[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.