[0:18] good evening and welcome to our

[0:20] August 2nd meeting.

[0:23] We will provide one of our

[0:26] prayer by commissioner puckett.

[0:28] We'll introduce ourselves and

[0:31] then we'll get right into our

[0:45] agenda.

[0:47] >> join me in prayer if you

[0:48] would, please.

[0:49] >> heaven's father we thank you

[0:52] for bringing us to this place.

[0:56] We thank you for this great

[0:59] honor that you give those on

[1:01] this dais and do the work of

[1:01] this county.

[1:03] We thank you for the citizens

[1:06] who populate mecklenberg.

[1:09] We ask that you give us whiz

[1:12] come and discernment, that you

[1:16] give us patience, that you open

[1:20] up our hearts and our minds to

[1:23] debate and to understanding that

[1:26] we find ways to find common

[1:27] ground even though we start from

[1:28] different places.

[1:30] We ask that you continue to

[1:32] bless this county and this state

[1:34] and this nation.

[1:37] And we pray that you will always

[1:39] keep us in the palm of your hand

[1:43] and that we May always do thy

[1:44] will.

[1:47] In the jesus christ that I pray,

[1:47] amen.

[1:49] >> amen.

[1:52] Please join me in the pledge of

[1:52] allegiance.

[1:54] I pledge allegiance to the flag

[1:56] of the united states of america,

[2:00] and to the republic for which it

[2:03] stands, one nation under God

[2:04] indivisible with liberty and

[2:14] justice for all.

[2:16] >> Chair: introductions.

[2:18] >> I'm george dunlap elected by

[2:20] the people of district 3.

[2:30] Bill james county commission 6.

[2:31] >> good evening.

[2:33] My name is trevor fuller and I'm

[2:34] honored and privilege to serve

[2:36] as a county commissioner at

[2:38] large which means that I

[2:40] represent the more than one

[2:43] million people who live in this

[2:45] great county of mecklenberg.

[2:47] Thank you for being with us in

[2:48] the chaim

[2:48] mber tonight.

[2:50] Thank you for watching us online

[2:53] and on the government channel.

[2:56] My name is jim puckett.

[3:03] I'm representing district 1.

[3:07] Since commissioner leake isn't I

[3:10] am the most powerful district of

[3:13] mecklenberg county.

[3:15] And good evening I'm ella

[3:16] scarborough county commissioner

[3:21] at large and I would like to say

[3:25] commissioner leake we Miss Her

[3:25] tonight.

[3:28] But godspeed she'll be with us

[3:29] soon.

[3:31] I'm pat cotham.

[3:32] And see our chamber.

[3:34] It's full of a lot of our

[3:37] advocates for parks and

[3:39] greenways and so I know we have

[3:42] a lot of people watching at

[3:42] home.

[3:46] I got a text message from robert

[3:48] dawkins who is community

[3:50] organizer with safeco lition and

[3:52] he's watching along with other

[3:52] people.

[3:54] This is an important meeting and

[3:56] we're so glad you're here and

[3:59] I'm very proud to serve you.

[4:00] Good evening everyone.

[4:04] My name is matthew ridenhour.

[4:06] I represent district 5.

[4:08] And as we do.

[4:11] But I just want to say publicly

[4:14] thank you all for and those at

[4:16] home who have called and sent

[4:19] messages and tweets and, the

[4:22] greenways and the stadium have

[4:23] been something we've talked

[4:24] about a lot.

[4:26] Thank you for being involved.

[4:28] So few people get involved in

[4:30] local government, and it's

[4:32] government is closest to the

[4:33] people.

[4:35] I just want to say thank you

[4:36] very much.

[4:37] >> good evening.

[4:39] I'm dumont clarke.

[4:43] I'm glad to see everyone here

[4:43] tonight.

[4:45] Thank you for your passion.

[4:48] >> good evening.

[4:51] I'm dena diorio.

[4:53] >> good evening.

[4:56] I'm marvin by the way

[4:58] ethune county

[5:00] attorney.

[5:01] >> Chair: we'll get to our

[5:03] public appearance.

[5:14] And we have excuse me, two.

[5:16] We will go to our

[5:18] recommendations and

[5:19] proclamations

[5:20] proclamations.

[5:21] We're going to do those at this

[5:21] time.

[5:23] I have a proclamation for the

[5:23] following.

[5:26] One for child support awareness

[5:28] and commissioner cotham is going

[5:29] to do that.

[5:32] I also have a proclamation for

[5:35] women's oncology day that is

[5:37] commissioner fuller and then

[5:39] another proclamation for the pga

[5:41] and commissioner ridenhour is

[5:42] going to do that.

[5:44] Additionally we have

[5:47] proclamations for preventive

[5:49] domestic violence week, we also

[5:52] have one for the senior

[5:57] awareness insurance insurance

[6:01] program and also we have one for

[6:04] transportation involuntary

[6:05] committed residents.

[6:08] So we have all those

[6:16] proclamations.

[6:18] >> thank you Madam Chair.

[6:20] I'm reading a proclamation of

[6:21] mecklenberg county, north

[6:22] carolina proclamation.

[6:25] it's very beautiful.

[6:27] I'm sure we're going to present

[6:30] it to joan kennedy.

[6:31] Stand over there.

[6:32] She leads this department.

[6:35] It's a very important department

[6:36] as it deals with children.

[6:38] So this proclamation which was

[6:41] signed by our chair ella

[6:42] scarborough, reads whereas

[6:43] mecklenberg county has operated

[6:46] a high child support enforcement

[6:47] department since July 2010 when

[6:49] the staff and customers of the

[6:51] program were entrusted to the

[6:52] county by the state of north

[6:56] carolina, and whereas former

[6:59] President Bill clinton first

[7:01] proclaimed August as the child

[7:03] support awareness month in 1995

[7:07] to demonstrate the importance of

[7:10] child support as a sustainable

[7:13] means of well-being for our

[7:14] nation's children.

[7:16] Children living in poverty are

[7:18] more vulnerable, educational and

[7:21] safety risks and more likely to

[7:25] have cognitive and behavioral

[7:27] and socioemotional problems

[7:33] throughout their lifetime.

[7:34] And can provide a stable

[7:36] foundation for a life to

[7:38] children who're dependent on

[7:41] them for their daily financial

[7:43] mornl and physical growth.

[7:44] Whereas mecklenberg county is

[7:46] comphied to insuring the safety,

[7:48] health and well-being of our

[7:50] children by supporting families

[7:52] through programs designed to

[7:53] help parents remain engaged in

[7:56] their children's lives.

[7:57] Whereas mecklenberg county

[7:59] promotes a proactive and

[8:01] productive and engaging

[8:03] community by taking a

[8:06] collaborative and holistic

[8:09] approach to help family benefit

[8:11] from coparenting.

[8:15] This is a very important

[8:15] paragraph.

[8:20] In mecklenberg county there are

[8:20] 71,4

[8:23] 71,450 children in custodial

[8:24] parents who receive more than

[8:27] $50 million in child support.

[8:29] I mean that is a lot of money

[8:32] that this department collects

[8:35] led under joan kennedy, and that

[8:37] goes into our economy.

[8:38] It's for our children.

[8:41] So this is a tremendous benefit.

[8:44] So again it's fun,450 children

[8:46] in custody

[8:48] ial parents who receive

[8:50] more than $50 million in child

[8:52] support annually through the

[8:55] efforts of this county's child

[8:56] support professionals.

[8:58] And whereas collection of child

[9:00] support also contributes to the

[9:03] welfare of our local economy by

[9:06] adding -- avoiding local care

[9:10] costs and moving families into

[9:13] economic self-sufficiency by

[9:15] reducing dependence on other

[9:18] public assistance programs.

[9:21] And whereas these local efforts

[9:24] are provided by 117 mecklenberg

[9:26] county staff workers who work

[9:29] diligently to uphold the

[9:31] county's customer service and

[9:32] account

[9:34] accountability members.

[9:36] They also help fathers get jobs

[9:39] and have interview clothes.

[9:43] They do a bang-up job.

[9:45] Now therefore be the resolved

[9:47] the mecklenberg county board of

[9:49] county commissioners hereby

[9:52] proclaim August of 2017 as the

[9:54] child support awareness month.

[10:00] And it's signed by ella

[10:01] scarborough.

[10:04] (Applause)

[10:07] >> Madam Chair I want to make a

[10:09] motion that we approve that

[10:12] before you give it away.

[10:15] >> Chair: all in favor please

[10:38] denote by aye.

[10:39] mr. Fuller.

[10:42] >> I have the privilege of

[10:44] bringing forward a proclamation

[10:46] from both the city of charlotte

[10:47] and mecklenberg county and it is

[10:50] signed by both the mayor of the

[10:53] city of charlotte and our chair

[10:55] ella scarborough of the board of

[10:56] county commissioners.

[10:59] And this relates to women's

[10:59] equality day.

[11:02] And it reads as follows.

[11:06] Whereas August 26th, 2017 marks

[11:09] the 97th easterns of women in

[11:10] the united states gaining the

[11:13] right to vote with the

[11:14] ratification of the 19th

[11:15] amendment to the constitution.

[11:19] And whereas the call for women's

[11:23] right to vote was first voiced

[11:27] in 1848 and the slid fication of

[11:31] right into law was the result of

[11:34] decades of work by sufficient

[11:47] raw gists.

[11:51] And they let their feet speak

[11:54] when their voices alone were not

[11:55] alone.

[11:56] Protesting and marching for

[11:59] their fund mnl right to vote in

[12:01] the face of heckling and jail

[12:02] and abuse.

[12:05] Their efforts led to enormous

[12:07] progress, millions upon millions

[12:09] of women have since used the

[12:11] power of the ballot to help

[12:13] shape our nation.

[12:16] And whereas at a time when women

[12:18] were meant to be seen and not

[12:22] heard the sufficient gists and

[12:25] by speaking out on behalf of all

[12:28] women and organized for their

[12:39] rights.

[12:41] And whereas to these committed

[12:43] and determined women, voting was

[12:45] not the end of the journey

[12:47] fourie quality but the beginning

[12:49] of a new air

[12:50] era in the advancement

[12:51] of our union.

[12:54] These brave and tenacious women

[12:58] challenged our nation to live up

[13:13] to its founding principles.

[13:15] Partnership have identified the

[13:18] scene for the 2017 women's 's

[13:22] equality day program and event.

[13:25] That theme to be overcoming

[13:27] shame, how to deal with body

[13:28] image.

[13:30] Whereas this year's event will

[13:33] be held at the main campus of

[13:36] the university of north

[13:37] carolina, charlotte and the

[13:39] public are invited and

[13:41] encouraged to participate in

[13:43] this free and wonderful

[13:44] celebration.

[13:46] Now therefore we jennifer

[13:48] w. Roberts, mayor of charlotte

[13:50] and ella scarborough chair of

[13:52] the mecklenberg county board of

[13:54] county commissioners do hereby

[13:58] proclaim August 26th, 2017 as

[14:00] women's equality day in

[14:01] charlotte and mecklenberg county

[14:03] and command its observance to

[14:06] all the citizens of our county.

[14:07] Witness our hands and the

[14:09] official seal of the city of

[14:14] charlotte and mecklenberg county

[14:16] county.

[14:18] We have the women's advisory

[14:19] board representative.

[14:21] You want to come to the

[14:22] microphone.

[14:24] Do you want to say a word or

[14:24] two.

[14:28] We just want to acknowledge this

[14:36] 97th

[14:37] 97th anniversary know that

[14:40] women's rights are human rights.

[14:42] >> Chair: all in favor please

[14:43] denote by aye.

[14:45] >> thank you for being here.

[14:48] So the women's advisory board is

[14:51] partnering with the un crchlt

[14:53] c women's

[14:55] girls research alliance.

[14:57] As you stated the theme this

[15:00] year was actually selected

[15:01] jointly by the women's advisory

[15:07] board and alliance so to be

[15:10] overcoming shame.

[15:11] There are 197 preregistered for

[15:14] the event and we want

[15:17] commissioner guess unz and the

[15:17] audience.

[15:19] Our mission to promote the

[15:21] credit

[15:24] critical and urgent need for

[15:28] women.

[15:29] It was sent in error and thanks

[15:32] to the partnership with unc

[15:38] charlotte providing the kohn and

[15:41] of juice coffee and muffins

[15:44] there are no additional funds

[15:44] needed.

[15:48] >> thank you all, so much.

[15:50] Would you come down and receive

[15:54] the proclamation.

[16:32] (Applause)

[16:33] >> thank you.

[16:37] Next proclamation will be

[16:39] women's equality day.

[16:40] No I'm sorry, pga.

[16:43] We just did that one.

[16:44] Commissioner ridenhour.

[16:46] Thank you very much.

[16:49] I understand Mr. Jason men gull

[16:51] from the professional golfer's

[17:01] association is here.

[17:01] Proclamation.

[17:03] I wanted to pull this one and

[17:05] read it.

[17:08] It's an event that occurs in

[17:09] district 5 fairly close to home.

[17:12] I wanted to pull this one.

[17:15] I appreciate the amount of time

[17:17] to read it.

[17:19] Whereas the professional

[17:20] golfer's association pga of

[17:28] america will celebrate its 99th

[17:29] pga championship.

[17:33] In professional golf the final

[17:35] major championship of the year.

[17:37] And includes the top gall turs.

[17:42] The quail hollow club will for

[17:45] the and whereas the this global

[17:49] sporting event will attract over

[17:50] 200,000 gall

[17:54] olfers over a seven-day

[17:57] tournament period, and be

[18:00] broadcast in over 200 countries.

[18:03] And

[18:07] and whereas the pga championship

[18:09] provides a positive impact for

[18:11] the charlotte mecklenberg area

[18:13] through economic benefits to

[18:14] hotels.

[18:16] Restaurants, rental companies,

[18:19] temporary employment and in clu

[18:22] inclusive exposure to the game

[18:24] of golf.

[18:27] Now therefore we jennifer watson

[18:30] roberts, mayor of charlotte, and

[18:32] ella scarborough chair of the

[18:33] mecklenberg county board of

[18:36] county commissioners do hereby

[18:38] August 7th, 2017 as the pga

[18:39] championship week in charlotte

[18:41] and mecklenberg county.

[18:44] And command its observance to

[18:55] all hands.

[18:57] >> move approval.

[18:57] >> Chair:

[19:01] >> Chair: all in favor please

[19:04] denote by aye.

[19:06] Opposers nay.

[19:07] >> we're excited about it.

[19:09] We're excited too.

[19:12] Congratulations to the other

[19:14] recipients tonight.

[19:15] Doing great work in the

[19:16] community.

[19:18] Thank you for the welcome.

[19:20] The southern hospitality, and

[19:22] certainly the support along the

[19:23] way.

[19:25] An event this size and scope

[19:27] requires cooperation and frankly

[19:29] the guidance of the numerous

[19:31] entities within this community

[19:32] we've interacted with.

[19:35] I've got to say that really over

[19:37] the past two years the support

[19:38] that many you have provided us

[19:41] we wouldn't be able to get

[19:43] through next week without it.

[19:45] Thank you so much.

[19:48] Here we are just days away from

[19:51] the eyes of the sporting world.

[19:54] for the golf world after the

[19:58] final putt drops at brookdale

[20:03] where jordan spieth won the open

[20:04] championship.

[20:06] You know, in many years the

[20:09] success of the pga championship

[20:12] will be numbered by what goes at

[20:14] quail hollow.

[20:23] The fact that we hand out the

[20:26] wannamaker trophy on sunday

[20:29] night.

[20:31] Millions of dollars in tax

[20:33] revenue will be generated.

[20:35] Over 1,100 temporary jobs will

[20:38] be created around this event.

[20:40] Not just week.

[20:43] There's folks working for months

[20:46] up to the event and after the

[20:46] events.

[20:51] That's just the economic impact.

[20:52] You know that the pga

[20:55] championship is one of the most

[20:57] telecast events.

[21:00] 28 hours of live television

[21:01] coverage.

[21:02] It's going around the world to

[21:04] 200 countries and territories

[21:08] over the household north of half

[21:09] a billion.

[21:12] That's a lot of eyeballs on this

[21:13] community.

[21:16] On a standpoint on a day-to-day

[21:18] basis the staff and the

[21:21] professional is doing a great

[21:24] job in this community.

[21:27] Pga hope this is our military

[21:27] program.

[21:30] Our junior league golf which is

[21:35] comment to the next generation.

[21:39] And on behalf of the behalf the

[21:41] entire pga community.

[21:44] Can't say thank you enough.

[21:46] I have one final request.

[21:47] That we have 85

[21:48] and sunshine

[21:51] all next week.

[21:54] I don't know if we need to add

[21:58] an amendment to the proclamation

[22:27] but thank you so much.

[22:28] >> Chair: okay.

[22:32] we will now go to our public

[22:35] hearing appearance.

[22:38] Okay.

[22:39] We have several.

[22:42] Let me read our little

[22:44] intro into it.

[22:46] This is a time during the

[22:47] meeting when the public can

[22:50] appear to address the board on

[22:52] any matters that is not

[22:54] appearing on the agenda.

[22:56] However, persons cannot address

[22:58] the board concerning someone's

[23:02] candidacy for office or make a

[23:05] budget request.

[23:08] Anyone desiring to speak on a

[23:10] matter that's on the agenda May

[23:12] speak on the matter when it

[23:14] comes up for discussion.

[23:16] There will be three minutes

[23:17] allowed

[23:19] allowed per speaker unless

[23:22] there's four or more spae

[23:25] eakers on

[23:26] a groups.

[23:28] In which case 10 minutes will be

[23:31] allowed for these groups.

[23:35] Members of the board will not

[23:37] engage members of the board will

[23:39] not engage in dialogue.

[23:41] With the public appearance

[23:43] comments will be received and

[23:46] followed up as applicable.

[23:49] By the county manager staff

[23:51] and/or members of the board.

[23:53] Handouts and/or tokens May be

[23:55] given to the clerk for

[23:57] distribution to the board at the

[23:59] end of the meeting.

[24:01] At this time we have the

[24:05] following speakers.

[24:12] I have ricky hall.

[24:54] David dalin.

[24:54] Lest

[24:55] leslie

[25:02] >> good evening.

[25:05] Thank you for allowing me to

[25:05] speak.

[25:10] I am gwen kim.

[25:13] I'm coming to present the

[25:13] million father March.

[25:53] And I also want to thank dunlap.

[25:56] In thetion null to earn better

[25:57] grades.

[25:58] Score higher on tests, and a

[26:01] more likely to graduate from

[26:02] high school.

[26:05] And in 2006 the key father

[26:07] initiative it kicked off the

[26:08] school year with the west

[26:10] charlotte and oak lawn and the

[26:11] list goes on.

[26:13] We are continuing this process

[26:15] for 2017 so I'm very excited

[26:18] about that.

[26:21] And okay we need all schools to

[26:24] participate, men's, uncles.

[26:25] Grandfathers to go to your

[26:26] children's school.

[26:32] If you have any question contact

[26:33] me.

[26:35] A child needs direction if the

[26:37] direction is clear, the child

[26:38] will succeed.

[26:40] And also I want to leave this

[26:40] with you.

[26:44] A March to movement is a March

[26:46] having begun.

[26:50] At the end movement is ongoing.

[26:53] And can I just pause with that

[26:55] and just say I do support the

[27:04] parks and greenway I worked

[27:04] there for 30 years so when I saw

[27:07] you all, oh my gosh, so parks

[27:09] and greenways.

[27:09] Yes.

[27:10] >> Chair: thank you very much.

[27:12] And thank you so much.

[27:15] Clayton porter is the next

[27:23] speaker.

[27:25] He is not here.

[27:29] So that ends our public speaking

[27:30] list.

[27:33] So at this time ads I read

[27:40] earlier we will now do

[27:49] appointments.

[27:53] For the historic landmark

[28:01] commission.

[28:06] [Multiple people speaking]

[28:09] >> Chair: historic landmark

[28:10] commission.

[28:13] >> before we start nominating

[28:16] people or voting, I did take the

[28:18] time to look at the makeup of

[28:20] the historic committee, and this

[28:22] board has done an outstanding

[28:26] job in terms of trying to

[28:29] diversify various committees.

[28:30] We understand there are some

[28:33] committees are primarily made up

[28:37] of people of average dissent.

[28:39] There are some primarily made up

[28:40] of caucasians.

[28:44] This happens to be 100%

[28:44] caucasian.

[28:48] We still need to diversify by

[28:51] including more women on this

[28:51] committee.

[28:53] I ask you that you take that

[29:01] into consideration as you vote.

[29:03] Brit

[29:04] britney glens.

[29:07] >> are there any of the nominees

[29:11] that in the audience tonight.

[29:15] Did anyone come here to attend

[29:15] tonight.

[29:17] >> Chair: you have one.

[29:20] >> there is one hand up there.

[29:23] We often consider it a sign of

[29:25] interest that they're here.

[29:31] >> Chair: what's your name, sir.

[29:40] >> advocate for tom eakin.

[29:41] >> Chair: any other advocates.

[29:43] I received a letter.

[29:45] I don't know if you all did from

[29:48] peter jenkins.

[30:06] Mr. Jones.

