[00:00:01]
[1. Roll Call]
I GUESS IT IS SIX O'CLOCK.IT IS TIME TO CALL TO ORDER THIS REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
CAN I HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? YOU MAY.
AND, UH, STEVE STRICKLAND HERE.
[2. Consider approving the Agenda]
ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS TO CONSIDER PROVING THE AGENDA.UM, THANK YOU MR. HUFF FOR GETTING IT OUT TO US ALL SO WE COULD SEE WHAT WAS ON THE AGENDA.
CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE IT? I MAKE A MOTION THAT THE AGENDA BE APPROVED.
UM, APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S EXPEDIENCY THERE.
[3. Consider approval of Minutes: - July 9, 2025]
ON THE AGENDA IS TO CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM JULY 9TH.YOU SHOULD HAVE HAD TIME TO READ THROUGH THOSE.
UM, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THOSE? ANYTHING THAT NEEDS ATTENTION OR CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE MINUTES? I MAKE A MOTION TO, WE APPROVE THE MINUTES AS SUBMITTED.
HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND AND NO ONE HAS ANY COMMENTS.
AND THE MINUTES FROM JULY 9TH ARE ALSO APPROVED.
[4. Mission Statement]
AND LOOK, WE HAVE IT ON OUR SCREEN TONIGHT.ISN'T THAT, I MEAN, I JUST NOTICED THAT WHEN I LOOKED UP.
ALRIGHT, I'M GONNA READ OUR MISSION STATEMENT AND THEN WE WILL READ OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES TOGETHER.
THE NEW BERN REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION IS 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.
I'M GONNA START WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER PROCTOR.
ON THE FIRST ONE, PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE EQUAL TIME.
RESPECT OTHERS' OPINIONS, LISTEN TO BUILD CONSENSUS, SHARE ACCURATE INFORMATION, PUBLIC PERCEPTION, STAY FOCUSED, BE ACTION ORIENTED.
BELIEVE
UM, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE HAVE TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT.
IS THAT CORRECT? I SEE TWO PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE, BUT
WELL THEN WE WILL GO ON TO, AS YOUR PACKET HAS, WE'LL GO DO THE OLD BUSINESS FIRST AND THEN THE NEW BUSINESS.
[6.a. Consider a resolution accepting a sealed bid for the purchase of 911 Eubanks Street]
FIRST ITEM IS TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING A SEALED BID FOR THE PURCHASE OF NINE 11 U BANK STREET.AND AS WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION, COMMISSIONER PROCTOR MM-HMM
YOU AND COMMISSIONER BRYANT? YES.
SO I AM VERY HAPPY TO HAVE THIS IN FRONT OF US.
WE RECEIVED A BID FOR THE HOUSE AT NINE 11.
UM, IS IT, IS IT THE ONLY BID WE RECEIVED? THAT'S CORRECT.
AND THE BID WAS FROM THE LUBBOCK FAMILY FOR $60,000.
AND AS IT'S QUALIFIED, UM, IT'S UP TO US NOW TO ACCEPT THAT AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT HOUSE BEING OCCUPIED BY A FAMILY.
WE'VE LEARNED A LOT ON THIS PROJECT.
LORD, HAVE WE, WE HAVE
NOT THE, THE DOCUMENTATION, UM, THE OFFER TO PURCHASE THE CHECK THE LETTER, ALL THE QUALIFICATIONS WERE IN THERE.
SO THE, UH, THE ORIGINAL PACKET WAS SENT OUT ON THE DAY THAT THE BIDDING CLOSED.
AND SO WE DIDN'T HAVE THE INFORMATION, UH, SO
[00:05:01]
THAT WE COULD PRODUCE THE AMENDMENT UNTIL AFTER, UH, AFTER THE BID CLOSED.SO THAT'S WHY THE AMENDMENT CAME LATE, BUT IT WAS ALL IN THE AMENDMENT.
UH, SO DOES, UH, DOES THE COMMISSION HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BID, ABOUT THE PROCESS? ANYTHING AT ALL? WHAT WAS THE, REMIND ME WHAT THE APPRAISAL ON THE, THE HOUSE WAS.
