[00:00:01]
SEE? DID MADAM CHAIR, THAT[1. Call to order and Welcome]
IS THE BELL.THAT IS 6:00 PM IT IS 6:00 PM SO I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2024.
AND I AM GONNA ASK OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 2 25, GIVE US A ROLL CALL.
SARAH PROCTOR AND LEANDER MORGAN ARE BOTH EXCUSED DUE TO SICKNESS.
AND BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION WHO WENT TO THE MOST RECENT ALDERMAN'S MEETING AND APPRECIATE YOUR SHOW AND STANDING UP FOR WHAT WE KNOW, UM, WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD FOR.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I WANT TO, UM, JUST AS A WAY OF INTRODUCING, UH, THE, THIS NEXT NEW YEAR 'CAUSE WE JUST CHANGED OVER OUR, UM, LEADERSHIP.
THE NEWBURN REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION IS A PUBLIC BODY APPOINTED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN OF THE CITY OF NEWBURN IS A PUBLIC BODY GOVERNED BY THE NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL STATUTES.
AND OUR REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION HAS BEEN TASKED WITH DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO ADDRESS BLIGHTED PARCELS AS WELL AS PUBLIC HEALTH SAFETY AND THE GENERAL WELFARE WELFARE OF CITIZENS WITHIN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA.
AND I KNOW OUR MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO IS ATTENDING REGULARLY ATTENDS.
ALRIGHT, SO LET'S GET STARTED WITH OUR MISSION STATEMENT AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES, WHICH ARE NOT IN YOUR PACKETS.
[3. Mission Statement and Guiding Principles]
START WITH READING THE, UH, MISSION STATEMENT FOR US.THE NEWMAN REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION LEADING THE WAY FOR 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 IN OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES.
COMMISSIONER BRYAN, PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE EQUAL TIMES.
SAY FOCUS, BE ACTION ORIENTED.
AND THE LAST ONE YOU GUYS CAN SAY TOGETHER.
[4. Consider Approving the Agenda.]
NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO CONSIDER APPROVING OUR AGENDA.UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT FOR THIS SEPTEMBER MEETING, THERE HAVE BEEN NO NEW ITEMS, NO ITEMS OF NEW BUSINESS THAT WERE SUBMITTED.
AND I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU, IF YOU DO HAVE NEW ITEM, NEW BUSINESS ITEMS, DO YOU NEED TO SUBMIT 'EM BEFORE THIS, BEFORE THE AGENDA IS APPROVED? GOTCHA.
UNLESS THERE'S ANY SURPRISE NEW ITEMS, I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND GET A MOTION TO, UH, APPROVE THE AGENDA.
I MAKE A MOTION THAT THE AGENDA BE APPROVED.
SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL OPPOSED? OKAY, THE MOTION CARRIES.
AND THIS, UM, MEETING'S AGENDA IS APPROVED.
[5. Consider Approving Minutes (April and closed session minutes)]
WE ALSO, IN OUR PACKET THAT WE RECEIVED, CONSIDER, I MEAN, RECEIVED THE AUGUST MEETING MINUTES.AND I HOPE YOU'VE HAD TIME TO LOOK OVER THOSE.
IF YOU HAVE, UM, AND TAKE NO EXCEPTIONS.
I'D LIKE TO GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE MEETING MINUTES.
AND FOR, BY WAY OF DISCUSSION, WERE THERE ANY CHANGES THAT ANYONE SEE SAW THAT NEEDED TO BE MADE? NO, MA'AM.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE AUGUST, UM, MEETING MINUTES.
AND ALL OPPOSED, UH, MOTION CARRIES AND THE MEETING MINUTES WILL BE APPROVED.
THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM AS USUAL IS PUBLIC COMMENT.
[00:05:01]
COMMENT TONIGHT? I DO.WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS NEW BUSINESS.
AND AS I SAID BEFORE, THERE HAVE BEEN, UM, NO ITEMS SUBMITTED.
[8.a. West A Street Update]
INTO TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE OLD BUSINESS, THE THREE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IN THE PAST FEW MEETINGS.UM, THE FIRST ONE BEING THE WEST, A STREET UPDATE.
UM, WEST DAY STREET HAS NOT MOVED FORWARD AT ALL SINCE THE LAST MEETING.
WE WERE HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH THE SURVEYING WORK BEING DONE.
UH, WE HAVE KIND OF NOT HAD A GREAT DEAL OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE SURVEY FIRM THAT WE HAD HIRED.
AND, UH, EITHER ZA NOR MYSELF HAVE, UH, SEEN A WHOLE LOT OF COMMUNICATIONS OR ACTIVITY.
THE LAST WE KNEW IS THAT THEY WERE HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH, UH, THE DEEDS.
AND WE HAVE NOT HEARD, I MEAN, THINK WE PROVIDED THEM SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WE HAVE NOT HEARD ANY, UH, FEEDBACK FROM THEM THAT WE'RE AWARE OF, UH, SINCE THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED TO THEM.
THAT SAID, IT IS, I THINK, INCUMBENT UPON US TO NOT SIT AROUND AND NOT BE MOVING FORWARD WITH SOME TYPE OF, UH, PRODUCTIVE HOUSING SOLUTIONS FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
AND I GOT TO THINKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT WHILE WE'RE RESOLVING WHATEVER MIGHT, THERE MIGHT BE ON THE TITLES AND, AND SURVEYING ON, UH, THE WEST A STREET BLOCK, THAT WE DO HAVE SEVERAL VERY, VERY NICE HOME SITES WITHIN THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION THAT WE COULD BUILD ON.
YOU HAVE SEVERAL RIGHT ACROSS FROM EUBANK STREET MM-HMM.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A VERY NICE SITE UP ON, UH, GREEN STREET THAT WE TRADED FOR A YEAR OR TWO AGO.
AND THEY WOULD ALL, UH, WORK WELL, THEY'RE ALL 52 FOOT WIDE LOTS.
IT WOULD WORK WELL FOR THE HOUSING STOCK THAT WE, UH, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE BUILT, UH, ON WALT BELLAMY.
AND I, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT, UH, A PLAN B, SO TO SPEAK, IF WE RUN INTO REAL SNAGS AND BEING ABLE TO GET CLEAR TITLE THAT, UH, SO THAT WE COULD BUILD THE HOUSES AND, AND SELL THEM ON WEST A STREET.
BUT I PUT, I THROW THAT OUT FOR DISCUSSION AMONGST THE COMMISSION AND I HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD TO THAT IF I CAN.
UH, DID WE DO A CONTRACT WITH A TIME LIMIT ON IT ON THE SURVEY WORK? YES, OF COURSE.
THEY, THEY HAD AN EXPECTED DELIVERY DATE, BUT THERE WAS A, THERE WAS NO EXPECTATION THEY WERE GONNA RUN INTO THE ISSUES THAT THEY HAD WITH THE TITLE TO THE PROPERTY.
AND I THINK THAT JAMIE, IF I, IF I MAKE CALL ON YOU TO EXPLAIN WHAT THE, THE ISSUES ARE WITH, UH, THE SURVEYORS AND THE, AND THE DEEDS THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO RESOLVE.
UM, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE SURVEYORS ARE TRYING TO UNTANGLE, UM, THE MEETS AND BOUNDS OF THESE LOTS AS IT PERTAINS TO THE WAY THEY'RE DESCRIBED IN THE DEEDS THAT WERE RECEIVED BY THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
AS YOU MIGHT RECALL, YOU ALL ACQUIRED THESE PROPERTIES VERY EARLY ON IN THE COMMISSION'S CREATION.
UM, ALTHOUGH I, I THINK I WAS IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE MAYBE A WEEK, UM, AT THE TIME THAT THAT CONVEYANCE OCCURRED, THE WAY I RECALL IT IS THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER AT THAT TIME JUST GAVE Y'ALL A DEED AND IT WAS RECORDED.
UM, SO I, I'M NOT CERTAIN THAT THERE WAS ANY TITLE INVESTIGATION DONE AT THE TIME OF THE ACQUISITION, WHICH NOW, UM, CREATES SOME, SOME THINGS TO UNTANGLE.
SO, UM, I THINK KIPP AND, UM, MR. PARAGO AND MR. HUFF, UM, FORWARDED SOME COMMUNICATION TO ME ABOUT SOME QUESTIONS, SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT THE SURVEYORS HAD.
UM, OUR OFFICE PROVIDED THE DOCUMENTS AND THE, THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAD THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL, UM, ON THOSE ISSUES.
AND AS MR. PARAGO INDICATED, UH, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE AND I DON'T THINK ANY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMMISSION HAVE EITHER AT THIS STAGE.
YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE TRYING TO UNTANGLE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? I'M SORRY? YOU SAID YOU ARE TRYING TO UNTANGLE NO, THEY'RE TRYING TO UNTANGLE.
SO WHAT DID THEY MEAN EXACTLY BY THAT? THEY ARE UNDERTAKING EFFORTS TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PROPERTIES AS IT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED IN THE CHAIN OF TITLE THAT WE HAVE.
[00:10:01]
YOUR QUESTION, POSSIBLY MINE, I DIDN'T TRY TO DO THE WHOLE SURVEY THEN THE BOTTOM UP IN LOTS OF ONE OF THE INTENT MM-HMM.AND WE, THAT'S WHAT WE ARE WAITING FOR THE ACCURATE BOUNDARY SURVEY.
SO WE KNOW WHAT WE REALLY HAVE TO WORK WITH.
AND THAT WAS, THAT WAS THE FIRST DELIVERABLE THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE US.
ADDING ON TO THAT, YOU DID MENTION SOME MORE, I GUESS FEASIBLE LOTS THAT WE CAN FILL ON.
I TALKED TO, UH, SEE, UH, I GUESS, I GUESS SOME OF 'EM GOT AMNESIA.
I TALKED TO HIM ABOUT THREE OR FOUR MONTHS AGO ABOUT THIRD AVENUE PROJECT.
IT WASN'T MENTIONED THE LAST MEETING.
IT WASN'T MENTIONED TO ME BEFORE THAT.
AND, UH, YOU HAVE ANY UPDATE THAT'S A NICE PIECE OF PROPERTY IF ANYBODY REMEMBERED.
I DIS THE FIRST AVENUE, I'M SORRY, THE FIRST AVENUE.
YEAH, THE FIRST AVENUE PRO, UH, PROJECT.
I DISSEMINATED THOSE FINDINGS TO YOU, UH, SEVERAL MONTHS AGO PER YOUR REQUEST.
UH, BASICALLY THERE'S, UH, BETWEEN 18 AND 22 VIABLE LOTS, UH, ON THAT PROPERTY BETWEEN FIRST AVENUE AND THIRD AVENUE.
UH, I, I SENT YOU THE SITE MAP AND AS WELL AS DESCRIPTIONS OF THOSE, OF THOSE PARCELS AND WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE DONE.
UH, A SIMILAR PACKET WAS PUT TOGETHER FOR THE BLOOMFIELD, UH, STREET, UM, RFP.
AND THAT COMMITTEE HAS BEEN WORKING OFF OF THAT.
I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING FURTHER FROM YOU, SO I DIDN'T TAKE ANY FURTHER ACTION.
YEAH, I DIDN'T GET THE PACKET.
I WENT TO THE COURT AND GOT A PACKET OF MY OWN HAPPY TO RESEND IT, SIR.
AND, UH, I SEE THAT IT DIDN'T REGISTER TEAR DOWN THE HOUSE THAT WAS NEXT DOOR TO THE PROPERTY THAT WE WAS TRYING TO, UH, ACQUIRE.
WHO IS, WE WE'RE TRYING TO ACQUIRE.
THE COMMISSION HAS TAKEN NO EFFORTS TO ACQUIRE ANY PROPERTIES.
WE HAD THOUGHT, ANTICIPATE ON, UH, BUY-IN THE TWO STORY HOUSE.
THAT WAS, YOU DON'T REMEMBER, UH, MR. DILLA HUNT? YES.
UM, IF, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT ACQUIRING ADDITIONAL PROPERTIES, UM, THERE THERE MAY BE ANOTHER VENUE TO DO THAT.
LOOK, HE TALKED, WE, HE AND I TALKED ABOUT IT AND, UH, WE WEREN'T GOING TO TEAR IT DOWN IF YOU
UM, AND I I'M GONNA ASK US TO GO BACK TO THE CONVERSATION WE WERE HAVING, UM, COMMISSIONER, IF YOU DON'T MIND, ABOUT SOME OF THE PROPERTIES THAT WE DO HAVE AND THAT ARE READY.
AND WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING YOU SAY, COMMISSIONER PARAGO IS WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR THE SURVEYING TO BE ACCOMPLISHED ON THESE PROPERTIES, PERHAPS WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME OF THE OTHER PROPERTIES THAT WE HAVE OR MAKE A PLAN.
AND THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S LIKE I SAY, A PLAN B MM-HMM.
AND, UH, SO IF WE HAVE A PLAN B AND WE CAN CREATE A PLAN B THAT, I MEAN TO, TO UTILIZE THE MONEY WE GOT FROM THE SALE OF THE WALT BELLAMY HOUSE AGAIN TO CREATE MORE QUALITY HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES IN, IN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA.
I HATE NOT TO BE UTILIZING THAT.
OUR OUR PURPOSE WAS ALWAYS TO KEEP ROLLING THAT MONEY AND DEVELOPING QUALITY HOUSING, UH, IN, IN REDEVELOPMENT AREA.
AND, UH, I DON'T DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RESOLUTION ON, ON THE WEST A STREET PROPERTY WILL BE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT WE COULD HAVE A A, A PLAN B IN CASE IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO MEET THAT, THAT MISSION STATEMENT THAT WE HAVE IN THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN.
AND NOT THAT IT'S A PLAN B, BUT THE NEXT, UM, ITEM ON OUR AGENDA OF OLD BUSINESSES, THE BLOOMFIELD PROJECT UPDATE.
AND, AND MAYBE THAT IS ONE THAT'S MOVING FORWARD OR CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT SAME GOAL.
IN MIND MADAM CHAIRMAN? YES, SIR.
I DON'T WANT TO GET OFF THE SUBJECT THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
I THINK WE NEED TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT FIRST AVENUE I FACILITATE ANY ISSUE THAT I JUST BROUGHT UP.
WELL, TO THAT POINT, WE DO NOT HAVE THAT ON OUR AGENDA FIRST AVENUE.
AND WE, AND THAT WOULD BE A NEW BUSINESS ITEM THAT WE WOULD NEED TO ADD.
LIKE I SAID IN THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, IT, IT, NO ONE ASKED FOR THAT TO BE ADDED TO THE AGENDA.
[00:15:01]
LIKE FOR YOU TO, UH, EXPLORE THAT AND MAYBE IF IT IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO OUR NEXT AGENDA MEETING, I SAY THAT WE NEED TO, IT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP SEVERAL TIMES, SO I WOULDN'T SAY NEW BUSINESS, MAYBE OLD BUSINESS, BUT THIS NOT OFFICIALLY, THIS IS NOT A FOR THE MEETING, YOU WILL NEED TO ADD IT AS A NEW BUSINESS ITEM.WELL, I'M SAYING IT'S BEEN ADDED AND NOW CHAIR, PERHAPS ALL THE SOUTHERN IT STOPPED.
I'M TRYING TO, IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH, EXCUSE ME, MA'AM.
THAT'S THE POINT I'M TRYING TO GET ACROSS.
HE BROUGHT UP A NEW PROPERTY THAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT ON SOME OTHER LOTS, SO I THOUGHT IT WAS OKAY TO BRING UP THAT PROPERTY SINCE HE BROUGHT UP THE OTHER PROPERTIES.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE ON THE, THAT'S ON THE AGENDA? NO, NO, NO.
WHAT'S THE, THAT'S ON THE AGENDA.
YES, I, I DO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
AND HE JUST, UM, IF I'M PARAPHRASE, COMMISSIONER PARAGO SOUGHT, IF THIS IS GONNA BE AT A STANDSTILL, LET'S START LOOKING AT OTHER PROPERTIES AND NOT DEFINITIVELY NAMING THOSE PROPERTIES AS ONES TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND I'M THINKING THE SAME THING.
WHY NOT GET BACK TO WORK ON NO PROPERTY ON FIRST AVENUE? SAME THING THAT HE HAD IN MIND.
SO WE HAVE, UH, A, B TWO, A, B, C, D, E, FG.
WE HAVE MULTIPLE PLANS IN CASE TWO FALL THROUGH.
THAT'S WHAT MY IDEA IS NOT TRYING TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA AS IS.
SO NEXT TIME I MAKE SURE I GET WITH YOU, WE'LL PUT IT ON THIS NEW BUSINESS.
MADAM CHAIR, IN THE SPIRIT OF BEING HELPFUL, PERHAPS IT WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA FOR THAT SPECIFIC PROJECT TEAM, THE WEST STATE PROJECT TEAM, WHICH IS MADE UP OF COMMISSIONER PARAGO, COMMISSIONER, UH, DILL HUNT TO PUT A, UH, PUT A MEETING ON, ON THE SCHEDULE AND WE CAN BRAINSTORM A AS A PROJECT TEAM, UH, AND PERHAPS BRING BACK SOME VIABLE SOLUTIONS.
UH, OF COURSE WE CAN DO THAT IN, IN NEXT MONTH'S MEETING.
THAT WAY WE'RE NOT HASHING THINGS OUT, RIGHT.
GETTING MISCOMMUNICATIONS, UH, DURING A LIVE MEETING THAT'S, THAT'S PUBLIC.
AND, UH, WE CAN, WE CAN ALL HAVE INTELLIGENT THINGS TO SAY.
AND, AND MADAM CHAIR, MR. HUFF, READ MY MIND, UM, PERHAPS IN THAT CONVERSATION, IF IT'S THE BOARD'S DIRECTIVE THAT THE WEST A STREET PROJECT GROUP MIGHT ALSO CONSIDER THE SUITABILITY AND VIABILITY OF DEVELOPMENT, UM, IN THE, THE FIRST AVENUE CORRIDOR.
UM, SO IF, IF THAT'S THE, THE PLEASURE OF THE COMMISSION OR THE WORK GROUP, THAT'S SOME, THAT'S A DIRECTIVE THAT THIS BOARD MIGHT GIVE.
THE, THE FIRST AVENUE PROJECT WAS A, A PROJECT WORK GROUP WHEN WE DID OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING.
AND MR. DI HUNT WAS IN CHARGE OF THE FIRST AVENUE PROJECT.
AND THAT'S WHY I HAVEN'T GOTTEN INTO IT, BUT THAT WAS ALREADY AN ESTABLISHED PROJECT WORK GROUP.
SO, SO PERHAPS TO MR. HUB'S POINT, IF THE FIRST AVENUE PROJECT WORK GROUP WOULD LIKE TO, UM, HAVE SOME MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT DEVELOPMENT IN THAT CORRIDOR AND PERHAPS SHARE THEIR FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS WITH THE WEST EIGHTH STREET GROUP, UM, THAT MIGHT BE A PRODUCTIVE USE OF THE TIME.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF, IF ANYONE ELSE MIGHT BE INCLINED TO JOIN MR. DILLA HUNT ON THAT PROJECT GROUP.
UM, BE IT, AS IT MAY, IT MIGHT BE EFFECTIVE FOR MR. DILLA HUNT TO COMMUNICATE HIS AVAILABILITY TO MR. HUFF SO THAT THE WEST A STREET AND THE, UH, FIRST AVENUE PROJECT GROUPS MIGHT COLLABORATE IN SOME WAY.
AND HOPEFULLY THAT IS BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHY IT WOULD BE A NEW BUSINESS ITEM IF IT'S, IF IT'S THE PROJECT WORK GROUP BRINGING IT TO US.
UM, SO I MENTIONED BLOOMFIELD PROJECT UPDATE.
IS UM, THERE AN UPDATE TO BE PROVIDED TONIGHT? MM-HMM?
WE, WE RECENTLY, UH, MET WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, UH, TO DISCUSS ACTUALLY THIS MATTER, BUT BEFORE PROCEEDING FORWARD, UH, MY TEAM, UH, WOULD NEED TO CONVENE TO REVIEW, UM, SOME NEWLY COMPILED INFORMATION.
SORRY, I'M USED TO BEING THERE NOW.
UM, SO THAT IS ONGOING AND WE'LL HAVE A MORE THOROUGH PRE UM, PRESENTATION FOR THE MIXER.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION? UM, AND THE FINAL ONE IS
[8.c. Eubanks Project Update]
THE EUBANKS PROJECT UPDATE.AND I'M THINKING THAT THAT IS, UM, WITHOUT COMMISSIONER PROCTOR BEING HERE.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU COULD UPDATE US ON? ACTUALLY, UH, COMMISSIONER WALLACE WAS, UH, RECENTLY BROUGHT IN ON, ON THIS PROJECT AND I, AND I WONDER IF I MIGHT THROW THE, UH, VICE CHAIR UNDER THE, UNDER THE BUS AND ASK HIM TO PRESENT ON THIS ONE.
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE LOCK EYES WITH OUR, WITH OUR COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE, UH, AM I ABLE TO BE, UH, NEVERMIND.
[00:20:01]
BECOME, UH, AWARE OF A POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY CONCERNING THE, UH, NINE 11 UBANKS, UH, HOUSE.UM, THE CCB, THE CDBG STAFF HAS CONTACTED, UH, THE CONSULTANT REGARDING THE POTENTIAL SALE OF THIS PROPERTY, UH, TO A INTERESTED PROPERTY.
UM, MYSELF AND, UH, SOME REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CITY, UM, ACTUALLY ARRANGED AND MET, UH, THE POTENTIAL BUYERS SO THEY CAN DO A WALKTHROUGH.
AND THEY WERE EXTREMELY INTERESTED TO THE POINT THAT I THINK I HAVE BADGED THE CITY TO DEATH AND TO DEATH IED THE DEATH TO TRY TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS.
BUT WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL THE CBG CONSULTANT, UM, GIVES US THE THUMBS UP.
UM, BUT THEY'RE READY, MONEY IN HAND, READY TO GO.
THEY'RE JUST WAITING ON THE PROCESS.
UM, BUT THEY ARE EXTREMELY, AND THIS THE, I DON'T KNOW IF I, I MIGHT BE, I WON'T SAY NAMES, UM, BUT IT IS A LOW INCOME SINGLE FATHER WITH TWO CHILDREN THAT'S WORKING JUST AS HARD AS HE CAN.
AND HE'S GETTING HELP FROM, UM, GRANDPARENTS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, TO MOVE HIM INTO A BETTER SPOT.
AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE MOVED THAT HOUSE TO THAT AREA TO DO.
THIS IS A CULMINATION OF OUR EFFORTS ACTUALLY HELPING, UM, ONE OF OUR CITIZENS RIGHT HERE IN NEW BERN, DOING THE BEST HE CAN TO RAISE HIS FAMILY ON HIS OWN.
UM, SO, UM, WE WERE EXTREMELY DELIGHTED, DELIGHTED, UH, WHEN WE WERE THERE WHEN THEY LEFT.
UM, AND NOW WE JUST AWAY FURTHER INFORMATION FROM OUR CD BG PARTNERS.
ONCE THAT'S GOING, THEN WE COULD, WE CAN START GOING.
ALRIGHT, WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT UPDATE.
UM, BUT, UM, IF I COULD, UM, RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT I WANT TO ASK THE CHAIR, COULD WE CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION FOR AUTHORIZED, UM, SEALED BID SALE? WELL, WELL HOLD ON.
UM, BEFORE WE GET THERE, MR. WALLACE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, UH, FOR THIS COMMISSION BEFORE YOU TAKE ACTION TO CONVEY THIS PROPERTY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CDBG IMPLICATIONS ARE GOING TO BE.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE METHODOLOGY OR THE, THE END USER THAT GETS THIS HOUSE, UM, FALLS INTO A CERTAIN BUCKET, THERE MAY BE PROGRAM INCOME THAT THE COMMISSION RECEIVES THAT WILL NEED TO BE ALLOCATED CONSISTENT WITH THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS.
SO IF THERE'RE GOING TO BE COVENANTS AND RESTRICTIONS THAT HAVE TO BE APPLIED TO THIS PROPERTY, YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO INCLUDE THAT INFORMATION IN WHATEVER ADVERTISEMENT YOU DO.
AND AT THIS STAGE, WE'VE NOT RECEIVED THAT INFORMATION FROM THE CDBG CONSULTANT.
SO I THINK IT'S A, IT IS GOOD TO BE THINKING ABOUT MOVING FORWARD WITH, WITH UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES YOU'D LIKE TO CONVEY THE PROPERTY AND THINKING ABOUT ALTERNATIVE MEANS TO BE ABLE TO, UM, COMPLY WITH CDBG AND ALSO COMPLY WITH WHAT I THINK IS YOUR INTENTION FOR THIS PROPERTY, FOR IT TO, UM, BE UTILIZED BY SOMEBODY WHO'S LOW TO MODERATE INCOME.
SO, VERY GOOD THINKING, BUT WE MAY BE JUST A LITTLE WAY SHORT OF TAKING OFFICIAL ACTION AT THIS POINT.
SO, UM, SO WOULD THAT BE A NEXT MONTH'S RECORD OR WHAT'S THE TIMETABLE WITH THAT? THAT, THAT'S A DIFFICULT QUESTION TO ANSWER ONLY BECAUSE, AND I WANNA, I, I DO WANNA STRESS JUST BECAUSE NINE 11 UBANK HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT QUITE A BIT LATELY, REALLY, THAT PROJECT IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE IT WAS PAID FOR BY FEDERAL FUNDS, WE HAVE TO WAIT ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GET BACK TO US.
AND SO WE CAN'T TAKE A STEP UNTIL, UNTIL WE GET THEIR PROCESS BACK, UH, AND WHICH WILL EMPOWER US.
BUT I I, I DO THINK IT'S FRUITFUL TO DEFINITELY CONTEMPLATE AND DISCUSS, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE, WHAT WHAT WE WANT AND, AND DO WE HAVE AN APPETITE FOR THIS SORT OF THING.
AND I, AND I AGREE WITH MR. WALLACE'S COMMENTS THAT THIS IS, THIS IS EXACTLY THE ESSENCE OF, OF, OF REDEVELOPMENT IN A, IN AN AREA.
AND, AND I'LL ADD THAT, UM, OUR OFFICE IS RESEARCHING, UM, ADDITIONAL METHODOLOGIES THAT THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MAY BE ABLE TO USE BECAUSE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS WERE USED.
UM, THIS MAY QUALIFY AS A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, WHICH MAY GIVE YOU SOME ADDITIONAL TOOLS SUCH AS A DIRECT SALE.
UM, AND YOU MAY NOT HAVE TO USE THE UPSET BID PROCESS BECAUSE OF THIS UNIQUE SITUATION.
SO WE'RE STILL INVESTIGATING THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN SATISFY ALL THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS, BUT THAT MAY BE ADDITIONAL TOOL THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR ARSENAL.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION IS BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'RE TRYING TO DO THIS KIND OF A THING.
AND SO THIS, THIS ISN'T REGULAR NORMAL REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ACTIVITY SEEN ACROSS THE UNITED STATES OR EVEN IN NORTH CAROLINA.
[00:25:01]
TO, I, I HAVE TO GIVE ALL THE KUDOS TO, TO OUR ATTORNEY, THIS IS REALLY GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND, UH, CALLING THE SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT, UM, CALLING THE ENTIRE NETWORK OF LEGAL MINES AROUND THE STATE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, CAN WE DO THIS? CAN WE UNDERSTAND IT THIS WAY? IS THIS A WAY WE CAN ACTUALLY LOOK AT IT? AND SO IT'S REALLY TRYING TO REDEFINE OUR WORK SO THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS, UH, AND SO, SO THAT WE CAN MAKE HEADWAY.'CAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY, ANY ONE OF US SITS IN THIS ROOM, UH, TRYING TO SPIN OUR WHEELS.
AND SO REALLY, UH, YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB THIS, UH, THIS PAST MONTH, AND I JUST THANK YOU AND I ECHO THOSE STATEMENTS, UM, OF OUR ED.
UH, BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE EMAIL CHAIN AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET THINGS DONE ON OUR OWN, UH, WHEN OUR COUNSELOR WAS INVOLVED AND ON THE EMAIL CHAIN, WE STARTED GETTING RESPONSES PRETTY QUICKLY.
SO I MEAN, IT REALLY ACCELERATED ONCE THAT HAPPENED.
SO, I MEAN, I MEAN, SALUTE, UH, TO YOUR EXPERTISE.
SO WE WOULDN'T BE WHERE WE'RE AT WITHOUT YOU, SO WE APPRECIATE IT.
OKAY, MA'AM, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO SAY THAT FOR ACTUAL COSTS, OR HAS IT BEEN APPRAISED AND HAS BEEN TAX ASSESSED? UH, THE TAX ASSESSED VALUE IS 100, 500, UH, $100,500.
UH, AND IT'S GENERALLY THE, UH, THE, THE CUSTOM OF THIS BOARD TO DO AROUND, IS IT 75% OF TAX ASSESSED VALUE? UH, BUT NO, NO, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, NO OFFICIAL APPRAISAL HAS BEEN DONE.
UM, AND SO, UH, THAT'S, UH, THAT'S WHERE WE SIT.
WHAT DID WE HAVE IN MIND WHEN WE PURCHASED THE HOUSE? WAS ANYTHING SET ASIDE OR SOME IDEALS, AND THAT WASN'T HERE WHEN THAT WAS DONE, SO I MAY BE ASKING SOME OFF THE WRONG QUESTIONS, BUT WHAT WAS IN MIND WHEN THE HOUSE WAS MOVED AND WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED? THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS IN MIND AS THIS, AS THIS PROGRAM, AS THIS PROJECT UN UH, UN UN UNWOUND ITSELF.
UH, ORIGINALLY THEY, UH, THE COMMISSION WAS ATTEMPTING TO DO SOME TRANSITIONAL HOUSING SO THAT WHILE WE DID REHAB WORK, UH, WE COULD USE IT AS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING THAT DIDN'T REALLY, UH, FIT THE BILL.
UM, AND, AND SO REALLY THE, THIS PROJECT HAS TAKEN A NUMBER OF FORMS AND, UH, BASICALLY WE, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION, UH, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE CREATED THAT IS VERY, VERY UNIQUE.
AND SO, AND AS YOU BROUGHT UP EARLIER, THE FEDERAL FUNDING YEAH.
UM, ASPECT AND THE GRANTS MIGHT CONTROL SOME OF THE, THE WHOLE PROCESS INSTEAD OF WHAT WE THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA DO.
AND I GUESS IT WOULD OFFSET SOME, THE COST FOR MOVING AND REPAIRING THE HOUSE TOOK TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT HOUSE WAS, I'M THINK WE GOT ABOUT $250,000 IN IT.
CD FUND IS NOT OUR FUND, NOT OUR MONEY.
DO THEY HAVE INVESTED IN HOUSE SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $239,000? SO WE ARE GONNA SEND IT AS DISCOUNT.
WE'RE CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO SELL IT AT $239,000.
AND, WELL, I, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG COUNSELOR, BUT BECAUSE THIS IS A COMMUNITY BLOCK GRANT FUND, THE COMMISSION WILL NOT SEE ANY OF THE MONEY NO MATTER WHAT WE SELL IT FOR.
IT IS FEDERAL FUNDS THAT WAS OFFERED FOR THE PROGRAM.
SO IT IS DIFFERENT FROM THE WALT BELLAMY HOUSES AND THAT WE DON'T, WE WILL NEVER SEE THE MONEY.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S, THAT'S UNDERSTANDING.
I'M NOT A-C-D-P-G EXPERT, BUT THAT IS, THAT IS MY GENERAL WORKING UNDERSTANDING.
BUT I WOULD DEFER TO CARL, WHO'S OUR CDPG CONSULTANT FOR THE MM-HMM.
AND SO IT IS SET UP, IT HAD DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONS FROM THE BEGINNING.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT YOU BANKS? HOPE WE KEEP MOVING IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION THERE.
[9. Staff Report]
ITEM NUMBER NINE ON OUR AGENDA IS THE STAFF REPORT.I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU, MR. H.
UH, OVER THE PAST MONTH, SUBSTANTIAL EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE, UH, IN NETWORKING WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO SHARE AND DISCUSS ONGOING AND UPCOMING COMMISSION PROJECTS.
SEVERAL MEETINGS WERE CONDUCTED WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATION INSTITUTES, AND NONPROFITS TO EXPLORE, UM, WAYS THAT WE COULD WORK TOGETHER.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO BRING TO THE COMMISSION'S, UH, ATTENTION FOR MAYBE DISCUSSION IS OUR, THERE IS A CONSISTENT REQUEST FOR OUR INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY,
[00:30:01]
UH, IN COMMUNITY GROUPS, UH, JUST PRESENCE, UM, SUCH AS THE RESIDENTS COUNCIL, THE PHOENIX, UH, COUNCIL, AND, UM, UH, SEVERAL OTHERS.UH, I COULD LIST THEM ALL, BUT, UH, I WAS ASKED TO CONVEY, UH, AGAIN, UH, A DESIRE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SEE US IN, IN THE COMMUNITY PRESENT.
THAT'S NOT, UH, THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT WE'RE NOT THERE.
UH, JUST THE INVITATION TO SAY THAT WE'RE WELCOME.
UH, AND SO THAT, THAT WAS THE YIELD OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
UM, REALLY HAPPY TO REPORT THAT, UH, THIS LAST, UH, THIS LAST WEEK, A DRAFT OF OUR WEBSITE, UH, OUR, OUR, OUR WEBSITE, UH, COLLABORATION, UH, FOR DESIGN WENT OUT TO, UH, SOME SENIOR CITY STAFF.
UH, I SENT, UH, A, A SHORT LINK TO OUR CHAIR AND OUR VICE CHAIR SO THEY COULD GET A SNEAK PEEK.
I'VE GOTTEN REALLY GOOD AND ENCOURAGING FEEDBACK ON THAT, AND I DO HOPE TO MAKE A PRESENTATION AS SOON AS NEXT MONTH TO YOU ALL SO THAT WE CAN LAUNCH BEFORE THE NEW YEAR.
UH, REALLY TO, TO BRING YOU BACK TO THAT DISCUSSION, THE GUY, THE ION THAT I RECEIVED FROM THE COMMISSION WAS TO EXPLORE WAYS TO MAKE THE WEBSITE MORE ENGAGING, MORE CONSUMER FRIENDLY.
AND WE'VE SOUGHT WAYS TO DO THAT, UM, THAT, UH, I THINK ARE REALLY NEAT AND, AND WILL BE VERY EYE CATCHING.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, BRINGING THAT PRESENTATION TO YOU VERY SOON.
UH, WE DID MAKE A PRESENTATION ON THE WALT BELLAMY PROJECT, AND WE SUCCESSFULLY DELIVERED, UH, ON THE 27TH, A UNANIMOUS VOTE, UH, TO SELL THE WALT BELLA PROJECT TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
AND SO WE ARE WAITING ON FINAL, UH, STEPS, UH, FOR OUR ESTEEMED ATTORNEYS, UH, TO GIVE US, UH, TO GIVE US A CLOSED DATE SO I CAN GET THOSE KEYS OFF MY DESK ONCE AND FOR ALL
UH, I DO WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO WAS A PART, A PART OF THAT PROJECT AND, UH, FOR HOW SMOOTHLY IT WENT.
AND I THINK THAT, UH, IT STANDS AS A TESTAMENT TO THIS COMMISSION'S WORK.
UH, WE ARE OFFICIALLY IN CONTRACT WITH MARGARET SHIELDS FROM, UH, FROM FUND DEVELOPMENT LLC, UH, WITH EXPEND, UH, WITH AN AGREEMENT OF EXPENDITURES NOT TO EXCEED $8,100, UH, FUND DEVELOPMENT LLC HAS AGREED TO WRITE NO LESS THAN 10 HIGH QUALITY GRANTS, UH, FOR THE COMMISSION TO SUPPORT OUR ENDEAVORS IN THE COMING, UH, 12 MONTH PERIOD.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MS. SHIELDS AND WE LOOK, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD EVEN MORE TO HAVING SOME POCKET CHANGE TO PLAY AROUND WITH, UH, AS WE ENDEAVOR TO COMPLETE AND FULFILL OUR MISSION IN THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN.
IT IS THAT MAGICAL TIME OF THE YEAR WHERE THE COMMISSION WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT, UH, OUR CALENDAR AND THE THINGS THAT ARE UPCOMING, SUCH AS, UM, STRATEGIC PLANS AND, UH, AND OUR CALENDAR OF MEETINGS FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
UM, ALSO, UH, IN, IN DOING SO, WE WILL COMMIT, UH, TO A BUDGET AMENDMENT, UH, FOR EXPENDITURES THAT WE WILL EXPEND FOR, THAT WE ANTICIPATE TO EXPEND FOR THE PROJECT, FOR THE PROJECTS THAT WE, UH, ANTICIPATE DOING.
AND SO IN, UH, IN PREPARATION FOR THAT, WE WANT TO BE THINKING AHEAD ABOUT SOME OF THE INITIATIVES THAT WE WANT TO, TO SEE SO THAT WE CAN ENDEAVOR TO FULFILL THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN.
OVERALL, I WOULD BRING TO THE COMMISSION'S ATTENTION THIS EVENING THAT, UH, IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, UH, THERE HAVE BEEN JUST AN UNGODLY AMOUNT OF GUN VIOLENCE, UH, OCCURRENCES IN, IN OUR REDEVELOPMENT BOUNDARY AREA.
AND SO, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, UH, I, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO THINK VERY, VERY DEEPLY ABOUT WAYS THAT WE CAN ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AS WE, AS WE BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT NEXT YEAR.
UM, WE'RE NOT JUST A, A RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
IN FACT, WE'RE NOT BUILDERS AT ALL.
AND OUR JOB IS REALLY TO DECREASE BLIGHT AND DECREASE THE ABILITY FOR CRIME, UH, FOR THE CAUSES OF CRIME TO, TO LIVE IN THE PLACES WHERE WE WORK.
AND SO, UH, IF NOT US, THEN WHO, AND SO I, I CHARGE YOU AND CHALLENGE YOU TO REALLY TAKE SOME TIME TO THINK DEEPLY ABOUT THAT.
UM, AS, AS WE GO FORWARD ON THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THINGS, UH, YOU NOW HAVE AN EMPLOYEE AND THAT EMPLOYEE NEEDS, UH, TO DO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND NETWORKING ON OCCASION.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE NEVER HAD TO CONTEMPLATE OR DISCUSS, UH, IS, UH, TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO
[00:35:01]
GET THE COMMISSION'S FEEDBACK ON, UH, SEVERAL ITEMS TONIGHT.UH, THE FIRST IS A TRAINING, UH, THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND JANUARY 5TH THROUGH THE EIGHTH.
UH, IT'S THE HOUSING COMMISSIONER'S CONFERENCE FOR HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS, UM, HOUSING REDEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY WILL BE HERE.
UH, MY HOPE IN GOING WOULD BE TO INCREASE THE NETWORK IN NATIONAL, UH, NATIONAL LEVEL, UH, DEVELOPERS THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH US HERE IN NEW BERN.
UH, AND ALSO, UH, COLLABORATE WITH INDIVIDUALS WORKING IN THE FIELD THAT WE'RE WORKING IN SO THEY HAVE FRESH IDEAS TO BRING BACK TO THE COMMISSION AS I SUPPORT THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO.
UH, THE OTHER, UH, THE OTHER TRAINING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, ATTEND IS OCTOBER 4TH, UH, AND THAT WILL BE IN CHAPEL HILL.
UM, UH, FOR IT IS A WORKSHOP PUT ON BY THE SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT TO GO OVER THE RECENT LEGISLATURE, UH, LEGISLATION CHANGES AROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AGAIN, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL HAVE THE BEST AND MOST UP TO DATE INFORMATION.
AND SO I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE GUIDANCE ON, ON, ON THAT.
UM, IF, IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SEEMS GOOD TO YOU ALL FOR ME TO PURSUE, UH, OR IF, UH, IF I SHOULD PUMP THE BRAKES, UH, I, I, I GIVE THAT TO YOU FOR DISCUSSION, AND I THINK THAT THAT IS MY, UH, STAFF REPORT OUTSIDE OF THE FINANCIALS, WHICH YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACKETS, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
UH, YOU HAVE, UH, PERTAINING TO THAT QUESTION.
UH, THESE TWO ITEMS, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TRAVEL.
UM, HOW SOON DO YOU NEED THE NEEDS TO KNOW THAT YOU WANT TO GO, UH, GET APPROVED, THAT YOU WANT TO GO? DO WE HAVE TO APPROVE THIS TRAVEL? UH, MY, OR WE JUST, OR WE JUST SAY, I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.
UH, I, I DON'T NEED, UH, I DON'T NEED
UH, I DON'T NEED PERMISSION, SO TO SPEAK, BUT IN THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY, I WANT YOU ALL TO ALWAYS BE AWARE OF ALL THE THINGS, UH OH, OKAY.
THAT, THAT I'M ENDEAVORING TO DO.
UM, IN, IN, IN FULL TRANSPARENCY, I HAVE, I, I HAVE ASKED THE CITY MANAGER AND, AND THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, IF IT'S OKAY FOR ME TO GO TO THESE AND HAVE RECEIVED, UH, APPROVAL TO DO SO.
BUT, UH, CERTAINLY WANT TO KEEP YOU APPRISED.
AND IF IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD PREFER YOUR EMPLOYEE, UH, BE INVOLVED IN, CERTAINLY WE WANT TO KNOW THAT, UH, SO THAT I CAN HAVE DIFFERENT PRIORITIES GOING FORWARD.
ANY QUESTIONS? SEEMS LIKE A GOOD IDEA YEAH.
FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, BUT I'M ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.
THE, UH, THE ONE IN FLORIDA LOOKS LIKE YOU STARTED TO PUT A COST IN THE AGENDA PACKET, BUT, UH, SORRY.
I CAN GET AN ESTIMATED COST TO YOU, UM, AS SOON AS TOMORROW.
UH, I, I WOULDN'T WANT TO, I, I, I WOULDN'T WANT TO, UH, GUESS, UH, IN, ON THE SPOT, UH, BUT, UH, IT, IT IS WITHIN, UH, WITHIN THE PERMISSIBLE, UH, ALLOWANCE.
UH, BUT I CAN, I CAN CERTAINLY GET ESTIMATED, UH, COST TO YOU BY TOMORROW, NO NEED.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION, A QUESTION THE ABOUT YOUR REPORT, AND IT'S ABOUT THE HOUSING ON WALK BEVERLY DRIVE.
I KNOW IT WASN'T THE INTENT OF THE BOARD TO SELL THE HOUSING TO THE HOUSE AUTHORITY, RIGHT OR WRONG.
IT WAS NOT THE INTENT OF SELLING THE HOUSES ON WALK MILLER DRIVE TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
THE, THE, THE, THIS, THIS COMMISSION, OUR INTENT WAS TO DEVELOP THESE HOUSES TO CONSTRUCT THEM AND THEN, AND TO, TO FIND A SUITABLE END USER.
UH, SO WE, IF YOU ALL REMEMBER ON, IN APRIL'S MEETING, YOU ALL PUT THE, THE WALT BELLAMY PROJECT ON THE SELLABLE LIST, UH, THAT THAT PROJECT WAS LOOKED AT, HAD MASSIVE INTEREST, AND THE ONLY, UH, REQUEST FOR PURCHASE THAT WE RECEIVED WAS FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
AND SO IT, WE, WE DIDN'T HAVE A, A STRATEGIC ALLIANCE.
WE DIDN'T MAKE A PLAN, UH, MAKE A PLANNING CLOSED SESSION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WAS AWARE OF THE PROJECT FROM THE BEGINNING, AND THEY TOOK INTEREST IN IT, AND THEY DID WAIT TWO MONTHS, UH, TO, TO PUT A, A REQUEST IN.
AND IN JUNE THEY GAVE AN ORAL PRESENTATION.
[00:40:01]
AND IN, UH, BY OUR AUGUST MEETING, UH, WE HAD AN OFFICIAL REQUEST FOR PURCHASE, OKAY.AND BY CHANCE, OVER ON A STREET, WE'D BUILT FIVE HOUSES.
ARE THEY GONNA GO THE SAME WAY THAT THE ONES ON OUR BEVERLY DRIVEWAY FOR, OR THEY COULD BE DONE DIFFERENTLY? ONE OF THE, UH, ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVE PROJECT TEAMS IS SO THAT WE COULD STRATEGIZE ON A PROJECT BY PROJECT BASIS.
SO IF THE PROJECT TEAM, UH, DEEMS THESE HOUSES, UM, THE, THE BEST AND HIGHEST USE FOR, FOR THE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT THAT WE'RE, WE'RE ENDEAVORING TO DO ON A STREET, IF, IF WE WANT THE THOSE TO GO TO, UH, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, AND THAT'S OUR INTENDED END USER.
WHAT I MIGHT SUGGEST AFTER GOING THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS WITH WALT BELLAMY IS THAT WE START TALKING TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, UH, FROM, FROM, FROM THE TIME THAT DECISION IS MADE.
BUT THAT CERTAINLY IS A MECHANISM, AND ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVE PROJECT TEAMS. SO THE PROJECT TEAMS COULD STRATEGIZE, SAY, THIS IS THE STRATEGY THAT WE'D LIKE TO TAKE TO THE COMMISSION, AND THE COMMISSION CAN, CAN MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSION THINKS THAT THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.
YOU JUST ANSWERED THAT QUESTION.
AND BY CHANCE, AND WE DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO END IT WITH A SURPLUS OF HOUSING AND ANSWER THAT, I'M GONNA ASK ANOTHER QUESTION THAN THAT QUESTION.
SO WE GET 10 HOUSES SURPLUS AFTER THREE OR FOUR MONTHS, WOULD WE GO TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, OR IF YOU GOT A DEVELOPER TO SAY, I GIVE YOU 10 HOUSES, WHAT'S GONNA BE THE PROTOCOL ON SETTING AT THOSE HOUSES? AND I DON'T THINK WHAT, WHAT YOU COULD DO ABOUT EVER TELLING THEM TO THE, I THINK WHOEVER GOT THE MONEY THAT WON BUY, I DON'T THINK, I DON'T THINK WE END UP WITH SURPLUS BASED ON THE FACT THAT WE, WE ARE TRYING TO SELL THE FIRST ONE TO GO TO THE NEXT PROJECT.
SO I CAN'T SEE A REAL BIG SURPLUS 'CAUSE YOU USING THE SALE OF ONE TO MOVE TO THE NEXT PROJECT.
SO YOU CAN'T MOVE TO THE NEXT SPOT UNTIL YOU GET RID OF THE FIRST ONE.
IS THAT WHERE WE ARE? THAT THAT'S CORRECT.
ALSO, AS, AS, AS I STATED, THERE IS NO SET PROTOCOL AGAIN, BECAUSE, UH, AND, AND I'LL, I'LL KEEP ON BORROWING YOUR LANGUAGE.
WE'RE PIONEERS, WE'RE PIONEERING, WE'RE EXPLORING AND, AND WE'RE GETTING MORE AND MORE EDUCATION.
THE LAWS ARE CHANGING ALL THE TIME.
SO TO SET A PROTOCOL AND PIGEONHOLE A COMMISSION TO ONE PROTOCOL FOR ONE, ONE METHODOLOGY OF DISPOSE, UH, DISPOSING SURPLUS PROPERTIES, UH, KIND OF GOES AGAINST OUR AMBITIONS TO BE STRATEGIC IN HOW AND HOW WE ENDEAVOR TO, TO TO SELL PROPERTY.
ANOTHER THING TO BEAR IN MIND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION IS IT MAY BE THAT YOU TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH IN VARIOUS DIFFERENT AREAS OF YOUR BOUNDARY AS IT RELATES TO DEVELOPMENT.
YOUR MOST RECENT SUCCESS, UM, THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION DID THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THOSE LOTS.
YOU ACQUIRED THEM, YOU ASSEMBLED THEM, YOU DEMOLISHED STRUCTURES, YOU BUILT NEW STRUCTURES.
IT MAY BE IN THE FUTURE THAT YOU AGGREGATE THE PARCELS, IDENTIFY A DEVELOPER OR GROUP OF DEVELOPERS THAT ARE ABLE TO SUIT YOUR, YOU KNOW, INTENDED USE FOR THOSE PARCELS.
AND THEN A PRIVATE ENTITY OR A NONPROFIT ENTITY COMES IN AND ACTUALLY DOES THE DEVELOPMENT FOR YOU.
UM, AND YOU APPLY RESTRICTIONS AND COVENANTS TO ENSURE THAT THE LAND IS USED CONSISTENT WITH YOUR INTENT AND CONSISTENT WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN.
SO IN THAT INSTANCE, IF THAT IS A, A MODEL THAT YOU PIVOT TOWARDS, THEN ANY QUOTE UNQUOTE SURPLUS HOUSING, UM, WOULD BE ON THE ONUS OF THE DEVELOPER TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE STRUCTURES, THOSE DWELLING UNITS GET INTO THE HANDS OF THE INTENDED USERS CONSISTENT WITH WHATEVER DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS YOU PUT IN PLACE AND CONSISTENT WITH WHATEVER COVENANTS MAY BE APPLIED.
UM, AND I, I FEEL LIKE I, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY, THERE WAS CONSENSUS FOR YOU TO DO THESE TRAININGS AND THERE WAS INTEREST IN KNOWING WHAT THE COST IS FOR THE FLORIDA ONE.
SO IF YOU CAN GET THAT INFORMATION TO US, THAT THAT'D BE GREAT.
WELL THE NEXT THING IS I HAVE A QUESTION.
DON'T THEY REQUIRE A COMMISSIONER TO COME WITH YOU DOWN THERE? MIAMI
I'M JUST SAYING, COULD YOU CHECK SPEC TO THAT TO SEE IF YOU WAS REQUIRED TO BRING
[00:45:01]
A COMMISSIONER WITH, CAN WE DO THE BOARD RETREAT ON THE SAME TIME DOWN THERE? YEAH.IT IS NOT A REQUIREMENT, BUT, UH, YOU, YOU GET THE CHECK.
HUH? YOU GOT THE CHECK FIRST? OH, I WILL CHECK SIR.
AND I WOULD, I MEAN, THIS SOUNDS SILLY, BUT JANUARY IS RIGHT AROUND IT IS RIGHT THERE.
SO IF WE CAN START, I DON'T KNOW THE BEST WAY.
I KNOW IN THE PAST WE'VE DONE, I FORGET THE NAME OF THE SOFTWARE, DOODLE DOODLE SEND AROUND IDEAS OF DATES.
DOODLE, I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE ONE THAT ALL THE COMMISSIONERS CAN'T ATTEND, SO PLEASE, YES.
I WILL, I'LL SEND DATES, UH, FOR, DO WE WANT TO STICK WITH JANUARY LAST, LAST YEAR WE WERE, JANUARY 27TH WAS OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
IT'S TOWARDS THE END OF JANUARY.
IT WAS A SATURDAY MORNING, UH, FOR FOUR HOURS.
IF YOU ALL RECALL, WE HAD CHICK-FIL-A, UH, AND WE, IT WAS A WORKING LUNCH.
UM, AND SO IF, IF THAT'S THE, THE FLAVOR OF THIS YEAR, THAT'S THE, THAT, THOSE ARE THE DATES I WILL LOOK AT AND SEND OUT A DOODLE POLL PROBABLY SOMETIME THIS WEEK.
AND I, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT WE ALSO CAN USE THE REDEVELOPMENT SERVICES BUILDING AGAIN.
THAT IS JUST CONDUCIVE TO CASUAL WORK RATHER THAN SITTING AROUND LIKE THIS.
AND MADAM CHAIRMAN, MAY, MAY, MAY, MAY.
I ALSO SUGGEST THAT AT THIS RETREAT, WE DON'T, WE DON'T DO THE BUSINESS WE DO ONCE A MONTH.
WE TALK ABOUT NEW STUFF, WE GET IDEAS BECAUSE, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT BE IN THERE VOTING ON THIS ISSUE, THIS ISSUE.
THAT AIN'T WHAT THE RETREAT IS ABOUT.
THE RETREAT IS ABOUT LOOKING WAYS FOR US TO IMPROVE WHAT WE DO.
DON'T, DON'T SET UP AN AGENDA WHERE WE GOT, YOU KNOW, VOTE ON SOMETHING THAT'S, THAT'S NOT A RETREAT.
BECAUSE I THINK WE DID SOMETHING LIKE THAT LAST TIME AND THAT WASN'T, I, YOU KNOW, WE HAD SOME BUSINESS THAT WE WENT RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT.
BUT YOU KNOW, THE BOARD HAS TO SAY.
AND QUESTION FOR COUNCIL, IT IS ALSO A PUBLIC MEETING, CORRECT? YES, MA'AM.
A RETREAT PUBLIC OPEN TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES.
CITY COUNCIL AND IT, AND IT MAY BE, IT MAY BE BENEFICIAL TO INVITE SOME OF THOSE COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT WE WORK ALONGSIDE ABSOLUTELY.
UH, TO THE STRATEGIC, UH, TO THE STRATEGIC PLANNING SO THAT WE CAN HAVE SOME MORE CANDID CONVERSATIONS AND, AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
SO, UH, IT, IT CERTAINLY IS A TIME TO DO A LITTLE BIT LESS DOING WORK AND A LITTLE BIT MORE PLANNING WORK, VISIONING WORK.
AND I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO WORK ON THAT.
UM, AS COMMISSIONER PAR PARHAM SAID, I DON'T KNOW ALL THE LEGALITIES, HOW WE HAVE TO CONDUCT IT AS A MEETING.
YOU KNOW, IT'D BE BETTER IF IT'S NOT LIKE PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN US, BUT MORE, UM, INTERACTIVE.
THERE, THERE ARE WAYS THAT YOU CAN STRUCTURE YOUR AGENDA.
SO WHEN, WHEN WE SAY PUBLIC MEETING, IT'S NOT A PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO COME AND TO LISTEN AND TO HEAR.
UH, BUT THE P THE PUBLIC DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE A RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE UNLESS YOU INVITE THEM TO.
SO IF THERE ARE COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM AND COLLABORATE WITH, IF THERE ARE INTERESTED PERSONS THAT COME AND A MAJORITY OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THEM, THEN THOSE ARE CERTAINLY ELEMENTS THAT YOU CAN BAKE INTO THAT PARTICULAR SESSION.
IT DOES NOT HAVE TO FOLLOW THE FORMAT OF YOUR TRADITIONAL, REGULAR MEETING.
SO EVERYBODY ON THE COMMISSION PLEASE BE THINKING ABOUT HOW, WHO YOU'D LIKE TO INTERACT WITH AND OUTSIDE OF THE REST OF US, AND, YOU KNOW, AND I'LL BE SENDING THAT DOODLE POLL IN AN EMAIL.
AND I GUESS IF I CAN, YES SIR, I'M GONNA BRING UP THIS, UH, SUBJECT.
EVERY MEETING WE HAVE, EVERY, UH, AL ALTER, WE MAY GO ON, I PRESUME THAT THE ALDERMANS ARE INVITED TO US.
THE ALDERMAN, UH, THE EX OFFICIO ALDERMAN, UH, ON, UH, ON THIS COMMISSION IS OUR ACTUAL MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
THEIR, THEIR ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO BE THE EXACT SAME AS YOURS, UH, INCLUDING ATTENDANCE.
THE ONLY THING THAT THEY ARE NOT PERMITTED BY LAW TO DO IS VOTE.
UH, THEIR JOB IS TO SHARE WITH THIS COMMISSION, UH, FEEDBACK FROM THE GOVERNING BOARD AND SHARE WITH THE GOVERNING BOARD FEEDBACK FROM THIS COMMISSION SO THAT OUR, OUR WORK AND OUR ENDEAVORS THAT, THAT, THAT WE SEEK TO DO ALIGN WITH THE GOVERNING BOARD SO THAT WE'RE A COHESIVE UNIT, UH, OF GOVERNMENT WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR THE FULFILLMENT OF THE, OF THE
[00:50:01]
REDEVELOPMENT PLAN.UH, SO ABSOLUTELY, UH, NOT ONLY NOT, NOT ONLY ARE THEY INVITED TO COME, THEY CAN SPEAK, UH, JUST AS FREELY AS YOU.
'CAUSE THEY HAVE ALL THE RIGHTS OF A FULL MEMBER, UH, OF THE COMMISSION.
THEY'RE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS OF A COMMISSION.
AND I KNOW, IF I MAY, YOU KNOW THE EXACT REASON I BROUGHT THIS UP, THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAD WHEN WE GOT READY TO, UH, SELL THOSE HOUSES ON
SO SOME COMMUNICATION BY THEM NOT ATTENDING THE MEETINGS WITH PROPER NUMBER ONE.
AND I GUESS YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE UH, RIGHT.
IT WAS A COMPLETE SHOCKER FOR THEM TO SAY WHAT THEY DID SAY THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE SALE OF THE HOUSES.
TO ME IT WAS, AND THEY PUT THE BEATING OFF TO THE NEXT MEETING.
I DON'T THINK THAT SHOULD HAPPEN AGAIN.
WE NEED TO DO SO TO PATCH THAT TIRE.
SO THAT SAME PROBLEM WOULD NOT COME UP IF WE GET ANOTHER HOUSE TO SELL.
THE MEMBERS CAN COME IF THEY DON'T COME.
WELL, I THINK THEY NEED TO GET SOME FEEDBACK OR SOME COMMUNICATION ON WHAT'S GOING ON FROM THIS BOARD.
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, DO THEY RECEIVE THE MINUTES AS WELL AS THE AGENDA WHEN WE HAVE THESE MEETINGS AS FULL MEMBERS, EVERY MEMBER OF THIS COMMISSION GETS EVERYTHING THAT I SEND OUT.
SO THAT WAS, THEY HAVE RECEIVED, THEY HAVE RECEIVED ALL OF OUR MEETING MINUTES.
AS WE HAVE MEETINGS, I KICK UP ABOUT THEM NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS GOING ON.
SO I FIGURED I WOULD ASK THAT QUESTION SO IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
AND THE SPIRIT BEING HELPFUL, I JUST WANT TO LET, UH, LET THE COMMISSION KNOW AT LARGE, I HAVE REACHED OUT TO EACH EX OFFICIO MEMBER AND HAVE HAD GREAT CONVERSATIONS, UH, WITH THEM.
I FEEL THAT COMMUNICATION WON'T BE AN ISSUE GOING FORWARD.
OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS A CLOSED SESSION.
AND UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW ABOUT, NO MA'AM, I THINK WE NEED TO GO INTO IT.
SO THE 11TH AGENDA ITEM, CAN I GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED.