLED YOU THE DAY AFTERWARDS.

WELL, THAT'S NEITHER HERE OR THERE RIGHT NOW.

I THINK THAT IT IS.

I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S BEFORE ME.

I DON'T NEED TO HAVE A DOG AND PONY SHOW WITH NO ONE.

I'M TRYING TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING, THAT'S ALL.

SO WE CAN MOVE ON.

FROM 'EM? SCOTT, THE QUESTION WAS, SINCE IT'S GONNA BE REVENUE INCOME PRODUCING KIND OF LIKE A PARSONAGES FOR CHURCH, IT'S THE NON-EXEMPT, BUT AS SOON AS THEY START RENTING IT OUT, IT PRODUCES TAX.

WELL, BEFORE WE MOVE ON, UM, MAYOR ODOM, UM, THAT WAS A QUESTION THAT I ASKED IN THAT MEETING ABOUT THE TAXES.

AND I, THE, UH, ATTORNEY WAS SUPPOSED TO GET BACK, UM, WITH US ON THAT QUESTION.

I ASKED ABOUT THE TAXES.

I JUST WANTED TO KNOW FOR MY, UM, POINT WAS, WAS WERE THESE PROPERTIES GONNA GENERATE ANY TAX REVENUE

[00:35:01]

SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE THE QUESTION CAME FROM.

I, I HAVE TO GET TO THAT.

I, I DON'T KNOW.

MY GUT IS, UM, BECAUSE THIS WILL BE FOR LOADED MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES THAT IT, IT MAY BE CONSISTENT WITH THEIR PURPOSE AND THEREFORE NOT TAXED.

IT'S NOT FOR PROFIT IN THAT SENSE.

BUT, BUT I'LL, I'LL CIRCLE BACK WITH AN EMAIL.

WELL THIS, I, I WAS JUST PRESENTING SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE HAVE ALREADY DONE TO TRY TO MAXIMIZE THE USE OF THIS PROPERTY, WHICH WAS OUR GOAL.

UM, WE GOT EXCITED WHEN WE FOUND THERE MAY BE FUNDING TO HELP US ACHIEVE THAT GOAL.

SO WE LOOKED AT HOW WE COULD MAXIMIZE THAT.

WE CAME UP WITH A TWO ONE BEDROOM PLAN.

IF YOU'LL GO TO THE NEXT ONE, HELENA, THIS IS AN OPTION I WANT TO EMPHASIZE.

THESE ARE NOT, UM, FINALIZED PLANS, BUT THEY ARE FEASIBILITY STUDIES TO SEE WHAT IS REALISTIC, WHAT WOULD FIT ON THE LOT FIT WITHIN THE, UM, SETBACKS ON THE PROPERTY.

UH, PROVIDE A NICE, UH, ONE BEDROOM LIVING UNIT, UH, WASHER DRYER, KITCHEN, UM, BEDROOM, BATHROOM IN A LIVING ROOM, AND A FRONT PORCH.

AND WE, THIS IS KIND OF AN IMAGE THAT KIND OF CREATES THE FEEL THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR THERE.

THE OTHER OPTION IS A TWO BEDROOM UNIT, AND THIS IS THE ONE WE HAVE SHOWN RIGHT NOW AS A DUPLEX.

UM, TO MAXIMIZE THE SPACE, EACH ONE WOULD HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL PORCH.

UM, THERE'S A TWO BEDROOMS, BATHROOM, KITCHEN, LIVING ROOM, DINING ROOM, WASHER, DRYER.

UM, SO THEY ARE NICE LITTLE HOUSES.

AND, UM, AS COMMISSIONER OI SAID, WE, WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN CHARGED WITH SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO IMPROVE THE QUANTITY, THE QUALITY AND APPEARANCE OF HOUSING STOCK WITHIN OUR REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AREA.

IT'S THE AREA WE HAVE TO WORK WITH.

SO THAT'S REALLY THE EXTENT OF, UM, THE PLANS IS JUST SHOWING YOU THE FEASIBILITY OF HOW WE CAN MAXIMIZE THAT PROPERTY AND, AND KEEP IT WITH, UM, HAVE FOUR UNITS THERE.

BETH, IF YOU WOULD, WOULD YOU GO BACK TO THE FIRST LINE? SURE.

UM, THERE YOU GO.

I, I'M JUST, I'M LOOKING HERE AT WHAT APPEARS TO BE, IS THAT FOUR PARKING SPACES OR FIVE PARKING SPACES, IS THERE, WOULD THERE BE ON STREET PARKING OR IT IS FOUR PARKING SPACES, ONE PER HOUSING UNIT AND ON STREET PARKING FOR VISITORS ADDITIONAL, UM, VEHICLES? YES.

AND THESE CAN CERTAINLY BE TWEAKED.

THIS IS JUST SOMETHING TO GIVE THE BOARD AN IDEA OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

UM, I ALREADY SEE SOME FEW THINGS.

IT, IT WAS ACTUALLY MY PLAN AND, WELL, NOT MY PLAN, BUT MY GOAL WAS TO MAKE IT A COMMUNITY FEEL.

AND THAT'S WHAT I ASKED THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION WHEN, AND BETH, WHEN THEY STARTED DEVELOPING THIS LOT TO, TO MAKE IT HAVE THAT COMMUNITY FEEL.

I DIDN'T WANT ONE HOUSE SITTING ON ONE LOT AND ONE HOUSE SITTING ON ANOTHER LOT.

AND I, I WANTED IT TO BE LIKE A COMMUNITY SO NEIGHBORS CAN LOOK OUT FOR NEIGHBORS AND BECOME NEIGHBORS .

SO, UM, YEAH, I WANTED SOME AREAS WHERE OUT FRONT WHERE THE GRASS, WHERE THEY HAD GRASS, WHERE WE COULD PUT SOME PICNIC TABLES.

I MADE SURE I TOLD BETH AND KIP BOTH THAT, UM, I WANTED A FRONT PORCH SO PEOPLE COULD SIT OUT IN THE EVENINGS.

UH, I THINK THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB IN THIS LITTLE DEVELOPMENT.

AND, UH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP.

I WOULD ASSUME A R P ALLOCATION WOULD NEED TO BE VOTED ON BY THE BOARD TO PUT YOUR FUNDING OR YOUR ALLOCATED FUNDS TOWARD THE PROJECT.

AND THEN OF COURSE, JUST IS THERE ANY COMPLIANCE ISSUES, JUST MAKING SURE THIS CAN ACTUALLY BE, BE BUILT AS ENVISIONED, AND IF NOT, WHAT DO WE NEED TO, TO DO TO AMEND THE CODE TO ALLOW SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO TAKE PLACE? WHERE ARE WE WITH THAT, KIP? I MEAN, DO WE HAVE TO HAVE, UH, IN CHECKING WITH THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES STAFF? THAT'S THE REASON WE DEVELOPED THREE LOTS THERE, BECAUSE THIS ALLOWS US TO DO THAT RATHER THAN TRYING TO MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN WITHIN A ONE LOT CONFIGURATION.

SO EACH, EACH OF THOSE LOTS HAS A SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED HOUSE ON AND A DUPLEX, WHICH IS ALSO ALLOWED IN AN R SIX ZONE IS ON THE THIRD LOT.

SO THIS IS ALL SET UP AND READY TO GO AS IT IS PROPOSED RIGHT NOW.

SO THE NO PLANNING AND ZONING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT HAS TO BE DEALT WITH? NOT THAT I'M AWARE

[00:40:01]

OF.

I THINK, SETH, I'M NOT WRONG, BUT IT'S ALL IN COMPLIANCE WITH, AND THESE, BY THE WAY, BOARD MEMBERS, THEY, THESE EX AT FIRST, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ALL THESE TINY HOMES, THESE EXCEED TINY HOMES.

THESE ARE SMALL HOUSES.

EXACTLY.

YOU KNOW, THESE ARE IN THE 700 SQUARE FOOT RANGE.

SO, UM, AND I'M NOT SURE YET HOW MUCH THE, WE COULD EXPECT RENT FROM 'EM, BUT I, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEONE THAT WOULD BE TO EVENTUALLY BUY THEIR OWN HOME TO MOVE IN, SAVE FUNDS, AND EVENTUALLY BUY A HOUSE.

THAT, THAT IS, UH, ABSOLUTELY ANOTHER ADVANTAGE OF HAVING THEM ON INDIVIDUAL WALKS VERSUS IN A COMPOUND APPROACH ON ONE LOT.

TO ANSWER Y'ALL'S QUESTION REAL QUICK, THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA IS AN OVERLAY THAT HAS ITS OWN SPECIFIC STANDARDS WITH THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE IS 1500 SQUARE FEET.

SO I FEEL SURE THAT WE CAN GET THREE, IF NOT FOUR, ON THOSE TWO LOTS.

UM, COMBINED, UH, UP TO FOUR LOTS UNDER FIVE ACRES IS A MINOR SUBDIVISION, SO IT'D BE REVIEWED, UH, BY THE PLAINTIFF, BY OUR DEPARTMENT.

IT WOULD NOT BE, UH, REQUIRE PLAINTIFF BOARD APPROVAL.

SO THIS IS ALSO, UM, KIP AND I AND, AND, UH, HAVE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME GENERAL CONTRACTORS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS TO PRO PROBABLY BE A, UM, A PARTNERSHIP WITH SOME OF THE, UM, LOCAL, UH, VENDORS LIKE LOWE'S AND GARRIS EVANS AND PLACES LIKE THAT, THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT A SIGN UP OUT FRONT AND WE'RE GOING TO PUT THE PARTNERS LOGOS ON THE SIGN.

AND, UH, WE WE'RE HOPING THAT WE CAN START CONSTRUCTION RIGHT AWAY AND HAVE SOME FOUR NEW HOMES FOR SOMEONE TO LIVE IN IF WE START RIGHT AWAY, HOPEFULLY BY THE SUMMERTIME.

SO, UH, I WOULD LIKE, UH, WE REALLY, WE DO NOT HAVE A CLEAR BUDGET.

WE'VE GOT A SOMEWHAT OF A BUDGET, BUT THERE IS SOME MONEY THAT'S GOING TO NEED TO BE SPENT, UH, RIGHT AWAY.

I, I WOULD LIKE FOR THE, UM, THE BOARD TO APPROVE A LITTLE SEED MONEY TO GO TOWARDS THIS PROJECT, UH, SO THAT THE, AND, AND FOSTER, HOW WILL THAT MONEY BE? HOW WILL THAT BE SET UP WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION? SO, UM, WHAT AMOUNT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT? I, YOU KNOW, I WAS, I THINK BY THE TIME WE GET THROUGH WITH SOME ARCHITECTURAL PLANS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, WE MAY START WITH, UM, A SEED MONEY OF ABOUT $75,000.

SO, AND THEN WHEN CONSTRUCTION, WHEN WE HAVE A, A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT CONSTRUCTION'S GONNA COST, I'LL COME BACK TO THIS BOARD AND ASK FOR 'EM TO, TO MOVE SOME MORE MONEY INTO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION'S ACCOUNT OR EVER HOW YOU WANT THAT DONE.

SO I THINK ORIGINALLY IF YOU GIVE US DIRECTION, WE CAN COME BACK ON THE NEXT MEETING, UH, FOR A BUDGET AMENDMENT, UH, FOR, TO DESIGNATE SOME FUNDS FROM A RPA FUNDS TOWARD THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND THIS HOUSING PROJECT.

SO THAT WOULD COME BACK TO A, TO THE, TO A FOLLOWING BOARD MEETING FOR THAT SEED MONEY.

SO WHAT DO WE DO NOW? UM, I GUESS PROBABLY IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO HAVE A MOTION TO GIVE STAFF DIRECTION TO BRING THAT BACK ON A FUTURE AGENDA.

SO MOVED.

HAVE A MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.

MY THINKING IS YES, YES, YES, WE NEED HOUSING.

I HAVE A SECOND.