SO THE APPRAISAL ON THE HOUSE WAS $137,000.
AND SO, UH, THE WAY, THE WAY THAT THE LIEN AND MORTGAGE WILL BE STRUCTURED, UH, TO ENSURE OWNER OCCUPANCY WILL BE THE PRINCIPAL MORTGAGE WILL BE $60,000 SHOULD YOU ACCEPT THIS BID.
AND THEN A SECOND AND SILENT LIEN WILL BE PLACED ON, ON THE PROPERTY FOR SEVEN, UH, FOR THE DELTA BETWEEN THE MARKET RATE AND, UH, AND, AND THE BID.
SO THAT WILL STAY THERE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS WITHOUT CHANGING.
AND FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS, IT WILL DECREASE EVERY YEAR 5%.
AND FOR CLARITY, IF WE APPROVE THIS TONIGHT, DOES IT STILL HAVE TO GO BEFORE THE ALDERMAN OR READ THE FINAL SALE? THAT'S OKAY.
SO WE WILL, UH, WE WILL, UH, APPROVE THE RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE BID, AND THEN WE'LL SEND IT TO THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN AND PRESENT IT THERE SO THAT THEY CAN, UH, THEY CAN APPROVE THE SALE.
UH, THE SALE OF ANY REAL PROPERTY HAS TO BE APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN.
WILL THE CHAIR? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
WILL THE, UM, WILL THE, UH, WILL THE ALDERMAN SEE THIS? WILL THEY KIND OF PEEK BACK AT THIS AND LOOK AT, WOULD THEY SEE OUR TRANSCRIPT TO HEAR OUR SENTIMENTS IN REGARDS THIS? OR IT'S JUST A STRAIGHT DROP OVER? UH, I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO REACH OUT TO THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE AS WELL INFORMED ABOUT THE PROCESS.
AND I MEAN, I HAVE TALKED TO QUITE A FEW OF THEM, INCLUDING THE MAYOR AND THE CITY MANAGER TO KEEP THEM APPRISED OF THE PROCESS AS, AS WE'VE GONE ALONG.
JUST FOR THE RECORD, I WANTED TO SAY AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS PROCESS, WE ACTUALLY, WE ACTUALLY, THIS IS WHAT WE WANTED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THIS HOUSE, EVEN THOUGH WE PUT SO MUCH INTO IT, ACTUALLY GOT TO A FAMILY THAT WAS FROM THE COMMUNITY, WAS TRULY LOW INCOME.
MY UNDERSTANDING IN OUR CONVERSATIONS, I THINK ONE OF 'EM WHO WORKS IN THE SOCIAL SERVICES REALM, GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, THE OTHER ONE HAS A, HIS OWN BUSINESS FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, A BARBER MM-HMM
GIVING BACK TO HIS OWN, GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
UM, SO I KNOW IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE HARD FOR HIM, THE 60 TO THE 1 27, BUT, UM, THIS IS WHAT WE DID IT FOR.
SO IF THEY DO HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS TRANSCRIPT, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THIS IS RIGHT.
AND IT IS, AND LIKE I SAID, WE, OUR ORIGINAL PLAN FOR THE HOUSE WAS TO HAVE IT AS A TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, WHICH WAS NOT GONNA WORK.
AND THIS IS THE, A HIGHER, BETTER USE FOR THE PROPERTY.
SO I'M EXCITED WE FINALLY HAVE A BID FOR IT IN TWO SECOND SEAL BID TOO.
UM, SO JUST TO, I, I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THE ACTUAL SUBMISSION INCLUDES A REFERENCE TO THE ADDITIONAL LIEN MM-HMM
UM, THAT WAS MY, MY VERY FIRST QUESTION WHENEVER THIS CAME ABOUT WAS THAT I GUESS THE LEVEL OF DETAIL DISCUSSIONS WE'VE HAD WITH THE PERSON THAT, OF THAT LIEN AND THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF IT.
AND THEN BECAUSE THERE IS A PRESENTATION OF INCOME THAT'S ATTACHED TO IT, SHOULD THAT INCOME CHANGE OVER TIME, WILL THAT IMPACT HER IN THIS HOUSE? NO.
