[Municipal Service District Meeting on June 15, 2023.]
[00:00:05]
GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
MY NAME IS FOSTER HUGHES, THE CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF NEW BERN.
AND I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR, FOR ATTENDING TONIGHT.
THIS IS A FOLLOW UP MEETING FROM LATE MAY WHEN WE HAD OUR FIRST MS D MEETING.
UH, AT THAT MEETING WE TALKED ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE MSD.
WE, WE TALKED ABOUT, UH, THE TAXES THAT WERE COLLECTED, SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WERE, UM, THAT FUNDED SOME OF THESE GREAT PROJECTS IN DOWNTOWN NEW BERN.
UM, WE TALKED ABOUT SOME POTENTIAL PROJECTS AND WHAT THE POTENTIAL COMMITTEE MAKEUP COULD LOOK LIKE.
AND SO AFTER THE MEETING, WE RECEIVED CONSIDERABLE INPUT FROM, FROM A VARIETY OF FOLKS.
AND, UH, SO THIS MEETING IS GONNA REALLY BE A FOLLOW UP.
AND IT'S ALSO GONNA BE AN INTERACTIVE MEETING.
SO WE HOPE THAT THE MAJORITY OF YOU BROUGHT YOUR SMARTPHONE WITH YOU BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA BE DOING SOME TEXTING.
UM, SOME OF YOU MAY NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE SPEAKING.
AND SO THIS IS GONNA BE A GOOD WAY TO COLLECT THE INFORMATION WE HAVE.
NOW, THIS IS NOT SCIENTIFIC, UH, POLLING.
SO IT'S, UH, PEOPLE THAT ARE WATCHING THIS ON ROKU OR FACEBOOK OR ON CITY THREE TV.
WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE AS WELL ALONG WITH US.
UH, AND WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND PREP YOU A LITTLE BIT.
SO IF YOU'LL PULL YOUR SMARTPHONE OUT, AND IF YOU WILL TEXT TO NUMBER 2, 3, 3, 3.
AND IN THE SUBJECT LINE, COLLEEN ROBERTS, 8 77.
I'LL GIVE YOU A MINUTE TO DO THAT, AND I HOPE ALL OF YOU WILL TRY THAT.
YOU'RE TEXTING TO THE NUMBER 2, 3 33, AND THE SUBJECT LINE WOULD BE ROBERTS 8 77.
AND YOU SHOULD RECEIVE A MESSAGE BACK IN JUST A MINUTE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN ACCEPTED.
SO, AS A ADVISORY COMMITTEE WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE GOVERNING BOARD IN 2014, UH, THE, THE, THAT WAS THE LAST TIME WE, WE ADJUSTED THE FOOTPRINT OF THE MSD.
AND, AND THAT FOOTPRINT GOES FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF HANCOCK ALL THE WAY TO THE BENCH RIVER AND FROM ON THE OTHER SIDE OF BROAD STREET DOWN TO TRENT RIVER.
SO IT ENCOMPASSES ALL OF THOSE AREAS.
ALL RIGHT, HAS EVERYONE RECEIVED A MESSAGE BACK SAYING THAT YOU'VE BEEN INCLUDED? WE'RE GONNA GIVE IT ANOTHER MINUTE OR SO AS WE WANT TO GET AS MUCH PARTICIPATION AS WE CAN WITH THIS.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
SO, WHILE SOME OF THEM ARE STILL SIGNING UP FOR THIS, UM, WE JUST APPROVED OUR BUDGET THIS PAST TUESDAY EVENING.
AND IN REGARDS TO THE MSD, THE, THE BUDGET, THE ANTICIPATED REVENUES FOR THE MSD THIS YEAR, $421,200.
THAT INCLUDES THE NSD TAX, THE PROPERTY LEASE WITH THE FARMER'S MARKET, UH, AND ANY PARKING LEASES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
SO SOME OF THE EXPENSES THAT CAME OUTTA THAT, WERE TRANSFERRING TWO $42,000 OF THAT INTO THE MSD FUND BALANCE.
WE'VE GOT DEBT SERVICE ON SEVERAL LOANS, AND THE AMOUNT OF $107,000 PARKING CONTROL AND THE AMOUNT OF 42,000 AND OTHER SERVICES AT 29,500.
AND THAT REALLY GOES TO COVER CLEAR MAINTENANCE OF THE CLUBHOUSE AND CLUBHOUSE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO OUR FORMER TAX RATE WAS 1370 5 CENTS.
OKAY? SO THAT HAS GONE DOWN, UH, FOR EVERY CENT THAT GENERATES $18,350.
IS EVERYONE READY? SO WE'RE GONNA SEE HOW THIS GOES.
SO THE FIRST QUESTION, ARE YOU JOINING TONIGHT'S MEETING IN PERSON OR ONLINE? SO IF YOU WERE HERE IN PERSON, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ENTER A, IF YOU ARE ONLINE OR WATCHING ON C THREE TV, ENTER B, LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
ID, NO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SET UP AN ID.
ALL YOU WILL HAVE TO DO IS NOTHING CAME THROUGH.
WE MAY HAVE, YOU MAY HAVE TO WALK AROUND FOR A SECOND AND SHOW SOME THINGS.
[00:05:17]
LET ACTIVATE THE POWERPOINT ON MY LAPTOP.I PROMISE THIS WORKED EARLIER TODAY.
YOU PLAYED WITH IT MANY, MANY TIMES.
WHY DON'T YOU TRY AGAIN? RIGHT NOW I HAVE ONE A AND ONE B.
SO THEY'RE COMING IN, YOU CAN SEE, OKAY, IN PERSON IS A YES MESSAGE, WHICH IS INTERESTING.
CAUSE RIGHT NOW, WHOEVER SAID A IS A HUNDRED PERCENT, MAYBE THAT'S ONLY ONE PERSON GETTING THROUGH.
BUT I'M REACTIVATING EVERY SINGLE CALL.
YOU WANNA TRY AGAIN? ALL RIGHT, LET'S TRY AGAIN.
IF YOU WERE IN PERSON, ENTER A, IF YOU ARE ONLINE, ENTER B, YOU, YOU WON'T BE GETTING ANYTHING BACK.
BEAR WITH US FOR, FOR JUST A SECOND, ROBERT.
JUST LIKE WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN.
AND YOU'LL TEXT THAT TO 2, 2 3, 3, 3.
[00:10:19]
YES.WHAT? NO, THIS IS WHAT FOSTER TODAY.
OH, MAYBE, MAYBE HE REVISED IT AFTER WE MET.
I WANNA REMIND YOU THAT ANYTHING ON THE MSD, WE HAVE IT AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE AT
WE, WE HAVE UPLOADED THE, THE LAST MEETING WE HAD, UH, WE, UH, WE HAD A WORKSHOP WITH THE GOVERNING BOARD BACK IN FEBRUARY WHERE WE DISCUSSED THE MSD.
SO YOU CAN FIND THAT INFORMATION.
WE'VE ALSO GOT INFORMATION ON THE STATE STATUTES THAT GOVERN MSDS, AS WELL AS THE CITY ORDINANCES ADDRESSING MSDS, UM, VARIETY OF INFORMATION.
IF YOU'VE, IF YOU'VE HAD ANY REQUESTS FOR MSD INFORMATION, YOU CAN, YOU CAN FIND IT ON THAT SITE.
AND ONE EASY WAY TO LOOK AT THAT UP IS WHEN YOU GO TO NC.GOV, YOU CAN CLICK ON THE RESIDENCE TAB, SCROLL DOWN, AND YOU'LL SEE MUNICIPAL SERVICE DISTRICT.
