[1. Roll Call]
[00:00:03]
GOOD EVENING.I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING OF OCTOBER THE EIGHTH, 2025.
AND IF WE OPEN UP BY A ROLL CALL BY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
[2. Consider approving the agenda]
UH, SECOND ITEM, UH, IS TO APPROVE.CONSIDER APPROVING THE AGENDA.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THAT? SO MOVED.
[3. Consider approval of Minutes: - September 10, 2025]
NUMBER THREE.I LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ACCEPT THAT.
I'LL MOVE TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES.
SECOND, IF IT MOVING, BEEN MOVING PROPERLY.
SECOND THAT THE MINUTES FOR SEPTEMBER THE 10TH, 2025 BE APPROVED.
BISHOP, BEFORE WE GO EVEN FARTHER, UH, THIS PAST MONTH, UH, WE WERE, UH, WE LOST TWO MEMBERS, UH, I SHOULDN'T SAY LOST, BUT THEIR TIME WAS UP.
UH, THEY RETIRED AND I WAS BILL WALKER
AND WE JUST WENT THANK IN FOR THE SERVICE.
AND THIS EVENING WE HAVE, UH, ONE NEW MEMBER HERE, REGGIE JONES, WHO'S BEEN APPOINTED TO THIS BOARD.
AND THE OTHER MEMBER WAS, UH, CURTIS STEWART, WHO LET US KNOW YESTERDAY THAT HE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MAKE A DECISION.
I KNOW SOMETIMES PEOPLE SAY COMMISSIONER, BUT USE, I JUST CALL PEOPLE BY NAME.
YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THAT? I'M FINE.
[4. Mission Statement]
UH, MISSION STATEMENT, THE NEWBURY VIEW DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION LEADING IN THE WAY OF COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION AND IMPROVING BY DIRECTLY ADDRESSING COMMUNITY NEEDS IN THE VITAL AREA OF PUBLIC HEALTH, INFRASTRUCTURE, HOUSING, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.THE COMMISSION IS COMMITTED TO AN ACCOUNTABLE, TRANSPARENT, AND PUBLIC DRIVEN PROCESS.
CORE VALUES START WITH PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE, EQUAL TIME, RESPECT OTHERS' OPINION, LISTEN TO BUILD CONSENSUS, SHARE ACCURATE INFORMATION, PUBLIC PERCEPTION.
THEY FOCUS, BE ACTION ORIENTED.
THIS TIME THE FLOOR IS OPEN FOR ANY PUBLIC COMMENT OR INPUT.
ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC LIKE THE BOARD TO SPEAK TO ANY.
[6.a. Update from Project Teams i. West A Street (E Street Closure) ii. 911 Eubanks Street (Closing Report)]
NUMBER SIX, ALL BUSINESS.UH, FIRST ITEM IS UPDATE FROM PROJECT TENS WEST STREET.
YOU WANT WEST STREET FIRST? YES.
UH, LARGELY UNCHANGED FROM, UH, OUR LAST, UH, FROM OUR LAST MEETING, WE, UH, WILL NEED TO RE-NOTICE.
UH, AND PERHAPS, UH, DO YOU, WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPLAIN THE, THE LEGALITY OF OUR PROCESS? SURE.
SO, GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, UM, IN ORDER TO CLOSE A PUBLIC STREET, THERE ARE SOME PARTICULARS THAT NEED TO BE SATISFIED IN THE WAY OF NOTICE, AND THOSE REQUIREMENTS ARE VERY, VERY SPECIFIC.
WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS DONE DECENTLY AND IN ORDER.
SO WE'RE GOING TO RE-NOTICE, UM, THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE CLOSURE OF WEST A STREET.
WE ARE GOING TO ENSURE THAT ALL THE NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR JOINT PROPERTY OWNERS ARE SATISFIED THAT WAY AS WE PROGRESS LATER IN THE YEAR TOWARDS THE PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH I THINK IS GONNA BE THE FIRST MEETING IN NOVEMBER, I'M NOT MISTAKEN, MR. HUFF, ALL THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND COMMENT AND, UM, THE BOARD CAN TAKE ACTION AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME KNOWING THAT ALL THE LEGALITIES IN PARTICULARS HAVE BEEN SATISFIED ONCE THE, ONCE THE GOVERNING BOARD APPROVES, UH, UH, APPROVES THE CLOSURE OF E STREET, WHICH IS AN ABANDONED RIGHT AWAY.
THERE IS NO ACTUAL STREET THERE, JUST, UH, FOR CLARITY, UM, THAT THAT PROJECT WILL COME BACK BEFORE THIS COMMISSION SO THAT WE CAN COMPLETE THE SURVEY AND HOPEFULLY MOVE, UH, THAT PARCEL TO THE SELLABLE LIST SO THAT IT'LL BE A RECOMBINED PARCEL, UH, AVAILABLE TO, TO DISPOSE OF.
SO NOW IF YOU WOULD, CAN YOU GOTTA GIVE AN UPDATE ON, UH, IT WAS FOR THE THREE LOTS.
WHAT WAS THE EIGHTH STREET? THE EIGHTH STREET
[00:05:01]
WAS, YES, THREE LOTS.THAT, THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE ONE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, RIGHT? RIGHT.
I'M SAYING, BUT THREES THE ONLY REASON I SAID IT.
SO THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER REGGIE WILL HEAR THE UPDATE ON THE THREE LOCKS AND WHY WE DID WHAT WE DID.
SO FROM THE BEGINNING, FROM FROM THE INCEPTION OF THE PROJECT ON WEST STAGE STREET, WE ACQUIRED FROM THE COUNTY, UH, THREE PARCELS THAT WE'VE WORKED FOR THE LAST 18 MONTHS TO RECOMBINE, I THINK IT WAS ONE PARCEL, AND THEN TWO OTHER PARCELS WERE DONATED.
TO THE COMMISSION, IF I'M NOT SURE.
SO ONE CAME FROM THE COUNTY, CORRECT.
UH, WE DEMOLISHED TWO HOMES, UH, ON, ON THE PARCELS AND HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH A SURVEYOR TO GET THE, THE PARCEL, UH, NUMBER ONE WITH A, WITH A CLEAN TITLE AND ABLE TO BE DEVELOPED UPON.
SO THAT'S THE E STREET CLOSURE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THE, THE REASON WHY E STREET IS IN PLAY IS BECAUSE THERE IS AN OLD PLATTED STREET THAT GOES THROUGH PART OF THE PARCEL.
IT WAS NEVER BUILT OUT, BUT IT'S ON THE, THE MAP FOR STREETS.
AND WITHOUT THE CLOSURE OF THAT STREET, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR AN INVESTOR OR ANYBODY WHO'S INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING THE PROPERTY TO GET GOOD CLEAN TITLE.
AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IF WE'RE PUT, PUTTING THIS PROPERTY ON THE MARKET, THAT THE PERSON CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR PLANS AS INTENDED.
SO WE, WE'VE DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BUTTON UP THAT LAST DETAIL AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT HAPPENING IN THE FIRST MEETING IN FEBRUARY FOR THE BOARD OF LAW.
UH, MOVING ON, UH, TO NINE 11 EUBANKS.
UH, LAST MEETING WE TALKED ABOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE SALE, AND I'M HAPPY TO REPORT, UH, THAT THE, THE PROCESS TO GET THAT TO CLOSING HAS GONE VERY, VERY SMOOTHLY.
UH, I'LL BE MEETING A HOME INSPECTOR AND APPRAISAL AND AN APPRAISER OUT AT THE, UH, AT THE HOUSE TOMORROW.
UH, AND I BELIEVE THE ANTICIPATED CLOSE, UH, CLOSING IS LATER ON THIS MONTH.
SO, UH, VERY, VERY GOOD NEWS ON THAT FRONT.
AND I DO JUST WANT TO, UH, GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR ATTORNEY AND CDBG STAFF WHO STILL WORKING VERY, VERY DILIGENTLY IN THE BACKGROUND.
[7.b. Neighborhood News (Comm. Leander Morgan Jr.)]
NEW, NEW BUSINESS, MR. MARTIN.UH, AND TO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, GOOD EVENING.
UH, I HAVE ALWAYS SAID THAT AS THE SEASONS CHANGE, THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA ALONG WITH THE LANDSCAPE CHANGES ALSO, AND YOU CAN SAY THAT ABOUT ALL POINTS IN NEWBURN, BUT EVERYTHING HITS DIFFERENT IN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA AS IT RELATES TO MENTAL HEALTH, PHYSICAL HEALTH, ALONG WITH THE LANDSCAPE.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE NOT GONE THROUGH THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA RECENTLY, THERE WERE SOME THINGS THAT I THOUGHT THAT NEEDED TO BE BROUGHT TO THE BOARD SO THAT WE COULD MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY WAS UP TO DATE ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE AREA.
SO WE HAVE ENLISTED THE HELP, BUT I ENLISTED THE HELP FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MR. Z PUFF, ALSO FROM PUBLIC WORKS AND FROM PARKS AND RECS.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT THIS UPDATE.
TONIGHT'S REPORT WILL HIGHLIGHT THE CITY OF NEW BERN'S, ONGOING PUBLIC WORKS AND STAR BOARDING IN WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT ZONE, ALONG WITH UPDATES ON SEVERAL ACTIVE AND PLANNED PROJECTS THAT INTERSECT WITH OUR MISSION OF REVITALIZATION AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, THE STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
OVER THE PAST QUARTER, THE CITY HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN ADDRESSING STORM WATER CHALLENGES, ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE DUFFY FIELD BASIN WHERE FLOODING HAS LONG AFFECTED THE REDEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL.
THE DUFFY FIELD STORM WATER AND HAS BEEN PROJECT PHASES TWO AND THREE REMAINS ACTIVE.
THIS EFFORT EXPANDS DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE ALONG KEY STREETS, INCLUDING FGK, BLOOMFIELD, SAMSON, AND MURRAY STREETS.
IT IMPROVES THE FLOWING OF WATER, INCREASING CAPACITY AND REDUCING THE SURFACE FLOODING ACROSS THIS WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE PINE VERSUS PUMP STATION REHABILITATION SUPPORTED IN PART BY A RPA FUNDS.
AND COULD YOU EXPLAIN PLEASE, MR. HUB? OUR FUNDS WAS, WERE, WERE THE AMERICAN, UM, RECOVERY RESCUE.
THE, THE RECOVERY FUNDS FROM, UH, THE BOARD OF BALTIMORE.
[00:10:01]
WHILE OUTSIDE THE REDEVELOPMENT IES, THIS PROJECT IMPROVES DRAINAGE RELIABILITY ACROSS THE CONNECTED EASTERN BASINS AND ULTIMATELY SERVES THE DUFFY FIELD AREA.THE CITY HAS ALSO REAFFIRMED STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE AS A MAJOR COMPONENT OF UPCOMING BOND INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, PUBLIC WORKS IN ADDITION TO CAPITAL PROJECTS, PUBLIC WORK CREWS COMPLETED REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND UTILITY UPGRADES THROUGHOUT SEP SEPTEMBER, IF YOU WILL LOOK AT SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT THEY HAVE UNDERWAY.
THIS INCLUDES THE RENEWING OF AGING WATER AND SEWER LINES, INSTALLING NEW SERVICE CONNECTIONS AND PERFORMING REPAIRS ALONG CORRIDORS SUCH AS CONTINUE AVENUE AND W AVENUE, BOTH OF WHICH RUN THROUGH OR NEAR THE REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
ROUTINE DEBRIS AND SLUDGE REMOVAL ALSO CONTINUED ACROSS STORM WATER FACILITIES TO MAINTAIN SYSTEM CAPACITY AND PREVENT BACKUPS DURING HEAVY RAINFALL.
I HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN SOME OF THE GUYS COME OUT DURING STORMS AFTER STORMS TO ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY REMOVE AND CLEAR DRAINS THAT HAVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DEBRIS SUCH, UH, AS PINE STRAW AND THOSE SORT OF THINGS.
NOW THERE ARE SOME PROJECTS THAT ARE UNDERWAY IN THE REDEVELOPMENT ZONE.
SEVERAL SITE SPECIFIC PROJECTS ARE NOW ACTIVE IN THE PLANNING STAGES.
THE CORNER OF KAY AND BLOOMFIELD STREET, LOCATED IN THE HEART OF DUFFY FIELD.
THIS SITE ALIGNED WITH THE ONGOING STORM WATER IMPROVEMENTS.
IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THROUGH THERE, THERE ARE SEVERAL BRIDGES, SEVERAL WALKING TRAILS ALONG 1130 G STREET.
ALSO WITHIN THE DUCKY FIELD CORRIDOR.
THIS PROPERTY IS BEING REVIEWED FOR POTENTIAL INFIELD HOUSING IN COORDINATION WITH NEARBY INFRASTRUCTURE WORK.
THERE'S A DUPLEX BEING BUILT ON LINCOLN STREET, WHICH IS ON YOUR RIGHT NEAR TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE ON THE CORNER OF MAIN AND P STREET.
THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR TRANSITIONAL IN THE COMMERCIAL AREA.
THIS SITE HOLDS POTENTIAL FOR MIXED USE AND DEVELOPMENT, CONTENDED UPON THE INFRASTRUCTURE READINESS IN EVERGREEN CEMETERY.
THERE HAS BEEN A NEW STRUCTURE, WHILE IT'S NOT AN ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT TO DRAINAGE AND, UH, STABILIZATION IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE EVALUATED.
THERE'S ALSO A NEW CANOPY THAT HAS GONE UP IN THE CEMETERY AND THE CEMETERY IS BEING WELL, WELL KEPT AND WELL GROOMED AS IT HAD NOT BEEN IN THE PAST.
IN HENDERSON PARK SENT THROUGH THE CITY'S BRAZILIAN IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
HENDERSON PARK WILL INTEGRATE UPGRADED BATHROOMS THAT ARE NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND EXPANDED WALKING TRAIL, ALL DESIGNS WITH GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE TO IMPROVE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT.
NOW, FOWLERS LANE AND A NEW WALKING TRAIL, YOU CAN GO BACK TO WHERE WE SEE THE NEW WALKING TRAIL.
WELL, THAT ONE ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT HAND SIDE IS ONE OF THOSE TRAILS THAT FOLLOWS.
IT IS NO MORE A THOROUGHFARE, NO LONGER A THOROUGHFARE.
AND I HAVE VISITED WITH SOME OF THOSE RESIDENTS.
THEY WERE, UM, A LITTLE BIT UPSET BECAUSE SEVERAL OF THEM HAD NOT BEEN INSTRUCTED, NOT BY US POSTAL SERVICE, RIGHT.
OR THEY HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY FLYER TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE AS A COMMISSION, I THINK, NEED TO BE MORE OF A LIAISON.
THE ONLY WAY THAT WE'LL KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IS IF WE GET THE INFORMATION FROM PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND RECS, AND ANYBODY ELSE WHO'S DOING ANY WORK WITHIN THE REDEVELOPMENT ZONE.
WE NEED, AND WE MUST BE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
THERE'S ON EACH ROAD STREET, THERE'S SOME CONSIDERATION FOR RESURFACING.
EACH ROAD STREET WAS CLOSED UP FOR CLOSE TO NINE MONTHS, AND IT WAS ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE A FIVE MONTH PROJECT.
SO THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE AWARE OF SO THAT WE CAN KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA.
TOGETHER WITH THESE INITIATIVES, WE REFLECT MEANINGFUL ALIGNMENT BETWEEN THE CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS AND THE REDEVELOPMENTS GOALS.
GREAT REDEVELOPMENTS COMMISSIONS GOALS, UPGRADING THE, UH, DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE NEED TO COORDINATE AND WE, AND BE KEY.
ENSURING THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES WILL COINCIDE WITH PRIVATE AND NON-PROFIT DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
IN SHORT, THESE EFFORTS ARE PREPARING
[00:15:01]
THE, THE GROUND LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER OF WHAT WE EXPECT AND WHAT WE DEMAND THAT WE TAKE CARE OF IN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA.AND I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD ONE MORE THING.
I DO URGE ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS, PLEASE, AT ANY POINT IN TIME, TAKE A DRIVE THROUGH, TAKE A WALKTHROUGH SO THAT YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE PROGRESS AND SOME OF THE UPGRADES THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA.
COMMISSIONER MORGAN, JUST GO AHEAD.
JUST TO FOLLOW UP, YOU MENTIONED SPEAKING WITH SOME OF THE FOLKS RIGHT ALONG, UH, FOWLERS LANE, IN THAT AREA IN GENERAL WHERE F AND DILL COME TOGETHER AND THEY'RE CLOSED OFF.
NOW I KNOW I, I KNOW THEY HAVE ONE SET OF THOUGHTS, BUT HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING FROM THE FOLKS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE USE THAT AS AN ACCESS POINT TO GET DEEPER BACK INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ARE OBVIOUSLY HAVING TO REROUTING OUT AND THE FOLKS THAT ARE HAVING A LOT MORE TRAFFIC ON G STREET MAYBE YES.
COMING THROUGH AS A RESULT OF THAT REROUTING? THEY HAVE NOT BEEN APPROPRIATELY ADDRESSED AS IT RELATES TO WHAT THE END GAME IS AND WHAT STREETS WILL EVENTUALLY BE CLOSED OFF, WHAT WILL BE OPEN AND WHAT THE NEW DETOUR ROUTES ARE GOING TO GOING TO BE.
UH, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN IN INFORMED, I SPOKE WITH AT LEAST FIVE FAMILIES, UH, THREE OFF OF FOWLERS LANE TWO, NO ONE ON G AND ONE ON K STREET.
AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED, BUT THEY HAVE NOTICED AN INFLUX OF CARS THAT ARE REACHED THE END OF THE STREET HAVING TO TURN AROUND.
IT IS NOT A CUL-DE-SAC, IT IS JUST A NO OUTLET STREET TO WHERE A THREE POINT TURN OR THEY HAVE TO BACK UP.
THERE ARE CHILDREN ON THAT STREET.
THERE ARE NO, UH, SLOW CHILDREN, CHILDREN SIGNS THERE.
THEY HAVE TO PULL INTO PEOPLE'S DRIVEWAYS.
AND WHILE I WAS THERE, I SAW A COUPLE OF PEOPLE THAT HAD GOTTEN MISPLACED OR GOTTEN TURNED AROUND AND THEY HAD TO TURN AROUND AND WE HAD TO HELP THEM COME UP INTO SOMEBODY'S DRIVEWAY.
SO YOU THINK WE NEED MORE SIGNAGE RIGHT NOW? WE WE'RE GONNA DEFINITELY NEED MORE SIGNAGE.
THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S PUBLIC WORKS.
I MAY, I MEAN, I, I'LL KNOW IF IT WILL BE APPROPRIATE FOR, UM, MR. HUFF TO POSSIBLY GIVE US A, A REFRESHER OR UPDATE OR HAVE SOMEONE FROM PUBLIC WORKS COME IN OR SOMEONE FROM THE TEAM INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT TO, TO LET US KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE.
BECAUSE I MEAN, COMMISSIONER MORGAN, YOU, YOU SEE ME GOING THROUGH ON SEVERAL OCCASION OVER THERE.
AND, AND WITH THE A STREET PROJECT INVOLVEMENT, THAT'S KIND OF MY GENERAL PATH OF, OF, OF CIRCLING THROUGH TO LOOK AT THINGS.
AND THE FIRST TIME I WENT TO CUT THROUGH THAT WAY, I'M LIKE, OH, OKAY, THIS IS GONE NOW.
UM, SAYING HAD TO LIKE REROUTE MYSELF THROUGH.
SO I I WAS CAUGHT BY SURPRISE THE SAME WAY THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE BACK THERE WERE, SO IF WE MAYBE HAD A, A PRESENTATION OR A REFRESHER OF SORT OF WHAT THE, WHAT THE FINAL PRODUCT WAS GONNA LOOK LIKE, THAT MAY BE HELPFUL.
I'M HAPPY TO MAKE THAT INVITATION, SIR.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT OUT THERE.
I HAVE ONE COMMENT IF I CAN, WHY NOT RECOMMEND TO THE CITY OF PUBLIC WORK TO DEVELOP A CUL-DE-SAC ON FILLING THE FOLKS HAVING TO TURN AROUND IN EACH OTHER YARDS? THERE MAY BE A RECOMMENDATION THAT SHOULD BE, I THINK SHOULD BE MADE OKAY TO PUBLIC WORKS AT WHOMEVER DOING IT.
IT TERRIBLY HAVE TO PULL IN SOMEBODY ON AND TURN AROUND.
BUT STEPHANIE, I WOULD, I WOULD, I WOULD ASK OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, IF YOU WOULD, TO CALL, GIVE PUBLIC WORKS AND ASK THEM IS THERE A FINAL PIECE THAT MAY INCLUDE A TURNAROUND ON CUL-DE-SAC THING AND LET US KNOW.
SEE THERE'S ENOUGH SPACE TURN AROUND.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE'S ENOUGH SPACE.
MAKE SURE TWO THINGS, UH, Y'ALL, UM, UH, I REALLY BELIEVE, UH, THAT IF YOU DON'T TELL YOUR STORY SOMEBODY ELSE WILL.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO HEAR, WE'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR ABOUT FIVE, SIX YEARS NOW.
HAVE Y'ALL EVER DONE ANYTHING? BUT THESE PICTURES ARE A TRUE ILLUSTRATION OF THE PRO, THE PROGRESS GOING ON IN THE AREA THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR.
WILL THESE PICTURES BE ONLINE UNDERNEATH OUR TAB WHEN THEY GO TO THE WEBSITE? THESE PICTURES? RIGHT.
AND I REQUEST THAT THEY, THEY GO UP MR. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
SO LONG, SO LONG AS THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSION DOES, UH, AGREES WITH YOU.
I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT TOMORROW.
AND THE REASON WHY, OH, GO AHEAD.
UH, THE REASON WHY I SAY THAT, I MEAN, ROB, WE ALL KNOW HOW WE FELL OUT THE FLORENCE, WE FELT SOME TYPE OF WAY.
LIKE, OKAY, WHAT, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE GENERATOR? WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PROGRESS? BUT WE CAN CLEARLY SEE FROM THE PICTURES WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US.
SO THAT'S BEING DISPLAYED TONIGHT THAT THERE IS AN INVESTMENT FROM THE CITY WE CALL NEWBERG, MY HOMETOWN, UM, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
[00:20:01]
AND UH, IN EDUCATION WE ALWAYS SAY PROGRESS, NOT PERFECTION.UM, AND AS LONG AS WE'RE GOING, ACTUALLY LONG AS WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS, THEN, THEN WE HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
UM, AND WE JUST NEED TO CONTINUE TO PROCEED WITH THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SECOND THING WAS, UH, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, UH, CELEBRATION WAS JUST A CLASS ACT, A CLASS ACT FOR THE COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER LIKE THAT.
UM, I STILL SALUTE THE HOSPITAL AND WHAT THEY DID, UH, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO DO IT, BUT THEY DID IT AND THEY'RE CONTINUALLY TO DO IT.
I'M ASKING YOU ALL FOR A SOFT PERMISSION TO ENGAGE AND I'M GONNA GRAB A COUPLE OTHER COMMISSIONS.
I'D HAVE A QUORUM, BUT A COUPLE OF COMMISSIONERS GO WITH ME.
BUT I WANT TO ENGAGE WITH THE HOSPITAL SO WE CAN GET THE USAGE OF THE, UH, HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER, GET THAT INCREASE.
UM, AND I JUST WANTED THAT BEFORE BECAUSE WE MIGHT NOT BE IN NOVEMBER, SO I JUST WANTED TO GET THAT IN TONIGHT.
DO I HAVE PERMISSION, UH, TO GO AND ENGAGE WITH THE HOSPITAL TO ASSIST THEM IN, IN INCREASING THE USAGE OF THE HEALTH WELLNESS CENTER? AND WE GOT MR. JONES HERE.
NOW I'M GONNA ASK HIM FIRST, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY OPPOSITION TO THAT? ANYBODY? NO.
ANY VOLUNTEERS? SO I DON'T HAVE TO ASK YOU AT THE END, LET ME KNOW, BUT, UH, OKAY.
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU ONE MORE MINUTE,
MAKE SURE WHEN YOU ALL SPOKE ABOUT USING THESE PICTURES THAT WE, UM, PRO PROCEED, UH, IN, IN CAUTION AS I YIELD TO THE ATTORNEY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL HAVE THE PROPER PERMISSION TO USE THESE PHOTOS FROM PUBLIC WORKS.
NO, THESE WERE MY PHOTOS ACTUALLY.
I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT I GIVE YOU THE PROPER PERMISSION TO BE ABLE TO USE THEM IN YOUR OWN WAY.
THEY WERE TAKEN ON ONE AFTERNOON AS I DROVE THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT AREA AND AS I NOW LOOK, THEY ARE SOME REALLY GOOD
UH, DO WE HAVE PERMISSION TO USE? YES, YOU YOU DO HAVE MY PERMISSION TO USE THEM.
DO WE HAVE TO HAVE IT IN WRITING? NO, NO.
WE, THIS SPOT IS IS BEING RECORDED.
YOUR FULL NATURE ON THE, ON THE BOTTOM LEFT PICTURE STOP, THERE WAS ONE COMMENT THAT WAS MADE AND IT WAS JUST RECOGNIZED ALSO BY CO COMMISSIONER BRYANT, THAT ONE FAMILY WHO LIVES ON FOWLER'S LANE, UH, WAS VERY CONCERNED.
SHE HAS SEVERAL LITTLE KIDS AND THERE IS NO FENCE AROUND THE STORM WATER PROJECT.
NOW WE HAD TO FIGHT TO GET A FENCE AROUND THE ONE RIGHT BEHIND DUFFY FIELD SCHOOL.
AND THAT ONE IS FENCED UP NOW.
BUT IF YOU'LL SEE THE ONE ON THE BOTTOM LEFT, AND THAT'S THE ONE RIGHT OFF OF EAST ROAD AND THERE IS ANOTHER ONE RIGHT ON THE CORNER OF K AND J.
OH, SORRY, KG UH, THAT COMES OUT IS BLOOMFIELD RUNS DOWN THERE IS A MASSIVE, WHICH LOOKS LIKE A LAKE AND IT'S WIDE OPEN.
AND THE A LADY WAS, UH, SAYING ONE OF THE RESIDENTS WAS ASKING, WAS ASKED BY A CHILD ALL FISH IN THE LAKE BECAUSE HE WANTED TO GO FISHING.
AND IT'S JUST NOT A SAFE RIGHT PLACE FOR IT NOT TO BE FIXED OFF.
THAT, THAT BE, UH, I THINK EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WHEN HE GETS WITH PUBLIC WORKS ABOUT TO TURN AROUND OR ABSOLUTELY.
SO IN ESSENCE, YOU'RE SAYING WE NEED TO, UH, LET THE PUBLIC WORKS KNOW THERE'S A DANGER, BUT WHO ASSUMED THE LIABILITY QUESTION? I'M ASKING IF SOMEBODY CHILD HAPPENED TO DROWN SISTER.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE DEFINITELY NEED TO DO A RECOMMENDATION DUE TO THE VERY GOOD MR. DILL HUNT TO BE PROACTIVE.
AND THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA ABOUT THE CUL-DE-SAC ASKING, BUT I STILL URGE EVERYONE, IF YOU WILL, JUST SO THAT YOU WILL HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT YOU ARE VOTING ON WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.
PLEASE RIDE DOWN FOWLERS LANE RIDE DOWN WEST STREET.
WEST STREET ACTUALLY ENDS NOW WEST STREET ENDS, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE MAJOR THOROUGHFARES RIGHT.
ENDS RIGHT THERE AT THE CEMETERY AT THE EDGE OF GREENWOOD CEMETERY.
AND YOU EITHER HAVE TO TURN RIGHT OR YOU HAVE TO TURN AROUND AND, AND COME BACK.
AND THESE ARE STREETS THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN THOROUGH AFFAIRS.
UM, I WAS VERY PLEASED TO HEAR OUR ATTORNEY WHERE SHE SAID THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THINGS PROPERLY IN ORDER AS IT RELATES TO, UH, STREET CLOSURES.
UM, IN, IN FOLLOWING PROTOCOL.
I'M NOT SAYING PROTOCOL WASN'T FOLLOWED, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THE PUBLIC AND THAT COMMUNITY WAS NOT WELL, WELL VERSED ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE ABOUT TO, TO TAKE PLACE.
AND, AND MR. CHAIR, IF, IF I'M, I I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DRAWING DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN LEGALLY CLOSING A STREET AND DISCONTINUING USE.
SO TO LEGALLY CLOSE A STREET, THERE IS A PROCESS THAT I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER
[00:25:01]
WHERE THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN, UM, WHO IS THE, THE STEWARD OF OUR PUBLIC STREETS, MAKES A MOTION TO CLOSE THE STREET.AND AT THE CENTER LINE, THE STREET CEASE CEASES TO EXIST FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE.
AND OWNERSHIP AND TITLE OF THAT PROPERTY GOES TO THE ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNERS.
IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE, I CAN'T SPECULATE 'CAUSE I, I'M NOT AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH VALOR'S LANE OR THE OTHER STREETS THAT YOU MENTIONED, BUT I'M NOT AWARE OF THE BOARD TAKE ANY OFFICIAL ACTION TO LEGALLY CLOSE THOSE STREETS.
SO IT, I THINK IT'S PRUDENT FOR YOU ALL TO INVITE PUBLIC WORKS TO THIS CONVERSATION, RIGHT? BECAUSE WHAT WE MAY SEE ON THE GROUND MAY NOT BE THE WHOLE PICTURE.
AND HAVING THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MAY CLEAR UP SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE.
UM, AND CERTAINLY IN LIKE, ONCE YOU GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON FROM A TECHNICAL ASPECT, ANY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU HAVE FOR PUBLIC WORKS WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
AND, AND, AND FOLLOWING UP WITH, WITH INFORMATION, I, I WOULD RECOMMEND, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE, WE NEED TO JUST SIT AROUND, GO TO THE CITY WEBSITE, GO TO THE CITY MANAGER'S PAGE AND LOOK AT HIS WEEKLY REPORT.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT THAT, UH, THAT THEY'RE DOING THAT MAY HAVE REFLECT ON, ON REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION THAT WE ARE NOT AWARE OF JUST AT THE TOP OF OUR HEAD.
SO WHEN HE DOES HIS WEEKLY REPORT, TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
AND I'VE ALSO ASKED THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, IF YOU WOULD, WHEN THINGS LIKE THAT COME OUT, COME UP ON HIS WEEKLY REPORT.
IF YOU COULD JUST EMAIL US SOMETHING THAT MAY, UH, BE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
BUT ANYWAY, THAT INFORMATION IS OUT THERE.
WE, FROM THE CITY MANAGER, SO WE HAVE, WE HAVE, WE HAVE A SOURCE TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH WHAT'S GOING ON.
[7.c. Consider altemative plans for the November RDC Meeting]
UH, CONSIDER ALTERNATE ALTERNATIVE PLANS FOR THE NOVEMBER RDC MEETING.SO, UH, YEAH, AT OUR LAST MEETING, UH, WE TALKED ABOUT OUR ANNUAL RETREAT.
AND I, I'M NOT SURE IF IT WAS SHORTLY FOLLOWING THAT MEETING OR DURING THAT MEETING, UH, WE, UH, THE, THE COMMISSION ENGAGED ME ABOUT, UH, VISITING OTHER, UH, OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS SO THAT COMMUNITY GROUPS CAN ACTUALLY SPEAK INTO, UH, OUR, OUR, OUR RETREAT THIS YEAR.
UM, AND THE IDEA I'D LIKE TO THROW OUT, UH, TO THE COMMISSION, UH, AND I'VE SPOKEN TO MOST OF YOU ABOUT IT, UH, IS CANCELING THE NOVEMBER RDC MEETING AND INSTEAD HAVING ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS, UH, VOLUNTEER TO, UH, ATTEND COMMUNITY, UH, COMMUNITY GROUPS IN ORDER NOT, NOT ONLY TO JUST SHARE WHAT THE COMMISSION IS DOING, BUT TO ALSO LISTEN TO THE THINGS, UH, THAT THE COMMUNITY GROUPS ARE TALKING ABOUT AND BRING THAT FEEDBACK BACK TO THE RETREAT SO THAT WE MIGHT HAVE ROBUST AND UP TO DATE CONVERSATION.
AND SO I SUBMIT THAT TO THE COMMISSION, UH, FOR YOUR, UH, DISCUSSION AND DELIBERATION.
YOU WILL GET US THE DATES OF CERTAIN MEETINGS, RIGHT? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
SO IF, IF, IF TONIGHT YOU ALL MOVE TO CANCEL, UM, CANCEL NOVEMBER'S MEETING TOMORROW, I WILL SEND YOU, UH, SEND YOU POLLING, I'LL POLL THE COMMISSION AS I NORMALLY DO ON WHAT, ON WHAT MEETINGS YOU ALL BE ABLE TO GO TO JUST SO WE CAN MONITOR THINGS LIKE QUORUM AND, AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
ALONG WITH THAT, UH, SUBMISSION TOMORROW, CAN YOU ALSO PROVIDE US WITH A QUICK, UM, OVERVIEW 'CAUSE WE'RE GOING TO APP PRIZE THE GROUP WE'RE WE'RE AT THAT WE'RE, UH, PARTICIPATING WITH.
WE'RE GONNA APP PRIZE THEM OF THE PROGRESS AND WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING.
WE'D LOVE TO BE SINGING FROM THE SAME HANDBOOK, YOU KNOW, AS WHEN WE ALL GO OUT TO THESE MEETINGS.
SO WE'RE ALL ALIGNED IN OUR MESSAGING, IF YOU GET WHAT I'M SAYING.
I'LL, I'LL DEFINITELY GIVE A SUMMARY OF WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO.
AND ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT THING THAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND TOO IS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE AS REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION CAN DO, WHAT OUR MISSION IS, WHERE WE CAN GO, WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO.
'CAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO GET INTO, UH, A MEETING OR CONVERSATION WITH SO AND SO.
YEAH, WE CAN DO SO, YOU KNOW, THEN REALIZE WE CAN'T BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT CAN, THAT CAN HURT SOMEBODY'S FEELINGS, YOU KNOW, THAT CAN, YOU KNOW, THAT CAN THROW THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION IN A BAD NAME, BUT Y'ALL TOLD ME YOU COULD DO.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO.
UH, IF THE BOARD, UH, MATTER WILL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CANCEL THE MEETING WITH THE IDEA THAT WE WILL, UH, SERVE THAT TERM AS VISITING COMMUNITY MEETING.
I MAKE A MOTION AND WHAT THE, UH, THE CHAIR SAID I SECOND THAT MOTION.
[00:30:01]
PROBABLY SECOND THAT WE CANCEL OUR, OUR MEETING IN DECEMBER AND USE THAT AS A ALTERNATIVE TIME TO VISIT OTHER CIVIC, UH, COMMUNITY, UH, GROUP MEETINGS.JUST TO BE CLEAR, MR. CHAIR, THE MOTION WAS TO CANCEL THE NOVEMBER MEETING? YES, NOVEMBER.
UH, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROBABLY SECOND.
[8. Staff Report]
YOU.ALL RIGHT, GARY, ON WITH OUR STAFF REPORT INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET.
UH, THIS EVENING IS OUR MONTHLY, UH, FINANCE REPORT, WHICH REMAINS LARGELY UNCHANGED AS WE DIDN'T HAVE, UH, A LOT OF, UH, OF LARGE EXPENDITURES.
AND SO OUR GENERAL FUND SITS AROUND, UH, SITS RIGHT AT $846,854, UH, IN 2 CENTS.
UH, THAT, UH, THAT GENERAL FUND IS THERE AND USABLE FOR, UH, COMMISSION ACTIVITY.
UM, IN ADDITION, IN ADDITION TO THAT, I WANTED TO ALSO TALK ABOUT THE ANNUAL RETREAT.
UH, AFTER LAST, LAST MONTH'S MEETING, UH, WENT TO THE CALENDAR AND THE THIRD SATURDAY OF JANUARY IS LOOKING LIKE THE MOST VIABLE OPTION, UH, FOR THE RETREAT.
UH, AND I JUST WANT SOME GENERAL GUIDANCE ON IF THAT WORKS FOR THE, FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSION AND IF THE LOCATION WILL CONTINUE TO BE, UH, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES SO THAT I CAN, UH, SO THAT I CAN RESERVE THAT ROOM AND SPACE.
AND, UH, INVITATIONS, UH, I DO WANNA REPORT TO THE COMMISSIONS THAT INVITATIONS TO, UH, LOCAL LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION HAVE GONE OUT.
AND SO, AND I, I'VE EVEN RECEIVED SOME, UH, SOME FOLLOW UP THAT WE'LL HAVE, UH, SOME GUESTS WITH US AT OUR RETREAT.
SO, UH, THAT'S, THAT DOES IT FROM OUR REPORT.
SHORT AND SWEET, UH, FOR YOU TONIGHT.
UNLESS, UH, ANY OF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, SIR? WHEN YOU SAY THE THIRD SATURDAY IN JANUARY, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE 17TH? I BELIEVE? YES.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT, THAT SOME PEOPLE LIKE MIGHT TRAVEL OR, UM, WHATEVER.
I, AS FAR AS I KNOW, I'M HERE.
I JUST SAW THE HOLIDAY ON THE, DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE A CONFLICT WITH WITH THAT? I'D RATHER HAVE THAT MONDAY TO RECO.
GIVE IT UP HALF BY SATURDAY TO BE YEAH, BECAUSE WE GOT THAT EXTRA DAY ON THE END.
COMMISSIONER JONES, WE GOOD WITH THAT? 17TH.
I DON'T HAVE MY CALENDAR IN FRONT OF ME.
THAT'S THE THIRD WEEKEND OF JANUARY.
UH, UH, CHAIR, BUT, UH, WE, WE DO NOT, IT'S NOT NECESSARY.
UH, WE DO NOT NEED TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION THIS EVENING.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS ATTORNEY? ANYTHING WE NEED TO? NO, SIR.
NUMBER 13, IMPOSE, THAT'S CHECK.
BEFORE YOU PO I NOTICE THAT NUMBER SEVEN A AND I DO KNOW THAT YOU TOUCHED ON IT AND YOU DID WELCOME.
AND LET US KNOW THAT MR. CURTIS STEWART WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE THIS EVENING.
BUT CAN WE GIVE MR. RICHARD JONES A CHANCE TO ADDRESS IF PEOPLE CARE TO OH YEAH.
GIVE YOU, ARE YOU PREPARED TO SPEAK TONIGHT? MR. JONES, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO ADD TO, TO THE MEETING TONIGHT OR NO, JUST TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
INTRODUCE, JUST TO SAY ANYTHING THAT YOU WANTED TO SAY.
'CAUSE IT IS ON THE AGENDA, BUT WE DID NOT GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE, THE CONVENTION IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
UM, I'VE BEEN WITH THE, UH, RESIDENCE COUNCIL OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
I WORKED WITH THE PAST THREE MAYORS HERE IN THIS CITY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, WORKING WITH THE, UH, REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ON THIS AGENDA.
AND IF YOU GUYS HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE, UH, UM, MEMORANDUM THAT I PUT IN THAT I WANT TO, UH, HOPEFULLY INCORPORATE THE IDEOLOGY OF THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION WITH THE GRASSROOTS,
[00:35:01]
UH, AGENDA HERE WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, UH, OUTWARD OUTWORK WITH THE COMMUNITY HERE THAT I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN.AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DOING AND THE WORK OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND I HOPE IT BE, UH, GREAT AND BOUNTIFUL, UH, MARRIAGE.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING HERE AND HOPEFULLY WORKING WITH YOU GUYS ON IT.
WELL, AND I WILL, I WILL SHARE THIS WITH YOU.
UH, AND I TOLD SOME OTHER COMMISSIONERS, ONE THING WE LIKE TO DO, ANYTIME YOU HAVE A THOUGHT OR IDEA OR SOMETHING YOU WANNA SHARE WITH THE BOARD, ANYTHING, ANYTHING, MAKE SURE THAT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GETS IT SO HE CAN SEND IT TO US BEFORE THE MEETING.
SO WE WILL HAVE AN IDEA WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH AND IF WE NEED TO ASK QUESTIONS OR WHATEVER, WE'D BE PREPARED FOR ANY PRESENTATION THAT A BOARD MEMBER MIGHT WANT TO DO, ANY BOARD MEMBER.
THAT WAY IT GIVES US PREP TIME TO SEE WHAT IT IS.
'CAUSE IF WE DON'T, WE MIGHT SPEND AN HOUR ON SOMETHING THAT IF WE HAD READ IT BEFORE WE GOT HERE, WE COULD HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FIND OUT ABOUT SOME STUFF EARLIER ON.
SO ANYTIME YOU GOT SOMETHING, SHARE WITH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HE'LL SHARE WITH THE BOARD.
WELL, I, I THINK, UH, MR. DEBAR WISE WILL TELL YOU I WORKED 24 7
SEND IT TO, SEND IT TO, YOU KNOW, STEP, LOCK STEP.
UH, DO WE HAVE MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED.