Dec 10, 2024 Board of Aldermen

UH, WE HAVE MARSHALL WILLIAMS REPRESENTING THE REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER KING OUTREACH MINISTRY.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR.

GOOD EVENING.

THE BOARD OF HALTERMAN TO JULY 3RD MORNING ON BOB ESTA.

I BRING YOU GREETINGS FROM THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING OUTREACH MINISTRY, NEW BERN.

AND WE COME TO BRING A WORD OF THANKS FOR THE BOARD FOR DOING A GREAT JOB, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE THE BOARD TO MOVE FORWARD AND WORK TOGETHER.

BUT WE WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT, UH, JANUARY 20TH, 2025 AT THE MLK OUTREACH MINISTRY WILL HAVE THE MLK NATIONAL FEDERAL HOLIDAY BRUNCH AT THE FLAME AT 10:00 PM AND WE HAVE A GREAT SPEAKER, SOMEONE WHO HAS JUST COME FROM DOWN EAST TO JOIN THERON PALACE.

CRYSTAL REAGAN WOULD BE OUR SPEAKER, AND WE ASK HIM THAT THE BOARD SUPPORT AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS GREAT ORGANIZATION AS YOU'VE DONE IN THE PAST.

AND WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO BE A REASON FOR THE SEASON AND CONTINUE TO BE A BLESSING TO THE COMMUNITY.

'CAUSE ALL THE NEW BERN ARE CONNECTING NEW BERN CONNECTING COMMUNITIES AS ONE.

AND I WILL THANK YOU FOR ALL THE INFORMATION THAT IF YOU NEED ANY INFORMATION, PLEASE GET BACK WITH ME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT UP IS ANTOINETTE BOSKY.

MS. BOSKY.

[00:05:02]

I DO NOT SEE HER IN THE AUDIENCE.

UP WILL BE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

BOARD, UH, NEXT

[Consent Agenda]

WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD ON ITEMS FIVE THROUGH 10? MAKE A MOTION.

WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IS SECOND.

HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

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

[11. Recognition of New Bern 101 Graduates.]

IS ITEM NUMBER 11, RECOGNITION OF ER 1 0 1 GRADUATES.

MS. ROBERTS.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR, BOARD OF ALDERMAN.

I AM EXCITED TO, UM, AND SOME OF YOU MET THEM DOWNSTAIRS EARLIER, BUT INTRODUCE YOU TO THIS SEASON'S GRADUATES OF THE NEWBURN 1 0 1 PROGRAM.

WE LAUNCHED THIS PROGRAM TO HELP PEOPLE LEARN MORE ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOW THE DECISIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AFFECT THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

THIS CALENDAR YEAR, WE HAVE GRADUATED 29 PEOPLE IN THE PROGRAM.

WE ESTIMATE SINCE THE FALL OF 2021 WHEN WE STARTED IT, THAT WE HAVE GRADUATED APPROXIMATELY A HUNDRED NEW BERN 1 0 1 GRADUATES.

SO, UM, HAPPY TO CALL THEM UP AND HAVE YOU COME DOWN AND CONGRATULATE THEM WITH THEIR CERTIFICATES OF COMPLETION.

UM, OUR NEWEST AMBASSADORS ON BEHALF OF NEW BERN AND THE PROGRAM SERVICES AND SPECIAL EVENTS THAT WE OFFER, THEY HAVE SPENT NINE WEEKS VISITING EACH OF OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS.

SO THEY'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW PARKS AND REC AND POLICE AND FIRE.

TONIGHT.

THEY HAD THEIR FINAL PRESENTATION BY FINANCE, WHICH WAS A GREAT WAY TO WRAP UP ALL OF THE CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES OF EACH DEPARTMENT.

SO I HOPE YOU'LL COME DOWN AND MEET THEM.

GO AHEAD TO OUR GRADUATES.

WE'LL START RIGHT TO LEFT AS I CALL YOUR NAMES.

UH, COME UP AND SHAKE HANDS WITH YOUR MAYOR, BOARD OF ALDERMAN AND CITY MANAGERS.

FIRST IS DAVID BARAL.

NEXT WE HAVE ROLAND BOWEN.

ALRIGHT, DARLA AND GARY B JULIE CURRAN AND SUSAN FLETCHER.

[00:10:12]

THANK YOU MIKE KRAUS.

JOHN AND CAROL AND MASON, SHERRY RICHARDSON.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WOULD LOVE IT IF THE GRADUATES COULD LEAVE YOUR CERTIFICATES AT YOUR SEAT AND COME TAKE A GROUP PHOTO WITH THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN.

NINE WEEKS WAS ENOUGH.

THEY'RE NOT STAYING FOR, FOR THE BIG MEETING.

ANY OPPOSED? CONGRATULATIONS, SIR.

LOOKS LIKE WE'RE ALL BACK.

SO, UH, WE WILL MOVE ON AND THANK YOU COLLEEN.

WE MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER

[12. Appointment of Mayor Pro Tempore and Administration of Oath.]

12.

UH, THAT IS THE APPOINTMENT OF THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF OATH.

UH, DO WE HAVE ANY NOMINATIONS FOR MAYOR PRO TEM? YES, MA'AM, I DO.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE, UH, ALDERMAN RICK PRI SECOND.

HAVE A MOTION AS SECOND FOR ALDERMAN RICK PRILL.

DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER MOTIONS OR ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

A AYE.

I BELIEVE THE CLERK, UH, SHOULD HAVE THE OATH.

READY.

IF YOU WANT TO WALK DOWN, SHE CAN ADMINISTER THAT TO YOU.

PLACE YOUR LEFT HAND ON THE RAISE YOUR RIGHT.

DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT YOU'LL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES TO HELP YOU GUIDE? I DO.

DO YOU FRILL SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT YOU'LL SUPPORT MAINTAINING THE CONSTITUTION LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION LAWS OF NORTH CAROLINA NOT INCONSISTENT THEREWITH, AND THAT THANKFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF YOUR OFFICE AS MAYOR CARE 10 OF THE CITY OF NEWBURN.

SO SHALL YOU GOD, I DO, DO YOU ROOT SOLEMNLY AND SINCERELY SWEAR THAT YOU'LL BE FAITHFUL AND BEAR TRUE ALLEGIANCE TO THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA AND TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL POWER AND AUTHORITIES, WHICH ARE OR MAY BE ESTABLISHED FOR THE GOVERNMENT THEREOF,

[00:15:01]

AND THAT YOU'LL ENDEAVOR TO SUPPORT, MAINTAIN, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION US SO THE STATE NOT INCONSISTENT WITH THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES TO HELP YOU? GOD, I DO.

CONGRATULATIONS.

CONGRATULATIONS ALDERMAN PEREL.

MAYOR.

I EXPECT THAT YOU WILL NOT, UH, MISS ANY MEETINGS THIS COMING YEAR.

I WILL, UH, I WILL TRY MY HARDEST TO DO THAT, SIR.

I, I, I HEAR YOU CLEARLY WHEN YOU SAY YOU WILL BE HOUSING FOR MIXED INCOMES MM-HMM .

UH, NEXT UP IS ITEM

[13. Update on CNI Plan and Discussion of Development Options for 925 Broad Street.]

NUMBER 13.

THAT IS THE UPDATE ON CNI PLAN AND DISCUSSION OF DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS FOR 9 2 5 BROAD STREET.

MR. HUGHES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK REGGIE BARNER TO COME UP AND GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE CNI PLAN.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO ASK ZIP HUB TO COME UP.

HE'S GONNA TALK ABOUT THE BROAD STREET PROPERTY.

GOOD EVENING.

THANK, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE YOU AND, AND JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE HOUSING OF AUTHORITIES IS DOING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY.

AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE I, I HIGHLIGHT THE INJUN IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING, UH, HAND IN HAND ON THIS PROJECT.

UH, A FEW WEEKS AGO WE HAD, UH, COMMUNITY LISTING SESSIONS, THE FIRST OF OF MANY TO COME.

OUR NEXT SESSION WILL BE IN MARCH OF 2025.

AND YOU ALL WILL BE GETTING NOTICES AS WELL AS OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

WE INVITE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS, UH, BECAUSE OVER THE NEXT EIGHT MONTHS, WE WILL BE DEVELOPING THIS PLAN THAT WILL BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY LONG TERM.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, WITH THE CNI, UH, APPLICATION, WE HOPE TO GO IN AND NEXT FALL.

UH, THE POTENTIAL THERE IS SOMEWHERE BASED ON WHAT WAS WAS AWARDED THIS YEAR, AROUND $50 MILLION FOR COMMUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO DO DEVELOPMENT AND ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

WE THINK NEWBERN IS, IS PRIME TO BE ABLE TO GET ONE OF THOSE AWARDS.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, UH, WE ARE IDENTIFYING PROPERTIES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH YOU ALL AND THE COMMUNITY.

AS WE LOOK AT REDEVELOPMENT, AND I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF DI DISCUSSION GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT OUR INTENTIONS OF TEARING DOWN TRENT COURT AND BUILDING NEW PUBLIC HOUSING IN DUFFY FIELD AND OTHER AREAS.

WE ARE IDENTIFYING AREAS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP MIXED INCOME HOUSING.

AND WHEN I TALK ABOUT MIXED INCOME HOUSING, I'M TALKING ABOUT THOSE HOUSES THAT TARGET INDIVIDUALS, THAT 60% OF MEDIUM INCOME OR BELOW HOUSING THAT TARGET INDIVIDUALS UP TO A HUNDRED PERCENT OF MEDIUM INCOME FOR THIS AREA.

AND THEN ALSO HOUSING THAT IS WHAT WE CALL MARKET RATE, THAT TARGET INDIVIDUALS WITH INCOME UP TO 140% OF MEDIUM INCOME FOR THIS AREA.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE, OUR PLAN IS NOT TO TAKE AND TEAR DOWN TRENT COURT AND THEN REBUILD PUBLIC HOUSING THROUGHOUT NEWBURN.

OUR INTENT IS TO DEVELOP TEAR DOWN, UH, TRENT COURT AND THEN BUILD BACK, UH, NEW HOUSING THAT IS A MIXED USE, MIXED INCOME COMMUNITY THAT NO ONE WOULD BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY A LOW INCOME UNIT FROM A MARKET RATE UNIT.

AND SO WE WANT TO BUILD QUALITY HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, WHETHER NO MATTER WHERE THAT'S BEING BUILT, UH, ONE OF THE MAIN AREAS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT AND WE WOULD LIKE, UH, THE ALDERMAN TO CONSIDER, UH, HOLDING OFF ON SELLING OR REDEVELOPING THE OLD DAYS INN PROPERTY.

UH, BECAUSE WE HAVE A DESIRE TO BE PUT THAT IN THE CNI PLAN AS A POTENTIAL SITE FOR REDEVELOPMENT.

IT'S A PRIME LOCATION.

IT'S AT THE, IT'S AT THE DOORSTEPS OF FIVE POINTS IN THE TRANSFORMATION AREA THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON.

AND WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU ALL, UH, TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THAT PROPERTY AS PART OF OUR OVERALL PLAN.

WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY LARGER SITES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

UH, WE, WE ARE GONNA LOOK AT SOME INFIELD SITES, BUT WE'RE ALL TRYING TO LOOK AT LARGER SITES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE CAN UTILIZE.

AND THAT, THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS, UH, THAT I'M ASKING THAT YOU ALL HOLD OFF ON ANY FUTURE DEVELOPMENT UNTIL SUCH TIME WE CAN SUBMIT, UH, OUR APPLICATION NEXT FALL POTENTIALLY, UH, FOR THE CNI FUNDS AT THIS TIME.

I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS, UH, IF ANYBODY HAS ANY BEFORE I HAVE QUESTIONS.

YEAH.

YES, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.

UM, NOW

[00:20:01]

SO NOW WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR RESIDENTS THAT ARE LOW INCOME THAT ARE CURRENTLY LIVING WITHIN THE TRENT COURT HOUSING? YEAH.

SO WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THEM? SO OUR PLAN IS, IS TO, LET'S JUST TAKE FOR INSTANCE, UH, A HUNDRED UNIT NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT WE WOULD BUILD.

OUR GOAL IS TO TAKE 2020 TO 30%, 40% OF THOSE UNITS, DEPENDING UPON THE DESIGN.

AND THE DEBRIS DEVELOPMENT IS TO HAVE THE FORMER RESIDENTS OF TRENT COURT LIVING IN THE SAME DEVELOPMENT WITH SOMEBODY THAT'S PAYING MARKET RATE RENT.

AND SO THE, THE WHOLE INTENT IS NOT TO, WHAT HUD LOOKS AT IS DE CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY.

RIGHT NOW, WE GOT A CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY BECAUSE ALL WE HAVE LIVING IS LOW TO MARKET INCOME PEOPLE LIVING IN ONE COMMUNITY.

OUR GOAL IS TO INTERSPERSE THOSE UNITS THROUGHOUT A NEW DEVELOPMENT.

SO OUR, WE WILL BE BUILDING 100% OF THE UNITS THAT WE'RE TEARING DOWN.

WE WILL BUILD THOSE BACK WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

IT JUST WON'T BE ON THE SAME SITE.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE LOOKING AT MULTIPLE SITES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

SO THEREFORE WE CAN BE ABLE TO BUILD A DEVELOPMENT THAT HOUSES MIXED INCOME AND MIXED USE.

SO WE ARE NOT CONCENTRATING POVERTY IN ONE LOCATION AS, AS HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE.

RIGHT.

WHEN I HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR OKAY.

OF WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE, I JUST DON'T WANT THE LOW INCOME RESIDENTS LEFT BEHIND.

WE WON'T DO THAT.

UM, IT'S, IT'S, I THINK THAT FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THAT'S A PRIORITY.

UM, FOR THOSE RESIDENTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY LIVING THERE, AND THEY, THIS IS THEIR HOME AND THEY WANT TO CONTINUE TO LIVE HERE IN NEW BERN, I, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO MAKE HOUSING AVAILABLE FOR THEM.

AND THAT'S, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I, I, I AM GOING TO BE BEHIND 100%.

AND, UM, AND I HOPE THAT THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES FEEL THE SAME WAY.

WELL, ARTMAN BEST, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THAT IS MY GOAL.

I SPENT 30 PLUS YEARS OF MY LIFE DOING THIS WORK.

UH, WE WE'RE, IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING ELSE, WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT THE RESIDENTS THAT WE ARE HERE TO SERVE, UH, HAVE BETTER QUALITY HOUSING.

BUT LET ME BE VERY CLEAR, THE HOUSING THAT WE PROVIDE FOR THEM RIGHT NOW IS NOT OF, OF QUALITY THAT THEY DESERVE.

AND SO THE WHOLE INTENT BEHIND THIS AND GOING AFTER THESE FUNDS AS WELL AS THE FEMA FUND, IS TO BUILD A BETTER QUALITY HOUSING UNIT IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT EVERYBODY, INCLUDING THOSE RESIDENTS, CAN BE PROUD TO LIVE IN WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

THAT IS MY GOAL.

THAT IS MY DESIRE, AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE SPENT MY CAREER TO DO.

WELL, I CONCUR WITH YOU ON THAT FOR A BETTER HOUSING FOR THOSE RESIDENTS BECAUSE, UM, SOME OF THOSE HOUSING, THOSE UNITS ARE NOT WHAT I WOULD WANT, UM, ONE OF MY RELATIVES TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO SUBDUE TO.

SO, UM, I THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, AND HOPEFULLY WE, THE COMMUNITY CAN, UM, HAVE MORE OF A BUY-IN WITH YOU ONCE THEY SEE WHAT THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PLANNING OF THIS WHEN IT COMES TO FRUITION THAT THEY SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, I SEE.

AND OTHER, OUR RESIDENTS SEE THAT OUR RESIDENTS OVER THERE IN THAT COMMUNITY IS TAKEN CARE OF.

FOR THE COMMUNITY WHEN THOSE UNITS WERE, UH, LOST, TO BE ABLE TO BRING THOSE UNITS BACK TO MAKE AS, AS ULTIMATELY BEST SAID, TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE CARE OF THEM AND THOSE UNITS ARE AFFORDED.

AND WE APPRECIATE YOU AND OTHERS.

UH, WHO ATTENDED THE, UH, MISSION SESSION? UH, THE FIRST ONES THAT WE HAD AT THE OMEGA CENTER, WE HAD GREAT ATTENDANCE, UH, WITH THE RESIDENTS AT NEWIN TOWERS.

WE PROBABLY, THERE'S 110 UNITS LEFT OVER THERE.

WE PROBABLY HAD ALMOST 75 TO 80 RESIDENTS ATTEND THAT MEETING.

SO IT IS AN ENGAGEMENT OF EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER.

MR. BARNER, UM, IT SEEMS LIKE, I REMEMBER A FEW YEARS AGO, AND WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS, THAT THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE THERE NOW HAVE A FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL WHENEVER NEW APARTMENTS ARE BUILT.

UH, IS THAT STILL THE CASE? YES, SIR.

SO THE, WHAT WE ARE DOING IS IDENTIFYING THE RESIDENTS THAT CURRENTLY LIVE.

WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE TELL THEM DON'T MOVE OUT, STAY IN PLACE.

SO AS WE CONTINUE TO GO DOWN THIS ROAD, AS YOU SAID, THEY GET FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL.

NOT ONLY THEY GET FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL, BUT THE RESIDENTS THAT WERE DISLOCATED BACK IN, UH, 2017, UH, WHEN THE FLOOD OCCURRED, WE WILL BE IDENTIFYING THOSE RESIDENTS, TRYING OUR BEST TO IDENTIFY WHERE THEY LIVE NOW AND GIVE THEM THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE BACK IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

AND I THINK HISTORY KIND OF PROVES THAT ONCE PEOPLE LEAVE AND THEY GET SETTLED SOMEWHERE NEW, OFTENTIMES THEY'RE GIVEN THAT OPPORTUNITY YES.

BUT SOMETIMES THEY CHOOSE NOT TO COME BACK.

CORRECT.

AND WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY, UH, WE HAVE SOME PLANNING MEETINGS WITH TWIN RIVERS OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN COORDINATE THOSE VOUCHERS THAT WERE RECEIVED

[00:25:01]

AND THEN THE, UH, THE LAST QUESTION I HAD, UH, WAS REGARDING THE MATCHING PORTION OF THE C AND I GRANT.

SO I BELIEVE THAT ONE REASON YOU'RE ASKING US NOT TO DO ANYTHING WITH DAYS IN, BECAUSE WHATEVER THE VALUE IS OF THAT PARTICULAR PROPERTY CORRECT.

CAN BE APPLIED TOWARD THE CITY'S REQUIREMENT FOR THE MATCHING GRANT ASPECT.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.

THAT IS CORRECT.

AND, UH, WE, WE, WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING TO HELP US ON THIS APPLICATION.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YES.

I HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING THE DECONCENTRATION OF PROPERTY.

I UNDERSTAND YOU SAID YOU WERE LOOKING AT MULTIPLE SITES.

TO BUILD, YOU USED THE EXAMPLE MAYBE 100 UNITS AT THE MULTIPLE SITES.

WELL, EACH ONE HOUSE, UM, MIXED INCOME FAMILIES, EVERY, EVERY DEVELOPMENT WILL BE MIXED INCOME.

THERE WILL, THERE WILL NOT BE ANY DEVELOPMENT THAT WE'RE PLANNING TO BUILD THAT WOULD BE A HUNDRED PERCENT LOW INCOME OR THERE WOULD NOT BE A DEVELOPMENT WHERE WE'RE BUILDING A HUNDRED PERCENT HIGH-END INCOME INDIVIDUALS.

EVERYTHING THAT WE PLAN TO BUILD THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, ALL DEVELOPMENTS WILL BE A MIXED USE MIXED INCOME DEVELOPMENT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. BARNER? MR. BARNER? JUST, UH, KIND OF LOOKING FORWARD, UH, ASSUMING THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS SUCCESSFUL IN, UM, ITS APPLICATION, UM, TO HUD, UM, AND WHETHER IT'S A HUNDRED UNITS OR SOME NUMBER PLUS OR MINUS THAT, UM, WILL THE HOUSING AUTHORITY BE THE, UH, THE MANAGEMENT FOR THOSE UNITS OR WILL, DO YOU FORESEE THAT, UH, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY MIGHT LOOK TO FIND A THIRD PARTY COMPANY TO COME IN TO MANAGE THOSE? UH, GREAT, GREAT QUESTION.

MAYOR PROTI, I'M, I'M THE FIRST ONE TO GET TO SAY THAT TO YOU TONIGHT.

UH, BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION IS, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WILL BE SUBMITTING, UH, I HAVE A BOARD MEETING NEXT TUESDAY.

I'M ASKING FOR APPROVAL TO SUBMIT AN RFP ON THE STREET FOR A CO-DEVELOPER.

ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE LOOK FOR IS TO HAVE A DEVELOPMENT TEAM WHERE THE INITIAL DEVELOPMENT HAS A THIRD PARTY OUTSIDE PROPERTY MANAGER.

WHILE AT THE SAME TIME MY STAFF OR MY TEAM IS DEVELOPING THE SKILLSET THAT THEY WILL NEED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE OVER MANAGEMENT IN THE FUTURE.

SO INITIALLY IT WOULD HAVE A OUTSIDE THIRD PARTY PROPERTY MANAGER WITH THE, UH, WE ARE WORKING SIDE BY SIDE WITH THEM.

AND THEN THE GOAL IS WITHIN A THREE YEAR PERIOD OF TIME THAT THEN WE WOULD TAKE OVER PROPERTY MANAGEMENT.

IT'S A DIFFERENT SKILL SET AND A DIFFERENT FROM MANAGING PUBLIC HOUSING TO WHEN YOU DO DEALING WITH MARKET RATE UNITS.

SO WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH A TRANSITION OF MAKING SURE STAFF IS TRAINED AND PREPARED TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT RESPONSIBILITY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, MR. HUFF HAS SOME COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM.

THANK YOU, MR. BARNER.

AND THAT IS TO CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION SALE OF 9 0 8 9 10

UH, REALLY JUST, I WANT TO, UH, FOLLOW UP ON, UH, ON WHAT REGGIE SAID IN THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY.

UH, OVER, UH, OVER THE PERIOD OF 18 MONTHS THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL INQUIRIES ABOUT THE, THE DAYS IN LAW.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO, UH, INFORM, UH, ABOUT THOSE IN INQUIRIES.

BASICALLY, THEY, UH, THEY, THEY COME IN TWO BUCKETS.

UH, WE HAVE RESIDENTIAL, UH, WE HAVE RESIDENT RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPERS WHO WANT TO DO SIMILAR THINGS TO WHAT MR. BARNARD JUST OUTLINED.

THEY WANT TO DO MIXED USE, UH, DEVELOPMENT, COME INTO THAT PROPERTY AND, UH, BRING SHOPS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR CAFES AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS AND BUILD UP, UH, TO DO RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.

AND THEN THE OTHER, UM, THE OTHER GROUP THAT REALLY HAS SHOWN INTEREST IN, IN THIS, UH, PARCEL IS THE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY.

WE'VE HAD SEVERAL INQUIRIES FROM NONPROFIT DEVELOP DEVELOPERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME IN AND MAKE THIS, UH, MAKE, MAKE THIS PARCEL SORT OF A COMMUNITY HUB WHERE SOCIAL SERVICES, RECREATION, CHILDREN, UH, CHILDREN'S SERVICES, UH, CAN, UH, CAN BE SERVED OUT OF THIS PARCEL, UH, IN, IN YOUR CONSIDERATION OF BEST AND HIGHEST USE FOR THIS PARCEL.

I JUST WANTED THE, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY IN, IN DISCUSSION WITH, UH, THE CITY MANAGER TO JUST LET YOU KNOW THE KINDS OF INQUIRIES THAT WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED.

SO, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.

YOU MIGHT AS WELL JUST STAY RIGHT THERE, SIR.

'CAUSE WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 14.

[14. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving the Redevelopment Commission's Sale of 908, 910, and 914 Bloomfield Street.]

[00:30:01]

AND NINE 14 BLOOMFIELD STREET.

UH, UNSHAKABLE BUILDERS INCORPORATED HAS SUBMITTED A BID FOR $15,100 FOR THE PURCHASE OF 9 0 8 9 10, AND NINE 14 BLOOMFIELD STREET.

THE PROPERTIES ARE VACANT REDEVELOPMENT, COMMISSION OWNED RESIDENTIAL TRACKS WITH A COMBINED TAX VALUE OF $16,200.

THEY WERE ACQUIRED BY THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION IN 2022 TO ON, NOT NOVEMBER 13TH, UH, OF THIS YEAR, THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ACCEPTED THE SEALED BID FOR THE PURCHASE OF THESE PARCELS FROM UNSHAKEABLE BUILDERS.

AND PER THE RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON THE PROJECT BY THE COMMISSION, THE DEVELOPER WILL BUILD THREE SEPARATE DUPLEXES, ONE PER EACH LT AS A MEANS OF ADDING ACCESSIBLE, MODERN AND ENERGY EFFICIENT HOUSING, UH, TO THE DEVELOPMENT REDEVELOPMENT BOUNDARY AREA.

SO TONIGHT, THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION IS ASKING THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN TO APPROVE THE SALE OF REAL PROPERTY TO UNSHAKABLE BUILDERS FOR THE PRICE OF $15,100 FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THREE DUPLEXES.

THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS IS SAM, THAT THIS IS IN, UH, WARD TWO, BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY IN WARD FIVE.

UM, THE ONLY QUESTION THAT I HAVE, UM, MR. HUFF IS, UM, AND, AND I KNOW THAT, UM HMM.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OKAY, THAT THESE PROPERTIES, THESE THREE PROPERTIES, ONCE THEY ARE DEVELOPED OR WHATEVER WILL BE WITHIN, WILL STILL BE WITHIN THE REDEVELOPMENT BOUNDARY AND BE UNDER THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION FOR WHEN IT COMES, PER SE, IS GETTING A TENANT OR, UH, INTO THOSE PROPERTIES? UH, SO THE RESTRICTIONS THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY PLACED ON, ON, ON THESE PARCELS, UH, REQUIRE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS THAT THEY ARE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO, UH, SPECIFICALLY FOR LOW TO MODERATE INDIVIDUALS.

THE DEVELOPER, UH, KNEW THAT WHEN HE PLACED HIS BID, AND SO HE'S PROVEN, HE'S WILLING, UH, TO ADHERE TO, TO, TO THAT, UH, RESTRICTION.

AND, UM, I, I WILL SAY, JUST AS A, AS A PERSONAL NOTE, UH, IT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO WORK WITH UNSHAKABLE BUILDERS WHENEVER THEY HAD A QUESTION THEY WERE SURE TO CALL.

AND I, I, I FORESEE, UH, UH, MR. NEWKIRK AND I HAVING, UH, A GREAT RELATIONSHIP SO THAT I'LL BE ABLE TO HELP HIM, UH, FILL THOSE UNITS.

I DON'T THINK THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE A PROBLEM TO FILL AT ALL.

THANK YOU, MS. MR. DAVIS, COULD YOU JUST CLARIFY THAT, UH, THESE PARCELS WERE DEEDED OVER TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND BASED OFF NORTH COUNTY GENERAL STATUTE, THE PROCESS IS THEY HAVE TO COME ASK THE GOVERNING BOARD FOR APPROVAL, ESSENTIALLY.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR.

ALL SALES FROM THE COMMISSION TO A THIRD PARTY REQUIRE THE BOARD'S, THE GOVERNING BOARD'S APPROVAL.

SO THIS IS JUST A PROCEDURAL STEP THAT THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, SIR.

UH, MR. HUFF, WHERE IS THIS PROPERTY LOCATED IN REGARDS TO THE BLOOMFIELD PROPERTY WHERE THE PLAN FOR THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS CLINIC WAS ORIGINAL? UH, THIS IS THAT PARCEL THAT IS OKAY.

YEAH.

SO THERE'S THREE PARCELS, CORRECT.

THREE SEPARATE PARCEL PARCELS.

THE NEXT THREE ITEMS, 15, 16, AND 17, UH, WE CAN CONSIDER THOSE TOGETHER IF YOU WOULD LIKE.

THANK YOU, SIR.

ABSOLUTELY.

IF THERE'S NO MORE QUESTIONS BY THE BOARD, I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING A REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION SALE OF 9 0 8 9 10 AND NINE 14 BLOOMFIELD STREET.

SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

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

[15. Consider Adopting a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Contract with Trader Construction for the Duffyfield Community Stormwater Enhancement Project Phases 2 & 3 Conditioned Upon Approval by the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Infrastructure.]

[16. Consider Adopting a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Contract with WithersRavenel for Professional Services for the Duffyfield Community Stormwater Enhancement Project Phases 2 & 3.]

UH, IN THE ESSENCE OF SAVING SOME TIME, UH, MR. CHILES WILL BE MAKING THE PRESENTATIONS FOR THESE ITEMS. GOOD EVENING BOARD MAYOR.

THE FIRST ITEM BEFORE YOU IS THE APPROVAL OF, UH, CONTRACT FOR PHASE TWO AND THREE OF THE DUFFY FIELD STORMWATER PLAN.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THAT AREA, WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING TO THE END OF PHASE ONE, WHICH IS THE ENLARGEMENT OF THE MIDDLE STREET POND IN FORCE MAIN PHASE TWO AND THREE WILL BE THE BACK END OF THAT PROJECT WITH THE CREATION OF APPROXIMATELY THREE AND A HALF ACRES OF TRADED WETLAND AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE TO IMPROVE SURFACE DRAINAGE IN THE AREA.

WE BID THIS PROJECT ORIGINALLY ON JUNE 4TH AND HAD A SCHEDULED OPENING FOR AUGUST 2ND AND

[00:35:01]

NOT RECEIVING THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF BIDS.

WE HAD IT READVERTISED ON AUGUST 2ND, ON AUGUST 6TH, AND THEN OPENED ON AUGUST 22ND.

AT THE TIME, WE RECEIVED TWO BIDS FOR THAT PROJECT AND WERE ABLE TO OPEN THE APPARENT LOAD.

BIDDER WAS TRAILER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY WITH A BID OF $2,843,542.

THE RESOLUTION OF, UH, BEFORE YOU IS TO APPROVE THIS CONTRACT WITH THE CONDITION THAT THE APPARENT LOW BIDDER CONTRACT IS APPROVED BY DIVISIONAL WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH IS ACTUALLY ADMINISTERING THE GRANT FEDERAL FUNDS FOR THE STATE.

UH, THAT'S ALL FOR ITEM NUMBER 15? YES.

UM, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 16.

IF THE BOARD'S STILL GOOD WITH THAT, WE CAN CONSIDER 'EM ALL AT ONE TIME.

I, ITEM NUMBER 16 IS A CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL, UH, ENGINEERING SERVICES RELATED TO CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION ADMINISTRATION AND GRANT FUNDING ADMINISTRATION RELATED TO THE DUFFY FIELD STORMWATER COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT PHASE TWO AND THREE.

UM, WE PUT THIS OUT FOR RFQ HAD ONE RESPONDER, WITHERS RAVENAL WAS THAT RESPONDER AND WAS SELECTED, UM, IN THE SCORING.

THEY PROVIDED A, A CONTRACT FOR $433,000 TO ADMINISTER THE PHASE TWO AND THREE CONSTRUCTION OF THE DUCKY FIELD STORMWATER ENHANCEMENT OBJECTION.

AND NEXT ITEM NUMBER

[17. Consider Adopting a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Contract with TRC for the Duffyfield Canal Restoration Project.]

17.

THE LAST ONE IS FOR THE, IT IS A GRANT FUNDING THE DUFFY FIELD CANAL RESTORATION MASTER PLAN.

WE A, WE PUT THIS OUT FOR RFQ ON THE 14TH OF OCTOBER.

WE HAD AN OPENING ON OCTOBER 29TH.

TRC WAS THE PROVIDER OF THE ONLY RESPONSE TO THAT RFQ AND QUALIFIED DUE TO THE, TO THE SCORING.

WE HAVE PROVIDED A CONTRACT FOR THAT WORK FOR $367,500.

THIS IS FOR, UM, PREPARATION OF A MASTER PLAN.

THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY CONSTRUCTION.

DOES THE BOARD HAVE FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENT GRANT? OKAY.

DOES THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THE ITEMS 15, 16, OR 17? IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH TRADER CONSTRUCTION FOR THE DUFFER FIELD COMMUNITY, STORM WATER AND ENHANCEMENT PROJECT PHASES TWO AND THREE CONDITIONED UPON APPROVAL BY THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY DIVISION OF WATER INFRASTRUCTURE NUMBER 16.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH WITHERS REVENUE FOR PERSONAL PERSONAL SERVICES FOR THE DUCKER FIELD COMMUNITY STORM WATER ENHANCEMENT PROJECT PHASES TWO AND THREE AND 17.

A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH TRC FOR THE FIELD CANAL RESTORATION PROJECT.

SECOND, MR. DAVIS, JUST BE CLEAR, IT'S ONE MOTION FOR ALL THREE OF THE ITEMS. YES.

ARE YOU GOOD WITH THAT? YES, SIR.

ALMAN, YOU UNDERSTAND? YES.

IS CONSIDERED ADOPTING A RESOLUTION OF APPRO A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH CRAVEN COUNTY FOR 4 0 8 HANCOCK STREET.

WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THOSE? HEARING NONE.

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

[18. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving a Lease Agreement with Craven County for 408 Hancock Street.]

MR. HUGHES MAYOR, THE CRAVEN COUNTY SENIOR CENTER, IS ABOUT TO UNDERGO SIGNIFICANT RENOVATIONS FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.

CRAVEN COUNTY REACHED OUT AND AND ASKED IF THEY COULD LEASE THE OLD FIREMAN'S MUSEUM AT 4 0 8 HANCOCK THROUGH AUGUST OF 2025.

UH, THE, THE CRAVEN COUNTY SENIOR ADULT CENTER CURRENTLY SERVES CITIZENS OF CRAVEN COUNTY AND THE CITY OF NEWBURN THAT ARE AGE 60 AND OLDER.

THEY PROVIDE A VARIETY OF SERVICES TO THOSE CITIZENS AND THEY DON'T WANT THOSE SERVICES TO STOP.

WHILE THOSE RENOVATIONS ARE GOING ON, THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS.

I I, I DIDN'T SEE, MAYBE I LOOKED IT, BUT I DIDN'T SEE WHAT, WHAT AMOUNT OF, OF FUNDS IS THAT THEY'RE SPEAKING OF FOR AS LEASING THIS BUILDING.

UH, IT WOULD BE A DOLLAR FOR THE YEAR.

THEY WOULD BE PAYING FOR ALL OF THE UTILITIES, ANY REPAIRS SIMILAR TO THE, THE LIBRARY LEASE THAT THEY JUST, UM, COMPLETED.

I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION? APPROVE A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH CRAVEN COUNTY FOR 4 0 8 HANCOCK STREET.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS, MAY

[00:40:01]

SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN KENZIE ALDER MCKENZIE? YES.

[19. Consider Adopting a Resolution Supporting NCDOT's Submission of a RAISE Grant Application for Neuse Boulevard.]

NUMBER 19.

CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE N-C-D-O-T SUBMISSION OF A RAISES GRANT APPLICATION FOR NO BOULEVARD.

MS. TRIBBLE.

GOOD EVENING.

EVENING.

THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DESIRES TO APPLY FOR REBUILDING AMERICAN INFRASTRUCTURE WITH SUSTAINABILITY AND EQUITY, ALSO KNOWN AS RAYS GRANT, TO CREATE A SAFER, MORE ACCESSIBLE ROADWAY ENVIRONMENT ALONG NEW BOULEVARD.

THE CONCEPT REMAINS THE SAME AS WHAT I WAS PRESENTED, UM, IN OCTOBER AND TO INSTALL SIDEWALKS AND, AND OR BIKE LANES, I'M SORRY, SIDEWALKS IN A BIKE LANE OR A SHARED USE PATH ALONG THE CORRIDOR, ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS, VISIBILITY ENHANCEMENTS, AND OTHER SAFETY FEATURES.

ADDITIONALLY, VEHICLE ACCESS WILL BE IMPROVED, PROMOTING SAFER DRIVING AND REDUCED SPEEDS THROUGH DESIGN INTERVENTIONS SUCH AS OPTIMIZING SIGNAL TIMING, MEDIAN TREATMENTS IN THE INCORPORATION OF A DEDICATED TWO-WAY LEFT TURN WITH THE ROAD DIVE.

SO THE LIMITS OF THE PROJECT HAVE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT JUST FROM, AS WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH THE, THE CONCEPT AND THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT.

INITIALLY, WE WERE LOOKING AT, UM, GLEN BURNIE TO QUEEN STREET, WHERE NOW THE PROJECT HAS BEEN REDUCED TO, TO GLEN BURNIE TO FIRST STREET.

AND A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH STAYING WITHIN THE MAXIMUM FUNDING CAP GRANT AMOUNT OF 25 MILLION.

ALSO, LAST FRIDAY WE DID HAVE A PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE DID HEAR SOME FEEDBACKS FROM THE CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEY, UM, PROVIDED SOME ADDITIONAL AREAS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO LOOK AT THAT WE CAN FINESSE WHEN WE GET TO THE DESIGN PHASE OF THE PROJECT.

IF AWARDED NC.IS REQUESTING A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT, WHICH WOULD ACCOMPANY THEIR GRANT APPLICATION, THE APPLICATIONS ARE DUE IN JANUARY AND IF AWARDED, WE ARE EXPECTED TO RECEIVE WORD IN THE SUMMER OF 2025.

UM, AS OF LAST WEEK, WE WERE NOTIFIED BY NNC DOT GRANTS COMMITTEE THAT THEY ACTUALLY RECEIVED MORE STATE REQUESTS FOR GRANTS AND THEY WERE EXPECTED THE RAISE GRANT LIMITS THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS THAT A STATE DOT CAN APPLY FOR, WHICH IS THREE, AND THEY ACTUALLY HAVE EIGHT WITHIN THE STATE.

IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF FEDERAL DOLLARS ALLOCATED TO NORTH CAROLINA, DOT IS ASKING THE CITY OF NEWBURN AND OTHER APPLICANTS TO BE THE APPLICANT FOR THE RAISE GRANT.

SO WE'RE LITERALLY JUST PUSHING THE BUTTON.

THEIR COMMITMENT REMAINS THE SAME TO PROVIDE ALL GRANT APPLICATION DOCUMENTS AND TO MANAGE AND FUND THE PROJECT.

IF AWARDED THE GRANT, THE CITY WOULD ONLY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUBMITTING THE GRANT APPLICATION IF AWARDED FEDERAL HIGHWAY AND N-C-D-O-T WOULD EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WHEREBY NC DOT BECOMES THE RECIPIENT.

AND NC DOT IN THE CITY OF LUMBERTON SUCCESSFULLY DID THIS THROUGH THE LAST RAISE GRANT APPLICATION, I THINK IT WAS LAST YEAR.

AND SO, UM, TONIGHT I ASK, UM, STAFF IS REQUESTING THE APPROVAL TO SUBMIT THE RAISE GRANT ON BEHALF OF NC DOT AND FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT TO ACCOMPANY THE RAISE GRANT APPLICATION.

I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS.

MAYOR, HEARING NO.

UH, FURTHER CONVERSATION, UH, FROM THE BOARD, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING NC DOT SUBMISSION OF A RAISE GRANT APPLICATION FOR NO BOULEVARD.

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

UH, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? UH, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, ASK A QUESTION.

IT'S PROBABLY TOO EARLY FOR THIS, BUT DO YOU KNOW IF THIS WAS SUCCESSFUL, IF THE ROAD DIET WOULD ACTUALLY CHANGE THE CURB TO CURB INFRASTRUCTURE OF THIS, SUCH AS PUTTING A MEDIAN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, LIKE WAS DONE WITH BROAD STREET? SO WE ARE LOOKING AT, THERE'S TWO OPTIONS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

THE FIRST OPTION IS DOING THE ROAD DIET AND LEAVING THE PROFILE OF THE ROAD THE SAME.

UM, SO WE HAVE THE TWO BIKE LANES CENTERED TURN LANE.

UM, IF WE DID HAVE ANY MEDIAS, IT WOULD ONLY BE AT DESIGNATED AREAS SUCH AS AS YOU APPROACH APPROACH, UM, AT SIGNALIZE INTERSECTION JUST TO CHANNEL THE VEHICLES.

UM, BUT WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL YET.

THE OTHER OPTION THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, IS THE SHARED USE PATH.

IF WE DO THE SHARED USE PATH, THEN IN ESSENCE WE WOULD TAKE THE ENTIRE LANE AND THE CURB AND GUNNER AND WE WOULD MOVE THAT IN.

OBVIOUSLY THAT COSTS, UM, A LOT MORE MONEY THAN JUST RETRIP FOR THE ROAD DIET.

UM, AND SO WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY MADE THAT DECISION YET AS THEY'RE, THEY'RE KIND OF GOING THROUGH THE COST ESTIMATES.

UM, BUT IN ORDER TO, TO APPLY FOR THE GRANT, WE HAVE TO HAVE A

[00:45:01]

CONCEPT.

IF WE'RE AWARDED THE GRANT, THERE'LL BE LOTS OF STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO REFINE THE THOSE, UM, SPECIFICS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.

LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN BEST? ALDERMAN BEST? YES.

ALDERMAN PRI? YES.

ALDERMAN ROYAL? YES.

ALDERMAN ASER? YES.

ALDERMAN KENZIE? YES.

[20. Appointment(s).]

UP IS APPOINTMENTS.

UH, BOARD JUST TO RUN THROUGH, WE HAVE, UH, BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

UH, DOES ANYONE HAVE ONE FOR THAT TONIGHT? UM, ALDERMAN ROYAL.

YOU HAVE ONE FOR THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT? NO, SIR.

UM, AND THEN WE HAVE ONE FOR THE NEW BERN CRAVEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

AND MADAM CLERK, THIS JUST SAYS TO THE MAYOR OF THE BOARD, IS THIS OPEN TO THE BOARD? ANYONE CAN MAKE THAT APPOINTMENT? IT IS.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYONE IN MIND FOR THE LIBRARY BOARD? OKAY.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER APPOINTMENTS THAT I DIDN'T MENTION? WELL, I, I SEE WHERE SAM CARTER'S TERM HAS EXPIRED, BUT HE CAN BE REAPPOINTED.

HE IS ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT IF YOU DESIRE.

YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT MOTION.

MAYOR.

REPORT, NOTHING TO REPORT THE NIGHTMARE CITY

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WHAT, UH, FOR THE COMMISSION SUCH? BY ALL BY ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF SAM CARTER BEING REAPPOINTED, PLEASE SAY AYE.

[21. Attorney's Report]

[22. City Manager's Report.]

MANAGER'S REPORT.

YES, SIR.

A FEW THINGS JUST TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT CITY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED DECEMBER 24TH, 25TH AND 26TH FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY AND ALSO JANUARY 1ST FOR NEW YEAR'S DAY.

AND REMIND ME THAT THE NEW YEAR'S EVE BLOCK PARTY WILL AGAIN BE HELD DOWNTOWN ON DECEMBER 31ST.

THE EVENT START AT 5:30 PM AND WE WILL END WITH THE, WITH THE BEAR DROP AT THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT.

AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE STANLEY WHITE RECREATION CENTER.

WE ANTICIPATE THERE ARE PROBABLY ABOUT TWO MORE WEEKS LEFT OF CONSTRUCTION.

UH, THE FACILITY IS LOOKING VERY GOOD.

THEY HAVE JUST ABOUT FINISHED DOING THE LANDSCAPING ON THE OUTSIDE.

STILL SOME WORK GOING ON, ON, ON, UH, ON THE INSIDE.

WE ANTICIPATE FITNESS EQUIPMENT AND OTHER EQUIPMENT ARRIVING, UH, AFTER CHRISTMAS.

AND OUR GOAL IS TO OPEN THE FACILITY ON JANUARY 17TH.

OUR GOAL IS ALSO TO START OPEN HOUSES FOR THE PUBLIC STARTING JANUARY 10TH.

SO WE WILL HAVE A SERIES OF DAYS WHERE WE'LL INVITE THE PUBLIC TO COME IN, TOUR THE FACILITY TO SEE WHAT ALL, UH, IS INVOLVED WITH THAT.

IS THAT ALL? YES, SIR.

BUSINESS, STARTING WITH ALDERMAN PRI UH, NOTHING OFFICIAL, BUT, UH, WITH THE CHRISTMAS AND HOLIDAY HOLIDAY CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAY COMING UP.

THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE.

WE'LL GO TO NEW

[23. New Business.]

JUST WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND MAKE THEM SAFE.

ALDERMAN ROYAL, UH, AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO SAY, UH, AS ALDERMAN CREEL DID, UH, I WISH EVERYONE A SAFE AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO OUR RESIDENTS, TO THE STAFF, AND TO THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN.

THAT'LL BE ALL.

THANK YOU ALDERMAN ESTHER? UH, YES.

UM, I SERVE ON THE FIREMAN'S MUSEUM BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND I'D JUST LIKE TO GIVE AN UPDATE TO THIS BOARD THAT THE, UM, FIREMAN'S MUSEUM IS FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT THE ATTENDANCE HAS BEEN VERY GOOD.

UM, WE DO NEED VOLUNTEERS AS, UH, AS GUIDES.

YOU'LL GO THROUGH ALL THE TRAINING AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED.

AND IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MUSEUM GUIDE, YOU CAN CERTAINLY CALL THE MUSEUM AT SIX THREE SIX FOUR ZERO EIGHT SEVEN.

AND I TOO WOULD LIKE TO WISH EVERYONE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

PLEASE STAY SAFE.

AND CAN I ASK, UH, IS IT, I, I WAS GONNA DO THIS UNDER APPOINTMENTS SINCE IT SLIPPED RIGHT THROUGH, BUT, UM, I'D LIKE TO, UM, NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR BOARD OF ALL IN WARD SIX SEAT.

SO MAYOR, BECAUSE, UH, OF ALL THE BUDGET TIMES IS COMING UP REAL SOON AND, UH, THE EXPERIENCE THAT MR. OUTLAW HAS, I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE DANA OUTLAW TO FILL THE WARD SIX SEAT SECOND.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPOINT DANA OUTLAW TO THE WARD SIX SEAT.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? LET'S DO A ROLL CALL, STARTING WITH ALDERMAN PR.

[00:50:01]

ANYTHING ELSE SIR? NO.

I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE MS. DARLENE BROWN TO WARD SIX ALDERMAN SEAT.

SECOND MOTION.

I'M SORRY.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.

ALRIGHT, I'M, UH, TAKING NOTES HERE.

UH, WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND TO NOMINATE MS. DARLENE BROWN TO THE WARD SIX ALDERMAN SEAT.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION HERE? NONE.

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

ANYTHING ELSE? IS THAT ALL YOUR NEW BUSINESS, SIR? YES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

ALDER MCKENZIE, NEW BUSINESS.

I'D LIKE TO WISH EVERYONE, UH, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND STAY SAFE AND ENJOY YOUR FAMILY.

ALDERMAN BESS? YES, I'D JUST LIKE TO, UM, SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY STAFF FOR THE BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS THAT, ALL THOSE THAT WAS INVOLVED IN GETTING THE CHRISTMAS DECORATION.

IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL.

UM, AND, UM, AND JUST WISH EVERYONE, ALL OF OUR CITIZENS AND CITY STAFF MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

IS THAT ALL MA'AM? THAT'S IT.

UH, I HAVE JUST A FEW ITEMS. UH, FIRST OFF, UH, WE HAD THE SECOND PARADE THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN IN CHARGE OF MR. HUGHES.

DO YOU HAVE ANY UPDATES ON THAT? YES, SIR.

WE HAD APPROXIMATELY 150 ENTRIES IN THE PARADE.

UH, WE HAD, WE HAD A LARGE CROWD.

UH, WE LOOKED AT, UH, WE LOOKED AT PLACER AI FOR THE DOWNTOWN.

FROM THE 10 O'CLOCK TO 11 O'CLOCK HOUR, THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 5,000 PEOPLE THAT WERE, WERE DOWNTOWN, BUT WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE NUMBERS YET FOR THE ACTUAL PARADE ROUTE.

SO WE ANTICIPATE THAT TO BE MORE.

SO, UH, WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF GOOD COMMENTS ABOUT THE PARADE ROUTE AS WELL COMING, UH, FROM GEORGE DOWN TO P*****K, SO OKAY, VERY GOOD.

IT SEEMED TO GO, UH, VERY SMOOTHLY, UH, SEEMED TO WORK WELL, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

UM, THE SECOND ITEM I HAD, UH, THERE'S BEEN SOME BUZZ THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY ABOUT ELECTRIC RATES.

UH, DUKE ANNOUNCED THAT, UH, THEY ARE LOWERING THEIR ELECTRIC RATES AND, UH, I'M NOT SURE WHICH OF THE LOCAL NEWS STATIONS COVERED IT, BUT, UH, THEY DID A LITTLE INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM AND FOUND THAT THE RATES WERE BEING LOWERED, BUT THERE WERE SOME RIDERS THAT ARE ON THAT BILL.

UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO, UM, NOTIFY EVERYONE THAT EVEN WITH THE MOST RECENT ELECTRIC RATE INCREASED THAT THE CITY IMPLEMENTED AND WITH THE MOST RECENT ELECTRIC RATE DECREASE THAT DUKE IMPLEMENTED, UH, WE ARE STILL LOWER THAN DUKE.

UM, I WILL PUT THE OFFER OUT THERE AS I ALWAYS HAVE, IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH ME, UM, AND BRING YOUR BILL.

UH, IF YOU'RE ON CITY OF NEW BERN, I AM ON DUKE.

I WILL BRING MY HOME BILL AND WE CAN SIT DOWN AND DO AN ANALYSIS AND I CAN SHOW THAT TO YOU.

AND THEN THE LAST THING I JUST WANTED TO DO WAS, UH, WISH EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS, UH, ESPECIALLY OUR STAFF.

I KNOW YOU HAVE A LUNCHEON THIS WEEK, UH, FOR THE STAFF, WHICH WILL BE A HOLIDAY LUNCHEON.

UM, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE THERE.

UH, I HAVE AN OBLIGATION, UH, FOR THE CHAMBER, FOR THE MILITARY FAMILY OF THE QUARTER.

UM, BUT I KNOW SOME OF THE BOARD WILL BE THERE.

UH, BUT JUST WANTED TO WISH STAFF A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

DO WE NEED A CLOSED SESSION? NO, SIR.