SO HUD IS ONLY CONCERNED WITH ING WITH THE, UH, THE HOUSEHOLD INCOME AT THE TIME OF, OF THE TRANSACTION.
ACTUALLY, THE HOPE OF PROGRAMS LIKE THIS AND, AND PROGRAMS THAT HUD PUTS ON IS ECONOMIC MOBILITY.
AND SO OUR HOPE IS BY HELPING, HELPING FAMILIES THIS WAY THAT THEY WON'T ALWAYS BE LOW, MODERATE, LOW TO MODERATE INCOME.
THIS WOULD BE A WEALTH MOBILITY, UH, TOOL FOR THEM.
AND THAT, UH, THAT WON'T BE THE REALITY FOR FOREVER FOR THEM.
JUST JUST WANTED TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT SINCE IT IS VERY CLOSE TO THE THRESHOLD.
RIDING BY THERE TODAY, THE CAR PARKING SITUATION IS QUESTIONABLE.
OR IS, DOES EVERYONE KNOW WHERE THAT PROPERTY LINE REALLY IS TO THE NEIGHBORS? I, I SHOULD SAY? YEAH.
SO THAT THEY DO NOT, UH, INFRINGE UPON MOVED? UH, YES.
SO THE, THE, THE QUESTION IN THE CONVERSATION HAS COME UP MULTIPLE TIMES.
I WILL SAY PERSONALLY, EVERY TIME I'VE GONE OVER TO THE NEIGHBOR AND, UH, RESPECTFULLY ASKED THEM TO MOVE THEIR CARS, THEY, THEY KNOW THE BOUNDARIES.
THEY HAVE NO PROBLEM, UH, MOVING THEIR CARS AND THEY KNOW THAT SOMEONE'S MOVING IN THERE SO THAT, AND THEY'RE PREPARED TO RESPECT THE, THE, THE BOUNDARY LINES.
SO, UM, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHEN THERE IS SPACE, PEOPLE WILL USE IT.
AND SO NOW THAT SPACE IS BEING USED DIFFERENTLY, UH, SHOULD THIS GO THROUGH, WE EXPECT DIFFERENT, UH, DIFFERENT
[00:10:01]
BEHAVIOR? OH, YES.WELL, I JUST, I JUST LOVE THAT WE ARE IN THE PLACE OF EXCEPTION OF THIS, UH, THE SEAL BID.
JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, WHEN THE CITY SELLS PROPERTY LIKE THIS, ASSUMING THE ALDERMAN APPROVE IT, WHAT DO, DO THE TAX RECORD SHOW 60 AS THE PURCHASE PRICE? OR DO THEY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE SECOND LIEN? JUST ON THE, YOU KNOW, YOU'LL SEE THE SALE PRICE.
SO THE CITY DOESN'T MAINTAIN THOSE RECORDS.
THE COUNTY TAX OFFICE WILL, OKAY.
SO IN THE GIS SYSTEM, UM, VERY OFTEN THE COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR WILL ASSOCIATE THE SALES PRICE, WHATEVER IT WAS.
THEY GENERALLY DO NOT ASSOCIATE ANY LIEN DOCUMENTS WITH JUST THE, THE PORTAL.
BUT ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ANY LIENS ATTACHED TO THE PROPERTY WOULD BE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DOCUMENTS.
QUESTIONS ANYMORE? IF THERE'S NO MORE QUESTIONS, CAN I GET A MOTION TO, UM, ACCEPT OR ACCEPT THE SEAL BID? SO SECOND.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND
SO SARAH, I HAD TO DO IT FOR YOU
SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
DO WE NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE FOR THIS OR JUST A YOU YOU CAN DO A ROLL CALL.
WOULD YOU HELP ME OUT WITH THAT? ABSOLUTELY.
WE HAVE A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THAT BID.
THAT IS, THAT MAKES ME VERY HAPPY.
[6.c. Consider a resolution accepting the offer to purchase 821 West Street.]
SO THE NEXT THING IS TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION EXCEPT IN THE OFFER TO PURCHASE 8 21 WEST STREET.IF YOU REMEMBER, WE HAD THE INFORMATION, UM, AND I MIGHT GET THE NAME WRONG, BUT FOR MR. ARENA, UM, HE PROVIDED HIS PROPOSED RESIDENCE PLAN AND WE INITIATED THE UPSET BID.
