[1. Meeting opened by Mayor Odham. Prayer Coordinated by Mayor Odham. Pledge of Allegiance.]
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GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE MAY 14TH, 2024 NEW NEWBORN BOARD OF ALDERMAN MEETING.TONIGHT, UH, THE PRAYER IS GONNA BE COORDINATED BY MYSELF, SO IF YOU WOULD PLEASE BOW, WE PRAY.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER TOGETHER, TO DO THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY.
WE PRAY FOR YOUR WISDOM AND GUIDANCE TONIGHT, AND WE ASK THAT EVERYONE MAKE IT HOME SAFE.
IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE STAND AS WE DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
MADAM CLERK, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ALDERMAN.
[3. Approve Agenda.]
UH, BOARD ITEM NUMBER THREE IS TO APPROVE THE AGENDA ON ANY CHANGES TO THE AGENDA.WILL WE APPROVE THE AGENDA AS IS SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
[4. Request and Petition of Citizens]
AND PETITION OF CITIZENS.FIRST UP IS MR. WILLIAM LUPTON 38 18 HORSESHOE ROAD.
UH, APRIL 9TH, THE BOARD OF ALDEN VOTED NOT TO CHANGE THE MOVE ELECTION CYCLE WHEN BEEN OVER A YEAR.
DURING THE APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTE DISCUSSION, NO ONE TALKED ABOUT THE VOTERS THAT DID NOT WANTED TO KEEP VOTING EVERY THREE YEARS TO FEDERAL ELECTION IN ONE CITY ELECTION.
NO ONE TALKED ABOUT VOLUNTEERS WHO REFER, NOT HAVE WORK ON ELECTIONS EVERY THREE YEARS.
THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF FACILITIES ISSUES FOR VOTING.
THERE WAS TALK ABOUT 40 YEARS AGO, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAD TO CHANGE VOTING INANCE TO GIVE BLACK PRESIDENT VOICING GOVERNMENT.
THE LAST ELECTION WAS EVEN NUMBER A YEAR.
WE HAD THREE AFRICAN AMERICAN AL AND THE SKY DID NOT FALL.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW WINNING A CAMPAIGN WILL EVEN A NUMBER OF YEARS IS MORE CHALLENGING.
DURING THE APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTE DISCUSSION, ONE OF THE REASONS PRESENTED WAS THAT ESTIMATED COST OF ELECTION, $95,000 OF TAX MONEY COMPARED TO ANNUAL BUDGET.
$50 MILLION FOR TAXPAYER MONEY DID NOT JUSTIFY THE CHANGE AS A TAXPAYER.
I HAD ERIC PAID IN TAXES WHEN WE SPENT JUDICIOUSLY, NOT BASED, NOT COMPARED TO THE OVERALL BUDGET.
THIS WAS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A LITTLE EXTRA TO THE TAXPAYERS MANEUVER, THE MAJORITY OF WHOM DO NOT EARN $95,000 A YEAR.
I DO HAVE TWO QUESTIONS FOR THE BOARD, NEITHER, WHICH I EXPECT TO GET ANSWERED.
IF 95,000 TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND NOT SUFFICIENT TAXPAYER MONEY TO REPURPOSE AND SPENDING ON AN ELECTION, WHAT IS THE AMOUNT OF ELECTION WOULD NEED TO COST TAXPAYERS MANEUVER TO MAKE THIS CHANGE HAPPEN? SINCE THE BOARD ESTABLISHED A BASELINE OF 95,000 TAXPAYER DOLLARS, THAT'S NOT BUDGET.
THE NEXT TIME YOU VOTE FOR A, THAT BE YOUR STARTING BASELINE.
NEXT IS PATRICE MORRIS, 7 36 LAKE TYLER DRIVE.
I'D JUST LIKE TO ADDRESS THINGS WITH ST.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT, UM, THEY HAVE BEEN OUR LAST MEETING THAT WAS HERE.
THEY WERE APPROVED FOR THE TOWNHOUSES BEING BUILT.
HOWEVER, WITH OUR HOA FEES THAT WE PAY, THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT NEED FIXING.
THEY'RE NOT RESPONDING TO ANYONE'S EMAILS.
WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STREETS NOT BEING PAVED.
THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAVED A YEAR AGO.
OUR OUTSIDE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE COMING IN, JUMPING FENCE, GETTING IN THE POOL.
IT, IT'S JUST HORRIFIC THAT'S GOING ON THERE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, THEY COME HERE WITH, YOU KNOW, TO YOU GUYS AND THINGS ARE GETTING APPROVED.
WHEN WE'RE SITTING BACK, WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE OUR HOA FEES ARE GOING.
MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BEEN CLEANING UP GARBAGE.
THAT'S PILES THAT ARE IN BY THE DOG.
THEY PUT TWO DOG THINGS BY THE LAKE.
WE'VE ASKED WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.
SO INSTEAD WE GO AND PICK 'EM UP AND I PUT 'EM IN MY GARBAGE EVERY WEEK.
IT'S IT, THIS IS ONGOING IN THE PLAYGROUND THINGS.
THE LAWN WAS UP TO OUR THIGHS.
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WAS COMING TO MOW YET, THEY'RE FINING PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE THAT HAVE THREE INCHES OF GRASS ON THEIR LAWNS.THEY'RE FINING EVERYBODY FOR THINGS THAT THEY'RE NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH.
AND I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU GUYS RECONSIDER WHEN THEY DO COME UP IN FRONT OF YOU FOR THINGS TO BE APPROVED, LIKE TOWNHOUSES OR, OR THINGS THAT THEY'RE WANNA DO ON THE LAND.
NEXT UP IS LINA MASSEY, 2 0 2 TRAPPERS TRAIL.
AND CITY OFFICIALS AND EVERYBODY.
UM, I KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT DOING A PRESENTATION TONIGHT, BUT WE'RE AT, I ABSOLUTELY WANTED TO MAKE SURE I CAME TO GIVE THE CITIZENS SOME UPDATES FOR WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH OUR JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION THIS YEAR.
AND I BELIEVE I CAN DO IT IN THESE FOUR MINUTES.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF VISUAL AID.
YOU ALL HAVE THE COLORFUL PRESENTATION, BUT I'M JUST GONNA RUN THROUGH A COUPLE SLIDES REALLY QUICK.
UM, THIS YEAR'S JUNETEENTH OF NEWBURN THEME IS EMBRACING OUR LEGACY HONORING 60 YEARS OF CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
WE TRY TO HONOR SOME PART OF HISTORY, SOME PART OF OUR COLLECTIVE CULTURE.
AND, UH, THIS YEAR, THIS IS WHAT OUR THEME IS.
ONCE AGAIN, JUST FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW, THESE ARE SOME OF THE FOUNDING COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND THESE ARE SOME OF OUR COMMITTEES THAT EVERYONE IN THE CITY IS MORE THAN WELCOME TO JOIN, VOLUNTEER, AND PARTICIPATE AS WE'RE OPEN TO EVERYONE.
OUR COALITION OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS BEGAN IN 2017, PLANNING EVENTS FOR JUNETEENTH.
THE NON-PROFIT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2021, AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE OVER A THOUSAND OR MORE SUPPORTERS AND VOLUNTEERS THAT ACTIVELY WORK TOGETHER TO PLAN EACH YEAR'S EVENT, COME AND PARTICIPATE WITH PEOPLE COMING FROM AS FAR AS NEW YORK AND CALIFORNIA TO COME VISIT OUR JUNETEENTH.
UM, I'M GONNA SLIP, SKIP PAST A COUPLE OF SLIDES.
I THINK I WENT A LITTLE TOO FAR.
BUT REALLY QUICKLY, IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY OF JUNETEENTH HERE IN NEW BERN, UH, BOTH, UM, THE CRAVEN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEW BERN RECOGNIZE JUNETEENTH IN NEW BERN IN JUNE, 2018.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE PROCLAMATIONS ARE IN THE BACKGROUND.
IT INITIALLY GREW FROM ONE DAY TO EIGHT DAYS.
BETWEEN 2018 TO 2019 AND 2020.
WE INCORPORATED FESTIVAL AND FIREWORKS, WHICH YOU ALL SEE, UH, IN THE CULMINATION OF ALL THE, UH, EVENTS.
THIS YEAR, WE HAVE 12 DAYS OF EVENTS GOING ON FROM JUNE 8TH, TAKING A BREAK ON FATHER'S DAY TO HONOR FATHER'S, AND THEN ENDING AT TRIUM PALACE ON JUNE 20TH.
UH, SO AGAIN, WE'VE GROWN TO OVER 10 DAYS, WE'VE BEEN, UH, RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY, AND THIS YEAR WE WILL BE UNVEILING THE JUNETEENTH BEAR SOON.
GOING THROUGH THIS IS THIS YEAR'S JUNETEENTH SCHEDULE.
UH, WE BELIEVE IT'S THE BEST ONE YET.
IT ABSOLUTELY INCORPORATES SOMETHING FROM EVERYONE FROM THE, UH, SLAVE QUARTERS TOURS OUT IN JAMES CITY.
UH, WE HAVE SOME PROMO DAYS, A COMMUNITY HEALTH DAY.
WE WANT EVERYONE TO COME OUT AND PLAY KICKBALL AND CORNHOLE OUT IN FORT TOTTEN.
WE'VE GOT MEDALS AND BRAGGING RIGHTS.
JUST MAKE SURE YOU STRETCH BEFORE YOU COME.
LAST YEAR WE HAD ONE OR TWO INJURIES.
UM, SO, UH, AND AGAIN, WE HAVE SOME GREAT FIREWORKS GOING ON THE FESTIVAL, THE, UH, PLAY AT THE CIVIC THEATER.
UM, THIS YEAR WE'RE OPENING UP FOR THE CHARLOTTE ROME CULTURAL CENTER TOUR.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A FREE SKATE NIGHT FOR FAMILIES, UM, BARBECUES FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPORTERS.
AND IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, DOWN TO UNION POINT PARK.
SO WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE TO COME TO.
ALSO THIS YEAR, OUR JUNETEENTH KING AND QUEEN OF THE FESTIVAL WILL BE BARBARA LEE AND BEN WATFORD.
AND WE ARE ALSO TAKING NOMINATIONS.
NOW, IF YOU KNOW A PRINCE OR A PRINCESS WHO IS, IS A, UM, ROLE MODEL IN THE COMMUNITY, YOU ARE WELCOME TO, UH, NOMINATE THEM.
GO TO OUR WEBSITE, JUNETEENTH OF NEW NEWBORN.COM, AND NOMINATE FOR A PRINCE OR A PRINCESS.
THERE ARE ALSO VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH AS WELL, AND WE WILL GIVE THEM A COMMUNITY SERVICE, UH, CERTIFICATE.
THAT IS WHAT THE BEAR LOOKED LIKE BEFORE IT WAS PAINTED.
UM, AND IT WILL BE AT THE CORNER OF, UM, BROAD NEAR ROUNDTREE ACROSS FROM WHERE THE MURAL IS ON THE OTHER SIDE.
IN THE SMALL PARK WHERE THE, UH, STAGE WAS LAST YEAR.
WE ARE EXCITED THAT THERE ARE MORE CELEBRATIONS HAPPENING THIS YEAR.
[Consent Agenda]
IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.UM, JUST, I WANNA MAKE A COMMENT.
UM, I'M, I'M FINE IF YOU WANNA LEAVE ITEM NUMBER FIVE ON THERE, BUT I'M NOT IN SUPPORT OF SELLING THAT PARTICULAR ITEM,
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UH, PIECE OF PARCEL.BUT, UH, IF YOU WANNA LEAVE IT ON THERE, UH, AND START THE PROCESS, THAT'S FINE.
BUT I, I'M NOT IN SUPPORT OF SELLING THAT PARTICULAR PARCEL, SO, SO MAY STATE THAT.
SO IT'S A PLEASURE OF THE BOARD ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.
UH, IS, IS THAT PLACE BE PROPERTY SOMETHING THE CITY WOULD NEED IN THE FUTURE? I, I'VE RIDDEN BY IT A COUPLE TIMES THE PAST COUPLE DAYS.
UH, I THINK IT RECENTLY BECAME AVAILABLE TO US WITHIN THE PAST YEAR OR SO.
UM, AND WITH THE ACTIVITY THAT'S TAKEN PLACE AT THE CFER PARK, AND THERE'S BEEN QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT PARKING, UH, IT COULD BE A POTENTIAL PARKING LOT, UM, POTENTIALLY, I DON'T KNOW.
UM, BUT AGAIN, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE IT'S JUST AN UPSET BID.
UH, IF WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND THE BOARD SEES WHAT IT PULLS, IF IT DOESN'T MEET OUR CRITERIA, THEN WE CAN ALWAYS DENY IT.
THIS IS JUST TO START THE PROCESS TO SEE WHAT ACTIVITY YOU WOULD GET.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN PRILL.
THIS IS TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THAT WAS A MOTION, CORRECT? OKAY.
[11. Recognition of New Bern 101 Graduates.]
IS NUMBER 11.RECOGNITION OF NEWBURN 1 0 1 GRADUATES.
MR. HUGHES, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE COMPLETED SIX EDITIONS OF NEWBURN 1 0 1.
AND DURING THAT TIME, WE'VE HAD OVER 75 PEOPLE GO THROUGH THAT PROGRAM.
AND TONIGHT WE'RE, WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE SOME MORE GRADUATES.
SO AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK THE, THE ALDERMAN TO COME ON THE OTHER SIDE HERE.
AND LET'S, LET'S MEET AND CONGRATULATE OUR FOLKS.
THANK YOU MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMAN.
I'D LIKE TO FIRST CALL UP FRANK DAVIS.
SORRY THAT IN CONGRATULATIONS, MARY DAVIS.
LINDA HILL, ALAN KO, SC KNIGHT,
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KATHY KRAUSE,VICKY REDMOND, EILEEN RUSSELL, NANETTE, SANDERS, COBB, KATHY RA.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, DEBBIE WYNN.
IF THE GRADUATES COULD COME UP AND JOIN THE MAYOR AND THE GOVERNING BOARD, WE'D LIKE TO TAKE A GROUP PHOTO.
YOU CAN BRING YOUR CERTIFICATE IF YOU WANT, OR LEAVE IT.
ALRIGHT, EVERYBODY, CONGRATULATIONS MAYOR GOVERNING BOARD REAL QUICK.
UM, WE'VE NOTICED WITH OUR NEW BERN 1 0 1 CLASSES THAT SOMETIMES IT'S A LOT OF CITY OF NEW BERN RESIDENTS.
SOMETIMES IT'S NEW BERN RESIDENTS THAT LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS.
I JUST THOUGHT WITH THIS CLASS, I'D GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON WHERE THESE FOLKS CAME FROM.
THE PERSON WHO HAS LIVED HERE THE LONGEST FROM THIS CLASS HAS LIVED IN NEW BERN FOR EIGHT YEARS.
THE OTHER 14 ARE NEW RESIDENTS TO NEW BERN.
UM, THE ONE WHO MOVED HERE THE MOST RECENTLY WAS MAYBE 20 21, 20 22.
UM, THEY COME FROM PLACES LIKE WASHINGTON, DC, CALIFORNIA,
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BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, CLEVELAND, OHIO, CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, MARYLAND.WE HAVE SOME WHO LIVE IN HOUSES.
WE HAVE SOME WHO LIVE ON BOATS.
A GREAT MIXTURE OF FOLKS WHO CAME TO LEARN FOR EIGHT WEEKS ABOUT THE CITY OF NEW BERN AND MADE IT TO GRADUATION.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL.
[12. Conduct a Public Hearing and Consider Adopting an Ordinance to Establish a Rate for Unmetered Service.]
UP IS ITEM NUMBER 12.CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH A RATE FOR UNMETERED SERVICE.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR OAM, BOARD OF ALDERMAN.
UH, TONIGHT I'M PROPOSING AN ORDINANCE FOR AN UNMETERED ELECTRIC SERVICE.
UH, THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO RECURRING REQUESTS THAT THE UTILITY RECEIVES TO SET SERVICE FOR VERY SMALL ENERGY CONSUMING DEVICES IN THE SIZE OF NO GREATER THAN A HUNDRED WATT LIGHT BULB.
AND PRESENTLY, THAT'S NOT FEASIBLE FOR THE UTILITY TO PROVIDE A SERVICE THAT'S SMALL, UM, FINANCIALLY NOT FEASIBLE, AND IT'S NOT FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE FOR THE CUSTOMER, UM, TO ABSORB ALL THAT COST FOR THIS TYPE OF SERVICE, GIVEN THE ENVIRONMENT OF OUR CURRENT RATE STRUCTURES THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE FOR OUR USE TODAY.
THIS RATE, HOWEVER, REDUCES THE COST OF PROVIDING SUCH A SERVICE AND IT MAKES IT MORE FEASIBLE, UH, FOR BOTH THE UTILITY AND THE CUSTOMER.
THE RATE IS BEING OFFERED ONLY TO FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND FRANCHISE TELECOMMUNICATION PROVIDERS.
IT EXCLUDES RES EXCLUDES RESIDENTIAL USAGE, COMMERCIAL USAGE, INDUSTRIAL USAGE.
AND EXAMPLES, UH, OF THIS TYPE OF APPLICATION WOULD INCLUDE ELECTRIC LOAD CONSUMING DEVICES, UM, WITH A NAMEPLATE RATING NOT TO EXCEED A HUNDRED WATTS.
SO THINK IN TERMS OF HOLIDAY DECORATIONS, VIDEO CAMERAS, SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT COMMUNICATION, NETWORK DEVICES, TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGN BOARDS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AND THEY'RE BECOMING MORE AND MORE PREVALENT NOW WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF LEDS AND LOW ENERGY CONSUMING DEVICES.
UM, THE RATE FUNCTIONS LIKE OUR STREET LIGHTING RATES.
AND THE TEMPTATION IS TO BUILD THIS AND CHARGE IT AS A STREETLIGHT, BUT IT'S NOT A STREETLIGHT.
SO THEREFORE I CAN'T BILL IT AS A STREETLIGHT AND ACCOUNT FOR IT AND MANAGE IT AS A STREETLIGHT.
UM, EFFECTIVELY THIS IS A FLAT MONTHLY FEE AND IT'S BASED ON A VERY SMALL, PREDICTABLE AMOUNT OF ENERGY THAT IS BEING CONSUMED.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DESIGNED INTO THIS RATE STRUCTURE.
AND SO WITH THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS.
MS. BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? YES, I DO.
CHARLIE, UM, ON YOUR SCHEDULES, I SEE YOU HAVE LIKE TWO OF EACH.
LIKE ONE IS RESIDENTIAL AND SCHEDULE ZERO ONE AND THE OTHER ONE'S RESIDENTIAL ZERO SEVEN.
SO THAT'S THE TWO DIFFERENT FEES FOR THE TWO DIFFERENT SERVICES, CORRECT? FOR FOR RE FOR MY, FOR REGULAR, FOR YOUR REGULAR CUSTOMERS AND THEN THOSE THAT CORRECT.
THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE ARE SCHEDULES THAT ARE APPLICABLE TO RESIDENTIAL USAGE UNDER THE TERMS IN THAT RATE.
ONE OF THEM IS A ENERGY EFFICIENCY RATE.
DID I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YES.
WHO IS THE GREATEST CONSUMER FOR THE, THIS PARTICULAR THING? IS IT THE RESIDENTS OR IS IT BUSINESSES OR COMBINATION OF BOTH? IT, IT WOULD BE NONE OF THOSE.
IT WOULD BE ONLY, UM, FEDERAL, UM, BUSINESSES, STATE, LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR TELE OR QUALIFIED TELECOMMUNICATION PROVIDERS.
I PRESENTLY DON'T HAVE ANYBODY ON THIS RATE.
BUT FOR AN, AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE THE FBI OR THE FBI COMES TO, TO THE UTILITY AND SAYS, PUT A SURVEILLANCE CAMERA UP FOR ME.
IT, IT'S NOT GONNA CONSUME MUCH.
IT'S GONNA BE THERE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
AND SO THERE'S, THERE'S, THERE'S TEMPTATION TO DO THAT.
THERE'S, UM, IT MAKES SENSE, IT LOOKS EASY.
THIS GIVES US THE AUTHORITY TO, AND THE ABILITY TO MANAGE THAT AND A, UM, IN A COHERENT MANNER, IF THAT MAKES ANY SENSE.
I I HAVE, I HAVE ONE QUESTION.
CHARLIE, YOU DID GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS.
UH, SO WHAT IS THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT IF, IF SOMEONE WANTED TO PUT CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS UP, IS THAT FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER? HOW, HOW WOULD THAT BE? THIS IS NOT APPLICABLE TO TEMPORARY SERVICES, THE AGREEMENTS FOR THREE YEARS.
SO THIS IS NOT FOR DESIGN FOR FAIRES AND FESTIVALS AND, UM, UM, SHORT TERM APPLICATIONS.
THAT'S AN ANOTHER MATTER SERVING THOSE TYPE OF CUSTOMERS.
THIS IS FOR SOMETHING THAT, UH, UM, IT'S GONNA
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BE A LONGER SERVING.SO LET ME, LET ME ASK A QUESTION TO SEE IF YOU CAN GIVE US AN EXAMPLE.
SO THE, THE STATUTE, THE SHRINER STATUTE THAT'S DOWN THERE THAT THE COUNTY OWNS, NOW IT'S ON THEIR PROPERTY.
IF THE COUNTY WANTED TO PUT A FLOOD LIGHT ON THAT STATUTE, IS THAT WHERE THIS RATE WOULD COME INTO PLAY? 'CAUSE IT WOULD ONLY, THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY THING THERE ON THAT PARCEL.
WE HAVE, WE HAVE OTHER PRODUCTS.
WE HAVE OTHER LIGHTING PRODUCTS WE COULD OFFER THAT MAY SERVE THEIR, THEIR NEED BETTER.
BUT IF THE LIGHTING WAS NAME PLATED UNDER A HUNDRED WATTS, IT WOULD QUALIFY FOR THIS.
AND HOW MANY OF THESE SITUATIONS THROUGHOUT OUR SERVICE AREA DO YOU FORESEE BEING ON THIS RATE IF THIS WERE TO PASS? PROBABLY, UM, LESS THAN 20 AT A TIME.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD TO ASK A QUESTION OR MAKE A COMMENT REGARDING ITEM NUMBER 12.
YOU CAN COME FORWARD AND DO SO.
MAY I MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE A PUBLIC HEARING? SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CLOSE A PUBLIC HEARING.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? ON ITEM NUMBER 12, MAYOR, MAKE A MOTION TO, UM, APPROVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER ABOUT AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH RATE FOR UNMETERED SERVICE.
I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND MR. TURNER.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER 12? HEARING NONE, LETS HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ROYAL.
[13. Conduct a Public Hearing and Consider Adopting a Resolution to Enter into a Financing Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N. A. for the Acquisition of 212 Kale Road]
ON TO ITEM NUMBER 13, CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION TO ENTER INTO A FINANCING AGREEMENT WITH JP MORGAN CHASE BANK FOR THE ACQUISITION OF TWO 12 K ROAD, MS. OS OCEAN.UM, ON FEBRUARY 13TH, 2024, THE BOARD APPROVED THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT TWO 12 KIL ROAD.
A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL WAS ISSUED SOLICITING BIDS TO PAY FOR THE PROPERTY ACQUISITION THROUGH INSTALLMENT FINANCING OR A REVENUE BOND NOT TO EXCEED $2.2 MILLION.
AFTER RECEIVING AND REVIEWING SIX PROPOSALS IS RECOMMENDED.
THE PROPOSAL FROM JP MORGAN CHASE BE ACCEPTED.
THE PROPOSAL INVOLVES AN INSTALLMENT FINANCING AGREEMENT AT AN INTEREST RATE OF 4.21% FOR A TERM OF 15 YEARS.
THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION EVIDENCE IS THE HOLDING OF A REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARING AND ACCEPTS THE PROPOSAL FROM JP MORGAN.
FINAL APPROVAL OF THE FINANCING WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE, UM, FOR BOARD'S CONSIDERATION ON MAY 28TH.
TONIGHT WE HAVE MITCH LIO FROM DAVENPORT TO DISCUSS THE OUTCOME OF THE RFP AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME THIS EVENING.
UM, IN YOUR PACKETS, YOU HAVE A SUMMARY MEMORANDUM FROM US THAT, UH, GIVES A LOT MORE DETAIL ON THE RFP PROCESS THAT WE WENT THROUGH AND THAT BIDS RECEIVED.
UM, I'M JUST GIVE YOU A QUICK OVERVIEW TONIGHT.
UM, HIGH LEVEL, BUT CERTAINLY HAPPY TO DIG INTO ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE OR GO THROUGH ANY OF THE ANYTHING IN MORE DETAIL.
UM, AS MS. OSTROM SAID, WE DID DISTRIBUTE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL TO NATIONAL REGIONAL LOCAL BANKS WHO ARE REGULAR PARTICIPANTS IN THESE TYPES OF FINANCINGS.
UH, WENT OVER 50 POTENTIAL BIDDERS.
UM, AND, AND WE ASKED FOR EITHER AN INSTALLMENT FINANCING OR A REVENUE BOND FINANCING OPTION.
UM, YOU WENT THROUGH BOTH OF THESE FINANCING TYPES LAST YEAR, UH, AS A QUICK REFRESHER.
AND INSTALLMENT FINANCING IS BASICALLY A MORTGAGE ON A PROPERTY.
YOU'RE SECURING THE LOAN WITH SOME TYPE OF ASSET, IN THIS CASE THE ELECTRIC OPERATIONS FACILITY THAT THAT WAS PURCHASED.
AND, UM, A REVENUE BOND IS SIMPLY A PLEDGE OF THE REVENUES OF THE UTILITY SYSTEM.
SO YOU HAVE TO SET UTILITY RATES AND CHARGES TO BE ABLE TO PAY THE DEBT SERVICE.
UM, WITH THE RESPONSES THAT WE RECEIVED, AS YOU'LL SEE IN THE MEMO, THE LOWEST FINANCING INTEREST RATE THAT WE RECEIVED WAS FOR AN INSTALLMENT FINANCING.
UH, SO A MORTGAGE ON THIS FACILITY.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S BEING RECOMMENDED, UM, THROUGH THE PRO RFP PROCESS.
WE DID RECEIVE THE SIX PROPOSALS.
UM, A SUMMARY OF ALL OF THE VARIOUS INTEREST RATES THAT, THAT WERE RECEIVED.
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ON PAGE IS ON PAGE TWO.I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE.
THERE'S A LOT OF OPTIONS THAT WE RECEIVED.
UM, BUT JUST, UH, AS A CLARIFICATION, YOU'LL SEE THERE'S A BQ AND AN NBQ DESIGNATION, UM, THAT IS A TAX DESIGNATION.
UM, AND WE ARE GET SOME FAVORABLE INTEREST RATES IF WE'RE ABLE TO DO IT AS BQ.
THAT STANDS FOR BANK QUALIFIED.
AND THAT JUST MEANS THAT, UM, THAT'S A SPECIAL IRS DESIGNATION THAT THE CITY CAN QUALIFY FOR.
IF YOU ISSUE LESS THAN $10 MILLION OF TAX EXEMPT LOANS IN ANY CALENDAR YEAR, TALKING WITH STAFF REALIZED THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR THAT DESIGNATION.
AND IT DID PROVIDE A SLIGHTLY LOWER INTEREST RATE.
UM, OF THE SIX PROPOSALS THAT WERE RECEIVED, THE LOWEST OVERALL INTEREST RATE WAS PROVIDED BY JP MORGAN FOR A 15 YEAR TERM.
SO A 15 YEAR FINAL MATURITY OF THE LOAN.
UM, AND THE INSTALLMENT FINANCING STRUCTURE, JP MORGAN PROVIDED TWO INTEREST RATE OPTIONS.
THE ABSOLUTE LOWEST INTEREST RATE OPTION WAS A 4.1% RATE.
THAT LOAN WAS NON PREPAYABLE, SO THAT WOULD BE A FIXED RATE OF A FOUR 10 THAT YOU WOULD HAVE FOR THE NEXT 15 YEARS.
THE OTHER OPTION THAT THEY PROVIDED WAS, UM, A 4.21% AND THAT COMES WITH A PREPAYMENT OPTION.
AFTER 10 YEARS, YOU CAN PREPAY THE LOAN WITHOUT PENALTY.
UM, AND SO FOR THAT SLIGHTLY HIGHER INTEREST RATE, 4.21% COMPARED TO THE 4.1% YOU HAVE THE THE ABILITY TO PREPAY THE LOAN EARLY FIVE YEARS EARLY.
AND SO, AS WE DID THE ANALYSIS WITH STAFF, UH, OF THIS LOWEST COST OPTION, JP MORGAN, THERE IS A SUMMARY OF THE ESTIMATED PAYMENTS ON PAGE THREE OF OUR MEMORANDUM.
THE DIFFERENTIAL AND ESTIMATED COST OVER THE ENTIRE 15 YEAR TERM OF THE LOAN BETWEEN THE PREPAYABLE OPTION AND THE NON PREPAYABLE OPTION IS AROUND $20,000.
SO THE RECOMMENDATION AND CONSULTATION WITH STAFF AND BOND COUNSEL IS TO, UH, MOVE FORWARD WITH THE JP MORGAN PREPAYABLE OPTION AT THE 4.21% INTEREST RATE FOR, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HOLD THAT LOAN UNTIL MATURITY THROUGH FINAL MATURITY, IT WOULD END UP COSTING AN EXTRA, AGAIN, ABOUT $20,000.
BUT YOU'LL HAVE THE OPTION AFTER 10 YEARS TO EITHER PREPAY THE LOAN EARLY AND THAT WILL SAVE ON INTEREST COST OR TO REFINANCE THE LOAN IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO THAT.
AND IF INTEREST RATES SUPPORT THE REFINANCING AT THAT POINT IN TIME, SO SLIGHTLY HIGHER INTEREST RATE, BUT KEEPING FLEXIBILITY IN YOUR OPTIONS IN THE FUTURE TO PREPAY OR REFINANCE IT.
UM, SO THAT IS THE RECOMMENDATION THIS EVENING.
THE JP MORGAN OPTION TWO BANK QUALIFIED INTEREST RATE OF A 4.21% THAT YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO PREPAY AFTER 10 YEARS.
IF YOU CHOOSE TO MOVE FORWARD THIS EVENING.
AGAIN, TWO ITEMS THAT YOU'LL BE DOING HOLDING THE PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH WILL BE COMING UP AFTER MAY.
AND THEN AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING, UM, THERE IS A RESOLUTION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION THAT JUST, THAT DOES EXACTLY WHAT I JUST SAID APPROVES THE JP MORGAN, UH, INTEREST RATE OPTION OF A 4.21%, UM, THAT WILL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE FORWARD WITH THE PROCESS.
PREVIOUSLY, YOU ALL HAD APPROVED WHAT'S CALLED A, A PRELIMINARY FINDINGS RESOLUTION THAT ALLOWED STAFF AND OURSELVES TO SUBMIT THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION.
THAT APPLICATION HAS BEEN PRESENTED, UM, AND WILL BE CONSIDERED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL ON JUNE 4TH.
THERE IS ONE ADDITIONAL BOARD ACTION REQUIRED BY YOU ALL THAT'S SCHEDULED FOR MAY 28TH, AND THAT WILL BE THE FINAL APPROVAL OF THIS FINANCING, WHERE WE WILL HAVE FINANCING DOCUMENTS THAT REFLECT ALL THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE JP MORGAN LOAN, IF THAT IS WHAT YOU APPROVE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S MY HIGH LEVEL SUMMARY.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT MORE DETAIL IN THE MEMO.
HAPPY TO TALK THROUGH ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY OTHER DETAILS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO DISCUSS.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 13.
IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS, PLEASE COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME.
[00:35:01]
A QUESTION TO ASK, WHAT IS THE TWO 12 KALE ROAD PROPERTY AND HOW IS IT ANTICIPATED TO BE USED? MR. BOUCHARD, DO YOU WANT TO COME UP AND ANSWER THAT QUESTION PLEASE? TWO 12 K ROAD IS, UH, UH, LOCATED ADJACENT TO TWO 10 KALE ROAD.TWO 10 KALE ROAD HOLDS THE ELECTRIC'S DEPARTMENT'S PRIMARY CORE OPERATIONS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CUSTOMER SERVICE AND PAYMENTS.
UM, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED BEFORE, THE THE UTILITY IS OUTGROWING THAT SPACE ON A NUMBER OF, UH, FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.
AND THIS OPPORTUNITY PRESENT ITSELF TO, UM, TO EXPAND THAT OPERATION, UM, FOR TODAY AND FOR INTO THE FUTURE, RATHER THAN HAVING TO FIND A WHOLE NOTHER CAMPUS, A WHOLE NOTHER, UM, OPERATION SOMEWHERE ELSE AND, AND BUILD AND MOVE ACROSS TOWN AND DISRUPT THE UTILITY WITH THAT.
SO THIS OPPORTUNITY PRESENTED A LOT OF, UH, EFFICIENCIES.
DID I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, MA'AM? I REALLY DIDN'T HEAR WHAT HE SAID.
THIS, THIS IS THE BUILDING THAT'S LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO OUR CURRENT ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT ON KALE ROAD.
SO THIS WILL BE FOR FUTURE EXPANSION OF THAT DEPARTMENT WHERE WE'VE OUTGROWN OUR CURRENT FACILITY.
IS THAT GOOD ENOUGH, CHARLIE? YEAH, THAT
ANYONE ELSE MAKE A MOTION HEARING? SORRY, SECOND.
UH, SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING, SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
UM, THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE FOR US TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO ENTER INTO A FINANCING AGREEMENT WITH JP MORGAN CHASE BANK.
BASED OFF THE RECOMMENDATION OF OUR BOND COUNCIL ON TWO 12 K ROAD, MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO ENTER INTO A FINANCING AGREEMENT WITH JP BORDEN CHASE BANK FOR THE ACQUISITION OF TWO 12 K ROAD.
I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND JUST TO BE CLEAR.
'CAUSE THERE WERE SEVERAL OPTIONS IN THAT, THAT WAS THE RECOMMENDATION OF OUR COUNSEL IS WHAT YOU WERE, YES.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE UNLESS HAVE A ROLL CALL.
[14. City Manager's Presentation of FY 2024-2025 Budget.]
14, CITY MANAGER'S PRESENTATION ON FY 24 25.SO I, I'M EXCITED TO SHARE, UM, THE PRESENTATION FOR THE BUDGET.
SO WE'RE GONNA START OFF BY TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS TIMELINE.
THIS, THIS YEAR WE STARTED EARLIER, UH, IN NOVEMBER OF 2023.
WE SENT OUT A SURVEY FOR THE GOVERNING BOARD, UH, TO, TO GET SOME IDEA OF WHAT YOU SUPPORTED AND WHAT YOU MAY NOT SUPPORT AND WHAT SOME GOALS AND OBJECTIVES WOULD BE.
WE HAD OUR FIRST BUDGET WORK SESSION ON DECEMBER 12TH WHERE WE COVERED THOSE, UH, SURVEY AND RECEIVED ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.
DEPARTMENT BUDGETS WERE DUE, UH, TO THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.
THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, UH, REVIEWED ALL OF THE DEPARTMENT REQUESTS AS WELL AS LOOKED AT REVENUE PROJECTIONS.
WE SPENT THE BETTER PART OF TWO MONTHS GOING OVER THAT AND DETERMINING WHAT WE COULD, HOW WE COULD CRAFT THIS BUDGET.
AND TONIGHT I'LL BE DOING THIS BUDGET PRESENTATION.
SO AS PART OF OUR BUDGET DEVELOPMENT FOR THIS, WE LOOKED AT, UH, GOVERNING BOARD FEEDBACK DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATIONS, AND WE STARTED THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS BACK IN FALL OF 2023.
AND SO DURING THAT STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS, WE, UH, CAME FIVE MAIN GOALS.
AND THEY WERE EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT, SAFE AND WELCOMING COMMUNITY PLANNING AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR BALANCED GROWTH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
AND AS THE DEPARTMENTS WERE CREATING THEIR BUDGETS, ALL OF THEIR REQUESTS NEEDED TO TIE BACK INTO THOSE, THOSE OVERARCHING GOALS.
SO THERE WERE SEVERAL BUDGET IMPACTS THAT WE HAD TO CONSIDER.
AND THE FIRST ONE WAS EXPENSES.
UH, THE DEPARTMENT REQUEST WHEN WE RECEIVED THOSE, UH, THEY TOTALED OVER $7 MILLION OVER ANTICIPATED REVENUE.
SO WE SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME HAVING TO GO THROUGH EACH DEPARTMENT, CUT, CUT A VARIETY OF THINGS, AND WE GAVE THE DEPARTMENT HEADS THE OPPORTUNITY EACH TIME TO, TO MAKE THOSE CUTS.
WE HAD TO LOOK AT THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND DO THE SAME THING.
[00:40:01]
REVENUES, THE ASSESSED PROPERTY VALUES INCREASED BY 200 MILLION TO $4.9 BILLION AND THAT THAT IS ANTICIPATED TO BRING IN AN EXTRA $830,000 IN ADDITIONAL REVENUES AND SALES TAXES ESTIMATED TO INCREASE AT 3%, WHICH WOULD BRING IN AN ADDITIONAL 342,000.BUT THOSE ANTICIPATED REVENUES ARE NOT ENOUGH TO COVER WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
ADDITIONAL BUDGET IMPACTS AND INCLUDE INCREASED COST OF MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES.
A MANDATORY INCREASE IN THE NORTH CAROLINA RETIREMENT RATE, WHICH IS LESS THAN 1% FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND NON NON-LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
AN INCREASE IN INSURANCE PREMIUMS. AND THE MAIN IMPACT WITH THAT WAS THE NEW STANLEY WHITE RECREATION CENTER AND SALARIES AND BENEFITS AND THE GENERAL FUND, 64% OF OUR SALARY GOES, UH, 64% OF THE BUDGET ADDRESSES SALARIES.
IMPLEMENTATION FROM THE 2024 UH, SALARY.
SURVEY CARRIES FORWARD ANNUALLY AND IF THAT AFFECTS THE GENERAL FUND AND THE AMOUNT OF ABOUT 2.4 MILLION, OTHER BUDGET IMPACTS ARE DEBT SERVICE FOR THE GENERAL FUND, WE'RE SEEING AN ADDITIONAL $1.8 MILLION IN DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS AND THAT INCLUDES DEBT SERVICE ON THE STANLEY WHITE RECREATION CENTER AND PROPOSED CAPITAL FINANCING.
AND I'M GLAD THAT I SAID GAVE YOU ALL AN EXAMPLE OF THIS.
I THINK THEY'RE HAVING SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, UM, WITH THE PRESENTATION.
BUT IN THE FIRST SLIDE, UH, IN THIS SLIDE YOU'LL SEE WHERE GENERAL FUND REVENUES COME FROM.
SO OUR TOTAL ESTIMATED GENERAL FUND REVENUES FOR THE GENERAL FUND ARE $50,274,425.
AND WE'RE BREAKING IT DOWN BY PERCENTAGES.
SALES TAXES ACCOUNT FOR 23%, INTERNAL GOVERNMENT REVENUES, 8%, OTHER TAXES AND FEES, 5% INTEREST EARNINGS 3%.
MISCELLANEOUS REVENUES 1% INTER FUND REIMBURSEMENTS, 8% INTER FUND TRANSFERS, 8% CHARGES FOR SERVICES, 3% PROCEEDS FROM DEBT, 4% APPROPRIATED FUND BALANCE 1% AND THEN ADD VALOR TAXES 41%.
THAT MAKES UP OUR OUR REVENUES.
AND SO WHERE DO OUR GENERAL FUND DOLLARS GO? SO AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING AT A, A BUDGET OF APPROXIMATELY $50,274,425 AND WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT PERCENTAGES AGAIN.
SO 17% OF THAT BUDGET GOES TO FIRE RESCUE, 8% TO PARKS AND RECREATION, 5% TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, 18% TO PUBLIC WORKS, 8% TO DEBT SERVICE, INTERFUND AND OTHER TRANSFERS, 4% TO GENERAL GOVERNMENT AND THAT'S THE GOVERNING BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
4% TO TECHNOLOGY, 4% TO FINANCE, 2% TO HUMAN RESOURCES AND 30 CENTS, UH, 30% TO POLICE.
THIS BUDGET DOES INCLUDE A 2% COLA FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.
THE SOUTHERN CPI, WHICH IS THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX AS OF MARCH, 2024, ENDED AT 3.8%.
WE ARE NOT RECOMMENDING ANY NEW FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES BECAUSE OF HOW TIGHT THIS BUDGET IS GONNA BE.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING FOUR PART-TIME EMPLOYEES FOR THE STANLEY WHITE RECREATION CENTER.
AND WITH THIS WE PLAN ON MAINTAINING THE CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE TO OUR CURRENT CITIZENS.
UNDER PROPOSED CAPITAL FOR THE GENERAL FUND, WE'RE LOOKING AT $2.6 MILLION, 1.8 MILLION OF THAT.
IN GENERAL FUND CAPITAL QUALIFIES FOR FINANCING.
AND SO SOME EXAMPLES OF CAPITAL UH, ITEMS INCLUDE POLICE REPLACEMENT, VEHICLES, FIRE RESCUE, SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUSES, DEPARTMENT VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENTS ACROSS THE BOARD CAMERA SYSTEM AND PARKS, FISHING, PEER REFURBISHMENTS, PARK RESTROOM UPGRADES AND SIDEWALK AND STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
TO BALANCE THIS BUDGET AND MAINTAIN OUR CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE TO OUR CITIZENS, WE'RE LOOKING AT A FUND BALANCE ALLOCATION OF $580,000 AND A TAX RATE OF 3 CENTS.
CURRENTLY OUR VALOREM RATE IS AT 38 CENTS AND WE'RE PROPOSING TO INCREASE THAT TO 41 CENTS FOR $100 VALUATION.
A 3 CENT INCREASE WOULD GENERATE AN ADDITIONAL $1.5 MILLION IN REVENUES.
1 CENT EQUALS ABOUT $495,000 IN REVENUE.
WE ARE NOT PROPOSING ANY CHANGE TO THE MSD TAX RATE.
SO THE PROPOSED GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS RECOMMENDED AT $50,274,425 AND THAT IS A 2.7% INCREASE OVER FISCAL YEAR 2024.
MOVING ON TO THE ENTERPRISE FUND.
SO WHERE DO THOSE FUNDS COME FROM? TOTAL REVENUES FOR ALL OF OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS, WE'RE LOOKING AT $95,626,279.
[00:45:02]
COME FROM ELECTRIC SERVICE FEES.4.6 MILLION COMES FROM SOLID WASTE SERVICE FEES.
7.2 MILLION COMES FROM OTHER REVENUE AND ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
11.7 MILLION COMES FROM WATER SERVICE FEES AND TWO POINT 13.7 MILLION COMES FROM SEWER SERVICE FEES.
SO WHERE THOSE DOLLARS GO AGAIN, THE TOTAL ENTERPRISE EXPENSES, WE'RE LOOKING AT $95,626,279.
PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE ELECTRIC FUND IS $64,678,577 SOLID WASTE FUND, $4.7 MILLION.
AND THE SEWER FUND $13,433,013.
SO BUDGET IMPACTS AFFECTING THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS SALARY AND BENEFITS AND THE ENTERPRISE FUND, 18% OF THE BUDGET GOES TOWARDS SALARIES.
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FY UH, 24 SALARY SURVEY CARRIES FORWARD $1.2 MILLION ANNUALLY FOR THE ENTERPRISE FUND IN DEBT SERVICE.
THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS ARE LOOKING AT AN ADDITIONAL $772,000 IN DEBT SERVICE.
AND THOSE ARE FROM TWO DIFFERENT AREAS.
ONE IS THE ELECTRIC WITH THE PROPERTY PURCHASE WE'VE MOST RECENTLY ADDRESSED, AND ALSO CAPITAL PROJECT FINANCING FOR THE SEWER FUND, WHICH WE ADDRESSED UM, AT A PREVIOUS MEETING.
OTHER BUDGET IMPACTS INCLUDE INCREASED COST OF GOODS AND SERVICES.
WITH THE ELECTRIC UTILITY WE ANTICIPATED, UH, POSSIBLY TWO ELECTRICITIES TRUE UPS.
THOSE COSTS WOULD BE PASSED ON TO THE CUSTOMER AND THE A RATE STUDY.
AND AT OUR BUDGET WORK SESSION COMING UP NEXT WEEK, THERE WILL BE A PRESENTATION FOR THE BOARD TO HEAR THAT A SOLID WA A SOLID WASTE RATE INCREASE THE GFL CONTRACT COSTS FOR PERCENTAGE INCREASE AND ALSO LANDFILL TIPPING FEE INCREASE.
SO THAT WILL BE PASSED ON TO THE CUSTOMER.
FOR PROPOSED CAPITAL FOR THE ELECTRIC FUND, WE'RE LOOKING AT $1,051,000 AND THAT'S TO COVER HVAC REPLACEMENT AT KELL ROAD.
TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNS, PORTABLE LIGHT TOWERS, SERVICE VEHICLE REPLACEMENTS AND SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT FOR THE SEWER FUND, $1,068,000 AND THAT GOES TOWARDS SERVICE VEHICLE REPLACEMENTS, STORAGE FACILITY ADDITION, VARIOUS SEWER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS AND LIFT STATION REHABILITATION FOR THE SOLID WASTE FUND, $105,000 IN IMPROVEMENTS.
AND THOSE ARE MAINLY FOR OUR SERVICE TRUCK REPLACEMENT AND A ONE VEHICLE REFURBISHMENT FOR THE WATER FUND.
478,000 AND THAT'S FOR SERVICE VEHICLE REPLACEMENTS, VARIOUS WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS AND UPGRADES TO WATER SUPPLY WELLS AND TREATMENT COMPONENTS.
PROPOSED FY BUDGET TOTAL FOR THE CITY IS $155,421,881 AND THAT'S A 4.1% OVERALL INCREASE COMPARED TO THE FY 24 ADOPTIVE BUDGET.
AGAIN, OUR GENERAL FUND $50,274,425.
AND OUR ENTERPRISE PRICE FUNDS WATER FUND $12,807,689.
OUR SEWER FUND THIRTEEN MILLION FOUR HUNDRED THIRTY THREE MILLION THIRTEEN DOLLARS ELECTRIC FUND $64,678,577 SOLID WASTE FUND, $4,707,000.
AND OUR OTHER FUNDS $9,521,177.
AND THOSE OTHER FUNDS INCLUDE THE NSDE 9 1 11 REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, THE MPO EMPLOYEE INSURANCE AND OTHER ITEMS. THIS FY 25 BUDGET PROPOSAL DOES COMPLY WITH NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL STATUTES.
TO FOLLOW UP OUR BUDGET PROCESS TIMELINE CONTINUES, WE WILL HAVE BUDGET WORKSHOPS ON MAY 21ST AND 22ND.
THAT'S NEXT TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.
A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE ON MAY 28TH WITH THE GOAL OF ADOPTING THE BUDGET ON JUNE 11TH.
THE FY 25 BUDGET, UH, WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW IN THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE TOMORROW, AS WELL AS AT THE NEWBURN CRAVEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY.
AND IT WILL ALSO BE ONLINE@NEWBURGNC.GOV.
IN CLOSING, I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS, THEIR STAFF THAT HELPED THEM CREATE THEIR BUDGETS AND OUR FINANCE STAFF FOR PUTTING ALL OF THIS TOGETHER FOR US.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO FOGGO OUR BUDGET DISCUSSIONS WHERE WE'LL GO INTO MORE DETAIL ON THE BUDGETS BY GOING DEPARTMENT BY DEPARTMENT.
SO SAVE YOUR QUESTIONS UNTIL THAT TIME.
'CAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA HAVE QUITE A FEW AND SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE BROUGHT YOUR BUDGET BOOK.
AND SO AS YOU ARE GOING THROUGH THIS, JUST A REMINDER, IN THE FRONT TAB YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME HANDOUTS THAT HAVE PERSONNEL REQUEST.
AGAIN, WE DID NOT RECOMMEND ANY NEW PERSONNEL REQUESTS.
WE'VE ALSO GOT PUBLIC BUILDING REQUEST AND
[00:50:01]
YOU'RE GONNA SEE HIGHLIGHTED WHETHER IT'S YES OR NO ON THE MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION.AND YOU'LL SEE CAPITAL REQUEST AS WELL.
AT THE VERY FRONT OF THE BOOK YOU'LL SEE THE MANAGER'S MESSAGE AND THEN THERE'S BROKEN DOWN BY TAB.
SO IT'LL BE A SUMMARY OF A VARIETY OF FINANCIAL REPORTS.
IT'LL BREAK IT DOWN TO STAFFING AND POSITIONING, DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS, TRAVEL AND TRAINING ALL THE WAY DOWN INTO EACH DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THE, UM, ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
SO LOOK THROUGH THIS AT YOUR LEISURE.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN WE DO OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP, PLEASE LET MYSELF OR OR KIM OSTROM KNOW.
UH, AND THEN AGAIN, NEXT TUESDAY WE'RE GONNA START WITH THE GENERAL FUND, WORK THROUGH THAT.
AND ON WEDNESDAY WE'LL START ON THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
UM, FOSTER, YOU GAVE THE, UH, THE DATES.
CAN YOU GIVE THE TIMES AND LOCATIONS OF THOSE BUDGET WORKSHOPS THAT WILL, BOTH OF THOSE WILL START AT 1:00 PM WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT THEY BE HELD AT THE PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CENTER SO WE CAN KIND OF GET AROUND THE TABLE ALL ON ONE LEVEL.
UM, AND, AND SO IF, IF ANY NO ONE HAS ANY ISSUES WITH PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CENTER I'D LIKE SENT THAT DAY, DO WE NEED TO PROVIDE DIRECTION AS A CHANGE OF VENUE? YES.
SO BOARD STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THIS BE HELD AT THE PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CENTER.
CURRENTLY IT'S ON OUR AGENDA FOR IT TO BE HELD AT CITY HALL.
SO IF WE WANNA CHANGE IN VENUE, WE NEED A MOTION TO STATE THAT.
MAY I MAKE A MOTION TO CHANGE THE BUDGET, UH, WORK SESSION FROM CITY HALL TO THE PLEASANT HILL COMMUNITY CENTER ON, UM, MAY, MAY 21ST AT 1:00 PM AND 22ND AND 22ND AT 1:00 PM OKAY.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE A AYE.
[15. Consider Adopting a Resolution in Support of Naming the Highway 43 Connector for Marvin L. Raines, Jr]
NUMBER 15.CONSIDER DOMINATING RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF NAMING THE HIGHWAY 43 CONNECTOR FOR MARVIN L RANGE JR.
THE LORD RECEIVED A REQUEST OF SUPPORT AND EFFORT TO NAME THE HIGHWAY 43 CONNECTOR, UH, FOR MARVIN L RANGE, JR.
NC DOT'S APPLICATION PROCESS REQUIRES A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FROM THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
THE ORGANIZERS OF THE REQUEST STATED THE $2,000 ADMINISTRATIVE APPLICATION FEE WOULD BE PAID BY THEM AND WILL NOT REQUIRE FUNDING FROM THE CITY.
AND TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
ANY YOU WHO DO HAVE BACKUP INFORMATION IN YOUR PACKETING, THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? I DO, YES SIR.
UM, I UNDERSTAND IT'S A PROCESS IN NAMING A HIGHWAY TO THE PERSON AND, UM, OUTTA RESPECT AND KINDNESS, WE HAD A GUY BY THE NAME OF, UM, GEORGE HENRY WHITE WAS A CONGRESSMAN.
AND UM, THEN WE HAD, UM, A LADY BY THE NAME OF BETH PURDUE, WHICH WAS THE SENATOR AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND GOVERNOR.
THEN WE HAD A GUY BY THE NAME OF WILLIAM WAYNE WRIGHT, WHICH WAS A SPEAKER PRO TIM IN THE HOUSE.
AND UM, THEY ACTUALLY SERVED AND WE HAD A GUY BY THE NAME OF UM, UH, LET'S SEE, WHAT'S HIS NAME HERE? UM, OH GOD.
HE WAS POINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.
HE WAS A PART OF, UM, GETTING THAT HIGHWAY STARTED.
UM, I CANNOT THINK OF HIS NAME AGAIN.
UM, I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY ANY OF THOSE NAMES, UM, WAS NOT, UM, MENTIONED.
JUST ONE PERSON'S NAME WAS MENTIONED THERE.
UM, TO BE NOMINATED FOR THE 43 EXTENSION.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD A CONGRESSMAN AND UM, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, WHICH WAS GOVERNOR WAYNE WRIGHT.
AND UM, WHAT'S THAT GUY'S NAME? I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER WHO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
HE WAS ONE OF THE GUYS THAT, UH, STARTED THAT PROJECT.
SO OUTTA RESPECT, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, MENTION THOSE NAMES TO SEE, UM, UH, THE CONSIDERATION, THE
[00:55:01]
NAME OF THE HIGHWAY, THAT'S ALL.UM, AND MR. HUGHES, YOU SAID THAT THE CITY MAY HAVE TO SUPPORT SOME OF THE FUNDING? NO, WON'T, NO.
THE APPLICANT STATED THAT THEY WOULD PAY THE APPLICATION TO.
ANOTHER THING, WHEN WE ARE RENAMING A STREET LIKE THAT, I MEAN, WELL ACTUALLY NOT RE TO RENAME THAT STREET, WAS THE PETITION REQUIRED TO DO SO FROM THE RESIDENCE THAT LIVE? 'CAUSE I, I DON'T KNOW AT WHAT POINT THIS STREET IS GOING TO BE.
IS IT GONNA BE WHERE YOU GO OVER THE OVER PATH THERE AND GOING LIKE YOU'RE THE NEW CONNECTION AT THE END OF 43 OR WHERE'S IT GONNA START AT? IS IT GONNA START AT THE 43 JUNCTION THERE? SO THIS IS BY NE BOULEVARD.
THIS IS THE NEW 43 CONNECTOR, WHICH BASICALLY GOES FROM HIGHWAY 70 DOWN TO HIGHWAY 17.
UH, AND SO THIS IS A DOT PROCESS.
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHERE IT'S STARTING IF, UH OKAY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? AND I DO CONCUR WITH, UM, ALDERMAN KENZIE.
UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF, UM, CITIZENS THAT'S
BUT THEY DIDN'T COME FORTH TO, IN FRONT OF US AND REQUEST IN FOR, FOR THAT CHANGE.
SO, BUT I DO CONCUR WITH YOU OF, FOR THE NAME AND GIVING THE PEOPLE THE CITIZENS RESPECT.
THAT, THAT WAS THE ONE COMMENT I WAS GONNA MAKE IS THAT JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW THE CITY DIDN'T INITIATE THIS, RIGHT? UM, WE WERE ASKED BY A GROUP THAT, UM, HAD BEEN PUT TOGETHER AND I BELIEVE THAT THEY HAD SOME RESOLUTIONS FROM SOME OTHER BOARDS OR GOVERNING BODIES.
UM, SO THIS IS JUST PART OF THE PROCESS FOR THEM TO ASK US TO SUPPORT THIS.
AND I ALSO, JUST SO EVERYONE'S CLEAR, I NOTICED THAT, UM, IT SAYS THAT, UM, IT MUST BE UNANIMOUS.
IT SAYS THE RESOLUTION MUST PASS UNANIMOUSLY BEFORE AN APPLICATION CAN PROGRESS.
SO JUST IS IS THAT, IS THAT THE CASE? I DID READ THAT CORRECTLY.
WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? MAY, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DOCK THE RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE NAMING OF HIGHWAY 43 CORONER FOR MARVIN L RAINS JR.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I JUST HAVE A QUESTION THAT STRETCH THAT WE'RE REFERRING TO, IS THAT A RESIDENTIAL AREA? IS IT JUST A IT'S, IT'S ALL HIGHWAY AND IT WILL BE HIGHWAY.
I DON'T KNOW, I PROBABLY SOME INTERCHANGES MAY HAVE SOME FACING BUSINESSES.
IT WILL BE A FOUR-LANE HIGHWAY.
UM, THERE ARE LAND ON EITHER SIDE, WHICH WILL BE RESIDENCES.
I THINK THERE ARE SOME POTENTIAL FOR COMMERCIAL.
UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT OTHER THAN THOSE COUPLE OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, THERE WILL BE ANY ADDRESSES ON THIS STREET.
IS KIND OF WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.
THE RESIDENCES WILL BE IN NEIGHBORHOODS OFF OF THIS HIGHWAY.
WHAT WE'RE SEEKING TO NAME IT'S NOT CONSTRUCTED NO.
I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR IT EXTENDS OUT.
ISN'T THAT RIGHT JEFF? I KNOW AT SOME POINT YOU HAVE TO STOP.
IT DOESN'T STOPS ABOUT 200 YARDS PAST 70 RIGHT NOW.
SO IF YOU RECALL THE, THE EXIT ON HIGHWAY 70, IF YOU'RE COMING FROM KINSTON TO NEWBURN, THE EXIT, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT SAYS.
DOES IT SAY GREENVILLE? MAYBE? I THINK IT SAYS IT SAYS GREENVILLE.
WHEN YOU EXIT OFF AND YOU GET TO THE TOP OF THE, THE RAMP, YOU CAN, YOU HAVE TO GO LEFT, YOU CAN GO RIGHT.
BUT IF YOU GO RIGHT, WHAT POPS IS IT'S A STOP SIGN.
IT'S A COUPLE HUNDRED YARDS AND THE ROAD JUST ENDS.
YOU SEE HIGHWAY PATROL PARKED THERE QUITE A BIT.
BUT, UM, IT'S GONNA GO THROUGH WHERE TRENT CREEK ROAD IS OFF OF 17.
THAT'S WHERE THAT ROAD IS GOING TO COME THROUGH AND IT'S GOING THROUGH, COME THROUGH CRA UH, IN BETWEEN CRAVEN FOREST AND ACADIA VILLAGE, TRENT CREEK ROAD AND COME OUT AT THE BENDY QUINN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
[01:00:01]
FROM COME OUT WHERE AT? WHERE BEN? BEN QUINN ELEMENTARY.THAT'S WHERE IT'S GONNA INTERSECT.
WELL, I'D DEFINITELY LIKE TO WAIT TO SEE EXACTLY HOW THAT PANS OUT AND WHAT I'M VOTING FOR AND THE SECTION THAT WILL EXIST.
IT, UH, IT IS FUNDED AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY IN RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION AND IN UTILITY RELOCATION.
SO I I AM NOT UNDERSTANDING, UH, THE NATURE.
I GUESS I JUST WANTED FURTHER CLARITY AND JUST RIGHT IN THIS MOMENT, I DON'T HAVE IT DO, I MEAN WE HAVE OUR MPO ADMINISTRATOR HERE, UH, DIRECTOR HERE FOR SPECIFIC QUESTION.
IT'S BASICALLY RUN THROUGH WOODS.
YEAH, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A VISUAL.
THAT'S ALL OF THE PROPOSED POINT.
COULD COLLEEN, COULD SOMEONE PULL UP ON THE COMPUTER JUST THE AERIAL GOOGLE MAP THAT SHOWS IT? 'CAUSE YOU'LL, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE PRETTY CLEAR WHERE THE ROAD IS AND WHERE IT ENDS ON THERO.
IF YOU, UM, ON MOOSE BOULEVARD IN THE, UM, 43 CONNECTIVE STREET, YOU KNOW WHERE THE, HI, THE NEW HIGHWAY PATROL STATION IS MM-HMM.
AND THEN ACROSS THE STREET IS WAREHOUSER.
IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE END OF THAT STREET, IT, THE STREET KEEPS ON RUNNING ACROSS, BUT IT'S NOT DEVELOPED YET.
IT'S JUST A PORTION OF STREET, YOU KNOW WHERE I'M SPEAKING OF NOW
THAT'S STAFF SAID I NEED TO TAKE A ROLL
I, I WOULD, MY RECOMMENDATION, UM, I KNOW WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND ON THE FLOOR, UM, BUT IF THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THIS WILL NOT PASS UNANIMOUSLY, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD TABLE THIS IF THERE'S MORE TIME THAT'S NEEDED.
UM, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T PASS THIS UNANIMOUSLY, THEN THEY CAN'T MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR APPLICATION, IS THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT.
IS THAT CORRECT MR. ATTORNEY? YES, SIR.
IT'S JUST A, A FAULT OR CONSIDERATION.
SO YOU SEE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS WHERE IT HAS THE TWO, UH, 43 NUMBERS? YES SIR.
IT'S ALREADY LABELED AS I 42, BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT INTERCHANGE THERE.
AND IF YOU WERE TO EXTEND THAT INTERCHANGE DIRECTLY SOUTH AND ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT TO THE RIGHT, COLLEEN, THE, UH, IT GOES RIGHT THROUGH THAT, THAT TRENT CREEK ROAD.
THAT IS WHERE THAT AND A LITTLE MORE TO THE LEFT, THE, THE EXISTING ROAD THAT'S THERE.
IF YOU, IF YOU CLICK THE, THE LAYERS YEAH.
DOWN AT THE BOTTOM IT'LL ACTUALLY SHOW WHAT'S THERE NOW.
AND YOU CAN SEE IT, IT, THERE'S A, A SPUR OFF OF THAT AND WHERE IT STOPS.
THAT WILL CONTINUE ON DOWN TO WHERE IT SAYS THE 1223 YEP.
AND CONNECT TO WHAT'S CURRENTLY TRENT CREEK ROAD AND THEN WE WILL TERMINATE AT THE, UH, VISIT 17.
I'D LIKE TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATION.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE ARE CRISSCROSSING HERE TO TABLE.
SO, UM, ALDERMAN ASTOR MADE THE MOTION ALDERMAN PRINCE SECOND.
IT UH, IF YOU BOTH, UM, WOULD WITHDRAW YOUR MOTION, THEN WE COULD HAVE A MOTION TO TABLE IT.
I WITHDRAW A MOTION AND I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE TABLE IT.
WE'VE HAD BOTH THE MOTION AND SECOND WITHDRAWN.
UH, ALDERMAN ASKED HER, UH, MADE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS TO OUR NEXT REGULAR SCHEDULE BOARD MEETING.
I GIVE YOU TIME TO LOOK AT IT.
OKAY, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ALDERMAN.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ITEM IS TABLED TO THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING.
[16. Consider Adopting a Resolution Authorizing the Submission of an Application for the Preventing Outages While Enhancing the Resilience of the Electric Grid ( Power Up) Grant through the NC Department of Environmental Quality State Energy Office]
NUMBER 16.CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION TO, FOR PREVENTING OUTAGES WHILE ENHANCING THE RESILIENCE OF THE ELECTRIC GRID POWER UP GRANT THROUGH THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY STATE ENERGY OFFICE.
MR. BOUCHARD, THAT'S A MOUTHFUL ON THAT GRID.
UM, I'M, I'M, I'M REQUESTING YOUR, YOUR AUTHORITY OR APPROVAL TO, TO GO AHEAD AND SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION TO NCDO.
UM, SHORT NAME FOR THE GRANT IS POWER UP.
[01:05:01]
FUNDING, UH, TO ASSIST SMALL UTILITIES TO ENHANCE AND IMPROVE RESILIENCY MEASURES.THEY GOT ABOUT $5.7 MILLION SET ASIDE JUST FOR SMALL NORTH CAROLINA ELECTRIC UTILITIES.
UM, SO THERE'S ABOUT 25 OF US IF I DO THE MATH ON IT.
THAT'S ABOUT A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS A PIECE IF EVERYBODY APPLIES AND EVERYBODY GETS AWARDED THE, UM, THEIR FAIR SHARE.
SO I'M TARGETING A, A GRANT SOMEWHERE NOT TO EXCEED, UH, $1 MILLION AND AS A RESULT, A MATCH NOT TO EXCEED ABOUT $330,000.
THE THE SCOPE OF WORK, UM, IS STILL IN PROCESS.
UM, WE'RE FOCUSING ON, UM, A, A SCOPE OF WORK THAT WILL IMPROVE AND ENHANCE OUR CAPABILITIES FOR SYSTEM OPERATIONS AND CONTROL.
UM, AND SUCH IMPROVE THE RESILIENCY OF THE SYSTEM.
SOME STAFF IDEAS THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING RIGHT NOW ARE, UM, HOW WE RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES.
OUR SYSTEM, OUR CONTROL SYSTEMS, UH, OUTAGE DETECTION AND NOTIFICATION, UM, OUR CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES, AS WELL AS OUR DAY-TO-DAY WORKFLOWS.
SO I DON'T HAVE IT ALL SCOPED OUT RIGHT NOW, IT'S A VERY SHORT TIMEFRAME, BUT, UH, UH, IF YOU TRUST ME TO, UH, COME UP WITH A MEANINGFUL SCOPE, I, I CERTAINLY WOULD LIKE TO APPLY.
BOARD, HAVE QUESTIONS? THERE'S NO QUESTIONS.
MAY I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION? AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR THE PREVENTING OUTAGES WHILE ENHANCING THE RESILIENCY OF THE ELECTRIC GRID POWER UP GRANT THROUGH THE NC DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY STATE ER ENERGY OFFICE.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
LET HAVE A ROLL CALL HEARING WITH ALDERMAN KENZIE.
[17. Consider Adopting a Resolution Authorizing the Submission of an Application for the 2024 Bureau of Justice Assistance Bulletproof Vest Grant.]
UP IS ITEM NUMBER 17.CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION FOR APPLICATION FOR THE 2024 BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANT BULLETPROOF VEST.
UM, TO REQUEST THAT YOU APPROVE OUR ABILITY TO SEEK, UH, ANOTHER GRANT THROUGH THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE.
THEY'VE BEEN GREAT PARTNERS WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WILL ESSENTIALLY FINANCE HALF OF THE COST IT WOULD TAKE TO, UH, REPLACE AT LEAST 17 UH, VESTS, UM, FOR MY AGENCY.
AND I REQUEST THAT YOU APPROVE THIS, UH, 50 50 MATCH.
THE GRANT IS FOR SLIGHTLY OVER $24,000 AND OF WHICH, UH, WE WOULD INCUR THE COST OF $12,000.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
CHIEF, ASSUMING THAT THE BOARD APPROVES THIS, UM, CAN WE BE ASSURED THAT YOU HAVE FUNDING IN YOUR BUDGET TO COVER THE MATCHING PORTION OF THE COST? WELL, SINCE YOU HAVEN'T APPROVED THE BUDGET, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
UH, I WILL SAY THAT WOULD IT BE COMING OUT OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGET THOUGH? I BEG YOUR PARDON.
WOULDN'T THIS BE COMING OUT OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AS OPPOSED TO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET? IT WILL BE COMING OUT OF NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
WE DO HAVE FUNDS IN, IN PLACE FOR THAT IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
SO CHIEF, IS THIS LIKE REPLACING OLD VEST OR THIS IS ACTUALLY GETTING ALL THE OFFICERS WITH THE VESTS? EVERY ONE OF OUR OFFICERS HAS BALLISTIC PROTECTIVE ARMOR.
THE VESTS HAVE A LIFE EXPECTANCY OF FIVE YEARS.
AFTER FIVE YEARS, WE ROTATE OUT TO THOSE VESTS FOR NEW VESTS.
SO WE WILL ROTATE OUT, UM, THOSE THAT HAVE EXPIRED AND PROVIDE NEW STAFF WITH, UH, THE NEW BALLISTIC UH, PROTECTION.
ALL OF THE VESTS ARE SPECIFICALLY MEASURED FOR THE OFFICER.
YOU KNOW, NONE OF US ARE THE SAME SIZE, SO TO SPEAK.
SO THEY ALL HAVE TO BE MEASURED AND TAILORED FOR THE OFFICER.
I'M GLAD YOU MADE THAT STATEMENT 'CAUSE I THOUGHT THIS IS THE SAME SIZE.
UM, JUST A QUICK QUESTION ALSO.
CHIEF LIFE EXPECTANCY FIVE YEARS.
DO YOU EVER HAVE VESTS THAT EXCEED THE FIVE YEARS OR IT IS JUST REGULATION OR SOMETHING THAT THEY NEED TO BE CHANGED IN FIVE YEARS? THE FIVE YEAR IS THE MANUFACTURER MANUFACTURER'S
[01:10:01]
RECOMMENDATION AND WE FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATION.I MAKE A MOTION RUN IN, PUT MY GLASSES ON.
I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR THE 2024 BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANT BULLETPROOF BEST GRANT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NOW LETS HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN.
[18. Consider Adopting a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Contract with Carolina Cleaning and Restoration for the Category D Hurricane Florence Damage Repairs — Trent River Drainage Basin Project.]
ITEM NUMBER 18, CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH CAROLINA CLEAN AND RESTORATION FOR THE CAT D HURRICANE FLORENCE DAMAGE REPAIRS.TRENT RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN PROJECT MR. CHILES.
UM, AS YOU'RE AWARE, WE'VE BEEN WORKING OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS TO WORK THROUGH OUR HURRICANE FLORENCE FEMA ISSUES AND THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THAT PROJECT.
WE BID THIS PROJECT ORIGINALLY ON MARCH, UH, ADVERTISED ON MARCH 14TH AND OPEN BIDS.
ON APRIL 17TH, WE RECEIVED FOUR BIDS AND THE LOW BIDDER FOR THIS PROJECT WAS CAROLINA CLEANING AND RESTORATION WITH A TOTAL BASE BID OF $493,421 AND 50 CENTS.
THIS IS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CAT D WORK.
THIS IS FOUR MORE PERMANENT WORK.
HEAD WALLS, CULVERTS, BULKHEADS, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
OUR CONSULT, TRC HAS VETTED CAROLINA CLEANING RESTORATION, FOUND NO ISSUES OR CONCERNS, AND WE ARE RECOMMENDING THE BOARD, UH, CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, THE CONTRACT DOCUMENTS AND ANY NECESSARY CHANGE ORDERS FOR THE REPAIRS BOARD.
HAVE QUESTIONS MR. GILES? UM, THE CAROLINA CLEANING AND RESTORATION, HAVE WE WE'VE USED THEM BEFORE.
HAVE WE HAVE, THEY DID ONE OF OUR CAT A PROJECTS ACTUALLY IN THE BRYCE'S CREEK BASIN.
AND WHERE IS THIS TRENT RIVER BASIN LOCATED? THE TRENT RIVER BASIN IS ONE OF OUR LARGER DRAINS.
IT RUNS ALL THE WAY FROM THE PEMBROKE EXIT, WHERE IT RUNS THROUGH OUR SOLID WASTE YARD AND THEN RUNS ALL THE WAY UP HIGHWAY 70, ALL THE WAY PAST, UH, THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
SO IT PICKS UP A, A HUGE AREA AS WELL.
IT'S ONE OF OUR LARGEST DRAINAGE BASINS.
[19. Consider Adopting a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Contract with Avolis Landworks, LLC for the Category D Hurricane Florence Damage Repairs — Jack Smith Creek Drainage Basin Project.]
IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE, WE CAN ENTERTAIN ITEM NUMBER 19.UM, SAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.
SO THAT ITEM NUMBER 19 IS TO CONSIDER DOCK RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH VALIS LANDMARKS, LLC FOR THE CAT D HURRICANE FLORENCE DAMAGE REPAIRS.
JACK SMITH CREEK DRAINAGE BASIN PROJECT.
AND THIS WAS, THIS WAS BID AS WELL ADVERTISED BID AS WELL.
AND WE HAD SUFFICIENT BIDDERS TO OPEN ON THE OPENING DATE AND THE, UM, BID HAS BEEN VETTED BY OUR CONSULTANTS AND WE'RE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF BEING ABLE TO SIGN THOSE CONTRACTS BY THE CITY MANAGER.
GEORGE, I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION.
THE, UM, THE CAROLINA CLEANING AND RESTORATION, WHERE ARE THEY BASED OUT OF? UH, GREENVILLE.
AND ACTUALLY, UM, ALL BUT ONE OF OUR BIDDERS FOR THESE TWO PROJECTS WERE FORMER BIDDERS OF CAT OF CAT A WORKS WE'RE, WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH, WITH BOTH THAT HAVE BEEN SELECTED, GEORGE, FOR BOTH OF THESE PROJECTS, THE, UH, THE COSTS INCURRED, UM, DOES THE CITY QUALIFY TO HAVE FEMA REIMBURSEMENT COVER MOST IF NOT ALL OF THESE COSTS? TH THIS IS, UM, CA D IS FEMA REIMBURSABLE? YES, SIR.
AND THEN WE'RE GOING BY THEIR DAMAGE ASSESSMENT POINTS FOR THE REPAIRS.
IF THERE'S NO MORE QUESTIONS, I MAKE A MOTION.
UM, I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF THE CONTRACT WITH CAROLINA CLEANING AND RESTORATION FOR THE CATEGORY D, HURRICANE FLORENCE DAMAGE REPAIRS THE TRENT RIVER DRAINAGE BASINS AND AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH VALIS LAND WORKS.
LLC FOR THE CATEGORY D, FLORENCE DAMAGE REPAIRS.
JACK, JACK SMITH CREEK DRAINAGE BASIN PROJECT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEY, GEORGE, IS THIS THE LAST OF THE BASINS THAT WE HAVE? WE'VE GOT, UM, FOUR OR FIVE MORE, BUT THEY'RE GONNA BE GROUPED TOGETHER.
THE DAMAGE, UM, THERE'S NOT AS MUCH CAT D WORKING THOSE, SO WHEN THOSE COME OUT, WE'LL BID SEVERAL BASINS ALL AT ONE TIME.
UH, JUST BECAUSE OF THE SIZE, IT WOULD BE HARD TO, THAT WILL FINISH IT UP.
[01:15:03]
OKAY.UH, LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN BRISSON.
[20. Consider Adopting a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Contract with VHB, Inc. for the 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan for the New Bern Area MPO]
NEXT UP IS ITEM NUMBER 20.CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH VHB INC FOR THE 2050 METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLAN FOR THE NEW BERN AREA MPO MS. REBEL.
THE NEW BERN AREA MPO IS FEDERALLY REQUIRED TO UPDATE THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLAN, ALSO KNOWN AS THE MTP OR LONG RANGE PLAN EVERY FIVE YEARS.
THIS PLAN IDENTIFIES PROJECTS NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE REGION OVER THE NEXT 25 YEARS FOR ALL MODES OF TRANSPORTATION.
THE LAST MTP WAS ADOPTED IN MARCH OF 2021, WHICH REQUIRES A NEW PLAN TO BE ADOPTED BY MARCH OF 2026.
THESE TYPES OF PLANS TYPICALLY RE UM, EXCUSE ME, TYPICALLY ACQUIRE AT LEAST 12 MONTHS TO COMPLETE AND COST AN AVERAGE OF $125,000.
FUNDING FOR THIS INITIATIVE IS FUNDED 80% BY OUR PL 1 0 4 GRANT GRANT FUNDS, AND 20% BY MEMBER AGENCIES AND WOULD BE SPLIT BETWEEN TWO FISCAL YEARS.
THE MPO ADVERTISED A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR THIS PROJECT ON FEBRUARY 7TH, WE RECEIVED THREE RESPONSES OF THESE THREE.
A SELECTION COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF MEMBERS FROM THE N-P-O-N-C-D-O-T, CRAVEN COUNTY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, AND NEW BERN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INDEPENDENTLY REVIEWED EACH FIRM'S RESPONSES BASED ON THE EVALUATIVE CRITERIA IN THE RFQ AHEAD OF A MEETING ON MARCH 21ST.
AT WHICH TIME, AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION, THE SELECTION COMMITTEE RANKED VHP AS THEIR FIRST SELECTION.
THE BOARD IS ASKED TO CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR OR HIS DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH VHP ENGINEERING, UM, FOR THE 2050 METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLAN IN THE AMOUNT OF $106,000 BOARD.
HAVE QUESTIONS? AND MR. TRO, CAN YOU REITERATE WHAT OUR PORTION, WHAT NEW BERN'S PORTION IS? YES.
SO THE FUND, AS I STATED, THE FUNDING'S OVER TWO FISCAL YEARS, SO THE MAJORITY OF FUNDING HAS ALREADY BEEN, UM, EITHER OBLIGATED UNDER THIS CURRENT YEAR OR WHAT'S PROPOSED FOR NEXT YEAR.
BUT WE, IN, IN ORDER TO LEVERAGE SOME ADDITIONAL PL 1 0 4 UNOBLIGATED FUNDS, THE NEW BERNS PORTION IS ADDITIONAL $8,044 AND 60 CENTS.
THAT BUDGET ORDINANCE IS, UM, ON THE AGENDA FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AS PART OF ITEM NUMBER 23.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION, UH, MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH VHB INC.
FOR THE 2050 METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLAN FOR THE NEW BERN AREA MPO.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, MS. OVER ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN PR ALDERMAN REEL.
UH, I WOULD PROPOSE WE TAKE 21 AND 22 TOGETHER, IF THAT'S OKAY BY THE ATTORNEY.
UH, 21 IS TO CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND CLOSE THE HURRICANE DORIAN PROJECT FUND.
AND NUMBER 22 IS CONSIDERED ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND CLOSE THE TROPICAL STORM ASAY ASIS FUND.
I DON'T KNOW WHO CAME UP WITH THAT NAME, BUT I SEE YOU.
YEAH, WHATEVER IT WAS, THEY SHOULD HAVE PICKED IT.
SO NEXT, UH, FOR THESE IS MS. KIM OSTROM.
UM, FOR NUMBER 21, THE HURRICANE DORIAN FUND.
IN 2019, THE BOARD ESTABLISHED THE HURRICANE DORIAN PROJECT FUND AND THE AMOUNT OF 1.5 MILLION FEMA WAS OFFICIALLY CLOSED OUT, HAS OFFICIALLY CLOSED OUT HURRICANE DORIAN.
THE CITY SOUGHT REIMBURSEMENT FOR $1,499,864 AND 79 CENTS IN COSTS, BUT ONLY RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENT TOTALING $1,425,223 AND 1 CENTS.
THE UNALLOWABLE COST OF $74,641 AND 78 CENTS WILL BE FUNDED BY THE GENERAL AND UTILITY OPERATING FUNDS.
THIS ORDINANCE PROVIDES, UM, FOR AN INTER FUND TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND, WATER FUND, SEWER FUND, ELECTRIC FUND, AND SOLID WASTE FUNDS TO THE PROJECT, FUND, AND CLOSES OUT THE PROJECT FUND AND THEN IN,
[01:20:01]
UM, TROPICAL STORM ISAS FUND, UM, THAT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2020 IN THE AMOUNT OF $750,000.THE PROJECT IS NOW COMPLETE AND HAS A REMAINING FUND BALANCE OF $132,253 AND 42 CENTS.
THIS ORDINANCE WILL TRANSFER THE FUND BALANCE FROM THE PROJECT FUND TO THE GENERAL WATER, SEWER, ELECTRIC, AND SOLID WASTE FUNDS.
AND IT'LL ALSO CLOSE OUT THE PROJECT FUND.
JUST A QUESTION ON, UM, THE SHORTFALL ON THE FIRST ONE.
IS THIS BECAUSE OF THAT ISSUE WE HAD WITH RECORDING HOURS OR IS THIS SOMETHING ELSE? IT, IT MAY HAVE BEEN.
SO KIM, CAN YOU PROVIDE MORE DETAIL ON BOTH? UM, WE CAN PROVIDE MORE DETAIL, BUT I THINK IT DOES.
AND THEN I'M, THERE COULD ALSO BE SOME THAT THEY JUST DIDN'T APPROVE FOR REIMBURSEMENT.
DID, DID WE EVER FIX THAT ISSUE? SO THAT DOESN'T OCCUR AGAIN? THAT'S ON MY NOTES TO DISCUSS SOME NEW BUSINESS.
TO BE HONEST, WE GET TO KNOW, WE CAN ANSWER IT NOW.
UH, DID WE EVER GET OUR, DID WE EVER CHANGE OUR POLICY TO BE, TO SATISFY FEMA? I THINK THAT THAT IS STILL OUT THERE.
I DO NOT THINK THAT WE HAVE UPDATED THAT YET.
WE NEED TO BECAUSE HURRICANE SEASON IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.
SO KIM ROSE, WHO'S MANAGING THESE SAID THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT'S FOR.
SO CAN WE, UM, AT A FUTURE MEETING, I KNOW WE'VE GOT THE BUDGET PENDING, BUT AS ALDERMAN ASTOR MENTIONED, HURRICANE SEASONS HERE, WE DON'T WANNA GET CAUGHT AGAIN.
IT LOOKED LIKE THESE TWO WASHED THEMSELVES OUT CLOSE TO IT.
BUT, UM, TO AVOID THIS IN THE FUTURE, WE PROBABLY NEED TO ADDRESS THAT.
I THOUGHT, UM, COREY AND SAM HAD A POLICY DRAFTED ALREADY.
UM, ACTUALLY KIM'S GOT IT ON HER DESK FOR US TO REVIEW.
[Items 21 & 22]
OKAY.WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD ON ITEM NUMBER 21 AND 22? MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND CLOSE THE HURRICANE DORIAN PROJECT FUND AND TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND CLOSE WITH TROPICAL STORM ISAIAH FUND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ROYAL.
[23. Consider Adopting a Budget Ordinance Amendment for FY 2023-2024]
NEXT UP IS ITEM NUMBER 23.CONSIDER ADOPTING A BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR FY 2324 MS. OSTROM.
SO THIS BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT INCREASES THE MPO BUDGET BY 72,500, WHICH WAS JUST DISCUSSED IN AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 20 TO COVER THE COST OF THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLAN AND TRANSFERS FUNDS AS DESCRIBED IN THE PREVIOUS TWO ITEMS. NUMBER 21 AND 22 TO CLOSE OUT THE HURRICANE DORIAN AND TROPICAL STORM ISAS FUNDS BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS ON ITEM NUMBER 23.
MAKE MOTION THAT WE ADOPT A BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FY 2324.
HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM NUMBER 23.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ASTOR.
[24. Appointment(s)]
NEXT UP IS ITEM NUMBER 24.APPOINTMENTS THE ONLY ONE I SAW ON OUR AGENDA.
YOU HAVE ONE? UM, DO YOU HAVE I DON'T HAVE ANY ONE YET, SIR.
UH, SO IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED IN, UH, SERVING ON THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS, UH, YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND APPLY AND, UM, THAT WILL BE PASSED ON TO ALDER MCKENZIE FOR CONSIDERATION.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER APPOINTMENTS THAT I DID NOT SEE? C OKAY.
MOVING ON TO ATTORNEY'S REPORT.
[26. City Manager's Report]
REPORT.FIRST THING IS WE HAVE RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM COTTON FUNERAL HOME UNITED STATES, UH, ARMY AIR FORCE STAFF SERGEANT ROBERT EARL L FERRIS JR.
UH, HE WAS 20 YEARS OLD WHEN HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN WORLD WAR II ON DECEMBER 20TH, 1942 IN FRANCE.
HE'S RETURNING TO NORTH CAROLINA FOR BURIAL AT NEW BERN NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY IN NEW BERN.
NEW BERN POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL BE ASSISTING IN THE ESCORT, UH, THIS WEEKEND, BUT THEY HAVE REQUESTED BUS SERVICE, UH, FOR BRUCE CHAPEL TO NEW BERN MEMORIAL.
THEY DO ANTICIPATE A CROWD, AND WE HAVE DONE THIS ONE AT A TIME BEFORE, AND SO WE WANTED TO, UH, LET THE BOARD KNOW AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE AIN'T NO ISSUES WITH THAT.
SO JUST LIKE A LITTLE DIRECTION, ANY CONCERN FROM THE BOARD ON PROVIDING THAT? IT'S FROM COTTON, RIGHT? COTTON? YES.
YEAH, FROM COTTON TO NATIONAL.
I KNOW IT'S FROM RUTH'S CHAPEL.
I THINK WE, YOU LOOKED IT UP AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID LAST TIME.
IT'S, IT'S ALMOST THE SAME THING WE DO FOR THE RE ACROSS
[01:25:01]
AMERICA.SO PEOPLE CAN PARK AT ROOS CHAPEL AND THEN HAVE TRANSPORTATION ON THE CITY BUS OVER TO THE JUST CEMETERY.
TO GIVE A LITTLE CONTEXT, THIS IS A, UH, PREVIOUS MIA, UH, THAT WAS SHOT DOWN, UM, DECEMBER 20TH, 1942 IN A B 17 OVER FRANCE.
AND, UH, THEY HAVE SINCE LOCATED 'EM, UH, THE SURVIVING FAMILY.
ONE OF THEM LIVES HERE IN NEW BERN.
AND SO THAT IS WHY, UM, THEY'RE REQUESTING THE REMAINS BE BURIED AT NEW NATIONAL.
AND I'LL COVER THE REST OF THE CEREMONIES IN MY, UH, NEW BUSINESS.
SO ANYONE OPPOSED NEW DIRECTIONS? JUST DIRECTIONS.
ANYONE OPPOSED TO PROVIDING BUS SERVICE? OKAY.
ALRIGHT, THE NEXT THING, AND ALDERMAN PRILL ACTUALLY RECEIVED THIS REQUEST FROM LINDA SIMMONS.
HENRY, YOU GOT THIS IN FRONT OF YOU.
UM, MS. HENRY REPRESENTS, UM, UM, A GROUP THAT IS INTERESTED IN HAVING A HISTORICAL MARKER INSTALLED IN HONOR AND MEMORY OF MS. LORETTA SMITH, WHO DIED IN MARCH OF 2000.
SO YOU'LL SEE INFORMATION ON THE SECOND PAGE OF WHAT THEY'RE PLANNING ON PUTTING ON THE SIGN, AND ON THE THIRD PAGE YOU'LL SEE AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE HISTORICAL MARKER IS.
AND THAT'S SIMILAR TO THE, UH, JT BARBER, UM, MEMORIAL.
UM, SIMILAR TO THAT, THEY'RE PROPOSING TO PUT THIS ON CYPRESS AND BURN STREET.
THEY, THEY, WHEN WE SPOKE WITH, UM, MS. SIMMONS, UH, HER FIRST COMMENT WAS PERSONAL ON, ON PERSONAL PROPERTY OR RIGHT OF WAY.
AND SO I HAD PUBLIC WORK STAFF REACH OUT AND TALK SOME MORE, AND SHE REALLY WANTED IT TO BE WITHIN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
SO, UH, THIS BOARD HAS AS DISCUSSED MARKERS AND SIGNAGE ON CITY PROPERTY AND RIGHT OF WAY.
SO WE WANTED TO BRING THIS TO YOU, UH, TO GET YOUR DIRECTION ON HOW WE SHOULD PROCEED WITH THIS REQUEST.
UM, FOSTER THIS, THIS SIGN EXAMPLE LOOKS LIKE IT LOOKS SIMILAR TO LIKE THE STATE MARKERS, BUT IS THIS, IT IS CRAFTED AFTER THE STATE HISTORICAL MARKER? YES, BUT IT IS NOT A, A STATE MARKER.
THIS WAS, UM, THE ONE YOU SEE ON JT BARBER, I BELIEVE THAT WAS COMMISSIONED BY, UM, THIS WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE FINAL GRADUATING CLASS IN 1970 OF, OF JT BARBER.
UH, THIS GROUP, UH, THE ONES THAT ARE SPONSORING, THIS IS JT BARBER ALUMNI AND THE THETA BETA OMEGA CHAPTER OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE PLANNING ON PAYING FOR THIS MONUMENT AND INSTALLING.
SO THE, THE ACTUAL STATE MARKERS, WE HAVE SEVERAL OF 'EM AROUND THE CITY.
UM, THAT'S ON THE RIGHT OF WAY.
WHO, WHO AUTHORIZED THOSE? OR WAS THAT DONE IN THE PAST? DO YOU REMEMBER? DOT WELL, I KNOW THERE'S, THERE'S THE EBENEZER ONE THAT KEPT GETTING, I REMEMBER REVEREND JOHNSON AND, AND THE MAYOR OUTLAW, THAT ONE KEPT GETTING TORN DOWN SEVERAL TIMES AND IT'S, IT WAS RELOCATED SOMEWHERE.
BUT MY ONLY CONCERN WITH THAT IS WHY WOULDN'T THIS BE PUT ON THE PERSONAL PROPERTY ON THAT PERSON'S PRIVATE PROPERTY? WHY DOES IT HAVE TO GO ON THE RIGHT OF WAY? NOW, I DO KNOW THE RIGHT OF WAY IS BELONG, IT'S A PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, BUT IT'S ON THE CITY STREET.
SO THE CITY IS THE ONE GONNA BE MAINTAINING AND REPAIRS CORRECT.
WITH THE REPAIRS IF THAT'S SIGN GETS KNOCKED DOWN OR WHATEVER.
I THINK IF IT'S IN OUR RIGHT OF WAY, IT'S OUR PROPERTY AND RESPONSIBILITY.
UM, THAT, THAT'S THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THAT.
AND AGAIN, UM, THERE'S PERSONAL, THERE'S PRIVATE PROPERTY HERE THAT THE SIGN CAN GO UPON.
I, I DON'T UNDER, I JUST SEE THAT AS A, A PROBLEM FOR THE CITY FOR ERECTING THAT SIGN ON ON THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY.
DIDN'T WE JUST DO THIS NOT TOO LONG AGO, ANOTHER SIGN THAT WE PUT ON RIGHT AWAY? WE DID, AND I CAN'T RECALL WHAT STREET, BUT, UH, JUST OFF BROAD SOMEWHERE.
WAS IT, THAT WAS A SIGN THAT YOU, THAT THE MAYOR WAS TALKING ABOUT, CORRECT.
WAS IT GREEN CEMETERY? WAS IT THE POPEYE SIGN THAT WE DID FOR THE SIT-IN IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.
I THINK THAT'S THE ONE THAT I'M RECALLING.
WE COULD TALK, BUT IT WAS AN OFFICIAL STATE HISTORIC MARKER SIGN.
WE, WE COULD TALK TO, TO THESE, THIS GROUP TO SEE IF, IF THEY WANTED TO MAINTAIN IT OR JUST UNDERSTAND THAT IF THE BOARD GIVES PERMISSION TO LOCATE IT, YOU'RE NOT ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN IT.
SO IF IT IT'S DAMAGED, BROKEN, THEY CAN, THEY CAN COME AND COLLECT IT OR REPAIR IT.
WHAT, WHAT WARD IS THIS THAT THEY'RE PROPOSING? DO YOU KNOW? FIRST WARD.
IS IT FIRST WARD? UM, WHAT WAS THE STREET AGAIN?
[01:30:01]
IT IT IS BENE AND CYPRUS.YEAH, I THINK IT IS IN WARD ONE.
IF, IF ALDERMAN PRI AND ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO MEET, I'LL VOLUNTEER TO MEET WITH THIS GROUP AND SEE IF WE CAN TALK WITH 'EM ABOUT SOME ALTERNATIVES BEFORE WE MAKE A DECISION.
YEAH, I WOULD, I I WOULD WANT THAT BECAUSE I, I JUST THINK THAT THIS WOULD BE OPENING UP A CAN OF WORMS GOING DOWN THE ROAD FOR CITIZENS TO COME FORTH AND ASK FOR SIGNS, MONUMENTS, PLAQUES OR WHATEVER BEING WRECKED ON CITY PROPERTY.
MY CONCERN IS IT'S NOT AN OFFICIAL STATE HISTORIC MARKER.
IF IT WAS, THAT'S A, WE'VE GOT A PRECEDENT FOR THAT.
WE DON'T HAVE A PRECEDENT FOR THIS.
SHE WANTED IT IN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
AND EVIDENTLY, UM, SHE, THIS PERSON DOES NOT OWN THAT PROPERTY, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE REACHED OUT TO WHOEVER THAT PROPERTY OWNER IS, BUT HER REQUEST WAS IN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
SO IF YOU WANT TO REACH OUT, I'LL, I'LL BE HAPPY TO MEET WITH 'EM.
AND IF ANYBODY ELSE THAT MAY KNOW THIS PERSON OR FAMILY WOULD LIKE TO MEET, THAT'D BE GREAT.
ANYONE ELSE INTERESTED? I I WOULDN'T MIND MEETING EITHER.
JUST WANNA REMIND YOU, MEMORIAL WEEKEND IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.
SO OUR ANNUAL FOOT LOOSE ON THE NEW SUMMER CONCERT SERIES IS COMING UP.
THE FIRST BAND IS, UH, TRIAL BY FIRE.
ALSO THE AQUATIC CENTER AND, UH, SPLASH PAD OPENED UP THAT WEEKEND AS WELL.
AND THE SOUTH PAWS PLAY PLAY THEIR FIRST GAMES ON MEMORIAL WEEKEND AT KAFER PARK, AND THEY'RE CURRENTLY, UH, FINISHED UP THEIR RENOVATIONS.
AND SO, UM, LOOK FORWARD TO A LOT OF ACTION IN TOWN ON, UH, THE MEMORIAL WEEKEND.
DID YOU SAY MR. HUGHES, THAT CAER PARK IS COMPLETED AS WELL? OH NO, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE WORKING IT.
SO IN SECTIONS THEY'RE DOING, SO WHAT IS COMPLETED? SO THEY, THEY HAVE COMPLETED THE FENCING ON THE OUTSIDE PERIMETER AND THEY'RE CURRENTLY CONSTRUCTING THE DUGOUTS ON THE HOME AND VISITOR SIDE.
THEY'VE GOT AN INTERIOR FENCE TO PUT UP.
UH, THEY'VE GOT SOME FIELD WORK TO DO, AND THEN THEY'VE GOT THE BLEACHERS TO PUT IN.
SO THEIR PLAN IS TO HAVE ALL THAT IN PLACE BEFORE THEIR FIRST GAME MEMORIAL WEEKEND.
SO THEY'RE LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AWAY ON THAT BY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
ITS NEW BUSINESS STARTING WITH
[27. New Business.]
ALDERMAN PRILL.I HAVE A, A UH, WELL, TWO THINGS I'D LIKE TO, UH, BRING UP.
UH, MR. CHAS, IF, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
UH, WANTED TO GET AN UPDATE ON THE WALKING PATH AT HENDERSON PARK, PLEASE? YES, MA'AM.
OUR, OUR STAFF'S CURRENTLY CONSTRUCTING THAT, SO WE'VE GOT THE FRAMING UP, SO ALL OF THE SUPPORT STRUCTURE AND THE PILINGS ARE ALL IN.
AND WE'LL START DECKING THAT PROBABLY NEXT WEEK.
UM, ONCE WE HAVE THE DECKING IN, WHAT THE HANDRAILS WILL GO IN, WE'LL DO THE TIE INS AND INSTALL THE, THE LIGHTING FOR THE, FOR THE WALKWAY.
YEAH, WE HAD A CONCERN WITH THAT.
DID YOU HAVE ANY RENDITION, DRAWING, OR ANYTHING OF WHAT THE FINISHED PRODUCT WILL LOOK LIKE? I MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOMETHING THAT WAS MARKETED WITH THE DECKING MATERIAL WE USED.
SO THIS IS A THROUGH FLOW MATERIAL.
WE'RE CONCERNED WITH IT BEING IN SUCH A SHADED AREA THAT A WOOD DECK WOULD BE SLICK AND WOULD BE A HIGH MAINTENANCE CONCERN.
SO THIS'LL ACTUALLY, THE WATER WILL GO THROUGH IT, IT'LL ADD A LITTLE MORE SLIP RESISTANCE TO IT.
IT'LL ALSO ALLOW US TO MOUNT THE LIGHTING UNDERNEATH, SO IT'LL BE UPLIGHTING ON THE WALKWAY.
SO I LIGHTING IN ADDITION TO OVER, WE'VE GOT OVERHEAD AT THE STREET CORNER AT SUTTON, BUT THESE ARE COMMERCIAL LEDS.
BECAUSE THAT'S A REALLY DARK AREA.
ARE YOU PLANNING FOR MORE TREES TO BE CUT DOWN OR NO, MA'AM.
'CAUSE ON ONE SIDE OF IT, IT'S JUST A LOT OF TREES, SO, AND WE'LL HAVE A BETTER EVALUATION OF IT ONCE WE HAVE THE LIGHTING SYSTEM IN.
WE SEE HOW IT PERFORMS IN THE DARK AND WE CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THAT IF NEEDED.
[01:35:01]
THING I WANTED TO BRING UP, MAYOR, UH, I, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION REGARDING IT, BUT THAT'S THE DECOR DECORUM OF OUR MEETINGS.AND I KNOW THAT THE LAST COUPLE OF MEETINGS THAT THERE WAS BEHAVIORS THAT WERE NOT APPROPRIATE, UM, REGARDING, UM, UM, VARIOUS COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE OR A LOT OF CLAPPING, A LOT OF JEERING AT SOME OF THE MEETINGS.
UM, I KNOW YOU HOLD THAT GAVEL MM-HMM.
UM, EVERY CITIZEN SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME TO THAT PODIUM AND BE ABLE TO SPEAK, UM, UH, THROUGH THE LENS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING THROUGH WITHOUT HECKLING OR WITHOUT, UH, SOME DISRESPECTFUL MANNER.
AND I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT UP AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IT WITHOUT MEETINGS.
I'D LIKE TO, UM, REPORT TO THE BOARD TONIGHT THAT, AS YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON GETTING FUNDING FOR THE PUBLIC FISHING PIER THAT IS PROPOSED, THE BROAD STREET FISHING PIER.
UM, WE STARTED OUT WITH $120,000 OF A RP MONEY, AND I'D LIKE TO LET THE BOARD KNOW THAT, UH, LAST WEEK WE RECEIVED A PLEDGE FROM NORTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE HABITAT FOR AN ADDITIONAL $115,000.
AND I AM, UH, I HAVE TWO MORE ORGANIZATIONS, UM, THAT ARE ALSO PLEDGING MONEY.
ONE OF 'EM IS, UH, OR WELL, IS THINKING ABOUT PLEDGING MONEY, I SHOULD SAY.
ONE OF 'EM IS, UH, WAITING ON A BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING AND THEIR PLEDGE WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL $115,000 AND THE OTHER ONE HASN'T SAID YET EXACTLY HOW MUCH THEY ARE PLEDGING.
SO THE, UH, THE, THE FISHING PIER IS, IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO DO IT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
SO IT IS, WE DID GET THAT BIG PLEDGE AND IT WAS, UH, HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WE'LL RECEIVE ANOTHER ONE.
UM, ALSO REPRESENTATIVE STEVE TYSON, UM, SPOKE WITH HIM YESTERDAY AND TOLD HIM THAT WE WERE STILL NEEDING SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
SO HE WAS GOING TO CHECK AND SEE IF THERE WAS ANY MONEY AVAILABLE IN RALEIGH.
THERE'S MONEY AVAILABLE IN RALEIGH.
THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY AVAILABLE IN RALEIGH.
IT'S JUST A MATTER ON WHAT THEY DO WITH IT, BUT, UH, IT MAY BE TOO LATE FOR, YOU KNOW, THIS PARTICULAR SESSION.
BUT, UM, HE DID OFFER TO HELP PROVIDE SOME ASSISTANCE.
NO HARM IN US ASKING, SO THAT'S RIGHT.
I JUST WANT TO THANK, UM, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, UM, PUBLIC WORKS AND, UM, STORMWATER, AVERY SMITH.
UM, I HAD SOME ISSUES WITHIN WARD, UM, FIVE AND I CONTACT THOSE DEPARTMENTS AND THEY JUMPED ON IT AND THEY GOT THOSE ISSUES RESOLVED AND, UM, THE AREA LOOKS REALLY GOOD.
SO THANK YOU MR. CHILES AND MR. AVERY SMITH AND MS. JESSICA RU.
AUTUMN INVESTOR REMINDED ME TOO.
THEY, UH, AVERY AND COMPANY DID SOME WORK IN MY WARD AS WELL, SO I I APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, GOING BACK TO THE, UH, UH, WORLD WAR II VETERAN THAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, STAFF SERGEANT, UH, FERRIS, UH, HE, HIS REMAINS WILL BE FLOWN INTO THE, UH, RALEIGH DURHAM AIRPORT ON THURSDAY AND, UH, WILL BE PICKED UP WITH THE FAMILY AND, UH, COTTON FUNERAL HOME AND BE BROUGHT BACK TO COTTON.
THEY'RE EXPECTING TO, UH, GET BACK THERE, UH, BETWEEN TWO 30 AND 2 45.
THERE'LL OF COURSE BE A ESCORT, UH, FOR THEM COMING INTO TOWN.
UH, FOR THOSE THAT ARE INTERESTED ON SUNDAY AT FIVE 30 AT COTTON.
ALSO AT COTTON, THERE WILL BE A BRIEF AWARD CEREMONY.
UH, I'VE BEEN ASKED TO OFFICIATE THAT, WHERE WE WILL PRESENT SERGEANT FERRIS, UM, UH, WITH AWARDS AND THEN GIVE THOSE TO THE FAMILY.
UH, PURPLE HEART, UH, AIR MEDAL, UH, WORLD WAR II CAMPAIGN, UH, MEDAL AND, UH, WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL.
UM, AND THEN THERE WILL BE VISITATION WITH THE FAMILY FROM SIX TO 8:00 PM THAT EVENING.
THE NEXT DAY MONDAY IS THE 10:00 AM FUNERAL SERVICE AT COTTON, AND THEN HE WILL BE LAID TO REST AT NEW BERN NATIONAL WITH FULL MILITARY HONORS WITH A, UH, FUNERAL DETAIL FROM FORT BRAGG, UH, FORT LIBERTY.
UH, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THAT RIGHT NOW.
[01:40:01]
OKAY.I, I FORGOT, UH, THE MOST, I'M GONNA SAY THE, UM, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UM, IN REFERENCE TO LAKE TYLER, UM, MR. I WANTED MR. CHILES TO COME UP FROM PUBLIC WORKS TO GIVE AN, UM, UPDATE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING OVER THERE.
THE CITIZENS ARE REACHING OUT BECAUSE OF THE STREETS CONDITIONS AND, UM, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HAD THE DEVELOPERS HERE TONIGHT TO INPUT BUT TO NO AVAIL.
SO, MR. CHILDS, IF YOU CAN GIVE SOME UPDATED INFORMATION, UM, SO THAT CERTAINLY THE CITIZENS CAN KNOW WHERE THE CITY STAND IN THIS, WHERE THE DEVELOPER STANDS IN THIS.
AND JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH ST.
UM, THE FIRST PART OF THE WORK IN 2019 20, THEY DID A LARGE AMOUNT OF PIPE, UH, REPAIR, WHICH INCLUDED LINING, UM, REPAIR TO THE CATCH BASIN, STORMWATER MANHOLES, UH, PIPE REPLACEMENT.
AND THEN THERE WAS A LITTLE SLOW PERIOD AND THEN THEY DECIDED TO, UM, WE STARTED IDENTIFYING THE ROADWAY AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
WE'VE STARTED AGAIN IN 2023, MEETING WITH THEIR CONSULTANTS, THEIR ENGINEERS THAT HAVE EVALUATED THE STREETS AND HAVE BEEN MOVING FORWARD SINCE THE OCTOBER, 2023.
THEY WITH ANTICIPATED REPAIRS.
SO THEY HAVE, WE'VE MET ON SITE WITH 'EM ABOUT LOSING MAY, WHICH ACTUALLY HAS THE SECOND COAT OF ASPHALT ON IT.
THAT WOULD BE OUR FIRST ROAD TO ACCEPT.
THERE ARE SOME CONCRETE REPAIRS, UM, CURB AND GUTTER REPAIRS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED ON THERE THAT WILL STILL NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
UM, WE ALSO RECEIVED IN FEBRUARY OF 2024, A PROPOSED ROADWAY REPAIR SCHEDULE FROM ST.
SO THE FIRST ONE THEY'RE GONNA ADDRESS IS, IS LOSE MAKES, SINCE THAT'S THE FIRST ONE WE CAN ACCEPT.
AND THEN THEY'RE GONNA CONTINUE ON THROUGH A 12 MONTH PERIOD TO DO ALL THE REPAIRS.
UM, THEY ALSO HAD A ASPHALT OR ROADWAY CONDITION SURVEY DONE BY AN ENGINEER OUT OF WILMINGTON THIS JANUARY, WHICH ALSO KIND OF SOLIDIFIED OUR FINDINGS OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE ROADWAY.
AND THERE, THERE ARE MULTIPLE THINGS.
THERE'S KERMAN GUTTER FAILURES, UM, THERE'S SOME ROADWAY SUBGRADE FAILURES.
AND THEN OF COURSE MOST OF THE ROADS STILL NEED THE TOP WEARING COURSE OF ASPHALT.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE AT THAT POINT WITH THEM.
WE DID RECEIVE ON MONDAY AFTERNOON, UM, AN UPDATE FROM TYLER JOHNSON, WHO IS THEIR DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND HE SAID, UM, THAT THEY ANTICIPATE THE WORK BEGINNING ON LOSING MACE, THAT WOULD BE THOSE FINAL REPAIRS ON THERE.
UM, IN THE NEXT FOUR TO SIX WEEKS, THEY'VE ALL, THEY'VE ALREADY SELECTED THE CONTRACTOR FOR THAT WORK.
AND THEN FROM THERE THEY'RE GONNA CONTINUE THEIR WORK THROUGH THE COMMUNITY TO TRY TO FULFILL ALL THE REPAIRS IN THOSE AREAS.
SO AS IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN SLOW AS WE'RE GOING, A LOT OF THE REPAIRS THEY MADE WERE OUTTA SIGHT BECAUSE THEY WERE BLOW BELOW THE SURFACE.
AND NOW WE'RE GETTING TO THE POINT OF, OF FINISHING THE ROADWAYS BECAUSE OUR, OUR, OUR DESIRE IS TO ACCEPT THESE ROADS AT SOME POINT SOONER THAN LATER.
SO AS SOON AS THEY CAN GET 'EM TOP COATED AND THE MAJORITY OF THE REPAIRS DONE, THAT'S WHERE, WHERE WE'RE LOOKING TO DO.
NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WORK, BEGINNING TO BEGINNING OVER THERE FOR THE AREA, THAT'S THE AREAS WHERE THEY'RE STREETS AND ARE ALREADY THERE.
THE FIRST BEGINNING THAT MA'AM, THE STREETS THAT ARE ALREADY THERE.
SO COMMUNITY, SO THOSE STREETS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE 2006, MAYBE WHEN THE SUBDIVISION WAS FIRST DONE.
SO LOSING MAY IS THE FIRST ONE THAT WOULD BE A GOOD ONE BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY HAD THE SECOND COAT OF ASPHALT ON IT.
IT NEEDS THE LEASE REPAIRS THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO START THE PROCESS OF ACCEPTING SOME OF THESE ROADWAYS IN THERE FOR, FOR MAINTENANCE.
UM, SO, SO THEY HAVE GOT A PLAN.
IT LOOKS LIKE, YOU KNOW, IN THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS TO A MONTH, THEY'LL START ON DOING THOSE TO, TO WORK THEIR THROUGH WAY THROUGH.
AND THEN FROM THEIR SCHEDULE THAT THEY PROVIDED US, IT'LL BE ABOUT A 12 MONTH CYCLE TO FULFILL THE ROADS ON THE MAIN, YOU KNOW, THE MAIN BODY THAT ARE STARTING TO GET BUILT OUT, THAT WE CAN ACCEPT THEM AT THAT POINT.
LET ME ASK YOU ANOTHER QUESTION 'CAUSE YOU ARE, YOU ARE THE EXPERT IN THIS.
SO WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY COME IN AND FINISH THE ROAD, UH, I GUESS IT'S THE SEWER TRAPS THAT'S IN THE ROAD, OR WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS THAT ARE STICKING UP IN SOME OF THOSE STREETS AND IT, IT'S, IT'S A HAZARD.
AND, AND THAT WAS A PROCESS THROUGH THE, THE PAST STREET DESIGN.
SO, SO THAT, THE INTENT OF THAT WAS YOU PUT THE FIRST COURSE, UH, OR BASE COURSE ASPHALT DOWN THE HOUSES GET BUILT, THEN YOU PUT THE WEARING COURSE ON TOP OF THE ROAD.
SO DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE, YOU'RE NOT DAMAGING THE WEARING COURSE.
IN THIS CASE, THEY PUT THE BASE COURSE DOWN, THE DEVELOPMENT
[01:45:01]
WENT THROUGH FORECLOSURE AND SEVERAL DIFFERENT BANKS AND THERE WAS NEVER A TOP COURSE PUT ON, NOR WERE THERE MANY HOMES EVER CONSTRUCTED IN THE, IN THE DEVELOPMENT.SO YOU, IT IS A UNIQUE SITUATION IN THIS ONE WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE, THE DEVELOPER ENDED UP IN A BAD SITUATION AND THEN THIS AS WE GO THROUGH WITH PLATTED LOTS AND THOSE DEVELOPMENTS WE'RE JUST HAVING TO WORK THROUGH IT.
SO, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE IT'S TAKEN THIS LONG.
SO WHAT I WAS REALLY, WHAT I'M ASKING HERE IS LIKE, IS IT CAUGHT, IS THAT THE SEWER TRAP THAT'S IN THE ROAD OR IT'S A MAN, THE MANHOLE, THE SEWER MANHOLE, THE, OKAY.
BUT THAT'S WHERE THEY WOULD PUT AN INCH OF ASPHALT DOWN WHERE THE FINISH ROAD WOULD NEED TWO.
SO THE, THE MANHOLE RING IS SITTING UP AT AN INCH AND A HALF PROUD, SO IT MAKES IT LOOK LIKE IT IS A HAZARD.
UM, SO WHEN THEY FINISH THE FINISH COURSE ON IT, IT'LL BE FLUSHED WITH THE ROADWAY.
NO, IT, IT IS NOT, IT'S UNSIGHTLY AND NOT REALLY THE BEST THING FOR ROAD, BUT IT'S NOT INTENDED TO BE, TO, TO HAVE THIS KINDA LONGEVITY WITH IT.
SO THEY HAVE PROMISED THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE STARTING WITHIN THE NEXT, I'M SAY FOUR TO SIX WEEKS.
FOUR TO SIX WEEKS WAS THE, WAS THE INFORMATION WE RECEIVED FROM ST.
BURKE Y UH, YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
UM, ALONG THAT SAME LINE, I HA I HAD A NOTE TO, TO MAKE A COMMENT, UM, MR. ATTORNEY, UM, THE, THE RESIDENTS THERE SPOKE AND SAID, UM, FOR US TO CONSIDER FUTURE ALLOWING FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS BY THIS DEVELOPER.
BUT CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THIS IS A, IT'S A TECHNICAL PROCEDURE THAT THEY GO THROUGH WITH PLANNING AND ZONING.
IT NO LONGER COMES TO THIS BOARD, WHICH MADE IT POLITICAL.
NOW IT'S TECHNICAL IF SOME THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO BUILD IN THE CITY.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY CRITERIA THAT SAYS YOU CAN'T BUILD HERE BECAUSE YOUR QUALITY PRODUCT IS NOT WHAT IT SHOULD BE.
AND AS MUCH AS WE WOULD LIKE TO, 'CAUSE I KNOW ALDERMAN ASTOR WOULD LOVE TO, UM, STOP ISSUING PERMITS TO CERTAIN DEVELOPERS.
AND THERE WAS ANOTHER QUESTION.
UM, MAYOR, UM, ALSO, AND I'M THINKING I MAY BE WRONG, BUT FAR AS LAKE TYLER IS CONCERNED, WE AS A, AS A CITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, WHATEVER CAN, THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO FOR AS THE WAY THAT THAT COMPANY THAT, UH, OWNERS OF THOSE, UH, OF THAT LAND OR WHATEVER, UM, IN THAT COMMUNITY, WHAT THEY DO WITH THE HOAS.
IS THERE, THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE ATTORNEY DAVIS WE CAN DO IN REFERENCE TO THAT? NO, MA'AM.
UM, THE ONLY COMMENT I HAD, I WAS ASKED TO REMIND EVERYONE, IF YOU'VE BEEN AROUND DOWNTOWN, YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF THESE ARTISTS THIS WEEK DOING SOME PAINTINGS, UM, THAT'S CALLED THE PLAIN AIR FESTIVAL.
AND, UM, THEY HAVE THE EXHIBITION.
SO ALL THOSE PAINTINGS THAT YOU SEE THAT'S BEING DONE, THEY'RE HOUSED AT THE FARMER'S MARKET.
UH, THEY'RE OPEN DAILY, SO YOU CAN GO DOWN THERE AND BUY SOME OF THOSE.
BUT, UM, IF YOU WANT TO GO TO NC P-L-E-I-N-A-I R.ORG, SO NORTH CAROLINA PLAIN AIR.ORG, THERE'S A SCHEDULE THAT SHOWS YOU, UH, ALL THOSE ACTIVITIES.
BUT I THINK THERE'S GONNA BE A BIG SHINDIG FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE FARMER'S MARKET FOR PEOPLE TO GO LOOK AT.
SO I WAS ASKED TO SHARE THAT, SO.
[28. Closed Session.]
DO WE NEED A CLOSED SESSION? YES, SIR.UH, NEED YOU IN A CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO 1 43, UH, 3 18, 11, A THREE AND A 10.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND MOTION AND A SECOND? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? YES.
CAN WE HAVE A 10 MINUTE BREAK PLEASE BEFORE WE GO INTO CLOSED SESSION? WE CAN'T START TILL WE GET IN THERE OR WE GOING TO GO IN OUR DOWNSTAIRS CONFERENCE ROOM.
SO I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND CLOSE AND CLOSE GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? WE'RE ENCLO SESSION.
WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? MAKE A MOTION TO, TO ADJOURN.
SECOND, HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.