[1. Call to order and Welcome.]
[00:00:02]
ARE WE READY TO GO? ALRIGHT, WITH THAT, I WILL CALL TO ORDER THIS REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ON MARCH 12TH.
UM, AND I'LL ASK YOU FOR A ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
BRIAN, PRESENT JIMMY DILLA HUNT.
ROYAL MADAM, YOU HAVE A QUORUM.
[3. Consider Approving the Agenda.]
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO NOW, UH, HAVE THE COMMISSION, UH, CONSIDER APPROVING OUR AGENDA IF WE'VE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK OVER YOUR PACKET.YOU SEE THE AGENDA? THAT'S BEFORE YOU.
CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE IT? SO MOVED.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
[4. Consider Approving Minutes]
WE HAVE ONE MORE THING TO CONSIDER APPROVING.AND THAT IS THE MEETING MINUTES FROM OUR LAST MEETING IN FEBRUARY.
HAS EVERYONE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK OVER THOSE MEETING MINUTES? MM-HMM
AND IF THERE'S NO, OR IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MEETING MINUTES? MAKE A MOTION.
WE APPROVE THE MINUTES AS SUBMITTED.
ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MEETING.
MEETING MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY.
AND THAT MOTION CARRIES THE MEETING MINUTES ARE, UM, APPROVED.
[5. Mission Statement and Guiding Principles]
THE NEXT THING ON OUR AGENDA IS OUR MISSION STATEMENT AND OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES.AND I USUALLY PICK ON THE PERSON ON THE END.
SO I'M GOING TO DO THAT TONIGHT.
AND COMMISSIONER PARAGO
THE NEWBURG 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.
AND OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES, I'LL GET YOU TO START THOSE.
FOR COMMISSIONER BRYANT PASS, PRESENT, FUTURE AND EQUAL TIMES.
LISTEN TO BILL CONSENSUS, SHARE ACCURATE INFORMATION, PUBLIC PERCEPTION.
BELIEVE SHE GOT THE BEST ONE DOWN THERE.
[6. Public Comment]
NOW WE HAVE OUR TIME OF PUBLIC COMMENT.THIS IS WHERE WE INVITE THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK.
YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES TO SPEAK AND I SEE PUBLIC PEOPLE OUT THERE TONIGHT, SO WE MIGHT ACTUALLY GET PUBLIC COMMENT.
WELL, MADAM CHAIR, I WOULD LIKE TO ACTUALLY, UH, TAKE A MOMENT TONIGHT TO INTRODUCE CHASE WARNER.
UH, HE'S A SENIOR PLANNING MAJOR AT ECU AND, UH, FOR HIS PRACTICUM PRO PROJECT, CHASE HAS CHOSEN TO FOCUS ON THE REDEVELOPMENT ZONE OF NEW BERN.
HIS PROJECT WILL GIVE A REFRESHED OVERVIEW OF THE, UH, VACANCIES AND RESIDENTIAL STOCK AVAILABLE IN THE REDEVELOPMENT BOUNDARY AREA.
ADDITIONALLY, HIS PROJECT WILL OVERLAY THAT DATA WITH FLOOD AND HAZARD DATA THAT WILL BETTER INFORM US ABOUT RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND FEASIBILITY.
TODAY, CHASE TOOK A TOUR, UM, A PERSONAL TOUR OF THE, UH, OF THE DISTRICT.
AND TONIGHT HE'S HERE TO GREET YOU AS WELL AS TO ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS.
UH, JUST FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION, UH, COMMISSION.
HE'LL BE BACK LATER ON IN THE SEMESTER, UH, TO PRESENT HIS FINDINGS TO US.
AND YOU SAY HE GOTTA SPEND THE DAY TOURING, UH, THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA WITH YOU? ABSOLUTELY.
WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU SELECT US TO BE PART OF YOUR SENIOR PRACTICUM.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN TODAY? UM, A LOT ABOUT THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND THE REDEVELOPMENT BOUNDARY AND EVERYTHING TO DO WITH MAPPING THE AREA AND FINDING ALL THE DATA.
ARE YOU FROM AROUND HERE? I'M FROM RALEIGH, YES MA'AM.
AND YOU'RE A SENIOR AT ECU? YES.
YOU PICK NEWBURN INSTEAD OF RALEIGH
[00:05:01]
YEAH.WHAT'S YOUR MAJOR, LIKE, WHAT'S CITY PLANNING? OKAY.
YOU MIGHT HAVE SAID THAT BACK.
SO YOU, YOU'LL BE HERE THE WHOLE SEMESTER OR OFF AND ON.
HOW DOES THAT WORK? UM, I'LL BE IN CONTACT WITH MR. HOFF, UH, THROUGHOUT THE SEMESTER WORKING ON THIS PROJECT.
SO WHAT STUCK, STUCK OUT IN YOUR MIND MOST ABOUT THE RE THE DEVELOPMENT AREA AS A WHOLE? UM, MOSTLY THE, UH, UNDER UNDERDEVELOPED PARCELS AS WELL AS I WAS BROUGHT THIS UP TO MR. HOFF, BUT, UH, THE ROADS IN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA I THINK COULD HAVE IMPROVEMENT AS WELL.
UH, SO JUST LOOKING AT THE AREA AS A WHOLE AND THE HOUSING AS WELL.
LEMME JUST PUT SOMETHING RIGHT QUICK.
OVER THE PAST YEARS THEY WERE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT THE ROADS IN THE UNDEVELOPED AREAS, THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA AND BASICALLY DEV FIELD.
AND THE QUESTION CAME UP ABOUT HOW DO WE DO THAT? HOW DO WE DO THE ROADS? HOW DO WE EXPAND THEM? AND, AND YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THIS AND I GUESS IT MIGHT BE PART OF YOUR RESEARCH TO COME BACK, LEMME KNOW, BUT SOME OF 'EM USED TO TELL US THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS RELOCATING THE HOMES BACK AWAY FROM THE STREET.
SOME OF 'EM ARE PRIVATE, SOME AROUND.
AND, AND, AND THEY SAID A LOT OF TIMES THAT PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BECAUSE THAT WILL BE A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE OWNERS DIDN'T WANNA SPEND THE MONEY TO MOVE THE HOUSE BACK.
AND THAT WAS, AM I RIGHT BY THAT? YES, SIR.
SO I GUESS, YOU KNOW, THAT COMES WITH A WHOLE LOT OF GRANTS.
THANK YOU FOR, FOR JOINING US AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING, UM, WHAT YOU BRING BACK TO US AT THE END OF THE SEMESTER.
IS THAT WHAT WE HAVE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, MA'AM.
I LOOKING OUT THERE? NO, YOUR HEAD'S NODDING.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR NEW BUSINESS.
NO ITEMS WERE, UH, SUBMITTED FOR NEW BUSINESS THIS MONTH.
[8.a. Project Team Report on West A Street]
BUSINESS, WE HAVE, UH, PROJECT TEAMS FOR BOTH THE WEST A STREET PROJECT AND THE NINE 11 UBANK PROJECT.AND THIS WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO DISCUSS WHERE THOSE PROJECTS ARE AND WHAT MIGHT BE GOING ON, WHAT MIGHT BE HOLDING 'EM UP STILL, WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON.
SO YEAH, UA STREET START WITH WEST A STREET.
UH, WAS LAST WEEK OR WEEK BEFORE LAST, WE HAD A LENGTHY CONVERSATION WITH THE SURVEYORS.
AND, UH, JAMIE WAS ON THAT CONVERSATION AS WELL AS, AS, UH, ZEEB AND MYSELF.
AND IT BASICALLY BOILED DOWN TO, TO TWO THINGS.
WE HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT AN ABANDONED STREET THAT GOES THROUGH THAT PROPERTY AND, AND HOW THAT WORKED.
AND THEN THERE WAS THE MAIN ISSUE OF THE RAILROAD RIGHT AWAY.
UH, THE GIS MAPS THAT THE CITY HAS AND SO FORTH.
SHOW A HUNDRED FOOT RIGHT AWAY DOWN THROUGH THAT AREA, UH, FROM THE STATION ON DOWN TO BIDDLE STREET WHEN YOU HIT BIDDLE STREET.
THE RIGHT OF WAY EXPANDS TO 200 FEET, BUT WE'RE IN THE SECTION WHERE IT WAS SHOWING AND, AND ALL THE MAPS THAT WE HAD AND JUST SHOWED A HUNDRED FOOT RIGHT AWAY.
UH, BUT THE SURVEYOR AND THE RAILROAD HAVE BOTH CONFIRMED THAT THEY'RE GONNA TAKE 200 FEET ALL THROUGH THERE.
SO WE HAD TO, UH, EXPAND THE RAILROAD RIGHT AWAY, AN ADDITIONAL 50 FEET ON OUR SIDE, UH, TO CREATE THAT 200 FOOT, UH, RIGHT AWAY.
AND IT RAN AT AN ANGLE ACROSS THE RECTANGULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WE HAD, OF COURSE.
UH, SO THAT WE HAVE NOW LESS FOOTAGE ON THE BACK OF THE LOTS AS WE, THAN WE DO ON THE FRONT.
AND THEN THE OTHER, UH, PROPERTY DOWN, UH, ON THE OTHER END OF THAT STREET, UH, WHERE WE ACTUALLY TORE, UH, TORE DOWN A HOUSE.
UH, THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY HAS COME INTO DISPUTE AS TO WHO OWNS THAT.
UH, EVEN THOUGH WE, UM, THOUGHT WE DID AND WE, UH, TOOK DOWN THE HOUSE THERE.
UH, THE, THE NEIGHBORS ARE CLAIMING THAT PROPERTY NOW.
AND, UH, SO THAT DEPENDING ON THE OUTCOME OF THAT, UH, WE WILL BE ANOTHER 26 FEET LESS PROPERTY THAN WE THOUGHT WE HAD.
UH, THE WHOLE STORY ABOUT THIS IS, THIS IS WHY WE WANTED TO GET IT SURVEYED MM-HMM
UH, 'CAUSE WE COULD HAVE REALLY GOTTEN INTO A BIG PILE OF TROUBLE.
UH, OTHERWISE, AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE BEEN DILIGENT ABOUT GETTING, UH, A LEGITIMATE SURVEY OF THAT PROPERTY TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE HAD TO WORK WITH.
THE END RESULT OF ALL THIS IS THAT, UH,
[00:10:01]
IF WE WERE TO, TO SUBDIVIDE THE, THIS EXISTING BLOCK, THE REMAINING BLOCK AFTER EVERYBODY TOOK A CHUNK OF IT, UH, THAT WE WOULD BE DOWN TO FOUR 40 FOOT LOTS INSTEAD OF THE SIX TO SEVEN THAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY, UH, THOUGHT THAT WE HAD THERE.SO, UH, THAT, THAT, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.
SO HOW DID THE, HOW DID THE NEIGHBORS CLAIM CLAIM THEIR PROPERTY? OH, I'M GOING TO, I'M GONNA LOOK THAT WAY.
UM, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT OWN, UH, ADJACENT TO THE WESTERN BOUNDARY OF THE WEST, A STREET PARCEL, UM, HAVE MADE REPRESENTATIONS TO HAVING A DEED THAT INCLUDES, UM, FRONTAGE THAT WE BELIEVE, UM, OUR DEED COVERS.
UM, AND MY CONVERSATIONS WITH MR. HUFF, WHO'S BEEN IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS, UM, I'VE NOT SEEN ANYTHING IN THE REGISTRY OF RECORD, UM, THAT WOULD HAVE A DEED THAT EVIDENCES THEIR INTEREST.
UM, SO WHAT I HAVE ASKED IS THAT THEY GIVE THE, THE DE BOOKING PAGE FOR THE INSTRUMENT THAT THEY ARE SAYING, UM, EVIDENCE IS THEIR INTEREST.
I THINK THAT CONVERSATION WAS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
WE DO NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION AS OF YET.
UM, IF IT WERE TO MATERIALIZE, THEN CERTAINLY WE WILL BEAR THAT INFORMATION IN MIND AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
UM, BUT AS ALL OF YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE AN INTEREST IN LAND UNLESS IT'S RECORDED.
SO WE WILL SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT PERHAPS, UM, MISSED THE REGISTRY.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE REGISTRY THAT JUST DOESN'T, DIDN'T READILY COME UP IN, IN, IN A SEARCH, WE WILL HAVE THAT INFORMATION AND WE WILL MOVE FORWARD, UM, ACCORDINGLY.
SO IS IS IT MY, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE RAILROAD, UM, RIGHT OF WAY IS IN A DEFINITE INCREASE TO 200 FEET.
AND THIS ONE IS STILL BEING FIGURED OUT WHETHER THE, THE RAILROAD RIGHT OF WAY IS A HUNDRED FEET ON EITHER SIDE OF THE CENTER LINE OF THE TRACK MM-HMM
INTERESTINGLY, UM, YOU FIND THAT INFORMATION IN THE RAILROAD CHARTER FROM THE 18 HUNDREDS SO THAT WE KNOW FOR CERTAIN, AS MR. PARAGO INDICATED, THERE IS A QUESTION OF A, WHAT WE BELIEVE MAY HAVE BEEN AN ABANDONED RIGHT OF WAY.
UH, THERE USED TO BE A STREET CALLED E STREET THAT, UM, WAS IN THAT CORRIDOR.
WE KNOW FOR CERTAIN THAT THE CITY CLOSED THE E STREET RIGHT OF WAY NORTH OF THE RAILROAD TRACK TO THE SOUTH OF THE RAILROAD TRACK IS IN QUESTION.
AND I, I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD WHAT THE DIMENSIONS ARE FOR THAT PORTION OF THE RIGHT OF WAY THAT IS ON, UM, THE, THE WEST EIGHTH STREET PROPERTY.
BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE, UM, UNDERTAKING EFFORTS TO UNTANGLE, WHICH MAY CREATE SOME ADDITIONAL SQUARE FOOTAGE WHICH MIGHT INCREASE YOUR DEVELOPABLE PROPERTY.
THE, THE, THE ABANDONED ROAD RIGHT AWAY, UH, IS INSIGNIFICANT IN THE WHOLE THING.
IT'S, IT'S A SMALL TRIANGLE AND LIKE I SAY, BECAUSE THE RAILROAD CUTS ON AN ANGLE ACROSS THE PROPERTY, UH, THAT WE, WE MIGHT GAIN 25, 30 MORE FEET, BUT IT'LL BE A SMALL TRIANGLE AND ADDS NOTHING TO OVERALL DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPERTY.
BUT THE IMPORTANT THING, UM, THAT ALL OF MR. PARA'S COMMENTS GO TO IS MAKING SURE THAT THE PARCEL THAT YOU ALL PACKAGE FOR REDEVELOPMENT IS SOMETHING THAT A INVESTOR OR DEVELOPER WILL BE ABLE TO GET TITLE INSURANCE FOR.
BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IF SOMEONE'S GOING TO MAKE A SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT TO IMPROVE THIS PROPERTY, THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE GOOD TITLE.
SO YOUR EFFORTS ARE, ARE NOT IN VAIN AT ALL WHATSOEVER.
DOING THIS UNTANGLING ON THE FRONT END IS GONNA PREVENT A LOT OF HEADACHE ON THE BACK END.
IS THERE A TIME LIMITATION ON THE PEOPLE WHO CLAIM TO HAVE THE, THE LAND THAT WE THOUGHT WE HAD OR THAT IS OURS? IS THERE A TIME LIMITATION IF PRODUCE THAT DOCUMENT? OR IS THAT WE HAVE NOT IMPOSED A DUE DATE? UM, CERTAINLY WE WERE TRYING TO BE REASONABLE UP UNTIL THIS POINT.
I THINK MR. HE WOULD AGREE THAT THE, THE NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN, UM, CORDIAL AND CONGENIAL IN MM-HMM
UM, COMMUNICATING WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND TRYING TO GET THIS MATTER UNTANGLED.
SO, SO LONG AS, UM, EVERYBODY'S OPERATING IN GOOD FAITH, I I THINK THAT WE CAN PROCEED, UM, AS WE HAVE BEEN UNLESS YOU DIRECT US OTHERWISE.
I WOULD ONLY ADD TO THOSE COMMENTS THAT THEY ACTUALLY INITIATED US IN, IN, IN THE DISCUSSION.
UM, AND, AND SO, UH, TO, TO MADAM UH, ATTORNEY'S POINT, THEY'VE BEEN VERY, VERY, UH, MINIMAL.
WHEN DID THEY INITIATE? COULD, WOULD'VE THOUGHT THAT WE TOOK, WE TORE DOWN THAT HOUSE
[00:15:01]
ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO.UH, AND WE HEARD NOTHING FROM THEM AT THAT PARTICULAR JUNCTURE.
UH, IT WAS AROUND THE TIME WE DID THE DEMOLITION, THE DEMOLITION OF THE TWO REMAINING STRUCTURES, AND WE CLEARED THE LAND THAT THEY CAME INTO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND REQUESTED A MEETING WITH ME.
WHY DON'T YOU CLEAN THE PROPERTY? I'M GONNA CLAIM IT
AND LET ME LET ASK, WHAT ZONE IS THAT, UH, IN? SEE, IS THAT A C3? IT IS R SIX.
BECAUSE IF THEY HAVE A PROPERTY, THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF THE THE VACANT HOUSE.
AND YOU KNOW, IF THEY WANT TO CLAIM THE PROPERTY, I THINK WE CAN, UH, WE OUGHT TO SEND THEM THE BILL FOR TEARING THE HOUSE DOWN.
AND THAT, WHAT DID YOU SAY THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THAT LOT WAS, AGAIN? 49.
IF, IF, IF WE WANTED TO SUBDIVIDE IT IN THE SINGLE FAMILY LOTS, UH, THERE WOULD BE, THERE WOULD BE 40 BY 108.
AND THAT WOULD YIELD FOUR LOTS.
AND THAT WOULD ACCOMMODATE AN R SIX THAT FOR THE BUILDING NUMBER? YES.
UM, IN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA, THERE'S AN OVERLAY THAT IN THE R SIX ZONING DESIGNATION, UM, IN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA, YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO SMALLER THAN IN OTHER R SIX AREAS IN THE CITY.
WE HAVE FIVE FOOT SETBACKS AND, UH, ABOUT 15 FOOT FRONT SETBACKS SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE, BUT THEY'RE IN OUR PLAN.
WE HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF, UH, SETBACKS FOR ALL OF OUR LOCKS IN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA.
WELL I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS ON TRYING TO UNTANGLE THIS AND MEETING WITH THE SURVEYORS AND KEEPING EVERYTHING GOING.
ALL THE TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS, SO APPRECIATE YOU UPDATING US TONIGHT.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE ACTUALLY GOT, UH, AN UPDATE THAT IS MOVING FORWARD
[8.b. Project Team Report on 911 Eubanks Street]
UM, THE NINE 11 EUBANK STREET PROPERTY.I'M GOING TO THINK THAT YOU'RE GONNA UPDATE ON THAT.
I AM GOING TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THAT.
UH, UH, LAST MEETING, YOU ALL, UH, GAVE GUIDANCE TO, UH, INITIATE THE SEALED BID PROCESS.
UH, AT THIS PRESENT MOMENT, WE WERE WORKING WITH, UH, TWO FOLKS ACTIVELY WHO HAVE, UH, TOURED THE HOUSE AND THEY'RE GETTING THEIR PACKET TOGETHER.
AND THEY DO ANTICIPATE, UH, TURNING THEIR BIDS INTO THE CITY CLERK, UH, PRIOR TO MONDAY.
UH, SO WE SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST TWO BIDS, UH, IN IN OUR APRIL MEETING TO, UH, LOOK AT, UM, THE, UM, THE MARKETING EFFORTS.
UH, WERE DONE PER YOUR GUIDANCE.
I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP AND LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT CITY WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND, UH, UH, WE DIDN'T DO ZILLOW.
IT WAS REALESTATE.COM, UH, ALLOWED US TO DO A FOR SALE BY OWNER, UH, ADVERTISEMENT.
UH, WE DID PUT TOGETHER A POSTER AND WE'VE, UH, POSTED THEM AT THE RECREATIONAL CENTERS, UH, AS WELL AS CITY HALL AND A NUMBER OF OTHER, UH, LOCATIONS AROUND THE CITY.
SO, UH, WE, WE FULFILLED OUR, UH, REQUIREMENT FOR CDBG.
UH, AND I THINK WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB AND WE HAVE AT LEAST TWO, UH, TURNING INTO, IN A BID ON THAT PROPERTY.
SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT THOSE WILL BE ADEQUATE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDS AND, UH, THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO, UH, ACCEPT THAT AND GET SOMEONE TO OCCUPY THAT HOME, UH, BY NEXT MEETING.
I KNOW THAT'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK FOR A LONG TIME.
[9. Staff Report]
UM, AND RIGHT BACK TO YOU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OFF FOR THE STAFF REPORT.WELL, UH, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF EVERYONE INVOLVED IN OUR REDEVELOPMENT EFFORTS.
UH, FEBRUARY WAS A MONTH OF CONTINUED PROGRESS AND MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS AND LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR WHAT'S AHEAD, NOT NECESSARILY A WHOLE LOT OF NEW WORK.
UM, WE DID QUITE A FEW COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH EVENTS INCLUDING, UH, WORK DONE AT, UH, STANLEY WHITE RECREATION CENTER AND ROUND TABLE.
UM, WE'VE MET QUITE A BIT WITH RESIDENTS AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE COMMUNITY VOICES REMAIN AT THE CENTER OF OUR WORK, INCLUDING PARTICIPATING IN THE CDBG LISTENING SESSION.
UH, LAST MONTH, UM, WORK PROGRA PROGRESSES ON MULTIPLE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER, AS WELL AS THE BLOOMFIELD STREET PROJECT.
[00:20:01]
AND I BELIEVE THE BURN STREET PROJECT IS NEARING TIME FOR A, UH, CERTIFICATE, CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.AND SO, UH, I, I WAS IN, IN CONTACT WITH THE HOMEOWNER, UH, AND, UH, TOLD HIM THAT WE DEFINITELY WANT TO CELEBRATE HIS WIN WITH HIM 'CAUSE IT'S A COMMUNITY WIN.
UM, OUR FINANCES, I, I PUT IN YOUR PACKET THIS EVENING A FINANCIAL REPORT.
THE BEGINNING BALANCE OF THE GENERAL FUND WAS $836,711 AND 2 CENTS AT THE END OF FEBRUARY.
THE FUND BALANCE STOOD AT 800,000 336, 830 $6,222 AND 30 CENTS.
UH, THE $495 EXPENDITURE WAS THE APPRAISAL FOR NINE 11 EUBANK STREET AND WILL BE REIMBURSED TO US AFTER THE PROPERTY IS SOLD.
AS ALWAYS, STAYING CONNECTED WITH COMMUNITY IS ESSENTIAL AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE ON THE COMMISSION TO ATTEND THE UPCOMING MEETINGS.
UH, THAT, THAT WE HAVE SCHEDULED FOR THE END OF MARCH INTO APRIL.
UH, OUR CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVE, UH, MOVES ON IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
AND JUST IN CASE YOU DIDN'T HAVE THOSE, UH, MEETINGS ON YOUR SCHEDULE, UH, THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN INVITED TO PARTICIPATE ON MAY 18TH AND MAY 19TH.
UH, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO, UH, IF YOU'D LIKE TO ATTEND THAT, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AS WE NEED TO RSVP.
UM, UH, ALSO JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY THAT MEETS ON THE SECOND TUESDAY, UH, OF EVERY MONTH IN THE DUFFY FIELD RESIDENCE COUNCIL THAT MEETS ON THE SECOND THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS WORK ISN'T JUST ABOUT BUILDINGS AND INFRASTRUCTURE, IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE.
SO EVERY CONVERSATION MATTERS.
EVERY TIME YOU SHOW UP WITH YOUR SNAZZY JACKETS, IT MATTERS.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND THE ENGAGEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, THAT YOU ARE INVOLVED IN.
UH, AT THIS TIME, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION, COUPLE ADDITIONAL UPDATES THAT ARE NOT ON THE, IN YOUR REPORT.
IS ANYBODY LIVING IN THE WAL BELLAMY HOUSES YET? NO.
UH, SO YOU REMEMBER WHEN, WHEN MR. BARNARD GAVE US HIS PRESENTATION, THOSE HOUSES ARE EARMARKED FOR REPLACEMENT HOUSES MM-HMM
WHEN, WHEN, UH, TRENT COURT IS REDEVELOPED.
AND SO THEY HAVE TO BE HELD ASIDE SO THAT THERE'S EMPTY HOUSING STOCK AVAILABLE FOR THE FAMILIES CURRENTLY RESIDING AT TRENT COURT.
AND SO, UH, THERE ARE THOSE THREE HOMES AS WELL AS A COUPLE OF OTHER HOMES THAT THE, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS PURCHASING AND DEVELOPING SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF HAVING HOUSING OF H AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE HOUSES AVAILABLE TO TRENT COURT WHEN, WHEN RELOCATION, UH, WHEN IT'S TIME FOR THE RELOCATION, AND OKAY.
THAT THOSE HOUSES COULD SIT AT VACANT FOR ANOTHER YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS.
I WOULD HESITATE TO COMMENT ON THAT, SEEING IF THEY KNOW, PUT YOU ON.
AND THE OTHER UPDATE THAT, THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT IS, UH, THE WORK OF MRS. SHIELDS.
ACTUALLY SHE WAS, SHE WAS, SHE SAID SHE WAS GONNA BE HERE TONIGHT.
UH, I WOULD'VE PUNTED, UH, PUNTED THAT TO HER.
UM, UH, SO GRANT WRITING FOR THE COMMISSION IS A BIT OF A CONUNDRUM, AND THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT TEAM, UH, WILL UNDERSTAND THAT WE DON'T HAVE OUR OWN EIN.
AND SO ALL OF OUR GRANTS RUN THROUGH THE CITY.
AND SO WE, UH, ACTUALLY MET WITH, UH, THE CITY FINANCE TEAM, UH, THIS PAST WEEK TO FIGURE OUT A GRANT WORKFLOW.
WE HAVE THAT FIGURED OUT MS. MS. SHIELDS HAS THAT NOW, AND I ANTICIPATE THAT, UH, IN, IN, IN THE FALL, TOWARDS THE FALL TIME, WE'LL GET, UH, A NUMBER OF GRANT APPLICATIONS, UH, FOR SUBMITTAL FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS, UH, GOING INTO, UH, THE NEW FISCAL YEAR.
UNDERSTANDING, HOPEFULLY I DID UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
THOSE HOUSES ON BLOOMFIELD STREET OR IN RESERVE FOR THE HOUSING ARE, AM I, DID I UNDERSTAND YOU CORRECT? NO, SIR.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE WALL, UH, THE WALL.
AND THEY DON'T, THEY NO LONGER BELONG TO US.
THEY BELONG TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR THEIR PURPOSES.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE THAT VERY, VERY CLEAR.
IS ANY OF THE FUTURE HOUSES THAT MAY BE BIGGER, ARE THEY GONNA BE THE SAME WAY OR THEY BE OPEN AT THIS POINT? THERE IS NO AGREEMENT IN PLACE TO THAT END.
NOW, ARE WE WORKING ON IT SUCH AGREEMENT? UH, WE'VE INQUIRED ABOUT AN AGREEMENT TO THAT END AND WE HAVE NOT
[00:25:01]
RECEIVED ANY FEEDBACK FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AS FAR AS THEIR WILLINGNESS OR APPETITE, UH, TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT LIKE THAT WITH US.AND AND YOU DID SAY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WAS IN THE PROCESS WHEN WE RELOCATING THE RESIDENCE, THAT IS PART OF THEIR LONG-TERM PLAN FOR REDEVELOPING TRENT COURT.
DO THEY HAVE TIME, UH, SET ON THAT? NO, SIR.
AND EVEN IF THEY DID, I WOULD HESITATE TO COMMENT ON THAT AS I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IT.
YOU BASICALLY ASKED, I'M JUST TRYING TO SEE IF WE HAVE ABUNDANCE OF HOUSES, WOULD THEY BE MM-HMM
SO WHY WOULD WE SAY IF WE BE A 10 HOUSES, WHAT WOULD BE THE, UH, STATUS OF THOSE 10 HOUSES? I'M HAPPY.
PUT 'EM ON A FAIR MARKET OR HOW GOING TO PROFIT WE BUYING? YEAH.
WE, WE, WE CROSSED THAT BRIDGE, UH, WITH THE, UH, WITH, WITH THE OPEN MARKET.
UH, PREVIOUSLY WE'RE, AS A COMMISSION, AS A PUBLIC BODY, WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO SELL ON THE OPEN MARKET.
UH, THE CITY CAN SELL ON, ON THE OPEN MARKET.
AM I CORRECT? I'M NOT CORRECT.
REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONS AND CITIES ARE CREATURES OF STATUTE.
SO WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO SELL PUBLIC PROPERTY, WHICH REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION HOUSING WOULD BE PUBLIC PROPERTY, WE HAVE THESE, ONE OF THOSE MECHANISMS THAT ARE OUTLINED ON YOUR CHART.
SO, UPSET, BID, SEAL BID, UM, THERE IS A PROCESS TO DO A DIRECT SALE TO AN ENTITY CARRYING OUT A PUBLIC PURPOSE.
BUT WHEN WE'RE SAYING OPEN MARKET, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A SALE, A NEGOTIATED SALE BETWEEN A REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND A PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL WITHOUT A COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS, THAT IS NOT PERMITTED.
I APPRECIATE, THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
IS IT NOT ONE OF THE PRIORITIES OF THE COMMISSION TO MAKE, UM, CITIZENS, EXCUSE ME, HOMEOWNERS HOME OWNERSHIP IS, IS STILL CURRENTLY A MAJOR, UH, A MAJOR PRIORITY, UH, FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION? UH, SO WHAT ARE WE DOING TO LEAD UP TO MAKING SOME OF THE CITIZENS, HOMEOWNERS BACK IN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA? ABSOLUTELY.
UH, I THINK THE PROJECT BACK ON BLOOMFIELD STREET, UH, POINTS DIRECTLY TO HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY WHEREIN WE WERE ABLE TO DISPOSE OF THE LAND TO A DEVELOPER WHO WOULD DEVELOP WITH THIS, WITH RESTRICTIONS, UH, SO THAT HOMEOWNER OPPORTUNITIES WOULD BE MADE OPEN ON THE PUBLIC MARKET.
UH, SO WE'VE, WE'VE YET TO SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT.
UH, UNSHAKEABLE BUILDER HAS A GREAT TRACK RECORD FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN.
IN ADDITION, UH, UTILIZING CDBG FUNDS LIKE WE'VE DONE WITH NINE 11 UBANK, WHILE IT'S BEEN A ROCKY ROAD, THE END RESULT WILL BE HOME OWNERSHIP.
AND SO IT'S WORTH, IT IS WORTH REVISITING TO SEE WHAT FUTURE PROJECTS WE CAN DO, UH, TO THAT SAME END.
SO NOW THAT WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS ON THE BLOOMFIELD, UH, STREET PROPERTIES, WHAT'S GONNA BE OUR, OUR NEXT, UH, TARGET AS IT RELATES TO PROPERTIES BACK IN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA? WELL ULTIMATELY THAT, THAT, THAT LANDS, UH, THAT LANDS WITH YOU ALL AND THE GUIDANCE THAT YOU ALL, UH, THAT YOU ALL GIVE.
I THINK IT ALSO IS TIED INTO, UH, LAND ACQUISITION, WHICH WE NAMED IS ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES, UH, FOR, FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, AS WE GO INTO, AS WE GO INTO CLOSED SESSION AND WE DISCUSS THOSE POTENTIAL, UH, THOSE POTENTIAL ACQUISITIONS, UH, OPPORTUNITY WILL OPEN UP FOR US, UH, FOR US TO BE CREATED AS FAR AS WHAT PROJECTS WE GET INTO.
AND I ANTICIPATE, I, I ANTICIPATE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, WE'LL HAVE A NEW SLATE OF, OF, OF PROJECTS AND PROJECT TEAMS THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND MAKE SOME MORE PROGRESS ON THAT.
AND IT, IT, 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WITH THE WEST A STREET PROJECT.
WHY WAS SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE BOUNDARIES CLEAR AND UNDERSTOOD SO THAT A DEVELOPER COULD DEVELOP THAT FOR MORE OF A PRIVATE SALES SITUATION.
AND ANOTHER THING TOO, ROB, IS WITH US BEING BOARD MEMBERS, I KNOW, I KNOW ZEV DOES A LOT, BUT YOU KNOW, WE ARE OUT THERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS MORE SOMETIMES AND SOME THINGS WE KNOW THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE, WE NEED TO BRING IT TO HIM.
AND THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS OUR IDEA.
WHY CAN'T WE APPROACH THIS? BECAUSE THE BOARD'S, THE BOARD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COMING UP WITH THE IDEAS.
AND THEN WE SELL IT TO A CONTRACTOR.
SO WE GONNA BE THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE HOUSING IS AVAILABLE.
THEN WE NEED TO GET BUSY AS A BOARD AND AS A COMMISSION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE USING SOME OF THIS PROPERTY THAT EXACTLY, YEAH.
THAT THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION HAS ACQUIRED SO THAT WE CAN GO AHEAD AND START SOME OF THESE PROJECTS AND THE PROJECT ON, UH,
[00:30:01]
THAT WE'RE DOING NOW THAT THE GENTLEMAN FROM GREENVILLE DOING, I MEAN, THAT'S THAT BLOOMFIELD, THAT'S BLOOMFIELD, THAT'S THE PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHERE WE HEADED.NOW I GOT ONE QUESTION THOUGH.
WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? THE GRANTS? DID WE MISS THE OPPORTUNITY DOING OUR WORK SESSION BACK IN JANUARY WHERE WE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE HAD MS. SHIELDS AT THAT MEETING? AND THE REASON I ASK, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, BOTH THOSE, THOSE, THE PRESENTERS WERE TALKING ABOUT GRANTS MM-HMM
AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT MONIES, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT SOME PROJECTS THAT, THAT LOOK GOOD.
UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER THE MONEY'S GONNA BE AVAILABLE AROUND HERE, BUT, UH, DID WE MISS THAT OPPORTUNITY? SHOULD WE HAD INVITED HER TO THAT? WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR THOUGHTS? UM, I THINK I'LL, I'LL I'LL TAKE A DIFFERENT TACT IN ANSWERING IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU.
I DO KNOW THAT MS. SHIELDS, UH, PERSONALLY REVIEWS ALL OF OUR MEETINGS.
AND SO SHE DID GET THE INFORMATION THAT YOU ALL GOT AND SHE AND I ARE OKAY.
AND BETH ARE, I MEAN, MADAM CHAIR ARE, ARE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION.
SO WE, WE REALLY ARE WORKING HARD TO UNRAVEL THE WAY THAT WE CAN GO AHEAD AND UNLOCK SOME OF THESE FUNDING POSITION.
AND I THINK, I THINK THAT THE KEY IS LIKE WHAT, UM, ZEP SAID EARLIER IS FINDING THE, THE METHODOLOGY FOR THE GRANTS TO MOVE FORWARD THE, THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE CAN'T WORK, WE CAN'T BE AN ENTITY OURSELVES.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO WORK ON THAT.
WHAT ARE WE DOING TO PRE-QUALIFY ANYONE THAT MAY BE WANTING TO BECOME A HOMEOWNER? ARE WE DOING ANYTHING? DO WE HAVE A PERSON TO PREQUALIFY THAT PERSON THROUGH THE BANK? NO.
SO WE HAVE, WE HAVE, UH, FINANCIAL PARTNERS THAT WE CAN MAKE REFERRALS TO, BUT THERE IS NO ONE ON CITY STAFF, INCLUDING MYSELF, QUALIFIED TO PRE-QUALIFY INDIVIDUALS.
JACKSONVILLE DOES HAVE, UH, A PROGRAM WHERE THEY, UH, WHERE THEY DO FINANCIAL LITERACY AND I'VE REFERRED, UH, SEVERAL RESIDENTS, UH, TO THE JACKSONVILLE, UH, EDUCATION CLASSES, UH, SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY'RE ONLINE AND YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR THEM AND ATTEND VIA ZOOM.
UH, SO A COUPLE OF PEOPLE HAVE GONE, HAVE GONE THAT ROUTE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING LOCALLY THAT WE, THAT WE CAN DO IN-HOUSE.
WOULD IT BE
AND IF, UH, THE COMM THE COMMISSION FOUND THAT, UM, SOMETHING WORTHWHILE TO INVEST IN, I COULD CERTAINLY INVESTIGATE WHAT, WHAT THAT WOULD TAKE.
IF, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'D LIKE, I WOULD REMIND THE COMMISSION HOWEVER, UH, THAT, THAT, THAT IS A JOB OR TWO IN AND OF ITSELF.
AND YOU ALL HAVE ONLY ONE STAFF MEMBER.
THAT, THAT'S SOUNDS LIKE A DEDICATED AND WHEN WE WERE AT OUR RETREAT, SHE MADE THAT CLEAR YES.
THAT IT WAS A DEDICATED STAFF MEMBER THAT DID, WAS REQUIRED TO DO THAT.
I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO TAKE, LIKE, USE THAT RESOURCE LIKE SHE OFFERED IT TO US AND YOU SENT FOLKS TO IT.
I FEEL LIKE THAT'S A GOOD OPTION.
AND LISTEN UNTIL WE GROW, SO ABSOLUTELY.
UH, IF YOU REMEMBER, SHE HAS ZERO, UH, HOMEOWNERS THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, RE REPOSSESSED, SO THAT IS GREAT.
MADAM CHAIR STAFF REPORT WITH LOTS OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
WE APPRECIATE YOU GOING THROUGH THOSE.
THAT'S NOT BEING IN MY STAFF REPORT.
UH, THE NEW CDBG ANNUAL APPLICATION IS DUE THIS FRIDAY.
UH, SO I'M ASKING YOU ALL TO PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR INBOXES AS I'LL BE SENDING THE APPLICATION OUT TO YOU BEFORE IT GOES TO, UH, CITY STAFF FOR, UH, FOR A REVIEW.
UM, SO THAT WE CAN BE INCLUDED IN THAT CONVERSATION.
THAT'S JUST AN ANNOUNCEMENT MORE THAN THE REPORT.
WELL YOU DID MENTION, UM, THAT WE, WE DO NEED TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TONIGHT TO DISCUSS THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY.
[10. Closed Session]
THIS POINT IN TIME, WE'LL ASK OUR AUDIENCE TO LEAVE AND WE WILL, YOU NEED A MOTION FIRST? ACTUALLY YOU'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION.I SAW THE, THE ATTORNEY LOOKING AT ME MA'AM.
SHE'S LIKE, OH, YOU DID
AND THAT MOTION WILL BE PURSUANT TO NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL STATUTE 1 43 1 3 18 11 A FIVE TO DISCUSS THE POTENTIAL ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY.
DOES ANYBODY WANNA MAKE THAT MOTION? I MOVE SECOND.
A MOTION AND A SECOND TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION AS THE ATTORNEY SAID FOR STATUTE.
ALL OPPOSED? OKAY, WE WILL GO MOVE TO CLOSED SESSION AND NOW WE'LL DISMISS EVERYBODY AND
[00:35:01]
TURN OFF THE, UH, TECHNOLOGY.ADAM CHAIR, WE ARE BACK IN OPEN SESSION.
AND WE HAVE NO OTHER BUSINESS TONIGHT, SO MAY I GET A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT? SO MOVED.
ALL IN FAVOR OF ADJOURNING, SAY AYE.
ALL OPPOSED, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR, UH, ATTENTION TONIGHT.