AND I BELIEVE NO OTHER BIDS WERE RECEIVED.
SO THIS IS THE RESOLUTION WE HAVE IN OUR PACKET IS TO SELL AT THE BID PRICE OF $6,375.
AND I BELIEVE WE, WE'VE LOOKED AT IT AND TALKED ABOUT IT A LOT, BUT IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO HEAR FROM THE COMMISSIONERS.
ANYONE? DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION, MR. MORGAN? OKAY.
YOU WERE LOOKING EXPECTABLE,
SO WE'RE PUTTING A RESTRICTION AND I SEE THAT HE SIGNED AND APPROVED THE RESTRICTIONS.
ONE OF 'EM IS THAT, UM, IT'S GOT A COMMENCE CONSTRUCTION WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF PURCHASE.
RE REMIND ME, UM, WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY DON'T? DOES IT REVERT OR 'CAUSE 'CAUSE THEY'D BE IN BREACH OF THAT RESTRICTION.
BUT WHAT'S THE CONSEQUENCE IN THE PAST, IF WE'VE GOTTEN CLOSE TO THAT REVERSION? UH, THERE'S ALWAYS AN OPTION TO, TO MODIFY THE AGREEMENT.
UM, BUT IF THE PERSON FAILS TO ABIDE BY THE, THE RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS, THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION HAS ALL REMEDIES AT LAW TO ENFORCE THE COVENANTS.
CAN I GET A MOTION, UM, TO ACCEPT THIS OFFER TO PURCHASE 8 21 WEST STREET? SO MOVED.
AND, AND THE MOTION SHOULD BE TO APPROVE, TO ACCEPT THE BID, UH, THE FINAL BID FOR 8 21 WEST STREET.
I THINK THAT WAS, WAS THAT THE MOTION WAS BROUGHT? YES, THAT WAS THE IS THAT YOUR SECOND MR. MORGAN? IT IS.
SO I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND AND WE'VE, UM, HAD A CHANCE TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS.
DO, UM, DO WE NEED A ROLL CALL, BUT VOTE FOR THAT RESOLUTION? YOU CAN IF YOU'D LIKE, BUT YOU WHY NOT? SOUNDS GOOD.
YOU GOT IT? I WOULD LIKE THAT.
TWO GOOD ITEMS OF OLD BUSINESS, UM, RESOLVED.
[7.a. 2025/26 Officer Elections]
IS THE 20 25 26 OFFICER ELECTIONS FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.AND IN OUR LAST MEETING, OUR EXECUTIVE
[00:15:01]
DIRECTOR ASKED FOR, UM, NOMINATIONS FOR BOTH CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.AND I BELIEVE EVERYBODY, UM, PROVIDED THOSE TO YOU.
SO I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO YOU NOW.
UM, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF COMMISSION, SEVERAL NOMINATIONS, UH, WERE PRESENTED, UH, THOSE NOMINATIONS.
EACH OF THOSE NOMINATIONS WERE PRESENTED TO THE CANDIDATES NOMINATED.
AND, UH, OF THOSE ON YOUR BALLOT TONIGHT, UM, JULIUS PARHAM HAS ACCEPTED THE NOMINATION FOR CHAIR, AND THAT IS UNCONTESTED AND TABARI WALLACE HAS, UH, ACCEPTED THE NOMINATION FOR VICE CHAIR AND THAT IS UNCONTESTED.
YOU WILL NOTE ON YOUR BALLOT THAT THERE IS A PLACE FOR YOU TO WRITE IN THINGS SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO DO SO FROM THE FLOOR.
UH, UH, AT THIS TIME, I WOULD ASK FOR YOU TO MAKE YOUR PUBLIC, UH, MAKE OUT YOUR PUBLIC BALLOT AND SIGN IT AND I WILL COLLECT IT AND, UH, INFORM YOU OF WHO YOUR NEW CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR ARE.
AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, UM, MR. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EXPLAINED THAT THESE ARE PUBLIC BALLOTS.
