Sep 26, 2023 Board of Aldermen

UH, ITEM NUMBER THREE IS TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

[3. Approve Agenda.]

ALDERMAN, PER, I BELIEVE THAT YOU WANTED TO PULL AN ITEM.

UH, YES.

I HAVE MADE A REQUEST THAT ITEM SIX ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BE PULLED OFF A CONSENT AND CONSIDERED SEPARATELY.

IS IT OKAY IF WE DO IT, UH, RIGHT AFTER THE CONSENT AGENDA? IS THAT OKAY? THAT'S, THAT'S FINE.

APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THAT ITEM PULLED.

I'LL TAKE THAT AS A MOTION TO

[Consent Agenda]

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SO MOVE, HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

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

[6. Consider Adopting a Resolution Calling for a Public Hearing to Amend Section 15- 343 — "Flexibility in Administration Required" of the Code of Ordinances.]

CONSIDER ITEM NUMBER SIX, AND THAT IS TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING TO AMEND SECTION 15 3 43.

FLEXIBILITY AND ADMINISTRATION REQUIRED OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCE.

I BELIEVE, UH, JESSICA ROOT IS GOING TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION.

MAYOR, THE REASON THAT I HAD ASKED FOR THIS ITEM TO BE PULLED OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA, I, I CONCERNED THAT WE'RE BEING ASKED TO MOVE FORWARD, UM, WITH A PUBLIC HEARING, WITH THE INTENT OF ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE ON A TOPIC THAT THE BOARD ITSELF HAS NOT DISCUSSED IN ANY KIND OF DETAIL.

UM, AND I'M JUST CONCERNED, UH, ABOUT THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ISSUES, POTENTIAL ISSUES, UH, THAT ARE TIED INTO THIS, UH, PROPOSED ORDINANCE REVISION.

AND I'M NOT SURE THE BOARD FULLY UNDERSTANDS WHAT THE POTENTIAL RAMIFICATIONS ARE OF THAT ACTION.

UH, I KNOW THAT PLANNING AND ZONING, UM, HAS DISCUSSED THIS MATTER, UH, AT A FEW OF THEIR MEETINGS AND VOTED TO REFER IT, UM, TO THE BOARD.

UH, THERE WAS ONE, UH, MEMBER OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING, UH, WHO TOOK EXCEPTION TO THAT.

AND, AND, UH, THAT WAS, UM, RUSTY INGRAM.

I BELIEVE EVERYBODY HAS RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM HIM WHERE HE OUTLINED HIS, HIS CONCERNS.

I, I AGREE.

I THINK THEY, HE'S IDENTIFIED, UM, HE CONCERNS THAT, THAT EACH OF US, I THINK NEEDS TO LOOK AT CAREFULLY BEFORE WE TAKE ANY FORMAL ACTION.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS BOARD TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER IN MORE DETAIL BEFORE WE TAKE FORMAL ACTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION OR APPROVE, UM, THE ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE, INCLUDING A PUBLIC HEARING.

SO I'M ASKING

[00:05:01]

BASICALLY FOR AN INTERIM STEP TO, TO HAPPEN BEFORE ANY FORMAL ACTION'S TAKEN ON THIS MATTER.

UM, I GUESS THAT SINCE THE ITEM BEFORE US IS TO CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING, UM, YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THAT UNTIL THE BOARD HAS IT AS AN AGENDA ITEM TO DISCUSS.

IS THAT WHAT I UNDERSTOOD THAT THAT'S CORRECT.

I MEAN, THE, THE HOLDING OF A PUBLIC HEARING IS THE NECESSARY STEP PRIOR TO A MOTION BEING PUT FORTH TO ADOPT, UH, AN ORDINANCE, UH, AMENDING, UH, OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE.

AND AGAIN, I I THINK WE'RE, UH, MOVING A LITTLE TOO QUICKLY ON THIS MATTER.

I'D LIKE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION AMONGST THE BOARD MEMBERS OF ALL OF THE ISSUES AND POTENTIAL ISSUES THAT MAY COME UP, UH, AS PART OF THIS, UM, RECOMMENDATION, UM, FROM STAFF.

AND THEN WHATEVER THE DECISION OF THE BOARD IS, UM, COULD SIMPLY MOVE FORWARD AT THAT POINT.

UM, STAFF HAVE COMMENTS YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE? UM, YEAH.

SO TYPICALLY IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, IF WE WANT TO AMEND A LAND USE ORDINANCE OR CODE, THE FIRST STEP IS GOING TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD BECAUSE THEY ARE REQUIRED BEFORE YOUR CONSIDERATION TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO YOU.

AND WE TYPICALLY REFER TO THOSE AS TEXT AMENDMENTS OR MAP AMENDMENTS.

SO WE FOLLOW THE SAME PROCESS WHEN WE GO THROUGH A REZONING OR A TEXT AMENDMENT.

A TEXT AMENDMENT CAN BE INITIATED BY A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC, BY ANYONE WHO'S READ THE ORDINANCE OR BY A STAFF MEMBER.

AND IN THIS CASE, I WILL SAY, UH, BOTH ADMINISTRATION AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES STAFF BELIEVED THERE WAS ENOUGH, UM, COMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WHETHER PARKING DOWNTOWN, THAT IT WAS TIME TO WARRANT A STUDY.

AND SO AFTER LOOKING AT WHAT THE CODE SAID AND HOW IT HAD HISTORICALLY BEEN ENFORCED, WE BELIEVE THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A PERMITTING PROBLEM AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SOLVE THAT PERMITTING PROBLEM.

AND WE TOOK THIS SITUATION FOR THE FIRST TIME TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD FOR DISCUSSION IN MAY.

AND THEY ALSO DISCUSSED THIS IN DETAIL AT SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS IN JUNE, JULY, AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER BEFORE SENDING YOUR RECOMMENDATION TO YOU.

IT HAD BEEN MODIFIED SEVERAL TIMES.

UH, THEY ARE PROPOSING TO EXPAND A DISTRICT WHERE WE EXEMPT THE STRICT LETTER OF THE LAW WHEN IT COMES TO PARKING.

AND I WOULD WELCOME PERSONALLY, THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE FINDINGS OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD AND HEAR WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY.

UH, THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS WOULD BE YOU ABSOLUTELY DON'T HAVE TO ADOPT IT.

YOU COULD LET WHAT'S SUGGESTED TO YOU DIE, IT'S YOUR RIGHT TO DO THAT, OR YOU CAN LISTEN TO THOSE COMMENTS AND SEND IT BACK TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD FOR FURTHER DIRECTION.

UM, SO THEY COULD CONTINUE WORKING AND MODIFYING ON IT IF WE'RE NOT SATISFIED THAT IT'S MEETING OUR NEEDS.

UM, OR YOU CAN CONTINUE IT TO ANOTHER MEETING.

BUT THE FIRST STEP IN THE, THE PROCESS REALLY IS TO GET, HEAR THAT RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD, WHICH DOES REQUIRE A PUBLIC HEARING.

THIS BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT CONCERNS ALDERMAN PRI HAS, UM, AND IF THIS APPROPRIATE TO DISCUSS IT AT A LATER TIME, I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT.

HOWEVER, THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED.

MR. DAVIS, I GUESS WE'RE, WE'RE FREE TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE, CORRECT? YES, SIR.

NOW, NOW IS FINE AS WELL.

ALTMAN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE PREPARED TO SHARE THOSE CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE TONIGHT OR NOT.

UM, SURE.

UM, ONE OF THE ISSUES, UM, THAT WAS RAISED, UH, IN CONNECTION WITH THIS, UH, PROPOSED ORDINANCE, PROPOSED PROPOSED ACTION WAS THAT THERE ISN'T A, A VERY GOOD FACTUAL BASIS, UM, BEING PRESENTED TO THE, EITHER THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD, UM, OR TO OURSELVES.

WE'VE SEEN NOTHING.

THIS BOARD HAS SEEN NOTHING UP TO THIS POINT OF, OF FACTUAL DATA THAT WOULD SUPPORT THIS ACTION BEING TAKEN AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

THERE'S A LOT OF ANECDOTAL INFORMATION THAT IS, HAS BEEN PUT FORWARD BY STAFF, BUT UNFORTUNATELY AS A RESULT OF, I GUESS, WHAT'S BEEN DESCRIBED AS A LACK OF GOOD RECORD KEEPING BY STAFF IN THE PAST, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW FOR SURE WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A NEED TO TAKE THIS ACTION

[00:10:01]

AT THIS TIME.

WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT STAFF HAS RECEIVED PHONE CALLS AND INQUIRIES FROM PEOPLE WHO WERE LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF RELOCATING A BUSINESS TO NEWBURGH AND HAVE INQUIRED ABOUT PARKING AND WITH THE CURRENT PARKING RESTRICTIONS, UH, IN PLACE THAT THEY ESSENTIALLY HAVE GONE AWAY.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON WHO WAS INQUIRING, UM, WHAT PROPERTIES THEY WERE LOOKING AT, BUT WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IT'S HAPPENED.

