[1. Meeting opened by Mayor Odham. Prayer Coordinated by Alderman Prill. Pledge of Allegiance.]
[00:00:04]
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE APRIL 11TH, 2023 NEWBURN BOARD OF ALDERMAN MEETING TONIGHT.
THE PRAYER WILL BE COORDINATED BY ALDERMAN THRILL.
I'M SURE THAT EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM, UM, IF, IF NOT EVERYBODY, MOST OF US OCCASIONALLY WATCH THE NEWS.
AND WHAT WE TYPICALLY ARE BOMBARDED WITH IS NEWS STORIES SUCH AS, SO FAR IN 2023, THERE HAVE BEEN 146 MASS SHOOTINGS IN THE UNITED STATES RESULTING IN 209 DEATHS AND 563 INJURIES.
A LITTLE OVER TWO MONTHS AGO, A 7.8 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE OCCURRED IN SOUTHERN TURKEY, RESULTING IN OVER 57,000 DEATHS IN TURKEY AND ANOTHER 7,200 DEATHS IN SYRIA.
AND JUST IN THE LAST WEEK TO 10 DAYS, PARTS OF THE MIDWEST AND SOUTHERN US HAVE BEEN HIT BY A RASH OF TORNADOES WITH LIVES LOSS AND PORTIONS OF COMMUNITIES TOTALLY DESTROYED.
THE POINT BEING THAT THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING ALL AROUND US.
I WOULD ASK THAT EVERYONE TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO REFLECT ON THESE BIGGER PICTURE ISSUES, AND AT THE SAME TIME, THINK ABOUT THE ITEMS THAT ARE BEFORE US THIS EVENING AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE CAN WORK THROUGH THESE ITEMS IN A CALM, DELIBERATIVE, NON-CONFRONTATIONAL WAY AND BE THE BETTER FOR IT.
SO IF YOU WOULD, IF JUST TAKE A FEW MOMENTS AND JOIN ME AND JUST QUIET DELIBERATION.
AND MAYOR, IF I COULD JUST TAKE A ANOTHER COUPLE OF MINUTES IF EVERYBODY WOULD INDULGE ME.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO FLAT STANLEY.
FLAT STANLEY IS A, A SCHOOL PROJECT FOR ONE OF MY SIX YEAR OLD GRANDSONS WHO RESIDES IN NEW JERSEY, FLAT STANLEY.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS SCHOOL PROJECT IS FOR FLAT STANLEY TO VISIT FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AROUND THE COUNTRY OR AROUND THE WORLD AND TO HAVE HIS ADVENTURES DOCUMENTED.
SO THIS EVENING, FLAT STANLEY IS JOINING ME ON THE DANCE.
UH, HE WILL, HE'S ON TV, UH, FROM NEWBURN, NORTH CAROLINA.
SO HOPEFULLY MY GRANDSON WILL APPRECIATE THE EFFORT THAT IS BEING MADE ON HIS BEHALF.
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE STAND WITH ME AS WE PLEDGE LEADERS TO THE FLAG COUNTRY PLEDGE, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH SUSTAINS ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN INDIVISIBLE WITH THE LIBERTY OF JUSTICE.
MADAM CLERK, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ALDERMAN.
[3. Approve Agenda.]
UH, HAS EVERYONE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE AGENDA? IF SO, I'D APPROVE, UH, TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT.BEFORE WE, WE DO THAT, CAN I ASK THE BOARD IF, UM, WE WILL PLEASE, UM, MOVE ITEM NUMBER 11 AND 12 UP ON THE AGENDA? UM, CUZ IT'S A RECOGNITION AND SOMETIMES DON'T TAKE AS MUCH TIME AS PRESENTATIONS DO.
SO WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS BEFORE THIS AND THERE MAY BE CITIZENS THAT HAVE SOMETHING ELSE THAT THEY NEED TO DO IF BOYS SO CHOOSE TO.
SO IS THAT A MOTION TO MOVE 11 AND 12 AFTER ITEM NUMBER EIGHT? THAT IS CORRECT.
UH, IF I COULD, I'D LIKE TO REQUEST THAT ITEM SIX BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT, CONSENT AGENDA ENACTED ON SEPARATELY.
THAT WAS TO MOVE ITEMS NUMBER 11 AND 12 AFTER ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
DO I HAVE A SECOND ON THAT? SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[00:05:01]
AYE.ANY OPPOSED? OKAY, ALDERMAN PRI UH, I'M GONNA TAKE YOUR MOTION TO PULL ITEM NUMBER SIX FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND CONSIDER THAT AFTER ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
UH, LET'S HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA WITH THE CHANGES NOTED, PLEASE.
A MOTION AND A SECONDING DISCUSSION.
THAT'S A LOT OF WORK FOR PROVING THE AGENDA,
LET'S HOPE THE REST OF THE NIGHT DOESN'T GO LIKE THAT.
[4. Request and Petition of Citizens.]
ITEM NUMBER FOUR, REQUEST AND PETITION OF CITIZENS.FIRST PETITION IS FROM BILL STAFFORD OF 2001 CLUBHOUSE DRIVE.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AUTUMN AND MEMBERS OF THE NEWBURN TOWN COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS BILL STAFFORD AND I AM A RESIDENT OF NEWBURN.
HAVING SERVED AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL BEFORE I CLEARLY UNDERSTAND WHEN NEW ISSUES SUCH AS SOCIAL DISTRICTS ENTER THE PUBLIC FORUM.
MY HOPE TONIGHT IS TO LEAVE YOU WITH ENCOURAGEMENT FOR CONSIDERATION OF FORMING A PLANNING COMMITTEE TO BRING THIS ISSUE BACK FOR CONSIDERATION.
I ALSO WANT TO SHARE THREE PERSONAL FACTS OF CLARITY.
ONE, I WAS VERY INVOLVED IN MAYOR ODOM'S CAMPAIGN, BUT HE KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT MY COMMENTS TONIGHT AND IS HEARING THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME JUST LIKE YOU ARE.
I OWE NO REAL ESTATE IN DOWNTOWN NEWBURN.
I HAVE NO REAL ESTATE LISTED, NOR, UH, LEAST NOR AM I INTERESTED OR HAVE ANY LEASE OFFERS OUT.
I DO OWN AN ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY CALLED STAFF ENTERTAINMENT TALLY.
AND THROUGH UP THROUGH TECH 2022, NO MORE THAN 3% OF MY PROFITS OF OF MY GROSS INCOME CAME FROM ANY ACTIVITIES IN DOWNTOWN NEWBURN.
WHAT I CLEARLY WANT TO SET THE PICTURE IS, YES, I'M ON A COUPLE OF BOARDS IN THE AREA, BUT I'M HERE NOT REPRESENT ANY BOARD, ANYBODY, BUT BILL STAFFORD.
WHEN MY, WHEN MY WIFE SUZANNE AND I LOOKED WHERE WE THOUGHT WE MIGHT LIKE TO SPEND IN THE LAST, UH, YEARS OF OUR LIFE, THE POSITIVE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT OF NEWBURN WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE.
IN FACT, WE PLANNED A DESTINATION WEDDING HERE FOR OUR LAST DAUGHTER BEFORE WE MOVED HERE.
THE LIFESTYLES WE SAW THEN IS ONE THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED BY STRONG COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO KNEW THE VALUE OF TAKING CALCULATED RISK FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE WHOLE.
YOU ARE BEING WILLING TO OPENLY STUDY THIS ISSUE TO THE FULLEST AND OPENLY LEARN THE POSITIVES IF THEY OUTWEIGH THE CONCERN.
NEGATIVES WOULD BE A COURSE OF ACTION.
WHILE READING ABOUT MANY OF THE 30 SOCIAL DISTRICTS CURRENTLY OPERATING IN NORTH CAROLINA, I CHOSE TO CONTACT A FEW OF THOSE WITH SIMILAR SOCIOECONOMIC MAKEUP LIKE NEWBURN, FOR INSTANCE, HICKORY ASBO AND WASHINGTON HICKORY POLICE CAPTAIN PHILLIP DEMUS, WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THE FORCE THAT COVERS THAT AREA, SAID TO ME, QUOTE, THIS DISTRICT HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR OVER A YEAR AND IT'S GOING GREAT.
CLOSE QUOTE, HICKORY IS A TOWN MUCH LIKE NEWBURN, LIVING ON THE EDGE OF THE MOUNTAINS WHILE NEWBURN IS LIVING ON THE EDGE OF THE COAST.
FACTS AROUND ASHEBORO, WHICH HOUSES OUR STATE DO INDICATES THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY ADDED TO THEIR ORIGINAL DISTRICT BECAUSE OF THE POSITIVE EFFECT OF THE INITIAL EXISTENCE.
I'M SURE YOU KNOW THAT WASHINGTON NORTH CAROLINA TOWN COUNCIL HAS APPROVED AND POLICE CHIEF STACEY DRAKEFORD HAS HIS, HAD HIS INPUT, AND I SPOKE WITH HIM AND HE'S READY TO MOVE FORWARD.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS FOR NEWBURN IS THAT MOST DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES RELY HEAVILY ON TOWN TRAFFIC SUCH AS CONVENTIONS AND BUSINESS MEETINGS.
MY COMPANY IS A MEMBER OF A E N C, WHICH STANDS FOR EXECUTIVES OF NORTH CAROLINA, WHICH IS DRIVES CORPORATE BUSINESS CONDITIONS AND MEETINGS ALL OVER NORTH CAROLINA.
THEY HAVE NOTICED AN INCREASE IN THE QUESTIONS REGARDING WHETHER COMMUNITY HAS A SOCIAL DISTRICT.
IN CLOSING, NUMER WILL SOON HAVE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION WITH A NO OR HOPEFULLY AT LEAST BE ABLE TO SAY IT'S BEING STUDIED.
THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR LOVE OF NEWBURN AND YOUR CONSIDERATION OF
[00:10:01]
THIS ISSUE.THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS CHRISTOPHER AND CAROLYN ADAMS OF 29 0 4 BETTY GRESHAM LANE.
UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PERSONALLY THANK THE MAYOR, MR. ASTOR, MR. CHILDS, AND THOSE OF YOU WHO CAME OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY TO OBSERVE WHAT WE HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH WITH N C C I HOMES REGARDING THE VOLUME OF OUR BACKYARDS.
I WOULD LIKE TO BRING YOU UP TO DATE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT SINCE YOU, UM, CAME OUT AND VISITED OUR SUBDIVISION ALONG WITH THE MEDIA, UM, NOLAN DISTANCED SOMEONE OUT TO DIG UP A SWELL BIG ENOUGH.
I MEAN, I'M SORRY, DEEP ENOUGH SO THAT THE STORM WATER COULD PROPERLY RUN OFF.
AND AT THIS POINT WE HAVE HAD NO SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT ADDITIONAL FLOODING OF OUR BACKYARDS.
HOWEVER, I WILL POINT OUT, UM, THAT NOT EVERYONE IS HAPPY, BUT FOR THE MAJORITY OF US, WE ARE HAPPY.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT, UM, DURING THE WALKTHROUGH OF OUR SUBDIVISION, IT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT THERE ARE, UM, SEVERAL ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY NOLAN BEFORE THE CITY WILL TAKE OVER ITS RESPONSIBILITIES AS IT PERTAINS TO OUR SUBDIVISION, THERE IS A SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE, OF OUR HOA AT THE END OF APRIL.
AT THE TIME WE WERE TOLD, UM, THAT THE LAST HOME HAS BEEN SOLD IN OUR SUBDIVISION.
AND SO NOLAN WOULD LIKE FOR US TO TAKE OVER THE HOA.
HOWEVER, UNTIL SUCH TIME AS WE ARE AWARE OF WHAT THOSE ISSUES ARE THAT THE CITY HAS WITHIN N CCI, WE DO NOT WANT TO ASSUME THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ASSUMING THE, UH, RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE HOA.
SO IN CLOSING, IF WE COULD HAVE A COPY OF WHAT IT IS THAT YOU ARE, ARE REQUESTING FROM N C I TO HAVE REPAIR PRIOR TO YOU ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITY OF ANYTHING WITH REGARD TO OUR SUBDIVISION, SUCH AS STREET LIGHTS, I BELIEVE YOU SAID, AND THE, UM, STREETS ITSELF.
WE DON'T WANT TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANYTHING THAT THIS BUILDER SHOULD BE DOING.
UM, SO WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING OF THEM PRIOR TO OUR TAKING RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HO.
IN CLOSING, I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING OUT AGAIN, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU ON THE BOARD WHO EXPRESSED INTEREST AND CONCERN, I THANK YOU, MY HUSBAND AND I WHEN THANK YOU ALSO.
AND SO DO THE NEIGHBORS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE WERE SO HAPPY WHEN YOU ALL CAME OUT AND EXPRESSED TO US JUST HOW MUCH YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WE ARE INTERESTED IN AND HOW WE WANT TO BE HAPPY WITHIN THE NEW BURN AREA.
WE HAVE ONLY BEEN HERE FOR EIGHT MONTHS AND THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE RETIRED.
SO ONCE AGAIN, I THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
UM, SINCE THE HOA IS THE CONTRACTOR, CAN HE TURN THAT OVER TO THE RESIDENTS AND AND LET THEM BE WORRIED ABOUT FIXING ALL THE STUFF THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED? NO, SIR.
HE WOULD JUST BE TURNING OVER THE AMENITIES FOR THAT PHASE OF THE SUBDIVISION AND THE STORM WATER SYSTEM.
BUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, WOULD COME TO THE CITY DIRECTLY.
SOMEBODY'S GOTTA DO 52 PAGES WORTH OF WORK OVER THERE BEFORE THE CITY WILL ACCEPT IT.
IF CAN HE TURN IT OVER TO THE RESIDENCE? NO, SIR.
AND THEN ASK IN THE CITY, HE CAN TURN OVER COMMON AREAS THAT PARKS, LAKES, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, BUT HE CAN'T CONVEY THOSE ARE ALREADY DEDICATED ON A PLA SO THEY'RE ALREADY OFFERED TO THE CITY, SO ONLY THE CITY CAN ACCEPT IT, BUT ONCE THE REPO, THE REPAIRS ARE MADE.
NEXT UP IS JERRY AVERY OF 4 75 LOOP ROAD IN COVE CITY.
GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMAN.
MY NAME IS JERRY AVERY AND I LIVE IN THE WINTERGREEN COMMUNITY OF NEAR COVE CITY.
TODAY I HAVE THE HONOR OF REPRESENTING BRAD'S LEGACY AND PEPSI COLA COLLECTORS ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES AND ADVOCATING FOR THE CREATION OF A PEPSI COLA MUSEUM.
HAVING LIVED IN CRA COUNTY MY ENTIRE LIFE, MY FAMILY TIES TO NOVER AND DATE BACK TO BEFORE DE GRAN REED EVEN ARRIVED IN 1710, WHICH INSTILLS IN ME A PROFOUND SENSE OF ATTACHMENT TO THE REGION'S PAST.
MY LOVE FOR NEWBURN HAS GROWN STRONGER OVER TIME AS I CONTINUE TO RESEARCH ITS PEOPLE CULTURE AND STORIES OF THE CITY'S RICH HISTORY.
ONE FUN FACT THAT I TELL PEOPLE WHEN I TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF NORTH CAROLINA IS THAT NORTH CAROLINA HOST PEPSI COLA FORMED RIGHT HERE IN SMALL TOWN IN NORTH CAROLINA.
[00:15:01]
AN INDELIBLE MARK IN HISTORY AT THE BIRTHPLACE OF A REVOLUTIONARY DIGESTIVE AID IN 1898, WHICH BECAME ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST ICONIC OF BRANDS.CONSIDERING THE REMARKS, THIS REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT IS ONLY FITTING TO ESTABLISH A MUSEUM THAT COMMEMORATES THIS LEGACY.
AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON CALEB, HIS FAMILY AND THE HISTORY OF PEPSI COLA IS CLEAR THAT BUILDING A MUSEUM IS NECESSARY NOT ONLY TO HONOR THE BRAND'S FOUNDER, BUT ALSO TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE MINI FAMILY WHO HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY AS EMPLOYEES IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA CONTRIBUTING TO THE BRAND'S SUCCESS.
THE MUSEUM IS NOT JUST THE STORY OF CALEB, IT'S ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, PAST AND PRESENT WHO HAVE PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN PEPSI COLA SUCCESS.
IT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY OF HIGHLIGHTS THE STORIES OF THOSE WHO HAVE DEFIED SOCIETAL NORMS AND PREJUDICES AGAINST OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WOMEN SHOWCASING THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS AND STOP FIRING FUTURE GENERATIONS.
THE MUSEUM IS A POWERFUL WAY TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE EFFORTS OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND TO ENSURE THAT THE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE REMEMBERED FOR YEARS TO COME.
LET ME TELL YOU OF A FEW REMARKABLE WOMEN ENTWINED IN THE STORY.
I GRADUATED FROM WEST CRAVEN HIGH SCHOOL IN 1989 AS A STUDENT I HAD A PLEASURE, HAD THE PLEASURE OF GETTING TO KNOW MS. LIVONIA, PAT FRAZIER.
SHE WAS THE VERY FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN MODEL FOR PEPSI COLA BACK IN THE 1940S.
HER WORK IN PEPSI COLA ADVERTISING AND IS THE FIRST BLACK MODEL TO APPEAR IN NATIONAL ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.
MS. PAT PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN BREAKING DOWN RACIAL BARRIERS IN THE MODELING INDUSTRY.
MS. PAT'S WORK FOR PEPSI COLA HELPED THE CHALLENGE OF THE INDU INDUSTRY PREVAILING NOTIONS OF BEAUTY AND RACIAL REPRESENTATION.
AND SHE PAV THE WAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF BLACK MODELS TO ENTER THE INDUSTRY.
HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BROADER STRUGGLE FOR RACIAL EQUALITY HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED AS SIGNIFICANT AND GROUNDBREAKING.
MS. PAT'S FEARLESSNESS TO BREAK BARRIERS ARE ENCOURAGED BY A NATIONAL CORPORATE BRAND WILLING TO STEP OUT OF THE STATUS QUO DURING A TIME WHEN IT WAS SOCIALLY SOCIABLY NOT ACCEPTABLE TO DO SO.
PEPSI COLA EMBRACED THE FACT THAT THERE WAS DIVERSITY AMONG ITS CONSUMER BASE AND MADE STRIDE NEVER BEFORE SEEN TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT NEEDED REPRESENTATION FOR EVERYONE.
PEPSI COLA HIRED EMPLOYEES FROM ETHNIC AND RACIAL MINORITIES TO SERVE IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE COMPANY, FROM THE GROUND FLOOR ALL THE WAY UP TO ITS VERY OWN VICE PRESIDENT IN AN EFFORT TO BRING FORTH CHANGE IN HOW IT DID BUSINESS.
IT WAS LED BY EXAMPLE, NOT JUST WORDS.
PEPSI COLA RECEIVED OPPONENTS, THOUGH THEY WERE NOT LOOKED AT KINDLY.
NEVERTHELESS, PEPSI COLA PUSHED FORWARD AND IT'S TODAY'S STILL FOCUSING ON DIVERSITY WITHIN ITS RANKS.
I HAD THE CHANCE TO WITNESS THIS FIRSTHAND WHEN I WAS INVITED TO VISIT PEPSI COAST HEADQUARTERS IN PURCHASE NEW YORK IN 2019.
CALEB WAS A MAN WHO WAS INFLUENCED BY STRONG WOMEN FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
I RESEARCH INTO HIS LIFE IN THE HISTORY OF PEPSI COLA HIGHLIGHTS THIS BELIEF TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
ONE NOTABLE EXPERIENCE, EXAMPLE IS THAT THE FORM.
GO, GO AHEAD AND FINISH YOUR STATEMENT.
I RESEARCH IN HIS HIGH HISTORY MS. CHARITY, CREDLE BRADHAM, WHO HIS WIFE RAN FOR MAYOR OF NEWBURN IN 1924.
CALEB ACTIVELY SUPPORTED CHARITY'S ELECTION CAMPAIGN AND USED HIS BUSINESS AND POLITICAL INFLUENCE WITH AREA BUSINESS MEN TO PROMOTE HER CANDIDACY.
MR UNFORTUNATELY, MR. IF YOU, IF YOU WILL, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT'S GONNA SPEAK TONIGHT.
SO IF YOU WANT TO SHARE THOSE, I WILL WRITTEN NOTES WITH THE CLERK OR EITHER THE ASSISTANT MANAGER.
THEY'LL GET COPIES AND SHARE THAT WITH ALL THE BOARD.
AND I'VE ALSO GOT A PETITION I'M GONNA HAND OFF TO.
NEXT UP IS JAMES KINZIE FROM 12,005 HARROW GATE ROAD, ALL THE WAY FROM CHESTER, VIRGINIA.
UM, I'M THE, UH, PRESIDENT OF THE PEPSI COLA COLLECTORS CLUB, AN ORGANIZATION THAT WAS FORMED IN 1983 DEDICATED TO THE DOCUMENTATION AND PRESERVATION OF MEMORABILIA AND HISTORY OF THE PEPSI COLA COMPANY.
MY WIFE AND I STARTED COLLECTING PEPSI COLA MEMORABILIA IN 1988, AND UP UNTIL THAT TIME, WE HAD NO IDEA OF NEW BURNS EARLY HISTORY WITH THE PEPSI COLA BRAND.
WE MADE OUR FIRST TRIP TO NEW BERN IN JUNE OF 1990 TO SEE WHERE IT ALL STARTED, WHICH MOST PEPSI COLLECTORS THINK THIS IS THE MECCA FOR THEM.
SO IT'S LIKE A PILGRIM WHEN THEY COME.
SO, UM, THE ONLY THING THEN WAS WE WERE SO SOMEWHAT DISAPPOINTED WITH THE LACK OF PEPSI HISTORY THAT EXISTED AT THAT TIME.
THE ONLY DISPLAY OF PEPSI MEMORABILIA WAS IN AN ANTIQUE MALL ACROSS FROM WHERE THE PEPSI STORE
[00:20:01]
IS TODAY.AND THAT BELONGED TO A PRIVATE COLLECTOR NAMED TED HAYNES.
WE DID LOVE THE CITY AND WE CONTINUED TO VISIT FOR SHORT GETAWAYS.
OVER THE YEARS, THE PEPSI CLUB HAS HAD SEVERAL FUNCTIONS IN NEWBURN, INCLUDING THE LARGE CELEBRATION IN 1998 FOR PEPSI'S HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY.
THE CLUB WILL BE HERE AGAIN IN NEWBURN IN MAY.
WE'LL, WE'LL BE HAVING OUR EAST COAST, UH, CONVENTION HERE.
IF YOU TRAVEL SEVEN HOURS SOUTHWEST TO ATLANTA, ATLANTA HAS A COCA-COLA MUSEUM.
THAT'S WHERE COCA-COLA WAS INVENTED.
IF YOU GO TO WACO, TEXAS, THERE'S THE DR.
PEPPER MUSEUM, STATE OF THE ART MUSEUM.
SO THE, THE, UH, IT WOULD BE ONLY RIGHT THAT PEPSI COLA HAS A MUSEUM HERE IN NEW BERN.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, TWO COLLECTIONS HAVE BEEN DONATED TO THE, TO THE CAUSE.
AND THESE ARE MILLION DOLLAR COLLECTIONS.
AND, UH, THAT THE, THE, THE MUSEUM FUNDING FOR THE MUSEUM IS REALLY, ACTUALLY THE EASY PART BECAUSE YOU WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO ASSEMBLE A COLLECTION LIKE THESE TWO COLLECTIONS IN A LIFETIME.
IT WOULDN'T MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY YOU THREW AT IT.
THIS, THIS STUFF IS JUST NOT THERE BECAUSE THE EARLY HISTORY, BECAUSE THE BANKRUPTCIES EARLY HISTORY'S BEEN LOST THE TIME, AND THERE'S ALWAYS NEW DISCOVERIES COMING UP.
SO, BUT ANYHOW, IT'S BEEN THE DREAM OF MOST PEOPLE IN THE CLUB, THAT THERE'D BE A MUSEUM AND THAT RIFLE PLACE WOULD BE NEW BERN.
SO I ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT FUNDING FOR THIS PR UH, PROJECT.
NEXT UP IS KEVIN ROBERTS, 1008 CARLTON WAY.
SO FOLKS WHO, UH, PM TO THE CLERK, YOU'LL SHARE 'EM WITH US.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE.
AS WE SAID, I'M KEVIN ROBERTS.
I AM, UH, MY ADDRESS IS, UH, TRENT WOODS ADDRESS.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF YOUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
SO I SPEND MOST OF MY WAKING HOURS AT THREE 16 SOUTH FRONT STREET.
UH, I AM HERE TONIGHT MOSTLY GONNA READ, UH, ONE OF A STATEMENT FROM ONE OF YOUR RETAILERS DOWNTOWN THAT COULD NOT BE HERE.
LINDSEY SIMS AND WINNIE SMITH, OWNERS OF, UH, MITCHELL HARDWARE ASK THAT I READ THIS TO YOU TONIGHT.
NEW BOARD OF ALDERMAN AS DOWNTOWN BUSINESS OWNERS AND LONGTIME RESIDENTS OF NEWBURN.
WE BELIEVE THE NORTH CAROLINA RURAL TRANSFORMATION GRANT WOULD BE AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CREATION OF BRAD'S LEGACY.
WE SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PEPSI MUSEUM CAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT ACROSS ALL BUSINESSES, RETAIL, RESTAURANT, HOSPITALITY, AIRPORT, ET CETERA.
THIS WILL PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE AND BEYOND FOR YEARS TO COME.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE MUSEUM WILL PROVIDE A SAFE, ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE FOR LOCAL FAMILIES AND ATTRACT VISITORS FROM AFAR.
AS RETAILERS, WE HEAR FEEDBACK FROM CUSTOMERS REGARDING A NEED FOR FUN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES, AND THIS MEETS THAT NEED.
WHILE LIVING IN ATLANTA, WE FREQUENTLY VISITED THE CO COLA MUSEUM, WHICH HAS A VERY INTERACTIVE SPACE WITH HISTORY THAT SPEAKS TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS.
ALTHOUGH ANY PET MUSEUM HERE WOULD SURELY BE A SMALLER SCALE, IT WOULD BE A MEMORABLE ATTRACTION THAT IS UNIQUE TO NEWBORN ALONE.
ALTHOUGH PEOPLE HAVE VOICED CONCERNS REGARDING PARKING AND FUNDING, WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THESE CONCERNS SHOULD NOT PREVENT THE PROJECT FROM HAPPENING.
THERE ARE ALWAYS OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE SOLUTIONS THAT MAY COINCIDE WITH THE GROWTH WE ARE SEEING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ARE PROUD TO LIVE IN THE BIRTHPLACE OF PEPSI, AND WE BELIEVE THIS GRANT WOULD LEAD TO A VALUABLE ADDITION TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION AND FOR MY PART.
I I WOULD SAY THIS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT AND FOR ALL OF US TO REMEMBER THAT TONIGHT YOU'RE NOT BEING ASKED TO DECIDE WHICH PIECE OF PROPERTY THIS THING GETS PUT ON.
YOU'RE NOT BEING ASKED TO, TO APPROVE A, A, A FLOOR PLAN OR A NUMBER OF SQUARE FEET.
THOSE THINGS WILL COME, YOU'LL GET THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
TONIGHT'S JUST ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP EXPLORING THIS BEAUTIFUL THING.
THIS, THIS THING THAT IS PROBABLY GONNA, WOULD PROBABLY HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT IMPACT ON THIS MARKET FOR MANY, MANY YEARS TO COME AS A, AS A, AS A FATHER IN THIS MARKET.
NOW, A GRANDFATHER IN THIS MARKET.
THAT'S EXCITING TO ME, AND I, I HOPE IT WILL BE EXCITING TO YOU.
AND I URGE YOU, UH, TO ENDORSE THIS PROJECT BY ALLOWING THAT APPLICATION TO GO IN SO THAT WE CAN SEE IF THESE GRANT MONIES ARE AVAILABLE TO US TO HELP THIS PROJECT HAPPEN.
NEXT UP IS LYNN HARK OF 6 0 2 MIDDLE STREET.
