* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.
           
          [00:00:03]
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE APRIL 28TH, 2026 NEW BRUEN BOARD OF ALDERMAN MEETING. 
          THE PRAYER TONIGHT WILL BE GIVEN BY ALDERMAN. 
          BEST. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MS. CAROL WILLIAMS TO DO THE PRAYER. 
          SHE'S A WOMAN OF GOD. 
          SHE WILL GIVE THE PRAYER TONIGHT. 
          THANK YOU, MA'AM. 
          YOU LET US PRAY OTHERWISE IT EVERLASTING. 
          FATHER, WE THANK YOU, FATHER GOD, FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE TODAY. 
          LORD JESUS, WE ASK YOU THAT YOU TEMPER OUR HEARTS AND OUR MINDS, LORD GOD, THAT WE MAY DO THE THINGS THAT ARE PLEASING TO YOU. 
          LORD, WE ASK A BLESS YOUR BLESSING FOR COLLECTIVELY, FOR ALL OF US HERE TONIGHT, AND THEN INDIVIDUALLY, AND LET US BE ABOUT OUR FATHER'S BUSINESS AND DOING THOSE THINGS THAT ARE PLEASING TO YOU. 
          CONTINUE TO BLESS OUR WONDERFUL CITY, LORD JESUS, AND THE PEOPLE THAT INHABIT THIS. 
          THESE ARE ANOTHER BLESSINGS I COUNTED. 
          ALL DONE IN MY, IN YOUR SON'S NAME. 
          JESUS CHRIST, I PRAY. 
          AMEN. 
          AMEN. 
          AMEN. 
          IF YOU'RE ABLE TO STAND, PLEASE DO SO. 
          AS WE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF OUR COUNTRY, I PLEDGE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE. 
          MADAM CLERK, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE CALL THE ROLE ALDERMAN FERGUSON. 
          HERE. 
          ALDERMAN BRYANT. 
          HERE. 
          ALDERMAN ASTOR. 
          HERE. 
          MAYOR ODOM. 
          HERE. 
          ALDERMAN WHITE. 
          HERE, ALDERMAN. 
          BEST PRESENT. 
          ALDERMAN OUTLAW. 
          HERE. 
          [3. Approve Agenda.]
OKAY. 
          BOARD. 
          NEXT UP IS THE AGENDA. 
          IS THERE ANY CHANGES OR ADDITIONS YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE? MAY I MAKE A MOTION? WILL WE APPROVE THE AGENDA AS IS SECOND? HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. 
          IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. 
          ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. 
          AYE. 
          AYE. 
          ANY OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. 
          AGENDA IS APPROVED. 
          NEXT 
          [Consent Agenda]
IS THE CONSENT AGENDA. 
          WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD ON ITEMS FOUR THROUGH 11? MAY I MAKE A MOTION? WE APPROVE THE, THE CONSENT AGENDA. 
          SECOND. 
          I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. 
          IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. 
          LET HAVE A ROLL CALL STARTING WITH ALDERMAN FERGUSON. 
          ALDERMAN FERGUSON. 
          YES. 
          ALDERMAN BRYANT. 
          YES. 
          ALDERMAN AS YES. 
          ALDERMAN WHITE. 
          YES. 
          ALDERMAN BES. 
          YES. 
          ALDERMAN OUTLAW. 
          YES. 
          MAYOR ODOM. 
          YES. 
          MOTION CARRIES. 
          NEXT IS 
          [12. Recognition of New Bern 101 Graduates.]
RECOGNITION OF NEWBERN 1 0 1 GRADUATES, MS. COLLEEN ROBERTS AND MR. HUGHES. 
          THANK YOU, MAYOR. 
          UM, WE STARTED NEWBURN 1 0 1 IN THE FALL OF 2021. 
          SO ALMOST FIVE YEARS THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN GOING ON. 
          AND, UM, THIS IS A 10 WEEK, 30 HOUR PROGRAM, UH, THAT GIVES CITIZENS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK BEHIND THE CURTAIN AT HOW THE CITY OF NEW BERN HAS OPERATED. 
          AND THEY VISIT EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT FROM ADMINISTRATION TO PUBLIC SAFETY, TO HUMAN RESOURCES, TO THE, ALL OF THE, UH, ENTERPRISE, UH, UTILITIES, UH, AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE GOVERNING BOARD. 
          TOWARD THE END OF THIS, UH, WE, TONIGHT WE WILL HAVE 20 GRADUATES. 
          WE HAVE HAD OVER 140 GRADUATES SINCE ITS INCEPTION, AND WE, WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROGRAM. 
          IT SHOWS HOW TRANSPARENT THE CITY OF NEW BERN IS IN ITS OPERATIONS. 
          AND AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO TURN THIS OVER TO COLLEEN. 
          AS FOSTER SAID, VERY EXCITED FOR YOU TO CONGRATULATE OUR NEW BERN 1 0 1 GRADUATES OF THE SPRING SESSION. 
          UM, MANY OF YOU MET THEM DOWNSTAIRS TONIGHT, WHERE WE OFFER A DINNER WITH THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN AS PART OF THEIR FINAL SESSION. 
          UM, GOT A LOT OF GREAT FEEDBACK FROM THEM AND A LOT OF COMPLIMENTS OF YOU, OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS, AND THE REST OF OUR CITY STAFF. 
          SO, IF YOU DON'T MIND, PLEASE BOARD COMING DOWN, UH, IN FRONT OF THE PARTITION LIKE WE NORMALLY DO. 
          AND WE WILL CALL UP THE GRADUATES ONE BY ONE. 
          AND THIS SESSION, WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE OUR FIRST ALDERMAN IN THE CLASS. 
          DON'T FORGET, GRADUATES DON'T WALK OUT THE DOOR. 
          WE WANNA DO A QUICK GROUP PHOTO BEFORE YOU LEAVE US TONIGHT. 
          THANK. 
          NO. 
          WE, WE SPREAD OUT. 
          YEAH. 
          PERFECT. 
          EVERYBODY READY? ALL RIGHT. 
          FIRST, UH, CRAIG AND STEPHANIE ALLEN, CONGRATULATIONS. 
          CONGRATULATIONS, 
          [00:05:12]
FAWN AND COLLINS BAILEY, CONGRATULATIONS. 
          RUSS BAUER. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. 
          RU THANKS. 
          APPRECIATE IT. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. 
          KEEP THE PROGRAM GOING. 
          BETH BOIAN. 
          CONGRATULATIONS, ALDERMAN. 
          SHARON BRYANT. 
          NADINE BUCHANAN. 
          APPRECIATE IT. 
          ROBERT ALCA, CONGRATULATIONS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MY PLEASURE. 
          GREAT JOB PIERCE AND LAUREN GODWIN. 
          THANK YOU JEFFREY AND DEBORAH JARDINE. 
          THANK YOU, MARVA. 
          LONG, BEAUTIFUL DRE NICKS. 
          CONGRATULATIONS 
          [00:10:05]
ALAN NORRIS. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. 
          GREAT JOB. 
          THAT'S ALL I NEED. 
          , JANET O'GRADY. 
          CINDY PURUM. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          YOU. 
          AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, CAROL WILLIAMS. CONGRATULATIONS. 
          CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GRADUATES. 
          THANK YOU MAYOR, BOARD OF ALDERMAN AND MANAGERS. 
          I'LL LET YOU GET BACK TO YOUR SEAT. 
          THIS IS A, THIS IS A PRETTY BIG CLASS. 
          I'LL HAVE YOU GO BACK TO THE DAY 'CAUSE THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF OUR LARGEST CLASSES AND WE MIGHT NOT ALL FIT IN A PHOTO. 
          YOU DON'T NEED YOUR CERTIFICATES. 
          UM, IF YOU JUST WANT TO COME UP SO I CAN TAKE A PHOTO OF YOU, THAT'D BE GREAT. 
          YEAH. 
          MY COMPUTER'S ALL MISSING IN FRONT OF THIS BIG CLASS. 
          NOW, THE POWER POINT QUICKER, SO WE CAN GET DONE PRETTY QUICKLY. 
          OKAY, 
          [13. Conduct a Public Hearing on the Proposed Budget for FY 2026- 2027.]
NOW FOR THE REAL FUN TOPIC. 
          THANK YOU MR. HUGHES. 
          WE ARE GOING TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FY 26 27. 
          SO, UH, MAYOR ALDERMAN, YOU MAY REMEMBER ALL IN OUR LAST MEETING ON APRIL 14TH, I PRESENTED THE PROPOSED BUDGET TO THE BOARD. 
          I DO WANT TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF CLARIFICATION. 
          I'VE HEARD OF A FEW THINGS FROM, FROM THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE PROPOSED TAX INCREASE. 
          SO BACK IN OCTOBER OF 2025, UH, THE VOTING CITIZENS OF NEW BRUN PRO, UH, PROPO, UM, VOTED FOR A $24 MILLION BOND REFERENDUM. 
          THREE QUESTIONS WERE ON THAT BALLOT. 
          ONE WAS A $10 MILLION STREET AND SIDEWALK PROJECT THAT WAS APPROVED BY 69.6% MARGIN, A $6 MILLION STORM 
          [00:15:01]
WATER PROJECTS THAT WAS APPROVED BY 75.6% MARGIN AND $8 MILLION IN PARKS AND RECREATION PROJECTS. 
          AND THAT, THAT WAS APPROVED BY 65.7% MARGIN. 
          THAT $24 MILLION BOND PROJECT AUTOMATICALLY BRINGS A 2.75, UH, CENT TAX INCREASE, WHICH WILL BE EFFECTIVE, UH, IN FY 27. 
          UH, THE BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES A RECOMMENDED POINT QUARTER OF A CENT 0 CENT INCREASE TO ROUND UP FROM 39 CENTS, WHICH IS OUR, IS OUR CURRENT TAX RATE TO A PROPOSED 42% TAX INCREASE. 
          SO, JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. 
          IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, I'M HAPPY TO, UH, GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL. 
          OTHERWISE, UH, IT'S NOW TIME FOR THE HEARING. 
          DOES THE BOARD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? UH, YES. 
          MR. HUGHES, I JUST WANT YOU TO CLARIFY FOR ME, UM, YOU ARE SAYING THE, THE, UM, TAX INCREASE PORTION OF THAT IS FROM THE BOND REFERENDUM, WHICH IS 2.75 CENTS AND, AND A QUARTER OF A CENT IS PROPOSED TO BALANCE THE BUDGET OKAY. 
          FOR THE TAX INCREASE TO 42 CENTS. 
          THAT'S CORRECT. 
          JUST WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WE'RE ONLY DOING POINT A QUARTER OF A PENNY. 
          ALRIGHT, THANK YOU, SIR. 
          YES, MA'AM. 
          OKAY. 
          THERE'S NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD AT THIS TIME. 
          I'LL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING. 
          ANYBODY FROM THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO COME FORTH AND SPEAK. 
          PLEASE DO SO AT THIS TIME, NOT EVERYBODY AT ONCE. 
          YEAH. 
          I MAKE A MOTION. 
          WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. 
          SECOND A MOTION. 
          HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. 
          IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. 
          ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. 
          AYE. 
          AYE. 
          ANY OPPOSED? PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. 
          UM, NO ACT, NO FURTHER ACTION. 
          WE HAVE OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP ON TUESDAY, MAY 5TH AT 9:00 AM AT THE STANLEY WHITE RECREATION CENTER. 
          THAT MEETING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. 
          THERE WILL ALSO BE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. 
          VERY GOOD. 
          OKAY. 
          WE'LL 
          [14. Presentation by Downtown Business Council on Alcohol Sales During Downtown Events.]
MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 14, A PRESENTATION BY THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS COUNCIL ON ALCOHOL SALES DURING DOWNTOWN EVENTS. 
          MR. HUGHES. 
          OKAY. 
          AT THIS TIME, I BELIEVE WE'VE GOT REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS COUNCIL TO COME AND MAKE A PRESENTATION FOR US. 
          HI, I'M KATIE TRIPLET. 
          I'M FROM SER WIND AND FIRE AND NEW BERN GOODS. 
          I'M THE CHAIR OF THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS COUNCIL BOARD. 
          UM, I'D LIKE TO START THIS OFF WITH, UM, BY SAYING, ANDY ALLEN IS THE NORTH CAROLINA RETAIL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION, UM, PRESIDENT, AND THIS IS A QUOTE HE RECENTLY MADE. 
          UM, SOCIAL DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN A STRONG SUCCESS IN NORTH CAROLINA BY THE FACT THAT MOST, THAT ALMOST 70 MUNICIPALITIES HAVE CREATED SOCIAL DISTRICTS. 
          NORTH CAROLINA, NOT A SINGLE MUNICIPALITY, HAS REVERSED FORCE AND REPEALED ORDINANCE CREATING THEIR SOCIAL DISTRICT. 
          UM, WE NEED TO DRIVE MORE FOOT TRAFFIC INTO OUR TOWN, AND ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO DO IT IS BY CREATING A SOCIAL DISTRICT. 
          WE CURRENTLY HAVE HAD TWO. 
          WE HAVE NEW YEAR'S EVE, AND WE JUST RECENTLY HAD MARDI GRAS. 
          WE HAVE HAD VERY GOOD, UM, FEEDBACK WITH THOSE. 
          WE'VE HAD GOOD TURNOUT. 
          THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY NEGATIVE NEGATIVITY FROM THOSE EVENTS. 
          UM, WE'D LIKE TO BRING MORE PEOPLE D INTO OUR DOWNTOWN AND KEEP THEM DOWNTOWN SOCIAL DI DISTRICTS TO DO THAT. 
          UM, IT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT AND A SAFE PLACE FOR OTHERS. 
          UM, THEY ARE USUALLY, WE'RE HOPING THAT YOU GUYS WOULD BE, UM, WOULD LIKE TO, UM, PUT TO THE TABLE PROBABLY A EVENT BASED STARTING OFF WITH AND HAVING IT FAMILY FRIENDLY, STARTING WITH A VERY SMALL FOOTPRINT. 
          UM, THERE SHOULD BE A BIG EMPHASIS ON THE LOCAL ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT AND HOW IT COULD BENEFIT THOSE. 
          UM, WE DID A SURVEY WITH OUR DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR ASKING THEM, UH, WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE FOR THE COUNCIL TO FOCUS ON. 
          THE TOP TWO WAS IMPLEMENTING A SOCIAL DISTRICT AND EVENT COORDINATION AND DOWNTOWN FOOT TRAFFIC IN CREATING A SIP AND STROLL OR SOCIAL DISTRICT. 
          WE COULD, 
          [00:20:01]
UH, BRING IN MORE FOOT TRAFFIC. 
          MORE FOOT TRAFFIC COULD MEAN MORE BUSINESS, MORE REVENUE FOR THE BUSINESSES. 
          UM, WE HAVE SEEN IN TOWNS THAT HAVE THIS A 5% INCREASE IN REVENUE. 
          MORE REVENUE WOULD WOULD MEAN MORE TAXES FOR THE CITY. 
          UM, THIS DOES NOT MEAN THERE WOULD BE AN INCREASE OR TRASH AND VIOLENCE. 
          NONE OF THESE PLACES, UH, THERE'S OVER 70 MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE HAD THEM. 
          UM, SOME CITIES HAVE MORE THAN ONE DISTRICT. 
          I DID HAVE A LIST OF THEM, SORRY. 
          UM, WE WERE HOPING THAT MAYBE WE COULD HAVE SOME EVENT BASED, UM, UM, TRIALS WHERE WE COULD COME BACK AND SPEAK TO THE CITY OFFICIALS, DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS, AND EVEN THE LOCAL CITIZENS AND GET FEEDBACK. 
          WE HAVE ALSO, UH, THERE'S PLENTY OF RESTROOMS WITHIN OUR, UM, DOWNTOWN FOOTPRINT WHERE WE DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT, UH, PEOPLE HAVING ANY ISSUES WITH THAT. 
          THERE'S, UH, CIRCLING AND FIRE, NEW BERN GOODS, THE PEPSI STORE AS RETAIL. 
          UH, THERE'S UNION POINT, HISTORY CENTER, THE CLUBHOUSE, SOME OF THE RESTAURANTS OPEN IT TO THE PUBLIC. 
          YEARS AGO WE WENT AHEAD AND HAVE INCREASED OUR, UM, THE MOUNTED TRASH CANS THAT WE HAVE. 
          AND USUALLY THESE ARE A SELF, UM, POLICING EVENTS WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO INCREASE YOUR, UM, THE, YOUR POLICE. 
          DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? AUGUST, THIS BOARD? HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMENT? I DO HAVE A QUESTION. 
          UM, OF 68 SOCIAL DISTRICTS, WHAT, WHAT DO THEY RANGE FROM? THEY'RE NOT ALL IDENTICAL, ARE THEY? NO, SIR. 
          AND SO WHAT, WHAT WOULD BE THE, THE EXTREME, THE EXTREME CASE AND WHAT WILL BE A VERY CONSERVATIVE SEXUAL DISTRICT? I'M TRYING TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE NEWBURN FITS AND WHAT THE MODEL LOOK. 
          UM, SO MOUNT ERIE ACTUALLY DID THEIRS IN DIFFERENT THREE DIFFERENT PHASES. 
          THEY DID ONE AS A TRIAL RUN, AND THEY DID IT EVENT BASED ONLY. 
          UM, AND WHEN THEY DID A YEAR OF THAT, AND AFTER THAT YEAR, THERE WERE NO ISSUES. 
          SECOND, THEY WENT ALONG AND THEY DID IT AS, UM, A LIMITED SCHEDULE. 
          SO ONLY ON WEEKENDS, LIMITED TIME. 
          AND THEN, UM, THEY ALSO DID EVENTS AND THEN A YEAR LATER THERE WERE NO ISSUES. 
          SO THEN THEY MADE IT A FULL-TIME. 
          UH, DOWNTOWN EDENTON HAS HAD IT FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS. 
          THEY DO IT THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, I BELIEVE. 
          AND THEY HAVE LIMITED HOURS. 
          SO I MEAN, JUST, YOU KNOW, APPRECI SAFETY. 
          I MEAN, AN EXTREME WOULD BE LIKE, I DON'T KNOW, WILMINGTON, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE A LAR MUCH LARGER. 
          UM, WE DON'T HAVE AS MANY, UM, RESIDENTS OR PEOPLE THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT. 
          OKAY. 
          THAT, THAT'S GOOD. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MM-HMM . 
          IT, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING IN TALKING WITH YOU AND TALKING WITH, AND I SEE QUITE A BIT OUT HERE OF, UH, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND AS WELL AS BUSINESS OWNERS FROM UP P*****K. 
          THAT MARDI GRAS WAS ESSENTIALLY, IT WAS A, WE CLOSED THE STREETS, HAD A FESTIVAL, HAD A BEER BENDER, AND WAS A SOCIAL DISTRICT. 
          BUT THE SALES WERE LIMITED TO JUST THAT ONE VENDOR. 
          CORRECT. 
          THERE WAS ONLY ONE VENDOR, MEANING THAT, SO WE SELL ALCOHOL IN OUR, UM, BUSINESS. 
          AND SO WE WERE ALLOWED TO SELL ALCOHOL, BUT THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE IT OUTSIDE OF OUR BUSINESS. 
          UM, SO THAT LIMITED THEM PEOPLE TO BUYING WHATEVER THEY WERE WILLING TO BUY. 
          SAME WITH THE OTHER RESTAURANTS. 
          THIS WOULD OPEN IT UP SO THAT WE COULD SELL THE ALCOHOL. 
          THINK ABOUT IF WE DID IT ON EVENT BASED. 
          AND THERE ALL THE RESTAURANTS ARE FULL. 
          THERE'S AN HOUR WAIT. 
          YOU COULD GO INTO, I DON'T KNOW, THE CHELSEA, ALL THE BAR SEATS ARE TAKEN. 
          YOU CAN WALK IN THERE, YOU CAN HAVE GRAB A TO-GO CUP IN THE SPECIAL TO GO CUP AND YOU CAN GET A COCKTAIL OR A DRINK, AND THEN YOU CAN WALK OUT AND YOU CAN WALK AND WINDOW SHOP. 
          YOU CAN WALK INTO THE, UM, 
          [00:25:01]
TO THE RETAIL STORES THAT DO ALLOW IT. 
          NOT ALL WILL, BUT YOU, LIKE MY BUSINESS, THEY COULD NOT WALK INTO IT, BUT THEY COULD WINDOW SHOP AND THEN WHEN THEY FINISHED THEIR DRINK, THEY COULD COME IN WITH IT, LIKE COME IN AND GET ANOTHER ONE IF THEY LIKE. 
          SO WE HAD THIS, SO WE HAD THIS EVENT DOWNTOWN BROUGHT CLOSE TO 12,000 PEOPLE BASED ON THE DATA THEY'RE WALKING AROUND WITH. 
          I MEAN, WALKING AROUND OPEN CONTAINERS, DRINKING ON THE, ON THE STREETS BECAUSE WE'VE CLOSED THE STREETS, BUT NOT ABLE TO GO INTO THE DIFFERENT SHOPS AND HAVE THE SHOPS CAPITALIZE ON ALL THOSE PEOPLE UNLESS THEY FINISH WITH THEIR, THEIR DRINK IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? YES. 
          I, IT IS UP TO THE, TO THE BUSINESS OWNER IF THEY ALLOW ALCOHOL OR NOT OUTSIDE ALCOHOL OR ANY DRINK OR FOOD FOR THAT MATTER. 
          BOARD. 
          I THINK WE HAVE A, A BENEFIT OF ABOUT TWO YEARS OF HINDSIGHT, UH, TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT HOW THIS MODEL HAS WORKED ACROSS THE STATE. 
          WHAT I THINK MAKES A LOT OF SENSE IS WHEN WE HAVE THESE SPECIAL EVENTS THAT WE ALLOW OF A SEPARATE EVENT BASED PERMIT FOR THESE SIP AND STROLLS THAT WE HAVE TWO ZONES, A DOWNTOWN ZONE, AND THEN A ZONE UP IN P*****K. 
          THE P*****K STREET KIND OF CORRIDOR BETWEEN FRESHWATER BREWERY 99 AND, UH, FIREFLY THAT WE HAVE THESE TWO ZONES THAT CAN BE TURNED ON AND OFF BASED ON A PERMIT. 
          AND JUST LIKE WE DO WITH A ROAD CLOSURE, IF WE HAD AN APPLICANT WHO WAS DOING AN EVENT, UM, AND WANTED TO HAVE THIS PERMIT BASED SIP AND STROLL, THEY APPLY, IT COMES FOR THIS BOARD. 
          WE SAY, OKAY, WE TURN ON THE SWITCH. 
          YOU CAN HAVE IT FOR THIS EVENT THIS SATURDAY FROM, YOU KNOW, NOON TO FIVE WHENEVER YOUR EVENT. 
          AND IT ALLOWS TO DRIVE THAT FOOT TRAFFIC IN THAT AREA AND HELP THOSE BUSINESSES, NOT JUST THE RETAIL, BUT ALSO THE BARS AND RESTAURANTS SELLING. 
          SO YOU DON'T HAVE IT LIMITED TO ONE VENDOR. 
          SO I, I KNOW I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF US TONIGHT GIVING OUR ATTORNEY SOME DIRECTION OR CONSENSUS TO PUT TOGETHER A DRAFT ORDINANCE TO FLOAT AROUND TO LET PEOPLE LOOK AT, COMMENT ON AND TO REFINE TO SEE IF WE'RE ABLE TO DO THIS. 
          AGAIN, EVENT BASED PERMITTING SYSTEM. 
          I, I AM NOT CURRENTLY ADVOCATING THAT WE JUST DO THE ZONE SOCIAL DISTRICT. 
          I THINK THE WAY IT WAS HANDLED THE LAST TIME AROUND, UM, GOT TOO BIG TOO FAST AND NOT, AND, AND AGAIN, DIDN'T HAVE THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. 
          AND SO I THINK IF WE CAN TIE IT TO A, A PERMIT SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS THIS BODY TO SAY YES OR NO, IT, TO ME IT'S WORTH A TRY. 
          SO I, I WOULD ASK THIS BOARD TO GIVE THAT CONSENSUS AND, UH, ALLOW THE ATTORNEY TO KIND OF DRAFT SOME FOUNDATION FOR US TO GO OFF OF AND ENGAGE WITH RESIDENTS BUSINESSES TO TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE. 
          HOW ARE, HOW DIFFICULT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS TO, TO ME, IT WOULD BE, THE APPLICATION PROCESS WOULD BE TIED JUST LIKE WE DO WITH A, WITH A SPECIAL EVENT OR A STREET CLOSURE. 
          THAT PERMIT HOLDER PAYS A FEE FOR THE PERMIT. 
          THEY'RE IN CHARGE OF TRASH IF, UH, THEY'RE IN CHARGE OF THE SAFETY COMPONENT. 
          IF THERE NEEDS TO BE ONE FOR A SPECIAL EVENT AND, UH, NOT ONUS, BUT AGAIN, COMING BEFORE THIS BOARD TO GET PERMISSION FOR THAT, YOU KNOW, SPECIFIC EVENT, NOT A THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY TYPE OF DEAL. 
          MA'AM, I JUST WANT A QUESTION. 
          UH, I KNOW YOU GAVE ME A PRESENTATION, BUT HAVE THE DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS BEEN POLLED OR, OR, UH, WE DID A, A PETITION BEEN, SO WE DID A SURVEY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. 
          OKAY. 
          AND THE TOP TWO. 
          SO OVER HALF OF, UM, THE MERCHANTS ASKED FOR THAT, FOR THE SOCIAL DISTRICT AND FOR IMPLEMENTING MORE FOOT TRAFFIC. 
          OKAY. 
          SO, SO BOARD, I, I DON'T BELIEVE WE NEED TO DO A FORM OF MOTION UNLESS THE ATTORNEY DISAGREES WITH ME. 
          BUT I THINK IF WE COULD JUST GIVE SOME CONSENSUS FOR THE ATTORNEY TO DRAFT A, A PERMIT BASED SIP AND STROLL MODEL ORDINANCE FOR US TO LOOK AT, GET INFORMATION FROM THE PUBLIC ON AND, AND THEN LOOK AT ADOPTING. 
          I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT SUPPORT. 
          YES. 
          I WOULD, I BELIEVE I SAID LAST TIME, IT'S, I'M WAY MORE SUPPORTIVE OF HAVING A LIMITED ONE ASSOCIATED WITH SPECIAL EVENTS THEN ALL YEAR ROUND AND BE ABLE TO READDRESS THIS AFTER A YEAR AND MAKE SURE LIKE OTHER EX OTHER TOWNS ARE EXPERIENCING NO ADVERSE EFFECTS. 
          ANYBODY OPPOSED TO THE ATTORNEY DRAFTING SOMETHING UP FOR US? I'LL REVIEW. 
          BUT ARE WE GONNA DO IT FOR JUST A YEAR? LIKE, UM, IT WON'T, YES. 
          IT, IT WON'T HAVE A, IT WON'T HAVE A TIMEFRAME TO IT. 
          YOU'LL JUST HAVE A DRAFT AND IT WILL LIVE AS LONG AS YOU WANT IT TO LIVE, AND YOU CAN CHANGE IT WHENEVER YOU WANT. 
          OKAY. 
          OKAY. 
          I DON'T SEE ANY OPPOSITION. 
          SO YOU HAVE ANY DIRECTION? YES, SIR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          VERY GOOD, THANK YOU. 
          [15. Update on HPC Guidelines and Standards.]
NEXT IS ITEM NUMBER 15, UPDATE ON HPC GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS. 
          MS. RUTH, 20 MINUTES. 
          IT'S ALL YOURS. 
          I CAN DO THIS IN 
          [00:30:01]
THREE FOR YOU AS REQUESTED. 
          I'M GONNA HOLD YOU TO IT. 
          ALL RIGHT. 
          GOOD EVENING. 
          I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO GIVE AN INTERIM UPDATE ON WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED SINCE MY LAST UPDATE TO THIS BOARD, WHICH WAS ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO. 
          NOW, ESRI LAY TO OUR HVC DOCUMENT AND PROCEDURAL UPDATES WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON. 
          AND I'M GONNA WALK THROUGH A LIST OF THINGS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE ALREADY AND THEN I'LL FILL YOU IN ON WHERE WE'RE GOING NEXT. 
          FIRST THING WE HAVE DONE IN RESPONSE TO SOME FEEDBACK IS WE MOVED OUR DESIGN REVIEW MEETINGS INTO THIS ROOM, UM, AND NO LONGER HOLDING THEM IN THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES CONFERENCE ROOM WHERE THEY HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN HELD FOR TRANSPARENCY AND FOR RECORDING PURPOSES. 
          AND WE ARE, UM, GETTING VIEW VIEWERSHIP ON OUR HBC DESIGN REVIEW MEETINGS ONLINE. 
          BASED ON THE EMAIL FEEDBACK AND QUESTIONS I'VE BEEN RECEIVING , WE HAVE CONTINUED TO MEET EVERY TUESDAY WITH TWO TO THREE HBC COMMISSIONERS TO REVIEW OUR PROGRESS, BRAINSTORM, DRAFT AND RESEARCH. 
          THESE ARE TYPICALLY ABOUT TWO HOUR MEETINGS WITH LEADERSHIP STAFF, HPC STAFF CHAIRMAN MORRISON, AND TWO OTHER COMMISSIONERS ATTENDING. 
          TYPICALLY, THE CONTENT IS DISCUSSED AND DEBATED AND THEN DISTRIBUTED OUT TO HPC MEMBERS FOR DRAFTING. 
          ON APRIL 7TH, WE HAD A SPECIAL MEETING TO REVIEW PRESERVATION BRIEF 16, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T SPEAK HPC, THAT IS THE GUIDANCE OFFERED FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ON MANY OF THESE HISTORIC PRESERVATION ISSUES. 
          AND AT THIS MEETING, WE ACTUALLY ALSO DISCUSSED ALTERNATIVE SUBSTITUTE AND COMPOSITE MATERIALS ALMOST THE ENTIRE BOARD ATTENDED, AND THEY WEIGHED OUT PROS AND CONS, SHARED THEIR OPINIONS REGARDING MODIFICATIONS TO DECKING, ROOFS, DOORS, WINDOWS, FENCING, AND SIDING, AND WHERE THOSE MATERIALS MAY OR MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE ON HISTORIC STRUCTURES IN NEWBURN. 
          IF YOU RECALL FROM MY LAST UPDATE, UH, ORIGINALLY OUR PLAN WAS TO SEPARATE THAT OUT AND MAYBE DO THAT LATER, BUT I'M, UH, HAPPY TO REPORT. 
          I THINK THAT'S PROGRESSING IN LINE WITH THE OTHER UPDATES, AND THAT'S GONNA PUT US SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF OUR SCHEDULE, WHICH IS A GOOD THING. 