HOW ABOUT SOME DISCUSSION? I AM FULLY IN SUPPORT OF HOUSING.

THAT IS A VERY PREVALENT NEED.

HOWEVER, I AM SOMEWHAT IN THE DARK.

UM, I DON'T KNOW IF ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A DISCUSSION.

UM, THE REDEVELOPMENT, UH, COMMISSION MEETING THAT I ATTENDED, UH, WAS NOT A BOARD BOARD AS FAR AS ME BEING INFORMED.

UH, THE QUESTIONS THAT I SAW FOR ANSWERS.

I WAS TOLD BY MS. BETH THAT I HAD NOT BEEN ON THE BOARD LONG ENOUGH AND THAT I WAS NOT AWARE OF SOME OF THE, UH, THINGS THAT HAD TRANSPIRED, WHICH WAS AN ASSAULT INSULT TO MY INTELLIGENCE BECAUSE IT DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT YOU BE ON THE BOARD FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME TO HEAR A CONVERSATION AND TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE FROM WHAT IS BEING SAID.

UM, AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD, AGAIN,

[00:45:01]

HOWEVER, UH, WHEN I LOOK AT THE TRANSPARENCY ISSUE AND UM, I WANT TO PUT THIS OUT HERE, I LOOK AT THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION'S, UH, MISSION STATEMENT ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND SO FORTH AND SO ON, THAT WHEN, AS DID MR. UH, FRY SAID, AND AS I SAY WHEN QUESTIONS OPPOSED, WHEN PEOPLE SINCERELY WANT ANSWERS, THEN THEY SHOULD NOT BE DENIED THOSE ANSWERS OR SHOULD BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR QUESTIONS ADDRESSED.

THAT IS JUST PLAYING OUT COURTESY AND, UH, GOING FORWARD, I WOULD CERTAINLY HOPE THAT WE WOULD DO SO THAT THE ENTIRE BOARD WOULD BE KEPT IN THE LOOP, THAT ALL OF US WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE YOUR VISION OR WHATEVER'S BEING PRESENTED SO THAT ALL OF US, WHETHER, UH, WE AGREE OR DISAGREE, THAT ALL OF US WOULD HAVE INPUT AS ALDERMAN KINSEY HAD MENTIONED, AND ALDERMAN BEST AND SO FORTH.

AND AS I HAVE QUESTIONS EVEN STILL, I WOULD LOVE TO SIT DOWN BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE CLARITY, TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE UNDERSTANDING, SO THAT, AGAIN, WITH THE HOUSING ISSUE, AGAIN, I REPEAT IT IS ABSOLUTELY A WONDERFUL IDEA.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, AND I APPLAUD YOU FOR THAT.

THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE THAT I TAKE.

THE ISSUE I TAKE AGAIN, IS FOR DISCLOSURE AND UNDERSTANDING WHEN CITIZENS OR BOARD MEMBERS ASK QUESTIONS, WE HAVE, UM, THE RIGHT TO BE HEARD, TO BE UNDERSTOOD.

AGAIN, I LIVE BY THAT MOTTO.

EVERY VOICE HAS VALUE.

AND SO AGAIN, I TAKE ISSUE WITH JUST THE, HOW IT PROCEEDED, HOW IT UNFOLDED, HOW I WAS TOLD AS AN EX MEMBER OF THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION THAT, UM, I WAS NOT PRIVY TO THE INFORMATION.

AND, UM, GOING FORWARD, I CERTAINLY HOPE HISTORY WILL NOT REPEAT ITSELF AND THAT CITIZENS WILL BE RESPECTED AND GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.

AND, AND AGAIN, AS I CONTINUE TO ATTEND THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETINGS, I'M CERTAINLY LOOKING FORWARD TO FULL DISCLOSURE AND THAT WE WILL NOT FIND OURSELVES IN THIS POSITION AGAIN, WHERE WE DO NOT HAVE CLARITY.

IT IS I CANNOT MAKE A DECISION UNLESS I AM INFORMED.

AND SO WHEN WE COME TOGETHER AS A BOARD AND ITEMS ARE ON THE AGENDA AND, AND ITEMS ARE PUT BEFORE US IN ORDER TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION, WE NEED INFORMATION.

AND THAT'S WHAT I SEEK IS INFORMATION.

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING.

AND SO WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS, WE'VE BEEN IN MEETINGS WITH THE MAYOR, WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND, AND, UH, THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.

AND, AND AGAIN, WE SHOULD BE HEARD, WE SHOULD HAVE FULL DISCLOSURE, THERE SHOULD BE TRANSPARENCY.

AND AS A BOARD MEMBER, THAT'S WHAT I EXPECT FROM THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND FROM ANY OTHER ENTITY THAT, UM, THE BOARD OF ALL THE MEN HAS JURISDICTION WITH.

AND, UH, I APPRECIATE THAT.

SO IN ORDER FOR ME TO MOVE FORWARD AND YOU'RE ASKING FOR A DISCUSSION AND YOU'RE ASKING FOR VOTES, AND NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SEED MONEY AND THERE'S A LOT OF COMPONENTS HERE, AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD, UH, STILL THERE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED.

SO I NEED A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE THAT CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE.

PARDON, MACKENZIE.

IT'S BEEN FOUR YEARS AND NOTHING HASN'T BEEN, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING DONE THAT THE REDEVELOPMENT HAS DONE.

FOUR YEARS, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE.

YOU WANT ME TO MAKE A DECISION? I DON'T THINK SO.

I'M GONNA TELL YOU ONE MORE TIME.

FOUR YEARS.

I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR 13 YEARS.

SHOW ME THE MONEY YOU WANT MONEY, SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOING TO DO.

FOUR YEARS, NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.

UM, .

WELL, WE'RE VERY GUYS, HAVE YOU GUYS, EXCUSE ME.

HAVE YOU GUYS EVER WALKED IN DUFFY FIELD? HAVE YOU EVER SEEN WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE? YOU DON'T LIVE OVER THERE.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE .

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? UM, YOU NEED TO ASK THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE OVER THERE, GO LOOK AT THE STREETS, LOOK AT THE AREAS, LOOK AT SOME OUR CITY LOTS AND SEE HOW THEY'VE GROWN UP.

YOU GO OVER THERE AND LOOK FOR YOURSELF AND

[00:50:01]

THIS IS HOW I FEEL.

I STAY ON THE BOARD, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT BIG HOUSES, THOSE FOLKS SIT THERE, THEY GOT HOLES IN THEIR FLOORS.

YOU WANT TO TEAR DOWN A HOUSE.

WHAT IS THE STRUCTURE LIKE? GIVE ME A SECOND OPINION TO SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE.

DISCUSSION AND THIS VOTE AS BEING AN UP AND DOWN VOTE ON HIS PROJECT.

THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO SEE.

THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING.

SHOW ME WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

I MEAN, FOUR YEARS.

AND SO THIS IS WHERE I'M AT.

ARM ASTRA, JOHN, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

I REALLY DO.

AND, AND THERE THERE'S CERTAINLY NEED.

I, I UNDERSTAND, BUT THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WE CAN TAKE A VACANT PIECE OF PROPERTY AND TURN IT INTO FOUR HOMES RIGHT AWAY.

THAT WOULD CERTAINLY BE A WONDERFUL ADDITION TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.

THIS, THIS, AND YOU KNOW, YOURSELF THAT THESE HOMES, THE HOMES ARE NEEDED.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NEEDED.

THAT IS NOW WHETHER I KNOW YOU DIDN'T, SO WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE NOT IN FAVOR OF TEARING DOWN SOME OTHER HOUSE OVER THERE OR NOT, I'M KIND OF, YOU KNOW, I IT IS, THIS HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS PROJECT HERE THAT THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION IS ON BOARD WITH.

AND WE'RE READY TO MOVE AND BUILD SOME HOUSES FOR SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF HOMES.

SO I, I AGREE.

I MEAN, IF YOU'VE GOT OTHER ISSUES OVER IN THE DUST FIELD COMMUNITY, I MEAN, YEAH, I, I I HAVEN'T BOUGHT THE STREETS OVER THERE IN A LONG, LONG TIME.

YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T LIVE OVER THERE LIKE YOU DO.

BUT, UM, I I MEAN JUST, UH, THIS IS A PROJECT.

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHERE I LIVE? .

THIS IS A PROJECT.

THIS IS A PROJECT THAT IS READY TO MOVE FORWARD AND MOVE FORWARD RIGHT AWAY.

VES.

NOW, UM, LET ME, LET ME MAKE THIS STATEMENT CORRECTLY.

UM, AND I'M GONNA DIRECT THIS AN ANSWER TO YOU.

UM, OTTOMAN MCKENZIE, I DON'T, I WAS A PART OF THE INITIAL PROCESS, THE PRIOR BOARD OF DEVELOPING THIS REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.

AND FOR YOU TO SAY THAT THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION HAS DONE NOTHING IN FOUR YEARS, THAT'S NOT CORRECT.

NOW SHOW IT TO ME THEN YOU HAD, WHEN YOU START A PROCESS, LIKE THEY STARTED A REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, THEY HAD TO COME FORTH AND SET UP RULES, REGULATION GUIDELINES.

THEY HAVE TO GET, THEY HAD TO START AT THAT POINT.

THEY DID NOT HAVE A MAP DRAWN FOR THEM AND GUIDELINES AND DIRECTIONS OF WHERE THEY NEEDED TO GO.

THEN THEY HAD TO COME ACROSS AND HAVE FUNDING.

THEN WE HAD TO COME ACROSS AND WE HAD TO GET PROPERTY.

SO IT WAS A LONG, IT WAS A LONG PROCESS FOR THEM, FOR THEM, FOR THEIR FOUR YEARS.

NOW, I, I DO AGREE WITH YOU AND MS. ROYAL, UM, AND, UH, ALTMAN, NASTER, WE DO NEED HOUSING.

THAT'S A DIRE NEED FOR THIS CITY.

I SIT THOUGH, AND WHEN YOU SPEAK OF DUFFY FIELD AND YOU KNOW, YOU STEPPING ON MY TOES BECAUSE I HAVE WORKED WITH THAT PRIOR BOARD AND WORKING WITH THIS BOARD, TRYING TO GET A LOT OF THINGS IMPLEMENTED WITHIN THE DUFFY FIELD COMMUNITY FOR AS STREETS, SIDEWALKS, OUR CITIZENS OVER THERE DON'T EVEN HAVE A SIDEWALK WALK ON.

SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DUFFY FIELD, PLEASE BE POLITICALLY CORRECT BECAUSE I'M WORKING AS HARD AS I CAN WITH THIS BOARD AND WORK WITH THE PRIOR BOARD BECAUSE THERE IS A DI NEED, AS YOU SAID.

WE DO NEED TO CLEAN UP DUFFY FIELD TRASH WISE.

WE NEED TO CLEAN IT UP STREET WISE, WE NEED TO CLEAN IT UP.

HOUSE WISE, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK ON THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

SO I'M GONNA SAY THIS AGAIN.

I'M ASKING EACH MEMBER OF THIS BOARD TO WORK WITH ME TO GET THAT AREA CLEANED UP.

BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, YOU SIT ON THIS BOARD FOR 13 YEARS AND YOU'VE SEEN NOTHING DONE FOR THAT, FOR THAT AREA.

IT'S COME TIME NOW THAT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING FOR THIS AREA AND WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.

AND SINCE YOU GOT THAT MIND FRAME, MS. ROYAL GOT THAT MIND FRAME.

BOBBY GOT THIS MIND FRAME OF HOUSING, THEN WE NEED TO GET TOGETHER AS A BOARD.

IF WE HAD TO GO THREE OVER HERE AND THREE OVER THERE, THEN SO WE DON'T HAVE A FORUM AND GET OUT AND WALK IN THAT AREA AND SEE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THAT AREA.

CUZ I, I, I, YOU KNOW, IT IT, IT IS PERSONAL TO ME WHEN YOU SAY ABOUT WHAT'S NOT BEING DONE OVER THERE AND I'M WORKING HARD AS I CAN OVER IN THE AREA.

AND THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THE SITUATION.

ALTMAN BRISSON, WELL, I, I DO WANT TO EXPLAIN WHY I SECONDED ALTMAN ASTRO'S MOTION.

I DON'T SEE THIS

[00:55:01]

IT COSTS US NOTHING TO ASK STAFF TO PUT TOGETHER A PROPOSAL AND PUT IT ON THE AGENDA FOR TWO WEEKS FROM NOW, WHICH THEN IT WOULD BE A UP OR DOWN VOTE.

AND IT GIVES US ANOTHER TWO WEEKS TO TALK ABOUT AND UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.

I MEAN, I'VE, I WAS ON THE LAST STUFF INFIELD CLEAN.

I WALKED THROUGH THERE FOR ABOUT FOUR HOURS, BUT I KNOW TRASH, I KNOW AND I'VE BEEN TO THE LAST THREE OR FOUR REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETINGS.

SO I FEEL LIKE I'M PRETTY WELL UP TO SPEED.

BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS THE REASON WHY I SECONDED HIS MOTION IS I DON'T CONS CONSIDER THIS DISCUSSION AND DIRECTING STAFF TO PUT TOGETHER A PROPOSAL FOR US TO VOTE ON AS AN UP OR DOWN VOTE ON THIS PROJECT.

THAT WOULD BE NEXT MEETING WHEN STAFF COMES BACK WITH THAT PROPOSAL, FOLKS.

UM, HOW MUCH DO THEY HAVE IN THE BANK? THEY HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT LINE ITEMS. UM, AND LATER ON THIS EVENING, YOU'RE GONNA, UM, YOU'RE GOING TO BE, UH, DEALING WITH THE BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT WILL AFFECT, UH, PULLING SOME MONEY FROM THEIR FUND BALANCE AND, AND TO, UM, SOME ACCOUNTS.

BUT BASICALLY THE GOVERNING BOARD HAS ALLOCATED $350,000 FROM A R P FUNDS TOWARD THE MCCOTTER HOUSE AS A WELLNESS CENTER.

UM, THERE IS APPROXIMATELY, UM, KIM, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HELP ME WITH THIS.

SO I HAPPENED TO BE INVITED TO ONE OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS THAT WAS HELD WHERE WE DISCUSSED, UM, THE, THE SMALL HOME CONCEPT.

, THE NUMBERS HAVE CHANGED A LOT, BUT ARE YOU ASKING FOR THE, UM, REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION FUND BALANCE? YES.

FUND BALANCE AND THEN CURRENT, UH, WHAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE IN THEIR TWO LINE ITEMS. SO, UM, CONSIDERING THE 55,000 TRANSFER, THEY WILL HAVE $347,000, $327, $347,327 LEFT IN FUND BALANCE, UM, FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION FUNDS.

SO THAT'S FUND BALANCE.

THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE THREE 50 I JUST MENTIONED IN A R P FUNDS.

CORRECT.

AND THE LINE ITEM FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES OF THAT, UM, IN THAT, UM, REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION FUNDS, THERE'S 12,600 LEFT FROM THE BUDGET.

AND THEN LAND STRUCTURES, THERE'S $30,700 LEFT IN THE THAT BUDGET LINE.

SO, AND, AND ALDERMAN, KEN, THERE ARE ALSO SOME, UM, CDBG FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED TOWARD, TOWARD SOME OF THEIR PROJECTS AS WELL.

UM, APPROXIMATELY KIMMY MAY HAVE THIS, BUT IT'S, IT'S OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THAT AS WELL.

SO WHAT RECEIPTS DO WE HAVE TO SHOW WHAT, WHERE THE MONEY HAS GONE TO? I DON'T WANT NO ONE TO THINK THAT I'M NOT FOR HOUSING, I'M FOR ACTION.

WHAT HAS BEEN DONE, WHAT HAS BEEN, WHAT KIND OF STRUCTURES DO WE HAVE TO SHOW? THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING FOR.

I'M NOT SAYING I DON'T WANT TO SEE NO ONE GET A HOME, I'M FOR ALL OF THAT.

YOU GOT TO LISTEN WHEN SOMEONE IS SPEAKING AND NOT GET EMOTION.

AND UH, I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAVE THEY DONE? WHAT HAVE THEY BUILT, HOW MANY HOUSES THEY GOT UP, HOW MANY HOUSES THEY TORE DOWN, HOW MUCH DIRT THEY MOVED, HOW MUCH TRASH THEY PICKED UP.

MACKENZIE? YES.

I, I THINK, UM, ALTMAN GRILL, DO YOU HAVE, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SAY? UH, I, I DO HAVE UM, SOME BRIEF COS ALRIGHT, YOU YOU GO AHEAD AND THEN I'M GOING TO, AS THE FORMER MAYOR SAID, BRING THIS IN FOR A LANDING HOPEFULLY.

SO YOU, YOU GO RIGHT AHEAD, SIR.

I I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM WOULD DISAGREE THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS, UM, AN IMPORTANT NEED, UM, IN, IN OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, WHETHER THAT BE RENTAL HOUSING OR, UM, HOUSING THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR SALE.

THE CONCEPT OF SMALL HOME DEVELOPMENT IS SOMETHING THAT I SUPPORT.

I WAS AWARE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS CONCEPT ONLY BECAUSE I HAD INQUIRED PREVIOUSLY ABOUT THE CITY'S, UM, INTENT OR PLANNING FOR TINY HOMES, SMALL HOMES.

AND

[01:00:01]

AND THEN AT A FOLLOW UP MEETING, UM, ALDERMAN MASTER HAD INDICATED HIS DESIRE TO USE SOME A R P A FUNDING TO TRY TO DEVELOP A, A SMALL HOME, UM, CONCEPT PLAN SOMEWHERE IN NEWBURN.

I SUPPORT THAT.

WHERE I HAVE SOME CONCERNS, SO IS I'VE NOT YET SEEN DETAIL WITH REGARDS TO THE, THE COST TO DEVELOP THESE LOTS AND TO CONSTRUCT, UM, THE HOMES.

I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S, IT'S ALL PRELIMINARY AT THIS POINT, BUT I'M GONNA HAVE TROUBLE VOTING FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS UNLESS THERE ARE SOME NUMBERS PUT TO PAPER, EVEN IF THEY'RE ESTIMATES AS TO WHAT THE OVERALL COST OF THIS CONCEPT IS GOING TO BE.

UM, GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE FUNDING THAT ALDERMAN ASHER IS PROPOSING TO USE, IF THAT IS INSUFFICIENT TO COMPLETE A PROJECT LIKE THIS, THEN WHERE IS THE, WHERE IS ADDITIONAL FUNDING GOING TO COME FROM AND IT'S GONNA FALL BACK ONTO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO MAKE UP ANY DIFFERENCE OR ANY SHORTFALL THAT MIGHT HAPPEN.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THE COMMISSION'S IN, IN A POSITION FINANCIALLY TO BE ABLE TO, TO DO THAT.

SO THERE, THERE'S A CONCERN THAT I HAVE ON THAT STANDPOINT.

I'VE ALSO MADE KNOWN TO THE COMMISSION A CONCERN THAT I HAVE OF, OF THE COMMISSION GETTING INTO BEING A LANDLORD WITH RENTAL HOUSING.

I UNDERSTAND THE COMMENT THAT ALDERMAN ASTOR MADE THAT THE RENT GENERATED FROM THESE UNITS COULD THEN BE SUBSEQUENTLY USED BY THE COMMISSION TO DO FURTHER WORK.

YES, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT THAT, THAT IS PROBABLY TRUE.

HOWEVER, ANY RENTAL INCOME THAT IS GENERATED BY UNITS SUCH AS THIS, SOME PORTION OF THAT NEEDS TO BE SET ASIDE FOR REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE TO THESE UNITS BECAUSE THAT COST WILL ALWAYS BE THERE.

IT WAS STATED EARLIER THAT THE DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION WOULD RETAIN A THIRD PARTY ENTITY TO MANAGE THE RENTAL SIDE OF THIS.

THAT'S A COST.

SO THE, THE THE RENTAL INCOME, IT MAY NOT BE AS GREAT AS, UM, YOU MIGHT THINK IT WOULD BE.

AND SO IT'S GONNA BE LIMITED AS TO HOW MUCH MIGHT BE AVAILABLE FOR FURTHER ENDEAVORS.

MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO SEE DEVELOPMENT OR THIS TYPE OF HOUSING AS FOR SALE HOUSING AS OPPOSED TO RENTAL.

UM, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION HAS THE ABILITY TO MAKE A DECISION, UM, TO EITHER GO WITH RENTAL HOUSING OR FOR SALE.

AND I MAY DISAGREE WITH THE DECISION THEY'RE MAKING, UH, BUT UH, IT'S JUST A CONCERN THAT I HAVE.

UH, WITH THAT I WOULD CERTAINLY HOPE THAT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, THAT SOMEBODY PUT PENCIL PAPER AND START CRUNCHING SOME NUMBERS SO THAT ALL THE BOARD CAN SEE WHAT THE ESTIMATED COST OF THIS CONCEPT MIGHT END UP BEING FROM SITE DEVELOPMENT COSTS TO ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS, EVEN WITH DONATED MATERIALS, DONATED SERVICES.

I KNOW THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT, UM, ENGAGING THE VAULT CENTER, UH, AND THE STUDENTS AT THE VAULT CENTER TO DO, UM, VARIOUS ASPECTS OF WORK ON THESE UNITS AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA, BUT AGAIN, IT COMES DOWN TO WHAT THE OVERALL COST IS GONNA BE BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S GONNA HAVE TO PAY, UM, THE, THE, THE COST OF THIS AND WHETHER OR NOT THE A R P A FUNDING IS GONNA BE SUFFICIENT TO BRING THIS TO FRUITION.

UM, I, I DON'T KNOW AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT ON PAPER.

CAN I ADDRESS THAT? SURE.

UM, MY CONCERN TOO, RICK, I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT CUZ I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO DO THIS AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THESE PLANS WERE TURNED OVER

[01:05:01]

TO A GENERAL CONTRACTOR FOR PRICING AND THE PRICING CAME IN AT SOMEWHERE AROUND $500,000 MORE THAN I HAVE.

WE HAVE MORE THAN THAT IN A R P MONEY.

SO THE, AND THAT'S NOT COUNTING IF THERE'S ANYTHING DONATED, WHICH WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO GET STUFF DONATED, SO THE MONEY IS NOT GONNA BE AN ISSUE.

THE MONEY'S THERE.

RENTAL OF THE PROPERTY.

I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD RENT FOR, YOU KNOW.

UM, DO, HAVE YOU HAD ANY COMP, ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD RENT FOR BETH OR A PIP, I DUNNO, , ARE WE TALKING DIFFERENT PERSONAL COMMISSION? ME.

WELL, ANYWAY, I CAN, YOU KNOW, WITH THEM, WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, HIRING A MANAGEMENT COMPANY, I STILL THINK WITH THE RENT FROM ALL FOUR OF THESE PROPERTIES WOULD BE SUFFICIENT FOR THEM TO PAY FOR THEIR REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF BRAND NEW UNITS.

AND FOR TAKING SOME FUNDS TO MOVE FORWARD AND DOING SOME REHAB ON SOME ADDITIONAL HOMES.

UH, I WOULD HOPE THERE WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE A WHOLE LOT OF MAINTENANCE ON 'EM FOR THE FIRST SEVERAL YEARS.

UH, BUT ANYWAY, I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT THE, THE PRICE OF THESE HOUSES PRICED BY GENERAL CONTRACTOR DOING TURNKEY JOBS AS WELL, JUST, JUST OVER $500,000.

THAT INCLUDES THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPERTY AS WELL.

UH, UM, YOU'RE, REMEMBER YOU'RE TALKING 700 SQUARE FEET HOMES HERE AT ABOUT 125 TO $150 A SQUARE FOOT.

UM, UH, MS. HAZEL, I'M, I'M SORRY THAT IF YOU FELT THAT YOU WERE, I I'M NOT SURE AS IF YOU, IF IT WAS DISRESPECTFUL, DISRESPECTED AS THE RIGHT WORD OR NOT.

HOWEVER, I I I HOPE THAT YOU CAN GET THAT STRAIGHTENED OUT.

I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR YOU AND THAT, BESIDES THAT THIS PROJECT NEEDS TO GO FORWARD.

YES, THIS PROJECT NEEDS TO GO FORWARD.

THERE'S PEOPLE OUT THERE WANTING HOMES THAT WILL RENT IN THIS.

I'M JUST GONNA SAVE $300 A MONTH RANGE AND THEY CAN SAVE MONEY TO EVERY DIME THAT THEY COLLECT ON RENTS IS, GOES INTO THEIR POCKETS TO HELP WITH OTHER PROJECTS.

SO AGAIN, WE, UH, I, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS PROJECT MOVE FORWARD.

I THINK THAT THERE'S, WE CAN CONTINUE SENDING YOU UPDATES.

WE CAN PUT YOU ON THE EMAIL CHAINS, WHATEVER IT IS.

YOU CAN COME TO THE MEETINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING.

I, I DON'T CARE.

WHATEVER YOU, WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MAKE THIS BOARD HAPPY SO WE CAN START THIS PROJECT AND GET THESE HOMES BUILT AND PEOPLE, PEOPLE LIVING IN THEM THAT NEED HOUSING GOOD SAFE HOUSING BEFORE THE, THE SUMMER BEGINS.

AND THEREFORE, THAT MY REQUEST, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT THE THING THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO LOOK AT AND COME BACK AND TELL US IS, BUT, UM, I STILL, MY, MY MOTION WAS TO LET'S MOVE FORWARD WITH A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS OR $75,000 SEED MONEY SO WE CAN START PAYING FOR SOME OF THESE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE.

WHICH BY THE WAY, IS INCLUDED IN THIS PROJECT PRICE I GAVE YOU.

UH, SO THAT REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION CAN GET THIS PROJECT UP AND ROLLING.

YOU DONE? I DON'T KNOW.

I'LL LET YOU KNOW IN A FEW MINUTES.

YEAH, I'M DONE.

SO I I I'VE HEARD EVERYONE'S CONCERN, AND I THINK WE'VE HAD SOME PARALLEL DEBATE AND DISCUSSION TONIGHT.

WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALDERMAN ASTRAS DESIRE TO BUILD SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH HIS ALLOCATION OF A R P FUNDS.

THAT, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, I THINK EVERY REQUEST THAT CAME BEFORE THE PREVIOUS BOARD AND THIS BOARD WAS ALL APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY EVERY TIME WITH LITTLE TO DEBATE.

SO I WANT US TO KEEP THAT IN MIND.

BUT I THINK ALSO WHAT ALDER MCKENZIE HAS, HAS TALKED ABOUT QUITE A BIT TONIGHT IS THE OVERALL ACCOMPLISHMENT AND THE OVERALL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.

YOU NEED AN UPDATE ON WHAT THEY'VE DONE.

UH, I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYBODY HAS BEEN ANY MORE CRITICAL.

WELL, UNTIL I HEARD YOU TONIGHT, UH, ANY MORE CRITICAL OF REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION THAN I HAVE BEEN.

AND I ASKED FOR A MEETING WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND ALDERMAN, UM, PRI AND ALDERMAN BESS WAS THERE IN ATTENDANCE.

AND I SHARED WITH THEM SOME OF MY CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT HAVE YOU ACCOMPLISHED

[01:10:01]

IN FOUR YEARS.

UH, THERE HAS BEEN MULTIPLE TRASH AND CLEANUP DAYS THAT'S BEEN DONE OVER THERE.

UH, MAYBE THEY ALL HAVEN'T NECESSARILY BEEN PUBLICIZED.

HAVE THEY BUILT ANYTHING? NO.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S BEEN ANYTHING CONSTRUCTED.

UH, I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME PROPERTY ACQUISITION HAS TAKEN PLACE.

I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME DEMOLITION, THERE'S BEEN SOME CLEANUP.

AND THIS IS THE PROCESS.

IT'S A LONG PROCESS.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST FRUSTRATING THINGS I'VE SHARED WITH YOU ALL NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT GOVERNMENT.

IF ME AND KIP WERE BUILDING THIS, WE, WE WOULD'VE ALREADY HAD 'EM RENTED BY NOW.

BUT WHEN YOU GET GOVERNMENT INVOLVED, YOU HAVE MEETINGS, WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS.

WE FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE POLICY, WHAT'S THE PROCEDURE.

WE TRY TO WORK OUT ALL THESE KINKS AND BEFORE, YOU KNOW WHAT A YEAR'S PASSED AND NOTHING'S BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.

AND THAT'S ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AFRAID.

I'M AFRAID WE'RE ABOUT TO BE TONIGHT.

I, I CONCUR WITH YOUR CONCERNS.

WE, WE WATCH THE, THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING, UH, WITH MR. FRY WAS THERE.

WE'VE ALREADY HAD THAT DISCUSSION WITH REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ABOUT HOW WE NEED TO DO BETTER.

WE DIDN'T HAVE BETTER COMMUNICATION.

BUT I THINK IT'S, UM, A LITTLE, I JEST FOR US TO SIT HERE TONIGHT AND TALK ABOUT THAT.

THERE'S NOTHING BEEN ACCOMPLISHED WHEN WE ARE ON THE, THE PRECIPICE OF PROVIDING THEM SOME FUNDING TO ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING.

I AGREE WITH ALL THE CONCERNS THAT HONOR AND PRI EXPRESSED.

I THINK WE NEED TO SEE SOME PROFORMAS.

WE NEED TO SEE SOME IDEAS ON WHO'S GONNA MANAGE THIS.

HOW, HOW THE MONEY'S GONNA BE SET ASIDE FOR RESIDUAL MAINTENANCE OVER THE YEARS.

CAUSE IN 30 YEARS, THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION OWES IS GONNA NEED A NEW ROOF ON IT.

SO WE CAN'T DO WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH OUR CEMETERIES OVER THE YEARS WHERE WE'VE TAKEN ALL THE REVENUE AND NOW WE HAVE NO REVENUE TO PAY FOR THE PERPETUAL MAINTENANCE OF THE CEMETERY.

SO WE HAVE TO DO BETTER GOING FORWARD.

BUT I WANT TO HAVE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT IN PUTTING THIS FORWARD.

CAUSE WHEN I SAT OVER THERE IN ALDERMAN BRISSON SEAT, WHEN WE DEBATED EVEN PUTTING THIS REDEVELOPED COMMISSION TOGETHER, I SAID, YOU GOTTA HAVE MONEY.

YOU CAN HAVE THE GREATEST PLANS, YOU CAN HAVE THE BEST IDEAS IN THE WORLD, BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING, NOTHING'S GONNA HAPPEN.

AND ALDERMAN ASTRA HAS CHOSEN THAT HE WANTS TO SPEND HIS ALLOCATION OF A R P TOWARD THIS PROJECT.

WAS IT MESSY TO GET HERE? WOULD WE HAVE ALL LIKED TO HAVE BEEN DONE BETTER? SURE.

I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE WITH THAT.

BUT THE POINT IS, WE'RE HERE NOW.

WE HAVE SOME MORE TIME BEFORE THIS ACTUALLY GETS IN FRONT OF US TO VOTE WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT.

BUT I AM SUPPORTIVE OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THE NEXT STEP TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AT OUR NEXT MEETING.

SO IN THE MEANTIME, WE CAN GET SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION, WE HAVE A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? YES.

WELL ASK FOR A POINT OF ORDER FOR WHAT THE MOTION ACTUALLY WAS.

WOULD THE CLERK PLEASE READ BACK THE CLERK THE MOTION PLEASE? YES.

AS IT WAS STATED, THE MOTION WAS TO GIVE STAFF DIRECTION TO BRING A BUDGET AMENDMENT BACK ON A FUTURE AGENDA.

NO, IT WASN'T AS IT WAS STATED.

YES, IT WAS.

THERE HAD BEEN DISCUSSION BEFOREHAND ABOUT THE .

I MADE THE MOTION THAT WE GIVE $75,000 SEED MONEY TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION THEN THAT WAS IN DISCUSSION.

IT WASN'T THE FRABLE MOTION.

RIGHT.

THAT'S WHY I WANTED CLARIFICATION, BECAUSE WHAT I SECONDED WAS TO GIVE STAFF DIRECTION TO COME BACK WITH MM-HMM.

A BUDGET AMENDMENT.

AND HERE'S THE THING.

PROCEDURALLY, WE HAVE TO HAVE A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO DO THIS.

SO WE CAN'T DO THAT TONIGHT CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOLUTION IN FRONT OF US.

SO GO AHEAD.

YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE? YES, SIR.

I'D LIKE TO SEE THE PLAN.

I THINK WE ALL WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PLAN.

ANY MORE DISCUSSION? I'D LIKE TO HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE, STARTING WITH ALDERMAN KENZIE THE PLAN.

ALDERMAN KENZIE.

I'D LIKE TO SEE THE PLAN.

THAT'S MY VOTE.

NEED A YES OR NO, SIR? ON THIS? YES.

UH, YES.

A SECOND, WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON IT AND THAT PERSON GETS PUSHED THROUGH.

ALDERMAN DESK? YES.

ALDERMAN BRESSON? YES.

ACTUALLY, BEFORE WE DO THAT, WHILE WE'RE ON THIS SUBJECT REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, I WANT TO MAKE THE BOARD AWARE THAT WE HAVE HAD TWO RESIGNATIONS, UH, MS. STEPHANIE LUBBOCK AND MR. JU.

JULIAN AND TRIPP HAVE BOTH RESIGNED FROM THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.

UH, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IF NO ONE OBJECTS IS ON OUR NEXT AGENDA, WE'LL HAVE THIS LISTED AS OPEN APPOINTMENTS LIKE WE ALWAYS DO.

BUT IN THE PAST, THERE'S SORT OF BEEN A RACE TO SEE WHO CAN GET THE NAME IN FIRST TO GET IT VOTED ON.

I WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THAT PROCEDURE AND ALLOW EVERYONE ON THE BOARD THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOMINATE ONE OR TWO NAMES.

AND THEN WE WOULD TAKE A VOTE ON THOSE.

KINDA LIKE WE DID WHEN WE HAD A VACANCY IN THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN.

ALL THIS IS PUBLIC RECORD, SO IT'S EVERYBODY'S WANNA KNOW WHO YOU VOTE FOR.

UH, BUT THAT WAY EVERYBODY ON THIS BOARD HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT FORTH TWO NAMES FOR THE TWO OPEN POSITIONS VERSUS, UM, WHEN WE GET TO THE NOMINATIONS AND WHOEVER SPEAKS UP FIRST, IF THEY GET

[01:15:01]

SO I THINK WHAT I'M PROPOSING IS A MUCH MORE OPEN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO GET CONSIDERED.

ANY QUESTIONS? YEAH, I'M GLAD THAT YOU MADE THAT PROPOSAL BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF MY ISSUES I HAD BEFORE WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION OF HOW MEMBERS WERE COMMISSIONERS WERE SELECTED.

SO I AGREE WITH THAT.

I THINK THAT'S THE BEST POLICY.

AND I WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 12.

HAVE A SUGGESTION, A MOTION.

UM, IT, IT'S A SUGGESTION WHENEVER WE HAVE OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING, THAT'S, THAT'S THE PROCEDURE THAT, THAT I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE USE.

IF, IF FOUR PEOPLE COME UP AT THE NEXT MEETING AND SAY, I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.

I WANNA DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, THEN WE WOULD CERTAINLY DO THAT.

