Feb 27, 2024 Board of Aldermen

UH, OFFICE AND DEPARTMENT WORKS TOGETHER NOW IS BETTER THAN I'VE EVER SEEN IT.

UM, THE WAY THESE,

[00:05:01]

AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL SUPPORTING THE CHIEF AND MY OFFICE AS WELL.

BOARD, HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THE SHERIFF WHILE HE IS HERE? NO.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.

JUST A BIG THANK YOU.

THANK, THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.

I APPRECIATE YOUR KINDNESS AND HELPING ME INTO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE RAN INTO LAST YEAR.

AND, UH, I APPRECIATE YOUR OFFICE ASSISTING AND CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

IF IT'S ANYTHING THAT THIS BOARD CAN DO CONTINUOUSLY MM-HMM, TO BUILD THE RELATIONSHIP STRONGER THAT WE ARE THERE TO DO IT.

YEAH.

WELL, ONCE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN, UH, VERY TRYING TIMES AND THIS IS WHERE SOCIETY HAS BROUGHT US.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOUR SUPPORT, UH, THROUGH, UH, YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH IN ESSENCE SUPPORTS MY OFFICE.

'CAUSE WE OPERATE AS, AS ONE TEAM.

AND, AND THAT'S THE WAY IT'S GOTTA BE.

BUT THANK YOU.

YOU THANK YOU SHARON.

BOARD.

UM, NEXT ITEM IS

[3. Approve Agenda.]

TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

ARE THERE ANY CHANGES THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE MADE? YES.

UM, YES.

UH, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A CHANGE, UM, UNDER THE CONSENT AGENDA.

UM, ITEM NUMBER FOUR, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT TABLED, PLEASE.

UM, I KNOW THERE'S, UH, FURTHER DISCUSSION.

A LOT OF DISCUSSION IS NEEDED, UM, BECAUSE OF, UM, THAT PARTICULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY.

UM, SO IF THE BOARD WOULD AGREE WITH ALONG WITH ME, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

WE JUST WANNA PUT AN INDEFINITE TIME ON THAT UNTIL WE GET SOME CLARITY AROUND SOME OTHER ITEMS BEFORE WE PUT IT BACK ON AN AGENDA.

IS THAT GOOD WITH YOU? YEAH, THAT'S WHY I WANTED IT TABLED, BECAUSE AT THIS PRESENT TIME, I DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC TIMEFRAME.

I HAVE A MOTION.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

HAVE A SECOND.

AND THAT MOTION IS TO PULL ITEM NUMBER FOUR FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? CAN WE PUT JUST A, A, A TIME LIMIT ON THAT SO THAT IT DOES COME BACK TO US AT LEAST AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE FOR FURTHER REVIEW? WELL, AT THIS POINT, I CAN'T SAY, I DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC TIME PERIOD THAT I EVEN KNOW HOW LONG THE DISCUSSIONS IS GOING TO TAKE ON THIS.

SO THAT'S WHY I WANT IT TABLED INSTEAD OF POSTPONED.

UM, MAYOR, AND I COULD ALSO JUST MAKE A COMMENT, IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO JUST VOTE TO JUST PULL THE PROPERTY FROM THE, FROM THE, UM, UH, SURPLUS LIST FOR THE TIME BEING, WE CAN DO THAT BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SOMEONE THAT HAS PLACED A DEPOSIT ON THE PROPERTY.

AND IF IT SUCH TIME THAT, UH, WE NEED TO PUT THAT PROPERTY BOOT UP BACK ON THERE, WE CAN, WE CAN START THE PROCESS BACK OVER AT THAT TIME.

ORMAN, PRILL, DID THAT, UH, SATISFY YOUR QUESTION? WELL, YEAH.

AND, AND, AND AGAIN, I, I KNOW WHAT PROPERTY IT IS, UM, AND I UNDERSTAND, UM, THE RATIONALE FOR, UM, MAYBE HOLDING OFF ON IT.

UM, I GUESS MY, MY QUESTIONING IS THAT WE, WE SEEM TO HAVE GAINED SOME MOMENTUM, UM, OVER THIS PAST YEAR OF SELLING A LOT OF SURPLUS LOTS AND SEEING, UH, A NUMBER OF THOSE, UM, BEING UTILIZED WITH NEW HOUSING ON IT.

UM, I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT MOMENTUM CONTINUE.

I REALIZE THIS IS ONLY ONE PROPERTY.

UM, I, I WOULD JUST FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE, YOU KNOW, IF WE PUT A, YOU KNOW, I DUNNO, A FOUR MONTH, SIX MONTH TIME PERIOD ON IT, I WOULD THINK THAT'S A, A, A GOOD PERIOD OF TIME FOR FURTHER REVIEW AND DISCUSSION TO TAKE PLACE.

AND, AND IF IT'S NOT, THEN IT COMES BACK TO US AND WE CAN HOLD IT FOR A LONGER PERIOD IF NECESSARY.

SO THE, THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE TABLE HAS BEEN SECONDED IS TO TABLE IT INDEFINITELY, UM, UNTIL THE BOARD BRINGS IT BACK UP.

I GUESS AT ANY POINT IN TIME, MISS ATTORNEY, A BOARD MEMBER UNDER NEW BUSINESS COULD ASK FOR THIS ITEM TO BE PUT BACK ON THE AGENDA.

UH, HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, UH, HAVE A VOICE VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? OKAY.

ITEM NUMBER FOUR HAS BEEN PULLED.

SO NOW, UH, WE JUST HAVE THE, UH, MINUTES, UH, UNDER THE CONSENT AGENDA.

WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD ON ITEM NUMBER FIVE? MAY I MAKE A MOTION TO, UM, APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IS SECOND, I'M, YEAH.

APPROVE THE AGENDA.

UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

I'M SORRY YOU THREW ME OFF.

I NEED A SECOND ON THAT ONE.

I DID HONOR MCKENZIE SECOND.

SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

THE AGENDA HAS BEEN APPROVED WITH ITEM NUMBER FOUR BEING TABLED.

[Consent Agenda]

SO NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS TO APPROVE THE MINUTES, WHICH IS THE ONLY THING REMAINING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

IT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD.

ON ITEM NUMBER FIVE, APPROVE THE, UM, ITEM NUMBER FIVE, AS IS SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

STARTING WITH ALDERMAN PRI.

LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL

[00:10:01]

[6. Presentation by Code Wright Planners on Land Use Ordinance Development Process.]

NUMBER SIX IS PRESENTATION BY CODE WRIGHT PLANNERS ON LAND USE ORDINANCE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.

MR. HUGHES, WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE CHAD MEADOWS WITH CODE WRIGHT, UH, TALK US THROUGH THE PROCESS.

SO WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO CHAD NOW.

THANK YOU, SIR.

MR. MAYOR ALDERMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.

I AM CHAD MEADOWS.

I'M PRINCIPAL OF CODE WRIGHT PLANNERS, AND IT'S BEEN MY PLEASURE TO BE IN YOUR LOVELY CITY FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.

UH, TONIGHT, I'D JUST LIKE TO TAKE MAYBE FIVE OR 10 MINUTES OF YOUR TIME AND TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

UM, I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THE TEAM, UH, SOME OF THE PROJECT OBJECTIVES, UH, THE SCOPE FOR THE PROJECT, OUR SCHEDULE, AND WHERE WE GO FROM HERE.

THIS IS THE PROJECT TEAM.

UM, CHAD MEADOWS.

THAT'S ME.

I'M THE PROJECT MANAGER.

I'M PRINCIPAL OF CODE RIGHT PLANNERS.

WE'RE OUT OF DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA.

I HAVE BEEN A, UH, PROFESSIONAL PLANNER FOR ABOUT 32 YEARS, AND THIS IS THE 29TH DEVELOPMENT CODE THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN IN MY CAREER.

SO I'M JOINED BY SEVERAL OTHER PLANNING PRACTITIONERS.

UH, COURTNEY TANNER, UH, IS ALSO INVOLVED ON THE PROJECT.

SHE HAS BEEN A PLANNER FOR 20 YEARS, UH, SERVES AS A PLANNING DIRECTOR IN A TRIANGLE IN, UH, IN A COMMUNITY IN THE TRIANGLE.

UH, WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY, UH, SOME FOLKS FROM THE MCADAMS COMPANY.

UH, HUNTER FREEMAN IS A STORMWATER EXPERT ON GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE HERE IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

HE WILL BE INVOLVED IN SUSTAINABILITY AND STORMWATER PROVISIONS.

WE ARE ALSO JOINED BY EDDIE MOORE OF MCADAMS, WHO WILL BE ASSISTING US WITH TESTING.

UH, WE'LL BE TESTING THESE DEVELOPMENT PROVISIONS AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE PROJECT.

FINALLY, WE'RE ALSO SUGGESTING CHANGES TO YOUR ZONING MAP, AND WE'LL BE JOINED BY KIMBERLY WHALEY OF TIDEWATER ASSOCIATES WILL BE DOING OUR REMAPPING.

SO WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS PROJECT? WELL, THE TOWN, CITY HAS, UH, A LAND USE ORDINANCE IN PLACE, UM, THAT IS, UM, BEEN AROUND FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

IT'S BEEN UPDATED, UH, IN A PATCHWORK FASHION.

AND YOUR LAND USE ORDINANCE BASICALLY CONTROLS WHERE THINGS CAN BE BUILT, THE PROCESS THAT WILL FOLLOW, AND HOW THEY'RE OPERATED.

NOW, PART OF THE LAND USE ORDINANCE IS A ZONING MAP.

AND SO THIS PROJECT IS PROPOSED, UH, TO BRING YOUR ORDINANCES INTO, UH, MODERN TIMES.

UH, AND WE'VE GOT A SERIES OF OBJECTIVES HERE ON THE SCREEN.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES, UH, INTEGRATING MORE SUSTAINABLE KINDS OF FEATURES, GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, TREE PROTECTION, ET CETERA.

BRINGING THE REGULATIONS INTO THE MODERN AGE IN TERMS OF GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES.

SO THINK ABOUT MORE SUMMARY TABLES, MORE ILLUSTRATIONS, MORE GRAPHICS, MORE DETAILS ON HOW, UH, HOW TO USE THE CODE.

UM, COMMUNITY CONNECTION STRATEGIES, UH, DEALING WITH ROADWAY CONNECTIONS, SIDEWALK CONNECTIONS, UTILITY CONNECTIONS, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING BETTER USE, MORE EFFICIENT USE OF THE LAND THAT ALREADY EXISTS INSIDE THE CORPORATE LIMITS.

ADDRESSING HOUSING, UH, MORE HOUSING CHOICES, UH, IN MORE LOCATIONS.

UH, AND THAT INCLUDES TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN ADDRESS WORKFORCE HOUSING, DOING THAT, UH, HOPEFULLY IN A MORE SUCCESSFUL WAY.

SO BRINGING SOME MORE OPTIONS, UH, FOR HOUSING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE IN NEW BERN.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE OBJECTIVES, AND WE WILL AMEND THIS LIST.

IT WILL EVOLVE AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS.

SO LEMME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS HERE.

THIS IS THE WORK PROGRAM THAT WE'RE SUGGESTING.

UH, THERE'S, UH, IT'S ABOUT A 24 MONTH PROCESS.

SO WE WOULD EXPECT TO, TO HAVE THIS NEW LUO IN PLACE, UH, IN JANUARY BY JANUARY OF 2026.

WE'LL ALSO BE INCORPORATING SOME OFFICE HOURS IN OUR, IN OUR TRIPS.

UH, WE ARE ANTICIPATING 12 TASKS IN THIS WORK PROGRAM, UH, AND A TOTAL OF 13 TRIPS TO THE COMMUNITY BY MYSELF AND CONSULTING TEAM MEMBERS.

UH, THE, THE CITY HAS FORMED A STEERING COMMITTEE TO DIRECT US AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS.

UH, AND WE'LL MEET WITH THAT, UH, COMMITTEE SEVEN TIMES.

UH, AS WE GO THROUGH THESE VARIOUS STEPS.

THERE ARE ALSO A VARIETY OF PUBLIC FORUMS INCORPORATED IN THIS.

WE'LL BE DOING FOUR PUBLIC FORUMS AT KEY STEPS IN THE PROCESS.

SOME OF THESE PUBLIC FORUMS WILL BE OPEN HOUSES THAT ARE, WE'RE BASICALLY AVAILABLE AND ON HAND ALL DAY, UH, AND INTO THE EVENING FOR PEOPLE TO COME AT THEIR CONVENIENCE, UH, AND TALK WITH US ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS.