          OUR RESEARCH IS ALMOST COMPLETE ON COMPARISONS TO ALL OF OUR BENCHMARK CITIES, THE, THE CITIES THAT WE GO TO THAT ARE HISTORIC, THAT ARE ABOUT OUR SIZE, THAT HAVE THE SAME VOLUME OF HISTORIC STRUCTURES, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. 
          UM, AND WE'RE COMPARING ALL THESE HOT TOPICS THAT HAVE COME UP OVER THE LAST YEAR WITH HOW ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES AND SISTER CITIES ARE HANDLING 'EM. 
          COMMISSIONER THOMPSON, I HAVE TO GIVE HIM A MAJOR, MAJOR SHOUT OUT. 
          HE HAS DONE AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING JOB, UH, DOING THIS COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH FOR US AND FOR THE BOARD AND FOR OUR CITIZENS. 
          AND IT IS MY HOPES THAT WHEN WE HAVE THE DRAFT READY AND IT'S OUT, THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT SOME OF THIS RESEARCH AND LOOK AT IT IN TANDEM WHILE YOU'RE READING THE DRAFT AND THINK, WELL, HOW DOES EDENTON DO THIS? OR HOW DOES LITTLE WASHINGTON, OR HOW DOES BEFOR DO THAT? AND YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO SEE THAT VERY EASILY. 
          THE SECOND THING THAT COMMISSIONER THOMPSON HAS DONE IS HE HAS DRAFTED A VERY EASY TO UNDERSTAND CHART OF POLICIES AND THE AREAS WHERE THEY APPLY TO. 
          SO THAT IS REALLY COOL AND CAN ALSO BE USED WHEN WE REVIEWING A DRAFT TO SEE, WELL, DOES THIS, DOES THIS WORK HERE? OR DOES THIS WORK THERE? AND WHAT THIS DOES IS LAYS OUT, HERE'S THE POLICY. 
          DOES IT APPLY TO A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE? DOES IT APPLY TO AN ADDITION? DOES IT APPLY TO INFILL DEVELOPMENT? AND THAT MAKES IT VERY EASY TO UNDERSTAND. 
          AND I THINK YOU AND THE PUBLIC ARE REALLY GONNA ENJOY USING THAT. 
          WHEN YOU GO THROUGH AND TRY TO MAKE SENSE OF THESE CHANGES THAT WE'RE PROPOSING, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO ADD LOGICAL ITEMS ONTO OUR MINOR WORKS LIST. 
          NOW, JUST A REFRESHER FOR EVERYONE. 
          IF SOMETHING IS NOT SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT ON A MINOR WORKS LIST IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT, THEN BY DEFAULT THAT GETS PROCESSED AS A MAJOR CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS, WHICH REQUIRES A TRIP TO THE HPC. 
          THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT COME UP THAT ARE PRETTY SMALL THAT UNFORTUNATELY THE, THE WAY THAT IS, UH, THE PARAMETERS THAT WE WORK WITH UNDER THE STATE LAW, IT HAS TO GO THROUGH THAT HEARING. 
          SO, UH, WE HAVE CONTINUED EVERY FEW MEETINGS TO ADD THINGS ON TO THE MINOR WORKS LIST, WHICH MEANS IT CAN BE PROCESSED BY STAFF IN HOUSE. 
          AT THE APRIL 15TH MEETING, THEY LISTED A, UH, A NUMBER OF OUTDOOR THINGS THAT ARE CONTINUOUSLY COMING UP THAT HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE WEBSITE. 
          WE ARE ALSO, UH, I THINK TODAY OR YESTERDAY UPDATED. 
          UM, SO YOU CAN SEE AND TRACK WHEN THOSE CHANGES WERE MADE IF YOU'RE SEEKING, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW SOMETHING WAS PERMITTED. 
          WE HAVE MET WITH A GROUP FROM HYDRO LAST MONTH, UM, TO DISCUSS OUR UPDATE PROCESS AND SOME OF THEIR IDEAS AND SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS. 
          AND AT THIS MEETING, STAFF COMMITTED TO SENDING OUT MAILED NOTIFICATION TO ALL PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN BOTH OF OUR HISTORIC DISTRICTS. 
          UM, SO THEY WILL GET A LINK THAT, THAT 
          [00:35:01]
THEY CAN PUNCH IN AND GO SEE THE DRAFT WHEN THAT'S POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE. 
          AND ALSO, WE CAN ADVERTISE OUR PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITIES WHEN WE GET THOSE SET UP. 
          AND WE HAVE HAD TWO MEETINGS AND WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER TOMORROW AFTERNOON REGARDING ALTERNATIVE MEETING FORMATS. 
          UM, OUR, OUR GOAL HERE IS TO SHORTEN UP OUR MEETINGS. 
          WE CAN'T SHORTEN ALL THE MEETINGS, BUT WE CAN AND WILL MAKE OUR PRESENTATIONS MORE SUCCINCT. 
          SOME OF THE CHANGES BEING MADE ARE TO REQUIRE THE APPLICANT TO PRESENT SOME MORE DETAILS OF THEIR PROJECT. 
          SO YOU'RE HEARING LESS FROM STAFF AND MORE FROM THE DESIGN PROFESSIONALS WHO WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE PROJECT. 
          WE WILL BE ROLLING OUT A NEWLY CREATED POWERPOINT TEMPLATE AT OUR NEXT REGULAR MEETING THAT DRAWS YOUR ATTENTION, RATHER FROM AN OVERWHELMING PACKET, BUT TO LINGERING DETAILS AND PROBLEMS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN SOLVED SINCE THE PROJECT WENT THROUGH DESIGN REVIEW. 
          AND TO SURMISE WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE THEN, AND THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WERE REQUESTED OF THE HBC TO MEET OUR GUIDELINES IN, IN THE TWO WEEKS, OR THE TIMEFRAME BETWEEN WHEN THE PROJECT WAS REVIEWED AT DESIGN REVIEW AND WHEN IT WAS HEARD AT THE HEARING, CHANGES BEING MADE ALSO INCLUDE ADOPTING ALL OF THE DETAILS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE STAFF REPORT AS EVIDENCE INTO THE RECORD RATHER THAN READING IT INTO THE RECORD AS HAS HAS BEEN DONE FOR THE LAST DECADE OR SO. 
          THAT ALONE WILL SAVE QUITE A BIT OF TIME FROM OUR HPC MEETINGS AND, AND HOPEFULLY LEAD TO SOME MORE EFFICIENCY THERE. 
          SO WHERE DO WE GO NEXT? WE HAVE A COUPLE OF LINGERING ISSUES. 
          THE BOARD STILL WORKING THROUGH. 
          WE NEED TO DO SOME MORE WORK ON POLICIES ON ADDITIONS AND DEFINING WHAT AN ADDITION IS. 
          WE NEED TO GIVE SOME MORE CONSIDERATION TO DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS. 
          WE ARE NOT QUITE DONE WITH PARKING LOT AND LANDSCAPING AND DECIDING IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANNA MAINTAIN AS AN HPC ISSUE OR WATER DOWN. 
          I, I THINK WE'RE TRACKING TOWARDS PROBABLY DOING FAR LESS OF THAT, AND THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME MORE CONVERSATION ON INFILL DEVELOPMENT. 
          SO WE STILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A, A NUMBER OF TOPICS TO GET THROUGH, BUT THEY'RE ALL STARTED AND MOVING. 
          AND THEN LASTLY, OUR INTENT AND PURPOSE SECTION IS NOT QUITE, WELL, IT'S NOT STARTED YET. 
          WE SAVE THAT FOR THE END TO SEE, SEE HOW THESE THINGS TRACK. 
          BUT FROM WHERE WE STARTED, WE HAVE GOTTEN QUITE A BIT DONE SINCE MY LAST UPDATE. 
          SO THAT SAID, I BELIEVE THE DRAFT'S GONNA BE READY FOR THE HBC COMMISSIONERS TO REVIEW IN A MEETING IN A FEW WEEKS. 
          SO, UH, YOU KNOW THAT, THAT SCHEDULE COULD OF COURSE SHIFT A LITTLE BIT. 
          I AM WORKING WITH, UH, VOLUNTEER TIER AND SOMETIMES THE SCHEDULING CAN GET A LITTLE BIT WONKY WHEN YOU'RE WORKING WITH VOLUNTEERS AND NOT STAFF. 
          BUT WE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB SO FAR, AND I'M CONFIDENT THEY'RE GONNA BRING THIS TO THE FINISH LINE. 
          ONCE THEY HAVE DONE THAT, WE'LL POST IT PUBLICLY FOR REVIEWS AND COMMENTS. 
          WE'LL START SCHEDULING OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES. 
          UH, YOU ALL CAN ADVISE ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE THIS PRESENTED BEFORE IT GOES OUT OR, OR HOW EXACTLY. 
          UM, I THINK YOU'LL PROBABLY GET ONE MORE UPDATE BEFORE WE'RE AT THAT POINT, AND WE'LL FIGURE THAT OUT AT THAT POINT IN TIME. 
          DRAFT IS STILL TRACKING ON THE MID-SPRING TIMELINE, I ESTIMATED IN THE LAST UPDATE. 
          UM, AND THAT IS VERY MUCH DUE TO A HPC THAT IS COMMITTED TO MAKING THESE UPDATES AND THESE CHANGES AND GETTING IT DONE. 
          THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF WORK. 
          I KNOW I CALLED OUT COMMISSIONER THOMPSON, BUT THAT ENTIRE BOARD HAS BEEN PARTICIPATING IN THIS AND AT A, AT A MEETING THAT WAS SCHEDULED RELATIVELY LAST MINUTE TO GET SOME WORK DONE THAT COULDN'T BE FINISHED AT ANOTHER MEETING, EVERYBODY BUT ONE COMMISSIONER ATTENDED AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN SOME HARD CONVERSATIONS. 
          AND SO THAT WAS REALLY NICE TO SEE IN THAT MEETING ALONE, T TRACKED US FORWARD, UM, REALLY NICELY. 
          AND SO WHEN THIS IS ULTIMATELY ADOPTED, AFTER A PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD REVIEW, UH, IT WILL COME HERE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING. 
          AT THAT POINT, WE'LL MOVE INTO FINESSING THE RULES OF PROCEDURE MORE. 
          THE WEBSITE, UM, UPDATED AND IT IS NOTABLE IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET. 
          WE, WE DID REQUEST SOME FUNDING TO HAVE THE DOCUMENT PROFESSIONALLY ORGANIZED, LINKED GRAPHICS INCLUDED, UM, AND HAVE THAT SEARCHABILITY FUNCTION THAT THE PUBLIC REALLY EXPECTS FROM GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS AT THIS POINT. 
          AND SO WITH THAT, I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY, UH, UH, INQUIRIES YOU, YOU GUYS MIGHT HAVE AND OUR HBC ADMINISTRATORS HERE THIS EVENING AS WELL, IF YOU HAVE TECHNICAL QUESTIONS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          DOES THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? UH, JUST A QUICK COMMENT AND QUESTION. 
          I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR WORK AND THE ADMINISTRATOR, MR. SHELLEY'S WORK ON THIS AS WELL AS ALL THE COMMISSIONERS. 
          I KNOW THIS WAS A, AND IT CONTINUES TO BE A HEAVY LIFT. 
          AND, UH, FROM MY CONVERSATIONS, I KNOW YOU HAVE HEARD THIS BOARD OF WHAT WE WANT TO SEE AN UPDATE, AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING A DRAFT. 
          UM, MY QUESTION IS, DO YOU ANTICIPATE US BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE HEARING AND CHANGE IN JULY AUGUST 
          [00:40:01]
TIMELINE, OR ARE YOU LOOKING FURTHER THAN THAT? OH, I, I VERY MUCH HOPE THIS IS WRAPPED UP BY JULY. 
          ME TOO, LISA. 
          OKAY, GREAT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          SCOTT'S SMILING. 
          THANK YOU JESSICA. 
          THANK YOU ALL. 
          JESS, JUST ONE, ONE COMMENT. 
          SURE. 
          UH, I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP THE, THE LENGTH OF THE MEETINGS, UM, BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE VERY TIRESOME. 
          UM, I JUST, I'VE HAD A LOT OF COMMENTS FROM FOLKS THAT COME AND EVEN SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS THAT, AS YOU SAID ARE VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE SITTING ON THE BOARD. 
          UM, WE'VE HAD, UH, OR YOU'VE HAD SIX HPC MEETINGS OF VARIOUS TYPES THIS YEAR. 
          UM, TWO OF THOSE HAVE PUSHED FOUR HOURS. 
          AND WHEN I COMPARE THAT TO THE BOARD OF AUDIT MEETING WHERE WE'RE TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS FOR THE ENTIRE CITY, OUR MEETINGS DON'T LAST THAT LONG. 
          UM, I'VE, I'VE WATCHED SOME, I HAVEN'T WATCHED IT FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END. 
          UH, I DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH TIME TO DEDICATE TO IT, BUT, UM, THERE'S DEFINITELY A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME EFFICIENCIES AND, UH, SO I CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. 
          AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE BECAUSE IT, WE ARE IMPROVING, UH, WE'RE NOT THERE YET, BUT IS BETTER THAN WHAT WAS, SO I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT. 
          WE APPRECIATE THAT. 
          THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. 
          THANK YOU. 
          OKAY, 
          [16. Discuss a Feasibility Study.]
BOARD NEXT UP IS ITEM NUMBER 16, DISCUSS THE FEASIBILITY STUDY. 
          MR. HUGHES, AT THE LAST MEETING, THE MAYOR ASKED THE BOARD TO CONSIDER FUNDING A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR A FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX. 
          THE FEASIBILITY STUDY WOULD EVALUATE THE MARKET DEMAND AND FINANCIAL VIABILITY FOR FAMILY-ORIENTED ENTERTAINMENT USES IN NEWBURN. 
          IT WOULD IDENTIFY THE TYPES AND SCALE OF AMENITIES THE COMMUNITY CAN REALISTICALLY SUPPORT BASED ON POPULATION TOURISM AND REGIONAL TRENDS. 
          AND THE GOAL WOULD BE TO PROVIDE CLEAR DATA-DRIVEN GUIDANCE THAT CAN BE SHARED WITH PROSPECTIVE DEVELOPERS HELPING POSITION NEWBURN FOR A SUCCESSFUL AND SUSTAINABLE FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT. 
          INVESTMENTS. 
          COST FOR THIS STUDY WOULD BE $17,500. 
          FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS BUDGET. 
          HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. 
          THE BOARD MAY HAVE THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS. 
          THE ONLY, UH, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD IDEA. 
          I THINK, UH, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AND WHEN WE GET THE REPORT, IF WE APPROVE IT, WHAT WE DO WITH IT, AND IF WE DO THIS AND WHATEVER IT SAYS, IF FOUR OR FIVE CORPORATIONS WON'T COME IN HERE AND DO IT, THAT'S, THAT'S FINE WITH ME. 
          AS LONG AS THEY CAN, UH, FROM THAT DECIPHER WHAT WILL MAKE IT WORK FOR THEM. 
          UM, WHICH KIND OF BRINGS ME TO SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT RELATED TO THAT. 
          IT IS JUST, IT'S BEEN SEVERAL YEARS SINCE WE BRANDED THE CITY OF NEW BERN. 