BUT I THINK THIS IS A MUCH MORE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT WAY FOR EVERYONE TO HAVE THEIR VOICE, SIR.

CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION 11.

ITEM NUMBER 12.

11.

[11. Consider Adopting a Resolution to Sale706 McKinley Avenue.]

OH, SORRY, I'M MARKING OFF THE WRONG ONE.

NUMBER 11, CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION TO SALE 27 0 6 MCKINLEY AVENUE MAYOR.

AFTER RECEIVING AN OFFER OF $2,500 FROM STEPHANIE COWARD LEARY FOR THE PURCHASE OF THAT PROPERTY, THE BOARD ADOPTED THE RESOLUTION TO INITIATE THE UPSET BID PROCESS.

THE BID WAS ADVERTISED, BUT NO ADDITIONAL BIDS RECEIVED.

IF THE PROPERTY IS SOLD FOR THE INITIAL OFFER, THE CITY WOULD RECEIVE $232 90 CENTS AND THE COUNTY WOULD RECEIVE $2,267 AND 10 CENTS.

BOARD.

HAVE QUESTIONS? IF NO QUESTION, I WOULD LIKE TO MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO SELL 27 0 6 MCKENLEY AVENUE.

NUMBER 12, CONSIDERED ADOPTING A RESOLUTION, A PROVEN EXTENDED CONSTRUCTION HOURS FOR CAPE FEAR CONSTRUCTION AT 41 15.

HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN BEST, ALDERMAN BEST, YES.

[12. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving Extended Constructions Hours for Cape Fear Construction at 4115 Dr. MLK Jr. Boulevard.]

DR.

M L K BOULEVARD, EXCUSE MAYOR CAPE.

FEAR CONSTRUCTION IS BUILDING A 252 UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX AT 41 15 DR.

MLK JR.

BOULEVARD, THAT'S GONNA BE KNOWN AS PROXIMITY.

NEWBURN CITY ORDINANCES CONFINE CONSTRUCTION NOISE TO THE HOURS OF 7:00 AM TO 9:00 PM BUT DO PROVIDE THAT AN EXEMPTION CAN BE PROVIDED WITH APPROVAL FROM THE GOVERNING BOARD.

KATE FEARER HAS QUESTIONED AN EXEMPTION FOR THE PERIOD OF FEBRUARY 1ST, 2023 THROUGH JULY 1ST, 2023.

AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK MR. WEST SRO, HE'S THE LEAD SUPERINTENDENT WITH CAPE FEAR CONSTRUCTION TO COME UP AND DISCUSS HIS REQUEST WITH YOU.

THANK YOU MR. HUGHES.

UH, THANK YOU MAYOR ODOM ALDERMAN FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT.

MY NAME IS, UH, WEST SSL.

I'M CONSTRUCTION MANAGER FOR CAPE FAIR CONSTRUCTION, OVERSEEING THE PROXIMITY AT NEWBURN, LOCATED AT 41 15 DR.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR BOULEVARD.

I AM REQUESTING APPROVAL FOR EXTENDED CONSTRUCTION HOURS, ALLOWING MY COMPANY TO PERFORM EARLY MORNING CONCRETE PORES.

I AM ALSO A RESIDENT OF NEW BERN.

MY CONSTRUCTION TEAM WOULD LIKE, WOULD START POURING CONCRETE ON DESIGNATED DAYS STARTING AT 3:00 AM CONCRETE PORES WOULD TYPICALLY TAKE PLACE ONE DAY PER WEEK, NO MORE THAN ONE DAY PER WEEK.

UH, WEATHER PERMITTING.

IT WON'T BE ALL HANDS ON DECK.

WORKING AT 3:00 AM ONLY CONCRETE CREWS.

WE WILL BE USING CONCRETE TRUCKS AND A COUPLE OF GENERATOR LIGHT TOWERS.

UM, BACKUP ALARMS ARE USED ON THE CONCRETE TRUCKS AS REQUIRED BY OSHA.

HOWEVER, THERE IS A CLAUSE TO THAT.

UM, ALL CONCRETE TRUCKS HAVE A NIGHTTIME MODE WHEN ENGAGED WILL MUFFLE THE BACKUP ALARMS. SO THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT WILL HEAR THAT BACKUP ALARM IS IN THE GENERAL VICINITY OF THAT CONCRETE TRUCK.

IT WILL NOT EXTEND OUT PAST THE PROPERTY.

UM, ALL TRUCKS WOULD BE ARRIVING AND DEPARTING THROUGH M L K ENTRANCE AND AVOIDING GREEN LEASE CEMETERY, UH, GREENLEAF CEMETERY.

ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE PROPERTY, WE HAVE A PROTECTED WETLANDS AND TWO PONDS CREATED A BUFFER BETWEEN OUR CONSTRUCTION AND HAYWARD FARMS ROAD.

THE DISTANCE IS ROUGHLY 300 FEET FROM THE FARTHEST BUILDING TO, UM, THE RESIDENCE ON HAYWOOD FARMS ROAD, WHICH IS BASICALLY ON THE, ON THE DRAWINGS YOU SEE IS THE TWO PONDS.

AND ALL THAT EMPTY SPACE IS PROTECTED WETLANDS.

THE TREES WILL REMAIN, UM, ON GREENLEAF CEMETERY.

THE DISTANCE FROM THE CLOSEST BUILDING PAD WOULD BE AROUND 150 FEET.

I WILL BE PRESENT AND COORDINATING ALL ACTIVITIES DURING EARLY MORNING POURS.

UM, I ALSO WILL HAVE A DECIBEL READER ONSITE AND UTILIZING, ENSURING NOISE

[01:20:01]

WILL BE BELOW 55 DECIBELS AT EDWARD WAY AND HAYWARD FARMS ROAD.

ANY QUESTIONS? YES.

MR. KINZIE, THE, UM, THE REASON WHY THAT YOU APPOINTED CONCRETE AT THAT TIME OF THE MORNING, IS IT DUE TO THE WEATHER? YES, SIR.

UM, A TYPICAL RESIDENTIAL HOME WILL POUR ANYWHERE FROM 50 TO 70 YARDS OF CONCRETE FOR A TYPICAL STANDARD HOME.

THE THE AMOUNT OF CONCRETE I'M POURING FOR THESE BUILDINGS WILL BE THREE TO 400 YARDS BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF CONCRETE.

IF WE START AFTER 7:00 AM UM, IT'S TOO HARD ON THE CRUISE, THEY'LL END UP BEING 14, 15 HOUR DAY TRYING TO POUR THE CONCRETE AND FORM IT UP.

UM, AND STARTING DURING THE DAY, WE WILL BE JOCKEYING FOR TRUCKS WITH OTHER CONTRACTORS BY STARTING AT 3:00 AM WE'LL HAVE ALL THE TRUCKS AND THE CREWS COMMUTE DONE AT A NORMAL HOUR.

SO THEY'RE NOT KILLING THEMSELVES, FORMING UP CONCRETE.

AND IT ALSO HELPS IN THE SUMMER.

UM, LET ME ALSO EMPHASIZE THAT I HAVE NINE BUILDINGS, ONE BUILDING PER WEEK.

IF ALL GOES WELL AND I DON'T GET A LOT OF RAIN, I CAN BE DONE IN NINE WEEKS.

IT WON'T BE THE, THE FIVE MONTHS I'M REQUESTING.

LET ASK MY QUESTION.

WHEN THE, THE TRUCKS ARE COMING OFF OF MLK ENTERING THE PROPERTY, UM, HOW FAST ARE THEY GONNA BE DRIVING ON, ON THE PROPERTY ITSELF? THEY WON'T BE MAINTAINED AT THE SMALL SLOW SPEED.

THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GET MUCH SPEED IF THERE'S NOT MANY THAT MUCH ROADS THERE AND OUTSIDE THE PROPERTY, THEY HAVE TO FILE THE LAWS JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

RIGHT.

WELL, THE THE, WHAT I WAS REALLY GETTING AT IS THAT YES, I I WOULD ASSUME THAT THEY WILL BE DRIVING AT A RATHER, UM, SLOW PACE ONCE THEY GET ON SITE.

YES SIR.

AND PRESUMABLY, UM, THE NOISE LEVEL JUST COMING FROM A TRUCK, UH, LIKE THAT WILL BE LESS THAN IF IT'S ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING.

ABSOLUTELY.

IT'LL BE IDLE SPEED, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND THAT'S TO THE CONCERN OF ANY NEIGHBORS AT THREE, FOUR OR FIVE IN THE MORNING, UH, THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HEAR THE CONSTANT ROAR OF, UH, YOU KNOW, CONCRETE TRUCKS TRAVELING ON, ON THE PROPERTY ITSELF.

OR AT LEAST HOPEFULLY THE, THE, THE LEVEL OF NOISE WILL BE MUCH LESS CORRECT.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE GONNA KEEP 'EM OFF OF GREEN LEAF SO THOSE RESIDENTS WON'T HAVE TRUCKS GOING PAST THEIR HOUSE, YOU KNOW, FOR THREE HOURS.

THE THE OTHER THING THAT, UH, BEING THIS IS IN MY WARD, THE OTHER THING THAT I'M CONSIDERING TOO IS THIS AREA.

UM, YOU HAVE ACADIA VILLAGE.

YOU HAVE TRENT CREEK ROAD, YOU HAVE, UH, CRAVEN FOREST, AND THEN YOU HAVE BINDI QUINN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ALL IN THAT SAME VICINITY.

AND WE ALREADY GET COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE LIGHTS AND EVERYTHING IN THAT AREA.

IF YOU HAVE THESE 30 TO 40 TRUCKS COMING IN FROM THREE TO 7:00 AM YOU'RE NOT IMPACTING THE TRAFFIC THAT'S ALREADY THERE AND PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT.

SO, UH, IT'S, SO MY CONSIDERATIONS IS NOT JUST THE NOISE AND NOT JUST THE AREA AROUND THE CONSTRUCTION SITE, BUT IT HAS TO DO WITH THE TRAFFIC ON MLK AS WELL.

STAFF.

I, I RECALL, I, I KNOW WE DID THIS FOR THE NEW HARRIS TEETER SHOPPING CENTER, AND THERE WAS SOME CONCERN WHEN THAT FIRST CAME OUT.

AND I DON'T RECALL US HAVING, I DON'T, I WAS ALDERMAN AT THE TIME.

I DON'T RECALL HAVING ANY COMPLAINTS.

AND HAVE WE DONE IT FOR ANY OTHER PROJECTS AND WE DO IT FOR CAROLINA AVENUE.

THERE WAS THE NOISE CAROLINA, AND WE DID IT FOR YOU ALL.

THAT'S SURE I UNDERSTANDS LAST ONE.

SO, UH, WHAT'S IN JUST AS A STATEMENT, MR. ME TO CONTINUE THIS? UM, WHAT'S THE RESOLUTION THAT'S IN FRONT OF US IS BASICALLY GIVES CARTE BLANCHE 24 7, UH, EXEMPTION TO THE NOISE ORDINANCE FROM ONE FEBRUARY TO ONE JANUARY.

I DON'T INTEND TO MAKE THAT MOTION.

I INTENDED TO BE MUCH MORE RESTRICTIVE, UH, BASICALLY FROM 3:00 AM TO 7:00 AM UH, DURING THAT WINDOW WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S ONLY GONNA BE ONCE PER WEEK AND ONLY NINE SPECIFIC INSTANCES.

SO, UH, JUST TO PUT THE, THE PUBLIC IN THE ALDERMAN'S MIND AT EASE THAT I, I'M ADVOCATING A MUCH MORE STRICT WINDOW,

[01:25:02]

UH, IN THIS.

AND GIVEN THE CONCERNS OF THE RESIDENTS, THOSE THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM TONIGHT, AND THOSE THAT WE RECEIVED EMAILS FROM, IF GOING FORWARD THAT THERE IS SOME ISSUE WITH THE RESIDENTS AND THE COMPLAINTS BEGAN TO COME IN, IS THERE SOME TYPE OF CONCESSION THAT YOU CAN MAKE REGARDING THE NOISE, UH, TO GOING FORWARD? CAN YOU SEE ANY, UM, WAY THAT YOU CAN LOWER THE NOISE, SO TO SPEAK? UM, TYPICALLY WE WON'T BE ABLE, WE'RE GONNA LOWER THE NOISE FROM THE GET-GO AS LOW AS WE CAN GET IN.

UM, MY GOAL WILL BE TO KEEP ALL THE TRUCKS AWAY FROM GREENLEAF ROAD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

UM, SO THEY SHOULDN'T BE AFFECTED AT ALL.

THERE MAY BE A LITTLE BIT, THEY MIGHT SEE SOME LIGHT, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE THAT SIX FOOT PRIVACY FENCE THAT WILL PROTECT THEM FROM THAT LIGHT.

UM, AND ALSO HELP DEF YOU KNOW, DRAWN OUT THE NOISE.

BUT 55 DECIBELS IS, IS A CAR STEREO AT A MO YOU KNOW, MODERATE SITE.

IT'S NOT THAT LOUD.

SO THE CITIZEN THAT SAYS SHE CAN SEE THE SITE FROM HER FRONT PORCH, UH, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO SPOKE THAT, BUT, SO YES, SIR.

AS, YEAH.

AND SO THAT WOULD NOT IMPACT, THE NOISE WOULD NOT IMPACT IF HE'S THAT CLOSE.

SO THE, THE EQUIPMENT THAT ARE, THAT'S ON SITE RIGHT NOW IS, YOU KNOW, HEAVY EARTH MOVING EQUIPMENT THAT STAND, YOU KNOW, THREE STORIES TALL, YOU CAN SEE THEM.

UM, THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE WILL BE USING FOR THE CONCRETE FORCE, IT'S A CONCRETE TRUCK THAT STANDS 15 FEET TALL.

SO IT'S, IT'S HALF THE SIZE.

SO EVEN IF YOU CAN SEE IT FROM YOUR FRONT PORCH, UM, WITH THE, THE NIGHTTIME BACKUP ALARM MUFFLED, IT'LL BE REAL DIFFICULT TO HEAR.

BUT I'LL BE MONITORING THAT, THAT NOISE, UM, AS WE CONDUCT THE OPERATION.

AND IF WE NEED TO REMISSION TRUCKS AT THE TIME, WE'LL, WE'LL MOVE THEM.

YOU KIND OF GIVE 'EM A LITTLE BIT FARTHER AWAY.

ALDERMAN, UH, WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT IF WE DO GET COMPLAINTS, WE CAN STOP THIS AT ANY TIME.

MORE QUESTIONS? NO, I'D JUST LIKE TO ALSO MAKE A COMMENT THAT, UH, LIKE AL AND BRENT SAID, WHEN I REVIEWED THE AGENDA PACKET OVER THE WEEKEND, UH, I RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE, THE RESOLUTION, UH, AND THE OPEN ENDED NATURE OF THE RESOLUTION.

UM, WHICH I HAD EXPRESSED TO, UM, THE CITY MANAGER AS WELL.

UM, SO I WOULD BE LOOKING TO HAVE A MORE RESTRICTIVE WAIVER, UH, APPROVED AS OPPOSED TO WHAT'S, UH, BEFORE US RIGHT NOW.

IF THERE'S, UH, NO MORE DISCUSSION, I'VE GOT THAT MORE RESTRICTIVE, UH, MOTION.

SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE GRANT A EXCEPTION TO THE CAPE FEAR CONSTRUCTION TO OUR NOISE ORDINANCE, ESSENTIALLY ALLOWING THEM FROM 3:00 AM TO 7:00 AM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, ONE FEBRUARY TO ONE JULY FOR THE PURPOSE OF POURING CONCRETE.

AND ITS SUPPORTING OPERATIONS WITH THE FURTHER UNDERSTANDING THAT THE EXEMPTION SHOULD BE UTILIZED ONCE PER WEEK FOR NINE SEPARATE UNITS WITHIN THAT WINDOW.

I HAVE A MOTION.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THOUGH.

I HAVE A SECOND.

WE NEED TO FURTHER DISCUSSION QUESTION.

THE MOTION SAID FROM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, AND HE SAID JUST ONE DAY OUT OF THE WEEK.

RIGHT.

BUT THAT ALLOWS HIM FLEXIBILITY TO SCHEDULE.

IF, IF, IF WE TELL HIM, YOU KNOW, ONE DAY, YOU KNOW, IF, IF WE SAY, HEY, YOU CAN ONLY DO IT ON TUESDAY AND HE CAN'T DO IT ON TUESDAY, I, I DON'T WANT TO BE THAT RESTRICTIVE TO HIS OPERATIONS.

SO, BUT THERE'S, SO, BUT I WANT TO SPECIFY IT'S MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

IT'S NOT THE WEEKENDS.

AND WITH THE UNDERSTANDING IT'S ONLY GONNA BE ONE DAY PER WEEK, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

IF, IF THAT KIND OF CLARIFIES THE INTENT BEHIND HAVING THE, THE WAY I READ IT.

ANY MORE DISCUSSION? AND YOU'RE, YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT RESTRICTION? ABSOLUTELY.

AS LONG AS I ALLOWED TO PICK WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK.

UM, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IF IT RAINS ONE WEEK, I MAY NOT POUR THAT WEEK.

THAT MIGHT HAVE TO DO IT LIKE MONDAY THE FOLLOWING WEEK, OR YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK I'M GOING FOR.

BUT THE HOURS, THE HOURS THREE TO SEVEN, THAT'S ALL WORK WITH, THAT'S ALL I NEED.

DOESN'T INCLUDE THE WEEKENDS.

[01:30:01]

LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN B BRINSON.

MOVING ON TO ITEM AND THANK YOU, SIR.

MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER 13, CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION APPROVING A M MOU WITH CAROLINA EAST HEALTH SYSTEM FOR EMS, HOUSING AND AMBULANCE STORAGE.

[13. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving a Memorandum of Understanding with Carolina East Health System for EMS Housing and Ambulance Storage.]

MR. HUGHES, I'D LIKE TO ASK CHIEF BOYD TO COME FORWARD AND MAKE THIS PRESENTATION.

MAYOR BOARD, UH, I WAS APPROACHED A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK BY CAROLINA EAST, UH, FAR AS SOME KIND OF A CONTINGENCY PLAN IN PLACE IN CASE THEY'RE CURRENT FACILITY THAT HOUSES THEIR EMS UNITS.

UH, IF SOMETHING WAS CATASTROPHICALLY HAPPENED TO THOSE THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO PLACE TO HOUSE AT, SO THAT THEY PUT TOGETHER AN AGREEMENT, I SENT IT TO THE ATTORNEY AND I'M HERE TONIGHT TO HOPEFULLY GET YOUR APPROVAL FOR THAT SO WE CAN BE A PARTNER WITH THEM.

BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? I JUST, I I I GUESS I WAS A LITTLE BIT CON CONFUSED, UM, THE WAY IT WAS WORDED, UM, ARE, ARE YOU REALLY JUST TALKING ABOUT THEIR, THEIR ROLLING STOCK AND STAFF? THAT, THAT'S CORRECT.

BUT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT POTENTIALLY PATIENTS NO, NO.

BEING ON CITY PROPERTY.

IT'S THE BUILDING LOCATED RIGHT THERE ON, ON THIS BOULEVARD FOR THEIR HOUSING, THEIR UNITS NOW AND THEIR PERSONNEL.

IF SOMETHING WAS TO HAPPEN AT THAT FACILITY, THEY'D NEED SOMEWHERE TO PUT IT AND THEY WOULD, YOU'D LIKE TO UTILIZE OUR FIRE STATIONS TO HOUSE.

I, I I ASSUMED THAT WAS THE CASE, BUT JUST READING IT, I UNDERSTAND.

THEY KIND OF LEFT ME WITH A QUESTION WHETHER WE WERE DEALING WITH MORE THAN JUST THEIR, THEIR ROLLING STOCK AND THE STAFF THAT, THAT MAN UP, SO.

THANK YOU MR. ATTORNEY.

JUST TO BE CLEAR, CAUSE I'M SURE SOMEBODY'S GONNA SAY SOMETHING OR ASK THE QUESTION.

I'M ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR CAROLINA EAST.

CAN YOU CLARIFY THAT? THERE'S NO CONFLICT, SO I CAN VOTE ACCORDINGLY ON THIS TOPIC? YES, SIR.

THIS, THIS DOES NOT INVOLVE A CONTRACT THAT BENEFITS YOU, UM, OR YOUR FAMILY IN ANY WAY.

AND BY THE WAY, I DIDN'T LEARN ABOUT THIS UNTIL, UM, I SAW IT ON OUR AGENDA PACKAGE, SO I, THERE'S NOTHING TO HELP YOU A LITTLE BIT TOO.

IT'S CALLED MUTUAL AID .

WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BORDER? ON ITEM NUMBER 13, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH CAROLINA EAST HEALTH SYSTEMS FOR EMS, HOUSING AND AMBULANCE STORAGE.

SECOND, HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN FRILL.

ALDERMAN ESTHER? YES.

ALDERMAN KINZIE.

14, CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE FOR THE DEMOLITION OF 1111 CEDAR STREET.

ALDERMAN VEST? YES.

ALDERMAN B BRINSON? YES.

[14. Consider Adopting an Ordinance for the Demolition of 1111 Cedar Street.]

MR. HUGHES, I'D LIKE TO ASK MATT BOSWELL TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

HOPE YOU'RE DOING WELL.

UM, I'VE GOT WHAT APPEARS TO BE A PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD, UH, REQUEST FOR A DEMOLITION ORDINANCE.

UH, LIKE MR. HUGHES STATED, THE ADDRESS OF THE PROPERTY IS 1111 CEDAR STREET THAT IS ON THE CORNER OF CEDAR AND, AND FIRST AVENUE.

UM, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THIS ONE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW.

UM, I CAN KIND OF GO THROUGH A QUICK, UH, CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER OF EVENTS.

UM, THERE WAS A, A STRUCTURE FIRE THERE, UM, BACK IN APRIL OF 2021.

UM, WE HAD A FEW CONVERSATIONS WITH THE, THE PROPERTY OWNER AT THAT TIME, UM, BUT THEN DIDN'T FULLY DIVE INTO THE MINIMUM HOUSING PROCESS UNTIL ABOUT A YEAR LATER.

UM, APRIL OF 20 20 22.

UM, WE FOLLOWED THE STANDARD MINIMUM HOUSING PROCEDURE, UM, YOU KNOW, NOTIFIED EVERYBODY THAT NEEDED, YOU'D BE NOTIFIED.

WE GAVE THEM A TIMELINE FOR COMPLIANCE.

AND THAT TIMELINE HAS PASSED.

SO NOW WE ARE HERE ASKING FOR, UM, THE DEMOLITION ORDINANCE TO MOVE FORWARD AND DEMOLISH THE HOUSE AT 1111 CEDAR STREET.

ANY QUESTIONS? I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER? I HAVE A QUESTION.

SURE.

THE, UH, GIS VIEW THAT YOU GAVE US HAS THREE STRUCTURES ON THAT PROPERTY.

IS THIS JUST FOR THE ONE MAIN STRUCTURE? NO, IT'LL BE ALL THREE.

THERE ARE TWO SMALLER ACCESSORY BUILDINGS.

UM, ONE'S ABOUT A 16 BY 16, UM, CINDER BLOCK GARAGE, AND THE OTHER ONE'S LIKE A EIGHT BY 10 BY LITTLE STORAGE BUILDING.

BUT THEY, THEY WOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE DEMOLITION.

JUST

[01:35:01]

CLARIFICATION.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER 14.

I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT AN ORDINANCE FOR THE DEMOLITION OF 1111 CEDAR STREET.

SECOND, HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, HEARING NONETHELESS, HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ROYAL.

ALDERMAN ROYAL, YES.

ALDERMAN ESTHER? YES.

ALDERMAN KENZIE.

15, CONSIDERED ADOPTING A BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR FY 2223.

ALDERMAN VEST? YES.

ALDERMAN B BRINSON? YES.

[15. Consider Adopting a Budget Ordinance Amendment for FY2022-23.]

MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO ASK KIM OSTROM TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION.

THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT WILL APPROPRIATE $55,000 FROM THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION'S FUND BALANCE TO ITS REDEVELOPMENT FUND AS REQUESTED AND APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION ON DECEMBER 14TH, 2022.

THE FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO THE REHABILITATION OF NINE 11 EUBANK STREET, ASBESTOS WORK AT 9 0 8 BLOOMFIELD STREET, WHICH IS THE MACAU HOUSE, THE PURCHASE OF NINE 10 AND NINE 14 BLOOMFIELD STREET IN LASLEY, THE DEMOLITION OF 9 0 8, 9 10, AND NINE 14 BLOOMFIELD STREET.

ANY QUESTIONS? BOARD? NO, NOT I ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR NUMBER 15.

I'LL MAKE A, EXCUSE ME.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A BUDGET.

BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR FY 20 22 23.

I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

HEARING NONE.

LET HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ASTOR.

ALDERMAN CREOLE? YES.

[16. Appointment(s).]

APPOINTMENTS.

UH, ALDERMAN MCKENZIE.

IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE ONE FOR THE HPC.

I DO, SIR.

HIS NAME ARE, YOU APPEAR TO MAKE THAT I AM READY TO MAKE THAT.

HIS NAME IS MARCUS.

I DON'T WANT TO MESS UP HIS LAST NAME.

I SPELL IT TO MS. TO THE, UH, CLERK.

IT'S, UM, W A R T N E R.

THAT'S MY APPOINTMENT FOR THE HPC.

HAVE A MOTION.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

HAVE A SECOND.

DISCUSSION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

THE OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES.

LOOKS LIKE, UH, OTTOMAN BEST.

YOU HAVE ONE FOR ALSO THE HPC? YES, I DO.

AND I SPOKE WITH, UH, MR. ROCHE, AND, UM, HE SAID IT WOULD BE AN HONOR TO SERVE ON THE HPC BOARD.

UM, HE SAYS THAT HE WAS GONNA MAKE ME PROUD , THAT'S SO I LIKE TO MAKE, UM, THAT APPOINTMENT.

MR. ROSH, YOU SAID ROSH.

R U S C H.

HAVE A MOTION.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? HE'S ON THERE.

ANYONE ELSE HAVE APPOINTMENTS? I DIDN'T SEE ANY.

ON TO ATTORNEY'S REPORTING NOTHING.

MOVE

[17. Attorney’s Report. ]

REPORT TONIGHT.

MAYOR CITY

[18. City Manager’s Report.]

MANAGER'S REPORT.

A FEW ITEMS TO, TO UPDATE YOU ON.

FIRST OF ALL, UM, VERY SOON WE'RE GONNA BE DOING, UH, A PROJECT DEPUTY AT THE, UH, UNION POINT PARK STORMWATER RECRUITMENT PROJECT THAT'S GONNA START ON JANUARY 16TH.

UH, THOSE ARE COMING FROM SOME, A RPA FUNDS, UH, THAT WARD ONE ALDERMAN HAD HAD REQUESTED FOR THAT PRO, SORRY, IT WAS ACTUALLY WARD, WARD SIX ALDERMAN HAD REQUESTED FOR THAT PROJECT.

SO THAT'S GONNA START SHORTLY.

UM, THIS SHOULD ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE CONSTANT FLOODING WE HAVE.

UH, UNION POINT PARK, ALSO, FENCE REP, UH, PLACEMENT PROJECT IS CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS ALONG THE RIVERWALK FROM THE CONVENTION CENTER TO THE RAILROAD TRACKS.

THAT PROJECT SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN ABOUT 10 DAYS.

UM, WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT, UH, NC D O T HAS ALREADY INSTALLED, UH, NEW SIGNS LOWERING THE SPEED LIMIT TO 35 MILES PER HOUR FROM HIGHWAY 70 TO MLK BOULEVARD.

UH, SO THAT IS IN EFFECT NOW.

AND ALSO, UH, SENT YOU SOME INFORMATION OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS ABOUT, UH, GETTING INPUT FOR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THIS BOARD TO MOVE FORWARD OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

UM, SO, UM, THE GOAL IS TO DISCUSS, UH, THIS OVER THE, UH, AT, AT AN UPCOMING WORKSHOP.

UM, BUT YOU'LL HAVE A LINK IN, IN THE EMAIL THAT WAS SENT TODAY.

AND, AND WE'D LIKE TO ASK THAT YOU, UH, FILL THAT INFORMATION OUT AND GET IT BACK TO US, UM, BY JANUARY 20TH, WHICH IS ABOUT 10 DAYS.

AND WE'LL SEND SOME REMINDERS OUT.

BUT BASICALLY, WHAT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, UH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE ACCOMPLISHED OVER THESE NEXT THREE YEARS? AND THAT COULD BE CITYWIDE, IT COULD BE AFFECTING YOUR INDIVIDUAL AWARDS AS, AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

AND THE FINAL THING I HAVE FOR YOU ON YOUR SCREEN, YOU'RE

[01:40:01]

GONNA SEE, UH, A LITTLE DEMONSTRATION OF ROKU.

SO, UM, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, IF IF YOU DON'T HAVE, UM, CABLE TELEVISION AND YOU'RE STREAMING, UH, LIKE A LOT OF FOLKS ARE, AND YOU HAVE THE ROKU APP, YOU CAN GO ON TO THE ROKU CHANNEL.

AND IN THE SEARCH BAR YOU CAN SEARCH AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ENTER CITY OF NEWBURG.

AND ONCE YOU ENTER THAT, IT'S GONNA POP UP AND YOU'LL SEE OUR CITY SYMBOL, JUST LIKE YOU SEE ON THE CHANNEL.

AND SO YOU CLICK ON THAT AND YOU GO THROUGH THE PROCESS TO DOWNLOAD THAT.

AND THEN THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE.

UM, THE MAJORITY OF THE MEETINGS, I BELIEVE ARE ALREADY LINED UP AND READY TO GO.

SO YOU'VE GOT THE GOVERNING BOARD MEETINGS, YOU'VE GOT THE PLANNING AND ZONING MEETINGS, YOU'VE GOT HISTORIC PRESERVATION, YOU'VE GOT STANLEY WRIGHT RECREATION CENTER.

AM I MISSING ANY? KYLE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT MEETINGS SO ALREADY TO PLACE FOR YOU.

WE ARE ALSO WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE LIVE FEED.

SO IF WE DON'T HAVE A, A MEETING GOING ON, COLLEEN ALWAYS HAS SOMETHING RUNNING ON, UH, CITY THREE TV, SO YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THAT AS WELL.

I DON'T THINK THAT IS, IS HAS GENERATED YET, BUT WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING ON THAT.

SO, UH, I GIVE COLLEEN CREDIT, SHE'S BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR QUITE A WHILE, AND WE'RE GLAD THAT THIS IS ANOTHER WAY THAT OUR CITIZENS CAN SEE, UH, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CITY GOVERNMENT.

AND THERE'S YOU, THAT'S US.

THAT'S ALIVE.

WELL, THAT'S, THAT WAS A LIVE SHOT EARLIER TONIGHT.

SO, QUESTION, UM, QUESTION COLLEEN.

UM, ME, UH, UM, SYDNEY ANDREW.

SO WITH THE ROKU, DON'T YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT RUKU DEVICE OR CAN YOU USE IT WITH A SMART TV? DO YOU KNOW? YOU, YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE, ROKU HAS YOUR STREAMING DEVICE.

AND IT COMES IN SMART TVS NOWADAYS.

OR YOU CAN ALSO BUY IT SEPARATE.

IS THAT ALL? THAT'S ALL.

NEW BUSINESS STARTING WITH ALDERMAN BRISSON.

[19. New Business.]

BUT JUST A, UH, COUPLE OF, UH, ANNOUNCEMENTS TONIGHT.

UH, MR. MAYER, UH, REESE ACROSS AMERICA WILL BE CONDUCTING THE RE RETIREMENT CEREMONY THIS SATURDAY AT 9:00 AM NEWBURN NATIONAL CEMETERY FOR THOSE THAT ARE WISHING TO HELP.

AND THEN AMERICAN LEGION POST 5 39 WILL BE FINISHING UP CLEANING AND CATALOGING THE VETERANS GRAVES AT EVERGREEN CEMETERY ON FEBRUARY 4TH, BEGINNING AT 2:00 PM TRYING TO GET A LITTLE WARMER THERE, .

SO, WHILE YOU'RE WORKING WITH WATER, BUT AGAIN, THAT'S FEBRUARY 4TH, BEGINNING AT 2:00 PM AND, UH, THEY SHOULD BE, WE SHOULD BE FINISHING THAT UP, UH, ON THAT DAY.

AND THEN SINCE I'M GOING FIRST, I GUESS I, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CITY STAFF PARKS AND REC AND, UH, THE GREAT JOB THEY DID FOR BOTH THE, UH, CHRISTMAS DISPLAYS AND THE, UH, NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY THAT WE HAD.

UM, I HAD FAMILY IN TOWN AND THAT WAS THE REASON WHY THEY CAME AND, UH, WAS TO GO SEE THE BEAR DROP.

AND SO WE DID AND, UH, HAD A GREAT TIME.

SO THANKS A LOT.

AND, UH, I KNOW YOU PUT IT IN THE, UH, MONTHLY REPORT, BUT DO YOU REMEMBER HOW MUCH WE GAINED ON THE ICE RINK? I THINK IT WAS ALMOST $20,000, RIGHT? IT, IT WAS, UH, JUST UNDER $17,000 IN REVENUE GENERATED THIS YEAR.

SO THAT WAS, THAT WAS PRETTY STRONG.

WE'RE PLEASED WITH THE FIRST YEAR PERFORMANCE ON THAT.

I JUST HAVE ONE THING, UM, TURNING OFF OF, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE CITY HAS ANY JURISDICTION, UM, OR IF THE CITY EVEN CAN REACH OUT TO, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S, IT'S, IT'S PROBABLY PRIVATE PROPERTY, BUT, UM, IF YOU TURN OFF OF GLEN BURNIE RIGHT THERE AT BURGER KING, THERE'S A BIG HOLE RIGHT THERE AS YOU TURN OFF OF GLEN BURN GOING INTO THAT, UM, TO BURGER KING.

AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THE FURNITURE STORE.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CITY CAN, IS THAT CITY RESPONSIBILITY PROBABLY GONNA BE PRIVATE PROPERTY? THAT'S, I WAS THINKING, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL REACH OUT TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS OKAY.

BECAUSE, UM, I'VE, I'VE GOTTEN SOME PHONE CALLS ON IT.

I WILL BE HOSTING A TOWN HALL MEETING, UH, ON FEBRUARY THE SIXTH AT 6:00 PM AT THE WEST, UH, NEWBURN REC CENTER.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

KINSEY NOT TONIGHT, SIR.

ASK NOTHING THING ALLMAN ROYAL.

YES, BUT THOSE WHO HAVE, I HAVE NOT, UH, WISHED TO HAPPEN NEW YEAR.

EVEN THOUGH WE ARE DEEP INTO JANUARY.

I WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO WISH EVERYONE A VERY, VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR.

EVERY END MARKS A NEW BEGINNING.

AND SO NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR LIFE IN A NEW DIRECTION.

UH, ALSO IN THE WORDS OF SOCRATES, THE SECRET OF CHANGE IS TO FOCUS YOUR ENERGY NOT ON FIGHTING THE OLD, BUT ON BUILDING THE NEW.

AND THEN LASTLY TO THE RESIDENTS IN WEST NEWBURN.

IN WARD TWO,

[01:45:01]

AND, UM, IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE RESIDENTS AND THOSE COMMUNITIES TO DISCUSS THEIR CONCERNS.

AND, UH, AS I OFTEN SAY, EVERY VOICE HAS VALUE AND THIS TOWN HALL MEETING WILL PROVIDE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE RESIDENTS TO EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS TO THE GOVERNING BODY.

THAT TOWN HALL MEETING WILL FACILITATE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

AND SO I'M SO THANKFUL FOR THE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE STAFF ACCOMPANYING ME TO THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS.

I APPRECIATE THAT AND I KNOW THAT THE RESIDENTS APPRECIATE IT.

SO HOPE TO SEE ALL THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE LISTENING OR WHO WILL, WILL WATCH THIS, UM, RECORDING TO MEET ME AT WEST NEWBURN REC CENTER AGAIN ON FEBRUARY THE 12TH.

EXCUSE ME, FEBRUARY THE SIXTH.

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GIVE ME A CALL.

WHAT WAS THE TIME AGAIN? 6:00 PM THAT ON? YES, SIR.

OMAN FRI UH, FOSTER, ONE REAL QUICK THING.

UM, IF YOU CAN HAVE MAYBE SOMEBODY FROM PUBLIC WORKS TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

UM, DOWN BEHIND THE DOUBLETREE HOTEL, UM, WHERE THE POOL IS LOCATED, IF YOU GO TO THE CONCRETE RETAINING WALL, UM, WHERE THE MARINA IS, UM, THERE'S A DEPRESSION.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S JUST RECENTLY HAPPENED, BUT, UM, THE, THE SOIL HAS SUNK DOWN A GOOD TWO FEET OR SO.

AND THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS THERE'S SOME KIND OF A BOX THAT IS ALSO SINKING.

NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S A ELECTRIC BOX CABLE, BUT SOMEBODY MIGHT NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST SLOWLY SINKING DOWN.

SO WE BETTER DO SOMETHING BEFORE A PROBLEM GETS CAUSED.

WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT.

ANYTHING ELSE? UH, NOTHING ELSE, PLEASE.

UM, I HAVE, I HAVE TWO THINGS.

UH, HOPEFULLY THEY'LL BE QUICK WORKSHOP.

UM, THERE'S BEEN, UM, A DESIRE EXPRESS TO HAVE A WORKSHOP.

I THINK THE LAST TIME WE HAD ONE THERE WAS ABOUT 10 OR 12 ITEMS ON THERE.

WE ONLY GOT THROUGH HALF OF THOSE.

UM, SO I THINK IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD TIME FOR US TO REVISIT THAT.

WHEN IS OUR NEXT, I THINK OUR NEXT SCHEDULED WORKSHOP IS GONNA BE FOR THE BUDGET.

WHEN YOU SAID THAT WAS FEBRUARY FOSTER, IT'S IN MARCH, I BELIEVE.

WHEN IS IT? MAY BRENDA? IT'S THE, ACTUALLY THE BUDGET.

IT WAS LIKE MAY, MAY 2ND AND THIRD.

DISTRICTS AT OUR NEXT MEETING, AND WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT SOCIAL DISTRICTS AT OUR NEXT MEETING, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S FOUR MEMBERS ON THIS BOARD.

SO I, FOURTH, I'M GOING TO, I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT WE TRY TO HAVE A WORKSHOP SOME POINT IN FEBRUARY.

SO IF THE CLERK COULD SEND OUT HER DOODLE LIKE SHE DOES, UM, WE CAN, WE CAN LAND ON A DATE AND TIME TO DO THAT.

ANY OBJECTIONS? OKAY.

UM, THE LAST TOPIC, UH, I'M SO HESITANT ON EVEN SAYING THESE WORDS.

UM, I, I WANT TO TALK A MINUTE AND I KNOW I'M GONNA REGRET THIS.

I WANNA TALK A MINUTE ABOUT A SOCIAL DISTRICT.

I WANNA TALK ABOUT IT CAUSE I'M TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT IT.

UH, I CAN'T GO TO CHURCH, I CAN'T GO TO THE GROCERY STORE.

I CAN'T GO TO TARGET AND I CAN'T WRITE A, WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A, A POSITIVE ARTICLE IN THE COUNTY COMPASS TO TALK ABOUT A NEW YEAR AND A FRESH START AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES WITHOUT GETTING A, IT WAS ACTUALLY A COMPLIMENT EMAIL THAT I RECEIVED.

AND IT TOOK ME A WHILE FOR, FOR THAT TO RESONATE.

CAUSE WE USUALLY DON'T GET EMAILS THAT ARE COMPLIMENTARY.

BUT EVEN IN THE RESPONSE I GOT, THAT WAS A COMPLIMENT, IT WAS A PRETTY LENGTHY EMAIL ABOUT OPPOSITION TO THE SOCIAL DISTRICT.

SO, I WANNA BE CLEAR TONIGHT, NOW WE'RE ON ROKU.

SO HOPEFULLY WE'VE COVERED A LOT MORE OF THE POPULATION THAN WE HAVE BEFORE.

THIS GOVERNING BODY HAS NEVER AT ONE SINGLE TIME CONSIDERED LOOKED AT OR DISCUSSED OR DEBATED A SOCIAL DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF NEWBURG.

OKAY? NEVER.

THERE IS NO CURRENT PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF THIS BOARD FOR US TO DELIBERATE OVER OR CONSIDER ALTMAN PERILLO.

I, YOU AND I, UM, EARLY ON WE WERE INVITED TO A HYDRO MEETING AND THAT BECAME ONE OF THE TOPICS THAT THAT CAME UP.

AND I OFFERED TO HAVE A, A MEETING.

IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

WE HAD ANOTHER MEETING THAT HAPPENED A FEW WEEKS AGO AND THERE WERE SEVERAL TOPICS ON THERE.

AND I MOVED SOCIAL DISTRICT TO THE VERY BOTTOM.

CAUSE I KNEW WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN IF WE STARTED OUT WITH THAT TOPIC.

THAT'S ALL WE WERE GONNA TALK ABOUT FOR THE WHOLE MEETING.

AND I, I TOLD THOSE IN ATTENDANCE THAT I HAD NO INTENTION ON THIS BOARD TAKING UP THIS TOPIC.

OKAY? YOU CAN NEVER SAY NEVER BECAUSE ALL IT TAKES IS FOUR MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD AT ANY GIVEN TIME UNDER NEW BUSINESS TO SAY, I WANT TO BRING UP SOCIAL

[01:50:01]

YOU ALL CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

PLEASE DO.

SO THAT WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT SOCIAL DISTRICT DISTRICTS IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE.

SO FOR EVERYBODY THAT IS SENDING US LETTERS, PHONE CALLS, EMAILS, THESE CUTE CARTOON DRAWINGS THAT, THAT WE'VE GOTTEN, UM, SAVE, SAVE YOUR TIME AND ENERGY.

DO DO IT ON SOMETHING THAT'S MORE PRODUCTIVE.

UH, WE HAVE HEARD YOU .

THERE'S NO ONE HERE THAT IS ANGLING RIGHT NOW TO TRY TO GET A SOCIAL DISTRICT CREATIVE FOR NEW BERN.

UH, THERE'S BEEN SOME TALK AND SOME CONSIDERATION ABOUT A MASTER PLAN OR A STRATEGIC PLAN.

WE'VE LOOKED AT, YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT A MEETING HOPEFULLY SCHEDULED WITH SWISS BEAR IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO TALK ABOUT SOME CONCERNS DOWNTOWN ABOUT SOME GAPS WE HAVE FROM A RETAIL PERSPECTIVE VERSUS SOME, SOME FOLKS FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TOO MANY RESTAURANTS DOWNTOWN.

WE NEED MORE RETAIL.

UH, THE FREE MARKET'S GONNA DECIDE THAT, BUT THE FREE MARKET AND THE VOTERS AND THE PUBLIC IS GONNA DECIDE WHETHER WE HAVE A SOCIAL DISTRICT OR NOT.

AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE FEEDBACK I GET IS NOT IN FAVOR OF A SOCIAL DISTRICT.

SO I THINK IT WOULD BE KIND OF FOOLISH ON, ON MY BEHALF OR ANYBODY ELSE'S TO BRING UP AND TRY TO CREATE A SOCIAL DISTRICT.

I UNDERSTAND, JUST LIKE MANY OTHER TOPICS, THERE'S PASSIONATE PEOPLE ON ONE SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT AND THERE'S PASSIONATE PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT.

BUT I JUST WANT TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT TONIGHT THAT THERE IS NOT ANY SOCIAL DISTRICT UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR THE CITY OF NEW BURN AT THIS TIME.

AND I DON'T SEE ONE IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE EITHER.

CAUSE IT TAKES FOUR MEMBERS.

I WANNA BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS.

IT TAKES FOUR MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD TO SAY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A SOCIAL DISTRICT, AND I DON'T SEE FOUR PEOPLE RAISING THEIR HAND.

WANT TO TALK ABOUT A SOCIAL DISTRICT.

DOES THE BOARD HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANNA SAY? I'LL GET OFF MY SOAPBOX.

I I WOULD JUST CHIME IN AND PLEASE THIS, THIS IS NOT NEW, UH, TO THE MAYOR BECAUSE I'VE SUGGESTED, UM, THIS TO HIM, UH, RECENTLY.

AND I, I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO TALK TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THE SOCIAL DISTRICT.

UM, AND NOT FROM ME INITIATING THAT CONVERSATION, BUT OTHER PEOPLE INITIATING THE CONVERSATION WITH ME.

AND, AND FOR THE MOST PART, UM, THOSE THAT HAVE TALKED TO ME HAVE BEEN MORE OF THE ANTI, AS OPPOSED TO THE PRO, UM, POSITION.

AND I, I, I LISTEN TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY AND THEN I SUGGEST TO THEM, UH, ONE THING.

AND THAT IS, RATHER THAN TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU DON'T WANT, HOW ABOUT CHANGING THE NARRATIVE AND START TALKING ABOUT WHAT YOU DO WANT, WHAT DO YOU WANT NEWBURN, YOU KNOW, TO BE, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE HAPPENING IN NEWBURN? AND SO I I'M TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, ONE PERSON AT A TIME, I'M TRYING TO CHANGE A MINDSET TO GET AWAY FROM THE NEGATIVE AND TO START TALKING ABOUT POSITIVE THINGS BECAUSE THIS, THE, THE WHOLE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE SOCIAL DISTRICT HAS CREATED A COUPLE OF CAMPS, THOSE THAT ARE IN FAVOR AND THOSE THAT ARE AGAINST.

AND THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING UNDER KIND OF THE UNDERCURRENT THERE.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO THAT.

THE MAYOR HAS, I HAVE.

UM, BUT NOBODY WANTS TO TO BRING IT FORWARD.

AND WHETHER OR NOT ANYBODY EVENTUALLY DOES, WILL, WILL SEE.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, AGAIN, I'M, I'M TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO CHANGE, CHANGE THE NARRATIVE AND LET'S, LET'S START TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE DO WANT TO SEE IN NEWBURG AS OPPOSED TO WHAT WE DON'T WANT.

SO, THANK YOU HONOR.

THE LAST COMMENT I'LL MAKE IS I'M NOT, I'M NOT PRO BUSINESS.

I'M NOT PRO RESIDENT.

I'M PRO NEWBURN AND WE NEED TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR NEW.

AND I'VE SAID THIS TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT I DON'T CARE WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING.

WE'RE, WE'RE NOT OTHER CITIES.

WE HAVE BENCHMARK CITIES THAT WE MEASURE OURSELF AGAINST FOR, FOR GOOD THINGS.

BUT WE ARE UNIQUE AND WE'RE SPECIAL.

AND AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I, I DON'T, I DON'T SEE ANY SOCIAL DISTRICT DISCUSSION OR DEBATE ON THE HORIZON.

SO ANYTHING ELSE COMING BEFORE THE BOARD TONIGHT? DONNA? ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

NO, I NEED A MOTION.

HAVE A MOTION.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

HAVE A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.