Mar 10, 2026 Board of Aldermen

ANY OPPOSED? AGENDA IS APPROVED.

NEXT IS REQUEST AND PETITION OF CITIZENS.

[4. Request and Petition of Citizens.]

MADAM CLERK.

FIRST UP IS DAVID FRENCH.

I, I THINK YOU JUST GOT NAMED A PARTNER IN A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR LAW FIRM.

I AM DAVID FRENCH, 1 0 4 JOHNSON STREET.

WHY AM I HERE YET AGAIN? I'M HERE BECAUSE MY COUSIN MARYANNE DUFFY WILLIAMS, WAS NEVER ABLE TO RETURN HOME BEFORE SHE DIED IN 20 22, 4 YEARS AFTER HURRICANE FLORENCE DEVASTATED HER HOME.

I AM HERE BECAUSE I HAVE A SIGNED CONTRACT WITH REBUILD NC TO REPAIR OUR HOME, WHICH THEY HAVE VIOLATED.

I AM HERE BECAUSE OF MY FELLOW, UH, HURRICANE FLOOD SURVIVORS LIKE MY FRIEND TAMMY AND HER GRANDDAUGHTER IN COLUMBUS COUNTY, WHO ARE STILL NOT BACK HOME, WHO WERE LIED TO AND DEFRAUDED BY ROY COOPER AND JOSH STEIN.

I AM HERE FOR MY FRIEND LOUISE HERE IN CRAVEN COUNTY, WHO WAS KICKED OUTTA THE PROGRAM THAT SHE HAD BEEN IN FOR YEARS BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT FIND A PLACE TO MOVE FOR THEM TO REPAIR HER HOUSE.

I AM HERE FOR MY FRIEND DENISE, A VETERAN, RETIRED VETERAN IN DUPLIN COUNTY, WHO ACTUALLY GOT A REBUILD HOME, BUT IT'S FALLING APART AND SHE CANNOT GET ANYONE TO REPAIR IT.

I AM HERE FOR THE 93-YEAR-OLD LADY ON MADAMS MOORE LANE, WHO'S BEEN LIVING IN AN RV FOR GOING ON EIGHT YEARS.

I AM HERE FOR THE OVER 7,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL HOMELESS BECAUSE OF THE FRAUD OF COOPER STEIN AND THEIR COHORTS.

WHOSE FAULT WAS IT? MOST CERTAINLY.

IT WAS ROY COOPER'S, JOSH STEIN, EDDIE BUFFALO, LAURA HOGSHEAD, MATTHEW ARLIN, PRYOR GIBSON IN THEIR REBUILD NC COHORTS.

BUT IT'S ALSO THE IMPOTENT AND FECKLESS REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED NORTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE WHO HAVE REFUSED TO PROPERLY FIGHT FOR US.

BOB BRISSON SAID, WE DON'T DO THINGS LIKE THAT.

WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? THE WAY HE DID THINGS HAS MADE PEOPLE HOMELESS.

WHAT IS THE CITY OF NEWBURY'S RESPONSIBILITY? DID THE CITY EVER REACH OUT TO COUSIN MARYANNE, A STROKE AND HURRICANE SURVIVOR TO SEE WHAT THEY COULD DO? THEY TO HELP NO OUTLAW AND ODOM AS MAYOR NEVER ONCE DID.

INSTEAD, AT THE BEHEST OF A NEIGHBOR, THEY SUE COUSIN MARYANNE, A STROKE AND HURRICANE SURVIVOR, AND PLACE FINES ON HER HOME.

I DEMAND THESE FINES BE REMOVED.

NOW, IT SEEMS WE HAVE BILLIONS TO SEND FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS TO WAGE WAR, BUT WE DON'T HAVE BILLIONS OR THE TIME TO FOCUS ON THE PEOPLE OF EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION? THE CITIES, TOWNS, AND COUNTIES OF EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA MUST JOIN TOGETHER AND SUE THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA ON BEHALF OF THE HURRICANE, HOMELESS HURRICANE FLOOD SURVIVORS TO BRING HURRICANE DISASTER RECOVERY BACK TO THE LOCAL LEVEL WHERE IT HAS WORKED SUCCESSFULLY FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

COOPER IS A CRIMINAL.

I INVITE ROY COOPER, I INVITE JOSH STEIN AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE NAMED TO SUE ME BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO US IS CRIMINAL ALDERMAN FERGUSON.

YOU REPRESENT A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR, YOU'RE A PARTNER.

ACTUALLY,

[00:05:01]

WELL, YOUR FIRM STEP IN AND DO PRO BONO WORK TO REPRESENT THE HURRICANE FLOOD SURVIVORS OF EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

WILL YOU, WILL YOUR FIRM DO THAT? WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE REPRESENTING US.

THEY HAVE MULTIPLE LAWYERS.

WE HAVE NO OMBUDSMAN.

WE HAVE NOTHING.

AND IF YOU THINK WE'RE GOING AWAY, WE'RE NOT GOING AWAY.

WE ARE NOT GOING AWAY.

AND EVERYONE, YOU'RE SITTING UP THERE, YOU WILL ALL APPEAR BEFORE THE LORD ONE DAY AT THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU WILL BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD BECAUSE YOU'VE, YOU'VE SOUGHT THESE POSITIONS.

SO YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO, YOU NEED TO STAND UP AND DO FOR THE PEOPLE HERE, THERE ARE OVER 8,000.

THAT'S JUST 8,000 APPLICANTS.

THAT MEANS THAT COULD BE 16, 24,000 PEOPLE IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA WHO ARE HOMELESS DUE TO THE FRAUD OF ROY COOPER, JOSH STEIN, AND A FECKLESS AND, UH, IMPOTENT, UH, NORTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE.

IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

I WILL NOT YIELD.

UH, NEXT IS DAVID CUMMINGTON.

MY NAME'S DAVID.

AND, UM, I DON'T LIVE IN THE CITY AND I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST ANY OF YOU EXCEPT MAYBE YOU .

I'M A, UH, I'M 72 YEARS OLD.

UH, I'M A RETIRED MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING MANAGER, AND JUST RECENTLY REAL ESTATE, UH, APPRAISALS, UM, MOVED HERE BACK IN 2013, APRIL OF 2013, AND LIVE IN DEERFIELD AND REALIZE THAT THE WATER BILL OUT IN DEERFIELD, AND I'VE ASKED YOU ABOUT THIS BEFORE, DANA, THE WATER BILL OUT IN DEERFIELD IS $40 HIGHER THAN ANYBODY IN THE CITY, AND NOBODY HAS BEEN ABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION AS TO WHY.

UM, I SPOKE WITH A LADY AT THE WATER DEPARTMENT NAMED ANITA, AND I'M ASSUMING SHE WAS, SHE'S THE MANAGER OF THAT DEPARTMENT.

UM, SHE COULDN'T TELL ME WHY THE BILL WAS HIGHER AND TOLD ME SHE WOULD HAVE SOMEONE CALL ME WHO COULD ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

AND I RECEIVED A CALL FROM A LADY A FEW DAYS LATER.

UH, I DON'T RECALL HER NAME.

AND, UH, WAS OFFERED SEVERAL REASONS OF WHICH NONE WERE BIBLE OR MADE ANY SENSE.

NONE, NOT, NOT ONE BIT OF SENSE.

THE ANSWER YOU GAVE ME WHEN I ASKED YOU ABOUT IT DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS SHE SAID WAS, THE DIFFERENCE WAS TO COVER ANY LIABILITY ISSUES THE CITY MIGHT INCUR, SHOULD SOMEONE FALL INTO A TANK.

AND I'M SURE THAT THE CITY CARRIES SOME KIND OF INSURANCE TO COVER STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO I WROTE THAT ONE OFF AS KIND OF NOT BEING LEGITIMATE.

UM, THEN I WAS TOLD BY THAT SAME LADY THAT PEOPLE IN THE CITY PAY CITY TAX, UH, WHICH IS WHY, WHICH IS WHY I CHOSE NOT TO LIVE INSIDE THE CITY.

UH, AT WHICH POINT SHE STATED THAT THE CITY ALSO DID NOT HAVE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE CITY.

AND MY RESPONSE TO HER WAS, BUT YOU DO.

UM, PRIOR TO HER CONTACTING ME, WHEN I ASKED DANA ABOUT IT, DANA IN HIS VERBAL FASHION TOLD ME THAT, WELL, PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE THE CITY COME INTO THE CITY AND USE OUR FACILITIES.

BUT THAT WAS BOGUS.

NOT ALL PEOPLE COME INTO THE CITY AND USE THESE FACILITIES.

SO THERE'S ANOTHER ANSWER THAT WAS BLOWN AWAY.

UM, I'VE ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT THIS OVERCHARGE DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL SHORTLY AFTER THE NEIGHBORHOOD REFUSED TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD REFUSED TO ALLOW THE CITY TO INSTALL SEWER LINES THROUGHOUT THE DEVELOPMENT.

AND SOMETIMES SHORTLY AFTER, THE WATER FEE WAS INCREASED.

UM, DURING THAT TIMEFRAME, SINCE I MOVED BACK, SINCE I MOVED HERE IN 2013, I HAVE PAID $6,240 MORE THAN SOMEBODY INSIDE THE CITY FOR THE WATER SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CITY.

AND SO, ALL I'M REALLY DOING HERE, I DON'T WANT TO COMPLAIN, BUT I CAN IF I HAVE TO, UM, I'D JUST LIKE AN ANSWER AS TO WHY,

[00:10:01]

WHY, WHAT SERVICE AM I GETTING OUTSIDE THE CITY FOR THAT WATER? THAT IS, THAT THAT GENERATES A NEED TO CHARGE ME $40 EVERY MONTH MORE THAN THE CITY AT RESIDENCE.

THAT'S ALL I'M LOOKING FOR.

PLEASE, CAN SOMEBODY ANSWER THAT? I'M SIR, NOT LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER TODAY.

SOMEBODY WILL CONTACT YOU TOMORROW.

I'M SORRY? SOMEBODY WILL CONTACT YOU TOMORROW.

SAY THAT AGAIN PLEASE.

SOMEONE WILL CONTACT YOU TOMORROW.

SOUNDS GOOD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I'M GOING TO DRINK MY COFFEE.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

NEXT IS CLEOPATRA HARGET LAWTON.

GREETINGS, MAYOR ODOM, BOARD OF ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND COLLEAGUES SINCE I'VE BEEN BACK FOUR YEARS.

SEEMS LIKE EVERYBODY KNOWS MY NAME AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.

'CAUSE MY GRANDMOTHER NAMED ME CLEOPATRA.

SHE WAS A SLAVE ON A PLANTATION IN VILLE.

I LIVED, I MOVED BACK TO MY FAMILY, SAVED MY FAMILY'S LAND AT 1706 COLLEGE STREET.

I'M AN ALUMNI WEST STREET SCHOOL, DESCENDANT OF GENERAL FREDERICK HART, WHO FOUGHT IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR THAT WE ARE CELEBRATING THIS YEAR.

AND HE ALSO FOUNDED UNC CHAPEL HILL.

I HAVE A RICH HISTORY, SO I I I'M SAVING OUR HISTORY.

HARGET STREET AND OUR STATE CAPITAL.

RALEIGH HONORS MY FIFTH GREAT GRANDFATHER'S VAST SERVICE TO NORTH CAROLINA AND AMERICA FIGHTING FOR INDEPENDENCE.

I AM A DESCENDANT OF ISAIAH AND THEN MARK HARGET FOR USCT.

I WAS HONORED TWO YEARS AGO IN WILMINGTON FOR THEM, HAVING, HELPING TO WIN THE WAR IN WILMINGTON.

MY FAMILY HAS PAID TAXES AND HELPED FOUNDED CRAVEN COUNTY OVER 250 YEARS AGO.

WAS CELEBRATING 200 YEARS OF MY, UH, GREAT-GREAT-GRANDFATHER FOUNDING BRYAN CHAPEL CHURCH IN COVE CITY.

AND WE FOUNDED CORE CREEK, IT WAS CALLED BEFORE.

THEREFORE, I VALUE MY HISTORY, THEIR HISTORY, AND THE HISTORY OF PEOPLE IN NEW BERN, CRAVEN COUNTY, AMERICA, AND AROUND THE WORLD.

I KNOW THAT ONCE HISTORY IS DESTROYED, IT IS GONE FURTHER.

I DO NOT WANT ALL OF US TO LOOK BACK AT HIT AS HISTORIC WEST STREET FR DAVIS PROPERTY MANY YEARS FROM NOW AND WONDER WHAT HAPPENED.

SO I CONTINUE TO APPEAL TO YOU AS OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND LEADERS TO SAVE YOUR OUR HISTORY BEFORE IT IS DESTROYED BY THIS CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT PROJECT.

AS I'VE TOLD, MANY OTHER PROMISED PROJECTS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED IN NEW BERN TO THE REGRET OF THE CITIZENS OF NEW BERN.

ONCE THIS HISTORY IS DESTROYED, I CONTINUOUSLY SAY IT HAS GONE FOREVER.

THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES HAS REQUESTED THAT THE CRAVEN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT AND REVIEW THE PROPERTY.

THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS IGNORED THEIR REQUEST AND INSTEAD RUSHED TO ACCEPT THE BID FROM THE HOUSING COMMISSIONERS TO CIRCUMVENT THE BID THAT WE DID FIRST THAT WE SUBMITTED TO THEM.

WE ARE A COALITION OF CITIZENS IN NEW BERN, AND WE ARE NOW INCORPORATED AS A NONPROFIT.

WE HAVE GIVEN THE SCHOOL BOARD ALMOST A THOUSAND SIGNATURES ON A PETITIONS OF CITIZENS WHO WANT TO SAVE THE PROPERTY.

I HAVE THESE QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO PLEASE ANSWER FOR ME AND THE NEW BERN CITIZENS.

I'VE GIVEN YOU A COPY OF THEM.

THEY'RE SIX.

NUMBER ONE IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST FOR THE SECOND LARGEST LAND OWNER IN NEW BERN TO BE A HOUSING COMMISSIONER.

I WORK WITH SIX MAYORS IN DC THAT SEEMS TO BE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

SHE'S A COMMISSIONER, MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT LAND THAT SHE CAN PLOT TO OWN.

NUMBER TWO, IS IT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST FOR A HIGH PAID CONSULTANT HIRED BY THE CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP TO IMPLEMENT THIS PLAN FOR THE NEW BERN HOUSING AUTHORITY TO ALSO BE PUT IN THE UNADVERTISED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S POSITION OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.

THANK YOU, MS. LAWTON.

YOUR TIME IS UP.

YOU HAVE THE REST OF MY QUESTIONS.

I HOPE WE WILL GIVE THE CITIZENS SOME ANSWERS.

NEXT IS, NEXT IS JAMES WOODS, JR.

[00:15:01]

JAMES O. WOODS, JR.

19 0 3 HUNTER CLUB ROAD, NEWBURN, NORTH CAROLINA, MR. MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDERMAN.

I'M HERE ASKING A QUESTION ABOUT WHY IS WEST STREET BETWEEN WEST STREET AND F STREET CLOSED? I UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE, UM, GREEN SPACE THAT WAS BEING DONE OUT THERE, BUT NEVER IN ANY OF THE THINGS THAT WERE BROUGHT BEFORE THIS BOARD OR THE CITIZENS TELLING US THAT WEST STREET AND F STREET WILL BE CLOSED OFF WITH THAT ROAD CLOSED OFF.

NOW, THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY IN AND ONE WAY OUT OF DUFFY FIELD, AND YOU CAN'T GET TO EAST ROSE STREET LIKE YOU USED TO BE ABLE TO IF YOU WENT DOWN F STREET AND RIGHT THERE.

I UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE WATERWAY THAT CONNECTS JACK'S CREEK UNDERSTOOD ALL OF THAT WHEN IT WAS PRESENTED, BUT NO ONE MENTIONED THAT THAT STREET WAS GONNA BE CLOSED AND NOW IT'S CLOSED.

IT NEVER CAME BEFORE THIS BOARD, OR IT NEVER CAME BEFORE THE CITIZENS TO LET US KNOW THAT IT WAS GONNA BE CLOSED.

ALL I WANT TO KNOW IS WHY AND WHO CLOSED IT.

THANK YOU, SIR.

NEXT IS HELEN ROBINSON.

GOOD EVENING BOARD.

ENGAGEMENT MEANS GOOD COMMUNICATION.

I'M HELEN ROBINSON, 1906 CAYENNE COURT.

I'D LIKE TO TALK FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES, UH, ABOUT CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT IN CITY GOVERNMENT.

IN MY VIEW, IT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT THAT THE COMMUNITY BE INVOLVED IN THE GOVERNANCE OF THE CITY.

I THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY IS MORE LIKELY TO THRIVE WHEN THERE IS ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT.

I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A TWO WAY STREET.

PART OF WHAT MY, UH, LIFE HAS SPENT DOING RIGHT NOW IS ENCOURAGING CITIZENS TO CARE AND LEARN AND SHOW UP AND HELP.

AND THEN THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT IS THAT THERE ARE WAYS THAT PUBLIC OFFICIALS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES.

COMMUNICATION REQUIRES THE ABILITY TO TALK AND LISTEN.

ONE OF MY CONCERNS, AND THIS HAS BEEN ADDRESSED HERE A FEW TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR, IS THAT OFTEN IN THIS COURTROOM, THOSE OF US SITTING BACK HERE CAN'T HEAR.

WE CAN'T LISTEN IF WE CAN'T HEAR.

AND SO, UH, I'M REQUESTING YOU GUYS TO LET US KNOW WHAT THE PLAN IS, UM, TO IMPROVE THAT, THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE, UH, THAT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

UH, A SECOND CONCERN THAT I HAVE HAS TO DO ABOUT THE PROPOSED CHANGE AND THE RULES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

IF THE PROPOSED CHANGE IS ENACTED IN APRIL, THEN THE OPPORTUNITY WILL NOT EXIST FOR A CITIZEN LIKE ME TO ADDRESS AN ISSUE LIKE THIS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING.

AND FRANKLY, WE ALL, PEOPLE ARE NOT GONNA STAY HERE TILL NINE OR NINE 30 AT NIGHT.

UH, AND SO, UH, I THINK THAT THAT CHANGE WOULD INDEED MAKE THE MEETINGS MORE EFFICIENT.

AND I THINK THAT WOULD HAPPEN WITH A SIGNIFICANT LOSS IN THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZEN INPUT.

I'VE HEARD IT SAID THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO, FOR US AS CITIZENS, TO ENGAGE WITH YOU GUYS.

THEORETICALLY, THAT'S VERY TRUE IN PRACTICE.

SOME OF US FEEL DISCOURAGED ABOUT HOW THAT WORKS.

UM, FOR EXAMPLE, TWO WEEKS AGO I SENT AN EMAIL TO ALL OF YOU AND ASKED FOR A RESPONSE.

AND I, SO FAR I'VE HEARD BACK FROM ONE ALDERMAN.

UM, I'M HOPEFUL.

UM, BUT SO FAR I'VE HEARD BACK FROM ONLY ONE.

UM, ANOTHER CONCERN THAT SOME OF US IN THE AUDIENCE HAVE IS THAT, UH, THERE ARE PEOPLE, SOME OF YOU GUYS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW OR AT THE FLOOR, BUT A LOT OF TIMES YOU'RE NOT LOOKING AT US AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S ABOUT, BUT IT MAKES US FEEL UNIMPORTANT.

SO IT'S NOT ENCOURAGING.

[00:20:01]

DOESN'T HELP US ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET MORE INVOLVED.

SO IF YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PLAN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, THEN THIS'LL BE THE LAST TIME THAT SOMEBODY CAN STAND UP HERE AND ADDRESS, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, ALL OF US HAVE CONCERNS THAT FEEL IMPORTANT TO US.

UM, I KNOW IT'S ANNOYING TO YOU GUYS SOMETIMES, UM, BUT THEY'RE, THEY'RE TRUE CITIZEN CONCERNS.

SO I ASK YOU RESPECTFULLY TO FIX THE SOUND SYSTEM AND TO SPEAK INTO YOUR MICS, AND I ASK YOU TO DEMONSTRATE ACTIVELY YOUR COMMITMENT AND YOUR INTENTION TO INVOLVING US MORE REGULARLY IN THE, THE WORK OF THE CITY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

PLEASURE OF THE BOARD ON ITEMS FIVE THROUGH 12? MR. MAYOR, I MOVE TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, AS PRESENTED.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

THE NEXT PERSON I SEE IS LYNN JORDAN.

UH, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THE ISSUE MAY BE REGARDING OF THE ELECTRIC RATE.

SO IF LYNN JORDAN WANTS TO SPEAK ON THE ELECTRIC RATE, THERE IS GONNA BE A PUBLIC HEARING COMING UP OR YOU CAN COME SPEAK NOW.

IT'S UP TO YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR.

I WANT TO START OFF BY GIVING TWO DISCLAIMERS.

THE FIRST DISCLAIMER IS PLEASE DO NOT PREJUDGE ME BY MY ACCENT BECAUSE I AM CRAVEN COUNTY BORN AND BRED.

THE SECOND DISCLAIMER IS I RECOGNIZE THAT Y'ALL ARE POLITICIANS AND NOT MAGICIANS.

AND THAT EVERY GRIEVANCE THAT IS GOING TO BE PRESENTED TO YOU TODAY AND TOMORROW, YOU CANNOT ADDRESS.

BUT FOR THOSE GRIEVANCES AND CONCERNS THAT YOU CAN ADDRESS, HAVE A LITTLE GRACE AND A LITTLE BIT OF MERCY, AND A LITTLE BIT OF EMPATHY WHEN YOU MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE GREAT CITIZENS OF CRAVEN COUNTY.

SO AS THE MAYOR SAID, I AM COMING WITH TWO CONCERNS.

THE FIRST ONE IS ABOUT 4% INCREASE, WHICH I UNDERSTAND IT'S GONNA BE ADDRESSED AT A LATER TIME, AND THAT'S FINE.

AND UNOFFICIALLY, I'M TOLD THAT IT MAY BE MORE LIKE ONE OR 2%.

I CAN LIVE WITH THAT ONE AND 2% OR 4%.

MY SECOND CONCERN IS THE DOUBLE LIGHT BILLS THAT MANY, UM, PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF ALGORITHM IS BEING USED.

UH, IF YOU GO FROM $185 A MONTH TO 200, UH, ON THE AVERAGE, AND THEN YOU JUMP UP TO $429 OR IN MY SISTER CASE, $800.

SO WITH THAT, THAT'S GOING TO CONCLUDE MY CONCERNS.

AND AGAIN, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

OKAY, BOARD THAT, UH, COMPLETES ALL THE PETITION OF CITIZENS.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

WOULD THE

[Consent Agenda]

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE? LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN FERGUSON.

NEXT IS ITEM NUMBER 13.

CONDUCT

[13. Conduct a Public Hearing and Consider Adopting an Ordinance to Establish Initial Zoning of R-8 Residential for 3406 Old Airport Road.]

A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER, CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH INITIAL ZONING OF R EIGHT RESIDENTIAL 34 0 6 OLD AIRPORT ROAD, MS. RUTH.

IT'S RIGHT HERE.

AT ITS MEETING HELD IN FEBRUARY.

UH, TONIGHT WE HAVE A REQUEST TO APPLY INITIAL ZONING TO RECENTLY ANNEX PROPERTY AT 34 0 6 OLD AIRPORT ROAD.

THIS REQUEST WAS RECEIVED BY KEITH WEEMS. UM, CURRENTLY THERE IS NO ZONING ON THIS PROPERTY AS IT WAS JUST BROUGHT INTO THE CITY.

AND THE PROPOSED ZONING IS R EIGHT ON THIS ACRE PARCEL.

THIS IS AN ILLUSTRATION OF WHERE THE PARCEL IS LAND, UH, LOCATED.

AND THE YELLOW IS OUR NOTIFICATION LIST.

AND THIS IS A DESCRIPTION OF OUR R EIGHT ZONING DISTRICT.

THIS IS A VERY BASIC, UH, MINIMUM LOT SIZE OF 8,000 SQUARE FEET RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT.

AS YOU CAN SEE, AS WE ARE ACQUIRING PROPERTIES THROUGH ANNEXATION.

THIS AREA IS WORKING IN A PATTERN OF BECOMING MOSTLY R EIGHT.

AND THAT IS AGAIN, WHAT IS PROPOSED FOR THIS PARCEL

[00:25:02]

THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED APPLYING THE RA ZONING TO THIS PARCEL.

THEY DID FIND IT TO BE CONSISTENT WITH OUR LAND USE PLAN AS WELL AS OUR ORDINANCES AND OTHER ADOPTED DOCUMENTS THAT REGULATE LAND USE AND IT IS ADJACENT TO OTHER RE PROPERTIES.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

MS. BOARD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? HEARING NONE AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 13.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR AGAINST THIS TOPIC, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AT THIS TIME.

MAKE A MOTION TO THE HEARING BEING CLOSED.

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ANY OPPOSED? HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.

WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD ON ITEM NUMBER 13? WELL, IF I CAN GET MY COMPUTER BACK OPEN, I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE IT.

MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, UH, TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH INITIAL ZONING FOR R EIGHT RESIDENTIAL AT 34 6 OLD AIRPORT ROAD.

SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE REQUEST.

LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL.

STARTED WITH ALDERMAN BRYANT.

A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE 1100 PINE TREE DRIVE FROM R 10 A RESIDENTIAL TO C3 COMMERCIAL.

NEXT IS ITEM NUMBER 14.

CONDUCT

[14. Conduct a Public Hearing and Consider Adopting an Ordinance to Rezone 1100 Pinetree Drive from R-10A Residential to C-3 Commercial.]

HEY, THANK YOU.

UM, WE HAVE A CITIZEN INITIATED REQUEST TO CHANGE THE ZONING LOCATED AT 1100 PINE TREE DRIVE THIS EVENING.

THE CURRENT ZONING ON THIS PROPERTY IS 10 ARE RESIDENTIAL 10 A AND THE PROPOSED ZONING THAT THEY DESIRE TO BE REZONED TO IS COMMERCIAL THREE.

THIS PARCEL IS SLIGHTLY UNDER FOUR ACRES IN SIZE.

THIS IS OUR LOCATION ACROSS THE STREET.

WE HAVE THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS BUILDINGS.

AND, UH, THE LARGE PARCEL TO THE LEFT ON THE SCREEN IS THE WEST NEWBURN RECREATION CENTER.

THIS IS PROOF OF POSTED NOTICE TO MEET STATE STATUTES.

THIS IS AN ILLUSTRATION OF OUR NOTIFICATION PROPERTIES AND THIS IS A SUMMARY OF THE CURRENT ZONING.

R 10 A IS A RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT, IT DOESN'T ALLOW MUCH ELSE.

COMMERCIAL THREE, I CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE DEFINITION OF WHAT COMMERCIAL THREE MEANS.

THIS IS ESTABLISHED AS A DISTRICT FOR OFFICES, SERVICES AND RETAILING.

IT'S GENERALLY LOCATED ON THE CITY'S MAJOR RADIAL ROADS, JUST FOR EVERYONE'S KNOWLEDGE.

WHAT IS A RADIAL ROAD? A RADIAL ROAD COMES OUT FROM A CITY CENTER AND EFFICIENTLY MOVES A HIGH VOLUME OF TRAFFIC.

UM, ADOPTION OF THE PROPOSED REZONING REQUEST.

SO I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THAT DEFINITION WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PINE.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO ILLUSTRATE ALL OF THE USES ON A CHART.

I KNOW SOMETIMES THAT COMES UP.

INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET WAS THE 80 USES THAT ANYONE IS ALLOWED TO APPLY FOR A PERMIT BY RIGHT IN THE C3 DISTRICT.

SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT WE GET QUESTIONED ON MOST FREQUENTLY ARE LISTED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN HERE.

RESTAURANTS, BARS, AND NIGHTCLUBS ARE ALLOWED BY RIGHT? THAT MEANS WE CAN JUST ISSUE A PERMIT AFTER IT GOES THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE.

UM, VAPE SHOPS, DIFFERENT RETAILERS THAT GENERATE HIGH VOLUMES OF TRAFFIC MANUFACTURING AND THEN VARIOUS OFFICES AND, AND MEDICAL SERVICES, RESEARCH, ET CETERA.

THIS IS OUR EXISTING ZONING MAP.

SO THIS IS WHAT, UH, IT LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW.

YOU WILL SEE THERE IS AN AWFUL LOT OF R 15 AROUND AT SOME POINT IN TIME.

THIS PARTICULAR PARCEL WAS ZONED R 10.

MY GUESS IS AT SOME POINT IN TIME SOMEBODY REQUESTED THAT ZONING, SINCE IT'S A LITTLE BIT, UM, DIFFERENT THAN WHAT'S IN THE SURROUNDING AREA.

THEN WE'VE GOT SOME C FIVE, WHICH IS A LESS INTENSE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT RIGHT THERE ON THAT ROAD TOO.

AND THERE IS A PARCEL ZONED THREE C TO THE SOUTH THERE, ALTHOUGH IT DOESN'T HAVE FRONTAGE ON THE SAME ROAD.

SO, UH, CONSIDER THAT AS WELL IF YOU'RE MAKING COMPARISONS.

YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT THIS PARCEL IS CURRENTLY UNDEVELOPED AND THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FROM THE STREET A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

AND HERE THE CONSIDERATIONS THAT WERE GIVEN BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD ON FEBRUARY 19TH.

THEY DID NOT RECOMMEND,

[00:30:01]

THE REASON FOR THEM NOT RECOMMENDING THIS REQUEST WAS, UH, THEY FOUND IT TO BE INCONSISTENT WITH THE CITY'S LAND USE PLAN.

REMEMBER WE TALKED ABOUT THE TYPES OF ROADS THAT ARE APPROPRIATE FOR, FOR HIGHER INTENSITY COMMERCIAL USES ALSO, UM, WITH THE VAST AMOUNT OF RESIDENTIAL AROUND THERE IN THE 80 USES BY RIGHT THAT ARE ALLOWED IN THE C3 DISTRICT.

THEY WERE NOT COMFORTABLE, ALTHOUGH THE APPLICANT HAS SHARED WITH THEM AND WILL LIKELY SHARE WITH YOU, UM, WHAT WHAT THEIR INTENDED USES.

UM, THAT IS THEIR INTENT.

IF THIS IS A REZONED TO C3, THOSE 80 USES THAT WERE INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET WOULD BE ALLOWED BY WRIGHT.

UM, AND WITH THAT, I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AFTER THAT.

FOUR A HALF QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.

AND HAVING A PROPERTY WHERE WE CAN PUT UP A TRAINING IN COMMUNITY CENTER WILL PROVIDE MORE CONSISTENT TRAINING, REDUCING WEATHER CANCELLATIONS, INCREASING ENGAGEMENT OUR TEAMS HAVE WITH EACH OTHER AND THE COMMUNITY.

THIS TIME WE'LL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NUMBER 14.

THIS IS THE REZONING OF 1100 PINE TREE DRIVE.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AT THIS TIME.

COULD YOU? GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME'S JACKIE O'BRIEN.

I AM THE DIRECTOR OF PAW WAR.

I'M HERE WITH MY HUSBAND BILL, WHO'S OUR LEAD TRAINER.

AND THE REASON WE STARTED THIS PROGRAM IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA, ALSO WITH US TONIGHT ARE PAW AWAR SUPPORTERS AND DOG TEAMS. SO WE WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR PUTTING US ON THE AGENDA, ALLOWING US TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS.

WE TRAIN JUST TO REFRESH EVERYONE'S MEMORY.

WE TRAIN VETERANS ACTIVE MILITARY FIRST RESPONDERS TO TRAIN THEIR DOGS FOR BASIC OBEDIENCE TRAINING OR SERVICE DOG TRAINING.

IF THEY DO NOT HAVE A DOG, WE WORK WITH OUR LOCAL SHELTERS AND RESCUES TO FIND THEM A DOG.

OUR FOCUS ARE WITH THOSE WHO HAVE PTSD OR TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.

WE DO NOT CHARGE FOR OUR SERVICES.

A GRADUATED SERVICE DOG IS WORTH ABOUT 25 TO $40,000.

WE VOLUNTEER OUR TIME AS WELL AS MANY TO SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM.

SINCE WE STARTED IT IN 2021, WE'VE TRAINED OVER 170 DOGS AND WE'VE GRADUATED 12 SERVICE DOG TEAMS IN 2025 WITH MANY MORE TO GRADUATE NEXT YEAR.

SO CURRENTLY WE TRAIN AT THE HAVELOCK VFW OUTSIDE AND DONATED PROPERTY IN SWANSBORO.

OUTSIDE.

THESE CLASSES ARE SUBJECT TO WEATHER CANCELLATIONS.

WE DO PUBLIC TRAINING AT THE NEW BERN MALL, DOWNTOWN NEW BERN, LOWE'S, AND THE JACKSONVILLE AIRPORT.

AND WE DO COMMUNITY OUTREACH FOR FREE CLINICS, MEDICAL CLINICS FOR PETS OF THESE, UH, VETERANS, EITHER MICROCHIPPING, SPAYING, NEUTERING, OR VACCINES.

SO WE SAW A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROPERTIES AND UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO TRAIN OUTSIDE AS WELL AS INSIDE, THE ONLY ZONE OPTION WE WERE GIVEN WAS C3.

WHEN WE LOOK AT C3 PROPERTIES, THERE'S VIRTUALLY NO GREEN SPACE WHERE WE TRAIN IN SWANSBORO AND HAVELOCK.

THERE IS GREEN SPACE.

THAT'S IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE THAT SPACE PROVIDES THOSE WITH ANXIETY, A SENSE OF PEACE, GROUNDING, AND CALMNESS.

MOST COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES DON'T PROVIDE THAT.

THEY PROVIDE CONCRETE TRAFFIC AND BUILDINGS, SO THAT'S NOT CONDUCIVE TO THE SPECIAL TRAINING NEEDS THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR DOG TEAMS. NOW, A PORTION OF THIS PROPERTY IS DEEMED WETLANDS AND WILL ALWAYS BE PRESERVED.

SO WE WOULD ONLY DEVELOP ON A PORTION OF IT TO PUT UP A, A BUILDING TO USE AS OUR TRAINING CENTER AND A COMMUNITY CENTER.

THE OTHER REASON WE ARE FIGHTING FOR THIS PROPERTY IS PRACTICALITY.

THIS PROPERTY IS ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR PARTNERS AT THE AMERICAN LEGION THAT USE THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS BUILDING, THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS AND THE ELKS CLUB.

IT'S ALSO NEAR VETERAN SERVICES BUILDING ON MARTIN LUTHER KING.

THEY, AMONG OTHER VA LOCATIONS REFER CLIENTS TO US AND WE WORK WITH THEM.

IT'S ALSO CLOSE TO OUR, OUR PUBLIC TRAINING AREAS.

AND THIS PROVIDES A CENTRAL LOCATION FOR THOSE CLIENTS THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE IN JACKSONVILLE, GREENVILLE, AND NEW BERN.

WE DO HAVE HAVELOCK RESIDENTS THAT TRAIN AT, AT HAVELOCK, SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A TRIP TO NEW BERN, BUT IT HELPS THOSE THAT ARE IN JACKSONVILLE THAT ARE DRIVING ALL THE WAY THROUGH NEW BERN JAMES CITY TO GET TO HAVELOCK.

[00:35:01]

WE ALSO WOULD PLAN FUTURE PARTNERSHIPS TO WORK WITH THE NEIGHBORING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND TRUE WOOD TO EDUCATE KIDS AND SENIORS ON SERVICE DOG ETIQUETTE AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.

AND HAVING TO, YOU KNOW, HAVING THE ABILITY TO HOLD COMMUNITY EVENTS IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT NEW BERN IS ALL ABOUT.

THIS AREA HAS MORE COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAN MANY OTHER AREAS WE VISITED.

AND THIS MISSION THAT WE'RE ON IS BIGGER THAN ANY OF US IN THIS ROOM AND NEEDS TO CONTINUE BEYOND BILL AND I.

THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO HAVE A HOME BASE AS WELL.

NOW WE DO UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS WITH THE COMMERCIAL ZONE C3 THAT ALLOWS US TO DO INDOOR AND OUTDOOR TRAINING WITH A SPECIAL USE PERMIT.

WE KNOW THAT THE CONCERN IS NOT WITH WHAT WE DO, BUT WITH WHAT A FUTURE, UH, BUYER, UH, COULD, FUTURE OWNER COULD DO.

SO WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK IS IF THERE IS NO OTHER ZONE FOR US TO BE ASSIGNED TO, COULD WE ADD, WE WOULD LIKE TO ADD STIPULATIONS TO THE, THE NEW PROPERTY DEED IF WE WERE TO PURCHASE THIS PROPERTY, TO KEEP THIS PROPERTY FOR THIS MISSION, OR AS A MEMORIAL PARK AND A COMMUNITY CENTER SIMILAR TO WHERE THE WETLANDS HAS TO STAY WETLANDS, WE WANT THIS PROPERTY TO FOREVER BE WITH THE COMMUNITY.

FOR THE COMMUNITY.

WE CONSULTED WITH OUR REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY FROM WHITE AND HALL AND HE INDICATED THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO RESTRICT FUTURE USE OF PROPERTY BY RESTRAINTS CONTAINED IN A DEED THAT COULD BIND FUTURE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS ARE THE, THAT THE STIPULATION MUST COMPLY WITH LOCAL ZONING LAWS AND REGULATIONS APPLY TO ALL FUTURE OWNERS, SPECIFIES THE ALLOWED USES AND ANY CONDITIONS THAT MUST BE MET AND IS FILED WITH THE NEW BERN REGISTER OF DEEDS MEETING ALL COUNTY REQUIREMENTS INC, INCLUDING PROPER EXECUTION AND DELIVERY.

WITH THAT, WE HUMBLY ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD.

THAT WAS PRETTY GOOD.

I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SIGN IT.

SORRY, I I SPEAK FROM THE HEART, BUT I HAD TO WRITE DOWN BECAUSE THIS IS A LITTLE NERVE WRACKING.

POSSIBLE, NOT A TOOL MAYOR? UM, AND, AND WE DON'T WANNA CONFLATE TWO ISSUES.

SO, SO BASICALLY WHEN WE WENT TO THE LAST, THE COMMISSIONER'S THING, I MEAN, THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE, I DON'T WANNA SPEAK INTO THAT.

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE SEEMS BE, WELL IF YOU, YOU KIND OF NEED TO SPEAK INTO THE MARKETPLACE.

EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE CAN HEAR PEOPLE ON TV.

SO THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE APPEARED TO BE THAT WE ARE KIND OF A ROUND PEG THAT DOESN'T FIT INTO THE SQUARE THING.

THAT'S WHATEVER THAT REGULATION IS, RIGHT? C3, RIGHT? SO, I MEAN, WE WERE TRYING TO FIND EVERY ANGLE THAT I COULD THINK OF TO TRY TO SHAVE AND SHAPE THE ROUND PEG INTO A SQUARE SO IT WOULD CLEANLY FIT IN.

BUT IT REALLY DOES.

AND THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME MAJOR CONCERN WITH VAPE SHOPS, RIGHT? I MEAN, THEY KEPT COMING UP OVER AND OVER AGAIN SAYING, WE DON'T WANT YOU TO TURN INTO A VAPE SHOP.

AND HONESTLY, THAT'S THE FURTHEST THING FROM OUR MIND.

AND TO JACKIE'S POINT, IT REALLY IS ALL ABOUT FINDING A PLACE THAT A, WE CAN TRAIN DOGS AND B WE CAN HAVE VETERANS WHO JUST WANT TO COME AND, AND WORK WITH THEIR DOG OR WORK WITH OTHER DOGS OR JUST KIND OF HANG OUT WITH OTHER VETERANS THAT ARE THERE, HAVE A SPOT THAT THEY CAN COME AND DO THAT.

AND TO JACKIE'S POINT, YOU KNOW, A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE OR SOMETHING LIKE 70 OR 17 OR ANY OF THOSE PLACES DOESN'T REALLY FIT THAT, THAT BILL.

NOW THIS, WE DIDN'T EXPECT TO FIND THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY AND SAY, OOH, THIS IS IT.

BUT SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, YOU COME ACROSS SOMETHING AND YOU JUST LOOK AT IT AND IT HAS A FUNNY SHAPE TO IT AND IT HAS A FUNNY SMELL TO IT, BUT YOU JUST KIND OF KNOW IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WANNA, I WANT TO HOLD ON TO.

AND THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY, FOR WHATEVER REASON, DOES THAT.

AND WE CIRCLED FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER AND WE AVOIDED THE POISON IVY AND THE SWAMP AND THE DIRT AND THE MUD, MUD, THE BUGS AND THE SNAKES AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S LIVING IN THERE, BUT STILL CAME AWAY SAYING, THIS WOULD BE A GREAT SPOT.

SO I GOT TO SAY SOMETHING AND NOW I FEEL BETTER.

SO .

BUT THAT'S, THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT WE'VE GOTTA SAY.

SO, OKAY, SO THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION, RIGHT? AND, AND DO APPRECIATE IT.

SO THANK YOU.

DO WE STAY HERE OR MR. DAVIS? I, I WATCHED THE P AND Z MEETING.

I KNOW A DEED RESTRICTION CAME UP.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS IF

[00:40:01]

IT'S PERFECTLY LEGAL TO HAVE A DEED WITH RESTRICTIONS.

IF YOU OWN THE LAND, YOU CAN RESTRICT IT IN MANY, MANY WAYS.

BUT THAT CAN'T BE TIED TO A REZONING PROCESS.

THAT IS CALLED ILLEGAL CONTRACT ZONING, WHERE YOU NEGOTIATE WITH AN OWNER OF LAND TO GET A PARTICULAR USE.

YOUR JOB IS TO CONSIDER ALL THE POTENTIAL USES AND DECIDE IF ALL OF THOSE USES ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THIS LOCATION.

IT'S A GREAT CREATIVE IDEA.

JUST, JUST VIOLATION NORTH CAROLINA LAW WHEN IT'S TIED TO ZONING.

THAT'S IT.

THAT'S THE WE WE'RE, WE'RE PUBLIC HEARINGS STILL OPEN? SO IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, THAT CAN COME FORWARD.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR ODOM AND BOARD, UH, OF ALDERMAN.

MY NAME IS JOANNA CLOSTER AND I LIVE AT 2004 DUTCHESS COURT.

I'M HERE AS A CITIZEN WHO KNOWS THE GOOD WORK OF PAW OF WAR AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THEIR PLANS FOR EXPANDING THEIR AMAZING PROGRAM, WHICH WOULD ALLOW THEM TO HELP EVEN MORE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

A PERSONAL ASIDE, HOW I KNOW THE GOOD WORKS OF JACKIE AND BILL O'BRIEN, UH, MY HUSBAND PATRICK AND I MET THEM ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO AT AN A CELEBRATION OF LIFE EVENT.

THEY TOLD US ABOUT THEIR SPECIAL CANINE PROGRAM FOR VETERANS, ACTIVE MILITARY AND FIRST RESPONDERS.

AND THAT IT WAS ALL VOLUNTEER.

THEY WERE DOING IT OUT OF THE, THE LOVE OF THEIR HEART.

THEY DO NOT GET PAID FOR THIS.

WE WERE DRAWN TO THEIR COMPASSION AND DEDICATION TO THIS PROGRAM THAT HELPS OTHERS WITH NEEDS THAT WERE UNIQUELY ADDRESSED THROUGH THE COMPANIONSHIP OF TRAINED SERVICE AND THERAPY DOGS.

AS A DOG LOVER, THIS WAS MUSIC TO MY EARS.

SINCE THEN, I HAVE BEEN WELCOMED IN THE, INTO THE PAUSE OF WAR CIRCLE OF GIVING BY PARTNERING WITH THEM AT EVENTS, THEY'VE WELCOMED ME IN WITH MY EDUCATIONAL TABLE PROMOTING ADOPTION FROM SHELTERS.

I BELIEVE WE ALL KNOW THE SPECIAL GYM THAT WE HAVE IN THIS UNIQUE TRAINING PROGRAM, AS EXPLAINED BY JACK BY THE O'BRIEN'S.

UH, NOW YOU DIDN'T GET TO SEE THEIR POWERPOINT, BUT HOPEFULLY YOU WILL ASK THEM SO THAT YOU CAN GET TO SEE IT.

WE DIDN'T GET TO.

PTSD AND I HAVE A DOG WITH THEIR PROGRAM.

UH, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF WHAT DOGS PROVIDE, THAT WE ALL STAND HERE.

HOW DOGS HELP THOSE WITH EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS AS A RESULT OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR COUNTRY.

AMONG THE ANIMAL KINGDOM DOGS ARE UNIQUE.

NO OTHER SPECIES PROVIDES THE LOYALTY, LOVE, AND COMFORT THAT CAN HEAL TRAUMA AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WOUNDS SUFFERED BY HUMANS IN THE LINE OF DUTY OF FACT, NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.

AND IT'S SUPPORTED BY REAMS OF RESEARCH.

I KNOW 'CAUSE I SPENT OVER 10 YEARS WRITING AND RESEARCHING THE HUMAN CANINE BOND FROM MY BOOK LILY UNLEASHED.

AND REMEMBER, PAW OF WAR NOT ONLY PROVIDES TRAINING TO ITS PARTICIPANTS WITH THEIR OWN DOGS, BUT IT HELPS OTHERS FIND A DOG BY WORKING WITH LOCAL SHELTERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO FIND A DOG THAT'S A GOOD MATCH.

SO WHEN I LEARNED PAW OF WAR WAS SEEKING TO EXPAND, BUT MIGHT BE DENIED DUE TO STIPULATIONS IN REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION, I GOT ON THE COMPUTER.

I LIKE FINDING THINGS OUT.

SO THE CONCERN IS OVER REZONING AS WE JUST HEARD.

AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT THAT'S I, THAT I FEEL THAT WE STILL NEED TO LOOK INTO THAT.

WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO? AND THAT'S WHAT HOPEFULLY WE CAN LEARN.

UH, THE CONCERN OVER THE REZONING IT, THE RESTRICTIONS, WELL YOU SAID IT WAS NEGATIVE, BUT I'M GONNA SHARE WHAT I LEARNED.

ANY RESTRICTIONS OR COVENANTS SHOULD BE CLEARLY STATED IN THE DEED AND RECORDED WITH THE COUNTY REGISTER OF DEEDS.

AND THESE RESTRICTIONS AND COVENANTS CAN BIND FUTURE OWNERS SO THAT NO VAPE SHOPS OR OTHER BUSINESSES DEEMED INAPPROPRIATE CAN FUNCTION NEAR THE ADJACENT SCHOOL THAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT.

ADDING COVENANTS IN A DEED ACCORDING TO THE RESEARCH IS NOT THE BIGGEST DEAL.

AND PAUSE OF WAR, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WOULD ADD THAT STIPULATION THAT THIS LAND, IF SOLD, COULD BE USED ONLY FOR INDOOR OUTDOOR DOG TRAINING, A MEMORIAL PARK OR A COMMUNITY CENTER.

IT.

WELL, THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE NEED TO DO ALL WE CAN TO KEEP THIS ORGANIZATION GROWING BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THEY'VE BEEN HERE, HOW MANY MORE.

AND THEY HAVE ALL THE STATS OF HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT THEY'VE HELPED.

MY HUSBAND, I'M GRATEFUL TO CALL JACK AND BILL, UH, JACKIE AND BILL O'BRIEN.

FRIENDS, WE SHARE OUR HOPE WITH THEM THAT THIS BOARD ALLOWS THEM TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR PLAN TO EXPAND THE REACH OF THEIR AMAZING PROGRAM.

IT'S A GOOD AND RIGHT THING TO DO.

SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN LOOK INTO THIS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

WELL, I'M, UH, PROOF THAT JACKIE AND BILL, 'CAUSE I'M A, I'M A VET WITH

[00:45:01]

AND BECAUSE THEIR DOG, 'CAUSE THEY HELP ME TRAIN MY DOG, THEY KEPT ME ALIVE.

'CAUSE I'M A VET THAT SUFFERS NOT ONLY FROM PTSD BUT ALSO SCHIZOAFFECTIVE DISABILITY AS WELL.

SO I WOULDN'T LIKE TO SEE A VAPE TOP, A STEAK HOUSE, OLIVE, A GARDEN OR WHATEVER.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MY VETS 'CAUSE WE HAVE MORE VETS IN THIS AREA THAN ANYTHING.

AND I FEEL THAT EVERY VET NEEDS A DOG OR SOME TYPE OF PET TO, TO HELP THEM THROUGH THEIR DAY.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

THANK YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

I DIDN'T COME TONIGHT THINKING NOW WOULD SPEAK, BUT SINCE I'VE HEARD THIS, AND I'LL TELL YOU, I'M RETIRED MILITARY.

I WAS A COMBAT CORPSMAN WITH THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS IN VIETNAM WHERE I STARTED.

I AM SORRY, I'M VERY COMPASSIONATE ABOUT THIS.

AND THIS, THIS LITTLE GUY KEEPS ME GOING.

THIS PROGRAM KEEPS ME GOING AND I, I DON'T CARE MUCH FOR LAWYERS.

WHEN I RETIRED, I BECAME A FORENSIC MEDICAL INVESTIGATOR FOR THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

AND THAT'S WHY I REALLY GOT A BAD CASE FOR A LOT OF THE LAWS AND ATTORNEYS THAT ARE ALWAYS DEFENDING OR TRYING TO PROTECT THE BAD RULES AND LAWS.

SO I WILL TELL YOU, I WILL FIGHT ANYBODY ON THAT FRONT FROM EXPERIENCE.

AND I, I CAN'T TELL YOU SOME OF THE HORROR STORIES THAT I ALONE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AND ALONG WITH THESE OTHER, FROM SOME OF THESE OTHER FOLKS WHO HAVE FAR MORE DISABILITIES THAN I.

AND I DO APOLOGIZE FOR GETTING SO WORKED UP.

BUT PLEASE, ZONING LAWS SUCK SO MUCH OF THE TIME FOR SO MANY REASONS AND I DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT CRAP.

THIS PROGRAM WORKS NOT ONLY FOR VETERANS, FIRST RESPONDERS, COVER COVER, POLICE OFFICERS, NURSES, DOCTORS, PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE EMERGENCY SITUATION.

YOU LOOK AT NINE 11, YOU LOOK AT THOSE FOUR PEOPLE AND, AND THE FIREMEN AND STUFF.

THIS PROGRAM HELPS COVER AND TRAIN.

AND I DON'T, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T CARE ABOUT SOME OF THESE OTHER RULES, THEY NEED TO GO AWAY.

YOU CAN OUTLAW VAPE SHOPS AND ALL THIS OTHER GARBAGE AND I'D BE HAPPY 'CAUSE THAT'S KILLED MORE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, IN TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND STUFF.

AND I KNOW THAT UPSETS A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM NORTH CAROLINA, INCLUDING MY FAMILY, MY WIFE'S FAMILY.

UM, MINE WAS IN THE COTTON, HERS WAS IN THE, IN INTO TOBACCO PRODUCTS, YOU KNOW, FROM WAY BACK WHEN.

AND, UM, I, I JUST GET TIRED OF THE RHETORIC AND PLEASE, PLEASE HELP US AND, AND HELP THESE OTHER FRIENDS AND THESE ANIMALS.

AND IT ALSO SAVED ANIMALS FROM, YOU KNOW, FROM THESE SHELTERS.

'CAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF 'EM THAT GOT A LOT MORE TO GIVE TO US AND, AND THEY PROVIDE A LOT BETTER, UM, HUMANITY THAN, THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE.

SO I'LL GET OFF MY SOAPBOX AND PLEASE, PLEASE CONSIDER THIS PROGRAM IS OUTSTANDING.

AND, AND IF YOU NEED TO CHANGE ZONING LAWS, YOU KNOW, FROM THE, YOU KNOW, SO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT, HECK YOU LOOK HOW MANY BARS WE HAVE IN THIS TOWN, OKAY? YOU TELL ME THERE'S NOT, AND I'M NOT AGAINST ALCOHOL WHEN IT'S USED PROPERLY, BUT YOU LOOK AT THAT KIND OF STUFF AND HOW WE CAN GET SO MUCH OF THAT APPROVED THROUGH THINGS.

BUT IF YOU DON'T HELP US GET THIS APPROVED, THEN SHAME ON YOU.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LAVEE WALLACE SINGLETON OF VETERANS EMPLOYMENT BASE CAMP IN ORGANIC ART.

SORRY I'M A LITTLE SHORT, GOOD EVENING.

UH, SOME OF YOU KNOW ME.

I'M

[00:50:01]

AND I JUST WANTED TO THROW MY SUPPORT BEHIND PAUSE OF WAR, NOT ONLY BECAUSE I'M A PARTICIPANT, BUT ALSO IF MANY OF YOU REMEMBER, UH, ABOUT 10 OR 11 YEARS AGO, I STOOD BEFORE YOU GUYS SAYING, HEY, I WANNA START A VETERANS GUARD.

AND SOME OF YOU LOOKED AT ME LIKE SHE HAS LOST HER MIND.

BUT OVER THOSE YEARS, UH, I THINK THAT YOU CAN SAY IT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS.

WE HAVE HELPED A LOT OF VETERANS WITH OUR VETERAN STAND DOWNS OF WHICH PAUSE OF WAR IS ONE OF OUR SUPPORTERS.

AND I THINK THAT SOMETIMES WE'RE REQUIRED TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.

UH, IF WE'RE ABLE TO HELP SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO STAND ON THE FRONT LINE, I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD DO THAT.

AND, UH, IF IT REQUIRES ANY KIND OF RESTRICTION OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE, UH, PLEASE FIND IT WITHIN YOURSELF TO DO THAT.

UH, AS WE SPEAK, WE ARE A NATION AT WAR AND WE WILL HAVE MANY MORE VETERANS WHO WILL REQUIRE THE SERVICES THAT PAULS OF WAR PROVIDES.

SO PLEASE, UH, IF YOU CAN FIND A WAY TO PUT THAT LITTLE CAVEAT ON THERE, UH, THINK ABOUT WHEN I CAME TO YOU AND SAID, HEY, I WANT TO TRY THIS, YOU KNOW, AND UH, I'LL TELL YOU, IT HAS BEEN WONDERFUL.

I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY.

I THINK THAT ANYTIME YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COME AND ATTEND ONE OF OUR EVENTS, YOU HAVE BEEN TOTALLY IMPRESSED AND I THINK YOU'LL DO THE SAME WITH PAUL'S OF WAR.

SO THANK YOU.

HELLO, MY NAME IS LAUREN KLEIN.

SOME OF YOU MIGHT HAVE REMEMBER ME FROM NOVEMBER, SO I'M NOT GONNA WASTE TIME TALKING ABOUT USE.

UM, I JUST WANNA SPEAK ON BEHALF OF BILL AND JACKIE O'BRIEN AND THEIR INTEGRITY AND THEIR CHARACTER.

I HAVE WORKED WITH JACKIE AND BILL O'BRIEN FOR YEARS AND WHAT THEY'RE BUILDING IS SOMETHING MONEY CAN'T BUY AND SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD NEVER SELL.

YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER ALL THE WHAT IFS.

AND AS A NEWBORN CITIZEN, I GENUINELY TAKE OR I ASK YOU TO GENUINELY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE CHARACTER OF THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS.

I CONSIDER THE O'BRIEN'S FAMILY NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE KINDNESS THEY SHOW, BUT THE DETERMINATION AND FOLLOW THROUGH THAT IS WAY TOO UNCOMMON TODAY.

THEIR INTEGRITY IS SOMETHING RARE.

YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO CONSIDER THE USE, BUT I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THE HONEST INTENTIONS OF THE O'BRIEN'S.

WHAT IF THE REZONING IS APPROVED AND THERE'S A DROP IN AMBULANCE CALLS IN NEW BERN? WHAT IF THEY'RE ABLE TO CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR VETERANS THAT LAST GENERATIONS? YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER ALL THE POSSIBILITIES, BUT I ASK YOU TO BEAR WITNESS TO THE TESTIMONY OF THOSE WHO REALLY KNOW THE O'BRIEN'S.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SELL THIS PLOT IN THE FUTURE.

THEY'RE NOT LOOKING FOR PROFIT.

THEY'RE GENUINELY INTERESTED IN MAKING AN IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY THAT WILL LAST BEYOND THEIR TIME.

MY NAME'S STEVE AND THIS IS ROCKY.

UM, I THINK WE JUST WENT TO WAR WITHOUT EVEN ASKING CONGRESS ANYTHING.

I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN, UH, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND DO A LITTLE BIT OF THINKING OTHER THAN THE QUICK, QUICK RESPONSE THAT WE GOT THAT WAS A VERY, VERY FAST SHOOT DOWN THAT WE GOT.

AND I BELIEVE WE CAN PUT A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME INTO THAT.

AND UM, LORD KNOWS THERE'S GOTTA BE A LOOPHOLE.

WE COULD.

WE ALL WATCHING TV LATE AT NIGHT.

WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD.

I BELIEVE YOU GUYS CAN FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.

BECAUSE NOBODY'S LISTENING.

MY NAME IS RICKY DURHAM AND I COME TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF PAULS OF WAR.

I'M A DISABLED VET.

I BROKE MY NECK IN 1978 DOWN CHERRY POINT.

I HAVE LIVED WITH CHRONIC PAIN EVERY DAY, EVEN TONIGHT FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS.

PAIN IS SOMETHING ELSE.

YOU NEVER KNOW JUST HOW MUCH PAIN ONE PERSON CAN TAKE.

HOW MANY VESTS HAVE WE LOST BECAUSE OF THE PAIN? TIRED OF THE PAIN? TIRED

[00:55:01]

TIRED BECAUSE NOBODY SEEMS TO CARE.

I'VE BEEN HERE IN NEW BERN SINCE 77, 78 AND FOR MANY YEARS, VETERAN'S DAY, JUST ANOTHER DAY, NOBODY SAID THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THEY JUST FORGOT ABOUT US.

AND I'M NOT TELLING YOU WHAT I'VE HEARD.

I'M TELLING YOU WHAT I KNOW.

IT TOOK A LONG TIME BEFORE PEOPLE STARTED SAYING THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE SHOWING THEIR APPRECIATION.

WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE DOING A GREAT JOB THAT VETS NEED.

I'M TELLING YOU, WHEN I GET IN MY MOMENTS AND I ALSO HAVE PTSD, WHEN I HAVE MY MOMENTS, WELL I JUST SAY, THIS IS IT.

WHEN I DON'T CARE ABOUT ME, SHE MAKES ME CARE ABOUT HER.

WHEN I'M HURTING JUST BY BEDRIDDEN, SHE COMES TO MY SIDE, JUMPS UP ON ME, SHE WANTS TO KISS ME, WANTS TO ME TO PET HER, BUT SHE TAKES MY MIND OFF MY PROBLEM, OFF MY SITUATION.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M STILL HERE TODAY.

AND I'M TELLING YOU, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MANY VETERANS THAT HAVE JUST SAID, THAT'S IT.

I'M DONE.

WE'LL STILL BE HERE TODAY.

IF THEY WERE CONNECTED WITH AN ORGANIZATION LIKE PAUL'S OF WAR, IF THEY HAD SOMEBODY WHO CARED ENOUGH TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS.

AND CHANGE IS NOT CHANGE UNTIL YOU CHANGE.

I'M NOT A LAWYER, I'M NOT A GENIUS, BUT I'M NOT STUPID EITHER.

AND I DO KNOW YOU HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE WHATEVER CHANGE NEEDS TO BE MADE.

YOU HAVE THE POWER, YOU CAN MAKE A CHANGE.

I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO DO ANYTHING ILLEGAL, I'M JUST ASKING YOU CONSIDER IF THIS WERE YOUR CHILD THAT NEEDED THE SERVICES THAT NEEDED THIS HELP, WHAT WOULD YOU DO THEN? THANK YOU.

HEY THERE, I'M SAMANTHA SOLANO.

MY HUSBAND HAS A DOG THAT IS GOING THROUGH POSITIVE WAR TRAINING, BUT I PERSONALLY FEEL ANIMALS ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

I DO WORK AT A LOCAL VETERINARY CLINIC, BUT I ACTUALLY WANTED TO POINT OUT A PICTURE THAT JACKIE PAINTED THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MISSED IS NOT ONLY THE GREAT THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO WITH THEIR TRAINING, BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.

WE DO HAVE A BIG ISSUE IN NEW BERN AND I SEE A OFTEN OF PEOPLE SLAPPING A SERVICE DOG VEST ON THEIR DOG, ESA AND TAKING IT INTO RESTAURANTS, WALMART, ALL OF THOSE PLACES.

AND THEY'RE NOT PROPERLY TRAINED.

AND SO OBVIOUSLY JACKIE AND BILL WANT TO N THAT.

BUT THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT THAT THEY WANT TO DO, THEY WANNA BRING OUT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO BE AROUND SERVICE DOGS, TO LET THEM UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE DIFFERENT JOBS.

THEY CANNOT BE APPROACHED BY JUST WHOEVER WANTING TO PET THEM, BUT ALSO THE ELDERLY CLIENTELE IN THE AREA TOO.

BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT THESE DOGS ARE WORKING, THEY'RE TRAINED FOR A PURPOSE AND SOMEONE COMING UP AND APPROACHING THEM IS DISTRACTING, NOT ONLY TO THEM, TO THEIR HANDLER.

AND SO BRINGING THE COMMUNITY IN AND HAVING A SPACE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT WHERE THEY CAN COME AND BE AROUND SERVICE DOGS AND LEARN ABOUT THEM IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT AND WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS SUBJECT? GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS NO TRE ANDREWS.

UM, I AM A DISABLED ARMY VET.

AND UM, ONE THING I LEARNED IN THE ARMY, WE HAD AN ACRONYM, LEADERSHIP, LOYALTY, DUTY, RESPECT, SELFLESS SERVICE, HONOR, INTEGRITY, PERSONAL COURAGE.

AND SITTING HERE TODAY AND LISTENING TO MR. AND MRS. O'BRIEN, I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THEY EXHIBIT ALL OF THOSE QUALITIES.

AND LISTENING TO YOUR LAWYER, I KNOW THAT HE'S SAYING THAT IT WOULD BE A CONFLICT FOR Y'ALL TO DO IT, BUT I TRULY BELIEVE THAT IF THEY SAY THEY'RE GONNA DO IT, SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T LOOK AT THE LAW.

YOU GOTTA LOOK AT THE INTEGRITY OF A PERSON AND KNOW THAT THEY WOULD DO THE RIGHT THING WITH PUTTING THE RESTRICTIONS ON THE LAND IF THIS WAS APPROVED.

ANYONE ELSE? HI, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER DONE THIS.

[01:00:04]

GLAD TO MEET ALL OF YOU.

I'VE SEEN YOU IN THE PAPERS.

I'VE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION.

WE'RE GETTING READY TO VOTE ON A LOT OF THINGS.

I'M TRYING TO LEARN.

I'M NEW.

I AM A, UM, VET MYSELF.

I HAVE BROUGHT IN MANY OF THE MEN OUT OF THE CHERRYPOINT AREA DURING THE LEBANON BOMBING.

I LOST MY SENIOR CHIEF.

I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THESE GUYS.

IT'S MY FIRST TIME HERE AND I'M NOT A VERY GOOD SPEAKER, BUT FROM WHAT I HEAR, I WANNA GET INVOLVED.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I EVEN HEARD OF THIS GROUP.

SO COMING TO YOU FROM SOMEONE THAT'S NEW THAT'S NEVER EVEN HEARD OF THIS, I DO OTHER WORK WITH OUR VETS IN OTHER WAYS, BUT WE NEED 'EM IN ALWAYS.

NOT JUST THE HUMAN FACTOR, BUT THE ANIMAL FACTOR IS A BIG ONE.

I HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT RESCUE PETS ALL MY LIFE WITH MY FOUR GIRLS AND NOW THEY'RE GROWN AND THEY HAVE ANIMALS OF THEIR OWN.

AND WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THESE ANIMALS TO FIND A PLACE THAT THEY CAN BE WORTHY TO US AS WE HAVE BEEN TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THE SERVICE THAT WE HAVE DONE TO OUR COUNTRY.

AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

SO PLEASE CONSIDER THIS.

I KNOW THERE'S LOOPHOLES.

YOU GOTTA BE ABLE TO FIND SOMETHING AND I HOPE TO, UH, HELP YOU GUYS OUT AND GET YOU SOME SUPPORT BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T, I WILL JOIN.

AND I'M SURE THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE THAT I KNOW THAT'LL HELP AS WELL.

SO IT CAN GROW, GET IT WILL WORD OUT TO US.

YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS STUFF, YOU KNOW.

SO I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND, UH, GOOD AND GOOD LUCK TO Y'ALL IN THE NEXT ELECTION.

ANYONE ELSE? YES, ME.

OKAY, SO NO, I'M NOT A VET AND NO, I DON'T PLAY ONE ON TV.

HOWEVER, AFTER HEARING THE TESTIMONY FROM, UM, THE SIT DOWN FREON COUNTY CITIZENS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, THIS INITIATIVE, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL TAKE IT UNDER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.

AND IF IT IS IN THE SCOPE OF YOUR AUTHORITY, UM, TRY TO WORK WITH IT.

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S SAVING LIVES.

SO IN CONCLUSION, ALL YOU WHO ARE SITTING HERE TODAY ON THIS BOARD MAY EARN EVERYONE, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL NEED US, BUT GUESS WHAT? WE NEED YOU TO THANK YOU.

AND I'M OUT.

ANYONE ELSE? MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? CAN I ASK, UH, MS. RU A QUESTION BEFORE WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? OH, I THOUGHT WE CLOSED ALREADY.

UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? PUBLIC HEARINGS NOW CLOSED YOUR SIR MR. FIRST AND GO RIGHT AHEAD.

AND CAN WE GO ON THE POWERPOINT SLIDE? I THINK IT'S SLIDE 10.

WHICH ONE'S 10? NO, THE ONE YOU JUST PASSED.

IT SHOWS THE ZONING MAP WITH EXISTING ZONING CONDITIONS.

THAT GAP.

THE RED HATCHING IS THIS PROPOSED PARCEL, CORRECT? YES.

OR THIS PARCEL.

AND THEN BLUE, WHICH IS ALMOST ADJACENT ACROSS THE STREET.

THAT'S C FIVE.

LOOK AT USES AND CHANGE USES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

DID PLANNING AND ZONING CONSIDER C FIVE AT ALL? C FIVE WASN'T A VIABLE OPTION.

THERE'S TWO OPTIONS OF EXISTING ZONING DISTRICTS THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO BE ABLE TO DO, UH, AN ANIMAL USE.

AND LET ME EXPAND ON THAT AS WELL.

UH, IN SECTION 1200 OF OUR TABLE OF USES, IT LISTS ANIMAL, ANIMAL TYPE SERVICES.

AND ONLY ONE OF THOSE TYPES ACCOMMODATES OUTSIDE.

SO THAT IS A USE BY RIGHT? AND INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS IN THE CITY OF NEW BERN STAFF WAS NOT COMFORTABLE SAYING UNLESS THERE AN INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AROUND PARKS AND SCHOOLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT BROUGHT US TO THE C3.

UM, C3 AGAIN WOULD STILL REQUIRE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT.

THERE'S, THERE ARE OTHER, THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO, TO

[01:05:01]

OF COURSE, THE TEXT AMENDMENT IS ALWAYS AN OPTION.

MANY TIMES IF A USE IS A LOW IMPACT USE, WE'D SAY, HEY, LET'S LOOK AT THAT.

LET'S MAKE THAT A SPECIAL USE PERMIT.

IN THE EXISTING DISTRICT, WE'D GO IN, I'D ASK FOR A TEXT AMENDMENT, WE'D ADD SOMETHING ON THE USE CHART THAT WOULD MAKE THAT A SPECIAL USE PERMIT, AND THEY COULD GO TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND BE ON THEIR WAY.

THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT HAS THE ABILITY TO PUT THOSE CONDITIONS, HOURS OF OPERATION WHEN, WHEN ANIMALS CAN BE OUTSIDE, ET CETERA.

THE CITY OF NEW BERN, IN MY EXPERIENCE, HAS BEEN VERY SENSITIVE TO ANYTHING, ANY USE THAT IS OUTSIDE, WHETHER IT BE OUTDOOR DINING, OUTDOOR DRINKING, OUTDOOR ANIMALS.

AND ALMOST ALL OF OUR USES THAT INVOLVE ANYTHING OUTSIDE REQUIRE THAT EXTRA STEP OF GOING TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO ADD THOSE CONDITIONS AND THIS BOARD DOES NOT.

UM, C3 WAS, WAS THE BEST FIT.

NOW I HEARD SOMETHING TODAY I GOT KIND OF EXCITED ABOUT.

THAT MIGHT SEEM CRAZY, BUT ZONING AND LAWS DO SUCK RIGHT NOW.

THEY REALLY DO SUCK RIGHT NOW.

THE STATE HAS MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT, UM, TO MAKE SOME CHANGES.

IT HAS NOT BEEN TESTED YET.

IF YOU ADD A USE TO A DISTRICT BY RIGHT.

ARE YOU TAKING A USE AWAY FROM OTHER DISTRICTS WHERE IT'S NOT LISTED? UM, SCOTT'S NODDING HIS HEAD.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW.

WE DON'T KNOW.

WE ARE ALL OPERATING UNDER A VERY FOGGY UMBRELLA RIGHT NOW DUE TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND, AND THEIR ZONING DECISIONS.

UM, THAT, AND, AND THAT'S WHERE WE FIND OURSELVES RIGHT NOW.

SO IN LISTENING TO EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TONIGHT, THE ONLY OTHER OPTION I I SEE BESIDES C3 WOULD BE FOR YOU ALL TO DIRECT ME TO DRAFT A NEW ZONING DISTRICT OR ADD, TO ADD IT, TO ADD IT TO AN EXISTING ADDING TO C FIVE WOULD BE, THIS IS A, THIS IS A R 10 OR R 15.

THIS IS R 10.

SO THIS IS A, SO IN THEORY IF WE DO A TEXT AMENDMENT TO CHANGE OR ADD A DEFINITION, ADD A USE BECAUSE THIS, THE ISSUE I HAVE IS THIS HAS COME UP NOW TWICE IN TWO MONTHS WITH YOU HAVE A, A, A FANTASTIC PROGRAM TRAINING DOGS, THERAPY DOG SERVICE DOGS FOR VETERANS.

UM, AND WE DON'T HAVE A USE THAT REALLY FITS THAT THAT IS CORRECT.

WHETHER IT'S ANIMAL TRAINING, THERAPY, ANIMAL TRAINING, THERAPY SLASH SERVICE, ANIMAL TRAINING.

UM, AND IT JUST SEEMS THAT NOW THIS IS, AGAIN, I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE FOR I THINK ALL OF FOUR MONTHS AND THIS HAS COME UP TWICE.

AND SO IT JUST, I WONDER IF WE COULD DO A TEXT AMENDMENT THAT ADDS A USE THAT ADDRESSES ANIMAL, UM, ANIMAL TRAINING OR THERAPY, ANIMAL TRAINING, SERVICE THERAPY, ANIMAL TRAINING, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND THEN ADD IT TO AN EXISTING ZONE.

THE, THE ISSUE, AND I UNDERSTAND THIS IS R 10.

SO THE IDEA OF SAYING ANIMAL TRAINING IN AN R TIP, MEANING WE'RE GONNA LET ANY RESIDENT, ANY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE ANIMAL TRAINING.

WELL, THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

I MEAN, FROM A, FROM A JUST PLANNING PERSPECTIVE.

SO MY QUESTION WOULD BE IN SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE LESS, UM, DENSE, LIKE A C FIVE, WHICH WOULD BE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, WHICH WOULD SEEM TO ME TO BE COMPATIBLE.

AND SO I I JUST, I'M HEARING A LOT OF GREAT THINGS ABOUT THIS USE AND I DO THINK THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO.

THE PROBLEM IS, I WOULD AGREE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS GREATLY RESTRICTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO ZONE PROPERTY.

UM, WHICH TAKES AWAY LOCAL CONTROL FROM THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW THE LOCALITY BETTER THAN THE FOLKS IN RALEIGH.

I WOULD ADD.

BUT I WOULD THINK THAT IF THIS IS R 10 AND WE REZONE IT TO A C FIVE AND THEN ADD A USE THAT IS SOMETHING SIMILAR TO ANIMAL TRAINING OR THERAPY, ANIMAL TRAINING, AND THEN ADD THAT USE TO A C FIVE, THAT THAT MAY BE A VIABLE OPTION.

THAT WOULD BE A UPZONING, NOT NECESSARILY A DOWN ZONING.

AND I'M GONNA LOOK OVER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY IF IN THEORY WHAT I SAID IS POT, IT POTENTIALLY COULD BE DONE.

YES SIR.

IT, THAT IS SOMETHING WORTH EXPLORING.

UH, SO LET, LET'S ZOOM, LET'S ZOOM OUT AND ALL TRY TO GET ON THE SAME PAGE.

I'M TRACKING EVERYTHING YOU'RE SAYING AND, AND THAT IS A PATH TO GO DOWN.

BUT I KNOW THE AUDIENCE IS CONFUSED WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE AND STATUTES.

SADLY, AND I, I WILL VENT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, WE INITIATED A, A MODERNIZATION OF OUR LAND USE ORDINANCE SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AND WE'RE WORKING OUR WAY THROUGH THAT.

AND HAD WE COMPLETED IT, I DON'T THINK WE'D BE HERE.

BECAUSE ONE OF THE TOOLS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT THE LAW ALLOWS IS WHAT'S CALLED CONDITIONAL

[01:10:01]

ZONING, WHERE WE CAN DO EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT.

THIS IS AN AREA THAT ALLOWS, UM, UH, AN OWNER TO PITCH, TO PITCH A VERY SPECIFIC USE.

AND WE LOCK DOWN THAT USE EXACTLY LIKE EVERYONE IS IMAGINING.

BUT ON OUR WAY TO THAT SOLUTION, A LAW WAS PASSED IN RALEIGH THAT FROZE ALL LAND USE ORDINANCES IN NORTH CAROLINA AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, MEANING THAT WE HAVE VERY FEW TOOLS TO CHANGE FROM OUR CURRENT LAW.

NOW WE ARE, I KNOW YOU HAVE DIRECTED ME AND OTHERS TO WORK ON THAT IN RALEIGH, AND WE ARE TRYING TO, TO, TO, UM, AVAIL OURSELVES TO THE OLD WAY OF DOING IT SO THAT WE CAN MODERNIZE OUR STATUTE.

BUT RIGHT NOW, THE PERFECT TOOL IS NOT AVAILABLE TO US.

THE NEXT BEST TOOL IS TO FIND A ZONE AND, AND OTTOMAN FERGUSON, I AGREE WITH YOU, THE C FIVE ACROSS THE STREET DOESN'T RAISE ANY SPOT LEGAL SPOT ZONING ISSUES.

THAT WOULD WORRY ME TO ADVISE YOU AGAINST THAT.

SO THEN THE NEXT STEP IS FOR PLANNING AND ZONING AND STAFF TO REFLECT ON WHETHER AN AN OUTDOOR NON KENNELING ANIMAL USE WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER USES IN A C FIVE ZONE.

AND THEN IT WOULD GO THROUGH A TEXT AMENDMENT PROCESS PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD.

THEN TO YOU THEN BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD IN THIS PROCESS TO REQUEST A C FIVE FOR THIS PARCEL, NOT A C3.

'CAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S R 10.

THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE THE, THE PATH THAT WOULD BE A TWO TO FOUR MONTH EXPERIENCE IF ALL OF THAT PLAYED OUT GOING THROUGH THE MANY STEPS.

AND I'M NOT, NOT PRESUPPOSING THE ANSWER TO THAT, BUT JUST IMAGINING THAT THAT IS AN AVENUE THAT MAY BE VIABLE.

I WILL ALSO ADD TO THAT, AS JESS WAS SAYING, BECAUSE OF THIS NEW STATUTE, NEW BEING A YEAR OR SO AGO, BASICALLY FREEZES OUR ZONING.

THERE, THERE ARE LEGAL ISSUES WITH EVEN TRYING TO DO THAT.

THERE ARE THINKY ARGUMENTS THAT PRESENT SOME AMOUNT OF LEGAL RISK TO US.

UM, AND THE SAD THING IS, I CAN'T TELL TELL YOU OR ADVISE YOU WHAT THAT IS BECAUSE THIS LAW IS SO VERY NEW.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT DURHAM IS NOW DEALING WITH SOME PRIVATE LITIGATION.

THEY'VE BEEN SUED OVER SOME THINGS THEY'VE TRIED TO DO.

UM, SO I DON'T KNOW.

BUT, BUT THAT WILL BE YOUR DECISION WHEN THE DAY COMES TO ANALYZE THAT LEGAL RISK.

IF WE WANT TO GO DOWN THIS PATH OF REFLECTING ON A TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE C FIVE ZONE, YOU WITH ME? I AM ABSOLUTELY WITH YOU.

UH, C FIVE CURRENTLY DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING OUT OUTDOOR USES, BUT THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT WE CAN'T LOOK INTO THIS.

WITH DIRECTION TO STAFF TO INITIATE A TEXT AMENDMENT AND REZONING PROCESS WITH ALL OF THE COMMENTS THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN.

BUT THERE ARE SOME SIMILAR FAIRLY INTENSIVE USES THAT, THAT FEEL A LOT LIKE THIS.

MAYBE EVEN MORE BURDENSOME THAN THIS MIGHT BE.

AND IN THE DESCRIPTION WE MIGHT ALSO PUT SOME, WE CAN THINK ABOUT USE AS A MATTER OF RIGHT.

VERSUS A SPECIAL USE PERMIT.

WE CAN THINK ABOUT THAT, BUT MAYBE OUR DESCRIPTORS MIGHT HELP LIMIT THAT AND AVOID THE NEED IF THERE ARE HOURS AND OTHER THINGS IMPOSED.

BUT THAT'S MANY STEPS DOWN THE ROAD.

LONG, LONG ANSWER TO YOUR SIMPLE QUESTION, I APOLOGIZE.

BUT YES IS THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION.

AND IF, AND IF WE WANTED TO TONIGHT, BECAUSE THE ISSUE HERE IS, OKAY, IF C3 IS THE BEST ALTERNATIVE, WHICH IS NOT A GREAT ALTERNATIVE BECAUSE IT ALLOWS ALL OF THESE HIGH DENSITY USES, NONE OF WHICH THEY'RE GONNA DO, BUT IT'S ABOUT, IF NOT THEM, BUT THE NEXT OWNER, UM, DOWN THE ROAD WANTS TO PUT A GAS STATION, WANTS TO PUT A RESTAURANT, WANTS TO PUT A BAR ACROSS FROM THE SCHOOL.

I MEAN, ALL THESE ISSUES COME UP.

IT'S, IT'S THE POTENTIAL USES FOR C3 RIGHT SMACK DAB IN ALL OF THIS RESIDENTIAL AREA, WHICH DOESN'T REALLY MAKE SENSE FROM A PLANNING PERSPECTIVE.

UM, THAT'S, THAT'S THE ISSUE WITH THE C3.

EXACTLY.

SO IF THIS BODY IN DISCUSSION TONIGHT WANTED TO REZONE IT TO C FIVE, UM, I DON'T, WE'VE NOT PROPERLY NOTICED THAT.

SO THAT NO ONE KNOWS TO BE HERE TO TALK FOR OR AGAINST THAT.

I WOULD JUST SITTING HERE NOW ON THE FLY, THAT WOULD WORRY ME.

UM, IT'S NOT BEEN CONSIDERED BY P AND Z NOT BEEN NOTICED.

WELL BOARD, I CERTAINLY, I I CAN, I CAN REALLY APPRECIATE THE, THE, THE RISK THAT OUR ATTORNEY IS ADVISING ON WHEN IT COMES TO THE REZONING PROCESS.

I WILL PERSONALLY SAY THAT IF THERE WAS EVER A USE THAT I WOULD WANT TO GO TO BAT FOR AND DEFEND A C FIVE ZONING, I THINK THIS WOULD BE THE ONE.

AND SO I I, I THINK WHERE I'M LEANING IN THIS CONVERSATION WOULD BE TO, 'CAUSE C3 DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

IF WE EITHER DENY THE C3

[01:15:01]

OR EVEN JUST TABLING THIS DIRECTING STAFF TO DO, UM, A TEXT AMENDMENT FOR THERAPY SLASH SERVICE ANIMAL TRAINING AND THEN A POTENTIAL REZONING OF THIS AND ASK THE APPLICANT TO GO THROUGH ANOTHER REZONING UH, APPLICATION FOR C FIVE.

AND I'M SORRY FOR THE, THE, I'M SORRY FOR THE HEADACHE AND I'M, I'M CERTAINLY SORRY FOR THE ISSUES THAT OUR STATE LEGISLATURE HAS, UM, CREATED FOR US HERE.

AND SO WE ARE TRYING TO, TO THINK THROUGH THAT.

NO, ACTUALLY, I JUST APPRECIATE THAT DISCUSSION.

NO, I DON'T WANT, I I HATE TO TRY TO CUT YOU OFF, BUT THE PUBLIC HEARING'S CLOSED, SO THANK YOU THOUGH.

SO IMAN BRYANT HAS RED CODED ME, SO I'M GONNA STOP TALKING NOW.

BUT THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS.

SO BOARD, DO YOU HAVE TIME TO RESEARCH THAT? I, I BELIEVE, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, I'LL TRY TO SPEAK ON YOUR BEHALF.

UM, YOU ARE MONTH TO MONTH ON YOUR CONTRACT WITH THE REALTOR.

SO EVERY MONTH THAT GOES BY, THEY'RE HAVING TO PAY EARNEST MONEY ESSENTIALLY, UH, UNTIL THIS CLOSES TO KEEP THAT PROPERTY IN THEIR POSSESSION OR POTENTIAL POSSESSION.

IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY.

I WILL ADD, UH, TO DERMAN FERGUSON'S NOTE THAT, THAT A REZONING CONSIDERATION AND A TEXT MEMO WILL FOLLOW THE EXACT SAME PROCEDURAL PATH.

SO THERE WON'T BE TWO DIFFERENT PROCESSES.

THEY COULD, THEY WILL RUN IN TANDEM.

AND IF BY RUN, BY RUNNING IN TANDEM, COULD IT GO THROUGH THE PROCESS BY THE APRIL MEETING? APRIL WE'RE, WE'RE IN MARCH.

REASON IT CAN'T BE ON P AND Z IN APRIL.

WE ARE IN, I'M SORRY.

MAY I WOULD EXPECT MAY FOR SURE.

BOARD, ANY OTHER COMMENTS, MR. DAVIS FROM A, A LEGAL CONCERN OF DOING SOMETHING THAT MAY SOMEWHAT CONTRADICT THE, THE CURRENT GENERAL STATUTE, WHO ESSENTIALLY WOULD BE, WHO WOULD BE THE HARMED PARTY THAT WOULD SUE US AN A JOINER? SOMEBODY, SOMEBODY WAS STANDING NEAR THIS PROPERTY.

SO IT'S NOT THE STATE.

UM, THIS IS, UM, ONE 60 D.

YES MA'AM.

IN THE LEGISLATOR.

SO IF ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WOULD LIKE TO WRITE THEIR REPRESENTATIVE AT THE STATE, PLEASE LET THEM KNOW THAT ONE 60 D IS MAKING MANY THINGS MORE DIFFICULT.

THAT SHOULDN'T BE THIS DIFFICULT.

AND JUST TO BE VERY SPECIFIC, IT IS THE DOWN ZONING PROHIBITION.

I BELIEVE IT'S ONE 60 D SLASH UH, DASH 8 0 1, UM, THAT THEY PASSED LAST YEAR ON THE LAST PAGE OF THE HURRICANE, UH, HELENE RECOVERY BILL.

UM, SO THAT, THAT IS THE ISSUE IF YOU CHOOSE TO WRITE YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN RALEIGH.

UM, I, I MEAN FOR THIS I WOULD, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT IT IN, IN FORM OF A MOTION, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO DIRECT STAFF TO IN INITIATE A TEXT AMENDMENT FOR SERVICE SLASH THERAPY ANIMAL TRAINING, INCLUDE, YOU KNOW, BASED ON THEIR PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN A C FIVE.

AND THEN ASK THE APPLICANT TO GO THROUGH A C FIVE REZONING.

I WOULD LIKE TO SECOND SUCH AN MOTION.

OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

UM, MR. DAVIS, THE REZONING ON NO BOULEVARD FOR THE SAME, ESSENTIALLY THE SAME USE? YES, SIR.

UM, WHAT WAS THAT REQUESTED ZONING.

AND WOULD THAT THAT BE AFFECTED THROUGH THIS AS WELL? THAT COULD, THAT COULD, IT'S GONNA DELAY THAT POTENTIALLY, BUT THAT WOULD, UM, THIS COULD BE A TOOL FOR THAT SOLUTION AS WELL.

ALTHOUGH THERE'S NO C FIVE, IS IT C FOUR ON THAT CORRIDOR? ONE SIDE OF THE STREET WAS CONSISTENTLY ZONED C FOUR, I THINK.

AND THEY HAD ASKED FOR C3 ON THE OTHER SIDE WITH A BUNCH OF RESIDENTIAL AROUND IT IN THAT SITUATION.

WHAT WAS THAT ONE ORIGINALLY? WHAT WAS IT ZONED OR WHAT IS IT ZONED? 'CAUSE WE DIDN'T CHANGE IT.

IT WAS ZONED C3 I, IF I'M RECALLING CORRECTLY.

AND THEY STATED THEY WERE NOT DOING OUTDOOR TRAINING, AND SO WE WERE OKAY.

WE SAID, WELL, YOU DON'T EVEN DO THIS.

AND THEN THEY CHANGED THEIR, THEIR MIND OR EXPANDED AND THOUGHT, WELL, WE MIGHT NEED TO DO OUTSIDE TRAINING, WHICH PUTS THEM IN THIS EXACT SITUATION NOW.

I THINK IT WAS A LESSER INTENSE C3.

YEAH, WE NEED TO GO TO C3.

C FOUR.

DIDN'T THEY GET IT BY SPECIAL USE PERMIT? NO.

[01:20:01]

UM, THE ANSWER IS YES, THIS MAY WORK AND WE CAN CERTAINLY COORDINATE WITH THEM TO SEE WHICH IS THE MORE EFFICIENT SOLUTION.

UM, WE, WE'VE LEARNED SOME MORE FACTS ON THAT SITUATION SINCE THAT HEARING, THAT MAY BE A BETTER SOLUTION, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY TAKE THAT AROUND WITH THEM AND GIVE 'EM THE PROS AND CONS.

IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? HEARING NONE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? EXCUSE ME.

ANY OPPOSED? OKAY.

MOTION PASSES.

STAFF CLEAR ON THAT DIRECTION? YES.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY A GOOD DIRECTION AND, UM, WE'LL REACH OUT TO YOU TOMORROW AND WE'LL GET THIS WORK IN, WE'LL, WE'LL PROCESS, UH, THE, THE DIFFERENT ZONING COMPLIMENTARY AND WE'LL START DRAFTING THINGS UP AND, UM, I'LL GIVE YOU A CALL TO MARK.

SO DO WE, MAYOR, I KNOW THIS IS A LITTLE UNORTHODOX, BUT COULD I ADDRESS THE CROWD? WE HAVE A DEVELOPING SITUATION OUTSIDE.

DOES ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM OWN A LATE MODEL? GRAY SUV WITH VERY LOUD MUFFLERS THAT WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT RIGHT BACK HERE.

I SAW NOBODY IN THIS ROOM OWNS THAT VEHICLE.

UM, MR. ATTORNEY, DO WE NEED TO ACTUALLY DO ANYTHING OFFICIALLY ON ITEM NUMBER 14? DO WE NEED TO TABLE IT? DO WE NEED TO REJECT IT? WHAT'S THE BEST, I, I THINK WITH THIS NEW DIRECTION, I, I THINK YOU'RE, I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING FROM YOU IS YOU'RE FINDING THAT THIS, THE C3 IS INCONSISTENT, SO WE MIGHT WANNA PUT A BOW ON THAT MOTION TO, TO ADOPT THE STATEMENT OF INCONSISTENCY, WHICH THEREBY DENIES THE REZONING AND THEN WE'RE ONTO A BETTER, A BETTER PATH.

IT, AND I JUST DON'T KNOW, SO I APOLOGIZE.

IS THERE, IN DENYING IT AND THEN HAVING THEM REENGAGE THE PROCESS, IS THAT GOING TO INCUR A FEE FOR, I WAS GONNA TALK TO THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT THAT, BUT WE MIGHT BUNDLE THIS AS ONE PRO ONE PROCESS AND CAN WE STILL BUNDLE IT IF WE GO AHEAD AND ADOPT THE STATEMENT OF PLAY? AN INCONSISTENT OR INCONSISTENCY FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, YES.

THAT'S MORE OF A CITY MANAGER QUESTION.

ALRIGHT, WELL THEN THAT, THAT WOULD BE MY MOTION THEN.

HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? UM, HEARING NONE, LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ASTOR.

MAYOR ODOM.

A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE ELECTRIC RATE SCHEDULE.

MOTION CARRIES.

NEXT IS ITEM NUMBER 15.

CONDUCT

[15. Conduct a Public Hearing and Consider Adopting an Ordinance to Amend the Electric Rate Schedule.]

MR. BOUCHARD.

YOU MIGHT WANNA GIVE IT JUST A MINUTE, JUDGE.

I'M SORRY.

CHARLIE, I THINK IF YOU SPEAK LOUD AND IN THE MIC, WE MIGHT BE OKAY.

IS COMING OFF, AND THAT WAS $3.1 MILLION, SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR O ODOM, UH, BOARD OF ALDERMEN AND WOMEN.

I'D LIKE TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TONIGHT AND, UH, DISCUSS THE MOST RECENT ELECTRIC FINANCIAL STUDY, UM, AND RETAIL, UH, RATE PLAN.

THIS FIRST SLIDE IN THESE FIRST TWO TABLES REPRESENT, UH, THE TOP ONE IS OUR WHOLESALE POWER SUPPLY COSTS, UM, UPDATED AS OF MARCH 26.

UM, I'M LOOKING OVER ON THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN, APRIL 26 THROUGH 3 27.

AND WHAT'S BEING FORECASTED, UH, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN, UM, APRIL 1ST OF THIS YEAR IS OUR WHOLESALE POWER COSTS ARE GONNA GO 4.5% CONCURRENTLY ON APRIL 1ST.

WE'RE GONNA RECEIVE RIDER 2024, WHICH IS ABOUT $1.7 MILLION, ALMOST $1.8 MILLION.

THE GOOD NEWS IS RIDER 2022

[01:25:02]

BELOW THAT IS DEBT REFUND, WHICH IS $1.8 MILLION THAT WE'RE GONNA BE GETTING CREDITED BACK ON OUR BILL APRIL 1ST.

SO THAT BASICALLY WASHES OUT OUR RIDER 1 20 24.

WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN EXTRA REFUND THERE.

SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS THERE.

UM, OCTOBER, UM, RIDER 1 20 23 COMES OFF, THAT WAS $2.6 MILLION AND WE'RE ANTICIPATING RIDER 1 20 25 IS COMING ON AT ABOUT A HUNDRED AND, UM, $807,000.

THAT'LL BE VOTED ON BY THE N KEMBA BOARD IN OCTOBER.

MOST LIKELY THEY'LL MAKE THAT EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST.

BELOW THAT, THAT D-E-P-D-E-C IS THE DUKE ENERGY PROGRESS, DUKE ENERGY CAROLINA MERGER THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND YOU'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT.

THAT'S A REAL WILD CARD.

UM, NMPA THAT GOES INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1ST.

AND IF THAT GOES INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1ST, NMPA NMPA WILL RECEIVE, UM, ADDITIONAL COSTS TO THEIR WHOLESALE POWER SUPPLY CONTRACT.

THOSE COSTS WILL BE PASSED DOWN TO MEMBERSHIP.

UM, THE KEMBA CAN'T ABSORB THOSE ON THEIR OWN.

SO I'M ESTIMATING NEWBURN SHARE OF THOSE COSTS WOULD BE $2.4 MILLION IN THE FIRST YEAR.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE ALONG THE BOTTOM, IT CHANGES, UM, EVERY YEAR FOR FIVE YEARS AND THEN EVENTUALLY WASHES OUT AFTER FIVE YEARS.

UM, SO GOING TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THAT, UM, IN APRIL OF 27 THROUGH MARCH OF 28, THE KEMBA IS FORECASTING A 5.5% RATE INCREASE, FOUR POINT A HALF PERCENT ON FUTURE YEARS.

AND THEN BELOW THAT IS, IS MY FORECAST, UM, OF THOSE RIDERS, THOSE VARIOUS RIDERS, UM, TOGGLING ON NEW RIDERS AND OLD RIDERS DROPPING OFF ALL OF THAT INFORMATION.

DOES NOT CONSIDER ANY, IN ANY REGARDS TO THE DUKE ENERGY PROGRESS, DUKE ENERGY CAROLINA MERGER.

UM, IF THERE'S SAVINGS INVOLVED WITH THAT, THAT COULD BE REFLECTED DOWN THE ROAD.

IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL COST WITH THAT, THAT COULD BE REFLECTED DOWN THE ROAD.

BUT THIS FORECAST AS OF MARCH, AS I STAND HERE BEFORE YOU RIGHT NOW, UM, THAT'S UNCERTAINTY.

UM, THE DUKE ENERGY, ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN FORECASTED INTO OUR RATE PLAN, UH, AND INTO THE RATE STUDY THAT WE DID, UM, THIS YEAR THAT I'LL BE PRESENTING TO YOU TONIGHT.

UH, BELOW THAT IS THE RECOMMENDED RETAIL PATH THAT I DISCUSSED IN JULY OF 25.

AND IN AUGUST, UH, WE DID A 3% RATE INCREASE TO OUR RETAIL RATES.

AND, UM, WE, WE INCLUDED THE PCA AND AT THAT TIME I WAS FORECASTING 3% RATE INCREASES FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

UM, ALONG WITH, UH, KEEPING THE PCA, UH, CURRENT AND ACTIVE, UH, I THINK WHAT YOU'LL FIND IS, IS I MOVE THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION, IS THAT THAT 3% HAS BEEN REDUCED TO 2%.

UM, SO THOSE FORECASTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED.

UTILITY FINANCIAL SERVICES OR SOLUTIONS HELPED US WITH THIS YEAR'S STUDY.

UH, THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS AT LEAST.

I BELIEVE THEY'VE DONE A REALLY EXCELLENT JOB FOR US AND INCLUDED IN THEIR FINANCIAL, UM, STUDY.

WHAT WE ASKED THEM TO DO WAS, UH, FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS OF THE ELECTRIC UTILITY, UM, COST OF SERVICE STUDY, UM, DEVELOP A RATE TRACK FORWARD AND, UM, INCLUDE SOME, UH, STEPS TOWARDS RATE MODERNIZATION AND, AND RATE DESIGN.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING, UM, THAT I RECOMMEND THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO EVERY YEAR.

UM, THERE ARE CHANGES, AND I DON'T THINK WE WANT TO OVER BAKE OR UNDER BAKE OUR RATES.

WE WANT TO CHARGE FAIR RATES AND MAKE THEM, UM, DEFENDABLE, UM, AND BALANCED.

AND I THINK THE BEST PRACTICE IS TO CONTINUE TO REVIEW, UM, THESE FINANCIAL STUDIES ON AN, ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

FOR EXAMPLE, LAST YEAR I WAS FORECASTING 3%, AND THIS YEAR OVERALL I'M RECOMMENDING TWO.

SO THERE WAS A CHANGE THERE.

THIS SLOW SLIDE SHOWS THE HISTORICAL INVESTMENT INTO THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM, AND IT'S A DEPRECIATION OVERALL.

THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM, UM, IS CONSTRAINED BY, UM, ITS YEARS, ITS AGE, UM, AND THAT IMPACTS OUR EXPENSES AND OUR RATES.

HISTORICALLY, IN 2018, THE INVESTMENT WAS WORTH ABOUT $80 MILLION.

AND BY THE END OF 2026, WE EXPECT THAT INVESTMENT TO BE WORTH ABOUT A HUNDRED, $2 MILLION.

UM, SO ABOUT $2 MILLION GROWTH, UM, PER

[01:30:01]

YEAR OVER THOSE EIGHT YEARS, WHICH IS PRETTY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE'VE BEEN BUDGETING FOR OPERATING CAPITAL OVER, OVER THAT SAME TIME PERIOD.

SO THAT KIND OF MAKES SENSE THERE.

UM, THE NET BOOK VALUE HAS GROWN $4 MILLION OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, AND THE SYSTEM HAS AGED BY 6% OVER THE SAME EIGHT YEARS, AND IT'S NOW, UH, DEPRECIATED NOW TO 61%.

THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE OVERALL RECOMMENDATION, TRYING TO GET THE BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT.

UM, AND IT'S A OVERALL AVERAGE 2% RATE INCREASE.

THAT INCLUDES ALL OF OUR BUDGETED OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL, AS WELL AS THE FIVE YEAR CAPITAL PLAN THAT YOU'VE HEARD ME MENTION BEFORE.

AND I, I JUST WANT TO TAKE SOME, SOME TIME WITH THE WORDING HERE.

OVERALL, 2% RATE ADJUSTMENT, UM, THAT'S AN AVERAGE INCREASE ACROSS ALL THE RATES.

IT WILL VARY ACROSS THE DIFFERENT RATE CLASSES, AND I'LL GET INTO THAT DETAIL IN A COUPLE SLIDES DOWN THE ROAD.

UM, IN THE PAST WE'VE DONE 3% RATE INCREASES, 6% RATE INCREASES, AND THAT 3% OR 6% SAY, UM, YOU COULD TAKE THAT PERCENTAGE AND APPLY THAT, MULTIPLY THAT BY EVERY RATE COMPONENT IN THE, IN THE ORDINANCE, AND YOU'D GET THE RIGHT ANSWER.

YOU CAN'T DO THAT HERE.

IT'S, IT'S NOT THE SAME MATH.

UM, THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT WE RECOGNIZED THE COST DIFFERENCE, UM, BETWEEN RATE CLASSES AND IT COSTS US A DIFFERENT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO OPERATE AND SERVE, UM, IN EACH OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL RATE CLASSES.

UM, AND I'LL BREAK THAT DOWN A LITTLE BIT MORE AS WE GO THROUGH THIS.

CHARLIE, ON A SEPARATE MATTER THOUGH, THE 2027 MERGER DEAL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, RIGHT? THE ONLY, THE ONLY FACTOR I HAVE INCLUDED IS THE DUKE REORGANIZATION CHARGE THAT I WILL GO INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1ST IF THAT MERGER GOES THROUGH, WHICH IS, UH, $187 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS, UM, TO THE KEMP UP UBER PAYS THAT, THAT WE, FOR ALL THAT MONEY WOULDN'T SEE ANY BENEFIT COST SAVINGS TILL PROBABLY YEAR SIX.

IS THAT CORRECT? AT THE S YES, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE FORECASTING.

SO INVEST $187 MILLION, MAYBE WE'LL SEE SOME SAVINGS FIVE OR SIX YEARS FROM NOW.

UM, LET ME, I BACKED UP TO THE, TO THE ORIGINAL SLIDE, I BELIEVE.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I COVERED AND THIS PLAN, OUR DEBT COVERAGE RATIO STAYS ABOVE THE TARGETED 1.45.

UH, THAT MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS, OUR OPERATING INCOME STAYS HEALTHY AND OUR CASH BALANCES STAY ABOVE THE, THE TARGET MINIMUM.

AND OUR SYSTEM, UM, DEPRECIATION BECOMES LAID, UH, LESS AGED WITH THOSE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.

OOPS, I'M GOING BACKWARDS.

BEAR WITH ME.

I GOT LOST BETWEEN THE SCREENS AND MY EYEGLASSES.

MM-HMM .

HERE WE GO.

SO THIS TABLE SHOWS IF YOU WANT TO CONSIDER THE RATE PATH, UM, CONSIDER A RATE PATH WITH NO INCREASES, 0% RATE INCREASE, BUT YOU'RE STILL INTERESTED IN INVESTING, UM, INTO THE SYSTEM IN, IN INVESTING CAPITAL INTO THE SYSTEM'S RELIABILITY.

UM, NOT A GOOD PLAN.

UM, IT SEEMS HARDLY FEASIBLE TO ME.

OUR DEBT COVERAGE RATIO DROPS BELOW THE TARGETED MINIMUM, UH, 1.45, UM, LESS THAN 1% BY 2030.

THE OPERATING INCOME DROPS BELOW OPTIMAL AND GOES NEGATIVE BY 2031.

AND CASH BALANCES ARE EXPECTED TO DROP BELOW, MINIMUM DOWN TO ALMOST 19 DAYS AND 2031.

SO I, I DON'T THINK THAT'S A REAL FEASIBLE PLAN.

THE OTHER OPTION IS, UM, THIS TABLE SHOWS IF YOU DON'T WANT ANY RATE ADJUSTMENTS AND YOU WANNA REMOVE THE CAPITAL THAT'S NEEDED FOR THE SYSTEM'S RELIABILITY, UM, ALL THE FINANCIAL TARGETS REMAIN HEALTHY.

UM, BUT THE SYSTEM IS DEPRECIATED TO SIX TO 65% IN 2031.

SO YOUR DEBT COVERAGE RATIO STAYS IN

[01:35:01]

GOOD SHAPE.

YOUR OPERATING INCOME, UM, STAYS ABOVE THE OPTIMAL, UM, LEVELS.

THE CASH BALANCES STAY HEALTHY, UM, BUT YOUR SYSTEM DEPRECIATES.

SO FOR ME, THIS OPTION IS ALL ABOUT RISK MANAGEMENT.

AND THE BET IS THAT THE RELIABILITY OF THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM, UH, WHICH IS 65% DEPRECIATED, HAS ENOUGH CAPACITY TO KEEP SERVICE AVAILABLE ON THE HOTTEST DAYS IN THE COLDEST DAYS OF THE YEAR.

UM, WE'RE ALSO BETTING ON THAT 50-YEAR-OLD TRANSFORMERS AT GARFIELD SUBSTATION ARE GONNA KEEP ON WORKING AND WE'RE BETTING ON THAT REGIONAL GROWTH.

UM, WE'LL STOP OR SLOW DOWN OR EVEN SHED SOME LOAD BECAUSE WE ARE AT CAPACITY OR, OR WE RELINQUISH OUR RIGHT TO SERVICE AND LET DUKE SERVICE NEW GROWTH.

YEAH, WE, WE HAVE TO, YEAH, WE HAVE TO REDUCE LOAD.

SO THIS TABLE SHOWS THE OVERALL 2% AVERAGE INCREASE IN HOW IT IMPACTS EACH RATE CLASS.

UM, WE WERE ABLE TO DO THIS, UM, DUE TO THE COST OF SERVICE AND SOME RATE CLASSES REQUIRE, UM, TO DIFFERENT COST TO SERVE DIFFERENT RATE CLASSES.

AND AT THE END OF THAT STUDY AND CONSIDERING OUR FINANCIAL NEEDS, UM, OVERALL THE RESIDENTIAL RATE CLASS WE'RE RECOMMENDING A 0.9% RATE INCREASE.

SMALL BUSINESS IS 5.2 UNMETERED SERVICES, WHICH IS BASICALLY STREET LIGHTING.

UH, FOR THE MOST PART IN AREA LIGHTING, THAT'S 2.1%, A MEDIUM, UM, BUSINESS CLASS, 3.2% IN OUR LARGE BUSINESS CLASS, 2.1%.

UM, WE ARE ALSO ABLE TO TAKE SOME STEPS TOWARDS MODERN MODERNIZING OUR RATES BY REMOVING, UM, STEPPED ENERGY IN DEMAND CHARGES AND JUST PUT THOSE CHARGES INTO ONE BLOCK.

UM, WE'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO INCREASE THE, THE BASIC CUSTOMER SERVICE CHARGE TO ABSORB MORE OF OUR FIXED OPERATING COSTS, GET THAT EXPENSE OUT OF OUR ENERGY COSTS WHILE REDUCING OUR ENERGY RATES AT THE SAME TIME.

UM, THIS PUT US CLOSER IN LINE WITH OUR ENERGY RATES TO WHAT WHOLESALE PRICING IS.

IF WE'RE NOT THERE YET, THAT'LL TAKE SOME TIME.

BUT ULTIMATELY MY GOAL IS TO TRY TO GET US DESIGNED SO THAT OUR WHOLESALE RATES ARE PASSED DIRECTLY THROUGH TO OUR RETAIL RATES.

UM, AND THEN YOUR BASIC CUSTOMER CHARGE RECOVERS YOUR OPERATING EXPENSES, WHICH IS, IS FIXED.

SO LESS RISK, LESS VARIABLES IN THAT QUICK COMPARISON.

UM, CONSIDERING THE, THE RESIDENTIAL RATE CLASS, UM, WITH THIS ON THE RESIDENTIAL RATE CLASS, THIS 0.9% RATE INCREASE, SUB INFLATIONARY RATE INCREASE, WE'RE STILL GONNA BE SOMEWHERE WE'RE RIGHT NOW RIGHT AROUND 15 POINT A HALF CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR.

WE'LL STILL HOVER AROUND THAT SAME SPOT, UM, WHILE DUKE IS TRENDING UP TOWARDS 17 CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR.

UM, LOOKING AT IT FROM AN OVERALL COST, UH, THIS IS ALL BASED ON THE AVERAGE CUSTOMER AND OUR AVERAGE CUSTOMER, RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER DOES USE RIGHT AROUND A THOUSAND KILOWATT HOURS PER MONTH.

UM, WE'LL BE HOVERING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN $153 A MONTH TO $151 A MONTH.

UM, DUKE AS YOU CAN SEE IS, IS TRENDING UPWARDS TOWARDS $171 A MONTH.

YOU'LL NOTICE THAT LITTLE DIP, UM, COMING UP IN 2027, THAT'S, UH, UM, THAT'S THE PCA WE WERE, IT'S ON, IT'S BEEN TRENDING DOWN.

WE CONTINUE TO EXPECT IT TO TREND DOWN.

UM, AND SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A CHANGE THERE BASED ON, UM, POWER SUPPLY RECOVERIES BY THE PCA.

SO IN CONCLUSION, I'M RECOMMENDING THE 2% OVERALL AVERAGE INCREASE TO ELECTRIC RATES, UH, USING COST OF SERVICE ADJUSTMENTS.

AND AS I MENTIONED, THEY, THEY VARY ACROSS, UM, RATE COMPONENTS AND THOSE ADJUSTMENTS VARY ACROSS, UH, RATE CLASSES.

UM, SOME SMALL STEPS TOWARDS RATE MODERNIZATION, WHICH INCLUDES, UM, REMOVING TIERED BLOCKS FOR ENERGY AND DEMAND, BUNDLING THOSE COSTS INTO, INTO ONE BLOCK, ENERGY AND DEMAND CHARGES, AND, UH, REDUCING OUR ENERGY RATE COMPONENTS AS WELL.

CONTINUING OF THE, OF THE POWER COST ADJUSTMENT CHARGE AND JUST SOME ADMINISTRATIVE WORK, UH, I'D LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH.

[01:40:01]

AT THE SAME TIME, REMOVE OUR LOAD PROFILE DATA, SERVICE SCHEDULE, LDS, IT'S, UH, UNDERPERFORMING.

IT'S, UH, A PASS THROUGH COST FROM THE SERVICE PROVIDER AND THAT SERVICE PROVIDER HAS PULLED BACK THEIR SERVICES.

UM, SO THAT THAT OFFERING IS REALLY GOING AWAY.

THE GOOD NEWS IS I HOPE TO ROLL OUT SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR, UM, WITH OUR CAPABILITIES AND OUR CUSTOMER INFORMATION SYSTEM, AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE THIS ALL RECOMMENDED, ALL BE EFFECTIVE APRIL 1ST, 2026.

WITH THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO TRY TO ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

DOES THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? I DO, YES, MA'AM.

AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS DISCUSSION, I ASK THAT WE KEEP IN MIND THE MANY SENIORS AND DISABLED RESIDENT AND FAMILY ON FIXED INCOME IN WARD TWO AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

FOR MANY OF THEM, EVEN A SLIGHT INCREASE CAN CREATE REAL HARDSHIP, AND I HOPE WE WILL CONTINUE TO EXPLORE EVERY POSSIBLE WAYS TO PROTECT AND SUPPORT OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS.

MY FIRST QUESTION IS, HOW CAN WE GUARANTEE THAT THE RESIDENTS ARE SAFEGUARDED AND WILL NOT HAVE TO DECIDE BETWEEN ELECTRICITY AND THEIR ESSENTIAL NEEDS BEFORE APPROVING OF ANY INCREASE? WELL, I, I CAN'T MAKE ANY GUARANTEES.

UM, I, I CAN'T GUARANTEE THEIR FINANCES.

I CAN'T GUARANTEE WHAT OUR RATES ARE GONNA DO TOMORROW, BUT I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT THE STAFF WORKS DILIGENTLY TO KEEP RATES, UM, LOW AND AFFORDABLE.

UM, THANKS TO COLLEEN, SHE HELPED ME WITH A COUPLE SLIDES HERE THAT, UH, DISCUSS SOME OF OUR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS THAT WE CAN OFFER TO, TO FOLKS SHOULD THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN NEED.

UM, CATHOLIC CHARITIES, COASTAL COMMUNITY ACTION, CRAVEN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, DISABLED VETERANS, UH, NAVY MARINE CORPS RELIEF SOCIETY, RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY SERVICES, SALVATION ARMY.

I THINK THIS BOAT BOARD ALSO JUST RECENTLY, UM, APPROVED A TRANSFER OF, UH, UH, OR SPENDING OF A, OF $10,000 TO OUR ROUNDUP PROGRAM THAT WE CAN USE TO ASSIST CUSTOMERS IN NEED.

SO, UM, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING DIRECTLY TO OFFER 'EM, I DON'T HAVE ANY DISCOUNTS.

I DON'T HAVE ANY, ANY SUBSIDIES, BUT THERE ARE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE AND WE ARE VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH THOSE PROGRAMS TO ASSIST THOSE FOLKS WHEN THEY NEED IT.

CAN YOU JUST BRIEFLY DESCRIBE FOR THE PUBLIC THE, THE ROUNDUP PROGRAM? THE ROUNDUP PROGRAM IS IN AGREEMENT WITH RELIGIOUS CHARITY SERVICES AND, UH, CUSTOMERS AT THEIR OWN CHOOSING, THEY CAN, UM, ELECT TO ROUND UP, UM, THEIR BILL, UH, TO THE NEAREST DOLLAR OR NICKEL.

UH, WE HAD ONE CUSTOMER THAT WAS ROUNDING UP $250 EVERY MONTH.

UM, THEY JUST RECENTLY LEFT, SO IT'S A BUMMER.

UM, AND UM, THAT MONEY THAT WE COLLECT FROM THEM, UM, WE HOLD IN THE BANK AND THOSE THAT ARE IN NEED CAN GO TO, UM, RE RELIGIOUS, RELIGIOUS CHARITY SERVICES AND, UM, ASK FOR HELP.

AND IF THEY DEEM THAT A NECESSARY, UH, HELP IS WARRANTED, THEN THEY SEND US A VOUCHER OR THEY GIVE US A VOUCHER ASKING FOR US TO CONTRIBUTE TO GIVE THEM SOME RELIEF, FUND THEIR BILL, AND THEN WE PAY THAT, THEIR PORTION OF THAT BILL, UM, OUT OF THAT PROGRAM THAT PEOPLE HAVE DONATED TO.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE ROUNDUP PROGRAM, IS IT ANYWHERE ON THE BILL THAT SAYS THAT YOU CAN ROUND IT UP AND WHAT YOU ROUND IT UP FOR AND WHERE IS IT WHERE IT WOULD GO? NOT YOUR BILL, MA'AM.

IT'S NOT APPEAR.

NO, MA'AM.

UM, WE, I, I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, WE HAVE PROBABLY NOT MARKETED THAT AS WELL AS WE COULD HAVE.

OR ENERGY SAVINGS SUPPORT, HOW WOULD YOU DIRECT A RESIDENT TO GO TO THOSE, THOSE GROUPS? I, I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE ANY, UM, SUBSIDIES TO OFFER.

UM, AND THAT'S CHANGING, UM, THE TIMING OF YOUR BILL.

UM, IT FELL SHORT OF THOSE MOST RECENT UPDATES.

THE ONE, THE BILLS THAT ARE BEING ISSUED OUT TODAY, UM, HAVE THAT MESSAGE ON THEM, HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH CHARITY SERVICES AND HOW TO ALSO, UM, VOLUNTEER OR CONTRIBUTE THEIR ROUNDUPS.

UM, AS YOU KNOW, WE JUST CHANGED BILLING SERVICE PROVIDERS, SO THERE WAS A BIT OF A LAG THERE, BUT WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB AT IT.

AND, AND WE ARE TRYING TO MARKET THAT A LITTLE BIT BETTER SO PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO SIGN UP AND YOU KNOW HOW TO USE IT.

I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.

AS THESE PARTNERSHIP WITH PROGRAMS LIKE L-I-H-E-A-P, WHICH STANDS FOR LOW INCOME HOME EMERGENCY ASSISTANT PROGRAM, OR DUKE ENERGY TO PROVIDE THE DIRECT ASSISTANT

[01:45:01]

UM, I CAN TELL THEM.

I, I HAVE LOOKED AT, UM, SIMILAR PROGRAMS WITH DUKE AND THOSE CUSTOMERS THAT ARE WITH DUKE, IF THEY LOOK AT THEIR BILL, THERE'S A WRITER ON THERE CALLED LOW INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE.

AND EVERY CUSTOMER AT DUKE IS PAYING MONEY FOR THAT LOW ENERGY, FOR THAT LOW INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

DUKE THEN TAKES THAT MONEY, AND TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT, UM, OFF TRACK ON HERE, BUT I BELIEVE, UM, THEIR CUSTOMERS GO THROUGH DSS OR SOME STATE SERVICES AND THEY QUALIFY FOR THE IT'S LIHEAP PROGRAM AND THE, THE, UH, CRITICAL, UM, CARE PROGRAM, I THINK IT'S CALLED.

AND IF THEY QUALIFY FOR THAT THROUGH THE STATE'S APPLICATION, THEN DUKE READS THAT APPLICATION.

AND DUKE THEN WILL AWARD THEM OR HELP THEM WITH, I BELIEVE IS ABOUT $45 A MONTH.

AND THERE'S A CAP ON IT FOR, I THINK IT'S MAYBE EIGHT MONTHS.

DON'T HOLD ME TO THAT.

I JUST STARTED LOOKING AT THE PROGRAM ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO AGO, SO, AND I STILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ON IT, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE THEY SHOULD GO FOR THE DUKE HELP.

NEXT, MR. BOUCHARD, ARE YOU, ARE YOU CONSIDERING ADDING THAT OPTION TO OUR BILL IN THE CITY? UM, I WAS HAVING IN MIND PEOPLE WHO PAY THEIR BILLS ONLINE, SO I DON'T SEE MY BILL AND THINK, OH, I WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ROUNDUP PROGRAM.

SO IS THAT SOMETHING THAT ONLINE PAYERS COULD OPT INTO OR WE WOULD'VE TO PROBABLY DISCUSS THAT? YOU'D PROBABLY HAVE TO GIVE THE AUTHORITY TO SET TO DESIGN THAT, THAT RATE THAT RIDER.

UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD WOULD HAVE TO AGREE UPON.

UM, I THINK, UH, I THINK THE FIRST STEP IS TO SEE HOW THAT $10,000 THAT THE UTILITY DONATED TO THE ROUNDUP PROGRAM IS UTILIZED.

AND I, I, I'M HOPEFUL, I'M HOPEFUL THAT IT GOES TO GOOD USE AND, UM, AND THAT IT COULD USE MORE FUNDING.

AND I GUESS FROM THAT POINT WE COULD DIS DISCUSS IF ADDITIONAL METHODS, UM, ARE NEEDED.

IF YOU WANT ME TO WORK AT A FASTER PACE, I CAN DO THAT AS WELL.

I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS IT WITH OTHER, WITH OTHER BOARD MEMBERS.

MAYBE NOT THIS EVENING, BUT I DEFINITELY AM INTERESTED IN THAT.

CHARLIE, DID I UNDERSTAND YOU SAY THAT ALL DUKE CUSTOMERS RECEIVE THAT RIDER? I, I UNDER, THAT'S THE WAY I READ THE RATE RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL.

IT'S ON, IT'S A RIDER ON ALL THEIR RATES.

NOW, DON'T HOLD ME TO THIS, BUT I THINK IT'S A, IT'S A FLAT FEE FOR COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL AND I THINK IT'S ENERGY RELATED FOR RESIDENTIAL, BUT DON'T, PLEASE DON'T HOLD ME TO THAT.

SO THAT'S, THAT WOULD BE BILLED INTO THEIR RATE AND NOT A SEPARATE RIDER ON THE, IT IS A SEPARATE RIDER.

I'M LOOKING AT MY BILL AND I DON'T HAVE THAT.

YOU DON'T SEE IT.

UM, CAP CAR, IS THERE A RIDER OR CAR? I'VE GOT BASIC CUSTOMER CHARGE.

I'VE GOT ENERGY CHARGE AT ONE KILOWATT HOUR AMOUNT, THEN I'VE GOT ANOTHER ENERGY CHARGE AT A DIFFERENT KILOWATT HOUR.

I'VE GOT A CLEAN ENERGY RIDER, A STORM RECOVERY CHARGE, AND A SUMMARY OF RIDER ADJUSTMENTS.

THAT'S THE ONLY ONE.

IT'S IN THE SUMMARY OF RIDER ADJUSTMENTS.

I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT DUKE DOES.

DUKE PLAYS GAMES, CORRECT? THEY, THEY GIVE A RATE AND THEN THEY THROW ALL THESE RIDERS ON THERE SO THEY CAN SAY THAT THEY HAVE A, A GOOD RATE, BUT EVEN WITH THAT WE'RE LOWER, CORRECT? CORRECT.

MM-HMM .

SO CHARLIE, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE SLIDE THAT YOU'RE RECOMMENDING US? UM, I'LL TRY, YEAH.

WAS THAT THE 2%? YES, MA'AM.

WAS THAT, WAS THAT THE SLIDE WITH THE 2% FOR FIVE YEAR RATE? IS THAT THE ONE WHERE YOU WANNA SEE EACH RATE CLASS OR, OR JUST THE OVERALL RECOMMENDATION? YEAH, THAT'S THE OVERALL RECOMMENDATION, YES, MA'AM.

UM, NO, THE ACTUAL, THE ACTUAL OH, OKAY.

UM, PROJECTED, YEAH, GO BACK.

THAT IS WHAT YOU'RE RECOMMENDING FOR US TO, UM, YES, AND I, I'M PROVE I WANNA BE CLEAR, I, I'M ONLY RECOMMENDING ONE YEAR.

NOTHING CHANGES WITH INFLATION.

THE FIRST YEAR, 2027.

I AM, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO DO SOME DUE DILIGENCE IN, IN FORECASTING.

IF NOTHING CHANGES IN THE WORLD, NOTHING CHANGES WITH OUR POWER SUPPLY COSTS.

I'M A HUNDRED PERCENT RIGHT.

UM, I'D BE BEFORE YOU NEXT YEAR ASKING FOR A NEW, ANOTHER 2%.

[01:50:01]

UM, BUT THAT WOULD BE NEXT YEAR.

AND, AND WITH THAT 2%, THAT WILL PUT US AT OVER THE REQUIRED DAYS OF USE, WHICH IS WHAT, 90 TO PUT US AT 1 0 6 OF WORKING THIS RATE ADJUSTMENT THIS YEAR.

I, I BELIEVE WE'LL END AT 106.

UM, IF WE GO INTO NEXT YEAR AND DO ANOTHER 2%, I'M FORECASTING WE'RE AT 120.

CHARLIE, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC, OUR LAST RATE INCREASE WAS EFFECTIVE AUGUST THE FIRST.

SO IF SOMEONE GOT A BILL IN NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, JANUARY, FEBRUARY, AND THE BILL AMOUNT WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS BECAUSE THEY CONSUME MORE ELECTRICITY, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.

UM, IT'S AFFECTING, AFFECTING EVERYBODY.

I'M ALSO HEARING A LOT OF PRESSURES FROM, UH, GAS CUSTOMERS AS WELL.

EVEN SOME CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE, UM, GAS, HEATING AND ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES.

THIS, THIS LAST COLD SPELL THAT WE, WE GOT.

UM, ONCE AGAIN, I'VE SAID AVERAGE KILOWATT HOURS FOR THE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER IS A THOUSAND KILOWATTS PER MONTH.

IF YOU LOOKED AT YOUR LAST MONTH'S BILL, YOU SAY I'M CRAZY 'CAUSE YOU WERE WAY OVER, MOST PEOPLE WERE WAY OVER A THOUSAND KILOWATTS IF YOU'RE ELECTRIC HEAT.

BUT OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, , UM, PARTIC AND THIS MONTH IS A GOOD MONTH, WE'RE KIND OF IN BETWEEN HEATING AND COOLING.

UM, YOU'LL SEE THOSE KILOWATT HOURS COME DOWN AND THE MORE KILOWATT HOURS YOU CONSUME, THE HIGHER YOUR BILL IS.

ANY MORE QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? CHARLIE PRESENTATION? I THINK YOU PROVIDED IN THE, UH, BACKUP, IT SHOWS AN 11 YEAR HISTORY OF THE RATE CHANGES.

IT, IT SHOWS A 3% DECREASE IN JULY 1ST, 2015, 12% DECREASE SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2015, AND ONE AND A QUARTER PERCENT DECREASE APRIL, 2016.

AND THEN ANOTHER ONE AND A HALF DECREASE JULY 1ST, 2017.

DO YOU KNOW, OR CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THOSE DECREASES BACK IN 2015 THROUGH 2017? I, I WASN'T HERE THEN, BUT I, I THINK THEY WERE RESPONDING TO CHANGES IN WHOLESALE PRICE AND SALE OF ASSETS.

UM, AND, UM, MAYBE INFLATIONARY, UH, RATES AT THAT TIME.

MAYOR SLASH ALDERMAN OUTLAW MAY REMEMBER.

I BELIEVE THE FIRST DECREASE THAT WE HAD IN OUR RATE WAS SIMPLY DUE TO SOME EFFICIENCIES WITHIN THE ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT.

THAT WAS BEFORE THE BUYOUT OF THE ASSETS.

SO THAT'S WHERE YOU WENT IN AND TRIMMED THE PROVERBIAL FAT IN THE GOVERNMENT OPERATION AND SLIMMED IT DOWN AND GOT MORE EFFICIENT.

THAT'S WHERE THE FIRST DECREASE CAME FROM.

MS. BRYANT MENTIONED THE POPULATION HERE IN NEW BERN OF SENIORS, RETIREES AND PEOPLE LIVING ON FIXED INCOMES.

YES SIR.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? OKAY.

AT THIS TIME WE'LL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING.

IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE ELECTRIC RATE, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

GOOD EVENING FOLKS.

MY NAME IS LAUREL RUSSO.

I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT HERE IN NEW BERN AND CRAVEN COUNTY OVER THE LAST 35 YEARS.

WHEN WE FIRST MOVED HERE, UH, THE, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT PROPERTY INSIDE THE CITY OF NEW BERN.

OUR FRIENDS WERE ALL AGHAST BECAUSE THEY SAID HIGHEST UTILITY BILLS EVER.

AND YOU KNOW, IT IS WHAT IT IS.

YOU HAD TO BUY POWER FROM SOMEBODY AND YOU HAD TO MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE TO RESIDENTS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

I'M 68, I LIVE ON A FIXED INCOME.

WHEN I SAY FIXED, I HAVE SOCIAL SECURITY AND I ALSO WORK PART-TIME.

I'M ALSO SOMEONE WHO HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN ENERGY CHEAP.

MY KIDS COMPLAINED ABOUT IT THE WHOLE TIME.

THEY WERE GROWING UP, LIGHTS NOT BEING LEFT ON, DOORS NOT BEING OPEN, THERMOSTATS BEING AT REASONABLE TEMPERATURES.

BUT THE RATE INCREASE THAT WE'VE HAD IN LAST YEAR HAS BEEN CRAZY.

I AM NORMALLY, AS I SAID, VERY ENERGY CONSERVATIVE, BUT MY HOUSE HAS NOT BEEN OVER 64 DEGREES IN TWO YEARS.

AND I'M TELLING YOU, IT'S COLD.

I USED 500 KILOWATT HOURS LESS ELECTRICITY IN DECEMBER THAN I DID THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

AND THE BILL WAS ALMOST TWICE WHAT IT WAS THE PREVIOUS YEAR WHEN YOU ADD IN THE INCREASES TO WATER AND EVERYTHING.

BUT THE ELECTRIC BILL IS ASTRONOMICAL.

[01:55:01]

AND I BELIEVE THERE'S ANOTHER THING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDED INTO THAT.

AND THAT IS PEOPLE THAT LIVE AS TENANTS THROUGHOUT MY RESIDENCY, I HAVE OWNED UP UNTIL THE LAST SIX YEARS WHERE I OPTED TO RENT BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT TO HAVE TO CONSTANTLY BATTLE MAINTENANCE OF A HOME.

BUT THAT MEANS I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE HVAC BEING INSPECTED ANNUALLY OR EVEN EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS OR ACTUALLY EVER.

IT MEANS I HAVE NO CONTROL WHETHER WEATHER STRIPPING AROUND MY DOORS AND WINDOWS IS EFFECTIVE UNLESS I WANT TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO DO THAT.

WINDOWS LEAKING.

THESE ARE PROBLEMS THAT PEOPLE THAT RENT HAVE THAT MAKE CONTROLLING AN ELECTRIC BILL.

ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.

I'M NOT SAYING MY LANDLORD'S A SLUM LORD, BUT IT'S A RENTAL AND HE DOESN'T MAINTAIN IT THE WAY HE DOES FOR HIS WIFE AND KIDS ANYMORE THAN THE HOME THAT YOU LIVE IN IS THE SAME HOME THAT IF YOU OWNED OR A RENTAL WOULD BE.

SO TO SAY THAT 2% INCREASE IS NEEDED.

I UNDERSTAND GROWTH.

I'VE SEEN THE CITY GROW, WE HAVE HANDLED INCREDIBLE CHANGES AND FOR THE BETTER ENERGY WISE AND GRID WISE SINCE I FIRST MOVED HERE.

BUT THIS IS NOT THE TIME YOU AS A CITY, US AS A CITY THAT THAT BANK ACCOUNT OF THE CITY IS BETTER ABLE TO TAKE HOLD ON THIS ENERGY BILL THING.

THEN YOUR AVERAGE TENANT RESIDENT IN NEW BERN IS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THIS GENTLEMAN SAID ALL THESE PROGRAMS, THERE ARE A LOT OF PROGRAMS OUT THERE OUT THERE.

I I HAVE A APPLIED FOR MANY OF THEM AND I COME IN EXACTLY TWO TO $4,000 MORE PER YEAR INCOME THAN I CAN QUALIFY TO GET ANY ASSISTANCE.

SO WHEN I GET AN ELECTRIC BILL AND IT'S $271, THAT'S LIKE, I'M WORKING TWO WEEKS TO PAY AN ELECTRIC BILL.

TO PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE FOR YOU.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU FOLKS OWN YOUR HOMES AND YOU'RE ALL PAYING HIGH BILLS TOO, BUT FOR A LARGE POPULATION HERE IN NEW BERN THAT ARE TENANTS, IT'S UNDOABLE.

WE ARE IN BETWEEN WHERE WE CAN EASILY ACCESS HELP AND NEEDING HELP.

I WOULD, WHEN I WAS DOING REAL ESTATE BACK IN THE EIGHTIES, I WOULD CONSERVATIVELY SAY WE PROBABLY HAD A 30% RENTAL POPULATION HERE IN NEW BERN.

I DON'T THINK THAT NUMBER'S GONE DOWN ANY, THAT'S A LOT OF POPULATION TO BE MAKING A DAILY CHOICE.

WHAT DO I DO? AM I GONNA PAY THE ELECTRIC BILL OR DO I GO AHEAD AND PAY THIS? DO I GET GROCERIES? DO I GO TO TABERNACLE? DO I GO HERE? DO I GO THERE? I UNDERSTAND THAT THINGS GO UP.

I AM NOT NAIVE AND I HAVE SEEN THE RESULT OF ALL THE INCREASES AND THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE, BUT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO URGE THE BOARD THAT THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO DO THAT.

IT'S TOO MUCH AT ONE TIME.

SOMEONE'S GOT TO EAT IT.

I CAN'T AND I KNOW I'M NOT ALONE.

SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER JUST TABLING THE, UH, RAISE UNTIL, LET'S LOOK IT UP NEXT YEAR.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

UM, MY MAIN CONCERN IS DIDN'T MR. B SAY WE JUST HAD A RATE INCREASE IN AUGUST? YES.

JUST WENT THROUGH THE ROOF.

SO SIX MONTHS LATER WE GOTTA DO ANOTHER RATE INCREASE.

WHAT MAKES US THINK THAT WE CAN AFFORD IT? YOU KNOW, GAS PRICES

[02:00:01]

IF YOU TRY TO BUY SOMETHING IN THE GROCERY STORE, A HUNDRED DOLLARS DON'T MEAN ANYTHING NOW, OKAY, I'M, I UNDERSTAND THINGS GO UP.

I'M, I'M NOT NAIVE, BUT YOU'RE GONNA TELL ME BETWEEN AUGUST AND FEBRUARY THE PRICE OF ELECTRICITY HAS HIT TO THE, WHERE WE HAVE TO RAISE IT 2% ACROSS THE BOARD.

I, I'M NOT SAYING MISMANAGEMENT, BUT WE JUST DID A RATE INCREASE.

THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING AT.

MY, MY PAY DON'T GO UP LIKE YOU GUYS ARE ASKING.

I DIDN'T GET A RAISE SIX MONTHS.

IN SIX MONTHS.

HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO PAY FOR THIS RATE INCREASE AS A CITIZEN IF I'M PAYING FOR THE ONE IN AUGUST? YOU KNOW, I, I SERVE ON ONE OF THE BOARDS IN THE CITY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE MEDIA INCOME OR THE, WHAT THEY CONSIDER POVERTY LEVEL IS $49,000.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT, BUT THAT'S WHAT HUD SAID.

IT IS.

I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE IN NEW BERN THAT DON'T MAKE NOWHERE CLOSE TO THAT.

THEY DON'T MAKE HALF OF THAT.

AND THEY'RE WORKING TWO AND THREE JOBS TO TRY TO MAKE WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW SURVIVE.

HOW ARE THEY GONNA PAY FOR THIS RATE INCREASE? HOW AM I GONNA PAY FOR THIS RATE INCREASE? I'M RETIRED.

I'M ON A FIXED INCOME.

I KNOW WHAT I'M GETTING MONTH, THE MONTH WE'VE BUDGETED OUT.

BUT YOU'RE ASKING ME TO PAY A 2% INCREASE FROM AN INCREASE IN AUGUST IF I CAN'T AFFORD IT.

HOW SOMEBODY ELSE GONNA AFFORD IT.

WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THIS.

I UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING GOES UP.

I, I I'M WITH IT.

I SEE IT EVERY TIME I GO TO THE GAS STATION.

EVERY TIME I GO TO THE GROCERY STORE AND I COME HOME WITH TWO BAGS AND I DONE SPEND $150 AND THERE'S NOTHING IN THOSE BAGS SOMEWHERE.

IT'S GOT TO STOP.

WE GOT TO LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER.

THE BIBLE TELLS US WHAT WE DO.

FOR THE LEAST OF ME, YOU DO FOR ME.

AND WE GOTTA DO SOMETHING PEOPLE, BECAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA BE IN A SERIOUS HOME HERE COME APRIL THAT WE PUT THIS 2% INCREASE IN, IN EFFECT.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING SIR.

I CAME UP, UH, BASICALLY SARAH KIND OF MADE MINE A LITTLE EASIER 'CAUSE SOME OF THE THINGS SHE SAID, I WAS GONNA SAY, AND ACTUALLY I'M AN AWARD, SO, UH, YOU WANT MY BILL? NO, I AIN'T GONNA PAY IT EITHER.

BUT ANYWAY, THE REASON I CAME UP TO SAY THIS, UH, FIRST ONE THING I WANT Y'ALL TO MAKE ME CLEAR ON THIS.

I KNOW SOME YEARS BACK DO WAS SUPPOSED TO BUILD A, A ENERGY BUILDING, A FACTORY OR, OR WHATEVER IT WAS AND WHATEVER IT WAS THAT HAPPENED 20 SOMETHING YEARS BACK AND WE ENDED UP HAVING TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY DID BILL OR DIDN'T BILL, IS THAT BILL ALREADY PAID OR ARE THE CITY STILL PAYING FOR THAT? I THINK IT WAS UNDER YOUR, UH, LEADERSHIP.

THAT WAS WHEN IT WAS PAID OFF FROM JULY 25.

THAT'S WHY THERE WAS A 12.5% RATE REDUCTION.

WHERE PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND.

THAT, THAT PART I NEEDED TO BE STRAIGHT ON.

I'LL SAY THIS, I'LL SAY NO TO THE INCREASE AND THE REASON WHY IT MAKES SENSE, BUT IT DON'T MAKE SENSE.

AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHY.

LAST MONTH I MET A LOT OF CITY ORGANIZATIONS AND I TRY TO FIND RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE.

THIS LADY HAD A $600 LIGHT BILL.

SHE WENT TO THE CA, THE CATHOLIC CHARITY, THEY ONLY OFFERED HER $75.

THAT DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.

I HAD A FAMILY MEMBER CRYING.

I'M RETIRED, I'M DISABLED.

I PUT A LITTLE MONEY OUTSIDE EVERY MONTH SO I COULD STAY IN MY HOUSE.

[02:05:02]

THEY SAY YOU BUY SOMETHING AND IT'S YOURS, BUT IT'S NOT BECAUSE IF YOU CAN'T PAY YOUR TAXES, THEY, THEY TAKE IT FROM YOU.

IT GOES IN FORECLOSURE.

IF MY HOUSE, MY TWO HOMES WEREN'T PAID FOR, I WOULDN'T HAVE 'EM BECAUSE I DON'T MAKE A MONTH.

WHAT I DID WHEN I WAS WORKING NOW THIS FAMILY MEMBER, THE LITTLE ONE I PUT ASIDE SIDE, I HAD TO GIVE 'EM OVER 300 SOMETHING DOLLARS TO KEEP THEM IN THEIR HOME AND THEIR CHILDREN SOMEWHERE TO STAY.

I DON'T HAVE THAT KINDA MONEY, BUT I KNOW I HAVE THAT HEART.

THE SAME MONEY I PUT AWAY THAT I NEED TO PAY MY TAXES THIS YEAR, GOD GONNA MAKE A WAY.

BUT MY THING AS FAR AS THIS RIGHT HERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE SUFFERING.

I HAD A MEDICAL CONDITION, I WENT TO THE LIGHT BILL PLACE.

I SAID LOOK, I'M GONNA BE USING A LOT OF WATER OR WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP ME? OH, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO HELP YOU.

THE SAME THING IF SOMEBODY IS ON A, A VENTILATION MACHINE AND THEY USING SO MUCH ENERGY, WE SHOULD BE HA HAVE SOMETHING ASIDE TO HELP THAT PERSON.

BUT WE DON'T.

BUT THE SAME WAY THAT YOU ASKING FOR AN INCREASE, YOU COULD TAKE THAT SAME THING AND FIND A WAY TO CUT BACK ON SOME THINGS THAT THE CITY DOES TO FIND SOME MONEY TO MAKE THAT DIFFERENCE UP.

SOMETIMES WE IN A DEFICIT AS FAR AS THE CITY, BUT WHEN YOU START SEEING NEW TRUCKS, YOU'RE SEEING NEW THIS, YOU'RE SEEING NEW THAT YOU PUT UP GAZEBOS IN THE, IN THE GRAVEYARD AND YOU TRY TO BURY YOUR YOUR DEAD AND YOU GOTTA PAY A FEE TO SIT UNDER THAT GAZEBO.

WE GOTTA FIND A WAY TO STOP TO DOUBLE TAXING PEOPLE.

WE ARE TAXPAYERS AND IT SEEM LIKE YOU'RE DOUBLE DIPPING.

WE GOTTA GO TO THE REC CENTER, WE GOTTA PAY FOR THIS.

YOU GO HERE, YOU GOTTA PAY FOR THAT.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT WHEN YOU SEE A FAMILY STRUGGLING AND I HEARD ONE OF THE, THE, THE GENTLEMEN SAY ABOUT THE WAR, WE ARE HERE AGAIN ASKING FOR RATE.

BUT IF THIS WAR DON'T END NO TIME SOON, IF THIS WAR DON'T END NO TIME SOON, THE GAS IS GONNA CONTINUE TO GO UP.

THE LIGHT BILL IS GOING CONTINUE TO GO UP.

WE'LL BUY, I THINK WE AREN'T WE BUYING ENERGY FROM DUKE? YES SIR.

IS IT A WAY THAT WE COULD FIGURE OUT HOW TO, HOW TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT OR NOT? UH, NOT SELF-SUFFICIENT.

'CAUSE I DON'T THINK THE CITY'S GONNA GET INTO THE GENERATION BUSINESS, BUT THERE ARE SOME ALTERNATIVES.

WE COULD LOOK AT OTHER SUPPLIER SUPPLIERS AND PROVIDERS.

HOWEVER, CHARLIE, THE SOONEST THAT WE COULD DO THAT IS WHAT YEAR, 2035.

2035 WOULD BE THE SOONEST THAT WE COULD DO THAT.

WOW.

MY LAST STATEMENT IS THIS, WHATEVER THIS BOARD COULD DO TO HELP YOUR CITIZENS, LIKE THE YOUNG MAN SAY THAT IT IS THINGS IN PLACE, BUT IT NEVER LET THE PUBLIC KNOW.

I HEARD SOMETHING YEARS BACK ABOUT A ROUND OFF, BUT IT WAS OTHER PEOPLE THAT PAYING A LITTLE MORE ON THEIR BILL OR TO ROUND OFF THE FIGURE.

AM I RIGHT ABOUT THAT OR NOT? CORRECT.

BUT WHAT I WANT TO, WHAT I WANT TO SEE IS THE SEATS THAT YOU ARE SITTING IN, USE EVERY BIT OF YOUR POWER TO HELP THESE CITIZENS OUT HERE BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I'M TRYING TO WORK ON A DAY CENTER NOW.

I'M TIRED OF SEEING PEOPLE SITTING OUT IN THE HOT WEATHER.

I'M TIRED OF SEEING 'EM SLEEPING IN THE GRAVEYARD.

I'M TIRED OF SITTING UNDER THE HOMES.

THESE ARE PEOPLE I'M HELPING EVERY DAY.

BUT WE AS A CITY COULD DO BETTER.

AND MY LAST STATEMENT IS, THE BIBLE SAID THAT THE POOR WILL BE WITH US ALWAYS AND WE GONNA GIVE AN ACCOUNT.

WE HAVE TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT IF WE DON'T SERVE THESE PEOPLE.

AND I THANK YOU FOR THE TIME THAT YOU'VE GIVEN ME.

NEIGHBORHOOD GRANT ON MARCH 6TH.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD OF ALDERMAN AND MAYOR.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

UM, I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE CITY AGREED TO COMMIT $20 MILLION AS A MATCH TO THE FEDERAL, UM, GOVERNMENT'S CHOICE

[02:10:01]

I THINK THAT'S WHEN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IN THE CITY SUBMITTED THE GRANT.

UM, AND $2.5 MILLION IS DESIGNATED TO THE ELECTRIC SERVICES FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.

IS THAT ACCURATE? SURE.

BA BASED ON THE PLANS OF THE CNI WITH TRENT COURT COMING BACK INTO PLAY, IF ANYTHING HAPPENS WITH THE DAY'S END PROPERTY, ADDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN TO SERVICE THOSE AREAS IS MOST LIKELY YES.

ACCURATE.

THAT'S, THAT WOULD BE THE COST TO PROVIDE THAT.

THAT THANK YOU.

AND, AND TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT, IS THIS RATE INCREASE ASSOCIATED IN ANY WAY TO THAT MR. BOUCHARD? NOT THAT, THANK YOU.

SIGN AGAIN, THIS IS WHAT I ACTUALLY CAME FOR .

UH, I JUST WANT TO MAKE, UM, SOME THINGS THAT CONFUSES ME.

SOME THINGS THAT ARE JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

UM, 1970S, I WAS RAISED BY PARENTS THAT TAUGHT US HOW TO SAVE ON OUR ELECTRICITY.

AND I'M NOT GONNA LIE, WE'RE WE'RE PROSPERING.

MY FAMILY'S PROSPERING.

MY MY KIDS ARE GROWING, THEY'RE DOING WELL AND WE'RE TRYING TO HELP THEM GET THROUGH THESE LITTLE STRUGGLES HERE AND THERE.

'CAUSE PARENTS ARE HAVING TO TAKE A LOT OF OUR KIDS IN AND HELP THEM OUT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING.

SO I TRY TO SET THE EXAMPLE FOR THEM, BUT MY PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE I CAME FROM.

ENERGY, JUST DUKE, HERE, HAVELOCK, IT DON'T MATTER.

I CAME FROM KENTUCKY, GERMANY, YOU NAME IT, ALWAYS AN ISSUE.

ACTUALLY, ENERGY WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN EUROPE THAN HERE.

BUT ACTUALLY, UM, TWO THINGS THAT CONFUSES ME THE MOST.

THAT I ALWAYS GO INTO MY OFFICE HERE WHEN I HAVE TO PAY MY BILL.

AND I KNOW IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT, BUT I'M TRYING TO FIND MEASUREMENTS.

I MEAN RUNNING OUT TO READ MY METER, YOU KNOW.

AND THEN THIS, THIS LAST SNOW THAT CAME UP, I WAS SUGGESTING NOW TO GO OUT EVERY DAY TO READ MY METER.

SO IT'S NOT USER FRIENDLY FOR US TO GET SOME KIND OF MEASUREMENT THAT WE CAN KNOW WHERE WE STAND ON OUR BILL.

'CAUSE EVERY INDIVIDUAL USES A DIFFERENT AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY BEING ON YOUR, YOUR LIFESTYLE.

SO USER FRIENDLY ON MEASURING OUR BILL.

WE GET A HOUSE BILL, WE KNOW WHAT WE GOTTA PAY CAR BILL, WE KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO PAY.

EVEN OUR CELL PHONE HAS A DATABASE WHERE THEY WILL TEXT YOU AND SAY, OKAY, YOU'RE GETTING OUT OVER, I CAN'T GIMME YOUR PHONES.

YOU KNOW, AND I CAN REDUCE IT.

EVERY OTHER BILL I HAVE IN MY HOUSE IS MEASURED SOMEHOW.

ELECTRICITY, NO WAY.

CAN'T MEASURE IT.

NOT, NOT VERY WELL AT ALL.

THE OTHER CONCERN I HAVE IS, PLEASE DON'T TELL ME ANYMORE ABOUT THE SNOW BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU AND SHOW YOU MONTHS WHERE IT WAS COLD, EXTREMELY COLD WITH NO SNOW AND MY BILL WAS NOT AS HOT.

AND THEN I REALLY GOT UPSET WHEN I PUT IN 16 BRAND NEW WINDOWS IN MY HOME.

AND IT DIDN'T HELP A BIT.

IT WENT UP.

AND I'M AS FRUGAL, JUST LIKE THIS OTHER LADY SAID, I DON'T EVEN HAVE CHILDREN IN MY HOME ANYMORE.

OUR HUSBANDS HAVE PASSED AWAY.

I'M, WHY IS IT STILL SO HIGH? JUST FOR TWO OLD APPROVAL LADIES IN THE HOME? I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

THAT'S WHAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.

WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE FIND A WAY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MEASURE OUR ELECTRIC IF YOU GO FORWARD AND DO ALL THESE KIND OF THINGS? I UNDERSTAND.

'CAUSE LIKE I SAID, I'M EVEN PROSPERING EVEN THOUGH I HAVE A, I DON'T WORK EITHER.

I'M ON A SET INCOME AND I'M HAVING TO ADJUST ALL THE TIME.

SO I HAVE TO TAKE AWAY THIS OR I HAVE TO TAKE AWAY THAT SO I CAN PAY MY BILLS.

WE'RE ALL BEING RESPONSIBLE.

ALL I'M ASKING IS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE RUNNING THESE COMPANIES, THESE ENERGY BILLS, TO BE MORE RESPONSIBLE TO THEIR CITIZENS AND CUSTOMERS.

ONE WAS LIKE 1 68 AND IT WENT UP TO TWO SOMETHING AND THEN 340 SOME DOLLARS.

AND HAVE A GOOD, ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? HELLO, MY NAME IS JACKIE KENNEDY.

THIS IS MY FIRST TIME COMING UP HERE TO ASK A QUESTION.

BUT RECENTLY WITH THE WEATHER, UM, MY MOTHER, WHO'S AN ELDERLY PERSON, HAS GOTTEN AT LEAST THREE BILLS.

[02:15:01]

AND THIS LAST BILL WAS 400 AND SOME DOLLARS.

SHE'S 84 YEARS OLD ON A FIXED INCOME.

NOW HOW DO YOU EXPECT FOR HER OR ANY OTHER PERSON, WHETHER THEY'RE ELDERLY OR NOT, PAY A BILL THAT'S 400 AND SOME DOLLARS.

AND WHEN I CALLED THE ELECTRIC COMPANY, BECAUSE I, WHEN I FIRST, I SAW THE SECOND ONE, I'M LIKE, WHAT IS GOING ON? YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU HAVE IT SET? AND I'VE TOLD HER, KEEP IT AT THIS TEMPERATURE.

AND IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT IT'S COLD IN THE HOUSE, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO LOWER, YOU KNOW, KEEP IT SO THAT IT DOESN'T COME ON ALL THE TIME.

SO THE BILL DOESN'T GO UP, BUT YET THE BILL KEEPS INCREASING.

SO WHEN I CALLED AND ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE, THEY TOLD ME IN ORDER TO GET SOMEONE TO COME OUT AND CHECK THE METER, IT WAS GONNA COST $90 OR $94.

AND I WAS FURIOUS BECAUSE I WANNA KNOW, YOU ARE ALREADY PAYING FOR THIS BILL.

IT'S INCREASING.

WHY DO YOU HAVE TO PAY A $90 FEE TO HAVE SOMEONE TO COME OUT AND LOOK AT YOUR METER? AND THEN THEY SAID, DO YOU, DO YOU REMEMBER WHO SAID THAT? NO SIR.

I USUALLY I WRITE THINGS DOWN, BUT THAT DAY I WAS, IT JUST MADE ME ANGRY.

AND I'M LIKE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE, THE REASON I ASK IS WE OFFER A FREE ENERGY AUDIT.

SO WE DO THAT FOR FREE.

I CAN'T IMAGINE WHY IN THE WORLD WE WOULD TELL SOMEBODY WE WOULD CHARGE 'EM, COME CHECK THEIR METER.

MR. BOUCHARD, THEY DO CHARGE FOR ENERGY FOR METER TESTING.

YOU WANT A VALID METER TEST.

IF YOU DISAGREE THAT THE METERS WORKING PROPERLY, YOU PROBABLY NEED TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE SO EVERYBODY CAN HEAR.

THAT'S STILL WE DID, WE DO CHARGE FOR, I CAN'T HEAR YOU CHARLIE.

WE DO CHARGE FOR METER TESTING.

IF A CUSTOMER REQUESTS THAT THEY, THEY SUSPECT THAT THE METER DATA, THE METER IS PERFORMING INCORRECTLY AND THEY INSIST ON IT, WE WILL PULL THE METER, WE'LL TEST THE METER AND THERE'S A CHARGE FOR THAT.

WE'LL REPLACE, PUT A NEW METER IN FOR THEM, UM, AND GIVE THEM THE TEST RESULTS FOR THAT METER.

UM, WE DO OFFER, UM, A FREE ENERGY AUDIT.

UM, SO MAYBE SOME OF THE CONFUSION GOT, UM, COST OF CAUGHT AND HOW WE WERE COMMUNICATING AND WHAT YOUR NEEDS MAY HAVE BEEN.

BUT WE GLADLY DO A HOME ENERGY AUDIT IF YOU WANT TO GIVE ME YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION AFTERWARDS.

WELL, I CONTINUED MY LITTLE INVESTIGATION, WHAT I, WHAT I WOULD CALL INVESTIGATION.

AND FINALLY I TALKED TO, UM, THE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, UM, PERSONNEL AND I SAID, WELL, SOMETHING'S WRONG.

YOU'RE TELLING ME THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE UNIT.

WHEN I CALL THE ELECTRIC COMPANY, THEY'RE TELLING ME THAT IT'S SOMETHING ON YOUR END.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE NOBODY'S TRYING TO HELP GET, MY MOTHER HAS A 300 AND SOME DOLLARS BILL THAT HAS TO BE PAID.

SO WE DECIDED WE'RE NOT PAYING $90.

'CAUSE I MEAN IT'S 348, THEN YOU WANT ANOTHER 90.

I SAID, WELL, I'LL PAY IT IF YOU WANT ME TO.

SHE'S LIKE, NO, WE'RE NOT GONNA PAY THAT.

EVENTUALLY I KEPT GOING BACK UNTIL SOMEONE SAYS WELL, WE'LL COME OUT AND WE'LL LOOK AT THE UNIT AND THEY REPLACED THE UNIT.

AND WHEN I WENT TO THE ELECTRIC COMPANY, THEY PRINTED ME OUT THE, I GUESS THE WIDE, HOW IT WAS INCREASING EVERY DAY IT WAS GETTING HIGHER AND HIGHER AND HIGHER.

SO THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG.

BUT THEY EVENTUALLY, UM, REPLACE THE UNIT.

SO HOPEFULLY I'M GONNA LOOK AT THIS NEXT BILL THAT COMES OUT AND IF I SHOULD SEE A DRASTIC CHANGE, A DROP, AND IF NOT, THEN SOMETHING ELSE MUST BE GOING ON.

BUT I JUST THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT YOU WOULD CHARGE A FEE.

WE'RE ALREADY PAYING ALL THIS MONEY, NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AN INCREASE, AND THEN YOU WANT US TO PAY FOR THEM TO COME OUT AND LOOK AT SOMETHING.

IT'S JUST RIDICULOUS.

IT'S LIKE YOU DON'T GET A BREAK AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE ELECTRICITY.

AND I, I REFUSE TO SEND IN A HOUSE THAT FREEZING COAL AND STILL HAVE A BILL THAT'S $400.

THAT'S JUST RIDICULOUS.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

COULD BE ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT LOWER BASED ON A THOUSAND KILOWATT HOURS.

WHITE.

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? YES.

MR. BOUCHARD, RIGHT NOW, THE RESIDENTIAL TIER IS GETTING A 0.9% INCREASE.

YES MA'AM.

THIS GO ROUND, RIGHT? YES MA'AM.

NOT 2%.

SO IT'S NOT 2% CORRECT.

BUT IT'S ALSO SOME OTHER UNKNOWN.

'CAUSE WE HAVE THE PCA, SO IT'S, IT'S 0.9% PLUS WHATEVER THE PCA IS CORRECT.

AFTER THE, THE PCA CONTINUES, BUT THE, THE PCA IS TRENDING DOWN AS I SHOWED IN THAT, IN THE ONE CHART.

SO IF THAT CONTINUES, UM, YOUR OVERALL COST

[02:20:01]

AND THEN 'CAUSE THE PCA IS GOING DOWN, BUT THE 2% ONLY, WE'RE NOT ADJUSTING THE PCA UP ANOTHER 2%.

2%.

'CAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PCA WOULD BE BECAUSE YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT RATE WE'RE BEING CHARGED UNTIL SEVERAL DAYS AFTER THE MONTH IS OVER.

AND THE PCA CALCULATES ADJUST MONTHLY BASED ON WHAT THE PREVIOUS MONTH'S POWER SUPPLY COSTS WERE.

SO TO ADJUST THE, THE WOMAN WHO CAME UP JUST A COUPLE, UH, PEOPLE AGO, WE DON'T, YOU DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE RATE IS UNTIL THE MONTH ENDS.

SO LIKE THERE IS, THERE IS NO WAY IN AMERICA OR IN NEW NORTH CAROLINA THAT WE CAN, THAT WE CAN MEASURE THAT WHAT OUR RATE IS GONNA BE.

OUR WHOLE, THAT'S JUST THE WAY THAT IT IS OUR WHOLESALE RATE.

UH, WHAT IS THE OTHER RATE BESIDES THE WHOLESALE RETAIL? OKAY.

SO WE DON'T, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WHOLESALE RATE IS GONNA BE UNTIL AFTER, BUT WE DO KNOW THE RETAIL, WE, WE KNOW WHAT THE RATE IS, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BILL WILL BE.

AND IT'S A SURPRISE, UM, BECAUSE THERE'S A, THERE'S A LAG SURPRISE.

AND I WAS WONDERING, UM, AND THEN IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD EVEN SHIFT IT TO A 0.5 AND THEN SHIFT THE OTHER 0.4 TO ANOTHER TIER? IS THAT POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE SOME RELIEF FOR, FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS? BECAUSE I MEAN, I HEAR PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE UNCERTAINTY WITH THE PRICE OF GAS AND WITH THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF BEING IN A WAR.

AND SO I'M JUST ASKING FOR ANY CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO MOVE THIS 0.9 DOWNWARD FOR THE RESIDENTIAL TIER.

UH, UM, AND ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE.

I, I'M NOT PREPARED TO DO RATE DESIGN TONIGHT STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU.

UM, HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO CREATE THIS RATE DESIGN? UH, SEVERAL MONTHS.

SEVERAL MONTHS.

UM, AND OVERALL THE 2%, UM, IS EXPECTED TO COLLECT $1.3 MILLION.

AND THAT IS PRIMARILY FOR OUR, OUR 61% DEPRECIATION STATE OF OUR, OUR ENERGY DELIVERY SYSTEMS. CORRECT.

IT, IT WILL GIVE US ENOUGH REVENUE TO ABSORB THE COST INCREASE ON OUR WHOLESALE POWER SUPPLY COSTS.

WE CAN ABSORB THAT.

WE CAN MAINTAIN HEALTHY, UM, OPERATING CASH SO WE HAVE ENOUGH CASH TO OPERATE WITH AND WE CAN PAY THE DEBT SERVICE, UM, ON THE FIRST YEAR OF THE FIVE YEAR CAPITAL PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES REPLACEMENT OF THE GLEN BURNIE SUBSTATION TRANSFORMERS MM-HMM .

AND, UM, START OF CONSTRUCTION ON THE NEW SUBSTATION.

GO AHEAD.

UM, MR. BACHAR, UM, I WANNA GO BACK TO MS. KENNEDY'S.

UM, WHEN SHE STATED THAT, YOU KNOW, HER MOTHER'S LIGHT BILL KEPT ON GOING UP EACH MONTH, IT, IT INCREASED NOW MOVING FORWARD, UM, IF A CUSTOMER CALLS IN AND REQUESTS THAT THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THEIR BIG THINGS GOING ON WITH THEIR METER OR WHATEVER, AND YOU SEND, I KNOW YOU SAID IT COSTS WHAT, $90 AND IF YOU SEND A CITY CUSTOMER SERVICE REP OUT TO, UM, TO EXAMINE THAT METER AND YOU FIND THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THAT METER, WILL YOU REIMBURSE THAT CUSTOMER? YES, MA'AM.

WE, WE WILL GO AHEAD.

SO YOU WERE REPLACED THE METER AND THEN YOU WERE REIMBURSED AT CUSTOMER? YES MA'AM.

OF COURSE.

WE WANNA FIND THE PROBLEMS. WE WANT AN ACCURATE BILL.

IT, AND IT, THE FACT THAT WE, WE CHARGE FOR A METER TEST IS VERY, VERY RARE.

WE CAN MOST OF THE TIME RESOLVE THE QUESTIONS, RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS, FIND THE CAUSE, UM, AND WE DETERMINE THAT THE METER IS OKAY.

AND BOTH THE CUSTOMER AND US AGREE UPON THAT WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO THAT EXPENSE.

AND, UM, I HAD ANOTHER QUESTION.

UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF CITIZENS HERE TONIGHT THAT IS CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE RATE INCREASES.

PROCESS, BUT I MEAN THIS HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE YEARS THAT WE AS A CITY DID NOT INCREASE OUR RATES.

UM, CAN YOU, AND I THINK THEY DESERVE TO HAVE AN ANSWER.

CAN YOU GO, CAN YOU IN, UH, DO A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF WHY, WHY WE AS A CITY OR IN THE CURRENT STATE THAT WE'RE IN AND HAVING TO INCREASE THESE RATES ON OUR CITIZENS, ON OUR CUSTOMERS? AND I KNOW IT'S A LONG

[02:25:01]

AND I KNOW IT'S A DUKE FACTOR AS WELL.

I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO THE CITIZENS HERE THAT WHY WE'RE IN THIS POSITION NOW OF HAVING TO RAISE, INCREASE OUR RATES AS WE ARE DOING HERE WITHIN THE FIVE YEAR PLAN, WHY WE'RE AT THIS POINT OF, OF INCREASING THESE RATES? 'CAUSE RATES WERE, BECAUSE OVER THE LAST EIGHT, NINE YEARS, WE DIDN'T INCREASE THE RATES.

THAT ALL HAS A COMPOUNDING EFFECT AND IT, IT, IT ADDS UP OVER, OVER THE YEARS.

UM, BUT, BUT ULTIMATELY WHY WE WANT TO DO THIS IS WE WANT TO INVEST IN THE RELIABILITY OF THE SYSTEM SO THAT WE HAVE POWER ON WHEN WE NEED IT.

UM, WE, LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE HAVE 50-YEAR-OLD TRANSFORMERS AT GLEN BURNIE SUBSTATION.

UM, WE NEED ANOTHER, ANOTHER SUBSTATION ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN TO, UM, SERVE THE CAPACITY THAT WE HAVE, UM, AND HAVE SOME REDUNDANCY SO THAT WE CAN MOVE LOAD AROUND SO THAT IF YOUR FEEDER, YOUR CIRCUIT, YOUR BLOCK IS OFF OF POWER, WE CAN TRANSFER POWER AND REROUTE IT TO YOU SO WE HAVE TIME TO FIX IT AND, AND, AND WORK ON IT.

UM, AND THAT, THAT INVOLVES MOVING THAT POWER ACROSS THE TRENT RIVER.

AND, UM, WE, WE ARE, I'M DOING EVERYTHING I CAN TO KEEP IT ON .

SO THAT'S, THAT'S 'CAUSE IF YOU DON'T DO ANY RATE INCREASE AND YOU DON'T DO ANY CAPITAL, YOU'RE JUST, UM, WAITING TIME TO SEE WHAT FAILS NEXT ON A 65% DEPRECIATED SYSTEM.

AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BLAME ANYONE.

I KNOW PROBABLY WAS BEFORE YOU WERE EVEN WITH THE CITY, IF WE AT AND SOMEHOW ALONG THE WAY SOMETHING, SOME OF OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT GOT DROPPED, OKAY, THEN WE WOULDN'T BE IN SUCH A STATE THAT WE ARE IN NOW BECAUSE OF THE OLD AGE OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND I, LIKE I SAID, I KNOW SOME, YOU KNOW, IT STEMS BACK TO YEARS THAT, YOU KNOW, AS A CITY, AND, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BLAME ANYONE, BUT THE FACTS ARE THE FACTS.

IF WHOMEVER OUR ELECTRIC DIRECTOR WERE AT THE TIME OUR CITY MANAGER AT THE TIME BOARD OF MENT AT THE TIME, IF WE HAD TO INVESTED AND KEPT TRACK AND DID MORE OF INVESTING IN OUR, IN OUR ELECTRIC SYSTEM, THEN WE WOULD BE A LITTLE FAR AHEAD THAN WE ARE NOW.

THAT'S, THAT'S TRUE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, HOW CONSERVATIVE CAN WE BE? AND, AND WE ALL HAD YES.

MOVING FORWARD.

AND IT, IT'S, IT'S ALL, YOU KNOW, FORECASTING WHAT, WHAT THE FUTURE IS.

AND, YOU KNOW, OUR PRE MY PREDECESSOR IN THIS POSITION, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY SAW THE ROAD LOAD GROWTH THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY SEEING RIGHT NOW.

SO MANY VARIABLES IN, IN INVOLVED WITH THAT.

BUT, UH, UM, THAT'S WHY IT'S, SO I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ON AN ANNUAL BASIS JUST TO DO A HEALTH CHECK TO SEE WHERE THE UTILITY FINANCES ARE, WHAT THE RECOMMENDED RATE PATH IS, AND THEN MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS AS YOU ARE TRYING TO DO RIGHT NOW.

FOR US, FOR THE FUTURE, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE UNEXPECTED IS GONNA BE.

AND AND LAST YEAR I WAS ASKING FOR A 3% RATE INCREASE AND FOR RESIDENTIAL IN ALL CLASSES, THIS, THIS YEAR I'M ASKING FOR A 0.9% RATE INCREASE IN THE RESIDENTIAL CLASS.

THE REASON THE TIMING IS, IS, UM, IS, IS, UM, CONSTRAINED OR, OR IT APPEARS CLOSE TOGETHER, IS BECAUSE THE AWKWARDNESS OF OUR OWN OPERATING BUDGET IN OUR OWN CYCLE OF ABOUT BUDGETING OUR FUNDS IS OFF A CYCLE FOR RATE PLANNING IN OUR, IN OUR WHOLESALE POWER SUPPLY COSTS.

SO I'M TRYING TO GET US IN LINE WITH WHEN ADJUSTMENTS ARE MADE ON OUR WHOLESALE POWER SUPPLY COSTS, WE'RE IN LINE WITH THAT ON OUR RETAIL SIDE SO THAT THERE'S NOT AN ADDITIONAL LAG OF UNCOLLECTED POWER SUPPLY EXPENSES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO RECOVER IN RATES MONTHS, MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD.

AND AS, AS WE ALL KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, THIS PROCESS OF, OF DISCUSSING RATES AND HAVING PUBLIC HEARINGS AND DOING THE RATE STUDY, IT TAKES SEVERAL MONTHS, UM, TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

AND IT, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET THINGS TIMED BACK UP.

SO APRIL 1ST WE CAN BET ON OUR WHOLESALE POWER COSTS RATE ADJUSTMENTS.

I WOULD LIKE TO BE IN LINE WITH THAT SAME APRIL 1ST DATE SO WE DON'T HAVE A LAG IN UNDER RECOVERY POWER SUPPLY COSTS.

DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE? PUBLIC HEARING IS STILL OPEN IF ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.

[02:30:02]

GOOD AFTERNOON.

AGAIN, I'M ALSO HAD A QUESTION IN ANYTHING, JUST LISTENING TO EVERYTHING.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THE RATE INCREASES IS GEARED TOWARDS THE FUTURE, SORT OF LIKE A SQUIRREL GARING GATHERING ACORNS.

NOT THAT WE NEED 'EM RIGHT NOW, BUT FOR DOWN THE ROAD.

AND WE KNOW THAT ENERGY IS A BIG, BIG BUSINESS.

IT'S A BIG SUBJECT.

INSTEAD OF PUTTING IT ON THE CONSUMER, WOULD THERE BE ANY TYPE OF GRANTS OR ANYTHING OUT THERE? BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S JUST EASIER TO SAY, WELL, I GOT YOU WHERE I WANT YOU 'CAUSE I GOT WHAT YOU NEED VERSUS EXPLORING OTHER OPTIONS.

MR. BOUCHARD, YOUR, YOUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN THAT'S LISTED ON THE PAGE.

HOW MUCH OF THAT IS MAINTENANCE VERSUS ADDITION TO THE CURRENT ELECTRIC UTILITY? I WOULD, NONE OF THE FIRST THREE YEARS ARE MAINTENANCE.

SOME MAY ARGUE THE LAST YEARS FOUR AND FIVE MAYBE MAINTENANCE, BUT I WOULD ARGUE DIFFERENTLY.

THOSE ARE WHAT WE WANT TO DO IN YEARS FOUR AND FIVE IS UPGRADE UNDERSIZED CONDUCTORS, UM, SOME OF THEM OVERHEAD.

UM, AND, AND ALSO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERGROUND THOSE CONDUCTORS FOR BETTER RELIABILITY.

WHEN WE'RE CHANGING THE SIZE, I, I WOULDN'T CALL THAT SYSTEM MAINTENANCE, BUT YOU'RE NOT GONNA, NOT GONNA SEE A WOW FACTOR OUT OF THAT.

YOU'RE JUST GONNA SEE MORE RELIABILITY.

SO I CAN USE THOSE CONDUCTORS TO REROUTE POWER AND RIGHT NOW I'M CONSTRAINED.

AND YOU APPLIED FOR A EDA GRANT FOR A HUNDRED MILLION? I BELIEVE IT WAS CLOSE TO IT AT THE TIME.

I THINK THE GRANT WENT IN SOMEWHERE AROUND $78 MILLION.

UM, AND THOSE PROGRAMS HAVE ENDED.

UM, THE FIRST TIME WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS, UM, I WAS USING A, UH, IT WAS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF GRANT.

I FORGET WHICH ONE WAS DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, BUT AT THAT TIME, MAYBE 2019 ISH, UM, WE TALKED ABOUT THE SYSTEM, UM, CAPACITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.

AND WE CREATED A PROJECT FUND.

WE'VE ACTUALLY PURCHASED THE LAND TO DO THAT.

I WAS ESTIMATING THE PROJECT TO BE $10 MILLION AT THE TIME, AND NOW I'M ESTIMATING IT TO BE 20.

SO, AND IT'S, NONE OF IT HAS TO DO WITH, UM, WE WILL GET SOME ADDITIONAL CAPACITY, WE'LL GET SOME, SOME EXTRA NUTS OUT OF IT.

UM, BUT THAT'S NOT THE OVERALL GOAL.

AND THE OVERALL GOAL RIGHT NOW IS I, WE ARE LIMITED ON OUR CAPACITY.

UM, AND IF ANY OF YOU HAVE RECEIVED MY TEXTS THIS WINTER, UM, WHEN WE GOT INTO FEBRUARY, UM, AND I WAS ASKING FOR ENERGY CONSERVATION AND I WAS SENDING OUT ENERGY ALERTS, THE, THE NEXT MESSAGE I WAS GONNA SEND OUT WAS GONNA BE BLACKOUTS MAY OCCUR.

IT'S REAL.

SO THAT WAS ALL I HAD.

ANYONE ELSE? I THANK MOTION OPPOSED PUBLIC HEARING.

SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO OPPOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ALDERMAN BRYANT WAS A SECOND.

MS. VACO, UH, IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION, UH, PASSES.

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.

UH, WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? ITEM NUMBER 15.

CHARLIE, I HAVE A QUESTION IF NOBODY ELSE DOES RIGHT NOW, UM, THE LADY THAT SPOKE THAT SAID HER KILOWATT USAGE HAD GONE DOWN, BUT HER BILL HAD GONE UP BY $500, I THINK IS WHAT SHE SAID.

SHE ALSO THREW IN THERE, I THINK SOMETHING ABOUT HER TOTAL BILL.

SO THAT WAS WATER, SEWER, TRASH, THINGS LIKE THAT.

IS THERE WITH THIS PCA, UH, I'M NOT AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER, SO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HELP ME HERE WITH THE PCA.

IS THERE ANY WAY POSSIBLE SHORT OF A MALFUNCTION THAT SOMEBODY CAN USE LESS ELECTRICITY AND THEIR BILL GO UP THAT AMOUNT? I, I DON'T, I DON'T SEE HOW WE, WE CHARGE ON A PER UNIT BASIS AND WE HAVE IT.

AND OUR LAST RATE INCREASE WAS AUGUST THE FIRST IS WHEN IT WENT TO EFFECT.

THAT'S WENT INTO EFFECT.

SO ANYBODY THAT GOT A BILL AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, JANUARY, FEBRUARY, ALL OF THAT WOULD BE BASED OFF THE SAME RATE DE DEPENDING ON THE TIMING OF IT.

SOME OF 'EM MAY SAW IT IN IN SEPTEMBER.

OF CONSUMPTION OR EITHER A MALFUNCTION OF EQUIPMENT? YES, SIR.

WE HAVE FIVE.

WE HAVE VARIOUS BILLING CYCLES.

THEY DON'T START ON A CALENDAR MONTH.

SO THERE CERTAIN COULD HAVE BEEN SOME VARIATIONS WITH THAT.

SO CHANGE CHANGES IN PEOPLE'S BILL WOULD BE BECAUSE

[02:35:01]

BOARD, I, I THINK THIS, UM, I KNOW I'M JUMPING AHEAD A LITTLE BIT, BUT I THINK THAT ALL OF THE ISSUES, AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT THE PAST FEW MONTHS, AND RESIDENTS HAVE VOICED THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE RATES, CO-GENERATION, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, UM, ALL OF THOSE THINGS REALLY, I THINK WE, WE HAVE TO DIG IN MORE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T HELP WITH THE CURRENT RATE, UM, THE RATE UPDATE HERE FOR TONIGHT, BUT IT'S SOMETHING WHEN WE, I JUST WANT TO PUT A PIN IN THAT WHEN, FOR THE NEXT ITEM THAT WE TALK ABOUT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS EXTREMELY RELEVANT.

UM, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, I MEAN, IF WE'RE READING THAT RATE STUDY FROM OUR CONSULTANT, UH, AND WITH OUR RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DIRECTOR, THIS 2% INCREASE, WHICH IS AGAIN, 0.9% ON THE RESIDENCE ON A RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER.

SO NOT 2%, BUT 2% ON AVERAGE FOR ALL THE CLASSES OF CUSTOMERS IS, IS A NECESSITY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF RISING COSTS OF ENERGY, UM, AS WELL AS OUR CAPITAL MAINTENANCE NEEDS.

THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF THAT.

UM, AND SO WITH THAT, I WOULD MOVE TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE ELECTRIC RATE SCHEDULE AS PRESENTED AND RECOMMENDED BY, UH, THE DIRECTOR.

SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND, IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I HEAR THE PUBLIC HERE TONIGHT CALLING FOR, UM, COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER.

UM, AND I WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO YOU AFTER THE MEETING, SIR, UM, ABOUT THE DAY CENTER THAT YOU MENTIONED.

UM, MR. BOUCHARD AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT THINGS TO HELP.

UM, AND THOSE DISCUSSIONS WILL CONTINUE.

AND I ALSO THINK THAT WE ARE THE ANSWER, NOT JUST WE, BUT ALL OF US.

SO, UM, WE'LL, WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THIS AND FIND MORE SOLUTIONS.

FURTHER DISCUSSION.

HEARING NONE, LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN WHITE.

WE NEED TO QUIT SERVICING CUSTOMERS IN HAVELOCK.

DERMAN ASKED HER NO.

MAYOR ODOM? NO.

AND THE REASON WHY I'VE ALWAYS STATED, I WOULD SAY WHY, UH, I VOTED NO ON THE LAST RATE INCREASE IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR AND EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THIS CONTINUING TO BE AN ISSUE.

UH, ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO.

I ALSO MADE A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE ADOPT THE POLICY THAT WOULD MIRROR DUKES AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE TALKING ABOUT THIS AGAIN.

I BELIEVE, AS I TOLD THE NEWS OUTLET TODAY, UM, IF YOU CONTINUE TO TRY TO DO THE SAME THING GOING DOWN THE SAME PATH, YOU'RE GONNA GET THE SAME RESULTS.

AND I BELIEVE AS ALDERMAN FERGUSON MENTIONED, ITEM NUMBER 16, UM, IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE FUTURE OF THE CITY OF NEWBURN ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT.

UH, IN SPITE OF ALL THE COMMENTS.

AND BY THE WAY, NOBODY SAID ANYTHING TONIGHT THAT I WAS EXPECTING TO HEAR.

I DIDN'T EXPECT ANYBODY TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND SAY, I AGREE WITH THE INCREASE, SEND IT ON TO ME.

UM, BUT AS I'VE TOLD PEOPLE TILL I'M BLUE IN THE FACE THAT THE CITY OF NEW BERN ELECTRICITY ON YOUR BILL IS LOWER THAN DUKE RIGHT NOW.

AND I BELIEVE CHARLIE, BASED OFF THE GRAPH YOU SHOWED, IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE WHEN THIS MOTION PASSES FOR 2% INCREASE.

BUT PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.

ALL PEOPLE KNOW IS THEY GOT A BILL AND IT WAS MORE THAN IT WAS LAST MONTH.

AND WHEN YOU TRY TO DISSECT HOW MUCH THEY'VE CONSUMED, IT GETS REALLY COMPLICATED IN TRYING TO EXPLAIN THAT TO FOLKS.

I BELIEVE THAT FOR YEARS, AND THE MAYOR OUTLAW, KEN ALDERMAN OUTLAW KEN, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THAT DEBT SERVICE THAT SOMEBODY MENTIONED, MAYBE MR. BROWN, THAT THE CITY OF NEW BERN HAD TO SHARE IN THAT DEBT SERVICE WITH THE 30 OTHER ONE MUNICIPALITIES.

THAT WAS A FIXED AMOUNT.

OKAY? SO IT GOT DIVIDED UP AMONGST THE MUNICIPALITIES.

WE HAD OUR FAIR SHARE, OUR PORTION OF THAT, THAT WE HAD TO PAY.

SO THE MENTALITY FOR CITY OF NEWBURN ELECTRIC FOR PROBABLY A COUPLE DECADES WAS LET'S GROW THE GRID, LET'S GET MORE CUSTOMERS.

'CAUSE THE MORE CUSTOMERS WE HAVE ON THE GRID, THE MORE WE CAN DIVIDE THAT AND SHARE THAT AMONGST THEM, THAT'S NO LONGER THE CASE.

NOW WE ARE AT A INFERENCE POINT TO WHERE IF WE CONTINUE TO GROW THE GRID AND INVEST AND, AND GROW AND MAKE IT BIGGER, THEN THERE'S A COST OF THAT.

AND THAT COST IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW.

AND THE DIRECTOR'S DOING EXACTLY WHAT HE'S PAID TO DO IS BRING THAT BEFORE THE BOARD.

UM, I BELIEVE WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE NEED TO QUIT GROWING THE GRID.

[02:40:01]

SOMEBODY ELSE NEEDS TO DO THAT.

WE NEED TO FOCUS ON OUR CITIZENS WITHIN THE CITY OF NEWCOMB.

SO I CONCUR WITH THAT.

VERY GOOD.

SO HOPEFULLY MAYBE OUR NEXT ITEM THAT WE'RE GONNA DISCUSS, WE'LL GET TO THAT POINT.

SO ITEM NUMBER 16,

[16. Discuss Formation of a Working Group to Review Electric Energy with Director of Public Utilities.]

DISCUSS A FORMATION OF A WORKING GROUP TO REVIEW ELECTRIC ENERGY WITH DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC UTILITIES, MR. HUGHES.

OKAY, MR. MAYOR, AT THE FEBRUARY 10TH MEETING, THE BOARD ASKED FOR THIS ITEM TO BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA.

UM, ORIGINALLY THIS WAS TO DISCUSS THE ELECTRIC UTILITY.

UH, I WOULD RECOMMEND IF THE, THE GROUP IS INTERESTED IN, IN FORMING A WORK GROUP THAT YOU CONSIDER NOT ONLY THE ELECTRIC UTILITY, BUT WATER AND SEWER AND SOLID WASTE SINCE THEY'RE ALL ENTERPRISE FUNDS.

MR. ALDERMAN FERGUSON, I BELIEVE THIS IS ONE YOU WERE CHAMPION.

OF THE BOARD AS TO THE SCOPE OF THE STUDY.

LAST, LAST MEETING.

I ASKED FOR THIS IN SOME ITERATION TO HAVE SOME DISCUSSION.

UH, WE HAVE KICKED AROUND A FEW DIFFERENT IDEAS.

UM, AND I THINK THAT A SUBSET OF THIS BOARD, TWO OR THREE ALDERMEN, WHO CAN NOT ONLY MEET WITH THE UTILITY DIRECTOR, BUT ALSO CAN.

AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TONIGHT IS FOR US TO DIRECT STAFF TO START SEARCHING AND HIRE A CONSULTANT TO LOOK AT THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF OUR ELECTRIC UTILITY FOR THE FUTURE.

UM, AND I WOULD LIKE THIS WORKING GROUP TO WORK WITH THE DIRECTOR AS WELL AS THE CONSULTANT TO LOOK AT ALL OPTIONS.

I THINK THE MAYOR'S POINT IS, IS WELL TAKEN ON, UM, GROWTH OF THE UTILITY AND THE GRID AND TRYING TO COST SHARE THE DEBT SERVICE.

IF THERE'S A WAY TO CONSOLIDATE, LET'S LOOK AT IT AND LOOK AT THE ECONOMICS BEHIND THAT.

IF THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY WITH DUKE ENERGY OR ANY OTHER CO-OP OR OTHER UTILITY FOR PARTNERSHIP, WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE ECONOMICALLY TO SUPPORT A CONTRACT WITH NAMPA, UH, AND OUR MEMBERSHIP IN ELECTRIC CITIES, ALL OF THAT SHOULD BE ON THE TABLE WITH A CONSULTANT WORKING WITH THAT GROUP TO DIG IN AND THEN COME BACK TO THIS BODY TO REPORT ON.

BECAUSE WHAT I DON'T THINK WOULD BE EFFECTIVE AND I THINK WOULD BE A DISSERVICE, UH, TO THE RESOURCES THAT OUR CITIZENS HAVE ENTRUSTED US WITH, IS IF WE AS A BOARD TRIED TO MEET EVERY MONTH WITH AN ADDITIONAL MEETING AND TRY TO DIG INTO THIS, OR IF WE TRIED TO USE THIS, UH, REGULAR MEETING TO DIG INTO IT, WE'D, WE'D BE HERE TILL MIDNIGHT.

AND SO I THINK A, A WORKING GROUP OF THIS BODY, TWO TO THREE TO START WITH, WITH A DIRECTION TO HIRE A CONSULTANT TO LOOK AT THE ELECTRIC UTILITY WOULD BE A, A PRIMARY GOAL OF THIS WORKING GROUP.

THE SECOND PIECE THAT, UM, THE MANAGER BROUGHT UP THE ELECTRIC UTILITY IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND.

IT, IT IS NOT FUNDED THROUGH TAX DOLLARS.

IT IS FUNDED THROUGH RATE REVENUE.

UM, IN ORDER FOR THEM TO GO OUT FOR DEBT SERVICE, THEY WOULD GO THROUGH A REVENUE BOND PROCESS.

THEY WOULD GO THROUGH GETTING OBTAINING DEBT AND PAYING IT OFF BY THEIR, THEIR RATES.

THE ELECTRIC IS ONLY ONE OF OUR FOUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS.

WE HAVE WATER AND SEWER AND, UM, SOLID WASTE AND REVENUE BONDS AFFECT ALL OF THOSE ENTERPRISE FUNDS AND THEIR CAPITAL PROJECTS.

AND SO I THINK THIS WORKING GROUP AS A SECONDARY GOAL COULD BE TO LOOK AT THE CAPITAL PLAN FOR THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS OF THOSE ENTERPRISE FUNDS AND THE RATE STRUCTURES TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW WITH SOME CERTAINTY WHAT RATES THE FUTURE OF RATES LOOK LIKE INSTEAD OF US DOING THIS EVERY YEAR.

I AGREE WITH YOU, MR. MAYOR, THE IDEA OF EVERY YEAR GOING THROUGH THIS RIGMAROLE WITH RATES.

UM, BUT YOU KNOW, WITH RISING COST, IT IS A NECESSITY.

BUT I THINK WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB AS A GROUP SITTING AND PLANNING FOR THAT, UM, AND HAVING A FEW OF US REALLY DIG INTO REPORT.

SO THAT'S THAT.

I MEAN, I'M MOVING TO OTHER SUGGESTIONS, BUT I I I REALLY WOULD RECOMMEND AND WOULD LIKE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF I NEED IT IN MY BY MOTION, BUT A WORKING GROUP WITH TWO TO THREE ALDERMAN, I WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED ON THAT WITH THE DIRECTION TO HIRE A CONSULTANT.

AS I'VE PRESENTED ANY OTHER COMMENTS, UM, I'D BE REALLY INTERESTED IN THE SCOPE OF WORK OF THE, OF THE CONSULTANT.

UM, I, I'VE READ THESE TWO STUDIES AND THEY WERE RIGHT MUCH GENERATED BY STAFF INFORMATION AND THE OBJECTIVITY OF I I'M NOT FOR PAYING BIG CONSULTING FEES AND NOT GETTING THE RES THE RESULTS THAT OF A SCHEDULE OF WORK WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

UM, I WOULD THINK THAT THE, THE CONSULT PRETTY MUCH OTHER THAN INTERVIEWING STAFF WOULD BE GOING OUT AND GETTING BENCHMARKS AND OTHER THINGS, UH, WITHIN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND MAKING A PRESENTATION.

I I, I SEE A LOT OF STUDIES DONE THAT PRETTY MUCH FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, YOU CAN JUST PUT IN THE TRASH CAN.

SO YES, THE STUDY IS FINE.

UM, BUT I, I DO WANT INVOLVEMENT

[02:45:01]

AND I THINK THAT'S ALDERMAN OUTLINE.

I THINK IT'S A POINT WELL TAKEN, WHICH IS WHY I DON'T THINK IT'S A, I I WOULD NOT BE IN FAVOR OF JUST DIRECTING STAFF TO HIRE A CONSULTANT.

LOOK INTO IT, REPORT BACK, I THINK TWO OR THREE OF US WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THE CONSULTANT AND OUR UTILITY DIRECTOR ON THAT SCOPE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE INVOLVED IN THE INVESTIGATION OF THAT.

UM, AND THEN REPORTING BACK TO THIS CLIENT.

I THINK YOU, I THINK YOU MADE, UM, SOME GOOD COMMENTS THERE.

UM, FROM A TRIAGE STANDPOINT, UM, I THINK THAT THE WATER AND SEWER NOT SO MUCH ABOUT THE SOLID WASTE, BUT THEY'RE ALL IMPORTANT.

THEY ALL NEED THE ATTENTION MORE SO TO THE BOARD THAN, THAN THEY'VE GOTTEN IN THE PAST MAYBE.

BUT I DO, I DO THINK BETWEEN TODAY'S DATE AND 2027, WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME REALLY BIG DECISIONS, UH, THAT WILL NOT COME TO FRUITION UNTIL 2037.

UH, I THINK YOU SAID CHARLIE, YOU SAID 2035, BUT I WAS THINKING THAT THE, IF WE WERE TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT, OTHER THAN HIRE US A LAWYER TO GET A SIDEWALK, WHAT WE'RE IN WHICH WE COULDN'T, I THINK THE, THE DATE WOULD BE 2037 IS YOU SAID 2035.

YES, I DID SAY THAT, BUT I THOUGHT WE HAD TO GIVE A 10 YEAR NOTICE IF WE WERE, IF, IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, THE QUESTION, AND I'VE ASKED ELECTRICITIES FOR CLARIFICATION ON THIS, HAVEN'T RECEIVED CLARIFICATION, BUT I BELIEVE OUR REQUIREMENT IS TO GIVE EARLY NOTICE BY THE END OF 2027.

IF WE WANT OUT BY 2035 BY 22, IT'S EIGHT YEARS Y.

YES SIR.

SO, SO TO YOUR POINT, YES, WE HAVE TO MOVE QUICKLY IF WE THINK THAT'S A GOOD DECISION FOR US.

WE, WE CAN'T WAIT TILL, TILL THIS TIME NEXT YEAR TO BE PLANNING THAT.

NOT YET.

I THINK NOW THE OTHER PART OF THAT IS, I'VE ASKED THE QUESTION, IF WE GIVE NOTICE IN 2027, CAN WE DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE BETWEEN 27 AND 35? AND IF WE GET INTO 2032, SAY, UH, WE CHANGED OUR MIND, THIS IS A GOOD DEAL FOR US.

WE WANNA STAY WITH THAT.

I'M WAITING FOR CLARIFICATION ON THAT.

DID I ANSWER YOUR, DID I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? I'M NOT GONNA EXHAUST THE DISCUSSION TONIGHT ABOUT THE KEMP AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME FOR THAT, BUT, UH, WELL, I'M JUST AS SURE THAT MODEL STILL WORKS JUST TO MAKE SURE FOR THE BENEFIT OF, AND IT'S ALWAYS FUNNY HOW THE NEWS CREW LEAVES AFTER THE VOTE WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO EXPLAIN THAT'S FINE.

THEY'RE, THEY'RE INTERVIEWING PEOPLE.

WE'LL HAVE OUR OPPORTUNITY, I ASSURE YOU.

ABSOLUTELY.

JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS WHO ARE LISTENING AND WATCHING.

AND HERE TONIGHT, YOU KNOW, WE CONTRACT THROUGH A PURCHASING GROUP WITH EMPA ELECTRICITIES AND THEY GET THEIR POWER FROM DUKE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CONTRACT.

AND SO WE'RE CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED TO BUY OUR POWER THROUGH THIS CONTRACT.

THERE IS POTENTIALLY A NOTICE PROVISION, UM, FOR WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN GET OUT OF THE CONTRACT.

THAT'S THE 2027 DATE WE'RE REFERRING TO.

AND THE 2035 DATE IS WHEN THAT SERVICE WOULD BE DISCONTINUED.

WELL, YOU DON'T WANT TO DISCONTINUE SERVICE WITHOUT VIABLE ALTERNATIVES.

AND ELECTRICITIES NAMPA MAY BE THAT VIABLE ALTERNATIVE.

WE JUST ARE SUGGESTING A GROUP OF US NEED TO DIG IN WITH A CONSULTANT TO LOOK AT THAT ECONOMIC VIABILITY MOVING FORWARD.

SO, SOLOMAN FERGUSON, I HEARD YOU SAID YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SERVING.

WHO ELSE WOULD LIKE TO? I'LL BE GLAD TO SERVE.

AND STARTED RECORDING, I THINK I'D BE ESCORTED OUT.

ALMAN BEST.

YOU HAVE ONE MORE? A LIMIT OF THREE.

YEAH, WE NEED A LIMIT OF THREE.

THREE, CORRECT.

AND JUST BEING, I JUST ASSUMED DANA WOULD WANT TO, BEING ON THE EMPA, I THINK APPOINTMENT, UH, I PLAN ON BEING AT ALMOND NEPA MEETINGS.

AND, AND I DO WANT SAY THIS TO UH, UM, AND, UH, WENDY AND I HAVE TALKED SOME ABOUT THIS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO KEEP PUBLIC INFORMED WHEN THIS IS 2026.

AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOUR, THE KEMBA MEETINGS ARE NOT, ARE NOT TELEVIS BYS.

SO ANY OF Y'ALL WENT HOME NIGHT AFTER THIS DISCUSSION AND WANTED TO SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, I NEED TO, LET'S CHECK ON THAT THE KEMBA MEETING, YOU KNOW, IN JULY, OR JUST NOT ONE.

'CAUSE THEY'RE NOT RECORDING.

AND I THINK OUR ATTORNEY WILL TELL YOU THAT LEGALLY YOU CAN'T MAKE THEM RECORDED.

UM, COULD I GO TO THEIR MEETING AND HOLD THIS RIGHT HERE AND RECORD? I'D PROBABLY, I THINK I'D PROBABLY GET TOLD NOT TO.

BUT I THINK LEGALLY I OPEN MEETINGS SAYS THAT IF YOU'RE NOT DISTRACTING OR IN ANY WAY OF CREATING A DISTURBANCE TO WHERE A MEETING CANNOT BE HELD, MAYBE YOU CAN, MAYBE YOU CAN'T RECORD.

IF I GOT UP AND GOT A TRIPOD AND WENT UP RIGHT BEFORE THE BOARD

[02:50:01]

SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT AS WE WERE GOING TO CONTINUE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS TO TRY TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT HAS, HAS COME UP HERE, UH, AS OF LATE WITH THIS, THIS ATYPICAL HIGH FOUR AND A HALF PERCENT WHOLESALE RATE AND THE MERGER ITSELF AND THE SHARED BENEFITS OF NORTH CAROLINA WITH SOUTH CAROLINA UTILITIES HAVING TO IMPROVE THE MERGER AND A LOT OF OTHER DYNAMIC THINGS.

UM, YOU KNOW, THE LEAST THINGS SO THAT WE CAN AFFORD THE PUBLIC IS TO TELL YOU THAT YES, UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETINGS ARE TELEVISED.

THAT'S WHAT I WOULD PROBABLY CALL SOMEWHAT OF AN OCCUPATION BOARD.

AND YES, VIDEOS ARE AVAILABLE JUST LIKE THIS, THIS MEETING TONIGHT, BUT NO, ELECTRIC CITIES AND THE KEMP MEETINGS ARE NOT.

AND FIRST WHAT I'M HEARING OUTLAW SAY IS, PARDON, WHAT I'M HEARING IS YOU WANT THE CHIEF TO FIT YOU WITH BODY CAM FOR THE EMPA MEETING.

IS THAT THE WELL, THE FIRST THING I'LL TRY TO DO WHEN I GO TO THE MEETING IS GET THINGS YEAH.

WHERE IT SHOULD BE.

THIS IS NOT 1950.

THIS IS 2026.

AND, AND, YOU KNOW, AUBURN OUTLAW, IF I, IF I CAN MAKE A SUGGESTION, I, I THINK BEING ON THE MPA BOARD AS AN NEW AND REPRESENTATIVE, IT WOULD MAKE SENSE IF YOU'RE ABLE AND WILLING TO, TO SERVE WITH RO INVEST AND I ON THIS WORKING GROUP LOOKING AT THE UTILITY.

I, I DON'T WANT THE BOARD TO HAVE A QUORUM.

AND I THINK THERE ARE OTHER ALDERMAN OF A CONCERN ABOUT THIS ALDERMAN ALL LAW.

I FEEL LIKE YOU ARE VERY WELL FITTED FOR THAT GROUP.

I DON'T WANNA TAKE ANY SPOT FROM IT.

AND I AGREE, I AGREE TO, WE ALL AGREE.

SO THERE'S, THERE'S NO ISSUE HERE.

I MADE THE MOTION TO FORM THE WORKING GROUP TO REVIEW ELECTRIC ENERGY AS WELL AS INTER NO MOTION.

WE GET AN THANK YOU THOUGH.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THE RECORD IS CLEAR THAT ALTMAN OUTLAW IS A PART OF THIS WORKING GROUP.

AND I DULY NOTED, LISTED.

I FULLY SUPPORT THAT UNDER THE ONE CONDITION THAT NOTHING IS OFF THE TABLE FOR CONSIDERATION, INCLUDING THE CITY OF NEW BERN GETTING OUT OF THE ELECTRIC BUSINESS.

LOT OF SHIFTING THINGS GOING ON HERE AND, AND I HOPE ALONG WITH STAFF AND, UM, THIS AD HOC GROUP THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE NEWBURN GETS ITS PIECE OF THE PIE.

AND IF THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY, YES.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THIS GROUP WILL LOOK INTO AND SOMETHING THE CONSULTANT WILL LOOK INTO.

AND IT MAY COME BACK THAT IT'S A BENEFIT TO US.

ELECTRIC CITIES AND PUBLIC POWER WILL CERTAINLY TELL YOU THERE'S A BENEFIT TO HAVING PUBLIC POWER.

BUT I THINK AS THE AUTUMN OUTLAW MENTIONED, THINGS HAVE CHANGED, TIMES HAVE CHANGED, AND I THINK IT'S TIME TO LOOK AT ALL OPTIONS.

SO ANYTHING ELSE NEEDED ON ITEM NUMBER 16? UH, I WILL, I WILL SAY THIS, UH, AS, AS WE LOOK AT ALTERNATIVES, UM, I NOTICED THAT, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK IN RETROSPECT, EMPIRICAL DATA, ET CETERA, I, I NOTICED THAT IN 2015, THE ELECTRIC CITIES BOARD DIRECTORS HAD A, A, A BOARD MEMBER.

AND AGAIN, I, I'LL SAY THIS, AS I ALWAYS SAY WHEN I GO OUT LIMB, I APOLOGIZE IF I'M WRONG, BUT THE, UH, IN 2015, I BELIEVE THAT A BOARD OF DIRECTORS WAS FROM KING'S MOUNTAIN.

UM, KING'S MOUNTAIN.

TODAY, I, I DON'T THINK THAT PERSON'S ON THAT BOARD ANYMORE BECAUSE KING'S MOUNTAIN HAS A PARTNERSHIP WITH NTE, UH, ST.

AUGUSTINE THAT GENERATES 450 MEGAWATTS OF POWER FOR A NINE MUNICIPALITY AREA AROUND THERE, OF WHICH KINGS MOUNTAIN IS, IS, IS THE PRIMARY PARTNER.

AND THOSE ARE THE TYPE OF OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT, OF COURSE, YOUR VERTICAL INTEGRATED MODEL.

DUKE ENERGY DOES NOT WANT AN NTE IN.

NOW, KEEP IN MIND ONE OTHER THING.

UM, YOU GOT A, A STUDY HERE THAT'S RECENTLY BEEN COMPLETED BY, UH, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC, AND IT GETS INTO TARIFFS AND THINGS THAT ARE BEING DONE IN OTHER STATES THAT WILL HELP KEEP RESIDENTIAL RATES DOWN.

UM, AND SOMETHING OF INTEREST THAT'S COME UP IN THE LAST MONTH IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS GONE OUT ON A LIMB.

AND YOU CAN TALK MORE TO THIS AND YOUR LEGAL THOUGHTS ON IT, THAT, UM, AI, UM, WHICH, UM, MR. BURCHARD, I BELIEVE YOUR STUDY SHOWS THAT INCREASE IN CONSUMPTION FROM YOUR CONSULTANT IS 16 TO 60%.

THAT'S A BIT OF A, OF A, OF A RANGE THERE.

BUT, UM, SOME STUDIES THINK IN 10 YEARS WITH AI AND A LOT OF THINGS LIKE THAT, CONSUMPTION COULD BE DOUBLE, TRIPLE.

BUT THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID, WHICH IS NOT PUBLIC POLICY AT THIS TIME, BUT THAT, UM, HE'S GOING TO SEE TO UHIS AND OTHERS LIKE THAT, BEING ABLE TO HAVE THEIR OWN GENERATION, WHICH I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH FERC AND OTHER THINGS TO DO.

SO I'M JUST TRYING TO SAY, THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF

[02:55:01]

IT HADN'T GOTTEN, JUST LIKE GREENVILLE HAS A A 25 MEGAWATT BOOSTER.

N KEA PAID FOR IT.

GOT A 25 MEGAWATT, UH, BOOST FOR OUR PEAK DEMAND.

NO, I MEAN, DOES THAT SERVE ALL OF N KEA PROBABLY, RIGHT? YES.

BUT BEING ESSENTIALLY LOCATED IN GREENVILLE WITH OWNS RESISTANCE, IS THAT A FAVORABLE TO GREENVILLE VERSUS ELIZABETH CITY OR SOMEBODY? PROBABLY.

SO I'M LOOKING FOR FROM, I'M LOOKING FOR A THIRD GENERATION PLANT FROM KEA HERE IN NEW, FOR STARTERS.

17, DISCUSS A LOCAL BILL SEEKING TO CHANGE THE CITY OF NEW BERN ELECTIONS.

ITEM NUMBER

[17. Discuss a Local Bill Seeking to Change the City of New Bern Elections.]

MR. HUGHES.

SO YOU MAY REMEMBER AT THE BOARD RETREAT JANUARY, UH, THAT THERE WAS DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD ON POSSIBLY MOVING DEAL THE NEXT ELECTION.

AND SO WITH THE, UH, FEBRUARY MEETING DURING THE MANAGER'S REPORT, WE, WE PROVIDED SOME, SOME OPTIONS.

ONE OF THOSE WAS THE NONPARTISAN ELECTION RUNOFF METHOD AND MOVING THAT TO EITHER 2028 OR 2029.

AND THE OTHER OPTION WAS THE NONPARTISAN PLURALITY METHOD.

AND SO THE BOARD REQUESTED THAT PUT BACK ON THE AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING FOR DISCUSSION BOARD.

I THINK THE, IF I'M RECALLING CORRECT, AND, UH, THE CITY MANAGER CAN CORRECT ME, UH, OR THE FINANCE OFFICER CAN CORRECT ME.

I, I BELIEVE NEW BERN PAID, WAS IT 90 OR 99,000? APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

$90,000 LAST YEAR TO HOLD A STANDALONE CITY ELECTION.

UH, NOW GRANTED, BECAUSE OF THE BOND AND EFFORTS, THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF TURNOUT, BUT HISTORICALLY THERE HAS NOT BEEN AS MUCH TURNOUT BECAUSE OF IT BEING IN AN ODD YEAR.

ALL OF THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN CRAVEN COUNTY ARE ON AN EVEN YEAR.

AND SO THEY, THEY SHARE THE COST BURDEN WITH ELECTIONS.

AND THIS CAME UP IN THE CAMPAIGN, AND WE ALL DISCUSSED THIS, THAT THE IDEA OF MOVING THE ELECTION TO AN EVEN YEAR TO SAVE COSTS.

ANOTHER THING MOVING TO AN EVEN YEAR WOULD ALLOW IS TO PRESERVE, MAKE SURE WE PRESERVE EARLY VOTING.

WHILE IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING I TALKING TO THE ELECTIONS DIRECTOR IN CRAVEN COUNTY, HAVING A, A STANDALONE ELECTION, UM, OR, OR NOT HAVING A STANDALONE ELECTION FOR CITY ELECTIONS.

WE GET TO SELECT WHETHER OR NOT TO HAVE EARLY VOTING IF WE MOVE OUR ELECTION TO AN EVEN YEAR WITH OTHER ELECTIONS, BUT STATE AND FEDERAL, THAT BECOMES A HUGE COST DETERRENT FOR A BOARD, NOT THIS BOARD, BUT A FUTURE BOARD TO GET RID OF EARLY VOTING.

AND SO THAT WOULD, BY MOVING IT, WE WOULD ALSO BE PROTECTING EARLY VOTING.

AND SO I JUST THINK FROM A COST PERSPECTIVE, A TURNOUT, I, I THINK I'M IN FAVOR OF MOVING IT TO AN EVEN YEAR.

SO THEN THE QUESTION BECOMES WHAT YEAR? AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK GENERAL SECRET FOR IS MOVING THE ELECTION TO 2030, BECAUSE FRANKLY, I DON'T THINK ANY OF US WANT TO RUN OUR PRESIDENTIAL YEAR BECAUSE WE ALL WANT TO KEEP IT NONPARTISAN.

AND SO MOVING IT TO 2030 WOULD BE NON-PRESIDENTIAL.

UM, KEEP IT NONPARTISAN.

UM, AND I'M ALSO OPEN TO THE PLURALITY METHOD BY, UH, JUST SHEER LOGISTICS.

IF YOU TRY TO RUN A GENERAL WITH A RUNOFF, YOU END UP WITH A GENERAL ELECTION IN MARCH.

AND IF YOU HAVE A RUNOFF, A RUNOFF IN NOVEMBER, THAT LEAVES THE POTENTIAL FOR A LAME DUCK FOR EIGHT MONTHS.

OR HAVING SOMEONE WHO WON IN MARCH, WAITING AROUND EIGHT MONTHS TO BE, UH, SWORN IN.

UM, SINCE WE DON'T HAVE A, SINCE IT'S A NON-PARTISAN ELECTION, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE A PRIMARY.

AND SO I THINK PLURALITY FIXES THAT.

AND YOU COULD HAVE A PLURALITY IN NOVEMBER OF 2030.

SO NO NEED FOR A RUNOFF OF THE COST OF EXPENSIVE RUNOFF, JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, UH, IN CRAVEN COUNTY.

AND YOU HAVE THAT PLURALITY ELECTION IN NOVEMBER SO THAT THE NEXT BOARD CAN BE SEATED BY THE DECEMBER MEETING, WHICH IS REQUIRED, I BELIEVE IT'S UNDER STATE STATUTE AS FOR THE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING.

SO I, I'M IN FAVOR OF, UH, MOVING, ASKING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR A LOCAL BILL TO CHANGE THE CITY OF NEW BERN ELECTIONS TO A, UM, TO, TO BE IN 2030 PLURALITY AND KEEPING IT PARTISAN.

AND THAT'S MY MOTION.

I SECOND MY MOTION.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

IS EVERYONE CLEAR ON THE MOTION? MR. DAVIS QUESTION? THIS IS, UH, THE LOCAL BILL.

THIS WOULD ACTUALLY BE A CHARGE CHANGE, CORRECT? YES, SIR.

AND, UM, SO WE, WE WOULD PUT THAT REQUEST ON YOUR NEXT AGENDA TO THEN BE EXPEDITED TO, UH, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

CAN I ASK A QUESTION? YES, SIR.

UM,

[03:00:01]

I'M ALL FOR THE MIDTERM.

I GUESS THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO.

UM, AND EVERYTHING ABOUT YOUR MOTION, OTHER THAN I'M NOT ABOUT SHOWING FLOUR.

I THINK THAT, UM, WE JUST RECENTLY HAD A RUNOFF, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT COSTS, BUT WITH THE ODD YEARS WHEN THERE IS AN ELECTION AND THERE'S A RUNOFF, WE JUST, WE JUST HAVE A RUNOFF.

UM, WHY DO YOU HAD IT ON MIDTERM? THAT'S ACTUALLY ME.

I'M SORRY.

IF WE HAD A MIDTERM, UH, YOU KNOW, ELECTION, UM, AND WE NORMALLY ARE SEATED IN DECEMBER, UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME YOU WOULD, THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF TIME YOU WOULD NEED BETWEEN THE ELECTION AND A RUNOFF, BUT THE ONLY THING ANY DIFFERENT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE WOULD BE THE COST OF THE RUNOFF.

SO IF YOU DID THE GENERAL END, IF YOU DID THE GENERAL IN NOVEMBER, YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO A RUNOFF BY THE DECEMBER MEETING.

AND SO THAT'S HENCE THE, THE, THE REASON FOR, WELL, I MEAN, YOU TALK ABOUT ELECTIONS, THAT'S WHAT'S THE MINIMAL TIME BETWEEN, I, I DON'T KNOW THE MINIMAL TIME, BUT I KNOW IF YOU THINK JUST FROM A CANVASSING PERSPECTIVE, AND THEN IF YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TWO WEEKS OF EARLY VOTING, IT'S JUST THERE'S NOT ENOUGH DAYS BETWEEN A NOVEMBER ELECTION AND DECEMBER MEETING, UH, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A RUNOFF.

I DON'T.

AND THE RUNOFF, I, I DON'T THINK, I DIDN'T TALK TO HER SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THAT.

UM, AND FROM A COST PERSPECTIVE, IF IT COST THE CITY 90,000 FOR THIS LAST ELECTION, I THINK THE RUNOFF WAS A LITTLE, MAYBE A LITTLE LESS THAN HALF OF THAT.

WELL, MY, MY MAIN IDEA OF, OF YOUR MOTION OF PLURALITY IS, IS GETTING MORE VOTER TURNOUT.

I THINK WE GET MORE ON MIDTERM AND WE'RE GETTING ON I YEARS WOULD BE MY FAULT, BUT I'M NOT FOR PLURALITY AT THIS TIME.

ANYONE ELSE? THE ONLY CONCERN I HAVE WITH IT IS THAT, UM, I'VE HAD CITIZENS REACH OUT AND THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UM, WE'VE ALWAYS, WE ARE ALL AS A CITY, WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN NONPARTISAN AND THEY WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.

NONPARTISAN.

UM, FAR AS THE RUNOFF METHOD IS CONCERNED.

I MEAN, ME, ME, I PREFER THE PLURALITY METHOD BECAUSE THE, WHOEVER WINS ONE VOTE OVER, THEY'RE THE WINNER.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A RUNOFF.

UM, AND THAT RED SAVING YOU MONEY AT 40, 40 SOME THOUSAND DOLLARS OR MORE WITHOUT HAVING A RUNOFF.

NOW I KNOW A LOT OF YOU ALLMAN AND MAYOR, YOU'VE KEPT YOUR SEATS WITH THE RUNOFF METHOD.

SO IT'S TOTALLY UP TO THIS BOARD HOW WE VOTE ON THIS, ON THIS, UH, METHOD THAT WE ARE GONNA USE.

BUT I JUST DON'T WANT TO BE, UH, IT BE CLASSIFIED AS WE BECOME PARTISAN.

I I WANT TO BECOME STATE NONPARTISAN MM-HMM .

AND IF WE GO INTO THE, IF WE GO INTO THE, UH, EVEN YEAR, UH, THE PRESIDENTIAL MAIN ELECTION, AND THEN WE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA BE BECOME MORE PARTISAN.

BUT THAT'S JUST THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT THE PRIORITY METHOD.

AND I KNOW OTHERS FEEL DIFFERENTLY.

SO EVERYBODY UP THEIR OWN OF WANTING TO SELECT THE PROCESS THAT'S GONNA AFFECT THAT WILL AFFECT THEM MORE.

SO I THINK, I THINK IN, IN GOVERNING COMPROMISE IS ALWAYS THE KEY.

UM, I'VE OBVIOUSLY BEEN A PROPONENT OF THE RUNOFF I'VE WON EVERY RUNOFF I'VE BEEN IN, UM, AND I'VE BEEN IN ONE EVERY TIME I'VE BEEN CONTESTED.

UM, BUT I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S A TREMENDOUS EXPENSE AND, UM, I THINK IT'S, IT'S CERTAINLY WORTH THE TRADE OFF OF THE SAVINGS OF THE FUNDING.

UH, BECAUSE I BELIEVE EVEN WITH THE PLURALITY METHOD, THERE'S STILL A, THERE'S STILL A MINIMUM THRESHOLD.

IS IT 30%? I, I, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.

I, I THINK I, I THINK THAT'S RIGHT, BUT I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK THERE'S A 30% THRESHOLD.

SO IF, IF 10 PEOPLE DECIDE THEY WANT TO RUN FOR OFFICE, YOU, THE TOP VOTE GETTER STILL HAS TO GET 30%.

I THOUGHT IT'S SAYING HERE ON THIS, IT SAYS 50%.

WELL, IT DOES.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, UM, THERE'S A, THERE WAS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER RACE LAST WEEK WHERE THREE PEOPLE WERE IN THE RACE AND THERE WAS A 30% THRESHOLD.

SO THEORETICALLY NOBODY WOULD'VE NOT GOTTEN THE 30%.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THE ONLY QUESTION IS IF THERE'S 10 PEOPLE IN THE RACE AND EVERYBODY GOT 10% AND ONE PERSON GOT 10.5%, WOULD THEY THEN BECOME YOUR NEXT ALDERMAN? THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE.

AND I THINK WE'VE GOT TIME.

'CAUSE WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY, YES, WE'RE NOT, IT'S SAYING HERE 50% ON THIS, THIS IS THE INFORMATION THAT WAS GIVEN TO HIM.

I DON'T

[03:05:01]

THINK IT COULD BE 50%.

AND I'M AROUND, WELL, I'M JUST READING WHAT, WHAT THE, UH, CITY MANAGER WHOMEVER GAVE TO US.

IT SAYS 50% RIGHT HERE, THE NON-PARTISAN ELECTION AND ALITY METHOD WITH ONE IMPORTANT DISTINCTION.

IF A WINNER IN THESE ELECTIONS DOES NOT RECEIVE A MAJORITY 50 PLUS PERCENT OF THE VOTES, THE CANDIDATE WHO CAME IN SECOND IS ALLOWED TO ASK FOR A RUNOFF.

BUT I DON'T SEE HOW THAT IS, THAT THAT'S NOW NONPARTISAN.

YEAH, RIGHT.

THAT'S NOW NON-PARTISAN MAJORITY.

IF IT WAS NON-PARTISAN PLURALITY, THEN IT WOULD, IT WOULD BE THE TOP VOTE.

AND I THINK, I THINK TO THE MAYOR'S POINT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST GIVING STAFF DIRECTION IN, IN MY MOTION TO DRAFT UP A RESOLUTION WITH WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEND TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WHICH WE WOULD HAVE AT OUR NEXT MEETING.

AND IF WE FIND OUT BEFORE THEN THAT THE PLURALITY IS 30% THRESHOLD AND THAT, THAT MIGHT CHANGE THAT.

SO WE HAVE TIME TO DISCUSS THAT.

BUT MY UNDERSTANDING PLURALITY IS THE TOP VOTE GETTER.

SO IT'D HAVE TO BE 50%, IT COULD BE ONE VOTE OVER, YOU GET THAT'S ONE VOTE ONE, BUT NOT 50%.

IT IS, IF THERE'S FOUR PEOPLE IN THE RACE, THE TOP VOTE GETTER, THEY MIGHT NOT GET 30%.

I GOT YOU.

I'M JUST MAKING SURE.

I WAS JUST, I WAS JUST READING FROM THE PAPER.

SO I, I GUESS THE REASON MENTIONED IT, IT REQUIRING A CHARTER CHANGE, MR. DAVIS IS BECAUSE WE, WE REALLY WANT THIS TO BE UNANIMOUS IF WE REQUEST IT FROM GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

AND I'M I'LL, I'LL, BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT MEETING, I'LL, I'LL TRY TO SPEAK WITH ONE OF THE ATTORNEYS AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, UM, TO SEE, I TEND TO PREFER A CHARTER AMENDMENT BECAUSE PEOPLE THINK TO LOOK AT THE CHARTER.

PEOPLE DON'T THINK TO LOOK FOR A LOCAL BILL THAT THEY CAN'T EASILY FIND.

BUT, BUT I'LL HAVE AN ANSWER BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT MEETING.

AND ALSO FOR CLARIFICATION THERE, OUR TERM WITH NOW, WHICH IS FOUR YEARS, WE'LL MOVE TO FIVE YEARS.

IF WE GO WITH EVEN YEARS, IF YOU MOVE IT TO 2030 UHHUH AN EVEN YEAR.

MR. DAVIS, COULD YOU CLARIFY PLURALITY ON THIS PARTICULAR PLURALITY? THIS SIMPLY MEANS THE MOST I'M TALKING ABOUT ON THIS PARTICULAR WHAT BAR? WELL, IT'S UP HERE ON THE, YOU KNOW, CURRENT.

IS IT 50%? CURRENTLY IT'S 50% READ.

UNDER THE CURRENT.

SO IT LOOKS ME LIKE YOU MAY HAVE A RUNOFF MOST LESS OF THE TIME, UM, WHICH IS THE ISSUE WITH THE CURRENT SYSTEM.

THAT'S NOT WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED.

WELL, CAN I ALSO ASK THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK, I DON'T KNOW HOW OTHER BOARD MEMBERS FEEL, BUT MAYBE, UM, WE HAVE, UM, THE BOARD OF ELECTION, A MEMBER FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTOR COME BEFORE US AS A BOARD AND EXPLAIN ALL OF THIS MORE IN DETAIL.

I MEAN, HOW DID THE BOARD FEEL ABOUT THAT? OR ARE YOU GOOD WITH IT? YOU DON'T WANT IT? WE CAN MOVE ON.

YOU WANT YOUR MOTION, YOU WANT IT? I'M JUST ASKING QUESTION.

I, I THINK, I THINK IF, IF WE'RE OKAY WITH MOVING, MOVING FORWARD, GIVING STAFF THE DIRECTION THEY NEED, IT GIVES THEM A MONTH TO PUT THAT TOGETHER IN A RESOLUTION.

AND IF THE CITY MANAGER CAN WORK WITH THE, UM, CRAIG COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO HAVE SOMEONE HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, DURING THAT MEETING, I'M FINE WITH THAT AS WELL.

I'LL, BUT I'LL GO WITH YOU TONIGHT.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND, UH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

THAT NUMBER 18, 19 AND 20 CAN BE CONSIDERED TOGETHER.

ANY OPPOSED? OKAY, MOVING ON.

SO I'VE GOT A NOTE

[Items 18 - 20]

UH, ASSUMING THEY ARE UNANIMOUS, I'M GONNA READ ALL THREE.

ITEM NUMBER 18 TO CONSIDER DOMINANT RESOLUTION OR APPROVING A LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH RIVERFRONT HOSPITALITY LLC AND AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A RIPARIAN WAIVER FORM.

ITEM NUMBER 19 IS CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION OF APPRO AN AGREEMENT WITH SIMMONS PROPERTY GROUP LLC FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO FEDERAL ALLEY.

AND ITEM NUMBER 20, CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION OF APPRO, AN AGREEMENT WITH COLONIAL PLACE CONDOMINIUMS, LLC FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO FEDERAL ALLEY.

MR. DES MAYOR RIVERFRONT HOSPITALITY, WHICH OWNS THE DOUBLETREE DESIRES TO CONSTRUCT AND MAINTAIN AN EXTENDED DOCK WITH RAILING, A STAIRWAY AND STADIUM STYLE SEATING AT THE DOUBLETREE HOTEL.

THE IMPROVEMENTS WOULD BE LOCATED ON APPROXIMATELY 1,100 SQUARE FEET OF CITY OWNED PROPERTY BETWEEN THE HOTEL AND THE RIVERWALK.

THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT GRANTS A NON-EXCLUSIVE PERSONAL LICENSE FOR A TERM OF UP TO 15 YEARS.

CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE WOULD BE AT THE SOLE EXPENSE OF RIVERFRONT HOSPITALITY, AND THE CITY WOULD BE INDEMNIFIED FROM A RELATED LIABILITY.

THE AGREEMENT DOES NOT CONVEY ANY PROPERTY AND PRESERVES THE CITY'S RIGHT TO USE THE PROPERTY.

THE PUBLIC WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THE STADIUM SEATING DURING THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT.

JOHN HARRELSON, UH, THE PROPERTY OWNER IS HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE, MR. BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE? NO.

AN EXPOSED AGGREGATE IN THERE, UM, UH, DECORATIVE RIVER ROCK IN THERE, UH, UH, DOING A MURAL ON ONE OF THE WALLS AND ALSO A MURAL ON THE, UH, TRANSFORMER BOXES.

IF NO QUESTION.

THE NEXT ONE, UH, WE RECEIVED THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE GRANT A FEW YEARS AGO FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION OF FEDERAL ALLEY.

UM, PART OF THAT INCLUDED, UH, TERRY AT THE, THE OLD SIDEWALK PUTTING

[03:10:01]

UM, SO IT ALSO CALLED TO ADD NEW LIGHTING.

AND SO IN ORDER FOR US TO PUT LIGHTING IN, WE HAVE TO HAVE AN AGREEMENT, WHICH IS THE FIRST ONE WITH SIMMONS PROPERTY GROUP, LLC, TO INSTALL LIGHTING ON THEIR BUILDING.

THE AGREEMENT CALLS FOR, UM, SIMMONS PROPERTY GROUP TO GET A CONTRACTOR TO INSTALL THE LIGHTING.

WE WOULD REIMBURSE THEM FOR THE COST OF THAT.

THE CITY WOULD IN FACT, UH, IN TURN BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENERGY COST TO LIGHT THOSE LIGHTS MOVING FORWARD.

SO THAT WOULD BE PUBLIC LIGHTS.

IT WOULD ALSO CALL TO INSTALL A PLAQUE COMMEMORATING THE, THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PROJECT ON THE, UM, SIMMONS GROUP PROPERTY, WHICH IS MORGAN'S RESTAURANT.

AND IT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE, INCLUDE, UH, ATTACHING A SIGN OVERHEAD, UH, OF THE ENTRANCEWAY OF FEDERAL ALLEY.

UM, THE OTHER AGREEMENT WITH COLONIAL PLACE CONDOMINIUMS, THAT IS BASICALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SIGN IS ATTACHED TO BOTH SIDES OF THE ALLEY.

UH, SIMMONS HAS ONE, ONE SIDE OF THE SIGN AND COLONIAL PLACE HAS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SIGN, WHICH WOULD BE INSTALLED.

THE TERM OF THESE AGREEMENTS ARE FOR 10 YEARS.

LET HUGS THAT ENERGY COST YOU MENTIONED.

IS THAT PAID FOR THROUGH MSD FUNDING? THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE ABSORBED BY, UH, PUBLIC WORKS AS PART OF, UH, ELECTRIC UTILITY LIGHTS.

UH, OKAY.

BECAUSE STREET LIGHTS DOWNTOWN THAT'S CORRECT.

WITHIN M MS D ARE NOT PAID FOR THROUGH THE MS. D? THAT THAT'S CORRECT.

DOES THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS ON 18 THROUGH 20 OR ANY OF THOSE INDIVIDUALLY? MR. MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS 18, 19, AND 20 AS PRESENTED.

SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND.

IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE? LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN OUTLAW.

ALDERMAN ASER.

ALDERMAN WHITE? YES.

ALDERMAN BEST MAYOR ODOM.

ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY SPONSORED EVENTS.

MOTION CARRIES.

NEXT IS ITEM NUMBER 21.

CONSIDER

[21. Consider Adopting an Ordinance Amending City-Sponsored Events.]

MR. HUGHES.

SO THAT THE JANUARY BOARD OF RETREAT, WE DID TALK ABOUT CITY SPONSORED A BIT BRIEFLY, AND WE DID ALSO MENTION TWO EVENTS THAT REALLY HAVEN'T OCCURRED IN SEVERAL YEARS.

THE FIRST ONE IS FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY.

WHILE THEY DO HAVE BOOK SALES, THEY DON'T ASK THE CITY FOR, FOR, FOR ANYTHING DURING THEIR BOOK SALES.

SO IT JUST MAKES SENSE TO REMOVE THAT FROM THE CITY SPONSORED EVENT LIST.

THE OTHER ONE IS THE TWIN RIVERS, YMCA 5K, AND 10 K.

THEY NO LONGER OFFER THIS EVENT IN MAY.

INSTEAD THEY OFFER A TURKEY TROT, WHICH OCCURS, UH, TO BURN UP IN NOVEMBER OF EACH YEAR.

UH, BUT SINCE THEY'VE BEEN DOING THAT AND THAT HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THEY HAVE NOT REQUESTED ANY CITY SUPPORT FOR THAT.

SO WE'RE REQUESTING TO TAKE BOTH OF THESE ITEMS OFF OF THE CITY SPONSORED LIST.

BOARD.

HAVE QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE.

WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE AWARD? ON ITEM NUMBER 21, MR. MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE CITY SPON THE ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY SPONSORED EVENTS AS PRESENTED WITH ONE ADDITION.

I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MARDI GRAS IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY AS A CITY SPONSORED EVENT.

AS YOU KNOW, UM, LAST MONTH WE HELD IT IN DOWNTOWN AND IT, FROM THE DATA THAT I SAW ABOUT 12,000 PEOPLE IN DOWNTOWN THAT DAY, IT WAS ABOUT 4,000, UM, AVERAGE FOR THE HOUR WITH A LULL TIME OF TWO HOURS.

AND SO THEY CAME DOWNTOWN AND THEY STAYED.

UM, AND SO I THINK THAT SHOWS PROOF OF CONCEPT THAT THAT IS AN EVENT THAT, UH, IT IS, WAS WIDELY ATTENDED, WAS WIDELY POPULAR AND IS GOING TO HAPPEN, UH, FOR YEARS TO COME.

AND SO I WOULD LIKE THAT INCLUDED ON THE CITY SPONSORED EVENTS.

WE HAVE A MOTION.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

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

ALDERMAN FERGUSON.

ALDERMAN OUTLAW? YES.

MAYOR ODOM? YES.

MOTION CARRIES.

NEXT IS APPOINTMENTS.

UH,

[22. Appointment(s).]

ALDERMAN OUTLAW.

YOU HAVE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS.

DO YOU HAVE ANYONE? YEAH.

UH, NADINE BECA UH, BEAM.

OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION, UH, FOR NADINE MCKENNAN.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.

IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE? UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ANY OPPOSED? UH, SHE ON THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS FOR WARD FIVE.

I'M SORRY, WARD SIX.

WE ALSO HAVE A BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS FOR WARD FIVE AT AUTO INVEST IS NOT IN THE ROOM.

AND THEN WE HAVE ONE OPENING, UH, BOARD AT LARGE FOR THE POLICE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD.

DOES ANYONE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT? YES, MR. MAYOR? I WOULD APPOINT KIM CRUMB TO THE POLICE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD.

SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

IS THERE

[03:15:01]

A AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? OKAY.

SHE IS ALSO APPOINTED TO THE POLICE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD.

ALDERMAN BETHS, WHILE YOU'RE WALKING UP, DO YOU HAVE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT TONIGHT? NO, I DO NOT.

SO WE WILL MOVE ON.

UM, WE ALSO HAVE AN OPENING AGAIN ON THE M-P-O-T-A-C.

ALMAN BRYANT IS THE ALTERNATE, BUT WE DO NEED SOMEONE TO SERVE AS THE PRIMARY MEMBER.

IS ANYONE INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THAT? I'M SORRY, WHAT BOARD WAS THAT? THE MPO.

UM, HEARING, I'LL SERVE ON THE BOARD.

UM, ALDERMAN WHITE HAS VOLUNTEERED.

UH, SO MOVED.

WE HAVE A MOTION.

A SECOND? SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

IMPORTANT TONIGHT, MAYOR.

ANY OPPOSED? OKAY.

ALDERMAN WHITE IS THE PRIMARY REPRESENTATIVE ON THE M-P-O-T-A-C.

ANYONE ELSE HAVE APPOINTMENTS THAT I DON'T SHOW? OKAY.

ATTORNEY'S REPORT.

NOTHING

[23. Attorney's Report.]

CITY MANAGER'S REPORT

[24. City Manager's Report.]

JUST ONE ITEM TO THIS WEEK.

THE CITY OF NEWBURN IS HOSTING THE NORTH CAROLINA MAIN STREET CONFERENCE.

OVER 830, UH, PARTICIPANTS FROM ACROSS THE NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, AND KENTUCKY ARE IN TOWN.

AND THESE ARE ALL FROM LOCAL.

SO, UH, WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE ALL THOSE FOLKS IN TOWN AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO, TO MEETING WITH THEM AND SHOWING THEM OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS.

THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TONIGHT.

NEW BUSINESS, ALDERMAN FERGUSON.

[25. New Business.]

SO, UH, TWO ITEMS, UH, JUST TO GET THE BOARD AN UPDATE LAST MONTH, ALDERWOMAN, BRIAN ALDERWOMAN WHITE AND I, ALONG WITH, UM, HELEN STEVENS AND IN FINANCE, UH, COLLEEN, UH, ROBERTS ATTENDED THE LEAGUE MUNICIPALITY STRATEGIC PLANNING, UH, WORKSHOP THAT WAS HELD HERE IN DOWNTOWN NEW BERN.

IT WAS REALLY GREAT WORKSHOP.

WE LEFT WITH A REALLY GOOD WORKING DRAFT OF A POTENTIAL PLAN THAT INCORPORATES OUR SIX OBJECTIVES THAT WE HAVE ALREADY AGREED ON.

AND SO IT'S KIND OF EMBEDDED THAT, UM, WE ARE KIND OF REFINING FOCUS AREAS AND OBJECTIVES, AND THEN WE WILL BE READY IN THE NEXT MONTH IN APRIL TO PRESENT THAT.

SO WE'LL CIRCULATE IT IN THE AGENDA PACKET FOR, UH, THIS BOARD TO CONSIDER.

AND THEN WE WILL BE LOOKING TO, UH, ESSENTIALLY REFER THAT DRAFT PLAN TO DEPARTMENT HEADS TO, UH, HIT ON INITIATIVES, UH, WITHIN OUR FOCUS AREAS.

AND THESE THINGS FOCUS ON LONG-TERM GROWTH AND PLANNING FOR THAT.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF UPDATE ON THAT AND WHAT TO EXPECT IN APRIL.

THE O THE OTHER THING IS I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE HISTORIC, UH, SOCIETY ON A JOINT EXHIBIT, UH, ESPECIALLY GIVEN AMERICA TWO 50.

AND OUR CITY HALL NEEDS, UH, IT, IT, IT NEEDS THINGS ON THE WALLS.

AND SO I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE HISTORIC, THE HISTORIC SOCIETY ON GETTING SOME IMAGES OF DIFFERENT HISTORICAL, UH, PHOTOS OF EVENTS AND BUILDING SOME DOWNTOWN NEW BERN.

AND THEY'RE VERY EXCITED TO WORK WITH US ON THAT.

UM, THE COST ESTIMATE, THERE'S ABOUT 25 TO 26 PIECES THAT ARE GONNA BE BLOWN UP AND FRAMED LOCALLY, UH, WITH LITTLE PLAQUES.

I, I DO, I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT COST TO BE, UH, MORE THAN $10,000 AND THAT'S A OVER, I THINK, AN OVERESTIMATE, BUT JUST TO BE SAFE.

AND SO I WOULD, WE HAVE THAT IN OUR BUDGET UNDER SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS, I BELIEVE SPECIAL APPROPRIATION.

UM, AND I THINK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

UM, AND SO WOULD LIKE FOR THIS BOARD TO SET ASIDE THAT UP TO 10,000 FOR THAT PROJECT.

SO THAT'S JUST, I CAN DO THAT IN NEW BUSINESS, BUT WANTED TO GIVE YOU THAT UPDATE IF THERE WAS ANY KIND OF DISCUSSION.

WELL, NEW BUSINESS RIGHT NOW, SO IF THERE'S ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT, IS THAT YOUR MOTION? YES, THAT'S MY MOTION.

RUN THAT BY ME ONE MORE TIME.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? OKAY.

ARE YOU, ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU WANT $10,000? ARE WE VOTING? ARE, I MEAN, ARE WE? YEAH, THE MOTION IS FOR $10,000 FROM THE, WE HAVE 24 IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, SPECIAL APPROPRIATION THAT HASN'T BEEN APPROPRIATED YET FOR THIS BUDGET YEAR.

AND WE'RE ABOUT THREE MONTHS TILL THE END OF THIS BUDGET YEAR.

AND TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH A HISTORIC SOCIETY TO PUT THOSE EXHIBITS UP.

SO, SO FOR A LITTLE MORE CONTEXT ON THAT, THE GOVERNING BOARD EACH YEAR HAS APPROXIMATELY $5,000 THAT THEY CAN ALLOCATE TOWARDS CERTAIN PROJECTS IF YOU SOW, SOW, CHOOSE.

SO SOMETIMES THAT THOSE FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED ON A SPECIAL REQUEST, IT MAY HAVE BEEN USED ON AN APPRAISAL OR, OR ANYTHING THAT THE BOARD DECIDES THAT THEY WANT TO DO.

AND YOU SAID THERE'S, THERE'S STILL FUNDS AVAILABLE.

THERE ARE.

[03:20:03]

THOSE KIDS.

I MEAN, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, I WANT A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION.

WHAT, WHAT I, WHAT I'LL DO IS WHAT CONSIDER THIS AN UPDATE.

I'LL WITHDRAW MY MOTION.

AND THIS IS AN UPDATE ON A PROJECT I'M WORKING ON WITH THE HISTORIC SOCIETY AND WE'LL GET YOU PRESENTATION OF COST ESTIMATES WITH, I WANT THE IMAGES.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S A GOOD USE.

SO, WELL I PUT TOGETHER A PRE I'LL PUT TOGETHER SOMETHING SO YOU ALL CAN LOOK OUT.

PLEASE DO.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY WE'RE, WE'RE ASKED FOR A GRAND OR TWO FOR SOMETHING.

10 TEN'S A PRETTY LARGE EXPENSE, ESPECIALLY UNDER NEW BUSINESS, WHICH IT WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK, I'M SURE IS A, WELL, I DON'T KNOW, WOULD IT HAVE TO COME BY LEDGE AMENDMENT? SO, WE'LL SORRY BUDDY, PREPARE THAT FOR APRIL, BUT WANTED TO GIVE YOU THAT UPDATE.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

IS THAT ALL YOU HAVE? YES.

ALDERMAN BRYAN? NO, NO BUSINESS ALDERMAN.

STER.

I, I HAVE A COUPLE THINGS HERE FROM, I'M TRYING TO READ FROM AN EMAIL THAT I RECEIVED FOR, UM, AND CHARLIE'S GONE, SO I'LL DIRECT THEM TO YOU.

PLEASE FOSTER.

UM, THE GENTLEMAN SAYS HE HAS THREE ISSUES.

ONE, THAT THE AUTOPAY WAS STOPPED FOR THE ELECTRIC BILL AND THEY'RE NOW CHARGING $9 LATE FEE, ALTHOUGH THE CITY SAID NO CHARGES WILL BE CHARGED.

IS THAT, DO YOU KNOW WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT? I, I DO NOT.

NOW, ONE THING THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED WAS WHEN WE MOVED TO THE, THE NEW BILLING SYSTEM, UM, YOU, YOU PROBABLY WOULD'VE HAD TO RE-SIGN UP FOR THAT, BUT WE'LL GET HIS INFORMATION FROM YOU AFTER THIS AND WE'LL REACH OUT.

I'M SURE WE THOROUGHLY UNDERSTAND.

IT SAYS, AND YOU ALL, HE SAID, WE ALLOW OR STILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE OLD BILLING SITE ON THE PAY MY BILL TAB ON THE CITY WEBSITE.

IT SAYS WHEN YOU LOG INTO IT, IT SHOWS THAT JANUARY PAYMENT IS OUTSTANDING.

WHEN YOU LOG INTO THE NEW PLATFORM, IT SHOWS THAT JANUARY PAYMENT WAS MADE.

AND HE'S RECOMMENDING THAT WE DO AWAY WITH THE OLD WEBSITE.

SO PEOPLE CAN'T GO THERE.

I THINK, I THINK HE'S PROBABLY GOT A COOKIE ON HIS SYSTEM BECAUSE IF YOU CLICK ON THE LINK, IT'S ONLY, THERE'S ONLY ONE LINK THERE AND IT'S THE NEW LINK THAT, THAT'S CORRECT.

WE TAKE CARE OF THAT A FAVOR ABOUT A MONTH AGO.

AND THEN THE LAST ONE WAS THE WEBSITE.

UM, BILL WITH OUR WEBSITE, SCHEDULE PAYMENT.COM/NEWBURN DOES NOT TAKE YOU TO THE NEW PLATFORM.

IT SHOWS AN ERA.

YOU HAVE TO TYPE IT IN GOOGLE TO GET IT TO COME UP.

SO IF YOU, WE CHECK IF YOU TAKE CARE OF ALL THAT ON.

I APPRECIATE IT.

AND I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT I'M GOING TO ATTEND THE MUNICIPAL PERSPECTIVE ON HOUSING, UM, PUT OUT BY THE LEAGUE MUNICIPALITIES IN NORTH CAROLINA.

AND THAT WILL BE ON THURSDAY.

IF ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO JOIN ME IN THIS VIRTUAL MEETING.

UM, THIS IS A QUESTION FOR PUBLIC WORKS, BUT UM, MR. HUGHES, YOU CAN ANSWER IT FOR ME, .

UM, WHEN THERE'S A, UH, I'LL JUST SAY, UM, THERE'S A REPAIR OR SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE DONE BY THE CITY.

THE CITY COMES UP AND DO THE REPAIR AND THEY TALK, THEY TEAR UP A CITIZEN'S DRIVEWAY.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE THEM TO BEFORE THEY GO BACK AND LAY THAT CONCRETE IN THAT PERSON'S DRIVEWAY? IT SHOULD NOT TAKE VERY LONG.

OVERALL, WE'VE GOTTEN THAT UNDER CONTROL FROM TIME TO TIME.

WE HAVE OUR OWN CONCRETE CREW, SO IF SOMETHING LIKE THAT OCCURS, THEY'RE USUALLY PRETTY GOOD ABOUT TAKING CARE OF THAT WITHIN A FEW DAYS.

UM, AND SO IF THERE'S, IF THERE'S BEEN AN ISSUE, YEAH, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S TAKEN CARE OF.

UM, SO WHAT AL BEST IS SAYING THAT IN TODAY'S WORLD WITH FACEBOOK AND ALL, I DO GET, UH, CERTAIN NUMBER OF, UM, WELL, I, I'VE TRY TO MONITOR A LOT OF FACEBOOK'S IN MY AREA, GREENBRIER AND KING'S ROAD, THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND, UM, SOMETIMES THEY'LL BE, UH, SEEMS LIKE MOST TIME IT'S, IT'S, UH, INTERNET PROVIDER IS, IS OUT, UH, DOING, THEY'RE DOING LOCAL, UH, EITHER INSTALLING OR THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, PUTTING FLAGS UP AND DOCK, YOU KNOW, FOR WATER LINES, SEWER LINES, ET CETERA.

UM, AND I KNOW THAT MOSTLY COMES UNDER PUBLIC WORKS, BUT I THINK SOMETIMES I'VE CALLED PUBLIC WORKS AND THEY HAD TO GO OUT AND CHECK, SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON, RIGHT? IS THERE ANY WAY WE COULD HAVE ANY BETTER COMMUNICATION WITH, UM, THESE DIFFERENT VENDORS THAT ARE COMING INTO THE AREA? SO PUBLIC WORKS.

WHEN, WHEN WE START GOING THROUGH THE METRO NET PROCESS, WE REALLY HAD TO REALLY BE MINDFUL OF IT.

AND WHENEVER WE WOULD SEE SOMEONE ELSE COME IN, WE WOULD, WE WOULD ISSUE STOP WORK ORDERS, REACH OUT TO THE CORPORATE FOLKS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WENT THROUGH THEIR PROCESS TO FILL OUT THEIR PERMITS WITH US SO WE WOULD BE FULLY AWARE.

AND I THINK

[03:25:01]

WE STILL DO HAVE, UM, UH, CREWS THAT COME IN THAT ARE SUPPOSEDLY WORKING FOR ONE, ONE COMPANY OR ANOTHER, AND SO WE HAVE TO STOP THEM UNTIL THEY GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.

SO, UM, AND OF COURSE IF ANYONE SEES ANYONE WORKING IN THE RIGHT OF WAY AND THEY HAVE CONCERNS, LET US KNOW.

UH, WE DO HAVE PUBLIC WORKS HAS A FEW PROJECT MANAGERS THAT CONSTANTLY GO OUT AND, AND STAY WITH THESE CREWS TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THEY AVOID THE STRIKES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND THEY'RE THERE TO ANSWER CITIZEN QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS AS WELL.

MM-HMM .

UM, THE ONLY OTHER THING, UH, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, I'D SAY PROBABLY ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, WE WERE GETTING SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE LACK OF COMPETITION WITHIN INTER INTERNET PROVIDERS THAT WE ACTUALLY, UM, WE WERE HAVING A HARD TIME TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WERE COMPLAINING WERE, WERE GETTING THE ANSWERS THEY NEEDED.

MOST OF 'EM, WE, WE GOT IT WHERE, UH, WE HAD A ON, ON, UH, OUR WEBSITE.

WE, WE ACTUALLY HAD A LITTLE, UM, A MECHANISM WHERE YOU COULD JUST PUNCH THIS AND MAKE A COMPLAINT.

AND WE WERE, UM, MS. PLANO, YOU KNOW, ABOUT ONCE A WEEK WE WERE BUNDLING THEM UP AND SENDING THEM TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

YOU REMEMBER THAT? AND VERY FONDLY, , AND, YOU KNOW, MORE SO IN THE, IN THE FUTURE THAN WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST.

I THINK IT'S GONNA BE VERY IMPORTANT THAT THIS BOARD AND THE STAFF, UM, KEEP THE PUBLIC APPRISED OF, OF WHAT'S GOING ON, UH, WITH ELECTRICITY.

AND I'M, I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE ALL HAVE THAT SAME TYPE OF THING BECAUSE I'M GONNA TELL YOU, UM, THESE COMPLAINTS THAT WE, WE HAVE GOTTEN AND ARE GOING TO GET.

UM, I WANT 'EM TO GO TO A HIGHER POWER THAN THE CITY OF NEWBURN.

I WANT 'EM TO GO TO THE UTILITIES COMMISSION, ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND OBVIOUSLY COME BY.

UM, AND THAT'S JUST SOMETHING WE DON'T HAVE TO DO TONIGHT.

I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT, I THINK THAT WE PROBABLY CAN'T DO ENOUGH TO COMMUNICATE ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENRY.

THEY'RE DISCUSSED AND DISDAIN FOR ALL THE THINGS GOING ON RIGHT NOW, WHAT POWER I'M THROUGH.

UH, I HAVE THREE THINGS.

I'LL TRY TO DO THESE AS BRIEFLY AS POSSIBLE.

UH, ONE IS A REMINDER THAT, UH, NEXT MONTH WE WILL ADD A PETITION OF CITIZENS TO THE END OF THE MEETING.

UH, FOR ITEMS THAT'S NOT GERMANE TO THE AGENDA, UH, JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC.

UH, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, WE HAD SIX, UH, PETITIONS TONIGHT.

UM, AND ONE OF 'EM WAS REALLY TALKING ABOUT THE RATE INCREASE AND THAT COULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED ON THE, THE, UH, PUBLIC HEARING.

UH, THE REASON FOR THIS, AND I'M GONNA TAKE ONE OF THESE, UM, AND USE IT AS AN EXAMPLE.

UH, WE WERE REQUESTED TONIGHT WE RECEIVED A PACKAGE OF INFORMATION TO, UH, CREATE A MORATORIUM FOR A SALE OF PROPERTY THAT'S OWNED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD, UH, FOR AN OFFER THAT'S BEEN MADE BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY THAT THE CITY OF NEW BERN REALLY HAS NO PURVIEW OVER.

UM, JUST SO THE PUBLIC KNOWS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ENGAGEMENT AND BEING ABLE TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC, UH, THERE'S A COUPLE OF FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE.

UM, ALDERMAN BRYANT WAS WITH ME.

WE CAME HERE SUNDAY NIGHT AND MET WITH A GROUP OF CONCERNED CITIZENS, UH, ABOUT THAT VERY TOPIC.

UH, HAD SOME VERY SPIRITED, UH, CONVERSATION.

UH, BUT I THINK WE GOT A LOT OF THINGS ADDRESSED.

AND, UH, WE HAD A, SOMEONE WHO WAS ACTUALLY AT THAT MEETING SUNDAY NIGHT, COME BACK TONIGHT AND A PETITION OF CITIZENS AND USE FOUR MINUTES TO ASK US TO DO SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE NO LEGAL PURVIEW OVER.

SO I SAY THAT FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE ALL ACCESSIBLE.

UM, WE WORK MORE THAN ONE MEETING A MONTH, UH, TWO MEETINGS NEXT MONTH.

UH, IF YOU NEED US, UH, WE ARE HERE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

AND THE BENEFIT OF HAVING IT AT THE END OF THE MEETING IS WE CAN HAVE SOME MORE ROBUST DISCUSSION.

UH, THE, THE SECOND THING ACTUALLY IS REALLY THE LAST THING IS OTTERMAN OUTLAW MENTIONED THAT THE, UH, NPA MEETINGS WERE NOT TELEVISED AND WE ARE IN 2026.

I ALSO WANTED TO MAKE EVERYONE AWARE THAT THE HPC DESIGN REVIEW MEETINGS ARE NOT TELEVISED EITHER.

AND, UH, I SPOKE WITH A, A COUPLE OF MEMBERS OF THAT BOARD AND THEY SAID THEY'RE WILLING TO HAVE THOSE TELEVISED.

SO I THINK IN THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY WITH THE CONCERNS THAT'S BEEN EXPRESSED OVER HPC, THAT UH, WE ENSURE THAT THE HPC DESIGN REVIEW MEETINGS ARE TELEVISED AS WELL.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE A ISSUE WITH THAT? THEY DO NEED THAT IN A FORM OF A MOTION.

I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK DIRECTION WOULD BE DIRECTION ALL.

ALL GOOD.

AND, UH, I BELIEVE WE DO NEED A CLOSE SESSION.

WE DO.

MAYOR,

[26. Closed Session.]

VERY BRIEFLY.

UM, SO TO 1 43, 3 10 11 8 3 TO MAINTAIN OUR ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE.

CAN I GET A MOTION PLEASE? SO SECOND, A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALDERMAN BRYANT.

SHE, SHE'S GOT A VOICE OF A MOUSE OVER HERE.

SORRY.

I KNOW .

UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSED SESSION, PLEASE SAY, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? WE'RE CLOSED

[03:30:01]

SESSIONS.

WE ARE BACK IN OPEN SESSION.

IS THERE ANY FOR MORE BUSINESS COMING BEFORE THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN THIS EVENING? A OPPOSED FOR OPPOSED ADJOURN.

SECOND AJOUR.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADJOURN.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.