WE'VE ALSO INTEGRATED A VARIETY OF OTHER APPROACHES INTO THE PROJECT.

UH, FOR INSTANCE, A WEBPAGE.

UH, THE CONSULTING TEAM WILL BE DEVELOPING A WEBPAGE THAT WE WILL MANAGE THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT THAT WILL HAVE INFORMATION ON DRAFT WORK PRODUCTS, HOW TO PARTICIPATE THE NEXT TIME WE'RE IN TOWN, UH, FAQS ABOUT THE LUO ITSELF, UH, THE ZONING MAP, ET CETERA.

SO, LOTS OF INFORMATION FOR MEMBERS OF THE P THE PUBLIC LAY PEOPLE TO, TO LEARN AND, AND GET INVOLVED WITH THIS, UH, TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY'D LIKE TO DO THAT.

[00:15:01]

SO EACH TIME WE'RE HERE IN THE CITY, WE WILL MAKE FOUR OR FIVE HOURS AVAILABLE, UH, TO, TO MEET WITH ANYBODY WHO'D LIKE TO TALK TO US.

AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE A PRESENTATION OR A ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATION, WHATEVER, WHAT HAVE YOU.

WE'RE AVAILABLE AND, AND WE'VE KIND OF BUILT, UH, THESE, THESE TIME SLOTS INTO OUR PROCESS TO MAKE OURSELVES AVAILABLE, UM, FOR ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO FIND OUT MORE, UH, OR, OR HAS QUESTIONS.

SO THIS IS OUR DRAFT WORK PROGRAM.

UM, THIS IS A SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE BUILT OVER THE, THE MINI CODES THAT WE'VE INVOLVED, THAT WE'VE WORKED ON THROUGH THE YEARS.

UM, I'LL NOTE FOR YOU THAT WE'VE INCORPORATED, UH, A TESTING COMPONENT WHERE WE'RE WORKING WITH MEMBERS OF THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY TO FIELD TEST THE DRAFT REGULATIONS BEFORE WE GO THROUGH THE ADOPTION PROCESS, HOPING TO FIND ANY FATAL FLAWS THAT ARE IN THE DRAFT REGULATION AND CORRECT THOSE BEFORE WE MOVE THROUGH INTO ADOPTION.

WE'RE ANTICIPATING PREPARATION OF PROCEDURES MANUAL FOR YOU.

THAT'S A, THAT'S A COMPANION DOCUMENT TO THE LUO.

IT HAS THE NEW APPLICATION FORMS, NEW SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS, RESOURCES FOR APPLICANTS.

AGAIN, TRYING TO MAKE THIS EASY FOR PEOPLE TO FOLLOW THE RULES.

UM, WE'VE GOT A SERIES OF TRAINING MODULES INCORPORATED INTO THIS SO THAT WE CAN COME TO THE CITY AND HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW THE NEW REGULATIONS WORK.

THAT MIGHT BE MEMBERS OF THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY.

IT MIGHT BE APPOINTED BOARD MEMBERS, UH, STAFF, WHOMEVER, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

SO, UH, A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO BE INVOLVED.

A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN, AND A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO COME UP WITH A SET OF DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS THAT ARE GONNA WORK FOR YOU.

UM, WE HAVE BEEN IN NEW BERN FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS HERE ON TASK ONE PROJECT INITIATION.

WE'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH YOUR STAFF, TALK WITH YOUR ATTORNEYS, TALK WITH MANY OF YOUR MAJOR DEVELOPERS, UH, TALK WITH, UH, STAFF MEMBERS WHO ARE OUTSIDE OF THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

AND WE ARE NOW COLLECTING INFORMATION, UH, TO COME BACK AND, AND SHARE SOME DETAILS WITH YOU.

UM, OUR SCHEDULE WILL BE ON THE WEBPAGE.

UH, I REALIZE THIS IS HARD TO SEE ON YOUR SCREEN.

AGAIN, 24 MONTHS, 12 TASKS.

UH, THIS INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND WILL BE ON, UH, THE PROJECT WEBPAGE.

SO THERE'S MORE DETAILS FOR YOU ABOUT OUR INTENTIONS AND, AND WHERE WE, WE EXPECT TO GO WITH THIS.

WE DO, UH, WE HOPE TO, UH, BE HERE IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS, UH, FOUR OR FIVE TIMES THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS AT KEY STAGES, UH, INCLUDING HOPEFULLY, UH, ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE SOMETIME, UM, IN OCTOBER OF 2025.

NEXT STEPS.

UM, OUR NEXT STEP IS THE PREPARATION OF A CODE ASSESSMENT.

THINK ABOUT IT AS A BLUEPRINT FOR THE NEW UDO.

UH, IT WILL EXPLORE THE, THE DIFFERENCE OR THE GAP BETWEEN YOUR CURRENT POLICY GUIDANCE AS REFLECTED IN YOUR CA A PLAN AND YOUR CURRENT REGULATIONS.

YOUR CA A PLAN SAYS WHERE WE WANT TO BE, YOUR CURRENT REGULATIONS REFLECT WHERE YOU ARE TODAY.

THERE'S A GAP BETWEEN THOSE TWO.

AND THIS CODE ASSESSMENT WILL ANALYZE THAT GAP AND TELL US WHAT AREAS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED SO THAT WE CAN GET WHERE WE WANT TO GO.

AS WE'VE EXPLAINED IN OUR, IN OUR LAND USE PLAN.

IN ADDITION, UH, A SERIES OF KEY THEMES FOR IMPROVEMENT.

THERE'S TYP TYPICALLY SIX OR SEVEN SETS OF RECOMMENDATIONS, THINGS THAT WE WOULD SUGGEST BE DONE TO MAKE YOUR DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS MORE EFFICIENT, MORE EFFECTIVE.

SO THINGS LIKE ILLUSTRATIONS, UM, THINGS LIKE CLEARER PROCEDURES, UH, WELL-DOCUMENTED REVIEW CRITERIA.

UH, JUST TRYING TO BRING YOUR REGULATIONS INTO THE MODERN AGE AND ADDRESSING SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST.

UM, ISSUES WITH ON STREET PARKING, SOME OF THE, THE, THE CONFUSION OVER THE VARIOUS OVERLAYS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

HOW DO WE ADDRESS, YOU KNOW, ROADWAY CONNECTIONS AND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU GUYS HAVE EXPERIENCED RECENTLY IN SOME OF THE REZONING CASES.

AND HOW DO WE ADDRESS THAT AND MAKE REZONING CASES EASIER, EASIER ON YOU, EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND AND EASIER FOR THE NEIGHBORS TO ACCEPT.

SO THOSE KINDS OF CHANGES ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO MAKE, UH, AND KIND THE IMPROVEMENTS.

THIS CODE ASSESSMENT WILL SET DOWN SOME OF THOSE KEY THEMES.

UM, WHEN WE COME BACK, AND WE EXPECT TO DO THIS SOMETIME IN JUNE, UH, I THINK FOR YOUR FIRST MEETING IN JUNE, IS OUR HOPE, UH, TO BE BACK BEFORE YOU.

UM, WE'LL HAVE OUR FIRST PUBLIC FORUM AND OUR FIRST ROUND OF OFFICE HOURS TO OVERVIEW THIS CODE ASSESSMENT DOCUMENT, AND THEN COME BACK TO YOU ON JUNE 11TH AND OVERVIEW THIS CODE ASSESSMENT.

UM, SO THAT IS A VERY FAST RUN THROUGH OF, OF THE PROJECT AND, AND WHERE WE'D LIKE TO GO AND WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO.

UM, IT IS OUR HOPE THAT WHEN WE COME BACK TO SEE YOU AGAIN IN JUNE, UM, THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OVER THIS CODE ASSESSMENT WITH YOU AND SHARE SOME OF OUR THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW BEST TO IMPROVE YOUR REGULATIONS.

AND I AM VERY HAPPY TO TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE.

WE HAVE QUESTIONS YOU MADE MENTION OF YOUR TIMELINE.

IS IT CORRECT THAT

[00:20:01]

YOU SAID 24 MONTHS OCTOBER, 2025? UH, ABSOLUTELY 24 MONTHS.

UM, AND I WOULD EXPECT THAT WE WOULD, UH, HOPE TO WRAP THIS PROJECT UP, UH, AT THE END OF DECEMBER, 2025.

AND PROBABLY GONNA BE JANUARY OF 2026.

BUT OUR HOPE IS, YOU KNOW, SHORTLY THERE, YOU KNOW, SHORTLY AFTER THE END OF 2025.

AND IS THAT TIMELINE INCLUSIVE OF THE WORK YOU'VE ALREADY DONE? THIS TIMELINE DOES REFLECT SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE.

WE STARTED ON THIS PROJECT LAST MONTH, SO OUR WORK IS JUST UNDERWAY NOW.

THIS WAS OUR FIRST TRIP TO NEW BERN.

UM, WE HAVE REVIEWED YOUR, YOUR PLAN, UH, YOUR PLANS.

WE'VE REVIEWED YOUR CURRENT LUO AND HAVE SUMMARY TABLES THAT WE'LL BE POSTING ON THE WEBPAGE THAT GIVE YOU SOME INSIGHT INTO THE AREAS THAT WE'D LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD IN.

BUT WE'RE STILL VERY NEW IN THE PROCESS.

WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED.

UM, SO YEAH, WE'RE, WE'RE JUST AT, AT THE VERY EARLY STAGES, BUT YES, THIS SCHEDULE DOES INCLUDE THAT TIME.

YES, MA'AM.

HOLD MCKENZIE.

SO YEAH, QUITE LONG PROCESS OF CLEANING UP, UM, BRINGING US UP TO THE STANDARDS THAT WE SHOULD BE.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR FOR A LONG TIME.

AND THANKS TO THE NEW DIRECTOR THAT SHE'S TAKEN US TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

AND THANK YOU.

WHAT IS THIS PROCESS? ABOUT TWO YEARS.

ABOUT TWO YEARS.

IT'LL TAKE US ABOUT 24 MONTHS.

WELL, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

WAITING TO SEE WHAT EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE ABOUT.

WE CAN BE VERY, VERY EXCITED INDEED.

WE'RE EXCITED TOO.

IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT PROJECT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON ? MR. MEL? YOU MENTIONED THAT, UM, YOU WILL BE COMING BACK BEFORE THIS BOARD THREE OR FOUR TIMES DURING THAT 24 MONTH TIMEFRAME.

UM, WILL YOU BE IDENTIFYING RECOMMENDATIONS EACH TIME THAT YOU COME BACK TO US OF WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE? AND I HAVE IDENTIFIED, RECOMMEND, RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO THE LAND USE ORDINANCE.

MM-HMM.

WILL YOU BE COMMUNICATING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND, AND FULLY EXPLAINING ALL OF THAT TO US AS YOU MOVE FORWARD? AND EACH TIME YOU COME BACK BEFORE US, PROBABLY IN MORE DETAIL THAN YOU'D LIKE, BUT YES.

UH, ABSOLUTELY.

WE WILL BE BACK BEFORE YOU, UH, WITH DETAILED EXPLANATIONS OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CODE ASSESSMENT.

WE WILL BE BACK BEFORE YOU TO EXPLAIN, UH, THE, THE ANNOTATED OUTLINE OR THE QUOTE UNQUOTE DRESS REHEARSAL FOR THAT NEW LUO DETAILING FOR YOU, THE AREAS OF CHANGE, WHY, IF THERE ARE PROS AND CONS ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE CHANGES.

UM, THERE MAY BE SOME DECISION POINTS ALONG THE WAY THAT WE WANT TO CHECK IN WITH YOU GUYS ON.

UH, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TYPICAL AND WE WOULD EXPECT TO DO THAT.

UH, WE WILL BE BEFORE YOU, UH, FOR THE INITIAL VERSION OF THE LUO WILL BE BEFORE YOU FOR THE REVISED VERSION OF THE LUO AND THEN WILL BE BEFORE YOU FOR THE ADOPTION PROCESS.

WELL, AND, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THAT.

I, THAT TO ME IS A VERY GOOD APPROACH, RATHER THAN WAITING UNTIL THE END AND THEN COMING BACK AND, AND EXPECTING THE BOARD TO ABSORB RATHER VOLUMINOUS DOCUMENT, UH, OF CHANGES.

UM, IF, IF WE CAN GET IT PIECEMEAL, I THINK IT'LL BE EASIER FOR THE BOARD TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS, UNDERSTAND THE CHANGES, AND IT'D BE EASIER THAN TO ULTIMATELY, UM, MAKE THE, THE, THE APPROVAL, YOU KNOW, OF THE ORDINANCE.

INDEED, INDEED.

AND, AND WE DO, WE, WE WILL ENDEAVOR TO SPOON FEED YOU JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT EACH TIME WE GO THROUGH.

NOT MORE THAN YOU NEED, BUT JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT.

UH, THIS STUFF IS NOT THE MOST ENTERTAINING MATERIAL IN THE UNIVERSE, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

SO WE'LL PACKAGE THIS UP AND PREPARE IT FOR YOU IN WAYS THAT DEAL WITH EXECUTIVE SUMMARIES AND GET YOU DIRECTLY TO THE, TO THE DECISION POINTS WHERE WE NEED SOME ASSISTANCE.

AND THEN WE'LL BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IF YOU GUYS HAVE, YOU KNOW, THAT, IF YOU WISH TO DIG DOWN INTO THE DETAILS.

I I'LL ALSO MENTION, UM, YOU KNOW, ANYTIME ANY ONE OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH US, WE WILL MAKE OURSELVES AVAILABLE FOR THAT.

AND CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, ON THESE OFFICE HOURS WHEN WE'RE HERE IN TOWN, IF ANYONE HAS A DESIRE TO, TO SIT DOWN AND, AND ASK, ASK SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, WE'RE AVAILABLE FOR THAT AS WELL.

SO WE'RE, WE VERY MUCH UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION WITH YOU, THE NEED FOR TRUST, UH, AND THAT YOU GUYS ARE COMFORTABLE THAT, THAT WHAT'S BEING PREPARED IS, IS ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, IN YOUR BEST INTEREST AND, AND GOOD FOR THE CITY AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT WE'RE ALL

[00:25:01]

LOOKING FOR.

AND I KNOW OUR, UH, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR HAS, UM, MENTIONED TO US ON A FEW DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THAT THERE'S A NUMBER OF CHANGES THAT, THAT SHE'S LOOKING TO SEE MADE.

SO I'M ASSUMING, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THAT YOU WILL BE WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH THE DIRECTOR AND HER STAFF TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS.

ABSOLUTELY.

THINK OF US AS AN EXTENSION OF YOUR STAFF.

THEY'RE VERY, VERY BUSY, UH, AND HAVE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS TO DEAL WITH.

IT'S OUR JOB TO COME IN AND SUPPLEMENT AND AID THEM SO THAT WE CAN PREPARE THIS INFORMATION WITH THEM ON THEIR BEHALF FOR YOU AND YOUR CITY, YOUR CITIZENS TO CONSIDER.

SO YES, WE WILL BE WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES STAFF FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS.

YEAH.

AND LASTLY, HOW ABOUT, UM, HOW WILL YOU BE WORKING WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION? GREAT QUESTION.

'CAUSE I KNOW THAT, UM, OUR CHAIRMAN IS HERE TONIGHT.

UM, I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO TALK TO HIM AND ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE, UH, THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.

AND I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A DESIRE TO DO SOME DEEPER DIVES INTO CERTAIN AREAS OF THE LAND USE ORDINANCE.

MM-HMM.

, I THINK SIGNAGE BEING ONE, PARKING REGULATIONS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, BEING ANOTHER AND THERE MM-HMM.

PROBABLY OTHERS AS WELL.

SO, SO WHERE DO THEY FIT? ASSUMING THAT THEY GET OR THEY MOVE FORWARD, TAKING A, A CLOSER LOOK AT SPECIFIC AREAS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHANGES.

UM, HOW, HOW WILL YOU WORK WITH, HOW DO THEY DOVETAIL THAT BODY? RIGHT.

INDEED.

UM, AND SO CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT, UH, THE, THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD CHAIR AS A MEMBER OF OUR STEERING COMMITTEE.

OUR STEERING COMMITTEE IS SORT OF OUR SOUNDING BOARD AND WILL BE OUR INITIAL BODY THAT WE SHARE OUR DRAFT WORK PRODUCTS WITH, UH, AND GET THEIR FIRST BLUSH REACTION.

SO IT'S OUR HOPE THAT THE PLANNING BOARD CHAIR WILL FEED BACK INFORMATION TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD MEMBERS ABOUT THE PROCESS.

SO THAT'S ONE.

TWO IS, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I I KEEP TALKING ABOUT THESE VISITS TO THE TOWN.

THESE ARE MULTI-DAY TRIPS THAT WE MAKE DOWN TO NEWBURN.

UM, WE HAVE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY IF INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE P AND Z BOARD WANNA MEET WITH US, OR IF WE WANT TO HAVE A A, A SPECIAL MEETING, UH, WHERE WE DO A PRESENTATION TO THEM ABOUT WORK PRODUCT THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.

THAT'S CERTAINLY AN OPTION TOO.

WE'VE LEFT THAT ASPECT OPEN NO MATTER WHAT THE, THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD HAS A ROLE IN THE ADOPTION PROCESS.

SO NO MATTER WHAT THEY, THEIR SORT OF PARTICIPATION IN CONSIDERATION OF THIS ORDINANCE, UM, IS MANDATED BY STATE LAW AND THEY'LL BE INVOLVED IN THE ADOPTION PROCESS.

THE EXTENT TO WHICH THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE DRAFTING PROCESS IS TOTALLY UP TO THEM.

WE WELCOME THEIR INVOLVEMENT AT EVERY STEP IN THE PROCESS AND HAVE BUILT TIME IN, UH, FOR US TO, TO BE ABLE TO MEET WITH THEM, UM, YOU KNOW, AS, AS THEY SEE FIT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU GUYS IN THE COMING DAYS AND WEEKS.

SAME HERE.

NEXT ITEM IS NUMBER SEVEN, A PRESENTATION BY NEWBURN BASEBALL LLC ON PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS TO CAER PARK, MR. HUGHES.

[7. Presentation by New Bern Baseball, LLC on Planned Improvements to Kafer Park.]

SO, UH, MAYOR ALDERMAN, UH, REPRESENTATIVE STRUM NEWBURN BASEBALL, WE'RE UNABLE TO ATTEND, UH, FOR OTHER REASONS TONIGHT.

SO I'M GOING TO, UH, GO OVER THOSE, THOSE PROPOSED RENOVATIONS THAT THEY WANT TO DO TO THE PARK.

AND YOU'LL SEE A GRAPHIC ON THE SCREEN WHERE WE CAN JUST GO THROUGH THIS.

SO YOU'LL SEE THE YELLOW LINE AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE PARK.

THEY'RE REQUESTING TO TAKE DOWN THAT EXISTING FOUR FOOT FENCE AND REPLACE THAT WITH A SIX FOOT TALL CHAIN LEAK FENCE ON THE, UM, BLUE LINE THAT YOU SEE ON THE FIRST AND THIRD BASE SIDE.

THAT IS CURRENTLY A FOUR FOOT FENCE.

AND THEY'RE REQUESTING TO REPLACE THAT WITH AN EIGHT FOOT TALL, UH, CHAIN LEAK FENCE THAT WILL HELP WITH THE SAFETY OF THE BALLS, UH, BEING HIT OUTSIDE OF THE PARK AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THE RED AREA BEHIND THE HOME PLATE AREA, UH, THEY'RE PROPOSING TO PUT A THREE FOOT TALL FENCE, HEAVY GAUGE MATERIAL.

SO THAT'LL, UM, UH, WE'LL BE ABLE TO CATCH THE GROUND BALLS THAT COME INTO THE HOME PLATE AREA.

AND THEN APPROXIMATELY 17 FOOT OF NETTING ABOVE THAT.

UH, THIS IS IN LINE WITH THE STANDARDS OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING AT SOME OF THEIR OTHER FIELDS.

THEY'RE ALSO, UM, PLANNING ON INSTALLING APPROPRIATE ELECTRICAL TO BEAT THE NEEDS OF THE DUGOUTS IN THE ANNOUNCERS BOOTH.

THEY'RE PLANNING TO REBUILD THE PINTEREST MOUNT AND HOME PLATE AREA TO COLLEGE LEAGUE STANDARDS, REPLACE A PORTION OF THE OUTFIELD FENCE TO EXTEND OUTFIELD TO THE BLOCK WALL, RELOCATE THE SCHOOL BOARD AND WIRING ON STEEL POST AS NEEDED.

INSTALL BRICK CHIPS ON THE WARNING TRACK ADJACENT TO THE BLOCK WALL.

[00:30:01]

AND THEY'RE PLANNING TO, UM, COLLEEN, IF YOU COULD, UH, SWITCH THIS.

THEY'RE ALSO PLANNING ON REBUILDING THE DUGOUTS.

THE CURRENT DUGOUTS ARE MADE OUT OF CHAIN LINK FENCE WITH, WITH, UH, UH, ALUMINUM ROOF PANELS.

AND SO THIS WOULD BE MADE OUT OF, UH, FRAME WOOD CONSTRUCTION.

YOU'LL SEE SOME EXAMPLES OF THIS ON THE SCREEN.

THE FIRST, UH, BASE DUGOUT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 37 FEET, 10 FEET WIDE.

UH, AND SO A PORTION OF THAT WOULD BE WHERE THEY HAVE THE, UH, ANNOUNCER'S BOOTH.

THE THIRD BASE SIDE WOULD BE 27 BY 10.

AND OF COURSE, THAT WOULD, UH, YOU SEE THE, UH, WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE ON THE LOWER PICTURE.

UM, OF COURSE, THEY HAVE TO GET BUILDING PERMITS FROM THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO BUILD THOSE STRUCTURES, UH, AS WELL.

AND, UM, THEIR GOAL IS TO START AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ON THIS PORTION.

AND UNTIL WE HEAR OTHERWISE FROM THE GOVERNING BOARD, ANY OTHER PROJECTS THAT THEY WANT TO, TO DO, UH, THAT WILL COME BACK BEFORE THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL.

BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? YES.

THIS PRESENTATION SAYS AN EXAMPLE OF A DUGOUT.

IS THIS ACTUALLY THAT IS WHAT IT WILL, THAT IS WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE.

YES, MA'AM.

SO IT'S NOT JUST AN EXAMPLE.

THIS IS ACTUALLY WHAT THEY PLAN TO DO.

THAT'S CORRECT.

FOR EDUCATION, FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, AND FOR SHOPPING.

ANY MORE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? OKAY, THANK

[8. Presentation by Highway 17/ 64 Association.]

YOU, MR. HUGHES.

ITEM NUMBER EIGHT IS A PRESENTATION BY HIGHWAY 1764 ASSOCIATION.

SO WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE MARK FINLAYSON HERE TO, WITH THE HIGHWAY 1764 ASSOCIATION TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON WHAT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR DAVID.

UH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, UM, MR. MANAGER, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

UM, ALWAYS HAPPY TO BE BACK HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU, AND I WANNA THANK NEWBURN FOR ALL THE SUPPORT YOU'VE GIVEN THE ASSOCIATION OVER MANY YEARS.

AND, UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE NOT YET HEARD THE, THE PRESENTATION, I KNOW THE MAYOR HAS AND ALDERMAN KINZIE PROBABLY MORE TIMES THAN THEY CARRY.

REMEMBER, I WANNA GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE.

HIGHWAY 17 ASSOCIATION ACTUALLY GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1975.

THAT WAS WHEN WE WERE FIRST, UH, INCORPORATED.

IT WAS REINVIGORATED IN 2006 AS A PERMANENT ORGANIZATION BECAUSE, UH, REGIONAL LEADERS IN THE CORRIDOR FELT LIKE WE WEREN'T, OR THEY WEREN'T ACCOMPLISHING AS MUCH, UH, OR MAKING THE KIND OF PROGRESS THAT THEY ALL WANTED AND EXPECTED IN IMPROVING US 17.

WHEN WE STOOD UP THE ORGANIZATION IN 2006, WE WERE GIVEN A THREE YEAR COMMITMENT, UH, TO SEE WHAT KIND OF, UH, PROGRESS WE COULD MAKE WITH OUR ADVOCACY.

AND WE ARE NOW IN OUR 18TH YEAR OF OPERATION.