[30:09] And she's worked on a lot of

[30:10] historic preservation projects,

[30:16] and she's in district 5.

[30:18] >> Chair: other advocates.

[30:25] Is there a motion?

[30:26] I'm sorry.

[30:28] Why don't we go through the list

[30:29] and vote.

[30:35] >> Chair: I'll start with diane

[30:36] alterhouse.

[30:48] All in favor.

[30:51] Anyone for jennifer coates.

[30:57] Any for don Mcduffie.

[31:01] we can vote for two.

[31:06] We have thomas egan.

[31:10] I think we have our two.

[31:13] >> you've got to do all of them.

[31:20] >> Chair: I will ask the others

[31:25] who have applied would you look

[31:28] to our minutes and apply again.

[31:31] We already have two and we

[31:34] appreciate diane alterhouse and

[31:36] also thomas egan.

[31:38] Thank you very much at this

[31:38] time.

[31:43] Our next -- moving right along.

[32:05] We have our application for

[32:11] these are votes.

[32:13] >> Chair: this is for

[32:19] information service and

[32:20] technology.

[32:22] One can be nominated.

[32:25] And that is frank benson and

[32:29] vicky --

[32:32] >> I'd like to advocate and I'm

[32:35] not sure I'm saying the

[32:39] gentleman's name d

[32:42] e vchlt

[32:43] dev ichlt

[32:43] I

[32:44] devicic.

[32:47] He's asian and he has a computer

[32:49] in computer science.

[32:51] And he has 25 years experience

[32:54] in management and she has

[32:57] special skills in solution

[32:57] engineering.

[33:02] He lives in district 1 in

[33:03] hunters

[33:04] huntersville

[33:06] huntersville.

[33:07] There's one slot.

[33:13] Someone want to make a motion.

[33:13] >> Chair:

[33:16] >> Chair: all in favor of frank

[33:17] benson raise your hand.

[33:24] All in favor of don.

[33:28] He is nominated.

[33:31] We've got one person from

[33:32] hunters

[33:34] huntersville.

[33:37] Our next nominees have to be

[33:42] from the planning commission.

[33:45] and planning commission

[33:49] recommended

[33:51] >> I'll be happy to read it.

[33:54] And I'm reading this report on

[33:57] behalf of commissioner leake who

[34:00] chaired the planning commission

[34:03] ad hoc appointment committee.

[34:06] The members consisted of our

[34:08] chairperson commissioner leake

[34:12] and myself and on monday July

[34:16] 17th, the planning commission ad

[34:18] hoc appointment committee

[34:20] interviewed five candidates for

[34:21] appointment consideration.

[34:23] One vacancy on the planning

[34:24] commission.

[34:26] The committee was -- I already

[34:27] did that.

[34:29] The committee interviewed the

[34:31] following candidates who're

[34:33] nominated at the June 20th, 2017

[34:36] meeting of the board of county

[34:39] commissioners.

[34:48] They included their

[34:49] and after

[34:51] interviewing the candidates the

[34:52] committee voted unanimously to

[34:54] recommend to the full board the

[35:00] appointment of keable samuels.

[35:05] To expire 2020 on the planning

[35:05] commission.

[35:07] >> Chair: all right.

[35:09] Are there other nominations.

[35:11] If not I'll just go down the

[35:12] list.

[35:15] >> I move to appoint keable

[35:24] samuels.

[35:30] >> I did receive a call from

[35:31] daniel broom.

[35:35] He is interested in serving.

[35:36] He must have known -- well I can

[35:38] tell you.

[35:40] I can give you all of the

[35:40] background.

[35:44] Of the people that we considered

[35:47] there were three who had no

[35:48] clue.

[35:49] Just being honest.

[35:54] The two that stood out was

[35:59] keable samuels who is a young

[36:02] person who has vast amount of

[36:05] knowledge, researched on her

[36:07] own, background information and

[36:10] the choice was between her and

[36:13] darryl broom who has previously

[36:18] served two terms.

[36:24] >> Chair: there a motion to --

[36:25] okay.

[36:28] We have darryl broom.

[36:31] I need omar carter.

[36:31] How many people.

[36:33] No hands.

[36:37] What about hasting.

[36:41] How about nair.

[36:46] Keable samuels.

[36:50] That's eight.

[36:52] That makes keable samuels is

[36:55] elected to -- I think she's here

[36:56] tonight

[36:58] tonightment

[36:59] tonightment.

[36:59] >> congratulations.

[37:01] >> stand up.

[37:06] Thank you.

[37:07] Thank you very much.

[37:12] Next one is the women's advisory

[37:13] advisory.

[37:17] >> I received several contacts

[37:18] about this.

[37:23] One in particular from hare's

[37:23] jones

[37:29] jones' daughter.

[37:39] Other nominations.

[37:42] Any other advocacy?

[37:45] If not, make a motion.

[37:48] We'll vote the list.

[37:49] Co-

[37:49] coley.

[37:52] Anyone for coley.

[37:55] What about jones.

[37:55] Okay.

[37:58] She is voted unanimously.

[38:03] You are duly elected Madam.

[38:12] Moving right along.

[38:16] >> Madam Chair I move that we

[38:20] reappoint marcus heckler for air

[38:22] quality commission.

[38:25] >> all in favor of.

[38:26] Any opposers.

[38:31] I move that we waive our policy

[38:38] and reappoint kerry lansdale and

[38:42] must grath.

[38:45] Madam Chair for nursing home

[38:48] visry that we reappoint robert

[38:48] bruton.

[38:52] >> all in favor please denote by

[38:57] aye.

[39:01] Waste management board we

[39:03] reappoint ishmael sanchez.

[39:06] >> all in favor please denote by

[39:07] aye.

[39:11] Any opposers nay.

[39:14] So that ends our nominations.

[39:17] We will now go to public

[39:18] hearings

[39:26] hearings.

[39:28] The manager's report.

[39:30] >> thank you Madam Chair.

[39:30] There are several item.

[39:33] The first is a presentation by

[39:35] our county assessor ken joiner

[39:38] to demonstrate the newcomer

[39:42] service module that we're

[39:46] implementing called modria.

[39:48] We start to manage the appeals

[39:49] process.

[39:51] >> thank you dena.

[39:53] >> commissioners, Madam Chair.

[39:55] I'm excited to be here tonight.

[39:57] This is a great night for our

[40:00] office as we step forward and

[40:05] start being more transparent and

[40:09] moving towards our 2019

[40:11] revaluation, and offering our

[40:13] citizens more and more options

[40:15] as they go through the re-

[40:17] reappraisal process with us.

[40:20] Tonight we have our online

[40:21] resolution portal.

[40:24] It went live yesterday.

[40:27] So we wand to make sure that our

[40:28] board got an opportunity to see

[40:30] what the product will do, the

[40:32] power that it has the

[40:33] opportunities it will provide us

[40:35] and the citizens of mecklenberg

[40:38] county as we go through and

[40:42] towards our 2019 revaluation.

[40:46] So as we start off the modria

[40:49] tour it is an online resolution

[40:49] portal.

[40:51] It starts with a couple of

[40:54] products that one of the product

[40:56] we already have in mecklenberg

[41:03] county which is our spatialest

[41:04] product look at properties and

[41:07] sales and other items as they

[41:09] are trying to look at their

[41:11] value and make a determination

[41:14] of the fairness of what we bring

[41:17] forward in 2019.

[41:23] The link here as it says is

[41:26] mecklenbergn crchlt

[41:30] mecklenbergnc.Gov/assessoroffice

[41:32] .

[41:37] On so on the back end you come

[41:40] to welcome to the mecklenberg

[41:42] county

[41:43] county.

[41:45] You'll start your journey by

[41:47] entering your parcel number.

[41:49] You can look it up by address.

[41:51] Also by owner name.

[41:53] So we've got multiple options

[41:54] there.

[41:56] So you will go in and you will

[42:01] put in your parcel number and up

[42:02] comes your property.

[42:05] From here you can see your

[42:07] parcel account information,

[42:09] location, you've got a map

[42:11] showing your property there.

[42:15] You come down the screen and

[42:18] make an inquiry.

[42:18] This is one of the entrances

[42:21] into the dispute resolution

[42:23] where if you do have questions

[42:26] you can go in and talk about it.

[42:27] There's some other important

[42:28] links on the page.

[42:31] Under the map it says view

[42:32] sales.

[42:34] You can look at all of the sales

[42:37] in a table format for both your

[42:39] neighborhood and your area.

[42:41] You can also go and look at a

[42:42] larger scale map.

[42:46] You can look at the aerial

[42:47] photography or you can enter

[42:51] into what we call the comper

[42:53] which is a sales portal where

[42:56] you can visually see those on a

[42:58] map and make selections.

[43:01] We'll show you that in just a

[43:01] minute.

[43:04] Below lower on that screen you

[43:07] also have an some additional

[43:07] information.

[43:09] Talk about the age of your home.

[43:12] What type of structure how we've

[43:14] got it classified.

[43:18] This is two and one and a half

[43:18] stories.

[43:18] Electric.

[43:21] Some of the basic physical

[43:24] characteristics of the property.

[43:27] You can link down and look just

[43:28] at the land details.

[43:30] You can see permits.

[43:32] You can see sales history.

[43:33] You can view the tax bill.

[43:37] You can go to the county site

[43:40] polaris or you can go to the

[43:41] print property record card and

[43:43] you can view a lot of that

[43:46] information in an easy to read

[43:47] format there as well.

[43:49] We also have highlighted the

[43:51] sketch of the property.

[43:52] You can click on that.

[43:54] Make it larger.

[43:59] Look at the actual physical

[44:00] dimensions of the property.

[44:02] So again let's go back and let's

[44:04] imagine you are doing an

[44:05] inquiry.

[44:08] So you're going to start your

[44:08] case.

[44:13] Once you've hit the make an

[44:13] inquire

[44:16] inquiry by entering some basic

[44:17] information.

[44:19] Here we've used tony public.

[44:21] And file a case.

[44:23] Then we're going to ask some

[44:25] basic information.

[44:26] Who are you.

[44:28] Are you the owner the an

[44:30] attorney agent for the property

[44:34] relative or other.

[44:36] phone number.

[44:38] Secondary phone number and some

[44:40] other additional information for

[44:43] us to have on record as to who

[44:45] you are.

[44:46] Then there are two routes that

[44:49] you go through the process.

[44:51] As we ask you questions there

[44:53] are some that will route you

[44:56] directly to the end of your

[44:58] inquiry and others that will

[45:00] take you another step.

[45:03] So the first time that do not

[45:07] route through the sales comper

[45:10] search there are errors on my

[45:12] property's physical

[45:13] characteristics.

[45:16] And I have issues regarding an

[45:17] exemption or deferment.

[45:20] If you highlight one of those it

[45:22] will take you more towards the

[45:23] completion of the process.

[45:25] But if you choose one of the

[45:27] other 3 I recently purchased the

[45:29] property for a different amount,

[45:32] I have a recent appraisal or

[45:34] other properties like mine have

[45:36] recently sold at a different

[45:39] price range those types of

[45:42] inquiries will lead you into our

[45:42] comper feature.

[45:44] It will send you to this page

[45:47] and please launch the comper.

[45:49] When you do that you can see the

[45:52] little red house is the actual

[45:52] subject.

[45:54] All of these other properties

[45:56] that are highlighted there are

[46:00] sales within that neighborhood

[46:03] that have been confirmed arms's

[46:04] length transaction.

[46:06] On the left-hand side you see a

[46:08] picture and the address, what

[46:12] they sold for, and you as the

[46:14] taxpayer can look at that

[46:17] information and select I believe

[46:20] this property is comparable to

[46:20] mine.

[46:22] You can go down and find another

[46:24] one and from those make your

[46:25] selections.

[46:27] As you see here we selected the

[46:29] first three.

[46:32] Highlighted those as

[46:33] comparables.

[46:35] You can select more than three.

[46:37] However you feel are applicable

[46:39] on that inquiry.

[46:42] Once you've highlighted you can

[46:46] go up to the top and save my

[46:46] comparables.

[46:49] It will put it into an easy

[46:50] form.

[46:52] And that will attach to your

[46:55] inquiry and can be sent via

[46:57] electronic digital format to our

[47:02] office to an appraisal.

[47:07] Also you can go into the system

[47:11] and attach other documents.

[47:13] You can scan items in.

[47:14] Attach those.

[47:16] Send those to us.

[47:19] You can send questions to our

[47:20] office.

[47:22] So it's a portal basically for

[47:24] us to open up another way to

[47:27] communicate with our citizens.

[47:29] I think that will be very

[47:31] powerful as we move forward.

[47:34] Ads you can see here, once you

[47:37] have gone through and you've put

[47:39] in your comparable sheets or

[47:42] finished your inquiry you can

[47:44] continue the process and that

[47:46] will take you to your

[47:48] confirmation that you have filed

[47:49] your case.

[47:53] Then we will send you an email

[47:56] that will give you a link.

[48:00] It will just like sent to your

[48:00] gmail.

[48:02] You click on the link and it

[48:03] will take you into the

[48:04] discussions page.

[48:06] So this allows you to see where

[48:11] your inquiry was made as other

[48:12] communications are made back

[48:15] from us from the taxpayer, they

[48:18] will all be displayed there.

[48:20] It allows them as you see at the

[48:22] bottom to post a message.

[48:25] They can type in's message

[48:27] there, hit enter.

[48:30] That will also be sent.

[48:32] Once the initial inquiry is made

[48:33] we will have that sent to

[48:37] someone on our staff who will

[48:39] actually assign that case.

[48:43] It will go to a particular

[48:43] appraise

[48:44] appraisers based on the parcel

[48:45] numbers.

[48:48] It will go the appraiser who is

[48:49] working that area.

[48:51] They will have the opportunity

[48:54] to respond and work with our

[48:54] citizens.

[48:56] Our initial inquiry when you're

[48:58] on that page says that the

[49:01] county assessor's office will

[49:02] respond within two business

[49:03] days.

[49:07] So we would expect to reply to

[49:10] our citizens let them know we've

[49:12] received it within two days.

[49:14] Right now on the far side of the

[49:17] screen we would expect for them

[49:20] to work with our citizens over a

[49:24] two week period and come to some

[49:30] type of resolution on an initial

[49:30] question.

[49:33] >> but that's the process that

[49:35] we're starting there.

[49:38] So again, someone would have a

[49:40] trail of the emails that come

[49:41] through

[49:42] through.

[49:45] The appraiser marked this

[49:46] inquiry complete.

[49:47] Mecklenberg appointed an

[49:48] appraiser.

[49:51] This type of information at each

[49:53] step through the process would

[49:56] trigger another email to our

[49:58] citizens so that they've got

[50:00] that information as a record for

[50:01] them as well.

[50:04] This is a copy of an initial

[50:05] that secure link.

[50:07] If they click that link when

[50:11] they open their email that will

[50:13] take them directly into the

[50:28] discussion page.

[50:30] We're hoping to get our citizens

[50:31] interested in the product to

[50:33] understand the product well

[50:36] before notices go out in late

[50:37] 2018.

[50:40] We also would love to have our

[50:42] citizens provide us information

[50:43] if there are corrections that

[50:46] are necessary as we go through

[50:49] the process at this point.

[50:52] We sent out the tax bills in

[50:54] conjunction with neal's office

[50:56] the collector's office this past

[50:58] week and there was an insert in

[51:04] each of the tax bills that high

[51:06] highlighted modria.

[51:09] Revaluation 2019 is coming.

[51:10] Help us help you.

[51:13] So we're trying to get our

[51:14] citizens moving in this

[51:15] direction.

[51:18] I can tell you we hope many will

[51:19] take that opportunity.

[51:22] I know today our first what I

[51:25] would consider full-day where I

[51:28] feel everybody has their bill we

[51:31] had 20 inquiries filed with

[51:31] information.

[51:33] We're hopeful that will continue

[51:36] to build the momentum.

[51:38] That means they went all the way

[51:41] through the process.

[51:44] We're hoping that many went

[51:47] through comper and can be a

[51:50] better partner with us as we try

[51:53] to go through the next

[51:59] revaluation.

[52:03] For modria a convenient tool to

[52:05] share information, and build

[52:07] relationships in our community

[52:10] and as we said on our inserts

[52:12] somewhere we found in another

[52:13] jurisdiction we were going to

[52:14] nab it.

[52:17] It's called a fairness engine.

[52:18] It's an opportunity for

[52:21] everybody to see that sales

[52:23] information, to have access to

[52:24] this information.

[52:27] We know all of our citizens will

[52:30] not have access to a computer.

[52:34] But at a public library, some

[52:36] other facility, through their

[52:38] church we're hoping there will

[52:40] be additional opportunities.

[52:42] For the paper copies that we

[52:45] receive in 2019, we will be

[52:47] keying that information into

[52:49] modria so that we can track the

[52:51] information even if it's coming

[52:54] through on a paper copy so we've

[53:00] got an ability how many at any

[53:03] given time we have in the

[53:03] process.

[53:06] What type of steps are being

[53:06] made.

[53:08] We'll know all of the appeals

[53:10] that are going on in a

[53:11] particular neighborhood so that

[53:13] we can look at and work through

[53:16] all of those issues at one time

[53:19] versus working them one at a

[53:20] time.

[53:21] So I'm excited.

[53:22] I think this is a great thing

[53:25] for our community.

[53:27] Manager's office.

[53:28] Commissioners through the budget

[53:31] process your support to help us

[53:34] bring this to frew

[53:35] uition working

[53:36] with I

[53:37] c

[53:38] ics as we've gone through

[53:41] the testing, and quality u

[53:41] shurens.

[53:43] It's been a definite mecklenberg

[53:46] county team effort to bring this

[53:47] forward.

[58:21] Any questions.

[58:23] Anyone we've got the ability

[58:24] let's say someone were to retire

[58:26] in the middle of the process.

[58:28] We can change and move those

[58:30] cases to another appraiser.

[58:32] So we would have other people

[58:35] with rights that could get into

[58:36] that information.

[58:38] It would be other people within

[58:41] the appraisal division.

[58:42] Last question.

[58:47] When a resident uploads some

[58:48] documents through the portal and

[58:51] that gets sent to your office

[58:53] and somebody downloads it prints

[58:56] it or whatever, and they -- how

[58:58] do we insure that or is there

[59:01] even a way to get that record

[59:03] mixed up so that I don't upload

[59:05] a document and then it

[59:07] accidentally -- how is the

[59:08] system configured.

[59:13] Could I upload and someone click

[59:16] mistake and upload my records

[59:17] from the past home.

[59:19] Are they stored in separate

[59:21] areas and there's no way to get

[59:22] that information.

[59:24] >> it's a cloud solution.

[59:28] So we would both be going into

[59:29] the same link.

[59:31] So when you upload the record on

[59:33] your end through the secure

[59:36] link, when you're on the site,

[59:38] we would both be going into the

[59:40] cloud to the same property so

[59:42] there would be no moving or

[59:43] switching the property.

[59:48] The only thing we might do

[59:52] switch the actual appraiser

[59:53] assigned to the case must be.

[59:58] >> totally makes sense.

[1:00:01] And then your team goes in and

[1:00:03] puts it into a permanent file.

[1:00:06] More hands it passes through it

[1:00:09] could get -- that makes perfect

[1:00:09] sense.

[1:00:11] I've got no further questions

[1:00:15] about the security.

[1:00:18] >> first of all, ken this is

[1:00:19] amazing.

[1:00:21] It's amazing how far we've come

[1:00:23] in the last few years.

[1:00:24] It's been your leadership and

[1:00:29] your team that have done a great

[1:00:30] job.

[1:00:32] Are individuals allowed to not

[1:00:34] have this be public.

[1:00:36] I'm thinking about our judges

[1:00:41] for somebody who has a domestic

[1:00:41] violence restraining order that

[1:00:45] doesn't want this information

[1:00:45] public.

[1:00:46] I'm thinking about our judges.

[1:00:48] Tell me about that.

[1:00:50] The only individuals that are

[1:00:52] currently allowed to be

[1:00:56] taking -- that we're required to

[1:00:58] take off their record we receive

[1:01:00] information from the attorney

[1:01:02] general's office from an

[1:01:05] individual and we will remove

[1:01:05] those

[1:01:06] those.

[1:01:09] Besides that there's been talk

[1:01:11] about taking out law enforcement

[1:01:12] and judges.

[1:01:14] But the legislature has never

[1:01:16] taken one of those bills.

[1:01:17] That's handled through the

[1:01:18] attorney general's office.

[1:01:19] >> yes, ma'am.

[1:01:23] >> thank you.

[1:01:26] That same issue did come up 10

[1:01:27] or 11 years ago.

[1:01:30] I was looking at the recent

[1:01:32] sales like in an area.

[1:01:34] I just noticed they come it

[1:01:36] appears -- they appear to come

[1:01:39] up in order of distance from

[1:01:39] your property.

[1:01:41] >> yes, sir.

[1:01:43] >> is that correct.

[1:01:45] >> I just want to point out I

[1:01:47] was looking at the different

[1:01:50] columns and under year built,

[1:01:52] every single property shows up

[1:01:54] at 2017.

[1:01:55] I don't know if that's some

[1:01:56] glitch in the system.

[1:02:01] But you might want --

[1:02:02] >> it could be.

[1:02:04] We went through some of the

[1:02:04] testing.

[1:02:07] One of the links actually

[1:02:09] expired on the first day.

[1:02:12] So we were able to quickly move

[1:02:14] the key with one of the partners

[1:02:17] and get that link back up.

[1:02:19] It's quite possible.

[1:02:21] Maybe it's something I could

[1:02:21] have a discussion after the

[1:02:23] meeting and take a look at

[1:02:25] exactly what you're looking at

[1:02:26] there.

[1:02:29] >> I just cure

[1:02:31] ious why it showed

[1:02:32] up that way.

[1:02:35] >> also I wondered if you can

[1:02:37] sort -- I mean it automatically

[1:02:41] comes up at proximity to your

[1:02:43] property.

[1:02:46] I wondered if it's possible to

[1:02:49] sort it by sale date within that

[1:02:49] subset.

[1:02:53] >> I'll have to look at it and

[1:02:55] actually see if that is one of

[1:02:56] the options.

[1:02:58] I know it's a very powerful tool

[1:03:02] and gives us a lot of flex

[1:03:04] flexibility how we go about

[1:03:56] looking at it.

[1:03:57] >> thank you very much.

[1:03:59] I appreciate that ken.

[1:04:01] >> I know before you leave I do

[1:04:03] want to thank you and the

[1:04:03] manager

[1:04:04] manager.

[1:04:06] I appreciate this and I would

[1:04:08] also ask our residents who do

[1:04:10] not have computers at home and

[1:04:13] can't look at to please use our

[1:04:18] public libraries.

[1:04:20] >> or they can come to our

[1:04:22] office and use the terminals at

[1:04:23] the office.

[1:04:25] We can help them with the

[1:04:26] process themselves.

[1:04:29] I've gone through a lot of the

[1:04:31] process on my own.

[1:04:35] If you have a phone you can do

[1:04:36] it.

[1:04:38] I want to be very accessible to

[1:04:42] our citizens.

[1:04:45] >> Chair: thank you very much.

[1:04:47] >> Madam Manager.

[1:04:50] We'd like to recognize naco

[1:04:51] achievement winners.

[1:04:54] These winners were presented

[1:04:56] during naco.

[1:05:00] And I want to start very special

[1:05:00] honors.

[1:05:02] The county best in category.

[1:05:06] And 100 brilliant ideas building

[1:05:09] with our veterans program.

[1:05:11] On the screen you will see a

[1:05:13] photo from the awards

[1:05:14] presentation that I attended

[1:05:16] with some of you at the

[1:05:17] conference.

[1:05:19] We instituted this program to

[1:05:21] help with code enforcement

[1:05:24] services and help our veterans

[1:05:30] with new career paths.

[1:05:31] And building with our veterans

[1:05:34] is a unique and collaborative

[1:05:36] and initiative that pairs

[1:05:38] qualified veterans for code

[1:05:41] official training allowing these

[1:05:44] men and women to continue their

[1:05:47] service with honor and

[1:05:48] integrity.

[1:05:50] It is seeing tremendous success

[1:05:52] in the second year of its

[1:05:52] program.

[1:05:56] We have been getting multiple

[1:05:56] awards.

[1:06:00] It's been a home run.

[1:06:02] I want to thank all the staff

[1:06:07] for that.

[1:06:10] And now I'll turn it over to our

[1:06:13] public information danny diehl

[1:06:15] to recognize our other

[1:06:17] outstanding award winners.

[1:06:20] >> I am danny diehl.

[1:06:24] Public information director.

[1:06:28] Medic employees received several

[1:06:29] awards.

[1:06:32] And those winning programs

[1:06:33] include the civic education and

[1:06:36] public information category,

[1:06:37] earned media.

[1:06:39] Putting the storm in stormwater

[1:06:44] from louisa's stormwater

[1:06:45] services.

[1:06:47] To educate residents commuters

[1:06:50] and the public about flooding

[1:06:53] safety and water quality and

[1:06:54] volunteering opportunities.

[1:06:58] Starting in 2015 staff devised

[1:07:01] strategies to match or exceed

[1:07:03] previous paid media campaign

[1:07:03] budgets.

[1:07:06] The strike that we was to

[1:07:07] establish stormwater services

[1:07:10] staff as the go to subject

[1:07:15] matter when storms are forecast

[1:07:17] and occur.

[1:07:19] The strategy has been effective

[1:07:21] and since March of 2015 staff

[1:07:25] have conducted 97 interviews for

[1:07:27] 142 published stories.

[1:07:29] The results do not include

[1:07:32] stories that aired multiple

[1:07:34] times on multi-

[1:07:35] ple

[1:07:36] multiple news casts.

[1:07:39] It is a minimum of 1

[1:07:41] $177,000

[1:07:47] based on household rates.

[1:07:50] And this is for the hybrid

[1:07:55] collaborative delivery team.

[1:08:00] Tcdt which is part of louisa.

[1:08:03] The hcdt and provides an

[1:08:05] alternative way to deliver plan

[1:08:07] reviews and inspections.

[1:08:09] It is especially for customers

[1:08:11] who use collaborative delivery

[1:08:13] meth scpueds emerging trend in

[1:08:15] construction along with building

[1:08:18] information modeling bim that

[1:08:20] creates 3d construction plans.

[1:08:22] The process brings all parties

[1:08:23] in the construction process

[1:08:24] together.

[1:08:27] Owner designer contractor and

[1:08:31] code official in a collaborative

[1:08:32] trans

[1:08:33] transparent manner from the

[1:08:35] project's start until its

[1:08:38] finish.

[1:08:40] And using the h

[1:08:41] c

[1:08:43] hcdt means that

[1:08:47] the same team do everything and

[1:08:49] guide customers through all

[1:08:51] regulatory issues insuring

[1:08:52] consistency and stronger

[1:08:54] relationships throughout the

[1:08:54] project.

[1:08:55] We believe that mecklenberg

[1:08:57] county is the first code

[1:08:59] enforcement agency in the nation

[1:09:02] to offer a permitting and

[1:09:04] inspection process for customers

[1:09:07] using bim with collaborative

[1:09:07] delivery.

[1:09:09] The process especially benefits

[1:09:11] advanced builders by offering

[1:09:13] more options increasing

[1:09:14] efficiency and better protecting

[1:09:18] the public's welfare and safety.

[1:09:20] In the county raw

[1:09:21] esiliency energy

[1:09:25] and sustainability category we

[1:09:30] have another from louisa storm

[1:09:36] stormwater department.

[1:09:37] Many mecklenberg county homes

[1:09:47] were trucketed in flood prone

[1:09:47] areas.

[1:09:47] Despite mitigation by stormwater

[1:09:47] services and others since then

[1:09:49] nearly 2,600 remain in the

[1:09:50] floodplain and at-risk of a

[1:09:51] flooding disaster.

[1:09:54] The retrofit flood proofing

[1:09:56] program reduces future flood

[1:10:00] losses by developing an on-site

[1:10:03] program to provide local

[1:10:05] competitive grant fund as well

[1:10:07] as customized technical

[1:10:19] assistance for property owners.

[1:10:21] Upon approval the program

[1:10:24] identified on-site mitigation

[1:10:25] strategies and best practices

[1:10:27] eligible for grant funding.

[1:10:29] And an online application was

[1:10:31] developed to verify eligibility

[1:10:34] and initial funding was approved

[1:10:35] by you the board of county

[1:10:36] commissioners.

[1:10:41] Public outreach the applications

[1:10:44] were accepted during specific

[1:10:46] time frames maximizing the

[1:10:48] staff's ability to respond.

[1:10:51] A technical assistance protocol

[1:10:55] was developed for each inquiry.

[1:10:58] 204 property owners applied for

[1:11:00] technical assistance of the

[1:11:01] those 79 properties were

[1:11:04] identified as eligible for

[1:11:05] assistance and 57 of those

[1:11:09] property owners received flood

[1:11:11] mitigation strategies.

[1:11:15] Of those nine property owners

[1:11:19] and five were approved for 3

[1:11:19] 33,000

[1:11:24] $33,000 in grant funding.

[1:11:28] And $406,000 in grants.

[1:11:30] Funding for this program is

[1:11:36] forecast to continue through.

[1:11:38] Under the health category an

[1:11:43] ambulance redesign with med.

[1:11:46] And recently embarked on a

[1:11:49] program completely revamping the

[1:11:51] ambulance design.

[1:11:54] By newly ground vehicle safety

[1:11:55] standards published by the

[1:11:57] commission accreditation of

[1:11:59] ambulance services.

[1:12:01] The agency also sought a more

[1:12:05] patient friendly and erring

[1:12:07] ergonomically model in addition

[1:12:13] to a the prime proved design was

[1:12:18] completely by 200 caregivers to

[1:12:21] make these ambulances their

[1:12:25] office each and every day.

[1:12:27] My total health enriching the

[1:12:31] whole employee with from human

[1:12:31] resources.

[1:12:32] Mecklenberg county human

[1:12:35] resources goal is to provide

[1:12:37] healthcare benefits that are

[1:12:40] affordable and efficient.

[1:12:42] The total wellness initiative

[1:12:44] provides employees with

[1:12:46] information about health

[1:12:46] alternatives.

[1:12:49] Helps them to choose a health

[1:12:52] plan that works best for them.

[1:12:53] And health related activities

[1:12:55] and events.

[1:12:57] Involvement in my total health

[1:12:57] is voluntary.

[1:13:03] The purpose is to emphasize and

[1:13:03] in

[1:13:04] incentivize wellness and educate

[1:13:06] employees about their health

[1:13:07] plan choices.

[1:13:11] My total health includes a

[1:13:12] proactive to raise awareness and

[1:13:17] in essentialtives for competing

[1:13:19] health initiatives and lunch and

[1:13:20] learn environments.

[1:13:23] Team health challenges and free

[1:13:24] health prevention opportunities.

[1:13:27] The county has added a health

[1:13:28] savings benefits plan to go

[1:13:31] along with the ppo.

[1:13:32] H

[1:13:35] hr conducts ongoing to explain

[1:13:39] the two plans and allow employ

[1:13:41] employees to determine what's

[1:13:43] best for them.

[1:13:47] Medical engagement cigna had

[1:13:48] increased

[1:13:50] increased.

[1:13:53] Cigna reported a 10% in

[1:13:55] engagement with the chronic care

[1:13:57] population to account for 79% of

[1:13:59] the county's healthcare costs.

[1:14:03] During the open enrollment

[1:14:06] session last 26% of our health

[1:14:08] savings plan option for

[1:14:08] coverage.

[1:14:09] I'd like to congratulate all of

[1:14:12] the winners on all of the

[1:14:12] groups.

[1:14:14] If there are any representatives

[1:14:17] in the audience please stand up

[1:14:22] and be recognized now for your

[1:14:24] efforts.

[1:14:31] (Applause)

[1:14:33] >> Chair: Mr. Dunlap.

[1:14:35] Since I promised to provide an

[1:14:38] update of our conference I was

[1:14:41] tasked to do that I think this

[1:14:43] would be an appropriate time to

[1:14:44] do.

[1:14:54] If ueda lough me to do so.

[1:14:57] It web site great.

[1:14:59] >> thank you maeds um chair.

[1:15:05] Next item is under my fy2018 to

[1:15:09] fy2023 capital improvement

[1:15:10] program.

[1:15:12] Parks and greenway projects.

[1:15:14] As you know we have amended our

[1:15:16] original request to include

[1:15:18] funding to begin all the 13

[1:15:20] projects that were in the 2008

[1:15:25] bond that were not yet fully

[1:15:26] funded.

[1:15:29] And mark foster is here and we

[1:15:32] have plenty of speakers to talk

[1:15:33] about this.

[1:15:35] Something that happened at the

[1:15:37] city council's economic develop

[1:15:39] development committee either

[1:15:43] when marcus presented to the

[1:15:43] team.

[1:15:45] One of the things they talked

[1:15:47] about were all of the community

[1:15:49] benefits that they were

[1:15:51] committed to providing to this

[1:15:54] community as part of mls

[1:15:55] franchise.

[1:15:57] This is something we learned in

[1:15:59] dallas with the chamber of

[1:16:02] commerce and meeting with the fc

[1:16:04] dallas ownership group how

[1:16:07] important it is for the mls to

[1:16:09] partner with the community.

[1:16:11] And commissioner scarborough was

[1:16:12] there.

[1:16:14] Mls for c lchlt

[1:16:14] l

[1:16:16] clt really came back and

[1:16:18] put together a fairly robust of

[1:16:20] community benefits that did not

[1:16:23] get any attention when they were

[1:16:25] at the city council meeting just

[1:16:31] a week or so ago.

[1:16:34] I'll go through those pretty

[1:16:35] quickly.

[1:16:36] Franchise.

[1:16:40] And through the U.S. Soccer

[1:16:40] foundation.

[1:16:42] And mls for charlotte is

[1:16:50] committed to doing a number of

[1:16:53] infrastructure and the double

[1:16:57] oaks park to provide soccer, and

[1:17:00] multipurpose field for hope in

[1:17:04] our community.

[1:17:05] About opportunities to use a

[1:17:08] portion of the eastland mall as

[1:17:11] a training facility for the mls

[1:17:12] franchise.

[1:17:15] i think that's another

[1:17:15] tremendous opportunity.

[1:17:19] On the soccer side one is to

[1:17:20] under write the cost of the

[1:17:23] program and serve as premier of

[1:17:25] street soccer.

[1:17:27] Soccer program for homeless

[1:17:30] individuals in our community.

[1:17:32] They're committed to developing

[1:17:34] a special olympics team.

[1:17:38] As part of the urban eagle

[1:17:41] players live and provide meant

[1:17:44] mentoring departments.

[1:17:48] And mls for clt has to urban

[1:17:51] eagles participation in the

[1:17:52] charlotte 's

[1:17:55] eagles youth program.

[1:17:59] They have agreed to create a

[1:18:01] scholarship program.

[1:18:02] And they've also agreed to

[1:18:07] partner with the police athletic

[1:18:08] league to provide for coaches,

[1:18:15] and pal soccer teams.

[1:18:18] Also interested in the U.S.

[1:18:21] Soccer soccer for success

[1:18:24] program that is help kids to

[1:18:27] develop healthy habits.

[1:18:30] And mls for clt as agreed to

[1:18:34] work with.

[1:18:37] And the finally mls for clt has

[1:18:40] agreed to partner with local

[1:18:42] arenaing signifies.

[1:18:44] Apprentice ships or mentor ships

[1:18:48] to area leaders.

[1:18:48] Cms.

[1:18:51] The charlotte housing authority

[1:18:53] the mls national sales center

[1:18:57] that provides ticket.

[1:18:59] I thought it was important that

[1:19:00] they have talked are put out

[1:19:02] there for the community to hear

[1:19:03] about.

[1:19:04] With that I guess we want to

[1:19:11] turn it over to the people to

[1:19:11] speak.

[1:19:14] >> I'm willing to make if I

[1:19:16] could a motion.

[1:19:22] I appreciated the county manager

[1:19:26] coming forward with a strategy

[1:19:29] for funding for these parks and

[1:19:31] greenway projects.

[1:19:35] But my motion goes a little

[1:19:37] beyond that and what I would

[1:19:39] move is the following.

[1:19:41] It's three parts.

[1:19:44] First, I move that we approve

[1:19:50] including in our next c ichlt

[1:19:51] I pchlt

[1:19:52] cip49

[1:19:55] million to fully fund completing

[1:19:57] all of the parks the greenways

[1:19:59] and other park and recreation

[1:20:01] projects approved by the voters

[1:20:09] in the 2008 bond referendum.

[1:20:11] And a vote on including in our

[1:20:13] next cip any funding relating to

[1:20:17] the proposal to rebuild memorial

[1:20:19] stadium until such time as the

[1:20:21] city of city council and of city

[1:20:26] of charlotte has approved and

[1:20:27] leased $30 million of direct

[1:20:30] funding of the cost of willed a

[1:20:31] stadium.

[1:20:33] And three, that we authorize the

[1:20:37] county manager to discuss with

[1:20:39] the city manager the feasibility

[1:20:43] of a path that would potentially

[1:20:46] allow the city to control any

[1:20:48] new memorial stadium.

[1:20:50] What I'm essentially moving that

[1:20:54] we approve in the cip all of the

[1:20:55] 2008 projects.

[1:20:58] That would fund it completely in

[1:20:59] our next cip.

[1:21:02] All 2008 voter approved

[1:21:02] projects.

[1:21:06] And second, that we defer voting

[1:21:11] on any proposal for rebuilding

[1:21:12] memorial stadium until the city

[1:21:15] of charlotte takes a vote.

[1:21:17] And three, that we authorize the

[1:21:21] manager to discuss with the city

[1:21:23] manager the feasibility of a

[1:21:25] path that would allow the city

[1:21:32] to control memorial stadium.

[1:21:33] >> Chair: any discussions.

[1:21:45] I'm going to start.

[1:21:45] Okay.

[1:21:48] We have people on the sign up

[1:21:51] list to speak.

[1:21:52] here we go.

[1:22:04] We have a group.

[1:22:05] I have the following people to

[1:22:06] speak.

[1:22:08] Vicky holmes.

[1:22:12] David dawell.

[1:22:15] Leslie dwyer.

[1:22:17] Elaine powell.

[1:22:20] Megan sensor.

[1:22:23] Jesse lusum.

[1:22:30] And beth michael land.

[1:22:32] Ment are you here.

[1:22:36] >> is there a group within this

[1:22:47] group?

[1:22:49] You have 10 minutes total

[1:22:50] because you're speaking on the

[1:22:55] same thing.

[1:22:57] >> I think it's my understanding

[1:22:59] there's a group of six people

[1:23:02] that are here to speak for 10

[1:23:04] minutes.

[1:23:11] Is that right.

[1:23:17] We normally have groups out.

[1:23:21] >> Chair: I don't have that

[1:23:21] list.

[1:23:21] List

[1:23:22] list.

[1:23:23] I would recommend that if

[1:23:28] there's a group to peak for

[1:23:29] ten-minute.

[1:23:31] I would assume that remainder

[1:23:39] are individuals.

[1:23:41] >> so there's a group of six or

[1:23:46] group -- can that group come

[1:23:50] down and tell us who your names.

[1:23:51] We have a list.

[1:23:54] And we don't know who the group

[1:24:08] and who're the individuals.

[1:24:09] Would you give us your names and

[1:24:12] what you're speaking on.

[1:24:16] Elaine powell.

[1:24:18] Park and recreation

[1:24:18] infrastructure

[1:24:20] infrastructure.

[1:24:22] >> diana cooke parks and rec.

[1:24:24] Dine

[1:24:26] diana cooke.

[1:24:31] >> fully support the 2008 bond

[1:24:31] project.

[1:24:36] >> michael limlel.

[1:24:38] alternative transportation.

[1:24:40] Ricky holler.

[1:24:46] The west neighborhood coalition.

[1:24:51] >> you have 10 minutes to speak.

[1:24:56] >> hello my beth kouvey.

[1:24:59] So I wanted to start this you

[1:25:02] have and I want to talk about

[1:25:03] talking about the value.

[1:25:05] The creation of value through

[1:25:07] parks and greenways.

[1:25:09] There's many local and national

[1:25:12] studies that parks and greenways

[1:25:13] have in our communities.

[1:25:16] In cities across this nation are

[1:25:16] doing that.

[1:25:18] They understand the value that

[1:25:21] can be brought by measuring

[1:25:24] social cohesion, improved health

[1:25:26] and economy and the environment.

[1:25:27] In mecklenberg county we have a

[1:25:29] lot to be proud of.

[1:25:32] As one of the lowest funded park

[1:25:33] and recreation system per capita

[1:25:35] in the nation we have a

[1:25:37] department that works very hard

[1:25:40] to support our public needs to

[1:25:41] provide high quality programs,

[1:25:44] parks and greenways and nature

[1:25:45] preserves.

[1:25:48] But because it is underfunded we

[1:25:49] are falling further and further

[1:25:51] behind.

[1:25:52] Increase

[1:25:53] increasing funding to our park

[1:25:55] and rec system is a critical

[1:25:57] investment that has to be made

[1:26:00] to be able to capture the value

[1:26:03] the value of a economically

[1:26:05] vibrant and connected community.

[1:26:07] So we need to make a concerted

[1:26:09] effort on a county level to be

[1:26:13] able to compete to make this an

[1:26:15] attractive place to live and to

[1:26:16] work.

[1:26:19] Please continue to listen to the

[1:26:22] community and increase the

[1:26:25] funding now and in the future to

[1:26:27] build more parks and greenways.

[1:26:28] >> good evening.

[1:26:30] My name is elaine powell and i

[1:26:35] am the chair of you are the

[1:26:35] parks and rec

[1:26:37] parks and recreation commission.

[1:26:40] Here we are in 2017 begging for

[1:26:44] our own 2008 bond project to be

[1:26:45] completed.

[1:26:46] We are behind.

[1:26:47] Park and recreation is a

[1:26:49] community priority.

[1:26:51] It is such an important priority

[1:26:53] that it is even included as a

[1:26:56] core responsibility in your bocc

[1:26:58] mission and vision.

