Jun 11, 2024 Board of Aldermen

LET US PRAY.

GOD OF RIVERS AND ROADWAYS, LONGLEAF PINES AND DOGWOODS MOCKING BIRDS AND WHOOPER WHALES IN THIS CITY WHERE JUST NOW GOVERNANCE IS HAPPENING.

AND WHERE IN JUST A LITTLE WHILE, A SYMPHONY'S MELODIES WILL SOAR INTO EVENING SKIES WHERE BREEZES MIX WITH THE FLICKER OF FIREIES.

WE KNOW THIS IS THE DAY THAT YOU HAVE MADE, WE ARE REJOICING IN IT.

HERE ARE THE SONG OF THANKSGIVING WE OFFER FOR LEADERS THAT HAVE BEEN CALLED FROM AND FOR THIS CITY.

BLESS THEM, ENDOW THEM WITH HOPE FOR THIS DAY, VISION FOR TOMORROW.

THE ABILITY TO SEE AND HEAR THE STRANGER HANDS THAT KINDLY HELP AND WISDOM DISCERNING FORWARD MOVING WAYS.

CHALLENGE US ALL AS WE LOOK AND WORK FOR A DAY WHEN THERE ARE NO MORE HOMES THAT NEED REPAIR BECAUSE OF HURRICANE FLORENCE, WHEN BACKPACKS DO NOT NEED TO BE FILLED WITH FOOD FOR THE WEEKEND, AND OVERDOSE DEATHS ARE COUNTED AS ONE IN A MILLION INSTEAD OF 80 PER 100,000 LORD, IN THIS LIFE THAT BRINGS BOTH GRIT AND GLITTER.

GUIDE US IN GOING TO THE PLACES YOU ARE ALREADY BLESSING WHERE THERE IS HEARTBREAK, BOTH OURS AND YOURS, MAY WE SEE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHANGE, POSSIBILITIES FOR GROWTH.

AND THROUGH IT ALL, MAY THE FIERCE AND FABULOUS IMAGE KNIT WITHIN EACH ONE OF US SHINE FORTH IN THE WAYS YOU CREATED FULLY AND AUTHENTICALLY.

AND MAYBE THIS IS ALREADY CLEAR GOD, BUT WE'RE PRAYING NOT ONLY FOR THESE LEADERS, BUT FOR ALL OF US, AND FOR THE WAYS IN WHICH WE ARE WOVEN TOGETHER IN THE TAPESTRY THAT MAKES UP THIS COMMUNITY.

FOR WE NEED, NOT JUST SOME OF US, BUT ALL OF US.

YOU ARE THE GOD OF THIS DAY AND ALL DAYS.

AND IT IS IN YOUR MANY NAMES WE PRAY.

AMEN.

YOU'RE ABLE TO STAND.

PLEASE DO SO AS WE PLEDGE TO FLAG OUR COUNTRY, I PLEDGE JESUS TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR MADAM CLERK, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ALDERMAN.

KRELL ALDERMAN ROYAL ALDERMAN ASTOR.

ALDERMAN BRISSON HERE.

ITEM NUMBER THREE IS TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

UM, BOARD

[3. Approve Agenda.]

ARE THERE ANY CHANGES YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE? IF NOT, UH, ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

MAKE A MOTION.

WE APPROVE THE AGENDA AS IS.

HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALDER MCKENZIE WAS A SECOND.

UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AND PETITION OF CITIZENS.

ANY OPPOSED? AGENDA IS APPROVED.

NEXT UP IS REQUEST

[4. Request and Petition of Citizens.]

UH, WE HAVE ONE TONIGHT, MR. ROLAND BOLAND OF 9 0 1 LEEWARD DRIVE IN TRENT WOODS.

THANK YOU BOARD FOR SEEING ME TODAY.

UM, JUST WANTED TO IMPLORE THE BOARD TO CONSIDER, UH, A ORDINANCE OR SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES TO, UH, NOT ALLOW THESE VAPE AND SMOKE SHOPS WITHIN A HUNDRED FEET OR A HUNDRED YARDS OF DAYCARES AND SCHOOLS.

UH, I THINK IT'S NOT A GOOD LOOK FOR OUR CITY.

I SAID BEEN SELLING REAL ESTATE HERE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND I HAVE HAD PEOPLE ASK, UH, HOW THE, THESE PLACES ARE RIGHT NEAR, UH, PLACES OF EDUCATION.

AND, UH, SMALL CHILDREN WITH THEIR BRIGHT LIGHTS.

ADVERTISING UNHEALTHY HABITS TO OUR CHILDREN, I DON'T THINK IS A POSITIVE FOR THE CITY OF NEW BERN.

AND I WOULD JUST, UH, LIKE TO, UH, ASK THAT THE CITY OF NEW BERN CONSIDER DOING SOMETHING IN REGARDS TO THAT AND MAKING AN ORDINANCE.

UH, THEY'RE PRETTY LIGHTS.

THEY'RE NICE ADVERTISEMENT.

UH, I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN.

UH, MY SON WILL BE GOING TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL NEXT YEAR.

AND EVEN ON THE WAY HERE, I NOTICED AS RIGHT BESIDE THE MIDDLE SCHOOL IN BRIGHT LIGHTS IS, UH, AN ILLEGAL LEAF THAT SITS THERE.

WHETHER YOU HAVE FEELINGS ABOUT THAT OR NOT IS EITHER WAY, BUT IT'S STILL JUST NOT A GOOD INFLUENCE FOR OUR CHILDREN.

AND I WOULD JUST ASK THAT THE CITY TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, UH, AND LOOK INTO POSSIBLY PASSING AN ORDINANCE OF THAT SORT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

I'LL, UM, I ACTUALLY HAVE SOME COMMENTS IN OUR NEW BUSINESS REGARDING THIS, SO I'LL JUST WAIT UNTIL THEN.

UM, THAT WAS ALL THE REQUEST AND PETITION OF CITIZENS.

SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE

[Consent Agenda]

[00:05:01]

CONSENT AGENDA.

WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? MAY I MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IS SECOND? HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ARTICLE 26, STORMWATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND DISCHARGE CONTROL OF APPENDIX, A LAND USE OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.

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

CONSENT AGENDA CARRIES.

NEXT UP IS ITEM NUMBER 10.

CONDUCT

[10. Conduct a Public Hearing and Consider Adopting an Ordinance to Amend Article XXVI. “Stormwater Quality Management and Discharge Control” of Appendix A Land Use” of the Code of Ordinances.]

MR. CHIS, MAYOR, I'LL BE FILLED THIS IF YOU'D LIKE.

I NOTICED GEORGE LOOKED A LITTLE SURPRISED WHEN I CALLED HIS NAME.

UM, PRIOR TO CALLED THE HEARING, I'LL, I'LL INTRODUCE THE ISSUE.

UH, YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU, UM, AN UPDATED STORMWATER ORDINANCE.

THIS IS, UM, AN ORDINANCE MANDATED BY THE STATE.

UM, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE STATE DECIDED THAT, UM, UH, ACROSS, UM, ALL THE COUNTIES, UM, WE HAD A WIDE DIVERGENCE IN HOW THESE STORMWATER ORDINANCES WERE WRITTEN.

THE RULES ARE LARGELY THE SAME, UM, LARGELY, BUT, UM, A LOT OF VARIANCES IN IN, IN HOW THEY READ AND HOW THEY'RE ORGANIZED.

UM, SO THE STATE MANDATED, UM, AN UPDATE AND, UM, AND ADDED A PROCESS THAT IS, UM, UNIQUE IN MY EXPERIENCE WHERE THEY REQUIRED THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION TO APPROVE, UH, PRE-APPROVED ALL OF THE ORDINANCES.

SO WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IS WHAT IS REQUIRED BY STATUTE AND WHAT HAS BEEN APPROVED AND AUTHORIZED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION.

UM, SUBSTANTIVELY THERE IS VERY LITTLE DIFFERENCE IN THIS MODERNIZED VERSION AND WHAT WE'VE HAD IN PLACE.

ALL OF THE METRICS THAT ENGINEERS AND DEVELOPERS WORRY ABOUT AND THINK ABOUT ARE THE SAME.

WHAT IS MUCH IMPROVED IS THE WAY THIS OR, UH, ORDINANCE IS ORGANIZED.

IT'S MUCH MORE INTUITIVE, LOGICAL, UM, ONE-STOP SHOPPING.

UM, I THINK IT'LL MAKE LIFE A LOT EASIER FOR STAFF, CERTAINLY FOR DEVELOPERS.

UM, AND AS PART OF THIS, UM, THE STATE HAS ALSO REQUIRED CERTAIN MANUALS AND, AND PROCESSES, UM, THAT, UM, ARE BUILT INTO THE CODE SO THAT, AGAIN, STAFF WILL HAVE AN EASIER TIME HANDING OUT TO DEVELOPERS AND ENGINEERS EXACTLY WHAT IS REQUIRED.

SO, WITH THAT SAID, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

THE BOARD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, I WILL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 10, PLEASE COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME, MAKE A MOTION CLOSED IN PUBLIC HEARING.

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

ANY OPPOSED? PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE NOW YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE BOARD TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE.

EXACTLY.

AND IF, IF YOU'VE TOOK A DIP INTO IT, TO, IT IS ACTUALLY JUST DIVISION ONE IS THE STORMWATER SECTION.

THAT IS THE NEW SECTION.

