* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. TURN [00:00:01] THE PHONE DOWN. WE HAVE A QUORUM, RIGHT? YES, [1. Call to order and Welcome.] WE HAVE A QUORUM. AND IT IS SIX O'CLOCK. SO I'M GOING TO CALL TO ORDER THE, UM, REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION OF NEW BERN. WE DID HAVE A SMALL BREAK IN JULY. WE DID NOT MEET, SO IT IS GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY BACK HERE TONIGHT. I ALSO, UM, HAD A NOTIFICATION THAT COMMISSIONER STRICKLAND WAS ON THE WAY, AND HE WILL BE JOINING US A FEW MINUTES AFTER SIX. SO, BUT WE HAVE A FORUM HERE RIGHT NOW. SO LET'S GET STARTED WITH THE ROLL CALL. ABSOLUTELY. MADAM CHAIR. UH, BETH WALKER HERE. JIMMY DI HUNT. PRESENT. JULIUS PARHAM. HERE. KIPP PARAGO. HERE. LEANER MORGAN JR. SARAH PROCTOR. SHARON BRYANT. HERE. STEVE STRICKLAND. ARI WALLACE. DEAR VISIO OFFICERS. BARBARA BEST, HAZEL ROYAL. RICK PRILL. MADAM. WE HAVE A COURT. OKAY. [3. Mission Statement and Guiding Principles] UM, WELL, LET'S GET STARTED THEN WITH OUR MISSION STATEMENT AND OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES. AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE 'EM IN YOUR PACKET, DOES SOMEBODY HAVE THEM IN THEIR PACKET AND CAN READ THE, UM, MISSION STATEMENT FOR FOR US? DO I HAVE IT? YOU HAVE IT. I DON'T HAVE IT. YES. OH, YOU DON'T HAVE IT? OKAY. YEAH. GO ARI. ALRIGHT. THE NEW BAR REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. LEADING THE WAY FOR THE COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION AND IMPROVEMENT BY DIRECTLY ADDRESSING COMMUNITY NEEDS IN THE VITAL AREAS OF PUBLIC HEALTH, INFRASTRUCTURE, HOUSING, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE COMMISSION IS COMMITTED TO AN ACCOUNTABLE, TRANSPARENT, AND PUBLICLY DRIVEN PROCESS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES, AND WE'LL START WITH YOU THEN. UM, COMMISSIONER PAR, PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE EQUAL TIME. WE RESPECT OTHERS' OPINIONS. LISTEN TO BUILD CONSENSUS. WE GOT ONE MORE. SHE EXPERT INFORMATION. PUBLIC AND PERCEPTION. PERCEPTION. STAY FOCUSED. BE ACTION ORIENTED. AND THE LAST ONE IS, BELIEVE . BELIEVE WHAT A QUESTION MARK. BELIEVE WITH THE NEXT EXCLAMATION PART. ALWAYS GO. ALRIGHT, WELL, SINCE WE DID MEET, UH, MISS OUR MEETING, WE HAVE A FULL AGENDA TONIGHT, SO I'M GONNA GET RIGHT INTO IT. UM, [4. Consider Approving the Agenda.] OH. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE AGENDA, THERE ARE 13 ITEMS. CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA? SO MOVED. I HAVE A MOTION. SECOND AND A SECOND. UM, ALL, I DON'T THINK WE NEED ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. A ALL OPPOSED, THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE AGENDA IS [5. Consider Approving Minutes (June)] APPROVED. WE ALSO HAVE MEETING MINUTES FROM JUNE TO APPROVE. THEY WERE SENT OUT. DEB, YOU DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF SENDING OUT OUR PACKETS EARLY ON THIS TIME AROUND. UM, AND I KNOW THEY WERE 19 PAGES IN THAT PACKET, SO I APPRECIATE YOUR DISCLAIMER OF ONLY PRINTING IT IF SOMEBODY ASKS YOU TO HOPE Y'ALL PRINTED OUT THE MEETING MINUTES. UM, AND ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? IF NOT, CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES? I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES FROM JUNE. UM, ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. AND WE WILL APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES FROM JUNE. NOW IT IS OUR TIME OF PUBLIC COMMENT. [Additional Item] MADAM CHAIR. UH, YOU'LL NOTICE IN YOUR PACKET, UH, ADDED LATE WAS THE CONSIDERATION OF UNSEALING THE CLOSE MINUTES THAT WE, UH, APPROVED LAST, UH, IN JUNE. OH, YES. SO CAN WE, WE JUST HAVE A LITTLE CLARIFICATION OF WHAT THAT MEANS. ATTORNEY? UH, SURE. UNSEALING THE MINUTES AND, AND WHILE WE WOULD OR WOULD NOT DO THAT? YES, MA'AM. MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. GOOD EVENING. UM, AS YOU RECALL, SEVERAL, UM, MONTHS AGO, YOU ENGAGED IN A NUMBER OF CLOSED SESSIONS. UM, THOSE DIALOGUES AND DELIBERATIONS WERE NOT SUBJECT TO PUBLIC INSPECTION PURSUANT TO THE STATUTE. HOWEVER, THERE WERE MINUTES, A GENERAL ACCOUNT OF THOSE, UM, CLOSED SESSIONS WERE DRAFTED BY STAFF, AND YOU ALL PREVIOUSLY APPROVED THOSE MINUTES. NOW THAT THE PURPOSE, UM, FOR THOSE CLOSED SESSIONS HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED, YOU NOW HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO UNSEAL THOSE MINUTES SO THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN NOW REVIEW THOSE DELIBERATIONS. UM, THE PURPOSE OF THE CLOSED SESSION STATUTE IS TO PROTECT CERTAIN CONVERSATIONS, UM, SUCH THAT A PUBLIC PURPOSE CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED AS THOSE PUBLIC PURPOSES [00:05:01] ARE OUTLINED IN THE STATUTE. ONCE THE PURPOSE IS ACCOMPLISHED, UM, IT IS PRUDENT FOR PUBLIC BODIES TO UNSEAL THOSE MINUTES. SO I THINK WHAT STAFF IS REQUESTING NOW IS THAT THE CLOSED SESSION MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER, OCTOBER THROUGH FEBRUARY, OCTOBER OF 2023 THROUGH FEBRUARY, 2024, UM, THAT YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BE UNSEALED AND AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO INSPECT SOME. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION ON THAT? NO. WELL, IF WE'RE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CAN WE GET A MOTION TO UNSEAL THE MINUTES FROM OUR, FROM OCTOBER, 2023 THROUGH FEBRUARY, 2024? SO MOVED. SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. AND, UM, CAN I ASK FOR ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT, SAY AYE. AYE. AND ALL OPPOSED? OKAY. WE, THE MOTION CARRIES. WE WILL UN SEAL THOSE, UM, MINUTES THAT WE HAD IN OUR CLOSED SESSION. ALRIGHT. ALL THE MINUTES ARE TAKEN CARE OF NOW, AND I BELIEVE IT'S TIME TO MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT. IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT HAS COMMENTS WOULD LIKE TO SHARE FROM THE PUBLIC TONIGHT, WE'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES TO DO SO. NO, JUST LISTENERS TONIGHT. OKAY. OKAY. [7. Consider Approving Resolution to accept the purchase agreement submitted by the New Bern Housing Authority] WELL THEN WE WILL MOVE TO OUR FIRST, UM, RESOLUTION. WE HAVE TWO ON OUR AGENDA. THE FIRST RESOLUTION WE ARE CONSIDERING APPROVING IS TO ACCEPT THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT SUBMITTED BY THE NEW NEWBURN HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR THE THREE LOTS, THE THREE HOUSES THAT WE HAVE COMPLETED ON WALT BELLAMY DRIVE. AND