[1:27:00] Even though we have some of the

[1:27:01] nicest parks in north carolina

[1:27:03] the park and recreation

[1:27:05] department is way behind.

[1:27:09] There is citizen outcry and the

[1:27:11] alarms are sounding.

[1:27:13] Park

[1:27:17] park and recreation is

[1:27:20] significantly behind to serve

[1:27:22] our population.

[1:27:23] Let alone the population we

[1:27:28] anticipate in 2030.

[1:27:30] 13 years.

[1:27:32] The parks commission unanimously

[1:27:33] identified the top two

[1:27:35] priorities for capital

[1:27:35] improvements.

[1:27:38] Number one is tay

[1:27:39] king care all of

[1:27:41] the unfunded 2008 projects in

[1:27:44] the current cip including the

[1:27:45] remaining money that was

[1:27:48] earmarked for land acquisition.

[1:27:50] Priority number two dedicating

[1:27:56] and protecting every dollar of

[1:27:59] $6.6 million earmarked for park

[1:28:02] and recreation land acquisition.

[1:28:03] Park

[1:28:04] park and recreation is a

[1:28:05] community priority that

[1:28:06] thousands of residents support

[1:28:10] and that all citizens deserve.

[1:28:11] Park and recreation is already

[1:28:15] way behind.

[1:28:16] Land acquisition will be

[1:28:16] critical.

[1:28:18] We need your attention and your

[1:28:19] leadership now.

[1:28:20] Thank you.

[1:28:22] >> Chair: thank you.

[1:28:23] >> good evening.

[1:28:26] I'm meg spencer.

[1:28:29] And the more than 2,000 people

[1:28:35] including 1,700 mecklenberg

[1:28:36] petition that you have before

[1:28:37] you.

[1:28:40] In 2008 they approved the 2

[1:28:40] $250

[1:28:48] million package to approve the

[1:28:50] park and recreation program.

[1:28:53] It's almost 2018 and there are

[1:28:59] still 13 projects that are not

[1:28:59] done.

[1:29:00] We ask you to immediately honor

[1:29:02] the will of mecklenberg voters

[1:29:04] and complete all of the

[1:29:06] remaining 2008 bond projects.

[1:29:08] We ask you to commit to

[1:29:11] dedicating an $6.6 million per

[1:29:13] year to the park and rec budget

[1:29:16] to acquire the land to expand

[1:29:17] our parks and greenways.

[1:29:20] A generation of children and

[1:29:22] neighborhoods through

[1:29:24] mecklenberg county have grown

[1:29:26] into adulthood since their

[1:29:29] parents and grandparents voted

[1:29:33] for these projects.

[1:29:35] Will you allow another

[1:29:36] generation of kids to Miss Out

[1:29:40] on parks and greenways in their

[1:29:40] neighborhoods.

[1:29:44] Or will you make a decision

[1:29:44] tonight.

[1:29:46] While staff new proposal is a

[1:29:48] step in the right direction.

[1:29:52] Seven of the 13 currently

[1:29:56] unfunded projects would only

[1:29:57] advance.

[1:30:01] So 15 after the 2008 vote they

[1:30:05] still wouldn't be built.

[1:30:08] We ask that you build the 13

[1:30:09] projects immediately.

[1:30:10] >> good evening.

[1:30:12] I'm diana cook.

[1:30:17] I'd like to share the of behalf

[1:30:20] of american heart association.

[1:30:22] we feel it's important to

[1:30:26] complete the 2008 projects and

[1:30:28] fulfill the will of the voters.

[1:30:33] Nearly 80% of adults and 70%

[1:30:35] adolescents do not get the

[1:30:38] weekly amount of aerobic

[1:30:39] exercise.

[1:30:41] Environments that are safe with

[1:30:43] physical visits are correlated

[1:30:45] with lower body weights and

[1:30:48] reduced cardiovascular disease.

[1:30:51] People who have parks or

[1:30:52] recreational and live in

[1:30:54] communities with bell connected

[1:30:56] streets, exercise much more than

[1:31:00] those who do not have easy

[1:31:00] access.

[1:31:02] Research indicates that building

[1:31:05] bike and pedestrian trails

[1:31:06] reduce healthcare costs

[1:31:09] associated with physical in

[1:31:10] inactivity.

[1:31:11] Additional research indicates

[1:31:14] for every dollar invest in

[1:31:18] building trails nearly $3 in

[1:31:21] medical costs can be achieved.

[1:31:23] It is a win win for our county

[1:31:25] and it is a win for health.

[1:31:27] Now is the time for the quount

[1:31:29] to support the remaining

[1:31:29] projects.

[1:31:33] Thank you for your time.

[1:31:36] I'm michael limbler.

[1:31:37] I would like to take a look at

[1:31:40] the parks and greenway system

[1:31:43] here in mecklenberg county not

[1:31:46] just as a fantastic amenity.

[1:31:51] In here in the county we have a

[1:32:04] number of pedestrian islands.

[1:32:06] So for example when getting all

[1:32:06] f

[1:32:15] of the cats or the link system

[1:32:17] for example there's a lot of

[1:32:20] locations where people will be

[1:32:23] walking right down sidewalks

[1:32:26] right next to high-speed traffic

[1:32:27] or on the shoulder of roads.

[1:32:30] I think that the greenway system

[1:32:33] is really an amenity pull people

[1:32:36] off of these dangerous walkways

[1:32:38] and take advantage of this

[1:32:40] alternative use of

[1:32:42] transportation.

[1:32:46] For example you've seen the

[1:32:52] oodle sugar creek parkway.

[1:32:55] Getting cars off the road means

[1:32:58] better air quality.

[1:33:00] Whole slew of benefits.

[1:33:02] I think we should make this a

[1:33:05] priority right away.

[1:33:06] And at the same time we would

[1:33:09] love to use our parks and

[1:33:12] greenways as beacon to attract

[1:33:13] professional talent who's coming

[1:33:15] to the area to start their

[1:33:16] lives.

[1:33:17] Thank you.

[1:33:19] >> I'm ricky hall and I'm

[1:33:22] verdict vunt in the corridor and

[1:33:24] I'm here to lend my voice in

[1:33:26] supporting all of the parks

[1:33:28] projects and greenways projects

[1:33:30] in the 2008 cip.

[1:33:32] And I'm also here to remind you

[1:33:35] that not only do they contribute

[1:33:38] to the vibrancy and liveability

[1:33:41] of our cities as you in your

[1:33:43] deliberations talk about issues

[1:33:48] of social and economic mobility,

[1:33:51] the parks and greenways would

[1:33:53] certainly enhance areas like

[1:33:53] mine.

[1:33:56] We were ecstatic earlier in the

[1:33:58] year when for example one of the

[1:34:01] projects was included involving

[1:34:04] abilene and plan ton road back

[1:34:08] in March of 2007 and we were

[1:34:10] saddened it dropped below the

[1:34:13] line in May of year as well.

[1:34:15] And so we would certainly like

[1:34:19] to see it's been more than 20

[1:34:22] some odd years since the land

[1:34:23] was acquired for this project

[1:34:28] and if we continue to delay it

[1:34:30] then it will certainly have an

[1:34:31] impact on the liveability and

[1:34:33] quality of life in the west

[1:34:35] boulevard corridor.

[1:34:39] >> Chair: thank you.

[1:34:41] >> Madam Chair that the public

[1:34:43] cip that you've approved

[1:34:47] includes $6.6 million for land

[1:34:47] acquisition.

[1:34:49] If there's a misunderstanding

[1:34:51] about that I wanted to make sure

[1:34:52] that's clear.

[1:34:54] >> Chair: thank you.

[1:35:00] Our next set of speakers this

[1:35:12] would be individual speaking.

[1:35:15] David dowell.

[1:35:15] Less

[1:35:27] leslie dwyer.

[1:35:27] You May come down.

[1:35:29] The names I called.

[1:35:32] Come on down so we can stack up

[1:35:35] at the mic.

[1:35:36] Yes, sir.

[1:35:36] Good afternoon.

[1:35:38] Thank you for allowing me to

[1:35:43] speak again dave dowell.

[1:35:46] I'm iraqi and afghanistan

[1:35:47] veterans activist.

[1:35:51] Back in January I spoke about a

[1:35:54] vision about the memorial

[1:35:54] stadium.

[1:35:58] Today I'm here to update on a

[1:36:00] growing veteran service

[1:36:02] organizations that are paying

[1:36:04] attention to this vote this

[1:36:07] evening and the memorial stadium

[1:36:08] project.

[1:36:10] In the next week or the north

[1:36:12] carolina american legion will be

[1:36:15] in shelby north carolina for

[1:36:16] their world series events.

[1:36:18] They're going to begin

[1:36:20] discussion on how they can be

[1:36:22] involved with this, and it will

[1:36:25] be on their agenda for their

[1:36:27] fall meetings.

[1:36:30] In October.

[1:36:33] Here locally the charlotte

[1:36:35] bridge home which is -- which

[1:36:38] reaches out to veterans all

[1:36:42] across the metro area they are

[1:36:43] aware of.

[1:36:44] Discussions have been taking

[1:36:46] place with their staff it will

[1:36:50] be before their board.

[1:36:52] Other national groups like iraqi

[1:36:53] and afghanistan veterans of

[1:36:55] america and the wound warrior

[1:36:58] project are where this and

[1:37:03] seeing what they can do to be

[1:37:07] involved or lend some support.

[1:37:10] So many city leaders have said

[1:37:12] they haven't heard from the

[1:37:15] veterans community, scp

[1:37:16] and it

[1:37:18] normally we're a community that

[1:37:21] stays quiet, doesn't ask for a

[1:37:22] lot.

[1:37:24] Be informed local and national

[1:37:26] veteran leaders are paying

[1:37:29] attention and will have

[1:37:30] something to say relatively

[1:37:30] soon.

[1:37:33] So hopefully your vote can allow

[1:37:36] us to continue to work while

[1:37:38] other aspects of this project

[1:37:39] are squared away.

[1:37:43] Your vote -- you finally keep

[1:37:46] the commitment to the veteran

[1:37:49] that your predecessors promised

[1:37:53] well, well decades before 2008

[1:37:56] and I would hope you would

[1:37:57] continue your support.

[1:37:58] Thank you.

[1:38:24] >> Chair: thank you.

[1:38:26] Good evening.

[1:38:28] I want to thank you first

[1:38:31] because I didn't this last

[1:38:31] month.

[1:38:34] I want to thank you for the

[1:38:36] mecklenberg support plus and

[1:38:39] helping to bring soccer to us.

[1:38:42] I will say I have enjoyed seeing

[1:38:47] those young men to do yoga.

[1:38:51] It's very entertaining to watch.

[1:38:53] But honestly I had really hoped

[1:38:57] we would see why we should tie

[1:39:00] up $115 million of our money in

[1:39:02] something like this.

[1:39:04] And so far the biing

[1:39:06] ggest reason we

[1:39:09] actually got out loud at the

[1:39:11] economic development meeting

[1:39:17] were the idea what this does.

[1:39:19] And also I want to talk about

[1:39:20] the leadership we saw in the

[1:39:24] bond referendum for parks when

[1:39:28] we did bring the knights came

[1:39:30] here.

[1:39:33] In 2004 the bond referendum

[1:39:35] before the one you heard about

[1:39:37] very specifically this

[1:39:38] commission chose to give the

[1:39:40] referendum that included the

[1:39:43] words parks and recreation

[1:39:44] facilities other than is a

[1:39:47] stadium for professional

[1:39:47] baseball.

[1:39:49] That's what happened.

[1:39:52] We did not pay for the stayed

[1:39:52] dium

[1:39:52] itself.

[1:39:54] That's important.

[1:39:58] Then a couple of years later the

[1:39:59] economy tank.

[1:40:01] We had to cut libraries and that

[1:40:01] hurt.

[1:40:03] We had to cut parks and schools

[1:40:04] and that hurt.

[1:40:07] We needed to do because we were

[1:40:10] tightening our belts.

[1:40:12] Shortly okay we'd create a

[1:40:16] little cushion and now we're

[1:40:18] being asked to throw it a

[1:40:20] professional stadium.

[1:40:27] It's about bragging rights.

[1:40:30] And 50th in upward mobility.

[1:40:31] This is clear.

[1:40:34] That means if a child in our

[1:40:38] community is born into poverty,

[1:40:41] this is the worst city to be in

[1:40:43] if they want out f

[1:40:44] of those 50

[1:40:45] cities.

[1:40:50] I've used minot so inside voice

[1:40:52] and I promised you a new story.

[1:40:54] That's being in college in a

[1:40:56] village in the amazon where

[1:40:59] people came together and let me

[1:41:01] I love soccer.

[1:41:03] These people came together and

[1:41:04] we played soccer together.

[1:41:07] Their idea of a school.

[1:41:09] Remember no sanitation, and yet

[1:41:13] they had a school that did

[1:41:15] exactly a part shelter.

[1:41:18] they came together every night.

[1:41:19] They played soccer.

[1:41:21] And honestly these little kids

[1:41:25] with no shoes kicked our tails.

[1:41:28] We had steele toed work boots

[1:41:31] and they beat us senseless.

[1:41:34] That is my favorite memory of

[1:41:34] soccer.

[1:41:37] If we can do that we can do

[1:41:38] better.

[1:41:40] >> Chair: thank you very much.

[1:41:56] Our next speaker is diane cooke.

[1:41:58] >> good evening.

[1:42:01] I'm hoping that you will vote

[1:42:02] tonight to continue the dialogue

[1:42:06] with the city and with the team.

[1:42:08] Regarding the stadium.

[1:42:11] In June the city hadn't weighed

[1:42:13] in and you deferred the funding

[1:42:16] that seemed to be appropriate

[1:42:17] activity considering they hadn't

[1:42:19] taken any action.

[1:42:21] Two weeks ago they did begin.

[1:42:22] They asked a series of

[1:42:23] questions.

[1:42:24] And I think that the county

[1:42:27] would benefit from hearing the

[1:42:30] answers that the city gets in

[1:42:31] those discussions.

[1:42:33] I think the information from the

[1:42:35] city discussions has already led

[1:42:39] to the change in the financial

[1:42:41] recommendation from the county

[1:42:42] manager.

[1:42:44] So I think that's all positive.

[1:42:48] I'll point out in 2003 when Dr.

[1:42:49] Dr. Morrell wrote the survey

[1:42:52] that the historical designation

[1:42:54] of memorial stadium was based

[1:42:57] upon he stated that the civil

[1:43:00] commitment to the site has begun

[1:43:01] to wane.

[1:43:03] That was 14 years ago.

[1:43:04] 2003.

[1:43:07] So as you consider what to do I

[1:43:09] hope you'll see there is a

[1:43:10] memorial as well as a stadium.

[1:43:13] There's been a lot of talk about

[1:43:13] stadium.

[1:43:16] I want to make sure there's an

[1:43:24] actual memorial.

[1:43:26] We need a true memorial.

[1:43:28] Something that's elegant.

[1:43:31] Something that people will go to

[1:43:32] see.

[1:43:33] Something that's accessible from

[1:43:35] the park, from the greenway that

[1:43:38] you can go and become a focal

[1:43:40] point for patriotic expressions

[1:43:42] here in the city.

[1:43:45] We have a large stadium at bank

[1:43:46] of america stadium.

[1:43:51] It's too large for minor or

[1:43:52] major league soccer.

[1:43:54] And incidental I hope each of

[1:43:57] you will go and see it this

[1:43:58] saturday because charlotte is

[1:44:00] hosting the national

[1:44:02] championship game for the

[1:44:06] amateur pdl soccer and the

[1:44:11] charlotte eagles are playing on

[1:44:15] saturday at our brand-new sports

[1:44:18] sportsplex.

[1:44:20] But we need a mid-sized stadium

[1:44:24] too so the additional 20 mls

[1:44:27] games we can have 20 community

[1:44:27] events.

[1:44:31] Keep bringing the high school

[1:44:34] marching band competitions.

[1:44:34] Festivals.

[1:44:36] Collegiate tournaments and so

[1:44:36] forth.

[1:44:39] There's no reason that the parks

[1:44:41] department can't build and

[1:44:42] restore memorial stadium to

[1:44:45] bring the art deco that was

[1:44:47] referred to in the report but

[1:44:50] this time with a wider playing

[1:44:51] service.

[1:44:54] The stadium is anion-year-old

[1:44:57] building that includes plumbing

[1:45:00] and electrical systems that were

[1:45:05] built for 50 years.

[1:45:08] There's been a lot of talk about

[1:45:10] deferring things but memorial

[1:45:11] stadium had been deferred also.

[1:45:17] >> Chair: thank you very much.

[1:45:24] >> I want to thank Mr. Clarke

[1:45:32] for his innovative motion but

[1:45:35] there are a couple of about

[1:45:36] things about that I don't like.

[1:45:38] I'm going to offer up a

[1:45:39] substitute motion.

[1:45:42] If I get a second to it I'll

[1:45:44] speak to it.

[1:45:49] One, I would like to move that

[1:45:52] we authorize to deed the

[1:45:55] property memorial stadium to the

[1:45:55] city

[1:45:56] city.

[1:46:06] They have the option to accept

[1:46:06] that or not.

[1:46:06] Secondly, we would limit the

[1:46:06] county's participation to the

[1:46:07] donation of the prort

[1:46:07] perty.

[1:46:11] And third, that we would fully

[1:46:15] fund by an appropriation of $49

[1:46:18] million the remainder of the

[1:46:19] 2008 bond projects.

[1:46:22] If I get a second I will speak

[1:46:23] to it.

[1:46:24] Second.

[1:46:25] >> Chair: there's a second.

[1:46:27] >> again, it's not significantly

[1:46:30] different than commissioner

[1:46:33] clarke's other than his is a bit

[1:46:35] too open-ended for me.

[1:46:39] I am fully supportive of fully

[1:46:41] supporting funding all of the

[1:46:42] bonds, all f

[1:46:45] of the bond projects.

[1:46:48] All of the 2008.

[1:46:51] Once you do that, then that

[1:46:54] takes an awful lot of capital

[1:46:57] available and it leaves open if

[1:47:01] we don't cap our participation

[1:47:04] tonight that we don't know what

[1:47:06] that leads to in the future that

[1:47:08] somehow or another take those

[1:47:10] moneys back away again.

[1:47:13] I want to put them out there and

[1:47:16] nail the box shut and make sure

[1:47:17] that the dollars are captured.

[1:47:21] The other problem there is still

[1:47:23] an awful lot of unknowns for

[1:47:24] this project.

[1:47:26] We don't know what the

[1:47:28] renovation the two renovations

[1:47:30] that we have to approve are

[1:47:31] going to be.

[1:47:33] We've asked for eight months to

[1:47:37] get some details what might be

[1:47:41] and how they recaptured.

[1:47:44] I've never been given any

[1:47:46] information how we would handle

[1:47:50] the unknown cost related to this

[1:47:50] project.

[1:47:52] That has to be covered by

[1:47:55] property tax dollars.

[1:47:58] I don't think we're in the pro

[1:48:00] sports business so we shouldn't

[1:48:02] put ourselves at-risk for that.

[1:48:05] By placing the stadium back in

[1:48:08] the hands of the city we place

[1:48:12] the asset back in the hands who

[1:48:14] do this for a living.

[1:48:17] They manage bojangles stadium.

[1:48:19] We have a division in the city

[1:48:21] that deals with pro sports

[1:48:21] centers.

[1:48:24] With these types of venues.

[1:48:29] They have we don't have a

[1:48:31] dedicated revenue stream for

[1:48:32] entertainment and can be used

[1:48:34] for pro sports.

[1:48:36] Amateur sports, entertainment.

[1:48:41] So they have both the expertise

[1:48:43] and the funding stream to deal

[1:48:44] with that.

[1:48:46] County wants to be a partner,

[1:48:48] and we own the asset and the

[1:48:51] city has said they are reluctant

[1:48:55] to make a major investment into

[1:48:58] an asset they don't control.

[1:49:00] So I'm willing to give that

[1:49:03] asset to the people who can make

[1:49:04] the best use of it.

[1:49:09] And if the deal is as good as we

[1:49:12] hear it is, the city should jump

[1:49:13] at it.

[1:49:17] If the city in their analysis

[1:49:20] and they have far more

[1:49:22] experience than we do at this

[1:49:24] decides it's not worth it, they

[1:49:26] are the people who're in a

[1:49:27] better position to say whether

[1:49:32] this is a good deal or not.

[1:49:39] This is our first foray into pro

[1:49:39] sports.

[1:49:42] chairman scarborough and I have

[1:49:44] been on different sides since

[1:49:45] January.

[1:49:49] We've talked about it a bunch of

[1:49:52] times how we can participate and

[1:49:56] but stay to our core values.

[1:49:59] A few days ago.

[1:50:01] She understands that that's how

[1:50:03] capable they are and she was the

[1:50:05] person that said maybe we ought

[1:50:07] to give it to them.

[1:50:08] Let them run it.

[1:50:10] And I went it's a great idea.

[1:50:13] It's the county we will

[1:50:14] participate.

[1:50:17] It's a very valuable asset.

[1:50:20] So anyone who says we're not

[1:50:24] pramting in a high level.

[1:50:28] It's a rather simple motion to

[1:50:32] authorize or to authorize

[1:50:35] deeding the stadium and grady

[1:50:37] shoal to the city.

[1:50:40] They can choose to accept it or

[1:50:40] not.

[1:50:42] Making sure we communicate we

[1:50:45] are capping our participation at

[1:50:48] our donation.

[1:50:51] And authorizing $49 million into

[1:50:53] the cip to fully fund what we

[1:50:56] promised the people we would do

[1:50:59] in 2008 fully fund all f

[1:50:59] of the

[1:51:01] park and greenway projects.

[1:51:03] Thank you.

[1:51:05] >> Chair: is there a second to

[1:51:06] that.

[1:51:13] >> comments.

[1:51:15] James.

[1:51:16] Dunlap.

[1:51:17] Ridenhour.

[1:51:23] >> I was going to if we end up

[1:51:27] voting on the first 1 I wanted

[1:51:29] to bifurcate it so that I could

[1:51:32] vote for the 2008 bond but not

[1:51:35] vote on the stadium deal.

[1:51:38] It's not in the cip at the

[1:51:42] moment but it's hanging over our

[1:51:43] heads.

[1:51:46] Like the sword of damocles.

[1:51:49] Hanging over there ready to

[1:51:49] drop.

[1:51:51] I don't make any secrets I don't

[1:51:53] think that the county should be

[1:51:57] in the business of funding pro

[1:52:00] sports, for profit sports.

[1:52:04] But I do think that we need to

[1:52:05] resolve this.

[1:52:10] However the majority of us

[1:52:12] decide.

[1:52:14] We have a lot of money tied up

[1:52:20] in the idea of mls the soccer

[1:52:24] stadium because the board took a

[1:52:27] vote in January and then

[1:52:29] tinkered with it later on.

[1:52:33] If the 2008 bonds are $49

[1:52:36] million the total amount

[1:52:39] allocated is for mls $150

[1:52:39] million.

[1:52:42] It's a big number.

[1:52:43] 125, 28.

[1:52:48] But the point is fun the 2008

[1:52:51] bonds and leaving mls hanging

[1:52:55] over this debate does a

[1:52:58] disservice to a whole lot of

[1:52:59] projects we haven't talked

[1:52:59] about.

[1:53:03] This debate is should be going

[1:53:05] to 2008 parks or mls.

[1:53:09] The next debate should be should

[1:53:14] we fund for schools or mls.

[1:53:16] More for certain projects or

[1:53:16] mls.

[1:53:19] We keep continuing this debate

[1:53:22] because there's a lat lack of

[1:53:24] clarity not so much on our part

[1:53:27] but on the the part of the city

[1:53:29] and the partners that are

[1:53:32] generally believed to have more

[1:53:37] of an understanding of this.

[1:53:39] So I'm in favor of the $49

[1:53:41] million for the 2008 bond.

[1:53:44] I think we need to resolve ie in

[1:53:48] my opinion remove the dollars,

[1:53:50] the money for mls.

[1:53:54] Now, should we give them the

[1:53:59] stadium the city stadium if they

[1:54:01] want to do it.

[1:54:03] Well, that's an option.

[1:54:05] Frankly if you're going to have

[1:54:11] a choice between somebody $150

[1:54:12] million versus we'll give you

[1:54:16] some land that we bought 100

[1:54:17] something years ago.

[1:54:19] The city bought it.

[1:54:22] Then I choose to donate the

[1:54:22] land.

[1:54:25] I think cash is too scars a

[1:54:28] commodity to just hand out in

[1:57:04] something like this.

[1:57:06] I think us getting out from

[1:57:08] under this thing is a smart

[1:57:08] move.

[1:57:11] I appreciate that there are in

[1:57:14] limits on discussions.

[1:57:16] Either way you look at it both

[1:57:18] motions are similar.

[1:57:21] They're probably one distinct

[1:57:22] difference between the two.

[1:57:25] And I want to talk about that.

[1:57:26] I think there are a lot of

[1:57:28] things that have happened as it

[1:57:31] relates to the overall

[1:57:32] discussion that have been

[1:57:33] misleading.

[1:57:35] For many people this is about

[1:57:36] mls.

[1:57:39] For me personally it's about

[1:57:39] memorial stadium.

[1:57:41] I think people have lost sight

[1:57:44] what it's really about.

[1:57:47] And I've always made it clear

[1:57:48] for mae

[1:57:49] e it was about memorial

[1:57:49] stadium.

[1:57:51] I grew up in this community.

[1:57:55] I remember when we had the

[1:57:56] shrine bowl at memorial stadium.

[1:58:00] I remember on easter sunday

[1:58:05] being in the grady cole being in

[1:58:06] memorial stadium.

[1:58:10] I remember attending events at

[1:58:11] memorial stadium.

[1:58:16] I'd love for our and because

[1:58:18] we're responsible for park.

[1:58:20] It's our responsibility to

[1:58:24] maintain that memorial as a park

[1:58:25] and recreation facility.

[1:58:27] Too many people want to separate

[1:58:31] that facility from parks and

[1:58:32] greenways

[1:58:34] greenways.

[1:58:35] And I don't think there's a

[1:58:38] person on this person who

[1:58:40] doesn't fully support fully

[1:58:43] funding the 2008 parks bonds.

[1:58:46] Let me tell you how we got

[1:58:47] there.

[1:58:53] Whether it was inside evidence

[1:58:55] what our commission was to

[1:58:57] approve other projects that

[1:59:00] weren't even on the bonds and I

[1:59:18] can name a few.

[1:59:20] All of those projects cost

[1:59:21] money.

[1:59:24] And they were not listed when

[1:59:27] the 2008 bonds project were

[1:59:27] passed.

[1:59:29] So I don't want anybody going

[1:59:31] out here thinking that all all

[1:59:33] of a sudden the county just

[1:59:35] isn't going to pay for things.

[1:59:37] That's how we got to where we

[1:59:38] are.

[1:59:41] We're in a situation now where

[1:59:43] we can do what we promised back

[1:59:44] in 2008.

[1:59:45] But there are other issues with

[1:59:46] that.

[1:59:48] When the bonds were aprophet

[1:59:51] fredded moo 2008 there was not

[1:59:53] an escalation factor.

[1:59:57] So those bonds in 2008 wouldn't

[1:59:59] have paid for all of the

[1:59:59] projects.

[2:00:02] There are other issues so let's

[2:00:04] be fair and talk about what the

[2:00:07] real issues are.

[2:00:08] Either going to do a memorial

[2:00:10] stadium or not.

[2:00:13] Some people would rather make it

[2:00:16] mls stadium because they know

[2:00:17] people don't like it.

[2:00:19] If we talk about memorial

[2:00:21] stadium then that's different.

[2:00:23] Somebody we were talking about

[2:00:24] memorial stadium 12 years ago.

[2:00:27] 12 years ago.

[2:00:30] The today we still haven't done

[2:00:31] anything with memorial stadium.

[2:00:34] Part of the facility caved in

[2:00:36] because of a water problem.

[2:00:41] If you go there today you can

[2:00:45] see that.

[2:00:46] The facility has aged.

[2:00:50] Either way you cut it my hope is

[2:00:52] we will still do something with

[2:00:53] memorial stadium.

[2:00:55] It's our facility.

[2:00:57] Now, I'm not opposed to giving

[2:00:59] it to city if in fact the city

[2:01:00] is going to do something with

[2:01:02] it.

[2:01:02] We're not going to give it to

[2:01:04] the city just to give it to the

[2:01:04] city.

[2:01:08] It's a value

[2:01:09] able asset.

[2:01:11] Both proposals fully fund the

[2:01:12] 2008 projects.

[2:01:14] No problem with that.

[2:01:16] Difference between the other,

[2:01:19] one puts limits on funds that we

[2:01:25] can allocate to repair memorial

[2:01:25] stadium.

[2:01:27] I'm totally opposed.

[2:01:31] Because if we don't have a mls

[2:01:34] stadium I still hope we will

[2:01:35] refurbish and rebuild memorial

[2:01:37] stadium so it would be honor to

[2:01:43] the veterans of our community.

[2:01:46] >> Chair: our next speaker is

[2:01:48] Mr. Ridenhour.

[2:01:49] Thank you very much.

[2:01:51] I appreciate the time.

[2:02:03] So I made a comment on twitter.

[2:02:05] Every day.

[2:02:07] Every day of the month.

[2:02:10] 31 days in a month you hear from

[2:02:11] constituents well it's a figure

[2:02:12] of speech.

[2:02:15] But I hear from folks.

[2:02:17] I've had someone tweet at me.

[2:02:19] I'm checking.

[2:02:22] Have you heard from someone.

[2:02:27] I can actually since I sent that

[2:02:32] tweet I've spoken to mls every

[2:02:36] day.

[2:02:39] But you know, being elected

[2:02:41] official I can't pass up the

[2:02:43] opportunity to say a few words.

[2:02:46] no I just take a few moments.

[2:02:47] I agree.

[2:02:48] Memorial stadium and the

[2:02:52] condition it's in right now is

[2:02:55] doing a disservice to the world

[2:03:00] war 1 veterans who's it's

[2:03:07] dedicated to.

[2:03:14] And no doubt it is a fated

[2:03:16] shadow what it once was.

[2:03:19] It does need something.

[2:03:23] I'd love to see mls come to town

[2:03:26] and love to see it to memorial

[2:03:27] stadium.

[2:03:29] But I followed it up I don't

[2:03:31] want the taxpayers to pay for

[2:03:31] it.

[2:03:38] Would it matter with baseball.

[2:03:42] And I always say it doesn't

[2:03:45] matter whether it's mlb or mls.

[2:03:49] I have a fundamental with tax

[2:03:50] taxpayer savings.

[2:03:52] I would challenge anybody at

[2:03:54] home or in the audience pull out

[2:03:59] of your smartphones and google

[2:04:03] publicly funded stadiums.

[2:04:06] They're over wellingly they're

[2:04:08] not a good deal for the

[2:04:08] taxpayer.

[2:04:10] You hear all the claims about

[2:04:13] the economic impact and it's

[2:04:14] just doesn't happen.

[2:04:16] The development typically would

[2:04:18] have occurred anyways.

[2:04:20] They May be located.

[2:04:25] They May choose to be close to a

[2:04:25] stadium.

[2:04:29] But they don't city stk decide

[2:04:34] to open a new complex.

[2:04:36] If it's part of the site

[2:04:38] selection process.

[2:04:42] If mecklenberg county but I did

[2:04:45] math rough math.

[2:04:47] It would have taken when we did

[2:04:49] talking about the $43 million

[2:04:52] commitment for us in sales tax

[2:04:58] to recoup $43 million so what we

[2:05:00] can capture is the new sales tax

[2:05:02] revenue you're going to be

[2:05:04] selling hot dogs and jerseys.

[2:05:07] So our portion of the sales tax

[2:05:11] revenue to recoup $43 million

[2:05:13] would require almost $2 billion

[2:05:15] in sales.

[2:05:20] How many decades does it take of

[2:05:23] hot dogs and jerseys to recoup

[2:05:26] $2 billion in sales to recoup

[2:05:27] the $43 million.

[2:05:30] These are not just facts that

[2:05:33] somebody in the opposition comes

[2:05:34] up.

[2:05:37] Anybody can pull this research

[2:05:38] up online.

[2:05:40] It's easily and readily

[2:05:41] available.

[2:05:43] So I've had a problem with this

[2:05:55] just from that perspective.

[2:06:01] But I was never talented at the

[2:06:06] skilled sports.

[2:06:12] But you know and you know you're

[2:06:15] correct commissioner dunlap.

[2:06:18] I think it was you that said

[2:06:20] there's not a lot of difference

[2:06:22] between the two motions.

[2:06:24] The distinguishing difference

[2:06:26] between the two commissioner

[2:06:27] puckett 's

[2:06:29] puckett's makes it final.

[2:06:36] It gives some some sort of

[2:06:38] finality to conversation we've

[2:06:40] had for over six months.

[2:06:43] I feel that the community is

[2:06:43] taxed at this point.

[2:06:47] I hear in the emails we get.

[2:06:50] Emails are five to 1 opposed to

[2:06:53] the mls deal and in support of

[2:06:56] parks or schools or fill in the

[2:06:56] blank.

[2:07:00] And I feel like the commission

[2:07:02] the staff, county staff, the

[2:07:04] residents of the community, I

[2:07:07] think folks are just taxed tired

[2:07:09] of the question looming over

[2:07:11] their heads what about this

[2:07:13] memorial stadium saying deal

[2:07:14] with the mls.

[2:07:17] I understand that the passion

[2:07:19] that soccer players.

[2:07:21] I was probably the only elected

[2:07:23] official that went to the mls

[2:07:25] for charlotte rally.

[2:07:29] i met Mr. Newsom there.

[2:07:32] I'm not opposed to soccer coming

[2:07:33] to town.

[2:07:35] I understand the passion behind

[2:07:37] the sport and folks that want to

[2:07:38] bring it here.

[2:07:39] I really do.

[2:07:42] When you look at the overall

[2:07:42] community.

[2:07:43] When you look at this board.

[2:07:45] When you look at the city

[2:07:47] council and what they're doing.

[2:07:50] The emails we're doing from the

[2:07:51] community there's not that fever

[2:07:53] around this deal.

[2:07:58] And but what we do hear is the

[2:08:01] excitement over building --

[2:08:04] fulfilling our promises to build

[2:08:08] out parks and greenways.

[2:08:11] I will support commissioner

[2:08:12] puckett's motion because I

[2:08:15] believe if we city if you want

[2:08:18] to do mls here's the asset which

[2:08:19] you do.

[2:08:21] If you don't we'll take the

[2:08:22] stadium back.

[2:08:23] We had another option on the

[2:08:26] table a while back with

[2:08:27] independence.

[2:08:30] And we'll cross that bridge and

[2:08:33] we'll tackle that problem then.

[2:08:35] I think it's time for us to

[2:08:37] reach a final decision on the

[2:08:40] mls stadium deal, memorial

[2:08:42] stadium.

[2:08:44] >> thank you.

[2:08:49] For all the citizens who're here

[2:08:53] today and I agree with our

[2:08:54] commissioner puckett that his

[2:08:58] deal -- that his is more final.

[2:09:00] I do believe commissioner

[2:09:02] ridenhour we need to take this

[2:09:04] off of our plate.

[2:09:06] It's kind of unbelievable this

[2:09:09] is the first time we've we've

[2:09:11] talked about it publicly.

[2:09:13] We talked about a very short

[2:09:16] time in at our retreat in

[2:09:16] January.

[2:09:18] And we were frustrated then.

[2:09:20] many of us frustrated.

[2:09:22] So this process hasn't been

[2:09:23] good.

[2:09:26] I don't think it was -- we have

[2:09:29] have -- I would say to say the

[2:09:30] manager also.

[2:09:32] Dena I value your work but I

[2:09:36] think it hasn't been -- I would

[2:09:39] have liked to be more neutral.

[2:09:41] I know you were doing what you

[2:09:43] thought was best.

[2:09:45] I think we've given one side

[2:09:46] heavily.

[2:09:48] I think that the people have

[2:09:52] spoken out and whoa, hold on a

[2:09:53] moment.

[2:09:57] Don't use my tax dollars.

[2:10:02] I won't be able to afford to go

[2:10:03] this.

[2:10:07] That again, it isn't we're

[2:10:08] against soccer.

[2:10:09] They're against this deal and

[2:10:12] the priority is the parks.

[2:10:15] And again, our core

[2:10:16] responsibility here at the

[2:10:20] county are human services and

[2:10:21] park and recreation

[2:10:23] park and recreations.

[2:10:26] And but the city council and the

[2:10:27] city is better equipped to

[2:10:28] handle this.

[2:10:30] I hope they do accept it.

[2:10:33] I hope they do accept it.

[2:10:38] But if they don't I think as

[2:10:39] commissioner ridenhour we will

[2:10:43] as a board will come together to

[2:10:47] structure something to renovate

[2:10:50] to commissioner dunlap and

[2:10:55] create some new memories for our

[2:10:56] young people.

[2:10:58] But the thing we need to end

[2:10:59] this.

[2:11:02] This is like I love soccer but

[2:11:05] I'm sosic of soccer because I'm

[2:11:08] hearing about it every fricking

[2:11:08] day.

[2:11:10] There's a lot of misinformation

[2:11:11] out there.

[2:11:14] But they email us.

[2:11:16] Well let me clarify ma'am and i

[2:11:17] have to explain to them

[2:11:18] different thing.

[2:11:21] I'm sure my colleagues have as

[2:11:22] well.

[2:11:24] People are riled up as well.

[2:11:27] We need to take this off our

[2:11:28] plate.

[2:11:30] And ask the city to take this

[2:11:37] on.

[2:11:41] Who were won awards and from

[2:11:41] naco.

[2:11:44] In the beginning I called naco

[2:11:47] and I called naco this is the

[2:11:48] association of county

[2:11:51] commissioners and they referred

[2:11:53] me to different people across

[2:11:54] the country.

[2:11:56] Everywhere they referred all

[2:11:58] over the country don't do this.

[2:12:00] This is not a good deal and then

[2:12:02] we certainly saw tremendous

[2:12:03] amount of articles about this

[2:12:06] it's not a good value for

[2:12:07] taxpayers to be involved in.

[2:12:10] I hope that Mr. Smith if he

[2:12:14] wants to do he certainly has

[2:12:15] enough money to do this.

[2:12:17] That would be great.

[2:12:20] I don't want it to be on the

[2:12:22] backs of the taxpayers.

[2:12:25] In the last few weeks we've all

[2:12:27] heard from so many people.

[2:12:29] We have talked among ourself.

[2:12:32] All I can think of in the

[2:12:33] meantime we're out in the

[2:12:35] community doing our job and

[2:12:37] talking about our county issue.

[2:12:42] We haven't been talking about

[2:12:44] county issues, scp

[2:12:46] and we've been

[2:12:49] talking about non-county issue.

[2:12:51] We have a lot of serious

[2:12:52] problems in our community.

[2:12:54] And we're not talking about

[2:12:55] that.

[2:12:57] And we need to get back -- the

[2:12:59] people need us to get back to

[2:13:01] their issues and the only way

[2:13:03] that we can get back to talking

[2:13:05] about the issues that affect our

[2:13:07] citizens is to take this off of

[2:13:08] our plate.

[2:13:19] I do believe that kooems

[2:13:20] commissioner

[2:13:20] puckett.

[2:13:23] And commissioner clarke has

[2:13:25] stand with us about fully

[2:13:27] funding the bonds.

[2:13:29] I appreciate what he has done.

[2:13:31] I do believe this other one is

[2:13:33] stronger and it takes it off of

[2:13:34] our plate.

[2:13:37] We're done with soccer.

[2:13:40] We don't have to talk about it

[2:13:40] anymore.

[2:13:42] If it happens maybe I'll buy a

[2:13:42] ticket.

[2:13:45] In the meantime I really --

[2:13:48] there's a lot of misery in our

[2:13:49] community.

[2:13:52] I've seen a lot of misery up

[2:13:55] close and personal the last few

[2:13:55] weeks.

[2:13:57] The people need us to do the

[2:14:00] work of the county commissioners

[2:14:03] and we haven't been doing it

[2:14:06] because we've been distracted by

[2:14:07] soccer and we're talking about

[2:14:17] it all the time.

[2:14:19] The it's just like we need to

[2:14:22] get back to our work and stay in

[2:14:23] our lane.

[2:14:25] Hopefully the city will take it

[2:14:27] and make it into something

[2:14:28] wonderful and we can at least

[2:14:30] know we were a part of it.

[2:14:32] Again I thank you for the time

[2:14:34] and I thank you for Mr. Puckett

[2:14:38] for putting this out there, and

[2:14:40] let's hope we can do the right

[2:14:42] thing for our people and support

[2:14:46] the bonds, support the bonds,

[2:14:46] parks.

[2:14:48] We have to do that.

[2:14:50] We have to do that.

[2:14:54] We have to do.

[2:14:54] Waive

[2:14:57] wave your sign.

[2:14:58] Then we have to get back to

[2:15:05] being county commissioners.

[2:15:09] >> well, Madam Chair I haven't

[2:15:12] been talking much about this

[2:15:13] publicly

[2:15:15] publicly.

[2:15:18] Primarily because the

[2:15:20] temperature and political nature

[2:15:22] of the conversation has really

[2:15:24] gotten out of hand.

[2:15:28] The conversation has now become

[2:15:31] so absurd so the solution is to

[2:15:34] try to get rid of memorial

[2:15:38] stadium and give it to the city.

[2:15:40] Not asking whether the city

[2:15:44] wants it, don't care about that.

[2:15:47] Just want to give it to somebody

[2:15:48] else.

[2:15:52] Now that sounds like abdication

[2:15:54] of responsibility to me.

[2:15:56] It is a facility that has been

[2:16:00] in the county's hands for years.

[2:16:05] And now when it needs to be

[2:16:08] refurbished, when we need to

[2:16:13] spend money to make it a real

[2:16:13] vet

[2:16:15] veterans memorial.

[2:16:17] Now the solution is give it to

[2:16:18] city.

[2:16:19] They'll figure out what to do

[2:16:20] with it.

[2:16:23] I hear these political arguments

[2:16:25] that people make to get on tv

[2:16:27] and get in the newspaper about

[2:16:28] this issue.

[2:16:31] They don't want to stop talking

[2:16:31] about it.

[2:16:34] They want to keep talking about

[2:16:35] it.

[2:16:35] For mae

[2:16:38] e it has never been about

[2:16:41] mls per se.

[2:16:43] It's not been about soccer.

[2:16:45] It's been honoring our

[2:16:49] commitment to memorial stadium.

[2:16:51] We have for decades allowed that

[2:16:53] facility to languish.

[2:16:56] We all know that we have to do

[2:16:57] something with that facility.

[2:16:59] Just giving it to city is not

[2:17:01] going to answer that question.

[2:17:02] We're going to have to spend

[2:17:05] money on that facility.

[2:17:07] Period.

[2:17:10] So the question how do we do

[2:17:11] that?

[2:17:14] So we've had some estimates of

[2:17:18] what it May cost and those

[2:17:22] estimates are in the 25, $30

[2:17:23] million range.

[2:17:26] And that's just for the stadium.

[2:17:28] We haven't talked about grady

[2:17:30] cole and what it would take to

[2:17:32] bring that to a reasonable

[2:17:33] place.

[2:17:36] So we're not going to escape

[2:17:42] having to usury sources to bring

[2:17:47] these things back to where they

[2:17:57] need to be.

[2:17:58] Proposal that we use essentially

[2:18:01] the same amount of money, maybe

[2:18:04] a little bit more I admit, and

[2:18:07] with that investment we not only

[2:18:11] get a stadium that's to be a

[2:18:14] true jewel, 175

[2:18:16] $175 million stadium

[2:18:18] that would have to be a

[2:18:20] professional soccer team that

[2:18:21] would generate economic

[2:18:24] development along 7th street and

[2:18:30] along the stadium.

[2:18:32] If you're going to have to spend

[2:18:34] the money anyway.

[2:18:37] To me it's not about soccer per

[2:18:38] se.

[2:18:41] It's about what is our comment

[2:18:44] to memorial stadium.

[2:18:47] And I don't hear that at all in

[2:18:50] this conversation at all.

[2:18:52] We have a commitment we ought to

[2:18:54] honor that commitment.

[2:18:56] It will take resources for us to

[2:18:56] do that.

[2:18:59] No doubt about it.

[2:19:02] Through this conversation we

[2:19:08] have now found a way to fund the

[2:19:11] remainder of the project in the

[2:19:12] 2008 bond.

[2:19:14] That's a great result.

[2:19:16] And we can do both things.

[2:19:19] We don't have to choose.

[2:19:22] And let's remember, right now

[2:19:24] we're just in a proposal stage.

[2:19:26] We're not entering into an

[2:19:27] agreement today.

[2:19:29] We're not negotiating terms of

[2:19:30] an agreement.

[2:19:33] All we're doing is positioning

[2:19:35] ourselves for the opportunity to

[2:19:38] consider a proposal.

[2:19:40] No team is here.

[2:19:42] We haven't awarded a team.

[2:19:44] We're not talking about the

[2:19:44] agreement.

[2:19:48] We're simply saying let's give

[2:19:50] ourselves a chance to consider

[2:19:50] this.

[2:19:54] If we close it down now it's

[2:19:57] done.

[2:20:02] And I don't think that's a true

[2:20:03] honoring of our commitment to

[2:20:04] the community.

[2:20:07] As elected officials we have to

[2:20:09] have courage sometimes to see

[2:20:13] the bigger picture and to say

[2:20:16] that despite all the

[2:20:18] misinformation that is in the

[2:20:22] public sphere, that we have to

[2:20:24] think clear-eyed about this and

[2:20:27] see where it is that we're

[2:20:29] trying to get and be courageous

[2:20:31] to take the steps to get there.

[2:20:33] There is nothing about this

[2:20:35] substitution motion that is

[2:20:35] courageous.

[2:20:38] It is simply trying to pass off

[2:20:40] a responsibility to someone

[2:20:44] else, and look, even that effort

[2:20:45] is not really legitimate.

[2:20:48] They know full well that the

[2:20:49] city doesn't want the

[2:20:50] responsibility for memorial

[2:20:50] stadium.

[2:20:56] They know that.

[2:20:57] I did.

[2:20:59] >> that's not true.

[2:21:00] >> really.

[2:21:05] Have they committed to it.

[2:21:06] >> great to know.

[2:21:09] Great to know.

[2:21:12] I haven't heard anybody say

[2:21:18] that.

[2:21:20] >> do I have the floor or not.

[2:21:22] >> we're just answering a

[2:21:22] question.

[2:21:28] >> it was a rhetorical question.

[2:21:30] Look, let's just be honest about

[2:21:32] what's going on here.

[2:21:33] This has been a political fight

[2:21:35] from the beginning.

[2:21:38] That's all it's been from the

[2:21:38] beginning.

[2:21:42] This is not a fight how best to

[2:21:44] honor our commitment to memorial

[2:21:45] stadium.

[2:21:48] That's not what it's been about

[2:21:48] at all.

[2:21:51] It's been a political fight from

[2:21:51] the beginning.

[2:21:55] We ought to acknowledge that.

[2:21:57] I think if we're being

[2:22:00] clear-eyed about it looking at

[2:22:03] all of the facts, all of the

[2:22:03] facks

[2:22:04] ts

[2:22:06] facts, that we would say that it

[2:22:09] is at least a reasonable

[2:22:12] opportunity for us to be able to

[2:22:18] improve our community, to honor,

[2:22:22] truly honor our veterans at a

[2:22:24] refurbished beautiful memorial

[2:22:25] stadium, and that we have an

[2:22:27] opportunity to get some

[2:22:28] additional benefits other than

[2:22:30] just fulfilling that

[2:22:30] responsibility.

[2:22:33] And I think it would be wrong

[2:22:36] for us to turn our nose, to turn

[2:22:48] our backs on that opportunity

[2:22:55] just as when -- well I think it

[2:22:57] would make us moving backwards

[2:22:59] when we should be moving

[2:22:59] forward.

[2:23:01] >> Chair: thank you.

[2:23:02] Commissioner clarke.

[2:23:05] Appreciate it Madam Chairman.

[2:23:08] I'm just going to speak to the

[2:23:09] substitute motion.

[2:23:12] First of all I do want to say to

[2:23:15] the veterans who're here

[2:23:16] tonight.

[2:23:17] I caution my colleagues.

[2:23:20] i think there's -- I'm very

[2:23:23] surprised that the veterans

[2:23:25] community is quite supportive of

[2:23:25] this.

[2:23:27] Ooh I believe that the two

[2:23:30] veterans are telling us

[2:23:31] something very important.

[2:23:33] Our veterans in mecklenberg and

[2:23:35] throughout this area are paying

[2:23:37] very close attention to this,

[2:23:37] scp

[2:23:42] and I think we should pay close

[2:23:45] attention what they have to say.

[2:23:47] I believe I've heard to give

[2:23:50] them some more time so that they

[2:23:51] can have their leadership focus

[2:23:54] on this proposal to rebuild

[2:23:55] memorial stadium.

[2:23:57] It is out there and to be able

[2:24:00] to have the opportunity to weigh

[2:24:03] in and I really do appreciate

[2:24:05] gentlemen you being here tonight

[2:24:08] and speaking, and I look forward

[2:24:11] from hearing others in the

[2:24:12] veterans community.

[2:24:17] I've received some phone calls

[2:24:21] from some veterans who're paying

[2:25:26] remarkably close attention to

[2:25:26] this.

[2:25:28] No uncertainty.

[2:25:29] None.

[2:25:30] It would be in our bond.

[2:25:34] In our capital improvement

[2:25:37] program for the next four years.

[2:25:40] All 2008 projects bond projects

[2:25:43] would be in there to be funded

[2:25:45] and completed in that time

[2:25:46] frame.

[2:25:48] No uncertainty.

[2:25:49] I didn't appreciate the fact

[2:25:51] that you were trying to

[2:25:54] introduce the fact of the

[2:25:54] uncertainty.

[2:25:57] I'm the maker of the motion and

[2:25:59] I want it clear what my motion

[2:25:59] stated.

[2:26:04] I also want to say that people

[2:26:06] say I've heard my colleagues

[2:26:08] we're not in the business of

[2:26:08] sports.

[2:26:11] our core function is parks and

[2:26:12] rec.

[2:26:13] We have a lot of function.

[2:26:15] We have a lot of core function.

[2:26:18] We're very important part of

[2:26:18] local government.

[2:26:21] I want to remind all of my

[2:26:23] colleagues and those listening

[2:26:25] by television tonight and those

[2:26:29] here tonight, minor league

[2:26:32] baseball would be languishing

[2:26:37] somewhere in the -- I got to be

[2:26:39] careful about my south carolina

[2:26:39] friends.

[2:26:42] Somewhere in the outlying areas

[2:26:48] of a southern york county with

[2:26:52] maybe six or 700 people going

[2:26:53] down there.

[2:26:56] Instead it's in the city of

[2:26:56] charlotte.

[2:26:59] There's been extraordinary

[2:27:01] development around that stadium

[2:27:03] and the people, the people of

[2:27:05] mecklenberg county are packing

[2:27:08] that stadium and having a

[2:27:11] terrific time and it is a very

[2:27:15] important part of the charlotte

[2:27:16] mecklenberg scene now.

[2:27:18] And it would not be there but

[2:27:21] for the persistence and the

[2:27:23] efforts of the county

[2:27:23] commission.

[2:27:27] Not the city of charlotte but

[2:27:31] mecklenberg county and it has

[2:27:34] been an extraordinary success.

[2:27:35] I don't know really know whether

[2:27:39] the proposal -- whether the mls

[2:27:43] would be similar to that.

[2:27:45] I would hope it would.

[2:27:48] I hope it offers the same kind

[2:27:50] of social bringing people

[2:27:52] together to in

[2:27:55] enjoy time together

[2:27:57] out on nice warm summer

[2:27:57] evenings.

[2:27:59] Enjoying food and drink.

[2:28:16] And even the microbreweries.

[2:28:18] Our county dollars contribute

[2:28:19] that we would contribute to the

[2:28:22] cost of the stadium has gone

[2:28:24] down by $50 million since we

[2:28:27] last talked about this.

[2:28:29] It's already $15 million

[2:28:30] cheaper.

[2:28:32] I have always looked at this and

[2:28:34] I have heard from lots and lots

[2:28:37] people wanting us to fund the

[2:28:37] 2008 projects.

[2:28:39] It's doing it.

[2:28:42] Second thing I want to make sure

[2:28:43] people understand there has been

[2:28:46] a lot of misinformation out

[2:28:48] there about this proposal.

[2:28:52] And the charlotte observer what

[2:28:54] you need to know about the

[2:28:56] memorial stadium the mls

[2:28:59] proposal and they left the

[2:29:04] impression they wrote if it as

[2:29:06] if the team would be in complete

[2:29:08] control of it and anyone using

[2:29:11] it would have to pay rent on it.

[2:29:14] I wrote a letter to the editor.

[2:29:18] That's not entirely correct.

[2:29:20] We have one of the deal points

[2:29:20] it would be available for the

[2:29:24] city and the county to use for

[2:29:25] public functions, programmed by

[2:29:28] the city and the county for a

[2:29:30] total of 20 days a year.

[2:29:33] You can argue whether that's

[2:29:34] enough

[2:29:34] enough.

[2:29:35] You can argue whether it's the

[2:29:37] right days or the wrong days.

[2:29:41] It's material information that

[2:29:42] the paper omitted.

[2:29:46] I want to make people understand

[2:29:48] we're trying -- I frankly want

[2:29:50] to make sure that people

[2:29:52] understand this as well.

[2:30:00] We are upfronting the money to

[2:30:01] build the stadium.

[2:30:06] The smiths are paying rent for

[2:30:09] the use of the stadium.

[2:30:11] But I think -- the reason I

[2:30:14] support this and I've come

[2:30:16] around to say I recognize what

[2:30:17] people want about the greenways

[2:30:20] and finishing these 2008 bond

[2:30:21] projects.

[2:30:24] i think we need to leave the

[2:30:27] door open and I think we want to

[2:30:29] leave it open to do something

[2:30:34] with a minor league team.

[2:30:36] And I'd like the county to be in

[2:30:38] control of this facility.

[2:30:40] I don't want to giver it away.

[2:30:43] For that reason I'm going to

[2:30:46] vote against the substitute

[2:30:50] motion.

[2:30:51] >> Chair: I want to thank you

[2:30:53] all of you.

[2:30:55] We've been very patient tonight.

[2:31:03] Let me say something.

[2:31:05] From 1989 I served on the city

[2:31:11] council from '89 to '98.

[2:31:16] And I felt in this room that dau

[2:31:17] de

[2:31:18] ja vu because the same

[2:31:20] identical conversation I've

[2:31:22] heard tonight is the same

[2:31:23] conversation when we got to do

[2:31:25] the panther stadium and bring

[2:31:28] the panthers here, scp

[2:31:29] and bring

[2:31:30] football and basketball.

[2:31:34] And the same conversation was

[2:31:35] narrow-minded

[2:31:37] narrow-mindedness not understand

[2:31:38] that the tax dollars that comes

[2:31:41] in the city will support all of

[2:31:44] these things you say we can't

[2:31:44] do.

[2:31:47] You support -- look at your

[2:31:50] larger major cities where you

[2:31:53] spend your vacations in other

[2:31:54] cities.

[2:31:56] When it comes to your hometown

[2:31:58] you don't want to do it.

[2:32:00] That's ironic to me.

[2:32:03] Here is I must say this.

[2:32:05] On the city council we had

[2:32:07] people who did not understand

[2:32:09] what the tax dollars were going

[2:32:12] to bring when it came down to

[2:32:12] football.

[2:32:15] They didn't understand what the

[2:32:16] whore

[2:32:21] hornets would bring when they

[2:32:21] came.

[2:32:25] and I want people to understand

[2:32:27] yes, we can still protect where

[2:32:31] you think it needs protect.

[2:32:31] Dog

[2:32:32] doggone it if you're going to be

[2:32:35] a major city let's be a major

[2:32:35] city.

[2:32:38] Soccer is the one of the major

[2:32:40] things that needs to happen in

[2:32:43] this county to well round this

[2:32:43] county.

[2:32:47] Say what you want to say but

[2:32:49] soccer needs to come here and

[2:32:51] tax dollars.

[2:32:53] Every time somebody buys a

[2:32:57] ticket tax.

[2:33:00] And we will spend money and get

[2:33:02] tax dollars off all of the food

[2:33:03] and beverages.

[2:33:05] Let's be real people.

[2:33:07] If we want to be a small city

[2:33:11] some of you need to move across

[2:33:12] the county line.

[2:33:14] Go to south carolina or

[2:33:16] somewhere else.

[2:33:18] And I feel you.

[2:33:20] I understand you.

[2:33:21] Because I've been there.

[2:33:23] Done that.

[2:33:25] But when I was on city council

[2:33:27] I'm telling you the chamber was

[2:33:29] just at full.

[2:33:31] I will urge my colleagues to

[2:33:32] understand what this means.

[2:33:35] It means that the tax dollars

[2:33:37] you don't have to go up on your

[2:33:44] house taxes and your food taxes.

[2:33:46] I know some of you can't

[2:33:47] understand it.

[2:33:51] I know some of you don't have to

[2:33:52] understand it.

[2:33:54] Let me share with you.

[2:33:57] When you see all of this money

[2:33:57] coming into mecklenberg county

[2:34:00] and you see your revenues are

[2:34:03] not raised you understand the

[2:34:06] more sports you get, the moore

[2:34:09] you will get, the less you will

[2:34:11] have to pay for other thing.

[2:34:13] I urge all of us to bring soccer

[2:34:16] to mecklenberg county and to

[2:34:18] make charlotte what we say

[2:34:18] mecklenberg.

[2:34:20] We said we are a big city and do

[2:34:21] big things.

[2:34:29] And but we have to small-minded.

[2:34:30] Commissioner puckett.

[2:34:33] >> I commit to being a small

[2:34:34] mind.

[2:34:36] I just want to clarify a few

[2:34:37] things.

[2:34:39] When I first spoke I was rather

[2:34:43] brief and to the point.

[2:34:45] Commissioner scarborough is

[2:34:47] right.

[2:34:49] Everybody at this dais

[2:34:51] understands what that will do

[2:34:53] for this community.

[2:34:56] My motion simply says that the

[2:34:59] city of shirt as she eloquently

[2:35:02] are the people who do this best

[2:35:04] and we should put it in the

[2:35:07] hands in the people who're able

[2:35:11] to do it best and make the best

[2:35:12] of it.

[2:35:14] >> commissioner fuller talked

[2:35:19] about a few facts.

[2:35:21] He talked about the minor league

[2:35:21] baseball.

[2:35:23] And I wasn't here when it

[2:35:25] finally voted on.

[2:35:27] If I remember correctly our

[2:35:29] contribution to the minor league

[2:35:32] baseball was land donation.

[2:35:34] Did we donate any dollars to

[2:35:39] that proposal or was it a land

[2:35:46] swap?

[2:35:48] Commissioner clarke spoke about

[2:35:48] uncertainty.

[2:35:51] I clearly don't want him to

[2:35:54] think that I question his

[2:35:57] commitment to that.

[2:35:59] I will merely say it's unlike

[2:36:02] what commissioner dunlap spoke

[2:36:05] of which is when you make a

[2:36:07] commitment oftentimes other

[2:36:09] things get in the way.

[2:36:13] So my whole point of putting an

[2:36:16] end to this and give it to the

[2:36:18] city I don't want the unknown

[2:36:20] that will come up in the $170

[2:36:25] million stadium we're going to

[2:36:25] build.

[2:36:29] What happens the cost overruns

[2:36:30] happen.

[2:36:32] What happens when what happens

[2:36:37] if the smiths decide they want

[2:36:39] to default on it.

[2:36:41] Then there are serious costs and

[2:36:43] we have to take care of them.

[2:36:46] Those are the types of things

[2:36:48] that come back and derail things

[2:36:50] like parks and greenways.

[2:36:55] So I'm simply saying I want to

[2:36:59] give this to the city and give

[2:37:00] them the decision.

[2:37:03] It falls to their them and their

[2:37:10] dedicated revenue stream.

[2:37:13] It's than unknown millions of

[2:37:16] dollars in overruns and un for

[2:37:19] unforeseen changes that put it

[2:37:19] at-risk.

[2:37:21] We talk about the veteran.

[2:37:26] Look my grandfather served in

[2:37:26] world war I.

[2:37:30] He rode a horse across europe.

[2:37:32] Nobody appreciates the history

[2:37:34] of memorial stadium than what

[2:37:36] more than I do.

[2:37:38] I will say we haven't done a

[2:37:39] very good job of it.

[2:37:41] We are the ones that need to fix

[2:37:43] it we are the ones that let it

[2:37:44] get where it it is.

[2:37:47] But we have to recognize that

[2:37:49] this particular contract as

[2:37:55] presented to us, we waiver our

[2:37:57] naming rights policy.

[2:38:03] So it will all in likely

[2:38:04] veterans memorial stadium.

[2:38:06] It May be coors stadium.

[2:38:07] That's fine.

[2:38:09] I don't want people to rally

[2:38:12] behind this we are renovating

[2:38:15] veterans stadium because we kind

[2:38:16] of aren't.

[2:38:19] The very best deal was with the

[2:38:21] minor league team that this

[2:38:24] pulled the rug from under.

[2:38:26] That would have been a $24

[2:38:29] million project that allowed us

[2:38:35] to keep the naming rights.

[2:38:37] Commissioner fuller it would

[2:38:42] cost is $24 million to renovate.

[2:38:45] The county manager when I said

[2:38:48] to bring the stadium to a usable

[2:38:51] up to where it needs to be is 10

[2:38:54] to $12.

[2:38:56] The $24 million is renovation

[2:38:59] where we would put in a minor

[2:39:03] league soccer would put.

[2:39:05] For $24 million we can get a

[2:39:08] renovated stadium or we can pay

[2:39:15] a $170 million and get a similar

[2:39:19] renovated stadium.

[2:39:23] This proposal funds half of the

[2:39:26] 2008 bonds.

[2:39:32] You got a question?

[2:39:34] I'm in charge.

[2:39:36] I can gavel myself out.

[2:39:40] We're not giving up anything.

[2:39:42] Commissioner fuller hey I don't

[2:39:44] understand the political part of

[2:39:44] this.

[2:39:47] I've got democrats and

[2:39:48] republicans agreeing and

[2:39:50] disagreeing with each other.

[2:39:53] We've debated this.

[2:39:55] I don't understand the

[2:39:55] political.

[2:39:56] It's a financial decision for

[2:39:57] me.

[2:40:01] And it is a county tax dollar

[2:40:04] should not be property tax.

[2:40:07] Taking money from people who

[2:40:10] have property to invest a pro

[2:40:11] sports team isn't the right

[2:40:12] thing to do.

[2:40:16] The city in their wisdom has a

[2:40:20] tax that is specific for this so

[2:40:21] they understand that and they

[2:40:23] can make the choice.

[2:40:26] So implore us at the end of the

[2:40:29] day what commissioner clarke and

[2:40:32] I have both proposed all that

[2:40:34] terribly different.

[2:40:36] I appreciate him kind of half

[2:40:38] meeting on this.

[2:40:40] Just the significant difference

[2:40:42] for me it gives our donation to

[2:40:52] the city.

[2:40:56] The smiths the city and the

[2:40:57] major league soccer can do the

[2:41:00] best thing for them and this

[2:41:02] city and we get back to taking

[2:41:04] care of the health of our

[2:41:06] community and we leave

[2:41:08] professional sports in the

[2:41:12] competent hands of city of

[2:41:13] charlotte.

[2:41:14] >> Chair: the question has been

[2:41:14] called.

[2:41:16] The motion is on the floor.

[2:41:18] >> what is the floor.

[2:41:21] >> the substitute motion.

[2:41:23] >> can someone repeat the

[2:41:23] motion.

[2:41:25] >> there's the person right

[2:41:26] beside you.

[2:41:28] >> the substitute motion moves

[2:41:31] to deed the property known as

[2:41:33] memorial stadium and gray

[2:41:34] dy cole

[2:41:37] to the city as an option should

[2:41:38] they choose to accept it.

[2:41:40] Limit the county's participation

[2:41:44] in the major league soccer

[2:41:47] project to the donation of the

[2:41:47] prort

[2:41:49] property, and appropriate $49

[2:41:52] million to our cip to fully fund

[2:41:57] the remaining 2008 park bond

[2:41:59] projects.

[2:42:01] >> question has been called.

[2:42:03] >> Chair: all in favor of the

[2:42:23] motion please denote by aye.

[2:42:31] You just voted the opposite way.

[2:42:34] >> it does include soccer.

[2:42:35] >> it says limit.

[2:42:38] >> it gives it to the city and

[2:42:40] the city promotes soccer.

[2:42:42] >> no.

[2:42:44] That's not what your motion

[2:42:45] says.

[2:42:50] >> the motion says that the only

[2:42:53] contribution is the land.

[2:42:58] >> it says memorial stadium and

[2:42:59] grady cole.

[2:43:01] That's our participation into

[2:43:02] soccer.

[2:43:04] we will not take away funds from

[2:43:05] something else.

[2:43:07] We will give them the asset to

[2:43:07] use.

[2:43:09] That is the motion.

[2:43:12] >> if you vote for this motion

[2:43:14] you essentially voting mls?

[2:43:16] >> yes.

[2:43:18] >> you are.

[2:43:20] That's who whole point.

[2:43:23] Now you're trying you haven't

[2:43:26] been trying to say no to this

[2:43:26] deal.

[2:43:29] So your motion is in favor of

[2:43:29] mls.

[2:43:31] >> if no.

[2:43:34] My original motion -- my

[2:43:37] opposition was not to give up

[2:43:42] memorial stadium and grady cole.

[2:43:44] And I don't think we should fund

[2:43:45] soccer.

[2:43:45] However,

[2:43:47] >> did you hear that.

[2:43:48] Madam Chair.

[2:43:51] >> however, with this motion I

[2:43:53] have now said I am willing to

[2:43:55] give up memorial stadium.

[2:43:58] I'm willing to give up grady

[2:43:59] cole.

[2:44:01] I only say we put it in the

[2:44:04] hands of city of charlotte.

[2:44:08] Originally I said I didn't want

[2:44:09] to do anything with them.

[2:44:11] Put it in the hands of the city

[2:44:14] and they can make the deal with

[2:44:15] major league soccer.

[2:44:20] And fund the bond projects.

[2:44:22] That's the second part of it.

[2:44:24] >> I just want to make sure.

[2:44:31] >> if you vote for this.

[2:44:33] >> Chair: I want clarity.

[2:44:35] Hold on a second.

[2:44:41] >> the first motion was to fund

[2:44:42] soccer --

[2:44:46] >> it doesn't have anything to

[2:44:46] do with funding.

[2:44:51] >> jim has a substitute motion.

[2:44:53] >> Chair: I understand that

[2:44:53] part.

[2:44:56] >> voting yes for jim's motion

[2:44:59] is essentially saying no mls.

[2:45:02] >> no, it isn't.

[2:45:04] >> no, it is not.

[2:45:05] >> it is.

[2:45:07] >> who're we kidding here?

[2:45:10] >> tell me what you don't know.

[2:45:11] Who're we kidding?

[2:45:16] >> that's exactly what he's

[2:45:16] saying.

[2:45:18] >> Chair: let me hear from the

[2:45:19] commissioner.

[2:45:22] >> all I would say Madam

[2:45:25] Chairman I think that it clearly

[2:45:29] says a complete no to any county

[2:45:31] participation to help make

[2:45:36] soccer happen other than saying

[2:45:41] we're giving away county

[2:45:41] property to the city.

[2:45:42] I do think commissioner trevor

[2:45:44] fuller and commissioner dunlap

[2:45:48] is correct if you vote for the

[2:45:53] substitute motion you're closing

[2:45:53] the door on the county being a

[2:45:54] partner with the city in making

[2:45:56] soccer come to charlotte.

[2:45:58] If you're interested in soccer

[2:46:01] coming to charlotte I would say

[2:46:03] vote against the substitute

[2:46:04] motion.

[2:46:07] It's just that simple.

[2:46:10] If you're interested in soccer

[2:46:14] coming I would vote against it.

[2:46:15] Debate has ended.

[2:46:21] I would ask that it was called,

[2:46:24] and the vote was made.

[2:46:27] Now you are chastising her vote.

[2:46:30] We are now.

[2:46:33] She was unclear on her vote.

[2:46:36] She has the right to get clear.

[2:46:38] >> so we're debating this at

[2:46:38] this point.

[2:46:40] >> Chair: I'm going to cut off

[2:46:41] the debate.

[2:46:44] I'm going to ask our attorney to

[2:46:47] give us a clear reading what the

[2:46:49] two motions do if you don't

[2:46:50] mind, sir.

[2:46:57] >> well apparently that's a

[2:46:58] matter of some debate.

[2:47:01] But the question of what affect

[2:47:02] each of the two motions I

[2:47:05] believe that's a matter for this

[2:47:07] board to decide not for me.

[2:47:09] I understand what the words.

[2:47:15] The words in the second motion

[2:47:17] deed the memorial stadium and

[2:47:19] grady cole to the city.

[2:47:24] And fully fund the 2008 bond

[2:47:26] projects in the amount of $49

[2:47:27] million.

[2:47:32] Now I'm not trying to tell you

[2:47:33] what the effect is.

[2:47:36] That is more of a subjective as

[2:47:38] opposed to a objective

[2:47:39] determination.

[2:47:42] I've heard Mr. Puckett take one

[2:47:44] position and I've heard

[2:47:46] commissioner fuller take another

[2:47:47] position.

[2:47:50] I like both commissioners.

[2:47:54] I have my only person opinion.

[2:47:57] But I'm not elected to make

[2:47:58] these determinations.

[2:48:03] >> well, Mr. Attorney, could the

[2:48:07] Chairman Ask for a motion -- ask

[2:48:10] for a vote to re-

[2:48:11] consider to vote

[2:48:12] on the motion.

[2:48:16] >> was the vote 5-4 in favor of

[2:48:18] the motion.

[2:48:21] >> that's what I'm challenging.

[2:48:23] >> did you ever announce the

[2:48:24] results of the vote.

[2:48:26] >> she did not.

[2:48:29] Then normally until the Chairman

[2:48:31] Has nouns the result of the vote

[2:48:34] the motion isn't declared to be

[2:48:42] passed.

[2:48:45] If indeed the result of the vote

[2:48:51] is five-3, and then any one

[2:48:53] person who voted in favor can

[2:48:55] make a motion to reconsider.

[2:48:57] But I haven't heard whether the

[2:48:59] Chairman Has said that the vote

[2:49:00] was 5-3.

[2:49:04] I saw five hands.

[2:49:10] That's the chair's job not the

[2:49:11] parking lot

[2:49:12] parliamentarian.

[2:49:13] >> I think that the chair should

[2:49:15] then ask for clarity on the vote

[2:49:18] by asking all persons in favor

[2:49:21] of it to raise their hand again.

[2:49:25] Then declare the results.

[2:49:26] >> Chair:

[2:49:28] >> Chair: please state the

[2:49:29] motion again.

[2:49:32] I need to hear first the motion

[2:49:34] that was made first.

[2:49:36] That was dumont's and then I

[2:49:39] need to hear puckett's motion.

[2:49:42] My interpretation is different

[2:49:42] evidently.

[2:49:47] >> my motion was to do the

[2:49:47] following.

[2:49:49] My motion to approve including

[2:49:53] in our next cip the amount of

[2:49:56] money $49 million for such

[2:49:59] greater shall to fully fund all

[2:49:59] f

[2:50:03] of the parks and greenways in

[2:50:05] the 2008 bond referendum.

[2:50:09] Defer a vote on including in our

[2:50:14] next cip any funding to the

[2:50:17] propose the refunding of the

[2:50:20] memorial stadium until the city

[2:50:24] of shirt at least $30 million of

[2:50:26] direct cost of rebuild the

[2:50:27] stadium.

[2:50:28] Authorizing the county manager

[2:50:31] the feasibility with a fees path

[2:50:33] that would potentially allow the

[2:50:36] city to control any new memorial

[2:50:37] stadium.

[2:50:39] >> Chair: your motion sir.

[2:50:46] >> my motion is to authorize the

[2:50:49] county to deed memorial stadium

[2:50:52] and grady cole to the city.

[2:50:55] Our participation in bringing

[2:51:00] major league soccer here capping

[2:51:02] it at that so that we don't

[2:51:05] have -- we don't know the rest

[2:51:06] of it

[2:51:10] >> tell her what the motion

[2:51:10] says.

[2:51:14] My motion is to deed memorial

[2:51:16] stadium and grady cole to the

[2:51:18] city should they choose to

[2:51:19] accept it.

[2:51:21] To develop it for major league

[2:51:25] soccer or whatever else they're

[2:51:28] going to do.

[2:51:32] Cap our participation at the

[2:51:35] very generous donation of the

[2:51:40] stadium and grady cole.

[2:51:42] Give the stadium to the city to

[2:51:44] decide whether it's a good deal

[2:51:45] or not.

[2:51:47] Let us be done with it so that

[2:51:49] they decide that so we end it

[2:51:53] with the donation and fully fund

[2:51:54] the bonds.

[2:52:06] >> Chair: okay.

[2:52:08] I'm going to vote the way I

[2:52:09] want.

[2:52:11] >> but the question has been

[2:52:11] called.

[2:52:13] >> Chair: let me finish with my

[2:52:15] colleagues and then we'll vote.

[2:52:18] >> I just want to say I don't

[2:52:20] want to speak to motions.

[2:52:22] I don't think shameful what is

[2:52:22] occurring.

[2:52:24] A vote has occurred.

[2:52:28] Now we're sitting here whether a

[2:52:34] vote has been called.

[2:52:36] I came for a good open debate of

[2:52:39] ideas and exchange of ideas.

[2:52:41] This motion has been presented

[2:52:44] and discussed it was the chair's

[2:52:47] idea and suggestion to give this

[2:52:48] over to the city.

[2:52:50] So this is not sprung on

[2:52:52] somebody at the last moment.

[2:52:53] Some of you knew that the chair

[2:52:56] was going to vote in this manner

[2:52:58] prior to meeting.

[2:53:00] Yet because you're not satisfied

[2:53:02] with the result of the vote

[2:53:05] you're going to berate the chair

[2:53:06] over her vote.

[2:53:09] You're trying to confuse what

[2:53:10] the vote means.

[2:53:14] I'm appalled this is how we're

[2:53:15] conducting when we're not happy

[2:53:22] with the vote.

[2:53:25] >> Chair: I will take one more

[2:53:25] comment.

[2:53:28] >> you can't get on your high

[2:53:31] horse because you play the

[2:53:31] political.

[2:53:33] >> I learned from you.

[2:53:37] >> Madam Chair if I May argue to

[2:53:39] you if you absencing

[2:53:40] ccept commissioner

[2:53:41] puckett's motion.

[2:53:42] >> I am.

[2:53:46] >> it essentially means saw

[2:53:46] occer

[2:53:47] is not coming.

[2:53:49] It is what it means.

[2:53:52] The reason it means that because

[2:53:55] number one, commissioner

[2:53:56] puckett's intention from the

[2:53:58] beginning of this discussion has

[2:54:01] been to kill this deal.

[2:54:09] >> Chair: why are you telling

[2:54:09] him

[2:54:11] >> let's be honest what the

[2:54:15] intentions are here.

[2:54:17] Let's at least be honest with

[2:54:18] that.

[2:54:21] He doesn't want us to do the

[2:54:21] deal.

[2:54:25] So his motion is aimed at us not

[2:54:26] doing the deal.

[2:54:28] If you vote in favor of his

[2:54:32] motion you are killing the deal.

[2:54:34] That's all I'm saying.

[2:54:37] >> can I explain.

[2:54:41] When this was brought to us in

[2:54:44] January in closed session.

[2:54:46] While commissioner fuller and

[2:54:50] the chair and the county manager

[2:54:52] known for three full months and

[2:54:55] so when we talk about open and

[2:54:59] honest discussion -- according

[2:55:01] to the people from major league

[2:55:01] soccer.

[2:55:02] >> Chair:

[2:55:03] >> Chair: excuse me.

[2:55:05] One people

[2:55:07] >> I don't like people accusing

[2:55:07] me.

[2:55:10] >> I'm not here for your

[2:55:10] interrogation.

[2:55:12] >> major league soccer said you

[2:55:13] did.

[2:55:16] So if they're a liar then I

[2:55:18] apologize for being a liar.

[2:55:21] >> yes I said you met with major

[2:55:23] league soccer in October.

[2:55:26] It was January before I heard

[2:55:27] about it.

[2:55:29] In January I said no.

[2:55:31] I have absolutely no interest in

[2:55:34] tearing down memorial stadium.

[2:55:37] Tearing down grady cole stadium

[2:55:42] and for us to build a pro soccer

[2:55:43] franchise.

[2:55:47] I have since said I will

[2:55:50] compromise I'm not in writing a

[2:55:52] blank check.

[2:55:55] Ooh I am now willing to donate

[2:55:59] the stadium and grady cole to

[2:56:00] the city so that they can

[2:56:02] continue to pursue major league

[2:56:05] soccer and they who're far

[2:56:14] better then that's their

[2:56:15] problem.

[2:56:17] But they can't do it without our

[2:56:18] stadium.

[2:56:21] If we voted if we voted to not

[2:56:23] participate at all.

[2:56:24] That would kill major league

[2:56:24] soccer.

[2:56:26] No I don't want to kill it dead.

[2:56:29] I'm willing to give them the

[2:56:31] stadium give them grady cole and

[2:56:33] let them make the best deal they

[2:56:34] can.

[2:56:37] That's the change I made since

[2:56:39] January.

[2:56:42] I am willing to give them the

[2:56:42] asset.

[2:56:43] >> Chair: okay.

[2:56:49] Let me again say that as long as

[2:56:51] I have been an elected official

[2:56:53] and I served 10 years on the

[2:56:53] city council.

[2:56:56] Let me say that again.

[2:56:59] When professional basketball

[2:57:01] came, and football, I served on

[2:57:03] both of those councils.

[2:57:06] I will tell you they have done

[2:57:06] very well for mecklenberg

[2:57:07] county.

[2:57:09] I call for the question.

[2:57:12] I call for the vote all over

[2:57:12] again.

[2:57:13] substitute motion.

[2:57:15] All in favor of the substitute

[2:57:18] motion please denote by aye.

[2:57:22] Raise your hands.

[2:57:24] Okay.

[2:57:25] We have five votes for.

[2:57:27] It does pass.

[2:57:29] And so the vote passes.

[2:57:32] I thank you all f

[2:57:35] of you for your

[2:57:37] indulgence.

[2:57:38] >> Chair: all against.

[2:57:41] I forgot to call for all

[2:57:44] against.

[2:57:50] Three hands against.

[2:57:53] It's dunlap and fuller and

[2:57:57] clarke.

[2:57:58] Move on.

[2:58:01] Thank you very much for

[2:58:03] indulging us.

[2:58:04] >> thank you chair.

[2:58:07] I'm still on my manager's

[2:58:08] report.

[2:58:09] >> Chair: go ahead.

[2:58:11] >> I have mark foster that on

[2:58:13] the votes we need to move

[2:58:16] forward with our school bonds.

[2:58:18] >> thank you Madam Chair and

[2:58:19] members of the board.

[2:58:24] As you recall the fy2019 to 2023

[2:58:27] capital improvement program

[2:58:31] throughing $922 million of

[2:58:33] charlotte million through

[2:58:35] general obligation school bonds.

[2:58:37] These school bonds must be

[2:58:41] approved by in a voters in

[2:58:44] November 2017 county wide

[2:58:44] referendum.

[2:58:45] There are couple of actions that

[2:58:47] the board will take to get to

[2:58:49] the November 7th vote.

[2:58:51] One which is tonight.

[2:58:53] And next will be at September

[2:58:54] 5th meeting.

[2:58:56] Tonight's action will adopt

[2:58:57] three resolutions.

[2:59:01] The first resolution to make --

[2:59:03] is making requirement findings

[2:59:09] related to the $922 million,

[2:59:21] 0085 school bond order.

[2:59:22] >> Madam Chair.

[2:59:23] >> Chair: yes.

[2:59:25] >> I move that we adopt the

[2:59:27] resolution making the rirmed

[2:59:31] finding to the $922 million

[2:59:33] school bond order.

[2:59:35] >> Chair: is there a second.

[2:59:40] >> all in favor please denote by

[2:59:40] aye.

[2:59:43] I move we adopt the resolution

[2:59:45] to introduce bond order as

[2:59:48] presented in our package.

[2:59:50] >> Chair: is there any

[2:59:51] discussion.

[2:59:55] All in favor please denote by

[3:00:03] aye.

[3:00:06] All in favor please denote by

[3:00:09] aye.

[3:00:11] >> that's all I got.

[3:00:14] Mary next on the agenda.

[3:00:17] >> Madam Chair I had asked to do

[3:00:22] the report.

[3:00:24] >> Chair: go right ahead sir.

[3:00:28] >> the our wards that the

[3:00:30] mecklenberg county received from

[3:00:33] the naco were a part of the

[3:00:36] highlights which you've already

[3:00:36] heard.

[3:00:41] I'd like to report our own

[3:00:42] sheryl emmanuel did a

[3:00:44] presentation at the catholic

[3:00:44] church.

[3:00:47] I want to say publicly she did

[3:00:52] an outstanding job to talk about

[3:00:53] mecklenberg county does to

[3:01:02] provide a healthy lifestyle for

[3:01:06] our seniors.

[3:01:11] We also had the opportunity to

[3:01:17] listen to -- let me back up.

[3:01:23] Various speakers to include the

[3:01:28] usda secretary sonny purdue to

[3:01:32] listen to -- welcome people

[3:01:39] listened to lou dobbs.

[3:01:41] As she shared her story about

[3:01:43] what's happening in the criminal

[3:01:45] justice system.

[3:01:48] And our own trevor fuller also

[3:01:53] presented on early childhood

[3:01:54] education at the national

[3:01:55] catholic church.

[3:01:57] and people from all across the

[3:01:58] nation had the opportunity to

[3:02:01] hear him as well.

[3:02:06] In addition, our cront dena

[3:02:15] diorio is reappointed to the luc

[3:02:15] committee.

[3:02:17] The large urban committee.

[3:02:19] I will be serving as vice-chair

[3:02:21] on the juvenile justice

[3:02:23] committee and our national

[3:02:28] President Has 10 appointments to

[3:02:31] the national board of directors.

[3:02:32] For the whole country.

[3:02:35] And I served last year on our

[3:02:38] former President And I was

[3:02:40] fortunate this year to be

[3:02:43] reappointed by the in coming

[3:02:46] parent from tarrant county,

[3:02:48] texas to serve on as one of the

[3:02:51] 10 members on the national board

[3:02:52] of directors.

[3:02:53] Mecklenberg county had good

[3:02:55] representation and fared well at

[3:02:56] the catholic church.

[3:02:58] >> Chair: commissioner fuller.

[3:03:00] >> I just want to affirm what

[3:03:03] Mr. Commissioner dunlap said and

[3:03:05] how proud we were.

[3:03:08] In fact our whole north carolina

[3:03:13] the fact that commissioner

[3:03:15] dunlap was reappointed to the

[3:03:18] board of naco and the vice-chair

[3:03:23] of the criminal justice steering

[3:03:23] committee.

[3:03:27] And want to affirm that his

[3:03:31] comments about sheryl emmanuel.

[3:03:35] And we're in the this

[3:03:38] competition for national cities

[3:03:40] put on by aetna.

[3:03:41] There's another entity.

[3:03:45] It's a nationwide competition,

[3:03:47] and so they had three

[3:03:49] presentations from some of the

[3:03:53] top counties and if I May say

[3:03:55] sheryl's presentation was far

[3:03:58] and away the best of all of the

[3:04:00] presentations that were done

[3:04:01] from other counties with respect

[3:04:04] to healthy cities.

[3:04:06] We were very proud to be for

[3:04:07] mecklenberg county and anyway

[3:04:10] kaw, north carolina has the

[3:04:12] highest representation of people

[3:04:15] at the naco conference of all

[3:04:17] states in the country which is

[3:04:18] hard to believe.

[3:04:21] But we had the most and our

[3:04:23] delegation did very, very well

[3:04:26] as a state appointment for the

[3:04:26] naco.

[3:04:29] I want to thank commissioner

[3:04:31] dunlap for all of his work

[3:04:34] representing us at naco both in

[3:04:36] his work and on the board of

[3:04:37] this national organization.

[3:04:40] >> thank you very much.

[3:04:43] At this time

[3:04:46] >> yes we have our department

[3:04:47] report tonight.

[3:04:50] That would be presentation from

[3:04:53] joan deny

[3:05:12] keen de.

[3:05:12] Madam Chair.

[3:05:14] Staff and members of the

[3:05:15] audience.

[3:05:16] Good evening and thank you for

[3:05:18] your time tonight.

[3:05:20] You May notice I'm having a

[3:05:22] little problem with my voice now

[3:05:26] so I ask for your indulgence.

[3:05:28] I commit to be brief in the

[3:05:30] interest of your time and my

[3:05:30] voice.

[3:05:35] I am joan kennedy director of

[3:05:36] child support enforcement in

[3:05:37] mecklenberg county.

[3:05:39] This past month child support

[3:05:42] enforcement celebrated its 7th

[3:05:44] year as a county department.

[3:05:47] You May recall in fy11 we

[3:05:49] started with a vision to move

[3:05:52] this new department towards

[3:05:53] excellence recognizing to do so

[3:05:55] we must have a plan.

[3:05:57] In our case one that aligned to

[3:06:00] the county's strategic business

[3:06:01] plan.

[3:06:03] What we will share with you

[3:06:05] tonight how we put together that

[3:06:08] plan based on our strongly held

[3:06:11] belief that if you build it they

[3:06:12] will come.

[3:06:15] And our goal was to build a

[3:06:18] customer focused agency that was

[3:06:20] supported by technology, clab

[3:06:22] collaborations with key partners

[3:06:24] and recruitment and retention of

[3:06:27] highly skilled and well trained

[3:06:27] staff.

[3:06:30] Some of whom you see sitting

[3:06:35] behind me tonight.

[3:06:37] Excuse me.

[3:06:40] Though not all inclusive our

[3:06:43] plan has been based on six key

[3:06:44] building blocks.

[3:06:47] You see that on the slide.

[3:06:49] Has been intentional.

[3:06:51] It has been aggressive and it's

[3:06:53] been inclusive.

[3:06:59] From a high of 140 thou cases to

[3:07:01] the current 34 thou current

[3:07:03] cases we have relied on best

[3:07:04] practices the support of our

[3:07:06] leadership and the assistance of

[3:07:08] the incredible support resources

[3:07:10] that we have here in mecklenberg

[3:07:14] county such as our own I.T.

[3:07:14] Department.

[3:07:16] Public information, county

[3:07:18] attorney's office, clerk's

[3:07:22] office, family port, self-serve

[3:07:24] center, and many, many many

[3:07:25] more.

[3:07:28] We no longer have to search for

[3:07:31] our customers and partners prior

[3:07:33] to fy11.

[3:07:35] They are coming to us now.

[3:07:37] We have become a model child

[3:07:40] support agency.

[3:07:43] Other child support agencies

[3:07:45] seek our guidance.

[3:07:47] So let's briefly review each of

[3:07:49] the building blocks I

[3:07:50] referenced.

[3:07:52] I encourage you to visit us when

[3:07:55] you have some time.

[3:07:58] See how these are manifesting

[3:08:00] within our agency.

[3:08:03] But we welcome your involvement.

[3:08:07] The first of these building

[3:08:08] blocks not necessarily in the

[3:08:13] order of implementation is dual

[3:08:14] notice process.

[3:08:17] I'm not going to read this to

[3:08:18] you.

[3:08:20] It's a process by which we allow

[3:08:25] our customers to settle their

[3:08:27] differences prior going to

[3:08:28] court.

[3:08:31] In many instances avoid going to

[3:08:31] court.

[3:08:33] We're very procedured of this

[3:08:34] particular building block.

[3:08:37] In fy, if any, when we started

[3:08:40] the due notice process we were

[3:08:42] able to triple the notice

[3:08:44] through this dual notice process

[3:08:46] or establishment.

[3:08:49] The second building block is one

[3:08:51] that invests in the training and

[3:08:54] development of our staff.

[3:08:55] Mediation certifications.

[3:08:59] All of our case management staff

[3:09:04] are working becoming certified

[3:09:05] media tirs.

[3:09:10] We're moving toe win to lose

[3:09:12] going to win win.

[3:09:15] When October we hope to have

[3:09:19] trained and have certified 2 of

[3:09:20] our staff.

[3:09:23] So they can begin how to use

[3:09:25] those skills to help our

[3:09:27] customers make decisions about

[3:09:29] their cases on their own.

[3:09:31] The third building block is

[3:09:34] called second chance amnesty.

[3:09:39] Some of you who previously

[3:09:41] served on the health and human

[3:09:43] services of the board we shared

[3:09:45] with you we had completed our

[3:09:49] first amnesty program.

[3:09:52] And the opportunity to come in

[3:09:55] to the agendas and get back on

[3:09:56] track.

[3:09:57] I believe it was commissioner

[3:09:59] dunlap it might be a good

[3:10:01] opportunity to consider doing a

[3:10:04] second chance amnesty project in

[3:10:07] the latter part of the fiscal

[3:10:08] year.

[3:10:09] we did this past June.

[3:10:11] What you see is the difference

[3:10:15] we've been able to make in terms

[3:10:16] of collections and engaging in

[3:10:20] the noncustodial in the fiscal

[3:10:21] year.

[3:10:25] As of June 2017 over 300 non-

[3:10:27] noncustodial parents have

[3:10:30] visited our offices voluntarily.

[3:10:36] 123 custodial parents and we

[3:10:44] have collected over $35,000.

[3:10:45] This is particularly important

[3:10:47] what the data indicates to us

[3:10:49] that most non-

[3:10:50] custodial parents

[3:10:53] want to engage with their

[3:10:54] children both financially and

[3:10:55] emotionally.

[3:10:57] The next building block is

[3:10:59] community outreach.

[3:11:01] We're very fortunate to have

[3:11:02] staff here in mecklenberg county

[3:11:06] who want to be highly

[3:11:08] professional service providers

[3:11:10] as well as the good community

[3:11:11] steward.

[3:11:14] Our staff have developed their

[3:11:21] own community outreach program.

[3:11:24] The mom as gateway not

[3:11:26] gatekeeper works with custodial

[3:11:28] moms who're the partners on

[3:11:30] child support cases to help them

[3:11:33] understand the im account packet

[3:11:36] they have on the child support

[3:11:39] case as gatekeepers and the role

[3:11:44] they can in facilitating the

[3:11:46] relationship between the

[3:11:48] noncustodial parent and the

[3:11:49] children.

[3:11:51] And the second one I wanted to

[3:11:53] highlight is the relationship we

[3:11:58] have with albermarle road

[3:11:59] elementary school.

[3:12:03] They're using their own funds to

[3:12:06] purchase school supplies for the

[3:12:11] children of albermarle road.

[3:12:14] Another one I want to highlight

[3:12:17] is the annual employer's

[3:12:18] roundtable luncheon.

[3:12:20] We had the third one this year.

[3:12:21] severely of you have been

[3:12:25] participated in the employees

[3:12:26] roundtable to include

[3:12:27] commissioner cotham.

[3:12:30] We are honored this past June to

[3:12:34] have our own trevor a fuller to

[3:12:41] be our keynote speaker.

[3:12:45] We want to recognize them for

[3:12:49] employing in a non-

[3:12:50] custodial

[3:12:51] children.

[3:12:54] On the next page which continues

[3:12:56] the community outreach we do I

[3:12:59] wanted to highlight the

[3:13:01] environmental sustainability

[3:13:02] training.

[3:13:04] Our staff created their own

[3:13:06] letter of commitment for

[3:13:08] participating and working green

[3:13:09] in mecklenberg county.

[3:13:12] And we were featured in

[3:13:15] employees now for what they did.

[3:13:17] They're excellent employees in

[3:13:19] mecklenberg county but they're

[3:13:21] excellent community stewarted.

[3:13:23] The next building block is

[3:13:25] called the responsible father

[3:13:26] fatherhood program.

[3:13:29] It has been recognized

[3:13:31] throughout the state as being an

[3:13:33] award winning program.

[3:13:36] It's been recognized nationwide.

[3:13:39] Many of our staff have

[3:13:41] participated in support with

[3:13:43] collaborations in south carolina

[3:13:45] with the south carolina center

[3:13:47] for families in north carolina

[3:13:49] with many, many other programs

[3:13:51] that focus on responsible

[3:13:53] fatherhood as well.

[3:13:56] Most recently a child support

[3:13:59] program in maryland asked for us

[3:14:01] to collaborate with them and

[3:14:05] give them advice on setting up

[3:14:10] their responsible fatherhood

[3:14:11] initiative.

[3:14:13] We do this in addition to the

[3:14:14] regular duties because they have

[3:14:16] the passion and the commitment

[3:14:19] to the service.

[3:14:23] just recently we spawn

[3:14:26] onsored a

[3:14:28] evening with dad just to have

[3:14:29] dinner.

[3:14:31] Fellowship and can any questions

[3:14:33] May thif and just have fun with

[3:14:35] their children.

[3:14:36] Fathers don't get an opportunity

[3:14:37] to do that.

[3:14:40] With the investment we're making

[3:14:45] in our mom as great way not

[3:14:47] gatekeeper program and the

[3:14:49] responsible fatherhood

[3:14:50] initiative program we're hoping

[3:14:52] to make investments.

[3:14:56] The last of the building blocks

[3:15:00] and I just lost my building

[3:15:03] block.

[3:15:04] There we go.

[3:15:06] So the last of the building

[3:15:07] blocks is child support

[3:15:10] awareness month and I can think

[3:15:13] of no more point time to be

[3:15:14] talking about the investment and

[3:15:17] the return on investment you've

[3:15:19] made in child support here in

[3:15:20] mecklenberg county than this

[3:15:22] month of August.

[3:15:24] Because this is nationally child

[3:15:27] support awareness month.

[3:15:30] I want you to notice for each of

[3:15:33] the weeks of August is a series

[3:15:40] of events tailored to each.

[3:15:42] The first week.

[3:15:46] Custodial parent week.

[3:15:50] The next children week.

[3:15:52] Staff recognition week.

[3:15:57] And finally noncustodial parent

[3:15:59] week culminating with our

[3:16:01] noncustodial orientation program

[3:16:04] and with our annual training

[3:16:07] retreat which is held courtesy

[3:16:11] of our own parks department at

[3:16:13] rita creek park and then we

[3:16:16] present the supplies that our

[3:16:18] staff have donated to the

[3:16:21] children of albermarle children.

[3:16:24] What you see on this slide is

[3:16:27] our performance compared to the

[3:16:29] current in fy11.

[3:16:32] you can see we are making major

[3:16:34] improvements in every area.

[3:16:37] We intend to keep doing that.

[3:16:38] Our vision is to become the best

[3:16:41] in the state.

[3:16:44] And we feel like we can do it.

[3:16:49] Last year we talked to you about

[3:16:52] being the third 50

[3:16:55] $50 million

[3:16:59] club.

[3:17:02] And we intend to stay in the $50

[3:17:04] million club because it helps

[3:17:04] children.

[3:17:07] It gives children what they need

[3:17:08] financially as well as

[3:17:08] emotionally.

[3:17:11] So in closing, when you see our

[3:17:14] building blocks will come full

[3:17:16] circle nationally and

[3:17:19] international data support our

[3:17:20] experience that most

[3:17:22] noncustodial parents want to

[3:17:25] support their children both

[3:17:30] financially and emotionally.

[3:17:33] Unemployment, underemployment.

[3:17:34] Homelessness.

[3:17:38] Alit rocky.

[3:17:41] Histories of incarceration.

[3:17:42] At mecklenberg county child

[3:17:45] support enforcement the building

[3:17:47] which we are working has many

[3:17:50] doors and every day we work to

[3:17:52] make it easier for our customers

[3:17:54] to walk through those doors for

[3:17:55] their children.

[3:17:59] So again, I ask you to join with

[3:17:59] us.

[3:18:02] Because we believe if you build

[3:18:04] it they will come.

[3:18:04] Thank you.

[3:18:05] >> Chair: thank you.

[3:18:08] >> May I.

[3:18:12] These are some of the people who

[3:18:16] make it happen.

[3:18:18] >> Chair: thank you.

[3:18:19] Thank you for making it happen.

[3:18:22] >> I want to thank them for

[3:18:23] their patience.

[3:18:27] They are like this in every way.

[3:18:31] May I answer any questions for

[3:18:31] you.

[3:18:35] Ms. Kennedy, I'm so glad you're

[3:18:37] here right now because after a

[3:18:40] rather contentious period of

[3:18:43] time, it is delightful to have

[3:18:45] someone talk about the things

[3:18:48] that everybody at this dais

[3:18:53] agrees.

[3:18:55] Commissioner fuller the work

[3:18:57] you're doing is far more

[3:19:00] important than all the things we

[3:19:03] disagree about and for the

[3:19:06] matter most of the things we

[3:19:07] agree about.

[3:19:09] It is a nice reminder what

[3:19:10] mecklenberg county does.

[3:19:12] We are in the people business

[3:19:15] and we are most assuredly in the

[3:19:16] children business.

[3:19:19] Thank you for patience and your

[3:19:21] professionalism and bring is

[3:19:22] back to reality.

[3:19:27] I will remind that the billboard

[3:19:30] over the parking deck now has

[3:19:32] the child support awareness

[3:19:34] month poster and it says

[3:19:37] children are our number one

[3:19:38] priority.

[3:19:41] So that's a reminder we want to

[3:19:43] tell everybody today.

[3:19:44] >> Chair: thank you.

[3:19:48] Thank you so much.

[3:19:52] >> now we're going to move on to

[3:19:56] commissioner reports.

[3:20:01] Are we doing Ms. Leake's.

[3:20:05] Commissioner leake had put in an

[3:20:08] application to change hoskins

[3:20:11] park and rename it to the ae

[3:20:13] eva

[3:20:15] b. Hoskins park.

[3:20:18] I would absencing

[3:20:20] cknowledge receipt of

[3:20:24] anvil ma d. Leake of hoskins

[3:20:28] charlotte north carolina 282028

[3:20:29] that 's

[3:20:33] that's voluntary b. Barber

[3:20:34] neighborhood park.

[3:20:36] At 6:30 P.M. To receive public

[3:20:38] comment on the proposed of

[3:20:46] hoskins to sirah b. Barber park.

[3:20:48] >> Chair: any discussion?

[3:20:51] All n

[3:20:54] in favor please denote by

[3:20:55] aye.

[3:20:58] >> Madam On the chair there's a

[3:21:00] policy on probleming plations in

[3:21:01] awards.

[3:21:04] When we had our commissioner

[3:21:06] puckett we had on go forward

[3:21:08] moving all of proclamation to

[3:21:11] the front of the agenda because

[3:21:14] we end up moving them anyway.

[3:21:21] We need to change board policy.

[3:21:25] If that's the will of the board.

[3:21:28] >> Chair: is there a motion.

[3:21:32] >> I want to weigh in on this

[3:21:34] first.

[3:21:36] >> there might not be one.

[3:21:38] That's the point.

[3:21:41] >> I move to make the board

[3:21:42] policy change.

[3:21:44] >> Chair: is there a second to

[3:21:51] that motion.

[3:21:54] >> now can I talk about it?

[3:21:56] >> yes.

[3:21:59] There's nothing we need to talk

[3:22:00] about.

[3:22:01] >> well for a second.

[3:22:03] There's some history behind

[3:22:05] that.

[3:22:07] Years ago when I served as

[3:22:10] chairperson of the efficient and

[3:22:11] effective government committee

[3:22:16] along with the bill but anyway,

[3:22:19] and we had hours of discussion

[3:22:23] and these proclamations being

[3:22:25] moved at the beginning of the

[3:22:29] meeting had continuous

[3:22:30] conversations that pushes

[3:22:34] everything else back out that

[3:22:36] people won't agree with this

[3:22:38] causes the meeting to end up

[3:22:40] even longer.

[3:22:42] In addition to that all

[3:22:43] proclamations are not read.

[3:22:45] But if you put them at the front

[3:22:48] of the agenda it encourages

[3:22:50] somebody to want to read all of

[3:22:52] them because they want tv time.

[3:22:55] I'm just being honest with you.

[3:22:57] so I'm just suggest that we not

[3:22:58] do that.

[3:23:03] >> Chair: okay.

[3:23:09] >> I agree with commissioner

[3:23:10] dunlap.

[3:23:12] I was also on the committee as

[3:23:12] he said.

[3:23:15] The problem when you put at the

[3:23:18] beginning of the meeting besides

[3:23:21] dragging the meeting out it also

[3:23:25] allows the policy to be abused.

[3:23:28] People contact commissioners

[3:23:30] about putting their pet

[3:23:32] resolutions and proclamations

[3:23:36] and they bring a pride of

[3:23:36] people.

[3:23:40] It is lacking decorum.

[3:23:43] The commission is the time got

[3:23:46] so frustrated with the length of

[3:23:51] the meeting and with the circus

[3:23:54] atmosphere that emanated from it

[3:23:59] that we actually in a bipartisan

[3:24:00] fashion got together and came up

[3:24:07] with a solution in order to help

[3:24:08] the meetings become more

[3:24:09] efficient.

[3:24:12] Now, I agree moving

[3:24:14] proclamations up is a problem.

[3:24:17] But the problem is lack of

[3:24:18] fortitude on the part of

[3:24:20] commissioners not to move them

[3:24:21] up.

[3:24:23] The problem isn't the current

[3:24:24] policy.

[3:24:27] It's that everybody says, okay,

[3:24:30] sure, we'll move it up instead

[3:24:31] of saying no you should have a

[3:24:33] good reason to move it up.

[3:24:36] It shouldn't just be oh you know

[3:24:39] I'd like to talk about this for

[3:24:39] 10 minutes.

[3:24:42] If all of you did that we didn't

[3:24:44] get to the regular business

[3:24:45] until 8:00.

[3:24:48] That would be bad for everybody.

[3:24:52] I am not good after nine.

[3:24:54] From my perspective I would like

[3:24:57] to keep the policy the way it is

[3:25:00] but just remind the board as

[3:25:03] nicely there is a reason why

[3:25:04] we're supposed to have a good

[3:25:06] reason to move it up.

[3:25:10] If we just all followed the

[3:25:12] policy this would be a

[3:25:14] non-issue.

[3:25:19] >> I appreciate george and

[3:25:20] bill's history on that.

[3:25:23] I'm the one who suggested only

[3:25:28] because in the last year I think

[3:25:30] every single proclamation we've

[3:25:32] had had been pulled and moved

[3:25:33] up.

[3:25:37] So every proclamation goes into

[3:25:37] consent.

[3:25:40] We have to have a motion out of

[3:25:42] consent and put it at the front.

[3:25:44] They all end up there.

[3:25:46] Now, I will defer to your wisdom

[3:25:49] and experience that if in fact

[3:25:50] leaving them there cuts that

[3:25:55] number down, then that's a valid

[3:25:55] concern.

[3:25:57] I think you're right.

[3:25:59] I think perhaps we May need to

[3:26:00] talk about limiting the number

[3:26:04] of proclamations any one

[3:26:05] commissioner can do in a course

[3:26:08] of a year.

[3:26:09] I appreciate your history

[3:26:13] because that does make sense.

[3:26:16] Ours seemed to make sense.

[3:26:22] >> I agree -- I can't agree with

[3:26:25] both of these 2 on this issue

[3:26:26] because if we can make it harder

[3:26:29] for us to bring proclamations up

[3:26:32] I think that would benefit us.

[3:26:33] >> I'm with you.

[3:26:35] >> leave them in consent because

[3:26:38] it requires unanimous vote but

[3:26:42] move them up on the agenda so if

[3:26:45] you've got to do that every time

[3:26:49] all it takes one person to say

[3:26:50] no.

[3:26:59] Maybe it will stop.

[3:27:02] >> Chair: we have one-monthly

[3:27:09] meeting

[3:27:10] meeting.

[3:27:12] All right.

[3:27:15] We've going to do the consent

[3:27:15] agenda.

[3:27:18] may I have a motion. Approve

[3:27:20] the consent item.

[3:27:23] >> other than.

[3:27:24] >> Chair: that's wonderful.

[3:27:28] >> that's fine with me.

[3:27:36] All in favor please denote aye.

[3:27:44] All opposers nay.

[3:27:46] I move to adjourn.

[3:27:49] All in favor please denote by

[3:27:54] aye.

[3:27:55] Opposers nay.

[3:27:56] Okay.

[3:27:56] We're adjourned.

Board of Commissioners

Agenda

Transcript