SO THESE BALLOTS WILL BE RETAINED IN THE RECORD.
UM, SO ANY NOTATIONS THAT YOU MAKE ON THE BALLOT WILL BE RETAINED IN THE PUBLIC RECORD.
AND JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOU EXCLUDE YOUR NAME.
THEY'RE BOTH EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT, AND CAPABLE CANDIDATES.
WE OVER NEXT THREE MONTHS,
MADAM CHAIR, YOU HAVE NO WRITE-INS.
UH, THE ELECTION IS UNANIMOUS.
THE CHAIR FOR THE 2026 FISCAL YEAR WILL BE JULIUS PARHAM AND THE VICE CHAIR FOR THE 2026 FISCAL YEAR WILL BE TABARI WALLACE.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES OUR NEW BUSINESS.
[8. Staff Report]
ITEM IS BACK TO YOU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE STAFF REPORT.OVER THE PAST MONTH, OUR WORK HAS CONTINUED TO, UH, TO ADVANCE IN STEADY MEANINGFUL WAYS.
UH, THE FINANCIAL REPORT INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET REMAINS LARGELY UNCHANGED FROM LAST MONTH.
OUR GENERAL FUND BALANCE CURRENTLY STANDS AT $850,330 AND 41 CENTS.
UH, THE GOVERNING BOARD HAS PACKED, UH, THE TEXT AMENDMENT RECOMMENDATION MADE BY THIS COMMISSION, WHICH ALLOWS THE RELAXED SETBACKS AND DIMENSIONS TO APPLY TO RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE OF SPECIFIC OVERLAYS IN THE REDEVELOPMENT, UH, DISTRICT.
UH, THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP IN CREATING MORE FLEXIBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS WITHIN OUR DISTRICT.
SO, UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT BEFORE I GO ON, UH, TO THE NEXT SMALL ITEM, I, I'D ENTERTAIN THOSE, BUT IT'S PRETTY MUNDANE.
OUR TAX AMENDMENT GOT PASSED AND OUR, OUR BUDGET IS ON TARGET.
UH, SO, UH, AN ISSUE HAS BEEN, UH, NEXT.
AN ISSUE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED REGARDING THE MINUTES, UH, FROM OUR MAY 14TH MEETING WHERE WE DID NOT HAVE A QUORUM IN THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
MINUTES ARE NOT PERMITTED AS OFFICIAL MINUTES MUST REPORT ON COMMISSION ACTION AND NO ACTION IS AUTHORIZED WITHOUT A QUORUM.
SO LAST MONTH I PRESENTED MINUTES FROM I, I PRESENTED A DOCUMENTED, UH, A DOCUMENT LABELED MINUTES FROM THAT MEETING, WHICH WERE CONSIDERED AND APPROVED BY THIS BODY.
UH, AS THIS WAS AN AIR AN ERROR, I'M ASKING THE COMMISSION TO RECTIFY THE RECORD BY MAKING A MOTION TO REVISE THE PREVIOUSLY CIRCULATED DOCUMENT TO STRIKE OUT ANY REFERENCE TO MINUTES AND INCLUDE IN THE RECORD A DOCUMENT FROM MY OFFICE LABELED A STATEMENT, UH, OF THE GATHERING.
MADAM CHAIR, WOULD YOU ENTERTAIN, UH, THAT MOTION FOR ME? ABSOLUTELY.
DID EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND? MM-HMM
SO I NEED A MOTION TO, UM, CHANGE THOSE FROM MINUTES TO A STATEMENT.
I WILL MOVE FOR THE DOCUMENTS I'LL MOVE TO CHANGE THE FIVE 14 DOCUMENT TO BE LABELED THAT STATEMENT FURTHER THAN THAT.
IS THAT SECOND? IT'S PRETTY CLOSE.
[00:20:01]
GOOD? SO, SO WHAT STAFF IS ASKING FOR IS TWOFOLD.ONE, TO STRIKE ANY REFERENCE TO MINUTES IN THE PREVIOUSLY CIRCULATED DOCUMENT AND TO HAVE STAFF ADD A STATEMENT TO THE RECORD, CHRONICLING WHAT HAPPENED AT THE GATHERING.
IS THAT YOUR MOTION MOVED? YES.
UM, IF THERE'S NO MORE QUESTIONS, CAN I SAY ALL IN FAVOR OF YES, EXCEPT IN THAT MOTION, SAY AYE.
AND ALL OPPOSED? AND THAT MOTION CARRIES AS WELL.
AND THAT WILL BE CHANGED TO A STATEMENT.
UH, LAST, I JUST WANT TO, ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE CITY OF NEW BERN, I WANT TO EXTEND OUR GREEK, UH, OUR DEEP GRATITUDE TO BETH WALKER AND KIM PARAGUAY FOR THEIR NEARLY EIGHT YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THIS COMMISSION.
UM, PAGE TURN,
THEY ENGAGED OUR COMMUNITY TO LISTEN.
THEY PARTNERED WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO PLAN AND HAVE IN, HAVE BEEN INTEGRAL PARTS OF THE SUCCESS OF OUR PROJECTS.
BOTH, UH, BETH AND KIPP HAVE HAVE SERVED AS CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR OFFERING STEADY GUIDANCE AND COMMITMENT.
YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE SHAPED THE WORK AND LEGACY OF THIS COMMISSION.
AND WHILE YOUR TERMS ARE CONCLUDED, THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN WILL SOON BEGIN REVIEWING APPLICATIONS FOR YOUR SEATS.
SO WE KNOW THAT YOU WILL, UH, BE THERE IF WE CALL ON YOU IN THE MEANTIME.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR THAT, BETH AND KIPP, YOUR DEDICATION IS DEEPLY APPRECIATED.
AND TONIGHT WE SAY A HEARTFELT THANK YOU.
THAT CONCLUDES MY STAFF REPORT, UNLESS THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS? AND I DO NOT BELIEVE WE HAVE A NEED TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TONIGHT, WHICH IS OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
SO CAN I GET A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT? NOPE.
THIS COMES FROM THE, UH, SORRY.
BUT, UH, UH, AS A, UH,
AND HE PROBABLY HAD THE BEST OFFSITE MEETING SPOT THAT I THINK WE'VE HAD OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS.
SO, BUT I CONSIDER MY, I REALLY CONSIDER YOUR FRIEND KI AND WITH THAT LET'S NOT GO GOODBYE TO SEE, ALRIGHT, MY FRIEND FROM EIGHT YEARS, I THINK WE TYPE DOWN BRO, STILL NEED YOUR HELP AT THAT HOUSE, BUT WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT OFFLINE.
UM, ALSO, BETH, MY, MY PARTNER RIGHT HERE, Y'ALL DO NOT KNOW THE WHISPERS AND THE CONVERSATION HAVING BACK AND FORTH.
WE SITTING HERE DOING THIS, BUT, UM, I THINK WE GOT REAL CLOSE.
Y'ALL DON'T KNOW THIS, BUT, UH, WE LEFT THERE ONE DAY AND, UH, THERE'S ONE GOOD THING ABOUT BEV.
SHE ALWAYS ANSWERED THE PHONE.
AND THAT'S THE THING THAT'S LOST IN THIS INTERNET AGE, IS ANSWERING THE PHONE.
BETH ALWAYS ANSWERED THE PHONE, BUT ONE NIGHT SHE GOT LOCKED AND SHE LEFT HER KEYS IN HERE AND CERTAIN PEOPLE WASN'T ANSWERING THEIR PHONE.
SO WE WAS WALKING AROUND AND DRIVING AROUND THE CITY TRYING TO GET HER IN THE HOUSE.
SO WE, WE DID, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, YOU ALWAYS HANDLE THINGS WITH TACK AND CARE, THE LOVE FOR YOUR FELLOW COMMISSION, BUT COMMISSIONERS WAS ALWAYS THERE.
AND SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER, NO MATTER WHAT YOU, YOU WERE PRESENTED WITH ON THIS PARTICULAR PANEL, YOU HANDLED IT WITH GRACE, THANK YOU.
AND I JUST HOPE AND EMPATHY AND I HOPE ME AND MR. FARHAM CAN TAKE A PAGE OUTTA YOUR, OUTTA YOUR BOOK AND BE ABLE TO LEAD KIND OF IN THAT STEAD.
BUT WE WANTED TO SAY YOU ARE THE PERFECT ILLUSTRATION OF SELFNESS AND WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT YEARS YOU PROVIDED TO THE CITY.
NO, AND YOU KNOW, I DO, I WANNA SAY THAT THAT IS THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION IS WE HAVE ALL WORKED AND ATTENDED THINGS OUTSIDE OF THIS BOARDROOM, WHEREVER IT WAS AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
UM, AND THAT IS WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THIS KIND OF WORK DONE, IS TO WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM AND ACKNOWLEDGE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE GO THROUGH OUR, UM, OUR, WHAT DO THEY CALL IT? OUR MISSION STATEMENT AND OUR, OUR GOALS.
BUT I THINK WE DO THAT TO REMIND OURSELVES EACH TIME THAT WE REALLY DO NEED TO RESPECT EACH OTHER, TO LISTEN TO OTHERS' PERCEPTION AND, AND APPRECIATE THAT EVERYONE THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH.
AND THERE ARE THREE COMMISSIONERS STILL ON THIS BOARD THAT STARTED THE DAY I DID
[00:25:01]
AND THEY ARE STILL HERE.SO I KNOW Y'ALL ARE CAPABLE OF GETTING, KEEP DOING THE WORK AND TONIGHT IS SUCH A POSITIVE ONE TO SEE TWO PROJECTS THAT WE'VE HAD FOR A WHILE.
ON THE BOOKS FINALLY COME TO CLOSER.
WELL, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT MY LITTLE SHORT TERM OF BEING UP HERE ON THIS BOARD, I HAVE TRULY ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU AND KIM.
SO THANK YOU FOR ENCOURAGING ME TO BE STILL UP HERE.
MADAM CHAIR, WHILE YOU ARE STILL CHAIR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT AND YOUR LEADERSHIP.
YOU HAVE TRULY BEEN A MASTER OF DIFFERENT EMOTIONS AND YOU HAVE DEALT WITH A LOT OF OUR EMOTIONS AT DIFFERENT TIMES, WHETHER IT BE AN OPEN OR CLOSED SESSION, YOU HAVE ALWAYS HANDLED YOURSELF WITH GRACE AND PROFESSIONALISM.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.
WE WILL NEVER KNOW THE TIRELESS HOURS THAT YOU HAVE PUT IN BEHIND THE SCENES AND THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE, THE TIME THAT YOU HAVE SPENT AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY, THAT YOU HAVE SPENT SERVING THIS COMMISSION AND KEPT, I'VE PROBABLY KNOWN YOU LONGER THAN ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM, DON'T SCARE YOU AWAY.
WE GO BACK TO, TO THE SEVENTIES TO WHERE YOU GAVE TIRELESSLY TO SOME YOUNG PEOPLE AND YOU OPENED YOUR FAMILY, YOU OPENED YOUR HEART AND YOU OPENED YOURSELF.
AND YOU HAVE NEVER WAVERED FROM ANY OF THAT.
AND I WANTED TO TELL YOU BOTH.
THIS IS A, THIS IS A GOOD TEAM.
AND THE WORK WE DO IS NOT ALWAYS EASY AND NOT ALWAYS FUN, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT.
SO I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S KIND WORDS AND I, I, YOU KNOW, I'VE, I'VE TOLD OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, I STILL SUPPORT THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO, YOU KNOW, IF I'M NOT SITTING HERE AS THE CHAIR.
AND I'M HOPING, AND I'M HOPING THAT THE, UH, BOARD OF AUBURN REALIZE THAT THERE WAS NO TERM LIMITS AND THESE TWO MEMBERS HERE WILL BE, UH, HOR WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A CLAUSE IN THE, IN THE THING THAT SAYS THAT THEY CAN COME BACK THE NEXT DAY.
SO WE JUST HAVE TO GO AHEAD AND PHONE BACK IN NOW.
CAN I, CAN I GET, I NEED SOME YOU TO COME UP FOR AIR HERE.
CAN I GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED.