Sep 12, 2023 Board of Aldermen

[00:00:03]

[1. Meeting opened by Mayor Odham. Prayer Coordinated by Alderman Brinson. Pledge of Allegiance.]

THE PRAYER TONIGHT WILL BE COORDINATED BY ALDERMAN BRINSON.

YES.

I'D LIKE TO, UH, INTRODUCE, UH, PASTOR AND MY FRIEND, UH, AARON GOLDEN FROM UNION POINT CHURCH AND GIVE THE PRAYER TONIGHT.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.

UM, I JUST HAD ONE WORD I WANTED TO SHARE WITH US RIGHT FROM THE SCRIPTURE.

ISAIAH 43.

ISAIAH SAYS, SEE, I AM DOING A NEW THING NOW.

IT SPRINGS UP.

DO YOU NOT PERCEIVE IT? I'M MAKING A WAY IN THE WILDERNESS AND STREAMS IN THE WASTELAND.

SO MY PRAYER TONIGHT FOR US IS THAT WE SEE THE NEW THING, THE FRESH THING, THE THING THAT IS FLOURISHING, THAT GOD DESIRES TO DO IN OUR MIDST FOR OUR PEOPLE.

AND SO OUR JOB IS TO ONLY PERCEIVE IT.

SO LORD, GIVE US WISDOM.

AMEN TO THAT.

AMEN.

AMEN.

OKAY, LET'S PRAY REAL QUICK.

JESUS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORD.

THANK YOU FOR THE SERVANTS THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT, HOW THEY LOVE YOU, HOW THEY LOVE YOUR CITY.

AND LORD, WE PRAY IN ALL OF THE DELIBERATION TONIGHT, AND ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA, AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WILL FILL THIS TIME, THAT YOU WILL HELP US TO SEE THE FRESH, THE NEW THING, THE THING THAT YOU DESIRE TO DO IN YOUR PEOPLE AND FOR YOUR PEOPLE.

LORD, GIVE US THE PERCEPTION TO PERCEIVE IT AND GIVE US THE WISDOM TO KNOW HOW TO ACT AND ENGAGE IT.

WE JUST PRAY THESE THINGS AND ALL YOUR BLESSINGS IN THIS TOWN.

YOUR NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.

IF YOU'RE ABLE TO STAND, PLEASE DO SO AS WE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF OUR COUNTRY, I PLEDGE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

MADAM CLERK, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ALDERMAN CRELL.

HERE, ALDERMAN ROYAL.

HERE.

ALDERMAN ASTOR.

HERE.

MAYOR ODOM.

HERE.

ALDERMAN KENZIE.

HERE.

ALDERMAN VEST.

PRESENT.

ALDERMAN BRINSON.

HERE.

OKAY.

BOARD, IF

[3. Approve Agenda]

SO MOVE.

SECOND.

SECOND.

HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? AGENDA IS APPROVED.

UH, NUMBER FOUR, REQUEST

[4. Request and Petition of Citizens]

MADAM CLERK.

THANK YOU.

FIRST IS MARY SLAUGHTER OF 35 0 9 WINDSOR DRIVE.

GOOD EVENING.

EVENING.

THE SAYING GOES.

NERO FIDDLED WHILE ROME BURNED.

MY TOPIC OF CONCERN TONIGHT REMINDS ME OF THAT PHRASE.

WE'VE KNOWN AND BEEN WARNED FOR MANY YEARS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.

YET THE APATHY FOR RESISTING THAT LOCOMOTIVE HEADING STRAIGHT FOR US IS REMARKABLE.

I LIVE IN TRENT WOODS, BUT WORKED SHOP AND DINE IN NEWBURN.

I CONSIDER IT MY TOWN.

WE'RE FORTUNATE IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY.

THE WEATHER EVENTS HAVE BEEN IN, BEEN MILD COMPARED TO PHOENIX OR TEXAS.

SINCE I'M A GARDENER AND A NATURE OBSERVER, I HAVE NOTICED THE CHANGES.

WHAT REALLY UPSETS ME DEEPLY IS THE HO HOME ATTITUDE TO THE VERY REAL ACTIONS WE CAN TAKE NOW TO MITIGATE THE EFFECTS, MOST PARTICULARLY TO ACTIONS WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

INSTITUTE POLICIES THAT VALUE EXISTING TREES, OLD WORTH TREES, PARTICULARLY WE HAVE SOME LEFT IN NEWBURN, TRENT WOODS.

GREENBRIAR TREES ARE REPEATEDLY CITED AS A MITIGATION FACTOR IN CLIMATE CHANGE.

RECENTLY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, A LARGE SECTION OF LAND WAS CLEAR CUT TRUCK AFTER TRUCK, AFTER TRUCK HAULED OFF LOVELY LARGE TREES, MOST OF THEM HEALTHY, AND DOING WHAT TREES DO.

ADDING OXYGEN TO THE AIR SOPPING UP EXCESS WATER, PROVIDING A HOME FOR INSECTS.

NOW, WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO PROVIDE A HOME FOR INSECTS? IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW, INSECTS ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE CONTINUED EXISTENCE OF LIFE ON THIS PLANET.

IF THEY ALL DIE, HUMANS WILL NOT BE FAR BEHIND.

I KNOW IT'S MORE TROUBLE TO PRESERVE TREES ON A LOT AND DEFINITELY MORE EXPENSIVE.

BUT GROWING NEW TREES

[00:05:01]

GOING FORWARD, IT MAY EVEN BECOME IMPOSSIBLE AND CANNOT SOON EQUAL THE VALUE OF THE GIANTS THAT WERE REMOVED.

WHY NOT LEAVE A BUFFER BETWEEN LOTS, A FEW OTHER SELECTED TREES? AS LEADERS, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE OBLIGATION TO SET PUBLIC POLICIES THAT ARE GOOD FOR US ALL.

IT WOULD TAKE COURAGE, BUT IT CAN BE DONE IF YOU CAN FIND THE WILL.

MAYBE IF STRICT POLICIES EXIST IN NEW BERN, OTHER COMMUNITIES LIKE THE ONE THAT I LIVE IN WOULD TAKE NOTICE.

IT'S POSSIBLE WE WILL HAVE NO AIR CONDITIONING AT SOME POINT THAT COULD HAPPEN.

BIG SHADE TREES MAY SAVE LIVES.

THE SECOND THING, SET UP INCENTIVES FOR LANDSCAPING EQUIPMENT THAT IS LESS POLLUTING.

RIGHT NOW, MANY MOWERS CAUSE AS MUCH VOLITION AS A SMALL CAR.

WE HAVE USED BATTERY OPERATED OR ELECTRIC MOWERS AND WEEDED EATERS FOR YEARS AT HOME.

IF SOMEONE ELSE MOWS OUR YARD, THEY WILL USE OUR EQUIPMENT.

THEY WORK WELL.

THERE ARE MANY OTHER SMALLER THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE, REQUIRE CITY SPONSORED EVENTS TO USE BIODEGRADABLE CUTS, PLATES, AND UTENSILS.

IF THE CITY BOUGHT IN BULK, THEY MIGHT NOT BE SO TERRIBLY EXPENSIVE AND SEVERAL PLACES HAVE FOUND THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY CHEAPER.

THINK OF ALL THAT STYROFOAM IN PLASTIC.

THEY WOULD NOT BE PERMANENTLY TAKING UP SPACE IN THE LANDFILL.

WHAT AN EXAMPLE YOU WOULD SET.

WE WOULD PUT RALEIGH TO SHAME.

SINCE WE ARE FORTUNATE TO LIVE ON TWO RIVERS, OUR BAR SHOULD BE HIRED.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

THE INDIVIDUAL CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH, BUT CITIES CAN LEAD THE WAY IF YOU CAN FIND THE WILL AND THE COURAGE TO IGNORE THE CRITICS AND BE UNINFORMED AND THE NON-BELIEVERS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

PERFECT TIMING AS WELL.

UH, NEXT UP IS ROBERT GRISWOLD OF 48 0 48.

OH SEVEN DELT DRIVE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

I'M ASKING THE ALDERMAN AND THE MAYOR TO CONSIDER MOVING THE ELECTIONS TO THE, TO COINCIDE WITH OTHER PRIMARIES AND GENERAL ELECTIONS ON THE EVEN YEARS.

I BELIEVE YOU ONLY NEED TO REQUEST THAT FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE THE REQUIRED MOVES.

UH, DUE TO REDISTRICTING, THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION SERVED AN EXTRA EIGHT MONTHS.

ESSENTIALLY, WITH THE ELECTIONS MOVING BACK, UH, MOVING TO THE EVEN YEARS WOULD HAVE THIS ADMINISTRATION SERVING AN EXTRA FOUR MONTHS IF YOU MOVED IT OUT TO THE, TO THE EVEN YEARS.

WHY AM I ASKING THIS? IN THE EVEN YEARS, IT WOULD ALLOW THE ELECTION COST TO BE DISTRIBUTED ACROSS MANY MORE RACES RATHER THAN JUST THE, THE CITY RACES.

UM, DUE TO ELECTIONS NOW HAPPENING OVER MULTIPLE EARLY VOTING DAYS, I SEE AN IMMEDIATE SAVING.

FIRST OFF IN POLL WORKERS, JUDGES AND VOLUNTEER EXPENSES.

IN THE PAST ELECTIONS IN 2013, THE CITY ELECTIONS HAD ABOUT 5,400 VOTERS.

IN 2017, ABOUT 3,600 VOTERS.

IN MAY OF 22, ABOUT 5,700 VOTERS.

AND JULY THE RUNOFF ABOUT 61, UH, A HUNDRED VOTERS.

THAT'S THE ELECTION, I GUESS IS COSTING ANYWHERE FROM 30 TO $80,000.

I'M JUST DOING A WILD GUESS, BUT THAT'S PROBABLY FIVE TO $20 PER VOTE.

IF THAT COULD BE AMORTIZED, AMORTIZED ACROSS MANY MORE ELECTIONS, WE'RE AHEAD OF THE GAME.

WE CAN SAVE AN AWFUL LOT OF MONEY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU.

NEXT IS RUTH COOPER OF 10 22 COLTON WAY.

HI EVERYBODY.

UM, LIKE, UH, MY GOOD FRIEND AND FELLOW RN AND GARDNER WEBB SLAUGHTER.

I LIVE IN TRENT WOODS, BUT I SPEND A LOT OF TIME, UH, IN NEW BERN.

UH, LAST YEAR, ON OCTOBER 4TH, I HAD A 76TH BIRTHDAY PARTY AT THE SHELTER IN FORT TOTTEN PARK.

THIS YEAR ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7TH, THE DUFFY FIELD PHOENIX PROJECT HAS RESERVED THE HENDERSON PARK SHELTER IN DUFFY FIELD.

WE WANT FOLKS TO BRING A BUDDY AND HELP TIDY UP DUFFY FIELD AT NINE.

WE'LL GIVE OUT GLOVES, BAGS, GRABS T-SHIRTS AND MAPS OF 10 AREAS THAT NEED LITTER TO BE PICKED UP AT NOON, WE'LL HAVE HOT DOGS, CHIPS, DRINKS, AND BIRTHDAY CAKE.

AND WE'LL ALSO HAVE A RAFFLE FOR WALMART GIFT CARDS.

YOU GET A RAFFLE TICKET FOR EVERY BAG OF LITTER THAT YOU PICK UP.

UH, THERE WERE 50 PEOPLE AND TWO DOGS AT MY PARTY LAST YEAR.

IF WE COULD GET HALF THAT MANY PEOPLE TO COME TO DUFFY FIELD OCTOBER 7TH, OUR WORK WOULD GO FAST.

PAM HAWKINS AND OTHERS FROM CLEAN SWEEP WILL BE THERE.

IT'S THE DAY OF THE FALL CLEAN SWEEP.

UM, PLEASE CONSIDER ASKING A FRIEND OR NEIGHBOR TO JOIN YOU FOR THIS TIDY UP DUFFY FIELD

[00:10:01]

BOB BRINSON CAME AND WORE HIS, IT'S SIMPLE DON'T LITTER T-SHIRT.

UH, AT THE LAST, UH, LITTER PICKUP, WHICH WAS, I FORGET WHEN.

I THINK MAYBE MAY.

ANYWAY, UM, THEN MAYBE THE ANTI LITTER CAMPAIGN THAT MAYOR ODOM HAS TOLD ME YOU'RE WORKING ON.

MAYBE WITH THAT, WE WON'T NEED TO KEEP DOING THIS.

AND WHEN I GO TO DUFFY FIELD, I SEE LESS LITTER NOW THAN WAS THERE A YEAR AGO.

UM, BUT OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE PEOPLE LITTER DUFFY FEEL LESS, AND FOR THE RESIDENTS TO PICK UP ANY LITTER THEY SEE.

SO THAT'S OUR GOAL.

I KNOW YOU GOT A LOT ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT, SO THAT'S ALL I'M GONNA SAY.

BUT I DO HOPE TO SEE YOU SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7TH.

I'VE GIVEN BRENDA SORT OF THE INFORMATION ABOUT IT.

IF YOU COULD JUST BRING A FRIEND AND COME, UM, YOU KNOW, MY HUSBAND AND I DON'T PLAN TO KEEP ON DOING THIS FOREVER.

.

I DON'T PLAN TO KEEP ON TALKING TO YOU GUYS AND PICKING UP LITTER IN DUFFY FIELD, BUT WE JUST NEED A BETTER PLAN TO HELP PEOPLE, ENCOURAGE THEM NOT TO LITTER.

I KNOW GEORGE CHILD IS SOMEWHERE OUT HERE AND THEY HAVE SOME CAMERAS THAT SOMETIMES THEY CAN CATCH PEOPLE DUNKING CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS ON VACANT LOTS IN DUFFY FIELD.

YOU KNOW, TOMORROW I'M GONNA GO OVER TO THE NUISANCE ABATEMENT PEOPLE AND GIVE THEM A LIST OF SOME VACANT LOTS THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, WHEEZING GRASSES HIGH THAT NEED TO BE CUT DOWN.

BUT THERE'S JUST A LOT OF ISSUES.

THERE'S JUST ALMOST, YOU KNOW, TOO MANY TO TOTALLY TAKE CARE OF 'EM ALL.

BUT WE CAN WORK ON IT.

BUT THANK YOU.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

UH, NEXT UP IS BYRON KING.

BYRON, YOU DIDN'T, UM, PROVIDE YOUR ADDRESS.

SO IF YOU WOULD PLEASE STATE YOUR ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD WHEN YOU APPROACHED THE MICROPHONE.

A GOOD DAY, GOOD DAY.

EVENING.

UH, MY ADDRESS IS 2 1 4 SARATOGA LANE.

GOOD DAY EVERYONE.

HOPE EVERYONE BEING WELL.

UH, TODAY I'M WANT TO DISCUSS, UH, SOME ISSUES THAT MAY COME IN THE FUTURE.

YOU KNOW, PLANT A SEED.

I LIKE THINK, TALK ABOUT THE ASIAN, THE ASIAN POPULATION AS WE AGE HERE.

UM, I WAS READING WALL STREET JOURNAL TODAY THEY'LL TALKING ABOUT HOW MORE BABY BOOMERS ARE BECOMING HOMELESS, UH, DUE TO FIX INCOME, GLOBAL INFLATION.

THAT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER NORMALLY ABOUT IN NEW BERN.

UH, ALSO I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT AI, WHICH WE CALL THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.

UM, MANY WONDERFUL CITIES, SMALL CITIES LIKE NEW BERN, WHEN THEY BIG EMPLOYERS LIKE MOWING A BOSCH LEAVE.

YOU SEE WHAT OCCURS.

SO JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

UM, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, AS TECHNOLOGY, ADVANCED LABORERS GET CHEAPER.

MACHINES ARE CHEAPER THAN PEOPLE.

SO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO NEW BERN MORE? AND A BUNCH OF STUFF.

THAT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.

ALSO, THERE'S, THERE'S SURGE IN VAPE SHOPS.

I SEE MORE AND MORE VAPE SHOPS, UH, TALK OF TEENAGERS.

THERE'S REALLY NOT MUCH TO DO AROUND HERE.

UH, I FEEL LIKE IT NEEDS SOME WAY TO ADDRESS THAT.

UH, VAPE VAPORS.

UM, SOME PEOPLE CONSIDER IT, IT WAS A FINANCIAL TIME ARTICLE SAID THAT THE FUTURE OF VAPING LOOKS LIKE A LOT LIKE CIGARETTES.

THEY'RE CHEAP.

THEY'RE, UH, UH, ADDICTIVE, AND THEY'RE EVERYWHERE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I SEE MORE AND MORE VAPE SHOP.

WHEN YOU TALK YOUNG PEOPLE, THEY DON'T HAVE MORE AND MORE THINGS TO DO.

UH, THAT'S ONE SEED I WANT TO PLANT.

AND LASTLY, UH, THE ABILITY, UH, WHEN COME TO INFRASTRUCTURE, IF THERE'S SOME WAY POSSIBLE, JUST HAVE SIDEWALKS TO GO FROM DOWNTOWN NEW BERN ALL THE WAY UP.

MARTIN LUTHER KINGSFIELD, ALL THE WAY UP TO BOULEVARD.

'CAUSE AS A WAY INTO INVITE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, TO CREATE A CONNECTION.

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, I'M FROM A BIG CITY.

IT'S SEEMS FRAGMENTED.

IT'S LIKE YOU GOT DOWNTOWN NEW BERN, AND THEN YOU GOT THAT UP, I GUESS WALMART, SO AND SO FORTH.

SO JUST THAT SIMPLE, YOU KNOW, UH, SIMPLE INFRASTRUCTURE WILL CREATE CONTINUITY THROUGHOUT NEW BERN.

AND I THANK YOU AND CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SIR.

OKAY.

UH, THAT'S ALL THE PETITION OF CITIZENS.

SO

[Consent Agenda]

IT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD.

MAKE A MOTION.

WE ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT'S SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

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

ALDERMAN FRILL.

YES.

ALDERMAN BRO.

YES.

ALDERMAN ASER.

YES.

ALDERMAN KENZIE.

YES.

ALDERMAN DES.

YES.

ALDERMAN BRINSON.

YES.

MAYOR ODOM.

YES.

MOTION CARRIES.

[8. Introduction of Staff.]

MR. HUGHES.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR ALDERMAN.

WE'VE GOT A FEW NEW FACES AND, AND THAT HAVE STARTED WORKING FOR US IN NEWBURN.

AND, AND, UH, UH, SO I WANT TO BRING THEIR NAMES UP, SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT 'EM AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO UH, UH, TELL THEMSELVES ABOUT TALK, TO TALK, TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THEMSELVES.

FIRST ONE IN FIRE RESCUE.

WE'VE GOT JIM MCCONNELL.

UH, JIM, COME ON UP.

HE IS CURRENTLY SERVING AS OUR INTERIM FIRE CHIEF.

JIM HAS BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR 25 YEARS, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT, UH, JIM CAN DO IN THAT POSITION.

THANK YOU, SIR.

UM, ALDERMAN MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MUCH.

I'M VERY PLEASED TO HAVE THIS POSITION AS THE INTERIM FIRE CHIEF, I'M LOOKING AT WORKING WITH YOU VERY DILIGENTLY ON BUILDING NEW BERN FIRE DEPARTMENT AND MAKING IT BIGGER AND BETTER, AND BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE OF, UH, OUR CITIZENS

[00:15:01]

ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT ONE IS DEANNA TREBLE.

SHE IS OUR M P O ADMINISTRATOR.

SHE COMES FROM JACKSONVILLE WHERE SHE SERVED AS THE M P O SINCE 2017.

GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME THIS EVENING.

SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF.

I AM HAVE BEEN A MUNICIPAL, MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEE FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS WITH THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE.

UM, I'VE BEEN HERE IN NEW BERN FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS.

UM, I SPENT THE LAST SIX YEARS AT JACKSONVILLE AS THEIR M P O ADMINISTRATOR.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT, UH, I CAN BRING WITH THE HELP OF NOT ONLY THE CITY OF NEW BERN, BUT ALL OF OUR MEMBER AGENCIES AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT EMPLOYEE IS ROBERT GOFF.

HE IS OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

ROBERT COMES FROM OSLOW COUNTY WHERE HE HAS CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE IN PLANNING AND ZONING.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, MAYOR AND THE, UH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING TO THE CITY OF NEW BERN.

UH, LIKE MR. FOSTER HUGHES HAS SAID, UH, I DO BRING A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE ALL THE WAY FROM PERMITTING TO PLANNING TO MY CURRENT POSITION AS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

UH, PRIOR TO MY SERVICE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, I SERVED FIVE YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST IS KENDRICK STANTON.

HE IS OUR NEW ZONING ADMINISTRATOR.

HE COMES FROM US FROM OSLO COUNTY, AND HE'S GOT CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE IN ZONING.

AND HE MOST RECENTLY RECEIVED THE ZONING OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR AWARD.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. FOSTER.

AND GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR.

AND TO THE ALDERMAN, UH, MYSELF.

ONCE AGAIN, I'M KENDRICK STANTON.

I AM YOUR NEW LAND AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATOR.

SO JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE I CAME FROM IN SANSO COUNTY AND DEALT WITH, UH, THE CITIZENS THERE IN THE BEST REGARD POSSIBLE.

IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE AND I ENJOY CUSTOMER SERVICE AS FAR AS FOR WHAT I DO AND HOW I ENGAGE WITH THE PUBLIC.

AND MY HOPE IS TO ABSOLUTELY TAKE ON THAT SAME ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY HERE IN THE CITY OF NEW BERN.

UM, I'VE BEEN, I GUESS VERY WELCOMED, UH, OR I FELT VERY WELCOMED, AND I CAN ATTEST OR SAY TO THAT, MR. FOSTER IMMEDIATELY CAME IN, SHOOK MY HEAD, AND THAT MEANT A LOT TO ME JUST TO, UH, STARTING OUT.

SO I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SERVING THE CITIZENS FOR NEW BERN.

VERY, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

WELCOME, UH, WELCOME TO ALL OF YOU.

UM, I'M NOT GOING TO ANSWER ANY NINE ONE OH AREA CODE PHONE NUMBERS THAT, UH, I GET CALLS FROM IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS 'CAUSE UH, SEEMS TO BE A THEME THERE.

BUT, UH, WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE WITH THE CITY.

ITEM

[9. Conduct a Public Hearing and Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving the Installment Financing Agreement for the Stanley White Recreation Center.]

SO ON AUGUST 8TH, 2023, THE BOARD CONDUCTED A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FINANCING OF THE CONSTRUCTION FOR STANLEY WHITE REC CENTER.

THE CITY'S BOND COUNCIL PUBLISHED A NOTICE OF HEARING IN THE SUN JOURNAL THAT INCORRECTLY STATED THE LOAN WOULD NOT EXCEED 8.2 MILLION.

THE AD SHOULD HAVE STATED THE LOAN WILL NOT EXCEED 10 MILLION.

THE BOND COUNCIL AND CITY ATTORNEY CONCURRED THAT A NEW NOTICE NEEDED TO BE PUBLISHED IN A SECOND HEARING HELD PRIOR TO APPROVAL OF THE FINANCING AGREEMENT.

AFTER CONDUCTING THE HEARING, THE BOARD IS ASKED TO CONSIDER A, THE RESOLUTION APPROVING A FINANCING AGREEMENT WITH TD BANK.

UM, JOHN MAS WITH WOMBLE V DICKINSON IS HERE.

IF YOU HAVE ANY, UM, QUESTIONS.

DOES BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS BEFORE I OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING? OKAY.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE INSTALLMENT FINANCING AGREEMENT FOR STANLEY WHITE RECREATION CENTER.

MAKE MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

UH, LET'S HAVE, UH, ACTUALLY, LET'S ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING PUBLIC HEARING SAY, AYE.

AYE.

A AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.

NOW WE WOULD LOOK TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FINANCING AGREEMENT.

MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE INSTALLMENT FINANCE AND AGREEMENT FOR THE STANLEY WHITE RECREATION CENTER.

SECOND.

SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION IN A COUPLE SECONDS.

I'LL LET THE CLERK CHOOSE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

HEARING NONE.

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

ALDERMAN ROYAL, YES.

ALDERMAN ASER.

YES.

ALDERMAN KENZIE.

YES.

ALDERMAN BEST? YES.

ALDERMAN BRINSON.

YES.

ALDERMAN CREEL.

YES.

MAYOR ODOM.

YES.

MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NUMBER

[10. Presentation on Project Lifesaver.]

[00:20:08]

UM, WE ARE EXCITED TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO PROVIDE A SUMMARY OF A GREAT PROGRAM THAT IS NOW AVAILABLE TO THE CITIZENS HERE IN THE GREAT CITY OF NEW BERN.

UH, WITH ME TONIGHT, UH, I HAVE MR. JANUARY BROWN, MR. DAVID BONE.

WE HAVE CHIEF MCCONNELL AND LIEUTENANT CONWAY PROJECT LIFESAVER IS A PREMIER SEARCH AND RESCUE PROGRAM OPERATED INTERNATIONALLY BY PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES AND IS STRATEGICALLY DESIGNED FOR AT-RISK INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PRONE TO THE LIFE-THREATENING BEHAVIOR OF WANDERING.

THE PRIMARY MISSION OF PROJECT LIFESAVER IS TO PROVIDE TIMELY RESPONSES TO SAVE LIVES, TO REDUCE POTENTIAL INJURIES FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN WITH THE PROPENSITY TO WANDER DUE TO A COGNITIVE CONDITION SUCH AS ALZHEIMER'S OR DEMENTIA.

WITHIN 100 MILES OF NEW BERN, THERE WERE 17 OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE THIS, UH, PROGRAM.

A FEW YEARS AGO, MEMBERS OF THE DEMENTIA FRIENDLY COMMUNITY TASK FORCE, WHICH THE NEW BERN FIRE AND RESCUE, AND THE NEW BERN POLICE DEPARTMENTS OR MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE, BEGAN THE PROCESS OF EVALUATING THE UTILITY OF BRINGING PROJECT LIFESAVER AND HOW BEST, UM, TO BRING THIS VALUABLE RESOURCE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

I WISH TO INTRODUCE MS. JANUARY BROWN, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DEMENTIA FRIENDLY, UH, COMMUNITY TASK FORCE FOR SOME OF HER COMMENTS.

HI, MY NAME IS JANUARY BROWN.

I AM THE DEPUTY AGING DIRECTOR AT EASTERN CAROLINA COUNCIL AREA AGENCY ON AGING.

UM, I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND WHAT PROJECT LIFESAVER CAN DO FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FELT THAT IT WAS, THIS WAS A STRONG RESOURCE NEEDED HERE IN NEW BERN, NORTH CAROLINA.

WE GAVE A GREAT DEAL OF THOUGHT AND FUNDING OPTIONS TO MAKE THE PROGRAM COST EFFECTIVE BY PROVIDING GRANTS TO ASSIST IN THE PROGRAM FOR THE FINANCIAL COST OF CLIENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DAVID BOONE, AND MYSELF DILIGENTLY WORKED WITH NEWBURN PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS TO WORK THROUGH THE NECESSARY MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING AND POLICY LANGUAGE TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN HAVE A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM HERE IN NEW BERN.

I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND ASK CHIEF MCCONNELL TO GO AHEAD AND HELP OUTLINE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM.

SO IT'S ALL ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS, AND WE'VE LEARNED THAT IN THE PAST, THE PARTNERSHIP WE'VE COURTED WITH OURSELVES, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT.

WE STARTED IN JANUARY, 2022.

WE GOT TRAINED BY PROJECT LIFESAVER.

UH, THEY CAME DOWN AND GAVE A TWO DAY COURSE.

AND THAT TWO DAY COURSE PROVIDED TRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS FOR OUR PERSONNEL IN ADDITION TO TRAIN THE TRAINERS.

SO FOUR OF US WITHIN TWO IN EACH DEPARTMENT BECAME TRAINERS.

SO NOW WE ARE TRAINING OUR PERSONNEL, AND WE GOT 52 PLUS INDIVIDUALS ON EACH FORCE ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE TO OUR CITIZENS.

CURRENTLY, WE HAVE A RECEIVERS.

THEY'RE STRATEGICALLY PLACED WITHIN THE CITY.

WE HAVE FOUR OF THEM.

AND ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE ABLE TO DEPLOYMENT IN A MOMENT'S NOTICE WHEN SOMEONE GOES MISSING, OR A ADULT OR A CHILD.

SO GOING BASED ON WHAT CHIEF MCCONNELL SAYS, THIS IS THE RECEIVER AND THIS IS THE TRANSMITTER.

IT IS PUT ON A, KINDA LIKE A MEDICINE, UM, A HOSPITAL BAND.

AND IT GOES ON, IT'S NON INTRUSIVE.

IT GOES WHEREVER THE PERSON WANTS.

IT CAN GO ON A WRIST, IT CAN GO ON AN ANKLE.

UM, IT'S MONITORED BY US ON A 60 DAY ROTATION TO CHANGE OUT THE BATTERIES.

UM, AND SO IF THE PERSON WERE TO LEAVE OR TO WALK AWAY FROM THEIR SPOUSE AT A MALL OR AT A HOUSE, AND WE GET THE CALL, WE DO A TRIANGULATION METHOD.

SO WHAT HAPPENS IS WE HAVE THIS, UH, RECEIVER AND IT'S PICKING UP THE SIGNAL.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR YOU HAVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOING OUT ON THE SCENE, IT STARTS AND WE FORM A TRIANGLE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE BEST LOCATION IS.

AND THEN WE CAN CLOSE IN, FINE TUNE THE, THE RECEIVER, AND IT CAN ACTUALLY PICK UP SOMEBODY.

WE ACTUALLY, IT HAS WORKED.

UM, THERE HAVE BEEN INDIVIDUALS HERE IN THE CITY THAT THIS HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL TO, AND THEY HAVE LEFT.

AND WE FOUND 'EM WITHIN WHAT, UNDER 30, UNDER 30 MINUTES WE WERE ABLE TO FIND 'EM.

UM, SO THIS IS A BENEFICIAL TOOL TO THE CITIZENS OF NEWBURY.

THANK YOU.

SO MAYOR ERMAN, MY NAME IS DAVID BONE.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE EASTERN CAROLINA COUNCIL.

FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR MEMBERSHIP IN OUR REGIONAL COUNCIL.

WE ARE THE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS THAT SERVES A NINE COUNTY REGION, AND WE THANK YOU DEARLY FOR YOUR MEMBERSHIP IN OUR ORGANIZATION, AND WE DO LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING, UH, ALDERMAN MCKENZIE TO OUR BOARD AS WELL.

SO, UM, AGAIN, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP IN THIS PROJECT.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE CITY, AND I DO WANT TO

[00:25:01]

SO THE WAY THAT WE'VE, UM, DESIGNED THE PROGRAM RIGHT NOW, OUR AGENCY DOES ALL THE REFERRAL AND INTAKE FOR A CLIENT.

SO WE HAVE CAREGIVERS THAT WILL BE EITHER REFERRED TO US BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT, OR CALL US DIRECTLY.

THEY CALL US AT OUR PHONE NUMBER.

I THEN GO OUT TO THE HOME AND DO A HOME ASSESSMENT AND CHECK THE SAFETY OF THE, UM, HOME, FIND OUT THE DIAGNOSIS OF THE INDIVIDUAL, AND WORK WITH THE CAREGIVER, NOT ONLY ON TRYING TO GET THEM ON BOARD WITH THE PROJECT LIFESAVER BAND, BUT ALSO WITH HOME SAFETY SUCH AS DOOR ALARMS. DO WE NEED TO PUT SOME OTHER, UM, TYPES OF THINGS IN PLACE SUCH AS RESPITE TO HELP THAT CAREGIVER AND THAT CAREGIVER JOURNEY WITH THAT PERSON WITH COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT? SO WE DO ASK THE INDIVIDUALS, CONTACT OUR OFFICE, UM, AT EASTERN CAROLINA COUNSEL, WHICH THE PHONE NUMBER'S (252) 638-3185.

UM, SO THAT WAY I CAN COME OUT AND DO THE LITTLE HOME ASSESSMENT AND CHECK FOR ELIGIBILITY OF PROGRAM AVAILABILITY.

AND THEN I REFER THEM TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO TAKES IT FROM THERE.

AND THEN HOPEFULLY NEVER HAS TO GO OUT AND FIND THE INDIVIDUALS THAT THEN THEY RUN THE PROGRAM AFTER THE INTAKE.

THANK YOU.

JANUARY.

UH, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THIS PRE UH, PRESENTATION.

ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT A NEW PROGRAM, UM, AND IT IS NOT NEW TECHNOLOGY.

IT IS NEW TO THE CITY OF NEW BERN AND IT IS NEW FOR THE STAFF AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE AND RESCUE.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR OUR PROGRAM TO ADDRESS ANY SHORTFALLS THAT MAY COME UP.

UM, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN A GREAT DEAL FROM OTHER AGENCIES THAT HAVE PROJECT LIFESAVER.

WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT PROJECT LIFESAVER AS IT IS NOW HERE IN OUR CITY, WILL DRAW OTHERS THAT MAY HAVE, UM, LOVED ONES TO WANT TO COME TO OUR CITY, THAT IF BY UH, UM, BAD FORTUNE OF THEIR LOVED ONE IS MISSING, WE CAN FIND THEM.

ALL WE NEED IS THE, UH, TRANSPONDER CODE AND WE WOULD BE ABLE TO FIND THEM.

UM, ALTHOUGH THIS IS A GREAT BENEFIT TO OUR COMMUNITY, FOR RIGHT NOW, ONLY CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF NEW BERN WILL BE ELIGIBLE RIGHT NOW.

UM, AND WITH THAT, WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

DOES BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? YES, I HAVE A QUESTION.

UM, MS. BROWN, I KNOW YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD GO OUT AND MAKE A HOME ASSESSMENT FOR HIS ELIGIBILITY, HIS CONCERN, BUT AT WHAT POINT IS IT BASED ON YOUR INCOME? NO, THIS PROGRAM IS NOT INCOME BASED.

IT'S NOT A MEDICAID SERVICE.

IT'S DONE THROUGH, UM, RIGHT.

CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW WE ARE ASSISTING CLIENTS THROUGH THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT FUNDING.

OKAY.

THROUGH THE FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT.

SO THERE IS NO INCOME REQUIREMENTS, JUST THAT THEY ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO WANDERING AND HAVE A COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT.

OKAY.

OKAY.

THANK YOU HONOR.

MCKENZIE, WHAT ABOUT NURSING HOMES? WOULD THEY BE EXEMPT FROM THIS PROGRAM? YES.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INDIVIDUALS IN THE PUBLIC AND IT WOULD NOT BE FOR AN INDIVIDUAL THAT'S IN A FACILITY.

OKAY.

SO IF THEY WERE TO NEED SOMETHING FOR, DUE TO WANDERING THE, THEY WOULD NEED TO BE IN THE APPROPRIATE PLACEMENT, WHICH WOULD BE A LOCKDOWN MEMORY CARE UNIT FOR THEIR SAFETY.

THANK YOU.

MM-HMM.

.

SO, SO MOVING FORWARD, ONCE THOSE FUNDS ARE DEPLETED, HOW IS THIS A REOCCURRING PROCESS THROUGH THE STATE THAT YOU RECEIVE YOUR FUNDING TO? SO WE CURRENTLY RECEIVE, UM, FUNDING THROUGH THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT, THROUGH THE D H H S.

WE HAVE ALSO, AND EVEN WITH THE STARTUP COSTS OF THIS, WE, OUR AGENCY WENT AHEAD AND APPLIED FOR GRANTS.

OKAY.

WE WENT THROUGH THE ALZHEIMER'S FOUNDATION OF AMERICA TO GET THE STARTING GRANT FUNDS TO GET ALL THE TRAINING DONE.

UM, SO WE WILL CONTINUE AS AN AGENCY TO POSSIBLY LOOK AT THOSE OTHER GRANT FUNDINGS.

LIKE CURRENTLY WE'RE LOOKING AT ANOTHER, UM, GRANT TO POSSIBLY HELP WITH MORE TRAINING OF FURTHER OFFICERS.

SO WE ARE TRYING TO HELP AND ASSIST WITH ANY FUNDING THAT POSSIBLE THAT WE CAN TO HELP KEEP THIS UP AND RUNNING.

BUT CURRENTLY WE DO HAVE QUITE A FEW BRACELETS IN HOUSE, WHICH ARE THE TRANSPONDERS.

UM, I THINK WE HAVE ABOVE 20 IN HOUSE.

SO WE ALREADY HAVE A ARSENAL READY FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT MIGHT NEED THAT PERMIT REMEDY TO SIGN UP FOR IT.

SO IT IS AN INSTANT, IT'S NOT AS IF WE HAVE TO WAIT A MONTH FOR THEM TO COME ON.

ONCE WE DO THE HOME ASSESSMENT, WE'RE PRETTY QUICK WITHIN A WEEK TO TWO WEEKS TO GET THEM UP AND RUNNING ON THE PROGRAM.

, ANY MORE QUESTIONS? WHAT'S THE RANGE? SO THE RANGE CAN VARY, SIR, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU'RE AT.

OBVIOUSLY IN THE METRO AREA OR DOWNTOWN, THERE'S BUILDINGS AND EVERYTHING.

AND THAT'S WHAT LIEUTENANT CONWAY SAID.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE TRY AND GO LIKE THIS, BUT ONCE YOU'RE OUT IN THE WOODED AREA OR OPEN AREA, IT CAN GO UP TO AT LEAST TWO MILES DEPENDING ON WHAT KIND OF STRUCTURES OR UH, WOODED AREA YOU'RE DEALING WITH.

UH, WINTERTIME, IT'S A LITTLE EASIER.

IT GOES A LITTLE BIT FURTHER, BUT WITH THE DENSITY OF THE GROWTH OF TREES AND BUSHES AND STUFF LIKE THAT, IT CAN LESSEN THAT.

BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT A MILE AND A HALF TO TWO MILES, UM,

[00:30:01]

BUT THE TRIANGULATION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.

DEPLOYING THESE ASSETS FAST IN AN AREA, WE CAN, UH, TRIANGULATE A PERSON.

THE QUESTION CHIEF? YES SIR.

THE PROGRAM THAT YOU WAS TRAINED FOR ABOUT MAYBE FIVE TO 10 YEARS AGO, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN THIS PROGRAM AND THE ONE THAT YOU'RE TRAINED IN AS WELL AND CERTIFIED IN? SO WHEN YOU SAY THE PRAYER PROGRAM, A COUPLE YEARS, 10 YEARS AGO, YOU REMEMBER YOU CAME BEFORE THE BOARD, I THINK AND, AND, AND, AND YOU WAS, UH, CERTIFIED IN TRAINING TO FIND PEOPLE.

YES.

SO THIS ONE HERE, THE, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS TRAINING IS IT'S ACTUALLY WE IDENTIFY THE, THE CLIENT AND THESE PEOPLE COME FORWARD KNOWING THAT THEY GOT AN ISSUE AND THEY CAN LIVE WITH THEIR LOVED ONES WITH THIS ISSUE, UM, THE TRAINING THAT WE HAVE IN THE PAST IS SEARCH AND RESCUE PERSONNEL.

WE ACTUALLY TRAIN FOR, IT'S BEEN 24 HOURS PAST THE PERSON'S BEEN MISSING OR HOURS ON DAY.

THIS IS TO RESOLVE AN ISSUE THAT'S CURRENT AND BEING NOTIFIED VERY FAST.

WE CAN RESOLVE IT WITHIN 30 MINUTES, WHICH WE'VE SEEN.

THE, THE ADDITIONAL TRAINING THAT WE STILL HAVE WITH OUR PERSONNEL IS IF SOMEBODY'S GONE MISSING WITHOUT THIS PROGRAM, FOR INSTANCE, UH, LACK OF SAYING IS SEARCHING FOR A NEEDLE IN THE HAYSTACK.

UM, SO WITHOUT THIS TECHNOLOGY AND SEARCHING FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL JUST WALKS AWAY, IT TAKES A LOT MORE RESOURCES, A LOT MORE MANPOWER WITH EACH ONE'S DOLLARS AT THE END OF THE DAY.

BUT WE DO TRAIN AND WE STILL HAVE THOSE CAPABILITIES OF RESPONDING TO THOSE SITUATIONS.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT WE ARE TRAINED BOTH WAYS.

YES SIR.

WE ARE.

AND NOW WE HAVE, UH, AN ADVANCED SYSTEM IN PLACE NOW.

CORRECT.

AND THAT TO LOCATE, LOCATE THE, THE INDIVIDUAL QUICKER.

YES, SIR.

THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

I JUST WANT HIM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

YES, SIR.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

AND ONE OF THE MAIN POINTS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM TOO, THAT'S A KEY COMPONENT IS IT'S NOT, WE JUST, IT'S NOT A ONE AND DONE.

WE PUT THE BRACELET ON AND HOPE THAT THEY CALL IF THEIR LOVED ONE GOES MISSING, THEY'RE RECEIVING CONTINUOUS SUPPORT BETWEEN MY AGENCY AND ALSO THE ASSIGNED, EITHER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY'RE ASSIGNED TO, BECAUSE THEY DO DO HOME CHECKS.

THOSE BATTERIES HAVE TO BE CHECKED EVERY 60 DAYS.

SO THEY'RE CONSTANTLY GETTING THAT SUPPORT FROM THEIR COMMUNITY KNOWING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRUSTED AGENCIES TO BE CALLING IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

SO THAT'S A CONTINUOUS SUPPORT THAT THOSE CITIZENS WOULD RECEIVE AS CAREGIVERS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

THANK, THANK YOU.

[11. Consider Adopting an Amendment to Resolution 23- 050 to Designate a Street Closure for the 2023 MumFeast Event.]

CONSIDER ADOPTING AN AMENDMENT TO RESOLUTION 2305 OH TO DESIGNATE A STREET CLOSURE FOR THE 2023 MUM FEAST EVENT.

MS. WARREN, I BELIEVE GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

UM, SO BACK IN MAY, THE BOARD ADOPTED A RESOLUTION TO CLOSE DOWNTOWN STREETS FOR, UM, STREET CAFES AT THE REQUEST OF SWISS BAY.

AND RECENTLY SWISS SWISS BAY HAS MADE, UM, A REQUEST TO ADOPT ONE OF THOSE DATES AS MUM FEAST.

AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE, UM, AN AMENDMENT TO THAT CLOSURE.

UM, IT WOULD BE TO CLOSE THE STREETS AT FIVE INSTEAD OF SIX TO ADD 400 P*****K TO THAT, UM, CLOSURE.

THE BLOCK OF 400 P*****K, AS WELL AS ALL OF THE 300 BLOCK OF MIDDLE STREET.

UM, I HAVE ANNMARIE BYRD HERE WHO IS, UH, VINCE DIRECTOR WITH SWISS BAY AND THE COORDINATOR FOR FEST.

SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK HER, SHE IS HERE TO PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION THAT MAY HELP YOU OUT.

BARBARA MCKENZIE, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHAT WAS THE ATTENDANCE LAST YEAR FOR THE STREET CAFES OR MONTH EAST FOR THE CLOSE? WAS IT STREET CLOSING? OKAY.

I'LL HAVE TO REFER THAT TO ANNE-MARIE BECAUSE I DO NOT KEEP NUMBERS ON.

I UNDERSTAND.

I UNDERSTAND THEIR COUNT.

SO WOULD Y'ALL LIKE FOR ANNE-MARIE TO COME UP AND GIVE SURE.

YES, PLEASE.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND ALDERMAN.

UM, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.

IN REGARDS TO THAT PARTICULAR QUESTION WITH STREET CLOSURES IN GENERAL, I COULD GIVE YOU NUMBERS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO MUM FEST, MUM FEAST AND THE MUM FEST CONCERT.

UM, IN TERMS OF OVERALL STREET CLOSURES, I THINK THAT WE'LL NEED TO DEFER THAT TO T D A AND, UM, MELISSA RIGGLE IN PARTICULAR, THEY HAVE NEW SOFTWARE THAT HAS BEEN ABLE TO ASSESS THOSE NUMBERS VERY SPECIFICALLY.

AND I CAN DEFINITELY MEET WITH HER THIS WEEK

[00:35:01]

SO THAT HAS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE.

YES.

THE PREVIOUS STREET CLOSURES, WE COULD GATHER THAT INFORMATION FOR.

UM, AND I COULD GIVE YOU INFORMATION FROM LAST YEAR'S PHONE FEST, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST DEALING WITH WHAT'S COMING UP IN THE FUTURE.

ONE OTHER THING, UM, HAVE EVERYONE BEEN, UH, EVERYONE IS IN AGREEMENT TO CLOSING OF THE STREETS WITH THEIR BUSINESS? YES.

AND I CAN SPEAK TO THAT SPECIFICALLY.

SO HOW THIS IS, UM, PROCEEDED SO FAR, AS CARRIE MENTIONED, THE CLOSURE WAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED AND APPROVED.

WHAT SWISS FAIR IS SPECIFICALLY ASKING FOR ARE A COUPLE OF ADDITIONAL REQUESTS FOR MONTH FEAST.

SO MONTH, MONTH AS WE ALL LOVE IS MADE UP OF THREE DIFFERENT SEPARATE EVENTS.

THE FIRST ONE IS THE KICKOFF EVENT, WHICH WOULD BE THE 29TH, WHICH IS MONTH FEAST.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DISCUSS TODAY.

THE SECOND EVENT WOULD BE MUM FEST ON OCTO OCTOBER 14TH AND 15TH, AND THEN THE CONCERT ON THE 21ST.

SO THE QUESTION REALLY HAS BEEN SO FAR, WE HAD A LIMITED AMOUNT OF STREET CLOSURE IN TERMS OF WHICH BLOCKS.

SO ALDERMAN P AND I SAT DOWN AND TALKED ABOUT THIS RECENTLY AND DISCUSSED THE LAYOUT AND THE PLANNING FOR FEAST.

HE HAD SOME QUESTIONS AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THE DETAILS WITH YOU ON HOW IT'S GOING TO BE.

UM, WE WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE MODIFIED.

SO THE STREET CLOSURE FOR THE 29TH RIGHT NOW IS APPROVED FOR, UH, 200 MIDDLE AND PART OF 300 MIDDLE.

AND I WANTED, THAT WAS ONE OF, UM, ALDERMAN KRILLS QUESTIONS.

WHAT PART OF 300 MIDDLE THAT GOES FROM FIRST CITIZENS TO BROAD STREET? SO WHERE THE CHELSEA IS.

SO IT'S ONLY PART OF THE BLOCK THAT ACCOMMODATES TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, ALDERMAN MCKINSEY, UM, ARE THE BUSINESSES IN AGREEMENT? SO WE'RE LEAVING CERTAIN AREAS WITH THE CHANGE, WITH THE, WITH THE NEW CHANGE, YES.

BUT THAT'S NOT, THAT PART'S NOT NEW THAT WAS ALREADY AGREED UPON.

BUT WE'RE ACCOMMODATING BUSINESSES SUCH AS BAY LEAF AND, UM, THE HEALTH FOOD STORE THAT ARE IN THAT BLOCK, THAT THEY STILL WANT PARKING.

THEY WANT THE ABILITY OF CARS TO BE ABLE TO COME IN AND OUT AND PARK.

SO 300 MIDDLE IS ONLY A PARTIAL CLOSURE.

SAME SITUATION.

WE HAVE 400, UM, P*****K, 300 P*****K WAS ALREADY APPROVED.

WE'RE HA WE'RE ASKING THAT 400 P*****K ALSO BE CLOSED BECAUSE OF THE PLACEMENT OF THE PHYSICAL STAGE.

WE HAVE LIVE MUSICIANS COMING IN.

PARKS AND REC IS GOING TO BE ERECTING A STAGE RIGHT ON THE CORNER OF MIDDLELAND P*****K.

SO RIGHT NEXT TO THE ELKS BUILDING.

UM, IN ORDER TO PLACE THAT STAGE THERE, THE REST OF THAT STREET BECOMES THE DEAD END.

I'VE GONE TO EACH OF THOSE BUSINESSES PERSONALLY AND TALKED TO THE BAPTIST CHURCH, TO NEW BERN CIVIC THEATER, TO THE, UH, DRY CLEANERS AND TO SUMMERAL SUG ATTORNEYS.

AND I'VE GIVEN THEM A WRITTEN NOTICE, WHICH I CAN SHARE WITH YOU.

AND THEY ALL AGREED THAT BECAUSE, UM, WE, WE ARE NOT GOING TO BLOCK THEIR INGRESS OR THEIR EGRESS, WE'RE GONNA PUT THE BARRICADE RIGHT AT THE END OF WHERE THE CIVIC THEATER IS.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO IMPEDE THEIR BUSINESS AT ALL.

AND THAT MADE THEM HAPPY.

SO THEY ARE, THEY'RE SATISFIED WITH THAT.

UM, LYNN HARA CALLED THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SWISSAIR, DID SEND OUT AN EMAIL TO ALL THE BUSINESS OWNERS AND THE RESIDENTIAL, UH, RESIDENCES, GIVING THEM A HEADS UP THAT MONTH.

FEAST WAS GOING TO BE ON THE 29TH.

SO THEY HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED IN WRITING.

AND THEN WE ARE ALL PER, WE ARE PERSONALLY DELIVERING NOTICES TO RESIDENTS INTO THEIR MAILBOX.

AND THEN I'VE ALSO HAD INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS AS WELL AND ALSO TO RECEIVE.

YES, YES.

SO, UM, THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY IS WHY, WHY ARE WE ASKING TO MOVE THIS FROM A SIX O'CLOCK CLOSURE TO A FIVE O'CLOCK CLOSURE? THE GIST OF THAT IS, IS THAT BECAUSE WE'RE, THIS IS NOT A NORMAL STREET CLOSURE.

THIS IS THE KICKOFF EVENT FOR ALL OF MUM FEST.

THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A REAL CELEBRATION FOR OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE VERY EXCITED ABOUT.

WE'RE BRINGING IN TOURISTS.

IT'S GOING TO BUILD REVENUE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING EVENTS OF OUR SEASON.

SO, UM, WE'RE STARTING IT OFF BY HAVING THIS LIVE BAND AND WITH THE HELP OF PARKS AND REC AND PUTTING UP THAT STAGE.

THAT TAKES TIME.

IF WE DON'T START THAT PROCESS UNTIL SIX O'CLOCK.

AND I CAN TELL YOU, I'M, I'M OUT THERE WITH PARKS WITH, UH, PUBLIC WORKS, BOOTS ON THE GROUND ON FRIDAYS FOR THOSE STREET CLOSURES TRYING TO, TRYING TO GET THE CARS MOVED SO WE CAN SET UP THESE STREET CAFES.

IT TAKES TIME.

IT TAKES AT LEAST 30 MINUTES.

IT ALSO TAKES ABOUT 45 MINUTES TO ERECT THAT STAGE AND THAT 20 BY 20 TENT AND GET THE SOUND EQUIPMENT IN PLACE SO WE CAN START TO PREPARE FOR THE BAND.

SO WE'RE REQUESTING THAT THIS BEGINS, THE PROCESS BEGINS AT FIVE.

SO THE MUSIC CAN ACTUALLY BEGIN AT SIX.

THAT'S POSITIVE FOR THE BUSINESSES BECAUSE MUSIC ISN'T, IS A GREAT DRAW.

PEOPLE ARE GONNA WANNA COME, THEY'RE GONNA WANNA STAY, THEY'RE GONNA WANNA SHOP, THEY'RE GONNA WANNA SPEND MONEY.

IT'S, IT'S

[00:40:01]

UM, IT'S ALSO TRUE THAT WHEN, UH, PARKS AND REC AND THE CITY PUTS ON MUSICAL EVENTS IN THE PARK THAT THEY'RE STARTING AT SIX O'CLOCK, THAT'S POSITIVE TOO.

'CAUSE WE'RE KEEPING THAT SAME KIND OF TIMELINE.

THE MUSIC ENDS SOONER.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE LESS COMPLAINTS, I THINK, FROM RESIDENTS BECAUSE THE MUSIC ISN'T CARRYING ON SO FAR INTO THE EVENING, WHICH IS YET ANOTHER POSITIVE.

UM, SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE REASONS WHY WE ARE NEEDING THIS.

UM, KEEPING IN MIND TOO, THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THREE OR FOUR FOOD TRUCKS THAT NEED TO BE PLACED ON THE STREETS AND THAT THE FIVE RESTAURANTS, UM, THAT NEED TO SET UP THEIR CAFES, THAT ALSO TAKES TIME TOO.

THEY CAN'T SET UP UNTIL THE CARS ARE GONE.

SO IT'S A, THERE IS A SERIES OF TASKS THAT HAS TO HAPPEN, AND E ONE HOUR MAY NOT SEEM THAT MUCH, BUT IT REALLY IS TERRIBLY HELPFUL FROM AN EVENT PLANNING PERSPECTIVE.

IT'S HELPFUL FOR ALL OF US, UM, ACROSS THE BOARD.

I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF LETTERS HERE ALSO FROM CYPRESS HALL AND, UM, FROM BAXTER'S AND A COPY OF THE NOTICE THAT I HAVE SENT OUT TO THE VARIOUS BUSINESSES AND RESIDENCES.

COULD I PASS THIS OFF? THANK YOU.

SO, UM, THE ONLY OTHER ISSUE THAT CAME UP ON THE REVISIONS AT SWISS FAIR IS, UH, REQUESTS, OR OUR REQUESTS TO YOU IS THAT THERE BE ADDED A RAIN DATE ON OCTOBER THE SIXTH.

USUALLY WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO HAVE A RAIN DATE, BUT UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, CAROLINA EAST HEALTH SYSTEM IS OUR SPONSOR FOR THE EVENT.

AND IF WE DO GET RAINED OUT, WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A BACKUP PLAN SO WE CAN STILL HAVE THOSE PERFORMERS COME BACK OUT.