          AND I KNOW MAYOR OOI IN PARTICULAR FACT WHEN HE WAS AN ALDERMAN, I THINK IT CAME IN PRETTY HANDY ON THINGS LIKE HARRIS TEETER AND OTHER THINGS. 
          AND, UM, I WOULD LIKE FOR THE CITY TO LOOK AT, UH, UPDATING THE BRANDING, UH, CAMPAIGN THAT WE DID YEARS AGO. 
          IT IS THE INFORMATION THAT, I MEAN, IF TOMORROW A MAJOR TRADER JOE'S OR SOMEBODY CAME IN AND WANTED TO SEE A BRANDING MODEL OF CITY NEW, I THINK IT'D BE A HANDY THING TO HAVE FOR WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH OUR CITY AND CONTINUING TO SAFELY GROW AND NOT REGRESS. 
          YEAH. 
          IMAN, WELL, I THINK I WANT TO MAYBE DELINEATE THAT. 
          SO THE, THE BRANDING CAMPAIGN, WHICH WAS DONE 2011 OR 12, I BELIEVE IT WAS BEFORE I GOT ON THE BOARD, ACTUALLY CAMPAIGNED AGAINST THAT SPEND, UH, BY THE WAY. 
          BUT I THINK THERE'S A PORTION OF THE BRANDING CAMPAIGN THAT PROVIDED A LOT OF DATA AND A LOT OF INFORMATION. 
          AND I THINK THAT IS PROBABLY WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO. 
          NOT THE NEW LOGO WITH, YOU KNOW, ALL THE EXPENSE OF CHANGE IN SIGNS AND DECALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. 
          BUT MR. HUGHES, I THINK WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF THOSE UPDATES SINCE THEN, HAVE WE NOT? WE WE'VE HAD SOME, UH, TWO MARKET ANALYSIS COMPLETED. 
          ONE WAS BY, UH, PROFESSOR AT ECU, UH, THAT WAS A FEW YEARS AGO. 
          AND THEN WHEN WE RETAINED RETAIL STRATEGIES, THEY, THEY DID, UH, RETAIL MARKET ANALYSIS. 
          UH, BOTH OF THOSE STUDIES ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AND I'M HAPPY TO SHARE IT WITH THE BOARD AS WELL. 
          YEAH, AND I WASN'T REFERRING TO WAY FINDING, I THINK THAT'S, YEAH, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THE COLOR DO THAT. 
          I WASN'T REFERRING TO LOGO CHANGE OR ANYTHING. 
          I WAS JUST PRETTY MUCH REFERRING TO THE DEMOGRAPHIC AND, UH, READILY AVAILABLE INFORMATION THAT'S HAS A POSITIVE SPIN ON, ON THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS. 
          OKAY. 
          IF YOU CHANGE THE LOGO, THE MAYOR'S GONNA HAVE TO CHANGE HALF HIS WARDROBE . 
          SO I'M NOT CHANGE, I'M NOT VOTING TO CHANGE THE LOGO. 
          I CAN ASSURE YOU OF THAT . 
          I, I THINK, I THINK WHEN, AND I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION ON THE CONTRACT AND THE SCOPE OF WORK, UM, I THINK WHAT THIS FEASIBILITY STUDY WOULD DO TO TRY TO IDENTIFY AREAS IN OUR MARKET FOR FAMILY FRIENDLY ATTRACTIONS, I SEE OUR, UH, TDA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OUT HERE WHO WILL BE THE FIRST ONE TO TELL YOU THAT WE NEED MORE 
          [00:45:01]
FAMILY FRIENDLY ASSETS IN NEW BERN. 
          AND SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO SHOW THAT COMMITMENT TO A FAMILY, FAMILY FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT IS A GOOD COMMITMENT. 
          UM, AND SO WITH THAT, I WOULD MOVE TO, UM, APPROVE THIS FEASIBILITY STUDY AS PRESENTED TO THE EXTENT YOU NEED A MOTION. 
          SECOND, HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. 
          IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. 
          A AYE. 
          AYE. 
          ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. 
          THANK 
          [17. Discuss Draft Strategic Plan.]
YOU. 
          NEXT IS ITEM NUMBER 17, DISCUSSED DRAFT STRATEGIC PLAN, UH, ALDERMAN FERGUSON. 
          SO COLLEEN GAVE ME THIS CLICKER FOR THE POWERPOINT, WHICH I THINK IS, IS A GREAT IDEA. 
          I'D LIKE THIS EVERY MEETING. 
          I'VE GOT THE EMERGENCY  OBJECT THAT DOWN. 
          MIGHT NEED TO USE IT. 
          I'M GONNA BE, I'M GONNA BE REALLY QUICK. 
          Y'ALL HAVE HAD A WEEK FOR THIS. 
          UH, AND YOU HAD A, A, I THINK I GAVE IT TO YOU A COUPLE WEEKS BEFORE, BUT JUST AS AN UPDATE FOR THE PUBLIC WHO ARE HERE. 
          UM, ALDER WOMAN, UH, BRYANT WHITE AND THEN MYSELF ALONG WITH SOME STAFF WENT TO, UH, NC LEAGUE MUNICIPALITIES, UH, STRATEGIC PLAN WORKSHOP. 
          WE, THE THREE OF US CAME UP WITH THESE FIVE FOCUS AREAS. 
          UH, YOU, YOU'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF INFORMATION FROM US ABOUT HOW THESE FIVE REALLY ALIGNED AND FLESH OUT THE FIVE BOARD OBJECTIVES THAT WE AGREED TO IN OUR BOARD RETREAT FOR BUDGETING. 
          THE IDEA FOR A STRATEGIC PLAN WOULD BE TO, FOR US AS THE, UM, POLICY MAKERS FOR THE CITY TO COME TO A, A RESOLUTION CONCLUSION ON FOCUS AREAS AND SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES, UH, WHICH I CAN GO THROUGH HERE. 
          AND THEN TO ALLOW THIS PLAN TO THEN GO TO DEPARTMENT HEADS TO FLESH OUT WHAT THOSE OBJECTIVES LOOK LIKE. 
          UM, AND THEIR PLANS. 
          ALL OF, YOU KNOW, THREE OF THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE MASTER PLANS, SO REALLY HOW DOES IT ALIGN WITH OUR GOALS? AND SO, I JUST WANNA TAKE A MINUTE. 
          Y'ALL HAVE LOOKED AT IT, WHAT CHANGES YOU MIGHT HAVE WORDING, IF ANYTHING, I CAN GO THROUGH PRETTY QUICKLY. 
          THESE ARE THE FIVE FOCUS AREAS. 
          UM, OLDER WOMAN, WHITE. 
          BRIAN, DO Y'ALL HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD AS FAR AS FOCUS AREAS OR THE STRATEGIC PLAN? THE IDEA IS IF WE CAN COME TO A, IF WE CAN COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON THIS TONIGHT, THEN, UM, I THINK BY THE MAY, JUNE MEETING, WE CAN SEND IT OFF TO DEPARTMENT HEADS AND LET THEM CHEW ON IT FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS WITH THEIR STAFFS TO SHOW US HOW THEIR WORK ALIGNS WITH THESE FOCUS AREAS. 
          SO IS WITH THAT, ANY DISCUSSION ON THESE AREAS? SO THIS IS JUST REALLY KICKING OFF THE, THE DISCUSSION, IF YOU WILL. 
          UM, LIKE THERE'S SOME SPECIFIC VERBIAGE OF SOME OF THIS STUFF IN HERE THAT I, I THINK NEEDS TO BE WORDSMITH. 
          YEAH, YEAH. 
          I MEANT FOR ONE, LIKE IN SECTION 2 1 2 A, HIRE A COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MANAGER. 
          THAT'S A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT THAT WOULD REQUIRE A LOT OF DISCUSSION. 
          SO I THINK THE, YEAH, SO WHAT I WILL SAY IS, IN THE WORKING DRAFT THAT WAS PROVIDED, IF YOU LOOK, AND I'LL SHOW YOU AN EXAMPLE ON THE SLIDE, YOU HAVE THE NUMBER ONE FOCUS AREA, SAFE, VIBRANT, HEALTHY COMMUNITY. 
          AND THEN WITHIN THAT FOCUS AREA, THESE THREE OBJECTIVES, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT THE CONSULTANTS KIND OF TOLD US. 
          THIS IS WHAT THE, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD AGREE ON. 
          THESE ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF HOW WE'RE GONNA TRY TO GET TO THIS FOCUS AREA. 
          EVERYTHING ELSE, THE 1.1, 0.1 A, THE B, THE, YOU KNOW, ADDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPER, DOING ALL THE, THOSE ARE EXAMPLES OF THINGS THAT CAN CARRY OUT THE OBJECTIVES THAT ARE REALLY WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THE CITY MANAGER AND THE DEPARTMENT HEADS. 
          SO IN THE WORKING DRAFT THAT YOU ALL HAVE, THOSE ARE JUST EXAMPLES THAT THE THREE OF US CAME UP WITH, HOW WE COULD, UM, FURTHER THAT OBJECTIVE. 
          AND THEN WHAT I TRIED TO DO IS SHOW YOU HOW IT ALIGNS WITH OUR CURRENT OBJECTIVE AND THEN WHAT DEPARTMENT WE THOUGHT WOULD BEST BE ALIGNED WITH THIS. 
          SO I'M, I'M NOT ASKING, AND I DON'T THINK ANY OF US ARE ASKING TO APPROVE THE, THE INITIATIVES, THESE THREE NUMBERS AND SPECIFICS JUST TO PROVE WHAT IS ON THE ONE PAGER AND THEN THE SLIDES THAT ARE PRESENTED, WHICH ARE THESE FOCUS AREAS AND OBJECTIVES. 
          DOES THAT MAKE SENSE, MAYOR? YES, IT DOES. 
          UH, ANYBODY OPPOSED TO MOVING FORWARD WITH THE CONVERSATION? ALRIGHT, I DON'T BELIEVE WE NEED TO VOTE ON THAT. 
          UH, SO STAFF HAS THEIR DIRECTION. 
          SO WITH THAT, MR. MAYOR, WE CAN TAKE THIS, THESE DRAFT FOCUS AREAS AND OBJECTIVES TO PUSH THEM TO STAFF TO SAY OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, ESPECIALLY AFTER WE GET THROUGH OUR BUDGET, START TALKING WITH THEIR STAFF TO OUTLINE THE INITIATIVES THAT WOULD FIT WITHIN THESE OBJECTIVES. 
          IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE, I BELIEVE SO. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP THE TIMELINE ON THIS STRATEGIC PLAN AS WELL. 
          UM, I THINK WE, IN THE WORKSHOP TALKED ABOUT FIVE YEARS AND THEN TO YOUR POINT, MAYOR, LIKE IF WE WANTED TO HIRE SOMEBODY IN THAT POSITION THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO BUDGET FOR THAT IN THE LONG TERM. 
          AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT ARE GONNA BE EXPENSIVE AND HELP US IN 
          [00:50:01]
THE LONG RUN. 
          IS IT OBVIOUS IN THE THING THAT IT'S FOR A FIVE YEAR PLAN? YES. 
          IN THE DOCUMENT. 
          OKAY. 
          AND, AND SO AS FAR AS THE TIMELINE IS PRESENTED, I MEAN IDEALLY WE GET TO A FINALIZATION IN NOVEMBER, PUBLICATION DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR, BUT, ALRIGHT. 
          OKAY. 
          STAFF HAS THEIR OWN DIRECTION. 
          ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. 
          THEN I'LL GO THROUGH, I HAVE THIS WHOLE POWERPOINT READY FOR YOU. 
          ALRIGHT, 
          [18. Consider Adopting a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Release and Termination of Sewer Easement in Craven County Industrial Park.]
UH, MOVING ON TO NUMBER 18. 
          CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A RELEASE AND TERMINATION OF SEWER EASEMENT IN CRAVEN COUNTY INDUSTRIAL PARK, MR. JORDAN HUGHES. 
          ALL RIGHT, GOOD EVENING MAYOR. 
          MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, UH, AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS AGENDA ITEM IS FOR THE RELEASE AND TERMINATION OF AN EXISTING SEWER EASEMENT IN THE CRAVEN COUNTY INDUSTRIAL PARK. 
          THIS PARTICULAR EASEMENT WAS ESTABLISHED, UM, WITH SOME OF THE ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE INDUSTRIAL PARK IN THE LATE SEVENTIES AS IT WAS NECESSARY TO MOVE SANITARY SEWER FROM THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE INDUSTRIAL PARK ACROSS HIGHWAY 70 TO THE SOUTHERN PORTION WHERE A SMALL TREATMENT FACILITY SAT AT THE TIME. 
          FAST FORWARD 40 OR 50 YEARS, WE'VE MADE A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE IN THAT AREA THROUGH THE INDUSTRIAL PARK AND AROUND, WE'VE ABANDONED THE OLD TREATMENT FACILITY THERE. 
          ALL THAT WASTEWATER NOW GETS, UH, TRANSPORTED DIRECTLY TO OUR MAIN TREATMENT PLAN ON GLENBURN DRIVE. 
          IT GETS TREATED THERE. 
          AND RECENTLY, LAST SUMMER, WE ACTUALLY WERE ABLE TO COMPLETE A PUMP STATION REHABILITATION PROJECT TO ALLOW US TO DIRECTLY CONNECT ONE OF THE PUMP STATIONS ON THE NORTHERN SIDE DIRECTLY TO A FORCE MAIN ON CLARKS ROAD THAT DIDN'T EXIST IN 1979. 
          UM, THUS ABANDONING ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SITS IN THAT OLD EASEMENT. 
          SO WHAT'S THERE NOW? WHAT'S NOT BEING USED? WE'VE REVIEWED, UH, FUTURE PLANS FOR SERVICE IN THE AREA AND DETERMINED WE REALLY HAVE NO USE FOR THAT EASEMENT AS IT SITS TODAY, OR FOR FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE AND EXPANSION THROUGH THOSE PORTIONS OF THE INDUSTRIAL PARK. 
          SO AT THIS POINT, IT'S APPROPRIATE TO JUST TERMINATE THAT EXISTING EASEMENT AND RELINQUISH OUR RIGHTS TO IT. 
          HAVE IT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS? THE COURT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I WONDER KNOW HOW MUCH THE COUNTY OFFERED US TO TERMINATE THE EASEMENT? WELL, THE, THE EASEMENT ACTUALLY TERMINATION REQUEST COME FROM THE PROPERTY OWNERS. 
          OKAY. 
          NOT, NOT CRAVEN COUNTY. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, WE BASICALLY GOT THE EASEMENT AS A DONATION FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE, AS I SAID AT THE TIME. 
          AND, AND MUCH LIKE YOU WOULD, UM, ABANDON A RIGHT, A STREET RIGHT OF WAY AND YOU RELINQUISH THOSE RIGHTS BACK TO THE ADJOINING PROPERTY AND THERE'S A NO COST. 
          IT'S REALLY DOING THE SAME THING HERE WITH THE EASEMENT. 
          AND JUST TO ADD TO, ONE OF THE BENEFITS TO THIS IS THAT WE HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO REMOVE THAT SEWER LINE SO THEY UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE RELEASING OUR INTEREST AND THEY ARE THE WINNER OF AN OLD DEAD SEWER LINE. 
          CORRECT. 
          SO WE'RE INDEMNIFIED FROM ANY EXACTLY. 
          SORRY. 
          UM, IT'S OKAY. 
          I'D MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A RELEASE AND TERMINATION OF SEWER EASEMENT IN CRAVEN COUNTY INDUSTRIAL PARK. 
          SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND. 
          IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? YES. 