[00:15:35]
OKAY, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GETTING READY TO HAVE SOMETHING UP ON IT.AT LEAST YOU'VE GOT IT UP ON THIS SCREEN RIGHT HERE.
COLLEEN, IS YOUR POLLING OPEN? ALL RIGHT.
SO WE'RE GONNA TRY THAT POLLING AGAIN, IF YOU WOULD, ON THE FIRST THING, ARE YOU JOINING TONIGHT'S MEETING IN PERSON OR ONLINE? A FOR IN PERSON, B FOR ONLINE.
AND COLLEEN WILL KEEP US ABREAST OF, OF WHAT WE HAVE TO PO.
OKAY, SO WE HAVE IT POPPED UP.
I ALLOWED EVERYONE AN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF RESPONSES ABLE, NOTHING'S COME UP.
SO YOU, YOU CAN WORK ON THAT FOR JUST A SECOND.
SO WHILE SHE'S WORKING ON THAT, WE'RE JUST GONNA YELL THIS OUT HERE.
WHEN YOU THINK OF DOWNTOWN NEWBURN, WHAT ONE WORD COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU THINK OF JUST DOWNTOWN NEW BERN IN GENERAL? TECHNOLOGICALLY CHALLENGED.
SO THERE ARE A VARIETY OF THINGS THAT WHEN WE THINK OF DOWNTOWN NEW BERN, IT, IT DRAWS PEOPLE TO.
AND, AND OBVIOUSLY WE ALL KNOW THIS IS A TOURIST ATTRACTION.
IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO, TO COME, AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.
MOST OF YOU LIVE DOWN HERE, WORK AND PLAY.
SO AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT WHERE YOU CAN FIND THE RESOURCES TO THE MSD ITSELF.
YOU CAN ALSO SIGN UP FOR EMAIL UPDATES ON LIBERTY.GOV UNDER MSD, THIS MEETING AND THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS, YOU CAN WATCH ON VIDEO, ON DEMAND, ON THE CITY WEBSITE, ROKU, AND ON YOUTUBE.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO EMAIL THE CITY REGARDING MSD, YOU CAN SEND AN EMAIL TO MSD NEW BERN NC.GOV.
SO WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE JUST GONNA SHOUT THIS OUT AGAIN WHILE COLIN IS WORKING ON THIS THINGS.
UM, ONE WORD, WHAT DO YOU LIKE THE MOST ABOUT DOWNTOWN? FOOD.
THE MIXTURE OF BUSINESS AND RESIDENCE.
WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT? TRY I NEED ONE WORD CONCERNED ABOUT OR DISLIKE ABOUT MS. UH, DOWNTOWN NEWBURY.
[00:20:01]
CONTROL.WHAT ELSE? ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT.
SO WE, WE, WE'VE SEEN A VARIETY OF THINGS ON THAT.
SO, AGAIN, A REMINDER, WHAT IS AN MSD? AND THE MSD IS A MUNICIPAL SERVICE DISTRICT, AND IT'S A, IT'S A TAX DISTRICT.
AND WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT THE AREA OF THE MSD IS, AND THE GOVERNING BOARD DESIGNATES THIS AREA, AND THEY'RE LED TO THAT ADDITIONAL TAX TO BE USED FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS.
AND THE GOVERNING BOARD DOES DETERMINE WHAT PROJECTS WILL BE FUNDED AND WHAT WILL NOT BE FUNDED.
HOW ARE MSDS MANAGED STATEWIDE? SO BY STATE STATUTE, THERE ARE CURRENTLY THREE WAYS THAT THEY CAN BE MANAGED.
ONE BY ADVISORY BOARDS, SOME HAVE NO ADVISORY BOARDS, AND THEN YOU CAN, YOU CAN CONTRACT WITH A NONPROFIT.
MOST DO A, UH, UH, DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT GROUP OR A MAIN STREET PROGRAM.
SO THAT GIVES YOU AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.
SO SOME EXAMPLES OF SOME MSDS ACROSS THE STATE THAT PEOPLE WILL ASK FOR.
THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT PEOPLE ASK FOR WAS THE CITY OF WILMINGTON.
SO THAT GROUP HAS A, A DOWNTOWN ADVISORY BOARD, AND THEY HAVE 14 MEMBERS.
AND THE COMPOSITION OF THAT IS THREE RESIDENTS, AND THEY MUST OWN A DWELLING WITHIN THE DISTRICT THAT IS THEIR PRIMARY RESIDENT.
THEN THEY HAVE TWO LARGE PROPERTY OWNERS, AND THEY ALSO HAVE A, UH, YOU CAN EITHER HAVE A PROPERTY OWNER OR A PROPERTY OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE.
AND THE LARGE PROPERTY OWNERS QUALIFY IF THEIR VALUES ARE 2 MILLION OR MORE.
ONE HOSPITALITY REPRESENTATIVE, ONE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER, ONE RESTAURANT REPRESENTATIVE, AND A RETAIL REPRESENTATIVE.
ONE WI DOWNTOWN INCORPORATED BOARD MEMBER, A MEMBER OF THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ALLIANCE.
A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, A NIGHTLIGHT REPRESENTATIVE, ONE AT LARGE REPRESENTATIVE AND THE CITY MANAGER AS AN EXOFFICIO NON-VOTING MEMBER, WE THEN LOOKED AT MORRISVILLE.
THEY HAD NO, BOARDS OF THE GOVERNING BOARD BASICALLY DETERMINES HOW THOSE FUNDS WILL BE SPENT.
CAN I ASK A QUESTION ABOUT WILMINGTON FOR CLARIFICATION? YES.
SO WILMINGTON HAS A FULLTIME REPRESENTATIVE, CORRECT? FULLTIME STAFF MEMBER? THAT'S CORRECT.
AND WHAT, CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THEIR TAKING IS AS FAR AS THE AMOUNT OF TAX THEY TAKE IN? I WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE TALKING, I DON'T THINK WE'RE TALKING APPLES TO APPLE.
WE'RE NOT APPLES TO APPLES ON THAT.
I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT, WHAT EXACTLY THEY TAKE IN IT'S MILLIONS.
BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE, BASICALLY HOW, HOW THAT MS D WAS COM COMPOSED OF WHAT THE, WHAT THE MEMBERS WERE.
SO THEN WE'VE GOT THE CITY OF SANFORD, DOWNTOWN SANFORD BASICALLY RUNS THAT MSD, THEY HAVE 13 BOARD MEMBERS, AND THEY HAVE ONE CITY AND COUNTY LIAISON, NON-VOTING.
AND THEY JUST FORMED AN, UH, AN EMERITUS GROUP FOR MEMBERS WHO HAVE COME OFF THAT BOARD.
AND THEY'RE STILL INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THOSE MEETINGS.
THE CITY OF GOLDSBORO HAS A DEPARTMENT DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT THAT, THAT OPERATES THAT THERE'S NO ADVISORY COMMITTEE, BUT THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT GROUP DOES REGULARLY PARTICIPATE, PROVIDE INFORMATION.
THEN WE'VE GOT THE CITY OF STATESVILLE.
THEIR DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT GROUP OPERATES THAT THEY HAVE 19 BOARD MEMBERS AND THE COMPOSITION, JUST LIKE YOU SEE DOWNTOWN, MERCHANTS, PROPERTY OWNERS, BUSINESS OWNERS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, ET CETERA.
AND THEY DO HAVE SEVERAL EXOFFICIO MEMBERS, SUCH AS THE MAYOR, THE ASSISTANT MANAGER, POLICE ASSISTANT, POLICE CHIEF, AND EXECUTIVES FROM THE CHAMBER AND, AND, AND CONVENTION VISITORS BUREAU AND SO ON.
THEN WE HAVE THE CITY OF SALISBURY, AND THEY'RE OPERATED BY DOWNTOWN SALISBURY.
THEY HAVE NINE TO 15 MEMBERS, AND WE'RE SEEING SIMILAR MAKEUPS.
TWO MEMBERS ARE DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS.
TWO ARE FOOD BEVERAGE OR ARTS MERCHANTS.
TWO ARE DOWNTOWN PROPERTY OWNERS.
AND THEN THEY'VE GOT SEVERAL AT LARGE POSITIONS.
THEY DO STAGGER TWO YEAR TERMS, NO MORE THAN THREE CONSECUTIVE TERMS OF SERVICE.
AND THEY HAVE SEVEN EXOFFICIO WITH VOTING RIGHTS.
SO WHEN WE TALKED LAST TIME, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW THE MSD WAS COMPOSED OF 70% OF, OF THE, UH, OF THE COMPOSITION HERE IS COMMERCIAL, 30% IS RESIDENTIAL.
AND SO WE, WE BASICALLY BROUGHT THAT UP.
HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF, IF, IF A COMMITTEE IS FORMED, THAT WE LOOK AT 70% CO COMMERCIAL, 30% RESIDENCE, AND REALLY DIDN'T HEAR ANY, ANY, ANYTHING, ANYTHING AGAINST THAT? YES.
FROM PREVIOUS PRESENTATION, WE LOOKED AT THAT AS A NONPROFIT.
[00:25:01]
MM-HMM.SO ACTUALLY COMMERCIAL ACTUALLY IS A SMALLER PORTION.
SO IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER THE 70% PROPERTY,
WE'LL, WE'LL CERTAINLY LOOK AT THAT.
SO AS I WAS SAYING, WE HAD THE 70 30 BREAKDOWN, THEN WE TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLY THE LARGEST PROPERTY OWNERS BEING ON THE COMMITTEE WITH EXOFFICIO MEMBERS.
SO I DUNNO IF COLLEEN, UH, CAN WELL, SHE, OKAY.
SO IN TERMS OF THE THREE POTENTIAL MAKEUPS OF AN MSD, AND LET'S JUST LOOK AT THIS BY A SHOW OF HANDS, WHAT WOULD YOU PREFER TO SEE? WOULD YOU PREFER TO SEE AN ADVISORY BOARD, AN MSD ADVISORY BOARD? IF YOU WOULD, JUST RAISE YOUR HAND SO WE CAN SEE.
NO ADVISORY BOARD CURRENTLY LIKE WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, OR FOR THE CITY TO CONTRACT WITH SOMEONE LIKE SWISS BEAR OR, OR ANOTHER NONPROFIT ENTITY.
SO AN ADVISORY BOARD WHO WOULD LIKE, SIR, IF YOU'RE HERE, YOU CAN VOTE ON IT.
AGAIN, THIS IS NON-SCIENTIFIC.
SO IF, IF YOU WOULD LIKE AN ADVISORY BOARD TO REPRESENT THE MSD, RAISE YOUR HAND.
IF YOU WOULD NOT LIKE AN ADVISORY BOARD FOR US TO DO IT THE WAY WE'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, NO HANDS.
SO OBVIOUSLY EVERYONE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN ADVISORY BOARD.
MARVIN, YOU HAVE THOSE FORMS. SO WE'RE GONNA PASS OUT SOME INFORMATION ON WHAT THE PROPOSED COMMITTEE COULD LOOK LIKE.
SO YOU CAN TAKE THIS HOME WITH YOU.
WE CAN WAIT A FEW MINUTES ON THIS.
SO MARVIN'S GONNA PASS AROUND WHAT WE HAVE LOOKED AT AS A PROPOSED COMMITTEE.
SO WE, WE WILL GET YOUR INPUT IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.
SO COMMERCIAL NUMBERS, AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT SEVEN.
AND THAT SHOULD BE THE PROPERTY OWNER OR THE OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT AT LEAST ONE LARGE PROPERTY OWNER.
AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THE TOTAL VALUE OF, OF ANSD PROPERTY.
YOU QUALIFY IF YOUR VALUE IS $2 MILLION OR MORE.
CURRENTLY THERE ARE ABOUT 15 TO 16 OF THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE MSD, A HOSPITALITY REPRESENTATIVE FROM HOTELS OR BED AND BREAKFAST BANKING, RESTAURANT RETAIL AND ENTERTAINMENT SLASH NIGHTLIFE.
AND THEN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SUCH AS LEGAL, REAL ESTATE, INSURANCE AND MEDICAL.
AND THEN RESIDENTIAL, THREE RESIDENTIAL, THEY MUST RESIDE WITHIN THE MSD AND THAT MUST BE THEIR PRIMARY RESIDENCE.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WITH EX OFFICIO, NON-VOTING MEMBERS CONSISTING OF THE WARD ONE, DERMAN, THE CITY MANAGER, THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, AND SWISS BEAR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OR BOARD MEMBER.
AND SO HEARD SEVERAL OF YOU SAY THAT DIDN'T, DIDN'T LIKE THE FACT THAT, UM, CITY WOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
AND THAT'S NOT THE INTENTION TO VOTE.
BUT CITY DOES HAVE THE FINANCE DIRECTOR AND THE CITY MANAGER THAT WOULD ATTEND AND PROVIDE INFORMATION AS NEEDED, UH, HELP, HELP YOU GUIDE, HELP GUIDE THE MEETING IF NEEDED, BUT NOT DETERMINE WHAT TYPE OF PROJECTS THAT THE MSD MAY OR MAY NOT BE INTERESTED IN.
SO WITH, WITH MENTIONING, THAT'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS ON WHAT PROPOSED COMMITTEE COULD LOOK LIKE.
SO BY ALL MEANS, IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR WOULD LIKE TO BRING SOMETHING UP YES.
THAT I DO MATH COMMERCIAL AND THERE WERE QUESTIONS RAISED TONIGHT.
AND LIKE I SAID, NOTHING IS SET IN STONE.
THAT'S WHY, THAT'S WHY WE'RE HAVING THIS MEETING TO DISCUSS, TO GET YOUR INPUT.
[00:30:03]
SO I MEAN, I JUST, YOU KNOW, I I UNDERSTAND THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT UP.
AND, AND, AND GOOD EXAMPLE, WE LOOKED AT SKY SALE AND, AND IT'S STILL ON THE TABLE.
I'M CURIOUS TO HEAR WHAT EVERYONE HAS TO SAY.
THERE ARE SEVERAL FOLKS THAT OWN CONDOS IN SKY SALE AND THERE ARE QUITE A FEW OF THOSE CONDOS.
AND WE LOOKED AT THE POSSIBILITY, SHOULD WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM SC A RESIDENT FROM SKY SALE ALONE TO GO AS PART, NOT NECESSARILY TO BE PART OF THE THREE, BUT MAYBE THAT WOULD BE FOR RESIDENTIAL.
I'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.
GET THAT, BUT GOT GOTCHA, GOTCHA.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LARGE PROPERTY OWNER, IS THAT BASED ON THE TAX? IS THAT BASED ON THE ACTUAL VALUE PROPERTY? THAT'S BASED ON THE TAX VALUE LOOKING AT CRAVEN GIS AND DETERMINING THAT YOU MENTIONED? UM, THAT'S RIGHT.
AND OF COURSE I THINK IF THE GOVERNING BOARD APPOINTS ANY ANYONE TO THIS BOARD, AND IT'S IN THE COMMERCIAL CASE IN POINT, UM, AND WE WILL JUST TALK ABOUT A RESTAURANT.
SAY THERE'S A, ALL THE RESTAURANT OWNERS ARE LOCAL, BUT SAY IF THERE WAS A, AN OUTSIDE CHAIN AND THAT THAT ENTITY DIDN'T WANNA SEND THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY THERE, THEY COULD APPOINT THEIR RESTAURANT MANAGER.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE REFERRING TO.
SO IF WE'VE GOT A TOY STORE, WELL, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A LOCAL OWNER.
AND, AND IF, IF THAT'S THE REPRESENTATIVE, THEN OBVIOUSLY SHE WOULD WANT TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE.
WHEN ALL MEMBERS OF THIS DEFENDANT TAX PAGE YES, THERE WAS A DISCUSSION, THERE WAS WELL, OR A REPRESENTATIVE, OR THE REPRESENTATIVE.
IT CANNOT BE BUSINESS OWNER WHO DOESN'T OWN HIS BUILDING.
THAT'S UNLESS THE BUSINESS OWNER, UNLESS THE BUILDING OWNER SAID, I WANT YOU TO BE MY REPRESENTATIVE, THAT IS THE OPTION.
AND OF COURSE, WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THE NONPROFIT.
WE, WE DID HAVE SOME FOLKS HERE LAST TIME.
I THINK THEY REPRESENTED, REPRESENTED ONE OF THE CHURCHES AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED, UH, EVEN THOUGH THEY DON'T PAY.
AND SO HAVEN'T REALLY DISCUSSED WHETHER OR NOT THERE SHOULD BE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE NONPROFIT SECTOR TO BE ON THIS.
JUST UNDERSTAND THE ORIGINAL WINDOWS BROUGHT ABOUT SEVEN 30.
THE NONPROFITS THAT DON'T PAY THE MSD, WERE THEY INCLUDED IN THE VALUES BREAK DOWN AREA? WERE THEY EXCLUDED? TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I'VE GOTTA GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT.
I'M SAYING THEY WERE EXCLUDED.
AND, AND IT'S BEEN SUCH A LONG TIME SINCE WE COMPILED THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK.
SO I WANT TO GIVE YOU ACCURATE INFORMATION AND I CAN'T GIVE IT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD IN REGARDS TO THAT.
HOW DO YOU CONSIDER IF SOMEONE, UM, HAS A RESIDENCE WITHIN THE COMMERCIAL BUILDING? UM, IF THEY HAVE A RESIDENCE AND THERE'S, IF THERE'S A TAX ID ON IT AND THEY'RE PAYING TAXES SEPARATE FROM SEPARATE THE WHOLE BUILDING STRUCTURE, RIGHT? I'M SAYING IF IT'S CONSIDERED A COMMERCIAL BUILDING RIGHT.
CAUSE THERE'S COMMERCIAL BUILDING MM-HMM.
THAT YOU THEN CONSIDER THAT WHOLE STRUCTURE THAT AS COMMERCIAL VERSUS RESIDENTIAL.
WE'LL, WE'LL DEFINITELY HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT YES.
IF, IF YOU NO LONGER HAVE A VESTED INTEREST, THEN BASICALLY WE WOULD REFILL, THEN WE'D FILL THAT POSITION.
NURSES WHEN YOU APPOINTED TIME SERVED.
SO, SO, SO WHAT WE DID IS WE LOOKED AT ALL OF OUR APPOINTED COMMISSIONS AND, AND OVERALL WE'VE GOT SEVERAL OF THOSE.
SEVERAL OF THEM ARE LIKE THAT CURRENTLY.
NOW, IF, IF THE REPRESENTATIVE, IF THE REPRESENTATION OF THE MSSD WOULD RATHER SEE EXPIRED TERMS, THEN THAT'S UP TO THE GOVERNING BOARD TO DETERMINE WHEN WE SET THIS UP.
BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO GET YOUR INPUT ON THAT.
[00:35:31]
OKAY.ARE YOU GONNA CONSIDER NON-RESIDENT OWNERS? NON-RESIDENT OWNERS? WHY, WHY NOT? HOW, HOW GONNA BE OWNED IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE PAYING TAXES WITHIN THE MSD, YOU NEED TO BE CONSIDERED IT.
THE THE WHOLE THING ABOUT THIS MSD IS YOU'RE, YOU'RE BASICALLY PAYING AN EXTRA TAX.
THAT TAX IS GOING TO FUND THOSE PROJECTS.
SO IT SHOULDN'T MATTER WHETHER YOU'RE RESIDENT OR NOT.
UNLESS, UNLESS YOU QUALIFY FOR THE RESIDENTIAL ASPECT OF THIS ON THE COMMITTEE.
THE IMPORTA OF THE PURPOSE TO IDENTIFY THE PROJECTS THAT ARE WORTHY OF THE TAXATION AND THEN IDENTIFY WHAT SHOULD BE PROJECTS THAT COMMITTEE IDENTIFI ANY AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
THAT'S, THAT'S GONNA BE THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMITTEE TO, TO VET PROJECTS TO LOOK, LOOK AT ANY OTHER PROJECTS THAT, THAT WOULD BE WORTHY IN THE DOWNTOWN MST.
YOU LIKE, YOU SUMMARIZE EXISTING MSD, YOU ASK AND THEN FIGURE OUT WHAT THE TAXATION SHOULD BE RAISED OR ARE THEY TO SPEND MONEY THAT'S TAX ON THE MSB RESTRICTIONS? SO CURRENTLY THERE'S, OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, THERE'S ABOUT $1.8 MILLION IN THE CURRENT MS D KITTY.
AND BY STATUTE, THOSE FUNDS HAVE TO BE SPENT ON PROJECTS.
WE CAN'T JUST CONTINUE TO KEEP THAT MONEY AND, AND ADD UP AND ADD UP AND ADD UP.
THE PURPOSE OF THE MSD IS TO DO PROJECTS.
SO IF THERE ARE SPECIAL PROJECTS RIGHT NOW, THE, THE REVENUE NEUTRAL RATE IS WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT.
I MEAN, YOU'RE BRINGING IN APPROXIMATELY $18,000 PERCENT.
SO IF THERE'S CERTAIN PROJECTS THAT, THAT THE COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND TO THE GOVERNING BOARD, THEN OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN GET LOANS FOR THOSE THINGS.
IF IT'S GONNA BE A BIG PROJECT, SMALLER PROJECTS, THE COMMITTEE CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNING BOARD ON WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
THE BOARD WOULD IN TURN, UM, APPROVE THOSE THINGS.
THAT'S ULTIMATELY DECISION IS MADE BY THE GOVERNING BOARD.
THIS, THIS BODY TRULY BE MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS.
CAUSE THE CITY, ANY PROJECTS, THERE ARE SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT ARE RECOMMENDED.
WE, WE, WE BROUGHT SEVERAL PROJECTS TO THE TABLE SEVERAL WEEKS AGO.
WE ALSO HEARD RECOMMENDATIONS ON PROJECTS AS WELL.
UM, WE'LL GET TO SOME POLLING IN JUST A SECOND.
SO WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT PROPOSED COMMITTEE QUARTERLY MEETINGS WITH THREE YEAR APPOINTMENT, UNLIMITED ROTATIONS TO SERVE AND THEN APPOINTMENT BY THE GOVERNING BOARD.
I HEARD SOME OF YOUR COMMENTS ON THAT.
SO WE CAN DEFINITELY LOOK AT A VARIETY OF THINGS.
SO THE, THE NEXT POLLING QUESTION THAT COMES UP, AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL WORK UP.
OR ARE YOU READY? I'M, I'M NOT HOLDING MY BREATH, BUT IT SAYS, WOULD YOU SUPPORT THE BREAKDOWN AS WE HAVE PRESENTED IT? IF NOT, WHAT ADVISORY COMMITTEE STRUCTURE WOULD YOU RECOMMEND? THIS IS MORE OF A FREEFORM DISCUSSION.
SO YOU CAN TYPE A SENTENCE IF YOU WANT TO.
AND HOPEFULLY THESE ARE ANSWERS THAT CAME JUST TO GET IT WORKING AGAIN.
SO IF YOU HAD A COMMENT LIKE WHAT SOMEONE WAS SAYING THAT THEY WANNA SEE A NONPROFIT ENTITY, OR YOU WANTED TO SEE THE MAKEUP CHANGE FROM 70 30 TO 60 40 OR WHATNOT, THAT'S WHAT YOU WOULD NEED TO ENTER OR YOU READY TO TELL ME THE FIRST SERVED IN A COMMUNITY WHERE THEY HAD
WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE? I DIDN'T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE WITH THEM.
I DIDN'T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE WITH, DIDN'T, DIDN'T SERVE, DIDN'T SERVE WITH THEM.
THEY, BUT THEY SERVED A PURPOSE.
UM, THEY SERVED A PURPOSE AND THEY FUNDED PROJECTS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
[00:40:02]
OKAY.SO WE SHOULD START SEEING SOME THINGS POP UP.
CHURCHES SHOULD NOT HAVE A VOTE, BUT WELCOME TO MEETING ADD ONE MORE MEMBER TO RESIDENCE TO TO ACCOUNT FOR SKY SALE.
SO IF ANYONE ELSE HAS ANYTHING THEY'D LIKE TO ENTER IN, THAT SHOULD POP UP ADVISORY BOARD.
NOT TAKING IT, BUT, UM, YOU CAN GET THAT SAME MESSAGE.
I SUPPORT THE FORMATION OF AN ADVISORY BOARD, BUT FAVOR OF MORE RESIDENT PARTICIPATION.
COLLEEN'S COMING AROUND IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES, I SEE IT.
THERE ARE UNITS THERE, SO THERE'S NOT, EVERYONE LIVES THERE.
LET'S SAY EVERYONE DID LIVE THERE.
SO WOULDN'T EACH ONE OF THOSE BE IF TAXES ARE PAID ON EACH ONE OF THOSE PARTIALS? YES.
A CONSIDERED RESIDENTIAL, A CONSIDERED RESIDENCE.
SO DOES THAT MEAN IT GETS SEVERAL VOTES? NO, THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT HOW IT'S GONNA OPERATE.
AND THE MORE, THE MORE YOU HAVE, THE MORE VOTES YOU HAVE.
WHAT WHAT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WHEN WHEN WE BRING THIS TO THE GOVERNING BOARD AND THEY DECIDE, YES, WE'RE READY TO ENACT, YES, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PROCESS FOR, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THIS BOARD, THERE WILL BE A PROCESS THAT YOU'LL GO THROUGH.
YOU'LL FILL OUT AN APPLICATION, YOU MAY PROVIDE A RESUME, THEN THE GOVERNING BOARD WILL VET THAT.
AND, AND AT THAT TIME THEY'LL DETERMINE, OKAY, THEY'RE A RESIDENT, THEY OWN PROPERTY, OR THEY QUALIFY COMMERCIAL BASED ON WHATNOT.
AND THEY WILL LOOK AT THAT INFORMATION AND AND VET THAT APPROPRIATELY.
THE GOVERNING BOARD WILL MAKE THAT DECISION ON.
SO WE'VE RECEIVED A FEW THOSE.
CRAIG COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR DOWNTOWN SHOULD HAVE A NON-VOTING SEAT ADVISORY BOARD SPLIT BASED ON WHO PAYS THE TAXES, RESIDENTIAL VERSUS COMMERCIAL.
SO ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WAS ASKED AT THE LAST MEETING WERE, WE'D LIKE TO KNOW WHO THE TOP 15 PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE MSDR.
SO WE DID PROVIDE THAT, UH, SWISS BEAR, UH, USING CRAVEN COUNTY GIS.
THEY DID COMPILE THAT INFORMATION.
IT'S POSTED ON, ON OUR WEBSITE@NEWNEWPORTNC.GOV.
UNDER THE MSD THERE YOU'LL SEE THE TOP 15 PROPERTY OWNERS AS COMPILED BY SWISS BEAR.
THE VALUES OF THE TOP 15 RANGE FROM 2 MILLION ALL THE WAY UP TO 20 MILLION.
SO TO REVIEW SOME OF THE PROPOSED PROJECTS UNDER LIGHTING, SIDEWALKS, PUBLIC PARKING LOTS, AND L E D ENHANCED CROSSWALKS WERE SOME OF THE PROJECTS FOR SAFETY.
WE LOOKED AT SECURITY CAMERAS.
THE EXAMPLE OF THE LOCATIONS WERE THE TRAFFIC CIRCLE DOWN ON BROAD STREET, THE INTER CORE PARKING AREA.
JAMES REED LANE FAIR PLAZA, MIDLAND P*****K STREETS DEDICATED POLICE OFFICERS DOWNTOWN TRASH PICKUP AT LEAST FOUR HOURS A DAY.
CROSSWALK UPGRADES THERMO WITH A THERMO PLASTIC BRICK PATTERN FOR A MORE COHESIVE LOOK.
LARGER STREET SIGNS ON TRAFFIC SIGNALS.
AND THEN SOME OF THE THINGS WE RECEIVED WAS A WALKING TRAIL COMPLETION OF THE RAILROAD TRACKS ON SOUTH FRONT STREET.
SIDEWALKS ARE ON THE 200 BLOCK OF SOUTH P*****K STREET, DEDICATED TRASH PICKUP IN THE INNER CORE AND EXPLORE UNDERGROUND TRASH RECEPTACLES UNDER AMENITIES.
WE RECEIVED REQUESTS FOR BIKE RACKS, PICKLEBALL COURTS, EXERCISE TRAIL, UNION POINT PARK BENCH SWINGS, FLOWER PLANNERS ON SELECT CORNER POSTS, DOWNTOWN SOUND SYSTEM, BENCH DIVIDERS, HISTORIC DOWNTOWN BANNERS, REPLACING THOSE UNDER MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR.
[00:45:02]
WE LOOKED AT REPAINTING LIGHT POLES, RE STRIPING STOP BARS, SANDBLASTING AND POWDER COATING, TRASH RECEPTACLES, REPAVING THE PARKING LOT ON P*****K STREET, WHICH IS RIGHT BEHIND US.ADDING ADDITIONAL FLOATING DOCKS AND ADDING SPIGOTS IN FRONT OF BUSINESSES ON MIDDLE P*****K AND CRAVING STREET.
SOME ADDITIONAL PROJECTS INCLUDE FARMER'S MARKET UPGRADES.
SO THE FARMER'S MARKET IS, UH, DOES PAY RENT TO THE MSD.
UM, THAT PROPERTY IS THE PROPERTY OF THE CITY, BUT MSD RECEIVES ALL THOSE FUNDS.
SO REPLACING THE GARAGE DOORS, RESTROOM ENHANCEMENT AND CEILING FAN ENHANCEMENTS ON THE RAILROAD PROPERTY BETWEEN THE FARMER'S MARKET AND THE RAILROAD TRACKS DOING SOME BEAUTIFICATION TO ENHANCE THAT.
SOME OTHER PROJECTS INCLUDE PARKING AND PIER ALONG EAST FRONT STREET NEAR THE TRAFFIC CIRCLE.
AND YOU CAN SEE A, A DIAGRAM OF THAT.
AND YOU CAN ALSO, I THINK YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THAT ON OUR WEBSITE FOR A CLOSER LOOK OF THAT.
THE CRAVEN LOT PROJECT, WHICH IS THE INTER CORE AT THE AT BETWEEN, UM, RIGHT THERE AT MORGAN'S DIGITAL WAY, FINDING SIGNS DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN AND REDUCE THE DEBT SERVICE.
THOSE ARE SOME PROPOSED PROJECTS.
SO WE ARE GOING TO GO BACK TO SOME INTERACTIVE POLLING NOW, AND I'M GONNA LET COLLEEN TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS.
BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL PROPOSED PROJECTS THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT.
AND SO YOU'RE GONNA GET FOUR OPPORTUNITIES TO VOTE FOR SOME PROJECTS.
AND IT'S EITHER GONNA BE A, B, C, D OR WHATNOT.
SO COLLEEN IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THOSE.
YOU NEED
SO THERE'S NOT BEEN A SPECIFIC COURT REQUEST FROM THE MS. D TO DO ANYTHING.
AS OF NOW, BASIC THE REQUEST
SO WE COMBINED THE REQUESTS PRESENTED TO YOU AT THE LAST MEETING WITH THE ONES WE RECEIVED AFTER THE MAY 25TH MEETING.
IN ALL, WE HAVE 29 FOR YOU TO CONSIDER BECAUSE THEY MAY BE HARD TO SEE.
I'VE BROKEN THEM UP INTO THREE SLIDES.
SO ON EACH SLIDE YOU HAVE FOUR OPPORTUNITIES TO VOTE.
SO YOU'LL SEE 10 ITEMS OF PROPOSED PROJECTS.
YOU VOTE FOR FOUR OF THEM THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE.
SO ON THE FIRST SLIDE, WHICH PROJECT WOULD YOU PRIORITIZE FROM THE FOLLOWING GROUP? AGAIN, YOU CAN VOTE FOUR TIMES.
IS IT? WE'RE GONNA SAY IT SEVERAL TIMES.
SHE'S GONNA TELL YOU SEVERAL TIMES.
B, DEDICATED POLICE OFFICERS C, LARGER STREET SIGNS ON CERTAIN TRAFFIC SIGNALS.
THE LARGER SIGNS THAT THAT NAME THE STREET D IS CROSSWALK UPGRADES.
THOSE THERMO THERMOPLASTIC BRICK PATTERN CROSSWALKS THAT TH UH, FOSTER EXPLAINED A LOT ABOUT LAST TIME.
E IS TRASH PICKUP, DEDICATED TRASH PICKUP FOR FOUR HOURS DAILY.
F IS UNDERGROUND TRASH RECEPTACLES.
THAT WAS AN IDEA SHARED WITH US AFTER THE LAST MEETING.
WALKING TRAIL COMPLETION OVER THE RAILROAD TRACKS ON SOUTH FRONT STREET.
H IS SIDEWALKS IN THE 200 BLOCK OF P*****K STREET.
J PICKLEBALL COURTS IF ANYBODY NEEDS ME TO GO BACK THROUGH THEM.
B, DEDICATED POLICE OFFICERS C, LARGER STREET SIGNS ON TRAFFIC SIGNALS.
E DEDICATED TRASH PICKUP FOR FOUR HOURS DAILY.
F UNDERGROUND TRASH RECEPTACLES.
G WALKING TRAIL COMPLETION OVER THE RAILROAD TRACKS.
H SIDEWALKS ON P*****K STREET.
I IS BIKE RACKS AND J IS PICKLEBALL COURTS.
SO THESE PROJECTS ARE ALL GONNA BE WITHIN THE MSD, CORRECT? ALL ALL OF THE PROJECTS WE DISCUSS ARE WITHIN THE MSD? THAT'S CORRECT.
AND, AND JUST, JUST SO YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT WOULD BE SUPPORTED AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN THE GOVERNING BOARD APPOINTS AN AN
[00:50:01]
ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THAT BOARD IS GONNA REALLY VET AND DETERMINE WHAT PROJECTS THEY WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO THE GOVERNING BOARD TO APPROVE.AND JUST THE REASON I ASK THAT THAT'S RIGHT.
IT WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE LITERALLY IMPOSSIBLE.
BUT LIKE I SAID, THAT WAS REQUESTED AT AT AT THE MEETING.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE IT ON HERE.
SO IF SOMEONE BROUGHT THAT UP, THAT'S WHY IT'S ON HERE.
WE'RE NOT DISCOUNTING ANYTHING THAT WE'VE RECEIVED.
YOU'LL ENTER IT THEN PRESS SEND.
ENTER IT AGAIN AND PRESS OKAY.
SO SECURITY CAMERAS A, DEDICATED POLICE OFFICERS B, LOWER STREET SIGNS ON TRAFFIC LIGHTS, C, CROSSWALK UPGRADES, D, TRASH PICKUP E, UNDERGROUND TRASH RECEPTACLES F WALKING TRAIL COMPLETION G SIDEWALKS ON SOUTH P*****K ON THE 200 BLOCK OF P*****K H BIKE RACKS I AND PICKLE BALL COURTS J.
SO GIVE IT JUST ANOTHER SECOND.
BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THE BIGGEST SUPPORT WE'VE RECEIVED ON THAT IS 21% CROSSWALK UPGRADES FOLLOWED BY 19% UNDERGROUND RE RECEPTACLES AND DEDICATED POLICE OFFICERS, UH, FOLLOWED BY SECURITY CAMERAS.
THOSE ARE WHAT WE'RE SEEING AT THE TOP FOUR, FOUR OR FIVE THINGS THERE.
QUESTION THE MS CARD, PAY FOR TRASH SERVICES.
I MEAN THAT HAS BEEN INCLUDED FOR YEARS.
PAYMENT IN THERE AS THAT STILL.
SO THERE, THERE IS A PAYMENT FOR TRASH.
IT DOES NOT ALL INCLUSIVE FOR THAT THOUGH.
SO WE DO HAVE ANY THAT WE APPROPRIATE YEARLY FOR TRASH PICKUP.
TRASH PICKUP IN THE TRASH CANS ON THE STREET.
AND WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE UNDERGROUND, UH, TRASH RECEPTACLES, THAT'S REALLY, I THINK IT'S REALLY MAIN, MAINLY AIMED AT THE INNER CORE AREA TO, TO DEAL WITH THE, THE DUMPSTER ISSUE.
ALL RIGHT, WHEN COLLEEN COMES BACK OVER HERE, WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO WE'VE GOT ABOUT 10 MORE PROJECTS ON THIS NEXT SLIDE.
AGAIN, FOUR MORE VOTES FOR THIS ONE.
WHICH PROJECTS WOULD YOU PRIORITIZE FROM THE FOLLOWING GROUP? A, EXERCISE TRAIL, B DOCKS, C, UNION POINT PARK BENCH SWINGS.
D FLOWER PLANTERS ON SELECT CORNER POLES.
E A DOWNTOWN SOUND SYSTEM F BENCH DIVIDERS G, HISTORIC DOWNTOWN BANNERS.
I STRIFE THE STOP BARS OR J SANDBLAST AND POWDERCOAT TRASH RECEPTACLES.
C, UNION POINT PARK BENCH SWINGS.
D FLOWER PLANTERS ON SELECT CORNER POLES.
E DOWNTOWN SOUND SYSTEM F BENCH DIVIDERS G, HISTORIC DOWNTOWN BANNERS, H REPAINT LIGHT POLES.
AND J SANDBLAST AND POWDERCOAT TRASH RECEPTACLES.
B DOCKS C UNION POINT PARK BENCH SWINGS.
D FLOWER PLANTERS ON SELECT CORNER POLES.
F BENCH DIVIDERS G, HISTORIC DOWNTOWN BANNERS, H REPAINT LIGHT POLES I S STRIPE STOP BARS AND J SANDBLAST AND POWDER COAT TRASH RECEPTACLES BENCH BY TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM SLEEPING.
SO WE'VE GOT AT LEAST FIVE OR SIX FOOT WIDE BENCHES.
SO PUTTING SOMETHING IN THE CENTER OF THOSE.
AND SO THE TOP BOATS THAT WE SEE ARE 16%
[00:55:02]
DOWNTOWN SOUND SYSTEM, 14% FLOWER PLANNERS ON SELECT CORNER POST 12%.UM, REPAINT LIGHT POLES AND TIED WITH 11% EACH.
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN BANNERS AND BENCH DIVIDERS.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE'VE GOT ONE MORE.
COLLEEN, ARE YOU READY? ONE MORE SET OF PROJECTS THAT WE'D LIKE YOUR INPUT ON.
WHICH PROJECTS WOULD YOU PRIORITIZE? A REPAVE P*****K STREET LOT.
INSTALL THE SPIGOTS SO THAT YOU COULD WASH OFF YOUR BUSINESS.
C FARMER'S MARKET UPGRADES, THE GARAGE DOORS, THE CEILING FANS, ET CETERA.
D ENHANCE THE RAILROAD PROPERTY BETWEEN THE FARMER'S MARKET AND THE RAILROAD TRACKS.
E INSTALLED PARKING AND APPEAR ALONG EAST FRONT STREET.
THIS IS NEAR THE TRAFFIC CIRCLE F THE CRAVEN LOT PROJECT.
THIS IS THE INNER CORE PROJECT G DIGITAL WAYFINDING H CREATION OF A DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN OR I REDUCTION OF MSDS DEBT SERVICE.
WHAT'S THE RATE ON DEBT SERVICE? WHAT'S THE RATE ON THE DEBT SERVICE VARIES RATE ANYWHERE FROM YES.
AND WE'VE ALSO GOT THAT INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE AS WELL THAT YOU CAN PULL DOWN.
I'LL GO THROUGH 'EM AGAIN FOR VOTING PURPOSES.
A REPAVE THE P*****K STREET LOT.
B, INSTALL SPIGOTS TO WASH OFF YOUR BUSINESS.
D ENHANCE THE RAILROAD PROPERTY BETWEEN THE FARMER'S MARKET AND THE RAILROAD TRACKS.
E INSTALL PARKING AND PIER ALONG EAST FRONT STREET NEAR THE TRAFFIC CIRCLE.
F THE CRAVEN LOT PROJECT, WHICH IS THE INTER CORE PROJECT G, DIGITAL WAYFINDING H CREATION OF A DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN I REDUCTION OF MSDS DEBT SERVICE.
COL, WHAT ARE OUR TOP PROJECTS ON THIS ONE? IT IS THE CRAVEN LOT PROJECT, THE INNER CORE.
THE NEXT ONE IS CREATION OF A DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN.
THE NEXT ONE IS INSTALL A PARK PARKING AND A PIER ALONG EAST FRONT STREET NEAR THE ROUNDABOUT.
AND THEY'RE CHANGING ON THE FLY.
AND THEN WE SORT OF HAVE A TIE BETWEEN INSTALLING THE SPIGOTS AND THE FARMER'S MARKET UPGRADES TO INCLUDE THE GARAGE DOORS, THE RESTROOMS, AND THE CEILING FANS.
HOW WOULD A DOWNTOWN DIFFERENT FROM LARGER AREA? IT WOULD BE AN UPDATE TO IT AND IT COULD ALSO, IT WOULD BE AN UPDATE AND IT COULD ALSO BE COMBINED WITH, WITH ANOTHER URBAN DESIGN PLAN.
BUT ANYTHING WE DID MSD FUND WISE, IT WOULD FOCUS ONLY ON THE MSD AREA DESIGN PLAN.
WE, WE BROUGHT UP SEVERAL PROJECTS, BUT THERE MAY BE SOME PROJECTS THAT YOU MAY HAVE AN INTEREST IN.
SO WHAT OTHER PROJECTS WOULD YOU PRIORITIZE FOR DOWNTOWN NEWBURN? THAT PROJECT COULD BE ANYTHING THAT YOU MAY HAVE AN INTEREST IN THAT WE HAVEN'T MENTIONED.
AND EVEN IF WE HAVE MENTIONED IT, YOU CAN REEMPHASIZE THAT.
YOU CAN TYPE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ON THIS.
THESE ARE EXAMPLES THAT I PUT IN EARLIER WHEN I WAS TESTING THE SOFTWARE.
SO DON'T, THAT'S A LOT OF A COLLEEN.
SO WHAT OTHER PROJECTS WOULD YOU PRIORITIZE IN DOWNTOWN NEWTON? I JUST THAT OKAY, SO, SO SHE PEPSI MUSEUM, INNER CORE, INNER CORE, INNER CORE, FINISHED FEDERAL, ALLEY REMOVED,
[01:00:01]
DOWNTOWN SOUND SYSTEM, PARKING DECK, PEPSI MUSEUM, PEPSI MUSEUM.PAID HOURLY PARKING AND REDESIGNED INNER CORE, INTER CORE WALK BY WALKWAY BETWEEN CRAVEN AND MIDDLE SECURITY AND LIGHTING INNER CORE.
FIGURE OUT THE PARKING SITUATION BEHIND MORGAN'S BEAR PLAZA, IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK ACCESS.
AND AND OF COURSE IS YOUR, REMEMBER WE DID ADD A LOT OF THOSE MAINTENANCE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED OVER TIME.
CROSSWALKS ARE ONE, REPAINTING LIGHT POLES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO THERE ARE A VARIETY OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, UH, AND MEAN.
BUT THIS IS JUST GIVING YOU AN EXAMPLE OF THINGS.
THIS IS REALLY GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT WHEN, WHEN A COMMITTEE IS ESTABLISHED, WE'RE REALLY GONNA TAKE A HARD LOOK AND THAT'S WHERE STAFF WILL, WILL HELP, HELP GUIDE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THINGS THAT REALLY NEED TO LOOK, WE REALLY NEED TO DO FOR SAFETY REASONS AND THINGS.
IT, IT SHOULD BE A PRIORITY THERE.
THEN OF COURSE, IT'S OBVIOUS BASED ON WHAT WE'VE SEEN, THE INNER INNER CORE IS GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT TOPIC THAT'S, THAT'S COVERED AT SOME POINT AS WELL.
SO IN TERMS OF WHAT? YEAH, SO, SO, SO WHAT I'LL TELL YOU IS THIS.
THE CITY DOES NOT REPAINT LIGHT POLES.
YOU'RE IN A HISTORIC DOWNTOWN AREA THAT IS AN IMPROVED AMENITY.
IF YOU WANT TO SEE THAT UPGRADED AND LOOK NICE, THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER DOING.
WILL, DOES THE CITY REPAINT STOP BARS THROUGHOUT THE CITY? OF COURSE WE DO.
WE DON'T PUT THERMOPLASTIC DOWN WITH THE, THE GLASS BEADS UP.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE AN ENHANCEMENT LIKE THAT DOWNTOWN? FOR, FOR, FOR ENHANCED SAFETY? THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE MSD WOULD NEED TO CONSIDER.
CAUSE WE DON'T DO THAT CITYWIDE.
SO IT'S THINGS THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA DO CITYWIDE.
AND A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT IS STREET SIGNS.
WE HAVE THE STANDARD SIZE STREET SIGNS THAT WE PUT ON THE CORNERS WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT ONE OF THE PROJECTS, PUTTING LARGER STREET SIGNS ON THE TRAFFIC LIGHT BAR.
THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST, THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WE HEAR FROM NON-RESIDENTS, FROM VISITORS TO COME TO TOWN.
THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT STREET THEY'RE ON.
AND SO THAT, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS PUT.
WE DON'T PUT THAT DOWN ANY OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE CITY SO THAT THAT WOULD BE SPECIAL FOR DOWNTOWN AREA.
SO SO THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT YES IT IS.
AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, ARE THERE ANY OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS IN NEW LIKE RESIDE CONSIDERING AN INVESTIGATION? WE HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY.
WE HAVE OFFERED THAT TO SOME THAT HAVE, THAT HAVE WANTED TO SEE ENHANCED AMENITIES, BUT WE HAVEN'T HEARD BACK FROM ANYONE.
SO WHAT OTHER COMMENTS DO YOU HAVE AFTER WE'VE GONE THROUGH THESE EXERCISES THIS EVENING? YES.
PEOPLE, UM, BE ABLE TO PUT THEIR GAME FORWARD TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
SO WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN? WE'LL JUST TALK ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS.
WE'LL, WE'RE GONNA COMPILE ALL THIS INFORMATION AND, AND THE SURVEYS THAT DID TAKE, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GO ONLINE, PULL THOSE DOWN AND, AND LOOK AND SEE WHAT, WHAT FOLKS VOTED DO.
WE'RE GONNA PRESENT THIS TO THE GOVERNING BOARD IN JULY.
WE'RE GONNA AIM FOR THE FIRST MEETING AND IN JULY, IF NOT, IT'LL BE THE SECOND MEETING AT THAT TIME.
WE'RE GONNA MAKE THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT A COMMITTEE COULD LOOK LIKE, UM, THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THEN THE BOARD WILL DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO GO AHEAD AND ESTABLISH THAT COMMITTEE.
I THINK THAT OVERALL THE BOARD HAS A DESIRE TO WANT TO DO THAT.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE BEEN HAVING THESE MEETINGS.
THAT'S WHY THE BOARD WANTS YOUR INPUT.
AND FROM THERE WE WILL ADVERTISE HOW AN INDIVIDUAL CAN APPLY.
AND THEN I THINK THE GOAL, IF, IF WE PRESENT THIS TO THE BOARD JULY, I THINK THE GOAL WOULD BE TO START APPOINTMENTS THE FOLLOWING MONTH AND THEN GET THE COMMITTEE UP AND LET THEM START DOING THEIR WORK.
SO WITHIN A FEW MONTHS, THAT'S THE GOAL.
[01:05:06]
BEEN AROUND A LONG TIMED, WAS STARTED AND FUNDED AND WENT ALL THESE YEARS TO MAKE MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE.THE, AND THINGS LIKE WAS KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, SOME MINOR I MAINTENANCE, BUT IT WAS FOR LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE PAID FOR BY THE CITY AT ANY POINT.
REMEMBER THAT ALL THESE OTHER ENTITIES ARE ALSO THINK LOT REALLY GOOD IDEAS TONIGHT.
BUT OUR MAIN PURPOSE OR MAIN PURPOSE IS ALWAYS TO FUND INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, THE SIDEWALKS AND UTILITIES UNDERGROUND CHANGE.
THE VERY NATURE OF DOWNTOWN HERE.
YOU KNOW, 10 YEARS AGO, 20 YEARS AGO, IT DID NOT LOOK LIKE THIS.
AND BY PUTTING THOSE UTILITIES UNDERGROUND, THAT CHANGED THE ESSENCE OF WALTER CHARM.
AND I THINK REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.
I ALSO WANNA REMIND EVERY THAT MS SEQUENCE, WHICH IS A COMMERCIAL DISTRICT.
I JUST THINKING IT'S COMMERCIAL DISTRICT.
WE LOVE TO INVITE PEOPLE TO COME AND TO SUPPORT BUSINESS AMENITIES SO THAT WE CAN GROW OUR BUSINESSES AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT WE PROVIDE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? DECK FOR YEARS THAT POTENTIALLY BE PROJECT, YOU KNOW, TALKED ABOUT? UM, YOU KNOW, THE SIGNAGE IS IMPORTANT.
I AGREE WITH FOSTER THAT HAVE VISITORS EVIDENCE YOU CAN'T FIND ANYTHING CAUSE THE SIGNAGE IS TOO SMALL.
UM, I'M A FAN OF THE SOUND SYSTEM, NOT TO MAKE NOISE, NOISE IN DOWNTOWN, BUT TO PROVIDE INFORMATION SUCH AS, DID YOU KNOW THERE'S TWO HOUR FREE PARKING ON THE STREET? YOU KNOW, OUTLINE LOTS ARE HERE, THERE NOW AND, AND MAYBE HISTORICAL MOMENT THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW, CHRIST CHURCH WAS FOUND AT SUCH AND SUCH TIME, YOU KNOW, INFORMATION THAT ALL NIGHT LONG.
BUT THOSE ARE TO ME, INFRASTRUCTURE TYPE NEEDS THAT WOULD ENHANCE OUR QUALITY.
SO UNDERSTAND, YEAH, THAT'S PRIVATE PROPERTY.
ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? YES.
YOU SAID, UM, YOU SAID THERE WAS PERIOD OF TIME.
UH, WE DON'T WANNA HOLD MONEY FOR FIVE YEARS AND DO NOTHING WITH IT.
THAT'S A GREAT, THAT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE BECAUSE THEN WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE MSD? THAT, THAT THAT'S HOW THE STATUTE'S ADDRESSED.
AND, AND HISTORICALLY THIS CITY HAS SPENT FUNDS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS OUT OF THE MSSD FOR IMPROVEMENTS.
HENCE ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT, THAT YOU'VE SEEN, WHETHER IT BE FOR MAINTENANCE OR WHATNOT.
BUT IT'S, LIKE I SAID, IT'S SPELLED OUT.
BUT WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU.
DID YOU SEND PAY OFF ONE YOU SAID? UH, YES, IT COULD.
I BELIEVE THAT CALCULATION THAT WAS USED TO DETERMINE SAID ASSOCIATED BAPTIST CHURCH PARKING LOT.
[01:10:08]
I DIDN'T CHECK THAT.I'M JUST SAYING THAT'S PROBABLY A VERY EXPENSIVE PIECE OF PROPERTY TAX VALUE CALCULATION.
AND OF COURSE WE WILL VERIFY THAT INFORMATION IF YOU SIGNED UP FOR, FOR EMAIL UPDATES AND THINGS.
WE'LL, WE'LL DEFINITELY SEND THAT OUT AND LET YOU KNOW.
JUST ONE LAST THING I'VE GOT, JUST SHOW OF HANDS.
UM, IF THE BOARD DOES APPOINT A COMMITTEE, JUST RAISE YOUR HAND WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SERVING SO WE'VE GOT A GOOD REPRESENTATION OF FOLKS THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED.
YOU'VE GOT TO PAY TAX WITHIN THE MST.
FOLKS, I WANNA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ATTENDING TONIGHT.
THE NEXT, THE NEXT TIME THAT WE TALK ABOUT MSD WILL BE AT A GOVERNING BOARD MEETING AT, AT ONE OR THE OTHER MEETING IN JULY.
WE'LL ALSO LET YOU KNOW SINCE YOU'RE ON OUR MAILING LIST, AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME BACK AT THAT TIME AS WELL AND, AND LISTEN TO WHAT THE BOARD DECIDES TO DO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE WILL BE HERE FOR A WHILE TO ANSWER ANYTHING YOU MAY HAVE.
WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE START OF THIS POLLING NIGHT.