[00:25:12]
MY NAME'S LYNN HARK.THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE THIS EVENING.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SWISS FAIR.
UM, I THINK PROBABLY MOST OF YOU REALIZE THAT I AM IN THAT ROLE AND AS ALSO A CITIZEN IN FAVOR OF THIS GRANT FOR THE PEPSI MUSEUM PROJECT.
UM, TODAY I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF, OF LETTERS OF SUPPORT SENT TO ME.
UM, AND THERE UNFORTUNATELY WERE TWO THAT CAME IN LATE.
ONE ALSO FROM THE, UM, NEWBURN HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND ONE FROM CAROLINE BUZZY STUBS.
UM, THE OTHER LETTERS REALLY QUICKLY, I'LL GO THROUGH WHO THEY'RE FROM.
UM, VON LEWIS, WHO OWNS BAXTER'S, JOHNNY ROBINSON.
ROBINSON CITY OWNS IS THE OWNER OF 2 0 6 CRAVEN AS WELL.
CHRIS RICHIE, OWNER OF NOWELL.
HIS WIFE IS THE OWNER OF CAROLINA CREATIONS, ALSO A DOWNTOWN RESIDENT.
ADAM AND CANDACE SIMMONS, DOWNTOWN RESTAURANT OWNER MORGAN'S KEN MCCOTTER AND MARTA SWISS BEAR.
HE OWNS MULTIPLE PROPERTIES IN DOWNTOWN NEWBURN.
CHRIS MCCUTCHEN, FORMER CHAIR, BOTH SWISS BAY AND THE CHAMBER.
RICK DAVIS, A DOWNTOWN RESIDENT.
MIKE JOHNSON, WHO IS A PEPSI BOTTLER WITH MEMPHIS BOTTLING COMPANY.
BILL RUSS, A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AT THE FARMER'S MARKET AND EMERITUS SWISS BEAR, JOE HUNT, THE FARMER'S MARKET PRESIDENT DENNY AND DIANE BOOGER, DOWNTOWN RESIDENT.
AND DENNY'S ALSO THE COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT SEVEN AND VICE CHAIR ROSS BEBE.
HE IS A COMMERCIAL REALTOR, REALTOR LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN NEW BERN.
THEY, THEY ARE DOWNTOWN PROPERTY OWNERS AND THEY OWN THE LAST DETAIL.
I WOULD LIKE TO, IF YOU WOULD ALLOW ME TO READ, UM, AT LEAST ONE LETTER FROM, UH, THAT WAS SUBMITTED TONIGHT.
THIS ONE IS FROM JOHNNY ROBINSON.
DEAR ALDERMAN, I AM STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF THE CITY SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION FOR A WORLD TRANSFORMATION GRANT ON BEHALF OF BRAD'S LEGACY.
I HAD PLANNED TO COME IN PERSON TONIGHT TO VOICE MY OPINION, BUT I HAVE COME DOWN WITH THE STOMACH BUG, SO THIS LETTER WILL HAVE TO SUFFICE IN MY ABSENCE.
FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THE RURAL TRANSFORMATION GRANT PROVIDED BY THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE CAN SUPPLY A MAXIMUM AWARD OF $950,000.
THE CITY OF NEWBURN MUST BE THE APPLICANT AND MUST ADMINISTER THE FUNDS.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THE FUNDS WILL BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH LEADERSHIP BY BRAHAM'S LEGACY TO INITIATE A PEPSI MUSEUM IN THE GREATER DOWNTOWN AREA.
IT IS ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT TRIUM PALACES WILL HELP TO CURATE THE EXHIBITS.
THIS IS JOHNNY TALKING A UNICORN, IF YOU WILL.
I AM A PROUD NATIVE NEWBURN, BORN IN CRAVEN REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER AND RAISED HERE.
I HAVE LIVED IN NEWBURN FOR 39 OF MY 45 YEARS ON THIS WORLD, SIX AT SCHOOL AND WORKING IN RALEIGH MADE UP THE DIFFERENCE.
I HAVE SEEN THE DOWNSIDE IN THE UPSIDE OF DOWNTOWN NEWBURN.
I ALSO GREW UP WITH GRANDPARENTS THAT LIVED IN DOVER, OFTEN OVER SUMMER SUMMERS.
AS A KID, MY GRANDPARENTS WOULD KEEP MY SISTER AND I AND WE WOULD ALWAYS GO DOWNTOWN TO TRAVEL TO KINSTON WITH MY GRANDMOTHER FOR SHOPPING AND TO EAT AT PIZZA VILLA.
BACK THEN, NEW BURNS, DOWNTOWN WAS DILAPIDATED, AND KINSTON WAS THE FOCAL POINT OF EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.
AND MY LIFETIME, I HAVE BEEN, I HAVE SEEN THE SCALES GOING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND WE'VE DONE SUCH A GREAT THING IN DOWNTOWN NEWBURN.
MEANWHILE, KINSTON WENT IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.
I MOVED BACK TO NEWBURN IN SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2002.
AND I HAVE NOT REGRETTED IT FOR A MINUTE.
MY TWO CHILDREN WERE BOTH BORN IN THE SAME HOSPITAL IN WHICH I WAS BORN.
I WANT TO SEE US CONTINUE TO CLIMB THAT LADDER AND CREATE MORE INDUSTRY IN THIS TOWN TO FURTHER SOLIDIFY THE TOWN'S FUTURE AND THE FUTURE OF MY CHILDREN.
A PEPSI MUSEUM WOULD CREATE ONE MORE LEVEL OF REVENUE DIVERSIFICATION FOR VISITORS TO OUR FAIR CITY.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE NEWBURN MOVE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION LIKE KINSTON ONCE DID.
PEPSICO IS NUMBER 45 IN THE FORTUNE 500 LIST FOR 2022.
AND THIS ENTITY WAS FOUNDED TWO BLOCKS FROM MY OFFICE.
THEIR ANNUAL REVENUE IS OVER 86 BILLION.
THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE A MUSEUM ALREADY HONORING THAT ACCOMPLISHMENT IS PRETTY WILD.
AND I'LL ALLOW YOU TO READ THE REST OF THAT ON YOUR OWN.
NEXT UP IS DAN ROBERTS OF 2220.
FOX HORN ROAD, NOT KEN, TO THE PREVIOUS ROBERTS THAT SPOKE CORRECT ALLMAN.
MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME.
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID A A LOT OF REALLY GOOD, GOOD THINGS IN FAVOR OF THIS.
UM, I'M CERTAINLY IN FAVOR OF YOU OF APPLYING FOR THE GRANT.
I THINK IT WOULD BE A WONDERFUL THING AND A SHAME IF THE BIRTHPLACE OF PEPSI DID NOT HAVE THE PEPSI MUSEUM.
THEY'RE GONNA HAVE IT SOMEWHERE.
UH, WHY NOT NEWBURN? UM, IN THE BUSINESS I'M IN, I MEET NEW PEOPLE ALL THE TIME THAT HAVE MOVED
[00:30:01]
TO NEWBURG.THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT BROUGHT 'EM HERE.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD COME HERE JUST FOR SEEING THAT THEY MAY NOT COME TO NEWBURN ORIGINALLY, BUT THEY MIGHT BE AT THE BEACH AND LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ELSE TO DO OTHER THAN MAYBE AT THE TRY AND PALACE ON A RAIN DAY.
COMING TO SEE THE PEPSI MUSEUM WHEN YOU COME TO NEWBURN FOR THE FIRST TIME GIVES YOU A GOOD REASON TO MOVE HERE.
UH, FROM THE TDA HAT, I'M THE CHAIR OF THE TDA.
UM, HAVING SOMETHING ELSE IN OUR INVENTORY FOR PEOPLE TO COME HERE AND SPEND MORE TIME HERE, SPEND THEIR DOLLARS, LEAVE TAX DOLLARS HERE, STAY IN OUR HOTELS, EAT IN OUR RESTAURANTS, AND GO TO OUR RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS, I THINK IT'S A A NO-BRAINER AND A WIN-WIN.
NEXT STUFF IS MALLORY LLOYD, 6 0 6 VICTORIA DRIVE IN HILLSBOROUGH.
HI, MY NAME IS MALLORY LLOYD AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE PEPSI MUSEUM.
MY FAMILY HAS BEEN SELLING AND COLLECTING PEPSI FOR OVER 50 YEARS.
MY GRANDFATHER STARTED IN 1972 AND I'M THIRD GENERATION COLLECTOR.
WE'RE NOT FROM NEWBURN, BUT WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME COMING HERE.
WE LOVE COMING TO THE CELEBRATIONS YOU HAVE COMING WITH OUR PEPSI COLA COLLECTORS GLOVE.
EVEN THOUGH WE'RE OUT OF TOWNERS, PEPSI IS CLOSE TO OUR HEARTS AND THINK THIS IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY THAT NO ONE ELSE IN THE WORLD HAS AND WOULD ADD TO YOUR RICH HISTORY.
UM, WE THINK NOT ONLY IS IT GONNA ADD TO NEW BURN'S HISTORY, BUT ALSO NORTH CAROLINA HISTORY.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
NEXT IS BILLY FALCON, VERY 1 0 3 MATTHEWS LANE.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR BOARD WADERMAN.
I WITH RESIDENT OF NEWBURN FOR OVER 50 YEARS.
UH, I HAVE A BUSINESS HERE FOR OVER 30 YEARS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.
UH, I HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN MANY CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING SWISS BAY FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
AND MANY OF THE POINTS HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT THE PEPSI MUSEUM.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS ABOUT A GRANT APPLICATION.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT A MUSEUM TONIGHT.
SO WE'RE ASKING YOU TO REQUEST, UH, TO ALLOW THIS REQUEST TO GO IN SO THAT WE CAN REQUEST FUNDS IN THIS GRANT.
UM, I'D LIKE TO JUST, UH, IN A FEW POINTS TO REMIND YOU OF A FEW THINGS ABOUT HOW FAR NEWBURN HAS COME.
UM, WHEN I FIRST GOT BACK OUTTA COLLEGE AND, AND WAS HOPING NEWBURN WOULD REDEVELOP, UH, MAYBE SOME OF YOU'LL REMEMBER THIS, SOME OF YOU I KNOW AREN'T AWARE OF IT, BUT, UM, THERE WAS A PROPOSAL TO PUT AN ADULT BOOKSTORE WHERE MARX IS NOW.
UM, THERE WAS A PROPOSAL TO RELOCATE THE JAIL TO WHERE THE DOUBLE STREET IS NOW.
SO WE'VE COME, WE'VE MADE SOME GOOD MOVES.
WE'VE COME A LONG WAY AND, AND GETTING AN ECONOMY GOING HERE, THAT ECONOMY HAS BEEN REBUILT LARGELY BASED AROUND TOURISM.
UM, THAT'S A KEY COMPONENT OF IT.
AND I THINK THAT A PEPSI MUSEUM HERE WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE A HUGE BOOST TO TOURISM.
THIRD, I THINK WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY.
NOWHERE ELSE CAN CLAIM TO BE THE FIRST PLACE OF PEPSI.
UH, I HAD HOPES YEARS AGO THERE WERE RUMBLINGS OF THE MUSEUM.
NOW WE HAVE SUPPORT BOTH WITHIN PEPSI AND I THINK IN THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
UM, AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A SIMPLE REQUEST THAT, UH, THE FUNDING THROUGH THIS GRANT WOULD BE HERE TO HELP INITIATE THE PROJECT.
AND AS KEVIN SAID EARLIER, THERE ARE MANY HURDLES TO GO THROUGH TO IN A PROJECT LIKE THIS IN PLACE THAT WOULD OFFER PLENTY OF TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND INPUT.
UM, SO ASK LASTLY, I'M ASKING YOU TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR YOUR COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT THIS GRANT REQUEST.
NEXT IS KELLY BILLINGSLEY, 3 0 8 CAMILLIA ROAD.
UM, MOST OF MY COMMENTS I HAD 'EM PREPARED, HAVE ALREADY BEEN, BEEN SPOKEN.
UM, I AM COMPLETELY, UM, FOR THE PEPSI MUSEUM, FOR APPLYING FOR THE GRANT FOR THE PEPSI MUSEUM.
I'M A NATIVE NEW VERIAN AND, UM, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN PROUD TO TELL EVERYONE THAT, UM, THE PLACE I'M FROM IS ALSO THE PLACE THE PEPSI'S FROM.
UM, AND, UM, AND LIKE, LIKE IT WAS JUST SAID, IT WOULD REALLY BE A SHAME FOR NEWBURN TO NOT HAVE THE PEPSI MUSEUM WHEN IT'S, IT'S REALLY KIND OF THE CENTER OF THE PEPSI UNIVERSE AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
SO, UM, I DO HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER AND, UM, AND APPROVE THE, THE REQUEST FOR THE GRANT.
[00:35:01]
THANK YOU.NEXT IS MELISSA RIGGLE, 500 ROGERS COURT.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR ALDERMAN FLAT STANLEY.
UH, I HAVE ACTUALLY TWO LETTERS AS WELL TO, TO PRESENT TO VERDA, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
UH, AS THE MAYOR SAID, I'M MELISSA RIGGLE.
I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE CRA COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
UM, I'VE HEARD TREMENDOUS COMMENTS FROM EVERYBODY THAT, UM, I DEFINITELY WOULD ECHO ALL OF, UH, I HAVE TWO LETTERS THAT I WANTED TO SHARE THAT ARE VERY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, BUT I THINK PROVIDE A, UM, EQUAL SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPORTANCE, UM, THAT SUPPORT THE, UM, ITEM NUMBER 13, THE, THE, UH, AGENDA OF ITEM FOR THE BRADHAM LEGACY GRANT.
UH, THIS IS FROM, EXCUSE ME, TAMMY RODRIGUEZ OF 1 0 8 REINI DRIVE AND HAVELOCK, UH, A HAVELOCK RESIDENT, BUT SOME OF YOU MAY RECOGNIZE THE NAME.
TAMMY RODRIGUEZ IS OUR VISITOR CENTER MANAGER AT THE VISITOR CENTER, AND PROBABLY ONE OF OUR MOST CRITICAL TOOLS IN THE TOURISM TOOLBOX THAT WE HAVE.
DEAR ALDERMAN, MY NAME IS TAMMY RODRIGUEZ.
I AM NOT ORIGINALLY FROM NEWBURN OR EVEN NORTH CAROLINA.
I GREW UP IN WISCONSIN, LIVING NEAR MY DAD'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY.
MY FAMILY HAS BEEN DEDICATED PEPSI DRINKERS AND FANS FROM MULTIPLE GENERATIONS.
GROWING UP, MY DAD WOULD ONLY DRINK PEPSI AND MY MOM WOULD ONLY DRINK DIET PEPSI.
WHEN WE WENT TO MY GRANDPARENTS' HOUSE, THEY TOO ONLY DRANK PEPSI.
MY DAD, JEFF TREAT, HE PASSED AWAY IN 2022, WAS SUCH AN AVID PEPSI DRINKER THAT EVEN WHILE SERVING IN THE ARMY, HE MADE SURE HE NEVER WAS WITHOUT A PEPSI.
THE PICTURE BELOW SHOWS HIM IN A TENANT HOLE IN ERLAND, GERMANY WHEN HE WAS IN THE FIRST BATTALION 37TH ARMOR HEADQUARTERS COMPANY IN BATTALION MAINTENANCE IN 19 79, 1 OF HIS ARMY BUDDIES TOLD ME THAT ANYTIME THEY WENT ON A MANEUVER, THEY TOOK AT LEAST FOUR CASES OF PEPSI WITH THEM.
THERE WAS ALWAYS A CASE IN THEIR ROOM AS WELL.
IN 2019, MY DAD MADE A TRIP OUT TO VISIT US, AND OF COURSE, ONE OF THE FIRST PLACES WE STOPPED AT WAS THE BIRTHPLACE OF PEPSI.
HE LOVED WALKING AROUND AND SEEING ALL OF THE PEPSI MEMORABILIA AND THE COLLECTION OF DIFFERENT CANS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
HE EVEN TALKED TO ONE OF THE LADIES THERE ABOUT SENDING CAN TO THEM THAT THEY HAD FOR HE HAD FROM THE GERMANY COLLECTION.
TO ADD, I THINK A PEPSI MUSEUM WOULD BE A GREAT ASSET TO NEWBURN AND A GREAT WAY TO HONOR THE HISTORY OF BOTH PEPSI AND NEWBURN.
I THINK THIS AGAIN SPEAKS TO THE EMOTIONAL POLL.
I THINK WE LOSE SOMETIMES AS RESIDENTS THE TRUE IMPACT THAT THIS INTERNATIONAL ICONIC BRAND TRULY HOLDS.
SO THIS IS GONNA HELPS TO PULL ON THIS HEARTSTRING.
MY SECOND LETTER IS FROM THE VP OF TOURISM WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP FOR NORTH CAROLINA, OR VISIT NEW NORTH CAROLINA.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, VISIT NORTH CAROLINA AS A UNIT OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP OF NORTH CAROLINA.
OUR MISSION TO LEAD AND UNIFY THE STATE IN POSITIONING NORTH CAROLINA AS A PREFERRED DESTINATION FOR TRAVELERS AND FILM PRODUCTION IN MAXIMIZING ECONOMIC VITALITY STATEWIDE.
AS NORTH CAROLINA'S LEAD MARKETING ENGINE VISIT, NORTH CAROLINA SUPPORTS THE EFFORTS TO CREATE A PEPSI MUSEUM IN NEW BERN.
A PEPSI MUSEUM WOULD BE AN OUTSTANDING ASSET TO ADD TO THE ATTRACTIONS IN THE REGION.
IT WOULD GIVE PEOPLE ANOTHER REASON TO VISIT NORTH CAROLINA.
IT WOULD MOST DEFINITELY HAVE A POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND EVEN BEYOND.
OUR RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THERE IS A GROWING INTEREST IN HISTORICAL INTERPRETATIONS AND PLACES THAT SHOWCASE WHAT IS UNIQUE AND AUTHENTIC ABOUT A DESTINATION.
A PEPSI MUSEUM WOULD PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK FOR HERITAGE BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING TOURISM RELATED INCREASED JOBS, BUSINESS INCOMES, AND TAX REVENUE.
IT WOULD ALSO MAKE THE AREA MORE ATTRACTIVE TO VISITORS AS WELL AS THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND WOULD PROMOTE COMMUNITY PRIDE.
SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR REQUIRE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME.
HE PROVIDED HIS INFORMATION, BUT IT'S WIT TULE, VP OF TOURISM FOR THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, VERY SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT LETTERS, BUT UH, JUST AS EQUALLY AS IMPACTFUL.
NEXT UP IS BRYNN HARMS OF 2,800 KE COURT.
THANK YOU MAYOR ALDERMAN, CITY COUNCIL, EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE.
THANK YOU ALDERMAN ROYAL FOR YOUR HARD WORK.
UH, I WORK FOR FIRST CAROLINA MANAGEMENT.
WE MANAGE PROPERTIES HERE IN NEW BERN, THE DOUBLETREE HOTEL, UH, PERSIMMONS RESTAURANT, UH, DOWNTOWN.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE SPRING HILL SUITES AND HAMPTON INN ON HOTEL DRIVE.
I'M VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF SEEKING, SEEKING TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS GRANT, UH, UH, FOR THE PEPSI.
[00:40:01]
MINNESOTA, MOVED HERE BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER.THERE'S A TOWN, A CITY IN MINNESOTA THAT'S VERY SIMILAR IN SIZE AND NEWBURN AUSTIN, MINNESOTA.
WE WERE THERE WHEN THEY OPENED THE SPAM MUSEUM.
I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF PEPSI COLLECTORS.
I HAD NO IDEA HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD COME TO TOWN TO SEE SPAM
AND SO AS A, AS A HOSPITALITY PERSON, I KNOW THE IMPACT OF HAVING TOURISM DOLLARS COME IN.
I CAN GIVE YOU THE, THE FACTS, YOU KNOW, JUST ON A LOCAL LEVEL FOR EVERY SINGLE NIGHT ROOM NIGHT THAT WE GET, YOU'RE LOOKING AT BETWEEN 10 AND $13 THAT GOES BACK INTO OUR, JUST OUR LOCAL AND OCCUPANCY TAX THAT COMES BACK AND STAYS LOCAL.
UH, IT ALSO PROVIDES ABOUT AN HOUR OF EMPLOYMENT FOR EVERY GUEST THAT THAT SPENDS THE NIGHT WITH US.
SO THE MORE, GET MORE NIGHTS THAT THEY SPEND IN TOWN, THE MORE HOURS IT PROVIDES EMPLOYEE EMPLOYMENT.
WE HAVE 107 EMPLOYEES IN OUR COMPANY NOW THAT DESPERATELY, UH, NEED MORE HOURS.
AND SO, UH, I'M IN FAVOR OF HAVING PEPSI HERE, AND I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT AUSTIN, MINNESOTA AND THE SPAM MUSEUM AND SEE WHAT IS POSSIBLE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY.
UH, MY NAME IS DEAN AND I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF NEW BERN FOR NINE YEARS NOW.
UM, I'M ALSO AS A BUSINESS OWNER AND OPERATOR DOWNTOWN, UH, WORK ALONGSIDE BRAND WHO WAS JUST UP HERE AT, UH, PERSON'S RESTAURANT.
UM, I WANTED TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE, THE, THE, UH, TO PROCEED WITH THE GRANT FOR THE PEPSI MUSEUM.
UM, OBVIOUSLY I'M VESTED IN HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE THAT THIS TOWN HAS CULTIVATED, UH, QUITE A SPECIAL CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT HERE, AND I THINK THAT'S WORTH PROTECTED.
UM, WITH THAT SAID, IN IN, IN, IN THE INTEREST OF PROTECTING THAT WE HAVE TO GROW, WE HAVE TO EXPERIENCE POSITIVE CHANGE.
AND THAT'S NOT JUST ECONOMICALLY, BUT THAT'S ALSO CULTURALLY.
AND THIS PROJECT SEEMS OBJECTIVELY LIKE A NO-BRAINER TO NOT JUST ENHANCE THE NEWBURN EXPERIENCE FOR LOCALS AND TOURISM ALIKE.
UH, BUT IT'S ALSO A, A BIG PART OF NEWBURN HISTORY.
IT'S A, IT'S PART OF OUR DRAW, IT'S PART OF OUR CULTURE.
UH, AND I REALLY VERY MUCH SUPPORT, UH, PROCEEDING WITH THE PROJECT.
AND I, I, I DO FEEL IT WOULD BE A SHAME IF, UH, IF THEY DID THIS MUSEUM SOMEWHERE ELSE.
IT REALLY BELONGS NOWHERE ELSE WITH NEW BURN.
NEXT IS MIKE DUFFY OF 1 21 MORNING DRIVE.
THE BEST WAY TO GET PEOPLE INTERESTED IN INVESTING IN NEWBURN IS TO SHOW THEM SOMETHING INTERESTING.
SO MY ADVICE IS TO CONTINUE TO OFFER THE SMART LEADERSHIP THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING.
NEXT UP IS CATHERINE HARRELSON.
MS. HARRELSON, YOU'VE GOT YOUR PO BOX.
IF YOU COULD JUST STATE YOUR STREET ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
MY NAME IS KATHERINE HAROLDSON.
I LIVE AT 53 29 TRENT WOODS DRIVE.
UM, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I AM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TRI PALACES COMMISSION.
I AM A BORN AND RAISED NEW VERIAN.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH TRI PALS FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
AS YOU WELL KNOW, TOURISM IS ONE OF THE MAJOR DRIVERS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
TRAUM PALS IS ONE OF THE MAJOR DRIVERS OF THE ECONOMY IN THIS COMMUNITY.
TRAIAN PALS COMMISSION IS THE OWNER OF THE SLOTNIK COLLECTION.
WE ARE NOW DISPLAYING A VERY SMALL PORTION OF THAT COLLECTION, AND WE HAVE PEOPLE COME IN EVERY DAY WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF THE COLLECTION.
I WOULD LIKE TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU ALL APPROVE THE BRADHAM LEGACIES REQUEST TO SPONSOR THEIR GRANT REQUEST.
I THINK IT WILL BE TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR NEW, I THINK IT'LL BE TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR, UH, TRYING PALACE, AND I HOPE THAT YOU THANK YOU.
NEXT IS KYLE DICKERSON OF FOUR 16 P*****K STREET.
THE ADDRESS I PROVIDED IS MY OFFICE,
[00:45:01]
UH, ADDRESS.I ACTUALLY LIVE AT, UM, IN TRIP WOODS, UH, 33 0 9 VIRGINIA AVENUE, TRENT WOODS.
UM, I AM, UH, I'M AN ATTORNEY.
I WORK FOR THE LAW FIRM, SOMER SU, UH, IT'S, UH, A LAW FIRM HERE IN DOWNTOWN NEWBURN.
UH, IT'S BEEN IN BUSINESS HABIT OFFICES HERE FOR OVER 70 YEARS.
UM, AS A DOWNTOWN BUSINESS OWNER, UH, I AM AN IN SUPPORT OF, UM, PURSUING THE GRANT, UH, TO LOOK INTO OPENING THE PEPSI MUSEUM HERE IN DOWNTOWN.
UH, I'M ALSO, UM, THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
UH, I'M PRO BUSINESS AND, UM, PRO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM HERE.
AND, UH, WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I SUPPORT THAT.
AND, AND MANY OF THE FOLKS AND THE BUSINESS OWNERS I'VE TALKED TO ARE ALSO IN SUPPORT OF IT AS WELL.
NEXT IS MICHELLE STOUT, 1622 RIM AVENUE.
I HAVE NO, LIKE, PREPARED SPEAKING POINTS.
UM, AND HONESTLY, I'M SPEAKING MORE TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LISTENING MORE THAN YOU.
I WAS BLOWN AWAY DURING THE LAST BOARD OF BALLROOM MEETING WHEN THE AGENDA WAS CHANGED, BEFORE IT WAS EVEN LIKE BEFORE IT WAS EVEN APPROVED, SO THAT WE COULDN'T HEAR THE PRESENTATION.
SO THAT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT PEPSI COULD HAVE THE INFORMATION ALREADY.
WE COULD BE HAVING A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW.
AND SO WHAT I'M ASKING IS FOR YOU GUYS TO START LISTENING AND NOT JUST SHUTTING STUFF DOWN BECAUSE COMMUNICATION IS WHAT'S GONNA TAKE US FORWARD AND MAKE OUR CITY CONTINUE TO GROW AND BE THE BEST CITY AROUND.
I DO THINK YOU SHOULD PURSUE THE GRANT, THOUGH.
NEXT IS DANNY BATTEN, 6 0 8 NEW STREET.
UH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR OEM ALDERMAN.
I, UM, I OWN A RETAIL STORE FOR THE PAST 17 YEARS IN DOWNTOWN NEWBURN AND ANOTHER RETAIL STORE IN THE FIVE POINTS AREA.
AND I JUST WANTED TO BRIEFLY SPEAK ABOUT THE TRANSFORMATION GRANT TO SEE THE PEPSI MUSEUM COME INTO FRUITION, FRUITION.
NORMALLY I WOULD SUPPORT INCREMENTAL CHANGES, SMALL INCREMENTAL CHANGES TO THE TOWN.
UH, BUT THIS IS A BIG PROJECT AND THIS IS AN EXCEPTION.
OBVIOUSLY, THE MERITS OF THIS PRO, UH, PROJECT ARE UNDENIABLE.
THE ONE BAD THING ABOUT GOING AFTER EVERYBODY ELSE IS, I WAS GONNA ACTUALLY REFERENCE THE SPAM MUSEUM, BUT THAT WAS ALREADY DONE
PEPPER MUSEUM IN WACO, TEXAS SEES ABOUT 170,000 VISITORS ANGRILY.
IT'S NOT VERY DIFFICULT TO EXTRAPOLATE THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT OF THAT NUMBER OF VISITORS TO OUR RESTAURANTS AND OUR RETAIL STORES.
WE ALREADY HAVE SOME GREAT MUSEUMS IN TOWN.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE FIREMAN'S MUSEUM, THE NORTH CAROLINA HISTORY MUSEUM.
A MUSEUM LIKE THE PEPSI MUSEUM WOULD CREATE DENSITY AND DENSITY ALWAYS CREATES ECONOMIC BENEFIT.
THAT'S WHY YOU SEE, YOU KNOW, A MCDONALD'S AND A BURGER KING BUILT BESIDE EACH OTHER, A HOME DEPOT AND A LOWE'S.
THE MARKETING OF THE PEPSI MUSEUM WOULD HAVE TREMENDOUS BENEFITS TO OUR TOWN.
YOU KNOW, MARKETING 1 0 1 IS DISTINGUISH YOURSELF.
FIND THAT ONE THING THAT DISTINGUISHES YOURSELF FROM THE COMPETITION.
SO HOW DO WE DISTINGUISH NEWBURN FROM ALL THE OTHER HISTORIC TOWNS UP AND DOWN HIGHWAY 17, WHEN I MEET STRANGERS AND I TELL 'EM I'M FROM NEWBURN, SOME HAVE HEARD OF NEWBURN, MOST HAVE NOT.
ONE OF MY FIRST DESCRIPTIONS IS THE BIRTHPLACE OF PEPSI COLA.
AND YOU SEE THE LIGHT BULB, YOU SEE THE IMMEDIATE CONNECTION.
AND SO WE DON'T WANT TO DENY THE ABILITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT MARKETING HOOK.
SO I'M HERE TO TELL YOU, PLEASE SUPPORT THE TRANSFORMATION.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, LISA FAYE ZIMMERMAN OF 1603 WASHINGTON COURT.
UM, I CHOSE TO SETTLE HERE IN NEW BERN AFTER RETIRING FROM
[00:50:01]
THE ARMY BECAUSE I LOVE THIS PLACE SO MUCH.I LIVED HERE BEFORE AND I NEEDED TO COME BACK.
I'M CURRENTLY AN AGENT AT KELLER WILLIAMS NEWBURN AND A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AMBASSADOR.
SO I'M DEDICATED IN TWO WAYS TO THIS CITY IN HELPING ITS PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED GRANT FOR THE WORLD'S ONLY PEPSI MUSEUM RIGHT HERE IN THE PLACE WHERE IT ALL STARTED.
THIS IS A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY THAT WILL BRING MORE JOBS TO NEWBURN, MORE VISITORS TO NEWBURN, AND WILL IN TURN BRING MORE BUSINESS TO ALL THE BUSINESSES IN NEWBURN.
THESE GUESTS WILL STAY IN OUR HOTELS, THEY'LL EAT AT OUR RESTAURANTS, THEY'LL VISIT OUR STORES.
THEY'LL ADD ANOTHER ITEM TO THEIR AGENDA, ALONG WITH ALL THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED MUSEUMS THAT I WAS ALSO GONNA BRING UP.
UM, AND JUST EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER, EXTENDING THEIR STAY AND CONTRIBUTING TO OUR REVENUE.
NEXI MUSEUM WILL BE A PLACE THAT CATERS TO FAMILIES.
SO WHEN YOU HEAR THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WILL BE COMING TO VISIT, THAT'S NOT EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THEIR OWN CAR CLOGGING UP THE STREETS OR TAKING UP ALL THE TRAFFIC.
THAT'S GONNA BE FA YOU KNOW, FAMILIES WITH KIDS IN GROUPS.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT PARKING AND ALL OF THAT, THEY'RE GONNA BE STAYING AT THE HOTELS AND PARKING AT THE HOTELS DOWNTOWN AND WALKING OR TAKING A SHUTTLE.
IF WE SET UP A SHUTTLE SYSTEM FROM THE MIDTOWN HOTELS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE FAIRLY SIMPLY WITH OUR INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE ALL OF THIS WORK IF WE REALLY WANT IT.
AGAIN, THIS WILL BE THE ONLY PEPSI MUSEUM IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.
AND AS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID, SOMEONE ELSE WILL BE VERY WILLING TO SNATCH THAT AWAY FROM US IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, IT DOES NOT BENEFITS US, BENEFIT US TO RESIST CHANGE SIMPLY ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT IT'S CHANGED.
SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE CHANGE.
UM, BUT THIS IS WHAT NEWBURN DOWNTOWN NEWBURN SHOULD BE ABOUT, TEACHING PEOPLE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY THAT WE LOVE WHILE EMBRACING THE FUTURE.
THAT CONCLUDES ITEM NUMBER FOUR, REQUEST AND PETITION OF CITIZENS.
[Consent Agenda]
MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.JUST A REMINDER THAT ITEM SIX HAS BEEN PULLED AND WILL BE DISCUSSED SEPARATELY.
SO DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? LESS? ITEM NUMBER SIX, MAKE A MOTION.
WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA LESS.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN PRI.
[6. Consider Adopting a Resolution to Close the 900 and 1000 Blocks of Pollock Street for Tap That Beermuda Block Party. (Part 1 of 2)]
WILL NOW DISCUSS ITEM NUMBER SIX, CONSIDERED DOCUMENT, A RESOLUTION TO CLOSE THE 901,000 BLOCKS OF P*****K STREET FOR TAP THAT BERMUDA BLOCK PARTY, UH, ALDERMAN PR YOU WANTED THIS ONE PULLED SEPARATELY, SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.THE, THE, THE MAIN REASON THAT, UH, I ASKED THAT THIS BE HANDLED SEPARATELY IS LAST YEAR I RECALL WALKING BY, UH, THIS EVENT AND IT WAS LATE AFTERNOON AROUND 4, 4 33 BLOCKS AWAY.
SO NEEDLESS TO SAY, AS I GOT CLOSER TO THE EVENT THAT THE NOISE, THE NOISE LEVEL FROM THE THE BAND, UM, JUST WAS SO LOUD THAT IT WAS HARD TO REALLY THINK.
UH, I I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT EVEN LATE AFTERNOON, UM, THAT THE, THE DECIBEL LEVEL OF THE BAND WAS THAT HIGH.
AND I DO RECALL THAT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT CAME IN, UH, AS A RESULT OF THAT, THAT, UH, THE, THE, THE, THE LEVEL, UH, OF, OF MUSIC BEING PLAYED.
MY QUESTION IS, WHAT ACTION IS BEING TAKEN TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE BEFORE IT HAPPENS THIS TIME AROUND? I PEARL, LET ME ASK CARRIE WARREN, OUR DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION TO COME UP AND SHE CAN ADDRESS THAT AND IF NEED BE, UH, CHIEF GALLAGHER CAN COME UP AS WELL.
UM, WE MET WITH THE ORGANIZERS TO DISCUSS THAT SPECIFIC ISSUE AND, UH, PD WAS PRESENT.
WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY TYPE OF WARNINGS GIVEN THEY HAD TO STAY WITH UNDER A CERTAIN DECIBEL LEVEL.
UM, IF THEY DID NOT, OF COURSE PD WOULD BE WRITING TICKETS FOR THE NOISE.
UM, THEY HAVE DECIDED TO HAVE ONE BAND ONLY ON THE PROPERTY OF THE TAP THAT, UH, BUSINESS.
UM, THEY'RE ALSO GONNA HAVE DECOR READERS ON SITE TO, UM, KEEP TRACK OF HOW MANY DECIBELS, LOUDNESS LEVEL THAT'S GOING ON.
[00:55:01]
BE SPEAKING WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PERFORMING TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY CANNOT HAVE MUSIC ABOVE THAT DECIBEL LEVEL.UM, AND THEY'RE ALSO GONNA BE PUTTING IN SOME BUFFERS TO KIND OF HELP, UM, WITH BREAKING UP THE MUSIC.
SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE DISCUSSED.
AND, AND WHO IS GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING THE DECIBEL METERS? IT WOULD BE THE ORGANIZER, WHICH IS, UM, TAYLOR, SHANNON AND JD.
SO FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, WE'RE, WE'RE KIND OF BACK TO SQUARE ONE IS THAT IF SOMEBODY FEELS THAT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL IS TOO HIGH, THEY'RE GONNA NEED TO CALL THE POLICE, MAKE A COMPLAINT, UH, AND THE POLICE WILL RESPOND.
AND, AND I DON'T MEAN TO DISPARAGE THE ORGANIZERS AND SUGGEST THAT THEY ARE NOT GONNA DO A GOOD JOB MONITORING THE DECIBEL LEVEL.
I WOULD PREFER TO SEE A POLICE OFFICER BEING SPONSORED BY THE ORGANIZER TO BE AT THE EVENT DURING THE TIME THAT THE EVENT IS, IS GOING ON.
AND THAT THAT INDIVIDUAL COULD BE MONITORING THE DECIBEL LEVEL IN ADDITION TO THE ORGANIZERS.
SO YEAH, IT WAS DISCUSSED, I THINK WE SAID, UM, TWO OFFICERS TO BE ON SITE, IS WHAT THEY'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE.
SO TO ADDRESS THE, UH, PROACTIVE APPROACH THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TOOK LAST YEAR, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'LL DO THIS YEAR WITH LAST YEAR, WE TOOK MULTIPLE READINGS AT THAT SAME EVENT.
UM, ALL BUT ONE OF THOSE READINGS WERE BELOW THE DECIMAL LEVEL.
UH, THIS YEAR WE WILL ALSO HAVE STAFF IN PLACE TO MONITOR, UH, THE SOUND BASED ON OUR DECIMAL READINGS.
AND IF THE SOUND IS OVER THE DECIMAL READINGS, THEN WE CAN TAKE AN ENFORCEMENT ACTION.
OKAY, MAYOR, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS ON ITEM NUMBER SIX? NOT I ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT APPLICATION.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, UH, LET'S DO ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[11 . Recognition of 2023 Citizens Police Academy.]
OKAY.ITEM NUMBER 11, RECOGNITION OF THE 2023 CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY.
UH, BOARD OF
IT IS, UH, WITH GREAT PRIDE, UH, THAT MYSELF AND SERGEANT BRYCE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE LAST SESSION OF THE NEW BURN POLICE DEPARTMENT, CITIZEN POLICE ACADEMY.
UH, SINCE COVID, WE'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESTART THIS PROGRAM.
UM, IT IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE PROGRAM THAT IS PRODUCED BY THE CITY NEWBURN 1 0 1, ALTHOUGH IT IS A LOT MORE, UH, IN DEPTH ABOUT THE POLICE OPERATIONS.
UM, I'M EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT SERGEANT BRYCE HAS DONE IN MANAGING THIS OPERATION AND ENSURING THAT OUR STUDENTS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO A FULL BREATH OF WHAT WE DO IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, SPECIFICALLY HERE IN NEW BERN.
AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO KEVIN, UH, TO SERGEANT KEVIN BRYCE.
ALLOW HIM TO PROVIDE A FEW BRIEF COMMENTS.
UM, AND I BELIEVE ONE OF THE, UH, CLASS REPRESENTATIVES HAS A BRIEF, UH, COMMENTS HE'D LIKE TO MAKE.
MAYOR BOARD OF ALMAN, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
UH, TO MY RIGHT, YOU HAVE 15 EAGER, ENTHUSIASTIC AND VERY SUPPORTIVE PEOPLE, NOT ONLY LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT THE CITY OF NEWBURN.
UH, SOME OF THE THINGS I HEARD EARLIER THIS EVENING, I THINK YOU CAN LOOK AT THIS, THIS GROUP HERE, AND THE SAME WOULD APPLY TO THEM AS FAR AS BEING NATIVES OF CRAVEN COUNTY.
ONLY A FEW OF 'EM HAVE, ARE, ARE NATIVES OF CRAVEN COUNTY OR CITY OF NEWBURN.
A LOT OF 'EM HAVE, HAVE MOVED HERE BECAUSE OF THE, THE BEAUTY OF THE CITY OF NEWBURN.
UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON THE STREETS IN A GOOD WAY,
BUT NOT ONLY DO I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING AND TO TANK, I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO CALLING THE FRIENDS AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE, UH, THE FRIENDSHIP THAT I'VE GAINED AND I HOPE YOU DO AS WELL.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU, UH, OUT AND ABOUT IN THE CITY OF NEWBURN.
SO I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO OUR CLASS PRESIDENT KEN LEWIS.
HE'S BEEN INSTRUCTED TO SPEAK KINDLY OF ME.
[01:00:01]
I'VE BEEN SITTING AND LISTENING TO EVERYONE TALKING ABOUT PEPSI AND ALL THIS, BUT WHAT WE'RE NOT EVEN LOOKING AT IS THESE FINE GENTLEMEN RIGHT HERE THAT ANY FISTS YOU HAVE COME HERE IS GONNA BE SAFE.AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE LEARNED AND I HAD A FEW WORDS I'VE TRIED TO KEEP NICE, BUT WITH THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES AND THE FALSE NEWS BEING SO PROMINENT IN THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES, MOST DO NOT HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES ON A DAILY BASIS.
I USED TO WORK IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, SO IT WAS REAL EASY FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AROUND AND TELL WHO THE BAD GUY WAS.
BUT WALKING DOWN THE STREETS OF NEWBURN, YOU HAVE NO IDEA.
WHILE I WILL ADMIT WHAT STARTED OUT AS A CURIOSITY BECAME A VERY INFORMATIVE AND INTERESTING 10 WEEKS, I STARTED LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR WEDNESDAYS.
BEING WITH KEVIN, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT SHE'S ALWAYS WONDERED WHAT HE WAS GONNA HAVE PLANNED FOR.
AND SO WE REALLY LOOKED FORWARD TO IT.
CLASSES WERE VERY INTERACTIVE WITH HANDS-ON DETAILS AND SHARED EXPERIENCES FROM DIFFERENT OFFICERS.
WE GOT TO SEE HOW THE CSI AND THE FINGERPRINT ANALYSIS OCCURRED WITH A VERY EYE-OPENING TOUR OF THE EVIDENCE LOCKER.
CAUSE I WOULD, I'VE NEVER BEEN IN ONE AND JUST SEEING WHAT HAS ACTUALLY BEEN SEIZED AND A TOUR OF THE 9 1 1 CENTER, WE GOT TO SPEAK WITH A MEMBER OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE POLICE CHIEF WHO'S STANDING RIGHT HERE.
VARIOUS POLICE EMPLOYEES THAT EVEN GOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SIMULATOR, WHICH IS PART OF THEIR TRAINING, SHOWED SOME OF THE ONGOING TRAINING THAT THE OFFICERS PERFORM AND HAVE TO BE PROFICIENT AT.
AND YOU OUGHT TO BE PROUD OF THOSE GUYS TOO.
ALL IN ALL, SERGEANT KEVIN BRYCE HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB WITH EVERYTHING ABOUT THE CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY.
AND WITH THAT, THE MEMBERS OF THE 26 CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY WOULD LIKE TO THANK HIM FOR HIS EXCELLENT PRESENTATION OVER THE 10 WEEKS THAT WE'VE BEEN HERE.
AND WE'VE GOT A PLAQUE TO GET PRESENT TO YOU THAT SAYS 26 CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY PRESENTED TO SERGEANT KEVIN BRYCE IN RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING DEDICATION, COMMITMENT, AND ONGOING EFFORTS TO EDUCATE THE CITIZENS OF NEW, WE WANNA THANK THAT WAS NICE,
SO WITH THAT, UH, WE'RE GONNA PRESENT CERTIFICATES OF COMPLETION.
AGAIN, IT WAS A 10 WEEK COURSE.
UH, THE NEXT CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY WILL BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER.
MS. SHIRLEY AKINS, CONGRATULATIONS.
DOUGLAS, CHIEF FRANK, JULIAN DAVIS, THE THIRD BEVERLY GAS.
DAVID HOFFER, SE KNIGHT, KEN LEWIS.
PRESENT, FIRST LADY, TINA LEWIS.
PAT ALSO PARTICIPATED IN ONE OF MY RIDE ALONGS.
MICHELLE, SOUTH WILLIAM WAGONS, DONNA WIL, KENNETH WRIGHT AND NATALIA WRIGHT WON'T TAKE ANY MORE OF YOUR TIME, BUT AGAIN, AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS AN EAGER BUNCH.
UM, AGAIN, I CALL 'EM FRIENDS.
[01:05:01]
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING 'EM OUT AND ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITY.SO CAN GET ON THE OTHER SIDE OF PODIUM.
[12. Recognition of New Bern 101 Graduates.]
ITEM NUMBER 12 IS ANOTHER RECOGNITION THIS TIME OF THE NEWBURN 1 0 1 GRADUATES, UH, MR. HUGHES? YES, SIR.MAYOR, THIS, THIS IS A PROGRAM WE STARTED A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS AGO.
UH, IT'S AN INTRODUCTION TO WHAT THE CITY OF NEWBURN DOES.
UH, THE, THE APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTH PROGRAM TAKES PARTICIPANTS, UH, THROUGH TOURS OF EACH DEPARTMENT THAT WE HAVE FROM, FROM FINANCE, WHICH THEY DID TONIGHT.
UH, TALKING WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS TO MEETING WITH PARKS AND RECREATION, PUBLIC WORKS, POLICE, FIRE RESCUE, ELECTRIC UTILITIES, HUMAN RESOURCES, AND ON AND ON.
AND IT REALLY GIVES PARTICIPANTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, UH, WHAT IT TAKES TO RUN THIS CITY.
THEY LEARN A LOT OF FACTS AND INTERESTING INFORMATION, AND THEY ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK NOT ONLY THE THE GOVERNING BOARD, BUT STAFF ANY QUESTIONS THEY WANT TO.
UM, UH, IT'S, IT'S REALLY BEEN A VERY GOOD PROGRAM OVER THE YEARS.
UH, THIS IS THE FOURTH SESSION THAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR.
WE'VE HAD A TOTAL OF 64 PARTICIPANTS TO, TO COME THROUGH THIS.
OUR PIO O COLLEEN ROBERTS COORDINATES THIS EVENT WITH ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS AND SHE DOES A GREAT JOB OF THAT.
AND I WANT TO GIVE ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS AND COLLEEN ROUND APPLAUSE FOR, AND NOW IT'S GRADUATION TIMES.
SO AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK THE GOVERNING BOARD TO COME ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE, THE, THE GATE AREA.
AND WE'RE GONNA RECOGNIZE THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
WE'LL TAKE ANOTHER GROUP PHOTO SO THEY CAN COME UP AND TAKE YOUR ROOM.
CONGRATULATIONS TO PAULA ALLEN.
RHODA FORT MILLICENT GALLAGHER,
[01:10:14]
KAREN GENOA, PAM GORMAN.CONGRATULATIONS, JOANNA AND PATRICK KLOSTER.
CHRIS WATERS, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE HAVE SOME DOUBLE DIPPERS FROM THE CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY, KEN.
WE'D LIKE TO TRY AND KEEP THE MAYOR, THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN AND MANAGERS UP HERE, SO IF THE PARTICIPANTS COULD SQUEEZE IN, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
I ACTUALLY DO HAVE CONGRATULATIONS.
UH, THANK YOU TO STAFF ONCE AGAIN FOR BOTH OF THOSE PROGRAMS. UM, IT'S VERY, VERY POSITIVE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
[9. Presentation by Craven County Crime Stoppers.]
MOVING ON.NUMBER ITEM NUMBER NINE IS PRESENTATION BY CRAVEN COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE JEFF HADDOCK AND CORPORAL KELLY COX.
IT'S GONNA BE MAKING A PRESENTATION.
ALDERMAN, UH, MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING US THIS EVENING.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEWLY FORMED CRAVEN COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS.
WE ARE A SEPARATE 5 0 1
[01:15:01]
OF CRAVEN COUNTY THROUGH THE, UH, CRIME STOPPERS PROGRAM.AND, UH, AGAIN, WE DO NOT GET ANY DIRECT FUNDING OR ANYTHING FROM ANY GOVERNMENT OR LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATION.
I'M NOT HERE TO ASK FOR MONEY TONIGHT.
HOWEVER, I WILL SAY THAT DONATIONS ARE GLADLY APPRECIATED.
UH, CORPORAL KELLY COX AT THE CRAVEN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND ALSO CAPTAIN DAVID DANIELS WITH THE, UH, NEWBURN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND WITH THAT, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO, UH, CORPORAL COX, AND HE CAN EXPLAIN A LITTLE MORE ABOUT HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT.
I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO GO ON THE RECORD JUST SAYING I LOVE PEPSI
I MEAN, ANYTHING GOING ON TONIGHT.
AND IF I LOVE KOCH, Y'ALL WOULDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT.
SO, UM, ANYWAYS, UM, I'M FROM WASHINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA.
I'M PRETTY NEWS TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HERE.
UM, SHERIFF'S USED TO SWORN ME IN BACK IN NOVEMBER OF, UH, 22.
PRIOR TO MY EMPLOYMENT HERE I WAS WITH THE BUT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, UM, FOR THE LAST 11 AND A HALF YEARS.
SO, UM, WHEN I DECIDED TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION AND SHERIFF HUGHES HAD REACHED OUT TO ME, COMING TO WORK FOR HIM, I FELT LIKE THE TIME WAS RIGHT.
AND PART OF THE THINGS THAT HE WANTED TO DO WAS TO KIND OF REVAMP THE KREN COUNTY CRIME STOPS PROGRAM.
UM, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, IT HAD ONE SEVERAL YEARS AGO, UH, BEFORE SHERIFF HUGHES.
UM, AND I THINK THINGS LIKE MOST BOARDS THAT KIND OF RAN OUTTA STEAM, YOU KNOW, COVID HIT AND YOU SAW A LOT OF, UH, 5 0 1
UH, SOME OTHER DUTIES WHEN I WAS WITH THE BURKE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WAS THAT I ALSO WAS THE LEAD COORDINATOR FOR BOER COUNTY CRIMES STOPPERS, UH, UNDER SHERIFF JORDAN.
UM, THAT BEING SAID, THIS PROGRAM WOULD NOT BE REVAMPED WITHOUT THE SUPPORT FROM SHERIFF HUGHES AND CHIEF GALLAGHER.
UM, FOR ME, KIND OF BEING BRAND NEW TO THE AREA, UM, THEY HAVE BOTH BEEN NOTHING BUT SUPPORTIVE.
UM, CHIEF GALLAGHER'S COMMAND STAFF, IF I'VE HAD A QUESTION FOR ANYTHING.
SO I REALLY FEEL LIKE YOU'VE KNOCKED IT OUT PARK BY HAVING SOMEONE LIKE CHIEF GALLAGHER RUNNING YOUR, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT AND EVERYTHING.
UM, THAT BEING SAID, BEING FROM WASHINGTON KIND OF GETTING TO KNOW, CRAVING, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT I STILL HOLD GEAR TO CRAVING.
UM, MY, UH, WHEN I WENT TO KINDERGARTEN, FOR EXAMPLE, I KNEW HOW TO SPELL MY NAME AND I KNEW HOW TO SPELL WAREHOUSER, YOU KNOW, SO
SO ANYWAYS, SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROGRAM.
THE PROGRAM STARTED BACK IN 1976.
UM, WHAT HAPPENED WAS THERE WAS A, A CASE THAT HAPPENED OUT IN, UH, ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO WHERE A HOMICIDE OCCURRED.
AND THE DETECTIVE THAT WAS WORKING ON IT KIND OF GOT FED UP BECAUSE AFTER ABOUT 72 HOURS, NOBODY STILL CAME FORTH ABOUT THIS HOMICIDE AND HAPPENED TO A VICTIM, MALE VICTIM THAT WAS LEAVING THE GAS STATION WHEN HE WAS LEAVING TO GO HOME FOR, TO WORK ONE NIGHT.
UM, SO HE WORKED WITH THE LOCAL NEWS, UH, UH, NEWS STATION, AND THEY RAN KIND OF A REENACTING SERIES THAT YOU'LL SEE, LIKE SOMETHING LIKE WHEN UN ASSAULT MYSTERIES OR SOMETHING.
AND THEN WITHIN TWO WEEKS, THEY HAD ENOUGH TIPS AND INFORMATION THAT CAME IN, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO ARREST A SUBJECT.
AND WHAT THEY ENDED UP DOING WAS GIVEN A $1,000 CASH REWARD, WHICH BACK IN 1976 WAS A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL REWARD.
SINCE THEN, THE PROGRAM HAS GROWN.
UH, THERE'S PROGRAMS IN UNITED STATES, CANADA, UNITED KINGDOM, AND AUSTRALIA.
UH, ONCE AGAIN, IT'S A 5 0 1
THE GOOD THING ABOUT IT IS THAT CRIME STOPPERS COMPLIMENTS ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
OKAY? AND SO, WHAT WE WANT TO TRY TO DO, AND ONE THING THAT SHERIFF HUGHES AND CHIEF GALLAGHER REALLY WANTS TO TRY TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT, THAT JUST BECAUSE I'M REPRESENTING THE PROGRAM IN, UH, CAPTAIN DANIELS IS HELPING ME REPRESENT THE PROGRAM.
EVERY AGENCY IN CRAVEN COUNTY, THE BO CRAVEN COUNTY, IS GOING TO GET, GET ACCESS TO THE FUNDS.
I DON'T WANT, I DON'T WANT THE MONEY.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANNA MAKE WT UNDER WCT, I FOR THE WRONG REASONS, RIGHT? SO I FEEL THAT WITHOUT BEING SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE, UM, TRENTWOOD RIVER BEND, HAVELOCK, BRIDGETON, UH, NEWBURN PD, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND VANCE BURRO THAT'S GONNA GET ALL THESE EQUAL TIP MONEY IF SOMEBODY COMES INTO CRIME.
SO COMMITS A CRIME IN, UH, CRAVEN COUNTY, BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN, THERE'S NO COOKIE CUTTER APPROACH IN HOW WE SOLVE CRIME OR BEAT CRIME IN CRAVEN COUNTY.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE GOOD PROGRAMS LIKE THE, YOU KNOW, THE CITIZEN POLICE ACADEMY, HAVE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH, BUSINESS WATCH, UM, CITIZENS ON PATROL AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO THIS IS JUST ANOTHER TOOL IN OUR TOOL BELT TO HELP KEEP, YOU KNOW, KRAVEN COUNTY, A SAFER PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND RAISE THE FAMILY.
YOU KNOW, IT ALSO GIVES CITIZENS DIRECT POWER AND A VOICE TO, TO REPORT CRIME AND NOT HAVE FEAR OF HAVING TO BE SUBPOENAED TO GO TO COURT OR RETALIATION, YOU KNOW, SO WHEN WE GET, WHEN WE SAY, WE ONLY WANT YOUR INFORMATION, NOT YOUR NAME, WE MEAN IT.
AND WITH THIS KIND OF BEING A REVAMP PROGRAM, IT'S GONNA TAKE A LITTLE TIME TO EARN THE PUBLIC'S TRUST AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.
[01:20:01]
BUT ONCE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE GET THE TIP, WHEN THE TIPS COME IN, RIGHT NOW, WHEN YOU DIAL THE TELEPHONE NUMBER, SIX THREE THREE FIFTY ONE FORTY ONE, YOU CAN GET SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GONNA GIVE THEM THE INFORMATION AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA GET A CODE.WELL, THEY SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, JOE SMITH HAS A WARRANT FOR THEIR ARREST OVER IN, UH, BRISBANE.
WE'RE NOT GONNA JUST CALL BRISBANE PD AND BRI'S JUST NOT GONNA GO TAKE A BATTER AND RAM AND KNOCK THE DOOR DOWN.
YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA BE UP TO THE OFFICE OR THE SURROUNDING POLICE DEPARTMENTS TO VERIFY THE INFORMATION.
AND THEN THAT WAY, ONCE WE VERIFY IT, WE DO SURVEILLANCE, AND THEN WE CAN MAKE OUR ARREST THAT WAY.
THAT PERSON WILL GET A CODE NUMBER AND HE'LL CALL BACK WITHIN A WEEK AFTER THE DEPOSITION OF THE CASE, AND THEN WE CAN TELL HIM WHERE TO GO PICK THE MONEY UP.
WE'RE TRYING TO, WE'RE HAVING TO CRAWL BEFORE WE WALK, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO WALK BEFORE WE RUN.
SO, LONG TERM GOALS FROM THE PROGRAM IS THAT WE WANT TO, UH, START A PROGRAM.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE USED IN BE COUNTY, AND IT'S A 24 7, 365, 7 DAYS A WEEK PROGRAM TO WHERE IT'S PRETTY MUCH A CALL CENTER WHERE WHEN YOU CALL THAT NUMBER, OR YOU CAN TEXT, YOU CAN EMAIL, OR YOU CAN, UM, LIVE CHAT WITH SOMEBODY.
YOU CALL THAT PERSON, YOU GIVE 'EM THE INFORMATION, AND THEN IT AUTOMATICALLY GETS FORWARDED TO ME AND I'LL FORWARD IT TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS.
OR IF YOU SEE SOMETHING HAPPENING IN LIVE TIME AND YOU DON'T WANT TO FEEL LIKE YOU NEED TO CALL 9 1 1, YOU CAN ALSO LIVE CHAT WITH THAT PERSON AND IT'LL DIRECTLY COME TO ME SO I CAN DO THE LIVE CHAT AND GIVE IT TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENT AS WELL.
CAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE CITIZENS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THE EYES OF EARS, THE COUNTY, I'D LOVE TO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE CAN BE THERE TO, TO STOP CRIME, UH, AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE, BUT A LOT OF TIMES WE'RE PLAYING, YOU KNOW, ZONE DEFENSE.
WE'RE MORE REACTIONARY THAN WE ARE SOLVING IT BEFORE IT HAPPENS AND EVERYTHING.
IT'S JUST BECAUSE OF THE SHARED NUMBERS OF, UH, OF THE EVENTS THAT GO WARM.
AND, UH, SO ONCE AGAIN, IT'S JUST ANOTHER WAY FOR US TO, UM, JUST GIVE THE CITIZENS ANOTHER WAY TO HELP WITH THE PROGRAM AND HELP COMBAT CRIME.
UM, LIKE I SAID, I BELIEVE IN THE PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, IT SOLVES ANYTHING FROM HELPING MISSING PERSON TO PETTY LARCENY.
UH, IN BE COUNTY, WE HAD ONE, A HOMICIDE IN 2010 WHERE WE HAD A, UH, HOMICIDE IN THE TOWN OF BATH, WHICH VIRTUALLY NEVER HAPPENS.
AND WHAT YOU HAD, HE HAD A QUADRIPLEGIC MAN THAT WAS BEATEN TO DEATH IN HIS HOUSE.
INVESTIGATORS WORKED HARD, BUT EVENTUALLY, YOU KNOW, THE BROAD CONES KIND OF, UH, BLEW AWAY, AND THEY'RE KIND OF AT A STANDSTILL.
WELL, ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER THE EVENT THAT HAPPENED, WE ENDED UP GETTING A TIP THAT CAME IN, AND IT PROVIDED US ENOUGH LEADS TO GO FIND THE TWO SUBJECT SUSPECTS THAT HAD DONE THAT BRUTAL MURDER AND STUFF.
AND WITHOUT THAT, WITH THOSE, WITHOUT THOSE TIPS, I'M NOT SAYING THAT THE HOMICIDE MAY HAVE NEVER BEEN SOLVED, BUT IT DEFINITELY SPED UP THE PROCESS AND EVERYTHING.
SO, UH, WHY I END UP HAPPENING WAS WHEN I RAN ON W I T N, THEY SAW IT AND, UH, FOR THE CRIME OF THE WEEK, AND THEY FELT LIKE THEY COULDN'T BEAR THE CONSCIENCE, OR, UH, THEIR WORDS WERE, THEY JUST COULDN'T SLEEP AT NIGHT.
SO I STILL DON'T KNOW WHO THAT PERSON WAS, HE OR SHE, UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, I FELT LIKE I REALLY BELIEVED IN THE PROGRAM THEN WHEN I SAW HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT THAT WE COULD GIVE THAT FAMILY, AT LEAST CLOSURE AND STUFF.
SO, ONCE AGAIN, UM, I BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD, BUT WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS COMING.
UM, I, I'M TRYING TO GET IT OUT TO ENOUGH CHURCH GROUPS, YOU KNOW, MR. HADDOCK AND I, WE'VE GONE TO ALL THE CITY COUNCIL'S, BOARDS, UM, FIRE ASSOCIATION MEETINGS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO WE'RE JUST GONNA CONTINUE TO TRY TO GET IT OUT THERE.
WE'RE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WE'RE ON FACEBOOK, KREN COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS, AND THEN ON INSTAGRAM.
AND THEN W I 10 ALSO RUNS THE CRIME OF THE WEEK EVERY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY MORNING, WHICH IS FREE ADVERTISEMENT.
THEY GIVE US A MINUTE AND A HALF OF ATON, WHICH, YOU KNOW, IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE TV BUSINESS OR RADIO, IT'S, IT'S HUGE AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO WHEN I LEFT B COUNTY, THEY CAME ALONG WITH ME TO CRAVEN COUNTY AS WELL.
UM, DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I DON'T WANNA TAKE UP A LOT OF PEOPLE'S TIME TONIGHT.
DO YOU KNOW HOW, HOW'S THE FUNDING IS SO ON? IT'S ALL THROUGH FUNDRAISERS, SO, UM, THE BIGGEST THING RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE, UM, A 21 BOARD, AND THEY'RE THE ONES THAT COME UP WITH GREAT IDEAS, YOU KNOW, OF COMING UP WITH WAYS OF MAKING MONEY.
WELL, JUST LIKE WITH ANYTHING ELSE, YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA GET OUT AND YOU GOTTA ASK FOR MONEY, YOU GOTTA TRY TO HELP RAISE MONEY.
YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT WE HAD DONE BACK IN BO COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE, I JUST TALKED FROM EXPERIENCE, WAS WE HAD, YOU KNOW, CRIME STOPPERS GOLF TOURNAMENT THAT WOULD NET BETWEEN 18 AND $20,000 PROFIT.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAD A, UH, GALA OR A HOLIDAY BALL TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR TOO.
UM, WHICH WOULD HAVE LIKE A BAND OF LAWS COME IN AND IT WOULD RAISE, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN SIX AND $7,000, BUT IT WAS A LOT EASIER FUNDRAISER TO PUT ON AS WELL.
WE ALSO HAVE IT TO WHERE PEOPLE CAN, UH, CONTACT THE INFORMATION ON THE BROCHURE AND OR, UM, THE INFORMATION I GIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, UH, THEY CAN CONTACT THAT WAY AND THEY CAN DONATE AS MUCH OR AS LITTLE AS THEY WANT.
[01:25:01]
HAVE AN EVENT COMING UP IN TRENT WOODS ON THURSDAY DOING A BLOOD DRIVE WHERE THE TOWN OF TRENTWOOD IS HOSTING A BLOOD DRIVE IN ALL PROFITS, UM, FOR EVERY, FOR EVERY PERSON THAT DONATES BLOOD OVER AND GET $20 FROM THAT.SO, AND AGAIN, IT, CRIME STOPPERS REALLY COMPLIMENTS ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT, JUST NOT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
CAUSE IT'S A SMALL PORTION OF MY SALARIES BEING DIRECTED ON FOCUSING ON CRIME STOPPERS.
BUT, UM, I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE IN CRAVEN COUNTY AND NEWBURN, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY WANT, THEY WANT TO BE SAFE.
AND I THINK THE OVERALL FEELING IS THAT PEOPLE DO FEEL SAFE.
ONCE AGAIN, I, I, MY HATS OFF TO NEWBURN PD, ANYTHING THAT I'VE NEEDED OR CAUSED THAT KIND OF BLED INTO THE CITY, YOU KNOW, UH, CHIEF GALLAGHER AND HIS, HIS, UH, EMPLOYEES, POLICEMEN HAVE BEEN THERE TO HELP BACK US UP IN A MOMENT'S NOTICE AND EVERYTHING.
SO AGAIN, I JUST THINK IT'S JUST ANOTHER TOOL THAT WE HAVE IN OUR TOOL BELT THAT WE CAN USE.
BUT FUNDRAISING IS GONNA BE, YOU KNOW, UM, I WILL, I'D LOVE TO THINK IT RUN, IT WOULD RUN OFF HOPES AND DREAMS, BUT IT, IT JUST DOES NOT, YOU KNOW.
SO, UM, I FEEL THAT, UH, ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA BE UP TO, TO THE PEOPLE TO HELP SUPPORT THE PROGRAM.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALL THE SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, FROM THE SHERIFF AND ALL THE POLICE CHIEFS TO MAKE IT JUST AS MUCH A SUCCESS, BECAUSE IF ANYTHING, I DON'T WANT THERE TO BE ANY HURT FEELINGS BETWEEN THE AGENCIES AS TWO.
SO IT'S JUST BEING JUST AS TRANSPARENT AS WE CAN.
UM, WE HAVE 16 MEMBERS OVER 21 MEMBER BOARD, SO IF YOU HAVE ANY FRIENDS OR FAMILY THAT YOU THINK THAT WOULD, MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN, UM, JOINING THE CRIME OFFICERS BOARD, WE MEET THE FIRST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH AT THE, UH, POLICE SUBSTATION BY THE MALL, UH, AT 12 O'CLOCK.
AND MY CONTACTS INFORMATION IS ON THE, UH, BROCHURES.
SO HAVE 'EM REACH OUT TO ME OR MR. HADDOCK, AND, UH, WE'D LOVE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THE, GROW THE BOARD AND KIND OF GO FROM THERE.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, SIR.
AND ADDING ANOTHER LAYER OF SAFETY TO OUR CITY.
UM, I JUST WANT TO, UM, RECOGNIZE ONE OF OUR VERY OWN, UM, FORMER, SHE'S WITH US TONIGHT.
FORMER, UH, ALDERMAN JAMIA HARRIS IS WITH US TONIGHT.
[6. Consider Adopting a Resolution to Close the 900 and 1000 Blocks of Pollock Street for Tap That Beermuda Block Party. (Part 2 of 2)]
UM, MR. ATTORNEY.I, I MADE A LITTLE BIT OF A BOOBOO, UH, ITEM NUMBER SIX WHEN WE PULLED THAT STREET CLOSURE.
THAT IS A RESOLUTION, AND WE NEED TO DO A ROLL CALL.
AND I THINK I DID A VOICE VOTE.
SO IF WE COULD, UM, DO YOU NEED THEM TO RESTATE THE MOTION? IT'D BE HELPFUL.
ALDERMAN PRI, YOU MADE THE MOTION AND, UH, ALDERMAN BRINSON, YOU SECONDED IT.
SO IF YOU COULD JUST RESTATE THE MOTION AND THEN WE'LL DO A ROLL CALL.
VOTE TO CLEAN THAT UP, PLEASE.
UM, MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO CLOSE THE 901,000 BLOCKS OF P*****K STREET FOR TAP THAT BEDA BLOCK PARTY SECOND.
UH, ANY MORE DISCUSSION? LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL, STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ROYAL.
[10. Presentation on Coastal Carolina Regional Airport.]
NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 10, PRESENTATION ON COASTAL CAROLINA REGIONAL AIRPORT.UH, MR. ANDY SHORTER IS GONNA DO THAT.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR ALDERMAN.
UH, TALKING ABOUT THE AIRPORT, I'LL, UH, MAKE THIS QUICK.
UH, WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE GOVERNANCE, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE AIRPORT, UH, SOME OF THE AIR SERVICE.
AND BY AIR SERVICE WHAT I MEAN IS THE AIRLINE BUSINESS.
THAT'S KIND OF THE INDUSTRY TERM WHEN YOU'RE TALKING AIRLINE BUSINESS.
AND THEN WE'LL GO OVER SOME OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT HOPEFULLY YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT IN THE NEWS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE'RE DOING.
IT'S A PRETTY BUSY DIAGRAM, BUT IT'S A DIAGRAM OF THE AIRPORT.
AND IF YOU SEE THE LIGHTLY SHADED AREA, THAT'S ABOUT 780 ACRES, UH, IS WHAT THE AIRPORT ENCOMPASSES.
THAT'S A COUNTY OWNED PROPERTY.
IT'S LEASED TO THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY, AND THAT'S THE GOVERNANCE OF THE AIRPORT.
UH, THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1989.
IT HAS 12 MEMBERS, EIGHT VOTING MEMBERS THAT ARE APPOINTED BY THE CRAVEN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, AND THEN FOUR NON-VOTING MEMBERS, THREE FROM OUR SURROUNDING COUNTIES, JONES TAKO CARTERET, AND THEN THE OTHER ONE FROM THE, THE, UH, COMMANDING OFFICER MARINE CORPS BASE, UH, CHERRY POINT.
SO THAT 780 ACRES IS, UH, LEASED TO THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY FOR THE TERM OF A HUNDRED YEARS.
UM, AND ABOUT 30% OF THE AIRPORTS IN THE COUNTRY ARE GOVERNED BY THAT, UH, BY AN AUTHORITY.
UH, ABOUT HALF OF 'EM ARE, ARE GOVERNED BY MUNICIPALITY.
AND THEN THE OTHER REMAINING, UH, 15 TO 20%, UH, ACTUALLY HAVE PRIVATE MANAGEMENT, UH, THROUGH A MUNICIPALITY, UH, ECONOMIC IMPACT.
[01:30:01]
UH, TURNED OVER A STATE, UH, PAMPHLET ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE AIRPORT THAT'S DONE EVERY OTHER YEAR BY THE STATE D O T.UH, IF YOU GO TO THE VERY BACK PAGE, YOU'LL SEE THE 72 AIRPORTS LISTED, AND THERE ARE 72 PUBLIC AIRPORTS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
WHAT'S SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THAT IS, OF COURSE, THERE'S A HUNDRED COUNTIES.
NOT EVERY, EVERY COUNTY GETS ONE.
AND OUT OF THOSE 72 AIRPORTS, 10 OF THOSE ARE COMMERCIAL SERVICE AIRPORTS.
THAT MEANS THEY HAVE AIRLINE SERVICE IN THOSE AIRPORTS.
OUR NEIGHBORING STATES, UH, TO THE NORTH AND TO THE SOUTH HAVE SIX OR SEVEN RESPECTIVELY.
SO NORTH CAROLINA DOES VERY WELL.
THE THING TO NOTE ABOUT THAT TEN NINE OF THE OTHER ONES ARE IN THE 15 MOST POPULATED CITIES IN THE STATE.
GUESS WHICH ONE IS NOT THE MOST IN THE 15TH MOST POPULATED CITY OF THE STATE? NEWBURN WE'RE NEWBURN BY.
THE LAST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PUBLICATION I'VE SEEN IS THE 34TH MOST POPULATED CITY IN THE STATE.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE PUNCH ABOVE OUR WEIGHT CLASS.
AND, AND ONE REASON FOR THAT IS IT BEING A DESTINATION AND HAVING ATTRACTIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE HERE FOR, WHETHER IT BE THE BEACH, TRIUM PALACE, THINGS IN NEWBURN.
SO WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT THAT IS WHEN PEOPLE COME IN, THAT ALSO PROVIDES SERVICE GOING OUTBOUND.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, THAT'S HOW WE GOT THE DC FLIGHT, UH, ONE DAY A WEEK IN THE SUMMER, LAST SUMMER.
AND WE'RE GETTING IT AGAIN THIS YEAR, THIS SUMMER.
SO THOSE THINGS ALL TIE TOGETHER, AND WHAT THAT DOES IS PROVIDE THAT ECONOMIC IMPACT.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE LAST TWO PAGES, YOU CAN BREAK OUT COASTAL CAROLINA AND THAT COASTAL CAROLINA REGIONAL AIRPORT HAS AN ANNUAL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF JUST OVER HALF A BILLION DOLLARS, $513 MILLION.
DIRECT, INDIRECT, AND INDUCED, SUPPORTING OVER 2,400 JOBS.
AGAIN, DIRECT, INDIRECT AND INDUCED, AND 27 MILLION IN TAX REVENUE.
A LOT OF THAT TAX, WHERES A LOT OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OVERALL COMES FROM THE AIR SERVICE, THE AIRLINE SERVICE PEOPLE COMING IN HERE, PEOPLE THAT FLY IN, SPEND MORE MONEY THAT DRIVE IN.
THAT'S A FACT IN THE BUSINESS.
BUT ANOTHER PLACE WHERE THAT TAX REVENUE COMES FROM IS THE AIRCRAFT OUT THERE, THE PROPERTY TAX ON THOSE.
AND THE STATE'S VERY GOOD ABOUT POINTING OUT THAT ONE AIRPLANE OUT THERE.
YOU GET A LARGE TWIN ENGINE AIRPLANE, OR A SMALL JET HAS THE SAME TAX REVENUE AS 10 HOUSES.
GUESS WHAT? THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SCHOOL.
THEY'RE NOT DRIVING ON THE ROAD.
YOU DON'T NEED TO PICK UP THEIR TRASH.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE STATE HAS UNDERSTOOD.
WE'VE BEEN DOING THESE REPORTS EVERY TWO YEARS FOR ABOUT THE LAST SIX YEARS.
AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS STEPPED UP TO START FUNDING AIRPORTS MORE.
THEY THOUGHT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WERE AT THE TOP OF THE STACK AT ABOUT 16 TO ONE FOR EVERY $1.
THEY GAVE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES THAT RETURNED $16 IN ECONOMIC IMPACT.
THE FIRST STUDY WE DID LIKE THIS IN 2016 WAS 20 TO ONE AIRPORTS WERE PROVIDING $20 FOR EVERYONE THAT THE STATE GAVE.
SO THE TIN COMMERCIAL SERVICE AIRPORTS ACTUALLY NOW HAVE REOCCURRING FUNDING IN THE STATE BUDGET TO DO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
THE SAME AS WE GET MONEY FROM THE FAA TO DO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
THINGS ON THE AIRPORT ARE VERY EXPENSIVE, THAT MILE A RUNWAY OUT THERE.
OUR MAIN RUNWAY, AS YOU SEE GOING ACROSS THE, THE PICTURE HERE, THAT'S VERY EXPENSIVE PAVEMENT.
THAT'S THE MOST EXPENSIVE PAVEMENT IN THIS COUNTY.
IT, OF COURSE, YOU DON'T WANT POTHOLES IN THE RUNWAY.
SO EVERYTHING ON THE AIRPORT'S VERY EXPENSIVE.
AND NOW, LIKE I SAID, WE GET SOME OF THAT STATE MONEY.
BUT THE GOOD THING ABOUT THE MAJORITY OF THE MONEY WE GET FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AT THE AIRPORT, THEY'RE USER FEE BASED.
SO IF YOU'RE NOT USING THE AIRPORT, YOU'RE NOT PAYING ANYTHING INTO THE AIRPORT, BUT YOU'RE GETTING THAT $513 MILLION YEAR ECONOMIC IMPACT.
AND THAT'S A PRETTY INCREDIBLE NUMBER.
SO HAVING AN AIRPORT IN YOUR COMMUNITY IS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE IN AND OF ITSELF, PART OF THAT ECONOMIC ENGINE.
I SAID I WAS GONNA TALK ABOUT THE AIR SERVICE RIGHT NOW AS AMERICAN AIRLINES, WE USED TO HAVE DELTA AND AMERICAN DELTA SUSPENDED THEIR SERVICE, UH, AT THE BEGINNING OF COVID.
THEY'VE ALSO EXITED 17 OTHER CITIES, UH, SINCE THEN.
MATTER OF FACT, JUST TWO OF THEM IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK, WHEN IS DELTA COMING BACK? WE'D LOVE DELTA TO COME BACK, BUT THEY ARE STILL LITERALLY EXITING MARKETS.
SO THE STATE OF THE INDUSTRY IS NOT SETTLED YET.
MAYBE AIRLINE INDUSTRY IS GONNA COME OUT OF POST PANDEMIC THE MOST DIFFERENT THAN THAN ANY OTHER INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW.
THE REGIONAL LEVEL, INDUSTRY-WIDE NATIONWIDE, THERE'S STILL ABOUT A 30% DEFICIT IN SEATS AND SERVICE AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL.
AND THAT'S THE JETS THAT WE GET THAT YOU FLY TO.
CHARLOTTE USED TO FLY TO ATLANTA AND GET ON THE BIGGER PLANES.
WHY IS THAT? US? BECAUSE OF PILOT SHORTAGE.
PILOT SHORTAGE WAS EXACERBATED BY COVID.
[01:35:01]
WAS COMING.THERE WAS A BIG BLOCK OF LIKE AGED PILOTS MOVING THROUGH THE SYSTEM THAT WE KNEW WAS GONNA START SHOWING UP AFTER 2010.
FAA ADDED TWO MORE YEARS TO THE MANDATORY RETIREMENT AGE.
BUT COVID, THEY DID, UH, UH, EARLY RETIREMENTS FOR AIRLINE PILOTS.
AND BOEING'S DONE A STUDY IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
WE'RE GONNA NEED ANOTHER 500,000 PILOTS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
UH, THE, THE EASTERN UH, THE FAR EAST IS COMING ON BOARD.
CHINA'S BUILDING LIKE AN AIRPORT TODAY.
AND HERE WE'RE GONNA NEED PROBABLY 50,000 PILOTS IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS OR SO.
THIS IS THE BEST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.
IF YOU EVER WANTED TO BE A PROFESSIONAL PILOT, UM, STUDIED IT FOR A LONG TIME.
AND, AND THERE IS NO TIME LIKE THE PRESIDENT.
UH, AIRLINES ARE PAYING A LOT MORE.
THAT WAS SOMETHING, IT'S CERTAINLY IN THE REGIONAL LEVEL THAT HELD PEOPLE BACK BEFORE.
THEY'VE ALMOST DOUBLED THE PAY IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS FOR REGIONAL PILOTS.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE BEING A LAWYER OR DOCTOR.
UH, YOU, YOU, UH, RACK UP SOME BILLS TO GET YOUR FLIGHT TIME, BUT IT'S VERY LUCRATIVE AND A VERY INTERESTING CAREER IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED IN THAT.
BUT THAT'S WHAT'S MOSTLY BEEN AFFECTING OUR AIR SERVICE, IS THE LACK OF PILOTS.
UM, I'VE BEEN AT RALEIGH IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
YOU KNOW, YOU'LL SEE A DELTA REGIONAL JET JUST PARKED ON THE TARMAC CAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE PILOTS FOR IT.
WHAT ARE WE DOING? WELL, WE, ABOUT THREE TIMES A YEAR, WE GO AND TALK TO AIRLINES.
WE GO TO THESE CONFERENCES WHERE YOU GET 20 MINUTES WITH EACH AIRLINE THAT WANTS TO TALK TO YOU.
THE GOOD THING IS AIRLINES WANT TO TALK TO US.
UH, MELISSA FROM THE TDA IS GONE WITH ME, JEFF FROM THE ED.
C'S GONE WITH ME, AND WE GIVE 'EM THE COMMUNITY PITCH WHY THEY WANT TO BE HERE.
AND, AND BACK TO THAT, CREATING A DESTINATION IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE AND WANT TO FLY OUT.
BECAUSE WHAT THE AIRLINES ARE INTERESTED IN IS BIDIRECTIONAL TRAFFIC.
THEY DON'T WANT PEOPLE JUST GOING ONE WAY AND THEN, YOU KNOW, AN EMPTY PLANE GOING BACK THE OTHER WAY.
AND THAT'S SPECIFICALLY FOR THESE LOW COST DIRECT AIRLINES.
AND WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN TILLING A LOT OF GROUND WITH THEM AND THEY'RE INTERESTED.
BUT THERE'S THIS PILOT SHORTAGE.
I'M CONVINCED IF THERE WASN'T A PILOT SHORTAGE.
RIGHT NOW, NOT ONLY WILL WE HAVE DELTA BACK, BUT WE PROBABLY HAVE A THIRD AIRLINE HERE.
SO AGAIN, WE'RE PUNCHING ABOVE OUR WEIGHT LEVEL.
AND THAT LEADS US INTO OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP, YOU CAN SEE ALL THE CRAZY COLORS ON THERE, BUT THOSE COLORS GENERALLY REPRESENT FIVE YEAR PERIODS OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.
UH, THAT MAP WAS ESTABLISHED AFTER WE DID A MASTER PLAN, UH, UPDATE.
WE STARTED IN 2016 AND KIND OF SLAPPED THE TABLE ON IT IN 2018.
BUT ALL THOSE DIFFERENT COLORS ARE DIFFERENT YEAR PERIODS, FIVE YEAR PERIODS.
THE, THE, THE PINK ON THERE IS THE, THE CLOSEST FIVE YEARS.
AND THEN IT GOES TO THE, THE BLUE AND THEN, UM, THE GREEN AND, AND THE ORANGE I CALL ASPIRATIONAL ON THERE.
THAT REPRESENTS ABOUT 82 MILLION WORTH OF WORK, AGAIN, BACK IN BEND.
UH, RIGHT NOW TO THIS POINT, IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS WE'VE COLLECTED AND OUR INVESTING WILL HAVE INVESTED WHEN WE GET DONE WITH THE TERMINAL EXPANSION, A LITTLE OVER 50 MILLION.
SO WE'RE MORE THAN HALFWAY THERE.
BUT OF COURSE THINGS COST MORE.
NOW THAT'S PROBABLY A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR PLAN.
WE HAVE MODEST, UM, MEASURED GROWTH AND PROJECTIONS AND PLANS, AND THAT'S WHAT THE FA LIKES TO SEE.
STRATEGIC PLANS AND, AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANS.
THE NEW FIRE STATION THAT WE, CHRIS AND, UH, ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, THAT WAS FROM A FA SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT, WE COMPETED FOR THAT AND GOT THAT 5.2 MILLION JUST A MONTH AGO.
WE COMPETED FOR SOME OF THE BI BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW MONEY.
THERE WERE THREE AIRPORTS IN NORTH CAROLINA THAT GOT MONEY.
ONE WAS CHARLOTTE, ONE WAS ASHEVILLE, AND ONE WAS NEWBURN.
THAT'S KIND OF PUTTING US ON THE MAP THERE AS WELL, THAT WE'RE COMPETING AT THAT LEVEL FOR THAT MONEY.
UH, THIS TERMINAL IMPROVEMENT, IT'LL BE A 26 MILLION IMPROVEMENT, WILL ADD 10,000 NEW SQUARE FEET.
WE WILL, UH, REFURBISH 19,000 SQUARE FEET.
UH, MOST OF THE CIRCULATION MOVEMENT AREA WILL CREATE A BETTER SPACE FOR TSA.
CURRENT DESIGN WAS PRE NINE 11 DESIGN KIND OF SHOEHORNED IN THERE.
UH, WE'LL OPEN THAT UP FOR SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY.
THE OTHER THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON IS CAPACITY AND THROUGHPUT.
UM, AS WELL AS, UH, UPDATING OUR ADA STANDARDS.
UH, TWO OF OUR FOUR GATES WILL HAVE, UH, PASSENGER JET BRIDGES THAT'LL MAKE IT EASIER FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO BOARD AND DEBOARD AIRPLANES.
THERE'LL BE A SERVICE ANIMAL RELIEF AREA OFF THE SIDE OF THE WHOLE AREA.
SOME WHERE, UH, THAT YOUR DOG CAN GO OUTSIDE.
ALL THOSE MODERN AMENITIES AS WELL AS BEING ENERGY EFFICIENT, THAT'S A BIG PART OF IT.
AND THAT'S HOW WE COMPETED FOR AND GOT THAT LATEST $5 MILLION.
ALL THOSE WERE TENANTS OF THAT GRANT THAT YOU HAD TO MEET THOSE IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT MONEY.
SO WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE DOING A LOT.
THE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER WHERE THE, THE, THE, THE KIND OF BRIGHT GREEN AND, AND THE BLUE ROAD AROUND IT, THAT'S THE TERMINAL AREA.
[01:40:01]
AND THAT WAS AGAIN, A VERY, UH, WELL THOUGHT OUT PLAN THAT WE HAD TO REDO THE TARMAC, UH, THE PARKING PLACES FOR THE AIRCRAFT.WE, WE ADDED 50% MORE SPACE CHANGE ASPHALT TO CONCRETE FOR THE, THE NEW HEAVIER JETS.
UH, THAT'S JUST THE WAY THE INDUSTRY'S GOING.
THEN WE CREATED THE FIRE STATION, WHICH OPENED UP SPACE IN THE TERMINAL, ALLOWS US TO DO SOME OF THAT EXPANSION IN THERE.
SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO SPEND AS MUCH ON THE TERMINAL EXPANSION.
AND, AND BY ONLY ADDING 10,000 FEET, WE, UH, MATERIALLY, UH, INCREASE THE CAPACITY AND THROUGHPUT OF THE, THE TERMINAL.
SO ALL THIS IS PLANNED OUT, PUT TOGETHER.
WE'RE MOVING, UM, YOU KNOW, PRIOR MILITARY CALL.
WE'RE MOVING FROM TARGET TO TARGET AND, AND WE'RE DOING WELL.
THE FAA TRUSTS US, THE STATE LEVEL.
WE HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT BY THE LEGISLATORS THERE.
WE RECENTLY LANDED A GOLDEN LEAF GRANT FOR 753,000 THOUSAND DOLLARS.
AND THAT'S, IF YOU LOOK IN THE LOWER LEFT AREA, THOSE ORANGE SPLOTCHES ARE, ARE BUILDINGS AND TAXIWAYS.
WE CALL THAT OUR CORPORATE AEROSPACE DEVELOPMENT AREA.
AND THAT $753,000 GRANT IS TO PUT UTILITIES INTO THAT AREA.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE AN APPLICATION IN THROUGH COMMERCE FOR ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS TO PUT THE ROAD IN THERE.
UM, SO, AND, AND WE HAVE INTERESTED CLIENTS OR, OR I SHOULD SAY THAT THE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAS INTERESTED CLIENTS WITH 20 MILLION WORTH OF CAPITAL THAT'S LOOKING TO BUILD AVIATION RELATED SPACES.
SO, UM, WE'RE MOVING ON ALL FRONTS.
THE AIR SERVICE IS DISAPPOINTING, BUT I THINK WE'RE HOLDING OUR OWN.
THE FACT THAT WE LAND IS NEW SERVICE, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ONLY WEEKLY SERVICE FROM AMERICAN DIRECT FROM DCA DURING A TIME WHERE AIRPORTS ARE STILL LOSING SERVICE, PERIOD IS A BIG FEATHER IN OUR CAB.
UH, JUST THIS MONTH WE'VE GONE TO FIVE FLIGHTS A DAY.
UH, ONE OF 'EM ON A LARGER AIRPLANE, THAT'S INCREASED OUR SEAT CAPACITY BY 84%.
UH, WE HAVE IT ALL THROUGH THE SUMMER.
SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WELL, THE AIRLINES ARE ALL ABOUT WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY? YOU KNOW, WE GOTTA HAVE PEOPLE HERE FLYING ON THERE.
UM, AND, AND WE'RE DOING A, A LOT OF MARKETING THAT WAY.
AND AGAIN, IT'S BIDIRECTIONAL.
WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING IN, PEOPLE GOING OUT.
JUST HEARD SOME NUMBERS EARLIER TODAY.
JUST FOR INSTANCE, THE ONE REASON WE LANDED THAT WASHINGTON FLIGHT LAST YEAR IN 22, THERE WERE 240,000 PEOPLE THAT VISITED FROM THE WASHINGTON METRO AREA TO OUR CSA, OUR COMBINED STATISTICAL AREA.
THAT'S WHY AMERICAN LOOKED AT THAT AND SAID, HMM, WE COULD PROBABLY FILL UP A, A PLANE A WEEK ON THAT.
AND IF WE DO WELL ON THAT AGAIN THIS YEAR, THEY'LL LOOK TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF DAYS AND HOPEFULLY THE MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR.
SO AGAIN, THAT'S PEOPLE COMING DOWN THERE FROM HERE, BUT WHAT DOES THAT PROVIDE, PROVIDES PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO FROM HERE UP THERE AGAIN, BIDIRECTIONAL.
SO WE WANNA BE A GREAT DESTINATION.
UH, PEOPLE CAN'T ALL KEEP GOING TO FLORIDA ON THESE LOW-COST AIRLINES.
WE HAVE A LOT OF LOW-COST AIRLINES INTERESTED.
UH, IT'S A MATTER OF SCALE THAT WAS MENTIONED BEFORE, DENSITY AND SCALE.
SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT KEEP YOUR AIRPORT UP AND OPERATING AND PROVIDE MORE SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS THAT LIVE HERE TO BE ABLE TO GO TO DIFFERENT PLACES.
WE'RE PROUD TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AS THE AIRPORT.
THE AIRPORT'S JUST THE AIRPORT.
UM, BUT IT'S FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND NOTHING WE LIKE MORE IS TO DO ANYTHING THAT WE CAN TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AS THE AIRPORT.
ANY QUESTIONS? BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? ANY, I JUST HAVE ONE FOR YOU.
YOU SAID THERE YOU GUYS HAVE, FOR THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY HAS A HUNDRED YEAR LEASE WITH THE COUNTY.
IS THAT, IS THERE ANY COST TO THAT LEASE OR IS THAT A DOLLAR A YEAR? WELL, JUST A DOLLAR A DOLLAR PAIR.
WELL, WE THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
IF I HAVE KEPT ALL MY, UM, MY DOODLING
[13. Presentation by Bradham' s Legacy and Consideration of Adopting a Resolution Authorizing the Submission of an Application for a Rural Transformation Grant on Behalf of Bradham's Legacy.]
RIGHT, I THINK WE'RE ON NUMBER 13 NOW.PRESENTATION BY BRAHAM'S LEGACY AND CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTING A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR A RURAL TRANSFORMATION GRANT.
ON BEHALF OF BRAHAM'S LEGACY, I THINK JOHN HARRELSON IS GOING TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION.
I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF BRAHAM'S LEGACY, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING, UH, FLAT STANLEY
UM, I, I WANT TO START BY GIVING SOME HISTORY TO THIS WHOLE PROCESS AND, AND HOPEFULLY THAT'LL GIVE SOME CLARIFICATION AS WELL.
UM, I REALLY FEEL LIKE THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME IN NEW BERN.
I FEEL LIKE THIS IS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW BERN.
IT REMINDS ME OF THE 1950S WHEN A GROUP OF WOMEN FROM THIS TOWN GOT TOGETHER AND DECIDED TO DO A RECONSTRUCTION OF TRIUM PALACE, BECAUSE THAT WAS AN EPIC EVENT IN NEW BURN'S HISTORY, AND REALLY CHANGED THE COURSE OF NEW BURN'S HISTORY, I WOULD SAY.
AND YOU DON'T, IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER.
UH, YOU GO UP AND DOWN HIGHWAY 17 AND SEE SOME OF THE HISTORIC TOWNS UP AND DOWN AND, UH, THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL TOWNS, BUT NONE OF THEM HAVE TRI PALACE AND NEW NEWBORN'S HISTORY.
AND I THINK THAT PEPSI IS, UH,
[01:45:01]
OF SIGNIFICANCE MUCH LIKE TRI PALACE.SO THE, THE JOURNEY THAT THIS HAS BEEN, UH, IT STARTED IN 1893, THAT IS THE YEAR THAT CALEB BRADHAM INVENTED BRAD'S DRINK.
AND IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER THAT PEPSI STARTED IN 1898.
THAT'S THE YEAR THAT HE RENAMED IT PEPSI COLA.
AND I'VE DONE THE MATH, I DON'T THINK I COULD DO IT IN MY HEAD, BUT THIS IS THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF PEPSI.
SO IT'S A BIG YEAR FOR PEPSICO.
AND I THINK YOU ALL PROBABLY HAVE SEEN THE ADS ON TV AND WHATNOT THAT, UM, THEY'VE COME OUT WITH A BRAND NEW LOGO.
IT LOOKS A HECK OF A LOT LIKE THE OLD LOGO TO ME.
BUT, UM, ANYHOW, I THINK THAT THEY HAVE BIG PLANS FOR THEIR 120 FIFTH, AND I'M SURE THEY PLAN FOR 125 MORE.
UM, IN 2006, A WOMAN NAMED INDRA NEWEY BECAME THE CHAIRMAN OF PEPSI.
SHE WAS THE SECOND WOMAN OF COLOR TO BECOME A CEO OF A FORTUNE 500 COMPANY.
THAT'S A PRETTY HISTORIC EVENT.
UM, INDRA IS IMPORTANT TO NEWBURN ALSO, BECAUSE IT WAS IN 2013 THAT AT HER DIRECTION, PEPSI RELOCATED THEIR ANNUAL MEETING HERE TO NEWBURN.
AND THEN, UM, UNFORTUNATELY 2019, I THINK, UH, MOST OF US, OR RATHER 2020, THE 2019 ANNUAL MEETING HAD TO BE CANCELED ON ACCOUNT OF COVID.
AND COVID HAS KEPT PEPSI IN THEIR MEETING AWAY FROM HERE, UH, SINCE THAT TIME.
BACK THEN, A PRIVATE COLLECTOR APPROACHED PEPSI ABOUT DONATING THEIR COLLECTION TO PEPSI.
UM, IT WAS VALUED AT IN EXCESS OF A MILLION DOLLARS.
UM, PEPSI ALREADY HAD A COLLECTION AT THEIR HEADQUARTERS THAT WASN'T ON DISPLAY AND WASN'T BEING USED.
PEPSI HAVING BEEN HERE IN NEW BERN FOR THEIR ANNUAL MEETING WAS FAMILIAR THIS, THEY WERE HERE BECAUSE IT'S THE BIRTHPLACE.
THEIR, UH, CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND OTHER SENIOR EXECUTIVES BECAME FAMILIAR WITH NEWBURN, FELL IN LOVE WITH IT LIKE I THINK MOST OF US HAVE.
AND THEY DECIDED WE'VE GOT THIS DONOR WHO WANTS TO GIVE US A COLLECTION.
NEWBURN, THE BIRTHPLACE OF PEPSI WOULD BE A PERFECT PLACE TO DO THAT.
UM, PEPSI WAS ALREADY REPRESENTED ON THE TRIUM PALACE COMMISSION, AND I THINK THAT THEY STARTED TALKING WITH THE PALACE ABOUT WHAT OPPORTUNITIES THERE MIGHT BE.
AND IT WAS ABOUT THAT TIME THAT SWISS BEAR BECAME INVOLVED BECAUSE ANY KIND OF DONATION LIKE THAT WAS NOT GOING TO BE GIVEN TO THE STATE.
IT WAS GOING TO BE GIVEN TO A 5 0 1
SO SWISS BEAR WAS KIND OF A PLACEHOLDER WHILE THIS DISCUSSION WAS HAD ABOUT WHAT POTENTIAL WOULD THERE BE FOR CREATING THIS MUSEUM.
UM, AND PEPSI HAD PLANNED ON HAVING AN ANNOUNCEMENT AT THEIR ANNUAL MEETING IN 2020 PRIOR TO COVID, UM, SHUTTING THAT MEETING DOWN.
AND THEY HAD HOPED TO HAVE A BIG HOOPLA AND, YOU KNOW, BRINGING CELEBRITIES AND EVERYTHING INTO TOWN TO ANNOUNCE THAT THEY WERE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT CREATING A PEPSI MUSEUM HERE IN NEWBURN THAT GOT BACKBURNERED WITH COVID.
THEY HAD ZOOM ANNUAL MEETINGS, AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN BACK YET.
UM, BUT IN, IN 2020 ALSO, THAT DONOR MADE A VISIT TO NEWBURN AND, UM, LOOKED AROUND THE TOWN BECAUSE PEPSI HAD SUGGESTED THAT NEWBURN AND, UH, A MU POTENTIAL MUSEUM HERE WOULD FIT THEIR NEEDS AND BE BENEFICIAL TO ALL PARTIES.
SO, UM, PEPSI ALSO HAS COME OUT AND SAID, AND, AND I'M QUOTING DIRECTLY FROM A PRESS RELEASE THAT PEPSICO FIRMLY SUPPORTS THE IDEA OF A MUSEUM THAT WILL CELEBRATE PEPSI IN ITS BIRTHPLACE.
SO THAT'S KIND OF THE HISTORY OF PEPSI AND HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE.
AND NOW, BRAHAM'S LEGACY, THE 5 0 1
AND, UM, IN JUNE OF 2022, THE PEPSICO FOUNDATION APPROVED A $750,000 GRANT TO BRAD'S LEGACY IN ORDER TO FURTHER THE, UM, EXPLORATION OF THIS PEPSI MUSEUM AND COVER SOME OF THE COSTS IN TRYING TO CREATE IT.
UM, ADAM'S LEGACY HAD ITS VERY FIRST BOARD MEETING IN JANUARY
[01:50:01]
OF THIS YEAR.AND, UM, IN THE LAST, UH, YEAR AND A HALF OR SO, THERE HAVE BEEN IN EXCESS OF $100,000 IN PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS TO BRAD'S LEGACY IN ADDITION TO THAT 750,000 THAT'S COME IN FROM THE PEPSI CO FOUNDATION.
SO AS THE CRIME STOPPER GUY SAID, SORRY, GUYS, UM, SAID EARLIER, I'M NOT HERE TO ASK YOU FOR MONEY.
I THINK THAT'S A MISCONCEPTION BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE HERE TO ASK YOU IS TO, UH, MAKE A GRANT APPLICATION ON BEHALF OF BRAD'S LEGACY.
THE GRANT WOULD BE THROUGH MONEY THAT WAS SET ASIDE IN THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, WHICH WAS A COVID PROGRAM THAT WAS SET UP, UM, BY PRESIDENT BIDEN IN I THINK 2021, THAT AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, OR ARC AS IT'S OFTEN REFERRED TO, UM, ALLOCATED $50 MILLION TO NORTH CAROLINA, WHICH ALLOCATED THAT FOR THESE RURAL TRANSFORMATION GRANTS.
RURAL TRANSFORMATION GRANTS ARE VERY SPECIFIC THAT THEY ARE ONLY USED FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
UM, AND THE RURAL TRANSFORMATION PART DEPENDS ON THE TIER CLASSIFICATION OF THE COUNTIES.
AND ALSO, UM, THE FACT THAT DOWNTOWN NEWBURN IS AN OPPORTUNITY ZONE IS A, A POSITIVE CHECK MARK IN THE REVIEW OF THESE APPLICATION GRANTS.
SO THE LAST, UH, BRAD'S LEGACY MADE THE REQUEST THAT THE CI CITIES MUST BE THE SPONSOR OR THE APPLICANTS, UH, 5 0 1
ONLY GOVERNMENTS CAN APPLY FOR THESE.
AND, UH, WE SENT A LETTER BACK IN MARCH OF 23 REQUESTING THAT THE CITY, UM, APPLIED FOR THIS GRANT.
AND, UM, THAT WAS ONLY ABOUT SIX WEEKS AFTER OUR VERY FIRST BOARD MEETING.
AND THE FINAL ROUND OF APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY MAY 1ST OF THIS YEAR.
SO THERE'S NOT, THERE'S A SHORT FUSE ON THIS.
UM, AND, UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF OPTIMISM ABOUT HOW OUR GRANT WILL BE RECEIVED BECAUSE IT'S VERY MUCH ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR.
I THINK WE ALL HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE IMPACT OF TRIUM PALACE, UM, WHO KNEW SPAM COULD BE SUCH A, AN ECONOMIC DRIVER, BUT, UM, THE, THE IMPACT OF THIS WOULD BE ENORMOUS.
AND I THINK THAT THE STATE RECOGNIZES THAT, UM, THE, UH, SECRETARY OF NATURAL RESOURCES WHEN THIS IDEA FIRST EMERGED IN 2019 FROM PEPSI AND TRAUM PALACE, WHO THE, THE SECRETARY WHO OVERSEES TRIAN PALACE WAS VERY IN FAVOR OF THIS.
AND IN FACT, THEIR OFFICE HELPED GENERATE THE STRUCTURE THAT HAS BEEN CREATED WITH AN OUTSIDE 5 0 1
UM, SO THIS, THE STATE IS AWARE OF THIS AND, UH, LOOK UPON VERY FAVORABLY.
THERE IS ZERO MONEY BEING ASKED FOR FROM THE CITY.
AT THIS POINT, WE ARE ASKING FOR THE CITY TO MAKE THE APPLICATION SO THAT THESE GRANT FUNDS WOULD FLOW THROUGH THE CITY, UM, TOWARD TRYING TO SECURE A SITE, A BUILDING, OR A SITE FOR THE MUSEUM.
WE FEEL LIKE THE MUSEUM LOGICALLY BELONGS IN DOWNTOWN.
DOWNTOWN IS WHERE THE ORIGINAL PEPSI FACILITIES WERE, WHERE THE PEPSI STORE NOW IN THE ORIGINAL LOCATION OF CALEB BRAHAM'S, UH, DRUG STORE, UH, IT'S CLOSE TO TRYON PALACE, A CERT OR AN ACCREDITED MUSEUM THAT OWNS ONE OF THE TWO COLLECTIONS.
NOW, THE OTHER COLLECTION IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING DONATED BY PEPSI TO THE MUSEUM.
AND, UM, IT'S ALSO CLOSE TO HOTELS, SHOPS, RESTAURANTS, DOWNTOWN, THE PLACE THAT TOURISTS ARE INTERESTED IN WALKING AROUND AND VISITING.
IN ADDITION TO PLACES LIKE FRONT PALACE, THE FIREMENS MUSEUM, AND HOPEFULLY A PEPSI MUSEUM.
UM, THIS CITY WOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE DISCUSSION, THE DECISION OF THE SITE.
THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SITES, UH, DISCUSSED, AND THERE IS NO DECISION ON THAT, THAT REALLY IS A DECISION FOR YOU ALL.
UM, AND, AND SO, UM, THE CITY WOULD HAVE VERY MUCH A VOICE IN THIS PROCESS.
UM, THE CITY WOULD HAVE NO FUTURE OBLIGATION AFTER THE GRANT.
UM, THIS REQUEST IS SIMPLY FOR THE GRANT.
ALL OF THE WORK ON THIS PROJECT
[01:55:01]
TO DATE HAS BEEN DONE BY VOLUNTEERS OR PRO BONO.THERE'S BEEN NO ONE PAID ANY MONIES UP TO THIS POINT FOR ANY WORK PRODUCT OR ANYTHING.
UM, IF WE GET THE GRANT, WE WOULD, UM, HAVE A PROCESS AND, AND HAVE RFQ FOR ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS TO SUBMIT, UH, THEIR, UH, PROPOSAL.
THAT PROCESS CAN'T BE STARTED YET BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A SITE THAT'S CONTINGENT UPON CITY'S THOUGHTS.
AND ALSO THE ARCHITECTURAL FIRM THAT MIGHT BE IDEAL WOULD DEPEND SOMEWHAT ON WHETHER IT'S NEW CONSTRUCTION ON A VACANT LOT, OR WHETHER IT'S RENOVATION OF AN ALREADY EXISTING STRUCTURE.
DIFFERENT ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS HAVE DIFFERENT STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES.
UM, BRAD'S LEGACY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FUTURE FUNDRAISING AND, UH, IN A, WITH THE GRANT MONEY FROM THE PEPSICO FOUNDATION.
AND THIS GRANT, SHOULD IT BE, UH, APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED, UH, IS NOT COVERING A HUNDRED PERCENT, BUT THERE ARE MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING PEPSICO EXECUTIVES AND FORMER EXECUTIVES, INCLUDING THE BOTTLERS OF PEPSICO, OF WHICH THERE ARE A NUMBER AROUND THE NATION, INCLUDING COLLECTORS.
I MEAN, WE HAVE SOME COLLECTORS HERE THIS EVENING WHO HAVE DRIVEN, YOU KNOW, HOURS TO GET HERE.
DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE ALL GONNA BE HERE.
UM, AND, UM, THE, UH, THE, THE IMPACT OF THE MUSEUM IN THE REPORT THAT YOU ALL RECEIVED, I THINK THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME CONFUSION.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE MUSEUM WOULD CREATE FOUR FULL-TIME JOBS AND A COUPLE OF FULL-TIME EQUIVALENTS OR, OR PART-TIME JOBS.
UM, AND THEN ON THE LAST PAGE WAS FURNISHED INFORMATION THAT CAME FROM THE, UM, CRAVEN COUNTY TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
AND THEY HAVE A PROGRAM THAT THEY CAN RUN INFORMATION THROUGH, MUCH LIKE THE AIRPORT PRESENTATION THAT THERE IS AN, UH, MAGNIFIER, UM, WHEN, WHEN TOURISTS COME TO TOWN, THEY SPEND MONEY DIRECTLY AT THE MUSEUM, WHICH WOULD PAY THOSE PEOPLE, BUT THEY ALSO BUY MEALS.
THEY VISIT, UH, STORES IN TOWN, THEY GET HOTEL ROOMS, ET CETERA.
THAT INFORMATION ON THE LAST PAGE OF THAT PRESENTATION DISCUSSED 13 FULL-TIME AND 34 PART-TIME JOBS.
UM, AND IT SAID THAT THE, THE ESTIMATE FROM, AGAIN, THE CRAVEN COUNTY TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IS THAT IT WOULD GENERATE IN EXCESS OF 6 MILLION IN INCREMENTAL SALES IN DOWNTOWN NEWBURN.
UM, SO IN CONCLUSION OF ALL THIS, UM, WE'RE ASKING YOU ALL TO MAKE APPLICATION FOR A $950,000 GRANT, WHICH WE FEEL WOULD PLANT SEED FOR AN ENORMOUS ECONOMIC ENGINE.
AND, UM, THERE, THERE'S NO FUTURE FINANCIAL COMMITMENT ON THE PART OF THE CITY.
THIS IS STRICTLY ASKING YOU TO DO THE GRANT APPLICATION.
PEPSI IS ONE OF THE TOP 10 GLOBAL FOOD COMPANIES.
I THINK, UM, IT WOULD BE TRAGIC TO NOT PURSUE THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR THE, THE CITY AND THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND THE JOBS THAT IT WOULD CREATE FOR THE CITIZENS.
UM, HAVING A SECOND ATTRACTION, I THINK QUITE LIKELY OF THE CALIBER THAT TRI PALACE IS, WOULD BE AWESOME FOR THE CITY OF NEWBURN.
AND, UM, YOU THINK THOSE PEOPLE WOULD BE GOOD TOURISTS TO HAVE FAMILIES AS WAS MENTIONED, AND THAT THEY'LL BRING THEIR DOLLARS TO NEWBURN.
SO A BUNCH OF 'EM MIGHT EVEN FLY IN AND, UM, THAT, THAT, THAT'S JUST, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, TO NOT ASK FOR THE FREE MONEY THAT THE GOVERNMENT THROUGH THEIR COVID PROGRAMS IS GRANTING.
ALDER MCKENZIE, I'M SUPPORTING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
WHAT THE INDIVIDUALS COME UP TONIGHT AND SPOKEN.
IT WAS WELL SPOKEN, BUT I LIKE TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE CITY.
WHENEVER YOU APPLY FOR A GRANT, YOU BECOME RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT MONEY, CORRECT? YES.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, YOU SAID TEARS THAT THE GRANT MONEY WILL
[02:00:01]
BE SORT OR BROKEN DOWN INTO SOME SORT OF TIERS THAT THE AREA WHAT, WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY THAT? NO, NO.I I THERE'S NO TIER TO THE GRANT MONEY.
UM, THE GRANT MONEY UP TO 950,000, THAT'S THE MAXIMUM THAT CAN BE APPLIED FOR.
THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD ASK YOU TO APPLY FOR.
HOWEVER MUCH MONEY CAME IN, I THINK THE CITY'S OBLIGATION WOULD BE FULFILLED WHEN THAT MONEY WAS SPENT.
AND THE EXPECTATION, THE HOPE WOULD BE THAT THAT MONEY WOULD BE SPENT ON A STRUCTURE TO HOUSE THE MUSEUM OR, OR THAT IT WOULD BE APPLIED TO SECURING A FACILITY.
SO ONCE THE, THE GRANT WOULD BE WRITTEN, SUBMITTED, COMES BACK AND REWRITE THE CHECK TO BRAD'S FOUNDATION, THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY WOULD GO TOWARDS? NO, NO.
UM, THE, THE MONEY WOULD GO TOWARD A, A PHYSICAL PLAN THAT WOULD BE OWNED BY THE CITY.
SO
WHAT IS THE PLAN? NO, I SAID IT WOULD GO TOWARD A PHYSICAL PLANT.
LIKE IT WOULD GO TOWARD EITHER BUILDING A NEW BUILDING ON A VACANT LOT OR TOWARDS RENOVATING AN EXISTING BUILDING THAT THE CITY MIGHT ALREADY HAVE.
THERE'S NO BE, THERE'S, THERE'S NO LOCATION THAT'S, THAT'S BEEN SELECTED OR COMMITTED.
AND THAT'S THE DISCUSSION THAT NEEDS TO BE HAD.
SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IS ONCE TO GRANT, WE ARE WRITING THE GRANT.
WHAT ARE WE WRITE? DO WE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE? WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN PLACE THAT WE'RE WRITING IT OR THERE'S MONEY AVAILABLE, CORRECT? CORRECT.
SO WHAT ARE WE WRITING IT? I MEAN, IS IT A PLAN IN PLACE? I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.
WE'RE WRITING A GRANT ASKING FOR MONEY TO SECURE A PROPERTY TO HOUSE THE MUSEUM.
SO ALDERMAN ALDER, MCKENZIE, UM, I, I THINK THE GRANT IS GONNA BE WRITTEN TO BE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO WHERE WHILE, WHILE BRANDON'S LEGACY MAY NOT HAVE AN IDEA OF WHETHER THEY'RE, WHETHER THEY'RE LOOKING AT AN INDIVIDUAL PIECE OF PROPERTY OR AN EXISTING BUILDING, THAT GRANT WILL BE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO WHERE, UM, IF THEY DO RECEIVE THIS GRANT, IF IF THE BOARD, UH, AUTHORIZES US TO WRITE IT, THEY WILL HAVE, AND THEN THEY'VE GOT SEVERAL YEARS TO WORK THROUGH THIS.
SO THEY'VE GOT TIME TO PLAN THAT IF, IF THAT IS THE CASE.
SO THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT TIED IN WITH THE GRANT.
IT WILL BE FLEXIBLE WHERE THEY CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IF THEY NEED TO.
AND, AND ALSO THE WAY THE GRANTS WORK WITH THE CITY, UM, WE WOULD NOT WRITE IF, IF WE RECEIVE THIS GRANT FOR $950,000, WE WOULD NOT TURN AROUND AND WRITE A CHECK FOR $950,000 TO BROWN LEGACY.
WE WOULD BASICALLY SERVE AS THE FIDUCIARY AGENT, AND WE WOULD BE A PASS THROUGH.
BILLS WOULD COME IN, UH, FOR WHATEVER IT WOULD BE UP TO THAT $950,000 AMOUNT.
WE WOULD, WE WOULD PAY THOSE THINGS AND WE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUBMITTING THE PAPERWORK TO THE STATE TO RECONCILE THAT.
AND, AND AFTER THAT, WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
THE, THE CITY WOULD, WOULD OWN THE PROPERTY AND BRAD'S LEGACY WOULD PLAN ON ENTERING INTO A LEASE, PRESUMABLY A DISCOUNTED LEASE, MUCH LIKE THE AIRPORT LEASES THE LAND FROM THE COUNTY, AND THEN BRAD'S LEGACY WOULD OPERATE THE MUSEUM AND PAY THE BILLS.
SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT THE PROPERTY THAT IS PURCHASED WITH THAT MONEY, WE GONNA OWN THE PROPERTY.
WHAT? I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU WOULD PURCHASE PROPERTY.
THIS CITY HASN'T SAID, AND THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROPERTIES DISCUSSED AS POTENTIAL LOCATIONS.
THE OLD FIREMAN'S MUSEUM HAS BEEN DISCUSSED.
PROPERTY ON HANCOCK STREET HAS BEEN DISCUSSED.
SOMEONE HAS THROWN OUT THE IDEA OF THE DEPOT.
NONE OF THESE HAVE BEEN DECIDED UPON.
THEY'RE ALL, THAT'S A CONVERSATION TO BE HAD.
THERE'S KIND OF A CHICKEN EGG HERE.
IT'S HARD TO COME UP WITH WHAT THE, LIKE YOU CAN'T WRITE A LEASE FOR WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW.
YOU'RE RENTING KIND OF A THING.
AND OBVIOUSLY I UNDERSTAND ONE OF THOSE IS
[02:05:01]
AN EXISTING, TWO OF THOSE WOULD BE EXISTING BUILDINGS.ONE OF THOSE IS A VACANT LAND.
SO YOU CAN'T HIRE AN ARCHITECT IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROJECT IS THAT YOU'RE HIRING THEM FOR.
SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE CITY WOULD STILL OWN THE PROPERTY, BUT IT WOULD'VE BEEN GIFTED $950,000 HOPEFULLY TO IMPROVE THE PROPERTY THAT THE CITY ALREADY OWNS.
SO IT'S THREE THINGS HERE THAT I'M HEARING.
I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M UNDERSTANDING CLEARLY THAT THE GRANT, WE OWN SOME PROPERTY, IT'S A POSSIBILITY THAT WE CAN PURCHASE SOME PROPERTY, CORRECT? CORRECT.
THEN IT'S ANOTHER PIECE OF PROPERTY.
WHICH ONE
ARE YOU FINISHED? WE DON'T PRESUME TO TELL THE ALDERMAN HOW TO SPEND THEIR, YOU KNOW, HOW TO UTILIZE ASSETS OF THE CITY.
SO WE ARE PLAYING A ROLE IN THIS.
IT'S NOT THAT I DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS HAPPEN.
I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION.
ME, I'M NOT SPEAKING FOR NO ONE ELSE BUT ME.
UM, WE HAVE A BUILDING IN PLACE.
WE ARE LOOKING AT A PIECE OF PROPERTY.
WE LOOKING AT THREE PIECES OF PROPERTY.
AND OUT OF THOSE, UH, A DECISION WILL BE MADE BASED ON THAT.
AND THEN WHERE'S THE REST OF THE MONEY GONNA COME? IF IT COMES TO THE UPFIT, UH, SIZE OF THE BUILDING, YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE BUILDING WE EXPECTED BE IN THE ABOUT SIX TO 8,000 SQUARE FOOT RANGE.
SO DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M COMING FROM? YOU'RE A BUSINESSMAN.
SO YOU KNOW, THE DECISION HAS TO BE MADE BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE, THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO PURCHASE, WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO BUY, WHAT YOU, HOW YOU'RE GONNA UPFIT IT.
I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND JOHN, THAT'S ALL.
I'M NOT TRYING TO, TO GIVE YOU A HARD TIME.
NO, I I DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GIVING ME A HARD TIME.
I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE NOT, I JUST WANT MAKE MISTAKE.
YOU KNOW, I, I I, I HEARD THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE.
WHAT EVERYBODY HAS AN INTEREST IS MY INTEREST IS THE SAME, BUT I'M THE ONE THAT'S SIGNING THE NOTE.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT, I'M THE ONE THAT HAS TO MAKE A DECISION OUT OF THE SEVEN PEOPLE ON THE BOARD, AND I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR IN WHAT I'M DOING.
WOULD IT HELP IF I PAINT TWO DIFFERENT SCENARIOS? REPEAT THAT AGAIN, PLEASE.
WOULD IT BE HELPFUL IF I TRY AND PAINT TWO DIFFERENT SCENARIOS? GO AHEAD.
SO ONE SCENARIO WOULD BE THAT THERE'S A VACANT PIECE OF LAND THAT THE CITY ALREADY OWNS.
SO NOW THE CITY OWNS A BUILDING ON A PIECE OF LAND THAT PREVIOUSLY WAS VACANT THAT WILL HAVE THE PEPSI MUSEUM MOVE IN AND GENERATE TOURISM AND TAX REVENUES FOR THE CITY.
A SECOND OPTION WOULD BE THERE'S AN EXISTING BUILDING, LET'S SAY THE FIREMANS MUSEUM.
YOU OPEN THE MUSEUM, YOU GENERATE TOURISM AND TAX REVENUES IN THE CITY OF NEWBURN.
I DISAGREE ON THAT BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW YET HOW MUCH IT'S GONNA COST TO UPFIT THAT BUILDING.
BECAUSE WE DID AN ELEVATOR THAT STARTED OUT WITH 1 MILLION.
IT COSTS 4 MILLION AND, AND I'M, AND UM, I HAD TRIED TO ADDRESS THAT IN MY PRESENTATION THAT ADAM'S LEGACY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FURTHER FUNDRAISING.
THAT COULD INCLUDE THINGS LIKE THE
[02:10:01]
PEPSICO EXECUTIVES COULD INCLUDE THINGS LIKE THE PEPSI BOTTLERS COULD INCLUDE LOCAL BUSINESSES, LOCAL CITIZENS, UM, THE COLLECTORS ORGANIZATIONS.YOU KNOW, THERE'VE BEEN A LOT OF FUNDRAISERS DONE IN NEWBURN FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT PURPOSES AND THEY'VE PRETTY MUCH ALL BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
BUT THE FUNDRAISING HASN'T STARTED IT'S PROCESSED YET.
AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO FUNDRAISE FOR SOMETHING YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT ITS GONNA BE, WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE.
UM, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU NEED TO, YOU NEED TO HAVE A PLAN MM-HMM.
SO WE ARE JUST TAKING THE MONEY THAT'S COMING IN THERE TO USE THAT AND NOT KNOWING HOW MUCH WE GOING TO NEED TO FINISH THE TOTAL PACKAGE.
WELL, WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA WHAT IT'S GONNA COST BECAUSE WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF WHAT CONSTRUCTION COSTS ARE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE'VE GOT $2 MILLION WORTH OF COLLECTION TO PUT ON DISPLAY.
WE'VE GOT A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF HOW MUCH TICKETS ARE CHARGED, UH, FOR THOSE TYPES OF EXHIBITS.
AND PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF HOW MANY GUESTS THOSE TYPES OF EXHIBITS GENERATE.
WHAT WOULD A TICKET COST? ABOUT $8.
I THINK THAT WAS IN THE PRESENTATION THAT YOU ALL GOT.
ALL MACKENZIE, I'M GONNA GET ALL IN.
BEST WE CAN ALWAYS COME BACK TO YOU, BUT SHE'S ITCHING TO ASK THE QUESTIONS, I THINK.
UM, FOSTER IN READING THE MATERIAL, I DIDN'T SEE ANYWHERE WHERE SAID THAT WITNESS GRANT, WILL THERE BE A MATCH REQUIRED BY THE CITY, THERE'S BEEN MATCH REQUIRED FOR THIS NO MATCH REQUIRED.
UM, SO WHO'S GONNA, WHO'S WRITING THIS GRANT? IS THERE, IS THERE, IS IT BEING WRITTEN IN HOUSE OR ARE WE HIRING A GRANT WRITER? I, IF THE BOARD AUTHORIZES THIS, WE WOULD WORK WITH OUR GRANT WRITER TO DO THIS.
THERE WOULD BE A, AN NOAL FEE FOR TO WRITE THAT.
SO WE WOULD HAVE TO HIRE IN A GRANT WRITER? YES, WE WOULD USE OUR GRANT WRITER.
AND WHAT IS THAT NORMAL FEE? DO YOU, IS IT A PERCENTAGE OR SOMETHING? IT'S, IT'S AN HOURLY RATE THAT SHE CHARGES FOR THAT.
SO IT, IT CAN BE A COUPLE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO WRITE THE GRANT.
UM, YOU KNOW, BY NO MEANS I AM, I, UM, NOT WANTING TO SEE A PEPSI MUSEUM COME TO NEWBURN.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE WANNA MOVE OUR CITY FORWARD.
UM, I WANT TO SEE OUR, OUR CITY THRIVE, AND I THINK THE PEPSI MUSEUM WILL BE A GREAT ATTRACTION TO NEWBURN.
BUT, UM, YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT YOU SAID RIGHT NOW THAT THERE'S, UM,
YOU'RE NOT MAKING ANY LEGAL COMMITMENT TO ANY FUTURE FUNDING.
BUT, BUT SEE, WHEN THE, WE, WE AS A CITY WOULD OWN THAT BUILDING.
SO WHO'S GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE UPKEEP? THE MAINTENANCE? YEAH.
IS, IS THE CITY, IS THAT GONNA BE AN EXPENSE ON THE CITY? IS THAT GONNA COME FROM PEPSICO? ARE YOU GONNA TAKE UP THOSE? PEPSICO IS NOT A PARTY TO THIS.
WELL, AND THIS IS PART OF THE LEASE TERMS THAT WOULD BE NEGOTIATED.
I WOULD ENVISION THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CITY WOULD ASK THE BRAHAM'S LEGACY TO HANDLE THE MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP ON THE PROPERTY.
THAT WOULD BE PRETTY STANDARD.
ANOTHER QUESTION, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE MATERIAL THAT I READ, I, I SEE THAT, UM, IT'S SAYING IT'S, IT'S A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
UM, IT'S GONNA BE SOME ECONOMIC INCENTIVES FOR THE FIVE POINTS AREA.
SO I CAN'T SEE WHERE, HOW IS THAT GONNA FACTOR IN? AND YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS, BUT I READ THIS IN THE MATERIAL.
SO HOW IS THAT GONNA FACTOR IN FOR THE FIVE POINTS AREA? THAT THERE'S GONNA BE SOME INCENTIVES FROM THIS MUSEUM GOING TO THE FIVE POINTS AREA? WELL, I, I, IS IT JUST GONNA BE, WELL, THOSE FIVE OR SIX BLOCKS THAT'S GOING DOWN PILOT STREET, OR IS THIS GONNA BE BROAD STREET, QUEEN STREET, THE FIVE POINTS AREA? WELL, AGAIN, NO LOCATION HAS BEEN SELECTED AT THIS POINT.
[02:15:01]
BUT I THINK I WOULD JUST POINT OUT THAT ANYTHING THAT IS GOOD FOR NEWBURN IS GOOD FOR ALL OF THE DISTRICTS, I WOULD ARGUE.NOW IN REFERENCE TO THIS GRANT, IT SAYS IF, UH, RURAL TRANSFORMATION GRANT.
AND IT INCLUDES THE FIVE POINTS AREA.
SO HOW IS THAT GONNA BE SOME INCENTIVES COMING FROM THIS MUSEUM THAT'S GONNA BE KICKED BACK? OR HOW IS IT GONNA BE USED WITHIN THE FIVE POINTS AREA? I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE REFERENCE.
WHAT FIVE POINTS? DO YOU KNOW THAT QUESTION? ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION? NO, MA'AM.
SO WHY WOULD THEY PUT THE FIVE POINTS AREA WITHIN THIS GRANT? UH, I DON'T KNOW.
WE WOULD'VE TO, WOULD'VE TO LOOK AT THAT INFORMATION SAYING, SEE WHAT YOU'RE REFERENCING.
I, UM, I, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE SENTENCE IS THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE MUSEUM.
WELL, LET'S JUST MOVE FORWARD HERE.
WE ARE HAVING TOURISTS COME IN.
WE'RE MAKING MONEY FROM THE MUSEUM.
SO THIS MONIES IS GOING INTO, YOU ARE RENTING THE BUILDING FROM THE CITY FOR OUR, WHAT? I'LL SAY A DOLLAR
SO THEN FROM THE REVENUES THAT THE MUSEUM BRINGS IN, WHAT KIND OF INCENTIVE IS IT GONNA GIVE TO THE COMMON TAXPAYER, NOT JUST DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES, RESTAURANT BARS, RETAILS, WHAT IS IT GONNA GIVE BACK TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY? WELL, SO, SO THE INCENTIVE FOR ALL OF NEW BERN IS THAT YOU HAVE GUESTS WHO COME TO TOWN.
I THINK IT WAS MENTIONED THAT IT'S OVER $10 PER NIGHT PER GUEST IS PAID FROM THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX THAT GOES INTO THE CITY'S COFFERS.
SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT PROVIDING SERVICES TO CITIZENS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THOSE SERVICES ARE PAID FOR IN PART FROM PROPERTY TAXES AND IN PART FROM SALES TAXES AND IN PART FROM OCCUPANCY TAXES.
SO IT'S, IT'S, TO ME, IT'S A CASE OF ARISING TIDE LIFTS ALL SHIPS.
I, I'M, I'M NOT GOING, I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO DIVE DEEPER INTO THAT BECAUSE I SEE THE DOWNTOWN AREA FOR, AS THE REVENUES CONCERNED, IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM INCENTIVES THAT'S GONNA BE POURED OUT TO THE CITIZENS, THE TAXPAYERS AND CITIZENS OF THIS CITY.
BUT SO IS THIS, WOULD THIS, SINCE YOU'RE 5 0 1
SO THEN THERE'S, THERE AGAIN, WHAT TAX BASE IS THAT GONNA BRING TO THE CITY? WELL, SALES, THE CITY, JUST THE SALES TAX.
AND THE CITY WILL OWN THE MUSEUM.
SALES TAX AND, AND TAXES ON MEALS AND TOURISTS SPENDS AND RETAIL SHOPS AND IN HOTELS.
UM, YOU, JOHN MIND, I WANT, I WANNA MAKE A STATE, EXCUSE IT, SIR, I'M NOT FINISHED YET, MAYOR, EXCUSE ME.
UM, THIS IS JUST QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE TO ASK OKAY.
THAT I WANTED SOME ANSWERS TO IT, BECAUSE I DON'T, IN THE FUTURE, IF THE CITY WRITES THIS GRANT OF $950,000, WHAT KIND, WHAT, WHAT RESPONSIBILITY IS ALL THE MCKENZIE WAS SAYING AS WELL, WHAT KIND OF RESPONSIBILITY IS THIS WILL THE CITY HAVE? IF YOU APPLY FOR THIS GRANT AND THIS GRANT DON'T COME THROUGH, IT'S JUST KNOCKED OUT OF THE WATERS.
THERE'S NO RESPONSIBILITY ON THE CITY WHAT'S CORRECT.
WE WROTE THE GRANT, WE PAID FOR THE GRANT.
THAT'S ALL, THAT'S ALL I HAVE, SIR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
AND, AND BY, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, BY NO MEANS I'M NOT WANTING TO SEE THIS PEPSI MUSEUM COME TO THE CITY, BECAUSE WHEN IT WAS FIRST TALKED ABOUT WITH MEMBERS OF THE PREVIOUS BOARD, I WAS ALL FOR IT.
UM, BUT I JUST HAD SOME QUES I HAVE MORE OTHER QUESTIONS, BUT I JUST DON'T THINK THAT RIGHT NOW IS EVEN RELEVANT TO ASK.
UM, THE AIRPORT THAT JUST MADE A PRESENTATION, THE AIRPORT DOES NOT SIT WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.
SO FROM A PROPERTY TAX STANDPOINT, WE DON'T GET ANY PROPERTY TAX OFF THE AIRPORT, BUT I THINK WE WOULD ALL AGREE THAT THE AIRPORT CERTAINLY HAS A POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE CITY OF NEWBURN, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT SITTING IN THE CITY OF NEWBURN.
CITY OF NEWBURN SHARES THAT SALES TAX REVENUE THROUGHOUT, UH, THE COUNTY OF CRAVING.
THAT'S HOW IT GETS DISTRIBUTED.
SO, UM, I, I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT AND IT'S, IT'S WELL TAKEN.
UH, BUT AS FAR AS THE, I THINK YOU HAD, YOU WERE INFERRING THAT THERE
[02:20:01]
WOULDN'T BE ANY PROPERTY TAX REVENUE BECAUSE IT WAS TAX EXEMPT, BUT WE WOULD OWN THE BUILDING ANYWAY, SO THERE WOULDN'T BE PROPER TAX ANYWAY, EVEN IF THE BRAD'S LEGACY WAS NOT TAX EXEMPT.UH, MR. HARRELSON, I, I KNOW I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THIS BOARD, BUT I WANT TO APOLOGIZE PERSONALLY FOR THIS BOARD TURNING YOU AWAY TWO WEEKS AGO, UH, WHEN WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM YOU AND HAVE THIS DISCUSSION, UH, I WAS NOT UPSET THAT THE DECISION WAS POSTPONED, BUT I WANT TO GO ON RECORD AS HAVING SAID THAT THIS BOARD NEEDS TO PRESENT AS MUCH INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC AS WE CAN, AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.
AND SO ALL OF THIS CONVERSATION COULD HAVE BEEN HAD TWO WEEKS AGO, AND THEN PEOPLE COULD HAVE SUBMITTED THEIR COMMENTS AND THEIR QUESTIONS TO US, BUT INSTEAD, WE'VE WASTED TWO WEEKS.
UH, SO I JUST WANT TO GO ON RECORD AND HAVE YOU SENT THAT? THANK YOU, UH, MARY? YES, MA'AM.
BUT IN THE PAST, THIS BOARD, WELL, NOT THIS BOARD, THE PRIOR BOARDS AND BOARDS BEFORE THAT, THERE'S BEEN NUMEROUS TIME PRESENTATIONS.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COME FORWARD, BUT IT WAS DELAYED OR POSTPONED OR PUT OFF.
SO IT'S, THIS IS NOT THE, MAYBE THE FIRST TIME THIS BOARD.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF.
AND, AND LIKE I SAID, I DON'T HAVE PROBLEMS. IT HAS BEEN POSTPONING THE DECISION.
BUT THE FACT THAT WE'RE ASKING A LOT OF HARD QUESTIONS TONIGHT, WE COULD HAVE HAD THAT DISCUSSION TWO WEEKS AGO.
WELL, MAYBE WE, AS SOME MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD, FELT LIKE AT THE TIME, THAT WASN'T WHAT WE WANTED TO DO.
THAT'S WHY WE ASKED FOR A POSTPONEMENT TO ANOTHER DATE.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TONIGHT.
SO JOHN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, I, TOO, FOR THE RECORD, WAS KIND OF DISAPPOINTED THAT WE HAD PEOPLE FROM THE PEPSI COLLECTORS TO TRAVEL VERY LONG WAYS TO GET HERE, JUST TO BE TURNED AWAY AND DELAYED FOR TWO WEEKS WHEN WE WAS GONNA DO NOTHING OTHER THAN DO A PRESENTATION JUST LIKE YOU HAVE DONE TONIGHT, TO TELL US WHAT THE, UH, THE, UM, THE ADAM'S LEGACY WOULD BE ABOUT.
I SIT HERE TONIGHT AND I LISTEN TO PROBABLY CLOSE TO 20, MAYBE 30 PEOPLE COME UP AND SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS MUSEUM.
I NEVER HEARD THE FIRST PERSON COME UP AND SPEAK IN OPPOSITION OF THIS MUSEUM.
I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL THING.
I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE LOCATED IN OUR DOWNTOWN DISTRICT.
UH, I THINK IT'S GOING TO HELP THE TRAUM PALACE.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO HELP THE FIREMAN'S MUSEUM, UH, THE CIVIL WAR MUSEUM THAT THE PALACES HAS.
I JUST THINK IT'S GOING TO BE WONDERFUL.
I MEAN, IF WE CAN GET, I CAN'T REMEMBER HOW MANY THOUSAND VISITORS AT THE SPAM MUSEUM.
UH, AND WE CERTAINLY CAN GET THE SAME AMOUNT IN OUR PEPSI MUSEUMS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE NUMBER OF COLLECTORS THAT SHOWED UP TONIGHT THAT SOME OF 'EM DROVE FOUR HOURS TO GET HERE.
YOU KNOW? UH, JUST OUTTA CURIOSITY, UM, MAN, I JUST WANTED TO ASK, HOW MANY, DO THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF, HOW MANY ARE IN THE CLUB IN THE COLLECTOR'S CLUB? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA? IT'S 500, 500 ALL OVER.
SO, AND I'M SURE ALL 500 OF THOSE WILL BE HERE ON THE, WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF THIS PLACE OPENING UP.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT BEING SAID, THIS IS, THIS IS STILL GOING TO BE ABLE TO OPEN UP FOR DISCUSSION, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SU THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR A RULE TRANSPORATION GRANT ON BEHALF OF ADAM'S LEGACY.
SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
WE STILL HAVE NOT MADE OUR ROUNDS FOR ALL OF THE ALDERMEN.
YOU STILL HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS IT? YES, SIR.
SINCE WE'RE GOING ON RECORD TONIGHT, I'D LIKE TO GO ON RECORD AS THE PERSON WHO MADE THE MOTION.
WHEN I APPROACHED THE DI THERE WAS AN UPDATED, UH, PLAN THAT WAS PRESENTED THAT I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO READ.
IT WAS AT THE BE ALMOST TIME FOR THE MEETING TO BEGIN.
I CANNOT MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION TO REPRESENT THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY WITHOUT HAVING INFORMATION.
SO WHEN WE, EVERY TIME WE MENTION THE TERM CITY, WE'RE TALKING OVER 31,000 CITIZENS.
AND SO THOSE CITIZENS MUST BE REPRESENTED IN OUR DECISIONS.
[02:25:01]
IT GO ON RECORD.ALSO, THAT I BELIEVE THAT, UM, THE PEPSI MUSEUM WOULD BE A WONDERFUL ADDITION TO OUR CITY.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO SAY, EXCUSE ME, TO SAY THAT, UH, SPECIFICALLY I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF.
I'M NOT HERE TONIGHT TO SAY THAT IT IS NOT AN IMPORTANT LEGACY TO NEW BERN BECAUSE IT IS, AND I WAS TOTALLY IN FAVOR OF THE PEPSI MUSEUM.
BUT WHAT I WAS NOT IN FAVOR OF IS NOT HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ THE DOCUMENT THAT WAS SET BEFORE ME.
THAT WOULD BE A DISSERVICE TO MYSELF AS AN ALDERMAN, AS WELL AS THE DISSERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF OUR CITY.
AGAIN, THE INFORMATION WAS IMPORTANT.
EVEN THOUGH THE PRESENTATION MIGHT HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE PREVIOUS MEETING, I STILL NEEDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ THE DOCUMENTS, TO LOOK AT THE INFORMATION.
AND I BELIEVE THAT EVERY ALDERMAN DESERVES THE RIGHT TO DO SO, SO THAT WE CAN MAKE AN DECISION.
AGAIN, WE REPRESENT OVER 31,000 CITIZENS, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY VOICE HAS VALUE AND THAT EVERY VOICE HAS HEARD IS HEARD.
AND SO IN LIGHT OF THAT, I STILL HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
I WANT TO REFER BACK TO A QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED.
YOU WERE SAYING, UH, MR. HARRISON, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
YOU WERE SAYING THAT YOU WERE NOT AWARE OF THE, UH, FIVE POINTS BEING A PART OR WHERE IT WAS MENTIONED IN THE PROJECT SUMMARY.
IT'S MENTIONED ON PAGE THREE IN THE PROJECT SUMMARY.
IT'S MENTIONED ON PAGE FIVE ALSO IN THE PROJECT SUMMARY.
AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN QUESTIONS THAT I HAD, AGAIN, WAS WITH THE FIVE POINTS AND THE PROJECTED 50 MILLION REVENUE THAT WAS SPOKEN OF.
IT'S NOT IN THIS UPDATED VERSION, BUT IT WAS IN THE DOCUMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED LAST WEEK, THAT THERE WAS A PROJECTION OF $50,000 IN REVENUE THAT WILL COME INTO OUR CITY ANNUALLY.
AND AGAIN, MY QUESTION STILL REMAINS, HOW DOES THAT TRIPLE DOWN TO THE FIVE POINTS COMMUNITY? AND I KNOW YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT TONIGHT.
YOU SAID THAT YOU WEREN'T AWARE OF IT, BUT THAT IS A, A, A VERY POINTED QUESTION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ANSWERED.
THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO ASK EQUALLY, SO, UH, LAST, IN OUR LAST MEETING, WE HAD A PRESENTATION MADE BY THE JUNETEENTH COMMITTEE, AND THEY ALSO MADE MENTION OF, UH, ECONOMIC IMPACT.
THOUGH IT MIGHT BE ON A MUCH, MUCH SMALLER SCALE THAN WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, BUT STILL, VISITORS COME TO OUR CITY AND, UH, THEY ARE SCHEDULED AGAIN TO HAVE AN EVENT IN THE FIVE POINTS COMMUNITY.
MY QUESTION IS TONIGHT, HAS THERE BEEN ANY COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE SWISS BAY AND, UH, THE JUNETEENTH COMMITTEE? HAS THERE BEEN ANY COLLABORATION IN WORKING TOGETHER? BEING THAT WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE WITH THE SAME CAUSE TO PROVIDE, UM, ECONOMIC IMPACT IN OUR CITY, NO MATTER WHETHER IT'S A LARGE SCALE OR A SMALL SCALE, I'M UNAWARE OF ANY, UH, COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THOSE TWO ORGANIZATIONS AT THIS TIME.
I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO, TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE JUNETEENTH COMMITTEE.
UM, TWO YEARS AGO AFTER THE FIRST JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION, UM, THERE WAS SOME COMMUNICATION, UM, ASKING FOR SOME ASSISTANCE.
UM, NOT RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT, BUT MAYBE IN, IN THE FALL OF THE YEAR IN TERMS OF, UM, HELPING THEM TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM TO SELL BANNERS.
AND AT THAT POINT, IT WAS LEFT THAT THEY WOULD GET BACK TO, TO ME AT, UM, FOR, FOR THAT ASSISTANCE.
AND I HAD NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM THEM.
I UNDERSTAND HOW BUSY YOU GET WHEN YOU'RE PUTTING ON, UM, SOME SORT OF A, OF AN EVENT LIKE THAT.
SO, UM, I DIDN'T REALLY THINK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT, BUT MORE THAN HAPPY TO ASSIST IF THAT IS WHAT THE ORGANIZ ORGANIZERS OF JUNETEENTH WOULD, UM, LIKE TO HAPPEN.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, MS. LYNN.
YOU KNOW, UM, THE TWO OF US SIT AT THE TABLE ORDER.
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MOTION SPECIAL MUSEUM.
WE'RE GETTING READY TO TALK ABOUT JUNETEENTH IN A FEW MINUTES.
I'M DONE WITH THE JUNETEENTH, SIR, BUT WE SAT AT THE TABLE.
MS. LYNN, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
AND WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS.
AND I KNOW YOU REFLECT BACK ON THOSE MEETINGS.
[02:30:01]
AND SO I JUST THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT ALL VOICES ARE HEARD AND THAT ALL OF US HAVE INPUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE PEPSI MUSEUM.AGAIN, WHEN YOU MENTIONED CITY, WE'RE TALKING 31,000 CITIZENS, AND I THANK YOU MR. HARRISON, FOR SAYING, TELLING US HOW THE ECONOMIC TRICKLE DOWN WOULD COME AND WHERE WE WOULD GET OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
I APPRECIATE THAT TOO, BUT THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
OKAY, MAYOR, LET ME FLIP MY PAGE.
OKAY, JOHN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
COMING THE PRESENTATION, I'D JUST LIKE TO RUN THROUGH, UM, SOME, SOME BASICS VERY QUICKLY AND THEN ALSO JUST ADDRESS SOME QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED AT THIS POINT IN TIME, AS YOU STATED.
UM, ALL THAT IS BEING ASKED OF THE CITY IS THAT WE APPROVED THE SUBMISSION OF THE APPLICATION FOR THE RURAL TRANSPORTATION GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $950,000 AT THIS POINT, ASSUMING THAT THAT ACTION IS TAKEN, UH, WE HAVE NO IDEA AT THIS POINT WHETHER THE CITY WOULD RECEIVE 950,000 OR SOMETHING LESS THAN THAT.
BUT LET'S ASSUME THAT IT'S 950,000 THAT, UH, WE RECEIVE.
IT'S YOUR POSITION AS, AS CHAIRMAN OF BRAD'S LEGACY, THAT THAT WOULD BE THE CONTRIBUTION MADE BY THE CITY.
IN ADDITION TO, UM, WORKING TO IDENTIFY A LOCATION FOR A PEPSI MUSEUM WITH THERE, THERE ARE SOME CITY OWNED LOTS THAT COULD BE USED.
UM, THE CITY HAS THE OLD FIREMAN'S MUSEUM, SO WE OWN THE PROPERTY AND WE OWN THE BUILDING.
THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT IF THAT SITE WERE CHOSEN, THEN THE GRANT MONEY WOULD BE USED TO, UH, IMPROVE THE BUILDING TO BRING IT UP TO A STATE-OF-THE-ART STANDARD FOR A MUSEUM, THE POSSIBILITY EXCESS THAT THAT GRANT MONEY COULD BE USED TO PURCHASE ANOTHER PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT IS CURRENTLY PRIVATELY HELD.
AND TO THEN, TO WHATEVER EXTENT WE COULD UTILIZE THAT FUNDING TO PROVIDE UPGRADES TO AN EXISTING BUILDING, AGAIN, NOT CITY OWNED, BUT PRIVATELY OWNED, UM, TO UPGRADE THAT.
THE POINT BEING THAT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THERE WOULD BE NO TAXPAYER REQUEST OR NO FUNDING REQUEST FOR THE CITIZENS OF NEWBURN TO PAY FOR ANYTHING TOWARDS THIS MUSEUM.
IS THAT CORRECT? NOT AT THIS TIME, NO.
DOESN'T MEAN THAT AT SOME FUTURE DATE YOU, YOU'D BE COMING BACK AND MAYBE MAKING REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING, BUT AT THIS POINT IN TIME YOU'RE NOT ASKING FOR THAT? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO LET'S ASSUME THAT THE LOCATION FOR THE MUSEUM, UM, IS A LOCATION THAT IS OWNED BY THE CITY AND, AND WHETHER THERE'S A BUILDING ON IT OR WHETHER THE GRANT MONEY WOULD BE PUT TOWARDS A BUILDING, UM, THAT PROPERTY WOULD END UP BEING TAX EXEMPT BECAUSE IT IS OWNED BY THE CITY AND WE DON'T PAY TAXES TO OURSELVES.
SO IT IS A TAX EXEMPT PROPERTY.
THERE WOULD BE A LEASE THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE DRAWN UP THAT WOULD BE ENTERED INTO BETWEEN THE CITY AND BRAHAM'S LEGACY FOUNDATION.
UM, THAT LEASE AGREEMENT WOULD ADDRESS A WHOLE HOST OF ISSUES.
UM, ONE BEING WHAT THE LEASE COST WOULD BE TO BRAHAM'S LEGACY, UM, FOR, TO UTILIZE A CITY OWNED PROPERTY AND BUILDING.
I WOULD ASSUME THAT BRAD'S LEGACY WOULD BE LOOKING FOR A DOLLAR A YEAR.
IF I WERE IN YOUR SHOES, I'D BE ASKING FOR A DOLLAR A YEAR LEASE.
DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE CITY WOULD GRAB THAT, BUT I WOULD PRESUME THAT THAT'S WHAT YOUR REQUEST WOULD ULTIMATELY BE.
THE LEASE AGREEMENT WOULD ALSO ADDRESS
[02:35:01]
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP AND REPAIR OF THE BUILDING AND THE LAND.AND PRESUMABLY, UM, WHATEVER COST THAT IS WOULD BE BRADHAM LA BRAHAM'S LEGACY.
I WOULD ASSUME IT'D BE BRAD'S LEGACY.
I WOULD ASSUME IT WOULD BE BRAD'S, BUT AS YOU SAID, THAT WOULD BE NEGOTIATED IN THE LEASE.
I WOULD ASSUME THAT THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE ADDRESSED IN THE LEASE, CORRECT.
ANY UTILITY COSTS, INSURANCE COSTS FOR THE OPERATION OF, AGAIN, IT WOULD BE ADDRESSED IN THE LEASE AGREEMENT.
AND THAT WOULD BE PRESUMABLY BE BRAD'S LEGACY WOULD COVER THOSE COSTS AS WELL, NOT THE CITY, PRESUMABLY? YES, IN, IN INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED PREVIOUSLY.
UH, AND, AND THIS IS WHERE I THINK SOME OF THE CONFUSION CAME IN.
IT IDENTIFIED BRAD'S LEGACY BOARD, UM, AND SWISS BAYER, UH, BEING INVOLVED, UM, IN THIS EFFORT.
UM, SPECIFICALLY IT HAD SWISS BAYER IDENTIFIED AS THE FIDUCIARY AGENT THAT THAT INFORMATION, UM, WAS SUBSEQUENTLY A REVISED IN AN UPDATED, UM, DOCUMENT THAT WE RECEIVED.
I'D JUST LIKE FOR CLARIFICATION THAT BRAD'S LEGACY WOULD BE THE FIDUCIARY AGENT FOR THE MUSEUM.
SWISS BEAR WAS, SWISS BEAR WOULD'VE NO INVOLVEMENT IN THAT WHATSOEVER.
THEY WERE, THEY WERE A, A PLACEHOLDER, IF YOU WILL, UNTIL BRAD'S LEGACY WAS CREATED.
AND SOMETIMES CREATING 5 0 1
THEY'RE CLOSELY SCRUTINIZED BECAUSE OF A HISTORY OF THE PEOPLE ABUSING THEM.
AND THE EARLIER INFORMATION ALSO IDENTIFIED, UH, SWISS BAYER AS TAKING A ROLE IN THE, UM, RAISING OF, OF PRIVATE FUNDS, IF YOU WILL, FROM PRIVATE DONORS, FROM FOUNDATIONS.
UM, BUT IN THE UPDATED DOCUMENT THAT WE RECEIVED, UM, IT HAS BRAHAM'S LEGACY BOARD TAKING ON THAT ROLE.
SO I'D JUST, AGAIN, JUST LIKE TO CLARIFY, UM, IS THAT THE ROLE THAT BRAHAM'S LEGACY WOULD BE INVOLVED IN? BRAD'S LEGACY WOULD DEFINITELY BE INVOLVED IN THAT AND WOULD BE THE POINT OF THE SPHERE ON FUNDRAISING.
HAVING SAID THAT, SWISS BAYER HAS HISTORICALLY GOTTEN BEHIND, UH, ALL PROJECTS THAT ARE ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO DOWNTOWN NEWBURN.
AND IT'S WITH, IF, IF, IF THE MUSEUM WERE TO BE WITHIN THE FOOTPRINT OF SWISS BAY, I WOULD ASSUME THAT THEY WOULD BE COOPERATIVE IN FUNDRAISING, BUT THAT WOULD NOT BE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.
AND, AND, AND AGAIN, I, I DON'T SEE ANY PROBLEM WITH SWISS BAY WORKING DIRECTLY WITH BRAD'S LEGACY BOARD IN THAT EFFORT.
I THINK IT WOULD BE SMART TO DO THAT, BUT, UH, I JUST, AGAIN, IT WAS BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS INFORMATION HAD SOME SET OF INFORMATION IN IT.
UM, AND THAT WAS CHANGED IN THE, THE LATEST DOCUMENT.
SO THE, THE, THE FIRST ROUND OF THE DOCUMENT THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED WAS, UH, OUTDATED AND THAT THAT DOCUMENT WAS NOT UP TO DATE WITH THE FORMATION AND THE INITIAL FOUNDING MEETING, IF YOU WILL, OF BRAD'S LEGACY.
IT ALSO CONTAINED ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PAGE, UM, ALDERMAN ROYAL, SOME NUMBERS THAT HAD BEEN ERRONEOUS THAT CAME FROM THE COMPUTER PROGRAM USED BY THE CRAVEN TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT.
SO THEY HAD BEEN SOME EITHER DATA ENTRY ERRORS OR A PROBLEM WITH THE PROGRAM.
AND WHEN THAT WAS DISCOVERED, THAT WAS CORRECTED.
SO THE 50 MILLION THAT YOU WERE REFERRING TO WAS A MISTAKE.
AND THE REASON BEFORE THE UPDATE WAS TO CORRECT THAT, AND THAT WAS INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED TO US.
SO IS THERE ANOTHER NUMBER? IT'S YOUR LATEST VERSION HAS THE CORRECT NUMBER.
TO DATE, UH, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, UM, PEPSICO FOUNDATION IS THE PHILANTHROPIC ARM OF THE PEPSI ORGANIZATION.
SO BRAD'S LEGACY HAS RECEIVED A COMMITMENT OF $750,000 FROM THE PEPSICO FOUNDATION? CORRECT.
UH, AND THAT MONEY WILL BE USED TO
[02:40:02]
PAY FOR ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES IN THE DESIGN OF A BUILDING, UM, OR IF AN EXISTING BUILDING IS SELECTED, THEN IN THE RETROFITTING OF THAT BUILDING TO MEET, UM, A MUSEUM DESIGN STANDARDS, YES.THAT MONEY IS AVAILABLE FOR, UM, LEGAL, ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE, UH, BROAD RANGE THINGS.
AND THEN THERE WOULD BE A SECOND FIRM BROUGHT IN TO ACTUALLY DO THE, UH, DESIGNING OF THE DISPLAYS.
THERE ARE TWO VERY DISTINCT THINGS, ARCHITECTS AND, AND I MENTIONED EARLIER ALSO THAT SOME ARCHITECTS ARE BETTER AT CREATING, UH, NEW STRUCTURES.
AND SOME ARCHITECTS HAVE MADE A CAREER OUT OF RENOVATING EXISTING STRUCTURES.
SO THERE WOULD BE AN ARCHITECT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PHYSICAL BUILDING.
AND THEN THERE ARE COMPANIES THAT SPECIALIZE IN THE CREATION OF EXHIBITS.
UM, AND SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU GO TO TRYON PALACE AND LOOK AT THE EXHIBITS THAT THEY HAVE ON, SAY, UM, SHIFTS STORES, HOW THEY CREATED TURPENTINE AND TAR AND THINGS LIKE THAT BACK IN THE 18TH CENTURY, YOU WILL SEE INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS, ET CETERA.
THOSE WERE NOT DESIGNED BY THE ARCHITECTS OF THE BUILDING.
THERE ARE FIRMS THAT SPECIALIZE IN THAT, AND MUCH OF THE INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING WOULD ACTUALLY FALL UNDER THE EXHIBIT, UH, UMBRELLA RATHER THAN THE ARCHITECT'S UMBRELLA.
PART OF THE OVERALL CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS THAT WHILE THE PHILANTHROPIC ARM OF PEPSI HAS COMMITTED $750,000 TOWARDS THIS EFFORT, THE PARENT COMPANY HAS YET TO COMMIT ANYTHING OTHER THAN A DESIRE TO SEE A MUSEUM.
SO I WOULD STRONGLY URGE, IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE THAT AN EFFORT BE MADE TO GET THE PARENT COMPANY TO FINANCIALLY CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THIS PROJECT.
UM, BECAUSE THE COST TO BUILD A STATE-OF-THE-ART MUSEUM, I, I SUSPECT IS GOING TO BE VERY HIGH, ESPECIALLY IN THIS TIME OF INFLATIONARY, UH, COST INCREASES FOR GENERAL CONSTRUCTION, LET ALONE A VERY SPECIALIZED, UH, STATE-OF-THE-ART MUSEUM FACILITY.
SO IT, IT IS GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF MONEY, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THE PARIS COMPANY WOULD STEP FORWARD AND, AND COMMIT A SIZEABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY TOWARDS THIS PROJECT.
BUT THAT WOULD BE UP TO YOURSELF AND POTENTIALLY SWISS BEAR TO TRY TO CONVINCE HIM OF THAT.
UM, ANY, AGAIN, LOOKING FORWARD, ANY, ANY STAFF, UM, WOULD BE EMPLOYEES UNDER BRAD'S LEGACY BOARD, NOT THE CITY.
UM, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS THAT ALDERMAN MCKENZIE RECEIVED FROM A RESIDENT IN HIS, IN HIS WORDS.
UM, I THINK A NUMBER OF THOSE ISSUES, UM, HAVE ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED.
UH, OTA, MCKENZIE, I DON'T KNOW.
WERE YOU SATISFIED THAT THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE PROVIDED TO YOU PRETTY MUCH HAVE BEEN PRETTY MUCH ADDRESSED TONIGHT? I'M OKAY.
YOU'RE VERY KIND WITH YOUR WORDS.
UH, ONE LAST, UH, UH, QUESTION THAT I HAVE OR WITH JUST A REQUEST, UM, UH, FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY, UM, AND AGAIN, THIS IS JUST LOOKING FORWARD, UM, THE MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER SIT ON THE BRADHAM LEGACY BOARD AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CITY, GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE MAYOR IS GOING TO BE VOTING ON ISSUES I E VOTING ON THE, UM, SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION TRANSFORMATION GRANT APPLICATION, AND POTENTIALLY IN THE FUTURE, ALSO MAKING VOTING ON, ON DECISIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE, UH, REGARDING A PEPSI MUSEUM.
IS THERE ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST THAT EXISTS SINCE HE IS SITTING ON THE BRAD LEGACY BOARD WHO ARE ULTIMATELY GOING TO
[02:45:01]
BE COMING BACK TO THE CITY, MAKING REQUESTS AND THEN BEING IN A POSITION OF NEEDING TO VOTE ON SOME OF THOSE REQUESTS? POTENTIALLY NOT TONIGHT AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT MAKING ANY ALLOCATION OF CITY FUNDS TO AN ENTITY THAT HE SERVES ON.BUT IN THEORY, GOING FORWARD, IT COULD BE AND SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF FOR SURE.
SO THEY WILL BE, IF THOSE ISSUES ARISE, THEY WILL BE ADDRESSED AT THAT POINT.
LIKE EACH OF YOU SERVE ON VARIOUS BOARDS.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE ALWAYS MONITORING WHETHER YOU'RE SITTING ON A NONPROFIT AND ALLOCATING YOURSELF THE BOARD THAT YOU REPRESENT MONIES.
THAT'S WHAT PREVENTS CONFLICT.
JUST, I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR, WHEN HE SAYS CONFLICT OF INTEREST, HE'S TALKING ABOUT CONFLICT OF INTEREST FROM SITTING ON A NONPROFIT BOARD, NOT A PERSONAL CONFLICT OF NOT INTEREST.
I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR THAT CORRECT.
AND, AND THE FACT THAT THE CITY MANAGER ALSO SITS ON THE, THE GRALAND LEGACY BOARD, NO ISSUE THERE? NO, SIR.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ASTOR.
AND I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU.
I, I TRULY IN MY HEART OF HEARTS, BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MONUMENTAL DECISION THAT WILL PROVE SPECTACULAR AND BRIGHT FOR THIS CITY.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR VOTE.
[14. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving a Memorandum of Understanding and Cost Reimbursement Agreement with the FBI Taskforce.]
ITEM NUMBER 14.CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION OF PROVING A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CALLS REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE FBI TASK FORCE.
MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO ASK CHIEF GALL COME UP AND MAKE THIS PRESENTATION.
OUR ENFORCEMENT STRATEGY IS TO ADDRESS VIOLENCE IN THE PREDICATE CRIMES AND ACTIVITIES THAT IMPACT THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
GANGS AND GUN VIOLENCE, ALONG WITH DRUG DEALING HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE SAFETY AND THE FEAR OF CRIME.
HERE IN NEW BERN, WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH THE FBI'S TASK FORCE, WHICH IS LOCATED IN GREENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.
THE TASK FORCE WILL BE A FORCE MULTIPLIER IN ADDRESSING VIOLENT CRIME.
OUR TASK FORCE OFFICER WILL CONTINUE TO WORK OUT OF OUR OFFICE, NOT OUTSIDE, UM, OF THE CITY OF NEWBURG.
ANY OVERTIME WORK BY THE TASK FORCE MEMBER WILL BE REIMBURSED BY THE FBI.
A STRATEGY AND MANNING DISPOSITION DOES NOT REMOVE OR REPLACED A UNIFORM PATROL OFFICER THAT IS CURRENTLY IN OUR OPERATIONS DIVISION.
THIS, THIS POSITION WILL BE FILLED BY OUR GANG DETECTIVE WHO IS CURRENTLY ASSIGNED TO OUR INVESTIGATIVE DIVISION.
WE BELIEVE THAT A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FBI WILL CREATE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE SAFETY IN OUR CITY.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE WITH RESPECT TO THIS, UH, UH, RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FBI.
THIS BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS ALL RISA.
SO, UH, WITH THIS PERSON BEING SWORN FEDERALLY, UH, IT WOULD THEN BE ANY OF OUR MUNICIPALITIES, ANY OF OUR, OUR COUNTY OBVIOUSLY WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO FEDERAL, UH, COLLECTION THROUGH THAT PERSON.
IS THAT KIND OF HOW THIS WORKS? OR ARE YOU REFERRING TO, UM, FEDERAL ASSET FORFEITURE MONIES AND SEIZURES? NOT NECESSARILY, BUT E EVIDENCE, THAT SORT OF THING.
[02:50:01]
THE TASK FORCE MEMBER MIGHT BE INVOLVED IN FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS, BUT, BUT THIS TASK FORCE WILL ALSO ALLOW US TO UTILIZE, UH, STATE CHARGES AND, UH, CRIMES ASSOCIATED WITH, UH, GANG VIOLENCE AND OTHER, UH, PREDICATE CRIMES, UM, ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR INVESTIGATIONS.MORE THAN LIKELY WOULD BE STATE CRIMES OR WOULD BE PROSECUTED, UM, IN STATE COURT.
IT IS A POSSIBILITY THAT, UH, THESE CRIMES COULD GO FEDERAL.
IT COULD GO EITHER WAY, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE ASSISTANT, UH, ATTORNEY, UH, OR THE, UM, UH, UH, CRA COUNTY, UH, DISTRICT ATTORNEY DECIDES WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THAT PARTICULAR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.
CHIEF, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA AS TO THE TIME COMMITMENT THAT YOUR STAFF PERSON WOULD NEED TO BE DEVOTING TOWARDS THIS? IT, IT'S DIFFICULT TO SAY.
IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE, UM, UH, SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE, UM, HE INDICATED THAT IT WAS HIS DESIRE THAT OUR T F O WOULD FOCUS, UH, PRIMARILY ON CASES THAT ARE GENERATED IN OUR REGION AND OUR CITY.
UM, MORE THAN LIKELY THE, THE BULK OF, UM, OUR TASK FORCE OFFICER WOULD BE LOCAL.
IT IS A POSSIBILITY THEY COULD BE DRAWN, UM, TO, UM, OTHER INVESTIGATIONS CUZ THEY ARE A MEMBER OF A TASK FORCE, UM, OUTSIDE OF, UH, OUR REGION.
IT ALL DEPENDS ON, UH, ON NEED.
BUT YOU'RE, YOU'RE COMFORTABLE THAT THE PERSON CAN HANDLE THAT WITHOUT SHORT-CHANGING OH, AB ABSOLUTELY.
I CONSIDER THIS AND, AND THE DOCUMENTS I'VE PROVIDED, UM, TO YOU.
THIS IS A WIN-WIN, UH, FOR OUR ORGANIZATION AND OUR CITY.
UM, WE ARE DRAWING FAR MORE, UM, THAN WE'RE GIVING UP.
IN MY VIEW, THIS, THIS IS GONNA MAKE US, UM, UH, FAR SAFER.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A MO U AND COST REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION.
SECOND, HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN.
[15. Discuss Juneteenth Holiday.]
ITEM NUMBER 15TH.DISCUSSED JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY MAYOR DURING THE MARCH 28TH GOVERN BOARD MEETING JUNETEENTH OF NOVEMBER AND MAY A REQUEST FOR THE CITY TO CONSIDER ADDING THE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION AS A CITY HOLIDAY.
AFTER DISCUSSION, THE BOARD GAVE DIRECTION THE STAFF TO ADD THIS ON TO THE APRIL 11TH MEETING.
SO WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION HERE FOR YOU.
JUNETEENTH BECAME A FEDERAL HOLIDAY ON JUNE 17TH, 2021.
JUNETEENTH HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA SINCE 2007, BUT IS NOT CURRENTLY A PAID STATE HOLIDAY.
ON JUNE 6TH, 2022, GOVERNOR COOPER SIGNED EXECUTIVE OVER 2 62, WHICH PROVIDES EIGHT HOURS OF PERSONAL OBSERVANCE LEAVE, WHERE CABINET AGENCY EMPLOYEES CAN TAKE PERSONAL DAY OF, OF THEIR CHOOSING.
A RECENT SURVEY THAT WAS CONDUCTED BY THE NORTH CAROLINA LEAVE OF MUNICIPALITIES, UM, OUTLINED HOLIDAYS THAT THE CITIES CURRENTLY TAKE.
AND OUT OF 552 MEMBER CITIES, 167 OF THOSE CITIES TOOK THE SURVEY AND THOSE CITIES RANGED FROM LITERALLY A FEW HUNDRED ALL THE WAY UP TO OUR LARGEST CITIES IN THE STATE.
SO CURRENTLY OUT OF THE, ALL THE CITIES THAT TOOK THAT SURVEY, 48 MUNICIPALITIES HAVE ADDED JUNETEENTH AS A PAID HOLIDAY.
TWO OF THOSE CITIES, UH, THAT WERE NOT IN THAT LIST, AND WHICH IS, IS A TOTAL OF 50 CITIES IN THE STATE SO FAR THAT ARE RECOGNIZED.
THEY, THEY HAVE JUNETEENTH AS A IS A STATE, IS A CITY HOLIDAY.
AND LAST, UH, LAST WEEK, THE CITY OF WILMINGTON ADOPTED JUNETEENTH AS A, UH, AS A PAID HOLIDAY.
THE MAJORITY OF THOSE CITIES, AND YOU'LL SEE THIS IN THE INFORMATION I PROVIDED, YOU WERE AT 12 HOLIDAYS AND THEY INCREASED THEIR HOLIDAYS TO 13 ON THERE.
SO WE'RE HAVING TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE AND, UM, GO FROM THERE.
HOW DID YOU, WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA WAS OBSERVING IT AS A PERSONAL DAY? UM, THEY DON'T RECOGNIZE IT AS A PAID HOLIDAY.
THEY HAVE GIVEN EIGHT HOURS OF PERSONAL LEAD TIME.
SO AN EMPLOYEE CAN CHOOSE WHATEVER DAY
[02:55:01]
THEY WISH TO OBSERVE.FOSTER, IF I COULD THOUGH, I, IF I UNDERSTOOD THE INFORMATION THAT YOU PROVIDED PREVIOUSLY, IT, IT'S NOT AN ACROSS THE BOARD, UM, EIGHT HOURS FOR ALL STATE STAFF.
IT, IT MADE REFERENCES TO CABINET, CABINET LEVEL, MI UH, CABINET AGENCIES LEVEL.
SO THAT'S A VERY SMALL PORTION OF, OF THE STATE STAFF THAT'S, THAT ARE ACTUALLY GETTING THE BENEFIT, UH, WHERE THE WELL, YOU'VE GOT THOUSANDS OF OTHER STATE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE NOT CURRENTLY RECEIVING THAT.
AND THEY, IN THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, IT ALSO GOES ON, UH, TO DETAIL THAT, UM, THE GOVERNOR RECOMMENDED THAT OTHER AGENCIES ADOPT OR VOLUNTEER SIMILAR, SIMILAR CRITERIA.
RIGHT? UH, DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE CURRENTLY DO THAT.
UM, WHAT WE HAVE SEEN ON THE CITIES, THE 50 CITIES THAT, UH, CURRENTLY HAVE RECOGNIZED JUNETEENTH AS A HOLIDAY, THAT IS WHAT THEY RECOGNIZE, BUT HAVEN'T SEEN ANY FLOATING DAYS OR PERSONAL OBSERVANCE DAYS OUT OF, OUT OF THOSE ALLMAN, SIR.
SO JUST THE, UH, QUESTION, PRESUMING THIS BOARD, EITHER APP APPROVES JUNETEENTH OR APPROVES PERSONAL OBSERVANCE, LEAVE OUR, UH, SALARIES PAYMENT GOES BY FISCAL YEAR 2324.
AND, UM, BUT WE SET OUR HOLIDAY SCHEDULE BY CALENDAR YEAR.
IF WE WERE TO APPROVE EITHER ONE OF THOSE.
WHEN WOULD THIS TAKE A FACT? WHEN THIS BOARD WANTS IT TO TAKE A FACT? YOU YOU HAVE THAT CHOICE.
SO WE WOULD ESSENTIALLY HAVE TO CHANGE THE CALENDAR THAT HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
IF WE WANTED TO INCLUDE IT FOR THIS YEAR, FOR THIS YEAR, THEN WE WOULD COME BACK WITH THE NEXT MEETING TO DO THAT.
THE BOARD SUB CHOOSES, ARE YOU READY? GO AHEAD, ALDERMAN.
UM, IF THE BOARD SO ALLOWS, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THESE, THESE TWO LADIES HERE TONIGHT AS, UM, THEY WERE THE ONES THAT INITIALLY CAME BEFORE THIS BOARD, UM, REQUESTING AND ASKING FOR JUNETEENTH TO BE A CITY'S, UM, PAID HOLIDAY.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT THEY MAY WANT TO ADD OR SAY BEFORE WE, UM, I'LL VOTE ON THIS AGENDA ITEM.
SET A MOTION TO ALLOW 'EM SPEAK.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? I HAVE A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AND THAT'S, YES, MS. SELENA MASSEY AND, UM, FORMER ALDERMAN JAMIA HARRIS.
I JUST WANTED Y'ALL TO SAY SOMETHING BECAUSE SINCE YOU TWO WERE THE, THE FOUNDERS OF YOUNG, YOUNG URBAN PROFESSIONALS AND YOU'VE COME THROUGH THIS BOARD NUMEROUS YEARS ASKING FOR JUNETEENTH TO BE A CITY PAID HOLIDAY, I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF Y'ALL HAD SOMETHING ADDITIONAL THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO ADD IN BOARD.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND APPRECIATE THAT YOU GUYS TOOK THE TIME TO LOOK OVER THE INFORMATION AND DISCUSS AMONGST YOURSELVES.
AND I HOPE THAT TONIGHT YOU GUYS DO MAKE A DECISION TO MAKE IT, UM, A HOLIDAY FOR THE, THE CITY SO THAT THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, HAVE THAT DAY OR THE OPPOSITE OF GIVING THEM THE TIME TO CHOOSE WHATEVER WORKS.
WE JUST APPRECIATE YOU TAKING AND MEETING US HALFWAY WITH THAT.
THIS HAS BEEN AN AMAZING MEETING, VERY ENERGETIC.
UM, I DON'T, AND THE, ANY OF YOUR POSITIONS UP HERE AS YOU LISTEN TO, UM, OUR CITIZENS, UH, CONCERNS AND CELEBRATIONS, UH, HOPEFULLY I CAN END THIS ON A POSITIVE NOTE AND SAY, UM, WE DEFINITELY APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE.
WE DEFINITELY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
UM, THANK YOU FOR AGAIN, UH, ALDERMAN ROYAL FOR MENTIONING US DURING THAT CONVERSATION.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS TO NOTE, UM, ONE OF THE NOMINATIONS FOR THIS YEAR'S JUNETEENTH PARADE QUEEN WAS ACTUALLY MS. FRAZIER LIVONIA FRAZIER, WHO WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PEPSI MODEL.
SO, UM, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HISTORY AND, UM, AS THE PRESENTATION PRIOR, UH, DISCUSSED THE DIVERSITY OF PEPSI'S BOARD, UM, I THINK IT, IT IT WAS A WONDERFUL SEGUE INTO TALKING ABOUT, UM, THE CITY MOVING FORWARD WITH SOMETHING THAT CELEBRATES ALL OF OUR HISTORY AND, UM, COULD INCORPORATE FUTURE, UM, THINGS LIKE PEPSI AND THINGS, UH, FOR YEARS TO COME.
SO, UM, AGAIN, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
[03:00:01]
I COME HERE EVERY YEAR, I GIVE A PRESENTATION AND A WRAP UP TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW HOW IT WENT.AND AGAIN, IT, UM, AS IT CONTINUES TO GROW, I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY FOR WHAT IT COULD BE.
UM, AND JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON, UM, OUR COLLABORATIONS, UM, YOU ASKED ABOUT SWISS BEAR.
UM, HAVING BEEN A FORMER BOARD MEMBER OF SWISS BAY, I UTILIZED A LOT OF THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE, AND THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE DO HAVE, UM, BETWEEN DOWNTOWN AND UPTOWN AND CRAFTING FIVE POINTS AND CRAFTING SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES.
UH, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED DIRECT SUPPORT FROM SWISS BAY.
UM, BUT AGAIN, UH, WE, THROUGHOUT THOSE 10 DAYS OF CELEBRATION, WE RECEIVE A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM AROUND THE CITY AND THAT INCLUDES SOME MEMBERS OF DOWNTOWN.
AND OUR BANNER PROJECT IS ACTUALLY RUNNING THROUGH THE CRAVEN ARTS COUNCIL, UM, AS MOST OF SWISS BEAR'S MISSION IS DOWNTOWN.
THIS WAS AN FIVE POINT INITIATIVE TO HAVE THE JUNETEENTH BANNERS UP.
SO WE WENT DIRECTLY TO THE SOURCE AND WORKED WITH THEM, UM, AND JUST HAVEN'T HAD ANY COMMUNICATION WITH SWISS BEAR SINCE 2021.
UM, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO COLLABORATE WITH MORE PEOPLE, MORE COMPANIES, AND MORE INITIATIVES IN THE FUTURE AS JUNETEENTH CONTINUES TO GROW AND BECOMES A POWERHOUSE IN OUR CITY FOR TOURISM AND, UM, ENTREPRENEURS, UH, TO COME OUT AND DISPLAY THE THINGS THAT MAKE NEW BERN THE WONDERFUL CITY THAT IT IS.
SO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR CONSIDERING IT.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UM, THIS WAS A TWOFOLD ASK, SO I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT AGAIN, NOT ONLY TO MAKE IT, UM, A PAID HOLIDAY FOR THE CITY, BUT ALSO TO CONSIDER MAKING IT A CITY SPONSORED EVENT.
THE FESTIVAL THE CULMINATION OF THE 10 DAY CELEBRATION ON THE SATURDAY CLOSEST TO JUNETEENTH.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR EVEN CONSIDERING IT AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN FOR OUR CITY.
I DO WANNA ADD THAT, UH, UH, WE DIDN'T RECEIVE ALL OF OUR INFORMATION IN BEDDING FOR THE, UH, FOR THE, UH, JUNETEENTH TO BE LISTED AS CITY SPONSORED EVENT IN TIME FOR THIS AGENDA ITEM, BUT IT WILL BE ON THE NEXT AGENDA.
BOARD, I'LL JUST, I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WE RAISED EMPLOYEE WAGES, WE COMMITTED TO RAISE THEM AGAIN TO MATCH THE MUNICIPALITIES AROUND US.
WE'RE SEEING THAT THE, UM, LOT OF MUNICIPALITIES ARE GOING TO A, A 13TH HOLIDAY, SO I'M IN SUPPORT OF GOING TO A 13TH HOLIDAY, BUT I'LL STATE MY PREFERENCES FOR A PERSONAL LEAVE OBSERVANCE.
THAT WAY EMPLOYEES CAN TAKE IT HOWEVER THEY WANT IT.
UM, SOME FOLKS NEED TO TAKE THEIR ANNIVERSARIES SO THEY'LL REMEMBER IT, BUT YOU KNOW, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
THEY'LL BE ABLE TO JUNE JUNETEENTH AND, UH, IT'LL SET US APART FROM A LOT OF OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN THAT WE GIVE OUR EMPLOYEES THAT FLEXIBILITY.
SO YOU'RE RECOMMENDING ADDING A HOLIDAY, BUT IT BEING A FLEX DAY FOR AN EMPLOYEE TO TAKE WHENEVER THEY WOULD PERSONALS YEAH.
SIMILAR TO WHAT, UH, THE STATE HAS FOR THEIR CABINET AGENCIES.
SO WHAT YOU'RE RECOMMENDING IT WILL NOT BE CLASSIFIED.
WILL IT SAY JUNETEENTH OR IT'LL BE A HOLIDAY THAT ANY, THAT ANY EMPLOYEE CAN PICK BE ANOTHER HOLIDAY EMPLOYEE SET UP JUNETEENTH? IT WOULD BE ANOTHER HOLIDAY.
THE THE EMPLOYEE CAN PICK JUNETEENTH IF THEY SO DESIRE THE EMPLOYEE CAN PICK OKAY.
YOU KNOW, WHATEVER DAY THEY DESIRE.
UH, I WOULD ARGUE THAT WE NEED TO PUT, UH, RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE SO THAT THEY DON'T TAKE HOLIDAY AND THEN GET SCHEDULED FOR TIME AND A HALF.
BUT, UH, I I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF PERSONAL LEAVE OBSERVANCE FOR AN EMPLOYEE TO TAKE THAT HOLIDAY, WHICH DOESN'T ACCRUE AT, AT ANY POINT THAT THEY'D LIKE TO IN THE YEAR.
AND THIS COMES RIGHT YOUR BEHIND THAT JULY 4TH HOLIDAY ANYWAY, DOESN'T IT? THAT'S CORRECT.
AND I WOULD, I WILL OFFER A SUGGESTION.
I THINK, UM, ALTMAN BRINSON HAS MADE ONE THAT CERTAINLY WORTHY OF CONSIDERATION.
UM, BUT WE WOULD BE ADDING A HOLIDAY, WHICH WOULD HAVE AN EXPENSE OF A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ROUGHLY.
UM, I'M LOOKING AT THE 2023 CALENDAR AND UH, I SEE, AND I KNOW THIS CHANGES, I KNOW IT CHANGES FROM YEAR TO YEAR BASED OFF WHEN HOLIDAYS FALL, BUT THIS YEAR WE'RE OFF, WELL OUR, OUR PAID STAFF IS OFF.
UM, MONDAY, DECEMBER 25TH FOR CHRISTMAS, TUESDAY,
[03:05:01]
DECEMBER 26TH, THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS, AND WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27TH, THE DAY AFTER, THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS.UM, I, I'M GONNA VENTURE TO SAY THERE'S NOT GONNA BE A LOT OF PRODUCTIVITY THAT THURSDAY AND FRIDAY OF THAT WEEK WITH STAFF BEING OFF MONDAY, TUESDAY, AND WEDNESDAY.
UM, I WOULD OFFER A SUGGESTION TO MOVE, AND I KNOW THIS WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE YEAR AFTER YEAR, BUT MOVE THE DECEMBER 27TH HOLIDAY ON A WEDNESDAY TO JUNETEENTH AND PUT IT ON THE CALENDAR KEEPING US AT 12.
SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT THEN THEY WILL ONLY HAVE TWO DAYS OFF? CORRECT.
FOR CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS, CHRISTMAS EVE, CHRISTMAS DAY, AND IF THEY WANTED THE DAY AFTER, THEY CAN TAKE A VACATION DAY.
BUT YEAH, THEY WOULD STILL GET THAT HOLIDAY BECAUSE IT WOULD BE, IT'S JUST ANOTHER DATE.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF CHRISTMAS FALLS ON A SUNDAY, THEY WOULD STILL GET THE MONDAY AND THE TUESDAY OFF.
THEY WOULD GET TWO DAYS FOR CHRISTMAS, ESSENTIALLY.
UH, I THINK WE CHANGED THAT A FEW YEARS BACK TO FOLLOW WHAT THE, THE COUNTY DOES.
IS THAT CORRECT? DO YOU REMEMBER? I BELIEVE WE DID.
SO WE FOLLOWED THE COUNTY'S CALENDAR.
IS THERE ANY MORE QUESTIONS ON THIS? ANY OTHER MEMBERS? FOSTER, JUST A A QUESTION FOR YOU.
UM, WOULD YOU ENVISION WANTING TO PUT SOME LEVEL OF CONTROL OR RESTRICTIONS ON WHEN A STAFF PERSON COULD KIND OF CHOOSE TO USE THE DAY ONLY? AND I'M ONLY THINKING FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT IF, IF IT REMAINED A FLEXIBLE DAY OFF FOR THE STAFF, YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN DEPARTMENTAL OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS OPPOSED TO, UH, YOU KNOW, A LARGE NUMBER OF STAFF MEMBERS IN ONE DEPARTMENT DECIDING TO ALL TAKE OFF ON THAT ONE PARTICULAR DAY, WHICH IS GOING TO AFFECT, POTENTIALLY AFFECT SERVICE, UM, FROM THAT DEPARTMENT ON THAT DAY.
SO, I MEAN, DO YOU, DO YOU SEE A NEED TO PUT SOME KIND OF CONTROLS IN PLACE? THE, THE BIGGEST CONTROL WE WOULD PUT IN PLACE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS THE STAFF MEMBER WOULD HAVE TO ASK ALL THE TIME OFF AT LEAST TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCE.
THE DEPARTMENT HAD, WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE LIKE THE CURRENTLY APPROVED VACATION TIME.
UM, WITH, WITH, WITH THE FLEX HOLIDAY, AND WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS INTERNALLY WITH, WITH, WITH SOME STAFF.
WE DON'T REALLY SEE AN ISSUE TO WHERE THE 500, ALMOST 500 EMPLOYEES, EVERYONE WANTING TO TAKE A SPECIFIC DAY.
I THINK IT WOULD BE SPREAD OUT OVER THE ENTIRE YEAR TO WHERE OUR OPERATIONS WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED.
SO YOU, YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH, WITH IT BEING A FLEX DAY OFF? WE HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
WILL YOU FINISH? WELL, I, I'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION TO, UM, UH, INSTITUTE A 13 HOLIDAY OF EIGHT HOURS OF PERSONAL LEAVE PER CALENDAR YEAR.
ANYMORE DISCUSSION? LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN BRISSON.
ALDERMAN VEST QUESTION, WHEN YOU SAY PERSONAL DAY, HOW ARE YOU REFERRING TO PERSONAL DAY? ARE YOU REFERRING TO THAT PERSONAL DAY AS THEY USE THEIR PERSONAL HO THEIR PERSONAL LEAVE? NO.
WHEN YOU SAY PERSONAL DAY, I I USE THE SAME LANGUAGE.
PERSONAL OBSERVANCE LEAVE, WHICH MY UNDERSTANDING IS A PERSONAL HOLIDAY IN THAT IT'S NOT PERSONAL LEAVE AND IT DOESN'T ACCRUE.
UM, I, I, I'M, I'M A LITTLE BEFUDDLE HERE RIGHT NOW, SO LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT.
THERE'S FOUR VOTES ALREADY IF THAT HELPS YOUR DECISION.
IT STILL, THIS IS GOING TO BE CLASSIFIED AS JUNETEENTH.
WE'RE PUTTING A 13TH HOLIDAY A DAY IN THERE AND IT'S CLASSIFIED AS JUNETEENTH.
WHY WOULDN'T IT BE CLASSIFIED AS JUNETEENTH? I THINK, I THINK THE WAY THE STATE HAS IT ON THEIR CALENDAR IS JUNETEENTH IS ON THEIR CALENDAR IS JUNETEENTH AND
[03:10:01]
THEN PRINCE'S FLEX DAY.I'M, I'M GONNA, THAT WAY THE EMPLOYEES WILL KNOW IF THEY WANT TO TAKE THAT DAY.
I MEAN, IF THEY WANT TO CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH, THAT'S THE DAY THEY WOULD TAKE, BUT IT'S, IT'S NOT A, A DAY OFF FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.
IT'S A DAY OFF FOR THE EMPLOYEES THAT WANT TO TAKE OFF THAT DAY.
BUT THE OTHER EMPLOYEES WOULD GET THEIR, GET THEIR DAY OFF WHENEVER THEY CHOOSE TO TAKE IT.
THAT'S, WELL SEE, I WAS CONFUSED THAT, THAT'S WHY I ASKED THE QUESTION BECAUSE I WAS CONFUSED.
ALL RIGHT, MR. ATTORNEY, WHERE ARE WE AT? WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A VOTE,
SOMEBODY CAN CHANGE THEIR VOTE IF THEY WOULD LIKE.
THE BOARD IS STILL DELIBERATING IF THERE'S BEEN A MISUNDERSTANDING OR A MISTAKE, YOU ARE FREE TO CORRECT YOUR VOTE.
SO, AND, AND JUST SHOULD I CLARIFY SO WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE? YES.
THE MOTION IS TO ADD A 13TH HOLIDAY.
THERE'S CURRENTLY 12, SO THIS WOULD BE AN EXTRA DAY THAT ANY CITY EMPLOYEE COULD TAKE AS A PERSONAL OBSERVANCE DAY THAT IS PAID, BUT IT DOES NOT ACCRUE TO THE NEXT YEAR.
YOU CAN'T BANK YOUR PERSONAL OBSERVANCE DAYS.
IT COULD BE JUNETEENTH, IT COULD BE YOUR BIRTHDAY, BUT IT CAN'T BE A, AN EXISTING HOLIDAY TO WHICH YOU WOULD BE ENTITLED TIME AND A HALF FOR YOUR DAY OFF.
IT'S, BUT YOU'RE ADDING, YOU'RE ADDING AN EXTRA HOLIDAY TO THE CURRENT CALENDAR, SO THE CITY WON'T HAVE TO PAY THAT ADDITIONAL LEAVE.
WELL, YOU'RE PAYING PEOPLE THEIR SALARIES, TIME AND A HALF.
SO MY VOTE IS YES, ALLMAN ROYAL HAS CHANGED HER.
WHAT WAS THE COUNT? SIX TO ONE.
[16. Appointment(s).]
ON TO ITEM NUMBER 16, WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT, ALDERMAN FRILL TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD.UM, I HAD THE, THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET AND TALK TO SIX INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EXPRESSED THE DESIRE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE PLANNING ZONING FOR OUR POSITION.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND TO THE BOARD THAT MR. RUSTY INGRAM, WHO IS IN THE AUDIENCE, UM, TONIGHT, UM, THAT HE BE APPOINTED TO THE PLANNING ZONING BOARD, HAVE A MOTION FOR RUSTY INGRAM TO BE APPOINTED TO THE PLAINTIFF ZONING BOARD.
MCKENZIE, ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ANY OPPOSED? CONGRATULATIONS, SIR.
I BELIEVE THAT WAS ALL THE APPOINTMENTS WE HAD FOR THIS EVENING, UNLESS I MISSED ANY.
ALL RIGHT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO ATTORNEY'S REPORT.
NOTHING'S REPORT TONIGHT, MAYOR.
[18. City Manager's Report.]
YOUR MANAGER'S REPORT, FEW ITEMS TO UPDATE YOU ALL.WE WERE MAKING SUCH GOOD TIME.
UH, TISDALE HOUSE, UH, HAD A CONVERSATION WITH DAN TOWER, THE, THE OWNER OF THE RIM AVENUE PROPERTY.
THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE STARTED REMOVING THE PORCHES ON TISDALE HOUSE.
THEY'RE GETTING READY TO START REMOVING THE BACK STAIRWAY OF THAT AS WELL.
STAFF IS HAVING A MEETING WITH MR. TOWER ON SITE TOMORROW.
THEY'RE GONNA WALK THE PROPOSED ROUTE THAT THE HOUSE WILL BE MOVED.
UM, THEY'RE GONNA BE BRINGING STEEL IN TO GET READY TO START PUTTING THAT STEEL UNDERNEATH THE HOUSE AS THEY GET READY TO MOVE IT.
THEIR GOAL IS TO MOVE THAT HOUSE ON MAY 6TH.
SO, UH, WE'LL GIVE YOU UPDATES.
AS WE KNOW MORE, HAD A MEETING WITH, UH, OUR ELEVATOR, UH, CONTRACTORS TODAY.
UH, THERE HAS BEEN A DELAY IN THE ELEVATOR.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO ARRIVE LAST MONTH, SO NOW THEY'RE TELLING US IT'S GONNA BE ANOTHER MONTH OR SO.
SO THAT IS, THAT HAS PUSHED BACK THE COMPLETION DATE OF THIS PROJECT.
SO AT THIS TIME, BEST GUESS ESTIMATE IS GONNA BE MIDDLE OF THIS SUMMER BEFORE THE ELEVATOR PROJECT IS COMPLETE.
AND IT'S JUST BASED ON THE SUPPLY, UH, WITH THE ELEVATOR.
SO DO WE HAVE ANY, UM, DOES ANY CLAUSES IN OUR CONTRACT FOR THE DELAY? THERE IS DAILY, DAILY CALLS AFTER.
DOES IT COUNT ON? NOT, NOT FOR FORCE MAUR.
YEAH, THAT'S SOMETHING OUT OF THEIR CONTROL.
WE, WE DO HAVE LIQUIDATED DAMAGES FOR DELAYS THAT ARE WITHIN THE CONTROL OF THE CONTRACTOR, BUT NOT SUPPLY CHAIN DELAYS.
SO HAS THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUED A FORCE MANURE? YES, THEY HAVE.
NEXT ITEM THAT WE HAVE IS WE'RE WORKING ON TWO, TWO PROGRAMS, AND WE'RE GONNA BE BRINGING MORE INFORMATION TO YOU SOON.
[03:15:01]
STORM DURING PROGRAM IS, IS THE SUMMER STORMS AND THINGS START, START HEATING UP.WE ALWAYS GET COMPLAINTS AND CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS ABOUT THE STORM GREENS BEING BLOCKED.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA OPEN UP A PROGRAM FOR THOSE THAT, THAT, THAT LIVE ON CERTAIN STREETS.
IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO, UH, ADOPT A STORM DRAIN AND TAKE PART IN, IN HELPING TO CLEAN THOSE THINGS OUT BY REMOVING, UH, STICKS, TWIGS, DEBRIS, LEAVES AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO HELP CITY STAFF, UH, WE WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE ROLLING SOME MORE INFORMATION OUT THAT OUT ABOUT THAT SOON.
WE'RE ALSO GONNA BE STARTING A COMMUNITY CLEANUP DAY.
THIS WILL BE A MONTHLY PROGRAM WHERE WE WILL FOCUS ON A DIFFERENT AREA OF THE CITY EACH MONTH.
WE ARE ALSO GONNA ENCOURAGE ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY TO ALSO HAVE THEIR OWN CLEANUP DAY.
AT THE SAME TIME, UH, PUBLIC CORPS WILL BE PROVIDING BAGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO HELP.
AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A ROBUST ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN FOR THAT.
ALSO, A REMINDER THAT MAGIC MIDWAYS RETURNS TO LAWSON CREEK PARK.
UH, THEY ARE THERE SETTING UP NOW FOR THE CARNIVAL THAT WILL BE HELD APRIL 14TH THROUGH THE 23RD.
SO THAT SHOULD BE, UH, EXCITING TIME.
THIS IS THE FIFTH TIME THEY'VE BEEN WITH US, AND, UH, THEY'VE HAD A, UH, THE PUBLIC HAS REALLY EMBRACED THEM.
AND THE CLERK, I BELIEVE, IF SHE HASN'T TODAY, SHE'S GETTING READY TO REACH OUT TO EVERYONE REGARDING, UH, UH, UH, TO SEE IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE FOR THE PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CENTER GRAND OPENING.
SO ONCE WE HEAR BACK, WE'RE GONNA SET THAT DATE, WHICH IS GONNA BE MOST LIKELY IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO OPENING THAT FACILITY AND STARTING TO HAVE PROGRAMS THERE.
[19. New Business.]
BUSINESS.I HAVE TWO NEW BUSINESS ALDERMAN ROYAL, NONE PLEASE.
UM, IN LIGHT OF THE, UH, CONVERSATION WE HAD TONIGHT CONCERNING, UM, CRIME STOPPERS AS FIRE CHIEF, UM, DURING MY CAREER, WE USED CRIME STOPPERS AT LEAST THREE TIMES THAT I CAN REMEMBER.
UH, AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE, UM, A THOUSAND DOLLARS OF MY A R P MONEY AND DONATED TO CRIME STOPPERS TO HELP FIGHT THE CRIME IN, IN THE COUNTY, MOST ESPECIALLY IN THE CITY OF NEWTON.
IS THAT A PERMISSIBLE EXPENSE? IT'S A 5 0 1
CAUSE SOMEBODY WANTED TO DO THAT FOR THE FIREMAN MUSEUM AND WE WERE TOLD WE COULDN'T.
THE, UM, MUSEUM WAS ALLOW, YEAH, THE MUSEUM WAS ALLOWED.
THIS IS, UM, I, WELL THEN HOW ABOUT IF I CONTINGENT UPON CONTINGENT IN, UPON BEING ILLEGAL.
SO CONT HIS MOTION IS CONTINGENT UPON IT BEING ALLOWABLE EXPENSE.
HAVE A MOTION BY ALDERMAN ASTOR AND A SECOND BY ALDERMAN BRISSON.
ALDERMAN BEST? YES, I DO HONOR.
I JUST WANTED TO, UM, SAY THANK YOU TO, UM, THE MAYOR AND MANAGER, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, AND MR. UM, CHILDS, UM, FOR THE WARD TOUR.
IT WAS, UM, IT WAS, I HAD A LOT OF FUN WITH YOU GUYS, UM, GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS ANSWERED, SAW A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITHIN WARD FIVE, AND, UM, HOPEFULLY THAT WE CAN GET SOME OF THOSE ISSUES ADDRESSED.
UM, I THINK THAT WAS, UM, SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED, UM, MAYOR ODOM.
UM, AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU, UM, RECOMMEND THAT AS BEING A PART OF, OF, UM, THE CITY'S RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING OUT INTO THESE WARDS AND LOOKING AT THE, WHAT IS, WHAT IS NEEDED FOR OUR CITIZENS.
AND THEN SECONDLY, I GUESS, UM, FOSTER, I GUESS, UM, I GOT A COMPLAINT, WELL, NOT A COMPLAINT, IT WAS A CONCERN REALLY, UM, FROM, UH, TWO CITIZENS ABOUT, THERE'S ABOUT SIX KIDS PLAYING OVER THERE BY THE MIDDLE STREET POND.
UM, AND THEY WERE DOWN INSIDE, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY, BY THE, BY THE POND.
IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE CAN PUT LIKE, SOME KIND OF, UM, I KNOW YOU CAN'T REALLY ASK FOR A FENCE BECAUSE THAT PROJECT IS NOT YET COMPLETED, BUT SOME TYPE OF BORDER, YOU KNOW HOW YOU GET THOSE ORANGE LOOKING BORDERS THAT YOU PUT AROUND IN THE AREA? OR LIKE TEMPORARY FENCING? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO? OR SOMETHING? JUST SO THAT YOU KNOW, IF THESE KIDS CROSS OVER THAT BORDER, THEN OKAY.
RIGHT NOW IT'S LIKE IT'S OPEN AND THEY CAN JUST GO THERE AND GET IN THE POND, FALL IN THE POND, GET DROWNED OR WHATEVER.
BUT IF THERE'S SOME, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF RESPONSIBILITY THAT WOULD BE FOR THE CITY IF
[03:20:01]
A CHILD GOES OUT THERE PLAYS AND DROWNS IN IT.THERE, THERE, WE'VE A, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT AND I, I WANTED TO SAY THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD AN ISSUE WITH US PUTTING A FENCE UP.
A PERMANENT FENCE, NOT A PERMANENT FENCE.
YOU KNOW HOW, UM, I CAN'T THINK OF THE NAME OF THE DAMAGE.
I THINK WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED, I THINK SOME KIND OF PLASTIC LIKE LINER AROUND IT.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION TYPE FENCE.
I THINK WHAT I'VE HEARD STAFF SAY IN THE PAST FOR A PERMANENT STANDPOINT, THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE CERTAIN PLANTS THAT ARE PLANTED AROUND THERE.
SO IF SOMEBODY FALLS IN, THEY HAVE A WAY TO GRAB SOMETHING AND PULL UP.
THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE SETH OR SOMEBODY IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TOLD US.
BUT THERE'S NO PLANTS, NOTHING.
IT'S JUST WELL, AND AND THEY FINISHED WITH THE CREEK.
AND, AND OF COURSE THAT CONSTRUCTION WILL BE RAMPING UP IT MOST LIKELY LATER THIS SUMMER AS WELL.
UH, SO THERE WILL BE SOME WORK WARRANT ON OVER THERE.
UM, WE, WE CAN CERTAINLY PUT, PUT SOME SIGNAGE UP TO, TO WARREN FOLKS, UM, CAN DEFINITELY LOOK AT THAT.
EVEN THAT WOULD, WOULD HELP, UM, IF THERE'S SOME KIND OF SIGN ERECTED OR SOMETHING.
UM, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE, UH, LAST WEEK TO REPRESENT THE BOARD AT THE, UH, CIVIL MILITARY COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING AT CHERRY POINT.
UH, RECEIVED SEVERAL IMPORTANT UPDATES, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, F 35 S OF REPLACING THE HARRIERS THAT ARE THERE.
UH, THE MARINE AIR WING, COMMANDING GENERAL, GENERAL BENEDICT REPORTED THAT HALF THE PILOTS AND HALF THE MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL HAVE ALREADY ARRIVED FOR THEIR FIRST F 35 SQUADRON.
AND THE FIRST F 35 S ARE EXPECTED TO ARRIVE BY THE END OF MAY.
UH, AND THIS WILL GROW TO SIX TOTEM SQUADRONS OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS AND IS A NOTE FOR OUR PLANNING EFFORTS.
HE SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED HIS CONCERN WAS THAT ON BASE AND OFF BASE HOUSING WAS NOT ADEQUATE TO HOUSE ALL THE OFFICERS AND SENIOR NCOS THEY EXPECT TO RECEIVE.
UH, SO THAT'S ANOTHER MAJOR EMPLOYER TALKING ABOUT LACK OF HOUSING HERE.
UH, FRC EAST XO, CAPTAIN BIRDIE STATED THE FRC EAST WAS AWARDED MARINE C ONE 30 AND AIR FORCE HH 60 BLACKHAWK AND AIR FORCE H 1 67 GRAYWOLF DEPOT LEVEL WORK.
ESSENTIALLY WHAT THAT MEANS IS ALL THREE OF THOSE ARE GONNA GROW TO ABOUT 400 JOBS, WHICH IS ABOUT 30 MILLION OF ECONOMIC IMPACT.
UM, THEY'RE GROWING THEIR INTERNSHIPS AND THEY'RE GROWING THEIR INTERNAL AIRFRAME AND POWER PLANT A AND P CERTIFICATIONS TO START DEVELOPING THOSE ENTRY LEVEL EMPLOYEES THAT THEY WILL NEED BY 2025 IN BOTH CHERRY POINT AND GLOBAL T PARK IN, UH, KINSTON.
SO THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, KIDS COLLEGE AGE OR HIGH SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, THEY NEED TO BE, UH, POINTED IN THAT DIRECTION IF YOU WANT TO KEEP 'EM HERE IN THE AREA.
HE STATED THE AVERAGE SAL SALARY AT F FR C EAST EMPLOYEES ABOUT $70,000.
SO WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT, UM, A CHIEF JOB.
HE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HASN'T DETERMINED THE F 35 DEPO LEVEL MAINTENANCE LOCATION, BUT CHERRY POINT'S ALSO IN THE RUNNING FOR THAT.
SO IF THAT DECISION'S MADE, THAT WOULD BE MORE JOBS.
UM, THE BASE COMMANDER, COLONEL BURKES STATED THAT TOURS ARE OPEN TO GROUPS AND OFFICIALS.
UH, HE WANTS TO BRING AS MANY PEOPLE THROUGH AS HE CAN.
SO I'D LOVE TO SEE THIS BOARD.
SEVERAL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS, UH, AS WELL AS THE CITY MANAGER AND EVEN THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S BEEN THERE ENOUGH LATELY, BUT, UM, TO ATTEND, UH, TO INFORM OUR LONG-TERM PLANNING EFFORTS.
AND SO IF THE BOARD DESIRES, I CAN TRY AND, UH, PUT THAT TOGETHER ALONG WITH, UH, OUR CITY CLERK.
AND THEN LASTLY, WOMEN'S VETERAN'S DAY IS JUNE 12TH, AND IN HONOR OF THAT, THE VETERAN'S ORGANIC GARDEN AND NC WORKS ARE GONNA HOST A RESOURCE FAIR AND A WOMEN'S VETERAN'S APPRECIATION LUNCHEON ON FRIDAY, JUNE 16TH AT NOON ON, AT THE RIVERFRONT CONVENTION CENTER.
TICKETS ARE $25 AND THEY ARE AVAILABLE ON EVENTBRITE THAT YOU SO DESIRE TO ATTEND.
WELL, I HAVE NO NEW BUSINESS AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WE DO NOT NEED A CLOSED SESSION.