Aug 08, 2023 Board of Aldermen

UH, ITEM NUMBER FOUR, REQUEST IN PETITION OF CITIZENS.

ANY OPPOSED? ITEM CARRIES.

[4. Request and Petition of Citizens. ]

MADAM CLERK.

DETAINED, UM, AN ATTORNEY OR NOT.

FIRST ONE IS SASHA STRAYHORN OF FOUR 30 CICERO RIGGS ROAD.

GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY.

GOOD EVENING.

GIVE THEM YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS AND LET THEM KNOW YOU WANT ME TO HELP.

MY NAME IS SASHA STRAYHORN.

ADDRESS IS FOUR 50 CICERO REDS ROAD IN COVE CITY, NORTH CAROLINA, AND SHE'LL BE SPEAKING FOR ME.

MY NAME IS JAMIA HARRIS.

I LIVE AT 2 2 2 MONTEREY CIRCLE.

UM, I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE, UM, I WAS ASKED BY THE FAMILY AND MY SO WAR, UM, MS. STRAYHORN IN REGARDS TO THE INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED.

UM, THE FIRST THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT IS I APPRECIATE YOU CHIEF FOR COMING UP, BUT I FEEL LIKE HAVING THIS HAPPEN BEFORE SHE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY HER PART WAS GASLIGHTING.

UM, THE SECOND THING IS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT'S ON THIS VIDEO, THE PERSON THAT CALLED THE POLICE NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH BECAUSE THIS CHILD IS AUTISTIC.

RIGHT? WHEN WE HAVE INCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED, I KNOW WHEN I SAT ON THE BOARD, I WAS TOLD ABOUT A PROGRAM THAT WAS GONNA BE HAPPENING WHERE THERE'S GOING TO BE SOMEONE THAT'S GONNA BE DISPATCHED TO SITUATIONS LIKE THIS SO THAT THEY'RE HANDLED PROPERLY.

THIS CHILD IS 10 YEARS OLD, HE'S NONVERBAL.

FIRST OF ALL, THE POLICE OFFICER SHOULD APPROACH THE MOTHER AND SPOKE TO THEM TO MAKE SURE THE SITUATION WAS PROPER.

YOU DO NOT KNOW UNLESS YOU'RE A MOTHER THAT HAS A CHILD OR A FATHER THAT HAS A CHILD OR A PARENT PERIOD THAT HAS A CHILD WITH AUTISM, HOW TO INTERFERE IN THAT.

THIS CHILD IS NOW HAVE EVEN MORE ADDED TRAUMA BECAUSE THEY WERE HANDCUFFED.

THAT'S ON THE VIDEO.

THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WHY WE'RE HERE.

A 10 YEAR OLD AUTISTIC NONVERBAL CHILD WAS HANDCUFFED BY THE POLICE AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION.

SO SHE WENT AND DID THE PROPER PROTOCOL.

SHE SPOKE AND WHAT SHE STATED WAS THAT IT WAS STATED THAT IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT HOW THE PROCESS HAPPENED WAS NOT THE BEST WAY IT SHOULD BE HANDLED, AND THEY WERE OFFERED A GIFT.

ONE, WE THINK THAT'S DISRESPECTFUL.

AND TWO, WHAT WE WANT OUT OF THIS SITUATION IS SOME SORT OF UNDERSTANDING AND PROACTIVE APPROACH MOVING FORWARD IN THESE SITUATIONS.

BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS CHILD HAS BEEN TRAUMATIZED AND THEN THEY WERE TRULY A PERSON IN THIS SITUATION, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THESE DOCUMENTS.

IF THERE'S NOT SOMEONE THAT CAN THOROUGHLY EXPLAIN, SHE FELT THAT SHE HAD TO SIGN THOSE DOCUMENTS TO BRING TO THE HOSPITAL, THEN THAT'S ANOTHER SITUATION.

THE CHILD'S BLOOD WAS DRAWN.

THERE'S A LOT OF DISCREPANCIES IN THIS SITUATION, BUT WE'RE STARTING WITH YOU FIRST BECAUSE THE POLICE ARE PAID AND EMPLOYED BY THE CITY OF NEW BERN.

SO, YOU KNOW, THERE NEEDS TO BE FURTHER CONVERSATION.

I DON'T KNOW IF SHE HAS

[00:10:01]

I KNOW THAT ONCE THAT HAPPENS, SHE NO LONGER SPEAKS TO YOU.

SHE'LL SPEAK, UH, THE ATTORNEY WILL SPEAK TO, UM, SCOTT DAVIS, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE THAN APOLOGY.

THE VIDEO NEEDS TO COME OUT EXPEDITIOUSLY, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, NO 10 YEAR OLD CHILD SHOULD BE HANDCUFFED.

AND IF THE PERSON ON THE PHONE LET THE DISPATCHER KNOW THAT THE CHILD WAS AUTISTIC, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RELAYED TO THE POLICE OFFICER SO THAT THEY HAD A BETTER UNDERSTANDING ON HOW TO APPROACH THE SITUATION.

SHE IS IN SHAMBLES.

THE FAMILY IS IN SHAMBLES.

THE COMMUNITY IS OUT HERE TO SUPPORT 'CAUSE OBVIOUSLY SOCIAL MEDIA, WE ARE GONNA MAKE SURE WE GET THINGS OUT.

WE COME IN PEACE, BUT WE COME TO GET UNDERSTANDING ON WHY THIS SITUATION HAPPENED AND WHAT IS GONNA BE IN PLACE IF THIS HAPPENS.

AGAIN.

MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER HER OR? WE HAVE WAIT TO THE END OF THE MEETING.

WE'RE WE'RE NOT GONNA, THERE'S A PENDING INVESTIGATION, SO WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS.

NEXT UP IS CHERISE STRAHORN CHERISE STRAYHORN? SHE, SHE'S NOT ON HERE.

THE PETITION OF CITIZENS.

[Consent Agenda ]

THE BOARD HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE CONSENT AGENDA.

MAY I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IS? I'LL SECOND IT.

HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

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

ALDERMAN KENZIE? YES.

ALDERMAN DUST? YES.

ALDERMAN BRINSON? YES.

MAYOR ODOM? YES.

MOTION CARRIES.

[10. Conduct a Public Hearing and Consider Adopting an Ordinance Amending Sections 15-416, 15-417, and 15-423(d) of the Land Use Ordinance. ]

ITEM NUMBER 10 IS TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 15 4 16 15 4 17 AND 15 423 D OF THE LAND USE ORDINANCE.

MS. RU.

HI.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND BOARD.

THIS EVENING WE HAVE BEFORE YOU A PROPOSED SMALL TEXT AMENDMENT PACKAGE THAT WOULD IMPACT SECTIONS 15 DASH 4 16 15 DASH FOUR SEVEN AND SECTION 15 DASH 4 23 D OF OUR LAND USE ORNAMENTS.

AND SO IN PLAIN ENGLISH, WHAT'S BEING REQUESTED IS 15 DASH FOUR 16 GOVERNS THE DETERMINATION OF A FRONT SETBACK IN OUR HISTORIC DISTRICT.

AND THIS SECTION WAS INADVERTENTLY LEFT OUT IN DECEMBER WHEN WE DID A LARGER PACKAGE OF LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS TO THE ENTIRE ORDINANCE FOR CONSISTENCY WITH THE UPDATED STATE STATUTES.

AND THE LANGUAGE IS BEING REQUESTED TO GO BACK IN SLIGHTLY MODIFIED FROM THE LEGACY LANGUAGE.

IT MODIFIES, UM, HOW YOU CALCULATE THAT FRONT SETBACK RATHER THAN DOING IT ON CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES WHICH ARE HISTORIC.

THE H P C AND THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD HAVE RECOMMENDED A SMALL MODIFICATION TO JUST USING ADJACENT STRUCTURES INSTEAD.

NO OTHER CHANGES BEING PROPOSED THERE FROM WHAT EXISTED UNTIL DECEMBER.

IN SECTION 15 DASH 417, THAT'S OUR SECTION THAT GOVERNED, UH, PARKING STANDARDS IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.

THAT IS JUST A REPLACEMENT OF WHAT WAS INADVERTENTLY LEFT OUT DURING THAT AMENDMENT PACKAGE IN DECEMBER.

AND THEN SECTION 15 DASH 4 23 THAT GOVERNS PROCEDURES.

AND THAT IS JUST CORRECTING A TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR THAT WAS MADE DURING THAT UPDATE.

IT CURRENTLY READS ONE 70 D AND OF COURSE IT DID REFERENCE ONE 60 D, WHICH IS A REFERENCE TO THE STATE'S STATUTE.

JUS THESE TEXT AMENDMENTS ARE COMING RECOMMENDED TO YOU FROM BOTH THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION AS WELL AS THE PLANNING ZONING BOARD, UH, UNANIMOUSLY.

THEY BOTH REVIEWED THE TEXT AMENDMENT PACKAGE AT THEIR MEETINGS IN JULY AND THEY FOUND TO BE, HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE REASONABLE AND IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND GENERALLY CONSISTENT WITH ALL CITY ADAPTED PLANS.

DOES BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? OKAY.

AT THIS TIME I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM NUMBER 10.

IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO COME SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD SINCE NO ONE'S COMING FORTH.

MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

A AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.

WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? ON ITEM NUMBER 10, MAYOR, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 15 DASH 416 15 DASH 407 AND 15 DASH 4 23 D OF THE LAND USE ORDINANCE.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE AMENDMENT.

[00:15:01]

ITEM NUMBER 11, CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON FINANCING OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE STANLEY WHITE RECREATION CENTER.

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

[11. Conduct a Public Hearing on Financing of the Construction of the Stanley White Recreation Center. ]

MS. OSRAM, UM, NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL STATUTE 1 68 DASH 20 REQUIRES A PUBLIC HEARING WHEN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS INTEND TO FINANCE REAL PROPERTY.

AT THE JULY 11TH BOARD MEETING, A RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED TO CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED FINANCING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE STANLEY WHITE REC CENTER IN THE AMOUNT OF UP TO $10 MILLION.

THE INSTALLMENT FINANCE AGREEMENT IS ANTICIPATED TO CONSIST OF TWO COMPONENTS, A LONG-TERM PORTION OF, UM, 6.5 MILLION IN A SHORTER TERM OF 3.5 MILLION FOR CASHFLOW PURPOSES DUE TO THE LAG OF FEMA REIMBURSEMENTS, I ASK THAT WE CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING.

DOES BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS FOR MS. OSTROM BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? HEARING NONE AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 11, WHICH IS THE FINANCING OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE STANLEY WHITE RECREATION CENTER.

ANYBODY HAS ANY COMMENTS? FEEL FREE TO COME FORWARD.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.

GOOD EVENING.

JAMES O. WOODS, JR.

19 0 3 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD, NEWBURY, NORTH CAROLINA.

UH, I JUST WANT CLARIFICATION, THIS IS IN THE LOAN IS SOMETHING OTHER BESIDES THE MONEY THAT'S ALREADY BEEN PUT ASIDE FOR THE STANLEY WHITE RECORD CENTER, IS THAT CORRECT? THIS IS TO TALK ABOUT FINANCING PART OF THAT TO REIMBURSE OURSELF WITH THE FUNDING THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE BACK FROM FEMA.

IS THAT CORRECT? STAFF? THAT'S CORRECT.

SO WE'RE NOT SO, SO THE LOAN IS TO DO BEFORE WE GET THE FEMA WHILE WE'RE WAITING ON THE FEMA MONEY? THAT'S CORRECT.

IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET THE REIMBURSEMENTS FROM FEMA, SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE GETTING THE LOAN FOR, FOR UP TO THAT AMOUNT.

UM, ONCE WE SUBMIT, UH, THAT INFORMATION TO FEMA, IT COULD TAKE LITERALLY UP TO SIX MONTHS TO GET THAT BACK.

SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO, TO BE LIQUID AND AND FLUID WITH OUR ACCOUNTING.

SO WILL THE $10 MILLION BE ENOUGH? BECAUSE I'VE HEARD A NUMBER FROM THIS BOARD OF 13 MILLION SET ASIDE FOR THE BUILDING OF STANLEY WHITE.

NOW, IF WE HAVE TO GET A LOAN TO CONTINUE THAT, WE, OUR FLUIDITY, IS THAT $13 MILLION ALREADY SET ASIDE OR IS THIS $10 MILLION PART OF THAT $13 MILLION? THE, THE 10 MILLION IS PART OF THAT $13 MILLION.

AND SO WE HAVE THE, THE BOARD HAS APPROVED PROJECT AND THE CONTRACT AT $13.1 MILLION FOR THE STANLEY WRIGHT RECREATION CENTER PROJECT AND THAT'S THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS THAT ARE GONNA BE SPENT ON THAT.

ANYONE ELSE? I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

SAY AGAIN? I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.

WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD ON ITEM NUMBER 11? ACTUALLY, IS THERE ANYTHING WE NEED TO DO? NO, JUST A PUBLIC HEARING 12.

JUST HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING.

ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 12.

[12. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving the Preliminary Findings for the Financing of the Stanley White Recreation Center and Authorizing the Filing of an Application with the Local Government Commission. ]

[13. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving the Preliminary Findings for Financing 0f Sewer Improvements and Authorizing the Filing of an Application with the Local Government Commission. ]

I'LL MAKE A MOTION, UM, TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION OF APPRO, THE PRELIMINARY FINDINGS FOR THE FINANCING OF THE STANLEY WHITE RECREATION CENTER AND AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF AN APPLICATION WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION AND ADOPTING A RESOLUTION OF PROVING THE PRELIMINARY FINDINGS FOR FINANCING OF SEWER IMPROVEMENTS AND AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF AN APPLICATION WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION.

NUMBER 12 IS TO CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PRELIMINARY FINDINGS FOR THE FINANCING OF THE STANLEY WHITE RECREATION CENTER AND AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF AN APPLICATION WITH THE L G C MS. O.

UM, SO DAVENPORT PUBLIC FINANCE PRESENTED, UH, FINANCING OPTIONS AT THE JULY 11TH BOARD MEETING FOR THE STANLEY WHITE REC CENTER, THE SEWER IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND THE VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT PURCHASES.

THE NEXT TWO ITEMS, NUMBER 12 AND NUMBER 13, ARE REQUIRED IN CONSISTS OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION TO THE L G C AND SOLICITATION OF FINANCING PROPOSALS FROM LENDING INSTITUTIONS.

THE L G C WILL CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE APPLICATION AT ITS SEPTEMBER MEETING.

ITEM NUMBER 12 IS FOR THE SAILING LAKE REC CENTER, AND I'M NOT SURE IF YOU CAN COMBINE THOSE, BUT NUMBER 13 IS FOR THE, UM, THE SEWER IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

SO BOARD, AS LONG AS, UM, IT'S UNANIMOUS, WE COULD COMBINE 12 AND 13 IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO SO.

IT'S A PLEASURE OF THE BOARD.

MAYOR,

[00:20:01]

SECOND, HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ITEM NUMBER 14, CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION APPROVING A LETTER OF ENGAGEMENT FOR BOND COUNCIL SERVICES WITH WOMBLE BOND DICKINSON.

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

[14. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving a Letter of Engagement for Bond Counsel Services with Womble Bond Dickinson LLP. ]

L L P MS. OSTRA, AS YOU'RE AWARE, THE CITY IS PURSUING ISSUANCE OF REVENUE, BONDS AND INSTALLMENT FINANCINGS FOR THE SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, THE SAILING WHITE REC CENTER PROJECT, AND THE CAPITAL PURCHASES OF VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT.

THE CITY HAS PREVIOUSLY ENGAGED WITH MBO, CARLISLE, SANDRIDGE AND RICE L L P IN OCTOBER, 2012, WHICH IS NOW MBO BOND DICKINSON, L L P FOR BOND COUNCIL SERVICES.

AN UPDATED DATED LETTER OF ENGAGEMENT IS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD FOR NECESSARY SERVICES RELATED TO THE DEBT, AUTHORIZATIONS AND ISSUANCE PROCESSES.

THIS IS A FEE-BASED SERVICE, AND IF YOU NOTICE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE AGENDA ITEM COVER SHEET, THE TOTAL COST FOR THEIR SERVICES RELATED TO THESE THREE FINANCING ENGAGEMENTS IS NOT TO EXCEED $80,000.

THESE FEES WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE LOANS.

MR. BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS ON ITEM NUMBER 14.

I MAKE A MOTION AS MAYOR THAT WE ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF APPROV, A LETTER OF ENGAGEMENT FOR BOND COUNCIL SERVICES WITH WOMBLE BOND DICKERSON, L L P.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ITEM NUMBER 15 IS A PRESENTATION ON NEW UTILITY BILLING FORMAT.

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

[15. Presentation on New Utility Billing Format. ]

BELIEVE CHARLIE BOUCHARD IS GOING TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR BOARD ALDERMAN, I BRING GOOD NEWS TONIGHT.

SOMETHING I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT, SOMETHING STAFF'S VERY EXCITED ABOUT, SHARE WITH ME AS I GO BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN MY GLASSES AND THE GREEN AND CAN'T SEE WHAT'S UP CLOSE AND WHAT'S FAR AWAY AT THE SAME TIME.

BUT, UH, UM, I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU, UH, WHAT STAFF HAS DONE REGARDING OUR UTILITY BILL FORMAT AND, UH, WALK YOU THROUGH WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW.

UM, IN GENERAL IT'S VERY, VERY HARD TO READ AND IT'S HARD TO PICK OUT EACH SERVICE, UM, AS USED BY THE CONSUMER.

AND, UH, ALSO THE GRAPHS THERE, THERE, UM, THEY'RE NOT VALIDATED.

UH, WE'RE NOT REAL SURE EXACTLY HOW THE, THE PRINTER IS GETTING THIS INFORMATION, SO THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN A QUESTION IN MY MIND.

I'VE SEEN SOME, SOME THAT ARE OFF FROM TIME TO TIME AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT REALLY BRINGS ANY VALUE, UM, TO THE UTILITY BILL AS IT'S BEEN, UH, PRESENTED GOING FORWARD.

UH, WE'VE REDESIGNED A, A NEW UTILITY BILLING FORMAT, WHICH I THINK, UM, IMMEDIATELY, UM, JUMPS OUT, UH, WITH NOTIF NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCES.

IF I CAN SCROLL THIS DOWN, THAT RIGHT ARROW, THE RIGHT ARROW.

I'LL SCROLL DOWN.

I GUESS I CAN'T GET IT ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.

NO, THAT WAS THE P D F.

UM, YOU TRY THE POWERPOINT.

WHAT'S THAT? DO YOU WANT TO TRY THE POWERPOINT INSTEAD? IF YOU'D LIKE, I CAN SEE IT ALL AT ONE TIME THERE.

AREA LIGHTS AND WHATEVER ELECTRIC SERVICES YOU HAVE AND, AND THE AMOUNT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

SO IN THIS POWERPOINT, NOT EVERYTHING TRANSFERRED, UM, QUITE EXACTLY, UH, THE WAY IT SHOULD IN THE CONVERSION FROM THE P D F, BUT IN THAT FIRST TOP WHERE THE LIGHT BULB IS, IT WOULD SAY ELECTRICITY AND THEN, UM,

[00:25:01]

AND THE POINT IS THAT ALL YOUR UTILITY SERVICES, ALL YOUR ENTERPRISE SERVICE FUNDS, UM, SERVICES THAT YOU RECEIVE FOR THEM ARE ALL SUMMARIZED UPFRONT, EASY TO READ, PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEIR COST IS WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH THE REST OF THE BILL AND SORT IT OUT.

AS YOU SCROLL THROUGH THE REST OF THE BILL WITH YOUR EYES, YOU CAN PICK UP, YOU KNOW, MORE DETAILS THAT, THAT ARE USED TO, TO COME UP WITH THE INFORMATION IN THE TOP OF THE BILL.

THIS IS THE BACK OF THE BILL, OF THE OLD BILL.

AND I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT HERE, UM, AS SHERRY BENSON WOULD SAY, UH, THERE'S JUST TOO MANY WORDS AND NOBODY'S GONNA READ THIS.

UM, IT HAS ALL OF OUR INFORMATION ON IT, BUT IT'S JUST WAY, WAY TOO BUSY.

UM, AND NOBODY'S READING IT.

SO WE REFORMATTED, UH, THE BACK OF THE UTILITY BILL AND ALL THE SAME INFORMATION, UH, THAT WAS ON THE OLD BILL IS IS HERE ON THE NEW BILL.

UM, BUT WE'VE MODERNIZED IT WITH SOME, SOME ICONS THAT ARE RECOGNIZABLE, UH, TODAY BY, UH, BY OUR CONSUMERS.

AND HOPEFULLY THAT'S A LOT EASIER TO READ AND NAVIGATE, SIGN UP FOR SERVICES AND, AND SEE SOME OF THE DETAILS THAT MAY, THEY MAY WANT TO BE, THEY MAY BE INTERESTED IN.

UM, SO CUSTOMERS WILL BEGIN SEEING THIS NEW FORMAT FOR A BILL, UM, AFTER AUGUST 28TH.

UM, THIS IS ALL POSSIBLE THROUGH AN UPGRADE TO OUR NEW BILLING SYSTEM.

NOT NEW BILLING SYSTEM, BUT AN UPGRADE TO OUR EXISTING BILLING SYSTEM.

UM, WHICH INCLUDES OUR, ALL OF OUR CUSTOMER INFORMATION SYSTEM, ALL OUR, OUR BILLING INFORMATION AND ALL OF OUR PAYMENTS.

UM, WE'LL GO LIVE WITH THIS UPGRADE ON AUGUST 28TH, UH, BORROWING NO COMPLICATIONS BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, BUT HOWEVER, BEFORE WE DO THAT, WE NEED TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS AND FINE TUNE, UM, THIS SYSTEM BEFORE WE GO LIVE WITH IT.

SO I'M PLANNING TO CLOSE OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE OPERATION FOR TWO DAYS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 25TH AND MONDAY, AUGUST 28TH.

THAT'LL GIVE TI STAFF TIME TO WORK FRIDAY THROUGH THE WEEKEND AND MONDAY AND GET THE SYSTEM UP AND READY TO GO LIVE ON AUGUST 29TH.

AND THEN AFTER THAT, THOSE CUSTOMERS THAT ARE BILLED AFTER AUGUST 29TH WOULD START RECEIVING A NEW BILLING FORMAT.

SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

I THINK IT'S LONG OVERDUE.

IT'S MUCH EASIER TO READ FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.

UM, IT'S ALL POSSIBLE NOW THROUGH OUR, OUR UPGRADED BILLING SYSTEM.

AND, AND I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT THEY'VE SPENT ON THIS BOARD.

HAVE QUESTIONS? UM, CHARLIE, I I LIKE THE NEW DESIGN.

I THINK IT IS MORE RITA FRIENDLY.

UM, I LIKE IT MYSELF.

BUT I HAVE A QUESTION.

THE TWO DAYS AT YOUR OFFICE IS GONNA BE CLOSED.

SO IF A CUSTOMER'S PAYMENT IS DUE WITHIN THOSE TWO DAYS, HOW WOULD THAT BE TREATED IF THEY'RE NOT BEING GONNA BE ABLE TO VISIT OFFICE? CORRECT.

WE, WE, WE WILL, WE'LL SUSPEND DISCONNECTS FOR THAT WEEK AND FOR THAT TIME PERIOD IF THE BILL IS DUE.

UM, AND WE, WE'LL GO OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL AS OUR AUTOMATED VOICE MESSAGING SYSTEM AND WE'LL ALERT CUSTOMERS, UM, PROBABLY STARTING TOMORROW TO SEND OUT THOSE MESSAGES THAT, HEY, OUR, OUR PAYMENT OFFICE IS GONNA BE CLOSED FOR THOSE TWO DAYS.

AND WE'LL ALSO START NOTIFYING CUSTOMERS THAT THEY'LL START RECEIVING THE NEW BILLS.

AND IF THEY SEE A DIFFERENT LOOKING BILL IN THE MAIL COME SEPTEMBER THAT DON'T BE SURPRISED IT'S REAL.

YOU DON'T THINK IT'S REAL.

CALL US AND WE'LL VALIDATE IT FOR YOU.

UH, SO I HOPE TO GET OUT TO, IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE AND START LETTING OUR CUSTOMERS KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

TO, UM, GET ADDITIONAL WORD OUT ABOUT THE LOAN MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR THE ELECTRIC UTILITY.

CHARLIE.

WILL CUSTOMERS STILL BE ABLE TO PAY ONLINE OR DROP ANYTHING OFF IN THE DROPBOX OR AT WALMART? YES.

THANK YOU FOR, FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

ALL OF OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE OPERATIONS WILL STILL BE GOING ON DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME.

WE JUST CANNOT ACCOMMODATE CUSTOMERS WALKING IN AND MAKING PAYMENTS.

SO ALL THE PAYMENTS CAN BE PROCESSED ELECTRONICALLY.

YOU CAN, UM, DROP 'EM IN THE DROPBOX.

THE DRIVE THROUGH WILL BE CLOSED AND THE FRONT DOOR WILL BE CLOSED.

BUT WE'LL ANSWER OUR PHONES, WE'LL RESPOND TO EMAILS.

IF SOMEBODY REALLY NEEDS TO COME IN AND WALK THROUGH AN APPLICATION, WE'LL LET THEM IN THE FRONT DOOR AND WE'LL WORK WITH THEM ON A ONE-ON-ONE BASIS.

BUT, UH, ALL THE OPERATIONS SHOULD BE RELATIVELY NORMAL OTHER THAN REALLY THE CATCH IS TAKING CASH PAYMENTS DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME THAT REALLY TRIPS US UP.

CHARLIE, UM, I THINK, UH, ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM A RESIDENT, UH, LATE LAST WEEK.

UM, THE RESIDENT MADE A SUGGESTION THAT WITH THE CHANGE OF THE FORMAT OF THE BILLING, THAT THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY

[00:30:01]

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT SUGGESTION HAD BEEN HAD MADE IT TO YOU OR NOT.

UM, AND I'M SURE YOU HAVE A PROGRAM IN PLACE EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT IT, BUT JUST PASSING THAT SUGGESTION ON TO YOU THAT, THAT MAYBE IN ADDITION TO THIS, THAT SOMETHING COULD, COULD BE PUT OUT JUST REMINDING PEOPLE THAT THAT PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE AND THE BENEFITS OF, UH, MAYBE GETTING INVOLVED IN IT.

WE, WE GAVE THAT SOME FORETHOUGHT DURING THE DESIGN PROCESS AND I'LL TRY TO EXPLAIN IT TO YOU.

UH, SEE WHERE THE, THE WORD NEW FORMAT IS ON THE, ON THE SLIDE.

UM, THAT SPACE HAS BEEN RESERVED FOR CAMPAIGNS OR WHAT I WOULD CALL FLAVOR OF THE DAY INFORMATION THAT THE UTILITY OR THE CITY MAY WANT TO PUT OUT ON A, ON A REGULAR BASIS AND THEN CHANGE IT.

WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHANGE THAT, UM, OFTEN.

AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER AREA OF THE TOP OF THE BILL, UM, THAT HAS BEEN RESERVED FOR, UH, SPECIAL INFORMATION IF YOU'RE ON PAY AS YOU GO.

UM, IF YOU'VE HAD A BANK DRAFT.

SO THERE IS SOME, SOME SPACE RESERVED ON THAT BILL THAT STAFF CAN, CAN PUT UPDATED INFORMATION IN A CAMPAIGN FOR LOAD MANAGEMENT AND EDUCATION INFORMATION SO WE CAN, WE CAN UPDATE AND CHANGE THAT AS THE NEED EXISTS AND AS, AS OUR CUSTOMERS, UM, GIVE US FEEDBACK.

SO THERE IS SOME SPACE THERE TO DO THAT.

CHARLIE, I APPRECIATE THE CHANGES.

SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT PROBABLY EIGHT YEARS AGO, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

UM, OFTENTIMES I'M SURE THE BOARD PROBABLY GETS COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS ABOUT HOW MUCH MORE THEIR BILL IS VERSUS THEIR FRIEND.

AND THEIR FRIEND IS ON DUKE AND DUKE IS ONLY ELECTRICITY AND WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE OTHER SERVICES.

SO HOPEFULLY THIS WILL HELP CLARIFY THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

SO WHEN FOLKS ARE COMPARING THEIR CITY OF NEW BEVILLE WITH DUKE, THEY WILL LOOK AT THE ELECTRICITY, THEY'LL LOOK AT THE LIGHT BULB SECTION.

'CAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHAT THEY NEED TO COMPARE.

ALRIGHT, ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, CHARLIE.

ALRIGHT, ITEM NUMBER 16 IS CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGERS TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH BARNHILL CONSTRUCTION FOR THE RACETRACK ROAD PROJECT.

THAT'S GOOD CHARLIE.

[16. Consider Adopting a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Contract with Bamhill Construction for the Racetrack Road Project. ]

MR. GILES.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR BOARD.

UM, THIS IS KIND OF A CULMINATION PROJECT OF MANY THINGS.

ONE BEING THE, IN 2020 WE DID A FEASIBILITY STUDY OF AN APPROPRIATE WIDENING TO ACCOMMODATE BOTH VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT ALONG RACETRACK ROAD.

UM, AND THAT THAT RESULTED IN THE SELECTION OF WHAT WAS CURRENTLY ON THE PLANS.

IT ALSO INCLUDED A FINDING IN A 2019 DRAINAGE STUDY OF A CULVERT THAT'S ALSO ON RACETRACK ROAD THAT WE'VE INCORPORATED INTO THIS PROJECT.

SO AS WE HAD ALL THE PLANS FINALLY DONE, TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION THE DRAINAGE STUDY AND THE FEASIBILITY STUDY, WE BID THIS OUT ON JUNE 27TH.

WE ONLY HAD ONE BIDDER AT THAT OPENING.

SO WE WENT BACK OUT READVERTISED AT A JULY 18TH DAY OF OPENING.

WE HAD TWO BIDDERS.

UM, ONE BID WAS CONSIDERED NON-RESPONSIVE AND THE OTHER BID WAS BY BARNHILL CONTRACTING.

THE TOTAL OF THE BID WAS $1,003,703 AND 40 CENTS.

WE'RE MAKING A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD TO APPROVE THE CITY MANAGER EXECUTING ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, ALL CONTRACT DOCUMENTS AND ANY CHANGE ORDERS FOR THE RACETRACK ROAD WIDENING PROJECT BOARD.

HAVE QUESTIONS? NOBODY HAVE QUESTIONS.

I'D LIKE TO, UH, MAKE A MOTION THAT, UM, WE AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE WITH THE BARNHILL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTING CO CONTRACTING FOR THE RACETRACK ROAD PROJECT.

SECOND, HAVE A MOTION A SECOND BEFORE, UH, WE VOTE ON THAT.

UM, IF I COULD JUST ASK GEORGE A QUESTION, GEORGE, I MEAN THE, THE, UM, RECONSTRUCTION OF THE ROADWAY, UH, IT'S BEING WIDENED BY ADDITIONAL SIX FEET.

DEDICATED PEDESTRIAN SITE.

WHAT? UM, FROM, FROM ELIZABETH AVENUE NORTH, THE RAILROAD TRACKS WE'RE GONNA GO FROM A 22 FOOT ROAD CURRENTLY TO A 28 FOOT ROAD.

THERE ARE CURRENTLY TWO 11 FOOT LANES.

WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS ACTUALLY NARROW THE LANE TRAVEL WIDTH DOWN TO 10 WITH THE STRIPING, UM, TO ACTUALLY ACCOMMODATE SOME SLOWER SPEEDS, WE HOPE.

AND THEY'LL ALSO ALLOW FOR A WIDER PAGE SHOULDER.

UH, FOR PEDESTRIANS, WE DO REALIZE THAT WE HAVE SCHOOL BUS ACTIVITY ON THAT ROAD THEY'LL NEED TO PASS.

SO WE, WE DO WANT TO KEEP THE TRAFFIC TO SPEED TO A MINIMUM WITH, WITH THE NARROW LANES.

SO I, I THINK YOU JUST REALLY ANSWERED MY QUESTION.

THE, THERE WILL BE A

[00:35:01]

WE'RE GONNA HAVE WIDER PAGE SHOULDER.

THIS IS NOT QUITE WIDE ENOUGH TO CALL A DEDICATED PEDESTRIAN.

THAT WAS OUR GOAL WITH WITHIN THE ROADSIDE DITCHES THAT ARE THERE WITHOUT HAVING GOING TO GREAT INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES ON THAT ROADWAY.

AND WILL THAT BE DELINEATED CLEARLY WITH LINE STRIPING WITH THE YES.

YES SIR.

THERMO STRIKING WILL BE ON THAT.

AND THEN, AND THEN NORTH OF THE RAILROAD TRACKS, WE'RE JUST GONNA BE RESURFACING FROM THERE TO MS. BOULEVARD.

IT WILL NOT GET WIDE IN THAT SECTION ALONG THE RESIDENTIAL SECTION BACK TOWARDS ELIZABETH WILL BE LOUDER.

HOW SOON WILL THE, UH, D O T START TO WORKING WITH THE INTERSECTION COMING OFF OF NOS BOULEVARD THERE TO EXIT ONTO RACETRACK ROAD? HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THAT? ABOUT THAT? WE HAVE SEEN CONCEPT PLANS.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S INCLUDED IN THE FUNDING CYCLE RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY ARE CONCEPT PLANS.

SOME, SOME ADDRESS IT ADDRESSING THAT WHOLE ROADWAY RIGHT THERE.

RENSON, DO YOU HAVE ANY UPDATES ON THAT FROM THE M P O I I DO NOT.

THAT, THAT HASN'T BEEN DISCUSSED YET.

BUT, UH, I I WAS GONNA ASK A QUESTION.

SURE, GO AHEAD.

UM, ON, ON THIS PROJECT, IF THEY DISCUSSED IF THEY'RE GONNA HAVE A PARTIAL CLOSURE OR A FULL CLOSURE, WE WILL HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF HOW THE TRAFFIC CONTROL WILL BE PATTERNED ONCE WE, WE GET INTO DISCUSSIONS CLOSER TO SETTING A A NOTICE PERCEIVED DATE.

UM, AND THERE IS INCLUDED IN THAT CONTRACT, IF YOU LOOK AT THE LINE ITEMS FOR THE BASE BID, ALTERNATE ONE AND TWO, THERE'S CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR TRAFFIC CONTROL AND THERE ARE CONSIDERED SPECIFICATIONS IN THE, THE STANDARDS FOR HOW THEY DO THE TRAFFIC CONTROL THAT ABIDES BY D O T STANDARDS.

JUST ONE LAST POINT.

I BELIEVE THIS IS BEING PAID FOR WITH ALDER MCKENZIE'S A R P FUNDING ALLOCATION? YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

THAT IS CORRECT.

BECAUSE THIS IS THREE ENTRANCES AND BACK INTO, COMING OFF OF RACETRACK ROAD IS TO NEW NEW DEBRIS PARK BOULEVARD, THE OLD DEBBIE PARK AND OH NO, IT'S FOUR I THINK THEN COMING OFF OF A COLONY DRIVE CORRECT.

AND THEN COMING OFF ELIZABETH AVENUE.

SO I GUESS THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHICH FLOWED, UH, EX UH, I GUESS THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC FROM THE BACKSIDE OF THE, OF DERBY PARK.

AND WE, AND WE'VE, WE'VE ALREADY HAD, UH, UPFRONT CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CONTRACTOR AND THE REALIZATION OF THE SCHOOL SCHEDULE AND THE BUS SCHEDULES.

MM-HMM.

, UM, I DON'T BELIEVE WE'LL NEED FULL CLOSURES ON A CERTAIN PART OF ELIZABETH UP UNTIL WE GET TO UPGRADING THE CULVERTS.

'CAUSE IN THE CULVERT UPGRADE, WE'RE GOING FROM A SINGLE 36 TO A DOUBLE.

SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO OPEN CUT THAT ROAD.

THERE MAY BE A FULL CLOSURE AT THAT TIME.

UM, AND THEN WE HAVE A, A THICKENED AREA OF ASPHALT DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE CURRENT CONCRETE PLANT WHERE THEY COME IN AND OUT OF THAT ROAD, WHICH HAS DEGRADED THE ROAD BASE A LITTLE BIT.

SO WE, WE'VE GOT SOME SECTIONS WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO WORK AROUND FOR.

FORTUNATELY THEY'RE FURTHER NORTH OF ALL OF THE RESIDENTIALS SO WE CAN DIVERT TRAFFIC INTO OTHER AREAS, UM, WHEN WE GET TO THAT POINT.

BUT HOPEFULLY THEY'LL BE SHORTENED CLOSURES.

NOW DO, WHEN YOU SAY DE COVID, IS THAT THE ONE THAT'S NE CLOSER TO THE READY-MIX PLANT THAT COVID DID? IT'S ONE RIGHT THERE.

THE KIND OF NEAR LIFT STATION WITH THE, WITH THE DITCH ON EITHER SIDE THAT YOU SEE RUNNING TO THE EAST OR LITTLE BIT TO THE NORTHEAST ONE.

WHAT SIZE ARE WE? LOOK WHAT SIZE IS THERE AGAIN? IT'S CURRENTLY, IT'S CURRENTLY A 36 AND THE PLAN'S CALLED TO INCREASE IT TO 2 36 INCH PIPES.

WE'LL BE ADDING ANOTHER 36 INCH PIPE.

SO WE'RE GONNA RUN TWO INSTEAD OF ONE.

IT'LL DOUBLE.

DOUBLE, YES.

ITEM NUMBER 17 IS TO CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH URBAN DIVINE VENTURES L L C FOR C D B G CONSULTING SERVICES MS. ROOT.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND ON THE FLOOR.

IF THERE'S NO MORE DISCUSSION, WE'LL HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN BEST? ALDERMAN BEST, YES.

[17. Consider Adopting a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute a Contract with Urban Design Ventures, LLC for CDBG Consulting Services. ]

GOOD EVENING AGAIN.

MAYOR AND BOARD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES IS REQUESTING ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH URBAN DESIGN VENTURES L L C.

AND THIS IS FOR CONSULTING SERVICES RELATED TO OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM.

AS IS REQUIRED UNDER FEDERAL GUIDELINES ON JUNE 26TH, THE CITY PUBLICLY ADVERTISED FOR A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR THESE SERVICES FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS.

WE RECEIVED PROPOSALS FROM TWO FIRMS ON JULY 17TH.

THESE PROPOSALS WERE RANKED BY A REVIEW COMMITTEE AND WERE EVALUATED USING OUTLINED CRITERIA CONTAINED IN THE R F P.

URBAN DESIGN VENTURES WAS THE TOP SCORING FIRM AND THIS WAS BASED ON RELATED EXPERIENCE, FAMILIARITY WITH THE CITY OF NEW BERN, CREDENTIALS OF KEY PERSONNEL AND OTHER QUALIFYING FACTORS

[00:40:01]

OUTLINED BY THE PROGRAM.

THE LENGTH OF THE CONTRACT PERIOD ALLOWS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 2024 THROUGH THE 2028 C D V G FIVE YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN, AS WELL AS CONSULTING SERVICES FOR EACH SUBSEQUENT ANNUAL PLAN, UM, AS REQUIRED BY HOOD.

AND THOSE OF COURSE, ARE THE DOCUMENTS THAT SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SPECIFIC PROGRAMS THAT TIE BACK TO THE CONSOLIDATED FIVE YEAR PLAN FOR COMMUNITY AWARENESS.

I'LL MENTION THE PREPARATION AND ADOPTION OF A CONSOLIDATED PLAN IS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN ELIGIBILITY IN THE C D B G PROGRAM.

THIS IS THE PLAN THAT IS MORE TECHNICAL THAN OUR ANNUAL PLANS THAT WERE PRESENTED TO YOU SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.

AND THIS IS DESIGNED TO ASSESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NEEDS MAR AND OTHER MARKET CONDITIONS.

ADDITIONALLY, THIS FIVE YEAR PLAN FUNCTIONS TO ASSIST IN MAKING DATA-DRIVEN AND PLACE-BASED INVESTMENT DECISIONS IN ADDITION TO FACILITATING COMMUNITY-WIDE DIALOGUES FOR IDENTIFYING PRIORITIES THAT ALIGN FUNDING WITH PROGRAMS. THE PLANNING PROCESS FOR THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN INCLUDES CONSULTATION, CITIZEN PARTICIPATION, A MORE IN-DEPTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR THE CITY, WHICH IS RELATED SPECIFICALLY TO TRANSPORTATION NEEDS, HOUSING NEEDS SERVICES NEEDED, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND ALSO A MARKET ANALYSIS ON HOUSING DATA.

WHEREAS OUR ANNUAL ACTION PLANS PROVIDE THOSE SPECIFIC DETAILS AND OUR ACTUAL PLAN FOR EACH YEAR ON HOW WE IMPLEMENT THE GOALS THAT ARE WIDER AND BROADER IN THAT FIVE YEAR PLAN.

THAT INCLUDES MORE SPECIFIC DATA.

SO THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CONTRACT ARE FUNDED THROUGH C D B G AND THEY INCLUDE THE WORK ON OUR CONSOLIDATED PLAN, WHICH WILL GET STARTED HERE SHORTLY THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE.

THE ASSESSMENT THAT HAS TO BE DONE FOR FAIR HOUSING, THE WORK ON EACH ANNUAL ACTION PLAN FOR THE SUBSEQUENT FOUR YEARS, THE REQUIRED ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW RECORD OR THE E R R AND THE ANNUAL CONSOLIDATED PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT, WHICH IS REQUIRED BY THE C D B G PROGRAM AT HUD.

AND SO IT IS RESPECTFULLY REQUESTED YOU CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE ENCLOSED RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH URBAN DESIGN VENTURES L L C FOR THE PROVISION OF THESE SERVICES.

THIS BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? UH, YES I DO.

UH, MS. RU NOW, DOES THIS COMPANY, WILL THIS COMPANY ALSO BE MANAGING THE C D B G FUNDS FOR OUR COMMUNITY? UM, HOUSING THAT I THOUGHT, UH, FUNDING WAS GOING TO GO TO THE THREE NON TWO NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS ARE SO THAT, THAT IS A, INCLUDED IN OUR ANNUAL ACTION PLAN THAT WAS ADOPTED.

AND YES, THIS FIRM HAS ASSISTED US WITH ENROLLING THAT AND MANAGING THAT PROGRAM.

BUT THIS PLAN, UM, THIS CONTRACT IS GONNA START OUR NEW FISCAL YEAR FOR THE C D B J PROGRAM RUNS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN OUR MUNICIPAL, UM, FISCAL YEAR YEAR.

BUT IT IS A GROUP THAT WE HAVE WORKED WITH BEFORE AND STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT WE WORK WITH THEM AGAIN.

WE HAVE BEEN PLEASED WITH THEM.

UH, UH, WE ESTABLISHED, UM, FUNDING, UM, I THINK IT WAS, HMM, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE AMOUNT THAT WE ESTABLISHED FUNDING TO GO TO THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

AND THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN? YES MA'AM.

RIGHT.

SO THOSE, THAT FUNDING IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR THIS, FOR THE CITIZENS THAT SIGNED UP REQUESTING REPAIRS TO BE MADE TO THEIR HOMES? YES MA'AM.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ONE QUESTION.

THIS CONSULTANT WILL BE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH JUST THE C D B G OR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES OR WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? YES.

THEY'LL BE WORKING OF THE WHOLE, THEY'LL BE WORKING WITH BOTH CHRIS AND SIA.

ONE THAT, THAT YOU APPROVED IN MAY.

UM, AND THEY WILL BE PROVIDING THE OVERSIGHT AND LEADING THE, UM, FACILITATION OF THAT FIVE-YEAR PLAN.

'CAUSE OUR FIVE-YEAR PLAN IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE AND WE NEED TO HAVE AN UP-TO-DATE FIVE-YEAR PLAN EVERY YEAR, WHICH THAT'S REALLY BROAD GOALS.

SO DEE AND CHRIS IN OUR OFFICE WILL WORK WITH THIS CONSULTANT TO DO THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND TAKE THE DATA FROM ALL THESE REQUIRED PIECES, UM, THAT I LISTED OUT THAT THIS WILL FUND AND USE IT TO SET THE BROAD GOALS, WHICH IN TURN WILL SET, UM, KIND OF THE WAY WE MATCH PROGRAMS THAT GO INTO THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN THAT WE BRING BEFORE THIS BOARD EVERY YEAR TO APPROVE, WHICH INCLUDES THE PROGRAMS LIKE ALDERMAN VEST JUST MENTIONED AND SOME OTHER RENOVATIONS WERE IN THE LAST

[00:45:01]

AND SO THEY ALL WORK TOGETHER JUST LIKE A LAND USE PLAN WHERE THE, THE LARGER GOALS GO, GO IN THE, THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN IS WHAT THEY CALL IT IN THIS CASE.

AND THEN THEY ARE MATCHED TO OUR ACTUAL ACTIONS THAT GO IN THAT ANNUAL ACTION PLAN EVERY YEAR.

SO THEY WILL BE LEADING THIS FUNCTION, UM, AND HELPING OUR STAFF GET THIS ACCOMPLISHED TO MEET THE HUD GUIDELINES.

AND THIS PLAN IS A LITTLE MORE ROBUST, COMPLICATED, AND TECHNICAL THAN THE ONES THAT WE DO EVERY YEAR, WHICH IS WHY IT REQUIRES SOME MORE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND ASSISTANCE.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

SO ANOTHER QUESTION NOW WE HAVE SEVEN APPLICANTS ALREADY.

NOW, ARE THEY STILL GONNA BE THE SEVEN PRIORITY APPLICANTS THAT WAS APPROVED BEFORE FOR THE C D B G FUNDING? OR IS THIS, UH, URBAN DESIGN GONNA GO IN AND MAKE UM, SO, SO THIS IS A FIRM THAT WE'RE USING FOR CONTINUITY.

THEY HAVE WORKED WITH THE PAST PLANS, ANY COMMITMENTS WE'VE MADE TO CITIZENS OR PROGRAMS THAT ARE ALREADY ESTABLISHED, WE WILL CONTINUE, UH, AND MOVE FORWARD UNTIL THEY'RE COMPLETED.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

JESSICA, I KNOW THIS IS MORE OF A, A BROAD BASE FIVE YEAR PLAN, BUT THIS WOULD COME BEFORE THIS BOARD FOR APPROVAL, CORRECT? YES.

THAT THE FIVE YEAR PLAN WILL COME BEFORE THIS BOARD AS WELL AS OF COURSE, EACH ANNUAL ACTION PLAN THAT IS CONNECTED.

SO FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, LIKE WE DO EVERY YEAR, UM, THE ONLY COMMENT THAT I WOULD HAVE IS I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THEY WORK WITH THIS BOARD, UH, ESPECIALLY THE ALDERMAN THAT REPRESENT THE AREAS THAT THE C D B G FUND IS UTILIZED IN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE INPUT ALONG THE WAY SO WE DON'T SEE THIS PLAN FOR THE FIRST TIME ONCE IT'S BEEN PREPARED.

YES, WE GET THAT THERE'S COMMUNITY INPUT, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE INPUT AS WELL, SO WE DON'T END UP WITH BUS SHELTERS AND THINGS AND PLACES THAT WE DON'T NEED, AS AN EXAMPLE.

SO I ABSOLUTELY WELCOME THE ENGAGEMENT IT'S PLEASURE OF THE BOARD.

ON ITEM NUMBER 17, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH URBAN DESIGN VENTURES L L C FOR C D B G CONSULTING SERVICES.

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

ITEM NUMBER 18 IS TO CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE TRANSFER OF 9 0 8, 9 10 AND NINE 14 BLOOMFIELD STREET FROM THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO THE CITY OF NEW BERN AND REALLOCATING FUNDING TO THE CITY FOR A HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER.

I HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN BRISSON.

[18. Consider Adopting a Resolution Accepting the Transfer of 908, 910, and 914 Bloomfield Street from the Redevelopment Commission to the City of New Bern and Reallocating Funding to the City for a Health and Wellness Center. ]

MR. WILLIAMS? GOOD EVENING.

MAYOR AND BOARD.

UH, AS YOU ALL KNOW, PREVIOUSLY THE BOARD HAD, UH, ALLOCATED OR CONVEYED, UH, 9 0 8 BLOOMFIELD TO THE, UH, REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION IN ADDITION TO THE ALLOCATED FUNDS OF $350,000.

NOW, AFTER THEY CONSIDERED, UH, THE COST THAT WAS ASSOCIATED WITH, UH, REMODELING THAT AND BRINGING THAT UP TO THE STANDARDS THAT WERE REQUIRED TO INCLUDE A D A STANDARDS, THEY REALIZED THAT IT WOULD BE MORE, UH, FEASIBLE FOR THEM TO, UH, START WITH A NEW BUILDING.

SO THEY PURCHASED, UH, NINE 10 AND NINE 14 BLOOMFIELD FOR, TO HAVE THAT FOR THE, UH, WHOLE AREA FOR THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER.

UH, ONCE THEY ESTABLISHED THAT THEY GOT IN TOUCH WITH SOME OF THEIR, UM, PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS, AND AFTER REVIEWING ALL THE PROCESSES ASSOCIATED WITH, UH, CREATING A HEALTH, UH, HEALTH CENTER, THEY FELT THAT IT WAS MORE FEASIBLE FOR THE CITY TO, OR MORE EFFICIENT FOR THE CITY, UM, TO PURSUE THE PROJECT.

SO THEY'RE ASKING TO, UH, CONVEY THAT PROPERTY BACK OVER TO US SO THAT WE CAN HANDLE THAT.

DOES THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? I DO.

UM, SIR, HOW DID IT HAPPEN LIKE THAT WITH THEM KNOWING THAT THEY COULDN'T DO THAT? YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T KNOW THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN GETTING IN THAT TYPE OF BUSINESS.

I, I BELIEVE, UM, FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION HAS LEARNED THROUGHOUT THEIR TENURE THAT THERE'S THINGS THAT THEY CAN'T AND CANNOT DO ACCORDING TO THE STATUTE.

I THINK THEY WENT IN WITH THE INTENTIONS ON OPERATING THIS AND LEASING IT OUT.

LIKE THEY HAD THE INTENTIONS OF BUILDING HOUSES AND LEASING THOSE OUT, AND THEN THE ATTORNEY MADE THEM AWARE THAT THEY COULD NOT DO THAT.

UM, AND THEN WHEN YOU GET TO, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, STAFF, WHEN YOU GET TO THE BIDDING PROCESS FOR HOW THIS WOULD GO OUT BID THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION DOESN'T REALLY HAVE THAT

[00:50:01]

KNOWLEDGE OR EXPERTISE.

SO THEY WERE LOOKING TO THE CITY TO DO THAT ANYWAY.

UM, SO ESSENTIALLY I THINK THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE'RE WHERE WE ARE NOW.

COMMENTS THAT I MADE LAST TIME THIS CAME UP IS I'M CERTAINLY NOT INTERESTED IN THE CITY OF NEW ME GETTING INTO THE OPERATION OF A HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER .

UM, I DO KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT'S BEEN PUT BEHIND IT.

UM, I HAD A MEETING WITH REGGIE JONES, SOME FOLKS FROM NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY.

MR. WILLIAMS WAS THERE.

UM, MR. HUGHES WAS THERE AND THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO HELP WITH STAFFING.

UM, THEY HAVE SOME FUNDING GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL.

SO I THINK THIS IS GONNA END UP BEING A, A PRETTY GOOD PARTNERSHIP ONCE ALL THE DETAILS GET IRONED OUT, BUT WE'RE TO THAT POINT THAT THE CITY IS ESSENTIALLY, WE'VE GOTTA TAKE THE BATON AND RUN WITH IT.

NOW, THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION HAS DONE EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN LEGALLY DO UNDER THEIR PURVIEW STAFF.

IS THAT A FAIR ASSESSMENT? THAT'S CORRECT.

AND IT'S NOT THE INTENTION OF THE CITY TO OPERATE THE WELLNESS CENTER.

THE GOAL WOULD BE TO, TO LEASE IT OUT TO ANOTHER ENTITY TO, TO HANDLE THAT.

ANY MORE QUESTIONS? I'D LIKE TO MO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE TRANSFER OF 9 0 8, 9 10 AND NINE 14 BLOOMFIELD STREET FROM THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO THE CITY OF NEW BERN AND REALLOCATING FUNDING TO THE CITY FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER.

I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN P PRILL.

ITEM NUMBER 19, MR. MAYOR? YES SIR.

BUT BEFORE WE LEAVE THAT, UM, DO WE NEED TO GIVE NOW GIVE STAFF DIRECTION ON WHAT TO DO WITH THAT STAFF? DO YOU NEED DIRECTION ON WHAT TO DO WITH THAT? I THINK WE'RE PRETTY CLEAR ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND, AND WE'RE READY TO WE'RE READY TO JUMP ON THAT.

GOOD QUESTION THOUGH.

DIDN'T WANNA LEAVE HIM HANGING.

ITEM NUMBER 19, CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN OFFER TO PURCHASE AND CONTRACT WITH SANDERSON HOLDINGS L L C FOR THE PURCHASE OF FIVE MURRAY STREET TAX PARCEL ID 8 0 0 6 1 7 8.

[19. Consider Adopting a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Offer to Purchase and Contract with Sanderson Holdings, LLC for the Purchase of 5 Murray Street (Tax Parcel ID 8-006-178). ]

MR. WILLIAMS? YEAH.

THE, UM, THE DUST FIELD STORMWATER ENHANCEMENT PROJECT.

WE ORIGINALLY HAD A DESIGN THAT WAS DONE ON THESE, UH, TO, TO, TO CREATE THIS, UH, SERIES OF INNER, UH, CONNECTED, UH, STORMWATER WETLAND AREAS, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO THE, UH, JACK SMITH CREEK STORMWATER PROJECT THAT WE HAVE.

UH, AND WHEN THE DESIGN CAME OUT, IT ACTUALLY HAD FOUR PIECES OF, UH, FOUR PARCELS IN IT THAT WE DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO AT THE TIME.

SO WHEN WE WENT BACK IN THREE OF THOSE PARCELS WERE, UH, AIR PROPERTIES THAT WE, WE WEREN'T NOT ABLE TO GET.

AND THE FOURTH WAS THE ANDERSON PROPERTY HERE.

UH, AND WHEN THEY DID THE REDESIGN, THE ANDERSON PROPERTY WAS, UM, INCLUDED WITHIN THAT.

AND WE WENT OUT TO, UH, ACQUIRE THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY.

AND THAT'S WHAT, THAT THIS IS THE PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WOULD GIVE US ALL THE AREA THAT WE NEED TO, UH, START THE PHASES.

TWO OR THREE OF THE, UH, STORMWATER PROJECT BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? YES, MARK.

BUT WHERE EXACTLY, I KNOW YOU SAID THE BUILD STREET, UM, STONEWATER FARM, BUT IS THAT THE PROPERTIES ON THE, IF YOU'RE IN FRONT OF THE BUILD STREET, IS THAT THE PROPERTIES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THAT POND? IS THAT THE PROPERTIES YOU'RE SPEAKING OF? 'CAUSE I'M, I WAS TRYING TO, AND THERE'S NOT A MAP IN HIS SHOWING WHERE THE, THE PROPERTY'S LOCATED ON THE BEST.

THIS PROPERTY OF QUESTIONS ACROSS THE STREET FROM GREENWOOD CEMETERY.

BASICALLY ON THE BACKSIDE OF THAT AND THE, THE THREE OTHER PROPERTIES THAT MR. WILLIAMS WAS REFERRING TO THAT WE DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO, IT WAS ON THAT FOLLOWING STREET.

AND I'M SORRY, I DON'T HAVE THE NAME OF THAT STREET, BUT OKAY.

UH, AND, AND WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS PARTIAL ITSELF.

UH, IT WAS CONTINGENT UPON, UH, GETTING THAT PARTIAL, UM, ON WHETHER OR NOT WE WOULD GET A LOAN AND IT WAS A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR LOAN.

WE, WE DID, UH, I'M SORRY, MULTIMILLION DOLLAR GRANT.

WE DID RECEIVE THAT GRANT SO THAT, THAT, THAT PUSHED US TO ACQUIRE THIS PROPERTY FOR THIS PROJECT.

DOES THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO, UH, MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED THE EXECUTION OF AN OFFER TO PURCHASE AND CONTRACT WITH SANDERSON HOLDINGS L L C FOR THE PURCHASE OF FIVE MURRAY STREET, TAX PARCEL ID EIGHT DASH ZERO SIX DASH 78.

[00:55:02]

ITEM NUMBER 20, ACCEPTANCE OF TAX COLLECTORS' ANNUAL SETTLEMENTS FOR TAX YEARS 2020.

HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

HEARING NONE.

MUST HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ROYAL.

[20. Acceptance of Tax Collector's Annual Settlements for Tax Years 2020, 2021 and 2022. ]

2021 AND 2022.

MS. OSTROM.

GOOD EVENING AGAIN.

NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL STATUTES 1 0 5 DASH 3 73 REQUIRES THE TAX COLLECTOR TO PROVIDE THE GOVERNING BOARD WITH AN ANNUAL SETTLEMENT OF PROPERTY TAXES.

THE SETTLEMENTS WERE RECEIVED FROM THE CRAVEN COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR.

UM, BUT TWO YEARS WERE NOT SUBMITTED TO THE BOARD IS REQUESTED THAT THE BOARD MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE PRIOR YEARS FOR 2020 AND 2021 AND THEN THE CURRENT 2022 SETTLEMENTS.

YOU'LL FIND THESE SETTLEMENTS IN YOUR PACKET BOARD.

HAVE QUESTIONS? YEAH.

YES I DO.

UM, MS. OSTROM, IS THERE A REASON WHY WE HAVE THREE YEARS OF, UM, SETTLEMENTS THAT WASN'T PRESENTED TO THIS BOARD? WE RECEIVED THEM, RECONCILED THEM.

WE JUST DID NOT REALIZE THAT THAT WAS A REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT THEM TO THE BOARD.

SO THANK YOU.

SO, SO, AND, AND ALSO TO ADD THAT THE, THE, AS WE WERE LOOKING AT THIS, THE CLERK, UM, LET US KNOW ABOUT THIS.

AND THEN THE FINANCE DIRECTOR DID REACH OUT TO THE SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT TO VERIFY WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO LUMP ALL THESE THREE YEARS INTO A REQUEST FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER.

ANY MORE QUESTIONS? YES.

I SAW THE VARIOUS TOTALS FOR EACH YEAR, BUT WHAT IS THE COLLECTIVE TOTAL PLEASE? THE COLLECTED TOTAL FOR THOSE THREE YEARS? FOR THE TAX SUMMARY.

THE TOTAL? YES.

UM, I CAN EMAIL THAT TO YOU LATER.

I JUST ADD UP THE, OKAY.

MAY I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THE TAX COLLECTOR'S ANNUAL SETTLEMENT FOR THE TAX YEARS? 20 20, 21 AND 22 SECOND.

HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

LET'S HAVE A, ACTUALLY WE CAN DO A VOICE, UH, VOTE.

A AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

[21. Consider Adopting an Ordinance Amending the Schedule of Fees and Charges. ]

ITEM NUMBER 21.

CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SCHEDULE OF FEES AND CHARGES.

MS. OSTROM, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS REQUESTED TO AMEND THE FISCAL YEAR 2324 FEE SCHEDULE TO REFLECT THE FOLLOWING CHANGES AND INCREASE, UM, THE FINE FOR WORKING WITHOUT A PERMIT FROM $50 TO $75 PLUS THE COST OF THE PERMIT TO INCREASE THE FINE FOR FAILURE TO OBTAIN FINAL INSPECTION FROM A HUNDRED DOLLARS TO $150 AND INCREASE THE LIFE SAFETY VIOLATION FOR THE FIRST OFFENSE FROM A HUNDRED DOLLARS TO $150.

AND SPECIFY THE STORAGE TANK INSTALLATION REMOVAL, PIPING ABANDONMENT FEE OF $125 PER TANK.

DOES BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? JONATHAN, ARE THESE FEES IN LINE WITH WHAT OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING? YES, SIR.

AND IT'S ALSO IN LINE WITH, UH, SOME OF OUR CODE, UH, ORDINANCES THAT, UH, THESE FEES HAD GOTTEN OUTTA LINE WITH.

MAY I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.

WE CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SCHEDULE OF FEES AND CHARGES FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

SECOND, HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION.

I GUESS IT'S PROBABLY FOR FOSTER.

IS, IS THERE A REASON WHY THE TIMING ON THIS IS NOW SINCE WE HAD ADOPTED THE FEE SCHEDULE PREVIOUSLY? YES, SIR.

UH, IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD SUBMITTED THESE CHANGES AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.

AND WHEN WE LOOKED TO VERIFY THEY HAD NOT BEEN INCLUDED.

SO, UM, THAT, THAT'S WHY WE ARE BRINGING THESE UP NOW, THEY, THEY REALLY WANTED TO HAVE THESE INCLUDED TO, TO BE ABLE TO CHARGE APPROPRIATELY.

SO THEY'RE FAIRLY SMALL AMOUNTS, I'M ASSUMING IT'S NOT IMPACTING THE BUDGET VERY MUCH ANYWAYS.

THAT'S CORRECT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

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

ALDERMAN ASTOR.

ALDERMAN KENZIE? YES.

[22. Consider Adopting an Ordinance Amending the 2019 Electric Improvements Project Fund. ]

ITEM NUMBER 22.

CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2019 ELECTRIC IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT FUND MS. OSTROM.

IMPROVEMENTS NECESSARY FOR SYSTEM RELIABILITY DUE TO THE GROWTH OF THE CITY.

THE 2019 ELECTRIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FUND WAS, UM, ESTABLISHED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A TRANSFORMER AND FUTURE SUBSTATION

[01:00:01]

UM, SEVERAL N C D O T PROJECTS WERE ADDED IN THE AMOUNT OF 2.3 MILLION IN AUGUST OF 2020.

THESE PROJECTS ARE REIMBURSED BY N C D O T.

ADDITIONALLY, ACTIVITIES FOR THE GOLDEN LEAF AND NORTH CAROLINA D E Q GRANTS WERE ALLOCATED IN THIS FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF 481,542.

THIS ORDINANCE AMENDMENT INCREASES APPROPRIATIONS BY $3 MILLION FOR ADDITIONAL COSTS RELATED TO THE N C D O T UTILITY RELOCATION PROJECTS.

PROJECT COSTS ARE BILLED AND REIMBURSED BY N C D O T.

REVENUES GENERATED FROM THE N C D O T PROJECT WILL FUND THE $500,000 TRANSFER TO THE 2021 ELECTRIC SYSTEM CAPACITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FUND FOR EFFORTS TO CONTINUE TOWARDS MAKING READY THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW SUBSTATION IN INTERCONNECTION TO THE BULK ELECTRIC SYSTEM AND ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.

THE REVENUES WERE INCREASED BY 3.5 MILLION FOR OTHER REIMBURSEMENTS FROM THE N C D O T.

THIS AMENDMENT BRINGS THE TOTAL LIFE OF THE PROJECT FUND TO $7,796,173.

SO JUST TO CLARIFY, ARE WE COMBINING 21? I MEANT 22 AND 23.

IS THAT BECAUSE I'M, I'M LOOKING AT THE, THE ATTACHMENT, THE ORDINANCE THAT IS IN THE PROJECT FUND FOR 2019 IS 3 MILLION AND 3 MILLION.

AND THEN WE GOT THIS ADDITION, THIS NUMBER, ITEM NUMBER 22.

COULD YOU OH, I'M, I'M SORRY.

SO THE, UM, THERE IS A CORRECTED ORDINANCE PRESENTED TO YOU TO INCLUDE THE $500,000.

THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE HAD JUST 3 MILLION AND THEN IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU SHOULD HAVE ONE FOR 3.5 MILLION.

SO WE CAN COMBINE 22 AND 23 IF IT'S UNANIMOUS BOARD.

YEP.

23 WOULD BE, UM, ACKNOWLEDGING THE $500,000 TRANSFER INTO THE 2021 ELECTRIC CAPACITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FUND.

YEAH.

MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT THE ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2019 ELECTRIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FUND, AS WELL AS ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2021 ELECTRIC'S ELECTRIC SYSTEM CAPACITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.

ON SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

THIS ORDINANCE AMENDMENT DECREASES BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE APPROPRIATIONS BY $4,135,000.

LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ORMAN.

BEST ALDERMAN BEST YES.

[24. Consider Adopting an Ordinance Amending the 2021 Make Ready Public Infrastructure for Broadband Service Providers Project Fund. ]

NUMBER 24.

CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2021.

MAKE READY PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE FOR BROADBAND SERVICE PROVIDERS PROJECT FUND MS. O.

SURE.

SO THE 2021 MAKE READY PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE FOR BROADBAND SERVICES PROJECT FUND WAS ESTABLISHED WITH AN INITIAL BUDGET OF 7.2 MILLION WITH PLANS TO FUND THE PROJECT BY REIMBURSEMENTS FROM THE BROADBAND SERVICE PROVIDERS.

THE PROJECT WAS INITIALLY FUNDED WITH A TOTAL OF $3,665,000 IN TRANSFERS FROM THE OPERATING FUNDS WITH 3 MILLION FROM ELECTRIC, 20,000 FROM WATER FUND, 20,000 FROM SEWER FUND, AND 25,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND.

UM, ADDITIONALLY, OTHER REVENUE TOTALING OVER $225,000 TO DATE INCLUDES FEES AND CHARGES TO THE BROADBAND SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR PERMIT ENGINEERING AND POLE INSPECTION FEES AS WELL AS CONSTRUCTION COSTS.

REVENUE FROM BROADBAND SERVICE PROVIDERS.

REIMBURSEMENTS IS DECREASED BY THE SAME AMOUNT.

RECENTLY THE FINANCE I AND THE, UM, UTILITIES DIRECTOR MET TO DISCUSS VARIOUS CAPITAL PROJECTS.

AND UPON REVIEWING THE PROJECT ACTIVITY, IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE PROJECT WOULD NOT LIKELY NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND SHOULD REMAIN AT THE CURRENT FUNDED AMOUNT OF 3,065,000, RESULTING IN A REDUCTION OF THE ORIGINAL BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF 4,135,000.

DOES THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? MAYOR WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A AWARD.

THIS AMENDING THE 2021 MAKE READY PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE FOR BROADBAND SERVICE PROVIDERS PROJECT FUND.

SECONDED.

I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

ON TO ITEM NUMBER 25 APPOINTMENTS.

LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN BRISSON AL RENSON.

[25. Appointment(s). (Part 1 of 2) ]

[01:05:01]

ALDERMAN MCKENZIE STEPPED OUT, BUT HE HAS ONE FOR THE PLANNING AND ZONING.

AND THEN, UH, BOARD, WE HAVE, UH, THE TWO FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.

UH, ONE IS FOR COMMISSIONER TABARI WALLACE, WHO DOES SEEK TO BE REAPPOINTED.

AND THE SECOND IS FOR COMMISSIONER THERESA LEE.

AND SHE DOES NOT WISH TO BE REAPPOINTED.

SO I GUESS WE'LL HANDLE THE ONE FOR, UH, THE SEAT FOR COMMISSIONER WALLACE FIRST, IF THERE'S A MOTION TO REAPPOINT HIM OR SOMEONE ELSE, I MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE REAPPOINT, UH, MR. WALLACE, UH, UM, TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION BOARD.

SECOND, HAVE A MOTION A SECOND TO REAPPOINT.

COMMISSIONER WALLACE TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ANY OPPOSED? OKAY.

MR. WALLACE IS REAPPOINTED.

AS FAR AS THE OPEN SEAT, UM, WE HAD THREE, UH, THREE SUBMISSIONS.

UH, MR. JIMMY DILLA HUNT, MR. JAMES WOODS, MS. CAROL BECTON, UM, SEEMS LIKE THIS BALLOT PROCEDURE SEEMS TO BE WORKING OUT PRETTY WELL SINCE WE HAVE MULTIPLE FOLKS THAT WOULD LIKE TO GO INTO ONE SEAT.

SO IF THE BOARD IS NOT OPPOSED, UH, YOU HAVE A BALLOT IN FRONT OF YOU.

IF NOT, WE CAN GO A DIFFERENT ROUTE.

IF SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT, THAT'S FINE.

THAT'S FINE WITH ME.

GOT A FEW THINGS TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON.

UH, MR. WILLIAMS WILL COLLECT THOSE.

MR. KINZIE HAS FILLED HIS OUT, BUT HE DIDN'T SIGN IT.

SO JUST FOR THE RECORD, I'M HANDING YOU HIS, WHILE THEY'RE TALLYING THAT UP.

I DO NOT SEE ANY OTHER APPOINTMENTS.

DOES SEE ANYONE HAVE ONE THAT I MAY HAVE MISSED? ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO, UH, WHILE THEY'RE TALLYING IT UP.

UH, ATTORNEY'S REPORT.

UH, NOTHING REPORT TONIGHT.

MAYOR, CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.

[27. City Manager's Report. ]

FIRST OF ALL, WE HAD THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE STANLEY WHITE RECREATION CENTER PROJECT THIS FRIDAY.

THIS PAST FRIDAY.

WE HAD APPROXIMATELY 200 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE.

UH, IT WAS A GREAT CROWD, GREAT PRESENTATION.

UH, PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF DID A GREAT JOB IN ALSO PROVIDING LUNCH FOR THOSE PARTICIPANTS.

UM, AND APPROXIMATELY 15 MONTHS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A STATE OF THE ART, 35,000 SQUARE FOOT RECREATION CENTER THAT THIS ENTIRE CITY CAN BE PROUD OF.

SO ANTICIPATE NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER OF 2024, BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE RIBBON CUTTING FOR THAT NEW FACILITY.

SO REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

GREAT JOB TO THE STAFF TOO.

IT WAS, UH, NOT THE BEST WEATHER, UM, BUT THEY DID A GREAT JOB MAKING SURE WE WERE ALL PROTECTED AND HAD A GOOD LUNCH AS WELL.

SO, THANK YOU.

SO OUR, UH, STRATEGIC PLANNING IS GETTING READY TO KICK OFF.

UH, I'M, I'M GONNA NEED A MOTION FOR THE DATE, TIME, AND LOCATION FOR OUR, OUR FIRST SESSION.

WE'RE PROPOSING WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30TH FROM 9:00 AM TO 4:00 PM AND THURSDAY, AUGUST 31ST FROM 9:00 AM TO 12 NOON AT THE PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CENTER.

SO MOVED.

SO SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

I ASSUME WE'LL HAVE, UH, BE, WE WON'T BE LIVE, BUT WE'LL BE ABLE TO RECORD.

THAT'S CORRECT.

UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? THERE YOU GO.

UH, CITY HALL UPDATE.

WE MET WITH OUR CONTRACTORS TODAY TO DETERMINE EXACTLY UM, WHAT WAS LEFT ON ON THE PROJECT.

UH, TOWARD THE END OF THIS MONTH.

UH, THE CONTRACTORS ARE GONNA INSTALL THE WATER SEWER CONNECTION, UH, TO TIE THE RESTROOMS AND, AND THINGS IN.

WE ANTICIPATE BY MID TO LATE SEPTEMBER, AS OF RIGHT NOW, UH, GETTING ACCESS TO THE ELEVATOR EDITION.

SO THE SECOND MEETING IN OCTOBER, WE SHOULD PLAN ON THAT.

I I WOULD LIKE TO, I WOULD LIKE TO HOPE SO, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, UH, EVERY TIME I'VE GIVEN AN UPDATE, IT'S BEEN PUSHED BACK AND PUSHED BACK AND PUSHED BACK.

SO WE'RE HOPING IN, IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT, UH, RIBBON CUTTING AND, AND INTRODUCE FOLKS TO A ELEVATOR TO CITY HALL.

NEXT ITEM I HAVE IS, UH, WE'RE GETTING READY TO RELEASE A GENERAL SURVEY THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND, AND THE WEBSITE FOR, UH, UH, THE CAFA PARK PROJECT WITH, UH, THE OLD NORTH STATE LEAGUE SUMMER COLLEGE BASEBALL, UM, UH, LEAGUE, UH, THE OLD NORTH STATE IS LEAGUE IS GONNA BE COMING TO K FOR, UH, TO, UM, UM, UH, I'M SORRY.

UH, THEY'RE COMING TO THE OMEGA CENTER ON MONDAY, AUGUST 14TH AT FIVE 30 FOR A PUBLIC MEETING.

AT THAT TIME, THEY'RE GONNA DO A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION AND THEY'RE GONNA GIVE, UH, THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS THAT THEY MAY HAVE REGARDING THEIR PROJECT.

WE'LL COMPILE THAT INFORMATION AND ALSO INFORMATION FROM THE SURVEY AND PRESENT THAT TO THE GOVERNING BOARD.

UH, TO FURTHER CONSIDER THE REQUEST THAT THE OLD NORTH STATE LEAGUE HAD TO

[01:10:01]

LEASE KAFER PARK.

DO YOU SEE A NEED FOR US ADVERTISING THAT AS A MEETING? IF WE HAVE A QUORUM THERE WHERE THERE COULD BE SOME DISCUSSION AMONGST THE BOARD OR NOT? H HOW MANY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING THE MEETING? I'LL PROBABLY BE THERE.

OH YES, I WILL.

I WILL AS WELL.

I THINK I'LL BE OUT OF TOWN.

I STAY BACK SEAT, WE'LL HAVE TO GO UP.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE CAN HAVE AT LEAST FOUR.

SO YES.

AND ONLY IF YOU'RE GONNA DISCUSS BUSINESS, IF YOU'RE GONNA SHOW UP, THAT'S PERFECTLY FINE.

BUT IF, BUT IF ANY ONE OF, JUST TO CLARIFY, IF ANY ONE OF US CHIMES IN AND SAYS SOMETHING, IS THAT CONSIDERED? I WOULD JUST AVOID DISCUSSING CITY BUSINESS.

BUT IF THAT'S A WORRY THAT CITY BUSINESS MIGHT COME UP, THEN ALWAYS ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION AND CALL YOUR MEETING IF YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A QUORUM.

WE JUST WON'T DISCUSS IT.

WE'LL, WE WILL LISTEN.

HOW ABOUT THAT? THAT WOULD BE MY ADVICE.

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO CALL FOR A MEETING.

AND THEN WE ONLY HAVE THREE PEOPLE SHOW UP OR FOUR PEOPLE SHOW UP AND IT GOES ON THE RECORD THAT WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T ATTEND.

'CAUSE I DON'T WANT IT TO LOOK BAD ON ANYBODY.

SO, WE'LL JUST THE, THE FOUR THAT WILL BE THERE, WE'LL JUST LISTEN.

REFRAIN FROM TALKING FROM DENNIS.

WHAT WAS THAT REFRAIN FROM? DISCUSSING CITY BUSINESS.

NEXT ITEM IS THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED THE CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING FROM THE GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.

THE CITY LAST RECEIVED THIS AWARD FOR THE 2018 AUDIT.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO KIM AND, AND THE FINANCE STAFF.

UH, GREAT JOB.

WE LIKE SEEING AWARDS.

ALSO, WE TALKED AT THE LAST MEETING ABOUT, UH, AN AUDIT COMMITTEE LAST YEAR WE HAD AN AUDIT COMMITTEE.

AND SO, UM, I BELIEVE AT THE LAST MEETING, ALDERMAN BRISSON, ALDERMAN ROYAL HAD AN INTEREST IN THE MAYOR, UH, MADE THE COMMENT THAT IF ANYONE ELSE HAD AN INTEREST IN BEING ON THAT COMMITTEE, HE WOULD, HE WOULD STEP ASIDE.

AND, AND ALDER MCKENZIE AND ALDERMAN PRILL WERE NOT IN ATTENDANCE OF THAT MEETING.

SO WE WANTED TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO, TO PARTICIPATE.

ALDER MCKENZIE WAS NOT INTERESTED.

ALDERMAN P PRILL.

IF NO ONE ELSE WANTED TO DO IT, THEN HE WOULD DO IT.

IS THAT, YEAH, I MEAN, IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS A BURNING DESIRE, TO STEP IN.

AND SO THE PLAN IS TO HOLD A MEETING NEXT WEEK.

SO THE CLERK IS CURRENTLY WORKING, UH, ON SCHEDULES TO, AND SO SHE'LL BE REACHING OUT AND LETTING EVERYONE KNOW WHEN THAT MEETING WILL BE.

AND THE LAST THING I HAVE IS, UH, A REMINDER THAT WE HAVE A FOOTLOOSE ON THE NEW SUMMER CONCERT.

THIS FRIDAY NIGHT IS SIX 30 AT UNION POINT PARK.

WE'VE GOT LANDSLIDE AT TRIBUTE TO FLEETWOOD MAX.

SO WE SHOULD HAVE A LARGE CROWD FOR THAT EVENT.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TONIGHT, SIR.

ALRIGHT, SIR.

EXCUSE ME.

SURE.

WHEN DID YOU SAY THE MEETING FOR THE, OH, NORTH.

UH, THAT'S GONNA BE MONDAY, AUGUST 14TH AT 5:30 PM AND WE'LL, WE'LL SEND SOME INFORMATION OUT TO EVERYONE TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE AWARE.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

YOU HAVE THE TALLIES FROM THE APPOINTMENT? YES, IT'S UNANIMOUS.

[25. Appointment(s). (Part 2 of 2) ]

SEVEN FOR JIMMY DILLA HUNT.

MR. JIMMY DILLA HUNT IS THEREBY THE NEW COMMISSIONER FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.

DID WE STILL WANT A MOTION THOUGH? YES, SIR.

SORRY.

CAN I GET, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPOINT JIMMY DILLA HUNT THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.

SECOND, HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

UH, I WILL JUST SAY THAT OUT OF THREE NAMES THAT WERE SUBMITTED, I WOULD'VE BEEN ABSOLUTELY COMFORTABLE WITH ANY OF THE THREE.

I THINK THEY ALL WOULD'VE SERVED VERY WELL.

SO LET'S KEEP, KEEP THOSE, IF THEY'RE STILL INTERESTED IN SERVING, KEEP THOSE IN THE, THE HAT FOR THE NEXT OPENING THAT WE HAVE.

SO, UM, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF MR. JIMMY DILLA HUNT, SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? THERE WE GO.

UH, LET'S

[28. New Business. ]

GO ON TO NEW BUSINESS.

UM, ALDERMAN BRISSON.

OF DEBRIS AND, AND TRASH WITHIN CERTAIN AREAS OF, OF, UH, WARD FIVE.

THE ONLY THING I HAVE, UH, MR. MAYOR, UH, SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW THAT OPTIMUM CAME INTO GREENBRIER, UH, TO LAY A NEW LINE AND, UH, OH, WE KNOW A FEW OF US PRETTY MUCH HAVOC IN, UH, PINE VALLEY DRIVE.

SO I REALLY WANTED TO THANK, UH, GEORGE CHILES AND AVERY SMITH AND, UH, PARTICULARLY TRAVIS OAKLEY FOR TAKING CARE OF THAT.

THERE WAS ACTUALLY ONE ADDRESS THAT THEY CUT BOTH HER ELECTRIC WATER, INTERNET, AND SEWER JUST CUT 'EM OFF.

SO, UH, IT WAS A MESS OUT THERE, BUT PARTICULARLY, UH, HEARD A LOT OF GOOD THINGS ABOUT TRAVIS, UH, OAKLEY OUT THERE.

SO I WANTED TO PASS MY THANKS AND, UH, PUBLIC FORUM FOR TAKING CARE OF THAT'S ALL.

GOT ALDERMAN BEST.

UM, YES, I JUST WANT TO THANK, UM, MR. CHILES AND UM, AVERY SMITH FOR, UM, THERE WAS A LOT OF, UH, MUCH NEEDED CLEANUP WITHIN WARD FIVE.

AND, UM, THEY HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB, JOB IN CLEANING UP SOME OF THE AREAS.

UM, I RECEIVED PHONE CALLS FROM CITIZENS THANKING, THANKING ME IN THE CITY FOR FINALLY GETTING RID OF A LOT

[01:15:01]

UM, ALSO FOSTER, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION TO YOU, UM, AND UM, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER WILLIAMS, I KNOW Y'ALL ARE ACTUALLY HAVE ALREADY CONTACTED YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS AND MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS, WHATEVER, ABOUT KEEPING OUR EMPLOYEES OUT OF THIS EXCESSIVE HEAT AND TAKING MORE BREAKS THAN NORMAL.

'CAUSE IT'S REALLY BEEN HOT AND WE GOT A LOT OF HOT WEATHER COMING.

UM, AND THAT, IS IT FARM MCKENZIE? ANY NEW BUSINESS? OH, YES SIR.

IT'S, I WENT TO A CONFERENCE LAST WEEK, BMO IN ROCKY MOUNT.

AND UM, THEY WERE, UH, SPEAKING ON THE TERM OF, LET'S SEE HERE, UM, TALKING ABOUT, UM, I CALLED THIS MANAGER WHO WAS SHARING WITH HIM ABOUT CONSULTANTS AND, UM, THE INFORMATION THAT YOUR CONSULTANT BRINGS BACK FROM RALEIGH TO SHARE WITH YOU TO SEE WHERE YOU ARE.

AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THERE'S, IT'S BEEN PASSED HERE LATELY WAS, UH, THE WATER AND AND UTILITIES AND THOSE SORT OF THINGS THERE.

SO WE ARE PRETTY MUCH ON A LOT OF THOSE THINGS.

AND A LOT OF SMALL CITIES WAS THERE THAT WAS TALKING ABOUT THE, THEY DON'T GET THE SERVICES THAT LARGE CITIES GET.

AND SO I SORT OF CHIMED IN AND SAID, WELL, IF YOU JOIN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET THOSE SERVICES OR USE THE LEAGUE TO GET SOME OF THOSE SERVICES.

SOME CITIES, UH, THAT WAS THEIR POPULATION WAS 500 AND ON UP.

AND, UM, SO I LEARNED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT THERE AND I WAS SO GLAD THAT TO KNOW THAT THE CITY OF NEW BERN IS PRETTY MUCH ON POINT.

WE USE, UH, THE LEAGUE A LOT FOR DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE ENCOUNTER WHEN WE HAVE PROBLEMS. SO THAT'S WHERE I'M AT THERE.

IS THAT ALL ALMAN? YES, SIR.

ALMAN ASHER AND I JUST, UM, WANTED TO ASK THE CITY MANAGER, OR MAYBE EVEN KIM, WHERE ARE WE AT ON THE BIDDING PROCESS FOR THE JONES STREET HOUSES? I THINK I CAN GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THAT.

UH, MOST RECENT CONVERSATION, JORDAN HUGHES WAS WORKING ON THAT, UH, COMING UP WITH THE, WITH THE DESIGN, UM, DESIGN OF THE, OF THE BUILDINGS HIMSELF.

WHAT, WHAT THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION HAD PASSED ON WERE BASICALLY COPIES OUT OF A BOOK.

AND SO THERE WERE GONNA BE SOME COPYRIGHT ISSUES WITH THAT.

SO THEY BASICALLY HAVE RECREATED THAT INFORMATION AND THEY'VE ALSO COME UP WITH SPECS.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE ATTORNEYS HAVE REVIEWED THAT YET, BUT IT SHOULD BE ABOUT READY TO GO OUT, FORBID.

AND IT WILL BE MORE LIKELY PRIVATELY NEGOTIATED.

THE, THE, THE, THE CAMPUS IDEA HAS BEEN ABANDONED.

IF YOU REMEMBER THERE WAS AN IDEA OF HAVING A COMMON DRIVEWAY AND A BACK IN THE BACK.

SO IT WAS MORE OF A THREE UNIT COMPLEX AND A CAMPUS.

AND THAT HAS BEEN CHANGED TO WHERE WHAT WOULD NOW BE THREE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES WITH THREE INDIVIDUAL DRIVEWAYS.

SO EACH OF THOSE HOMES CAN BE, BE, UM, UM, BID SEPARATELY, UM, THROUGH AN INFORMAL PROCESS THAT WILL SAVE TIME AND EFFORT.

BRAND NEW MEMBERS AND EVERYTHING PASSED UNANIMOUSLY, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD SIGN THAT EVERYBODY'S WORKING WELL TOGETHER.

SO AND HOW LONG DO THEY HAVE TO GO ON BIDS FOR? HOW LONG WOULD THAT, HOW LONG WILL THE BIDDING PROCESS TAKE? OKAY.

QUICKLY.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF LOCATING.

IN FACT, YOU, YOU, YOU CREATE A GOOD SEGUE.

UM, IF, UH, ANYONE IS AWARE OF CONTRACTORS WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED, UM, IN, IN PROVIDING A, A BID, AN ESTIMATE FOR THOSE, LET STAFF KNOW.

UM, 'CAUSE WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS STAFF WILL REACH OUT TO AS MANY CONTRACTORS AS THEY CAN LOCATE IN THIS AREA, UM, TO REQUEST, UM, PROPOSALS TO BUILD EACH HOUSE.

YOU KNOW, ONE, TWO OR THREE I THINK, I THINK KIPP PROBABLY HAS A LIST OF CONTRACTORS THAT HAS ALREADY ASKED ABOUT 'EM.

SO WE MIGHT PERFECT.

GREAT.

DOES SOMEONE NEED TO CONTACT KIP OR ARE YOU ME HAVING, SO I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE JORDAN HUGHES HAS BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH KIPP ABOUT THAT.

ALDERMAN ROYAL, NOT TONIGHT, PLEASE.

ALDERMAN FRILL.

I HAVE NOTHING BUT, UM, JUST A COUPLE, COUPLE THINGS FROM ME.

UM, COULD WE GET A UPDATE ON ALL THE FEMA REIMBURSEMENTS WHENEVER YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THAT FOR US? AND THEN, UM, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, CONGRATULATE THE BOARD.

WE ARE EXACTLY, UH, 51 WEEKS.

UH, SO ONE WEEK SHY OF ONE YEAR FOR THIS BOARD BEING IN OFFICE AND, UM, BARRING SOMEBODY DOESN'T WANT TO ADJOURN TONIGHT, EVERYTHING PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

SO, UM, FOR A BOARD TO BE TOGETHER FOR A YEAR WITH THREE

[01:20:01]

SO, DO WE NEED A CLOSE SESSION? NO, SIR.

THANK.

MOTION TO ADJOURN.

HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

WE HAVE A SECOND.