THE CHAPTER HAD HAD TO BE RENUMBERED, SO YOU'VE GOT A LEGAL DISCHARGE AND SOME OTHER THINGS IN THERE THAT ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE EXISTING ORDINANCE.

SO IT'S JUST DIVISION ONE.

WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? ON ITEM NUMBER 10, MAY I MAKE A MOTION TO CON TO, UM, ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ARTICLE STORMWATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND DISCHARGE CONTROL FOR THE LAND USE CODES? SECOND.

CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION APPROVING A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE AREA DAY REPORTING PROGRAM FOR YOUTH FOR PROPERTY.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE UNLESS HAVE A ROLL CALL STORY WITH ALDERMAN KENZIE.

ALDERMAN KENZIE? YES.

[11. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving a Lease Agreement with the Area Day Reporting Program for Youth for Property Located at 500 Fort Totten Drive.]

LOCATED AT 500 FORT TOTTEN DRIVE.

MR. CHILES.

GOOD EVENING BOARD, UH, MAYOR.

THIS IS A RENEWAL FOR THE AREA DAY REPORTING PROGRAM BUILDING ON FORT TOT 500 FORT TOTTEN DRIVE.

THIS WILL BE A RENEWAL OF A LONGSTANDING ONE YEAR LEASE.

UM, NONE OF THE TERMS HAVE CHANGED FROM OUR PRIOR AGREEMENTS, AND WE FOUND THIS TENANT TO BE, UH, A POSITIVE THING AT THIS, AT THIS BUILDING, AND WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS LEASE.

BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS, MR. MAYOR? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE AREA DAY REPORTING PROGRAM FOR YOUTH FOR A PROPERTY LOCATED AT 500 FORT TOTTEN DRIVE.

STARTING WITH ALDERMAN BEST? ALDERMAN BEST, YES.

LETS HAVE A ROLL CALL

[00:10:01]

[Items 12 - 14]

UH, AND ACTUALLY WE CAN LOOK AT 12, 13, AND 14 TOGETHER IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE, UH, THEY'RE VERY SIMILAR, SO I'LL READ THEM ALL.

ITEM NUMBER 12 IS TO CONSIDER DOCUMENT RESOLUTION APPROVED A UTILITY RELOCATION AGREEMENT WITH THE N-C-D-O-T FOR ELEMENT 35 6 0 1 0.24.

PROGRAM NUMBER R 4 4 63 FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA 43 CONDUCTOR.

ITEM NUMBER 13 IS THE SAME OR SIMILAR UTILITY RELOCATION AGREEMENT FOR ELEMENT 2 0 4 6 9 5 PROGRAM R 57 70 70 C FOR S 70.

AND LASTLY, ITEM NUMBER 14 IS THE SAME RESOLUTION AWARDING AN ENGINEER AGREEMENT WITH HPK ENGINEERING RELATED TO N-C-D-O-T RELOCATION AGREEMENTS, AFO MENTIONED.

SO NEXT UP, I BELIEVE MR. BOUCHARD IS HERE TO GIVE US SOME EXPLANATION FOR THESE.

GOOD EVENING.

UM, MOST OF WHAT I HAVE TO SAY IS PROBABLY REDUNDANT TO WHAT YOU JUST READ, BUT, UH, FIRST OFF IS, UH, AN AGREEMENT WITH N-C-D-O-T REGARDING THE 43 CONNECTOR TO, UH, PROVIDE ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION SERVICES.

UM, AND THAT AGREEMENT ALLOWS THE CITY TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THOSE ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES.

AND THEN SECOND OF ALL IS A SIMILAR AGREEMENT FOR N-C-D-O-T PROJECT ON HIGHWAY 70 BETWEEN THURMAN ROAD AND HAVELOCK.

SO THE NEXT SECTION OF THAT JAMES CITY PROJECT, ABOUT SIX MILES OF ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, NEED TO BE RELOCATED FOR THAT.

SO THAT'S AN AGREEMENT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THOSE SERVICES.

AND THEN THE LAST ITEM IS ENGINEERING SERVICES TO HELP US, UH, PROVIDE ALL THE, THE ENGINEERING ASSOCIATED WITH THE THE JAMES CITY PROJECT.

PAULA MCKENZIE, UM, YOU MENTIONED, UM, SEEKING OUT FOR ENGINEER.

WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE IN HOUSE THAT HAS THE CAPABILITIES OF DOING THE WORK THAT IT WOULD TAKE TO DO THIS BECAUSE SEEMS LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S AN ONGOING THING WITH THE DAILY ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE GOING ON EVERY DAY WITH THE CITY.

IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE SOMEONE IN HOUSE THAT COULD DO THAT? NOT TO THE EXTENT THAT IT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND AT THE PACE IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

IT, IT'S MUCH MORE THAN STAFF CAN, CAN PROVIDE AND BE RESPONSIVE TO N-C-D-O-T.

UM, THESE FOLKS THAT WERE HIRING, THEY NOT ONLY SPECIALIZED IN ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEMS, BUT THEY'RE ALSO SPECIALIZED IN DEALING WITH N-C-D-O-T PROJECTS.

NOW WE DO HAVE STAFF THAT FOLLOWS US ALONG AND COORDINATES AND, UM, AND ASSISTS THE ENGINEERING FIRM AS WELL AS N-C-D-O-T.

SO WE ARE STILL MANAGING THE PROJECT.

WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO, TO FOCUS EVERY SINGLE DAY, EVERY MINUTE ON THIS PROJECT BECAUSE WE'RE OPERATING THE SYSTEM, WE HAVE OTHER THINGS TO DO.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, UH, WOULD THEY BE PAYING FOR THAT AS WELL? YES, SIR.

A HUNDRED PERCENT.

THANK YOU, SIR.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THERE'S NO MORE QUESTIONS.

I MAKE A MOTION.

SURE.

UH, MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION, APPROVE A UTILITY RELOCATION AGREEMENT WITH N-C-D-O-T, UM, FOR PROGRAM NUMBER R 4 4 6 3 43 NC 43 CONNECTOR.

AND, UM, RESOLUTION APPRO APPROV OF UTILITY LOCATION AGREEMENT WITH N-C-D-O-T FOR PROGRAM.

UM, R 5 7 7 C FOR US 70 AND ADOPT RESOLUTION AWARD AND ENGINEERING AGREEMENT WITH HBK ENGINEERING RELATED TO N-C-D-O-T RELOCATION AGREEMENT PROGRAM NUMBER R 5 70 70 C FOR US 72ND.

CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SALE OF 10 10 GREEN STREET.

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

NEXT UP IS ITEM NUMBER 15.

[15. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving the Sale of 1010 Green Street.]

MR. REFUSE.

MAYOR, WE RECEIVED THE BID IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,700 FROM THE THIRD PARTY DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE INVESTMENT GROUP, UH, FOR THE PURCHASE OF THIS VACANT 0.069 ACRE PARCEL.

UM, THE TAX VALUE ON THAT PARCEL IS $5,400.

NO UPSET BIDS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.

THIS PROPERTY WAS ACQUIRED BY THE CITY AND COUNTY IN NOVEMBER OF 2023 THROUGH TAX FORECLOSURE.

IF THE PROPERTY IS SOLD FOR THIS BID, THE CITY WILL RECEIVE $867 74 CENTS, AND THE COUNTY WILL RECEIVE $1,832

[00:15:02]

26 20 6 CENTS FROM THE PROCEEDS.

DOES THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? CAN WE DO ALL THREE OF 'EM? UM, SURE.

THIS, UH, ITEM NUMBER 16 IS CONSIDERED ING RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PURCHASE OF 24 AVON STREET.

MR. WILLIAMS, YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT THAT ONE? UM, YES.

MAYOR, THE, UH, OWNERS OF THE CLOUDS, THEY APPROACHED US REGARDING, UH, THE PURCHASING OF THIS PARCEL, WHICH IS ONE, UH, 0.195 ACRE.

UH, IT'S ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE, UH, HENDERSON PARK.

AND WE COULD UTILIZE THAT, UH, PROPERTY FOR, UH, TO SERVE FOR ADDITIONAL UNIMPROVED, UM, AREA.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I, I JUST REALIZED ONE OF THESE IS THE SALE ONES A PURCHASE.

LET'S, LET'S TAKE THEM SEPARATELY.

SO ITEM NUMBER 15 WAS THE ONE THAT, UH, MR. HUGHES DESCRIBED, AND THAT WAS TO AUTHORIZE THE SALE OF 10 10 GREEN STREET.

MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE SALE OF 10 10 GREEN STREET.

NUMBER 16 IS THE ONE THAT MR. WILLIAMS JUST DESCRIBED, AND THAT'S, UH, PARCEL THAT'S ADJACENT TO HENDERSON PARK THAT, UH, STAFF HAS RECOGNIZED WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR FUTURE EXPANSION AND PLANS.

HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONETHELESS, HAVE A ROLL CALL STORY WITH ALDERMAN ASTOR.

[16. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving the Purchase of 24 Avant Street.]

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.

AND THE, UH, PURCHASE, UH, PRICE THAT OFFERED FOR US WAS, UH, 4,000.

AND THE, UH, THE CURRENT TAX VALUE ON THAT PROPERTY IS 7,200.

YEAH.

MAY I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF 24 AVEN STREET? SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? YES.

YES, MA'AM.

THAT PROPERTY IS BEING PURCHASED BY THE CITY, CORRECT? CORRECT.

YES, MA'AM.

ALL RIGHT.

17 IS CONSIDERED AN ORDINANCE FOR THE DEMOLITION OF 1300 CLARK AVENUE.

HEARING OTHER COMMENTS AS I HAVE A ROLL CALL, STARTING WITH ALDER MCKENZIE.

[17. Consider Adopting an Ordinance for the Demolition of 1300 Clark Avenue.]

MR. ZEL, GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR AND BOARD.

GOOD EVENING.

THIS EVENING, STAFF IS SEEKING THE APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE TO DEMOLISH THE DWELLING UNIT IN ANY ACCESSORY STRUCTURES LOCATED AT 1300 CLARK AVENUE.

STAFF HAS SENT THE OWNER OF RECORD AN INITIAL MINIMAL HOUSING LETTER ON JULY, UH, JULY 14TH, 2023, STATING THAT THE DWELLING LOCATED AT 1300 CLARK AVENUE HAD DEFICIENCIES VIOLATING THE CITY'S MINIMUM HOUSING CODE.

STAFF HAS ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE OWNERS VIA THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE.

NO WORKING PHONE NUMBERS OR EMAIL OR RELATIVES WERE IDENTIFIED DURING OUR INVESTIGATION.

STAFF HAS FILED A COMPLAINT AND NOTICE OF HEARING ON JANUARY 2ND, 2024, WITH CONFIRMED DELIVERY OF THESE COMPLAINTS.

NONE OF THE DEFENDANTS OR RESPONDENTS RESPONDED TO THE JANUARY 17TH HEARING ON JANUARY 19TH, 2024, THE ORDER OF THE BILLING INSPECTOR WAS SERVED TO THE OWNERS TO BRING THE DWELLING BACK INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE MINIMAL HOUSING STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY CHAPTER 38 OF THE CODE WITH AN EXPIRATION DATE OF MARCH 17TH, 2024.

TO DATE, THERE HAS BEEN NO FURTHER CONTACT FROM THE OWNERS, NO PERMITS HAVE BEEN APPLIED FOR, AND THE DWELLING REMAINS NONCOMPLIANT AT THIS TIME.

THE DEMOLITION ESTIMATE FROM PUBLIC WORKS FOR THIS PROPERTY IS $7,447, NOT INCLUDING ASBESTOS TESTING AND ABATEMENT THAT WILL STILL BE NEEDED.

UTILITY DETERMINATIONS FOR THIS PROPERTY HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.

STAFF PLANS TO UTILIZE FUNDING FROM THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM FOR THIS DEMOLITION A COMPLETE LIST OF THE, THE CHRONOLOGICAL EVENTS AND OF THE RELATED PROPERTY, AS WELL AS PICTURES ARE IN YOUR PACKAGES IN FRONT OF YOU.

COURT HAVE QUESTIONS? YES.

I I DO.

I REALLY HATE TO SEE THIS PROPERTY BE DEMOLISHED.

IS THIS, AND YOU DID SAY THAT YOU COULD NOT CONTACT ANY OF THE OWNERS, IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY.

SO MY NEXT, UM, QUESTION WOULD BE, WOULD IT, WOULDN'T THIS BE A GOOD PROPERTY FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO TAKE ON WITH, WITH THEIR CONTRACTORS TO RESTORE OR REMODEL THIS HOME? IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THEM TO DO THAT.

THE PROBLEM IS YOU STILL HAVE TO GET THE OWNERS TO SELL THE PROPERTY OR DONATE THE PROPERTY RIGHT.

TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.

WE CAN'T GET ANYBODY TO RESPOND ON FIXING THINGS, ARE YOU SAYING THAT WE SHOULD MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE IT FROM 'EM TO SEE IF WE GOT A RESPONSE THAT WAY? EXACTLY.

RIGHT.

THAT WAS MY NEXT STATEMENT IS, IS THAT SOMETHING I I I JUST HATE TO SEE THIS, THIS STRUCTURE BE DEMOLISHED WHEN IT, IT CAN BE SAVED.

UM, SO I, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HAVING IT BEING DEMOLISHED.

I, I GUESS THE, THE LEGAL CONUNDRUM IS WE DON'T HAVE OWNERSHIP.

AND IF

[00:20:01]

DIDN'T, DIDN'T YOUR PACKET SAY THAT IT WAS UNDER COUNTY FORECLOSURE? I BELIEVE IT IS UNDER THE TAX FORECLOSURE PROCESS AS WELL.

BUT AGAIN, THOSE PROCESSES COULD TAKE SEVERAL MORE YEARS TO COME TO FRUITION.

AND IT WOULD BE THE SAME RESULT WHERE IT WOULD COME TO THE CITY AND THEN FROM THERE, THE CITY CAN DETERMINE WHAT THEY WANT TO DO IT AFTER THAT TAX FORECLOSURE PROCESS? YES.

IF THE TAX FORECLOSURE PROCESS IS DRAGGING OUT, IT'S BECAUSE THEY CANNOT FIND THE OWNERS.

AND THEN SCOTT WOULDN'T IF AT THAT POINT IT BECOME A NO OWNER'S PROPERTY? NO, MA'AM.

UM, YEAH, IT, IT, IT, IT'S GONNA DRAG ON AND ON UNTIL THEY FIGURE OUT A HUMAN THAT HAS AN INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY.

IT WAS A PLEASURE OF THE BOARD.

ON ITEM NUMBER 17, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT AN ORDINANCE FOR THE DEMOLITION OF 1300 CLARK AVENUE.

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN BEST, ALDERMAN BEST NO.

ALDERMAN BRINSON? YES.

ALDERMAN ASTOR.

ADOPTING A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CLASSIFICATION PAY PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 25.

ALDERMAN KENZIE? YES.

MAYOR ODA? YES.

MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU, PATRICK.

ITEM NUMBER 18 IS CONSIDER

[18. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving the Classification Pay Plan for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.]

MS. HAYES, GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TONIGHT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THE PROPOSED CLASSIFICATION PAY PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 25.

IN THE MEMO THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU, I HAVE OUTLINED ALL OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES AND ALSO JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE AWARE, IT'S IN THE MEMO AS WELL.

THE PAY PLAN IS PROPOSED TO INCREASE BY 2% AS A RESULT OF THE PROPOSED COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT.

I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

IF NOT, I'M ASKING THAT YOU ADOPT THE RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED PAY PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 25.

ALDERMAN KINZIE, MS. HAYES? YES.

UM, THE STUDIES THAT WE HAVE HAD, HAD DONE IN THE PAST STILL PUTS US BEHIND.

WE HAVE NOT CAUGHT UP YET.

AND I'M NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH THE 2% DUE TO THE GAS PUMP AND GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE.

I'M A CANDIDATE AS WELL AS THE EMPLOYEES THAT WORKS FOR THE CITY.

UM, IT COSTS ME TOO.

UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW EVERYONE ELSE THINKS ABOUT OTHERS, BUT, UM, WITH THE WAY THAT WE ARE GOING AND THE WAY THAT WE ARE CONDUCTING OURSELVES AND TRYING TO CATCH UP, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE ARE GONNA NEVER CATCH UP TO EQUAL OUT THE PLAYING FIELD.

THAT ALL THE EMPLOYEES WILL BE PAID CORRECTLY.

UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY COMES AVAILABLE, THEY WILL LEAVE US TO GO TO ANOTHER PLACE THAT WOULD PAY THEM THE MONEY.

AFTER WE'VE PUT IN ALL THE TRAINING AND PAID THE MONEY FOR THE TRAINING FOR THE, THE INDIVIDUAL, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A 4% SET OR 2% BECAUSE IF YOU WOULD DO THE MATH AND SEE ACTUALLY WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET AT THE END OF THAT DAY AND THEY REALLY AIN'T GETTING NOTHING.

I MEAN, UM, I JUST LIKE FOR THAT TO BE RECONSIDERED.

I MEAN, WE SAY THAT WE LOVE OUR EMPLOYEES.

THEY'RE THE ONES THAT IS THE FACE OF THE CITY.

THEY'RE THE ONES THAT WORK REAL HARD.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT EACH EMPLOYEE MAKE, BUT I KNOW THEY DON'T MAKE WHAT DEPARTMENT HEADS MAKE.

AND, UM, THEY HAVE FAMILIES TOO THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

UM, THAT IS JUST SOMETHING THAT I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE THOUGHT OUT CORRECTLY AND LOOKED AT.

BECAUSE IF YOU'RE BEHIND AND YOU STEADY STAND BEHIND, WHEN WHEN WILL YOU CATCH UP? YOU KNOW? UM, THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT BE RECONSIDERED BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A GUY THAT'S MAKING $30,000 OR $40,000 AND YOU LOOK AT THAT 2%,

[00:25:02]

DO THE MATH SEND WHAT YOU THINK HE'S GONNA TAKE HOME.

YOU KNOW, UM, THESE GUYS REALLY GIVE US A LOT, YOU KNOW? UM, AND I JUST THINK THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE SOMEBODY TELLING THAT THEY LOVE THE LORD, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO PRAY .

BUT THAT'S ANOTHER CONVERSATION FOR ANOTHER DAY.

BUT WE NEED TO CONSIDER AND SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO FOR THE EMPLOYEES TO BRING THEM UP TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

BECAUSE IF WE KEEP DOING THIS HERE, WE ARE GONNA NEVER CATCH UP.

THE NEXT YEAR WE'LL BE DOING THE SAME THING.

THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHT.

I'M NOT UPSET WITH NOBODY.

I JUST LIKE FOR EVERYBODY, I GO TO THE PUMP TOO.

I GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, EVERYTHING'S GONE UP.

BUT YOUR WAGES, I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR 17 YEARS.

WE EVEN NEVER HAD A RAISE BECAUSE MY COLLEAGUES DON'T VOTE FOR THAT.

I CAN SPEAK WITH THEM, YOU KNOW ABOUT THEM, BUT, UM, WE SPEAK FOR THE EMPLOYEES TOO, .

BUT WHEN WE, I GUESS MY OPINION IS TO TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE THAT TAKE CARE OF THE CITY.

THE CITY IS GROWING EVERY DAY.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

WE NEED TO KEEP UP, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? YOU NEED TO PAY YOUR WAY.

THANK YOU .

UM, OWEN MCKENZIE, UM, THE STATEMENT YOU JUST MADE NOW, YOU SAID YOUR COLLEAGUES DON'T VOTE FOR RAISES.

I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I HAVE VOTED FOR RAISES BEFORE.

THANK YOU, MS. BEST, YOU ARE SO KIND TO, TO BRUSH MY MEMORY UP.

AND, AND I TOO AGREE WITH YOU.

I, I, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT SHE'S ASKING FOR US TO APPROVE THIS, UM, THIS, UH, RECLASSIFICATION PLAY PAY PLAN.

YES, MA'AM.

SO THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, GET THIS 2% AND I CONCUR WITH YOU.

I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE THE EMPLOYEES 4% AS WELL.

THAT IS SO KIND OF YOU.

SO HAVE YOU TOLD THE OTHER GUYS TO DO THE SAME THING? TOLD WHAT OTHER GUYS YOU REMEMBER YOU JUST SAID, I SAID MY COLLEAGUES.

THAT'S NOT MY RIGHT TO TELL ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL WHAT THEIR PREFERENCE MAY BE OF VOTING.

I'M JUST, BUT I'M, I'M BEING HAPPY.

I'M JUST CORRECT.

I KNOW YOU ARE.

I'M JUST BEING HAPPY.

I KNOW YOU ARE.

I'M, I JUST MAKE THAT CORRECTION.

SO, SO I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR ON, ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, THIS IS TO CHANGE THE CLASSIFICATION PAY PLAN.

THIS WOULD MOVE ALL THE NUMBERS UP AN ADDITIONAL 2% IN ADDITION TO THE 2% THAT'S IN FRONT OF US.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? WE GO FROM TWO TO FOUR, I ADD 2% TO THAT WOULD MAKE IT 4%.

I'M GLAD YOU SAID THAT.

YEAH, YOU JUST MADE MY BRAIN WORK A LITTLE BIT.

WHAT IS THE FUND BALANCE? GIVE ME AN ESTIMATE ON THAT.

COULD YOU DO THAT FOR ME PLEASE? BECAUSE THIS IS DAY TO DAY OPERATIONAL STUFF.

SO WHILE, WHILE SHE'S LOOKING AT THAT, I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR.

SO THIS IS ABOUT CHANGING THE PAY PLAN.

AND INSIDE THE PROPOSED BUDGET, THE MANAGER HAS A 2% COLA OR SALARY INCREASE FOR EVERYONE.

ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU WANT THAT TO CHANGE TO 4%? YES, SIR.

FROM TWO TO FOUR, KIM, YOU BETTER START GETTING YOUR CALCULATOR OUT AND START CRUNCHING SOME NUMBERS BECAUSE, SO, SO WHILE KIM IS LOOKING UP THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT ON FUND BALANCE, UM, TO DO A 4% INCREASE, TOTAL 4%, YOU'RE LOOKING AT TOTAL OF AN ADDITIONAL MILLION, 2% WAS HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.

UM, SO WHILE KIM IS LOOKING AT TOTAL FUND BALANCE, I CAN GO AHEAD AND TELL YOU UNRESTRICTED FUND BALANCE WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, AS, AS OF THE AUDIT, UH, UM, AND, AND THE ESTIMATED NUMBERS ON MARCH 31ST, 2024, UNRESTRICTED UNASSIGNED IS $6.9 MILLION.

UM, NOW WE HAVE MUCH MORE THAN THAT, BUT THAT IS WHAT HAS IS, IS UNASSIGNED.

AND, BUT THE BOARD CAN CHOOSE TO DO WHATEVER THEY WISH TO WITH THAT.

BUT I DO WANT TO REMIND YOU, AS WE TALKED ABOUT THIS DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, THIS IS ONE REASON WHY I ASK FOR A 3 CENT INCREASE.

UM, I DO NOT RECOMMEND CONSISTENTLY PULLING FROM FUND BALANCE TO BALANCE THIS BUDGET.

UM, NEXT YEAR, THIS IS GONNA COME BACK TO US AGAIN.

SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS FOR YOU.

AND IT'S NOT THAT EVERYONE SUPPORTS OUR CITY EMPLOYEES, BUT IF THIS IS GONNA HAPPEN, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A FIX IN PLACE MOVING FORWARD.

WHERE, WHERE THIS IS SELF-SUPPORTED.

I LIKE TO MAKE ANOTHER COMMENT.

MY UNDERSTANDING

[00:30:01]

IS PAY YOUR WAY.

IF WE SEE THAT, WE CANNOT DO THAT WHEN YOU GO TO THE PUMP OR GO TO THE STORES OR, UH, THEY RAISE THE PRICES.

SO IF THE PRICES HAVE TO BE RAISED TO MEET THE NEED, THAT IS THE PROPER THING TO DO.

I MEAN, UH, I MIGHT BE MISSING IT HERE OR SOMETHING.

I MEAN, I'M TRYING TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING HERE.

I MEAN, IF YOU HAVE TO RAISE THE, THE TAXES TO MEET THE SERVICE, WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE FIVE? LET'S SAY WE GOT FIVE TRUCKS AND WE CAN'T MEET, UH, THE BUDGET, SO WE GONNA LET ALL FIVE OF 'EM STAY BROKE DOWN.

NO THREE GONNA BE BROKE DOWN AND TWO'S OPERATING TO OPERATE THE WHOLE CITY.

SO IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE GONNA CONSTANTLY DO ALL THE TIME? WE HAVE TO THINK OUT OF THE BOX.

I THINK WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

I MEAN, NOBODY WANTS TO RAISE TAXES, BUT IF YOUR CITY IS GROWING AND YOU HAVE A NEED THERE, UM, YOU TRY TO MEET THE NEED TO PRESENT A SERVICE.

IS THAT WHAT IT'S CALLED? A SERVICE? OR YOU SIT BACK AND SAY, MAN, I CAN'T DO THAT, MAN.

YOU KNOW, I JUST CAN'T DO THAT.

THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU GOT TO DO.

WE SAT IN A SEAT THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE A HARD DECISION.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM.

ARE WE GONNA DO THE RIGHT THING? DO THE RIGHT THING.

AN OLD MAN TOLD ME A LONG TIME AGO, IF YOU WANT TO DO PENNIES AND KEEP FEEDING THE MONKEY PEANUTS, HEY, WHAT YOU GOING TO GET A MONKEY .

SO WHAT WE GONNA DO? LET'S DO THE RIGHT THING.

THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TO DO.

OLIVER BRESSON, MR. CITY MANAGER FOR THE BUDGET THAT YOU, UH, ARE NOW PROPOSING IN NUMBER 20, HOW MUCH FUND BALANCE IS BEING USED TO BALANCE THAT BUDGET AND THE PROPOSED BUDGET, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER 20, FUND BALANCE $882,675.

AND SO WHAT, AND THAT'S MAKING THE ASSUMPTION THAT THAT THERE IS GONNA BE A 1 CENT INCREASE, WHICH IS JUST UNDER HALF MILLION DOLLARS.

WHAT NUMBER DID YOU GET? UH, THAT, UH, IS AVAILABLE BUT IT'S GONNA BE LEFT OVER.

SO WE'VE RUN THIS A RECORDER AND THE LAST ONE WAS JUST UNDER SEVEN.

NO, UM, THERE'S, IT'S JUST AN ESTIMATE.

THIS IS JUST AN ESTIMATE THAT WE ARE GETTING.

CAN YOU TURN ON YOUR MIC? TURN YOUR, SORRY.

UM, ABOUT JUST UNDER 7 MILLION IS UN IS UNRESTRICTED UNRESTRICTED FUNDS THAT'S GONNA BE LEFT OVER? NO.

THAT'S HOW MUCH IS IN FUND BAIL, ESTIMATED FUND BALANCE ESTIMATE.

YOU KNOW, JOHNNY, I I, THERE'S NOBODY HERE THAT WOULD LOVE TO GIVE THE EMPLOYEES OF A BIGGER RAISE THAN ME.

UH, BUT I YOU, YOU MADE THE STATEMENT THAT YOU GO TO THE GAS PUMP AND YOU PAY MORE.

YOU GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, YOU PAY MORE, UH, YOU GO BUY CLOTHES AND YOU PAY MORE.

AND SO DO EVERY ONE OF OUR CITIZENS, THEY'RE IN THE SAME BOAT THAT YOU'RE IN.

AND THE BURDEN AT THIS POINT IN TIME WOULD BE ON THEM.

IF WE RAISE THE TAXES THEY PAYING FOR A SERVICE.

YOU KEEP FORGETTING.

IT'S A SERVICE THAT THE CITY RUN THAT THE PEOPLE PAY FOR.

SO EVERYBODY HAS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS.

EVERYBODY HAS TO PARTICIPATE TOGETHER.

I JUST, I WANT TO, I WANNA SHARE A COUPLE FIGURES WITH YOU THAT YOU CAN PONDER ON.

UM, I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT GENERAL FUND RIGHT NOW.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT ENTERPRISE FUNDS IN THE GENERAL FUND.

OUR SALARIES AND BENEFITS AS A PERCENT TO OUR REVENUE FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS HAS AVERAGED 73%.

THIS PROPOSED BUDGET IS 84%.

HOW MUCH HAVE THE CITY GROWN? HOW MANY NEW HOUSES THAT WE HAVE COME UP WITH? HOW MUCH, HOW MANY NEW HOUSES COME UP THIS YEAR VERSUS LAST YEAR? WELL, THIS, THIS NUMBER THAT I'M GIVING YOU IS A PERCENT.

AND THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE GROWTH THAT WE'VE HAD.

THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MARKET PAY STUDY.

SO THAT WE'RE, WE'RE GROWING.

WE'RE PAYING.

I THINK IT'S A LITTLE DISINGENUOUS TO SAY THAT WE HAVEN'T PAID THE EMPLOYEES WHEN WE JUST HAD A SALARY STUDY.

AND WHAT WAS THE AVERAGE INCREASE THAT WE DID OVER THE LAST TWO BUDGET CYCLES? SOME OF 'EM WERE DOUBLE DIGITS, RIGHT? CORRECT.

WE DID GET, UH, COST FOR LIMIT ADJUSTMENTS AND MERIT INCREASES.

AND THEN YES, LAST YEAR WE DID

[00:35:01]

SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE REVENUE THAT WE BRING IN, WHICH TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE AVALOR, THE, THE GROWTH THAT WE'VE HAD TAKES IN ALL OF THAT.

MM-HMM.

FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS, WE'VE AVERAGED 73.

SO IF YOU WANNA LOOK AT IT SIMPLIFIED, 73 CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR THAT THE CITY TAKES IN, WE PAY THAT INTO EMPLOYEES.

THIS BUDGET WITH THE 2% THAT'S FACTORED IN TAKES THAT 73 CENTS TO 84 CENTS.

SO THAT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OF AMOUNT.

BUT WE'RE STILL BEHIND.

CORRECT? WE'RE STILL BEHIND.

WE STILL HAVEN'T CAUGHT UP.

WOULD THE EMPLOYEES PAY? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO? WE HADN'T CALLED UP.

THAT'S YOU TALKING, THAT'S YOU TALKING I I'M NOT, I I ASKED THE QUESTION.

I'M NOT TALKING.

ARE YOU REFERRING TO I DIDN'T SAY THAT.

WE HAVEN'T CALLED UP WITH THE EMPLOYEES PAY.

IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT? WE HADN'T CAUGHT UP.

WE DID A STUDY TO FIND OUT WHERE WE ARE ON THE PAY SCALE AND PAYING PEOPLE TO WORK FOR THE CITY OF NEW BERN.

RIGHT.

WE ARE BEHIND IN CATCHING UP WITH OTHER CITIES TO PAY THE EMPLOYEES CORRECTLY.

WELL, ACCORDING, I MEAN WE PAID A HUNDRED PERCENT OF EVERYBODY OF THE RECOMMENDED SALARY INCREASE TO EVERY EMPLOYEE IN THE CITY OF NEWBURN, BUT TO FOR TWO.

SO WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME IS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE AN INTEREST IN YOU.

YOU SAY YOU HAVE AN INTEREST LOOKING FOR THEM, BUT YOU ARE CHALLENGING ME TO TELL ME, WHERE WE I WHERE WE AT? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TRUTH.

NO, YOU DON'T WANNA MAKE SURE ANYTHING WE, I'M NOT GONNA SAY ANYTHING ELSE.

IT'S RIDICULOUS.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO, MAN.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

I'M A BIG MAN.

MCKENZIE, DO YOU WANNA MAKE A MOTION TO TAKE THE 2% UP TO 4% AND SEE WHAT YES SIR.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO TAKE, TO TAKE THE, UH, 2% UP TO 4%.

WELL, BEFORE YOU MAKE THAT MOTION, I, BEFORE WE APPROVE THAT MOTION, MY REASONING FOR MOVING TWO, THE 2% COLA TO 4% WAS, WAS BECAUSE EMPLOYEES WAS NOT GONNA GET A MERIT INCREASE THIS YEAR.

THAT'S WHY I SUGGESTED WENT ALONG WITH YOU FOR 4%.

IF YOU CAN'T DO 4%, LET'S DO 3%.

BUT THAT WAS MY REASONING FOR STATING THAT I AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT THE 4%.

'CAUSE THERE WAS, THERE WILL BE NO MERIT INCREASE THIS YEAR FOR NEXT BUDGET YEAR.

JUST SO I'M CLEAR, ARE YOU SECONDED IN HIS MOTION? UM, FOR 4%? YES MA'AM.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND TO INCREASE THE SALARY ADJUSTMENT FROM 2% TO 4%.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I'LL, I'LL JUST MAKE A STATEMENT SINCE I'M GONNA VOTE AGAINST THIS THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD IT.

I KNOW THAT, UH, ALDERMAN KENZIE IS REPEATEDLY SAID THAT THERE'S 7 MILLION IN THE, UH, UH, UNRESTRICTED FUND BALANCE, BUT AGAIN, THAT'S ONLY 13%, WHICH IS, UM, PRETTY CLOSE TO OUR GOAL OF WHAT WE NEED TO KEEP IN THERE.

UH, REMIND EVERYONE THAT HURRICANE SEASON IS COMING UP AND, UH, WE CAN'T, I DON'T WANT TO RAISE TAXES, SO I'LL BE VOTING AGAINST THE BUDGET AS WELL.

UM, SO I JUST WANT TO EXPLAIN WHY I'M VOTING ON.

I LIKE THE WAY HE SAID HURRICANE SEASON.

WE HAD THREE EMPLOYEES THAT WAS WORKING DURING THE LAST HURRICANE THAT LOST JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING THEY HAD AND THEY WAS TRYING TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, AND THEY COULDN'T EVEN AFFORD TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.

JUST WANTED TO THROW THAT IN ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL.

STERN WITH ALDERMAN ASTOR.

ALDERMAN ASTOR.

AND WHAT, WHAT IS THE NINTH? IS THE RATE FROM TWO TO 4%? YES SIR.

NO.

ALDERMAN KENZIE? YES.

ALDERMAN VEST? YES.

ALDERMAN BRISSON, NO.

EXCUSE ME.

MAYOR ODOM.

NO.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT HERE.

UM, SO IT GETS, IT GETS THE CHANCE FOR PEOPLE TO SEE EXACTLY WHERE YOUR HEARTS ARE, WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THESE PEOPLE WHEN THEY TELL YOU A LIE.

I LOVE YOU.

I BELIEVE IN YOU.

I WORK FOR YOU.

YOU GET A CHANCE TO SEE IT COME OUT OF THEIR MOUTH AS WELL AS MINE.

I'M A BIG ENOUGH MAN TO STAND FOR WHAT I BELIEVE IN AND WHAT I DO.

OKAY? UM, I'M A LITTLE OUTTA CHARACTER RIGHT NOW, BUT I'M NOT AFRAID OF ANYTHING.

ALSO THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD.

ON ITEM NUMBER 18, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DOCK RESOLUTION APPROV CLASSIFICATION PAY PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 25.

HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SCHEDULE, EXCUSE ME.

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

ALDERMAN KENZIE.

NO.

ALDERMAN BEST? YES, PLEASE.

[00:40:01]

NEXT UP IS ITEM NUMBER 19.

CONSIDER

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

SCHEDULE OF FEES AND CHARGES.

MS. OSTROM AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, THE BOARD ANNUALLY ADAPTS IN AMENDED SCHEDULE OF FEES AND CHARGES.

EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2024.

THE FY 24 25 REVENUE PROJECTIONS INCLUDE THE CHANGES TO THE FEES AND CHARGES WHICH ARE IDENTIFIED IN THE RED LINE VERSIONS IN SECTIONS.

ONE FOR ADMINISTRATION, TWO CEMETERIES, THREE, FIRE, FIVE PARKS AND RACK.

NINE.

PUBLIC WORKS.

10 REFUGE AND 11 UTILITIES FOR ELECTRIC WATER AND SEWER IS REQUESTED.

THE BOARD CONSIDER ADOPTING THE ORDINANCE, AMENDING THE SCHEDULE OF FEES AND CHARGES.

BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS ON END OF NUMBER 19.

MAY I MAKE A MOTION? WE ADOPT THE ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SCHEDULE FOR OF FEES AND CHARGES.

ADOPTING THE BUDGET ORDINANCE FOR FY 24 25.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE UNLESS HAVE ROLL CALLS.

RING WITH ALDERMAN BEST? ALDERMAN BEST? YES.

[20. Consider Adopting the Budget Ordinance for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.]

MS. OSTROM, THE CITY MANAGER PRESENTED THE FY 25 PROPOSED BUDGET TO THE BOARD ON MAY 14TH.

BUDGET WORKSHOPS WERE HELD MAY 21ST AND 22ND.

A PUBLIC HEARING WAS CONDUCTED ON MAY 28TH, AT WHICH TIME NO ONE FROM THE PUBLIC OFFERED COMMENT.

THIS ORDINANCE REFLECTS THE CHANGES REQUESTED DURING THE BOARD WORKSHOPS AND INCLUDES THE 2% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR ALL EMPLOYEES IN A PROPERTY TAX RATE INCREASE OF 1 CENT REFLECTING 39 CENTS PER A HUNDRED DOLLARS.

VALUATION.

VALUATION BUDGETS ARE BALANCED AND APPROPRIATED AS FOLLOWS.

THE GENERAL FUND WITH $49,198,272 MUNICIPAL SERVICE DISTRICT FUND FOR 466,200.

THE WATER FUND FOR $12,807,689 SEWER FUND FOR $13,433,013 ELECTRIC FUND, $64,678,577 EMPLOYEES BENEFIT INSURANCE FUND FOR $8,538,900.

EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SYSTEM FUND FOR $112,350 POLICE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND FOR $30,000.

PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS FUND $10,000 WATER CAPITAL RESERVE FUND, $15,000.

THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION FUND FOR $282,542.

EQUITABLE SHARING US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FUND, $23,035 SOLID WASTE FUND.

4,707,000 REDEVELOPMENT FUND.

$43,150.

IT IS REQUESTED THAT THE BOARD CONSIDER ADOPTING THE FY 24 25 ANNUAL BUDGET ORDINANCE.

MR. BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS ON ITEM NUMBER 20.

UH, YES I DO.

UM, YOU'RE SAYING THAT HERE IS SAYING THAT, SO WE'LL BE VOTING ON A 3 CENT RATE INCREASE FROM 38 TO UH, POINT 41.

BUT THEN YOU DOWN HERE YOU'RE SAYING A 1 CENT TAX RATE INCREASE.

OH, IN THE MEMO, YES.

READING FROM THE MEMO, THE MEMOS.

THAT'S WHAT WE STARTED WITH, WITH THE CITY, UH, MANAGER ORIGINALLY PROPOSED.

AND THEN, THEN IT WENT INTO THE NEXT STATEMENT WAS THAT WE MADE THE ADJUSTMENTS, UM, ACCORDING TO THE BOARD WORKSHOPS, WHAT WAS OKAY.

SUGGESTED TO ONE SECOND.

THE BOARD ON ITEM NUMBER 20.

MAY I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE BUDGET ORDINANCE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 THROUGH 2025? SAY IT.

ORDINANCE TO AMEND ENCLOS, THE MARTIN MARIETTA PARK PROJECT FUND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN BRINSON.

MOTION CARRIES THREE TO TWO.

NEXT UP IS ITEM NUMBER

[Items 21 - 24]

21.

UH, AND I'VE GOT A NOTE THAT 21, 22, 23 AND 24 CAN ALL BE CONSIDERED TOGETHER.

UH, SO I'LL SUMMARIZE THOSE AS BEST I CAN AND THEN LET MS. OSMAN PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

SO ITEM NUMBER 21 IS TO CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND ENCLOS THE CITY HALL ELEVATOR PROJECT.

FUND NUMBER 22 IS CONSIDERED ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND CLOSE THE IT NETWORK MERGER PROJECT FUND.

ITEM NUMBER 23 IS CONSIDERED ADOPTING AN

[00:45:01]

AND ITEM NUMBER 24 IS TO CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE GENERAL CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND.

MS. OSTROM, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD TO ALL OF THOSE? UM, NO.

JUST TO NOTE THAT WE'RE TRANSFERRING THE BALANCES FROM ITEM 21, 22 23 TO THE GENERAL CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND.

UM, WHICH WILL THEN GO INTO, UM, ALIGN FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, UH, FUTURE PUR PURPOSES.

THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS.

MR. MAYOR, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND CLOSE THE CITY HALL ELEVATOR PROJECT FUND, UH, ORDINANCE TO AMEND ENCLOSE THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY NETWORK.

MERGER PROJECT FUND, ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ENCLOSE THE MARTIN MARIETTA PARK PROJECT FUND AND ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE GENERAL CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND.

WE HAVE SECOND.

OKAY, WE HAVE A SECOND.

I KNOW ARM MCKENZIE HAS ONE.

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

ITEM NUMBER 25 IS APPOINTMENTS.

[25. Appointment(s).]

HE TOLD ME FOR HIS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE SEVERAL.

UM, MAY I LIKE TO, UH, RECOMMEND CHARLES SCHULTZ AND MICHAEL QUINN TO THE POLICE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD.

I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ANY OPPOSED? THOSE TWO GENTLEMEN ARE HEREBY APPOINTED.

ANYONE ELSE? MR. MAYOR? YES, SIR.

I'VE SPOKEN WITH, UH, MR. JIM MORRISON AND SO I'D LIKE TO REAPPOINT HIM TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION.

I HAVE A MOTION.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

HAVE A SECOND.

ANY OPPOSED? OKAY.

MR. MARON IS REAPPOINTED.

OLIVER MCKENZIE, YOU SAID YOU HAD, UH, APPOINTMENT THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS.

BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS? YES, SIR.

UH, LET'S SEE HERE.

MADAM CLERK, YOU SENT ME SOME INFORMATION AND UM, UM, I CANNOT REMEMBER THE GUY'S NAME.

UM, ACTUALLY THAT GENTLEMAN'S BEEN APPOINTED TO SOMETHING AND IS NOT ELIGIBLE.

NOW HE'S NOT.

SO SIR, I HAVE TO, UH, RETHINK THIS YET.

NOTHING IMPORTANT TONIGHT.

ALRIGHT.

ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER APPOINTMENTS TONIGHT? OKAY, ATTORNEY'S

[26. Attorney’s Report. ]

REPORT.

MAYOR, CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.

JUST

[27. City Manager's Report.]

AN UPDATE ON A FEW THINGS.

I WANNA REMIND, UH, THE BOARD, WE ARE HAVING THE CITY EMPLOYEE LUNCHEON THIS THURSDAY FROM 11:00 AM TO 1:00 PM AT WEST RELATIONS CENTER.

SEE YOU THERE.

THE, UH, COMMUNITY CLEANUP TODAY WILL BE ALSO HELD ON THURSDAY.

UM, IT'S GONNA BE HELD AT AMHERST BOULEVARD THAT'S RIGHT ALONG WHERE WEST ENGLAND RECREATION CENTER IS.

SO WE ENCOURAGE THE CITIZENS TO COME OUT AND PARTICIPATE.

IF YOU CAN'T COME TO THAT LOCATION, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND, AND PICK UP TRASH IN YOUR OWN AREA.

AND DO WANNA REMIND YOU ABOUT THE WORKSHOP ON JUNE 25TH AT 4:00 PM THAT'S GONNA BE RIGHT HERE.

AT THAT TIME, WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT A POTENTIAL BOND REFERENDUM.

UH, WE'LL MOVE ON TO NEW BUSINESS ALDERMAN

[28. New Business.]

BRISSON.

UH, JUST TO REMIND MR. MAYOR THAT ELKS LODGE IS HAVING THEIR SALUTE TO THE FLAG ON SATURDAY AT UNION POINT PARK AT 1100.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

ON THE BEST.

UM, YEAH, JUST ONE THING I JUST WANTED TO, UM, I GUESS, UM, PUBLIC WORKS AND I GUESS PARKS AND RECS ARE TEAMWORK AND, UH, CITY MANAGER, ARE THEY DOING THE PARTS AND RECS AND, UM, PUBLIC WORKS DOING THE ACTUAL BRIDGE WALK THAT'S CONNECTING, UH, SETTING ACTUALLY PUBLIC WORKS IS, IS TAKING THE LEAD ON THAT PROJECT.

SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOING PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THAT.

UM, MR. WILLIAMS, DO YOU HAVE ANY UPDATE ON WHETHER OR NOT ANY OTHER CONTACT FROM THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WAS INVOLVED IN TRYING TO GET THAT PROPERTY FOR SIDEWALK OR IT'S STILL A NO GO? THEY'RE STILL LOOKING AT SOME ENGINEERING ON REDIRECTING THAT CORNER TO TRY TO MAKE IT SAFER AND, AND, UM, RIGHT NOW PUBLIC, UH, WORKS IS STILL LOOKING AT LOOKING AT THAT.

I JUST WANT TO, UM, SAY THANK YOU TO THEM AND TO THE CITY'S, UM, STAFF BECAUSE, UM, THAT IS REALLY, IT'S REALLY COMING TO FRUITION AND IT'S A GREAT, UM, IT'S, IT'S A GREAT WALKABLE ACCESS FOR OUR CITIZENS TO USE TO CONNECT OVER TO THE STANDING WHITE REC CENTER AND THEN OVER TO THE VAULT CENTER.

SO, UH, IT IS GONNA, I, I SEE IT AS A CONNECTION, BRIDGING THE GAP HERE FOR OUR CITIZENS FROM ONE SECTOR OF TOWN OVER TO ANOTHER SECTOR OF TOWN.

AND I JUST WISH THAT THE SIDEWALK COULD HAVE COME TO FRUITION AS WELL RIGHT THERE, BECAUSE THAT GARDEN STREET REALLY NEEDS A SIDEWALK, BUT TO NO AVAIL.

[00:50:01]

SO I'LL GET YOU A FOLLOW UP ON THAT.

YEAH.

AND FOR OUR CITIZENS THAT'S WATCHING AND LISTENING, IT'S UM, RIGHT THERE ON GOING AROUND THE CORNER ON SUTTON STREET INTO GARDEN STREET.

UM, THAT'S THE AREA WHERE THE IMPROVEMENT IS COMING WITH THE WALK WALKWAY AND WITH, WITH, UH, HOPEFULLY THE SIDEWALK IN THE FUTURE.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MAYOR.

MACKENZIE? UH, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TONIGHT, SIR.

ALDERMAN ASTER AFTERNOON.

UM, I JUST HAVE A COUPLE THINGS.

UM, I'LL DO THE, I'LL DO THIS ONE FIRST.

SO IF YOU ALL RECALL, UM, A REQUEST WAS MADE BY A MS. LINDA SIMMONS HENRY ABOUT A HISTORICAL MARKER THAT, UH, SOME IN THE COMMUNITY HAD RAISED FUNDS TO PUT THIS HISTORICAL MARKER UP FOR MS. LORETTA BRYANT SMITH.

UM, THE BOARD, UM, HAD SET THE POLICY THAT ANY REQUESTS WOULD COME BEFORE US BEFORE IT WAS PLACED ON PUBLIC PROPERTY.

THIS BOARD TOOK THAT UP FOR CONSIDERATION AND SAID THAT WE WERE NOT INTERESTED IN IT BEING PLACED ON PUBLIC PROPERTY.

THERE WERE A LITTLE QUESTIONS BECAUSE I THINK WHEN THE REQUEST ORIGINALLY CAME IN, THEY HAD OFFERED TO PUT IT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, BUT THEN THEY CHANGED AND WANTED ON PUBLIC PROPERTY.

THE BOARD SAID WE WEREN'T INTERESTED IN THAT.

SO I MADE THE SUGGESTION THAT SINCE THERE WAS A LITTLE QUESTION ABOUT WHERE IT COULD GO, UM, THAT I VOLUNTEERED TO MEET WITH THIS REQUEST STORE AND TWO OTHER ALDERMAN, UM, THE TWO OTHER ALDERMAN WERE GOING TO DO ALDERMAN ALDERMAN, ROYAL ALDERMAN PRI COULDN'T MAKE THE MEETING.

HE'S OUT OF THE COUNTRY.

ALDERMAN ROYAL COULD NOT MAKE THE MEETING.

SO I WAS THE ONLY ONE THERE.

UM, MR. CHILES FROM PUBLIC WORKS CITY MANAGER, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER WERE THERE.

UH, WE MET WITH, UH, THE REQUESTOR, UH, WHO LIVES IN KERRY, NORTH CAROLINA.

UM, SHE CAME IN AND MADE HER REQUEST.

UH, I EXPLAINED TO HER WHY WE WERE HAVING THE MEETING, UM, THAT WE WERE TRYING TO FIND A RESOLUTION OR SOME SORT OF COMPROMISE.

UM, SHE DID NOT LIKE THAT RESPONSE.

UM, AND SHE GOT VERY OFFENDED, UH, AS DID A COUPLE OTHER FOLKS THAT WERE WITH HER IN THE MEETING.

UM, I ALSO MENTIONED THAT SHE'S ALSO HUNG UP THE TELEPHONE ON TWO OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS, UM, BECAUSE SHE DID NOT LIKE THE ANSWER THAT THEY GAVE.

UH, SO I TOLD HER I WOULD REPORT BACK TO THIS BOARD ON HOW THAT CONVERSATION WENT.

UM, I TOLD HER SHE HAD A COUPLE OF OPTIONS.

UH, SHE COULD COME THE FIRST MEETING OF ANY MONTH UNDER PETITION OF CITIZENS AND PROVIDE ALL THE INFORMATION SHE WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

UM, OR IF THERE WERE A MAJORITY OF THIS BOARD THAT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HER ON A FUTURE AGENDA THAT COULD BE DONE UNDER NEW BUSINESS.

THE MAYOR DOESN'T MAKE MOTIONS OR SECOND MOTIONS.

UM, SO IF THIS BOARD WANTED TO PUT THAT ON AN AGENDA, IT WOULD BE UP TO YOU TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

UM, BUT I PERSONALLY HAD THE CONVERSATION AND IT, IT TURNED A LITTLE TOO PERSONAL FOR ME.

UM, I THINK THEY TOOK OFFENSE BECAUSE THEY LOOKED AT THEIR, OUR DECISION AS A BOARD AGAINST THIS PARTICULAR PERSON THAT THEY WANTED TO PUT A MARKER UP FOR, OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT WE'RE SAYING THIS IS THE CASE FOR EVERYONE.

SO I'M SHARING THAT WITH YOU ALL.

SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING HERE IS THAT, UM, WITH THE DECISION THAT THE BOARD MADE THE LOCATION OF A MARKER, OKAY, WE ARE NOT GONNA PUT THE MARKER ON CITY PROPERTY ANYMORE.

CORRECT.

SO THE, SO THE MARKER WILL GO ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND THAT'S WHAT SHE WASN'T HEARING.

SHE DOESN'T WANT IT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.

SHE WANTS IT ON THE RIGHT OF WAY.

IS THAT CORRECT, MR. MANAGER AND ASSISTANT MANAGER? CORRECT.

SO THE RIGHT OF WAY MEANS THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE UPKEEP OF THAT CORRECT PROPERTY THERE ON CITY PROPERTY? YES SIR.

THE REASON WHY THAT, THAT DECISION WAS MADE DUE TO VANDALISM WITH OTHER, WITH OTHER, UH, MARKERS.

MARKERS THAT WAS PLACED.

SO WE GOT OUT OF TAKING CARE OF THAT TYPE OF BUSINESS.

HMM.

SO NO ACTION BY THE BOARD IS REQUIRED UNLESS YOU WANTED TO HAVE THEM COME ON A FUTURE AGENDA TO MAKE THEIR REQUEST.

HAVE THEY MADE ANY, UM, CONNECTION OR CONTACT WITH ANYONE TO COME FORWARD TO SPEAK WITH US ABOUT THAT? NO, THAT WAS LEFT AT THE MEETING THAT WE HAD.

I, I TOLD 'EM WHAT THEIR OPTIONS WERE.

BUT THEY HAD THE INFORMATION THOUGH BASED ON WHAT THE, THE, THE RULES AND REGULATIONS ARE THE BOARD OF ALL.

CORRECT? THEY DO HAVE THAT, YES.

SO IF THEY WANT TO COME AND SPEAK WITH US, I'LL LISTEN.

[00:55:02]

SO THAT WOULD BE MAKING A MOTION TO INCLUDE THIS ON A FUTURE AGENDA IF THEY WANT TO DO THAT.

I DON'T WANT TO DENY ANYONE IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT.

I'LL LISTEN IF WE ALREADY HAVE IT IN STONE.

YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND.

UH, IS SHE GONNA BE INTERESTED IN COMING DOWN FROM CARRIE TO DO A PRESENTATION? SHE SAID SHE WOULD.

UM, BUT MS. BECKTON WHO WAS WITH HER SAID SHE WOULD NOT COME IF THERE WAS A ON THE AGENDA.

WELL, I WANT TO LEAVE IT OPEN.

SO, UM, IF SHE'D LIKE TO COME DOWN, UM, YES SIR.

THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC.

WHY DON'T WE ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO JUST TO CONTACT HER AND TELL HER THAT IF SHE'S INTERESTED IN BEING PLACED ON THE AGENDA TO COME IN AND MAKE A PRESENTATION, SHE'S MORE THAN ABLE TO DO THAT.

WELL, SO IF, ARE YOU WANTED TO? YEAH.

SO TECHNICALLY OUR RULES AND PROCEDURES SAY THAT STAFF PUTS ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

IF IT'S A STAFF DIRECTIVE, THIS IS A PUBLIC REQUEST.

SO THIS IS WHERE THE BOARD WOULD NEED TO UNDER NEW BUSINESS.

SOMEBODY MAKE A MOTION.

WE GET A SECOND, WE TAKE A VOTE.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PUT THIS ON A FUTURE AGENDA, WELL, I WOULD LIKE FOR THE, FOR THE INDIVIDUAL TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT OF YES, I WILL COME BEFORE THE, THE BOARD.

UM, SO THE CLERK COULD REACH OUT.

I HATE TO DO THAT 'CAUSE SHE, SHE'S THE ONE PERSON THAT SHE HUNG UP ON.

UH, BUT SOMEBODY FROM STAFF COULD REACH OUT TO HER AND TELL HER, WE DISCUSSED THIS TONIGHT.

WE DID NOT HAVE A FULL BOARD.

THE TWO MEMBERS THAT WERE GONNA MEET ORIGINALLY WE'RE NOT HERE AGAIN.

UM, AND THEN SEE IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT REQUEST.

AND THEN AT OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING, WE COULD TAKE THIS UP.

IF SHE SAYS, YES, I'D LIKE TO COME MAKE A PRESENTATION AND THEN WE CAN DISCUSS IT THEN EXACTLY.

MR. ATTORNEY, YOU GIVE ME A LOOK AT WHAT WELL, YES SIR.

I I I JUST WANT TO OBSERVE MISCOMMUNICATION THAT'S THAT, THAT THIS IS AN INVITATION TO RECONSIDER A DECISION THAT YOU'VE ALREADY MADE.

WHAT, WHAT I THOUGHT I'M HEARING IS NO ONE WANTS TO DEPRIVE SOMEONE OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO STATE THEIR CASE.

THAT'S ONE POINT OF VIEW.

THE OTHER POINT OF VIEW IS SHE MIGHT HEAR THAT SHE'S BEING INVITED BACK TO SO THAT YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR MIND AND YOU MAY, BUT HOW THAT'S PHRASED MAY, MAY LAND DIFFERENTLY.

I I KIND OF FEEL LIKE THE MEETING THAT WE HAD WAS WHAT OTTER MCKENZIE WAS OFFERING HER OPPORTUNITY TO COME MAKE HER PRESENTATION AND WE DID THAT.

IT JUST SO HAPPENS I WAS THE ONLY BOARD MEMBER THAT WAS THERE.

SO I TOOK THE BRUNT OF THE HIT, WHICH IS FINE.

I WAS THE BAD GUY.

BUT THIS, OKAY, SO WE'LL LEAVE IT, UH, NO ACTION AT THIS POINT IN TIME AND UM, IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK, WE CAN HANDLE THAT.

UM, AND SHE AND YOUR EARLIER POINT, SHE'S OBVIOUSLY FREE TO COME AS A MATTER OF RIGHTS SURE.

THE FIRST MEETING OF ANY MONTH.

SURE.

THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE AN INVITATION.

RIGHT.

AND IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO BRING THE TWO INDIVIDUALS SHE BROUGHT WITH THAT MEETING, THEY CAN HAVE 12 MINUTES.

'CAUSE THEY CAN EACH FILL OUT A PETITION OF CITIZENS, SIR.

THE OWNER IS ACTUALLY THE ONE RESPONSIBLE IF THERE ARE VIOLATIONS.

SO THAT SCRATCHES THAT CITY MANAGER, I MEAN, NOT CITY MANAGER, BUT CITY CLERK DOES NOT HAVE TO CONTACT HER.

CORRECT.

I WILL REACH OUT TO HER SINCE I WAS THE ONE THAT HAD A MEETING AND LET HER KNOW HOW THIS DISCUSSION WENT TONIGHT, SIR.

THAT'D BE NICE OF YOU.

I WILL DO THAT, SIR.

UH, THE NEXT AND LAST ITEM I HAD, UM, WAS ABOUT VAPE SHOPS.

AND, UM, IT'S IRONIC THAT, UH, MR. BOWEN WAS HERE TONIGHT.

UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE RECEIVED A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WHERE THESE HAVE BECOME EXTREMELY POPULAR.

UM, WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS MEETINGS WITH STAFF, UM, ATTORNEY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE.

UH, THIS IS NOT A NEWBURN PROBLEM.

THIS IS A NORTH CAROLINA PROBLEM.

UH, I TRAVEL EXTENSIVELY ACROSS THE STATE AND I SEE THESE ISSUES EVERYWHERE.

UM, I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT SPECIFICALLY ON ANY OF 'EM IN NEWBURN BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME PENDING LITIGATIONS WITH THE CRAVEN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

UH, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT THERE ARE SOME ISSUES, SOME LEGALITIES WHEN A, I'LL CALL IT A VAPE SHOP.

WHEN A VAPE SHOP IS SELLING A LEGAL ITEM THAT THEY MAY CLASSIFY OR THEY MAY TRY TO PORTRAY IT AS BEING A LEGAL ITEM WHEN THAT ITEM IS CONFISCATED AND TESTED AND IT'S FOUND TO BE ILLEGAL, THAT TRIPS OTHER ISSUES FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT.

AND SOME OF THOSE MEAN THAT THEY ARE IN A CLOSE PROXIMITY TO A SCHOOL.

SO THERE IS OTHER PENDING LITIGATION HAS TAKEN PLACE FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THEY'VE BEEN A GREAT PARTNER OF OURS WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL.

UH, MY ISSUE, UM, THAT I HAVE IS THE FACT THAT I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT ALMOST EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE 15 THAT ARE WITHIN OUR CITY LIMITS, UNLESS I MISSED ANY, UH, ARE IN VIOLATION OF OUR SIGN ORDINANCE.

THE BRIGHT SIGNS, THE FLASHING LIGHTS AROUND THE WINDOWS, UM, THOSE ARE VIOLATIONS THE WAY I INTERPRETED OUR ORDINANCE.

SO, UH, A COUPLE WEEKENDS AGO, I TOOK SOME TIME AT NIGHT.

I WROTE AROUND, I MADE A LIST OF EVERY VAPE SHOP WITHIN OUR S LIMITS NAME, ADDRESS OF THE BUSINESS.

I ALSO LOOKED UP ON GIS TO FIND OUT WHO THE OWNER WAS OF THE PROPERTY BECAUSE I BELIEVE MR. ATTORNEY,

[01:00:01]

UM, A LOT OF THESE ARE NEW AND A LOT OF 'EM, I'M GOING TO GO OUT ON A LIMB AND SAY, I BET THEY PROBABLY DIDN'T GET A SIGNED PERMIT.

UH, BECAUSE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE SIGNS, IT'S PRETTY CLEAR TO ME THAT THEY CANNOT BE WITHIN OUR ORDINANCE.

SO I KNOW THAT OUR STAFF IS WORKING ON A VERY INTRUSIVE, UH, LAND USE CHANGE OF OUR PLAN.

IT'S GONNA TAKE A YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS BEFORE WE BRING THAT, BEFORE THIS BOARD.

UM, SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS OF HOW WE CAN REGULATE THESE TYPES OF BUSINESSES BEFORE WE GET INTO THE LAND USE CHANGE.

BECAUSE TWO YEARS IS A LONG TIME FOR US TO WAIT.

AND THAT'S A LOT OF COMPLAINTS THAT I RECEIVE ABOUT SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO TAKE SOME SORT OF ACTION ON.

SO I GUESS THIS IS PROBABLY A QUESTION FOR MR. DAVIS.

UM, YES SIR.

UM, IN, IN ADDITION TO THE ZONING, UM, REGULATIONS THAT YOU CURRENTLY HAVE IN PLACE, WHICH ALLOW A VAPE SHOP IN A UH, C3 ZONE, UM, YOU CAN, YOU DO HAVE THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO UM, UH, IMPOSE SOME, SOME SEPARATION, UM, BETWEEN THEM, UM, FROM SCHOOLS OR THEMSELVES.

UM, THOSE ARE CERTAINLY OPTIONS.

UM, I THINK TO YOUR POINT ON THE SIGN ORDINANCE, THERE IS, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW.

UM, AND I, I, I HEAR THE COMPLAINTS AS WELL FROM THE COMPLAINTS COME MY WAY OR MORE ABOUT THE FLASHING LIGHTS.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, I KNOW YOU'VE PREPARED A LIST TO THE CITY MANAGER.

UM, I'LL GET THAT COPY AND, AND TAKE A LOOK AND SEE WHAT I CAN DO TO, UH, AT LEAST START ADDRESSING SOME OF THE, THE BLINKING LIGHT ISSUES.

UM, UH, BUT AS TO THE OVERALL REGULATION, IT'S, IT'S REALLY JUST A MATTER OF, IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, HAVING SOME KIND OF SEPARATION IF WE THINK THAT'S GONNA MOVE THE NEEDLE.

MY, MY, MY RECOMMENDATION MIGHT BE TO START WITH THE, THE LIGHTS AND THE SIGN ISSUE AND SEE, SEE HOW THAT PLAYS, UM, AS ONE EXPERIENCES DRIVING AROUND TOWN.

AND THEN IF WE STILL BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE AN ISSUE, WE CAN TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT FURTHER REGULATION.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

WHAT, WHAT ZONING IS REQUIRED FOR A BAKE SHOP? DO YOU KNOW? OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD? I BELIEVE IT SAYS JUST C3, WHICH IS OUR, OUR HEAVIEST COMMERCIAL ZONES.

CAN WE REMOVE THEM FROM THAT? WELL, THEY'VE GOTTA BE ALLOWED SOMEWHERE.

WELL, I MEAN, WE CAN KEEP THE ONES THAT ARE HERE AND THEY'RE GRANDFATHERED IN, BUT THAT WOULD STOP ANY ADDITIONAL ONES.

YEAH.

THAT'S GONNA PRESENT SOME LEGAL ISSUES.

AND WE DON'T WANNA GO FIGHT.

WE DON'T, WE DON'T WANNA FIGHT THAT FIGHT.

NO, SIR.

IF, IF PEOPLE, IF PEOPLE WANNA OPERATE THOSE BUSINESSES LEGALLY AND FOLLOW OUR ORDINANCES MM-HMM.

AND COMPLY AND NOT SELL THINGS THAT ARE PACKAGED AND MARKETED AS ONE THING, BUT ACTUALLY IT'S SOMETHING ELSE IN THE PACKAGE THAT'S A DIFFERENT STORY.

BUT, UM, SO FAR WE'VE HAD SOME PRETTY POOR EXPERIENCES WITH THOSE DEALINGS OR THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

SO, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? I WAS JUST LOOKING UP, UH, WAS IT HB 5 63? IT'S BEING DEBATED IN THE SENATE TO SEE IF THAT WOULD, UH, IT, IT DOESN'T TALK ABOUT ANY RESTRICTIONS AROUND SCHOOLS, BUT IT STARTS TESTING REQUIREMENTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO THAT WOULDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

WELL, WE'VE GOT THE INFORMATION NOW.

WE CAN WORK ON THE SIGNS, BECAUSE THAT'S THE WORST PART OF IT.

I MEAN, IT LOOKS LIKE A CIRCUS WHEN YOU PULL UP THERE AT NIGHT.

SO WE'RE WORKING ON IT, UM, AND HAVE BEEN FOR A WHILE, AND UNFORTUNATELY THERE'S NO EASY ANSWER TO IT.

SO THAT'S ALL THE NEW BUSINESS I HAD.

DO WE NEED A CLOSED SESSION? NO, SIR.

UH, IF NOT, I ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN A HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS.