[1. Meeting opened by Mayor Odham. Prayer Coordinated by Alderman Best. Pledge of Allegiance. ]
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GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE APRIL 14TH, 2026 NEW ROOM BOARD OF ALDERMAN MEETING.THE PRAYER TONIGHT WILL BE COORDINATED BY ALDERMAN BEST.
CAN YOU PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT, UM, WITH ME AS I PRAY? HEAVENLY FATHER, I COME BEFORE YOU, AS HUMBLE AS I KNOW HOW, THANKING YOU FOR GIVING US LIFE AND ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY.
FATHER, I ASK THAT YOU WOULD TOUCH EACH ONE OF US BOARD MEMBERS TONIGHT AS WE CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF THIS CITY.
GIVE US THE KNOWLEDGE, THE WISDOM, AND THE UNDERSTANDING TO KNOW THAT WHATEVER DECISIONS WE MAKE WILL AFFECT EVERY CITIZEN OF THIS CITY.
YOU'RE ABLE TO PLEASE STAND AS WE P TO THE FLAG OF OUR COUNTRY, I, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, AN INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
MADAM CLERK, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE CALL A ROLL.
UH, WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE LEADERSHIP CRAVEN ATTENDEES THAT ARE PRESENT.
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
[3. Approve Agenda. ]
ITEM NUMBER THREE IS TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.ARE THERE ANY CHANGES YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE? MAKE MOTION MAY APPROVE THE AGENDA AS IS.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ANY APPROVE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.
[4. Request and Petition of Citizens – Agenda Topics. ]
IS REQUEST AND PETITION OF CITIZENS FOR AGENDA TOPICS.I'M DAVID FRENCH, 1 0 4 JOHNSON.
I'M HERE TO PROTEST MAYOR ODOM'S DECISION TO PUSH THE PEOPLE OF ERN TO THE BACK OF THE BUS WITH HIS MOVING THE PETITION OF CITIZENS NON AGENDA ITEMS TO THE END OF THE MEETING.
WHY CANNOT WE, THE PEOPLE BE HEARD AT THE BEGINNING AS WE AS AS HAS BEEN DONE FOR DECADES? WHY WOULD, WHY WOULD HE RESTRICT, RESTRAIN AND DELAY US? YOU ALL PUT YOUR HANDS ON THE BIBLE AND SOLEMNLY SWORE AN OATH TO ALMIGHTY GODS TO ABORT THE CONSTITUTIONS OF THESE UNITED STATES, THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA AND THE LAWS OF THE CITY OF NEWBURN, UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.
PREAMBLE, WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES IN ORDER TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION, ESTABLISHED JUSTICE, ENSURE DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY, PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE, PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE AND SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY TO OURSELVES AND OUR POSTERITY.
DO ORDAIN AND ESTABLISH THIS CONSTITUTION FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW RESPECTING AN ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF OR ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH OR OF THE PRESS, OR THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO PEACEFULLY ASSEMBLE AND TO PETITION THE GOVERNMENT FOR A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES.
WHAT IS PETITION AND REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES? QUOTING FROM THE CONSTITUTION CENTER.ORG, THE RIGHT TO PETITION GOV.
THE GOVERNMENT FOR REDRESS OR GRIEVANCE IS AMONG THE OLDEST IN OUR LEGAL HERITAGE, DATING BACK 800 YEARS TO THE MAGNA CARTA AND RECEIVING EXPLICIT PROTECTION IN THE ENGLISH BILL OF RIGHTS IN OF 1689.
LONG BEFORE THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, THE RIGHT TO PETITION PLAYS A, AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE JUSTIFIED THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION BY NOTING THAT KING GEORGE III HAD REPEATEDLY IGNORED PETITION FOR REDRESS OF THE COLONIST GRIEVANCES.
LEGISLATURES IN THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD AND LONG INTO THE 19TH CENTURY DEEMED THEMSELVES DUTY BOUND TO CONSIDER AND RESPOND TO PETITIONS WHICH COULD BE FILED NOT ONLY BY ELIGIBLE VOTERS, BUT ALSO WOMEN, SLAVES AND ALIENS.
SECOND AMENDMENT, A WELL-REGULATED MILITIA BEING NECESSARY TO THE SECURITY OF A FREE STATE.
THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED.
IT WAS CREATED TO ENSURE AND ENFORCE OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, THE FOURTH AMENDMENT, THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO BE SECURE IN THEIR PERSONS HOUSES, PAPERS AND EFFECTS.
WAS COUSIN MARYANNE AND I SECURE IN OUR HOME? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
WE HAVE BEEN MISTREATED AND DEFRAUDED BY THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
I SEEK REDRESS OF MY GRIEVANCES.
THE NORTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTION, SECTION 12 RIGHT OF ASSEMBLY AND PETITION THAT PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO ASSEMBLE TOGETHER TO CONSULT FOR THEIR COMMON GOOD AND TO INSTRUCT REPRESENTATIVES AND TO APPLY TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES.
WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL.
THAT THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN INABLE RIGHTS.
THAT AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS TO SECURE THOSE
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RIGHTS.GOVERNMENTS ARE INSTITUTED AMONG MEN DERIVING THEIR JUST POWER FROM THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED, THAT WHENEVER ANY FORM OF GOVERNMENT BECOMES DESTRUCTIVE OF THESE ENDS, IT IS THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO ALTER OR TO ABOLISH IT, AND TO INSTITUTE NEW GOVERNMENT LAYING IT FOUNDATIONAL IN SUCH PRINCIPLES AND ORGANIZING ITS TOWERS IN SUCH FORM AS TO AS TO THEM SHALL SEE MOST LIKELY TO AFFECT THEIR SAFETY AND HAPPINESS.
SEEING HOW THIS IS OUR BELOVED CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY, WE WOULD ALL DO WELL TO STUDY OUR HISTORY AND PAY COAST ATTENTION TO HOW OUR AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR ANCESTORS DEFENDED THEIR RIGHTS GIVEN BY ALMIGHTY GOD.
YOU CANNOT SAY THAT YOU ARE NOT AWARE OF YOUR OATH.
A VIOLATION OF YOUR OATH IS CALLED FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE REMOVAL FROM OFFICE.
A WORD TO THE Y SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT.
WHEN THE RIGHTEOUS ARE IN AUTHORITY, THE PEOPLE REJOICE.
BUT WHEN THE WICKED BEARETH RULE, THE PEOPLE MOURN.
WE THE PEOPLE ARE IN DEEP MOURNING BECAUSE OF OUR FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S.
WHAT DO Y'ALL HAVE TO SAY FOR YOURSELVES? WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY FOR YOURSELVES? THANK YOU MR. FRENCH.
NOTED THEY HAVE NOTHING TO SAY.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND ALDERMAN.
BECAUSE I AND OTHERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR A VARIETY OF VEHICLES BEING INTRODUCED TO OUR ALREADY CONGESTED STREETS.
I WAS RESEARCHING THE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 23 VEHICLES FOR HIRE.
THE SUMMARY SHEET THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED AT THE MOST RECENT HYDRA MEETING, UH, AND LATER SENT TO THE GENERAL MEMBERSHIP, LEFT THE IMPRESSION THAT THE TOPICS LISTED HAD RECENTLY SURFACED AND WERE TO BE DISCUSSED.
THE NINE TALKING POINTS ON THE SUMMARY SHEET.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, AS I RESEARCHED THE AGENDA PACKET ATTACHED FOR THIS MEETING, I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE A 16 PAGE DRAFT THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN COMPILED.
THE PURPOSE OF THE CHAPTER 82 READS AS FOLLOWS, THE PURPOSE OF THIS CHAPTER IS TO REGULATE VEHICLES FOR HIRE AS DEFINED HEREIN IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE HEALTH, WELFARE, AND SAFETY OF THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY AND THE PROTECTION OF THEIR PROPERTY.
NOWHERE IN THE 16 PAGES IS THE SPECIAL CHARACTER OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT ADDRESSED, NOR IS THE QUESTION OF THESE VEHICLES BEING CONGRUENT WITH THE SPECIAL CHARACTER AS DESCRIBED IN PUBLICATIONS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT.
AS AN ASIDE, THE REVELATION THAT THE PETTY CALVES QUOTE SHALL BE PERMITTED TO ALLOW THE CONSUMPTION OF BEER AND UN UNFORTIFIED WINE DURING TOURS OF THE DISTRICT IS VERY DISTURBING WITH REGARD TO TRANSPARENCY.
WHILE IT CAN BE LEGAL, IT SEEMS TO BE NOTHING MORE THAN A ROLLING SOCIAL DISTRICT AND CONVENIENTLY ABSENT FROM THE SUMMARY SHEET OF TALKING POINTS, THE DRAFT THAT WAS ONLINE INCLUDED EIGHT PARAGRAPHS COVERING ALCOHOL POLICY.
IF YOU SEEK ACCEPTANCE AMONG RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES, I URGE YOU TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING THIS MAJOR ALTERATION IN THE CURRENT AMBIANCE OF THE HISTORIC DOWNTOWN DISTRICT THAT BELONGS TO ALL NEWBURN RESIDENTS.
OKAY, GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR ALDERMAN.
UH, I AM CONCERNED WITH THE AGENDA ITEM, I BELIEVE IS NUMBER 21.
UH, THE REZONING OF A PORTION OF THE TAX PARCEL ID EIGHT DASH 2 0 8 DASH 1 43 FROM AN I ONE INDUSTRIAL, WHICH THAT 3.89 ACRES OF PARCEL ALSO HAS ANOTHER ZONING CODE, WHICH IS NOT LISTED HERE, WHICH IS AN R ONE, UH, WHICH BUTTS UP DIRECTLY TO, UM, MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT, UH, PROPERTIES ON ELDON ROAD.
AND WE ARE CONCERNED AS TO WHY THE CITY WANTS TO CHANGE THE CODE TO A C3.
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UM, PRESENTLY THAT USED TO BE, WELL, LET ME GO BACK.UH, PRIOR TO 1999 AND 2000, THAT WAS A RAILROAD ACCESS WAY.
THE RAILROAD WAS REMOVED AND THE LAND THAT 3.89 PARCEL WAS RETURNED TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER OR THE HEIRS OF THAT, UH, LAND.
UH, MR. ZACHARY TAYLOR WAS THE RECEIVER OF THAT LAND AND HE SOLD IT IN 2004 TO A MAN BY THE NAME OF MR. KINCAID, WHO OWNS T ONE PROPERTIES AND HE LIVES IN RURAL HALL, NORTH CAROLINA.
AND THAT TOWN IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF WINSTON-SALEM.
I TRIED TO REACH OUT TO HIM AND I DID NOT GET AN ANSWER BACK.
UM, I DIDN'T KNOW IF HE HAD REQUESTED TO THE CITY TO CHANGE IT OR IF THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT THE CITY WANTS TO DO.
UH, I ALSO HAVE A QUESTION AS TO WHY THE CITY, SINCE THIS IS PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNED BY MR. KINCAID, WHY THE CITY IS MOWING THAT PROPERTY THAT IS GAS MATERIALS, WAGES THAT IS BEING SPENT TO MOW THAT LAND.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHO APPROVED THAT NOW, THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT EIGHT TO 10 YEARS, UH, EVER SINCE THE CITY, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT BEFORE YOU BECAME THE CHIEF, UH, THEY FOUND SQUADRONS BACK THERE ON THAT LAND.
AND SO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT USED THAT, UH, PROPERTY TO GET BACK TO THE SQUATTERS TO REMOVE THEM.
SINCE THEN, THERE HADN'T BEEN ANY.
BUT MY QUESTION, MAIN QUESTION IS WHY DOES THE CITY WANT TO CHANGE THE PRESENT CODE? R ONE AND I ONE TO A C3.
GOOD EVENING, BOARD OF ALDERMAN AND MAYOR.
UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE ELECTION, POSSIBLY MOVING IT FROM FOUR YEARS TO FIVE YEARS, WHICH WOULD TAKE THE VOTE AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE FOR ONE YEAR.
UM, LAST MONTH IN ALDERMAN MADE A MOTION TO EXTEND YOUR TIME IN OFFICE FROM FOUR TO FIVE YEARS TO SAVE MONEY.
IT COST $45,000 FOR ELECTION LAST YEAR'S ELECTION, AND $43,000 FOR A RUNOFF BECAUSE CERTAIN PEOPLE DIDN'T GET 50% PLUS ONE OF THE VOTE.
THAT SAME ALDERMAN WHO MADE THE MOTION THEN ASKED THE BOARD TO CONSIDER TAKING $10,000 OUT OF THE BOARD'S SPECIAL APPROPRIATION FUND TO HANG THINGS ON THE WALL AT CITY HALL.
SO $10,000, UM, PERHAPS YOU COULD TAKE $12,000 OUT OF YOUR SPECIAL APPROPRIATION FUND TO COVER THE COST OF AN ODD YEAR ELECTION TO ENSURE IT'S A NONPARTISAN ELECTION.
IF YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PLAN TO ASK THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO MOVE ELECTIONS TO A FEDERAL YEAR, YOU RISK THAT THE TURNING THE CITY'S ELECTION FROM PART NONPARTISAN TO PARTISAN.
UM, LASTLY, I WAS WONDERING IF YOU ALL CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE, THE MAYOR'S VOTE ON ALL MATTERS.
UM, BECAUSE IT'S GIVING, WHOEVER IS THE MAYOR DOESN'T, NOT NECESSARILY MAYOR ODOM, BUT WHOEVER'S IN THAT SEAT GETS TO VOTE IN THAT WARD WHERE THEY LIVE.
SO THAT GIVES THAT, THAT WORD TO VOTES ON ALL MATTERS.
SO I'M ASKING THAT THE BOARD CONSIDER CHANGING THE LANGUAGE BACK TO THE ORIGINAL CHARTER LANGUAGE THAT ALDERMAN PRILL ASKED FOR IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR.
UH, GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.
I'M ONE OF THE OWNERS OF MY TASTE SUITES HERE IN DOWNTOWN NEW BERN.
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ALSO ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD FOR SWISS BAY AND I HAPPEN TO BE A RESIDENT OF NEW BERN AS WELL.COMMUNITY SURVEYS AND STUDIES CONDUCTED BY THE CITY AND LOCAL NONPROFITS HAVE MADE ONE THING CLEAR.
PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR MORE EXPERIENCE DRIVEN ACTIVITIES DOWNTOWN.
ONE OF THE TOP THINGS PEOPLE SEARCH FOR WHEN LOOKING INTO NEW BERN IS TOURS, WAYS TO EXPERIENCE AND EXPLORE THE CITY.
IN RESPONSE, MYSELF AND OTHER DOWNTOWN BUSINESS OWNERS AND RESIDENTS ARE LAUNCHING BAYER CRAWL TOURS, A FAMILY FRIENDLY, PEDAL POWERED, HEALTHY CARBON NEUTRAL TOURING EXPERIENCE THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE HISTORY BUSINESSES, EVENTS, AND OVERALL CHARM OF NEW BERN BAY CRAWL TOURS IS A FUN 14 PASSENGER PEDAL POWERED VEHICLE WITH A DEDICATED DRIVER AND TOUR GUIDE.
ALL TOURS ARE STRUCTURED, SCHEDULED, AND FOLLOW PRE-PLANNED ROUTES DOWNTOWN.
THIS IS NOT ANYTHING GOES STYLE EXPERIENCE.
IT'S A FAMILY FRIENDLY GUIDED EXPERIENCE FOCUSED ON STORYTELLING, EXPLORATION, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE A HEALTHY, FUN AND ENGAGING WAY FOR BOTH VISITORS AND LOCALS TO EXPERIENCE DOWNTOWN.
IT ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO GET OUTSIDE, BE ACTIVE AND PARTICIPATE IN A SHARED GROUP EXPERIENCE WHILE LEARNING ABOUT HISTORY AND THE CHARACTER OF NEW BERN.
FROM A BROADER PERSPECTIVE, THIS ALSO SUPPORTS OUR DOWNTOWN ECONOMY.
THE TOURS ARE DESIGNED TO HIGHLIGHT LOCAL BUSINESSES, ENCOURAGE GUESTS TO RETURN TO THEM, AND ULTIMATELY HELP INCREASE FOOT TRAFFIC AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME PEOPLE SPEND IN OUR DOWNTOWN DISTRICT.
THIS BUSINESS WILL BE A HELPFUL CONNECTOR BETWEEN FIVE POINTS AND THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT.
ADDITIONALLY, BEAR CRAWL TOURS HAS THE ABILITY TO SUPPORT LARGER DOWNTOWN EVENTS SUCH AS MEMPHIS AND FOOTLOOSE ON THE NOOSE BY OFFERING A GROUP TRANSPORTATION OPTION FROM PARKING AREAS INTO DOWNTOWN CORE AND BACK.
THIS TYPE OF MODEL HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED IN OTHER HISTORIC DOWNTOWNS IN NORTH CAROLINA, SUCH AS BEAUFORT AND SOUTHERN PINES, WHERE IT HAS HELPED INCREASE TOURISM ENGAGEMENT AND BRING ADDED VIBRANCY TO DOWNTOWN AREAS.
EACH TOUR IS GUIDED BY A TRAIN DRIVER.
HOST ROUTES ARE CONSISTENT AND PLANNED, AND WE CARRY FULL INSURANCE COVERAGE.
THE BIKE ITSELF IS OUTFITTED WITH SAFETY STANDARDS SUCH AS LIGHTS, REFLECTORS, TURN, SIGNALS, SEATS, ET CETERA.
WE WILL ALSO MAINTAIN A KEY CLEAR CODE OF CONDUCT FOR GUESTS.
WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING THE CHARACTER OF DOWNTOWN, AND WE WILL BE MINDFUL OF NOISE LEVELS AND RESPECTFUL OF RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
AS YOU REVIEW THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, YOU WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK THE BOARD TO BE MINDFUL OF THE BURDEN THAT CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS MAY PLACE ON SMALL LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES LIKE OURS.
WE FULLY SUPPORT REASONABLE REGULATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
HOWEVER, SOME OF THE PROPOSED PROVISIONS SUCH AS ROUTE APPROVALS, DRIVER PERMITTING, OPERATIONAL LIMITATIONS, AND INSURANCE THRESHOLDS MAY UNINTENTIONALLY CREATE A LEVEL OF COMPLEXITY AND COST THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR BUSINESSES LIKE THIS TO OPERATE EFFECTIVELY OR GROW.
OUR GOAL IS NOT TO AVOID REGULATION, BUT TO ENSURE THAT IT IS FAIR, CONSISTENT WITH SIMILAR INDUSTRIES ALREADY OPERATING IN OUR CITY, PRACTICAL TO ENFORCE AND SUPPORTIVE OF SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION.
WE SIMPLY ASK THAT COMMERCIAL PEDAL VEHICLES BE TREATED IN A WAY THAT IS ALIGNED WITH OTHER TRANSPORTATION AND TOUR SERVICES ALREADY OPERATING IN NEWBURN SO THAT WE CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE DOWNTOWN ECONOMY WITHOUT BEING REGULATED IN A WAY THAT MAKES THE MODEL ON WORKABLE.
AS LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS, THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE BUILDING FROM WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, NOT BRINGING IN FROM OUTSIDE.
WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT HOW IT OPERATES AND HOW IT REFLECTS ON DOWNTOWN AS A WHOLE.
OUR GOAL HERE TODAY IS TO SHARE WHAT WE'RE DOING, BE TRANSPARENT, AND MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY KNOWS THAT WE ARE GOING ABOUT THIS THE RIGHT WAY FROM THE BEGINNING.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO BUILD A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE AND WORK ORGANICALLY WITH THE COMMUNITY TO ENSURE BEAR CRAWL TOURS IS SOMETHING NEWBERG CAN BE PROUD OF.
OUR WEBSITE IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION, BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AFTER THE MEETING.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME.
[Consent Agenda]
IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE COURT ON ITEMS FIVE THROUGH 19 TO APPROVE YOUR CONSENT AGENDA.
SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE UNLESS HAVE A ROLL CALL, STARTING WITH ALDERMAN FERGUSON.
[20. City Manager’s Presentation of the FY 2026-2027 Budget. ]
CARRIES.NEXT IS ITEM NUMBER 20, THE CITY MANAGER'S PRESENTATION OF THE FY 26 27 BUDGET.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR ALDERMAN, PLEASED TO PRESENT TONIGHT'S FY 27 BUDGET.
UH, IN FRONT OF YOU YOU'LL FIND A BUDGET BOOK.
ALSO, UH, INSIDE THE BOOK YOU'LL FIND A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, WHICH I'M ABOUT READY TO GO OVER.
AND SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND START.
BEFORE WE JUMP INTO THAT, I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME GROWTH THAT NEWBURN HAS EXPERIENCED.
UM, AND IT IS EXCITING TO SEE THAT, UH, WHILE OTHER, OTHER CITIES IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA HAVE SEEN A DECREASE IN POPULATION OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, BETWEEN 2020 AND 2024, NEWBURG HAS SEEN A 12.6% INCREASE OUR CURRENT POPULATION.
AS OF JULY 1ST, 2024, IT'S 35,266.
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INCREASE EQUATES TO ABOUT, UH, ALMOST 4,000 CITIZENS.ALSO, OUR LAND GROW, OUR, OUR OUR GROWTH IN LAND MASS HAS GROWN AS WELL.
SO SINCE 2020, WE HAVE GROWN BY APPROXIMATELY 331.6 ACRES OR ABOUT HALF OF A SQUARE MILE THROUGH VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION.
THE CITY'S LANDMASS IS CURRENTLY AT 30.41 SQUARE MILES, AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT TO CONTINUE TO GROW OUR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT HAS SEEN SIGNIFICANT, UH, GROWTH AND INTEREST WITH SINGLE FAMILY.
LOTS CURRENTLY APPROVED OR IN REVIEW ARE 1700 LOTS.
THEY'RE ALSO PROPOSED 444 LOTS FOR TOWN HOME UNITS.
THEY'RE PROPOSED 306 UNITS FOR APARTMENT UNITS.
THEY'RE PROPOSED 834 UNITS AND SO FAR APPROVED 528 UNITS.
BRINGING THE TOTAL POTENTIAL UNITS COMING TO OUR CITY OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS IS 3,852.
SO THE MAJORITY OF OUR GROWTH WE'RE SEEING IN WEST NEWBURN, AS YOU'LL SEE ON THE, ON THE MAP THERE AND ALSO SOUTH AROUND BLUE WATER RISE AND CAROLINA COLORS AREA.
ALSO, IN 2025 NEW BUSINESSES THAT CAME TO TOWN, WE, WE REPORTED 50 NEW BUSINESSES AND SO FAR THIS YEAR IN 2026, WE'VE SEEN NINE NEW BUSINESSES OPEN AND
SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
SO WHEN WE STARTED OUR BUDGET PROCESS, UM, FOR FY 27, THAT STARTED IN NOVEMBER OF 2025 WHEN WE HAD OUR DEPARTMENT HEAD MEETINGS AND DID OUR BUDGET KICKOFF TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE DEPARTMENTS NEEDED TO GO ABOUT THAT PROCESS.
WE ALSO SENT OUT A GOVERNING BOARD SURVEY IN JANUARY TO GET INPUT FROM YOU ON, UH, SOME POTENTIAL PROJECTS THAT YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN.
WE, UH, HAD, UH, DEPARTMENT HEADS SUBMIT THEIR BUDGETS BY THE END OF JANUARY AND THEN WE SPENT SEVERAL MONTHS FEBRUARY AND MARCH GOING THROUGH ALL THE REQUESTS, LOOKING AT THE ESTIMATED REVENUES AND PUTTING THINGS TOGETHER.
