[1. Meeting opened by Mayor Odham. Prayer Coordinated by Alderman Best. Pledge of Allegiance.]
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GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE JANUARY 24TH, 2023 NEWBURN BOARD OF ALDERMAN MEETING TONIGHT.
THE PRAYER WILL BE COORDINATED BY ALDERMAN BEST.
CAN WE ALL PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT FOR PRAYER? HEAVENLY FATHER, I COME TO YOU THANKING YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR GIVING US LIFE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY, LORD.
AND I ASK OF YOU TONIGHT TO GOVERN THIS MEETING SO THAT, SO THAT WHEN WE MAKE THE DECISIONS OF THIS CITY, WE WILL BE MINDFUL TO TREAT EACH ONE WILL DIGNITY AND RESPECT, AND LET US BE, CONDUCT OURSELF IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER SO THAT WE WILL BE RESPECTFUL OF THE DECISIONS AND THE OPINIONS OF OTHERS.
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE STAND AND PLEDGE BY THE PLEDGE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, REPUBLICAN ONE NATION UNDER GOD AND INDIVISIBLE.
MADAM CLERK, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ALDERMAN FREE HERE.
HERE, ALDERMAN BEST PRESENT, ALDERMAN GRENSON.
[Additional Item]
WE, UH, MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER THREE, I WANTED TO, UM, RECOGNIZE A COUPLE GUESTS.WE HAVE, UH, KRAVEN COUNTY COMMISSIONER SHERRY HUNT IN THE AUDIENCE.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A BOY SCOUT TROOP.
SO BOYS, COME ON UP TO THE MICROPHONE, TELL US WHAT TROOP YOU'RE WITH AND YOUR NAMES.
WE'RE GONNA PUT YOU ON THE SPOT TONIGHT.
HELLO, I'M FOREST BENNINGTON FROM TROOP 1 32.
BLACKMAN STRAU FROM 1 32, UH, STARCO JACK ARTHUR FROM 1 32.
UM, I'M CHARLES MASSEY FROM TROOP 1 32, AND I AM A STA SCOUT.
WELL, GLAD TO HAVE YOU TONIGHT.
[3. Approve Agenda.]
BOARD ITEM NUMBER THREE IS TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.DO WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION OR ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO DO SO? MAYOR, BEFORE WE MOVE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT ITEM NUMBER NINE BE REMOVED FROM TONIGHT'S, UH, AGENDA AND RESCHEDULED FOR OUR FEBRUARY 14TH MEETING.
AND THAT SUFFICIENT TIME BE ALLOCATED FOR PUBLIC INPUT ON THAT MATTER.
MOTION TO SECOND, LIKE A ROLL CALL, STARTING WITH ALDERMAN PRI.
ITEM NUMBER NINE WILL BE TABLED TO THE NEXT MEETING.
HOW ABOUT THE REST OF THE AGENDA? MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDMENT SECOND.
HAVE A MOTION TO SECONDING DISCUSSION.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES ABOUT
[Consent Agenda]
THE CONSENT AGENDA.MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ROYAL ERMAN MEMORIAL.
[7. Conduct a Public Hearing and Consider Adopting an Ordinance Amending the Schedule of Fees and Charges Relative to Leased Parking Rates.]
ON TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SCHEDULE OF FEES AND CHARGES RELATIVE TO LEASE PARKING RATES.MR. HUGHES MAYOR AT THE BOARD'S RETREAT IN NOVEMBER, DISCUSSION WAS HELD ABOUT DOWNTOWN PARKING AND THE CITY'S LEASED PARKING LOTS.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE THREE LOTS THAT WE LEASE OUT THE P*****K LOT, WHICH IS ACROSS THE STREET FROM US, THE CRAVEN LOT, WHICH IS BESIDE MORGAN DRESSED RIGHT.
AND THE HANCOCK LOT, WHICH IS BASICALLY BEHIND THE CHELSEA.
ALL TOTAL, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 127 SPACES THAT WE LEASE OUT.
THOSE SPACES HAVE BEEN AT THE SAME RATE SINCE 2011.
UM, SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A LIMITED, UH, PARKING SPACE TO LEASE THAT IS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 8:00 AM TO FIVE TO 7:00 AM TO 5:30 PM AND THAT'S $20 PER MONTH.
AND WE'RE MAKING THE RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE THOSE FEES FOR
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THE LIMITED RATE TO GO TO $35 PER MONTH, AND FOR THE UNLIMITED RATE TO GO TO $45 PER MONTH.WE DID REACH OUT TO ALL POLICE HOLDERS AND THEY HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE THIS EVENING.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
MAY I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO, UM, CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING.
WELL, WE'LL, WE'LL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY COMMENTS? NONE.
WE'LL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING TO DISCUSS THE ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SCHEDULE OF FEES AND CHARGES RELATIVE TO LEE'S PARKING RULES.
IF ANYONE HAS ANY COMMENTS, YOU CAN COME FORWARD.
IF YOU COULD JUST COME TO THE MICROPHONE PLEASE.
UM, AND I KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT THIS MATTER, BUT MY QUESTION WOULD BE, UM, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHERS TO LEASE AT THAT RATE OR JUST THE PEOPLE WHO CURRENTLY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PARK FOR A DOLLAR A DAY? UM, MR. HUGHES.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY SPACES AVAILABLE FOR LEASE.
SO THEY'RE NOT, IT'S NOT 100% OCCUPANCY.
SO ONCE THE PROPOSED RATES ARE APPROVED, THEN YES.
SO THERE'S A PROCESS OF APPLYING TO THE CITY.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY SPACES ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE? PLEASE? IT, IT, IT DEPENDS PER LOT.
THE CRAVEN LOT'S 100% LEASED AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE HANCOCK LOT, UH, ABOUT 85% LEASED, AND THE P*****K LOT IS ABOUT 85% LEASED AT THIS POINT AS WELL.
HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE HAVE A SECOND, SECOND SEVERAL SECONDS.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ACTUALLY, LET'S, UH, DO A VOICE VOTE ON CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING PUBLIC HEARING, SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
WHAT'S THE INTER, UH, MOTION OF THE BOARD ON ITEM NUMBER SEVEN? OR DO WE WANNA HAVE SOME MORE DISCUSSION? APPROVE.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, UM, TO APPROVE THE ADOPTION OF WARDEN'S AMENDING THE SCHEDULE OF FEES AND CHARGES RELATIVE TO LEASE PARKING RATES.
SIR, I HAVE A MOTION AS SECOND ON ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ASTOR.
[8. Discussion of Converting the Pollock Street Parking Lot from Leased Spaces to a Pay-to-Park Mobile Lot.]
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, DISCUSSION OF CONVERTING THE P*****K STREET PARKING LOT FROM LEASE SPACES TO A PAY TO PARK MOBILE LOT, MR. HUGHES.SO, MAYOR, ALSO AT OUR, OUR WORK SESSION WE HELD IN NOVEMBER, WE HAD A DISCUSSION ON CONVERTING THE LEASE, UH, LOT ACROSS THE STREET TO PAY TO PARK.
AND SO AT THAT TIME WE TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLY HAVING A KIOSK IN PLACE.
AND, AND SINCE THAT TIME, WE'VE REACHED OUT TO A VARIETY OF VENDORS TO TALK ABOUT, UH, THE TRENDS THAT ARE CURRENTLY GOING ON AND, AND PAY TO PARK PARKING.
AND WHAT WE'VE KIND OF LOOKED AT AND WHERE THINGS ARE GOING ACROSS THE BOARD NATIONWIDE IS, IS THE MOBILE APP FOR THIS.
AND SO THE MOST RESPONSIVE VENDOR THAT WE HAVE TALKED TO IS PARK MOBILE.
AND I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A DEMONSTRATION, UH, ON, ON WHAT WHAT IT'S CAPABLE OF IN JUST A SECOND.
BUT ON YOUR SCREEN, YOU, YOU WILL SEE THE PARK, THE PARKING LOT.
WE'RE REFERRING TO THE P*****K STREET LOT ACROSS THE STREET.
AND SO THE PARK MOBILE APP IS, IS, UH, UH, THE MOST POPULAR APP, UH, CURRENTLY WITH, WITH PARKING.
IT'S THE THIRD MOST POPULAR MOBILE APP FOR, UM, FOR, FOR TRAVEL AND DESTINATION.
THERE IS BEHIND GOOGLE EARTH, I'M SORRY, BEHIND GOOGLE MAPS AND WAYS.
UH, THEY HAVE A VARIETY OF CUSTOMERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY USING THIS IN NORTH CAROLINA, AS YOU'LL SEE A, A VARIETY OF THOSE.
WE'VE REACHED OUT TO, TO SEVERAL OF OUR COUNTERPARTS TO GET AN IDEA ON HOW THIS APP IS WORKING FOR THEM.
UM, UH, A FEW HAVE, UH, HAVE STRUGGLED WITH IT, BUT OVERALL THE FOLKS ARE VERY PLEASED WITH IT.
AND THE ONES THAT HAVE REALLY STRUGGLED ARE THE ONES THAT ARE, ARE TRYING TO DO PARKING ON THE STREETS AS WELL.
AND, AND I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW, THE ONLY PLACE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING THIS IS IN A LEASE LOT.
WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT DOING ANY, ANY, UH, PAY TO PARK ON THE STREETS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
SO THE NEXT ITEM YOU'RE GONNA SEE IS WHAT THE APP LOOKS LIKE.
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DOWNLOADED, IT'S EASY TO FIND, SO EVEN IF YOU'RE COMING INTO NEWBURN, UH, FROM ANOTHER LOCATION, IT WOULD POP UP WHERE, UH, PARKING IS.UM, AND IT WOULD AUTOMATICALLY TELL YOU HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO PARK THERE.
UM, WHAT WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE BOARD IS A DOLLAR PER HOUR TO PARK, AND SOME FOLKS ARE DOING BASICALLY EIGHT, $8 A DAY TO PARK.
AND SO WE'RE NOT COMING BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION AT THIS TIME, BUT ONCE WE FINISH THIS, WE JUST WANT TO GET A LITTLE DIRECTION ON HOW THE BOARD FEELS, WHAT YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH US PURSUING, UH, THEIR WAY OF VARIETY OF WAYS TO PAY.
SO ON THE APP, YOU CAN PAY BY THE APP.
YOU CAN PAY BY GOING TO THEIR WEBSITE AND YOU CAN PAY BY TEXT.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SMARTPHONE, YOU'RE ABLE TO CALL IN A NUMBER THAT IS LOCATED ON THE SIGN THAT THE VENDOR PROVIDES.
UH, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CREDIT CARD OR DEBIT CARD, YOU CAN USE OTHER MEANS OF PAYMENT, WHETHER THAT BE PAYPAL OR YOUR CHECKING ACCOUNT AND THINGS LIKE THAT AS WELL.
SO THEY TRY TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT HAVING A ACTUAL CASHIER ON SITE.
SOME OF THE APP FEATURES, OF COURSE, YOU GET INFORMATION, UH, WHEN YOUR, YOUR TIME IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE ON BY EMAIL AND ALSO TEXT MESSAGES AND, AND APP NOTIFICATIONS.
AND IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE LOST WHEN YOU'RE VISITING AN HOUR ARE DOWNTOWN AND CAN'T REMEMBER WHERE YOU PARKED, YOU CAN ACTUALLY, UM, GET A NOTIFICATION ON EXACTLY WHERE YOU'RE AT AND WHERE YOU'RE, WHERE YOU'RE PARKED IN, IN, IN OUR LOT.
NOW, THIS LOT HERE ONLY HAS 36 OR 37 SPACES, SO THIS IS A GOOD START IF WE WANT TO PURSUE THIS, IF IT WORKS OUT WELL, THEN WE'VE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY IN THE FUTURE TO EXPAND THIS TO OUR OTHER LEAST LOTS.
SO THIS ALSO GIVES YOU JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PARKING AVAILABILITY AND, AND SHOWS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE ON, ON THE MAPS AS YOU'RE COMING THROUGH TO A TOWN.
THE ENFORCEMENT PIECE, THAT'S THE BIGGEST QUESTION THAT, THAT I HAD FOR OUR CON UH, CONSULTANTS.
WHEN WE TALKED, WE CURRENTLY HAVE PARKING CONTROL IN DOWNTOWN NEWBURN.
THE EQUIPMENT THEY USE, UH, WORKS WITH THIS EQUIPMENT SO AS, AS OUR PARKING CONTROL OFFICERS ARE, ARE, ARE RIDING BY, IT AUTOMATICALLY POPULATES WHO IS PAID TO PARK.
AND SO THAT HELPS, HELPS THE ATTENDANCE WITH THAT.
NOW OUR PARKING ATTENDANCE ONLY WORK BASICALLY EIGHT TO FOUR MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
AND SO WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ON HOW THE BEST TO MONITOR EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS ON THIS.
AND SO WE'RE HAVING FURTHER DISCUSSIONS IN CASE THE BOARD WANTS TO CONTINUE WITH THIS PROCESS AND WE THINK WE CAN WORK THAT OUT AS WELL.
THE DASHBOARD FOR THIS, THE, THE BACK OF HOUSE IS VERY ROBUST AND IT GIVES GOOD INFORMATION ON, UH, THE PEAK TIMES FOR, UH, THE NUMBER OF, UH, PARKING, UH, HOW MANY SPACES ARE USED, HOW MUCH REVENUE IS GENERATED, UM, FOR, FOR A CERTAIN SPOT.
AND, UM, IT, IT'S A GOOD WAY TO START IF WE WANT TO BREAK INTO THIS AS OPPOSED TO CONTINUING TO HAVE THIS BE A LEAST LOT.
UH, AS I SAID, UH, THEY ALSO PROVIDE SIGNAGE, WHICH I'LL SHOW YOU IN JUST A SECOND, BUT IMPLEMENTATION FOR THIS TAKES APPROXIMATELY 60 DAYS FROM THE TIME WE, WE SAID, YEAH, LET'S START THIS, WHICH WOULD FALL IN LINE IF WE WANT TO PURSUE THIS WITH WHEN THE PROPOSED FEES ARE GONNA CHANGE FOR THE LEASE LOTS, WHICH WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY APRIL OF THIS YEAR.