AND YOU CAN SEE BY THE SLIDE, UH, WITH OVER $2 BILLION INVESTED BY THE STATE IN 19 MAJOR PROJECTS, ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF A BILLION OF WHICH WAS UNFUNDED, MEANING IT WAS OUTSIDE THE 10 YEAR WINDOW OF THE LONG RANGE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT THE STATE CALLS THE STEP.

UH, WE'VE, WE'VE OBVIOUSLY MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS.

WE ADDED THE US 64 CORRIDOR TO THE ASSOCIATION IN 2015 WHEN CONGRESS PASSED THE FAST ACT, WHICH WAS AT THAT TIME, UH, THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION ACT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

IN THAT ACT, UH, FUTURE INTERSTATE 87, BETWEEN RALEIGH AND HAMPTON ROADS, VIRGINIA WAS AUTHORIZED, UH, BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE ADVOCATING FOR THAT INTERSTATE AS WELL AS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO S 17 AND S 64, BASICALLY FROM RALEIGH TO MANIA.

UM, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, UH, S 17, UH, GOES FROM SOUTH CAROLINA TO VIRGINIA IN NORTH CAROLINA, ACTUALLY BEGINS IN VIRGINIA AND SOUTH OF TAMPA IN FLORIDA.

BUT THERE ARE 300 MILES OF US 17 IN NORTH CAROLINA THROUGH 13 COUNTIES, BEGINNING IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY IN THE SOUTH, AND ENDING IN CAMDEN COUNTY IN THE NORTH.

AND OUR MISSION HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO IMPROVE US 17 TO THE FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE, AND TO CERTAINLY GET THE TWO LANE STRETCHES OF US 17 FOUR LANE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

SO, UM, BEFORE I TALK ABOUT SPECIFIC PROJECTS THAT I THINK SHOULD BE IMPORTANT TO NEW BERN, LET ME JUST SAY THAT ANY HIGHWAY LEADING TO NEW BERN IS GONNA BE IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT BRINGS WORKERS INTO THE CITY THAT DON'T LIVE IN THE CITY.

IT BRINGS CITIZENS HERE FOR HEALTHCARE,

[00:35:01]

AND IT BRINGS TOURISTS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS EXCEEDINGLY IMPORTANT TO THE CITY OF NEW BERN.

AND SO, TO THE EXTENT THAT WE HAVE A HIGHWAY SYSTEM THAT'S SAFE AND EFFICIENT, SO THAT THOSE PEOPLE CAN GET HERE AND BACK, UM, THAT'S A BENEFIT TO ALL OF US THAT LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THIS PARTICULAR EXAMPLE, THE PROJECT THAT N-C-D-O-T CALLS R 34 0 3 A IS ACTUALLY A CLASSIC CASE STUDY FOR THE VALUE THAT THE ASSOCIATION BRINGS.

THIS IS THE, UH, IMPROVEMENT FROM THE EXISTING FOUR LANE IN BRIDGETON, UH, AT ANTIOCH ROAD THAT GOES UP TO W HASSER ROAD OR NC 43.

UH, THIS PROJECT SEVERAL YEARS AGO FELL OFF THE STEP, IT WAS DROPPED FROM THE LONG RANGE PLAN BECAUSE THE STATE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO DO IT.

SO, UH, IN MY ROLE AS THE LEADER OF THE ASSOCIATION, I WAS ABLE TO WORK WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO FIND MORE MONEY FOR TRANSPORTATION GENERALLY.

AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE.

UH, BUT, UH, WHEN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AUTHORIZED SIGNIFICANTLY MORE FUNDS FOR TRANSPORTATION, IT ENABLED THE DOT TO GO BACK AND LOOK AGAIN AT SOME OF THESE PROJECTS.

AND I WAS ABLE THEN TO WORK WITH NNC, DOT DIVISION TWO, WHICH IS US AND SENIOR LEADERSHIP IN RALEIGH, TO PERSUADE THEM TO ADD THIS PROJECT BACK TO THE STEP.

IT WAS ONE OF AMONG 50 OR SO THAT WERE ADDED BACK WITH THE EXTRA FUNDS OUT OF SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN A HUNDRED THAT HAD BEEN DROPPED.

SO THAT TWO-PRONGED APPROACH OF LET'S FIND MORE MONEY, AND ONCE WE'VE DONE THAT, LET'S DEDICATE IT TO OUR PROJECTS, IS A ROLE THAT WE PLAY.

AND I THINK WE, WE PLAY IT VERY WELL.

SO NOW THAT THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, WHICH IS AN $82 MILLION PROJECT, IS RE-ESTABLISHED ON THE STEP, IT CAN BE LIT WITH ITS COMPANION PROJECT, WHICH IS R 25 13.

AND THIS GOES FROM NC 43 UP TO SPROLE TOWN ROAD, WHICH IS ABOUT A MILE, MILE AND A HALF SOUTH OF THE VANS FOR A BYPASS.

SO THOSE TWO PROJECTS, WHICH WILL BE SLIGHTLY OVER A HUNDRED MILLION TOGETHER, CAN BE LIT AT THE SAME TIME, AND CAN BE CONSTRUCTED AS ONE PROJECT WITH RIGHT AWAY ACQUISITION, BEGINNING IN 2027 AND CONSTRUCTION BEGINNING IN 2029.

AND BECAUSE THOSE TWO DATES ARE WITHIN FIVE YEARS OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY, THAT MEANS THESE PROJECTS ARE DELIVERABLE, UH, OR CONSIDERED, UH, OVER 90% RELIABLE BY DOT, UH, TO GET DONE.

NOW, TO EXTEND THIS PART OF US 17 NORTH FROM SPR TOWN ROAD IS GONNA REQUIRE MORE WORK AND MORE EFFORT ON OUR, ON OUR PART.

UH, OUR TASK IS TO FUND AND PROGRAM THE REMAINING SEGMENTS OF US 17, UH, BETWEEN HERE AND WHAT I CALL THE, UH, WASHINGTON CHACO ENTITY BYPASS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, UH, YOU CAN SEE THE FOUR SEGMENTS, UM, BROKEN OUT AND HOW MUCH THEY SHOULD COST IN TODAY'S DOLLARS, WHICH WILL PROBABLY SHIFT BECAUSE OF INFLATION AND OTHER FACTORS, BUT IN TOTAL, UH, JUST SHY OF $87 MILLION FOR THE REMAINING SEGMENTS.

UM, WE ARE GONNA WORK VERY HARD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR NPOS AND RPOS TO GET THOSE PROJECTS, UH, PRIORITIZED FOR THE NEXT STEP.

AND THAT PRIORITIZATION PROCESS, THE SPOT PROCESS IS UNDERWAY.

NOW, ONCE WE GET THESE PROGRAMMED, THAT WILL REPRESENT THE LAST 18 OR SO MILES OF US 17 TO B FOUR LANE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

SO WE WILL HAVE GOTTEN ALL 300 MILES, FOUR LANE AT THAT POINT.

SO, VERY IMPORTANT AND SOMETHING THAT WE'RE DEDICATED TO, ALTHOUGH THESE AREN'T SPECIFICALLY OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND OUR FOCUS, WE ARE INTERESTED IN ANY HIGHWAY PROJECTS THAT BENEFIT THE CITY AND BRING PEOPLE HERE SAFELY, UH, FOR, UH, MANY REASONS, BUT PRIMARILY, UH, FOR, FOR COMMERCE.

UH, SO I'M FOLLOWING US 70, UH, I 42 UPGRADES THROUGH JAMES CITY AND ALSO THE NC 43 CONNECTOR.

NOW, THERE ARE LONG RANGE PROJECTS THAT ARE ASPIRATIONAL RIGHT NOW, SUCH AS THE NORTHERN NEWBURN BYPASS

[00:40:01]

THAT WOULD GO FROM 70, UH, AROUND UP TO NC 17 NEAR, UH, WEST CRAVEN.

BUT, UM, THAT'S A VERY EXPENSIVE, VERY COMPLICATED PROJECT.

UNLIKELY TO HAPPEN ANYTIME SOON.

SO, UH, LET'S USE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE GET FROM NEWBURN TO GREENVILLE.

THERE ARE THREE WAYS TO DO IT.

ONE IS TO GO NC 43, VERY, VERY DIFFICULT ROAD TO BUILD, SORT OF LIKE THE NORTHERN NEWBURN BYPASS.

A LOT OF WETLANDS, A LOT OF COMPLICATED RIGHT OF WAY.

YOU COULD ALSO GO WEST ON US 70 TO KINSTON AND GO UP NC 11 TO GET TO GREENVILLE.

BUT THE MOST LIKELY CHOICE, AND I THINK GONNA BE THE QUICKEST AND SAFEST WAY TO GO, IS NORTH ON S 17 TO WASHINGTON AND THEN WEST ON US 2 64.

SO THAT'S WHY IT'S GONNA BE VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET THESE LAST SEGMENTS OF US 17 IN CRAVEN COUNTY AND BEAUFORT COUNTY FINISHED SOONER THAN LATER NOW, UM, ANOTHER IMPORTANT ROLE I PLAY BESIDES, UH, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE 17 ASSOCIATION, IS THAT I'M CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF NC GO, WHICH IS THE STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION ADVOCACY COALITION.

AND IN THAT ROLE, I'M AT THE TABLE WITH N-C-D-O-T LEADERSHIP AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP WHEN DECISIONS ABOUT TRANSPORTATION FUNDING ARE MADE.

UH, AND THE WAY I SEE IT, UH, WE REALLY AS A STATE NEED TO BUILD A 21ST, UH, CENTURY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM TO SUPPORT THE KIND OF GROWTH THAT WE'RE EXPECTING OVER THE NEXT 10 OR 20 YEARS WHERE WE'RE GONNA BECOME THE SEVENTH LARGEST STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

UM, RIGHT NOW, THE SYSTEM CAN'T SUPPORT THE KIND OF INCREASED, UM, TRAFFIC THAT WE EXPECT.

AND WE ALSO NEED TO THINK ABOUT A WAY TO REPLACE OUR GASOLINE TAX, WHICH ARE, IS OUR PRIMARY SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION FUNDING WITH SOMETHING THAT IS MORE SUSTAINABLE OVER THE LONG TERM.

BECAUSE THE GASOLINE TAX AT THE VERY LEAST, IS, UH, IS STATIC AND IS LIKELY TO DECLINE OVER TIME FOR SEVERAL REASONS, PRIMARILY BECAUSE INTERNAL COMBUSTION CARS ARE GETTING MORE AND MORE MILES PER THE GALLON, AND ALSO THE INCREASE IN, UH, ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND HYBRIDS AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE OVERALL FLEET.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS DONE RECENTLY THAT I THINK ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

UM, THEY MADE THE DECISION TO TRANSFER 6% OF GENERAL SALES TAX REVENUE FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE, TO THE, UH, TRANSPORTATION BUDGET.

UH, IT WILL BE PHASED IN OVER THREE YEARS.

IT'S IN THE SECOND YEAR NOW.

AND WHEN THAT IS FULLY ENACTED, UH, I EXPECT REALLY THE NUMBER TO BE CLOSER TO 750 MILLION A YEAR, AS OPPOSED TO THE 600 THAT'S ON THE, ON THE, UH, SLIDE.

AND THAT IS A REVENUE SOURCE THAT'S EXPECTED TO GROW OVER TIME.

UM, THAT, UH, 6% WAS BASED ON, UH, APPROXIMATELY THE AMOUNT OF SALES TAX COLLECTED ON AUTOMOBILE PARTS AND LABOR.

UH, SO THAT'S HOW THEY CAME UP WITH THAT NUMBER.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ALSO THIS YEAR INCREASED THE ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES, UH, TO 180 FROM 140, AND IMPOSED FOR THE FIRST TIME AN ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE ON PLUGIN HYBRID VEHICLES OF $90.

THAT DOESN'T BRING IN A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY, BUT IT'S SYMBOLIC.

AND, UH, IT, IT, IT GIVES THEM A PLATFORM TO CONSIDER WHAT THOSE RIGHT NUMBERS IN THE FUTURE SHOULD BE.

UH, THEY ALSO ENACTED, UH, NEW TRANSPORTATION COMMERCE TAXES, WHICH YOU CAN SEE THERE, UM, UH, ONE AND A HALF PERCENT ON, UH, UH, HIRES OF UBER AND LYFT, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT, AGAIN, DON'T RAISE A LOT OF MONEY RIGHT NOW, BUT SET A PRECEDENT.

AND DOWN AT THE BOTTOM.

UM, SOME OTHER THINGS WERE CONSIDERED, I'LL FOCUS ON THE, UH, MILEAGE BASE USER FEE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

UM, THAT WAS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WAS INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE TYSON, AND I'VE DISCUSSED IT WITH HIM, AND I THINK HE'S VERY VISIONARY ABOUT THAT.

UH, BUT HE'S A LITTLE AHEAD OF HIS TIME IN TERMS OF LEGISLATIVE APPETITE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT I THINK IF WE GO TO A MB OR MILEAGE BASED USER FEE, IT WILL MORE, UH, ACCURATELY REFLECT ON HOW WE CONSUME MILES OF ROAD IN NORTH CAROLINA.

AND IT MAY END UP BEING MORE BENEFICIAL FOR EV OWNERS AS

[00:45:01]

OPPOSED TO THE $180, UH, ANNUAL FEE WE WOULD HAVE TO, UH, IMPOSE THE M BUFF TO SEE.

BUT THOSE THINGS ARE, ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO BE ON THE TABLE, AND I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO BE VERY INTERESTED IN, UM, WHAT HAPPENS WITH THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO, UH, FINALLY, THESE ARE OUR GOALS FOR THIS YEAR AND NEXT.

UM, WE'RE GONNA KEEP ALL THE CURRENT PROJECTS ON SCHEDULE AND ACCELERATE THOSE WHERE WE CAN FIND THE MONEY AND GET THEM DONE.

WE'RE GONNA SUS, UH, CONTINUE TO SEEK THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE, UH, FUNDING FOR N-C-D-O-T AND FOCUS AS MUCH OF THAT AS WE CAN ON RURAL TRANSPORTATION NEEDS, WHICH SERVE DIVISION TWO.

AND, AND ACTUALLY ALL FOUR OF THE DIVISIONS THAT WE WORK WITH IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

AND, AGAIN, REPLACE THE GAS TAX, WHICH IS UNSUSTAINABLE.

AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR RPOS AND NPOS, UH, IN THEIR EVALUATION AND PRIORITIZATION PROCESSES.

AND, UM, MR. PRILL AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS EARLIER, THE RPOS AND THE NPA SERVE A VERY IMPORTANT PURPOSE.

AND YOU GUYS HAVE A GREAT, UM, MPA DIRECTOR IN DEANNA VILLE.

UH, I'VE, I'VE WORKED WITH HER BEFORE WHEN SHE WAS IN OSLOW COUNTY OR, UH, JACKSONVILLE.

SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE HER.

AND SHE'S A GREAT TRANSPORTATION PLANNER, BUT ONCE THEY HAVE PUT THEIR PRIORITIZATION IN PLACE, THEIR HANDS ARE, ARE TIED.

THEY CAN'T ADVOCATE FOR THEIR PROJECTS OTHER THAN PUT THEM ON THE LIST AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.

AND OUR DIVISION TWO PEOPLE, UH, LED BY CHIEF, UH, DIVISION ENGINEER, JEREMY STROUD, ARE GREAT TO WORK WITH.

AND THEY COLLABORATE WITH THE RPAS AND THE NPAS ON THE PLANNING PROCESS, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO, UM, JUMP THE CHAIN OF COMMAND TO ADVOCATE FOR PROJECTS THAT THEY THINK ARE IMPORTANT TO DIVISION TWO.

THEIR HANDS ARE TIED AS WELL.

UH, THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GO TO, UM, UH, SECRETARY, UM, JOEY HOPKINS OR TO, UH, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER CHRIS PEOPLES, BUT I CAN, AND THAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP WITH SENIOR LEADERSHIP AT DOT IS VERY BENEFICIAL, I THINK, TO PROJECTS IMPORTANT TO US.

UM, I'M VERY EXCITED THAT NEW BERN IS GONNA BE HOSTING THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF NPOS IN APRIL.

AND I, UM, HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT ANY OF YOU WHO CAN ATTEND SOME OR ALL OF THOSE, UM, SESSIONS DO SO BECAUSE IT, IT'S REALLY A GREAT, UH, LEARNING, UH, OPPORTUNITY FOR THINGS THAT N-C-D-O-T IS DOING IN THE WAY OUR PLANNERS WORK AND OPERATE.

UH, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE SENIOR LEADERS OF DOT IN TOWN.

I'M CERTAINLY LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING THERE, AND I'M, I'M HAPPY THAT, UH, NEWBURN WILL BE THE HOST THIS YEAR.

SO AGAIN, UH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, UM, AND GIVING ME SOME OF YOUR TIME AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS SHOULD YOU HAVE SOME, ANY QUESTIONS.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MR. ZEN.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

NEXT UP IS ITEM NUMBER NINE, CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION APPRO, A LOCAL WELLHEAD PROTECTION PLAN.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

[9. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving a Local Wellhead Protection Plan.]

UH, JORDAN HUGHES.

ALRIGHT, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

UH, THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS THE ADOPTION OF A LOCAL WELLHEAD PROTECTION PLAN FOR THE NEW BERN WATER SYSTEM.

UH, AS YOU MAY BE AWARE, UH, THE NEW BERN WATER SYSTEM PROVIDES DOMESTIC WATER SERVICE TO ALL OF OUR CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES, NEW BERN, AS WELL AS SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES LIKE TRENT WOODS, THE ROCKY RUN AREA, AND SOME UNINCORPORATED AREAS TO THE WEST OF TOWN.

IN TOTAL, WE'VE GOT ABOUT 20,000 WATER CUSTOMERS THAT WE PROVIDE DAILY WATER SERVICE TO.

UH, WE ARE A GROUNDWATER SYSTEM, MEANING ALL OF OUR WATER SUPPLY COMES FROM DEEP, UH, AQUIFERS, AND WE BRING THAT UP THROUGH WELLS.

AND WHAT WE WANNA DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CHECKING ALL THE BOXES WE CAN AND TAKING ALL THE PRECAUTIONS THAT WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT OUR SOURCE WATER, THE WATER COMING OUTTA THOSE WELLS IS BEING PROTECTED, UM, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT WE CAN.

SO THERE'S THINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED THAT THE CITY DO AS PART OF OUR OPERATIONAL PERMITS WITH THE STATE.

WE, WE DO THOSE ON A DAILY BASIS, A WEEKLY BASIS, BUT WE WANT TO TAKE THAT A STEP FURTHER AND MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT A REAL GOOD PLAN IN PLACE TO IDENTIFY ANY POTENTIAL SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION FOR OUR WELLS, AS WELL AS HAVE A, A REMEDIATION PLAN IN PLACE IN CASE WE DO IDENTIFY SOME CONTAMINATION IN THE FUTURE.

SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WORKED WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION OVER THE PAST 24 MONTHS TO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ALL OF OUR WELLS, IDENTIFY WELL WELLHEAD PROTECTION AREAS FOR EACH, WELL GO IN THOSE WELLHEAD

[00:50:01]

PROTECTION AREAS AND ACTUALLY SURVEY THE INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES, THE HOMES, ANYTHING THAT WE COULD IDENTIFY THAT COULD BE A POTENTIAL CON CON UH, CONTAMINATION SOURCE IN THOSE AREAS.

WE'VE TRIED TO IDENTIFY, DOCUMENT, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE WE KNOW THOSE ARE POTENTIAL SOURCES FOR FUTURE CONTAMINATION.

ALL THAT ROLLS UP INTO A VERY ROBUST PLAN.

I THINK THE EXECUTIVE PIECE THAT I, I PROVIDED FOR YOU IN SUMMARY IS ABOUT 150 PAGES.

WHEN YOU PUT EVERYTHING TOGETHER WITH ALL THE SURVEY MATERIAL AND ALL THE WELLHEAD AND, UH, HYDROLOGIC INFORMATION, IT'S ABOUT 450 PAGES.

SO A LOT OF EFFORT WENT INTO PUTTING THIS PLAN TOGETHER.

UM, AND WHAT WE HAVE IS ONE DOCUMENT THAT WILL, UM, LIKE I SAID, IDENTIFY ALL OF THOSE WELL HUB PROTECTION AREAS AND GIVE US A GOOD WAY TO FORMALLY MONITOR THOSE AREAS MOVING FORWARD AND HAVE EVERYTHING IN PLACE IN CASE WE DO IDENTIFY SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T LOOK QUITE RIGHT IN OUR WELL FIT IN THE FUTURE.

WE KNOW WHERE TO START LOOKING, WE KNOW WHERE WE CAN TRY TO IDENTIFY THOSE CONTAMINATION SOURCES AND HAVE A GOOD REMEDIATION PLAN JUST TO BE ONE STEP AHEAD IN CASE ANYTHING DOES POP UP.

I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS? THE, THE, THE, THE PREPARATION OF THIS PLAN, IS THAT A, A STATE REQUIREMENT THAT, UH, THAT WE HAVE ONE? NO, SIR.

I'VE BEEN PRI THERE, THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO BY PERMIT AND, AND WE DO THOSE.

THIS HAS TAKEN EVERY ONE STEP FURTHER.

ACTUALLY ADOPTING A FORMAL PLAN IS A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM.

IT'S ENCOURAGED BY THE STATE, BUT IT'S NOT REQUIRED BY PERMIT.

AND ONCE, UH, ASSUMING THAT THE, THE BOARD APPROVES THIS ONCE IT'S IN PLACE, UM, HOW OFTEN, UH, DO YOU FORESEE THAT IT NEEDS TO BE UPDATED? SO THE, THE PLAN ITSELF REALLY IS A MONITORING PLAN.

SO WHAT THIS WILL DO IS GIVE OUR, OUR CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL COORDINATOR KIND OF A GUIDELINE OF HOW TO MONITOR THE AREAS WITHIN THE PLAN.

SO IT'S KIND OF CONTINUALLY BEING UPDATED AS THEY, AS NEW THINGS POP UP AND DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES TO SPUR WITHIN THE WELLHEAD PROTECTION AREAS.

THERE'S MECHANISMS FOR GOING OUT, IDENTIFYING NEW POTENTIAL CONTAMINATION SOURCES, MAKING SURE EVERYTHING'S DOCUMENTED, MAKING SURE THEY'RE INCLUDED IN THE PLAN.

SO IT'S KIND OF A LIVING DOCUMENT ONCE WE ADOPT IT.

AND THOSE FUTURE CHANGES, I MEAN, DO THEY ALL HAVE TO BE BROUGHT BACK BEFORE THE, THE GOVERNING BOARD FOR APPROVAL OR CAN THAT BE DONE INTERNALLY? THE, THE ADOPTION OF THE PLAN ALLOWS THE CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL COORDINATOR TO MAKE THOSE, THOSE ROUTINE CHANGES TO THE PLAN AS THINGS DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE, THE WELLHEAD PROTECTION AREAS.

JUST, UH, ONE QUESTION AND YOU SAID, SHOWED IN THERE, YOU KNOW, BROCHURES AND EDUCATION PLAN FOR THE PUBLIC THAT'S WITHIN THE, UH, WELLHEAD PROTECTION AREA.

UM, WHAT CONSIDERATIONS HAVE YOU TAKEN IN FOR THE TURNOVER OF THOSE FOLKS THERE? AND THEN PARTICULARLY, UM, SOME OF THAT AREA IS GONNA BE NEW DEVELOPMENT.

IS THAT A, I MEAN, I ASSUME IT'S ONGOING, BUT WHAT ARE THE MECHANISMS YOU HAVE? GOOD, GOOD QUESTION.

I'LL REMEMBER.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE'LL DO ONCE THIS IS ADOPTED AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROGRESS WITH THE PROGRAM IS WE'LL HAVE A SPOT ON OUR WEBSITE THAT IDENTIFIES THE PLAN.

THERE'LL BE SOME GEO, THERE'LL BE SOME GIS TYPE MAPPING THAT IDENTIFIES THE WELLHEAD PROTECTION AREAS, ALSO WHERE WE'VE IDENTIFIED THE POTENTIAL CONTAMINATION SOURCES WITHIN THOSE WELLHEAD PROTECTION AREAS.

UM, AND WE'LL CONTINUALLY UPDATE THOSE THINGS AS DEVELOPMENT PROGRESSES, ESPECIALLY TOWARDS THE WESTERN PART OF TOWN WHERE MOST OF OUR WELL FIELD IS AT.

WE'LL SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE AREA DEVELOP, WE'LL MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THAT AND IT'LL ALL BE KINDA LIVE IN A GI IS TYPE MAP.

ANY MORE QUESTIONS? IT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD.

ON ITEM NUMBER NINE, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ADOPTION OF A LOCAL WELLHEAD PROTECTION PLAN.

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND.

ITEM NUMBER 10 IS TO CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION SALE OF 2 0 9 BRYAN STREET WITH REMOVAL OF DEED RESTRICTIONS.

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

[10. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving the Redevelopment Commission' s Sale of 209 Bryan Street with Removal of Deed Restrictions.]

AND I THINK THIS ONE'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE NEXT TWO.

SO WE PROBABLY SHOULD TAKE THIS ONE SEPARATE.

THE BUYER'S CLOSING ATTORNEY DISCOVERED A DEFECT IN THE TITLE THAT OCCURRED DURING THE TAX FORECLOSURE PROCESS.

UM, MR. HUFF OR MR. HUGHES? ALRIGHT, WE'LL TAKE IT.

SO ON SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2023, THE BOARD ADOPTED A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION SALE OF, OF THIS PROPERTY IN QUESTION WITH THE CONDITION THAT CONSTRUCTION OF A RESIDENTIAL DWELL DWELLING WAS TO BEGIN WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF CLOSING,

[00:55:01]

FOR THIS REASON, THE CLOSING HAS NOT YET TRANSPIRED SINCE THE BUYER'S ATTORNEY IS OPTIMISTIC THAT HE CAN RESOLVE THE TITLE ISSUE, THE BUYER WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED WITH THE PURCHASE.

HOWEVER, THIS PROCESS WILL BE COSTLY AND WILL TAKE TIME FOR THAT REASON.

IT'S REQUESTED THAT THE SALE BE APPROVED WITH THE REMOVAL OF THE STIPULATION THAT CONSTRUCTION BEGIN WITHIN 12 MONTHS.

BOARD.

HAVE QUESTIONS WHEN YOU SAY COSTLY, NOW THIS IS GOING TO BE THE COST PUT BACK ON THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION OR THE BUYER? NO, MA'AM.

THAT WOULD BE A CAUSE BORNE BY THE BUYER.

SO BASICALLY WE'RE JUST BEING ASKED TO REMOVE THE DEED RESTRICTIONS REQUIRING THEM TO START CONSTRUCTION WITHIN 12 MONTHS BECAUSE THE PROCESS TO CLOSE IS TAKING LONGER.

AND THAT EXTRA COST IS THE BURDEN OF THE BUYER? CORRECT.

BOARD, HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON ITEM NUMBER 10? I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO REMOVE THE TIME RESTRICTIONS FROM 2 0 9 RYAN STREET, PID EIGHT DASH 1 77 DASH 2 0 9.

SECOND WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

UH, BOARD ITEM NUMBER 11 AND 12 ARE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING, JUST TWO DIFFERENT PARCELS.

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

[11. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving the Redevelopment Commission's Sale of 808 Bern Street & 12. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving the Redevelopment Commission' s Sale of 810 Bern Street.]

SO IF YOU WANTED TO CONSIDER THOSE TOGETHER, WE CAN IN THE ESSENCE OF TIME, AND THAT IS TO CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION APPROVING THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION CELL OF 8 0 8 BURN STREET.

AND ITEM NUMBER 12 IS FOR EIGHT 10 BURN STREET, MR. HUGHES.

SO ON THE FIRST PROPERTY, UH, AN OFFER IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,737 AND 50 CENTS WAS SUBMITTED FOR THE PUR PURCHASE OF THIS VACANT PARCEL.

THEY PROPOSED TO COMBINE IT WITH, WITH THE EIGHT 10 BURN STREET PARCEL.

UM, THE OFFER ON THAT PROPERTY WAS ALSO 5,735 $7 AND 50 CENTS FOR THAT PARCEL AS WELL.

THE TWO LOTS WILL BE COMBINED TO ACCOMMODATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE.

THE CONVEYANCE WILL BE SUBJECT TO A REQUIREMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN WITHIN 12 MONTHS AFTER THE TRANSFER.

FOUR AND A HALF QUESTIONS ON ITEM NUMBER 11 AND 12.

MAY I MAKE A MOTION, UM, TO INCLUDE ITEM NUMBER E 11 AND 12, UM, TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION APPROVING OF REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION SALE OF 8 0 8 BURN STREET AND EIGHT 10 BURN STREET.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

13, CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING FUNDING FROM THE FY 2023 BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE BULLETPROOF VEST PROGRAM.

LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL SERGEANT WITH ALDERMAN KENZIE.

[13. Consider Adopting a Resolution Accepting Funding from the FY2023 Bureau of Justice Assistance Bulletproof Vest Program Grant.]

GRANT CHIEF GALLAGHER.

UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.

BEFORE I START, UM, KIM, IS THERE A CORRECTION THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE ON THIS? SO, UM, ORDER ACCEPTING FUNDING, BUT THE DESCRIPTION SAYS, DECIDED TO APPLY.

WE, WE WISH TO ACCEPT THE FUNDING.

ASSISTANCE BULLETPROOF VEST PROGRAM GRANT.

SO I AM HAPPY TO STAND BEFORE YOU AGAIN THIS YEAR, UH, REQUESTING THAT WE ARE GRANTED THE ABILITY TO ACCEPT FUNDING FOR 50 50 MATCH ON THE PURCHASE OF AT LEAST 15 UH, BULLETPROOF VESTS FOR OUR OFFICERS.

UM, IF WE DO NOT HAVE THIS GRANT, THEN I WOULD BE REQUESTING FULL FUNDING.

UM, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE'S ASSISTANT GRANTS GIVES US THE ABILITY TO ESSENTIALLY BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE TYPE OF, UH, SITUATION.

SO THIS BENEFITS US FINANCIALLY THROUGH THE BUDGETARY PROCESS, BUT ALSO MADE MORE IMPORTANTLY, PROVIDES THE BALLISTIC PROTECTION THAT OUR OFFICERS NEED.

AND I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE THIS, UH, APPLICATION OR, OR THIS GRANT FUNDING.

THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS.

SO CHIEF, THIS IS MATCHING FUNDS, CORRECT? YES, SIR.

YES, IT IS.

AND WE HAVE ALREADY BUDGETED FOR IT.

MAY I LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CONSIDER FUNDING FROM THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE

[01:00:01]

NUMBER 14 IS TO CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT OWNERSHIP AND MAINTENANCE OF BOGUE LANE AND RODANTHE DRIVE IN THE BELL OAK SUBDIVISION.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? CHIEF, OBVIOUSLY ALL OF THE OFFICERS HAVE EXISTING VESTS THAT THEY, THEY WEAR.

UM, ARE THEY THE, HOW, HOW OFTEN DO VESTS GET UPDATED? MODERNIZED, THEY'RE ON A FIVE, WHATEVER, RIGHT? TERMINOLOGY IS FIVE.

A FIVE YEAR ROTATION.

UM, HOWEVER, I WILL SAY THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS UP.

THE NEW VEST THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY PURCHASING HAS GIVEN US THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE, UH, ADDED BALLISTIC PROTECTION FOR ALL UPCOMING VESTS.

SO WE ARE AT NO ADDITIONAL COST.

SO WE ARE ABLE TO ADVANCE, UM, THE BALLISTIC PROTECTION BASED ON, UH, UPGRADES IN THE TECHNOLOGY OF VEST, BUT STILL LOOKING AT PROBABLY LIKE A FIVE YEAR ROTATION.

UH, WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND.

UH, AT THIS TIME WE'LL HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE, STARTING WITH ALDERMAN BEST? ALDERMAN BEST, YES.

ALDERMAN KENZIE? YES.

MAYOR ODOM? YES.

MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU CHIEF, BEFORE I LEAVE, IF I COULD MAKE ONE QUICK COMMENT.

I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, ALERT THE BOARD THAT WE REQUESTED FROM THE CRAVEN COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS, UM, ASSISTANCE IN, UH, REQUESTING $1,000 REWARD FOR THE ARREST AND CONVICTION OF THE NOVEMBER 2ND, 2013 HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION AT ONE 14 TRENT COURT WHERE ONE OF OUR CITIZENS, UH, WAS MURDERED.

UH, THE BOARD HAS APPROVED THAT.

SO CURRENTLY WE'LL BE PROMOTING THE $1,000 REWARD, UH, FOR THAT PARTICULAR HOMICIDE.

IS THAT NOVEMBER 23, CHIEF? 2023, YES.

[14. Consider Adopting a Resolution to Accept Ownership and Maintenance of Bogue Lane and Rodanthe Drive in the Belle Oaks Subdivision & 15. Consider Adopting a Resolution to Accept Ownership and Maintenance of Alabaster Drive, Ecru Circle, Onyx Lane, Parchment Bluff, Spring Green Pass, and Verdant Ridge in the Carolina Colours Development.]

MR. CHILES.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR BOARD.

UM, WE WERE NOTIFIED BY THE OWNERS AND DEVELOPERS OF TWO SECTIONS OF THE BELL OAK SUBDIVISION THAT THEY WOULD LIKE.

THEY HAVE REQUESTED FOR THE CITY TO ACCEPT MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITIES AND OWNERSHIP.

OUR DEPARTMENT HAS PERFORMED BUILT STANDARDS, INSPECTIONS OF THESE ROADS, AND WE RECOMMEND THAT THESE ROADS THAT ARE LISTED, BOGUE AND RODAN BE INCLUDED IN THE CITY MAINTENANCE SYSTEM.

FOUR HALF QUESTIONS.

CAN WE DO 1415 TOGETHER? UM, MR. ATTORNEY 1415? YES.

WE CAN DO 1415 TOGETHER.

UH, MR. CHILDS, UH, ITEM NUMBER 15 IS TO CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT OWNERSHIP AND MAINTENANCE OF ALABASTER DRIVE, ECRU CIRCLE, ONYX LANE, PARCHMENT BLUFF, SPRING GREEN PASS, AND VERDANT RIDGE IN THE CAROLINA COLORS DEVELOPMENT, UH, VERY SIMILAR TO THE BE OAK SITUATION.

WE WERE CONTACTED BY THE DEVELOPERS OF THE VERDANT SECTION OF CAROLINA COLORS, UM, REQUESTING THAT WE ACCEPT THE OWNERSHIP OF MAINTENANCE OF V SIX STREETS.

WE HAVE, UH, PERFORMED BUILD STANDARDS INSPECTIONS, AND ARE REQUESTING THAT THE BOARD APPROVE ACCEPTANCE AND OWNERSHIP OF THESE SIX ROADS.

ANY QUESTIONS ON 14 OR 15? ALL OF THESE ARE CITY STREETS, CORRECT? THEY WILL BE CITY STREETS IF, IF YOU PASS TAKING THEM? YES, MA'AM.

NOW, SO RIGHT NOW THEY'RE IN THE COUNTY.

NO.

RIGHT NOW THEY'RE OKAY.

WITHIN THE CITY MUNICIPALITY, THE DEVELOPERS CONSTRUCTED THEM.

WE DON'T ACCEPT THEM UNTIL THEY'RE CONSTRUCTED TO A POINT THAT, THAT WE RECOGNIZE AND THEY REQUEST US TO ACCEPT THOSE ROADS.

AND WE DID, WE DID INSPECTIONS DURING THE CONSTRUCTION AND A POST CON POST INSPECTION ONCE THEY MADE THE REQUEST TO US.

AND GEORGE, ALL IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN 100% COMPLETE.

THERE'S STILL NOTHING OUT.

CORRECT.

OUTSTANDING ON ANY OF THESE? YES, SIR.

CORRECT.

IT'S PLEASURE.

OF THE BOARD ON ITEM 14 AND 15, UH, MAYOR, I'LL MAKE A, A RES MAKE A MOVE FOR THE, UH, A DOCUMENT OF RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT OWNERSHIP AND MAINTENANCE OF BOG LANE AND ROAD DANCE DRIVE AND BELT OAK SUBDIVISION AND ALABASTER DRIVE AT CREW CIRCLE ONIX LANE, PARCH PIT BLUFF, SPRING GREEN PASS, AND VERDANT RIDGE IN CAROLINA COLORS.

I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

[01:05:02]

16 IS TO CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 70 OF TRAFFIC IN VEHICLE SECTION 71 32 TO AMEND THE SCHEDULE OF SPEED LIMITS TO ADD NEWLY ACCEPTED STREETS.

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

[16. Consider Adopting an Ordinance to Amend Chapter 70 " Traffic and Vehicles" Section 70- 132 to Amend the Schedule of Speed Limits to Add Newly-Accepted Streets & 17. Consider Adopting an Ordinance to Amend Chapter 70 " Traffic and Vehicles" Section 70- 99 " Stop Intersections" to Add Newly-Accepted Streets.]

MR. CHIS? YES.

THIS WOULD JUST BE TO AMEND, AMEND THOSE SECTIONS TO INCLUDE THESE, THESE NEWLY, UM, ACCEPTED ROADS.

SAME THING WITH ITEM NUMBER 17.

YES.

AND THAT REFERENCES THE STOP INTERSECTIONS.

SO THE BOARD CAN CONSIDER ITEM 16 AND 17 TOGETHER IF YOU'D LIKE.

IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 70, TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES SECTION 70 DASH 1 32 TO AMEND THE SCHEDULE OF SPEED LIMITS TO ADD NEWLY ACCEPTED STREETS AND TO AMEND CHAPTER 70, TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES SECTION 70 DASH 99 STOP INTERSECTIONS TO ADD NEWLY ACCEPTED STREETS.

SECOND, HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND.

18 IS TO CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH THE 2 1 2 KE ROAD PROJECT FUND.

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

[18. Consider Adopting an Ordinance to Establish the 212 Kale Road Project Fund.]

MS. OSTROM, AT THE FEBRUARY 13TH BOARD MEETING, THE BOARD APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT TWO 12 KALE ROAD.

THIS ORDINANCE ESTABLISHES THE PROJECT FUND AND THE INITIAL BUDGET CONSISTING OF THE PROPERTY PURCHASE IN THE AMOUNT OF 1.4 MILLION IN ESTIMATED COST FOR BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $600,000.

THE $2 MILLION PROJECT WILL INITIALLY BE FUNDED BY A TRANSFER FROM THE ELECTRIC FUND WITH THE INTENT TO BE REIMBURSED FROM DEBT PROCEEDS.

IT IS REQUESTED THAT THE BOARD CONSIDER ADOPTING THIS ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH THE TWO 12 PROJECT KALE ROAD PROJECT FUND BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS ON ITEM NUMBER 18.

MAY I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH THE TWO 12 CAROL ROAD PROJECT FUND? SECOND.

HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

19, CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION APPROVING A DECLARATION TO INTENT TO REIMBURSE FOR THE PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY AT 2 1 2 KALE ROAD.

MUST HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ROYAL.

[19. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving a Declaration of Intent to Reimburse for the Purchase of Real Property at 212 Kale Road.]

MS. OSHA, IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD WITH FINANCING FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT TWO 12 KALE ROAD, IN THE IMPROVEMENTS OF LAND AND STRUCTURES, A DECLARATION OF INTENT TO REIMBURSE THE ELECTRIC FUND IS REQUIRED.

THE INTENT TO REIMBURSE INDICATES THAT DEBT ISSUANCE WILL NOT EXCEED $2 MILLION.

IT'S REQUESTED THAT THE BOARD CONSIDER ADOPTING THE RESOLUTION AND DECLARATION OF OFFICIAL INTENT TO REIMBURSE THE BOARD.

HAVE QUESTIONS ON ITEM NUMBER 19? IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION APPROVING A DECLARATION OF INTENT TO REIMBURSE FOR THE PURCHASE OF TWO 12 CAL ROAD PROPERTY.

IS TO CONSIDER ADOPTING A BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR FY 2324.

HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE US HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ASTOR.

UH, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION ON MY AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER 20 IS THERE, BUT IT'S BLANK.

IS THAT CORRECT? NO.

MINE HAS SOMETHING IN IT.

I'M LOOKING AT THE, THIS SUMMARY.

SO ITEM NUMBER 20, IT'S A BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT.

YEAH.

THAT'S WHAT I SHOW AS NUMBER 21.

SO MY, MY AGENDA IS SHIFTED TO ONE, SO THAT'S FINE.

SO ITEM NUMBER 20

[20. Consider Adopting a Budget Ordinance Amendment for Fiscal Year 2023-24.]

MS. OSTROM, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS TRENDING TO BE OVER BUDGET DUE TO INCREASED DEMANDS FOR SECURITY AT VARIOUS BOARD MEETINGS AND SPECIAL EVENTS AND INCREASED COSTS INVOLVING IN VIOLENT CRIME INVESTIGATIONS, ALONG WITH INCREASED DEMANDS FOR DIRECT PATROLS AT LOSS I

[01:10:01]

CREEK PARK AND UNION POINT PARK.

THEREFORE, THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT AMENDS THE GENERAL FUND TO APPROPRIATE $80,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE FOR ADDITIONAL OVERTIME COSTS.

THE EMPLOYEE'S BENEFIT INSURANCE FUND IS AMENDED TO APPROPRIATE 19,500 FROM FUND BALANCE FOR RETIREE HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR ADDITIONAL RETIREES, AND 245,000 FOR INCREASED STOP LOSS INSURANCE COSTS DUE TO PREMIUM PLAN INCREASES THAT WERE EFFECTIVE.

JANUARY 1ST, THE GRANTS FUND IS AMENDED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE BULLETPROOF BEST PARTNERSHIP GRANT, WHICH WAS ACCEPTED ON LINE ITEM NUMBER, I'M SORRY.

AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 13.

UM, IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,488 AND 19 CENTS, IT IS REQUESTED THAT THE BOARD CONSIDERS ADAPTING THIS AMENDMENT TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2020 3 24 OPERATING BUDGET.

THIS BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS, MAYOR, MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020 3 24.

I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I'LL JUST MAKE A COMMENT.

I KNOW THAT, UH, IT'S A SMALL PORTION OF THAT CHIEF, BUT, UH, I RECEIVED MULTIPLE COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS, UH, THANKING US FOR THE INC INCREASED POLICE PRESENCE AT LAWS CREEK PARK.

UM, AND THE EFFORTS WE'VE MADE THERE, UH, SEEMS TO HAVE CUT DOWN ON SOME OF THE, UH, ACTIVITY, UH, THAT IS NOT, UH, VERY BECOMING OF OUR CITY.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

SO HAVE A MOTION A SECOND ON ITEM NUMBER 20.

UH, WE'LL DO A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN KENZIE.

ALDERMAN KENZIE? YES.

UH, I DO NOT SHOW ANY APPOINTMENTS.

DID I MISS ONE FOR ANYONE? OKAY.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE ATTORNEY'S REPORT.

NOTHING TONIGHT, SIR.

[23. City Manager' s Report.]

CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.

I'D JUST LIKE TO, TO REVISIT THE ITEM THAT WAS PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT.

UM, SINCE WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THIS, THIS MAY BE TABLED, WE DO WANT TO GIVE THE THE APPLICANT, UM, BCK DEVELOPMENT AN OPPORTUNITY IF THEY WANT, WITHDRAW THEIR APPLICATION TO, TO REFUND THAT DEPOSIT.

WE TYPICALLY DON'T DO THAT.

UM, THEY MAY JUST WANT TO KEEP THAT DEPOSIT IN PENDING THE DURATION, BUT WE, WE'D LIKE TO GIVE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY IN CASE THEY'D LIKE TO WITHDRAW AND LIKE TO GET DIRECTION ON THAT.

SO YOU WOULD BE SEEKING A MOTION TO REFUND THE DEPOSIT FOR THE IF REQUESTED OFFER? IF THEY REQUEST REQUESTED IF, IF REQUESTED BY THEM? YES.

WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THAT OPTION FOR THEM.

THE BOARD UNDER MOVED.

WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? OKAY.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TONIGHT, SIR.

ALDERMAN FRILL, UH, NOTHING TONIGHT.

UH, NEW BUSINESS

[24. New Business.]

MAYOR ALDERMAN ROYAL? YES, MAYOR.

I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH RESIDENTS AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND OUR CITIZENS WHO, AS I ALWAYS ADVOCATE, EVERY VOICE HAS VALUE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, SPEAK AT VARIOUS MEETINGS.

AND I HAVE HEARD THE VOICE OF THE RESIDENTS.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE DISAPPOINTED THAT THEY DO NOT, UH, THAT THEY ARE NOT OFFERED THAT OPPORTUNITY.

AND IN LIGHT OF THAT, BECAUSE EVERY VOICE HAS VALUE AND EVERY PERSON SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE INPUT, I WOULD LIKE TO PUT FORTH A MOTION TONIGHT TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION OF CREATING ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT IT REFLECT THAT ALL ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS INCLUDE PUBLIC COMMENT.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

ADVISORY MEETINGS OR VARIOUS COMMISSION MEETINGS, NOT WITH THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN, BUT AT THEIR MEETINGS, THEY DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THINGS AT THEIR MEETINGS.

I HAVE A SECOND, UM, DISCUSSION.

DO THEY NOT ALREADY, I'M NOT SURE IF I UNDERSTAND.

THE MOTION IS TO GIVE CITIZENS AN OPPORTUNITY AT VARIOUS MEETINGS, WHETHER ADVISORY BOARDS OR COMMISSIONS, THAT THEY WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A VOICE, TO HAVE INPUT IN WHATEVER THE AGENDA IS IN THE MEETING.

NOT ALL BOYS HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

NOT AS, AS A MATTER OF FACT, I THINK IT'S VERY FEW THAT ALLOW PUBLIC INPUT IN THE VARIOUS MEETINGS.

IF A, IF AN ADVISORY BOARD DISAPPOINTED BY THE CITY OF NEWBURN WANTS TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THIS BOARD, IT ONLY TAKES TWO ALDERMEN TO HAVE IT PUT ON THE AGENDA.

CORRECT OR NOT, NOT A DISCUSSION WITH THIS BOARD AT THE VARIOUS

[01:15:01]

SOME DO NOT.

NO, SIR.

MR. REVIEW.

SO, SO FOR SOME CLARIFICATION, THERE'S CURRENTLY NO REQUIREMENT FOR ANY OF THE ADVISORY BOARDS TO, TO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

UM, THE ONLY, THE ONLY BOARD THAT IS REQUIRED IS, IS THE GOVERNING BOARD, WHICH IS REQUIRED ONCE A MONTH.

UM, SOME OF THE COMMISSIONS, UH, THEY HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS AS PART OF, UH, PUBLIC HEARINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT THE ADVISORY BOARDS DO NOT, UM, HAVE A REQUIREMENT.

NOW, SOME OF THEM DO HAVE PUBLIC INPUT ON THEIR AGENDAS AND EXAMPLE, THE BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN PLAN COMMITTEE, THEY HAVE A A LINE ITEM FOR PUBLIC COMMENT DURING THEIR MEETINGS.

SOME OF THE OTHERS DO NOT.

UM, AND SO I THINK WHAT ALDER MC ROYAL IS REFERRING TO IS SHE WOULD, AND, AND I DON'T WANNA SPEAK FOR YOU, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THIS.

SHE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT EACH OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMMITTEES HAVE THAT LISTED IN THEIR AGENDAS FOR EACH REGULAR MEETING.

YES.

FOR PUBLIC COMMENT OPTION YES, SIR.

TO GIVE THE CITIZENS A CHANCE TO ENGAGE AND TO RESPOND TO WHATEVER THE AGENDA IS IN THE VARIOUS MEETINGS.

AND, AND WHAT YOU MIGHT DO SINCE THESE ADVISORY COMMITTEES ARE CREATED BY RESOLUTION, IS YOU MIGHT DIRECT STAFF TO BRING A RESOLUTION BACK TO YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AT YOUR NEXT REGULAR MEETING.

THAT WAY, UM, WE CAN HAVE IT STYLED UP SO THAT YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE VOTING ON.

THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

SO THAT'S GOOD.

I, I HAVE A, A QUESTION.

SO OBVIOUSLY ONCE A MONTH WE'RE REQUIRED BY STATUTE TO HAVE A PETITION OF CITIZENS AND WE HAVE A SET OF RULES AND PROCEDURES THAT GOVERN THAT ITEM.

IS THAT WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE FOR THIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE? OR, AND, AND FOR EXAMPLE, STANLEY WHITE RECREATION CENTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

MM-HMM.

UM, IF THEY HAVE A MEETING AND THERE'S A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS FROM GREENVILLE THAT WANT TO SEE SOMETHING HAPPEN THERE AND THEY WANT TO COME AND THEY EACH WANT TO TALK FOR 10 MINUTES AND THERE'S 10 OF 'EM, IS THAT GOING TO BE ALLOWABLE OR ARE THERE GONNA BE RULES THAT SET FORTH THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME STANDING OR YOU HAVE TO HAVE A TIME LIMIT? HOW, HOW WOULD THAT LOOK IN THIS PARTICULAR, THE, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEES THEMSELVES CAN ESTABLISH THEIR RULES OF PROCEDURES.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, THEY CAN IMPOSE TIME LIMITS.

THEY CAN ASK, UM, PEOPLE WHO ARE OF A SIMILAR COST TO A POINT OF SPORTSPERSON, THE SAME GENERAL TYPES OF RULES THAT YOU HAVE.

QUESTIONS? YES, SIR.

SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT THAT CAN HAPPEN? YES, SIR.

SO THEY JUST HAVE TO COME UP WITH WHAT THEY WANT? CORRECT.

AND THAT WILL BE NARROWLY TAILORED TO WHATEVER INSTANCE THEY'RE EXPERIENCING.

SO THE PUBLIC WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IT JUST HAVE TO BE WRITTEN UP.

IF YOU ALL ARE INCLINED TO GIVE US DIRECTION TO PRODUCE A RESOLUTION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION ADOPTING THE, THE SENTIMENT THAT ALDERMAN ROYAL IS EXPRESSING, THEN THAT WILL BE A MANDATE FOR ALL OF THE ADVISORY BOARDS TO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

HOW THEY ADMINISTER THAT PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE UP TO THEIR DISCRETION.

THAT SOUNDS GOOD.

UM, WE HAVE A MOTION.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

YOU WANT WITHDRAW IT NOW? NO.

WELL, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO GIVE DIRECTION TO COME UP WITH THE RESOLUTION AND BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD.

SO THAT WOULD BE WITHDRAWING THE MOTION AND THE SECOND AND GIVING STAFF DIRECTION TO BRING THE, THE RESOLUTION AT THE NEXT MEETING.

I WITHDRAW THE MOTION THEN ALMAN BEST.

ARE YOU GOOD WITH THAT? YES.

I RE RESUMED.

NOW YOU WANNA MAKE A NEW MOTION ALMAN ROY? UM, OKAY.

WHAT DOES IT NEED TO CONSIST OF? LET'S GET SOME DIRECTION.

YOU COULD GIVE DIRECTION TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO PREPARE A RESOLUTION FOR THE NEXT REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING.

UM, SO THAT ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS OF THE CITY OF NEW BERN ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

THAT IS MY MOTION.

THAT IS YOUR DIRECTION.

THAT IS MY DIRECT, THAT'S THE DIRECTION YOU'RE PROPOSING.

I JUST NEED TO, WHO IS, DO WE NEED A SECOND OR SOMETHING'S NOT OPPOSED? LET'S DO THIS.

WHO'S OPPOSED TO THAT? I HAVE MY DIRECTION.

THROUGH THIS, UH, NEW INFRASTRUCTURE INSTALLATION PROCESS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IS THAT ALL ALDERMAN MONROE? OH, YES, SIR.

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TONIGHT, SIR? I DO.

I I WANTED TO ASK, UM, CHARLIE BEFORE HE LEFT, BUT HE SNUCK OUT THE WATERLINE THAT WAS BOARD THROUGH THE OTHER DAY.

WAS THAT ANOTHER ISSUE? IT WAS A CONTRACTOR.

THERE ARE SEVERAL CONTRACTORS DOING THINGS.

UM, I DON'T, EVEN WITH MY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR HERE, I, I DON'T WANNA SAY WHO THE, WHO IT WAS.

I MEAN, THEY'VE GOT ALL THEIR FACT, THEY'VE GOT ALL THEIR EQUIPMENT AND STUFF OUT THERE.

RIGHT, RIGHT.

IT, IT VERY WELL COULD HAVE BEEN.

UM, AND WE'VE GOT SEVERAL CONTRACTORS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE CITY THAT HAVE HIT A VARIETY OF LINES THROUGH,

[01:20:01]

WELL, I JUST, YOU KNOW, TO, BURNA HAS REALLY TAKEN A MAJOR HIT WITH METRONET AND ITS CONTRACTORS.

UM, I'VE DID RECEIVE COMPLAINTS CONSTANTLY ABOUT THEM TEARING UP, UM, THE, UM, SUDDEN LINK OR BRIGHT SPEEDS, UM, FIBER OPTIC LINES.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOWN WITHOUT INTERNET SERVICE FOR FIVE DAYS, FOUR OR FIVE DAYS, SOMETIMES LONGER.

YOU KNOW, THEY HIT THE PRIMARY OUT THERE AND KNOCK THE ELECTRIC OUT IN THE FURNACE.

THEY'RE TEARING THE YARDS UP AND YES, THEY'RE COMING BACK AND THEY'RE DOING SOME FIXING, BUT THE THING THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS A GREAT BIG JUNCTION BOX, UH, PHOS, I BET YOU THE THING IS FOUR FOOT WIDE AND FOUR FOOT DEEP.

AND INSTEAD OF PUTTING 'EM ON THE PROPERTY LINE, SOMETIMES THEY'RE PUTTING 'EM RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR YARDS.

NOW THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE RECESSED, BUT YOU STILL GOT THIS GREAT BIG OLD PLATE SITTING OUT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR, YOUR SIDE YARD OR YOUR FRONT YARD.

NOW, I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THERE'S ANY WAY POSSIBLE THAT WE CAN PUT THESE PEOPLE ON NOTICE AND THEN LET ME JUST SAY THIS TOO.

AND ON TOP OF ALL THAT, METRONET HAS DECIDED THAT THEY WEREN'T GONNA SERVICE TO BURNA.

THEY JUST PASSED ALL THROUGH TO BURNA, TORE EVERYBODY'S YARD UP, TORE EVERYBODY'S WATER, LINES UP, ELECTRIC UP, CABLES UP, AND THEN DECIDED, WELL, WE'RE NOT EVEN GONNA DO SERVICES IN TO BURNA.

SO I'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, UH, MANAGER.

UH, AND WE NORMALLY TALK ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

AND, AND, AND THIS IS THE FIRST I'VE HEARD ABOUT THE ISSUES AT TO BURNA.

SO I'LL GET WITH STAFF AS WELL ABOUT THAT AND WE'LL, WE'LL GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH YOU.

OH, IT'S BEEN TERRIBLE.

I MEAN, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH PUBLIC WORKS WITH IT AS MUCH AS I CAN, AND THEY'VE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB AND THEY'VE, THEY'RE BEHIND THEM AND THEY ARE STANDING AROUND ON TOP OF THEM, BUT IT'S SOME OF THE SLOPPIEST WORK I'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE IN MY LIFE.

WHY CAN'T THEY MAKE THESE JUNCTIONS ON THE PROPERTY LINE WHERE SOME OF THE OTHER, YOU KNOW, JUNCTION BOXES ARE LOCATED INSTEAD OF RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMEBODY'S YARD? YEAH, IT SHOULD BE WITHIN THE RIGHT OF WAY, BUT WE'LL CHECK.

OH, IT'S DEFINITELY IN THE RIGHT OF WAY, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

WE'VE ALREADY ARGUED THAT POINT.

AND SOME OF THAT RIGHT OF WAY IS FROM THE, THE, THE GRASS SIDE OF THE CURB UP LIKE 25 FEET UP IN THEIR YARD.

THAT'S CORRECT.

YES.

AND SOME OF THE YARDS AREN'T WHAT, 40 FEET DEEP, SO, YOU KNOW, IT IS, IT IS A MESS.

THEY'RE IN THE RIGHT OF WAY.

THEY, THEY MADE SURE THAT, BUT THEY HAVE JUST MADE A MESS OUT THERE.

AND, AND THEN AGAIN, WHAT MAKES IT WORSE IS THAT THEY WON'T EVEN, THEY'RE NOT EVEN GONNA SERVICE US.

WE'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.

I'VE RECEIVED SOME OF THOSE SAME COMPLAINTS.

AND, UM, I, I ALSO WANNA BE CLEAR HERE THAT THE LADY THAT REACHED OUT TO ME SAID, WHY DID THE CITY PAY METRONET MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO COME HERE TO PROVIDE SERVICE? SO I WANT TO MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR THAT THE CITY DIDN'T PAY METRONET ANYTHING AND LEGALLY BY RIGHT.

THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUT THEIR UTILITIES DOWN IN THE RIGHT OF WAY, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE WANT 'EM OR NOT.

SO, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CLARIFICATION WITH THAT.

BUT IT IS, IT DOES SEEM LIKE THEY COULD MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS ON THE BOX LOCATION.

SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE THINGS ON TO BURNA CIRCLE.

THERE'S A LADY THAT SINCE NOVEMBER HAS HAD PROBABLY 150 FLAGS DOWN THE SIDE OF HER HOUSE.

AND I, I'M NOT KIDDING YOU DRIVE BEHIND AND LOOK AT IT.

IT'S RIDICULOUS.

AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO PUT ANY CABLE ON THAT SIDE OF THE ROAD.

I, I SAY, WELL, I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT TO DO, BUT I KNOW WHAT THE HAPPENED.

IF THEY HAD 'EM IN MY HOUSE IN MY YARD, THEY'RE NOT EVEN GONNA RUN CABLE DOWN THERE.

BUT IT'S, THEY, THEY'RE JUST, IT'S, IT'S TERRIBLE.

WORKMANSHIP AND CUSTOMER SERVICE.

THANK YOU FOR ALREADY, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP AND WE'LL, THANK YOU.

I'M SURE YOU WILL.

THANK YES SIR.

ANYTHING ELSE OVER? NO, SIR.

UM, MAKING THOSE IMPROVEMENTS FOR OUR CITIZENS.

WE HAVE, PRAISE GOD FOR THE $4 MILLION THAT WE SPENT FOR AN ELEVATOR , I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET UP HERE BECAUSE OF AN INJURY.

I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET UP HERE IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR THE ELEVATOR.

ALRIGHT, ALL MCKENZIE, NOTHING TONIGHT, SIR.

ALLMAN BEST? YES.

UM, I WANTED TO THANK GEORGE AND HIS STAFF, BUT HE'S ALREADY GONE MOST, UM, WE'LL DO 'EM.

UM, EVERY TIME YOU, EVERY TIME I CALL GEORGE AND I'M QUITE SURE OF THE ALDERMAN AS WELL, AND YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OR CONCERN OR WHATEVER WITHIN YOUR WARD, HE AND HIS STAFF THERE, UM, THEY'RE THERE TO ASSIST US AND I JUST WANT TO THANK HIM AND HIS STAFF.

AND THEN ALSO, I KNOW WE WORK A LOT WITH N-C-D-O-T.

UM, I JUST WANT TO COMMEND, UM, THEIR STAFF.

UM, THERE'S MR. UM, ALLISON AND MR. JARMIN.

I HAD SOME ISSUES IN WARD FIVE, UM, WITH SOME DITCHES AND DRAINAGE AREAS.

AND THEY HAVE COME OUT THERE AND THEY ARE DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB,

[01:25:01]

UM, AND I KNOW THAT IS A STATE MAINTAINED HIGHWAY.

THE CITY DOESN'T REALLY MAINTAIN THAT HIGHWAY, BUT, UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE N-C-D-O-T AND THAT'S IT.

HONOR MCKENZIE, YOU FORGET SOMETHING? OH, YES I DID.

UM, I THANK MR. FAN LATON FOR COMING TONIGHT, BUT, UM, I, I, I FEEL THAT WE ARE PRETTY MUCH IN PLACE WITH THE MPO TO COVER ALL OUR NEEDS WITH THE, UH, WITH THE LEGISLATOR.

I THINK THAT, UH, I'M PRETTY HAPPY WITH THE MPO WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW.

SO I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO REACH OUT TO ANY FURTHER.

THAT IS MY, UH, UH, OPINION ON IT, ON THAT.

UH, OTTMAN BRISSON IT ONLY THING I WOULD SAY IS TO REMIND FOLKS THAT PRIMARY VOTING IS GOING ON, UH, THROUGH SATURDAY.

IT'LL BE OPEN, UH, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, 8:00 AM TO 7:30 PM AND SATURDAY EIGHT TO THREE AT THE FOUR EARLY VOTING SITES IN THE COUNTY.

AND THEN, UH, ON MARCH 5TH, TUESDAY, UH, ALL 21 PRECINCTS WILL BE OPEN FROM 0 6 30 TO 7:30 PM SO PLEASE GO VOTE.

UM, DO WE NEED A CLOSED SESSION? NOT TONIGHT, MA'AM.