          JORDAN, I DO WANNA ANSWER THE QUESTION. 
          SORRY MA'AM. 
          THERE IS NO, UM, WITH THE SEWER LINE STILL REMAINING THERE, OF COURSE THERE'LL BE NO SEWER FILTRATING THROUGH IT OR WHATEVER, BUT IS THAT GOING TO MAKE BE A HAZARD, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD FOR SITTING THERE, STAYING THERE OVER THE COURSE OF YEARS OR? EXCELLENT QUESTION. 
          AS PART OF OUR REHABILITATION PROJECT WITH THAT PUMP STATION LAST SUMMER, WE DISCONNECTED THAT SEWER FORCE MADE ON BOTH ENDS ONCE AT THE PUMP STATION AND THE OTHER END NEAR HIGHWAY 70 WHERE IT CROSSED COMPLETELY FLUSHED EVERYTHING OUT, CAPPED BOTH ENDS OF THE PIPE. 
          SO IT'S BASICALLY JUST A DEAD, EMPTY, EMPTY PIECE OF PIPE SITTING IN THE GROUND RIGHT NOW. 
          OKAY. 
          EXCELLENT QUESTION. 
          THANK YOU, SIR. 
          ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE, LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL WITH ALDERMAN BRYANT. 
          ALDERMAN BRYANT? YES. 
          ALDERMAN ASTER? YES. 
          ALDERMAN WHITE? YES. 
          ALDERMAN BE YES. 
          ALDERMAN OUTLAW? YES. 
          ALDERMAN FERGUSON? YES. 
          MAYOR ODOM? YES. 
          MOTION CARRIES. 
          THANK YOU, JORDAN. 
          [19. Consider Adopting a Resolution Authorizing the Submission of a CLG Grant Application to Fund an Update to the Historic Riverside Inventory.]
ITEM NUMBER 19, CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF A CLG GRANT APPLICATION TO FUND AN UPDATE TO THE HISTORIC RIVERSIDE INVENTORY. 
          MS. RU, THANK YOU AGAIN. 
          UH, THIS EVENING STAFF IS REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION TO APPLY FOR A GRANT TO UPDATE THE HISTORIC INVENTORY INFORMATION IN THE RIVERSIDE HISTORIC DISTRICT AND TO COMMIT UP TO $16,000 IN MATCHING FUNDS IN THE EVENT THE PROJECT IS AWARDED, WHICH WE WOULD FIND OUT OVER THE SUMMER. 
          UM, JUST REAL QUICKLY WHAT THIS IS, WE ARE REQUIRED TO KEEP 
          [00:55:01]
REFERENCE DOCUMENTS ON OUR HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND THE STRUCTURES THAT ARE IN THEM FREQUENTLY. 
          THIS IS CALLED AN INVENTORY. 
          WE REFER TO IT AS AN INVENTORY. 
          THE ONE FOR DOWNTOWN WAS LAST UPDATED IN 2003. 
          HOWEVER, THE ONE FOR RIVERSIDE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 1988. 
          AND THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR TWO REASONS. 
          SO WE HAVE NEARLY 40 YEARS OF STRUCTURES THAT QUALIFY FOR TAX CREDITS THAT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY AREN'T INCLUDED IN THIS INVENTORY. 
          SO THAT'S ITEM NUMBER ONE. 
          THE SECOND REASON THIS IS IMPORTANT IS THAT STRUCTURES THAT ARE NOT LISTED ON THIS REFERENCE DOCUMENTATION OR THE INVENTORY ARE NOT CONSIDERED CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES. 
          SO THAT CAUSES, UM, SOME ISSUES WITH IT BEING ANTIQUATED BECAUSE A, SOMETHING THAT'S NOT ON THESE LISTS CAN JUST BE TORN DOWN WITH A PERMIT FROM OUR OFFICE AND NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE HPC, WHICH IS IN A LITTLE BIT OF CONFLICT WITH HISTORIC PRESERVATION. 
          SO THAT BEING SAID, RIGHT NOW, UH, WE THINK THERE WERE SOME STRUCTURES MISSED IN THE HISTORIC RIVERSIDE AREA THE FIRST TIME OR THE LAST TIME THIS WAS UPDATED IN 88. 
          THERE'S 213 STRUCTURES REFERENCED IN THERE. 
          WE BELIEVE THERE'S OVER 300 STRUCTURES THAT SHOULD BE ON THAT LIST. 
          AND SO WE ARE SEEKING, UM, WE ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR A CLG GRANT BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN A CLG COMMUNITY FOR SOME TIME. 
          AND SO WE ARE INTERESTED, THEY FELT THAT OUR PROJECT WAS THE RIGHT SIZE AND COST TO BE VERY COMPETITIVE THIS YEAR, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A SHOT AT THAT BOARD. 
          HAVE QUESTIONS? HOW MANY STRUCTURES DID YOU SAY WOULD BE OPEN TO THE TAX CREDITS IF WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THEM LISTED ON THE INVENTORY? I THINK EITHER 70 TO 80 THAT WOULD BE ADDED IF THERE, IF THERE ARE OTHER QUESTIONS, MR. MAYOR? UH, I WOULD MOVE FOR A RES TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF A CLG GRANT APPLICATION TO FUND AN UPDATE TO THE HISTORIC RIVERSIDE INVENTORY, UH, AS PRESENTED WITH THE UP TO AMOUNT FOR MATCHING FUNDS. 
          I SECOND HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. 
          IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE? LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL. 
          SERGEANT ALDERMAN ASTOR. 
          ALDERMAN ASER? YES. 
          ALDERMAN WHITE? YES. 
          ALDERMAN DESK? YES. 
          DERMAN OUTLAW? YES. 
          ALDERMAN FERGUSON? YES. 
          ALDERMAN BRYANT? YES. 
          MAYOR ODOM? YES. 
          MOTION CARRIES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU JESS. 
          [Items 20 - 22]
UH, OKAY. 
          BOARD, I'VE GOT A NOTE THAT ITEMS 2021 AND 22 CAN BE CONSIDERED TOGETHER. 
          SO IF IT'S UNANIMOUS, WE CAN DO SO. 
          I'LL READ 'EM ALL THREE. 
          ITEM NUMBER 20 IS CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION OF APPROVING AN INTERNAL CONTROL POLICY. 
          ITEM NUMBER 21 IS CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION APPROVING A PROCUREMENT POLICY FOR EXPENDITURES OF FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. 
          AND ITEM NUMBER 22 IS CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION OF APPROVING A REVISED CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY FOR FEDERAL AND STATE GRANT AWARDS AND SUB-AWARDS MS. OSTROM. 
          OKAY. 
          THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT IS REQUESTING BOARD APPROVAL OF THREE POLICIES REQUIRED FOR COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL UNIFORM GRANT GUIDANCES NUMBER 20 IN INTERNAL CONTROL POLICY WITH SUPPLEMENT A COVERING FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GRANT AWARDS. 
          SUPPLEMENT B SPECIFIC TO ARPA FUNDS NUMBER 21, PROCUREMENT POLICY FOR EXPENDITURES OF FEDERAL AWARDS. 
          AND NUMBER 22, A REVISED CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY. 
          THESE ARE LARGELY STANDARD BOILER PLATE POLICIES NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE CITY REMAINS ELIGIBLE FOR THE FOR AND COMPLIANT WITH FEDERAL FUNDING REQUIREMENTS. 
          THE PROCUREMENT POLICY INCLUDES MINOR UPDATES FROM THE VERSION INCLUDED IN YOUR AGENDA PACKET. 
          THOSE CHANGES ARE REFLECTED IN THE RED LINE COPY PROVIDED AT YOUR SEAT TONIGHT. 
          ADDITIONALLY, THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY ORIGINALLY ADOPTED IN FEBRUARY, 2022 HAS BEEN UPDATED TO ALIGN WITH CURRENT COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS. 
          STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF ALL THREE OF THESE POLICIES. 
          BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS MR. MR. MAYOR? I MOVE TO APPROVE THE THREE POLICIES LISTED IN ITEMS NUMBER 20 21 22 AS PRESENTED. 
          OKAY. 
          I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. 
          IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE? LET HAVE A ROLL CALL FOR ALDERMAN WHITE. 
          ALDERMAN WHITE. 
          YES. 
          ALDERMAN BEST? YES. 
          ALDERMAN OUTLAW. 
          YES. 
          ALDERMAN FERGUSON. 
          YES. 
          DERMAN BRYANT? YES. 
          DERMAN ASTOR. 
          YES. 
          MAYOR ODOM. 
          YES. 
          MOTION CARRIES. 
          NEXT IS ITEM 
          [23. Consider Adopting a Budget Ordinance Amendment for FY2026.]
NUMBER 23. 
          CONSIDER ADOPTING A BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR FY 2026. 
          MS. OSTROM, THIS AMENDMENT APPROPRIATE. 
          $450,000 FROM WATER FUND FUND BALANCE FOR SCADA SYSTEM UPGRADES AND 40,000 FROM EMPLOYEES. 
          BENEFIT INSURANCE FUND FUND BALANCE FOR INCREASES IN RETIREE INSURANCE. 
          PREMIUM COSTS DUE TO GROWTH IN THE NUMBER OF RETIREES PARTICIPATING IN THE PLAN BOARD. 
          HAVE QUESTIONS? 
          [01:00:01]
MAY I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT FOR FFY 2026. 
          SECOND. 
          I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND. 
          IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE UNLESS HAVE A ROLL CALL DURING WITH ALDERMAN. 
          BEST, ALDERMAN BEST, YES. 
          ALDERMAN OUTLAW. 
          YES. 
          ALDERMAN FERGUSON. 
          YES. 
          ALDERMAN BRYANT? YES. 
          ALDERMAN ASTOR. 
          YES. 
          ALDERMAN WHITE? YES. 
          MAYOR ODOM? YES. 
          MOTION CARRIES. 
          NEXT 
          [24. Appointment( s).]
UP IS NUMBER 24 APPOINTMENTS. 
          UM, ALDERMAN BISHOP, LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE ONE FOR THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS. 
          ARE YOU PREPARED TO MAKE THAT APPOINTMENT TONIGHT? UM, NO. 
          OKAY. 
          AND THEN IT LOOKS LIKE THE BOARD, UH, DEFERRED AT OUR LAST MEETING FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. 
          AND I BELIEVE, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, WE WERE GONNA DO A BALLOT SINCE WE HAD MULTIPLE CANDIDATES. 
          IS THE BOARD STILL GOOD WITH THAT PROCESS OF UTILIZING A BALLOT? UM, MAYOR OWEN, I, I MAY BE ABLE TO DO THIS ON A NEW BUSINESS, BUT THE, UH, AN AD HO COMMITTEE, UH,  INVEST AND ALLMAN FERGUSON AND MYSELF HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH AND MEANING ABOUT OUR ELECTRIC SITUATION. 
          I THINK SIMILARLY, THIS, THIS REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION IS, UM, BEEN BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH NOW THAT I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD POSSIBILITY THAT THESE, THE BOARD OF ALLMAN HAVE AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TO WORK WITH THE BOARD OF, UM, REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. 
          AND, UH, MY, MY THOUGHT ON THAT IS TO IS TO HAVE IT COMPRISED OF, OF ALDER ONE, UH, WHITE ALDERMAN BRYANT AND ALDER ALDERMAN FERGUSON. 
          I KNOW ALDERMAN FERGUSON IS VERY BUSY ON THE, UH, THE AD HOC ELECTRIC BOARD. 
          BUT AT THE SAME TIME, PART OF DEAL AWARD IS, IS OF CONCERN. 
          AND SO THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHT, WHICH MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE DONE UNDER NEW BUSINESS. 
          AND THAT WOULD BE FOR OUR GROUP TO DO WHAT THE, THE OTHER GROUP IS DOING. 
          WE'RE WORKING WITH THE ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT TO TRY TO AND DO DUE DILIGENTLY TRY TO KEEP RATES LOW AND SERVICES HIGH. 
          SIMILARLY, THERE WOULD BE, UH, A SIMILAR GOAL OF THE  GROUP TO, UH, GIVE SUPPORT TO RE REBUT THE COMMISSION AND, UH, KEEP IT MOVING FORWARD. 
          SO ARE YOU RECOMMENDING THAT WE HOLD OFF ON NOMINATE ANYONE ELSE UNTIL THAT COMMITTEE MEETS? I, I JUST, I'M THROWING THAT OUT THERE. 
          THAT'S MY OPINION. 
          UM, BECAUSE I THINK THAT, UH, IT WOULD BE JUST A GOOD IDEA, UM, FOR INVOLVEMENT BY ALMAN TO ASSIST REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, PARTICULARLY RIGHT NOW. 
          UM, AND SO, I MEAN, THERE'S THREE EX OFFICIO ALDERMAN ON THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. 
          UM, I HAVE MADE COMMENTS AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE TALKED, WE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP, NOT BUDGET WORKSHOP, I'M SORRY, OUR RETREAT IN JANUARY, UH, ASKING ABOUT THE EFFICACY OF THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, LOOKING AT THEIR PLAN, WHAT, UH, WHAT HAVE THEY ACCOMPLISHED, UM, AND TRYING TO RECALIBRATE THE MISSION AND BRING THEM BACK TO HELPING A COMMUNITY BUILD BACK AFFORDABLE HOUSES AND PUT PEOPLE IN THOSE AFFORDABLE HOUSES AND TRY TO GET THEM BACK IN LINE WITH THAT MISSION. 
          UH, WHICH IS A NOBLE MISSION. 
          AND I SUPPORT ANY EFFORT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. 
          I, I, I PERSONALLY, AND I, I DON'T MIND SHARING THIS. 
          I PERSONALLY THINK THIS BOARD, OUR BOARD CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF DOING THAT AND ACTING IN REDEVELOPMENT. 
          HOWEVER, WE HAVE MEMBERS OF THAT REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION WHO HAVE PUT IN A LOT OF WORK AND WHO ARE WILLING TO PUT IN A LOT MORE WORK TO ALIGN WITH THAT MISSION. 
          AND SO I DO THINK IT IS WORTH GIVING THEM A YEAR. 
          YOU KNOW, I, I WAS READY. 
          I'LL JUST TELL YOU, I WAS READY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ON WHETHER OR NOT WE NEED TO HAVE A REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. 
          UM, BUT I AM COMMITTED TO GIVING THAT GROUP A YEAR AND HAVING A GROUP OF ALDERMAN SIT WITH THEM AND GUIDE THEM THROUGH A PROCESS OF REDEVELOPMENT, USING THEIR FUNDS AS LEVERAGE TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH BUILDERS, PARTNER WITH POTENTIAL HABITAT, UH, FOR HUMANITY TO HELP WITH THESE, YOU KNOW, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THESE AREAS. 
          AND SO I'M, I'M OPEN TO THAT. 
          UM, I THINK THE ISSUE BECOMES BUDGETARY. 
          WE'VE, YOU KNOW, THE PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITION, AND SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE, WE HAVE, UH, ASSISTANT MANAGER, UH, MR. WILLIAMS, AND THEN SOMEONE IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES WHO'S COMMITTED TO THE REDEVELOPMENT WORK FOR AFFORDABILITY IN THIS. 
          AS LONG AS WE HAVE THAT DEDICATION, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT'S WHERE THE MISSION CAN GET DONE. 
          BUT I JUST 
          [01:05:01]
WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THIS BOARD HAS THAT COMMITMENT TO GIVE THIS REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION A YEAR TO GET BACK ON TRACK. 
          AND IF YOU THINK ALDERMAN OUTLAW THAT AN AD HOC GROUP WOULD HELP GUIDE THAT EFFORT, I, I'M, I'M FINE TO SUPPORT THAT. 
          UM, AND ANYONE ELSE IS, IS WELCOME TO VOLUNTEER TO SERVE ON THAT. 
          UM, I'M HAPPY TO DO IT IF NEED BE, BUT I'LL INVEST. 
          I'LL INVEST. 
          YEAH. 
          WELL, MY CONCERNS ARE RIGHT NOW WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, I, I CONCUR WITH YOU ABOUT GIVING THEM A CH AN OPPORTUNITY, GIVING THEM A CHANCE, GIVING THEM A YEAR. 
          I, I AGREE WITH THAT. 
          UM, I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT BOARD DISSOLVED AND IT, AS IT CURRENTLY IS. 
          UM, ME PERSONALLY, I THINK THAT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, THERE MAY BE, UH, A, A STAFF PERSON IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES THAT CAN SPEARHEAD THAT REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. 
          I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE OVER IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. 
          I DON'T KNOW HOW MS. JESSICA RU FEELS ABOUT THAT. 
          I DON'T KNOW IF SHE HAS THE SHE'S HERE. 
          WE CAN ASK. 
          I I KNOW I  I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE FEELS ABOUT THAT. 
          OR IF THERE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE SHE, IF SHE DON'T HAVE STAFF THAT SHE CAN, YOU KNOW, UH, LEND TO THAT REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO, TO WORK THAT COMMISSION THAT MAYBE SHE MAY HAVE TO HIRE SOMEONE ELSE. 
          BUT THAT WAS JUST MY THOUGHT ABOUT, UH, IT BEING HANDLED UNDER THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ALONGSIDE WITH MS. RU, MS. JESSICA RU AND HER STAFF PERSON. 
          I JUST, AND ME PERSONALLY, I'M GONNA JUST SAY THIS, I DON'T THINK THAT WE AS A BOARD HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO SIT THERE AS AN AD HOC GROUP AND COACH THEM AR ALONG OF THE WAY MORE SO THAN MS. JESSICA RU'S DEPARTMENT. 
          AND THAT, AND THAT'S NO PUN INTENDED TO KNOW PARTICULAR ALT, INCLUDING MYSELF. 
          I JUST THINK THAT HER DEPARTMENT WOULD BE BETTER QUALIFIED, MORE EXPERIENCED THE YEARS OF DEALING WITH A LOT OF, OF, I I NO, I, I, I AGREE WITH YOU NOW. 
          I THINK THE ISSUE COMES DOWN TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, WHETHER THEY HAVE THE STAFF TO, TO REALLY COMMIT TO THAT AND WHAT THEY, I MEAN, WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO, CITYWIDE HPC ALONE TAKES UP, UM, PROBABLY TOO MUCH OF THEIR TIME. 
          UM, IS THE IDEA THAT THIS WORKING GROUP ALDERMAN OUTLAWED, THAT THIS GROUP WOULD MEET WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION OF TWO MEMBERS TO, TO KIND OF HELP REALIGN THEM WITH THEIR PLAN ON DEVELOPMENT AND ONLY RESPECT ALL THE COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE WORKING HARD TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN IN OUR CITY. 
          UM, IT'S A BIT OFFENSIVE. 
          I I'LL DEFEND THEM BY SAYING THAT, UM, TO PUT A, A SUNSET ON THE HARD WORK THAT REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION IS DOING BY SAYING YOU'RE GONNA GIVE 'EM YEAR, UM, THAT'S A LITTLE HARSH. 
          IT IS. 
          UH, MY THOUGHT IS THAT THIS WHOLE DOWNTOWN IS WHAT IT IS BECAUSE OF A REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. 
          THE THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED IN, IN THE INNER CITY, IN THE DUFF FEST AND OTHER AREAS IN, IN NEEDS A REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. 
          I, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES STANCES, I'M INTERESTED IN TERMINATING THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. 
          I'M SEE THIS AS A SUPPORT MECHANISM ON THE PART OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN TO ASSIST AND PROVIDE BETTER CORRESPONDENCE WITH WHAT, WHAT RESOURCES WE HAVE WE CAN HELP THEM WITH, AND WHAT OTHER CONDUIT THEY NEED TO CONDUCT THEIR BUSINESS. 
          UM, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS THE TIME IN THE HISTORY OF CITY NEWMAN TO DO WITHOUT A REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. 
          AND I JUST WANNA SPEAK TO THAT AS WELL, BECAUSE, UM, WE WOULD BE DOING A DISSERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY TO NOT HAVE A, A COMMISSION THAT INCLUDES PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE, IN THAT COMMUNITY. 
          UM, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF SHAKEUP ON THE BOARD. 
          AND I BELIEVE, I DON'T DON'T REMEMBER HIS LAST NAME, BUT KENDRICK IS GOING TO BE THE STAFF MEMBER. 
          NO, NO. 
          SO JUST, JUST AS I, I SAID DURING THE, UM, BUDGET PRESENTATION, UM, OF COURSE MARVIN WILLIAMS, OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, HE'S ALREADY BEEN WORKING WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. 
          I THINK HE ENJOYS THAT, DOING THAT WORK AND WORKING WITH HIM THROUGH THAT. 
          SO HE WOULD BE STILL INVOLVED. 
          AND WE DO HAVE A STAFF MEMBER THAT WE HAVE TALKED WITH IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. 
          AND OF COURSE, WHAT COMES ALONG WITH THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES IS YES, THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT EXPERTISE AS NEED BE BASED ON WHATEVER THE PROJECT IS. 
          AND I WAS SPEAKING WITH, WERE YOU ABOUT TO SAY SOMETHING? NO. 
          WELL, I WAS SPEAKING WITH MR. WILLIAMS EARLIER TODAY 
          [01:10:01]
AND GETTING CLEARER ON WHAT OUR JOB AS A BOARD IS TO SUPPORT THIS COMMISSION. 
          UM, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THEY REALLY NEED A LOT OF SUPPORT WITH ESTABLISHING SOME MORE COHESION AND KNOWING THAT THEY HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM US. 
          UM, BUT IT'S GONNA TAKE A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE COMMITTED TO THAT BOARD'S COMMISSION, COMMISSION THAT COMMISSION'S MISSION. 
          UM, AND THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL FOR THAT COMMISSION TO CONTINUE DOING GOOD WORK. 
          AND IT'S, I WOULD THINK THAT THIS AD HOC COMMITTEE WOULD BE VALUABLE FOR SOMEONE THAT SERVED ON THE V DEVELOPED COMMISSION. 
          UH, I THINK THAT A LOT OF INFORMATION THEY GOT IN THE PAST WAS NOT CORRECT INFORMATION, SO IT'S LIKE THEM STARTING ALL OVER. 
          SO I WOULDN'T PUT A YEAR TIME ON THEM. 
          I WOULD GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE A ED, THEY DO NOT HAVE A CHAIR FOR THEM TO RECONFIGURE THEMSELVES TOGETHER. 
          AND I THINK WITH US AS THE ALDERMAN THAT ARE ASSIGNED TO THAT BOARD, AT LEAST WE CAN SUPPORT THEM BY ATTENDING THEIR MEETING AND SEE WHERE THEY NEED NEED SO THAT WE CAN GIVE IT DIRECT STAFF AS MARVIN AS TO WHAT THEY WILL NEED FOR THAT BOARD. 
          I, I WOULD, I WOULD ALSO OFFER THAT, I THINK ALDERMAN WHITE SORT OF MENTIONED IT. 
          I, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE WE DID, BUT HAS THIS BOARD OF ALDERMAN EVER HAD A JOINT MEETING WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION? NO. 
          SO I MEAN, I THINK WHEN, WHEN THAT THING WAS STARTED, GOSH, THAT WAS WHAT YEAR? 2000 AND WAS IT TWO 18? OH, 18 OR 19? 18 OR 19? UM, IT WAS BEFORE COVID. 
          THEY STARTED OUT WITH NO ED, WE HIRED AN ED. 
          SHE LEFT, WE HIRED ANOTHER ED. 
          HE LEFT. 
          UM, THERE'S BEEN TURNOVER IN LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE BOARD. 
          UH, WE'VE HAD SOME MEMBERS THAT STARTED OUT ON THE REDEVELOP COMMISSION THAT'S NO LONGER ON THERE. 
          THEY ORIGINALLY STARTED OUT THEY WERE GOING TO OPERATE A HEALTH CLINIC. 
          AND THEN STATUTORILY, THEY'RE NOT AUTHORIZED TO DO THAT. 
          THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE GONNA RENT THE HOUSE ON EUBANK STREET THAT WAS MOVED. 
          THEY CAN'T RENT PROPERTY. 
          SO TO ME, IF, IF, IF THIS BOARD, THE MAJORITY OF THIS BOARD DECIDES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH KEEPING THE REBEL COMMISSION, I THINK WE NEED TO ALMOST HIT A RESET BUTTON. 
          AND WE NEED TO PROVIDE THEM WHAT OUR, LIKE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GOALS AND VISIONS. 
          WHAT IS OUR GOAL AND VISION? WHAT DO WE WANNA SEE THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION DO? I THINK PERSONALLY, I THINK THEY NEED TO GET MORE FOCUSED IN ON SMALLER AREAS, NOT THE ENTIRE CHOICE NEIGHBORHOODS INITIATIVE, BOUNDARIES. 
          AND I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE THEM SOME DIRECTION ON THINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE BECAUSE WE, WE STAFF THAT BOARD WITH COMMISSIONERS AND WE JUST SAID, GO DO YOUR THING. 
          AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THEY SPUN THEIR WHEELS A LOT. 
          AND IT'S NOBODY'S FAULT. 
          BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO KEEP 'EM, AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THAT AND INVEST IN THAT. 
          'CAUSE WE DO MAKE AN INVESTMENT WITH THAT, WITH OUR STAFF, EVEN THOUGH THERE MAY NOT BE A DEDICATED ED IF WE'RE GONNA DO THAT, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THE FULL BOARD NEEDS TO MEET WITH THAT FULL COMMISSION AND HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT. 
          I, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. 
          HAVING A JOINT MEETING TO START WITH. 
          AND IF WE END THAT JOINT MEETING, DECIDE, YOU KNOW WHAT? YEAH. 
          WE, WE NEED A CONTINGENCY OF ALDERMAN THAT HELPED GUIDE US THROUGH THIS. 
          I MEAN, THAT COULD COME OUTTA THAT MEETING. 
          UM, BUT IF WE'RE GONNA DO A JOINT MEETING, THEN WE NEED A FULL COMMISSION. 
          AND SO WE MIGHT AS WELL GO FORWARD WITH THE BALLOT FOR APPOINTMENT TO THAT. 
          'CAUSE WE HAVE AN OPENING ON IT. 
          OKAY. 
          SO SEVERAL, THERE'S ONE OTHER QUESTION. 
          SURE. 
          I I WOULD LIKE TO GET, UM, CLEARED UP BECAUSE LIKE RIGHT NOW, AS IT STANDS WITH THE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS, UM, THOSE MEMBERS HAVE NO VOTING POWER. 
          CORRECT. 
          SO NOW IF WE, WE GONNA HAVE TO DO, DO, IF WE GO WITH THE AD HOP GROUP, THEN THE, THE, UM, ALMOND WOULD HAVE SOME VOTING POWER. 
          THE AD HOC GROUP WOULDN'T VOTE. 
          THERE YOU GO. 
          THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. 
          RIGHT. 
          SO, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DID NOT LIKE ABOUT SERVING ON THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. 
          AND DON'T GET ME WRONG, I MAY NOT ATTEND THE MEETINGS, BUT I DO GO BACK AND I'LL VIEW THOSE MEETINGS AND GET NOTES AND, AND KEEP UP WITH WHAT'S GOING ON AT BOARD BECAUSE I DON'T, I DON'T, MY TIME IS PRECIOUS, JUST LIKE YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO SPEND ON SOME OF THESE BOARDS. 
          MY TIME IS PRECIOUS AND I CAN'T SPEND TWO TO THREE HOURS AT A MEETING AND HAVE NO VOTING POWER. 
          SO I MEAN, THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR ME. 
          MR. DAVIS, STATUTORILY, CAN THE MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD SERVE ON THAT BOARD IN A VOTING CAPACITY? MAYOR? I, I DON'T THINK SO. 
          IT'S BEEN, WHAT, EIGHT YEARS? I, I, I DRAFTED IT THAT WAY FOR A PARTICULAR REASON. 
          AND I THINK MY CONCERN WAS JUST THAT, UM, THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE STATUTES THAT CAUSED ME CONSIDERABLE CONCERN THAT YOU HAVE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL WEARING BOTH HATS MM-HMM 
          [01:15:01]
. 
          AND THEREFORE YOU WOULD JUST BE MORE OF A WOULDN'T THAT ALSO HAVE, I MEAN, AND WE AS A BOARD CANNOT PUT RESTRICTIONS ON PROPERTY. 
          THAT'S RIGHT. 
          SO IF, I MEAN, THAT'S THE REASON WHY YEAH. 
          THERE WERE LOTS OF REASONS THAT THAT BOTHERED ME AND THAT'S WHY IT'S STRUCTURED THIS WAY. 
          I CAN REFRESH MYSELF IF, IF NEED BE, BUT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF GOOD REASONS TO MAKE THEM EX OFFICIO NONVERT. 
          IT'S MORE OF A LIAISON ROLE. 
          BUT YEAH, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, I MEAN, AND MAYBE I'M WRONG ON THIS, BUT IF THIS BOARD MM-HMM . 
          CONSTITUTED A REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MM-HMM . 
          WHERE THESE SAME PEOPLE WE, WE, WE ENDED ALDERMAN MEETING AND THEN WE STARTED A REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING YES. 
          AS THE SAME PEOPLE. 
          YES. 
          AT THAT POINT, THIS BOARD OF REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONERS COULD PUT RESTRICTIONS ON PROPERTY. 
          OF COURSE. 
          YES. 
          WE JUST CAN'T DO IT AS THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN. 
          CORRECT? CORRECT. 
          YOU COULD, YOU COULD, YOU COULD EXACTLY. 
          YOU COULD DISSOLVE THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND BECOME THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. 
          SO A BOARD MEMBER CAN BE A COMMISSIONER AND HAVE VOTING POWER NOW IF, IF THEY'RE APPOINTED, CORRECT? NO, SIR. 
          WE'RE MIXING UP CONCEPTS YOU SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DERMAN. 
          IN THEORY, THE STATUTES ALLOW YOU TO TERMINATE YOUR BOARD OF ALDERMAN MEETING AND OPEN A REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING WHERE YOU ARE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONERS AND YOU HAVE THE POWERS OF REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONERS. 
          YOU ARE NOT ALDERMAN IN THAT PARTICULAR MEETING. 
          SO IF, IF I GOT APPOINTED TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AS A CITIZEN, OR AS YOU AN ALDERMAN, WHATEVER, I'M THE SAME PERSON, BUT WHILE, WHILE I'M AT THAT MEETING RIGHT. 
          I WOULD BE ABLE TO PUT RESTRICTIONS AND VOTE FOR NO, NOT IT STANDS RIGHT NOW. 
          YEAH. 
          THAT'S, THAT, THAT'S THE ISSUE OF BEING AN ALDERMAN AND BEING REDEVELOPED COMMISSIONER ON A SEPARATE COMMISSION AT THE SAME TIME. 
          AND, AND I, I KNOW THAT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THAT YOU CAN, YOU CAN ACTUALLY AS A FULL BOARD DO IT, BUT YOU CAN'T DO IT IN ONESIES AND TWOSIES. 
          I'VE ALSO HEARD THAT THERE MAY BE A, A COMMISSIONER OR TWO THAT MAY NOT DESIRE TO CONTINUE SERVING. 
          THE REASON I SAY THAT IS IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE COMPOSITION OF THAT BOARD IS OR COULD BE MM-HMM . 
          AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING A JOINT MEETING WITH THEM, I, I WOULD JUST RECOMMEND THAT WE NOT MAKE AN APPOINTMENT BECAUSE THIS BOARD CAN MEET WITH THEM AND WE COULD DECIDE THAT THEY NEED THREE LESS MEMBERS OR TWO LESS MEMBERS. 
          AND THEN THAT COULD CHANGE. 
          AND WHAT I WOULD WANT US TO DO IS APPOINT SOMEBODY AND THEY GET EXCITED ABOUT THE ROLE, AND THEN WE DECIDE, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT. 
          WE SHOULD HAVE JUST ELIMINATED ONE OF THE POSITIONS OR TWO OF THE POSITIONS. 
          SO I WOULD JUST RECOMMEND LET'S, IF EVERYBODY'S IN AGREEMENT, LET'S HAVE SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH THEM TOGETHER, HAVE A GOOD CONVERSATION, AND THEN GO FROM THERE. 
          I THINK WE WOULD ALL GET OUR MARCHING ORDERS. 
          THAT WOULD BE MY RE MY ORIGINAL, UH, COMMENTS ABOUT THIS. 
          WERE WE, CAUSE, UM, TO KEEP OUTTA THE QUORUM, THERE ARE, OR MY GATHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD BALLMAN, THAT SEEMINGLY SUPPORT THE IDEA OF A REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. 
          IT MIGHT BE NEEDED MORE NEXT YEAR OR THE FOLLOWING YEAR THAN IT IS RIGHT NOW. 
          WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS THAT THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE MEETINGS WHERE THERE WASN'T A QUORUM MM-HMM . 
          WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS THERE'S PRESIDENT NOT A CHAIRMAN. 
          UM, I'M SIMPLY BRINGING THIS AD HOC IDEA OUT SO THAT THE, THE COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE REMAINING KNOW WHERE THIS BOARD STANDS AND THAT WE SUPPORT THEM AND WE WANT TO ASSIST THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT WHAT THEY'RE DOING. 
          UH, MY IDEA IS NOT FOR THREE ARM MEN TO GO TO A MEETING AND THEN COME BACK AND SAY, LET'S TERMINATE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. 
          UM, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND I AM ALSO, I'M TOO. 
          AND WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO AS THIS BOARD REALLY NEEDS TO DO IS CONCENTRATE ON APPOINTING GOOD QUALIFIED PEOPLE TO SERVE. 
          I THINK MORE OF MOND HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT ALOOF IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS OF YOU'RE ON THE BOARD NOW, Y'ALL TAKE CARE OF THIS. 
          I MEAN, WE NEED TO BE HELPING YEAH. 
          WITH THE SITUATION. 
          I, IF THAT'S THE CASE, I, ON AN OUTLINE, I MEAN, I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU. 
          IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE IT GIVEN GUIDANCE, GIVEN THE GOALS, I, I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR. 
          I THINK OUR NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO TABLE THE APPOINTMENTS TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND THEN MOVE FORWARD WITH A JOINT, UH, MEETING TO DISCUSS WITH THE CURRENT COMMISSIONERS WHAT OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ARE. 
          AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO, AND I CAN DO IT THEN, BEFORE YOU MAKE IT, MAKE THAT MOTION, I HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO SAY. 
          YES, MA'AM, GO AHEAD. 
          I THOUGHT YOU WAS GOOD TO MAKE A MOTION. 
          I WAS ABOUT TO. 
          HE WAS. 
          OKAY. 
          GO AHEAD. 
          I WAS LEAVING UP. 
          LET ME, LET ME INTERJECT. 
          , I'M ALL FOR THIS REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. 
          I DON'T SEE WHY WE SHOULD POSTPONE HERE, OF NOT APPOINTING THESE INDIVIDUALS TO THIS 
          [01:20:01]
REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION WHEN WE HAVE SEVEN PEOPLE THAT'S INTERESTED THAT WE CAN GO AHEAD AND SEAT ON THIS COMMISSION. 
          I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO HALT THE POSITION. 
          I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO HALT THE, THE PROCESS OF NOT ELECTING, APPOINTING PEOPLE TO THIS COMMISSION WHEN THERE'S DAILY WORK THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE UNTIL WE, UNTIL WE CAN MEET WITH THEM AS A BOARD OR HOWEVER WE WANT TO STRUCTURE THIS, I WOULD CERTAINLY VOTE TO, UM, POSTPONE THE NOMINATION UNTIL AFTER WE MEET WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION BOARD. 
          MAKES SENSE TO JUST WAIT. 
          IS THAT YOUR MOTION? YEAH, IT CAN BE. 
          YEAH. 
          WELL, I ALSO HAVE ONE MORE JUST MAKING SURE THAT SINCE WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION, IT STARTED WITH NEEDING AN AD HOC COMMITTEE AND EVERYBODY IS FEELING BETTER ABOUT HAVING AN ENTIRE BOARD MEETING WITH THE ENTIRE REMAINING COMMISSION. 
          AND THAT'S OKAY WITH THAT'S OKAY. 
          OKAY. 
          OH, I'M, I'M OKAY WITH THAT. 
          I MEAN, I JUST THINK WE NEED TO BE DOING SOMETHING BESIDES EXPECTING THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION BOARD TO OPERATE ON ITS OWN. 
          AND I JUST DON'T THINK THAT OPTICALLY, I DON'T THINK WE'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN IT. 
          OKAY. 
          SO WE HAVE A MOTION. 
          DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. 
          WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. 
          IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. 
          ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. 
          AYE. 
          ANY OPPOSED? IT'S UNANIMOUS. 
          AND FOSTER, YOU HAVE ENOUGH DIRECTION TO MOVE FORWARD TO SCHEDULE THAT MEETING? YES, SIR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          [25. Attorney's Report.]
OKAY. 
          NUMBER 25 ATTORNEY'S REPORT. 
          UH, MAYOR, MAYOR THE BOARD, JUST VERY BRIEFLY, AFTER YOUR LAST MEETING, UM, I FORWARDED THE RESOLUTION REGARDING THE, UH, CHANGE OF ELECTION TO, UH, SENATOR BRINSON. 
          UM, WE'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSION. 
          I CLARIFIED WITH HIM THAT YOUR STRONG DESIRE WAS TO HAVE A CLEAN BILL THAT SIMPLY CHANGED THE ELECTION CYCLE AND DIDN'T ADDRESS THE VACANCY FILLING ISSUE UNTIL YOU HAD TIME TO DIGEST. 
          UM, HE RE RESPONDED THAT HE'S GOT SOME STRONG FEELINGS, YOU KNOW, HAVING BEEN THE PERSON THAT CREATED THE ISSUE A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO AND HAD STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT WANTING TO FIX IT, UM, THE LANGUAGE THAT HE'S PROPOSING SIMPLY GIVES YOU, UM, 60 DAYS, JUST LIKE THE COUNTY'S TIMEFRAME, AS I MENTIONED, 60 DAYS TO FILL IT. 
          AND IF NOT, THEN THE PHYSICIAN, THE POSITION WOULD BE FILLED, UM, UM, AT A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD WITH SUBSEQUENT ELECTIONS. 
          THE STATUTE PROVIDES THAT A SPECIAL ELECTION IS NOT A, A REFERENDUM WHERE WITHIN A MONTH OR TWO THERE'S A SPECIAL SINGULAR ELECTION, THE VACANCY WOULD BE FILLED BY REFERENDUM TO BE HELD AT THE NEXT STATE OR FEDERAL ELECTION, WHICH COULD BE AS LONG AS 11 MONTHS AWAY POTENTIALLY. 
          UM, I KNOW THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU'RE EXPECTING, NOT WHAT YOU'D LIKE ALL SENATOR BRISSON HAS INVITED ME TO, UM, OFFER SOME SUGGESTIONS TO HIS LANGUAGE, WHICH I WILL DO. 
          UM, BUT THE MORE I'VE, I'VE REFLECTED ON IT, I, I THINK THE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO CREATE A STRONG DETERRENT AGAINST NOT FILLING THE VACANCY. 
          AND WE MIGHT BE SPLITTING HAIRS ABOUT HOW WE DO THAT. 
          THE POINT IS, THE OBJECTIVE IF IT'S EVER NEEDED, IS TO FILL THAT SEAT IN 60 DAYS SO THAT THERE'S NO ADVERSE CONSEQUENCE, WHATEVER. 
          AND THIS CERTAINLY DOES THAT, BUT I WILL WORK TO IMPROVE IT. 
          YES, SIR. 
          IN READING THE LANGUAGE THAT SENATOR BRENON HAS PROPOSED, I THINK, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S A LITTLE AMBIGUOUS IF WE DON'T APPOINT SOMEONE IN, IS IT 60 DAYS? YES, SIR. 
          IF WE DON'T APPOINT SOMEONE IN 60 DAYS, THEN IT SHALL GO TO A SPECIAL ELECTION UNDER THE STATUTE. 
          CORRECT. 
          SO THEN MY QUESTION BECOMES, IF WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER ELECTION, SAY THERE'S NOT A, A STATE OR FEDERAL ELECTION FOR A YEAR. 
          YES, SIR. 
          WE DON'T FILL IT IN 60 DAYS, BUT LET'S SAY BY DAY 75, WE WISE UP AND SAY, OKAY, WE WANNA PUT SOMEONE IN THERE. 
          I READ THAT LANGUAGE TO SAY WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUT SOMEONE IN THERE ON THE 75TH DAY. 
          YES, SIR. 
          WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THAT ELECTION. 
          YES, SIR. 
          AND, AND, AND I'VE RAISED THAT ISSUE AND OTHERS WITH HIM AND, AND HE'S INVITED ME TO OFFER SOME CURES TO THAT ISSUE. 
          WELL, I BELIEVE THE DIRECTION OR THE, THE REQUEST FROM THIS BOARD WAS A CLEAN ELECTION BILL THAT DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING ABOUT VACANCY BECAUSE WE DIDN'T ASK FOR IT. 
          AND SO, I MEAN, I THINK THIS BOARD HAS DIFFERENT IDEAS OF WHAT WE CAN DO TO FILL A VACANCY. 
          I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A MAJORITY THAT GOES ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, BUT I WOULD SUPPORT TONIGHT ADOPTING A RESOLUTION STRONGLY URGING SENATOR BRINSON AND OUR OTHER DELEGATE TO NOT SUPPORT THAT LANGUAGE IN THE ELECTIONS BILL. 
          WE DON'T HAVE A RESOLUTION BEFORE US TO APPROVE, SO WE COULDN'T APPROVE THAT. 
          UM, WE COULD CERTAINLY GET IN THE CAR AND DRIVE THE RALLY AND MEET WITH HIM. 
          UM, WELL, I THINK WE OUGHT TO DO THAT ANYWAY OVER THIS PROPERTY TAX NONSENSE. 
          OKAY. 
          SO THAT, THAT IS YOUR UPDATE. 
          I'VE DONE ALL I CAN DO. 
          I I WILL, AGAIN, I WILL MASSAGE AND TRY TO CURE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT, UH, ALDERMAN FER, UH, FERGUSON RAISED, UM, AND OTHERS, UM, JUST, JUST AS SOMETHING'S BETTER THAN NOTHING. 
          BUT AS, AS YOUR UNDERSTANDING THIS IS A, 
          [01:25:01]
A POLITICAL ISSUE AND THAT IS YOUR GAME, NOT MINE. 
          WELL, WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR US TO PUT SOMETHING IN OUR OWN CITY'S LANGUAGE ADDRESSING THE SITUATION? I THINK ONLY THE LEGISLATURE CAN, CAN, CAN CHANGE STATUTES. 
          ALL WE CAN DO IS ASK FOR THE CHANGE IN THE STATUTE. 
          CAN WE GIVE DIRECTION TO, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ENOUGH TIME FOR IT, BUT CAN WE GIVE DIRECTION TO SEE ATTORNEY TO DRAFT A RESOLUTION ASKING THAT THAT PORTION NOT BE INCLUDED IN OUR LOCAL BILL FOR THE RESOLUTION TO BE PRESENTED TO US ON TUESDAY AT OUR BUDGET MEETING BECAUSE IT IS A CALLED MEETING. 
          AND THEN ON TUESDAY WE CAN GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON THAT AT THE BEGINNING. 
          YES, SIR. 
          YOU COULD DO THAT IF YOU LIKE AS A BOARD, THAT'S YOUR MOTION. 
          YES. 
          YOU COULD FOUND SENATOR ALBERT THAT IS VERY OPPOSED TO YOUR PROBLEM, THE PROBLEM THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. 
          AND MAYBE THEY WOULD CHAMPION THAT PORTION OF IT. 
          WHO, WHO KNOWS ONCE IT GOES TO COMMITTEE. 
          I MEAN, THE REALITY IS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY COULD MAKE A DECISION TO MAKE ALL ELECTIONS ON AN EVEN YEAR AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE A CHOICE ABOUT ANY OF THIS. 
          THAT'S RIGHT. 
          I MEAN, THAT'S THE REALITY. 
          THEY HOLD THE CARDS IN THIS SITUATION. 
          THEY DON'T HAVE TO TAKE OUR MOTION OR OUR RESOLUTION, OUR SUGGESTION. 
          THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO ESSENTIALLY, AS LONG AS THEY GET THE SUPPORT THERE. 
          SO I, I THINK ALDERMAN BEST, DID YOU SECOND THAT MOTION? YES, I DID. 
          SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND, UH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. 
          ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. 
          AYE. 
          AYE. 
          ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. 
          ANYTHING ELSE? THAT'S 
          [26. City Manager's Report.]
ALL I HAVE HONOR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALRIGHT, CITY MANAGER'S REPORT. 
          JUST A REMINDER ABOUT THE BUDGET WORKSHOP ON TUESDAY, MAY 5TH. 
          THAT'S STANLEY WHITE RECREATION CENTER AT 9:00 AM IS THAT ALL THAT'S ALL WE GOT. 
          YOU'RE BRINGING THE COFFEE, RIGHT? WE'RE BRINGING COFFEE. 
          [27. New Business.]
ALRIGHT. 
          UH, NEW BUSINESS STARTING WITH ARMAND FERGUSON. 
           ONE THING TONIGHT, UM, THAT'S KIND OF TIMELY. 
          UH, ABOUT NINE MONTHS AGO, THE MUNICIPAL SERVICE DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD DISCUSSED THE IDEA OF, UH, PUTTING TOGETHER A DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT PLAN. 
          UH, SWISS BAYER HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN THE CHAMPION OF THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT PLAN. 
          THE LAST ONE THEY HAD, I THINK WAS IN THE EIGHTIES AND NINETIES. 
          AND SO WE HAVEN'T HAD ONE. 
          UM, WHAT THIS LOOKS AT IS ASSETS, UM, TO BUILD IN THE DOWNTOWN, UH, THAT GRANT FUNDING AS WELL AS MSD TAX DOLLARS CAN GO TO SUPPORT. 
          AND SO THERE IS A DESIRE FROM THAT BOARD TO PUT TOGETHER A DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT PLAN. 
          THAT WAS NINE MONTHS AGO. 
          THEY HAVE NOT FORMALLY MET AND TALKED OR VOTED ON THIS, BUT I'VE TALKED TO A GOOD DEAL OF THOSE FOLKS ON THAT COMMITTEE WHO AGREED THAT WE STILL NEED THAT. 
          UM, THE REASON THIS IS TIMELY, SWISS BAYER HAS AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UH, MS. SULLIVAN IS HERE TONIGHT. 
          SHE IS MOVING FORWARD WITH A FEW GRANT APPLICATIONS, UH, TO GET A DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT PLAN DONE. 
          UM, SOME OF THOSE GRANTS REQUIRE MATCHING FUNDS. 
          AND SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, AND I'LL DO IT IN THE FORM OF A MOTION, IS THAT THIS BOARD APPROPRIATE UP TO $50,000 OF MSD TAX FUNDS TO GO AS THE MATCH THE CITY MATCH FOR ANY GRANT THAT IS RECEIVED FOR THIS DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT PLAN ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT MSD TAX DOLLARS ARE ONLY SPENT WITHIN THE GEOGRAPHICAL REGION. 
          SO IT WOULD ONLY SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT GEOGRAPHICAL REGION OF THE MSD. 
          AND THAT'S MY MOTION. 
          SECOND, THANK YOU. 
          I MOTION A SECOND. 
          IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? I THINK I WOULD LIKE CLARIFICATION UP TO 50,000 AS A MATCH. 
          AS A MATCH. 
          SO CASE IN POINT, IF THEY ONLY GET $20,000, THEN, THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT $20,000 FOR MATCH, THEN WE'LL DO $20,000 MATCH. 
          IF THERE BECOMES A NEED FOR MORE, THEN WE WILL COME BACK FOR THIS BOARD TO DO THAT. 
          UH, BUT THIS WAS JUST AS A TIMELY MEASURE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, THEY COULD AFFIRMATIVELY STATE TO THE GRANTORS THAT THEY HAVE A ONE TO ONE MATCH FROM THE CITY. 
          AND YOU JUST, JUST SO I'M CLEAR, YOU SAID THAT THE MSD ADVISORY COMMITTEE DISCUSSED THIS, BUT THEY DIDN'T MOVE FORWARD. 
          MY, MY UNDERSTANDING,  ALMAN ASHER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ? OH, YOU GO AHEAD. 
          MY UNDERSTANDING IS ABOUT NINE MONTHS AGO, UH, THERE WAS, I SAY 9, 9, 10 MONTHS, THERE WAS A DISCUSSION, THERE WAS A DESIRE TO DO THIS. 
          UM, AND THEN IT WAS, AND THAT BOARD WANTED TO DO IT, ASKED SWISSAIR TO MOVE FORWARD, AND THEN ALDERMAN AT THAT TIME, UM, PUT THE BRAKES ON IT AND DID NOT SHOW SUPPORT AND SO IT DIDN'T GO FORWARD. 
          SO THIS, I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR. 
          SO THIS WAS THE MSD MEETING WHERE THIS WAS DISCUSSED, AND THEN AFTER THE MSD ADVISORY MEETING WAS OVER AND ADJOURNED, THAT'S WHEN YOUR PREDECESSOR WENT UP AND SAID, NO, DON'T DO THIS, THAT THE CITY'S RESPONSIBLE. 
          LET THE CITY TAKE CARE OF THIS. 
          I, I BELIEVE THAT'S THE SAME MEETING. 
          SO I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT. 
          I WAS, THAT IS, I WILL LEAVE THAT TO YOU. 
          THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. 
          SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND AS FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. 
          HEARING NONE. 
          ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. 
          AYE. 
          ANY OPPOSED? YES. 
          MOTION PASSES. 
          YOU OPPOSED? DID YOU SEE MS? WAS THAT A I HEARD HER SAY YES. 
          SO I SEE. 
          YES. 
          OH, I HEARD. 
          OKAY. 
          [01:30:01]
COULD YOU MAKE IT? SURE. 
          ANYTHING ELSE? ALDERMAN FERGUSON. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NO, THAT'S IT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          SHORT AND SWEET TONIGHT. 
          ALDERMAN BRYANT. 
          ALDERMAN ESTER? YES. 
          UM, THE HOA FROM, UM, CAROLINA COLORS HAS CONTACTED ME ABOUT THE PROBLEM THEY'RE HAVING ON WATERSCAPE WITH SPEED. 
          UM, THE CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF THE HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION IS UNBELIEVABLE. 
          UH, AND I, I WOULD LIKE, AND I'VE DISCUSSED IT WITH GEORGE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THIS BOARD FOR, UM, $6,700 FOR TWO OF THE ELECTRONIC SPEED SIGNS TO BE PLACED ON WATERSCAPE AND UTILIZING MY A RP FUNDS FOR THAT. 
          SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND. 
          IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. 
          ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. 
          AYE. 
          AYE. 
          ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ALSO, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR A PUBLIC HEARING FOR ON MAY 12TH AGENDA FOR THE ANNEXATION OF THE 4 0 9 5 HIGHWAY 70 EAST PROPERTIES. 
          SECOND. 
          I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. 
          UM, PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT OF DISCUSSION SO EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT THAT'S ABOUT. 
          CAN STAFF FILL US IN ON, I, I I MAY DIP INTO THAT. 
          UM, THERE'S A PARCEL, UM, JUST, UM, SOUTH OF THE ENTRANCE OF CAROLINA COLORS ON THE CAROLINA COLORS SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. 
          UM, IT IS IN THAT COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR. 
          ONCE IT'S IN THE COUNTY, IT'S NOT IN THE CITY, IT IS UN ZONED. 
          UM, THE APPLICANT, UM, HAS SOME VISIONS TO DEVELOP THAT FOR COMMERCIAL USE. 
          UM, APPARENTLY HAS SOME PRESSING BUYERS FOR THAT AND NEEDS, UM, AN ANNEXATION OF AGREEMENT, WHICH COMES WITH SEWER AND WATER COMMITMENTS, UM, FOR THAT PARCEL. 
          UM, SO PROCEDURALLY WE, WE PREFER TO BUNDLE THESE SO THAT WE HAVE AN ANNEXATION HEARING AND A RE AND A ZONING HEARING AT THE SAME TIME. 
          UM, BUT APPARENTLY THIS ONE NEEDS TO BE EXPEDITED SO THAT WE CAN HEAR THE ANNEXATION ISSUE IN MAY. 
          PLANNING AND ZONING WILL THEN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, RECOMMENDATION FOR ZONING AT THEIR MEETING IN MAY. 
          AND THEN IN JUNE YOU WILL HAVE THE INITIAL ZONING HEARING FOR THAT PARCEL. 
          OKAY. 
          SO EVERYBODY CLEAR ON THE MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. 
          AYE. 
          AYE. 
          ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. 
          ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU MAYOR ALDERMAN WHITE. 
          UM, I WOULD LIKE SOME ASSISTANCE IN MAKING SURE I'M DOING THIS THE RIGHT WAY, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE, UM, AT LEAST ONE GROUP SESSION DURING THE SUMMER TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT SEPARATELY, UM, AND HAVE A FULL BOARD DISCUSSION. 
          UM, SO HOW, HOW DO WE, WHAT ARE THE STEPS ON THAT? SO WHAT WE CAN DO IS WE CAN PULL THE BOARD ABOUT A SUMMER RETREAT, SO TO SPEAK, UH, AND LOOK AT DOING THAT IN EITHER JUNE OR JULY. 
          WE CAN, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT. 
          ALL WE NEED IS DIRECTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. 
          I, I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA. 
          ALDERMAN FERGUS AND I DISCUSSED SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS RECENTLY AND, AND WHAT MY SUGGESTION WAS, SOME OF US ON THIS BOARD HAVE BEEN THROUGH A FEW OF THESE, AND I THINK WHAT YOU'LL FIND IS WHEN YOU TRY TO CRAM THIS INTO A WHOLE DAY, YOU GET THERE IN THE MORNING, EVERYBODY'S PUMPED UP AND ENERGETIC, YOU HAVE LUNCH, EVERYBODY GETS TIRED BY THE END OF THE DAY, YOU'RE JUST READY TO GO. 
          UM, MY RECOMMENDATION SUGGESTION WOULD BE IS, IS TO HAVE THIS START MAYBE AT NOON ON ONE AFTERNOON, HAVE AN AFTERNOON WHERE YOU HAVE YOUR PRESENTATIONS AND TALK ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO REALLY GET INTO WEEDS WITH, AND THEN THE NEXT DAY HAVE THAT NEXT DAY ALLOTTED FOR THAT DISCUSSION. 
          SO IT'S KIND OF ALMOST A DAY AND A HALF IF YOU WOULD. 
          I I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT BASED OFF OF WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST. 
          I THINK THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL IF THE BOARD WOULD AGREE. 
          WE HAVE SCHEDULES THAT WOULD WORK WITH THAT. 
          AGREED. 
          I AGREE. 
          OKAY. 
          SO CAN WE GET, UH, CITY CLERK MAYBE TO POLL THE BOARD THIS SOMETIME THIS WEEK AND TRY TO GET THAT ESTABLISHED? YES SIR. 
          EVERYBODY GOOD WITH THAT? MM-HMM . 
          ALRIGHT. 
          ANYTHING ELSE? I'M ALL DONE. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          ALMAN. 
          BEST MR. HUGHES? WHEN, WHEN WILL THE, THE MO OF CITY LOTS START OR HAS IT ALREADY STARTED OR WHAT? I'M GONNA DEFER TO ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER. 
          I DON'T KNOW IF, I'M NOT SURE IF HE HAS THAT IN. 
          YEAH, THEY, THEY'VE ALREADY STARTED, I THINK THEY STARTED, UH, TWO WEEKS AGO, SO IT IS, IT'S A MATTER OF JUST CATCHING UP RIGHT NOW. 
          OKAY. 
          ALRIGHT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          IS THAT ALL WITH US? THAT'S ALL I AM. 
          ALL AND OUT. 
          WELL, UM, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BACK IN ACTUALLY IN THE SIXTIES, THERE WAS THIS THING CALLED REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION THAT WAS ESTABLISHED. 
          AND AT THAT TIME, THE CITY MANAGER OF NEW BERN WAS A GENTLEMAN NAMED ED WELCH. 
          AND MR. WELCH DID QUITE A BIT FOR THE CITY. 
          HE WAS THE CITY ENGINEER PRIOR TO BEING THE CITY MANAGER. 
          UM, MR. WELCH LEFT NEW BERN, UH, AND HAD A DIS DISTINGUISHED CAREER IN EDEN, NORTH CAROLINA, WHERE THEY HAD ACTUALLY TAKEN THREE SMALL TOWNS AND MERGED THEM AND WAS THE CITY MANAGER 
          [01:35:01]
THERE UNTIL HE PASSED AWAY OF HEART ATTACK AT 48 YEARS OF AGE. 
          UM, I'LL GIVE YOU THAT BACKGROUND TO TELL YOU THAT HIS WIDOW, UM, JULIA WEL SHE, UH, PASSED AWAY THIS AFTERNOON. 
          AND TO ME, I ALWAYS THOUGHT OF MRS. WELCH, UH, JULIA WELCH THOMAS AS, UH, BEING THE, THE GOVERNMENTAL MATRIARCH OF NEW BERN. 
          HE KNEW MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY. 
          I'M SO SORRY THAT WE DIDN'T SENSE IN SOMEBODY OVER TO, TO REALLY CHRONICLE THE THINGS THAT MS. MS. THOMAS KNEW, BUT I DO WANT YOU TO KEEP THE, UH, THE WELCH AND THOMAS FAMILIES IN YOUR PRAYERS. 
          UM, SHE WAS BE SURELY MISSED. 
          SHE WAS A MEMBER OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH FOR MANY YEARS. 
          UM, I WANT TO, UM, THIS OTHER THING I WANT TO AHEAD TALKING ABOUT YIELD TO DERMAN FERGUSON OR OR WOMAN BEST IN MY COMMENTS ABOUT, UM, ELECTRICITY IN NEW BERN. 
          UM, ELECTRICITY IN NEW BERN IS COMPRISED OF NEW BERN ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS AND ALSO DUKE ENERGY CUSTOMERS. 
          UH, DUKE ENERGY PROGRESS TO BE EXACT. 
          UM, I WENT TO THE NA KEA MEETING LAST WEEK, UH, WITH, WITH SOME OF THE ELECTRIC STAFF. 
          AND, UH, I POSED, IT'S A VERY INTERESTING, UH, NON TELEVISED MEETING, UM, WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A NEW BUSINESS, OWN BUSINESS, IT'S JUST A, A, A, A PROFESSIONAL MEETING. 
          VERY NICE PROFESSIONAL FOLKS RUNNING IT. 
          BUT, UM, IN, IN WHAT I, I WOULD DEEM TO BE THE, THE SWAY INTO COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, UM, I, I ASKED THE, THE KEA, EVEN THOUGH IN, IN WHAT THEY WERE DOING AT THE MEETING, IT WASN'T PER SE, UM, ELECTRICITY'S MEETING, BUT I ASKED HIM TO PLEASE CONSIDERING ON BEHALF OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT, UH, PARTICIPATE, PARTICIPATE IN THOSE MEETINGS, TO SEND A MESSAGE TO DUKE ENERGY THAT, YOU KNOW, $5 BILLION PROFIT AND 18% RATE INCREASES ARE UNACCEPTABLE IN THE EASTERN PART OF OUR STATE. 
          THERE ARE, UM, LIKE I SAY, DUKE CUSTOMERS WITHIN THE CITY OF NEWTON. 
          AND OF COURSE, AS, UH, YOU KNOW, A GOOD LAWYER ALREADY, ALREADY KNOWS THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION. 
          UH, I ALREADY KNEW WHAT THE RESPONSE WAS GOING TO BE, UH, ABOUT FIVE MINUTES OF WHAT A WONDERFUL JOHN MCKIM IS DOING. 
          UM, SO AGAIN, AS WE CONTINUE TO EXPLORE, UM, THE FUTURE OF ELECTRIC ELECTRICITY IN NEW BERN, I WILL KEEP YOU APPRISED. 
          IS THAT ALL OKAY? I HAVE NOTHING FOR NEW BUSINESS. 
          UH, 
          [28. Closed Session.]
DO WE NEED A CLOSED SESSION? UH, YES, MAYOR, UH, A NUMBER OF ISSUES, UM, EACH IN A CLOSED SESSION, UM, UM, DISCUSS SOME LEGAL MATTERS TO MAINTAIN OUR ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE PURSUANT TO 1 43 13 11 A THREE. 
          UM, IN PARTICULAR IS, UM, UM, BAILEY VERSUS NEWBURN. 
          UM, AND THEN WE HAVE TWO MATTERS TO DISCUSS, UM, UH, WITH RESPECT TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PURSUANT TO 1 43, 3 18, 11 A FOUR, SEVEN. 
          HAVE A MOTION. 
          DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. 
          I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. 
          OLIVER BRYANT. 
          UM, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. 
          ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. 
          AYE. 
          ANY OPPOSED? WE ARE ENC CLOSED SESSION. 
          MAKE A MOTION. 
          WE ADJOURN. 
          I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADJOURN. 
          ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. 
          ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. 
          ANY OPPOSED? ADJOURN.
* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.