AND PARK MOBILE DOES HAVE A ROBUST, UH, PROCESS WHERE THEY PROVIDE A, A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION FOR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO HELP ALERT PUBLIC.
AN EXAMPLE OF SIGNAGE LOOKS LIKE WHAT YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN.
UM, BASICALLY EACH PARKING LOT THAT THEY HAVE HAS, HAS A ZONE NUMBER THAT YOU ENTER IN AND THAT'S HOW YOU, UH, DETERMINE WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO BE PARKING.
IT'S NOT BASED ON THE INDIVIDUAL'S SPACE, BUT THE PARKING LOT AS A WHOLE TO WHERE YOU WOULD BE PARKING AND THAT IT ALSO HAS QR CODES THAT YOU CAN CLICK ON TO GET TO THE APP AS WELL.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO SOMETHING TO HELP YOU WITH, UM, PAYING FOR THAT AS WELL.
SIGN-INS IS CUSTOMIZED, SO CITY OF NEWBURN WOULD BE ON THAT ALSO.
UM, SO WHAT, WHAT WOULD THIS COST US? THERE'S NO COST TO US TO USE AN APP LIKE THIS.
THERE IS A USER FEE WHEN, WHEN A CUSTOMER CLICKS ON THIS, IT'S APPROXIMATELY 45 CENTS.
UH, THAT'S HOW THE, THE MOBILE APP MAKES THEIR MONEY.
AND THEN THE CITY WOULD, WOULD RETAIN WHATEVER THE FEE TO PARK IS.
SO IF WE ENDED UP DOING A DOLLAR PER HOUR OR WHATEVER THAT FEE MAY BE, THE CUSTOMER WOULD BE CHARGED APPROXIMATELY A DOLLAR 45.
OR IF IT WAS FOR THREE HOURS, IT WOULD BE $3 AND 45 CENTS.
OR IF IT WAS A FULL DAY AND WE CHOSE THE, THE EIGHT HOURS FOR THAT, IT WOULD BE $8 AND 45 CENTS FOR THE DAY.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE AND, AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE US TO CONTINUE IN THIS DIRECTION, WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THAT.
BOARD OFFICER, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO WITH THE CITY EMPLOYEES THAT PARK OVER THERE? SO WE DO HAVE AN ABILITY TO HAVE CERTAIN SPACES BLOCKED OFF FOR CITY
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EMPLOYEES LIKE WE CURRENTLY DO.UM, PARKING CONTROL IS STILL GONNA ENFORCE THOSE THINGS, BUT CURRENTLY OUR CITY EMPLOYEES HAVE STICKERS THAT THEY PUT IN THE CARS TO LET FOLKS KNOW THAT UM, THEY SHOULD BE THERE.
FOSTER, HOW LONG OF A A TRIAL PERIOD ARE YOU LOOKING TO HAVE ON THIS LOT? I THINK IT WOULD BE REALISTIC NOW.
IT, UH, THE VENDOR HAS NO TIME LIMIT FOR US.
IF, IF WE STARTED THIS, WE COULD STOP IT AT ANY TIME.
BUT I SAY REALISTICALLY NINE MONTHS TO A TO A YEAR WOULD BE A GOOD TRIAL SIZE TO SEE IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THIS IN THE FUTURE.
SO YOU MENTIONED WE HAVE HOW MANY SPACES THERE? 30.
AND HOW MANY OF THOSE SPACES ARE, UM, CITY EMPLOYEE PARKING? APPROXIMATELY FIVE AT THIS TIME.
IS THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE PARKING CLOSED HERE OR IS THAT NO.
WE TRADITIONALLY HAVE THAT FOSTER.
UM, I, I CERTAINLY THINK THAT WE NEED TO PROCEED IN SOME FORM OR FASHION.
UM, MY ONLY CONCERN WITH THE APP IS, UH, IT'S NO SECRET WE'RE A TOURIST TOWN, WE'RE A RETIREMENT CITY.
AND UM, UH, MY CONCERN IS FOLKS THAT ARE NOT AS TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED AS OTHERS, UM, I RECOGNIZE THAT YOU CAN CALL, SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE SOME ACCOMMODATIONS AND MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE.
UM, I KNOW WE HAD LOOKED AT THE KIOSK BEFORE AND THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY AN INITIAL COST AND THERE WAS AN ANNUAL MAINTENANCE FEE ON THAT.
HAVE YOU RUN AN ANALYSIS ANALYSIS TO SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AS FAR AS A REVENUE SAMPLE VERSUS THIS? SO JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, THE KIOSK, THERE IS A ONE TIME FEE FOR THAT.
AND DEPENDING ON WHAT TYPE OF KIOSK WE WENT WITH, THAT WOULD BE ANYWHERE FROM 7,000 TO $9,000 UPFRONT COST.
AND ON ANNUAL RECURRING COST, WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT $1,500 FOR THAT.
PLUS THERE'S ALSO GONNA BE THAT, THAT WHATEVER THAT FEE IS THAT, THAT THE VENDOR CHARGES US TO USE THEIR, THEIR APP ON THE REGULAR BASIS.
AND SO THIS IS A GOOD WAY WITH AN APP TO START OFF, UM, WHERE IT'S NO COST TO US.
IF WE DECIDE, HEY, THIS DOESN'T WORK OUT, THEN WE CAN STOP IT.
OR IF WE DECIDE, YEAH, THIS IS WORKING GOOD, BUT OUR CUSTOMERS WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HAVE A WAY TO, TO USE CASH OR COINS TO PAY FOR SOMETHING, THEN WE COULD LOOK AT IMPLEMENTING THIS.
DOES THE APP TELL YOU HOW MANY SPACES ARE AVAILABLE WHEN YOU TRY TO BOOK ONE? IT DOES.
BUT IT JUST DOESN'T RENT A SPECIFIC SPACE.
MATH WISE, HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE US TO ACTUALLY RECRUIT, RE RECRUIT OUR MONEY BACK? UM, SO WE'RE RECOUPING OUR MONEY WITH THE, WELL IF WE'RE, LET ME, LET ME SAY THIS.
SO IN 2022, A P*****K STREET LOT GENERATED $7,080 IN REVENUE MM-HMM.
SO IF WE'RE LOOKING AT A DOLLAR AN HOUR PER SPACE AND, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A LOT MORE MONEY, WE'LL AT LEAST DOUBLE OUR MONEY WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR AT LEAST.
IS IT ONLY, IS IT 24 HOURS A DAY OR IS IT AFTER FIVE? ANYBODY CAN PARK THERE? WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS FOLKS ARE CHARGING A A DOLLAR AN HOUR UP TO A CERTAIN, UP TO A CERTAIN THING FOR THE 24 HOURS AND YOU CAN ONLY RENT IT A MAXIMUM OF 24 HOURS AT A TIME.
YOU CAN, YOU CAN, UH, BASICALLY PAY IT PARK.
YOU CAN'T DO IT FOR A WEEKEND.
BUT THEY COULD JUST GO ON THEIR APP AND RENEW IT.
BUT I THINK MY QUESTION WAS, WOULD THE FEES CONTINUE AFTER FIVE O'CLOCK NOW I THINK AFTER FIVE O'CLOCK ANYBODY CAN PARK OVER THERE.
SO IF YOU WANTED TO COME IN THE EVENING AND, AND THE EVENINGS ARE REALLY THE, THE TIME WHEN WE HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH PARKING, UM, YES.
YOU WOULD'VE TO PAY TO PARK IN THAT LOT.
WHICH, WHICH IS A POLICY DECISION.
SO IF WE DECIDED THAT WE DID NOT WANT TO ENFORCE IT 24 HOURS, WE COULD SAY THAT THE PAY PARKING IS ONLY DURING CERTAIN TIMES, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
BOARD, IS ANYONE OPPOSED TO STAFF MOVING FORWARD IN PROCEEDING WITH THE NEXT STEP? NO.
SO WE'LL COME BACK TO THE NEXT MEETING AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT FEES AND CHARGES AND GO FROM THERE.
THAT MIGHT BE A RECORD FOR THE CITY OF NEW BERN TO DISCUSS PARKING THAT QUICKLY.
SO KUDOS TO EVERYBODY FOR YOUR HOMEWORK.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER NINE TO CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION TO SELL, I'M SORRY, WE SKIPPED THAT ONE.
[Items 10 - 12]
ITEM NUMBER 10.CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION TO SELL TAX PARCEL ID 81 50 23 ON NOOSE AVENUE.
MAYOR, THE BOARD ADOPTED A RESOLUTION ON NOVEMBER 22ND OF
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THIS PAST YEAR TO INITIATE THE UPSET BID PROCESS AFTER RECEIV AN OFFER OF $3,000 FOR MRS. FAAS.THE PROPERTY IS A VACANT 0.23 ACRE PARCEL THAT WAS ACQUIRED BY THE CITY AND COUNTY IN 2006 THROUGH TAX FORECLOSURE.
IF THE PROPERTY IS SOLD FOR THE INITIAL BID, THE CITY WILL RECEIVE $1,266 67 CENTS AND THE COUNTY WILL RECEIVE $1,733 AND 33 CENTS FROM THOSE PROCEEDS.
HAVE QUESTIONS? MAYOR? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE, UH, THE SALE, THE SALE OF TAX PARCEL ID.
HAVE A MOTION? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? CAN WE DO THE SECOND ONE? DO TOGETHER ALMAN PRIO, WOULD YOU HAVE A PROBLEM COMBINING, UH, ITEM NUMBER 11 WITH ITEM NUMBER 10? NO, I, IF I, I'M NOT MISTAKEN, IT'S THE SAME INDIVIDUAL THAT IS, UH, PURCHASING BOAT.
THAT THAT SAME INDIVIDUAL HAS THREE ON THIS.
YOU WANNA DO 12 TOO? UM, ALL AMEND THE MOTION TO INCLUDE ALL THREE LAWS.
YOU GOOD WITH THAT? ALL RIGHT.
ANY MORE DISCUSSION? IF NOT, LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN KINZIE.
[13. Consider Adopting a Resolution to Participate in the NC Cooperative Liquid Assets Securities System.]
MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER 13, CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NC COOPERATIVE LIQUID ASSET SECURITY SYSTEM.I'D LIKE TO ASK MS. OSTROM TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION.
SO, UH, THE CITY'S CASH RESERVES ARE CURRENTLY INVESTED WITH NORTH CAROLINA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT AND TRUST, UM, WHICH IS, UH, FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS, THE ONLY OPTION THAT WE'VE HAD FOR THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
AN OPPORTUNITY EXISTS FOR THE CITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NORTH CAROLINA COOPERATIVE LIQUID ASSET SECURITY SYSTEMS, WHICH IS THE NC CLASS, WHICH IS A FINANCIAL AND INVESTMENT SERVICE THAT PROVIDES DIVERSIFIED INVESTING.
NORTH CAROLINA CLASS INVESTMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THE INVESTMENTS OUTLINED IN THE, UH, GENERAL NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL STATUTES 1 59 0.3.
UM, IF THE, IF THE BOARD ADOPTS RESOLUTION, IMPROVING THE PARTICIPATION IN THE SYSTEM, NEWBURN WILL ENTER INTO AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT TO PARTICIPATE IN A POOL INVESTMENT WITH LINCOLN COUNTY AND TOWN OF HOPE MILLS, WITH NEWBURN BEING THE THIRD TRUSTEE.
UM, TONIGHT WE HAVE, UH, HERE WITH US DAN CLUES WITH NORTH CAROLINA CLASS AND DAN STARR WITH PUBLIC TRUST.
THEY ARE GOING TO PROVIDE A QUICK INTRO AND, UM, WE'LL ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.
UH, MR. MAYER, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US.
UM, AS MS. OSTROM SAID, MY NAME IS MATT STARR.
I REPRESENT PUBLIC TRUST ADVISORS, UM, AND MY ASSOCIATE, DAN
UM, PUBLIC TRUST ADVISORS IS A REGISTERED INVESTMENT ADVISOR.
WE ARE HEADQUARTERED IN DENVER, COLORADO.
UM, WE'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR JUST ABOUT 11 YEARS NOW, AND OUR COMPANY FOCUSES PRIMARILY AND REALLY SOLELY ONLY ON INVESTING PUBLIC FUNDS AND PUBLIC ASSETS NATIONALLY.
UM, OUR SPECIALTY IS THE DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND LAUNCH OF WHAT WE REFER TO AS LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT POOLS.
AS MS. OSTROM ALLUDED TO, NORTH CAROLINA'S, UM, VERY UNIQUE NATIONALLY BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY ONE INVESTMENT POOL PROVIDER IN THE STATE, AND THAT'S THE NORTH CAROLINA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT TRUST PROGRAM.
UM, PUBLIC TRUST HAS, HAS DEVELOPED AN OVERSEAS, FROM AN INVESTMENT STANDPOINT, UH, POOLS SIMILAR TO NORTH CAROLINA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT TRUST IN 11 DIFFERENT STATES, UH, TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT 60 BILLION OF PUBLIC ASSETS, UH, UNDER OUR WATCH NATIONALLY.
UM, WE HAVE A VERY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA.
WE BELIEVE, UH, WE'D LIKE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SAFETY AND DIVERSIFICATION TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
UM, THE FUND WILL BE AAA RATED.
UM, IT IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT YOUR ASSETS AND YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
UM, AND WE HAVE A, A TRIED AND TRUE TRACK RECORD OF BEING ABLE TO DO SO ADEQUATELY.
UM, SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT TO DAN TO PROVIDE A FEW MORE INSIGHTS
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ON NORTH CAROLINA.AS MATT MENTIONED, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY WE FEEL, UH, LARGELY IN, IN SPEAKING WITH A LOT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS AROUND THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, THERE'S BEEN A NEED.
AS A LOT OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW, THINK ABOUT YOUR MOST BASIC BANKING.
YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AT LEAST TWO OR THREE BANKS TO CHOOSE FROM FOR YOUR PERSONAL CHECKING.
JUST LIKE THE CITY, PROBABLY AT SOME POINT.
HOPE YOU DON'T DO AN RFP SOON, KIMBERLY.
BUT IF THE CITY LOOKED TO BID OUT ITS BANKING, UH, YOU WOULD WANT TO HAVE AT LEAST THREE, TWO, OR THREE, UH, RESPONDENTS.
UH, SO AS, AS MATT MENTIONED, AS WE DID OUR HOMEWORK AND DUE DILIGENCE HERE, WE FEEL SUPER EXCITED THAT WE'RE GONNA BE BRINGING THIS TO, TO THE PLATE FOR ALL NC LGS.
AND WITH, WITH MS. OSTROM AND A COUPLE OTHER FOUNDING TRUSTEES, WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT, UH, OVERSIGHT BOARD WORKING WITH PUBLIC TRUST AND NC CLASS AS THE INVESTMENT ADVISOR AND ADMINISTRATOR.
SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT WILL BE PUTTING OUR MONEY IN A POOL WITH TWO OR THREE OTHER CITIES? CORRECT.
AND SO NORTH CAROLINA CLASS IS ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO 1 59 30, WHICH OF COURSE GOVERNS THE ELIGIBLE INVESTMENTS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS STATEWIDE, 1 59 30 HAS A SECTION THAT ALLOWS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF WHAT WE CALL AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
AND THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT IN THIS CASE FOR NORTH CAROLINA CLASS WOULD BE ESTABLISHED BY AND BETWEEN, UH, THE CITY OF HOPE MILLS, THE TOWN OF POP MILLS, UM, LINCOLN COUNTY ENDS THE CITY OF NEWBURG.
AND IN DOING SO, THE COOPERATIVE, IF YOU WILL, IS OPENED UP AND EVERY ELIGIBLE, EVERY L G U STATEWIDE WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS FUND.
UM, SO AS AN EXAMPLE, ONE OF ONE OF OUR LARGER PROGRAMS IS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT POOL THAT WE MANAGE IN, IN OUR HOME STATE AND COLORADO, AND I, I SAY OUR HOME STATE LOOSELY, I'M, I'M ACTUALLY A NORTH CAROLINIAN MYSELF, BUT OUR HEADQUARTERS ARE IN COLORADO.
THE PROGRAM IS CALLED COLO TRUST.
AND OVER 1800 LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE STATE OF COLORADO POOL THEIR MONEY COOPERATIVELY INTO THE PROGRAM.
AND WHAT THAT ALLOWS FOR IS ECONOMIES OF SCALE.
UM, SO AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, YOU'VE GOT ES THAT HAVE SIGNIFICANT, UH, AMOUNTS OF FUNDS AND, AND LIQUID ASSETS.
THEY DIDN'T INVEST, BUT THEY'LL RECEIVE THE SAME COMPETITIVE YIELDS THAT THE SMALLEST FIRE DISTRICT OR SPECIAL DISTRICT IN THE STATE WILL RECEIVE.
SO IT'S, IT WORKS VERY SIMILAR TO A MONEY MARKET FUND, IF YOU WILL.
SO THE LARGE, SO THE WAY THAT I'M, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, UM, THE WAY IT'S BROKEN DOWN THAT EACH COUNTY WILL DIVIDE THE GROSS AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM THE INVESTMENT.
IT WILL BE SPLIT LIKE DOWN THE MIDDLE.
UM, THE, THE INVESTMENTS OR THE, THE DIVIDENDS THAT YOU'LL RECEIVE WILL BE BASED ON YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM.
UM, AND SO WHILE THE, THE POOL IS, UH, AS A WHOLE WILL HAVE A COLLECTIVE COLLECTION OF ASSETS, YOUR INDIVIDUAL, YOU KNOW, THE CITY'S INDIVIDUAL ASSETS ARE PARTITIONS SUCH THAT YOU'RE GONNA RECEIVE DAILY INCOME BASED ON HOW MUCH YOU PUT IN AMOUNT THAT YOU'RE INVESTING, HOW MUCH YOU PUT IN.
THAT'S, THAT'S HOW YOU ARE PAID.
SO HOPE MEAL, LET'S SAY HOPE MEALS PUTS IN $25 MM-HMM.
YOU'LL RECEIVE THE SAME PERCENTAGE DIVIDEND AS EVERYONE ELSE.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE'LL PRINT A A DAILY YIELDS.
UM, IF YOU LOSE ME, YOU, YOU JUST LOST ME.
AND YOU SAID THEY WERE RECEIVED THE SAME AMOUNT.
LET ME, LET ME PUT IT TO YOU THIS WAY.
SO IF, IF YOU'RE RECEIVING 1% AT YOUR BANK MM-HMM.
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE SAME INTEREST RATE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE, UM, THAT, THAT INVESTS IN THE PROGRAM.
I WAS JUST TRYING TO HELP SURE.
THE INDIVIDUALS AT HOME THAT IS LISTENING YEAH.
TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET A CHANCE TO UNDERSTAND AS WELL.
AND, AND SO I DID, UH, KIM, KIM, WE CURRENTLY INVEST, UM, OUR, OUR RESERVES IN THE NORTH CAROLINA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT FUND.
KIM, HOW MUCH ARE WE CURRENTLY INVESTING IN THAT? WE HAVE 67 MILLION IN NORTH CAROLINA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT.
AND, AND SO WHAT THIS IS, IS THIS IS JUST ANOTHER OPTION TO INVEST IN, IN
[00:30:01]
ANOTHER FUND.UM, THIS FUND HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE LGC AS WELL, AND IF THE BOARD HAS AN INTEREST IN THAT, AND I, UH, WHEN YOU SAY THAT WE HAVE THAT MUCH THERE, HOW OFTEN CAN WE GO POOL FROM THAT IF WE NEED AT ANY TIME? AT ANY TIME? THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS ON THAT.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE PROPER QUESTION IS, BUT HOW'S, KIM, ARE YOU OKAY WITH THIS BEING SAFE FOR OUR FUNDS? I MEAN, NO DISRESPECT, BUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THIS COMPANY WENT BELLY UP? WHERE WOULD OUR MONEY GO? IT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION AND I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT.
UM, SO HISTORICALLY, LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT POOLS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR SOME 45 OR 50 YEARS.
48 OUT OF 50 STATES HAVE AT LEAST ONE LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT POOL.
UM, IT IS EXTRAORDINARILY RARE FOR AN INVESTMENT POOL OF THIS NATURE TO EVER LOSE A DOLLAR.
UM, IN OUR HISTORY AT PUBLIC TRUST, WE'VE MANAGED, AS I SAID, WE MANAGE CURRENTLY ABOUT 60 BILLION OF ASSETS.
WE'VE NEVER FAILED TO MEET A REDEMPTION REQUEST.
IN OTHER WORDS, AS, UM, UH, MR. MANAGER HAD ALLUDED TO, UM, YOU, YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THESE FUNDS EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND THE EXPECTATION IS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DRAW ON THOSE FUNDS AND BE ABLE TO EARN A LITTLE BIT OF INTEREST ON TOP OF THAT SAFE INVESTMENT.
BUT I THINK HIS QUESTION IS, ARE YOU INSURED
WE DON'T CARRY F D I C COVERAGE, UM, NOR WOULD A CAPITAL MANAGEMENT TRUST FOR AN EXAMPLE.
UM, WE BELIEVE THAT HAVING A STANDARD AND POOREST AAA AM RATING, UM, REALLY GOES A LONG WAY TO GET PEOPLE ADDITIONAL COMFORT.
BUT THESE INVESTMENTS ARE EXTRAORDINARILY, YOU KNOW, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, THEY'RE VERY VANILLA.
WE INVEST IN THINGS LIKE FULLY GUARANTEED AND BACKED GOVERNMENT SECURITIES.
UM, THE, THE TOP RATED CREDITS, COMMERCIAL PAPER, AAA RATED, UM, BANK DEPOSITS AND FULLY COLLATERALIZED REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS.
AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING DOWN INTO A LITTLE BIT OF A RABBIT HOLE THERE.
I DON'T, THE, THE FACTS OF THE MATTER IS THAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED WITH SAFETY BEING FIRST AND FOREMOST IN MIND.
SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS YOU'RE NOT INSURED, BUT THE, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU ARE DEALING WITH, YOU ARE CONFIDENT THAT YOU CAN CARRY OUT.
WHEN, WHEN WAS THE, UM, WHEN WAS THE ACTION TAKEN TO CHANGE THE STATUTE AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ALLOW THIS? IT'S A, IT'S AN NEXT QUESTION.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE STATUTE ALWAYS EXISTS AS FAR BACK AS, AS I KNOW THIS LANGUAGE EXISTED.
UM, AND SO THE STATUTE HAS SEVERAL DIFFERENT PIECES TO IT.
THE FIRST ACTUALLY INTRODUCES CAPITAL MANAGEMENT TRUST AS A COOPERATIVE INVESTMENT PROGRAM BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S OVERSEEN IN SOME CAPACITY AT THE STATE LEVEL.
AND THEN IN THE SAME STATUTE, JUST BELOW IT, IT ALLOWS FOR, UH, AN INTER-LOCAL COOPERATIVE THAT'S ESTABLISHED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS SUCH AS YOURSELVES.
AND GOING BACK TO SOME OF THE PREVIOUS LINES OF QUESTIONS, UH, READING OVER THE INFORMATION THAT KIM'S GIVEN ME, AND, UM, QUESTIONS WITH KIM TOO.
THE CUSTODIAN IS A BANK, UH, AND NOT THESE GENTLEMEN.
SO, YOU KNOW, I WOULD ASSUME THAT THEY WOULD BE INSURED.
AND THE FACT THAT THE TRUST HAS TO GO THROUGH AN ANNUAL AUDIT AND REPORTED BACK TO THE, UH, TRUSTEES, YOU KNOW, THERE IS OVERSIGHT.
IT'S NOT A FLY BY NIGHT OPERATION.
SO KIM CAME OUT OF THE 67 MILLION.
WHAT DID, WHAT WAS OUR RETURN LAST YEAR? ANY IDEA? I I I DON'T HAVE THAT OFF THE TOP BOTTOM IN MY HEAD.
WOULD THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD SHOW UP ON OUR INCOME STATEMENT, CORRECT.
UM, THERE'S MULTIPLE ONES IN THERE.
THERE'S ALSO, SO, OKAY, I HAVE TO DIG IT UP.
BUT, UM, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
ONE OF, ONE OF THE, THE BENEFITS OF NORTH CAROLINA CLASS, UH, WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO THE INVESTMENTS MADE BY THE NORTH CAROLINA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT TRUST, WE, WE DO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE DIFFERENT ELIGIBLE INVESTMENTS.
UM, AND IT WILL ALLOW FOR PARTICULARLY, UM, IN A TIME LIKE THIS WHERE INTEREST RATES ARE DOING SO WELL FOR THEIR TO BE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 25 AND 50 BASIS POINTS OF ADDITIONAL INTEREST INCOME TO ALL THE PARTICIPANTS IN NORTH COUNTER FEST ON A DAILY BASIS.
UM, AND HISTORICALLY SPEAKING AT GREAT CONFIDENCE IN SHARING THAT INFORMATION.
[00:35:01]
RIGHT NOW, AS A POINT OF REFERENCE, UM, THE NCCM T PROGRAM, THE PROGRAM YOU'RE CURRENTLY IN IS OFFERING ABOUT FOUR TO, UH, 4.25 IN DAILY INTEREST.OUR PROGRAMS NATIONALLY ARE ANYWHERE FROM 4.45 TO 4.75.
UM, AND SO IN, IN VERY SHORT ORDER, OUR EXPECTATION IS THAT WE'LL BE OUT YIELDING THE COMPETITION HERE IN THE STATE.
AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, UM, ALDERMAN ASKED HER, I'VE ACTUALLY, I'VE NOT BEEN ON THE FOREFRONT HERE, TRAILBLAZING AND, AND YOU KNOW, BEING A, UM, FOUNDING TRUSTEE, BUT WE WORKED WITH THE MICHIGAN LIQUID ASSET FUND, AND WE, I OVERSAW ABOUT 75 MILLION IN, IN OUR, OUR FUND AS WELL.
AND THAT'S DEFINITELY THE SAME THING.
IT'S A COOLED INVESTMENT FUND FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL, UM, UNITS AND EDUCATION.
AND SO KIM SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE 67 MILLION INVESTED, WHAT DO YOU, IF THE BOARD APPROVES THIS, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR INITIAL INVESTMENT IS GONNA BE WITH THEM? WOULD YOU SAY? I, I BELIEVE FROM, UM, THE NEXT STEPS ARE WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH, YOU KNOW, ESTABLISH, HAVE A MEETING, SIGN THE, THE PAPERWORK, AND THEN, UM, I THINK YOU SAID AFTER THE FIRST MEETING WOULD BE, YEAH, THE NEXT PROBABLY BETWEEN 30 AND 45 DAYS FOLLOWING AN INITIAL TRUSTEE MEETING, WE WOULD LOOK TO LAUNCH THE FUNDS, UM, AND, AND SEEK FUNDING NOT ONLY FROM THE INITIAL TRUSTEES AND INITIAL PARTNERS, BUT DAN AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD THE LAST TWO YEARS WORKING WITH GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE STATE.
UM, WE'RE VERY CONFIDENT WE'RE GONNA HAVE A NUMBER OF INITIAL PARTICIPATING ENTITIES.
UM, BUT MORE DIRECT TO THE QUESTION, WE ARE NOT SEEKING TO, TO HAVE ANY MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF FUNDING.
UM, IF YOU HAVE 67 MILLION IN THE NCC MT, WE'RE A DIVERSIFICATION TOOL, WE'D LOVE TO SEE FIVE OR 10 MILLION HERE.
SO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO COMPARE IT TO AS A BOARD.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THE RETURNS OVER TIME, I THINK WILL GENERATE ADDITIONAL INCOME FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.
SO I GUESS A LITTLE MORE TO THE POINT, A MINIMUM INVESTMENT IS OVER TIME.
RIGHT? UM, IT COULD BE $1 AND YOU CAN BRING YOUR ACCOUNT ALL THE WAY TO $0.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THERE ARE NO FEES RELATED TO THE PROGRAM.
ESSENTIALLY, WE'RE OFFERING WHAT WE REFER TO AS A NET YIELDS.
THERE'S SMALL MANAGEMENT FEE THAT COMES OUT OF THE YIELD BEFORE IT GOES TO THE PARTICIPANTS.
THERE'S NO BANKING FEES, THERE'S NO ACCOUNT FEES.
YOU'LL NEVER SEE A FEE ON YOUR STATEMENT.
DOES THIS TRANSACTION HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE LGC? IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE APPROVED BY THE LGC.
THE LGC HAS REVIEWED ALL THE DOCUMENTS THAT YOU HAVE INCLUDED IN YOUR BOARD PACKET.
UM, THEY WERE DEVELOPED IN PART BY PUBLIC TRUST ADVISORS AS WELL AS OUR LEGAL COUNSEL HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA IS MCGUIRE WOODS.
UM, WE WORK WITH, UH, MARY MARY KAY NASHER, WHO'S OUT OF THE RALEIGH OFFICE, MCGUIRE WOODS.
UM, AND, UM, WE THEN SENT ALL THOSE DOCUMENTS TO THE LGC FOR THEIR REVIEW, UM, WHICH THEY DID.
AND THEY PROVIDED A, A LITTLE BIT OF FEEDBACK, BUT THEY RUBBER STAMPED IT SAYING THIS IS ABSOLUTELY AN ALLOWABLE INVESTMENT FOR NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNMENTS.
WHAT, WHAT WAS THE FEEDBACK, DO YOU REMEMBER? UH, IT WAS, IT WAS MINOR THINGS.
THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEIR, THEIR, AND, AND RIGHTLY SO, AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION, THEIR PRIMARY FOCUS IS MAKING SURE THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO INVESTMENTS THAT ARE NOT ALLOWABLE UNDER STATUTE.
AND SO WE HAD SOME LANGUAGE THAT THEY DID NOT LIKE AT THE BOTTOM OF OUR INVESTMENT POLICY THAT ESSENTIALLY SAID, AND ANY FUTURE INVESTMENTS THAT MAY BE ALLOWED UNDER NORTH CAROLINA CODE.
AND THEY SAID, NO, WE, WE'D PREFER YOU TO REMOVE THAT.
THE CODE IS THE CODE, UH, IF YOU TAKE THAT OUTWARD FOR ME.
I BELIEVE YOU MENTIONED IT, BUT HOW LONG DID YOU SAY YOU'VE BEEN ESTABLISHED? UM, SO OUR FIRM AT PUBLIC TRUST HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED, UH, WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2011.
THAT BEING SAID, I'VE WORKED IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT POOL SPACE FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS.
UM, OUR MANAGING PARTNERS AT PUBLIC TRUST, UM, SOMEWHERE UPWARDS OF 40.
UM, SO WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF WORKING SPECIFICALLY IN THIS LOCAL GOVERNMENT SPACE.
UM, BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD, UM, I JUST, I'M NOT A FINANCE DIRECTOR.
I'M NOT AN INVESTOR ABOUT A BROKER OR INVESTOR.
AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST FEEL THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH US INVESTING WITH, AND NO DISRESPECT TO YOUR COMPANY, UH, US INVESTING WITH THIS COMPANY, I THINK WE JUST, I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING
[00:40:01]
WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TAX DOLLARS HERE, TAXPAYERS DOLLARS HERE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INVESTING.AND I JUST WOULD LIKE TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING BEFORE WE, WE AS A BOARD MAKE A DECISION ON THIS.
WELL, I, I'LL SAY I'VE WORKED WITH I THINK FOUR FINANCE DIRECTORS AND EVERY ONE OF 'EM I'VE ASKED WHAT CAN WE DO AS FAR AS INVESTMENT.
SO I, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS CAME KNOCKING OR IF KIM WENT TO YOU, BUT, YOU KNOW, KUDOS FOR FINDING A POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY.
MY MY, I THINK MY LAST QUESTION, KIM, WOULD BE, I HEARD THEIR ANSWER FEES GOING TO THEM AND FOR THE SERVICE THEY PROVIDE, BUT WHAT ABOUT FEES FROM TAKING THE MONEY OUT OF WHERE IT IS NOW BEFORE IT GETS TRANSFERRED? IS THERE A FEE FOR THAT? UM, WE DO HAVE SOME FEES THAT ARE ASSESSED.
I, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH THAT IS RIGHT NOW THOUGH, BUT YES, I BELIEVE, WELL, I, I WOULD PROBABLY BE IN THE VOTE WITH AUTO INVEST IF THAT'S THE CASE.
CUZ I WANNA SEE HOW MUCH IT'S GONNA COST US TO MOVE MONEY.
UM, IF IT'S FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE AND BENEFICIAL, THEN OBVIOUSLY LET'S DO IT.
BUT, UM, THE YIELDS WERE FAIRLY CLOSE WITH WHAT YOU SAID.
WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT SWAPPING ONE ACCOUNT FOR ANOTHER WITH NO RETURN.
AND AND YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER TOO, THAT WE'RE TALKING, UM, YOU KNOW, 3 MILLION.
LET'S JUST SAY, WELL FIRST OF ALL, THE INITIAL INVEST INVESTMENT IS A DOLLAR, MINIMUM INVESTMENT IS A DOLLAR.
SO, UM, I GUESS, UM, WE'RE, OUR REVENUE THAT'S COMING IN WOULD BE OFFSETTING WHAT WE'RE TRANSFERRING OVER.
SO TONIGHT YOU'RE ASKING FOR US TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION TO PARTICIPATE, BUT YOU'RE NOT ACTUALLY ASKING FOR THE MONEY TONIGHT.
SO IT WOULD PROBABLY BE BENEFICIAL FOR US TO NOT KICK ANOTHER CAN DOWN THE ROAD TO MAKE THIS DECISION TONIGHT, AND THEN AT A LATER DATE WE CAN DECIDE IF WE WANNA PUT A DOLLAR IN IT OR A MILLION DOLLARS.
UM, AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I I THINK THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.
AND, UM, IF THERE ARE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS AND IF YOU'D LIKE FOR MYSELF OR DAN TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DETAIL OR PRESENTATIONAL MATERIALS AT A FUTURE BOARD MEETING PRIOR TO DISCUSSING AN AMOUNT BEING TRANSFERRED, WE'D MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO SO.
HONOR, INVEST, DOES THAT HELP EASE YOUR CONCERN A LITTLE BIT? THAT WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY MAKING A TRANSACTION, WE'RE JUST MOVING FORWARD WITH THE POTENTIAL, UH, FOR MORE DISCUSSION, CORRECT? YES.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? IF NOT, I ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER 13.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NC COOPERATIVE LOOK AT LIQUID ASSETS SECURITY SYSTEM.
SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SHOULD THERE BE SOME OTHER TYPE OF, UM, SHOULD WE DO SOME, UH, SOME TYPE OF ADDITION TO THIS AMENDMENT SINCE WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY PARTICIPATING FOR AS MONEY WISE AT THIS TIME? I, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S NECESSARY BECAUSE THE, THE MOTION IS TO A, ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO PARTICIPATE.
THERE'S NO DOLLAR AMOUNT ASSOCIATED WITH IT, SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK.
I'M ASSUMING YOU'D HAVE TO ASK FOR A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO MOVE THE FUNDS.
THERE IS A DOLLAR, THERE IS $1, $1.
SO THAT'S OUR EXPOSURE IS $1 BECAUSE MY, MY UNDERSTANDING THAT RIGHT NOW OUR PARTICIPATION WOULD BE TO ESTABLISH THE TRUST AND THEN TO ESTABLISH THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, UH, BEFORE ANY ASSETS GET MOVED.
AND SO THAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF TONIGHT'S RESOLUTION, OKAY.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN.
BEST BEFORE WE GO TO DISCUSSION.
AGAIN, I'M TRYING TO GET CLARITY.
I THOUGHT ALDERMAN BEST SAID, LET US WAIT AND HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION.
WELL, I THINK THE FURTHER DISCUSSION IS GOING TO BE ONCE THIS GETS ESTABLISHED, HOW MUCH WE WANT TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT.
IF IT COULD BE THE $1 THAT WE'RE SAYING TONIGHT, OR IT COULD BE $10 MILLION IS WHATEVER THE BOARD DECIDES TO DO.
BUT UNTIL THEY ESTABLISH THIS TRUST TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, THERE'S REALLY NO CONVERSATION TO BE HAD.
IS THAT CORRECT? IT IS CORRECT.
HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN BEST.
[Items 14 & 15]
NUMBER 14, CONSIDERED ING RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED IN THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR THE TRENT ROAD RED ROBIN PROJECT.AND DO YOU WANNA DO 15 TOGETHER? YES, WE CAN DO 'EM BOTH TOGETHER AND WE'LL ASK MR. CHILDS TO COME UP AND MAKE THIS PRESENTATION.
[00:45:01]
THE RECORD, ITEM NUMBER 15 IS ALSO TO CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR THE TRENT ROAD BANK STABILIZATION PROJECT.UM, THE THESE TWO, UH, REQUEST RESOLUTIONS ARE FOR THE RED ROBIN TRENT ROAD BANK STABILIZATION PROJECT THAT WAS IDENTIFIED WHEN WE DID A R P ALLOCATIONS AND THE ALLOCATIONS CAME THROUGH THE WARD.
TWO FUNDING FOR BOTH THE RED ROBIN, UM, TRENT ROAD DITCH AND THEN THE TRENT ROAD BANK STABILIZATION, WHICH WE IN-HOUSE REFERRED TO THAT AS THE FLY DITCH THAT'S ALONGSIDE OF, UH, SLICE BIKE SHOP.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, PUT THESE OUT TO BID.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY BOTH CAME IN WITH, UH, TOO FEW BIDDERS TO OPEN AND SO WE HAD TO EXTEND THE BID TIME TO A LATER DATE.
UH, NOW THAT WE HAVE BOTH OF THEM BACK IN AND PERMITS IN HAND FOR THE RED ROBIN ROAD PROJECT.
AND THEN WE SHOULD HAVE OUR LAST PERMIT IN HAND FOR THE SLICE, UH, PROJECT, UH, MID-FEBRUARY SO WE CAN TURN THOSE LOOSE.
AND WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING IS THAT YOU, UH, AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ANY CONTRACTS IN THESE AMOUNTS FOR BOTH OF THESE PROJECTS.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR THE TRENT ROAD RED ROBIN PROJECT, AND ALSO TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR THE TRENT ROAD BANK STABILIZATION PROJECT.
SECOND, HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? UH, GEORGE, IF I COULD A QUICK QUESTION, UH, BEFORE WE VOTE, JUST OUTTA CURIOSITY, THE, THE TWO BIDS THAT WERE RECEIVED, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR THE TRENT ROAD RED ROBIN, UH, PROJECT, THE FIRST ITEM THERE WAS QUITE A, A DIFFERENCE IN THE, THE TWO BIDS THAT WERE RECEIVED, UM, VERSUS, UM, THE, THE BANK STAB, BANK STABILIZATION PROJECT, THE SAME TWO BIDDERS, THEY WERE MUCH CLOSER TOGETHER WITH THEIR BIDS.
ANY, ANY IDEA, EXPLANATION AS TO WHY IT'S SUCH A DIFFERENCE? YEAH, IT'S HARD TO READ IN INTO HOW THE CONTRACTORS FIGURE EACH PROJECT.
UM, YOU KNOW, UH, I THINK SOMETIMES WE SEE HOW, HOW AVAILABLE THEIR CREWS ARE DICTATED A LITTLE BIT ON HOW THEY, THEY IMPLEMENT THEIR, THEIR BID NUMBERS.
UM, I'D JUST BE SPECULATING TO GUESS THOUGH ON, ON THOSE, ON, ON THEIR QUANTITY NUMBERS BEING HIRED FROM ONE JOB TO THE NEXT.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN BRESSON.
[16. Consider Adopting a Budget Ordinance Amendment for FY2022-23.]
NUMBER 16 CONSIDERED DOCUMENT A BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR FY 2223.MR. HUGHES MAYOR, THE BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT APPROPRIATES $15,000 FROM THE MSD FUNDS, UH, TO COVER THE COST OF PRUNING TREES DOWNTOWN.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE APPROXIMATELY 94 TREES THAT NEED TO BE PRUNED.
UM, AND JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND, ANNUALLY PUBLIC WORKS WILL COME DOWN AND DO SOME GENERAL PRUNING OF THE TREES, BUT IT'S GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE WE NEED TO WORK ON THE CROWNING OF THOSE TREES AND TO GET SOME OF, SOME OF THE BRANCHES OFF SOME OF THE, OF THE, OF THE BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN.
SO WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO A CONTRACTOR TO GET A PRICE FOR THIS.
WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 12 TREES THAT WOULD BE, UM, PRUNED IN JAMES REED LANE.
THE, THE REST OF THOSE TREES ARE THE SI COVAS, WHICH ARE STREET TREES, AND THEY ARE ON CRAVEN, P*****K, AND MIDDLE STREET.
THE NEXT ITEM, UH, UNDER THE BUDGET AMENDMENT IS RECOGNIZED IN $1,000 WALMART GRAND AWARDED TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PURCHASE WATER RESCUE EQUIPMENT.
DOES BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? IF NOT, I ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER 16.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR 20 22 23.
HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN PR.
[17. Consider Adopting an Amendment to the Resiliency and Hazard Mitigation Plan Grant Project Fund.]
NUMBER 17, CONSIDERED AN AMENDMENT FOR THE RESILIENCY AND HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN PROJECT GRANT FUND.MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO ASK MS. OSTROM TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION.
THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA AWARDED THE CITY $150,000 THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENT GRANT PROGRAM FOR STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS PLANNING FOR THE MID-SECTION OF THE DUFFY FIELD CANAL.
THIS ORDINANCE WILL AMEND THE RESILIENCY AND HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN GRANT PROJECT FUND TO RECOGNIZE THE GRANT FUNDS.
DOES BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? YES, I DO.
UM, WHEN YOU SAY MID-SECTION OF THE CANAL, UM, MR. HUGHES
[00:50:01]
OR MR. CHILDS, WHERE, WHERE ARE YOU PARTICULARLY SPEAKING OF THIS CANAL? BECAUSE THIS CANAL RUNS ALL THROUGH THIS CITY.I AM SURE GEORGE IS GONNA TELL US
THIS IS, UH, PART OF THE STREAM RESTORATION GRANT THAT, THAT'S BEEN GIVEN.
SO THAT IS THE SECTION OF THE DUFF FIELD CANAL SURROUNDING HENDERSON PARK.
SO THAT, THAT WOULD BE THE SECTION WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW.
ON NUMBER 17, IF THERE'S NO MORE QUESTIONS, I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT AN AMENDMENT TO THE RESILIENCY AND HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN GRANT, PROJECT FUND.
SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ROYAL.
[18. Appointment(s). (Part 1 of 3)]
ITEM NUMBER 18 APPOINTMENTS.SO AS A REMINDER TO THE BOARD, WE HAD TWO COMMISSIONERS RESIGN FROM THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
UH, I MADE THE SUGGESTION THAT IN THE PAST IT HAD BEEN A, UH, SORT OF A RACE TO WHOEVER MADE THE MOTION FIRST.
AND THAT, UH, WAS ON THE TABLE TO BE VOTED ON.
I MADE THE SUGGESTION THAT WOULD OFFER EVERYBODY THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOMINATE UP TO TWO INDIVIDUALS.
SO, UM, WHAT I WOULD, UH, I HAD SOME DISCUSSION WITH THE ATTORNEY.
WE, WE BOUNCED THIS AROUND A LITTLE BIT CAUSE WE GOT TO THINKING ABOUT IT.
AND IF THERE'S, EVERYBODY RECOMMENDS TWO PEOPLE AND EVERYBODY RECO VOTES FOR THE TWO PEOPLE YOU RECOMMEND, WE'RE AT A STALEMATE UNTIL SOMETHING CHANGES.
SO, UH, MR. DAVIS RECOMMENDED THAT, UH, IN OUR MOTION OR WHOEVER DECIDES TO MAKE THIS MOTION ON THIS PROCESS, GIVE EVERY BOARD MEMBER THREE VOTES.
SO NATURALLY, I'M ASSUMING YOU WOULD PROBABLY VOTE FOR THE TWO PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO NOMINATE, BUT THAT ALSO GIVES YOU ANOTHER VOTE.
CAUSE WHAT'S GOING UP HAPPENING IS THE TOP TWO PEOPLE WILL END UP GETTING THE APPOINTMENTS.
AND THEN ONCE WE FIGURE OUT WHO THOSE TOP TWO INDIVIDUALS ARE, THE CLERK MAY BE AWARE THIS MOR OR THIS AFTERNOON THAT THERE'S DIFFERENT TERM EXPIRATIONS.
SO I THINK THE BEST THING TO DO IS LET'S FIGURE OUT WHO THE TWO INDIVIDUALS ARE GONNA BE AND THEN LET'S FIGURE OUT WHICH ONES WE WANT TO PLUG INTO THE, THOSE TWO DIFFERENT TERMS. CAUSE I THINK ONE ENDS IN 24 AND ONE'S IN ENDS IN 26.
SO WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSION, DEBATE, UH, CONVERSATION ABOUT IT.
UH, I THINK THE CLERK HAS SOME BALLOTS READY.
SO WHEN THIS VOTE IS DONE, UH, THOSE WILL BE ENTERED INTO THE MINUTES ON WHO YOU VOTED FOR.
SO THERE'S NO SECRET BALLOT, UH, BUT I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE OPEN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE SOME NOMINATIONS.
I WOULD LIKE US WHEN WE CONSIDER THE CANDIDATES FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO CONSIDER, UM, THE CANDIDATES WHO UNDERSTAND THE CULTURE OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA, THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE THERE, UH, TO HAVE SOME UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT BROUGHT US TO THIS POINT THAT WE NEED TO REDEVELOP A COMMUNITY OR THAT WE HAVE A BLIGHTED COMMUNITY.
THAT THOSE CANDIDATES NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT POVERTY LOOKS LIKE TO HAVE SOME GENERAL UNDERSTANDING.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT BE WILLING TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS, WHETHER THOSE CONVERSATIONS INCLUDE THE DIFFERENCES AND ETHNICITY THAT WE BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN AND, AND TALK THINGS OUT.
AND AGAIN, I ALWAYS SAY THAT HISTORY DOES NOT REPEAT ITSELF.
THAT WE HAVE THESE CANDIDATES THAT ARE BOOTS ON THE GROUND THAT UNDERSTAND ALL OF THESE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES THAT NEED TO GUIDE THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
WELL, HAVING SAID THAT, I I, I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND UH, WHEN I WAS LOOKING FOR CANDIDATES, I, CANDIDATES I KIND OF INTERVIEWED, I TOLD 'EM I WANTED A PERSON OF ACTION.
I WANTED TO NOMINATE PEOPLE THAT WERE GOING TO GET SOMETHING DONE, UH, AS OPPOSED TO HAVING JUST A BUNCH OF GREAT IDEAS AND SITTING AROUND AND TALKING ABOUT IT.
UH, SO THAT'S IN ADDITION TO YOURS.
I'D SAY, UH, I'M LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY TO BRING SOME MOVEMENT AND SOME ACTION TO THAT BOARD.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? DO YOU NEED A, A MOTION FOR THAT PROCESS? MS. ATTORNEY, COULD YOU CLARIFY? YES.
UM, I THINK YOUR FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM IS TO VOTE ON THE PROCESS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO UTILIZE IN COLLECTING DENOMINATIONS.
AND THEN ONCE, UM, YOU'VE DECIDED WHAT PROCESS YOU'D LIKE TO USE, YOU CAN IMPLEMENT THAT PROCESS.
[00:55:01]
GIVEN THAT I THINK WE HAVE FOUR CANDIDATES WHO HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN BEING APPOINTED TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.AND THREE OF THOSE, THOSE FOUR, WE ONLY RECEIVE INFORMATION TODAY.
I HAVE, I HAVE, I'VE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE BACKGROUND OF TWO OF THOSE FOUR.
UH, SO I, I WOULD NOT BE COMFORTABLE TAKING ANY ACTION ON APPOINTING ANYBODY THIS EVENING.
UM, YOU KNOW, UNTIL I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THEIR BACKGROUNDS AND, UM, MAYBE TALK TO SOME OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
ISN'T THAT THE POINT WHERE WE AT RIGHT NOW FOR THE DISCUSSION? YEAH.
OF THESE, UH, THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION IS LOOKING FOR SOME SUPPORT, IS WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.
AND IF WE DELAY IT, IT'S GONNA BE ANOTHER MONTH BEFORE THEY HAVE SOMEONE.
I HAVE MYSELF AND I, I HAVE TO MYSELF, SO THERE'S 12, BUT THE QUESTION STILL REMAINS THAT THE NAMES THAT ARE SUBMITTED, AS ALTMAN PRILL SAID, IF WE HAVE NO CLUE WHO THE PERSON IS ON THEIR BACKGROUND, THEN HOW CAN WE COME TO A DECISION? SOME FOLKS I KNOW, SOME PEOPLE I DON'T.
BUT I CERTAINLY WOULD LIKE TO GIVE EVERYONE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT TO CAST A VOTE FOR THE PERSON THAT IS RIGHT FOR THE JOB.
AND THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO THAT FAIRLY IS THAT WE KNOW THE PERSON.
SO EACH ALDERMAN CAN GIVE THE SYNOPSIS OF THIS PERSON THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO, OF THESE TWO PEOPLE THAT WE ARE NOMINATING, PUTTING FORTH OUT THERE TO BE NOMINATED.
WE CAN GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION ON THEM TONIGHT, WHICH I'M PREPARED TO DO THAT, THAT THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND.
I AM PREPARED, I'M PREPARED TO DO THAT AS WELL.
SO, MR. MAYOR, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT EACH ALDERMAN AND MAYOR THAT HAS NOMINATIONS WILL PRESENT WHATEVER CANDIDATES THEY HAVE.
AFTER THOSE NOMINATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE, THEN EACH ALDERMAN AND MAYOR WILL GET A VOTE FOR THREE TO BE RECORDED BY THE CLERK, AND SHE CAN GIVE US THE TOP TWO CANDIDATES.
MS. MULEY, ARE YOU GOOD WITH THAT? YES.
I THINK THE ONLY POINT OF CLARITY THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER IS WHETHER THOSE THREE VOTES ARE CUMULATIVE OR HAVE TO BE GIVEN TO A DIFFERENT CANDIDATE.
SO YOU CAN, CAN YOU CAST ALL YOUR BALLOTS FOR ONE PERSON, SPREAD THEM ACROSS TWO, OR HAVE TO VOTE ONE PER CANDIDATE? NICE POINT.
I HAD ASSUMED YOU WOULD VOTE FOR THREE DIFFERENT CANDIDATES.
SO AS POINT OF CLARIFICATION, YOU'D VOTE FOR THREE DIFFERENT.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND, SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I'VE GOT A QUESTION FOR THE, UH, THE ATTORNEY, ONE OF THE CANDIDATES, UM, HAPPENS TO BE MY WIFE.
UM, BRENDA, I THINK DISCUSSED WITH SCOTT TODAY JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WOULD BE NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST SHOULD SHE BE ONE OF THE CANDIDATES, UM, APPOINTED TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
UM, GIVEN THAT I SERVE AS AN EX MEMBER OF THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
NOW, BRENDA, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, AND SCOTT DID NOT INDICATE THAT THERE WOULD BE ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST SHOULD THAT HAPPEN? THAT'S CORRECT.
BUT NOW, IN THE PROCESS THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING THIS EVENING, I, I FULLY INTENDED TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM VO VOTING FOR MY WIFE, ALTHOUGH I DON'T KNOW WHETHER I NEED TO, SO MY QUESTION FOR THE ATTORNEY IS, SHOULD I BE ANTICIPATING RECUSING MYSELF AND VOTING FOR MY WIFE OR CAN I FULLY PARTICIPATE? THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
WITHOUT ANY POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF ANY CHARGE.
SO JUST AS ONE POINT OF CLARITY TO THE NOMENCLATURE, THE, EXCUSE ME, THE THREE ALDER PEOPLE WHO SIT ON THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ARE LIAISONS.
SO THEY DON'T OCCUPY A SPECIFIC SEAT, THEY DON'T COUNT TOWARDS THE QUORUM, THEY DON'T HAVE VOTING POWERS.
UM, YOUR ROLE, EXCUSE ME, IS TO COMMUNICATE BETWEEN THAT COMMISSION AND YOUR BOARD AND TO BRING THAT WISDOM TO THE TABLE.
SO THAT'S THE CONTEXT OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP ON THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
OUR OFFICE HAS, UM, REVIEWED THE APPLICABLE STATUTES AND IS DETERMINED THAT NO LEGAL CONFLICT OF
[01:00:01]
INTEREST EXISTS.AS TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT RECUSAL, YOU WOULD HAVE TO ASK YOUR FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS HERE TONIGHT, UM, TO RECUSE YOU BASED ON A SPECIFIC BASIS.
AND IF YOUR BASIS IS, UM, ONE THAT SATISFIES ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS AND THE STATUTE, YOU CERTAINLY CAN, IF, IF YOUR BASIS IS A GENERAL UNCOMFORTABLENESS, UM, THAT'S NOT A STATUTORY BASIS.
HOWEVER, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN AVOIDING THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY, THEN YOU CERTAINLY COULD ASK YOUR FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO ALLOW YOU TO SIT THAT, VOTE OUT WHAT YOU GOOD WITH THAT.
MY, I GUESS MY QUESTION FOR THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS IS WHERE IS YOUR COMFORT LEVEL WITH REGARDS TO ME VOTING, UH, POTENTIALLY FOR MY WIFE? WELL, I PERSONALLY HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT BECAUSE YOU ARE AN EX-OFFICIAL MEMBER AND YOU HAVE NO VOTING POWER ON THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
SO I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOU, AND I DON'T THINK, I PERSONALLY DON'T THINK THAT YOU NEED TO RECUSE YOURSELF.
I WOULD BE CONCERNED IF YOU DID RECUSE YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU ARE AN EX-OFFICIAL MEMBER AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO THEN LIVE WITH THE, UM, WHATEVER DECISION THE BOARD MAKES WITHOUT HAVING A VOICE AT ALL.
SO, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK IF YOU CAN SET YOUR OPINIONS ABOUT YOUR WIFE ASIDE AND LOOK AT THE RESUMES, THEN I, I'M OKAY WITH THAT.
ALDERMAN PRO, IF YOU'RE WILLING TO NOMINATE YOUR WIFE
UM, I DON'T THINK I'D PUT MYSELF IN THAT POSITION.
THAT'S, THAT'S COMPLETELY UP TO YOU, SIR.
I HAVE NO ISSUE FROM A STANDPOINT.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE.
SO I'D LIKE TO DO A ROLL CALL VOTE STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ROYAL ON THE PROCESS.
SO, UM, NOW WE WILL START THE PROCESS OF TAKING NOMINATIONS.
UH, I'LL GIVE YOU A, A BREAK ALDERMAN PRE AND I'LL START DOWN HERE WITH, UH,
UM, I HAD SENT THIS OUT THIS AFTERNOON, BUT YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO, TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
BUT, UH, MY TWO NOMINEES ARE ERIC THOMPSON AND KELLY KAISER.
UH, ERIC THOMPSON IS A REAL ESTATE AGENT HERE IN THE CITY OF NEWBURN.
UH, NEWBURN NATIVE, UH, HAS HIS OWN, UH, BROKERAGE AND, UM, MANAGE RENTAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY AS WELL.
UH, SO I FEEL HE'S PRETTY SUITED, UH, TO FIGURING OUT WHAT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AS FAR AS A REAL ESTATE'S PERSPECTIVE.
UM, I ALSO WANNA NOMINATE KELLY KAISER.
UH, SHE IS A, UH, COVE CITY NATIVE, UH, AND LIVES HERE IN NEWBURN AS WELL.
SHE'S WORKED FOR THE WAREHOUSER COMPANY FOR, UH, OVER 30 YEARS AND HAS RETIRED FROM THEM, BUT A, AS A, UH, ACCOUNTING AND PROJECT ANALYST FOR THEIR REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS, AND NOW IS, WORKS AS A CONTRACTOR AND IS HELPING ASSIST THE WEST NEWBURN DEVELOPMENT.
BASICALLY MARRY UP THE DEVELOPER WITH THE HOME BUILDERS, UH, WHICH IS WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD THE PREVIOUS BOARD HAD EMPOWERED THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO DO SO.
THOSE ARE MY TWO NOMINATIONS, AND I THINK THAT THEY WOULD SERVE THE CITY AND THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION VERY WELL.
MS. CLERK, DO YOU HAVE THOSE? I DID ALLMAN BEST.
UM, DID TWO, UM, OUTSTANDING CITIZENS OF NEW BERN THAT, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, NOMINATE.
UH, NOMINATE WOULD BE, UM, NUMBER ONE IS, UM, UH, MS. ANTONETTE BOSKY.
[01:05:01]
UM, BEGAN HER CAREER IN 2012 WITH HER MASTER'S IN ADMINISTRATION WITH A CONCENTRATION IN PUBLIC AND NONPROFIT ADMINISTRATION.SHE HAS VOLUNTEERED WITH LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
UM, AFTER HURRICANE FLORENCE, SHE BECAME THE CHAIR OF CASE MANAGEMENT, LONG-TERM RECOVERY, UM, GROUP, AND ALSO OF CC D R A AND A LOT OF 'EM KNOW US, KNOW THAT AS BY CRA, COUNTY DISASTER RECOVERY ALLIANCE.
UM, FROM THAT, SHE MOVED ON AND LANDED, UM, HER SEAT WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF CRA COUNTY, UM, AS THE NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION DIRECTOR.
UM, SHE'S BEEN VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN HOME REPAIRS, PROGRAMMED ASSETS BASED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
SHE'S REALLY FAMILIAR WITH, UM, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
UM, SHE NOW SERVES AS A DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR FOR, UM, GUARDIAN AT LITTON FOR CRA CARTER IN PCO COUNTY.
UM, SHE SERVES HER COMMUNITY BY VOLUNTEERING.
UM, SHE ALSO VOLUNTEERS HERE LOCALLY WITH, UH, ABUNDANT LIFE COMMUNITY SERVICE, CRAVEN ARTS COUNCIL, THE DUFFY FEAR RESIDENT COUNCIL AND NEW BRUNS PEOPLE ASSEMBLY.
UM, I THINK SHE WILL BE A GREAT FIT FOR THIS COMMISSION.
SHE BRINGS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE, UM, TO OUR CITY, AND SHE'S BEEN INVOLVED WITH A LOT OF, UH, RECOVERY EFFORTS.
UM, THE NEXT PERSONAL, LIKE TO NOMINATE IS A MR. JIMMY DI HUNT.
HE HAS SERVED OVER 40 YEARS IN, UM, HIS CON GENERAL CONTRACTING BUSINESS, AND HE'S ALSO SERVED OVER 40 SOME YEARS IN THE MILITARY.
UM, HE CURRENTLY HAS JE DILL HUNT AND ASSOCIATES.
THAT IS HIS BUSINESS, AND HE SPECIALIZES IN RETROFITTING ELEVATION, OF COURSE, CONSTRUCTION, BUILDING ASBESTOS, AND LEAD REMOVAL AND STUCCO.
HE'S, UM, CURRENTLY HE, IN THE PAST AND CURRENTLY HE HAS CONTRACTS WITH SURROUNDING COUNTIES, NOT JUST CRAVEN COUNTY.
HE HAS ALSO HAD CONTRACTS IN THE PAST WITH THE CITY OF NEWBURN AND HAS SERVED ON NUMEROUS CITY BOARDS, WHICH IS THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT, THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD.
UM, I TOO, HE HAS, UM, SERVED HIS COMMUNITY AND HE HAS GIVEN BACK TO HIS COMMUNITY, AND I FEEL THAT HE HAS A LOT TO OFFER THIS COMMISSION.
AND I ALSO THINK THAT HE WOULD BE A GREAT FIT FOR THIS COMMISSION AS WELL.
AND THOSE ARE MY TWO MS. CLERK.
ALDERMAN KENZIE, I HAVE A LADY THAT'S, UH, SERVES WITH THE DUFFY FIELD PHOENIX PROGRAM AND, UM, I THINK SHE'S ONE OF THE FOUNDERS AND I FEEL THAT THEY HAVE, UM, HANDS AND FEET ON THE GROUND IN THAT AREA.
AND I FEEL THAT SHE'S A VOLUNTEER.
UM, I FEEL THAT WITH THE THINGS THAT SHE'S BEEN DOING WITHIN THE LAST EIGHT YEARS WILL BE A GREAT FIT.
UM, HER HUSBAND, JIM SHOUT, HE'S AN ENGINEER AND I FEEL THAT HE SERVES WITH HER.
AND I FEEL THOSE TWO WOULD BE A GREAT FIT IN THAT AREA THAT'S VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE PEOPLE AND THE THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY NEED.
SO YOU WANNA GO HUSBAND AND WIFE DUO AS WELL? OF COURSE.
DID YOU GET THOSE MS. CLERK? YES, SIR.
ALDERMAN ASER HAS NO NOMINATIONS.
UM, AS ALDERMAN BEST POINTED OUT, ONE OF MY CANDIDATES IS ANTOINETTE BOSKY ALSO.
AND SO SHE'S ALREADY GIVEN YOU THE PROFILE, SO I'LL SKIP THAT.
MY SECOND, UH, PERSON IS MR. MARK BEST RETIRED, UH, FROM THE DIRECTOR OF WORKFORCE READINESS AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS AT CRAVEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
I BELIEVE THAT HE BRINGS TO THE TABLE A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE.
HE'S BEEN BOOTS ON THE GROUND FOR MANY YEARS, WORKING WITH THE RESIDENTS IN THE REVITAL, EXCUSE ME, IN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA.
AND, UH, I BELIEVE HE HAS THE ASSETS.
HE WAS THE, UH, PART-TIME RECRUITER AND BASIC SKILLS AND COLLEGE CAREER READINESS PROGRAMS. EVEN WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE COMMISSION,
[01:10:01]
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE VARIOUS SKILL SETS THAT IT WOULD NEED NOT ONLY TO DEVELOP, UH, THE GREATER DUFFER FIELD COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO TO DEVELOP THE PEOPLE.AND SO, UH, HE WAS ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF THE WORKFORCE READINESS AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS, UH, COMMUNITY ACTIVIST, UM, ASSISTANT DEAN OF CONTINUING EDUCATION, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES.
AND, UM, I THINK HE WOULD BRING SO, SO MANY, UM, POSITIVE THINGS THAT WE NEED FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
AND MS. ATTORNEY, I ASSUME THAT SINCE ONE INDIVIDUAL WAS NOMINATED TWICE, THEY'LL BE ON THE BALLOT ONE TIME, CORRECT? YES, SIR.
BECAUSE IT WOULD DILUTE THE VOTE IF THEY WERE LISTED TWICE.
BRENDA, BEFORE, UM, GIVE TO MY NOMINATIONS, CAN, CAN WE JUST REVIEW REAL QUICK THE NAMES THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED? YES, WE HAVE ERIC THOMPSON, KELLY, KAISER ANTOINETTE.
I'M SORRY, WHAT THE SECOND ONE? KELLY KAISER.
UH, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I'VE GOT THE INFORMATION ON THIS.
THERE'S AN EMAIL FROM HER KAISER, OKAY.
I'VE GOT NO INFORMATION ON HER.
THAT WAS A VERBAL RECOMMENDATION FROM ALDERMAN.
THIS, THIS IS PART OF THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE, IS THAT NO INFORMATION BEFORE ME.
I MEAN, OTHER THAN WHAT WAS VERBALLY PRESENTED TO MIKE.
AND WE'RE GONNA BE ASKED TO VOTE UPON THESE INDIVIDUALS.
SO I'VE GOT REAL CONCERNED WITH THE PROCESS.
UM, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO FIND THE BEST POSSIBLE PEOPLE TO PUT ON VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
AND WE HAVE JUST THE, THE PROCESS IS TO KIND OF RUSH THROUGH JUST TO GET A BODY PUT ON THERE WITHOUT REALLY ANY SERIOUS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE, THE QUALIFICATIONS, THE BACKGROUND, THE BENEFITS THAT THESE PEOPLE COULD POTENTIALLY BRING.
UM, I, I HAVE THAT PERSON'S PAPERWORK, UM, RIGHT NOW.
AND WHO ELSE ARE WE DEALING WITH? ANN? SHOUT.
AGAIN, NO, NO PAPERWORK FOR MS. SHOUT.
JIM SHOUT, NO PAPERWORK FOR MR. SHOUT.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE KEN DOK.
DID YOU ALREADY GIVE ME HIS NAME? HE HAS NOT BEEN NOMINATED.
THAT RESUME WAS SHARED JUST BECAUSE HE SUBMITTED THAT RESUME FOR THE BOARD A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
WELL THEN, AS MUCH AS I HAVE A DISDAIN FOR THE PROCESS THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH, UM, PRI JUST THE POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
YOU VOTED IN AFFIRMATION OF THE PROCESS TONIGHT.
UM, AND IT WAS IN PART, BASED ON THE EARLIER COMMENT THAT I MADE, THAT WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED PAPERWORK ON ALL THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BEING PROPOSED TONIGHT.
I DID NOT WANT TO HOLD UP THE PROCESS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK THE BOARD IS RUSHING THROUGH THIS, AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE TO SEE.
SO WITH THAT, THEN I WILL, UM, OFFER, UM, THE GENTLEMAN THAT HAD REACHED OUT TO US TWO OR THREE WEEKS AGO, MR. KENNETH DOW, AND I THINK EVERYBODY HAS RECEIVED HIS PAPERWORK, UM, TWO OR THREE WEEKS AGO.
BUT LET ME JUST REVIEW HIS RESUME UNDER COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.
HE'S A GRADUATE OF THE NEWBURG NEWBERG POLICE CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY SESSION.
HE'S A GRADUATE LEADERSHIP CRAVEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
UH, HE'S A MEMBER OF ADVISORY BOARD MEDIATION CENTER OF EASTERN NORTH EASTERN CAROLINA, NEWBURN, BRANCH BACK.
SAN DIEGO COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT OLIVE, A BS IN MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
GRADUATED WITH HIGH HONORS IN 1997.
[01:15:01]
HE'S A SENIOR WORKPLACE MEDIATOR, A VOLUNTEER WITH THE TWIN RIVERS WORKPLACE MEDIATION PROGRAM.UH, EXPERIENCE, ACTUALLY PRESENT EXPERIENCE, UH, COURT REPORTER, UH, NEWBERG COURT REPORTER, INC.
HE WAS THE TRUST IN THE STATE'S ADMINISTRATION.
PARALEGAL, HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGER FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE SPORTS AND PHYSICAL THERAPY AGENCY REPRESENTATIVE, PARALEGAL CERTIFIED DEPARTMENT OF NAVY MEDIATOR AT THE FLEET READINESS CENTER, CHERRY POINT, PARALEGAL COURT REPORTER, TOTAL QUALITY FACILITATOR, THE STAFF JUDGE ADVOCATE MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LAK.
LITIGATION PARALEGAL FOR WARDEN SMITH, FREELANCE COURT REPORTER, PARALEGAL COURTS COURT, MARSHALL COURT REPORTER, LEGAL SERVICES CHIEF FOR THE UNITED STATES MARINE COURT.
AND THE LAST INDIVIDUAL, UM, WOULD NOMINATE MY WIFE.
SHE HAS OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN REAL ESTATE AND MORTGAGE LENDING.
SHE HAS EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND AS AN OWNER AND MANAGER OF REAL ESTATE COMPANIES IN PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, IN VACATION, RENTAL AND SALES, LONG-TERM RENTALS IN LAND DEVELOPMENT AND SUBDIVISION AS A MORTGAGE LOAN OFFICER.
SHE'S A COMMU INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY LENDING, HAS EXPERIENCE WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION AS WE, AS WELL AS REHABILITATION OF PROPERTIES.
SHE HAS SERVED AS A MEMBER OF A, OF A HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE IN ANOTHER JURISDICTION THAT WE LIVED IN BEFORE RELOCATING TO NEWBERG.
SHE'S A NORTH CAROLINA REAL ESTATE BROKER, PENNSYLVANIA REAL ESTATE BROKER, NEW YORK REAL ESTATE BROKER, NEW JERSEY REAL ESTATE BROKER.
SHE HAS THE NORTH CAROLINA A MORTGAGE LICENSE AND CERTIFIED LENDER PARTNER.
SHE PRESENTLY IS IN THE, UH, MORTGAGE LOAN ORIGINATION FIELD.
SHE HAS EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT FINANCING, EXPERIENCED IN LAND ACQUISITION DEVELOPMENT, SUBDIVISION PROCESSES, EXPERIENCED PROPERTY MANAGER FOR INDIVIDUAL HOMES AND HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS.
EXCEPTIONAL FINANCIAL LITERACY, INCLUDING DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND FINANCING, KNOWLEDGE OF LOCAL MARKET TRENDS AND VALUES, EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF CURRENT RESIDENTIAL LENDING PRODUCTS, AND AN ADVOCATE FOR PATHWAYS TO HOME OWNERSHIP CONCEPT.
AND THOSE ARE MY TWO NOMINATIONS.
ARMAND PRILL, MS. CLERK, DO YOU HAVE THOSE TWO? YES, SIR.
UH, MY TWO NOMINATIONS FIRST WILL BE MS. SARAH PROCTOR.
UH, SHE GRADUATED FROM ECU WITH A DOUBLE MAJOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND COMMUNICATION.
SHE ALSO HAS HER LAW DEGREE FROM THE UNITED, UH, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA IN CHAPEL HILL.
UH, SHE WAS STATE BAR OF GEORGIA, ADMITTED IN 2007 AND NORTH CAROLINA STATE BAR IN 2017.
SHE'S A GOOD, UH, A GOOD STANDING MEMBER AT ALL TIMES.
CURRENTLY, SHE, AS OF JANUARY ONE OF THIS YEAR, SHE IS A PARTNER WITH PARKER HUDSON, RAINER AND DOBBS, L L P.
AND I BELIEVE, UH, WHEN I LOOKED AT THE BOARD AND WHAT THEY NEEDED, I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S AN ATTORNEY ON THE BOARD ANYMORE CAUSE MS. MOSLEY STARTED IN THAT POSITION.
BUT WHEN SHE WAS HIRED BY OUR STAFF ATTORNEY, UH, SHE RESIGNED FROM THAT BOARD.
SO, MS. SARAH PROCTOR, SHE IS A RESIDENT.
I WANNA BE CLEAR TOO, UM, WE'LL, WE'LL GET THE CLERK TO VERIFY THIS, BUT, UH, SHE IS A RESIDENT AND CITIZEN OF NEWBURN.
MY SECOND AND FINAL NOMINATION IS MS. SHARON BRYANT.
I THINK MOST PEOPLE KNOW SHARON.
SHE IS, UH, SINCE 1999, HAS BEEN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN OUTREACH COORDINATOR AT TRYON PALACE.
UH, SHE'S VERY WELL VERSED IN THE NEWBURN COMMUNITY.
SHE'S ALSO VERY ACTIVE IN THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.
AND, UH, NOT TOO LONG AGO, SHE WAS RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE 52 FACES OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND I'VE KNOWN, UH, SHARON FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, GRADUATED WITH HER SON, AND I BELIEVE SHE COULD BRING A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND KNOWLEDGE TO THE TABLE.
I'M ASKING THE CANDIDATES HERE.
SO MY RECOMMENDATION, IF THE ATTORNEY IS OKAY WITH IT, IT'S PROBABLY GONNA TAKE THE CLERK A LITTLE WHILE TO GET ALL THAT PUT TOGETHER.
UM, COULD WE JUST MOVE ON TO THE AGENDA AND THEN COME
[01:20:01]
BACK TO THIS? YES, SIR, YOU CAN.IS EVERYBODY GOOD WITH THAT? I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO SIT HERE AND WAIT FOR HER TO GET ALL THAT TOGETHER.
[19. Attorney's Report.]
ON TO ITEM NUMBER 19.ATTORNEY'S REPORT, NOTHING IN NIGHTMARE.
[20. City Manager's Report.]
MANAGER, I HAVE A FEELING YOU'LL DO A BETTER JOB AT THAT.I, I'VE GOT A FEW THINGS TO UPDATE THE, THE BOARD ON.
UH, FIRST ITEM IS ONE, REMIND EVERYONE THAT NEWBURN 1 0 1, WHICH WE STARTED, UH, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THE NEXT SESSION OF THAT STARTS ON FEBRUARY 23RD.
WE HAVE EIGHT SESSIONS FOR THAT.
AND IF CITIZENS ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN HOW TO DO THAT.
UM, PARTICIPANTS GET TO GO TO A VARIETY OF FACILITIES, MEET ONE-ON-ONE WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS, THE GOVERNING BOARD MEMBERS AS WELL, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT GOES ON WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED, THEY CAN REACH OUT TO US AT CITY HALL AND WE'LL, WE'LL LET YOU KNOW HOW TO SIGN UP FOR THAT.
UM, I ALSO WANNA GIVE YOU AN UPDATE.
UH, AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING, UH, WE WERE ASKED TO COME BACK, UH, TO DISCUSS THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE PROJECT THAT ALDERMAN ASHER IS, IS WANTING TO DO.
SO WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ON PROVIDING SOME INFORMATION FROM THAT.
SO WE WILL BE COMING BACK TO A FUTURE MEETING ON, ON THAT.
UH, I WANNA UPDATE YOU ON CITY HALL RENOVATIONS.
THE, THE ELEVATOR PROJECT IS GOING ALONG VERY WELL.
THEY'RE GETTING READY TO START WORKING ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING, WHERE YOU'RE GONNA REALLY BE ABLE TO SEE THE ARCH COME TOGETHER, UH, WHERE THE MAIN ENTRANCE WILL BE PLASTER WORK ON THE SECOND AND THIRD FLOOR IS ON THE STAIRCASE IS GETTING READY TO START TOMORROW.
SO THE SECOND THIRD FLOORS WILL BE CLOSED ON THE STAIRWAY FOR A A FEW WEEKS.
IT SHOULD BE BACK IN OPERATING BY THE TIME WE COME BACK FOR OUR NEXT MEETING HERE.
SO WE DO HAVE SOME IT STAFF ON THE THIRD FLOOR.
THEY'LL BE RELOCATING DOWN TO THE FIRST FLOOR.
ALSO MID-FEBRUARY, THE BRICK REPOINTING PROJECT WILL BEGIN, AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY GONNA START ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE BUILDING FIRST, AND THEN THEY'RE GONNA START, UH, ON THE CRAVEN STREET SIDE, THEN WORK AROUND TO THE P*****K STREET SIDE.
SO, SO ONE CONTRACTOR'S WORKING WITH THE OTHER CONTRACTOR TO MAKE SURE IT'S, UH, IT'S A SMOOTH PROCESS AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT, UH, THAT PROCESS BEGINNING AND IT FINISHING UP, UH, THE CONTRACTOR ESTIMATES THAT TAKING APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
SO THERE WILL BE A LOT OF ACTIVITY GOING ON, UH, NOT ONLY INSIDE, BUT OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL, UH, OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
ALSO, I SENT THE BOARD AN EMAIL EARLIER THIS WEEK.
UH, ACTUALLY THIS STARTED THE WEEK OFF ON A GOOD, ON A GOOD FOOT, UH, THAT WE DID RECEIVE, UH, A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF 2.5 MILLION FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FUND FOR THE DUFFY FIELD STORMWATER PRO PROJECT.
AND THIS IS A CONSTRUCTION GRANT.
THE MAJORITY OF GRANTS THAT, THAT WE'VE BEEN RECEIVING LATELY ARE, ARE REALLY FOR PLANNING.
SO WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING WITH ON THIS.
SO LOOK OUT FOR SOME MORE INFORMATION.
I'VE HEARD NO INFORMATION FROM THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION, BUT I DID, DID SPEAK WITH DAN TOWER, WHO WAS THE, UM, UH, BASICALLY THE PERSON PRESERVATION FOUNDATION ENDED UP WORKING WITH ON THAT PROJECT.
DAN TOLD ME THAT THEY CLOSED ON THE PROPERTY YESTERDAY, SO HE HAS ALREADY MET WITH OUR PUBLIC UTILITIES AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES STAFF REGARDING THE MOVE.
HE HAS ALREADY MOBILIZED CREWS TO BEGIN DIGGING FOOTERS.
THEY'VE ALREADY GOT AN EXCAVATOR OUT ON THE RIM AVENUE SITE, SO HE IS READY TO GO.
HE, HE HAS GOT HIS MOVERS WORKING ON THINGS.
UM, SO RIGHT NOW WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO IS GET A DATE SET UP TO COORDINATE, UH, WITH, UH, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES WITH, UM, THE ELECTRIC UTILITY AND ALSO THE TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANIES.
MAKE SURE EVERYONE'S ON BOARD.
SO I SHOULD HAVE ANOTHER UPDATE IN ABOUT A WEEK OR SO, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WATCHING AS HE RENOVATES THAT HOUSE.
NEXT ITEM I HAVE FOR YOU, KIM, IF YOU'D LIKE TO PASS SOMETHING OUT.
UH, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
UM, IN 1991, THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION ESTABLISHED THE POPULAR ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT PROGRAM.
THIS IS DONE TO ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO EXTRACT INFORMATION FROM THEIR ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORTS TO PRODUCE HIGH QUALITY POPULAR FINANCIAL REPORTS, SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO BE READILY ACCESSIBLE AND EASILY UNDERSTANDABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND INTERESTED PARTIES.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE CITY OF NEWBURN HAS, HAS DONE THIS.
AND SO ONCE YOU GET THIS, WE'RE GONNA GO OVER THIS.
UM, THIS IS ALREADY AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE AND AS WE SPEAK, PIO IS, IS SENDING A PRESS RELEASE OUT AND PUTTING IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL.
AND, AND I CAN'T TELL YOU, UM, HOW PROUD I AM, KIM OSTROM AND, AND THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND HELEN STEVENS, WHO ACTUALLY SPEARHEADED THIS.
AND SO AS YOU OPEN THIS UP, YOU'LL SEE THE PURPOSE OF THE REPORT THERE.
UH, THERE'S CONTENT THAT, UH, THAT, THAT TELLS WHAT ALL'S IN THIS.
THERE'S THE MANAGER'S MESSAGE THAT
[01:25:01]
GETS A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS REPORT.IT MENTIONS VISIT THE WEBSITE FOR ONE THING OR ANOTHER.
SO TO HELP OUT WITH THAT, WE HAVE A LIST OF QR CODES AT THE VERY FIRST, BESIDE THE MANAGER'S MESSAGE, WHERE YOU CAN CLICK ON THAT AND GO STRAIGHT TO SOME OF THAT INFORMATION.
WE'VE GOT INFORMATION, UH, FROM ABOUT THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN AND ALSO A MAP OF THE WARD.
WE'VE GOT OUR ORGANIZATIONAL CHART, AND OF COURSE, AT THE TOP OF THAT CHART IS OUR CITIZENS.
THEN WE HAVE SOME GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT NEWBURN WITH SOME GENERAL DEMOGRAPHICS ABOUT THE CITY.
AND WE HAVE A SECTION ON COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE, RECOGNIZING THE THREE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE NATIONALLY ACCREDITED.
WE HAVE SOME, ALSO SOME INFORMATION ABOUT, UH, GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES, OUR NET FINANCIAL POSITION, AND INFORMATION ABOUT OUR FUND BALANCE.
WE ALSO HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUE.
UH, AND IT GOES BACK OVER A PERIOD OF A FEW YEARS TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW THINGS HAVE GONE, AND ALSO LIST EXPENDITURES OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.
THEN WE HAVE A GOOD INFORMATION ABOUT GRANT FUND INITIATIVES, AND IT TALKS ABOUT THE 23 GRANTS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED IN FISCAL YEAR 22.
AND THE FISCAL YEAR BASICALLY STARTED A JUNE, JULY 1ST, 2021 AND ENDED JUNE 30TH, 2022.
SO THIS IS FROM THE PAST YEAR.
THEN WE HIGHLIGHT, UH, AN AREA ON PROPERTY TAXES.
WE LIST THE TOP 10 TAXPAYERS, UH, OF THE CITY OF NEWBURN.
AND THEN WE LOOK AT A COMPARABLE OF MUNICIPAL TAX RATES IN CRAVEN COUNTY AND WHERE WE STAND, AND THEN THE ASSESSED VALUE.
THEN WE HAVE INFORMATION ON OUTSTANDING DEBT, HOW OUR DEBT IS TICKING OFF OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, WHICH IS VERY INFORMATIVE.
AND THEN WE GO INTO GENERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO THERE'S A PAGE THAT TALKS ABOUT ADMINISTRATION AND ALL OF THE DIVISIONS UNDER THAT.
SOME OF THE, UH, PROJECTS THEY HAVE COMPLETED, THE, THE BUDGET, THE AMOUNT OF STAFF.
THEN WE FOCUS ON OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, WHERE WE GET INTO FIRE RESCUE, OUR POLICE.
THEN WE TALK ABOUT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, AND WE'VE GOT SOME INFORMATION ABOUT OUR RESILIENCY PROGRAM.
THEN WE HAVE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT PARKS AND RECREATION, AND THERE'S A HIGHLIGHT ON, ON MARTIN MARIET PARK THAT WE OPENED EARLIER LAST YEAR.
THEN WE FOCUS ON PUBLIC WORKS, AND THEN WE DO OUR BUSINESS TYPE ACTIVITIES, WHICH IS GENERALLY OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
AND SO THERE'S GONNA BE SOME INFORMATION ON THE WATER FUND, THE SEWER FUND, THE ELECTRIC FUND, SOLID WASTE FUND.
IT IS VERY EASY TO READ, UH, IT'S VERY UNDERSTANDABLE AND IT'S, IT'S REALLY A COMPANION TO OUR ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT AS WELL.
BUT THIS IS REALLY A QUICK GLANCE WHERE ANYONE CAN LOOK AT IT AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE SOMETHING AWAY FROM IT.
SO, GREAT DOCUMENT AND LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING SOME FEEDBACK FROM NOT ONLY THE GOVERNING BOARD, BUT THE CITIZENS AS WELL IN THIS.
ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE? VERY NICE.
SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON A LOT OF THINGS, AND SO YOU'RE GONNA SEE A LOT MORE, UH, OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.
BUT, UM, AND THIS IS ALSO GONNA BE AVAILABLE AT CITY HALL.
WE'RE WORKING TO GET SOME COPIES AT THE LIBRARY AS WELL.
SO, UH, MR. HUGHES, WHERE DID YOU, WHERE IS THIS LOCATED? ON OUR WEBSITE, IT'S ON THE FINANCE PAGE, AND THERE IT IS PROBABLY GONNA BE A LINK ON THE MAIN PAGE AS WELL.
UM, AND ALSO, KIM HAS PASSED OUT A LITTLE BUSINESS CARD.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE, THESE AT VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AS WELL, WHERE YOU CAN JUST CLICK ON THAT QR CODE THAT'LL TAKE YOU RIGHT TO THIS.
OKAY, LAST THING I HAVE, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS MAYBE ABOUT A SIX WEEKS AGO, BUT WE FINALLY GOT THIS EARLIER LAST WEEK.
IT'S THE DISTINGUISHED BUDGET PRESENTATION AWARD THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.
SO WE, WE HAD A CERTIFICATE UP HERE LAST TIME, BUT NOW WE'VE GOT THE, THE BIG AWARD.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO ASK THE GOVERNOR WARD TO COME DOWN HERE.
SHE IS THE, THE, UH, FINANCE, UH, STAFF PERSON THAT REALLY WORKED HARD ON PREPARING THE BUDGET FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
[01:30:21]
YEAH, I CAN, OH, DON'T DO THAT.ALL RIGHT, MR. HUGHES, IS THAT ALL YOU HAVE? THAT'S ALL I HAVE TONIGHT, SIR.
[18. Appointment(s). (Part 2 of 3)]
YOU HAVE THE BALLOTS READY FOR THE NOMINATIONS? I DO, AND I'LL ALSO REPORT THAT I'VE LOOKED UP THE ADDRESSES PROVIDED ON THE RESUMES OR THE EMAILS OF INTEREST, AND THEY ALL APPEAR TO BE IN THE CITY LIMITS OF NEWBURN.THOSE THAT WERE NOMINATED VERBALLY, I HAVE LOOKED UP THEIR PROPERTY RECORDS AND THEY APPEAR TO ALSO LIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS OF PAPER.
SO BOARD, WHAT I, I THINK IT PROBABLY MOST PRUDENT, WE'LL, WE'LL VOTE HERE ON THESE BALLOTS.
WE'LL TURN THESE INTO THE CLERK, THEN WE'LL DO NEW BUSINESS WHILE SHE TALLIES THEM SO WE CAN, CAN KIND OF KEEP THE MEETING FLOWING.
I DON'T THINK WE ALL WANT TO BE HERE ALL NIGHT, SO THANK YOU.
THREE BONES, CORRECT? WE SIGNED, YES.
UM, QUESTION, SUPPOSE YOU WANT, CAN YOU VOTE FOR THE SAME PERSON TWICE? IS THAT CONSIDERED THREE VOTES? WE ALREADY DISCUSSED THAT AND THERE WAS NO, YOU HAD TO VOTE FOR THREE SEPARATE PEOPLE.
OH, YOU SAID THREE SEPARATE PEOPLE.
[21. New Business.]
BUSINESS WHILE THE CLERK IS TALLYING THAT UP.AND WE'LL START WITH, START WITH, WE'LL START WITH OTTOMAN PRI THIS TIME WITH NEW BUSINESS.
YES, I HAVE, UH, JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS TO REPORT ON AND OVER THE LAST, UH, WEEK OR TWO, I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT GROUPS OF REPRESENTATIVES OR RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY.
UM, THE FIRST WERE A GROUP OF RESIDENTS, UH, WHO WERE MEMBERS OF HYDRO.
UM, THEY HAD ASKED, UH, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, SIT DOWN WITH MYSELF JUST TO TALK ABOUT, UH, A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT ITEMS. ONE BEING THE, THE PROPOSED SALE OF THE TALBOT LOT, UM, SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT STRATEGIC COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING, UH, FOR THE CITY.
UH, AND THE LAST ITEM WAS, UH, GENERAL DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES DISTRICT.
UH, AND AT THAT POINT I'D ALSO RECOMMEND OR INDICATED TO THEM THAT I'VE MADE A RECOMMENDATION, UM, THAT WE, THAT THE BOARD, UM, LOOK AT RECONSTITUTING THE MSD ADVISORY BOARD AT THIS POINT THAT IS STILL UNDER REVIEW BY THE CITY MANAGER AND THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
UM, I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT THAT ISSUE, UH, WILL BE COMING BEFORE THE BOARD IN THE RELATIVELY NEAR FUTURE.
AND I WOULD HOPE THAT, UH, THE BOARD WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF REESTABLISHING AND RECONSTITUTING THE MSD
[01:35:01]
ADVISORY BOARD.THE SECOND GROUP, UH, ALONG WITH THE CITY MANAGER, WE MET WITH TWO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE RIVERSIDE HISTORIC ASSOCIATION, WHO PRESENTED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE SPEED LIMIT ON A PORTION OF NATIONAL AVENUE BE REDUCED FROM 35 TO 25 MILES PER HOUR.
THAT MATTER HAS BEEN RE REFERRED TO STAFF, UH, FOR THEIR REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION.
I WOULD ANTICIPATE ALSO THAT THAT MATTER WILL BE COMING BEFORE THE BOARD, UH, IN THE RELATIVELY NEAR FUTURE AS WELL.
THE, THE LAST ITEM, UH, JUST GENERAL COMMENTS CONCERN, UM, MAYOR, THIS HAS IN CONDUCTION WITH THE RECENT APPOINTMENTS THAT, UH, THAT YOU HAD MADE, UH, TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
UM, THAT BEING THE APPOINTMENT OF, UH, MSEL AND MR. DANA OUTLAW.
UM, I ACKNOWLEDGE UPFRONT THAT YOU ARE CERTAINLY WELL WITHIN, UH, YOUR AUTHORITY AS MAYOR, UH, TO MAKE THESE APPOINTMENTS.
WHERE I HAVE A CONCERN IS THAT ALL OTHER APPOINTMENTS THAT ARE MADE TO OUR VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS ARE ALWAYS DONE IN A PUBLIC MEETING.
YOUR APPOINTMENT THOUGH, HAPPENED PRIOR OR BASICALLY NOT AT A PUBLIC MEETING.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHY THAT DECISION WAS MADE BY YOU TO DO THAT.
UH, THERE WAS NO URGENCY TO GET THESE TWO NEW MEMBERS ONTO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
UM, THERE, THE, THE AUTHORITIES LAST MEETING WAS A VERY ROUTINE MEETING.
UM, SO THERE WAS NO MATTERS, UM, THAT, UH, HAD SOME URGENCY TO IT.
SO I THINK THE APPOINTMENTS COULD HAVE BEEN HELD OFF UNTIL TONIGHT'S MEETING.
I'VE ALSO GOT A CONCERN WITH REGARDS TO THE, THE APPOINTMENTS OF THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS.
AGAIN, NOT BEING DONE IN A PUBLIC SESSION.
WE'RE ALL VERY SENSITIVE AND, AND HAVE CERTAINLY HEARD A LOT OF CONCERNS BEING EXPRESSED BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, NOT A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, THIS ACTION IN MY MIND JUST FALLS RIGHT BACK INTO THE ISSUE OF A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY.
AND AGAIN, I, I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU WERE WELL WITHIN YOUR AUTHORITY TO MAKE THE APPOINTMENTS, BUT THE, THE WAY IT WAS HANDLED, I THINK IT JUST REFLECTS VERY BADLY ON ALL OF US WHEN THIS BOARD HAD ABSOLUTELY NO SAY, AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, NO ADVANCED KNOWLEDGE OF APPOINTMENTS BEING MADE.
SO THOSE ARE JUST MY GENERAL COMMENTS ABOUT THAT TOPIC.
I, I, I THANK YOU FOR THAT AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF 'EM.
UM, YOU MADE A COMMENT THAT THERE WAS NO URGENCY IN MAKING THOSE APPOINTMENTS, AND I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU.
THERE SEEMS TO BE NO URGENCY WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WHATSOEVER.
IT'S BEEN FOUR OVER FOUR YEARS, AND WE STILL HAVE BUILDINGS THAT WERE FLOODED, UH, HURRICANE FLORENCE, AND THEY'RE STILL STANDING TODAY.
I ASKED ALONG WITH TWO OTHER MEMBERS AT THE TIME OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN FOR THEM TO HIRE A FEMA CONSULTANT.
THE HOUSING AUTHORITY REFUSED TO DO SO.
I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT A FEMA CONSULTANT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL FOR THIS BOARD IN THE CITY OF NEW BERN, WHERE WE HAD A $600,000 RECREATION CENTER THAT WE RECEIVED SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS FOR FROM FEMA.
UH, THE SAME OPPORTUNITY EXISTS WITH THE NEWBURN HOUSING AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THAT COMMUNITY AT TRENT COURT.
UH, THERE HAS BEEN A LACK OF ACTION.
UM, SO THAT'S THE REASON THE, FOR THE URGENCY OF THE APPOINTMENTS THAT I MADE.
SECONDLY, UH, I WOULD ASK THE CLERK, MS. UM, BLANCO, HOW MANY TIMES WAS A HOUSING AUTHORITY APPOINTMENT MADE DURING A PUBLIC BOARD MEETING? NEVER TO MY KNOWLEDGE.
WELL, IF SOMETHING'S BEING DONE IN MY MIND, IMPROPERLY OVER HOWEVER LONG PERIOD OF TIME CONTINUING THAT PRACTICE DOESN'T SOLVE, WELL, I GUESS IT'S ALL OTHER APPOINTMENTS ARE MADE IN A PUBLIC SESSION.
THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO REASON WHY THE APPOINTMENT OF THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS COULD NOT HAVE BEEN HANDLED IN A PUBLIC MEETING.
[01:40:01]
WELL, THAT'S A, THAT'S A MATTER OF OPINION, BUT GENERAL STATUTE GIVES THE MAYOR THE UNILATERAL AUTHORITY TO MAKE THOSE, THOSE DECISIONS AND THOSE APPOINTMENTS, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE MADE IN A PUBLIC MEETING.NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT FROM AN APPEARANCE STANDPOINT, FROM PUBLIC STANDPOINT, WE WILL ALL BE CRITICIZED CUZ OF THIS LACK OF TRANSPARENCY WHEN ALL OF US WE'RE NOT PARTICIPANTS IN THAT.
SO IT, WELL, IT REFLECTS BADLY ON THE FULL BOARD.
WELL, I, I APPRECIATE YOUR OPINION, BUT I DISAGREE.
UH, IT SHOULD NOT BE A REFLECTION ON THIS BOARD CAUSE THIS BOARD HAS NO INPUT IN THAT DECISION.
ANYTHING ELSE TONIGHT, SIR? NOPE, THAT'S IT.
I'D LIKE, AS A WAY OF REMINDER, JUST TO REMIND THE RESIDENTS OF THE UPCOMING TOWN HALL MEETING THAT IS SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY THE SIXTH, UH, AT 6:00 PM AT THE WEST NEWBURN REC CENTER.
UM, THAT AREA INCLUDES STREETS, UH, SUCH AS WOODLAND AVENUE, MONTEREY CIRCLE, HIGH TREE EGRET, PINE TREE MANNING, AND ON AND ON AND ON.
I LABELED IT THE WEST NEWBURN AREA.
THAT'S WHAT I STILL LABEL IT AS.
UH, BUT I WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO, UH, LET THE RESIDENTS KNOW THE, UH, VICINITY THAT WE WILL BE MEETING.
AND IT WILL BE AT WEST NEWBURN REC CENTER.
I'M SO, AGAIN, APPRECIATIVE FOR THE MAYOR AND THE CITY MANAGER, ALONG WITH THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND THE STORM WATER SUPERINTENDENT AND OUR CHIEF OF POLICE THAT WILL BE ACCOMPANYING ME TO THOSE MEETINGS.
AND WE WILL JUST SIMPLY TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES AND CONCERNS THAT THE RESIDENTS HAVE.
THE MEETING IS, UH, COMMUNITY.
THE TOPIC IS COMMUNITY DRIVEN.
AND UM, SO FOLKS, IF YOU'RE LISTENING, PLEASE JOIN US, UH, ON FEBRUARY THE SIXTH AT 6:00 PM THANK YOU.
WELL, THERE IS SOMETHING AT NIGHT.
UM, IT'S ALDERMAN ASHER'S BIRTHDAY, SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
WHAT'S THAT? THAT 39, 30 SECONDS.
UM, MAYOR, UM, I TOO WOULD, UM, IN REFERENCE TO THE APPOINTMENTS TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD, UM, I TOO WOULD LIKE TO SEE, JUST LIKE YOU SUGGESTED TO US AND IMPLEMENTED THE FACT OF AS ALDERMAN, WE BRING TWO NOMINEES TO YOU THAT WE MAY FEEL THAT CITIZENS THAT SERVE WITHIN OUR WARD MAY WANT TO SERVE ON THE HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD.
SO IF WE WOULD JUST HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THOSE NAMES TO YOU.
UM, MOVING FORWARD, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A PLUS TO, UM, TO US ALDERMAN AND TO OUR CITIZENS.
UM, AND, UM, I, I TOO, YEAH, THAT IF WE COULD DO THAT, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.
ALDERMAN, BRISSON NOTHING TONIGHT.
[18. Appointment(s). (Part 3 of 3)]
MADAM CLERK, DO YOU HAVE A TYLEE? I DO.DO WE HAVE A TIE? ANY TIES AT THE TOP? NO.
WE'LL FIRST REVIEW THE BALANCE AS CAST BY EACH OKAY.
ALDERMAN PRI VOTED FOR, ANTOINETTE BOSKY, LORI MPRI, AND SHARON BRYANT, ALDERMAN, ROYAL ANTOINETTE BOSKY, MARK BEST, AND SHARON BRYANT, ALDERMAN ASTOR, ERIC THOMPSON, SARAH PROCTOR, AND SHARON BRYANT, MAYOR OUTLAW.
KELLY KAISER, SARAH PROCTOR AND SHARON BRYANT.
UM, ALDERMAN KENZIE, JIMMY DI HUNT AND SHOUT.
AND JIM SHOUT, ALDERMAN BEST, ANTOINETTE BOSKY.
JIMMY DILLA HUNT, AND SARAH PROCTER, ALDERMAN BRINSON, KELLY KAISER, SARAH PROCTER AND SHARON BRYANT.
SO THE TALLY, SHARON BRYANT WITH FIVE.
SARAH PROCTER WITH FOUR ANTOINETTE BOSKY WITH THREE KELLY KAISER AND JIMMY DI HUNT, BOTH WITH TWO.
AND SHE, JIM SHOUT, MARK BEST.
SO THE APPOINTMENTS WILL BE FOR SHARON BRYANT AND SARAH PROCTOR.
[01:45:02]
NOW, UH, BOARD, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHICH ONE'S GONNA FILL WHICH SEAT.SO I'M, I'M OPEN FOR WHATEVER I, I WOULD SAY THE, UH, I WOULD OFFER ONE WITH THE MOST VOTES.
IS THAT YOUR MOTION? I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.
WHO, WHO IS THE PERSON? UH, MS. SHARON BRYANT WOULD HAVE THE 2026 EXPIRATION DATE AND THEN SARAH PROCTOR WOULD HAVE THE 2024 EXPIRATION DATE.
ANY OPPOSED? CONGRATULATIONS TO MS. BRYANT AND MS. PROCTOR.
UH, I DO NOT HAVE ANY NEW BUSINESS TONIGHT.
[22. Closed Session.]
BELIEVE WE DO NEED A CLOSED SESSION THOUGH.MR. MAYOR, PURSUANT TO 1 43 3 18 11 A FOUR, TO DISCUSS THE LOCATION EXPANSION OF INDUSTRY OR BUSINESSES TO INCLUDE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES, NEED A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION? SECOND.