I'M NOT DOUBTING THAT THE STAFF HAS RECEIVED INFORMATION, BUT WITHOUT HAVING SOME FACTUAL INFORMATION AND DATA, IT, IT'S, IT'S, IT IS AT A GOAL AT BEST.

AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BOARD BEING ASKED TO MAKE A POLICY DECISION ON ANECDOTAL INFORMATION.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TRUE IMPACT OF THIS ACTION WILL HAVE, ESPECIALLY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA BECAUSE IT HASN'T REALLY BEEN LOOKED AT.

YOU NEED TO LOOK AT EACH INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY THAT POTENTIALLY COULD BE UTILIZED BY EITHER CURRENT PROPERTY OWNERS OR FUTURE PROPERTY OWNERS.

AND IF WE TAKE ACTION TO EXEMPT PARKING NOW BEFORE WE HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON WHAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE LOCATED ON THESE PROPERTIES, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TRUE IMPACT IS GOING TO BE ON DOWNTOWN.

AND, AND JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, THE, I'LL USE THE, UH, THE BANK PROPERTY, WELLS FARGO BANK.

UM, WE ALL KNOW THAT, UH, THE BRADHAM FOUNDATION WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED IN ACQUIRING THAT PROPERTY, UH, FOR A PEPSI MUSEUM.

THEY COULD BE OTHER ENTITIES THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THAT PROPERTY FOR OTHER BUSINESS PURPOSES.

BUT IF WE TAKE ACTION TO EXEMPT PARKING, AND IN A CASE LIKE THAT, THE ORDINANCE STATES THAT ANY EXISTING PARKING THAT IS IN PLACE TODAY WOULD REMAIN, WHICH IS GOOD.

HOWEVER, THERE'S ALSO A PROVISION THAT SAYS THAT AN APPLICANT CAN GO BEFORE THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND GET, IF A CORRECT A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO COUNTER THE DECISION THAT WE MAKE.

SO WE MAKE A DECISION TO ADOPT THIS ORDINANCE AND ENSURE THAT ANY EXISTING PARKING WILL REMAIN.

HOWEVER, AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE GIVING ANOTHER BODY THE ABILITY TO OVERRULE OUR DECISION AND ISSUE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO COUNTERACT THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROCESS IS FOR A, A SPECIAL USE PERMIT.

I THINK YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF WHAT THAT IS, ESPECIALLY IF WE ARE GOING TO GIVE ANOTHER BODY THE ABILITY TO OVERRULE OUR DECISION.

I KNOW I'M MISSING PROBABLY A COUPLE OF OTHER POINTS, BUT I'LL JUST, I'LL LET IT GO WITH THAT.

ALL I'M ASKING FOR, AND I'M NOT ARGUING WITH WHAT JESSICA IS, IS SAYING SHE'S, SHE'S OUTLINING WHAT THE PROCESS IS.

I'M, I JUST THINK THAT GIVEN THE FACT THAT THIS BOARD HAS NOT DISCUSSED THIS MATTER IN ANY DETAIL AT ALL, I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WITH STAFF, WITH ANY CURRENT PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE AFFECTED AREA THAT WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT DISCUSSION, AND THEN WE CAN MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD OR NOT.

SO IT'S A SIMPLE ADDING JUST AN INTERIM STEP IN THE FORMAL PROCESS.

[00:15:02]

HONOR MY VEST.

UM, MS. JESSICA, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, UM, IF WE ARE, IF THE BOARD MAKES A DECISION ON PARKING OR WHATEVER AND AN AGENCY COMES FORTH AND WANT TO CHALLENGE THE DECISION THAT THIS BOARD OF ALDERMAN MADE AND A SPECIAL USE PERMIT IS NEEDED, ISN'T THAT SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES A PUBLIC HEARING? A SPECIAL USE PERMIT? A SPECIAL USE PERMIT REQUIRES A PUBLIC HEARING AT THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.

LET, LET ME TRY TO, UM, ADD A, A A LITTLE MORE CONTEXT TO THE ISSUE THAT WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH.

UM, AND, AND I'M NOT AWARE OF THE ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE ABOUT BUSINESSES WANTING TO LOCATE, I'M THE ONE WHO INITIATED THIS ISSUE TWO TO THREE YEARS AGO.

I THINK MY FIRST DRAFT ORDINANCE WAS DATED AT LEAST TWO YEARS AGO WHEN IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION THAT STAFF DIDN'T HAVE ANY DIRECTION AS TO HOW TO HANDLE THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO PARKING IN THE DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL DISTRICT WHERE A BUSINESS COULD NOT COMPLY WITH PARKING.

WE HAVE AN EXEMPT AREA THAT COVERS APPROXIMATELY TWO THIRDS OF THE DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL AREA.

IT GOES FROM THE CORNER OF SOUTH FRONT STREET UP HANCOCK, THE RAILROAD TRACK STREET DOWN BROAD TO CRAVEN, AND IT PICKS UP THE WEST SIDE, THE WATER SIDE, THE NEW SIDE OF CRAVEN DOWN TO SOUTH FRONT STREET.

SO THAT GIANT SQUARE IS ALREADY EXEMPT FROM PARKING.

AND THE LOGICAL REASON IS THAT MANY OF THOSE PARCELS ARE BUILT FROM LOT LINE TO LOT LINE.

THEY LITERALLY HAVE NO REAL ESTATE FOR ANY PARKING SPACES.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT WHEN THE ORDINANCE WAS ADOPTED DECADES AGO, THOSE PROPERTIES WERE GRANDFATHERED.

THEY WERE EXISTING NON-CONFORMING USES AND SITUATIONS.

SO IF THAT BUSINESS SHUTS DOWN FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS AND THE BUILDING IS EMPTY, OR THE USE CHANGES FROM A FLORIST TO A, A PIZZA PARLOR, THEY HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE LAND USE ORDINANCE.

AND OF COURSE, IT'S A NON-STARTER.

IF YOU DON'T OWN ANY REAL ESTATE ON YOUR PARCEL TO PUT A PARKING SPACE, THE BUILDING WILL STAY VACANT TO THE END OF THE WORLD, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY AN ABSURD RESULT.

SO WHEN THAT BOUNDARY WAS DRAWN MANY YEARS AGO, I THINK IT WAS IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES AT THAT TIME, THAT BLOCK PICKED UP THE COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR.

SINCE THEN, THAT CORRIDOR HAS EXPANDED TO THE SOUTH SIDE OF SOUTH FRONT STREET WHERE WACHOVIA IS AND HAS WRAPPED AROUND AND PICKED UP SEVERAL MORE BLOCKS DURING THAT TIME.

I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS, BUT I LEARNED, UM, WHEN I NOTICED BUSINESSES OPENING UP IN WHAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN VACANT BUILDINGS AND PARCELS THAT HAD NO PARKING, I WAS CURIOUS HOW STAFF HAD APPROVED THOSE ZONING PERMITS BECAUSE THOSE PARCELS COULD NOT LEGALLY COMPLY WITH PARKING.

AND THE RESPONSE I GOT BACK WAS, WE JUST HATED TO TELL 'EM NO, WHICH WAS LOGICAL, BUT UNDER OUR CODE ILLEGAL.

SO NOW I'M SITTING HERE WITH A SITUATION WHERE I'VE GOT FIVE TO SEVEN EXISTING BUSINESSES THAT ARE NOT COMPLYING WITH THE PARKING ORDINANCE.

AND THAT LEAVES US IN A VERY AWKWARD SITUATION WHERE I DON'T KNOW HOW TO ADVISE STAFF AS TO WHAT TO DO TO THE NEXT APPLICANT.

ARE WE GONNA TELL THE NEXT PERSON THAT NEEDS A A ZONING PERMIT? NO.

I TOOK AN OATH JUST LIKE YOU DID TO UPHOLD THE LAW.

SO I'M GONNA HAVE TO ADVISE STAFF NOW THAT I'M AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON, DON'T ISSUE THE PERMIT.

AND I GUARANTEE YOU THOSE FOLKS ARE GONNA COME SCREAMING TO YOU, IF NOT THE COURT FIRST FOR A REMEDY.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF THIS ISSUE WHERE WE'VE GOT NON-COMPLIANCE AND WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A SOLUTION.

I'M OPEN TO ANY GOOD IDEA.

UM, WHETHER OR NOT A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO TO TRUMP THE PARKING I IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE TEASED APART DURING A PUBLIC HEARING AND DURING DISCUSSIONS.

THERE ARE PROS AND CONS TO, TO OFFERING THAT SPECIAL USE PERMIT OPTION.

BUT, BUT WE NEED A SOLUTION SOONER RATHER THAN LATE LATER.

'CAUSE I, I, I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN WE GET THE NEXT REQUEST.

SAID, WHAT WE TYPICALLY DO IS WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING THAT JUST INITIATES THE PROCESS.

SO SCOTT, WHAT WOULD THE NEXT STEP BE? WHAT LOGICALLY WOULD OUR NEXT STEP BE BEFORE WE MAKE A DECISION ON THIS? WELL, AS, AS JESS

[00:20:01]

AND STAFF PRESENTS THE ISSUE, MUCH LIKE I'VE JUST DONE.

FOLKS WILL OFFER THEIR THOUGHTS, YOU'LL DELIBERATE.

YOU MAY COME TO A CROSSROADS AND DECIDE, WOW, WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE TO DIGEST HERE THAN YOU'RE PREPARED TO DIGEST RIGHT AT THE CLOSE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.

YOU CAN TABLE THE ISSUE FOR A LATER DATE.

YOU CAN KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT, YOU CAN KILL IT.

YOU'VE GOT ALL THOSE OPTIONS.

IT, IT, IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER THAT YOU HAVE A PUBLIC, THE PUBLIC HEARING DOESN'T TRIGGER, UM, A REQUIRED DECISION.

IT'S JUST THE FIRST STEP IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS.

IT'S NOT, CERTAINLY NOT PROCEDURALLY WRONG TO HAVE IT ON THE AGENDA AND TALK ABOUT IT BEFOREHAND.

BUT, UM, MY ONLY POINT IS, I, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET TO YOUR ANSWER SOONER RATHER THAN LATER BECAUSE WE'VE, WE'VE GOT A, A MESS BREWING MAYOR, I WAS GONNA MAKE ONE SUGGESTION.

ALDERMAN PRILL.

UM, I'M ALL ABOUT TRYING TO FIND A COMPROMISE AND I'M, I'M ALDERMAN ASTRO MAYBE GETTING READY TO FIX THIS, BUT I KNOW IN THE PAST WHEN WE'VE HAD PUBLIC HEARINGS, SOMETIMES THE VERY NEXT ITEM FOR ACTION IS TO APPROVE MM-HMM.

, THAT PARTICULAR ITEM.

WOULD IT BE, WOULD YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IF THE BOARD DECIDES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A PUBLIC HEARING THAT THE ACTUAL DECISION NOT BE ON THAT AGENDA AND PUSH THAT TO THE NEXT ONE? WELL, WHAT YOU WOULD DO IS WE WOULD PUT IT THERE JUST 'CAUSE IT'S PROCEDURALLY EXPECTED.

AND THEN YOU WOULD, YOU WOULD AMONG YOURSELVES UNDERSTAND, UM, TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO TABLE THE DECISION, DISCUSS IT MORE ROBUSTLY, THEN AT A LATER DATE, YOU COULD EVEN CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND YOU'RE STILL FLUMMOXED AND REQUIRE MORE INFORMATION, JUST CONTINUE PUBLIC HEARING TO THE NEXT MEETING AND LEAVE IT OPEN FOR MORE DISCUSSION.

YOU'VE GOT LOTS OF TOOLS.

NO, I GUESS WHAT I WANNA BE CLEAR IS THAT NO ONE'S TRYING TO CORNER YOU INTO A DECISION THAT YOU'RE NOT PREPARED TO MAKE.

AND I, AND I THINK THAT THAT IS THE WORRY.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF MECHANISMS TO NOT CALL THE QUESTION AS YOU START GETTING INFORMATION.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

BASED ON MS. RU AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S EXPLANATION, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION, CALLING FOR A PUBLIC HEARING TO AMEND SECTION 15 DASH 3 43, FLEXIBILITY AND ADMINISTRATION REQUIRED OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.

I'LL SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FURTHER DISCUSSION.

UH, HEARING NONE.

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

AND MAYOR, JUST TO FOLLOW UP AGAIN, AS YOU POINTED OUT, THIS DOES, THIS DOES NOT REQUIRE AN ABSOLUTE DECISION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

WE HAVE LOTS OF MECHANISMS TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS ALL THE INFORMATION THAT THEY WANT AND NEED TO MAKE AN INTELLIGENT DECISION.

ALRIGHT, ITEM NUMBER 11.

UH, CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION, ESTABLISHING A MUNICIPAL CIRCLE.

DID YOU WANT TO ADOPT A CONSENT AGENDA, THOUGH? UH, WE, WE DID, WE WE HAD WE HAD A ROLL CALL.

NO, NOT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

YOU DID THE ROLL CALL ON APPROVAL OF MINUTES ON APPROVING THE AGENDA.

YEAH, I, OKAY.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION, UH, TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ALRIGHT, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? UH, LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL, STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ASTOR.

AND JUST FOR CLARITY, IT'S THE CONSENT AGENDA MINUS NUMBER SIX.

MINUS NUMBER SIX.

YEAH.

I'VE GOT TERRIBLE NOTES.

'CAUSE I, I HAD DOWN THAT ALDERMAN PRILL AND BRISSON SECONDED WITHOUT NUMBER SIX IN IT, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S FINE.

I'VE MADE A BAD NOTE.

ALRIGHT, NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO

[11. Consider Adopting a Resolution Establishing a Municipal Service District (" MSD") Advisory Committee.]

ITEM NUMBER 11.

CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHED IN A MUNICIPAL SERVICE DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, MR. HUGHES, ON AUGUST 22ND AND SEPTEMBER 12TH, WE, WE'VE BROUGHT THIS TOPIC TO THE GOVERNING BOARD TO, TO DISCUSS CREATING THE M SS D ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

WE RECEIVED, UH, FEEDBACK AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE BOARD ON BOTH OF THOSE MEETINGS.

SOME OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDED INCREASING THE NUMBER OF EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS TO FIVE TO RECOGNIZE AN AT LARGE APPOINTMENT FROM THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN AND TERM LIMITS TO BE STAGGERED AND SET AT TWO SUCCESSIVE TERMS FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL MEMBERS REPRESENTING THE SAME COMMERCIAL INTEREST.

UM, LETTERS WERE SENT TO ALL M S D PROPERTY OWNERS INFORMING THEM OF THE APPLICATION

[00:25:01]

PROCESS.

IF ENOUGH APPLICANTS ARE RECEIVED BY OCTOBER 13TH.

THE GOAL IS FOR THIS INFORMATION TO BE FORWARDED TO THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN, UH, AND HOPEFULLY TO CONSIDER AT THE OCTOBER 24TH OR THE FIRST MEETING IN, IN NOVEMBER.

CURRENTLY NINE APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED, UH, FOR THE M S D ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

ALRIGHT, THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS ON ITEM NUMBER 11.

THERE'S NO QUESTIONS.

I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION ESTABLISHMENT, A MUNICIPAL SERVICE DISTRICT M SS D ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

OKAY, I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

ITEM NUMBER 12, CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING AN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, ALSO KNOWN AS ARPA GRANT FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY FOR STORMWATER PLANNING.

LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN BEST? ALDERMAN BEST, YES.

[12. Consider Adopting a Resolution Accepting an American Rescue Plan Act ("ARPA") Grant from the NC Department of Environmental Quality for Stormwater Planning.]

MR. SEABERG, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR DERMAN.

UH, WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS A REQUEST TO, UH, AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN THE BEHALF OF THE TOWN TO ACCEPT THE FUNDING AWARD FOR LASSIE GRANT.

IT'S A $400,000 GRANT FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF STUDYING AND ASSESSING OUR STORMWATER FACILITIES.

IT WILL NOT COVER THE ENTIRE CITY.

IT'LL COVER A PORTION OF IT, BUT IT IS A GOOD START.

UH, IT IS FUNDED THROUGH THE ARPA FUNDING CYCLE.

AND, UH, WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IN YOUR PACKET IS A COPY OF THE, UH, FUNDING OFFER AND ACCEPTANCE ALONG WITH THE SCOPE ORDER THAT WAS APPROVED.

THE COURT HAVE QUESTIONS? YES, I HAVE QUESTIONS.

MAYBE I OVERLOOKED IT OR ANYTHING, BUT, UM, I, I DIDN'T SEE FROM WITHIN WHEN I WAS READING THE INFORMATION.

WHERE IS THAT THIS FOR? I KNOW IT'S A LOT, IT'S GOING TO BE GO TOWARDS STORMWATER, BUT WHERE IS, HAVE YOU DESIGNATED ANY PARTICULAR AREAS? I KNOW YOU JUST SAID NOT CITY ALL COVER THE CITY, BUT IS THERE ANY PARTICULAR AREAS THAT THIS IS GONNA COVER? SO PUBLIC WORK STAFF HAS IDENTIFIED, UH, PROBABLY THE MOST PROBLEMATIC AREAS AND THEY'RE TRYING TO FOCUS IN ON THOSE AND JUST GO FROM THERE WOULD SAY PROBLEMATIC.

I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF PROBLEMATIC AREAS WITHIN THE CITY.

ARE, HAS THERE BEEN A AREA ACTUALLY THAT SUPERSEDES ANOTHER AREA THAT THIS MONEY IS NEEDED FOR? SO, SPECIFIC AREAS THAT I'VE BEEN TOLD IS IN THIS DOWNTOWN AREA WHERE IT'S HISTORIC STORM WATER SYSTEMS. UM, TRY TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE CAPACITY THAT IT HAS AND JUST MAYBE SOME IMPROVEMENTS ON THERE AND THEN MAP IT OUT AND THEN JUST MOVE TO THE NEXT.

BUT AS FAR AS SPECIFIC LOCATIONS BEYOND THAT, I HAVE NOT BEEN AWARE OF.

AND YOU SAID WHAT DEPARTMENT GATHERED PUBLIC WORKS.

PUBLIC WORKS? YES, MA'AM.

ONE, SO IT'S TIME TO APPROVE THIS AND, AND WE WILL START ON THE PROCESS OF GETTING THAT PLANNING STARTED.

YES, MA'AM.

WHAT IS THE, UH, THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT THE PLANNING WILL COST? IT'S, UH, I MEAN, YOU'VE INDICATED THE 400,000 SURE.

UH, COVER PART OF THE COST.

I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT THE TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF THAT HAS NOT BEEN ESTIMATED OUT.

UH, YOU DO HAVE ON THE VERY LAST PAGE IS PRELIMINARY COST ESTIMATE OF WHERE THAT $400,000 WILL GO TO.

UM, AND WHEN WE GET INVOLVED ON GET THINGS MOVING FORWARD, UH, WE SHOULD HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT'LL TAKE TO GO TO THE NEXT PHASE.

IT, IT, I, I CAN'T EVEN VENTURE TO GUESS HOW MANY PHASES IT'LL TAKE, BUT I CAN DEFINITELY SAY THAT THIS WILL NOT COVER THE ENTIRE CITY AT THIS TIME.

SO ALDERMAN PRI, THIS IS A NO MATCH GRANT.

SO WORK WILL BE PERFORMED, UH, $400,000 WILL BE PERFORMED, UH, IN WORK AND, AND EVALUATING THE SYSTEMS. AND WHAT WE'VE FOUND IS, IS ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE APPLYING FOR GRANTS, SIMILAR TO THINGS WE'VE DONE IN DUFFY FIELD, ROSE HILL AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE PLANNING IN PLACE BEFORE A LOT OF THE AGENCIES WILL, WILL PROVIDE GRANTS.

SO THIS IS JUST ANOTHER STEP TO BE PREPARED FOR WHEN OTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES COME FOR INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES.

DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER GRANT APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED FOR, FOR THE PLANNING SIDE OF IT? FOR, FOR PLANNING OF STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE? NO, NOT AT THIS TIME.

THIS IS, WE, WE HAVE JUST RECENTLY RECEIVED, UH, THIS

[00:30:01]

IT'S A PLEASURE OF THE BOARD.

ON ITEM NUMBER 12, MAYOR, I'LL MAKE A, UH, A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION ACCEPT AN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT GRANT FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY FOR STORMWATER PLANNING.

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ITEM NUMBER 13, CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION APPRO A WATER AND SEWER USE AGREEMENT FOR 1955 OLD AIRPORT ROAD.

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

[13. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving a Water and Sewer Use Agreement for 1955 Old Airport Road.]

MR. JORDAN HUGHES.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MAYOR.

UH, GOOD EVENING MAYOR.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IS A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE A STANDARD WATER AND SEWER USE AGREEMENT WITH THE OWNERS OF, UH, 1955 OLD AIRPORT ROAD.

THIS IS A FAIRLY LARGE PARCEL, LITTLE OVER 27 ACRES WHERE THE INTENTION OF THE OWNERS IS TO BUILD A, UH, CHARTER SCHOOL.

UM, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA, THIS IS THE LARGE AGRICULTURAL FIELD THAT'S LEFT PROBABLY NORTH OF THE CELL HORN SUBDIVISION JUST SOUTH OF CREEKSIDE PARK.

I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH OWNERS AND ENGINEERS LOOKING AT SOME PRELIMINARY DESIGN FOR WATER AND SEWER EXTENSIONS.

UM, AT THIS POINT THEY THINK IT'S A FEASIBLE PROCESS, A PROJECT.

I'D LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ESTABLISHING THIS, THIS AGREEMENT, WHICH OUTLINES THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF BOTH THE CITY AND THE DEVELOPER AND ESTABLISHING WATER AND SEWER SERVICE TO THE SITE.

I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

I HAVE A QUESTION PROBABLY FOR THE ATTORNEY.

ARE CHARTER SCHOOLS TAX EXEMPT? THAT'S A FINE QUESTION, SIR.

I, I, I, I DON'T KNOW.

I DO NOT ANSWER THAT BECAUSE I ASSUME THAT IF WE APPROVE THIS, THEY WOULD HAVE TO ASK TO BE ANNEXED IN.

YES SIR.

AT SOME POINT THEY'LL COME BACK TO THE BOARD WITH A PETITION FOR ANNEXATION.

DOES THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? MAYOR, MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING A WATER AND SEWER USE AGREEMENT FOR 1 9 5 5 OLD AIRPORT ROAD.

ITEM NUMBER 14, CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SALE OF 8 37.

HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE UNLESS HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH DERMAN PRILL.

[14. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving the Sale of 837 Pavie Avenue.]

PAY THE AVENUE MR. HUGHES MAYOR, AFTER RECEIVED AN OFFER OF $12,333, THE BOARD ADOPTED A RESOLUTION ON MARCH 28TH OF THIS YEAR TO INITIATE THE UPSET BID PROCESS FOR THIS PROPERTY.

SEVERAL UPSET BIDS WERE RECEIVED WITH THE FINAL BID OF $18,000.

THE PROPERTY INCLUDES A RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE ON A 0.06 ACRE, UH, PARTIAL THAT WAS BUILT IN 1925.

AS IN NEED OF REHABILITATION, THE BIDDER UNDERSTANDS THAT HE WILL BE REQUIRED TO BRING THE STRUCTURE INTO COMPLIANCE AND THE MINIMUM HOUSING CODE.

IF THE SALE IS APPROVED, THE CITY WILL RECEIVE $4,261 53 CENTS, AND CRAVEN COUNTY WILL RECEIVE $8,051 AND 47 CENTS FROM THE PROCEEDS BOARD.

HAVE QUESTIONS? THERE'S NO QUESTIONS.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SALE OF 8 37 PITY AVENUE.

HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

15 AND 16 ARE, UH, CALLING FOR RESOLUTION TO APPROVE A SALE THAT'S WITHIN THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.

LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL WITH ALDERMAN ROYAL.

UH, BOTH OF, UH, ITEM NUMBER

[Items 15 & 16]

IF IT'S SELF, IF IT'S UNANIMOUS, WE CAN PUT THOSE TOGETHER IF THE BOARD SO DESIRES.

SO ITEM NUMBER 15 IS TO CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION APPROVING THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION SALE OF 2 0 9 BRYAN STREET.

AND ITEM NUMBER 16 IS THE SAME FOR 8 21 WEST STREET AND MR. WILLIAMS, UH, MAYOR AND BOARD, UM, MR. DIGGS, UH, UH, WENT BEFORE THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO, UH, TO MAKE OFFERS FOR BOTH OF THESE PROPERTIES.

UH, BOTH WERE UNANIMOUSLY ACCEPTED BY THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, THE FIRST AT 2 0 9 BRIAN STREET.

UM, THEY PLACED A RESTRICTION THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO BEGIN BUILDING IN 12 MONTHS AND THE SECOND AT 8 21 WEST STREET, UH, WITHIN 24 MONTHS.

UM, AND IF THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TO ADDRESS THEM.

DOES BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS?

[00:35:02]

SO THESE ARE TWO VACANT LOTS AND HE'S GONNA BE ON? YES, YOUR HONOR.

MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION SALES OF 2 0 9 BRYAN STREET, AS WELL AS 8 21 WEST STREET.

SAY AGAIN? I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? JUST, UH, ONE QUICK QUESTION IF I COULD.

SURE.

DO YOU KNOW WHETHER OR NOT, UH, MR. DIGGS, UM, IS BUILDING THESE AS RENTAL UNITS OR WILL HE OCCUPY ONE OF THEM? THAT HIS PLAN, WHAT, UH, HE STATED WAS HE PLANS ON RESIDING IN ONE, WHICH I BELIEVE WAS A 2 0 9 BRYAN STREET.

AND THEN, UH, UH, LEASE THE, UH, ORANT, THE SECOND ONE OVER WEST STREET.

ANY MORE QUESTIONS? UH, LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ASTOR.

[17. Consider Adopting an Ordinance for the Demolition of 1207 Garden Street.]

17.

CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE FOR THE DEMOLITION OF 1207 GARDEN STREET.

MR. ZEL.

GOOD EVENING, MR. PREMIER, MAYOR AND BOARD.

HOW ARE WE DOING THIS EVENING? GOOD EVENING.

UH, STAFF IS SEEKING THE APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE TO DEMOLISH THE STRUCTURE AT 1207 GARDEN STREET.

UH, STAFF HAS SENT THE OWNER OFF RECORD THE INITIAL MINIMUM HOUSING LETTER BACK IN NOVEMBER OF 2022, STATING THAT THE DWELLING LOCATED AT THAT ADDRESS HAS DEFICIENCIES VIOLATING THE CITY'S MINIMAL HOUSING CODE.

STAFF HAS ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE OWNERS VIA EMAIL AND PHONE AND BEEN UNABLE TO CONTINUE WITH THAT COMMUNICATION.

UH, THE FATHER OF THE SON WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE HIS SON CONTACT STAFF.

AND TO DATE, THAT SON HAS NOT CONTACTED STAFF IN ANY WAY.

WE'VE MADE SEVERAL DIFFERENT CALLS TO HIM TO STOP BY THE ADDRESS THAT WE HAD ON FILE.

NOBODY ANSWERED THE DOOR ON THAT ONE.

IN JULY OF THIS YEAR, THE ORDER OF THE BUILDING INSPECTOR WAS ISSUED AND WAS SERVED TO THE OWNERS TO BRING THE DWELLING BACK INTO COMPLIANCE TO THE MINIMAL HOUSING STANDARDS ESTABLISHED IN CHAPTER 38.

THAT ORDER EXPIRED IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR.

TO DATE, THERE HAS BEEN NO FURTHER CONTACT FROM THE OWNERS, NO PERMITS HAVE BEEN ISSUED AND THE STRUCTURE STILL REMAINS UNCOMPLIANT.

THE DEMOLITION ESTIMATE FROM PUBLIC WORKS IS $4,081.

THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE ASBESTOS TESTING OF AGREEMENT OF THE STRUCTURE.

LI UTILITY TERMINATIONS HAVE ALSO BEEN TERMINATED ON THAT PROPERTY.

STAFF PLANS.

UH, I AM A COMPLETE LIST OF THE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER OF EVENTS RELEASED TO THE PROPERTY.

ARE SHOULD BE IN FRONT OF YOU IS WELL, SOME PICTURES.

AND THEN AGAIN, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I'M WILLING TO ENTERTAIN THOSE QUESTIONS.

NO, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR ATTORNEY DAVIS.

UM, THIS IS A SINGLE WIDE TRAILER.

IT'S BEEN VACANT FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

IT'S, THEY COULDN'T EVEN FIX IT NOW.

RIGHT.

AND DIDN'T WE HAVE THIS ISSUE BEFORE? I'M NOT SURE IT WAS THIS PROPERTY, BUT YEAH.

NOT THIS ONE, BUT IT WAS ANOTHER ONE.

BUT THEY DO COME UP FROM TIME TO TIME AND TYPICALLY END UP JUST SCRAPPING THEM.

THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? YES.

SO THIS FROM THE BEGINNING, THIS CASE WAS OPEN, UH, IN 22 20 22.

AND SO IT'S BEEN A YEAR AND YOU'VE NOT HAD ANY CONTACT OR ANY, UH, ANYTHING FROM THE ACTUAL OWNER? CORRECT.

IF THERE'S NO MORE QUESTIONS, I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE FOR THE DEMOLITION OF 1207 GARDEN STREET.

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

NUMBER 18, CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND DIVISION THREE OFF STREET PARKING OF ARTICLE SIX, STOPPING STANDING AND PARKING OF CHAPTER 70.

LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN BEST? ALDERMAN BEST, YES.

THAT WAS ONE THAT, UM, I BELIEVE ALDERMAN ROYAL AND I NOTICED WHENEVER WE DID OUR RIDE ALONG SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, SO I'M GLAD THAT, UH, THAT ONE'S BEING ADDRESSED.

SO THANK YOU.

ITEM

[18. Consider Adopting an Ordinance to Amend Division 3. " Off-Street Parking" of Article VI. " Stopping, Standing and Parking" of Chapter 70 " Traffic and Vehicles.]

TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES, MR. HUGHES.

SO JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF AN OVERVIEW, THIS ORDINANCE DOES NOT AFFECT ANY ON STREET PARKING.

CURRENTLY, ON STREET PARKING IS FREE TO OUR CITIZENS.

UM, AS WAS STATED EARLIER, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 600 PARKING SPACES DOWNTOWN.

TRADITIONALLY, THE CITY HAS LEASED THREE PARKING

[00:40:01]

LOTS, THE P*****K STREET LOT, WHICH IS ACROSS THE STREET FROM US.

UH, THE, THE CRAVEN LOT, WHICH IS RIGHT BESIDE MORGAN'S, AND THEN THE HANCOCK LOT OVER, OVER BEHIND THE CHELSEA.

THOSE HAVE BEEN TRADITIONALLY LEASED.

THEN WE ALSO HAVE THREE OTHER OFF STREET PARKING LOTS, THE, THE BLACK BEAR, RED BEAR AND GOLD BEAR LOTS THAT ARE FREE TO THE PUBLIC.

SO BACK IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, UM, AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PARKING RELATED ISSUES, THE DISCUSSION CAME UP ON LOOKING AT TURNING THE P*****K STREET LOT INTO PAY BY PLATE OR BASICALLY GETTING AWAY FROM LEASE SPACES AND PAY AS YOU GO.

AND SO WE GOT DIRECTION FROM THE BOARD TO PROCEED WITH THAT.

THE GOAL WAS TO IMPLEMENT THIS BACK IN MAY WHEN, UH, IT WAS THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CITY HALL WOULD BE COMPLETED.

WELL, HERE WE ARE COMING INTO OCTOBER AND UM, WE'LL TALK ABOUT CITY HALL SHORTLY, BUT WE ARE ABOUT READY TO, TO OPEN UP CITY HALL.

AND SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, IT'S TIME TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE P*****K STREET LOT.

SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING IN THE ORDINANCE TO TURN THAT INTO A PAY BY PLATE LOT.

UM, UH, THIS WOULD BE 24 HOURS.

THERE WOULD BE NO ENFORCEMENT ON SUNDAYS, AND IT WOULD BE HOURLY PARKING.

SO I'M GONNA TALK GENERALLY ABOUT THE, THE RATES FOR THIS AND THEN WE'LL GET INTO THE RATES OF FOR THE NEXT ITEM.

UH, THIS WOULD BE AN ENFORCED LOT BY THE PARKING CONTROL AS WELL.

BUT BASICALLY IF SOMEONE WANTED TO PARK IN THE LOT ACROSS THE STREET, THE COST WOULD BE A DOLLAR PER HOUR.

IF THEY WANTED TO PARK IN THERE ALL DAY, IT WOULD BE CAPPED AT $8 PER HOUR.

NOW, JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTEXT, WHEN THIS LOT WAS LEASED OUT ANNUALLY, WE GENERATED $7,000 ON THE LEASE SPACES AND THERE ARE 50 SPACES IN THAT LOT.

AND SO ALL OF THOSE FUNDS GO INTO THE M S D.

AND SO THE THOUGHT IS THAT HAVING THIS BE PAY AS YOU GO FOR INDIVIDUAL SPACES, IT'S GONNA GENERATE MORE REVENUE.

THOSE FUNDS WOULD GO INTO THE M S D.

AND SO HOW ARE CITIZENS GONNA BE ABLE TO USE THAT LOT? WELL, IF THIS IS APPROVED, THIS WILL BE SIGNED.

WE, WE ARE WORKING WITH, UM, THE PARK MOBILE GROUP, AND THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO DO THIS.

ONE, YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THEIR APP AND IT, IT'S EASY TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS ON THE, THE SIGNAGE.

YOU CAN CALL A NUMBER AND YOU'LL BE GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PAY.

YOU CAN TEXT YOUR INFORMATION TO A NUMBER OR YOU CAN SCAN A QR CODE AND, AND PAY.

NOW WE UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PEOPLE MAY BE, UH, UH, TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGED.

AND SO IF YOU'RE UNABLE TO WORK THAT OUT, WE STILL HAVE PLENTY OF OTHER SPACES TO PARK AT ON THE STREET AND IN OTHER PARKING SPACES.

UM, COULDN'T REALLY JUSTIFY GOING WITH THE KIOSK FOR THIS.

THE COST OF THE KIOSK IS ABOUT $7,500.

AND IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH, WITH, UH, THE, THE, UH, A LOT OF VENDORS AND, AND A LOT OF OTHER CITIES WHO ARE DOING THIS FOR THE, FOR THE SIZE OF LOT WE HAVE, THE COST DOES ISN'T REALLY JUSTIFIED.

YOU'RE STILL GONNA HAVE TECHNOLOGY ISSUES TO OVERCOME AND REALLY A LOT OF FOLKS ARE GETTING AWAY FROM THE CASH, PUTTING CASH INTO A MACHINE AS WELL.

SO THE SECOND PART OF THIS IS, IS TO CLEAN SOMETHING UP IN THE ORDINANCE.

IT'S LISTING TWO P*****K STREET PARKING LOTS.

SO THIS IS NAMED P*****K STREET PARKING LOT AND WE HAD ANOTHER PARKING LOT DOWN THE STREET ON P*****K STREET THAT, UH, P*****K NEAR FLEET.

AND THAT'S BASICALLY THE PROPERTY THAT'S BEHIND THE OLD DAYS END PROPERTY THAT WAS NAMED P*****K AS WELL IN THE ORDINANCE.

AND SO OUR GOAL IS TO CLEAN THAT UP BY CALLING THAT THE BROWN BEAR LOT TO, TO BE A, UH, UH, IN LINE WITH THE FREE PARKING.

SO THAT WOULD, WHILE WE DO HAVE FOUR, FOUR PAID, UH, FREE PARKING SP UH, LOTS IN TOWN, WE DIDN'T NAME THAT SPECIFICALLY.

AND SO NOW WE'RE NAMING IT AS PART OF THE REST OF THE BRAND.

SO HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.

I HOPE I DIDN'T MAYBE IT UP ANY ANYMORE FOR YOU.

MR. BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS.

SO THE POLL AND FLEET IS THE PARKING LOT THERE BY THE OLD DAYS UNIT? THAT'S CORRECT.

REFERENCE IS MADE TO, UM, PRIVATE USE IS, IS PERMISSIBLE.

AND IT'S NOW BROWN FO FOSTER IN THE, UM, PROPOSED ORDINANCES.

THERE IS REFERENCE TO, AND AND I I DIDN'T PRINT IT OUT AND IT SHOULD HAVE REFERENCE TO PRIVATE USE OF SPACES IN THE PARKING LOTS.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE PRIVATE USE IS, IS IN REFERENCE TO? IS THAT IN THE ORDINANCE FOR THE OTHER LOTS THAT WE LEASE OUT? IS THAT WHAT THAT LANGUAGE COULD BE FOR? IT COULD.

IT COULD BE.

AND THAT MAY BE WHAT IT'S ADDRESSING.

YEAH, I I I KNOW THERE'S AN EXCEPTION OR TO, TO CLARIFY THAT, THAT PARKING LOTS ARE FOR PARKING VEHICLES, NOT FOR STORING BOATS.

NOT FOR CAMPING, NOT FOR PUTTING UP A TENT, BUT TO PARK AND MOTOR VEHICLES.

SO I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S WHAT THAT LANGUAGE WAS REFERRING TO.

IT JUST, I DON'T KNOW.

IT STRUCK ME AS ODD, UM, WHERE A

[00:45:01]

YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT EXACTLY HOW IT'S WORDED, BUT THAT SEEMED TO BE THE INTENT.

I MEAN, IF YOU, IF YOU LOOK AT, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE LIKE THE RED LINE VERSION, UH, OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE WHERE, AND I THINK I SAW IT RIGHT AFTER LIKE THE UM, UH, P*****K FLEET STREET REFERENCE.

YES.

THAT THERE, I KNOW WE HAD AN EXCEPTION THERE AS WELL, THAT IT IS AVAILABLE.

IT IS, IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TO PRIVATELY PARK YOUR VEHICLE, BUT THE CITY RETAINS THE RIGHT TO MAKE THAT EXCLUSIVELY THE CITY PROPERTY.

SO WE WANTED TO LEAVE A BREADCRUMB THERE THAT THAT WAS NOT INTENDED TO BE A FOREVER PARKING LOT.

SO FOR AS LONG AS THE ORDINANCE ALLOWED IT, IT WAS FINE.

BUT WE ADDED A PROVISION THAT THE CITY AT ANY TIME COULD, UH, CHANGE ITS MIND ABOUT WHAT IT WANTED TO DO WITH THAT PARKING.

UH, I'VE GOT IT.

I'LL READ IT IF YOU, IT MAY BE HELPFUL.

SO IT'S, UM, SECTION 72 72 D.

IT SAYS THE BROWN BEAR PARKING LOT SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FREE OF CHARGE EACH DAY.

THE BROWN BEAR PARKING LOT SHALL REVERT TO PRIVATE USE AS DETERMINED IN THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD OF BARMEN PR PRIVATE MEANING BACK TO THE, BACK TO THE CITY.

PRIVATE IT, IT'S, BY MAKING IT THE BROWN BEAR LOT IS A PUBLIC LOT.

BUT YOU THE, THE GOVERNMENT COULD TAKE IT BACK PRIVATELY FOR THE GOVERNMENT'S USE.

SO IF THE SITE WAS REDEVELOPED OR SOLD AND A DEVELOPER NEEDED THAT, THAT WAS THE INTENT.

YES.

WE JUST DIDN'T WANT ALL THOSE BUSINESSES BANKING ON THAT LOT BEING FOREVER.

THEY'RE FOREVER.

AND THEN IF THAT SOLD SOMEDAY THEY'RE SHORTCHANGED.

YOU GOOD? I, I'M COMFORTABLE WITHOUT INTENT.

ALTHOUGH I WOULDN'T HAVE READ THAT IN, IN THAT ANCE.

SO THAT'S WHY I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

YEAH.

'CAUSE I WAS GONNA ASK, SO THE DAYS INN LOT AND THIS PARKING IS BROWN BEAR IS TWO SEPARATE PARCELS.

IT'S IT'S ONE PARCEL.

THE, THE BROWN BEAR IS DESCRIBED AS APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET DEEP, I BELIEVE COMING OFF OF P*****K STREET TO JUST VISUALLY SEGMENT THAT.

BUT IT IS ONE TRACK OF LAND.

SO THEN AT, SO THEN IF THIS LOT IS SOLD, THEN AT THAT TIME IT REVERTS TO PROPERTY NEGOTIATION WOULD BE YOU SELL IT AND IT'S AND IT'S GONE.

YES.

I'LL JUST MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS.

UM, ONE I'LL PUBLICLY EXPRESS, I HAVE A LITTLE CONCERN ABOUT NOT HAVING A KIOSK.

UM, 'CAUSE GREENVILLE DID THIS AND IT WAS NOT GOOD.

BUT I GUESS WHAT I WILL SAY IS, UM, THIS IS NOT TAKING AWAY ANY FREE PARKING TODAY.

SO WE HAVE THE SAME NUMBER OF FREE PARKING SPACES AFTER THIS DECISION IS MADE AS WE DO TODAY.

AND I KNOW SOME IN THE PUBLIC HAVE A MISCONCEPTION THAT THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

BUT THIS, I I CAN MAKE THE ARGUMENT THIS IS GOING TO OPEN UP MORE PARKING FOR DOWNTOWN BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IF SOMEONE HAS A LEASED PARKING SPACE AND THEY'RE NOT PARKED THERE, YOU LEGALLY CAN'T PARK THERE BECAUSE THEY HAVE AT LEASED.

SO IF NOBODY'S PARKED THERE, THEN YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO PARK THERE.

THAT'S CORRECT.

AND WE'RE, YOU'RE RIGHT, WE'RE ADDING 50 SPACES TO DOWNTOWN, BUT IT'S PAY AS YOU GO FOR THAT.

UH, AND SO UNLIKE GREENVILLE, THEY WERE DOING ON STREET PARKING AS WELL IN ALL OF THEIR PARKING LOTS.

THIS IS ONE LOT.

AND SO IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD TRIAL FOR US TO LOOK AT THIS AND SEE HOW IT GOES.

AND, AND WE MAY HAVE SOME HICCUPS ALONG THE WAY, BUT WE'RE PREPARED TO ADDRESS THOSE AND, AND, AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

TWO, TWO QUESTIONS.

IN, IN THIS P*****K STREET LOT, DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY ARE GONNA BE DESIGNATED AS HANDICAP? THERE'S ONE SPACE THAT'S CURRENTLY DESIGNATED HANDICAPPED.

SO OUT OF THE 50.

THAT'S CORRECT.

AND THEN CAN YOU REMIND ME, UM, OUR DISCUSSION ABOUT THE A T M THAT'S THERE? UH, THAT'S DUE TO COME BACK TO THE GOVERNING BOARD TO DETERMINE WHAT TYPE OF DIRECTION YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE.

WE DID LOOK AT DESIGN FOR THAT.

WE DID HAVE HAVE DISCUSSIONS ON CAN WE GET EXTRA SPACES OUT OF THAT.

AND, AND THE DESIGNS OF PUBLIC WORKS DID IT REALLY DIDN'T SHOW MANY, MANY ADDITIONAL SPACES FOR THAT.

ANY MORE QUESTIONS? MOTION PLEASURE.

THE BOARD ON ITEM 18, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND DIVISION THREE OFF STREET PARKING OF ARTICLE SIX, STOPPING STANDING AND PARKING OF CHAPTER 70, TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES.

I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

[00:50:01]

NUMBER 19, CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE SCHEDULE OF FEES AND CHARGES.

LET'S HAVE A ROLL CROSS, STARTING WITH ALDERMAN BRISSON.

[19. Consider Adopting an Ordinance to Amend the Schedule of Fees and Charges.]

MR. HUGHES.

SO MAYOR, UM, THIS, THIS CHANGE IS, IS $1 PER HOUR TO PARK FOR THE DAY $8.

NOW THERE IS ALSO A 45 CENTS TRANSACTION FEE.

SO LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF THIS.

IF SOMEONE COMES AND THEY WANT TO PARK IN THIS LOT AND THEY THINK, I'LL, I'LL JUST BE HERE FOR ONE HOUR, THEY'RE GONNA BE CHARGED A DOLLAR PLUS THEIR 45 CENT TRANSACTION FEE.

AND THEN IF THEY DECIDE, HMM, I WANNA STAY DOWNTOWN FOR A FEW MORE HOURS, THEY CAN GO BACK TO THEIR APP AND THEY CAN ADD ADDITIONAL TIME.

IF THEY ADD TWO MORE HOURS, THEY WILL BE CHARGED AN ADDITIONAL 45 CENTS TRANSACTION FEE FOR THAT.

HOWEVER, IF SOMEONE COMES INTO DOWNTOWN AND THEY THINK, I WANNA STAY HERE FOR TWO HOURS, THEY PAY THEIR $2 AND THEIR ONE TRANSACTION FEE FEE OF 45 CENTS.

SO, SO IT'S NOT A TRANSACTION FEE FOR EVERY HOUR YOU ARE THERE, IT'S JUST FOR EACH TRANSACTION YOU MAKE ON THE APP OR THE PHONE CALL OR THE QR CODE OR THE TEXT, YOU RECEIVE A TRANSACTION FEE.

AND THAT IS, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, PARK MOBILE PASSES, PASSES ON TO THE CUSTOMER.

BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS.

SARAH WILL MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND TO SCHEDULE FEES AND CHARGES.

HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

20, CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT FUND MR. HUGHES.

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

AND I WOULD, UM, HIGHLY ENCOURAGE, UH, THE CITY TO GET AHEAD OF THIS FROM A COMMUNICATION STANDPOINT.

GET IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, MAKE SURE THAT WE SHARE IT BECAUSE THERE'S ALREADY MISUNDERSTANDING MISCOMMUNICATIONS THAT HAD ANY PASSED YET.

THAT'S, THAT'S CORRECT.

AND SO JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, UM, FRESH COLLEEN, THE P I O HAS, HAS WORKED ON A PRESS RELEASE THAT'S GOING OUT TOMORROW.

UM, HOPEFULLY CITY STAFF WILL BE ABLE TO USE THE PARKING LOT IN THE BACK AS WELL AS THE ALDERMAN LATER THIS WEEK.

AND THE GOAL WILL BE TO TURN THIS OVER TO PAY BY PLATE THE FIRST OF NEXT WEEK.

SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE A ROBUST, UH, PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR THIS AND SIGNAGE WILL GO UP AS WELL.

VERY GOOD.

ITEM NUMBER

[20. Consider Adopting an Ordinance to Amend the Drainage Improvements Project Fund.]

ITEM NUMBER 21, CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE RESILIENCY AND HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN GRANT PROJECT FUND MR. HUGHES.

MAYOR, THIS AMENDMENT IS TO REFLECT THE, THE, UH, THE GRANT, UH, UH, AND THE AMOUNT OF $400,000 BOARD.

HAVE QUESTIONS MAYOR, I HAVE A MO.

UH, I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT FUND.

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND.

FURTHER DISCUSSION.

HEARING NONE.

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

[21. Consider Adopting an Ordinance to Amend the Resiliency and Hazard Mitigation Plan Grant Project Fund.]

SO MAYOR, WE RECENT RECENTLY RECEIVED A, A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $175,320 FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA RESILIENT COASTAL COMMUNITIES PROGRAM GRANT.

THESE FUNDS WILL GO TO EXPAND THE EAST ROSE RETENTION BASIN.

UH, AND THIS MEMO GOES TO, UH, ADJUST THAT, THAT, UH, THAT FUND.

BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? THERE'S NO QUESTIONS.

I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND A RESILIENCY AND HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN.

GRANT, PROJECT FUND.

I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

IS IT HOW HAYAK HAYEK'S TERM.

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

[22. Appointment(s).]

IS APPOINTMENTS.

ALDERMAN MCKENZIE HAS ONE BUT HE'S NOT HERE.

AND THE BOARD HAS ONE FOR THE FRIENDS OF THE FIREMAN MUSEUM.

MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPOINT, UM, BOBBY BOYD, RETIRED FIRE CHIEF FOR THE CITY OF NEWBURN TO THE, UH, FIREMAN'S MUSEUM BOARD, UH, TO FILL THE REMAINDER OF GEORGE.

[00:55:01]

UM, AND WILL EXPIRE APRIL THE 22ND OF 2025.

FIVE YEARS HAS BEEN SERVING ON THIS BOARD AS OFFICIO AND HE KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND, UH, WOULD BE, IS QUITE AN ASSET AND WOULD BE A BETTER ASSET AS A VOTING MEMBER.

NUMBER 24 CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.

I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND.

MY ONLY CONCERN IS WILL WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO COMMIT TO THIS ? YEAH, I THINK SO.

ALRIGHT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? ALRIGHT.

HE IS APPOINTED, UH, NUMBER

[23. Attorney' s Report.]

23 ATTORNEY'S REPORT.

UH, NOTHING REPORT'S NOT BEAR

[24. City Manager's Report.]

JUST A FEW THINGS TO UPDATE YOU ON THE BOOTS AND BADGES.

SOFTBALL GAME BETWEEN POLICE AND FIRE IS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY AT 6:00 PM AT KAFER PARK.

ALSO A NEW AND 1 0 1 STARTS THIS THURSDAY AT 4:00 PM AND, UH, THE P I O INFORMED ME THAT WE HAVE 17 CITIZENS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THIS AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO, TO, UH, SHOWING CITIZENS ALL ABOUT WHAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS ABOUT.

ALSO WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE RIBBON CUTTING AND GRAND OPENING OF THE CITY HALL ELEVATOR ANNEX WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10TH AT 5:15 PM SO WE'LL SEND SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OUT TO YOU.

UH, LOOK FORWARD TO OPENING UP THE ANNEX AND, AND HAVING THE ELEVATOR IN USE.

SO LOOK FOR SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THAT.

UH, AND ALSO, UH, AS YOU KNOW, WE EXPERIENCED TROPICAL STORM OPHELIA FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

AND, UH, PROUD OF CITY STAFF IN PARTICULAR, POLICE FIRE, ELECTRIC UTILITIES.

PUBLIC WORKS FOR THE GREAT JOB THEY DID DURING THIS.

UM, HAD SEVERAL TREES THAT CAME DOWN.

UH, PUBLIC WORKS WAS, WAS QUICK TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.

THERE WERE SOME LOW LINE FLOOD AREAS.

UM, PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF CLEANED THE PARKS IN THE APPROPRIATE AREAS UP IN A QUICK AMOUNT OF TIME AND A MAXIMUM OF 8,000, UH, UTILITY CUSTOMERS LOST POWER AND ELECTRIC UTILITY WAS ABLE TO GET THAT POWER BACK ON BY ABOUT THREE O'CLOCK THAT AFTERNOON.

SO OVERALL, IF WE HAD TO HAVE A STORM THAT WAS, THAT WAS A GOOD ONE TO HAVE.

PARKS AND RECS DID A GREAT JOB TOO.

CROP WALK WAS SUNDAY AND THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE GONNA HAVE TO MOVE IT ACROSS THE STREET, THE PARKING LOT, BUT PARKS AND REC GOT IT READY SO THEY WERE ABLE TO HAVE IT AT UNION POINT, WHICH WAS GREAT.

SO THANK YOU.

FOSTER THE, THE TWO SECTIONS OF FENCE DOWN AT UNION POINT PARK.

DO WE HAVE THEM OR? WE DO.

WE DO.

ONE WAS IN THE WATER AND SO STAFF WAS ABLE TO RETRIEVE THAT AND I THINK THAT THEY'RE WAITING FOR THE FENCE COMPANY TO DO THOSE REPAIRS NOW.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO NEW BUSINESS WITH ALDERMAN.

GREAT.

IS THAT ALL, SIR? THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.

ALRIGHT,

[25. New Business.]

PRILL.

UH, MAYOR, I HAVE NOTHING THIS EVENING.

I'D LIKE TO, UH, COMMEND THE CITY STAFF FOR ALL OF THEIR DILIGENCE DURING THE STORM TO SAFEGUARD ALL OF THE CITIZENS.

UM, THAT WAS TREMENDOUS, IS COMMENDABLE.

AND, AND I'M SO THANKFUL.

THE OTHER ITEM THAT I HAVE IS I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, MOTION TO USE $30,000 OF THE OPERA FUNDS, UH, FOR WARD TWO FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT THE OVERPASS FOR THAT LEFT TURN COMING OVER THE OVERPASS IN PEMBROKE.

WE HAVE A MOTION.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SO, SO MAYOR, JUST JUST TO BE CLEAR, WARD TWO HAD ALLOCATED APPROXIMATELY $500,000, UH, AND THAT WAS THEIR LAST REMAINING AMOUNT TOWARDS SIDEWALKS.

WE DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT COST BEING THAT MUCH, AND SO WE'RE GONNA MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THAT AMOUNT BE REDUCED BY $30,000 FOR, FOR ALDERMAN ROYAL'S PROJECT.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION, WE HAVE A SECOND.

HAVE A SECOND BY ALMAN BRISSON.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? OKAY.

THAT'LL BE ALL I KNOW.

THERE'LL BE SOME HAPPY, UH, RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA OF TOWN.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.

ALLMAN ASTER.

UM, YES, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, MENTION THAT OUR OLD CHIEF, OUR RETIRED CHIEF BUILDING INSPECTOR, JOHNNY CLARK, PASSED AWAY YESTERDAY.

UM, AND HIS SERVICES WILL BE ON FRIDAY AT COTTON FUNERAL HOME AT 2:00 PM UM, JOHNNY WORKED FOR THE CITY FOR, I, I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED WHAT, CLOSE TO 30 YEARS AND, UM, VERY WELL KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE, UH, THE COMMUNITY AND WAS ALSO, UH, I THINK AN ASSOCIATE PASTOR AT, UM, ONE OF THE CHURCHES OVER, WERE ON OLD, UM, AIRPORT ROAD, OLD CHERRYPOINT HIGHWAY.

I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF CHURCH RIGHT NOW, BUT EVERY, IF EVERYBODY WOULD KEEP HIM AND HIS

[01:00:01]

FAMILY IN YOUR PRAYERS.

UM, I RECEIVED A EMAIL FROM A CITIZEN, UM, AND YOU WERE, UM, ALSO INCLUDED IN THAT EMAIL, UM, MAYOR ODOM.

UM, AND THE CITIZEN HAD A, SOME CONCERNS BECAUSE OF, UM, DEBRIS THAT IS LEFT BEHIND AND, UH, AFTER A STORM OR HURRICANE.

UM, AND HER MAIN CONCERN WAS THAT SHE WANTED TO KNOW IF THE CITY HAD ANY PLANS IN PLACE TO HELP THE CITIZENS TO REMOVE THAT DEBRIS, UM, AFTER A STORM OR HURRICANE.

AND, UM, I SOMEWHAT, UM, AGREE WITH HER IN SOME ASPECTS BECAUSE, UM, NOW I CAN, I'M GONNA SAY THIS, IF I HAVE A TREE ON MY PROPERTY AND A STORM COMES, OR HURRICANES THAT BLOWS THAT TREES DOWN ON MY PROPERTY, THEN THAT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY SOLELY TO GET THAT TREE CLEANED UP.

NOW IF AFTER A STORM TREE TRUNKS, TIRES, RAILROAD TRACKS, UM, WHATEVER FLOATS INTO YOUR, ON YOUR PROPERTY, UM, IS THERE SOME WAY THAT THE CITY CAN COME AND HELP AID A CITIZEN IN GETTING THAT DEBRIS AND STUFF REMOVED? IF IT'S NOTHING MORE, I, I KNOW IF IT'S PUT TO THE EDGE OF THE STREET, THE CITY WILL PICK IT UP CERTAIN ITEMS. CORRECT.

UM, SO THAT WAS MY CONCERN.

THAT IS MY CONCERN AS AS TO IS THERE, WHAT IS THE BOARD'S? UM, I WOULD LIKE FOR Y'ALL TO GIVE ME YOUR, UM, OPINION, UM, DISCUSS THIS, UM, AS TO WHAT POINT CAN WE AS A CITY COME TO THE AID OF A CITIZEN IN HELPING TO CLEAN UP DEBRIS OR TRASH OR WHATEVER THAT'S COMING TO ONTO THEIR PROPERTY.

I'M TALKING ABOUT HEAVY DEBRIS.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT PAPER OR CUPS OR, UH, TIRES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I'M TALKING ABOUT THE MAJOR CLEANS UP CLEANUP THAT WOULD TAKE EQUIPMENT TO CLEAN UP FROM THEIR PROPERTY.

I'LL, UM, THERE WAS ACTUALLY AN EMAIL EXCHANGE THAT SHE DIDN'T COPY YOU ALL.

SO HER AND I WENT BACK AND FORTH TODAY.

UM, AND I JUST SHARED WITH HER THAT THE CITY DOESN'T OWN THE WATERWAY.

WE DON'T REALLY HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THAT.

THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE WHEN THERE'S LIKE AN ABANDONED BOAT IN THE WATERWAY.

MM-HMM.

, WE GET COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT.

MM-HMM.

, UM, I, I'M ATTORNEY CAN CHIME IN, BUT I'M, I'M THINK I'M SAFE IN SAYING THAT THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE THE ABILITY OR REALLY THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO GO ONTO PRIVATE PROPERTY TO CLEAN SOMETHING UP LIKE THAT.

AND WITH IT REQUIRING EQUIPMENT, I'M SURE THERE'S A LIABILITY AND A CONCERN THERE AS WELL.

BUT I'LL LET, I'LL DEFER TO STAFF ON THOSE TWO.

YOU'RE CORRECT ABOUT THAT, MAYOR.

AND WE, WE DO NOT GO ON PRIVATE PROPERTY TO, TO TAKE CARE OF ISSUES LIKE THAT UNLESS IT'S SOMETHING WITHIN THE UTILITY RIGHT OF WAY WHERE THE ELECTRIC UTILITY OR PUBLIC WORKS NEEDS TO GO IN THERE AND, AND CLEAR SOMETHING UP TO, TO DEAL WITH OUR, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

NOW WHAT WE WILL DO IS IF CITIZENS HAVE, HAVE DEBRIS, WHETHER IT'S WASHED OUT FROM THE RIVER OR WHATNOT, AND THEY CAN GET TO THE ROAD, PUBLIC WORKS WILL COME BY AND PICK THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT DEBRIS UP.

BUT WE WILL NOT BE GOING ONTO THE PRIVATE PROPERTY.

UM, TO ADDRESS THAT.

UM, THERE ARE VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS THAT WOULD MOST LIKELY COME OUT AND HELP THOSE CITIZENS.

UM, AND WE MAY STILL EVEN HAVE A LIST OF THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.

UH, AND, AND WE CAN SURELY I CAN GET COLLEEN TO LOOK AT THAT AND IF WE'RE HAPPY TO REACH OUT TO THAT, THAT CITIZEN ABOUT THAT REQUEST.

IT TO YOU SO YOU'RE IN THE LOOP.

I JUST WANTED TO KNOW FROM MY OWN INFORMATION IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE AS A CITY COULD HELP AID US CITIZEN, UM, WITH THAT REQUEST IF, IF, IF AND WHEN THAT TIME WOULD COME.

UM, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT HURRICANE FLORENCE OVER ON, OFF OF OAKS ROAD, HARBOR DRIVE, WE HAD A LOT OF DEBRIS THERE IN THAT CANAL ON THAT RIVER BANK AND IT TOOK ANOTHER AGENCY ALONG WITH THE CITY TO CLEAN IT UP.

SO I I I DIDN'T KNOW IF AT SOME POINT, YOU KNOW, AND THAT WAS THE WATERWAY.

UM, IT WAS A CANAL AND IT WAS THE WATERWAY.

SO, ALL RIGHT.

I JUST WANTED TO, I EXPRESS MY CONCERN AND ADDRESS HER EMAIL AND MOVE FORWARD.

SO WHEN YOU AND HER DISCUSS, DID YOU COME TO AN UNDERSTANDING ON I HAVEN'T GOT, I HAVEN'T GOT A RESPONSE FROM THE LAST EMAIL, BUT WHENEVER I DO, I'LL, I'LL FORWARD

[01:05:01]

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

AND, UM, THAT WAS IT.

ALDERMAN, BRISSON, NOTHING TONIGHT, SIR.

UH, DO WE NEED A CLOSED SESSION? NO, SIR.

NO CLOSED SESSIONS.

SO IF THERE'S NO OTHER BUSINESS COME BEFORE THE BOARD, I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

NAY.

HAVE A MOTION? I SECOND.