HONESTLY, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT. WE HAVE IT, IT, BUT THIS IS THE OFFICIAL APPROVING OF THE, THE RESOLUTION FOR THE SALE OF EACH OF THOSE THREE PROPERTIES. AND THAT IS WHAT TOOK UP THE BULK OF YOUR PACKAGE, ALL THE, UM, LEGAL DOCUMENTATION FOR THAT. SO, ARE THERE ANY CONCERNS, QUESTIONS, OR CONVERSATION WE NEED TO HAVE? AND MADAM CHAIR, JUST AS A POINT OF CLARITY, THERE ARE THREE RESOLUTIONS INCLUDED IN YOUR AGENDA PACKAGE. ONE FOR EACH OF THE STRUCTURES, UM, IF YOU ALL ARE INCLINED TO MOVE TO APPROVE OR ADOPT THOSE RESOLUTIONS, SO LONG AS THE VOTE IS UNANIMOUS, YOU CAN DEAL WITH ALL OF THOSE RESOLUTIONS IN ONE ONE VOTE. SO WITH A UNANIMOUS VOTE, THEY CAN BE TREATED AS ONE RESOLUTION, CORRECT. ALL THREE PROPERTIES? CORRECT. OKAY. AND LIKE I SAID, WE'VE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO TALK ABOUT THIS, SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE, UH, PURCHASE AGREEMENT FROM THE NEW BERN HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR ALL THREE OF THE WOLF BETHANY HOMES. SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. UM, DO WE NEED A ROLL CALL, VOTE FOR THAT RESOLUTION, OR DO WE, CAN WE ALL IN FAVOR? MADAM CHAIR? I NEED A QUESTION BEFORE WE CALL FOR VOTE. OKAY. UH, I NEED TO KNOW FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THAT MIGHT HAVE, MIGHT CAUSE SOME CONCERN? UH, NO, SIR. OKAY. UM, THE, UH, THE PRESENTATION THAT MR. BARNER MADE IN JUNE, UH, WAS REFLECTED IN BOTH THE RESOLUTION AND, AND THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT THAT WAS SUBMITTED. OKAY. UH, ALL THREE, UH, ALL, ALL THREE HOMES WERE, UH, THEY HAVE OFFERED $164,000 FOR ALL THREE HOMES, UM, MAKING THEIR TOTAL, UH, THEIR, THEIR TOTAL OFFER $492,000 FOR THE PROJECT. OKAY. UH, OUR COST WITH EXPENSES AND ENCUMBRANCES, UH, WAS FOUR HUNDRED TWENTY NINE, THREE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY $5 AND 44 CENTS, UM, MAKING A NET PROFIT FOR THE COMMISSION TO REINVEST INTO FURTHER DEVELOPMENT $62,000 614 AND 50 56 CENTS. UM, IF, IF YOU WERE TO DRILL DOWN ON THAT, UH, HOMES, UH, THE HOMES WERE CONSTRUCTED FOR ABOUT $159 PER SQUARE FOOT, AND THAT, UH, COMPARES TO THE NORTH CAROLINA AVERAGE BY 192. AND SO, UH, THE, THEY HAVE OFFERED US A FAIR PRICE. IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD LANGUAGE IN, IN THE DOCUMENTATION. AND SO, UM, THEREFORE I'VE SUBMITTED THE REQUEST. YOU YES, SIR. THANK YOU. ONE ADDITIONAL QUESTION. HAS IT BEEN CONFIRMED THAT WE GET TO KEEP THE $62,000? UH, ALL $492,000 WILL GO BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND OF THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO, UH, TO BE REINVESTED IN FURTHER REDEVELOPMENT EFFORTS. OKAY. GOOD NEWS. ANNA, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? AND JUST THE POINT FOR THE RECORDS THAT THOSE NUMBERS THAT YOU SHARED, THAT WAS ON THE BUILD OF THE PARCELS OF [00:10:01] THE INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY, INDIVIDUAL HOUSES, THAT DID NOT INCLUDE OUR COST TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY AND TO CLEAN AND READY THE PROPERTY FOR DEVELOPMENT? THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY. SO ALL TOTAL WE WIND UP IS BASICALLY A WASH. AFTER YOU COUNT THOSE EXPENSES FOR ACQUISITION AND, AND PREPARING THE PROPERTY, I BELIEVE THAT, UH, BETWEEN ACQUISITION AND AND SITE PREP, IT WAS ABOUT $50,000. SO WE'RE TO THE GOOD ABOUT 12,000, EVEN IF YOU INCLUDE THOSE COSTS. UH, PLUS, PLUS OUR HOLDING COSTS AND MOWING IT. YES, SIR. COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU. XAVIER, DID WE, UH, PUT ANY STIPULATIONS IN THE, IN THE, UH, CONTRACT OR WITH US BEING SURROGATE PARENTS? DO WE HAVE ANY SAY SO OR HAVE WE, OR DO WE EVEN WANT, OR DO WE HAVE ANY NEED TO HAVE ANY SAY SO OR DO WE EVEN CARE WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE SALE IS COMPLETE AND WHAT HAPPENS AFTERWARDS? SURE. UH, I, I THINK, UH, AS THE, UH, GENTLEMAN PRESENTED LAST, UH, LAST MONTH, THE RESTRICTIONS, UH, THAT HUDDON POSES ON THE HOUSING AUTHORITY ARE FAR GREATER THAN THE RESTRICTIONS, UH, ANY RESTRICTIONS THAT THIS BODY WOULD IMPOSE ON THEM. SO, RESTRICTIONS AND DEEP COVENANTS REALLY, UH, REALLY WEREN'T NECESSARY. UH, THEY WILL BE, THE REASON WE'RE ABLE TO DO A DIRECT SALE, AND MAYBE MADAM ATTORNEY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, UH, IN GREATER DETAIL, IS BECAUSE THEY'RE PROVIDING PUBLIC SERVICE, WHICH WOULD BE PUBLIC HOUSING. SO THAT IS IN A, IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR PURPOSE. UM, THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMISSION, TH THAT'S CORRECT. UH, MR. MORGAN, UM, AS THE GENTLEMAN PRESENTED, UM, THE NEW BERN HOUSING AUTHORITY IS A PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY. UM, SO THEY'RE UNDER A NUMBER OF FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATIONS AS TO WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT DO. UM, SO THERE ARE ALREADY, THERE'S ALREADY A GREAT DEAL OF, UM, STIPULATIONS THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS UNDER AND THEIR PROPERTY, THOSE ATTACHED TO THE PROPERTIES AS WELL. UM, SO THE PROPERTIES CAN ONLY BE USED AND I THINK THE RESOLUTION, UM, SUGGESTS FOR HOUSING FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME PERSONS CONSISTENT WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORIZATION. THANK YOU. OKAY. OKAY. THOSE WERE VERY GOOD QUESTIONS. ANYONE ELSE? SO WE DID HAVE A MOTION AND I BELIEVE WE HAD A SECOND. YES. OKAY. AND WE'VE HAD DISCUSSION. YES. MM-HMM. . SO, BACK TO MY QUESTION. IS A ROLL CALL VOTE VOTE? OR IS THIS A, UM, WE CAN DO A ROLL CALL VOTE. WE CAN DO A ROLL CALL VOTE. WILL YOU HELP US WITH THAT? I CERTAINLY WILL. BETH WALKER? YES. JIMMY DILLA HUNT? YES. JULIUS PARHAM? YES. KIP PARAGO? YES. LEANDER MORGAN? YES. SARAH PROCTOR. YES. SHARON BRYANT? YES. STEVE STRICKLAND. YES. TABARI WALLACE? YES, IT IS UNANIMOUS. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR THAT. THE MOTION CARRIES. [8. Consider Approving Resolution to enter Contract with Fund Development LLC for Grant Writing Services] UM, OUR NEXT RESOLUTION. IF YOU REMEMBER LAST TIME WE MET, UH, MARGARET SHIELDS WITH FUND DEVELOPMENT, LLC, UH, GRANT WRITING SERVICES CAME AND DISCUSSED WITH US AND ANSWER QUESTIONS FOR US OF HER SERVICES OF WHAT SHE WOULD PROVIDE AS IN GRANT WRITING SERVICES. AND IN YOUR PACKET WAS, UM, AN AGREEMENT THAT WE, UM, COULD CONSIDER, AND THAT IS WHAT THIS RESOLUTION IS. UH, UM, CONSIDER APPROVING THE RESOLUTION TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH HER COMPANY FOR GRANT WRITING SERVICES FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. AND MADAM CHAIRMAN, UH, ON, ON THIS PIECE, I PERSONALLY, I I THINK IT'S, IT'S A GOOD IDEA. WE HAVE SOMEONE TO DO GRANTS, BUT, UM, AND, AND THE ATTORNEY AND, AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UH, CAN WE PUT IN HERE FOR ONE YEAR? YES, SIR. THIS IS A AND AND THE REASON, THE REASON I SAY ONE YEAR IS BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE WHAT THIS PERSON CAN DO IN A YEAR. I WANT TO CONTRACT SOMETHING SO LONG TO WHERE, UH, NOW WE, WE TIE IT IN AND WE'RE NOT GETTING ANYTHING OUT OF IT. YEAH. THIS CONTRACT WOULD BE, UH, FOR THE PERIOD OF 12 MONTHS. OKAY. UH, WITH, UH, WITH, UH, FEES INCLUDED TO WRITE, WRITE IN RESEARCH, NO LESS THAN 10 GRANTS, UH, IN A 12 MONTH PERIOD. I DID SPEAK TO MS. SHIELDS, UH, THIS MORNING. SHE WISHED TO CONVEY THAT THOSE 10 GRANTS BE WRITTEN OVER A 12 MONTH PERIOD, NOT AT THE START OF, NOT AT THE START OF THIS GRANT. BUT, UH, OTHER THAN THAT, UH, THE, THE TERMS ARE OUTLINED IN THE MEMO PROVIDED TO YOU IN THE PACKET, COMMISSIONER PARHAM ON PAGE TWO OF FIVE OF THE AGREEMENT. UM, IF YOU LOOK AT SUBSECTION 3.1, DISAGREE AUTOMATICALLY TERMINATES ON AUGUST 30TH, 2025. I'M SORRY, UNLESS YOU ALL AGREE TO EXTEND IT. I'M [00:15:01] SORRY, I MISSED IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. I I I THINK THAT THE OTHER PART OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE THOUGHT TALKED ABOUT IS, UH, THE SIZE OF THE GRANTS THAT WE WOULD EXPECT TO RECEIVE. I MEAN, WE'RE NOT IN, IN ANOTHER DOCUMENT, I THINK IN OUR PACKAGE, THERE'S REFERENCES TO SEVERAL $15,000 GRANTS, UH, TO HELP FULFILL OUR MISSION. I DON'T KNOW THAT'LL, THAT $15,000 GRANTS ARE GOING TO GET US VERY FAR, AND WE'RE GONNA SPEND ABOUT 13,000 FROM WHAT I READ, UH, AND DURING THE YEAR TO TRY TO OBTAIN GRANTS. AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE COST BENEFIT RATIO OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IT DOESN'T WORK OUT VERY WELL. IS THERE ANY, UH, WAY THAT WE CAN STIPULATE THE GRANTS THAT SHE GOES AFTER OR BY SIZE OR CONDITIONS? I MEAN, THE, THE, THE GRANTS THAT SHE SUBMITTED TO US AS AND PROVIDED TO US, UH, THAT ARE AVAILABLE ARE ALL VERY, VERY SMALL GRANTS. THAT'S A GOOD POINT. UH, COMMISSIONER PARAGO, UM, THIS, THIS AGREEMENT DOES CONTEMPLATE, UM, THAT SHE WILL ONLY PURSUE GRANTS THAT ARE MUTUALLY AGREED UPON, UM, BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT YOUR DIRECTION, UM, WITH HER COLLABORATION. SO WE'LL SEE 'EM, WE WILL SEE THE GRANTS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WILL SEE THEM. OKAY. UM, AND HE CERTAINLY CAN DISSEMINATE THAT INFORMATION. IF YOU ALL GIVE HIM INSTRUCTIONS OR DIRECTION TO ONLY PURSUE GRANTS OVER A CERTAIN DOLLAR VALUE, THEN THAT CERTAINLY HE'S BOUND BY THAT DIRECTION. AND I, I'VE NOTICED THAT SHE'S GOT TWO, UM, THERE'S TWO FEE STRUCTURES, ONE FOR RESEARCH AND THEN ONE FOR ACTUALLY THE GRANT WRITING. SO I'M THINKING THAT THE, THE RESEARCH WOULD HELP IDENTIFY SOME OF THOSE GRANTS. YES, MA'AM. AND THAT'S, THAT'S A LESS, LESS AMOUNT PER HOUR FOR THE RESEARCHER? THAT'S CORRECT. MM-HMM. ALSO, UH, ALL OF THE GRANTS THAT, UH, THAT MS. SHIELDS WOULD GO AFTER WOULD BE PROJECT BASED GRANTS. THAT WAS THE REASON. UH, WE, WE SPLIT ALL OF OUR, ALL OF OUR INITIATIVES INTO PROJECT TEAMS. AND SO THE PROJECT TEAMS WOULD ACTUALLY BE IN, INVOLVED IN THE WRITING OF THE GRANTS. SO THE COMMISSION WILL BE INVOLVED. YOU WON'T JUST, YOU, YOU WON'T JUST GET A MEMO FROM ME SAYING, IS THIS A GOOD IDEA? YAY OR NAY. YOU'LL ACTUALLY BE INVOLVED IN THE WRITING OF THESE GRANTS. SO YOU'LL BE VERY HEAVILY INVOLVED, UH, BEFORE WE EVEN, UH, BEFORE WE EVEN, UH, LIFT A PEN TO, TO WRITE FOR THEM. I DO. BUT THE KEY IS RE GUIDING HER RESEARCH FOR, FOR GRANTS OF SIGNIFICANCE RATHER THAN THE, THAN SMALLER GRANTS THAT REALLY, THEY'RE NOT GONNA HELP US A WHOLE BUNCH. COULDN'T AGREE MORE. I WOULD SAY ON THE FLIP SIDE, IF WE GET ONE OF THOSE, SHE'S PAID FOR HERSELF AND WE CAN ACQUIRE A PIECE OF PROPERTY OR LIKE, PROPERTY'S NOT EXPENSIVE IN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA. SO I, I KIND OF DISAGREE A LITTLE BIT. IF SHE GETS 10, $15,000 GRANTS, I'M NOT A GOOD MATH PERSON, BUT I THINK THAT'S 150 GRAND THAT WE DON'T HAVE NOW. MM-HMM. AT A COST OF 13 TO 15,000. I'D BE ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS GOOD AT CONCERNING THIS? AND I GET, WE HAVEN'T PUT IT OUT, WE DON'T HAVE A MOTION YET, BUT I JUST WANTED TO HAVE EVERYBODY HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT. MAKE A MOTION. WE APPROVE THE CONTRACT. SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, AND I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. COMMISSION MIGHT HAVE NONE FROM COMMISSIONER STRICKLAND OUT OF THE ROOM. IT'S ODD TO HAVE YOU GUYS DOWN THERE. . TIME OUT. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. AND WHY DON'T WE DO A ROLL CALL. VOTE FOR THAT ONE TOO. ABSOLUTELY. BETH WALKER? YES. JIMMY DILLA HUNT. YES. JULIUS PARHAM. YES. KIPP PARAGO. YES. LEANER MORGAN? YES. SARAH PROCTOR. YES. SHARON. BRIAN? YES. STEVE STRICKLAND. YES. TABARI WALLACE. YES. THE UNANIMOUS. OKAY. THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. [9.a. West A Street Update] NOW WE ARE MOVING INTO NEW BUSINESS AND NEW BUSINESS. TONIGHT IS GONNA BE, UM, PROJECT GROUP UPDATES. WE HAVE TWO. WE HAVE THE WEST A STREET UPDATE AND THE BLOOMFIELD PROJECT UPDATE. SO WHEN I GO WITH THE WEST, A STREET PROJECT UPDATE FIRST, I'M THINKING THAT'S YOU, COMMISSIONER PFO? YES. UH, MR. BILL HUNT AND I, UH, HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT [00:20:01] AND WE'RE STILL AWAITING FOR THE SURVEY WORK TO BE COMPLETED THAT WE AUTHORIZED BACK IN JUNE. OKAY. UH, I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH, UH, THE SURVEYOR'S OFFICE, UH, TODAY AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN A CURRENT STATUS OF THE PROJECT OR WHEN, UH, MIGHT BE ANTICIPATED. THE OFFICE MANAGER, WHO KNOWS ALL THAT STUFF WAS OUT ON VACATION. SO, UH, BUT WE HAVE COMMUNICATED AND LEFT MESSAGES WITH EACH OTHER AND SHE PROMISES ME AN UPDATE, UH, BY THE END OF THE WEEK WHEN SHE GETS BACK FROM VACATION. OKAY. ALRIGHT. WELL, WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS WORKING ON THAT AND PUSHING THEM FORWARD. KEEP , KEEP TRYING. . YEAH. UM, ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WEST A STREET BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE? NOPE. OKAY. [9.a. Bloomfield Project Update] THE BLOOMFIELD PROJECT UPDATE. I BELIEVE THE BLOOMFIELD, UM, PROJECT GROUP MET AND HAS AN UPDATE FOR US. YES. IS THAT YOU, COMMISSIONER WELLS? OH, YES MA'AM. VICE CHAIR, I MEAN. YES, MA'AM. MADAM CHAIR. I'M SORRY. UM, AT 6:00 PM ON JULY 16TH, UM, AT THE REDEVELOPMENT, UH, SERVICES, UH, COMMITTEE MEMBERS JULIUS FARHAM, SHARON BRYANT, STEVE STRICKLAND, AND YOURS TRULY, UM, MET TO DISCUSS FURTHEST FUTURE STEPS OF THE NOW RENAMED BLOOMFIELD DUPLEX, UH, DEVELOPMENT PROJECT. THAT OBJECTIVE IS TO DEVELOP AND PROVIDE AFFORDABLE DUPLEX UNITS TO LOW, LOW WEALTH AND COST BURDEN FAMILIES. WE ESTIMATE, UM, ABOUT 18 MONTHS OUT, ONCE WE GET, ONCE WE GET EVERYTHING ROLLING, UM, OUR PRIMARY GOAL WAS TO CONSTRUCT THREE DUPLEX UNITS, UM, A TOTAL OF SIX HOUSING, UM, UNITS IN TOTAL. UM, AND THESE WOULD, THESE UNITS WERE REPRESENTED AN ECONOMIC MOBILITY OPPORTUNITY FOR MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. THE KEY STAKEHOLDERS, UM, AT ROLES IN THIS PROCESS WOULD BE, UM, US, THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION WILL PROVIDE THE OVERSIGHT. THE CITY OF NEW BERN WILL BE THE GOVERNANCE AND FUNDING, UH, FOR-PROFIT DEVELOPER, UM, COST BURDEN FAMILIES, ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS. THE PHASES OF, OF THE DEVELOPMENT, PHASE ONE IS, AGAIN, PLANNING AND DESIGN, WHICH WE'RE IN NOW. TASKS, UH, THEREAFTER WILL BE THE FEASIBILITY STUDY AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT SITE SURVEY AND PLANNING, PRELIMINARY DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURAL PLANS, FUNDING AND FINANCING, UH, TO BE CONFIRMED AND APPROVALS AND PERMIT ACQUISITION FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES. PHASE TWO IS PRE-CONSTRUCTION. PHASE THREE IS CONSTRUCTION. PHASE FOUR IS INSPECTION AND QUALITY ASSURANCE. PHASE FIVE IS POST-CONSTRUCTION. AND PHASE SIX WOULD BE THE SALE AND DISPOSITION OF THE UNITS. UM, WE HAVE PROVIDED SOME SCHEMATICS, UH, FOR YOUR REFERENCE, BUT THE ESTIMATED TOTAL BUDGET NUMBER FIVE IS THE ESTIMATED TOTAL BUDGET. LAND ACQUISITION IS ZERO. UH, PRE-CONSTRUCTION, WE KIND OF ESTIMATE TO BE $25,000. UM, BUT WE MET, UH, IN PERSON, UH, AND HAD A PRETTY GOOD MEETING. I MEAN, I, I, I'M SO DELIGHTED WITH THE EXPERTISE THAT WAS GATHERED AROUND THE TABLE DURING THAT NIGHT. UM, AND THEN WE HANDED OVER THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM, TO THE ED, AND, UH, HE HAS BEEN EXCELLENT, UM, IN MOVING FORWARD AND PULLING ALL THE MINES TOGETHER TO, TO MOVE THIS, TO EXPEDITE THIS PROCESS. OKAY. SO I'M JUST SO GLAD WE GOT THE PLANS IN. WE'VE GOT A PROMISE TO THE COMMUNITY AND NOW WE'RE FOLLOWING THROUGH. SO, AND I, I SAW THAT THERE WAS, UH, RFP FOR DEVELOPERS FOR THE PROJECT. IS THAT STILL WHERE WE ARE SEEKING? UH, THE RFP SHOULD BE, IT SHOULD BE READY FOR REVIEW BY NEXT MEETING. AND SHOULD, SHOULD THIS COMMISSION, UH, TAKE ACTION TO RELEASE THAT RFP, I'LL BE HAPPY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET IT OUT INTO THE WILD TO ATTRACT ALL THE DEVELOPERS TO THIS EXCITING PROJECT. OKAY. AND AS A MATTER CHAIR, YES, AS A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, I DO WANT TO AFFIRM, UH, THE EDS PROFESSIONALISM IN THIS MANNER. UM, HE ACTUALLY DIRECTED ME, I WAS A, A ONE MAN ARMY GOING FORWARD, AND HE WAS LIKE, HOLD UP BOSS. YOU REALLY NEED TO GET A COMMITTEE. WE CAN'T BE ACTING AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS. SO WE PULLED A COMMITTEE TOGETHER. THEY WERE GREAT TO ACCEPT THAT, THAT SHORT TIME PERIOD. AND THEN AGAIN, HE WANTED US TO PRESENT THIS IN PUBLIC AND TO GET A CONSENSUS FROM, UH, THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION BEFORE WE WENT TO THE RFP. SO THAT'S WHY THERE WAS ANOTHER DELAY FOR THIS MEETING. AND THEN AGAIN, ED'S READY TO GO, UM, NEXT WEEK ONCE WE GIVE OUR APPROVAL AT THUMB OUT. OKAY. WELL, APPRECIATE YOU GUYS GETTING TOGETHER AND GETTING THE WORK DONE. YOU HAVE A QUESTION? YEAH. I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT WORKS WITH OUR NORMAL, LIKE, RESTRICTIONS ON SELLING PROPERTY. WHAT'S THE, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS WITH THE DEVELOPER JUST BECAUSE I HAVEN'T SEEN IT GO THROUGH YET. SO AT WHAT POINT DO WE, WE JUST SELL IT TO A DEVELOPER WITH THEIR AGREEMENT TO DO IT THIS WAY? SO A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL WOULD GO OUT, UH, WOULD, WOULD GO OUT, UH, TO, TO THE PUBLIC AND, UH, BASICALLY DEVELOPERS WOULD BID [00:25:01] FOR THIS PROJECT. MM-HMM. , SINCE WE'VE LAID OUT THE PROJECT, THAT WOULD BE THE RESTRICTIONS, UH, THAT, THAT THEREIN WOULD, WOULD BE THE RESTRICTIONS THAT WOULD APPLY. AND BECAUSE IT'S A PUBLIC PURPOSE, I BELIEVE, AND THAT, UH, ATTORNEY CAN SPEAK TO THAT, UH, A LITTLE BIT MORE BECAUSE THAT'S LEGALLY, I DON'T SPEAK IT. UH, BUT BECAUSE IT'S A PUBLIC PURPOSE, UH, WE'D BE ABLE TO, TO DO LAND ACQUISITION BY DIRECT SALE. SO, AM I CORRECT? ONCE, ONCE WE HAVE SOME MORE DETAILS, SOME, SOME MEAT ON THOSE BONES ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY WE'RE LOOKING FOR, UM, THEN I CAN BETTER FORECAST WHAT MECHANISM CAN BE USED TO MAKE THE ENHANCES. BECAUSE, I MEAN, THIS JUST SEEMS TO ME LIKE WHAT, YOU KNOW, WE GOT A RFP, WE BUILT THOSE AND LIKE THEY'RE, THEY'RE HARD FOR US TO GET RID OF UNDER OUR NORMAL PROCESSES. SO HOW, LIKE, HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT? I JUST SAW DEVELOPER SALES ON OPEN MARKET. LIKE HOW'S THIS ONE DIFFERENT THAN OUR NORMAL RESTRICTIONS A DEVELOPER WOULD BE ALLOWED TO SELL ON THE OPEN MARKET, WHICH WOULD MAKE THESE BECAUSE THEY'RE, BECAUSE THEY'RE DUPLEXES AND I DON'T WANT TO STEP ON YOUR TOES. OH, NO, GO AHEAD. YOU'D PREFER, UH, BECAUSE THESE ARE REALLY MEANT FOR WORKFORCE, UH, WORKFORCE HOUSING, UH, WORKFORCE FAMILIES. UM, THEY, THEY WOULD NOT BE IDEAL FOR, UM, ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. WE REALLY ARE WORKING TOWARDS OWNER OCCUPIED, UH, RENTAL UNITS SO THAT WE CAN SEE WEALTH MILL MOBILITY. YEAH. UH, SO THAT WOULD BE THE REASON WE'RE TRYING TO ATTRACT A DEVELOPER TO SELL THESE ON THE OPEN MARKET AND KIND OF TAKES THE WHOLE SALES PROCESS OUT OF OUR HANDS AS THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION SO THAT, THAT, UH, THAT COULD BE HANDLED ON THE OPEN MARKET. I'M ALL FOR THAT. YES. I JUST WONDERING HOW WE GOT TO THAT POINT AND HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET TO THAT POINT EVER BEFORE. THAT'S, WELL, WE'RE CERTAINLY, WE'RE CERTAIN, THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING. WE'RE, WE'RE CHARTING UN UNCHARTED TERRITORY. I LIKE UNCHARTED TERRITORY. UH, SO, SO WE'RE TRYING NEW THINGS AND, AND WE LEARNED FROM THE PAST, I MEAN, WE HAD INTENSIVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE A A DUAL WAY TO APPROACH THIS. AND THIS WAS THE, I THINK THIS WAS THE BEST ONE WE CAME ABOUT, REQUIRES THE LEAST DISCRETIONARY EFFORT OF ALL OF US, WHICH WE ALL WORK AND THE ED. UM, AND WE STILL CAME OUT TO THE SAME, UH, CONCLUSION OF THE SAME ADJUDICATION THAT IS, YEAH. I WOULD DESCRIBE THIS AS MORE AS SEEKING A DEVELOPMENT PARTNER THAN LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO DO A PROJECT FOR US OR BUY A PIECE OF PROPERTY. SO MUCH BETTER SAID, STEVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE FACT THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET, ACCORDING TO THE, THE POST WE READ, 20% OF THE PROCEEDS WE'RE, WE'RE BASICALLY GONNA BE SUBORDINATING THE LAND TO THE, THAT WOULD BASICALLY BE OUR CONTRIBUTION TO A PARTNERSHIP, IS THE WAY WE ENVISION IT. I THINK EVERYTHING'S KIND OF SUBJECT TO CHANGE DEPENDING ON WHAT, WHAT COMES BACK FROM THE, THE RFP REQUEST. BUT BECAUSE OF THIS QUASI PARTNERSHIP, DOES THAT TIE OUR HANDS IN, UH, AND LIMIT THE FLEXIBILITY? UH, 'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SIGN RELEASES AND EVERYTHING ELSE. THERE, THERE ARE SOME TOOLS IN THE REDEVELOPMENT STATUTES FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES. AND IT MAY BE THAT THE RFP THAT'S BEING CONTEMPLATED, WE'LL CHECK THOSE BOXES TO ALLOW US TO ENABLE THOSE TOOLS. UM, BUT AGAIN, AS I INDICATED TO COMMISSIONER PROCTOR, ONCE WE HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT EXACTLY THE COMMISSION IS SEEKING, WE CAN IDENTIFY WHICH MECHANISM GIVES US THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO ACCOMPLISH THOSE GOALS. AND AGAIN, BY NEXT MONTH, THE MADAM ATTORNEY AND I WILL, WILL DEFINITELY PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND PUT MORE MEAT ON THOSE BONES SO THAT WE CAN PRESENT A DONE, UH, A RFP THAT'S READY FOR RELEASE. OKAY. OKAY. I HAVE ONE QUESTION. HAVE YOU DONE AN ASSESSMENT OF THE AREA TO SEE, WHAT WOULD THEY SAY FOR AS FAR AS, UH, COMFORTABLES COMPARABLES WOULD W UH, NOT YET, UH, IN THE PRE-CONSTRUCTION PHASE, WHICH IS WHERE WE ARE, A FEASIBILITY STUDY IS, UH, IS IN THE PLAN. OKAY. AND YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT THE PROPERTY THAT WE OWN ON BLOOMFIELD STREET, I PRESUME? YEP. THAT WOULD BE THE FEASIBILITY STUDIES, SIR. AND YOU CAN GET HOW MANY DUPLEXES? THERE'S ASKING FOR THREE DUPLEXES. YEAH, THREE DUPLEXES, BUT IT'S SIX DIFFERENT INDIVIDUAL UNITS. YEAH, I'M, AND THAT'S RIGHT ACROSS FROM CADET PLACES ON BLOOMFIELD. MM-HMM. , CORRECT. YEAH. YES, SIR. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE. COMMISSIONER WALLACE. YOU'RE WELCOME. UM, THAT'S NOT AN ACTION ITEM. UM, THE NEXT [Additional Item 2] AGENDA ITEM IS THE OUR STAFF, UM, MADAM CHAIR. YES, SIR. PERSON. I DID HAVE A, UM, A REPORT I NEEDED TO BRING FORTH AS IT RELATED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP. [00:30:01] I AM STILL A COMMITTEE OF ONE, SO I'M WORK GROUP. I MEET WITH THIS PARTICULAR WORK GROUP ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS EVERY TIME I LOOK IN THE MIRROR. UH, BUT TODAY MY REPORT WILL COME IN THE FORM OF WISDOM. WISDOM IN THE FACT THAT, UM, I DO COME IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WHO WORKS DILIGENTLY IN THE COMMUNITY AND IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE THAT I KNOW. UH, SO WHAT I HAVE DONE IS, AS IT RELATES TO THE DUFFY FIELD RESIDENCE COUNCIL, THE PHOENIX GROUP, UM, THE PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY, THE BLOCK CAPTAINS, UH, I FOUND A COMMON DENOMINATOR IN ALL OF THE COMMUNITY GROUPS. AND I'VE ASKED BARBARA SAMPSON IF SHE WOULD COME AND KIND OF GIVE US AN UPDATE ON WHAT ALL OF THE GROUPS ARE DOING. THEY ARE DOING SOME EXCITING THINGS SUCH AS THE, UH, UH, SHOT SPOTTER. UH, IF I MAY JUST HAVE MRS. BARBER TO COME UP AND JUST SHARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS, UH, THAT SHE HAS LIVED AND HAS BEEN TO ALL OF THE MEETINGS. I HAVEN'T BEEN, BUT MS. SAMPSON HAS BEEN, IF I MAY, IT, IT THAT, UH, THIS IS A PART OF ONE, APPRECIATE THAT EFFORT. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT'S OKAY. AS IT WAS NOT ON OUR OFFICIAL AGENDA TO GO THERE. IT, IT'S A REGULAR MEETING. SO IF, IF THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSION WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM MS. SAMPSON, YOU CERTAINLY, THAT'S YOUR PREROGATIVE. AND I'M SEEING SOME HEAD SHAKING. YES. SEE, LOTS OF YESES. OKAY. SO WE THANK YOU. LOVE TO HAVE MS. SAMPSON COME, UH, SHARE THAT WITH US. WE'RE ALWAYS IN THE MOOD FOR GOOD NEWS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. VERSE, I'D LIKE TO GIVE HONOR TO GOD AND TO MY FATHER, THE LATE COUNTY COMMISSIONER JOHNNY SAMPSON UNION AND MY MOTHER, REVEREND DR. REVEREND SAMPSON. I THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING ME COME FORTH TO STATE MY OPINION ON THINGS THAT'S GOING ON. WHERE IN DE FIELD, WHERE I'M IN EVERY, EVERYTHING ABOUT EVERYTHING IT IS, I'M IN IT. BUT I DEAL WITH THE, UH, DEPUTY FIELD RESIDENCE COUNCIL TOO. AND THEY BRING FORTH STUFF LIKE THE SHOCK SPIDER AND WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE DOING A GOOD JOB. A LOT OF THIS SHOOTING HAS BEEN GOING ON. SOON AS IT HAPPENED, ABOUT FIVE OR 10 MINUTES THEY THERE. SO WE KNOW IT'S WORKING, YOU KNOW, AND AM I WANT TO MAKE SURE I LET YOU KNOW, I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST GUNS AND KNOW, AND I KNOW PEOPLE NEED GUNS FOR PROTECTION, BUT SOME PEOPLE JUST DON'T NEED GUNS IN THEIR HAND. SO I'M THANKFUL FOR THE SHOT SPOT. AND THAT WAS THE ER FIELD. WHEN THEY HAVE THEIR MEETINGS, THAT'S THE KIND OF STUFF THAT WE BRING FORTH. AND THE P AND UH, JAMARA WALLACE, HE'S THE CHAIRMAN OF THAT. SO ANYTIME YOU WANNA GET UP WITH THE CHAIRMAN, GET UP WITH JAMAL WALLACE. I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PEOPLE OF SELMA. AND WHAT WE DO, YOU KNOW, LIKE I DO NOW, I GO TO DIFFERENT MEETINGS AND LISTEN TO WHAT'S GOING ON SO I CAN BRING IT BACK TO MY GROUP. WE HAD THIS SUMMER, WE HAD, UH, UH, BROUGHT SOME LAWYERS FROM RALEIGH TO HELP PEOPLE THAT FOR YOUR PROPERTY TAX, IF YOU WANT A DISCOUNT, YOU HAD TO HAVE, FOLLOW A CERTAIN CRITERIA. YOU HAD TO MAKE A CERTAIN INCOME LIMIT AND YOU COULD BE A VETERAN, BUT YOU HAD TO BE A HUNDRED PERCENT AND YOU GET AN EVEN BETTER DISCOUNT. WE BROUGHT THEM FORTH AND THERE WASN'T A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THAT. BUT WE ARE COMING AGAIN NEXT YEAR WITH THE SAME THING. AND I'M HOPING THAT MAYBE WE CAN GET THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO MAKE US SOME FLYERS AND STUFF IF WE NEED IT, BECAUSE WE DO NEED TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE IN THE COMMUNITY WHAT'S GOING ON. AND OUR BLOCK CAPTAIN, WE JUST HAD A SOUL FOOD FESTIVAL THAT WAS A GROUP OF VENDORS. WE GOT TOGETHER. WE HAD NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT MADE PEOPLE AWARE OF WHAT WAS AVAILABLE TO THEM. WE HAD VENDORS ON THE OUTSIDE, FOOD TRUCKS, AND WE HAD PEOPLE ON THE INSIDE SELLING DIFFERENT ARTICLES LIKE HAND BUYS, HATS AND DIFFERENT THINGS JUST TO GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO MAKE SOME MONEY. BUT THEN IT GIVES THE COMMUNITY AND THE CHILDREN A CHANCE TO COME TOGETHER. WE HAD CAKEWALKS AND WE HAD GAMES FOR PEOPLE TO PLAY. IT'S JUST A THING THAT, A COMMODITY THAT WE WANT EVERYBODY TO HAVE A GOOD TIME. WE CAN'T, I'M NOT SAY WE MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY FROM IT, BUT IT BRINGS THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER. AND I LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO STILL SOMETIMES STEP IN AND COME OUT WHEN YOU SEE OUR FLYERS OUT AND COME OUT AND SEE WHAT WE GOT GOING ON BECAUSE IT'D BE FLAT, IT'D BE GOOD [00:35:01] TO SEE OTHER PEOPLE FROM OTHER, OTHER COMMUNITIES. AND THEN WE HAVE THE GARDEN. THE GARDEN IS JENNIFER, RUN BY JENNIFER. SHE DOES A GOOD JOB WITH, UH, ESPECIALLY SHE BEING CRAVEN, CA CRAVEN TERRACE. AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR C CRAVEN TERRACE PEOPLE, IT'S FOR PEOPLE AROUND THE COMMUNITY. SHE GROW FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND SHE GIVE IT OUT TO PEOPLE AND SHE TEACH THEM HOW THEY CAN MAKE FOOD WITH WHAT THEY GROW. AND YOU KNOW, THEN AGAIN, IT IS GETTING EVERYBODY USED TO A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENT STUFF. AND THAT'S WHAT MY AGENDA IS ABOUT, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY KNOW WHAT IS, WHAT IS AVAILABLE FOR THEM. AND I'D LIKE FOR EVERYBODY, ESPECIALLY YOU ALL TO COME OUT AND IF I NEED SOME FLYERS OR SOMETHING MADE, OR ANY ACTIVITIES BILL GOING TO HAVE, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO COME TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND MAKE AND GET THEM TO HELP ME TO MAKE SOME FLYERS. AND THEN WE DO THE COMMUNITY CLEANUP. SOMETIMES THE PHOENIX HOUSE, I'M IN THE PHOENIX HOUSE TOO, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHEN THEY PAY OR GIVE YOU A CERTAIN AMOUNT FOR ONES THAT OWN THE HOME. YOU GOTTA OWN YOUR HOME AND YOU GOTTA STAY IN THE HOME. IT MIGHT BE PLUMBING, IT MIGHT BE YOUR ROOF, IT MIGHT BE YOUR FLOOR. AND WE GIVE YOU A CERTAIN UP TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT THAT AFFECTS YOUR, UH, HOUSE AND STUFF UP. SO, AND I'M THE VICE CHAIRMAN OF THAT. AND ROBERT BENJAMIN, HE'S THE CHAIRMAN. SO IF YOU COULD, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I BE TRYING TO DO, I TRY TO MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE MOSTLY FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT DON'T REALLY HAVE A LOT, BUT I LET 'EM KNOW, EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT, YOU CAN WORK YOUR WAY ON GETTING A LOT. BECAUSE I DID COME FROM CRAVEN TERRACE, BUT I HAD THE MINDSET, AND IT COULD BE MY MOTHER AND MY FATHER THAT GAVE ME THE MINDSET, BUT I STILL HAD TO KNOW, RETAIN WHAT THEY DID, THEY GAVE ME. SO I'M UP THERE IN PLEASANT HILL. I HAVE A DOUBLE Y TRAILER THAT I OWN THAT I'M PAYING MORTGAGE ON, BUT I'M STILL OWN IT. BUT I'M TRYING TO GIVE THEM THE MENTALITY. AND DON'T, DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHERE YOU CAME FROM. IT'S NOT WHERE YOU CAME FROM. IT'S WHERE YOU END UP AT. AND SO THAT'S, I WANT REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO KEEP US IN MIND. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE A DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL POLICY. IF YOU HAVE SOME, ANY KIND OF GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR ANY OF THOSE GROUP, PLEASE AND LET US KNOW. AND IT'LL BE NICE IF YOU ALL TO HAVE AGENDA OUT THERE WHEN YOU ALL HAVE YOUR MEETS SO WE CAN FOLLOW ALONG TOO. AND I KNOW THAT YOU SAID YOU GOING TO OPEN UP THE, UH, THE CLOSED SESSION FROM OCTOBER, 2023 TO FEBRUARY, 2024. IF POSSIBLE, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A COPY OF THAT AND A COPY OF THESE MINUTES IF POSSIBLE. AND IT'S NOT HARD. ROBERT MAR MORGAN CAN HEAR ANY INFO YOU NEED ABOUT ME. I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU PHONE NUMBER, I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU EMAIL, BECAUSE LONG AS YOU DO SEEING POSITIVE STUFF THROUGH THERE, WE GOING TO BE GREAT. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. THANK YOU, MS. SAMSON, TO THANK YOU. I WANTED TO THANK THE BOARD FOR ALLOWING, UH, MR. SAMPSON TO COME AND TO HELP SHED A LITTLE BIT OF LIGHT ON WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, WORK GROUP. AND WE WILL BE, UH, WORKING IN CONCERT WITH THOSE GROUPS IN WHICH MRS. SAMPSON IS A PART AND I THINK A, A VERY VITAL AND INTEGRAL PART OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY AND IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO WE WILL DEFINITELY BE USING ALL OF OUR RESOURCES, UH, 'CAUSE THERE'S STRENGTH IN NUMBERS. AND I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU ALL THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN AND THANK YOU MS. BARBARA SAMPSON. YES. AND THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING OUR MEETING BECAUSE THAT IS HOW, UM, INFORMATION IS SHARED, YOU KNOW, AND THE, IS IT, WE ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TO COME TO OUR MEETINGS AND WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE WHEN THE PUBLIC COMES. SO THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU MR. MORGAN. THANK YOU MR. MORGAN. AND GONNA ASK STAFF WHAT'S STAFF REPORT? [10. Staff Report] ABSOLUTELY. IT'S BEEN A, UH, WONDERFUL MONTH. UH, A COUPLE MONTHS ACTUALLY, JULY AND, AND AUGUST, UH, WEST A STREET, UH, AS, AS COMMISSIONER PAR, UM, PARAGUAY, UH, MENTIONED IS COMING ALONG. THE, UH, SURVEYORS WERE A LITTLE BIT DELAYED BECAUSE OF, UH, DEBBIE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. UM, BUT, UH, THERE THEY SHOULD BE BACK OUT THERE IN A, IN A LITTLE WHILE. UH, I DID WANNA MAKE MENTION TONIGHT THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS HIRED A NATIONAL CONSULTANT, UH, TO COME TO NEW BERN CALLED C UH, CRI, UH, WHO WILL BE WORKING ON THE CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVE, UH, PROJECT, [00:40:01] UH, THE IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT. UH, AS THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION IS A STRATEGIC PARTNER WITH THE HOUSING. UH, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WILL BE DEFINITELY, UH, INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS IN CO-DEVELOPING THE REDEVELOPMENT OF TRI COURT AS THAT, AS THAT PROJECT PROGRESSES. UM, UH, I THINK EVERYTHING ELSE ON, ON, ON MY, ON MY STAFF REPORT IS LISTED. UM, I DID WANT TO GO OVER OUR FINANCE, UH, OUR FINANCIAL, UH, ENDING THE MONTH. UH, WE ENDED THE MONTH WITH A FUND BALANCE OF 361,698,000 A HUNDRED DOLLARS AND 65 CENTS. UM, OUR, OUR COSTS HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY, UH, RELATIVELY MITIGATED TO SIMPLY MOWING AND, AND UPKEEP OF, UH, OF THE PROPERTIES THAT WE, UH, ADMINISTER. UH, ONE OF, ONE OF THE MOST MAJOR COSTS THAT YOU'LL SEE WILL BE THE, THE COST OF THE SURVEY OR AN ENGINEER, UM, UH, CONTRACT THAT YOU ALL APPROVED LAST MONTH. AS SOON AS THAT WORK IS COMPLETE, WE'LL BE PAYING THAT OUT IN THE AMOUNT OF $11,575. UM, I THINK, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THAT IS A SUCCINCT, UH, STAFF REPORT AS I CAN GIVE. BUT WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU ALL HAVE? I HAVE ONE QUESTION. SURE. WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE HOUSE ON ? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. UH, ACTUALLY, COMMISSIONER PARHAM AND I HAVE BEEN, UH, PARHAM, GOODNESS GRACIOUS. I LOOKED AT JULIUS AND SAW SARAH. THAT IS A BIG DIFFERENCE. YEAH, BIG DIFFERENCE. UH, NEXT TIME I, MY HAIR BROKE , COMMISSIONER PROCTOR AND I HAVE BEEN, UH, TRADING EMAILS WITH, UH, THE CONSULTANT FOR CDBG TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT A PATH FORWARD. UH, IT, IT, IT WOULD BE FAIR TO SAY THAT IT CAN, IT, IT CONTINUES TO BE A FAIRLY COMPLEX, UM, TRAJECTORY. HOWEVER, UH, I DID, UH, RECEIVE THIS WEEK A PHONE CALL FROM A, A LOCAL NONPROFIT WHO COULD BE INTERESTED. SO I'LL BE IN, I'LL BE MEETING WITH THAT NONPROFIT NEXT WEEK, UH, AND TOURING THE FACILITY WITH THEM. AND HOPEFULLY, UM, WITH ANY LUCK, EVERYBODY, KNOCK ON WOOD, CROSS YOUR FINGERS AND DO ALL THE THINGS, UH, WE'LL, WE'LL FIND A PATH FORWARD, UH, TO THE PUT NINE 11 NEWBANK TO WORK FOR, FOR THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE IT IS, IT IS A GREAT PROPERTY. IT IS. I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THAT. 'CAUSE I KNOW IT HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE DAY YOU BECAME THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. THAT IS CORRECT, . SO WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. AND, UH, NOT QUESTION. YES SIR. I THINK, UH, WHAT'S THE ASKED IN PRICE FOR THAT PROPERTY? THE, UH, UH, THE TAX ASSESSED VALUE OF THE PROPERTY AS IT NOW STANDS, IS $105,000. IT'S GENERALLY THE, UH, THE PRACTICE OF THIS BOARD TO ASK 75% OF THAT. HOWEVER, UH, THE, THE FACT THAT THE, THE IMPROVEMENTS TO, TO THE PROPERTY, UH, WERE THE IMPROVEMENTS WERE FUNDED BY, UH, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT THAT COMPLICATES THE WHOLE, UH, THE WHOLE SITUATION. SO $230,000 OF CDBG FUNDS, UH, WERE UTILIZED TO MOVE THE HOUSE AND, AND PUT THE HOUSE ON A NEW FOUNDATION AND, AND DO THE SITE PREPARATION. SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, UM, IS WHATEVER, WHAT, WHATEVER WE SOLD, UH, SOLD THE, THE PARCEL FOR, UM, WHATEVER IS LEFT OVER THE DELTA BETWEEN $230,000 AND WHAT WE SELL IT FOR WOULD BE PUT INTO A SECONDARY LIEN IN THE NAME OF CDBG, UM, UH, FOR A PERIOD OF 20 YEARS. UH, AND AFTER 20 YEARS, IT WOULD MOST LIKELY BE FORGIVEN, SO LONG AS LOW TO MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES, UH, WERE BEING SERVED BY THAT HOUSING. SO ALL, ALL OF THESE ITEMS ARE, ARE REASONS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMPLEXITY OF, OF THE OVERALL PROJECT, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE UNTANGLING IT AND WORKING INCH BY INCH TO GET IT THROUGH. NOW I WANT TO MENTION ONE MORE, I DON'T WANT TO CALL IT A PROBLEM, BUT LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION CAN BE A PROBLEM WHEN YOU BEGIN BUILDING HOUSES. THAT'S ONE THING I'M CONCERNED ABOUT. THE OTHER, YOUR NEIGHBORS PER SE. AND THAT REALLY CONCERNS ME ABOUT ALL OTHER, [00:45:02] WHEN YOU HAVE A SMALL PORTION, YOU PUT $250,000, YOU LOOK AT YOUR SURROUNDINGS, YOUR COMFORTABLES, AND WHAT YOU COME UP WITH THAT WILL DEPLETE YOUR VALUE OF YOUR, OF ANY HOUSE, MAY I SAY. SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO BE, UH, TAKE SOME PRECAUTION ON. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, SIR. ALRIGHT. ALL RIGHT. SO WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR STAFF REPORT. [11. Officer Election] AND THE 11TH AGENDA ITEM IS OUR OFFICER ELECTION. IT IS THE MONTH OF AUGUST, WHICH IS WHEN WE STARTED ALL THOSE YEARS AGO. SO I'M GOING TO TURN THAT OVER TO YOU NOW. SAY SO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULE OF PROCEDURE OF THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, EVERY AUGUST A BALLOT VOTE SHALL BE CONDUCTED TO NAME A CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR FOR THE COMMISSION. UH, SEVERAL COMMISSIONERS HAVE RECOMMENDED BETH WALKER TO CONTINUE HER ROLE AS CHAIRPERSON. AND SEVERAL, UH, SEVERAL OTHERS WERE NOMINATED, WERE RECOMMENDED, BUT DECLINED TO ACCEPT THAT RECOMMENDATION. TABARI WALLACE HAS BEEN RE RECOMMENDED TO SERVE AS VICE-CHAIR. AGAIN, SEVERAL OTHERS WERE RECOMMENDED BUT DECLINED TO ACCEPT. SO OUR TWO CANDIDATES TONIGHT, UH, ON THE BALLOT AS SHOWN ARE BETH WALKER FOR CHAIR AND TABARI WALLACE FOR VICE CHAIR, UH, IN ACCORD, WE'LL RULING THE RULES AND PROCEDURES, IT IS TIME TO DO A BALLOT VOTE. AND AT THIS TIME I WILL HAND IT OVER TO OUR, UH, ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEYS. THANK YOU, MR. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. SO MOVED. , BEFORE WE GET THERE, JUST A COUPLE OF NOTES FOR YOU TO CONSIDER IN THIS PROCESS. UM, THE BALLOT THAT HAS BEEN THE DRAFT BALLOT, SHALL I SAY, THAT HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR YOU IS BASED ON, I THINK, STAFF STAFF'S ASSESSMENT, UM, AND SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH INDIVIDUALS ON THE COMMISSION. UM, SO YOUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS TONIGHT IS ONE TO, UM, ADOPT, TO MOVE TO USE THIS BALLOT. UM, IF THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THESE OFFICER POSITIONS, YOU CERTAINLY CAN ENTERTAIN, UM, THOSE INDIVIDUALS AT THIS TIME. IF NOT, UM, STEP ONE IS TO, UH, HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND AND VOTE TO USE THE BALLOT THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED. SO WILL SECOND , CAN WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, I BELIEVE. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS THAT THE COMMISSION HAS BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT? NO, MA'AM. YOU GOT, EVERYBODY'S SHAKING THEIR HEAD NO. OKAY. SO PROCEDURALLY WE USE THE BALLOT IN FRONT OF US AND YOU WANNA HAVE A VOICE VOTE TO ALL ON THE MOTION. ALL IN FAVOR. OKAY. UM, ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BALLOT. AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? OKAY. NOW THAT YOU, YOU HAVE AGREED ON A SLATE OF OFFICERS AND ON, AS INDICATED ON THE BALLOT BEFORE YOU, UM, YOU WILL NEED TO COMPLETE YOUR BALLOT. YOUR BALLOTS ARE PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. SO FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESSES, YOU'D LIKE TO WRITE YOUR NAME ON THE BALLOT SO WE KNOW WHO'S VOTING FOR WHAT. AND THEN YOU CAN MAKE YOUR SELECTIONS OF THE CANDIDATES AS PROPOSED. ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED THAT PROCESS, IF YOU'LL JUST SIGNIFY BY RAISING THAT PAPER IN THE AIR, MR. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WILL RECEIVE IT FROM YOU AND HE WILL ASSESS THE RESULTS OF THE, THE BALLOT. NO, ID REQUIRED JUST PRINT YOUR NAME DOWN THERE, WHATEVER. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ONE REALLY JUST ON THE NEXT, UM, THE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ABOUT AUGUST IS I BELIEVE IT IS THE MONTH THAT THIS IS SARAH PROCTOR'S END OF YOUR TERM. IS THAT REALLY? SURE. IS THAT, UH, IS THAT UP FOR DISCUSSION OR IS THAT A DONE DEAL? 'CAUSE I WILL SAY THIS, WE HAVE REALLY ENJOYED YOUR LEGAL PERSPECTIVE AND YOUR FRESH TAKE ON A LOT OF ISSUES AS YOU CAME ON AT A TIME WHEN A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR A LONG TIME AND YOU REALLY BROUGHT A NEW FRESH, UM, WAY OF LOOKING AT THINGS. SO I WISH IT WAS NOT THE TIME WHEN YOU WERE ROLLING OFF. CAN WE INFLUENCE? YEAH. CAN WE INFLUENCE, I MEAN, IS IS THE BOARD MEMBERS, THE CITY COUNCIL RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING MS. PROCTER CITY ATTORNEY? THE THE GOVERNING BOARD MAKES THE APPOINTMENTS? YES. UH, SO, SO, SO WE MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, LIKE IN THIS MEETING, MAYBE TO THE [00:50:01] GOVERNOR, I WILL SAY WITH ALL OF OUR APPOINTED BOARDS, IF A PERSON IS ELIGIBLE TO CONTINUE THEIR SERVICE AND THEY'RE WILLING, THEY CAN NOTIFY THE CITY CLERK. UM, AND THE CIRCUIT CLERK WILL CIRCULATE THAT INFORMATION TO THOSE WHO MAKE THE APPOINTMENTS. YOU, YOU GONNA DO IT A GENERAL CONSENSUS THAT EVERYBODY WOULD LOVE YOU TO DO THAT? , BUT I MEAN, ARE YOU WILLING TO SAY ON YES. OKAY. ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT. SO MAYBE IT'S NOT GOODBYE. IT'S JUST SEE YOU LATER IS WHAT? IT'S IT'S A, A RENEWAL EXCEPT WHEN DID THEY WE REALLY DO, SOMEBODY PUTS IT ON THEIR AGENDA. WHEN DID THEY VOTE ON IT? WHEN SOMEBODY PUTS IT ON THEIR AGENDA. SHE'S THE ONLY ONE LOSING TURN. I THINK SHE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT, THAT ROLLS THIS MONTH. THIS YEAR, CORRECT? I'M NEXT. YOU'RE NEXT. THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. NEXT YEAR. THAT'S NEXT YEAR. OH, NEXT YEAR. OKAY. I'M LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU NEXT AUGUST. AS YOU'VE SEEN IT, IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET MOMENTUM AND GET A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON. AND SO I I DO, I THINK THE COMMISSION, UM, EUBANKS HAPPENED INTO MY FIRST MEETING. SO IT'S JUST US STILL WORKING LIFE. RIGHT. AN EXAMPLE THERE. WELL, BUT WE, WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU DO AND YOU KNOW YEAH, I KNOW. IT'S ALWAYS EXTRA FOR EVERYBODY TO COME AFTER WORK ANYWAY. ALRIGHT, AS A POINT OF ORDER, MADAM CHAIR, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON A UNANIMOUS ACCEPTANCE. AND CONGRATULATE MR. TABARI WALLACE SAYS THE NEW VICE CHAIR. SO YOU WERE NEAR YOU, MAN. OH, YOU, YOU WAIT, TABARI. IT'S GONNA BE A YEAR OF TRAVELING FOR ME NEXT YEAR. JUST, OH GOD. I SEE WHEN HE HAD TO DO IT. MAD CHAIR BEFORE WE GO TO CLOSE, CAN I HAVE TWO MINUTES? UM, YES. AND I'M NOT SURE WE HAVE A CLO WE SAY CLOSED SESSION. DO WE HAVE ANYTHING DISCUSSING CLOSED SESSION? SIR, WE HAVE NO NEED FOR CLOSED SESSION TONIGHT, SO YOU CAN TAKE THE CLOSED SESSION TIME. AWESOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK, UM, UH, MS. SAMSON. ASHLEY BROUGHT SOMETHING TO, TO MY ATTENTION THAT I FAILED TO LET Y'ALL KNOW, BUT TWO SATURDAYS AGO, I THINK IT WAS, UM, WE HAD TO STOP THE VIOLENCE RALLY, UM, RIGHT THERE BESIDE, UH, THE FLAME IN THE OLD FLAME BUILDING. UM, AND IT WAS , IT WAS MASSIVELY ATTENDED. IT WAS A SHOCKER EVEN TO THE ONES WHO PUT IT ON. UH, WE HAD MAYOR JEFFREY ODOM, UH, SPEAK. UM, UH, SHERIFF CHIP HUGHES WAS A BIG, BIG, UH, SUPPORT AND CONTRIBUTOR. UM, HE HAD, UH, DAVID MCFADDEN COME AND GIVE GREETINGS FROM THE CRAVEN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. AND A STANDING OVATION WAS HAD FOR CARLOS HUGHES, THE SERGEANT OF OUR AREA, WHICH WE GOVERNED, UH, THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA FROM NEWBURN POLICE DEPARTMENT. UH, BUT I BROUGHT ALL THE, BROUGHT ALL OF THAT UP TO SAY IS WHEN YOU SEE A SCENE LIKE THAT WHERE THE CITY COMES TOGETHER AND LAW ENFORCEMENT COMES TOGETHER FOR A CAUSE. I'M NOT SAYING THIS EVENT CAUSED IT, BUT THERE WAS ONE CRIME THAT WAS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WAS OUTSTANDING WITHIN THREE DAYS OF THE STOP THE RALLY. THAT'S WHERE WE KIND OF URGED CITIZENS TO WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU KNOW, TO ASSIST IN THESE MATTERS. AN ARREST WAS MADE. AND, AND THAT IN ITSELF IS PROGRESS. AND TO ME, A SUCCESS, BRINGING EVERYBODY TOGETHER AND HAVE AND HAVING THAT EVENT. SO I JUST WANTED TO, UH, USE THIS TIME TO REALLY THANK, UH, MAYOR OLDHAM, UH, SHERIFF CHIP HUGHES AND NEW BERN POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR WHAT THEY DID. AND ALSO, UH, TO THE, UH, PEOPLE THAT PUT IT ON. UM, THEY DID A, A, THEY, I THINK IT'S NC BOTTLE BUNNIES OR SOMETHING, BUT THEY, THEY PUT ON A GREAT DEAL AND APPARENTLY BY POPULAR DEMAND, THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ANNUAL EVENT. SOMETHING COMES UP AGAIN, I'LL MAKE SURE TO BE RESPONSIBLE TO LET Y'ALL KNOW. UM, AND THEN MAYBE WE CAN GET, UH, MORE INVOLVED IN THIS . I AGREE. PLEASE DO LET US KNOW. AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT. THANK YOU AGAIN MS. SAMPSON, FOR SHARING THE NEWS. YOU DID. AND WE LOVE TO BE IN THE KNOW OF WHAT'S GOING ON. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE DON'T HAVE A CLOSED SESSION. WE HAVE NO NEED FOR THAT TONIGHT. CAN I GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED. SECOND AND A SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.