AND SO HERE WE ARE NOW FOR THE BUDGET PRESENTATION.
SO AS WE DEVELOPED THIS BUDGET, WE LOOKED AT GOVERNING BOARD FEEDBACK THROUGH THE SURVEY.
ALSO, WE HAD DISCUSSIONS ON THE BUDGET DURING THE BOARD RETREAT AND WE RECEIVED DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATIONS.
DEPARTMENT BUDGET REQUESTS WERE TIED TO OUR FIVE OVERARCHING GOALS.
AND SO DURING THE BUDGET RETREAT THERE WERE COMMENTS MADE ABOUT THE OVERARCHING GOALS.
AND SO WE DID MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS.
SO THOSE OVERARCHING GOALS INCLUDE EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT, SAFE AND WELCOMING COMMUNITY, AND EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE PLANNING AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR BALANCED GROWTH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND TRANSPARENCY.
SO OUR FIRST FUND WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT IS GENERAL FUND, AND SO WE'LL GO OVER SOME OF THE OVERARCHING GOALS WITH SAFE AND WELCOMING COMMUNITY AND EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE.
THIS BUDGET INCLUDES UPDATING CUSTOMER SERVICE POLICIES, ENHANCED BUSINESS FRIENDLY POLICIES AND PROCESSES TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC GROWTH, UH, ALLOCATION TO THE NEWBURN CRAVEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY REPLACEMENT VEHICLES FOR POLICE, FIRE RESCUE AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS SHOT SPOTTER FUNDING SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL EVENTS AND TRAFFIC SIGNAL CONTROL CABINET UPGRADES UNDER EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT.
WE HAVE THREE NATIONALLY ACCREDITED, UH, DEPARTMENTS IN FIRE, RESCUE, PARKS AND RECREATION AND POLICE.
AND FIRE RESCUE IS CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH RE-ACCREDITATION THIS YEAR.
ALSO COLLABORATING WITH CITIZENS, BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS, AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO ADDRESS COMPLEX CHALLENGES THAT CREATE PO UH, POSITIVE CHANGE.
EMBRACING TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE SERVICE DELIVERY AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY.
EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION, FINANCE DEPARTMENT RECOGNIZED FOR THE TRIPLE CROWN AWARDS THROUGH EXCELLENCE IN FINANCE AND PROVIDING CITIZENS FOR PROMPT, EFFICIENT AND RESPONSIVE CUSTOMER SERVICE.
UNDER PLANNING AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR BALANCED GROWTH, WE'RE LOOKING AT CITY STREET SIDEWALK AND CURVE IMPROVEMENTS, UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE UPDATES UNDER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAVE AN ACCREDITED MAIN STREET PROGRAM THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH SWISS BEAR.
OUR MUNICIPAL SERVICE DISTRICT PROJECTS DOWNTOWN ARE ALSO ENHANCING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION INITIATIVES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CRAVEN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND CRAVEN 100 ALLIANCE.
ALSO COLLABORATION WITH THE NEWBURN AREA HOUSING AUTHORITY ON THE CNI GROUND AND A PARTNERSHIP WITH RETAIL STRATEGIES TO ATTRACT RETAIL BUSINESSES FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND TRANSPARENCY, WE BROADCAST MEETINGS ON CITY THREE TV, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, AND ROKU.
WE OFFER A CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY.
WE PROVIDE A CITY MANAGER'S WEEKLY AND MONTHLY REPORTS TO GIVE UPDATES ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CITY.
WE ARE GOING THROUGH A CITY WEBSITE REFRESH TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR OUR CITIZENS TO LOOK UP THINGS ON THE WEBSITE.
WE RECEIVE COMMUNITY INPUT THROUGH FOCUS GROUPS AND PUBLIC MEETINGS.
UH, WE OFFER A HEAT NEW AND CLEAN LITTER PROGRAM, WHICH IS GETTING READY TO KICK OFF AGAIN FOR THIS YEAR.
WE OFFER A FINANCE, UH, MONTHLY AND QUARTERLY REPORT SO OUR CITIZENS ARE AWARE OF, OF OUR FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING.
WE ALSO OFFER NEW BRUN 1 0 1, WHICH
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GIVES CITIZENS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT.WE ALSO HAVE NEW BRUN ALERT, WHICH ALERTS CITIZENS, UH, THROUGH THEIR PHONE, UH, UH, A NEWSWORTHY EVENTS.
WE HAVE A ROBUST SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT THROUGH A VARIETY OF OUR DEPARTMENTS AND WE HAVE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMITTEES, EVENTS AND PROGRAMS. SO AS WE LOOK AT THE GENERAL FUND CAPITAL FOR FY 27 THROUGH 31, WE RECEIVED APPROX, AND THIS IS FOR GENERAL FUND.
WE RECEIVED THE TOTAL OF 7.9 MILLION IN CAPITAL REQUESTS.
WE ARE PROPOSING FOR FFY 27, 3 $0.3 MILLION IN CAPITAL REQUEST.
AND SO AS WE LOOK OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS FOR FY 28, THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN A REQUEST FOR 4.7 MILLION IN CAPITAL FUNDS, 3.7 MILLION IN FY 29 AND FY 33.5 MILLION IN FFY 31 2 0.8 MILLION.
SO THAT HELPS US KIND OF FORECAST TO SEE WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE PIKE FROM THE DEPARTMENTS.
WHERE DO GENERAL FUND REVENUES COME FROM? SO THERE ARE A VARIETY OF AREAS AND YOU CAN SEE ON THIS PIE CHART PERCENT COMES FROM INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUES, 1% FROM OTHER TAXES AND FEES, 2% FROM INVESTMENT EARNINGS, 1% FROM MISCELLANEOUS REVENUES, 9% FROM INTER FUND REIMBURSEMENTS, 8% FROM INTER FUND TRANSFERS, 4% FOR CHARGES FOR SERVICES, 5% FOR PROCEEDS FROM DEBT, 1% FROM FUND BALANCE APPROPRIATION, 36% OR 18.8 MILLION FROM AVALOR AND PROPERTY TAXES AND 25% OR 12.9 MILLION FROM SALES TAXES.
SO TOTAL ANTICIPATED REVENUES FOR THE GENERAL FUND THIS YEAR ARE $52,238,420.
SO FOR FY 27, WHERE DO OUR GENERAL FUND DOLLARS GO? SO 69.3% OF TOTAL EXPENSES FROM THE GENERAL FUND GO TOWARDS SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR THE GENERAL FUND EMPLOYEES.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DEPARTMENT BREAKDOWN, 49% OF GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS ALLOCATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND THAT INCLUDES 32% FOR POLICE, 17% FOR FIRE, FOR PARKS AND RECREATION, 9% FOR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, 5% FOR PUBLIC WORKS, 21% FOR DEBT SERVICE INTER FUND AND OTHER FUNDS, 1% FOR GENERAL GOVERNMENT, 4% TECHNOLOGY, 4% FINANCE 5%, AND HUMAN RESOURCES 2% TOTAL GENERAL FUND EXPENSES ARE ANTICIPATED TO BE $52,238,422.
SO GENERAL FUND IMPACTS THAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING THIS YEAR APPROXIMATELY $450,000 IN SALARIES FOR BENEFITS.
WE'RE SEEING A MANDATORY INCREASE FROM THE STATE RETIREMENT PROGRAM OF $300,000.
WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN CONTRACTED SERVICES SUCH AS VALOR, TAX COLLECTION FEE FROM THE COUNTY.
UH, PROPERTY AND VEHICLE INSURANCE HAS INCREASED ALSO SOME CONTRACTS.
NOTABLY, UH, WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH BODY-WORN CERS HAS INCREASED AND TOTAL AMOUNT OF 400,000, AN INCREASE IN SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS, 200,000 CAPITAL OVER A MILLION DOLLARS IN TRANSFERS, 380,000, SO TOTAL OF $2.7 MILLION ON THE EXPENSES.
THIS BUDGET DOES INCLUDE A 2% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.
THIS IS BASED ON THE SOUTH REGION CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.
AS OF FEBRUARY, 2026, WE ARE PROPOSING NO NEW POSITIONS TO BALANCE THIS BUDGET.
WE ARE REDUCING TWO POSITIONS.
ONE IS THE SPECIAL PROJECT COORDINATOR WITH PARKS AND RECREATION.
THAT POSITION HAS BEEN VACANT SINCE FEBRUARY, 2025.
THE NEXT POSITION IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
THAT POSITION HAS BEEN VACANT SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2025 TO FILL THE VOID FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY, UH, LOST PROGRESS.
THE ASSISTANT MANAGER HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THAT COMMITTEE, UH, SINCE THE LAST DIRECTOR LEFT.
HE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A STAFF MEMBER FROM DEVELOPMENT SERVICES WHO WILL FOCUS MORE ON DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS AND PROJECTS TO HELP THAT THAT COMMISSION, UM, ACHIEVE SOME RESULTS.
GENERAL FUND IMPACTS FOR REVENUE.
SO CURRENTLY WITH OUR AVALOR PROPERTY TAXES WE'RE AT 39 CENTS PER HUNDRED DOLLARS.
EVALUATION 1 CENT IS EQUAL TO $547,000.
THE ASSESSED PROPERTY VALUES INCREASED THIS YEAR BY $145 MILLION TO $5.47 BILLION.
THAT BRINGS IN AN ESTIMATED $565,500 IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE.
SO THE BUDGET DOES INCLUDE A PROPOSED 3 CENT PROPERTY TAX INCREASE, AND THAT INCLUDES 2.75 CENTS INCREASE FROM THE GENERAL FUND OBLIGATION BONDS, WHICH ARE VOTING CITIZENS OF NEWBURG AND VOTED FOR IN
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OCTOBER OF 2025 FOR PARKS AND RECREATION STREET AND STORMWATER PROJECTS.IT ALSO INCLUDES A PROPOSED QUARTER CENT PROPERTY TAX INCREASE TO SUPPORT GENERAL FUND OPERATIONS AND HELP BALANCE THE BUDGET.
THAT WOULD BRING IN APPROXIMATELY $136,750.
SO THAT 3 CENT INCREASE WOULD PROPOSE TO TAKE THE TAX RATE FROM 39 CENTS TO 42 CENTS.
FOR SALES TAX WE'RE ESTIMATED AT, WE'RE BRINGING IN AN ADDITIONAL $805,000 OVER LAST YEAR, TOTALING $12.9 MILLION.
THE IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED TAX RATE INCREASE ON PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE CITY.
UM, IF YOU OWN A PIECE OF PROPERTY, UH, THAT'S VALUED AT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, YOU SHOULD EXPECT TO SEE AN AN ADDITIONAL $30 BILL ON YOUR TAXES.
IF YOU OWN A $200,000 PROPERTY, YOU SHOULD EXPECT TO SEE AN EXTRA $60 TAXED ONTO YOUR BILL.
IF IT'S A $300,000 PROPERTY, YOU'D EXPECT TO SEE A $90 ADDED ONTO YOUR BILL.
AND IF YOU HAVE A $400,000 PROPERTY, EXPECT AN ADDITIONAL $120 ADDED TO YOUR TAX BILL.
TO BALANCE THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, THE INITIAL GENERAL FUND BUDGET REQUEST TOTAL OVER $58 MILLION.
AND TO BALANCE THIS, WE REDUCED THE BUDGET BY APPROXIMATELY $6 MILLION AND IT HURT.
WE ALSO A ALLOCATED $500,000 FROM FUND BALANCE AND WE ALSO ARE RECOMMENDING ROUNDING UP THE TAX RATE BY A QUARTER CENTS.
THE TOTAL PROPOSED FY 27 GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS $52,238,420.
THIS WAS A DECREASE FROM FY 26, UH, MOSTLY DUE TO MOVING DEBT SERVICE TO A SEPARATE DEBT SERVICE FUND.
AND THAT'S AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE LGC AND AND ACCOUNTING STANDARDS.
BY THAT, UH, BY THE FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, UH, THIS PROPOSED BUDGET DOES MAINTAIN CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE TO OUR CITIZENS WITH THE MUNICIPAL SERVICE DISTRICT FUND.
THE MSD PROPERTY VALUATION REMAINS $200 MILLION.
THERE IS NO PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE MSD AT VALOREM TAX RATE OF 11 POINT 22 CENTS AND NO INCREASE TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
THE MSD ADVISORY COMMITTEE DID MAKE SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WHICH THE BOARD APPROVED DURING FY 26 AND THOSE MAJOR PROJECTS INCLUDED DOWNTOWN CROSSWALK UPGRADES, UH, RIVERWALK FISHING PIER PARKING LOT, AND THE CRAVEN STREET AND BEAR PLAZA RENOVATIONS, WHICH WILL BE TAKING PLACE, UH, STARTING UH, REALLY AT ANY TIME FOR THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
THIS BUDGET FOCUSES ON OVERARCHING GOALS SUCH AS EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT BY INCLUDING CONTROL SYSTEM SERVER REPLACEMENT AND SOFTWARE UPDATES, SAFE AND WELCOMING, COMMUNITY SECURITY SYSTEM, REPLACEMENT SERVICE VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENTS AND PLANNING AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR BALANCED GROWTH, WHICH INCLUDES ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, WATER SUPPLY AND WELL REHABILITATION PROJECTS, WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS AND SEWER SYSTEM AND PUP STATION IMPROVEMENTS.
FOR THE ENTERPRISE CAPITAL FUND, A TOTAL OF $5.5 MILLION WAS REQUESTED AND WE ARE PROPOSING TO FUND $3.8 MILLION IN CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.
THE BIGGEST CUTS CAME FROM OUR ELECTRIC UTILITY ON THAT AND FY 28, THE REQUEST IS, IS $5.1 MILLION.
IN FY 29, THE REQUEST IS $6 MILLION.
THE REQUEST IN FY 30 IS 6.8 MILLION AND FY 31 IS 6.4 MILLION.
THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE CAPITAL, WHICH YOU'LL SEE ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO IN FY 29, UH, FY 27 WATER SEWER DOES HAVE SOME PROJECTS AND, AND THERE'S $10 MILLION.
AND THEN WITH ELECTRIC THEY RECOMMENDED 7 MILLION.
SO FOR A TOTAL OF $20.8 MILLION FOR MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE IN 27 AND FY 28 PROJECTING $49.7 MILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, FY 29, 29 0.4 MILLION, FY 30 29 0.8 MILLION AND FY 39 42 0.4 MILLION.
SO MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE CAPITAL EXPENSES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET AND THESE PROJECTS WILL BE SET UP IN MULTI-YEAR PROJECT FUNDS AND AS WE GO THROUGH THIS BUDGET YEAR, WE WILL HAVE MORE DISCUSSIONS ON THOSE PROJECTS.
FOR FY 27, WHERE DOES THE REVENUE COME FROM FOR ENTERPRISE FUNDS? 4% COMES FROM, UH, SOLID WASTE FEES, 4% FROM FUND BALANCE APPROPRIATED 6% FROM OTHER REVENUES, 11% FROM WATER SERVICE FEES, 13% FROM SEWER SERVICE FEES, AND 62% FROM ELECTRIC SERVICE FEES.
TOTAL ENTERPRISE FUND REVENUES ARE ANTICIPATED TO BE $114,047,690.
SO WHERE DO THOSE DOLLARS GO? 66 60 6% GO TO THE ELECTRIC FUND, 5% TO SOLID WASTE FUND,
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14% TO THE WATER FUND, AND 15% TO THE SEWER FUND TOTAL ENTERPRISE, THE EXPENSE IS $114,047 690 CENTS.SO WITH THE ENTERPRISE FUND BUDGET IMPACTS SALARY AND BENEFITS.
THAT TAKES UP 17% OF THE TOTAL ENTERPRISE FUND BUDGETS.
WE DO ANTICIPATE ONE NEW POSITION AND SEWER DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS A TREATMENT PLANT MAINTENANCE MECHANIC WITH ELECTRIC UTILITY.
WE'RE PROPOSING A REDUCTION OF TWO POSITIONS IN THE ADDITION OF FOUR POSITIONS.
THE REDUCTIONS INCLUDED AN ELECTRIC ENGINEERING MANAGER.
THAT POSITION HAS BEEN VACANT SINCE 2023 AND AN IT SYSTEMS ANALYST, THAT POSITION HAS BEEN VACANT SINCE 2022.
PROPOSING TO USE WHAT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY BUDGETED TO GO TOWARD THESE ADDITIONS.
UH, AND THAT WOULD BE FOR ONE BILLING SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, ONE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, ONE PAYMENT SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, AND ONE UTILITY CONTROL SYSTEM OPERATOR.
ADDITIONAL IMPACTS INCLUDE WITH THE ELECTRIC UTILITY, $3.3 MILLION INCREASE IN COST OF PURCHASE POWER AND WITH THE SOLID WASTE RATE INCREASE OF 3%, THAT IS THROUGH GFL CONTRACTS AND LANDFILL TIPPING FEES.
SO OUR CUSTOMERS SHOULD EXPECT TO SEE A 45 CENT INCREASE PER MONTH FOR RESIDENTS FOR A 65 GALLON CART.
THAT BILL SHOULD GO FROM 1955 TO $20 PER MONTH.
ENTERPRISE FUND BUDGET IMPACTS WITH THE EXPENSES WE'RE LOOKING AT 435,000 IN SALARIES, 260,000 FOR BENEFITS, 350,000 FOR CONTRACTED SERVICES, 4 MILLION IN SUPPLIES, 880,000 IN CAPITAL 930,000 IN TRANSFERS.
7.1 MILLION IN DEPRECIATION WITH A TOTAL OF $13,230,000 IN EXPENSES.
SO I DID WANNA ALSO SHARE THE DEBT.
THIS IS BY THE ALL FUNDS WITH THE CITY ALL FUNDS TOTAL WE HAVE, WE ARE IN DEBT BY $41,766,000.
AND WITH THE GENERAL FUND WE HAVE 22 MILLION IN DEBT.
THE SEWER FUND, 7.5 MILLION, THE ELECTRIC FUND 4 MILLION AND THE SOLID WASTE FUND, $186,000 IN THIS YEAR, FY 26.
OUR DEBT OBLIGATION DECREASED BY 7.5 MILLION ALONE.
THE CITY'S TOTAL NET DEBT WAS 5.8% OF ITS LEGAL DEBT LIMITS.
SO WE ARE IN GREAT SHAPE DEBT WISE WITH THE CITY FUND BALANCE IN DAYS' CASH ON HAND.
SO WITH OUR GENERAL FUND, OUR, OUR FUND BALANCE AS OF, UH, AS OF JUNE 30TH, 2025, $36,700,874.
AND WITH OUR, UH, ENTERPRISE FUNDS, OUR WATER FUND, WE ARE SITTING 377 DAYS CASH ON HAND.
AND THIS IS ESTIMATED AS OF, UM, AS OF THE END OF MARCH, OUR SEWER FUND, 246 DAYS CASH ON HAND.
OUR ELECTRIC FUND 81 DAYS CASH ON HAND IN SOLID WASTE, 189 DAYS CASH ON HAND FOR FY 27 TOTAL PROPOSED BUDGET SUMMARY.
WE ARE PROPOSING A BUDGET FOR THE GENERAL FUND OF $52,238,420 FOR THE GENERAL FUND DEBT SERVICE FUND, $4,840,900 FOR THE WATER FUND, $15,900,820 FOR THE SEWER FUND, $17,093,950 FOR THE ELECTRIC FUND, $75,630,980 FOR THE SOLID WASTE FUND, $5,421,940 FOR OTHER FUNDS, $10,626,090 WITH A TOTAL PROPOSED BUDGET OF $181,753,100.
THIS REFLECTS A 9.3% OVERALL INCREASE COMPARED TO THE FFY 26 ADOPTED BUDGET.
THIS Y 27 BUDGET RECOMMENDATION COMPLIES WITH NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL STATUTES.
WE DO HAVE OTHER BUDGET MEETINGS THAT ARE COMING UP.
WE WILL BE HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING ON APRIL 28TH AT 6:00 PM HERE IN THIS ROOM, UH, TO LISTEN TO ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS.
AND THEN WE WILL HAVE A BUDGET WORKSHOP ON MAY 5TH AT THE STANLEY WHITE RECREATION CENTER AT 9:00 AM WHERE WE WILL DISCUSS ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS THE BOARD HAS AND ANY RECOMMENDATIONS YOU HAVE.
AND OUR GOAL IS TO ADOPT THIS BUDGET ON MAY 12TH, 2026.
THIS PROPOSED BUDGET IS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE STARTING TOMORROW MORNING.
IT WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE AT THE NEWBURN CRAVEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY.
IT IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON OUR FINANCEPAGE@NEWBERNNC.GOV.
THE GOVERNING BOARD HAS THIS AS WELL.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK THEY PUT INTO THIS,
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THIS BUDGET THIS YEAR.THANKS TO KIM OSTER, OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, THANK YOU TO TANYA HARM, WHO SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING ON THIS.
SHE'S OUR BUDGET ADMINISTRATOR, THE REST OF OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT WHO WORKED VERY HARD, ESPECIALLY OVER THE WEEKEND PUTTING EVERYTHING TOGETHER AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH THE BOARD.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MR. HUGHES.
[21. Conduct a Public Hearing and Consider Adopting an Ordinance to Rezone Tax Parcel ID 8-052-088 on Neuse Boulevard and 2501, 2503, 2507 and 2511 Neuse Boulevard from C-3 Commercial and R-15 Residential to Only C-3 Commercial and Rezone a Portion of Tax Parcel ID 8-208-143 from I-1 Industrial to C-3 Commercial. ]
NEXT UP IS ITEM NUMBER 21.CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE TAX PARCEL ID 8 0 5 2 0 8 ON NOOSE BOULEVARD AND 25 0 1, 25 0 3, 25 0 7, AND 25 11 NO BOULEVARD FROM C3 COMMERCIAL AND R 15 RESIDENTIAL TO ONLY C3 COMMERCIAL AND REZONE A PORTION OF TAX PARCEL ID 8 2 0 8 1 4 3 FROM I ONE INDUSTRIAL TO C3 COMMERCIAL.
MS. RUTH, THANK YOU FOR THAT INTRODUCTION.
I'LL GIVE YOU A BREAK FROM ALL THOSE NUMBERS.
UH, WE HAVE THIS EVENING, UM, SIX PARCELS BEFORE YOU.
WE ARE REQUESTING A CHANGE IN ZONING ON THIS IS A CITY INITIATED ZONING PACKAGE.
PERIODICALLY WE'LL BRING YOU PROPERTIES.
WE'D LIKE TO SEE THE ZONING CHANGED OR CLEAN UP.
ALL SIX OF THESE PARCELS ARE ONES THAT, UM, STARTED WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THEM AS A CLEANUP AND I'LL EXPLAIN WHY AS WE WALK THROUGH OUR, OUR PRESENTATION THIS EVENING.
SO THIS APPLICATION IS COMING TO YOU FROM, FROM STAFF.
WE HAVE A LOCATION ON NEW BOULEVARD AS WELL AS SOUTH GLEN BURNIE ROAD FOR THE SIX PARCELS.
THEY ARE ALL MIXED, ZONED, OR HAVE TWO ZONING DISTRICTS ON THEM AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
WE ARE PROPOSING TO CHANGE THAT, UM, ALL TO SOLE C3 ZONING ON NEW BOULEVARD AND ON GLEN BURNIE TO LET IT REMAINED A MIXED ZONE PIECE OF PROPERTY.
BUT TO CHANGE THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THAT, AND I'LL EXPLAIN THAT IN A BIT AS WELL.
UH, WE HAVE 4.52 ACRES ON NEWS BOULEVARD AND A TOTAL OF 3.89 ON GLEN BURNIE.
THESE ARE OUR TWO LOCATIONS THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING.
YOU CAN SEE HERE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF NEWS BOULEVARD RIGHT THERE, THERE ARE FIVE PROPERTIES IN A ROW THAT'S PRETTY MUCH A COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR AT THIS POINT.
THE SECOND LOCATION WE'RE DISCUSSING AND REQUESTING A CHANGE IN ZONING ON THIS EVENING LABELED LOCATION SIX AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN.
UM, IT'S SORT OF ON THE CORNER WEDGED BETWEEN GLEN BURNIE ROAD AND MLK.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE SEE THE SIX.
THE YELLOW SHADED AREA ARE THE PROPERTIES THAT RECEIVED MAILED NOTICE AND SIGNS WENT UP AS WELL.
THERE WERE A LOT OF SIGNS THEY WERE CON INCLUDED IN YOUR STAFF REPORT AND ARE NOT IN THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION THIS EVENING FOR THAT REASON.
THE RESIDENTIAL 15 ZONING DISTRICT, UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF RESIDENTIAL 15 ZONING HERE.
IT IS A RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT.
INDUSTRIAL ONE IS A LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT, AND THEN COMMERCIAL THREE IS OUR MOST COMMON COMMERCIAL DISTRICT THROUGHOUT TOWN.
UM, I, WE, WE FREQUENTLY REFERENCE THESE CHARTS, SO I WON'T GO SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ON THIS.
RESIDENTIAL 15, YOU PRIMARILY SEE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES COMMERCIAL, YOU SEE A MYRIAD OF COMMERCIAL USES, INDUSTRIAL, UH, THE NON-RESIDENTIAL USES THERE.
YOU CAN DO RESIDENTIAL USES, UM, WITH A SPECIAL USE PERMIT, BUT IT'S TYPICALLY YOUR LOWER INTENSITY INDUSTRIAL USES.
AND THIS IS WHAT OUR ZONING MAP LOOKS LIKE TODAY.
AND SO THIS CAME UP BECAUSE WE HAD A REQUEST FOR A CHANGE IN USE ON BOULEVARD AND OUR ZONING ADMINISTRATOR LOOKED AT THESE PARCELS AND SAID, HUH, BECAUSE IT WAS, THERE WAS COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AND THERE WAS ALSO RESIDENTIAL ZONING ON IT.
WE ARE REQUESTING TO BASICALLY TURN THAT ALL RED.
SO THOSE PARCELS WHICH ARE BEING USED COMMERCIALLY ARE, ARE ALL ZONED FULLY COMMERCIAL.
NOW UNDERNEATH THIS IS ANOTHER SPLIT ZONE PROPERTY AND ORIGINALLY THE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO HAVE THAT ZONED ALL C3.
HOWEVER, DUE TO CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED FROM THE PUBLIC AND THE NUMBER OF PHONE CALLS THAT STAFF RECEIVED, WE ARE STILL PROPOSING A CHANGE HERE.
HOWEVER, JUST ON THE GRAY PORTION, WHICH IS THE INDUSTRIAL PIECE OF, OF THE LOCATION SIX.
SO EVERYTHING YOU SEE THAT'S YELLOW, THAT IS ZONED R 15.
WE ARE NOT PROPOSING A CHANGE TO THAT PART OF THIS, THE GRAY PART OF PARCEL SIX, WE ARE PROPOSING THAT THAT IS CHANGED TO C3 ZONING, UM, IN ANTICIPATION AT SOME POINT THAT THAT PORTION OF IT WILL BE ABSORBED INTO THE PROPERTY UNDERNEATH, WHICH IS ALREADY ZONE C3.
AGAIN, HERE ARE AERIAL IMAGES OF OUR LOCATIONS.
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HAD FIVE MEMBERS PRESENT WHEN THEY REVIEWED THIS REQUEST AND DID RECOMMEND, UH, APPROVAL OF BOTH OF THESE ZONING PACKAGES.THEY ARE ADJACENT TO SIMILAR ZONE PROPERTIES, AND IN THE CASE OF THE NEW BOULEVARD ZONINGS, THIS ELIMINATES THE SPLIT ZONING, WHICH WE'RE TYPICALLY IN FAVOR OF.
AND WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
DOES BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
UM, JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE, OF THE GENTLEMAN WHO CAME UP, UM, IT SOUNDS LIKE ONE, ONE OF THESE REZONING REQUESTS WAS INITIATED BY THE CITY AND THEN ONE WAS REQUESTED BY A RESIDENT.
THE ONE IN WARD, UM, TWO WAS REQUESTED BY A RESIDENT.
IS THAT CORRECT? UM, NEITHER OF THESE WERE REQUESTED BY, BY THE PUBLIC.
OH, SORRY, I MISUNDERSTOOD THAT.
UM, AND THIS IS PART OF THE, THE CLEANUP AND THE MODERNIZATION THAT YOU STARTED SEVERAL MONTHS, YEARS BACK.
THESE ARE JUST SITUATIONS THAT HAVE COME UP RECENTLY.
AND WHILE WE WERE FIXING THE SPLIT ZONING OUT, UM, ON NEW BOULEVARD, WE, WE, THERE'S MORE COMING TOWARDS YOU AS WELL, NOT KNOWING HOW FAST WE WERE GETTING A NEW ZONING MAP.
WITH ALL THE STATE CHANGES, WE'VE GOT, UH, QUITE A LIST OF PROPERTIES THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHANGE THAT MAKE MORE SENSE.
NOW REMEMBER, UM, YOU, YOU COULD CONSIDER THIS TO BE REQUESTED BY THESE OWNERS BECAUSE WE DO HAVE TO HAVE WRITTEN CONSENT TO CHANGE ZONING NOW BASED ON SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH.
AND OUR LEGAL TEAM HAS OBTAINED WRITTEN CONSENT FOR THESE CHANGES FROM ALL ON ALL SIX PARCELS.
AND JUST TO ADD TO THAT MAYOR MEMBER, THE BOARD, UH, THE REASON STAFF INITIATES THESE IS WE, WHEN WE COME ACROSS THESE HEAD SCRATCHERS, IT, IT SEEMS UNFAIR TO PUT THE BURDEN ON THE PROPERTY OWNER TO FIX A ZONING ISSUE THAT AT SOME POINT IN HISTORY THE CITY CREATED.
SO THIS IS A CLEANUP TO, TO HELP MAKE THINGS, UH, MUCH MORE ORGANIZED FOR STAFF AND THE PROPERTY OWNER.
UM, WITH RESPECT TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GONNA CALL LOCATION SIX, UM, THAT'S THE PARCEL, THAT'S THE RAILROAD RIGHT OF WAY THAT LIES KIND OF BEHIND ROYAL FARMS. UM, THAT PROPERTY, UM, THE THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT THAT JESS POINTED OUT THAT LIES TO THE WEST OF ROYAL FARMS IS COMMERCIAL.
AND THAT DEVELOPER AND THEIR ATTORNEY REACHED OUT TO ME AND STAFF TO INQUIRE ABOUT, UM, THEIR LEGAL ABILITY TO PUT SOME OF THEIR PARKING SPACES IN THAT CURRENTLY EXISTING INDUSTRIAL RAILROAD STREET.
AND IT TURNS OUT LEGALLY THAT THEIR PARKING LOTS EVEN UP EVEN 20 FEET OF IT CANNOT EXIST IN THAT INDUSTRIAL ZONE.
SO THE SOLUTION WAS TO TAKE THE PART THAT'S INDUSTRIAL, LEAVE THE RESIDENTIAL STRIP THE WAY IT IS AS A BUFFER FOR THAT RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY BEHIND IT.
SO LEAVE THAT RAILROAD RIGHT AWAY ON THE NORTH HALF AND KEEP IT RESIDENTIALLY ZONED, BUT ON THAT SOUTHERN HALF OF THE RIGHT OF WAY, MAKE THAT C3 COMMERCIAL JUST LIKE THE ADJOINING PIECE SO THAT WHEN THEY GO DEVELOP THAT PIECE, THEIR PARKING LOT CAN LEGALLY EXIST IN THAT AREA.
THAT'S A MOUTHFUL, BUT I, I THINK THAT LANDED, I THINK SO.
AND I, IT SOUNDED LIKE THAT MIGHT BE A SATISFACTORY ANSWER TO THE GENTLEMAN WHO CAME TO SPEAK IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION AND AND HE'S WELCOME TO COME UP TOO WHEN THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN TO ASK MORE QUESTIONS IF HE HAS 'EM.
JEFF, COULD, COULD YOU GO BACK? SURE.
I THINK IT'S A COUPLE SLIDES THAT SHOW THE ZONING RIGHT THERE.
AND WHAT IS GRAY INDUSTRIAL ONE MAYOR.
THAT WAS THE OLD PEPSI PLANT DOWN TO AS YOU GO SOUTHWEST.
YEAH, BUT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, I DON'T, I HAVE NO IDEA WHY ALL THAT INDUSTRIAL IS, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW ASHLEY PARK, ASHLEY PLACE APARTMENTS IS BUILDING AN INDUSTRIAL ZONE.
WELL, YOU, YOU CAN ACTUALLY HAVE, YOU CAN BUILD APARTMENTS IN INDUSTRIAL, BUT WHAT YOU CAN'T DO IS YOU CAN'T HAVE A, AN ISLAND OF SEPARATE PARKING IN THAT INDUSTRIAL.
SO IRONICALLY, IF THAT C3 WHERE INDUSTRIAL, THE PIECE WEST OF ROYAL FARMS, THEY COULD DO THEIR APARTMENT COMPLEX, BUT RATHER THAN REZONE ALL OF THAT INDUSTRIAL, IT WAS EASIER TO TAKE A LITTLE RIBBON OF THE INDUSTRIAL AND MAKE IT C3.
YOU TRACKING ME? I AM, I'M, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE TOP,
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THE TOP RIGHT GRAY SECTION.IS THAT NOT THE PARKING LOT OF PUBLIX? THAT'S PUBLIX.
I KNOW THAT, I KNOW THAT THE PINK ABOVE THAT IS PUBLIX, BUT I THINK THAT GRAY WAS THE PARKING LOT, SO I I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE ALL OF THAT INDUSTRIAL, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? OKAY.
AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING, SO ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD NOW.
I THINK THERE'S SOME, UM, ON THIS MAP, IT DOES NOT SHOW THAT THERE IS A PRESENTLY A DITCH THAT IS APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 FEET WIDE AND ABOUT 12 FEET DEEP THAT HAS WATER FLOWING THROUGH IT.
24 7, 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, WATER FLOWS.
SOMETIMES IT'S FOUR INCHES DEEP.
SOMETIMES DURING HEAVY RAINS IT'S A FOOT DEEP TO TWO FEET DEEP.
DURING HURRICANE FLORENCE, IT WAS COMPLETELY FULL.
SO IT MAY BE THAT THE CITY DEEMED IT INDUSTRIAL.
I ONE BECAUSE OF THE STORM WATER FLOW THAT IT OCCASIONALLY HAS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT, UM, I DON'T SEE HOW YOU COULD FILL IT IN.
I DON'T SEE HOW YOU CAN BUILD ON IT.
UM, IT, I, IN MY OPINION, I IT JUST OUGHT TO BE LEFT ALONE AS IT IS.
UH, THE APARTMENTS THAT WERE BUILT THERE ABOUT SIX, EIGHT YEARS AGO, THERE WERE NO CODE CHANGES THAT NEEDED TO BE MADE TO BUILD THOSE APARTMENTS.
UM, WHEN PUBLIX WAS BUILT, UM, THE LAND THAT PUBLIX IS ON WAS CHANGED TO COMMERCIAL.
I I BELIEVE IT WAS ALREADY A C3 PROPERTY TO BEGIN WITH BECAUSE IT WAS RIGHT ON GLEN BURNIE.
UM, WHERE THE SONIC IS LOCATED, ALL THAT LAND, UM, WAS C3.
THERE USED TO BE A ROLLER RINK THERE AND IT WAS TORE DOWN TO BUILD THE APARTMENTS, UH, BEFORE ROYAL FARMS WAS THERE.
THAT PROPERTY WAS OWNED BY PEPSI AND THERE WAS A PEPSI WAREHOUSE ON THAT PROPERTY.
WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT THIS LITTLE 3.89 STRIP OF LAND THAT HAD, THAT IS PRIMARILY A DITCH.
UM, ALL THE PROPERTY OWNERS MAINTAIN THAT PROPERTY THAT IS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THAT DITCH.
ALMOST EVERY ONE OF THESE PROPERTY OWNERS HERE MOW THAT TO KEEP IT CLEAN BECAUSE IT'S UP AGAINST THEIR OWN PROPERTY.
I DON'T SEE WHY IT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.
AND JUST, UH, WHILE YOU'RE THERE, UM, YES SIR, JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE STRIP THAT YOU'RE MENTIONING YES SIR.
WHEN MOS WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED, THIS PROPOSAL DOESN'T CHANGE THAT AT ALL.
THAT IF YOU LOOK IN THAT MAP THAT IT'S HARD TO SEE, BUT THERE'S A GREEN BOX WITH A NUMBER SIX IN IT.
THAT IS EXISTING RESIDENTIAL AND THAT WILL NOT CHANGE.
SO IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THAT STRIP, THE GR THE GRAY RIBBON THAT'S ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE DITCH.
WHICH WILL BE BECOME READ TO MATCH THE COMMERCIAL PIECE THAT IT WAS, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THE INITIAL LETTER I GOT STATED.
THAT WOULD'VE BEEN AN ERROR THEN.
WELL, EVERY ONE OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS GOT THAT SAME LETTER AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE ALL HERE TONIGHT IS TO FIND OUT WHY.
AND, AND THOSE ARE GREAT QUESTIONS.
UM, IN YOUR POINT ABOUT THE DITCHES WELL TAKEN, THAT DITCH WILL NOT BE INTERFERED WITH, THAT'S A MAJOR DRAINAGE ARTERY OF THE CITY.
AND THAT WILL, WHOEVER OWNS THAT AT ANY POINT IN TIME WILL HAVE NO LEGAL RIGHT TO FILL THAT OR, OR DISRUPT THAT FLOW OF WATER.
MR. MR. RIGG BEFORE YOU LEAVE YES, SIR.
UM, IS THAT, THAT DITCH IS THE AREA THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT THE CITY GETS THAT WE CUT AND MAINTAIN AND CLEAN, CORRECT? YES, SIR.
AND, AND, AND TO ANSWER THAT, OUR STORM WATER CREWS DO MOW THAT SO THEY CAN GET ACCESS IF NEEDED, IF THERE ARE ANY ISSUES.
AND DRAINAGE WISE, WELL WE APPRECIATE WHEN THEY PUT THAT MOWING MACHINE DOWN
[00:55:01]
INTO THE DITCH TO CUT GROWING TREES AND BRUSHING STUFF UP IN THERE.I JUST DON'T SEE WHY THEY MOW THE GRASS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE DITCH.
I, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PUBLIC TO COME OUT AND, AND MAKE COMMENTS AND STAFF AND ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE MAKING SOME COMMENTS.
I WAS GONNA WAIT TILL IT WAS THE APPROPRIATE TIME FOR THE COUNCIL TO MAKE COMMENTS, BUT I THINK I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND GET MY 2 CENTS WORTH IN WHILE EVERYBODY ELSE IS, UM, YEARS AGO, PRIOR TO THE BOWLING ALLEY, NOT A SKATING RINK, A BOWLING ALLEY.
UH, THAT WAS A BUILDING SUPPLY BUSINESS.
THAT WAS ALSO A, UH, FUEL MARKET THERE AT ONE TIME THAT'S NOW ENTERPRISE.
AND THEN THERE WAS PEPSI AND COCA-COLA AND THE MAJORITY OF IT WAS KIND OF A QUASI INDUSTRIAL USE.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE I ONE CAME FROM FOR SOME TIME AFTER THE BUILDING SUPPLY CEASED TO BE A BUILDING SUPPLY AND IT BECAME A BOWING ALLEY.
THERE WERE PORTIONS IN THE REAR THAT WERE KIND OF IN A INTERIM STATE OF WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO WITH IT.
AND UH, I GOT COMPLAINTS AS AN ALDERMAN AT THE TIME ABOUT RATS, UM, UNSIGHTLY DEBRIS, UM, A LOT OF STUFF STOCKPILE BACK THERE.
SO WE GOT WITH THE OWNERS AND WORKED THROUGH THAT.
PART OF THAT WAS TO BE A LITTLE MORE LOVING OF THAT CANAL, UH, CLEANING IT UP AND MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE ALL PARTNERING TOGETHER.
IT'S NOT UNUSUAL AND I THINK WE'VE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT FROM WHAT WE USED TO DO, BUT WHEN PROPERTY OWNERS FOUND IN THE CITY OF NEW BERN THAT SOMETIMES IT WAS ACTUALLY CHEAPER FOR THE CITY TO MOW THEIR LOT THAN TO GET IT LOCKED, UH, MOWED.
SO THEY A LOT OF TIMES, UH, DEFAULTED AND, UH, THE CITY MOWED THE LOT CHEAPER THAN THE PUBLIC COULD GET.
WELL, WE KIND OF CHANGED ALL THAT, BUT AGAIN, IT'S NOT UNUSUAL IN NEWBURN WITH MAJOR CANAL DRAINAGE ARTERIES INCLUDING THE GREENBRIER CANAL AND OTHER CANALS.
THE JACK SMITH CREEK AND YOURS.
AT CITY DOES DO MAINTENANCE, BUT THAT WAS KIND OF THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND.
ON WHY THINGS ARE, UM, AGAIN, WHILE WE'RE, I WAS GONNA WAIT AND MAKE THESE COMMENTS, UH, HISTORICALLY YEARS AGO BEFORE PEOPLE WERE USED TO LIVING OUT IN THE COUNTRY AND UH, WHAT YOU DID WITH YOUR GARBAGE IS YOU TOOK IT TO THE LOS FAR OF THE PART OF YOUR BACKYARD AND DUMPED IT.
THAT'S ALL OVER NEW BERN STEEL, UM, NEW BURNS, UH, TO, TO KIND OF, UH, ACQUAINT, GET THEM FAMILIAR WITH ZONING.
IT WAS NOT UNUSUAL THAT WE DID THIS DUAL ZONING AND KIND OF AS A, A BUFFER WHAT WAS COMMERCIAL.
HAD A BIT OF RESIDENTIAL TO IT, BUT MAJORITY ZONING WAS THE COMMERCIAL OR WHATEVER.
AND SO THAT WOULD KIND OF TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER THE, THE OTHER, SO THAT'S BACK TO THE NEW BOARD, WHICH I THINK WE SHOULD BE HAVING TWO DIFFERENT DISCUSSIONS HERE BECAUSE IT'S VERY CONFUSING TO TRY TO TALK ABOUT BOTH OF 'EM AT THE SAME TIME.
I APPRECIATE AND MR. CITY ATTORNEY, I APPRECIATE YOU CLARIFYING A LOT THAT I WAS A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED OF AND I THINK SOME OF THE OTHER PROPERTY OWNERS WERE TOO.
ANYONE ELSE? MAY I MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? SECOND, HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ANY OPPOSED? PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? ON ITEM NUMBER 21, MR. MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE TAX PARCEL ID EIGHT DASH 0 52 DASH 0 88 ON NEWS BOULEVARD AND 25 0 1, 25 0 3, 25 0 7, AND 25 11 NEWS BOULEVARD FROM C3 COMMERCIAL AND R 15 RESIDENTIAL TO ONLY C3 COMMERCIAL AND REZONE A PORTION OF TAX PARCEL ID 8 2 0 8 DASH 1 43 FROM INDUSTRIAL TO C3 COMMERCIAL AS PRESENTED.
[01:00:01]
I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? I HAVE A QUESTION AND, UH, THIS IS, I'M GOING DIRECT TOWARD THE ATTORNEY, UH, IS APPROPRIATE THAT I MAKE SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO, UH, I AGREE WITH THE MOTION WITH THE EXCEPTION OF PARCEL EIGHT DASH 2 0 8 DASH 1 43.
WELL, THAT MOTION'S ON THE TABLE.
IF THEY WANNA WITHDRAW THEIR MOTION, THEY CAN, OTHERWISE THEY'RE ENTITLED TO HAVE THAT MOTION VOTED ON.
UM, AND SEE WHERE IT GOES FIRST.
I'M, UM, UM, A LITTLE CONCERNING IN I OPPOSED THE MOTION BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT THE PUBLIC AND MYSELF INCLUDED AND SOUNDED LIKE THE MAYOR.
UH, ITEM SIX WAS WHAT I THOUGHT CONTI ADJOINING THE RESIDENTIAL PORTIONS OF KING'S ROAD WAS THE PORTION YOU'RE, YOU'RE SAYING, I SEE WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW, BUT THE EMPHASIS WAS ON THAT ITEM SIX, WHICH JOIN ADJOINS THE, UH, PROPERTY OWNER.
SO, UM, I THINK AT THE VERY LEAST, UM, I I, I'M NOT SAYING WHAT MY POSITION ON THAT IS UNTIL THE, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD GETS THE PROPER INFORMATION THAT'S THAT'S, UH, CORRECT, UH, TO DO THAT MOTION AND THEN THE MAPS SHOW UP AND IT'S THAT PART, UH, ITEM SIX, I'M, I DON'T HAVE A, I DON'T SEE A MEETS AND BOUNDS OR ANY OTHER MEANS AND NO ONE FOR SURE IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT GRAY STRIP THAT GOES UP TO ITEM SIX OR NOT, WE 100% ARE TALKING ABOUT THE GRAY STRIP.
I, I, I DRAFTED THE LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS.
I'M, I'M QUITE CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE ONLY TALKING ABOUT THE GRAY STRIP THAT LIES NORTH OF THE RED C3 PARCEL AND STOPS AT THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF THE EXISTING RESIDENTIAL ZONE.
UH, IT WAS MY RECOMMENDATION TO STAFF AND THE PROPERTY OWNER THAT THEY NOT DISRUPT THAT EXISTING RESIDENTIAL ZONE JUST FOR THIS REASON.
AND I'M OF CONCERN ABOUT THAT ITEM IS WHETHER OR NOT I'M DOING THE NEIGHBORHOOD A FAVOR OR NOT, THAT THERE WAS NOT, UH, ENOUGH DISCUSSION ON THE PART OF THE NEIGHBORS, UH, OR ANYBODY ELSE AS TO WHERE OR NOT AM I DOING THEM A FAVOR TO GET, TO GET AWAY FROM I ONE AND HAVE C3 BECAUSE TO ME C3 MIGHT BE A MORE BENIGN CONTI CONTIGUOUS ZONING THAN THE I ONE I ONE AS YOU SEE WITH EVERYTHING'S BEEN DONE OUT THERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS OTHER THAN IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF ROOM FOR ERROR WITH I ONE MORE SO THAN WITH C3, BUT I DON'T KNOW THE, UM, KINGS ROAD COMMUNITY HAS BEEN WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE AND I'LL BEEN PROPERLY MADE AWARE OF THAT.
IF I COULD MAYBE ASK MS. RU IF SHE COULD COME FORWARD, I BELIEVE YOU MENTIONED THAT THE CONCERNS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS WHAT DROVE THE DECISION TO KEEP THAT STRIP RIGHT ORIGINALLY THIS WAS ALL PROPOSED TO BE READ, GET RID OF THE SPLIT ZONING.
SCOTT AND I AND STAFF HAVE ALL, UH, DISCUSSED THIS AT LENGTH ON, ON WHAT TO DO WITH THIS.
SO WE, WHEN WE WENT TO ONE MEETING A MONTH, SOMETIMES MAIL NOTICE FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS BEFORE SOMETHING HAS GONE TO PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD.
AND WHEN THIS WENT TO PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD, IT WAS PROPOSED, UH, UH, WHEN THOSE LETTERS WENT OUT TO BE ALL READ, THAT WASN'T AN ERROR.
IT WAS TRYING TO KEEP THINGS MOVING EFFICIENTLY.
UM, BUT THE, THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE CHANGE IN ZONING TO SIX WOULD BE TO ELIMINATE THE I ONE AT SCOTT'S RECOMMENDATION TO MAKE IT RIP, TO MAKE IT C3.
AND SO WE'RE NOT BUILDING SOMETHING ON THERE, WHETHER IT ENDS UP BEING A PARKING LOT OR SOMETHING ELSE.
AND WE DON'T HAVE THIS SITUATION LIKE WE HAVE ON LOCATIONS ONE THROUGH FIVE WHERE WE CAN'T TELL SOMEBODY EXACTLY WHAT THEY CAN OR CANNOT DO WITHOUT A PHD BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TWO VERY DIFFERENT ZONES ON ONE PARCEL.
SO ITEM SIX, ITEM SIX, WHAT IS THAT ZONING WITH MS. FERGUSON'S MOTION GOING TO BE OR REMAIN? THE TOP, THE TOP PIECE WOULD REMAIN YELLOW.
THE GRAY PIECE WOULD BE, WOULD BECOME RED.
AND SO ITEM SIX IS GONNA BE, UH, A RESIDENTIAL ZONE LOCATION SIX.
MY UNDERSTANDING, SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL FROM STAFF WAS THAT LOCATION SIXES WAS ALL REP.
AND FOR REASONS DISCUSSED TODAY, WE SAID LET'S NOT DO THAT.
AND, AND FOR REASONS DISCUSSED AND PHONE CALLS THAT YOU GOT FROM CONCERNED CITIZENS MADE THE DECISION, LET'S DO A SPLIT WHERE WE KEEP THE TOP, THE NORTH PORTION OF LOCATION SIX RESIDENTIAL HAS THAT BUFFER TO PROTECT THOSE PEOPLE RIGHT THERE.
[01:05:01]
THE SOUTH PORTION THAT IS GRAY, WHICH IS INDUSTRIAL, WHICH IS A HIGHER DENSITY USE TO CHANGE THAT TO C3 TO ACTUALLY LESSEN THE DENSITY FOR THAT SOUTHERN PORTION.AND WE HAVE THE CONSENT OF THE PROPERTY ORDER TO DO THAT.
AND ALL THIS HAPPENED TODAY, DID IT, WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN? DURING THE P AND Z MEETING? DURING THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD MEETING.
SO AGAIN, BACK TO WHAT AFTER YOUR MOTION, IF IT PASSES, WHAT IS ITEM SIX GONNA BE? ZONED? IT'S GONNA BE A SPLIT ZONE FROM RESIDENTIAL, WHICH I THINK IS THAT R 15, RIGHT? YES.
SO, UH, TO PHYSICALLY TO ABOUT THE DITCH, THE NORTH SIDE WOULD BE R 15, THE SOUTH SIDE WOULD BE C3, IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT, YES SIR.
SO WE'RE ASKING, I'M, I GUESS THE REQUEST IS TO CHANGE THE ZONING ON HALF OF THE PARCEL.
AND, AND AGAIN, FOR CLARIFICATION, I GAVE GENTLEMEN A MAP.
I LOOKED ALL THIS STUFF UP TODAY, BUT THAT, LOOK, I ONE UP UNTIL UP TO WHERE KINGS RACE STARTS.
WAS I ONE, IS THAT CORRECT? I'M NOT ABSOLUTE.
YOU GOT, OR WHAT WAS SCOTT? YOU JUST DREW THE MEETS AND YOU DESCRIBED IT.
CAN YOU ANSWER THAT? I, I, I, I DRAFTED THE ZONING CHANGE TO BE THE SLIVER NORTH OF THE C3.
THAT RED BLOCK WILL MEET UP AGAINST THE YELLOW, THE BLOCK NUMBER SIX, ONLY, ONLY BEHIND C3.
AND THE PURPOSE, THE REASON IS THAT'S THE DEVELOPER WHOSE FUTURE PARKING LOT IS GOING TO, IS GOING TO BE BUILT PARTIALLY IN THAT GRAYS LIVER.
AND THEY CANNOT DO THAT WITH THE SPLIT ZONE.
SO THEY'RE, THEIR PLAN IS TO ACQUIRE THAT GRAY SLIVER, THAT GRAY RIBBON, SO THAT THEY CAN THEN EXTEND THEIR COMPLEX AND THEIR PARKING LOT FOR THE APARTMENTS INTO THAT GRAY SLIVER.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND ON THE TABLE.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT? HEARING NONE.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN BRYANT.
NO, BUT I THINK YOUR C3 IS GONNA BE BETTER THAN OUT ONE
[22. Conduct a Public Hearing and Consider Adopting the CDBG Annual Action Plan. ]
BACK UP AGAIN.SO ITEM NUMBER 22, CONTINUE CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER ADOPTING THE CDBG ANNUAL ACTION PLAN, MS. RUTH.
I AM HERE THIS EVENING TO REQUEST THAT YOU OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND CONTINUE IT TO MAY 12TH.
OUR CDBG ALLOCATION, WHICH WE TYPICALLY RECEIVE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, DID NOT ARRIVE OFFICIALLY UNTIL OVER THIS WEEKEND, AS YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE YOU WERE COPIED ON THE EMAIL IN ORDER TO HAVE THE PLAN PREPARED READY AND GIVE IT THE 30 DAY DISPLAY PERIOD THAT HUD REQUIRES.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE UNABLE TO HAVE THAT PUBLIC HEARING THIS EVENING, UM, DUE TO THE DELAY WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RELEASING THAT.
SO I AM ASKING, AND THE REASON I'M ASKING THAT WE OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONTINUE IT, IS TO AVOID RUNNING AN EXPENSIVE ADVERTISEMENT AGAIN, ALTHOUGH I WAS OPTIMISTIC WHEN I, UM, WROTE UP THE DOCUMENTATION FOR THE AGENDA PACKET THAT PERHAPS WE'D BE ABLE TO DO IT IN TWO WEEKS.
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY TO HAVE A QUALITY PLAN READY, PREPARED, AND ON DISPLAY FOR YOU AND, AND PRESENTED IN TWO WEEKS.
SO WE WILL HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO DO THIS FOR YOU ON MAY 12TH NOW THAT ALL THAT PAPERWORK HAS, UH, BEEN RECEIVED BY US OVER THE WEEKEND.
SO MR. DAVIS, PROCEDURALLY WE'LL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING, THEN WE NEED TO HAVE A MOTION TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO THE MAY MEETING.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS BY THE BOARD BEFORE I OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? OKAY.
AT THIS TIME WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND IF YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT IT, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO DO SO.
ALDERWOMAN HARRIS, GOOD EVENING BOARD ISHA HARRIS.
UM, I WAS HERE TO SPEAK ON THE CDBG.
UM, SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WHEN IT DOES COME TO YOU, UM, I HOPE THAT YOU DO SUPPORT IT.
THERE'S A LOT OF PROJECTS THAT I KNOW THAT WERE PRESENTED.
[01:10:01]
UM, GROUP THAT, UH, PUT IN AN APPLICATION FOR THE FUNDS.SO IT'D BE GREAT TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT IT'S APPROVED 'CAUSE IT'S GOING INTO THE CRAVEN TERRACE AREA.
UM, SO WE WOULD REALLY HOPE THAT YOU PAY ATTENTION, READ ALL THE INFORMATION, STUDY AND SAY YES.
SO, BOARD, WE ARE LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO CONTINUE THIS PUBLIC HEARING TO MAY 12TH, 2026.
MAY I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING TILL MAY THE 12TH? SECOND.
SECOND HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? UH, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO REQUEST, I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE TO ADVERTISE IT, BUT WE WILL, IT WILL BE LISTED AS AN AGENDA ITEM ON THE AGENDA, CORRECT? OH, YES SIR.
SO I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[23. Discuss an Ordinance Amending Chapter 82 – Vehicles for Hire. ]
ITEM NUMBER 23.DISCUSS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 82 VEHICLES FOR HIRE MR. HUGHES OR MR. DAVIS.
MAY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, UM, TO GET US ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, I'M GONNA TAKE YOU BACK TO THE RETREAT WHERE AS PART OF MY PRESENTATION, I BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT THE CITY HAS AN EXISTING TAXI CAB ORDINANCE.
IT'S BEEN IN PLACE SINCE ABOUT 1971.
THE BOARD AT THAT TIME GREW WEARY OF ALL OF THE REGULATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH TAXI CABS.
THIS WOULD'VE BEEN AROUND THE ADVENT OF UBER AND LYFT AND DREADED STAFF.
UM, TO STOP ENFORCING THE TAXI CAB ORDINANCE, ENFORCING WOULD MEAN, UM, THE COLLECTION OF FEES AND THE ROBUST INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLES THAT WAS DONE BY THE CITY GARAGE.
THAT ORDER HAS STAYED IN PLACE FOR ALL OF THESE YEARS.
THAT HAS WORRIED ME OVER THE YEARS, UM, AND NAGGED ME THAT WE HAVE A TAXI CAB ORDINANCE ON THE BOOKS, UM, THAT'S NOT BEEN REMOVED OR ENFORCED, WHICH THEN SEGUED INTO MY OBSERVATION THAT GOING BACK TWO OR THREE YEARS.
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? OH, I'M SORRY.
UM, GOING BACK TWO OR THREE YEARS, UM, WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF PRESENTATIONS FROM FOLKS WHO WERE INTERESTED IN STARTING A, UH, A PETTY CAB BUSINESS.
THAT'S THE LITTLE TRICYCLE BIKES WITH THE LITTLE, YOU KNOW, THE BIKE PERSON AND THE LITTLE, LITTLE COACH IN THE BACK.
UM, UM, AND THEN MORE RECENTLY WE'VE HAD SOME INQUIRIES ABOUT WHAT I CALL A COMMERCIAL PEDAL VEHICLE.
UM, WE CERTAINLY HAVE THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, AND THEN WE HAVE A TOUR BUS THAT OPERATES.
SO MY SUGGESTION TO YOU WAS THAT IF WE STILL AGREE THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO REGULATE TAXI CABS SINCE THE WORLD OF UBER AND LYFT HAS LARGELY TAKEN THAT OVER THAT WE MIGHT DELETE THAT TAXI CAB ORDINANCE AND PICK UP THE REGULATION OF CERTAIN VEHICLES FOR HIRE.
AND I'VE PITCHED YOU THE FOUR THAT I JUST MENTIONED.
UM, SOME ARE IN OPERATION, SOME ARE HOPES AND DREAMS. UM, BUT THIS I THOUGHT WAS A GOOD SEGUE TO, TO INTRODUCE WHAT SOME, WHAT I THINK ARE RELATIVELY MINOR REGULATIONS WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR THOSE TYPES OF SERVICES.
I PREPARED A SUMMARY PAGE, UM, MAYBE MORE OF A CHEAT SHEET, THAT ONE PAGE THAT BROKE DOWN 15 PAGES OF LEGAL TALK INTO MORE DIGESTIBLE POINTS, UM, TO HELP EVERYONE GET ON THE SAME PAGE BECAUSE IN, IN MY VIEW, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT VEHICLES ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? WHERE MIGHT THOSE VEHICLES GO, THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA, AND WHAT ARE THE RULES THAT WE ARE GOING TO IMPOSE ON THOSE COMPANIES? AND I STARTED WITH A BASELINE OF THE RULES THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR UBER AND LYFT DRIVERS, THINKING THAT IF THE PUBLIC FELT SAFE IN AN UBER, THEN THAT WAS A GOOD STARTING POINT FOR US TO THINK ABOUT HOW ONE MIGHT WANT TO, UM, REVIEW THE COMPANY THAT'S PROPOSING THE USE AND ALSO VET THE DRIVERS IN THE SAME WAY THAT UBER DRIVERS ARE VETTED.
SO THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU, IT IS SIMPLY MY BEST EFFORT TO GIVE YOU A FOUNDATION AND NARROW YOUR FOCUS SO THAT WE CAN THEN DISCUSS WHETHER WE WANT THIS OR NOT.
AND IF SO, HOW TO TWEAK THE STARTING POINT THAT I'VE GIVEN YOU? UM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT, UM, WE HAVE THE, THE RELATIVELY MINOR USE OF THE HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE DURING A FEW WEEKS DURING THE HOLIDAYS.
[01:15:01]
HAVE NEVER STEPPED INTO REGULATING THAT BECAUSE THE INTERVAL WAS JUST SO SMALL.BUT MY THINKING IS WHILE WE'RE TOUCHING THIS, LET'S GO AHEAD AND ADDRESS THAT AS WELL.
UM, AS TO THE COMMERCIAL PEDAL VEHICLES, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT UNDER EXISTING NORTH CAROLINA LAW, THEY CAN OPERATE WITHIN THE CITY WITHOUT YOUR APPROVAL AND SERVE ALCOHOL IF THEY COMPLY WITH THE STATE STATUTES.
SO IF WE DO NOTHING, THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THE COMMERCIAL PEDAL VEHICLES CAN OPERATE.
AND MY CONCERN ABOUT THAT IS I WAS WORRIED THAT A BUSINESS OR TWO MIGHT MAKE A CONSIDERABLE INVESTMENT.
IT THEN COMES TO YOUR ATTENTION AND YOU DECIDE TO REGULATE THAT SUBSEQUENTLY IN A WAY THAT HURTS THAT INVESTMENT.
SO I THOUGHT NOW WAS THE TIME TO TRY TO GET ON THE SAME PAGE AS TO HOW YOU WANT REGULATE THAT, IF AT ALL.
WITH THAT, I WILL, I WILL LISTEN TO YOUR COMMENTS COURT.
WELL, I MEAN, LIKE HYPOTHETICALLY, IF I'M ON MISS BOULEVARD AND I'M SWERVING, I'M PROBABLY GONNA GET PULLED OVER.
AND FIRST THING AN OFFICER'S GOING TO WANT TO KNOW IS, HAVE I BEEN DRINKING? AND UNDER THE STATE LAW EXISTING, YOU CAN GET ONE OF THESE THINGS AND CRANK AROUND TOWN AND HAVE A DESIGNATED DRIVER AND DRINK.
IS THAT CORRECT? JUST LIKE A LIMOUSINE.
IT WORKS EXACTLY THE SAME THING.
WELL, IT WORKS LIKE A LIMOUSINE.
SO IF YOU HIRE A LI LIMOUSINE, YOU CAN HAVE BEER OR WINE IN THAT LIMOUSINE.
AS LONG AS THE DRIVER IS NOT DRINKING ALCOHOL, HOW DO YOU, UM, QUALIFY THE DRIVER FOR ANYTHING? IN OTHER WORDS, LIKE IF, UH, SIX PEOPLE SHOW UP MORE RENT, ONE OF THESE THINGS OR WHATEVER IS, IS THERE SOMEBODY THAT MEETS SOME DESIGNATION OF SORT THAT PERSON UN UNDER? HOW DO YOU VET THEM UNDER? WELL, THAT'S A GREAT SEGUE INTO, IN THE DRAFT THAT I'VE PITCHED, THAT DRIVER WOULD BE VETTED EXACTLY LIKE AN UBER DRIVER.
THAT WOULD BE THE, THE NATIONAL CRIME DATABASE, THE SEX REGISTRY, ALL THE THINGS THAT AN UBER DRIVER GOES THROUGH.
AND I'M PROPOSING AS A STARTING POINT THAT EVERY DRIVER OF ALL OF THOSE FOUR TYPES OF VEHICLES, PEDICABS, COMMERCIAL, PAB VEHICLES, HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES, TOUR BUSES, ALL OF THEM HAVE THAT SAME VETTING PROCESS THAT WOULD BE DONE BY, UM, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND THEY WOULD HAVE A BADGE, A LANYARD WITH A BADGE SO THAT TOURIST, ANYBODY EXPERIENCING THOSE VEHICLES WOULD, WOULD KNOW THAT THAT PERSON HAS A BADGE AND THEY HAVE BEEN VETTED TO OPERATE THAT VEHICLE.
SO WHEN WE DISCUSSED THIS AT THE RETREAT, SHORTLY THEREAFTER, I GOT A CALL FROM A PROSPECTIVE BUSINESS, UH, THAT WANTED TO OPERATE SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THE COMMERCIAL PEDAL, UH, BICYCLE.
AND YOU KNOW, I, IN, IN DISCUSSING THAT WITH THEM, I SAID, WE ARE ACTUALLY DISCUSSING REGULATIONS OF THESE TYPES OF VEHICLES FOR HIRE.
AND SO I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU WOULD HOLD OFF ON DOING YOUR BUSINESS RIGHT NOW, WHICH UNDER STATE LAW YOU CAN DO AND ALLOW US TO GET SOME REASONABLE REGULATIONS IN PLACE.
ALLOW US TO REACH OUT TO CITIZENS AND GET SOME FEEDBACK, GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE, UM, AND THEN WORK TOGETHER COLLABORATIVELY COME UP WITH, UH, AN ORDINANCE THAT THAT MAKES SENSE, THAT ALLOWS A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY TO OPERATE WHILE ALSO PROTECTING THE CHARACTER OF, YOU KNOW, DOWNTOWN AND DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.
I HAVE ENGAGED IN A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS AND GOT A LOT OF FEEDBACK, NOT JUST FROM THE PERSPECTIVE BUSINESS, UH, BUT ALSO FROM RESIDENTS.
AND SO, UM, WHAT I INTEND TO DO IS TAKE THIS DRAFT AND GO FORWARD WITH THE BUS, THE PROSPECTIVE BUSINESS OWNER AND THE, UM, HISTORIC DOWNTOWN RESIDENCE ASSOCIATION AND ANY OTHER RESIDENTS THAT HAVE, UH, QUESTIONS AND TRY TO WORK THROUGH THE DRAFT AND, UH, YOU KNOW, TWEAK IT HERE AND THERE TO MAKE BOTH SIDES EQUALLY UNHAPPY BECAUSE THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW IT'S A GOOD DRAFT WHEN THEY'RE BOTH EQUALLY UNHAPPY.
UM, BUT TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE REGIONAL REGULATIONS THAT ALSO ALLOW BUSINESSES TO TRY NEW THINGS.
AND I THINK THE IMPORTANT PART OF THIS IS TRYING NEW THINGS TO BRING AN ATTRACTION TO DOWNTOWN, THE DOWNTOWN AREA, NOT JUST FOR TOURISTS, BUT FOR NEW BURNS AND TO GIVE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY.
AND IF IT GETS TO A SITUATION THAT IT BECOMES NOXIOUS TO HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE, THEN WE CAN CLAMP DOWN
[01:20:01]
ON RESTRICTIONS OR TAKE IT AWAY ALTOGETHER.AND SO THAT'S HOW I WOULD PROPOSE MOVING FORWARD IS ALLOWING ME TO ENGAGE.
AND, AND OBVIOUSLY ALL OF YOU ENGAGE IF YOU WOULD LIKE WITH, UH, YOUR CONSTITUENTS, BUT I KNOW I HAVE PROACTIVELY REACHED OUT, UH, WITH THIS ORDINANCE AND HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN FEEDBACK.
AND SO I'M GONNA HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
SO, UM, IN ADDITION TO THE VETTING PROCESS, THE POLICE DEPARTS GOT THE, UM, IS THE, THE UBER DRIVER WOULD BE PROHIBITED FROM DRINKING, IS THAT CORRECT? ABSOLUTELY, YES SIR.
BUT, AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE PERSON WAS DRINKING? UM, WOULD THEY BE ARRESTED FOR FILING A STATE LAW? YES.
WELL, THE, THEY, THEY WOULD, THEY, THEY ARE OPERATING A VEHICLE ON A PUBLIC STREET JUST AS IF THEY WERE DRIVING A CAR.
SO THEY WOULD BE HELD TO THE EXACT SAME LEGAL STANDARD AS A DRIVER OF A CAR.
AND, AND WHILE I HAVE THE FLOW FROM A MINUTE TOO, THE, THE DRAFT BEFORE YOU LIMITS THESE USES TO, TO BROADLY TO THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, UM, THE, THE, THE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE HAS A SMALLER AREA.
SO I, I DON'T BELIEVE BRING DEPRESSION THAT WE ARE GONNA HAVE COMMERCIAL PEDAL VEHICLES DRIVING DOWN MLK IN FRONT OF THE MALL.
UH, THE HORSES ARE GONNA BE OUT ON THE HIGHWAY.
WE, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A A A LARGELY CONTAINED DOWNTOWN AREA.
AND I THINK THE RUB IS WHAT BENEFITS ARE THERE, UM, TO ENCROACH INTO THE RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT OR CERTAIN BLOCKS.
AND WE CAN MAKE THIS MICROSCOPIC.
I MEAN, WE CAN LITERALLY PERMIT STREETS AND EXCLUDE OTHER STREETS.
I STARTED WITH A ZONE BECAUSE A CERTAIN ZONE, A DISTRICT ALREADY EXISTS, BUT WE CAN, WE CAN, WE CAN BISECT THAT WITH BROAD STREETS, UM, TO THE RIVERS.
WE'RE ONLY LIMITED BY OUR CREATIVITY, BUT WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT A CITYWIDE SERVICE, THAT'S FOR SURE.
UM, AND AS TO THE, THE LITTLE PETTY CABS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'VE HAD TWO VENDORS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS MENTION THIS AND COME MAKE PRESENTATIONS, BUT I'M NOT AWARE THAT ANYONE IS PROPOSING TO DO THAT.
I'M NOT AWARE THAT ANYBODY EVER WILL DO IT.
MY ONLY ADVICE IS WHILE WE ARE TOUCHING THIS IN DOING IT, LET'S JUST PUT THAT IN PLACE IN CASE SOMEONE EVER SHOWS UP.
IF, UM, IF, IF, UH, THE CITY NEW AND LIKE CHARLOTTE OR OTHER AREAS OF NEW ORLEANS WERE TO GET INTO THE RICKSHAW BUSINESS, OR THOSE ARE THOSE FOLKS THAT THE GUY OR THE GUY THAT'S TRUCK AROUND TAKING PEOPLE, ONE OF THEM THINGS ARE, OR THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE DOING ANY DRINKING FOR SURE.
'CAUSE THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO, THEY'RE GONNA BE BUSY.
RICK SHA RICK SHOP
WELL, I, I JUST, YOU KNOW, WAS JUST TRYING TO GET THIS ALL FIGURED OUT.
YEAH, OPEN, OPEN DOWNTOWN IS AL I'LL TELL YOU, BUT IT IS, SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE, IF YOU'RE IN A RICKSHAW, YOU CAN DRINK, BUT YOU CAN'T DRINK GOING DOWN THE POST OFFICE.
YOU CAN'T GET UP BEER ALDERMAN, I BELIEVE, UM, ASSISTANT MANAGER WILLIAMS, FORMER HIGHWAY PATROLMAN SET ME STRAIGHT ON THIS BECAUSE I WAS ALWAYS UNDER THE IMPRESSION OPEN CONTAINER IN A VEHICLE WAS AGAINST THE LAW.
UHHUH
DID I UNDERSTAND THAT CORRECTLY? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THEY'RE ON THE RICKSHAW, IF THEY'RE IN A 15 PASSENGER VAN, IF THEY'RE ON A SCHOOL BUS OR IF THEY'RE ON A PETTY CAB, AS LONG AS THE DRIVER'S NOT DRINKING EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE, THE VEHICLE CAN, THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
ALDERMAN ASKED HER, BEEN TRYING TO, SO THESE 12 PEOPLE THAT WERE ON THIS BICYCLE PEDALING AND DRINKING, WHAT DO THEY BRING THEIR OWN BEVERAGE WHEN THEY GET ON THE BICYCLE? OR WILL THERE BE BEVERAGES ON THE BICYCLE? YEAH, SO THAT, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
UM, THERE'S, THERE, THERE CAN BE NO VENDING, NO SELLING OF THE BEER OR WINE ON THE CITY STREETS.
SO THAT VEHICLE IS GOING TO BE LOADED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
THE, THE UNOPENED ALCOHOL WILL BE DELIVERED TO THE VEHICLE AND, AND THEN THOSE PEDDLING AND PROVIDING THE POWER, UM, CAN HAVE THEIR BEER OR WINE.
SO THEY WON'T BE STOPPING AT DIFFERENT BARS ALONG THE WAY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT TO LET 'EM RUN IN AND GET ANOTHER BEER? UH, WELL, THEY THEY CERTAINLY LEGALLY COULD.
I, I ALSO THINK THE IMPORTANT THING TO UNDERSTAND WITH THE COMMERCIAL PEDAL VEHICLE, IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, UNDER STATE LAW, DRINKING IS ALLOWED, BUT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, UP TO A BUSINESS MODEL OF HOW YOU DO THAT, IF THAT'S THE ONLY THING YOU'RE GONNA DO, OR IF IT'S YOU'RE GONNA DO FAMILY ACTIVITIES, YOU'RE GONNA DO CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, YOU'RE
[01:25:01]
GONNA DO HISTORY TOURS.AND SO, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S A, YOU KNOW, FRANKLY, THE STATE ALLOWS THIS ALREADY AND IT'S UP TO A BUSINESS OWNER FOR HOW THEY'RE GONNA STRUCTURE THEIR BUSINESS IF IT'S SOLELY BASED ON, YOU KNOW, DRINKING OR IS IT A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT TOURS? BECAUSE I'VE SEEN THEM IN HISTORIC, YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN THEM IN RALEIGH, I'VE SEEN 'EM IN SAVANNAH, I'VE SEEN THEM WHERE THEY HAVE OPERATED WITHOUT THE, YOU KNOW, THE BEER ON THE, UH, ON THE TROLLEY.
IT'S BEEN JUST A HISTORY TOUR.
I'VE SEEN 'EM WHERE YOU COULD DO WORKOUTS.
UH, SO I, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE, AGAIN, THE ALCOHOL PART OF IT IS THAT'S WHAT THE STATE STATUTE ALLOWS.
UM, AND I DO HAVE A QUESTION, UM, AND I WANTED TO REITERATE THAT NOBODY HAS COME HERE ASKING TO DO A BOOZE CRUISE ONLINE ON LAND YET, OTHER THAN THE GENTLEMAN THAT SPOKE ABOUT A FAMILY FRIENDLY PEDALING TOUR, NOBODY HAS COME UP ASKING SPECIFICALLY IF THEY CAN MAKE A, A PETTY CAB THAT IS DESIGNED TO HAVE PEOPLE DRINKING IN THE BAG.
THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE.
SO, BUT IT IS ALLOWED, AND IN THIS CASE, WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DOWN ZONING SO MUCH LIKE WE DO IN NO SIR.
SO WE CAN DO WHATEVER WE WANT IN THIS CITY.
YEAH, WE, WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO REGULATE STREETS.
THIS IS NOT A ZONING ISSUE, SO, FANTASTIC.
AND, AND THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION THAT THAT IS THE POINT.
IF YOU DO NOTHING, THEN A BUSINESS CAN OPERATE AND, AND THE FEAR WOULD BE THAT THEY MAKE AN INVESTMENT, PEOPLE GET UNHAPPY, THEY COME TO YOU, YOU THEN NEED TO DO SOMETHING, AND THEN WE'VE DISRUPTED SOMEONE'S INVESTMENT IN THEIR BUSINESS.
AND THEN I ALSO WAS WONDERING ABOUT, IS THERE A FEE TO GET THIS LICENSE? AND THEN IS THAT HOW THE, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IS GONNA RECOUP COST? YES, MA'AM.
AND I, I'VE LEFT THOSE AREAS BLANK, BUT TYPICALLY THERE'S A FEE TO IT, AT THE VERY LEAST, COVER THE COST, THE HARD COST OF SEARCHING THE DATABASES AND DOING THAT.
UM, I THINK I, AND, AND THAT WOULD BE DETERMINED ONCE THIS BOARD DECIDES WHICH WAY THEY WANT TO GO WITH THIS.
AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION IS IN, UH, REFERENCE TO THE GENTLEMAN WHO CAME UP WITH A FAMILY FRIENDLY TOUR.
UM, THE, SO FAR THE INSURANCE REQUIREMENT IS THAT SOMETHING IN LINE WITH A, WITH A VERY LARGE BUSINESS, WOULD, WOULD THE PAYMENT FOR A MILLION DOLLAR POLICY YES, MA'AM.
POSSIBLY PUT THESE SMALLER BUSINESS OUT OF? WELL, THERE, THERE'S, UM, THERE'S NOT A WIDE, UM, RANGE OF INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS ACROSS THE STATE.
UM, BUT YES, BUT THAT CAN CERTAINLY BE TWEAKED.
I, I THINK THE CONCERN WAS THAT, UM, MOST, MOST EVERY POLICY HAS A MINIMUM MILLION DOLLAR MINIMUM PER INCIDENT.
SOME LOCAL GOVERNMENTS REQUIRE A MILLION DOLLARS FOR EVERY INCIDENT THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE IN A YEAR.
SO IF YOU, IF THERE ARE 10 TERRIBLE INCIDENCES, THAT COULD BE A $10 MILLION POLICY.
WHAT I'VE PROPOSED IS, UH, THIS IS OVER ONE YEAR, 1 MILLION PER INCIDENT, 3 MILLION FOR EVERY TERRIBLE THING THAT MIGHT HAPPEN.
BUT THERE ARE SOME JURISDICTIONS THAT JUST CAP IT AT A MILLION FOR THE WHOLE YEAR.
UM, SO, AND AGAIN, I THAT'S, THAT'S MORE PICKING NIS AND, AND UNTANGLING COST TO SEE WHAT MIGHT BE MORE PUNITIVE.
BUT I THINK THAT'S A MINOR, MORE OF A MINOR DETAIL IN THE GRAND SCHEME OTHER THAN REQUIRING INSURANCE.
SO JUST TO, JUST TO CLARIFY A POINT ON THE, NOT TO GO BACK TO IT, BUT TO CLARIFY, I THINK THE MAYOR ASKED ABOUT A PASSENGER IN A CAR WITH AN OPEN CONTAINER, I BELIEVE IF THE CAR IS FOR HIRE, I THINK THE ISSUE, THE PIECE THERE IS IF THE DRIVER IS HIRED, CORRECT? THAT THAT'S CORRECT.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA CORRECT WHEN I SAID THAT IT, IT IS FOR HIRE LIKE A LIMOUSINE.
I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T WANT ANYONE LEAVING CITY HALL THINKING THEY CAN CRACK OVER, YOU KNOW, A BEER ON THE WAY HOME BECAUSE THEY'RE RIDING SHOTGUN.
SO JUST, YEAH, BECAUSE THE, THE TOPIC IS VEHICLES FOR HIRE, SO THAT'S CERTAIN WHAT I JUST, BUT I WANNA MAKE IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR, UH, OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD, UM, BOARD.
THIS IS, AGAIN, I THINK DOING NOTHING ALLOWS ALL OF THESE BUSINESSES TO, TO OPERATE RIGHT NOW AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
UM, WHICH THAT'S WHAT THIS BOARD WANTS TO DO.
I JUST, I LOOK AT THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE KIND OF PROACTIVE WITH OKAY, REASONABLE REGULATIONS IF YOU'RE GONNA OPERATE, WE'VE GOTTEN CITIZEN, WE'VE GOTTEN BUSINESS INPUT.
UM, THAT'S WHY I THINK WE ORIGINALLY WANTED TO GO DOWN THE ROUTE OF PUT TOGETHER THE ORDINANCE.
AND THEN AGAIN, IT JUST, IT WAS INTERESTING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IT AND, YOU KNOW, TWO MONTHS LATER I GOT A REQUEST ABOUT THIS.
UM, AND SO I THINK THAT'S THE INTENT.
I HAVE NO DESIRE TO TAKE ANY ACTION ON IT TONIGHT.
IN FACT, I THINK IT'S JUST DISCUSSION, YOU KNOW, SO ANY FEEDBACK ON THE ORDINANCE, IF YOU WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH TWEAKING IT OR YOU DON'T
[01:30:01]
WANNA DO IT AT ALL, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THIS BOARD'S PREROGATIVE.UM, I WOULD ASK THAT WE JUST, YOU KNOW, KIND OF END THE DISCUSSION UNLESS YOU HAVE OTHER FEEDBACK.
AND THEN LET ME REACH OUT WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, THE HYDRA, UH, CONSTITUENCY AS WELL AS THE BUSINESS CONSTITUENCY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, YOU KNOW, GET TO A POINT WHERE THESE REGULATIONS MAKE SENSE TO GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY.
SO, SO YEAH, I, I DO WANNA MAKE A COMMENT THOUGH.
I'M, I'M, I WISH MS. FESMAN, I BELIEVE THAT WAS HER NAME, FESMAN, WOULD'VE, WOULD'VE STAYED.
UM, SHE MADE A COMMENT THAT SHE WAS SURPRISED TO SEE A DRAFT ORDINANCE ALREADY DRAFTED.
AND I JUST WANT THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THIS IS THE PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH.
WE DON'T HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND SAY, GUESS WHAT? SOMEBODY WANTS TO HAVE A PEDAL BIKE WITH ALCOHOL SERVED ON IT.
WHAT'S THE PUBLIC'S THOUGHTS ON THAT? BECAUSE I GUARANTEE YOU EVERYBODY SITTING OUT THERE IS GONNA HAVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO SAY, WE HAVE TO HAVE A STARTING POINT.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE ATTORNEY IS THERE FOR, TO GIVE US THE GROUNDWORK TO START THAT DISCUSSION.
AND AS ALDERMAN FERGUSON SAID, ULTIMATELY FIND SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE'S EQUALLY UNHAPPY.
I HATE THAT TERM, BUT IT'S, IT'S, IT'S VERY, UM, IT'S VERY TRUE.
BUT AT THIS POINT, THERE IS NO ACTION BEING TAKEN TONIGHT.
THE DRAFT THAT WAS PUT ON THE AGENDA WAS FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE THIS AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK.
AND MY LAST POINT THAT I WANNA MAKE, I WANNA MAKE THIS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT IF THE BOARD DOES NOTHING, THEY CAN, THEY CAN GO PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE TOMORROW AND START BOOZING IT UP ON THE STREETS AND DRIVING LIKE THEY WANT TO DO IF THERE'S NO REGULATION.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO IS TRY TO PUT SOME GUARDRAILS AROUND THIS.
SO, ANYTHING ELSE ON ITEM NUMBER 23? NO, SIR.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEMS 24, 25, AND 20.
ACTUALLY, WE NEED TO DO THESE SEPARATE.
[24. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving a Memorandum of Understanding for the Expansion of the MPO Planning Boundary. ]
ITEM NUMBER 24 IS CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION APPRO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE MPO PLANNING BOUNDARY.UM, I'M ABIGAIL CLE, I'M WITH THE NEW BERN AREA, MPO.
UM, JUST KIND OF BRIEFING YOU ON THE MPO EXPANSION.
AND TONIGHT I'M HERE TO ASK FOR APPROVAL, UM, OF THEIR RESOLUTION THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH EXPANDING.
UM, SO AT THAT FEBRUARY MEETING, I MENTIONED THAT WE WILL BE HAVING, UM, A FURTHER MEETING WITH ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED TO DISCUSS WHAT'S INVOLVED TO MOVE FORWARD, AS WELL AS DEFINING THE VISION FOR THE MPO, UM, REPRESENTING THE MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS, WHICH ENDED UP BECOMING AN EQUAL VOTING STRUCTURE THAT WAS REQUESTED BY THE MEMBERS THAT ATTENDED, UM, SETTING UP A POPULATION BASED FUNDING SPLIT, WHICH IS HOW IT IS CURRENTLY SPLIT, BUT JUST KIND OF RESTRUCTURING IT A LITTLE BIT, MODIFYING THE NAME, UM, FROM NEW BERN AREA, MPO TO CRAVEN COUNTY, MPO.
UM, SINCE CRAVEN COUNTY WILL BE TAKING OVER, UH, THEY HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN TAKING OVER AS THE LEAD PLANNING AGENCY.
AND THEN THE NEXT STEPS TO APPROVE THE MOU AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION.
SO THE OVERALL GOAL OF EXPANDING, UM, IS TO BECOME A STRATEGIC REGIONAL PLANNING RESOURCE RIGHT NOW.
UM, SOME OF THE COUNTY IS SPLIT BETWEEN THE MPO AND THE RPO, SO WE WANNA HAVE A UNIFIED TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, UM, MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER IN ONE POINT OF CONTACT FOR EVERYONE IN THE COUNTY TO KNOW WHO TO CALL WITH THEIR TRANSPORTATION RELATED CONCERNS.
AND AS A RESULT, CRAVEN COUNTY HAS, AS I MENTIONED, UH, GIVEN SOME INTEREST IN BECOMING THE LEAD PLANNING AGENCY.
SO RIGHT NOW THE CITY OF NEW BERN IS THE LEAD PLANNING AGENCY, AND CRAVEN COUNTY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE OVER THAT ROLE.
DURING THAT MEETING, WE ALSO, UH, DISCUSSED THE FUNDING SPLIT.
SO THE PROPOSED COST IS CURRENTLY BASED ON THE POPULATION OF THE URBANIZED AREA, AND WE WOULD MAKE A MINOR TWEAK TO BECOME THE PERCENTAGE OF THE COUNTY.
THIS IS BASED ON THE 2020 CENSUS DATA.
UM, SO BERN SPLIT IS PROPOSED TO BE ABOUT 16,000.
RIGHT NOW YOU PAY ABOUT 28,000.
SO THAT IS A MAJOR COST FOR SAVINGS THAT, UH, THE CITY OF NEW BERN WOULD SEE, BUT THERE WOULD BE NO CHANGE TO THE TOTAL FUNDING THAT THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING AREA WOULD BE ALLOTTED.
AND FROM THEN, UM, WE DISCUSSED WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE TO APPROVE AND ADOPT.
RIGHT NOW, ALL OF THE TOWNS HAVE DECIDED TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE EXPANDED MMPO.
UM, AND THEN WE'RE ASKING TONIGHT THAT THE CITY OF NEW BERN DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
AND THEN IF YOU DO, N-C-D-O-T WILL REVIEW AND SIGN OFF ON EVERYTHING.
WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE THIS TRANSITION FULLY COMPLETED BY JULY 1ST, WHICH WOULD LINE UP WITH THE FISCAL YEAR.
AND THEN I'M JUST HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL TONIGHT.
ALL THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES APPROVED TODAY? YES, SIR.
UM, ON THE, THE FEE AND THE PROPOSED COST, UM, IT'S GREAT TO HEAR THAT OURS IS GOING DOWN.
[01:35:01]
I JUST WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION TO MAKE A POINT, UM, SO THAT THE, THE COST FOR SAY, UM, DOVER COC WERE THEY MEMBERS OF THE RPO PRIOR TO, THEY WERE PRE, UH, PREVIOUSLY MEMBERS OF THE RPO AND THAT WAS PAID BY CRAVEN COUNTY.SO CRAVEN COUNTY HAS SUGGESTED THAT THEY WILL BE WILLING TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CONTINUING THAT IN THE FUTURE SINCE IT IS SUCH A LOW COST SHARE FOR THEM.
BUT SOME OF THE COUNTIES OR SOME OF THE TOWNS HAVE SAID THAT THEY'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE SMALLER MUNICIPALITIES THAT ARE MEMBERS OF CRAVEN COUNTY HAVE HAD THEIR FEE PAID FOR BY CRAVEN COUNTY AS MEMBERS OF THE RPO.
WHEN THE COUNTY TAKES OVER THE MPO, THOSE MUNICIPALITIES WILL START TO PAY THEIR OWN SHARE, OR THE COUNTY SAID THAT THEY MAY BE WILLING TO CONTINUE TO PAY WHAT THEY'RE PAYING NOW.
DO I UNDERSTAND THAT CORRECTLY? YES, SIR.
AND, AND MY LAST POINT IS, IS THAT EVERY ONE OF THESE MUNICIPALITIES WITH 0.35% OF THE POPULATION, AS AN EXAMPLE, GET ONE VOTE ON THIS NEW BOARD.
AS DOES NEWBURN WITH 31% OF THE POPULATION, WE ALSO GET ONE VOTE ON THE BOARD.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD ON ITEMS NUMBER 24.
I MEAN, IF THE COUNTY WANTS IT, THEY CAN PAY FOR OUR SHARE.
RIGHT? IF YOU'LL ENTERTAIN THAT CONVERSATION, THAT'S FOR Y'ALL.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE BOARD FEELS THAT WAY, IF THAT'S THE CASE, I'D BE OPEN TO, TO TABLING THIS.
IT'S, IT'S A SAVINGS TO US AND I DON'T WANNA HOLD THAT UP, BUT I DO THINK THAT'S THE CONVERSATION THAT WE COULD HAVE WITH THE COUNTY DURING SOME OTHER DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAVE WITH THEM IN THE FUTURE.
BECAUSE AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE ARE THE, WHAT'S IT CALLED? THE HOST, THE LEAD PLANNING AGENCY, THE LEAD POINTING AGENCY.
IF WE DON'T APPROVE THIS MOU TONIGHT, WHAT HAPPENS? UH, WE'LL GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.
WE WERE HOPING FOR UNANIMOUS APPROVAL.
IF NOT, WE'LL REDISCUSS WITH ALL THE TOWNS IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD OR JUST MAINTAIN AS THEY'RE CURRENTLY IS.
Y'ALL ARE CURRENTLY MEMBERS, UM, AS WELL AS RIVER BEND, TRENT WOODS AND BRIDGETON.
UM, IF THEY JUST WANNA MAINTAIN THAT AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO LET THE RPO OPERATE AS THEY ARE, THAT WOULD JUST KIND OF GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.
WELL, WITH ALL THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ARE PROVING IT, AND OBVIOUSLY I THINK THEY WOULD BE MORE MOTIVATED TO DO IT THAN WE ARE.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT THE RESOLUTION PROVING A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE MPO PLANNING BOUNDARY.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ASTOR.
[25. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving a Memorandum of Understanding with Carolina East Health System – Company Police Department for Be On System Communications. ]
UP IS ITEM NUMBER 25.CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION APPROV, A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH CAROLINA'S HEALTH SYSTEM COMPANY POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR BE ON SYSTEM COMMUNICATIONS CHIEF GALLAGHER.
AND BEFORE YOU GET STARTED, CHIEF, UH, IN THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY, WHICH EVERYBODY LOVES THAT WORD,
UM, SO I WOULD LIKE, UH, FOR SOMEONE TO PROPOSE A MOTION TO REC RECUSE ME.
HAVE A MOTION BY ALDERMAN OUTLAW.
AND A SECOND BY ALDERMAN BRIAN TO RECUSE ME FROM THIS VOTE.
UH, ALL THOSE, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
I'LL BE RECUSED VOTING ON THIS ITEM.
AND JUST SO THE PUBLIC IS AWARE, UH, THERE ARE MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD THAT SIT ON THE NPO AND IF YOU WANT TO ASK, HOW COME THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO RECUSE? IT'S BECAUSE THEY ARE APPOINTED BY THIS BOARD TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF NEW BERN ON THE MPO.
UM, I AM HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND THIS MOU WITH CAROLINA EAST.
UM, WHAT HAD OCCURRED WAS THAT OUR IT DEPARTMENT IDENTIFIED A CYBER, UM, THREAT TO OUR CURRENT, UM, FIREWALL.
BECAUSE OF THAT, WE HAD TO TURN THAT FIREWALL OFF.
THE UNATTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF TURNING THAT FIREWALL OFF REQUIRED ANY SERVICE NEEDED FOR OUR COMM SYSTEM HAD TO BE DONE ONSITE AND COULD NOT BE DONE REMOTELY.
OUR VENDOR IS IN GREENSBORO, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, UM, IT WILL TAKE HOURS IF WE HAVE A MAJOR, UH, COMM
[01:40:01]
SHUTDOWN.THE FIREWALL ITSELF COSTS ROUGHLY $25,000.
CAROLINA EAST HAS ITS OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THEY UTILIZE THE RADIO SYSTEM THAT THE NEW BERN POLICE DEPARTMENT UTILIZES WITHOUT THE FIREWALL.
THEY CANNOT UTILIZE A PROGRAM CALLED, UH, BEYOND BEYOND ALLOWS THE RADIO SYSTEM TO LINK WITH WIFI.
WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT FOR THE, UM, HOSPITAL POLICE? WELL, THERE ARE MANY AREAS IN THE HOSPITAL WHERE THE RADIO SYSTEM SIMPLY WILL NOT WORK BECAUSE OF THE HIGH-END EQUIPMENT THAT THEY HAVE IN THE HOSPITAL.
SO THEY HAVE AGREED TO FRONT THE $25,000 THAT WILL PUT THAT FIREWALL IN OUR SYSTEM ALLOW US BACK TO, UM, HAVING A, UH, REMOTE ACCESS FOR OUR VENDOR.
SO IT BENEFITS US AND IT ALSO BENEFITS THE, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT AT THE HOSPITAL.
IT BENEFITS US AND IT BENEFITS THEM.
UM, THE DIRECTOR OF IT LENDS HIS FULL SUPPORT, UM, AND IS ALSO, UH, RECOMMENDING THAT THIS BOARD APPROVE THAT MOU.
AND I CAN ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS IF YOU WISH THIS BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS.
JUST TO CLARIFY, CHIEF, UM, SO THE, THE FIREWALL BEING TURNED OFF FOR SECURITY REASONS, IS THAT BEYOND, OR IS THAT SOMETHING, IS THIS GONNA BE A WHOLE NEW SERVICE PROVIDER? I'M NOT EXACTLY CERTAIN.
CAN YOU REPEAT IT PLEASE? SO THE, WHO PROVIDES THE FIREWALL SERVICE THAT BROKE DOWN BECAUSE OF THE SECURITY RISK? I DON'T HAVE THAT ANSWER AS TO OKAY.
BUT IT'S NOT BEYOND? IT IS NOT BEYOND, NO.
YOUR, IF THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH CAROLINA D'S HEALTH SYSTEMS COMPANY POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE BEYOND ASSISTANT COMMUNICATIONS.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN WHITE.
[26. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving a Mutual Assistance Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding with the NC Narcotics Enforcement Task Force. ]
YOU'RE UP AGAIN.ITEM NUMBER 26, CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION OF APPROVING A MUTUAL ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT AND MOU WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA NARCOTICS ENFORCEMENT TASK FORCE.
UM, EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE STATE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS, UM, INITIATED A REGIONAL VIOLENT CRIME TASK FORCE, AND THEY HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE FOLLOWING THREE COUNTIES IN OUR REGION, CRAVEN COUNTY, PAMLICO, AND ETTE.
SBI HAS ALSO SOLICITED AND INVITED THE NEW BERN POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ALSO BE PART OF THIS TASK FORCE.
THIS IS, UH, PARTIALLY DUE WITH OUR REPUTATION WITHIN THE REGION.
WE WORK EXTREMELY CLOSE WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS AND OUR LOCAL PARTNERS WITH THE CREON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
WE'VE BEEN UNBELIEVABLY SUCCESSFUL IN OUR, UM, MUTUAL INVESTIGATIONS INVOLVING VIOLENT CRIME, DRUG DISTRIBUTION, GANG VIOLENCE, UM, AND, UM, GUN VIOLENCE.
UM, WE DID NOT SOLICIT PARTICIPATION.
OUR INVESTIGATIVE UNDERCOVER STAFF HAVE WORKED EXTREMELY CLOSE WITH THIS TASK FORCE.
WE HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR MANY OF THE ARRESTS THAT HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED.
THE PROBLEM IS, EVERY TIME THAT WE JOIN IN AN INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS, WE HAVE TO INITIATE, OR WHAT HAS TO BE INITIATED IS A MUTUAL AID REQUEST.
BEING PART OF THIS TASK FORCE ELIMINATES THAT CONSTANT, UM, PIN REQUEST FOR MUTUAL AID.
SO THIS JUST IS A FORCE MULTIPLIER IN THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING TO ABATE VIOLENT CRIME, ESPECIALLY DRUG DISTRIBUTION, WHICH WE HAVE QUITE A BIT IN OUR CITY.
UM, GUN VIOLENCE AND, UM, GANG ACTIVITY BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS.
I'LL JUST SAY, CHIEF, UH, YOU AND I WERE TOGETHER, UH, AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
AND THE, UH, DIRECTOR OF THE SBI WAS THERE.
UH, HE HAD NOTHING BUT POSITIVE, UH, REMARKS
[01:45:01]
TO MAKE OF CITY NEWBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT.AND, UH, AS THE CHIEF SAID, THIS HELPS ELIMINATE SOME OF THE RED TAPE IN THE BACKGROUND, WHICH CAN LEAD TO SOME DELAYS IN TAKING ACTION, WHICH WOULD MAKE US MORE EFFICIENT.
SO, I, I CERTAINLY FULLY SUPPORT THIS.
UH, WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? ON ITEM NUMBER 26, MR. MAYOR, I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION APPROVING A MUTUAL ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT AND MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH NORTH CAROLINA NARCOTICS ENFORCEMENT TASK FORCE.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL, STARTING WITH ALDERMAN BEST? ALDERMAN BEST, YES.
[27. Consider Adopting a Resolution Requesting a Local Bill and Approval of a Charter Change for New Bern Elections. ]
IS ITEM NUMBER 27.CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION REQUESTING A LOCAL BILL AND APPROVAL OF A CHARTER CHANGE FOR NEW NEWBORN ELECTIONS, MR. HUGHES OR DAVISON.
SO AS A FOLLOW UP TO THAT MONTH'S DISCUSSION, THERE IS A RESOLUTION, UM, THAT WOULD PROPOSE TO CHANGE THE CHARTER, UH, FOR THE ELECTIONS TO BE HELD EVERY FOUR YEARS, BEGINNING IN 20 20, 20 30, UTILIZING THE NON-PARTISAN PLURALITY METHOD.
UM, AT, AT THE BOARD'S DIRECTION, WE HAVE ASKED SUSAN WILLIAMS, DIRECTOR OF THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO COME ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT, UH, THE ELECTION PROCESS.
SHE IS HERE IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO HER.
OTHER THAN THAT, WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS.
IT'S NICE TO SEE DIRECTOR WILLIAMS IN A CAPACITY WHERE SHE'S NOT YELLING AT US TO MOVE OUR SIGNS.
SO SHE'S GONNA COME FORTH IF, IF YOU'D LIKE FOR HER TO, SHE'S HERE WITH SOME QUESTIONS.
YOU'RE ALL USUALLY ACROSS FROM MY DESK.
OH, HOW THE TABLES HAVE TURNED.
I KNOW
MS. WILLIAMS. SO, UM, HOW IS, UM, WHAT WE ARE REQUESTING AS A BOARD TO CHANGE TO THE NONPARTISAN ALITY METHOD? HOW IS THAT GONNA BE, UH, A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE WHEREAS IT'S CAUSE WISE TO US? CAN YOU, YES.
SO CURRENTLY IN THE LAST ELECTION, RIGHT, YOU SPENT FOR THE OCTOBER ELECTION WAS $46,565 AND 97 CENTS.
AND THEN YOU HAD A RUNOFF IN NOVEMBER FOR $43,570 AND 75 CENTS.
THE DIFFERENCE FOR YOU, UM, IF YOU GO TO THE NONPARTISAN PLURALITY METHOD, BASED ON HOW YOUR VOTING WAS FOR THAT.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CODING OF A BALLOT, WE TALK ABOUT HOW MANY CONTESTS ARE ON THE BALLOT, AND THEN HOW MANY FOR YOU.
IT'S ALWAYS GONNA BE THE SAME THOUGH, RIGHT? IT'S THE WHOLE BOARD AT ONCE.
SO IT'LL ALWAYS BE THE SAME NUMBER OF CONTESTS.
THEN IT, WE LOOK AT HOW MANY NUMBER OF CANDIDATES ARE ON THAT BALLOT.
SO WE PAY FOR CODING BY HOW MANY NAMES THEY HAVE TO PUT UP THERE.
AND THEN WE HAVE THAT EXPRESS VOTE MACHINE WHERE PEOPLE CAN VOTE, UM, TO TOUCH THE STRAIN TO VOTE.
SO IT HAS TO BE RECORDED WITH NAMES AND ALL OF THAT.
SO THERE'S A SETUP FEE FOR ALL OF THAT PROCESS.
YOU WOULD NO LONGER BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BULK OF THAT ELECTION, ONLY THE CODING THAT AFFECTS THE CITY'S BALLOTS.
SO YOU WOULD GO TO AN AVERAGE, BASED ON WHAT I LOOKED AT, YOUR CODING COSTS WERE IN THIS LAST ELECTION, YOUR PORTION AND YOUR BILL WOULD PROBABLY BE ABOUT $2,839 AND 70 CENTS.
NOW, IF YOU WENT TO THAT METHOD, YOU WOULD ONLY BE HAVING ONE ELECTION, AND THAT WOULD BE IN THAT NOVEMBER ELECTION.
SO YOU'D ONLY HAVE THAT ONE BILL, YOU WOULDN'T GET TWO.
YOU SAID FROM 40, ABOUT 45,000 TO 2000.
SO A 42, AND I ROUNDED THAT NUMBER UP, TREY.
FIRST IS, ARE THOSE NUMBERS IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT WE USED TO SPEND, BECAUSE WE USED TO BE ON A CYCLE THAT SHARED THE ELECTION WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, OR NO? SO WHEN YOU WERE ALL IN THE ODD YEARS AND THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES WERE THERE WITH YOU, YOU STILL DIDN'T PAY THE FULL COST, BUT YOU HAD TO SPLIT THINGS.
I, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER LOOKING AT THE SHEET WHERE I SENT YOU THE BREAKDOWN OF YOUR COSTS, BUT YOU WERE SPLITTING THINGS LIKE THE COST FOR THE
[01:50:01]
PRECINCT OFFICIALS THEMSELVES.RIGHT? AND YOU PAID PARTIAL TO OUR STAFF FOR OUR SERVICES BECAUSE WE WERE HOLDING IN A MUNICIPAL ELECTION PERIOD FOR JUST THE MUNICIPALITIES.
BUT THIS COST WAS SHARED WITH THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
NOW, IF YOU MOVE TO THE EVEN YEARS, WHICH THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES HAVE ALREADY DONE, THEY YOU NO LONGER PAY FOR ANY OF THAT.
YOU'RE NOT PAYING TO HELP PAY FOR PRECINCT OFFICIALS OR ANY OF THAT.
THIS IS GONNA BE CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN YOU'VE EVER PAID PREVIOUSLY.
AND THEN THE SECOND QUESTION IS FOR THE BENEFIT OF, UM, SOME CONCERNS BROUGHT UP TONIGHT IN THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
SOME COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, FROM CITIZENS IN MY WARD IS, CAN YOU TELL US IF THERE STATISTICALLY IS A DANGER OF THE RACES BECOMING MORE PARTISAN, EVEN THOUGH WE STILL WILL NOT HAVE PRIMARIES IN THIS RACE, MAKING IT NON-PARTISAN? SO THE, THIS FALLS TO YOUR CHARTER.
YOU WRITE YOUR CHARTER AND YOU GET YOUR ATTORNEYS TO HANDLE YOUR CHARTER HOWEVER YOU SEE FIT.
UM, JUST BECAUSE YOU PUT IT IN THE SAME ELECTION WITH A PARTISAN ELECTION, YOU ARE STILL NON-PARTISAN.
AND YOU WOULD STILL BE RUNNING NONPARTISAN.
NOW, IF YOU GO OUT AND YOU ARE CAMPAIGNING IN A PARTISAN WAY, THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT ANYBODY'S FAULT, BUT YOUR OWN, RIGHT? I MEAN, THAT'S ON YOU.
THAT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CANDIDATE.
BUT YOUR ELECTION IS STILL NONPARTISAN.
NOW, IF YOU CHOSE TO GO TO KEEP YOUR METHOD, RIGHT, WHERE YOU HAVE AN ELECTION AND A RUNOFF, BUT YOU MOVED IT TO AN EVEN YEAR, WHICH I KNOW HAD BEEN DISCUSSED, AND YOU PUT YOUR ELECTION, YOU COULD PUT YOUR ELECTION NONPARTISAN IN THE PRIMARY IN MARCH.
SO YOU WOULD LOSE THAT EXTRA COST THAT YOU'VE BEEN PAYING AND YOU WOULD THEN HAVE YOUR ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.
BUT THAT'S A LONG PERIOD BETWEEN THE TWO.
HOWEVER, UH, YOU STILL WOULD NOT BECOME PARTISAN BECAUSE YOU'RE CHOOSING TO STAY NONPARTISANS.
SO I DON'T KNOW YOUR BALLOT WOULD CHANGE AS FAR AS LIKE HOW YOU WOULD HAVE YOUR BALLOT SET UP.
AND THAT MAY CAUSE AN ADDITIONAL COST FOR YOU.
A LITTLE BIT ABOVE THE 2000 I MENTIONED.
BUT IF YOU GO TO A NON-PARTISAN PLURALITY METHOD, YOU ARE STILL NON-PARTISAN.
ALL THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ARE FOR THE MAJORITY ALL, I THINK THEY'RE ALL NON-PARTISAN IN CRAVEN COUNTY.
SO YOU WOULD JUST BE JOINING THEM IN THE EVEN YEARS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SO
GIVE OR TAKE A FEW DOLLARS, RIGHT? RIGHT.
AND OF COURSE, AS YOU KNOW, WE MOVE FORWARD, SOMETIMES BALLOT COSTS GO UP, BUT RIGHT.
AS OF RIGHT NOW, BASED ON YOUR PREVIOUS ELECTION EXPENSES, THIS IS THE NUMBER YOU WOULD BE LOOKING AT FOR YOUR CODING.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR MS. WILLIAMS? YES, MS. ONE MORE.
UM, I WAS A, ME PERSONALLY, I WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED BY US.
UM, IF WE ELECT TO GO, UM, AND CHANGE IT TO THE 2028 YEAR, UM, WE WILL BE LOSING A YEAR ON OUR TERM.
BUT IF WE GO TO 2030, WE'LL BE GAINING A YEAR.
SO NOW HOW IS THAT GONNA AFFECT FOR AS PUTTING US WITHIN THE, THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE PRIMARIES? IS THAT GONNA AFFECT US SOMEHOW THERE? SO I, I TRY TO KEEP MY PERSONAL OPINIONS OUT OF MY COMMENTS.
UH, SO YOU, YOU WOULD EITHER BE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION MM-HMM
OR YOU COULD MOVE FORWARD TO THE 23RD.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT BASED ON WHAT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES CHOSE TO DO WHEN THEY DID THIS, THEY MOVED FORWARD THE YEAR AND WENT TO THE NEXT ELECTION.
UM, WHAT YOU DECIDE TO DO WILL BE UP TO YOU, BUT JUST BECAUSE YOU MOVE FORWARD THIS TIME, I WANNA MAKE THIS CLEAR, IT WOULD GIVE YOU THAT EXTRA TIME IN YOUR SEAT, BUT IT WOULD NOT CHANGE YOUR NORMAL FOUR YEAR ELECTION.
IT WOULD GO BACK TO EVERY FOUR YEARS.
YOU WOULD JUST HAVE TO MOVE IT IN ORDER TO MOVE YOURSELVES INTO AN EVENING YEAR.
AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC, IF YOU RECALL, HOPE I GET MY DATES RIGHT.
SO WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE AN ELECTION IN
[01:55:01]
2020 1 21, AND BECAUSE OF COVID AND THE CENSUS BEING DELAYED AND THE BOUNDARIES HAD TO GET REDRAWN, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PUSHED THE ELECTION OUT.AND WE HAD OUR ELECTION IN MAY WITH A JUNE OR JULY RUNOFF, AND THAT TOOK PLACE DURING A MIDTERM PRIMARY.
AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE THAT ACTUALLY EXTENDED THE TERM OF TWO BOARDS PRIOR.
AND THEN THE LAST BOARD ACTUALLY SERVED FOR I THINK THREE YEARS AND A COUPLE MONTHS.
SO THE LAST BOARD DID NOT SERVE A FULL FOUR YEAR TERM.
SO FOR THE LAST TWO BOARDS, IT HASN'T BEEN A FOUR YEAR TERM.
THIS WOULD GET US ON AN EVEN PLAYING FIELD WHERE IT WOULD BE BACK ON FOUR YEARS.
AND OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A TREMENDOUS COST SAVINGS.
WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD ON ITEM NUMBER 27? THANK YOU, MS. WILLIAMS. YES.
WE APPRECIATE YOU MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
IF I MIGHT JUMP IN, UM, YOU'LL RECALL THAT THE CITY MANAGER REACHED OUT TO YOU IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
UM, I, I'VE BEEN SHEPHERDING A NUMBER OF LOCAL BILLS, UM, THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF SENATOR, UM, BRINSON AND REPRESENTATIVE TYSON, SENATOR BRISSON HAS TAKEN THE LEAD ON THIS PARTICULAR, UM, POTENTIAL LOCAL BILL.
UH, I, I GAVE HIM A HEADS UP A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT THIS WAS GONNA BE ON THE AGENDA.
UM, AND HE ADVISED ME THAT TODAY WAS ACTUALLY THE BILL SUBMITTAL DEADLINE.
SO WHAT HE AND I DECIDED, UM, AND I PASSED ALONG TO THE CITY MANAGER, WAS TO FILE A PLACEHOLDER BILL SO THAT IF YOU WANTED TO GO FORWARD, YOU WOULD HAVE THAT OPTION.
BECAUSE IF YOU GAVE ME THE GREEN LIGHT TONIGHT WITHOUT THAT PLACEHOLDER, IT'S GONNA BE THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND NOT, NOT MORE SOON.
UM, SO HE HAS DONE THAT FOR US.
UM, THERE'S A PLACEHOLDER, UM, EXISTING RIGHT THIS MINUTE.
UM, I THINK THAT'S BEEN CIRCULATED TO YOU.
JUST WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT BILL LOOKS LIKE.
IT'S EXACTLY AS WE DISCUSSED WITH ONE ADDITION.
SENATOR BRINSON HAS, UM, STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT, UM, THE PROCESS FOR FILLING VACANCIES.
UM, HE, HE LIVED, UM, HE LIVED THE DRAMA WITH YOU AND, UM, ACTUALLY HE DIDN'T.
WELL,
WELL, I THINK, UH, IN ALL FAIRNESS, HE, HE GOT AN EARFUL, I THINK, UH, OVER MANY MONTHS ABOUT, UM, THE PROBLEM THAT HE CREATED.
UM, AND I THINK HE NOW WANTS TO SOLVE IT.
AND HIS PROPOSED SOLUTION IS IN THIS DRAFT BILL WHERE HE SUGGESTS THAT IF A VACANCY IS NOT FILLED WITHIN 90 DAYS, THAT IT GOES TO A SPECIAL ELECTION JUST TO CREATE AN INCENTIVE AND POTENTIAL PENALTY FOR THE CITY IF THE BOARD CANNOT COME TOGETHER WITHIN THREE MONTHS AND FILL A VACANCY.
SO I I ALERT YOU TO THAT, IT'S IN THERE.
UM, AND THAT'S WHAT HE IS SUGGESTING.
UM, OF COURSE IT IS, IT IS YOUR REQUEST TO THE LEGISLATURE.
UM, UH, SO WE ARE, WE ARE FREE TO, TO ASK HIM, UM, TO RECONSIDER THAT OR IF THAT WORKS FOR YOU.
UM, IT CAN STAY AS IT IS AT, AT A LEGAL LEVEL IF THERE'S SIMPLY NO LEGAL ISSUE WITH, IT'S A PURELY POLITICAL ISSUE.
SO YOU'RE LOOKING FOR US TO EITHER THUMBS UP OR THUMBS DOWN THE RESOLUTION.
IT'S A DECISION IS, UM, APPROVING THAT RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU, AND THEN GIVING ME SOME DIRECTION IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH, UH, SENATOR BRUNSON'S, UM, ADDITION TO THE, TO THE DRAFT.
SO, UM, MR. ATTORNEY, YOU'RE SAYING THAT SENATOR BRINSON ADDED THE SPECIAL ELECTION TO THE PLACEHOLDER BILL? YES, SIR.
DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE, WE HAVE TO LIVE WITH THAT.
IT, IT'S JUST, IT'S THE, THE PLACEHOLDER CAN BE AMENDED AS IT GOES FORWARD.
WE JUST NEEDED A PLACEHOLDER THERE BECAUSE THE RESOLUTION PRESENTED TO US FOR CONSIDERATION TONIGHT.
DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT HOLDING A SPECIAL ELECTION.
IF THIS BOARD CAN'T FILL A VACANCY.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE BEFORE I MADE A MOTION, 'CAUSE I HAVE A THOUGHT ON THAT.
IN NINE 90 DAYS, IT SEEMS TO BE PRETTY QUICK TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHEN YOU'RE MEETING ONE TIME A MONTH.
I MEAN, HE, SOMEONE RESIGNS FROM THIS BOARD TONIGHT.
THAT MEANS WITHIN THE NEXT TWO MEETINGS WE HAVE TO, I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE, I I I'D RATHER NOT HAVE IT IN THERE, BUT I, IF WE GOTTA HAVE IT IN THERE, I WOULD RATHER FOR IT TO GO AT LEAST MAYBE 120 DAYS OR SOMETHING.
I, I, I WILL, UH, REMIND YOU PAINFULLY SO THAT, UM, AS I, AS WE DISCUSSED OVER THE LAST YEAR, THAT, UM, THE, THE DEFAULT STATUTE FOR COUNTIES IS 60 DAYS.
UM, AND THEN IT GOES TO THE CLERK AND IT GOES TO THE CLERK OF COURSE.
AND THE REASON IS COUNTIES ARE
[02:00:01]
PARTISAN.AND, AND THAT MAKES SENSE, WHERE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, CITIES AND TOWNS THAT ARE NONPARTISAN, PITCHING IT TO A CLERK WHO IS A PARTISAN APPOINTED PERSON OR SUPPORTED PERSON MAY NOT FIT.
SO, AND, AND OUR, AND SENATOR BRIS AND I HAVE HAD THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT VARIOUS SOLUTIONS, UM, ABOUT WHAT, WHETHER, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR CANNOT CREATE A TIE, UM, TO FILL A VACANCY.
THIS IS ANOTHER SOLUTION OUT THERE.
UM, I THINK SENATOR BRESSON'S OPEN TO THE IDEA.
HE WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE IT ADDRESSED UNTIL A STATUTE IS ADOPTED STATEWIDE.
I, I MEAN, I, I PERSONALLY, I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF, OF TIME LIMITING IF THERE'S A VACANCY, FILL IT 90 DAYS OR ELSE YOU NEED TO HAVE A SPECIAL ELECTION, WHICH IS A COST PENALTY.
UM, I, I WOULD PREFER TO FIX THIS.
I I DO NOT WANT THAT IN THE LOCAL BILL.
OBVIOUSLY I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF.
I WOULD JUST LIKE A CLEAN LOCAL BILL THAT DEALS WITH THE ELECTIONS, UM, THAT THIS BOARD HOPEFULLY WILL SUPPORT AS FAR AS FILLING A VACANCY TO FIX THAT ISSUE.
THEN I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A LOCAL BILL AMENDING THE CHARTER THAT SAYS THE MAYOR CANNOT VOTE TO CREATE A TIE IN THAT SITUATION.
AND THAT WOULD ELOQUENTLY, I THINK, FIX THE ISSUE IF, IF, WELL, AN OPTION FOR THE BOARD TONIGHT IS TO MAKE THAT MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION WITH THAT ADDITIONAL CHANGE TO THE RESOLUTION IF YOU'D LIKE.
OR, OR ARE YOU SAYING STEP ONE, LET'S, LET'S AMEND THE CHARTER NOW TO DO THIS STEP TWO FUTURE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
NO, I THINK STEP ONE IS DO WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR MM-HMM
FOUR MONTHS, A CLEAN JUST DEAL WITH ELECTIONS.
AS FAR AS VACANCY, WE CAN STILL DISCUSS THAT.
WE CAN REACH OUT TO SENATOR BRINSON.
I DO NOT THINK IT NEEDS TO BE TIED TO THIS, AND I DON'T APPRECIATE IT BEING SNUCK IN THERE,
SO WITH THAT BOARD, I WOULD MOVE TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION REQUESTING A LOCAL BILL AND APPROVAL OF A CHARTER CHANGE FOR NEW BERN ELECTIONS FOR THE 2030 ELECTION AS PRESENTED BEFORE US IN THE AGENDA PACKET CLEAN WITHOUT ANY ADDITION ABOUT VACANCY.
SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN OUTLAW.
[28. Consider Adopting a Resolution Authorizing the Submission of a 2026 PART F Grant Application for Martin Marietta Park Phase 2 Improvements. ]
IS ITEM NUMBER 28.CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF A 2026 PART F GRANT.
PART F GRANT APPLICATION FOR MARTIN MARIETTA PARK PHASE TWO IMPROVEMENTS.
MR. OR MS. WARREN? SORRY, TWO MINUTES.
UM, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND BOARD MEMBERS.
UM, I'M COMING TONIGHT TO REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA PARKS AND RECREATION TRUST FUND GRANT.
UH, WE'RE OPPOSING PROPOSING TO APPLY FOR 500,000 TO SUPPORT PHASE TWO IMPROVEMENTS AT MARK MARIETTA PARK.
UH, PHASE TWO OF THE PARK WILL FOCUS ON ADVENTURE-BASED AMENITIES AND COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACE.
UM, PART OF IS A POINT-BASED SCORING SYSTEM AND PROJECTS RECEIVE HIGHER SCORE WHEN THEY INCLUDE MULTIPLE NEW AND DIVERSE AMENITIES.
UM, TO BE COMPETITIVE, WE ARE PLANNING FOR AT LEAST FOUR NEW AMENITIES WHICH EXCEED THE THRESHOLD FOR ACHIEVING OPTIMAL POINTS IN THIS CATEGORY, UM, GRANT FUNDS WOULD BE DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR MATCH.
THIS MEANS THAT IN ADDITION TO 500,000 GRANT REQUESTS, THE CITY WOULD COMMIT TO 500,000 IN MATCHING FUNDS, WHICH WE WILL BE FUNDED WITH, UM, BOND FUNDS.
SO Y'ALL HAVE, SO THE MATCHING, THE MATCHING PART OF THIS ARE FUNDS WERE ALREADY GOING TO SPEND BECAUSE THE CITIZENS HAVE VOTED FOR THAT BOND? CORRECT.
HOW QUICKLY WILL YOU FIND OUT ABOUT IT? UM, THEY U WE HAVE TO APPLY BY MAY 1ST, AND I THINK THEY WILL MAKE AN AWARD BY, UH, NOVEMBER THIS YEAR.
MR. MAYOR, I'M MOVED TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING, I'M SORRY, UH, RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SUBMISSION OF A 2026 PART E, UH, GRANT APPLICATION FOR MARTIN MARIETTA PARK.
PHASE TWO IMPROVEMENTS AS PRESENTED.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE UNLESS HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN FERGUSON.
[29. Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving an Audit Contract for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2026. ]
UP IS ITEM NUMBER 29.CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AUDIT CONTRACT FOR FISCAL
[02:05:01]
YEAR ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2026.MS. OSTROM, UM, GOOD EVENING BOARD, THE CITY ISSUED A FORMAL REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR AUDIT SERVICES COVERING A THREE YEAR PERIOD FOR FISCAL YEARS 2000, 26, 27, AND 28, WITH OPTIONS TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT FOR ADDITIONAL TERMS. FOUR FIRMS, WHICH INCLUDE BRC, MULDEN AND JENKINS, MARTIN STORMS AND TAX AND PRICING.
SCOTT AND ADAMS SUBMITTED PROPOSALS IN RESPONSE TO THE RFPA SELECTION COMMITTEE EVALUATED EACH PROPOSAL USING A STANDARDIZED SCORING MATRIX THAT'S THAT CONSIDERED QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, AUDIT APPROACH, STAFFING REFERENCES AND COSTS.
BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THIS EVALUATION, THOMPSON PRICE GOT ADAMS, UM, WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS T-P-C-S-A RECEIVED THE HIGHEST OVERALL SCORE AND WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE MOST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE FIRM.
TPSA ALSO DEMONSTRATED A STRONG UNDERSTANDING OF THE CITY'S OPERATIONS AND HAS PROVIDED SATISFACTORY AUDIT SERVICES TO PRIOR YEARS.
ALTHOUGH THE RFP PROVIDES A MULTI-YEAR ENGAGEMENT, THE AUDIT CONTRACT WILL BE PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL TO THE BOARD ON AN ANNUAL BASIS CONSISTENT WITH PAST PRACTICE.
THE COST TO COMPLETE THE FY 26 AUDIT IS $54,500.
IT IS REQUESTED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION OF THOMPSON PRICE.
SCOTT ADAMS AS THE INDEPENDENT AUDIT FIRM FOR THE CITY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2026, AND AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE ASSOCIATED CONTRACT WITH OPTIONS TO RENEW FOR FISCAL YEAR'S 2007, 27 28.
WE USED TO SEE, UM, THE TALLY SHEET IN OUR AGENDA SO WE COULD SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT SUBMISSIONS.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL GOING FORWARD FOR I CAN SEND THAT TO YOU, THAT THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
AND THEN MY LAST COMMENT OR QUESTION IS, UM, THIS IS NOT THE SAME FIRM THAT AUDITS ROCKY MOUNT.
UM, BECAUSE IF IT IS, THEN I WOULD VOTE NO FOR THIS.
HOWEVER, I DO RECOGNIZE THAT THEY TYPICALLY AUDIT WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF STATE STATUTE.
BUT FOR WHAT'S GOING ON IN ROCKY MOUNT, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ZERO ASSOCIATION WITH ANYTHING THAT DEALS WITH ROCKY MOUNT OR THEIR FINANCES.
SO, UH, WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD ON ITEM NUMBER 29, SIR? ARE WE GONNA WAIT TO SEE IF THEY ARE BEFORE WE MAKE
I TRIED TO LOOK IT UP WHEN I SAW THIS CONTRACT IN THE PACKET AND I COULDN'T FIND IT.
I DON'T THINK IT IS, BUT I, I COULDN'T FIND IT.
SO WE COULD ALWAYS MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THIS SUBJECT TO THEM NOT BEING FOUND AS THE ROCKY MOUNT AUDIT FIRM.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE? LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN BRYANT.
[30. Consider Adopting a Demolition Ordinance for 2814 Oakland Avenue. ]
NEXT IS ITEM NUMBER 30.CONSIDER ADOPTING A DEMOLITION ORDINANCE FOR 28 14 OAKLAND AVENUE.
MS. RU AND MR.
STAFF IS REQUESTING THIS EVENING APPROVAL, UH, FOR A DEMOLITION ORDINANCE TO DEMOLISH THE PRIMARY AND ANY SECONDARY STRUCTURES LOCATED AT 20 18 28 14 OAKLAND AVENUE.
THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN AN ONGOING VIOLATION.
WE HAVE BEEN IN THE PRO, THIS PROCESS FOR OVER THREE YEARS AND MORE RECENTLY HAS BECOME A DUMPING GROUND, UM, WHICH IS EXACERBATING THE, THE PROBLEM ON THE PROPERTY.
STAFF HAS FOLLOWED ALL PROPER PROCEDURES AS OUTLINED AND DEMONSTRATED IN YOUR AGENDA PACKET.
AND WE HAVE ALSO INCLUDED PICTURES THAT ILLUSTRATE THE CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY.
THE INITIAL MINIMUM HOUSING LETTER WAS SENT AS REQUIRED IN NOVEMBER OF 2023.
AFTER IDENTIFICATION OF DEFICIENCIES, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE TO THE LETTERS, TO CERTIFIED MAIL, TO PHONE CALLS OR MULTIPLE EMAILS.
STAFF FOLLOWED PROCEDURES AND FILED THE COMPLAINT AND NOTICED THE REQUIRED HEARING.
THE HEARING WAS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 4TH.
IT TOOK PLACE NEITHER OWNER ATTENDED ON DECEMBER 4TH, THE PROPERTY WAS POSTED AND THE OWNERS WERE NOTICED THEY NEEDED TO MEET THE MINIMUM STANDARDS OUTLINED IN CHAPTER 38.
THAT'S OUR MINIMUM HOUSING, UH, CODE FOR BY FEBRUARY 26TH.
[02:10:01]
THIS POINT, THE OWNERS HAVE REMAINED UNRESPONSIVE, THE BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN DEEMED DILAPIDATED, AND THEREFORE STAFF IS REQUESTING THIS ORDINANCE BE ADOPTED.AS A REMINDER, THE ADOPTION OF THIS ORDINANCE DOES NOT COMMIT FUNDS FOR THE DEMOLITION.
IT ONLY GIVES US THE AUTHORITY TO DEMOLISH IT.
WE, UH, CURRENTLY FOR THIS YEAR ARE OUT OF OUR DEMOLITION FUNDS.
THEY'RE ALLOCATED TO ONE IN PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
AND SO IT IS NOTABLE THAT THE COST TO DEMOLISH THE STRUCTURES ON THIS PROPERTY IS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT $9,300 FROM OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
HOWEVER, THAT COST EXCLUDES ASBESTOS ABATEMENT IF NECESSARY, WHICH TYPICALLY, UM, THESE STRUCTURES IS, WHICH TYPICALLY ABOUT DOUBLES THAT COST LATELY.
UM, AND SO OUR MINIMUM HOUSING AND ABATEMENT SUPERVISOR WHO HAS WORKED THROUGH THIS CASE, MR. EASEL, IS HERE TONIGHT TO ANSWER ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THE PROPERTY.
MS. BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE, UM, EITHER ONE
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS JUST GETTING THE PAPERWORK IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DEMOLISH IT WHEN FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE.
THEN IF THERE'S NO MORE QUESTIONS BY THE BOARD, I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT, UH, DEMOLITION ORDINANCE FOR 28 14 OAKLAND AVENUE.
SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN ASTOR.
[Items 31, 32 & 33]
AND 33 CAN BE GROUPED.SO I'LL DO SO UNLESS YOU'RE OPPOSED TO THAT.
UH, 31 IS CONSIDERED ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE MULTI-YEAR GRANTS FUND.
ITEM NUMBER 32 IS CONSIDERED ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE HURRICANE FLORENCE FUND.
AND 33 IS TO CONSIDER ADOPTING A BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR FY 26.
AND MS. OSTROM, I'M GONNA DESCRIBE ALL THOSE FOR US.
UM, NUMBER 31, THE ORDINANCE AMENDS THE MULTI-YEAR GRANT FUND TO RECOGNIZE $1,000, UM, AWARD FROM THE JUVENILE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCILS.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL USE THE FUNDS FOR NATIONAL AID OUT NO MATCHES REQUIRED.
THE, AND, UH, THAT AMENDMENT ALSO ADJUST SEVERAL GRANTS RECEIVED BY PD TO REFLECT ACTUAL EXPENDITURES.
UM, NUMBER 32, THE CITY OWNED STRUCTURE AT 2 6 0 2 OAKS ROAD, AND ALSO KNOWN AS THE BP BUILDING SUSTAINED SEVERE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE DURING HURRICANE FLORENCE.
FEMA OBLIGATED $955,812 TOWARDS THE COST OF A NEW BUILDING.
UM, LATER IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PUBLIC, IN THE PUBLIC BEST INTEREST TO REBUILD, NOT REBUILD THE STRUCTURE, THE CITY REQUESTED CHANGE IN SCOPE OF WORK TO USE THE FUNDING TO PURCHASE A FIRE TRUCK.
AND, UM, THAT APPROVAL WAS RECEIVED IN DECEMBER, 2025.
SO, UM, THIS AMENDMENT ALLOCATES THE FEMA FUNDS FOR THE PURCHASE OF THAT FIRE TRUCK.
DOES BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? OH, I'M SORRY.
IN NUMBER 33,
IT ALSO TRANSFERS $25,077 FROM FUND BALANCE TO COVER THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS NEEDED FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE FIRE TRUCK REFERENCE IN THE ABOVE.
SO JUST SO EVERYONE CALLED THAT THE CITY OF NEW BERN'S ELECTRICITY BILL WENT UP.
SO WE HAVE TO MAKE A BUDGET ADJUSTMENT TO PAY FOR IT.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
I MOVE TO APPROVE ITEMS 31, 32 AND 33 AS PRESENTED.
I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, OR I'LL SECOND MY ALDERMAN ASTOR.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
I HAVE ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN BRYANT.
[34. Appointment(s). ]
34 IS APPOINTMENTS.UM, DOES ANYONE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO MAKE THIS EVENING? OKAY, NEXT 35
[35. Attorney’s Report. ]
IS ATTORNEY'S REPORT.NOTHING IMPORTANT TONIGHT, MAYOR,
[36. City Manager’s Report. ]
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT IF YOU HAVE DATES FOR YOU.UM, FIRST OF ALL, UH, IN REGARDS TO THE AUDIT, WE WERE ABLE TO FIND OUT THAT THE LAST AUDIT ON FILE FOR ROCKY MOUNT WAS IN 2024.
AND THAT WAS PERFORMED BY MALIN JENKINS.
SO THAT IS NOT THE AUDIT THAT WE HAVE.
UM, DID WANT TO GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF UPDATES.
[02:15:01]
SUPPOSED TO START DOWNTOWN.WE'VE ALREADY GOT THE EQUIPMENT SUPPLIES.
WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR THE CONTRACTOR TO TELL US IT'S GONNA OCCUR.
THE FIRST CROSSWALK THAT'S GONNA, UM, BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION IS GONNA BE HERE AT P*****K AND CRAVEN STREET.
SO OF COURSE WHEN THAT OCCURS, WE'LL LET YOU KNOW AND WE'LL ALSO GIVE APPROPRIATE NOTICE TO ALL OF THE RESIDENTS AS WELL.
ALSO, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPDATE ON THE RIVERWALK FISHING PIER PARKING PROJECT.
UM, THIS HAS BEEN HELD UP IN PERMITTING BY THE STATE.
UH, ASKED GEORGE CHARLES OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR TO GET AN UPDATE TODAY.
AS OF THIS AFTERNOON, HE HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET AN UPDATE FROM ANYONE FROM THE STATE.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WAITING ON.
ONCE WE GET THE PERMIT ITSELF, THE CONTRACTOR IS READY TO START THAT CONSTRUCTION.
SO I, I THINK ONCE WE GET THE GO AND THE CONTRACTOR'S ON SITE, IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE ABOUT 60 TO 90 DAYS IN REALITY BEFORE THAT'S DONE.
SO IT'LL BE AT SOME POINT THIS SUMMER.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
UH, DO WANNA RECOGNIZE, UH, YESTERDAY WAS LINEMAN APPRECIATION DAY.
SO WE APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT OUR LINEMEN FOR IN PUBLIC UTILITIES DO FOR THE CITY OF NEW BERN.
UM, AT THE NEXT MEETING ON APRIL 28TH, NEW BERN 1 0 1 WILL HAVE ITS GRADUATION.
SO YOU'LL GET TO SEE ALL THE GRADUATES ATTEND AND, AND, UH, SO THAT WILL BE EXCITING.
ALSO, COLLEEN WILL BE REACHING OUT TO YOU, UH, TO SEE IF ANY OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH ANY OF THE UH, UH, THE PARTICIPANTS BEFORE THE BOARD MEETING.
AND SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THAT.
AND, UH, WE HAD A NEWBORN ALERT TO GO OUT BEFORE THE MEETING IS TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT QUEEN STREET BETWEEN METCALF AND HANCOCK WILL BE CLOSED TOMORROW AND THURSDAY FROM 8:00 AM TO 4:00 PM TO CONNECT A NEW WATER AND SEWER SERVICE.
SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THAT.
THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TONIGHT, SIR.
[37. New Business. ]
ON TO NEW BUSINESS ALDERMAN FERGUSON.UH, JUST FIRST OFF, I REALLY DO WANNA THANK ALL OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS FOR ALL OF THE VERY HARD WORK PUT TOGETHER THIS BUDGET, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO READING IT OVER THE WEEKEND.
UH, SO JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU.
THREE UPDATES, UH, VERY QUICKLY.
UM, THE ELECTRIC AD HOC COMMITTEE WITH ALDERMAN OUTLAW AND ALDERMAN BEST, UH, AND MYSELF HAVE BEEN MEETING, UM, WITH, UH, VARIOUS FOLKS OF THE ELECTRIC UTILITY TO TRY TO DO SOME INFORMATION GATHERING.
WE'VE NARROWED A SCOPE OF SERVICE FOR, UH, POTENTIAL CONSULTANT.
UH, AS WE LEARN MORE INFORMATION, THAT SCOPE GETS NARROWER AND NARROWER AS WE EVALUATE ALL THE OPTIONS TO KIND OF COME BEFORE THIS BOARD TO PRESENT.
SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN DILIGENTLY WORKING ON THAT.
UM, LAST OR IN FEBRUARY, ALDERMAN WHITE ALDERMAN BRYANT AND I WENT TO THE LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES, UH, STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP FOR JU FOR SMALLER JURISDICTIONS.
UM, AND WHAT WE HAVE IN THE AGENDA PACKET FOR YOUR INFORMATION AS WELL AS FOR THE, UM, CITIZEN'S INFORMATION ARE THE FIVE, UH, STRATEGIC PLAN FOCUS AREAS.
THIS, THE WORKSHOP WAS GREAT BECAUSE IT, IT REALLY BROKE DOWN.
YOU HAD FOCUS AREAS AND WITHIN EACH FOCUS AREA YOU HAD OBJECTIVES.
AND SO, AND THEN WITHIN EACH OBJECTIVE YOU HAD INITIATIVES.
INITIATIVES FOR SMALLER JURISDICTIONS, UM, WERE REALLY DONE BY THE INDIVIDUAL ELECTEDS, UH, ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR US AT LARGER JURISDICTION.
WE BELIEVE THESE INITIATIVES ARE BETTER, UM, FLESHED OUT BY STAFF, DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THEIR STAFF TO REALLY, UM, ESSENTIALLY DO THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND TO IMPLEMENT THE INITIATIVES ARE THE IMPLEMENTATION.
AND SO WE'VE PROVIDED WHAT THE THREE OF US KIND OF WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH SOME STAFF ON THOSE FIVE FOCUS AREAS AND THEN MORE NUANCED OBJECTIVES WITHIN THOSE FOCUS AREAS.
UH, AND THEN IN THE PACKET WE'VE PROVIDED WHAT WE ALL CAME UP WITH INITIATIVES.
AND WHAT WE TRIED TO DO IS HYPERLINK ALL OF THE EXISTING PLANS FOR THE CITY, UH, THAT'S ON THE WEBSITE AND HYPERLINK TO SHOW WHERE THEY FIT WITHIN THOSE OBJECTIVES AND INITIATIVES, UH, THAT WE KIND OF LOOKED AT.
SO WE TRIED TO DO SOME OF THAT ALIGNMENT.
UM, THIS IS JUST FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES TONIGHT TO, UM, AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS ON THE AGENDA IN THE PACKET TO PRESENT TO YOU ALL PRESENT THE CITIZENRY.
I WOULD ASK THAT THERE BE A DISCUSSION SCHEDULED FOR OUR NEXT MEETING ON APRIL 28TH TO ALLOW EVERYONE TIME TO KINDA LOOK THROUGH THIS, UM, PROVIDE SOME FEEDBACK ON JUST THE FOCUS AREAS AND OBJECTIVES.
SO SPECIFICALLY THE ONE PAGER THAT IS, UH, AND IT'S ON THE SCREEN WHERE IT'S THOSE FIVE FOCUS AREAS AND WITHIN ARE MORE TARGETED OBJECTIVES.
UM, WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS AN APRIL 28TH TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THESE, THIS BOARD'S PRIORITIES.
DOES THIS ALIGN WITH THE PRIORITIES? UM, I BELIEVE IT, IT ALIGNS WITH THE PRIORITIES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE SELECTED, BUT KIND OF FLESHES IT OUT A LITTLE BIT.
AND THEN ONCE APPROVED BY THIS BOARD, WE THEN SEND IT TO DEPARTMENT HEADS TO WORK WITH THEIR STAFF FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS
[02:20:01]
TO SAY WHAT ARE THE INITIATIVES AND PLANS YOU CURRENTLY HAVE IN PLACE? WHERE DO THEY ALIGN HERE? CAN YOU PUT THEM IN THE, IN THE BOXES? UM, AND ALSO WHAT INITIATIVES AND PLANS DO YOU WANT TO DO THAT COULD ACCOMPLISH THESE PARTICULAR OBJECTIVES? AND OBVIOUSLY THE, A LOT OF THESE OBJECTIVES WERE STOCK LANGUAGE FROM THE LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES.SO I THINK WE CERTAINLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO, I MEAN, TWEAK IT AS WE WANT, BUT THIS IS JUST TO PROVIDE A LITTLE MORE DIRECTION FOR STAFF, NOT JUST IN BUDGETING, BUT IN PROGRAMMING AND PLAN IMPLEMENTATION.
UH, AND SO JUST WANTED TO PRESENT THAT TO YOU ALL AND, AND ASK, UH, I WOULD MOVE TO HAVE IT PUT ON THE APRIL 28TH AGENDA FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION AND EDITING AS APPROPRIATE.
HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND AS FURTHER DISCUSSION.
AND JUST THE LAST THING FOR NEW BUSINESS FOR ME, I'VE MET WITH THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS COUNCIL, UH, AND THEIR EXECUTIVE BOARD.
UM, AND SHORTLY AFTER MARDI GRAS WE HAD A, A INTERESTING CONVERSATION.
'CAUSE WITH MARDI GRAS, YOU HAD A SITUATION WHERE THERE WAS A FESTIVAL, IT'S AN EVENT.
STREETS WERE CLOSED, WE AUTHORIZED THOSE STREET CLOSURES AND THERE WAS ONE, UH, BEER VENDOR AND YOU HAD ALMOST 12,000 PEOPLE IN DOWNTOWN.
AND THEY WERE GETTING, UM, FROM ONE VENDOR.
AND BARS AND RESTAURANTS DOWNTOWN WEREN'T NECESSARILY ABLE TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THAT EVENT.
UH, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO SELL TO GO DRINKS TO BE CONSUMED DOWN ON THE STREET.
THEY CAN SELL TO GO DRINKS RIGHT NOW INTO THE STATE STATUTE.
UH, I THINK IT'S 24 OUNCE AND SEALED.
SO THEY CAN SELL 'EM RIGHT NOW AND TAKE 'EM OUT OF THEIR, UM, OUT OF THEIR BUSINESS.
UH, BUT THEY CAN'T CONSUME IT.
AND SO WHAT WE KIND OF KICKED AROUND AND DISCUSSED WAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME FORM OF PERMITTED EVENTS, SIP AND STROLL.
AND THE WAY TO DO THAT IS TO UTILIZE THE, UM, SOCIAL DISTRICT LEGISLATION AT THE STATE AND PROVIDE WITHIN OUR ORDINANCE A ESSENTIALLY EVENT PERMIT THAT ALLOWS A SOCIAL DISTRICT ONLY FOR EVENTS.
THE IDEA WOULD BE THIS DEFAULT IS OFF LIKE IT IS CURRENTLY.
AND IF SOMEONE WAS HOLDING AN EVENT SUCH AS MARDI GRAS, UH, ART WALK, THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO PETITION THIS BOARD TO HAVE DURING THAT EVENT SOME FORM OF, YOU KNOW, SIP AND STROLL, UH, TO INCREASE THE FOOT TRAFFIC IN THE DOWNTOWN FOOTPRINT.
UH, AND THAT WOULD COME BEFORE THIS BOARD FOR A VOTE.
SO, UM, I'VE ASKED THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS COUNCIL EXECUTIVE BOARD TO MAKE A PRESENTATION.
AND SO, UM, WHAT I'M ASKING IN MY MOTION TONIGHT IS JUST TO ALLOW FOR THE APRIL 28TH A PRESENTATION BY THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS COUNCIL ON THIS IDEA AND WHY THEY THINK THIS MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BENEFIT DOWNTOWN THAT SAYS MOTION.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
IT'S FUNNY, HE TELLS EVERYBODY THAT YOU GOT FIVE MINUTES, YOU GOT TWO MINUTES.
SO HE'S SAVING TIME FOR HIMSELF.
UM, A GRAND OPENING THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE ON SATURDAY, APRIL THE 18TH.
IT IS THE YOUNG URBAN PROFESSIONAL, UM, GRAND OPENING.
IT WILL BE HELD FROM 12 TO THREE AT 10 36 BROAD STREET.
SO IF YOU'RE IN THE AREA, PLEASE STOP BY AND LET DEISHA HARRIS THEM KNOW THAT YOU ARE IN THE PLACE.
UM, I DID ATTEND MY FIRST TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING AND I THOUGHT SOME PEOPLE MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING THAT THE SIMMONS STREET, UM, REPAIRS ARE DELAYED BY THE CONTRACTOR AND THAT THEY HAVE UNTIL DECEMBER TO FINISH THIS JOB.
SO THEY EXPECT THAT IT WILL BE STARTING SOON.
AND, UM, THE 43 CONNECTOR, THEY ARE MOVING DIRT AND MOVING, UM, LIGHT POLES, I BELIEVE THEY SAID.
SO IT IS, IT IS UNDERWAY IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT ALREADY.
UM, ACTUALLY I DID HAVE AN APPOINTMENT, BUT, UM, I, I JUST NEED TO KNOW, UM, I KNOW WHEN, UM, MR. HUGHES WAS GIVEN HIS, UH, BUDGET, UM, PRESENTATION THAT THERE WAS NOT, UM, A POSITION THERE FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, AND I WAS GONNA MAKE THAT APPOINTMENT TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
SO WHAT ARE WE, ARE WE STILL MAKING APPOINTMENTS TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION OR HOW IS THAT? IT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD, BUT I WOULD RECOMMEND WE NOT IN CASE THE
[02:25:01]
BOARD DOESN'T MOVE FORWARD FOR WHATEVER REASON, BUT I MEAN THE BOARD'S FREE TO VOTE ON IF YOU'D LIKE TO MR. WILLIAMS. I MEAN, WHAT IS THAT? ARE, ARE YOU STILL, I KNOW YOU'RE ONE IS ACTUALLY SORT OF SPEARHEADING IT NOW, WHATEVER, BUT ARE WE GONNA DELAY APPOINTING CITIZENS TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION OR NOT? OR HOW, I MEAN,UM, WE WILL HAVE STAFF TO DO TO, TO DO THE DAY, DAY-TO-DAY WORK OF THAT COMMITTEE.
IF, IF THEY ARE HAVE SOMETHING FOR STAFF TO DO.
I THINK ALDERMAN BEST, I THINK, I THINK YOU BRING UP A GOOD POINT AND I THINK SEEING THE CITY MANAGER'S BUDGET PRESENTED IT BRINGS UP A LARGER CONVERSATION YES.
ABOUT THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.
NOW, OBVIOUSLY WHILE WE HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, THEY'RE STILL GOING TO MEET AND TRY TO DO SOME WORK.
I KNOW THAT THEY ATTEMPTED TO MEET LAST WEEK AND WERE NOT ABLE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T, THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO FORM A FORUM.
UM, AND SO THEY'RE STILL SCHEDULED TO MEET, STILL SCHEDULED TO DO WORK WHILE WE'RE HAVING THIS BROADER CONVERSATION.
SO I, UM, YOU KNOW, I I I THINK IF YOU WANT TO APPOINT SOMEONE AND YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, HAPPY TO DO IT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I, I DO THINK THIS BEARS A BROADER CONVERSATION ABOUT THEIR WORK, THEIR PLAN, THEIR EFFICACY.
WELL, I, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, SO, ALRIGHT, GO AHEAD.
WASN'T THERE SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE THAT, UH, APPLIED FOR THAT AS WELL? UH, THERE WERE FIVE OR SIX APPLICANTS I BELIEVE.
SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST WHEN WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE APPLICANTS, WE'VE DONE A BALLOT, UH, WHERE THE BOARD WOULD VOTE ON THE DIFFERENT MEMBERS.
UM, BUT IF ALDERMAN BEST WANTS TO MAKE A MOTION AND SEE IF IT PASSES, I'M NOT GONNA VOTE FOR ANYONE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
BUT YOU'RE, YOU'RE FREE TO MAKE THE MOTION IF YOU'D LIKE TO.
WELL, I MEAN, I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH FOLLOWING THE PROTOCOL THAT WE'VE USED BEFORE.
IF ANOTHER ALDERMAN HAS SOMEONE THAT THEY WANT TO APPOINT AS WELL, SO WE CAN DO THE BALLOT.
I MEAN, BUT IF, I MEAN, IF WE ARE GONNA BE FAIR, THERE WAS SIX OTHER PEOPLE THAT APPLY.
I, WELL THAT'S WHY I SAID WE COULD DO THE BALLOT PROCESS IF OTHER ALDERMANS HAVE SOMEONE THEY WANT TO NOMINATE APPOINT AS WELL.
MS. BLANCO, DO YOU HAVE THOSE NAMES? AND YOU COULD PREPARE A BALLOT, WE COULD GO THROUGH THE REST OF THE AGENDA AND THEN CIRCLE BACK TO THAT 28TH.
IS THAT SINCE, SINCE WE'RE NOT MEETING, SINCE WE'RE MEETING IN 28TH, THAT WILL BE BEFORE THE NEXT REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT.
COULD WE DO THIS VOTE ON THE 28TH SO WE HAVE SOME TIME TO LOOK AT THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? IS THAT ALL RIGHT? TN BE THAT'S FINE WITH ME.
ARE YOU ALL RIGHT THAT MM-HMM
UM, ANYTHING ELSE? CLERK, COULD YOU BE ABLE TO SEND THAT AROUND THOSE YES, I'LL URATE THE APPLICATIONS AND HAVE BALANCE READY FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
AND, AND THE NEXT THING I HAD, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF MR. CHARLES IS NOT HERE, BUT, UM, CITY MANAGER, UM, I WAS OVER ON OAKS ROAD AND I CAME ACROSS THE BRIDGE.
AND ON THE BRIDGE THERE IS A BIG DIP THAT IF YOU'RE NOT ACCUSTOMED TO TRAVELING THAT ROAD, UM, IT'S, IT'S ON BOTH SIDES OF, OF THE, UH, BRIDGE, WELL LET ME PUT IT LIKE THIS.
IT'S IN THE ROAD AND THERE'S A GAP THERE AND IT'S ON BOTH SIDES OF, LOOKS LIKE WE'VE DONE SOME PATCHING OR SOMETHING, BUT THERE'S A REAL BIG DIP THERE AND, AND IT CAN CAUSE SOMEBODY SOME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR VEHICLE.
UH, SOMETIME IN THE LAST WEEK, UH, CHIEF GALLAGHER AND SOME OF THE POLICE OFFICERS, UM, ATTENDED A, A GET TOGETHER WITH, UH, WAYNE AND SUSAN LITTON AND SHE WAS, UM, SHE'S DONE SO MUCH FOR KINGS ROAD AND, UH, SO HONORED TO, UM, WORK WITH HER.
SHE JUST DOES A GREAT JOB AT THAT COMMUNITY.
UH, AND SHE DID RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION FROM THE GOVERNOR.
THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT ONCE.
AND WAYNE DOES SO MUCH DOING PHOTOGRAPHY FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THEY DO SO MUCH FOR NEW, OKAY.
UH, I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT SIMMONS STREET, UH, BUT I'LL JUST ASK ALTERNATE OUTLAW IF HE REMEMBERS.
I THOUGHT BACK IN 2012 OR 2013, THE BOARD SENT A RESOLUTION TO, EXCUSE ME, TO DOT REQUESTING THEM TO REPAID NOOSE BOULEVARD.
DID I'M OKAY IF, IF THE BOARD'S NOT OPPOSED TO THAT, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RESOLUTION ON OUR NEXT AGENDA ENCOURAGING THE NORTH CAROLINA
[02:30:01]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO PLEASE EXPEDITE.I THINK, I THINK THE REPAID TIME IS, I'VE ASKED SO MOVED.
SO IF, IF THE BOARD IS OKAY, CAN WE APPROVE THAT TONIGHT, MR. DAVIS? YES.
WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOLUTION IN FRONT OF US, BUT WE HAVE, WE, WE NEED THE RESOLUTION DRAFTED.
I THOUGHT THE MOTION WAS PUT THE RESOLUTION ON THE APRIL 28TH AGENDA.
OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY ALDERMAN, UH, FERGUSON AND A SECOND BOSS, UH, ALDERMAN BRYANT.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
I'D BE SURPRISED IF THERE WAS ANY OPPOSITION TO THAT ONE.
UH, THE, THE NEXT ONE I HAVE IS, UM, CITY MANAGER HUGHES AND MYSELF MET WITH A, UH, PROSPECTIVE DEVELOPER OF A FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX.
UM, WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER A VERY LEGITIMATE OPPORTUNITY.
AND, UH, ONE THING THAT HE ASKED US FOR WAS, DID THE CITY HAVE A FEASIBILITY STUDY? AND THAT'S THE FIRST THING.
TYPICALLY, I KNOW WHEN THE CONVENTION CENTER WAS BUILT, WHEN HOTELS ARE BEING DISCUSSED, THERE'S TYPICALLY A FEASIBILITY STUDY THAT'S DONE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS ASKED OF US.
UH, CITY MANAGER SAYS HE HAS FUNDS IN HIS PARTICULAR LINE ITEM FOR THAT, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THE BOARD WAS OKAY, UH, WITH HIM SPINNING THAT IT'S IT'S AT HIS DISCRETION, BUT HE'S STILL SO, SO I, SO SO MAYOR, THERE, THERE ARE FUNDS AVAILABLE IN THE BOARD APPROPRIATIONS.
I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS IN, IN, IN MY OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, THE BOARD APPROPRIATIONS.
THAT'S THE REASON YOU'RE ASKING US FOR APPROVAL AND IT'S HOW MUCH WAS IT COST? UH, IT WAS TO DO THIS STUDY IT'S 17,500.
UM, AND THIS WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ANY, ANYONE THAT HAS AN INTEREST IN WANTING TO OPEN UP A BUSINESS LIKE THIS.
BUT IT WOULD SHOW THEM WHETHER OR NOT ACTUALLY WHAT SIZE BUSINESS WOULD WORK.
IT, IT WILL SHOW PROJECTED REVENUES, THE, THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE BUILDING, UH, DEVELOPER WOULD NEED.
SO IT, IT REALLY DOES SPELL OUT WHETHER OR NOT NEWBURN WOULD SUPPORT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO IT'S A PUBLIC DOCUMENT? THAT'S CORRECT.
AND, UH, OVER THE YEARS, I KNOW THAT THOSE OF US HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WE NEED SOMETHING TO DO FOR THE YOUTH.
AND THE REPORT COULD COME BACK AND SAY THAT NEWBURN CAN'T SUSTAIN IT.
AND IF IT DOES, THEN THAT'S GOOD INFORMATION TO HAVE.
BUT THIS IS REALLY NO DIFFERENT THAN THE RETAIL GAP ANALYSIS THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.
THIS IS JUST VERY SPECIFIC TOWARD FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT.
IS THE FEASIBILITY STUDY GEARED TOWARDS A SPECIFIC ENTERTAINMENT, FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT OR IS IT BROADLY FOR FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT OP BUSINESSES? IT IS BROAD.
IT WILL TELL YOU WHAT WOULD BE SUPPORTED IN THIS AREA AND IT WOULD ACTUALLY NAME WHATEVER AMENITIES WOULD BE SUPPORTED.
AND WHAT LINE ITEM FROM THE BUDGET ARE YOU? THAT WOULD BE FROM THE BOARD APPROPRIATIONS.
YOU UH, THE, IT'S BUDGETED FOR ABOUT APPROXIMATELY $25,000 ANNUAL.
THAT'S THE COMMUNITY ANNUALLY? THAT'S CORRECT.
CURRENTLY THERE'S ABOUT 24,500 IN THAT LINE ITEM REMAINING.
AND IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT.
BUT I KNOW THAT MR. HUGHES HAS SPOKEN WITH THIS CONSULTANT AND THEY'RE READY WHENEVER WE'RE READY TO START.
SINCE, SINCE WE'RE DOING TWO MEETINGS, THIS, IF WE WERE DOING ONE MEETING, I, I WOULD SAY OKAY, WE'RE TIME'S OF THE ESSENCE, BUT SINCE WE'RE DOING TWO MEETINGS, UM, AND AS YOU SAID LAST MEETING IS $17,000 IS QUITE A REQUEST FOR NEW BUSINESS, I WOULD APPRECIATE, UM, A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION BEFORE MAKING THAT VOTE.
SO CAN WE GET A MOTION TO PUT THAT ON THE NEXT AGENDA PLEASE? SO MOVED.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING THAT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[38. Request and Petition – General Topics. ]
IS REQUEST A PETITION OF CITIZEN FOR GENERAL TOPICS.MR. FRENCH, YOUR BACKUP UP, IT'S FOUR MINUTES.
I'M DAVID FRENCH 1 0 4 JOHNSON.
I'M HERE TO VERY SADLY SAY I TOLD YOU SO ON APRIL 2ND, 2026 IN AN ARTICLE BY NC NEWSLINE.COM ABOUT HURRICANE HELENE'S RENEW NC IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.
RENEW NC IS WHAT? REBUILD NC IS HERE IN ENC FOR HURRICANE MATTHEW AND FLORENCE RENEW NC HAS ONLY COMPLETED WORK ON 30 HOMES OUT OF THE 2,500 APPROVED APPLICATIONS IN THE PAST ONE AND A HALF YEARS SINCE HURRICANE HELENE DEVASTATED THEM.
THEY ARE GOING DOWN THE SAME AWFUL ROAD AS REBUILD NC DID.
AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA WILL SUFFER FOR YEARS ON END LIKE WE HAVE AND ARE BECAUSE YOU ALL REFUSE TO LISTEN TO WE THE PEOPLE.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT TO US HERE IN NEWBERG CRAVEN COUNTY? BECAUSE OF THE FRAUD OF COOPER STEIN BUFFALO, HOGSHEAD ARLING GIBSON, AND THEIR REBUILD NC COHORTS AND THE FINALISTS IN FECKLESS REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED NORTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE, INCLUDING BRISSON AND TYSON AND NC STATE AUDITOR BULLS THEIR ABSOLUTE FAILURE TO PROPERLY INVESTIGATE, ADVOCATE, AND FIGHT FOR US.
THE OVER 8,000 STILL HOMELESS HURRICANE FLOOD SURVIVORS OF EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA WHO HAVE BEEN CONTINUALLY TRAUMATIZED AND LIED TO FOR YEARS ON END.
THE NC LEGISLATURE AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN TOLD BY ME SINCE 2022 AND COUNTLESS OTHERS BEFORE AND
[02:35:01]
SINCE THAT THIS STATE CONTROLLED DISASTER RECOVERY METHOD IS A MULTI-BILLION BUCK FRAUD AND FAILURE.WHY IS IT THAT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL CAN FIND THE TIME, ENERGY, AND BILLIONS OF OUR TAX TAXPAYERS BUCKS TO WAGE A WAR, BUT THAT, BUT CANNOT PROPERLY HELP THE PEOPLE OF WNC AND ENC GET BACK HOME? WE ARE SPENDING 2 BILLION TAXPAYER BUCKS A DAY TO WAGE WAR.
NOW, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT AMOUNT WOULD ACCOMPLISH HERE IN ENC? IT IS EQUAL TO GETTING 4,000 HOMELESS HURRICANE FLOOD SURVIVORS BACK INTO THEIR HOMES.
SO INSTEAD OF TWO DAYS OF WAR, WE WOULD HAVE ENOUGH TO GET 8,000 FOLKS BACK HOME.
SOME WHO HAVE BEEN DISPLACED GOING ON EIGHT TO 10 YEARS, OF WHICH I AM ONE.
MY DEAR COUSIN MARYANNE NEVER GOT TO GO BACK HOME.
DUE TO THE FRAUD OF COOPER SIGNING THEIR REBUILD NC COHORTS, INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE COLLUSION OF THE CITY OF NEWBURN, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES, JESSICA RU, WHO PURPOSELY EXCLUDED ME FROM A MEETING AND CORRESPONDENCE ABOUT OUR FLOODED HOME IN OUR LIVES, WHICH HAS HAD A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT UPON US.
WHY HASN'T SHE BEEN FIRED? IT IS GOING TO TAKE, IS IT GOING TO TAKE ANOTHER HURRICANE FLORENCE TO DEVASTATE US TO GET, UH, NEW BERN AND CRAVEN COUNTY TO WAKE UP, STAND UP AND PROPERLY FIGHT FOR US? CRAVEN COUNTY HAS OVER 40 YEARS OF SUCCESSFUL DRAFTS THROUGH RECOVERY.
HOW CAN Y'ALL STAND BY AND LET US SUFFER? SO YOU, OUR CITY OF NEW BERN ALDERMAN ARE OUR CLOSEST ELECTED OFFICIALS.
I HAVE ASKED YOU ALL TO STAND UP, ADVOCATE AND FIGHT FOR US, AND YOU HAVE NOT PROPERLY DONE.
SO WHY, THEREFORE I'M DEMANDING THAT YOU ALL ALONG WITH OTHER ENC TOWN, CITIES, AND COUNTIES DEMAND TO THE STATE OF NORTHERN TO MAKE THE PEOPLE OF ENC WHOLE.
THE ONLY THING THEY UNDERSTAND IS BEING SUED.
SEEING HOW THIS IS OUR BELOVED AMERICAN CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC'S 255TH ANNIVERSARY, WE ALL WOULD DO WELL TO STUDY OUR HISTORY AND PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO HOW OUR AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR ANCESTORS DEFENDED THEIR RIGHTS GIVEN BY GOD.
THERE IS A SAYING, THE ONLY WAY FOR EVIL TO TRIUMPH IS FOR GOOD PEOPLE TO STAND BY AND DO NOTHING.
I SAY, IF YOU STAND BY AND DO NOTHING, YOU ARE NOT GOOD PEOPLE.
WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE ARE YOU? THE LORD IS OUR SHEPHERD.
HE MAKES US LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES.
BESIDES HIS STILL WATERS, HE RESTORES OUR SOUL.
HE LEADS US IN THE PAST OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR HIS NAMESAKE.
THOUGH WE WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, WE WILL FEAR NO EVIL FOR THOU OR WILL US THY ROD.
AND THEY SAT, THEY COMFORT US.
THOU PREPARES A TABLE BEFORE US IN THE PRESENCE OF OUR ENEMIES.
THOU ANNOYANCE OUR HEADS WITH OIL.
SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY SHALL FOLLOW US ALL THE DAYS OF OUR LIFE AND WE SHALL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER.
8,000 PEOPLE IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA ARE HOMELESS.
AND YOU SIT THERE LIKE MOUNT RUSHMORE AND DON'T DO A THING.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY? WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY? YOUR TIME IS UP.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY? YOUR TIME IS UP.
KIND YOU NEXT IS REVEREND ETHEL SAMPSON.
I LIVE OF 10 38 SAMPSON STREET.
I'M A CIVIL RIGHT WORKER, ORDAINED MINISTER, INTERNATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL.
AND I JUST CAME ON THE BEHALF OF MY NEPHEW,
I WASN'T THERE, BUT I SAW IT FOR MYSELF.
AND I, I AM A CIVIL RIGHT WORKER.
SINCE 1948 OR 15, I WROTE A LETTER TO PRESIDENT TRUMAN.
I, I WOULD, I'M A LIFE MEMBER OF NAACP AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT HIS WELFARE AND I WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT ANSWERS AND THANKS VERY MUCH.
I HOPE I PRONOUNCED THAT RIGHT.
TO THE BOARD OF ALDERMANS, ALL THE FELLOW CITIZENS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE REMAINED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STAYING.
I COME BEFORE YOU HUMBLY, BUT I ALSO COME BEFORE YOU VERY BOLDLY.
UM, SO MY NAME IS AMBASSADOR DR.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AS A SISTER AND AN ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF MY BROTHER ELGIN BRITT.
UM, I AM A DIPLOMAT AND AS A REPRESENTATIVE, AS A VOICE FOR MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY WHO FEEL INCREASINGLY UNHEARD, UNPROTECTED, AND OVERLOOKED.
UH, MY BROTHER, ELGIN BRETT, WHO HAS NEVER BEEN TO PRISON, HAS ENDURED SEVERE PHYSICAL PAIN SO MUCH THE SO THAT HE HAD A BROKEN BALL ON HIS FEMA THAT SEPARATED TOTALLY FROM HIS FEMA AND THEN A, UH, UH, FRACTURE ON THE TOP PORTION OF THAT DUE TO POLICE ABUSIVE
[02:40:01]
POWER.SO THIS IS AN EMOTIONAL TRAUMA AND A LIFE ALTERING EXPERIENCE AS THE RESULT OF WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE AN UNJUST AND EXCESS ACTIONS.
HE, ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS, NOW CARRY A PROFOUND FEAR OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WITHIN THIS GREAT CITY, AND IT SHOULD NOT BE THIS WAY.
HIS INJURIES HAVE IMPACT, HIS MOBILITY, HIS INDEPENDENCE, AND HIS DIGNITY.
HIS SUFFERING IS NOT ABSTRACT, IT IS REAL AND IT IS VISIBLE AND IT IS ONGOING AND IT IS AND SHOULD DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY.
BUT BEYOND THE ACCOUNTABILITY, THERE MUST BE A RENEWED AND AN IMMEDIATE COMMITMENT TO SAFETY.
SAFETY FOR ELGIN, SAFETY FOR OUR FAMILY, AND SAFETY FOR EVERY RESIDENT WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY, REGARDLESS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD BACKGROUND AND OR CIRCUMSTANCES.
BECAUSE WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.
IT REFLECTS A BROADER PATTERN WITHIN MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
INDIVIDUALS BEING FOLLOWED, STOPPED, QUESTIONED, AND SCRUTINIZED WITHOUT CLEAR CAUSE.
CITIZENS ARE BEING ASKED WHY ARE THEY EVEN OUTSIDE LATE AT NIGHT AS THOUGH THEIR PRESENCE ALONE IS SUSPICIOUS.
THAT IS NOT CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING, THAT IS OVERREACH.
THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT HAS ESTABLISHED CLEAR STANDARDS IN TERRY VERSUS OHIO.
OFFICERS MUST HAVE REASONABLE ARTICULABLE SUSPICION FOR INITIATING A STOP IN BROWN VERSUS TEXAS.
THE COURT AFFIRMED THAT STOPPING AN INDIVIDUAL WITHOUT SUCH JUSTIFICATION VIOLATES THE FOURTH AMENDMENT IN FLORIDA VERSUS ROYA.
THE COURT REINFORCED THE LAW ENFORCEMENT MAY NOT DETAIN OR QUESTION INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT LAWFUL CAUSE.
ADDITIONALLY, IN DELAWARE VERSUS PROS, THE COURT HELD THAT STOPPING INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT REASONABLE SUSPICION OR TRUE PROBABLE CAUSE IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
EVEN IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY OBSERVED WRONGDOING.
THE CONTINUED PRESENCE OF SUCH PRACTICES WITHIN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT EXPOSES THIS CITY TO, TO SIGNIFICANT AND AVOIDABLE LEGAL LIABILITY.
THESE RULINGS ESTABLISH A CLEAR PRINCIPLE.
CITIZENS MUST NOT BE STOPPED, QUESTIONED, OR SUBJECTED TO PAT DOWNS WITHOUT LAWFUL AND CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS.
TRY TO SU TO SUSPECTED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY WHEN THESE PROTECTIONS ARE NOT UPHELD.
RESPONSIBILITIES EXTEND BEYOND INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS.
UNDER MANEL VERSUS DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, MUNICIPALITIES ARE ACCOUNTABLE WHEN PATTERNS OR PRACTICES RESULT IN VIOLATIONS OF CIVIL RIGHTS.
THAT RESPONSIBILITY RESTS HERE WITH YOU.
CONGRESS REINFORCED THESE PROTECTIONS THROUGH THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 AND I THANK YOU FOR MY TIME.
IF WE CAN PUT THIS ON THE BOOKS FOR NEXT MEETING.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK AND CONTINUE.
YOU'LL HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT AT OUR FIRST MEETING IN THE MONTH OF MAY.
UH, DO WE NEED A CLOSED SESSION? NO SIR.
UH, IF NOT, UH, ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
WE HAVE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND.
ANY OPPOSED? WE ARE ADJOURNED.